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Experienced coach Benjamin “Kawilo” Chilongo has warned that it would be difficult for George Lwandamina to continue doubling as Chipolopolo and Zesco United coach.
The ex-Nkana and Ndola United coach is advising Chicken George to consider relinquishing one position.
Zesco chairman Dennis Banda at the weekend said Lwandamina should choose between the club and the national team.
“You can’t serve two masters at the same time. It is either Lwandamina takes up the national team job on a permanent basis or remain at Zesco,” Chilongo said.
“George is a good coach and he has done well at national team but you can’t perform better at both teams. If he cannot be given the national team job on a permanent basis let him remain at Zesco,” he said.
Lwandamina was hired as interim Zambia coach last June after the dismissal of Honour Janza.
“I don’t know what FAZ is waiting for before engaging a coach. If FAZ have the capacity to employ, let them engage George on a permanent basis or let them look at other local coaches,” Chilongo said.
Chipolopolo have never had a permanent coach since the departure of French trainer Herve Renard in October 2013.
Political Activist Dante Saunders (c) confers with Emily Sikazwe (r) and NGOCC chairperson Beatrice Grillo (l) during the meeting to demand for the release of the draft Zambia constitution
Political commentators Dante Saunders and Stanley Muhango has called for the enhancement of intra party democracy within political parties.
Speaking when the two featured on radio Phoenix’s Let the People Talk program Mr Muhango said political parties as major stakeholders in the democratic dispensation of the country should practice intraparty democracy before they even aspire to form government.
He noted that it is folly for people to expect a party which does not respect its own rules to follow the rules when in power.
“If we are going to talk about democracy we need to ensure that the Political parties who are stakeholders should be able to adhere to the democratic principles even within their political parties.
How do you expect a person who does not respect human rights, how do you expect a person who has no respect for constitutionalism for their own constitution within the party to come and respect the national constitution more especially with power being challenged,” he said.
He also said the constitution should have compelled political parties to practice intraparty democracy as opposed to just giving it as a right.
He said the current constitution says political parties have the right to practice democracy but did not compel them to do so something he said would have discouraged office bearers from hanging on to positions indefinitely.
Meanwhile Mr Saunders said it is difficult for political parties to establish themselves properly hence leaders hanging to their positions for a long time.
He said parties become almost personal to holder because when parties grow people come with ill intentions which may end up destroying the party because of one not appreciating the efforts a leader had scarified.
Mr Saunders has said that the electoral commission needs more powers to punish political parties if political violence is to be curbed.
Mr Saunders said the ECZ in its current form is just a spectator when it is body that is suppose to be regulating political violence in conjunction with the Zambia police.
He said if ECZ was given mandate to institute punitive measures such as disqualifying political parties found wanting, parties would not perpetuate political violence with impunity.
“I would like to see a situation were the ECZ is given the kind of powers they need to maintain law and order in the electoral system of any election, be it by election or general election. I would like to the ECZ to be given the same powers as that of the electoral body of South Africa which has enough powers, it has enough powers that it was able to disqualify the ruling party from participating in an election until it sorted out its violent activities,” he said.
He said the country needs to agree to empower ECZ if the nation is to deal with political violence successfully.
He said the country needs a number of issues in the electoral process to be taken off the courts and live them with the electoral body so as to avoid petitions every time country has elections.
The Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) is saddened by the death of four people in a road traffic accident that happened this morning.
Three people died on the spot among them two girls from Moomba Secondary School in Chisamba District after a Toyota Hiace minibus they were being driven in, lost control and overturned on the Great North road near Savanna Park.
The other pupil died at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH).
The conductor of the bus is among the three that died while the driver and nine other children, seven girls and two boys from the same school are admitted at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka.
Among those admitted is the driver Lucky Chimanga, 24, of Chazanga in Lusaka.
Preliminary accident investigations conducted by the RTSA have revealed that the driver is unlicensed to drive a Public Service Vehicle (PSV) and does not qualify to drive a PSV due to the fact that he is below the age of 25 years old, the required age to obtain a PSV Drivers License.
The investigations also revealed that the driver was over speeding, and lost control while trying to overtake another vehicle from the left side, and overturned several times.
“As the RTSA, we are saddened by the loss of young lives through an accident that could have been avoided had the driver been stopped and withdrawn from driving the vehicle he is unqualified to drive,” says agency Spokesman Frederick Mubanga.
