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Heavily armed police officers again blocked UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema’s planned mobilisation activities in Katete district in Eastern province.
On Tuesday, police thwarted attempts by Mr Hichilema and his team to address their supporters in Chipangali area in Chipata district.
Today, a heavy presence of armed officers restricted Mr Hichilema as he entered Katete in the afternoon.
“We continued to face restrictions from police as we entered Katete District in Eastern Province this afternoon where thousands of our supporters were waiting to be addressed,” Mr Hichilema said.
He added, “We have pleaded with police to be civil and not disrupt our meetings with threats of teargas, particularly given the number who have turned out and the presence of women and children.”
Mr Hichilema stated that the UPND has adhered to the demands that it quickly greets its members.
“It is a great shame to be so restricted as we are busy promoting messages of peace and unity, as well as sharing ideas about how we can better work together to further development in the region and create jobs.”
“It is very clear that our freedoms and rights of peacefully assembly and association are being infringed, while our colleagues in the PF are having their party mobilisation meetings without hindrance,” he said.
Mr Hichilema revealed that the party’s applications for these meetings were cancelled at short notice on the pretext that police officers will be involved in a training programme on application of the Public Order Act.
“However, surprisingly they have now come out in numbers to block our peaceful gatherings. We nevertheless fully appreciate the difficult environment the officers also operate in as they are made to follow undemocratic orders,” he said.
“We have no ill feeling towards them but know that these are the kinds of things we want to change immediately when in office. We thank our team that includes Vice-Presidents Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba and Dr. Canisius Banda, Bob Sichinga, and local officials on the ground.”
He added, “Special thanks go to the residents of this area for the overwhelming response and support accorded to us. We fully sympathise and understand the economic challenges they face such as having to share one bag of fertiliser between many and the rising cost of other farming inputs. What remains most important to us, however, is the maintenance of peace and unity at all costs despite continued provocation.”
More police presence in Katete as HH enters townUPND supporters line up the streets of Katete to catch a glimpse of HH and his teamUPND supporters in defiant moddPolice officers blocking HH’s entourage in Katete
Livingstone based Zambian National Dance Troupe entertaining guests at Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport in Livingstone during the inaugural launch of Mahogany Airline flights into the tourist capital.
SEVERAL Hotels and Lodges in Livingstone are currently fully booked ahead of the 3rd Livingstone International Cultural and Arts Festival (LICAF) to be held this weekend during the Easter Holiday.
So far, the various lodges and hotels have not hiked their room rates for this period despite the increasing demand for accommodation.
A check by Times at New Fairmount Hotel, Limbo Lodge, Rites Inn, Likute Lodge, Wasawange Lodge, Chappa Classic Lodge and Lilamono Lodge yesterday revealed that the various entities were fully booked by local and foreign guests.
At AVANI Victoria Falls Hotel and Royal Livingstone Hotel, which are the biggest entities in Zambia’s Tourist Capital, the bookings were steadily coming for this weekend.
Likute Lodge was fully booked by last month but many people were still calling to make more bookings.
Limbo Lodge director Kingsley Lilamono said his entity was fully booked in January this year by a group of South Africans who would be attending the LICAF in Livingstone this weekend.
Mr Lilamono, who is former Livingstone Tourism Association (LTA) chairperson, said there was need for traders and residents to be innovative and take advantage of LICAF to showcase their products to tourists.
“We don’t have a lot of souvenirs around the Victoria Falls premises and so the local people should be creative and exploit the event to make money.
“LICAF is a key marketing to showcase what Zambia and Livingstone has to offer. I just hope more local people will attend the event,” Mr Lilamono said.
Minor Hotel Group Public Relations Manager Joyce Sikabbubba said her Group, which operates AVANI Victoria Falls Hotel and Royal Livingstone Hotel, expected many people to book the premises this weekend.
Ms Sikabbubba said the two Hotels had already put together a special accommodation package for guests during the Easter period.
“Bookings are steadily coming through and we hope to see an increase in the bookings now that the fuel availability across the country has stabilised.
“Most of our clients drive to Livingstone during Easter and it is important that Tourist Capital has adequate supplies of fuel during the Easter and LICAF period,” Ms Sikabbubba said.
Operators talked to wished that the current overwhelming response from local and foreign guests could continue throughout the year.
They however called for more marketing of the LICAF throughout the country and abroad to attract more tourists.
