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FILE: AVIC The construction of the Mongu-Kalabo road has started by Chinese AVIC InternationalAVIC The construction of the Mongu-Kalabo road has started by Chinese AVIC InternationalAvic International, the contractor engaged by Government to build the Copperbelt International Airport has moved on site and is ready to start works.
Government will spend Five Hundred and Twenty Two Million US dollars on the project.
Copperbelt Permanent Secretary Elias Kamanga has further disclosed that over four hundred households will be relocated from the area where the new airport will be constructed.
Mr. Kamanga says the process of verifying details of the 496 households to be displaced before they can be compensated and relocated to pave way for the works has started.
He has told a media briefing in Ndola that in the next ten days, officers from Cabinet Office will start verifying details of the affected households to be displaced.
The Copperbelt Permanent Secretary said once the new airport is constructed, it will re-position the Copperbelt and the country as a hub for air traffic in the region.
He revealed that one million passengers will be passing through the airport on an annual basis.
Among the facilities to be constructed at the facility include an air traffic tower, a five star hotel, a cargo terminal, a passenger terminal, a fire station and run way.
We have reviewed the matter of The Post Newspaper (under liquidation) and we have come to a conclusion that the liquidation of The Post is fraudulent, unjust and tyrannical by the Patriotic Front (PF) government. This is not about the collection of Tax.
We, therefore, call upon the Chief Justice Ireen Mambilima and the Judicial Complaint Commission (JCC) to investigate the matter and ensure that the situation is corrected by giving back The Post to the rightful owners otherwise, this is a worst scandal since independence, where the government colludes with judicial officers to forcefully grab a company with over 2000 workers from citizens.
We have great respect for the one of the ladies, classified as an “Iron Lady”, for what she has done for this Country, in the past. Therefore, it would be sad to see her reputation soiled by some compromised judicial officers, especially her judges.
We would also like to remind the PF Government, under the leadership of President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, that Zambia is a democratic State which must be governed in accordance with the rule of law not the dictatorial tendencies being exhibited. Zambia belongs to Zambians and not the PF or President Lungu.
The case of The Post dates as far back as 2009 when the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) took the company to court for nonpayment of Taxes which amounted to K26 million. The case protracted up to the Supreme Court where it was disposed off on 13th June 2016 in favor of ZRA.
Besides, the case mentioned above, ZRA had initiated other investigations on The Post and fined the company K54 Million for some Tax irregularities.
Based on the two amounts, less what was paid by The Post, which stood at K68 Million, ZRA pounced on the company and shut its doors from all operations. The Post took the matter to Revenue Appeals Tribunal (RAT).
On 27th June 2016, RAT ruled that the two matters should be separated and The Post should pay the debt which was ruled upon by the Supreme Court and provide security for the K54 Million which was disputed pending an inter-parte hearing on 11th July 2016
RAT ordered ZRA to handover the properties to The Post so that it can resume its normal operation. However, ZRA could not obey the order and had Dr. Fred M’membe, his wife Mutinta Mazoka and Assistant Joseph Mwenda locked up at Central police for insisting that, ZRA should handover the properties of the company.
The Post later initiated contempt litigation against ZRA but this case could not see the light of day because, agents of the PF Govt engaged fraudulent scheme to take over The Post Newspaper once and for all.
The Govt agents coerced 5 workers of The Post to selfishly initiate “winding-up petition” (Liquidation) against the company. The 5 workers were selfish because they only looked at what was being offered to them forgetting other 2000 plus workers, who are now without jobs.
The 5 workers also filed an Exparte application to appoint the master minder of this scheme, Lewis Mosho of Messrs Lewis Nathan Advocates to be appointed provisional liquidator and the application was granted without hearing the other party.
The appointment of Lewis Mosho was the master stroke to grab The Post from Fred M’membe, as the major shareholder for his critical stance against the PF Govt. From there on, all efforts to challenge the liquidation have been blocked by a friendly Judge or other tyrannical methods which includes the arrest of The Post lawyer, Mr. Nchima Nchito, Mrs. Mutinta M. M’membe and Dr. M’membe himself.
