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THE Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has bought more than 44,000 tonnes of maize countrywide since the buying exercise begun, executive director Chola Kafwabulula has said.
And it has been stablished that maize smugglers are using new routes in an effort to operate under the radar of security personel.
Mr Kafwabulula said the newest route used by bootleggers was the Mansa- Luwingu Road.
“Maize is being taken out through Mansa using the Mansa -Luwingu Road then into Kasama and onward to Mbala and Mpulungu before exiting Zambia,” Mr Kafwabulula said.
Another area that had been identified as being actively used by smugglers was the Mugubudu area in Eastern Province.
The FRA chief however, said it was difficult to quantify just how much maize was leaving the country illegaly.
The FRA would continue working closely with state security wings, especially the Zambia National Service, to curb the vice because if left unchecked, it had the potential of compromising food security.
The highest maize purchases were recorded in Luapula Province where 13,000 tonnes were purchased.
The FRA encouraged farmers to start delivering their maize at depots in their various localities as the moisture content was deemed to be low enough.
“We are also appealing to farmers to preclean their maize at home so that they do not overstay at the depots.
“We are also not turning away farmers whose maize is found to be high in moisture content and we are instead asking them to leave the maize at the depots and come back later,” Mr Kafwabulula said.
Framers had no reason to worry about leaving their maize as all depots had adequate security.
The buying exercise had started out slow because most farmers had been expecting the FRA to begin purchases in August.
HH sharing his 10 Point PlanUPND President Hakainde Hichilema says the country has one of the worst health indicators globally because government has failed to prioritise health care for the majority.
The UPND leader accused the current government of not owning up to their promise of spending 15% of the total budget on health as the share has gone down to as low as 8.3% under the leadership of President Lungu.
Mr Hichilema said it is possible for the country to do better in the sector and that one of the ways to improving the sector was by re-allocating funds to critical areas fundamental to the wellbeing of the nation.
“Zambia has some of the worst health indicators in the world. Why? Because government has failed to prioritise healthcare for the majority. Whereas the PF promised to spend 15% of the national budget on health in their manifesto, under President Lungu the share has fallen to as little as 8.3%.
“Is it possible for Zambia to do better? Absolutely, just compare our performance to that of Botswana. We have an under-5 mortality rate of 75 per 1,000 live births, more than double that of Botswana’s 36. Our maternal mortality of 398 per 100,000 live births is nearly three times that of Botswana’s 140.
“How can we do better? The UPND will build a healthy nation by re-allocating funds to critical areas that are fundamental to the wellbeing of our nation, such as water and sanitation. Our people are still dying from treatable diseases on a daily basis because they cannot access clean water; compounds are hotbeds for cholera outbreaks, while in the rural areas people are sharing water with livestock because there is no alternative,” he said.
He further explained that his Party plans to raise the standards of care in the sector by supporting healthcare workers as well bringing care closer to communities through extension services by environment health technicians and telemedicine.
“The UPND plans to raise the standard of care through supporting healthcare workers and bringing care closer to communities through extension services by environmental health technicians and telemedicine.
“Additionally, as a government that plans ahead we will support disease prevention measures and undertake preparatory measures for responding to epidemics.
“To ensure we have the resources we need to achieve our plans we will tackle corruption and cut spending on wasteful items, such as frequent by-elections and big budget international travel seen under the PF. We will also re-evaluate the amount spent on VIP healthcare abroad, which was recently revealed to total an average of K3.6 million per person,” he said.
He added “Under our watch spending on health will be for the benefit of the majority, not just a few well-connected individuals, because building a healthy nation is a key stepping stone on the path to a united, prosperous and equitable Zambia.”
NEVERS MUMBA IN LUWINGUMMD President Dr. Nevers Mumba has counseled Christians who find comfort and solace in laziness and poverty by branding every rich person a Satanist and believe that poverty-stricken Christians are the genuine Christians.
Speaking in Luwingu at a joint Zambia United Alliance campaign rally with UPND Vice-President Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba in their continued campaigns to drum up support for the UPND President Hakainde Hichilema, Dr. Mumba challenged Christians to change their backward thinking and prosper as it is their covenant birthright instead of being envious of those who are prosperous.
