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Home Affairs Minister Davies Mwila
The registration of the newly formed Democratic Front has been revoked and cancelled with immediate effect.
Home Affairs Minister Davies Mwila announced the development during a news conference at his office in Lusaka.
Mr Mwila said the certificate of registration for the DF has been cancelled due the failure by the top leadership to change the ownership with party from Mr David Chanda to Mr Miles Sampa.
He said the committee that was set up to investigate the ownership of the DF recommended that it be deregistered and cancelled because of negligence and carelessness by previous owners,
Mr Mwila said it was further recommended that the certificate of registration be withdrawn from Mr. Sampa as there is no leadership of the DF currently.
He said the aggrieved parties are free to appeal the decision or go to court for redress.
And when reached for a comment, DF leader Miles Sampa said he will only comments after he received official communication from the Registrar of Societies.
President Lungu and First Lady Esther Lungu listens to Apostolic Nuncio Joseph Canalini on arrival at FCO,Flumicino Airport in Rome , Italy on Thursday, February 4,2016 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
President Edgar Lungu has arrived in Rome, Italy, ahead of his official visit to the Vatican, on Friday.
This is at the invitation of Pope Francis.
ZNBC’ s Mwila Nsofu reports from Rome that President Lungu, who is accompanied by First Lady, Esther, arrived at Fiumicino Airport, on Thursday, at 13:55 Hours Zambian time.
Foreign Affairs Minister, Harry Kalaba, Zambia’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Ambassador to the Vatican, Muyeba Chikonde and Zambia’s Ambassador to Italy, Getrude Mwape welcomed the President.
During his official visit to Europe, President Lungu, who left the country last night, is also expected to also visit France, at the invitation of President Francois Hollande.
According to President Lungu’s programme, will on Friday, hold a meeting with Pope Francis and the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
During the two-day official visit, President Lungu will also tour Saint Peter’s Basilica.
And Mr Kalaba has told Journalists in Rome, that the visit of the President is historic and aimed at cementing the relations with the Catholic Church and the Vatican, in particular.
Apart from meeting Pope Francis, President Lungu is also expected to hold bilateral talks with the Food and Agriculture Organization -FAO- and International Fund for Agricultural Development -IFAD.
President Lungu is also expected to meet Zambians living in Italy, before leaving for France, on Saturday afternoon, for another official visit.
In France, President Lungu, who left the country on Wednesday night, will hold meetings with President, Francois Hollande.
Mr Lungu becomes the third Zambian head of state, after the Late Levy Patrick Mwanawasa and Former President, Kenneth Kaunda to visit the Vatican.
President Lungu and First Lady Esther Lungu listens to Apostolic Nuncio Joseph Canalini on arrival at FCO,Flumicino Airport in Rome , Italy on Thursday, February 4,2016 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMAPresident Lungu and First Lady Esther Lungu listens to Apostolic Nuncio Joseph Canalini on arrival at FCO,Flumicino Airport in Rome , Italy on Thursday, February 4,2016 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
THE Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) has acquired land at the Multi-Facility Economic Zone (MFEZ) in Lusaka South for the construction of a computer assembly plant.
ZICTA public relations manager Ngabo Nankonde told the Daily Nation yesterday that the authority was on course in ensuring that the assembly plant was completed by 2017 as scheduled for the authority to begin assembling computers locally.
Ms. Nankonde said the authority had already contracted consultants which were working on the design for the US$6 million mega structure to ensure building started in the shortest possible time.
She also said that a team from within the institution had been constituted to oversee the preparations and construction of the facility to ensure that the project was completed within the specified time-frame.
“Land has been acquired at the Multi-Facility Economic Zone in Lusaka and ZICTA has put in place a dedicated team to ensure it operationalizes the computer assembly plant as scheduled.
“Furthermore, ZICTA has contracted consultants to ensure that designs for the plant are completed in the shortest possible time to allow for the commencement of plant construction,” Ms. Nankonde said.
She noted that the completion and operationalization of the computer assembly plant in Zambia would go a long way in alleviating the challenges that faced the Ministry of General Education in the area of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as schools will be able to access the computers locally, thereby reducing the shortages being experienced.