From the above brief recount of events, it is clear that, the liquidation of The Post was not about Taxes but a well crafted fraud abetted by 5 workers from The Post. It is well crafted fraud because:
Who are the workers petitioning the court to liquidate The Post?
(i) ANDREW HERBERT CHIWENDA worked for The Post worked for the company for 12 years and he is claiming K720,000 after voluntary resignation.
The figure Andrew is claiming is totally fraud, because how did the company owe him K720, 000 within 12 years when he had even resigned on his own. Besides that, he was sent to UK for studies on company expense and he was supposed to pay back by working for The Post.
Andrew has since been paid his dues by being employed at one of the quasi Govt road and traffic agency.
(ii) ROY HABALU is claiming K20, 000 in an unclear circumstances but he is also enjoying the benefits by being employed at the same road and traffic agency.
(iii) BONAVENTURE BWALYA and MWENDALUBI MWEENE are both claiming for K30, 000 each, without explanation.
(iv) ABEL MBOOZI is claiming K15, 000.
The claims by these 5 workers have not been challenged by The Post because all efforts have been thwarted either by the Judge or by the State agents.
Who is the Judge in this case?
The judge, who has been passing very questionable rulings and orders, is Judge SUNDAY BWALYA NKONDE.
Before Judge Nkonde was appointed Judge by President Edgar Lungu, he used to be Former President Rupiah Banda’s lawyer in a case where RB took Fred M’membe to Court. One would wonder if Judge Nkonde’s appointment was as the result of his connection to RB since many other contacts of the former President have found favor in the eyes of President Lungu in one way or the other.
But more importantly to this case, Justice Nkonde working with RB tried to fabricate a case against The Post on behalf of Finance Bank just before the 2011 general election. The move was to try and cripple The Post so that, the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) can reduce on the damage The Post was inflicting on them during the campaigns.
Unfortunately, this case could not go anyway, since the PF came into power and that is how RB failed to close downThe Post leaving the job to President Edgar Lungu working with Lewis Mosho.
Who is Lewis Mosho?
Lewis Mosho was ferociously exposed by The Post in the case involving Shoprite were it was alleged that he took advantage of almost K50 Million proceeds from the sale of shares. Mosho was acquitted last year in July at the height of The Post case.
One would think that, Mosho was cleared of his cases so that he can come in and take care of The Post in the manner that he is doing currently.
Mosho was also exposed by The Post in a case involving a South African-based renewable energy company called STAG. It was alleged that Mosho wanted to be ZESCO Board Chairman to influence the Zambian government to awards a Power Purchase contract to STAG. The Post reported that Mosho was supposed to pocket US$17 million if the deal went through. Unfortunately, the exposure of The Post seemed to have spoiled deal for Mosho.
The facts surrounding this case, pose as a judicial scandal because:
(a) Why hasn’t the Chief Justice and JCC responded to the complaints of The Post in relation to Justice Nkonde? How can a judge who once fabricated a case against The Post be the judge in the disputes involving it’s workers?
(b) Why did Justice Nkonde order for the liquidation of The Post without hearing The Post was to whether the claim by the 5 workers was substantive or not?
(c) It is by law that, before Liquidation, a demand letter has to be written to the debtor but no letter was written toThe Post, so how could the Judge go on to order liquidation?
(d) Why has the court and the State agents frustrated all the efforts by the respondents to challenge the petition and orders, to an extent of arresting lawyers of The Post?
While we condemn some of the publications of The Post which at time borders on slander and malice to propel a desired agenda, we do not subscribe to tyrannical behavior to trample on media freedoms or indeed any human rights as being exhibited by the PF Govt under President Edgar Lungu.
Our party seeks to promote all the rights and freedoms of people including the media and other institutions. EEP pledges a credible Govt that, will restore human dignity.
Opposition APC President Nason MsoniAll Peoples Party President Nason Msoni has described as shameful the PF leaders fighting for government tenders.
He said it is absolutely shameful and criminal and that it sharply brings into focus the inherent capacity of the head of state to effectively supervise his minister.
