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President Edgar Lungu says his government stands ready to fulfill its mandate of service delivery to the people.
President Lungu said government has initiated and implemented a lot of projects since the Patriotic Front took office in 2011.
He was speaking yesterday afternoon in Chimwemwe Township in Kitwe district when he addressed a political rally.
tHE Head of State emphasized that the PF is not PAYING people to defect to the party but that people are being attracted by the massive development going on country wide.
President Lungu told the cheering crowd that the PF will continue working in line with its vision of delivering development.
He said the Patriotic Front belongs to the people adding that, no one owns the party.
President Lungu has further urged Area Members of Parliament in the Copperbelt Province to work with the grass roots in delivering services.
Earlier, President Lungu addressed Party members at Nchanga Mine Club in Chingola where he urged them to continue working in harmony.
Nchanga Rangers players have called off their protest over unpaid wages ahead of Wednesday’s rescheduled match against Lusaka Dynamos at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka.
Nchanga have since traveled to the capital city for the encounter against Dynamos.
The players on Monday boycotted training demanding their two months arrears.
“We are on the way to Lusaka,” one player told Lusaka Times on Tuesday evening.
Nchanga secretary Chalwe Chipulu said the club expects to clear the arrears by weekend.
“We have paid them winning bonus for last Saturday’s match against Nkwazi,” Chipulu said.
“We are now expecting to pay the players the remaining arrears by Friday,” he said.
Player’s protests over unpaid wages are not new at Nchanga this season.
Struggling Nchanga are second bottom in the FAZ Super Division with 21 points from 28 matches.
Meanwhile, Lusaka Dynamos are placed 9th on the table with 42 points from 28 matches.
Zesco United are seeking to retain sole leadership in the FAZ Super Division as they face Lumwana Radiants in Wednesday’s away rescheduled match in Lumwana.
Zesco are currently joint top of the table with Green Buffaloes.
Buffaloes and Zesco have 62 points as at Week 29 although the Ndola side have a superior goal difference plus three unplayed matches.
Zesco faces Lumwana just four days after beating Mbabane Swallows 3-0 in a CAF Champions League match in Mbabane.
The league defending champions are taking on a Lumwana side has struggled throughout the 2018 campaign.
Lumwana are just one place above relegation with 28 points from 28 matches played.
Green Eagles say they will play their continental home matches in Choma if they finish in the top four.
Eagles are six games away from a debut continental outing if they can stay in the top four until the Week 35 cut-off.
The Southern Province club is currently third on 54 points, two more than Nkana who occupy the final fourth slot.
Second placed Green Buffaloes and leaders Zesco United are tied on 62 points.
No club from the province has ever played continental football.
“Not at all, our fans cannot watch their team in Lusaka. We have a stadium here so they will have to watch their games from this stadium,” Eagles chairperson Lieutenant Colonel Jim Kafumukache told ZNBC Sports.
“For those of you that have been coming to Choma’s Independence Stadium, the way it is now in terms of infrastructure development, that is not the way it was last season.
“So there is quite a lot we are putting in place and this is not the end, we are receiving overwhelming support from command.”
Third or fourth place finish will see eagles play in the 2018/2019 CAF Confederation Cup that kicks off in November.
Works on the construction of the 1.4 Billion Kwacha Chingola-Solwezi road are expected to be completed next month with only 3 kilometers of works remaining.
ZANIS reports that the Road Development Agency Corporate Affairs Manager, Masuzyo Ndhlovu said the agency is happy that the contractors have not just shaped up a beautiful road but done quality and durable work.
Mr. Ndhlovu said it is gratifying to see a road that was in a bad state for many years being upgraded to a standard that has smoothened the mobility of both goods and services.
He said the road is an economic one, whose current state will without any doubt spur trade between North-Western and other provinces in the country and beyond.
Mr. Ndhlovu said all the major works are done with drainages and other minor works remaining.
And residents of Muchinshi have saluted government for having listened to their cries of having the road worked on.
They said they can now proudly boast of having being part of the ongoing infrastructure development in the country.
They said the previous state of the 180 kilometre stretch did not only affect their movement but impeded commerce between Copperbelt and North-Western Provinces.
Professor Stephen SimukangaDirector General of Higher Education Authority (HEA), Stephen Simukanga, said there is need for a policy that seeks to improve relevance, access and financing of Higher Education.
Speaking during the validation meeting for the Draft Higher Education Policy at Mulungushi University in Kapiri Mposhi district today, Prof. Simukanga said Ministry of Higher Education is a stand-alone which require a policy specifically to address issues in higher learning institutions.
