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VJ shaking hands with Harry Kalaba during a recent meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Veteran politician and diplomat Vernon Mwaanga says he will not travel to Kampala, Uganda in response to a query from that country’s Foreign Ministry over his comments regarding the recent Uganda elections.
Dr Mwaanga said he has not received any request from the Ugandan Government.
“I have not received any request from the Ugandan government to explain what I said, apart from what they are being fed by the Zambian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Even if I had, I would have declined to travel there until all the Ugandan and worldwide bloggers have been sent there by their respective professional ministries of foreign affairs,” Dr Mwaanga said.
He added, “All I said is that these unfavourable reports from Uganda and elsewhere, should be verified by the Electoral Commission of Zambia before making a final decision on awarding a contract to print ballot papers for the people of Zambia. What is wrong with verification? Why is the Ministry of Foreign affairs so hyper about this matter, without making any genuine attempt to verify the facts?”
Dr Mwaanga said this will be a failed attempt to threaten him into silence from speaking out on matters of public interest.
“Even the colonialists failed to do so when i decided to add my voice to the liberation of our country and that of the African continent, so that freedom and justice may live. The screaming headlines in the PF media, are outrageous and misleading and only intended to please their pf masters,” Dr Mwaanga said.
He said the so-called summons has been instigated and orchestrated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, using the Zambian High Commission in Tanzania, which is accredited to Uganda.
“It does not deserve the dignity of a response. It just goes to show what a low base we have reached as a country in the conduct of our international diplomacy in the recent past,” Dr Mwaanga said.
He continued, “I shudder to think where this world would be, if Ministries of Foreign Affairs around the world instigated this kind of summons against thousands of their nationals who operate blogs and websites where there is so much information on the questionable election of so many of our African dictators who have overstayed in office. I can only say, cry our beloved country.”
President Edgar Lungu singing a song shares a light moment with PF secretary General Davies Chama Left When he attended a church service at Blessed of Hope Church
PATRIOTIC Front Secretary General Davies Chama has said that the continued wrangles in the MMD have contributed to the delay in finalizing the PF-MMD alliance.
Mr Chama said that the ruling party wants to go into an alliance with a united MMD and not a divided one.
Mr. Chama noted that the divisions in the MMD have continued to escalate, adding the PF understands the challenges the MMD is going through having gone through similar challenges last year.
Mr. Chama however, stated that even without an alliance with the MMD, there are political parties that have endorsed President Edgar Lungu including some MMD Members of Parliament.
Yesterday, Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD), Nevers Mumba has charged that President Edgar Lungu had become elusive over the formation of an alliance between the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) and the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD), Nevers Mumba has charged.
Dr. Mumba had revealed that he has been reaching out to President Lungu on the need for the formation of an alliance between the PF and the MMD but that the Head of State had not responded on the matter.
Dr Mumba said this in Lundazi yesterday when he met MMD members and encouraged them to remain focused and ignore calls for a national convention this year.
President Lungu had extended an olive branch to the MMD to consider forming a working alliance with the PF but the former ruling party has been engulfed in international squabbles resulting into the party splitting into factions.
President Lungu has on several occasions stated that the PF would only be able to form an alliance with a united MMD and hoped that the wrangles would be settled.
But yesterday, Dr Mumba said currently, there was no working relationship between the PF and the MMD because according to him, President Lungu had not responded to the matter.
Dr. Mumba confessed that there had been communication breakdown between the MMD leadership and its grassroots on the proposal for the formation of an alliance with the PF which he said had resulted in some MMD members endorsing the candidature of President Lungu.
UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema and Democratic Front leader Miles Sampa gesture to their supporters who came to witness the signing of an election pact between UPND and DF.
Matero Member of Parliament Miles Sampa wish to have his political party registered has again hit a setback.
This time around, the Registrar of Societies has rejected Mr Sampa’s application to change the name of his party from the deregistered Democratic Front to the United Democratic Front.
Chief Registrar of Societies Thandiwe Mhende announced in an interview that Mr Sampa’s application was rejected in accordance with the Section 9 of the Societies Act.
