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President of the Republic of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind is expected in Zambia, Tuesday, for a three- day State Visit.
This is the first time in three decades that a President of India is undertaking a state visit to Zambia.
Foreign Affairs Minister Joe Malanji announced this at a press briefing in Lusaka on Monday, attended by Zambia’s High Commissioner to India Judith Kapijimpanga.
“Zambia has enjoyed excellent relations and cooperation with India with support accorded to Zambia on a bilateral level as well as under the framework of the India- Africa Forum Summit, in the fields of energy, health, infrastructure, capacity building, agriculture and trade among others,” Mr. Malanji said.
He said private investment in Zambia by Indian companies currently stood at over USD 5 Billion in sectors such as mining, infrastructure, manufacturing and pharmaceuticals.
“There has been a steady increase in bilateral trade which stands at USD 1.2 Billion from April 2017 to January 2018,” the Foreign Affairs Minister said.
Mr. Malanji said India was an important and strategic partner in the quest of the Patriotic Front- PF Government to deliver development to the Zambian people as articulated in the Seventh National Development Plan.
He said during the state visit, the two Heads of State would hold bilateral talks and witness the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) between India and Zambia aimed at enhancing cooperation in various sectors including the establishment of Entrepreneurship Development Institute in Zambia, taxation, visa exemption on diplomatic passports and judicial cooperation.
“President Edgar Lungu will continue to engage with his counterparts world over to ensure that a conducive environment for Zambia’s developmental aspirations is maintained on the International arena,” the Cabinet Minister said.
He said President Kovind and President Lungu would also officiate at a ground breaking ceremony of the decongestion of Lusaka roads which would result in fly over bridges.
The Indian President leaves Zambia on April 12, 2018.
And Zambia’s High Commissioner to India Judith Kapijimpanga says the mission in India holds the state visit in high esteem especially that tourism and trade volumes have quadrupled.
This was contained in a statement made available by First Secretary Press and Tourism at the Zambian Mission in India, Bangwe Naviley.
Lusaka City Council (LCC) has buried 40 unclaimed bodies from the University Teaching Hospital Mortuary.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today, LCC Acting Public Relations Manager George Sichimba said the recently buried bodies are those that had been unclaimed from November 2017 to February 2018.
Mr. Sichimba added that, the unclaimed bodies resulted caused unpleasant mortuary stench which is contrary to the Public Health Act Cap 295 of the laws of Zambia.
He explained that according to the laws of Zambia, 14 days of notice was given for the members of the general public to claim the bodies before they could be taken for burial at Chingwere Cemetery by the Health Department Officers from the council.
Mr. Sichimba mentioned that the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) wrote to the council stating that there were 41 unclaimed bodies that needed to be buried hence, the council giving a public notice for the general public to claim the bodies.
He disclosed that only one body was claimed by the relatives.
Mr. Sichimba appealed to the general public to visit health facilities in search of missing relatives so as to reduce on the number of unclaimed bodies.
The Lusaka Magistrate Court has granted MMD faction leader Dr. Nevers Mumba a K 30,000 and two working sureities bail pending appeal.
Magistrate David Simusamba on the 28th of March,2018 convicted and sentenced Dr Mumba to three months imprisonment on a charge of giving false information to a public officer contrary to section 125 (a) of the penal code.
Prison authorities however failed to bring Dr Mumba from Mwembeshi prison to court and the bail was granted in absentia.
Dr Mumba has been incarcerated at Mwembeshi Maximum Correctional facility as he fought for his bail application.
NATIONAL Pension Scheme Authority has sued Rainbow Party leader Wynter Kabimba in the Lusaka High Court for failure to pay rental arrears and service charges of over K315,000.
According to an affidavit filed in the Commercial registry, NAPSA has cited W.M Kabimba and Co as a tenant at Plot number 6131 Godfrey House, Longolongo Road, Lusaka at a monthly rental of K7,515.14.
NAPSA head of real estate Butete Kaliye stated that Kabimba’s law firm had use and occupation of the applicants’s premises from 1996 to date.
