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Vice President Inonge Wina show part Symbol at the lunch of PF Campaign in the Heroes Stadium
VICE-PRESIDENT Inonge Wina says the Government is aware that some people in the opposition are misrepresenting the contents of the Bill of Rights by insinuating that it promotes homosexuality.
Ms Wina, who was speaking when she held two separate rallies in Nkeyema and Kaoma districts, said that voting for the referendum would result in the enhancement of the Bill of Rights which would
consequently lead to improved service delivery in the country.
She urged the people of Western Province to vote ‘yes’ in the August 11, 2016 referendum as doing so would entail that Zambians will in future have enhanced access to education, health services, food, water and sanitation as well as other legal guarantees that provide respect for human dignity.
Ms Wina urged the people of Nkeyema and Kaoma districts to vote for President Edgar Lungu and the Patriotic Front (PF) so that the development projects the party had started could continue.
She said that under the PF Government Zambia had recorded unprecedented development strides and the country would only positively change if President Lungu was given another mandate to rule for another five-year term.
Ms Wina, who also took time to explain the new electoral process and referendum question, said that President Lungu had respected the people of Western Province by appointing one of their own to be his running mate.
She said that her appointment as vice-president and presidential running mate signified that President Lungu had respect and faith in the Zambian women and it proved to the girl-child that they equally had leadership potential.
Ms Wina, who also introduced some PF candidates in Nkeyema and Kaoma, challenged opposition leaders who claimed to be rich to show what they have done for the poor, saying that when she was in the opposition herself she managed to build two health facilities in her constituency.
And in Kaoma’s Mangango constituency several people from the UPND and MMD defected to the ruling party saying that they appreciated the development efforts that were being spearheaded by the PF Government.
Ms Wina, who welcomed the defectors led by former Luampa UPND parliamentary aspirant Simon Nyundu and former Kapili ward MMD councillor Likwashi Likonge, urged them to woo more people from their former parties.
Earlier in Nkeyema District, Ms Wina unveiled a tractor, harrow and water pump worth K377, 000 which were bought by the area’s local authority using tobacco levy paid to the council by Japan Tobacco International.
FDD leader Edith Nawakwi addressing the press
FORUM for Democracy and Development (FDD) president Edith Nawakwi has condemned the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) for failure to take punitive action against some United Party for National Development (UPND) cadres that allegedly attacked the FDD parliamentary candidate in Namwala, Charity Kabongomana.
Three weeks ago, UPND parliamentary candidate in Namwala, Moono Lubezhi and other party cadres allegedly attacked Ms Kabongomana who was later admitted in hospital.
Ms Nawakwi accused the commission of being indecisive and failing to take an administrative decision to suspend Ms Lubezhi for violence.
The FDD leader said in a statement released yesterday that it is unfortunate that people who assaulted Ms Kabongomana are moving around freely while the victim is bedridden.
Zanaco dispatched Nkana to their third defeat in their last four matches today with a home victory at Sunset Stadium in Lusaka.
The Bankers beat second placed Nkana 2-0 in a rescheduled Week 7 match to open up a nine point lead at the summit of the FAZ Super Division table.
Aubrey Funga put Zanaco ahead in the 44th minute before Fashion Sakala made it 2-0 in the 65th minute.
The loss was Nkana’s third over the last three weeks that they had just punctuated with a 4-1 home win over on-fired Forest Rangers last Saturday in Kitwe.
Nkana had prior to that loss against Forest gone down 1-0 away to Red Arrows on June 18 in Lusaka and 2-1 at home against nemesis Zesco United on June 12 in Kitwe.
Meanwhile, Zanaco have 40 points, taking the symbolic mid-season championship title at the end of seventeen games during the two-week league break.
Nkana stay put at number two on 31 points, three points ahead of Zesco who host Arrows on Wednesday and could surpass the Kitwe giants should they win that game including next Saturday’s home date against Green Buffaloes in Ndola.
The FAZ Disciplinary Committee has awarded Lumwana Radiants three points via a 3-0 victory over Napsa Stars following the abandonment of the two teams Week 17 encounter last Sunday at Lumwana Grounds .
This game was abandoned in the third minute of additional time with the score tied at 1-1 after Napsa players and officials walked off the field of play in protest of a late penalty awarded to Lumwana by Luanshya referee Chilufya Mwangelwa.
After sitting in Lusaka on Saturday, the Disciplinary Committee awarded Lumwana 3-0 default win while Napsa were charged K5000 and their coach Tenant Chilumba was charged K2000.
