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Cholera Patients in a tent
Government says it cannot declare the Cholera outbreak in the country a national disaster.
ZANIS reports that the Ministry of Health said the high number of cholera cases in the country cannot be declared a national disaster because less than twenty deaths have been recorded since the disease broke out two months ago.
16 deaths have been recorded of which 11 cholera patients were brought in dead from their homes and five died while receiving treatment at cholera centres.
Ministry of Health acting Spokesperson George Sikazwe said in an interview in Lusaka today that most of the Cholera cases that have been recorded are mostly from Lusaka district and therefore other parts of the country are not affected.
Mr. Sikazwe noted that the cases recorded do not warrant or give a national picture as most major cases have been recorded in Lusaka district alone.
About 723 cholera cases have been recorded since the waterborne disease broke out in early February this year with 16 deaths.
Mr. Sikazwe pointed out that despite the rising number of cholera cases which have shot up to 723 cases , the cases recorded to date are cumulative.
He said the ministry of health is working tirelessly to ensuring that cholera cases are contained.
He said in order to further mitigate more outbreaks in Lusaka the Ministry has started administering oral cholera vaccines in various parts of the district especially those prone to the outbreak and those already hit by the epidemic.
Mr. Sikazwe said some of the areas where the vaccination is in progress are Mtendere, Kanyama, Bauleni and George compounds.
He said that ministry officials have not faced any resistance from members of the general public and the vaccination programme is progressing well.
Mr. Sikazwe noted that before the vaccination programme the Ministry conducted intensive awareness and education campaigns on the importance of the vaccination exercise.
About 723 cases have been recorded in the country since cholera broke out two months ago in Lusaka and isolated cases have been reported in Central, Copper belt and Northern Provinces.
Kalabo Central UPND Member of Parliament Chiinga Miyutu’s son Wamulume has been found with a case to answer in Mongu High Court for the alleged murder of an Immigration Officer in Kalabo District of Western Province.
This is in which Wamulume Miyutu aged 24, a student at the Catholic University in Kalulushi is jointly charged with 23 year old female Akamandisa Nyambe both of Kalabo District for murder contrary to section 200 of the Penal Code cap 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
In passing the ruling, yesterday, Justice Judith Mulongoti said the evidence adduced by the prosecution had established a prima facie case against the accused.
This is in a case in which Wamulume and Nyambe while jointly acting together in Kalabo District did allegedly murder 23 year old Kalabo Immigration Officer Amis Siame between 14th and 16th of December, 2015.
In his defence Wamulume told the court that he received a call around 21:00 hours on 14th December, 2015 from Precious Sinonge of Kaoma who told him to go and check on her sisters Oranta and Nyambe who reportedly were being beaten by Siame on 14th December, 2015.
Miyutu further told the court that he received a call from Akamandisa that she had been beaten and injured on the left ear of which they agreed to meet at Pilgrim School near Orantas’ house.
He said they later met at the school around 22:00 hours and went to the neighbour’s place where the children that were being kept by Oranta Nyambe had remained.
Miyutu added that he had never seen the deceased but just heard from his ex-girlfriend Oranta Nyambe that she was now in a relationship with Amis Siame.
In a statement that was given earlier at Kalabo Police Station by Akamandisa and read by the arresting officer Chanika Sallu in the Mongu High Court, it stated that Siame was beaten twice with a pot on the head by Miyutu.
The body of Siame was on 16th December, 2015 found facing downwards in shallow waters of the Luanginga River beneath a canoe that was covering the head and part of the shoulders.
A post-mortem was conducted and showed that Siame died from brain haemorrhage.
Justice Judith Mulongoti adjourned the case to today the 13th April, 2016 for Akamandisa Nyambe to give her defence.
Scores of Kalabo and Mongu residents are flooding the Mongu High Court to listen to the murder case of the Kalabo Immigration Officer.
Bharti Airtel CEO and Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal visiting the Minister of Transport and communications Kampembwa Simbao
Transport and Communications Minister, Kapembwa Simbao, says government is on course with the implementation of electronic commerce.
Mr Simbao says government is doing this through the provision of appropriate workable strategies that focus on development of broadband infrastructure, digital content, human capacity and supporting innovation by both public and private sector organisations.
The minister was speaking during an event to introduce the latest developments in cloud computing and ‘big data’ to Zambia in Lusaka.
