Join our community of SUBSCRIBERS and be part of the conversation.
To subscribe, simply enter your email address on our website or click the subscribe button below. Don't worry, we respect your privacy and won't spam your inbox. Your information is safe with us.
Chief Kalaba of the Ushi people of Luapula Province has demanded for a Secondary School in his chiefdom in order to curb the incidences of early marriages among his subjects.
Speaking when Luapula Province Permanent Secretary Dr. Buleti Nsemukila paid a courtesy call on him, Chief Kalaba said his chiefdom has 11 primary Schools and four community schools but without a Secondary School.
The Chief said the pupils were walking long distances in search of secondary school education which sometimes cause their parents to surrender them into early marriages.
He said his Chiefdom needs a secondary school to keep young girls longer in school.
Chief Kalaba said the Secondary School should be given to his chiefdom this year because it is urgent and if he does not see action leading the secondary school coming to his chiefdom, he will make a trip to state house to demand for the School.
He added that the high Secondary School boarding fees were a recipe for drowning young girls into early marriages which could be cured by having a Secondary school within a walkable distance.
And Luapula Province Permanent Secretary Dr. Buleti Nsemukila said it is important to look after the young girls by keeping them in school because they are the future of Zambia.
Dr. Nsemukila added that education is the key to their progress in adult life.
File: President Edgar Lungu(r) and Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya(l) after the visit to Kalingalinga Clinic. Picture by Ennie Kishiki/Zanis.
Chief Mabumba of the Ushi people in Mansa District of Luapula Province has appealed to the Mansa Central Member of Parliament Dr. Chitalu Chilufya to meet him and discuss developmental concerns in his chiefdom.
Speaking when Luapula Province Permanent Secretary Dr. Buleti Nsemukila paid a courtesy call on him, Chief Mabumba said he is desirous to meet the area member of parliament Dr. Chitalu Chilufya to discuss developmental concerns in his chiefdom.
The traditional leader said the road leading to his Palace is in a deplorable state and needs a facelift.
The chief who is a retired magistrate said he wants to improve the infrastructure in the chiefdom though collective effort.
The traditional leader observed that there is need to put up road humps at the stretch of the road where many of his subjects cross into the other side of the road within his chiefdom because so many deaths have occurred around the area because of fast moving vehicles.
He said though the road is a high way, it is important to value human life because certain portions of the highway should have humps to control and limit speed to save lives.
The Chief cited Maiteneke Market area in Mansa on the Mansa-Chembe highway road that has humps because of the human traffic that crosses the road from either directions which could in a similar way be done for the Mabumba stretch to save lives.
And Luapula Province Permanent Secretary Dr. Buleti Nsemukila said he will bring the matter to the attention of the Road Development Agency officials in Mansa for consideration and possible action on the matter.
Meanwhile, Chief Mabumba has expressed sadness at what he termed as abuse of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) in Chiwele area of his chiefdom.
Chief Mabumba said the CDF for Chiwele area of his chiefdom was abused because the School building for which the funds were purportedly used is a waste of Government resources.
The traditional leader narrated with sadness that the structure was done without supervision and currently it is a worrisome structure.
He observed that the floor has already given up as the workmanship was extremely poor.
Chief Mabumba who is also a Mwense District retired Magistrate however implored Government to consider constructing a road to Chiwele area because currently there is no road to reach the area except by footpaths.
He suggested that Government should mobilize a Grader which should just create a road to reach the area and the people of Chiwele will appreciate the gesture because they are like neglected and forgotten people of Zambia.
The Chief added that sometimes the people of Chiwele wonder whether they are part of Zambia or not because of the gross neglect that they experience from the conventional structures of Government administration.
The retired Magistrate added that Government officials including politicians should always endeavor to make promises and follow through.
The traditional leader counseled that a leader should be guided by the truth which should bring forth fruit for the wellbeing of humanity.
Finance Minister Felix MutatiMinister of Finance Mr. Felix Mutati has said the government is in the process of creating an Entrepreneurial Fund for the private sector to facilitate the creation of a scheme for issuance of long-term credit guarantees to Small and Medium Enterprises [SME’S] in Zambia on low-interest terms.
