The Constitutional Court has thrown a preliminary application by UPDN presidential candidate Hakainde Hichilema and his running mate Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba to compel the court to keep custody of election materials including ballots.

Making the ruling, the Constitutional Court also discharged an interim injunction that restrained the Electoral Commission of Zambia from conducting scheduled and regular reconciliation of ballot forms and other documents used in running an election.

Justice Anne Sitali in the ruling said, “I have considered the affidavits and arguments filed in support by both parties as well as oral arguments. This court has jurisdiction to hear an application for interim relief and the application is properly before me. In view of the fact that the verification process is statutory requirement and the ECZ has statutory responsibility to safeguard the election materials The application by the Petitioners is not tenable at law”. The application fails and is dismissed”.

The Court also ruled on the injunction restraining the ECZ from conducting scheduled and regular reconciliation of ballot forms and other documents used in running an election.

“Regarding an order of injunction as prayed by the petitioner, ECZ has statutory duty to safeguard election materials. Petitioners have not provided evidence of the basis of their apprehension that the ECZ will tamper with election materials. I dismiss the application accordingly”.

Meanwhile, the Attorney General has applied to the Constitutional Court to be joined to the second petition in which UPND President Hakainde Hichilema and his Vice President Godfrey Bwalya Mwamba have applied that Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini should assume executive functions of government.

In the petition, Edgar Lungu is the 1st Respondent while Dr. Matibini is the 2nd Respondent.

In the summons, the Attorney General has also applied that Dr. Matibini be misjoined to this matter.

The matter comes up for hearing tomorrow before Constitutional Court Judge Hildah Chibomba at 09 Hours.

FACEBOOK CEO Mark Zuckerberg is visiting Nigeria this week on his first trip to Africa, using his time in the country to visit the Yaba technology hub in Lagos, meet with developers and partners, and explore Nollywood.

Zuckerberg is in Nigeria to listen and learn and take ideas back to California on how Facebook can better support tech development and entrepreneurship across Africa.

One of his first stops on the trip was to visit a ‘Summer of Code Camp’ at the Co-Creation Hub (CcHub) in Yaba, known as the Silicon Valley of Nigeria.

CcHub opened in 2011 and at the time didn’t even have an office. Five years later they fill three floors and the roof of a building. At CcHub people can learn how to code, developers can get help launching their first products, and find mentors and funding.

At CcHub Zuckerberg met with developers like Temi Giwa, who runs a platform called Life Bank that makes blood available when and where it is needed in Nigeria. Life Bank saves lives by mobilizing blood donations, taking inventory of all blood available in the country, and delivering blood in the right condition to where it is needed.

After visiting CcHub Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, said:

“This is my first trip to sub-Saharan Africa. I’ll be meeting with developers and entrepreneurs, and learning about the startup ecosystem in Nigeria. The energy here is amazing and I’m excited to learn as much as I can.

“The first place I got to visit was the Co-creation Hub Nigeria (CcHUB) in Yaba. I got to talk to kids at a summer coding camp and entrepreneurs who come to CcHub to build and launch their apps. I’m looking forward to meeting more people in Nigeria.”
Meeting developers at Andela

Mark then went to Andela, an engineering organization that is building the next generation of technical leaders in Africa.
Andela is a business that recruits the most talented technologists in Africa and shapes them into world-class developers through a four-year technical leadership program. In the two years since it was founded, Andela has accepted just over 200 engineers from a pool of more than 40,000 applicants. Andela developers spend six months mastering a technical stack and contributing to open source projects before being placed with global technology companies as full-time, distributed teammates, working out of Andela headquarters in Lagos and Nairobi.

Earlier this year, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative invested in Andela after being impressed by the company’s innovative model of learning and its drive to connect the global technology ecosystem with the most talented developers in Africa.

