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Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa Emmanuel Mwamba on Friday met with officials from Amnesty International at the Zambian mission in Pretoria.
Mr Mwamba had initiated the meeting after Amnesty International issued an alert following death threats issued against singer Pilato forcing him to flee Zambia.
But Pilato turned down the invitation to be part of the meeting accusing Mr Mwamba of lacking integrity.
Mr Mwamba in a brief statement described the meeting held today as productive.
Mr Mwamba said Amnesty International commended President Edgar Lungu for the successful meeting that he held with the Secretary General Salil Shetty some time last year.
He said Amnesty also welcomed the commitment made by President Lungu regarding the call to abolish the death penalty and further welcomed the current 30 year moratorium against those sentenced to death.
Mr Mwamba also stated that the human rights body welcomed the Zambian government’s commitment to review the Public Order Act (PoA) and the concerns around wide police discretion on the matter.
He said Amnesty International also raised concern over the Right to food and the rising displacement of people from traditional lands by commercial entities and interests.
The envoy said Amnesty International also reiterated that their reports and media statements are evidence based, accurate and go through a verification process.
“We took the opportunity to congratulate Kumi Naidoo who has been appointed as the new Secretary General of Amnesty International and will take over the organisation in August 2018. Kumi is a former Executive Director of international environmentalist group Greenpeace,” Mr Mwamba said.
Zambia is one of the 83 countries that have announced measures to tackle the salmonella baby formula scandal involving French company Lactalis.
In a circular to all Provincial Medical Directors, Health Permanent Secretary Dr Kennedy Malama said Zambia has received urgent notification from the European Commission on the food borne outbreak suspected to be caused by infant formula from France.
Dr Malama said the outbreak involves S. Agona Salmonella epidemic infants less than six months as 20 cases have been reported.
He said the product implicated is Pico infant formula manufactured by Croan Plant in France.
“As a country, we are to withdraw the named product from the market with immediate effect and notify the European Commission of actions taken as a matter of urgency,” Dr Malama’s circular read in part.
He has since directed all Provincial Health Directors to conduct investigations on the availability of this product on the market and withdraw it with immediate effect.
More than 12 million boxes of powdered baby milk have now been recalled in 83 countries in a salmonella scandal involving French company Lactalis.
The dairy firm’s CEO, Emmanuel Besnier, confirmed the extent of the contamination risk to French media this week.
The products have been subject to a recall since December, after salmonella bacteria was discovered at a factory.
Lawsuits have been filed by parents who say their children became unwell after drinking the formula.
A spokesman told the BBC that all the countries affected had been informed, in Europe, Asia, Latin America and Africa.
The UK, US and Australia were not affected, he added.
The Lactalis group is one of the world’s largest producers of dairy products, with annual sales of €17bn ($21bn; £15bn), It has 246 production sites in 47 countries and employs 15,000 people in France alone.
Recalls have now been issued by the firm three times, and cover its Picot, Milumel and Taranis brands.
In an exclusive interview in French newspaper Journal du Dimache, the Lactalis chief executive denied the firm had attempted to hide the outbreak at the plant.
“There are complaints and there will be an investigation with which we will fully collaborate,” said Mr Besnier.
He also promised the company would compensate any families affected.
The company has said they believe the contamination was caused by renovation work at their Celia factory in Craon, in north-west France.
France’s agriculture minister said products from the factory will be banned indefinitely whilst the investigation is still ongoing.
The French government has warned the company it must expect penalties over its handling of the affair.
They also threatened to impose sanctions against retailers on Thursday, after it emerged that several major supermarket chains had continued to sell products that could have been contaminated.
So far French officials have reported 35 cases of infants getting salmonella from the powder, while one case has been reported in Spain and another is being investigated in Greece.
An association representing victims says the authorities are underestimating the number of cases.
‘There are complaints and there will be an investigation with which we will fully collaborate. We never thought to act otherwise,’ Besnier said.
Created in 1933 by Besnier’s grandfather, Lactalis has become an industry behemoth with annual sales of some 17 billion euros ($20.6 billion), with products including Galbani ricotta and mozzarella in Italy.