According to a statement rleased to the media by Ministry of finance, Mr. Mutati said the Entrepreneurial Fund which will be offered at affordable interest rates, is aimed at enhancing the capacity of small-scale private sector players in order to facilitate their participation in accelerating the growth of the economy.
The Minister was speaking in Paris, France, where he recently held a high-level consultative and resource mobilization meeting with Agence France De Developpment [AFD]. Among the targeted enterprises, are those involved in agriculture, aquaculture, value addition, renewable energy, and off-grid power generation projects.
Mr. Mutati appealed to AFD, the international development wing of the French government, to invest in the Credit Guarantee Scheme; completion of the Kenya –Tanzania-Zambia Power Interconnector; Off-grid Power Projects; and aquaculture.
And AFD Operations Director, Maddame Laurence Bretton, has said AFD will consider the proposal to support the credit guarantee scheme alongside the efforts being made in creating a fund for agri-business in Zambia.
AFD is also looking at small hydro power projects in Northwestern Province, among them a 45 Mega Watts Power Project, to be co-financed by the Development Bank of Southern Africa [DBSA].
Meanwhile, Zambian bonds on the African Bond Market are on a favourable performance trajectory.
Market assessment by the Ministry of Finance, indicates that investors have continued to regard Zambian Eurobonds as attractive. Consequently, they, as at 1st February, 2017, were offering a price of US$90.38 for the US$750 million bond, a price of US $99.75 for the US $1 million and a price of US $99.75 for the US $1.25 billion bond, respectively.
This is an improvement from offer prices of US$65.25 for the US$ 750 million, US69.00 for the US$1.0 billion and US$68.75 for US$1.25 billion this period last year [2016]. Over the same period, the yield rates also improved to 7.5%, 8.54% and 9.01% for the US$750 million, US$ 1 billion and US$1.25 billion, respectively. Yields for the US $1 billion and US $1.25 billion bonds are now in fact close to the levels at the time of issuance.
The outlook for the performance of Zambia’s sovereign bonds is positive aided by continued relative stability in the exchange rate, a fall in inflation, government commitment to rebalance macroeconomic fundamentals, and significantly, observance of the rule of law and the swift return to business and peaceful way of life of the people of Zambia after the 2016 general elections. Further, the anticipated rise in commodity prices on the international market will aid macroeconomic stability and further boost investor confidence. This is great news for Zambia as it has a positive effect on credit rating.
Chisitu Primary School in Chief Chikuwe’s Chiefdom in Chipata District in Eastern Province which closed last year after teachers fled the school because of witchcraft will resume operations on 13th February,2017.
Addressing parents and guardians at the School , Acting District Education Standard Officer Felistus Nkoloma indicated that the school will open its gates next week after a successful meeting between education authorities, the chief, and villagers.
Ms Nkoloma appealed to parents in the area to co-exist with the teachers so that their school going children can attain the much needed quality education.
She said the closure of the school had affected more than 1 560 pupils and is deeply regreted.
Ms Nkoloma said the Ministry of General Education will this week deploy teachers at the school in readiness for the re-opening next week.
And Chief Chanje who is also presiding over the affairs of Chief Chikuwe’s Chiefdom said he was happy that the school will be opened after being closed for over two months.
He said he was disturbed with the closure of the school because the affected pupils could have started enganging themselves in bad conducts such as smoking and beer drinking.
The traditional leader assured the authorities from the Ministry of Education that what happened will not repeat itself.
He warned against any encroachment of the school premises adding that anyone found of threatening teachers will be forced to relocate to another place by August, 30, 2017.
The school closed last year indefinately after teachers fled on suspicion that the villagers were practising withcraft.
As a result , 12 teachers left the school last year because of the threats they received from parents in the area.
President Edgar Lungu is tomorrow expected to arrive in Kasane, Botswana on a two days working visit.
Zambia’s high commissioner to Botswana Patrick Tembo told ZANIS in Kasane today that Mr. Lungu is expected to arrive in that country around 15.00 hours.
Brigadier General Tembo said the President will be received by his Botswana counterpart Ian Khama.
President Lungu is later in the evening expected to attend a dinner hosted in his honour by his host.