He said government, under a project called Smart Zambia Phase One, has embarked on the construction of a national data centre, public Information Communication Technology (ICT) training facilities and teleconferencing facilities for government.
Mr Simbao said these investments will spur utilisation of ICTs, generation of local digital content and innovations in the sector.
Speaking at the same function, Huawei Technology Zambia Country Director, Emilion Ming, said countries around the world including Zambia have entered into a new era of in-depth integration of ICTs, changing the way that organisations deliver on-demand services to the public, how governments operate and how institutions manage their businesses.
Mr Ming commended government’s foresight and Huawei’s Technology, saying in the near future, everyone in Zambian will be able to enjoy modern telecommunication technology equally and conveniently.
Huawei introduced 3G Technology to Zambia in 2009, and this year it has signed a contract for the second phase of the project to design, supply, deliver, install and for the commissioning of communication towers in un-serviced areas in the country.
Zambia Media Women Association Chairperson Felistus Chipako has cautioned journalists in the nation to avoid aligning themselves to preferred political parties ahead of the August 11, 2016 general elections.
Ms Chipako said instead journalists should only abide to media ethics which they learn at school as opposed to supporting certain political parties.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka, Ms Chipako said that some journalists find themselves in conflict with the law when they decided to incline to certain parties of their choice.
Ms Chipako said it is important that journalists report truthfully and accurately as demanded by their profession .
She reminded media personnel that the role of journalists is to inform, educate and entertain the masses as opposed to behaving like political party cadres.
And Press Association of Zambia(PAZA) president Andrew Sakala said journalists should put public interest first in their reporting.
Mr Sakala said it is wrong for any reporter to support a political party of their choice especially this time when the nation is headed towards general elections.
Mr Sakala warned that journalists in a habit of supporting preferred parties should only blame themselves when they are visited by the law.
He pointed out that the Electoral Code of Conduct demands for equitable coverage by all journalists during elections and throughout their career.
Farmers in Moyo chiefdom of Pemba district found knitting the 50 Kilogrammes bags of maize for sell at one of the Food Reserve Agency depots in the area.
Government has lifted the ban it imposed last week on the export of maize after a physical verification revealed that the nation has enough stocks to last until August.
Agriculture permanent secretary Julius Shawa said the country has 600,433 tonnes of maize enough to last until August.
“The ban on maize exports with proper documentation has been lifted. We are aware that some of the grain traders have contractual obligations but we need to make sure that we verify that the grain they are exporting is theirs,” he said.
Government suspended maize exports to curb local shortages pending the verification of available stocks. The government was concerned that steep price increases were being caused by smuggling of the grain to neighbouring Malawi and Democratic Republic of Congo.
The country has continued to face mealie meal shortages despite the government continued assurances that the country has enough maize to feed the nation.
Earlier the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) has advised against prolonging the ban on the export of maize government announced last week.
ZNFU Executive Director Ndambo Ndambo says prolonging the ban could jeopardize the supply contracts local traders have entered into with players in other countries.
Mr. Ndambo says this could make it difficult for players in those countries to trust Zambian suppliers.
He however, states that the temporal export ban is good and should be used to ascertain whether the country has enough maize in stock.
Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Chishimba Kambwili has said that the impression created by the oppostion that the PF Government made the decision to print Ballot papers in Dubai is wrong.
In a statement released to the media, Mr Kambwili, who is also Government Chief Spokesperson, said that Electoral Commision independently made the decision as an autonomous body whose decisions are not amenable to influence from the Executive.
Below is the full statement
Government would like to correct the impression being created by the opposition in The Post that it has made a decision to print ballot papers for this year’s presidential and general elections in Dubai.
Government would like to put it on record that it does not run the operations of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) who are mandated to print ballot papers.
The ECZ is an autonomous body whose decisions are not amenable to influence from the Executive, and they make independent decisions as enshrined in the Republican Constitution.
The allegations by the opposition are patently false, completely devoid of the truth, and should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve.
Government is concerned that the opposition have taken to uttering misleading statements aimed at pitting the citizens against their Government and that some of these opposition leaders are experienced people who have served in Government before.
In particular, Government is disappointed that former chairman of the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Mr Charles Milupi is the source of such misleading statements.
While Government welcomes debate on any important national issue, Government expects constructive discourse and not unfounded claims by the opposition whose sole purpose is to alarm citizens.