With 246 production sites in 47 countries, its list of products also features household names like President butter and Societe roquefort.
Two of those brands, Picot and Milumel baby milk, were the subject of chaotic international recalls issued in mid-December after dozens of children fell sick.
PRESIDENT EDGAR LUNGU has directed the treasury and all spending agencies to urgently constitute a special task force to expedite the completion of infrastructure projects which have stalled across the country.
According to a statement released by President Lungu’s spokesperson Amos Chanda, The head of state is particularly disappointed that many projects especially in Muchinga which he recently toured have stalled.
Mr Chanda said to address this the head of state summoned a special meeting of selected ministers and technocrats from ministries and departments concerned to agree on a new strategy to rationalise on going and new projects.
“I want to see to it that all stalled projects are completed before new ones are contracted. We have resolved that no new projects are undertaken until we execute the current ones. Focus should be on projects whose completion level had reached about 85 percent, and then we go to those at 60 percent and eventually start new ones,” President Lungu said.
“I have therefore directed the Treasury and all spending agencies to urgently constitute a Special Taskforce to expedite the completion of infrastructure projects which have stalled across the country.”
And President Lungu says there is urgent need to streamline the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Unit under the Ministry of Finance to improve on the pace at which it implements projects.
He said The PPP Unit is currently not operating to the desired expectations and needs to be re-examined.
Following the head of states direction the ministers resolved to reconvene at State House on Tuesday, 6th February, 2018 to map out a new strategy to respond to President Lungu’s concerns.
The meeting was attended by Minister of Finance, Hon. Felix Mutati, Prof. Nkandu Luo (Higher Education), Hon. Dr. Dennis Wanchinga (General Education), Hon. Stephen Kampyongo (Home Affairs), Hon. Ronald Chitotela (Infrastructure and Housing), Hon. Vincent Mwale (Local Government), Hon. Alexander Chiteme (National Development Planning), Hon. Dr. Chitalu Chilufya (Health), Hon. Malozo Sichone (Muchinga Province) and Presidential Affairs Minister Hon. Freedom Sikazwe.
The Chinese Contractor constructing Mungwi District Hospital is scheduled to hand over the project to government in the first quarter of this year.
ZANIS reports that District Health Director Zoran Muhimba who confirmed the development in an interview said the contractor is in the finalizing stage in readiness for furnishing of the hospital before it is operationalized.
Dr. Muhimba said this when Northern Province Minister Brian Mundubile and Malole area Member of Parliament Christopher Yaluma inspected the on-going works on phase one of the project.
He said once operational, the hospital will enhance access to health care services among residents of Mungwi District.
Dr Muhimba said some of services that the hospital will be providing will include; X-RAY, physiotherapy, among other diagnostic and curative services.
And Northern Province Minister Brian Mundubile said the construction of the first ever hospital in Mungwi District is a demonstration of government’s commitment to improved delivery of health care services.
Phase one of the hospital which comprises of an out-patient department and administration block, has been under construction since 2015.
Government engaged China Gansu Engineering Cooperation to carry out the construction of phase one of Mungwi District Hospital at a cost of K14.7 million.
Finance Minister Felix Mutati says the economic and fiscal consolidation reforms embarked on in 2017 have gained momentum and are beginning to yield positive results.
A liaison meeting with Zambia’s Cooperating Partners was held yesterday by the Ministry of Finance and their counterparts led by Minister of Development Planning Ministry of Development Planning Alexander Chiteme.
And Mr. Mutati explained that Zambia’s fiscal deficit in December, 2017 was only 6.1% against a budget target of 7.3% a positive performance which is consistent with government’s fiscal consolidation policies.
He also disclosed that total tax revenue collections in 2017 were above target by 4%.
Zambia recorded a 6.1% inflation rate as at December 2017, the lowest record so far in 40 years. With domestic debt reducing from K19 billion in December, 2016 to less than K10 billion in December, 2017.
