Join our community of SUBSCRIBERS and be part of the conversation.
To subscribe, simply enter your email address on our website or click the subscribe button below. Don't worry, we respect your privacy and won't spam your inbox. Your information is safe with us.
File:Peasant farmers load their maize into a truck before transportation to an FRA depot in chief Mulala’s area. Agriculture faces many challenges in the area and this fuels poverty in the area.
Two small scale farmers in Chieftainess Lukwesa’s area in Mwense district in Luapula Province have been sentenced to nine months imprisonment with hard labour for theft.
Appearing before Mwense Magistrate Moses Mulenga were Idon Chama 25, and Cosmas Kasanda 23, both of Kapamba village who stood charged for stealing two bags of maize contrary to section 272 of the penal code chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia
Particulars of the offence were that on May 18, 2018, the duo jointly and while acting together stole two bags of maize valued at K200 the property of Dimas Chomba.
The duo pleaded guilty to the charge and in mitigation requested the court for lenience because they were first offenders.
Magistrate Mulenga however, was quick to state that the offence committed was becoming rampant in the district and ordered the duo to serve for nine month effective from the date of arrest as a deterrent measure.
And another small scale farmer of chief Kashiba’s area was sentenced to six months imprisonment with hard labour for stealing a 50
kilogramme bag of white maize worthy K100.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Mulenga also sentenced Tobias Chabala 20 of Mulundu chiefdom to seven months imprisonment for stealing a goat.
Particulars of the offence were that on May 19, 2018, Chabala stole a goat worth K600 a property of Justina Ndashi contrary to section 275 subsection (1) and subsection (a) of the penal code chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.
Katete District Patriotic Front (PF) has reported to the Police an alleged sale of land that is meant for the building of a Police Post.
PF Katete District Chairperson Moses Phiri said the party has requested the police to institute an inquiry into the alleged sale of land by the District Council.
Mr. Phiri said the land was bought using the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) contributed by Mkaika and Milanzi constituencies.
He said the party has also reported to the police a few council workers that are alleged to have been part of the sale of the land that was meant for police post.
“Currently, the country is striving to fight corruption and other vices that are bringing down development, as a result, there is need for constant reminders to perpetrators that there are laws that need to be adhered to,” Mr. Phiri said
And Katete District PF Youth Secretary Luka Ndhlovu said there is need to bring those few selfish individuals to book so that they face the law.
Mr. Ndhlovu said as a party, they will not sit and watch while land that is meant for development is being sold by unscrupulous people.
Two children aged between two and five have been burnt to ashes in an inferno while their parents are battling for their lives at St. Paul’s Mission Hospital when the grass thatched makeshift they were sleeping in caught fire.
Luapula Province Police Commissioner Elias Chushi confirmed the incident to ZANIS in Nchelenge today.He identified the deceased as Esther Mulenga 4 and Daniel Chileshe 2 .
Mr. Chushi said the deceased parents Gladys Mwila 25, and Charles Chitalu 27, sustained burns and are currently admitted at St. Paul’s Mission Hospital.
He said the incident occurred yesterday at around 21: 00hours at Mulola fishing camp.
The Police Commissioner however, stated that the cause of the fire is not yet known.
Coach Justin Chinama has warned that Mighty Mufulira Wanderers must sweat to accomplish their target of winning promotion back to the FAZ Super Division this year.
Wanderers are seeking a quick return to the top league after suffering demotion last season.
Despite being the only unbeaten team in Division One Zone Two so far Wanderers are placed third on the table with 16 points, three behind leaders Chambishi, after eight matches played.
“As Wanderers all the games we are playing are like cup finals. Teams are preparing a lot for us so we don’t expect any easy game. We just need to work hard,” Chinama said.
Wanderers have so far recorded for wins and four draws.
“It is unfortunate we have recorded many draws. We need to up our game; we don’t need to be dropping points,” he said.
“We are on the right track; it is just a matter of time we will get there. We need to work hard and achieve our target of winning promotion to the Super Division,” Chinama added.
Mighty went down to Division One after a three-year spell in the Super Division.
The team bounced back to the elite league in 2015 after spending nine years in Division One.
Rejuvenated Nkana on Wednesday moved into third place on the FAZ Super Division table after edging Nakambala Leopards 1-0 away in Mazabuka.
Striker Walter Bwalya scored a late goal in this Week 14 match at Nakambala Stadium as Nkana increased their tally to 26 points to move one place up the table.
