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President Edgar Lungu says government is rolling out vigorous developmental projects because it is fully aware of the challenges people in the country are facing.
The President says he is administering a government that is on course to make Zambia a food basket.
President Lungu says government has put in place good policies such as the increase in the price of maize at which the Food Reserve Agency -FRA- will buy from the farmers.
He says the policies that include quick delivery of fertilizer to the farmers have resulted into Zambia being the only country in the region that has produce enough maize to feed the nation and export.
The President was speaking at a Campaign rally held at Chimusanya Primary school grounds in Rufunsa district.
President Lungu said he is a leader of a listening government and has assured the people of Rufunsa that government will not grab land from anyone.
The President also said will continue to preach non violence campaigns.
And Christian Democratic Party Apostle Dr Daniel Pule says starting from July 4, he will start prayer and fasting ahead of the polls.
And former Kabwe Central Member of Parliament Captain Austin Chewe said all opposition political parties are fully aware of the works that President LUNGU is spear heading.
Meanwhile, PF Rufunsa candidate Kenneth Chipungu said he is thankful to the PF for adopting him to stand on the PF ticket.
Prresident Lungu addresses Zesco employees during a tour of Mpansya sub station which is being constructed by PF Government in Rufunsa DistrictPrresident Lungu addresses Zesco employees during a tour of Mpansya sub station which is being constructed by PF Government in Rufunsa DistrictPresident Lungu being welcomed by Captain Chewe on arrival for a rallyPresident Lungu with Rufunsa residents on arrival for a rallyPresident Lungu addresses a rally in Rufunsa
GBM shared the UPND’s plans to bring prosperity to Kasama
The State has entered a Nolle Prosequi in a case where opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) Vice President and Presidential Running Mate Geoffrey Mwamba is accused of Conduct Likely to Cause the breach of Peace.
Principle State Advocate Katongo Waluzimba under the Office of the National Prosecution Authority said they had instructions to stop the case but that the other two cases are still on.
Yesterday the matter came up before Kitwe Magistrate Maloto Phiri and first was the Assault Case were the complainant Moses Katongo of No. 1074 Kawama, Kitwe identified Mr. Mwamba as the one who had slapped him on 19th May 2016 around 14 hours.
Mr. Katongo a Toothpaste street vendor at Chisokone Market claimed that on the material day a group called “HH” led by a man he identified as “Mr. GBM” came to the market and upon reaching his stand “Mr. GBM” asked him to shout “forward” and flash a unfolded palm symbol but that he refused.
He claimed it is at this point “Mr. GBM” slapped him on his mouth and left him bleeding and two teeth shaking.
At was at this point that Mr. Katongo reported the matter to Police that gave him a medical Report to present at the Hospital.
During Cross Examination by Defence Lawyers led by Mulilo Kabesha and Tom Shamakamba said the accused was lying to the Court as the statement he gave to the Police which he Mr. Kabesha read in Court was different from his submissions this morning especially on the matter of bleeding and shaking of teeth.
And a second Witness Dillan Chama, 23, also identified Mr. Mwamba who was in the company of UDF President Miles Sampa with about seven others and a mob as the person he saw slapping Mr. Katongo around 11 hours.
And Magistrate Phiri adjourned the matter to 3rd August 2016 for the continuation of the case and the accused Bail has since been extended.
Present during the case was the UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema and his United Democratic Front counterpart Miles Sampa, former Acting President Dr. Guy Scott and former Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) National Secretary Major Richard Kachingwe among others are a crowed of chanting UPND supporters outside the Courts.
Security was tight as the Zambia Police had deployed a battalion of Police officers heavily armed and in full riot gear to maintain peace.
Meanwhile Mr. Mwamba popularly known as GBM has since resumed his campaigns on the Copperbelt and was expected to address rallies in Chililabombwe, Chibuluma and Ndola respectively before attending a dinner Dance at Kitwe’s Mooba Hotel tonight.
Ponga Liwewe
The Football Association of Zambia have conceded that Chipolopolo have a uphill battle to qualify to the 2018 FIFA World Cup to be hosted by Russia.
Zambia, who have never qualified to the FIFA World Cup, have been drawn in Grouo B, for many, the group of death on the road to the Moscow finals.
Cameroon, Algeria and Nigeria are the three teams Zambia must negotiate if they are to make their debut FIFA World Cup finals.
“It is a tough draw and all our opponents have been to the World Cup before,” FAZ general secretary Ponga Liwewe said.
