President Edgar Lungu being welcomed by Munnlo Primary school grade 5 pupil Joana Miti
President Edgar Lungu being welcomed by Munnlo Primary school grade 5 pupil Joana Miti
Pictures courtesy of Jean Mandela
President Edgar Lungu officiates at the Lusaka Maina Soko hospital expansion project
President Edgar Lungu being welcomed by Munnlo Primary school grade 5 pupil Joana Miti
President Edgar Lungu being welcomed by Munnlo Primary school grade 5 pupil Joana Miti
Bafana coach hails Four-Nations initiative
Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter has hailed the ongoing Four Nations Tournament Zambia is staging in Ndola at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.
The tournament is also featuring Angola and Zimbabwe
Baxter’s South African side is preparing for Saturday’s final against Zambia after the two teams won their respective semifinal matches on Wednesday.
Zambia reached the final after beating Zimbabwe 5-4 on penalties following a 2-2 draw while South Africa overcame Angola 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 stalemate.
“This tournament is very important. As a coach I want to learn about my players at this tournament and also we want success,” Baxter said.
“I told the media before we left South Africa that it is very important to learn about the young players and those who have not been playing regularly,” he said.
And Baxter said South Africa are ready to face hosts Zambia in the final.
“We are prepared to play against any team,” he said.
Nyirenda plots for another derby win
Chipolopolo coach Wedson Nyirenda has predicted a tough encounter when his side faces South Africa in Saturday’s Four Nations final at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
Zambia reached the final after beating another regional archrival Zimbabwe 5-4 on penalties following a 2-2 draw on Wednesday while South Africa overcame Angola 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 stalemate.
“Once again, playing against South Africa not an easy game. It is a battle for supremacy. Zambia, South Africa and Zimbabwe we are ours on each other’s neck when we are given a fixture,” Nyirenda said.
Bafana coach Stuart Baxter hinted he will field a stronger side against Zambia.
“The team I’ll be picking in the final will be a completely different team; it will be 11 different players. We need this game and we’ll do everything we can to win,” said Baxter.
The match will kick off at 18h00.
Printing Ballot papers locally helps retain our sovereignty-Jonas Chanda
Bwana Mkubwa PF Member of Parliament DR Jonas Chanda says rigging elections is not as easy as the UPND is claiming, and he had since urged the opposition party to embrace the cost saving decision that government has made to print ballot papers locally.
And Chanda says the decision is in line with Zambia’s sovereignty and also based on national security.
Speaking when he featured on a Radio Christian Voice Chat Back programme yesterday, Chanda said it was embarrassing that 54 years after independence, Zambia still did not have the capacity to print its own ballot papers.
He said the fears of rigging by the ruling party were baseless because it was possible for the PF to lose power even if ballot papers were printed locally.
“Let’s give credit where it is due. President Kaunda and UNIP got power in 1964. By 1991 when Zambia went back to multi-party democracy, ballot papers were printed here in Lusaka. UNIP which was in power then printed ballot papers and lost that election. They lost by 80 per cent. So, where was the rigging? Why didn’t UNIP rig? We had president Rupiah Banda in 2011, when PF came to power. President Banda and his government were in charge of the electoral system. He conceded power and handed over to president Sata. Where were the issues of rigging?” he asked.
“There were no issues of rigging you see that? Now rigging has become a new trend under our colleagues the opposition UPND. If you look at UPND from the time they started losing, they have lost so many times I lost count of how many times they have lost. But every time they complain of rigging. Ok nangu waba fye weka pa calo, ninshi rigging yali ku konkafye weka ai (does rigging follow the UPND only?) You see the problem is that even if they talk about rigging. They fail to present the evidence. Let us not accept these simplistic stories of rigging. Rigging is not easy, it is complex. That is why we have had ruling parties losing to opposition parties. And if those guys want to be in power let them focus on selling themselves to the Zambian people.”
Chanda said printing ballot papers in Zambia was about sovereignty.
“It is so sad that 54 years after independence we can argue over that kind of issue. Just two weeks ago Sierra Leon in Africa which came out of a brutal ten year civil war had elections, and guess where the ballot paper were printed? Liberia a month before came from a brutal war with very weak institutions and a smaller economy than Zambia, guess where their ballot papers are printed? In Liberia itself. The same applies for Somalia. Can those people tell me which country prints ballots outside their boarders?” Chanda asked.
