Other Pictures Courtesy of Jean Mandela
Day of National Prayers in Pictures
UPND has plan that covers everything from job creation to good governance-HH
United Party for National Development (UPND) Presidential Candidate Hakainde Hichilema has said that Zambia’s problems have come about due in large part to to bad leadership; leadership that does not plan ahead and leadership that does not consult and listen to outside views.
In a statement released to the media, the UPND leader said that he has plan that covers everything from job creation to good governance.
Mr Hichilema said that in developing the party’s plan, UPND consulted far and wide, surveying business leaders, engaging academics and experts, and toured the country and listened to the daily challenges Zambians are facing and how government can make their lives better.
Below is the full statement
OFFICIAL STATEMENT
A President With A Plan
During their time at State House the PF Government has led us into serious trouble. Mealie meal prices are up from K35 to K100, thousands have lost their jobs in the mines, businesses have closed due to the energy crisis, and economic growth is down from 7% to 3%.
These problems have come about in large part due to bad leadership; leadership that does not plan ahead and leadership that does not consult and listen to outside views.
This failure to plan has left the PF Government on the back foot, reacting to events once the damage has largely been done. On 11th August 2016 the UPND is offering something different. We are offering voters the chance to help move Zambia forward through delivery of the UPND 10 Point Plan.
The plan covers everything from job creation to good governance. Our proposals in areas such as education and healthcare are ambitious but they are possible because they sit alongside our commitments to cutting wasteful government expenditure and fighting corruption.
In developing our plan we have consulted far and wide, surveying business leaders, engaging academics and experts, and most importantly we have toured the country and listened to the daily challenges our people are facing and how government can make their lives better.
For my part, I want to use my experience as a farmer, my experience as a businessman and my experience as an economist to fix the economy and get our country moving forward once again.
Hakainde Hichilema
UPND President
The first-ever Miss Africa Zambia pageant to be held on 5th August
The first-ever Miss Africa Zambia pageant, being organised by Miss Pageant Zambia Trust, is set for August 5 at the Best Western Plus Lusaka Grand Hotel, where 10 models will be competing for the title.
The winner is expected to represent Zambia at the Miss Africa to be held in Botswana in November.
Charity Mwanza, Maria Chibuye, Grace Tembo, Penny Chewe, Louise Chingangu, Lukundo Nambaya, Tina Kazhila, Memory Ndumba and Sheena Kaliyangile are the contestants for the Miss Africa Zambia pageant.
The pageant is being held under the theme “Educate the Girl Child, Stop Child Marriages” and the organisers are hoping that the Minister of Tourism and Arts Jean Kapata will be able to officiate at the event being held less than a week before the country goes to vote in the general elections.
“The slogan for Miss Africa is ‘Re-branding and Uniting Africa’. This slogan has become more appealing to Zambia, especially this election period hence we intend to invite some members of the opposition to this event as a way of uniting Zambia especially this period of elections,” Miss Pageant Zambia director Muchemwa Sokoni says.
The Miss Africa pageant has its own particular aims.
“The pageant aims to have a special purpose on the continent as its main mandate shall be to promote Africa as a tourism power house by showcasing the various cultures, lifestyles and most importantly the wonders of the world that are found in Africa to boost the tourism sector,” according to a statement to the Weekend Mail by the Miss Pageant Zambia.
“This pageant has been started in Botswana and has been rolled out to countries such as Ghana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, South Africa, Ethiopia, Nigeria to mention a few. The enrolment of other countries is still on-going. Moreover, the pageant aims to promote unity among all Africans.
“The spirit of unity in diversity has seemingly died among citizens of the African continent as manifested by the recent xenophobic attacks, civil wars and genocides that we have experienced in the past.
“It is therefore of paramount importance that we have social structures like this pageant that shall promote and enhance unity among citizens of Africa.”
(Daily Mail)
Australia based Zambian artiste , Portia Clark , releases new single
Zambian pop sensation Portia Clark, who is based in Perth, Australia, has released a single titled “So The World May Hear”, which is available on all major online stores including iTunes, Spotify and Tidal.
