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Linos Makwaza has now been confirmed as Napsa Stars head coach.
Makwaza has been interim coach since last September when his ex-boss Tennant Chilumba was sidelined following a string of poor results.
Napsa media officer Gwen Chipasula said Makwaza’s contract will run until the end of the 2018 season.
He will be assisted by Dabwitso Nkhoma and Harry Milanzi who will be his first and second assistant coaches respectively.
Napsa finished 7th under Makwaza last season when he also guided the Lusaka club to a runner-up finish in the 2017 Barclays Cup that they lost 2-1 to Zanaco.
His previous clubs in charge include Nkana and Zamtel FC.
10/02/2018
CAF CONFEDERATION CUP PRELIMINARY ROUND
-Port Said
Port Said Stadium
El Masry 4(Islam Salah 14′, Aristide Bance 38′, Mohamed Koffi 52′, Islam Eissa 81′)-Green Buffaloes 0
2018 CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PRELIMINARY ROUND
-Zanzibar
Amaan Stadium
JKU 0- Zesco United 0
-Lusaka
Sunset Stadium
Zanaco 3(Ziyo Tembo 33′, Martin Phiri 35′ 90+2)-Gambia AF 0
2018 TOP SCORERS
LEAGUE
CUP
CONTINENTAL
10/02/2018
Martin Phiri (Zanaco):2
Ziyo Tembo(Zanaco): 1
Siavonga District Commissioner (DC) Lovemore Kanyama has urged Siavonga residents to appreciate the Government’s effort of mending the township roads in the district
Mr. Kanyama Says government will in the initial stage mend potholes before embarking on rehabilitation of township roads.
He said the rehabilitation of the entire township roads will be done when the Road Development Agency RDA’s (RDA) releases the funds.
“Government through my office is doing everything possible to rehabilitate roads and other infrastructures in Siavonga,” Mr Kanyama said.
He said heavy rains experienced in the 2016/2017 damaged most of the roads in Siavonga.
Mr. Kanyama said the rains being experienced this year has also worsened the situation.
The DC said he appreciates criticism coming from Siavonga residents that mending the potholes is not enough and that their concerns will be taken into account for better roads to be constructed.
“Yes, certain individuals called my office on why I have allowed the RDA to mend the Siavonga township roads instead of fully rehabilitating them,” Mr Kanyama noted.
He has since appealed to Siavonga residents to cooperate with RDA to carry out their works without interference.
The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA), formerly the Inspections Department of the Zambia Bureau of Standards has withdrawn 101 by 500mls bottles of Refresher Still mineral water amounting to K312 on account of being expired.
This is in a bid to protect the public from harmful products.
Public Relations officer Lee Haamunji said selling of expired good is prohibited under the Compulsory Standards Act, No. 3 of 2017 because the safety of such products beyond their shelf life cannot be guaranteed and hence have potential to put the health of consumers at risk.
Mr Haamunji said the expired products were seized from Game Stores at Manda Hill Shopping mall in Lusaka on Wednesday, 7th February 2018.
“We would like to urge members of the public to be conscious whenever they are buying products to take time and read the product labels before making a purchase,” Mr Haamunji said.
“Consumers should read the product labels carefully and take note of information such as the expiry date of the product, the manufacturer of the product in the event of redress, the batch number, product ingredients and any other relevant information. This is particularly because it enables consumers to make buying decisions from an informed position.”
“Business owners are urged to ensure that they monitor their stock and keep expired and unsafe products off the shelves as required by the law, thereby safeguarding public health and safety.
“Additionally, it is also expected that various manufacturers will adhere to the requirements of standards by ensuring that they provide necessary information to consumers regarding their products,” he said.
Mr Haamunji said manufacturers are urged to adhere to labelling requirements thus ensuring that their products contain relevant information that helps consumers as they shop.
The Finnish government has praised Zambia for implementing the best Social Cash Transfer (SCT) programme in Africa.
Finish Ambassador to Zambia Timo Olkkonen said that Zambia’s Social Cash Transfer programme is a success story and a model social protection programme Africa and the world should emulate.
