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The Mukulapembe traditional ceremony organising committee of Abena Mukulu people has barred National Democratic Congress (NDC) Leader Chishimba Kambwili from attending the function.
This is contained in a letter addressed to Luwingu District NDC Chairperson John Mulenga signed by committee secretary Albert Chanda in Luwingu District.
Mr. Chishimba has been rejected from attending this year’s mukulapembe traditional ceremony of abena Mukulu by the organising committee in order to maintain peace and order during the ceremony which will be held tomorrow.
‘’Please take this opportunity to advise him correctly about our position. Lastly if there has been any correspondence from us requesting any financial or material support it was done without the blessing of the senior Chieftainess Chungu or committee,’’ the read in part.
This is the third time that NDC leader has been opposed from attending tradition ceremony in Northern Province. He was last year 2017 and this year rejected from attending Kusefya pang’wena traditional of the Bemba speaking people by organising committee.
Mukulapembe traditional ceremony will be held tomorrow on 29th September 2018 at senior chieftainess chungu main arena.
Borehole used by many people in places where there is no council provided water pipe system
The Water Resource Management Authority (WARMA) has extended the registration date of boreholes from 30th September 2018 to 30th March 2019.
WARMA Acting Director General Lemmy Namayanga says the extension is to allow the general public to come forward and register their boreholes.Mr. Namayanga said the Authority has so far received overwhelming response from the public.He revealed that so far the authority has registered 8,693 boreholes since the beginning of the exercise.
Mr. Namayanga stated that the extension applies only to the existing boreholes while those wishing to register the sinking of new boreholes are not exempted.Mr. Namayanga has since called on the public to abide by the law and take advantage of the extension to register their boreholes or face a penalty fee of K30, 000.
Recently, the Ministry of Water Development, Sanitation and environmental Protection signed three Statutory Instruments on ground water and boreholes, Licensing and drilling.
1.Maiko Zulu carrying out a lone protest against KCM before being detained by police
2.Minister of Sports Moses Mawere steps on a lying dancer at this year’s Malaila Traditional Ceremony of Senior Chief Mushota on Saturday, September 22, 2018
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Minister of Sports Moses Mawere (l) and Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development Minister Ronald Chitotela dance during this year’s Malaila Traditional Ceremony of Senior Chief Mushota of the Chishinga people in Kawambwa district on Saturday, September 22, 2018
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Senior Chief Mushota of the Chishinga people arriving at the Malaila traditional ceremony main arena on the Royal Chariot to perform his conquest dance in Kawambwa district on Saturday, September 22, 2018
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President Edgar Lungu meets Mr. Tibor Nagy jr United States assistant secretary of state for African affairs and his delegation in New York
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Kanyonyo Primary school’s Brass Band during the commissioning and handover of the 20 early childhood centres that were constructed by Save the Children Foundation in Western Province to the Ministry of Education at Kanyonyo Primary School
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Kanyonyo Primary school’s Brass Band during the commissioning and handover of the 20 early childhood centres that were constructed by Save the Children Foundation in Western Province to the Ministry of Education at Kanyonyo Primary School
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First Lady Esther Lungu unveiling a plaque during the commissioning and handover of the 20 early childhood centres that were constructed by Save the Children Foundation to the Ministry of Education in Western Province at Kanyonyo Primary School
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First Lady Esther Lungu with pupils during the commissioning and handover of the 20 early childhood centres that were constructed by Save the Children Foundation in Western Province to the Ministry of Education at Kanyonyo Primary School
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First Lady Esther Lungu with pupils during the commissioning and handover of the 20 early childhood centres that were constructed by Save the Children Foundation to the Ministry of Education in Western Province at Kanyonyo Primary School
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First Lady Esther Lungu (c) in a group photo with children with special needs of Cheshire Homes Mongu
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First Lady Esther Lungu with 9 year-old Dinah Dakomba when she visited Cheshire Home in Mongu on Tuesday, September 25,2018 -Pictures by THOMAS NSAMA/STATE HOUSE
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First Lady Esther Lungu with 9 year-old Dinah Dakomba when she visited Cheshire Home in Mongu on Tuesday, September 25,2018 -Pictures by THOMAS NSAMA/STATE HOUSE
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First Lady Esther Lungu ,holding 9 year Old Dinah Dakomba,being welcomed by Diocese of Mongu Vicar General Fr. James Conley during a tour of Cheshire Home in Mongu, Western Province
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First Lady Esther Lungu with Cheshire Home’s Head Sister Sr Cathy during a tour of Cheshire Home in Mongu, Western Province on Tuesday, September 25,2018 -Pictures by THOMAS NSAMA/STATE HOUSE
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First Lady Esther Lungu with Cheshire Home’s Head Sister Sr Cathy during a tour of Cheshire Home in Mongu, Western Province on Tuesday, September 25,2018 -Pictures by THOMAS NSAMA/STATE HOUSE
