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A social warfare officer has called on parents in Luangwa district to encourage girls to be in school instead of taking them into early marriages for income generation.
Bernadate Malungo, who is under the Department of Social Welfare in the Ministry of Community Development and Social Welfare, said government was concerned with the education of the girl child who has been neglected for some time now.
Mrs. Malungo said this when she addressed a stakeholders meeting in Luangwa district.
She said parents should take advantage of the good policies that promote the girl children if poverty was to be eradicated.
She said government through the Ministry of General Education and in conjunction with the Ministry of Community Development and Social Welfare, was implementing the keeping girls in schools initiative (KGSI).
Mrs. Malungo said this was a component of the Girls Education and Women Empowerment and Livelihood (GEWEL) project in which 14,000 girls will benefit from school bursaries in 16 districts across the 10 provinces.
She implored parents to take advantage of this initiative and ensure that girl children are educated.
Mrs. Malungo said in Lusaka province, Luangwa was the only district which has been selected and 617 girls will benefit from this project.
She however said only those whose guardians are on social cash transfer scheme and will be in secondary school starting early next year will benefit from this project.
She said the purpose of this project, which is been funded by World Bank, was to increase the number of girls in schools and to improve the wellbeing of the extremely poor households.
HH leaving court this morning
Losing opposition candidate Hakainde Hichilema has maintained that the UPND has not accepted the decision taken by the Constitutional Court to dismiss its election petition.
Out of five Judges of the court, two wanted the case to proceed while three ruled that the matter could not be heard as the mandate of the court expired last Friday at midnight.
But Mr Hichilema said the UPND petition was dismissed by three mischievous judges.
He said the planned in inauguration of President-Elect Edgar Lungu at Lusaka’s Heroes Stadium next Tuesday is illegal.
“That is illegal inauguration, it is against the constitution because we have not been heard. We are going to the High Court because as you may know in the so called ruling, the president of the Constitutional Court objected to what the three judges did. She not alone, another judge Munalula also dismissed it that was mischievous.”
He added: “The point is the president of the Constitutional Court has ridiculed what they tried to do today and she was not alone.”
Mr Hichilema said the right to be heard is part of the Bill of Rights and because of the different interpretation of this 14 days hearing, and not determination the High Court has the jurisdiction to interpret that our fundamental right to be heart has been violated.
“The petition was not heard, they decided without being heard. It is like a murder accused today is sentenced today without being charged. That is what has happened,” Mr Hichilema said.
Mr Hichilema said the Constitutional Court was in a confused state having made several conflicting rulings during the hearing.
“The court is in a confused state, they basically put us in a constitutional crisis. By the way two days ago, a full bench of judges of the Constitutional Court ruled that the petition will commence on Monday and will run up to Thursday,” he said.
“The full bench of five judges ruled and then today we go to court, three judges appear in court and indicate that they have changed their minds and they have a contrary ruling and they are the majority. They cannot be the majority because the full bench on Friday and ruled that the petition commences today. The petition has already commenced, we have not been heard, and we have been denied the right to be heard.”
He said that the court should have shown direction over the conflict on the 14 days threshold that finally undid his court challenge.
MMD President Felix Mutati addressing a mega rally at Kasama Golf Course to woo voters for President Edgar Lungu ahead of the August 11 general election .-picture by Mary Bwembya (ZANIS)The opposition Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) has welcomed the decision of the Constitutional Court to dismiss the petition by the UPND against the re-election of President Edgar Lungu.
MMD president Felix Mutati said the decision of the Constitutional Court has come as a big relief to the people of Zambia who have patiently waited for the outcome of the presidential petition.
He noted that the conclusion of the case was a victory for all Zambians who were yearning for a peaceful end to the whole process.
And Mr. Mutati has called on President Lungu to now focus on uniting the country and accelerate national development following the affirmation of his re-election by the Constitutional Court.
