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Pictures of the week
A Nuclear plant is extremely important to Zambia, Luo tells Russian delegation
The Minister of Higher Education, Professor Nkandu Luo has assured Rasatom Overseas, a company that will be constructing the Nuclear Research Center in Zambia, that the Government is in full support of the project and will adhere to its promises.
Professor Luo said this when the President of Rasatom Overseas Mr Evgeny Pakermanov paid courtesy call on her at her office in Lusaka.
She said that Government, under the Ministry of Higher Education, has committed itself and is looking forward to the commencement of the project and will not go back on its commitment.
She further explained that the nuclear plant was extremely important to Zambia in Health, Agriculture and the generation of power.
“We need to do more in sensitizing our people on the many positives that comes with Nuclear Science, knowledge and access to information is powerful, ” she said.
Meanwhile Mr Pakermanov told the Minister that 85 percent of the resources towards the project have already been sourced and that the Zambian Government will only contribute 15 percent.
Mr Pakermanov said that he was very optimistic and happy with the commitment has been shown by the Zambian Government over this partnership in the implementation of this project.
Mr Pakermanov said that the project would be a success because the Zambian Government has shown interest and willingness to make it a success.
And the Russian Federation Ambassador to Zambia, Mr Konstatine Kozhanov, said about 70 Zambian students are studying Nuclear Science in Russia and they will be the ones to drive the plant as they are getting the best education in nuclear science.
Mr Kozhanov told the Minister that once in operation the Center for Nuclear Plant, will be the hub for Nuclear Science in southern Africa.
“The plant will be run by Zambians as they would be trained to do so” he said.
There is no law in Zambia that prescribes morality to stand as an MP-Chipenzi
Civil society leader McDonald Chipenzi has said that there is no law in Zambia that prescribe anywhere that divorcees or divorced, a suspected homebreakers, husband or wife snatchers, prostitutes (both males and females) or indeed those with boyfriends and girlfriends are ineligible to stand in an election, save for the certified married couples, pure singles, if any, widowers or widows.
In a posting on his facebook page, in defense of UPND candidate in the Chilanga by-election Charmaine Musonda’s, Mr Chipenzi said that, in a morally broken society like Zambia’s , and in a country where morals are not legislated or prescribed in the laws, and where there is no national agreed moral code, it was legally, morally and democratically wrong to cast aspersions at or discriminate Ms. Musonda on her perceived past, present and future.
Below is the full post
Qualification to be an MP: The Case of Charmine MUSONDA.
A lot has been said about the suitability of the UPND candidate for Chilanga Constituency bye-election, Ms. Charmine Musonda. Moral issues and arguments have been raised and advanced by both opponents and proponents of her within and outside the party including independent analysts.
These moral issues, unfortunately, are not prescribed in the electoral law, the constitution and others laws. Zambia’s electoral laws and Constitution do not prescribe anywhere that divorcees or divorced, a suspected homebreakers, husband or wife snatchers, prostitutes (both males and females) or need those with boyfriends and girlfriends are ineligible to stand in an election save for the certified married couples, pure singles, if any, widowers or widows.
Unless we legislate or introduce a moral clause in our laws as a qualification as we did with Grade 12 clause, the current Constitution does not discriminate or cast aspersion at any aspirant based on morality.
Actually it stipulates and outlines qualifications in clear terms for one to be MP in Article 70 thus “subject to clause (2), a person is eligible to be elected as a Member of Parliament, if that person—(a) is a citizen; (b) is at least twenty-one years old; (d) has obtained, as a minimum academic qualification, a grade twelve certificate or its equivalent; and (e) declares that person’s assets and liabilities, as prescribed. (c) is a registered voter” which Ms. Musonda squarely met.
Under 71 of the Constitution states, “a nomination for election to the National Assembly is valid if the candidate—(a) has paid a prescribed election fee to the Electoral Commission; and (b) is supported by at least fifteen persons registered as voters in the constituency in which the candidate is standing for election” again which Ms. Musonda squarely fulfilled.
