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Hosts Nkana have qualified to this afternoons Nkana Friendship Tournament they are staging away at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka.
Nkana beat promoted Lusaka Tigers 2-0 thanks to a brace by striker Walter Bwalya in the 58th sand 84th minutes.
The 12-time champions will face old foes City of Lusaka after ‘Yamoto’ beat Napsa Stars 1-0 courtesy a Clement Mundia 49th minute goal.
Nkana, who finished 8th in the 2015 FAZ Super Division season, are using the tournament to fine-tune the team for the forthcoming campaign that kicks off on March 12.
Lumwana Radiants coach and ex-Chipolopolo defender Allan Kamwanga has attained a CAF C licence certificate.
Kamwanga last season guided Lumwana to Super Division promotion.
The former Mufulira Wanderers defender was among 30 coaches who underwent a two weeks intensive CAF “C” licencing course at Lusaka’s Olympic Youth Development Centre.
Others were former Chipolopolo defender Dennis Banda,Dears Kakunta, Owen Kaposa and Sekelani Mwale.
FAZ president Kalusha Bwalya officiated at the graduation.
“The era of just anyone becoming a coach because he or she has played football in their life is gone.Just like any other profession, football requires one to be schooled before they can sit on the bench be called coaches” Kalusha said.
“I want to remind you that obtaining the paper alone is not enough. You have a bigger role now to put into practice what the lecturers have taught you and further impart the same knowledge to other who may contemplating coaching as a career,” he said.
THE Young Women Christian Association (YWCA) has expressed concern over the increasing reports of young girls carrying alcoholic beverages in their drinking bottles when going to school.
YMCA Copperbelt regional co-ordinator Sharon Chisanga said in an interview yesterday that so far her office has received 15 cases of young girls drinking beer at school.
“One of the parents came here to report that their daughter came back home drunk from school. We did an investigation and actually found out that there are a lot of girls who carry alcohol to school in their drinking bottles,” Mr Chisanga said.
She urged school authorities to be vigilant and monitor the activities of pupils in school.
Ms Chisanga also appealed to parents to check what items their children carry to school.
Youth, Sport and Child Development Minister Vincent Mwale at the UN ECOSOC Youth Forum in New York, USA, February 2016. Photo | Chibaula D. Silwamba | Zambia UN Mission
Minister of Youth, Sport and Child Development Vincent Mwale has called for the provision of entrepreneurship skills and startup capital to youths to create employment and wealth.
This is contained in a statement issued by First Secretary for Press and Public Relations, Permanent Mission of Zambia to the United Nations(UN) Chibaula Silwamba yesterday.
The minister was addressing African youths during the breakout session on “key regional priorities for youth development in Sub-Saharan Africa” during the just-concluded United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum 2016 in New York, USA.
Mr. Mwale urged African Governments to put the young people at the centre of their national development.
The Minister expressed concern about the mismatch between the skills that tertiary education institutions were imparting in students and the requirements of the labour market.
“We have young people that graduate from universities and colleges but do not have the right skills that are required on the market. The education system is kind of misplaced,” Mr. Mwale said. “What is needed is the right education to provide the right skills that are required. One of the best ways to eradicate poverty in Africa will be through the provision of the right skills to our youths.”
Mr. Mwale urged African youths to be innovative and turn the natural resources into finished product.
He said improving the manufacturing industry would reduce Africa’s dependence on imports.
“We have enough resources to produce sufficient goods and services within Africa and provide job opportunities for every young person on the continent,” said Mr. Mwale. “We need young people to engage with the Government.”
The Youth Forum 2016 under the theme: “Youth Taking Action to Implement the 2030 Agenda” attracted over 1000 participants, including 21 Ministers, international organisations’ leaders, UN agencies, civil society leaders and youths from across the globe at UN Headquarters on 1st and 2nd February, to chat the way forward on youths’ participation in the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Youth, Sport and Child Development Minister Vincent Mwale at the UN ECOSOC Youth Forum in New York, USA, February 2016. Photo | Chibaula D. Silwamba | Zambia UN Mission
President Lungu with Vice-President Inonge Wina, Commerce minister Margaret Mwanakatwe and newly appointed Commerce deputy minister Raymond Mpundu after the swearing-in-ceremony at State House on Tuesday, November 10,2015 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
Deputy minister for Commerce, Trade and Industry Raymond Mpundu says regime charge will not solve the country’s economic woes.