Mr Msoni said it is outright corruption and criminal the behavior for leaders in Government and indeed those occupying top party positions to tender for government tenders by themselves or their agents.
He said the behavior by the PF leaders was tantamount to inside trading thereby disadvantaging genuine businessmen.
He noted that the shoddy works manifesting everywhere in the country speaks to these criminal acts due to employing substandard methods and materials at great expense to taxpayers.
He said the revelations by Presidential affairs Minister that his counterpart Chishimba kambwili was threatening to sort him out because of a misunderstanding related to government contracts was serious indictment and moral failing on the leadership of country.
“When the independent newspaper exposes these criminal acts you resort to name calling and accusing them of denting the image of the country when it’s you yourselves who are thieves and are extremely dirty.
“Take time and visit the UTH ( University Teaching Hospital) a hospital serving the majority of our people and see for yourselves what is obtaining.
“The infrastructure is in such a dire state. The dilapidated infrastructure is almost falling apart coupled with the chronic and perennial shortage of drugs.it is striking at best criminal behavior for leaders to spend money in the manner they’re doing. The crisis at this hospital should make any sensible leader to cringe with shame,” he said.
He further said it was only a shameless and spineless leadership that can continue to abuse state resources on fruitless and useless international travels leaving behind a trail of misery and suffering among citizens.
He also described the PF as opportunistic pretenders who lack ideas on how to run the country.
“Certainly the country is in a serious deficit of qualitative ideologically informed leaders needed to provide leadership. What we have are a mere bunch of opportunist, pretenders and sangwapos lacking any grounding in leadership,” he said.
NATIONAL Planning Minister, Lacky Mulusa (left), Commerce Minister, Margaret Mwanakatwe ( second left), Foreign Affairs Minister, Harry Kalaba ( second right) and other dignitaries, go for a Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Council of Ministers held at Swazi Royal Hotel in Swaziland’s Ezulwini Town on Wednesday. PICTURE BY STEPHEN MUKOBEKO/ZANIS
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Council of Ministers meeting has kicked off in Swaziland ahead of the Extraordinary summit of the Heads of State and Government scheduled to take place on Saturday 18 March 2017.
SADC Executive Secretary Her Excellency, Stergomena Lawrence Tax officially opened the Council of Ministers meeting in Ezulwini, Swaziland today.
Dr. Tax highlighted the SADC secretariat’s commitment to the operationalization of the August 2016 ordinary summit resolutions held under the theme “The SADC we want.”
She disclosed that the SADC secretariat has since mobilized funding to support a high-level ministerial workshop and a regional investors’ conference on regional energy projects, to be officially launched by His Majesty King Mswati III, in his capacity as SADC Chairperson.
Dr. Tax observed that the ministerial workshop will showcase investment opportunities and help leverage additional resources for investment in uptake of cleaner, alternative sources of energy to improve the livelihoods of SADC citizens.
Meanwhile Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Swaziland, His Excellency, Paul Dlamini, called on the council of ministers to remain focused on the idea of the SADC industrialization strategy and give it the required prominence and momentum.
The SADC Council of ministers is expected to present its deliberations to the Summit of the Heads of State which will take place at Mandvulo Grandhall at Lozitha this weekend.
Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba, Commerce Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe and Minister of National Planning Lucky Mulusa are attending the SADC council of ministers conference.
FOREIGN Affairs Minister, Harry Kalaba, speaking during an interview with Journalists after the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Council of Ministers held at Swazi Royal Hotel in Swaziland’s Ezulwini Town on Wednesday. PICTURE BY STEPHEN MUKOBEKO/ZANISFOREIGN Affairs Minister, Harry Kalaba ( In red tie), with other dignitaries, come out of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Council of Ministers held at Royal Swazi Hotel in Swaziland on Wednesday. PICTURE BY STEOPHEN MUKOBEKO/ZANISFOREIGN Affairs Minister, Harry Kalaba ( In red tie), with other dignitaries, come out of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Council of Ministers held at Royal Swazi Hotel in Swaziland on Wednesday. PICTURE BY STEOPHEN MUKOBEKO/ZANIS
Minister of Agriculture Dora Siliya says government is committed to assist young people to be self- employed through agribusiness.
