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The mobile money revolution in Zambia by Mwatula Chiti
The Bankers Association of Zambia (BAZ) says the growth of Mobile Money Operators in the country is not a threat to Banking institutions.
BAZ President Leonard Mwanza says Banks regard mobile money operators as equal partners in improving the welfare of people.
Mr. Mwanza said digital financial services have created convenience and has eased the way of doing business in different parts of the country.
He stated that the establishment of mobile money operators has brought about financial inclusion to all the players in the financial industry.
Mr. Mwanza said the mobile money operators have enhanced efficiency, convenience, reliability and safety in the Zambian National Payment Systems.
He said the industry has made major strides in ensuring an efficient payment instrument.
Mr. Mwanza further said the Bank of Zambia has been working with various stakeholders to promote safety and efficiency in the provision of mobile financial services in Zambia.
He noted that developments in both financial services and Information Communications Technology (ICT) provide an enormous opportunity for enhancing financial inclusion in a country like Zambia.
Mr. Mwanza added that mobile financial services offer the promise of reducing the cost of delivering financial services and improving access to financial services to a majority of Zambians.
Thousands of University of Zambia Students on Monday morning held a peaceful demonstration from Great East Road campus to the Manda Hill Bridge to mourn their late colleague Vespers Shimuzhila who died last Friday.
The students all dressed in black sang solemn songs and held placards denouncing police brutality against students.
A church service was held at UNZA Seventh Day Church which was filled to capacity.
Information Minister Dora Siliya and UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema attended the service.
The students interviewed said they hope the demonstration will send a strong message to the police and the government.
They have also demanded for an explanation from police over the cause of the fire that claimed the life of Ms. Shimuzhila.
Justice for Vespers protest by UNZA studentsJustice for Vespers protest by UNZA studentsJustice for Vespers protest by UNZA studentsJustice for Vespers protest by UNZA studentsJustice for Vespers protest by UNZA studentsJustice for Vespers protest by UNZA students
After incredible buzz around the release of Chanda Mbao‘s latest song ‘The Bigger Wave’ with an extremely successful premiere on Trace Africa, the music video for the song is now publicly available.
Directed and shot by Nape Phasha, the visual are clean and crisp with a professional polish not often seen in Zambian music videos. As a successful regional collaboration with stellar production value, we hope to see more of this on the local music scene!
After months of promotions, speculations, and anticipations, the time finally came for legendary R&B crooners Joe Thomas and Brian McKnight to grace Zambia with their talented voices.
The fifth edition of the Stanbic Music Festival was held at the Polo club in Showgrounds Lusaka, on two spectacular nights, Friday 5th and Saturday 6th October.
MC’s for the event were Dj, host, presenter and radio personality, Chishala Chitoshi AKA Gesh Groove and voice over artist, corporate communications specialist Kamiza Chikula.
On both nights the R&B legends were supported by Zambia’s top artists. Day 1 had gospel sensation Esther Chungu , Afro-Pop rising star Kiki, while Day 2 had Salma Sky ,Afro soul singer Wezi. Arguably Zambia’s biggest hiphop star Chef 187 was scheduled to perform on both days but had to pull out of the event due to a bereavement in his family. Surprise appearances by James Sakala, on day 1, and music legend Exile (Izreal), on day 2, stood in for the rapper.
After the opening acts had displayed their talents, the moment that many never thought they would see finally came to fruition. Joe Thomas came on stage first much to the amazement of the audience. He performed his greatest hits such as “Ride with you”, “Stutter” , “I believe in you” ,”If i was your man” among others. He had a splendid performance that left the packed audience screaming for more.
Brian Mcknight came up next and the crowd (mostly the ladies) went wild. He equally sang his greatest hits including “One last cry”, “Back at one”, “Anytime”, and many more of his seemingly endless list of hits.
Both entertainers gave out their very best and showcased why they are considered musical legends. It was an emotional night, couples reminisced about their youth, and for others it took them back to a time when they were kids listening to their parent’s or older siblings favorite songs.
This was a very memorable event, a magical experience that many will treasure for a lifetime.
Brian Mcknight took to social media to thank the fans.
