More than a hundred of Lusaka’s most influential women joined Stanbic this week for the launch of its Anakazi banking solution, a new banking proposition that seeks to equip Zambian women with the skills they need to succeed in business.
Minister in the Vice President’s Office, Sylvia Chalikosa, was part of the glamorous female who’s who list at the Taj Pamodzi Hotel, as she implored Zambian women to take advantage of business solutions that sought to uplift their well-being.
The women at the launch included company executives, government officials, business women as well as representatives of industries such as arts and music.
Mrs Chalikosa said Anakazi Banking was complementing several government efforts aimed at uplifting the welfare of women.
“Stanbic has done well to recognise the simple woman; the woman who breaks her back to look after her family; the woman who’s educating her family and who’s selling fruits and vegetables to support her family,” she said.

“The government welcomes all co-operating partners who have similar initiatives to join in as we look at women’s issues collectively. We will support programmes of this nature.”
The launch was preceded by an alluring catwalk fashion show that showcased trendy fashion designs for ‘real women’ as well as a parade of women representing all walks of life who Stanbic’s new banking proposition seeks to target.
Anakazi Banking focuses on both increased access to finance and capacity building activities for women entrepreneurs. These platforms include training, mentorship and networking events to build knowledge in business management and access to markets, as well as assistance in business formalisation.

It is Stanbic’s bold move to boost Zambian women’s involvement in business and entrepreneurship since the bank became the first Zambian financial institution to join the Global Banking Alliance for Women, a global consortium of financial institutions dedicated to supporting banks as they capture the Women’s Market, in February.
Bank of Zambia Deputy Governor for Administration, Dr Tukiya Kankasa-Mabula congratulated Stanbic for coming up with the Anakazi Banking proposition, stating that the central bank could already see opportunities opening up for women to accelerate wealth creation, prosperity, peace and stability.

“This is exactly what the women of Zambia need to excel. Financial assistance from financial institutions can put women in a good position, considering that a majority of them do have business acumen that is not supported by funding,” Dr Kankasa-Mabula said.
She said Zambia had a large number of women who for years had been running stunted business ventures because they lack the knowledge, exposure and assistance to enable them succeed.
Stanbic Bank Chief Executive Officer Charles Mudiwa said although women made up the larger percentage of the Zambian population, few made use of banking services.
Mr Mudiwa urged women across Zambia to take advantage of the offer for increased access to financial services to succeed in business.

UPND Lusaka province officials have notified the Zambia police that UPND President Hakainde Hichilema and his Vice Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba will on 2nd April, 2017 hold a public rally at Twashuka grounds in Kanyama.

According to a letter received by the Zambia police and made available to the Media, the UPND will talk more of issues affecting the nation.

And the UPND leaders will also thank the people for voting for them in the last elections.

Twashuka grounds has a capacity of over 10 thousands and the UPND says it has already marshals to maintain law and order.

The President is expected to check on developmental projects.

The Head of State will also check on over 100 Trucks that have been impounded at Nakonde border after being found with illegally harvested Mukula logs.

Muchinga Province Permanent Secretary Bright Nundwe has told ZNBC News in an interview that the President will visit Mpika, Chinsali, Isoka and Nakonde districts.

Mr. Nundwe says in all the districts, the President will check on various developmental projects such as the water reticulation systems, hospitals and will also take time to meet with civil servants and Party officials.

On Tuesday, the Head of State will meet with all Traditional leaders in Muchinga Province where he is expected to among other things dialogue with them on how best to police the illegal harvest of the Mukula tree.

Mr. Nundwe says the people of the Province are excited with the President’s visit as this is the first time this year he is touring Muchinga Province.

Vodafone Zambia’s Big 50 promotion, which lasted for a period of eight weeks , came to an end today (24th march) at an event held at Vodafone Zambia’s head office .

Vodafone’s BIG 50 promotion was aimed at giving back to their customers. All the customers needed to do to join the promotion was; buy Vodafone sim card, buy a monthly bundle. They then automatically stood a chance to win amazing weekly prizes or the grand prize of a KIA Picanto. Existing customers were not left out as they could participate in the promotion by buying any Vodafone monthly bundle.