On Monday night, Livingstone District Commissioner Omar Munsanje launched the festivities for the 2016 LIFAC with a call for residents to take advantage of the event to create jobs for themselves.
The 2016 LICAF, which will held from March 25 and March 26, is aimed at promoting increased arrivals of both local and international tourists.
About 10 countries worldwide and representatives from 10 provinces of Zambia will attend this event.
Some of the countries expected to be in attendance are Turkey, India, China, South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique and Seychelles.
According to the official programme, Maramba Cultural Village will host the cultural and food cuisine panorama on Friday from 14: 00 hours to 22: 00 hours while AVANI Victoria Falls Hotel will host a gala night on the same night from 17: 00 hours to 23: 00 hours.
On Saturday, there will be a Street Carnival from Villa Grounds to various Townships of Livingstone where arts and cultural activities will be showcased by local and international artists while Livingstone Golf Club will host a pop festival from 17:3 0 hours until late.
Further, there will be daily side events at the Livingstone Art Gallery from 08: 00 hours to 17: 00 hours and at the Livingstone Museums from 09: 00 hours to 16: 00 hours.
Renowned Musicians Oliver Mtukuzi from Zimbabwe and Amayenge Band from Zambia will be among several other local and international artists to provide music during the festival.
In 2015, the second LICAF was held from March 26, 2015 to March 28, 2015 and it attracted artists and tourism officials from Zambia, Zimbabwe, Seychelles and Mozambique.
The first LICAF was first held in May 2013 as a curtain raiser for the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) General Assembly but the event has now become an annual event in the tourism global to attract local and foreign tourists.
It is also aimed at celebrating Zambia and Africa’s cultural identity and diversity and to showcase the best of Africa’s cultural product in dance and song.
TWENTY-EIGHT trucks laden with maize that were intercepted at Mwami border for almost a month have been driven to the Food Reserve Agency(FRA) sheds under the tight security in Chipata District of Eastern Province.
The trucks which bare foreign number plates were on Tuesday afternoon driven from Mwami border to FRA sheds within the border town.
Chipata District Commissioner Kalunga Zulu confirmed that the trucks were parked at FRA sheds for safety keeping.
The Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) at Mwami border impounded 28 trucks laden with maize and maize products destined for export to Malawi.
Eastern Province Permanent Secretary Chanda Kasolo said the issue of smuggling of maize and mealie meal into Malawi should be stopped.
And Mr Zulu has commended Chipata District Farmers Association (CDFA) for implementing governance projects that affect all citizens in one way or another.
The district commissioner said in a speech read on his behalf by District Administrative Officer Kapembwa Sikazwe at the closure of a consultative meeting that community participation and governance remains the cornerstone for prudent management of public affairs and ensuring that the outcome benefits the people of Zambia.
He said Government introduced platforms to good governance through the production of decentralisation policy.
“And this policy cannot be implemented effectively if there are no coordinated structures at the grassroot levels,” he said.
“What CDFA is doing is providing all the ministries involved and other service providers key for better coordination and collaboration for effective service delivery to the community members,”Mr Zulu said.
FAZ President Andrew kamanga meeting staff at Football House
SOUTHERN Province Amateur Football Association secretary general Fabian Chitambala has called on the newly elected Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) executive to prioritise grass root soccer.
Chitambala said yesterday in an interview that grass root soccer in Southern province was almost dead because the previous Kalusha Bwalya led executive had put more effort and resources in investing in the local premiere league.
He said the Andrew Kamanga led executive should put in deliberate measures that will help revamp grass root soccer.
“We used to tell the Kalusha Bwalya executive to develop grass root soccer,more especially in the province but our concerns were not appreciated as they saw grass root soccer as not being profitable,” Chitambala said.
He said the new FAZ executive had a huge task ahead of them in convincing the football fraternity that they had the vision and zeal to manage football affairs at Football house.
Chitambala, who is also FAZ provincial coordinator, urged the new executive not to engage itself in issues of witch hunt against the previous executive but rather concentrate on uniting the football family.
“The Kalusha Bwalya led executive did its part in growing football in Zambia in the last eight years,they had their strengths and weaknesses. This is not the time to start finger pointing ,revenge or personal vendetta,the people are looking for glory and we need to be on top of things administratively,”he said.