“The problem that we have in Zambia is that we have too much negative energy. As long as it doesn’t come from me, it doesn’t benefit me or my party therefore I have to oppose. What we call throwing the baby with the bathe water. We cannot do that. So, the issue of printing ballot papers in Zambia is not even a debatable issue. It is a sovereignty issue, it is a national security issue. If you are going to print ballot papers in South Africa, Dubai, America you will finish the world printing your ballot papers.”
He said printing ballot papers abroad was not only costly but a sign that the country was disorganised.
“Apart from it being a very expensive exercise, it is also an issue showing that the country is so disorganised. Remember there was a company Universal Printers in South Africa. These guys that are crying used to go there, make a lot of allowances, and do all the shopping in Johannesburg. When the ballot papers come here [they claimed that] the elections have been rigged. [They said] no, we need to change now from South Africa to Dubai. So we went to Dubai where there were even better shops than in Johannesburg. The same people went to get allowances. Some of them came fat when they were arriving at the airport. Ba ile na malnutrition, ba bwela na bena,” charged Chanda.
“So, weather you print outside its rigging, you print in Zambia its rigging. I should mention that from 1964 up to 1991, ballot papers were always printed in Zambia. It was when MMD came in to power in 1996, that’s when they started this exercise of printing ballot papers out there. And that problem has actually cost us a lot of problems. Because we don’t know what’s happening outside the country. Now here we are saying, if ballot papers are printed in Zambia you know the location. If you want you can take your mattress, start sleeping there so that you monitor that there is no rigging.”
Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Modernise Zambian Embassies
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary for Administration Dr. Ronald Simwinga has said the Ministry has embarked on a project to equip all the 38 Zambian Missions abroad with modern facilities that are conducive for diplomats to work, so that they can rise to the challenge of being diplomats in the 21st century.
And Dr. Simwinga has commended Zambia’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom His Excellency Mr. Muyeba Chikonde and his staff for the good work they are doing to raise the Zambian flag high in Economic and Political Diplomacy in the United Kingdom and other countries of extra accreditation.
According to a press statement released to the media by First Secretary for Press and Public Relations at the Zambian High Commission in the United Kingdom, Mrs Abigail Chaponda, Dr. Simwinga commended High Commissioner Chikonde and his staff after he received a supplement that was published in one of the UK’s wide-read Newspaper The Daily Telegraph.
On 28th February 2018 The Daily Telegraph contained in its newsprint in the Business pull out a special feature on Zambia entitled “A Giant Awakes” with an exclusive interview on His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu. The supplement covers an array of topics and interviews with various decision makers in key Ministries, the private sector, the Bank of Zambia and the Industrial Development Cooperation (IDC). In addition to the mainstream areas of investment, the publication celebrates Zambia’s rich cultural heritage and its unity in diversity.
Dr. Simwinga is currently in London attending a preparatory meeting for the forth coming Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit scheduled for the 16th- 20th April 2018.
In an interview after addressing diplomats at Zambia House on Tuesday, Dr. Simwinga said embassies represent the face of Zambia to the outside world
and for many people, it is the first point of contact with its government, therefore, it was imperative for government to ensure a favorable work environment for diplomats.
“To all the diplomats in our different embassies, there is something being worked on to improve the conditions under which you work in terms of work environment and the tools of the trade. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wants to equip all the 38 Missions with the right work environment, with the right equipment, we want our diplomats to operate from buildings that are conducive for diplomats to do their work, we want them to have the right tools, in terms of computers, transports, office accommodation and housing so that they can rise to the challenge of being diplomats in the 21st century,” he said.
And Dr. Simwinga has called upon Zambians in the diaspora to partner with Zambian embassies to help expand Economic Diplomacy as directed by President Edgar Lungu.
“Economic Diplomacy gives a new focus window for Zambians in the diaspora to get involved with embassies, particularly here in the UK. Zambians abroad have a big role to play and now that the embassies are geared to dovetail with the economic growth strategy of the country, this provides a great opportunity for the diaspora to utilise the facilities being offered in the embassies,” he said.
He said a lot of Zambians in the UK were running successful businesses and implored them to partner with the embassy in an effort to develop the country.
