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President Lungu
President Edgar Lungu says under the new constitution, government and the President have no power to de-gazette or gazette any chief.
He also says the new constitution has given power to traditional leaders to amicably handle issues of traditional boundaries.
President Lungu was speaking in Namwala District, Southern Province when he met senior Chief Bright Nalubamba, Chief Mungaila, Chief Muchila and Chief Mukobela at Namwala’s corner point lodge.
The President is in Namwala to check on various developmental projects.
The President and his entourage arrived in Namwala shortly after 11 hrs.
And Chief Mukobela thanked the President for his visit and said the people of Namwala are happy to be visited at the district level.
He said President Lungu’s visit will spur development in the area.
The chief also said the people of Namwala are happy with governments interventions in the Livestock sector which has led to the eradication of foot and mouth disease.
Mwinelubemba Chitumukulu Kanyata Manga II after being crowned at Mwenda ngombe during the installation ceremony . The ceremony was attended by president Edgar Lungu.
Paramount Chief Chitimukulu of the Bemba people in Northern Province has urged media personnel to be responsible in their reporting as the country heads to the August 11 polls.
Chief Chitimukulu says journalists should be factual in their writing and avoid fuelling hatred in the nation ahead of the elections.
He bemoaned the seemingly growing trend of misrepresenting facts among some media practitioners in the country.
The Mwinelubemba observed that if left unchecked, spreading of twisted information could lead to political strife.
He has since advised journalists to uphold professionalism in their work especially during campaigns for the forthcoming general elections.
Meanwhile, the traditional leader has appealed to political parties who intend to form alliances ahead of the elections to consult widely before making binding agreements.
In another development, Paramount Chief Chitimukulu has implored on people who have not yet registered as voters to take advantage of the voter registration at civic centres.
And the Paramount Chief has called for peaceful campaigns ahead of this year’s tripartite elections.
The Chitimukulu made the remarks when PF aspiring candidate for Kasama Central Constituency Kelvin Sampa paid a courtesy call on him at his palace yesterday.
And Mr Sampa assured the Mwinelubemba that the ruling party will continue to preach peace ahead of the elections.
Meanwhile, Mr Sampa has praised the Catholic Church for its continued partnership with government in providing health care services.
Mr Sampa, who is also PF Kasama Central Aspiring candidate, said the church should be commended for its efforts in helping people especially in rural areas to access health services.
He said this when he presented a donation of bed linen and blankets worth K30, 000 to St. Fidelis Mission Hospital in Kasama’s Chilubula area yesterday.
Mr. Sampa added that there is need for well-meaning citizens to supplement the provision of medical care as a way of helping the under-privileged.
He observed that the PF government has demonstrated leadership in improving health care delivery adding that the move should be emulated by other well-wishers.
And St. Fidelis Mission Hospital Sister in-charge Charity Chishimba thanked Mr Sampa for the donation.
Dr. Chishimba said the institution is faced with a number of challenges which require the help of other stakeholders in addressing them.
She however hailed government for the continuous support it renders to the institution.
MMD President Dr. Nevers Mumba speaks to the Clergy from various congregations at Victory Ministries in Kasama on 11th February 2016
Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) president Dr. Nevers Sekwila Mumba has urged the media to be factual and accurate in relaying information to the public that borders on the proposed working relationship with the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) ahead of the August 11, 2016 general elections.
Addressing reporters yesterday in Kasama, Dr. Mumba said the issue of the running mate would only be discussed when the two parties agree on the alliance and modalities are put in place, contrary to assertions by some sections of the media suggesting that the issue of the running mate was a non-issue in the proposed alliance with the PF. Dr. Mumba maintained that discussions over the possible alliance with the PF have not started, adding that he was yet to meet the Republican President Edgar Chagwa Lungu to chart the way forward.
He said that the MMD’s National Executive Committee (NEC) met last month to look at President Lungu’s call for the working alliance with the MMD and that a mandate was given by NEC to meet the Head of State over the matter.
