Ruff Kid released the video for his latest gospel inspired single “Wamaka“.
The song was produced by D Jonz. Video was directed by QBick and Lawdak, D.O.P by Jamiel Banda.
BY KAPA187
Capt. Dalitso Phiri’s passionate pursuit of aviation
Flying in the skies with passengers onboard gives me a sense of responsibility and a sense of empowerment – Capt. Dalitso Phiri
Aviation is a profession that is meant for go-getters and is also full of twists of fate.
From the inventors of the first aircraft – the Wright brothers – to the modern-day pilot, similarities of character are eminent: that oomph, that resilience; that passion; that drive; that thirst and tenacity to touch the sky can never be overlooked.
This is what Proflight Zambia’s Director of Government and Industry Affairs Capt. Philip Lemba saw in Dalitso Phiri, a young I.T. grad turned pilot fresh out of flying school, after being bombarded by his frequent emails of job enquiries.
Never in Dalitso’s dreams did he think he would become a qualified pilot. His story begins with his growing admiration and passion for planes and flying which started at a tender age. On hot summer afternoons, Dalitso and his friends made it a habit to go to the Ndola airport to gaze at aeroplanes gracefully take flight from the runway.
“When I was a boy, my friends and I used to go to Ndola airport and watch planes tear the sky. I was so fascinated. In my mind, I wondered how aeroplanes worked. Those childhood moments made me yearn to experience flight,” Dalitso says.
“The first flight I experienced was in 1989. It was a flight from Ndola to Lusaka. The first experience ignited the fire in me. Since then, I had a dream I thought I would never achieve, but I achieved it,” Capt. Dalitso adds.
Capt. Dalitso Phiri explains that his doubts about flying started when he thought of how expensive courses in flying were and this made him exclude himself from the list of future pilots soaring in Zambia’s skies. It was only his experience outside Zambia that made him change his perspective.
“At the time, I thought of the challenges; the training seemed expensive such that I didn’t know where to start. It’s only when I left Zambia that I got the exposure I needed to realise that this could actually happen,” Dalitso recalls.
Dalitso Phiri’s late father worked for the mines in the Copperbelt during his childhood before the privatisation era. Times eventually became rough as companies were either being privatised or being sold. Many jobs were lost and families were torn into disarray and unpredictability. In the face of such adversity, Dalitso’s mother was fortunate enough to find herself a job in Australia as a nurse. This made the family relocate ‘Down Under.’
While in Australia, a twist of fate transpired by a tour to the airport.
“I had just finished my I.T. diploma, which made me a qualified programmer. A friend of mine and I decided to take a tour to the airport in Melbourne. We observed how airport staff related including the pilots. I then realised that this is what I’ve always wanted and within a heartbeat, I resolved to chase for my passion,” Dalitso narrates.
Well, it was not as easy as Dalitso thought at first. Before his life changing first flight lesson, he needed to save money.
“I took my first flying lesson in 2007 and I remember paying my first instalment which was about $5,000 and it went just like that, but that’s how everything started,” Capt. Dalitso reminisces.
Not so long after this, Dalitso earned himself a private pilot’s licence and three years later, he obtained his commercial pilot’s licence in 2010.
“After obtaining my commercial licence, I took one of the biggest decisions of my life by quitting my job all for the passion of flying and so I needed to make myself a plan by making myself relevant by looking for a job as a pilot,” Dalitso explains.
Dalitso Phiri admits that he had been following Proflight’s trends even whilst in Australia. He had managed to find Proflight Zambia’s director of government and industry affairs Capt. Philip Lemba’s email address and regularly for job enquiries.
“I bet he (Capt. Lemba) got irritated but I kept on pressing him until the vacancy came up and I made the big move by quitting my job and left Australia for Zambia,” Dalitso chuckles.
When Dalitso came back to Zambia with a hope of finding a vacancy at Proflight Zambia, he met Capt. Lemba to enquire more about vacancies.