From a political party viewpoint, depending on which party one is standing, primaries are held from ward, constituency, and district, provincial and central committees to select candidates which Ms. Musonda respectfully fulfilled and cleared by all organs and emerged a Star. The winner of at all those, structures, especially, the ward primaries, is ideally supposed to be adopted regardless.
However, the practice has been imposition of candidates by central committees on local people which in most cases led to aspirants standing as independents, not on their own volition but because they feel cheated by the party top officials.
Issues of intra-party corruption and bribery have been raised in many political party adoption processes and systems but these cannot be blamed on candidates aspiring in political parties especially that there is inherent weakness in internal anti-corruption, anti-bribery, anti-vote-buying systems. No reports have been issued that one of the aspiring candidates or officials has been disqualified or demoted respectively for engaging into anti-democratic tendencies such as corruption and bribery. This means that political parties are inherently tolerant of such electoral vices.
Therefore, in a morally broken society like ours and in a country where morals are not legislated or prescribed in the laws and where there is no national agreed moral code, it is legally, morally and democratically wrong to cast aspersions at or discriminate Ms. Musonda on her perceived past, present and future.
Each one of us has got a past, present and future save that some of the people’s pasts have not been unearthed. The day these pasts will be unearthed for some people, even the Devil will be surprised and shocked.
Respect the Chilanga grassroots’ decisions and allow Ms. Musonda represent them since she meets all legal and party requirements for being nominated and elected as MP. Congratulations to PF and UPND, for not only adopting women, but for pledging for peaceful campaigns. Congratulations to all other political parties for participating in this bye-elections and breaking the African syndrome of one-party dominant electoral democracy.
Let the Code of Conduct be enforced and adhered to fully by the ECZ and political, media, law enforcement and civic players.
Aluta Continua!!!!!
ZNBC delegation in Turkey for News Gathering and Radio Production techniques
Zambia’s Ambassador designate to the Republic of Turkey, His Excellency Joseph Chilengi has commended the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) for the critical role it is playing in shaping national development through packaging and dissemination of information of overriding public importance.
Ambassador Chilengi who was flanked by Deputy Head of Mission, Bwalya Nondo, said ZNBC has continued to play an important role in national development through provision of reliable and accurate news to citizens both at home and abroad.
He was speaking when a five-member delegation of ZNBC radio producers paid a courtesy on him at the Zambian Chancery in Ankara this morning.
The ZNBC delegation is in Turkey to attend a course entitled: “News Gathering and Radio Production techniques in a digital environment” conducted by the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) under the auspices of the Turkish Co-operation and Co-ordination Agency (TIKA).
“Let me take this opportunity to congratulate ZNBC for its innovation to stream live its news on Facebook as it has helped to counter fake news that has littered our cyberspace. Note that citizens, especially those in the diaspora now have access to accurate news on events back home,” Ambassador Chilengi said.
He urged course participants to ensure that the skills that they will acquire are effectively put to good use and contribute to overall programming and broadcasting at the core of which is quality content, which the general public can identify with.
Ambassador Chilengi also encouraged ZNBC staff to take interest in the social and economic aspects of Turkey and package informative and educative information, which can influence decision making in the country and provide a general view for best practices in various areas.
He reminded ZNBC staff that they can contribute to enhancement of relations between Zambia and Turkey through their work as information is a bridge that can bring people of different cultures together.
He assured the course participants that the Zambian Mission in Turkey was committed to playing a continued and sustained role in facilitating training programmes for ZNBC in particular and media in general with relevant institutions in Turkey and countries of extra accreditation.
The Zambia Mission in Turkey covers the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Georgia and Republic of Macedonia as countries of extra accreditation.
Ambassador Chilengi further said capacity building for ZNBC is timely as it comes when the national broadcaster has migrated from analogue to digital broadcasting.