This was Nkana’s second straight win having beaten Kitwe United 1-0 in their last match at home in Wusakile last Saturday.
At Garden Park Stadium, Zesco United overcame Kitwe United 2-1 in Kitwe to stay top of the table.
Striker Jesse Were scored the winner for Zesco who also benefited from Levy Makungu’s own goal earlier after Kitwe had taken a 1-0 lead into the half time break via Austin Muwowo’s 44th minute goal.
Zesco have moved to 31 points after playing 13 matches tied with second placed Green Buffaloes who beat ailing 2017 runners-up Zanaco 1-0 at home.
Meanwhile, there were also wins for Power Dynamos, Nkwazi and Forest Rangers in midweek games including a momentus one for newcomers Kabwe Youth Soccer Academy.
Kabwe Youth recorded the first win of their debut Super Division season after stunning Lumwana Radiants 2-0 in Kabwe.
In Monze, Alex Ngonga scored his first goal in 12 league games when Power won 1-0 away at New Monze Swallows.
WEEK 14
30/05/2018
Green Buffaloes 1-Zanaco 0
New Monze Swallows 0-Power Dynamos 1
Kabwe Youth Soccer Academy 2-Lumwana Radiants 0
Kabwe Warriors 0-Napsa Stars 0
Ncahnga Rangers 0-Forest Rangers 2
Nkwazi 1-Buildcon 0
Red Arrows 0-National Assembly 0
Kitwe United 1-Zesco United 2
Nakambala Leopards 0-Nkana 1
POSTPONED
Green Eagles-Lusaka Dynamos
Minister of General Education David Mabumba says the strategic reforms being undertaken by his ministry will improve the performance of children in schools.
Mr. Mabumba said the gradual process of addressing key elements which constitute the education sector in the country will have a positive impact on learner performance.
He said this when he addressed various stakeholders during an education indaba held in Solwezi district in North-western Province.
Mr. Mabumba said as long as strategic reforms are not taken, the performance of children in schools will not improve.
He noted that the indaba is being held to reveiw the strategic operations of the ministry and will give North-western Province an opportunity to address matters affecting the education sector in the province.
Mr. Mabumba also explained that the current infrastructure in schools across the country is no longer sustainable and therefore needs urgent attention.
He said all schools should work on creating and maintaining a healthy environment for pupils in line with the keep Zambia clean, green and healthy campaign which was recently launched by President Edgar Lungu.
Meanwhile, North-western Province Minister Nathaniel Mubukwanu called on teachers to help stop exam malpractice in schools.
He further urged parents in the Province to ensure that school going children concentrate on their education in order to improve learner performance during exams.
Water and Energy Ministry Permanent Secretary Bishop Edward Chomba
Ministry of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection Permanent Secretary Ed Chomba says the Chikowa dam in Mambwe district in Eastern Province will benefit a lot of households and boost Social Economic Development in the area.
Dr Chomba said the 1.4 million United States dollar World Bank funded dam which sits on 780, 000 cubic meters has harvested enough water for irrigation conservation, livestock and fishing.
The Permanent Secretary said this on his official visit to Mambwe district yesterday to monitor the development taking place on the sidelines of the Chikowa dam.
Dr Chomba also pointed out that the dam will also enable value chain and value addition to the community as his ministry intends to incorporate the department of commerce to ensure that households have an open market to sell their produce when it is ready.
He further noted that if the community utilises the dam well, they can be able to cultivate vegetables and tubers among other products at a large scale which they can supply to large supermarkets across the country, and reduce dependency on imported products.
And Dr Chomba expressed gratitude towards other government ministries that have come on board to see how best the communities they work together to benefit from the dam.
He noted that the Chikowa dam would be nothing if his Ministry was the only one using it as a water source.
National Guidance and Religious Affairs Minister Godfridah Sumaili paying FDD President Judith Nawakwi a courtesy call
Minister of National Guidance and Religious Affairs Godfridah Sumaili says government is confident that the church will spearhead the political dialogue process well.
Reverend Sumaili says the church has been and is an all-weather stakeholder of government in preaching peace and uniting people in the nation, hence confident that positive results will emerge from the process.
The Minister said it is against this background that government considered that church is considered as a major strategic partner to national development.
Rev. Sumaili said this in Lusaka yesterday during the official launch of the Renew Our World Campaign in Zambia, which is a platform created for the church and others in creating a better society.
