The Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) is disheartened by the increasing political violence among politicians despite several calls for restraint and tolerance.

And the CCZ has strongly condemned the attack on National Democratic Congress Secretary General Mwenya Musenge and his party Spokesperson Eric Chanda at 5fm Radio premises on Thursday.

CCZ General Secretary Fr Emmanuel Chikoya says any attempts by anyone to stifle freedom of expression, movement and association will be strongly opposed without fear or favour.

Fr Chikoya says the Universal Declaration on democracy as cited from articles 4, 11 and 19 demand that Democracy must be founded on the right of everyone to take part in the management of public affairs hence the achievement of democracy presupposes a genuine partnership between men and women in the conduct of the affairs of society.

Fr Chikoya says as opposed to violence, political party leaders must encourage their cadres to choose dialogue as it is the best way of resolving differences in a democracy like Zambia.

He says dialogue is the only way of reaching decisions that are acceptable to everybody, adding that dialogue is the primary means of avoiding conflict.

Fr Chikoya says what separates democracy from other political philosophies is the principle and practice of solving differences first and foremost through dialogue.

He explains that politicians must embrace dialogue every time they are resolving differences because it dispels assumptions, suspicions, bitterness and it clarifies misunderstanding between and among different stakeholders.

He further says dialogue is the best way of resolving problems adding that it is the only way of reaching decisions that are acceptable to everybody.

He has clarified that CCZ will always chose to stand for what is right while remaining non-partisan.

Fr Chikoya says CCZ expects leaders to be slow at getting angry, not given to drunkenness, not violent and not pursuing dishonest gain as quoted from the Book of Titus Chapter 1 verses 7 to 8. He says leaders must instead be hospitable, love what is good, self-controlled, upright, and disciplined.

He says the attacks on the NDC officials on Thursday is far from what is expected of political players particularly those who have been given the stewardship of leading the nation.

Fr Chikoya has encouraged all Zambians to dwell together in unity saying it is good and pleasant, especially at this time of Christmas.

He says Christmas is about sharing joy, peace and blessings and not exchanging blows in the name of politics.
He has since urged all Zambians to have zero tolerance for violence regardless of its source.

Issued by:

Communications Department
COUNCIL OF CHURCHES IN ZAMBIA

Central Province Minister Sidney Mushanga has called for the enhancement of research to sustain the country’s developmental programs.

Mr. Mushanga said research is a key element of many developmental agendas which, when well planned, enables government to formulate evidence-based policies that lead to massive economic gains.

He was speaking during the 4th Graduation Ceremony at Kwame Nkrumah University in Kabwe were over 1,000 teachers graduated.

Mr. Mushanga observed that science, technology and innovation are recognised as the most important drivers of sustained and inclusive development.

“As part of the broader research agenda, government will ensure that higher institutions of learning strengthen research capacities in the Zambian people to carry out research programmes with internationally accepted standards,” he said.

The Provincial Minister also urged the graduating teachers to uphold high standards of education and integrity and become role models to the pupils they will be teaching.

And Kwame Nkhrumah University Vice Chancellor Hellicy Ng’ambi, appealed to the Ministry of General Education to absorb the graduates into the mainstream teaching profession as soon as possible.

Ms. Ng’ambi added that development sustainability is only possible if combined with research fostered innovation through teaching and learning.

She said the institution took pride in producing teachers and education managers that are able to solve problems, think critically and deliver quality education to the Zambian people and beyond.

“The underlying principle to holistic access to education is driven by the fact that to achieve national socio-economic growth and stability, an educated citizenry is central,” she said.

The Vice Chancellor also urged the graduands to use their education with integrity and purpose and be leaders in transforming their communities and institutions through innovative and creative teachers to contribute to education for sustainable development.

ZAMBIA Air Force (ZAF) deputy commander David Muma has thanked Government for its commitment to ensuring a stable and modernised ZAF through the acquisition of new assets.

Maj Gen Muma said the acquisition of aircrafts, air defence equipment and construction of support infrastructure was a clear sign that Government was very eager to modernise the operations of ZAF.

He said this during the 2017 Livingstone air force base officers annual ball at the ZAF banquet hall in Livingstone on Friday.