“It is one of the issues that will be discussed in the modalities for the alliance to work out. For now we cannot say much because we have not yet sat to discuss the issue of the alliance with President Lungu. The assertions in some media organisations are portraying a picture that we are discussing the running mate and I want to categorically say here that at no time did I issue such a statement because what we are discussing is the possibility of an alliance and not the running mate,” Dr. Mumba said.
MMD President Dr. Nevers Mumba speaking to the Clergy from various congregations at Victory Ministries in Kasama on 11th February 2016
Meanwhile, the Pastors’ Fellowship in Kasama says it supports the formation of a pact between the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) and the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) because the leaders of the two political parties had demonstrated that they had regard for the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation.
Speaking after MMD leader Nevers Mumba met various church leaders at the Victory Ministries Bible Church yesterday, pastor William Mutale said the church in Kasama was behind the pact and will support it if the two leaders agreed to work together in this year’s tripartite election.
Pastor Mutale said Dr. Nevers Mumba was part of the Christian family who had a vision for a Christian nation and that as members of the clergy, the fellowship had resolved to rally behind the pact because it provided hope for the aspirations of church in Zambia. He said the fellowship was convinced that the two parties were formidable and were capable of forming government this year.
“We as Pastors’ Fellowship are agreed to this pact because Dr. Mumba is one of us and what we want to see is that the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation is upheld. We don’t just want it to be a slogan that people can throw anyhow. We want it to be realised, we want it to be institutionalised,” Pastor Mutale said.
He noted that by upholding the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation, President Edgar Lungu had identified himself as a God-fearing person who needed the support of another person who believed in his aspirations adding that Dr. Mumba was a perfect choice to work with.
“The second front is that PF is a formidable party and from what President Lungu has done and said, even regarding the amended constitution, it shows that he has the desire to uphold Christian principles.
“He has upheld the declaration of Zambia as a Christina nation; he has declared the day for national prayers and fasting as well as building a tabernacle in which people from all denominations can come together and worship the Lord and that is the first step in taking the country according to its declaration. He needs to work with somebody to propagate his Christian vision for Zambia and the rightful person is Dr. Mumba and we are behind him,” he said.
He said the church was not segregative in the manner it was approaching the issue of alliances in the country but urged the political parties to engage with the church so that it could know their aspirations before making a decision. He advised President Lungu to adopt Dr. Mumba as his running mate in order to form a good working relationship among them.
“We are not saying we are against other political parties. What we want is that the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation is upheld because that will allow God to govern the affairs of this nation. Other political parties are welcome to approach us but in the meantime, we support the pact between MMD and PF.
“We want to see a pact which exhibits mutual respect whereby one political party does not seem to be having an upper hand over the other if they are going into a pact. Mr. Lungu should adopt Dr. Mumba as his running mate as that will create a good working relationship between the two,” he said.
MMD President Dr. Nevers Mumba speaking to the Clergy from various congregations at Victory Ministries in Kasama on 11th February 2016
In January the GRI team which is funded by the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation rescued an orphan elephant from an island in the Lower Zambezi, Zambia. The team expertly transported him to his new home at the elephant orphanage in Lilayi where he met his new friends and chased Ivan the keeper! Great to see a successful rescue. More info at www.davidshepherd.org
GLORIOUS Band says it is coming back ‘too hot’ to show that it is still in the music industry after going for a ‘retreat’ to re-organise itself.
It has since recorded two albums with some songs already hitting the airwaves on radio stations on the Copperbelt.
Band spokesperson Derrick Mwansa said the band was busy re-organising itself to bring in new suitable members after the death of three colleagues in the past years.
“There was nothing we could do after the natural cause of death that took away our colleagues, but we have to re-organise and soldier on. We have to continue with our talent to present various entertainment and educative songs to the masses,” he said.
