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FILE: Copperbelt Police Commissioner Charity Katanga inspecting mealie meal destined to be smuggled to neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). By RABECCA CHIPANTA
Mwense District Commissioner Geoffrey Chipampata has revealed that smuggling of mealie meal from the district into the Democratic Republic of Congo is on the increase.
Mr. Chipampata told ZANIS that members of the community are buying bags of mealie meal in large quantities from local businessmen and later smuggling it into the Democratic Republic of Congo.
He implored the community in the district to refrain from the act warning that anyone who would be caught would face the wrath of the law.
Mr. Chipampata has also directed the security wing in the area to intensify patrols and ensure that culprits are brought to book.
He said the border along the Luapula River is porous hence the need for security personnel to intensify patrols along the river.
The Mwense DC further appealed to members of the community to be on the lookout and report any suspicious smugglers to law enforcement agencies.
So far, 70 x 25 Kilogramme bags of mealie meal have been confiscated by the Zambia National Service (ZNS) officers operating in the district.
Article 63 of the Republican Constitution clearly stipulates that Parliament has a noble duty of keeping the Executive arm of Government accountable by overseeing its performance. It goes therefore without saying that MPs must be given ample leverage to probe the Executive and scrutinize it’s dealings without any prohibition. It is for this reason that Members of Parliament enjoy immunity in the House.
It is therefore saddening to note that the Speaker of the House, Dr Patrick Matibini seem to have adopted a policy of curtailing debate whenever opposition MPs put the Executive in a tight corner. His Honor the Speaker must be aware that it is not his duty to shield the Executive from questions rather his role is to allow MPs to freely debate and question Government on all of its dealings.
We want to believe that by curtailing debate whenever the Executive is put under pressure, Mr Speaker is putting his on integrity on the wire for the public is left to wonder where his loyalty lies; is it with the people or it is with the PF? We therefore urge his Honor the Speaker to desist from his tactic of curtailing debate whenever the Executive is held to account.
Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini
Opposition UPND Members of Parliament on Friday morning walked out of Parliament in protest against a ruling made by the Speaker Patrick Matibini against Mazabuka MP Garry Nkombo.
This was after the Speaker forced Nkombo to withdraw a question he posed following a Ministerial statement by Housing and Infrastructure Minister Ronald Chitotela.
In his question, Nkombo wanted to dispute Chitotela’s suggestion that the corruption the PF government has been accused of in the road sector was only perception without proven evidence, by reminding him that President Edgar Lungu is on record of having hinted on dismissing corrupt Ministers.
But before Nkombo could justify his argument, Dr Matibini interjected by advising Nkombo not to involve President Lungu in the matter before the House.
Nkombo responded to the Speaker’s guidance by saying he would then withdraw both his question and President Lungu’s suggestion that there are corrupt Ministers in government.
Dr Matibini, however, insisted by ruling that Nkombo does not involve President Lungu in his debate forcing the Mazabuka lawmaker to opt to withdraw the whole question.
It was after this ruling that UPND MPs decided to walk out of the House in protest.
This prompted Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo to rise on a point of order seeking the speaker’s ruling on whether Mr Nkombo was in order to leave the house in the manner he did.
Justice Matibini has since reserved his ruling on the Point of Order.
It is extremely unfortunate that Given Lubinda, a man who is supposed to be a standard bearer of justice and fairness has opted to defend the barbaric and uncalled for behavior of PF cadres who were unleashed by the PF to intimidate and humiliate Madam Linda Kasonde for simply discharging her duties as President of the Law Association of Zambia.
Mr given Lubinda by virtue of his position as Minister of Justice to which LAZ by default belong, as an institution which was established by an Act of Parliament must have come to the defense of LAZ and condemn those cowardly acts of aggression exhibited by the PF cadres. It is actually embarrassing that the man has opted to pander against sound judgment and expected behavior from a man holding such a respectable public office.
This is one of the various reasons why Zambians wanted Ministers to be appointed outside Parliament to ensure the separation of powers and independence of thought in the manner Cabinet Ministers run the affairs of the state.
It is clear that Mr Lubinda has adopted a position that will put him in good standing with the PF leadership since they are the ones who organized and sponsored that attack on Madam Linda.
