Former ZANASU Vice President Prince Ndoyi says Zambians should blame themselves for the closure of the the face of the private media in the country, The Post Newspaper.

Mr Ndoyi said the biggest private newspaper in the country died when the paper went to bed with the PF government after it won the 2011 elections and stopped being the voice of the marginalized in society.

He said no one should blame President Lungu but that everyone in the country should take the blame because everyone kept quiet when the paper used its unique privilege in society to disadvantage others during the reign of late President Michael Sata.

“On press freedom and closure of The Post Newspaper we believe we all created this problem, we made The Post Newspaper the face of private media and today we worry about the death of a free press. If we see the closure of The Post as an assault on and death of a free press. Then a free press died when the PF govt appointed people from the Post Newspaper in 2011, the free press died when the post went to bed with govt in 2011, the free Press definitely didn’t die today.

“President Lungu cannot certainly be blamed for The Post Newspaper’s closure but on everyone of us who kept quite when The Post became the only source of credible information, when the Post Newspaper participated in politics. When The Post Newspaper became a political party. The Post Newspaper used their unique privilege in society to speak for the poor and downtrodden, but used it to disadvantage people.

“For three years under the late President Sata MHSRIEP The Post supported everything even wrong decisions, and NGOs were all quite because no one wanted to fall on their wrong side. While everyone saw The Post as that one all too powerful individual, for us we continued to see that behind The Post is those ordinary Zambians, the workers in those departments, that son and daughter whose parents struggled so hard to take to school, those brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, uncles and aunties who survived through that job at The Post Newspaper. Look at how many of those lives will suffer all because of negligence on all of us to act responsibly, and certainly true a free press has nothing to do with none tax remittance,” he said.

Mr Ndoyi however said not all hope was lost as there are a number of private news media that should ensure that they are the voice of the marginalized in the country.

“But not all hope is gone, those we neglected are still there watching, the free press is still here but we don’t want to listen through it. Qfm, Hot FM, Daily Nation, New Vision Newspaper, Prime TV, Radio Mano, Radio Chengelo, Muvi TV, MELLENIUM radio, Lusaka Times, Mwebantu News Media, CBC TV to mention but a few. The watchdogs are still alive.

“It is a timely warning for the private media that in order to enjoy a free press we must act responsibly. We must guard against having an editorial policy that appears to be an extension of a political party’s manifesto and this warning includes the church and civil society,” he said.

He added “Finally we strongly observe that majority of NGOs, Church Mother Bodies and media houses have gone to the dogs, why are they surprised that they have flees all over them, we all slept with an itchy anus, why are we surprised that we have woken up with smelly fingers? We ask everyone to conduct a self introspection for the sake of the voiceless in our country. Let us wake up because indeed everyone’s silence is so loud.”

Gospel artiste Pompi is excited to be the leading act in Lilongwe, Malawi this December at a show dubbed the ‘Giant Killer Experience’.
As this will be the first time he is performing as a headliner in Malawi, Pompi is looking forward to the experience and to reinforcing his following in that country.
The event is organised by Ntanda Artworks Dimensions and scheduled to take place on December 3 at the Bingu wa Mutharika International Convention Centre (BICC) Pabwalo Amphitheatre.
“Malawi is one of the countries that have supported my music and I was particularly surprised to receive an invitation from there to headline,” he shared.

Pompi has previously performed in Malawi as a supporting act at the internationally renowned Lake of Stars festival.
The December event borrows its title from one of his best known hits called Giant Killer which featured on his first album Mizu.

Apart from the Malawi show, Pompi also let in on plans to release his third album early next year.
“The album will have a strong reggae, hip hop and soul influence unlike the second album which had a jazzy and rock feel to it,” he explained.
Pompi says he wants people to believe in themselves through the album and to get insight into his values as a person.
“It is going to be an expression of the things I value and how I have evolved. I was an introvert but as an artiste, now I have to be on stage and deal with people’s different views and perceptions,” he stated.
He also plans to share more of his testimony through the album as those who know him closely advise that he has not done enough of this.
Through his third album, Pompi hopes to emphasise that his passion to reach people who are lost is because he was once in the same place and that is where he was found.
Earlier this year, he released a single called Maganizo Pandeke which stirred buzz that there was another album in the offing.

His first album, Mizu, released in 2012, was well received and stamped his foot in the mainstream music scene. His second album Broken English was released in 2014.