In an interview in Chingola during the week, Mwansa appealed to the business community and other well-wishers to support the band to enable it to release its newly recorded albums and distribute them to the market.
The Chingola-based outfit which rose to fame in early 2000, lost its drummer Obias Mbyangu, who was the first person to pass on, followed by and rhythm lead guitarist Jonathan Chibesa Kunda, who was band leader, and later Allan Kasafu, the backing vocalist.
After the death of the trio, Mwansa and Christian Kenda have carried on with the band and have recruited two members. The two new members are Lloyd Kaluba, who is now the lead vocalist, and Kennedy Mulenga, who is on drums.
Mwansa described Kaluba as having a ‘golden voice’ like that of late Chibesa and has managed to fit in the band very well.
“We are still a ‘bomb’ and a force to reckon with in playing live and mature music for both the elderly and the young,” he said.
Mwansa said the band’s ‘resurrection’ is fully packed with both educative and entertaining songs as it has to continue honouring the souls of its late members.
Some of the songs in the new albums include Naliweme Kumako, a title track of one of the albums, and Nakweba Wishita Roller Meal, also a title track of the second album.
In Naliweme Kumako song, the group talks about the in-laws’ behaviour towards their son in-law after he loses a job and is no longer being considered a man worth the ‘salt’. The album has eight tracks.
is about a naughty child who after being sent to the market by her mother, buys the opposite of what he was told to purchase.
The songs on the albums have been recorded at Avis Studios Mission Press in Ndola and Sukam Tech Studios in Chingola.
Division Three Copperbelt side Damiano Academy will appeal the FAZ Players Status Committee ruling that creative midfielder Jacob Ngulube belongs to Mighty Mufulira Wanderers.
Nkana signed Ngulube on a four year deal from Damiano Academy last November while Wanderers also produced documentation that he had only served one year of his four year contract at Shinde Stadium.
On Tuesday, the Lombe Mbalashi led FAZ Players Status Committee ruled in favor of Mufulira Wanderers in the disputed ownership of Ngulube and ordered the player to return to Shinde Stadium.
In an interview from Mufulira, Damiano Academy secretary Mateo Kapandula maintained that Ngulube was their player adding that he was only sent to Mighty on loan.
“We are not happy with the outcome of this ruling so we are appealing. Ngulube is our player who we loaned to Mighty,” Kapandula said.
Ngulube has spent the last two seasons at Wanderers.
“It is unfortunate that the Mighty executive we dealt with on this matter is no longer there,” he said.
Ngulube over the weekend featured for Nkana in a pre-season four club tournament played in Lusaka.
Comments from the Northern Province Police Commissioner Bonny Kapeso this week reveal the extent to which widespread abuse of the Public Order Act is fast becoming a routine feature in our politics. Thanks to the PF our peace, unity and future as a democracy is now also starting to fail, as our economy has done under their leadership.
The Commissioner’s claims that only the PF can hold meetings without notice contravenes the rights and freedoms we are all entitled to in our own country. That we should not be able to move, meet and share our message with others, while the PF flies from place to place at the taxpayers expense, is unacceptable. And what is even more shocking about this statement is that he is saying the PF is above the law.
We would like to remind Mr Kapeso that the police are there for the protection of all Zambians, regardless of affiliation, and that the values of the Zambian Police supposedly include impartiality, human rights, integrity and professionalism. They are the Zambian Police Service, not the PF Police Service.
That they respond to peaceful meetings with violence and aggression is another crime. There is no justice for anyone outside of the PF. Anyone would think that we are now living under a dictatorship.
All this points to the fact that the PF is running scared. Having abused their power for so long they have forgotten how a democracy really works and that the Zambian people will judge them on the track record come 11 August 2016. With less than 6 months to go until elections we advise them to refocus on this. The Zambian people will not reward them for this intimidation and disruption of the peace.
