Government orders supplier to re-deliver fertiliser after truck plunged into the river
Minister of Agriculture Given Lubinda says the supplier of the Urea fertiliser whose truck plunged into the Kafue River in Ngabwe District in Central Province has to deliver a fresh consignment of the fertiliser to the district.
And government has set aside US $20.4 million meant for irrigation farming.
Addressing journalists during a press briefing on the State of the Nation’s Food Security and Agriculture, Mr. Lubinda explained that the loss of the fertiliser will be borne by the supplier and not government.
“The supplier is not going to be paid until they resend the fertiliser to the Ngabwe farmers in Central Province,” he stated.
“The fertilizer becomes government’s fertiliser when the farmers receive it,” he explained.
Mr Lubinda further explained that his ministry is in touch with the supplier in a bid to ensure that a new consignment of fertiliser is delivered to the affected farmers.
Last week a truck laden with 134 by 50 kg bags of fertiliser meant for farmers in Ngabwe District in Central Province plunged into the Kafue River after the driver lost control of the vehicle as he tried to get onto the pontoon.
Meanwhile, the ministry of agriculture has revealed that it will launch the establishment of irrigation schemes on February 3, this year.
Minister of Agriculture Given Lubinda said government has set aside US$20.4 million meant for irrigation farming.
He cited Mwomboshi in Chisamba, Musakashi in Mufulira and Lusitu in Chirundu as the three irrigation schemes that would be launched by the Ministry.
Daugther narrates mother’s infidelity in court
AN 11-YEAR-OLD girl of Kalewa Barracks in Ndola exposed her mother’s philandering ways in the Chifubu local court when she narrated in detail how a man would come to visit each time her father was out of town for operations.
The juvenile narrated that her mother Jaquelin Kasumba, 30, used to take Kaluba Chiwayu straight to her matrimonial bedroom while the children remained in the sitting room watching television at night.
The girl was narrating in a case in which her father Dilon Yamba, 39, a soldier of Kalewa barracks sued Chiwayu, 30, a fellow soldier for compensation for adultery. The court heard that Chiwayu impregnated Yamba’s wife Kasumba.
She told local court presiding magistrates Agnes Mulenga and local court magistrate Kaala Nyambe that out of anger towards their mother mother’s extra marital affair, her sibling decided to smear faecal matter on Chiwayu’s car.
“That man (pointing at Chiwayu in dock) used to visit mom at our house at night. They would go to her bedroom where they would spend a night and he would only leave the house the next morning 05: 00hours,” she said.
Yamba told the court when he went to Nchelenge for operations for 11 months he was tipped by his colleagues about his wife’s promiscuous behaviour.
“I was told she looks pregnant. I called my elder sister and confided in her. I also instructed her to visit my wife and confirm suspicions about her pregnancy. My wife confessed to my sister that she was indeed pregnant.
I confronted her when I returned and she confessed to me as well. But the pregnancy later disappeared,” he said.
However, Chiwayu vehemently denied having an affair with Yamba’s wife and demanded for evidence over his affair with Kasumba.
The court upheld the claim and reprimanded Kasumba for her behaviour and bringing a man into her matrimonial home in the presence of her children.
The court ordered Chiwayu to pay Yamba K10,000 as compensation for adultery with an initial payment of K1,500 to be paid on February 20 to be followed by monthly instalments of K500.
(DailyMail)
Government Investigating Ndola airport political violence-Wina
Government is investigating the political fracas which occurred at Ndola International Airport two weeks ago to ascertain if the cadres that were involved are genuinely from the Patriotic Front (PF) as alleged.
Opposition Democratic Front Party (DFP) leader Miles Sampa was a fortnight ago allegedly blocked from alighting from a plane at the airport because of violent cadres that waited for him to come out.
Vice President Inonge Wina believes the cadres to have been from other political parties who had a disagreement with the DF hence any aggrieved party could have organized the violence at the airport.
