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The National Democratic Congress NDC will next month start countrywide protests to show their displeasure at the continued awarding of contracts by Government to Chinese firms.
NDC National youth leader Charles Kabwita said it is unfair that the PF Government is empowering foreigners at the expense of Zambians.
Mr. Kabwita lamented that Zambian contractors have completely been sidelined.Mr. Kabwita wondered why all major projects in the country only being awarded to AVIC international.
[pullquote]why are all major projects in the country only being awarded to AVIC international[/pullquote]
He added that it is unfair that the PF Government is creating jobs for foreigners at the expense of its own people.
Mr. Kabwita noted that the PF Government is using Aviv international to to raise funds for the party.
He accused the PF of benefitting from the Chinese through bribes and commissions awarded through dubious contracts.
Mr. Kabwita added that Zambian firms are competent enough to execute the high profile contracts being awarded to the Chinese.
He is urging NDC youths countrywide to turn up for the demonstrations.The NDC National youth leader said police will be notified on the protests.
He said the protests will be undertaken at the respective offices of District Commissioners countrywide.
The Examinations Council of Zambia (ECZ) has refuted some media reports suggesting that the Examinations system has been hacked by unscrupulous individuals who are altering results for people at a fee.
In a statement made available to Q-News, ECZ Corporate Affairs Officer, Ronald Tembo said the examinations system has not been tempered with in anyway.
Mr Tembo said the ECZ has heavily invested in ICTs to increase and expand both technological and infrastructure base to achieve full automation of processes and systems.
He said the examinations body takes great exception to issues of ICT security in order to meet the convenience and technical innovation expectations of stakeholders.
Mr Tembo said the Examinations Council of Zambia assures the public that the Examinations system is extremely secured and is operating normally.
He added that as an examining body, they remain committed to providing assessments and certification systems which meet global standards and credibility.
A story published by the Daily Nation claims some officers purportedly working for the ECZ are getting money from individuals to alter results, especially Grade 12 at a fee.
The National Biosafety Authority (NBA) has clarified that it can not allow the importation of Genetically Modified Organic (GMO) foodstuffs into the country that can harm human and animal life.
NBA board chairman, Paul Zambezi says the authority is mandated by law to ensure that human and animal life are safeguarded.
Dr Zambezi has said reports by some sections of the media that the NBA has allowed the importation of GMO foodstuffs in the country are misleading as the authority has only allowed processed foods made from GMOs and genetically modified micro-organisms for diagnostics and health research purposes.
He said at a media briefing that the authority does not promote or prohibit Genetically Modified Organisms but regulates the use and development of GMOs.
Dr Zambezi said products that are allowed in the country that are genetically modified undergo a series of risk assessment tests.
UK state-owned development finance institution, the Commonwealth Development Corporation (CDC) Group’s plans to acquire the Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) for K3.709 billion has flopped.
This follows the failure by CDC to meet conditions to the Offer in full as at 17:00 Hours CAT on 17th July 2018, being the final Closing Date of the Offer.
According to a notice issued by the Lusaka Stock Exchange, CDC which made the offer under a new company called Zambian Transmission has formally advised the CEC Board of Directors that the conditions to the Offer had not been met in full.
CDC has advised that as the conditions to the Offer were not satisfied in full or the Offer declared unconditional as at 5:00p.m. CAT on 17th July 2018 the Offer has accordingly lapsed with immediate effect.
“Consequently, as the Offer has lapsed, it is no longer capable of further acceptance and any accepting CEC Shareholders cease to be bound by their acceptances,” it said.
On 30th January 2018, CDC and A P Moller Capital announced that they had made a bid to acquire CEC.
CEC is majority owned by Zambian Energy Corporation (“Ireland”) Limited (“ZECI”) which holds 52% shareholding whilst the balance of 48% is held by various institutional and retail investors.
Details of the circular to shareholders indicated that condition precedents needed to be meet for the deal to go through.
A condition precedent (CP) is an event or state of affairs that is required before something else will occur and in the CDC and CEC deal, several CPs were listed, according to cecinvestor.com.
