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Christopher Katongo winner of the 2012 BBC African Footballer of the Year award.Source: BBC sports
2012 Africa Cup winning Chipolopolo captain Christopher Katongo has confirmed his retirement from playing.
Katongo is currently a member of the technical bench at FAZ Super Division side Green Buffaloes.
The 34-year-old football star holds a CAF C coaching qualification.
“I have now stopped playing football. I just want to get more coaching qualifications,” Katongo told Kitwe’s Radio Icengelo by phone.
Katongo won the BBC’s African Footballer of the Year award in 2012,
“I don’t want to say much. For now, I just want to remain quiet,” he said.
Katongo launched his career at Butondo Western Tigers in Mufulira before moving to Kalulushi Modern Stars and later played for Buffaloes.
He starred for South Africa’s Jomos Cosmos, Danish side Brøndby, Armenia Bielefeld of German, Skoda Xanthi in Greece and Chinese club Henan Construction.
From China, Katongo headed back to South Africa where he featured for Golden Arrows and Bidvest Wits between 2014 and 2015.
OPPOSITION ATTEMPTING TO MOUNT PRESSURE ON PF THE WRONG WAY
Lusaka, Zambia, 5th August 2017 – The Patriotic Front is calling on Zambians from all walks of life and across the political divide to demand for mature and issue-based politics in providing checks and balances as opposed to the on-going petty and character assassination vibes dominating our political space. Opposition leaders do not have to insult and use unpalatable language when addressing His Excellency President Edgar Lungu for them to be heard.
Our counterparts in the Opposition can still provide checks and balances to the PF administration without engaging in character assassination, foul language and insults. In their efforts to upgrade and appear relevant, Zambia’s Opposition is borrowing from some young, foulmouthed and uncultured politicians in the Region, wrongly believing that belittling Presidents is a hallmark of creating impact.
Patriotic Front believes scrutiny and criticism by the Opposition and other stakeholders, when done objectively and in good faith, are essential in creating the desired understanding among citizens, which results in either support or opposition to Government’s programs. This is the democracy we chose for ourselves. In this regard, PF will continue with the tremendous task of informing and alerting the Zambian people of the direction, decisions and challenges, including setbacks on the way. Not only will we acknowledge problems as and when they exist, but we will go further to consider short and long-term solutions.
PF will not renege from its pledge to take Zambia to her land of promise captured in our national anthem – ‘A land of work and joy in unity, all one, strong and free’. As Zambia’s leading democracy, PF believes in debate and criticism if the its Government of the People, for the People and by the People, is to succeed.
On this score, PF is throwing a challenge to the Opposition to debate issues and challenges in the nation, without becoming personally disagreeable. Our political engagement should not be about specializing in politics of placation, insults and character assassination without providing alternatives. Unfortunately, this attitude by the Opposition like they know it all makes them part of what is wrong with today’s politics. If democracy were a vehicle, the Opposition is the spare tyre. Unfortunately, Zambia’s spare tyre has multiple punctures and deflated.
Lastly, we wish to dispel the notion that Patriotic Front instigates the Zambia Police to make any arrests is false. We do not think individual politician’s propensity to come into conflict with the law should be blamed on the ruling party. Patriotic Front in Government understands its responsibilities very well and will not abuse institutions of the State just to settle political scores.
Issued By: Sunday Chanda, Media Director for PF – Party Headquarters, Lusaka
About 150 workers at BancABC and Finance Bank have been laid off after Atlas Mara bought off Finance Bank.
On Friday, Atlas Mara and the Zambia Union of Finance and Allied Workers signed a redundancy agreement for workers at African Banking Corporation (BancABC) and Finance Bank which is part of Atlas Mara.
Atlas Mara Limited, the owners of BankABC last year acquired a controlling stake in Finance Bank Zambia and merged the two institutions.
Under new management, the institution immediately set itself on re-organisation process of which downsizing on the workforce was part.
About 150 workers comprising management and unionized have been affected by the development though ZUFIAW is still actively engaging management to reduce the number of unionized staff who have lost employment.
ZUFIAW General Secretary Chingati Msiska said the job losses were inevitable.
Mr Msiska urged the retrenched workers to. Invest their money in projects which add value to their lives so that they live longer and participate in national development.
Mr. Msiska stressed that as a workers representative organisation, ZUFIAW was expected to protect the interests of “our members by negotiating an exit package which helps to sustain their livelihoods”.
“We therefore wish to accept this redundancy package after extensive consultations with our members throughout the country who advised that we abandon the dispute and proceed to implement this agreement” he said.