Ms. Siliya said young people should consider agricultural activities as a priority.
She noted that young people have the potential to contribute to national development by taking up agriculture seriously.
She said her ministry is working to ensuring that vulnerable people have enough food on the table.
She said this when a team from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), led by the Country Director Abla Benhammouche visited her office in Lusaka today.
Meanwhile, Ms. Benhammouche has disclosed that her organization is committed to supporting the commercialization of smallholder farmers in the country in a bid to fight poverty.
Ms. Benhammouche said IFAD is helping farmers in rural areas to find market for their products by creating links between small-holder farmers and market intermediaries.
She said IFAD is also engaging the different abled people in Zambia by providing them with opportunities to be part of the economic development.
HH and GBM after leaving the Magistrate Court in Lusaka
The Lusaka High Court this morning adjourned the hearing of the preliminary issue in the case in which UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema and his Vice President Geoffrey Mwamba have petitioned the Court seeking an Order directing the Constitutional Court to hear the presidential petition.
The two opposition leaders are also seeking an order that the petition be heard independently, fairly and within a reasonable time among other substantive reliefs.
And Mr Hichilema and Mr Mwamba today filed a motion before Judge Chitabo, through their lawyer alleging that Judge Chitabo is biased and must recuse himself from hearing the petition.
But Judge Chitabo said he only saw the motion which was filed yesterday for him to recuse himself from determining the petition today and thus adjourned the matter to tomorrow, Thursday 16 March 2017.
If Judge Chitabo refuses himself from hearing the preliminary issue, the matter will be allocated to a new Judge.
Among other things both Mr. Hichilema and Mr Mwamba are seeking is an order that the manner in which the Constitutional Court construed the 14 days in Article 101 and 103 was ultra vires Article 18(9) of the Constitution.
Chibamba Kanyama
An expert in governance says Zambia has made strides in organized cooperate governance.
Former International Monitory Fund (IMF) Communication Advisor Chibamba Kanyama has observed that the future seem to be bright in cooperate governance in the country with the establishment of Industrial Development Cooperation (IDC) to regulate government run institutions.
Mr. Kanyama pointed out that poor cooperate governance, uncertainty in tenure of office by institutions’ Chief Executives and lack of ethical leadership in the past led to the collapse of several institutions in the country.
Mr. Kanyama who is also former Zambia National Broadcasting Cooperation (ZNBC) Director General said this on the sidelines of the inaugural conference on good governance in Lusaka yesterday.
He stated that there is need to apply good governance for the success
of every organization.
He pointed out that days are gone when Board Members just waited for allowances at the expense of making critical decisions that could drive the agenda of an organization.
And the Institute of Directors President Esther Munalula said good governance is a cornerstone upon which trust can be built.
Professor Munalula further said good governance is a vital ingredient for attracting and retaining customers, suppliers, employees, shareholders and other stakeholders.
The conference was organized by the Good Governance Institute in
Association with the Institute of Directors.
Police in Kafue District in Lusaka province have recovered stolen house hold goods and a police uniform in the area.
Kafue Acting District Commissioner (DC) , Joseph Kamana confirmed in an interview today that the recovered goods likely stolen from Kafue town and Shikoswe compound respectively were recovered during an operation , today.
Mr . Kamana said in the operation two suspects were arrested while two others are on the run.
The Acting DC said three of the suspects arrested are ex-convicts adding that a manhunt for the fugitives has since been launched.
Among the recovered goods included laptops, mattresses ,Television decoder, hair driers among others.
In addition the Acting DC said the police has since launched a manhunt for the other two suspected criminals still on the run.
He has appealed to Kafue residents to report any suspicious characters to the police to help reduce crime in the area.
Mr Kaman also said his office will support the formation of neighborhood watch associations to help curb the rising crime in the district.
Meanwhile, the Acting DC has appealed to the police command to allocate more vehicles to the district to enable the officers effectively patrol the area.
First Lady Esther Lungu says ending poverty in Zambia and other developing countries will depend on the attention given to rural women.