The applicant stated that during the period the respondent had been in occupation of the premises, he has been inconsistent in paying rentals and service charges as agreed between the parties.
Kaliye stated that demand letters had been issued urging the respondent to liquidate outstanding rental arrears and service charges but that he has unjustifiably refused, failed or neglected to honour the demands.
The applicant stated that due to Kabimba’s non-payment of rent and service charges, they had to use funds from other sources to pay for the services being consumed by the respondent so that the services at Godfrey House were not interrupted, thereby inconveniencing other compliant tenants.
“The respondent’s total indebtedness to the applicant in respect of unpaid rent and service charges as at 28 February 2018 and 30 March 2018 was K307,096.95 and K8,692.35 respectively,” the applicant stated. “The respondent is clearly not able to sustain occupancy of the said premises, and has consequently breached the agreement between the parties.”
The applicants stated that Kabimba’s continued stay in the premises had deprived them of the much needed investment returns.
“The applicant is entitled to recover the monies that it has been deprived of by the respondent as well as possession of the premises from the respondent, ” stated NAPSA.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia has conducted a public forum in Mansa district in Luapula Province aimed at engaging stakeholders in the electoral process.
Speaking during the official opening of the forum, Provincial Electoral Officer Amusa Zaza says the public forum is an important gathering that allows the Electoral Commission of Zambia to engage the general public on various issues pertaining to the country’s elections.
Mr Zaza says the public forum has been identified as an effective method of engaging the public and provides a platform for voters to interact with the commission.
Mr. Zaza who is also the Provincial Local Government Officer says the Electoral Commission of Zambia has an objective of increasing awareness and effective participation of stakeholders as well as enhance confidence in the electoral process.
He says the Commission remains open to suggestions that will make the ECZ operate effectively.
And the Executive Mayor of Mansa Emmanuel Chungu urged the public to bring out issues that will enhance good governance.
Mr. Chungu encouraged the public to be objective and take part in the electoral process adding that the meeting is not based on individualism but of national interest.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia is in Mansa district conducting a public forum on the electoral process.
This comes after calls by the general public to conduct continuous voter education in the country, hence the ECZ conducting the first ever public meetings countrywide.
The Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) has welcomed plans by government to introduce an alcohol Bill as a control measure against increased levels of alcohol consumption in the country.
Kasama CCZ Vice Chairperson Reverend Friday Nsofu said the idea is welcome adding that, control of alcohol intake has been long overdue especially among the youth.
ZANIS reports that Rev. Nsofu said this in reaction to the statement by Religious Affairs Minister Godfridah Sumaili that government will soon introduce an alcohol Bill to Parliament as a control measure against the increased levels of alcohol consumption in the country.
He charged that once enacted, the bill will help in the regulation alcohol abuse which he said is corroding the moral fabric of the nation.
Rev. Nsofu charged that the church is concerned with the number of youths who have become unproductive both in homes and outside due to alcohol abuse.
He was however, quick to mention the need to engage the young people in viable activities as well as regulate the sale of alcohol which starts as early as 07 hours in the morning.
Rev. Nsofu noted with sadness that the lives of vibrant people are being wasted due to alcohol abuse and if not well handled, the future of the country will suffer.
He has since called for concerted efforts from stakeholders to help the youth with lucrative skills both in rural and urban areas as the country is faced with high unemployment levels.
UPND deputy secretary general for politics Patrick Mucheleka says nothing will stop the motion of impeachment from being tabled in Parliament.
And Mucheleka has called on UN resident coordinator Janet Rogan to extend the same gesture she is giving to the PF in holding frequent meetings with them to his party the UPND as well.
Speaking when he featured on a Live Diamond TV’s COSTA programme last evening, Mucheleka said time for Zambians to hear how President Lungu abrogated the constitution is coming.
“Zambians should be given an opportunity to hear how Mr Lungu abrogated the constitution. And as UPND, we are very happy that our motion met the constitutional requirements for it to be tabled in the house and nothing will stop the motion from being tabled in Parliament,” said Mucheleka.
