Join our community of SUBSCRIBERS and be part of the conversation.
To subscribe, simply enter your email address on our website or click the subscribe button below. Don't worry, we respect your privacy and won't spam your inbox. Your information is safe with us.
File: Traditional dance troupes and choirs perform within Parliament grounds during the official opening of the National AssemblyThe National Assembly has launched the 2017-2021 communication strategy in a bid to disseminate information to the general public pertaining to its activities during the same period.
Acting Clerk of the National Assembly Cecilia Mbewe says the National Assembly of Zambia has since 2011 developed communication strategies that help to disseminate information about the activities of the institution.
Ms. Mbewe said this at the official launch of the communication strategy in Lusaka today.
The Acting Clerk revealed that the 2017-2021 National Assembly of Zambia Communication Strategy has identified important strategies of taking Parliament closer to the people by enhancing its engagement and interaction with various stakeholders.
These strategies assist the National Assembly in creating public awareness of the activities of the Institution thereby increasing people’s effective participation in National governance processes, she stated.
The Acting Clerk of the National Assembly further noted that the implementation of the Communication Strategy will require forging effective partnerships with media institutions across the country.
She said the media are strategic partners in disseminating information on the work of the National Assembly of Zambia effectively.
The media provides an important accountability mechanism as it raises important issues that would otherwise never be debated or addressed publicly, she said.
Speaking at the same event, Acting Deputy Clerk-Procedure of the National Assembly of Zambia Cecilia Sikatele disclosed that the 2017-2021 Communication Strategy is aimed at enhancing the visibility of the National Assembly to the public and enabling public participation in the work of the Assembly.
Ms. Sikatele explained that the National Assembly recognizes enhanced partnerships with the media as one of the key enablers in rolling out of the Communication Strategy.
HH addressing DA MPsSPEECH DELIVERED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED PARTY FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (UPND), MR Hakainde Hichilema AT A JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE WITH THE DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE LEADER AND PRESIDENT, MR MMUSI MAIMANE, DATED THIS 31/08/2017, South Africa, CAPE TOWN.
The Democratic Alliance leader, my brother, Mr Mmusi Maimane,
Distinguished invited guests, members of the press and ladies and gentlemen,
To start with, allow me to greet you all on bhealf of my fellow Zambians back home, I want to say thank you for inviting us to come and share with you our country’s current standing.
Thanks giving.
My brothers and sisters, we are here to reaffirm our commitment towards the upholding of democracy in our respective countries, and Africa at large.
However, before I go in detail, please allow me to thank the following people who stood firm and demanded for our release when we were arrested and detained on
Treason trumped charge:
1. To the people of this great nation, I say thank you for standing up for me.
2. To my brother mr mmusi maimane, I say thank you for standing up for democracy in my country, and please allow me to apologize on behalf of the 16 million Zambians over what happened to you on our soil as you wanted to attend my court trial and visit me in prison.
3. To the South african unions, (numsa) I say thank you, because you stood up for my country when your fellow unions were supressed or indeed feared for their lives and could not talk when injustices begun in my country.
4. To the church, I say may god, the almighty richly bless you as you have always shown leadership even when others may call you names, you still speak for the oppressed and please continue just like you did when I was brutally detained.
5. I want to say thank you to former nigerian president, president olusegun obasanjo for his statesmanship and please allow me to thank the international community which stood up and are still doing so for democracy in Zambia and world over, as you maybe aware that to a large extent our regional bodies turned a blind eye on the atrocious, and all that comes with dictatorship, especially in the southern african region but also Africa as a whole.
6. Commonwealth secretary general, the right honourable Baroness Patricia Scotland, I say thank you too.
Ladies and gentlemen, the list of those to thank is endless but I want once more thank people in my country who have been suffocated by those who do not value human rights, good governance and justice for all.
Facts regarding our arrest
Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to quickly run you through how we were brutally arrested on the 10th of april 2017 as the police brutally tortured us on the very day from 21:00 hours to about 04:00 hours Zambian time.
1. Over 200 police brutally attacked us, and vandalised our residence and tortured us for no reason but later arrested us for treason, a trumped up charge which we did not commit.
2. I was put in solitary confinement for 8 days,
3. I was put in a police cell full of feacal matter.
4. I was moved from prison to prison.
5. I was made to answer the call of nature using a bucket.
However, ladies and gentlemen, we are here to tell you that despite all this brutality and inhuman treatment that those in authority made us go through, we harbour no hate, we are not bitter and we forgive them and we will use their brutality on us to make Zambia a safe home for all including neighbouring countries.
