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Given Lubinda Minister of Justice Chats with President Edgar LunguMinister of Justice Given Lubinda says his Ministry is ready to work on legislation that will compel manufacturers of plastic products and plastic bags to be responsible for their disposal.
Mr Lubinda says he is waiting for submissions from line ministries on how best to manage the disposal of plastic materials.
He was responding to a proposal by Zambia Environment Management Agency -ZEMA- to have a statutory Instrument referred to as Extended Producer Responsibility, put in place.
Mr Lubinda has told ZNBC News in an interview in Lusaka that there is need to come up with regulatory policy that helps protect the environment.
And ZEMA Principal Information and Communications Officer Irene Chipili said the Agency is concerned with the increased use of plastics.
Ms Chipili said plastic bottles and plastics bags have a long term effect on the environment.
Antonio MwanzaForum for Democracy and Development (FDD) Spokesperson Antonia Mwanza has urged President Edgar Lungu to dismiss incompetent Government officials, reports Pan African Radio Journalist Hermit Hachilonde.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Radio ‘Platform Programme’ anchored by Kunda Kunda, Mwanza said both PF and the opposition have people who can help President Lungu deliver.
He said the failure by some cabinet ministers will dent the image of the president, adding that time to act is now.
”president Lungu must fire all incompetent cabinet ministers” Mr. Mwanza said
And Mwanza has said what happened at Lusaka’s Horse Shoe restaurant is a reflection of what happens in many working places in Zambia.
He also observed that labour laws are not respected because the Ministry of Labour does not have inspectors.
“The Ministry of Labour is incapable of ending Labour abuse in Zambia” he said
Nkandu Luo
2 009 students at the University of Zambia have been awarded scholarships for the 2016/2017 academic year. Minister of Higher Education Nkando Luo said that a thorough screening process was undertaken to give deserving students the scholarships.
Professor Luo said the list of students that have been awarded will be published in the print media tomorrow. The Minister was speaking in a press briefing in Lusaka.
Meanwhile, Ministry of General Education Permanent Secretary Henry Tukombe has implored churches to partner with Government in constructing more schools across the country.
And Mr. Tukombe has commended churches that have constructed schools in some parts of the country.
He was speaking when he toured Gibeon Adventist Secondary School being constructed by the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Mungwi District.
And Northern Province Education Officer Jobicks Kalumba has praised the Zambian contractor constructing the schools.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Kampamba Mulenga
Government has said that it is a misconception that it is out to harass the private media. Chief Government Spokesperson and Minister of Information Kampamba Mulenga said that government has got no scores to settle with any sections of the private media.
In her end of year message to the media, Ms Mulenga said that government wants to see professionalism in the press. The Minister also expressed concern at the poor working conditions for journalists in the private media. Ms Mulenga said she will meet media heads soon to discuss the matter.
And Minister of Information Kampamba Mulenga has said that Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) has not increased television levy. Ms Mulenga said that the levy is however, being reviewed and at an appropriate time the public will be informed of the outcome.
Speaking during a media briefing at her office in Lusaka, Ms Mulenga said the levy remains at K 3.
She also said government decided that Top Star communications should charge a subscription fee of K 30 for a minimum bouquet of 25 channels.
Top Star Communications Company Limited is a joint venture in which ZNBC owns 40 per cent share and StarTimes has 60 per cent.
Ms Mulenga further said the implementation of digital migration phases two and three is in full gear following the securing of financing by the government.
She said the project will see the construction of six provincial broadcasting stations and installations of transmission sites that will bring digital television to all parts of the country.
First Republican President Dr Kenneth Kaunda and the current head of State Edgar Lungu led the rest of the country in the 25th commemoration of the country’s declaration as a Christian Nation by second Republican President Fredrick Chiluba shortly after he was elected as President.
Among those in attendance at the Mulungushi International Conference centre was former first lady Vera Chiluba who could not hold herself and shed tears when the video of her late former was played.
Speaking when she officiated at the Silva jubilee celebrations of Zambia’s declaration as a Christian nation, Minister of National Guidance and Religious Affairs Rev.Godfridah Sumaili said that after 25 years since late former President Fredrick Chiluba made the declaration and entered into covenant with God on behalf of the people of Zambia.
She said Dr Chiluba’s declaration gave Zambia an identity and that everyone knows who they were.