And Acting Managing Director of Finance Bank/BancABC-Part of Atlas Mara, Mr. James Konie expressed his happiness at the conclusion of the negotiations. He explained that the decision of the bank to declare redundancies was not a deliberate act but an “inevitable’ consequence when two institutions came together.
United Progressive People (UPP) leader Saviour Chishimba
UPP leader Saviour Chishimba will remain in Police custody even after being arrested and charged for allegedly defaming the President.
Police Spokesperson Esther Katongo confirmed that Dr Chishimba will remain detained as he awaits court appearance sometime next week.
Dr Chishimba was arrested on Thursday and since this is a long weekend because of Monday is a holiday, he would have spent five nights by Tuesday next week.
Ms Katongo says the Defamation of the President is contrary to section 69 of the Penal Code Cap 87 of the laws of Zambia.
Dr. Chishimba is facing charges in connection with the statements he allegedly issued against the President on July 1 and July 8.
He was picked up in the car park of the Diamond Television station by plain clothed Police officers.
This was after he had completed featuring on a recorded programme called COSTA which will be aired on Sunday at 19:00 Hours.
President Edgar Lungu with former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo at State House
President Edgar Lungu has met with former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and discussed a wide range of issues.
According to the statement released to the media by the President’s aide Amos Chanda, the President met Mr Obasanjo who paid him a courtesy call today at State House where they discussed engagements of the former Nigerian President in peace efforts and his campaign against polio on the African continent.
During the meeting, the former Nigerian President sought permission from the President to visit United Party for National Development Party (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema at Mukobeko Maximum Prison in Kabwe, Central Province.
The President has since authorised his visit and directed the Zambia Airforce (ZAF) to fly the former Nigerian President to Mukobeko.
President Edgar Lungu with former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo at State House
Foundation for Democratic Process, FODEP Executive Director, Mweenge Chimfwembe has attributed some social and the environmental challenges prevailing in Kakahindu community in Kalumbila district to lack of interaction between the Lumwana Mine Company and people in the area.
Speaking after touring Kakahindu Community, together with other members of Solwezi and Lusaka based Civil Society Organisations, Mr.Chimfwembe observed that most of the houses in Kakahindu have developed cracks and are on the verge of collapsing while others have collapseddue to blasting at the mining firm.
“As FODEP, the reports that we are getting from our monitors and after inspecting the Kakahindu community, here in Kalumbila district, we feel there is little interaction between the Lumwana mines and the community regarding some of the environment effects that need to be addressed,”Mr. Chimfwembe observed.
“As FODEP ,the reports we are getting from our monitors in Kalumbila District, Kakahindu Community which is basically few meters from the Lumwana mine ,we feel there is very little interaction between Lumwana mine and the community regarding some environmental challenges that need to be addressed,” FODEP Executive Director said .
Mr.Chimfwembe who also visited Kakahindu Primary School which runs from Grade one to nine also observed that the school is lacking adequate services provision in the e
ducation sector as evident by low staffing levels as well as inadequate classroom blocks to cater for the growing population of pupils at which is close to 1000.
“We have observed that cracking of houses and very little service provision .And at Kakahindu School we have 900 pupils against 9 teachers. This entails that planning has not taken place here,”Mr.Chimfwembe.
Mr.Chimfwembe feels that it is unacceptable for the residents in the said community to grapple with these social and economic challenges considering that they live in the mine catchment area.
He has since appealed to the Ministry General Education and Lumwana Mine to address the challenges being faced by the residents of Kakahindu community in the education sector.
The Executive Director has also called on the Mine and the Zambia Environmental Management Agency, ZEMA to find a ways of offsetting the cracking of houses in order to prevent houses from collapsing.
“It is incumbent upon Lumwana to ensure that where they are operating their business should plough back so that the community can begin to appreciate their development,” Mr. Chimfwembe said.
He further calls upon the government to explore a robust local industrialization policy that can enable local people to take advantage of Copper and other mineral resources to develop intermediate products such as geysers and solar panels among others unlike the current situation where copper and other minerals are exported in raw form.
Luanshya Mayor Nathan Chanda cutting the ribbon during the opening of Roan MallLUANSHYA Mayor Nathan Chanda says the reopening of the Baluba mine that was put under care and maintainance in 2015 will create jobs for the youths.
Mr Chanda said with the rise in copper prices on the world market the Luanshya Municipal Council was expecting China Non Ferrous Metal Company Luanshya Copper Mines (CLM) to start firing back to life after the positive trends the world copper mining industry was currently recording.
