Womens Day in Pictures
Australia based ,Zambian artist ,Sampa the Great wins Australian Music prize for best album of 2017
Hip-hop artist Sampa the Great has won the 13th Australian Music prize for her debut album Birds and the Bee9.
Sampa, whose full name is Sampa Tembo, beat eight other shortlisted artists, including Paul Kelly and Jen Cloher, to take out the annual $30,000 prize for best Australian album of 2017.
Born in Zambia but now based in Sydney, Sampa said upon winning: “I didn’t see any of this in my periphery when coming to Australia.”
“BBEE9 came out of a point in my life that was very hard to navigate and to see soo much love come out of all that confusion is humbling. The time is now” she added
Previous winners of the prize are Indigenous hip-hop artists AB Original, singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett, and rock bands Augie March, the Drones and the Jezabels.
Prize judge Mikey Cahill described Sampa’s album as having “an openness to the future”, saying she was a poet “using hip hop and soul to connect and hit the ground gunning”.
More than 400 albums were eligible for the award this year, which was presented on Friday in Me. The other shortlisted albums were: Second of Spring by Beaches; Intimacy & Isolation by Darcy Baylis; Chrome Halo by HTMLflowers; Jen Cloher’s self-titled album; Wallflower by Jordan Rakei; TFCF by Liars; Life is Fine by Paul Kelly; and The Vampires Meet Lionel Loueke by the Vampires.
The prize has been running since 2005. It is voted on by a panel of music industry figures, journalists and other artists, and is funded by music licensing organisation PPCA.
(Source :The Guardian)
UTH doctor convicted for possessing counterfeit notes
A Pathologist at Lusaka’s University Teaching Hospital (UTH) has been convicted for possessing US$84,100 fake bank notes. Dr. Maswahu of Kabwata township admitted to being in possession of the counterfeit notes.
The court asked him whether it was true he was caught with the US$84,100 fake notes when the matter came up to which he responded in the affirmative.
His sentence has however been reserved to March 13 this year and he was remanded in custody.
In this matter the convict was facing one count of being in possession of counterfeit notes in the said value on March 14,2017.
The case came up on 5th March for facts which were read out by Drug Enforcement Commission DEC prosecutor Change Jere before Magistrate David Simusamba.
He informed the court that the convict was apprehended at Lusaka’s Levy Mall Shopping in a taxi where he was transacting.This was through DEC’s informers who spotted him at Levy Mall conducting the said business and thwarted the transaction in a hired taxi.
The officers nabbed both the doctor and the taxi driver who were taken to DEC offices and searched the bag which the convict was carrying.
“It was revealed that the bag contained five pieces of one hundred fake notes and eight hundred pieces of hundred counterfeit notes all valued at US$84,100,”.
The prosecutor also applied to have the said counterfeit notes forfeited to the state.
Government under Ministry of Youth sets aside K 48.2 million for youths-Mwanakatwe
Finance Minister, Margaret Mwanakatwe has said this year’s International Women’s Day theme is a call for everyone to ensure that Developmental programmes are implemented without leaving anyone behind as the country seeks to attain middle income status by the year 2030.
Speaking when she officiated at the International Women’s Day held at
St. Luke’s Nursing School in Rufunsa district yesterday, Ms. Mwanakatwe said Government is committed making the country attain the middle income status by 2030 and does not want to leave anyone behind especially the women.
She said Government is committed to achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment as enshrined in the Seventh National Development Plan, the vision 2030, and the sustainable development goals.
Mrs. Mwanakatwe affirmated that action in supporting women led and women influenced community programmes will be prioritized by all stakeholders men included.
The Finance Minister added that Government has put a number of policies and interventions to empower women in both rural and urban areas which include the girl’s education, women empowerment and livelihoods funded by government with support from the World Bank.
Ms. Mwanakatwe further said other budgeted programmes from which women and the youth can benefit include the K48.2 million under the Ministry of Youth and Sport, K42.7 million under the Citizen Economic empowerment Commission, K140 million for the food security pack to benefit 80, 000 vulnerable but viable farmers and K16 million under the ministry of community development to enable 200, 000 beneficiaries to have access to education and health care.
She said all these programmes and policies are aimed at not leaving anyone behind in development and encouraged women to get involved in entrepreneurship as history has shown that business created by women tend to grow in a more exponential and stable manner.
And Rufunsa District Commissioner, Judith Chama appreciated Government for being mindful of the role the women play in the development of the country and urged the women to take advantage of government programmes and policies.
Mrs. Chama further called on the traditional leadership to continue working with government in the fight against gender based violence, early marriages and other vices that retard development.
