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UN Country representative Janet Rogan
The United Nations (UN) says it is working towards training the Zambia Police Service on how best it should apply the Public Order Act ahead of the August 11, general elections.
ZANIS reports that UN resident coordinator Janet Rogan said there is need for the Police Service and political parties to work together as the country prepares for the general elections in order to ensure elections are held in a nonviolent environment.
Ms. Rogan said the UN is looking at how best the public order act can be implemented and to help promote a better understanding between the Police Service and political parties even before the Act is revised.
The UN resident coordinator was speaking in Solwezi today when she called on the north western province permanent secretary Ephraim Mateyo at his office.
Ms. Rogan is visiting north western province to look at how the UN can support government to change the agricultural patterns in the province in order to attain sustainable agriculture productivity and growth.
Meanwhile, Justice Minister Dr. Ngosa Simbyakula says Government intends to table amendments to the controversial Public Order Act during the current sitting of Parliament.
Dr. Simbyakula says the idea is to ensure that the Act is amended before Parliament is dissolved in May.
He says in line with President Edgar Lungu’s directive, his Ministry is currently carrying out consultations with various stakeholders with the view of coming with possible amendments.
Dr. Simbyakula has disclosed to QTV in an interview that so far his Ministry has received an overwhelming response from stakeholders.
General Education Michael Kaingu’s Kozo Lodge
HIGHER Education minister and proprietor of Kozo Lodge, Michael Kaingu, has sued Government and is demanding more than K450 million as compensation following the fire which gutted the property in Choma last year.
Dr Kaingu claims the fire originated from the Government-owned Choma West national forest and charges that the Forestry Department was negligent in their failure to maintain the fire guard around the forest.
Dr Kaingu has sued the Attorney General on behalf of the Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection in accordance with the provisions of the State Proceedings Act.
According to a suit filed in the Lusaka High Court, Mr Kaingu states that on or about October 9, 2015, the Forestry Department in Choma neglected to construct their annual fire break which would have prevented any fires from escaping from the forest to nearby premises and causing damage.
Dr Kaingu said as result of the negligence and breach of the statutory duty by the Forestry Department and their sequelae, Kozo Lodge Limited, Lituwa Fast Foods and Dr Kaingu as first, second and third plaintiffs respectively have suffered loss and damages and claim K21 million being the estimated value of developments on the said land.
He is also claiming damages in the sum of K8,091,084 for the loss of unused stock belonging to the two companies and of chattels used by Kozo Lodge Limited and Lituwa Fast Foods Limited.
Dr Kaingu also claims that Kozo Lodge had 40 rooms each equipped with beds, beddings, television, carpets, air conditioners, chairs, tables and other facilities, adding that it had also a fully functional conference hall, reception, kitchen, bar, takeaway and bakery of which he claims K2,266, 315 for loss of business. He said at the time of the fire they had an average monthly income of K453, 263, 01 from their businesses and that the amount claimed under this head was in respect of the period from the date of the fire to date of which the future loss earnings claimed was K10, 878,321,24.
Dr Kaingu further stated that as a result of the fire and damage occasioned on the business premises, business has ceased and the amount claimed is K453, 263, 01 per month for a period of two years. He added that the amount claimed has not been capitalized and contingencies have not been taken into account but claims a sum of K2 million for general damages.
He is also claiming costs, interest and any other remedy which the court may deem fit.
Enforce the recently amended Employment Act to ease suffering among poor workers
On 26th November, 2015, President Edgar Lungu assented to the amended employment Act Cap 268. The new law bars casualization and unjustifiable termination of contracts of employment. The move by President Lungu received much accord from many major stakeholders including, the Zambia Federation of Employers (ZFE), Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), the Professional Teachers Union of Zambia (PROTUZ), and Federation of Free Trade Unions of Zambia, (FFTUZ).
The much accord and happiness about the new law is because of the fact that Employers and other stakeholders are compelled to offer permanent tenure of employment where situations demand so and paying just wages. JCTR would like to see an end to exploitation and abuse of a Zambian worker and it is expected that exploitation and abuse of workers will now be a thing of the past beginning from 2016.
However, the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR is urging urgent and serious implementation and non-selective enforcement of the new employment law if the good intents of the law are to be realized. Releasing the January 2016, Lusaka Basic Needs Basket (BNB), which stood at ZMW 4,201.04 compared to ZMW 4,371.76 in December 2015, the Centre observes that despite a minimal reduction in the cost of living necessitated mainly by reduction in the cost of Kapenta, households will continue to experience the challenges of the high cost of living, a situation which makes it difficult for most already poor households to afford things such as decent meals and services like clean water, etc.