“Meeting Capt. Lemba was a gamble. Fortunately, he showed me the ropes by showed me procedures to follow when a vacancy arose. I didn’t get a job there and then, I had to wait for months for a vacancy and I was fortunate enough to be picked. I believe Proflight saw potential to go far with the company and I am glad I have proved this,” Dalitso explains.
Dalitso worked for Proflight for a couple of years before being offered a position on the Jetstream 41 and hopes to fly the 50-seater CRJ someday. He joined Proflight with 250 hours in the air and he currently approaching 4,000hours.
“One of my treasured moments as a pilot is when I am either on a flight to Dar es Salaam, Malawi or Mfuwe and then I hover over the Muchinga Escarpment – not everyone gets to do that often especially with the view from the front. That motivates me,” Capt. Dalitso sighs.
Capt. Dalitso Phiri appreciates being part of Zambia’s leading local airline as the company gives recurrent training for staff to put in their utmost best.
“Proflight has given me a privilege of gaining experience on complex aircraft like the Jetstreams. The courses vary from time to time. They range from courses dealing with dangerous goods, emergency procedure training, crew resource management, aviation medical and aviation security,” Capt. Phiri explained.
These recurring courses have helped Capt. Dalitso Phiri meet people who are well vested in the aviation industry and have offered an experience sharing platform.
“The trainings help us pilots to be on top of our game and keeps our standards high. They have also given us an opportunity to mingle with experts in the aviation industry who pass their experience onto us. I also intend to pass this experience to newer pilots who will join the industry,” Capt. Phiri explains.
The 33-year-old pilot encourages youths by saying that success never comes easily and that it is driven by passion.
“Aviation is not an easy industry. There is practically nothing easy in this life. It is all about how passionate you are. If you really want something in life, go for it. You can achieve your dreams,” Capt. Dalitso advises.
“I have been privileged to be a part of Proflight Zambia because the airline has helped build me to the level that I currently am. I am also grateful to the airline’s CEO Mr. Tony Irwin for taking me on and the training captains who include Capt. Ken Kabungo, Capt. Eugene Loftus not forgetting Captain Phillip Lemba,” Capt. Phiri says.
Captain Dalitso Phiri is married and enjoys driving and watching series during his spare time.
Memorial service of Late President Michael Sata
Canisius Banda trashes HH’s Award, a mockery of African freedom from colonial imperialists
Both former UPND vice president for administration, Canisius Banda and former aide to Mr Hichilema, took shots at the award perceived to be a reward from colonial masters whose motive was to once again control African governments.
“That Hakainde Hichilema accepted such an award from imperialists raises suspicion and shows his clear ignorance of Africans and their painful past,” former UPND vice president for politics Canisius Banda has charged.
Dr Banda questioned the wisdom of former colonial masters judging and awarding Africans an African award when their history was murky as perpetrators of injustice against Africans.
Mr Hichilema confirmed on his official Facebook page that he was awarded for the extra-ordinary contribution to peace in Africa award by the foundation, owned by South Africa’s Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane.
But Dr Banda reiterated that accepting awards from imperialists as UPND leader had done raised suspicion.
He said that it would have been better if such an award was given to Mr Hichilema by Black Consciousness institutions, as whenever a white man gave a black man an award, it appeared disrespectful.
Dr Banda pointed out that Mr Hichilema had shown his clear ignorance of Africans and their gory past by accepting an award from imperialists.
He warned that the UPND leader that praise could fool as awards usually reflected the desires and satisfaction of the giving entity more than they did the merit of the recipient.
Dr Banda said that flatterers had never been known to be selfless persons and that their actions were always self-serving to the detriment of the flattered.
“When the award is given by imperialists as the Hichilema case is, such an eventuality has nefarious connotations.
“Just how did we get to this that Europeans are now giving gullible Africans awards of African Freedom?” he questioned.
Dr Banda quoted the second republican president, Dr Frederick Chiluba who said that “when they praise you, then you are doing what they want. But when they don’t give you an award just know that it means that you are doing the right thing, what your people want”.
