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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.
Chipolopolo coach Sven Vandenbroeck says he would have quit if he didn’t believe they were still in the 2019 AFCON qualifying race.
Zambia’s Group K qualifying hopes suffered a massive setback on October 14 away in Bissau where they threw away a one-nil halftime lead to lose 2-1 to hosts Guinea Bissau.
The result left Zambia bottom of Group K and trailing three points behind leaders Guinea Bissau after four games played.
Mozambique and Namibia are also on 4 points but with a match in hand heading into their match-day four fixture in Windhoek on Tuesday night.
“We will have won our next two games then we will qualify. If I say we can’t them it is better I resign but we are going to have to win our next two games,” Vandenbroeck said.
Zambia must beat Mozambique away in their penultimate Group K match on November 16 and Namibia at home on March 22, 2019
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.
First Lady Esther Lungu upon arrival at Chibote in Pambashe Constituency for an Outreach Programme to mentor the girl Child and empower women in Kawambwa District
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First Lady Esther Lungu greets residents in Pambashe Constituency in Kawambwa District
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First Lady Esther Lungu greets Chief Chama upon arrival at Chibote in Pambashe Constituency for an Outreach Programme to mentor the girl Child and empower women in Kawambwa District on Monday, October 15,2018-Picture by Thomas Nsama
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First Lady Esther Lungu greets Chief Chama upon arrival at Chibote in Pambashe Constituency for an Outreach Programme to mentor the girl Child and empower women in Kawambwa District on Monday, October 15,2018-Picture by Thomas Nsama
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First Lady Esther Lungu greets residents in Pambashe Constituency in Kawambwa District
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First Lady Esther Lungu with Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development Ronald Chitotela upon arrival at Chibote in Pambashe Constituency for an Outreach Programme to mentor the girl Child and empower women in Kawambwa District on Monday, October 15,2018-Picture by Thomas Nsama
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First Lady Esther Lungu with Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development Ronald Chitotela upon arrival at Chibote in Pambashe Constituency for an Outreach Programme to mentor the girl Child and empower women in Kawambwa District on Monday, October 15,2018-Picture by Thomas Nsama
The United Party for National Development (UPND) has described the the 2019 National Budget presented by Finance Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe as the most useless budget the Patriotic Front (PF) government has ever presented in Parliament.
In a statement made available to the media and signed by the party Spokesperson, UPND appealed to all members of parliament to reject it
Below is the full statement
UPND STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.
14TH OCTOBER 2019.
REJECT 2019 NATIONAL BUDGET.
The National Budget announced by Finance Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe is the most useless budget the Patriotic Front (PF) government has ever presented in Parliament.
As the United Party for National Development ( UPND ), we would like to appeal to all the Honourable Members of Parliament to reject the budget. There are many reasons for rejecting the 2019 national budget but here are a few reasons:
1. The budget has put more taxes in people’s pockets instead of putting more money in their pockets.
For the first time in the history of the PF government, the Minister of Finance offered NO TAX RELIEF to workers. The suffering workers will continue to pay huge PAYE amounting to K11.4 billion through the nose to meet the luxury life styles of the Apamwambas. The workers will pay K11.4billion which is more than all the companies in Zambia combined at K7.5 billion.
To make matters worse, the minister hid alot of fees and fines which people are going to start paying under non-tax revenue. The minister merely stated that she will introduce cost-reflective tariffs under non-tax revenue. What this means is that government will start unleashing statutory instruments to increase fees and fines. The country has already tested Mwanakatwe’s medicine on cost-reflective tariffs through the increase in fuel prices a few hours after the presentation of the national budget. New electricity tariffs are also coming. Fees for things like licences, traffic offences, title deeds, court fees, market levies, education and health are likely to be hiked.
The issue is that government is there to provide a service and not to make profits. People pay taxes to enable government to provide various services. Government should not be in the business of reaping profit from poor people.
The taxation in the 2019 national budget has so been reckless that it will kill the goose that lays the golden egg. The minister targeted small scale businesses to collect more taxes by increasing the turnover tax to 4% from 3% previously. Small businesses must be nurtured and given incentives to grow and prosper rather than choking them with unaffordable higher taxes.
