Upcoming rapper , Noah Emmanuel Mumba Mpundu was born on the 14th of December 1999 in Lusaka, Zambia.” I got the Name ‘’Noah’’ when I was about 11 years old from a Bishop who anointed and prayed for me after I found a lot of curiosity in the story of Noah of the Bible during his preaching. The name ‘’Emmanuel’’ was given to me by my Dad who cited his uncle, my grand farther, the legendary Zambian musician, Emmanuel Mulemena.”

Asked how he come up with the moniker ‘Ohno’ he said  “…well initially I got the stage name ‘’Ohno’’ from my friends, technically. Whenever I’d be rapping over a beat most of my friends would yell, ‘Oh no!’ when I came about a metaphor or punchline in my verses, which is very common of me. I then took it up from there as a drive to always leave my audience speechless. So to me the name Ohno is symbol that stands in for the slick lyrics I deliver.

KAPA:  What made you decide to start making music and take it up seriously?

OHNO: I knew I had the ability to rap at a very young age but I was never known to be good with the crowds. It took time for people to actually listen to my lyrics because I had a hard time connecting with people even on a one on one scenario. Well they say time heals most things so with me it healed my strength and I finally started making music for people. My friends Willie and Ntasha, were the first to commend me along with James, who supplied the whole city(Luanshya) with my first song, I don’t know how. I took music seriously this year when I dropped my first single ‘’Wele’’ produced by Era Black

KAPA:  Hip hop in Zambia right now is the most popular genre of music. With many new artists coming onto the scene. What is it that separates you from the rest?

OHNO: Music in Zambia right now is major deal, not to talk about hip hop. It makes me feel happy to see a lot of artists, rappers in particular out there working hard to get themselves a solid platform and that’s what it’s all about now. Honestly I’m not about giving myself credit or citing that I’m the best this country has, no, I’m not about that, not yet. I rap based on situations, motives and supporting attributes such as life, love and where the world is at now. My lyrics are pure honey, that’s right, from a bee hive where stings are natural and very certain, painful. Fluency and fact are my main factors and I think that alone separates me from all the other rappers in Zambia. The people have to get the origin of the rhymes and bars you’re spitting, now that’s where the real hip hop is.

KAPA:  Being that you are still young is furthering your education a priority or are you concentrating on your music career?

OHNO: Age is one of the attributes I have on my side, but then of course why land on just one career when you can grab two of them by the neck. I for one know the power that sits in an education, I may not have been the best of brain stormers back in high school but I know the importance of school. Like my grand farther, the late Dr. Levy Mwanawasa, I’ve always been a fan of Agriculture and being on the farm. I have a high will to one day own one of the biggest production firms, producing food for Zambia only. I’m currently embarking on a degree program in Agriculture economics.

KAPA:  What does the word “Success” mean to you? What do you feel you need to achieve in order to be considered a successful artist?

OHNO: Success means everything to me and I have a number of things I want to check off my to do list. The most particular goal on my list is to one day fill up a stadium, and then another, and then another just like that.

KAPA: Who are some of the artists that inspire you, both locally and internationally?

OHNO: The artists that inspire me are Kendrick Lamar, J Cole, Big Sean, Casper Nyovest and Nasty C to be precise. Locally I know Chef 187 does it for me.

KAPA: Tell us about your latest single “Hello”, what is the concept of the song, how did it come about?

OHNO: Hello is a song that comes around from grief and disappointment though I wrote it in relation to everyone because I knew I wasn’t the only one going through that phase. I used the term ‘Hello’ to stand in as a symbol for ‘’I’m back’’ or ‘’I’m still here’’ or ‘’What’s up’’. This is in connection to let downs and people that want to see you fall and not achieve your purpose. I’m basically telling them you tried but failed cause I’m still here so ‘Hello’. Tazghi produced this single.

KAPA:  Apart from music, what else are you involved in?

OHNO:  I do a little bit of poetry, underground literature too. I’m a huge fan of traditional folk novels particularly from west Africa so I find myself writing books that I have never disclosed to anyone but my mum.

KAPA: Any last words…

OHNO: Music to me means everything and I want to show the World what I have to offer. I have a lot coming up just before the year ends and I can only succeed with all the love and support I can get from my own country.

BY Kapa Kaumba

Electronic devices such as mobile phones infected with Pegasus, a notorious spyware program sold only to governments, have been discovered in Zambia.

The spyware, developed by Israeli cyber warfare firm NSO Group, has been used to target Journalists and human rights activists across the world.