Chitambala, who was elected as Southern Province Amateur Footballs Association general secretary by the Kalusha Bwalya executive, said he will not re-contest his position this year because he wanted to leave room for fresh blood to run the affairs of football in the province.
The Mayor of Mongu District Bright Tombi
The Mayor of Mongu District Bright Tombi has called on the youth in Western Province to declare war against violence and safeguard the peace Zambia has enjoyed since independence.
Speaking at Country Lodge during the District Meeting for Politcal Parties organised by the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), Mayor Tombi said no politcal party has monopoly over violence and it’s important that politcal leaders become civil with each other in the run up to the 2016 elections.
He described the rate at which politcal violence has been on the increase as sickening to the country. He said recruiting youth to balance up agents for Politcal violence won’t win any party an election.
Mayor Tombi has called on leaders from political parties to preach national unity and coexistence rather than incite youth to violence against each other. He told youth leaders that no leader who pays them to cause violence signs for the payment and that it’s time for youth to get the money and use it without doing the heinous acts for which they are paid.
And speaking at the same function, YALI President Andrew Ntewewe bemoaned the fact that politcal parties are now recruiting youth to balance the force of violence when they should have been recruiting the youth to persuade voters to vote for their parties
“YALI believes when politcal parties are recruiting the youth to balance the forces violence, this become the recipe for the country to go into flames and politcians will have themselves to blame and no other,” said Ntewewe
He called on leaders President Lungu, Hakainde Hichilema and other leaders to unconditionally meet and resolve the issue of violence but at the same time ensure Parliament quickly passes the law to criminalise political violence with a 10 – year jail sentence.
The District meeting is funded by the British Government the the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Development and attended by youth leaders from the United Party for National Development, Patriotic Front, Democratic Front, Alliance for Democracy and Development among other parties in Western Province
Meeting for Political Parties organised by the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI)Meeting for Political Parties organised by the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI)Meeting for Political Parties organised by the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI)The Mayor of Mongu District Bright TombiThe Mayor of Mongu District Bright Tombi
Tasila Lungu, daughter of President Edgar Lungu has applied to contest Nkoloma ward in Lusaka’s Chawama constituency.
Current Area Member of Parliament Lawrence Sichalwe is the immediate past councillor for the same ward.
Tasila who has filed in her nomination said she was motivated to enter politics as a way of contributing to uplifting people’s lives.
She told Journalists after a familiarisation tour of some areas of Chawama that there is need to improve the sanitation situation in the area.
“The amount of garbage I have seen is deplorable. I don’t think any human being deserve to live in such conditions. We need to find ways of clearing the garbage,” she said,
Tasila also said serious interventions are need to improve access to clean drinking water for the residents in the area.
She said as a woman, she fully understands the challenges that the women in the area face to fetch for water.
“So we are here as part of our engagement process with the local people because we believe that the people themselves have some of the solutions to the issues that they are facing,” she said.
And PF sources disclosed that Tasila could go thorough through unopposed as most PF members do not want to compete with President Lungu’s daughter fearing that they could be misunderstood to be fighting against the Head of State.
And Chawama MP Lawrence Sichalwe who led Tasila on a familiarisation tour said the activity was important as it would help her appreciate some of the developments that the PF government has made in the area.
A KITWE Local Court heard how a married woman of Kitwe’s Chimwemwe township deserted her husband after he lost his job and got married to another man.
This is in a case in which Morgan Mulenga sued Justine Ndandala for compensation arising from adultery.
Mulenga told senior local court magistrate Elizabeth Banda that his wife Matildah Ngosa left him after losing his job claiming she was going to live with her parents.
He said after a month, he discovered that his wife was living with another man.
“I found my wife at another man’s house washing clothes and when I asked her what she was doing there, she told me she was at her husband’s house,” Mulenga said.
He said Ngosa is still his wife as the couple never divorced.
But Ndandala said Ngosa never informed him that she was married.
And Ngosa said she was still legally married to Mulenga but she left him as he failed to fend for the family.
Magistrate Banda ordered Ndandala to compensate Mulenga K800 to be paid in an instalment of K350.
HH in Eastern Province
Armed police officers were deployed to ensure that UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema who is touring Eastern Province was kicked out of Chipangali constituency on Tuesday.
Mr Hichilema and his entourage were ordered to vacate Chieftainess Chanje’s area in Chipangali constituency by armed police just after five minutes of their arrival.