Stanbic Chief Executive Leina Gabaraane had this to say “We can only be very happy with what we have done and what we have delivered to Zambia this evening. It’s about developing and creating an environment of culture, and developing arts in this country, and an event like this really goes a long way in developing that for the country. It’s pleasing for us to say it’s Stanbic driving Zambia forward and we will keep them moving forward. It’s a great event,”
Minister of Tourism and Arts Hon. Charles Banda attended the event and called on the National Arts Council to engage with local artists to stage similar events regularly. “This is a very wonderful event and I want to commend and congratulate Stanbic Bank for a job very well done. Through this event so many people have been able to gain a living out of it, because this is a big event where everyone has had an input in it: their competencies, their skills, their experience and their abilities. This is one way of making Zambia visible to the outside world,” he said.
Today, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a report detailing progress and pathways to liming global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Responding to the report, Mr. Apollos Nwafor, Pan Africa Director of Oxfam International OXFAM said:
“Climate change has set our planet on fire, millions are already feeling the impacts, and the IPCC just showed that things can get much worse. Settling for 2 degrees would be a death sentence for people in many parts of Africa. The faster governments embrace the renewable energy revolution and move to protect communities at risk, the more lives and livelihoods that will be spared.
“A hotter Africa is a hungrier Africa. Today at only 1.1 degrees of warming globally, crops and livestock across the region are being hit and hunger is rising, with poor small scale women farmers, living in rural areas suffering the most. It only gets worse from here.
“To do nothing more and simply follow the commitments made in the Paris Agreement condemns the world to 3 degrees of warming. The damage to our planet and humanity would be exponentially worse and irreparable.
“None of this is inevitable. What gives us hope is that some of the poorest and lowest emitting countries are now leading the climate fight. We’ve moved from an era of ‘you first’ to ‘follow me’ – it’s time for the rich world to do just that.
“Oxfam calls for increased, responsible and accountable climate finance from rich countries that supports small scale farmers, especially women to realize their right to food security and climate justice.
“While time is short, there is still a chance of keeping to 1.5 degrees of warming. We must reject any false solution like Large Scale Land Based Investments that means kicking small scale farmers off their land to make way for carbon farming and focus instead on stopping our use of fossil fuels, starting with an end to building new coal power stations worldwide.”
Climate impacts in Africa:
Natural disasters such as droughts and floods have been thwarting development in the African continent. Fluctuations in agricultural production due to climate variations along with inefficient agricultural systems cause food insecurity, one of the most obvious indicators of poverty. The 2016 El Niño phenomenon, which was super charged by the effects of climate change, crippled rain-fed agricultural production and left over 40 million people foods insecure in Africa. Without urgent action to reduce global emissions, the occurrence of climate shocks and stresses in the Africa region are expected to get much worse.
On 5 July this year, Africa is likely to have registered its hottest reliable record temperature in Ouargla, northern Algeria, of 51.3C (124.3F).
There is mounting evidence that higher temperatures linked to climate change have worsened drought and humanitarian disaster in East Africa, including last year’s drought which left over 13 million people dangerously hungry.
Even at 1.5 degrees of warming, climate impacts in West Africa would be devastating. Wheat yields could fall by up to 25 percent,[iv] and at 1.5 degrees Lagos in Nigeria could become a newly heat stressed city like Delhi in India.
In sub-Saharan Africa 1.5 degrees warming by the 2030s could lead to about 40 percent of present maize cropping areas being no longer suitable for current cultivars, and significant negative impacts on sorghum suitability are projected. Under warming of less than 2 degrees by the 2050s, total crop production could be reduced by 10 percent.
At 2 degrees of warming heat extremes never experienced before could affect 15 percent of sub-Saharan Africa’s land area in the hot season, causing deaths and threatening farmers’ ability to grow crops.
If global temperature rises by more than 2 degrees by the end of the century, by 2050 this could see daytime temperatures in North Africa (and the Middle East) rise to 46 degrees on the hottest days, which can be deadly.
Bus operators in Kitwe have increased bus fares with between K2 and K2.50 for local routes. According to the Bus and Tax Owners Association of Zambia, the increment is effective today October 8, 2018.
The association has justified the increment in bus fares following the upward increase in fuel prices.