She said the project would ease access to computers among pupils and will address the challenges faced during ICT examinations.
“The computer assembly plant will supply computers that will cater for most of the examination centres under the Ministry of General Education, thus drastically reducing the deficit.
“More pupils will have access to the computers and thus will be able to sit for ICT skills exams. ZICTA will keep the public posted on any new developments regarding this project,” she said.
The construction of a computer assembly plant through ZICTA was initiated by Government in 2011 with focus on promoting e-commerce and use of ICT in trade promotion, establishing e-Government services and promoting e-education, e-health and e-agriculture, which would also promote universal access to ICT services and products to the people to boost job creation and increase productivity in the economy.
IN A typical case of love gone sour, a Lusaka policeman has been threatening to shoot his former wife after the two broke up.
Idah Phiri 34, of Chazanga narrated in the Matero local court that she fears for her life and that of her daughter because her former husband Philip Mwanza 39, of Matero Township has also been threatening to slash her throat and break her jaw.
Phiri sued Mwanza for restraining order over threats. The case was heard before magistrate Lewis Mumba. The couple who divorced eight years ago have one child together.
“Mwanza has been monitoring my movements. Sometimes he would come to my office and start tearing pictures on my wall and insult me in front of my workmates. He even refuses to pay tuition fees for her his daughter,” she said.
She wondered why he monitors her when he has re-married and has children with his new wife.
“I want him to stop interfering with my life. He claims he wants me to refund him for all the money he spent sending me to college when we were married or else he will shoot me,” Phiri said.
Mwanza said Phiri is an ungrateful woman as she does not appreciate what he did for her by sending her to school to further her education.
“It’s not true that I have been threatening to kill her. The thing is that I am an officer and I move with the gun everywhere I go,” he said.
The court granted a restraining order and warned of an arrest for contempt of court if he went 100 metres near Phiri.
The dam wall at the Kariba North Bank Power station
Water levels in Kariba Dam have significantly improved for the first time in nine
months following rains that have pounded the catchment area in recent days.
This is according to data from the Zambezi River Authority that regulates the world’s biggest man-made reservoir.
The development has raised hope that levels will rise to allow for resumption of normal power generation.
The Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) last year imposed a cap on daily water allocated to Zimbabwe and Zambia power authorities to stem the rate of water loss.
Levels increased by 3 centimeters (1.2 inches) during the week ended February 1, the Zambezi River Authority said in a statement posted to its website Wednesday.
Online newsletter, Wild Zambezi, also reported a significant rise in water levels in Victoria Falls further up the Zambezi River.
Using a comparison of two aerial images taken on December 4, 2015 and another one taken on January 15, 2016, it managed to observe an improvement in the water levels.
The Authority cut Zambia’s water allocation at the reservoir by half this year, which will allow it to generate an average 275 megawatts, from 700 megawatts in 2015.
The river continued to rise at the Chavuma measuring station, which is the furthest upstream from the dam, and was 43 percent higher on February 1 than a year earlier, according to the authority.
At Victoria Falls, flows increased more slowly and were 19 percent lower than the same time in 2015.
Water is now flowing over a bigger part of the falls.
That’s the first weekly gain since at least April.
The dam rose to 12 percent of capacity, after dipping to 11 percent on January 27, as inflows from the Zambezi river that feeds it increased and rains fell in the area.
The development has also brought hope that increased water flow will result in improved water levels in Lake Kariba downstream.
The rising waters could enable the Zambian government to avert a total shutdown of the hydropower plant at Kariba.
The Non-Governmental Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) demanded for gender balancing and equality for the Presidential candidates and the running mate.
NGOCC Executive Director Engwase Mwale said the women of Zambia want to see a situation where if the Presidential candidate is male, the running mate must be a woman and vise-versa.
Mrs. Mwale noted that despite the fact that the number of women is higher than men (constituting about 51%), they have, over the past years, continued to face challenges in fully participating in various local and national development processes and programs.
She said it is evident that society still has a bias towards the male gender which continues to disproportionately impact on women’s access to various services and benefits.