Tech experts say the spyware gives the attacker the ability to monitor, record, and collect existing and future data from the phone.

It falls into the category of surveillance tools “that are licensed to legitimate government agencies for the sole purpose of investigating crime and terror.”
NSO Group functions as a lawful company that creates advanced surveillance tools for Android and iPhone.

In a report titled ‘Hide and Seek’ which was released recently, Citizen Lab — a Canada based internet watchdog — identified 45 countries in which infected devices have been traced, after scanning the internet for servers associated with Pegasus spyware.

It also identified multiple instances of cross-border surveillance.

Twelve African countries, including Zambia, are on the list.

The others are: Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Kenya, Libya, Morocco, Rwanda, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda and South Africa 

In a statement to Citizen Lab, NSO Group said: “Our product is licensed to government and law enforcement agencies for the sole purpose of investigating and preventing crime and terror. Our business is conducted in strict compliance with applicable export control laws.” It added that there are “multiple problems” with the Citizen Lab report, and that the list of 45 countries is inaccurate.

In response to the report, the Committee to Protect Journalists, a non-governmental organization advocating for the rights of journalists, issued a safety advisory; “The spyware gives the attacker the ability to monitor, record, and collect existing and future data from the phone. This includes calls and information from messaging applications and real-time location data. The spyware is able to remotely activate the camera and microphone to surveil the target and their surroundings … Journalists will likely only know if their phone has been infected if the device is inspected by a tech expert.”

Pegasus works on phones running Android, BlackBerry OS, and iOS operating software. It can be installed simply by clicking on a link, which is often designed to look like a message from a source or a breaking news story.

In its report, the Citizen Lab said that it had identified several operators of Pegasus that seem to be targeting African countries.

“We identify five operators focusing on Africa, including one that appears to be predominantly focusing on the West African country of Togo, a staunch Israel ally whose long-serving President has employed torture and excessive force against peaceful opposition. The operator in Togo may have used websites with names like “nouveau president” (“new president”) and “politiques infos” (“political information”) to infect targets with spyware. A separate operator that appears to focus on Morocco may also be spying on targets in other countries including Algeria, France, and Tunisia.”

Zambia’s ICT regulator ZICTA was not immediately available for a comment.

Africa’s next generation of film and TV storytellers begin 12-month training programme

MultiChoice Africa is pleased to announce that the MultiChoice Talent Factory Academy in the Southern Region officially opened its doors at a glittering gala on 11 October 2018, held at the Zambia Institute of Mass Communication (ZAMCOM), an independent professional media training trust and heritage site in the heart of Lusaka.  The Academy Opening celebrated the future of the film and television industry with some of the Southern Region’s most esteemed figures including Honourable Ministers and distinguished dignitaries, talent and promising filmmakers.

Hon. Dora Siliya, Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services and Chief Government Spokesperson of the Republic of Zambia, graced the launch as keynote speaker.  Hon. Siliya acknowledged the partnership between Zambia and MultiChoice as rewarding: “The fact that MultiChoice can take a chance with the young people in the Region calls for a special applause. Under that point, I want to call on the private sector and reiterate that the magic in the film sector in other countries such as Nigeria is a result of the private sector such as banks and others taking a chance on the film industry.  We are not going to turn our stories if we are going to wait for financial support from overseas.  We can only tell our stories if the private sector in our countries in the Region takes a chance on these young people and most of all the film industry as a whole.”

In his welcoming address, Mr. Berry Lwando, Academy Director announced that the 20 candidates will be provided with skillsets to develop their talent, connect with industry professionals and tell authentic African stories through their 12-month training.  “The MultiChoice Talent Factory is committed to empowering young filmmakers and enriching the video broadcasting industry, and the academy is our key to doing this and addressing the numerous gaps across the Region.  We believe that given an opportunity, an empowered new generation of filmmakers and TV professionals will rise to take their place at the forefront of local creative industries, producing the very best of local African content for our customers”, Mr. Lwando said.

The students were officially welcomed into the Academy by Hon. Professor Nkandu Luo, Minister of Higher Education of the Republic of Zambia who recognised that the MTF curriculum that will comprise of theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience in cinematography, editing, audio production and storytelling is the first of its kind in Africa.  “We must celebrate the fact that Zambia has been chosen as the hub for the Southern Region.  I am confident that we the right curriculum that will be tested on the 20 students and it is my belief that this curriculum is not a static document.  As we move on with this training programme, we will be able to realign the training, so that Africa will be celebrating a team of professionals who will propel the film and television industry.  Today is a culmination of a lot of hard work between professionals from the University of Zambia and our Regulator, the Higher Education Authority and MultiChoice”.