I mean we all remember that not so long ago, Davies Mwila, the PF Secretary General publicly declared “war” against Madam Linda Kasonde and that is the first sign of the “war”. If you ask the majority of those brothers of mine who were protesting why they were protesting, they will not even be able to explain; they don’t even know what the acronym LAZ stands for or who Ms Linda Kasonde is or what indeed the mandate of LAZ is. They were just taken advantage of their poverty and they were abused for a fee.
Mr Lubinda knows very well that Ms Kasonde’s statements and actions are not from her personal stand point but are actually agreed upon positions by LAZ as an institution and that Ms Kasonde is nothing but simply the mouthpiece of LAZ by virtue of her position as President of the association.
We would wish to encourage Ms Kasonde and the entire LAZ leadership to remain strong and not to give in to intimidation and threats. The only thing that is needed for evil to reign is for good people to keep quite when wrongs are being committed by evil men.
We want those legal brains to remember that they went to school in order to be the light of society hence they should not give up on the people by succumbing to PF’s threats and intimidation. The God of heaven who sees the suffering and hears the mourning of his oppressed children will always protect those who stand for justice, He will always protect those who speak and defend the truth.
PF Secretary General Davies MwilaThe Patriotic Front (PF) has expressed sadness at the death of 8 people in Monday’s stampede at the Olympic Youth Development Centre in Lusaka.
In a media briefing held today in Lusaka, the PF Secretary General, Davies Mwila said that the Party respects and values human life and wants a thorough investigation into the matter to establish what happened. The PF Secretary General thanked Government for offering assistance to the injured and bereaved families.
Mr. Mwila further said the Party was aware of the statement by United Party for National Development leader, Hakainde Hichilema where he has blamed the PF Government for the stampede.
Mr Mwila stressed that the PF will not stop mourning and start responding to Mr. Hichilema’s allegations.
Yesterday , a stampede over free food has left 8 people dead in Lusaka. The stampede was caused after hundreds of Lusaka residents trooped to the Olympic Youth Development Center (OYDC) where a US based faith organisation Church of Christ was due to start giving free food.
Chief Government Spokesperson Kampamba Mulenga said details of the OYDC incident were that the Church of Christ which was holding a revival meeting at the OYDC informed the public to converge to receive food hampers for free.
Ms Mulenga said the hampers contained 10 Kg bags of mealie meal and small packets of beans.
She said the announcement prompted the masses to throng the OYDC making the place full to capacity as early as 06:30 Hours and that those who were outside were attempting to enter by force.
“It is at this point that a stampede ensued claiming eight people,comprising five women and two men and a child. Seven of them died on the spot while one passed away at Matero Hospital,” Ms. Mulenga said.
She confirmed that the accident also left 28 casualties who have been admitted to Chipata Compound Hospital, Ngwerere Clinic and United Teaching Hospital.
Police in Mwinilunga district of North-Western province have launched a man hunt for suspected criminals who broke into a min-laboratory at Kanyihampa Clinic stealing equipment worth over K280, 000.
Provincial Police Commissioner Auxensio Daka who confirmed the incident in a telephone interview with ZANIS in Mwinilunga today, said unknown people broke into a min-laboratory at Kanyihampa clinic a subsidiary of Mwinilunga district Hospital over the weekend and stole one olympus light microscope worth K200, 000.
Mr. Daka said other equipment stolen include a PIMA CD4 Analyzer and one Himicue HB Analyzer valued at K80, 000 and K7, 000 respectively.
He said the suspected criminals got entry and exit into the mini-laboratory through the door.
He added that no arrest has been made but police have pick up two classified daily employees to help with investigations.
Wrangles in the former ruling party the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) have taken a new twist as a new faction propagating for a new President of the party away from the two faction leaders.
The faction which is led by outspoken former PF Matero law maker Faustina Sinyangwe wants a new President to take over from Felix Mutati whom they are saying has gone to the PF.
Ms Sinyangwe who claims to be the MMD National Chairperson has contacted a number of provincial committee chairpersons and senior members from the two factions to call for an extra-ordinary convention to choose a new President of the Party because the MMD Constitution doesn’t allow for the President of the party to serve in a different Government.
The call comes in the wake of serious calls by provincial officials on the Copperbelt to remove Felix Mutati from presidency citing the fact that he has sold the party to the PF.
Ms Sinyangwe said the MMD president Mutai has defied the party constitution by accepting a position in the Patriotic Front government, hence as “Chairperson” she will announce his replacement who will be acting or else hold an extraordinary convention to fill up the vacancy.
