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Following a successful inaugural launch of the renown Zambia Shall Be Saved event in Kitwe on 27th January 2018, Victory Ministries, International is headed for Lusaka this Saturday the 24th March.
Zambia Shall Be Saved is the signature vision of Rev Dr Nevers Mumba whose vision is to artistically infuse Christian values into Zambian Politics.
Dr Mumba who currently serves as Leader of Victory Ministries International and also as President of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy has maintained this “dual” posture for 23 years.
He believes that the same God who called him to preach is the same God who has called him to infuse morality and integrity in politics.
The Zambia Shall Be Saved Vision is premised on the principle that, “ The equitable delivery of goods and services to any people depends on the morality and integrity of its leaders.” This is a cause for which I am ready to sacrifice and pay the highest price to realize, Mumba says.
This Saturday, Zambians from all walks of life will stream to Lusaka’s Government Complex at 18:00hrs to hear Nevers Mumba preach, what he terms, a message of direction for the nation.
Nevers Mumba who is former Vice President of Zambia and High Commissioner to Canada oversees dozens of Victory Bible Churches across the country.
The Victory Ministries team has given an open invitation to all Zambians to arrive at the venue before 18:00 Hours.
FILE: Margaret Mwanakatwe flashing the PF symbol just after President Lungu filled in his nomination at Mulungushi conference center
The Constitutional Court is today expected to render a ruling in the case where Minister of Finance Margaret Mwanakatwe has challenged the High Court’s decision to nullify her parliamentary seat.
In this matter, UPND losing Lusaka Central MP Charlotte Scott argued that Mrs. Mwanakatwe cannot remain in office as the case goes on because she did not apply for the stay of execution of the High Court decision.
Dr. Scott has further argued that the decision of the single judge that an appeal to the constitutional court is equivalent to application for a stay, is not correct.
She has further asked the court to dismiss Mrs. Mwanakatwe’s appeal because it is defective.
When the case comes up, the full bench of the court will either affirm or dismiss the position of the single judge.
Mrs. Mwanakatwe appealed to the constitutional court following the High Court’s decision to nullify her seat
As “Black Panther” nears a billion in box office worldwide, many Africans have flocked to theaters, sporting traditional African attires with pride to watch their brothers and sisters portrayed as superheroes, a narrative that has been lacking in popular culture.
With the World Bank’s Global Economic Prospects reporting that three of the ten fastest growing economies are in Africa, “Black Panther” provides a vision of what African countries could look like if some things are done right.
The movie is filled with many lessons that African leaders and government officials can take to promote sustainable economic growth, peace and prosperity to build their Wakanda. Here are five:
1.Empower and elevate women, and ensure you surround yourself with them.
There is no escaping the power of women in “Black Panther.” The newly crowned Prince T’Challa, played by Chadwick Boseman, surrounds himself with powerful women, who he leaned on for guidance, wisdom and strength.
Africa has seen many women leaders — Winnie Mandela, Miriam Makeba, Wangari Maathai, former President Joyce Banda, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala and my own former President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf — who have played critical roles in shaping their countries’ destiny.
When women are empowered, they promote the well-being of society by championing health, education and peace. To build Wakanda, African leaders must put more women in positions of leadership.
2.Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education is key.
For me, Princess Shuri was the coolest and most inspiring character in the movie; no one could resist her intellect. She reinforced the power of STEM education. Because of the film’s success, Disney donated $1 Million for STEM education for young boys and girls in the US.
Education can change everything, and technology has the power to be the great equalizer. Because of this, African leaders should focus on STEM at an early age so Africa does not fall behind in the technology sector. Leading this charge for STEM education in Africa is Rwanda.
The country has a strategic plan to transform its economy by 2020 and STEM education is at the nexus. Investing in STEM education will not only confront the rampant unemployment challenges we have, but it will also address the gaps in human resources in Africa to build infrastructure, manage natural resources, and control diseases.African leaders must take immediate steps to ensure STEM is included in national curricula.
3.Use natural resources to develop your country, and keep them in the people’s hands for today and tomorrow.