“Yes I can confirm that my office did receive an application to register the United Democratic Front but we later on realised that another political party under the name United Democratic Front was in the process of registration which meant that we would have two parties using the same acronym which is against the provisions of Section 9 of the Societies Act,” Ms Mhende explained.
Ms. Mhende also revealed that Mr Sampa has now applied under a new name the People’s Democratic Front (PDF).
United party for National Development (UPND) President Hakainde Hichilema has said that Zambians must now brace themselves for hard times ahead should the PF Government be retained in office in August.
In a statement released to the media in reaction to reports that Zambia will get onto the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, Mr Hichilema said that PF’s track record in office is clear proof that they do not have the economic and business know-how or skills necessary to negotiate terms that will protect our citizens and their livelihoods.
Below is the full statement
OFFICIAL STATEMENT
Statement on proposed IMF package
The announcement by the PF Government that Zambia needs an International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme is an indictment on their poor leadership. They must now accept responsibility for failed economic management and lack of direction, as well as failure to take action sooner.
The prospect of an IMF package is a very serious matter with significant consequences for the Zambian people, particularly the most vulnerable. The first time the country underwent an IMF programme was soon after 1991 when the MMD came into office after the failed UNIP regime. Those who lived through the days of the last IMF deal will remember the pain of many of the measures that came along with the deal, notably those resulting in job losses and company closures.
As a country we have been blessed with many great natural resources that we can utilise to drive economic growth and development for our people. Yet under the PF Government, borrowing, poor planning, and wasteful and thoughtless spending have reversed everything that was achieved under the late President Mwanawasa (MHSRIP) when the Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) programme relieved Zambia from its massive debt burden.
Zambians must now brace themselves for hard times ahead should the PF Government be retained in office in August. Their track record in office is clear proof that they do not have the economic and business know-how or skills necessary to negotiate terms that will protect our citizens and their livelihoods. Nor do they have the capability or will power to institute the required changes or reforms.
Only strong and visionary leadership with regard for long-term planning can deliver the country now, and ensure that as we confront our economic challenges, without hesitation or delay, that we protect the most vulnerable and pursue a path to growth that benefits us all.
There was laughter in the Chawama Local court in Lusaka when it was heard that a 43-year-old man left his wife and matrimonial home in preference to his girlfriend who had big hips.
This is in a matter in which Gladys Soko, 40, sued her husband Isaac Moyo for reconciliation.
Gladys told the court that her husband Isaac was no longer interested in her because she had small hips.
“My husband told me that he was no longer interested in me because of my small hips and sometimes would refer my hips to a Chinese lady who he described to have no hips and buttocks,” Gladys said.
She said her husband Isaac left their matrimonial home in March and she does not even know where he was with his new girlfriend whom he claims has an attractive body.
Gladys told the court that he will only return to the matrimonial home once she develops hips.
Isaac told the court that his wife Gladys was in the habit of gambling ‘playing bonanza’ and going out with different men in his neighborhood for drinking spree.
But when Moyo was asked by the court why he had deserted Soko and opted to live with another woman, he said her wife’s immoral behavior and excessive beer drinking led him to look for green pastures.
In passing judgment, court cautioned the woman to reduce on taking alcohol excessively and sleeping with other men as it would worsen her condition.
He however, granted the two divorce because they were both frustrating each other and warned Moyo to stop sleeping around with different women.
FILE: Dr. Vernon Mwaanga speaks to diplomatic staff and members of the Zambia South Africa Business Council
By Emmanuel Mwamba
In 1964 Vernon Mwaanga was appointed as Deputy High Commissioner to the United Kingdom-London when he was reportedly only 21 yrs of age.
This is a fact he has sold to his audiences when extolling virtues of why young people should be allowed to be involved in decision-making position despite their age.
Although his contemporaries think he was probably 26 years of age or older.
They cite Mwaanga’s own account which reveals that he attended Youth Conferences in 1957-in India, and Cairo -Egypt, 1961.