Seni Sulyman, Director, Andela Lagos, said: “We are excited and honored to welcome Mark Zuckerberg to Lagos. His visit reinforces not only his support of Andela’s mission, but his belief that indeed the next generation of great technology leaders will come out of Lagos, Nigeria and cities across Africa. Andela has created a platform for passionate, driven software developers and engineers to break into the global tech ecosystem, but the barriers to entry are still very high. Mark’s visit demonstrates to all Nigerian developers and entrepreneurs that they’ve caught the attention of the tech world, and they are capable of succeeding on a truly global level.”

At the end of the day Zuckerberg stopped by an Express WiFi stand in Lagos owned by Rosemary Njoku. Facebook’s Express WiFi lets entrepreneurs like Rosemary set up a hot spot to help their community access apps and services built by local developers

Following the success of last year’s beach festival, Flying Fish is hosting an unparalleled day-to-nightlife experience with the Flying Fish beach festival in Kitwe on September 3, 2016.
The beach festival, to be held at Mindolo Dam, will be the premier destination for party-lovers seeking the quality festive atmosphere usually found in European hotspots. Upon entering, guests will be treated to a lush Caribbean oasis complete with beach sand and palm trees.
Flying Fish will create an entertainment platform that showcases local chart-topping acts who will ensure that the festival rocks with their signature blend of upbeat and uplifting music, such as the renowned disc jockey Sebastien Dutch, who is confirmed to attend the event. With well-known hit-makers at the fore, including Kitwe-based entertainers Selectah OG, and Tony & Guido, the beach party is expected to attract a huge crowd of sun-worshipping dance-music lovers.
Organisers of the event are planning to transport the city’s coolest socialites to a tropical seashore, complete with sand, beach chairs, beach umbrellas, towels, music, prizes and related activities such as frisbee, football penalty kicks and volleyball that are sure to be great fun for all concerned.
“Flying Fish is all about trying something new and about finding inspiration in the ordinary. It’s a twist on the familiar, spontaneously adding just that little something extra to the everyday,” said Zambian Breweries managing director Annabelle Degroot.
“That’s why we’re having another beach party in landlocked Zambia. Following the success we had at last year’s event in Lusaka, we thought it appropriate to share the experience with our friends in Kitwe,” she added.
However, Mrs Degroot implored all revelers who would be traveling to Kitwe for the festival to be cautious and avoid drinking and driving.
“We believe in the responsible and moderate consumption of our products and are therefore making an ardent appeal to all party-goers not to drink and drive as they travel to Kitwe. Practising road safety entails the safety of other road users,” she said.
“Please use a designated driver who does not drink alcohol, RTSA officers will be on duty at the venue to ensure safety,” she urged.
The beach festival starts at 14hrs at a fee of K50 per person at the gate. Under 18s will not be admitted.
Flying Fish premium flavoured beer comes in Pressed Lemon and Chilled Green Apple, and is the alternative choice for everyday inspiration, because Flying Fish combines the pure refreshment of beer with interesting flavours and fresh aromas for a new, delicious and easy drinking experience.
More details are available on Facebook at @flyingfishzambia

About Flying Fish Premium Beer
Flying Fish Premium Flavoured Beer combines the pure refreshment of beer with delicious fresh flavours – adding a twist to the familiar. It is made with malted barley and hops, with a twist of something interesting – with real fruit juice and flavours added to create a new and refreshing aroma and taste. Flying Fish Premium Flavoured Beer has all the refreshment of beer, with an easy drinking taste – offering something different for consumers looking to share new experiences, flavours and tastes with friends.

About SABMiller Zambia
Zambian Breweries Plc, National Breweries and Heinrich’s Beverages are part of the SABMiller Group, one of the world’s largest brewers, with more than 200 beer brands and some 70,000 employees in over 75 countries. It is also one of the world’s largest bottlers of soft drinks.
Zambian Breweries was established in Zambia in 1968 and its product range has grown to include clear beers such as Mosi Lager, Castle, Castle Lite, Flying Fish, Carling Black Label and Eagle beer as well as the Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta and Schweppes brands.
National Breweries produces the Chibuku brand opaque beer, while Heinrich’s makes the popular Maheu Super Shake range.