Government to double beneficiaries of Food Security Pack next year
Community Development and Social Services Minister Emerine Kabanshi has pledged government’s resolve to double the number of beneficiaries of the Food Security Pack (FSP) given to vulnerable members of society next year to ensure food security at household level.
Speaking when she graced the International Women’s Day celebrations in Chililabombwe, Ms. Kabanshi said the food security pack programme has more women beneficiaries than their male counterparts as an effort to reduce poverty and vulnerability among women in the country.
ZANIS reports that Ms. Kabanshi said government is committed to ensuring that girls attained education unlike early marriages which hampers development and is being perpetuated by their vulnerability as a result of poverty.
She said government recognized the fact that gender equity and mainstreaming enhances social economic development hence, the need to nurture women as their participation in national programmes is critical.
The Minister stressed the need to embrace both rural and urban women in empowerment programmes such as the social cash transfer and the food security packs being administered under her Ministry.
Ms. Kabanshi said about 400 000 people that are currently benefitting from the social cash transfer programme are women out of the 590 000 total beneficiaries, an indication of the importance placed on the women folk.
And Chililabombwe Mayor Christabel Mulala called on government to empower more women with farming inputs to ensure they become self-sustaining and food secure.
Ms. Mulala also called for an end of intimidation of women in work places as it negatively affected their contribution to national development.
100 year old woman celebrated
Limulunga District Commissioner Litambo Ndombo says women should be celebrated because they play a vital role in the development of the country.
Speaking when he officiated at this year’s women’s day commemorations at Limulunga Day Secondary School, Mr Ndombo said women in rural areas contribute to food security through farming.
And speaking at the same function, Limulunga East Women Club Chairperson, Mundia Mulapani urged women to take up an active role in income generating activities to contribute to the development of the country.
Mrs. Mundia said when women are empowerment, many people benefit from their various initiatives.
During the celebrations, the Club donated various food staffs, a blanket and other necessities to a 100 years old woman of Limulunga from the profit of their businesses.
Meanwhile, an entrepreneur specialised in knitting doormats, Georgina Namakau said women should not look down on themselves.
Ms. Namakau who is a former inmate said she has continued to utilize the skills she acquired while in custody and is now able to raise revenue to sustain her livelihood.
She has since urged women to be financially independent and contribute to the well-being of their families and society.
Do you want Government to print Ballot papers from your house, Davies Mwila asks HH.
Patriotic Front Secretary General, Davies Mwila has challenged Opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema to tell the Zambian people where he wants Government to print ballot papers from following his latest protest against Government’s decision to print the 2021 ballot papers within Zambia.
Speaking when he welcomed 442 defectors from the opposition UPND in Luano District of Central Province, Mr Mwila wondered why Mr Hakainde Hichilema is against the printing of Ballot papers locally when he is the same person who condemned the printing of ballot papers abroad claiming that the PF was rigging the elections through printing of Ballot papers abroad.
Mr Mwila challenged Mr Hichilema to tell the Zambian people whether he wants Government to print the ballot papers from his home since he was uncomfortable with Government printing the ballot papers locally and internationally.
Mr. Mwila welcomed the defectors and encouraged them to feel free to participate in all PF activities since they were now bonafide. members of the Party.
This week Mr Hichilema said that the intentions by Government to print the ballot papers for the next general elections locally is a ploy to manipulate the elections by PF.
“They want to print ballot papers here so that they can basically steal the vote. The reason they want to do that is to steal the vote. We don’t want Government Printers to print the ballot papers so that PF can steal the elections again, No,” Mr Hichilema said.
Mr Hichilema also warned the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) that the party was against the electronic voting and transmission of election results in the future.
Mr Hichilema said: “Secondly, we do not want electronic voting, because if they were able to take someone in the computer room, in the server room at Mulungushi, now imagine you are voting electronically, somebody can manipulate the results given today’s technology. What we want is manual voting and manual counting. And we want our G12 in every polling station.”
Zesco face Nkana in Charity Shield final
Zesco United and Nkana meet in the 2018 Charity Shield final on Saturday at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka.
The match is a repeat of the 2017 final that Zesco won 2-0.
Interestingly, Zesco and Nkana also come into the match after losing their respective first competitive matches of the 2018 campaign.
Zesco were beaten 1-0 in their 2018 CAF Champions League pregroup stage home game on Wednesday by ASEC Mimosa of Cote d’Ivoire on March 7 in Ndola.
Nkana lost 24 hours earlier after a stinging 3-0 away loss in Algeria to CR Belouizdad.
Meanwhile, Nkana come into the match without influential striker Water Bwalya who sustained a knee injury in that loss in Algeria and is now battling to be fit for the final leg on March 17 in Kitwe against Belouizdad.