Similarly, abolishing the Value Added Tax (VAT) and re-introducing the Sales Tax will push up costs for industry that add value to their products. In this modern age and error where most economies in the world are finding it prudent and fashionable to go for the VAT system, it is strange for Zambia to take 20 steps backwards and resurrect the dead and buried Sales Tax. We are back to the UNIP days of sales tax!
Claiming VAT on inputs was helping industry to lower costs of production. If the government was having problems with the mines on VAT refunds, they should have resolved the issue within the mining sector rather than extending it to the whole economy. The problem of collection and utilisation of VAT was that the Zambia Revenue Authority was collecting the VAT on inputs and surrendering it to government for immediate consumption instead of reserving it for a possible refund for a specified period. When people were making the VAT claims for refund, the government had already chewed the money. The problem is not the VAT. The problem is the government which is reckless in expenditure.
Sales Tax will hurt the poor people more. With the introduction of the Sales Tax, whose rate was not revealed in the budget, prices of goods and services will shoot up.
2. The 2019 nationalbudget is a “Kaloba Budget “. Most of the money in the budget will go towards paying both external and internal debt. External debt payment is estimated at K14.9 billion while domestic debt payment is K8.6 billion , giving a combined total figure of K23.6 billion. This amount allocated for debt service is more than the budget for many ministries. For example, the whole budget for the Ministry of Health is K8 billion only. The money for nkongole is also more than that for education which was allocated K13.2 billion compared to K23.6 billion for debt service. The implication of this is that the delivery of health and education services is going to suffer. Money for social protection such as pension, social cash transfer, food security pack and public welfare security scheme will be diverted to pay kaloba in the budget. Despite the debt service being high already, the PF government still wants to borrow more money. That is being reckless.
3. The 2019 national budget is a budget for teargas. About K2.9 billion has been allocated for public order and safety. What is the PF government scared of for them to plan to spend more on public order? We cannot have a government that is scared of its own people. The UPND will not endorse a budget that intends to buy more teargas and bullets for the police. The country has already lost an innocent girl at the University of Zambia due to police brutality and teargas. UPND has in the past lost some of its members like Mapenzi Chibulo due to trigger happy cops. We cannot be part of a scheme to buy weapons that are going to be used against our own people.
Because of the reasons outlined above and many more reasons too numerous to outline in this article, we the UPND have decided to reject the 2019 national budget.
The position taken by the Zambia Chamber of Mines, regarding the new taxes proposed in Zambia’s 2019 national budget, is patently flawed. Mining policy changes are global, and they are just beginning. Zambia is not alone in this regard. It is not getting any easier in any mining jurisdiction, the world over. The mining industry’s capital allocation will obviously react to these new business threats, and a new equilibrium would be reached. To characterize the potential new equilibrium in the global mining business as Zambia being ‘un-investible’ is tantamount to economic treason.
Earlier this year (2018), The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) signed into law, mining policy changes that include a sliding scale on mineral royalties, higher taxes and removal of a 10 year stability period that made mines exempt to policy changes for a decade after passing said changes into law. This is similar in substance to what Zambia is planning to do. To postulate that recommended changes to Zambia’s tax code are not seen anywhere else in the world is professional dishonesty. Granted, the mechanics of taxes, royalties, ownership requirements and other value retention methods may differ slightly from country to country. The gist of the conversation is sustainable long term value maximization for host nations in the mineral resource sector. Does it have to be feasting for shareholders and famine for host communities? Is there a sustainable happy medium, somewhere?
One noteworthy event that occurred in the mining industry in September 2018 is what happened in Indonesia. Through their parastatal mining entity (PT Indonesia), the Indonesian government reached an agreement with Freeport McMoran and Rio Tinto for the host nation to take a controlling stake (51%) in the Grasberg mine joint venture. The controlling stake ownership will commence after Indonesia pays the two global miners $3.9 billion. Freeport, as you may know, is the number 2 copper producer in the world after the Chilean parastatal Codelco, and the Grasberg mine itself is the second largest producing copper mine in the world, after BHP’s Escondida mine in Chile. In return for the concession, Freeport’s license to mine in Indonesia will be extended to 2041. This event sets the stage for new relationships among mining multi nationals and host nations.
