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FILE: HH with Maureen Mwanawasa at KKIA
THE revulsion and anger that most Zambians feel against the cartel will sink the United Party for National Development (UPND), Zambia Republican Party (ZRP) president Wright Musoma has charged.
Mr. Musoma said many political parties disassociated themselves from the cartel because it was a group of schemers whose preoccupation was to hold governments to ransom so that they could evade tax, manipulate the judiciary, and disregard the rule of law with impunity.
“These people called the Tongas and UPND as a Bantustan outfit; have they apologised for Mr. Hichilema to apologise?” Mr. Musoma asked.
He said UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has shot himself in the foot for grovelling and succumbing to pressure for media coverage to oust the Patriotic Front (PF) from government.
He said the marriage of convenience would bring him and the party down because Zambians have witnessed first-hand the abuse of state power and resources by the cartel under former presidents late Levy Mwanawasa and Michael Sata. Mr. Musoma said only retrogressive minds would want to go to bed with the cartel.
He said Mr. Hichilema had made a “leap to a wrong branch”, adding that the apology was for political expediency to winning the 2016 elections.
Mr Musoma said it was folly for the UPND to think that Mr. Hichilema’s compromised stance to align the party to the cartel would help the UPND win the election because history had shown that the cartel was not a king-maker but an enemy of progress and challenged well-meaning members of the party to reject Mr. Hichilema’s manoeuvres to bulldoze the party by solely making decisions without their consent.
But the UPND has branded Mr. Musoma as a job-seeker who was begging for an alliance with the PF by pledging to support it in order for the ruling party to become victorious in this year’s election.
UPND deputy spokesperson Edwin Lifwekelo said there was nothing wrong for Mr. Hichilema to apologise and that the party did not expect any apology in return.
Meanwhile, Sinazongwe UPND Member of Parliament Richwell Siamunene and his Itezhi-Tezhi counterpart Greyford Monde have questioned the motive behind Mr. Hichilema’s apology.
Mr. Siamunene described Mr. Hichilema’s apology as a cosmetic undertaking aimed at soliciting a platform on which to ride his way to State House but said only God will allow Mr. Hichilema to rule the country and not desperate conspiracies.
And Mr. Monde said while there was nothing wrong with people apologising to each other and reconciling, Mr. Hichilema’s apology left a lot of questions unanswered.
The Newly formed Orange Alliance Chairman Elias Chipimo Jnr has called on Zambians work together and build a Zambia that we all know we deserve.
In a statement released to the media, Mr Chipimo said that the youths of Zambia will only ever be taken seriously when they choose to put our differences aside and work together to achieve a unity whose foundation was built by Zambia’s brave men and women in the past in the past
Below is the full statement
AN ALLIANCE TO SECURE OUR FUTURE – Elias Chipimo Jnr
My fellow Zambians, we come before you as three gallant young sons of the soil, each with our committed team of supporters. We come to you with a message of hope and a promise that if we work together, we can build the Zambia we all know we deserve.
The youth of this country will only ever be taken seriously when we choose to put our differences aside and work together to achieve a unity whose foundation was built by Zambia’s brave men and women in the past and whose future must be secured by brave young minds willing to commit themselves to a noble cause that is bigger than any one of them.
For years, the young people of Zambia have clamoured for a style of politics that will desist from the mud-slinging and mindless violence that has characterised it.
Pangas and teargas may be designed to instill fear in political opponents but they also deny the country the right to hear different, better views and plans about our future and how we can get there together, without insults, without injury, without loss of life.
There is no better time than now to do the right thing. The right thing to do is to discard the politics of the past; to say no to violence and to build genuine unity.
As Alliance partners, we are determined to do what is in the best interest of our Parties and our country.
We know what we want and we know what the nation needs. We know what is wrong, and rather than simply identify the problems, we have the solutions and are prepared to state them and pursue them with all our hearts.
The time for excuses is long gone. Now is the time for action. Let us not let one day go by without re-committing ourselves to the cause of mother Zambia.