But Nkana coach Beston Chambeshi will still have enough firepower to face Belouizdad with Festus Mbewe, Idris Mbombo and Ronald Kampamba are all available.
Furthermore, the match will see Mbombo reunited with his ex-club Zesco where he spent two seasons there until he moved to Saudi Arabia club Al Shabab in July and shortly thereafter loaned back to Nkana in January.
Zesco, though, have little to worry about in terms of depth in front in their quest to retain the Charity Shield.
Jesse Were and Nkana’s nemesis Winston Kalengo are both available as the Ndola club seeks its fifth Charity Shield crown.
Barcelona selects Zambia as third youth academy base
Spanish La Liga giants Barcelona have selected Zambia as their third base for a youth football academy in Africa.
In a statement, Barcelona said the academy will be launched in Lusaka this April following last October’s successful soccer junior football camp help in the Zambian capital.
“The FCBEscola Lusaka will be located on the Futsal and Sports Complex in the city, which has two 7-a-side football pitches and four futsal courts, all of which have artificial grass. The first training sessions will feature the almost 300 boys and girls that enjoyed the first FCBCamp Lusaka last October, while the official opening ceremony is scheduled for April 3,” Barcelona stated.
“The promoters of the new FCBEscola Lusaka are aware that this project will be of major importance for the development of young footballing talent in Zambia, and that the full potential of local athletic qualities is currently not being achieved.
” This school means youngsters will be able to use top quality facilities and will work with professional coaches trained at the Barça academy in Barcelona and thereby maximise their performances.”
Zambia Launches YouthConnekt to connect youths to economic resources
Government has launched the YouthConnekt, a platform which connects youths to role models, resources, skills and economic development in the country.
The YouthConnekt platform links young women and men aged between 16-30 with leaders, role models, peers, skills and resources to promote employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.
Vice President Inonge Wina launched the platform which started in Rwanda in 2012 and is being rolled out across Africa with the aim to reduce unemployment among youths and promote active citizenship.
The YouthConnekt platform which the Vice President launched at Government complex in Lusaka ahead of the commemoration of Youth Day is expected to coordinate and nurture collaboration between existing youth empowerment initiatives, hubs and a continental network of youth empowerment experts across Africa.
Mrs. Wina said this year’s Youth Week is special because of the launch of the YouthConnekt Zambia platform which is a roll out of the Africa YouthConnekt which was launched in Kigali in 2012.
Mrs. Wina said the platform is a convener and a catalyst for partnership that taps into the youth people’s potential to lead in development.
The Vice President said Zambian YouthConnekt platform is aimed at exchanging ideas and exploring ways to use ICT and strategic partnerships to unlock the potential of youth and connect them the endless opportunities that the country can offer in the economy.
Mrs. Wina was speaking during the official opening of the National Youth Forum which also marked the official launch of the YouthConnekt Zambia.
The forum which is part of the youth week activities ahead of the youth day provided a space for the young entrepreneurs and innovators exhibition where various exhibitions by young people were displayed.
And united Nations Resident Coordinator Janet Rogan said the youth week is an important time in Zambia to focus not only on the needs of the youths but also on their innovations and ideas.
Ms. Rogan expressed delight to see the enthusiasm of the Zambian government to join the roll out of the YouthConnekt concept which she said can yield massive development dividends for the country if properly established.
Meanwhile, Rwandan High Commissioner to Zambia Monique Mukaruliza disclosed that over 4 million youths have benefitted from the YouthConnekt in that country since inception in 2012.
She said YouthConnekt started in Rwanda as an empowerment initiative for the youth but has become a beneficial tool for the development of Rwanda as a country and expressed gratitude that Zambia has become a member.
This year’s youth day will be commemorated under the theme, “Leveraging opportunities for youth through Information and Communication Technologies.
UPND’s call to Impeach President Lungu laughable-Sunday Chanda
The Ruling Patriotic Front (PF) says it finds the plans by the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) to commence the impeachment process of President Edgar Lungu laughable.
PF Media Director Sunday Chanda said it is surprising that the Opposition party should embark on that when the party (UPND) does not recognize President Lungu as the Head of State.
Speaking through a press statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today, Mr. Chanda stated that whenever the UPND talks about their imaginary petition, they insist on not recognizing that Zambia has a legitimate President in Office.
He said the UPND has since its inception possessed the insatiable desire to overthrow all governments that have existed in its time.
Mr. Chanda added that the party is desperate to take the reins of power using the back door since its formation and cannot be assumed that the drive is motivated by the desire to serve the people but to own up to their creditors and their funders.
He noted that the recurrent call to unseat governments by the UPND whose establishment and operations has heavily benefitted from some mining conglomerate leaves have more questions than answers.