It is clear from the allegations being peddled by the opposition that they would like to use these falsehoods to dispute the outcome of elections on August 11, 2016.
Government would like to advise the media outlets to exercise caution and avoid inflammatory statements which have the potential to cause chaos.
Hon. Chishimba Kambwili, MP
MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTNG SERVICES AND CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON
13th April, 2016
One of the world’s biggest mobile phone manufacturers has collaborated with local fashion bloggers and writers MaFashio to explore Zambian fashion through the P8 Lite smartphone. Huawei and MaFashio will showcase their perspective on fashion courtesy of the fast selling P8 Lite smartphone.
Speaking in Lusaka, MaFashio noted that the collaboration allows them to explore the creative side of Zambian fashion, picking out the trends using the P8 Lite. The smartphone will allow the fashion writers to share fashion tips through the lens of the P8 Lite.
“People are increasingly seeing fashion through their cameras, capturing themselves and friends at events, parties and even workplaces. Through our collaboration with Huawei, we’re going out to spend a week on our fashion journey using the P8 Lite,” they say.
The fashion duo will share their journey via social media, allowing themselves to also experience the P8 Lite smartphone’s features which allow them to write and blog about fashion, share photos and interact with their followers.
The public can follow MaFashio’s week with the P8 Lite via the duo’s website, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter accounts. They can also interact with the bloggers to find out more about their experience with the P8 Lite and perspectives on local fashion.
Huawei Country Device Manager Li Mao noted that the collaboration will allow consumers looking to upgrade their smartphones to experience the P8 Lite’s major features through MaFashio’s fashion perspective.
“Consumers are looking for user experiences on their phones and not simply a gadget that they can carry around. By collaborating with MaFashio, we’re demonstrating that the P8 Lite is more than a phone but a device that can be used to capture moments, create lasting impressions and also be a fun and exciting product in the hands of our consumers,” he says.
The P8Lite is the first smartphone that has a ‘Night Mode’ option included, which has low light shooting allows users to take clear photos in darker conditions. This mode is attractive to fashion professionals looking to capture their fashion moments while out at night.
It uses Android operating system 5.0 and has an in-built storage capacity of 16GB. Another convenient feature of the P8lite is its long-lasting 2200mAh ultra-battery which provides optimum performance and remains effective in the midst of all its multi-tasking. This means that consumers can achieve more with this smartphone without worrying about the battery power running out quickly.
A 5-inch display with a resolution of 720 x 1,280 makes it easy for the smartphone to sit perfectly balanced in the palm of anyone’s hand, with a sharp 13 megapixel autofocus and 5MP front camera allows users to capture images in stunning detail.
Nkana legend Jericho Shinde believes a true picture of the teams title ambitions will only be known after Week 10.
The record 12-time Zambian champions are unbeaten since the start of the 2016 FAZ Super Division season and lead the table on 13 out of a possible 15 points.
“Good start for the team but they shouldn’t relax because the season has just kicked off and it should go to their heads but so far so good,” Shinde said.
“It is too early, it shouldn’t even get to their heads until we at least, or maybe, after ten games that’s when I believe we are there.”
Nkana are four points clear of the pack ahead of second placed Nchanga Rangers after five rounds of matchesd played into the 2016 campaign.
Interestingly, Nkana host Nchanga this Saturday (Live SportSport 9 & Select, Kickoff: 15h00) at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe in a Week 6 fixture.
“All we need to do is be confident and work as a team and I don’t think there is anything that can stop the team looking at the players that they have right now,” Shinde said.
DEPUTY Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Miles Sampa
The recent Kwacha appreciation against the US dollar and other major currencies is in my view, not sustainable. This is because it is not backed by any significant improvements in economic fundamentals . Exchange rates appreciate or depreciate based on an increase or decrease in the value of exports or imports.
For the last year or so, Government has told us that the huge Kwacha slump was due to reduced global demand and reduced world market price of our main export commodity, Copper. The question is; has the price and demand of copper now improved significantly on the global market? I think the answer is No. As at end of 2015, London Metal Exchange (LME) Copper price $4800 per tonne and now fetching around $4600 per tonne representing a 5 percent copper price reduction in the 3 months period.
If Copper volumes and prices are still not favorable and if anything getting worse, the question is whether there is any other commodity that Zambia has suddenly exported worth influencing the Kwacha parity? The answer is No. Is there something Zambia was importing in huge volumes and now stopped doing so? The answer is no as we are still importing fuel and other retail consumption goods.