He added, “In line with this, the Agency is warning motorists without Diving Licenses to refrain from driving, as those found wanting will face the wrath of the law. Further, we caution all motorists to observe appropriate speed to avoid road traffic accidents.”
FILE: President Edgar Lungu with Dr Evely Nguleka ZNFU President duringthe Launched the Electronic Voucher System for the Farmer input Programme in Choma Mbabala constituency on Monday 12-10-2015. Picture by Eddie Mwanaleza/ Statehouse.
The Zambia National Farmers’ Union has welcomed the decision by ZESCO to withdraw the tariff application made to the Energy Regulation Board (ERB).
ZNFU President Evelyn Nguleka said the Union believes this move by ZESCO will now help farmers increase their production of irrigated crop particularly in areas that are experiencing dry spells in the country.
Dr Nguleka added that it will be easier for farmers to engage in planting winter crops including wheat, sugar cane and barley in the next few weeks.
She said these crops require affordable electricity to support massive irrigation regimes for improved productivity to achieve food security for the nation while earning foreign exchange from exports of the surplus crop.
“It was indeed difficult and costly for farmers to undertake meaningful irrigation when electricity tariffs had increased by 350 per cent for farmers falling under the MD category at a time when commodity prices have remained low on both local and international markets,” she said.
Dr Nguleka said the Union is, however, aware of the limited progress recorded so far in growing the energy sector largely due to the electricity tariffs that have remained low for a long time.
She said ZNFU has always advocated for a phased approach in electricity tariff increments as opposed to a huge one-off increase that would have not only have undermined crop and agro-processing, but also threatened food security in the country.
“It is our sincere hope that dialogue between government and private sector players will continue in arriving at an appropriate level of electricity tariffs that would attract more investments in the energy sector while at the same time supporting primary production in agriculture.”
ZAMTEL faces imminent collapse as a result of serious management and financial crisis, civil rights activist Brebner Changala has warned.
Government, he said, must urgently intervene by instituting a thorough forensic audit which senior employees are demanding.
Mr Changala cited the case of the crippled and non-performing internet service for which Zamtel was continuing to receive payment.
“Instead of alerting the nation about the breakdown, they have continued to collect money from customers. This is virtual theft,” Mr Changala said.
But when contacted for a comment Zamtel managing director Mupanga Mwanakatwe told the Daily Nation newspaper to write to his office requesting for a comment.
Mr Changala revealed that ZAMTEL had in the past one month failed to provide internet services and that the workforce at the institution had become highly demotivated because of the management crisis at the institution.
“Senior management employees are despondent and demotivated by the kind of situation prevailing in the company which must be dealt with urgently. Zamtel is in very bad hands and unless Government comes to this realization it will be too late to take remedial measures,” Mr Changala said.
He called on the Minister of Transport and Communications Kapembwa Simbao and the Minister of Finance Alexander Chikwanda to immediately order for a forensic audit at ZAMTEL because there were fears that the company was being extensively mismanaged.
Mr Changala said in an interview yesterday that ZAMTEL, in its current form and shape, was ‘‘nothing but a failed project’’ and unless drastic measures were taken, there was a danger that one of the country’s sensitive installations was going to collapse.
Mr Changala said the security of the country could easily be compromised if Government was going to hesitate to take drastic measures that could save ZAMTEL from total collapse.
ZAMTEL was sold to LapGreen of Libya barely five years ago but the Patriotic Front (PF) reversed the sale soon after assuming power in 2011 under former president Michael Sata and now the country’s single telecommunication company is on the brink of insolvency.
He said he was disappointed that the Zambia Information and Communication Technology (ZICTA) had lamentably failed to supervise ZAMTEL and should therefore take full responsibility for its state.
“ZAMTEL is going through serious management and financial crisis and until and unless Government moves fast to commence forensic audit at the company, there is a real danger that the only State-owned telecommunication installation could easily collapse. We must not wait until such a calamity befalls us and that is why I am appealing to Mr Simbao and Mr Chikwanda to immediately commence a forensic audit to establish the extent of the management and financial crisis that has hit the company,” Mr Changala said.
He revealed that management at ZAMTEL had also cancelled leave days for all its workers because the company had no capacity to liquidate the amount of money that had been accrued by its workers.
Mr Changala said there had been a lot of disenchantment among workers and that it had become important that the management and financial chaos be corrected in the shortest time possible.
Mr Changala complained that his internet service had not been working from 22nd January and that management at the institution had not provided him with any answers to his queries.
