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ZESCO has signed a US$45 million loan agreement with the Development Bank of Germany (KfW) for the rehabilitation and upgrading of Chishimba Falls Hydro-power Station.
The rehabilitation and upgrading of the power station in Kasama will increase Zesco’s average annual production by over 70,000 MWh of electricity on the grid.
Zesco managing director Victor Mundende signed for the power utility, while German Ambassador to Zambia Bernd Finke signed on behalf of KfW.
Speaking during the signing ceremony in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Mundende said the US$45 million loan for the rehabilitation and upgrading of Chishimba Falls Hydro-power Station will mark the official start of the implementation of the project.
Mr Mundende said the project will take about 24 months to complete.
He said the financing of the project has been split into a grant of €11.5 million by the German government and concessional loan of €30 million by KfW.
“The essence of improving on the generation, transmission, distribution and supply to Kasama will reduce poverty in rural areas, especially those in the north where population densities are low, high poverty levels and skill availability is relatively low,” he said.
Mr Mundende said this is in line with the development strategies adopted by the Zambian government to achieve 51 percent access to electricity for rural Zambia.
Mr Mundende said Zambia has the potential to exploit 6,000 megawatts (MW) of its hydro-power capacity within the country, but that only about 2,000MW is currently developed.
He said once implemented, Chishimba Falls Hydro-Power station will contribute immensely to the alleviation of the power deficit which the country is facing.
Mr Mundende said on November 12, 2015 Zambia and the German government signed two bilateral agreements of approximately €120.5 million.
Mr Mundende said the amount constitutes an increase of about 50 percent of German development support to Zambia since its last commitment in 2011.
“The German government is providing €80.5 million of this funding as non-repayable grants to the Zambian government to help foster development,” Mr Mundende said.
Mr Finke said the project is an important contribution to responding to the electricity challenges and the increasing electricity demands of the growing Zambian economy.
Mr Finke said through the upgrade, the capacity of the Chishimba Falls Hydro-Power station will be increased from six to 15MW.
Kambwili addressing Mporokoso residents
Government is happy that 85 percent works of the 175 kilometer Mansa-Luwingu road has been done.
Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, Chishimba Kambwili who visited the project site recently said it is exciting Copperbelt and Kasama are now connected through the Mansa-Luwingu road.
Mr. Kambwili has advised Zambians going to Kasama to consider using the Mansa-Luwingu road through the Pedicle road as it is shorter and cheaper.
He says the PF government’s target is to reduce the cost of transportation as a means of attracting development and opening up markets in rural areas.
The Minister has since thanked President Edgar Lungu for showing leadership in completing road projects started by late President Michael Sata as many did not believe that the Mansa-Luwingu road would be tarred as part of the Link Zambia 8000 road project.
And BARI Zambia the Project Supervising Consultants for China Henan International Corporation, the contractor working on the road, says 166 kilometers of the road has been tarred and only 9 Kilometres is remaining.
BARI Zambia Acting Resident Engineer Vera Hara says works for the 242-million dollar project will resume in March because of the rains and is expected to finish by August despite the contract running up to 2017.
Meanwhile Luwingu District Commissioner Patrick Chanda has appealed to the Road Development Agency -RDA- to consider taking portable weigh bridges on the road because there has been a rise in foreign truckers using the road.
And Government says it is considering financing options for the roads sector because there is pressure on the national treasury.
Works and Supply Permanent Secretary Charles Sipanje says Government will now consider Public Private Partnerships- PPPs and contractor financed projects.
Speaking when he appeared before the Parliamentary Committee on Government Assurances in Lusaka, Mr. Sipanje says Government will further accelerate the construction of Toll Gates in order to generate local revenue to finance road projects.
He says the economic challenges resulting from a fall in copper prices and strengthening of the US Dollar has affected the flow of resources from the Ministry of Finance.
He has however, assured the Parliamentary Committee that Government is working hard to complete the road projects.
And Parliamentary Committee on Government Assurances Chairperson Ambros Lufuma has urged the Ministry to work hard as the road projects are meant to better the lives of the Zambians.
President Edgar Lungu with Mr Harry Kalaba foreign affairs minister at NEPAD Summit
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has upheld his promise to only undertake international trips that are economically beneficial to Zambia, Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba has said.
He said here yesterday that the President’s meetings with the heads of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) tomorrow were a demonstration of his determination to see Zambia’s diversification programme to its logical conclusion.