Mrs. Mwale said it is unacceptable that 51 years after independence, the participation of women in politics has remained low both at Parliamentary and Local Government levels.
She said it is saddening that while political parties have made some cosmetic pronouncements about adopting more women, there is a general lack of concrete measures by most of these parties to enhance women’s participation at Parliamentary and local government levels.
“We also note that the newly amended Constitution in its preamble, confirms “the equal worth of women and men and their right to freely participate in, determine and build a sustainable political, legal, economic and social order.” NGOCC therefore demands that all political parties mainstream gender equality and equity by adopting equal numbers of both men and women and youth as Parliamentary and local Government candidates,” she said.
“We also further demand for gender balancing and equality for the Presidential candidates and the running mate. Article 110 (1) provides that there shall be a Vice-President for the Republic who shall be the running mate to a presidential candidate in a presidential election. As the women of Zambia, we want to see a situation where if the Presidential candidate is male, the running mate MUST be a woman and vis-versa. As we have always stated, Zambia will only achieve socio economic development if both men and women work together.”
She said the 2016 elections present the perfect opportunity to remedy the gender imbalances concerning the exclusion of women’s participation in politics.
“We hope all Political Parties will take advantage of this opportunity and adopt more women aspirants, more so on the highest positions of President and Vice President. We urge all Zambians, especially women voters to critically scrutinize all the political parties carefully before August 11 to ensure they are promoting the inclusion of women aspirants at local government, parliamentary and where possible, at Presidential level.”
Mrs. Mwale said Zambians should only support a political party that will guarantee “a society where women will fully participate and benefit from the social, cultural, economic and political development of our country.
The Patriotic Front in Kasama District says all its party structures are intact contrary to misleading reports that the party is not united.
District PF Chairperson, Teddy Mweshi, has since refuted assertions by people claiming to be defecting from the ruling party to join the opposition, saying they are not PF members.
Mr Mweshi said the defections are being stage-managed as some of the defectors were actually from the opposition political parties themselves.
He advised Zambians to scrutinise individuals seeking public office in order to choose credible people with the interest of the nation at heart.
Mr Mweshi observed that Zambia is a Christian nation and as such peace is vital to national development.
He urged new members wishing to join PF to do so as the ruling party holds a clear vision of sustaining development in the country.
Meanwhile, Mr Mweshi is confident that the PF will emerge victorious in the August 11 tripartite elections because it is well organised.
He has since appealed to genuine PF members to continue being united and hardworking ahead of the elections.
The Zambia National Education Coalition (ZANEC) would like to request the Ministry of General Education to revisit the newly revised user fees in order to further reduce them.
ZANEC as an organisation that works to promote access to quality education for all (orphaned and vulnerable children of all ages) in rural and urban areas of the country, feels that the revised school fees are still high for the majority Zambian population.
This may render many eligible school children not to access quality education, especially in rural areas based on the evidence from our Members Organisations countrywide and other stakeholders.
Zambia has well over 700,000 Out of School Children (OSC) as a result of poverty and high user fees, including costs of transport and uninforms. It is ZANEC‘s observation that the Ministry of General Education as the custodian of education in the county is duty bound to ensure that every Zambian child is given an opportunity to access quality education.
Recently, the Ministry of General Education directed secondary schools to charge school fees as follows;
1. Boarding schools: Between K700 and K1000 per term( According to the Ministry of General Education this depends on the needs of the school and the kind of diet the Parents Teachers Association would like the pupils to have).
2. Day schools: Between K250 to K500 per term.
3. Pupils sitting for the General Certificate of Education:
Centre fee: K100
Practical subject fee: K50
Tuition fees: K50 per subject
It is ZANEC‘s observation that the fees would be in addition to the PTA fees. It is also our considered view that the Ministry of General Education should also prescribe the maximum amount chargeable PTA fee so that all schools would be charging uniform fees taking into consideration geographical issues and cost of living in general.
We feel that the Ministry should have taken into consideration that many parents/guardians especially in rural communities are not able to meet the cost of education for their children as they are peasant farmers.
It is ZANEC‘s considered view that if the government does not revisit the fees, the country risks throwing its young learners into the street to the detriment of national development and create instability in the country. We further call on the Ministry to consult widely with members of the Parents Teachers Associations (PTA) before effecting new fees.
