Afunika released the music video for his song “Amina”
BY KAPA187
NUMSA’s attacks on Zambia are absurd-Emmanuel Mwamba
Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa Emmanuel Mwamba has written to the National Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) to respond to the union’s regular media attacks of the Zambian government over media freedoms in Zambia.
NUMSA through its General Secretary Mr. Irvin Jim has issued a series of statements attacking the Zambian government over what it says is the shrinking democratic space in Zambia.
But Mr Mwamba said it is absurd to read NUMSA’s statements threatening a boycott of Zambian goods and threatening to stage picketing at the Zambian High Commission in Pretoria.
He said NUMSA’s pledge to raise a campaign against trade between Zambia and South Africa because of the closure of the Post Newspaper that has wilfully failed to pay tax its obligations or broken the country’s laws is also absurd.
Below is Mr Mwamba’s protest letter to NUMSA
Tuesday, 7th March 2017
Mr. Irvin Jim,
General Secretary
National Metalworkers of South Africa(NUMSA)
NUMSA Head Office
NEWTOWN
Johannesburg
PRESS STATEMENT ON THE POST & THE MAST
We have noted with increasing alarm at your press statements issued exclusively to the Zambian media related to The Post Newspaper & The Mast, both newspaper publications in Zambia.
Although these statements do not appear on your official communications such as your website and other outlets, and might not support the official position of NUMSA, we are however compelled to respond because they purport to represent a view of the Union and because of the extent of your misdirection on the matters.
We have taken it upon ourselves to brief you.
The Post Newspapers
This publication was founded as an independent weekly newspaper in 1990 by Michael Hall, John Mukela and Masautso Phiri. Mr. Fred Mmembe joined as accountant and was later rose as Editor and was reported as one of the shareholders.
The publication later became a daily and also published a sister paper, The Sunday Post.
In 2009, the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) issued a distress warrant to recover K53billion($5million) in tax arreas, obligation and penalties.
The paper disputed the debt and took the matter to the Courts of Law. The matter went up-to the Supreme Court.
In June 2016, almost seven years after the matter commenced, the Supreme Court of Zambia ruled in favour of the Zambia Revenue Authority(ZRA) and directed that the taxes owed be recovered for the benefit of the country and the assessment was accurate and it was incumbent upon ZRA to recover the debt as the process was done within the sanctity of the law.
The debt was now standing at K68m($6.1m).
The ZRA began a process to recover and recoup the taxes owed.
The Post was then closed to allow ZRA assess and audit properties and assets of the newspaper company, and its subsidiaries at Bwinjimfumu Road and light Industrial premises.
On 2nd November 2016, the newspaper was later placed under liquidation and the Lusaka High Court appointed a Provisional Liquidator, Messrs Lewis, Nathan & Company and Mr. Lewis Chisanga Mosho to recover monies owed and take into account financial interests of other creditors and debtors.
The debt to workers, commercial banks, statutory bodies and suppliers had now risen to over $21 million.
THE MAST
Shortly after The Post was closed, the spouse to Mr. Fred Mmembe, Mrs. Mutinta Bumba Mazoka Mmeembe and Mr. Frank Nchimunya Sibbuku opened The Mast under a company called, Oracle Media.
The Mast quickly found itself in conflict with the law suffering from strong allegations of infringing with the copyrights of The Post Newspapers in Liquidation. Oracle Media and The Mast were also being investigated for harbouring assets of The Post.
ZAMBIA GUARANTEES FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND MEDIA FREEDOM
It is important to state that Zambia enjoys wide democratic media space and has numerous independent and private newspaper publications such as the Daily Nation, The Voice, New Vision and others.
The country also has over 10 private television stations and over 80 commercial and community radio stations.
It also has numerous independent blogs and online newspapers on social media.
Further Zambia has guaranteed media freedoms, and freedom of expression enshrined in the Constitution.
The Rule of Law is so well developed and the Zambia Revenue Authority(ZRA) allowed The Post to exhaust all legal avenues available to it before the law as this matter began in 2009.
