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Part of the audience at the 3rd Western China Public Procurement Conference during the 17th Western China International Fair being held in Chengdu, Sichuan Province China.
The Republic of China says it will continue to foster trade relations with Zambia, by laying a good foundation for economic growth for the benefit of the two people.
Chinese Commerce Investigator of Laws and Regulations who is also in charge of International Business and Trade Relations Li Peng says China and Zambia have strong relations alongside cementing bilateral ties especially in the area of education.
Mr. Li disclosed this recently in Changsha city, Hunan Province during the national ethnic policy and management seminar which was held from August 29th to September 18th, 2018.
The seminar which attracted 15 participants, was sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce from the People’s Republic of China and organized by Hunan International Business Vocational College.
Mr. Li thanked the participants and challenged them to prudently use the gained knowledge, which is aimed at consolidating the traditional friendship between China and Zambia.
And Assistant Director of the Training Centre, Zhang Feifu said the seminar is an eye opener in building and strengthening cultural values
“We are determined to work very well with each other and deepen the relationships that exists between China and Zambia in the education sector,” Mr. Zhang said.
And group delegates’ representative Chola Mwewa appreciated the flourishing policies in preserving and upholding ethnic values, and the support for tourism.
This is according to a press statement issued to ZANIS in Lusaka today by the Chinese Embassy Delegate Press Secretary Peter Chikwampu.
Chief Mumena (r ) shares a light moment with North-Western province minister Richard Kapitaduring the commemoration of 52ndIndependence at Solwezi Stadium
Chief Mumena of the Kaonde speaking people in Kalumbila district has implored investors to live in peace and harmony with the host communities.
Chief Mumena said investors can only enhance their relationship with
the host communities by ploughing back to the communities through
undertaking corporate social responsibility programmes.
“We know that corporate social responsibility is not something that is put in black and white but it is a spiritual assignment. Those of you that are investing in the land must be able to say the land has accommodated us and what are we going to give in return,” he said.
The traditional leader was speaking during the handover of a water facility to Kimiteto community built by BHL transporters at a cost of K17, 500.
Chief Mumena also thanked BHL for providing the community with clean and safe drinking water.
He implored other companies operating in the district to emulate BHL by undertaking corporate social responsibility programmes to uplift the living standards of the local people.
The traditional leader further urged the community to guard the water facility jealously as it is meant to improve their well-being.
And BHL Administration Officer Comfort Mtonga said the company believes in improving the lives of the people in the community in which it operates through CSR programmes.
“We are positive that this water facility which will be open and free to all members of the community will help in reducing the long distances people take to fetching clean water,” Mr Mtonga said.
Mr Mtonga said the provision of the water facility will enhance access to clean and safe drinking water by the community, and reduce the prevalence of water borne diseases such as cholera and dysentery.
The Zambia Women Parliamentary Caucus (ZWPC) says that the level of cyber bullying especially on women in the country is frightening.
Zambia Women Parliamentary Caucus (ZWPC) Chairperson Nkandu Luo who is also Minister of Higher Education, says cyber bullying in the country especially against women has reached alarming levels.
Professor Luo was speaking in Lusaka this morning during a women leaders meeting, on the sidelines of cyber bullying, held at Pamodzi hotel.
Professor Luo said that there is urgent need to address the increasing number of cyber bulling in the country.
The ZWPC Chairperson called on leaders especially women, to lobby for statute to deal with the alarming levels of cyber bullying in the country.
She further urged the public to use social media for developmental issue and not issues that bring distraction to the nation.
“Women leaders only make headlines for what they wear and not for their positive contributions and achievements to the nation” Mrs. Luo said.
Professor Luo noted that there is need for people to use social media responsibly and discuss development and not petty issues.
“We need to stop mud-sling each other on social media and discuss topics that will take the nation forward” she said.
And speaking at the same event Zambia National Women’s lobby GROUP (ZNWL) representative Beauty Katebe said the country needs to carry out further orientation on the effects of cyber bullying.
