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.
Chief Justice Irene Mambilima(l) and Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini(r)during the launch of Court Reporters Association of Zambia at Radisson Blu Hotel in Lusaka
CHIEF Justice Irene Mambilima says the judiciary is not compromised but acts independently.
Speaking to journalists shortly after officiating at the launch of the Court Reporters Association of Zambia, Mrs Justice Mambilima said nobody tells the judiciary how to decide cases.
“Cases are decided according to the law. Not even myself has the mandate to interfere in any case or can talk to any magistrate concerning a case before them. Magistrates, including local court magistrates, make independent decisions based on the law,” Mrs Justice Mambilima said.
Mrs Justice Mambilima said she is aware of the attacks on the judiciary but advised those aggrieved with certain judgments to appeal as the law provides for such.
She said there are checks and balances which the aggrieved can use.
And Justice Mambilima said court reporters play a critical role in the timely delivery of justice.
She said the introduction of real-time court reporters has brought a significant change in the speedy disposal of cases.
Mrs Justice Mambilima said real-time court reporters have also added efficiency in the recording of court proceedings and producing verbatim records of proceedings.
“Real-time court reporters were successfully trained and at least these met the minimum requirement to effectively and efficiently service the Supreme Court, Constitutional Court, Court of Appeal and High Court and occasionally the Subordinate Court,” Mrs Justice Mambilima said.
She was speaking yesterday during the launch of the Court Reporters Association of Zambia (CRAZ).
Mrs Justice Mambilima said in 2008, the judiciary and the Investment Climate Facility for Africa (ICF) signed an agreement on the computerisation of the court, an agreement aimed at increasing efficiency.
She said the computerisation of the judiciary had a number of key components and milestones, and of relevance has been the training of court staff in the newly-adopted computerised and automated courtrooms.
Mrs Justice Mambilima said the judiciary, despite having a tight budget, has continued to prioritise the training of real-time court reporters.
“The establishment of the Court Reporters Association of Zambia is a big milestone in enhancing the performance of our court reporters and ultimately ensuring quick disposal of cases,” she said.
CRAZ president Kambole Ng’andu said the establishment of the association will enable Zambian court reporters to be affiliated to international training institutions.
Mr Ng’andu said there are 85 real-time court reporters in the country.
MINISTER of Transport and Communication Brian Mushimba
ZAMBIA has said that sustained, resilient infrastructure development and industrialisation are key to the exponential and inclusive transformation of the economies of Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs).
Zambia’s Minister of Transport and Communications Brian Mushimba has observed that LLDCs have remained greatly disadvantaged due to their special needs and challenges due to their geographical location.
Mr Mushimba however, stated that with strong partnerships and enhanced international support, it was Zambia’s hope that infrastructure development and industrialization could create efficient transit transport systems in LLDCs.
Mr Mushimba who is the global chair of the Group of LLDCs said Landlocked Developing Countries have continued to attract the attention of United Nations (UN) as a vehicle to the industrialization of the African continent as a means of eradicating poverty.
Speaking at the 2017 Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Special Meeting in New York on Wednesday, Mr Mushimba stated that full industrialisation of Africa is the surest means of addressing and eradicating poverty and creating decent employment.
The 2017 ECOSOC Special Meeting was convened to specifically focus on innovation for infrastructure development and promoting sustainable industrialisation because it has remained the proven and important source of employment and decent work for LLDCs and countries in special situations.
Mr Mushimba was accompanied by Permanent Mission of the Republic of Zambia to the United Nations (UN) Charge d’ Affaires Christine Kalamwina and other mission officials.
“Infrastructure development and industrialization is expensive and the funding gap just too wide. Higher levels of infrastructure financing are critical in terms of both quality and quantity. Zambia is investing in transport infrastructure such as the L400 and L800 to link the country internally and open up rural areas as well as connect to the eight neighbouring countries,” Mr Mushimba said.