And this drives me to the next point;
Current state of affairs in our country, Zambia ladies and gentlemen, it is no longer arguable that our country Zambia is undergoing very difficult times, where citizens cannot fully stand to talk and say this is the Zambia we want.
1. Suffice to say that, as Hakainde Hichilema, I remain indebted to the people of my country, our country does not need guns or mighty men with guns but its need leadership, leadership that will realise that god hates injustices.
2. Breakdown in the rule of law; there is an absolute breakdown in the rule of law in my country which need urgent attention by all well meaning bodies.
3. Elections; I was arrested because of disputing election results through the courts of law, therefore Zambia needs an independent electoral commission if democracy is to be resuscitated.
4.JUDICIARY; Zambia needs an independent judiciary that will opetate freely unlike a situation where in the morning the constitutional court rules that a presidential petition will be heard the following day but when that day comes, they say no, time has lapsed.
5. Freedoms: ladies and gentlemen, I am glad that my brothers and sisters here in South Africa can go about and wear clothes branded by their political parties of choice unlike in our country, people from our party are daily being maimed for wearing our regalia and this is why we call on the people of South Africa to join in the struggle for democracy in Zambia, remember how Zambia joined hands with South Africa during the struggle, where has that humanism gone to?
6. Freedoms: the media in our country is not safe, there is no press freedom in my country, journalists are getting arrested even on flimsy charges such as terrorism, private newspapers, radio and television have been getting closed; Post Newspaper, Komboni Radio, Itezhi Tezhi and Muvi Television. And is urinating into a journalist’s mouth press freedom? Well, that is not a surprise to us as cadres from the ruling party have done that in Zambia.
7. Freedoms: there is no freedom of assembly, association, speech and this is why we are saying that neighbouring countries must not watch these injustices go on, because what affects Zambia, affects all and
Therefore we must all stop this.
Ladies and gentlemen, as Hakainde Hichilema, I will remain committed to ensuring that Zambia stops anyone practising dictatorship, I believe that power belongs to the people and that Zambia is not an highland and therefore I again call on other countries that believe in humanism, fundamental human rights and democracy to join in restoring democracy in Zambia.
Yes, we are ready to talk with anyone and we mean anyone with bold stance that yes, Zambia needs institutional reforms such as those of the police among others.
I want the best for Zambia and I want the best for Africa, after all, we all want the best for the world, so Let us all work towards that.
May god bless our two sisterly countries, may god bless Africa and may god bless the whole globe.
A Lusaka woman who was accused of killing her husband last October by driving over him with her car has been acquitted by the Lusaka High Court on lack of evidence.
Details of the case were that Jacqueline, a Health Care Administrator was accused of killing her husband Kofi Milumbe in October last year by running him over with a car after a domestic dispute on October 28, 2016.
High Court Judge Charles Chanda said the prosecution failed to establish prema-facie case against the accused as the case was full of speculation.
Jacqueline was accused of killing her husband Kofi Milumbe by running over him on October 28, 2016.
Judge Chanda said Jacqueline did not run over her husband but that he was run over by another speeding vehicle on the road.
Judge Chanda found that all the prosecution’s witnesses exonerated the accused and did not implicate her in any way.
“Based on the evidence before court and relying on the findings of the pathologist, I find that the deceased died as a result of the road traffic accident,” said Judge Chanda.
Jacqueline’s lawyer Abyudi Shonga had asked the court to acquit her because the prosecution had not established a prima facie case against her.
A female Marketeer picking up remains of her merchandise after fire swept through the market
A 30-year-old man of Ndola identified as Luckson Ngabala has been sentenced to 24 months with hard labour by the Ndola magistrate court after he pleaded guilty to burning Kapalala market after he left a brazier unattended to.
This is in a matter where Luckson Ngabala of 120 Kabushi is charged with criminal recklessness and negligence.
When the matter came up before Magistrate Oswald Chibalo, Ngabala admitted the charge.
“I admit the charge. I had no right to make a brazier in the market because it is not allowed. No one permitted me to leave the brazier unattended to. We are not allowed to put braziers in the market. I don’t know how I left it unattended to. I only left it for like four minutes. I left it to go and work,” he told court.
In mitigation, Ngabala said it was not his intention to see the market on fire becuase that was also his place of livelihood.
He asked for the court and the marketeers to forgive him.
