Former Lusaka Deputy Mayor Portipher Tembo has appealed to Members of Parliament to take an interest in the sale of the National Resources Development College to Chinese state run firm AVIC International.

Agriculture Permanent Secretary Julius Shawa on Friday told the Parliamentary Accounts Committee chaired by Kaputa Member of Parliament Nexus N’gonga that the rationale behind the sale of NRDC was due to widespread encroachment.

“Regarding the issue of NRDC, let me state that the Ministry has not sold the NRDC land. What we have done is to fully take stock of the current situation with regard to NRDC and what has emerged overall over that land is that if you recall going back the years, NRDC also had a big piece of land called the ranch, which is now called Obama and has been turned into a compound basically, that was NRDC land. What NRDC has been left with is the one along Great East Road,” Mr Shawa said.

“It wasn’t a sale as such. Having looked and assessed the current situation where infrastructure is dilapidated, even the land on Great East Road, apart from dilapidation of the infrastructure, there has also been an encroachment from Mtendere compound there. In fact, the college said ‘Look, let’s put a wall fence (sic) to make sure that no more land is taken, people were just encroaching and building nearer to the college.”

Mr. Shawa confirmed that the new owners of NRDC, AVIC International, would build a new campus on the 1,160 hectare land given to it by Chief Shakumbila in 2010.

And commenting on the sale of the land, Mr Tembo said selling NRDC land along Great East Road to a Chinese investor and relocating the college to Mumbwa goes to show how we Zambians don’t value land.

Mr Tembo who is also former PF Chawama Ward Councillor said the transaction must be reversed.

“Reverse the sale of NRDC land. Why not sale that Mumbwa land to a Chinese and leave the prime one to Zambians?” he asked.

He added, “Citizens must demand to know what is happening on NRDC college land and Chimbokaila prison land. Our MPs must learn to discuss and interrogate issues that affect Zambians in Parliament. We need MPs to be vocal and speak loudly like the South African Parliament.”

In May 2017, Government and AVIC International Zambia Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the proposed development of a new campus for the Natural Resources Development College.

The agreement was signed by Agriculture Minister Dora Siliya and AVIC International representatives in Lusaka and Ms Siliya said government is committed to improving infrastructure to enable more students enrol in agricultural colleges.

Ms Siliya said the cost of the project and time frame will be determined after AVIC provides government with a proposed design.

She said the college will be constructed on 1,600 hectares of land that government has acquired from Senior Chief Shakumbila of Shibuyunji district.

The report published last week claims technicians at the body’s headquarters in the Ethiopian capital discovered last year that the contents of their computers had been regularly copied to servers in Shanghai since 2012, citing several unnamed AU sources.

“I think the report is a sensational story, but is also preposterous and absurd,” Chinese envoy Kuang Weilin said on the sidelines of the AU summit in Addis Ababa.

The twice-yearly meeting is taking place in a soaring conference hall built by the Chinese as a symbol of their friendship with Africa and inaugurated the same year the alleged spying began.

Weilin said the report published last week on the eve of the summit “will undermine the image of the newspaper” but not the relationship between China and Africa.

The AU leadership did not address the report in their opening remarks on Sunday, and Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn downplayed Le Monde’s findings.

“There is nothing to be spied (on). I don’t believe it,” he told journalists.

Le Monde says the AU’s servers were changed and its IT systems redone after the copying was found.

The newspaper also reports Ethiopian cyber security experts removed microphones hidden in the desks and walls of the headquarters.

The report said China built and paid for the African Union’s computer network but alleges that China inserted a backdoor allowing it access to the continental organisation’s confidential information

In January 2017, the information technology unit at the African Union’s headquarters in Addis Ababa noticed something strange, according to a stunning investigation in French newspaper Le Monde.

Every night, between midnight and 2am, there was a strange peak in data usage – even though the building was almost entirely empty.

Upon further investigation, the technicians noticed something even stranger.

That data-which included confidential information-was being sent to servers based in Shanghai.

The African Union’s shiny new headquarters was built and paid for by the Chinese government, as a gift to its “African friends”.

But when the building was officially opened in 2012, China left a backdoor into the African Union’s computer network, allowing it to access the institution’s secrets at will.

“According to several sources within the institution, all sensitive content could be spied on by China,” wrote Le Monde.
“It’s a spectacular leak of data, spread from January 2012 to January 2017.”

Once the problem was discovered, African Union officials acted quickly to fix it.

The organisation acquired its own servers, and began encrypting its communications.