On Tuesday the two heads of state will be briefied on progress so far made on the Kazungula Bridge project before touring the construction site on both the Zambian and Botswana sides where they will also receive onsite briefings.
High commissioner Tembo said the two leaders will also discuss issues surrounding delays on the bridge construction project which they urgently want resolved so that the project is completed by 2019.
Brigadier general Tembo said the Kazungula bridge is an import project for both countries as it will greatly facilitate trade not only for Zambia and Botwana but the entire southern African region.
The construction of road and rail bridges across the Zambezi River into Zambia will solve the problems that have been associated with the age long breakdown-prone ferry bridge
File:Victims of teenage pregnancies pose for a photograph at Chinzili village
The high number of young girls dropping out of schools due to early pregnancies and early marriages has shocked a Non Governmental Organisation- Charity Centre for Child and Youth Development in Zambia.
Statistics in most rural parts of Zambia have revealed that some parents prefer marrying off their girl child to taking them to school therefore denying them an opportunity to access education.
Lufwanyama District on the Copperbelt Province is an example that has seen young girls being pulled out of school to enter marriage as a source of income for their parents.
It is however shocking that despite hosting one of the Best Boarding Schools in the Province, the school is occupied by those from other towns as the hosts prefer marriage to education.
A chat with a number of young girls, exposed how some parents have resorted to bad habits of marrying off their children at a tender age for financial gain.
“I am Nancy (not real names), I had my child when I was 17years old and now I am expecting another. I am married and my husband is a farmer just here.I love him because we stay together. At first I didn’t want to get married but when I failed grade nine exams twice my parents told me to get married.At first I refused and they stopped giving me food that is how I entered into marriage”
“It was not easy at first especially when I was pregnant, but for now I am managing and my husband is doing well.I would love to go to school but I don’t think I can even manage.I am not the only one married or with a child, we are many in the community if you ask around. It’s not possible for me to leave my marriage for school.My husband or even my parents cannot allow me,” narrated the 19 year mother of one and 6 months pregnant.
Another 18 year old girl has been forced into marriage immediately after finishing her grade 12 because she has no one to sponsor her tertiary level of education.
[pullquote]
it’s wrong to marry them off but there are no options
[/pullquote]
Mirriam (not real names) said she has always wanted to become a medical Doctor but her dream has been shuttered because there is no one to sponsor her studies.
“I only got my results yesterday and here I am being called someone’s wife.I know my results are not very good but I was ready to get back to school and rewrite some subjects where I didn’t do well.I have 26 points and I was planning to reduce them so that I go to college. My parents told me that a man wanted to marry me and had already paid part of the bride price but I refused and went to my aunt’s place but they still came for me and took me to the man. He is a miner and the good part is that he is willing to take me to school after I have the baby. I am managing.It’s been difficult because I was just forced but I have accepted it. The dream of becoming a doctor is long gone.I will do something different when I decide” she told the reporter.
The two young girls are just among the many girls dropping out of school to get into marriage as a way of pleasing their parents.
“Surviving here is not easy, you take someone to school and their results are always bad then what can you do? Some of us have spent a lot of money on our children yet we get nothing in return, it’s wrong to marry them off but there are no options.
Personally my fear was that she may just get pregnant and I would lose out so it’s better someone marries her following procedure.
Another parent said ‘Most of my children are male ,the girls are too young, No i don’t think of doing that but when they grow older it will also depend on our financial status and their performance in school.’
Charity Centre for Children and Youth Development Executive Director Alex Bwaluka said it is painful to see how young girls are dropping out of school due to early marriages and pregnancies.
Mr Bwaluka who has been undertaking activities concerning children in schools is shocked that some parents have resorted to marrying off their children as a source of livelihood.
“A girl child has fallen victim to bad vices that have seen them get married at very tender age.
Surprisingly some parents find pride in seeing their children get married early for fear of the falling pregnant. For Northern Western Province Rational leaders have taken the issue very serious and warned that all those engaging in such vices will be punished. We must find a lasting solution to end this because the future of a girl child is under serious threat.” he said.
The need for concerted efforts to fight the bad vices cannot be over emphasised.
The Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) has issued a statement saying that it has impounded a bus belonging to Unlimited Gift Limited (UGL) for abrogating the ban imposed on Mazhandu family bus services by pulling a trailer belonging to a suspended bus operator.