He said it is important that multilateral development banks should establish dedicated infrastructure funding for LLDCs and that special instruments and vehicles are needed to help the countries de-risk investment.
Mr Mushimba said the nexus between industrialization and infrastructure development is critical and that it was important that it should be particularly recognized in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and should take into consideration the priorities of the Vienna Programme of Action for LLDCs for the decade 2014 to 2024.
“LLDCs are marginalised due to geographical challenges and are isolated from major international markets apart from facing high trade and transport costs. Our countries’ challenges are further compounded by inadequate transport, information and communications technology, and energy infrastructure, as well as structural transformation and economic diversification, he explained.
He stated that the reliance on natural resources-based commodities such as agricultural and mineral products often made LLDCs vulnerable to commodity price fluctuations and that Zambia being a major copper exporter has not been spared.
ECOSOC believes that investing in requisite infrastructure can foster social inclusion and expand opportunities for poverty eradication within the next generation as it accounted to almost 500 million jobs worldwide.
ECOSOC is promoting sustainable industrialisation and the growth of the agro-industry because the sectors have remained the main drivers of growth in most developing countries, especially in rural areas.
The report of ECOSOC special meeting will contribute to the 2017 High Level Political Forum to be held in July,2017 at which the Sustainable Development Goal 9 to Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation will be among the seven SDGs whose implementation progress will be reviewed.
Victoria Kalima
AFRICAN women should continue to fight against negative traditional cultures, gender inequality and discrimination, the vices which are still a major obstacle to women’s full participation in leadership and the governance of nations, Gender Minister Victoria Kalima has said.
Ms Kalima has called on African Governments to begin considering setting up financial system that would support and fund women nominated by their political parties to contest political positions during elections if the continent has to make real progress towards its economic development.
Presenting a position paper at the high level Women leaders’ forum for Africa’s transformation at the United Nations (UN) on Thursday, Ms Kalima said Governments in Africa should involve the traditional leadership to shelf away traditional negative cultural practices that have over the years inhibited women from participating in the political and economic affairs of their respective countries.
The women leaders’ forum for Africa’s transformation was convened on Wednesday and will close with the launch of African Women Leaders Network (AWLN). It was organized by the African Union Commission, the UN Women and the Permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations.
Ms Kalima strongly spoke against the culture of marrying of young girls; stating that such cultural vices were seriously negating the emancipation of the female gender from poverty and backwardness.
“The importance of women leadership to a more stable, prosperous and equitable nation remain undisputed as there is empirical evidence that countries that uphold equal participation of all citizens in their affairs tend to economically and politically develop at a faster rate. Literature shows that gender equality in leadership contributes to gender diversity in resolving the problems countries face. Therefore negative cultural beliefs and their influence on people’s attitude towards women leaders should be dispensed in Africa,” Ms Kalima said.
Ms Kalima pointed out that women were generally less educated and skilled and that governments in Africa should take deliberate steps to invest in women through education to insulate them from the rough economic and political terrain often dominated by men.
“Africa must seriously begin considering preparing its girls and women for the challenge of leadership by education their girl child to the highest level. Governments in Africa should start mentoring and raising the literacy levels among women particularly those in the rural areas. This should be with the objective of creating a critical mass of women fully ready to take up leadership positions at every level,” she said.
She told the delegates to the high level women leaders’ forum for Africa’s transformation that Zambia has taken the girl child education seriously and that government is putting in place gender equity measures that would see the increase of the number of adolescent girls completing their secondary education.
Ms Kalima however emphasized the importance of the involvement of men in their desire to succeed in achieving their goals and advised the women in leadership against working against their menfolk as they constituted at least half of the population on the continent.
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu feeds the fish in one of the ponds. This was during the official opening of Yalelo Fresh Zambian Fishing farming company at Kamimbi village in Siavonga districtGOVERNMENT has acquired a US$50 million loan from the African Development Bank to improve the fish industry in the country.