“We recently received 450 unmanned aerial vehicles or drones which are currently based at ZAF Mumbwa air force base.

“The acquisition of the drones will enhance our surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities and in the first quarter of 2018, two Spartan aircrafts will be delivered and this will increase the flying capacity of air transport support command,” he said.

He said ZAF was in the process of establishing a school of excellence which was to include the delivery of 15 aircraft for training purposes.

“It is this support from Government that has enabled ZAF to effectively protect Zambia’s airspace and territorial integrity through the projection of air power,” he said.

He said Government was committed to improving conditions of service so that ZAF personnel and their families are able to sustain themselves and save money for future investment.

Speaking earlier ZAF Livingstone station commander Colin Barry said the Livingstone station had carried out a number of tasks that had transformed the operations and resulted in effective and efficient delivery of service.

“Throughout 2017, this station carried out a number of tasks ranging from routine administrative and logistical activities.

“Without doubt the most notable was the commissioning, wings parade and presidential commissioning that took place last month in November and we are sincerely grateful for your support,”Col Barry said.

The Green Party is early next year set to launch its “Radical Quantum-Leap Economic Transformation Agenda 21” where the party will recruit youths aged between 14 and 30 who intended to join Zambia National Service (ZNS) in 2021, says party President Peter Sinkamba. He said that only youths who will register next year under the party programme will be recruited to join ZNS if the Green Party wins elections in 2021.

Briefing his executive in Kitwe this morning on the plans for 2018, Sinkamba said the “Radical Quantum-Leap Economic Transformation Agenda 21” to be launched in the first quarter of 2018, is the party’s economic manifesto aimed at leap-frogging Zambia’s economic growth from single-digit to double-digit growth should the party form government in 2021. He said the agenda is anchored on high-value agriculture, innovation, renewable energy, eco-tourism, information and communication technology, nuclear medicine and space science.

“Zambia has failed to win the battle against poverty in the last 53 years of independence because the economic growth achieved throughout has been too little to make a difference. It has always been single-digit instead of double-digit.

“It is like adding a single teaspoon of sugar in a 200 litre drum of hot water and expect to make tea for your guests. Don’t expect a single teaspoon of the sugar to sweeten a drum of water. You need a substantial quantity of sugar to sweeten a drum full of water. Otherwise your guests will think you have lost your mind,” he said.

“And exactly is the case with economic growth. You can’t meaningfully reduce poverty hovering around 70 per cent from 4-7 per cent economic growth. You really must be out of your mind to expect any meaningful poverty reduction.

“What you need to achieve that is a quantum leap of economic growth which runs in double digits to make a significant impact on poverty reduction,” Sinkamba said.

“Figuratively, our economic policy, as the Green Party, targets to grow the economy substantially from the current 4-7% annually, up to not less than 80% in the first 5 years. How to get there is what is outlined in our “Radical Quantum-Leap Economic Transformation Agenda 21”, he added.

He said the party will need to lay the foundation for the agenda well in advance of the 2021 elections. He said starting early next year his party will carry out a massive recruitment of youths who intend to join ZNS and work on farms and various industries that his party intends to create under ZNS. He said the recruitment will be done long before the elections so that if the party forms government in 2021, it is ready to govern and implement its agenda from the first day in office.

“So, instead of following what other parties are doing, whereby they have launched party membership renewal, we have a different approach. In the first quarter of 2018, we plan to embark on a ZNS recruitment exercise,” he said.

“We will place TV, radio and newspaper adverts for ZNS recruitment. We will ask youths aged between 14 and 30 years old who wish to join ZNS in 2021 to ensure that they register themselves with our mobile teams. We plan that the recruitment exercise is concluded by June 2018.

“We plan to recruit about two million youths. It will not matter to us whether they have degrees, diplomas, certificates, or are physically challenged or what not. The only qualification is that they must be Zambian citizens. That’s all. We have a plan for every youth under the transformed ZNS,” Sinkamba added.

“We want to orient them to our economic agenda in advance so that should we win elections in 2021, priority for ZNS recruitment will be given to youths whose names appear in our registers and have been oriented to our economic agenda. We want to ensure they are registered and train the in advance so that they are fully conversant with our economic agenda, as well as expected roles, outcomes, and time-frames.