And Mr Mumbi said conferring of the extra ordinary contribution to peace in Africa award on the UPND leader is a completely misplaced foreign ploy from people who want to destabilise the dialogue process and later come back to Zambia to claim mineral rights.
Mr Mumbi said the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, was insensitive to the Zambian populace for giving such an award to Mr Hichilema and wondered what the opposition leader had done to be bestowed with the accolade after having adamantly refused to recognise President Edgar Lungu as Head of State.
He said the award would hurt dialogue efforts between Mr Hichilema himself and President Lungu.
Mr Mumbi said Mr Hichilema had the worst political record in Zambia and that he was not at peace with past presidents of Zambia and political opponents and wondered how the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, would award such an individual.
Vera Chiluba Primary School: Road re-design that promotes road safety
ON Thursday, 28th September 2017, the FIA Foundation and the Puma Energy Foundation launched a road safety program to protect children as they walk to and from school at Vera Chiluba Primary School. The two global foundations are working with an international NGO, Amend, and the Zambia Road Safety Trust (ZRST), to implement proven-effective road safety measures around primary schools in Lusaka, and also to work with government and other stakeholders to ensure the measures are implemented more widely across Zambia.
The FIA Foundation is a UK-based international philanthropy working to promote public health through a commitment to safe, clean, fair and green mobility. Saul Billingsley, Executive Director of the FIA Foundation said Amend and ZRST are working for some of the poorest, most vulnerable; children on the planet, children whose needs and interests are off the radar for most policymakers. Through effective coalition building and unswerving dedication to hard evidence, Amend is demonstrating that child road traffic injuries can be affordably prevented. The FIA Foundation is proud to continue our support and partnership.
The program includes a comprehensive assessment of the road environment and the implementation of simple, yet targeted measures known to be effective in improving safety by decreasing vehicle speeds and separating children from traffic, things like bollards (posts), signage, new school gates, footpaths, speed humps, and zebra crossings.
Over 2206 people were killed in 2016 on Zambian roads, an increase of nearly 100 percent since 2010. Almost half of those killed were pedestrians, including over 300 children. Child pedestrians are among the highest-risk groups in Zambia for road traffic injury. Unlike their peers in wealthier countries, the vast majority of school children in urban Zambia walk to school, and they usually do so unaccompanied by an adult. A child in Africa is twice as likely to die on the roads as a child in any other region of the world.
Honorable Brian Mushimba, MP, Minister of Transport and Communications said the government is committed to ensuring that the message of road safety awareness is ingrained in the younger generation. In our efforts to encourage greater community involvement, the strong support provided by socially responsible corporate partners has been invaluable. We are most appreciative of the FIA Foundation and Puma Energy Foundation for their continued support of road safety programs in Zambia.
The Zambia Road Safety Trust is working with Amend will improve pedestrian infrastructure – footpaths, zebra crossings, speed humps, road signs, and more – around primary schools, and will also provide road safety education to the schools’ pupils. A 2015-16 study into the effectiveness of such improvements in Tanzania proved that lives can be saved. The schools around which infrastructure will be improved in Lusaka, and the data from the 2015-16 study, will be used to demonstrate to government that lives can be saved in towns and cities across other countries such as Zambia.
Amend develops, implements and evaluates evidence-based programs to reduce the incidence of road traffic injury in sub-Saharan Africa. Amend works across the continent and has offices in Ghana, Tanzania and Mozambique. Jeffrey Witte, Executive Director of Amend said his organization was extremely grateful for the FIA Foundation and Puma Energy Foundation’s support for Amend’s work to save children’s lives on Africa’s dangerous roads. In particular, their support of evidence-based projects that take the long view of how to sustainably save lives on Africa’s roads is remarkable. He said they look forward to preventing injuries with the safe infrastructure they will deliver through this programme, while also using these lifesaving measures to demonstrate to governments that they, too, can – and indeed must – act to save the lives the most vulnerable citizens on their roads: children.
This work is part of an Africa-wide programme, which is being carried out in ten countries: Benin, Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Senegal, Tanzania and Zambia.
