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FOREIGN Affirs Minister,Joseph Malanji briefing the mediaZambia has signed an agreement with the Sustainable Development Goals -SDGs- Centre for Africa to host a regional office.
The office will advocate for the implementation of SDGs in the Southern African region, in line with the principles of African Union -AU-‘s Agenda 2063.
ZNBC’s Michael Kaumba reports from New York, USA, that Foreign Affairs Minister, Joe Malanji said government subscribes to the global principles in the fight against poverty.
Mr. Malanji said it is for this reason that government has developed the Seventh National Development Plan, as the blue print for the country’s development and it is aligned to the SDGs.
He said government is implementing several social protection programmes, aimed at empowering women and youth.
And sustainable development goals center for Africa Director General Dr. Belau Begashaw praised the Zambian government for agreeing to host the regional center and committing itself to fighting poverty.
Earlier SDG United Nations Advocate Dho Yongshin said she supports calls for the establishment of the Korean embassy in Zambia saying the move will enhance efforts to promote trade and tourism as a tool of fighting poverty.
Residents of Buchi Compound in Kitwe have rioted and blocked the Kitwe-Chingola Dual Carriage Way. This is after a Police officer gunned down a youth who works at one of the car-washes along Kazembe road.
The Irate Buchi residents on went on rampage burning tyres on Kazembe road and the Kitwe-Chingola Dual Carriageway. The protest led to the closure of the dual carriage way, causing dozens of vehicles going to North Western Province to be stranded on either side of the road.
For over two hours, the Buchi Residents threw stones at Police officers who were in the area to clear the road. At some point, Police officers were overwhelmed by the stone throwers and discharged teargas canisters as they withdrew.
Police reinforcements from Riverside, Ganerton and Kitwe Central Police Stations helped to quell the unruly crowd which was mainly composed of youths. Kazembe road links Buchi, Kamitondo, Kwacha and Bulangililo Compounds to the Kitwe-Chingola dual carriage way.
After a two-hour battle, Police officers managed to clear the rioters and traffic has normalized on both the Kitwe-Chingola Dual Carriage Way and Kazembe road.
Copperbelt Police Chief Charity Katanga says the incident happened when a police Officer who accompanied officers from Nkana Water and Sewerage Company shot one of the clients.
Mrs. Katanga however said she had no further details of the incident.
Copperbelt police commissioner Charity Katanga
Meanwhile, Police in Kitwe on the Copperbelt province are holding 19 men for allegedly stealing 32bags of copper concentrate weighing 32000Kg which was destined for Chambeshi copper mine(CCS) smelter from Democratic Republic of Congo.(DRC)
Copperbelt province Police Commissioner Charity Katanga says the truck was intercepted after the bags were being offloaded and replaced with same weight of black soil.
She disclosed that the incident happened on Sunday evening around 21:30hours at Markov mining plant which belongs to Shawi Faeazi situated along the Chingola-Kalulushi road.
Ms. Katanga said police managed to apprehend 19 suspects from the group including one master -minder who are in detention at Kalulushi and Kitwe central police stations respectively.
She said police received a tip off from members of the public as well as from the owners of cargo who managed to track the diverted truck via the global position point (GPP)
The Copperbelt police Chief confirmed the development in a press statement issued to ZANIS in Ndola today.
Here is a wrap of selected overseas Chipolopolo player’s performances at their respective clubs over the weekend.
SOUTH AFRICA SuperSport United: Striker Gampani Lungu came on in the 72nd minute of 5th placed SuperSport’s 4-0 home win over last placed Black Leopards on Sunday but was not on target.
Orlando Pirates: Midfielder Augustine Mulenga started for new leaders Pirates on Saturday before leaving the pitch in the 87th minute in Saturday’s 2-1 away win over his ex-boss Chipolopolo Wedson Nyirenda’s Baroka FC who are now second from bottom.
Striker Justin Shonga was an unused substitute for Pirates.
SWEDEN
Midfielder Edward Chilufya was an unused substitute for 7th placed Djurgardens 3-0 away win over bottom of the log Trelleborgs on Saturday.