We have heard horror stories about the resource curse in Africa, but in Wakanda, Prince T’Challa and his late father fought to protect their natural resources. The Wakandans added value by developing technologies and did not export their resources hastily.
Few countries in Africa have avoided the curse, but one success story is Botswana, one of the world’s largest producersof diamonds. The nation has pursued economic diversification and has developed sound fiscal policies to regulate diamond wealth and government spending.
Botswana also invested diamond revenues for future generations using a sovereign wealth fund called the Pula Fund. Botswana is paving the way for their youth to become educated and empowered, and their society to prosper. Other nations must learn from this, it’s the Wakanda way.
4.Respect cultures and traditions while modernizing and allow them to coexist with the basic tenets of democracy.
Democracy is essential for every country to aspire for. But it comes in many forms — it is not a one size fits all system. In Wakanda, culture and traditions were important.
The Wakandans followed them while evolving their country. They did not simply accept a new form of government because it worked for other societies. Africa has seen charismatic leaders elected democratically and celebrated by the West only for those leaders to change the rules to fit them.
Democracy can be manipulated. We saw that recently in Rwanda, and in Uganda for years. Wakanda seems to embrace and exhibit some of the basic tenets of democracy while respecting their culture and tradition. For example, while there were no elections, certain citizens could challenge the king to win the throne.
This was their form of election and it was valued and respected. While we modernize and develop our society, we should remember the positive traditions and cultures that got us here and preserve them as we modernize. This is a firm lesson for African leaders.
5.Embrace the natural habitat of the land while developing and building up.
In Wakandan architecture, we saw red dirt and market places while alongside super railways and skyscrapers.Many roads in Africa are built with asphalt which is highly expensive and difficult to procure. Wakandans built using the natural habitat, and fortunately, this is possible in Africa. For example, the Nubian Vault technique has been used since the ancient kingdom of Nubia, located in the Nile Valley in Egypt and Sudan. Environmentalists laud this as environmentally friendly and sustainable, and can help mitigate the effects of climate change.
African leaders must support architectural innovation with their natural habitat.
“Black Panther” inspired me to imagine what Africa could be if our leaders take some bold and collective actions.
It also inspired me that we should all be a part of this Wakanda-like development journey by developing leaders, specifically in the public service, that will passionately serve their people, protect their natural resources, embrace innovation and preserve cultures and traditions that are worth preserving.
President Lungu’s special assistant for Press and Public relations Amos Chanda has said that he is currently ashamed to be associated with a profession that can tell blatant lies for the express purpose of damaging the country’s reputation.
Speaking when he featured on ZNBC’s Sunday Interview with Grevazio Zulu, Mr Chanda expressed utter dismay and sadness that some publications such as New Vision, and in an apparent reference to News Diggers, have failed to uphold one of the strongest beliefs and ethics of journalism; TRUTH!
Mr Chanda noted that a politically motivated hatred and envy of President Edgar Lungu and his government was the baseline of the publications and hence their continuous resolve to push malicious falsehoods.
“A newspaper driven by political motives, gets a document planted on it because of their collective hatred, envy, they are disgusted that this political party is in power they drive an agenda as dirty as that,” Chanda said. Mr Chanda went on to wonder how individuals from the said publications sleep at night after peddling lies.
“We are worried when someone can just wake up and concoct lies and put them in a newspaper. It must worry us but more especially it should worry the liars who are waking up just for the express purpose of damaging the reputation of the country, they do not realise the presidency is an institution,” he said.
“You can throw as many insults as you want at the President but when you are seated in the hearts of heart alone, you must attempt to listen to your inner voice and say, is it logical, is this correct?”
Mr Chanda went on to question the type of society being created that even when glared with the truth can not apologies.
“We are worried when senseless accusations come out because what kind of society are we creating? Where you just wake up because you do not like Grevazio Zulu and say he has bought 20 houses when in fact he has not,” Mr Chanda said.