1. the Minister of Finance of Zambia as holder of the Golden Share in CEC has consented to the change of control of CEC resulting from the Offer in accordance with the constitutional documents of CEC, on terms and in a form satisfactory to the Offeror;
2. the Energy Regulation Board of Zambia, in relation to CEC’s transmission license, electricity supply license and electricity generation license, has been notified of the Offer;
3. the COMESA Competition Commission has granted its approval of the Offer;
4. the Lenders (as described in the Circular) to CEC have consented to the acquisition of a controlling interest in CEC pursuant to clause 7.2 of the Common Terms Agreement between CEC and the Lenders; and
5. the Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) has consented to the change of control as required under CEC’s network license conditions and the Information and Communication Technologies Act No. 15 of 2009.
However, only 5 out of the 7 CPs have been agreed thus far. The following two conditions precedent to the Offer have not yet been fulfilled:
1. the consent of ZESCO Limited (“ZESCO”) pursuant to Clause 28(b)(ii)(c) of the Bulk Supply Agreement (the “BSA”) to any change of control (as defined in the BSA) of CEC resulting from the Offer and the waiver by ZESCO of its right to terminate the BSA as a result of such change of control, on terms and in a form satisfactory to the Offeror; and
2. the execution by CEC and ZESCO of an unconditional and irrevocable amendment to the BSA which provides for the extension of the term of the BSA for an additional period of 20 years on commercial terms which are no less advantageous to CEC than the existing terms of the BSA in a form and on terms satisfactory to the Offeror.
The last CP demanded that there be a renewal of the Bulk Supply Agreement (BSA) for an additional period of 20 years.
This was indicative of a desire to make the investment for the long term.
The Zambia Daily Mail Limited has revealed that its shareholders, the Industrial Development Corporation have asked it to take over the running of the Times of Zambia Newspapers.
Zambia Daily Mail Limited Board Chairperson Mr Geoffrey Simukoko made the disclosre when he toured the Zimpapers Group in Harare on Monday.
Mr Simukoko commended the Zimpapers Group for being a fully-fledged integrated media house by incorporating the print, online, radio and television units into one big business unit.
In an interview after touring Zimpapers business entities, Mr. Simukoko said Zambia Daily Mail would work towards implementing a similar business model.
“We came to Zimbabwe after our shareholders asked us to take over the publication which is not doing well. They want us to see, learn and maintain it as a unit. We want to see how Zimpapers operate different units, the structure and how the news content is managed,” he said.
“The visit is to see how you have diversified your operations. We are very impressed of what we have seen here. When we came here, I did not think it was diversified as it is, I thought we will just find a newspaper running unit like we are. You have ventured in a lot of areas in the communication field.”
Zimpapers spokesperson Ms Beatrice Tonhodzayi said it was exciting to see regional players coming to learn.
“We are excited to be hosting a team from the Zambia Daily Mail,” she said.
The 20th Summit of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Heads of State and Government kicks off today in Lusaka with high level discussions anchored on transforming the region’s economy through adoption of digital technologies and scaling up value addition and beneficiation.
This year’s summit is historic as membership to the regional bloc is set to be increased from 19 to 21 with the coming in of Tunisia and Somalia, making it the largest ever regional economic community in Africa.
Tunisia and Somalia are set to join the block after having fulfilled the COMESA terms and conditions of accession to the COMESA Treaty.
By end of Tuesday, the venue, Mulungushi International Conference Centre, was a hive of activity as guests trooped in for the indaba, while several heads of state and delegates had also arrived in the Zambian capital.
According to the Comesa Secretariat, official proceedings will begin at around 10.30am when host, President Edgar Chagwa Lungu delivers welcome remarks to the summit delegates after the singing of the country’s national anthem and the Comesa anthem.
President Lungu will be followed by COMESA outgoing secretary-general Sindiso Ngwenya who will deliver his last address.
Mr Ngwenya is leaving COMESA after serving the bloc for 10 years.