“We have a number of Zambians that are running very successful businesses, in the UK, the United States and China. This opens an opportunity for them to partner with embassies and bring their entrepreneur ideas. The relationship between the embassies and the diaspora provides a great conduit for ideas and its ideas that get transformed into enterprises, enterprises create jobs and jobs, create income and income is Gross Domestic Product (GDP),” he said.
Dr. Simwinga said it is the responsibility of Zambians both at home and abroad to work together to develop Zambia adding that it is Zambians who will build Zambia.
Minutes of the 5th Cabinet Meeting held on the 19th March 2018
PRESS STATEMENT BY THE CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON ON THE DECISIONS MADE BY CABINET AT THE 5TH CABINET MEETING HELD AT STATE HOUSE ON MONDAY, 19TH MARCH, 2018
At the 5th Cabinet Meeting held on Monday, 19th March, 2018, at State House, Cabinet discussed two (2) substantive Agenda Items in the continued pursuit by His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu and his Cabinet to develop Zambia and improve the general living standards of the people. The Meeting lasted from 10:20 hours to 17:40 hours. The following were the decisions made:
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The Public Private Partnership (Amendment) Bill, 2018.
Following the presentation of this matter to Cabinet by the Minister of Finance, Cabinet approved that the Bill entitled “The Public-Private Bill, 2018” be approved for publication and introduction in Parliament during the current sitting.
The objects of the draft Bill are to:
(a) revise the functions of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Unit in the department of the Ministry responsible for finance;
(b) revise the functions of the Public Private Partnership Council; and
(c) provide for matters connected with, or incidental to the foregoing.
Cabinet emphasised the need to place the PPP Unit in the Ministry of Finance in order to ensure a well-coordinated private investment prospect in line with Government aspirations on overall national development.
Cabinet appreciates the importance of bringing the private sector to fully participate in the development path the Patriotic Front Government has seriously continued to pursue as seen from the many programmes and projects Government is implementing in many sectors of the economy. While Government will continue to put more money in the area of infrastructure development, such as roads, rail, air transport, hospitals, clinics including universities and secondary and primary schools in all the provinces of the country, Government feels the private sector is a key player in fostering development in Zambia.
It is the hope of Government that with this law in place, the private sector will be able to fully invest their resources in national development as partners with the Government.
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The Credit Reporting Bill, 2018.
Cabinet with full knowledge that the current sitting of Parliament is mainly to look at the Bills passed by the Executive, the Bill entitled “The Credit Reporting Bill, 2018”, was approved for publication and introduction in Parliament during the current sitting.
The objects of the Bill are to provide for:
(a) the regulation of credit reporting agencies by the Bank of Zambia;
(b) the licensing of credit reporting agencies;
(c) the establishment of a Credit Registry;
(d) the governance and management of credit reporting agencies;
(e) the protection of data subjects;
(f) information sharing and reporting to enable assessment of the credit worthiness of a data subject; and
(g) matters connected with, or incidental to the foregoing.
The introduction of the Credit Reporting Bill, 2018, will provide for a legal framework within which the Bank of Zambia can regulate credit reporting agencies so as to ensure repayment of debt obligations by clients and enhance credit reporting services oversight. Further, the Bill will provide for the protection of the privacy of borrowers.
This Bill, shall also be presented to Parliament during the current sitting.
3. Authorised Share Capital of the Zambia National Building Society.
Cabinet took note of the brief by the Minister of Finance that the authorised share capital of the Zambia National Building Society (ZNBS) was increased from 191,677,538 to 1,341,742,766 by issuance of 1,150,065,228 Class B shares at par value of K0.81 per share giving a total value of K931, 552,834.68. The Minister informed Cabinet that the decision was in line with the ZNBS 2017 Annual General Meeting resolution.
Cabinet noted that it was necessary to increase the authorised share capital for the Society in order to:
(a) lower the costs of mortgagees to make decent housing accessible to ordinary Zambians;
(b) reduce the current housing backlog;
(c) spur activity in the construction sector; and
(d) create employment in the construction sector.
The housing financing sector in Zambia has been facing wide ranging challenges including lack of affordable capital hence the option of increasing the authorised share capital through the issuance of Class B shares. It is envisaged that increased share capital of the Society will result into increased access to cheaper mortgages for low and medium income earners in the country.
Hon. Dora Siliya, MP
MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING SERVICES AND CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON
Former Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar dates Zambia
Standard Chartered Bank in conjunction with Liverpool Football Club have brought former Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar in Zambia for the standard chartered tournament to be played at Falls View Arena in Lusaka.