The UPND leader confirmed that the restrictive environment his team has had to endure country wide continued in Chipangali during the team’s courtesy call on Chieftainess Chanje.
“Our team comprising UPND Vice-Presidents Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba (GBM) and Dr. Canisius Banda was told, by the police to vacate the area within 5 minutes. Heavily armed police manned and attempted to block us from the entrance to Chieftainess Chanje’s palace as residents of Chipangali turned out in numbers to greet us,” Mr Hichilema said.
He added, “We were given only 5 minutes to address our supporters, a time we utilised to talk to them to remain peaceful and hopeful as change of Government was imminent.”
“This is the same message we shared with the Royal Highness. We also took the opportunity to discuss a couple of other development challenges such as lack of agriculture inputs and markets for her subjects. These things are affecting the people of Chipangali daily and working together with our traditional leaders we can overcome them. This was our key message.”
Mr Hichilema also revealed that his team was unable to fully address the supporters in Luangeni Constituency of Eastern Province who were eagerly awaiting their arrival.
“As usual the police ordered us to only greet them in less than 30 minutes. The environment continues to be restrictive but our people are highly eager to hear our messages. We are so far impressed with the massive support and encouragement we are receiving,” he said.
Mr Hichilema and his team also paid a courtesy call on Paramount Chief Mpezeni at his Imphudukeni Palace in Luangeni in Chipata.
“During our visit we reiterated the need to work closely with traditional leadership as they are closer to the people and fully understand the varying developmental challenges and priorities in each area. It is clear we need to urgently address the agriculture sector in Zambia, particularly in Eastern Province where it is the mainstay of our people,” he said.
Mr Hichilema also emphasised the need for politicians to avoid interference in the succession processes of traditional
HH and his team in Eastern ProvinceHH bows to Paramount Chief MpenzeniHH greets Paramount Chief MpezeniArmed police officers push HH’s entourage out of ChipangaliPolice officers force HH’s entourage out of ChipangaliUPND supporters in Eastern Province
Football Association of Zambia President Andrew Kamanga watched the national team in training on Tuesday evening.
At the end of the training session, Kamanga mingled with the players and members of the technical bench.
He was accompanied by FAZ vice president Richard Kazala, Faz Treasurer Rix Mweemba, Executive Committee members Blackwell Siwale and Lee Kawanu, Faz Technical Director Honor Janza, Faz Finance Director Samuel Phiri and Club Licencing Manager Erick Mwanza.
Zambia hosts Congo – Brazzaville in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification match at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on Wednesday.
And George Lwandamina is aiming for a six-pointer in the 2017 Africa Cup Group E doubleheader qualifier against Congo-Brazzaville.
The two sides’ meet in a top two clash on Wednesday with both sides tied on four points heading into match-day-three at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
Leaders Congo beat second placed Zambia to top spot in Group E on goal difference.
Three points at home for Zambia in midweek and another three away in Brazzaville on March 27 will put Chipolopolo one foot into the finals heading into June’s penultimate round of matches.
“We want the six points but I am sure even Congo want the six points but we have this opportunity to get the six points hoping and trusting we have a better game,” Lwandamina said.
“We are hoping the players will give us the desired result.
“A home win is a win by any margin and it will also give us impetus to take to the next game but a win is all we need to take into the next week.”
Zambia head into the first leg with just one loss against Congo from ten previous meetings and with four wins and a draw since losing 1-0 in November 1996 in a 1998 World Cup qualifying match away in Pointe Noire.
Meanwhile, President Edgar Lungu is today expected in Ndola to give solidarity to the National Football Team who will take on Congo Brazzaville at Levy Mwanawasa stadium.
The Head of State who is also Football Association of Zambia patron will hold a meeting with newly elected FAZ president Andrew Kamanga before the Zambia Congo Brazzaville Match.
Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda confirmed this to ZNBC News in Lusaka last evening.
Mr Chanda said President Lungu will return to Lusaka on Thursday.
FILE: Police officers block PF youths who wanted to fight UPND members at the Lusaka magistrate court
PF youths on the Copperbelt together with their colleagues from the UPND have issued a joint statement denouncing political violence.
Nathan Chanda who spoke on behalf of the ruling party said youths in the Copperbelt want to reaffirm the party’s leadership’s resolve to have violent free campaigns.
He said the two parties were issuing a joint statement because they wanted to show their followers that there is need to stop the current political violence that has rocked the country in the recent past.