And when asked as to what motivated the opposition party to put in a motion of impeachment while calling for dialogue with the ruling party, the former Lubansenshi lawmaker said the move was aimed at bringing President Lungu to order for abrogating the constitution.
“Mr Lungu has a tendency of breaking the law and that is why we want to bring him to order…no one is above the law. Among the many grounds,we have moved that motion because Mr Lungu abrogated the constitution. The constitution is very clear that when a presidential petition is filed, a sitting President should step aside but that never happened,” he said.
“He refused to hand over the instruments of power to the Speaker. The reason the constitution provides for the sitting President to step aside when an election petition is filed is to avoid the petition from becoming an academic exercise.”
Meanwhile Mucheleka has disclosed that there is panic in the ruling party over the impeachment motion.
“They are panicking…they were saying they have numbers but the moment our MPs took that motion to Parliament, everyone in PF is issuing a statement. Time is coming; hold your fire. The motion of impeachment must be heard on the floor of the house for Zambians to hear how Mr Lungu abrogated the constitution,” he said.
“There are many PF MPs who are bitter with Mr Lungu; those who feel they have been sidelined. They are calling on us the UPND to help them and help Zambians.”
And Mucheleka further said President Lungu and his PF are not interested in the dialogue process.
“Mr Lungu and the PF are not interested in this dialogue process and that is why they are now insisting on engaging ZCID to spearhead the dialogue process instead of the Commonwealth who started the process…ZCID has no capacity to spearhead the dialogue and that is very clear in the eyes of all well-meaning Zambians,” he said.
He wondered where ZCID was when UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema and other opposition leaders were being arrested.
“Our position is very clear; no dialogue will take place with ZCID because it has no capacity to spearhead this dialogue which was initiated by the Commonwealth and the church through Archbishop Mpundu. ZCID has never been relevant; where was ZCID when President HH was arrested and charged with treason? Where was ZCID when opposition leaders like Chishimba Kambwili, Saviour Chishimba and Nevers Mumba were arrested? ZCID was loudly quiet and why this interest now?” wondered Mucheleka.
“Mr Lungu is aware of many issues we want to table during the dialogue process and that is why he is now bringing in his PF surrogates in ZCID to avoid the dialogue. He knows about police brutality, the misapplication of the Public Order Act and the reforming of ECZ which we want to see take place and these are the things he is avoiding.”
The interview however could not end without the UN resident coordinator Janet Rogan being put on the spotlight.
“Where was Janet Rogan when President HH was arrested? Where was she when people were brutally beaten by the police; when people’s rights where being taken away from them? Where was she when the nation needed to heal politically after that 2016 flawed election?” questioned Mucheleka.
“We are aware of her meetings with PF ministers; and we want to call on her to extend the same gesture she is giving to the PF in holding frequent meetings with them to the UPND as well, including other stakeholders if she is a fair player in Zambia.”
Shepolopolo have advanced to the final round of the 2018 Women’s AFCON qualifiers after eliminating Tanzania.
Zambia drew 1-1 at home with the Twiga Stars on Sunday at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka to advance 4-4 on aggregate on away goals rule following a 3-3 draw in Dar es Salaam last Wednesday.
Rachel Kundananji put Zambia ahead in the 1st minute but a determined Twiga Stars equalized in the 72nd minute through Mwanahamis Omar.
Kundananji could have added a second in the 82nd but was denied by goalkeeper Fatuma Jawardy.
Shepolopolo will face Zimbabwe in the final round qualifiers in June to decide who goes through to the Ghana finals to be held from November 17 to December 1.
Zimbabwe advanced to the final qualifying stage following a 2-0 home win over Namibia on Sunday to win 4-0 on aggregate.
A woman of Nampundwe who was captured by Prime TV stating that she does not want to have a drunkard for a President has been summoned by police for questioning.
Donning a Dorcas Mothers uniform of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, the lady told a Prime TV news crew that she does not want to be ruled by a Chakolwa (drunkard).
This was when UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema and his Vice Geoffrey Mwamba made a stop over at Nampundwe Market from Mwembeshi Maximum Prison after they visited incarcerated MMD leader Nevers Mumba.
