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Konkola Blades take charge of Div 1 Zone 2 race

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Konkola Blades are the new leaders in FAZ Division One Zone Two following a 1-0 win over visiting Kansanshi Dynamos in Chililabombe at the Weekend.

Striker Brian Chewe scored the goal that helped Konkola dislodge Indeni from the top spot.

Coach Lewingtone Mujembe’s Konkola tops Zone Two with 29 points after 13 matches played.

Indeni drops to third position after suffering a shocking 1-0 defeat at third from the bottom side Mufulira Blackpool in Kamuchanga.

The Oil Men’s first loss in over seven matches left them stuck on 27 points after playing 13 matches.

Elsewhere in Zone Two, Mufulira Wanderers moved back into second position after edging Chambishi 2-1 in a grudge encounter.

Wanderers have 28 points, one behind leaders Konkola while former leaders Chambishi are fourth on the table with 24 points.

FAZ DIVISION ONE – WEEK 13 RESULTS

ZONE ONE

Lundazi United 3-0 Paramilitary (Walkover)

Chipata City Council 0-1 Kafue Celtic

City Of Lusaka 3-0 Happy Hearts

Lusaka Tigers 0-1 Lusaka City Council

Rifleman 1-1 Wonderful

Katete Rangers 2-1 Petauke United

Circuit City 3-2 Zesco Malaiti Shockers

Young Green Buffaloes 2-2 Police College

ZONE TWO

Mufulira Wanderers 2-1 Chambishi

Trident 1-0 ZNS Lwamfumu

Konkola Blades 1-0 Kansanshi Dynamos

Roan United 3-0 Kashikishi Warriors (Walkover)

Kalulushi Modern Stars 1-1 Gomes

Ndola United 1-0 Mining Rangers

FQMO Mining Operation 1-0 FQMO Roads
Mufulira Blackpool 1-0 Indeni

ZONE THREE

Tazara Rangers 0-3 Prison Leopards

Tazara Express 0-0 Kateshi Coffee Bullets

Zambeef 3-0 Mpande Youth Academy (Walkover)

Real Nakonde Fc 1-0 Chindwin Sentries

Malalo Police 3-1 Isoka Young Stars

Muchinga Blue Eagles 0-1 Kasama United Youth Academy

Kasama Young Fighters 1-0 Riverside United

Mpulungu Harbour 1-1 Intersport Youth

ZONE FOUR

Kascol Rangers 3-0 Luena Buffaloes (Walkover)

Maramba Stars 1-0 Mazabuka United

Chikuni Coops 0-1 Yeta

Zesco Shockers 1-1 Mumbwa Medics

Zesco Victoria Falls 0-1 Young Green Eagles

Manchester U. Z. Academy 1-1 Livingstone Pirates

Maamba Energy Stars 2-0 Kalomo Jetters

Choma Football Stars 1-1 Sinazongwe United

Government warns against tobacco use

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FILE: An amatuer video producer takes time to smoke marijuana during the Bob Marley Memorial concert in Lusaka west.

Ministry of Health says tobacco is one of the greatest public health threats that the world is facing and Zambia is not an exception.

Permanent Secretary for Administration, Kennedy Malama says about seven million people are killed by tobacco use worldwide every year.

Dr. Malama was speaking during the presentation of findings and recommendations of Joint Needs Assessment report on Tobacco use in Lusaka today.

He stated that nearly all tobacco use begins in childhood and adolescence adding that tobacco trends are rising among the youths.

Dr. Malama said there is need to significantly reduce tobacco use in the country to achieve Sustainable Development Goal(SDG) number 3 which urges member countries to accelerate implementation of the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco control (WHO-FCTC).

Meanwhile, World Health Organisation(WHO) Country representative, Nathan Kakyaita said tobacco is one of the eight leading causes of death each year.

Dr. Bakyaita explained that tobacco related deaths are more than any other causes of deaths worldwide.

He has urged the Zambian government to put in place measures such as the Tobacco taxation system, increase public awareness and introduce alternative frameworks of farming in line with the WHO- FCTC protocol which Zambia is a signatory.