Through its partnerships with expert NGOs, selected on their proven capacity to achieve lasting, tangible and measurable results in their programs, the Puma Energy Foundation aims at contributing to the development of thriving communities, particularly in countries where its parent company, Puma Energy, operates. The Foundation focuses its support in the fields of safe and clean logistics and sustainable employment. Vincent Faber, Executive Director of the Puma Energy Foundation said the Puma Energy Foundation is strongly committed to improving the safety of Africa’s children on the roads. The Foundation was delighted to launch the new three-year road safety programme in Zambia in partnership with the NGOs Amend and the Zambia Road Safety Trust. They believe that the twin-pronged approach of implementing practical solutions on the ground as well as promoting sustainable safety solutions to policy makers, will help ensure safe and healthy journeys to school and a bright future for Zambia’s children.
The NGOs are working with a local engineering firm, Andosa Consulting Engineers, who designed and supervised implementation of safety measures around the Vera Chiluba Primary School.
If Felix Mutati wants to cut costs, he should scrap personal-to-holder car schemes-Sinkamba
“The decision by Minister of Finance Felix Mutati to ban chief executives of loss-making State owned Enterprises (SoEs) from flying first-class is no saving at all. How many such executives really often fly overseas? Even when they fly locally, how many of them do actually first-class? What first-class is there to fly in Zambia between Lusaka and Livingstone or indeed between Lusaka and Ndola? Isn’t it Ministers and their Permanent Secretaries who day-in-day out fly abroad in first-class and business-class?” Sinkamba asked.
“If Mutati is serious about cost-saving, he should first of all abolish personal-to-holder car schemes in Government and quasi-government institutions. This is where there is really serious waste of public resources. A loan scheme which is currently obtaining at Parliament should be uniform across the public service. It should be integrated too. If one gets a loan through Parliament, that person should not be eligible to get a similar loan through the Executive or indeed the Judiciary branch of Government. There should be a one-person-one car loan policy across the continuum of Government,” Sinkamba said, adding, “and those cars gotten should be used for official business too, whereby Government’s role should be to provide a modest allowance for fuel and car maintenance only.”
On banning first-class flying, the Green Party leader said the ban should be extended to all officials in Government and quasi-government institutions, including the President and Vice President. He said such a ban should not be by word of mouth. It must be written policy and enacted as law so that it is not easily changed when there is regime change.
“Take for instance during the reign of the late Levy Mwanawasa and Michael Sata, they banned flying first-class besides the President and Vice President. However, because these measures were by way of word of mouth and not written policy and enacted as law, as soon as there was regime change, the austerity measures thrown to the wind. There was policy change as soon as the leaders were buried. So, based on the lesson learnt from the past, we need to do things differently by putting measures to paper through written policy and enacted as law,” Sinkamba said.
“If you look at the 2018 budget expenditure for General Public Service, Mutati increased it from 27.9 per cent of the budget to 35.6 per cent. This is almost a 10 per cent increase. The trouble is that the bulk of it is going towards buying of new cars, fuel and maintenance expenses as well as first-class and business class flying. This sort of waste of public resources should really come to an end. We need to dedicate more of our meager resources towards deserving areas, especially social protection, housing for the poor, health and education,” Sinkamba added.
Last week Minister of Finance Felix Mutati banned first-class international travel on aeroplanes for chief executive officers (CEOs) of State-owned enterprises.
And Mr Mutati has directed that parastatals should start publishing quarterly reports in newspapers on the performance of their companies.
Mr Mutati said CEOs should also seek authority and clearance from the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) whenever they are undertaking an international trip.
The minister said this during the first-ever CEO conference for State-owned enterprises which also attracted board chairpersons, heads of finance and company secretaries.
Mutati should Abandon Scheme to Sale Of ZCCM-IH Shares-Green Party
Government has been ordered by the London High Court to compensate LapGreenN $382 million following the repossession of ZAMTEL shares by the PF Government in 2012. LapGreenN bought the shares during former president Rupiah Banda’s reign at a cost of $252 million. The taxpayers will now have to pay an extra $130 million simply because of adamancy of incumbency.