ZANIS reports that Ambassador Olkkonen said this in Lusaka today during the on-going workshop on promoting integrity, transparency and accountability in poverty and vulnerability reduction programmes.
Mr. Olkkonen said the social cash transfer is helping reduce poverty and inequalities amongst the vulnerable and marginalized people in the country.
The Finnish Envoy said there is need for more political will and commitment to ensure that government protects the social protection sector from corruption so that tax payers’ money and donor funds directly benefit the intended beneficiaries.
Mr. Olkkonen said that the negative corruption rating Zambia gets from Transparency International and the Auditor General’s report suggest that there is need to address the perceptions.
He expressed optimism that the workshop will explore risks involved in the scaling up of social protection programmes and provide appropriate interventions and tools to deal with the potential challenges.
Speaking at the same event, Ministry of Community Development Permanent Secretary Howard Sekwila said government remains committed to preventing corruption in social assistance programmes.
Dr. Sekwila said transparency is cardinal in ensuring that social protection programmes reach the intended beneficiaries.
He said his ministry is striving hard to ensure that its social cash transfer scheme and the Food Security Pack programmes reach the intended targets of over 700,000 and 80,000 beneficiaries respectively.
And Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Vice President Stephen Mwansa urged participants to draw lessons from the workshop in order to improve their handling of public resources.
Mr. Mwansa said government is implementing best financial management practices centered on integrity, transparency and accountability in order to address corruption.
The permanent secretary said values of integrity, transparency and accountability have been incorporated in the implementation of the seventh national development plan to reduce poverty and promote national development.
The workshop has drawn participation from line ministries, civil society, academia, United Nations Aid agencies, Development Cooperation partners and embassies accredited to Zambia.
The workshop is being conducted by the Anti-Corruption Resource Centre based in Norway.
FILE: Farmers rebagging their maize at Kamuswazi Satellite depot
A peasant farmer in Kalabo district has welcomed the move by government to wean off farmers who have been on the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) for more than three years.
Kalabo District Cooperative Union Chairperson, Matomola Kambombo says weaning off those who have benefited from FISP for many years will allow other viable small scale farmers to join and benefit from the programme.
Mr. Kambombo told ZANIS that three years is enough for a farmer to graduate to a higher level of agro business.
He stated that graduating from the programme will also promote effective farming enterprise and a diversified agro economy.
Mr. Kambombo noted that FISP through the E-voucher system must be embraced because it promotes diversification into crop and livestock farming.
He has however urged government to address the challenges faced by rural farmers in accessing and utilizing the e-voucher system.
Mr. Kambombo observed that challenges such as limited choice of input packages, poor road network, lack of banking services and late delivery of inputs might hamper the smooth implementation of the E-voucher system.
Government recently announced that it will start weaning off farmers in 2019 from the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) under the Electronic Voucher system being implemented across the country.
Chief Executive Officer of Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), Steven Din, is upbeat about prospects to lift total KCM copper production to 500,000 metric tonnes per annum underpinned on huge investments by Vedanta Resources Plc and the current positive market fundamentals.
Reflecting on the just-ended Mining Indaba conference in Cape Town, South Africa, Mr Din said investments of over $3 billion on expansions and upgrades has set KCM in a strong position to step-up production.
The CEO, however, warned against complacency in operations and emphasized the need to raise production volumes and not only rely on the current high copper price.
He said KCM had emerged strong from the economic downturn, during which time the price of copper dropped to its lowest in 11 years at $4,500 per tonne in 2016, as a result of looking at things in more detail.
He commented that, “We’re targeting production of up to 500,000 tonnes in the next four to five years. It’s a short time frame because the growth will come from brownfield expansions, with a significant amount invested when Vedanta acquired the company in 2004.”
“All the hard dollars have been spent, so now it’s a matter of turning the handle to get the production,” he added.
Mr Din said KCM would endeavor to keep its operations efficient and at the right level in the cost curve. “We have to stick to basics and think about our cost of production, our volume levels and our overall availability, and run a safe, efficient operation,” he said.