He noted that this new technological dispensation entails that the broadcasting industry should be in tune with modern trends for good and quality broadcasting.
He wished the delegation well and thanked the Government of the Republic of Turkey through TIKA and TRT for sponsoring the training programme.
Ambassador Chilengi also wished the delegation a happy World Press Freedom Day.
He noted that His Excellency Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, President of the Republic of Zambia and his administration places great important to freedom of the press and is committed to creating an enabling environment for journalists to do their work freely.
Delegation leader Chabwela Zulu thanked TRT for the warm reception and the rich course content.
Chishimba Kambwili wants the Judge to recuse himself; the judge is biased
Roan Member of Parliament Chishimba Kambwili has written to the Judicial Complaints Commission asking that Magistrate Simusamba who one handling his case recuses himself.
In a letter dated 30th April, 2018 addressed to the secretary of the Judicial Complaints Commission, Mr. Kambwili wants the Magistrate Simusamba to recuse himself from the matter, due to what he has described as perceived and actual biasness.
Further, his lawyers have also asked the Lusaka High Court to order that his forgery docket be transferred from the Lusaka Magistrate’s Court to the High Court for review
Meanwhile, Economic and Equity Party president Chilufya Tayali has told the Lusaka Magistrate Court that he is not aware that President Edgar Lungu’s political advisor Kaiser Zulu called Roan Member of Parliament Chishimba Kambwili telling him that he would receive unprecedented levels of prosecution.
This came up during Mr. Tayali’s continued cross examination, in the matter in which Mr Kambwili is charged with three counts of forgery, uttering false documents and presenting false documents to a public officer.
During cross examination by Mr Kambwili’s lawyer Christopher Mundia, Mr. Tayali who is the complaint in the matter admitted knowing Mr. Zulu on a personal level, but expressed ignorance on the alleged threats made by Mr Zulu against the Roan MP.
And when asked to present evidence to substantiate his allegations that Mr. Kambwili used his influence as a minister to win contracts for Mwamona Investments, the company in question, Mr. Tayali said he was incompetent to substantiate his claims.
Mr. Tayali could also not disclose the name of the employee at PACRA to whom Mr. Kambwili’s alleged forged documents in relation to Mwamona Investments were presented.
This was after another of Mr Kambwili’s lawyers Keith Mweemba asked Mr. Tayali to disclose who Mr. Kambwili presented the uttered documents to.
The matter has since been adjourned to 4th May, 2018 for continued trial.
Lusaka High Court overturns the conviction of Njoya Tembo’s wife, Brenda
The Lusaka High Court has overturned the conviction of Zambia Association of Musicians (ZAM) President Njoya Tembo’s wife, Brenda who was sentenced to five years imprisonment for assaulting her 14 year-old niece with a cooking stick.
Brenda was accused beating her nice with a cooking stick after she allegedly used a pressing iron she was not allowed to use.
She however, appealed against her conviction to the High Court.
Delivering judgment, High Court Judge Mwila Chitabo quashed the sentence passed by Magistrate Greenwell Malumani on grounds that there was no legal basis on which such conviction was passed.
Judge Chitabo found that there was dereliction of duty on the part of the prosecution when they failed to present the cooking stick as the instrument used to injure the child.
He said that the prosecution should have called Mr Tembo to give his evidence which should have collaborated with the other state witnesses on how the incident happened.
Judge Chitabo discredited all the five witnesses that testified as their evidence was not collaborated.
He said there were two inferences to be drawn and in the circumstance the prosecution did not prove its case
Government working towards enhancing press freedom-Lubinda
Minister of Justice Given Lubinda says his ministry remains committed to working towards government’s’ objective of enhancing press freedom and the rule of law as a way of enhancing the press freedom environment.
Mr. Lubinda says government is aware that an informed citizenry contributes to national development and failure to create such an environment can be deemed as injustice to the people and to development.
