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The Zambia Union of Journalists says it is greatly concerned over what it perceives as favouritism from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services concerning the payment of salaries at the institutions that are under the government umbrella.
This is in relation to a statement issued by the Ministry of Information acting Permanent Secretary Mr Beaton Kaluba on Wednesday that government has released more than K10m towards the costs of salaries for the employees at the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZBNC).
“While ZUJ is happy that colleagues at the ZNBC have had their issues resolved, it remains extremely disturbed that the same Ministry has been paying a blind eye to the issues at the Times Printpak which have been going on for over four years now,” says Shamaoma Musonda, President of the Zambia Union of Journalists.
Mr Musonda observed that at ZNBC, the salary arrears are less than a month while at Times of Zambia employees are owed up to seven months in arrears and this is the matter that the Ministry of Information is well aware of.
He said ZUJ has spoken to the Ministry about the issue on several occasions but nothing has been done.
“The problem of arrears at the Times Printpak has been around and in public domain for a long time but the Ministry has not cared to address them. But when another wing of the Ministry complains, it has jumped with supersonic speed to address their concerns in less than a month,” he said.
He added, “We are made to believe that all public media institutions are the ‘children’ of the government and as such the cake must be shared equitably. However, this kind of selectiveness in the distribution of funds by the Ministry to the public institutions is highly demoralizing because employees have been putting in a lot of work under difficult conditions yet their arrears keep on escalating.”
Mr Musonda said it is further disturbing when an organ as important as Parliament is misinformed that employees at the Times Printpak are sometimes paid twice a month when the reality is the opposite.
“If employees are paid twice a month, why would arrears be increasing? About a year ago, arrears were at four months but they have escalated to eight months. We ask for honesty and sincerity from people who inform the Minister about the unfortunate happenings at the Times of Zambia. We believe that involving all parties including the union, who are key stakeholders, is the best way to get accurate information,” he said.
Mr Musonda said the Ministry of Information should address problems at the Times of Zambia with the same urgency it has dealt with one month salary arrears at the public broadcaster.
“We are now wondering whether government wants work at the Times of Zambia to be halted for them to intervene. We also urged government through the Ministry of Finance to collect about K11 million that the Times of Zambia and Zambia Daily Mail are owed by various government institutions through unpaid for advisements. This debt has been outstanding for sometimes now and it can go a long way in sorting out problems at the two biggest newspapers in the country. These salary arrears have led to untold misery for the employees whose salaries are also among the lowest compared to other similar government institutions,” he said.
The Zambia National Education Coalition has revealed that over 800,000 children are out of school across the country.
Speaking during the launch of the Community Action for Out of School Children Project commissioned by the Zambia Open Community School, ZANEC Chairperson Kabika Kakunta said it is painful to note that the country has over 800, 000 children who are out of school.
Mr Kakunta said the project launched brings new hope for out of school children.
He has called upon the ZANEC member organisations that will be successfully awarded resources to implement the project and to carry out the planned activities in an exemplary manner that will allow for results.
Mr Kakunta also urged the member organisations to ensure prudent use and accountability for all resources to be provided in the course of implementation.
He said it is hopeful that this strategy that ZOCS has undertaken will result in a reduction of the number of out of school children.
A 20 year old woman of Zambezi district has died after being attacked by a crocodile along Makondo River whilst fishing.
Northwestern Province Commissioner of Police Hudson Namachila said the body of Mijet Mapeni of Chakujimbula village in Chieftainess Nyakuleng’a’s area was found floating and trapped by the trees about ten meters away from where she was caught from.
Mr Namachila told ZANIS in Solwezi that Mijet’s body which was in a decomposed state has since been retrieved and buried because no foul play was suspected.
Meanwhile, another 20 year old female is nursing injuries she sustained after a crocodile attack along Lunuyi stream in Dipalata area in Zambezi district.
Mr Namachila named the survivor as Marjory Njapau of Kadiombo village in Chieftainess Nyakuleng’a’s area who was attacked by the reptile when she went to take a bath.
He said Marjory survived with multiple body injuries and is admitted to Zambezi district hospital adding that her condition is reportedly to be stable.
President Edgar Lungu delivers his speech during the State of the Nation address at Parliament Buildings
President Edgar Lungu has expressed concern at the high levels of alcohol and substance abuse among the youths.
