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The United Church of Zambia has cautioned popular comedian Bob Nkosha to stop portraying his character Dorika as a member of the Church’s Women’s group known as Bana KBBK.
In a letter to Nkosha and made available to the media, UCZ General Secretary Reverend Dr. Mulambia Kabonde said the Church is dismayed and disappointed that Nkosha’s comedy act Dorika is now donning the KBBK uniform on stage.
Below is Rev. Kabonde’s letter
WE HAVE observed with utter dismay and disappointment at the picture which appeared in the Zambia Daily Mail Vol. 20 No. 31 dated Friday, February 5, 2016 in which Mr Bob Nkosha was seen wearing a Women Christian Fellowship uniform whilst performing at Lusaka Play House.
We would like to inform the general public and Mr Nkosha in particular that the uniform in question is sacred and is not used by unauthorised persons, let alone for fun or fundraising purposes as has been done by Mr Nkosha.
Herve Renard
Hervé Renard has been appointed as the new Morocco head coach, according to local media le360Sport.
Unemployed since his sacking by French Ligue 1 outfit Lille last November, the 47-year-old has reportedly replaced Baddou Zaki at the helm of the Atlas Lions.
Winner of the Africa Cup of Nations with Zambia in 2012 and with Côte d’Ivoire in 2015, Renard was linked with several African national teams including Cameroon and Nigeria.
Top of their Group F of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers with Cape Verde, who enjoy a better goal difference, Morocco will face the Blue Sharks in a double header in March
ZNFU President Dr. Evelyn Nguleka
The Zambia National Farmers Union is appealing to farmers and other stakeholders to remain calm as fraud investigations at its Headquarters commence.
In a statement, ZNFU President Dr Evelyn Nguleka confirmed that officers from the Drug Enforcement Commission had visited the ZNFU offices on Tuesday and commenced their investigations.
She said the ZNFU Secretariat will remain operational and continue to serve its membership during the investigations.
“Reports of allegations of fraud and theft at the ZNFU offices have been circulating in the media for some time, arising from a leaked preliminary audit report of an audit that was conducted on ZNFU by EMM Corporate Partners,” she said.
She added, “the matters relating to the audit report were subsequently reported to the Drug Enforcement Commission by unidentified people. The DEC visited the ZNFU offices on February 9th 2016 and commenced investigations.”
“At this point, the ZNFU Board would like to appeal to all its members and stakeholders to remain calm during these investigations. Our members, as well as cooperating partners will be updated on new developments regarding this matter.”
Dr Nguleka said the ZNFU Board reiterates that there is an ongoing audit process at ZNFU that needs to run its full course.
“When the audit is completed, the ZNFU Board and Council will ensure appropriate actions or decisions are taken and made in line with binding regulations. As things stand now, the current audit process is yet to be concluded.”
She noted that the Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants has been engaged to interrogate the professional conduct of the auditor and the auditee and to review the entire audit process and findings with a view to appointing an independent auditor to be agreed upon between the cooperating partners and ZNFU.
“ZNFU has been in close liaison with and consultation with cooperating partners and will be holding update meetings with partners to facilitate the smooth completion of the audit in a mutually agreed manner,” she said.
Mbesuma
In the Absa Premiership Mpumalanga Black Aces and Ajax Cape Town played out to a 2-2 draw at the Athlone Stadium in Cape Town.
Zambian striker Collins Mbesuma scored the first goal for Aces and it took him to 12 goals this season and pushed Aces up into third spot on the log table.
On loan Sundowns midfielder Mukuka Mulenga played the first 31 minutes of the game.
Aces will again rue some missed chances especially Aubrey Ngoma’s who after doing all the hard work, rounded the keeper, but managed to miss an open goal.
Ajax are now placed at position eight with 23 points on the Absa Premiership table
Zambia’s leading fuels, lubricants and oil-based products firm, Engen Petroleum’s has announced the construction of an all new pipeline linking the Engen depot in Lusaka to the government facility.
Jean-Blaise Ollomo, Managing Director of Engen Petroleum Zambia, says: “As Engen, our priority is to supply Lusaka as well as Southern Province and Eastern Province – particularly the capital, Chipata, which accounts for a large portion of Engen’s total fuel demand.”
Engen has a total of 36 service stations in Zambia of which 19 are located in Lusaka and the southern part of the country.
This additional pipeline injection will be critical in mitigating the fundamentals of price and supply.
“The depot is very busy with a demand of 7 million litres of product per month. Reducing costs, increasing supply and gaining an advantage for our largest commercial customer, will be a huge boost for our operations,” says Ollomo.
The additional required supply is currently being received from Ndola, which is located in the Copperbelt.