The unidentified woman, without mentioning any name said she does not want a Chakolwa President and later flashed a UPND party symbol.
The clip has infuriated the ruling PF with its Chairperson for Women Jean Kapata condemning the woman’s actions and called for her arrest for allegedly disrespecting the Head of State.
Ms Kapata also called on the SDA leadership in Zambia to discipline the woman for showing luck of respect to the President whilst wearing a Dorcas Mother uniform, which she described an a respectable institution for female members of the SDA.
PF cadre Max Choongo also took matters even further by donning the Dorcas Mothers uninform on a Saturday and posed for photo whilst holding beer.
The PF leadership condemned the photos taken by Choongo and distanced the party.
But Police has since summoned the woman for questioning at Westwood police post along Mumbwa Road today ,Monday April 9th 2018 at 09:00hrs.
According to the UPND, all believers and advocates of freedom of expression should give the woman support.
Patriotic Front Secretary General Mr. Davies Mwila
PF Secretary General Davies Mwila says internal wrangles within the ruling party will not be condoned.
Mr Mwila said PF leadership and the general membership must focus on strengthening the party unlike engaging in infighting.
He noted that internal fights within the membership in Northern Province is retrogressive and will not be entertained.
The SG also urged elected leaders to work in harmony and refrain from bickering at the expense of development.
Mr Mwila made the call in Lunte District yestarday when he launched the PF 2018 mobilization exercise for Northern Province.
He has since directed all structures in the province to intensify mobilization campaigns and attract more members.
Mr Mwila emphasized the need for women and youth wings of the party to take a leading role in the campaign drive.
And PF Northern Province chairperson Chungu Bwalya informed Mr Mwila that the party in the region is intact.
Mr Bwalya however appealed to the Central Committee to address transport challenges being faced by party structures.
During the same event, over 500 members from opposition political parties have defected to the ruling party.
Members of the PF Central Committee, who included Chairperson for Education Professor Nkandu Luo, Chairperson In-Charge of Mines Christopher Yaluma and Freedom Sikazwe attended the meeting.
Others in attendance were parliamentarians and civic leaders respectively.
Katete District Commissioner (DC) Joseph Makukula has urged traditional leaders in the district to support government’s agenda towards universal health coverage by ensuring that they teach their subjects on good health practices.
Mr Makukula said as government was accelerating towards universal health coverage it was important that all players were on board as government could not achieve this alone.
Speaking during the World Health Day commemorations held under the theme; Universal Health Coverage: everyone, everywhere, Mr Makukula said one of these cardinal players were traditional leaders who understood better the needs of their subjects.
“Government does not want to leave anyone behind as it accelerates towards universal coverage, we need to participate as a team. It’s not just the minister of health to ensure that we achieve this, but we want you as head men and traditional leaders to come on board to teach your subjects on good health practices so that we protect their lives,” he said.
Mr Makukula said it was also important the public participated towards this agenda by investing in periodical health check-ups and living an active lifestyle to avoid non-communicable diseases.
Meanwhile Chief Mbang’ombe of the Chewa people of Katete District who was represented by Induna Sainet Tembo said accelerating towards universal health coverage should start with an individual’s resolve to be responsible for their own health.
Chief Mbang’ombe said individual decision of better health practices were key in supporting government’s agenda towards universal health coverage.
He said it was important that people weighed their lifestyle decisions as they had an impact on the wellbeing of an individual.
A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between Zambia’s Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure and the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) of the United Kingdom and the Zambia Institute of Architects (ZIA) in the field of Architecture, the built environment and urban development.
In the spirit of enhancing Cultural Relations and People to People contacts between the United Kingdom and Zambia, the London Mission is keen in promoting an understanding between the Zambia Institute of Architects (ZIA) and the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and both parties are aggregable to promoting and developing cooperation between them and with the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure Development in Zambia on the basis of reciprocal benefits.