He said Mr. Mwamba began engaging in private business ventures by applying his strong in-born entrepreneurial spirit at a very young age and through his dedication to hard work and business sense, managed to create wealth which laid a strong financial base for his businesses and his family. He said the same applies to UPND President Hakainde Hichilema who, from a very humble, rural background of herding cattle in the village, embraced hard work, self-discipline, a passion for education, to emerge as one of the most prosperous businessmen in the country also at a young age, but Instead of celebrating such successful Zambians, some lazy, envious ‘pull-him-down’ Christians and political opponents find it more comforting to call such people Satanists and heap all kinds of verbal abuse on them, which he said was most unfortunate.
Meanwhile, Dr. Mumba urged the people of Luwingu not to be cheated by President Lungu’s deceptive calls for prayer and fasting every time he sees his political fortunes dwindling as he was the one fanning political violence which he exhibited when he set the police to attack and tear-gas a peaceful indoor MMD Provincial meeting in Lundazi a few months ago and thereafter immediatedly transfered the concerned police officer to State House on promotion as reward for a ‘job well done.’
He called upon all MMD and UPND supporters countrywide to join together and vote for UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema in order to remove the PF from power and save country from a dictatorial leadership for another 5 years.
Zambian folk musician, Mumba Yachi, took to social media to question why a Zambian artiste is not replacing Koffi Olomide at this years Agricultural and Commercial show. He had this to say on his Facebook page.
“I hear the show society is replacing koffi with werrason. yes the man is a phenomenal his band “Maison mere” can really entertain the show goers. but my point is; gone are the days where we use to think Zambian musicians can’t perform live. the show society must try Mumba Yachi,.if given that chance I can bring in a proper stage performance to suit that audience. I have performed For 2 hours straight just with a guitar .what more with a full band? am not complaining NO NO. but am saying it loud that we are here to give that same entertainment if given the opportunity. those werrason guys have worked hard to be where they are and Congolese people have supported them very much.the fikin is the annual show of Congo and it is always headlined by their artists.we also need that support from our own. next year I want to be the headline of that show and I won’t disappoint .”
The Agricultural and Commercial Society of Zambia bowed down to public pressure and cancelled Congolese rhumba giant Koffi Olomide’s planned shows in Lusaka.
In a brief statement, Show Society President Ben Shoko said following the reported unfortunate incidence in Kenya concerning Koffi Olomide, the show Society of Zambia has decided to cancel his performances during this year’s Show.
Zambia’s leading female rapper, radio host and T.V presenter ,Cleo Ice Queen , is currently in studio shooting for Coke Studio season 2 which will be airing soon on SABC TV ; Cleo has done a fusion with the one and only lady of house Bucie ; keep an eye out for season 2 it will be airing soon!!!
photo by GAS Photographic
Coke Studio is grounded in fusion music, where artists are given the opportunity to create something new and exciting. The show provides a platform for renowned, as well as upcoming and less mainstream artists of various genres, regions and languages to team up musically in live studio recording sessions.
This past week has been so hot, too hot in fact; and when it’s this hot I really don’t feel like cooking, I don’t want to be standing around in a hot kitchen preparing a hot meal. So at times like this I turn to a nice cool salad. Not only are salads healthy, but you can have them in so many different ways. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that salads are the only healthy food out there; but they are a good way to incorporate more veggies into your diet. If you think salads are just boring old lettuce and tomato, then think again. This week I’ve been enjoying a lot of salads and fruits, water and healthy drinks; and to be honest I’m not complaining. I feel a lot better in myself, I feel healthier, my skin is glowing and I have more energy. So to anyone who wants to get a bit of a health kick, you can start by having more fruits and salads; like this delicious Chicken & Bacon Salad.
Ingredients
The meat from1 ready-roasted chicken, cut up into pieces
6 rashers smoked streaky bacon
1 small red onion, halved, thinly sliced
2 tbsp olive oil
Cherry tomatoes
Lettuce
1 cucumber, chopped
Salt & Pepper
For the dressing
4 tbsp mayonnaise
2 tsp white vinegar
2 tsps sugar
1spring onion, finely chopped
Method
Mix the ingredients for the dressing and stir in the chicken and lettuce. Slowly cook the bacon in a large frying pan until crisp; then drain it on paper towel.