But commuters have complained, describing the increment as exorbitant.
“This increase in bus fares is just to much. But again we can’t blame the bus drivers. It is the fuel which the government has increased. It is painful but there is nothing that we can do,” Mary Tembo a commuter said.
And a check found that the bus drivers have since effected the new fares.
Last week, the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) adjusted upwards the pump price of fuel citing changes in two main variables that influence the price of the commodity.
In a statement issued by ERB Board Chairman, Raymond Mpundu to the media, oil prices have increased on the international market whilst the Kwacha had depreciated.
Petrol was increased by K2.31 to K16.06 from K13.75, diesel adjusted by K2.64 to cost K14.65 per litre.
Mr. Mpundu said kerosene went up by K2.49 from K8.85 to K11.34 per litre respectively.
“Of the two fundamentals, the international oil price has been the most volatile and is the key driver for this price adjustment. Specifically, from the last price adjustment on 12th February, 2018, the volatility of the Kwacha has depreciated against the United States Dollar by about 26.39% in the last two weeks of September, 2018,” read the statement.
Mr. Mpundu stated that the price adjustment was based on the current cargo. The ERB Chief further stated that the review in based on the cost plus model used to determine fuel prices.
It is professional dishonesty of the highest order, for Mopani Copper Mines management to prematurely conclude that job losses are ‘inevitable’ in the current business climate in Zambia. For starters, the fundamentals underpinning growth in copper mining, increasing demand for electric vehicles and batteries for energy storage, are very strong. What Mopani Copper Mines needs to do given the current copper market conditions, is produce more copper with the current resources they have, not cut them. Job losses are the easiest cost cutting measure management defaults to, usually just to send a political message to shareholders that management can make tough decisions, and that they are serious about long term business sustainability. Such an easy measure, a low hanging fruit we call in business improvement, is hardly sustainable. Usually, when you cut labor, morale and production go down with it. The business can cannibalize itself if management is not thoughtful in turning around an operation.
The demand for copper, and pricing strength are projected to continue rising in the US and China, not just because of real estate construction, but most importantly, the explosive demand for electric vehicles and battery power storage systems. That is why, in 2017 profits for Glencore, Mopani’s parent company, grew 400%, from $1.38 billion in 2016 to $5.78 billion in 2017. Such explosive growth in profits does not seem like a struggling company. Glencore paid $2.9 billion in dividends to shareholders. (Glencore Annual Report – 2017). Clearly, shareholders are feasting, Zambians are in famine, in addition to facing job losses. According to Glencore’s website, every Mopani Copper Mines employee has 8 dependents. So, for every 100 employees laid off, Mopani would essentially condemn 900 local citizens into poverty, while paying record breaking dividends to shareholders; A tale of two Mopanis, the best of times for shareholders, the worst for local citizens. Not to condone crime, but does anyone wonder why we have an increase in crime, particularly gang activities in Kitwe and other copper mining towns? The lack of commitment to poverty alleviation, and lack of ethical leadership from the current PF government does not help the cause either. We will discuss that issue at a later date.
That is why, in 2017 profits for Glencore, Mopani’s parent company, grew 400%, from $1.38 billion in 2016 to $5.78 billion in 2017. Such explosive growth in profits does not seem like a struggling company.
I get it, I’m a business man and entrepreneurial in the way I run mine operations. The business has to grow the pie, before sharing bigger portions for all stakeholders. At the same time, the social license, the privilege to conduct business in someone else’s backyard, has to be maintained. The rules of business engagement that get deployed in mature economies such as the US, with unemployment rates below 5%, coupled with a robust social welfare system, have to be different from those that get deployed in environments such as Zambia, with unemployment rates over 70% (Estimated by the Afrobarometer.com), with no social welfare system to speak off. If Mopani management did not learn this situational awareness in business school, they need to demand for refunds from their respective universities. On a serious note, leaders at multi national mines need to shift their modus operandi, from a cookie cutter approach of cutting and pasting business improvement methodologies that work well in developed economies, to truly customizing solutions to local conditions. They truly need to think global (Shareholder value), but act local (Maintain the social license)! It need not be a winner take all dichotomy between shareholders and local communities, but a duality of aligned values, interests and dreams.