We take this opportunity to remind the government of the day that they promised in their manifesto, to ensure that education would be free from early learning to secondary education. We are expectant that the fees will therefore be reconsidered accordingly.
Furthermore, Zambia through the current Head of State agreed to the Sustainable Development Goal Number Four in September, 2015 at the UN Special Assembly to ‘ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all’
President Edgar Lungu’s invitation to the Vatican by the Holy Father Pope Francis is a “major diplomatic coup” as far as uniting Zambians under the umbrella of Christianity and boosting unity is concerned, a senior diplomat has said.
Mr Anthony Mukwita, the Chargé d’affaires at the Zambian mission to Stockholm, Sweden has equally hailed President Lungu’s invitation to France by President Francois Hollande as a ‘ground-breaker’ in enhancing France-Zambia relations in what may become a ‘win-win’ economic relationship soon.
“These two visits are symbolically and diplomatically crucial to Zambia as President Edgar Lungu continues to push Zambia back on the top of the global map as a strong diplomatic player while enhancing Economic Diplomacy at the same time,” Mr Mukwita said.
It is important to note that no Zambian President has received a personal invitation to visit The Pope since independence on record, albeit the Holy See has had wonderful diplomatic relations with Zambia spanning 50 years back.
“Zambia in terms of African catholic population numbers has perhaps one of the fairest numbers standing at about three million Zambian Catholics, or more than a quarter of the population of Zambia…this perhaps shows how important the church is to the Zambian leadership and to the people, albeit the country respects every religion equally,” said the diplomat.
President Lungu joins the short-list of world leaders that have received rare honours to visit “the most revered man in the Christian faith” of 1.2billion people globally.
Others include President Barak Obama who met the Pope in March, 2014 followed by a reciprocal visit in the US last year.
Only six Catholic Popes and twelve US Presidents since 1919 have met, while President Lungu becomes the first Zambian President, by invitation to visit the Pope in 50 years of relations at the Holy See.
Pope Francis has recently visited the Presidents of Central African Republic, Uganda and Kenya in November 2015, at the same time, as he sent his Secretary of Foreign Relations the Archbishop Paul Gallagher to invite President Edgar Lungu to visit him at the Vatican.
President Lungu shall on the same crucial scheduled visit go to France after meeting the director generals of the FAO and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) while in Italy as he pushes a ‘diversification’ agenda.
In France, President Lungu will be the second leader to enjoy an Official Visit at the Élysées Palace.
Late President Frederick Chiluba had a State Visit from 10th to 12th June in 1992 while President Lungu enjoyed a visit to Paris as Minister of Home Affairs in December 2013, making this trip a proverbial ‘home coming’.
Last year, President Hollande sent a very special enjoy, Madame Ségolène Royale, the influential Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy to personally invite President Lungu to this Official visit that breaks a long stand-off between the two countries following President Lungu’s election in 2015.
President Lungu’s Holy Father visit on the other hand has been seen by many as an ’acceptance by the Vatican of his unwavering commitment to God, love and unity.’
It also comes months after President Lungu re-affirmed that Zambia shall remain a Christian nation and also declared 18th October as a national day of prayer and public holiday according to a recent statement by Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda.
Recently President Lungu took time off his heavy schedule to raise money for the inter-denominational ’House of Prayer’ construction at the Government Complex in Lusaka were he continued to beseech Zambians to seek Gods guidance in daily challenges.
Mr Chanda has described both trips” as very important without comparison” to the Christian faith and important to enhancing great French-Zambian relations.
Trade volumes between Zambia and France have recorded an upward rise especially in non-traditional exports in the last five years running in the excess of US$35 million annually.
Some exports from Zambia to France include tobacco, cotton linters, cotton, sunflower and crocodile and snake skins, including turtles.
Mr Chanda adds that the continued invitations and invitations could mean President Lungu is ’pushing the right buttons diplomatically and at home’ despite global challenges affecting every country on the globe currently.