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First Lady Esther Lungu with Cheshire Home’s Head Sister Sr Cathy during a tour of Cheshire Home in Mongu, Western Province on Tuesday, September 25,2018 -Pictures by THOMAS NSAMA/STATE HOUSE
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First Lady Esther Lungu with the Litunga (L) and the Ngambela (R) at Lealui Palace on Tuesday, September 25,2018 shortly after she paid Courtesy call on the Litunga in Western Province where she is expected to commission 20 early childhood centres that have been constructed by Save the Children Foundation
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President Lungu chairs non communicable diseases high level UN meeting
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President Edgar Lungu with UNFPA Executive Director Dr Natalia Kanem ( Left ) and Minister for International Development of Canada, Ms Marie Claude Bibeau, during the High Level Side Event on Accelerating Action to end Child Marriage at the ongoing 73rd session of the United Nations General assembly on Wednesday, 26th September, 2018, Pictures By Eddie Mwanaleza/State House
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President Edgar Lungu meets Mr Tibor Nagy jr United States assistant secretary of state for African Affairs and his delegation in New York
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President Edgar Lungu greets chieftainess Muwezwa at Zambian mission in New York
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President Edgar Lungu addresses the United Nations General Assembly High Level Meeting on the Elimination of Cervical Cancer, in New York, USA on Monday, 24th September, 2018, Pictures by EDDIE MWANALEZA
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President Edgar Lungu participates in the general debate of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA on Tuesday, 25th September, 2018, Pictures by Eddie Mwanaleza/State House
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President Edgar Chagwa Lungu receives flowers upon arrival at New York Palace from 10- year- old, grade 4 pupil Mumba Chanda at Jamaica School in New York.
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President Edgar Lungu ) and Minister for International Development of Canada, Ms Marie Claude Bibeau, during the High Level Side Event on Accelerating Action to end Child Marriage at the ongoing 73rd session of the United Nations General assembly on Wednesday, 26th September, 2018
Minister of Finance ,Margaret Mwanakatwe arrives at parliament building for 2019 National budget presentation in Lusaka.
Finance Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe has announced that Zambia will introduce new mining duties and increase royalties to help bring down mounting debt and cut its fiscal deficit.
Mrs Mwanakatwe announced this when she presented a K86.8 billion budget to Parliament this afternoon.
Mrs. Mwanakatwe announced plans to increase the country’s sliding scale for royalties of 3 to 9 percent by 1.5 percentage points.
The scale is adjusted so royalties are paid at higher levels as commodity prices climb and are reduced as prices fall.
A new 15 percent export duty on precious metals, including gold and gemstones, will be introduced, while copper and cobalt concentrate imports will incur a new 5 percent levy.
“As mineral resources are a depleting resource, it is vital to structure an effective fiscal regime for the mining sector to ensure that Zambians benefit from the mineral wealth our country is blessed with,” Mrs. Mwanakatwe said.
She said Zambia planned to cut its fiscal deficit to 6.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2019 from 7.4 percent this year.
Mrs Mwanakatwe also revealed that the Zambian economy was expected to grow at least 4 percent in 2019, around the same level as a forecast for this year.
2019 Government Budget Revenue Sources2019 Government Budget ExpenditureChinese delegates arrive at parliament building for eagerly-anticipated 2019 national budget in Lusaka.Chinese Counselor to Zambia,Lai Bo is welcomed by Deputy Secretary to cabinet,Christopher Mvunga during the 2019 national budget in Lusaka.Minister of Finance ,Margaret Mwanakatwe arrives at parliament building to presents eagerly-anticipated 2019 national budget in Lusaka.Minister of Finance ,Margaret Mwanakatwe with Hon.Richard Musukwa at parliament building for 2019 National budget presentation in Lusaka.Minister of Finance ,Margaret Mwanakatwe(m) pose for a photograph with Member of parliament before 2019 National budget presentation in Lusaka.Minister of Finance ,Margaret Mwanakatwe confers wioth Former Minister of Finance Situmbeko Musokwatwane before 2019 National budget presentation in Lusaka.Finance Minister ,Margaret Mwanakatwe addresses the nation during presentation of 2019 eagerly-anticipated 2019 national budget in Lusaka.
FILE: Blogger and media trainer Richard Mulonga poses for a photograph after receiving special recognition for best community blog during the 2016 MISA Zambia annual awards in Lusaka on April 29, 2016.
The Bloggers of Zambia celebrates the International Day of Access to Information, but rather with a very heavy heart owing to the absence of legislation that promotes citizen’s rights to access public information.
In view of this, the Bloggers of Zambia is calling for participation and inclusion of stakeholders in the making of proposed internet regulation legislation such as the Cybercrimes and Cyber Security Bill. We view the proposed internet regulation legislation as a major threat and an affront to access to information rights. Therefore, we are of the view that the proposed laws must be made in an open and transparent manner.
Today, we make a clarion call for the release of the cybercrimes and cyber security bill. This will enable citizens scrutinise the draft laws and avoid legislation that will violate citizen’s universal rights. We believe that all laws that are made in public interest must be enacted in a transparent and participatory manner as these regulations are meant to govern citizens. We have noted with trepidation in some parts of Africa that internet legislation regulations have been made in secrecy and without inclusion and participation have caused so much consternation in society.