Further the colossal amount due to ZRA and other entities now exceeding $21 million far outstrips the assets of The Post and this position reflects a clear case of poor management, failure of using best business practice and mal-administration of the newspaper, than a case of media oppression or suppression.
From the above stated facts, it is clear that the troubles that The Post and The Mast find themselves in cannot be a result of government interference or harassment and cannot therefore attract a justifiable media campaign against President Edgar Lungu or his government.
It is therefore absurd to read your statements threatening a boycott of Zambian goods, threatening to stage picketing at the Zambian High Commission in Pretoria and pledging to raise a campaign against trade between Zambia and South Africa because of a company that has wilfully failed to pay tax its obligations or broken the country’s laws.
Historical, Political, Social, Cultural, Economic Relations between South Africa.
Zambia is one of South Africa’s biggest regional trading partners with an average annual volume of business amounting to $3.8 billion.
There are over 100 South African active companies based in Zambia, participating in all sectors of our economy.
South African Airways (SAA) undertakes over 35 flights a week between Zambia and South Africa.
This is before we count other carriers such as Proflight, Air Rwanda, Namibian Airways and private charter.
This also excludes the daily bus services between the two countries.
And in recent history, it’s important to remember that Zambia hosted the people of South Africa during the liberation struggle to free South Africa from its apartheid shackles of South Africa.
The African National Congress (ANC) had its headquarters in Lusaka and President Oliver Reginald Tambo was based in Lusaka.
Zambia has since declared Oliver Tambo’s former house as a national monument.
Further Zambia suffered collateral damage in lives and properties during the regular raids conducted by the apartheid South African Defense Forces then.
By the few facts stated above it is clear that the two states and its people enjoy warm and cordial relations born out of blood, sweat and love and that bond cannot be broken by support for a company closed due to its tax default or by careless and inflammatory media statements such as those attributed to you recently.
As a workers’ union, we expect to you to stand in solidarity with any government or agencies keen to collect due taxes and revenue to help foster national development, a government keen to uplift the welfare of workers and determined to combat poverty that afflict the majority of our people.
It is in this spirit that we invite you for a meeting to help resolve some of your perceived concerns regarding The Post Newspapers (now in liquidation) or your concerns regarding media freedoms in Zambia.
Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba
Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa.
With Extra Accreditation to Lesotho and Madagascar.
Pretoria.
Musanda Falls Hydro Power Upgrade almost complete
Musonda Hydro power station.
ZESCO Limited says works to upgrade the Musonda hydro power station in Luapula province have advanced with 85 percent work done.
Speaking in an interview with ZNBC news from Musonda falls in Mwense Luapula province, ZESCO Spokesperson Henry Kapata said much of the 15 percent left is to do with the new substation being constructed.
Mr. Kapata says the 45 million U.S dollar project is expected to be completed on November 11, 2017.
Currently the Musonda falls generates 5 mega watts of power and will be producing 10 mega watts once upgraded.
The power demand for Luapula Province stands at 15 mega watts.
Mr. Kapata said the power station has brand new turbines which have since been installed
The ZESCO spokesperson further says Luapula province will also benefit from the construction of the 1200 mega watts power plant on the Luapula River to be done by Zambia and Congo D.R. with five possible cites already identified.
He said ZESCO will in the near future construct a 330 KV transmission line from Pensulo in Serenje to Mansa
Human Rights Body comments Bowman Lusambo for enganging businesses Human Rights
THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION WELCOMES THE DECISION BY COPPERBELT MINISTER, MR. BOWMAN LUSAMBO, TO ENGAGE INVESTORS ON MATTERS OF BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS
The Human Rights Commission wishes to commend Copperbelt Province Minister, Mr. Bowman Lusambo, for engaging Business Enterprises on their responsibility to incorporate and respect human rights in their core operations.
The Minister’s position is in line with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights which all UN member states are expected to implement in order to minimise the environmental and human rights impacts caused by business enterprises. The UN Guiding Principles place obligations on the Government to protect against human rights abuses, including businesses, through effective policies, legislation, regulations and adjudication. They also place a responsibility on Business Enterprises to respect human rights, by avoiding infringing on the rights of individuals, communities and workers and also to address negative impacts caused by their operations.