My take is that the appreciation of the Kwacha is simply due to interventions from the Bank of Zambia (BOZ) who are selling Dollars from our Foreign exchange Reserves. While the recent Kwacha appreciation may be deemed as good for the Country; it’s the means to the end that are neither ideal nor sustainable.
It’s like pushing a sponge downwards in a bucket full of water. Once the human hand is withdrawn, the sponge will spring back up with massive force within no time.
To put it differently, It’s like a poultry farmer slaughtering pullets to please children or guests. Sooner than later, the farmer will have no chickens or eggs for sustained existence of the homestead and in this case, our economy.
I challenge the Government to deny that they have not used Foreign exchange reserves to temporarily support the Kwacha. In doing so, can they state what our Reserves were at the beginning of the year ( around $3.4 billion) and what they are now. When those figures are availed, you will find that about $1billion may have been pumped into the market directly or indirectly. One wonders what will happen to the rate when they run out of reserves to spend.
The other reason for the sudden gain of the local currency is that Government has opted to siphon Kwacha liquidity out of the banking system and financial market to support the exchange rate. As a result, the Kwacha lending rate has surged to over 20 percent and instantly put some companies and SMEs out of business.
When companies have no access to affordable Kwacha loans, the next thing they do is scale down operations and lay off workers. Simplified, any current gain in the value of Kwacha using the ‘liquidity squeezing’ method, has equivalent huge job losses due ‘cash squeeze’ inside balance sheets of SMEs and various companies.
Government’s approach of solely focusing on exhibiting a strong Kwacha for political expedience is therefore not worth the troubles it is causing in the economy. In business and corporate world, it said that ‘cash is king’ and if squeezed dry, no one survives.
Their approach is a panacea meant to provide relief but not solutions to our monetary problems. It’s like taking panadol to cure malaria. One feels better for a few hours but the potentially fatal disease is still there.
I could not help but laugh when I saw Kambwili on TV stating that the current appreciation of the Kwacha, is due to massive confidence in the Edgar Lungu administration . I guess conversely he is also agreeing that the massive depreciation (60 percent) in the last one year was due to a massive lack of confidence in the same administration. By implication , Kambwili is also telling us that any consequent depreciation between now and election time, will be a sign of lack of confidence in the PF government .
In a nutshell , this appreciation is not genuine and will backfire sooner rather than later as it is not backed by an actual improvement in the country’s terms of trade. It is simply a charade process by authorities that is not sustainable and cannot be relied upon for the well being of the national economy. The current Kwacha appreciation of approximately 12 percent is more of a political gimmick than an economic gain in overall gross domestic product (GDP) of the Country. Mixing political and economic variables into the financial markets normally tends to backfire in no time. I stand to be proven wrong in the next 4 months.
File:Forum for Democracy and Development spokesperson Antonio Mwanza stresses a point during the meeting to demand for the release of the draft Zambian constitution
The FDD has cautioned students at the University of Zambia and the Copperbelt University against voting for the PF because they will withdraw their meal allowances once they have a fresh mandate.
Commenting on government’s U-turn on the withdraw of meal allowances for students at the two universities FDD Spokesperson Antonio Mwanza said the PF were trying to hoodwink students so that they can vote for them and later withdraw the allowance when voted for.
He said it is up to the students to either choose to be lied to or vote the PF out of office so that they put a government that has their interests at heart.
He said it is desperation which has made the PF government to reinstate the allowances for the students after realising that their decision would cost them votes on 11th August.
And Mr Mwanza said the policy inconsistency of the PF government was worrying stakeholders in the country.
Mr Mwanza explained that it was difficult to plan in the PF government as they have continued to shift from one policy to another something he said was contributing to the high cost of living being experienced in the country
Nevers Mumba
MMD President Nevers Mumba says has extended an olive branch to members who have offended the party in the past and are currently under disciplinary action with a condition that they sign a covenant declaring their royalty to the party.
Speaking at a media briefing Wednesday morning Dr Mumba said the party has given the offenders two weeks to repent and rejoin the party.
He said some people have been asking for clemency to be allowed to participate in the forth coming elections but that they will only be readmitted once they pledge their royalty to the party.
In order to accommodate those who are remorseful and yet passionate about their party, we have extended the olive branch for the next week’s.