Additionally, we call for speedy enactment of the Access to Information bill as doing so would enhance citizen’s participation in governance and promote their role to hold duty bearers to account.
We also call for speedy implementation of the media and communications policy that would assist in re-organising the media sector in Zambia and assert its role as a watchdog of society.
Opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema has charged that the ruling PF government is useless when it comes to medium term policy and planning.
Mr. Hichilema said this is the reason the PF is sinking the country with debt.
In a budget day statement, Mr Hichilema demanded that the 2019 budget speech must make a clear, time-bound policy statement on the future of engagement with the IMF.
“If we have failed to auto-correct and are so off-track that the IMF won’t even talk to us anymore, let’s stop lying to the Zambian people. Let PF come clean in the Budget that IMF is off the cards,” Mr Hichilema demanded.
Mr Hichilema said the PF government must give a clear roadmap on how they will either address the fiscal concerns raised by IMF or admit they have failed to manage as the country prepares for a roller coaster ride towards the unenviable Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) status again.
The UPND leader also demanded that Finance Minister announces the mechanism for contracting and tracking of debt from China.
“China and Zambia should demonstrate and put on record disciplines that ensure to stem Zambia’s accrual of debt that we cannot pay back except through asset takeovers and natural resource “robbery.” If we think the Chinese debt is a joke read about what happened in Sri Lanka,” Mr Hichilema wrote.
Below is the full statement from Mr Hichilema
PRESS STATEMENT
Thursday 27th September 2018
Mwanakatwe must address fiscal discipline and debt in 2019 budget
As the Minister of Finance moves to present the 2019 budget, we expect that the PF will address pertinent economic issues that are affecting the country. The PF Government’s poor economic management has been the major cause of the economic stress the country is facing. The PF Government preaches economic prudence but practices the opposite. They are far from managing the economy prudently. And here is why.
Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF)
In September, 2017, the PF produced the MTEF 2018-2020 with the indicative budget for 2018 of K65.4 billion as part of fiscal consolidation. At the end of the same month, the national budget was presented with an estimate of K71.7 bn. Where did the fiscal consolidation go? Fiscal consolidation simply means that Government will not borrow heavily to finance the consumption.
In a very similar way, the MTEF 2018-2020 shows that the 2019 budget should be around K69.4 billion, but the MTEF 2019-2021 now gives the 2019 budget to be around K84.6 billion. Fiscal consolidation is a myth and MTEF-based budget predictability and credibility are but a fleeting illusion.
If you get into the breakdown of the budget allocations between MTEF 2018-2020 and MTEF 2019-2021, the situation is even worse in terms of misalignments. e.g., General Public Services has increased from 31.9% of budget in the MTEF 2018-2020 to 34.5% in the MTEF 2019-2021 while Economic Affairs (a key function of building productive capacity in the economy) has dropped from 25.5% of budget in the MTEF 2018-2020 to 22.1% in the MTEF 2019-2021.
Similarly Education has fallen from 17.2% of budget in the MTEF 2018-2020 to 16.2% in the MTEF 2019-2021. This is simply poor decision making! While they are significantly increasing the nominal size of the budget, they are at the same time allocating smaller shares to investments in productive sectors (agriculture, tourism, mining etc) and social sectors (health, education, water and sanitation). Where will the growth and taxes to reduce the debt come from with this type of budgeting? There is no point in even publishing such inconsistent MTEFs, it’s a waste of time.
Zambia Plus
The implementation of Zambia Plus is set to be completed at the end of 2019 (the last year of Zambia Plus), but the Minister cannot even provide headline achievements (let alone a comprehensive report) on the implementation of Zambia Plus in 2017 and half-year 2018. And yet here we go again with a 2019 budget making the same promise about fiscal consolidation, fiscal discipline, debt management and all that noise. The PF is useless at medium term policy and planning, this is the reason they are sinking the country with debt.
Legislative Reform
Since the 2016 Budget Address, the Ministry of Finance has been promising to finalize and submit mine to parliament key legislation: Budgeting and Planning Bill; Public Procurement Act; Loans and Guarantees Act. To date these have not been tabled before the Parliament but legislation that supports their spending appetite are rushed through (e.g., 30 Ngwee on Internet calls, Borehole levy, National Health Insurance, Skills Development Levy, etc.) In fact, did you know that the collections on Skills Development Levy started without an operational mechanism so that when funds were collected they were misappropriated by the Ministry of Education who bought vehicles and paid out allowances? This information is in the 2016 Auditor General’s report which was presented to Parliament in November last year. This is but a tip of the iceberg as far as reckless expenditure during the PF is concerned.