The Human Rights Commission in conjunction with the Government has conducted a National Baseline Assessment on Business and Human Rights in Zambia and the findings have exposed glaring gaps in both enforcing and implementing the UN Guiding Principles. It is therefore desirable that for all stakeholders to closely work with the Government to come up a National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights to provide a comprehensive and predictable guidance on protecting human rights by all business enterprises operating in Zambia regardless of their size, sector, location, ownership and structure.
The National Action Plan will also provide an opportunity for both the Government and Business Enterprises to effectively discharge their obligations under international human rights law under Business and Human Rights.
Though the Minister’s pronouncements and actions are the expected standard conduct of Government under UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, he deserves commendation because it is rare to hear public officials demanding respect for human rights from business enterprises. Most leaders have been focussing on encouraging investors and highlighting the expected benefits through promised financial investment and employment creation at the expense of considering the negative environmental and human rights impacts caused by business enterprises on individuals, communities and workers.
The Government is encouraged to come up with appropriate laws, policies and procedures and effectively enforce them in order to promote strict adherence to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in Zambia. It is also recommended that, as Business Corporations negotiate for investment incentives, the Government should also ensure that respect for protecting the environment and human rights becomes an integral part of the development and investment agreements.
It must be appreciated that by dealing with perennial complaints of environmental degradation and poor conditions of services caused and practised by business enterprises, the government is dealing with the symptoms of an underlying problem, which is lack of protection and respect for human rights of individuals, local communities and workers by both the Government and respective business enterprises.
The demand by Mr. Lusambo to Business Corporation to ensure that the affected communities participate in decision making on matters affecting them is commendable because it is also in line with a human rights-based approach to sustainable development.
[The Human Rights Commission is a National Human Rights Institution established under Article 230 of the Zambian Constitution (Amendment) Act No. 2 of 2016 with an overall mandate and obligation of ensuring that the Bill of Rights is upheld and promoted]
Mweelwa Muleya
Spokesperson
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
Poverty can be fought through hard work by every individual-Wina
Ms Wina said if people continue to put efforts together nothing was always impossible in the fight against poverty at all levels.
The Vice President said in a speech read on her behalf by Eastern Province acting Permanent Secretary Patrick Mwanawasa during Daughters of Mary Immaculate (DMI) Women’s World celebration held at David Kaunda stadium in Chipata yesterday.
“Let us always remember that poverty can be fought through hard work by every individual and in this case we are talking about you the womenfolk to continue to encourage each other and working together and promote unity through the implementation of activities that have an economic impact on the lives of the people,” she said. She said the Government’s concerted fight against poverty was an on-going process.
Ms Wina commended DMI and its collaborators for creating hope for the people of Eastern Province more especially among women. She said the Government and the Church shall continue working in partnership for the betterment of the humanity.
The Vice President said the activities of the Catholic Church have always embarked on of organising women through DMI which demonstrates how much they care about humanity in the Country.
“May I also state that as Government we take joy and always appreciate the good relationship that has continued under the leadership of His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu and the Catholic Church in Zambia,” she said.
Ms Wina said it was good that DMI have come up with a number of development programmes for women such as formation of self-help groups and federation, women leadership, capacity building, community health, economic empowerment, micro credit programme for women, adult literacy and alternative livelihood programme.
She said it was also good that DMI has gone further by growing up with development programmes for children such as value education for school education, children parliament, rural study centre, educational assistance for poor children and sponsorship and scholarships for children’s education.
Ms Wina said it was gratifying that the women were able to sustain themselves economically.
She said the Government had always encouraged women in Zambia to venture more into the small and medium enterprises as one way of alleviating poverty and contributing to economic development of the Country.
She said women have a key role to play in reducing poverty in the Country and setting up enterprises was the first step towards prosperity as opposed to depending on handouts.
Speaking earlier DMI Eastern Province Programme Coordinator Sister Fatima Jacintha Rani said through micro credit, poverty levels have reduced hence women were able to send their children to school and eat three balanced diet foods per day.