And Minister of Fisheries and Livestock Michael Katambo said 50 percent of the loan will target 12,000 women and youth fish farming entrepreneurs countrywide.
Mr Katambo said in an interview yesterday that the move follows President Lungu’s directive for the ministry to ensure that women and the youth in the fishing trade are empowered with resources to sustain themselves and their businesses.
“We have acquired a US$50 million loan of which 50 percent of this money will target women and the youth in various provinces. We cannot be importing fish when we have the potential to grow the industry,” he said.
Mr Katambo said the investment in the aquaculture industry is part of Government’s agenda to diversify the economy to avoid dependence on copper.
He said Zambia has a deficit of 85,000 metric tonnes of fish, hence the need to ensure that fish entrepreneurs are adequately supported for them to contribute to national development.
Zambia has vast natural water bodies that can be used to grow the fishing industry.
He said President Lungu has also directed the ministry to ensure that Zambia becomes a major exporter of fish in the next two years.
Mr Katambo said currently, Zambia is unable to sell fish on the international market due to low productivity levels.
He, however, said Government is working towards increasing productivity through many initiatives.
Mr Katambo said the ministry will soon launch the aquaculture development project to mark the start of the empowerment programme.
He encouraged members of the public, especially the youth and women, to take advantage of the opportunity to improve their livelihood and contribute to national development.
Mr Katambo said young people are custodians of Zambia’s future, hence the need for them to be responsible and prepare to take part in various sectors.
RAINBOW Party president Wynter Kabimba has dismissed dictatorship claims being peddled by United Party for National Development (UPND) against President Lungu and his government.
Mr Kabimba said he has never seen the kind of politics practiced by UPND in his entire political life where the opposition political party sees everyone with a divergent view as an enemy.
He has since advised the UPND to seek solace from people who helped them in the campaigns in the run-up to the 2016 general elections over the prosecution of party president Hakainde Hichilema.
Mr Kabimba alleged that the UPND has been coercing him to give a favourable comment over the incarceration of Mr Hichilema but he will not do so.
“I wish him well but I want to say that I didn’t cry to anybody when I was being prosecuted. I was facing prosecution alone. Mr Hichilema should call the people that were supporting him during the run-up to the 2016 elections,” he said.
He was speaking yesterday during a 5 FM Radio’s Burning Issue programme where he discussed his party’s plans if elected into office, among other things.
“I actually now know that Mr Kambwili is not a strong person contrary to his looks. Well done President Lungu for firing him from his Cabinet portfolio,” he said.
Mr Kabimba said the treason-accused UPND leader should call on people like the former republican vice-president Guy Scott, former MMD leader Nevers Mumba and Alliance for Development and Democracy president Charles Milupi.
He said he does not belong to the UPND and would, therefore, not want to be involved in the party’s internal problems.
The UPND has cried foul over the arrest of Mr Hichilema and has been trying to marshal local and international support, alleging that Zambia is under a dictatorship.
And Mr Kabimba said former minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Chishimba Kambwili is not the right person to criticize President Lungu because he supported him before he was fired.
Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane has no right to come to Zambia in a bid to lecture Zambians on how to do politics.
Mr Kabimba said as a matter of principle, Mr Kambwili should not turn against President Lungu, adding that it was deceitful on the party of Mr Kambwili to think that he would be in government for a long time.
“I actually now know that Mr Kambwili is not a strong person contrary to his looks. Well done President Lungu for firing him from his Cabinet portfolio,” he said.
Mr Kabimba said Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane has no right to come to Zambia in a bid to lecture Zambians on how to do politics.
Mr Kabimba said Government might have had all the reasons to stop the South African from entering the country because they have the mandate to do so.
Meanwhile, Mr Kabimba said that once his party forms government, it will embark on reviving the health sector.
Mr Kabimba said the shortage of medical personnel in the health sector such as doctors will be prioritised.
