Jay Rox released the official album artwork for his upcoming album ,”Lusaka” .

The artwork is in form of a word puzzle . Jay Rox asks his fans to find the names of their neighborhoods within Lusaka in the artwork . Fans can download the arkwork , circle the neighborhoods they find and share them with Jay Rox on his social media pages using the hashtag #SpotYoHood .

Jay Rox social media pages:

Instagram : Officialjayrox

Twitter: @jayRox05

Facebook: OfficialJayRoxa

BY KAPA187

Vice President Inonge Wina has announced that President Edgar Lungu has cut his monthly salary by 50 percent as part of his government’s austerity measures.

Mrs Wina told Parliament that President Lungu has reduced his monthly pay by as much as 50 percent in order to demonstrate his government’s commitment to austerity measures.

According to the Statutory Instrument 19 of 2016, President Lungu’s monthly salary is pegged at K36 million K 36 000 per month.

Mrs Wina was answering a question from UPND Member of Parliament for Mazabuka Central Garry Nkombo who wanted to find out whether it is true that Government has procured 45 GX vehicles for newly appointed Ministers.

But the Vice President said such reports are untrue and that Cabinet has at no time even deliberated on such a proposal.

She said government is now focused on administering austerity measures across all government operations and that all government officials have to make sacrifices.

“On the issue of buying new vehicles Mr Speaker, this is news to me. I am hearing about this for the first time because even Cabinet has never considered such a proposal,” Mrs Wina said.

The election defeat in a local government seat in Mukuba ward of Nkana constituency on the Copperbelt has caused panic in the ruling PF.

The Opposition United Party for National Development UPND has scooped the Mukuba Ward Local government seat.

UPND Candidate Graddy Simukoko polled 438 votes beating his closest rival Gilbert Mushota of the Patriotic Front who polled 361 votes.

Chibwe Kaputo and Dorica Lungu who both stood as independent candidates polled 138 and 32 votes respectively.

Returning Officer Brian Mbula declared Graddy Simukoko of the UPND as the duly elected candidate for Mukuba Ward.

And speaking to the media, newly elected Mukuba Ward Councillor Graddy Simukoko said the victory means that the party is now being accepted in the province considered a PF stronghold.

Simukoko said the win is a stepping stone for the UPND in the Patriotic Front stronghold.

But this victory has been seen as confirmation of the divisions reported in the ruling party on the Copperbelt.

Senior PF officials in Kitwe said they did not campaign because of divisions in the Party.

” Just this week, senior PF officials complained of divisions and been sidelined. Now you can see these results. In fact a lot of PF officials especially the youth leadership are very happy with this loss. This party is divided and they feel like they are not benefiting anything. So its better the MMD takes over than for us to fight for a party that can’t appreciate us,” they said.

Meanwhile the UPND said the win have vindicated their claim that they won just ended general elections.

Percy Chanda, the UPND Chairperson for Labour said his party has been saying that the elections were stolen from them and that the PF has used the police to suppress the truth.

He said the message from the by elections is very clear that they did not just win the August election but that just like he had predicted it is the end of PF as a party.

“As UPND we have been saying that the August elections belongs to us but these thieves have been suppressing the truth by intimidating us using their brutal police. Today and many days to come will prove that HH and his Vice President GBM and the people of Zambia are the true winners of the August elections.

[pullquote]PF are in hurry to amend the constitution because they are scared of their crimes[/pullquote]

“The message from these by elections is very clear that we did not just win the August election but as I earlier predicted this is the end of PF as a party. The PF knows very well that they cannot win an election without stealing. This is the more reason why these thieves are in a hurry to amend the Constitution so that with simple majority they can continue stealing,” he said.

He said the PF are in hurry to amend the constitution because they are scared of their crimes.

“By tempering with the Constitution they are just confirming that yes indeed they are scared thieves. Who are ridding and living on UPND’s stolen victory.But let me severely warn these thieves that their days are numbered. Very soon you will pay for whatever crimes you have committed to the people of Zambia which is well documented. There is no dignity in stealing our victory apart from perpetual embarrassment that will live with you till death.