The single was released to raise awareness on the Starkey Hearing Foundation, which was founded by William F. Austin in 1984 in Minnesota, USA to provide hearing aids and care to people in need.
Portia’s management team released a statement following the release of the single last week.
“Zambian born pop princess Portia is going from strength to strength, after a 30-hour flight from Perth, Australia to Minneapolis, USA, Portia spent the weekend in the States to release her new single “So The World May Hear”, produced by an Australian leading producer that was based in the USA and produced for Cher,” the statement reads.
“During the weekend, Portia spent her time with the likes of Johnny Depp, Alice Cooper, Tony Blair, even Ice Cube and to top it off and jamming with the legendary Bob Marley’s son Rohan Marley who now represents the Marley family and its business interest.”
“During the weekend, Portia was also joined by over 600 celebrities including some of the biggest names in acting like Jennifer Garner and sports legends who are in the baseball and basketball hall of fame. Portia seems to be putting Zambia on the map and everyone should really listen to her new song that can be downloaded free on all global media stores.”
Her husband Brendan Clark also sent a message.
“To all my friends in Zambia… she [Portia] is an independent artiste living in Perth, Australia and just returned from the USA where she released her new single,” he wrote.
“The song was released to raise awareness for the amazing work that Starkey Hearing Foundation are doing, Starkey also committed to a US$5 million dollar pledge to providing hearing to the hearing impaired in Zambia this year. Just think, where would we all be without our hearing?”
Portia was a year ago in Zambia and performed at City Lodge (formerly Smugglers Inn) alongside Dr Dre’s son Curtis Young.
Listen to a snippet of the song HERE
“So the world may here” is available for purchase on Amazon , Itunes and other online music stores.
HH, Guy Scott Campaigns in Southern Province
OFFICIAL STATEMENT
UPND Continues Tour of Southern Province
This past week the campaign trail has taken us from Luapula, to Central, Lusaka and then Southern Province. During our travels we have seen every day just how much more there is that unites than divides us as a nation.
Our people are facing the same challenges, from increased food prices, load shedding, joblessness, difficulty in accessing healthcare and the challenge of keeping children in school even when the economy bites.
The UPND’s 10 Point Plan will fix these problems. If Zambians place their confidence in us then we will work tirelessly from the day we are elected to make sure our people are supported in their work and have better access to fundamentals such as education and water and sanitation.
We have an ambitious vision for our country because we recognise its vast potential, from the huge natural resources and beautiful landscapes to our greatest asset – the Zambian people.
As our party grows in size we continue to invite more and more people to join us because we know that together we are stronger. Today we appealed to the people of Pemba, Sinazongwe and Choma to unite with us in our desire for change so we can move Zambia forward come 11th August 2016.
Hakainde Hichilema
UPND President
Jean Kapata has urged Livingstone residents to vote for PF and President Lungu
TOURISM and Arts Minister Jean Kapata has urged Livingstone residents to give the Patriotic Front and President Edgar Lungu another five year mandate to run the affairs of the country.
Ms Kapata said the PF had in the last five years demonstrated that it had a well outlined plan to develop and transform Zambia into a prosperous nation.
She said the PF Government had in the last five years embarked on a vigorous infrastructure development campaign that saw the construction of univeristies,Schools,hospitals,airports,markets,rural and township roads.
She was speaking at Maramba Old People’s Home grounds in Livingstone on Saturday where she addressed a mammoth rally.
Ms Kapata, who was accompanied by Livestock and Fisheries deputy minister Lawrence Evans, warned Livingstone residents against listening and voting for politicians who had no developmental agenda for the nation.
“The PF Government has demonstrated that it is a Government that you can entrust the affairs of the country with even for the next five years because it has been practical in all its pronouncements.
“Others are busy giving you a ten point plan which is a copy and paste of what the PF has already implemented, don’t listen to them because they just theoretical and telling you lies, ”Ms Kapata said.