He said he is opposed to massive infrastructure of health facilities which end up not having medical staff.
Foreign Minister Harry Kalaba with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey LavrovThe Russian government has pledged to help in constructing a Nuclear Science and Technology centre in Zambia.
Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov disclosed this in Moscow, during official talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs Harry Kalaba.
Mr. Lavrov said the Centre for Nuclear Science and Technology will be constructed under the Inter-governmental agreement on nuclear cooperation between the two countries for peaceful purposes.
He said Russia and Zambia will in the near future sign commercial contacts which will allow to launch practical works to build the centre in Zambia.
Mr. Lavrov commended Zambia for the implementation of an inter-governmental cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy that was signed in 2016.
Russia and Zambia have also reached an agreement to promote military technical Cooperation.
The Russian Foreign Minister further commended Zambia for promoting peace in Africa and supported the willingness by African Union to settle its conflicts through political and diplomatic means.
Mr. LAVROV said Russian and Zambia have since agreed to hold special consultation on how Russia can assist in its efforts to promote peace and security in the region as it chairs the AU peace and Security Council.
Mr. LAVROV said Russia and Zambia have also discussed prospects of developing investment ties including interest by many Russian companies in investing in ICT sector, Agriculture, banking and manufacturing.
He said his country has also committed to further increase its cooperation in the education sector by increasing scholarships for Zambian student wanting to study in Russian.
And Mr. Kalaba said Zambia will continue to focus attention on pursuing alternative sources of Energy including the nuclear technology as part of a diversified energy mix to power the Zambian economy.
Mr. Kalaba is confident that the signing of an inter-governmental agreement between Zambia and Russia in nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, the cooperation will transform and upgrade the energy sector in Zambia.
In the area of peace and security, Mr, Kalaba said Zambia will continue to promote peace and stability on the continent, as chairperson of Africa Union on Peace and Security Council.
He further said Zambia will use her position in the AU to augment efforts in promoting peace in the region.
Mr. Kalaba also acknowledged the role Russia is playing in supporting Zambia’s education sector through awarding of scholarships to Zambian students to study in Russia
He has since extended an invitation to his counterpart to visit Zambia as part of efforts to enhance bilateral relations between Zambia and Russia.
A team of specialized doctors from India’s Apollo Hospitals is on Monday, expected in Zambia to treat children suffering from congenital heart diseases.
Zambia’s High Commissioner to India Judith Kapinjimpanga says this follows discussions between the Zambian Mission in New Delhi and India’s leading hospitals to help over 400 children who cannot afford to travel to India for specialized services.
Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Jabbin Mulwanda was in India recently where he mentioned that he had over 400 children in Zambia are on the waiting list seeking government sponsorship for heart diseases operation.
And Apollo Hospitals Vice President for Corporate Development Harinder Sing Sidhu says his institution will set up a screening camp in Lusaka next week to cut on costs.
Dr. Sidhu says his team will evaluate on- site surgery options so that less complicated cases can be treated in Zambia using the equipment they will carry adding that children will be treated in batches of 25.
He says complicated cases will have to be referred to India at a subsidized cost.
This is according to a statement released by First Secretary Press and Tourism at the Zambian Mission in New Delhi, Bangwe Navilley.
First Lady Esther Lungu (c) greets mothers at the mothers shelter during the Launch of Trade Kings Foundation at the maternity ward in University Hospital yesterday 01-06-2017. Picture by ROYD SIBAJENE/ZANISFirst Lady Esther Lungu has bemoaned the high cases of maternal and neonatal deaths in the country.
Mrs. Lungu says it unacceptable that 591 maternal deaths occur per one hundred thousand live births in the country.
The First Lady says while the Ministry of Health has put interventions in place to reduce maternal mortality, there is need for the private sector to get on board and supplement Government’s effort.
Mrs.Lungu was speaking today during the official launch of the Trade Kings Foundation at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka.