Mrs. Lungu said rural women are the primary agents of change in the fight against hunger and poverty in their communities.
She noted that empowering rural women would lead to agricultural growth and poverty eradication.
Mrs. Lungu was the keynote speaker at a side-event co-organised by FAO, IFAD, WFP, UN Women, the EU and the Permanent Mission of Slovak to the UN under the theme: “Step It Up Together with Rural Women to End Hunger and Poverty.”
She said this on Monday the first-day of the 61stSession of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW61), an annual meeting focusing on women and girl’s welfare worldwide.
This is according to a statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today by First Secretary for Press and Public Relations at the Permanent Mission of Zambia at the United Nations, Chibaula Silwamba.
Mrs. Lungu said in the developing world, rural agriculture is the sustenance of the majority of people, in particular women.
“We all agree that extreme poverty manifests mostly in rural areas of developing countries where statistics indicate that on average, women comprise 43 per cent of the agricultural labour force and contribute 70 percent of labour,” Mrs. Lungu said.
She adds, “In Zambia, we are stepping up, but of course more needs to be done. The President of Zambia His Excellency Mr. Edgar Lungu has directed that the policy on allocating 50 per cent of state land to women must be enforced without fail.”
She said traditional leaders were required to provide a minimum of 100 hectares of land to women cooperatives.
The First Lady said Zambia had a provision for individual women to be allocated land in line with the mechanisation programme for rural women in agriculture.
She said last year the Ministry of Gender distributed 51 tractors and 94 tillers to 100 chiefdoms out of the earmarked 288.
“As First Lady, advocacy continues to be top on my agenda and is focusing on tackling social-cultural norms, attitudes and behaviours that need elimination or adjustment,” Mrs. Lungu said.
She explained that she has engaged the spouses of traditional leaders to be the transformational champions in addressing deep rooted cultural gender inequalities in rural areas.”
Owing to climate change, Mrs Lungu expressed concern that effects such as drought and flooding lead to many women losing their crops.
Mrs. Lungu said this forces women to seek employment from emergent and large scale farmers where they face risks that come with lifting heavy loads, harsh weather conditions and exposure to chemicals among others.
She said rural women work long hours earning low, unstable incomes let alone being least appreciated.
The Commission on the Status of Women opened on Monday at United Nations Headquarters in New York and will run up to 24 March 2017.
Zambia has won international respect for its advocacy and implementation of policies and programmes that protect and promote the wellbeing of women and girls.
Manyinga District including three other districts in Northwestern province are threatened to be cut off from the rest of the country after the main Manyinga bridge has developed as major crack.
If the bridge collapses , Kabompo, Zambezi and Chavuma Districts too, will be cut off from the rest of the country.
The Councilor for Manyinga,Greg Kapenda said the bridge has developed serious cracks caused by continuous rainfall whichand it may collapse, anytime.
ZANIS reports that Mr. Kapenda said in an interview, today, that the state of the bridge is becoming a danger to unsuspecting motorists and pedestrians, alike.
Mr. Kapenda said he has since informed the Local Authority and the District Administration.
And Manyinga District Commissioner (DC) Queen Manela has disclosed that her Office has already written to the Provincial Road Development Agency RDA Office in Solwezi concerning the damages to the Bridge.
The DC, however disclosed that RDA Engineers have since mobilized equipment and are set to commence rehabilitation works soon.
Zambia have been drawn against two-time World champions Portugal at the 2017 FIFA U20 World Cup in South Korea.
Asian representatives Iran and Central American side Costa Rica complete Group C who will be based in Jeju for the tournament that Korea will host from May 20 to June 11.
Zambia will face Portugal in both sides opening Group C match on May 21.
Portugal are the tournament’s second most successful team after fellow 2017 finalists Argentina who have six titles.
Beston Chambeshi’s side will clash with Iran in their penultimate group game on May 24.
Zambia will close their preliminary stage fixture against Costa Rica at Cheonan on May 27.
This will be Zambia’s debut meeting against any of its Group C opponents in Young Chipolopolo’s third U20 World Cup appearance.