Madagascar President and current chairman of the COMESA authority will deliver the keynote address and officially launch the COMESA Annual Report (2016/ 2017).
Key speakers to present statements include Ms Vera Songwe, the executive secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Malawian President Professor Peter Arthur Mutharika, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and Rwandan Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente.
The highly packed programme will also see heads of state and government getting into a closed sessions in which, among other issues, they will discuss the admission of Tunisia and Somalia.
Mr Ngwenya will also make a presentation on the state of regional economic integration, while a report detailing the Council of Ministers’ recommendations and priority issues will also be read. During the day’s proceedings, a new executive is set to be unveiled and take oath of office.
The day will close with the signing of the COMESA legal instruments and the media awards, in which the trading bloc will honour outstanding journalists for effective reportage of COMESA programmes and the regional economic integration story.
The meeting continues is expected to close with the issuing of a final communiqué of the summit.
The opposition UPND has charged that it is outrageous and hypocritical for President Edgar Lungu to push for its leader Hakainde Hichilema’s exit from politics.
In a statement, UPND Secretary General Stephen Katuka said President Lungu should not preach democracy because this is the man who came through pangas and machetes at Mulungushi Rock of Authority before 2016 elections.
“From our side, Edgar Lungu came into Patriotic Front (PF) leadership undemocratically. But this does not bother us because we know that dictatorship is his DNA. This is the man who has been abrogating the constitution with impunity even when law is very clear on the stay of Ministers after dissolution of parliament. To date, ministers have not paid back the money even after the court that they should pay back,” Mr Katuka said.
“This is the same man who does not believe in an independent Zambia Police Service, not even an independent media. The Post Newspaper is no more today because of Edgar Lungu’s undemocratic style of leadership,” he said.
“As if that is not enough, this is the man who has seen many Zambians lose their jobs in national interest for simply belonging to particular ethnic grouping. Instead of discussing President Hakainde Hichilema, we expect Lungu to tell the people of Zambia what he is going to do to address the poverty that he has caused on the people of Zambia.”
Mr Katuka said the UPND expects President Lungu to tell the people why he has failed to complete the City market in six weeks as was earlier announced by his Vice President’s Permanent Secretary.
“We expect Lungu to tell the victims of COMESA, Mufurila fires and others what measures his government has put in place to compensate them and not discussing President Hichilema. We also expect Lungu to tell the nation what plans he has for street vendors whose life he has made miserable through his miscalculated policies. We expect Lungu to tell the nation why Zambia has the most expensive roads, ambulances and fire tenders.”
Mr Katuka has since called upon the Zambian people to denounce leaders who have no vision.
“Lungu should know that the people of Zambia are more concerned about how they are going to remove him from power since he has shown serious hunger for power that he is ready to even defy the constitution and go for a third term.”
He added, “Zambians is very unfortunate to have a leader who has no vision or any clue of how to address the challenges affecting them. A leader who has brought violence and aggression on the country. Incase leadership has gone to his head and blinded him, we wish to remind Lungu that many Zambians are sick and tired of his corrupt government and are now looking for the best way to remove him democratically.”
“We call upon all sober minded Zambians to read the UPND constitution so that they are not misled by someone who fails to understand even the national constitution,” Mr Katuka said.
Finance Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe has proposed reallocating 7.2 billion Kwacha in a supplementary budget delivered to Parliament on Tuesday.
Mrs Mwanakatwe told Parliament that about 7 billion kwacha will come from reallocating resources and the remainder from “cooperating partners” and carry-over funds from the 2017 financial year.
She said of the total, 3.6 billion kwacha is for domestic and external debt obligations while 1.3 billion kwacha will be spent on completing infrastructure projects.
The Finance Minister stated that 2.3 billion Kwacha will cover shortfalls on government-support programs, by-elections and the recruitment of a further 3,700 medical personnel.
Meanwhile, National Planning and Development Minister Alexander Chiteme has said that the austerity measures being spearheaded by President Edgar Lungu, are not meant to punish his Ministers, but are part of a wider latitude of finding solutions to the governance and economic challenges facing the country.