The First Lady commended Trade Kings for picking on the mothers Shelter at the Women and New Born Hospital as the first to benefit from the foundation.
Mrs.Lungu said the renovation and upgrading of the ablution facilities in the mothers shelter will contribute in the reduction of mortality rate in the women and new born babies at the Women and New Born Hospital.
And Trade Kings-Zambia Group General Manager Lux Subramaniam said the launch of the foundation is aimed at appreciating Zambians who have supported the company since its inception.
Mr. Subramaniam said the Trade Kings Foundation which is a charitable venture will be used for the company to pay back to the community.
ZAMTEL Acting Chief Executive Officer Sydney Mupeta has assured that the state owned telecoms operator is not on the brink of collapse.
In an interview, Mr Mupeta stated that ZAMTEL has never been in any better shape than now.
He said for the first time in its history, ZAMTEL is now able to register an impressive 8,000 new subscribers a day which has seen its subscriber number accelerate to 1, 774,329 as at end of May 2017.
He said the company is focused on attaining the 2 million subscriber target by end of 2017.
Mr Mupeta was reacting to reports that ZAMTEL is headed for total collapse because of poor management and incompetence.
Some sources indicated that the company has been struggling since Government repossessed it from Lapgreen of Libya and appointed Mupanga Mwanakatwe as Chief Executive Officer who early this year separated with the company.
But Mr Mupeta said the allegations are coming from ‘a few people with their own motives.’
He said the company’s subscriber numbers and revenues have been going up since he took over firm three months ago.
Mr Mupeta could however not disclose the company’s revenues.
On allegations that he has not shared his business turnaround strategy with staff and senior managers, Mr Mupeta refuted the allegations saying everyone who works at ZAMTEL knows the vision of the company.
“The Turnaround plan is the first thing I did when I was appointed and I presented it to our shareholder who are the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). As shareholders, the IDC knows our plans and they are fully behind us,” Mr Mupeta said.
He also pointed out that some individuals within ZAMTEL are not happy with some of the measures he has introduced to promote accountability at the company.
The ZAMTEL Chief said he communicates with the employees every morning on key developments in the organisation.
Mr Mupeta revealed that with the approval of the IDC and following public procurement procedures, he has engaged Deloitte to undertake a forensic audit of the company.
“It is understandable that some people will not be happy with what we are doing. As CEO, my mandate is to improve the financial situation at ZAMTEL and promote accountability in everything we do here because at the end of the day ZAMTEL is a public company and people’s money has to be safeguarded,” Mr Mupeta said.
He also defended his decision to effect some transfers at senior management level by moving Ms. Lozhindaba Sakala to Marketing and Evans Muhanga into Sales.
“You know that Lozhindaba was with Telecel for many years and she did Marketing there, so what lack of experience are these people talking about? You will agree that since she took over, the visibility of our brand has improved. The same can be said about Evans, he is an experienced Sales person hence the sales have gone up,” he said.
“Admittedly, some people are not happy that we have moved the Fixed Business from Lusaka to the Copperbelt. This decision was arrived at because we have a lot of business potential in fixed line business especially with the Mines but this unit was neglected for a long time. By moving some senior managers to the Copperbelt to Head this section, we are simply positioning the business for growth,” he said.
He added, “The Copperbelt is critical and so it can’t be run by junior people. We are trying to reinforce Copperbelt.”
He said, “All our revenue sources are secure. People are claiming a lot of things but sincere people will tell you that ZAMTEL has never been better. It is not feasible for a business that is increasing sales to collapse. ZAMTEL will not collapse under my watch.”
Mr Mupeta said the firm’s financial strength has greatly improved and it now that its ability to pay suppliers is getting better than before.
Some sources had alleged that the company’s free fall is accelerating since the appointment of Mr. Mupeta as acting CEO due to poor leadership and lack of business strategy.
They alleged that Mr. Mupeta has no management track record and even for the job of Chief Technical Officer, his substantive position, he only got it because of his connections with former Zamtel MD Dr. Mwanakatwe.