Zambia exited at the group stage of the 1999 tournament in Nigeria and reached the last 16 in 2007 in Canada.
Meanwhile, the top two finishers from Group C will qualify to the last 16 that will kickoff on May 30 where they are also fourth berths for the best third sides in the 24-team tournament.
Qbick and Lawdak of NXT solutions are among the top music video directors in the country. They have worked with artistes such as Slap Dee , Chef 187 , Mampi , Jay Rox and many more . We caught up with them for an interview .
KAPA187: Tell us about yourselves , who is Qbick and who is Lawdak.
NXT Solutions : ZEPHANIA MAWELE AKA Qbick is a very passionate, self driven, spontaneous and fun loving guy.
LAWDAK is Lawrence Daka, just that guy, quite creative and very imaginative.
KAPA187:What made you to decide to get together and form NXT solutions.
NXT Solutions : Always wanted be a part of shaping up the Zambian music video industry, and looked at the industry being a growing industry we decided to pick up our piece of this big cake and contribute however best we can and be part of the shapers. What made it so easy to work together was because we both share the same industry interests.
KAPA187:what initial challenges did you face ,how did you over come them?
NXT Solutions :Some of the initial challenges came in the form of starting a company on zero capital. Also, how to market a newly established company in order to grow a clientele especially creating ties with established artists.
To overcome these challenges we came up with marketing schemes that saw us offer free videos to a selected few to highlight our capabilities and in turn we created a company portfolio which we could base our future business transactions.
KAPA187:Who are some of the music video directors that inspire you , locally and internationally .
NXT Solutions : Locally its always been Kenny Roc and Kayambila of GroundXero, Brian Kabwe of Big Deal Graphics and Cirex of Red Dot
Internationally Collin Tiley, Hype Williams, Director X.
(Left to right) Lawdak , Macky2 , Mainza
KAPA187: Walk us through the process of making a music video.
NXT Solutions : We first sit down listen to the song, have the artist share their ideas they had for their video then we also share ours and if both parties are in agreement with what’s been discussed, we script down the final script, lock down locations, set a date, shoot, edit, color correct, color grade, review the draft with client,make changes were necessary and deliver final product.
Lawdak
KAPA187:Having worked with many of the top artistes in Zambia , is there anyone that you haven’t yet worked with that you would love to ?
NXT Solutions : Zambian music industry has really grown through the years, we have been privileged to work with a good number of artists and of course there more we hope to work with.
KAPA187:How involved are artistes in the production of their videos , do they give you freedom to create ?
NXT Solutions : Artist are at liberty to contribute at any stage in the creative process.
KAPA187:Some of my favourite videos that you have worked on include “Unbeatable” by Chef 187 , “One and Only” by Jay Rox. Do you each have a favourite video ?
NXT Solutions :T Sean – Umoyo, Try again, Jay Rox – Not for sello, Cake, Glory, Bombshell – Filya, M7 – Frustrations, Chef 187– Unbeatable, T Boy – I miss you, Slap Dee – Someone, Mampi – Roller Coaster, Avril – Yule dem, Wezi and Mumba Yachi – Umung’o
“Yule Dame” by Kenyan artist Avril
KAPA187:Which has been the most challenging video you have worked on?
NXT Solutions :Bombshell ft Jay Rox The Burg, Wezi and Mumba Yachi – Umung’o
KAPA187:In the recent past artiste have invested a lot into producing high quality music videos that are now seen on international channels such as MTV Base and Trace Africa . Do you feel like we have reached a level where Zambian music videos can compete with the likes of those from Nigeria , South Africa etc.
NXT Solutions : Zambian video industry is still young and growing in the right direction and slowly getting there on the competing levels but thus far gone we feel there’s abit more we need to learn for now.
Qbick
KAPA187:Have you had the chance to work with artistes outside Zambia ?
NXT Solutions :Yes we have worked with the likes of King Kaka, Avril, Timmy T’dat, Femi One
KAPA187:Besides your work with NXT Solutions what else are you involved in ?