Mr Kalaba said Mr Lungu’s administration was eager to shift Zambia’s economy away from over-dependence on copper mining.
He said the President’s meetings with FAO director-general, José Graziano da Silva and his IFAD counterpart, Kanayo Nwanze were crucial to Zambia’s fortification of the agriculture sector and mitigation of the effects of climate change.
Mr Kalaba said this when he addressed Zambian journalists at the Westin Excelsior Hotel, ahead of the President’s arrival in Italy today.
He said apart from his visit to the Vatican tomorrow, Mr Lungu would be here to draw from the expertise of the Rome-based organisations in order to cement the agriculture sector and, thereby, fight hunger and poverty among the Zambian people.
IFAD is the leading multilateral investor in the livelihoods of poor rural producers in developing countries worldwide, including Zambia.
Its work is directed by the needs and concerns of poor smallholder farmers, agricultural labourers, pastoralists, foresters, fishers and small entrepreneurs in rural areas.
IFAD’s highly specialised mission is to enable poor rural people to overcome poverty, as its overarching goal is 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.
By raising productivity, the programmes IFAD funds make it possible for smallholders to move beyond subsistence farming and grow surplus produce for the market.
The three main goals for FAO are eradication of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition, as well as sustainable management and utilisation of natural resources, including land, water, air, climate and genetic resources.
Mr Kalaba said the President had kept his promise to only undertake trips that would attract investments to Zambia.
“The President is serious about seeking investments into the energy, agriculture and all the sectors as Zambia needs to overcome its economic challenges. Climate change has not spared us and so we need alternative sources of energy.
“This is an important trip and the President is serious about cutting down on costs; that is why I am the only minister who has accompanied him here,” Mr Kalaba said.
President Lungu is expected to land at Fiumicino Airport in Rome at 12:40 hours, local time and will be in Italy up to Saturday, when he leaves for other business engagements in Paris, France.
Higher Education Minister Michael Kaingu (in white shirt
Government has today announced the indefinite closure of the University of Zambia Great East road campus and the Copperbelt University.
Higher Education Minister Dr Michael Kaingu announced the closure of the country’s two highest learning institutions at a news briefing in Lusaka this afternoon.
Dr Kaingu observed that the situation at UNZA Great East Road Campus and CBU in Kitwe has deteriorated to levels posing a threat to life and property.
He disclosed that all students are expected to leave the two main campuses by midnight tonight.
Dr Kaingu said the only students exempted from the closure are those from the school of medicine Ridgeway and Ndola campuses, graduate schools, evening, distance and parallel programmes.
He said the criminal behavior by students and known opposition activists has forced Government to take decisive steps to restore law and order.
Dr Kaingu claimed that two opposition leaders were spotted distributing t-shirts and pamphlets at several higher learning institutions including the two universities in recent weeks.
Below is Dr Kaingu’s statement in full
PRESS STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION, HONOURABLE DR. MICHAEL L. KAINGU ON THE OCCURRENCES AT THE COPPERBELT UNIVERSITY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF ZAMBIA
Good afternoon friends from the media
The situation at the University of Zambia Great East Road Campus and the Copperbelt University in Kitwe has deteriorated to levels posing a threat to life and property.
The criminal behaviour by students and known opposition activists has forced Government to take decisive steps to restore law and order.
Two opposition leaders were spotted distributing t-shirts and pamphlets at several higher learning institutions including the two universities in recent weeks. At Luanshya Trades Institute, known lecturers are actively distributing inflammatory literature and engaging in conduct inimical to the wellbeing of the academic life at the college. These and many other actions threatening law and order at higher learning institutions cannot be tolerated any longer.
As you may all be aware by now, there have been some disturbances at our two public universities, namely the Copper belt University and the University of Zambia purportedly emanating from delayed payment of meal allowances.
As a matter of background, you may wish to note that as a way of promoting access to university education, the Government provides support to vulnerable students in form of payment of the following:
Tuition and accommodation fees;
Accommodation refunds for students not accommodated by the universities;
Meal allowances;
Book allowances; and
Project allowances.
Modes of Payment
Tuition and accommodation fees are paid to the universities at the beginning of every academic year while other allowances are paid directly to the students.
Meal allowances are paid to the students at the beginning of every term. Book allowances are paid to students at the beginning of every academic year. Project and accommodation refunds are paid to entitled students upon receipt of information from the universities.