Grobbelaar, upon arriving in Zambia at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport stated that, the tournament is important because it will give an opportunity to winners to visit and learn about Liverpool FC.
He explained that the winners of the standard chartered trophy will go to Liverpool, United Kingdom to watch Liverpool FC live at Anfield Stadium.
The Liverpool legend explained that the tournament will attract unforgettable experiences to the participants adding that, it will link Zambians and many other countries with Anfield.
He however, thanked Standard Chartered for the great partnership the club and the Bank has enjoyed since 2010.
Grobbelaar who is also former Zimbabwean International Footballer will be in the country until Sunday 25th March, 2018.
He was at Liverpool FC in United Kingdom between 1981 and 1994.
Kenya, South Africa, Zambia are among the countries holding this tournament.
Zambia threaten to revoke mining licenses given Mining companies that have remained idle
MINES Minister Richard Musukwa has warned that idle licenses that were issued to either small or large-scale miners will be revoked.
And Musukwa says Government will implement a framework to facilitate market linkages to assist small-scale miners and prevent them from being continuously exploited.
Speaking during a four-day workshop on Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) in Zambia, Musukwa warned that licenses that Government had issued to both small and large-scale miners risked being revoked if they remained idle.
“Idle licenses, licenses that are being held for speculation, will be revoked so as to promote serious and credible Zambians, non-Zambians, investors who would like to invest in our country,” Musukwa warned when he officially opened the workshop at Southern Sun Hotel in Lusaka on March 19.
He explained that the issuance of mining licenses without adhering to the stipulated obligations was disadvantaging Zambia.
“When we give licenses, we also give obligations, and these obligations must be followed to the letter. In short, what I would like to state is that idle licenses, licenses that are being held for speculation, whether they are small-scale or large-scale, we will not allow that scenario because we are actually disadvantaging the country into getting the benefit from these resources,” Musukwa (in picture) observed.
He disclosed that nearly 2,000 licenses are currently idle in the country, describing the scenario as “sad.”
“What is sad is that we have issued in excess of over 2,000 small-scale licenses. On these 2,000 small-scale licenses, I can assure you that we have less than 20 licenses operating,” he revealed.
“We cannot develop our country at that score.”
And Musukwa added that Government will implement a framework to facilitate market linkages to assist small-scale miners and prevent them from being continuously exploited.
The four-day workshop, organized through PanAfGeo, the EU, among others, was held to present and describe the methods, tools, procedures and requirements for ASM operation in Zambia.
It also coincided with the release of a small-scale mining training manual dubbed: “Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Handbook for Zambia” to raise awareness of best practices in the sub-sector.
Pictures: Mines Minister, Richard Musukwa, officially opens the PanAfGeo Workshop on Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining and the role of the Geological Survey Department (GSD) at Southern Sun Hotel in Lusaka on March 19, as participants attend the PanAfGeo Workshop
UNDP Deputy Country Director, Sergio Valdini, gives his opening remarks during the PanAfGeo Workshop on Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining and the role of the Geological Survey Department (GSD)
It’s not the intention of Government to tax its citizens unnecessarily-Siliya
Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Dora Siliya says it is not the intention of Government to tax its citizens unnecessarily.
Ms. Siliya, who is also Chief Government Spokesperson, vehemently denied that government has introduced taxes which are not in favour of the Zambian people.
Speaking during a media briefing in Lusaka yesterday, Ms. Siliya explained that Government has resolved to apply the current taxes to balance with the performance and growth of the economy.
“It’s not the intention of government to tax its citizenry unnecessarily through taxes. The nation might wish to know that taxes enhance economic growth and shapes direction in terms of performance, taxes are meant for betterment of the Zambian people,” Ms. Siliya said.
The Minister boasts that the taxes have brought prosperity to the nation and investor confidence through the participation of both local and foreign investments.
Ms. Siliya said taxes have played a role in the diversification of Zambia’s economy.
She denied allegations levelled against government that it has introduced more taxes contrary to the PF party manifesto empowering the Zambian people with favourable taxes.
The Chief Government Spokesperson said Zambia’s economy is growing at three instead of the projected seven percent attributing this as due to ‘thick’ period the country encountered when it held the two presidential polls in a series in 2015 and 2016 that heavily constrained monies of the State treasury.