Prof. Simukanga said quality of education has been compromised in the country hence, the need to strengthen the policy provisions in order to produce quality graduates.
At the same function, Ministry of Higher Education Acting Director for Planning and Development, Succeed Mubanga, says government will partner with the private sector in improving the quality of graduates in the country.
Mr. Mubanga said currently, the country is facing numerous challenges in delivering quality education which requires collaborative efforts with the private sector in order to develop the nation.
Speaking during the validation meeting for the Draft Higher Education Policy at Mulungushi University in Kapiri Mposhi district today, Mr. Mubanga said lack of access to University Education and the low caliber of graduates remains a challenge.
He said the policy will be able to address some of the challenges because it will guide the interventions in the sector for the next five years.
He observed that the regulatory and institutional framework will give direction for the implementation of the policy.
He added that by so doing, the policy will help transform the quality in institutions of Higher Education because it seeks the active involvement of the private sector in service delivery.
Mr. Mubanga noted that promotion of research and publications which has been missing will be emphasised and will help change the landscape of learning in institutions of higher learning.
He disclosed that implementation of the Higher Education Policy in draft will commence before the end of the year.
Higher Education Minister, Nkandu Luo has praised the Chinese Government for supplementing government’s efforts in the education sector.
Professor Luo notes that China has provided scholarships to many Zambians in various fields besides agriculture, construction, manufacturing, information technology, and engineering among other key economic sectors.
The Minister said the bilateral ties that have existed for many years now have culminated into benefiting the people alongside cementing and strengthening relations and co-operation between Zambia and China.
She said this in Lusaka last evening during the return of 67 and the departure of 41 Zambian students that have benefited from Chinese Scholarships.
This was in a speech read on her behalf by Loans and Scholarships Board Chairperson, Penelope Mapoma.
The Minister challenged the students to make a positive impact to Zambia’s economy using the gained knowledge.
And Chinese Ambassador to Zambia, Jie Li disclosed that over 4,000 Zambians have benefited from his government in various fields.
The Chinese Envoy pledged to continue assisting Zambia especially in the education sector.
He further disclosed that there are over 1,000 investors from China that are investing in the Zambian economy thereby making it grow.
And Zambia China Old Students Association (ZACOSA) President, Friday Mulenga said education is the best equalizer in one’s life.
File:Representatives of the Three Church Mother bodiesThe Zambia National Students Union (ZANASU), an umbrella body for students’ unions, calls on Church mother-bodies and other faith-based organisations to work as partners with the Zambia Centre for Interparty Dialogue (ZCID) to move the dialogue forwards.
ZANASU President, Mischeck Kakonde reminded stakeholders that the planned national dialogue on the reforms cannot be compared to 1991 dialogue when Zambia was under autocratic rule and stated that Zambia is not in any crisis and the 3 church mother bodies should not be in the forefront of creating an imaginary crisis.
“There is no legitimacy contest in Zambia and the dialogue must therefore be understood in its proper context of reforms pertaining to laws and wish to salute the Head of State, President Edgar C. Lungu, over his continued display of willingness to build consensus on pertinent issues which form agenda items,” says Mr. Kakonde who is also a student from the University of Zambia.
Mr. Kakonde said the student movement calls upon the 3 church mother bodies to instead present any other issues on the agenda besides the constitutional amendments, electoral reforms and POA and to rise above any other interests and answer to national interests.
“It does not sit well with dialogue when the 3 church mother bodies seek to exclude a body established for intra-party dialogue such as ZCID. The 3 church mother bodies ought to realise that even after the dialogue, ZCID will need to continue to harmonise and ensure there is follow through on outcomes on a day to day basis and cannot be excluded from the process. The Church shouldn’t transform its role to becoming a centre of controversy in the nation’s quest for national dialogue,” he said.
The ZANASU student leader has revealed that the umbrella body ZANASU will will soon convene a meeting with Presidents of affiliate Students’ Union beginning with Lusaka to discuss the role of students in the forthcoming national dialogue process and said it ought to be remembered that even the 1991 dialogue by UNIP and MMD was the driven by the student movement, who approached Judge Ngulube and later the church to later lead the process by providing the platform and chairing the high level meeting, and students will continue to play that role.
President Edgar Lungu has said that he is not happy that local contractors are not competent enough to execute jobs they are being subcontracted in the roads sector.