This means another Secretariat will be opened as the official MMD Secretariat making the total number of MMD Secretariats three with one in midway belonging to embattled president Dr Nevers Mumba.
The former ruling MMD since losing power in 2011 through it’s President Rupiah Banda has not seen the light of day without tensions, divisions, and massive infighting because of the large membership it commands across the country.
It has become a target of many opportunistic politicians who wish to revive their political careers because of the MMD’s existent strong party structures throughout the country.
The late PF president Michael Sata contested to deregister the MMD shortly after winning the general elections because of fears that it may bounce back to power owing to its strong structures.
Brigadier General Godfrey Miyanda, in his capacity as a Zambian national concerned about the intended constitutional amendments, has petitioned the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Patrick Matibini to use his Office to advise or persuade the Government to withhold tabling any Constitutional amendments until the legal process in the said Petition is finally concluded and attendant consequential reactions are acted upon.
Below is the Petition submitted to the Speaker
THE PETITION OF BRIGADIER GENERAL GODFREY MIYANDA (A ZAMBIAN), DATED 21ST FEBRUARY 2017, TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF ZAMBIA THROUGH THE SPEAKER, THE RIGHT HONOURABLE DR PATRICK MATIBINI
[21ST FEBRUARY 2017]
The Right Honourable Speaker,
National Assembly,
Parliament Buildings,
LUSAKA
UFS:
The Clerk of the National Assembly, Parliament Buildings, Lusaka
The Petition of Godfrey Miyanda showeth as follows:
PETITION PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 88 (2) OF THE CONSTITUTION OF ZAMBIA (AMENDMENT) ACT 2 OF 2016
My names are Godfrey Miyanda. I am a Zambian national concerned about the intended constitutional amendments, as initially announced by the Republican President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu for the purpose of, as he himself put it, “FINE TUNING” the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act No. 2 of 2016, which Act he assented to on 5th January 2016.
BACKGROUND:
Following on the President’s foregoing announcement the Honourable Minister of Justice, Honourable Given Lubinda, has called for submissions by so-called stakeholders, but declared that political parties that had no representation in the National Assembly were prohibited from making submissions. The provisions that are to be “fine-tuned” have not been identified nor has it been explained how and why they were to be so “fine-tuned” but the Minister’s declaration is clearly discriminatory. This lack of transparency is what transpired in the debate that ushered in the so-called new Constitution, when the Government refused to indicate the non-contentious clauses that they were taking to the National Assembly.
a. In November 2015 I followed the National Assembly debate on the Amendment of the Constitution aired live on Parliament Radio. Before this debate, as National Assembly records will or should show, I was one of the witnesses who submitted to the Committee on Legal Affairs, Governance, Human Rights, Gender Matters and Child Affairs (LAGHRGMACA), chaired by Honourable Cornelius Mweetwa, MP.
b. After the said debate I came to Parliament Buildings and accosted the said Chairman of the LAGHRGMACA on or about 1st December 2015, requesting him to receive and convey my Petition to the Speaker of the National Assembly, which he agreed to do. He received my covering letter dated 1st December 2015 and the accompanying Petition. I have never received any response from the National Assembly. Incidentally, the LAGHRGMACA had recommended that the Amendment Bill be withdrawn, which I agreed with, but the recommendation to withdraw was rejected, clearly due to the arrogance of numbers.
On 16th December 2015, following a ZNBC news item quoting the President’s statement in Kasama, I decided to petition the Republican President, urging him to seriously study the amendments BEFORE assenting. The Petition was titled “10 Reasons Why President Lungu Must Read With Eyes Open Before Signing and Assenting to the Constitutional Bills”. I personally delivered the said Petition at the State House Reception and I know that the President received it because he referred to it on 23rd December 2015 when the Clerk of the National Assembly presented to him the Certified Copies of the Bills. The President assented to the Bills on 5th January 2016.
a. On 11th April 2016 I filed a Petition and an Affidavit in Support of the Petition in the Constitutional Court of Zambia (Godfrey Miyanda v Attorney General Cause Number 2016/CC/0006); the said documents were served on the Attorney General on 19th April 2016.
b. That on 13th May 2016 I filed a Certificate of Urgency, praying to the Honourable Court to hear the Petition expeditiously in view of the election timetable announced by Her Honour the Republican Vice President in a Ministerial Statement on 11th May 2016. Essentially I was praying that the Petition be heard and determined BEFORE the 11th August 2016 elections.