But Mr Mwanakatwe said he had no idea what Mr Changala was talking about and urged the Daily Nation to write him a press query before he could respond to the matter.
“If you want any information about Zamtel put it in writing and we shall respond… but if you want to go ahead and publish the story, you are free to do so,” he said.
The hiked presidential nomination fee has given room for the two top political parties to compete without much interference, Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) has said.
YALI president Andrew Ntewewe said the United Party for National Development (UPND) and the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) were the only parties capable of winning this year’s elections and the rest should consider rallying behind them.
‘’The problem is that we have had people that form a political party today and tomorrow they want to run for presidency; this is what we as YALI term as jokers. Why not support the candidates that are already there, because it is an open secret that we have two contenders for the presidency, even a child will tell you if you do a simple survey they will tell you that it is either Edgar Lungu or Hakainde Hichilema, why are we failing to accept that ?” Mr Ntewewe asked.
He explained that such leadership could no longer be supported as the new Constitution demanded a popular president.
He added that elections were very expensive and couldn’t afford to embrace political games.
“The spirit of the new Constitution is such that people who aspire for presidency must be popular and acceptable,” he explained.
Mr Ntewewe said issues like those of the national voters register which each presidential candidate had to be given was draining tax payer’s money with the mushrooming of many parties.
He also noted that requirements such as ferrying polling assistants from every political party to observe the ballot paper printing process was costly hence the cutting down on the numbers of candidates would be cost effective.
He said the required k75,000 fee for an aspiring presidential candidate would filter all smaller political parties to pave way for serious parties to contest.
Mr Ntewewe said the fee was a way for aspiring candidates to contribute to the running of elections which was expensive.
He said there were a lot of costs associated to the preparation of elections which needed sharing.
FODEP Executive Director McDonald Chipenzi
The Forum for Democratic Process FODEP has called on the two factions in the MMD to resolve their differences amicably.
FODEP Executive Director McDonald Chipenzi said it was disappointing to note that the MMD did not learn anything from what transpired last year in the run up to the elections.
Mr Chipenzi said it was disheartening to see the former ruling engulfed in endless wrangles when it is supposed to be rebuilding itself adding that it would be political suicide for individuals in the party to refuse to abide by the rules that govern the party.
“As FODEP we are always concerned when political parties seem to have arguments or intra-party differences which seem not to end. We thought the MMD learnt a lot towards 2015 elections and we didn’t expect that we should have another situation just a few months before elections,
“Our hearts bleeds when we see the MMD being engulfed in intra-party differences and those differences seem to be perennial without a solution so we call upon the leadership to rise above board and bring some unity and understanding within the party because it will be very sad to see MMD dying the way UNIP has gone almost into oblivion as if it was not a party which was felt by the natural resources of this country. ” he said.
He noted that it would be sad to see the party considered to be the mother of democracy in the country dead and buried because of a few individuals who can not sit down to resolve their differences.
He said it was important that rules are followed and that continuing to quarrel among themselves is only making the party weaker when elections are approaching.
“It is important that the rules of the game are followed so if some members are calling for a convention and maybe they have resources for that convention let them go for the convention and put everything to rest because if they don’t do that then they will continue quarrelling while election day is drewing closer meaning they will go in an election at their weakest point.
“They have a mammoth task, let them resolve this issue and the earlier they do it the better. If members are calling for a convention it would be political suicide for anyone to refuse to go for the convention so let them follow what their constitution says and if they can’t do that for one reason or another we feel that dialogue should be used,” he said.
Police Spokesperson Charity Munganga
Police have issued a warning to parents in the Copperbelt who are calling for protests over the closure of the country’s largest universities.
And the Police has refuted reports that they broke doors to arrest innocent students who did not take part in the riots.
Speaking ZNBC TV 2 breakfast program morning live police Spokesperson Charity Munganga said police will not condone any demonstrations and has called on people in the Copperbelt not to listen to calls on social media urging parents to mobilize and stage peaceful protest to force government reopen the 2 Universities.
Ms Munganga said the police will not tolerate lawlessness and that they will not hesitate to arrest anyone who will try to bring disorder and disturb the peace.
“There is this message that is circulating on social media calling on parents to come together and demonstrate so that the two universities can be opened procedure is very clear,the Public Order Act provides that people should give a notification, its not just that people should mobilize themselves because they have children who are at these universities, they have to follow procedure.