Payments to Students at the Copperbelt University
The Copperbelt University students were paid book and term one meal allowances on 10th June 2015 (at beginning of term one); term 2 allowances were paid on 9th November 2015 while project and accommodation refunds were paid on 18th January 2016. Part of the term 3 meal allowances were paid yesterday on 2nd February 2016. The allowance paid was K1, 317.50 per student. This is meal allowance for 59 days out of the 97 days for term 3.
Payments to students at the University of Zambia
The University of Zambia students were paid book and term one meal allowances on 18th November 2015 (at beginning of term one), while part of the term 2 meal allowances were paid yesterday on 2nd February 2016. The allowance paid was K1,192.50 per student. This is meal allowance for 53 days out of the 90 days for term 2.
On Friday 29th January 2016, students at the University of Zambia protested against delayed term 2 meal allowances for the 2015/2016 academic year. On Monday 1st February 2016, students at the Copperbelt University also protested against delayed term 3 meal allowances for the 2015/2016 academic year.
It is important to note that so far all allowances have been paid. The only allowance that was delayed was the meal allowance.
Despite assurances that students would be paid the meal allowance as soon as the Ministry of Finance releases funds for that purpose, students chose to take to the streets to disturb the general public and destroy property.
The delayed allowances were paid yesterday but the students have chosen to continue with their violent protests.
I am extremely saddened to note that students who are supposed to be vulnerable and are receiving this government support as a privilege have chosen to behave like thugs.
Due to the lack of a conducive environment for learning at the two public universities, it has been decided that the two universities close indefinitely. All students are expected to leave the two main campuses, namely CBU and UNZA by midnight tonight.
Regrettably, the disturbances at the two universities have been driven by known opposition elements seeking to extract perceived political gain out of the ongoing chaos.
A real and eminent danger to life and property now exists at the two universities and surrounding areas and, therefore, government has decided to act to prevent possible loss of life. Police will take necessary steps to restore law and order.
At CBU, the nation may wish to know that ten of the offenders arrested on campus who appeared in court yesterday are in fact not students but opposition activists. We question the involvement of these people in protests for students’ meal allowances.
The only students exempted from this closure are those from the school of medicine Ridgeway and Ndola campuses, graduate schools, evening, distance and parallel programmes.
Lastly, I wish to reiterate that Government will not tolerate rogue behaviour among university students. The nation looks up to university students as future leaders and it is unacceptable to see them behave like criminals.
A WOMAN of Misisi township has challenged the Chawama local court over the K250 child maintenance order granted to her saying it was not sufficient to sustain the welfare of her young children.
Mercy Zulu, 28, said her former lover has abandoned their children and has stopped providing for them.
Zulu complained that her former lover always hurls insults at her each time she asks for financial assistance for their children’s education.
Zulu was narrating before senior court magistrates Juliet Mwila and Kalunga Chansa in a case in which she sued Douglas Chirwa, 34, of John Laing Township for review of child maintenance.
“K250 is too little to meet the basic needs for my children. He needs to take responsibility as a father and ensure that he adequately provides for them. I want him to be giving me an allowance of not less than K500 monthly,” she said.
Zulu complained that each time she asks Chirwa for financial support, he suggests that she engages in prostitution to provide for their children.
“It is not fair that I have to struggle alone to provide for our children when he is still well and alive. He needs to start behaving like a father,” she said.
The court upheld the claim and ordered Chirwa to pay K300 monthly as child maintenance starting January month end.
The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) on Wednesday announced that the 2016 Super Division season will kick off on March 12.
Zesco United are the defending champions.
FAZ spokesperson Nkweto Tembwe said the season will start on 20th February with Charity Shield semi-finals while the final will be played two weeks later.
“The Super League will kick off in March on the 12th , while Divisions one, two and three will return to action on April 3, 2016.
The women league will kickoff on the 7th of May”, Tembwe said.
This years season is under the new league structure that has seen division one having four zones and the Super Division increasing to eighteen teams from the previous sixteen.
UNZA students are currently mobilizing at monk square
UNZA students are currently mobilizing at monk square to demonstrate over late payment of meal allowances.
The students are planning to block the Great East as some students have been heard chanting ” roadside road side.
The students last evening ran running battles with police when they blocked Great East Road.
Some students have been seen flocking to near by residential areas and shopping malls to avoid being caught up in the fracus in the likely event that demonstrations ensue .
