The 1988 African footballer of the year performed his ceremonial kick of 11 footballs much to the excitement of thousands Kabwe residents.

During the rally former FAZ president Kalusha Bwalya urged the electorates to vote for President Lungu.

And President Lungu told the Kabwe residents that they should be wary of wealthy businessmen masquerading as messiahs.

He said that some aspirants for the August 11 elections had lost elections several times but could not let other people have a chance in their political parties.

“I am not boasting but my friends saw potential in me. I was in parliament…where I was a dark horse. I listened and prayed when my friends decided that I be the president. Even when Guy Scott removed me I obliged but the people decided and brought me back,” he said.

“But with other parties some people have been losing elections since 2001 and have not allowed others to have a chance. Kuluza sitilesa manje kaluzidwe (losing is not a problem but the way you lose,” he said.

President Lungu said the people that had criticized him that he had no vision had been shamed as he was carrying out late President Michael Sata’s vision.

He said the roads the party had completed were a manifestation of that vision.

The President commissioned the construction of a first-ever multi-million dollar Kabwe Shopping Mall project at a cost of US$20 million.

The shopping mall, which will be constructed on an eight hectare land next to Zambia-China Mulungushi Textiles, will create about 1,100 jobs for the locals.

And President Lungu says the construction of the shopping mall and other infrastructure projects have seen the rebirth of Kabwe.

President Lungu said Mulungushi Textiles will be fully operation by August adding to the employment numbers in Kabwe.

Today’s Scripture

“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”
(Isaiah 26:3, NKJV)

Set Yourself in the Direction of Peace

Are you frustrated or upset over something? Maybe fighting off discouragement? The first question to ask yourself is “What am I thinking about?”

If you’re thinking about your problems all of the time or thinking about how impossible everything is, then your life is going to follow a negative direction. However, when you get your mind going in the right direction, when you focus your thoughts on the Word of God, then you are setting yourself in the direction of peace.

Today, keep your mind focused on the Father and meditate on His Word. As you set your thoughts in the right direction, your life will head in the right direction, and you’ll take hold of the peace and victory He has for you!

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You for peace that passes understanding. I choose to focus on Your Word and set my heart on You. I set myself in the direction of peace knowing that You will order my every step in Jesus’ name! Amen.”

In a statement, the Show society says reports that the concert has been cancelled are not true.

“We would like to inform the general public that the planned musical performances by rhumba king Koffi Olomide scheduled for 29th, 31st July and 1st august are still on. The society would also like to state that the speculations going round on various media about Koffi Olomide’s Lusaka shows being cancelled are not true,” the statement read.

“A contract was signed for Koffi to come and perform at Mulungushi International Conference Centre on 29th July and at the bandstand in the showground on 31st July and 1st August.”

Olomide is at the centre of a row in Nairobi, Kenya when he physically assaulted his female dancer at Jomo Kenyatta Airport upon arrival in that country where he was due to perform.

The controversy saw the Kenyan government deporting Olomide and organisers cancelling his shows in that country.

Earlier today, The Non-Governmental Organizations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) Executive Director Engwase Mwale says the women movement will engage Government to block Koffi Olomide from entering the country to perform at the Lusaka Agriculture and commercial show, reports Pan African Radio Journalist Hermit Hachilonde.

Koffi Olomide, is one of Africa’s most popular singers was caught on camera purportedly kicking a woman at the main airport in Kenya.
Police were seen intervening to stop the attack on the woman, identified by Kenyan media as one of his dancers.

The 60-year-old rumba star denied in a Facebook post that he attacked the dancer, adding that he respects women.

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.

Speaking to journalists on the 23rd July, 2016 in Siavonga today, Ms. Mwale said people with such conduct should not be entertained in Zambia.

“They must consider revoking Koffi Olomide’s visa and stop him from coming to Zambia” She said

An electoral expert has expressed concern at the emerging trend by the ECZ of recruiting part-time poll staff away from the districts they are registered as voters.

McDonald Chipenzi who is former FODEP Executive Director said there is a risk of disenfranchising the people being recruited something he said would contribute to voter apathy.

“There is need for the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to reconsider the recruitment criterion of part-time poll staff ahead of the General Elections to avoid disenfranchising some of recruits.

“The emerging trend of recruiting individuals as part-time poll staff from other districts to manage polling stations away from the districts where they are registered in has got a disenfranchising effect on many recruits.

“This has the potential to also contribute to voter apathy and to undermining the very democratic process the Commission is supposed to promote and nurture,” he said.

Mr Chipenzi has since called on the Commission to redeploy the poll staff who have been taken away from their districts.