“Our identity is established in the Lord Jesus Christ. The values, principles and ethics which we embrace as a people reflect the person of Jesus Christ.
“Love, dignity, integrity, honest, hard work, patriotism among others are the hallmark of who we are as a people,” she said.
Rev Sumaili paid tribute to President Lungu for making board decisions to concretise the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation.
She cited the decision by President Lungu to declare every October 18th as a day of national prayers, imitating the construction of the house of national prayer for all denominations the national alter of prayer and establishment of the ministry of national guidance and
religious affairs.
“The declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation is enshrined in preamble of the Zambian constitution and the values, principles and ethics are also in the constitution. The ministry of national guidance and religious affairs had been established among other purposes to facilitate the actualisation of the declaration into practical and workable realistic interventions.”
She said the ministry would provide regulatory policy and legal framework on matters patterning to Zambia’s national Christian heritage.
Rev Sumaili said it would provide guidance on values, principles, and ethics and promote national unit and establish platform for dialogue and collaboration between the state and the church.
And speaking during his welcome remarks Vice Chairperson for the House of Prayers Reverend Pukuta Mwanza said the day reminds the country of the main great strides which it has been taken since the late former President Fredrick Chiluba committed the country into a covenant and declared Zambia as a Christian Nation.
He said the country has seen an increased participation of Christians in various sectors of life both politically and economy.
He noted that the country has made peaceful transition both politically and economically because God has watched over the country.
Rev Mwanza also said the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation has become a reference point for people’s social behavior in society.
And Lusaka Province Minister Jaffen Mwakalombe said President Lungu and his government recognizes the importance of the day which has provided a platform for political coexistence.
He also said government considers the church as an important partner in development agenda of the country.
Young Women Christian Association (YWCA) Lusaka Region President Phosile Sichinga is advocating for the quick setting up of counseling homes and safe spaces for Zambian couples.
Commenting on the matter involving Sabena Kabamba of Kafue District who is alleged to have murdered his wife on 25th December, 2016, Mrs. Sichinga noted that it was regrettable that Gender Based Violence where spouses have died on the increase.
“Let’s create counseling homes and safe spaces for couples in Zambia” Mrs. Sichinga said
Meanwhile United Party for National Development (UPND) Katuba Member of Parliament Patricia Mwashingwele stressed the need to launch the save the family campaign from all sectors of life in Zambia.
“We need to launch the save the family campaign from all sectors of life in this country” Ms. Mwashingwele said
And Non-Governmental Organizations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) Executive Director Engwase Mwale has called upon Government to facilitate a national thinking and reflection on how to curb the vice which has become a national crisis.
Ms. Mwale said the incidences clearly indicate that there is a serious breakdown of spousal relations and family ties in Zambia, given the unprecedented reports of wife and husband battering and lately killings.
She said this surely is no longer an advocacy issue by few organizations, but a matter deserving full national attention – the church, NGOs, business sector, associations and unions, the media, public service, law makers, civic leaders, traditional leaders and the executive all need to come together.
“National leaders should facilitate a national thinking and reflection on how to curb the vice which has become a national crisis” Ms. Mwale said
And Zambia Society for Public Administration (ZSPA) President Kelvin Esaiasa echoed sentiments by YWCA Lusaka region President suggesting for the creation of institutions that addresses family affairs.
Commenting on a social media platform dubbed “Dynamic |Analysis Zambia”, Mr. Esiasa said insisted that the challenge about spouses in Zambia is because there are no institution that address family affairs.
He noted that in Zambia Families are living in isolations from main stream activities, adding that in United States of America there is a department of Family and marriage which ensures that families in disputes are given a lecture.
“In Zambia today a family lives in isolations. No institutions are addressing matters” He said
Radio Mano Journalists during one of the court appearances
The Kasama Magistrates’ Court has dismissed the case involving five Radio Mano journalists that were accused of using insulting language against two Patriotic Front officials.
Resident Magistrate Barthromel Kaongo noted that the state has discontinued the matter after receiving instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) not to proceed with the matter in the interest of press freedom.
The five Radio Mano journalists were arrested by police in Kasama on November 15th 2016 and pleaded not guilty to two counts of using insulting language, contrary to Section 179 Cap 87 of the laws of Zambia.
The five accused were News Editor Tobias Mangani and his Assistant News Editor Patrick Kabwe.