Guinea coach Bangoura Mohamedy Kanfory says his side was wary of Zambia ahead of Sunday’s CHAN quarter-final clash at Umuganda Stadium in Rubavu, Rwanda.
Kanfory said there shouldn’t be room for errors when the two teams meet in the 18h00 kick off match.
“We are now well organised and all errors from the previous match have been corrected. We must improve the quality of our game against Zambia,” Kanfory said.
He said beating Nigeria 1-0 in their last Group D match will motivate Guinea ahead of the match against Chipolopolo.
“We were astonished to beat Nigeria and now we have the guts to beat Zambia and qualify to the semi-finals,” he said.
Guinea beat Zambia 2-1 in the two team’s last meeting that came at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations.
Power Dynamos produced a mixed bag of results on Friday in their two friendly games at home in Kitwe against promoted FAZ Super Division side Lumwana Radiants.
Power hosted the promoted club at Arthur Davies in what was Raidants penultimate stop of their five-day pre-season tour of the Copperbelt.
In the first game, Power’s B side thumped their Radiants counterparts 4-0.
Mathews Maleka scored a brace, James Chibwe got in on the act with one goal while Luka Chamanga, who is on trial at Power, scored the other.
In the final game between the two sides first teams, Power were held to a 1-1 draw.
Power took a 1-0 halftime lead through Emmanuel Chimpinde before Edward Sinyangwe equalised for Radiants from the penalty spot.
Meanwhile, Radiants played Mufulira Wanderers on their first stop on Wednesday at Shinde Stadium drawing 1-1 and winning 2-1 thanks to a Mike Banda brace in the latter of the two games.
Allan Kamwanga’s side then travelled to Ndola to play Forest Rangers on Thursday where they lost 1-0 and drew 0-0 in another two sets of friendlies.
Radiants wrapup their tour on Saturday afternoon in Chingola against Nchanga Rangers.
Catherine Phiri at the weigh in with WBC Female Bantamweight Champion Yazmin Rivas
Zambia’s Ambassador to the United States Palan Mulonda has assured World Boxing Council Silver Bantum Weight Champion Catherine Phiri of the country’s support as she faces World Boxing Council (WBC) bantamweight gold title champion Yazmine Rivas this Saturday.
This is according to a press statement released to the media by Patricia M. Littiya
First Secretary (Press & Public Relations) Embassy of Zambia.
Ambassador Mulonda, who spoke to Catherine Phiri by telephone at her base in Mexico today, assured her of the nation’s support during tomorrows bout.
Catherine is accompanied to Mexico by Oriental Quarries Boxing Promotions (OQBP) Manager Christopher Malunga and her coach Mike Zulu.
Ambassador Mulonda, who is also accredited to Mexico on non-residential basis encouraged the trio in Mexico to fly the Zambian flag high as the country was looking forward to a win.
This is the second time in the history of Zambia that a boxer has attempted to challenge for a Gold Belt the first one being the late Lottie Mwale.
Oriental Quarries Boxing Promotions (OQBP) manager Christopher Malunga thanked Ambassador Mulonda for the support and assured him that he was confident that Catherine will carry the day as she had trained extensively.
ONE woman’s decision to accept a bag of maize from a male friend has earned her a divorce certificate in the Matero Local Court.
Leah Kaleuka’s 12 year-old marriage to Patson Sikazindu ended in divorce after her husband begged for the dissolution because he no longer trusts her.
Sikazindu, 53, suspected his wife Kaleuka, 48, of Chilanga of having an affair after she went home one night with a bag of maize which she claimed was given to her by her male friend.
Sikazindu told senior court magistrates Miyanda Banda and Davies Mpundu that the two got married in 2003 and have six children together.
“I returned home around 19:00 hours and Kaleuka who had just come back from Ndola was out visiting again. She only came around 21:30 hours. I beat her out of anger and demanded to know who she had been visiting but she refused to show me the man’s house. I am convinced she is having an affair with the same man,” he said.