My Petition was and is questioning the whole Constitutional Amendment, as some of the amendments, inter alia, included the amendment of Part III of Chapter 1 of the Republican Constitution without a referendum, hence being in breach of Article 79 (3) thereof.
GROUNDS OR REASONS FOR THE PETITION:
That by my Petition of 11th April 2016, Petition No.CC/0006 of 2016, in which I challenged at least 17 provisions, I have essentially questioned the whole Constitutional Amendment; this is so again because, inter alia, Part III of CAP 1 of the Constitution has been amended without a referendum.
That the Petition was finally heard on Thursday 18th August 2016, after the 11th August 2016 had been held; Judgement or Ruling was reserved, hence my prayer that the Fine Tuning of the Constitution should not take place while the Petition is active in the Constitutional Court.
That the decree by the Honourable Minister of Justice prohibiting submissions by political parties with no MPs in the National Assembly is unconstitutional as it is discriminatory and in direct breach of Article 23 of the Republican Constitution.
That it is irrational and unjustified that I, the concerned Zambian who brought to the President’s attention some of the many lacunae in the Amended Constitution, be prohibited from presenting my concerns. I had urged the President to engage me before the assent in order for me to clarify any matters as my list in the Petition was not exhaustive, but he chose to ignore me and assented, thereby confirming that he was satisfied with the Certified Bills. How then can he reasonably go back to Parliament in barely 12 months to amend the same Constitution that he operationalized? That since my Petition awaits judgement and attendant consequential reactions, it is contrary to the House Rules that Mr Speaker always, and quite properly, champions and enforces that matters in court should not and ought not to be debated in the National Assembly. I say that the Republican President, the Minister of Justice and the Learned Attorney General are aware or ought to be aware of the said Petition, which has since been heard and awaits judgment as indicated in paragraph (b) above. I thus petition the Speaker, and through him, the National Assembly and Parliament NOT to proceed with the contemplated scheme to FINE TUNE or more accurately MANIPULATE our Constitution in a pre-schemed stratagem by selfishly and selectively preventing some of the voices from participating in this national agenda for the improvement of the welfare of all our people.
PRAYER:
That the Right Honourable Speaker uses his Office to advise or persuade the Government to withhold tabling any Constitutional amendments until the legal process in the said Petition is finally concluded and attendant consequential reactions are acted upon; the President, Minister of Justice and the Learned Attorney General are a party to that Petition and must recognise the authority and mandate of our Courts of Law.
That the discriminatory directive prohibiting submissions by Political Parties not having MPs in the National Assembly be reversed as it is discriminatory and hence unconstitutional.
That, and/or in the alternative, the House defers consideration of the so-called FINE TUNING amendments, if they be tabled, until the said Petition is concluded.
That instead of the intended FINE TUNING amendments, the process be preceded by a transparent review of what transpired in the course of making the constitutional amendments, the holding of the Referendum (which is also part of what I have challenged in the Constitutional Court) and other lessons that may be learnt therefrom. Such review must be devoid of partisan biases and selfishness and put national interest first, which currently is not the case.
CONCLUSION:
That I assure the Honourable Speaker, this august National Assembly and, indeed, the Republican President, that I have no hidden agenda; I mean well as a concerned citizen. That if my concerns over the years, as depicted in the various documents submitted to the Constitutional Court of Zambia, are examined with non-partisan spectacles it will be seen that definitely there was and is need for serious consideration of my concerns and, most likely, the concerns of many silent voices. I am available for any further clarification and/or amplification.
This is the conclusion of my Petition, for the consideration of Mr Speaker and, if he so deems, other persons or bodies identified by him.
Yours in the National Service of our Country and Nation, Zambia – Our Heritage!
Paratus Telecoms sales executive Janet Mwanza addresses She Talks to the World students.
Vulnerable young women in Lusaka’s Garden compound have been given the chance to broaden their horizons and explore a world beyond their borders thanks to She Talks to the World.
Although the name is a little wordy, this initiative has set out on a mission to create a classroom of young Zambian girls with emphasis on English and computer education, along with hands-on business experience.
Founded in 2015, the not-for-profit organisation has been helping underprivileged young women aged between 14 and 22 in an after-school programme that has recently seen two of its students gain places at the University of Zambia (UNZA).
The rationale is simple: About 46 percent of Zambia’s population is under 15 years old and across the population there are almost a third more females than males. On that basis, young women hold the key to the future development of the nation.