The privatization process, which was finalized by MMD Government in 2010, had met with some resistance from the opposition with then main opposition leader late Michael Sata saying he would re-nationalize the operator if he won the election the following year. When he won elections in 2011, he implemented his threat.
Despite strong opposition to the deal, Mutati announced in Parliament last week on Friday that his government would soon sale 17.3 per cent of its shares in the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Investment Holdings (ZCCM-IH).
“Mr Speaker, allow me to appraise the House on the intended sale of 17.3 per cent to have these shares in ZCCM investment holdings held by GRZ and listed on the Lusaka Stock Exchange. Sir, the long term strategic plan is to reposition ZCCM Investment Holdings for growth through strategic partnership and to comply to LUSE requirements. LUSE listing requirements stipulates that ‘no single shareholder should control more than 25 per cent of equity in any one listed company’. In compliance with the listing requirements, government intends to sale 17.3 per cent of its shareholding in ZCCM investment holdings,” Mutati said.
But Green Party leader Peter Sinkamba says the excuse of LUSE requirements which Mutati used in Parliament last week is typical of State Capture corruption dealings.
“What is happening on the sale of ZCCM-IH shares is typical State capture corruption dealing. This type of corruption occurs when the ruling elite and their powerful businessmen friends manipulate policy formation and influence the rules of the game, including laws and economic regulations, to their own advantage. The captured economy is trapped in a vicious circle in which the policy and institutional reforms necessary to improve governance are undermined by collusion between powerful firms and state officials who extract substantial private gains from the absence of clear rule of law,” Sinkamba said.
“The excuse that Mutati is using of LUSE requirements is highly deceptive. It is the worst form of dishonesty from a senior Minister for that matter. We are aware, for example, that the British Government this year had to bend listing rules on the London Stock Exchange to facilitate the listing of $2 trillion worth Saudi Aramco, a sovereign Corporation of Saudi Arabia, so what is Mutati talking about” Sinkamba quizzed.
“If it is in the interest of a sovereign State, a responsible Government can amend the laws. So, the Zambian Government can simply amend LUSE listing rules to exempt sovereign companies from application of some regulations if they are not in the greater interest of the State. This is perfectly normal everywhere in the world, and Mutati, as a senior Minister ought to know this. But here you have a situation where Mutati has already concluded a deal with Israeli firm Sapir Capital Group from Israel to buy off the ZCCM-IH shares in typical State Capture corruption, and he is using policy and rules to justify the corruption,” Sinkamba added.
“That is why, as the Green Party, we have always advocated for transparent governance reforms to share the power in the society, both horizontally and vertically, and to put in place very clear conflict of interests rules. State institutions should have safeguards to prevent them from being “owned” by specific individuals enjoying a high discretionary power, as is exhibited by Mutati in his capacity as Finance Minister,” the Green Party leader said.
“The trouble is that on one hand, vocal civil society groups, which are supposed to compliment the opposition on providing checks and balances can no longer champion accountability and responsiveness from the side of the government without the risk of being arrested and prosecuted, as demonstrated on the 42 fire tender deal. In such difficult contexts, the feasibility of any type of governance checks is diminished. The situation is likely to be worse if business dealing of the Guptas of South Africa with the political elite and their families in Zambia are entrenched,” Sinkamba said.
“We demand that Mutati abandons the dirty scheme of sale of ZCCM-IH shares. The scheme is not being done in public interest but personal interest. It is such deals that lead to re-nationalization in the future. We therefore, once more, appeal to Mutati’s consciousness for introspect and shame,” Sinkamba concluded.
Zesco go second after demoting City of Lusaka
Zesco United crushed City of Lusaka 4-1 at home in Ndola on Sunday to go second and subsequently relegated the visitors from the FAZ Super Division.
Lazarus Kambole stole the show at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium with a brace in a match Jesse Were enhanced his credentials for the 2017 Golden Boot.