President Lungu observed that the abuse of alcohol has contributed to moral decay among the young people.
He said lack of inactivity is leading youths to indulge in substance abuse.
However, President Lungu has revealed that government is making steady progress in strengthening the enforcement of the relevant laws and regulations so as to curb alcohol and substance abuse.
The Head of State said this when He addressed the second meeting of the second session of the twelfth National Assembly, on the progress made in the application of national values and principles.
President Lungu told the house that government has intensified the implementation of youth empowerment programmes aimed at equipping the youths with skills, equipment and start up capital for income generating activities.
He also disclosed that last year 2,667 youths street vendors were empowered with loans while an additional 1,000 youths were empowered with motorised cargo tricycles.
And commenting on the sporting fraternity, President Lungu says government is implementing the anti doping programme.
President Lungu said the programme is aimed at sensitizing athletes, sports administrators, coaches, physical education teachers and youths against the dangers of taking performance enhancing substance.
He disclosed that 5,400 individuals have been trained so far in five provinces.
Commenting on child marriage, The Head of State said government said is in a process of implementing a five year national strategy on ending child marriage.
He explained that the national strategy is aimed at achieving 40 percent reduction of child marriages by 2021.
President Lungu said the strategy also highlights the causes and consequences of harmful traditional practices that encourage early marriages.
The President said government is working with traditional leaders as they are the custodians of customs and traditions.
He noted that 80 chiefs and 84 headmen have been oriented on the harmful effects of early marriages and teenage pregnancies in 2017.
President Lungu maintained that traditional leaders are important players in ending child marriages.
When most parents and caregivers receive their children’s report cards, what they care about is whether or not their child got an A or 95% in Mathematics, Science, and English. They may also be curious about their child’s ranking in class, “are you the first, second, or 25th in class?!” However, what if schools also measured and reported on a student’s character strengths and weaknesses? These are the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual, and can include factors like, how resilient is the student? How empathetic are they to other students? Do they demonstrate purpose and determination in school?
Many African countries, including Zambia, are facing challenges in the education sector. Schools often have poor infrastructure and lack the resources (including books, desks, trained teachers) needed for children to effectively learn. Teachers are overwhelmed with large class sizes and low salaries. Poverty is also a hindrance to learning, as many school children are often under-fed and neglected at home. Well, numerous studies have shown that teaching children to build character strengths like grit, purpose, and curiosity can help them achieve academic success even if their life circumstances are difficult.
In fact, even top-performing institutions in the U.S. like Riverdale Country School in New York City have started to teach and assess kids on character strengths like curiosity, grit, and growth mindset, in addition to regular grading, as they believe that these qualities are as important as IQ and economic status to a child’s success in school and life.
Building character strength in children can help us find solutions to our biggest problems.
It’s vital that we start to teach kids to build character because Africa’s future is more dependent on people who are problem solvers, rather than book smart. Think of the William Kamkwamba, who provided electricity to his village by building a windmill out of garbage when he was just 14. No math equation can teach kids to do that, instead, it’s a combination of knowledge, a curious mind, and determination.
The new educational cartoon show, Ubongo Kids on ZNBC, teaches children math and science skills while also developing character strengths that build a love of learning. Produced by Ubongo Learning, a Tanzania-based edutainment company, Ubongo Kids shows children that basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work, rather than just brains and talent. Airing on Saturdays at 10 am, the African-made cartoon show aims to help children in Zambia do well in school, as well as prepare them to take risks, learn from their failures, and positively contribute to society as a whole.
The future belongs to the young, but especially in Africa where nearly 50% of the population is under the age of 15, making it the world’s most youthful continent. It’s not uncommon for government officials, African parents and even foreign experts to say that “the youth of Africa will solve some of the continent’s most challenging problems”. But this can only be true if we invest in educating African children to be curious learners who aren’t afraid to fail and are resilient in the pursuit of their goals.
As a scientist and an academician, I feel duty bound to write on the captioned subject. I have Lectured at University of Zambia and Apex Medical Universities. Having been grounded in real hands on world class Research and having worked with several scientists in Europe and USA, I feel it’s an insult to call some individuals in Zambia as Professors. I am so ashamed when I look at credentials of some academicians in Zambia who have been awarded professorial positions and this cuts across private universities and GRZ Universities such UNZA, CBU, UNILAS, CAVENDISH and ZICAS etc.