Mr. Mutati reiterated that Government’s commitment to enhance domestic resource mobilisation and below are the five key areas of reform:
1. Improvement of Economic and Fiscal Governance;
2. Tax policy reforms and tax administration modernisation;
3. Enhanced debt management and improvement in supply of debt data;
4. Revision of Bank of Zambia legislation to provide for enhancement of monetary policy management and administration;
5. Revision of procurement legislation and implementation of new procurement reforms.”
“We will leverage on the vision and full backing of President Edgar Lungu to continue implementing a reform agenda which has positive exponential outcomes and benefits the people of Zambia – without leaving anyone behind,” Mr. Mutati said.
The Minister of National Development Planning Alexander Chiteme revealed that currently a total of 2,450 active and stalled projects located in various locations in all the ten provinces of Zambia.
Mr Chiteme expressed Governments’ displeasure over the unimpressive implementation of some donor funded projects whose poor performance he attributed to delays in project appraisals, prolonged negotiations, protracted approval processes, lengthy procurement processes and bureaucratic staff recruitment and placement systems.
He also reaffirmed Government’s commitment to revive, prioritise, and complete ongoing projects located in various locations in all the ten provinces of Zambia before embarking on new ones.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the Cooperating Partners Group and United Nations Systems Coordinator Janet Rogan, who was represented by United Nations Development Programme UNDP Economic Counsellor Ms. Nicolene Nzamba, said the group was looking forward to the continuation of fruitful engagements, cooperation and collaboration with the Zambian Government.
“As Zambia’s Cooperating Partners, we wish to see the full implementation of the Seventh National Development Plan and establishment of a stronger linkage between the budget and the plan,” Ms. Nzamba said.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the two Ministers called on the Cooperating Partners to continue their collaboration with the Zambian Government in order to mutually achieve development interests.
This is according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance.
Transport and Communications Minister Brian Mushimba with Officials from Zambia Railways
Transport and Communications Minister Brian Mushimba has signed a Statutory Instrument to compel transporters of heavy cargo to move 30 percent of bulk cargo from road to railway which will take effect within 30 days.
The new SI will take effect after 30 days.
Some of the heavy bulk cargo that are expected to be transported onto the railway include copper, copper and cobalt concentrates, sugar, coal, cement, sulphur, fuel and among other heavy bulk cargo.
Mr. Mushimba said in a bid to optimise the transport sector and promote the sustainability of rail subsector, the Government has signed an IS which will make it mandatory for all transporters of bulk and heavy cargo to shift 30 per cent of the cargo to rail.
“It has taken a long time to come to where it today….this is a statutory instrument that is going to mandate about 30 per cent heavier bulk cargo in the country to move from road to rail. This is the process that started a year ago when we called the first consultative meeting with the stakeholders which include mining houses, those that transport fertilizers, coal and many other bulky commodities,” Mr Mushimba said.
He said the implementation of the quota system will lead to the preservation of the road infrastructure, the will be guaranteed volumes of cargo and increased revenue and efficiency in the railway operations.
Mr. Mushimba explained that the Government would set up a monitoring and evaluation team that will work closely with other stakeholders such as the Zambia Revenue Authority, Zambia Weights and Measures Agency, Zambia Chamber of Mines and other trade organisations to ensure effective implementation of the SI.
“With this SI in place Zambia Railways Limited and TAZARA are expected to be the main beneficially of this as they will now move 30 per cent of this cargo …and I would like to assure the nation that the two companies have the capacity,” he said.
“You may wish to know that the rail sub-sector is designed to ferry huge volumes of bulk and heavy cargo through short and long distances. Among other pros, rail transport poses minimal environmental externalities in comparison to other modes of transport such as the road,” Mr. Mushimba said.
He said the huge and unregulated shift to road has triggered an increase in the utilisation of the road transport causing damage to the road infrastructure, increased road carnages, traffic congestion, pollution to the environment and Increased road maintenance costs and consequently reducing the useful life of the roads to approximately five years.
And Zambia Railway Board Chairperson Lubinda Linyama said, “this has been a long road leading up today when we have concluded this process. This is one of the milestones we were given by the Ministry and the Government that we will enhance and revitalize the railway system so that we can reclaim our role in the transport sector so it challenge.”