In July 2017, a team of experts from Algeria-a country with a notoriously efficient intelligence community-along with cybersecurity experts from Ethiopia combed the building from top to bottom, looking for hidden microphones and other potential weaknesses.

China would not be the first supposedly friendly superpower to spy on the African Union.

A separate investigation in December 2016, conducted by Le Monde and The Intercept, revealed that African Union officials were targeted for surveillance by British intelligence.

THE Lusaka City Council (LCC) has procured eight (08) tipper trucks at a cost of K5.6 million to enhance garbage collection activities in the city.

Lusaka Mayor, Wilson Kalumba said there was still more equipment that the council needed to procure and believes that the council is on course with the procurement exercise.

Mr. Kalumba added that the fleet will enhance garbage collection and other activities that the council undertakes in the city.

According to a statement issued to ZANIS today by the Council Public Relations Unit, the Mayor said the Council has on average three trucks running for garbage collection and that most of the equipment is obsolete hence, the purchasing of the eight trucks that will go a long way in enhancing solid waste management in the city.

Mr. Kalumba said the procurement of the eight trucks will make a difference in the garbage collection exercise and the general cleaning of the city adding that, the Council is just coming from a clean-up exercise of the city following the cholera outbreak that hit Lusaka.

He stated that the momentum that the council has will only be maintained with the right equipment and mindset by the residents of Lusaka who will at some point be compelled to pay towards the management of solid waste.

“In the past we have complained about lack of equipment, which was very true, but now we have the equipment for us to use. As I mentioned earlier, garbage collection everywhere in the world is a costly venture, so we need to find resources and people need to be ready to start contributing to the cost of running waste collection in the city,” Mr. Kalumba said.

The mayor has encouraged residents of Lusaka to start paying for garbage disposal adding that, a universal garbage collection fee as not yet been determined stating that the figure will be determined by how many people will be covered by measure.

He said the smaller the number of people being captured, the higher the fees and the larger the collection base, the smaller the amount of fees to be levied.

“In the past I have talked about collecting K10 from residents, it will give us a sound financial base. We can even procure more equipment because dump trucks are not the only equipment that we need. We need lot of equipment like road sweepers, bull dozers, front-end loaders to scoop the garbage into the trucks.

“I don’t think we will be able to do that for free for the whole city, it is not possible, so we are talking of the residents getting ready at one stage or another and contribute because we are serving the residents,” the Mayor said.

An elder in Western Province has called on government to invest in development of timber processing industries in the Province to alleviate youth unemployment in the Province.

Speaking in an interview with Zambian Eye Teddy Somili said the province is endowed with different species of Timber which was being exploited by foreigners and not benefiting the locals.

Somili said by investing in processing plants for timber government will be creating employment for youths in the province there by creating wealth at household level and local communities.

He said timber dealers from urban areas are exploiting the youths who are told to cut down logs and sold to them at cheaper price because of lack of saw mills in the province.

“Government should for once look at Western Province for possible developmnts, we have different species of timber here which is been transported everyday, why can’t government put up timber processing industries as a way to mitigate youth unemployment? Our local people are been exploited, they are selling logs of timber at a give away price sometimes exchanging with cloths while foreigners and people from urban areas are making millions of Kwacha out of it. We are seeing our young people sale these valuable natural resources that can help uplift their livelihood when we can be making finished wood products that we can be selling and exporting out of firewood.

“We know a lot of people are willing to invest in timber processing plants it is just a matter of a political will from officials in government. We are begging you please we also want to be part and parcel of this development journey of our country,” he said.

He also pointed out that youths in the province can also be empowered through fish farming as an alternative to agriculture.

He said with abundant water resources in the province it was illogical for people to be among those affected by the fish ban when people can be empowered in acquaculture.

He said with such empowerment in the province Western Province can become one of the main suppliers of fresh fish to urban areas and possible export in the region.

Recently FDD president Edith Nawakwi described the Timber industry as million dollar industry which government should tap into.

She said while people were concentrating on Mukula other species where being exported as raw material hence taking away the much need jobs from the country.

She said with investing in processing plants the country will benefit from its natural resources and gain the much needed tax as a finished product pays more tax than a raw material.

Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday, Reverend Sumaili said that it is regrettable that a Christian nation like Zambia is recording such a large number of divorce cases.

“According to the word of God, it is only death that should separate couples. When two people enter a sacrament of marriage, it is a life covenant and not a trial and error,” she said.

Reverend Sumaili explained that it is important that enough time is given in courtship to enable couples to get to know each other well and accept their short comings.

She added that inner virtues should be the attraction above the outward appearances of people and not the material things.