The JCTR therefore says effective implementation of the amended law will assist many workers mitigate against the high cost of living which has been perpetuated by stagnant wages for most public and non-public workers.
JCTR further urges government to implement other measures that would protect the majority of people in the informal sector such as those selling tomatoes, Kapenta, etc. who are not catered for under the new amended law but are also struggling to cope with the increased cost of living.
The Centre notes that issues of minimum wage, casualization, unsafe working conditions and unjust wages have been among sticky issues of discussion in the country for a long time as these are areas that comprise workers’ and their families dignity. If these issues are addressed, there is high likelihood of improving the standard of living of workers and their families in the face of an ever increasing cost of living. The JCTR therefore urges that Government together with other key stakeholders such as the trade unions needs to ensure that the new legislation is effectively implemented.
PF cadres welcoming President Lungu
The ruling Patriotic Front says it will adopt over 40% of when during the 11 August 2016 general elections.
And the PF has announced that only the party President will enjoy incumbency and that once Parliament is dissolved all electable positions will be open for competition.
Speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka PF Deputy Chairperson for Elections Kelvin Bwalya said the PF has reserved 40% of all electable positions for women and 40% for men well the other 20% will be competed for by all party members regardless of their sex.
He said the party wants to empower will women and ensure that it increases women representation in Parliament and councils adding that the party is trying to move towards a fifty/ fifty representation before the 2021 elections.
And Mr Bwalya said the only person in the party who will go into the next elections without being challenged is Republican President who is also Party President Edgar Lungu while all those who wish to be adopted will have to apply and compete for electable positions.
He said the party will only accept applications from members who will meet constitutional requirements adding that grade 12 certificates will be scrutinized to ensure that they are genuine.
He further warned any members who intende to use backdoor methods to get adopted to refrain from doing so as their adoption will be withdrawn once the party finds out that there was an element of corruption during the adoption of any such person.
He said the party is doing a clean up and would like to have MPs in whom the President can choose without any shame adding that members facing disciplinary action are not eligible for adoption.
Meanwhile the ruling party says it does not want to have a rerun in the next election hence have come up with a strategy to ensure outright victory.
He said the new strategy called the Chitemene system will ensure that the opposition is “chopped in a non-violent way from knees upwards.”
He said the system will ensure that party emerges victorious on 11 August 2016 by recruiting more members countrywide.
Vice President Inonge Wina has described the recent abduction of government officers including journalists in Bweenga in Monze district by opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) cadres as a criminal act which should attract stiff punishment against the abductors.
Mrs. Wina said political violence has grown to a level where it could spark widespread war in the country hence it should be stopped immediately.
She noted that the civil wars and skirmishes in war-torn African countries started small but grew to big wars.
Mrs Wina said sporadic political violence should therefore be curtailed before it grows into an uncontrollable situation.
She noted that the abduction of government workers, especially journalists who do not carry guns, should be condemned.
Mrs Wina said this today when she arrived at Hurry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport in Livingstone.
The Vice President is in Livingstone to officially open the 42nd ordinary session of the African Regional Labour Administration Centre (ARLAC) governing council meeting taking place at Avan Victorial Falls Resort (former Sun International Hotel).
She pointed out that all political parties, especially the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) leadership should strongly condemn the violence that was perpetrated by its cadres in Bweengwa on Saturday evening.
She observed that a small group of politicians perpetrating violence and abduction has caused shame to Zambia and the peace loving people of Bweenga area.
Mrs. Wina further said African countries regard Zambia as a very peaceful country noting that the recent violence in Bweengwa could dent the country’s image to the nations.
“Perhaps time has come for leaders of political parties to talk to each other. This phenomenon can take us far,” she said.
She has since urged political parties in the country to recruit more women who, according to her can help foster peace through their peaceful voices.
The Vice President has also urged the police to act swiftly and apply the law accordingly.
Earlier, Southern Province Minister Nathaniel Mubukwanu said it was sad that the UPND leadership has remained quiet instead of strongly condemning the violence that took place in Bweengwa at the weekend.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mubukwanu said rainfall has improved in Southern Province and that the region may have a good harvest.
Opposition National Revolution Party President Dr Cosmo Mumba has announced that the party has appointed Faith Nosiku Kwibisa as the party’s second Vice President.