Could the United Independence Party (UNIP) have sent a Minor or an under age to such important conferences?
And could the colonial authority have issued a travel document or passport to a minor?!!!
So maybe the celebrated life of this Diplomat, Politician and Author is actually founded on a false narrative.
Anyway that’s an argument for another day.
In 1965 he was posted to Moscow as Ambassador.
In 1966 he was brought back and headed the Intelligence.
He was appointed to head the secret service institution as its Director General.
In 1968, he was appointed as Ambassador to the United Nations.
It’s during his tenure as Permanent Representative to the United Nations that he made a good name for himself.
Records at the UN show that he demonstrated remarkable leadership and participated in debates that promoted the Pan -Africa agenda.
Many African National Congress (ANC) veterans here in South Africa regard him highly and his tenure at the United Nations, they say pushed the liberation struggle agenda far better than any other African Ambassador.
His lawns of his Diplomatic Residence was home to many struggle students and leaders sipping away whisky and puffing smoke away (in their own words) as they planned and plotted on how to alienate the apartheid government from the rest of the World.
In 1972 Mwaanga was brought back to Zambia and was made Editor-in-Chief of the Times of Zambia ousting critical Editor to the UNIP regime Dunstan Kamana.
The paper was fully taken over by government in 1975.
Mwaanga took over the editorship of the paper at a critical period.
This was during the bitter period of transition and intense and forced political changes when the country was made to abandon the multi-party Democracy and changed to a one-party State.
Mwaanga was later made Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1973 and did remarkable things when he was touted as the youngest Cabinet Minister at age 28 (and again believing the theory of his contemporaries you might have to add 5yrs).
Later Mwaanga went into private practice joining controversial British businessman Tiny Rowland’s London and Rhodesian Mining and Land Company Limited (Lonrho).
But in September 1985, everything changed.
Sikota Wina, Princess Nakatindi, Vernon Mwaanga and a dozen businessmen, bankers and custom officials were arrested for peddling drugs-Mandrax.
Mandrax was a new synthetic drug made in mostly India and became highly popular in South Africa
Sikota and VJ renowned Diplomats were found to be at the centre of a cars-drugs-swap scandal involving Mandrax.
Luxury vehicles were brought from Apartheid South Africa while Mandrax tablets was brought in from Bombay(now Mumbai) and Lusaka provided as a market of exchange and swap for this new drug that was sought after in South Africa.
Mandrax was not illegal then in Zambia and was actually categorised as a sleeping pill.(that’s why their detention was under the Security Act and even if they were detained on other laws like smuggling conviction for smuggling was $25 fine! Something he could have paid).
Mandrax was later categorised and added in law as a psychotropic substance.
The trade in this drug was so lucrative( bought from Bombay for $4 (a box of 1000 pills ) but reportedly sold for $450!.
The scandal started with the detention of Sikota Wina in India.
Before this case, Sikota Wina (and his spouse), was a respected founding member of this country and Statesman and like Vernon Mwaanga, a distinguished Diplomat.
Sikota was detained in India for over 5 months but was now on bail.
Kaunda had to waive off Sikota’s Diplomatic Immunity to facilitate this detention and prosecution.
Sikota jumped bail and made a new passport (carrying a false name -Hussein) and flew back home as a Muslim!
South Africa, todate has earned herself the unenviable status as the largest abuser of Mandrax in the World and statics show that the illegal substance remains a drug of choice or preference in largest parts of South Africa.
Maybe and partly due to the sophisticated but shameful role played by people like Vernon Mwaanga decades ago.
VJ is said to have bargained for his release by allegedly writing a confession!, hence the the prefix “self-confessed-drug-trafficker” that preceded his name just a few years ago, ironically in a paper that now gives him acres of space.
But VJ and Sikota reinvented themselves when they spoke against Kenneth Kaunda’s regime and bravely denounced his dictatorship.
They were later instrumental in the Garden Hotel Meeting organised in 1990 by two academics; Akashambatwa Mbikusita Lewanika and Derrick Chitala.