According to the statement, the UGL bus BAB 7084 travelling from Lusaka to Johannesburg was impounded this morning for pulling a trailer AEB 675 T which belongs to Mazhandu family bus services. The RTSA last week suspended the Road Service License for Mazhandu following a spate of crashes resulting in deaths with the recent one killing 10 people on Great North road.
“As RTSA we would like to clarify that all buses and trailers registered under Mazhandu family bus services remain suspended. We would also like to assure members of the public that the suspension is still in effect and that we shall not allow Mazhandu Family Bus Services to operate directly or indirectly, ” read the statement
The statement further stated: “Members of the public should note that Unlimited General Limited (UGL) is an independent company with its own operators license. However, they are not allowed to use a motor vehicle or trailer without a Road Service License as in the case of Mazhandu Family Service bus which is currently suspended. Therefore, the UGL has violated the terms and conditions under which their operators license was issued by using a trailer that is not under their Road Service License.”
The Statement concluded by saying that from the foregoing, the Agency will act according to the provisions of the law.
Meanwhile,Unlimited Gifts Limited (UGL) Director Justine Mazhandu has said that his company is independent from Mazhandu Buses owned by his father. Mr. Mazhandu said that UGL is one year old and only goes to Johannesburg.
Mr. Mazhandu said that the company only has two buses hence people should not mistake it for the suspended Mazhandu Uses because of similarities in colour. Mr. Mazhandu told ZNBC News that his Scania Bus Registration number BAB 7084 which left for Johannesburg this morning has been impounded in Kafue.
The Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) says it is engaging Chiefs and Village Headmen on the need to sensitize their subjects on road safety in a bid to reduce the number of road accidents.
RTSA Chief Executive Officer Zindaba Soko says since Chiefs and Headmen are strategic partners to sensitize their subjects in chiefdoms, his Agency has targeted them in its effort to sensitize the rural community on road safety .
Mr. Soko reducing the number of road carnages cannot be done by RTSA alone but with the involvement of stakeholders like the traditional leaders.
ZANIS reports the RTSA Chief Executive Officer however regretting in an interview that his Agency is working closely with the Zambia Police Service, the Ministry of Communications and Transport and other law enforcement agencies in an effort to reverse the high number of RTAs in the country.
He urged motorists to adhere to the highway Code all the time.
Mr. Soko warned that the Agency would not relent to implement the measures it is mandated to do in order to bring sanity on the Zambian roads.
Recently, Police released that Zambia recorded over 7,000 RTAs last year from January to December.
Bwalya Ng’andu
Investrust Bank Plc says it reaped a K100 million profit during the 2016 fiscal year.
Investrust Bank Chairman Jacob Mwanza says this was achieved through the increased customer base which he said currently stands at over 100,000 through-out Zambia.
Dr. Mwanza said this in Lusaka last evening when he officially launched the InvestGO Pre-Paid VISA Debit Card.
“Our strong banking offering makes us very competitive and we aim to be the Bank of choice for many given capability,” Dr. Mwanza said.
He said the Bank boosts of having 27 branches, three agencies and over 60 Automated Teller Machine (ATMs) plus the PayEasy and the VISA Green Card, all aimed at customer satisfaction.
And Bank of Zambia Deputy Governor Bwalya Ngandu commended Investrust Bank for devising the InvestGO Pre-Paid VISA Debit Card.
Dr. Ngandu said this in a speech read on his behalf by Bank of Zambia Senior Director-Supervisory Policy, Chisha Mwanakatwe.
He said the Central Bank is committed to ensuring that Zambia has a vibrant and robust financial sector such as Investrust Bank that spans more two decades of its existence.
“As a regulator, we will continue to monitor, guide and support the financial industry and l applaud Investrust bank Plc for this great initiative and contribution to the banking seector spanning more than 20 years,” Dr. Ngandu said.
Dr. Ngandu adds the Bank continues to implement various monetary policy interventions that have culminated to stability of the local currency, the Kwacha, management of liquidity and ultimately, inflation in the country.