Others were Henry Kangwa, Nzala Hangubo and Abigail Musonda.
In the first count, facts are that on 9th November 2016, the five journalists jointly and whilst acting together did allegedly use insulting language against Charles Kashishi, by saying “mwe mbwa mwe, muli fipuba,” which is directly translated in English as “you dogs, you are fools”.
While in the second count, facts are that on November 9, 2016, the five jointly and acting together did allegedly use insulting language against Yona Chishimba by saying “mwe mbwa mwe, muli fipuba” which is directly translated in English as “you dogs, you are fools”.
Magistrate Kaongo said trial could not commence after the DPP chambers communicated that they will not be proceeding with the matter.
Chipata District in Eastern Province has recorded some isolated cases
of army worms that have destroyed the maize crop.
Chipata District Agriculture Coordinator Michael Ngulube confirmed to
Breeze News monitored in Chipata on Wednesday that three areas
that have been affected are Chiparamba, Kapita, and Msekera.
Mr Ngulube said officers from the Ministry of Agriculture have already
moved in to spray the pests.
He, however said that his office was ready to move in and spray the
area as directed by President Edgar Lungu.
Mr Ngulube said that what was needed was new chemicals because the
officers have been using old chemicals that remained last year.
On Wednesday, President Edgar Lungu directed the Disaster Management
and Mitigation Unit(DMMU) to join the Ministry of Agriculture in an
emergency operation to curb the spread of army worms that have invaded
some districts on the Copperbelt, Luapula, Central Provinces,and
some parts of Chipata district.
By press time, some chemicals were being awaited at Chipata airport.
LOCAL Government and Housing Minister Vincent Mwale has said the
Chipata town was now looking clean following the relocation of the
street vendors who were trading their merchandised along the famous
Umodzi Highway.
Mr Mwale said when he paid a courtesy call on Eastern Province
Minister Makebi Zulu in his office in Chipata on Wednesday that some few
months ago the town was looking dirty because of the street vendors
who were trading their merchandise on the road.
He said the people who had turned themselves as street vendors had
left the markets in preference to trade along the Umodzi Highway.
The minister said trading along the roads came with numerous
complaints such as accidents.
“I want to commend you for putting effort in ensuring that the people
who were trading along the Umodzi Highway are not there because we had
numerous complaints such as accidents. About four months ago the town
was looking dirty but now it is looking clean after the relocation of
the people who were trading along the Umodzi highway,”Mr Mwale said.
The minister said Umodzi Highway was not a better place to trade from
because of the high number of traffic.
He said his ministry was also cleaning up other streets across Eastern
province for the towns to remain clean.
He said Eastern province would be in the near future used as a model
on how street vending could be solved across the country.
Mr Mwale advised the provincial administration to work together with
his ministry to provide the conducive environment for the
traders.
He said Government would continue pumping money towards the
construction of new markets and bus stations across the country.
Zambia has closed 2016 with a 7.5 percent inflation rate in line with the Bank of Zambia’s projection of a single digit inflation rate.
December 2016 has closed at 7.5% from 8.8% recorded in November 2016.
Central Statistical Office (CSO) Director John Kalumbi during the December monthly bulletin release explained that the 7.5 year on year inflation means that on average, prices increased between December 2015 and December 2016.
Mr. Kalumbi noted that the annual food inflation rate stood at 7.8% as at December 2016 from 9.2% recorded in November 2016 while the annual non food inflation rate stood at 7.1% from 8.3% recorded in November 2016.
Mr. Kalumbi has attributed the decrease in the annual food inflation rate to decreases in the inflation for fillet steak, live chicken, imported cooking oil, table salt and dressed chicken.
Mr. Kalumbi said that, of the total 7.5 annual inflation rate, food and non alcoholic beverages products accounted for 4.1% while non food products accounted for 3.4%.
Mr. Kalumbi said that Lusaka province had the highest provincial contribution of 2.2% while Western Province had the lowest contribution of 0.2%.
Meanwhile, the national economy in the first half of 2016 grew by 4 percent with its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) standing at 60.4-billion kwacha.
Mr Kalumbi said the 4 percent is an increase compared to the 3.3 percent the same period last year. Mr Kalumbi added that his office is now able to compute quarterly GDP projections.