The minister said this in a press statement issued to media in Lusaka yesterday.
Mr. Lubinda explained that for press freedom to excel, the rule of law and access to information are the guiding principles within which press freedom can be achieved.
Mr. Lubinda added that a free, independent and pluralistic media environment is where journalists are able to work safely and independently without the fear of being threatened.
He added that Zambia’s press freedom environment has continued to improve over the years thereby contributing to the national development of the country because people are able to make informed decisions.
The minister commended the warm relationship with the media Associations and their continued focus to have an enhanced environment within which journalists can work while observing the rule of law.
He said this is the only way that checks and balances can be provided to the government in power.
The Press Freedom Day was commemorated under the theme ‘Keeping Power in Check: Media, Justice and the Rule of Law”
And Government has assured journalists in the country that the cyber laws that will soon be introduced are meant to protect the journalism profession and not to clampdown on journalists.
Speaking during the World Press Freedom Day Commemoration in Lusaka, under the theme: “keeping power in check: media justice and rule of law” , Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services acting permanent secretary Isaac Chipampe said the cyber laws are meant to deal with and arrest the increasing numbers of criminals on the cyber space.
He says the ministry is concerned with the increased online fraud, stating that people are being duped of their monies through online job adverts which are requesting people to pay in exchange for jobs.
Mr Chipampe has noted the need for citizens to distinguish between journalism and communication, stating that most of the things posted on facebook, twitter and whatsApp is communication and not journalism.
Mr. Chipampe has since urged media personnel to regulate themselves to bring standards to the journalism profession by staying away from online write-ups which are sometimes abusive.
And Speaking at the same event, World Press Freedom Day organizing committee representative Felistus Chipako reminded journalists to remain professional and ethical in executing their duties if the profession is to be respected.
No victimisation of Govt workers, borrowed funds benefiting Zambians –Chiteme
Minister of National Development Planning Honourable Alexander Chiteme has assured that there is no victimization of Government workers and that the current debt acquired is benefiting the people through infrastructure development and provision of social amenities.
And the Minister said all stakeholders to the political dialogue should confirm their recognition of His Excellency Edgar Chagwa Lungu as the President of Zambia, in order to have a healthy dialogue.
Mr. Chiteme was speaking when he officiated at the 2018 Labour Day Celebrations in Mbala on Tuesday and responded to several concerns raised by Basic Education Teachers Union of Zambia (BETUZ) Deputy Secretary General Henry Sinkala, who spoke on behalf of the labour movement.
The Minister told government workers to be non-partisan.
“When one joins Government, you sign to the terms and conditions of your employment with the Government. One of those conditions is that the Government can at will transfer you to any other position and place in Zambia,” Mr. Chiteme said. “Government workers should not engage in active politics and should remain non-partisan. When you become partisan you expose yourself and liable to a lot of things including being fired from the civil service.”
He said transfers in Government were not new, and that they were provided for in the laws.
He said anyone, including Ministers, could be transferred from one government position or station to another.
“Recently we had Cabinet reschedules, it’s just like a transfer. If ministers can be transferred, why can’t a government worker be transferred?” the minister said. “I want to make that clear because now it is coming out as if Government is beginning to victimise people by transferring them.”
On Zambia’s debt levels and management, the Minister reassured that the country’s debt was being serviced and sustainable.
He said the Government had borrowed to foster development and improve the wellbeing of the citizens.
“We have seen the developments that have come with that borrowing. There is no country in this world that has developed without borrowing,” Mr. Chiteme told the gathering. “We have borrowed and used the money to build roads, good hospitals, clinics etc. Up-to this day Zambia has never defaulted on any of its debt obligation, meaning that our debt is sustainable, and we are going to work very hard to make sure that our people have social amenities to live a decent life.”
The Minister assured that Government was committed to providing an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive and create jobs.
He said the Government was empowering youths with knowledge and skills to be self-employed and employers.