The two sides went into the break scoreless before Were put Zesco ahead a minute after the restart to take his tally to 15 and move within two goals of top scorer Chris Mugalu of Lusaka Dynamos.
Kambole made it 2-0 in the 64th minute but Edward Tembo pulled one back for City in the 69th minute.
But Kambole put some distance between them and City in the 72nd while Chibesa Chanda sealed the victory in stoppage time.
Zesco rise from 3rd position, exchanging places with Green Buffaloes, to sneak within one point of leaders and defending champions Zanaco with a game in hand.
Zanaco, Zesco and Green Buffaloes have 60, 59 and 57 points respectively.
City on the other hand are rock bottom and are first team to be demoted with six games left to play.
City cannot better the 33 points fourth from bottom Mufulira Wanderers have following the defeat.
It’s unfortunate that some Zambians are using international platforms to dent the good image of the country
Speaking in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Mr Kabala said government expected all well meaning and patriotic Zambians to use every opportunity at the international stage to advance the country’s interests.
He said it was of no benefit for any citizen to discredit the country that they claimed to love.
“We as a people tend to achieve more by concentrating on that which brings us together, than that which divides us”, Mr Kalaba said.
He noted that individuals were advancing their political agendas by denting the image of the country to the outside world.
Further, Mr Kalaba said government had decided to ignore opposition political parties from other countries that had taken an interest in the political affairs of Zambia.
He said government was aware of some opposition political party in a named SADC country was in the habit of speaking ill about the Zambian Government.
HH dedicates Africa Freedom Award to fellow Africans in the struggle for freedom and democracy
UPND President Hakainde Hichilema was on Friday conferred with the Africa Freedom Award in Johannesburg, South Africa, by the Germany led Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom.
Mr. Hichilema said he has dedicated the award to every African and Zambian who has joined in the struggle for freedom and democracy.
“It is a great honour to be invited to speak and later on be awarded here, we are firm believers of democracy and freedom of all citizens, therefore, we would like to dedicate this award to every African and Zambian who under very difficult times has joined the struggle for freedom and democracy, we salute the freedom fighters in Zambia, Africa and the world at large”, said Mr. Hichilema.
The UPND President also did participate in a discussion titled “The State of Freedom in Africa” at which he presented paper work with solutions to how Africa and including Zambia can attain its freedoms and democracy wholly.
“Together, as one, we can do great things, great things that can benefit our people on the African continent, we must unite as Africa, unite for our people against those that are working to stop freedoms and democracy”, added Mr Hichilema.
Mr. Hichilema also said that he remains grateful to the people of Zambia especially on their unconditional support they have continued to show to him even when the country is undergoing difficult times.
“We are grateful to the people of our country, Zambia, they have been with us through difficult times, the church, civil society organizations have been of great help and our country values democracy and freedom of all citizens, we love our country and we will work to make it a better home for all”, said Mr. Hichilema during the round table discussion.
“Freedom is not only being able to move freely, assemble freely, associate freely, demand freely by the way in some countries even what we have called “freedom” is not there because freedom is not freedom when our people are still going hungry and cannot afford better meals except a few, freedom to us means being politically free and economically strong”, said Mr Hichilema.
The Germany led Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF)-Annual Africa Freedom Speech and Award Ceremony is an annual event which acknowledges individuals who have made an extraordinary contribution to the cause of Freedom in Africa.
During this year’s speech and award ceremony, Mr. Hichilema was joined by Mr Ismail Jussa Ladhu who is the Director of Foreign Affairs and International Relations of the Civic United Front (CUF) and Mr. Mmusi Maimane, Federal Leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA) as co-special guests.
The UPND President was accompanied by his Vice, Mr Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba and UPND South Africa chapter members.
PF denies sending youths to harass Kambwili at Sata’s Memorial
PRESS STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NO ONE SENT ANY YOUTHS TO HARASS HON CHISHIMBA KAMBWILI
Lusaka, Zambia, 28th October 2017 – The general public should dismiss insinuations being spread on social media that Patriotic Front sent its youths to harass Roan MP Hon Chishimba Kambwili. On a day such as 28th October, all Party members are under instructions from the leadership of the Party to conduct themselves in a manner befitting the great memory of our Party founding leader, late President Michael Sata.