“I urge all UPND members to celebrate this victory which has vindicated you that you are the right winners to put on our Party regalia throughout the Country. In any case why should you fear a thief? One thing about thieves is that they morally weak and cowards. Remember God protects that which is right. Stealing has no place in the eyes of the Lord.

“As UPND we dedicate this victory to all our colleagues are incarcerated by this brutal dictatorial regime. Brothers and Sisters scattered throughout our filthy prisons be and remain strong God is with you. Very soon you will walk out of those prisons and then these thieves will take your places, for them they will remain there for good,” he said.

US-based Zambian singer, Siphiwe Wright ,will today launch her second album ‘Love Is Key ‘ at the Well Spring Theatre at South Kalamazoo Mall in Michigan, with support from artists Ethel Sibande, Isaac Kabvorumo and Clifford Owusu.

The 12 track album, which was produced in Zambia, Canada and USA is inspired by two of her recent singles ‘Mpeni Umutima’ and ‘Love Is Key’ whose videos have thousands of view on YouTube where Siphiwe has a large following.

She says she worked with a lot of producers so that she could bring different aspects of creativity to the album. “I worked with Mathew Kashila, Jerroll Lehman, Bill Hare, Mutamula Mwale, Jonah Banda, and last but definitely not least Mr Edwin ‘Nyno’ Kabeba who helped me with my ideas.”

She says a lot her changed since her last album “I will just say God has been so good to me and I want to remind everyone to see his goodness in their lives and for all of us to count our blessings and experience his love for us so we can easily give it away.”

Speaking of the album’s theme, she says it’s all about love. “Love manifests differently in families, to friends, in society because we are all touched by love and we can celebrate it. This is my time for celebration…I am celebrating love because it is so many things to me …most of all it is the God in me.”

Asked if she will also launch the album in Zambia, Siphiwe says “Of course I mean that’s the mother land. Nikumwesu uko mukwai…tiyenekela tabwela. I am planning on that for some time next year.”

She has already shot four music videos for her album. “I am a visual person so I’d like my viewers to hear and see my songs and my work. This is why I shot inspirational videos every week for my fans.”

Her music videos where shot by media powerhouse Big Deal Graphix and Siphiwe says she decided to work with Zambian creatives because Zambia has so much talent. “Well it was very important to me to have most of my project done in Zambia because I am a proud Zambian,  I love my Zambian people I am sure you can appreciate them with me…just look at the videos and listen to my songs you will fall in love too.” She says.

The album launch will be supported by the new covenant band from Liberty Chapel Church, entry is free.

ZCEA introduced an award in honor of Triza Kanyanga, a 13 year old girl who died in Monze in March 2014 in the process of saving a one year old child from being electrocuted .The toddler she saved lived. The story was carried in the media on 7^th march 2014. ZCEA picked up the story and engaged in discussions and consultations about how it relates to their work.

Consequently, ZCEA introduced the award in acknowledgement and celebration of children’s evolving capacities and the contribution they make to society. Triza kanyanga paid the ultimate price for her heroic deed and through her, ZCEA wants to honor other children who perform outstanding deeds in the service of others. ZCEA hopes that the award will be a source of inspiration to both children and adults in Zambia and a motivation to children to make a difference in their communities. Furthermore, through this award, ZCEA desires to contribute to meaningful child participation through recognizing and nurturing the strengths, interests, and abilities of children by providing real opportunities for them to take a lead or become actively involved in decisions that affect them, both at the individual level and within the society.

ZCEA held the event to introduce the Triza Kanyanga Children’s Award at Southern Sun Hotel, Lusaka on 17^th November. The guest of honor at the event was Law Association of Zambia President Linda kasonde. Speaking at the event, the Executive director of ZCEA, Judith Mulenga, said that the decision to come up with the Triza Kanyanga Children’s Award was done in conjunction with the family. Using Triza’s name is a way of honoring her for the heroic deed. Mrs. Mulega stated that many good deeds by children go unnoticed, but ZCEA wants to use this award to recognize them.  Nominations are currently being invited, as the award is being promoted in schools and communities.