Electrification of Rural Schools key to implementation of the ICT curriculum-Yaluma
Malole area Member of Parliament Christopher Yaluma says electrification of schools in rural areas is key to effective implementation of the education curriculum on Information Technology and Communication.
Speaking when he visited some schools in his constituency, Mr Yaluma said there is urgent need to ensure learning institutions have electricity if pupils are to sufficiently learn ICT subjects.
Mr Yaluma, who is also Minister of Mines, said some nearby schools would be considered for connection to the national grid while others in far-flung areas would get solar power.
He added that he would engage relevant stakeholders in an effort to ensure that learning facilities have the essential requirements for ICT learners.
Meanwhile, Mr Yaluma has revealed that he has sourced about 100 computers which he will be distributing to schools in his constituency.
He has since pledged to continue working hard to improve schools in the area.
Zambia is promoting lasting peace between warring nations-Kalaba
Minister of Foreign Affairs Harry Kalaba said Zambia has taken a neutral position and wants to promote peace between countries that have differences.
He was responding to a question by Sesheke member of Parliament Frank Kufakwandi (UPND) who wanted to know how Zambia would relate with Palestine now that it has deepened its relations with Israel.
This was after Mr Kalaba gave a ministerial statement on President Lungu’s international trips and their benefits to Zambia and the world as a whole.
“We want to bridge the political divide between Israel and Palestine. We will find common ground because we want these two nations to be at peace with each other,” Mr Kalaba said.
Mr Kalaba said the world has become competitive and that there was need for Zambia to invest in international relations to reap benefits.
He said Zambia is, however, treading carefully pushing its own agenda on the international scene.
“Zambia is in the international arena for its own interests. We will ensure that we safeguard our interests as a nation as we forge these relations,” Mr Kalaba said.
He said President Lungu’s international trips have attracted huge investments in trade and development cooperation which will culminate into the creation of jobs for Zambians and improve their lives.
“Zambia will therefore continue to reach out to the international community in order to realise maximum benefits for the country towards sustainable development,” Mr Kalaba said.
President Lungu visited Israel from February 27 to March 3, 2017 at the invitation of Benjamin Netanyahu, prime minister of the State of Israel.
Meanwhile, opposition Zambians for Empowerment and Development (ZED) has urged President Lungu not to be distracted by his critics from using international trips to woo foreign investors to come and invest in various sectors of Zambia’s economy.
ZED spokesperson Wesley Miyanda said in an interview yesterday, the President’s foreign trips are aimed at cementing Zambia’s international relations and attract investments.
Mr Miyanda said foreign trips are also important in alleviating poverty among citizens through various international deals clinched during such visits across the globe.
The Council of Churches says Stampede over food shows that Poverty levels have reached alarming levels
The Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) has said that the death of 8 people in a stampede which happened during the distribution of food by a church organization must serve as an eye opener to the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) government that poverty levels in the country have reached alarming levels.
In a statement released to the media yesterday and signed by Reverend Suzanne Matale, the CCZ General Secretary, the organisation said that many signs of high poverty levels such as increased criminal activities have been overlooked by government despite countless reminders from ordinary citizens, the civil society and the church that the social-economic situation in the country is continuously deteriorating with no signs of improvement.
CCZ further said that all the meaningful development which government is claiming to deliver to the people of Zambia especially infrastructure development across the nation is meaningless if they cannot afford the basic necessities of life for the Zambia citizens.
Below is the full statement
PRESS STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE COUNCIL OF CHURCHES IN ZAMBIA ON THE DEATH OF PEOPLE AT A STAMPEDE OVER FOOD DISTRIBUTION BY THE CHURCH OF CHRIST
The Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) has learnt with deep regret the death of 8 people in a stampede which happened during the distribution of food by a church organization, the Church of Christ in Lusaka’s Olympic Youth Development Centre which also left many others injured and hospitalized.
We pass our condolences to the families of the victims of the stampede. We pray for peace and comfort during this sad moment and may the good Lord continue to strengthen them as they mourn their loved ones.
The Council believes that this development is a sign of high poverty levels in the country which has driven people to extreme desperation to an extent of risking their lives in an effort to secure food for themselves.