I will introduce high rise Cemeteries if elected Lusaka Mayor-Miles Sampa

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Miles Sampa
Miles Sampa

Miles Sampa who has been adopted to stand as Lusaka Mayor on the PF ticket has promised to introduce high rise grave yards as a way of addressing the shortage of burial sites in Lusaka.

In an interview on his key priorities if elected Mayor, Mr Sampa who is also a Former Member of Parliament for Matero said resolving the issue of inadequate burial places in Lusaka will be top of his agenda.

He said the city needs to find a lasting solution to the grave yard crisis currently facing residents of Lusaka.

Mr Sampa said his proposal to create high rise burial sites will free up a lot of space in Lusaka.

“Other countries bury their dead on top of already existing graves and as Lusaka Mayor, this will be my main priority when I am elected Mayor. We need to find a sustainable solution this problem and as a City Father, that would be my main task,” Mr Sampa said.

He said, “We also need to find way of expanding the Leopards Hill Cemetery because the current boundary is almost exhausted. Our people surely deserve to bury their dead with dignity.”

Mr Sampa added, “We have to come up with a way of say, after five or ten years when the body decomposes, it’s lofted into a smaller coffin and reburied on top of another as a way of mitigating against this serious problem.”

Mr Sampa who also served as Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry and Finance and also as Southern Province Minister was over the weekend adopted by the PF Central Committee as its candidate for the position of Lusaka Mayor.

He faces strong competition from UPND’s Pastor Kangwa Chileshe with some Lusaka residents saying the city requires fresh leadership and new ideas to respond to the many challenges.

Luanshya Municipal Council to close down unclean business surroundings

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Children manning a small stall called Ka Ntemba in Roan Township of Luanshya

The Luanshya Municipal Council has announced that the authority will soon start closing down shops in the Central Business District and part of the second class trading areas for noncompliance to sanitary standards.

This is in line with ensuring that the Keep Zambia Clean, Green and Health campaign, is enhanced in the district.

Luanshya Mayor Nathan Chanda said shop owners who have not adhered to the local authority’s call to paint and clean their business premises risk their shops being closed.

Mr. Chanda said it was unfortunate that some shop owners have opted to ignore the council’s instruction even after being given an extensive period to adhere to the task, citing Luanshya Post Office as one if the non-compliant business houses.

The Mayor indicated that painting the buildings was part of keeping the town clean and attractive to investors, including having well maintained structures that are neat for operations.

He said the municipality will this week carry out inspections of all business premises to ensure compliance.

And Mr. Chanda has urged business houses that have not painted their structures to do so with immediate effect or face punitive measures.

The Mayor has however commended shop owners and traders who have heeded to the call and cleaned their structures.

He has further implored traders and all residents to develop a sense of ownership towards having a clean town and supplement government’s efforts in trying to keep Luanshya district clean.

President Lungu commissions Chipata District Hospital

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Chipata District Medical Officer, DR Ingase Mvula (middle) explains the scope of the new Chipata district Hospital to President Edgar Lungu and DR Chitalu Chilufya during the tour of the facility over the weekend.

President Edgar Lungu has today commissioned the newly constructed Chipata District Hospital in Eastern Province.

President Lungu noted that the construction of the district hospital is among other infrastructure development that the Patriotic Front government has undertaken in the province.

President Lungu said the health facility will help reduce the distance covered by people to access first level health services.

And the Head of State has indicated that the health institution will also help in addressing maternal health mortality, the burden of non-communicable diseases and the elimination of malaria by the year 2021.

President Lungu also stated that Chipata District Hospital is the first ever paperless hospital, which will also be rolled out to 26 other health institutions in Chipangali, Kasenengwa and Chipata respectively by end of July this year.

Meanwhile, President Lungu has noted that 44 health posts out of the 57, initially allocated to Eastern Province, from the 650 health posts under construction countrywide have been completed and are now operational.

The front view of the newly constructed Chipata District Hospital

Annoyance over ZNBC and ZANIS websites

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ZNBC

Dear Editor,

Allow me to register my concern over Zambia National Broadcsating Corpotation (ZNBC) website.