“To this end, the appeal to the Commission is to redeploy those Poll staff to their districts of origin to enable them participate and exercise their political and electoral rights.

“It is also imperative for the Commission to consider putting mechanisms that ensured quality control on the recruited staff to avoid inefficiencies that have a potential to compromise the administration and management of the electoral process,” he said.

THE support for President Edgar Lungu should not be misconstrued as tribal because his endorsement is based the belief that the Head of State should be given his own mandate to complete his developmental agenda, Paramoubnt Chief Mpezeni of the Ngoni people has said.

Paramount Chief Mpezeni and Chief Chanje of the Chewa-speaking people in Chipata have clarified that the endorsement of President Lungu and the Patriotic Front (PF) should not be mistaken to be tribal.

The two traditional leaders said the endorsing of President Lungu was purely based on their strong belief that the ruling party should be given another mandate to continue its developmental agenda.

Speaking when Eastern Province PF campaign committee member, Mr Lameck Mangani paid a courtesy call on him at his palace, Chief Mpezeni said that President Lungu was like a new vehicle which does not require servicing a few days after it is bought.

Paramount Chief Mpezeni said President Lungu needed to be given more time to continue

with his developmental programmes he had embarked on and warned that a change of the country’s leadership would see some of the developmental projects abandoned.

The Paramount Chief Mpezeni said he was able to see developmental activities across his chiefdom and other parts of the country and that there was no need to start changing government leadership just for the sake of it.

The traditional leader said there was need for Zambians to give the PF and President Lungu more time to develop this country because the Head of State had demonstrated a true desire and dedication to improve the lives of citizens.

“President Lungu is like a brand new motor vehicle and no one buys a new car and immediately begins servicing it. Our endorsing of President Lungu is not based on the miscued notion of tribe but purely on the basis that there is need for continuity. We cannot be changing the country’s leadership for the sake of it.

We have developmental programmes that are being implemented and if there was change of leadership, there is a danger that some projects could be abandoned,” Paramount Chief Mpezeni said.

He said everybody should rally behind the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) and President Edgar Lungu because of the massive development that had been undertaken in the last five year.

And Chief Chanje assured Mr. Mangani of President Lungu’s victory and urged the ruling party not to get worried because people in Chipangali constituency were behind the ruling party.

Chief Chanje also told Mr. Mangani during a courtesy call paid on him that the message on the referendum was well received and people were ready to vote ‘YES’.

Meanwhile, Mr. Mangani appealed to the two traditional leaders to help disseminate information to their subjects about the importance of voting in an election.

Model Nthabachi Mvula has been selected to represent the country at the Topmodel Africa, a runway, fashion and pageant-themed modelling event to be held in Harare, Zimbabwe, from Sunday to Saturday next week.
The 24-year-old 174 centimeter (5ft 8in) model, who confirmed her participation in the pageant that is organised by the International Modelling School, is expected to leave for Harare this Sunday.
According to a welcome note from the International Modelling School given to Nthabachi and obtained by the Weekend Mail, Topmodel Africa is a modelling, themed reality series which will showcase all fields of modelling.
“We’re not just looking for the usual Eurocentric type of model which is referred to as an international model look, but we’re searching for an African Top model, who is an all-rounder in all fields of modelling,” the note reads.
“As the journey begins, we’re pleased to say that Africa has seen the light, and Topmodel Africa is the revolution of modelling-themed events, and it is the first and only of its kind internationally.”
“This educative, informative and entertaining concept will soon be a permanent feature on Africa’s modelling industry, for the growth and development of African models. We wish you all the best in your preparations and brace yourselves to be thrilled, inspired and elevated by your Topmodel Africa.”

The Topmodel Africa prizes amount to US$5,000 which shall be awarded based on the winner’s contract with the Topmodel Africa organisation. Other than the overall Topmodel Africa winner, the pageant will award the first runner-up, second runner-up as well as the top body and top face.
There are also special pre-events awards such as top hair-style model, top spokes model, top commercial model, top runway model and top presenter model.
The gala night categories are beach attire (white bikini/two piece), African-inspired masquerade with colours of choice) and African-inspired evening dress with stage effects. The pre-event programme includes top model photography contest, top model cultural night, top model hair competition and top model make-up contest. The pageant will be held at Harare Safari Lodge, which is on the banks of Zimbabwe’s well-known man-made Lake Chivero, located about 40km from the capital city.
Nthabachi is contestant number 43 and can be voted for by liking her photo on her Facebook page Nthabachi Mvula – Top Model Contestant Zambia or the Topmodel Africa page. She is being dressed for the pageant by Chizo Designs.

(Daily mail)