She said that women account for the most bulling on the internet.
“Most of this bullying is through negative content meant to humiliate the victims” she said.
She warned that the continued abuse of social media will bring attitudes and behaviors that the country does not need or want, adding that bullying has adverse consequences to the victims and their families with reputations tarnished for life.
The lobbyist further called on more dialogue concerning cyber bullying in the country as ICT in the county grows.
Organisations in attendance included the United Nations, European Union, the Zambia Police, telecommunications companies and various women organisations across the country.
Bodies of the 11 South African Accident that occurred in Mokopane on Monday September 17th, have arrived safely in Zambia.
A solemn atmosphere characterized the Zambia Air Force (ZAF) City airport as three of the 11 accident victims were received by family members this afternoon.
The ZAF plane carrying three of the 11 bodies from Ndola on the Copperbelt province arrived at city airport in Lusaka at 16:40 hours.
ZANIS reports that eight of the bodies that hail from the Copperbelt province have also been received by their respective family members in that province.
Acting Secretary to Cabinet Christopher Mvunga, Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa Emmanuel Mwamba, Lusaka Mayor Miles Sampa, senior government officials and bereaved family members received the three remains at City Airport in Lusaka.
The accident happened in Mokopane near Limpopo Province in South Africa on Monday September 17th, 2018, when the bus they were travelling in lost control, leading to the loss of 11 lives, and leaving others in critical condition.
Meanwhile, Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa Emmanuel Mwamba has
commended the South African government for working with the Zambian government in transporting the remains of the 11 victims safely back home.
Minister of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Jean Kapata
Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Jean Kapata, says government is committed to secure land tenure for its citizens and eradicate any possible inequalities, in order to cater for the less privileged in society.
Ms Kapata adds that there is dire need to have adequate land management information systems to strengthen land governance, in both customary and state owned land.
She said this in a speech read on her behalf by Central Province Assistant Secretary, Mwape Kasanda, during the official hand over of customary certificates in Chisamba district.
Ms Kapata said security of tenure for people residing under customary land tenure systems has become increasingly under threat, due to the unprecedented urbanisation growth which has seen towns and cities subsuming villages within their proximity.
The Minister noted that urbanisation has offset a retrogressive trend of uncoordinated land purchases in customary areas which has unfortunately seen families being displaced from their ancestral lands, adding that the trend has largely affected women and children.
Ms Kapata added that the challenge of insecurity of tenure under customary land administration is exacerbated by the inadequacy or lack of reliable up-to-date records with regard to the actual number of people living in a particular village.
She further emphasized that there is need to look into sustainable implementation strategies which are participatory, pro poor and tender sensitive which can be scalable to compliment government land policy in the country.
And Chief Chamuka of Chamuka village said the issuance of tenure certificates will reduce the gap in the ownership of land between men and women.
The traditional leader said 3,584 individuals covering 601 households in his chiefdom will enjoy tenure on customary land.
He has however warned beneficiaries of land tenure certificates that the papers were not title deeds, saying the authority of land still remains in the custody of the traditional leadership.
One of the beneficiaries, Veronica Katulushi, said she felt empowered after receiving the certificate.
During the ceremony, 490 villagers were issued with customary land tenure certificates from ten villages.
Several other chiefs from Central Province attended the ceremony.
Fire has swept through Siyale village in Senanga district in Western Province destroying about 20 grass thatched houses.
ZANIS Reports that nine families have been left homeless after their houses were burnt to ashes around 11:30 hours on September 21, 2018, by fire which started from one grass thatched house and later spread to other houses.
It is believed that a nine year old girl was left at the house of one of the victims, Muyoyo Silumesi, to prepare food and while she went to fetch water a whirlwind started, igniting the fire in the grass thatched kitchen and setting the entire village ablaze.
Mr Silumesi narrated that at the time the incident occurred, the elderly members of the community were away in their respective farming fields, adding that no life was lost in the inferno.