IMF
We demand that the 2019 budget speech must make a clear, time-bound policy statement on the future of engagement with the IMF. If we have failed to auto-correct and are so off-track that the IMF won’t even talk to us anymore, let’s stop lying to the Zambian people. Let PF come clean in the Budget that IMF is off the cards! In addition the PF must give us a clear roadmap on how they will either address the fiscal concerns raised by IMF or let us know that they have failed to manage as we prepare for a roller coaster ride towards the unenviable Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) status again.
Debt
The Minister must issue a clear budgetary policy statement on why her ministry failed to deliver detailed quarterly debt status reports that indicate the broad structure of debt (how much is concessional and how much is commercial, by creditor type, bilateral, country and multilateral (including International Financial Institutions); what are the interest terms and the conditions (including collateralization of assets), by creditor type. This is something we must know so that when arbitrary taxes and levies are introduced, we are in a better position to anticipate them.
China Debt
We demand that the Minister announces the mechanism for contracting and tracking of debt from China; China and Zambia should demonstrate and put on record disciplines that ensure to stem Zambia’s accrual of debt that we cannot pay back except through asset takeovers and natural resource “robbery.” If we think the Chinese debt is a joke read about what happened in Sri Lanka.
Let’s Calculate
We are called calculator boys; well we need to calculate to know where we are going and how we can get out of debt. The problem with PF is they do not calculate. In general this PF government must just cut on unnecessary expenditure and increase expenditure on the productive sector. What do we mean, here is an example, the Government is allocating expenditure for international travel (consumption). Let us say the delegation is 10 people, travelling to the USA, their tickets will cost US$17,000 or K170, 000 and their subsistence will be US$15,000 or K150, 000 (calculated at $300 per day for 5 days for 10 people). This gives us a total of US$32,000 or K320, 000. This is just travel. If the Government is serious and they instead send only 5 people to this conference and invest the balance K160, 000, with three women using the women empowerment fund, and those women start growing tomato. This money could easily finance 3 hectares of tomato with an estimated revenue of K1.2 million kwacha from where the Government would get K36, 000 in revenue taxes and a possible K192, 000 on VAT.
This investment would give Government K228, 000 in revenue, add the K150,000 advanced to the women as a revolving fund, that is K378,000 and they could refinance double the number of women. This is not theory, this is what this Government would do if they reduced expenditure on travelling for conferences and increase investment in agriculture. And then someone calls us CALCULATOR boys!
As UPND, when in power, we will address this circus which is literally sending the economy into a downward spiral; a spiral stemming from poor economic management as we have demonstrated in the paragraph above.
Chipolopolo ‘s domestic call-ups for next month’s 2019 AFCON Group K doubleheader qualifier against Guinea Bissau kickoff the teams preliminary week of training today in Lusaka.
Sven Vandenbroeck has named a 24-member home-based team that includes four Zambia junior international.
Vandenbroeck will unveil his overseas call-ups later.
The local call-ups include the Zambia Under-20 attacking duo of Francisco Mwepu of second tier club Lusaka Celtic and Zesco United’s Lameck Banda including Nchanga Rangers midfielder Benson Kolala.
Zambia Under-17 captain and midfielder Alex Mwiinga of second tier club Mazabuka United has also been summoned for camp.
“I have included players from the U17 and U20 as part of a long term development plan. Some of the players we wanted for this camp are engaged with the Barclays Cup so we have given their slots to the deserving young players,” Chipolopolo coach Sven Vandenbroeck said.
Chipolopolo will host Guinea Bissau on October 10 at National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka and fly to Bissau for the final leg on October 13.
Zambia and Namibia have 1 point while Guinea Bissau and Mozambique are tied on four points after two rounds of games played in Group K.
Team:
GOALKEEPERS: Charles Muntanga (Nkwazi), Mangani Banda (Zanaco)
DEFENDERS: Simon Silwimba (Zesco United), Jimmy Chisenga (Red Arrows), Isaac Shamujompa, Lawrence Chungu (both Buildcon), Luka Banda (Napsa Stars), Liaison Thole (Kabwe Warriors), Mwilla Phiri (Lusaka Dynamos)
MIDFIELDERS: Danny Silavwe (Napsa Stars), Bruce Musakanya, George Simbayambaya (both Red Arrows), George Chaloba, Henry Besa (both National Assembly), Benson Kolala (U20, Nchanga Rangers), Clement Mundia (Kabwe Warriors), Alex Mwiinga (U17, Mazabuka United), Jeff Banda (Nkwazi), Webster Muzazu (Forest Rangers)
STRIKERS: Lameck Silwaba (Buildcon), Lameck Banda (U20, Zesco United), Thomas Banda (Napsa Stars) Joseph Phiri (Red Arrows), Francisco Mwepu (U20, Kafue Celtic)
Colleagues just read this statement from the Chamber of Mines. They want to increase loss carryovers from 7 to 10 years. Meaning they want to extend periods of declaring looses when they know that in a fiscal year they made profits but declare losses on technicality. Then they demand the VAT refund arrears to be repaid.