I know some academic enemies of progress will be saying Larry niwa ka lijo, to be honest I may be even more qualified than some of these individuals you call Professors. As for me, I would rather earn my professorship on merit, that’s why I made sure for all my five academic degrees I had to go for full time class and sit for exams at the universities and no free bees, because this is more fulfilling than buying your way to be awarded a title.
Most of these Professors in Zambia have the highest qualification as Masters, and may have never even been readers or associate professors and out of the blues you will just hear that so and so is now a full professor at CBU school of medicine or at Unza school Business Studies etc. Ask them how many scientific publications they have made as first authors in a high impact factor journal? Nothing! Ask them if they have authored any text book? Nothing! Listen I am not talking about Pharmaceutical Society of Zambia Journal or The Zambia Journal of Medicine Publications, or some crazy Indian journals No!! I am talking about Journals such as Lancet, Elsevier, Angewandte etc.
WHAT ARE THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENTS FOR ONE TO BE A PROFESSOR
1. He/ She must have PhD doctorate Qualification
2. A minimum 15 to 20 Publications in high impact factor international Journals
3. Academic Teaching and Research Experience not less than 15 years
4. Authored an Academic Textbook in a field of their expertise
The big question is, do these professors meet the minimum requirements? Google or ask them about their academic credentials and profile?
Let me know your opinion.
Youth Day parade commander Kabulonga boys pupil Castor Chama.Various groups of youth spotted at Lusaka Freedom statue.Chaplaincy teamVarious groups of youth spotted at Lusaka Freedom statue.Opposition National Revolution Party President Dr Cosmo Mumba and his family.Service chiefs laying wreathsService chiefs laying wreathsYouth representatives Wezi Siwale and Akapelwa MuyangwaPart of diplomats accredited to Zambia laying wreaths.Gun salute to the departed youthVarious groups of youth spotted at Lusaka Freedom statueCompetition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) Assistant Administrative Officer Angela Chikwete (l) distributes fliers to the audience at a road show event during the commemoration of World Consumer Rights Day in MonguCCPC Western Province Organizing Committee Chairperson Margaret Mutambo (c) sensitizes the shop owner (r) as CCPC Western Province Economist Bravo Muchuu (l) looks on during the commemoration of World Consumer Rights Day in MonguKas-Nalu (l) and her dancers performing during the commemoration of World Consumer Rights Day in MonguActing President Defense Minister Davies Chama with service chiefs at Lusaka Freedom Statue.Acting President Defense Minister Davies Chama laying wreaths.Acting President Defense Minister Davies Chama laying wreaths.-Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Dr. Jabbin Mulwanda and USA Ambassador to Zambia Denial Foote cutting the to officially handover and official opening of the Viroload Lab Machine (Molecular Biology Laboratory) at Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital
A marketeers selling their food staff near dirty water ponds at Soweto Market areaMinister of Local Government Vincent Mwale ordering marketeers stop selling their food staff of the dirty water ponds during the tour markets at Soweto Market areaMinister of Local Government Vincent Mwale ordering marketeers stop selling their food staff of the dirty water ponds during the tour markets at Soweto Market areaAlmost 60% work done at BH market in SowetoZNS Engineer Captain Mabvuto Lungu chats with DMMU Coordinator Yende Mwape during the tour markets at Simon Mwelwa MarketMinister of Local Government Vincent Mwale flanked by DMMU Coordinator Yende Mwape talking to ZNS Engineer Captain Mabvuto Lungu on the progress at Simon Mwelwe Market during the tour markets at Simon Mwelwa MarketZNS officers busy working at Simon MwelwaZNS officers busy working at Simon MwelwaZNS officers busy working at Simon MwelwaZNS Engineer Captain Mabvuto Lungu showing around Minister of Local Government Vincent Mwale and his entourage on the progress at Simon Mwelwe Market during the tour markets at Simon Mwelwa MarketZNS officers busy working at Simon MwelwaMinister of Local Government Vincent Mwale with Permanent Secretary Amos Malupenga and DMMU Coordinator Yende Mwape checking in the progress at Tokyo market in Kamwala during the tour marketsZNS officers busy working at Simon Mwelwa
The Lusaka City Council has removed 75 billboards from the streets.