Dr Mumba said the decision was made by the party’s National Executive Committee at its meeting held on February 7th 2016 at a named lodge in Kabwe.
And sources within the NRP have revealed that Ms Kwibisa was appointed Vice President in order to make her Dr Mumba’s running mate in the August 11th 2016 elections.
Ms Kwibisa thanked Dr Mumba and the party’s leadership for the appointment.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr Cozmo Mumba President of National Revolution Party for my appointment as second Vice President of the party. Dr President sir and am humbled for having recognized me to be part of the Party Executive after serving in the party since formation 2008,” she said.
“I will execute my duties as second Vice President to my full capacity. To the Party Executives and members lets work together and serve the people of Zambia. Thank you once again Dr President Mumba and i salute you sir.”
Meanwhile, Dr Mumba disclosed that Keli Walubita Jr who served as Vice President was last week relieved of his duties on security grounds.
“I would love to inform all members of the National Revolution Party and officials at constituency, district, provincial, wards, branches and NEC that i have with immediate effect following the National Executive committee meeting held on the 7 th of February 2016 in Kabwe at a named lodge. Using the powers vested in me by our Party constitution and the Republican constitution appointed Faith Nosiku Kwibisa as the new Party second vice president in charge of Administration.”
Dr Mumba, “This is to say that i Cozmo Mumba remains as President, Mr Edward Mbewe as first vice president and Ms Faith Nosiku Kwibisa replacing Mr Keli Walubita Jr who has since been retired for security reasons.”
“However, our business relationship and family and personal relationship with Keli Walubita Jr continues. Therefore, Mr Hector Sondo, the secretary general has been informed on the changes. Take this as Party official notification.”
UPND President Hakainde Hichilema has described the current Gross Domestic Product GDP growth rate as the worst in more than decade.
Speaking when he feature on Radio Christian Voice on Tuesday the UPND leader said the 2015 growth was the worst since 1998 and that the crippling energy crisis was one of the major contributor to the reduced growth rate.
Mr Hichilema said the country has been growing at an average rate of 7% since 1998 and that the current growth rate has a lot of negative impact on the economy.
He also called on government to tell the truth on the creation of jobs wondering how it can create employment when there is no growth in the economy.
“We must tell the truth, we must not falsify, we must not say we have created five hundred thousand jobs when Zambians are losing jobs. We are not telling the truth, we are going through difficult times.The growth that the bank of Zambia Governor indicated Lolenzo, 3.5% at the closure of fiscal year 2015 is the worst since 1998. Zambia has been growing at around 7%, 8% even picking at 10% for short period. Since 1998 this is the worst growth.
“The question is why have we declined to this level of growth I think as government they should be able to answer this but are we being told the truth. We must tell the truth because we are a Christian Nation, we must be a Christian Nation in deed not in words,” he said.
He said the situation needs to be reversed before it gets worse.
“The focus for is what do we need to do redress this decline because when the economy grows at 3.5%, it means a jobs loses, it means no opportunities for a young person, it means we are not generating enough money to support our population in food, not only food but afforded food because a lot of our people are sleeping on a meal a day,” he said.
And Mr Hichilema wondered were people who claim that he belongs to some Mason religion gets their information from as he has never belonged to any region apart from Christianity.
He said he is a baptised Christian in the SDA Church and promised to up hold Christian principles when elected into office.
Dora Siliya is on a panel with Dr. Elham Mahmoud (Africa Union), Dr. Revel Khoza, (Globeleq), Samuel Undenge from Zimbabwe.
Energy Minister Dora Siliya says Government still plans to raise power tariffs to levels that reflect the cost of supplies after it withdrew the hikes this year.
ZESCO last week withdrew its application to raise charges for households, businesses and factories after the Energy Regulation Board approved the tariff hike in December.
Ms. Siliya was speaking in an interview shortly after she featured on a panel discussing energy shortages and potential solutions at the Energy Indaba held at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa on Tuesday.
“We are trying to balance economic issues with social issues and clearly the political leadership feels if there are public complaints, we have to respond,” Ms. Siliya said.
“Now that does not in any way mean that we have shifted from the idea of moving the tariffs from cost-reflective levels, no. We just said that maybe we need to do it in another way and move them progressively,” she said.
The country remains committed that “for us to sustain the energy sector, we have to have cost-reflective tariffs,” Ms. Siliya said.
She said pricing has been the main challenge in encouraging solar-power projects in the southern African nation.