She noted that Zambia is a Christian nation and therefore the church cannot be left out in issues of national development.
And speaking in a separate interview with ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday, Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) Executive Director Paul Mususu said the church has never failed to transcend on political matters.
Bishop Mususu appealed to the political players participating in the dialogue to take the church seriously and not to doubt it.
“We have never failed as a church in any political dialogue All the processes have been successful,” he said.
The clergyman disclosed that the church comprising EFZ, the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) and the Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) was engaged by ZCID before in 1991, 1996 and 2002 respectively for a similar interaction.
The Zambia Centre for Interparty Dialogue, ZCID is organizing the dialogue.
Feira Constituency Independent Member of Parliament in Luangwa District Stephen Miti has ordered Luangwa Town Council to immediately stop using Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to pay for school fees for 100 vulnerable students pursuing diploma and degree courses in different tertiary institutions.
Mr. Miti has also directed the council not to settle the K 506,000.00 debt that the council owes the tertiary institutions as arrears for school fees since 2015 to date.
The Member of Parliament disclosed to ZANIS in Lunagwa recently that he has ordered the local authority to immediately stop using CDF to pay for school fees for the 100 vulnerable students because the move is against CDF guidelines.
The MP has since stopped the payments as he is alleging that some of the students are from rich families while others are ghost students who do not exist in the learning institutions indicated on the beneficiary list.
Mr. Miti said CDF is supposed to be spent prudently on programmes and projects that benefit communities as a whole and not on programmes that only benefit individuals such as payment of school fees.
Meanwhile, Chairperson for the Pastors’ Ministers Fellowship Davies Mavunga has appealed to government to intervene in the matter, saying most of the students are in examination classes and might not be allowed to sit for their final examinations if the arrears owed to the learning institutions are not settled.
Reverend Mavunga said although the council has erred by going against the CDF guidelines, the plight of these vulnerable students must be considered with sympathy.
Samfya District Commissioner (DC) Nason Bwalya says the silence about menstruation and limited access to information results in many girls missing lessons when they are menstruating.
Mr. Bwalya said many girls in rural areas miss classes because schools do not have facilities where they can change and dispose their menstrual waste.
He explained that poor access to affordable sanitary materials is also a challenge for girls in schools to manage their periods effectively.
Mr. Bwalya added that, these problems are more worsened by inadequate access to safe and private toilets.
ZANIS in Samfya reports that Mr. Bwalya was speaking yesterday at Chibolya Secondary School during the commemoration of Menstrual Hygiene Day.
He explained that Menstrual Hygiene Day was created to publicly recognize the right of women to hygienically manage their periods wherever they are.
Mr. Bwalya added that, this day confronts the stigma attached to menstruation with collective advocacy, education and action aimed at breaking the silence.
He has since assured the pupils that government will continue to support such initiatives both at district and community level.
And Water Aid Zambia Program Officer Jameson Lubingo said the organization is fully committed to support the provision of adequate water and hygiene facilities in schools.
Mr. Lubingo has since urged pupils to support discussions that will help break the silence and stigma about menstruation.
Capital Fisheries
Africa-focused private equity manager EXEO Capital has backed Zambian fish distributor Capital Fisheries with a $6.4m investment.
The cold-chain distributor is the latest deal from EXEO’s Agri-Vie Fund II, which is understood to be out targeting up to $200m for a hard cap close.
The firm had collected about $175m for the fund in July last year, AltAssets revealed, well above its $100m first close from February 2017.
EXEO partner Kennett Sinclair said the decision to invest in Capital Fisheries was driven by the market prospects for the line of business in Zambia and the company’s proven business model.
Mr. Sinclair said more than half of the animal protein consumed in Zambia consists of fish.
Capital Fisheries sells fish, sustainably harvested in Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia, and more recently has added smoked fish as well as different cuts of Zambian beef and sausages.
Sinclair said, “Capital Fisheries already has a large market share in fish distribution in Zambia. The company’s innovative model of wholesaling frozen products from reconfigured, refrigerated shipping containers placed permanently at markets, small shopping centres and areas where people congregate, has been tremendously successful.”
Capital Fisheries’ Zambian founding shareholders Damian Roberts and Gavin Thomas, stated that consumer spending was expected to accelerate the company’s current growth.