The Minister explained has called on Churches and family to take the leading role of counselling both women and men before entering marriage, adding that in most cases only women receive counsel.

“Counselling before marriage is important in that the couple is given knowledge and wisdom to go about marital problems, “she explained.

Reverend Sumaili however, attributed abuse of alcohol by both men and women, infidelity, gender based violence and external negative influence to be the driving factors of many divorce cases.

Meanwhile, the Reverend has urged all couples to put Jesus Christ in the Centre of their marriages and to build marriages on Christian values and principles.

The 30th ordinary session of the Assembly of the African Union Heads of State and Government closed its business this evening with the new AU Chairperson encouraging member states to promote the establishment of closer collaboration with the private sector for enhanced economic growth and development.

Paul Kagame, who is also President of Rwanda, further said consultation and collaboration with critical partners is essential for Africa if it is to achieve its many challenges that it faces in the present day.

During the official opening of the 30th ordinary session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government, President Paul Kagame, said despite the challenges facing the continent, it is important to act in the present day by fusing the economies with technology for advanced development.

“Africa is important and the free movement of the people is achievable in 2018,” he emphasized.

He stated that Africa’s defining challenge is to create a pathway to prosperity for its peoples especially the young people.

On young people, Mr. Kagame appealed to them not to take for granted the advise availed to them by their grandparents including their parents or elders.

“Elders should be able to enjoy the pleasure , of telling you how hard they had it at your age, so you don’t take things for granted, and are inspired to work even harder”, he explained.

He also observed that the people of Africa have in some ways, for a long time perpetuated the narrative that the continent is a burden.

Mr. Kagame was quick to squash the narrative and instead challenged the continent to begin to respond to such situations with focus and facts in order to underscore a common humanity.

While in Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, the Vice President participated in the African Union Peace and Security Council presentations where she reaffirmed Zambia’s unwavering commitment to fulfilling principles of the African Union Peace and Security Council including other international organisations.

Mrs. Wina urged the African Union member states that have not yet ratified to the international treaties on institute of security studies, small arms surveyor and regional centre for small arms and light weapons to do so, as this is key in addressing the continued spread of weapons, ammunition and funds that continue to contribution towards the destabilisation of the continent.

She informed the Assembly that as Zambia continues to play a role in combating the acts of terrorism, radicalisation and extremism, she is aware that the exercise requires concerted efforts from other stakeholders if the spread of such acts is to be contained.

The Vice President condemned the acts of corruption describing it as a cancer that destroys the fabric of society.

Mrs. Wina took recognition of the African Union member states’ commitment to fight corruption despite challenges surrounding the scourge.

She added that the action taken is a positive step in the right direction as the continent will be able to achieve its developmental goals.

Mrs. Wina further added that in order for African countries to transform the continent, there is need to fight corruption both at national and international level.

And the United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said the United Nations remains committed in affirming its strong partnership to the membership and the people of Africa.

On migration, Mr Guterres challenged the union stating that migration is a positive globe phenomenon which powers economic growth and reduces inequalities.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Muhammadu Buhari was elected Anti- Corruption Champion of the AU.

President Buhari in his recent statements has vowed that looters of Nigeria’s treasury will not sleep well.

“Justice will be done to all in the war against corruption. As religious leaders, l urge you to tell your followers to respect the rights of others”, the President said.

Issues that engulfed the summit include corruption, conflicts and self-financing resources.

During the official opening of this year’s 32nd session of African Union Executive Council, the African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat cited the need for African leaders to strengthen their financial independence in order to avoid dependency syndrome from the developed world.

He emphasised that financial independence among African countries is crucial and therefore, should not be viewed as irrational but a collective responsibility.

Mr. Mahamat further observed that time has come for the continent to look ahead and focus on building its financial capacities through its abundant natural resources and other expertise.

“Africa is gradually positioning itself to begin financing its own economic growth and development,” he stated.

More than 20 Presidents attended the summit.

Mr. Kabwe said it was unfortunate that most banks in the province had a limited number of public conveniences available for their customers to use.

He said this has posed a challenge especially when banks have an overwhelming clientele during the redeeming of the e-voucher system and other times.

The Permanent Secretary has since appealed to commercial banks intending to open outlets in the newly created districts to ensure that they plan for adequate public conveniences for their clients.

And Mr. Kabwe has warned that he would not condone any traders who will resort to selling merchandise in undesignated places.

Mr. Kabwe has assured traders that government will address the issue of the run down infrastructure in the markets in Kabwe.