“Look at the moral decay, newspapers occupy a central position in public awareness and political education. You have a newspaper like the Vision who put up a lie and not just in their paper, they lie in the name of a respected publication, Forbes; that the President has 400 million and shares in scania.”
“He does not have that 400 million, he has no investments in scania and neither did Forbes publish that.”
Mr Chanda however, observed that the PF government under President Lungu was a decent government and instead of moving a criminal proceedings hoped the publication would have the morality to apologise and retract it’s false writings.
“We are talking about national values and principles it should be sufficient when you are called out that can you retract because that is not true you do so: this is four weeks and they have not… these are the things offending public morals,” he observed.
Mr Chanda reiterated his position that President Lungu has never taken a boat cruise or hired a cargo ship to ferry his shopping which goes against News Diggers screaming headlines of careless spending undertaken by the head of state during a trip to China and New York.
“I was explaining that the President has never been on a boat cruise, not just in New York but anywhere else he has never been and you publish that. It is not true that there was a cargo ship hired to carry the shopping,” he said.
“When you are called out like that, as a newspaper you must have the decency to say sorry and retract… It is just malicious, I can tell you because I was in New York.”
He recollected and advised that newspapers need to be at the forefront to project values of truth.
And when queried what his comment would be if the said publications insist on saying their position is correct Mr Chanda said:
“We will review our relationship with them because we know that is not true and these are the things that undermine national cohesion, decency and collectively you and I must be ashamed that we belong to the same profession with people who can tell blatant lies, that even when you are reminded it’s not true can go home and sleep and have a cup of tea.”
Mr Chanda mocked at the people creating these falsehoods about the President and the state of the nation saying they had too much time on their hands.
“So you have got a lot of people with a lot of pass time, time which they have no use for… A season of nonsense is just upon us… people who if they have time just use it to malign politician A, politician B or a person in government,” Mr Chanda said.
“If I was not in court with one of them I was going to give you the experience of lies, I was going to use that anecdotal experience.”
Promoted side Kitwe United on Sunday kicked off the 2018 FAZ Super Division campaign with a 2-0 homes loss to Green Buffaloes at Garden Park Stadium.
Chingalika had held Buffaloes to a goalless draw in the first half before collapsing just after the break.
Forward Youremember Banda put Buffaloes in front five minutes after the break before Aubrey Chella doubled the Soldier’s lead seven minutes later.
Kitwe tried harder to come back into the game with last minute attempts from strikers Emmanuel Chabula and Emmanuel Kalala missing the target by inches.
It was a game of two halves with Kitwe stealing the first half while Buffaloes controlled the last half.
The Buchi Boys were playing their first top league match since 2006.
Meanwhile, a huge crowd watched this match with security struggling to control fans entry into the stadium.
FAZ Super Division
Week 1
17/03/2018
Red Arrows 2-New Monze Swallows 0
Nkwazi 0-Napsa Stars 0
Nakambala Leopards 1-Kabwe Warriors 0
Green Eagles 1-Lumwana Radiants 0
18/03/2018
Power Dynamos 4-Kabwe Youth Soccer Academy 2
Buildcon 0-National Assembly 1
Kitwe United 0-Green Buffaloes 2
POSTPONED
Nchanga Rangers-Zanaco
Lusaka Dynamos-Zesco United
Forest Rangers-Nkana
Opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema has called on the PF government to immediately stop the implementation of the recently enacted Borehole and ground water taxes.
Mr Hichilema said that the UPND has noted with displeasure the levels of yet more punitive taxes being imposed on the country by the PF administration.
He said the latest tax on Borehole and Ground Water is only meant to cripple the people who are already being overburdened with tax.
“In no uncertain terms, we demand that PF through its leader cancels this new tax on boreholes and ground water as it will not in anyway benefit the poor. These taxes being introduced by the PF are being done in bad faith and are only channels for them to swindle citizens through corruption. As a people with common values, we must stop them because it is clear that they are only here to destroy our country and not build,” Mr Hichilema said.
