In the spirit of showing that Zambian talent can compete at the highest musical levels, young innovators Chanda Mbao, Blake and Scott team up to showcase their skill with the release of their take on DJ Khaled’s classic ‘Take It To The Head‘

https://soundcloud.com/chandambao/chanda-mbao-x-blake-x-scott-take-it-to-the-head-refix

 

BY KAPA187

President Edgar Lungu President called a special session of Cabinet on Thursday, December 22, 2016 to reflects on the achievements and challenges of 2016 so that he plans for a more robust approach to the administration of Government in 2017.

And today, Friday, December 23, 2016, the President held another session specifically for Provincial Ministers to discuss provincial administration and other matters incidental to the wellbeing of the country’s 10 regions.

According to a statement released to the media today by his Special Assistant for Press and Public relations Amos Chanda, during the Thursday meeting, Cabinet and Provincial Ministers reflected on Government performance in 2016 and dialogued on a broad range of strategies aimed at enhancing the delivery of quality services to the people.

“In order to improve the livelihoods of our people, it is important for us to take stock of what we have done this far so that we can chart the way forward in a more structured way. My national development agenda will be guided by the wisdom of broad consultation within and outside government,” President Lungu said.

“I am seeking the broadest consensus possible in my quest to develop the country. But there will no room for procrastination and lethargy in the execution of government programmes. I am pleased to learn that my ministers share my impatience at the undue delays in the execution of decisions. We have to break with the business as usual approach.”

From 11:00hours in the morning until 20:00 hours in evening, Cabinet reflected on the achievements of 2016 notwithstanding the challenges of elections that consumed a lot of time away from real development challenges.

“We have to move fast to recover some of this lost time. To this effect, I gave direction on how we ought to move as a team. We have to re-examine critically, all aspects of Government administration within the context of the new constitutional and legal framework following the passage of the new constitution in 2016. We have to look, not just a the cost of running government, but also the redefined relationships between and among different government departments in the light of the new constitutional order,” the Head od State said.

The President guided that necessary re-alignments must quickly be made to ensure the new constitutional and administrative creations can function properly in a coordinated manner and within the country’s limited resource envelope.

The President has underscored the need for Cabinet to work as coordinated team and expects all ministers to be conscious of the crosscutting nature of government if they were to succeed in delivering effectively and efficiently.The PF Government has a huge task to deliver on the promises on which we premised our campaigns in the last general elections hence the need for the ministers to work extremely hard and together.

Chef 187 unveils the highly anticipated video for his hit single “House Party Mu Ka One Room” . The video was directed by Qbick and Lawdak of NXT solutions.

 

BY KAPA187

Small-scale famers in Luapula Province have received a significant boost with the launch of Zambian Breweries’ initiative to buy cassava for use in the production of its affordable Eagle lager, a move that promises to provide a reliable market for the crop.
The initiative by the brewing company to source cassava from small-scale farmers is part of its effort to support the development of the cassava value chain with a focus on the commercialisation of the crop, as well as increasing local market linkages with farmers.
Zambian Breweries has already started acquiring cassava from farmers through its agent GroAfrica and the company plans to purchase over 1,000 tonnes of cassava over the next six months. “Our dream is to bring people together for a better community and country. We believe that the sustainable growth of the business is tied in to the prosperity of our people. Once our people prospers then can our business manage to grow and register profits.’’,” said Zambian Breweries corporate affairs director Ezekiel Sekele.
The purchases of cassava come as Zambian Breweries has been evaluating plans to set up a processing plant in Mansa in an effort to secure cassava from small-scale farmers and use it in the production of Eager lager. With the prospect of a guaranteed market for the crop, farmers in the province have offered to bolster cassava production through acquiring more land for farming activities to increase cassava production for both consumption and commercial purposes.
“We have enough land, and all farmers including chiefs have been calling for a cassava market, so we are ready to give Zambian Breweries land where it can even do an outgrower scheme. In order to enhance value addition to our cassava, it would be important to establish a processing plant here in Mansa,” said Mansa District Commissioner Lloyd Mwape Chakaba.
Zambian Breweries’ Eagle lager cassava project has shown great potential to make a significant contribution to rural farming in Mansa and the purchasing of the crop has provided a market for farmers to increase their farming.
Welcoming the Zambian Breweries team to Mansa, Mayor Emmanuel Chungu said: “This is a big project, and going by the volumes that Zambian Breweries is talking about in buying cassava, it will reduce the pressure from government over maize dependence, because our people will appreciate the benefits of growing cassava.”
The Finance Minister, Honorable Felix Mutati who toured the Zambian Breweries processing plant in Ndola, in December 2016,  to inspect a new high-tech process that increases the amount of cassava in the company’s affordable Eagle Lager, was delighted with the, company’s initiative, of using cassava in the production process.
With the new state-of-the-art equipment the company hopes to increase Eagle Lager production from 50,000 hectolitres to about 200,000 hectolitres in the coming year, and plans to purchase over 12,000 metric tons of cassava root from the farmers in 2017.