Ms Kapata who is also PF chairperson for elections introduced to the people PF Livingstone constituency parliamentary candidate Omar Munsanje, mayoral candidate Edward Ntinda and all the aspiring councilors.
She also took time to explain to the crowd the importance of the referendum and urged them to vote yes in the referendum so that they could continue to enjoy the rights that they deserved as citizens of Zambia.
Mr Evans, who is also former PF Member of Parliament for Livingstone constituency, urged the Livingstone community to vote for Omar Munsanje as their area Member of Parliament to avoid derailments in the developmental agenda set by the PF Government.
“You have seen the developments that the PF Government has brought into Livingstone, The Bus terminus, market, airport, sewer system and roads are there for your eyes to see and your hands to point at.
“We need Omar Munsanje to continue with were I left from so that we can finish all the pending projects, but if you vote for an opposition member of parliament, all projects will be abandoned and Livingstone will be back to square one,” he said.
And Mr Munsanje, who knelt before the crowd, pledged to continue and implement all the developmental projects initiated by the PF Government once elected as area member of parliament on 11 August 2016.
NGOCC Commends Show Society for Cancelling Koffi Olomide Show
Non-Governmental Organizations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) executive Director Engwase Mwale has commended the Agricultural and Commercial Society of Zambia Management for the cancellation of Congolese Rhumba giant Koffi Olomide’ planned shows in Lusaka, reports Pan African Radio Journalist Hermit Hachilonde.
In a statement Mr. Mwale said the Society has shown magnanimity and their resolve to take the fight against GBV to another level.
She said the action by the show society of Zambia management must serve as a clear message to all other would-be abusers that GBV committed against one, whether female or male is an affront to the global fight against the vice.
She has since called on the Zambian Government to ensure that the said public musical figure is held to account for his brutality.
Ms. Mwale noted that it is unacceptable that the man should continue doing musical concerts while facing charges regarding his violent behaviour.
She added that NGOCC will remain committed to championing the fight against GBV in Zambia and othe African countries.
NGOCC is among many Zambians that called for the cancellation of Koffi’s Lusaka concerts after he was deported from Kenya following a row over an incident in which he was captured at the airport kicking one of his female dancers.
The 60-year-old rumba star in 2012, he was convicted in the Democratic Republic of Congo, his home country, of assaulting his producer.
The court gave the singer a three-month suspended prison sentence.
The altercation with his producer, Diego Lubaki, was over a debt of about $3,700 (£2,800), the court heard.
In 2008, he was accused of kicking a cameraman from DR Congo’s private RTGA television station and breaking his camera at a concert in the capital, Kinshasa, following disagreement over recording rights.
In 2012, the same Congolese singer also have records of beating a Burundian national, an international Photo journalist Jean Mandela based in Zambia who insists that Koffi should be arrested.
“NGOCC commends this progressive position taken. Indeed the Society has shown magnanimity and their resolve to take the fight against GBV to another level”
“This must serve as a clear message to all other would-be abusers that GBV committed against one, whether female or male, is an affront to human rights and the global fight against the vice”
“We further call upon our government to bilaterally ensure that the said public musical figure is held to account for his brutality” Ms. Mwale said
President Lungu leads Zambians in prayers
President Edgar Lungu this afternoon led hundreds of Zambians in prayer for the holding of peaceful general election in August this years.
The prayers that were conducted at the Lusaka show grounds were characterized with songs and solemn requests to God by a variety of priests.
And President Edgar Lungu has reiterated his commitment to defend and uphold peace so as to as to maintain the country’s unmatched record as a beacon of peace.
President Lungu has also called for all political parties to campaign freely and peacefully during this year’s general election.
He says there is need for the country not to give room to violence in a Christian nation.
President Lungu is urging all political parties to be above politics by burying their political differences.
he is also urging them to counsel all party cadres to refrain from provocation and retaliation.
And speaking at the same event National of prayers Board Chairperson Bishop Joshua Banda has also called on all Zambians not to do anything that will jeopardize the peace of the country.