And Mr Mukwita said,” for us as diplomats, every visit (by President Lungu) and out-come thereafter gives us more impetus to sale Zambia as a great country with a great leadership…a global destination amidst global challenges.”
An affable radio executive finds himself competing for the affections of his step-children following the unexpected reappearance of his wife’s ex-husband.
PROS
Terrific performance by the whole cast. Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrel worked splendidly together.
Extremely funny from beginning to the very end.
The story-line was simple enough for the people of all ages to follow, making it a good movie to watch with the whole family .
CONS
The plot of the movie is to straight forward and predictable.
FAVORITE QUOTES
Brad:” No, I’m not OK! I’m in a wall and I’m scared!”
Dusty: ” Hey kids, there is someone here now that I hope you guys can learn to love”
Kids (together): “A doggie! Yay!”
Brad: “I thought you were talking about me.”
Dusty: “But you are not a dog, Brad”
CONCLUSION
Will Ferrel was comedic gold in this movie. His chemistry with Mark Wahlberg was excellent, they worked really well together. The two have worked together before as mismatched buddy cops in “The Other Guys”. Having them pitted against each other this time around is way funnier.
The story-line was pretty basic, if you watch the trailer you get the idea of what the movie is all about, which makes it a bit predictable. With that being said it is still super hilarious.It is filled with funny situations and amusing quips. Apart from all the humor, it is also a story about the importance a father has in a child’s life, whether he is the biological father or not.
Elias Chipimo, Miles Sampa and Erick Chanda
The recently launched Orange Alliance has dismissed assertions that it is tribal.
Alliance Spokesperson Eric Chanda says to the contrary, the three political parties that form part of the alliance draw their memberships from the different provinces and diverse tribes.
Mr Chanda adds that the Alliance has also made it clear that its doors remain open to new members regardless of one’s tribe.
He states that the Alliance will therefore not be distracted by any negativity from anyone.
Mr. Chanda further states that the Alliance has been formed to redeem the people of Zambia.
On Tuesday, National Revolution Party (NRP) president Cosmo Mumba charged that Matero Member of Parliament Miles Sampa was a disgrace to Bembas because he had undermined their unity by employing divisive tendencies among them for forming the Democratic Front (DF) to split their loyalty to the PF.
Dr. Mumba said Mr. Sampa’s move to launch the controversial DF was retrogressive and that his motives to divide the Bembas showed that he was a political amateur who did not understand what politics was about.
He said Mr. Sampa’s desperation would cost the country dearly as Zambians would be robbed of national unity and development if a different party came into government as it would never continue with the PF’s developmental agenda as it would be a trial version government.
He said Mr. Sampa should be ashamed of himself for engaging in tribal politics by thinking that he was proving a point to the PF but dismantling its strongholds by using his tribe and former president Michael Sata’s legacy.
“Sampa is a political amateur who does not understand that his actions to form a party in order to divide the Bemba vote have huge effects on the future and development of the country.
MMD President Nevers Mumba says leadership battles in the former ruling party are an indication of how strong the party is.
Dr Mumba tells QFM News that if the former ruling party was weak as its critics claim, it would not have had so many leadership battles than any other political party in the country.
He points out that the MMD’s strengthen stems from its well established structures across the country.
Dr. Mumba says people having been fighting for the MMD leadership with their lives because they know that its existence and structures are well established.
He adds that the MMD is a very strong political with a membership drawn from across the Country.
And Dr. Mumba has declined to comment on the suggestion that he may not be President Edgar Lungu’s running mate if the MMD and the PF manage to seal an alliance.
Meanwhile, the Lunte MMD Member of Parliament has charged that all MMD Members of Parliament are to blame for the current frail state of the former ruling party.
Mr. Mutati says MMD MPs must share the blame and get together in ensuring that the former ruling party gains ground ahead of the August 11 General Election.
President Edith Nawakwi addressing the media in Lusaka
FDD President Edith Nawakwi has accused the UPND of going round the country and telling people that the two parties are working together and will form an alliance ahead of the August elections.
Speaking shortly after a private meeting with the NGOCC Ms Nawakwi said some members of UPND especially some “crooked” MPs from Southern Province are telling people that they will go in an alliance when it is not true.