With plans to raise the minimum threshold for local subcontractors from 20 percent to 50 percent, President Lungu wondered how the local contractors would manage the 50 percent threshold when their capacity at 20 percent is not impressive.
Speaking after he toured a Toll Plaza under construction along the Solwezi-Chingola road this morning, President Lungu also told Chinese Contractors that it is their obligation to ensure that 20 percent of their works are given to local contractors, adding that it is not kindness but an obligation for them to subcontract local firms.
President Lungu said he had been receiving reports that some contractors were not doing so and wondered how China Geo had subcontracted another Chinese company on the Solwezi-Chingola road instead of a local firm, adding that it is such practices which make Zambians complain about the manner contracts are being awarded.
Meanwhile, President Edgar Lungu has directed PF members of Parliament to go back to their constituencies and deliver on their promises to the electorate.
The President says he has noted with sadness that some parliamentarians have neglected the voters who put them in power.
The head of state was speaking on arrival at South Down Airport in Kalulushi on the Copperbelt.
President Lungu has reminded the MPs that 2021 is just around the corner and politicians will seek to renew their mandate from the same people they are abandoning now.
And President Edgar Lungu has said that he is not happy with reports of land wrangles on the Copperbelt province and has advised councils to find a lasting solution to the issues affecting the people.
The President said councils must sit down with the people to resolve and harmonise the land issues as soon as possible because it is affecting the vulnerable in society.
President Lungu told Kitwe City Council Mayor Christopher Kang’ombe that there is nothing wrong with his office engaging the affected people over the land in the show grounds as doing so will help resolve the wrangles.
President Lungu said as leaders engage with electorates and help resolve problems that are affecting the people.
He also has advised party members in the region to visit their constituencies and work with people who elected them to office.
President Lungu is on the Copperbelt province on a two day working visit and is expected to commission the expansion of NFCA mine project in Chambeshi mine tomorrow.
The president this afternoon inspected works on the township roads in Chingola district before holding a meeting with party officials.
Senior Chief Nkula with Muchinga Province Permanent Secretary Jobbicks Kalumba
Government says it is committed to improve the economic development of the country through increased palm Oil production.
Muchinga Province Permanent Secretary (PS), Jobbicks Kalumba said the production of oil from palm tree plantations in the country, is one way the economy can be improved through job creation for the local people.
Speaking when he toured the Zampalm Oil plantation in Kanchibiya district in Muchinga Province yesterday, Dr. Kalumba charged that the level of production of oil at the plantation is impressive adding that, Zampalm should be taken as a good example in order to achieve the Plant a Million Trees Initiative in all parts of the province.
Dr. Kalumba said if the excellent operations of Zampalm in the production of oil are to be replicated in all parts of the province, the challenges of unemployment will be history.
He further challenged students involved in Agro Forestry academic disciplines to take advantage of Zampalm and engage in research to come up with locally produced seeds instead of imported seeds from other countries.
And Zampalm Estate Manager, David Sibakanya said the plantation harvests over 1,200 hectares of oil palms per season adding that, the production of crude palm oil which is sold locally is likely to increase in the next 2019-2020 season.
Mr. Sibakanya said the plantation produces between 1,000 and 1,600 tonnes of oil per hectare, attributing the high production to the huge labour force the plantation has in place.
He mentioned that Zampalm has a labour force of about 700 workers at the plantation noting that 90 per cent of hand labour is more effective in the initial stages.
Meanwhile, Kapasa Makasa University Head of the Aquatic and Fisheries department, Concillia Monde, is impressed with Zampalm operations saying the local production of palm oil is an indicator of self-sustainability in the local production of margarine and soaps for income benefits.
Ms. Monde added that, increased excesss production of these products can be sold outside the country thereby, gaining foreign exchanged which in turn contributes to the economic development of the country through improved livelihoods of the local people.
She further challenged her institution to engage in research in order to come up with locally produced palm seeds by conducting experiments to find ways of breaking the seed dormancy.
She also urged students in the Agro Forestry and Forestry departments to utilise Zampalm by acquiring knowledge for them to succeed in their academic endeavours with regard to tree planting.
The tour came as a result of a Steering committee which was created following a practical approach meeting in transforming the socio economic landscape of Muchinga Province through a diversified Agriculture and Forestry sector.
The three members of the Tokota gang charged with one count of unlawful wounding have been acquitted by the Kitwe Magistrate court.
This is in a matter in which Bornace Lubansa, Kingsley Ngona and Wency Chilembo were accused of unlawfully wounding Israel Chileshe.
The three were put on their defence last week in the case in which they were accused of wounding Chileshewith a sharp object.