Mrs. Wina was speaking last evening on the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) Sunday Interview which was monitored by ZANIS in Lusaka.
She said Mr. Sampa should not have been stopped from performing his activities because he has a democratic right to travel to any part of Zambia.
She was however happy that the police officers have moved in and arrested the suspected perpetrators of violence.
“Government is investigating what caused the violence at Ndola airport. Those that participated in the violence are not genuine PF members. There could be some disagreements among the leaders and those that were aggrieved could have organized the violence,” Mrs. Wina explained.
Mrs. Wina, who is also PF Vice President, lamented that violence was doing a disservice to the nation noting that investors would want to invest in a country which is very united and peaceful.
She further said those who engage themselves in violent acts do not realise the damage they cause as the vice was hindering investors to invest in Zambia.
Mrs. Wina said Zambia has never experienced war and therefore people should not be speaking carelessly and engaging themselves in barbaric acts of violence.
She noted that Zambia was known to be a country of peace and unity in the world hence violent people must be dealt with accordingly.
And Vice President has said Zambia’s economy will start improving by June this year because government was heavily investing in the energy sector to woo investors to the country.
Mrs. Wina said the Itezhi-Tezhi hydroelectricity power station and many other power stations around the country will put Zambia back on track economically.
“By June 2016, the whole scenario will change and as government, we have to double our efforts to generate extra electricity in Zambia,” she said.
On agriculture, Mrs. Wina pointed out government was diversifying from maize to growing other crops such as cassava, millet, sorghum, rice, legumes and cashew nuts as well as doing livestock farming.
She said time has come for Zambia to diversify and move away from depending on the maize which she described as costly.
On food security, the Vice President disclosed that 2,000 solar powered milling plants will be established across Zambia to produce cheap mealie-meal.
Mrs. Wina said the people of Kasama in Northern province were buying a 25 kilogramme bag of breakfast mealie-meal at less than K50.
She said this will be rolled out to the rest of the nine provinces in order to address the high mealie-meal prices obtaining in Zambia.
On the issues of a running mate, the Vice President clarified that President Edgar Lungu had the prerogative to nominate her as his running-mate.
Mrs. Wina said she will be happy if nominated to contest the position of vice president in the August 11, 2016 general election.
Meanwhile, the Vice President lashed out at those that are criticizing the newly created Ministry of National Planning and Development for which she is a minister.
Mrs. Wina defended the ministry saying it will address women empowerment and promote the economic affairs for women and the youth.
She said President Lungu has demonstrated political will to appoint more women to decision making positions.
She said she was herself a beneficiary of women empowerment when she was appointed as Vice President.
Mrs. Wina challenged opposition political parties to emulate President Lungu in appointing more female candidates for the forthcoming general election.
And Mrs. Wina has observed that women in Zambia were still perceived as tools in other areas and were therefore vulnerable and manipulated by their male counterparts.
She said this was the cause for high cases of gender based violence (GBV) in the country.
She said Lusaka province recorded 1,450 cases of GBV last year adding that 10 percent of which were tried but only five percent were jailed.
Mrs. Wina has since assured that government and its cooperating partners were working hard to address the high cases of GBV in Zambia.
No maize imports this year, we have enough maize stocks-Lubinda
Agriculture Minister Given Lubinda says Zambia will not resort to Maize imports this year because the country has enough stocks of the staple food.
But Mr Lubinda’s statement contradicts President Edgar Lungu who recently revealed in Chipata that Government is working on modalities of importing Maize from Brazil in order to meet the shortfall.
Addressing a media briefing on state of the country’s food and agriculture sector at Government Complex, Mr Lubinda said Zambia still has 1.3 million metric tons of Maize in its strategic reserves.
Mr Lubinda said the stocks are enough to last until the next harvest expected in August this year.
He also assured that no Zambian will starve as the Government is doing everything possible to make the staple food available to all.
The Agriculture Minister said despite the poor rainfall recorded so far, Zambia still has enough maize stocks to last until the 2016/2017 harvest.