Bishop Banda says it is everyone’s duty to do everything to safeguard the peace of the nation.
Below is the speech delivered by the head of state
Greetings, in the name of our ord Jesus Christ
I am overjoyed to join you all at this wholesome national day of prayer, organised by the national house of prayer.
During my last press conference, I informed the nation that the national house of prayer had launched 100 days of prayer ahead of the August 11 elections. This has culminated in prayers taking place simultaneously across our nation right now, at provincial and district levels.
Various prayer networks have assembled to petition God almighty for divine intervention against violence.
I strongly believe the God who answers by fire will prevail on all matters that we have brought before him.
Our national day of prayer is on the theme: seeking God’s intervention: saying no to violence and committing to peaceful elections through forgiveness, tolerance, love and unity.
Our theme scripture is Isaiah 60:18 which reads:
“no longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls salvation and your gates praise”
As a christian nation, it is our duty to seek the face of God through prayer. If we offer fervent prayers, we are guaranteed of answers to our questions. Our call to prayer must be sincere.
As we come in the presence of the almighty God, we need to ask God to forgive us our sins. We also need to forgive those we have wronged, or those who have wronged us.
Our quest for peace should be anchored on strong principles of forgiveness, tolerance, love, unity and above all, prayer.
We have sought God’s intervention before in matters affecting us. It is equally imperative to do so now that we are aspiring for peace building in the nation.
I am confident that according to his word in isaiah 54:17 which says “no weapon formed against you will prosper…”. Indeed we shall overcome every obstacle in the name of Jesus christ.
My confidence is drawn from the apostle paul in phillipians 1: 6 who says:
“being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you (Zambia) will carry it on to completion until the day of christ Jesus”.
I firmly believe our nation shall remain peaceful, before, during and after elections. I know this because the prince of peace our Lord Jesus christ reigns over Zambia.
Let us all unite and propagate peace. The peace that we aspire for transcends creed, colour, ethnicity, political interests among others.
We should not undo what our forefathers shed blood for. This is not time to tear, but to build on the foundations that our great men and women laid.
I call upon all well-meaning, God fearing Zambians to continue lifting our nation in prayer. I say pray without ceasing according to 1st Thessalonians 5:17.
Dear country men, women, youths and children,
Our God says “call upon me and I will answer you”, jeremiah 33:3.
I wish to now pay glowing tribute to the national house of prayer which in collaboration with other church mother bodies took a bold step to lead our nation into this sacred gathering.
I also appeal to all of you, my fellow Zambians to turn up in numbers to go and exercise your right to vote. I can rest assure you that peace shall prevail, now, during and after elections.
To all my fellow political leaders, let us remember that Zambia is bigger than any candidate. Therefore, let us respect and operate within the rule of law. Let us exercise tolerance and use sober language towards each other.
We should be above politics by burying our political differences. We also have a serious duty to counsel our cadres and to restrain themselves from provocation and retaliation.
We all need to campaign freely and peacefully. For this reason, we should not give room to violence in our christian nation. Never should we leave room for loss of precious lives. But we must coexist as brothers and sisters.
As your republican president, I have a duty to defend and uphold peace. You also have a duty to maintain peace by being peaceful within yourselves, and living in harmony with everyone. All of us have a responsibility to maintain our unmatched record as a beacon of peace.
One Zambia, one Nation!
Let me reiterate the words of Isaiah:
“no longer will violence be heard in our land, nor ruin or destruction within our borders, lets call upon his name daily and praise his holy name!.
God bless you all
God bless mother Zambia, amen
Zanaco punish toothless Tigers to extend lead
Zanaco beat Lusaka Tigers 4-0 away at Nkoloma Stadium to open an 11-point lead at the top of the FAZ Super Division table.
Saith Sakala fired-in a hat trick in this Lusaka derby clash to send Zanaco to 46 points and to leave second placed Nkana trailing on 35 points after 19 matches played.
Sakala found the target in the 27th and 39th minutes to see Zanaco take a 2-0 lead into the break.