Ms. Siliya, a veteran broadcaster challenged journalists in the country to rise to the occasion and help put public perception in good taste.
The Minister urged the media in the country to regulate itself as opposed to creating a vacuum for the State to intervene.
Ms. Siliya, who earlier had a meeting with media heads reaffirmed government’s continued commitment in developing a media industry that will contribute to social and economic development.
Meanwhile, Ms. Siliya has disclosed that government has appointed the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) to be shareholders of the embattled Times of Zambia and Zambia Daily Mail which are ‘highly’ indebted and failing to pay salaries to their employees.
The Minister said Government is not sitting idle by engaged the media institutions on various ambitious interventions aimed at arresting the situation but no time frame given.
In a related development, Ms. Siliya has strongly condemned the riotous behavior of students at Evelyn Hone College over examination results.
She commended the police for caging 300 students as investigations continues and advised the students against breaking public resources.
UPND welcomes Speaker’s Decision to Declare Chilanga Parliamentary Seat Vacant
The Opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) says it will defend the Chilanga Parliamentary Seat.
UPND Deputy Spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa said the party is still popular in the area.
Speaking to ZANIS in Lusaka today, Mr. Mweetwa, who is UPND Choma Central Member of Parliament welcomed the decision by the Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini to declare the Chilanga Seat vacant.
“As a party, we’re ready to defend the Chilanga Parliamentary seat and we respect the Speaker’s verdict to declare it vacant,” Mr. Mweetwa said.
This follows the conviction of former area Member of Parliament Keith Mukata for murder.
Early this month, Dr. Matibini told Parliament that he is obliged by the Republican Constitution to write to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) informing the Commission of the vacancy in Chilanga Constituency.
The Speaker cited Article 70 (2) (F) of the amended constitution that states that a person is disqualified from being elected as a Member of Parliament if the person is serving a sentence of imprisonment for an offence under a written law.
Dr. Matibini explained that the amended constitution no longer allows a Member of Parliament who is serving a prison sentence pending appeal to continue holding the seat.
He further stated that in the case of Mr. Mukata, a certificate of death sentence is sufficient evidence that he is serving a prison sentence therefore, Mr. Mukata is disqualified.
Meanwhile, the Republican President Edgar Lungu also welcomed the decision of the Speaker of the National Assembly to declare the Chilanga Parliamentary seat vacant.
President Lungu said it is the Speaker’s jurisdiction to declare a seat vacant if need arises.
The ECZ will soon announce and set the official dates for campaigns, filling-in of nominations and voting date in Chilanga to allow political parties canvass votes from the electorates.
Private TV stations complain about Topstar and want to be part of TV Levy
Eleven (11) Media Heads from private television stations in the country this morning paid a courtesy call on Information and Broadcasting Services Minister and Chief Government Spokesperson Hon. Dora Siliya at her office at the Government Complex in Lusaka.
The Media Heads were from Prime, City, Diamond, Prism Africa, Lumen, Camnet and ABN television stations. Others were from CBC, Revelation, Fresh and Hope Channel Zambia television stations.
Leader of the delegation, Mr. Gerald Shawa, who is proprietor of Prime Television Station said the courtesy call was intended to brief the Hon. Minister on the various issues affecting private television stations across the country.
Mr. Shawa informed the Minister that private television stations were concerned that Top Star, a joint venture company between the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) and Star Times of China had violated the Digital Migration policy by departing from its core object.
He explained that instead of playing its role of a signal distributor, Topstar had also gone into the business of providing pay television services.
Mr. Shawa said this is contrary to what is stipulated in the Digital Migration Policy.
He also told the Hon. Minister that private television stations wanted to be part of the television levy revenue sharing.
Mr. Shawa said private television stations wondered why revenue from the collection of television levy should only be given to ZNBC when members of the public pay the levy to watch different channels on the Topstar bouquet and not ZNBC channel only.
He also expressed concern over the high carriages fees which Topstar is charging private television stations to be carried on its signal around the country. Topstar is charging one point two million kwacha (K1.2M) per month.
Mr. Shawa said most of the private television stations will not manage to pay the fees and this could lead to the collapse of some stations.
In response, Hon. Siliya said Government has a direct interest in seeing that all media in the country flourish.
Hon. Siliya said she will tomorrow morning hold discussions with the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA), ZNBC and Topstar to see how the issues raised could be addressed.