When the three appeared for judgment before Principal Magistrate Chongo Musonda, they were set free.
Magistrate Musonda said the state has failed to prove its case against the accused persons.
In her judgment Magistrate Musonda said even though the accused were among the group that wounded the Complainant facts that were presented before the court by the witness did not prove who actually wounded the complainant.
Magistrate Musonda also said the witness did not prove who allegedly threw stones or the sharp objects that caused injury to the complainant
Facts of the case were that on February 27th, this year, Lubansa and two others jointly and whilst acting together did unlawfully wound Israel Chileshe at a car wash in Kitwe
President Edgar Lungu chairs Cabinet meeting at State House on Monday, 18th June, 2018. Picture by Thomas Nsama
Taxing people left right, and center does not develop a nation.The money collected does not genuinely bring any development. It is a hindrance to development.
In the current era, all governments should be fighting to make internet access cheap, fast and accessible to all throughout the country.
No government can fight Technology and win. Technology is changing every minute. If what Ba Dora’s government representative is saying about protecting jobs was right, then we shouldn’t have done away with typing pools, typewriters in favour of computers because it killed jobs. We shouldn’t have done away with switchboards because most of our vision impaired who mostly operated them lost jobs.
[pullquote]Taxing people left right, and center does not develop a nation[/pullquote]
We shouldn’t have allowed digital watches in the country because all those watch repairers who lined up corridors of shops lost jobs.
Why is the government so concerned about internet communication for the private enterprises when the Post office could also ask to impose Tax on each email to compensate for the snail mail people have stopped sending through post “Forget me Not pads don’t sell too”.
I am conflicted with the message the government is sending out. If they go ahead with tax, what are they going to do if people start using satellite phones and by-pass the local ISPs. Or local businesses start to sign up with South African ISP and by pass local ISP through satellite communication. Zambia does not have the capacity to rival technology.
Dora and the government should instead concentrate on advising Zamtel and others to pull up their acts. Bring back phone land lines to almost all home so that people can start using Home/Office internet using ADSL which is cheaper. You can’t do business with data bundle of a phone anywhere in the world.
Countries have internet through broadband network eg cable, ADSL etc. In countries like Zambia we can think outside the box and introduce community WIFI, where broadband network can run along Zesco poles to a specific area, then through a local modem houses can connect through WIFI. Of course each house has to pay to be able to connect and consume such a service.
All the reasons put across by ba mama Dora are wrong. An Economist will die listening to such lies.
On a Second note, TOLL on roads not fit for TOLL.
TOLL has a purpose, mostly recovery of money already spent on creating a good road. It should also have a recovery period and cease. TOLL should only be applied where people have a choice of alternative route if one cannot afford. TOLL is paid for convenience.
In Zambia, we are collecting too much from the same person on same day. Since we don’t have alternative routes, one should only pay once for a day and can use the receipt to drive from on other TOLL gates. The price should take into account regions one wants to go in a day. Paying full per each gate is too much. That’s why in western countries you find day pass. This to make sure you don’t pay too much if you have to go through so many gates.
One other observation is that, where people are already paying a lot like those going to Luapula, K30 at Mikambo,+ K30 Chembe, +K20 TOLL-Chembe, we should think twice. Why burden these people with TOLL when there is no new road Mansa to Chembe except the old Wilensky road tarred by UNIP, and now full of pot holes. Ba Chitotela, and all MPs from Luapula, how can you allow this to be? Are you indirectly trying to charge for the half done road from Mukambo to Somewhere in Congo. After all the road from Mufulira to Mukambo is the worst a road can be. I don’t know if we are sleeping, if a very important road can reach such a state and we have MPs and ministers traveling on it and can’t see.
Maka
Seriously, does anyone understand what is priority in development?
Panos Institute Southern Africa is encouraging rural communities to maximise on the opportunities presented by the Aquaculture Enterprise Development Project that the government is currently rolling out through the Department of Fisheries and the Citizens’ Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC).
The CEEC has announced that it is in the process of recruiting District Aquaculture Business Extension Officers to cover 30 districts. The Commission also said it is offering business loans for the establishment of commercial fish hatcheries and commercial fish nurseries.