The best way to lower unit cost ($$/ton) may not necessarily be cutting the divisor ($), but improving the denominator (tons). You can never go wrong with this approach; get more production with the resources you have. Planning is key to getting this done. No doubt, the price of copper will fluctuate from year to year, decade to decade, but that should never be our default excuse where poor planning may exist. In mine planning and execution, there exists a temptation called high grading. In theory, a well planned mine will extract an ‘average’ grade of ore over the life of the mine. The focus on quarterly profits and frequent changes in management brings in the temptation of going after the highest grade in the short term, and leave future leaders with the burden of accessing what is left of the deposit, usually lower grade ore. A well planned mine takes away the shock waves of ups and down in the ore grade, and spread it over the life of the mine. Employees should not suffer lay offs when the ore grade dips, because the planners did not plan well.
Labor is by no means an inconsequential cost component of mining. However, low wages in developing nations and higher grades of ore make up for the underutilization of labor. In a mine setting, or any business setting for that matter, labor has to be controlled, among other cost variables. First, you cut down the use of overtime, secondly, you place employees on reduced work hours, such as from 40 hours a week to 32 hours a week, if possible. If push comes to shove, you lay people off. Also, expatriate labor, which could cost several hundred multiples compared to local labor, must be controlled. Miners must train locals to be able to fill all jobs at the mine site from executive to laborer and everything in between. Relying on expatriate labor is unsustainable in the long run.
Outside of cutting labor, a plethora of canned business improvement methodologies exist, from Six Sigma, Lean, TPM, Toyota Production Methodologies, just to name a few. What is most critical to business improvement is improving the culture of ownership, morale and aligning goals all through the value chain – Inclusive mining. It is in the absolute long term best interest of shareholders for Mopani management to maintain their social license, for sustained return on equity. Do not forget the sweat equity component; labor.
A product of Mpelembe Secondary School, Engineer Victor Kunda Mwaba, MBA is a seasoned operations and business improvement expert based in the USA. He spent decades in mine operations leadership and mine planning in copper, industrial minerals and construction materials. His academic qualifications include, but not limited to BSc – Engineering, MBA in General Management, Certified Six Sigma Black Belt practitioner. Certificate in Business Analytics from The University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business. Certificate of completion from Duke University in Oil and Gas Exploration and Production, among other conference attendance and training.
Mr. Mwaba is the Head of Mining and Mineral Resources of Zambia’s newest political party; Movement for Economic Emancipation (MEE)
Copperbelt based Human Rights Activist Zebbies Mumba says the abuse of human rights at a mining company in Chingola should stop.
ZNBC television during its Saturday evening main news aired a story which exhibited labor rights violation captured and circulated on Social Media where a supervisor in a mine in Chingola is physically assaulting a worker.
Reacting to the alleged abuse of human rights, Mumba says the act is ancient, barbaric and an assault to the Zambian people in general and the president of the republic of Zambia in particular whose government policy has in good faith continued to embrace multinational investment in the mining sector.
He says the act should be condemned by all other well-meaning investors and Zambians.
Mumba said this blatant violation of worker’s rights is regrettable and should be stopped immediately.
“As a country, these are the elements that are not supposed to be experienced because our independence was fought in order for us to “ Stand and sing of Zambia Proud and Free, (in this) land of Work and Joy in Unity” It is very demeaning to me as a Zambian to see on the VIRAL Clip that was beamed that was on the National Media (ZNBC) where at a name-held mine in Chingola, a worker was being physically assaulted by his superior of a foreign origin for whatever reasons.”
“It is unacceptable for Zambia’s doors to remain open to such investor staff that have no regard for the dignity and human rights of the citizens of Zambia. We should take this as a wake-up call that all is not well with those that are managing their investments in Zambia and it is high time the Ministry of mines and government sweeps through this sector to restore sanity and protect Zambians from this barbaric mentality of foreign nationals that have no regard for our labour laws and the dignity of their own workers,” he said.
Mumba said such hostile and cruelty should not emerge in organized society of this age and era and if this is what investors are exercising widely, Zambians should rise to the occasion and expose the perpetrators without fear by reporting to relevant institutions.