This incident must serve as an eye opener to the Patriotic Front (PF) government that poverty levels in the country have reached alarming levels. Many signs of high poverty levels such as increased criminal activities have been overlooked by government despite countless reminders from ordinary citizens, the civil society and the church that the social-economic situation in the country is continuously deteriorating with no signs of improvement.
We believe that the people of Zambia are entitled to a dignified way of life and not struggle to a point of sacrificing their lives to secure food after attaining independence many years, a freedom which we expect to come with all other freedoms.
All the meaningful development which government is claiming to deliver to the people of Zambia especially infrastructure development across the nation is meaningless if they cannot afford the basic necessities of life for the Zambia citizens.
The Council wishes to implore all the Zambians to be on the lookout for organizations using the high poverty levels to entice them to attend their events where they use the platform to drive their agendas in the name of rendering help.
It is encouraging to note that government responded positively in this matter by suspending operations of the Church of Christ which caused the stampede. This development must serve as a warning to all unscrupulous organizations coming in the name of Christianity to take advantage of innocent people. Government must further ensure that all church events involving large gatherings are scrutinized to avoid a re-occurrence of such an incident.
7/03/17
Rev Dr Suzanne Matale – CCZ General Secretary
NEPAD approves US $3.88 million in grants to Zambia, DRC and Mozambique for power interconnecto
The NEPAD-IPPF (Infrastructure Project Preparation Facility) has approved US $3.88 million in grants to the Governments of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mozambique and Zambia to finance completion of regional projects preparations.
The two Regional Interconnectors – Kolwezi (Democratic Republic of Congo) and Solwezi (Zambia) – received US $1.98 million and Zambia-Mozambique US $1.9 million, excluding US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) co-financing worth US $0.8 million. The NEPAD-IPPF grants are to help fund full feasibility studies, including detailed design and tender documents of the proposed high-voltage direct current (HVDC) 330-/400-kV transmission lines within two years. The projects have already attracted downstream financing interest from donors in the region and other financial institutions.
The two interconnectors are amongst the key corridors in the Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP) network architecture within the regional grid, to assure region-wide provision of quality, reliable and secure electricity, to commercial and economic centres (such as the Katunga and Kalumbila copper mines). In the long term, they constitute the building blocks to connect the north-south and east-west Southern African Development Community (SADC) power grid.
Both interconnectors will increase the transmission capacity within the SAPP as well as enhance energy security for the respective countries. In addition to reinforcing and building resilience in the current grid, the interconnectors will significantly help to increase trade flows, deepen power trading markets in the region and in Africa as a whole.
The interconnectors will help to create an enabling environment for private-sector participation by assuring a ready regional offtake of power generated. The most immediate environmental benefit would emanate from increased use of existing hydropower plants over fossil fuels, crowding out fossil fuels to a large extent, along with increased efficiencies in generation. By helping to direct power from cleaner sources to deficit states, the projects will mitigate risks from climate change-induced droughts as these droughts triggers power deficits and force countries to seek short-term carbon-intensive solutions. The projects directly support the African Union’s Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA).
Tonia Kandiero, African Development Bank Director General, South Africa Regional Development and Business Delivery Office, said, “The two interconnectors lay the building blocks to further the Bank’s High 5 agenda, especially Light up and power Africa, Industrialize Africa and Integrate Africa.” She added that, “They are part of critical infrastructure that, when developed, would lead to job creation and economic development besides mitigating climate-induced droughts in the region.”
Judith Kateera, the AfDB Alternate Executive Director for Angola, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe, said adequate supply of power is at the heart of socio-economic transformation of member states. It is also an imperative in private-sector development, as industry relies on it for production of goods and services, she said.
The project has been welcomed by the beneficiary countries as well.
Eric Mbala Musanda, Managing Director of Société nationale d’électricité (SNEL) in the DRC, said, “The Kolwezi-Solwezi Interconnector project will contribute enormously to the stability of both the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (ZESCO) and SNEL networks, especially in the southern part of the DRC. SNEL attaches great importance to this second interconnector between the two utilities’ networks by increasing the power transit capacity between the two countries and the volume of energy trade between SNEL and ZESCO, on the one hand, as well as with other SAPP members on the other hand.”