When speaking about the partnership between ZAMCOM and MultiChoice, Mr. Matongo Matamwandi, Board Chairman of the ZAMCOM Trust commented:  “You will be interested to know that ZAMCOM is not just an academic institution but also a national heritage site.  We are adding another milestone to the heritage of ZAMCOM with the Talent Factory.  This is a programme that adds value to ZAMCOM in the with the opportunity to provide a training facility to the Academy and hosting and providing accommodation to the students at ZAMCOM Lodge.  In terms of sustainable investment, beyond the three years of this project, all the installations that have been set up will become the property of ZAMCOM to enable the staff to run with similar projects in the future”.

In the spirit of igniting Africa’s creative industries, the event was filled with entertainment hosted by MCs, David Mbeha from Namibia (TLC Next Great Presenter 2015) and Mwaka Mugala, lead actress in Zambian telenovela ZUBA.  The opening bout featured vibrant acts such as traditional dancing, LED stilt walkers, fire jugglers, a ladder show and everything inbetween.social, performed by members of Circus Zambia, a non-profit organisation that equips young people with circus and life skills.

The main show featured a number of top rising artists from countries across the Southern Region who were mentored by esteemed industry expert, Mr. Jeff Sitali.  Their performances depicted stories through song, acrobatics, hip hop dancing and even a journey through human sound. The talented cast included Katiliana Capinoiça from and Bernardino Macosso from Angola, Katlego Ntirang aka Data Seiko (Botswana), Kufewa Acrobats (Malawi), twins Elton and Elson Dos Santos Macuacua (Mozambique), Aishe Lenge (Namibia), ProBeatz (Zimbabwe) and Chiedza Musipa (Zambia).

Mr. Nyiko Shiburi, Regional Director – Southern Region for MultiChoice Africa said that the business believes that a key ingredient of businesses prosperity and sustainability is having the right partners and enabling government and regulatory regimes which stimulates business the broader economy and creates prosperity for all. “Our DStv and GOtv mission is to ensure that our customers continue to not miss out on the biggest sporting events and experiences alongside powerful local stories, riveting movies and news of the moments that shape our world.  For MultiChoice, there is a plethora of instances that show our dedication to local and relatable content. Through our channels, MultiChoice has made extensive investments in the development of original programming in the Southern Region.”

He concluded by stating the importance of protecting the industry when it comes to matters of piracy and working together across the Region and indeed the continent, with policy, law enforcement, media and community partners to address the issue a collective.

Leading think tank, Zambia Institute for Policy Analysis and Research has observed that the recently announced 2019 Budget does not have any clear, specific measures to reduce the fiscal deficit to 3% of GDP by 2020, as targeted in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework.

In its detailed analysis of the 2019 budget entitled, “The Elephant in the Room,” ZIPAR states that the deficit and the debt will remain as large elephants in the room in 2018.

It said to reduce debt distress and return to lower levels of risk, the Government will implement a Debt Strategy 2017-2019 and will revise the Loans and Guarantees (Authorisation) Act in 2018.

Fiscal fitness or consolidation measures will be applied on both revenue and expenditure, with: a slower increase in spending in 2018 (K7.2 billion) relative to 2017 (K11.4 billion); and a significantly larger revenue increase in 2018 (K6.1 billion) compared to 2017 (K800 million).

It however points out that policy risks from unanticipated spending pressures, particularly inflated procurement costs, still remain and could readily derail the fiscal discipline agenda.

ZIPAR also states that key fiscal legal instruments – Public Finance Act, Loans and Guarantees Act, Public Procurement Act and the Budgeting and Planning Bill – need urgent revision and enactment to ensure accelerated fiscal fitness.

“In the 2018 Budget, the deficit and debt situations are essentially the elephant in the room. Zambia’s fiscal deficit has been on the rise since 2013 due to ambitious infrastructure development programmes. Consequently, the national debt stock has mounted, reaching 47% of GDP in 2017,” the report reads.

“In 2019, K20.1 billion or 28.1% of the budget will be financed through domestic and external borrowing. Debt servicing is expected to be around 20% of total Budget expenditure and of this, external debt payment will total K7.3 billion while domestic debt repayment will amount to approximately K7 billion. Clearly, the deficit and the debt will remain as large elephants in the room in 2018. To reduce debt distress and return to lower levels of risk, the Government will implement a Debt Strategy 2017-2019 and will revise the Loans and Guarantees (Authorisation) Act in 2018.