LUSAKA residents have called on all political parties who took part in the just ended general elections to start removing their campaign posters which are making the city look dirty.

Joyce Bombwe said campaign materials such as posters and flyers especially those pasted on road signs and other directional facilities were making the town look filthy.

She said now that campaigns and elections were over there was need for political parties to engage their cadres and start removing the posters around the city.

Kelvin Chambwa also said posters especially at Kafue and Kabwe roundabouts were making the city look even dirtier, stating that the local authority should move in quickly and address the issue.

Mr Chambwa said it was unfortunate that politicians were in the forefront of making the city dirty by sticking posters anyhow.

And Christopher Mulenga added that political parties must ensure that environmental protection and public safety was upheld in the course of posting or distributing electoral campaign materials.

Mr Mulenga advised political parties to abide by the guidelines of the electoral code of conduct as they removed their post-electoral campaign materials.

He said the electoral code of conduct states under article 10 (f) and (g) that political parties and candidates shall take appropriate measures to ensure environmental protection and cleanliness in the course of posting or distributing electoral campaign materials.

And under (g), the electoral code of conduct states that political parties and candidates shall remove campaign materials within 14 days of the declaration of the election results.

Meanwhile, University of Zambia lecturer Alex Ngoma said there is need for the Lusaka City Council and other municipalities to come up with a law that will compel political parties to buy advertising space for their political campaign materials unlike the indiscriminate placing of posters on traffic road signs and writing of graffiti on wall fences.

Dr Ngoma, who is a political analyst, said the political campaign period had been characterized by the indiscriminate placing of posters on road traffic signs and the writing of graffiti on wall fences and has suggested to the council to come up with a regulation that will compel political parties to be paying for placing adverts within a specified location. He said that this initiative had worked in other African countries where political parties are given advertising space within a specific time frame.

“Political parties just like everyone else should buy advertising space of their own. District and city councils must come up with a regulation so that at the end of the campaign period political parties remove their posters so that the city remains tidy.

The graffiti writings such as those which were done during the UNIP campaigns are still visible today; so my suggestion is for the council to work with the Electoral Commission of Zambia to curtail this scourge as punitive measures could be applied that will instill adherence by political parties,” he said.

And Ms Nawakwi has called on politicians to put their selfish interests aside as the country is bigger than any politician or political party in the country.

Speaking at a media briefing the FDD President said the current political standoff was due to the ineptitude of the the ECZ saying due to the stubbornness and incompetence of the ECZ,today Zambia has no government.

She said all Commissioners should step and pave way for new people who can run the ECZ in a professional and efficient manner.

She said the current ECZ has failed to do its job of ensuring that elections are held in a free, credible and transparent manner.

She described the elections process as flawed and that the voters register was compromised as it had too many errors and that it was belatedly distributed to stakeholders who had no time to audit it.

She added that with the current leadership at ECZ as well as the existing electoral laws and regulations which she said are ignored with impunity, it is wishful thinking that Zambia will have free,fair, credible elections no matter the outcome of the presidential petition.

And Ms Nawakwi has called on the constitution Court to expedite the matter so that people can resume their normal lives.

Ms Nawakwi who expressed disgust at the laiserfaire attitude of people handling the case saying their are just interested in making money and are not interested in the lives being affected by standoff.

“While we fully appreciate the constitutional right of every citizen to seek legal redress when they are aggrieved,we appeal that national interest must prevail over personal ambitions. Zambia is bigger than any one of us politicians. In fact, Zambia is bigger than any political party,” she said.

She added that even if the elections were nullified it was a fallacy to expect a different result with the same referee (ECZ) officiating in the elections.

She described Easu Chulu as Diramba (a referee from Garbon who officiated in a game between Zambia and Morocco) who cannot be trusted to hold a free and fair as well as credible elections.

State House Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda clarified that the International Monetary Fund bailout program which Zambia intends to engage into will be a mutually agreed program designed to stabilize the local economy.

Mr Chanda has assured that there will be no austerity measures that will be accepted that may make the status of majority vulnerable Zambians worse contrary to assertions that the IMF program will hurt Zambians.