We view this is a great boost to efforts to revive the fisheries sector that has in recent years been hard hit by the effects of climate change and unsustainable practices, resulting in massive depletion of fish stocks. Panos has been supporting fish farming under the Deepening Community Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) in Zambia project. In our interaction with communities across Zambia, limited access to capital, limited extension services and lack of access to inputs such as fingerlings were identified as some of the biggest hindrances to the advancement of fish farming at community level. Through the Deepening CBNRM project, Panos mobilised community members, raised their awareness and influenced them to adopt fish farming. However, a lot of them could not sustainably run with the interventions because of challenges in accessing inputs. On a number of occasions we appealed to the government and other stakeholders to support the community members in addressing these challenges.
We therefore encourage community members in the districts where support for fish farming is being provided to get into fish farming on a sustainable scale. We also urge the government to increase the number of districts covered in aquaculture intervention. The district to be covered are: Districts: Chitambo, Mkushi, Serenje, Luanshya, Kalulushi, Ndola, Chipata, Katete, Chadiza, Bangweulu/Samfya/Lunga, Nchelenge, Chiengi, Rufunsa, Chongwe, Kafue, Chinsali, Shiwang’andu, Isoka, Mungwi, Mpulungu, Kasama, Kasempa, Solwezi, Mwinilunga, Gwembe (Chipepo), Siavonga, Sinazongwe, Mwandi, Sioma and Kaoma. For example, we are aware that community members in districts like Kazungula – which is not among the 30 – have experienced loss of income and loss of livelihoods because of reduced fish volumes in the Zambezi River.
We also urge the government to ensure that community members in the above districts access timely and accurate information to guide their venturing into fish farming. While this is a very good initiative with great potential to contribute to economic growth and improve livelihoods, we are concerned that that lack of support in the implementation may result in the communities not seeing the many benefits of fish farming. In addition to the recruitment of District Aquaculture Business Extension officers, we encourage the government to invest in developing the capacities of the community members to independently run the fish farming ventures. It is our view that investment in the capacities of community members is more sustainable and will enable the community members to take ownership of the intervention.
Issued by:
Lilian Saka Kiefer
Executive Director, Panos Institute Southern Africa (PSAf)
A 27-year-old man of Itezhi Tezhi district has appeared in court for allegedly raping his 39-year-old aunt.
Elicious Mweene who resides in Mwaandwe village in Chief Shimbizhi’s Chiefdom in Itezhi Tezhi district in Central Province is charged with rape contrary to the laws of Zambia.
Particulars of the offence are that on July 5, 2018, at Itezhi Tezhi in the Itezhi Tezhi district in Central Province, Elicious Mweene had carnal knowledge of his aunt Amina without her consent.
Mweene denied the charge and the matter has been adjourned to next week for commencement of trail.
Meanwhile, a 20-year-old man of Lilanda compound in Itezhi Tezhi district has pleaded guilty to stealing K540 and a Samsung phone valued at K1, 070.
Before the court was Muyunda of Lilanda compound in Itezhi Tezhi who stood charged with one count of theft contrary to laws of Zambia.
Particulars of the offence are that in Itezhi Tezhi at Itezhi Tezhi district in Central Province, Muyunda did steal cash amounting to K540 and a Samsung phone valued at K1, 070, property of Gloria Shimamvule.
Magistrates Mugala Chalwe recorded a plea of guilty and adjourned the case to 21 August 2018 for written facts and sentencing.
File:President Edgar Lungu is welcomed by Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo on arrival at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport from attending the SADCC summit in Windhoek Namibia
President Edgar Lungu says he is ready for unconditional dialogue with the opposition.
President Lungu said he is ready to dialogue with the opposition, but says he will however not attend a dialogue that is characterized with conditions because it will defeat its intended purpose.
ZANIS reports that President Lungu said this in Lusaka,shortly before departure to the Copperbelt for a two day working visit, where he is expected to inspect various project in the province.
The Head of State added that giving conditions to the dialogue meeting means people are not ready to talk and have not willingly given themselves to resolve the pending issues.
President Lungu said it is unfair for those concerned to give conditions to a dialogue that is beneficial to both parties.
He has since called on the church to ensure that they spearhead and play a leading role in the dialogue process.
The Head of State noted that the church has always been instrumental in ensuring that peace and unity is promoted in the country, therefore they are the perfect drivers for the process.
President Lungu revealed that it will please him if the church would facilitate the whole process because of the rich Christian faith in the country.
Meanwhile President Lungu has revealed that the Zambia Centre for inter Party Dialogue (ZCID) will not be left out of the dialogue process because it was formed for that very purpose.
Present Lungu wondered why some sections of society want the participants of the dialogue to do away with the ZCID.
He said leaving the ZCID out of the programme is not the solution, but called for participants to attend the meeting with a view to getting positive results.