FRANCE
Leaders Metz on Saturday suffered their first Ligue 2 defeat and it wasn’t pretty.
Defender Stopilla Sunzu scored an own -goal against hosts and ten-man Paris FC to hand them a 2-1 win.
Sunzu played the full 90 minutes against 5th placed Paris FC.
AUSTRIA
RB Salzburg: Midfielder Enock Mwepu came on in the 84th minute for the leaders and defending champions 2-1 home win over 7th placed Rapid Vienna a on Sunday.
Striker Patson Daka remains sidelined with an injury.
Altach: Striker Brian Mwila made his league debut when he came on in the 67th minute for bottom placed and winless Altach who lost 1-0 at home in fourth placed AC Wolfsberger on Saturday.
BELGIUM
Striker Fashion Sakala finally scored his debut goal since joining sixth placed KV Oostende from Russian cub Spartak Moscow in the Summer.
Fashion scored the opening goal in the 13th minute during Saturdays 2-1 away win over 12th placed Eupen in a match he was replaced by compatriot Emmanuel Banda in the 90th minute.
Hip-Hop artist Chanda Mbao is back with arguably the biggest African Hip-Hop collaboration of the year, entitled ‘The Bigger Wave’. After the 2018 success of Mbao’s single ‘Wave’ featuring young R&B sensation Scott, the hip-hopper has linked up with some of the biggest names in African Hip-Hop to bring us The Bigger Wave. Hip-Hop heavyweights Laylizzy from Mozambique and Da L.E.S from South Africa both grace the track with stellar verses putting together one of the hottest regional collaborations we’ve seen in a long time and is a very big deal for SADC.
LaylizzyDa L.E.S
With epic trap production by rising star producer Chase Iyan, this track is a certified banger. With the song debuting on Friday, it has been buzzing heavily on social media and received support from the likes of Chef 187, Jay Rox, Slap Dee and other big names in Zambian Hip-Hop.
Chanda Mbao is an award-winning Zambian Hip-Hop artist who originally commenced his music career in 2012 when he was living in Miami, Florida. In 2018, Chanda propelled himself to the next level with the release of his catchy trap-inspired single Wave which featured young R&B talent Scott. The scenic visuals were shot in a national park in Zambia giving the video a very authentic aesthetic which, when paired with the catchy song, set the region ablaze. The video went on to chart on many video countdowns including the Trace Urban Africa Top 10 and the Trace Africa African Hit 10.
The stature of this project ‘The Bigger Wave’ is undeniable and takes Chanda Mbao beyond national relevance to international importance. We look forward to seeing more game changing African Hip-Hop collaborations like this one. After all, we always say Zambia needs to export more! Why not music too?
File:Trade Consultant Trevor Simumba making a presentation during the launch of his study “He Who Pays the Piper” which focuses on Chinese debt.
International Trade Expert Trevor Simumba has charged that many Zambian professionals are the biggest cowards the country has.
Mr Simumba said Zambian professionals should be ashamed to have continued watching as politicians used public funds to buy votes and live a life of luxury.
“To all those asking me to help the Government I say what? Are you sure,when I started warning way back in 2012! Many of you said I was just too talkative. I was called all sorts and vilified publicly. Even my own family members fought me just because they were benefiting from the PF largesse. Now even with a contract, there is no money to pay suppliers who now are owed over K13 billion,” Mr Simumba wrote on his Facebook page.
“Kwacha is depreciating quick, donors withholding aid so by the time some of these people get paid, Kwacha would have lost another 20 to 30% in value. Now that you have messed up the economy, stolen beyond sanity you want me and others to come help fix the mess that you have created through selfishness and arrogance?”
He added, “Many so called Zambian professionals are the biggest cowards we have in this country. They should be ashamed to have continued watching as politicians used public funds to buy votes and live a life of luxury.”
“Never. We will meet you and all your minions at the ballot box in 2021 and I will personally campaign across the country to ensure you never ever have an opportunity again to steal and abuse public funds. Enough is enough.”
Mr Simumba said now is the time for the Zambian opposition to unite.
