A tobbaco farmer has called on the Ministry of Health to distance itself from discussions surrounding the tobbaco industry as they have proven to have little knowledge and no capacity to adequately deal with issues related to the industry.

Speaking during “Let the People Talk” radio program where he featured with Tobbaco Board of Zambia Board Member and Nkeyema MP Kapelwa Mbangweta, Chilufya Chishala who is also National Chairperson for Agriculture in the MMD said the Ministry of Health, said that the Ministry of Health is just an arm of government which should not make decisions which borders on the country’s economy without adequate consultations with other stakeholders.

He observed that discussions on the Tobbaco industry without players would prove harmful to the country as it is only the people involved who understand the repercussions to the country’s economy.

“They have been going to International conferences without inviting the people in the tobacco industry and the problems we are facing as a country is because we are not moving together. If, for instance our colleagues in the Ministry of Health, call and find out more  from us,  we can move together in uniform.

“Zimbabwe has accepted to move with the Framework Commission for Tobacco Control Treaty. In Malawi,  they are moving together, only Zambia is not moving in that direction. We need to find out why only one arm of government because the ministry of health is only but one part of the arm of government.

“We have the Ministry of Commerce Trade and Industry, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Agriculture. Tobbaco is regulated by an Act of Parliament hence it’s a special crop. Zimbabwe,  despite the Economic challenges,  are going on, they have bought tobbaco worth 233 million kilos at average 3 dollars, they project to hit a billion. 40% of the GDP will be contributed from tobacco,” he said.

He further disclosed that during the MMD government exchange rate drastically reduced because of tobacco which he said brings in more forex than copper.

He said when the sale of Tobbaco commences the Dollar and other major foreign currencies reduces because the crop brings in more forex than any other crop grown in the country.

Meanwhile Nkeyema MP Kapelwa Mbangweta said instead of rushing to sign treaties which would harm the country’s economy in the long run, government should invest in research to deal with side effects of tobacco.

He said that,  with research the production of tobacco would help the Zambia attain the much talked about economic independence.

“If it was in the UNIP days or sometime back I would have accepted,  but in this era the country has opened up and we are educated but we are lacking the knowledge. Even in Marijuana we need the knowledge, even the tobacco we need the knowledge, even the mukula we need the knowledge.

“In our land we have a lot of things which are of value but we lack knowledge. We need to do a research and once somebody discovers that something and we see that it adds value it will help us economically as a country. Is it good that we are always borrowing? We want to be independent, we want economic independence. We have attained independence but we want economic independence,” he said.

And TBZ Board member Blessings Banda said the people driving FCTC agenda have not consulted all the stakeholders.

“The people with the FCTC agenda, who did they consult? Did they look at the economic value of tobacco? There are institutions which depend on tobacco. Let me start with the Ministry of Finance which keeps the coffers of Zambia, they are able to see what tobacco can do in the country, you go to Bank of Zambia, you are able to see what tobacco can do to the country. Eastern province has moved to the level of 13 banks. Lundazi alone has more than six banks operational, they were targeting the tobacco industry, when you take six banks in an area its development isn’t it? That is just a meagre thing but there are other major things.

“Then let’s look at the employment levels, Tobacco is able to employ over 1 million people in Zambia if we are to become serious,  but the people who have the agenda framework they never consulted the Ministry of Finance, they never consulted the Ministry of Labour, they never consulted the Ministry of Commerce, they never consulted the Ministry of Agriculture, if they had consulted these 4 wings of government,  I think they wouldn’t have taken the road they are taking, they should think twice,” he said.

Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is the first treaty negotiated under the auspices of the World Health Organization. The Framework intends for countries who sign the Treaty to stop the cultivation of Tobacco by 2030.

ZCCM-IH Chief Executive Officer Dr Pius Kasolo has strongly defended the decision to sale the oil exploration license to a Nigerian oil firm Oranto Petroleum.

Some sections of the Zambian society has questioned the rationale behind ZCCM-IH’s decision to give up its oil and gas exploration license to a Oranto.

Oranto will own a 90% stake in this project while ZCCM-IH will retain 10%.

Dr Kasolo said the decision to partner with Oranto was strategic as it will allow ZCCM-IH to acquire technical skills from their Nigerian counterparts.

He said Oranto will also provide funding and technical support for the project.

Dr Kasolo stated that technical support will include the provision of training to ZCCM-IH Technical Staff in oil and gas exploration and production.

“We are delighted to announce that the Company has been granted two onshore Oil and Gas exploration licenses by the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development of Zambia (MoMMD). The two licensed oil blocks are situated in the Western and Muchinga provinces of Zambia. The granting of this license by the MoMMD is in line with ZCCM-IH’s strategy to undertake mining related diversification particularly in the energy sector,” Dr Kasolo said.

He said in order to undertake exploration works on the license area, ZCCM-IH has partnered with Oranto, a Nigerian based and the largest privately-owned oil exploration and production company in Africa.

Operation Young Vote has said the acquittal of Mutinta M’membe by the Lusaka Magistrate has not only exposed ill intentions, abuse of authority and fear of the unknown by those who wield authority but is also victory against perpetrators of human rights violations in Zambia. In a statement released to the media, Executive Director of OYV Guess Nyirenda said Zambia will not develop if those in authority treat institutions as their personal tuntembas. He urged Mrs M’membe to continue being a torch bearer in the stand against tyranny.