He added, “Our people have lived for centuries especially in rural areas without being taxed for the use of ground water but this new statutory instrument (SI) signed by the PF is shocking not only to us but the country as a whole. A UPND government would have focused our energies on ensuring that we provide safe drinking water for our people regardless of the locality. One cannot imagine a villager in Mbangomba, Kashinakazhi, Shangombo or indeed Kaputa being taxed and in an exorbitant manner for using their borehole, groundwater, dam or indeed naturally flowing water.”
Mr Hichilema stated that this is the highest level of not only plundering of public resources but also daylight robbery from the already over-taxed population by the PF.
And Mr Hichilema has condemned the move by government to demolish over 4, 000 houses in Chipata, Eastern Province, on grounds that they were built illegally.
“Water and land are the preserve of our people. Our brothers have lived on that piece of land for too long and the PF cannot today claim that they are illegally staying on that land. They were given that land by the government agencies such as the council and therefore plans to move them away are unwarranted and must be stopped forthwith,” he said.
“We understand that PF including Mr Edgar Lungu are grabbing land from the poor everywhere and then selling these pieces of land to the highest bidder leaving our people homeless. This is heartlessness of the worst kind. Therefore, we direct that no single house on the earmarked 4, 000 should be demolished by the PF. It has become increasingly clear, that PF is only on a path of extorting our people not only through exorbitant taxes but also grabbing their only capital asset which is land.”
Vice-President Inonge Wina making interventions at the High Level side event which was themed: “Accelerating efforts to end female genital mutilation and child marriage by 2030.” at the United Nations (UN) in New York. Picture courtesy of ZambiaMission at the United Nations/WALLEN SIMWAKA
Vice-President Mrs Inonge Wina has said government has no intentions of taking away land from the traditional leadership in Zambia and that the proposed new land policy is meant to improve the administration of land in the country.
The Vice-President said many countries in the world are re-examining land legislation and that Zambia is still grappling with land challenges on account of the land laws that are discriminatory and not streamlined to best manage land administration.
The Vice President said Zambia has embarked on its land audit and mapping and that it is the expectation of government that the participation of the traditional leaders is important in the process that would see the administration of land is improved for the benefit of all citizens including women.
Speaking to Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation’s (ZNBC) reporter Kennedy Bwalya in New York, Vice-President Wina said the just ended 62nd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) had made Zambia learn and share a lot of experiences on the empowerment of women and girls in rural areas.
She said the fact that many countries in the world are revising their policies and legislation on land administration meant that Zambia should not remain behind hence the need for the country’s land legislation re-examined.
She said women and girls in Zambia are often discriminated and victimised in many areas including their participation in economic activities and the right to acquire and own land yet the majority of the women are plying their living on land that they do not own.
“The 62nd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women like other high-level meetings at the United Nations (UN) is a platform to address gender equality throughout the world. It was an opportunity to share experiences and acquire as much information as possible on the empowerment of women and girls in rural areas. The inclusion of women in decision-making positions including the need for women to own land can spur economic growth for many countries. Our traditional leaders should know that government has no intention to take land away from them. Many countries are re-examining their laws and legislation on land and we should do the same in Zambia,” Vice-President Wina said.
And Vice-President Wina said it is her hope that the Bill on political parties would be able to address gender imbalances and issues of having gender parity at all levels of decision-making.
She said at the moment, the situation on gender parity both in Parliament and local councils in the country is not rosy as only 18 percent of women are occupying elective offices.
She has appealed to Members of Parliament to support the Bill on Political Parties and ensure that the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) protocol of equal number of representation in Parliament in the next general elections.
The Vice-President Zambia is lucky to have President Lungu who is gender-sensitive but feared what would become of the country should someone who does not believe in gender equality assume the leadership of the country.
“Political parties should encourage women to be part of the leadership of the country. A number of political parties are male dominated but the Patriotic Front (PF) is leading the way in mainstreaming gender in all sectors and economic activities of the country. MPs should take an interest in pushing for gender equality,” the Vie-President said.