He explained that the joint statement was meant to show their followers that there is need to accept divergent views from political opponents without engaging in physical confrontation and that there is need to co-exist as Zambians.
He said youths in the country need to demand for issue based campaigns as opposed to character assassination and name calling adding that even when it comes to the worst violence should not be the answer.
And his counterpart from the opposition UPND Kelly Jibinga said youths return the responsibility that various political players have invested in maintaining the country’s peace and the attainment of the multiparty democracy that Zambia is currently enjoying.
He said youths of today should not be the destroyers of the democracy that many political party leaders and other stakeholders have invested by engaging themselves in political violence.
He said his party will advocate for tolerance of divergent political views and that youths should came to the realization that it is healthy for the country to have divergent political views.
He called on youths from all political parties in the country to refuse to be used as tools of political violence by a few individuals who themselves do not participate in the fighting.
The two parties have since organised a football tournament for youths from all political parties as a show of solidarity to the fight against political violence..
Nevers Mumba
Nevers MMD President Dr. Nevers Mumba has observed that the Grade 12 certificate requirement for people seeking elective office will help weed out old and recycled politicians from the political sphere.
Dr. Mumba says this is the more reason why when he launched the New MMD he emphasized on the need to bring in new a crop of leaders more especially youths and women.
He says his party will give equal chances to both women and youths to contest on the MMD ticket in the forthcoming elections.
Dr. Mumba adds that the people are tired of having the same people eating in government.
He says it is therefore necessary that young people arise and take over the leadership mantle and relegate old politicians to role of giving counsel to the new entrants in politics.
The MMD says the High Court has thrown out the injunction sought by expelled Lunte MP Felix Mutati.
In a statement by the Party’s media team, the Party said the action by the High Court was a confirmation that Mr Mutati was no longer a member of the former ruling party.
“The MMD wishes to confirm that the High Court of Zambia has thrown out the injunction sought by expelled Lunte Member of Parliament Felix Mutati. This means that Mr Mutati is not a member of the MMD.
“The New MMD wishes to state that we do not delight in expelling any well meaning member of the party. The case of Mr Mutati was indeed an extreme case of misconduct by the former MP after his readmission to the party,” part of the statement.
“There is an erroneous perception that Mr Mutati was expelled for calling for a convention. This can never be so further away from the truth. The New MMD is never afraid to discuss any topical idea. The convention was discussed extensively at its NEC held on Jan 30 and a decision taken. Mr Mutati was expelled for gross misconduct relating to destabilising the Party, while maintaining dual membership.
“Mr Mutati appears to have had a problem to come to terms with his defeat by Dr Mumba in the 2012 convention. He has spared no moment nor breath to paint the Mumba leadership as incompetent. This is unfortunate indeed,” further reads the statement.
Mr Mutati who is one of the of the people who stood and lost to Dr Mumba for the Party Presidency in 2012 was first expelled for leading the rebellion of MPs who supported UPND in the January presidential polls and later forgiven and readmitted in the party after the elections an allegation he has since clarified saying it was Dr Mumba who initiated the contact between the two parties.
He was however, expelled again on 30th January 2016 for gross indiscipline as he was accused of appearing on the 2016 UPND calendar a charge he refused to accept saying he was not a member of UPND and that his lawyer had instructed the publisher to remove the calendar from the market.
Mutati is one of the MPs who have taken the former ruling party to the Constitutional Court seeking determination or whether the party should go for a convention or not.
The continued squabbles in the party has seen 12 MPs endorse the candidature of UPND President Hakainde Hichilema in the forthcoming elections while Mr Mutati has continued to mobilize his supporters around the country.
President Edgar Lungu take Photo with Constitutional Court President and Judges (2nr) Constitutional Court President justice Hildah Chibomba, (r) Constitutional Court Judge Justice Mulenga Mugeni, (from left) Constitutional Court Judge Justice Mwewe Anne Sitali (l) Constitutional Court Judge Justice Enock Mulembe, and Constitutional Court Judge Palan Mulonda shortly after swearing in Ceremony of Constitutional Court Judges at State House
By Brig Gen Godfrey Miyanda
My statement follows the swearing in of the judges for the Constitutional Court by President Edgar Lungu. I am alarmed by some of his comments that have rung an alarm bell. He directed the said judges, inter alia, to prioritise the interpretation of the Grade 12 clause. He declared to the judges that ‘Grade 12 is what the people want’, thus purporting to give evidence! If this be the case why is it necessary for the judges to interpret what the people want?