“It is time for all Zambian opposition to unite. Zambians are not fools or docile. We will act at the right time just like we did in 1991, 2001, and 2011.”
Zamtel CEO Mr Sydney Mupeta speaking during the commissioning of a Communication Tower at Shamputa in Kapiri
Zamtel Chief Executive Officer Sydney Mupeta says the state owned Telecommunications Company is on a growth path.
Mr Mupeta said Zamtel expects to finish 2018 even stronger.
“From 2016-2017, Zamtel recorded revenues of about K470 million to K670 million in 2017 that is above 50 % growth,” Mr Mupeta said . He was speaking during in an interview after the company commissioned two new communication towers in Ngabwe and Kapiri in the Central Province.
He added, “What does it take to grow the company, in this industry, it takes customer base growth and those that are customers that drive the growth.”
He said Zamtel is recording more revenue than what the company did in 2017.
“We are constantly growing and that makes you rise above legacy issues. We are on a growth path, we expect 2018 to finish even stronger,” he said.
Mr Mupeta said the 1009 new communication towers that the company is putting up across the country will increase its geographical footprint and capture more customers.
“This site alone (Shamputa, Kapiri) has given us 3,500 sites, our growth is assured as we roll out more sites,” the Zamtel CEO stated.
“As the top line grows, our fixed costs are becoming less and less and that is how you build the profit story. The top line is growing consistently. By end of this year, growth is projected to be around 20% because more time and efforts has gone into digitalizing our channels and other basics,” he said.
A group of civil society organisations have given a notice to police for a peaceful demonstration at Parliament on September 28.
According to a statement signed by nine CSOs that want to hold a peaceful demonstration on 28 September, the national budget presentation day.
The demonstration is aimed at raising public concern with the way that public resources are being critically mismanaged in the country as well as with the country’s debt levels.
CSOs have since asked the general public to turn out in numbers for the peaceful protest.
This is contained in a press statement signed by Alliance for Community Action (ACA) Laura Miti on behalf of other civil society organisations and good governance activists.
Police attempt to grab placards from Laura Miti and Pilato as they protested at Parliament last year
The trial of six activists – including musician Pilato for taking part in a peaceful protest against exorbitant government spending on fire trucks is politically-motivated and an affront to justice, said Amnesty International, as their hearing resumes in the Lusaka Magistrate’s Court today.
The six were charged with disobeying a lawful order after marching on Parliament on 29 September 2017 against what they said was the corrupt procurement of 42 fire trucks for US$42 million.
The reported cost of the trucks sparked public outcry over alleged misuse of public funds.
“These activists are facing trial simply for demanding transparency and accountability in public spending. They have committed no crime and should never have been charged in the first place,” said Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for Southern Africa.
Police pick up Laura Miti after she took part in a protest at Parliament grounds aganist the purchase of fire trucks last year
“The Zambian authorities must drop these politically motivated charges against them. The authorities should respect, protect and promote the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in the country.”
The six, musician Fumba Chama who is known as Pilato, Lewis Mwape, Laura Miti, Sean Enock Tembo, Bornwell Mwewa and Mika Mwambazi have pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against them.
If convicted, the human rights defenders and activists, who were beaten by arresting police officers, face up to two years in prison.
File: COPPERBELT University Students Union (COBUSU) members make a circle round the grave of their deceased colleagues during the burial
The Zambia Medical Association has strongly condemned the Lusaka City Council for releasing medical records in a newspaper of the dead whose bodies have not been claimed.
Association General Secretary Dr Francis Mupeta said the decision by the Council is abrogation of the medical ethics and a violation of the rights of the dead to privacy.
Dr Mupeta said it is shameful for a government office to publicise peoples’ illnesses.
“Are we losing medical ethics or we actually don’t have? The medical professional has been guided for centuries by medical ethics which has earned them trust by members of the public.
Hippocrates the Father of modern medicine wrote; “Whatever, in connection with my professional service, or not in connection with it, I see or hear, in the life of men, which ought not to be spoken of abroad, I will not divulge, as reckoning that all such should be kept secret”.