Meanwhile, Police have arrested twenty six University of Zambia (UNZA) students in connection with last night’s riot at the Great East Road Campus.
Police Spokesperson Charity Munganga-Chanda has told QFM News in a telephone interview that the arrested students have since been charged with conduct likely to cause the breach of peace.
Ms. Chanda says the 26 students will appear in Court tomorrow.
She adds that Police officers are still keeping vigil at the campus to prevent the students from mobilizing.
Ms Chanda says Police will not hesitate to arrest any student found to be breaching peace.
Students at the University of Zambia yesterday ran riot demanding to be paid full bursaries.
This came barely 24 hours after students at the Copperbelt University also rioted demanding to be paid their meal allowances.
UNZA students are currently mobilizing at monk squareUNZA students are currently mobilizing at monk squareUNZA students are currently mobilizing at monk square
MINISTRY of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications Yamfwa Mukanga (right) with his Permanent Secretary Agnes Musunga during the sports festival at Barclays Sports Complex in Lusaka
Government says less than 10% of monetary value spent on construction projects goes to local contractors despite the fact that over 95% of the total number of registered contractors are local.
Speaking during the launch of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training manuals in Lusaka today Works and Supply Minister Yamfwa Mukanga said the current situation needed to be reversed but that this can only happen if contractors are equipped with the requisites for the industry.
He said in order to address the challenges, NCC engaged UNZA school of engineering to ensure that a stakeholder driven and meaningful manuals were developed in order to support the implementation of the CPD program of Small Scale Contractors and consultants.
The Minister said the Manuals comes as a result of the challenges faced by Zambian Contractors who indicated them through a consultative processes.
He said among the challenges noted were limited access to finance, limited technical and managerial skills, lack of access to plant and equipment and lack of knowledge in preparing tender documents.
He also said arising from a number of workshops a skills gap was identified some thing the training manuals will address.
And NCC Executive Director Charles Mushota said the Manuals have come at an opportune time as they will be useful in ensuring that the council provides relevant and structured information to contractors.
He said doing so will ensure that contractors get the knowledge they require to help them improve and grow the companies.
FILE: INFORMATION and Broadcasting Minister Chishimba Kambwili (r) and Choma Central Member of Parliament Conelius Mweetwa laugh and applause the dance by St. Mark’s Secondary School culture group (not in picture). This was during the Youth Day celebration at Choma stadium
UPND Spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa says his party will not fold its arms and watch the PF continue attacking them with impunity.
Mr Mweetwa lamented that the violence being perpetrated by the PF was unprecedented and that the opposition will no longer wait for protection from the enforcers of the law because they have the right to defend themselves.
He said while PF are going about breaking the law with impunity other political parties are being told to go and negotiate with the police command to enjoy their rights and freedoms.
“No body must expect us to remain law abiding when those who are suppose to mirror the face of democracy in the ruling party are breaking the law with impunity. When you have a ruling party that can send trucks and trucks to go and beat Miles Sampa, when you have a ruling party sending trucks and trucks of its cadres to go and demolish the UPND Secretariat in Kitwe, the law is only applied when it cadres from the opposition who are in action.
“The people who are supposed to show what democracy is all about, who must show by example are those in the government the same people acting with impunity and you live them and only talk about the rule of law when it is UPND cadres involved. We are not going to be idle and continue to be saying no let’s talk about peace,” he said.
He said people should not hid in the cacoon of being a peaceful nation when it is the people who are supposed to be protecting the peace who are sending their cadres to beat up the opposition.
He said time has come for the opposition to defend their rights because under PF it is not the law that dictates your enjoyment of your rights but the people in government.
He said when people are oppressed they always find a way of circumventing the oppressors hence the need for those who are charged with the responsibilities to maintain law and order must apply the law fairly so as to maintain the peace of the nation.
Zambia Library Service Chief Librarian Bwato Robinson (l) shows Education Minister Dr. John Phiri (c) the Mongu Libraryduring the Launch of the National Libraries Week at Mongu Librabry in MonguThe Ministry of Education says it is looking at possibilities of conducting the GCE exams early due to the elections which will be held in the same month when exams are suppose to start.
Minister of General Education Dr John Phiri has said that government and the Examination Council of Zambia are working on which month is best suited to have the exams because the same people who will be conducting exams are also involved in the electoral process.
He said it is the wish of government to see to it that the 2 activities are conducted smoothly without any problems.
The Minister further advised those who want to write the GEC exams to pay and register be 24th February 2016.