GOVERNMENT has refuted accusations that it has been inconsistent with its economic policies saying all adjustments made previously were necessary as they were meant to protect the interests of Zambians.

According to a statement released to the Media by Nicky Shabolyo, the Press Secretary at the High Commission of Zambia in South Africa, Minister of National Development Planning, Mr. Lucky Mulusa said that there has been cases of insincerity on the part of some investors and that Government has had to respond accordingly in order to safe guard the nation.

“All the adjustments to policy should be seen as a way of trying to align things for the benefit of the people. These policy adjustments in the past were in response to the insincere conduct of some members of the business community. There is no way we can just wake up today and introduce a new law which we again change a few weeks down the line. All our actions are informed by how businesses in the country behave,” Mr. Mulusa said.

He gave an example of businesses which either closed shop or simply changed names when their tax holidays and other incentives were coming to an end so that they could avoid paying tax or being subjected to other measures.

“It is these same businesses that go out on a crusade to speak ill about Government and sponsor various individuals to attack us when they see that their evil plans have been curbed. Before we condemn government about what we see as policy inconsistencies, we need to ask what informed Government to take such action.”

Mr. Mulusa was speaking as guest of honour yesterday at the ‘Invest in Zambia Business Forum’ organised by the Zambian High Commission in Pretoria in conjunction with the Zambia-South Africa Business Council (ZSABC).

The well attended event held at Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg was sponsored by Liberty.

The Minister said Zambia was realigning it economy and noted that the country was ready for business but “it should be clear to all those interested that we are not, at the same time, open to abuse.”

He bemoaned the collapse of Zambia’s industrial base built over 27 years which he attributed to the privatisation exercise through which he said some unscrupulous investors came and stripped companies of their machinery and left them as warehouses to store imports from South Africa and elsewhere.

“I acknowledged the important role that South Africa plays as Zambia’s largest trade and investment partner, and at the same time, lament that for over 10 years, Zambia has only been able to capture less than 10% of total trade volumes between the two countries. What we have seen over the years is that this has not worked for us as some investors only rip, and do not plough back into the economy. What we are looking for are sustainable partnerships, and not relationships that leave our country worse off,” the Minister said.

He urged the ZSABC to promote Government’s agenda of fostering inclusive business models that ensured integrating local communities in the supply chains and support the growth of local industries in all sectors of the economy.

Mr. Mulusa urged South African investors to quickly get into Zambia before they lost opportunities to other countries such as China which were in a hurry to do business with Zambia.

He also appealed to investors entering Zambia not to engage in activities, such as casualisation and others, which exploited the country and its people.

He said Government has realised that it was more expensive to produce a particular product in Zambia as compared to other countries pointing out that this, and other issues that would help bring about a conducive environment for business, were being addressed.

“Our Government is keen at enhancing private sector led growth and has been working hard to create an enabling environment for business, as evidenced by the enactment of the Business Regulatory Act of 2014 that was meant to create a cost effective and business regulation framework in Zambia. As a result of our business environment reforms, Zambia is now ranked 8th in SADC and 4th in COMESA in terms of the Ease of Doing Business. Furthermore, Zambia is ranked the 8th most competitive country in Africa on the Global Competitiveness Index,” Mr. Mulusa said.

He said despite all the favourable business elements that Zambia had in place, the country had taken long to develop because of the poor policies which it previously pursued while other policies had been mishandled.
Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa, His Excellency Mr. Emmanuel Mwamba concurred with the Minister on the issue of privatisation saying the exercise failed to yield the targeted results because most of those who bought off companies were only interested in satisfying their selfish desires.

Mr. Mwamba said the High Commission devised the ZSABC as a platform from which to engage captains of industry so that amicable solutions for the two countries could be found.

He also pointed out that there was trade imbalance between Zambia and South Africa which favoured the latter. “There is no way that South African stores operating in Zambia should continue importing into Zambia, products that are readily available in the country.”

And South Africa has said that Zambia was a strategic market and partner for South Africa, and vice versa, because of the potential for enhanced economic cooperation that existed between the two countries.

Chief Executive Officer for Trade Invest Africa, an initiative of South Africa’s Department of Trade and Industry, Ms. Lerato Mataboge, has noted that total trade between the two countries has been showing positive growth from R19.9 billion in 2011 to R31.9 billion in 2015, making South Africa Zambia’s main trading partner in the SADC and Zambia, South Africa’s fourth largest trading partner in the region.