Mr. Mupeta worked as an engineer under Dr Mwanakatwe at Celtel.
“We are not saying Mwanakatwe was any better, but what we are witnessing with Sydney is the highest level of incompetence, since he was appointed, the guy hasn’t provided us with any business vision but instead, he’s just been randomly transferring directors and managers from one position to the other,” said the sources.
“The little power of acting MD has gone to his head and what we are seeing is the village headman-kind of leadership, the guy is running down the company so fast.”
The sources disclosed that without consulting the Board or Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), Mr. Mupeta swapped the positions of Chief Sales Officer Lozhindaba Sakala with that of Chief Marketing Officer Evans Muhanga.
The sources said the Senior Managers have since appealed to Government to speed-up the search for a new Managing Director to save Zamtel from demise adding that the numbers of subscribers are dwindling making the telecommunication company insolvent.
“There is a lot of in-fighting among top managers and generally there’s a lot of uncertainty among employees,” adding: “The sales have been plummeting, both Mwanakatwe and Mupeta do not have what it takes to turn-around ZAMTEL,” they claim.
Italy will face Zambia in the quarterfinals of the 2017 FIFA U20 World Cup.
Italy eliminated 2013 champions France 2-1on Thursday to record the biggest upset of the tournament so far as Gli Azzurri go in search of their debut final appearance.
Riccardo Orsolini put Italy ahead in the 27th minute to net his 3rd goal of the tournament in South Korea.
However, Italy’s lead was short-lived and France equalised from the spot ten minutes later through Jean-Kevin Augustin.
Giuseppe Panico then shattered France’s hopes in the 53rd minute to setup a date with Zambia.
Despite five U20 World Cup outings, Italy have yet to reach even the semifinals and were quarterfinalists three times.
Meanwhile, Zambia landed in Suwon on Thursday ahead of Monday’s showdown against Gli Azzurri .
Trade Kings Group Manager Lux Subramaniam welcomes the First Lady Esther Lungu whilst Senior Medical Superintendent Dr. Mulindi Mwanahamuntu looks on shortly before the First Lady launched Trade Kings Foundation at the maternity ward at University Teaching HospitalFirst Lady Esther Lungu dancing with mothers at the mothers shelter during the Launch of Trade Kings Foundation at the maternity ward at the University Teaching HospitalFirst Lady Esther Lungu dancing with mothers at the mothers shelter during the Launch of Trade Kings Foundation at the maternity ward at the University Teaching HospitalFirst Lady Esther Lungu (c) greets mothers at the mothers shelter during the Launch of Trade Kings Foundation at the maternity ward at the University Teaching HospitalFirst Lady Esther Lungu (l), Dr.Chizema (c) and Acting Chief Nursing Officer Naomi Chirwa mop the floor during the Launch of Trade Kings Foundation at the maternity ward at the University Teaching HospitalFirst Lady Esther Lungu and mop the floor during the Launch of Trade Kings Foundation at the maternity ward at the University Teaching Hospital
First Lady Esther Lungu and Trade Kings Group Manager Lux Subramaniam mopping the floor during the Launch of Trade Kings Foundation in the maternity ward at the UniversityTeaching HospitalSenior Medical Superintendent Dr. Mulindi Mwanahamuntu confers with the First Lady Esther Lungu during a tour of D block at University Teaching HospitalSenior Medical Superintendent Dr. Mulindi Mwanahamuntu flanked by Acting Chief Nursing Officer Naomi Chirwa confers with the First Lady Esther Lungu during the Launch of Trade Kings Foundation at the maternity ward at the University Teaching HospitalFirst Lady Esther Lungu cleaning the Mothers Shelter to mark the official Launch of Trade Kings Foundation at UTH in Lusaka on June 1,2017 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMAFirst Lady Esther Lungu and Trade Kings General Manager Lux Subramaniam cleaning the Mothers Shelter to mark the official Launch of Trade Kings Foundation at UTH in Lusaka on June 1,2017 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMAFirst Lady Esther Lungu and Trade Kings General Manager Lux Subramaniam cleaning the Mothers Shelter to mark the official Launch of Trade Kings Foundation at UTH in Lusaka on June 1,2017 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMAFirst Lady Esther Lungu and Trade Kings General Manager Lux Subramaniam cleaning the Mothers Shelter to mark the official Launch of Trade Kings Foundation at UTH in Lusaka on June 1,2017 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMAFirst Lady Esther Lungu and Trade Kings General Manager Lux Subramaniam cleaning the Mothers Shelter to mark the official Launch of Trade Kings Foundation at UTH in Lusaka on June 1,2017 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMAFirst Lady Esther Lungu speaks with Trade Kings General Manager Lux Subramaniam after the official Launch of Trade Kings Foundation at UTH in Lusaka on June 1,2017 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
Patriotic Front (PF) Southern Province vice Information and Publicity secretary Trymore Mwenda has said Southern Province has equally endorsed President Edgar Chagwa Lungu’s 2021 candidature.
