President Edgar Chagwa Lungu,has said that no foreigner had been killed in the recent riots that followed a spate of ritual murders in Lusaka’s Matero and Zingalume townships.

In a statement released to the media by State House, the head of State said that two people that died in the consequent riots were Zambian, Mr. Julius Kazungo (47), a teacher from Zambezi High School and another male yet to be formally identified.

The President said that it was therefore grossly irresponsible for some media outlets to allege falsely that any foreigner had been killed in xenophobic violence in Zambia. The President warned all citizens including media practitioners of stern action if they continue to propagate falsehoods designed to inflame tensions in our communities.

The President further appealed to all journalists to desist from such unprofessional conduct that has the potential to build tensions between Zambians and their fellow brothers and sisters who have sought refuge in Zambia.

Below is the full statement

PRESIDENT ASSURES NATION, WARNS LAW BREAKERS OF STERN ACTION

LUSAKA, (FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2016)­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­–Following his visit to refugees sheltering at St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Lusaka on April 21st 2016, His Excellency Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, President of the Republic of Zambia and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces wishes to assure all foreigners in Zambia of full protection of their lives and property.

President Lungu further assures all foreigners and the nation in general that the isolated disturbances in some townships in Lusaka have ended. People can now go about their lives freely.

The President has warned of decisive action against anyone perpetrating any criminality in our communities. The President has directed security services to remain on full alert and take quick and stern action against anybody perpetrating acts of violence, incitement, and reckless rumour mongering which misled some of our people into venting their anger against foreigners.

The Head of State wishes to state clearly that no foreigner has been killed in the recent riots that followed a spate of ritual murders in Lusaka’s Matero and Zingalume townships. Two Zambians died in the consequent riots: Mr. Julius Kazungo (47), a teacher from Zambezi High School and another male yet to be formally identified.

It is therefore grossly irresponsible for some media outlets to allege falsely that any foreigner has been killed in xenophobic violence in Zambia. The President warns all citizens including media practitioners of stern action if they continue to propagate falsehoods designed to inflame tensions in our communities.

The Head of State therefore takes this opportunity to appeal to all journalists to desist from such unprofessional conduct that has the potential to build tensions between Zambians and their fellow brothers and sisters who have sought refuge in Zambia.

“The extraordinary human fellowship that characterises the Zambian psyche is envied globally and therefore no effort will be spared in preserving this impeccable reputation the country has built over the years.”

“Zambians are rightly known to be peace-loving, as brothers’ keepers, and generally sympathetic to those in need. We have a record of having looked after ordinary and celebrated personalities from all over the world when they sought refuge here. Xenophobia is alien to our land and that is why security services will not tolerate any criminality disguised as such.”

The President, who this morning constituted a special committee of permanent secretaries and other senior staff tasked to re- integrate the refugees, said Government will work with the Church and the United Nations Resident Coordinator Ms. Janet Rogan and UNHCR Resident Representative Ms. Laura Locaastro to speed up the process which has so far progressed very well.

‘’Zambia has an impeccable record as a peaceful, stable, tolerant, and multi-cultural society that has lived in peace and harmony with foreign nationals. I am ashamed on behalf of the entire republic that some of our people are committing criminal acts against foreigners.
_______________________________________________________________________
Issued by:

AMOS CHANDA
SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT
(PRESS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS)
STATE HOUSE

Opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) President Hakainde Hichilema has said that the careless statements from Republican President contributed to the eruption of xenophobic attacks in Lusaka.

Mr Hichilema said President Lungu’s statement made in Eastern Province blaming the opposition leaders for the ritual murders and later adding that some foreign nationals had been arrested for the murders ignited the attacks in Lusaka.

He said the statements that have continued to come from the head of state are an indictment of his poor leadership as a normal leader can not say the things that he says.

“President Lungu triggered the xenophobic attacks that we have seen in Lusaka the last three days. He went to Chipata and accused some opposition leaders of being behind the ritual killings because they wanted to get into office. Who in their right sense can do that? Kill the same people they want to serve? We can’t do that, that is a careless statement coming from the head of state. Secondly he said the police had arrested some foreign nationals in connection with the killings that created some anxiety in the compounds were people are living in poverty and hunger.

“It was irresponsible for the President to make such statements and that is what poor leadership does, it makes irresponsible statements without thinking of the consequences. This is the first time that this kind of thing has happened in our country which is a Christian nation. We have always taken care of neighbours since independence but now this government under the leadership of Lungu who makes statements like he is coming from a beer hall of chibuku we have xenophobic attacks on innocent people,” Mr Hichilema said.