He said time has come for all Zambians to rally behind the leadership of President Lungu and foster peace and unity across the country.
Mr. Mutati further urged the opposition political parties especially the UPND to respect the decision of the Constitutional Court.
Meanwhile, there was jubilation in Kasama today after the Constitutional Court threw out United Party for National Development’s (UPND) petition against the re-election of President Edgar Lungu.
Taxi drivers and Patriotic Front (PF) supporters thronged the Kasama town chanting popular PF slogans to show solidarity to President Lungu and his running mate Inonge Wina over their election victory.
Several PF officials, who led the supporters in the jubilation, have thanked President Lungu for exhibiting patience throughout the petition period.
One of the officials, Patrick Chisanga, said PF supporters were happy that the presidential petition had now been closed.
Mr. Chisanga, who is also Kasama Mayor, appealed to all Zambians to support Mr. Lungu and his vice president Mrs. Wina to develop the country.
He said time for politicking was now over adding that people should bury their differences and promote national peace which was a prerequisite for the development of the country.
And a Kasama resident, Barton Bwalya, expressed happiness with the outcome of the presidential petition.
Mr. Bwalya told ZANIS that it was regrettable that the petition had derailed the progress of development in the country.
Meanwhile, paramount chief Chitimukulu has commended the Constitutional Court for upholding the re-election of President Lungu.
The Chitimukulu observed that the court ruling has shown that the country’s democracy was moving forward.
He has since urged Zambians to respect the decision of the Constitutional Court and continue promoting national peace and unity in the country.
Today the Constitutional Court threw out the petition challenging the re-election of President Lungu by the opposition UPND.
The Court ruled that it has no jurisdiction to hear the UPND presidential petition because the 14-day period given for the matter to be heard had elapsed.
We wish to remind all our members across the country to remain strong as we confer with our legal team on the next step to be taken.
We know that this is a difficult time for all of you. But we wish to put it on record that we have not lost an election, neither have we lost the petition which was before the constitutional court.
In view of the foregoing, we have decided take necessary measures to see to it that justice prevails as we believe that justice should not only be done but it must be seen to be done.
It is important for us to point out that the constitutional courts inconsistencies in presiding over the presidential petition have created a constitutional crisis which has brought us to where we are.
Remember that one single Judge ,in the name of Judge Anne Mwewa Sitali , who initially gave direction that the hearing of the main presidential petition was supposed to have commenced on Friday 2nd September 2016 and run up to 8th September 2016.
Surprisingly, Judge Sitali rescinded her decision on Thursday 1st September 2016 upon hearing an oral submission by the respondents on the computation of time (14 days).
The judges decision created confusion in that she contradicted her earlier direction to have the main petition heard starting on friday 2nd September 2016.
Note also that a single Judge threw out six of the applications we filed for further witnesses, and to make amendments to the main petition.
We also filed in an application to have president Edgar Lungu step aside and allow the speaker of the National Assembly act as republican president in accordance with article 104(3) of the amended constitution, but the court refused to hear the application.
This in a way compromised the court proceedings as this allowed for interference in the court proceedings.
Our lawyers advanced motions to have the 14 days dispute resolved until friday evening when they withdrew their advocacy. To this effect, the 1st and the 2nd respondent on Friday sought leave arising from Judge Sitalis misguided position. The president of the constitutional court granted the 1st and 2nd respondents who are President Hakainde Hichilema and His running mate Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba (GBM), leave to prepare legal representation and adjourned to Monday 5th August 2016.
Our argument is that the court was inconsistent and failed to live up to their earlier decisions and continued changing positions almost in each sitting. As you may be aware, two judges namely Judge Chibomba and Judge Munalula disagreed with the idea by other three judges (Judge Mungeni, Sitali and Mulonda) to throw out our petition on the basis of an application made by Patriotic Front lawyers explaining the lapse of time.