Every time we listen to news on ZNBC TV either on radio or television, ,the news always ends with, for this and other stories log on to www.znbc.co.zm.
This fooliing has been going on for some years now and no one at ZNBC has taken time to even apologose for this boloney on behalf of manangement.

In a civilized world, this is a serious issues that should not be taken lightly as it amounts to taking customers for granted and lack of seriousness for the national broadcaster.

What example are you giving to other upcoming Tv stations as trensetters if you fail this simple upgrade of your website!

There are stories that needs to read by ourselves when we log on to the ZNBC website and read the story for ourselves.
But the stories are not on the site!

Sadly, this is not the only website with outdated information. Zambia News and Information Services ( ZANIS ) is actually the worst! ZANIS is actually supposed to be the leader in news dissemination in the country but alas it is a sleeping snoring giant with ancient stories on its website. What a shame!

I even curiously decided to check other websites within our country, including some government websites and the story was very much the same.
It is no wonder there is too much misinformation because people cannot verify stories or rumours that they hear.

My appeal is for the concerned authorities to run their websites at par with expectation by updating them regularly and consistently.

By Kellys Mukuma

Government committed to developing all parts of the Zambia-President Lungu

President Lungu with Chief Mpezeni
President Lungu with Chief Mpezeni

President Edgar Lungu says government remains committed to ensuring that all parts of the country are developed.

The President said this in Chipata, Eastern Province yesterday afternoon when he paid a courtesy call on Chieftainess Mpezeni shortly after his arrival.

And the Head of State has noted that government is ready to ensure that more schools and hospitals are constructed in the province including road infrastructure.

President Lungu has since requested Chief Mpezeni to provide guidance on which developmental projects should be priotised.

He noted that it was important to consult which infrastructure development should be priotised in order to have a plan on how projects can be implemented based on the finances available at a particular time.

The Head of State has also commissioned the new palace for Paramount Chief Mpezeni.

He has however expressed disappointment at the low pace at which palaces are being constructed countrywide, but has assured other royal highnesses whose palaces are under construction of having them completed.

Meanwhile, Chief Mpezeni has praised President Lungu for the development the country has seen in various sectors since the Patriotic Front government came into power.

The traditional Leader has however urged government to prioritise agriculture as it is the cornerstone of the country’s development.

President Lungu with Chief Mpezeni
President Lungu with Chief Mpezeni

Government says failure to adapt to climate change is affecting Agricultural sector

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Minister of National Development Planning Alexander Chiteme officiating at the Labour Day Celebrations in Mbala on 1 May 2018. – PHOTO | CHIBAULA D. SILWAMBA | MNDP
Minister of National Development Planning Alexander Chiteme officiating at the Labour Day Celebrations in Mbala on 1 May 2018. – PHOTO | CHIBAULA D. SILWAMBA | MNDP

Government says resistance to the change in climate by some farmers is a major stumbling block in addressing vulnerabilities of climate change in the country’s agro sector.

Minister of National Development Planning Alexander Chiteme said it is important that people change their perception and adopt new agricultural practices, according to the change in climate, in order to sustain their livelihoods.

Mr Chiteme said some provinces are still resistance to embracing climate resilient approaches by clinging to traditional practices and approaches of farming, despite being affected by climate change.

He said through the interventions government is putting in place, small holder farmers have an opportunity to change to early maturing and drought resistant crops, in order to ensure food security when faced by dry spells, drought or change to crops that thrive in perennially flooded areas.

The Minister added that government is prioritising and mainstreaming climate change into the national development agenda within the framework of the Seventh National Development Plan.

Mr Chiteme said this will ensure that climate change mitigation programmes and activities are infused in the development process of the country.

The Minister added that government has since put in place necessary policies and legislation to ensure that climate change effects on people’s livelihoods are mitigated.

And Ministry of National Development Planning Permanent Secretary Chola Chabala said government will scale up sensitisation programmes on the effects of climate change, in order for citizens to adapt .