Ms. Mataboge said South Africa was conscious of the trade imbalance which supported her country and that this needed to be assessed and addressed. “Key to this will be identifying and establishing cooperative mechanisms for assisting Zambian businesses seeking opportunities to supply in the South African market.

Our aim as a government is to increase the levels of South African investments in the Zambian economy and the rest of the Continent through targeted support measures.”

Two such measures are the recent creation of Trade Invest Africa as well as the unveiling of the Guidelines to Good Business Practice for Doing Business in Africa, both of which were launched in July this year.
Trade Invest Africa supports South African businesses looking to invest in the rest of Africa as well as those looking for export opportunities on the continent.

She said Trade Invest Africa will work with partner countries to facilitate sourcing of goods from the rest of the continent into the South African economy as a way of contributing to increasing the levels of intra-Africa trade and intra-African investments.

Ms. Mataboge pointed out that Zambia today was one of the promising emerging markets in the world and “I strongly urge the South African business community to take advantage of the advanced economic and diplomatic relations and seriously consider investing in Zambia. We commend the Zambian government for ensuring that the conditions for foreign investments are continuously being improved upon.”

ZSABC chairperson, Mr. Charles Kalima urged businesses to join the Council so that they could be assisted with establishing themselves on the Zambian market.

Mr. Kalima said there was need to develop an African concept where countries on the continent traded among themselves in order to foster development.

South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) Chief Executive Officer Mr. Alan Mukoki said Africa should realise that agriculture, and not activities such as mining, was the major contributor to economic growth.

And during a panel discussion, Barclays Africa Region Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Mizinga Melu said Barclays Bank has been in Zambia for over 100 years because it had found Zambia to be good for business. Ms. Melu said Zambia had 19 reputable commercial banks operating in the country because they have found the environment conducive.

She said the freedom for investors to externalise profits was a big incentive that Zambia’s potential investors should seriously consider.

Massmart Holdings Chairperson, Mr. Kuseni Dlamini said Game Stores and the recently opened Builders Warehouse, which are subsidiaries, have performed exceptionally well because of the favourable business environment in Zambia.

Zambia Energy Forum Chairperson, Mr. Johnstone Chikwanda told the audience that with the energy deficit in Zambia, the country had a lot of opportunities for producing energy from various sources that the Government had identified.

Others who spoke on various panels were Ms. Zandile Shabalala, ZSABC Vice-chairperson; Mr. Michael Njapau, Head of Business Development for Liberty Life Insurance Zambia Limited; Mr. Brenden Alexander, Head of Business Development Support for STANLIB; Mr. Mduduzi Nene, Africa Divisional Director for Liberty Health; Mr. Kennett Sinclair, Partner from Exeo Capital; Mr. Ewout Van der Molen, FMO Southern African Regional Representative, and Mr. Ashley Petersen, Senior Business Development Manager from South Africa’s Industrial Development Corporation.

PS Amos Malupenga(Left) LGAZ) President Christopher Kang’ombe(second left),Chipata Mayor Sinoye Mwale(second right)  during the second Local Authorities Financial Management workshop held at Chrismar hotel in Livingstone.Picture by KELVIN MUDENDA

MINISTRY of Local Government and Housing Permanent Secretary Amos Malupenga has lashed out at Lusaka based civic leaders who boycotted the orientation workshop organised by his ministry.

Speaking when he officiated at the second Local Authorities Financial Management workshop held at Chrismar hotel in Livingstone, Mr Malupenga said he was disappointed that councilors from Lusaka shunned the orientation workshop in Lusaka because of salary concerns.
He called on Local Government Association of Zambia (LGAZ) President Christopher Kang’ombe to intervene in the matter.
We were disappointed yesterday when we received information that a number of councilors particularly those from Lusaka shunned the orientation workshop because of the issue of councilors being on salaries has not been resolved.
“Am saying this taking advantage of the presence of the LGAZ President to see how they can seriously reflect on the national responsibility that they have. We all know that the bulk of councilors that we have are new and so the need for orientation can never be over emphasized,”Mr Malupenga said.

Mr Malupenga disclosed that Government would continue to offer supplementary support to local authorities.
“As you may be aware, the treasury allocated K717 million in the 2016 budget towards the establishment of a Local Government Equalisation Fund(LGEF) to provide a stable, buoyant  and predictable source of revenue to supplement Local Government revenues.