I write this open letter to urge the citizenry, especially the legal fraternity (lawyers, judges, including magistrates), not to be intimidated but to be on the lookout for and speak out against threats to the independence of the judiciary. Over the years I have written on this topic; I reiterate those concerns because we seem to have now entered the danger zone. I call on the legal fraternity to get involved and stand up and be counted because there is an obvious scheme by those in authority to interfere with and undermine judicial independence. Granted that in keeping with certain protocols and professional training, many legal persons are always quiet even in the face of obnoxious breaches of the Constitution and other laws, especially by those in authority.
I concede that the legal fraternity understand better the concept and importance of judicial independence. But in a previous ‘Open Letter to the Legal Fraternity’ I had asked some of the following questions “As a young lawyer how can you be proud to stand before a judge, to fight for your client, when the same judge has decided the case outside the court room due to interference of one form or another? As a judge how can you have a free conscience when you have convicted or found liable a person who is not guilty or liable, simply because you are compromised or intimidated? Do you legal people still believe that the Blind lady standing in front of our Courts, blindfolded, is still blind? Or is the Lady’s blind-fold a see-through? How can you as lawyers proudly stand before a judge who has already made up their mind and argue a case that is predetermined? How can you stand the situation where Big Brother is breathing down the necks of judges to do the bidding of the Executive? What is the difference between you and a party cadre who shouts praises in support of wrong decisions just because of partisan or party loyalty? ”
During the run up to the period of passing the two Constitutional Bills, the Executive were less than transparent when they submitted to the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs that they had NO POSITION on the Constitution – this abdication of responsibility is tantamount to treason. The mishandling of the Constitution is President Lungu’s legacy permanently etched in the annals of our Zambian legal history; this bleach will never be cleansed, no matter how many swearing-in-ceremony speeches are made to clean up the mess. The deed is done and by the hand of President Edgar Chagwa Lungu! There are serious implications for the President not sorting out the mess he has created by signing or assenting to the Constitution with his eyes closed.
For instance, should anyone challenge the qualifications of the newly sworn in judges of the Constitutional Court who will interpret whether they are qualified or not, since they themselves will be judges in their own cause? The Constitution has included “proven integrity” as one of the qualifications for a judge appointed to the Constitutional Court. How is this qualification to be proved if no “evidence” is provided to the MPs? Yet President Lungu had a chance to apply his mind to all the clauses and to reject what had to be rejected without being a Pontius Pilate as he now seems to be – “that is what the people want”! We are at a stage where battle lines must be drawn and all lawyers speak out when threats to the independence of the judiciary, and hence to their profession, are noticed. We want, nay, we demand for judges (and even lawyers) that are NOT only qualified but are bold as a lion and blind as the Blind Lady. There is absolutely no excuse to fear the Executive; judges have security of tenure, hence they must always act professionally and boldly!
The President has no justifiable reason to complain, if fellow politicians and other citizens speculate, because he has refused or neglected to engage fellow political leaders, until after being prompted by His Holiness the Pope, followed by his visit to Chilonga Mission, where he “revealed” that he had agreed with the Catholic Bishops to hold a meeting with other political parties.
I hope the Bishops have seen through that impolitic announcement as a vote-seeking, public relations stunt! Why does our president avoid fellow Zambian political leaders? Why does he need the intervention of the Catholic Bishops or any other clergy for that matter? He has not provided leadership in this regard throughout the constitution-making process, up to and including the period of the Assent. In fact it is clear he signed the Acts with his eyes closed. Hence speculate we must, for the sake of sensitising the public and to ensure that they are alert and ready to defend the Constitution. We need direction; we need dialogue but not threats and poaching of MPs.
The concept of Separation of Powers is well accepted, at least in Western jurisprudence. This concept, in its modern application, aims at avoiding or controlling dictatorial tendencies, by ensuring that none of the three arms of government (namely the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary) should control any of the other two. This is to avoid arbitrary rule. In theory the idea is to ensure that there is a balance between the said separate organs of the government. In Practice it is not so distinct or clear because of the tendency, usually, by the Executive to try to ride over the other arms.