Mwenda said in a statement that Southern Province PF members are in total support of President Edgar Lungu’s standing on the Party ticket in 2021 as clarified by the Party Secretary General Hon Davies Mwila.
He noted that the trend is common in many democratic countries across the world where the incumbent is backed to recontest the presidency for a number of reasons.
Mwenda stated that President Edgar Lungu’s leadership qualities and overall approach to national development have been outstanding and Southern Province has benefited greatly from the national cake.
He added that President Lungu has within the shortest time in office walked the talk in his development agenda for Zambia and on this score he deserves another term in 2021 to continue fostering development across many sectors in the country.
Mwenda further noted that in the energy sector, various power plants are currently under construction like the Batoka Gorge Hydro power Project between Zambia and Zimbabwe which is expected to bring on stream more than 2000 Megawatts of power once completed.
“What about the transformation in the agriculture sector today we can talk of a record maize bumper harvest in Southern Province and the whole country due to the Leadership that President is providing”
“In the education and health sectors construction of infrastructure like the rural health posts, district hospitals, primary and secondary schools is ongoing completely giving people access to these social amenitie,” Mwenda said.
Mr Mwenda said the road sector hashas been upgraded to bituminous standards like the Monze-Niko road and the bottom road among many others also feeder roads are being upgraded to ensure ease transportation of agriculture produce.
He noted that President Lungu’s inclusive leadership is another factor that has pleased everyone as he has accommodated all the women, youths, and men in his leadership style.
United Party for National Development (UPND) Livingstone District Spokesperson Halwabala is stunned over President Edgar Lungu’s request to the House of Chiefs to look into the succession disputes in some chiefdom and draft guidelines to regulate the institution of chieftaincy.
Halwabala said President Lungu’s directive that the house of chiefs should draft guidelines that will regulate the institution of chieftaincy to serve as a foundation of the country’s peace is a clear indication that the head of state lacks understanding on how land is administered in Zambia.
He said the policy in Zambia is already there with ministry of lands and according to land policy, the traditional leaders are not the final authority on land matters, but its ministry of lands who are mandated to issue title deeds after the whole process of change of ownership is concluded.
Halwabala said due to the given background about how land is administered in Zambia, it is clear that the president was off rail to blame the chiefs over land being given to foreigners, instead of blaming his own officials at the ministry of lands including the minister in charge of the ministry who issue title deeds.
He added that embarrassing chiefs in the public like that is not only being uncultured, but a direct vote of no confidence in his own leadership as a whole, adding that the presidency is completely engulfed in hallucinating on fighting political opponents at the expense of service delivery to the people of Zambia.