Fashion Sakala scored his seventh of the season when he found the target in stoppage time.
Saith Sakala completed his hat trick two minutes later to also send his tally for the season to seven goals.
Tigers remain second from last after suffering their fourth consecutive league defeat.
Zambia qualify for Cosafa U17 Cup semifinals
Defending Zambia have advanced to the 2016 Cosafa Under-17 Cup semifinals after downing arch-rivals Malawi in their penultimate Group B match.
Young Chipolopolo beat Malawi 3-0 to maintain their 100 percent start at the ongoing tournament that Mauritius is hosting from July 22-31.
Goals from striker Damiano Kola, defender Benjamin Phiri and Zambia’s top scorer Nicholas Mulilo in the 6th, 14th and 74th minutes respectively saw Young Chipolopolo pick up maximum six points from their opening two Group B matches.
Kola scored his second of the tournament while Mulilo netted his third after they both found the target in Friday’s 4-0 demolition of Kenya.
Zambia face winless and last placed Madagascar in a formality Group B match on July 26 after the latter lost 2-1 to third positioned Kenya in the early kickoff on Sunday.
Oswald Mutapa’s side will in the July 29 semifinals face runners-up from Group A consisting of Namibia (3 points), South Africa (3 points), Seychelles (0), Mauritius (0) who all play on Monday.
Malawi stay second in Group B on 3 points despite the loss following their 2-1 victory over Madagascar last Friday.
Zambia Army Officer, Nephew die in a road crash
A Zambia Army officer and his nephew have died in a road traffic crash along Makeni road in Lusaka.
The accident happened around 04:00 hours on Sunday on Makeni road near Omnia.
Preliminary accident investigations conducted by the RTSA have established that the crash was caused after the driver of the vehicle registration number BAD 4002 a BMW Lieutenant Colonel David Mbewe failed to keep to his lane and collided with an oncoming truck registration number AJB 9792.
Lieutenant Colonel Mbewe and the passenger Dominic Moomba Cheba died on the spot.
This is according to a statement released by Road Transport and Safety Agency Head of Public Relations Frederick Mubanga.
“The Agency wish to caution all motorists to exercise maximum patience and follow all road rules and regulations at all time to avoid road crashes,” Mr Mubanga said.
Koffi Olomide’s Lusaka show cancelled, Zambia Show Society bows to public pressure
The Agricultural and Commercial Society of Zambia has bowed down to public pressure and cancelled Congolese rhumba giant Koffi Olomide’ 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.
Several Zambians took to social media to call for the cancellation of Koffi’s Lusaka concerts after he was deported from Kenya following a row over an incident in which he was captured the airport kicking one of his female dancers.
Earlier today, the Zambia Association of Musicians has condemned Koffi Olomide’s recent violent behaviour in Kenya, against one of his female dancers.
Association President Njoya Tembo said the Association is now calling for his contract for the shows scheduled to take place during this year’s Zambia Agriculture Commercial Show to be cancelled.
“Koffi has proved to be violent when musicians are generally peace ambassadors. In Zambia, he beat up one of his dancers and then a photojournalist, Mandela, at the Taj Pamodzi Hotel a year or two ago. Being an election year, Zambians shouldn’t be subjected to any form of violence. We have invested a lot in peace and that can’t be traded for anything – not for a concert,” Mr Tembo said.
He added, “With this background, Koffi must be allowed time to handle his anger and emotions in peace, at home, in Congo DR. It is sad that a person we consider as a senior musician and role model in the region has gone on rampage assaulting women with impunity. He has proved to be bad influence in the past as well as in the present.”
We therefore wish to applaud the Kenyan authorities for being uncompromising on Koffi’s behaviour, resulting in his deportation. We are confident that our relevant authorities will not allow him to come to Zambia, due to his emotional instability.”
Post Newspaper is scared of its own shadow
By Sunday Chanda
On its front-page story Friday, The Post claims that its newsroom has moved to Cathedral of the Christ Jesus for fear of attacks by the ruling party. The paper claims it did so on the advise of the Zambia Police. This follows the paper’s failure to reach a negotiated settlement with Zambia Revenue Authority that has been pursuing it for outstanding tax obligations stretching as far back as 2009.