She said ZESCO had rejected the 12 U.S. cents to 15 cents per kilowatt-hour potential solar-energy providers were offering three months ago.
Ms. Siliya revealed that ZESCO has indicated it would only be willing to start talks with solar companies if the price was less than 12 cents per kilowatt-hour.
And the Energy Minister has disclosed that the government has made a down payment of about $22 million to Karadeniz Energy Group, the Turkish supplier of powerships, for a vessel that will dock off the coast of Mozambique and provide Zambia with 200 megawatts of emergency electricity.
Ms Siliya said the ship is on its way and a transmission line is almost complete. These supplies will cost $18 million per month.
Dora Siliya attending the Energy Indaba in Sandton Convention CentreMs Siliya offering interviews during the summit
The water levels have since fallen exposing anti-vortex beams, which are not supposed to be above the water surfaceTHE Zambezi River Authority has said water levels at the Kariba Dam will soon improve because of increased inflows from Mwinilunga and the Barotse plains.
The Authority’s chief executive director, Munyaradzi Munodawafa said water levels at the dam will improve in two months because of the increasing inflows.
“As a matter of fact, the water inflow from the Barotse plains has increased, making it possible to produce sufficient water to gain high levels at the power plant,” he said.
Mr Munodawafa in an interview expressed confidence on the progress with the water inflows from upstream in Mwinilunga and the Baroste plains, which was expected to be absorbed in the Kariba Dam in two months.
He said the increased inflows would generate enough water to earn the expected high levels in the power plant.
In addition, Mr Munodawafa said, two upstream reservoirs, the Devil’s Gorge and the Batoka Basin, would be constructed to stretch the water inflows to Kariba Dam for later use.
He said that as at present, power generation is at 500 megawatts, which was still okay for power production, although power was generated at 1,050 megawatts at full capacity when the water levels were normal.
At the moment, power generation was at 12 per cent as compared to 65 per cent of water current when water levels were high.
Mr Munodawafa said the Kariba Dam needed at least two seasons for it to attain its normal levels.
He said the insufficient rains had prevented the levels of water at the Kariba Dam from increasing, which in turn had led to low electricity power generation.
Meanwhile, Siavonga District Commissioner Lovemore Kanyama said it was unfortunate that some people were using social media to publish false information about the water levels at the dam.
He was reacting to information that was circulating on social media, which indicated that the dam had reached the normal height to end power cuts and that Government was merely being ineffective to allow continued load shedding.
“While people are saying this on social media, a view of dam at present clearly indicates the reality of the water levels at the dam.
“One can see some of the anti-vortex beams which are currently exposed due to low water levels in the lake,” Mr Kanyama said.
He said it was important to relay correct information to the public and not communicate falsehoods.
Vitalis Mooya, a Member of Parliament for Moomba Constituency in Monze
A UNITED Party for National Development (UPND) parliamentarian has praised Government for implementing various infrastructure projects in his area of which many have successfully been completed while others were underway.
Vitalis Mooya, a Member of Parliament for Moomba Constituency in Monze, Southern Province, is impressed that, through the projects, the local people were accessing employment opportunities.
Mr Mooya was happy that more than 60 per cent of the Constituency was connected to the national electricity power grid by the Rural Electrification Authority (REA), out of which many public institutions such as schools and health centres, had benefited.
He said in an interview yesterday that construction of the first-ever Kaumba Boarding Secondary School was close to completion stage and would be commissioned in June this year.
“On behalf of the people of Moomba Constituency, I am very happy with massive developmental projects Government has taken in our area. I am one of the happiest MPs because these projects are positively changing the lives of local people,” he said.
Once completed, the high school, which would be the only higher learning institution in Moomba, would reduce long distances pupils cover to access higher education.
Such development would also reduce cases of school drop-out and child-marriages, which were on the increase in the Constituency.
On the health sector, he said Muunyu Mabisi had become the first-ever health post among the 99 under construction in Southern Province to be completed and was commissioned by Health Deputy Minister Chitalu Chilufya a few months ago.
Other health posts in the area were Munjika and Nkambo health facilities, which had reached more than 90 per cent completion point, while another, Bwala was at slab-level.
He said that besides the four health posts, four old ones, Choona, Mwanza-Njola, Moomba, and Kaumba health facilities were functioning well and would supplement the new ones in providing quality health
care services to people.
“When I say I am a happy MP, this is what I am referring to because since Independence, we have had no such developmental projects in my Constituency,” he said.