Mr Kalumbi said Information Communication Technology which is the fastest growing sector at 40.2 percent is also the highest GDP contributor at 1.2 percent.
He said the ICT growth was mainly as a result of promotional products by the three mobile service providers which saw an increase in data usage and number of minutes for voice calls.
In contrast to the challenges faced by workers of the Indian owned mining firm KCM, workers at the smaller Mwambashi Open Pit Mine have ended their year with smiles as the mining firm awarded them with Christmas bonuses.
The mining firm which is under Sino-Metals Leach Zambia said it had decided to award it’s workers with food hampers as a way of appreciating their hard work.
The Chambishi based outfit further said its workers are the most important part of their operations hence it was important that they are kept motivated and happy.
The mine further says it has gone into negotiations with the unions representing the workers and the negotiations are going on smoothly and expected to have improved conditions once the resume work in March.
The open pit mine has gone on its annual shut down till March due to excessive rain and will resume work in March.
During the shut down the company pays it’s workers and has done so since it started its operations which begs a lot of questions as to why the mining giant of Chingola KCM continues to play hide and seek when it comes to paying their workers and contractors.
Last week Mines Minister Christopher Yaluma it took intervention for KCM to commit to the debt as some contractors protested.
The Copper Mine (KCM) has since not fulfilled Christopher Yaluma’s commitment to suppliers and contractors over payment date.
And Mr Yaluma has warned KCM that if it fails to pay suppliers on January 7, 2017, it risks having its mining license revoked.
After briefing with KCM management in the boardroom last Friday, KCM management assured Mr Yaluma and labour Minister Joyce Nonde that it will make payment to both suppliers and contractors on Tuesday this week which made Mr Yaluma to commit himself and assured the protesting suppliers and contractors that he was putting his heard on the chopping board.
But he received shock of his Government authority when KCM told him that it will pay on January 7, next year.
KCM had only managed to pay one month salary to labour based contractors leaving out suppliers.
In anger Mr Yaluma warned KCM that if it fails to pay suppliers on January 7, 2017, it risks having its mining license revoked.
The Minister said that he would love to see all the supplies paid but KCM had expressed some serious financial challenges hence the company was excused up to January 7th.
Lake Kariba
Zambia reportedly breached a fishing protocol signed with Zimbabwe by exceeding its fishing quota in Lake Kariba, Environment and Water minister Oppah Muchinguri told Parliament recently.
The 1999 Protocol on Economic and Technical Co-operation sets the agenda for what each country does in the management of fisheries within its jurisdiction on the lake.
Muchinguri told the National Assembly during last week’s question-and-answer session that under Article 6 of the protocol, the number of fishing boats is to be shared according to the area of the lake which each State holds.
However, Zambia allegedly breached the protocol by having too many kapenta fishing boats on the lake compared to Zimbabwe which has a larger stake on Lake Kariba.
“Zimbabwe, which holds 55% of the lake, is entitled to 55% of the total fishing effort [particularly of the kapenta fishery which is a shared stock]. Currently, Zimbabwe has 460 kapenta fishing boats on the lake and Zambia has 962 boats officially declared. This means the current ratio is 32:68 in Zambia’s favour which is against the protocol agreement,” Muchinguri said.
The Environment minister said there were also too many kapenta fishing boats on the lake whereas only 500 boats were sufficient in order for Lake Kariba to have a sustainable fishery.
“With the agreed ration, Zimbabwe is to have 275 rigs and Zambia should have 225.
The current total is pegged at 1 422, meaning there is overcapacity on the lake. Riparian states agreed in the 2013 Bio Economic Working Group Meeting to reduce the number of rigs and/or the number of fishing nights to ensure that the fishery is exploited sustainably.”
She said each riparian State is obliged by the protocol to share information on catch statistics, number of fishing vessels and patrol efforts made to encounter poaching, and also have technical consultations which are information sharing platforms.
“Zimbabwe has to date reduced the total number of fishing nights from 30 days to 23 days a month, a 23% reduction in total fishing effort. This has led to an improvement on the catch statistics, with Basin 5 (Kariba) in 2015 realising an increase from 88kg/rig per night. This proves that effort reduction does result in better returns for the fishers,” Muchinguri said.
Zimbabwe gets 90% of its fish protein from Lake Kariba, with over 50% of this being from kapenta fishing.