He said by 19th January 2016, the country had 1.3 million metric tons of Maize being held at the FRA and the Grain Traders Association and the Zambia National Farmers Union.
Mr Lubinda also revealed that the Food Reserve Agency has signed contracts with 91 milling companies and is releasing 100,000 metric tons of Maize per month to keep the prices of mealie meal affordable.
He warned that anyone found smuggling Maize out of Zambia will be prosecuted and blacklisted.
Mr Lubinda has since implored law enforcement agencies to act sternly against all illegal Maize exports.
Veteran Zambian Singer and Song writer ‘Jonto‘ releases new video
Veteran Zambian Singer and Song writer ‘Jonto‘ released his new video for the song “Mwansa” that features Willz .
BY KAPA187
Airtel Trace Music Star makes comeback
ONE of the biggest pan-African talent search competition, Airtel Trace Music Star, will launch its 2nd edition on February 1st with American singer, songwriter, actress and record producer Keri Hilson on the hunt for Africa’s next music talent.
With about 2.3 million calls made in its previous season, the Airtel Trace Music star talent search is the biggest music competition to ever take place in Africa with the number of contestants surpassing European and American talent shows such as the Voice and Idols.
The mobile phone-based talent search competition also won the Best Pan-African Initiative accolade at the AfricaCom Awards held in Cape Town, South Africa.
Last year’s winner was Mayunga of Tanzania, who was crowned by Senegalese-American megastar Akon. He won a record deal as well as promotion for a total value exceeding US$500,000 and a mentorship programme with Akon.
His first track Nice Couple reached number one on all major radio and television charts in his home country. A few months ago, he was in Los Angeles with Akon to record his second single Please Don’t Go Away and shoot the music video.
Now its second season, this year’s competition will see Niger join Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania and Zambia as the newest African countries to enter the competition.
“The best singing talent in each territory will be identified, rewarded and put in competition to run for the title of best African music talent. To participate, contestants will need to call a short code number with their mobile phones, record their songs to stand a chance to become the next big music star in Africa. The grand finale will be held in Lagos, Nigeria,” according to Trace country coordinator for Zambia Tivo Shikapwasha.
“The grand prize comprises a mentorship programme with multi-award winning American singer-song-writer Keri Hilson in Atlanta. The winner will not only star in their own music video alongside Keri Hilson; he or she will get an opportunity to record a duet with the Knock your Down songstress, as well as receive a signed contract with a major music label and worldwide media exposure through various Trace’s platforms.”
HH’s apology is a product of political expedience in the quest for power-Post Newspaper
The Post Newspaper has said that United Party for National Development (UPND) President Hakainde Hichilema’s public apology to the Newspaper is not borne out of genuine contrition, but driven political expedience in the quest for power.
In an editorial published on Sunday, the newspaper however accepted the apology from the UPND President and forgave him.
“We forgive Hakainde and his friends not because we want anything from them. Of course there are all sorts of pledges from him about the need to support The Post. The Post has never survived or thrived on the back of a political party, ” read the editorial.
Below is the full Editorial
On Friday, The Post carried a story of Hakainde Hichilema, the president of opposition UPND, apologising for the insulting statements and abusive actions thrown at the newspaper.
“We have obviously misunderstood them in the past and attacked them unnecessarily and this is regrettable. We want to leave that in the past,” said Hakainde.
We have no problem with Hakainde and the UPND. They are not the first ones to insult and abuse The Post. UNIP did the same in the run-up to the 1991 elections. Successive MMD leaders and governments have done the same. Michael Sata accused The Post of having rigged the 2006 elections in favour of Levy Mwanawasa. The Post sued him for defamation. The most important thing is to try and understand why this has been the case.
Our own and only explanation is that genuine goodness is threatening to those at the opposite end of the moral spectrum. UNIP turned against The Post because it threatened its 27-year hold on power. UNIP felt The Post was supporting the opposition MMD. It didn’t take long for the MMD in power to turn against The Post.