Zambia, as intermediate country for both interconnectors, will enable power interchange, contributing to energy security and SAPP trading.
“The energy crisis that Zambia has experienced is very painful,” said Webster Musonda, Director of ZESCO, Transmission. “But even more painful is that we could not import available power at times from the SAPP because of transmission path constraints. The Mozambique–Zambia Interconnector project will go a long way to mitigate the congestion in the SAPP network. The Kolwezi–Solwezi interconnection will support the SNEL network in the Katanga area and also provide additional transmission capacity for exports from Zambia and other SAPP member countries to DRC, and the other way round when the tide changes. We are grateful to NEPAD-IPPF, AfDB and SAPP for supporting the two utilities to carry out the cross-border feasibility studies for the transmission line.”
The signing ceremony took place on March 6, 2017 at the AfDB offices in Harare, Zimbabwe, which is located in the Southern African Development Community region. The signing was witnessed by Mary Monyau, Officer-in-Charge for the AfDB Country Office in Zimbabwe, who gave a vote of thanks to the SAPP Acting Coordination Centre Manager, Alison Chikova, for the long-term partnership between the Bank and the SAPP.
NEPAD-IPPF is a multi-donor special fund that supports African countries to translate major continental initiatives such as the African Union’s Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) as well as Regional Infrastructure Master Plans of the Power Pools into bankable, investment-ready projects.
The special fund is currently supported by the AfDB as host institution, Canada, Germany, the UK, Denmark, Norway and Spain. The replenishment for the new financing cycle for the five-year period, 2016-2020, is ongoing. As the demand for infrastructure projects increase so as to bridge Africa’s infrastructure gap, AfDB is inviting more donor partners to join the fund. Participation in the special fund is open to donors, institutional funds and other special infrastructure funds.
UPND women to shun International women’s day
United Party for National Development (UPND) women will not take part in International women’s day commemorations tomorrow.
UPND National Women affairs Chairlady Namakau Kabwiko says UPND women do not have anything to celebrate about.
Ms. Kabwiko says women in the country especially those in the opposition have in the recent past suffered brutal treatment and nothing has been done about it despite many incidences being reported to the Police.
She adds that the UPND cannot celebrate with the Patriotic Front until justice is delivered in the UPND case relating to the presidential petition.
PF youths deny harbouring any intentions to harm LAZ president Linda Kasonde
PF youths in Lusaka have denied harbouring any intentions to harm LAZ president Linda Kasonde when they went to protest at her office last week.
They said they held a peaceful demonstration against Ms Kasonde for the partisan stance she had taken on legal matters that border on politics.
“So those who are claiming that we went to the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) offices to harm Linda Kasonde should provide proof or report us to police because what we held was a peaceful demonstration against the partisan stance the association has taken we stood outside the offices with our placards and banners and never entered the offices,” he said
Commenting on statements from LAZ and some sections of society condemning their action last week, district chairperson Yelisa Kondowe told the Daily Nation that youths who participated in last Friday’s peaceful demonstration were ready to face the wrath of the law if there was anything criminal they committed.
Mr. Kondowe said every Zambian had the right to express themselves on national issues that affected them and that no one had the power to curtail them from expressing themselves because the constitution gave them power to do so.
“If there is anyone who believes that there is anything wrong we did, let them come out in the open and tell us. We did not go to LAZ to harass or harm anyone. When we arrived at LAZ, the gate was open and they only closed it after we stood by. If our intention was to harm anyone, we would still have gone in there because there were no police officers. Police officers only went to LAZ after we had left.
“We did not go there to attack, harass, or intimidate anyone as LAZ is putting it. We went there to express our disgust over what LAZ is doing and to demand for the resignation of Ms. Kasonde because we feel she is not discharging her duties correctly because of her political biasness and our complaints are genuine. Zambians know what has become of LAZ and it would be wrong for us to pretend all is well,” Mr. Kondowe said.
But the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) says is saddened by the harassment of the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ} president Linda Kasonde by Patriotic Front (PF} youths who besieged her office last week.