“Our aim is to empower these young women by providing them with some of the skills necessary to succeed in our modern and increasingly tech-based world. Our hope is to help them help themselves in ways that would otherwise be impossible,” explained She Talks to the World teacher Patrick Zubillaga.
“All of our students come from vulnerable situations and many come from fractured homes or are orphaned. The idea of connectivity or a computer for them never existed,” he added.
Now the girls have been able to link to online distance learning courses under the Utah Valley University’s Enactus programme in the US thanks to support from internet service provider Paratus Telecom, which has provided a high-speed connection for the school.
“The instant transfer of knowledge and information is something you can’t put a price on. It’s just invaluable to these girls – and it’s empowering,” explained She Talks to the World director Blessing Mushala.
In addition to teaching the girls baking, needlework, gardening and similar skills, the school’s curriculum includes business management courses that feed into the organisation’s boutique, minibus and bakery businesses to ensure the initiative is sustainable.
She Talks to the World board member Blaine Beckstead explained the philosophy: “As a country, Zambia is part of the world economy. It has to step up and adapt and merge into that superhighway – and technology is the key to that.”
Paratus Telecoms sales executive Janet Mwanza echoed the sentiments saying: “Internet-based technologies have changed the quality and effectiveness of teaching material and have also improved the delivery of education for teachers. High-capacity broadband brings dynamic resources into the classroom, it’s more interactive, personalised and has been found to improve learning outcomes.”
Explaining why Paratus has backed the She Talks to the World project, she highlighted the large proportion of young females in the population and said: “Female empowerment is not just a trend, it is the realisation that everybody has got to be on the same plane if we are to achieve holistic development in this nation.”
“We believe in creating network solutions through pioneering technology, creativity and integrity. By partnering with the She Talks programme, we are giving back to the community through our expertise and creating a platform to elevate these girls to a standard of global competence,” she explains.
Having installed the internet connection, the bespoke business-to-business connectivity company is now exploring other ways in which it can support She Talks to the World as part of its celebrations of seven years in business in Zambia.
She Talks to the World works on the ethos that an educated girl can change the world.
Paratus Telecoms sales executive Janet Mwanza (second right) with She Talks to the World students.
Holstar Presents a Non Album Single Titled “Plant A Seed” Featuring Chisamo. Not all Love stories have a happy ending and this particular short tale is about a Love that never reached its full potential.
Plant A Seed is Produced by Holstar’s long time collaborator Kati and is also Mastered by Purple Haze who he previously worked with on the album H3 ~ Love Me Or Hate Me. The album Dreaming in High Definition is in its final stages of completion and a release date will be announced soon.
This week’s recipe is a simple go-to dish that I really enjoy.Baked Potato and Chicken Casserole is one of my favourites.It is easy to prepare and absolutely delicious; a perfect meal for two or for the family. Simply double the ingredients to feed up to 4 people.
Prep Time: 10 Minutes | Cook Time: 90 Minutes
Serving: 2
Ingredients
Salt
1 tsp of sugar
Ground black pepper
1 tsp of Paprika
1 tsp of Garlic powder
60mls heavy whipping cream
2 medium/large potatoes, peeled and cut into pieces
www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com
200g of chicken, bones removed and cut into cubes
2 slices of bacon cut into pieces
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, chopped into small cubes
125g shredded cheddar cheese
2 spring onions, chopped (to garnish)
Method
Heat the oven to 180 degrees C. Lightly grease a 9 inch by 9 inch baking pan with some oil or butter.
Add 1 tsp of salt, 1 tsp of sugar, and a pinch of pepper to the heavy whipping cream; and lightly stir it to combine. Season your chicken to taste with; salt, pepper, paprika and garlic powder
Chop up the potatoes and spread them out in the baking pan, add the chicken on top of the potatoes. Sprinkle on the bacon and butter, and top it off with half of the cheddar cheese.
Now pour the heavy cream over the top of the casserole. Cover it with foil and bake it for 1 hour, in the oven.After 1 hour, uncover the casserole and bake it for a further 30 minutes. In the last 10 minutes, sprinkle on the remaining cheddar cheese and spring onions; bake until the cheese is completely melted and golden brown.
Serving
Remove the casserole from the oven and serve it immediately, with your beverage of choice. Enjoy!