But magistrate Chibalo said he was sending Ngabala to prison to protect his life.
People’s Alliance for Change (PAC) President Andyford Mayele Bandahas urged supporters of the United Party for National Development (UPND) to refrain from pushing resentments against their perceived political enemies after the release of their leader from detention.
Banda, who seized the fourth slot in the 2016 presidential polls, said UPND supporters should heed Mr. Hakainde Hichilema’s call for Zambians to cast away all differences and focus on developmental issues.
In an interview Wednesday, Banda said the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) should not remain silent after Mr. Hichilema walked to freedom but continue calling for the release of all political prisoners in Zambia.
“United Party for National Development (UPND) cadres should refrain from pushing resentments against their perceived political enemies after the release of their leader from detention” Banda said
Michael KainguI HAVE officially retired from politics to concentrate on other ventures as I have done my part, says former Patriotic Front (PF) Mwandi constituency Member of Parliament Michael Kaingu.
Dr Kaingu, who is former minister of Higher Education said that he no longer had anything to do with politics because he had officially retired.
He reiterated that he had played his part and that it was high time he concentrated on other undertakings.
Dr Kaingu said that there was still life beyond politics and that there was no way he could spend his whole life in it.
He emphasized that he had retired from active politics to pursue other undertakings as he had served for over 10 years.
The former minister said that he could not even comment on the current political landscape as doing so would be tantamount to engaging in politics.
“I have officially retired from politics, I have done my part, 10 years of service is not a joke. There is life beyond politics, there is no need for me to be in politics anymore. I don’t want anything to do with politics,” Mr Kaingue said.
Meanwhile, the Livingstone High Court last year dismissed the electoral petition filed by Dr Kaingu, who had petitioned the 2016 election victory of UPND’s Sililo Mutaba.
The former minister had petitioned the election of Mr Mutaba alleging corruption but the court said the people of Mwandi voted for him.
The Court ruled that Mr Mutaba was validly elected as Member of Parliament of Mwandi Constituency in Western Province.
HH and DA Leader Maimane holding a joint press briefing
Opposition UPND President Hakainde Hichilema this morning addressed over a 100 members of Parliament belonging to the Democratic Alliance of South Africa.
The DA is the second largest party after ANC.
This follows an invitation by the Members of Parliament who wanted Mr Hichilema to share his vision and current state of affairs for Zambia with them.
During his address, Mr Hichilema called on the Members of Parliament to continue speaking on behalf of the people in their respective constituencies adding that Zambia is also on a path of achieving a truly independent and functional national assembly once UPND is in power in 2021.
Mr Hichilema also thanked them for their unrelenting support during his detention.
The UPND leader will today hold a joint press conference with the DA Leader, Mr Mmusi Maimane.
Mr Hichilema is in the company of his Vice Dr Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba and party national Chairperson, Mrs Mutale Nalumango in South Africa.
HH addressing DA MPsHH addressing DA MPsGBM listening to HH addressing DA MPs
Veteran soccer commentator and sports journalist Marsha Chilemena says it is possible that the Zambia National Soccer Team can beat Algeria in this Saturday’s World Cup Qualifier at Lusaka’s National Heroes Stadium.
Chilemena said in football anything can happen hence the need not to underrate the Chipolopolo Boys as they face Algeria which is ranked among the giants of African football.
And Chilemena commended Chipolopolo Head Coach Wedson Nyirenda for including some Zambia Under 20 National Soccer team players in the squad saying they will be crowd pullers.
“It is possible that the Zambia National Soccer Team can beat Algeria in this Saturday’s World Cup Qualifier at Lusaka’s National Heroes Stadium” Marsha said
The British High Commission announced today that 18 talented Zambians have been awarded scholarships to undertake post-graduate studies in the UK for the academic year commencing this September.
The scholars have received funding from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) under the Chevening Scholarship Scheme.
Scholarships are a key element of the British Government’s programme to promote greater capacity for the next generation of Zambian leaders and to further develop the excellent relationship between Zambia and the UK.
The scheme aims to nurture talented Zambian scholars with the potential to become future leaders in their field.