The nine families that have been affected include twelve guardians and 35 children and are since sleeping in temporal grass structures.
The District Disaster Management and Mitigation Team (DMMU) visited the affected village and found all the houses burnt to ashes and no property was retrieved from the fire.
Green Party President Peter Sinkamba with Finance Minister Mrs. Mwanakatwe
Green Party President Peter Sinkamba has advised the Minister of Finance Margret Mwanakatwe to consider selling toxic assets owned by Government in all mining companies as of the ways to redeem Eurobonds and high-interest Chinese loans.
The Green Party leader said this in Kitwe this morning when asked to comment on the Party’s expectations for the 2019 budget which Ms. Mwanakatwe will soon present to Parliament.
“Government has vehemently denied that Zambia is in debt-stress mode. Let truth be told: Zambia is in debt stress. Government should simply come out of this denial mode,” Mr. Sinkamba said.
He hopes that the Finance Minister will focus more on viable fiscal discipline and asset optimization strategies with primary focus to dismantle pressing debts, especially high interest Chinese loans and Eurobonds.
He cited sale of ZCCM-IH shares in privatized mines as one of the key strategies that Government could adopt to generate sufficient funds to liquidate such loans.
“I have shared with Ms. Mwanakatwe some of the strategies that she could employ to dismantle the debts. I strongly believe that offloading toxic assets in one sure strategy to sustainably dismantle these debts.
“Government is loaded with too many toxic assets. I made this very clear to her in our last meeting. In addition to what I shared with her, I think she should also consider ZCCM-IH toxic assets.
“As you may be aware, mining shares owned by Government are toxic assets. These assets have experienced a significant drop in value and lack an active market where they can be easily sold. In simple terms, these assets are toxic assets because they are troubled assets. In my view, Government is better off selling such toxic assets through a trade-off, say with China, to off-set Chinese or indeed extend to liquidating other loans such as Eurobonds,” Mr. Sinkamba said.
“The case in point is that ZCCM-IH dividends received from all mining assets are worthless. For example, during its 78th Meeting held in March 2018, the ZCCM-IH Board disclosed that in the last five years, it only received dividends worth K251million. In dollars terms, ZCCM-IH received a paltry $25 million from all of its mining assets in five years. On average, this is a paltry $5 million per year. This is like what some footballers get per month. Take for example Messi and Ronaldo, they receive salaries worth over $50 million per annum or roughly $5 million per month” he added.
“My point is that the dividend policy for Government in mining has lamentably failed. It is not worthy to have multi-billion shares in an investment that fails to generate as little profit as $50 million in 18 years. Hopefully Ms. Mwanakatwe will take cognizance of this fact and thereby sell of ZCCM-IH shares in all mining companies apart from the one per cent Golden Share,” Mr. Sinkamba said.
And Mr. Sinkamba said it wrong for Government to give away ZESCO to the Chinese as a way to pay off loans which it got from China. He also said it is morally wrong to refinance the Eurobonds. He argued that refinancing of loans is morally wrong because it is a form of economic enslavement of future generations.
“As The Green Party, we think that ZESCO should be spared from the impending Chinese take-over. We think it is worthy selling off ZCCM-IH shares in all these mining companies than lose ZESCO. We also think that refinancing Eurobonds is morally wrong. We think that it is some form of economic enslavement of future generations. Refinancing is all about shifting liability from oneself to grandchildren. Doing so is immorality of the worst order. Our view on refinancing loans is that we better off generating funds ourselves, to redeem Eurobonds than shift the liability to posterity. It is naivety to keep toxic shares in mining companies and refinance the loans at the expense of future generations,” he added.
“Put simply, we think it is worthwhile to put in place enhanced tax collection systems for the mines than Government retaining shares besides the Golden Share. Empirical evidence shows that Government dividends from mining assets have undoubtedly been as elusive in the Third Republic as they were during the First and Second Republics. So, we better off doing other things,” Mr. Sinkamba said.