Finally, it is important to remember these actions do not only harm the immediate victims, but that this manner of governance harms us all by undermining our development prospects. At the very time when we must be uniting and seeking stability in every way we can to tackle our economic challenges with shared strength, the POA and its abuse by the PF is dragging us down. We want to challenge President Lungu to immediately take action against this senior officer who clearly does not understand what he is doing. If no action is taken, it goes without saying that these actions will then be said to have the blessing of President Lungu.
ZESCO Limited officials inspect the waters at Lake Kariba where the utility firm generates power
Vice President Inonge Wina says the water level in the Kariba Dam have not yet reached the required quantity for ZESCO to minimize or stop load shedding.
The Vice President says this is despite the country receiving adequate rains in some parts such as North-Western Province.
Ms. Wina says the Zambezi River Authority will advice both Zambia and Zimbabwe as the two countries share the Kariba dam.
She also pointed out that the country should be aware that experts have advised that the Kariba dam will require three good rainy seasons for the water to reach its optimum levels.
The Vice President was answering a question from Kalomo MP Request Muntanga who wanted to know why there is still massive load shedding when water in Kariba dam has reached the required levels.
And Vice President Inonge Wina says the country’s maize reserves are adequate to last up to August 2016.
The Vice President says President Edgar Lungu has however indicated that Government is monitoring the situation and that should there be need to import maize the country is ready to undertake the exercise.
Mrs Wina says there are no conflicting statements coming from Government on the country’s maize stock.
This was in response to a question raised by Mumbwa Member of Parliament Brian Chituwo during the Vice President 30 minutes question time.
Brigadier General Chituwo wanted the Vice President to clarify conflicting statement on maize in the country.
And the Vice President said government machinery is moving on well and adequately funded.
Mrs Wina however, said there is need for people to note that Government has diverted a lot of funds to importing electricity, an expense that was not budgeted for.
She pointed out that Government is not broke as all projects are adequately funded.
Mrs Wina was responding to a question from Monze MP, Jack Mwiimbu who asked the Vice President if Government was broke and that is why it has not funded the Electoral Commission of Zambia.
Zambia Association Women in Constructions (ZAWIC) President Dorothy Mulwila speaks to Special Assistant for Project and Monitoring to the President Lucky Mulusa at State House when they called on him
Special Assistant to the President for project monitoring and implementation Lucky Mulusa says the Manyinga-Jimbe road which connects Zambia to the neighbouring Angola will open up trade between the two countries once worked on.
And construction of a 132 kilovolts power station project in Mwinilunga district that will connect north western province to the national power supply grid has advanced.
Mr Mulusa says the Manyinga – Jimbe road is of vital importance as it will help to generate revenue through trade and other developmental projects in the country.
He was speaking in Mwinilunga yesterday when he inspected the readiness on commencement of work by FRECA Mining and Manufacturing Limited a company contracted to upgrade 106 kilometre lot three Manyinga-Jimbe road up to bituminous standard at a cost of US$ 100 million.
Mr Mulusa expressed happiness that the contractor is ready to start the works looking at the machinery they have mobilized on site.
And FRECA Mining and Manufacturing Limited representative Richard Mukuyanga said the project is a 24 months upgrading of 100 kilometre lot three of the Manyinga-Jimbe road which starts from Kawiku in Mwinilunga to Jimbe boarder in Ikelenge district.
Mr Mukuyanga said works will start soon after ground breaking ceremony.
Mr Mulusa during the tour also inspected the works on the upgrading of 16.1 kilometre township roads to bituminous standards by China-Civil Engineering Corporation which are under way.
District Planning Officer Mwewa Libwesha said works have started at a cost of k120 million as the contractor has mobilized on site.
Mr Libwesha said the project is a 14 months contract adding that road clearing and markings to set out the routes have commenced.
And the construction of a 132 kilovolts power station project in Mwinilunga district, that will connect north western province to the national power supply grid, has advanced.
The project which is being undertaken by ELTEL Transmission Company will cost government 163 US dollars.