A brief history on that. VAT refund is not capital as the mines claim. VAT is normally refunded to companies to help them, reduce the cost of raw materials. The condition of VAT refund is that you need to prove that the materials you bought are for use in production. The best proof is to give receipts and show the final destination of your products. When then Finance Minister Chikwanda tightened procedures of VAT refunds, most of our colleagues could not show evidence of the final destination and other requirements. That is why VAT was never given to them. Up to now, some have not complied but why do they want government to give them that money? Why call a subsidy working capital? As an individual I get a salary, save some money, build a house, put it on rent and government without even asking my source of income will tax rentals. No consideration of whether I built the house using a loan or not. So why should the mines bully government on taxation?
The chamber of mines mentions that they want to want to increase production to 1 million tonnes a year. As a country we are not interested in that amount because the more they produce, the more we lose because their contribution to government tax revenue is insignificant.
How can you pay mineral royalty of 3.5% and then fail to declare corporate income tax despite the fact that you receive $700m in VAT refunds, $240m in electricity tariffs, $60m in fuel subsidies? It’s high time the mines came on board to help government raise resources.
Government buys power from Maamba coal plant at 13 cents then sells to the mines at 6 cents when households and other companies pay 9 cents? Mines should stop holding government at ransom. It’s a pity that every time government moves in to correct the wrong, the mines start retrenching employees. Instead of employees siding with government, they side with mines therefore promoting the same problems.
I understand that mine tax policy should be consistent. But how do we promote consistency of nonpayment of corporate income tax?
What the mines should understand is that there are other investors watching on the terraces! This includes the option of nationalising non profit posting mines. We are alive to the fact that copper is the next gold!!
A conventional car now uses about 12kgs of copper. An electric car uses about 60 kgs of copper cables. By 2030, the European Union will move to 100% electric cars! Other developed nations are also moving in that direction. So copper is the past, the present and the future.
Zambia has enough qualified specialists to move in. We are moving in slowly to correct the situation. Mines should find a way of posting profits like their counterparts in Chile. Mining in Zambia is easier than in Chile. And by the way, at the rate we are mining, we maybe only have a decade or two of copper remaining. I am even scared when we even increase the figures to 1 million tonnes.
By the way, can we be told where the over $4.8bn raised from sale of over 800,000 tonnes of copper is and maybe how it was spent? How much of it reached Zambia? Why didn’t it reach Zambia? Where is the warehouse of copper that we send to Switzerland? In China, location of those warehouses is known. Where is the copper sent to Switzerland stockpiled?
These are some of the things government and citizens of kamakonde, Kankoyo, etc want to know?
We don’t need people benefiting from the mines to engage us in semi baked academic debates and telling us that the current situation is ok. We know that the current model of mine ownership is dead until we see mines contributing at least 40% to GRZ’s national budget! When government borrows money to do a road in Chingola, we ask where the money from the mines in Chingola goes to? We can’t push so many responsibilities to a government we can’t fund!
At $6000 of copper per tonne, even Street kids on the Copperbelt should feel the positive impact of mining. The whole Copperbelt economy is based on mining so colleagues we need to see your input. The number of experts has increased once more in towns like Kitwe meaning business is booming again. But that boom should reflect in control 99.
The Chamber of mines further say that we can ill-afford to resort to “Father Christmas type”, fanciful, unresearched, archaic commentary that have had ruinous effects on our economy and the people of Zambia in the past. I understand that the authors of the statement were never in Zambia when ZCCM did wonders for this nation. I understand that despite the fact that the statement is signed by someone with a Zambian name, the paymasters are foreign. If what I am saying is not researched, why not dispute my figures? I know probably there are other real figures we might not be given but from mine owner boasting and other consolidated financial statements colleagues post abroad, we have indications of what is happening.
Its is unfortunate that the chamber of mines uses words like “Father Christmas type” and ”Unresearched archaic commentary”. What needs to be understood is that there is problem. Where there is a problem people look for solutions. Fortunately this time, we shall ensure that solutions are implemented. I just advise that people up their game and contribute positively to Zambia’s economic development agenda. Some of you are Zambians so your loyalty should be with the country. Have respect for us. We have trained many of your employees!!!! Do not underestimate us.
Zambia National Education Coalition (ZANEC) has said that wants Government to spend at least 20% of the National Budget on Education and Skills development, even though the current spending meets the international frameworks.
In a statement released to the media ahead of he budget presentation, ZANEC said that the reality on the ground is that our Education and Skills Sector needs a lot of attention if Zambia is to make any significant progress in providing the kind of education envisaged in the Seventh National Development Plan.
ZANEC further stated that from 2015 the funding to the s Education and Skills Sector has been on the downward trend as indicated by the figures: 2015 (20.2%), 2016 (17.2%), 2017 (16.5%) and 2018 (16.1%)
Below is the full statement
ZANEC Pre Budget 2019 Press Statement on funding to the Education and Skills Sector
27th September, 2018
Zambia National Education Coalition (ZANEC) is insistent that government has to show commitment to their policies and plans by allocating no less than 20% of the Budget to Education and Skills Sector. .Even though it can be argued that the allocations have stayed within the bracket of international frameworks that government allocate between 4 to 6% of their Gross Domestic Product or between 15 to 20 % of their national budgets to Education, the reality on the ground is that our Education and Skills Sector needs a lot of attention if we are to make any significant progress in providing the kind of education envisaged in the Seventh National Development Plan.