According to Informine.com, The Lower Chamber of Chile’s Parliament has begun studying a project that would set a 3% mining royalty for all companies operating in the country, which is the world’s top copper producer and the one with the largest known reserves of lithium. The idea is to have miners contributing part of their profits to the regions where they operate, Radio Universidad de Chile reported (in Spanish). The last time Chile increased its mining royalties was in 2010, following an 8.8 magnitude earthquake that left the government scrambling for additional funds to rebuild the devastated areas. At the time, mining taxes went from between 4 and 5 percent to 4 percent to 9 percent of sales on a sliding scale. You may note that this tax is a percent of sales, not profit. The royalty rose again early this year (2018) to between 5 to 14 percent. Closer to home in South Africa, the minister of mines Gwede Mantashe is finalizing a draft charter that increases black ownership of mines from 26% to 30% in 5 years. One third of said black ownership should be granted free of charge to communities and qualifying employees.
The four examples given above, DRC, South Africa, Chile and Indonesia are just few instances highlighting that changes to Zambia’s mining policy are in line with other mining jurisdictions. Also, Zambia’s new tax code is not as overreaching as other nations are going, to maximize the share of mineral resource profits retained in host nations. In as much as some capital may flee these proposed changes, there is potential for new capital to flow in from alternative sources. We shall not mention the Asian elephant in the room. Also, there is a new form of capital in business, that is more open to equitable profit sharing. This form of capital is called ‘Just Capital’, because it has some elements of social justice to it. Think of it as corporate social responsibility embedded inside of the business itself, and not a mosquito net donating side show. The Zambia Chamber of Mines is on the wrong side of history, in their analysis of the proposed changes in Zambia’s 2019 budget. No surprises on their position, considering their source of funding. It appears imminent that the Minister of Finance, Honourable Margaret Mwanakatwe, might cave in on the proposed changes to the tax code, and end up on the wrong side of the argument as well, when all is said and done. I hope to be proven wrong by the Honourable minister.
FILE: Senior Chief Chiwala stresses a point as Copperbelt Minister Bowman Lusambo looks onSenior Chief Chiwala of the Lamba speaking people in Masaiti district of the Copperbelt says he will not ask government again about the poor state of roads in his chiefdom.
The traditional leader said enough is enough as he has complained a lot.
He said he fears what will happen and how his people will be moving with the coming of the rain season.
Senior Chief Chiwala said despite having been assured that roads will be worked on, nothing is coming forth.
“I think we have talked enough. I have complained enough. The roads are in a bad state. And the rains are almost here, so am wondering how our people will be moving.”
“Look, we only been given stretch of from Ndola-Kabwe road junction to somewhere at Chiwala Secondary School. Now what of the first of the areas? How will people move? We have asked RDA but nothing is coming,” the traditional leader said.
He said for now, there is no hope of any roads because the rains are starting in a few weeks.
Senior Chief Chiwala said he hopes that the government will take his concerns of poor roads.
President Edgar Lungu on Board Zambia airforce MA60 Presidential aircraft flying to the Copperbelt
For Immediate Release
14th October 2018
MEDIA RELEASE
PROVISION OF AIR SUPPORT TO THE PRESIDENT AND GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA IS THE MANDATE OF THE ZAMBIA AIRFORCE
LUSAKA, (Sunday, 14th October 2018) — The Constitution of the Republic of Zambia mandates the Zambia Airforce (ZAF) to provide air support and maintenance of the highest standards of aviation security to the President and all government officials duly authorized to use the air assets of the State.
In this regard, to carry out this onerous constitutional mandate, the Zambia Airforce, in 2012, embarked on a programme to replace its aging fleet of transport and fighter aircraft and other associated air defence equipment. This procurement of aircraft and associated air assets is a lengthy process and still on going due to the time it takes to select appropriate aircraft and equipment and the laborious legal procedures in line with the Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) Act.
The upgrading of our air defence system is in line with the mandate given to the Defence Modernization Committee, which was appointed by His Excellency Mr. Michael Chilufya Sata, May His Soul Rest in Peace. This Committee has regularly briefed His Excellency Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, President of the Republic of Zambia on the progress being made in the procurement process. Whenever budgetary allocations have been available, and procurement guidelines completed, we have, as an on-going process, purchased the required air and ground defence assets to respond to the defence and security needs of the country.