They said, “Zambia’s population is forecast to grow at 2.8 per cent per annum to 2030, with an urbanisation rate of 4.8 per cent per annum. We plan to double our wholesale depots and the supporting cold-chain logistics over the next two years.”
Mr Sinclair echoed this sentiment, adding that Zambia’s GDP per capita was forecast to increase by 2.1 per cent per annum to 2030.
“You have all the ingredients necessary for excellent further growth prospects for this company,” he said.
Government will today hold a symposium to discuss the planned sale of land in Lusaka where Jacaranda Basic School and other public buildings sit.
According to the notice, the Market Sounding Symposium will be held at the New Government Complex in Lusaka starting at 08 Hours.
Vice President Inonge Wina is expected to officiate and the members of the public wishing to attend are encouraged to register online using a link provided.
According to the Ministry of Works and Supply, the Market Sounding Symposium is an innovative approach to calling on all stakeholders to be part of the development of the city.
The Ministry says the event will be held to propose Mixed Use Development sites located in what it calls boisterous areas of Lusaka.
They said that the proposed sites will be part of new development and will house retail line shops with an anchor shop and office space within the annex building.
The other targeted land is the one where Longacres Lodge sits, Herbert Young Lodge in Rhodespark which is near Jacaranda Basic School, the former SEDB House (Kwacha House) in Cairo Road in the CBD and some land along Nangwenya road.
According to the notice, investors in infrastructure development, stakeholders in the NGOs, private and public sectors and business practitioners and captains of the industry are encouraged to attend.
This week, a letter from the Ministry of Works and Supply to the Ministry of General Education emerged which revealed the planned sale of Jacaranda Basic School in Lusaka.
The revelation saw many people take to social media to object to the sale of the school.
According to a letter dated 2nd May 2018 which was signed by Ministry of Works and Supply Permanent Secretary Agness Musunga and addressed to Ministry of General Education Permanent Secretary and copied to Works and Supply Minister Felix Mutati and to the Cabinet office, government has identified Jacaranda Primary School as one of the five wasting properties that will be surrendered to private partners for mutual benefits.
Mrs. Musunga stated that the decision was necessitated by the failure by her ministry to deliver its mandate of providing adequate office accommodation to Ministries Provinces and other Spending Agencies (MPSAs).
In the letter, Mrs. Musunga also stated that due to inadequate office space cause by a number of government wasting assets, a lot of ministries had opted to rent private buildings or purchase expensive office blocks.
“In 1964, the Zambian Government inherited building infrastructure from the British Government which included all buildings that were designated for the public use. Over the years, the inherited buildings have not been adequately maintained and have since deteriorated. Further, the pace of constructing new office buildings has been slow, due to inadequate fiscal space. In addition, the numbers of the civil servants and other public workers has increased while the number of office space has predominantly been static. This has resulted in officers overcrowding in offices which negatively affects productivity and service delivery,” she stated.
She stated that Jacaranda primary school was among the five wasting properties which government through her ministry had identified for redevelopment through the PPP arrangement.
“Arising from the aforementioned challenges, the Ministry of Works and Supply has been unable to deliver its mandate of providing adequate office accommodation to MPSAs. This has led to a situation where some ministries have opted to rent private buildings or purchase expensive office blocks. In this regard, the Ministry of Works and Supply has embarked on a transformation agenda of identifying and redevelopment wasting assets country wide. The ministry has initially identified five (5) properties in the city of Lusaka for redevelopment namely: Hurbert Young hostels and Jacaranda Primary School, Plot No. 12604 at corner of Ngwee and UN road in Longacres, Plot No. 314, Independence Avenue, Small Enterprise Development Board (SEDB) House, along Cairo road and an undeveloped plot on Nangwenya road opposite National Assembly Motel,” stated Mrs. Musunga.
“The redevelopment of these properties will be carried out through Private Partnerships (PPP) and other innovative financing arrangements. In this regard, the Ministry of Works and Supply has developed conceptual plans for the proposed redevelopment of these selected properties. The Ministry intends to conduct a market sounding event scheduled for 29th May 2018, in order to engage and verify possible financiers and developers. The purpose of writing is to inform you about the intended use of the property which has been our jurisdiction and to request for your support and active participation in this transformation process aimed at enhancing service delivery of the public workers who will be executing other duties in a modern and conducive environment.”
But when contacted, General Education Minister David Mabumba said he was unaware of the sale and expressed shock that a school could be considered a wasting asset.