Mr Din said KCM has a lot of responsibility in terms of its operations, which employs 12,000 people and surrounding communities, which depended on the company.
Konkola Copper Mines is focusing on ramping up production at the flagship Konkola Deep Mine with the support of new business partners. Other partners have been engaged at the Tailings Leach Plant and Nchanga Open pit in a bid to raise production.
Scottish Minister for international development and Europe Dr Allasdair Allan presents a gift to Central Province Minister Sydney Mushanga when he paid a courtesy call on him in Kabwe
Scottish Minister for International Development and Europe, Alasdair Allan has called for increased trade ties and cooperation between Zambia and the Scotland.
Dr. Allan said the relationship that exists between Zambia and Scotland is good hence has the need for it to be enhanced in terms of trade and cooperation.
ZANIS reports that Dr. Allan was speaking when he paid a courtesy call on Central Province Minister, Sydney Mushanga this morning.
He stated that his country has been working closely with the Zambian government in empowerment of women and girls.
Dr. Allan added that his government is committed to improving the lives of women both in Scotland and internationally.
He disclosed that the Scottish government has concentrated working with the Zambia government in Central Province in an effort to improve the living conditions of the local people.
The visiting minister further said his government is happy to look at any new ways of building on the existing relationship so as to improve the economy and people’s lives.
And Central Province Minister, Sydney Mushanga said Zambia values the relationship that exist between Zambia and the Scotland.
Mr. Mushanga has since extended an invitation to Scottish investors to take part in the regional Investment Forum and Expo Conference slated for August this year.
He said the Scottish investors can take advantage of the regional event to explore the province’s potential in agriculture, aquaculture, tourism, mining and manufacturing industries.
Dr. Allan is accompanied by Head of International Development Team, Joana Keating and Head of International Development and Innovation Unit of the Scottish Police College, Shaun McKillop.
THE recent implementation of the revised national education curriculum by Government, which introduced teaching of local language syllabus from Pre-School to Grade four level in Primary Schools, is progressing well in Choma district, Southern Province. Above, Grade One pupils at Kalundu Ka Maria Primary School were found cheerfully learning how to construct sentences in Citonga in their classroom.
Ministry of General Education Director of Standards and Curriculum Sunday Mwape says the policy by government to change the teaching strategies from English to local languages in lower grades has been a success.
Dr. Mwape said that children in lower grades are now able to write without difficulties because it is easy for a child to link the outdoor experiences to the classroom activities.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today, Dr. Mwape stated that lower grades are now producing better results since the change was implemented.
He said the quality of teaching and learning at classroom level was affected when teaching was done in the English language to learners.
“Children are more comfortable to interact and learn when the language being used is best understood by the child,” he said.
Dr. Mwape stated that according to a research that was conducted by specialists in the teaching profession, it was revealed that it is prudent to restructure the teaching and learning strategies for learners.
The Director of Standards stated that the curriculum is helpful to children who do not have a chance of attending early childhood education as it helps them to move the home culture into school.
Dr. Mwape further expressed concern that parents have been misunderstanding the policy noting that this has been the main challenge the Ministry is facing.
He said the local language curriculum is not an issue that will soon be changed but a policy that will be followed as it has turned out to be helpful.
SUSPECTED Irate UPND cadres last night torched a car belonging to Eucridy Mwiinga who recently defected from UPND to Patriotic Front. Mr Mwiinga who relinquished his position as UPND councillor in Nampundwe has since reported the matter to police expressing not only his disappointment at his former colleagues but is shaken with fear.
The cadres not only torched his auto mobile but also broke into his house and stole his laptop and an undisclosed amount of money.
Mr Mwiinga early last week hopped out of UPND and publicly announced his decision to join Patriotic Front, a decision which has not been received well by UPND members and leadership.
He was received by PF Media Director Sunday Chanda and his Deputy Antonio Mwanza.