NXT Solutions : We are constantly affiliated with other media houses to help produce content, like Fever season 1, Glory TV Show, Nkani yamu sisi TV show, adverts Etc
(left to right)Lawdak , Actress Grace Ramsey , Qbick
KAPA187:Do you have any advice for other upcoming young entrepreneurs.
NXT Solutions : Never let your current situation define who you are or what your life should be. Trust in God and never get too comfortable no matter the level of success you attain in life. “Lesa talekelesha bake”
(left to right) T Bwoy . T sean , Qbick , Lawdak
Here is a selection of music videos done by Qbick and Lawdak
Ndola Mayor, His Worship, Amon Chisenga visits Zambian Breweries community projects in Ndola
Copperbelt Minister Hon. Bowman Lusambo has called on companies to follow Zambian Breweries’ example and invest in infrastructure, equipment, people and the community in order to generate sustainable economic growth for the country.
The call was made in a speech read on his behalf by the Executive Mayor of Ndola City Council, His Worship Amon Chisenga, during a tour of the Zambian Breweries plant in Ndola on Saturday, (March 11) in which he commended the company for creating wealth and employment for the people of Zambia.
“Zambian Breweries represents what we would term as a model for the private-public-partnership in Zambia. Not only does it source all its products from local suppliers, but it employs and trains local people, invests in the world-class equipment and provides business opportunities for small-scale retailers, farmers and the company goes a step further,” said the minister in his speech.
“I am also aware that the company is conscious of the need to be a good corporate citizen through its support for entrepreneurs, youth empowerment, sport, music and culture, and has been a long-running ally of local authorities and the national government. Add to that fact Zambian Breweries is one of our nation’s largest corporate taxpayers,” he said.
“What i have seen reinforces the belief of my government that Zambian Breweries is a national icon that we should treasure and support. My wish – and that of my government – is that more corporates should emulate the example set by Zambian Breweries.”
The Copperbelt Province Minister, Hon Bowman Lusambo toured the facility In December last year together with the Hon. Felix Mutati to inspect a new high-tech process that increases the amount of cassava in the company’s affordable Eagle Lager.
Zambian Breweries last year invested in technology and research to come up with the new production method for Eagle Lager known as Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation (SSF). The introduction of the new technology was designed to improve the efficiency of production of the beer brand and incomes for small-scale farmers in Luapula who supply cassava for the process.
Zambian Breweries corporate affairs director Ezekiel Sekele said the company would keep investing in technology and ensuring that the company’s products were produced with the best equipment.
He reiterated that the company was not only interested in profits but also uplifting the lives of the people in areas in which it operates.
“Our dream is to bring people together for a better country. We are committed to improving people’s lives in different ways, apart from creating direct employment, we also have the youth empowerment programme. Under this programme so many youths have benefited. Here in Ndola, we recently empowered the Mapalo youths by committing funds towards the procurement of the tools that will enable the Youths to start small business ventures,” said Mr Sekele.
The Ndola Mayor, His Worship, Amon Chisenga, was accompanied by a delegation of councillors, and had the opportunity to formally present the empowerment tools to the youths. Last year, in Lusaka, a total of 21 small-scale entrepreneurs were assisted by the company to kick start their small scale businesses in solid waste management, women cooperative and small-scale retailing.
The Lusaka Global shapers Hub in partnership with Selfless4Africa Inc. have launched the Emerging Leaders Program Award. The students community service award scheme that was established in 2014 by Selfless4Africa with focus on human and leadership development of young people and exposing them to community service initiatives which will in turn have a positive economic impact within their communities.
The Award seeks proposals from College and University students identifying a community project that can be implemented to benefit and empower the people in that community.
The Emerging Leaders Award will see the winning team receive a package of K33, 000. (K25, 000 will be channeled towards implementing the community service project and K8, 000 to be shared among the participants of the winning team).
The participating Students from tertiary institutions are required to form a team of 3 to 5 students, must have a name and slogan for their project. The teams are expected to identify a deprived community in Zambia, identify a project that can be implemented to benefit the community at large, and present a proposal focused on developing that community.
The purpose of the award is to encourage young people to cultivate the spirit of volunteerism, community service, and patriotism as well as encourage young people to become change agents within their communities.