Council Acting Public Relations Manager George Sichimba said this follows the exercise of regulating the placement of billboards in the city which started in January this year.
Mr. Sichimba said the exercise is meant to restore sanity in the manner billboards are erected and displayed in the city in line with the Local Government Act Cap 281 of the Laws of Zambia.
He said out of the 75 billboards removed, 35 were removed because they were illegally and wrongly mounted on street poles thereby posing a danger to motorists and pedestrians alike.
Mr Sichimba said 16 billboards were removed for being illegally erected at roundabouts when in fact Council does not issue planning permission for billboards at roundabouts for safety reasons.
He said 12 billboards were removed for obstructing traffic lights and the other 10 were removed for obstructing legally erected billboards.
“The latest billboards to be brought down were the two depicting Honourables Bowman Lusambo and Margaret Mwanakatwe along Independence Avenue at the High Court of Zambia. The two billboards were brought down for lacking identity of the advertiser and being erected without planning permission from the local authority. The Council wishes to advise advertisers that street poles and road reserves are a property of LCC and planning permission should be sought before mounting any billboards.” Mr Sichimba said.
Meanwhile, Mr Sichimba said LCC has observed with disappointment that some people are placing booths in some areas without planning permission from the Council.
He said this vice is common in the central business district (CBD) where people are taking advantage of space left by vendors to place booths.
“The individuals who are doing so should realise that what they are doing is not different from street vending. Such individuals should not cry foul when the local authority acts to demolish their illegally placed booths. LCC is in the process of re-organising the business requiring booths so that they are placed only in suitable places. This is also meant to bring sanity to the city,” Mr Sichimba said.
Anti Corruption watchdog, the Southern Africa Network Against Corruption (SANAC) has written to the Minister of Information Dora Siliya over the TopStar Digital Migration deal.
The organisation says the TopStar deal is one the biggest financial scandals in modern day Zambia noting that whereas other Countries in the Continent have spent far less, the Zambian digital migration deal is the most expensive in Africa costing government a whopping $282 million.
The Network says Botswana has spent $18 million while South Africa, which has a far bigger population and geographical orientation, spent $78 million.
“The Govt adopted a phased approach to digital switch on and analogue switch off, phased as; phase 1, Line of Rail, Phase 2, Provincial Centers and phase 3 being Remote Sites. Phase one (line of rail) included four (04) Provinces.
These are Southern, Lusaka, Central and the Copperbelt Provinces. This first phase costed Govt $9 million. In 2017, the Govt of the Republic of Zambia, through the Zambia Information Technology Agency (ZICTA) issued a Public Signal distribution License to TopStar, a company that was created between the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) and Star Times of China. It was agreed in this deal that ZNBC shall get 40% Shareholding, whereas TopStar shall get 60%. Through TopStar, the Govt of the Republic of Zambia borrowed $273 million for purposes of completing the remaining phases of the exercise,” it said in statement.
“In 2011, the Zambia Digital Migration Task force announced that Zambia needed $30 million to carry out a successful digital migration. This figure resonates well with what other countries in the continent spent. It is surprising that the figures changed after the Chinese came on board.”
The Network said the $273 million cannot be justified describing it is theft whose perpetrators must be brought to book.
“In the TopStar deal, Govt disregarded the policy guidelines and indeed the set out Laws. According to Digital Migration Policy, Govt transformed the Licensing framework into two broad licensing categories namely; Content Service Provider License and Signal distributor License. In addition, no single entity was to hold both types of License at the same time. However, TopStar was given both types of License at the same time. The implication of this is that TopStar plays both the role of carrying signal as well as providing content, against the Law. We wish to know what motivated the authority to disregard the Law with impunity,” they demanded.
It said the decision to give TopStar both Licenses without regarding the provision of the law has undermined competition and created a situation in which Local Media Houses are losing income because their operations have been adversely affected.