Radio, TV presenter and Public Relations practitioner Kalumba Chikonde popularly known as Ksmash was last Friday 16^th December,2016 bestowed with the Radio Legend award for his consistent creative contribution to Zambian radio  for two decades at the Inaugural Zambian Radio awards held in Luaska.

K-smash started his radio career at the ZNBC radio 4 fun club after being discovered during a debate session while in high school at Munali boys by Nkweto  tembwe  then later  joined main stream radio at Radio Phoenix in 1997   where he initiated a number of shows like the Local Rythms countdown and the Sunday Morning Breeze.  He later moved to Q-FM as host of the Weekend show and producer of the Drive Time show from 2003 -2005. In 2005, he was appointed the first Programmes Manager for HOT where he built a formidable team, created concepts and creative initiatives which positioned the station as the number for news and entertainment and was later elevated to Creative Director of the station in 2009.

K-smash can be credited for being passionate about promoting local music and bringing up new talent on radio through his selfless mentorship.

Receiving his award k-smash acknowledged Radio Phoenix, Q-FM and HOT FM for contributing to his longevity in the media through their support and all the fans that have listened to his shows over the years.

‘ I thank  radio Phoenix for giving me an opportunity at the tender age of 19, Q-FM for the time I spent there with an amazing youthful team and HOT FM for believing in me as a ‘war planner’ over the years, I also wish to thank Jehovah God, my family ,friends and Fans for all the support’  Said K-smash

He later dedicated the award to his late friend and colleague Nawa Kabika aka DJ LBC who he described as a pillar in his career who always encouraged him to hold on when he felt like quitting the industry.

Other than K-smash , the other recipient of the Radio Legend award was veteran DJ and Lawyer Chishala Chitoshi Jr also known as GESH.

The two become the first Zambian radio Djs to be recognized under an award system as Radio Legend.

The  Zambian Radio awards  recognized radio stations and personalities in the radio industry in 28 categories and some of the big winners were HOT FM , SUN FM and FALLS  FM who scoped best radio stations in their respective regions.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, LT FAMILY

Greetings to the LT Family of Debaters-cum-Bloggers, a disparate family indeed: always quarrelling, threatening, shouting others down, and even disowning one another but a typical family all the same!

I had decided to take a break for the remaining part of 2016 to reflect, rest and recharge batteries for 2017! But the commencement of the so-called “Commission of Inquiry on Voting Patterns and Political Violence” a few days before Christmas Day, has given me a strong reason to break my “Sabbatical”, if there is such a thing in politics and online debates – very cunning timing by these Commissioners, to commence the rip-off when Zambians are in a joyous, peaceful, forgiving but absent-minded mood!

I have missed the net; but I have missed the LT Family more, especially the Keyboard Warriors who belong to an invisible but potent army that springs up from nowhere, using unconventional missiles (the UnQueen’s language) and other Weapons of Mass Destruction. They thought they had vanquished me in 2016 but I am briefly back, just to deal with Judge Munalula Lisimba’s “Christmas Party Commission of Inquiry”. I shall thus end 2016 on this topic, which is an ill-advised and badly schemed money-laundering machine!

I wish the LT Family Good Tidings and a blessed ending of the Year 2016; I also wish all Zambians across all social barriers a Healthy, Peaceful, Joyous and Happy New Year!

By the way, these Christmas and New Year Greetings exclude the Commission of Inquiry, which has irritated me, for commencing their scheme to plunder our national coffers at Christmas! For this reason I shall jump into the Boxing Ring AGAINST the Commission on 26th December 2016, which I hear is called Boxing Day. After boxing them, then I may extend belated Christmas greetings to them, maybe even to their Supreme Chairman. Enjoy!

GODFREY MIYANDA,
BRIGADIER GENERAL,
LT FAMILY
[23RD DECEMBER 2016]

IT would be of no political value to assassinate Hakainde Hichilema and the UPND leader should take responsibility for his lack of leadership and apologise to Zambians for the riotous behavior of his cadres at the Lusaka High Court, Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo has said.

Mr Kampyongo said Mr Hichilema’s claims that the riot by the UPND cadres was stage-managed by the Patriotic Front (PF) in an alleged scheme to assassinate him (Hichilema) was the cheapest way to seek public and political sympathy.

Mr Kampyongo said Mr Hichilema was losing political relevance having lost the presidency more than five times and no one would want to assassinate him.

Reacting to assertions by Mr Hichilema that the confusion at the Lusaka High Court was targeted at him (Hichilema) so that he could be assassinated, Mr Kampyongo said the UPND leader’s claims were laughable because the UPND leader’s political fortunes had diminished to the lowest ebb ever.

He said Mr Hichilema owed Zambians an apology for the damage his cadres caused at the High Court and the threat posed to the lives of the Judges and lawyers as well as innocent onlookers.

Mr Hichilema was reported in The Mast Newspaper as having claimed that State House had caused the riot by the UPND cadres because according to him, there was a plot to assassinate him.