Mr Chanda has condemned the gross actions of UPND cadres noting that their intolerance is gravely disgusting.
He said their undemocratic tendencies are taking politics in Zambia backwards.
Mr Chanda sympathized with Mr Mwiinga and called on police to conduct thorough investigations so that the perpetrators are arrested and made an example of to end political intolerance.
Meanwhile, Patriotic Front (PF) Secretary General Davies Mwila has condemned attacks by suspected angry UPND cadres last night who torched a vehicle belonging to Councillor Eucridy Mwiinga of Nampundwe who recently defected from UPND to PF.
“Patriotic Front condemns the attacks on Mr. Mwiinga by suspected UPND cadres in Nampundwe last night. Mr. Mwiinga exercised his right to resign from the Opposition UPND to join Patriotic Front and must not be victimised by anyone. These attacks show the levels of desperation by the Opposition UPND and is aimed at sending a message to would-be defectors to PF. We ask all Zambians to condemn this violence and further call on the Opposition UPND leadership to take responsibility by counselling their supporters”, he observed.
The Secretary General has condemned the gross actions of UPND cadres noting that their intolerance is gravely disgusting. He said their undemocratic tendencies are taking politics in Zambia backwards. Mr. Mwila has since called on the Zambia Police to investigate the incident and bring the culprits to book.
Mr Mwiinga who relinquished his position as UPND councillor in Nampundwe has since reported the matter to police expressing not only his disappointment at his former colleagues but is shaken with fear. The cadres not only torched his auto mobile but also broke into his house and stole his laptop and an undisclosed amount of money.
Mr Mwiinga early last week hopped out of UPND and publicly announced his decision to join Patriotic Front a decision which has not been received well by UPND members and leadership.
File:Prisoners at the newly built Mwembeshi Maximum security prison in Mumbwa district
A catholic clergy in Mansa has called on government to consider changing laws which forbids people who were once convicted to enter the civil service.
Speaking during a Homily yesterday Mansa Diocese Cathedral Administrator Father Kunda Pintu says people should not be prevented from getting employment because of their past mistakes.
Father Pintu says some laws which the country follow today where laws of colonial masters who never wanted Africans to develop and that there is no need to continue following them.
He explained that there are people who truly repent once they come out of correctional facilities and that there is no reason to deny such people employment if an opportunity comes.
He says people are sent to correctional facilities to be corrected and that once they are out of these facilities they need to be embraced and not segregated.
Fr. Pintu observed that the way the community treats people who have been released from incarceration is not good and that is why others find themselves going back to jail because they do not feel loved.
In Zambia the law does not allow an ex – convict to be employed in the civil service
Electoral officers, agents and monitors inspecting the Ballot Boxes at Rainbow Africa polling station in Livingstone yesterday shortly before the opening of the Polls yesterday. Picture by BRIAN HATYOKA
The current debate over how many times one can contest presidential elections should not be politicized if we are to nurture democracy in our nation. The Bemba have a saying that akafumber ukunona kafuma ku bwaice–meaning the “fat of the mice begins from childhood.” Simply ask my foolish cousins from the East—they know better.
Zambia can be a model of African democracy, but this should begin with the democratization of our democratic processes. As long as political parties remain personal tuntembas, we are nurturing dictatorship. This is the truth that the nation must face.
We now have term limits for most of our institutions including the presidency—something that has forced opposition leaders to question if Lungu can contest the 2021 elections. Such term limits must be enshrined in political parties as well. Proposing it isn’t an attack on any political party, but the same cancer that kills African democracy.
African opposition parties are run as personal tuntembas—it is all about mwine mushi! Let us start with Uganda, Mr. Kizza Besigye has continuously contested and lost four elections to dictator Yoweri Museveni. Aside from many arrests, Basigye has not opened his party presidency to young politicians who would woo the hearts of many Ugandans. Cross over to Kenya—Mr. Raila Odinga has been on the ballot since 1997. Aside from declaring himself the president of the people in January 2018, Odinga has failed to open his party to new and energetic leadership to contest presidential elections. In Zimbabwe, it is the same story—Morgan Tsvangirai has been on the ballot since 2002—only severe illness or death (God forbid) would force the party to look for new leadership. It is this tradition that propels ruling parties into power—opposition politicians are nothing but dictators awaiting their time to rule the nation!