Special assistant to the President for project implementation and monitoring Lucy Mulusa said this after inspecting the project site yesterday that once completed the project will boost power supply to the province.
Mr. Mulusa said the project is one of the biggest under taking that government has done in the province which will steer up economic and social activities in the province.
The project will connect Mwinilunga, Mufumbwe Kabompo Zambezi and Chavuma districts and Lukulu in western province.
The districts are currently serviced by diesel generators and ZESCO is spending 8 US dollars per year to supply electricity to the districts.
ELTEL Transmission Company site supervisor Nicholas Kapalu said the 190 kilometre power pylons from Lumwana Mine have reached the power station in Mwinilunga while construction works on the transmission house stands at 50 per cent complete.
Mr Kapalu said the power station will be ready for use by August this year.
Chieftainess Nkomeshya
Chieftainess Nkomesha Muka Mambo of the Soli people in Chongwe District has advised PF cadres to stop politicizing government projects in the country.
Speaking when she gave a vote of thanks after Government handed over a relatives shelter to Chongwe District Hospital her Royal Highness said government projects do not belong to political parties.
She said politicizing government facilities has the potential of scaring away other would be user once they feel they would not be welcomed by those perceived to be the owners of the facilities.
She said government projects are for all the people regardless of their political or religious inclination further adding that Republican President Edgar Lungu was the President for the republic regardless of their affiliations hence had a duty to all Zambians.
“I just want to say that this facility should not be highly politicized because if you do that it will scare other people within our communities this is what I am asking. I am saying let it be an institution for the people who have the sick in there. Let be a facility for everyone no matter there their affiliation whether political or religious. This is a government project so let remain so and this appeal goes to you my sons and daughters who will be using this facility,” she said.
Her Royal Highness further said the facility will add the dignity to bed siders who were spending nights in the cold when waiting for the sick.
Her concern came after PF cadres chanted PF slogans while mocking the opposition UPND and sang praises for President Edgar Lungu.
Meanwhile government has handed over a 24 bed space capacity Mukosha relative shelter at Chongwe District hospital on Friday.
The shelter was built at the cost 1 million kwacha by the Zambia National Corporation Limited.
Speaking during the hand over ceremony health minister Joseph Kasonde said government will soon start constructing six district hospital staff houses at a cost of 3 million Kwacha.
Dr Kasonde thanked National Airport Corporation limited for supporting the project and the shelter was a much needed facility at the hospital as it serves patients from a wider catchment which makes it difficult for bed siders during the time of nursing the sick relatives.
He said government will always partner with corporate partners who have a Vision to help Zambians to live a health life which is in line with government’s vision.
Speaking earlier Zambia National Airport Cooperation Limited Chairperson Mubanga Musakanya said the Project is part of the organization’s cooperate social responsibilities and the Cooperation believes in working with genuine strategic partners as well as the community in building a better future for all.
The Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA), the Road Development Agency (RDA) and the Lusaka City Council (LCC) have embarked on an exercise to remove all billboards that obstruct the road.
On Thursday, the three agencies razed down billboards on Great East Road and Addis Ababa Drive that were obstructing road users.
RTSA Chief Executive Officer Zindaba Soko told Journalists that the agencies were acting on complaints from members of the public.
Mr Soko said the billboards must be at least 2 metres high off the ground so as to give the motorists and pedestrians a good view of the road.
He regretted that most billboards have been mounted less than a metre off the ground thereby being hazardous to the road users by way of obstruction.
RTSA pulls down billboards in LusakaBillboards been pulled down
The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) in Northern Province has expressed its disappointment for revision of a Grade-12 minimum qualification for people seeking public office in the country.
JCTR regional coordinator, Felix Chiwela says it is unfortunate that some politicians are not comfortable with the Grade 12 qualification when it was passed by Parliament last year.
Mr. Chiwela wondered why some political parties were now condemning the clause for minimum qualification for individuals seeking to be
elected Councillors or Members of Parliament when they in-fact advocated for the same in the past.