Meanwhile, mix the onion with the oil, salt and pepper and toss with cucumber and cherry tomatoes, then mix in the chicken and lettuce. Break or chop the bacon over the top.
Serving
Serve with crusty bread. Enjoy!
Kanta Temba is a cake maker and decorator. She is also the owner and founder of Kanta Kakes – cake shop.
You can find her work onwww.kantakakes.com. Follow her on twitter @KantaKakes and Instagram @KantaTemba.
Readers are encouraged to print this article so as to be able to spend some time to assess the various candidates objectively as we go towards the election date in Zambia to ensure they vote with their heads and not hearts
By Kalima Nkonde
Qualities of a President for Zambia
There are a lot of voters who currently lie in the undecided and independent column and are torn apart as to who they should vote for in the August 11,2016 election. Zambia has become a polarized society and this category of voters may well determine the winner of the election. This article, therefore, is primarily targeted at the undecided and independent voters who should ideally be rational in their decision making. It is not for partisan voters who are normally not objective as they vote for their candidates regardless of the candidates’ weaknesses because of Party loyalty.
In order to assist the undecided voters make a relatively objective decision, it would be helpful to outline what could be considered as some of the critical qualities that voters should be looking for in a President for Zambia at this critical time in our history. It should be noted that although anybody can grow up to be a President, not everybody is cut out to be a great, inspirational and transformational President.
The President of a country should have a combination of certain attributes to a varying degree although he or she cannot have them all in the same measure. It takes a special kind of person to be a President. They have to be someone decisive, tough, smart, talented and with sober character to hold the pressures of the job. The Presidency is the most difficult and complex job in the world requiring multi skills and it is a mistake to choose a President on the a basis of one positive and simplistic attribute like: “ He is humble,” or “He is an economic manager.” Or “ He is a Christian”.
This article is intended to have some serious fun with candidates selection and highlights ten qualities which are by no means exhaustive but are critical in Zambia’s circumstances. It is suggested that undecided and independent voters should either give a score between 1 to 10 to each candidate for each of qualities outlined and add up marks. One should be lowest score and ten is the highest. The total marks is 100. Alternatively, to make it simple for some voters, they just need to indicate pass or fail for each attribute. The candidate that gets the highest mark is the one they should give their vote.
The top five Presidential candidates to be assessed for the August 11 elections who are : Candidate Winter Kabimba, Candidate Tilyenji Kaunda, Candidate Edgar Lungu, Candidate Hakainde Hichilema and Candidate Edith Nawakwi.
The following are the ten qualities that Zambians should be looking for in a President: integrity, visionary, disciplinarian, compassionate, constitutionalist, humble, nationalist, competent, independent and healthy.
1. Integrity
Zambia needs a President who is a man or woman of honor. He should be an honest person with strong moral character who walks the talk, keeps his promises and is not a liar, hypocrite or pretender. He should not have a record of proven untrustworthiness or corruption or theft. The character of a President should be beyond reproach. Zambians should be able to trust him or her and have confidence that he is not going to steal the country’s resources and will always put the country’s interests first. The President should be at a higher end of Psychologist Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs so as not to be motivated by money and other material things for vying for the office of President.
2. Visionary
The President of Zambia should clearly have a personal vision for Zambia and be committed and determined to realize that vision. He or she must be clear as to where he wants to take the country and how. A great leader is a role model of hard work to his people. He should have a passion to serve the public not be driven by money or fame but for the common good so as to make a difference in people’s lives. The President should also be inspirational through his words and actions.
3. Humble
The public wants a President who accepts that he is human and admits his mistakes and weaknesses. He should not be a show off who exhibits arrogant tendencies and looks down on others. He should be approachable, a good listener and respects the views of other people rather than exhibit a know it all attitude. A President has to be accountable and take responsibility when things go wrong and not pass the buck. He should not just take credit when things are going right and refuse to take responsibility when things go wrong.
Ted Turner, the billionaire Founder of CNN in his biography, “ Call me Ted “, said this about humility: “ Whether you are talking about a person or a country, its okay to be rich and it’s okay to be powerful, just as long as you’re humble and cooperative. But if you combine being rich and powerful with being arrogant and uncooperative, people won’t cut you much slack.”