But Mr Kampyongo said Mr Hichilema was using wishful thinking to justify his wrong political actions and wondered what relevance there would be to assassinate the UPND leader.

“Mr Hichilema is one man who has lost political relevance. It would be of no political value to assassinate Mr Hichilema who is of no political consequence. Let Mr Hichilema own up and apologise to Zambians for the riotous behavior of his cadres. Property was damaged and the lives of the judges and lawyers were at risk because of the hooliganism of the UPND cadres. So tell him to stop that kind of cheap politicking and seeking sympathy using cheap political tactics,” Mr Kampyongo said.

He said the law was going to firmly deal with the perpetrators of hooliganism at the High Court and if Mr Hichilema cared for his cadres, he should sacrifice his comfort and come to the rescue of the many young men and women who had been arrested.

Mr Kampyongo said Mr Hichilema should know that Zambians were well informed and that the riot by his cadres were video recorded by many and it was therefore poor politics for Mr Hichilema to blame the police.

Minister of Finance Felix Mutati says financing the Batoka Hydro Power Station project will not affect the 2017 national budgets for Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Mr. Mutati says this is because the project which will generate 2 thousand 400 mega watts of electricity will be internationally sponsored.

The minister of finance says Zambia will in February next year host an international conference aimed at convincing investors to invest in the Batoka Hydro project which needs about 3 -point-six-billion U.S Dollars.

He said this at the 34th Council of Ministers Meeting held in Victoria Falls Town, Zimbabwe.

And Zimbabwe’s Minister of Finance and Economic Development Patrick Chinamasa expressed happiness at the relationship between Zambia and Zimbabwe especially in the energy sector.

Meanwhile, the Zambezi River Authority Council of Ministers has approved an operational budget of 89 million dollars for 2017, with Zambia and Zimbabwe pledging to continue cooperating in the development of the energy sector.

And Minister of Energy David Mabumba says the Zambezi River Authority should start looking beyond Lake Kariba in its investments involving Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Mr. Mabumba who is the Incoming Chairperson for the Zambezi River Authority Council of Ministers said it is important to look at alternative sources of energy to sustain the economies of the two countries.

He said when Zambia and Zimbabwe diversify their energy sectors, they will eventually stop importing electricity and steer economic development in the neighbouring countries.

Mr. Mabumba also said the Zambezi River Authority will make progress in the rehabilitation of the Kariba Dam Wall during 2017 and that 3-hundred and 94 -million dollars for the project has already been secured.

And the outgoing Chairperson of the Zambezi River Authority Council of Ministers, Samuel Undenge announced that the construction of the Batoka Hydro Power Station will start next year as the feasibility studies for the project are almost complete.

The Ndola High Court has found former minister of Defence George Mpombo’s 17-year-old son guilty of shooting dead his pregnant girlfriend and beheading her.

Judge Emelia Sunkutu described the crime as horrific deserving the strongest punishment possible.

“As I conclude my judgment, I cannot express the horror of this heinous crime not only to the family of the deceased but also to the Zambian populace at large.

“It is inconceivable that one so young would come up with such an evil scheme to take the life of another. I believe that nothing could describe the horrible act from someone so young.

“In fact it will definitely leave an indelible mark in the history of Zambian criminal justice system.

“I find you guilty on one count of murder according to the laws of Zambia for the murder of Ruth Phiri. I also find you guilty of aggravated robbery,” Ndola High Court judge-in-charge Emelia Sunkutu.”

Mpombo’s son allegedly shot his lover to death with a pistol when he learnt that she was pregnant. The accused was alleged to have later beheaded the 17-year-old girl before dumping the head in a bush.

Mr Mpombo’s son, whose name has been withheld, admitted having allegedly shot his lover after she told him that she was pregnant by him and that he buried her body in Chiwala before dumping her head in a bush near Mulungushi bus station within Ndola.

The police witness said that they exhumed a headless body of a 17-year-old teenager of Pamodzi Township in Ndola. This girl was believed to have been pregnant by Mpombo’s son. When girl told Mr Mpombo’s son that she was pregnant for him, he got upset and grabbed a pistol from the house which he used to shoot her.

It was alleged that after shooting her, he cut off her head, which he concealed in a plastic bag before dumping it in the bush, while he buried her body in Chiwala area in Masaiti. Mr Mpombo’s son led police to the scenes of crime where the both the head and body was found in a decomposed state

People’S Democratic Party (PDP) president George Mpombo said that his son had committed a heinous crime that cannot be tolerated. Mr Mpombo admitted that the firearm that his son allegedly used to murder Ruth was his, but that he stole it from the house.

He said his son’s action of allegedly murdering his lover cannot be tolerated by anyone and that the law should take its course.

“The boy is my son, but he has committed a heinous crime that cannot be tolerated. The gun he used is mine but I did not realise that my son had stolen it from the house. I had no idea that he was even being interrogated by the police on Tuesday over the missing of the girl.

“I cannot condone a crime that brings the sanctity of life into disrepute. All I can say is that the law must take its course because every human being deserves to live and if they die, they should be buried in a proper manner,” Mr Mpombo said.