He said the re-opening of the Baluba mine and Shaft 28 would also boost the economy of Luanshya by complimenting the Mulyashi Open Pit.
” We are optimistic that Baluba mine which is on care and maintainance and Shaft 28 will be opened. Copper prices are now doing well and the Kwacha has appreciated well so we expect the two mines to be opened for the benefit of our people.We are confident that with the attractive Copper prices, things will change in Luanshya and expect that all the workers to be called back for work,” he said.
Mr Chanda said that following the meeting CLM management in which they stated that the delay in re-opening was due to low copper prices and power, he was optimistic that with the change of prices the mines would be opened.
He was hopeful that the mining sector would continue making Luanshya a better town for both investors and the locals who included the local suppliers which would positively impact on the economy of the district.
Mr Chanda said he would soon be visiting the mines to get first hand information on their plans with the increase of copper prices on the world market.
Meanwhile LMC has embarked on a series of community sensitisation activities as part of the commemoration of the Local Government Week.
LMC public relations manager Gideon Thole said the municipality had joined the rest of the of the nation in commemorating the Local Government Week which falls from August 3 to August 10 under the theme ‘Harnessing the demographic dividend through investment in youth’.
He said that during this period, LMC would hold community exhibitions with the aim of collecting feedback and interacting with residents on various Council functions as laid down in the Local Government Act Cap 281 of the Laws of Zambia.
Mr Thole said the Local Government Week gives an opportunity to the local authority to update residents on the progress of various developmental projects being undertaken by the Council in line with the district’s strategic plan.
“As part of the commemoration activities the Council is show casing its potential to developers and investors, apart from showing residents other social and economic development and personal advancement opportunities offered to individual residents.
As part of the programme, members of the public are being informed about the mandate of the local authoritys’ guiding principles such as openness, transparency and accountability which are required for efficient and effective service delivery to residents,” he said.
Mr Thole said in concluding the activities LMC would also award deserving rate payers, public institutions and citizens, who have directly or indirectly contributed to the local authority’s service provision, during the African Day of Decentralisation on August,10.
Rapheal Nakacinda-The MMD has called on the people of Southern Province to help dispel the tribal notion by embracing other political parties
Speaking when he addressed party officials from three districts at Monze Hotel MMD National Secretary Raphael Nakacinda said the people in the province were not tribal but that the tag has been put on them by politicians who wants to use it as a campaign tool.
Mr Nakacinda said the province should welcome political parties that have the interest of the nation at heart as that is the only way the country will develop.
He said it is important that people in the area elect their leaders on merit and capacity to deliver adding that the province will never produce a President if they isolated themselves because other regions would also vote for their own.
He said his party demonstrated when they were in power that there was only one Zambia by ensuring that people from all the provinces participated in the running of government.
And speaking earlier Provincial Chairperson for Southern Province Oliver Pelete bemoaned the harassment of members by members of the UPND in Monze.
Mr Pelete said members of the UPND and some former party officials who went to the UPND with Nevers Mumba are harassing members when they try to mobilize the party.
He said Monze and Pemba districts was proving to be more difficult than other districts as the two districts are home to the wife of the founding father of the UPND and the president of the party respectively.
He was however quick to mention that the provincial leaders would not be intimidated nto giving up the province which has accepted the MMD due to the development it took to the province when it was in power.
The party National Execitive Commitee was on a mobilization tour of Southern province.
THE Food Reserve Agency (FRA) and Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) yesterday failed to reach an agreement over calls by various stakeholders to revisit the K60 price for a
50kg bag of maize announced by the agency recently.
In a statement yesterday, jointly signed by FRA executive director Chola Kafwabulula and ZNFU acting executive director Ella Chembe, the FRA management pledged to call for an urgent board meeting to discuss the matter.
“The meeting is aimed at presenting the farmers’ position and the final decision will be announced within the course of next week,” the statement reads in part.
And sources within FRA told the Daily Mail yesterday that the agency has received overwhelming response from farmers in Luapula and Eastern provinces, where the sale of maize is going on well.
The source said farmers in the two provinces are selling their maize to FRA because they do not incur any transportation costs because the agency buys maize from farmers’ homes.
On Monday, ZNFU president Jervis Zimba called for an urgent meeting with FRA after receiving numerous complaints from farmers over what they have termed as exploitative price of their commodity.
ZNFU wants FRA to act in the best interest of famers by making an upward adjustment of the price of the commodity.
Mr Zimba urged farmers country-wide to be patient and hold on to their maize until the two parties resolve the stand-off.