4. Constitutionalist
Zambia like never before needs a President who believes in the rule of law. The country needs a leader who will uphold and respect the constitution, abide by the laws of the country, respect civil liberties like freedom of assembly, press freedom, and honor the decisions of the judiciary. According to the highest legal authority on the matter, the non partisan, Law Association of Zambia (LAZ), Law and order has broken down to some extent in Zambia as evidenced by political violence and the arbitrary behavior of the Police Service and abuse of public order act.
The politicization of democratic institutions is a clear sign that we are on the wrong governance trajectory. The full restoration of the separation of powers and the independence of important good governance institutions like Judiciary, Parliament, Anti Corruption Commission, Zambia Revenue Authority, Drug Enforcement Commission etc is critical. For any one who is old enough to have lived under the one Party State of KK’s UNIP dictatorship, they would agree that our hard won democracy is on the line and we can ill afford to lose the gains made in last twenty five years.
5. Disciplinarian
The President needs to be a proven disciplinarian in his past dealings including how he or she has maintained discipline in his or her own Party. They should be able to instill discipline in their administration and the country at large. Indiscipline is currently rampant in Zambia hence the violence, lawlessness etc. Zambians work better with leaders who are firm , disciplined and those that they fear to some extent.
The likes of Presidents Kenneth Kaunda, Levy Mwanawasa and Michael Sata were able to have things done and achieve their goals because subordinates feared being fired if they did not perform or if they were caught to be engaged in any misdemeanors. Zambia needs a President who is courageous enough be able to make decisions which are unpopular but are in the long term interests of the country even if it is not good for him and his Party. The President should be able to fight for what is right for the country. Zambia needs a strong leader – in the realm of John Pompe “ Bulldozer” Magufuli of Tanzania who can even fire friends – and not a weak one.
6. Compassionate
The majority of our people are suffering and wallowing in poverty. Zambia needs a President who understands what people are going through. We need a President who will empathize with the poorest of the poor of our people by word and deed and not just by mere political rhetoric. He should demonstrate how he will uplift the people who are suffering from misery and pain and demonstrate selfless love for the people including those that do not support him.
7. Competent
In the light of the economic problems that we are in, we need a President who is interested and has a working understanding how the economy works. He should be ideally a competent and an accomplished manager of the economy and the country. He or she should be a hands on and proactive President rather than a reactive one. He has to be organized and be able to assemble a high quality economic and governance team.
People look forward to a leader during a period of uncertainty to get reassurance and security. Our country seems to worship mediocrity and does not celebrate excellence. As a nation, we are jealous of achievers and celebrate failures. We need a President with a track record of accomplishments. If for Job interviews we review candidates’ resumes, why should we not do the same for the most difficult job in the country. We should review what candidates have achieved in the past which should be a rough indicator of the chance of their future success. In this way, we will minimize the risk of having a failed Presidency.
8. Nationalistic
In the light of Zambia being made up of so many tribes, the country needs a President who is a nationalist in word and deed and not a regionalist. He should promote unity among his people rather than causing them to be divided and have meaningless conflicts. The Zambian President should not pander to any tribal prejudices whatsoever.
The President should also put Zambians’ interest first and have a vision to empower Zambians in a broad based manner with jobs, education, skills, share ownership, finance, joint ventures with foreigners and business linkages with big businesses. This is only way to reduce poverty.
9. Independent
Zambia needs a President who is his/her own man or woman and not a puppet or pawn in the economic and political power game. He should be one who is not indebted to any sponsors. He should not be subject to manipulation by special interests who are thirsty for power and the wealth of the nation. He should be able to make brave decisions and stand up to powerful interests whether local or foreign. The President needs to portray and project a confident demeanor. He should have a self belief, be knowledgeable and not appear to be insecure and exhibit apparent inferiority complex.
10. Healthy
The job of a President is a demanding job. In view of the economic problems that the country faces, Zambia needs a President than ever before whose health is beyond question. The nature of the job can make one’s little ailments deteriorate at a faster rate than normal and thereby incapacitate him in performing well and possibly lead to premature death.