Mr. Mpundu says the electorate must not be hoodwinked by the opposition that the charge of government will solve the country’s economic woes.
He said the PF government under President Edgar Lungu and his predecessor late Republican President Michael Sata has performed exceptionally well.
The Deputy minister was speaking at the handover of 1, 951 pieces of furniture worth about Six Point Seven Million kwacha ( K 6.7 million ) to Kashita Secondary School in Nchelenge District of Luapula Province yesterday.
Mr. Mpundu, who is also Nchelenge Constituency PF Member of Parliament, said the economic challenges in the country is global and cannot be blamed on President Lungu and his administration.
The global economic meltdown and volatile climate conditions have not spared major economies citing South Africa as one example adding that Zambia is enduring this blatant reality, he said.
“ It will be folly and hash for the Zambian people to judge the PF government in comparison with past governments that the country has had because of different economic climates, ‘ said Mr. Mpundu.
He noted that the first republican President Kenneth Kaunda ascended to the highest office of the land when the Zambian currency had comparable advantages with the world’s major currencies because of competitive copper prices.
The Nchelenge lawmaker said the unstable copper prices and the volatile climatic conditions are at war with the good policies of the PF government and President Lungu’s administration.
Mr. Mpundu urged the people of Zambia and Nchelenge in particularly not to be swayed by political opportunists ahead of the 2016 general elections.
He said the Zambian people must be alive to these realities and give President Lungu and his team another five year mandate in order to grow the country’s economy.
Green Party leader Peter Sinkamba
Opposition Green Party (GP ) Peter Sinkamba has appealed to Republican President to revise the nomination fees of Presidential candidates.
Reacting to the Electoral Commission of Zambia ( ECZ ) ‘s announcement of the nomination fees for Presidential, Parliamentary , Town Mayor , District Chairperson and Councillor alike, Mr. Sinkamba says the nomination fees need to be revised as they are outrageous.
We are extremely disappointed with the Electoral Commission of Zambia for abnormally increasing the nomination fees for presidential, parliamentary and ward elections, he has said on his Facebook blog.
He explained that the increase is against government’s pro-poor policies to capitalist policies which will make leadership positions to be a preserve for the rich.
“Whilst I can afford to pay for my presidential nomination fees, I find this measure extremely ridiculous because it bars rural populations from participating in governance systems.
“It is a very sad development for the country, especially for rural constituencies and wards where 80 percent of the people live in abject poverty. It will be literary impossible for most rural candidates to afford these fees, “ he said.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia ( ECZ ) Wednesday February 4, 2016, increased the nomination fees for the August 11, 2016 general elections.
ECZ Chairperson Justice Esau Chulu this week revealed that his Commission has increased the nomination fees for Presidential Candidates at K 75, 000 while that for parliamentary candidates is now at K 10, 000.
The Mayoral Candidates and that of Council Chairperson will be required to pay a nomination fee of K 10, 000 and K 5000, respectively.
Justice Chulu added that for Councillors in City Councils and Municipals , the candidates would pay a nomination fee of K 2000 while their colleagues in rural councils will pay K 1, 500.
All aspiring candidates will be required to make a 50 percent non-refundable down payment for them to be included on the nomination calendar, said the ECZ Chairperson.
President Lungu
THE International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has praised the Zambian Government for the steps it has taken to end over-dependency on copper mining.
IFAD president Kanayo Nwanze said depending on a single commodity to run the economy was not sustainable.
Dr Nwanze said the Rome-based organisation, which is the leading multilateral investor in the livelihoods of poor rural producers in developing countries worldwide, would back Zambia’s efforts to invest in agriculture.