“Our laws are very clear, the chiefs do not issue title deeds, meaning if land is now being given to wrong people, it’s the ministry of land to blame not the chiefs” Halwabala said
Luanshya Mayor Nathan Chanda has expressed concern over delay in the reopening of Baluba and Shaft 28 mines by the China Non Ferrous Metal Company Luanshya Copper Mine (CLM).
Mr Chanda said now that the copper prices on the world market were slowly getting back to normal, the local authority was expecting LCM to start firing back to life after the positive trends the world copper mining industry was currently recording.
The Mayor was speaking during a Consultative Meeting on the Status of the Mines with Luanshya Copper Mine’s senior management officials led by the company’s First Deputy Chief Executive Officers Wang Jinjun on Monday.
Responding to the Mayor’s concern, the CLM management said they were not sitting idle but doing everything possible to see to it the mining sector positively contributes to improving the well being of Luanshya residents.
Mr Wang said LCM was determined to invest US $ 400 million in new Muliyashi Open Pit Mine investments and step up its operations as a substitute of Baluba Mine, which was still under Care and Maintenance.
The major copper mine in Luanshya said, they were not fully operation because of a combination of factors such as: The fluctuating copper prices on the world market, Power restrictions, the issue of production capacity and quality of the grade of copper being mined was also affecting the reopening of Luanshya’s Baluba Mine.
“Our current cost of production is about US$ 7,000 per tonne but the cost of copper on the world market is now about US$5, 800,” Mr Wang said.
Mr Wang, also said CLM had put plans to reopen Shaft 28 Underground mine on hold because the mine was heavily flooded of about 100,000,000m3 of water and reopening it would not be a profitable business venture for now. This was a after the Mayor wanted to find out how far the pumping out of underground water at 28shaft has reached.
On Buluba underground mine Mr Chanda wanted to find out why the mine was selling it’s long hole drilling equipments if indeed it was still committed to reopening of the mine.
Mr Wang said that, “yes the management was still committed to reopening of Baluba in the shortest possible time if things improve.
He said the machine that are on sell are old enough and it’s difficult for the mine to find parts.
The other reason been the mine’s annually target as it reduced from 1.5million tonnes to 1million.”
The LCM management officials said during the Consultative Meeting that the volume of the copper Luanshya Copper Mines was capable of producing also depended on the global market’s copper consumption patterns.
Kabwe Central Mp-Tutwa Ngulube and Kasama-central Mp-Kelvin Sampa at the PF-interactive Forum
Ruling PF Legal Counsel Tutwa Ngulube says the debate on President Edgar Lungu candidature for the 2021 elections is unnecessary.
In a statement, Mr Ngulube who is also Kabwe Central M.P said it is too early to start having such a debate.
“Ladies and gentlemen, colleagues in the party and media institutions. I wish to take a professional stance over this matter. I have heard several discussions over who the PF Presidential candidate is for 2021 with Hon. Kambwili and Hon Kampyongo taking very strong positions over the matter,” he said.
“As a senior member of the party I wish to advise that both Honourable members are my colleagues in Parliament and know the channels to be employed over this matter.”
Mr Ngulube said if senior members openly differ in the media, they risk confusing the grassroot and will scare away new members.
“This debate for now is unnecessary and has the potential of detracting His Excellency the president from delivering the much needed development in kabwe central where all the roads need attention,” he said.
“Lastly I urge all the parties to exercise maximum restraint in responding to queries over this matter and allow the president to enjoy his tenure without pressure from anywhere,” he added.
He said, “As the lawyer who was in charge of the same dispute in November 2014 and who was very instrumental in restoring the sanctity of the PF constitution I find that its too early for people to differ over this matter.”
Mr Ngulube said the party must impose sanctions on people openly debating this matter and must refer to the central committee anyone who does not heed President Lungu’s previous directives that all the party must concentrate on delivering development and recruiting new members as opposed to bickering.
“Those early endorsements are unnecessary right now as we don’t have elections this year. We still have to wait for a time when party campaigns will be opened.”