He also announced that 220 schools have been given provisional exam centre statuses across the country.
He said with the statuses given to 220 schools they will now be used as exam centres and that government anticipates an i increase in the number of pupils who will seat for exams this year.
He also implored on the schools approved to ensure that they put in place all the necessary requirements such as laboratories for them to acquire full exam centres status in the next 3 years as per government guidelines.
Talented Afro-Soul recording artist, Wezi presents her debut solo project ‘Uhai‘ .
She launched the album in a full house at Alliance Francaise. Wezi performed 12 songs and was joined on stage by Jay Rox, Cleo Ice Queen, Maureen Lilanda and a surprise performance from Zone Fam who sang ‘Translate’ with Wezi.
She had this to say on social media ”
“Uhai means Freedom. When you hear my Heart through the sound of my music know that it’s my soul singing. I was humbled that people came to see me sing on a Saturday night when they would have been anywhere else. I appreciate all who danced and clapped along to the African Rhythm from the stage, I appreciate those the cried and watched in silence as they listen to the lyrics and melody of the songs. A big thanks to the stars that came out to show some love [JAY ROX] I can’t put it words how thankful I am for the person you’ve been.. [ZONE FAM] for coming through and perform my favorite song by you. [CLEO ICE QUEEN] being that brave female MC.. beautiful on the inside and on the outside. [MAUREEN LUPO LILANDA] for being that mother that never neglects her child on and off stage.I have so many people to thank. I appreciate you all that came and also took selfie and bought the album.”
“Freedom to say no.
Freedom to be myself.
Freedom to cry and scream as loud as my soul needs.
Freedom to laugh out loud.
Freedom to suffer for what I believe in
Freedom to Sing my own songs
I’ve been opressed since the day my father died, family members disrespected my mother in my presence, schoolmates bullied me cause I was VERY different. My siblings were all dependants that never knew what it is to live freely without being told off harshly.
I have lost many along the way. Some because they didn’t believe in me and made me doubt myself, others because they didn’t understand me at all… there’s no such thing as a perfect life in this life time but I’m perusing a perfect God with my talent.. I dare to do it with no tags.
I refuse to be silenced. I refuse to live in fear. With God by my side I am untouchable. I am nothing on my own.
A life in Jesus Christ is Uhai for me.
THIS IS UHAI..”
WeziWezi & BombshellWezi and Maureen Lilanda
Jay RoxJay roxMaureen LilandaCleo Ice QueenWezi and Cleo ice QueenDope GWezi
President Edgar Lungu and his Vice President Inonge Wina at State House yesterday 02-02-2016.Picture by ROYD SIBAJENE/ZANIS
PRESIDENT Lungu has advised politicians against advocating constitution changes for political expediency.
He said those who jump at clauses they do not believe in like constitutional reforms will soon find out that the constitution is a reality and they will find it very uncomfortable to do politics.
“These politicians thought they were winning political mileage. If you do not believe in a cause, please do not advocate it, in case you get it. They were saying human rights. Human rights are coming and they are very worried. Why should they worry if they believed in it?” President Lungu asked.
The President said this at State House yesterday after swearing in Ms Thandiwe Oteng as Ministry of Justice permanent secretary in charge of administration.
He said the new constitution reflects the people’s wishes and Government must, therefore, do what people want.
President Lungu said this is a chapter in which most Zambian politicians merely want power and so they subscribe to causes that are popular at a given time.
“Zambians will judge between me and those others through the ballot who has political skills and judgment,” he said.
President Lungu said he has right political judgment and that is why he is head of State.
He said he knows what he is doing contrary to what some politicians think, that he does not know anything.
“I was watching footage of some politicians cheering themselves saying Lungu knows nothing. I know what I am doing,” President Lungu said.
Meanwhile, President Lungu has urged civil servants to support each other, especially when one is elevated to a higher position.
“In the past, the civil service has been complaining that it is not looked at as professionals and instead preference is political cadres for high-level jobs,” President Lungu said.
President Lungu also asked Vice-President Inonge Wina, who was present at the ceremony, as to why women do not support each other.
“Women, please support each other. Madam Vice-President, why shouldn’t women support each other in professional careers such as law or accounts, even in politics? If you do not support each other, how can the President support you?” President Lungu said.
He said it is actually women who go to him [President Lungu] to denounce their fellow women who are earmarked for promotion.