Kanta Temba is a Cake maker and decorator|Lusaka Times Food columnist|TV show host
SENIOR Environmental Health Officer (SEHO)
at Lunga District Medical Office has warned of stern action against any
person who will be found using Government donated mosquito
nets to catch fish.
Mr Nchimunya Haninga said any one who would be found using insect
treated mosquito nets for fishing would face the wrath of the law.
He said in an interview that health authorities in the
district were aware that some people were using the insect treated
mosquito nets to donated to them by Government for fishing.
“I wish to issue a friendly warning that any persons who will be found
using Government donated mosquito nets will be arrested and taken to
court for possible verdict,” Mr Haninga said.
Mr Haninga said Government was spending huge sums of money to procure
mosquito nets so the recipients should endevour to use them for the
intended purposes than using them for fishing.
“Our people should be aware that Government wants to mitigate the
impact of mosquitoes and subsequently reduce malaria incidences in all
communities of Lunga. Therefore they should not take these donations for
granted,” he said.
And Mr Haninga disclosed that Lunga district has so far received 1,500
mosquito nets to be distributed among pregnant mothers and under five
children.
He said the district was again due to receive a consignment of about
30 000 insectcide treated mosquito nets to be distributed to other
people in that swampy district as a way of mitigating malaria
incidences.
“For now we have received 1 500 insectcide treated mosquito nets in
Lunga to be distributed to pregnant mothers and those under five
children to be distributed through our four health centres.
“We are yet to receive about 30 000 mosquito nets which will cater for
ordinary people through out the district,” he said.
Government has with immediate effect suspended the operations of the Church of God over Monday’s stampede over freed food.
And Government says President Edgar Lungu is greatly saddened by the death of eight people in a scramble for food at Lusaka’s OYDC.
During a joint news briefing in Lusaka, Minister for Religious and National Guidance Reverend Godfridah Sumaili said the operations of the Church of God have been suspended until further notice.
Reverend Sumaili said preliminary investigations have shown that Church leaders failed to comply with directives to produce all necessary legal documentation governing operations of the Churches.
“The President sends his personal and Government’s sympathies to the families of the deceased and wishes them God’s supreme mercies to help them recover from this tragedy,” she said.
During the same briefing, Chief Government Spokesperson Kampamba Mulenga said details of the OYDC incident are that the Church of Christ which was holding a revival meeting at the OYDC informed the public to converge to receive food hampers for free.
Ms Mulenga said the hampers contained 10 Kg bags of mealie meal and small packets of beans.
She said the announcement prompted the masses to throng the OYDC making the place full to capacity as early as 06:30 hours and that those who were outside were attempting to enter by force.
UPND President Hakainde Hichilema
Opposition UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has charged that the deaths at the Olympic Youth Development Center in Lusaka were avoidable.
Official figures say that eight people died in the early hours of Monday at OYDC during a stampede over free food although the number is believed to be higher.
Mr Hichilema said in a statement conveying condolences to the families of the deceased and the nation over the tragedy that what happened at OYDC is a clear indication of what is happening throughout the country.
“It is with a heavy heart that we wish to convey a message of condolences to the 8 families whose brothers and sisters died in a stampede this morning at Olympic Youth Development Center in Lusaka. Our sincere condolences go to them and we call on the nation to put the families in prayer,” Mr Hichilema said.
“However, these deaths were avoidable in the sense that our people died as they were looking for food, which has become a luxury under the current Government. Our people are dying needlessly because of hunger. This is totally unacceptable and we should bow our heads in shame,” he said.
Mr Hichilema said the UPND has always stated that the country’s economy has been mismanaged by those claiming to be in leadership, and true to their word people are now dying in stampedes as they jostle for food.
“Food which will not even last them a month but a meal. This is how desperate the citizens have become. How can a country so rich as ours be failing to feed its own people and yet some people when globetrotting pretend that there is no hunger among ourselves?”
He added, “What happened at OYDC, in Lusaka, the capital city of our country this morning is a clear indication of what is happening throughout the country. Our people need food relief and politicians such as those claiming leadership must begin providing food and not death.”
Mr Hichilema said people should not die like this but PF and Mr Edgar Lungu have allowed such situations because they are not affected.
“They can have 6 meals per day, paid for by Zambians.Once more, sincere condolences to the families and as a country let us mourn with them because this demise is not by choice but basically inflicted by PF and Mr Edgar Lungu on the innocent souls,” he said.