“As long as they don’t follow procedure all those who will found in that demonstration be it 10 people all whatever we are going to arrest them because not going to allow such a situation because these are the situations that end being sources of anarchy,,” she said.
Meanwhile Ms Munganga said the police does not go after students locked in their rooms but that they only break doors of the students they see running away from the scene of the riots.
Asked how it can be possible the police to properly identify students considering the distance between the hostels and great east road Ms Munganga said the police are able to remember the faces of the students who take part in the riots.
Professor Stephen Simukanga
FORTY-THREE universities which applied to be recognised as institutions of higher learning have failed to meet the required standards of registration and accreditation, Professor Stephen Simukanga, the Higher Education Authority director general, has said.
Professor Simukanga has said Higher Education Authority would soon publish a list of legally registered public and private higher institutions of education.
He said at the close of December last year, the authority received 53 applications out of which 10 universities were approved.
Prof Simukanga said the list which shall be published in the Government Gazette and media at the monthend of February, would reveal the institutions which are supposed to be operating.
“This comes following a process of reviewing applications from existing and new private colleges and universities, which are now required by law to register with the authority. “It is a requirement according to law that both public and private universities and colleges must register with the higher education authority, hence the process of receiving and reviewing applications,” he said.
Prof Simukanga said Government would soon issue an ultimatum to all higher institutions to either register with the authority or face the law.
He said at the month end of this month a list of legally registered universities and colleges will be released in order to notify the public on which universities and colleges were recognised.
“It is for this reason that we shall also embark on a sensitisation campaign of the public and the proprietors of universities and colleges,” Prof Simukanga said.
He urged higher education institutions to improve their standards according to the regulations to enable them continue operating.
In the recent past, there have been concerns on the numerous mushrooming colleges and universities in the country and the higher education authority started working to correct the situation.
The authority which was instituted in 2014 through an Act of Parliament had been preparing frameworks which it has since started implementing.
ZCCM Investment Holdings PLC (ZCCM-IH) says it has embarked on an ambitious diversification programme which will see its interests extended to the manufacturing, power generation, agriculture and real estate sectors.
ZCCM-IH Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Pius Kasolo told delegates to the 2016 Investing in African Mining Indaba in Cape Town yesterday that the diversification programme as part of rebranding from a mining company which the institution has continued to be associated with.
Speaking when he made a presentation entitled ‘Diversifying the Investment Portfolio’, Dr. Kasolo said the programme has advanced with work on establishing Zambia’s biggest cement manufacturing company already started.
Dr. Kasolo said financing for the 5, 000 tonnes-per day-cement company which will be established at Ndola Lime Company Limited, has already been secured. The plant will be self-sufficient in electricity as it will have a 52 megawatt power plant constructed alongside the main project.
He said the cement company will utilise about 22 megawatts of the electricity generated while the excess will be sold.
Dr. Kasolo said that apart from helping to bring down the price of cement, the plan was also to cushion the suffering of mine employees on the Copperbelt who recently lost their jobs through retrenchment.
“The main task I was given at my appointment was to industrialise Zambia and I can assure you that we have started and we are well on course. It should be acknowledged that the lower the price of cement is, the more development you trigger because everyone including private citizens will be involved in construction,” Dr. Kasolo said.
He said, to leverage on the power deficit, ZCCM- IH has diversified into thermal power generation through Maamba Collieries Limited, in which it held 35% shareholding.
It currently has shareholding portfolio in 16 companies, including biggest mines such as Kansanshi mining plc, Mopani copper mines and Konkola copper mines.
ZCCM-IH, with its partners has invested close to $850 million at Maamba Collieries Ltd, to construct a thermal power plant which will produce 300MW of power by mid-2016 and 600MW once completed.
ZCCM IH has about, 2000Hetares of land in Lufwanyama with a water frontage on the Copperbelt Province, which has great potential for farming high yielding crops such as soyabeans, oilseeds and maize or livestock (cows and pigs) and fisheries (aquaculture).
“When privatisation occurred assets were issued to residents and companies as a form of payment. Certain assets were forgotten, and upon discovering that we have a number of properties, we decided to capitalise on them, upgrading and renting them out.”
Separately, Dr. Kasolo earlier disclosed that ZCCM-IH had partnered with locals in Luapula Province to explore for manganese. The project has already been funded and would soon start mining operations.