“It will take a concerted effort to qualify but if we approach the matches with a well prepared team, play to the best of our ability and keep focused, we can qualify.”
Algeria, Nigeria and Cameroon are the big guns Zambia must negotiate in their Stable of Augeas.
Zambia have been drawn in the group of death on the road to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Moscow.
Chipolopolo have been drawn in Group B against three former World Cup finalists and fellow Africa Cup champions.
Algeria, Nigeria and Cameroon stand in Zambia’s way of a debut World Cup berth when the qualifiers start this October.
Cameroon have not faced Zambia in the World Cup qualifiers since the 2002 Japan/Korea race.
Zambia lost 1-0 away in Yaounde but drew 2-2 at Independence stadium against a Cameroon side that had just landed in Lusaka two hours before kickoff.
This will be the first time Zambia will be playing Nigeria in a World Cup qualifier despite the two side long history of duels.
Zambia are reunited with Algeria for the first time since the 2010 South Africa qualifiers.
Algeria won 2-0 away in Chililabombwe and 1-0 at home in Blida on the Desert Foxes route to qualifying to the Johannesburg finals and Zambia finishing third in their group.
Some Zambian activists took to the Lusaka streets this week to demonstrate against the multinational mining companies during the 6th Zambia International Mining and Energy Conference and Exhibition at the Lusaka Government Complex on Thursday, June 23rd 2016.
Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) Kalabo Central aspiring candidate, Mubukwanu Kalaluka, has pledged to introduce an irrigation system to improve food production in view of climate change once voted into office.
Mr Mubukwanu also says he will make sure that every resident of Kalabo Central Constituency has access to clean drinking water by sinking boreholes.
He says he will also construct more health posts and feeder roads in all the wards of his constituency to improve health standards.
The aspiring Parliamentarian notes that people, especially farmers in his constituency, have for a long time depended on rains which he said is no longer yielding good results with climate change effects.
He says it is against this reason that once declared winner, he will make sure that he mobilises resources and introduce irrigation farming as a measure to mitigate climate change.
Mr Mubukwanu notes that people in Kalabo Central have also been crying for a good road network and health facilities that are closer to their door steps, adding that it is only when they vote for him that things will become a reality.
Mr Mubukwanu was speaking at a rally held at Kashitu Market yesterday where several Patriotic Front (PF) and United Party for National development members defected to the FDD.
He said politics of character-assassination is long gone as people are eager to listen to developmental activities.
Speaking at the same rally, FDD aspiring Council Chairman, Mbulalizina Nyambe, said he will not allow outsiders to construct a filling station in Kalabo as doing so will disadvantage the local fuel dealers.
Mr Nyambe instead pledged to assist the local fuel dealers to mobilise themselves and construct a filling station in the district once voted into power.
HH explained his plan to fix the country by supporting local business
OFFICIAL STATEMENT
Fixing The Energy Crisis
The PF have left Zambians in the dark. As they now seek praise for reducing the hours of load shedding for the run up to elections, the weight of blame for the current energy crisis, and the resulting lost business and jobs, falls firmly on their shoulders.
The PF should have seen this energy crisis coming, they either took their eyes of the ball for a very long time, or they simply didn’t care, hoping the impacts wouldn’t be felt until after August 2016.
How could they have seen it coming? Simple. Firstly, as a country we had a supply deficit of 560MW even before the crisis hit, with demand growing by 200MW per year. It is simple maths to calculate that if new capacity does not meet the annual increase in demand, each year you are going to need more and more hours of load shedding.
Secondly, ZESCO was using more than its water allocation. In 2014 it went over by 22%, violating restrictions put in place by the Zambezi River Authority to avoid such crisis situations.
Thirdly, ZESCO had clearly fallen behind on maintenance. It is not rocket science to know that, as with a car, any machinery or infrastructure, if you do not keep up repair works then you will not travel as far as you were once able to and you may one day break down altogether. So it is with our energy infrastructure, where installed capacity has not been equal to generation because of the failure to maintain.
Addressing our energy shortfall is critical for the prospects of our nation, both in terms of the economy and in terms of social sectors such as education, healthcare and water and sanitation. It is very closely related to job creation. This is why Point 5 of our 10 Point Plan is to electrify Zambia.
In the energy sector the UPND is planning an action-oriented and forward-looking strategy to diversify the national sources of energy. This includes the use of renewables, and in particular solar energy projects that will be promoted by independent power producers.