He was confident that, by 2030, Moomba would have more modern infrastructure projects, thereby reducing poverty levels.
From (left) Agriculture Minister Given Lubinda, Central Province Minister Davies Chisopa and Agriculture deputy Minister Maxas Ng’onga touring stands during the Electronic Voucher launch in Kabwe’s Mpima Diary farming Block
GOVERNMENT has clarified that it has not imposed a ban on maize meal exports to Zimbabwe but has just restricted exports in order to verify how much grain was available in the country.
Agriculture Deputy Minister Maxas N’gonga said Zambia had not imposed a ban on maize meal export but only restricted the export because the country did not have a lot of surplus.
Mr N’gonga was reacting to a story carried by the Herald Newspaper of Zimbabwe that Zambia had banned maize exports to Zimbabwe, leaving millers in that country struggling to meet the demand.
He said despite Zambia not having a surplus to export maize to neighboring countries at the moment it had enough to feed the nation.
Mr N’gonga said the restriction which was regulated through export permits was aimed at verifying how much grain was in the country.
“Zambia has not imposed a ban on maize meal export to any country but restricted the export of maize because it did not have a surplus at the moment.
What we have is enough to feed the nation and not to export. The restriction is merely to verify how much grain we have as a country,” he said.
Mr N’gonga said the maize stored by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) was meant for internal consumption as it was bought using tax payer’s money.
He said what was in stock at the moment would not be exported as Government had the obligation to feed the nation before thinking of exporting to other neighboring countries.
Mr N’gonga said when Zambia had adequate surplus maize it exported to Zimbabwe, Botswana, Malawi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola and other countries in East Africa.
He said Zimbabwe was not the only country that had been affected since the restriction was imposed.
Meanwhile, authorities in Mpulungu have intercepted trucks loaded with 200 tonnes of mealie-meal bound for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Mpulungu District Commissioner Dennis Sikazwe said a combined team of officers from the Office of the President special branch, Zambia Police and his office had intercepted the trucks just before they entered the DRC.
Mr Sikazwe said the officers were prompted to intercept the trucks because the commodity was from Kasama Milling which had bought maize from the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) at a lower price.
“Kasama Milling has been buying maize from Government at a reasonable price and these people are buying mealie-meal at a subsidised price and selling it at high price in the DRC.
As Government, we cannot allow this because this mealie-meal is meant for our people,” he said.
He explained that the two transporters Goosika General Dealers and Maronka Enterprises both had permits from the Ministry of Agriculture to allow them export the mealie-meal which are yet to be verified.
He said the trucks were currently parked at Mpulungu harbour under police security.
Mr Sikazwe warned unscrupulous traders who were buying the commodity at a subsidised price and exploiting consumers to desist from the vice.
“We have been warning these traders dealing in mealie-meal and exploiting Zambians.
They are selling the commodity at a price higher than the normal price,” he said.
Court Room
GOVERNMENT has said it is working hard to operationalise the Constitutional Court, which should be ready before the August elections.
High Court Registrar Mathews Zulu said the Judiciary was working hard and had so far completed the Constitutional registry, which is currently sitting at the High Court.
In an interview yesterday, Mr Zulu said the Constitutional Court would be operational before the 2016 general elections to address all queries from the amended Constitution.
“We are working round the clock to ensure that we operationalise the Constitution Court. There are a lot of things that are being done simultaneously, so that we put in place this court in good time, and yes the court will be ready before this year’s general election,” Mr Zulu said.
He said the process of establishing such a court was huge, but said that Chief Justice Irene Mambilima has constituted an internal committee of Judges, administrative workers, officers and a senior manager to oversee the process, which would involve drafting rules to guide the operations of the court to avoid misunderstandings.
He said that the austerity measures introduced by Government to cut spending would not impede the process because President Edgar Lungu made it clear that the court should be implemented as soon as possible.
Mr Zulu said among other things the Constitutional Court would be responsible for, was interpreting the Constitution, handling election petitions, and dealing with complaints from individuals regarding the Constitution.
He said the Court would comprise of the Constitutional Court president, his vice and eleven judges, adding that the Judicial Service Commission is in now recruiting judges to preside over the court.
The decisions made in court would be the final court of appeal meaning judgments passed by the Constitutional Court Justice would not be appealed against elsewhere.
Mr Zulu said stakeholders and members of the public should be patient as the Judiciary would issue a statement when all the work is completed.