The two Judges who agreed with us contended that the decisions should not be made using one clause or one article in the constitution but instead read together with other clauses.
Judge Munalula and Judge Chibomba submitted that petitioners needed to be heard in accordance with article 18 of the constitution of Zambia.
They further submitted that justice shall be administered without undue regard to procedural technicalities and that justice shall be done to all without discrimination.
Judge Munalula also argued that it could have been good if the petitioners were given time to prove their allegations.
Finally, we wish to tell the nation that we have rejected the court ruling in that the judgment was passed on an application from the respondents without allowing us to respond.
How can the court tell us to prepare for a hearing and then come to deliver a judgment? This is the question we have as petitioners among other questions.
Issued By:
Stephen Katuka
UPND Secretary General
HH leaving court this morningGBM speaks to Reporters outside courtDr Scott leaving court today
The Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) has trained over 100 Copperbelt based teachers on how to curb cyber-crimes such as impersonation in the country.
This is in response to increased cases of cyber-crimes on social media such as Facebook and WhatsApp.
ZICTA Public Relations Manager Ngabo Nankonde told ZANIS in Lusaka today that the authority has been sensitizing various categories of the community on issues of cyber security and training of teachers in various provinces.
Ms. Nankonde explained that the training of teachers was being done in phases according to the availability of funds.
She said ZICTA has so far covered Southern, Central and Copperbelt provinces.
She stated that apart from training teachers, ZICTA was also carrying out sensitization programmes in higher institutions of learning and churches and through radio discussions.
Ms. Nankonde further disclosed that social media was also a key platform which the authority was using to create awareness on cyber security.
She added that all security wings have also been trained by the Computer Incidence Response Team (CIRT) on cyber security.
She further said ZICTA has established a cyber-security forensic laboratory at the Zambia Police headquarters to curb such crimes.
Ms. Nankonde pointed out that one of the issues covered in cyber security ws the transmission of pornographic material using electronic means such as a phone, laptop, tablet and many more.
She has since appealed to members of the general public to desist from committing such crimes as these vices attract a minimum of 10 years imprisonment.
ZESCO Spokesperson Henry Kapata (L)
The Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) has reiterated that the stipulated time for load shedding is still four hours.
ZESCO Public Relations Manager Henry Kapata told ZANIS in a telephone interview that the current load shedding was partly due to some maintenance work going on.
Mr. Kapata said the power utility firm was working hard to ensure that works were progressing well.
He said ZSCO has doubled its effort knowing that the rain season when load shedding gets worse than in other seasons was approaching.
“We have not gone beyond four hours. So if power goes beyond the stipulated time, it is simply because there is probably a fault to do with maintenance,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kapata has urged the general public to take keen interest in reading newspapers or listen to current affairs on the electronic media so that they are aware of the timetable and anything related to ZESCO.
He has since appealed to the members of the public to register their details with ZESCO so that they could be getting notifications whenever there is a problem.
A Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church has collapsed in Chinsali district of Muchinga Province, claiming two lives
A thirty-eight year old woman and a three year old child have died while several others are nursing wounds at Chinsali district Community Hospital after a building collapsed during a Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) camp meeting.
Both SDA Central Zone Chairperson Buumba Monachibize and Acting Chinsali district medical officer Aaron Nyirenda confirmed the incident in separate interviews with ZANIS in Chinsali today.
SDA Central Zone Chairperson Buumba Monachibize said the disaster occurred yesterday around 14:00hrs in Mweye village during a Camp meeting where over 500 members of the Church had gathered for the meeting.
Meanwhile acting district medical officer Aaron Nyirenda revealed that the hospital received 45 casualties who included 13 children, 29 female adults and 3 male adults.
And Dr. Nyirenda added that the 38 year old woman who died was brought in while in coma and died before she was attended to while the 3 year old sustained severe head injuries.
Dr. Nyirenda however said that 9 people have since been discharged while 34 others are still nursing injuries at the hospital.