I therefore wish to inform the general public that information circulating regarding Zambia’s procurement of aircraft is not only misleading, but also manifestly malicious and designed to malign the reputation of the President and his government in general. I wish to stress that aviation security for the Head of State is not a function of State House but that of the Ministry of Defence through the Zambia Airforce as per its constitutional mandate.
The Zambia Airforce is the only State institution, which is mandated to provide air mobility to the Head of State and as such, ZAF remains the only procuring agent for government aircraft. This is the mandate ZAF has been carrying out since its inception in 1964 has supported all administrations as such.
Let me therefore stress that there is no US$400 million being spent on any single aircraft or military equipment as falsely and maliciously alleged by the Africa Confidential and other media platforms.
Again, in line with the Constitutional mandate of the Zambia Army, a decision was made to establish a Marine Unit for Special Forces domiciled at Kala Barracks in Kawambwa. The procurement process was done in full compliance with the ZPPA Act and this Unit for Special Forces was publicly launched by the President and the groundbreaking ceremony was also a public function. This was also the case with the decision to upgrade the Mina Soko Military Hospital. So there no truth in the stories being peddled around on these two projects. Now that they are tired of attacking Chinese-financed projects, they have turned to attacking all procurement projects involving the State of Israel.
I wish to state also that defence procurement is just what it is, it is informed by geopolitical defence and security considerations. We are not going to tell you on a daily basis why this military unit is based here and not there. We are not going to tell you the configuration of our defence assets, capability and range of assets and why they are being bought. We cannot trivialize defence operations in the manner some are suggesting.
Mr. Stardy Mwale
PERMANET SECRETARY
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
Solar ModulesCronimet, a German Mining Power Solutions Company says visionary leadership is key in attracting Foreign Direct Investment into Africa.
Company Managing Director Rollie Armstrong says his firm counts Zambia’s President Edgar Lungu among Africa’s visionary leaders hence the company’s decision to invest over a 100 million Euros in solar generated power.
“We are aware of the decisions the Zambian leader has taken in the energy sector thus making it worthwhile to invest in the country,” Mr. Armstrong said when he paid a courtesy call on Zambia’s Ambassador to Germany Anthony Mukwita.
Mr. Armstrong noted that there is a lot of money in the global investment market that investors want to invest in countries with visionary leadership.
“We have mobilized between 500 and 1 billion dollars in investment funds to be invested in several African countries among them Zambia”, Mr. Armstrong who was accompanied by his investment partner Meir Assouline, an influential Brussels based lawyer said.
And Ambassador Mukwita commended Cronimet for choosing Zambia as an investment destination.
Ambassador Mukwita said the investment decision was in the right direction as President Lungu has taken some of the most difficult decisions ever taken by any leader since 1964 when Zambia became an independent nation.
“For the first time in the country’s history, President Lungu scrapped subsidies that had stifled private investment in the energy sector, a decision that had scared his predecessors because of the potential social and political turmoil that have been observed in some parts of the world where similar policy measures have been taken”, the Zambian envoy observed.
He said once a Power Purchase Agreement, PPA, is signed with ZESCO with the support of the Zambian government, Cronimet will develop both grid-connected and off-grid connected Photovoltaic that once commissioned, will have an asset value in excess of 100 million euros.
“President Lungu’s visionary leadership is clear in the energy sector as the future of energy globally is shifting to clean renewable resources”, Ambassador Mukwita has observed.
Economic and Equity Party Leader Chilufya Tayali has accused UPND President Hakainde Hichilema of engaging in diabolical activities that are aimed at maligning the country and the Leadership of President Edgar Lungu.
Mr. Tayali said some of the activities Mr. Hichilema is engaging in with the UPND are painting a picture to the outside world that Zambia is full of corrupt people.
“Mr. Hichilema and his UPND people have engaged a number of bloggers and Activists who are sitting in Dipak Patel’s place and they are busy offloading negative sentiments about Zambia to African Confidential, the BBC and now Norwegian Media publishing negative sentiments about Zambia”. Mr. Tayali has alleged.
He said what Mr. Hichilema is doing is diabolical and has potential to set the country on fire.
“It doesn’t matter who you are and how much you pay me, whether a K1000 or K10,000, if you do anything that will dent the image of the nation, I will criticise you”. He added.