Meanwhile, Mr Zulu said the Tribunal instituted to probe suspended Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Mutembo Nchito would resume soon and the proceedings would be held in camera with the original panel of judges.
He said the Judiciary was determined to conduct the proceedings in a quiet and efficient manner, while the public would be updated on the findings.
MINISTER YAMFWA MUKANGA
MINISTER of Works and Supply says Government will next month announce the successful bidder for the Great North Road dual carriageway between Chibombo and Ndola.
Mr Mukanga said in an interview in Lusaka that companies have expressed interest and a team of experts is evaluating the bids.
“Progress has been made, and by March 28, we will announce to the nation who the successful bidder will be, ’he said.
Mr Mukanga also said to ease the movement of people, Government has been looking at how to improve road inter-connectivity.
He said Government has been working on the Nacara corridor to create railway connectivity from Muchinji in Chipata through to Serenje in Central Province. A contractor is currently doing feasibility studies.
“Another connection we are working on is the Rivungu canal to Angola, and the contractor has already done the one-stop border post,” Mr Mukanga said.
Mr Mukanga said Government is also working on the south-to-south corridor and a temporary bridge has been done in Kazungula.
The Jimbe Road that will connect Zambia to Angola through Lubumbashi, is also under construction.
Mr Mukanga said the projects were approved by cabinet recently.
“Zambia is being connected to its neighbours so that through all these connections, people can easily connect with their neighbouring countries,” he said.
Mr Mukanga said the projects will ease the movement of people and goods and services within the country and across the borders.
Japanese Ambassador to Zambia Kiyoshi Koinuma with NCCL Varun Mahajan at the inauguration ceremony of the shipping of the coffee beans to Japan produced by Olam Limited today. The event was also attended by Agriculture Minister Given Lubinda
JAPANESE ambassador to Zambia Kiyoshi Koinuma has advised universities in Zambia to ensure that they are politically neutral.
Mr Koinuma, speaking during the launch of the Hokkaido University Alumni Association at the Veterinary Department of the University of Zambia (UNZA) yesterday, expressed worry at the state of affairs at UNZA.
“I am worried about the state of the University of Zambia right now. I think universities should be kept politically neutral. In Japan, universities are kept very independent. I hope this problem will be dealt with as soon as possible,” he said.
And Mr Koinuma said he is determined to take student exchange programmes between Zambia and Japan to another level.
“I am determined to take this opportunity of enhancing academic exchanges between Zambia and Japan by focusing on the youth, who will carry the future of this country on their shoulders,” the Japanese ambassador said.
He expressed hope that the student exchange programme would strengthen relations between Zambia and Japan.
The ambassador said he was happy with the co-ordination of the exchange programme by Hokkaido University and UNZA.
“I would like to make special mention of Hokkaido University’s efforts at promoting study in Japan. The mission of the co-ordination is to increase the number of students from Zambia,” he said.
He said the initiative by the two universities is a significant step in promoting academic exchanges.
“The partnership by the two universities will contribute to human resource development in Zambia and Africa as a whole,” he said.
Speaking at the same event, UNZA dean of veterinary medicine Kennedy Choongo said the partnership between the two universities would enhance veterinary services in Zambia.
“Since the Zambian government’s request for technical co-operation from Japan, the school of veterinary medicine has developed in terms of animal health and production,” Dr Choongo said.
He said the partnership will improve health and welfare in Zambia, which will in turn enhance scientific innovation and public engagement.
MIles Sampa Launching his Democratic Front Party
THE Lusaka High Court has refused to join Patriotic Front (PF) secretary-general Davis Chama to a case in which Democratic Front (DF) president Miles Sampa has sued the Attorney- General and Speaker of the National Assembly over the declaration of his parliamentary seat as vacant.
Judge Betty Mung’omba has ruled that the PF failed to show sufficient evidence how it would be affected by a decision of the court in the matter.
This is in a case in which Mr Sampa is challenging the decision of Speaker Patrick Matibini to declare his seat vacant after he resigned from the PF.
According to the ruling, the PF had not shown sufficient interest to be joined to the proceedings.
Justice Mung’omba said the PF contended that they sponsored Mr Sampa when he won the seat and that the party would be affected by any decision that the court would make.
“For one to be joined to judicial proceedings, he must satisfy the sufficiency of interest test…Whilst I acknowledge and take cognisance of the fact that the application for judicial review, herein, Mr Sampa won the parliamentary seat on a PF ticket, I have pondered whether that fact alone clothes the interested party with sufficient interest,” she said.