We also expect that this increase in allocation should seek to balance the allocations to Personnel Emoluments and Service provision. While we appreciate the fact that 85% of the 2018 budget went to meeting our obligations to the human resource, i.e teachers, among others, we also want to see the allocation to service delivery increased so that the learner must benefit by receiving all requirements that result in good learner outcomes.
ZANEC is STILL concerned with the declining financing to the Education and Skills Sectors to the Ministry of General Education (MoGE) and Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE).
The national budget allocation to the Education and Skills Sector falls below the Cairo Protocol on Education of at least 20% minimum allocation to which Zambia is assented to.
Unfortunately, the budget allocation has continued to go down from 2015 as follows; 2015 (20.2%), 2016 (17.2%), 2017 (16.5%) and 2018 (16.1%). ZANEC is concerned with this nose-diving trend due to the fact that the inadequate funding has diversely affected the delivery of quality education services at all levels. We are concerned that the despite the minimal allocation of funds were disbursed late and in small amounts that would not translate to any meaningful improvement in the sector.
A case in point is the Eastern Province, as learnt during a ZANEC Education Platform that the Province was allocated K12, 949,214.82 in the 2018 National Budget. A quarterly disbursement of K3, 237,303.71 was indicatively supposed to be released to the Eastern Province under the MoGE. However, only K519, 313.81 translating into sixteen percent (16%) of the first quarter allocation was released to the Provincial and District Education Offices. Meanwhile no disbursements were made to Early Childhood Education (ECE), primary, secondary and colleges as of April 2018, for the entire province. This clearly highlights the Ministry of Finance failure to submit funds to the sector for provision of adequate quality services.
The challenge of financing for public service delivery is not unique to the Education and Skills Sector. In a letter dated 25th June, 2018 by the Provincial Education Officer (PEO) instructing all Schools in Lusaka to “Contribution towards Co – Curricular activities” in this letter the PEO directs schools to contribute towards Co- curricular activities involving learners where Primary Schools in Lusaka were instructed to contribute K2, 000.00, Secondary Schools to contribute K7.000. This is a clear manifestation of the lack of resources to undertake education activities resulting in Schools subsidizing central government’s responsibility to finance education.
The Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP) and the Vision 2030 clearly stipulates the country’s development agenda of “Leave no one behind”. However this motto is mere rhetoric as failure to finance a key Pillar of the 7NDP indicatively does not allow for many vulnerable Zambians to access quality education service.
Erratic funding to the sector raises serious concern to the Coalition. There are currently 752, 700 out of school children as indicated in the Zambia Education Statistical Bulletin. With such erratic and late disbursement of funds to the sector, how is the government going to reduce these ever increasing numbers?
If Zambia is to attain any meaningful development and reduce poverty among its citizens there is need to invest substantially in the Education and Skills Sector. The Education and Skills Sector is a sector whose outcomes rely on government’s willingness to invest adequately. The prevailing funding flow to the sector allows the Coalition to question the government’s commitment and priority to the Education and Skills Sector.
Research and statistics have shown that countries that have made tremendous progress in terms of economic and social development have invested in their Education and Skills Sectors at all levels. ZANEC therefore appeals to the government, particularly the Ministry of Finance to disburse funds to the Education and Skills Sector in the remaining months and quarters of the year on time and according to the National Budget for 2018. The Ministry must also release the funds that have not been disbursed for quarter one (1), two (2) and three (3) immediately. We believe that the little resources to the Education and Skills Sector if disbursed on time can create some meaningful change.
The Coalition further calls on the government through the Ministry of Finance to continue finding avenues for domestically financing the education sector and therefore commend the government on the introduction of the Skills Development Fund.
We want to stress that this call for increased financing is coupled with increased checks and balances to avoid syphoning and mismanagement of the little resources going to the sector. For ZANEC, we will continue to hold government accountable and demand for accountability of funds that are proven to have been misused or stolen from government to be returned immediately and perpetrators punished without any fear or favour. We are pleased that the government has suspended more than 60 officials in the MoGE over misuse of funds. However, more needs to be done to ensure that funds are used for the intended purpose in the Ministries responsible for Education. The misuse of funds has affected the education system in a negative way.
Activist and Musician Maiko Zulu was yesterday released after he was briefly detained by Police for staging a lone protest against Vedanta Resources at the UK High Commission in Lusaka.
Plain clothed Zambia Police Officers picked up the Maiko who had staged a lone protest demanding for GRZ to deal with Vedanta owner Anil Agarwal
Maiko displayed placards on which he called on the Zambian Government to hold Vedanta accountable for polluting the Kafue River before it delists from the London Stock Exchange.
He arrived with a yellow banner calling for justice against the Vedanta boss but before long, uninformed police officers arrived and told him to leave since he had no permit to protest.