Beston Chambeshi’s Lumwana are now 13th on the Super Division table with 18 points while Napsa drop from 13th to 15th place with 17 points as at Week 17.
Ambassador Shultz with Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Rayford Mbulu
US Ambassador to Zambia Eric Shultz says the US government is interested in Zambia’s internal affairs because it wants to see the country develop.
Mr Schultz said the US government has invested heavily in Zambia’s develop and wants to see the country continue on its development trajectory.
Ambassador Shultz was speaking on Friday during the commemoration of the US National Day held at his residence.
“For instance, we (the American people) have an assistance budget of some $500 million, much of it devoted to Zambia’s health sector, where we have built dozens of hospitals and clinics, where we are working to eliminate malaria, and where we help keep over 700,000 HIV+ Zambians alive with anti-retrovirals paid for by American taxpayers,” he said.
“The MCC Compact is another example: a $355 million project that will bring safer water and better sanitation to much of Lusaka. And just one other example if I might: Peace Corps has its largest mission in Africa in Zambia – some 300 volunteers who are working throughout the country, in rural villages, living side-by-side with Zambians, to help Zambia develop. We do these things because it is in our interest to see other countries grow.”
Below is Ambassador Shultz full address on the occasion to mark the USA National Day
Good morning. Thank you all for coming.
Honorable Deputy Minister, it’s a great pleasure to have you here.
I’d like to take a moment to thank our sponsors and the Embassy staff who made today possible; and to thank my wife Klaudia and my sons Alek and Adam for their love and support, and finally to thank my recently departed deputy, David Young and all the other employees who are leaving us this summer.
And I’d like to thank Canada for loaning us July 1, their national day, to celebrate our independence.
Like Zambia, and Canada and so much of the world, the U.S. was once a British colony.
And while we once fought for our independence from the British, we have been friends and allies now for over 200 years and we have always deeply appreciated our inheritance from the UK – especially democracy and the rule of law.
So I guess I should say thanks to the British as well.
Americans love to quote their Founding Fathers, who led the fight for independence 240 years ago, and especially at this time of the year.
They were of course a pretty impressive group, none more so than Benjamin Franklin.
Franklin once said that in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.
Well, taxes have been quite the topic in Zambia recently and I think our position is pretty clear.
So I’d like to touch today on Franklin’s other certainty: death.
In the last few months we lost two great Americans; two great African-Americans: Prince and Muhammed Ali.
Prince, who was from my home town of Minneapolis, was a musical genius.
Ali was simply “The Greatest.” Perhaps the best boxer in history, one of the world’s most famous athletes, and a showman without parallel.
As we celebrate our independence today, we also celebrate the lives of these American heroes, who broke down barriers and made a lasting impression not only on America but on the world.
Their lives, their success, their celebrity were part and parcel of America’s efforts to come to terms with its history of racism and prejudice.
We have made progress. But there is still much to do.
Indeed, in a democracy there is always much to do.
We have an election coming up in America this November. It is an important election and one which the world is following closely and commenting on every day.
We don’t know the result but we recognize that that result will have profound implications for the world. That’s what happens when you have an economy of $18.5 trillion dollars.
Elections are always fraught with uncertainty and with consequences. Just look at the UK last week.
Some of those consequences may be negative; that’s the nature of an election; one side will lose and one side will win and both sides have to accept the result for better or for worse.
But democracy is still the best form of government we have devised.
And elections are an opportunity for a nation to renew its faith in itself and in its ability to choose for itself.
I hope and expect that our election will reconfirm that which Americans hold most dear – our commitment to freedom and to our existence as a multi-ethnic nation where we live together in peace.
The U.S. is often criticized, here in Zambia and elsewhere. We accept that we are an imperfect nation.
But we strive to be better; eight years ago we elected an African-American as our president; this year we may very well elect a woman for the first time.
That, dear guests, is progress.
Zambia too has an election this year, one that can reaffirm its status as Africa’s most successful multi-party democracy and that can further its aspirations to play a leading role on this continent promoting democracy and peace.
Zambia’s efforts to mediate conflicts in its neighborhood – to stand up for constitutional order and the rule of law — have also been criticized by some.
I’m here to commend those efforts, especially the provision of peacekeepers to the Central African Republic, as our Assistant Secretary, Linda Thomas-Greenfield did earlier this week on her visit here.
In fact, we want to see Zambia play an ever greater role in the region; we support her aspiration in that regard both morally and materially.
In fact, the U.S. provided much of the training for Zambia’s peacekeepers and we hope that will be able to continue.