He said ZNFU will not allow farmers to be exploited after investing so much money in the production of their maize.
Minister of Agriculture Dora Siliya briefing Journalists shortly after presentation of of the 2016 Quarterly Report at State House
MINISTER of Agriculture Dora Siliya says Government is developing a sustainable, diversified and competitive agriculture sector through implementation of viable policies and programmes to enhance economic stability and growth.
Ms Siliya said in an interview yesterday that the ministry is equal to the task of making the agriculture sector a key driver of the country’s economic development.
She said growing of cash crops such as cotton, soya beans, cassava, cashew nuts and rice on large scale is being prioritised in line with Government’s policy on crop diversification to ensure the country earns the much needed foreign exchange.
“We want the agriculture sector to be the country’s key driver for economic stability and growth. Our farmers are being encouraged to grow other cash crops such as cotton, cashew nuts, soya beans, cassava and rice,” Ms Siliya said.
She commended small-scale farmers for the bumper maize harvest the country recorded in the 2016/2017 farming season and urged them to continue producing more so that they could export some of their agricultural produce.
The Petauke Central law-maker said there is need for farmers to take advantage of the high demand for maize and other agricultural produce in East and Southern African regions to increase their production to earn themselves foreign exchange.
Ms Siliya said Government will continue supporting the farmers through early delivery of farm inputs and implementation of policies aimed at accelerating mechanisation of the agriculture sector.
“We have resolved some of the problems faced with our electronic voucher system during the last farming season,” Ms Siliya said.
She said it is time to move away from traditional farming methods by embracing modern methods and technologies to transform Zambia into a regional food basket.
Ms Siliya said Government will also continue with its robust programme of constructing multipurpose dams and promotion of irrigation schemes through the public private partnership model, particularly in farm blocks.
She said the livestock and fisheries sub sectors will also continue receiving attention from Government to create a strong and sustainable economy to improve the welfare of citizens.
Minister of Finance Felix Mutati.MINISTER of Finance Felix Mutati says structural reforms in the agriculture sector are key to the economic transformation of the country.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Caucus of African governors of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in Gaborone, Mr Mutati said Government has taken a different approach in financing and supporting the sector.
He said the shift from the ordinary Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) to the electronic voucher system is in line with Government’s commitment to safeguarding expenditure and channelling support to the right people.
“The e-voucher has eliminated a lot of costs. So far, a lot of farmers that were on the programme out of duplication have been eliminated. We are now going to get more beneficiaries,” he said.
This is according to a statement issued yesterday by first secretary for press at the Zambian mission in Botswana Kasabo Kalusa.
And Mr Mutati said it is time farming was acknowledged as a catalyst for economic transformation of African economies.
He observed that infrastructural and skills deficit is hampering the growth of agricultural activities on the continent.
“One of the most viable options Africa had at its disposal in expanding its revenue base through a quick industrialisation of the agricultural activities,” Mr Mutati said.
The 2017 Caucus of African governors meeting has drawn participation from all African ministers of finance and central bank governors.
Mr Mutati is accompanied by Bank of Zambia Governor Denny Kalyalya, Ministry of Finance permanent secretary Mukuli Chikuba and other officials.
A 45-YEAR-OLD bishop of Radiant Church International in Kasama has been arrested for allegedly raping a 20-year-old congregant.
Northern Province commissioner of police Richard Mweene said in an interview yesterday that the incident happened around 12:30 hours on Wednesday on Kasama-Isoka road.
Mr Mweene said bishop Cephas Mabo allegedly raped the young woman when church members went for prayers on the mountains. The clergyman allegedly lured the woman into a nearby bush and did the unthinkable.
He said after the incident, the woman attempted to commit suicide by drinking a poisonous liquid.
“She has been admitted to Kasama General Hospital while the suspect is in police custody,” he said.
Meanwhile, the police have apprehended two Zambians and a Congolese national for allegedly being in possession of dangerous weapons.
Mr Mweene said the suspects were found with seven explosives, two litres of sulphuric acid, five packets of Urea fertiliser and mica powder.
“We are currently interviewing them to establish the motive behind their carrying of such substances,” Mr Mweene said.
The names of the three suspects have been withheld for security reasons.
Mr Amos ChandaSTATE House has assured investors that Zambia has remained a stable, open and liberal democracy where their investments are safe.
Special assistant to the President for press and public relations Amos Chanda says President Lungu is committed to ensuring that opportunities for investors are provided as long as they operate within the laws of the country.