GREEN Party Presidential Candidate Peter Sinkamba
The head-to-head cold-war which escalated last week between Russia and Western Powers, especially the US and Britain, is compelling evidence that the major factor why rich nations are building a new generation of civil nuclear power stations is not for civilian purposes but to upgrade their military nuclear technology. The display of sophisticated latest weapons by Kremlin, Washington, and London is justification why nuclear power stations must be banned globally.
Put simply, the major motivating factor is to upgrade military nuclear technology and maintain enough skills to keep a nuclear deterrent. Otherwise, both the civil and military side of nuclear power is uneconomic. It is just a smokescreen.
The super powers are conscience of the fact that if they were to withdrawal from civil nuclear power on grounds of uncompetitive economics, then that would leave the shared costs borne entirely on the military side. A scenario like that makes military nuclear infrastructures significantly more expensive. However, if civil nuclear commitments are maintained despite adverse economics, this helps them cover the shared costs, which effectively amounts to a cross-subsidy.
So, the expansion of nuclear for civil purposes is actually to support military nuclear industrial capabilities expansion. Where nuclear-capable skilled workforce through a civil nuclear programme is developed, this is done so purely to relieve their Ministries of Defence of the burden of developing and retaining skills and capability largely for cross-subsidy purposes.
For the above reasons, rich nations have had to create multi-billion dollar funds exclusively dedicated to manage nuclear waste. The exorbitant cost of building nuclear plants, maintaining them, managing the toxic residues, as well as well the real possibility of day-to-day contamination is justified for purposes nuclear deterrent.
It is no-brainer that we lack financial capacity to build one nuclear power station, let alone contemplate managing a nuclear waste. We should not allow ourselves to indirectly be generators and suppliers of nuclear materials to further military nuclear technology elsewhere in the world. That will be a very dangerous game to play. We have no nuclear deterrent to keep off super powers when turn their nukes in our direction.
Furthermore, this government has failed to create a sinking fund for Eurobond loans. Where will it get multi-billion dollars to create an “Atommüllentsorgungsfond” like Germany?
Additionally, it is no secret that the world ecology is suffering from serious effects of underground nuclear waste deposits. And sadly, almost 80% of our people survive solely on untreated underground water supply from wells and boreholes. Is it really worth it to endanger our people just like that?
The rule of the thumb in sustainability science is that if you cannot manage it safely and sustainably, do not produce it. So, if we have no capacity for nuclear deterrent, let’s not produce nuclear materials. If we cannot sustainably manage nuclear waste, let’s not produce it.
Police in Lusaka have arrested a 32-year-old man in connection with the case of a 34-year-old woman who was dumped in a drunken state in Libala Waterworks area from a moving Toyota Runx registration number BAG 4456.
Zambia Police Assistant Public Relations Officer Godfrey Chilabi said in a press statement issued to ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday that the suspect has been charged with Negligent Act contrary to section 237 chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.
Mr. Chilabi said following the report of the incident to Godfrey Miyanda Police Post on March 15 this year, police instituted investigations which have resulted in the arrest of a suspect.
The Zambia Police Deputy Spokesperson explained that contrary to ritual killing claims, the two met at a drinking place and started drinking together.
However, when the suspect noticed that the woman got excessively drunk, he decided to put her in the said car, drove off and dumped her at some location in water works area.
Mr. Chilabi said it is at this point that a passer-by saw the incident and reported the matter to police at Godfrey Miyanda Police Post.
He dispelled assertions that the woman’s hands and feet were tied in a ritual killing fashion.
Mr. Chilabi said the suspect has remained in police custody and the car has been impounded for further investigations.
Police has since warned members of the public to avoid alcohol abuse and be cautious with the people they interact with during drinking sprees.
Last week on Thursday, a woman was reportedly dumped by three men in Waterworks area from a moving vehicle in her drunken state.
Following the report, Police from Godfrey Miyanda Police Post picked up the woman and rushed her to Chilenje Hospital where she was admitted and later discharged.
On Friday, when delivering his State of the Nation Address to Parliament, President Edgar Lungu bemoaned the alcohol abuse and high drinking culture among Zambians.