And President Lungu has tasked Ms Oteng to explore ways of collaboration with the Electoral Commission of Zambia to ensure that the Bill of Rights is included in the constitution at election time. Newly Appointed Justice Permanent Secretary Thandiwe Daka Oteng gives Oath to President Edgar Lungu at swearing in ceremony yesterday 02-02-2016.Picture by ROYD SIBAJENE/ZANIS
Newly Appointed Justice Permanent Secretary Thandiwe Daka Oteng gives Oath at swearing in ceremony yesterday 02-02-2016.Picture by ROYD SIBAJENE/ZANISPresident Edgar Lungu congratulates newly appointed Justice Permanent Secretary Thandiwe Daka Oteng after she gives Oath at swearing in ceremony yesterday 02-02-2016.Picture by ROYD SIBAJENE/ZANIS President Edgar Lungu (r) ,Vice President Inonge Wina (2nl) Justice Minister Ngosa Simbyakula (l) and newly appointed Justice Permanent Secretary Thandiwe Daka Oteng at State House yesterday 02-02-2016.Picture by ROYD SIBAJENE/ZANIS
Winnie Zaloumis addressing the press at MMD Secretariat on 31st January 2016
By Winnie Zaloumis
In recent months, there have been a spate of statements in the media dishonestly calling for a Convention for the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) in 2016 that were coming from disgruntled former members who were expelled, had defected to other parties or resigned. These impostors making statements in the media were all falsely claiming to still be MMD office bearers even though they have been replaced by others. They have no moral right to even say anything about MMD.
The issue of the Convention is the preserve of MMD members and the National Executive Committee (NEC). As per MMD Constitution in articles 14(2), 14(3), 15(1) and 19(g), only the NEC can make determination of the date and nature of the Convention. The five-year tenure of the MMD president is protected by the constitution in Article 40(1) and is not attached to the mandate of the current NEC. There is no provision for a presidential by-election in the MMD constitution anywhere.
Only an acting President elected by NEC can be subjected to a Convention at whatever time it is called. In our case, the current President Dr Nevers Sekwila Mumba is the product of a full-fledged Convention in 2012 that had more than a thousand delegates and comes with a constitutional mandate of five years that expires in 2017. The same constitution which provides for a Convention also provides for the security of tenure for the President.
The NEC as the highest party organ in between Conventions decided on 30th January 2016 to postpone the scheduled 2016 convention to coincide with the expiry of the President’s mandate in 2017. We are aware of the argument made by some expelled former MMD members who claim that the 2016 Convention for the NEC cannot be postponed because of Article 14(1) which provides for a regular Convention every 5 years. The last regular Convention was in 2011, meaning that the next one is in 2016, five years later.
However, we have a historical precedent of MMD Conventions not ever coinciding with the 5 year cycle. The first MMD Convention was held in 1991 but the next one was held in 1995, a year earlier than it should have been held. The next one was in 2001, six years later instead of five. Then it was held in 2005, four years later. The next one was supposed to be held in 2010 but it was pushed to 2011, six years later and not five. There is not a single MMD convention that was held 5 years after the previous one.
It is clear from this history that the date of the Convention is not fixed in concrete, but can be rescheduled outside the 5 year cycle for any compelling reason according to the circumstances at the time. Apart from 1991, history shows that having a convention in an election year is not advisable because the party has no time to heal from divisions that inevitably arise from having winners and losers.
The 2001 MMD convention coincided with the worst electoral performance of the party when it got 29% of the presidential vote. In 2011, MMD lost the elections after holding its convention just 5 months earlier. Having a convention in this election year would be tantamount to political suicide and the decision by the party to hold a convention in 2017 was thus prudent.
The same NEC that has powers to call a Convention as per articles 14(2) and 15(1) can decide to postpone or indeed bring forward the date of the Convention and they have done that now on five occasions. The rescheduling of the regular convention in previous years was done within the constitution because not only is the specific date of the Convention the preserve of the NEC, but it also has powers according to Article 56(1) “… to make regulations, rules and Standing Orders for the effective carrying out of the provisions of this Constitution”. The NEC therefore has constitutional powers to make a resolution to delay or bring forward a scheduled Convention.
As for the argument that the mandate of the current NEC will expire in 2016, there is no mention in the MMD Constitution anywhere of a five-year term of office for the NEC members and we challenge anyone to prove otherwise by quoting the appropriate article.