He said the head of state had endangered the lives of Zambians living abroad.

On the printing of ballot papers in Dubai, Mr Hichilema said the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) was conniving with the PF government so as to rig the elections.

He said the ECZ and PF had been caught with pants down as their schemes and methods of rigging the elections has been revealed.

Mr Hichilema said there was no justifiable reason for the adamancy exhibited by ECZ as stakeholders have refused to have ballot papers printed in Dubai because its reason for not using the same company from South Africa that printed for January, 2015 election, did not hold any waters.

The opposition leader who had the correspondence between ECZ and the South African print company said the company had met all the requirements and was cheaper than the company picked by ECZ.

He accused ECZ director of elections of trying to help the PF to steal the elections by making sure that there are intentional mistakes on ballot papers they consider strong holds for the UPND to prevent people from voting and that they will try to make sure that ballot papers for Lusaka Province are released late to cause confusion.

He also condemned speaker of the National Assembly for throwing out the motion by some MPs on the issue of printing ballot papers in Dubai.

Mr Hichilema said this when he received defectors from different political parties including PF and MMD councillors from Chongwe and Luwangwa constituencies.

A 27 year old man of Chikwanda village in Mpika has died after being stabbed in the head by his wife’s alleged lover after he confronted him over having an affair with his wife.

Muchinga province commissioner of police Auxensio Daka confirmed the incident stating that the deceased was stabbed on Wednesday around 14.50 hours but that he later died on Sunday around 11.15 hours, at the Michael Chilufya Sata hospital where he had been admitted to.

Mr Daka identified the deceased as Mutale Ng’andu, while the suspect has only been identified as Chanda, aged about 35, of Chintu village, and that his other names are not known as he bolted soon after allegedly committing the crime.

“We have instituted investigations in to a case of murder where a man was stabbed to death by a man suspected to have been having an affair with his wife. The deceased’s brother, Kennedy Ng’andu, earlier reported a case of unlawful wounding, stating that his brother was stabbed in the head with an unknown object during a scuffle, after the deceased found the two seated in a compromising manner. We have not yet arrested the suspect as he ran away soon after allegedly wounding the deceased,” Mr Daka said.

Mr Ng’andu’s body is currently lying in Mpika district hospital mortuary awaiting post-mortem

 

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Download the song here: You’re Hot

 

BY KAPA187

Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba says it is inevitable that Zambia should get a bail out from the International Monetary Fund.

Sources at the Ministry of Finance have revealed that the PF Government has approached the IMF seeking up to US$1 billion bailout.

At the recently held World Bank/IMF Springs Meetings, IMF Africa Director Antoinette Sayeh revealed that the proposal for an IMF programme by the Zambian Government will only be considered after the August elections.

But in a statement, Mr Yamba said “in the meantime, Government will work towards setting the stage for the necessary adjustments in electricity tariffs and fuel pump prices, while ensuring that austerity measures announced by President Lungu in November 2015 are diligently enforced.”

“With respect to Zambia going on an IMF programme, the Government is fully resolved, and as directed by Cabinet, this is inevitable.”

Mr Yamba said the austerity measures have started bearing fruit as seen in the enhanced borrowing discipline that ensures we remain within budget in our quest to finance the deficit.

He said further, the appreciation of the exchange rate attests to not only the positive impact of the measures taken by the central bank but also the fiscal consolidation measures taken by the central government.

He said at the Spring Meetings in Washington, USA, the Zambian Government and the IMF agreed to have some milestones that will eventually lead to the country getting on a programme by the fourth quarter of 2016.

“In line with the roadmap, the IMF will be provided with Zambia’s macro and fiscal plans for the 2017 Budget and the medium term, in June 2016 in line with the national budget calendar,” he said.

Mr Yamba said this is meant to pave way for their input so that once in place, the programme will not be at variance with the budget because a large portion of the programme is executed through budget implementation.

“Further, the Fund will field a mission in September 2016 to finalize budget numbers with Zambia taking into full account the adjustments that will be required for a programme. This will be followed by programme discussions in October/November 2016 with a view to have Board discussions around mid-December 2016.”

He said one key policy issue to accelerate in the coming weeks will be the tabling before Parliament, proposals on the Mineral Royalty Tax (MRT) Sliding Scale.

Mr Yamba said this is meant to have a tax regime that is responsive to changes in metal export prices.

Copperbelt based Disc Jockey, Hector Gold finally unveils the official visuals for his beaming hit single “Chi Latest” enlisting Label mates “Chef 187” and ‘PilAto“. Video directed by Kennedy K.

 

BY KAPA187