Republic of Zambia
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services

STATEMENT BY HON. KAMPAMBA MULENGA, MP MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING SERVICES AND CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON ON ALLEGATIONS OF INTIMIDATION OF THE MEDIA BY UPND LEADER HAKAINDE HICHILEMA

Government finds misplaced sentiments by UPND leader Mr. Hakainde Hichilema that it is using the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) to perpetuate intimidation and corruption.

Government is further alarmed that a person seeking to be a Republican President could publicly make insidious comments on a letter that is not addressed to him but leaked to him.

Mr. Hichilema ought to be reminded that the IBA was created by the Zambian people through an Act of Parliament with specific objectives, one of which is to ensure that the electronic media adheres to their licence rules.

If Prime TV have been asked to appear before the regulatory body, an action that is not illegal, why should politicians start meddling in the matter even before the outcome of the meeting is known.

It is unfortunate that Mr. Hichilema is interfering in the work of an independent body created by the people of Zambia. It is hypocritical that Mr Hichilema is accusing Government of muzzling the media when, to the contrary, he is the one clearly interfering in the work of the IBA.

It is also important that Mr Hichilema takes time to read the IBA Act so that he acquaints himself with the regulatory body’s mandate.

All players in the broadcasting sector, including Prime Television, know the rules and regulations that guide their operations and they are expected to abide by them.

Government expects the IBA to continue doing its job professionally as always and not to be intimidated by unjustified sentiments.

9th October, 2017

The Nevers Mumba Movement for Multi-party Democracry (MMD) has said that that there is only one MMD led by Dr Nevers Sekwila Mumba.

In a statement released to the media today and signed by the factions’s National Secretary, Ms Elizabeth Chitika, the faction said that the purported faction led by Mr Mutati, who was duly expelled, is an illegal group created by former President Rupiah Banda as a negotiating instrument with the Patriotic Front.

The Statement further said that the case to determine who gave the Mutati faction the authority to hold that what they described as an illegal convention is very active in Court and shall be concluded soon.

The statement further said that today’s NEC meeting was attended by leaders from UPND, AD and PP

Below is the full statement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FROM THE NATIONAL SECRETARY’S OFFICE – MMD

MOVEMENT FOR MULTIPARTY DEMOCRACY – COMMUNIQUE

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) at its regular meeting held on the 6th October 2017 in Roma, Lusaka deliberated on a number of issues and key among them were:

1. MMD CLARIFIES ITS POSITION ON THE ALLIANCE

It was resolved that the MMD shall continue to operate as an independent Political Party whilst working in partnership with other willing political parties in all matters of national interest.

The National Executive Committee members appreciated the appearance at the meeting of the UPND, ADD and PP Presidents who came specifically to give weight to the idea of the continued Alliance.

2. MMD PROVINCIAL AND DISTRICT ACTIVITIES

Taking note of the reports from all the Provincial Chairmen confirming that all the party structures country wide are intact and functional, the National Executive Committee resolved to undertake Provincial and District Tours from now up to the first quarter of next year.

3. MMD NEC ELECTS NEW TOP BRASS

In a bid to reinforce the operations of the Party, the National Executive Committee elected Rev Reuben Samboh, who was until the 6th October, 2017 National Secretary of the Party to the position of Vice President -Administration. Madam Elizabeth Chitika, the National Treasurer now takes over as National Secretary. Mr Malama Sokoni, the Deputy National Treasurer to act as National Treasurer. Mr Nyoni and Mr Peter Phiri were both elected and confirmed as nominated members.

4. MMD DISOWNS THE RUPIAH BANDA/MUTATI SPLINTER GROUP

The National Executive Committee would like to clarify once again that there is only one MMD led by Dr Nevers Sekwila Mumba. The purported faction led by Mr Mutati, who was duly expelled, is an illegal group created by former President Rupiah Banda as a negotiating instrument with the Patriotic Front. The case to determine who gave them the authority to hold that illegal gathering they keep calling a convention, is very active in Court (due to their numerous appeals) and shall be concluded soon.

SIGNED BY
ELIZABETH CHITIKA
NATIONAL SECRETARY
MMD

MTN Zambia chief executive officer Charles Molapisi says the company is well positioned for  further growth in the telecoms sector in Zambia with the country’s population still very young, opening up capacity for growth of the subscriber base countrywide.