Transport and Communications Minister Brian MushimbaTransport and Communications Minister Brian Mushimba Signing the SI
A renowned economist says the outbreak of cholera has drastically affected the performance of the economy.
Professor Oliver Saasa has noted that the cholera outbreak has had a negative tag on the economy as tourists will have to think twice before making Zambia its destination.
Professor Saasa said the country needs to assure all the business houses that it is doing everything possible to ensure that the situation is normalized.
He said the country has been trying its best to market the nation to the outside world but its efforts will be in vain if the epidemic is allowed to spread.
Professor Saasa said he appreciates the interventions that government has put in place to ensure that the outbreak is put to a halt.
He explained that vendors alone cannot take the blame for this calamity that has fallen the Lusaka district and other parts of the country.
Professor Saasa further stated that it calls for a multi-sectoral approach if the fight against cholera is to be fought in the country.
He has noted that consumers also have the duty to ensure that the food they consume is stored in hygienic places and bought from right sources.
Professor Saasa was speaking during a programme on ZNBC dubbed Business Review and monitored by ZANIS in Lusaka.
Prophet Amataa after arrestThe United Church of Zambia (UCZ) has referred to the Nigerian Pastor who was arrested with drugs as unfortunate.
UCZ Bishop Sidney Sichilima said the people appointed as prophets are supposed to lead an exemplary life to the people around them.
Speaking in a telephone interview with ZANIS yesterday, Bishop Sichilima disclosed that the situation is not good for a leader.
He noted that men of GOD should not involve themselves in misconducts such as drug trafficking.
The 42 year old Nigerian Prophet Isaac Julias Amata arrested for trafficking in Ephedrine is a well know prophet who correctly prophesied President Lungu’s election victories in 2015 and 2016.
Bishop sichilima stated that the situation was disappointing on the religious point of view because men of GOD are supposed to bear good fruits always.
He said the moral standards from men of God are supposed to be beyond reproach for many people to look up to them.
The Bishop said drug trafficking is not good for either civic, political or especially religious leaders who are supposed to lead everyone by example.
He further urged men of God not to get swayed from God’s calling for personal interests but that, they should follow Jesus’s example to help the people that believe in them.
Copperbelt Province Permanent Secretary Bright Nundwe
Copperbelt Province Permanent Secretary, Bright Nundwe says the region is a delicate area that needs level-headed people at the core of spearheading development.
Mr. Nundwe said he wants to see absolute order in the province as he does not want it to be known for illegality but excellence.
ZANIS reports that the Permanent Secretary was speaking when he addressed civil servants at Chililabombwe Secondary School yesterday.
Mr. Nundwe has called on civil servants to have good attitude towards work and also take issues of accountability seriously.
He said Zambia is a rich country that has great potential to prosper but it can only done where there is unity of purpose.
And Mr. Nundwe has cautioned civil servants against participating in active politics and instead leave politics to politicians.
He stated that civil servants should observe the ethics of government and the civil service stating that the responsibility of civil servants is to promote and implement the policies of the government of the day.
Mukula TreeOver one thousand and four hundred 1,422 pieces of Mukula logs confiscated from illegal dealers in Kasempa and Mufumbwe districts have been forfeited to the state.
This follows a court order issued by the Solwezi Magistrate Court for the 1,422 logs to be deposited with District Forestry Office in Solwezi for further formalities.
This is in pursuant to section 355 of the Criminal Procedure Code Chapter 88 of the Laws of Zambia.
Meanwhile, North-Western Province Patriotic Front (PF) Chairman Jackson Kungo has refuted allegations by the United Party for National Development (UPND) in the province that the forfeited logs belong to a named Minister.
Mr. Kungo said the logs in question belong to the state adding that Zambia Forestry and Forest Industries Corporation (ZAFFICO) has since been engaged to transport the logs from Kasempa and Mufumbwe where they were marooned.
National Democratic Congress (NDC) Political Consultant Chishimba Kambwili’s case has been adjourned to January 29 for plea.
This is in a matter in which Mr. Kambwili is charged with forgery, uttering false documents and giving false information to a public officer.