And here, the problem was that the MMD had started to depart from the democratic principles that in the first place made them appear to be on the same side as The Post. Corruption set in. And with corruption, everything went wrong. Corruption fights back and The Post was the target of all corrupt elements in this country.
The problems with the UPND and its current leadership revolved around the regional character of this party and its leadership. The Post has consistently pointed out the dangers of regional and tribal politics and once labelled the UPND a Bantustan party. Despite the facts being there, the leadership of the UPND, instead of addressing their deficiencies, turned their hate on The Post.
And in the run-up to the 2011 elections, the UPND got into an unholy alliance with Rupiah Banda against the Patriotic Front and Michael. And yet not very long ago before this, the UPND leadership had been accusing Rupiah of being corrupt. In that alliance, the UPND had unlimited access to state-owned media coverage and didn’t need The Post.
This got to their heads and they started denouncing The Post at every opportunity they had. And Hakainde made it very clear that he didn’t need Post coverage. But despite this declaration, The Post continued to cover him. But the more The Post continued to cover him, the more Hakainde got virulent in his attack of The Post. He called the editors of The Post all sorts of names and accused them of all sorts of things. They could have decided to take legal action against him, but they let him get away with it.
Briefly, this is where we are coming from. We have no issues with Hakainde and the UPND just as much as we do not have issues with any other politician or political party.
One doesn’t need to share our views, to agree with us or to be our friend to be covered by The Post. It was not us who decided not to cover Hakainde; it was Hakainde himself who decided not to be covered by The Post because at that time, he had the Zambia Daily Mail, Times of Zambia and ZNBC television and radio at his disposal. He doesn’t have these institutions today to cover him and he needs The Post to do so.
We have no difficulties covering Hakainde. Every view that needs to be heard must be heard. We don’t think even his apology is really something that is borne out of genuine contrition. We believe it is a product of political expedience in the quest for power. But who are we to judge and reject his apology? What right do we have to do so?
We forgive Hakainde and his friends not because we want anything from them. Of course there are all sorts of pledges from him about the need to support The Post. The Post has never survived or thrived on the back of a political party.
The Post survives because of the individual support of the Zambian people who every day buy the newspaper and advertise in it. The support from a political party is actually dangerous for The Post because politicians change with power. They are good to The Post when they want coverage from it. But when they get into power and The Post starts to question their policies, decisions and actions; The Post starts to challenge their corruption and abuses, it immediately turns into an enemy that must be undermined, humiliated and if possible annihilated. This is the situation The Post finds itself in today with the current leadership of the Patriotic Front.
It is the same situation it will find itself in with the leadership of the next government, regardless of who wins the next elections. The Post has never been a favour-seeker from politicians or anyone else for that matter. It supports causes that are in line with its principles and opposes those which it finds to be not in the interest of the common good.
There is no politician or political party in this country that can ever claim to have extended a favour to The Post and The Post has taken that favour. The Post has always remained independent, making its own decisions and choices. The mistakes The Post has made, which are many, are its own and not something dictated to it by anyone else.
Today The Post has to bear the brunt of the tyranny of this very corrupt Patriotic Front regime of Edgar Lungu. Again, The Post has not turned to anyone, other than the Zambian people, for help. The Post is there today and will be there tomorrow not because of the support of any political party but because of the Zambian people’s support. This is what matters. This is what counts. And this is what The Post bends to.
The Post covers Edgar Lungu and the Patriotic Front even under these circumstances where they have declared war on the newspaper. Edgar has not hidden his intentions against The Post. He has made them public. He has publicly drawn his battle lines with The Post. But The Post has never surrendered to such threats or hired itself to the powerful, sold itself out to those with deep pockets. It has confronted every difficulty; pressure; and financial, political or other kinds of attacks all by itself without ceding any of its principles.