Our independence journey has revealed and confirmed that when a system is imposed liberties are lost. And it has also confirmed that individuals who ascend to public positions of authority almost always tend to become dictatorial because as has been stated by an eminent scholar and lawyer “power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely (Acton)”, hence the justification of checks and balances in the form of opposition political parties and increasingly, now, Civil Society voices.
In conclusion I declare that no judge should be directed as to what subject matter to prioritise or what judgement to deliver or not to deliver. As a further illustration, the President recently announced in Petauke that he was going to dissolve Parliament in May when there is no such power in the Constitution that he assented to on 5th January 2016.
Ordinary mortals believe that the President has such powers when not. Such tendencies must be nipped in the bud before the cancer becomes accepted as the normal practice just because the President has spoken. As I pen off, I cannot believe that I am hearing President Lungu (lunch time news) castigate State Counsel Musa Mwenye while swearing in Judges of the Supreme Court. Why, oh, why? I reiterate that judicial independence must be preserved and protected at all times because, barring corruption and/or other improprieties, there is no immediate substitute for our current judicial system.
GODFREY MIYANDA
BRIGADIER GENERAL,
CONCERNED CITIZEN
[22ND MARCH 2016]
Sam (Dope G) Sakala is a multitalented rapper and actor. He is founding member of Hip-hop collective, Zone Fam. Dope G has an all-round flow and captures his audience with immaculate storytelling, multi syllable rhyming and his ability to draw in his audience. His first major acting role was in the series “Love Game”, and now you can see him as ‘Taonga’ in the popular Zambezi Magic series “Fever”.
We caught up with him for an interview:
KAPA187: For those who may not know, briefly tell us about yourself.
SAM SAKALA: There are so many sides to me so it’s always hard to generalize but I will try. My name is Sam Sakala. I am Zambian, born and bred in Lusaka city. I went to government schools, a point I love to stress. Single mother raised with an active baby sitter in the form of a radio and eventually a black and white TV which I think are the biggest influences that helped shape my character and ignited the passion that I am making a living off of now.
KAPA187: From the time Zone Fam came on to the scene with your breakout single “Shaka Zulu on em”, you, as a group, have seen a lot of success, winning awards both locally and abroad. How have you been able to consistently produced good music?
SAM SAKALA: We have stayed consistent by firstly working hard. Secondly we have tried as much as possible to stand out by doing what others would consider risky due to lack of a precedent and lastly just by aiming as high as we possibly can and keeping the bar high.
zone fam
KAPA187: After having a lot of success in music what prompted you to go into acting?
SAM SAKALA: I think acting was a gift given to me by the music. For my first acting role, I got a call from someone I had mingled with in the music circles who had asked me to check out an audition they had advertised. I was quick to turn down the offer as I thought it was ridiculous so that original role passed me by. In the same period, there was an opportunity to do voice overs for an animated series that someone was doing and they wanted me to be on board. So after the first rehearsal, I realized I was able to use my voice to play a character completely different from who I am and I figured if I could do this with my voice then I might as well try out acting. So I immediately called the person who had called me about the acting audition and they told me the original role they wanted me to play was taken but there was one role they had found no one for and I was called in for a closed audition. I nervously went through the audition after which I was convinced I made a mess of but about a week later, I got a call telling me I got the role to play Chilufya in ‘Love Games’. We went through some refresher courses in acting with the guidance of legendary actors such us Mr. Jeff Sitali, Wesley Kaonga, Bob Nkosha and Benne Banda just to be prepped for the screen and that is how I ended up with ‘actor’ in my bio.
KAPA187: In the popular Zambezi Magic series ‘fever’ you play the character Taonga. How did you get that role?
SAM SAKALA: For Fever again, I got a tip off about an audition that Global Studios were having that someone felt I should be a part of. I quickly googled them just to make sure they were legit because I had gotten offered a few gigs after Love Games that I was skeptical about. I went in to audition and there were so many talented actors trying out for it so even this time I doubted I was going to get the role but I somehow did. The rest is history.
KAPA187: For those who haven’t watch ‘fever’ yet how would you describe Taonga and are there any similarities between the character you portray and yourself?
SAM SAKALA: Taonga is a good guy from a well to do family of which his is the heir to the family business. He is a mommy’s boy so he comes off a bit naïve and he is engaged to a young lady who comes from another powerful family and their union will make the respective family empires stronger. He ends up meeting a young lady named Mwaka (played by Grace Rumsey) who unlike Taonga, lives on the edge and his life takes a complete turn at this point. I don’t think there are any similarities between Taonga and Sam or Dope G.