On the trade union’s rejection of the National Health Insurance Bill Act No. 2 of 2018 which President Lungu signed into law on 25 April 2018, Mr. Chiteme said the Government is committed to provide universal health coverage to all.
He dismissed the union’s assertion that only the formal sector would be making monetary contribution to the scheme.
Mr. Chiteme said only greedy people were opposed to the National Health Insurance bill because they wanted their insurance entities to thrive while poor people have no access to good health services.
On the union’s concern about lack of political dialogue among political parties, the Minister assured that President Lungu and his team were open to dialogue.
“My President His Excellency Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu has extended an olive branch to everyone that was so cynical enough to come to the dialogue table and discuss issues of national importance. But people have refused to recognise him as President of the Republic; people have gone into Parliament to try and impeach my President, they have gone to the international community to disgrace and discredit the Government of the Republic of Zambia which is led by the Patriotic Front,” Mr. Chiteme said.
“When you are talking about issues of dialogue don’t only speak to the Government, speak also to other players that are party to that political dialogue. Bwana trade unionist, go and tell the other players that ‘the President of the Republic of Zambia is Edgar Chagwa Lungu and the dialogue that we need will have to begin with your confirmation that he is the duly elected and sworn in Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and President of this Republic’.”
Charmaine Musonda tells the Mast that Keith Mukata was not married when they met
IT’S unfair that society wants to judge women differently from men, complains UPND Chilanga by-election candidate Charmaine Musonda.
And Musonda says she met Keith Mukata, her boyfriend who is in prison for murder, when he was single and that she has wrecked no one’s home. The UPND has adopted Musonda as its candidate in the June 5 parliamentary by-election following the jailing of Mukata, who held the seat.
She was jointly charged with Mukata for the murder of the latter’s security guard at his law firm but the court found her not guilty and acquitted her accordingly.
Mukata was, however, sentenced to death but he has appealed both the conviction and sentencing. Following her adoption, several people, including UPND followers, have cast aspersions on her persona and criticised the opposition party for the decision, calling her “a home wrecker”.
Others have said the murder case in which she was embroiled was too fresh and suggested that she takes leave from the limelight. But Musonda has told The Mast that the “Mukata’s concubine” tag had not affected her because society would always talk even about things they did not understand. She said when she met Mukata, she knew he was not married and wondered why society was judging her now that she was vying for public office of member of parliament.
Musonda said it was not the first time she was vying for public office, having stood as council chairperson for Chilanga in 2016.
“The concubine issue really doesn’t affect me; society will always talk about things they don’t even know. I have grown up knowing that no matter what you do in life, good or bad, people will always talk. Everybody makes mistakes and we learn from these mistakes. I am a young woman, I am not married and yes -different men will come and approach and ask for a hand in marriage; I am an adult and I don’t think in this situation we should focus on who I have or not haven’t slept with,” Musonda said.
She wondered why society was judging her when people of Chilanga had chosen her as the best person to represent them. Musonda vowed not to be distracted by those throwing scorn at her now that she had chosen to offer herself for leadership of the people of Chilanga.
She urged the people to focus on her positives than mudslinging “just because I’m a woman”.
“It’s unfair that society wants to judge women differently from men; men do these things every day but no one scandalises them even when they are in positions of leadership. I don’t see why this [concubine tag] should take away from me, especially when the people of Chilanga have decided I am the best candidate. The people of Chilanga have known me from the time I was a child and if they feel I am a good candidate for them, why should society come out and judge me without…let them focus on my positives, let them focus on the fact that yes things happened and my relationship came out in the papers. So many people have these relationships and for them, they will look like saints today because theirs is not in public domain,” Musonda said. “Mine is in the public domain and I do not want that to take away from me and my capacity to deliver in Chilanga. I am a child and product of Chilanga, our roots in Chilanga are very strong. With or without the politics, I am a person the people have been coming to in different situations for my hand and that is why even my standing [in the by-election] is not something I personally came out that I am going for the second time to try but it’s the people of Chilanga who came out to say let us try again.”