Below is the Full statement

The acquittal of Mutinta M’membe by the Lusaka Magistrate Faides Hamaundu in the case of obstructing court officials from executing a search warrant, has not only exposed ill intentions, abuse of authority and fear of the unknown by those who wield authority but is also victory against perpetrators of human rights violations in Zambia.
It is very sad that we have authorities that thrive on intimidating, fighting and trampling on the rights of their own citizens without any reflection and remorse.

As OYV, we are of the conviction that as long as our leaders or those in authority at whatever level continue to abuse the structures of government and governance, handle institutions as their personal tuntembas and also fear their own shadows and violate people’s human rights to save their complexes (inferiority or superiority) Zambia as a country shall remain stagnant in all aspects.

We therefore want to urge Mutinta M’membe to continue being a torch bearer in standing strong against tyranny and human rights violators as this is inspiring not only to women and the old but also to men and the younger generations.

The acquittal also has elements of lessons for those who are easily sent (used) by those in authority to execute missions they have little or no understanding of that such embarrassment on the state will be the order of the day, if professionalism is thrown to the wind.

There is every need by those in authority to seriously introspect and consider a paradigm shift in the way they treat all citizens regardless of their status in society including those they take as threats or enemies.

For and on behalf of OYV
Guess Nyirenda (Mr.)
Executive Director

By Sunday Chilufya Chanda

As the Election Campaigns for Mayor of Lusaka intensify, one cannot help but cringe at the level of naïve ignorance and illusions of grandeur particularly from opposition candidates and their supporters.
From the way they are going about their witless pie-in-the sky “promises” one would think the office of Mayor of Lusaka works arbitrarily by decree to the exclusion of all other officials in both central and local government.
They need to wake upand smell the coffee! The office of the Mayor of Lusaka should be viewed realistically in its collective context in relation to other stakeholders.
What is the Lusaka City Council?

The Lusaka City council like other District and city councils is a body corporate entity created by an Act of Parliament and governed by the Local Government Act, Cap 281 of the Laws of Zambia.

What is the function of the Council?

The council is legally established as an agent of the Central Government in the promotion of social, political and economic development to the lowermost level.

The numerous economic and social functions of the council are too many to be outlined in a brief article as this one. However, The Local Government Act in Section 61 of lists more than 60 functions of Local Authorities such as Lusaka City Council. More functions of are disseminated in Cabinet Office Circulars such as No. 10 of 2002.

Who comprises the Lusaka City Council?

The council comprises a political and policy making side on one hand, and an administrative arm that executes policy on the other. The political side led by the mayor consists of all the 6 elected members of Parliament from the constituencies in Lusaka and 33 ward councillors as well as 2 representatives appointed by all the chiefs in Lusaka. (It is important to note that all the six elected members of Parliament in Lusaka as well as all the 33 elected councillors except one from UPND, who is currently facing suspension and criminal charges in court , represent the ruling Patriotic Front).

The administrative part is headed by the Town Clerk who oversees eight directors representing eight directors representing eight departments which include Engineering Services and City Planning Finance, Legal Services, Human Resource and Administration. Others are Housing and Social Services,Public Health, as well as Valuation and Real Estate Management department.
However, after consultation with the council, the Minister may, by statutory order, alter the number of councillors of which local authorities like the Lusaka City council consists.

Does the Mayor of Lusaka work in isolation?

The answer is an emphatic No! The mayor does not work in isolation but is part of a group that comprises the “council”. The Lusaka City Council acts as agents in implementing the policy of central government to the lowest level under the principal leadership of the President of the Republic of Zambia, in this case His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu.

Consequently, the mayor and council policy is informed by overarching central Government policy and programming such as such as the Local Government Policy and the Seventh National Development Plan.

Penny drop moment! The amended constitution does not provide for an “executive mayor” as the uninformed opposition candidates and their supporters seem to believe. It cannot be overemphasised that the mayor is part of a “council” and consequently cannot and does not make arbitrary decisions.
Article 26(1) of the act states“…Any question proposed for decision by a council shall be determined by a majority of the votes of the councillors present and voting at a meeting of the council at which a quorum is present.” As can be deduced from the foregoing, whatever plans the mayor’s may have, they require the endorsement of a quorum before they can be implemented.

What then is the role of the Mayor?

As cited earlier, the mayor is the political head of the council and the following are his/her functions as per amended constitution:-

(i) Superintend Over Policy Making;
(ii) Ensure The Preparation Of The Annual Budget And Implementation Plan;
(iii) Ensure The Preparation And Implementation Of The Strategic Plan; And Community And District Development Plans;
(iv) Ensure The Development And Design Of Economic Development Programmes;
(v) Ensure The Developments And Implementation Of Robust Performance Management System;
(vi) Promote Citizen Engagement And Participation; And
(vii) Preside over council meetings and ceremonial functions

What attributes should the best Candidate have to carry out the above functions?

The office of Mayor of the Capital City of Zambia is very Senior Management position which requires a corporate savvy individual with Project Management, Finance and Local government experience. Lusaka Mayoral Elections should thus not be trivialised and reduced to a celebrity popularity contest or populist variety show.

Out of the nine candidates- who is best suited?
Mr Miles Sampa is the most suitably qualified candidate. The Mayor’s office should not be trivialised experimented with by reducing it to a celebrity variety show.
A Patriotic Front mayor working with Patriotic Front Members of Parliament together with Patriotic Front Ward Councillors means everyone singing from the same Hymn sheet and pulling in the same direction. On the other hand an opposition Mayor will sing a different song and bring drudgery and discord. Besides, former Matero Member of parliament Miles Sampa has the requisite local government and top level corporate experience and business acumen.
President Edgar Chagwa Lungu and the Patriotic Front are poised to continue putting miles of smiles in Lusaka and across the nation.