The President said government has started promoting good morals and ethics by introducing codes of conduct in the public.
Zesco United defied all odds on Sunday to end their 11 match away winless run in continental competition and qualify to the group stage of the 2018 CAF Champions League.
Zesco, who came into the match with seven draws and four defeats in their last away in Africa fixtures, beat ASEC Mimosa 2-1 in Abidjan to qualify 2-2 on aggregate on away goals rule.
Gagnon Badie put ASEC ahead via a 7th minute penalty but Fackson Kapumbu and Lazarus Kambole scored in the 29th a and 65th minutes respectively to hand Zesco their group stage passage.
Zesco are now Zambia’s sole 2018 CAF Champions’ League group stage campaigners after Zanaco lost 1-0 on Saturday and lost 3-1 on aggregate to be relegated to the 2018 CAF Confederation Cup last 32.
Meanwhile, Zesco are also now the only the Zambian side to have qualified for three successive continental group stage matches.
Furthermore, no Zambian club has made four appearances at that level like Zesco since 2009.
The Zambian government is contemplating to introduce a career pathway in all technical secondary schools that will enable students with desires to learn skills to spend an additional two years after completing grade twelve to acquire skills competency.
High Education Minister Prof. Nkandu Luo told journalists at the PF Interactive Forum held at Chrisma Hotel on Sunday that careers skills will be taught to all students in Technical Secondary Schools across the country for the purpose of helping acquire skills without going to the college first.
“The government intend to put up a premium skill development centres in all technical secondary schools where students will be exposed to various skills at an early in life.”
Prof. Luo added, as students progress in education and make a decision of the course they want to take in life, they will relay on the skills learnt and acquired at an early stage for their future career development.
According to Prof. Luo after completing grade twelves, students that desire to master the marked skill will have an additional two years for them to acquire competency and will be awarded not only a diploma but also tools to enable them set up businesses in their areas.
“At graduation students will be given tools which they will carry with them home and set up small industry and begin to make money as they wait to further their careers life.”
She disclosed that technical schools will be built in provinces to prevent students from travelling long distances in search of skills development centres.
Prof Luo also disclosed that the government has began the process of redefining the National Institute for Scientific Research (NISR) which she said will work side by side with the planned establishment of a nuclear centre in Lusaka.
She suggested that nuclear science is an important branch of medicine whose presence in Zambia will prevent government from importing experts abroad to deal with complicated cases.
She said the government has sent Zambian experts abroad to train in various fields in nuclear science.
“Zambia is in a hurry to speed up the research process on nuclear science to discover the causes of diseases troubling the people in Zambia.”
Additionally, Prof. Luo stated that the government has established a higher education authority that will clear the mess in the country’s academic system.
“This branch will set the benchmark of the lecturer that will be tasked to teach in the higher educations in Zambia.”
She said the minimum qualification for lecturer at the University level will be a Masters, PhD and professorship.
“The government is also recreating the status of the universities so that they can reclaim their lost glory.”
Meanwhile Prof. Luo has linked strikes and riots that have taken place in the country’s universities in the recent past to massive political infiltration.
She complained that preliminary investigations has revealed that most of the people rioting in schools are not students.
She said the government is fast working on modalities of depoliticizing the higher learning institutions.
She said soon the people organising to riots in the universities will be exposed for making the learning environment difficult
She said the Universities is not a place to teaching students to pass examination but rather a development centre where the young people are prepared for the world.
“The government therefore will not allow any one to disturb the learning environment in the universities across the country.”
Patriotic Front (PF) Secretary General Davies Mwila has challenged the opposition political parties in the Southern Province to stop politicking but to instead focus on development.
Speaking in Choma last night during a district PF fundraising dinner dance, Mr. Mwila said there is no time for politicking because government is now preoccupied with delivering development to the country.
He said government has devised robust strategies that are aimed at strengthening the economy so as to improve living standards of the ordinary Zambians through job creation.
Mr. Mwila said it was therefore important for the opposition political parties to avoid politicking and support initiatives that aim at bringing about the much needed development to the country.