According to the statement released to the media by Mrs Abigail Chaponda, First Secretary for Press and Public Relations at the Zambia High Commission in the United Kingdom, Zambia’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom His Excellency Mr. Muyeba Chikonde witnessed the signing of the Agreement by the president of the Royal Institute of British Architects, Ben Derbyshire who signed for RIBA. The ceremony marked the conclusion of the signing of the MoU as the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure development and ZIA president Architect Kelly Kalumba signed on behalf of the Zambia Institute of Architects in a preceding ceremony in Zambia.
The MOU creates a framework for cooperation in the field of built environment policy and extends to include such areas as town planning, urban design policy, education, professional standards and building technology. The parties will encourage the exchange of training courses, expert visits and scientific research in the fields of build environment, urban sustainability policy, building regulations and associated standards development, professional standards development and entrepreneurship including development and management of Smart Cities.
Others include; architecture studies and competitions, student exchange programmes, continuing professional development and capacity building in the field of urban planning, conservation of architectural heritage, policies relating to community engagement, building technologies and building information modelling (BIM).
High Commissioner Chikonde said even though the MoU covers broad areas of architecture, the built environment and urban development policy, nothing stops the parties to pursue other innovative projects such as; the development of production capacity by local entrepreneurs in local building materials; promotion of good building practices and use of indigenous building materials; the development of building codes and standards for locally manufactured building materials to make them more competitive on the regional and international markets; strengthening capacities of local authorities to develop and implement sustainable master plans and to formulate appropriate national human settlement policies that address today’s changing world.
The High Commissioner who is an architect by profession and a member of the Institute said the ZIA and allied professions such as Engineers, Surveyors and Planners need to be strengthened so that they contribute meaningfully to the country’s development.
“Architects should make themselves relevant to society as there is much more beyond the provision of traditional services of building design and supervision. We need to start having difficult conversations amongst ourselves as to why architectural or engineering services are not being utilized by the majority of our people; why some settlements are mushrooming without due consideration to support services; why our cities and towns continue to be unfriendly to pedestrians, cyclists and persons with mobility challenges; why with the abundance of raw materials and technical knowledge our local building materials industry has remained inadequately exploited and underdeveloped. We need to step up by getting involved in providing homegrown innovative, realistic, practical human settlements solutions to our citizens and through advocacy and constant engagement with Government and all stake holders, thus the reason for including, in the Agreement, the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure Development,” he said.
The High Commissioner said His Excellency President Edgar Lungu in the address to Parliament in September last year provided policy guidance for engagement in this field by stating that Government was concerned with the infrastructure deficit and expressed the urgent need to address developmental inequalities through promotion of integrated rural development and provision of market linkages between the rural and urban areas while continuing to prioritize urban and rural housing development as well as the upgrading of informal settlements in cities and peri-urban areas.
“What we are witnessing today is an endeavor to create a platform for addressing these challenges through transfer of skills, experiences and best practices mutually among three parties; two professional bodies, RIBA and ZIA and a government Ministry responsible for Housing and infrastructure which in practical sense is a Public-Private-Partnership arrangement” he said.
High Commissioner Chikonde expressed gratitude to government for expediting the MoU and also thanked ZIA president and Council and the RIBA for their commitment to the process and the willingness to immediately put to practice the cooperation agreement.
And RIBA president Ben Derbyshire implored institutes of Architects around the world to desire to become relevant among young people and encouraged the future generation to take up architecture as a profession to have a continued high quality built-environment.
He said it is important for the younger generation to be inspired to become architects from an early stage saying the positive influence of clean, receptive, interactive buildings and urban spaces on the younger generations is fundamental to the development of sustainable environments.
And RIBA past vice president- international Peter Oborn who is chair of RIBA Ethics and Sustainable Development Commission said the RIBA was particularly pleased to have signed this agreement in the week leading up to Commonwealth Head of Government Meeting (CHOGM-2018) as it resonated strongly with the theme of this year’s meeting, ‘Towards a Common Future’. It was also particularly relevant in the context of Sustainable Development Goal 11 and the aim ‘to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable’.
“This is, of course, especially relevant for many countries on the African continent, including Zambia, if the social, economic and environmental challenges and opportunities created by increasing levels of urbanisation are to be effectively managed” he said.