He said ZCCM-IH had a community gold mining project in North-western Province in which they had partnered with Chief Kasempa and with Chief Ingwe community in the Katoka Mema Gold Mining project.
Dr. Kasolo is part of the Zambian delegation led by Minister of Mines and Minerals Development, Mr. Christopher Yaluma, at the world’s biggest mining conference which is underway in Cape Town until 11th February, 2016.
Others are Deputy Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Mr. Richard Musukwa; Deputy Minister of Finance, Mr. Christopher Mvunga and Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa His Excellency Mr. Emmanuel Mwamba.
Mr. Mwamba stated that Zambia would present a strong and emphatic case to underline the fact that the country remained one of the most suitable, strong, and stable investment destinations in the world.
He pointed out that the Mining Indaba presented a perfect opportunity to market Zambia to the rest of the World.
He explained that Mr. Yaluma and his team had a busy week during which they will make presentations and speak at various highly strategic panel discussions.
Mr. Yaluma started with speaking at the 4th Annual Ministerial Symposium on Sunday; on 9th February, the Minister will attend the World Bank-organised Special Information Session dubbed Good Governance is Good Business while on 10th February, Mr Yaluma will lead a high-powered group that will team-up to make a country case study presentation on Zambia. Others in the team are Mr. Mvunga; Vedanta Resources Plc Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Tom Albanese; Dr. Kasolo; Gemfields Chief Executive Officer, and Mr. Ian Harebottle.
Mr. Yaluma has also held side meetings with various potential investors and interviews with both local and international media during which he laid out challenges and solutions being pursued by Government in the mining sector.
The conference has attracted speakers from all over the world that include Ministers of Mines, representatives from mine houses, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, Africa Development Bank and others.
(R-L) ZCCM-IH CEO Dr. Pius Kasolo, Wood Mackenzie Senior Research Manager Mr. Nick Pickens, Eurasian Resources Group Sales Director Mr. Giles Smith and Senior Research Analyst from Bernstein Mr. Paul Gait during a panel discussion on 8th February, 2016(R-L) Ivanhoe Mines Limited President Mr. Lars-Eric Johansson, ZCCM-IH CEO Dr. Pius Kasolo and Wood Mackenzie Senior Research Manager Mr. Nick Pickens during a panel discussion on 8th February, 2016Mines Minister Mr. Christopher Yaluma (r) with His Excellency Mr. Emmanuel Mwamba meet Vandeta Resources Plc CEO Mr. Tom Albanese.Mines Minister Mr. Christopher Yaluma (c) with UK Trade Investment Specialist Ms. Ros Lund, Mines Deputy Minister Mr. Richard Musukwa, (extreme left), and His Excellency Mr. Emmanuel Mwamba at the the 2016 Mining Conference in Cape Town on 8th February, 2016 Mines Minister Mr. Christopher Yaluma in an interview with SABC’s Liabo Setho at the Mining Conference in Cape Town on 8th February, 2016Mines Minister Mr. Christopher Yaluma in an interview with SABC’s Liabo Setho at the Mining Conference in Cape Town on 8th February, 2016
Growing up I absolutely hated Impwa, they were too bitter and I didn’t enjoy them at all; but like most of the food that I now eat, once I got older I started enjoying them. Shaped similar to an egg or a pear, Impwa are small white eggplants, these are significantly smaller than their purple eggplant counterparts. They are often harvested when they are very young and called “Baby eggplants”; they have a creamy texture and mellow flavour when cooked. Small eggplants are low in calories and high in vitamins and nutrients such as B vitamins, magnesium and potassium; and are an excellent addition to any meal. These eggplants are available during the summer months and because of their small size and sponge-like qualities they can soak up a lot of bold flavours; making it easy to cook them in a variety of ways – mixed with ginger, garlic, chilli and all types of spices. They can be cooked in a number of ways; pan-fried, deep fried, grilled and baked and compliment stewed meats, baked fish, chicken and even cheese. White eggplants have a short shelf life once harvested, so should be consumed roughly within 5 days.
If you are still trying to convince your kids to eat these, shake up the way you cook them and try out this easy and delicious recipe – Baked eggplant with cheese.
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 35 minutes
Serves: 4 people
8 small white eggplants, sliced in half – long ways
Salt & Pepper
1 tsp of Garlic powder
192g of breadcrumbs
2 eggs
1 (740 ml) jar of tomato & basil pasta sauce
170g of cheddar cheese, grated
½ a pack of fresh basil (optional)
Method
First remove some of the bitterness of the eggplants. Peel and slice each eggplant, sprinkle with salt and rinse in a colander under the tap. Let them drain for about 30 minutes. Prepare a baking tray with foil or greaseproof paper and set aside.