He added, “The Oath of Hippocrates has undergone many revisions to suit modern time. The World Medical Association Physician’s pledge adopted by Zambia Medical Association in 2018 states; “I WILL RESPECT the secrets that are confided in me, even after the patient has died”.
“Therefore it’s very shameful for a government office of officer to publicise peoples’ illnesses. The office of the TC ought to have consulted before defiling medical ethics in public like they have in the Daily Nation newspaper! It is a violation of Rights of the dead to privacy.”
Local digital payments company Zazu has announced that the Bank of Zambia has now granted it a licence to operate a Payments System Business.
In a blog post, Zazu said “We have some incredible news. 12 months ago we set out on an exciting journey: to simplify the way people understand and interact with financial services.”
“Six months ago we released a platform to teach people how money really works and have gone on to reach over 6 000 people across Zambia in only 4 months. Today, we are incredibly excited to announce that Zazu is now a licensed Payments System Business by the Bank of Zambia.”
The firm said this is a significant milestone in the journey and one that brings it closer to achieving its vision.
“While we have been waiting for the regulatory approvals, we have continued building out our product. Obtaining this licence now allows us to test it with a selected group of users before a public launch. It also means we can now start building our back office support structures and over the next few weeks, we will be welcoming people across customer service, finance, risk & compliance roles.”
President Eedgar Lungu and Vice President Inonge Wine shows the document after the launch whilst Secretary to the cabinet Rowland Msiska Looks on during the Launch of the Perfromance-Based Contract system for Permanent secretaries at Government Complex
The Salaries of President Edgar Lungu and other selected government officials has been raised, with the changes being effective from January 2018.
According to a Statutory Instrument signed by Finance Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe, President Lungu will now receive K487, 839.00 as annual salary plus a special annual allowance of K129, 413.00.
This latest salary adjustment means President Lungu’s monthly pay is now K40, 653.25 plus an allowance of K10, 784.41.
Others whose salaries have also gone up are Secretary to the Cabinet and his deputy, Permanent Secretaries, Auditor General, Director of Public of Prosecutions, Attorney General, Solicitor General and the Public Protector.
Economics Association of Zambia President Lubinda Haabazoka has proposed that government takes over the running of the mining industry.
Dr Haabazoka who is also Head of the UNZA Graduate Business School said Zambia will only benefit from the mining sector when it starts running the mines.
The Zambian government is spending $700m in VAT refunds to the mines annually and $240m in electricity subsidies to the mines including $60m in fuel subsidies to the mines annually.
“Total $1billion. Yes $1bn that if we withheld, we could repay all our Eurobonds without refinancing. Now can you ask the mines how much platinum and other rare minerals they mined last year? Where are the proceeds? Ndola refinery under ZCCM was responsible for extracting such,” Dr Haabazoka noted.
“The mines last year produced over 800 thousand tonnes of copper. The average price of copper last year was $6000. In total, they received not less than $4.8bn. Now these are official figures. Now how strong was our currency going to be if we kept even $2bn of that here?”
He added, “Chile, the largest copper producer learnt management of its mining companies from Zambia. Their company Codelco whose CEO I met sometime back was formed under ZCCM model. Foreign investors in Chile were given greenfields and government there cannot be cheated because they also own mines. Chile today has a copper stabilization fund that the country uses during downward economic slumps. Chile today is developing very fast and after copying from us do not know any inflation problems.”
Dr Haabazoka said Zambia needs to act now.
“We need to act as a country. For those saying we can move in to control the negative trends in the mines, what is your alternative proposal?” he asked.
The 2021 presidential candidate of the Socialist Party, Fred M’membe was recently in Ghana where declared that a progressive wave has dawned in Africa. Speaking at the Founder’s Day celebrations in Winneba, Ghana on Friday, September 21, 2018, Dr M’membe declared that Dr Kwame Nkrumah’s socialist revolutionary ideas were on the resurgence, and extolled Nkrumah’s revolutionary leadership and ideas, Dr M’membe, who is the 2021 presidential candidate of the Socialist Party (Zambia), said the progressive socialist wave had dawned on the African continent.