It has never sought anyone’s protection. And this is the way things are going to continue to be. We have no doubt that regardless of who wins, the government that will emerge out of the August 11 elections will not be very different towards The Post from others before it.
Let everyone who deserves to be heard be heard. Moreover, the right to be heard does not mean the right to be taken seriously. Let the best of our politicians and political parties in the moral sense, political, civic and otherwise, win the August 11 elections.
Russian government offers military training to Zambia
THE Russian government has offered military training to Zambia and expansion of bilateral relations in other fields, President Vladimir Putin’s envoy has told President Lungu.
And President Lungu has met his Sudanese counterpart Omar Al Bashir on the margins of the 26th African Union (AU) Summit.
Speaking during a bilateral meeting with President Lungu’s delegation yesterday, Russia’s Special Presidential Envoy for the Middle East and the countries of Africa Mikhail Bogdanov said Zambia has since independence been one of Russia’s important partners.
Mr Bogdanov is impressed with Zambia’s positive development process.
He said Russia wants to deepen bilateral relations in fields of military training, trade and many other economic spheres.
Mr Bogdanov said his country will support Zambia’s fight for economic independence, just like it supported her liberation struggle.
“We are ready to develop other spheres of co-operation, including military co-operation and training of personnel,” said Mr Bogdanov, who is also deputy Foreign Minister.
In response, President Lungu said Zambia appreciates Russia’s support in many fields, and now, the offer for military co-operation.
The President said Zambia needs investment in other fields such as energy and agriculture.
He said Minister of Foreign Affairs Harry Kalaba undertook a successful visit to Russia last year.
President Lungu said what remains is for the technocrats in the two countries to work together to actualise things.
Chama describes opposition pledge for peaceful campaigns as mature
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) secretary-general Davies Chama has described as mature the pledge by opposition political parties to hold peaceful campaigns ahead of the August 11 general elections.
And Mr Chama has appealed to opposition political parties to desist from spreading lies and character assassination to gain support during campaigns.
Mr Chama said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that the pledge by opposition political parties to engage in peaceful campaigns is a symbol of maturity in the country’s democratic system.
“That’s the way it should be, that’s called maturity. This is the most welcome pledge opposition political parties have made and it’s pleasing to hear,” he said.
Mr Chama said he hopes opposition political party leaders will not just end at talking but will also take action against cadres who would want to perpetrate violence.
“We hope they will walk the talk and help maintain peace and unity before and after the elections,” Mr Chama said.
He also urged political party leaders to orient their party officials and cadres across the country to make them understand the importance of holding peaceful campaigns.
Mr Chama said the PF wants to promote free and fair elections which can only be achieved by holding peaceful campaigns.
He appealed to opposition political parties to desist from spreading lies tarnishing the reputation of their opponents.
Mr Chama said people must be patriotic and truthful in their campaign messages.
“We appeal to all opposition political parties to endorse issue-based campaigns. There is so much spread of lies, that is character assassination and must also be avoided in this year’s campaigns,” he said.
Mr Chama assured the nation that the PF will hold fair, peaceful and issue-based campaigns.
President Lungu promised 500,000 jobs; Zero jobs have been created-UPND
On 12th August President Edgar Lungu promised to create 500,000 jobs by the end of 2016. This was during the launch of the 2015 Youth Policy and Action Plan for Youth Empowerment. He said this should be achieved through the national apprenticeship and internship schemes which should create employment for the unskilled youths within the participating companies, as well as the expansion of low interest credit facilities targeting new and growing youth-led enterprises among other interventions. This was an absolute lie and to illustrate this point, since 2011 the PF has created 96,836 jobs meaning they created a paltry 19,367 jobs per year.
This is in a country where over 200,000 graduates leave tertiary education every year.
On 26th September 2015, Tourism and Arts Minister, Jean Kapata announced that the tourism sector in Zambia would create 300,000 by the year 2016. This was at the official launch of the United Nations World Tourism Day commemoration in Livingstone.