She said in 2016, she attempted to contest elections as council chairperson for Chilanga and actually came out first in primaries but the party did not adopt her.
Musonda said she was a loyal member of her party.
“This time around, I went through the primaries and came out tops with a vey big margin between me and the rest of the aspiring candidates, whom I respect very much, and I will work with as a united front to deliver the seat of Chilanga. And this time around, my party and party president, whom I love very dearly, have given me this opportunity regardless of what’s in the public domain. I want to thank my party and I am very humbled that they have all rallied behind me,” Musonda said. “They all have confidence in me that I will deliver and will not be shaken. I am the child of the most high and God has allowed me to come this far and He will deliver, He will deliver the same way he delivered me from the situation I had found myself in (murder case); I was acquitted.”
Musonda said with all that was being said about her candidature, Chilanga residents had not been affected because they knew her from childhood.
She complained about today’s smear politics that drove people from real issues affecting the country.
“Unfortunately, the politics of today is more about character assassination. I would like to see that we refrain from character assassination and tell the people what we are going to do for them. Let’s not focus on calling each other names as it’s not going to develop our nation,” Musonda advised.
She further said she had not betrayed Mukata by contesting the Chilanga seat where he was member of parliament because it was declared vacant.
“Prison is not a good place to be; you are closed up and the only information you have about what is going on in the outside world is what the few people who come to visit you tell you. It is, I must say, a very difficult time for him and people are going to feed him with all sorts of stories, including the fact that I have betrayed him. I honestly do not think that it’s a betrayal, I stayed in prison for ten months. Because I am principled and I am loyal, the Chilanga seat was declared vacant, it has nothing to do with the fact that I once had an affair with him, this seat was not personal-to-holder and was open to anyone who wanted to vie for office regardless of whether it’s Keith’s brother, it’s his sister or former girlfriend. This has nothing to do with betrayal of the relationship I had with him, this [politics] is something he met me doing. I worked with him very well in 2016 and we delivered the seat of Chilanga, so there should be no bitterness because this is not something I am taking from anyone,” said Musonda.
“When I met Keith, it was in the political arena. He found me in the UPND. He found me as a member of the party and that’s the time I was vying for office of MP but when we had heard he had defected, we knew he had the capacity, bigger than mine, had a better portfolio and he deserved the adoption. My wrecking of his home is neither here nor there. I met Keith when he was not married. I knew he had been divorced. I was not at that time having an affair with a married man, it’s now that I was acquitted and he remained that suddenly I am the one that wrecked his home. When I met Keith, I knew he was not married and I was not breaking any home.
Source : The Mast
Lwandamina wants more honours at Zesco
After a three-week administrative delay, Lwandamina was finally officially unveiled on Thursday by the club at Levy Mwanawasa stadium in Ndola.
“Our expectations are that Mr Lwandamina will continue to provide that leadership that is needed for Zesco United to continue to achieve the success it has enjoyed in the past,” Zesco United CEO Richard Mulenga said.
And Lwandamina said he returned to Zesco because he shares the same ambitious of the defending FAZ Super Division champions.
“Zesco is an ambitious team and I have to be ambitious as well,”Lwandamina said.
“Pressure is always but how it is about how you handle the pressure.
“I will work tirelessly to achieve the goals but football being what it is, it is not always that I will bring the results that people want to see.
“But Lwandamina alone cannot do it, and others too have to do their part to bring the Zesco brand to what it wants to be.”
Lwandamina won the 2014 and 2015 league titles with Zesco and led them to the 2016 CAF Champions League semifinal, the first time a Zambian club had qualified to that stage of the competition.
Patient commits suicide at Chavuma Mission Hospital
A 41 year old patient who was admitted at Chavuma Mission Hospital has committed suicide in an ablution block at the health facility.