And Mr. Tayali said Mr. Hichilema is behind the article in the Norwegian Newspapers that Norway has cut aid to Zambia because President Edgar Lungu has bought himself a new plane costing $400 million.
“Yes, two Presidential jets have been bought and are not costing $400 million, one plane is costing $45 million and the other one $65 million contrary to the article in the Norwegian newspaper”. Mr. Tayali said.
He said the decision by Norway to cut aid to Zambia was made 3 year ago through a parliamentary debate when they decided to cut aid to countries that had reached the middle-income status as they did not need their aid.
Mr. Tayali also clarified that the decision to buy the planes was not made by President Edgar Lungu but the Zambia Airforce.
Meanwhile, Mr. Tayali has also accused Mr. Hichilema of having funded the formation of the National Empowerment Forum headed by Edgar Siakachoma as a scheme to mobilize members for the UPND.
Mr. Tayali who has declared readiness to meet Mr. Hichilema in Court if he decides to sue him again said the NEF does not speak for Zambians and has been recruiting members among them men in Uniform, Teachers and University of Zambia students on behalf of the party.
“UPND is using NEF to recruit members, they have a policy called 40/40, what that means is that when you attend the meeting for the first time, you must also recruit another 40 members and people are flocking to the Organisation because they want empowerment”. Mr. Tayali has said.
But NEF Executive Director Edgar Siakachoma said he has instructed his lawyers to take legal action against Mr. Tayali for linking his Organisation to the UPND.
“For the record, NEF is a legal entity – a Non-Governmental Organisation – that aimed to supporting the Empowerment of Zambians. The allegations that the President of UPND, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema is funding us are a total fabrication”. Mr. Siakachoma explained.
He said at no time has NEF ever bought any motor bike or the purported bicycles, and to allege that the late Vespers Shimuzhila was recruited by NEF is lies.
And UPND Secretary General Stephen Katuka has described Mr. Tayali as a bad brought up child, who is following instructions from his pay masters to malign Mr. Hichilema and the UPND, to put food on the table.
Zambia’s 2019 AFCON qualifying race is back on the backburner after a 2-1 away loss against Guinea Bissau.
Despite arriving a day earlier than their hosts on a charter flight on Thursday while the home side endured 20 hour trip home on a scheduled flight via Dubai, the football gods still favoured Guinea Bissau on Sunday to take the three points in Bissau.
It was a bitter defeat for Zambia, who for the second time in Bissau, capitulated to against the 2017 AFCON finalists.
But it was Zambia who took the lead in the 11th minute when Justin Shonga fired in a free kick to calm Chipolopolo’s nerves after foiling an opening two minute flurry from Guinea Bissau.
The goal gave Chipolopolo impetus but they failed to turn the domination into more goals.
Guinea Bissau, though, did have the ball in the back of the net in the 33rd minute when Jose Mendes pushed goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene, and the ball, into the back of the net but the infringement was rightly given.
However, Guinea Bissau equalized in the 53rd minute thanks to an own goal by Stopilla Sunzu when Brito Silva left a suspect Solomon Sakala in his wake before the Metz defender deflected the ball into his own net.
Seven minutes later , Guinea Bissau sealed their victory when Tony Silva headed-in Mendes’s free kick to give Chipolopolo a mountain to climb and dispatch them to their second Group K loss.
Guinea Bissau go top of Group K on 7 points from four games and await the outcome of Tuesday clash in Windhoek between Namibia and Mozambique, who like Zambia, are all on 4 points, if they are kings heading into November’s penultimate fixtures.
Meanwhile, Chipolopolo must now beat Mozambique away on November 16 and Namibia at home on March 22 to stay relevant in the hunt.
Guinea Bissau visit Namibia in November before hosting Mozambique next March in Bissau where they now enjoy a 100 percent winning run in Group K.
The Drug Enforcement Commission and the Bank of Zambia are investigating a Company trading as Heritage Coin Resources Limited which has been operating in the Financial sector without a license from the Bank of Zambia and other sector regulators.
Drug Enforcement Commission Deputy Public Relations Officer Kamufinsa Manchishi said the Company is being investigated for activities contrary to the Prohibition and Prevention of Money Laundering as well as the Banking and Financial Services Acts respectively.
