Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary for Administration Dr. Ronald Simwinga has said the Ministry has embarked on a project to equip all the 38 Zambian Missions abroad with modern facilities that are conducive for diplomats to work, so that they can rise to the challenge of being diplomats in the 21st century.

And Dr. Simwinga has commended Zambia’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom His Excellency Mr. Muyeba Chikonde and his staff for the good work they are doing to raise the Zambian flag high in Economic and Political Diplomacy in the United Kingdom and other countries of extra accreditation.

According to a press statement released to the media by First Secretary for Press and Public Relations at the Zambian High Commission in the United Kingdom, Mrs Abigail Chaponda, Dr. Simwinga commended High Commissioner Chikonde and his staff after he received a supplement that was published in one of the UK’s wide-read Newspaper The Daily Telegraph.

On 28th February 2018 The Daily Telegraph contained in its newsprint in the Business pull out a special feature on Zambia entitled “A Giant Awakes” with an exclusive interview on His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu. The supplement covers an array of topics and interviews with various decision makers in key Ministries, the private sector, the Bank of Zambia and the Industrial Development Cooperation (IDC). In addition to the mainstream areas of investment, the publication celebrates Zambia’s rich cultural heritage and its unity in diversity.

Dr. Simwinga is currently in London attending a preparatory meeting for the forth coming Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit scheduled for the 16th- 20th April 2018.

In an interview after addressing diplomats at Zambia House on Tuesday, Dr. Simwinga said embassies represent the face of Zambia to the outside world
and for many people, it is the first point of contact with its government, therefore, it was imperative for government to ensure a favorable work environment for diplomats.

“To all the diplomats in our different embassies, there is something being worked on to improve the conditions under which you work in terms of work environment and the tools of the trade. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wants to equip all the 38 Missions with the right work environment, with the right equipment, we want our diplomats to operate from buildings that are conducive for diplomats to do their work, we want them to have the right tools, in terms of computers, transports, office accommodation and housing so that they can rise to the challenge of being diplomats in the 21st century,” he said.

And Dr. Simwinga has called upon Zambians in the diaspora to partner with Zambian embassies to help expand Economic Diplomacy as directed by President Edgar Lungu.

“Economic Diplomacy gives a new focus window for Zambians in the diaspora to get involved with embassies, particularly here in the UK. Zambians abroad have a big role to play and now that the embassies are geared to dovetail with the economic growth strategy of the country, this provides a great opportunity for the diaspora to utilise the facilities being offered in the embassies,” he said.

He said a lot of Zambians in the UK were running successful businesses and implored them to partner with the embassy in an effort to develop the country.

“We have a number of Zambians that are running very successful businesses, in the UK, the United States and China. This opens an opportunity for them to partner with embassies and bring their entrepreneur ideas. The relationship between the embassies and the diaspora provides a great conduit for ideas and its ideas that get transformed into enterprises, enterprises create jobs and jobs, create income and income is Gross Domestic Product (GDP),” he said.

Dr. Simwinga said it is the responsibility of Zambians both at home and abroad to work together to develop Zambia adding that it is Zambians who will build Zambia.

PRESS STATEMENT BY THE CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON ON THE DECISIONS MADE BY CABINET AT THE 5TH CABINET MEETING HELD AT STATE HOUSE ON MONDAY, 19TH MARCH, 2018

At the 5^th Cabinet Meeting held on Monday, 19th March, 2018, at State House, Cabinet discussed two (2) substantive Agenda Items in the continued pursuit by His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu and his Cabinet to develop Zambia and improve the general living standards of the people. The Meeting lasted from 10:20 hours to 17:40 hours. The following were the decisions made:

1. The Public Private Partnership (Amendment) Bill, 2018.

Following the presentation of this matter to Cabinet by the Minister of Finance, Cabinet approved that the Bill entitled “The Public-Private Bill, 2018” be approved for publication and introduction in Parliament during the current sitting.

The objects of the draft Bill are to:

(a) revise the functions of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Unit in the department of the Ministry responsible for finance;

(b) revise the functions of the Public Private Partnership Council; and

(c) provide for matters connected with, or incidental to the foregoing.

Cabinet emphasised the need to place the PPP Unit in the Ministry of Finance in order to ensure a well-coordinated private investment prospect in line with Government aspirations on overall national development.

Cabinet appreciates the importance of bringing the private sector to fully participate in the development path the Patriotic Front Government has seriously continued to pursue as seen from the many programmes and projects Government is implementing in many sectors of the economy. While Government will continue to put more money in the area of infrastructure development, such as roads, rail, air transport, hospitals, clinics including universities and secondary and primary schools in all the provinces of the country, Government feels the private sector is a key player in fostering development in Zambia.

It is the hope of Government that with this law in place, the private sector will be able to fully invest their resources in national development as partners with the Government.

2. The Credit Reporting Bill, 2018.

Cabinet with full knowledge that the current sitting of Parliament is mainly to look at the Bills passed by the Executive, the Bill entitled “The Credit Reporting Bill, 2018”, was approved for publication and introduction in Parliament during the current sitting.

The objects of the Bill are to provide for:

(a) the regulation of credit reporting agencies by the Bank of Zambia;

(b) the licensing of credit reporting agencies;

(c) the establishment of a Credit Registry;

(d) the governance and management of credit reporting agencies;

(e) the protection of data subjects;

(f) information sharing and reporting to enable assessment of the credit worthiness of a data subject; and

(g) matters connected with, or incidental to the foregoing.

The introduction of the Credit Reporting Bill, 2018, will provide for a legal framework within which the Bank of Zambia can regulate credit reporting agencies so as to ensure repayment of debt obligations by clients and enhance credit reporting services oversight. Further, the Bill will provide for the protection of the privacy of borrowers.