“It is also anticipated that Government will yet again show the same level of commitment to provide more supplementary financial support to councils,” he said.

He however said it was disappointing that the Auditor General’s report had continued to highlight financial irregularities committed in local authorities.
Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants (ZICA) Chief Executive Officer Hapenga Kabeta called on local authorities in the country to develop strategic plans that would help guide interventions in their service delivery.
Mr Kabeta said strategic plans would attempt to address the opportunities and challenges faced by local authorities in resource mobilization and infrastructure development.
“Good financial management has an impact on how funding is used to address national and local priorities, the availability of resources for investment and the cost effectiveness of public services.
“The general public will have greater trust and confidence in their councils if there was strong financial stewardship, accountability,and transparency in the use of public funds,”Mr Kabeta said.
He said there was need for Government to make resources available to build strong financial management capacity in local authorities.

Speaking in a separate interview Local Government Association of Zambia (LGAZ) President Christopher Kang’ombe has called on all councilors across the country to attend orientation workshops as his office engages Government on the issue of salaries for councilors.

“First of all I want to put it on record that the work of a councilor is vital, we need councilors because they are the first point of contact in terms of development.

“In our execution of duties as civic leaders we need to be prepared, oriented and the ministry needs to tailor a programme and a curriculum that will help civic leaders to deliver to the expectations of the people. Our position as LGAZ is that the issue of salaries will be addressed through various consultative forums,” he said.

President Edgar Lungu should allow State House staff to be investigated on allegations of corruption as speculations seem to indicate that several people surrounding him are involved in the scourge says MMD

The MMD has charged that if his pronouncement on the fight against corruption is to be taken seriously investigations should begin at State House.

In a statement MMD National Secretary Rapheal Nakacinda said his Party welcomes the President’s position on corruption but that he should let the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and other investigative wings to crack down on staffs at State House who are alleged to be involved in corrupt activities.

And Mr Nakacinda said it is disheartening to see a Head of State lament so bitterly about the ineptness of the institutions charged with the responsibility to guard against the abuse of public offices and resources.

“As MMD we are strongly in full support of the strongest position on corruption because we have never heard President Lungu lament the way he did,” Mr Nakachinda said

He commended President Lungu for categorically restarting the significant fight against corruption in a time when Zambians have lost hope.

Mr Nakachinda noted that many people have suggested that State House also requires a clean-up if the fight against corruption would be meaningful.

“We want to urge the President that he must de-insluate State House from investigations as speculations seem to suggest that perhaps several people surrounding the President have abused their offices.”

” just weeks ago the Deputy S.G for the Patriotic Front was in the media informing the nation that several committees that were formed to campaign for the President have been corruptly collecting money in the name of the President and the party.” Mr Nakacinda pointed out.
Mr Nakacinda also noted that for the President to lament the way he did then he has been overwhelmed with the corruption taking place in the country as he is privy to sensitive information.

He also charged that ACC were a disappointment as they have not done their work on the reports by citizens such as the corruption at Food Reserve Agency (FRA) which led to the sharp increase of the country’s staple food.

“He wondered on whether the ACC were also chewing the curd together with the suspects.”How surely can an institution meant to safeguard institutions from graft fail to avail a Head of State with reports?” Mr Nakacinda questioned.

He added that people will only take President Lungu seriously if he is seen to be acting on his pronouncement as opposed to just issuing statements.

“The President’s call must be respected and supported by all well meaning Zambians and a strong and revitalised fight against corruption will boost and attract investment,” he said.

The MMD National Secretary was commenting on the statement by the President that there is too much corruption taking place and that the ACC were doing their job.

PF Spokesperson Frank Bwalya says it therefore disappointing that some people are suggesting that the party disciplines Mr Moonga for proposing that the extension of the term of office for the President, Members of Parliament and other elected officials, from the current five to seven years.

Mr. Bwalya says the ruling party practices intra-party democracy and therefore does not find anything wrong in Mr. Moonga expressing his individual opinion.

In an interview with QTV News, Mr. Bwalya says Mr. Moonga will therefore not be punished or reprimanded over his proposal.

Mr. Bwalya says this however, does not imply that the PF is in support of his proposal to extend the term of office to seven years.