The officers then took him to police headquarters before taking to Kabwata police station.
In May this year, The UK’s Opposition party the Labour Party called for Vedanta to be delisted from the London Stock Exchange following the death of 13 people during violent protests against the mining giant in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu.
The statement from the senior Labour MP, who highlighted that campaigners and international NGOs like Amnesty International have accused Vedanta of a string of human rights and environmental abuses in India, Zambia and across the globe, came as protesters are preparing to stage a major protest against Vedanta outside the Indian High Commission in London.
“I have been released from Kabwata Police where I was taken after being interrogated at Force HQ following the protest I had at the British High Commission against Vedanta (KCM) owner Anil Agarwal,” he said.
“Vedanta is being de-listed from the London Stock Exchange following serious crimes against indigenous people of India and the pollution of our own Kafue River which is a source of livelihood for thousands of peasants,” Maiko posted.
“The inequality that multinationals are creating cannot be left unchecked and we will continue standing up and facing arrests for the good of our people. Our fellow protesters were shot at by police in India.”
Transport and Communications Permanent Secretary Misheck Lungu cuts the ribbon to symbolise the launch of a new Zamtel tower at Kakumbauzya in Petauke District
Transport and Communications Permanent Secretary Misheck Lungu says the PF government is now delivering on its promise of ensuring that every part of Zambia has mobile phone connectivity.
And thousands of people converged at Kakumbauzya village in Kafumbwe Constituency in Petauke District to witness the commissioning of a new Zamtel communication tower.
Mr. Lungu observed that President Edgar Lungu had promised that his administration would work to ensure that all parts of Zambia had a phone signal and that the promise is now being fulfilled.
He said through the GRZ Communication Tower Project, more rural areas are now receiving mobile phone connectivity in line with the promise.
Mr Lungu said currently 320 new mobile phone towers have been erected with around 200 fully switched on and offering a service.
He said by 2020, all the planned 1009 new towers would be constructed across the country.
The Permanent Secretary was speaking on Thursday when he officiated at the launch of a new Zamtel communication tower at Kakumbauzya village in Petauke District.
Mr Lungu said the project is already showing great commercial promise going by the number of new customers that are signing up to the Zamtel network.
The Permanent Secretary announced that the new Kakumbauzya tower is already bringing in revenue in excess of K360, 000 a month since it was switched on.
He also revealed that Eastern Province has been allocated 113 Communication towers out of which 27 towers have so far been constructed and already on air.
“The Government under the leadership of His Excellency, President Edgar Chagwa Lungu is committed to increasing access to reliable and affordable communication services across the country. This important project by the Government will increase mobile coverage and access from the current 70% to cover almost 100% of the country at the completion of the project. The data service penetration is also likely to significantly improve, thereby greatly improving the communication and efficiency in the provision of Information and Communications Technology services across the country,” Mr Lungu said.
He added, “We also believe that the roll out of these towers will effectively improve investment in areas such as Petauke, create employment, and provide a solid foundation for the socio-economic development of the entire nation.”
Zamtel CEO Sydney Mupeta speaking during the launch of a new Zamtel tower at Kakumbauzya in Petauke District
Speaking earlier, Zamtel Chief Executive Officer Sydney Mupeta said the project is progressing well and he is confident that Zamtel will deliver the 1009 new towers on schedule.
“Bringing 113 communication towers to the Eastern Province is a testament of our view of this area as a key and strategic region for our business. I can confidently say that Eastern Province is one of the most promising markets where Zamtel is receiving great customer support,” Mr Mupeta said.
Mr Mupeta also called on Zambians to continue supporting Zamtel as it delivers on its promise of providing world class communication solutions.
“Let me remind our customers to continue supporting this home grown Zamtel brand as we purposefully build this nation together with every top up and phone call made on the Zamtel network,” Mr Mupeta said.
And thousands of local people converged at Kakumbauzya village in Petauke District to witness the commissioning of the tower.
The excited crowd was treated to lots of entertainment, food and a sales promotion on phones and talk time.
Transport and Communications Permanent Secretary Misheck Lungu speaking during the launch of a new Zamtel tower at Kakumbauzya in Petauke DistrictThousands of Kakumbauzya villagers turned out to witness the launch of a new Zamtel tower in the areaPart of the launch of a new Zamtel tower at Kakumbauzya in Petauke District
FILE: Police attempt to grab placards from Laura Miti and Pilato as they protested at Parliament last year
The Zambia Police has given a go ahead to civil society groups to hold their planned peaceful demonstrations at Parliament as Finance Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe delivers the 2019 national budget.
This was after the NGO leaders appealed to Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo following the refusal by the police in Lusaka to have the protest go ahead.
A note from Officer Commanding Lusaka Urban District Headquarters said, “Following your appeal, you are allowed to go ahead but observe law and order.”
Laura Miti, one of the organizers conformed that the protest is on today at Parliament.