Over a period of eight weeks, 145 Vodafone customers walked away with a total of 64 Samsung Smart TVs, 74 Huawei Routers, 30 Samsung S7 Smartphones, 30 Huawei T1 Tablets, 10 Intex Aqua 4G smartphones, 1440GB of data and one KIA Picanto; the total value came to ZMW1,097,939.

The grand draw took place on Tuesday 21^st March 2017 where Mr. Berhane Kibrom was selected as winner of the KIA Picanto. The draw was monitored and verified by auditors from Deloitte and Touche.

PICTURES FROM THE EVENT 

BY KAPA187

Alpha Romeo released the video for his song “No worries” that features Neo.

BY KAPA187

Law Association of Zambia President Linda Kasonde has defended the Association’s perceived strong anti-government stance saying the Association is not being controlled by anyone.

And Ms. Kasonde has wondered why Kasama Member of Parliament Kelvin Sampa, a non-lawyer is interested in the affairs of the association by even sponsoring a private member motion to Parliament to dissolve LAZ.

Speaking Thursday morning when she featured on Hot FM’s Hot Seat radio programme, Ms. Kasonde said she has no political ambitions adding that she does not even have any relationship with opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema.

“There is a very strong perception out there that LAZ is cartel and that LAZ is anti-government but that perception has been largely created by misinformation by putting bits of information together that is not entirely true,” she said.

Ms Kasonde said, “The other day, somebody told me I used to work for HH, it was shocking because I have never worked for H.H. I don’t have any relationship with HH whatsoever. Personally I don’t have any political agenda. My role as leader of the association is to follow the mandate under Section 4 to protect the rule of law, constitutionalism, social justice and good governance, that is all we are trying to do.”

She added, “I don’t have political ambitions. I just love my country as any good citizen should do.

Ms. Kasonde also revealed that LAZ will soon meet to consult its members over the move by Mr Sampa to take a Private Members Bill to Parliament aimed at dissolving LAZ.

“When I first saw it (Bill), i think my first reaction was to wonder as to what the interest of a non-Lawyer is in the affairs of the Law Association. Obviously, we are not perfect as an Association because nobody is but if there are any reforms to take place in the association, I believe those reforms should take place within the association and the association will be consulting its members over these issues in the coming weeks,” Ms. Kasonde said.

Asked on whether she feels some LAZ members including President Edgar Lungu are secretly sponsoring the Bill, Ms. Kasonde said she could not speculate.

“I can’t speculate on whether some LAZ members including President Lungu are supporting the bill but what I can say is that Lawyers are members of society and therefore hold divergent views.”

She continued, “As LAZ, we think that we are just doing our job, unfortunately that is not perceived as such. When Jesus was on earth, he had one mission and that was to save humanity from sin, a very simple and noble cause and he did so by telling the truth, unfortunately as a result he was insulted, forsaken and even killed for expressing those views. Unfortunately telling the truth in many societies is seen as a rebellious act, so unfortunately, we seem to have become a victim of that.”

Ms. Kasonde said LAZ is working according to the law as it understands it.

“There is old English saying that nobody kicks a dead dog, I think our leadership is very strong so strong that when we choose not to speak, people start weaving placards and chanting saying why aren’t you speaking, so strong that a non-lawyer has seen it fit to challenge the existence of the association, so I don’t think this is a sign of weak leadership, infact, it’s a sign of strength,” she said.

“We live in a democracy where there is freedom of association, freedom of conscience, freedom of expression, in a democracy, ideally, divergent views should be able to co-exist side by side, like someone put it, when a snake enters the hut, you don’t burn down the hut to get rid of the snake.”

She also stated that the decisions in the association are collectively made by the Council.

“I have in the Council since 2013 and even beyond that to my knowledge LAZ has always chosen when to comment, we comment on law and constitutional issues, good governance, rule of law issues, social justice issues and we do so as a Council, it’s not anyone one individual, we have 16 member Council made up of men and women and we sit and deliberate on these issues and we also consult members on these issues, it’s not fair to say that we are unnecessarily selective and in any case, if we choose to talk about every issue, we would be issuing statements every day because there are many issues that happen in society.”

She continued, “No one individual controls the association, the association is governed by a Council who are made of people with different opinions and beliefs.”