IFAD’s work is directed by the needs and concerns of poor smallholder farmers, agricultural labourers, pastoralists, foresters, fishers and small entrepreneurs in rural areas.
Its highly specialised mission is to enable poor rural people to overcome poverty, and to help them improve their lives by building farm and non-farm enterprises that are viable, sustainable and integrated into national and global markets and value chains.
Dr Nwanze was speaking after holding private talks with President Edgar Lungu at the IFAD headquarters on Friday afternoon. The talks lasted about 20 minutes.
“I assured your President that we will fully support his efforts to diversify the economy because that is the right thing to do,” he said.
He also said IFAD had appreciated the positive impact of the Farmer Input Support Programme through which the Government had been supporting small-scale farmers with subsidised farming inputs.
Dr Nwanze said IFAD was working towards helping small-scale farmers in adapting to challenges resulting from climate change.
He said he had had a positive discussion with President Lungu, who was accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba, his special assistant for Press and public relations Amos Chanda, special assistant for political affairs Kaizer Zulu, Zambia’s Ambassador to Italy Gertrude Mwape, and other senior Government officials.
Dr Nwanze said IFAD would do everything possible to help Zambia overcome its challenges in the agriculture sector as that would rejuvenate the country’s economy which had been dependent on copper for many decades.
“…prepare the way for the Lord…”
(Isaiah 40:3, NIV)
Make Preparations
Everyone goes through seasons of waiting. A lot of times, people just sit back and wait for God to do something. But did you ever think that God might be waiting on you to do your part? Part of making preparations means talking like it’s going to happen and acting like it’s going to happen.
Some people might say, “Well, what if I do this and it doesn’t happen?” But, what if you do, and it does happen? And even if things don’t turn out the way you had hoped, you’re still better off living your life filled with expectancy than going around down and discouraged.
David said, “God, my times are in Your hands.” He was saying, “God, I don’t know when it’s going to happen, but I know You know what’s best for me.” So I’m going to go out today expecting good things. And even if it doesn’t happen, I’m not going to go to bed all disappointed. I’m going to go to bed knowing that I’m one day closer to seeing my dreams and desires come to pass!
A Prayer for Today
“Father, I dedicate this day to You. Show me how to prepare for Your blessing in my life. Help me guard my words and thoughts as I put my trust in You in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
UPND Chairperson Mutale Nalumango
United Party for national Development (UPND) national chairperson Mutale Nalumango has rubbished reports of a rift in the party and that she was ever talked down by a Senior UPND official.
Reacting to rumours created by her absence the press briefing which was attended by Mr Hichilema, his deputy Geoffrey Mwamba and former Commerce minister Bob Sichinga as well as other senior party officials, Mrs Nalumango said it was normal for her not to attend every press conference the party held.
She said she could not make it for yesterday’s briefing but would be present at the next briefing.
Mrs Nalumango said what mattered was that she was a senior member of the UPND and had her duties to perform and that speculation about her being ‘‘dressed down’’ by one of her colleagues were unfounded.
“It is normal for me not to attend every party event or press conference. If one was called tomorrow, you will definitely see me. So it is not correct to impute that there are problems in the UPND and your speculations are certainly unfounded.
“Whatever you are insinuating are your own imaginations. For me what is important is that I am UPND and I will remain so,” Mrs Nalumango said.
The Daily Nation recently revealed that Mrs Nalumango was verbally abused by a senior leader of the UPND and even threatened with physical harassment at a national management committee meeting, the story she said was not true.
THE absence of UPND national chairperson Mutale Nalumango at a press briefing to welcome defectors yesterday led to people to suspect the insults she endured from a top party official recently could have been the cause.
Mrs Nalumango was last weekend allegedly “dressed down” in the party’s management meeting when she questioned why a named top official was dissolving grassroots committees and putting in place new ones without her knowledge as a chairwoman.
A UPND official who attended the press briefing but sought anonymity said Mrs Nalumango’s absence at the press briefing yesterday gave an idea of the tension between her and her fellow senior party member.
The official said Mrs Nalumango as party chairman was rarely absent during such important events of receiving new members.