It takes roughly six months to one year to construct and commission a 200MW solar energy plant at a cost of between US $240 million and US $360 million. Put this cost against the amount the PF has borrowed, not to mention wasted, and you’ll see this comes back to a question of priorities. Unfortunately, for many Zambians, and in particular our small business owners, they have not had the luxury of choice or the back-up option of using a generator. As such they have ended up out of business and out of work until such time as the PF wakes up.
A four-year-old girl of Mwaiseni village in chief Kafwimbi’s area in Isoka district has been burnt to death.
Muchinga Police Commissioner Auxensio Daka has confirmed the development to ZANIS today.
Mr Daka has since identified the deceased as Carlo Mugala who was burnt to death on Tuesday afternoon.
Mr Daka said the girl died while playing hide-and-seek, a child’s game in the maize field.
He narrated that the girl died in a misadventure activity in accompany of Willy Mugala, aged nine, also a grade one pupil at Ntipo Primary School and Joe Siame, aged seven, of the same village.
Mr Daka added that the trio went playing in the already-harvested maize field which was about 25 meters away from their house.
He explained that the girl met her fate while playing in the field on the heap of the maize stalks that her friends, Willy and Joe, allegedly set fire without knowing that the deceased was hiding inside the pile of maize stalks.
Mr Daka said the deceased body has been deposited in Isoka mortuary.
Meanwhile, the police in Muchinga Province have disclosed that unknown people on Tuesday night around 19:00 hours shot dead a 63-year-old woman of Ulombwa village in chief kafwimbi’s area.
The provincial police chief said the shooting incident took place in the grass-thatched kitchen while the deceased was preparing a meal for dinner.
Mr Daka suspects the assailants used a home-made gun muzzle loader to kill Nelo Nakamba in an allegation that she was practicing witchcraft.
The body of the deceased has been deposited in Isoka district hospital mortuary awaiting burial.
The Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) has said that it has learnt with shock that that the driver of the Mitsubishi Rosa that was involved in a road crash in Choma last week where 4 pupils and a teacher of Hillcrest National Technical High died on the spot was intoxicated with alcohol at the time of the accident.
In a statement released to the media by the Head of Public Relations Mr Fredrick Mubanga, RSTA said that preliminary investigations conducted by the agency have revealed that the driver, Mr Joseph Kafwimbi Mwape, was driving under the influence of alcohol contrary to section 157 of the Road Traffic Act Number 11 of the Laws of Zambia.
The statement further said that according to the blood and urine alcohol analysis conducted by the Food and Drugs Control Laboratory at the University Teaching Hospital, the specimen for Joseph Kafwimbi Mwape contained alcohol.
The blood and urine alcohol analysis further revealed that Joseph Kafwimbi Mwape’s blood contained 370 milligrams of alcohol while the urine contained 400 milligrams of alcohol indicating a minimum consumption of about 12 bottles of beer or 345 milligrams of spirit.
” The Agency is at pains to understand why the school authorities at Hillcrest National Technical High School could have allowed such a driver to be in charge of the bus and thereby compromising the safety of the pupils,” read the statement.
The urine contained 400 milligrams of alcohol indicating a minimum consumption of about 12 bottles of beer or 345 milligrams of spirit.
The Agency also questioned why the school authorities allowed pupils to be driven at night.
” It is evident that there was negligence on the part of the school authorities and the Agency therefore calls on the Ministry of General Education to institute appropriate action against the school authorities.
Such a move will ensure that school authorities take charge of the plight of the pupils in regard to road safety,” concluded the statement.
FROM RIGHT TO LEFT: Hillcrest Zambia Alumni chairperson Inambao Lubinda and other members Dolifor Phiri, Dennis Banda and Morgan Makota (far left) during a media briefing in Livingstone
Meanwhile, FORMER pupils at Hillcrest national Technical Secondary School have raised K15, 000 to assist the families who lost pupils and a teacher last week as well as to support the pupils who were injured in the same accident in Choma last week.
So far, about K3, 000 has already been released to Livingstone based families who lost their beloved ones while pledges of about K15, 000 have been made by former pupils living in Zambia and abroad.
The former pupils have since formed an association known as Hillcrest Zambia Alumni with the main objective of raising funds to support the welfare of pupils and other projects.
Other objectives are to promote academic excellence of the School and support talented and brilliant pupils from vulnerable background to access tertiary education as well as to support sporting activities.
Hillcrest Zambia Alumni chairperson Inambao Lubinda said his Association, which was formed on March 21, 2016 with almost 200 members based in Zambia and across the world, had mobilised K15, 000 to assist the recent accident victims.