Below is the full Speech that he delivered
Revolutionaries never die, Nkrumah lives in us!
Those who thought Nkrumah is dead, they should realise that wherever there is a crucifixion, there is always a resurrection.
Nkrumah is with us right here today. The ideas of Nkrumah will live forever, they will live forever in us, they are here today in his homeland of Ghana. Those who thought we were totally defeated and that was the end of Nkrumah’s ideas were mistaken. The revolutionary process started by Nkrumah six decades ago is being resurrected today, right here in Ghana.
Capitalism has no answer to the problems facing humanity today. Capitalism cannot deal with the problem of inequality that is crippling the world today; capitalism cannot deal with the issue of unemployment that is crippling the world today! Every year in winter they go to Davos in Switzerland for the World Economic Forum; what do they discuss in there? They discuss growing inequality in the world, they discuss growing unemployment in the world!
But every year they come from Davos without answers to these problems, without solutions to these challenges. This is so because the answers to these problems and solutions to these challenges do not lie in capitalism. In fact, what they are trying to do is to square a circle. To find solutions to these problems and challenges they have to destroy capitalism, and they are not ready to do so. We are ready to do so; and we are starting here in Ghana to do so.
Imperialism has reached its highwater mark. Today a new revolutionary wave starts here, right here in Ghana; they will not defeat us this time, we are better equipped with Nkrumah’s ideas, Cabral’s ideas, Chavez ideas, Fidel’s ideas, Mao’s ideas, Lenin’s ideas, Karl Marx’s ideas.
We are coming for you! We are coming for you! And there’s no pulling punches. We are more revolutionary than six decades ago; we are more experienced than six decades ago. And we are more in numbers than six decades ago. In this hall today, we have over 60 nations represented, covering all continents. Can we fail? We won’t fail!
Comrades, those who thought Nkrumah’s ideas were dead, what they didn’t realise is that these were revolutionary ideas. You can’t kill revolutionary ideas whose time has come. It was time for these revolutionary ideas 60 years ago; it is still time for these revolutionary ideas today.
Since 1945 when the PanAfrican Congress was held in Manchester, we didn’t have this type of gathering, not even the OAU assembled so many nations in one place. If imperialists are as intelligent as they claim to be, they will today realise that something is changing on this continent. Something big is happening and they will not be able to stop it. They will not be able to stop this progressive wave.
History is not always in a straight forward direction, there’re often gigantic leaps backward. We have suffered our leaps backwards, we have had our calvary. We’re now coming for you! We’re coming for you! And victory is certain! We will not do it with guns but with ideas – Nkrumah’s ideas, Cabral’s ideas, Fidel’s ideas, Chavez’s ideas! We’ll do it with all the ideas of the revolutionaries of our past and our present!
Their concerted efforts to bury Nkrumah’s ideas with his body have failed. We’re today much more aware of Nkrumah’s ideas than we were before. When they realised that they were failing to bury Nkrumah’s ideas, what did they do? They started to create a new Nkrumah for us, a Nkrumah who was not a socialist, a Nkrumah who was not a communist, a Nkrumah who they called a PanAfricanist; meaning something else.
Today we are here to reclaim, to redefine and to chart a new path for the Nkrumah we know, a Nkrumah who is socialist, a Nkrumah who is communist. There was a time when it was difficult to say ‘I am a socialist’ on this continent, when it was difficult to say ‘ I am a communist’. Comrades, today I stand before you to tell you that I’m a socialist! I’m a communist who is a son of Nkrumah, who is a grandson of Nkrumah, who is a great grandson of Nkrumah!
Comrades, this progressive socialist wave will not be stopped! We are back in Ghana to draw our inspiration, to recharge our revolutionary batteries, to re dedicate ourselves to the African struggle for socialism, which is not only the struggle for Africa, but a struggle for the whole world. We are with the whole world in Ghana here today. Those who have got ears should listen to what we are saying; those who have got eyes should see that our actions are determined, our ideas are clear! We’re resolute with everything that we are saying and which we are doing!