“Was Mutale there? What does that tell you? Because you know Mrs Nalumango is always present at such events,’’ the official said.
He said the apparent ‘‘animosity’’ between the two senior members had become a source of concern to UPND president Mr Hakainde Hichilema as he did not know how to deal with the situation.
“The situation is simmering but it is still under the surface, you cannot see it. It is now bottled up. Everybody is cagy and people are just watching each other now. It is very worrying especially for Mr Hichilema as president,’’ the source said.
The official said it was worrying that the party had not taken any measures to reconcile the two parties.
Kambwili addressing Mporokoso residents
Chief Government Spokesman Chishimba Kambwili has said that Government may consider taking back to Parliament the grade 12 constitutional clause for revision.
Mr. Kambwili however, stressed that this will be dependent on reaching consensus among stakeholders who include the opposition in Parliament.
The minister explained that the grade 12 constitutional clauses is not about the Patriotic Front party but that it is about government and the opposition reaching consensus.
Mr. Kambwili was speaking in an interview with ZNBC’s Effie Mphande shortly after he addressed a public meeting in Mpika District.
Mr. Kambwili said his assessment during his official visit to Muchinga province is that people want the clause to be changed.
The minister said the concerns being raised on the grade 12 constitutional clause are genuine and that he will report to the President.
During his visit to Muchinga province many people complained that the grade 12 constitutional clause is discriminatory.
The minister concluded his two-day tour of Muchinga province last evening.
During his visit he addressed public meetings in Nakonde, Isoka , Chinsali and Mpika districts where he explained the development projects being undertaken by government and key clauses in the amended constitution.
Meanwhile, The Zambia Center for Inter Party Dialogue (ZCID) has opposed pronouncements by government that it may consider taking back to Parliament the Grade 12 constitutional clause for revision.
ZCID Executive Director Horrance Chilando told QFM News via telephone that government should not please the minority who are the politicians but should respect the wishes of the people who submitted it through different forums.
Mr. Chilando said that politicians should have also studied the content of the draft constitution before passing the most clauses into law.
Mr. Chilando said that government should not hear the views of the few politicians who are affected with this piece of legislation but respect what the people wanted to be enshrined in the supreme law of the land.
ZNFU President Dr. Evelyn Nguleka
A CLOSED door meeting was yesterday held between the donors and Zambia National Farmers’ Union (ZNFU) board and management.
Inspite of adjustments made to the draft report of over K34 million allegedly misappropriated by the institution, donors have maintained their stance to have ZNFU president Evelyn Nguleka and executive director Ndambo Ndambo removed and the misappropriated money returned and have given management two weeks in which to respond to the issues in contention.
And in a dramatic turn of events, one of the ZNFU directors has resigned following the revelation of gross financial irregularities which have engulfed the ZNFU as donors have threatened to pull out, with stakeholders calling for the disbandment of the organisation.
The meeting was aimed at ironing out the allegations as contained in the EMM Corporate Partners’ audit report and ZNFU’s subsequent decision to discredit the report and its desperate manoeuvres to lure the Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants (ZICA) to step in the case with a view to save ZNFU’s face.
A source close to the development told the Daily Nation that the donors have however maintained that there was still need for a thorough audit of the accounts department to rid the system of any dubious activities by effecting discipline on all those found wanting.
The source said the donors have also maintained that the money in question should be paid back to the institution by those who allegedly benefited from the well-orchestrated plunder scheme by senior officers. The source said the donors were disappointed by the development and wanted all the loopholes that allowed senior management, working with some accountants to abuse their positions by engaging in corrupt activities, sealed. Meanwhile, the Drug Enforcement Commission (ECZ) has officially written to ZNFU to answer to issues raised in the audit report.
Massive misappropriation of donor funds totalling to more than K34 billion in activities bordering on fraud, tax evasion and sheer abuse of authority was unearthed at ZNFU three weeks ago.