In the light of the country’s recent experience, Zambia can ill afford a President whose health is in question. The country needs a President who is a hard worker, analytical, sober minded and can endure the long hours of work that the job demands, Zambia needs a workaholic for a President at the moment.
CONCLUSION
This article is a non partisan one and not personal one and covers five Presidential candidates. If there a weaknesses or strengthens that coincide with any candidate, it sheer coincidence and not targeted at all. The intention is to help the undecided, independents and disaffected to choose the best Presidential candidate who is the best for Zambia.
It is suggested that the undecided voters should do a bit of research on the Presidential candidates, observe them on the campaign trail and give marks to each one of them and see who gets the highest mark out of 100. They can then form an informed opinion on the various candidates so that come election time, they can decide on who to vote for on basis of the marks. In this way, they will be voting with a Head and not the Heart as they will have some objective basis.
It should be noted that each candidate has strengths and weaknesses and they may earn a higher score on one attribute and a lower score on another! The best candidate is one whose strengths over compensates for his or her weaknesses and by choosing such a candidate, then we are reducing the country’s risk of having a President who will turn the wheels of Zambia’s economic and political progress backwards. It is the sum total that will matter.
It is also hoped that the above mentioned qualities can be a basis for civilized debate in clubs, kitchen tables, dinner table, bars by the respective rational supporters of the various parties with regard to the weaknesses and strengths of the respective candidates.. The Independents and the Youth should learn from the BREXIT vote in the UK where most people voted with their hearts instead of their heads and are now regretting the way they voted as the consequences are daring. Zambian voters in general are well advised to vote with their conscience and base their votes on whether they will be well off or worse off by the choice they make.
Kambwili
Patriotic Front candidate for Roan constituency Chishimba Kambwili on Monday called on voters of Chingola and other PF strongholds to emulate the voting pattern of Tongas who vote for UPND and Hakainde Hichilema in Southern Province.
Speaking at a PF political rally at Kabundi Secondary School grounds in Chingola, Dr Kambwili called on other tribes to replicate the Tonga way of voting.
He said Tongas in Southern Province only vote for UPND and their tribesman Mr Hichilema with a view of being ruled by a Tonga.
“This is selfishness and we shall copy and paste their way of voting so that they should learn that if they continue exhibiting tribalism, their leader Mr Hichilema will not rule Zambia because Southern Province or Copperbelt is not Zambia.
“In some areas our President Edgar Lungu was getting 20 votes against 16, 000 of HH. This shows selfishness. I don’t hate Tongas but I hate their manners of only wanting the Tonga for a Tonga,” he said.
Dr Kambwili who is also Information and Broadcasting Minister further said UPND and their President not to ride on tribal vote in order to rule Zambia.
He said raiding on Tribal talk will only make voters distance themselves from the UPND leader because Zambians do not want to be divided on tribal lines as they believe that they are one regardless of their tribe.
He further accused the UPND leader of not campaigning in Southern Province because his tribes men have assured of votes in the province.
“HH is not campaigning in Southern Province because he has been told not to waste time in his home province because HH’s votes are insured and guaranteed in Tongaland,” he said.
Whoever wins the election will have to reinvigorate the economy, which is under serious strain following the collapse of the copper price.
Zambians go to the polls to elect a new president on August 11. The country is celebrated as a beacon of democracy on the continent, yet the election campaign is being marred by political intimidation and sporadic violence.
There is great expectation that the poll will be free and fair and the results will be accepted by all parties.
I have no doubt Zambians will rise to the challenge. But the big question everybody has avoided is how the party that wins can reinvigorate the economy, which is under serious strain following the collapse of the copper price.
Both main parties, President Edgar Lungu’s Patriotic Front (PF) and the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) led by Hakainde Hichilema, have not clearly articulated how they plan to deal with this challenge.
Whoever wins will have the daunting task of stabilising the economy and giving hope to the people of Zambia who are facing poverty, unemployment and increasing inequality. As the continent’s second-largest copper producer, Zambia is heavily dependent on the copper price.
The recent commodity boom gave Lusaka false hopes and diverted its attention from finding alternative economic sources. The collapse of the copper price was immediately followed by a rapid decline in growth.