“This is the only country we call our own and we should not be ill-treated in our own land”. Where we commit an offence, there are sufficient pieces of legislations that are capable to resolve any dispute in the land and we do not go physical because we are an organized society”. Let the investors not take us backwards to the Iron Age mining where the rule of law never existed and our forefathers suffered humiliation and degradation at the hands of their bosses. This inhuman practice should be condemned and halted in each and every sector that it is being perpetuated,” Mumba said.
A Ndola Resident GERSHOM Gershom Phiri says he will stage a lone protest against what he termed as serious corruption at the Kalulushi Municipal Council.
Phiri has further threatened to sue the local authority for denying him a plot which he applied for.
He said he has since notified the police of his intentions to stage a one man protest.
He claims that the levels of corruption at the local authority will deprive many citizens from acquiring land in Zambia.
“I have notified the police my good intentions of staging a one man peaceful protest against corruption at Kalulushi Municipal Council. I applied for a plot on merits and am convinced beyond reasonable doubt,I deserved to be given. After my protest, I will sue Kalulushi Municipal Council,The Director for Planning and the Town cleark,I will also demand a refund of the application fee as the council obtained that money on false pretence that I stood chances of being given a plot when infact not,” Phiri claims
He claims that this is not the first time the local authority has behaved in this manner.
“I further made two appeals which the office of the Director for Planning and Town cleark respectively received. This is not the first time Kalulushi Municipal Council is doing this.If I don’t take action the implication is that am approving and endorsing bad behavior.”
Phiri wonders how it is so easy for a Chinese and other foreign nationals to get land in Kalulushi.
He said a lot of people are deprived of getting land even if they follow the laid down procedures.
Efforts to get the local authority failed by press time.
A burning hostel at October block which houses female UNZA students
By Macpherson Mutale
The problems of the University of Zambia are not new neither are they petty as some people might think.
The UNZA problems are both political and structural. If we don’t solve them as such, we will continue with garbage in garbage out.
My sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family of the future president we lost so needlessly.
They speak both to the failure in political leadership as well as institutional capacity. The university of Zambia has dilapidated infrastructure and a very demoralized staff.
The only thing keeping the university afloat is the name and past glory.
The university is not fully grant aided as most people would want you to think. The grant is a paltry 30% of the university requirements.
That means on a monthly basis the university management has to find money to meet the remaining 70% for staff salaries and administration. That is not a mean job for a non profit making institution.
So to give you the picture.
Unza over-enroll students mostly on self sponsorship so as to raise resources to cater for what the govt can’t give it.
Today you will be surprised that students at the highest learning institution attend to lectures by standing in the corridors and listening to the lecturer through the window.
It might sound like an exaggeration but it’s the reality on the ground. A lecture theatre that is ordinarily suppose to accommodate 30-40 student has over 80 students.
Lecturers are made to teach over 100 students in these unhygienic environments for days on end. Imagine marking 132 student scripts for assignments, tests and exams.
The ablution blocks at Humanities for example are never operational. Students have either to go to the library or hostels to relieve themselves.
The accommodation situation is known and well documented. But I just want you to imagine taking turns to sleep because you can’t afford the expensive boarding houses. Students endure the most horrible conditions on a daily basis.
That could explain why when they graduate they don’t want to have anything to do with UNZA. They don’t want to relive the ordeal over again.
UNZA students are amongst the most hardworking students in the world. The conditions they are subjected to are horrific.
UNZA students go to flourish whenever they go out there and are mostly A+ students in other universities and most graduate Cum Laude. You ask why they can’t fix simple things as the sewer system, the health care system and others?
Well our problems are structural and political. We need smart politicians and to build structural capacities for us to turn this country around.
When they go to places were leaders appreciate and respect academics and were structural issues have been sorted, the same lecturers and researchers you insult that they can’t even produce a sewer system become so productive and pillars.
UNZA lecturers have no time for research because they spend their time day and night attending to the abnormal number of students.
The lecturers are lowly paid and most times paid late making them not credit worth. All banks don’t want to lend to UNZA employees because their salaries have no fixed date. They can’t do capital projects because they have to rely on the month to month pay.