According to a preliminary draft financial report compiled by the Swedish International Development Agency obtained by the Daily Nation, the ZNFU top management compromised presidents of the organisation and boards which were supposed to provide oversight to avoid fraud, theft and abuse of funds.
The report cites a case where close to K1 billion of donor funds were used to pay a contractor for vehicle tracking when in fact the owners of the company were a senior ZNFU official and his wife.
Apart from contracting his own company ZNFU was overbilled for the use of the tracking system for vehicles, some of which did not belong to ZNFU.
The named official also allegedly incurred more than K4 billion in several allowances including gratuity, unretired imprest and many other expenses that could not be justified in the audit.
After the report was released, ZNFU board convened a meeting in a bid to discredit the audit report where it was resolved to, among other things, compel ZICA to review the entire audit process and findings of the EMM Corporate Partners with a view to appoint an independent auditor to be agreed upon between the cooperating partners and ZNFU.
But ZICA immediately refused to be dragged into the matter through the media because it was a professional body that followed procedure, adding that ZNFU had put it in an awkward position because it was in the dark concerning the audit that had raised the concerns.
President Edgar Chagwa Lungu and First Lady Esther Lungu listens to French Ambassador to Zambia Emmanuel Cohet before he layed a wreaths at Place de la Republic to show solidarity to the victims that were killed during the terrorist attack on January 7,2015 in Paris. This was on arrival in Paris, France on Feb 6,2016 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
Republican President Edgar Lungu has arrived in Paris for an official visit.
President Lungu ‘s plane touched down at Charles De Gaulle Airport at 15: 05 hours local time.
The President was accompanied by First Lady Esther Lungu, Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba, Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda, Special Assistant for Political Affairs Kaizer Zulu, and other senior government officials and Patriotic Front Deputy Secretary General Mumbi Phiri.
Immediately upon arrival, President Lungu proceeded to Place De La Republic to lay wreaths in wreaths in solidarity to the victims of the terrorist attacks on January 7, 2015 and November 15, 2015, respectively.
He was welcomed at the Charles De Gaulle Airport by Zambian Ambassador to France Humphrey Chibanda, France’s Ambassador to Zambia Emmanuel Cohel and Dr Fackson Banda on behalf of the Zambian community.
President Edgar Chagwa Lungu laying a wreaths at Place de la Republic to show solidarity to the victims that were killed during the terrorist attack on January 7,2015 in Paris. This was arrival in Parish on February 6,2016-Picture by THOMAS NSAMAPresident Edgar Chagwa Lungu and First Lady Esther Lungu listens to Frence Ambassador to Zambia Emmanuel Cohet before he layed a wreaths at Place de la Republic to show solidarity to the victims that were killed during the terrorist attack on January
Meanwhile, PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has described his tour of duty in Italy as fruitful, and his visit to the Vatican as spiritually invigorating.
Mr Lungu told Zambian journalists after touring St Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican yesterday that his visit here had been successful.
During his visit, the Head of State held meetings with International Fund for Agricultural Development president Kanayo Nwanze and Food and Agriculture Organisation director-general, José Graziano da Silva where he discussed wide-ranging issues regarding Zambia’s diversification programme.
The President, who was in the company of First Lady Esther Lungu, Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba, Zambia’s Ambassador to Italy Gertrude Mwape, Zambia’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Muyeba Chikonde, and other Government officials, arrived at St Peter’s Basilica at 09:00 hours, local time.
He was taken on a conducted tour of the magnificent structure by a Vatican official only identified as Marco for about one hour.
St Peter’s Basilica, the world’s largest church, is regarded as the centre of Christianity, and the picturesque structure was built over a span of more than 100 years by the greatest Italian architects of the era.
The church is built on Vatican Hill, across the Tiber River from the historic centre of Rome, at the location which is highly symbolic and attracts thousands of tourists from across the globe.
According to the tour guide, that was the site where St Peter, the chief apostle, died a martyr and where he was buried in 64 AD.
The highly impressive building has a 211.5 metre long nave, and the basilica’s dome is one of the world’s largest, measuring 42 metres in diameter and 132.5 metres high.