The meeting formed the Movement for Multi-party Party Democracy (MMD) that later unseated the United Nations Independence Party (UNIP) that had been in power for 27years.
Sikota Wina and Vernon Mwaanga later became Cabinet Ministers in the new Frederick Chiluba government.
But by 1993, the Paris Club Meeting strongly demanded the dismissal of Sikota Wina, Princess Nakatindi Wina and Vernon Mwaanga because of their drug past.
The Paris Club is a group from creditor countries that afford heavily indebted countries to restructure and reschedule their debts and economies and be eligible to receive new foreign loans.
Beyond the lives of the proverbial cat, they bounced back!
But because of the 1985 drug episode, VJ’s past is eternally chequered.
But here is an honoured but simple trick VJ plays to give himself more lives than the proverbial Cat.
At every Election, VJ wants to make himself inextricably relevant by claiming to be an electoral expert and usually issues loud statements loaded with wild claims.
He makes attention-seeking declarations which the media unfortunately, laps, ravishes and keenly publishes.
This gives him a new shelf life that clearly expired, in my view, in September 1985 when his days at the famous Moon City Night Club and his lounging at 5 Star Hotels was rudely cut short.
He was caught selling illicit drugs and enriching himself from the dirty and illegal trade.
In terms of politics, he clearly expired in 1985!!!
So why do we bother giving him a new shelf life?
Haven’t we done ourselves enough harm by regularly forgiving him and rewarding him with even more lucrative opportunities to serve us in high public offices despite the 1985 scandal.
In 2014, he claimed to have retired from his public life and comments.
In my view VJ should help this country by genuinely retiring from public life and he should restrain himself from commenting on the country’s electoral process.
For VJ has become a by-word for electoral malpractice.
Hasn’t he undermined, soiled and robbed it enough of credibility and trust, with his regular antics?.
I hope with this simple advice, VJ may finally retire from retirement.
Defending FAZ Super Division champions Zesco United eye second place on Wednesday when they visit alling Napsa Stars in a rescheduled Week 2 fixture at Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka.
Zesco are currently 6th on the log with 9 points from three games with four matches in hand and unbeaten in the league home and away against Napsa since the latter was promoted in 2012.
Victory at second from bottom Napsa will see Zesco knock Nakambala Leopards from the number 2 position thanks to a better goal difference.
A win will also move Zesco within earshot of leaders and unbeaten Nkana who lead on 16 points.
Meanwhile, across Lusaka at Sunset Stadium on the same day, Zanaco hope to find a healing remedy following their 3-0 away loss to Stade Gabesien of Tunisia last Tuesday who eliminated the Zambian club 4-1 on aggregate from the 2016 Confederation Cup.
12th placed Zanaco have 6 points from two games played with five matches in hand.
They will be home where they will host their tenants and 14th positioned Lusaka Dynamos in a rescheduled Week 5 fixture.
Face View of the Newly Constructed Bridge on the Zambezi River on Mongu-Kalabo Road in Western Province
President Edgar Lungu is Wednesday expected in Western province to commission various infrastructure developments.
Western Province Minister Pionso Njeulu has told ZNBC News that the President’s visit to the Province will include a courtesy call on the Barotse Royal Establishment before commissioning the projects.
Mr. Njeulu says the President will commission the Mongu – Kalabo road, Sioma bridge and the Senanga Nursing School.
He says the Head of State will also commission the construction works for the King Lewainka University and visit St John’s Secondary School.
He said the President on Friday is expected to finish commissioning the projects and will fly back to Lusaka.
Mr. Njeulu said the people in Western Province are grateful to the PF Government for the massive infrastructure projects that have been rolled out in the province.
FDD President Edith Nawakwi during the Launch of the start up Programme for farmers
POLITICAL parties should not celebrate endorsements or waste time boasting about them because they often do not lead to victories for most candidates, Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) president Edith Nawakwi has said.
Ms Nawakwi observed that endorsements had little impact on voters because often times the electorates took time to think through the choices of their candidates. It was therefore, important for political parties to concentrate on campaigns and hard work to strengthen themselves before the August 11 general elections.