Speaking at a reception to congratulate the 18 successful scholars, the Deputy British High Commissioner, Andrew Hamilton said;
“I am delighted to see these talented men and women here this morning and to welcome them into the Chevening family. The UK is home to some of the best universities, brightest students and most revered academics; the UK’s higher education sector promotes the exchange of information and ideas, as well as the building of knowledge and networks. Chevening Scholars find themselves immersed in that world, and emerge having grown academically, professionally and personally as a result of their time in the UK. ”
“The Chevening Programme provides an opportunity for leaders of the future to build a global, professional network. The UK has an international reputation for excellence in the field of education and skills. It is a tradition of learning that we continue to share with the world, including Zambia.
“I am certain that these gifted scholars will return from their studies at some of the finest universities in the UK with the skills and knowledge to contribute significantly to Zambia’s development.”
Zambia’s positive macro-economic fundamentals are expected to augment businesses operations and to build up on investor confidence.
Currently, copper is trading at about US$6,800 a tonne while the Kwacha is below K10 and inflation rate is at 6.6 percent.
Madison Financial Services says the current increase in copper prices on the international market will result in the Kwacha remaining strong and points to a steady operating environment.
According to results for the half year ended June 30, 2017 issued by Madison Financial Services company secretary Kafula Mwiche said the prevailing macro-economic factors point to a stable operating environment.
“The general economic prospects appear to be looking up, creating a better environment for bridging the gap to attain our objectives for the year. Copper prices have seen a recovery in 2017, and therefore, the local currency is expected to remain buoyant. Also inflation and interest rates have also dramatically come down,” Mr Mwiche said.
Mr Mwiche said management is also taking advantage of the various investment opportunities in line with Government’s priority sectors, particularly the health sector.
He said the company’s focus is to develop real estate for purposes of providing medical services in partnership with international operators and has already broken ground for one project in Lusaka.
Mr Mwiche said the group is also taking advantage of an opportunity that has arisen to increase its equity stake in the microfinance business from 50 percent to 100 percent at the expiry of the investment horizon of its foreign partners in the business.
The firm recorded a 26 percent growth from about K17 million last year to over K23.1 million in the same period, indication of a continued successful recovery, which combined with other factors and may lead to impressive profit growth to the end of the year.
“Operating results for the half year period ended June 30, 2017 recorded a 26 percent growth from K17,012,241 in the same period last year to K23,138,870.
“The group has continued to deliver sustained profitability through innovation and in that regard, various products and distribution channels have been introduced,” he said.
First Lady Esther Lungu gives a Lecture to Pre School pupils at Lotus Primary school in Lusaka where she Launched the Early Childhood Education materialsFirst Lady Esther Lungu presents the early childhood materials to Unicef Deputy representative Shadrack Omol at Lotus Primary school where she launched the Materials First Lady Esther Lungu presents the early childhood materials to Thornhill boarding school pupil Tabo Nchimunya at Lotus Primary school where she launched the MaterialsFirst Lady Esther Lungu being congratulated by Zambia Open University Chairman professor Dickson Mwansa after she was crowned as a Matron of the Early Childhood Education by General Education Permanent secretary Henry Tukombe at Lotus Primary school where she launched the Early Childhood Education MaterialsFirst Lady Esther Lungu being crowned as a Matron of the Early Childhood Education by General Education Permanent secretary Henry Tukombe at Lotus Primary school where she launched the Early Childhood MaterialsFirst Lady Esther Lungu watches a UTH school physically challenged girl who uses her toes to write. This was at Lotus Primary School where she launched the Early Childhood Education Materials
The Livingstone Tourism Association says international tourist arrivals have slumped in Zambia because of the threatened state of emergency declared by President Edgar Lungu.
Meanwhile the neighbouring Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls Town is boasting of an increase with advance bookings well into 2019.
LTA chairperson Alexander Mutali revealed that despite it being a peak period, tourists have been cancelling their bookings into Zambia owing to the threatened State of Emergency.
Mutali also blamed the low international arrivals on the shortage of the univisa stickers at Kenneth Kaunda, Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula international airports, Kazungula and Victoria Falls border posts.
According to African Travel News (ATQ), international tourism arrivals in Victoria Falls Town in Zimbabwe were equivalent to those recorded in 1999.
“Africa Albida Tourism chief executive Ross Kennedy said room occupancies in Victoria Falls for the six months ended June 30, 2017 had seen an increase of 25.4 per cent over the same period in 2016. This, he said, equates to close to 19,000 additional rooms sold over that period by 10 hotels, which together have 1,125 rooms and measure arrivals monthly,”ATQ stated.
It quoted Kennedy saying the feedback in Victoria Falls showed that this same trend was also evident across the rest of the sector, which represents a further 700 rooms.