Mr. Chanda disclosed that government has reached advanced stages in negotiating with the IMF for a possible bailout package but was quick to mention that government has not yet made a commitment to the proposed US$1.2 billion.

He said once ministers are appointed, the program will be negotiated on terms agreeable to the government and that all the money received will be channelled to productive areas.

“The money that is being injected into subsidies will be invested in growth areas of the economy,” Mr Chanda told a media briefing at State House on Tuesday.

Mr Chanda said the IMF had indicated in talks with the government that the aid package would amount to around $1.2 billion dollars and negotiations would resume as soon as a new cabinet was appointed.

He said the government shares the IMF’s concerns about the huge amounts of money being spent on subsidies but that would not implement measures that would hurt the poor.
“There will be no austerity measures that will be accepted that will increase the cost of health care. There will be nothing that will be accepted that will make life for the poor more miserable than it is now,” Mr. Chanda said.

President Edgar Lungu said on August 18 that Lusaka and the IMF had reached broad consensus on the key areas of an aid programme for Zambia, but did not elaborate.

United Party for National Development (UPND) Vice President for Politics Canisius Banda is calling for an enactment of a law to deter people from promoting tribal hatred in Zambia, reports Pan African Radio journalist Hermit Hachilonde.

Speaking during a media briefing held at the Party secretariat in Lusaka on the 29th August, 2016, Dr. Banda said it is imperative that the people advocating for tribal hatred must be imprisoned to maintain peace and unity which Zambia has enjoyed since independence.

Dr. Banda stated that it will be outrageous to allow some individuals to divide the country after fifty-one years of independence.

“We must have laws so that some who are talking promoting tribal hatred in Zambia can be arrested” Dr. Banda said

Meanwhile, UPND chairperson Mutale Nalumango said it was folly for any politician alleging that UPND is a region political party in Zambia.

She noted that tribal cards in Zambia are only being played by some politicians whose motive is to divide the country for their self-aggrandizement.

“It is folly for people to allege that UPND is tribal party in Zambia” Mutale Nalumango said

And the UPND vice President for politics Dr. Canisius Banda has since urged the former UPND Deputy Spokesperson Edwin Lifwekelo who recently re-joined the Patriotic Front to put God first in his entire life.

Dr. Banda urged Mr. Lifwekelo not only to go to the PF for himself and his family but also to serve the community, affirming that he wishes him well in each and every aspect of his life.

“Edwin go! Go! We wish you well, also put God first where ever you will be and work for the community not for yourself and your family alone” he said

This is after 17 foreigners in the early hours of Monday were involved in a road traffic accident.

The accident occurred along the Mbala-Nakonde Road when a Nissan Elgrand Vehicle registration number ECP 975 overturned, killing two suspected Somali nationals on the spot. Immigration Public Relations Officer Namati Nshinka said yesterday that later, an Ethiopian also died while four other Ethiopians sustained serious injuries and were admitted at Mbala General Hospital.

“At the time of the accident, only two were found to have valid passports. The two passports however were void of entry endorsement stamps to prove legal entry. The driver, a Zambian is believed to have survived the accident and investigations regarding his whereabouts are ongoing,”he said.

He said investigations into the matter were underway adding that initial indicators seem to suggest that this could be a case of human smuggling.

Mr Nshinka said the Department through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was making efforts to notify the victims’ respective Government representatives.

In other developments, two Somali nationals were arrested in Chirundu for travelling on Tanzanian Emergency Travel Documents (ETDs).

Further, in Solwezi, two Rwandese refugees were arrested for being found outside the refugee settlement without authority.

“Meanwhile, on Friday, 26th August, 2016, in Nakonde, a total of 14 Tanzanians and 1 Nigerian were refused entry into Zambia after they failed to satisfy the entry requirements for Zambia. On the same date, the Department removed a total of 10 prohibited immigrants from the country. These include, 8 Congolese nationals in Kasumbalesa, 1 Somali national in Lusaka and 1 Congolese in Kitwe,”he said.