Those who were on contract have never gotten their moneys immediately the contract ends. For example, since November 2010 people have not been paid their gratuity and pensions for those who have retired.
How do you expect such people to be motivated and give their best? Some have retired and died with depression because it’s hard to cope out there.
As we speak just like the students, teachers and other civil servants, lecturers are still waiting for their September salaries.
We need to clean up this system. It is a national problem. It’s both political as well as structural.
Otherwise we are bound to continue producing frustrated people who ultimately do not contribute to the betterment of society.
Once again condolences to the future leader we have lost and we should all feel ashamed that we have taken the life an innocent soul because of our collective failure to sort out our mess.
Seven foreign-based Chipolopolo call-ups took part in Sunday evenings training session at National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka.
Rainford Kalaba, Nathan Sinkala, Kabaso Chongo, Cletus Chama, Lubambo Musonda,Stopilla Sunzu and Salulani Phiri went through the paces with coach Sven Vandenbroeck just 72 hours before they host Guinea Bissau there in an early evening kickoff on October 10.
Goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene of Mamelodi Sundowns, the Orlando Pirates duo of striker Justin Shonga and midfielder Augustine Mulenga also joined camp on Sunday but in the midst of practice.
Three more players are expected from their European bases today and they are Patson Daka and Enock Mwepu of Austrian champions RB Salzburg including striker Fashion Sakala from KV Oostende in Belgium.
Zambia are bottom of Group K in the 2019 AFCON qualifiers, tied on 1 point with Namibia, and are three points behind Guinea Bissau who are level on 4 points with Mozambique.
Meanwhile, Guinea Bissau will host Chipolopolo in the return leg on October 14 in Bissau.
TEAM:
GOALKEEPERS: Charles Muntanga (Nkwazi), Toaster Nsabata (Zanaco), Kennedy Mweene (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa)
DEFENDERS: Solomon Sakala, Fackson Kapumbu (both Zesco United), Isaac Shamujompa, Lawrence Chungu (both Buildcon), Luka Banda (Napsa Stars),Kabaso Chongo (TP Mazembe, DR Congo), Stopilla Sunzu (Metz ,France), Gideon Sichone (Green Buffaloes)
MIDFIELDERS: Nathan Sinkala, Rainford Kalaba (both TP Mazembe, DR Congo), Cletus Chama (Simba SC, Tanzania), Lubambo Musonda (Gandzasar, Armenia),Salulani Phiri (Polokwane City, South Africa), Jackson Chirwa (Green Buffaloes), Bruce Musakanya (Red Arrows), Enock Mwepu (RB Salzburg, Austria), Augustine Mulenga (Orlando Pirates, South Africa)
First Republican President Kenneth Kaunda has observed that discrimination based on tribe and ethnic background has no place in Zambia.
Dr. Kaunda said that family names should not determine who to associate with, but rather the character of the hearts of each one of every Zambian.
Speaking at a vision ambassadors promoting peace campaign fundraising dinner, Dr. Kaunda said that discrimination, suspicion, hatred, betrayal, malice, greed, selfishness, and other negative behavior are a threat to the core values of unity if left unchecked.
He has recalled that during the struggle for independence, people from various backgrounds worked together, realizing that they were, above everything else, brothers and sisters of one nation.
Dr. Kaunda said that the “One Zambia One Nation” slogan coined many decades ago still holds true and continues to unite Zambian’s together as one, adding that Zambia remains a beacon of peace in Africa and that it is important that all Zambian citizens should maintain peace and love one another.
Meanwhile Dr. Kaunda has reminded young people in the country that they have a big role to play in weaving together the fabrics of peace and unity for this country and has commended President Edgar Lungu for his efforts in uniting the various people in the country.
And speaking at the same event, National Guidance and Religious Affairs Minister Reverend Godfridah Sumaili said that national unity and peace is critical for the development of the country.
Rev. Sumaili said that it is difficult for Zambia to develop if there is no unity among Zambians.
And earlier in his speech, Vision Ambassador to Zambia Chairperson Misheck Kombe expressed concern that regionalism and tribalism is tearing Zambia apart.
Mr. Kombe says it is important for each and every zambian to join the crusade against tribalism and regionalism because it retards development.