“ In the policy, there is a further direction that the License shall have two broad categories, namely, free-to-air television broadcasting services capable of being received without the payment of a subscription fee, and the Subscription television broadcasting services provided in exchange for payment of a subscription. Most of our local television stations fall in the category of free to air, but by 1 October, TopStar encrypted all the local channels without any agreement with the local television station owners, thus making them pay Tv stations, against the owners’ initial business intention,” it said.
“Prior to the issuance of these Licenses to TopStar, ZNBC was the interim signal carrier allowing all broadcasters to transmit their signals via free-to-air Licenses. During this period, local broadcasters were able to access end-user customers across the country and could secure income through advertisements targeted at the intended audiences.
Broadcasters on free to air channels earn their income exclusively through advertisements. Following the acquisition of the Licenses, TopStar has among others, scrambled the signal access by end users to local media broadcasters’ content, Local content providers (local TV Stations) are now required to pay monthly carriage fees to TopStar to have their content aired, TopStar is demanding K700, 000 per month; this is way above the expected standard charges for carriage of signal by a signal distributor, has encrypted the content provider channels much to the disadvantage of the local Tv stations, thereby creating unfair business practices such that TopStar is now taking away advertising meant for the local Tv Stations.”
It charged that since TopStar started charging subscription, they have been making about K24 million every month adding that it is therefore inconceivable that TopStar is failing to pay ZNBC workers on time.
“Since by implication, TopStar has transformed the local television channels into pay Tv channels, it therefore makes logical sense for TopStar to star sharing the local Tv channels, the money they are making from subscriptions,” he said.
Octavia Spencer: Looks like matching your jewels with your gown was a trend at the Oscars this year! I love Octavia Spencer’s emerald earrings paired with her emerald green dress. Gorgeous!
Coloured gemstones such as the emeralds from Zambia’s world-beating Kagem mine in Lufwanyama were in the spotlight at this year’s glittering Oscars Awards in Hollywood.
A regular on red carpets everywhere, fine emeralds have taken on renewed popularity thanks to the promotion by London-based Gemfields, which owns 75 percent of Kagem in a model partnership with the Zambian government.
US TV host and style blogger Louise Roe, who took over Gemfields’ Instagram Stories for the big night, gave us a rare glimpse behind the scenes at the Oscars, to share her favourite looks.
“Looks like matching your jewels with your gown was a trend at the Oscars this year! I love Octavia Spencer’s emerald earrings paired with her emerald green dress. Gorgeous!” said Louise of the award winning actress and Oscar nominee Octavia Spencer’s ensemble.
Other celebrities enamoured with colour included the beautiful Camila Alves and Olympic skier Lindsey who went with rubies, while actresses Helen Mirren and Jennifer Garner opted for sapphires.
Lindsey Vonn: From the Olympics to the Oscars! This ruby necklace worn by Lindsey Vonn was just so epic, topping off her opulent red carpet look just perfectly.
Louise herself donned an array of striking rubies to complete her fresh but chic look, wearing stunning Fabergé ruby marquise and cushion cut rings, paired with elegant Seraphina Wing Earrings by GFG Jewellery, all featuring Gemfields rubies, sourced in Mozambique.
She has this to say about the burst of colour from the rest of the ladies on the carpet;
Camila Alves: I love this stunning necklace with teardrop rubies, worn by the gorgeous Camila Alves – it’s the perfect adornment for her plunging white dress, and so cute that it matches her hubby’s bowtie.
Helen Mirren: Ever a queen on the red carpet, I love how Helen Mirren’s giant sapphires matched her simple blue gown. So timeless and chic!
Jennifer Garner: Jennifer Garner also had a matching moment with these beautiful sapphire drop earrings and her asymmetrical gown. She’s always one to stun on the red carpet.
Gemfields’ progressive approach to transparency and responsibly sourced emeralds has put it ahead of its counterparts in the sector. Its unprecedented mine-to-market strategy through selective partnerships with the world’s leading coloured gemstones dealers and manufacturers, as well as ownership of luxury brand Fabergé, is transforming the industry.
Camila Alves: I love this stunning necklace with teardrop rubies, worn by the gorgeous Camila Alves – it’s the perfect adornment for her plunging white dress, and so cute that it matches her hubby’s bowtie.
Gemfields’ coloured gemstones can be purchased in iconic brands and cutting-edge designers, allowing consumers to choose responsible sourced gemstones regardless of their style and budget.