African opposition parties don’t understand politics 101. They believe that after many tries, they would one day become presidents—which is possible by divine appointment. But such reasoning ignores the fact that elections are like soccer. If you play the same unchanged team for every game, the opposition would know how to play it. Good coaches surprise their opponents with fresh players—it is called reading the opposition. This is because knowing your opponent gives you an advantage—the same with politics.
Generally, ruling parties know so much dirt about the opposition candidates—they know their strongholds as well as their weaknesses. I have repeatedly said HH is a great guy, but PF (as did MMD) know his strongholds – Southern and Western Province. But UPND can easily change this map if its presidential candidate was from another province. It is called growing your road to victory.
HH and GBM are valued for their monies, as one UPND neighbor told me in Mansa. But if money made presidents, he would be one by now. I believe that UPND has very bright minds that would bury PF in 2021—but the party has remained hostage to HH-GBM cult. I am not saying that the duo cannot win the elections, by divine intervention they could. But my question remains—is UPND, HH and HH, UPND? UPND would have a new leader should HH die (God forbids) today. I know that some people don’t see the sense of this question, yet it is critical to democracy.
We cannot expect HH and GBM to rule as democrats once they are at the helm of power—far from it. Democracy begins or dies at home—in our political parties. We saw this with UNIP, then MMD and now PF. Unless democracy is nurtured in opposition political structures, our democracy remains what I have termed in my book Raised Hopes, Shattered Dreams, “elected dictatorship.” Differing with the supreme leader means losing your seat in parliament.
I personally find it unfair for the opposition to accuse Lungu of ruling as if Zambia belonged to him, while ignoring their own undemocratic structures within their own parties. They too rule their parties as personal tuntembas. Is it not Jesus who said, “why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? (Matt 7:3) Only hypocrite, Jesus said can do that—and so is our politicians!
As a nation, we must move beyond tuntemba-politics for nurturing democracy is our task—let us put in place systems that aid the development of democracy in the nation. In the 1990s, we laid foundation for democracy—it is now time to do so for future generations. It is on us to do the right thing—we must nurture democracy at all levels of our political processes.
Opening political space in political parties would allow presidential aspirants to know how to negotiate political differences long before they become presidents. Because our current system is closed, party presidents and our presidents are supreme leaders – to disagree with them is a capital offence that kills one’s political career.
This system would demand change in the way presidential elections are funded. We need a political system that would fund presidential elections for all political candidates who meet certain standards. We must also open space to fund elections on the party level. Where would we get the money for such a system? The answer is not whether we have the money, but whether democracy is critical to the future of our nation. Money is secondary—it can be found.
Copperbelt Province Minister Bowman Lusambo (L) at a Chimwemwe impromptu Rally with PF leadership
Copperbelt Minister Bowman Lusambo has described the latest visit of President Edgar Lungu to the Copperbelt as highly successful.
Mr Lusambo said the presidential visit has given momentum to the provincial administration to accelerate the development programmes in the province.
He said the three day tour also presented an opportunity to ordinary residents of the Copperbelt to interact with the Head of State.
Mr Lusambo was commenting on President Lungu’s three day visit to the Copperbelt from Friday which was concluded on Sunday afternoon.
“For us as the Copperbelt administration, we are pleased that the tour was highly successful. President Lungu inspected a number of developmental projects but most significantly, he was able to meet ordinary people and hear their challenges,” Mr Lusambo said.
The Copperbelt Minister stated that the presidential grassroot tours are essential for project monitoring and ensuring that the wheels of development are turning.
President Lungu kicked off his visit by officiating at the ground breaking ceremony of the first ever PF Provincial Convention Centre in Ndola and proceeded to Masala Township where he inspected the serious sewer problems in Lubutu area.