Preheat the oven to 200 ?C. In a bowl mix together the breadcrumbs, 1 tsp of salt, 1 tsp of pepper and 1 tsp of garlic. In a separate bowl beat the eggs until smooth. Dip each eggplant into the egg mixture, making sure each side is coated with egg, then immediately dip them into the breadcrumbs, coating each side. Place them on the baking tray and bake for 20 minutes; turning them over once, half way through. Remove them from the oven and set aside.
Now pour half of the jar of tomato and basil sauce onto the bottom of a different baking tray. Spread the Impwa evenly over the sauce, pour the remaining half of sauce over the Impwa and sprinkle the grated cheese over the top. Bake for another 15-20 minutes, until the cheese has melted, is slightly golden around the edges and the sauce is bubbling. Remove from the oven and sprinkle the basil over the top.
Serving
Serve immediately whilst piping hot and bubbling. they can be eaten on their own, as an appetizer or a snack.
The kids will love this, the cheese completely disguises the Impwa; and they won’t feel like they are eating boring veggies; and of course you will be happy because you are packing in all those nutrients. Enjoy!
Kanta Temba is a cake maker and decorator. She is also the owner and founder of Kanta Kakes – cake shop.
You can find her work onwww.kantakakes.com. Follow her on twitter @KantaKakes and Instagram @KantaTemba.
HH addressing members of the Zambian Diaspora and South African business community in Johannesburg
Yesterday evening we were honoured to address members of the Zambian Diaspora and South African business community in Johannesburg, including representatives from the South African Chamber of Commerce.
We enjoyed meeting many of the audience members in the interactions that followed, and we talked a lot about the various opportunities and challenges that exist in the region currently.
It is clear that there is untapped appetite for investing more into Zambian businesses and sectors, but there is also understandable concern about some of the issues that we are facing such as the power shortages and exchange rate volatility. The point of these forums is not to spread ‘doom and gloom’, but to have an open and honest discussion about how to remove any current barriers to investment and then get things moving. This is the essence of constructive dialogue.
We talked about opportunities in various sectors, notably agriculture, our ambitions for double-digit growth and attracting greater investment into the country. We spoke about the vast opportunity that exists for investment into projects that will help diversify our crop and in areas of value-addition that we are very keen to promote because of the numerous knock-on benefits that come from this area. By adding value locally we can lower pressure on food prices and exchange rate pressure and create additional jobs.
We are always informing our policies based on consultation and again what we are hearing is that more investment can be brought into Zambia but we need to do three things better: 1. Marketing our country and defining the opportunities 2. Providing stable and clear business regulations 3. Sorting out the problems in the energy sector that drive up costs and create added uncertainty. A stable and conducive environment for business is well within our reach if we cut the waste, cut the red tape and the reduce the time and cost of securing various permits.
We would like to thank those who made it to the talk this evening for their time and such a warm welcome. We hope to host you in Lusaka soon where we can move our discussions forward.
Hakainde Hichilema
UPND President
HH addressing members of the Zambian Diaspora and South African business community in JohannesburgHH taking questions from members of the Zambian Diaspora and South African business community in Johannesburg
Only one Zambian player has made the 2016 CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) All-Stars team.
There was no place for goalkeeper Jacob Banda who kept a cleansheet in four matches in open play at the tournament before Zambia exited the CHAN at the quarterfinal stage 5-4 on post-match penalties after their extra-time last eight tie against Guinea finished 0-0.
Also not on the list was his Zesco club mate and midfielder Cletus Chama whose two assists helped Zambia to the knockout stage with a match to spare.
However, that honour went to Zambia captain and striker Christopher Katongo who has been picked as one of the substitutes in the CHAN All-Stars .
Katongo scored one goal at the tournament following his recall in December to the Chipolopolo fold for the first time since October, 2014.
Best XI
Goalkeeper: Ley Matampi (DR Congo)
Defenders:Abdoul Karim Dante (Mali), Joel Kimwaki (DR Congo), Cheick Ibrahim Comara (Ivory Coast), Mohamed Youla (Guinea)
VITENGE NI VATU, a Zambian clothing line on Wednesday opened the 2016 fashion week show at Alliance Francaise in Lusaka.