Drug Enforcement CommissionThe Drug Enforcement Commission through its Anti-Money Laundering Investigations Unit (AMLIU) has arrested three business persons for attempting to obtain credit by false pretence.
In a statement issued by DEC public relations manager Theresa Katongo said Katongo Chiteba Mulenga, 28, a Business Woman of 218/16 Kaunda Square Stage 2 in Lusaka has been arrested for theft, forgery, uttering of false documents, personation, and obtaining credit by false pretences contrary to the Laws of Zambia.
Ms Katongo said Mulenga is alleged to have on dates unknown but between 1st January, 2016 and 27th January, 2017 whilst acting together with other persons unknown did, fraudulently and without any claim of right, deprive a named financial services company of K25, 000 by forging a National Registration Card and two (02) Government payslips for a named school teacher in the Ministry of Education in Ngabwe in Central Province.
She explained that Mulenga uttered the said documents to a named financial services company and impersonated a named school teacher thereby deceiving the loan officer of the named financial services.
The financial services company inevitably issued the loan of K25, 000 to the accused.
The suspect was released on Police Bond and will appear in Court soon.
And in a related development, Ms Katongo said the Commission has arrested and jointly charged George Mulasikwanda, 42, a Businessman of Plot No. 10968 of Libala South and Justine Washa Mwelwa, 48, a Businessman of House No. 59093 of Kamwala South for attempting to obtain credit by false pretences, forgery, uttering of false documents and personation contrary to the Laws of Zambia.
She said Particulars of the offence are that George Mulasikwanda and Justine Washa Mwelwa on dates unknown but between 1st November, 2016 and 27th January, 2017 jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unknown did attempt to obtain a loan of K30,000 from a named financial services company without any claim of right.
She said Mulasikwanda and Mwelwa forged payslips and a National Registration Card in the name of a named teacher from the Ministry of Education in Kabwe and a signature of a Human Resource Officer also from the Ministry of Education in Kabwe.
Ms Katongo added that the duo further uttered the said documents to the named financial services company purporting to be a named teacher and subsequently collected a cheque of K30, 000.
She said cheque was deposited into an account opened at a known bank in the name of the said teacher.
The two suspects have been released on Police Bond and will appear in Court soon.
Following Governments decision to ground Mazhandu buses due to excessive accidents the family business has within a few days resurfaced under a new name Unlimited Gifts Limited.
The business name which is owned by the wife to Mazhandu was previously engaged in clothing but has now refocused it’s business to offer public service transport.
The buses first route are between Lusaka and Johannesburg.
Departure is on Thursday and Sunday at 09:00hrs.
The Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) on 1st February suspended the Road Service License for Mazhandu Family Bus Services.
Following a series of accidents with the latest resulting in the death of 10 people.
However, Mazhandu Family Bus Services have appealed to the Minister of Transport against the revocation of their licence.
And commenting on the appeal Minister of Transport Brian Mushimba said;
“….I advised and appealed to Mazhandu to join us in mourning the lives we lost in that gruesome accident versus focusing on their license at this time. I have just left one funeral house in chazanga and going to the next in new kasama.”
The Football Association of Zambia was forced to defer the adoption of the FIFA driven constitution after members raised objections to certain clauses.
Zambia has until March 31 to align its constitution to FIFA Statutes or face suspension.
FAZ President Andrew Kamanga called for an Emergency Council Meeting on February 4 as part of the process of meeting the FIFA deadline but members could not agree on the document.
Lower division clubs rose up in arms with FAZ challenging their diminished influence in the 80 member proposed Electoral College that surrenders 50% of the voting rights to 20 Super Division sides and another 20 allocated to National Division One teams under the new structure.
The lower division sides have been allocated miniscule voting rights falling under provincial associations.
They labelled the new model elitist and exclusive to Super Division and Division sides.
FAZ General Secretary Ponga Liwewe announced that the members will have one extra week to make final amendments after which the legal team will draft the final document that will be adopted at the March 26 AGM, five days before the FIFA deadline lapses.
FIFA Member Association Chairperson Luca Nicola attended stressing the gravity of failing to miss the March 31 deadline.
“And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ.”