President Lungu was not happy with sanitation conditions in Masala Township despite investing US$104 million from DANIDA in the sanitation improvement project.
The Head of State then directed Mr Lusambo to resolve the sewer problem and handed a week ultimatum to ensure that all blockages and drainages are unblocked.
President Lungu then proceeded to Masala Main Market and toured the main market and other houses within main Masala and addressed a huge crowd that came to catch a glimpse of him.
President Lungu also visited Mufulira district where he inspected staff houses at Mokambo border post.
He was pleased to see the quality of houses and he promised that the nice houses given to the workers there will be replicated with nice offices such as the police posts and immigration offices.
President Lungu stated that the Ministry of Home Affairs will have 12,000 staff houses constructed for workers under the Ministry.
The Head of State further stated that the immigration offices at Mokambo need to be modernised and fitted with e-facilities.
President Lungu later proceeded to Mufulira town where he inspected two Markets, the town Market and Kamuchanga Market where he was not happy with the findings in the two markets especially that the market construction project had stalled.
President Lungu also commissioned the ZAFFICO pole treatment plant and visited Kalulushi Clay Brick Factory.
He later officiated at a sold out PF Provincial fundraising dinner in Kitwe at which millions of Kwacha was raised towards the construction of the PF Provincial Convention Centre.
President Lungu also attended a church service at UCZ Chimwemwe congregation in Kitwe and the congregants were excited to see President Lungu return to his home Church.
The Head of State was happy to meet one of his teachers during his Boy Scout days.
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UPND vice president Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba (GBM) has put his life in danger and risks being jailed for aiding fugitive Pilato to run away to South Africa, Kabwe-based lawyer Tutwa Ngulube has warned.
Mr Ngulube also warned that GBM risks being blacklisted and banned from contesting any elections in Zambia.
He said the current UPND leadership risked being convicted and jailed for aiding Pilato to abuse police bond by running away to South Africa, the Kabwe-based lawyer warned.
Mr Tutwa said once convicted, the UPND leaders risked being blacklisted such that they will not contest any elections in Zambia.
He told the Daily Nation in an interview that it was morally and legally wrong for political leaders like Mr Mwamba, who aspires to be the country’s republican vice president to actually pose on photos with a fugitive or a wanted person.
Mr Ngulube, who is Kabwe Central PF member of Parliament said political leaders aspiring to lead the nation should be the first ones to respect the law.
He said there was no way Mr Mwamba and his party (UPND) could deny allegations that they sponsored Pilato’s self-imposed exile which resulted him jumping bail, after GBM posed with the law breaker.
Mr Tutwa was referring to a photo that was posted on Mr Mwamba’s face book page with the Zambian musician Chama Fumba, popularly known as Pilato who is wanted in Zambia for having jumped police bond.
Mr Mwamba posted: “I took a pose with satirical artist commonly known as Pilato. Mr Fumba’s life has been threatened by PF thugs and this has led him to seek protection in a foreign country.”
Pilato fled the country when he was supposed to appear before a court of law in a case where he and others are charged with disobeying lawful orders when they staged an illegal protest against the government’s purchase of 42 fire tenders in September last year.
He jumped police bond which prompted Lusaka principal resident magistrate Mwaka Mikalile to issue a bench warrant against him.
He said Mr Mwamba and his fellow party leaders in the UPND risked imprisonment if convicted for having aided Pilato to jump police bond.
Mr Ngulube explained that posing on photo with a fugitive or a wanted person is like becoming a partner to a crime, adding that under the penal code section 20-24, if proved that one aided someone to commit a crime, he risked being jailed.
He explained that the penal code section 20-24 states that people who are assisting a criminal, can assist him either before a crime is committed or after a crime has been committed, hence they are culprits before the court of law.
“Looking at what the penal code said, he risk being locked up for actually aiding or abetting Pilato to jump bail, especially if it is proved that he was with Pilato. How can he dispute it if people are alleging that it is GBM and his party which initiated Pilato’s movement to South Africa for cheap political mileage?