She stated that she would also make consultations with the Attorney General over the matter.
Parliament approves Board of Directors for Electoral Commission of Zambia and ZNBC
during the official opening of the National Assembly
Parliament has ratified the Presidential appointment of Mrs. Annette Chirumba Nhekairo and Mr. Ali Derrick Simwiinga to serve in the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).
Parliament has further ratified the Ministerial appointment of the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) Board.
Mrs. Annette Chirumba Nhekairo will serve as Vice-Chairperson and Mr. Ali Derrick Simwiinga will serve as Commissioner of the Electoral Commission of Zambia.
Mrs. Juliana Kunda Mwila, Ms. Mulenga Mpundu Kapwepwe, Mr. Nonde Matthews Kaniki and Mr. Nalumino Bruce Chyapeni will serve as Directors of the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation Board.
Given Lubinda urges Citizens to report Police brutality
Acting Minister of Home Affairs Given Lubinda has called on the general public to join hands in condemning mob justice as it is retrogressive to the development of a nation.
Mr. Lubinda appealed to the general public to desist from engaging in criminal activities.
The Minister said this in response to Mbabala Member of Parliament Ephraim Belemu who wanted to know if government is aware of a Mr. Lemmy Mapepe who died in police custody at the Macha Police Post on Friday 16th March 2018, in Mbabala Parliamentary Constituency.
ZANIS reports that Mr. Lubinda stated that Mr. Mapeke died of internal bleeding caused by a raptured spleen at Macha General Hospital from mob justice as he was accused of committing a series of crimes.
He appealed to people who could have information related to the death of the victim to report as the case is still under investigation.
The Acting Minister of Home Affairs has since reiterated that the Zambia Police Service are not allowed to cause any physical or emotional harm to inmates or convicts.
He added that, government supports the position of officers of not inflicting pain on inmates or convicts and has since guaranteed sensitization of all police officers countrywide.
Mr. Lubinda has hence, urged the citizenry to report cases of police brutality to the Ministry of Justice or the Human Rights Commission to put a stop to the vice.
Ministry of Youth and Sports giving out loans to youths to open up ICT centers
Chitambo District Commissioner Catherine Kunda says plans are underway to set up nine Computer Centers across the district in a bid to ensure youths and adults are computer literate.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS today, Ms. Kunda said government through the Ministry of Youth and Sports is empowering the youths by giving out loans to open up ICT centers in various Districts throughout the country and Chitambo is one of the beneficiary districts.
She encouraged all youths to take up the loans even with limited access to computers in a rural District like Chitambo and expressed optimism that good opportunities shall soon advance the District.
Ms Kunda said internet cafés can provide a number of services to the public such as internet, secretarial work, mobile money transfers and e-mail services among other things.
Ms. Kunda said through these loans, Government would like to ensure that it accords the youths with modern technological skills that would allow them to work in any industry world over.
She stressed that Government through the Ministry of Education has since introduced computer lessons examinable at both grade nine and twelve because of the realization of the importance of computer literate individuals in the modern world.
Mwepu: Zambia showed real character
Midfielder Enock Mwepu has revealed that Chipolopolo are very relieved to have beaten Zimbabwe on Wednesday and qualified for Saturday’s Four-Nations Finals.
Chipolopolo rallied twice in a dramatic semifinal clash at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola that sparked with goals in the second half when Zambia defender Isaac Shamujompa conceded a 47th minute own goal to give Zimbabwe a 1-0 lead.
Justin Shonga equalized in the 64th minute but Zimbabwe reclaimed the lead in the 73rd minute through Talent Chawapiwa before Lazarus Kambole restored parity in stoppage time to see the match decided on post-match penalties.
Kambole’s then clinched it for Zambia in sudden death of the shootouts after Cliff Moyo had missed for Zimbabwe.
“I think we have a good team, with good character, with a positive attitude and we told each other that we cannot lose this game because the nation will be on us,” Mwepu said.
“But we kept that confidence in ourselves until the final whistle and thank God for that goal.”
Zambia will now face South Africa in the final at 18h00 on Saturday at Levy Stadium while Zimbabwe and Angola will play for bronze at 15h00.
“We just had one day together to seriously train for Zimbabwe but now we have two days recover to train and I believe we will be better against South Africa,” Mwepu said.