Mr Chabala said human induced activities are contributing to climate change and it is only right that a sustainable mechanism is developed that will safeguard environmental interests against economic interests.

The Permanent Secretary disclosed that government is finalising the Climate Investment Fund that will have about US$200 million to finance climate resilient development initiatives to sustain people’s livelihoods.

Drop criminal charges against six activists over fire trucks protests- Amnesty International

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Pilato and

The Zambian authorities must immediately drop all criminal charges against six activists who took part in peaceful protests that questioned exorbitant levels of government spending, Amnesty International said ahead of their trial on 25 June.

“The Zambian authorities must quash these charges which are clearly being used to silence any voice that dares to criticize the government or expose wrongdoing,” said Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for Southern Africa.

“These activists are being put in the dock solely for exercising their right to peaceful assembly. They have committed no crime, they have only demanded accountability from their leaders.”

The activists, including musician Fumba Chama who is known as Pilato, Lewis Mwape, Laura Miti, Sean Enock Tembo, Bornwell Mwewa and Mika Mwambazi have pleaded not guilty to charges of disobeying a lawful order after marching on parliament last September against what they said was the corrupt procurement of 42 fire trucks for US$42 million.

The reported cost of the trucks sparked public outcry over alleged misuse of public funds, resulting in the protests on 29 September 2017.
If convicted, the activists, who were beaten by arresting police officers, face up to two years in prison.

“The government must immediately stop this dangerous erosion of freedoms in Zambia by upholding human rights, including the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly,” said Mr. Muchena.

HH’s hand shake with President Lungu has nothing to do with reconciliation-Kakoma

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UPND Spokesman Charles Kakoma
UPND Spokesman Charles Kakoma
UNITED Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema’s hand shake with President Edgar Lungu has nothing to do with reconciliation, says UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma.

During burial of veteran politician and former minister Daniel Munkombwe on Wednesday in Choma, Mr Hichilema, National Democratic Party consultant Chishimba Kambwili and other opposition leaders shook hands with President Lungu, a gesture applauded by Vice President Inonge Wina, church leaders and other political party leaders.

Mr Kakoma told the Daily Nation in an interview that it was normal practice for Zambians to greet one another at funerals and the gesture had nothing to do with reconciliation and the much anticipated inter party dialogue.

He said the road to settling differences was a different one and many issues needed to be ironed out before real reconciliation saw the light of day.

“There is nothing strange about Mr Hichilema and other opposition leaders greeting at a funeral, as Zambians we respect the dead and the gesture has nothing to do with inter party dialogue and reconciliation,” Mr Kakoma said.

He said the hand shake should not be misconstrued for agreement on both issues of policy and political matters.

Mr Kakoma said the two political party leaders were yet to make a real handshake if ever the inter party dialogue was held and yielded positive results.

And Mr Kakoma rubbished reports that the UPND’s mayoral candidate Chileshe Kangwa was imposed by Mr Hichilema, saying such reports were fake.

Mr Kakoma said Mr Chileshe was democratically adopted by party structures in the province, adding that the selection was on merit.

“Which clandestine meetings are people talking about? Mr Chileshe was adopted on merit, his adoption was never at night, it was in broad daylight and it was clearly democratic,” he said

Power Dynamos continue winning run

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Power Dynamos collected their second successive league win to jump two places up the 2018 FAZ Super Division table.

Kelvin Kanidu’s side beat Buildcon 1-0 in an evenly-poised Copperbelt derby played at Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe.

It was Power second successive league victory exactly a week after they defeated second placed Green Buffaloes 1-0 in a match the latter were favourites to take the three points on the day.

The game’s lone goal came in the 51st minute through striker Alex Ng’onga who redeemed himself after missing two great opportunities just before the opening 30 minutes of the first half.

Ng’onga scored the games only goal in the 51st minute when he beat Aziz Keita on the rebound after the Buildcon goalkeeper parried his initial effort back in his path.

Power jump from 6th to 4th on 33 points from 18 games with a match in hand.

Buildcon stay put at number 11 on 27 points after suffering their third league defeat in Tenant Chembo’s sixteen games in charge.