The Zambian government depot was built and commissioned in 2013 to help achieve a uniform pump price countrywide.
Drikus Kotze, General Manager of Engen’s International Business Division says that sustainable growth in the region is Engen’s vision for 2016 and beyond “with keen benefits aligned to the company, the countries it services and the continent as a whole.”
Engen Petroleum is an African based oil company whose core functions include the refining of crude oil and the delivery of world class retail convenience across the continent and the Indian Ocean Islands.
HH at the Mining Indaba in Cape Town
Chief Government Spokesman Chishimba Kambwili has lashed out at UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema over his sentiments about Zambia’s investment climate at the ongoing mining indaba in Cape Town, South Africa.
Mr Hichilema was a key speaker at the 2016 Mining Indaba and spoke about the great opportunity that still exists in many areas of Zambia for mining projects, and in particular projects that will bring benefit to the people in terms of jobs and stimulating local economies.
The UPND leader stressed that with a stable policy environment, Zambia should have been producing 1.5 million metric tons of copper today, compared to the 750,000 metric tons it currently produces.
When asked what Zambia had learnt from the recent price fluctuations, Mr Hichilema suggested that for far too long Zambia has been like a microcosm of the mining industry, believing during the good years that they will last forever and not reinvesting the money in diversification, and when the bad times happen panicking and trying to impose legislation that ends up causing further harm.
He said this is a cycle that the country must break out from.
On the question of sustainability Mr Hichilema proposed that actors need to change their time horizons when looking at the sector.
He cautioned that politicians must be careful not to get caught in the trap of politicising the sector.
But Mr Kambwili who is also Information and Broadcasting Minister charged that Mr Hichilema showed that he will say anything to get into State House.
He said Mr Hichilema demeaned the country which he wants to lead.
“HH showed himself up at the mining indaba, he really showed the whole world that he is just a frustrated and disgruntled opposition leader who will say anything to get into state house. In his usual style of demeaning the country he wants to lead he heaped a lot of negativity about the mining sector, forgetting that he was heavily involved in the privatisation,” Mr Kambwili stated.
Mr Kambwili said Mr Hichilema failed to mention that he was part of the privatisation exercise that saw Zambia’s mining sector take a nose dive.
“Now do you listen to someone who played a part in the loss of thousands of jobs, or someone who is currently in the sector and has more of an idea of the current situation. We must realise that whenever we speak about Zambia abroad, we must try and sell our country not demean it, nothing positive ever comes out of a negative mouth,” Mr Kambwili said.
President Edgar Lungu has returned back home and described his European trip which took him to the Vatican and France as a success.
Speaking to journalists upon arrival at Kenneth Kaunda international airport this afternoon, President Lungu said his visits to the Vatican and France focused on bilateral relations.
He explains that the bilateral agreements were mainly in areas of peace and security as well as economic.
President Lungu says Zambia has been quiet on the economic front, but that it is time the country upped its contacts and ensures it benefits from international relations.
President Lungu was welcomed by Vice President Inonge Wina, Defence Chiefs, Higher Education Minister Michael Kaingu, Patriotic Front Secretary General Davies Chama and party officials.
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PF cadres welcoming President Lungu
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PF cadres welcoming President Lungu
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President Edgar Lungu being welcomed by Vice President Inonge Wina on his arrival at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport from France
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President Edgar Lungu being welcomed by Vice President Inonge Wina on his arrival at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport from France
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President Edgar Lungu being welcomed by Vice President Inonge Wina on his arrival at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport from France
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President Edgar Lungu and Vice President Inonge Wina show party symbol and the first Lady Esther Lungu (l) on his arrival at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport from France
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resident Edgar Lungu (r) flanked by Vice President Inonge Wina (c) and the first Lady Esther Lungu (l) on his arrival at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport from France
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President Edgar Lungu and Vice President Inonge Wina show party symbol and the first Lady Esther Lungu (l) on his arrival at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport from France
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resident Edgar Lungu (r) flanked by Vice President Inonge Wina (c) and the first Lady Esther Lungu (l) on his arrival at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport from France
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President Edgar Lungu with Minister of Home Affairs Davies Mwila while looking on are PF Secretary General Davies Chama, Minister of Finance Alexander Chikwanda
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President Lungu greeting one of the people that welcomed him
Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) Executive Director MacDonald Chipenzi has been challenged to step down from his position following reports that he has applied to contest Siavonga parliamentary seat under the UPND.
PF Mandevu Constituency Chairman Joseph Tamba alleges that the ruling party has information that Mr. Chipenzi has applied to contest the Siavonga seat on the UPND ticket.