CCZ general secretary Susan Matale said the council strongly condemned the acts of violence ‘‘perpetrated by the PF cadres who wanted to harm the defenceless woman they accused of siding with the opposition’’.
Rev Matale said that the church believed that in a democracy ‘‘such acts of violence arising from expression of divergent views must not be tolerated because the environment allowed for freedom of speech, association and movement which were a privilege to all as enshrined in the supreme law of the land’’.
Government treating conveners of the meeting at the stampede scene as suspects
Minister of Home Affairs, Stephen Kampyongo said that the conveners did not follow the provisions of the Public Order Act.
Mr. Kampyongo added that travel documents for the conveners of foreign origin have since been confiscated.
Eight peopled died while dozens were in injured in a stampede as peopled jostled to enter the Olympic Youth Development Centre were Church of Christ in partnership with another organisation called Lesedi were due to handout free food hampers.
And the Home Affairs Minister says incidents of crime in the country have continued to decline.
Mr. Kampyongo explained that since January, 2017, Lusaka has recorded 16 murder cases and 8 aggravated robbery cases.
He said during the same period in 2016, Lusaka recorded 19 murder and 146 aggravated robberies.
Mr. Kampyongo has also appealed to members of the public to work with the Zambia Police Service in the fight against crime.
He said this in Parliament when he made a ministerial statement on the recent murders in Lusaka Province.
Government to buy property abroad-Kalaba
In his quarterly briefing to President Edgar Lungu at State House today, Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba said the move will help mitigate the financial strain on the treasury.
Mr. Kalaba said government is losing huge amounts of money through the payment of office and staff accommodation in missions abroad.
The Minister said his ministry has developed a draft career foreign service bill and has submitted it to the Ministry of Justice for presentation to Parliament.
On the diaspora policy, Mr Kalaba said the policy once actualised will help bring Zambians abroad closer to the government.
Mr. Kalaba disclosed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs collected six point four million Kwacha surpassing the four point six million kwacha target in fees for the fourth quarter of 2016.
Minister of Gender Affairs Victoria Kalima also presented her ministry’s report to the Head of State.
Zambia and South Africa set for grudge match
South Africa and hosts Zambia clash for a place in the 2017 U20 AFCON final on wednesday at National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka.
South Africa head into the semifinal with similar 2-1 defeats at home in the Cosafa U20 Cup final and in an away friendly in December and February respectively at the hands of Zambia.
“We are not under pressure, we respect South Africa because it wasn’t easy for them to reach the semifinals,” Chambeshi said.
“But I they also respect us because we are not a small team and it will be a good encounter when we meet them on Wednesday.”
Meanwhile, South Africa coach Thabo Senong says they are ready for Zambia this time around.
“Each match is different with different dynamics,” Senong said.
“The team we used in the Cosafa tournament is different the team Zambia played during the friendly.”
However, most of Senong’s charges including top scorer Luther Singh were part of the Cosafa Cup final loss but the Portuguese based U20 AFCON golden boot leader missed the friendly due to club commitments Sporting Braga.
Singh has four goals in the tournament, one ahead of Fashion Sakala and Patson Daka.
Winner of Wednesday’s derby clash will face victor of Thursday’s semifinal involving Guinea and Senegal who play at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
Blades striker Robert Tembo quits football
Former Konkola Blades captain Robert Tembo has announced his retirement from active football days after being pruned by the
Chililabombwe club.
Tembo has been at Konkola for 10 years.
The 30-year-old striker has revealed that a nagging ankle injury has forced him to retire.
Tembo also played for Kitwe United and Nchanga Rangers.
“I have accepted the club’s decision to release me. I have an injury on the left ankle,” he said.
Konkola last month pruned Tembo alongside veteran keeper Stephen Kabwe and striker Nasha Kaaya.
“I can’t join another club because I am still limping. I have not fully recovered from the injury,” Tembo said.
The once speedy winger said he has chosen to go into coaching.
“I am going into coach. There is a proposal that I become youth coach. It is a good idea, I have worked for this club,” Tembo said.