The Patriotic Front knows that The Post’s decision to seek refuge in a church is not on account of imaginary attacks from the ruling party but instead a cowardly act that seeks but in vain to escape the long arm of the tax collector. We wish to remind The Post that the measure of man lies in his or her willingness to take responsibility for his actions and meet his obligations to society.
The paper has exhibited colossal forms of irresponsibility by pocketing the money the Zambian people have been paying every time they bought its publication. Instead, without any shade of shame, the paper’s proprietor has gone on to embellish his empire with all manner of luxury while the rest of us are taxed and our taxes go on to build the very roads and other infrastructure he continued to use without contributing to.
A man who lives this kind of a lie does not even need a whiff of breath from the PF because his own wrong doings are his waterloo. We are also aware that the influence of The Post on the Zambian people is exaggerated and mostly a fig mentation of the owner’s imagination. Zambians have multiple sources of information and sufficiently intelligent to understand the failed agenda-setting role of The Post. For this reason, again, it would be a sheer waste of our energies to seek to close a paper that has become a voice for political spent forces.
We know the paper is desperately reaching out to the international community in the hope of relief and media awards for manufactured persecution and bravery. Our President has and continues to engage the International Community through their representatives in the country and the position of government’s position clearly stated; we have nothing to do with the closure The Post!
We just wish to appeal to The Post not to drag the House of God in their own mad by desecrating its holy grounds peddling wares that do not conform to the country’s tax laws. The church, since the days of Jesus, has always recognized citizens’ obligations to the state as the Son of Man Himself demonstrated. It`s therefore hard to imagine that someone should seek to run away from an obligation that the place he is seeking sanctuary in urges its own members to respect.
GBM and Nevers Mumba hit Northern Province for UPND Campaign
UPND Vice President Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba and MMD President Nevers Mumba have resumed the Northern Province leg of their joint cross-country campaigns disrupted last week by a combined team of police and the Zambia Air Force Commander who ordered them to leave the province at short notice due to President Lungu’s anticipated visit to Kasama.
Featuring as guests on Radio Mano Community radio station this morning, Mr. Mwamba challenged the PF’s cost of road construction which they are budgeting at over US$ 1,000,000.00 (one million United States Dollars) per kilometre when the regional average is only US$ 550,000.00 per kilometre. He wondered where the balance is going to. It was US$ 470,000.00 per kilometre during the MMD regime.
The PF government have abandoned their much celebrated original vision of ‘More money in your pocket; More Jobs; Lower taxes’ in preference for ‘massive infrastructure development’ of roads, schools, clinics, government office blocks, etc which was in fact an MMD budget-controlled strategy introduced in 2009, which they have now highjacked due to the lucrative personal financial benefits accruing into personal pockets of known senior PF leaders who have ‘shared’ these projects.
It is believed that this was the main reason why the Road Development Agency’s functions were moved and are now at State House despite relentless criticism from civil society. This reckless approach has attracted alarm and concern from the World Bank and IMF who earlier this year advised President Lungu to suspend these projects as the uncontrolled expenditure was regarded as the main cause for the poor performance of the economy, characterised by the depletion of foreign reserves, the rapid deterioration of the dollar/kwacha exchange rate and the ever increasing prices of food and other basic commodities.
Dr. Nevers Mumba challenged the members of the clergy surrounding President Lungu to be courageous and always be honest with him to stop mocking God by calling for prayers when he is the same person presiding over a police force which is harrassing, intimidating and killing members of the opposition. He further cautioned them not to fall into the trap that a group of Ndola pastors who surrounded late President Chiluba (may his sould rest in peace) fell in and failed to tell him the truth but ended up deceiving him about the ‘Third Term debate,’ which left an indelible blight on his otherwise brilliant presidency under which the current successful liberalized economy, democratic dispensation and declaration of Zambia as Christian Nation were introduced.