The criteria for nominations are as follows:

• The act should be voluntary by the child. I.e. it should not have been prompted or initiated by an adult.
• It should challenge situations of discrimination and bring about positive growth in the community.

ZCEA will set up a group of independent assessors to go through all the nominations. The assessors will be:

• Childs right activist
• Social worker
• Civic or traditional leader
• Educationalist
• NGO worker
• Two children ; one boy and one girl
• Auditor

The executive director reiterated that the organization shall not benefit financially in any way from this award, hence the inclusion of auditors in the assessment team.

The Triza Kanyanga Children’s award will be conferred on a biennial basis. I.e. every two years .All winners will be announced publicly and will receive a plaque and money in form of school fees for two years or a grant to help with the child’s initiative to help their community.

The guest of honor LAZ president Linda kasonde said in her speech that the purpose of the award is to encourage children to be more involved in decisions that affect them. “Triza is a deserving recipient and a trailblazer, she is a great example of what it means to love your neighbor” she said.

The inaugural award was given posthumously to Triza Kayanga and was received by her mother and her four siblings. They were presented with a cheque of twenty thousand kwacha (K20000) to go towards the school fees and other requirements for Triza’s siblings. The family representative thanked ZCEA, saying that through it is a sad story; they feel honored that Triza’s name will live on through the award for what she did.

ZCEA is a non-governmental , not for profit organization registered in 1993 .ZCEA promotes and advocates for children’s rights in line with the provisions of the United Nations convention on the Rights of the child (UNCRC) and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC) . Zambia is a state party to both.

The opposition UPND has scooped most of the local government and mayoral seats in by elections held on Thursday 17th November 2016.

The elections saw the UPND grab the Mukuba ward seat in Nkana Constituency with its candidate Graddy Simukoko polling 438 beating PF’s Gilbert Mushota who received 361.

An independent candidate Chibwe Kaputo secured 138 while another candidate Dorica Lungu polled 32 votes.

And the UPND has scooped Chisanga Ward in the newly created Ngabwe District of Central Province.

The opposition party has also scooped all District and ward by elections in the North-Western Province.

In Kalumbila in North Western Province, the UPND won mayoral seat with its candidate in the newly created district with 3,504 while PF had 542 and People’s Alliance for Change had one vote.
The UPND has also won the Council Chairmanship in Mwandi district.

The elections in three of the four Districts have been necessitated following the creation of Senga Hill, Kalumbila, and Mushindamo districts, while the vacancy in Mwandi District occurred due to the nullification of the election of Ms. Gilnard Mafuti as Council Chairperson for the district.

The vacancies in the 14 wards have arisen from deaths of councillors, errors on ballot papers and uncontested elections .

Former Vice President Guy Scott has laughed off reports that he had died on Wednesday in New York where he had gone for an emergency medical operation.

In an interview, Dr Scott jokingly said, “Well, I am talking to you now, this means I never went from hell and came back. If I did, I was not going to be talking to you.”

He said a lot of people have phoned him inquiring about the news story appearing online that he had passed on.

Some online reports published unverified reports that Dr Scott had died this week whilst undergoing treatment in New York.

And Dr Scott’s wife Charlotte said her husband is enjoying good wife life.

She said, “Our phones are ringing non-stop with people asking whether the on-line rumours that my husband has passed away (in New York!) are true! They are not – he is safe and well, and in good health!”

She said, “The important fact is that human beings need news, and we all much prefer true and well-informed news. But if we cannot get the truth – because of censorship and State-sponsored propaganda – then people will be forced to consume fiction, with little alternative way of checking the truth.”

Dr Scott said Zambians are being subjected to ever-tightening state control of the press, thereby resorting to unverifiable sources for news.