The show, which ends on Tuesday, saw upcoming designers such as Chikondi Mwanza, Martha Chikumbi, Ruth Chimbala and Annie Kamanga, showcasing their designs for the first time.
In an interview with the Weekend Mail, Vitenge Ni Vatu vice president Precious Ng’oma said the fashion show was aimed at promoting the African fashion by working with upcoming designers in the fashion industry. “The event has been opened and our main interest is to work with upcoming designers in the fashion industry and it is great to see upcoming Zambian designers showcase their talent,” Precious, who is also model coach for Vitenge Ni Vatu, said.
She said Vitenge Ni Vatu 2016 fashion show, which attracted 18 designers, was aimed at creating a platform where youthful and passionate imminent designers can showcase their God-given talent.
Precious, who is also face brand ambassador, said Vitenge Ni Vatu concept aims at embracing African culture by showcasing African fabrics. “Anything Zambian bring it on … we love Zambia and we love to work with vitenge. It’s not only about the Zambian arts of fashion, but all things to do with Africa, be it art, music or culture, we just value the authenticity that the African continent has to offer,” Precious said.
She is confident the fashion show will help contribute to the growth of the fashion industry and encourage the community to embrace the African prints.
The 18 designers will be showcasing their designs each night.
Other designers in attendance include Deborah Mulenga, Donaila Mwale, Alai Kunda, Cecilia Njobvu, Miriam Mwamba and Debora Sehela.
Ngoma wants the budding designers to work hard and continue improving their designs. “In life, we must never remain stagnant, so I would like to see them strive to beat the creativity levels exuded this time around and bring us even more amazing designs in the near future,” she said.
HH with Felix Mutati after the interview
Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) members who want Lunte member of Parliament (MP) Felix Mutati to take over as party president have vowed to continue putting pressure on the current party leadership led by Dr Nevers Mumba until a national convention is held before April 2016 ostensibly in line with the party constitution.
Some of the party members calling for a convention said yesterday that they want Mr Mutati to head the party and get into an alliance with the United Party for National Development (UPND) ahead of the August 11 general elections.
But Mr Mutati said in an interview that the members are calling for a national convention because it is in the interest of the MMD.
Mr Mutati said calls for a national convention are not about individual members as perceived.
Mr Mutati said he is just among many MMD members calling for the national convention to resolve issues in the party.
“I don’t have any appetite to promote violence in the country,” he said.
Yesterday, two MMD rival groups clashed physically at the party secretariat in Lusaka’s Kabulonga and left a trail of destruction.
One group comprises members calling for a national party convention to elect leaders while their rivals are MMD president Nevers Mumba’s supporters.
The cadres besieged the MMD secretariat in busloads and stoned five vehicles, including a bus belonging to Flash Bus Services, which was used to ferry cadres who wanted to present a petition to MMD president Nevers Mumba demanding that he should call for a convention.
Around 10:00 hours , a horde of cadres who are demanding that the MMD leadership should hold a national convention to elect new leaders, was ferried to the party secretariat and attempted to present a petition to Dr Mumba but they were repelled by Dr Mumba’s supporters before they could disembark, sparking scenes of violence.
Police officers arrived at the scene and fired teargas canisters to disperse the unruly cadres and arrested four in the process.
Dr Mumba charged that the cadres were sent to the secretariat by people bent on destabilising the party.
He said in an interview yesterday that the MMD is intact and will not hold a national convention to elect new leaders.
Meanwhile, MMD National Treasurer Ms Elizabeth Chitika has exposed the duplicitous character of Lunte Member of Parliament Felix Mutati and that he has been the shadow behind the confusion that engulfed the party soon after the election of Party President Dr. Nevers Sekwila Mumba.
A poorly designed official 2016 United Party for National Development (UPND) calendar headed “2016 UPND NEW TEAM FOR 2016 FOR ALL ZAMBIANS” shows pictures of various individuals including UPND President Hakainde Hichilema and his wife, a picture of late UPND founding president Anderson Mazoka (MHSRIP) and United Liberal Party (ULP) President Mr. Sakwiba Sikota was unearthed in Lufwanyama during the party mobilization tour late last year.
Others on the calendar are former MMD minister Mr Vernon J Mwaanga, Alliance for Development and Democracy (ADD) President Charles Milupi and several current UPND Members of Parliament but shockingly, this line-up also includes Mr Mutati who is referred to as a “UPND Official” in a caption under his picture.