The deceased identified as Ricky Kasangili from Chiyeke area in Chavuma district hanged himself using a lace from his track bottom which he tied to the toilet door.
North-Western Province Commissioner of Police, Hudson confirmed the incident to ZANIS today which occurred yesterday around 17:30 hours.Mr. Namachila stated that the deceased who is suspected to be a mental patient sustained a swollen neck.
He said Police visited the scene and suspect no foul play
Non-Communicable diseases, a growing threat to global health
Parliamentary Committee Chairperson on Health, Community Development and Social Services, Christopher Kalila says non-communicable diseases are a global emerging threat and Zambia has not been spared.
Dr. Kalila said it is important for the country to pay attention to non-communicable diseases despite making gains on infectious ones.
The Parliamentary Committee Chairperson was speaking when he and his team paid a courtesy call on Central Province Minister, Sydney Mushanga in Kabwe today.
He said there is need to pay particular attention to the diseases because they are expensive to treat as they require specialized equipment and at times take long to be detected.
Dr. Kalila observed that citizens who are perpetually burdened with diseases are less productive and this impacts negatively on the country’s economy.
And Central Province Minister, Sydney Mushanga said the region was allocated 60 out of the 650 health posts out of which 46 have been completed and operationalised.
Mr. Mushanga said government is also in the process of completing phase two of Mkushi District Hospital while construction works of Serenje District Hospital have advanced.
Meanwhile, Central Province Health Director (PHD), Charles Msiska said the country has inclined much on infectious diseases saying cardiovascular diseases are prominent and remain the main killer in the province.
Dr. Msiska has urged Zambians to embrace and promote aerobics including general exercising as a way of mitigating some non-communicable diseases.
Human Rights Commission salutes the media fraternity
The Human Rights Commission (HRC) has commended the media fraternity for its resilience in promoting rights and freedoms as it celebrates the Silver Anniversary of World Press Freedom day today.
HRC Spokesperson, Mweelwa Muleya said despite the difficult working environments Journalists endure daily, they have demonstrated unwavering resilience in promoting and defending human rights and freedoms.
Today’s World Press Freedom Day marks 25 years of commemorating the day since it was declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993.
This year’s World Press Freedom Day is being commemorated under the global theme “Keeping Power in Check: Media, Justice and the Rule of Law.”
Mr. Muleya said the theme is a clarion call to the media fraternity to remain vigilant in exposing abuse of power by either public or private individuals and institutions that cause injustice, violate human rights and the rule of law.
He stated that the theme is also a reminder to those who wield power to exercise it within the confines of the rule of law, and refrain from violating human rights such as suppressing press freedom.
Mr. Muleya also reminded the media to realise that they wield significant power which should be exercised with utmost responsibility to avoid violating human rights and the reputation of individuals.
He said Journalists are human rights defenders and should therefore remain steadfast to effectively play their role of the Fourth Estate of Government by defending the underprivileged against the all-powerful in society that may abuse their power.
Mr. Muleya added that the World Press Freedom Day Celebration is a landmark achievement of the gallant African Journalists who assembled in Windhoek, in Namibia and hammered out the Windhoek Declaration in 1991 aimed at promoting and protecting media pluralism and independence.
He said the Silver Anniversary of World Press Freedom Day is worthy celebrating because a lot has been achieved in the last 25 years in a number of countries, including Zambia, in fostering press freedom and human rights and freedoms in general.
Mr. Muleya He noted that Zambia today boasts of a number of media institutions either owned or operated by individuals, faith-based organisations, communities or other interest groups other than government.
He stressed that the introduction and implementation of a liberalised media policy in Zambia has greatly contributed to the realisation of media pluralism and independence as desired by the Journalists who expressed themselves through the Windhoek Declaration which has rocketed into worldwide influence on press freedom.
Mr. Muleya said the commission is alive to the fact that most Journalists, especially those dedicated to pursuing and reporting the truth, are still working under extremely difficult and risky environments.