Lawyers in the election petition at the Supreme Court this afteernoon
The opposition FDD has welcomed the ruling of the Constitutional Court to dismiss the petition against the election of President Edgar Lungu on account that the Court had no more jurisdiction on the matter following the expiry of the 14 day period.
FDD Spokesperson Antonio Mwanza said his party sympathises with the UPND but there is need to remember that the country is a constitutional democracy hence the Constitution is the Supreme law of the land.
Mr Mwanza said It is common knowledge that the UPND lawyers spent more time filibustering the court instead of presenting their case within the 14 day period and that people should now reconcile and concentrate on building the country which is bigger than any politician.
“We sympathise with UPND but we want to remind everyone that, ours is a Constitutional Democracy therefore the Constitution is the supreme law of the land. There was nothing else the ConCourt could have done other than dismissing the petition following the lapse of the 14 day period.
“We want to urge everyone to bury the hatchet and reconcile with each other. Zambia is bigger than all of us. The ambitions of politicians should not over ride national interest. And in the words of Abraham Lincoln, we are not enemies but friends, though passion might strain, it should not break the bond of our affections,” he said.
He added “It is equally important at this time to take into consideration the many deficiencies in our electoral system and ensure that correct remedial measures are taken to enhance confidence in our electoral system and ensure in future we can have elections that are free, fair, credible and transparent. It should be noted that the court did not dismiss the petition on account of lack of evidence of malpractice but on account of time. Thus the issues to do with alleged irregularities have not been dealt with.”
He also reiterated his party’s call to have ECZ disbanded.
“As FDD we wish to maintain our call to disband ECZ and appoint new commissioners as well as the need to amend the constitution to cure the many mischiefs such as the various ambiguities and lacunas rout in our constitution,” he said.
Meanwhile the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) also commended the the Constitutional Court for finally putting the matter of the presidential Petition to an end saying “they have now acknowledged the case has become time barred after the lapse of time as provided in the Constitution for hearing the petition.”
YALI President Andrew Ntewewe however said his organisation was saddened with the many inconsistencies in the ruling of the Constitutional Court which said has brought the issue competence of judges into public discussion.
Mr Ntewewe said YALI was of the view that the petition should have been given the fair hearing within the 14 days as provided by law as that would have afforded both Mr Hichilema and Mr. Mwamba to be heard.
He said blame should go to all parties involved including the lawyers of both the petitioners and the respondents who should have taken charge of the case.
“We want to make it clear that instead of assigning the single blame on the conduct of the Court which failed to provide direction from the time the petition was filed, parties to the petition ought to be reminded that it is the duty of lawyers representing both petitioners and respondents to take charge of the case,” he said.
He added “We are aware that Rule 36 of The Legal Practitioners’ Rules, 2002 Statutory Instrument No. 51 of 2002 provides as follows:
“A practitioner when conducting proceedings at Court Shall be personally responsible for the conduct and presentation of the client’s case and shall exercise personal judgment upon the substance and Purpose of statements made and question asked.”
He further said “We therefore believe the legal counsels who were retained by the Petioners also had responsibility to help the Court guide all litigants on hearing of this matter within the timeframe as set by the Constitution.
“We also believe the Court and parties to this litigation should have heeded the prior guidance from our legal team, offered in form of a well researched and debated opinion, among our young lawyers and law students on the issue of timeframe rather than dismiss it the way they did which has now cost brought their reputation into question.”
Kitwe United’s promotion ambitions suffered a blow at the weekend when the Buchi Boys succumbed to a 3-1 loss at Chambishi to relinquish the FAZ Division One Zone Two top spot.
Early goals in this Week 23 encounter played at Chambishi Stadium in Kalulushi on Saturday unsettled Chingalika.
A brace by Niza Mpande and a goal by Jackson Mwanza helped Chambishi to sank Kitwe who could only manage to score a lone goal through captain Moses Loloji.