Indeed, we hope that our close and constructive relationship with Zambia will continue in the many sectors in which it is to be found.
For instance, we have an assistance budget of some $500 million, much of it devoted to Zambia’s health sector, where we have built dozens of hospitals and clinics, where we are working to eliminate malaria, and where we help keep over 700,000 HIV+ Zambians alive with anti-retrovirals paid for by American taxpayers.
The MCC Compact is another example: a $355 million project that will bring safer water and better sanitation to much of Lusaka.
And just one other example if I might: Peace Corps has its largest mission in Africa in Zambia – some 300 volunteers who are working throughout the country, in rural villages, living side-by-side with Zambians, to help Zambia develop.
We do these things because it is in our interest to see other countries grow and prosper. We all share this world and must work together to preserve it.
More than that, my family and I like many Americans have a tendency to become emotionally attached to the countries in which we serve. We love Zambia and Zambians. We want them to be peaceful and prosperous.
So therefore we hope that your election, like ours, will reaffirm that which is best in your country: Zambia’s proud tradition of peace and democracy.
And we hope that your election, like ours, will provide a foundation for an ever closer partnership between Zambia and the United States.
By working together, we too can break down barriers and make an indelible and positive impression not only on Africa but on the world.
God Bless America and God Bless Zambia.
Thank you.
President Lungu stresses a point during an interview with Oscar Chavula of Hot FM
President Edgar Lungu has reiterated that he had nothing to do with the closure of the Post Newspapers.
President Lungu said he is a firm defender of press freedom and that insinuations that he wanted to see the Post Newspapers closed are incorrect.He said the Post Newspaper would have closed in 2015 and he has no scores to settle against the newspaper or its owner.
President Lungu was speaking during a live radio interview with Hot FM from Kawambwa in Luapula which was aired simultaneously across 21 radio stations.
President Lungu who laughed off attacks that he wants to silence the independent media ahead of elections urged the owners of the Post Newspapers to just pay up.
“Politics allows people to say and do all sorts of things but I think it is time to be tolerant, some of the things people are saying now, in their quest to be leaders. We should just take it with a pinch of salt and ignore it and say nima politics yama election,”
“But the truth that there is a lot of hot air, like Lungu has done this to freedom of the press ..….I am an advocate of freedom of the press if I wasn’t some media houses would have been closed when I became president, but about the tax, just pay your tax bwana.”
And President Lungu has challenged UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema to explain to Zambian why he picked on Geoffrey Mwamba as his running mate.
He said it was very important to view presidential candidates and running mates in their totality.
“You ask yourself who is Edgar Lungu, who is Inonge Wina, when you have answers, you say can I trust them. Then you go to see who is Nawakwi, who is Mwanza can I trust them, who is HH who is GBM can I trust them? But talking about HH and his friend, last night I was saying HH has not even explained to his friends in UPND why he preferred GBM over Dr Canisius or Mutale Nalumango.We have to explain to the people why we named certain people our running mates, we have a duty to explain to our colleagues in the party.”
Meanwhile, President Lungu has reaffirmed the need for peace during campaign and election period.
He has further instructed police not to show impartiality to offenders and deal with them irrespective of their political affiliation or political stature.
“I will make sure my political party is peaceful and I will punish and admonish those in my party who do not adhere to this pledge and similarly I request my friend in the opposition to please prevail on your cadres and officials to maintain peace it is in our interest to co-exist peacefully,” President Lungu said.
“I have said to the police arrest criminals, Ba mutoba mafunde, (law breakers) arrest them do not look at the colour red or green just arrest them. Arrest PF for breaking the law, arrest MMD for breaking the law, arrest UPND for breaking the law, there should be no sacred cows in this. No sacred cows no sacrificial lambs.”
Inside the Hot FM Outside Broadcast Unit during an interview with President Lungu in KawambwaPresident Lungu speaks with Hot FM’s Oscar Chavula during a special interview
The Patriotic Front says it’s not worried or moved by opinion polls suggesting that its chances of losing next month’s elections are high.
PF Deputy Spokesperson Frank Bwalya said this is because most of such predictions are being made by discredited researchers.
Mr. Bwalya has singled out the latest prediction by political scientist Neo Simutanyi that the opposition UPND can win the forthcoming general election in the first round of voting if it manages to increase on the votes it got in the 2015 presidential election, as one such prediction that the ruling PF considers to be fake.
He said Zambians recall how Dr. Simutanyi made a similar prediction in 2011 that former President Rupiah Banda would win the general election, but ended up losing to late President Michael Sata.