Principal Resident Magistrate David Simusamba has adjourned the case following an application by Mr Kambwili’s lawyers stating that their client is unwell.
And Mr. Kambwili is this afternoon expected to be questioned by Woodlands Police’s anti fraud unit at 14:30 Hours.
Early this week, the NDC Consultant was charged with three counts of forgery, altering false documents and giving false information.
According to Zambia Police spokesperson Esther Katongo said the charges against Mr Kambwili were not politically motivated but purely criminal matters.
“We have charged Hon. Chishimba Kambwili with three counts as follows: 1. Forgery which is contrary to section 342, 2. Uttering False documents contrary to section 352 and Giving False Information to a public officer contrary to section 125 of the Penal Code, Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia. He will appear in Court soon,” Said Ms Katongo
“As Police, we wish to state that the summoning of Hon. Kambwili has nothing to do with politics as he insinuated when he addressed the media yesterday but that this is purely a criminal matter.”
Meanwhile, Luanshya District Freedom Fighters Association Chairperson, Aaron Kambatika has advised Roan Patriotic Front(PF) Member of Parliament Chishimba Kambwili to show respect to the office of the President.
Mr. Kambatika said it shameful to see the levels of indiscipline and insults showered to the office of the President.
He has since urged Mr. Kambwili to show respect to the President’s office as the continued insults on President Edgar Lungu by the former Chief Government Spokesperson are inappropriate.
He stated that President Edgar Lungu is older than Mr. Kambwili and as an Association for freedom fighters, they feel the Head of State deserves utmost respect from the Roan Constituency law maker.
Mr. Kambatika said Mr. Kambwili should realise that leadership comes from God, adding that him (Mr. Kambwili ) has put it on record that he wants to be republican President but wondered how can be one if he does not respect the office and its bearer.
Mr. Kambatika has urged Mr. Kambwili to inspire young people though good leadership than uttering language which is far from the qualities of good leadership.
This is contained in a statement availed to ZANIS by Luanshya District Freedom Fighters Association.
Power Dynamos assistant coach Anderson Phiri will not be part from the re-constituted technical bench led by new head coach Kelvin Kaindu.
Kaindu, who replaces Dan Kabwe who quit a fortnight ago to join Lusaka Dynamos, will be assisted by Kampamba Chintu and Mwenya Chipepo.
Power chairman Bbenkele Haachitwe confirmed that Phiri won’t be part of the new bench pending the expiry of his contract in March 2018.
Phiri joined Power as an assistant to Tennant Chilumba in 2013 and later worked with Dan Kabwe.
“Coach Anderson’s contract runs until 31st March this year. The club and him has agree that the relationship is coming to an end,” Haachitwe said.
“But at the moment he is helping us with a little more task but we are grateful to him. He has been a very good coach to the team and we are wishing him well,” he said.
Phiri, who played at Mufulira Wanderers winger and won the 1995 and 1996 league title with Mighty, has previously coached in Zimbabwe.
The Weather Forecast for February 2018 shows that the northern half of the country has increased chances for recording normal to above normal rainfall.
According to the weather bulletin obtained from the Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD), areas surrounding Lusaka, Southern, and Western provinces are likely to receive below to normal rainfall.
In the Month of March 2018, Muchinga and Northern provinces will have a high chance of receiving normal to above normal rainfall.
While, the southern part of the country will have increased chances of recording below to normal rainfall in the same month.
The ZMD bulletin revealed that the continued suppression of rainfall accompanied by high temperatures in selected parts of the country especially over the Southern half of the country has led to substantial moisture deficits which is likely to adversely affect the growth of crops.
The weather bulletin further highlighted that the poor rainfall distribution has negatively impacted the growth of maize at early stages especially in the southern half of the country.
Meanwhile, ZMD has further disclosed that the southern half of the country is expected to record flash floods despite the area recording below to normal rainfall.
The department explained that the flash floods will be induced by high intensity of rainfall events.
In a related development, ZMD said abnormal dryness will continue to strengthen and expand for the rest of January in selected parts of the country adding that, the sad development will place additional moisture stress on crops.