(Philemon 1:6, NLT)
Put it into Action
The Bible tells us that faith without works is dead. If we don’t put our faith into action, it’s not really faith; it’s just nice ideas. You see, when God truly does a work in our lives, it affects everything about us. It affects our words, our thoughts and our actions. How do you know someone is generous? By their generous actions. How do you know someone is kind? By their kind actions. How do you know someone is gentle? By their gentle actions. How do you know someone is a follower of Christ? By their Christ-like actions.
Can people tell by your actions that you belong to God? We all have areas where we can come up higher, but as believers in Jesus, we can be confident that God is at work in us. He is faithful and will complete what He started. As we invite Him to search our hearts and minds, as we surrender every area of our heart to Him and put our faith into action, He will finish His perfect work in us!
A Prayer for Today
“Father in heaven, thank You for changing me, for making me more like You. I invite Your love to do a work in my heart so that You are reflected in everything I say and do in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Copperbelt Province Commissioner of Police Charity KatangaA GANG of about 50 copper thieves, notoriously known as Jerabos, on Friday night invaded Nchanga Open-Pit Mine in Chingola on the Copperbelt.
The daring thieves were, however, over-powered by police, who arrested five of them.
According to Copperbelt police commissioner Charity Katanga, police pounced on the thieves around 01:00 hours, acting on a tip-off.
Mrs Katanga said the copper thieves were transported to the mine in a truck.
She named those arrested as James Chibwe, 27, Leonard Kabalika, 28, and Percy Luwi, aged 31.
Also arrested are two minors, both aged 16.
The five have been charged with criminal trespass and theft.
Police recovered much of the stolen items.
Mrs Katanga said among the items stolen from the mine, which is run by Konkola Copper Mine, were bags of copper concentrate and scrap metal, which were hidden under tree branches.
The value of the stolen items is yet to be determined, but a source at the mine said it could probably run into millions of dollars.
And Mrs Katanga said the invasion by the copper thieves is “more than meets the eye”.
She said the crime bears the hallmark of organisation crime.
“I’m gravely concerned because this seems to be very organised,” she said.
Mrs Katanga also suspects a syndicate is at the centre of the criminal activities.
Following yesterday’s incident, police have deployed over 20 personnel to beef up the security provided by the mining company.
The mine police was reportedly out-numbered by the thieves.
And a source at the mine said yesterday’s invasion by the jerabos was the second one, following another invasion which happened last Wednesday.
The source also revealed that the thieves chased away night-shift workers before breaking into a store room, where they stole motors.
The source said the thieves have taken advantage of the vastness of the mine, which makes policing difficult.
Nchanga Mine, which covers about 30 square kilometres, is the second largest open-cast mine in the world.
There was a near riot between residents and council police officers when the latter armed with slahers went to the former’s maize fields to slash the crops down.
The determined council police on their way to raid the maize fields were greeted with stones and other missiles by the determined owners to fend them off.
However, alert police moved in and used teargas canisters to disperse the warring parties.
And council chairperson Margret Msimuko and Lundazi district commissioner Janet Palukani rushed to ‘ war zone’ to pacify the situation.
The duo managed their mission after they convinced the warring parties that what they were doing was what the termed as,” was one way of frustrating patriotic front (pf) government efforts of promoting agriculture in the district.”
Meanwhile, Lundazi residents have since condemned council administration action of allegedly slashing green maize in the township.
The community is repotedly planning to henceforth conduct a peaceful demonstration against council’s administration, since council was promoting poverty in the district.
And one of the victim whose one hector green maize field got slashed, Christina Mbewe a 60 year old widow, wailed lamenteably as she watched her maize being slashed.
,Ms. Mbwewe has since condemned council action and demanded immediately compensation from the local authority.
But when contacted for comment, Lundazi District council secretary Mr. Boyd Kaoma defended the council’s action in the township.
Mr. Kaoma said the local Authority was carrying out its mandate in accordance with directive from provincial local government office in chipata which had instructed councils to ensure cleanness of townships.
However, when contacted, provincial local government officer (PLGO) Mr. Alex Bwalya denied instructing Lundazi council to slash the fields.
Mr. Bwalya said it was unfortunate said his office issued circular to all councils in Province to embark on general cleanliness, like vegetation control measure, unblocking of drainage, construction of toilets in drinking premises among others.