Ms Winnie Zaloumis is the MMD Deputy National Secretary
MMD CONSTITUTION: RELEVANT ARTICLES
ARTICLE 13
The Convention shall:
(f) by secret voting elect the National Executive Committee of the Party.
ARTICLE 14
(1) A regular Convention of the Party shall be held every five years.
(2) The Convention shall be summoned by the National Executive Committee one month prior to its meeting.
(3) The National Executive Committee when summoning the Convention shall distribute the agenda which it proposes to table at the Convention.
ARTICLE 15
(1) The National Executive Committee may on its own initiative, or at the request of at least one third of the Provincial Executive Committees convene an extra-ordinary meeting of Convention.
ARTICLE 19
The National Executive Committee shall have the following functions and powers:
(a) to be the Chief Political and organisational Organ of the Party.
(f) to be the highest organ of authority between two Conventions.
(g) to convene the Convention of the Party.
(o) to summon extra-ordinary meetings of the Convention as well as the Provincial and District Conferences.
ARTICLE 40
(1) The President of the Party shall hold office for two (2) terms of five years each and shall not be eligible for re-election.
ARTICLE 56
(1) The National Executive Committee shall have power to make regulations, rules and Standing Orders for the effective carrying out of the provisions of this Constitution and for the proper running of the Party.
A crop of maize for a peasant farmer in Chongwe
DEPUTY Minister of Agriculture Maxas Ng’onga says the country will have good maize yields in six provinces despite the devastating drought that has hit some parts of the country.
Mr Ng’onga said in an interview in Lusaka on Monday that good maize yields are expected in Luapula, Central, Northern, Muchinga, Copperbelt and Eastern Provinces.
“We have encouraged farmers in provinces that have experienced poor rains to practise conservation farming. One of the things we have been encouraging them is to adopt products like cassava, beans and vegetables that are drought-resistant,’’ he said.
Mr Ng’onga assured farmers that Government has a good plan to ensure that no one starves, including people in drought-prone areas.
“Zambians should not panic, nobody will starve or die of hunger. Government will ensure that the food stocks in the country are not sold outside the country,’’ Mr Ng’onga said.
He is confident that the e-voucher system would be implemented better in the 2016/17 farming season as compared to the 2014/15 season.
“The e-voucher is a new system that was piloted in 13 districts, most of them in Southern Province. It has yielded positive results. The only place where we faced problems are Kalomo and Kabwe and it is because of the delays in printing and distributing the e-cards,’’ he said.
CBU Students with tear gas gun grabbed from a police officer
Irate students at CBU yesterday grabbed a tear gas gun from a police officer assigned to keep vigil at the country’s second largest university.
The students could be seen playing the gun as they sang anti-government slogans within the university grounds.
Meanwhile, Minister of Higher Education Michael Kaingu has warned that Government will close the Copperbelt University (CBU) if the situation at the institution remains volatile and unconducive for academic activities.
And students at University of Zambia (UNZA) Great East Road campus yesterday ran riot demanding to be paid full bursaries instead of the K1,100.
Speaking when he met CBU management in Kitwe yesterday, Dr Kaingu said Government will close CBU if the students continue protesting.
“If the atmosphere at the Copperbelt University does not provide for academic life, we shall close it, and if we close the institution, it means the senate has failed us. We cannot continue to operate like this,” Dr Kaingu said.
He challenged CBU management to find a lasting solution to the protests, which are denting the image of the institution.
Dr Kaingu wondered why students are protesting over meal allowances when Government has committed to resolving the matter through the payment of project and accommodation allowances.
He said Government is working tirelessly to ensure the students are paid within the shortest possible time.
“It is important for these students to understand Government’s fiscal policy. For Government to pay them their meal allowances, it has to collect revenues from taxes, it is a process and there can be delays,” Dr Kaingu said.
And reacting to the behaviour of the students who walked out before he could address them, Dr Kaingu said it is evident that the students do not want to learn and are being incited by politicians to cause chaos at the institution of higher learning.
“I went there as Minister of Higher Education to listen to their plight with the view of engaging them in dialogue but they walked out. What happened is not only embarrassing but unfortunate,” he said.
Dr Kaingu said he will engage President Lungu on the next step to take.
He said it is unfortunate that some of the students who are protesting come from vulnerable families and are on Government bursaries which are paid using tax-payers’ money.
And CBU chancellor professor Muyunda Mwanalushi said the situation is volatile and not conducive for learning.