“So, when I say we want to be ready to govern by 2021, I mean just that. We want to take positively use our 8 million idle youths. We want to make them agents of economic change and not agents of violence and destruction. We want to make them the main drivers of radical economic transformation which will leap-frog economic growth to quantum leaps.

“That’s why it is imperative for us to make the recruits understand their role long before we form government. We want to make them an integral part of our plans now and not after the 2021 elections,” he said.

A Non-Governmental Organization says there is need to put in place mechanisms that will enable government’s goal of ensuring that no child grows up in an institution.

Save the Children Policy Advisor Barnabas Mwansa said all children, regardless of their circumstances deserve to grow up in a family set up and not an orphanage.

Mr. Mwansa was speaking when Save the Children launched the “Zambia Rising Project” in Mufulira today.

He stated that his organization supports government’s vision of ensuring that orphans and other vulnerable children do not grow up in orphanages, but are placed in families to accord them a normal life, adding that this could only be achieved with corporation from all stakeholders.

Mr. Mwansa said the “Zambia Rising Project” is aimed at strengthening systems that will ensure the realisation of this dream.

The Policy Advisor noted that lack of coordinated efforts by stakeholders has resulted in duplication of efforts and less impressive results.

He said the Zambia Rising Project will ensure coordination of efforts by stakeholders involved in children’s welfare adding that this will ensure children get the maximum benefits of these efforts.

“Every child in Zambia has the right to access social and health services. But unless the systems meant to ensure that this happens are strengthened, we will not be able to achieve this goal especially for vulnerable children on the streets, institutions, and in abusive families,” Mr.Mwansa explained.

He said his organization will train stakeholders in the district on how to understand challenges being faced by children on the streets, institutions and communities, in order to enhance the response system to these challenges.

Mr. Mwansa disclosed that his organization will next year launch another project in Mufulira district funded by USAID, which will scale up efforts of ensuring the right response to the challenges children face both in institutions and families.

The Ministry of Works and Supply is concerned with the increasing levels of misuse and abuse of Government vehicles by some government officers.

Minister of Works and Supply Matthew Nkhuwa says the ministry has noted that some officers are using the vehicles for personal errands at the expense of government assignments.

Mr. Nkhuwa has told journalists at a media briefing in Lusaka that some officers have also developed growing trend of parking government vehicles at unauthorised places such as bars.

He explained that his ministry has since intensified its surveillance and monitoring system to ensure that anyone found wanting is brought to book.

Mr. Nkhuwa said Government has also come up with more stiff measures which will not only be costly but also dismissible for officers who defy the rules.

He the ministry has developed a draft comprehensive fleet management policy framework which will soon be submitted to cabinet to guide government institutions on the use of government vehicles.

By Nevers Mumba, MMD President

Life has many faces. Two people living in the same house don’t view life the same. This is even more so for the sixteen million Zambians whose views of Zambian life are as varied as our finger prints.

It is these varied views when expressed freely which define who we are as a people. No Emperor, King or President should stifle any person who wishes to describe his personal life experience.

Pilato has a way of speech that may offend those who are affected, but infact we should not miss the strong message that is veiled in the satire.

No Sovereign should be tempted to silence such expressions, because if we do, we shall deny ourselves the opportunity to refine our national destiny.

Challenging leaders is a daily exercise of one’s freedom of expression. You cannot use the police to arrest conscience. You cannot use courts to interrogate conscience. Zambia’s growth and prosperity is bound up in our collective perceptions of life and the freedom to publicly express them.

Every Zambian President since independence has been called names. Kaunda was called “Fonko fonko.” Chiluba was called ” Kafupi.” Mwanawasa was called “Cabbage.” Banda was called, “Nyama Soya.” Sata was called “Chuumbu Munshololwa.” and now Lungu is being referred to as “Koswe.” It comes with the position. Even I was called Mumbo Jumbo by Kalaki.

Artists must be encouraged to participate in highlighting the challenges facing the nation in their unique way which may include satire, poetry, song, sculpturing etc.

We therefore condemn any acts of intimidation against Pilato or any other artist.

Zambia Shall be Saved