Zambia is also facing a serious energy shortage which has contributed to the economy slowing down. In the short and medium term, there is no silver bullet. The only strategic intervention available is to introduce reforms in the mining sector that have the potential to translate abundant copper resources into wealth for all.
The current mining policies have not been beneficial to Zambians. The country still has policies that encourage the pillaging of the country’s mineral wealth.
Zambia’s current trade and investment strategies, which encourage foreign direct investment in the mining sector, are overgenerous and misaligned with the revenue generation.
Zambia’s tax regime gives higher tax exemptions and the country is losing more than a billion a year in foregone tax revenue. It loses 10 percent of its GDP annually from corporate tax avoidance practices.
The country’s tax regime doesn’t allow an excess profit tax, which resulted in Lusaka not benefiting optimally from the last resources boom. When the government attempted to introduce a windfall tax in 2008, mining companies threatened to dis-invest.
What Zambians have failed to understand is that even at the peak of the copper price increase the country did not collect enough revenue simply because many mining companies pay almost zero tax due to excessive exemptions.
It is hence understandable that even though the country experienced an economic growth rate of between 5 and 7 percent for many years, it did not translate into social and human development for Zambians.
The country has extreme income inequalities. With a Gini coefficient estimated at more than 0.75, 68 percent of the population live below the poverty line with 45 percent classified as extremely poor.
In terms of income per capita distribution, less than 20 percent of the national income is shared by 70 percent of the population. These negative economic indicators are on the rise as economic growth shrinks.
It’s expected that economic growth will slow to 3 percent by the end of the year. It’s clear Zambia’s political stability and the consolidation of the electoral democracy have not translated into better lives for Zambians.
The two major parties are scared to touch the mining issue in their election campaign. The challenges that Zambia faces in its mining sector are compounded by the weak state capacity to manage the sector. Beside the weak capacity to tax the sector, Lusaka is not able to monitor mining companies to detect bad behaviour and sanction them.
The concerns of communities affected by environmental damage, displacement, water and land pollution and other harmful practices are matters of public interest, but companies are never punished. The government has been powerless and docile in the presence of multiple human rights abuses by mining groups. Companies know how to silence the government by threatening to close the mines.
Whoever wins the elections will have to introduce fundamental changes to the way the economy is managed, especially the mining sector.
Mr Claude Kabemba is Director of Southern Africa Resource Watch and this article first appeared in the Sunday Independent of 24 July 2016.
THE 28 suspected United Party for National Development (UPND) members who were arrested in Kasama, Northern Province, after being found in possession of petrol bombs and other dangerous weapons, on Monday appeared in the Kasama magistrate’s court.
The suspects, who were apprehended last week at UPND vice-president for administration Geoffrey Mwamba’s residence, were granted bail with two sureties.
According to court documents, the 28 appeared for mention before magistrate Bartholomew Kaongo.
Following an application by defence lawyer Mulilo Kabesha, who stated that the suspects were of fixed abode and all residents of Kasama, Mr Kaongo granted them bail on condition that they each pay K500 cash and produce two working sureties with K500 to be paid by each surety.
This is in a case in which Chisha Chewe and 27 others on July 20 conducted themselves in a way likely to cause a breach of the peace.
Other offences included assault on police officers, malicious damage to property, and being in possession of offensive weapons.
In the fourth count, the 28 could not take plea as the offence of making and being in possession of offensive weapons required a directive from the Director of Public Prosecutions for the State to proceed with it.
Mr Kaongo set August 18, this year, as the date for mention and August 31 and September 1 for possible mention and trial.
mealie meal
A recent inspection by the Zambia Weights and Measures Agency in Lusaka, Ndola, Kitwe, Luanshya, Chipata and Choma found that out of the ten Milling Companies inspected seven were found guilty of the offence of packaging and offering for sale underweight mealie meal.
The inspection was held to ascertain compliance to net content with regards to packaging of mealie meal and were carried out between May and July 2016.
The packaging and offering for sale underweight mealie meal is contrary to the provisions of the Weights and Measures (Amendment) Act number 12, of 2003 and the Weights and Measures Regulations.