She said the UPND were feeling the heat in Southern Province which they think is their bedroom but that wherever they go these days the people in the province are telling them that they want a woman President.
She explained that the people in the province have realised that voting for the same people has not helped them in any way and that they have seen the progressive ideas of her party hence their eagerness to vote for FDD.
She also wondered why “her brothers” were falling over each to form alliances as if the 50%+1 vote was a new thing in the country, adding her party has the clause in the party constitution and that she become party President after a rerun because there was no clear winner in the first round.
She said the clause is there to help the country have a President chosen by the majority of the people and that it is not a blessing for unholy alliances made for the sake of forming government.
President Edgar Lungu and his entourage inspects the maize field which is critically hit by drought, will effect 2015/2016 harvest season today.
By David Kapoma
I note with concern that politicians and other stakeholders have continued politicalizing the anticipated importation of maize grain from South America with misleading statements.
It is sad that stakeholders especially politicians are accusing government officials and the president of issuing contradicting statements over the capacity of maize in the country despite all of them assuring the nation that we have enough maize in the reserves to last until the next harvesting season.
It is important for the citizens to realise that the president and his ministers are all saying the one thing that the country has enough grain and no Zambian will go hungry. The citizens need to understand that the anticipated importation does not factor in the maize that is yet to be harvested for the current farming season.
In as much as it is true that action is needed to address the 200,000 metric tonnes deficit, it is gratifying that government has assured the nation that the country has enough stock in the reserves to last until the next harvest season meaning that as we harvest in the next season the country may have enough grain and may not need to import the grain as anticipated.
Just like any Zambian, the stakeholders must concentrate on providing solutions to the problem rather than criticising even when it is not necessary. All stakeholders must show genuine concern and avoid misleading the nation with negative statements that have the potential of causing panic among the citizens.
Going forward I want to urge the government to seriously consider investing in irrigation farming and empower small scale farmer with equipment to enable them engage in irrigation farming in order for them to effectively contribute to mitigating the impact of climate change.
Finally I want to remind politicians and indeed other stakeholders that we all have a duty to disseminate the right information to the citizens and avoid alarming the nation with untruthful statements. The politicians especially those in the opposition must show leadership during a time like this and provide solutions to the current administration rather than cerebrating about the anticipated food shortage.
Health Minister Joseph Kasonde
MINISTER of Health Joseph Kasonde says Government will save millions of kwacha spent on sending patients for treatment abroad following the modernisation and installation of equipment at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH).
Dr Kasonde said the installation of the computerised tomography scan (CT scan) machine, catheterisation laboratory and renal unit will help Government save millions of kwacha.
He was speaking when he commissioned the installation of the modern medical equipment at UTH in Lusaka yesterday.
“It gives me great pleasure to be honoured with commissioning of modern medical equipment, which will enable people access treatment here in Zambia as this will significantly reduce on the money that Government spends on treatments abroad,” Dr Kasonde said.
the money that will be saved can thereafter be used for other development programmes.
“I will give you an example; Government, through my ministry, engaged a resident cardiac surgeon here at UTH who has since operated on more than 60 cardiac cases. This assisted in saving more than US$17,000 which was being spent on one patient abroad and we can use this money on other projects,” he said.
the catheterisation laboratory at UTH is the first of its kind in Central Africa and will significantly strengthen the provision of healthcare services in the country.
“The availability of this high-tech equipment will assist in achieving Government’s mission of providing equitable access to cost-effective, quality healthcare service that is parity with health services offered in the more advanced economies,” he said.
the modernisation programme at UTH is still underway and more than 70 percent of the works have been done.
“The modernisation programme involves the rehabilitation and refurbishing of the main theatre, the main pharmacy, the emergency room and ward G11 and the 2.5-kilometre stretch of the road network in the hospital premises has been resurfaced,” He said.
He is, however, saddened by the continued congestion at UTH mainly due to cases that can be treated and managed by local health facilities in the city and across the country.
“I have observed with sadness that UTH continues to be congested mainly by minor cases manageable at local clinics, so Government is strengthening primary healthcare service by building health posts and district hospitals across the country,” he said.