“This tour has been highly revealing and I am sure it has renewed our spiritual lives. My meeting with the Pope was special,” Mr Lungu said.
The President later left for Paris, France, where he is scheduled to witness the signing of three agreements.
Mr Lungu, who departed Rome at 12:55 hours local time, was seen off at Fiumicino International Airport in Rome by Mr Kalaba, Ms Mwape, and Mr Chikonde.
The Foreign Affairs minister told journalists that the agreements to be signed in Paris included one between Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation and France 24, and another one between the Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the French unit.
He was confident that the President’s business visits to Italy and France would benefit the Zambian people.
Mr Kalaba said the Holy See and his ministry had agreed to meet in April at the Vatican to form a joint permanent commission.
FILE: Assistant Returning Officer Gloria Phiri entering details of 4th revolution party candidate for Mangango Mukumbuta Kabuyana and his agents Bennie Chitumbu during the falling in of nominations at Mangango primary school
The announcement by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) regarding the hike in nomination fees and the grade 12 certificate requirement for various elective positions have come at the wrong time, despite the country’s need for improved quality of leadership.
WfC is of the view that the implementation of such requirements should have been gradual or subjected to a referendum for people to have a final say on matters that affect them.
Further, if the Bill of Rights was adopted through a referendum, access to education would have been guaranteed and would then eliminate the question of some sections of the population lacking a grade 12 certificate.
However, as things stand, many of the women, who form the critical mass will be pushed onto the side-lines of leadership because they have not been given ample timeframe and opportunity to upgrade their qualifications and meet the stated conditions by the ECZ.
It is common knowledge for families to take boys to school in place of girls when resources are few, while family property and wealth is in the hands of men and thus women in most cases are faced with poverty and this subsequently incapacitates them from vying for elective positions.
The fees for a presidential candidate have been revised from K10,000 to K75,000, for MPs from K500 to K10,000, for local government candidates from between K50 and K100 to K15000 and K2000.
Therefore, the implementation of the hiked fees in this year’s election and school qualification will further worsen the situation while ultimately it will impact Zambia’s democratic gain as a critical mass of our growing democracy will be left out of leadership due to highly inhibitive qualifications in the upcoming election.
In short, WfC is in agreement with the quest to improve leadership in the country but feels ample time should be given to the affected populace to prepare to meet the conditions. Further the constitution adoption process should have allowed the people to choose for themselves what they want and do not want as opposed to the manner it was adopted.
In saying the above, we urge the ECZ to revisit with immediate effect the implementation of the revised fees and the grade 12 certificate requirement in this year’s elections. We urge them to implement the said in the next elections to allow citizens to commence preparation to meet the outlined conditions in the interest of protecting democracy.
Lumba Siyanga
Executive Director
Women for Change
5 February 2016
President Edgar Lungu
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu says he will work hard to ensure that there is food security in the country.
Speaking when he paid a courtesy call at the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) headquarters in Rome, Italy yesterday, President Lungu said that he will ensure that he came up with programmes that would address climate change and in turn address food security issues in the
country.
Mr Lungu assured FAO that he would work closely with them to ensure climate change issues are mitigated.
”We need to adopt the best farming practises in the agricultural sector to boost food production in food deficit areas.” he said
Mr Lungu said government under the Ministry of Gender has been running a programme to promote value addition in the agricultural sector.
He also said government was engaging the private sector in the agricultural sector in order to boost agriculture.
And FAO Director General Jose Graziano da Silva has asked Zambia to access funds under the Green Fund to mitigate the impact of climate change.
The FAO Director General also disclosed that the global environment had authorised FAO to run the Green Fund.
FAO was running a programme to introduce the latest inventions and technology in the agricultural sector, he said.
Dr Da Silva further noted that FAO wants women to play a critical role in the agricultural sector.
And FAO Deputy Director General Helen Senedo commended government for successfully implementing programmes under conservation funding.
President Lungu was accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba, Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda
and Zambia’s Ambassador to Italy Gertrude Mwape among some other senior government officials.
The President also signed in the Golden Book of FAO.