The non-compliant companies were National Milling Company in Lusaka, APG Milling in Lusaka, Continental Milling in Lusaka, Mushe Milling in Lusaka, Jambo Milling in Ndola and Antelope Milling in Luanshya including Choma Milling in Choma.
Only three companies inspected were found to be compliant with the Law.
The three compliant companies were Cargil Milling in Chipata, H.M. Milling in Kitwe and Olympic Milling in Ndola.
The Agency inspected a total number of 17,850 bags of mealie meal of which 17,450 bags were non- compliant as they all failed the average batch test.
At these compliant companies, a total number of 400 bags of mealie meal were tested to determine their compliance to the stipulations contained in the Regulations.
All the 400 bags passed this test.
Agency Spokesperson Diana Ngula said at the National Milling Company in Lusaka, a batch of over 8500 bags of 25kg roller meal and breakfast mealie meal and 10kg bags of roller meal were tested to determine their accuracy.
Ms. Ngula said the test of accuracy which involved weighing individual bags of mealie meal on a ZWMA verified scale indicated that the samples failed the test as most bags were less than 25kg or 10kg.
“Similarly, at the APG milling plant in Lusaka, a batch of 1700 bags of 10kg roller meal, 25kg roller and breakfast mealie meal failed the test of accuracy as the average net weight of the 10kg bags and 25kg bags was found to be 9.4 kg and 24.4kg respectively. Some bags of 25kg were found to be as low as 21kg when weighed. This is unacceptable and punishable by Law,” Ms. Ngula said.
“Both National Milling Company and APG Milling have been charged and fined K60,000 and K 71,000 respectively, for the offence of offering for sale, bags of 25kg and 10kg mealie meal which were short of the weight stated on the package contrary to Section 32 (1) (b) of the Weights and Measures (Amendment) Act no. 12 of 2003,” she said.
Ms. Ngula said the tolerable deficiency or the allowable deficiency for a 25kg pre-packaged commodity is 250g and 150g for a 10kg prepackaged commodity.
“This means that what is acceptable by Law for any 25kg commodity offered for sale, is that it should not weigh less than 24.75kg, while a 10kg should not weigh less than 9.85kg,” she said.
“The Zambia Weights and Measures Agency has also warned and cautioned five (5) other milling companies namely Choma Milling in Choma, Antelope milling in Luanshya, Jambo milling in Ndola, Continental and Mushe milling in Lusaka.”
Ms. Ngula said the said milling companies were directed to be consistent in their packaging by ensuring that once the average weight of a particular batch of their product was determined, this weight had to be the quantity stated on the package at all times, or slightly more.
“Furthermore, Continental Milling was ordered to stick to correct quantity labelling on its bags of mealie meal as provided for by Law. It is an offence for instance, to label on a pre- packaged commodity “25kg when packed” as opposed to the requirement of “25kg net”.”
She said the wording “when packed” suggests that the manufacturer is not responsible for the weight that may be lost due to external factors such as loss of weight due to loss of moisture adding that the Law however demands that the quantity stated on the package should be the net quantity.
“An immediate corrective measure that the Agency took was to quarantine the sale of the underweight bags of mealie meal. The companies were also ordered to re-pack all the underweight bags of mealie meal to meet the quantity as declared on the packaging. ZWMA barred the sale and confined the non-compliant products to protect consumers from being sold under weight mealie meal. In the medium to long term, ZWMA shall engage the milling companies to offer them training in related legal metrology requirements.”
Koffi Olomide
State broadcaster ZNBC has withdrawn adverts for the popular drink Ama Sip Sip which featured Congolese artiste Koffi Olomide as the fell out over his violent conduct towards his female dancer continues.
A source within ZNBC management confirmed that the decision to stop airing all adverts featuring committee was taken by management at its Monday Senior Management Team meeting.
The source said ZNBC wanted to send a strong message to the nation that it does not condone violent conduct against anyone especially directed towards defenceless women.
The source further said that the manufacturer of Ama Sip Sip, Trade Kings has since been notified of the management decision.
ZNBC Head of Corporate Affairs Masuzyo Ndhovu and Trade Kings Media Manager James Songwe were both not available to independently confirm the development.