We want to be conservative and assume the 300,000 jobs Jean Kapata was talking about are a subset of the 500,000 jobs announced by the President. Whatever the case, as far as we are concerned none of the jobs have been created going by the LFS that Shamenda launched two weeks ago. To meet this target this government would need to create about 2,272 jobs for each working day for the remaining working days for 2016.
In a statement published on 7th October 2015, we questioned how the PF would attain this and as usual they responded with insults. https://www.lusakatimes.com/2015/10/07/hh-challenges-pf-to-explain-creation-of-500000-jobs-when-so-many-are-now-being-lost/
The question to ask is, did President Lungu and Jean Kapata choose to deliberately mislead the Zambian people? Both Edgar and Jean knew that the PF had no capacity to create so many jobs. If anything, what we have seen is massive job redundancies.
President Lungu has no vision. It is only possible to create 500,000 jobs in a year if one has a plan. We have consistently advised the PF to invest the money they have borrowed, such as the Eurobonds, in the productive sector but they decided to use the money for consumption.
Agriculture alone would create over 200,000 jobs if we invested in agribusiness and value addition.
Percy Chanda
UPND Chairman for Labour
Vice President Inonge Wina urges church to pray for Zambia
Vice President Inonge Wina has urged the church to pray for the country for it to overcome challenges being faced and soldier on to prosperity.
Ms Wina says the nation depends on the prayers of the church for hope, spiritual guidance and protection.
Ms Wina who read Psalms 133 verse 1 said the church should help in building a nation where unity, peace and tranquillity prevails.
Speaking during a church service at Kyawama Evangelical church in Solwezi today, Ms Wina said government will continue maintaining and sustaining the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation as part of the country’s tradition and culture..
“As government, we will continue upholding the declaration of our country as a Christian nation and that is why President Lungu declared October 18 as a day for national prayers were the church takes over and dedicate the nation to God almighty.” She said.
She urged the church to include peace building in Sunday school lessons so that the values of peace can be inculcated in children at a tender age.
“Let me appeal to the church to include peace building in Sunday school lessons so that our children can uphold it even as they grow. Forgiveness and peace should be taught from a young age.” She said.
Ms Wina said all citizens regardless of tribe or political affiliation should embrace One Zambia, one nation not just as a slogan but as a way of life adding that with love, forgiveness and reconciliation the country can achieve a lot.
“Every Zambian should embrace the one Zambia, one nation not just as a slogan but a way of life.” She said.
And Solwezi district ECZ overseer Anthony Fulwe said the Evangelical church will continue praying for the government of the day as instructed by the Bible.
Pastor Fulwe said the church was happy with the many developmental projects that government is undertaking in the province such as the construction of the Solwezi Chingola road, the upgrading of township roads and selected schools among others.
He appealed to government to consider building house of prayers in all provinces where Christians could gather and pray for the country as children of one family.
General Miyanda Has Been Vindicated
I am one of the many citizens who supported the ‘piece meal’ amendment of the Constitution as long as the amendments were as presented in the Draft Constitution. Before the President assented to the Constitutional Bill, a few lone voices raised various concerns. One such concern was by General Godfrey Miyanda.
General Miyanda was concerned that the President had declared that he would sign the Bill “with eyes closed” The general stated:
As you may be aware, Your Excellency, it is NEITHER AUTOMATIC NOR MANDATORY for you to assent to a Bill in the form it has been conveyed to you. The process requires careful examination and even consultation before assenting. Appending the Presidential signature completes the act of enactment! I appeal that you revisit your decision to sign with closed eyes, meaning without serious examination of the contents and/or even complaints. It is a serious and solemn constitutional duty for you to undertake with all your faculties at full throttle (Lusaka Times, 23rd December, 2013).
Most likely the President ignored this friendly and sober advice. Now, Cabinet intends to revisit the same Constitution President Lungu assented to before it is even in force. What a circus!