Addressing diplomats and delegates to the ongoing High Level Political Forum at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Zambia to the United Nations (UN), Mr Chiteme said while the austerity measures had affected Cabinet Ministers, he was happy that he is part of President Lungu’s efforts to find solutions to the country’s social and economic challenges.
Mr Chiteme is in New York to attend the High Level Political Forum at the United Nations under the theme: “Transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies.”
Mr Chiteme said the austerity measures were but the beginning of many other fiscal and thrift measures Government is to undertake to ameliorate the social and economic benefits for Zambians.
He said the measures that have seen Ministers have their perks slashed significantly will see a reduction in expenditure which has been a drain on the national budget.
“Government under His Excellency President Edgar Lungu has introduced austerity measures which has affected Ministers. But I must say that I am glad to be part of the solution to the country’s social and economic challenges. The austerity measures will see a reduction in expenditure. We are trying, as the Government that the austerity measures will have to trickle down,” Mr Chiteme said.
The Ministry of Lands has embarked on a sensitization exercise regarding its operations and various land administration issues in Kabompo district in Northwestern province.
A team of officers from the Ministry of Lands led by Northwestern Province Lands Officer, Chisha Nsunge, is in the district for a three-day sensitization exercise.
During the three days, the officers will be attending to clients who have queries or need to have documents processed.
Mr. Nsunge told ZANIS in an interview yesterday that the recent visit to the district by other officers revealed that Kabompo needs a sensitization exercise.
He expressed hope that the exercise will be utilized adequately by Kabompo residents.
He said his office has collaborated with the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) to successfully conduct the exercise.
Mr. Nsunge has since urged those with queries to seize the opportunity as government tries to take such important services closer to the people.
And Mr. Nsunge said his office is distributing land rent bills for the year 2018 noting that property owners need to have them settled to avoid being inconvenienced.
Meanwhile, Kabompo stakeholders’ chairperson Rodgers Chinyemba has welcomed the move by the government to routinely send officers from various departments especially from the provincial offices to provide missing services to people in the rural communities.
Mr. Chinyemba said such sensitization exercises should continue as some people miss out on these services because they lack information while some cannot afford to travel to other towns for the services.
He however appealed to government to quicken the process of sending machinery and contractors to work on the Kabompo township roads saying the dust is now affecting people’s health in the district.
The Africa Consumer Union (ACU) and the Zambia Consumer Association (ZACA) have condemned the proposed electricity tariff increment by the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO).
ZACA Executive Secretary Juba Sakala has therefore called on ZESCO not to go ahead with the proposed tariff hike as announced by the electricity supply company’s Copperbelt Province Regional Manager Wilbroad Chanda recently.
Mr. Sakala disclosed that the proposed hike should not be entertained because ZESCO had increased its tariffs less than a year ago.
And African Consumer Union First Vice President Muyunda Ililonga said the claim by ZESCO that current tariffs were not cost-reflective were not justifiable.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday, Mr. Ililonga challenged the firm to publish its costs for scrutiny in order for the public to fully understand its operations.
He explained that ZESCO should not hike tariffs beyond what most Zambians can afford.
He noted that increasing tariffs will make the cost of living high for Zambians.
Mr. Ililonga said the ACU fears that following the sharp tariff hike of 75 percent last year, the power utility company was faced with lower sale volume resulting from lower electricity consumption.
He further called for stringent measures to be put in place and a thorough restructuring of ZESCO’s business model if the power utility company is to be sustainable and maintain its customer base.
ZESCO Copperbelt Regional Manager Wilbroad Chanda recently told a media workshop that the power utility company was operating at a loss and that further tariff increment is imminent.
The unmanned drones to be used to aerial surveillance
The Civil Aviation Authority of Zambia has said there is need for all airport facilities to conform to international standards if Zambia was to be transformed into a transit destination.
Civil Aviation Authority of Zambia Director General Gabriel Lesa said the increasing flow of air traffic in the country suggests the need for modern facilities in strategic areas.
Mr. Lesa said the country can benefit from modern facilities.