We wish to state that the lawmaker attended the memorial Church service without any incident against him whatsoever. Unfortunately, he reportedly had confrontations at the memorial park.
Those who have watched the video circulating on social media will attest to the fact that besides the state police, it is the PF members, among them PF Lusaka Province Youth Secretary Stanley Chumya protecting Hon Kambwili and ensuring his safe passage to the vehicle. These are officials he is capable of identifying and can attest to fact that they indeed protected him.
PF has always condemned any form of violence irrespective of who the perpetrators are. We believe in the ideal that Zambians can and must co-exist irrespective of political differences. On this score, wish to restate our call for civilized political engagement. PF still holds the view that politics of provocation and resulting physical confrontation should not be identified with today’s body politic.
Lastly, we wish to commend the officials present at memorial park for responding positively to the call by the top Party leadership for maximum restraint even amidst provocation. Let us continue to lead by example.
Issued by:
Sunday Chanda,
PF Media Director
I still share the late President Michael Sata’s vision for a better Zambia-President Lungu
President Edgar Lungu says he still shares late President Michael Sata’s vision for a better Zambia.
The Head of State said this in Lusaka when he paid tribute to late President Sata during a remembrance service held at the Cathedral of Child Jesus yesterday.
President Lungu says to the Patriotic Front (PF) family, President Sata was a visionary leader who set the pace for the development path his administration is now pursuing because they share his great vision for a better Zambia.
President Lungu says as a caring leader, he understood the challenges of his people and that’s why his policies were always pro-poor throughout.
He says his strong bond with the people did not emerge in his adult political life but from his humble beginnings as a young politician, who dedicated his political work more to the cause of the grassroots.
He adds that President Sata’s charisma and firm disciplinarian attitude to work greatly inspired the PF to focus on massive infrastructure development turning the country into a construction site.
And Former First Lady Dr. Christine Kaseba has encouraged leaders to carry on her husband’s legacy by forgiving one another.
Dr. Kaseba has also appealed to Zambians to heed President Lungu’s call for National unity, reconciliation, peace and hard work.
Speaking earlier, Former Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations George Chella described Late President Sata as a mentor, patron, and hardworking leader.
The mood among farmers is ” grow maize at your own peril”-Jervis Zimba
In a stunning address to Congress, graced by the President of the Republic of Zambia Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, Mr. Zimba called on government to foster predictable marketing policies to enable various players in the value chain make a reasonable return on the investments and sustain operations. The ZNFU president said maize production in Zambia is under serious jeopardy.
And Mr. Zimba bemoaned the increased involvement of government in doing business saying this is generating concerns among the agribusinesses at it is having distortionary effects.
“Indeed, competition in business is healthy and should be encouraged but it should be on a level playing field. This is because the private sector stake investments are based on funds sourced on commercial terms while when government gets involved in business, the resources are obtained from sources that have soft terms. Here, our appeal is that prior consultations with the private sector should be done in developing investment promotion strategies to avoid new investments having distorting effects on existing businesses.”
And Farmers in Lufwanyama District of the Copperbelt have vowed not to grow maize during the 2017/2018 farming season unless they are guaranteed of good markets and prices.ZNFU Farmers decried the nonchalant attitude by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) when looking at the farmer or producer price for maize saying the K60/50kg bag has ‘killed them. ‘
Farmers also bemoaned the increase in fuel prices. They said this will in turn add to the
cost of transportation of the commodity to market and pushes them into making more
losses. The farmers disclosed that they are being charged K5000 to load 600 bags of
maize on a truck and are also being levied K1 per bag by the Council.
HH Risks Portraying Himself As An Agent Of State Capture—- Ndoyi
Mr Ndoyi described the invitation as “mere political propaganda meant to portray Hakainde Hichilema and his UPND as having international acclaim.”