This is ill-timed and mischievous and is not well-meaning because the PF had the opportunity to address all the issues they want to raise now. It looks like this call to revisit the Constitution is just for the PF’s survival (Grade 12 Qualification issue).
I urge the PF leadership to be careful as they revisit the Constitution. Once again, bravo to General Miyanda for continuously being a voice of reason.
By Eros Ilunga
I want a Pact with a united MMD, POA to stay-President Lungu
President Edgar Lungu has said that he does not want to enter into a political pact with a divided MMD party.
Speaking to journalists shortly after disembarking from the Presidential Challenger Jet form the African Union Summit, President Lungu said that said he wants to enter into the Presidential race with a united MMD party.
President Lungu said he is more than willing to enter into a pact with the MMD party.
Mr Lungu disclosed that he advised the MMD leader, Never Mumba, to put his party in order before forming a pact with the PF.
He said the two parties will have a good race if the differences in the former ruling party are resolved before going to national polls.
Mr Lungu recalled that in 2015 he went into the elections with the support a rebellious party and won the elections, adding that he does not want to be involved with a divided party.
And President Lungu has said the Public Order Act will remain in place. The President explained that the Public Order Act is the only law that protects Zambians.
The Head of State said without the public order act there will be anarchy in the country.
President Lungu said government is ready to listen to opposition parties if they offer a better alternative to the Public Order Act.
Mr Lungu maintained that government will continue to respect the Public Order Act as it is the only law currently in place.
Meanwhile, President Lunga has implored opposition political parties to read the contents of draft Bill of Rights.
He complained that his opponents are fond of complaining instead of reading the contents of the bill.
President Lungu said government wants the Bill of Rights to be dealt with before the country goes for the general elections.
He disclosed that the Ministry of Justice will soon engage the Electoral Commission of Zambia over the Bill of Rights.
President Lungu said the problem with some people is that they do not want to listen.
He cited the recently amended constitution as one of the documents the opposition wanted but later after he assented to the new constitution the opposition parties are opposing the new constitution.
The Head of State appealed to his opponents to find time and read the contents of the draft Bill of Rights.
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Meanwhile President Lungu says he has been promoting peace in the country as opposed to his opponents.
He cited the UPND party as one of the political parties that have been perpetuating political violence.
He wondered why some political parties were denouncing violence when they were the ones engaging in acts of violence.
He was received by Vice President, Inonge Wina, Cabinet Ministers, service chiefs, senior government and PF party members.
The President was accompanied by Ministers Foreign Affairs, Harry Kalaba, Justice, Ngosa Simbyakula, and Gender, Nkandu Luo.
The just-ended 26th Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union was under the theme “The African year of human rights with particular focus on the Rights of women”
Zambia booted out of CHAN
Zambia exited the 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN) at the quarter-final staged after succumbing to a 5-4 sudden death penalty shoot out loss to Guinea following a goalless 120 minutes in Rubavu on Sunday night.
Zambia missed their spot kicks through Captain Christopher Katongo, Stephen Kabamba and Dauti Musekwa while Buchizya Mfune, Spencer Sautu, Adrian Chama and his younger brother Cletus converted theirs.
Ibrahima Bangoura, Mohamed Thiam, Issiaga Camara, Ibrahima Soumah and keeper Abdoul Aziz all scored their penalties.
Guinea missed their spot kicks through Ibrahima Sankhon and Mohamed Youla.
It was a thrilling game in 90 minutes and extra time before it was decided on post-match penalties.
The game started on a high tempo with Guinea dictating play in the early stages.
The West Africans dominated ball possession but lacked the cutting edge upfront before Zambia captain Christopher Katongo missed three chances in quick succession.
Katongo had failed to tap in a Cletus Chama corner after 10 minutes before he headed wide from close range five minutes later.
The unlucky Green Buffaloes striker further saw his 85 minute strike disallowed for offside by Ethiopian referee Bamlak Tessema Weysa.