We’re not here to reform capitalism; we’re here to build a socialist future for our continent and the whole world. We’re here to continue what Nkrumah struggled for and died for. We’re here again because Nkrumah lives in us!
Comrades, we cannot continue on this neoliberal capitalist path. The population of Ghana today is 24 million people and at a growth rate of more than 2 per cent, the population of Ghana is likely to double in the next 15-20 years. Where are the jobs going to come from, given Ghana’s today’s unemployment rate and capitalism’s inability to create jobs? Where will housing come from in 15 to 20 years-time when the population of Ghana doubles? How are they going to live? Can capitalism give answers to these problems? The answer is a categorical NO!
For many years, we are given examples of how Ghana is doing very well in terms of neo-liberal capitalism. What has changed? Are the conditions of the Ghanaian people today better than they were 20 years ago? Are they going to be better in 20 years-time under capitalism? Again, the answer is a categorical NO!
We are proud to be associated with Nkrumah! We’re proud to be Nkrumah’s followers! We’re proud to be Nkrumah’s children! We’re proud to be Nkrumah’s disciples! We’re proud to be socialists! We’re proud to be communists!
Finance Minister Margaret MwanakatweMinister of Finance Margaret Mwanakatwe is concerned with the misuse of social media by posting negative statements, which are not helping the economy.
Mrs. Mwanakatwe says Zambians must instead use social media for business, school and preaching love which is key for social and economic development.
Speaking during a Church service to Mark the 49th Anniversary of Mary Queen of Peace Parish in Lusaka’s Mtendere township today, Mrs. Mwanakatwe said the church plays a cardinal role to government’s operations.
The Minister has also asked the Church to pray for her as she presents the 2019 National Budget on Friday.
And Mary Queen of Peace Parish Priest Bryson Phiri has called for unity among Zambians despite their difference in political opinions.
Father Phiri said unity within a country can influence the direction on which its economy can go.
He said Zambia needs maintain its peace so as to continue being a shining example to the outside world.
Mrs Mwanakatwe has since pledged to buy 10 of the 20 remaining benches for the church.
Mines and Minerals Development Minister Richard Musukwa has threatened that Konkola Copper Mines-KCM has been given enough warnings regarding its operations and should NOT force Government to ACT decisively.
Mr Musukwa says Government will NOT allow KCM to continue decampaigning the ruling party through increased unemployment levels in areas where the firm is operating from.
He said Government does NOT want the mining giant to turn Chingola and Chililabombwe into ghost towns due to its activities.
Mr. Musukwa was speaking when he addressed scores of PF members at the constituency office, after receiving Ms. Ng’andu and other UPND defectors.
Mr. Musukwa said the mining firm should guarantee locals jobs and should STOP the habit of late payments of salaries to its staff and delayed clearance of its debt to local contractors and suppliers.
This is the second time withing a month that the Minister is issuing a warning to KCM. Earlier in the month, the Ministersaid that government was saddened by the failure of Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) to demonstrate a clear roadmap in terms of sustainability.
Mr Musukwa had directed KCM to immediately avail government with all the statistics of who they owe, how much has been paid and the records of the outstanding balance.
The Minister further directed the copper mining company to immediately settle all outstanding August salaries to its employees warning that no payment to the Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) or any other entity should ever be used as an excuse for failing to meet their periodic obligations towards both contractors and employees.
Mr Musukwa warned that if mining houses such as KCM refuses to adhere to very friendly directives, then government will have no option but to practically intervene.
“We have a duty and a responsibility towards our people to ensure that the contractors and suppliers are paid and that employees of KCM are equally paid at the correct time. You must remember that suppliers, contractors and KCM employees are NOT shareholders in that company. So KCM has a mandate to mobilise resources and ensure that they liquidate their indebtedness.
“And when they pay CEC or any other company for that matter, it does not mean they now have a leeway to default on employee’s salaries, or default on payments for contractors and suppliers – not at all, by tolerating such, we are just creating an imbalance in the system and it is clear that KCM needs to demonstrate seriousness,” stated Mr Musukwa.