Jennifer Garner: Jennifer Garner also had a matching moment with these beautiful sapphire drop earrings and her asymmetrical gown. She’s always one to stun on the red carpet.
The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia has condemned in the strongest terms the harassment of journalists from public media houses at the National Democratic Congress (NDC) press briefing this morning.
Journalists from public media institutions like the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC), Times of Zambia and Zambia Daily Mail newspapers were on Thursday chased from the press briefing which was held on Lewanika close, off Brentwood drive in Kabulonga on claims that they only publish negative stories about the NDC.
ZNBC journalists Brian Mwale was among those verbally harassed and sent out of the press briefing by the NDC sympathizers.
According to MISA Zambia investigations, all public media journalists were chased from covering the briefing based on the aforementioned claims.
“We would like to condemn this act in the strongest terms as it is an infringement on media freedoms and rights.
Further, it is vital to note that if the NDC is aggrieved as regards media conduct, it should direct such complaints to the rights stakeholders and not harass reporters. Such acts are meant to intimidate the media and obstruct them from news and information gathering during their line of duty,” said MISA Zambia Chairperson Hellen Mwale.
Ms. Mwale added, “MISA Zambia however wishes to commend the police who were present at the briefing for protecting the public media from physical harassment by NDC youths. MISA Zambia therefore appeals to political parties and members of the public to desist from harassing the media as they carry out their duties.”
The announced reopening of the Copperbelt University on 25th March 2018 remains in doubt after unionised workers vowed to not report for work.
The workers are demanding the sacking of Vice Chancellor Prof. Nason Ngoma accusing him of incompetence.
On Thursday, the Copperbelt University Senate announced that the university will re-open on 25th March 2018.
But CBU University Academics Executive Committee President Derrick Ntalasha has disclosed that despite pending issues affecting members of staff and lecturers not addressed, the Senate has resolved that the institution will go ahead and re-open on March 25th.
Mr. Ntalasha has however indicated that the three university unions namely, Copperbelt University and allied workers union, Copperbelt University Senior Administrative and Technical Staff Union and Copperbelt University academics union have vowed not to report for work if their issues are not addressed before the re-opening date.
He said it is regrettable that the Senate is rushing to reopen the institution without resolving the key issue of Prof. Ngoma’s stay at the office.
On 5 January 2018, a statement was issued by Copperbelt University Registrar Helen Mukumba saying the University was postponing all scheduled examinations to a date to be announced.
“In this regard, all students currently accommodated in the students’ hostels at all campuses should vacate the hostels with immediate effect. Examinations that were scheduled to be written during this period have been postponed and new dates will be communicated,” she had said.
Late last year, Health Minister Dr Chitalu Chilufya invoked provisions of the country’s Public Health Act and issued a Statutory Instrument 79 which outlawed public gatherings in cholera-affected areas.
Opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema has demanded that government must come clean on the alleged plunder of national resources during President Edgar Lungu’s foreign trips.
Mr Hichilema stated that the leaked dossier as published by the News Diggers on the abuse of public resources by President Lungu and his PF leadership cannot be taken lightly.
He has since called on all those mentioned and the entire government machinery to own up and come out clean.
Mr Hichilema said the dossier is a clear testimony of the levels of recklessness, extravagance, contempt and patronage with which President Lungu and his administration holds their offices, which he said they dubiously obtained from the Zambian people.
“Being custodians of public wealth is a noble and sacred responsibility but these people care less as can be seen from this waste of scarce resources that are supposed to be channelled to needy and critical areas like health, education, farming and the fight against poverty,” the UPND Leader said.
HH
“To imagine that at a time like this where students have had no bursaries in learning institutions both at home and abroad, where farmers’ input provision in the last season was not prioritised and regarded as critical, where our citizens were dying of cholera and other water borne diseases in hospitals and clinics that have no drugs and clean running water, and yet Edgar Lungu and his large entourage were busy lavishly spending taxpayers’ money shopping in exclusive designer boutiques,” he said.
Mr Hichilema stated, “They were busy chartering cruise liners and expensive chauffeur driven limousines and hiring special cargo removal services to repatriate their made to measure merchandise while the country is struggling with poverty and the economy is on its knees, is just something we find abominable and absolutely despicable. What really are the roles and purposes of all these PF cadres and cronies including ‘bedroom attendants’ named in the published dossier and all at taxpayers cost?” he questioned.