Mr. Chanda explained that the mining giants which once controlled mining operations in the country and later lost their hold when the Zambian government nationalized mining operations in 1973.
He said the conglomerates have never rested since in their quest to regain control of the mineral rights and is their agenda to advance through their allies and stooges on the African continent such as the UPND.
Mr. Chanda said the UPND financiers lost patience a long time ago which explains the party’s insatiable desire to take over power at every chance they imagine.
He further added that from the way they talk it is clear that the party is bankrolled in full and is failing to deliver as promised.
Mr. Chanda said the move to impeach a legitimately elected president is misplaced, ill-conceived and aimed at enriching a few people that have direct contacts to the world of the rich who have an interest in the country’s natural resources especially mineral wealth.
The Media Director has since appealed to Members of Parliament to pick a leaf from the electorate that understands the UPND’S ill intention as they have reportedly rejected its agenda to mortgage the country to a monopoly capital.
UPND Condemned for boycotting International Women’s Day Celebrations.
Spokesperson Spuki Mulemwa says as the biggest opposition political party, the UPND should have allowed their women to take part in the event.
Speaking with ZNBC News, Mr Mulemwa said women’s day is a global event which celebrates the contributions that women have made to the advancement of humanity.
He said there is need for the opposition to look at such events from a broader perspective and not from a political view point.
But UPND Secretary General Steven Katuka said his party stayed away from the event because it did Not receive security guarantees.
However, Minister of Home Affairs Steven Kampyongo has labelled the UPND justification for their absence at the Women’s Day celebrations as baseless.
Mr Kampyongo said other political parties took part in the celebrations and were Not harassed by anyone.
He challenged women in the UPND to do self-introspection and value national days which are above partisan politics.
Mr Kampyongo said security was high at all events to mark women’s day and there was no way that UPND members could have been harassed.
Government to demolish illegal unplanned structures- Lusambo
Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo says government will demolish illegal and unplanned structures that have blocked the drainage system in Lusaka.
Mr. Lusambo signaled the directive to the local authority to urgently, demolish all illegal structures that have blocked the drainage systems without compromise.
The Provincial Minister disclosed that the demolishing of illegal or unplanned structures may have been directed at Lusaka City Council (LCC), but should serve as a warning to the rest of the country as government want to see sanity across the country.
Mr. Lusambo was speaking when he toured Chawama and Misisi compounds in Lusaka today.
He said residents who settled in the unplanned areas will have to be relocated.
Mr. Lusambo reiterated that most of the structures in the shanty compounds are unplanned and government will not relent to demolish them.
He added that it is disastrous for a Capital City to have 15 shanty compounds without planned structures.
The Provincial Minister added that the decision to demolish some illegal structures will help the City to have good drainage systems and the flow of water in the district.
LCC Deputy Mayor Chilando Chitangla affirmed that the local authority will go by government’s directive to demolish the illegal and unplanned structures.
She added that the operation to demolish illegal and unplanned structures that have clogged the drainage system in the city will go as directed.
And Chawama Ward Council Tasila Lungu said there is need to continue planning for good drainage systems that will cushion the flow of water in Lusaka.
She further stated that the call by government to demolish illegal structures that have clogged the drainage systems is a welcome development.
ZRA again extends TPIN registration to end of June 2018
The Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has extended the deadline for application for Tax Payer Identification Numbers (TPIN) from 31st March to 30th June 2018.
Only a total of 406,576 Taxpayer Identifications Numbers (TPINs) have been issued between January 2017 and February 2018.
ZRA Corporate Communications Manager Topsy Sikalinda said the measure has been taken to allow more taxpayers and bank account holders to register and avoid being inconvenienced.
Mr Sikalinda said the authority has also opened an office at the Lusaka Civic Centre and expanded the office at ministry of Lands in Lusaka as part of the decentralization and taking services closer to the people.
He said ZRA will soon further open new offices in selected shopping malls in Lusaka, Ndola and Kitwe.
Meanwhile, the authority is further automating the online TPIN registration process which will allow taxpayers get their TPINs instantly upon application.
“We are already engaging with the Banks through Bankers Association of Zambia (BAZ) to give access to the banks on our TaxOnline portal. This will translate into bank doing actual TPIN registrations for their customers countrywide,” he said.
“The Authority wishes to advise all those that have obtained their TPINs to have them submitted to their respective banks. Under the Income Tax Act Section 45B, it is a legal requirement that every Bank Account Holder should have a Tax Payer Identification Number (TPIN). A TPIN is a unique identification that is useful to anyone currently or intends to deal with ZRA in future,” Mr Sikalinda said.
He added, “It is important to note that ZRA will not be deducting any amount from money deposited into people’s bank accounts and insinuated by sections of social media.”