It added, “However, the 2019 Budget does not have any clear, specific measures to reduce the fiscal deficit to 3% of GDP by 2020, as targeted in the MTEF. Moreover, an essential element that should be incorporated into debt management legislation is a provision for the setting of fiscal rules or legally binding, long-standing quantitative restrictions on some budgetary or fiscal aggregates.”

It noted that the age-old big push for infrastructure expansion is set to continue in 2018, positioning infrastructure spending as a sacred cow in the Budget.

“Ironically, the sacred cow syndrome is perpetuated at a time when the country needs fiscal discipline in order to attain fiscal fitness. With the planned spending specified in the 2018 Budget and possible pressures for unplanned infrastructure spending, the unrelenting drive for infrastructure development pose a significant risk for Zambia to accelerate its fiscal fitness.

Meanwhile, ZIPAR has noted that some important budgetary commitments were mysteriously deferred to 2018 (from 2017) or dropped from the Budget.

It says these shifting and vanishing pledges threaten the integrity and credibility of the Budget.

“For instance, the 2017 Budget pledged to “support the creation of at least 100,000 decent jobs”; this simply vanished in the 2018 Budget, leaving the country wondering what happened to the 100,000 jobs. Similarly, the total proposed Budget for 2018, at K71.7 billion, is nominally 9.5% larger than the MTEF projected Budget for the same year (K65.4 billion). The proposed 2018 Budget was also larger than the projected 2019 MTEF Budget (K69.1 billion). Thus, MTEF projections are not good predictors of final budget allocations, even over time horizons that are as short as one month.”

“Ultimately, the shifting and vanishing pledges risk undermining fiscal governance. On the whole, the 2018 Budget has charted a course for accelerating fiscal fitness and putting Zambian back on the path of robust sustained and inclusive growth and development that leaves no one behind. However, the Budget will only be worth its salt and will only achieve the accelerated fiscal fitness it desires if the Government can must the will, persistence and discipline to stay true to the policy, strategic and numerical commitments it has stipulated.”

Copperbelt Province PF Chairman Stephen Kainga says intra-party elections should not divide the ruling party.

There was another new punch up in Chingola yesterday during the ward elections which some officials have charged that the registered has been manipulated.

Kainga said he has received the complaints of others being left out and barred from contesting.

Kainga said the complaints are at ward level and today the provincial leadership will sit with the Ward officials, Constituency and the Chingola District leadership to verify and iron out the complaints.

And the elections in Ndola Central Constituency have been suspended.

Officials in Ndola Central have accused suspended Zambia Postal Service Post master general McPherson Chanda of causing confusion.

Meanwhile, Patriotic Front (PF) Secretary General Davies Mwila say the party will not condone violence to characterize inter-party elections. Mr. Mwila has observed that the reported violence involving cadres from Chawama Constituency in Lusaka today is an affront to democracy and will not be condoned by the party.

Mr Mwila said that intra-party elections were never designed to weaken the in-built democracy but to strengthen it.

Mr. Mwila who was speaking during the official launch of intra-party election for Eastern province said that violence must not be associated with democracy and has called on the Police to bring all perpetrators of the violence to book. He has also directed PF members with information to cooperate with the Police.

This is contained in a statement issued to ZNBC News by PF Media Director Sunday Chanda.

Cabinet has approved three bills and resolved to reduce the Hippo population along the Luangwa river following damage to the environment.

Chief Government spokesperson Dora Siliya says the three bills are “The Statistics Bill, 2018,” “The Border Management and Trade Facilitation Bill, 2018” and Constituency Development Fund Bill, 2018.

Ms. Siliya says all the bills have been approved for publication and introduction in the current sitting of parliament.

She says the introduction of the Statistics Bill, 2018, will provide for the establishment of an integrated National Statistical System.

The Chief Government Spokesperson adds that this Bill will also ensure best practice of collection of statistics as well as credibility of statistics through an Independent Statistical Agency.

And Ms. Siliya says the Border Management and Trade Facilitation Bill, 2018 aims at providing for coordinated border management and control for the efficient movement and clearance of goods.

She further notes that Cabinet feels enacting the Constituency Development Fund Bill will ensure accountability by providing for mechanisms of disbursing funds to Constituencies.