Mr. Bwalya noted that what Dr. Simutanyi has not taken into consideration is the fact that the PF is no longer having the leadership wrangles it had prior to the 2015 presidential election.
He stated that as far as the PF is concerned, Lusaka and Copperbelt provinces are solidly behind President Edgar Lungu and that the party is certain of victory in the forthcoming elections.
United States Ambassador to Zambia Eric Schultz has expressed regret that President Edgar Lungu failed to meet with US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Linda Thomas-Greenfield who was recently in the country.
Mr. Schultz says it is sad that President Lungu did not meet Ms Greenfield to discuss issues affecting Zambia.He says the US Government has since formally complained to the ministry of foreign affairs over the President’s failure to meet Ms Greenfield.
Meanwhile Mr. Schultz has hailed the growing relations between Zambia and the United States in recent years.
Speaking during the commemoration of the United States’ 240 years of Independence which falls on 4th July in Lusaka today, Mr Schultz urged the American community in Zambia to observe the rule of law of the host country by not engaging in activities that would put the name of US in disrepute.
Mr. Shultz says the US Embassy is there to act as a bridge between Zambians and Americans, and that it is important for Americans to grow the relationship further.
And speaking when he officiated at the event, Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Rayford Mbulu reaffirmed government’s commitment to upholding the warm and cordial bilateral relations which exist between the Zambian and US government.
He has since thanked the US for its continued support to Zambia through mechanisms such as the United States Government Millennium Challenge Corporation.
Mr. Mbulu says this assistance and cooperation has translated into stronger bonds of friendships.
School children from across the country stand the chance of football stardom with the launch of the 2016 COPA Coca-Cola grassroots school football tournament – now in its 23rd year.
COPA Coca-Cola is the premier grassroots football tournament sponsored by the drinks brand in partnership with the Zambia Schools Sports Association (ZASSA) and the Ministry of Education. The initiative commenced in 1993 with only 100 schools participating and has now grown to include 450 government and private schools in Zambia.
The tournament has a number of professional football players among its alumni including 2012 AFCON winners Stoppila Sunzu and Kennedy Mweene.
“At Coca-Cola, we recognise that we cannot have a healthy and growing business unless the communities we serve are healthy and sustainable. As a global beverage company, we have committed ourselves to improving the quality of life in the communities where we do business,” said Zambian Breweries Managing Director, Annabelle Degroot.
The sponsorship covers prize money, transport and logistics, accommodation and meals for teams and officials, kits and other Coke branded clothing, soccer balls, hire of football pitches and payment to referees.
About 450 schools teams will play in this year’s tournament, with knock-out games being played at regional level. The top schools in each region go on to provincial tournaments. A total of ten schools – one from each province – then qualify for the national championship finals in Lusaka later in the year.
The national games are played in the capital over five days, during which the best 13 players are selected to form the country’s COPA Coca-Cola team that travels for international camps for ten days.
In 2015 Chizongwe were crowned champions of the COPA Coca-Cola schools football tournament following a thrilling final at the Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC) in Lusaka. The Eastern Province team beat 2014 runners-up, Chongwe High School 4-1.
As part of its Live for a Difference committment to communities, COPA Coca-Cola promotes an active, healthy lifestyle while fostering teens’ interest in soccer. The tournament offers youth an opportunity to meet and interact with peers across the country as well as other nations. The programme also provides opportunities to recognise rising soccer talent among community youth.
In order to broaden their exposure and heighten their aspirations to become “the best of the best”in football, Coca-Cola also leverages its unique association with FIFA to give the young stars a once-in-a-lifetime experience to watch an international match live.
Across Africa, COPA Coca-Cola is played in 23 other countries that include Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Angola, Mozambique, Malawi, Botswana, Namibia, Rwanda, Congo, Swaziland, Nigeria and South Africa, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius and Burundi. Outside the continent, COPA Coca-Cola is also played in the Americas, Europe and Asia and is in a total 64 countries over 1.3 million players.
Police in Lusaka has picked up three suspects in connection with a video which has gone viral in which a woman is sexually and physically abused by a group of men.
Police Spokesman Rae Hamoonga confirmed that the three men were picked up to help police with investigations.
And several women groups this morning held a press briefing at WLSA National Office to protest against the rising levels of violence towards women and children.
The event which was held under the theme “Awaken the Women of Zambia to Rise up and Fight Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and Gender Based Violence (GBV) was also attended by some men who came to offer solidarity.
The press briefing follows growing outrage at the video which surfaced this week showing a woman believed to be a resident of Kafue being sexually and physically abused by a group of men.