Mr. Sinkamba disclosed that setting off Chinese loans with ZCCM-IH shares at this moment when China is hungry for resources could generate in excess of $5 billion additional income.
“Waiting to dispose these shares beyond this point could be as fatal as the Chiluba Government mistake on the Kafue Consortium deal of the 1990s,” he said.
Special Assistant to the President (Press and Public Relations) Mr Amos Chanda addresses journalists at a Press Briefing on the impeachment motion by UPND, at State House on Friday, 23rd March, 2018. Picture by Eddie Mwanaleza/State House
Special Assistant to the President, for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda announced to the media last evening that President Edgar Lungu has declared a day of National Mourning for the victims of the Limpopo, South Africa road accident.
Mr Chanda said the victims, the majority from the Copperbelt, will be put to rest on a day to be announced formally by the Secretary to Cabinet who has been instructed by the President to communicate to the families of the victims.
Mr Chanda further said the President is disturbed by the tragic loss of so many lives in one incidence and wished the families of the victims nothing but God’s comfort and expressed hope that the families of the bereaved will be comforted by the entire Christian fraternity.
The accident happen in Mokopane in Limpopo Province in South Africa on the evening of 17th September, 2018. The bus is said to have lost control which lead to the bus over turning.
Mr Chanda spoke to media shortly before departure to New York, where the Head of State is joining other world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly. The President is expected back in the country on Friday.
Local Government Minister, Vincent Mwale officiates at this year’s commemoration of the seventh international fire fighters’ dayThe Zambia United Local Authorities Workers Union (ZULAWU) and the Fire Services Union of Zambia (FIRESUZ) have called on their members to resume normal operations as government deals with the delayed salaries for local authorities.
This follows several meetings held with Local Government Minister Vincent Mwale, Local Government Service Commissioners, Ministry of Finance Permanent Secretary in charge of budget and Public Service Management Division among others.
In a joint Communique released to ZNBC News by ZULAWU General Secretary Emmanuel Mwinsa and FIRESUZ Secretary Clement Mulenga, the unions said the Ministry of Finance will source the remaining 50 percent to constitute 100 percent allocation of the Local Government Equalization Fund for August.
The meeting also resolved that the Ministry of Finance will start re-allocation of the fund for December 2017 which was not disbursed causing a one-month delay in salaries among others.
They also said the implementation of the Centralized payroll system must be taken as a long-term measure to addressing late salaries to local authorities before the close of 2018.
The Two unions have since pledged to closely monitor the implementation of the resolutions and will be giving their members progress reports.
“And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the LORD your God.”
(Deuteronomy 28:2, ESV)
Handfuls on Purpose
Our God is a rewarder of those who seek Him! When you keep God first place and do your best to honor Him, Scripture says, “His blessings will chase you down and overtake you.” That means you will come into increase, promotion and good breaks that you didn’t necessarily deserve. That’s God rewarding you for walking in His ways.
We see this principle in the Old Testament with Ruth. She was out in the fields following behind the workers and gathering up the leftover wheat that they missed. She was trying to take care of her mother-in-law, Naomi, but they were barely surviving. One day, the owner of the fields told the workers to leave handfuls of wheat on purpose for Ruth. Ruth came into blessings that were simply dropped at her feet.
Every one of us can look back and see times where God has left us handfuls on purpose—something that we didn’t deserve or even ask for. We just stumbled into it. That’s a “handful on purpose.” I encourage you to always keep your expectancy up. Keep trusting God and obeying His voice because He is ready to bless you in unexpected ways today!
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You for Your goodness and faithfulness in my life. I trust You as my provider; You are the One who cares for me. I acknowledge You with my love and thank You for leaving me ‘handfuls on purpose’ today in Jesus’ name! Amen.”
President Edgar LunguPresident Edgar Lungu has left for New York to attend the 73rd United Nations General Assembly.
The President left at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, around 2030 hours.