Minister of Justice Lubinda has said that the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) is more than ready to dislodge the impeachment motion if it makes it to the floor. Mr Lubinda said that if, in a very unlikely circumstance, the motion meets the admissibility rule, Patriotic Front is extremely ready to dislodge it with the contempt it deserves in one parliament seating.
Mr Lubinda further stated that no single PF member of parliament could be lured with leaves of dollars to impeach President Lungu adding that the lawmakers from the ruling party are in parliament are for something larger than pieces of silver.
Speaking to Journalists, Sunday, during the PF interactive Forum, Mr Lubinda warned UPND MPs that they will regret the day they entered parliament if the matter is brought up for debate
“The ruling of the deputy speaker was that they are still studying that matter and they will inform the mover of the motion as to when it will appear if at all it will. And I am using these words very carefully. If the motion does not meet the admissibility rule then it will go where it belongs, in the trash bin,” he said
“If it does meet the admissibility rule, it will come. Now if it does come. I can assure you that the Patriotic Front is very ready, extremely ready to dislodge it with contempt it deserves. We were ready from day one. And I can share with you a secret. There some amongst us who were eager, we wanted it as quickly as possible because we found it to be very juicy. I am one of those ready to debate it. Lest people are misled, we are not spending any time unnecessarily on that impeachment motion because we are more than equal to the task to dislodge it and we will do it within one seating of parliament. It will not even take hours. It won’t. They will regret the day they entered parliament”
Lubinda further explained that the determination of the day when a motion should be tabled is a preserve of the speaker after assessing whether or not the matter has met the basic requirement of the admissibility rule of parliament.
“Yes it met the threshold of one third because one third is 55. There were 58 signatures. There was talk about duplication of signatures, I will leave that aside.
As to why it wasn’t heard if you read the standing orders of parliament. It’s clear every member of parliament has a right to present a motion. And the standing order says one who wishes to present a motion for debate will give these (3) days notice and if a day happens to be Friday he will give 4days notice. And that the speaker May nominate the day on which the motion is to be heard,” Mr Lubinda Explained
“This means that you can not possibly say ‘Mr Speaker I want the motion to be heard on this particular day’ that is a preserve of the speaker. Secondly the speaker has the responsibility of ensuring that that motion meets the admissibility rules of parliament. There some matters that are not admissible in parliament. For example I can not go and present a motion in parliament to debate Mr. Sunday Chanda, a private citizen. That’s not admissible.
“Secondly, you can not go to parliament and present a motion or any debate for that matter on any matter that is active in the court of law. That is refered to as subjudice. You can not have to arms of government dealing with same matter at the same time. You can not have the judiciary adjudicating on a matter and parliament debating that matter.
“Thirdly, you can not present to parliament a motion that has already been settled by parliament. Unless you want to challenge the decision of parliament. If you want do so you have to put it as a motion to challenge the decision of the speaker.”
L to R: Zesco United coach Tenant Chembo, striker Winston Kalengo and midfielder Maybin Mwaba at the club’s weekly press briefing ahead of their game against Nkana this Saturday in Ndola.Tenant Chembo has quit as Zesco United coach.
The interim Zesco coach announced his resignation on Sunday just after his sides’ 1-0 away win over Nkana in Kitwe.
Zesco confirmed in a statement that Chembo had left after seven years with the six-time champions.
“Zesco United Football Club has parted company with the Club’s Interim Coach Tenant Chembo,” club secretary Richard Mulenga said.
“The coach announced his resignation today after the game involving Zesco and Nkana Football Club’s in Kitwe.
“The club wishes Tenant Chembo all the best in his future endeavours.
“The team and fans will be informed of the new appointment on Tuesday, 10 April 2018.”
Chembo has been at Zesco since 2012 and on three occasions served as interim coach in 2013, 2016 and 2017.
He won the 2016 Barclays Cup and 2017 FAZ Super Division title as interim coach.
Chembo this year guided Zesco to the group stage of the 2018 CAF Champions League.