Mr. Tamba says Mr. Chipenzi will do well to leave the civil society organization and join active politics.
But Mr. Chipenzi says he will make a formal announcement if at all he will express interest in contesting any seat.
He lamented that it is unfair that some media houses have already blacklisted him from coverage because of such unsubstantiated reports.
It has been a last 24 hours to forget for Nkana after they lost their case against Power Dynamos for defender Christopher Munthali who has been banned for breaching his contract with the latter side.
The Football Association of Zambia Player Status Committee ruled in favour of Power after Munthali signed another contract with Nkana in December claiming he was a free agent.
His contract with Power expires on December 3, 2016.
However, Nkana claimed that they Munthali as a free agent alleging the defenders permanent deal with Power had expired on December 31, 2015.
The development comes just 24 hours after Nkana also lost their case against Mufulira Wanderers in their signing of midfielder Jacob Ngulube in very similar circumstances.
“Christopher Munthali has been banned for two months from all football activities,” FAZ said in a statement.
“The player has been ordered to report back to Power.”
Meanwhile, Nkana escaped lightly with a minor fine for their part in the Munthali transfer scandal.
“Nkana have been fined K10,000.00 (US$ 1000.00) for failing to do a due diligence in signing a contract wth Munthali who already had another contract running with Power Dynamos,” FAZ stated.
Nkoloma Stadium
Football House has confirmed that Lusaka’s Nkoloma Stadium will host the semi-finals of the season opener Samuel Zoom Ndhlovu Charity on 20th February.
Zanaco and Green Buffaloes will clash in the 13h00 kick-off first semi-final tie before Zesco United and Power Dynamos completes the double-header at 15h15.
“The 2016 Samuel “Zoom” Ndhlovu Charity Shield finals will be played on Wednesday, March 9th at a venue to be announced later.
According to draws conducted at Football House this morning, the semi finals will be played at Nkoloma stadium in Lusaka on February the 20th.,” FAZ stated.
Vice President Inonge Wina chats with her Deputy Minister Lowrance Sichalwe shortly before meeting with donors at Intercontinental Hotel
Government has begun engaging cooperating partners in the consultative process on the formulation of the Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP) which will be implemented from 2017 to 2021.
Government through the Ministry of National Development Planning and its cooperating partners today held in Lusaka the first consultative meeting on the formulation of the 5 year development plan .
Acting President Inonge Wina who was guest of honor said the meeting is aimed at sharing government’s development aspirations and gain the support of cooperating partners in areas where the state and partners can jointly work together in coming up with a document incorporating programmes and projects that will stimulate change in the life of Zambians.
Ms. Wina who is Republican Vice President and Minister of National Development Planning noted that government created her ministry to precipitate the transformative agenda through the development of the 7NDP among many other initiatives.
She said there is need for Zambia to refocus the country’s development strategies through formulation of the new development plan as the Revised Sixth National Development Plan is coming to a conclusion this year.
Ms Wina said the 7NDP which is being formulated through the consultative process is expected to stipulate the development priorities for the country for the next five years.
She noted that the 7NDP will not only give the country an opportunity to re-engineer the national development prospects that will enhance human development but will also provide the country the opportunity to integrate and mainstream sustainable development goals in the national development framework including district, provincial and sector plans.
Ms Wina said the process requires government from the onset to build and secure a shared development vision with the development partners, civil society organizations, private sector, faith based organizations and other state and non-state actors.
Meanwhile UNAIDS Country Director Medhin Tsehaiu has called on government to consider engaging different community groups such as youths who are the majority in the country during the planning process in order for them to participate in the planning and implementation process.
Ms. Tsehaiu said the United Nations finds the consultative process critical because the planning is coming into effect immediately after the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals where Zambia has been active in the formulation and embedding the development goals into the national development plans.
And World Bank Group Country Manager Ina-Mariene Ruthenberg said her organization stands ready to support Zambia in the formulation of the development plan because it is about inclusive growth and shared visions.
Prof. Ruthenberg disclosed that the World Bank is already working with Zambia on the fiscal impact of the national development planning
Vice President Inonge Wina and Permanent Secretary Simon Miti in the Ministry of National Development and Planinng at Intercontinental Hotel for meeting with donorsVice President Inonge Wina with her Deputy Minister Lowrance Sichalwe and Permanent Secretary Simon Miti having a light Moment shortly before meeting with donors at Intercontinental Hotel
The Road Transport and Safety Agency [RTSA] has normalised the printing of driver’s License cards.
RTSA Acting Senior Public Relations Manager Fredrick Mubanga disclosed
the development in a press statement issued to ZANIS in Lusaka today.
Mr Mubanga said the agency has secured raw materials and has since resumed the production of driver’s licences card.