He said the PF government was clear about the need to strengthen the economy and ensure that Zambians benefit from creation of jobs.
Mr. Mwila has since commended the district PF leadership in Choma for embarking on initiatives that will ensure financial independence of the ruling party and eliminate the dependence syndrome
Speaking earlier, Southern Province PF chairman Lawrence Evans implored lower party organs in the region to consider venturing into sustainable income generating ventures so that the ruling party is financially sound ahead of the 2021 general elections.
Mr. Evans said it is important for district party organs to engage in business activities that will facilitate generation of income directed towards party mobilization in a more sustained manner.
He said proceeds from fundraising activities should be used in a prudent manner so that the party remains focused on achieving growth at all levels.
Mr. Evans said the return of the PF Secretary General to the Southern province barely two months after his recent successful mobilization tour of districts was as a result of indicators that the ruling party was gaining inroads into the once perceived opposition stronghold.
Meanwhile, Choma district PF chairman Peter Kampamba vowed to recommend the expulsion of party members who will fail to account for proceeds from the fundraising activities saying the ruling party wants to ensure discipline is upheld.
Southern province minister Edify Hamukale, Provincial Permanent Secretary Mwangala Liomba and District Commissioners from across the province attended the function which also attracted members of the business community.
The Kabwe Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) says the recently enforced law on withholding tax is going to have a negative effect on a lot of people, especially tenants.
KCCI Honorary Secretary, Leonard Shimwambwa, said this is because despite it being an old law, it has not been strictly enforced in a long time.
Mr. Shimwambwa told ZANIS in an interview that there is therefore need for the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) to create awareness amongst the general public because a many people do not understand why they need to pay tax for renting a house.
“This withholding tax is not really new. It has been there for a long time and it is law. But what it is, is that it has not been strictly enforced and very few people know about it, so there is need to explain to the general public what it is about and why they need to comply,” he said.
He also said the fact that it has been pronounced at a time when people are facing many economic challenges, ZRA must be cautious and gentle in the way it implements the tax.
He added that there is already a housing deficit in the country adding that since many people are living in rented houses, there is need to create a rapport and engage the general public in order to harmonise the matter.
“I think there was some bit of a problem in the manner the tax in itself was introduced to the general public. It is like people just woke up and they were told that they needed to pay such and such a tax. What ZRA should have done was to engage the general public strategically and minimise the tax because of the economic challenges currently at play in the country,’’ he explained.
Mr. Shimwambwa said the negative effect of this particular tax is that the landlords will exploit their tenants by increasing rentals and that this will seriously affect the tenants because the entire burden is on them.
However, ZRA Inspector of Taxes-Central Region, Lloyd Chilufya, said the authority was working cautiously to ensure that there is mutual understanding between the revenue authority and the general public.
Mr. Chilufya said ZRA has been going round the community explaining the same tax since it re-enforcement of the law.
He said there has been great response from both the tenants and the landlords so far.
“We have been carrying out some door-to-door sensitisations in the communities and because of that, we have seen a lot of landlords and tenants alike, coming to either register or pay their tax,’’ he explained.
And another officer from ZRA, Musonda Kalenga, who is the Regional Inspector of Taxes and Tax Payers Taxes, expressed surprise that a lot of people are thinking that the withholding tax law was a new tax enforcement when it has been in existence for a long time.
Mr. Kalenga said the withholding tax is an old Act of tax and that it should not even be politicised because it has always been there.
He said the only problem is that a lot of people have not complied despite knowing about its existence.
“This tax has always been there but deliberately and unfortunately, just like any tax, a lot of people have not been complying, not because they do not know about it but because they do not want to comply,” he said.
Mr. Kalenga complained that it is typical of most Zambians to avoid paying tax and that it has always been difficult to get them to pay because they always want to be forced.
He however said ZRA will work with the media to ensure that everyone is made aware of the withholding tax adding that necessary mechanisms are being put in place to ensure that everyone is well-informed.
He has since appealed to the general public to also take keen interest in visiting the revenue office to enquire on various issues regarding tax compliance.