“People are booking much further in advance than they were two years ago. We have bookings well into 2019, including big international incentive travel groups, a market that has been largely absent since 1999,” ATQ stated.
It further added that Kennedy predicts that a number of hotels in Victoria Falls would record occupancies of 90 per cent and higher between August and November.
“This has not been seen since the peak tourist arrival years of 1994 to 1999…the positive downstream impact on national and regional tourism, plus the economy is significant. The increased tourism levy revenue stream will enable the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority to further enhance their marketing and branding of our world class destinations Kennedy said,”
Upcoming Zambian artiste, Neo, released the music video for the song “City”. The song features Tanzania’s fast rising rapper – Deo Mauwezo. The video was shot in Tanzania .
Police in Lusaka picked a body of an unidentified male person aged between 30 and 35 years in Lusaka’s Kanyama Compound.
Police Public Relations Officer Esther says the body was found at about 02:00 hours on 29thAugust 2017 officers were patrolling the area on foot and spotted a group of people at Mutanda Bantu Market in Old Kanyama Compound who scampered in different directions upon seeing the officers.
Ms. Katongo explained that when the officers rushed to the point where the group was, they discovered a body of an unidentified male person lying on the ground with deep cuts on the head and some burns on the body as the mob had almost set him ablaze.
“It is believed that the victim was suspected to be a criminal hence the mob descended on him,” she stressed.
The Police Public Relations Officer said that the body of the deceased was taken to UTH mortuary awaiting postmortem and identification.
She added that police have since instituted an investigation in the matter.
In Monze District in Southern Province, Ms. Katongo reports that a Rider and a female juvenile Pillion died on the spot in an accident which happened on the 29th August, 2017 at about 19 00 hours at Kayuni on Monze – Mazabuka road.
She explained that the accident happened when the rider identified as Gilbert Mizinga aged 49 of Jerry Farms who was carrying a female juvenile of the same area wanted to overtake a motor vehicle in front of him.
She stressed that Mizinga in his attempt to overtake collided in the process with the oncoming Rosa Mini bus registration number AL J 1174 which was being driven by Brighton Chikombo aged 30 of Freedom Compound in Monze.
“The bodies of the deceased persons are in Monze General Hospital mortuary awaiting postmortem,” she added.
Meanwhile, In Central Province, Ms. Katongo reported that a male adult identified as Stephen Mwanza aged 21 of Salindya Village, Chief Chikupila of Luano District died after engaging in a fight with his young brother identified as Benson Mwanza of the same area.
She explained that this happened on 28th August, 2017 at about 19 00 hours in Mapapa area in Luano District of Central Province.
The Police Public Relations Officer said suspect is currently on the run and Police have launched a man hunt while the body of the deceased is in Matanda Hospital Mortuary awaiting postmortem.
This is contained in a press statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka.
Minister of Justice Given Lubinda unveils Criminalization of Torture in Zambia Project Report and Draft Bill just after the handover ceremony at his officePOLITICAL parties which do not have anything to submit with regards to the Political Parties Bill are cowards and should just shut up if they have nothing to offer, says Justice Minister Given Lubinda.
And the minister said that he would not be able to present the Constitution Amendment Bill in the next sitting of Parliament because he had received too many submissions.
Mr Lubinda said that some political parties had vowed not to make any submissions towards the Political Parties Bill until they were formally written to.
He however said Government would not write to anyone to make submissions as they were not compelled to by anything.
Mr Lubinda said that people who did not have anything to submit should just shut up and that those making noise were cowards.
The minister explained that Cabinet was not mandated to consult the public when passing bills but that he had to seek permission to consult so that the process was transparent.
Mr Lubinda noted that some people were bent on making the country ungovernable by opposing whatever decisions Government made at the expense of the general public.
“So people just want to oppose whatever we do whether good or bad. Already some political parties are saying they will only submit after we write to them. I must make it clear that we will not write to anyone, those who are making noise are cowards and should just shut up if they have nothing to offer,” Mr Lubinda said.
Mr Lubinda pointed out that several bills had been passed without any consultations and that it was surprising that people were still complaining after engaging them.
He wondered what people really wanted, adding that whether consulted or not, “nothing is good for them.”
Mr Lubinda urged political parties to take advantage of the extension period to make submissions as there would not be any more extensions.
Meanwhile, Mr Lubinda, who is Kabwata Member of Parliament said he would have to divide the presentation into parts as the submissions were numerous to present in one day.