He said Zambian people are being forced into destitution by addition of more and more taxes under the Health Insurance Bill just to fund expensive tastes for President Lungu and his State House Staff and other Government officials, whose insatiable appetite for reckless expenditure is now in competition with Hollywood.
“We have always been questioning Edgar Lungu’s numerous trips abroad and their relevance to the country, but there has already been justification that they were beneficial to the country and that we were just bitter and envious of their new found luck. Based on this dossier, it is more important for Edgar Lungu and his large entourage to be in foreign countries to dance the whole night, hire luxury limousines, take part in walking safaris, hire shipping cargoe services as compared to the life of that poor Zambian child in the streets and villages, learning in grass thatched school roofs leaking with rain water, and sitting on bricks and bamboo desks.”
According to the dossier sent by a whistleblower which details part of the cash transactions made on one of President Lungu’s trips to the United Nations in September 2015, the Treasury deposited over K17 million for various logistics, but some of it was spent on unexplained costs at Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas Texas, limousine hires, dinner dance cruises and walking safaris.
The document also shows that millions were spent on shipping cargo for government officials by Air See Land shipping company of New York, a transport firm that is specialised in providing a range of moving services to the Diplomatic Community, corporate entities, individuals and government employees.
Some amounts were spent on shopping in various department stores including the International Jack’s place phone accessory shop in New York and Innovation luggage store on Broadway, New York.
But State House press aide Amos Chanda on Thursday told Journalists that the dossier could have been doctored.
And News Diggers! has confirmed that the President’s delegation on international trip was not as small as State House and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs claimed.
On the New York trip, government sponsored PF officials including deputy secretary general Mumbi Phiri and media director Sunday Chanda, PMRC executive director Bernadette Deka, musicians as well as traditional leaders.
And on a State Visit to China in March 2015, President Lungu travelled with 20 senior government officials and State House staff, 16 ministry officials and secretaries, 21 security personnel and 11 journalists, all paid for by the Treasury.
President Lungu’s senior delegation List to China departed on March 28 and returned April 1, 2015:
1. Esther Lungu (First Lady)
2. Harry Kalaba (Foreign Affairs Minister)
3. Margaret Mwanakatwe (Commerce Minister)
4. Lt Gen Paul Mihova (Zambia Army Commander)
5. Peter Kasonda (Deputy Secretary to Cabinet)
6. Amos Chanda (Press Aide)
7. Kaiza Zulu (Political Advisor)
8. Mwinga Hibeene (Economic Advisor)
9. Lucky Mulusa (Projects advisor)
10. Godwin Phiri (Police commissioner)
11. Dr Dorothy Kasanda
12. Dr Mwinga Sheyo
13. Yobe Luhana (police staff)
14. Mark Paul Nyirongo (police staff)
15. Chanda Chisanga (President ADC)
16. Kenneth Ngulube (Mihova’s ADC)
17. Sandra Ngushi (First Lady’s secretary)
18. Daniel Siwo (Private secretary)
19. Bertha Mutale (President’s Secretary)
20. Salim Henry (President’s photographer)
Advance party departed on March 25 and return on April 4, 2015:
Minister of Local Government Vincent Mwale ordering marketeers stop selling their food staff of the dirty water ponds during the tour markets at Soweto Market area
Minister of Local Government Vincent Mwale says traders that were removed from the streets will not go back as government is providing conducive trading places for them.
Mr. Mwale explains that Tokyo and Simon Mwewa markets that are being put up are meant to carter for all traders.
He adds that BH Soweto annex will accommodate vegetable and fruit traders while the Agro Fuel Lumumba market will be allocated to traders dealing in second hand clothing.
The Minister said this in Lusaka yesterday when he inspected ongoing works for the four markets along with Local Government Permanent Secretary Amos Malupenga and Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit National Coordinator Yande Mwape.
Mr. Mwale indicated that traders in city market will also be allocated stands to pave way for the mining company that has pledged to construct the new city market to move on site.
Meanwhile, the DMMU National Coordinator said an inventory has already been done and that traders who were displaced will be given priority in allocation of stands.