He said this in Kasama yesterday when he paid a courtesy call on Northern Province Permanent Secretary Elias Kamanga.
He has since called for the modernisation of airports in all provincial centres to enhance trade and boost the country’s economic growth.
And Mr. Lesa said there was need for partnership between the authority and various stakeholders to regulate the utilisation of unmanned aerial vehicles, popularly known as drones, in the country.
Mr. Lesa said the control of drones is key to the security and safety of the nation.
He observed that although the use of drones is beneficial, the gadgets can pose security challenges if they are not controlled.
He said it is due to this reason that the use of drones in any part of the country requires monitoring.
Meanwhile, Northern Province Permanent Secretary Elias Kamanga said the country should take advantage of the special position it is occupying in the region, especially when it comes to air traffic.
Mr. Kamanga said Zambia is well positioned to be a regional hub for air traffic because of its central location.
He however noted that infrastructure challenges have hampered this realisation although the government is making massive investment to upgrade infrastructure in the sector.
Mr. Kamanga added that air transport is efficient and timely hence has the ability to boot the country’s economy.
Zesco United’s mini -drought in the 2018 CAF Champions League continued on Tuesday when they were held to a 0-0 home draw by Primeiro de Agosto of Angola.
The draw saw Zesco still winless in Group D after three rounds of matches played, and to now top it all, have drawn both their home games that they have sandwiched with a 2-1 away draw to leaders Etoile du Sahel from last May.
Star of the show at Levy was Agosto goalkeeper Tony denied Jesse Were in the first minute and Lazarus Kambole twice in the 6th and 27th minute.
Tony was back in action in the 37th minute this time to deny Zambia Under-20 striker Lameck Banda.
But the second half was flat in which Agosto mitigated their poor display in the first half with a more solid defensive display that suffocated Zesco from making any dangerous as far as midfield.
Zesco are now five points behind, leaders Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia who beat second placed Mbabane Swallows 3-0 away in eSwatini on the same date.
Etoile and Swallows have 7 and 4 points respectively with three games left to decide the top two quarterfinal slots in Group D.
Meanwhile, Zesco must now beat Agosto away in Luanda on July 28 to keep their interest in the competition alive.
The last consignment of ballot papers for the forthcoming mayoral, council chairpersonship and local government by-elections have arrived in Zambia.
The consignment, which consisted of 11 pallets, makes a complete set of 27 pallets containing ballot papers for the July 26, 2018 by-elections.
The 16 other pallets arrived in the country yesterday.
The National Democratic Congress Party, which was the only one present at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) and Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) officials, expressed delight with the transparency exhibited by the commission ahead of the July 26th by-elections.
NDC Media Director Emmanuel Malite said his party was ready for the polls stating that its candidate has been well received by the electorate.
Mr. Malite has meanwhile praised the law enforcement agencies for ensuring that campaigns are violent free.
On Thursday next week, the ECZ will conduct by-elections for mayor, council chairpersons and local government in various parts of the country.
Elias Kamanga with the Zambia Delegation
Northern Province Permanent Secretary Elias Kamanga says His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu is focused on implementing the Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP). Mr. Kamanga also said Government is determined to promoting the Northern Circuit of Zambia for investment in various sectors of the country’s economy. He says Government has effectively implemented the decentralization policy by empowering local authorities in the 2018 national budget.
The Permanent Secretary has also announced that Government has lined up a number of activities in the province to commemorate 100 years since the end of the First World War, on 11th November, 1918. Mr Kamanga further announced that the Northern Province Investment Expo will take place from 20th to 25th November, 2018 in Kasama. He said the Investment expo will open up Northern Province to local and foreign investment aimed at creating jobs for the locals.
“Mbala town of Northern Province will on 25th November, 2018 host the commemoration of 100 years since the end of the First World War. It’s in Mbala town where the German troops surrendered their weapons to the British forces to signal the complete end of the First World War.
“This part of History needs to be told and so Zambia will ensure that the rest of the world is aware of this important part of history. The country has a big role to play in preserving this history for future generations and create an opportunity for the promotion of tourism and investment in Northern Province and the entire Northern Circuit,” he said.