President Lungu was seen off by Vice President now Acting President Inonge Wina, Justice Minister Given Lubinda, Home Affairs Minister Steven Kampyongo and other senior Security and government officials.
While, in New York, President Lungu, who will lead the Zambian delegation to the UN, has been tasked by the AU Heads of States to coordinate discussions on ending early child marriages, next Tuesday.
The AU is impressed with the strides Zambia is making in eliminating early child marriages and wants President Lungu to share with the world, some of the successes.
President Lungu will also attend a welcome dinner to be hosted by host and US President Donald Trump for all visiting heads of state on Monday evening in New York.
President Lungu is expected to arrive tomorrow, Sunday, September 23, 2018.
In the President’s delegation, Foreign Affairs Minister, Joseph Malanji, Health Minister, Chitalu Chilufya, Gender Minister, Elizabeth Phiri.
President Lungu is expected to wind up his business at the UN on Friday, September 28, 2018.
Zesco United opened a nine-point lead at the summit of the FAZ Super Division table on Saturday after a 2-0 away win over Nakambala Leopards in Mazabuka.
Jesse Were and Lazarus Kambole struck in the second half to put the defending champions within one game of collecting their seventh league title in eleven years.
Were opened scores in the 64th minute before Kambole broke his seven-match drought with the final goal in the 72nd minute.
Zesco shift to 77 points, nine more than Nkana who play on Sunday away at Red Arrows.
Defeat for Nkana on Sunday will hand Zesco the league title with three games to spare.
Meanwhile, Green Eagles and Green Buffaloes stayed 3rd and 4th respectively following similar 1-0 home wins on Saturday.
In Choma, Eagles beat Forest Rangers thanks to a 30th minute Tapson Kaseba penalty.
In Lusaka, Buffaloes ended their five-match winless run when they beat Napsa Stars 1-0 courtesy of a Felix Katongo goal on the stroke of halftime.
Eagles and Buffaloes joined Nkana on 68 points.
Napsa’s loss ended the 15th placed sides ‘ 12-match unbeaten run stretching back to July 3 when Eagles beat them 2-0 in Lusaka.
And in Chingola, second from bottom Nchanga Rangers got a stay of execution following a 1-0 home win over seventh placed Buildcon to delay their imminent demotion by at least two games.
FAZ SUPER DIVISION
WEEK 34
22/09/2018
Kabwe Warriors 0-New Monze Swallows 0
Green Eagles 1-Forest Rangers 0
Nchanga Rangers 1-Buildcon 0
Kitwe United 0-Lumwana Radiants 0
Nakambala Leopards 0-Zesco United 2
Green Buffaloes 1-Napsa Stars 0
Nkwazi 0-National Assembly 0
23/09/2018
Kabwe Youth Soccer Academy-Zanaco
13h00: Lusaka Dynamos-Power Dynamos
15h00: Red Arrows-Nkana
Shepolopolo coach Beauty Mwamba is confident Zambia will excel at the 2018 African Women’s Cup in November despite finishing fourth at the COSAFA Cup in South Africa.
The Zambia Women’s Team on Friday finished fourth at the COSAFA Cup after losing to Uganda 1-0 in the third and fourth playoff match.
Mwamba told journalists in Port Elizabeth that injuries and the tight schedule of games negatively affected Shepolopolo’s performance.
Zambia made a perfect start with three straight wins – without conceding goal before tumbling in the semifinals when losing 1-0 to Cameroon on Thursday.
“My girls did their part. My team played well and created chances though we couldn’t convert the chances into goals,” Mwamba said.
Zambia played the third and fourth match on Friday despite playing the semifinal match against Cameroon on Thursday.
“But I think the organizers of the tournament should do better next time because you don’t play two consecutive matches in two days,” she said.
Mwamba is now looking ahead to the Africa Cup coming up in Ghana in November.
“At the Africa Cup we can do better than we have done at the COSAFA Cup. I have noted a few things we need to work on,” she said.