Ms Nawakwi, however, stated that endorsements rarely hurt candidates being endorsed and should not therefore, be turned down if such were coming from credible individuals or organisations. She, however, stated on her Facebook page that there was nothing wrong for political organisations or leaders to request to be endorsed for as long as such a gesture was one of the campaign strategies.
Ms Nawakwi advised that political parties should not solely rely on endorsements to power their campaigns but should rather make hard work their first tactic of winning an election.
She said she was in the presidential race and in the campaigns not to please a few selfish individuals but to work with the people from whom she said solutions for their challenges could be found.
Ms Nawakwi said the FDD was not in the political contest to please a selected group of people but to work for Zambians who were experiencing the pangs of hunger and poverty.
“Endorsements rarely lead to victories for most candidates, so do not waste time celebrating and boasting about them. Instead, get back on the campaign trail and concentrate on the hard work which really wins elections.
“Even when the individuals giving the endorsements are extremely popular, there always will be some voters who would not like the individual making such. Those voters are likely to vote against the endorsement rather than for it. Endorsement usually will have little impact on voters because they often would have thought a lot about the candidates,” Ms Nawakwi said.
Ms Nawakwi said some political leaders were in the habit of telling voters what they would do for them when voted for but that it was her belief that solutions to the country’s problems were with Zambians facing the challenges.
She claimed that the current leadership was composed of ‘‘know-it-all individuals’’ and was not keen to listen to the problems the people were governing.
NAREP president Elias Chipimo Jr
NAREP President Elias Chipimo says his prayer is that things should get so bad so as to remind Zambians that they have the power to change the destiny of the country and not politicians.
And Mr Chipimo says if he ever became Republican President he would only save for one term because the changes he would implement are so radical that they would make him unpopular.
Speaking when he featured on Let the People Talk on radio Phoenix Mr Chipimo said he is horrified and shocked that no matter how bad things seem to be people continue carrying on doing the same things hence the need for rude awakening.
He said the country has been conditioned to think that life is about soldiering on even when they have the power to change things and make them better.
He said it was sad that people have become so dependant on politicians that they have even stopped reasoning when electing them, hence just changing them like furniture in the house without even considering what they are able to offer.
“I have actually being praying that maybe things get as bad as they can. Why am I praying that because its ordinarily that I would have such a prayer that let us keep going through the suffering but I am just horrified and shocked that no matter how bad things seem to be we keep on doing the same things, seem to feel that okay even things are bad we will soldier on. It should not be about soldiering on, it should be about saying things are so bad I need to stop and ask myself does it make sense for me to depend on a politician? It doesn’t matter who it is,” he said.
He said replacing politicians is not the solution to the challenges in the country but the change of mindset by Zambians.
And Mr Chipimo said if ever elected as President he would only serve for a term because he wouldn’t want to be President with re-election on the back of his mind.
He said he would take radical steps which would be unpopular but necessary in ensuring that the country is set in a right direction.
He said the country is lagging behind in terms of development because everything has been about elections and politics as opposed to setting a developmental agenda.
He complained about the moral decay in the country.
He said children as young as twelve and thirteen were abusing alcohol and having sex and that parents were doing almost nothing about the situation because the country has accepted that the abnormal is now normal.
He attributed the moral decay to the corruption in the country which he said was so endemic that everything people are doing has some kind of corrupt element in it.
On the ritual murders Mr Chipimo said there has been no leadership from all stakeholders but that people have just positioned themselves to see how they can benefit from the situation.
He said it was sad that there is no unit of purpose from politicians, the church or other stakeholders and that things the country have all become about oneself adding that such events should bring the people together and help each other in finding the solution as opposed to the selfishness it exposed.
Collins Mbesuma has made the eight-man short-list for influential South African soccer magazine Kickoff’s 2015/16 Player of the Year Award.
The Mpumalanga Black Aces striker is enjoying his best form in years in the South African PSL and currently leads the top scorers chart with 13 league goals.
Mbesuma is one of two PSL imports on the list together with Zimbabwe and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Khama Billiat.