He said Mr Hichilema and his party have no moral right to lecture anyone on Zambia’s democracy because they do not believe in democracy as there has never been any semblance of intra party democracy in their party since he took over as party president almost 13years ago.
“HH and his UPND reserve no moral right to be given a platform to lecture anyone on our country’s DEMOCRACY anywhere in the world because they don’t represent democracy neither as a virtue, a value nor indeed a belief. What is democracy according to HH and his UPND? Could it be an endorsement by the Chatham Think Tank that democracy is only but a theory which can only be practised by those in government. Shouldn’t it be seen to be embraced and practised intra the opposition political parties as well.
“Hakainde Hichilema has held on to UPND leadership for the past 13 years and has attempted the presidency 5 times. It is indeed shameful for HH and his UPND to even condemn President Lungu on his ambitions to stand in 2021 because unlike him President Lungu has only attempted the presidency twice and has won on both occasion. UPND has no democracy as an institution that’s why since HH installed himself as president, there has never been elections,” he said.
Mr Ndoyi challenged the institutions which have invited Mr Hichilema to explain the basis for his invitation as certain questions relating to intra party democracy in their party remain unanswered from the UPND and its leadership.
“We want the people who have invited HH and his UPND to answer the following questions;
How did HH get to the UPND presidency? How long has HH been the UPND president? How many times has he stood in general elections? Who in the UPND leadership was democratically elected? These are the simple questions HH and his UPND have failed to attempt to answer back home. How then do they answer bigger questions on platforms abroad. The only thing HH will go and do abroad is to speak ill of our country,” he said.
He observed that it was shocking that the UPND leader was going to recieve an award to recognise him as a freedom fighter when he has been boycotting African Freedom Day celebrations.
“Isn’t it shocking that HH is on a flight to receive an award recognising him as a freedom fighter? When in fact Hakainde Hichilema has been boycotting African Freedom day celebrations let alone Zambia’s Independence Day Celebrations, since he became UPND president.
“Hakainde Hichilema is neither a Democrat nor a Freedom Fightre, he is just but a business man who is in politics to use political power for his businesses. Therefore, the institutions his friends are using to give him credence are historically misinformed and morally bankrupt,” he said.
Ndoyi also noted that the recent discoveries of Oil and Gold deposits have attracted attention from multi national corporations who want to usurp power for there benefits.
“We are aware that Zambia is all of a sudden receiving attention because of the recent discovery of oil and gold deposits, that is why political power is at the top of the agenda for Multi National Corporations. We want to urge HH and his UPND to desist from using foreigners’ platforms to discredit the nation in their desperation to get their endorsement or in their hope to get help from the said Multi National Corporations to win the next elections,” he said.
Ndoyi added that UPND could be soliciting for international platforms through their president’s “friends” who he said he should instead use them (friends) to help bring in foriegn investment.
“…Therefore, we warn Mr Hichilema’s foriegn friends that continuing to do so they risk portraying HH and his UPND as an agent of state capture or indeed colonialists.
“Instead of using his so called powerful friends abroad for the benefit of Zambians through investments. Unfortunately, HH is using them for his personal glory. He should even be embarrassed to receive such awards because he had never fought for freedom let alone the fight for democracy and multi-partism. While others sacrificed and fought for the reintroduction of multi-partism, the only thing HH is known for is his alleged business involvement during and after privatisation,” he said.
On the candidature of the African freedom award, Mr Ndoyi wondered as to which category Mr Hichilema had been nominated.
“Finally, when an ordinary Zambian hears Freedom Award one would think HH was a freedom fighter who contributed to our independence or for the independence of other African States. Or that perhaps HH maybe fought for the underprivileged on a grand scale philanthropy basis dealing with Malaria, HIV, Cholera, poverty, hunger eradication, agriculture and food systems sustainability, good education access for all especially girls, healthcare for all, gender disparities etc but instead he shuns every opportunity to be helpful. Like recently were HH and his UPND boycotted the referendum, an opportunity for Zambians to enhance their social and economic rights,” he wondered.