Over 100 Kitwe residents have been arrested by police for riotous behavior after they participated in riots to denounce growing Chinese protests.

The riots were sparked by reports that government is in the process of selling off ZAFFICO, a strategic government owned business responsible for timber and wood resources to a private Chinese buyer.

The riots brought business came to a standstill in Racecourse, Kamatipa and Kawama compounds as saw millers and residents alike fought running battles with the police.

Some Chinese owned shops in Kawama compound were looted as residents accused government of favoring the Chinese at the expense of local people.

They also burnt tyres and logs on the road leading to Kamatipa and Nakadoli compounds while charging at the police.

And Copperbelt Police Commissioner Charity Katanga has confirmed that 101 people have been arrested following the riots.

Ms Katanga said out of the 101 arrested, 79 are males while 22 are females.

She said six female juveniles and male juveniles are among those arrested in the fracas.

Mrs Katanga said all the law breakers will face the full wrath of the law adding that the police command will not condone lawlessness in the Province.

President Edgar Lungu has implored AVIC International not to compromise quality in the construction of the US$400 million Copperbelt International Airport in Ndola.

President Lungu said AVIC International is known for quality works and must maintain the very standards it has set and apply them to the infrastructure projects it is undertaking in the country.

The Head of State emphasised that AVIC must ensure that it adheres to the 36 month time schedule for construction and completion of the airport project.

ZANIS reports that President Lungu said this when he held a meeting with AVIC International officials before touring the airport construction site.

President Lungu assured AVIC of government’s commitment to ensure that much needed funds are sourced to complete the project.

He warned the contractor to desist from mistreating local workers but work to build the capacity of Zambian workers.

The President urged AVIC International to embark on skills transfer in order to build capacity of Zambians so that they can be considered not just for manual jobs but as well as technical jobs.

The President inspected the asphalt plant, the 3.7 km run way, terminal building and air traffic control building.

After the tour, President Lungu expressed satisfaction with the pace of the construction works.

And AVIC International Senior Consultant Lei Yingqv assured President Lungu that the construction of the airport will be completed by the end of 2020.

Mr Lei said his company will ensure that it exercises finacial prudence and responsibility as demonstrated by the revision of project cost from US$574 million to US$397 million.

He said once completed the state of the art airport will handle one million passengers annually.

He said the airport project has generated job opportunities for over 800 local people who have been employed on the project.

Mr Lei also disclosed that US$4.5 million worth of contracts have been given to local Zambian contractors.

He assured President Lungu that further contracts amounting to US$26 million will be awarded to local firms under the 20 per cent threshold once bottlenecks such as delayed designs are sorted out.

Earlier President Lungu inspected rehabilitation works of the Daghammarskjold Underpass bridge in Ndola central business.

The Underbridge road which has been a source of concern to motorists is expected to help decongest Ndola city and link the central business district and industrial area.

Some residents of Kitwe’s Kawama, Chimwemwe, Kwacha, Buchi, Kamitondo on Monday morning staged a riot over allegations that ZAFFICO has been sold off to a Chinese private buyer by the Industrial Development Corporate.

The rioters also stoned a Clinic in Twatasha compound.

Copperbelt Provincial Police Commissioner Charity Katanga confirmed that the riots started in the morning and that some rioters have been picked up by police.

She said police will release a comprehensive report later today but that property that was looted in the riot has been recovered.

And Kitwe district commissioner Binwell Mpundu says he is disappointed that people could resort to uncivilized ways of responding to issues instead off dialogue.

Some of the rioters wondered why the PF government is treating the Chinese investors like Kings at the expense of ordinary Zambians.

The irate Residents denounced the PF government by chanting anti-Chinese slogans and wondered why the country is selling everything to the Chinese.
Some of the rioters wondered why the PF government is treating the Chinese investors like Kings at the expense of ordinary Zambians.

The riots follows another one which was staged by ZAFFICO workers in Kalulushi District on Friday who blocked roads demanding information that government has sold Zaffico to the Chinese.

According to the proposal in the 2019 national budget, government wants to list ZAFFICO shares on the Lusaka Securities Exchange, a move which has brought controversy as it has sparked debate that a Chinese investor is already lined up to buy the company.

But Lands Minister Jean Kapata last week rubbished the claims saying the listing of Zaffico shares on the Securities Exchange has nothing to do with rumours that the company will be sold off to Chinese.

Meanwhile, the Industrial Development Corporation has refuted claims that ZAFFICO has been sold.

IDC public relations manager Namakau Mukulebai said that any information to the contrary is untrue.

Ms Mukelebai said that plans are underway to list ZAFFICO on the LuSE and all Zambians will have an opportunity to buy shares, thereby becoming part-owners of the company.

She said that listing on the LuSE will provide ZAFFICO an opportunity to raise cheaper and longer dated capital to finance business growth to spur job creation and enhance domestic resource mobilisation.