Meanwhile, at Sunset stadium in Lusaka, Red Arrows collected their fourth league win of the season on Sunday following a 1-0 away win over troubled Napsa Stars.

Daniel Sibanda scored the game’s lone goal for 5th placed Arrows to send them to 19 points from as many games played.

Napsa stay second from bottom in 19th spot at the mid-way stage of the 2018 season with 10 points following their 10th defeat of the year.

Civil Society Work Should be Political, but not Partisan

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By Prince J. Ndoyi MMD Youth

I want to comment on the civil society trends in Zambia over the recent past vis-à-vis democratic activism and partisanship politics.
There is a false and disturbing notion that civil society should not engage in political discourse.

In the recent past, the relationship between government and a section of non-government organisations (NGOs) and the clergy has been getting sour with some political commentators accusing the latter of engaging in politics and going beyond their mandate.

However, such accusations lay bare to reveal a dire misconception of what constitutes politics and the fundamental role civil society should and has historically played in political processes world over.

The ignorant ones believe CSOs and NGOs should instead focus on delivering social services on behalf of government. It is common among government officials to describe the role of civil society as ‘supplementing’ government efforts. They believe civil society’s work is to drill boreholes, build schools, distribute mosquito nets and CONDOMS, and provide agricultural inputs, among others.

Yes, many NGOs continue to provide such services even when they are aware of the inadequacies, yet CSOs look beyond provision of services. True, such hardware from civil society is necessary, but not sufficient to heal the causes of poverty in a sustainable manner.

We believe an independent Civil Society is a product of an active democracy but here’s the paradox: We can’t have democracy without partisanship. In Zambia today partisanship overwhelms everything, and this has made it increasingly difficult for democracy to function.

We need political parties. But their rabid partisanship could destroy Zambia’s democracy. We’re trapped in a frightening “doom loop” of mutual distrust. We are not in the politics of causes but rather in a politics that of persons.

We note with sadness that the swath majority of CSOs in Zambia largely act like others are in government while the others are in opposition. They are like two extremes of the same coin.

Some that seem pro-government act like they are an extension of government itself or rather a little more like a QUASI govt department and these support everything. And for some they behave like a complete opposition political party seeking to form govt, these are against anything bearing a government face.

This shouldn’t be the case, civil society must identify the peoples agenda and run with it. And political parties in government and opposition alike must seek to identify themselves with the different civil society agenda, and follow through. But the opposite is true, civil society seemingly have began to champion the politicians agenda, and the politicians agenda is most often too narrow and simplistic. Because its usually centered on votes and strategic interests, and in most cases shifting positions bares no dire consequences but forms part of the political discourse in most young or infant democracies.

Suffice to say the two; both Politicians and Civil society/Non governmental organisation(s) appear to have formed a cartel around their own agenda, leaving the people alone in the cold.

Under such a political environment, civil society leaders aligned to either parties can trade roads and bridges over whisky cocktails at after-hours parties.

Its no wonder the Zambian voter is confused. It turns out, when it comes to political outcomes, most people are not making rational decisions based on the real impact they will have on their life, in part because they just don’t know anything. Civil society is no longer playing its original role thereby leaving a huge gap in our democracy.

So much of politics, not surprisingly, turns out to be about expressive behavior rather than instrumental behavior — in other words, people making decisions based on momentary feeling and not on some sound understanding of how those decisions will impact or hurt their life in the long run. And so if you think about people using the democratic levers that they have available to them to express themselves, rather than to make instrumental choices, you’re probably more often than not going to be closer to the actual psychology of what they’re up to.

Is the average Zambian voter informed enough to even have what we might call a policy preferences? In Zambia today, how do choices get framed? How do opinions get formed? Sadly most Zambian Voters don’t have anything like coherent preferences. Most people pay little attention to politics; when they vote, if they vote at all, they do so irrationally and for contradictory reasons.

To be clear, we are becoming good at picking leaders who appear to be on our side, who play the right rhetorical games while civil society watches on like a vulture preying on the idle carcass.