Mr Chanda told journalists yesterday that this is why the President engages investors and other stakeholders as it is within his mandate to create an enabling environment for investment.
He said the President has been doing this by assuring investors of the stable and conducive environment in Zambia, both economically and politically.
“Within this line of assuring investors that their businesses are safe, the President has a number of engagements this month with stakeholders in the political and business arenas,” Mr Chanda said.
He said London-based Commonwealth secretary general Patricia Scotland is expected in the country on Monday and she will on Wednesday meet President Lungu to discuss a broad range of issues.
The matters to be discussed range from economic co-operation and politics to bilateral and multilateral agreements all within the framework of the Commonwealth.
“Baroness Scotland will discuss the role of the Commonwealth in promoting governance in the country. The two will also discuss the final report of the Commonwealth Secretariat, which sent the observer mission to monitor elections last year,” Mr Chanda said.
He said the verdict of the Commonwealth was that the 2016 general elections were free and fair and were conducted in an orderly and competent manner.
Meanwhile, President Lungu yesterday met First Quantum Minerals chairman Philip Pascall and discussed the mining fiscal regime and the investment climate in Zambia.
During the meeting, President Lungu assured Mr Pascall of his commitment to making Zambia stable and attractive to investment as this is one of the main resolves his administration has undertaken.
“Next week, the President will be meeting president of Barrick Gold Kelvin Dushnisky, the owner of Lumwana Mine, to discuss a broad range of issues,” Mr Chanda said.
Mr Chanda also said President Lungu will next week receive Tullow Oil chief executive officer Aidan Heavey, with whom he will officially launch oil explorations in Northern Province. Tullow Oil is one of the largest oil businesses in Europe.
Zambian High Commissioner in Pretoria Emmanuel Mwamba. with South Africa’s Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane during their meeting
South Africa’s opposition DA leader Mmusi Maimane called on President Jacob Zuma him to distance himself from “dictators” like President Edgar Lungu as the South African leader is due to arrive in Lusaka on an official visit.
Mr. Maimane said in a statement on Friday that President Zuma must use this engagement with President Lungu to raise South Africa’s strong objections to the crisis unfolding in Zambia under President Lungu’s watch.
“In particular, President Zuma should denounce the inhumane treatment in prison of the Zambian leader of the opposition, Hakainde Hichilema, and to call for his immediate release.”
“The human rights abuses faced by Mr. Hichilema must be condemned in the strongest terms. It is clear that these trumped up charges are a witch hunt by an increasingly threatened President Lungu, and pose a very real threat to democracy on the African continent,” Mr Maimane said.
President Zuma would be in Lusaka on Saturday to officially open the 91st Agricultural and Commercial Show as a guest of honour at President Lungu’s invitation.
On May 25, Maimane flew to Lusaka to attend jailed opposition leader Hichilema’s treason trial.
He was denied entry into the country and put on the first plane back to South Africa.
Mr. Hichilema was arrested in April after his motorcade did not get out of the way of President Lungu’s motorcade quickly enough during the Kuomboka ceremony.
He was charged with treason, which is punishable by death in Zambia.
“It is clear that these trumped-up charges are a witch hunt by an increasingly threatened President Lungu, and pose a very real threat to democracy on the African continent,” Mr. Maimane said.
South Africa could not continue its “quiet diplomacy” as it could lead to democracy being undermined.
“South Africa must work with its neighbours to protect democracy because, in Africa, a threat to democracy for some is a threat to democracy for all,” he said.
“We will continue to advocate for the advancement of vibrant, competitive, multiparty democracy, the rule of law and the entrenchment of human rights and free speech across Africa.”
Zambia captain Ziyo Tembo says they are determined to extend their winning streak when they face Ethiopia in Saturday’s friendly.
Chipolopolo host Ethiopia in a friendly at Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka on the back of a two-match winning run.
The highlight during the back-to-back wins over Swaziland was a 3-0 victory at National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka on July 22 that handed coach Wedson Nyirenda his debut home win.
Chipolopolo are using the friendly to prepare for next weekend’s 2018 CHAN final round, first leg qualifier away to South Africa.
“So far so good the team spirit and morale in camp is high and everyone is ready for the game,” Ziyo said.
“The fans should expect an explosive game and we shall perform to our level best to come up with a good result.
“And we definitely have to win because we have been training hard for this game and also next week’s game (against South Africa).”
Zambia will face South Africa on August 12 in East London and later host Bafana Bafana on August 19 at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola to decide who qualifies to the CHAN finals in Kenya next year.