Meanwhile, the Agriculture and Show Society of Zambia has decided to invite another Congolese artiste Werrason after cancelling Koffi’s shows in Lusaka.
In a statement, Society President Ben Soko said Werrason will also perform at the Mulungushi Conference Centre on Friday, 29 July 2016 and that the tickets which were purchased for the Koffi show are still valid and can be accepted at Werrason’s shows.
Former ZCTU president Leonard HikaumbaFORMER Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Leonard Hikaumba has said recapitalising Mulungushi Textiles in Kabwe will broaden Government’s revenue sources and help achieve Zambia’s economic diversification efforts.
Mr Hikaumba said in an interview that revamping the textile giant was vital to Zambia’s development agenda because it would also result in job opportunities and provide a market for local cotton producers.
He said the development was timely because it would provide the Zambian economy with an additional viable source of revenue in the face of unstable and declining copper prices.
“The recapitalisation of the company will result in ripple effects such as supporting agriculture and creating employment opportunities for Zambians,” Mr Hikaumba said.
He said the increased availability of locally-produced clothing would make the people access quality and durable clothing.
He said an operational textiles industry would create a ready market for local cotton producers whose produce had experienced a reduction in demand due to non-availability of a textiles industry in Zambia.
Mr Hikaumba said the second-hand clothing industry in Zambia had flourished under the poor local clothing industry.
“People have resorted to buying second-hand clothing because the new clothes are imported and expensive.
“But with the coming on board of Mulungushi Textiles, consumers will be able to buy cheap and durable clothing which is locally produced,” he said.
The Zambia Cotton Ginners Association (ZCGA) said it welcomed the revival of the textile firm as the move would promote value-addition to raw lint.
“We have always supported initiatives aimed at adding value to our lint which is being exported in its raw form, and the revamping of the textile plant in Kabwe is the way to go and has been long overdue,” ZCGA executive secretary Bourne Chooka said in response to a Press query.
The Agricultural and commercial society of Zambia has replaced the Congolese musician Koffi Olomide who was scheduled to perform in the country with fellow Congolese super star Werasson.
The Society was forced to replace Koffi after he was deported from Kenya after a video of the legendary musician beating up one of his female dancers went viral.
Show Society President Ben Shoko announced in a show statement that they will now be bringing Werasson to perform on Friday at the Mulungushi.
Mr Shoko also said all the tickets purchased are valid and that people should buy tickets in advance so as to avoid delayed entry.
Post workers locked outside their offices on Bwinjimfumu road
Former Information and Broadcasting Permanent Secretary in the Rupiah Banda administration Sam Phiri says the tragedy facing the Post Newspapers today is self-inflicted.
Dr Phiri said the problem with The Post is not that they owe Zambia Revenue Authority or the Development Bank of Zambia but that the newspaper helped create and sustain the monster which is now feasting on their carcass.
“Prior to 2011, The Post campaigned for and provided logistical and strategic support to what will go down in Zambia’s history as one of the most incompetent, retributive and brutal leadership of Michael Sata,” Dr Phiri said.
He said upon taking over government, The Post ensured that their protégées were infiltrated into critical positions of Government from State House, Ministry of Information, Legal Affairs into the foreign service.
“Not less than 10 Post employees went into Government and the Post enjoyed unfettered access to power and Government contracts including the printing and distribution of the draft Constitution,” he said.
“For three years thereafter, The Post sustained Sata’s ruthlessness and the erratic, sarcastic, irascible governance. But then Sata died. One of the last persons to ‘see’ Sata alive in Britain was M’membe. In the political tussles for succession within the PF, The Post sided with Sata’s nephew who lost to Edgar Chagwa Lungu.”
He added, “Then those who were victimised by Sata in the three years of his residence at State House, found a new home within the wings of Edgar Chagwa Lungu. It’s now retribution all over again! This time against The Post. That is the context of the tragedy of The Post.”
Dr Phiri said if late President Sata’s nephew was leader of the PF, The Post could have been home and dry.
“Now pity The Post for having fed the lion which is attempting to swallow them, against all the newspaper’s good sense. They knew what character they were taking into State House and all we see now is the legacy of The Post’s support. The Post were wrong in the past and what is happening to them is wrong.”