Energy Minister David MabumbaEnergy Minister David Mabumba has charged that in the year 2017, electricity tariffs would be revised in order to make them cost reflective in line with the policy shifts as outlined in the National Budget.
Speaking during a press briefing in his office yesterday, Mr Mabumba appealed to Zambians to bear with the government that as the nation was going through power deficit, government in 2017 would be working on developing the hydro, solar, coal and geothermal potential.
Mr Mabumba said currently the power tariffs in Zambia were not economically attractive.
“…and as long as we don’t deal with structures of our tariffs in this country, it would be difficult for Zambia to attract the private sector,” Mr Mabumba said.
Mr Mabumba said in order for government to finance a K3.5 billion dollar Bakota power project, it needed to have cost reflective tariffs.
He said if the tariffs were not attractive, the banks would not be willing to finance the energy projects.
Mr Mabumba said government was spending about US$40 million dollars per month from electricity imported from Zimbabwe, an equivalent of almost U$480 million per year.
He said Zambia had been importing 300 megawatts per day from Mozambique.
Meanwhile, Mr Mabumba said government would implement the policy shift of delinking itself from the oil procurement process and leave the procurement of petroleum products to the private sector.
On fuel prices, Mr Mabumba said despite the policy shift of delinking itself from oil procurement, the Energy Regulations Board would continue to determine the oil pump price.
“Governments in the SADC region even in East Africa do not participate in the procurement of fuel because they have realized that the private sectors are the drivers of job creation and they have decided to empower the private sector to import fuel on behalf of their respective government,” Mr Mambumba said.
Mr Mabumba said in 2017 government would begin a gradual process to build capacity in the private sector to participate in the procurement of petroleum product in the country.
He said the Ministry of Energy would only be providing policy directions and regulations by creating an enabling environment for all the OMCs to have equal participation.
Mr Mabumba said the government through the Energy Regulations Board would still return the uniform pump price across the country in order to protect the Zambian people.
He however stated that in the oil procurement process, government would have to protect the interest of Indeni and TAZAMA oil pipelines.
ZESCO Muzuma substation being upgraded to KV 330 (from KV 220) in order to be connected to the national grid as soon as the Maamba coal plant station is commissionedThe ruling Patriotic Front(PF) has expressed delight at the news that government has no intention of privatising the government owned power utility Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO), Indeni Petroleum Refinery Company Limited and TAZAMA Pipelines Limited.
In a statement, PF Publicity and Information Committee Deputy Chairperson Charity Banda said said the news was timely and shows that President Lungu is a listening leader.
Ms Banda however could not resist the temptation to take a dig at their (PF) alliance partner, the MMD, whom she said sold companies which ended up bringing miserly to the Zambian workers.
She said that, although the companies were privatised in a bid to improve their operations and make them profitable, it is an open secret that the companies ended up being worse.
“We are delighted by the news that the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) has no intention of privatizing ZESCO, but put in place measures to improve its operations. This news is not only timely, but also speaks volumes about the listening quality of President Edgar Chagwa Lungu and his government.
“For sure, our people have spoken against calls to sell ZESCO, fearing that it may also end up like many companies that were sold under the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) privatisation programme. We all know that privatisation was characterised by job losses, asset stripping, non payment of workers benefits and other negative happenings that created a lot of suffering among our people. It is an open secret that many companies that were sold in the name of making them efficient and profitable ended up becoming worse leading to close downs,” she said.
She added that government should bear in mind that selling government companies does not always save the interest of Zambians as learnt from the privatisation carried out by the MMD.
“Against this background, we can safely say that Zambia has learnt a lesson which the government should bear in mind when the temptation to sell a government or quasi government company arises.
“As such we wish to commend President Lungu and his team for his wise leadership seen in the decision to improve the operations of ZESCO and not selling it. It is our prayer that stakeholders especially development partners who think selling companies such as ZESCO is a good option will appreciate the intellectual insight which has guided our President and his team in deciding not to sell ZESCO.
“Finally, it is our hope that responsible people will move fast to devise measures and implement initiatives to make our ZESCO efficient and profitable and continue to play a vital role in the development of our country,” she said.
Yesterday, Energy Minister David Mabumba announced that ZESCO, Indeni Petroleum Refinery Company Limited and TAZAMA Pipelines Limited are not for sale but government will only optimize their operation capacity.