He said this when the Zambian delegation to this year’s Africa Trade and Investment Global Summit, (ATIGS) paid a courtesy call on Zambia’s Ambassador to the United States Dr. Ngosa Simbyakula, S.C., in Washington DC.
And Dr. Simbyakula was delighted to note that the Summit’s objective was in line with the Mission’s mandate of marketing Zambia to the U.S. and other countries of extra accreditation. The Ambassador assured the delegation that the Mission would follow up on interests expressed during the meetings with other business executives.
The Zambian Delegation and Embassy staff successfully participated and showcased Zambia at the Global Summit in the U.S. under the theme “Driving Trade, Unleashing Investment and Enhancing Economic Development: The Gateway to African Markets.” The Summits objectives were aligned under the U.N Sustainable Goals, of ‘Decent work and Economic Growth’ and ‘Strengthening means of implementing and revitalizing global partnership for sustainable Development.
The Summit is a prestigious biannual business conference and exhibition designed to promote and facilitate international trade between America, Asia, Caribbean European Union, United Arab Emirates and Africa; to facilitate foreign Direct Investment in Africa and to promote a platform for business to expand into new markets.
The Delegation was led by Zambia International Trade & Investment Centre (ZITIC) Chief Executive Officer Sebastian Kopulande, Zambia National Service Commandant, Lieutenant General Nathan Mulenga, Energy Regulation Board CEO & Board Member Ms. Langiwe Lungu, Mahogany Air Chief Executive Officer Mr Jim Belemu and Town Clerks for Kabwe, Masaiti, Kitwe, Livingstone City, Chipata City, and Mbala, among others.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kopulande, said the summit said ATIGS was an opportunity for Zambian Participants to learn the quality standards requirements for entry into US markets through AGOA.
During the Summit, the Zambian delegates networked with other business executives and entrepreneurs from the US and other participating countries in order to establish business linkages. The ATIGS 2018 edition attracted over 2000 key economic players from more than 70 countries including government delegations, high profile African Leaders, Project Developers and International Investors.
The Zambia Delegation of Dr Alfred Suman Dr John S. Kachimba, Dr Henry Musenge, Mr. Filipo Zulu and Ms. Atridah Mulonga. with Ambassador Mukwita
A team of respected Zambian scientists led by the chair of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Dr Henry Musenge have arrived in Berlin for crucial talks around the issue of agriculture and livestock development in Zambia in collaboration with Germany.
During a courtesy call at the embassy of Zambia on Axel Springer Strasse Monday, Dr Musenge, a respected academic leading a five-man team said NSTC is, “collaborating with Germany, Malawi, South Africa and Mozambique,” to find ways of escalating agriculture and live stock growth in the respective countries.
This follows a meeting the above-named countries participated in last year in Bonn, Germany and an earlier meeting in Livingstone, Zambia.
This is according to a statement issued by First Secretary Press at the embassy of Zambia in Berlin after Dr Musenge’s team met with German Ambassador to Zambia H.E Anthony Mukwita.
The entourage is seeking further funding for various proposals it was asked to make by its German counterparts.
“We are now at the stage of undertaking the final joint review which is the reason for coming to Germany today,” said Dr Musenge, “the joint review panel meeting will make a decision and successful proposals will be co-financed.”
Dr Musenge said the mentioned fields of agriculture and live stock were already being funded by the Strategic Research Fund (SRF) managed by the NSTC.
Dr Musenge told Ambassador Mukwita that his team would win the German funding it seeks. “It was important to note that President Edgar Lungu attaches great importance to agriculture and live stock hence his government’s decision to spilt the two into separate ministries in order to boost growth,” the Zambian envoy observed.
Ambassador Mukwita expressed gratitude that the high-level team took time to visit the embassy saying, “It is our duty to welcome well-meaning and progressive Zambians whenever they seek an audience with us as a mission. We wish you success.”
The team is expected to return to Zambia at the end of this week.