The Permanent Secretary said traders would in the next two weeks see an improvement as government moves in to work on the run down infrastructure.

Mr. Kabwe said this shortly after he toured market facilities at Kasanda, Pollen, Chowa and Bwacha in Kabwe district.

He said most traders will be taken to empty stands in various markets and urged them to comply with the move which government was taking.

He said the Patriotic Front (PF) administration was a government caring that would ensure that all traders are allocated trading spaces in designated areas.

At Kasanda market, some marketers complained that their merchandise was not selling as fast as in the streets.

However, a tour of the main market in Chowa revealed that there were empty trading spaces and the marketers called on their fellow traders that were shunning trading in the markets to move conduct business there.

Luapula Province Minister Nickson Chilangwa has disclosed that the construction of the FTJ University in Mansa District will commence this year.

Mr. Chilangwa said the delays in commencing the construction works have been due to the redesigning of the University in order to accommodate more faculties that were not in the original plan.

Mr. Chilangwa stated that government is mobilizing adequate resources for the project to run without stopping.

ZANIS reports that Mr. Chilangwa told journalists in Mansa today that President Edgar Lungu is expected to re-launch the construction of the university in Mansa before March 31, this year.

He explained that government has a robust plan to build and complete FTJ University within 36 months until its completion.

Mr. Chilangwa said the institution will be the only university to have a full sports faculty in the country adding it will also offer programmes that will be relevant to Luapula Province.

In November, 2013 late President Michael Sata laid a foundation stone for the construction of the Luapula University which President Edgar Lungu later renamed after late second Republican President Fredrick Titus Jacob Chiluba

The opposition Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) says it is not aware that spokesperson and Deputy National Secretary Antonio Mwanza joined the ruling Patriotic Front (PF).

FDD Vice President Chifumu Banda said in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today that Mr. Mwanza is still their member.

Mr. Banda said his party has not been officially communicated to about Mr. Mwanza‘s defection to the ruling PF.

“When did Mr. Mwanza join PF? As FDD, we’re not aware of his move as he is still our member,” the FDD Veep said.

Mr. Banda stated that he only heard of Mr. Mwanza’s defection in the press.

The FDD Veep noted that his party led by President Edith Nawakwi is an attractive political party that is growing, receiving and embracing new members from other political parties on a daily basis.

Meanwhile, PF Deputy Media Director Antonio Mwanza said the ruling PF is the only capable political party that serves the interests of the Zambian people and not the opposition.

Mr. Mwanza who last week defected from FDD said the party is finished and appealed to them to stop living in denial.

He charged that more people will join the ruling party because of its visionary leader.

And Mr. Mwanza who last evening featured on the Sunday Interview programme stated that he wanted to work with progressive people.

“My conscience is clear to join PF and I can assure you that more members will defect from FDD to the ruling PF,” Mr. Mwanza said.

The Zambia National Students Union has challenged Antonio Mwanza to explain his stance on the issues affecting the nation which he spoke so passionately about when he was in opposition.

Speaking in an interview ZANASU Vice President Eddie Miyoba said young people in the country expected Mwanza to firmly stand for what he believed in when in opposition such as better standards of Education in the country.

Miyoba wondered how the charismatic former FDD Spokesperson will speak about the issues he tirelessly advocated for she he was in opposition.

“As ZANASU we expect Comrade Mwanza to stand firmly for what he believed in the time he was in opposition,i.e better standards of education (in higher learning institutions) now that he is in the ruling party what is his take over the pro longed closure of CBU and UNZA.

“The time he was opposition he tirelessly advocated for the amendment of the Public Oder Act now that he is in the ruling party what’s his take? After his few Media appearance under PF, we question whether his defection was genuine or was because of hunger that every Zambian is facing under this government,” said Miyoba.

Miyoba further said Mwanza was an embarrassment to youths not only in the student community but to the general youths as well.

He added that the confidence young people had that such political practice would change but that Mwanza had proved them wrong.

“He is an embarrassment not only to the student community but to the youths at large, we deeply feel ashamed that a person like Antonio is even linked to student governance because those are not values of unionism.

“We were confident that we were going to change the practice of politics as young people but what we have seen is not inspiring at all, one thing for sure is that he will not have a clean consious because we know what he believed in and we are very sure that there is a spell which was cast on him and we shall forgive him for that.

“We want to urge the youths not to despair in their fight for clean politics, Antonio is but just a drop in a ocean who cannot halt the process of cleaning the political environment, we have many young people today who can who are more vibrant and can do a better job…..aluta continua” Miyoba said.