Speaking at a media briefing in Livingstone on Thursday afternoon, Mr Lubinda conveyed condolences on the untimely death of a teacher and pupils.
“When we first heard of the accident, we mobilised ourselves throughout the world to raise funeral funds through pledges from members.
“We raised about K15, 000 and we have allocated funds to deceased and those who are injured. We have decided to give K1, 000 to each family of the deceased. So far, we have issued K3, 000 to three different families. To the 11 injured, we have allocated K800 to be issued in due course,” Mr Lubinda said.
He appealed to the Government, Ministry of General Education, provincial and district educational officers, Hillcrest School management, pupils, parents and teachers to be united in the trying period.
“There should be no need of finger pointing at this stage. Secondly, all former Hillcrest pupils should come in and lessen the burden and compliment Government efforts by supporting the families.
“We are appealing to all former pupils to join the Association. We have opened an account where all funds can be deposited. The account name, is with Zanaco Livingstone, is Hillcrest Zambia Alumni and the number 5327992500132. For those who would like to get more details, they can contact me through 0967 771274, 0973 961868,” Mr Lubinda said.
He said his Association would be holding a golf Tournament at Chainama Golf Club in Lusaka to raise money for the Alumni.
Hillcrest Zambia Alumni member Dolifor Phiri said the Association had plans to mobilise more resources and organise recreation facilities for injured pupils as part of offering them trauma management.
“This is a big loss and we need to be united and our appeal is that let all come on board and render support.
“If the pupils won the Monze tournament that they were travelling to participate in when the accident happened, they were going to bring pride to us former pupils. To those who were injured, this may not be the last payment. We may sit down again and lender more financial support,” Mr Phiri said.
President Edgar Lungu talks Chief Mpuka during the tour of Luangwa District Hospital on Thursday – Picture by Eddie Mwanaleza 23-06-2016.
President Edgar Lungu has launched a 65 million dollar empowerment project set to benefit 89,000 women and girls in 51 districts across the country.
Girls Education and Women’s Empowerment and Livelihoods -GEWEL- Project is fully funded by the World Bank and focusing on three components.
President Lungu in a speech read for him by Gender Minister Nkandu Luo, says the project will go a long way in improving the lives of 14-thousand girls and 75-thousand women from various parts of rural Zambia.
The President said Zambia has registered over 6 percent growth rate for more than a decade now as evidenced in progress made in various sectors of the economy .
President Lungu has however expressed sadness that most rural people especially girls and young women have not substantially benefited from the growth owing to low productivity, lack of adequate skills and poor connectivity of many rural areas to the mark
He said the PF government since assuming office has shown commitment in supporting women and adolescent girls through the social protection and women empowerment programs.
And World Bank Country Director Ina Ruthenberg said the 65-million US dollars set aside for the project is a substantial investment on the part of the Zambian government meant to provide a safety net for the vulnerable.
Ms. Ruthenberg adds that the three components includes the Supporting women’s livelihoods initiative to be implemented by the Ministry of Community Development and Social Welfare which is targeting 75 thousand poor and vulnerable women aged 19 to 64 in 51
And Secretary to the Cabinet Roland Msiska says women are girls are indispensable to social and economic welfare of society.
In a speech read for him by Gender Permanent Secretary Edwidge Mutale, Dr. Msiska said the launch of GEWEL is a clear demonstration of government’s commitment to facilitate the empowerment process of women and girls in the country.
President Lungu has announced that Vice President Inonge Wina will be his running in the August 11th General Elections
Vice President Inonge Wina says the PF has demonstrated that it is possible for any government to distribute resources equitably to all parts of the country.
Ms Wina says this is evidenced by the robust development that the PF has taken to all parts of the country.
The Vice President was speaking when she called on Kafue Acting District Commissioner Ngoni Moyo in Chiawa this morning.
Mrs Wina is happy that Chiawa has benefited from government’s development looking at the number of infrastructure projects being implemented in the area.
And Mr Moyo said a clinic has been built in Chiawa under the project to construct 650 health posts that are being constructed across the country.
He said an ambulance has also been taken to the area.
Mr Moyo also said ZNS is working on feeder roads while the Road Development Agency is rehabilitating the Gota Gota bridge
Meanwhile, the Vice President said government is working hard to address issues of climate change.
The Vice President was speaking when she called on Chieftainess Chiawa of the Goba people at her palace
The chieftainess said Chiawa has been hit by a serious drought.
She also complained that crops have been eaten by animals to which the Vice President assured that relief food will soon be sent to the area.