He further stated that the agency will soon dispatch over 8,000 cards to all RTSA stations and that a total of 22,612 cards are waiting to be printed.
Mr Mubanga attributed the challenges faced in the production of drivers licences cards to erratic supply of the imported raw materials used to print the cards.
Meanwhile RTSA has urged members of the public, that had applied for driver’s licences in the past few months to contact the Agency or visit its offices.
The agency also emphasized that the temporal Licence is a valid licence and does not need extension but where it is inevitable, extensions will be done by printing of duplicate temporal Drivers Licence at no fee.
Government has expressed gratitude to the Japanese Government for supporting Mount Makulu, Nangongwe and Mwembeshi Health Centres with Antiretroviral Therapy support.
Lusaka Province Health Officer Kennedy Malama said this during the closure of the three year Japan Anti- Retroviral Therapy ART Support Projects in Chilanga and Kafue District which were spearheaded by the Association for Aid and Relief Japan.
Dr. Malama said the three year implementation of the project has seen a vibrant commitment by Health Centres in encouraging patients to continue adhering to ARV treatment.
He however noted with sadness that a number of patients who are on Anti-Retroviral Treatment are dropping out from the treatment for various reasons.
He urged patients to go back to ARV treatment and appreciate its importance as the treatment can help them fully enjoy life despite being HIV positive.
Dr Malama said the Ministry of Health will review the outcome and lessons learnt from the three year duration so as to sustain the projects until the need from the community is completely met.
And Chilanga District Medical Officer Masumba Masaninga said it is regrettable that the Association is winding up the projects that have benefited the locals for over three years.
Dr. Masininga has since pledged to improve future HIV/AIDS strategies in order to respond better to the needs of communities.
Confusion in the former ruling party the MMD has taken a new twist with Lunte MMD Member of Parliament Felix Mutati accusing party President Nevers Mumba of making the initial contact which led to MPs from the former ruling party to support the UPND in the last Presidential elections.
In a statement issued to the media on Wednesday, the former commerce Minister said he had remained silent amidst all the accusations that he led a rebellion of MPs because he did not want to wash dirty linen in public but that he has been forced to say something because of the high levels of hypocrisy and immorality within the party.
Mr Mutati said it was MMD leader Nevers Mumba who told NEC members and MPs that he had met the UPND leadership in South Africa and had agreed to go into the 2015 elections with UPND and that it was hypocrisy for him turn and point an accusing finger at him.
“First of all, It was not my idea nor did I lead a rebellion of MMD MPs to support another political party because at a NEC meeting, seating together with MPs on 16th November 2014 our President Dr Nevers Mumba briefed us that in facing the 2015 Presidential election he led a high powered delegation to South Africa for a meeting with UPND.
“Suffice to say that prominent African leaders helped broker a deal between the UPND and the MMD leadership. Among those who attended the meeting was Dr Mumba himself, then National Secretary Muhabi Lungu and Honourable Mwansa Mbulakulima.
Dr Mumba briefed us that everything had been discussed and that we as MMD would go in the election with the UPND. It was Nevers Mumba who led us to the UPND, while other people were advocating for RB to come back but some of us who acknowledged the legitimate leadership of Dr Mumba at that time decided to follow his directive. He even appointed some MPs and senior members to constitute a team to finalize the details of the alliance. I shudder to think that a man of God can U-turn today and start blaming us for going to UPND in 2015,” reads part of the statement.
And Mr Mutati says he has refused to discuss personalities with Dr Mumba and he will only engage him on matters regarding the former ruling party which he wants to see survive beyond the 2016 general elections.
“I have vehemently refused to engage Dr Mumba on a personal level because these are not personal issues but institutional matters, we are dealing with an institution which must survive beyond the 2016 elections.
“The stage we are at as a party is not where we start looking at parties that we can form alliances with but the greatest responsibility that we have is rebuilding our Party to levels of respectability so that even if we are to consider an alliance, it should be an alliance were we have value not in our current fragile state because we will just end up being a minor partner to who ever we are going to work with if that happens,” he said.
He said he will not be part of the emotional out burst going round within the party and that his focus is to make the party stronger so that it can go into the 2016 election as a united MMD.
On calls for him to take over the running of the party Mr Mutati said he has not hiden his ambitions.
“On the issue of running against Dr Mumba, I’m not sponsoring any one and have never sponsored anyone but my name is just being mentioned as one of the alternatives to the party leadership. And MMD being a democratic party, were I am as a bona fide member, it is my democratic right to stand against anyone and fancy my chances. And I have never hidden my aspirations of leading this party before and I don’t see the reason I should start hiding now,” he said.