Even voters who pay close attention to politics are prone — in fact, more prone — to biased or blinkered decision-making. The reason is simple: Most people make political decisions on the basis of social identities and partisan loyalties, not an honest examination of reality.

We believe the people are doing the best they can. They just don’t have a lot of information, and so they substitute guesses and views of the world that make them feel comfortable. People are looking for ways to make sense of what is a very complicated reality out there. It’s hard for those of us who get paid to think about it all the time to make sense of it, and it’s worse off very hard for people with a lot of other demands in their lives.

Zambia today is in desperate need of ideologically astute civil society organisations and NGOs whose programming is informed by the understanding that POVERTY is not only about individual deficiencies, but also a consequence of abuse and misuse of power by those in authority right from the household, community, nation and beyond.

For example, when power is abused, we see domestic violence in homes, resources allocated for less vital priorities, corruption, nepotism, inequality, failure to deliver services, self-aggrandisement, failed institutions, failed political parties, and unaccountable leadership, among other evils. There is no perfect society, but even in a near perfect society, these discussions are condoned and encouraged for purposes of counter checking one another. This we believe can make us collectively end poverty leaving no one behind.

Democracy is a sum total of both state and non state actors. Therefore ending poverty will only be possible unless those with power especially the politicians use it to better society and not for selfish interests. And people facing oppression and injustice are able to organise and use their power individually or collectively to hold their leaders accountable.

CSO’s approach is, therefore, to check, monitor, and restrain abuse and misuse of power by political leaders, corporates and public officials in order to promote an accountable leadership that is responsive to the aspirations of the citizens.

A number of civil society actors are increasingly finding it difficult to engage in policy processes because a section of political leaders both some in government and some in opposition perceive them as enemies. This has unfortunately made civil society work to undertake their activities difficult for fear of being identified with either parties. Closing them on policy processes, can arbitrary prevent them from organising themselves thereby widening the gap between the State and the citizens.

With the advent of the ongoing political dialogue process and the many agreed agenda items that form it as agreed by the politicians themselves, like constitutional reforms, judicial law reforms,electoral process Act, Societies Act, Public Order Act, the Penal Code Act, Press and Media laws reforms among others. It can only be hoped to see a united civil society in the interest of the Zambian people.
Leaving partisan politics for politicians themselves.

Therefore it is also expected that in a country like ours that upholds the principles of democracy and good governance, we must protect civil society from attacks as the contrary shows intolerance of dissenting views propagated by sections of political actors who seek to control peoples’ dissent for their selfish interests.

As a young democrat and politician my advise to those in government is that they should make deliberate efforts to redress any attempts to blackmail and delegitimise civil society as agents of foreign forces.

In conclusion, government and opposition parties needs to recognise that society building is a shared responsibility and must facilitate civil society as an essential development partner.

President Lungu bemoans bomb attack on Zimbabwean counterpart

President Lungu confers with Foreign Affairs Minister Joe Malanji shortly before his departure to Eastern Province at City Airpor
President Lungu confers with Foreign Affairs Minister Joe Malanji shortly before his departure to Eastern Province at City Airport

President Edgar Lungu has described the apparent bomb attack on Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa in the city of Bulawayo as unfortunate.

President Lungu said Bulawayo has been an area of interest in Zimbabwean politics, but hearing of such attacks on their Head of State made sad reading.

The President explained that he was hopeful that the law will take its course in that country and find the root cause of the incident.

The Head of State emphasized that politics of violence has no space in today’s modern politics.

Yesterday Live Zimbabwean TV showed an explosion going off shortly after President Mnangagwa left the podium shortly after having addressed supporters in Bulawayo.

The President was in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second city, to campaign for his Zanu-PF party ahead of the nationwide elections taking place on July 30th.

President Lungu was speaking to journalists at City airport before his departure for Eastern province where he has gone for a two day working visit.

The plane carrying the head of state left at 10:00 hrs and was seen off by Vice President Inonge Wina, cabinet ministers, service chiefs and Patriotic Front senior officials.