This Bill, shall also be presented to Parliament during the current sitting.

3. Authorised Share Capital of the Zambia National Building Society.

Cabinet took note of the brief by the Minister of Finance that the authorised share capital of the Zambia National Building Society (ZNBS) was increased from 191,677,538 to 1,341,742,766 by issuance of 1,150,065,228 Class B shares at par value of K0.81 per share giving a total value of K931, 552,834.68. The Minister informed Cabinet that the decision was in line with the ZNBS 2017 Annual General Meeting resolution.

Cabinet noted that it was necessary to increase the authorised share capital for the Society in order to:

(a) lower the costs of mortgagees to make decent housing accessible to ordinary Zambians;

(b) reduce the current housing backlog;

(c) spur activity in the construction sector; and

(d) create employment in the construction sector.

The housing financing sector in Zambia has been facing wide ranging challenges including lack of affordable capital hence the option of increasing the authorised share capital through the issuance of Class B shares. It is envisaged that increased share capital of the Society will result into increased access to cheaper mortgages for low and medium income earners in the country.

Hon. Dora Siliya, MP
MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING SERVICES AND CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON

Eleven (11) Media Heads from private television stations in the country this morning paid a courtesy call on Information and Broadcasting Services Minister and Chief Government Spokesperson Hon. Dora Siliya at her office at the Government Complex in Lusaka.

The Media Heads were from Prime, City, Diamond, Prism Africa, Lumen, Camnet and ABN television stations. Others were from CBC, Revelation, Fresh and Hope Channel Zambia television stations.

Leader of the delegation, Mr. Gerald Shawa, who is proprietor of Prime Television Station said the courtesy call was intended to brief the Hon. Minister on the various issues affecting private television stations across the country.

Mr. Shawa informed the Minister that private television stations were concerned that Top Star, a joint venture company between the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) and Star Times of China had violated the Digital Migration policy by departing from its core object.

He explained that instead of playing its role of a signal distributor, Topstar had also gone into the business of providing pay television services.
Mr. Shawa said this is contrary to what is stipulated in the Digital Migration Policy.

He also told the Hon. Minister that private television stations wanted to be part of the television levy revenue sharing.

Mr. Shawa said private television stations wondered why revenue from the collection of television levy should only be given to ZNBC when members of the public pay the levy to watch different channels on the Topstar bouquet and not ZNBC channel only.

He also expressed concern over the high carriages fees which Topstar is charging private television stations to be carried on its signal around the country. Topstar is charging one point two million kwacha (K1.2M) per month.

Mr. Shawa said most of the private television stations will not manage to pay the fees and this could lead to the collapse of some stations.

In response, Hon. Siliya said Government has a direct interest in seeing that all media in the country flourish.

Hon. Siliya said she will tomorrow morning hold discussions with the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA), ZNBC and Topstar to see how the issues raised could be addressed.
She stated that she would also make consultations with the Attorney General over the matter.

Parliament has ratified the Presidential appointment of Mrs. Annette Chirumba Nhekairo and Mr. Ali Derrick Simwiinga to serve in the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).

Parliament has further ratified the Ministerial appointment of the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) Board.

Mrs. Annette Chirumba Nhekairo will serve as Vice-Chairperson and Mr. Ali Derrick Simwiinga will serve as Commissioner of the Electoral Commission of Zambia.

Mrs. Juliana Kunda Mwila, Ms. Mulenga Mpundu Kapwepwe, Mr. Nonde Matthews Kaniki and Mr. Nalumino Bruce Chyapeni will serve as Directors of the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation Board.

Acting Minister of Home Affairs Given Lubinda has called on the general public to join hands in condemning mob justice as it is retrogressive to the development of a nation.

Mr. Lubinda appealed to the general public to desist from engaging in criminal activities.

The Minister said this in response to Mbabala Member of Parliament Ephraim Belemu who wanted to know if government is aware of a Mr. Lemmy Mapepe who died in police custody at the Macha Police Post on Friday 16th March 2018, in Mbabala Parliamentary Constituency.

ZANIS reports that Mr. Lubinda stated that Mr. Mapeke died of internal bleeding caused by a raptured spleen at Macha General Hospital from mob justice as he was accused of committing a series of crimes.

He appealed to people who could have information related to the death of the victim to report as the case is still under investigation.

The Acting Minister of Home Affairs has since reiterated that the Zambia Police Service are not allowed to cause any physical or emotional harm to inmates or convicts.

He added that, government supports the position of officers of not inflicting pain on inmates or convicts and has since guaranteed sensitization of all police officers countrywide.

Mr. Lubinda has hence, urged the citizenry to report cases of police brutality to the Ministry of Justice or the Human Rights Commission to put a stop to the vice.

Police in Lusaka arrested 207 more students in the Evelyn Hone riot which happened last night at about 23 Hours.

Police say this brings the total number of those arrested to 333.

The students were protesting against delays by TEVETA to release their 2017 end year exam results.

Among the 207 arrested last night, 119 are male while 88 are female students.

Police Spokesperson Esther Katongo said the students were repelled from going to the main road and later caused damage to the infrastructure at their school particularly the institutional Clinic and Administration block.

Mrs Katongo said the students further pulled down the wall fence that demarcates Evelyn Hone and NIPA and the one that demarcates Evelyn Hone and ZICAS.

“We have information that some of the students from NIPA participated in the confusion while there was none from ZICAS. Officers are still screening the students so as to establish the number of those coming from other institutions,” Mrs Katongo said.

All are detained in police custody.

“We wish to advise the students at Evelyn Hone especially their Students Union to find amicable ways of addressing their grievance and the best approach would be to engage relevant authorities. As Police, we are not going to tolerate any lawlessness and those found outside the boundaries of what the Law provides for will be dealt with accordingly.”