Others are Daine Klate and Moeneeb Josephs of Bidvest Wits, Keagan Dolly and Hlompho Kekana of Sundowns.
Ajax Cape Town striker Prince Nxumalo and Belgium-based midfielder Andile Jali complete the short-list.
Winner will be decided by readers via a website, mobile and Facebook poll with voting closing on May 20.
The winner unveiled in this June’s edition of Kickoff Magazine.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Chishimba Kambwili says his recent achievement of being bestowed with a doctorate degree is a result of hard work.
Dr Chishimba who is also Member of Parliament for Roan constituency in Luanshya has since dedicated his award to the people of Roan constituency.
He said it the people of Roan that he was given the rare opportunity to serve them as Member of Parliament.
“Born and raised in Luanshya. I walked 24km per day to go to school, born in a family of 13 our lives were far from luxurious, I had to labour for school when I could have gotten a job in the mines like everyone else, I believed school was the pathway to success,” Dr Kambwili said.
He added, “I turned our servant’s quarters into a classroom and tutored my peers in various subjects as a way of earning money and Sharing my knowledge. Against all odds I finished my grade 12 with flying colours.”
Dr Kambwili said Roan constituency gave him the chance to show his hard work adding that he has promised the people that that he would be a different candidate particularly one that is open and readily available.
“I aim to continue in this vein because that is my nature, I want to work hard and achieve. In this light I would like to announce that we have found resources to rehabilitate a further 12km of road in the constituency,” he said.
Dr Kambwili said the contractor will work on the Roan-Mpatamatu Road and touch up the road that leads to town.
“For Roan residents this is good news as I have delivered what I had promised.”
Dr Kambwili was bestowed with the doctorate degree along with six other Zambians during the California University FCE’S awarding ceremony at Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka on Sunday.
California University Council Member Truly Bush presented the award to Dr. Kambwili.
Professor Bush said the award is based on the contribution Dr. Kambwili has made to communities in his personal capacity and as a politician.
The University has recognized that Dr. Kambwili has managed to pay for individuals from Grade 8 up to University adding that he managed to complete the 90 Days Legacy Swimming Pool as planned and ensured that Zambia won the Africa Cup of Nations when he was Sports Minister.
This was during the 2016 impact Makers Achievers Doctoral Convocation under the theme” Cerebrating our Heroes who have impacted lives and carry their vision to the next generation”.
Others who have been awarded honorary doctorates are Rozious Siatwambo, Jobicks Kalumba, Emmanuel Sampa, Albert Nsonga, Nolobe Kuliye and George Sazambile.
Like most fruits, lemons grow quite easily in Zambia and are readily available in supermarkets. Growing up we had a lemon tree, avocado tree and plenty other fruit trees that grew in our back garden. Zambia being a tropical country means nearly every fruit can grow there. With all that goodness readily available in our country, there isn’t anything to keep us from being healthier as a nation; having just 5 portions of fruit or veg a day can make all the difference.
I was recently told about the numerous health benefits of lemons, more specifically lemon peels. When eating lemons we tend to eat the inside of the fruit and throw away the peel (skin). But did you know how much goodness you are losing out on when you throw the peel away? Lemon peel has 5 – 10 times more vitamins than lemon juice – that’s how much goodness you are wasting. Lemons are also an excellent source of fibre, potassium, magnesium, and folate. Lemon peels improve bone health because they contain high amounts of calcium and vitamin C and can even aid in preventing osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Lemons have been used to prevent and treat cancer. When they are consumed, they have been shown to prevent various types of cancers, including skin cancer, colon cancer, and breast cancer. Studies have found that the consumption of lemon peels in tea was beneficial in preventing the development of cancer cells. Though lemons are citrus fruits, they actually have an alkalizing effect in the body. By making your body alkaline they help to prevent cancer; since cancer thrives in an acidic body. Lemons have powerful antibacterial properties as well; and lemon juice has been shown to destroy the bacteria of malaria, cholera, diphtheria, typhoid and other deadly diseases.