Police in Kitwe on the Copperbelt Province have launched a manhunt for a Congolese man who allegedly abducted a baby on Friday over an unsettled debt of three thousand kwacha.
Copperbelt Province Police Commissioner, Charity Katanga confirmed the incident in a statement made available to media in Ndola yesterday.
Ms. Katanga explained that Hellen Ng’angu aged 22 of house number N84, Bulangililo Township reported the matter to the police after her one year six months baby went missing.
Ms. Katanga further explained that this was after the suspect was left with the baby and when contacted on phone by Ng’angu, the Congolese man said he will only return the child after the debt is settled.
The Police Commissioner said Ng’angu didn’t know about the debt in question as it was her husband who owed the Congolese man who was not at the house when the suspect went to inquire about the money.
“Since she (Ng’angu) had the number for the Congolese, she called him. The Congolese responded that he had carried the child and will only bring back the child after offsetting the credit.
The mother tried to plead with him but the Congolese refused returning the child unless the condition was met. This is when she decided to report the matter at Riverside Police Station for assistance,” Ms. Katanga explained.
She stated that Ng’angu does not know how the credit came about and that more details will be gotten from Ng’angu’s husband.
The Zambia Police Service has advised Members of the Public to verify with authorities on the legality of checkpoints and roadblocks before effecting citizen arrests on Police officers suspected to have mounted an illegal checkpoint as directed by Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo yesterday.
At a media briefing, Mr. Lusambo told Lusaka residents to effect Citizen arrest on Police Officers who mount illegal roadblocks saying Lusaka only has three Check Points, one along Mumbwa road, one along the Kafue road in Chilanga and one along the Great East road after the Airport roundabout.
He said the unnecessary road blocks in the Province were contributing to congestion on the roads.
Here is a full statement by the Police
LUSAKA, 07 TH OCTOBER, 2018 – The Zambia Police wishes to state that in the recent past, a Ministerial Statement was presented in Parliament by the Minister of Home Affairs, in which he announced the reduction of roadblocks countrywide.
We also wish to clarify that the roadblocks that were referred to in the Ministerial Statement were Permanent Security road blocks and these are roadblocks which operate on a 24 00 hours basis mainly for security reasons such as search for wanted and trafficked persons, stolen property and address many other security concerns.
Other than these permanent roadblocks there are also snap check points which are random in nature and are mounted by traffic officers at different points in enforcing the Road Traffic Act hence ensuring that there is sanity on the roads.
The snap checks are usually mounted between 09 00 hours and 16 00 hours. Before 09 00 hours and after 17 00 hours, traffic officers are usually involved in traffic management.
The permanent roadblocks were indeed reduced on the basis that they were counterproductive and were an inconvenience to the travelling public.
However, on snap checks which are random checkpoints, a directive was given by the Minister of Home Affairs that they should be well coordinated by Police Commissioners of Provinces to avoid being an inconvenience to the travelling public.
Section 21 of the Zambia Police Act gives mandate to the Zambia Police to regulate and control traffic as well as keep and maintain order on public roads.
We therefore wish to advise members of the public to understand the distinction between Permanent Security Roadblocks and Snap Traffic checks and should always verify with authorities on the legality of checkpoints and roadblocks before effecting citizens arrests on officers suspected to have mounted an illegal checkpoint.
ESTHER MWAATA KATONGO ZAMBIA POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
The Patriotic Front has given its Bahati Member of Parliament Harry Kalaba and Lusaka Lawyer Kelvin Fube a 14 days ultimatum to exculpate themselves over charges of alleged misconduct.
PF Secretary General Davies Mwila said the two party members have been working against the party and insulting the party leadership.
Mr. Mwila told Journalists that the disciplinary Committee will sit and the decision will be made before December 2018.
“We thought that time has come for us to make a decision, my job is to charge” Mr. Mwila said.
This comes barely a week after Mr. Fube wrote a letter to the Patriotic Front where he charged that the current PF leadership does not meet the standard set by PF Founding President Michael Sata.
Mr. Fube said in the letter that the current leadership does not share the values and beliefs which Mr. Sata stood for as their mindset does not meet the standard that was set by the founding father.