The national pride of Zambia’s leading airline reached new heights as the airline celebrated Independence Day with the inaugural flight of its new 50-seat Dash 8-300 aircraft.

Dignitaries from the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Zambia Airports Corporation, Zambia Civil Aviation Authority, media and staff joined the plane’s first flight over Lusaka to celebrate the country’s 54th birthday.

The aircraft, which is being registered in Zambia, has been named Independence – and Ubuntungwa in Bemba – to mark the occasion, and in recognition of Proflight’s 27 years as an independent Zambian-owned and operated airline.

The latest growth in the airline’s fleet, which now stands at seven aircraft, was praised by

Zambia Tourism Agency Chief Executive Officer Felix Chaila, who said: “On behalf of the Zambia Tourism Agency and the Ministry of Tourism and Arts, we would like to congratulate Proflight Zambia on the launch of this new 50-seater Dash 8 aircraft.”

“In terms of promoting and marketing tourism in Zambia, this is a significant development. This is a big improvement in carrying capacity of air travel passengers domestically and regionally.”

He added: “We are aware that Proflight has been increasing its flights on the domestic and regional routes and having these larger capacity aircraft means that they will be operating efficiently, and we may be seeing a reduction in the fares.”

Meanwhile, Zambia Airports Corporation Director of Airport Services Agness Chaila said: “The inaugural flight on the Dash 8 was perfect, I liked the spaciousness of the aircraft, it was comfortable. As Zambia Airports we are very happy with this development.

“With the infrastructure we are constructing, the capacity that we are increasing on the terminus or the airports, we are happy we are receiving a positive response from the airlines. Proflight, which is the biggest domestic carrier, has shown this response with its continuous expansion of its fleet and destinations.”

Proflight’s Director of Government and Industry Affairs Capt. Philip Lemba welcomed the passengers aboard the Dash 8 with a champagne toast to Zambia’s 54th anniversary.

“We are very happy to have the Dash 8 join our fleet. As Proflight we continue to take pride to fly across the Zambian skies with a magnificent fleet of aircraft and team. The Dash 8 inaugural Independence flight is dedicated in celebration of Zambia’s 54th independence anniversary with the theme “celebrating a shared future of unity, development and prosperity”.

Proflight’s naming of the Dash 8 as Independence follows the theme started with the naming of its CRJ aircraft Chembe.

Proflight’s strategy of investment in bigger planes such as the Dash 8-300, built by Canadian aircraft manufacturer Bombardier Aerospace, propels the Zambian-owned and operated airline into the league of top-tier regional airlines operating the dash 8, which include Ethiopian airlines, QantasLink, Flybe, SA express and CemAir in South Africa.

Capt. Lemba stated: “With our commitment to offer world-class flight services, Proflight’s Dash 8-300 will be efficient and reliable in servicing our domestic and regional routes.

“The aircraft coming from the Bombardier family will bring more choice and greater value to our customers,” he added.

The new 50-seater dash 8 aircraft now brings Proflight’s total fleet number to seven aircraft, and the promise of more convenience and more destinations.

About Proflight Zambia

Proflight Zambia was established in 1991 and is Zambia’s leading scheduled airline. From its base in Lusaka its domestic routes include Livingstone, Mfuwe, Lower Zambezi, Kalabo, Ndola, Solwezi, Kasama, Ndola-Solwezi and Ndola-Kasama, and regional routes to Lilongwe in Malawi, Durban in South Africa, and Harare in Zimbabwe.

The airline prides itself in providing a safe, reliable, efficient and friendly service, and offering good value to business and leisure travellers locally and internationally.

The Patriotic From Central Committee will soon be meeting to evaluate the performance of its members of Parliament and review the intra patry elections held so far. President Edgar Lungu said that there are some Members of Parliament who are positioning their favourite candidates for the intra party elections in order to have a good chance of retaining their seats in 2021.

The President was speaking upon arrival at Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport in Ndola. President Lungu who is also PF party President has warned that the party will not adopt MPs who are underperforming in 2021 adding that no one is above the party.

He emphasised that the party will only work with people that are serving the interest of the Zambian people adding that he will soon be reviewing the performance of all MPs.

Meanwhile, President Lungu said he has been more than ready to meet the church and other stakeholders over the dialogue. He wondered why some church mother bodies have been accusing him of not wanting to meet him.

UPND Leader Hakainde Hichilema yesterday accepted the offer by the Catholic Church to reconcil him and President Edgar Lungu. He said the church has a successful history of bring political opponents together in the country in case of disputes.

President Lungu disclosed that he has not sidelined anyone to take part in the dialogue process, but that everyone is welcome, because it is for the benefit of every Zambian.

The Head of State wondered why some groupings feel sidelined with regards to holding of the dialogue, adding that he is however ready to take part in the dialogue, which is aimed at ensuring that peace and unity are fostered in the country.