Kitwe drops from top to second position and remain stuck on 43 points after 22 matches played.
Konkola Blades reclaimed top spot after a rare 3-1 away win at Kansanshi Dynamos in Solwezi.
A brace registered by Dickson Chapa and John Sikaumbwa’s goal pushed Konkola to 45 points, two above second placed Kitwe United.
Elsewhere, third placed Roan United were immovable despite losing 2-1 at FQMO Mining Operation in Solwezi.
Coach Hilary Makasa’s Luanshya club sits on 41 points after playing 23 matches.
Struggling Kalulushi Modern Stars stole a point at Indeni following a 1-1 draw in Ndola.
The 2017 Africa Cup qualifying show is over but we take a look how Zambia’s 2018 FIFA World Cup Group B opponents fared and closed their respective qualifying race for next January’s continental championship to be hosted by Gabon.
=ALGERIA
On Sunday, Algeria smashed Lesotho 6-0 at home to finish unbeaten and as runaway leaders in Group J on 16 points, five points ahead of Ethiopia.
Striker El Arbi Soudani of Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia scored a brace in the 8th and 39th minutes.
Leicester City forward Riyad Mahrez also scored a brace with goals in the 17th and 74th minutes.
Midfielders Saphir Taider and Ryad Boudebouz of Torino and Montpellier added a goal each in the 24th and 45th minute respectively.
=CAMEROON
Cameroon also qualified unbeaten in Group M on 14 points, six points ahead of Mauritania after a 2-0 home win over Gambia on Saturday.
Marseille striker Bejamin Moukanjo put Cameroon ahead from the penalty spot in the 35th minute and another Ligue 1-based attacker Karl Toko Ekambi of Metz added the final goal in the 53rd minute.
=NIGERIA
Nigeria, like Zambia, are not going to the Africa Cup but they won after a 1-0 home win over Tanzania on Saturday.
Manchester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho scored the games lone goal in the 79th minute.
The Constitutional Court has thrown out the petition challenging the re-election of President Edgar Lungu.
The Court ruled that the petition stood dismissed for want of jurisdiction by midnight on Friday.It said there is no petition to be heard today.
It said its jurisdiction on the petition ended and expired last Friday at 23:59 Hours.
The Petitioners re-hired the same lawyers and included Vincent Malambo, SC.The only respondent represented is the Attorney General only for purposes of informing the court that we will take no further part in the proceedings as the court has no jurisdiction to continue hearing the matter.
The lawyers contend that any hearing beyond the 14 days would be unconstitutional.The lawyers have refused to participate in a process that is outside the law.
They contend that Hakainde Hichilema’s lawyers had their day in the 14 days allocated to them by the Constitutional Court.
The petitioners’ lawyers had requested to see the court in chambers.The court refused to be seen in chambers.
Judge Sitali, Judge Mungeni and Judge Mulonda ruled that the petition should not be heard while Justice Munalula and Justice Chibomba, the President of the Concourt ruled that the petition should be heard but the majority won by 3 against 2.
Dominic Mukoye Kalebuka also known as Muko, was born in Chelstone, Lusaka. Muko started dancing at the age of 4. In 2012 he joined the Mi6 Dance crew and made a name for himself at Street Culture Zambia. He has also starred in various commercials and billboards for brands such as Airtel and Vodafone .
Muko then started singing and has performed at a number of weddings. He plans on a more inspiring music career.
Muko is inspired by artists such as Michael Jackson, Chris Brown and Usher.
Muko has won a number of awards including;
3X Street Culture Hip Hop finalist
Street Culture 10 Animation Winner
Street Culture 11 Krump Winner
2015 Talent Fest Winner
Muko’s Debut Single “Whatchu Say” is produced by legendary zambian producer TK of Romaside. In “Whatchu Say” Muko addresses a young lady who seems to be sending him Mixed Signals…so he is seeking clarity!