“The company has since been offering financial services and collecting deposits from members of the public. As such, the Commission together with the Bank of Zambia are currently investigating the company for activities contrary to the Prohibition and Prevention of Money Laundering as well as the Banking and Financial Services Acts respectively”. Mr. Manchishi has said.
Mr. Manchishi urged members of the public who may have been making deposits with the company to remain calm and contact the Commission’s Anti-Money Laundering Investigations Unit for further information.
“The Commission wishes to warn members of the public to always be cautious when dealing with financial institutions owing to the increase in financial crimes as well as companies promising unusually high returns on deposits”. He added
Meanwhile, Mr. Manchishi said the Commission through its Anti-Money Laundering Investigations Unit in Lusaka has arrested one person for money laundering activities involving over $360,000.00 United States Dollars.
Likando Kamayoyo, 32, a Sales Representative of plot number N22 Chamba Valley in Lusaka District has been arrested and charged with theft by servant, theft by agent and money laundering, contrary to the laws of Zambia.
“Particulars of the offences are that the suspect, on dates unknown but between 1st January, 2016 and 1st November, 2017 whilst acting together with other persons unknown did steal agro-commodities worth $366,199.80 US Dollars in separate incidents from his employers and two Agro-Companies in Lusaka.
Mr. Manchishi said facts of the matter are that the suspect in his capacity as a sales representative of a named fertilizer distribution company in Lusaka stole fertilizer worth $49,200.00 by purporting that the said fertilizer had been supplied to a named customer when in fact it was supplied to his company called Agro Home.
He said the suspect further fraudulently collected 22,320 by 50Kg bags of white maize grains worth over $316, 000 US Dollars from a named Agro-Company purporting that he was acting on behalf of his employer when in fact not.
Mr. Manchishi said the suspect has been released on Police bond and will appear in court soon.
North-Western province minister Nathaniel Mubukwanu (l) is paid a courtesy call by Congolese Lualaba province vice governor Fin Saini (r) and her entourage at the provincial minister’s office in Solwezi on Wednesday. PICTURE BY BETRAM KAOMA (ZANIS)
North-western Province Minister Nathaniel Mubukwanu has said parents should not use the vulnerability of their underage daughters as an excuse to marry them off.
Mr. Mubukwanu said government was commitment towards ensuring that every girl child in Zambia is given an opportunity to grow up into responsible members of society.
He said this yesterday when he flagged off the community cycling competition in Solwezi which was organised by Kansanshi Mine under the theme “stop child marriage.”
Mr. Mubukwanu commended the mining company for partnering with government in promoting the agenda against child marriages in the province.
He has meanwhile encouraged people to take up sporting activities such as cycling to avoid illnesses and to stay healthy.
And Kansanshi Mine Public Relations Manager Godfrey Msiska said the cycling competition, which attracted 300 cyclists, was aimed at sensitising the public against early child marriages.
Mr. Msiska said the mining firm decided to hold the cycling competition to enable community members to take up cycling as a sport.
He disclosed that the competition attracted 300 cyclists and only 150 were selected to participate in the 11.7 kilometres race.
He said out of the 150 participants, 22 were female.
Meanwhile Kansanshi Mine Corporate Social Responsibility Manager Bruce Lewis said the event has received overwhelming response from the corporate world such as financial institutions and other business organisations.
Mr. Lewis said the Kansanshi Mine plans to hold a bigger cycling competition next year which will allow more participants to take part in the event.
Ministry of defense has refuted media reports that President Edgar Lungu has purchased a specialized jet for his personal errands.
Ministry of defense permanent secretary Stardy Mwale has disclosed that the Zambia air force under the ministry of defense has embarked on a programme to replace its ageing fleet of transport and fighter air crafts and other associated air defense equipment.
In this vein Mr. Mwale says the Ministry of defense through Zambia Airforce has purchased five planes and explained that one will be used to maintain airspace and monitor poaching, while the other three will be for commercial purposes.
Mr. Mwale has also said one of the planes will be used for VVIPs.
He said information circulating regarding Zambia’s procurement of aircrafts is misleading and malicious.
Mr. Mwale added that Zambia air force is the only state institution which is mandated to provide air mobility to the head of state and will remain the only procuring agent for Government aircrafts.