And when contacted, Works and Supply Minister Felix Mutati refused to comment on the matter and referred queries to his Spokesperson Ndubi Mvula who requested for a press query.
The proposed site designs for JacarandaProposed Mixed Use Development for Long AcresProposed Mixed Use Development for Long AcresThe proposed site designs for NangwenyaThe proposed site designs for NangwenyaSEDB House Redevelopment Plan 1SEDB House Redevelopment Plan 1
President Edgar Lungu says he will remain focused on developing all regions of the country as there is no time for politicking.
The President said his government will ensure that it facilitates investment that will bring about economic growth and job creation so as to better the living standards of the Zambian people.
President Lungu has emphasized that the PF government is now seriously preoccupied with fostering development in the country and will not be swayed from its developmental agenda.
The President was speaking on arrival in Siavonga today, when he addressed scores of residents who welcomed him.
The Head of State is accompanied to Siavonga by Presidential Affairs Minister Freedom Sikwazwe and livestock and Fisheries Minister.
And speaking earlier, Southern Province Minister Edify Hamukale assured the President that the PF remains intact in the Province.
During his working visit, the President will commission a Fish Feed Plant for Aller Aqua Company, one of the biggest in Africa with a capacity of 55,000 metric tonnes of feed per year.
Mwense District Commissioner (DC) Geoffrey Chipampata has assured small scale farmers in Mwense district that government will continue supporting farmers through the E -Voucher Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) during the 2018 to 2019 farming season.
Speaking when he officiated at Kashiba Agriculture Block Show yesterday, Mr. Chipampata said the E- voucher Farmer Input Support programme will help reduce the high cost of production and help in achieving meaningful development in rural areas.
The DC however, apologised to farmers in Mwense who failed to redeem farming inputs through the E – voucher system in the last farming season.
He said the system was implemented in the district for the first time but assured that such challenges will be minimized in the next farming season and many farmers will access inputs on time.
Meanwhile, Mr. Chipampata appealed to farmers to sale their produce to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) once the maize marketing season is opened and not to briefcase businessmen.
He also encouraged farmers to start growing high value crops such as rice, soya beans, Irish potatoes and vegetables which he said have readily available market.
And Kashiba Agriculture Block Chairperson Evans Musama thanked government for sustaining the Farmer Input Support Programme.
Mr. Musama however, requested the Ministry of Agriculture to address the challenges associated with the E-voucher programme and ensure that farmers access their inputs on time.
Community Development and Social Welfare Permanent Secretary Rev. Howard Sikwela
GOVERNMENT has expressed optimism over the possible return of the Broken Hill man skull to Zambia as the matter comes up for hearing before UNESCO in Paris tomorrow, 31st May, 2018.
Tourism and Arts Permanent Secretary Rev. Howard Sikwela, who is in France leading a delegation of experts to present Zambia’s case for the return of the prehistoric skull from the United Kingdom, said it was imperative that the specimen was brought back to the country for purposes of tourism including research in the education sector.
Rev. Sikwela is leading a delegation of experts namely; Collins Chipote – Executive Director National Heritage and Conservation, Mr. Flexon Mizinga – Director General National Museums Board , Professor Francis Musonda – Senior academic, Dept of historical and Archaeological Studies at UNZA and the Zambian Embassy in France to attend to the Case of the Broken Hill Man which was presented to UNESCO last year.
The matter is scheduled to come up before the Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property (ICPRCP) to its Countries of Origin or its Restitution in case of Illicit appropriation.
Zambia, had earlier requested the UNESCO through the ICPRCP to mediate between the Government of the United Kingdom and the Zambian Government for the return of the specimen which was taken from the country in 1921.
The Skull was discovered in 1921 in Broken Hill, now Kabwe, during a mining excavation by the Rhodesia Broken Hill Development Company who removed it from the country and has been in the custody of the British Natural History Museum ever since.
Zambia has had protracted efforts to recover the early man specimen from the United Kingdom hence the matter being brought before the UNESCO committee.
The Intergovernmental Committee is composed of 22 Member States of UNESCO elected by the General Conference at its ordinary sessions.
It meets in regular plenary session at least once and not more than twice every two years to look into matters of illicit appropriation of cultural property among nations.
Besides the Broken Hill Man case by Zambia, Greece will also present a against the United Kingdom in a bid to recover the Parthenon Sculptures while Turkey will also present the case of the Zeugma Mosaics.
Iraq has since also given notice to present more information regarding a case of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