He told ZANIS in an interview in Kasama today that Government should not to rescind its decision on the matter, adding that doing so may go against the
wishes of majority Zambians who are comfortable with the clause.
Mr. Chiwela observed that the reviewing the Grade 12 clause in the constitution will also increase levels of illiteracy in the nation as
some people may not value the importance of education to national development.
The JCTR regional coordinator has since urged some politicians who do not have G12 certificates to go back to school and obtain the qualification in
order to add value to political dispensation of the country.
Of late, there has been a debate among sections of society regarding the constitutional requirement for one to hold a minimum of Grade 12
in order to seek for election to public office.
The Bank of Zambia has maintained its monetary policy rate unchanged at 15.5 percent.
Governor Denny Kalyalya also revealed that the economy grew at only 3.6 percent in 2015 against a target of 7 percent.
Dr Kalyalya said the country’s gross domestic product is expected to slightly increase to 3.7 percent this year.
He said during a quarterly news briefing that growth of around 3.6 percent is way too low.
Dr Kalyalya said one of the reasons why the Central Bank has left the policy rate unchanged is to address the volatility in the exchange rate.
He said the Bank of Zambia expected the economy to recover to around 6.5 percent in the medium term, while inflation would ease to between 10 percent and 15 percent by the end of this year.
Zambia enjoy a preliminary round bye in the Madagascar 2017 CAF Under-17 Cup qualifiers that kickoff this June.
Young Chipolopolo enter the qualifiers in the first round this August where they await the preliminary round winner between Djibouti and Sudan.
Should Zambia advance from the first round, they will face winner of the first round clash where Cameroon await the result of the Malawi versus Kenya preliminary round match.
Winner from the second round will qualify for next years finals in Madagascar.
Zambia will be embarking on trying to qualify for their second CAF Under-17 Cup after making their debut in Niger in 2015 where they made a group stage exit.
Meanwhile, Zambia Under-20 will be on a diet of friendlies as they will be hosting the 2017 African Youth Championship.
Government says continuing the voter registration beyond February 29 would adversely affect the 2016 general elections time table.
Vice President Inonge Wina explained that continuing with the voter registration put the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) in a position of not being able to certify the final register of voters by July 31, 2016.
Mrs. Wina however, said all eligible persons who will turn 18 years by July 31, this year and have their particulars appearing in the final register of voters will qualify to participate in the August 11 general elections.
The Vice President said this in parliament today when she issued a ministerial statement on the 2015/2016 voter registration exercise.
Mrs. Wina added that the provisional registers of voters is expected to be completed by 5th may, 2016 in readiness for inspection by members of the public from 15 to 21 may, while certification of the final register of voters would be done on 31July, 2016.
She regretted that the planned mobile voter registration which would have taken place for 14 days from 16th to 29th February, this year can no longer take place.
The Elections body registered about 1.7 million new voters as at December 13, 2015, representing 93.75 percent of the targeted figure.
Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has implored Zambians to register now as their will be no further extension of registration of voters after 29th February this year except at district and civic centres .
ECZ public relations manager Crispin Akufuna explained that the commission lacks funds to facilitate the extension of the mobile voter registration.
In a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today, Mr. Akufuna noted that any extension of the voter registration exercise would negatively impact on the already set election schedule.
To this effect, He added that consequently, the commission would not be able to certify the voters’ register by 31st July this year if it went ahead with continuous voter registration.
Mr. Akufuna pointed out that data of all the registered voters collected from the field has to be processed in readiness for the inspection of the provisional voters’ register.
The Elections body however assured the nation that voter registration will continue at all Districts Civic Centres until 29th February this year.
Mr Akufuna urged the general public to take advantage of the remaining two weeks from February 16 to 29 , this year to register as voters.
He said inspection of the provisional register for electorates will run for one week starting from 15th to 21st May this year.