ZNBC’s Katwishi Bwalya reports that Mrs. Wina is in Chiawa to sensitize people on the referendum and to explain the PF development plan for the next five years.
PF Livingstone mobilization vehicle attacked and stoned by suspected UPND Cadres in Zambezi ward LivingstoneSUSPECTED United Party for National Development (UPND) cadres in Livingstone on Wednesday evening ambushed and attacked a PF campaign vehicle with stones shattering windows to the vehicle.
The attacks left PF district mobilization chairman Ageffrey Brill and District vice information and publicity secretary Philimon Musonda injured.
And the Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) in Livingstone condemned in the strongest terms possible the unfortunate attack on the PF members that resulted in destruction of the motor vehicle.
Mr Brill, who confirmed the development after reporting the mater to Livingstone Central police, said the unfortunate incident happened in Zambezi ward after the two party officials were strategizing on how to carry out campaigns for the following day with Zambezi ward PF aspiring candidate Victor Bwalya.
Speaking in an interview in Livingstone on Thursday, Mr Brill disclosed that it was after the meeting that suspected UPND cadres ambushed them and started throwing stones at the moving vehicle.”
“As we were coming from the meeting, we were actually ambushed by the UPND cadres who were clad in party regalia and others where hiding in some nearby flowers and others on top of roofs. I was in the car and just heard stones flying from every direction and when I looked through the window, what I saw were people in red uniforms with their faces covered with masks.
“It was a rain of stones and I told my friend to speed off so that we safeguard our lives and like I said I saw the UPND uniform and this incident happened near the house of the UPND chairperson for Zambezi ward,”Mr Brill said.
He said it was unfortunate that the UPND were targeting their former members who had decided to support the PF.
“It is unfortunate that UPND is also targeting its former members who exercised their democratic right of joining the PF, because of this they have been making threats to burn my house and to burn Mr Musonda’s house and other properties,” he said.
Mr Musonda said his family was leaving in fear as a result of some suspected UPND cadres who were issuing death threats to him.
“From the time I defected from the UPND my life has been in danger and I seek maximum protection from the police because my family is having sleepless nights. The UPND should learn to co-exist and practice clean campaigns that are mot marred by violence,”Mr Musonda said.
FODEP Livingstone chairperson Gideon Musonda said it was extremely sad that despite so many calls to have non violence campaigns, some individuals and political parties seemed to be perpetuating it.
“It is in this view that FODEP wishes to call upon all political parties and all the citizens to refrain from engaging themselves in any violent conduct. People should understand that in a Democracy, people should be able to live in diversity and tolerate each other despite any provocation,” he said.
But UPND Livingstone District Spokesperson Neto Halwabala challenged the PF officials to single out the cadres that attacked them so that his party could institute disciplinary measures.
“We also wish to state from the onset that both colleagues who were attacked know us very well and they should not fail to identify their attackers rather than just issuing sweeping statement. Let them name their attackers for us as a party to deal with them by handing them to police,”Mr Halwabala said PF Livingstone vice district information and publicity secretary Philemon Musonda (in black and red t-shirt) showing the extent of the damage to the vehicle that was attacked by suspected UPND cadres in Zambezi ward Livingstone
PF Livingstone vice district information and publicity secretary Philemon Musonda (in black and red t-shirt) showing the extent of the damage to the vehicle that was attacked by suspected UPND cadres in Zambezi ward LivingstonePF Livingstone vice district information and publicity secretary Philemon Musonda (in black and red t-shirt) showing the extent of the damage to the vehicle that was attacked by suspected UPND cadres in Zambezi ward Livingstone
David Cameron announcing his resignation. Credit: PA Wire
David Cameron has resigned as prime minister after Britain voted to leave the European Union.
The prime minister, who backed a Remain vote, said Britain required “fresh leadership” to negotiate the country’s exit from the EU.
“I do not think it would be right for me to be the captain that steers our country to its next destination,” he said in a statement outside Downing Street.
He promised to “steady the ship” over the coming months before stepping down in October.
Mr Cameron, flanked by his wife Samantha, said the result was the “will of the British people” which was an “instruction which must be delivered”.
Close to tears and with his voice breaking, Mr Cameron said: “I love this country and I feel honoured to have served it and I will do everything I can in future to help this great country succeed.”
The referendum, called by Mr Cameron, delivered a shock victory for the Leave campaign.
The Brexit vote immediately sent the pound tumbling and sparked calls for his resignation.
Boris Johnson is the early favourite to replace Mr Cameron.