President Lungu confers with Service chiefs shortly before his departure to Eastern Province at City Airport
President Lungu confers with Service chiefs shortly before his departure to Eastern Province at City Airport
President Edgar Lungu greats PF member Margarate Mumba shortly before his departure to Eastern Province at City Airport
President Edgar Lungu greats PF member Margarate Mumba shortly before his departure to Eastern Province at City Airport
President Edgar Lungu having a light moment with  PF members shortly before his departure to Eastern Province at City Airport
President Edgar Lungu having a light moment with PF members shortly before his departure to Eastern Province at City Airport

NDC adopts Saboi Imboela as a Mayoral candidate for Lusaka

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Former Copperbelt Minister Mwenya Musenge
Former Copperbelt Minister Mwenya Musenge

The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has adopted Saboi Imboela as a Mayoral candidate for Lusaka.

Speaking during a press briefing in Lusaka, NDC Secretary General Mwenya Musenga says the party received an overwhelming response from candidates who wanted to contest the Lusaka mayoral seat under NDC.

He says the party received over eight applications showing that the party is growing at a fast pace.

He adds that it was a tight contest in Lusaka for the position of the Lusaka Mayor.

Mr. Musenga says the campaign manager for Ms Imboela is Ackson Kaonga.

Mr. Musenga states that the party has given the residents of Lusaka a candidate who will be able to firmly speak for them and bring the much needed development.

And Mr. Musenga says the party will not field any candidate in the by-election in North Western Province but that in Luapula the party is participating.

Meanwhile, the NDC Secretary General has maintained that Roan Member of Parliament Chishimba Kambwili will be NDC Presidential Candidate for the 2021 general elections.

He also says the party is not in any alliance with another political party saying it is able to stand on its own.

Mr. Musenga says the party is now finalizing its manifesto as the party wants its manifesto to speak directly to the sufferings of the people of Zambia.

Speaking earlier, NDC Lusaka Mayoral Candidate Saboi Imboela said she is confident that she will win the seat saying the people of Lusaka have been deprived of the much needed development.

Kitwe-Ndola dual carriageway project is Funded by the Zambian Government

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Contractor China Jiangxi working on the Kitwe-Ndola dual carriageway.

China Jiangxi Corporation says the Kitwe-Ndola dual carriageway is being funded by the Zambian Government.

CJIC Commutations and Public Relations Manager Misheck Wangwe said the project is financed by the Zambian Government through the National Road Fund Agency (NRFA).

Mr Wangwe said that there is no loan agreement from the Chinese Government as suggested by some sections of the media.

He said in a statement that the project commenced on January 30, 2013 and it has taken more than five years to complete owing to additional works issued under numerous Variation Orders.

“The project also had a number of completion time extensions emanating from cash flow constraints. However, the main works of the road maintenance have been completed.

“We wish to advise the public and all stakeholders that the ongoing road maintenance works on the Ndola-Kitwe Dual Carriageway are being carried out in compliance to standard specifications applicable to Southern Africa Transport and Communications Commission (SATCC) and supervised by a professional supervision company,” he said.

The firm says between 2013 and April 2017, there was a serious cash flow constraints and as a mitigation measure, CJIC internally pumped in US $11 million to sustain the works.

“It should be noted that we have continued to attend to various maintenance activities arising from the normal wear and tear as the road has been in use throughout the Project period. Further, the amount of traffic on the Project road has increased during the Project period as the Fisenge Masangano link and the Mufulira Ndola link have deteriorated to such an extent that motorists are no longer using them; hence all traffic has been diverted to the Ndola-Kitwe link.

“Due to the booming economic activities arising from the increased mining operations in North-Western province and throughout the Copperbelt province, Kitwe-Ndola road is the only route that is used to ferry abnormal loads of equipment to the mines and thousands of tonnes of mineral products from the mines on a daily basis,” he said.

Mr Wangwe said China Jiangxi would continue to advise Government for the need to install weigh bridges between Ndola and Kitwe to prevent overloading on the road given that railway transport has significantly been abandoned and the level of activity between the two industrial cities is very high.