Charmaine Musonda files in for Chilanga seat
UPND Elections Chairman Gary Nkombo says the UPND is ready to teach both the PF and the Electoral Commission of Zambia how to behave in an election and will use force if need be.
AND Chilanga parliamentary candidate Charmaine Musonda has demanded for a free,fair and violent free election and allow the people of chilanga freely decide.
Addressing hundreds of UPND members who witnessed the filling in at Chilanga Primary School,Mr Nkombo said there is need for the ECZ to conduct a professional job unlike in the last 16 bye elections.
“We want to ask the ECZ to do a perfect job in this election.We don’t want what. happened in the last round of elections where the police was working with the PF and the ECZ was quiet.This time we want everyone to follow the electoral code”,he said.
He further added that the UPND was ready to mount a peaceful election free of violence provided the PF also follows the code.
“As the UPND we are ready this time to show the PF how to behave in an election.if they think we are joking let them dare us.This message goes to the ECZ and police as well.We are ready unlike the last bye elections”,Mr Nkombo said.
” If it means using a little bit of force to teach them how things are done,we are ready,”he added.
And the jubilant Charmaine Musonda accompanied by her family thanked the UPND leadership at all levels for the confidence shown in her and promised to return the favor.
She assured the membership that the chilanga seat will be delivered to the UPND as she calls for free and fair elections without any form of violence.
“I would love to thank my party President that even with the negative publicity in the social media,the UPND has retained it’s confidence in me and for that am ready to deliver,” She said.
“Am a competent Zambian who loves this country and will pray for the violence free nation,” Charmaine said before the speech was rudely interrupted by the police who asked the jubilant team to vacate the place as they were beyond their time.
The UPND have since moved to Musamba grounds where they are to hold the nomination rally.
Party President Hakainde Hichilema,his deputy Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba,Provincial Chairman Obvious Mwaliteta,Kapiri MP Stanley Kakubo,Chavuma MP Victor Lumayi,Moono Lubezyi Namwala,Brian Kambita,Zambezi East,Solwezi Central Stafford Mulusa,Chisamba MP,Chushi Kasanda and Patricia Mwashingwele of Katuba have joined the jubilant chilanga residents.
All the nine contestants have been given an opportunity to address the crowd at which they pledged their total support to the candidate and called for unity to ensure that the UPND retains the seat.
Zamtel launches free browsing and free night calling offer
State Owned Enterprise Zamtel has launched an exciting new campaign dubbed Chimutunta which offers free browsing and free night calling between 22:00 Hrs and 6:00Hhrs in the moring.
The campaign came into effect from midnight on Wednesday and allows customers with valid subscription to Chabeba and All-Network Offers to enjoy FREE browsing and FREE night calling during the stipulated time bands.
Announcing the campaign launch in Lusaka, Zamtel Senior Marketing Manager Chibeza Ngoma said the campaign is another platform through which the company is rewarding its loyal customers.
“As Zamtel, we fully understand that the customer is key and we will continue to provide exciting packages that reward their loyalty. The Chimutunta campaign is about creating the right energy and the heartbeat to keep the people and businesses moving,” Mr Ngoma said.
Simply put, Chimutunta is about the Customer heart beat racing for 22:00Hrs and the free heartwarming offers it brings.
The offer is Zamtel’s direct response to customers’ desire for FREE internet access at night, especially those studying between 22:00Hrs and 06:00 AM. Only Zamtel prepaid customers are eligible to subscribe to the offer at any time of the day by dialing *422#.
Under the Chimutunta Promotion, a customer must have subscribed to any of the qualifying offers between 6:00AM and 22:00 Hrs to benefit from the unlimited On-net night calling and browsing.
“Free browsing will take effect between 22:00Hrs and 06:00AM and apply to numbers that are active on the packages defined in the offer. All calling and browsing outside the said window will be billed from available bundles/wallets, including main account,” he stressed.