Grace as ‘Mwaka’ with co-star Sam Sakala as ‘Taonga’
KAPA187: ‘Fever’ has become wildly popular in the few weeks that it has been on air. Did you anticipate this reaction?
SAM SAKALA: The response has been overwhelming. I knew it was going to be popular but not to the extent that it has reached. I thought because Zambezi magic is relatively new people might not catch on quite as fast but we are humbled by the response.
cast of ‘Fever’
KAPA187: What needs to be done to take the Zambian film industry to the next level and how long do you think it will take?
SAM SAKALA: I think the first step is catering to the local market. There is a demand for local content where film is concerned and there are also talented people who would make it happen but unfortunately there aren’t enough people with the financial power coming forward to pump money into this industry. I however commend the organizations and individuals who have taken the first step to fund the arts industry and also the consumers who have given local productions a chance. I think we are at that next level we spoke of 10 years ago and Zambia will get seen by the world but it starts with local support first.
KAPA187: In contrast to the film industry, the music industry in doing quite well. What changes have you observed from the time you started music to now, and what more needs to be done?
SAM SAKALA: One of my favorite changes in the music industry is just how diverse it has become. You won’t find a Dope G song sounding like a Wezi, Chef 187, James Sakala or Willz song. There is more variety for the listeners as opposed to what it was maybe 20years ago. What more needs to be done is just the emphasis on quality. Some people sadly feel the need to keep a certain level of mediocrity in the music so as to appeal to the masses but that is hurting us in the long run. We should maintain the same standard we would maintain when catering to the local market as we would to the international market. So better writing, packaging, production and engineering for both the music and the visuals that accompany the music are key.
sam sakala and ‘Fever’ cast
KAPA187: Between acting and music which do you find more fulfilling?
SAM SAKALA: They both have their perks and somewhere somehow they are intertwined. For example, when I am on stage performing, I put on an act so that is me getting the best of both worlds. I really cannot pick one all I can say is I am having the time of my life doing both.
KAPA187: As a collective Zone fam has been very successful. You have also been successful individually. It is refreshing to see how much you all support each other. What is it that keeps your bond so strong and prevents envy and jealousy?
SAM SAKALA: We are brothers. We have been through so much together and we know of each other’s struggles and hurdles that 3rd parties will never understand. Jealousy is a weak emotion; I know that when my brother wins, I win so I am here for all the stuff my teammates venture into in their own individual capacities as they are here for mine.
KAPA187: You single “My Hair” that was released late last year is a massive hit. What was the concept behind it?
SAM SAKALA: My hair was inspired by the women in my life who I watched stress about their hair as I grew up around them. It is such a huge issue that some women and girls find their identity in the hair they have or lack. I was just trying to tell our women that true beauty shines from the inside and all these external factors shouldn’t worry them at all. Since its release, I have had so many women tell me how I helped with their self-esteem and to me, that ability to impact on someone’s life positively is more important than any award or monetary reward.
KAPA187: Are you currently working on a solo album? If so tell us what your fans can expect from it?
SAM SAKALA: I am working on a solo album. It is my first album so the people should expect 20 something years’ worth of bottled up emotions and topics that I am pouring out into this body of work. I have put together a team of some of the best producers in the land to help me bring out the best version of Dope G there can be. Come July, I should be ready to share my work with the world and I am optimistic that people will purchase this album in numbers.
KAPA187: Apart from music and acting what else are you involved in?
SAM SAKALA: I am trying out this thing of sticking to one thing at a time and doing it to the best of my abilities. I had taken a break from recording the time I was on set shooting for Fever and now that it is done, I am focusing my energies on this album. I have also learnt of so many other parts of the creative industry that I have been exploring so I am just waiting to get done with the album and I can go and get creative in yet another art related field.
KAPA187: Any last word…
SAM SAKALA: To all the people supporting Zambian entertainment, we thank you so much, we shall keep doing our best to keep you entertained. To my fellow entertainers, this has been a pretty tasking period as there have been so many disagreements and people airing their dirty laundry in public and in turn bringing the entire fraternity to being viewed in a bad light. My plea is that we remain united as this is the only way we shall push our country forward. God bless you all.