And Molapisi says the company has invested more than US$30 million in the business to deliver its range of services that has seen its subscriber base swell to 5.7 million customers for services including data, voice calls and mobile money.

He says MTN is focused on strengthening its market share and build on its portfolio of services, supported by positive macro-economic factors in the country. The development comes at a time when Zambia is expecting more players in the country’s telecommunications sector, with MTN noting its openness to competition.

Speaking on the side-lines of the Customer Service Conference recently held in Lusaka under the theme, “Customer experience taking the lead into the experience economy”, Molapisi said his company welcomes competition citing support for a level playing field.

“As a company we welcome competition and this year alone, we have invested over $30million in this market and we will continues to do what we can to ensure that we please our customers while building our network,” said Molapisi.

He explained that MTN is seeing a massive rebound in its business which has been helped by macro-economic factors. Molapisi noted that there’s been stability in the Zambian economy and this is helping the business see positive signs of recovery and MTN is happy about the business and seeing good growth overall in its business.

Molapisi, who was awarded the 2017 Most Customer Focused Strategic Leader during the Customer Service Awards, has emerged as one of the most interactive chief executive officers in Zambian business with an innovative culture of interacting with his network subscribers through his monthly Facebook Live chats.

“I have time to listen to customers and assist them because it is in our service charter. We are liable to be responsive and next year we are honouring our customers because we have declared 2018 the year of the customer.”

MTN is Zambia’s largest telecommunications company with at least 49 per cent market share and has the largest mobile money customer base in excess of 800 000 active subscribers.

The scheduled radio appearance by UPND President Hakainde Hichilema on Radio Christian Voice on Monday morning failed to take off after the radio station cancelled the programme at the eleventh hour.

Mr Hichilema’s radio appearance on Radio Christian Voice was again cancelled last week.

Mr Hichilema disclosed that the station management informed his team about the cancellation this morning.

“We wish to sincerely apologise that our scheduled Radio Christian Voice Chatback Programme that was planned for this morning has again been cancelled,” he said.

“We got the message of the cancellation early this morning. This was despite assurances to me personally last week on Thursday and further assurances to our media team yesterday with the senior station management that the programme would go ahead today Monday 9th October 2017.”

Mr Hichilema added that “Take note that this programme has been initiated by the radio station itself from way back the time we just came out of detention. But we had requested for a bit of time as we had to attend to some other pressing issues then.”

“We once more sincerely apologise to our expectant audience on the saddened but embarrassing turn of events in our country,” he said.

“We thank Radio Christian Voice for the invitation, but we fully appreciate the difficulty conditions under which media houses currently operate.”

The Emirates FA Cup will touch down in Lusaka next week (October 12), giving football fans the chance to see the iconic trophy for themselves as well as meet soccer legend Nwankwo Kanu.
Emirates will be bringing the trophy accompanied by Emirates FA Cup ambassador and former Nigeria international Nwankwo Kanu to Zambia and then on to Zimbabwe as part of a four-day tour.
Kanu, a three-time FA Cup winner, will spend time at a coaching clinic for pupils at Kamwala and Libala High Schools. He and the trophy will then travel to Harare, Zimbabwe where they will spend a further two days attending events similar to those in Zambia.
Lucky winners of a competition on ZNBC’s weekly Sports On programme, which airs every Thursday 15:00hrs, will also have the chance to meet the football star and have their pictures taken with him and the trophy.
ZNBC is the media partner for the Zambia leg of the FA Cup tour, in which competition winners will be entered into a draw for a top prize of two tickets, flights and accommodation to watch the Emirates FA Cup final in London in May 2018.
“Emirates shares Zambia’s passion for football. That’s why we are excited to bring the Emirates FA Cup trophy to Lusaka, along with one of football’s legends Nwankwo Kanu,” said Emirates Country Manager for Zambia Hamad Al Ali.
This is the second tour of Africa the Emirates FA Cup is making. In 2016, the trophy made its maiden tour of Africa with stop-overs in Ghana and Kenya.
Emirates became the title sponsor of the Emirates FA Cup the 2015/16 season as part of a three-year sponsorship deal with England’s Football Association.
The airline flies once a day direct from Kenneth Kaunda International Airport to Dubai, providing travellers with convenient access to more than 150 destinations around the world.