The door remain wide open to those willing to come and sign a peace covenant making a declaration of commitment to the party, it’s values and it’s leadership. The next two weeks therefore shall be dubbed as a season of forgiveness and reconciliation for those who would like to build and prepare the party for the August elections. This is time to put away our hatchets and start a new day as a family, ” Dr Mumba said.
And the opposition leader said the current NEC of the party will only be dissolved by when a new NEC is installed.
“I also wish to confirm that the NEC is the highest organ of the party and the only organ mandated by the Constitution to decide the date of any special gatherings of the party including the convention. The current NEC remains firmly in control of the party and will only be dissolved when a new NEC is installed at a time and place decided by the current NEC in line with our constitutional provision,” he said.
The female duo known as DAVAOS finally unveiled the visuals for their previously released single “PABACHIMO“. The video was shot and directed by RedDot and the audio was produced by Kekero.
Trophy hunters have received guidelines from Ministry of Tourism’s and Arts’ Department National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) as a measure to direct and regulate hunting of big cats.
This follows Tourism and Arts Minister Jean Kapata’s lifting the suspension on hunting of big cats in May last year to allow it in this year’s hunting season.
In a speech read for her at the cat hunting training workshop at Lusaka’s Cresta Golfview Hotel by Tourism and Arts Permanent Secretary Stephen Mwansa, Ms Kapata noted that Trophy hunting contributes significantly to wildlife conservation and to the socio-economic well being of our people.
She asserted that the hunting is one of the conservation tools and a good example of successful private-public partnerships that sustainably support the conservation of wildlife in Game Management Areas (GMAs) in Zambia.
The Minister said that without trophy hunting, most of our wildlife in GMAs could have been decimated by now.
She noted that hunting plays a very critical role in protecting the wilderness in GMAs and therefore, ecosystem provide goods and services the wilderness to our people.
Meanwhile, DNPW Director Paul Zyambo said in 2012 Zambia instituted a moratorium on cat hunting because there was no proper system in place to ensure that cat hunting was sustainable.
Leopard hunting resumed last year and this year 2016, lion hunting will re-open in following a three-year moratorium.
The conditions the minister set for lifting the ban on cat hunting were to set a cautionary quota, hunt old lions with diminished biological function and to develop guidelines on lion hunting.
He said DNPW has a maximum quota of 24 lions for the year. The basis of issuing the quotas was prey availability and quotas based on land area at a rate of one lion per 1000 square kilometre in prime hunting areas and 1 lion per 2000 square kilometre in secondary hunting areas.
The cautionary quota the department is following is the lowest the country has issued in the last fifteen years. It is critical that we continue to follow a cautionary quota until we are satisfied that the measures we have put in place will not harm the population.
Among the among the guidelines is that the professional hunters are only allowed to hunt lion of six years and above and that no female lions will be hunted.
There are also penalties for hunting under-aged lions and female which including lifting of hunting licenses for erring hunters.
Governance Expert Macdonald Chipenzi has praised government for committing to ensure that the controversial Public Order Act is amended before the August 11, 2016 elections.
Mr Chipezi said the Public Order Act has been a source of political differences in the country nation for so many years now.
He told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that government should be commended for the move which will enhance democracy in the country.
Mr Chipenzi also appealed to parliamentarians to debate the POA bill with a free conscience because it will help to guarantee freedom of association, assembly and respect for human right among others for every individual.
He said precedence will be set by the minister of Home affairs once the POA is amended because many stakeholders have been crying for the revision of this peace of legislation to reflect the democratic tenets obtaining in the nation.
And Anti Voter Apathy executive director Richewell Mulwani said the move by government is pleasing and will help address the fluctuating political climate in the country.
Mr Mulwani said the issue of POA has been a source of concern adding that the bill should be introduced to parliament as quickly as possible.
Mr Mulawani said the revision of the bill will increase citizen participation in the country’s political dispensation.
Recently, Home Affairs Minister Davies Mwila disclosed that government will ensure that the controversial Public Order Act is amended before the August 11 elections.
Mr Mwila said the Ministries of Home Affairs and Justice are ready to present the amendment bill to Parliament which reconvened on tuesday, April 12, 2016.
The Minister said government has listened to the cries of stakeholders on the need to have the Act amended.
He pointed out that the clause that requires notifying the police at least seven days before holding outdoor meetings or an event is one of the provisions that will be revised.
Mr Mwila said there is a general consensus that the notification period can be shortened to at least four days.