So take advantage of the whole lemon and don’t just juice it and throw the rest away. There are different ways that you can prepare your lemon peels.
Place your lemons in the freezer for a couple of hours. Then take them out and grate them. You can sprinkle the grated lemon peel on your meals or in your drinks.
Grate the outside of your lemon (without freezing). Sprinkle the lemon peel pieces on your meals or in your drinks.
Or you could just bite right into one.
Grated lemon peels make a great addition to salads and teas, cakes or chicken! They add amazing flavour to any meal. So without further ado here is a deliciousLemon Butter Chicken recipe to start you off .
Ingredients
8 chicken thighs with the bone-in
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
Salt and pepper, to taste
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 chicken stock cube
300 ml of water to dissolve the stock cube and make a Chicken broth
125 ml of heavy cream
1 lemon, juiced and grated
1 teaspoon dried thyme (optional)
250g of spinach, chopped (optional)
Method
Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius . Season the chicken thighs with paprika, salt and pepper, to taste.
Over a medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large pot. Add the chicken, and sear both sides until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes per side. Remove the chicken from the pot. In a separate bowl or jug make your chicken broth and set aside.
Melt the remaining tablespoon of butter in the pot; add garlic, and cook for about 1 – 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in the chicken broth, heavy cream, lemon juice and thyme. Bring to the boil; reduce the heat and stir in the spinach (if using any). Simmer until the spinach is cooked and the sauce has slightly thickened, about 3-5 minutes. Return the chicken to the pot, mix well; then transfer it to an oven proof dish and roast in the oven until the chicken is completely cooked through.
Once cooked, remove from the oven; grate the lemon peel and sprinkle it over your dish.
Serving
Serve immediately, with rice, potatoes, pasta or nshima; and enjoy with a beverage of your choice.
If you are feeling daring, why not make fresh lemonade and serve it with your Lemon Butter Chicken. Enjoy!
Kanta Temba is a cake maker and decorator. She is also the owner and founder of Kanta Kakes – cake shop.
You can find her work onwww.kantakakes.com. Follow her on twitter @KantaKakes and Instagram @KantaTemba.
Deputy Minister of Health Dr Chitalu Chilufya attends to the first patient Ms Eustance Chiyumba at the newly opened Muunyumabisi Health Post in Monze District yesterday. The Health Post was constructed by Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited of India.
HEALTH Deputy Minister Dr Chitalu Chilufya said Government has set a goal to eliminate malaria by 2020 inline with the Abuja Summit in Nigeria of 2000.
He said Government through the ministry of health was committed to ending malaria for good through the deployment of evidence based interventions.
The minister said during this year’s World Malaria day held at Vulamukoko ground in Katete yesterday that the ministry had invested heavily in the implementation of cost effective interventions based on the national elimination strategy.
Dr Chilufya said ending malaria for good was possible adding that Government appreciates the strong partnership that exists in the country.
He said he was happy to observe that the country’s elimination agenda was Government led with support from various partners at the global,regional and local levels.
Dr Chilufya said Governments and partners have intensified malaria control and elimination interventions in their respective countries.
“This goal is in line with our 2030 National Development Plan goal which focuses on graduating our country from a low income to middle income country and highlights the need to invest in the health of citizens in order to attain meaningful development,”he said.
He said there was need to put in measures that would prevent importation of malaria cases beyond borders.
He said it was sad to note that every year,the country still records deaths due to Malaria.
He said according to the Health Information Management System (HMIS)data,malaria incidence in Zambia increaser from 230/1000 cases in 2010 to 335/1000 cases in 2015.
“However,it is gratifying that malaria deaths have reduced from 6,684 to 2,400 in the period 2010 to death and some districts are now achieving incidence rates below 100,”he said.
Dr Chilufya said he was hopeful that with the increased resources from Government and partners,strengthened health systems and community participation,regular progress reviews,re-strategizing and re-focusing of interventions for the destined to success.
He said Government has also launched the 2015 Malaria Indicator Survey(MIS)report which revealed useful results necessary for decision -making.