“Citizens have been allowed to demonstrate at Parliament Minister Kampyongo overturns police denial on appeal. Now we must mobilise quickly. See you at Parliament with your placard. Peacefully we will be heard,” Ms. Miti said.
Meanwhile, the National Democratic Congress NDC says it fully backs plans by the NGOCC to protest outside parliament over Governments continued borrowing.
“As a party, we urge all our party functionaries in Lusaka to join the protests,” says NDC National Secretary Mwenya Musenge.
Mr. Musenge said the intention by well meaning civil society groupings such as NGOCC to speak out on the reckless borrowing by the PF regime is an act of patriotism.
“Ordinary citizens have already started feeling the consequences of the reckless and aimless borrowing by this regime,” he said.
“As NDC, we are worried that the PF has continued contracting new loans without the full approval of parliament. In this regard, we urge the Attorney General who is the Chief Legal Advisor to Government to explain why Cabinet is abrogating the law with impunity over the contraction of loans. As NDC, we also urge our legislators to demand for a detailed report from the Minister of Finance over Zambia’s exact debt,” Mr Musenge said.
He said figures from Government over the staggering debt are highly contradictory.
“In the midst of all this, we further demand that Government immediately stops contracting new loans. The NDC is also disappointed that President Edgar Lungu has allowed his salary and allowances to be increased. If Presided Lungu truly cares for his people, we urge him to reverse the hike this of his personal emoluments,” he said.
He added, “Its unfair that the Presidents emoluments can be increased amidst fiscal measures announced by Government to reduce public spending.”
The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ), says it intends to construct more synthetic playing surfaces in the country to help the national soccer team and clubs adapt to playing on them in international engagements.
ZANIS Sports reports that FAZ Secretary General Adrian Kashala said the local soccer governing body is committed to realizing the project because it will assist players from clubs and the national team to adapt well in playing on both natural and artificial grass.
Mr. Kashala noted that there were concerns from the technical bench on some players failing to adjust and adapt to playing on the artificial turf in Windhoek, Namibia when that country hosted Zambia in the one all draw 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
The FAZ Secretary General said one of the remedial measures is the construction of a minimum of two artificial playing surfaces in the country.
Mr. Kashala said the project will take off once FAZ mobilizes money from the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA), to finance development of the project.
He said FIFA can only fund another development project once construction of the ongoing School of Excellency Project in Ndola is completed.
Mr. Kashala explained that sponsors of developmental projects have procedures that need to be followed.
He said works on the School of Excellency Project in Ndola are advanced and once completed, it will enable FAZ send a completion certificate to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), so that other projects can be considered.
Minister of Defence Davies Chama says peace and stability with Zambia’s neighbour’s is paramount for its socio and economic development.
Mr. Chama has therefore called on the Defence and security institutions in the sub region to continue maintaining law and order along the common borders.
The Minister was speaking yesterday when he officially opened the 21st session of the Namibia /Zambia Joint Permanent Commission sitting in Windhoek, Namibia.
ZANIS reports that Mr. Chama expressed concern on the cross -border crimes, such as poaching, smuggling and illegal migration which he said have continued to threaten the socio- economic growth of the two countries.
” I wish to recognize the continued cooperation between our Defence and Security institutions in maintaining law and order in both countries and along the common boundary.
“ I note that poaching, smuggling and illegal migration have continued to pose a threat to the socio-economic growth of our two countries, ” Mr. Chama said.
The Defence Minister urged the Namibia /Zambia Joint Permanent Commission to come up with strategies to address the security threats facing the two countries.
And speaking earlier Namibia Minister of Defence Penda Ya Dakolo congratulated Zambia for assuming the Chairmanship of the SADC organ on politics, Defence and Security Cooperation (the Troika Organ) this year.
Mr . Ndakolo says Zambia’s Chairmanship will enhance peace and stability in the region.
” The 21st Session of the Namibia /Zambia Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security should look at the resolutions of the previous session of the Commission and see what has been done and what remains to be done.
“ If there were resolutions that were not implemented we must find out what were the challenges and how do we jointly overcome for the better defence and security of our two countries”. said Mr. Ndakolo
The Namibian Minister said his country cherishes the long standing warm relationship between his country and Zambia which dates back to the 1960s.
The Namibia and Zambia Defence and Security institutions have already identified some existing security concerns namely proper border demarcation, illegal immigration, poaching and cattle rustling.
The 21st Session of the Namibia/ Zambia Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security to look at the resolutions of the previous session.
Wedson Nyirenda is relieved Baroka FC managed to keep a clean sheet for the first time this season.
Baroka on Wednesday earned a 0-0 home draw against Free State Stars to give Nyirenda some respite after a poor start from eight games in charge in the South African PSL.
“The clean sheet speaks volumes for the team. We are getting better in terms of defending. All we need is that finishing [in front of goal],” Nyirenda said.
Baroka’s draw against 8th placed Free State Stars came a week after they lost 2-1 at home to new leaders Orlando Pirates.
13th placed Baroka have 6 points, two points behind Free State Stars, and face bottom placed Black Leopards away in a Polokwane derby on October 3.