Meanwhile, Government has with immediate effect suspended the operations of the Church of Christ following the stampede in which eight people died at Lusaka’s Olympic Youth development Center (OYDC).
Minister of Religious Affairs Reverend Godfridah Sumaili told a news conference that the suspension will stay until all investigations are concluded.
Reverend Sumaili said that preliminary investigations have shown that the church leaders did not comply with the provisions of the law as they failed to produce necessarily documentation for such a gathering after the tragedy.
She explained that all public gatherings are guided by the Public Order Act and that churches are not exempted from complying with this law.
And Chief Government Spokesperson Kampamba Mulenga has said that the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (UNIT) will provide the necessary support to the bereaved families.
Ms Mulenga said that other proceedings will be communicated to the nation in due course.
PROTESTS AGAINST LAZ ISSUED BY SUNDAY CHANDA, PF INFORMATION COMMITTEE MEMBER
Lusaka, 6th March 2017 – Recently, a section of citizens led a peaceful protest against the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ). As stakeholders in the affairs of a public body as LAZ, the protesting citizens felt the association was leaning heavily in favor of the opposition, abusing the “public interest” provided for under Cap 31 of the Laws of Zambia and unnecessarily inciting public hatred against government and the ruling party. These Citizens chose to publicly make known their feelings and their displeasure in a peaceful and democratic manner.
Since then, this action has elicited all manner of condemnation from some opposition politicians and some sections of civil society. These individuals and organizations have labeled as intimidation the protests against LAZ. These same organizations want Society to believe that LAZ is impartial and always serves the public interests of the Zambian people and therefore cannot be criticized by anybody. In other words, they are telling us that LAZ does no wrong!
We wish to put it on record that before anyone’s political belonging, they are citizens of the Republic of Zambia with vested interest in institutions such as LAZ. Well-meaning Citizens, whether as PF members or not, shall not sit idly by and watch the reputation of both government and the ruling party recklessly dragged in the mud. Whether LAZ is a professional body or anything, we shall not be made to feel guilty by their false claims of professionalism when in actual fact what they are practicing is partisan politics. They may disguise their arguments in lingual only unique to the profession but LAZ must understand this that we are intellectually capable of separating sincere commentary from political discourse.
As a matter of fact, LAZ arguments lately have become intellectually so weak it does not take much application of mind to smoke the authors of the organization’s statements out of their cocoons.
Tragically, other professional associations have fallen for the ruse. Furthermore, we wish to remind whoever cares to listen that in democracy, you can protest against anybody and any organization. But an intellectually fraudulent narrative is being promoted to the effect that protests against any organization other than PF and government are tantamount to intimidation. This notion is democratically corrosive and deliberatively meant to mislead. What is good for the gander is good for the goose!
If society allows this narrative to gain ascendancy and dominance, elements at LAZ will continue executing their skewed agenda aimed at inciting hatred against President Lungu, his government and the ruling party which they calculate would eventually lead to manufactured public despondency. In their clear scheme of things, these elements, using the LAZ platform, will have succeeded in setting a stage for a party of its own desires to assume the reins of power.
Given the seriousness of this situation, we wish to call members of the public not to give in to LAZ and any of its surrogates so that we may defend and protect the interests of the Zambian people that are now being addressed in a manner we have not seen since this country attained her independence status.
Copperbelt Minister Bowman Lusambo delivering his speech during the 55th commemoration of the death of Dag HammarskjöldGovernment has challenged management at the Chinese owned Jinfa Steel Company in Chambeshi on the Copperbelt to respect Zambian workers and add value to the Country’s economy.
Copperbelt Minister Bowman Lusambo says he has received disturbing reports on the activities at JINFA Steel limited in Chambeshi and hopes things will change for the better.
Mr. Lusambo says while foreign investment is welcome, it is important for investors to respect Zambian laws and human rights.
He was speaking when he toured the 5 million US dollars steel plant.
The minister urged management to ensure business is done in a conducive environment.
And on social responsibility Mr. Lusambo appealed to the company to work closely with the community to ensure that projects benefit the local people are implemented.
Meanwhile, Kalulushi District Commissioner Ken Siyachisumo urged management at JINFA to give priority to local residents when employing.
Earlier, JINFA Spokesperson John Mutale said 85 per cent of the workforce is from the local community.
Mr. Mutale said the company is also complying with all government statutory obligations to contribute to the Country’s economic growth.