He said the 2015 MIS results show that Zambia has one of the highest coverage rates for Insecticide Treated Mosquito Nets(ITNS) with 77 percent of households owning at ITN.
Dr Chilufya said the results further showed that the coverage of ITNS increased compared to 2005 when it was first introduced as the core intervention.
He said another core indicator that was measured during the survey was the percentage of households sprayed in the previous 12 months which stands at 28.9 percent in 2015.
He said the indicator showed low because deployment of the Indoor Residual Spraying(IRS) was targeted meaning not all structures was sprayed.
“Ladies and gentlemen,I am glad to note that households with at least one ITN or house sprayed was at 80 percent meaning that household members are protected by at least one of the two core interventions,”he said.
Dr Chilufya said Zambia through the leadership of President Edgar Lungu had achieved a lot in procurement of anti-malaria commodities.
He said elimination calls for 100 percent coverage of key interventions adding that the approach of implementing interventions in piecemeal would not help attain and elimination agenda.
Dr Chilufya said Eastern Province particularly Katete was chosen as an ideal venue following the district’s remarkable 50 percent reduction in malaria cases over a period of three year.
And World Health Organisation(WHO)regional director for Africa Dr Matshidiso Moeti said between 2000 and 2015,malaria cases and deaths due to malaria in Africa declined by 42 percent and 66percent respectively in the region.
Dr Moeti who was represented by WHO country representative for Zambia Dr Jacob Mufunda said although commendable progress has been made,malaria remains a major public health and development challenge.
He said the existing global solidarity for a malaria free world has been further enhanced through the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGS) to end malaria by 2030.
Speaking earlier,Eastern Province Permanent Secretary Chanda Kasolo who was represented by Chadiza District Commissioner George Phiri said the vision of the National Malaria Control Programme(NMCP) was to have a malaria free Zambia by 2020.
Mr Kasolo said the malaria incidence for the province had reduced from 491/1000 in 2014 to 377/1000 in 2015.
He said the incidence would continue to reduce further as long as stakeholders continue with the curative and preventative health measures.
He said Katete District sprayed 22,237structures out of 24,237 structures found bringing to coverage to 94 percent.
Mr Kasolo said additionally,in 2014 alone Eastern Province received a total number of 1,080,400 ITNS from World Bank for mass distribution.
GOVERNMENT says it is disappointed with United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema’s statement that Zambians should pray hard ahead of the ‘Armageddon’ on August 11.
Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Chishimba Kambwili said it was clear that the UPND thrives on misfortunes of Zambians.
Mr Hichilema is quoted in yesterday’s edition of the Post as urging Zambians to pray harder ahead of the ‘Armageddon’ on August 11, this year, which will be the date for the general elections.
Dr Kambwili said at a Press briefing in Lusaka yesterday that Zambia would not be set on fire as a result of someone’s desire for power.
“It is clear that HH and his team have a strategy to thrive on the misfortunes of Zambians in an effort to form Government.
“While his hope is to have violence across the country during the August 11 elections, we are saying let there be peace across the country during the August 11 elections,” he said.
Dr Kambwili said no amount of ill wish would turn Zambia into Armageddon as it was a Christian Nation.
He appealed to Zambians not to fall prey to the promises of the UPND leader that he would provide mealie-meal at a cheaper price.
He said the current price of mealie-meal was as a result of pressures coming from other countries as a result of the high demand of the commodity.
“People, do not believe Mr Hakainde’s promises on mealie-meal. If you check the mealie-meal in the Democratic Republic of Congo, there, a bag is selling at K250, in Malawi K180 and in Tanzania close to K200 and here a 25kg it is at K70 for breakfast and K65 for roller meal, which is very cheap,” he said.
He said the Patriotic Front Government had subsidised the price of maize so that the price of mealie-meal could be more affordable to the average Zambian.
Dr Kambwili said the Government was always looking for means of making the living standards for Zambians better, adding that was why it increased salaries for civil servants.
He challenged Mr Hichilema to show how much he paid his workers as he was criticising the Government on civil servants’ salaries.