Meanwhile, Ms. Siliya has revealed that Cabinet further upheld the contract with the now defunct Zambia Wildlife Authority and Mabwe Adventures Limited on Hippo Culling along the Luangwa River.

She says Cabinet is aware that the current population of hippos in the Luangwa River is at 13-thousand which is beyond the carrying capacity of 9-thousand on a 270 km stretch.

Ms. Siliya says this has caused considerable damage to the environment, river banks and continues to threaten the sustainability of the river system

And Ms. Siliya says cabinet took note of Zambia’s planned participation at the up-coming 2018 African Union Sport Council Region 5 Under 20 Games from December 7th to 16th, 2018 to be held in Gaborone, Botswana.

She says Zambia’s participation in the regional sporting event is necessary as it will contribute to the exposure of young athletes at high level competitions.

Ms. Siliya says Cabinet has also resolved that this year’s National Day of Prayer, Fasting, Repentance and Reconciliation slated for Thursday, October18th, 2018 will be graced by President Edgar Lungu, in Kabwe, at the Zambia Railways Stadium, under the theme: “Facing the Future as a Reconciled, United and Prosperous Nation under God’s Guidance.”

This is contained in a statement availed to ZNBC News in Lusaka.

Economic and Equity Party Leader Chilufya Tayali has reported UPND Leader Hakainde Hichilema to Lusaka Central Police Station as a key suspect behind the riot at the University of Zambia which saw the death of a 4th year Education Student Verspers Shimuzhila who died on October 4 after suffocating following the tear gas which was fire by the Zambia Police officers

According to Mr Tayali, Police who have already opened a docket to establish the cause of death for the late Ms Shimuzhila and the culprits behind the riots have also taken down his statement on allegations that Mr Hichilema is the alleged sponsor of the UNZA riots.

As a complainant, the EEP Leader wants
the UPND Leader Mr Hichilema to be arrested for allegedly inciting violence at the Highest learning Institution.

Mr Tayali’s complaint comes barely few days after he was summoned by the Lusaka Magistrates Court to answer to a complaint of publishing defamatory statements against UPND Leader Hakainde ..

This follows a complaint for for criminal libel which was filed by Mr Hichilema at Woodlands Police Station on October 9 in which Mr Tayali is expected to appear before court on Wednesday October 17 to answer to this charge.

Meanwhile, Mr Tayali says he is ready to meet Mr Hichilema in Court.

When Contacted for a comment, UPND Spokesperson Charles Kakoma has has advised Mr Tayali to just prepare himself to go to court on Wednesday and answer to his charges and lay his evidence on the table.

Mr Kakoma has described Mr Tayali’s move as a waste of time and resources for going to the police to report on a similar natter that he was already reported on by the UPND Leader.

Police could not be reached for a comment as mobile phones went unanswered.

Kwacha member of Parliament Joe Malanji yesterday surprised the Chipata Catholic Church when he gave 50 KG bag of mealiemeal to over 500 church members.

Malanji made the donation as a way to thank the people of Kwacha for voting him into office as their Member of Parliament.

He was speaking when he handed over 500 bags of mealie meal worth K50, 000 K20, 000 for fencing of the church and construction of an ablution block and K10, 000 for the members who attended the service at Chipata Catholic church yesterday.

Malanji who is also Foreign Affairs Minister said the Catholic Church in his constituency is doing a commended able job as seen by works the church is doing for the orphans at the school.

He said that Chipata Catholic Church had built a school within its premises as it takes education as a priority to the young learners.

“I commend the church for taking an initiative to build a school that helps the community especially children coming from vulnerable home. The initiative by the church will curb illiteracy levels in the community.Most MPs when they are voted in office do not come back to their constituencies to thank the voters who put in office. I’m assuring the congregants that government will soon get into talks with the Ministry of Education to send teachers at the school to give the school a status it deserves,” he said.

Malanji said the construction of 1×5 classroom will commerce at the church grounds to help the vulnerable children.

Later, there was jubilation in church when the law maker announced that each member present in church will go home with a bag of mealie meal and money to buy relish.

And in his homily Chipata Catholic Priest Mwewa Songe implored his congregants to lead honest lives as his church will continue praying for leaders in government so that they lead their people well.

Fr Mwewa appealed to government to consider upgrading Chipata compound into a township as it has a lot development programs taking place in the compound.

He said the gesture will go a long in alleviating the lives of the local people further thanking the area MP for the donation assuring him that will be used for the intended purpose.