Addressing the press briefing, WLSA Board Chairperson Ms. Priscilla Chileshe urged women and men who have suffered incidences of sexual harassment to report to the police.
Mrs Chileshe also urged the police to investigate all cases of sexual harassment, intimidation and all other forms of gender based crimes.
“As a women’s organisation we believe in equal rights for men and women and economic empowerment for all. Therefore, women and children need to be protected,” she said.
Mrs Chileshe said it is disappointing that cases of GBV have continued rising despite strengthening the law dealing with the vice.
Women show their anger against GBVMen show support during the press briefingMrs Sarah Longwe during the press briefingPart of the protesters at the press briefing
FODEP has disclosed that it plans to deploy a total of 5,000 citizen election monitors in 96 constituencies spread across all the 10 provinces of Zambia during the August 11, 2016 general elections.
FODEP Acting Executive Director Chimfwembe Mweenge said his organisation is confident that the monitors will be adequately equipped to watch the poll, as they have gone through an intensive training programme.
Mr Mweenge said the training programme covered themes such as democracy, elections and the electoral cycle including the foundation of an electoral process, free and fair elections and benchmarks or standards for democratic elections.
“Other topics included, constitutional, legal and institutional frameworks for general elections and constitutional referendum in Zambia, code of conduct for non-partisan citizen observers and the introduction to the theory and practice of election observation,” Mr Mweenge said.
He said there is no doubt that the forthcoming general election has potential to be controversial, given the divergence of opinion on many issues by stakeholders.
“We therefore believe FODEP’s presence at polling stations may minimize fraud and ensure that electoral official act according to the law. This is cardinal to safeguard the will of the people and ensure that the outcome of the election is acceptable to all stakeholders.”
“FODEP wishes to reiterate its call on the ECZ to address concerns of stakeholders, to act independently so as to ensure a free, fair and credible election in August. On our part we will play our part as electoral watchdogs and point out any anomalies we will encounter in the electoral process without any fear or favour in the interest of our democracy,” he said.
Defending champions Zambia have been drawn in Group B of this month’s COSAFA Under-17 Championship that will be hosted by Mauritius.
Zambia will take on neighbours Malawi as well as Madagascar and Mozambique in their group.
According to COSAFA, the youth championship will be played from July 22-31.
Hosts Mauritius are in Group A with former winners South Africa as well as Namibia and the Seychelles.
The tournament will be played at two venues in Mauritius, the George V Stadium in Curepipe and St. François Xavier Stadium in the capital Port Louis.
The last COSAFA Under-17 Championship was played in Zimbabwe in 2014 as part of the AUSC Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games and saw Zambia defeat the hosts 3-0 in the Final.
Nkana vice-Captain Simon Bwalya says Zanaco must fall in Saturday’s rescheduled FAZ Super Division match set for Heroes Stadium in Lusaka.
Second placed Nkana confront leaders Zanaco in a delayed Week 7 encounter hoping to cut the Bankers lead from six to three points.
In a pre-match interview in Kitwe, Bwalya declared that the match against Zanaco was a must win game for Kalampa.
“Saturday’s match against Zanaco is very important for us,” the striker said.
Zanaco have 37 points from 16 matches played.
“We are behind Zanaco by six points so if we win Saturday’s game it (Zanaco’s lead) will reduce to three points and that will be better for us,” he said.
Bwalya repeated that Nkana’s target this season was to win the league title.
“I will work hard to ensure that we win the 2016 league,” he said.
Last season, Zanaco beat Nkana 1-0 in Lusaka after the first round match finished 1-1 in Kitwe.
Police in Lusaka in the early hours of this morning raided UPND Head Office and forcibly entered the offices and picked up staff and volunteers for questioning.
UPND Secretary General Stephen Katuka confirmed that the raid is part of the PF Government’s persecution and abuse of the UPND.
Mr Katuka said entry to the offices was forcibly obtained and that UPND staff and volunteers at the centre were roughed up and taken in for questioning by police.
“It is unclear to us on what grounds this assault was conducted. This office is a regular party campaign centre, coordinating some of our outreach efforts to new and existing members in Lusaka and beyond. What was the suspicion and where is the evidence to suggest that there was any legitimate reason for the offensive? There must be clear grounds for such an assault, or can we no longer call ourselves a functioning democracy,” Mr Katuka said.
He said the PF’s destruction of Zambia’s political stability and the escalating violation of the basic rights of Zambians continue as it struggles to hold on to power at all costs.
“We will not be intimidated by such moves. We will continue to speak out against such injustices.”