Sikazindu said out of fear, Kaleuka disappeared from their matrimonial home the next day because she did not want him to ask her about the whereabouts of her lover.
“Kaleuka even got the police to detain me for assault. We tried to retrieve the man’s number from her phone but there was nothing. Kaleuka then moved in with her sister in November last year until now,” he said.
But Kaleuka who did not dispute claims that she was having an extra marital affair did not object to the court granting divorce.
The court granted divorce with no compensation. Sikazindu was awarded full custody of the children. The couple was ordered to share household property equally.
“I dictate how I slice the cake I’m boss lady/ they hate how I wake and bake but stay amazing/ you couldn’t walk a quarter mile in my Jimmy Choo’s / I’m a born champion , I won’t stop / and i dont care if i win or lose /im holding onto my crown ,stay ahead and on top /single parenting /no procrastinating /i got to get up /God speed / we elevating /we celebrating / and even though we underrated, we keep the whole nation motivated and educated ”
Cleo Ice Queen first came onto the scene in 2012 with her smash hit single “Big Dreams” that featured the legendary JK. Since then she has become a house-hold name, having participated and named the eventual runner up in Big Brother Africa: The Chase. She has also done a number of endorsement deals for various products that has her on billboards and on TV screens .Cleo is a radio personality on popular Lusaka based Radio station Rock FM, she host a sports show on DSTV’s SuperSport channel called “Bola Yapa Zed” .She has hosted talent shows such as Dreams Zambia, and is involved in a number of other projects. With that being said, she has also been diligently working on her debut album, Geminice, which was released at the end of 2015.
“..Image lost in the translation, who I was and what you see, I’m a queen, I’m a mother, but I’m out here hustling …”
“Geminice” is a terrific debut album. It feels fresh, new and original. One can tell that a lot of time and effort was put into perfecting it, it was not a rush job. While the theme of the album is more fun-loving and upbeat, with party anthems like the Urban Hype featured “Turn Up” , “Addicted” and the hard hitting “Autobahn”, Cleo Ice Queen is at her best when she digs deeper on songs such as the Wezi assisted “Ninaka”. On the song she discusses her challenges in the music industry and life in general .She gets personal on this track and doesn’t hold anything back. You can feel the emotion in her raps .Wezi’s powerful vocals alone is a reason to have this song on repeat. Cleo also has uplifting songs such as “Goodbye” and describes how it feels to fall in love in “Falling” that features amazing vocals by Salma Sky.
“I’m a soldier in love with this game and I’m never gonna stop/ And this love hurts but oooh, it’s never gonna stop/ Natila ahhhwe, Ninaka”
Stand out tracks
Falling – Is a beautiful song in which she raps about falling in love and the emotions that come with it . Salma Sky was an excellent addition to this song; her vocals on the chorus and bridge are simply breathtaking. “I’m falling, every time I look into your eyes, got me mesmerized, got me hypnotized”she sings. It is the first song on the album and is a splendid way to start it off.
I don’t mind– is an infectious song that you will not be able to resist dancing to . It will definitely get you in the mood for a party. “…i just want to be with you right now, but baby I don’t wanna be a side chick, side chick. i just want to be with you right now ,I want to be the only one you ride with, ride with…” she raps.
Oxygen– Is a Shom c produced song that features her real life love interest Kaladoshas. The chemistry they have on the song is wonderful and the result is an amazing love song about how they can’t live without each other.“..You plus me makes for better mathematics, you my better half getting rid of bad habits” she raps. “..So I say this, you are the girl of my dreams / I promise / I’ll never do you wrong, girl I’ll be honest…”Kaladoshas sings.
AutoBahn– This is a tough, aggressive track where Cleo Ice Queen shows that she can rap as good, if not better than her male counterparts. “Rap god , I’m tycooning/ look at all the icey ones that I’m grooming/ fast cars we vamoosing/ off to the beach, we over there cooling/ refueling /recouping /contemplating how we looting/ me and my team on a mission for commission /reign supreme and kill the competition ” she raps . It is a song braggadocious song in which she is basically telling everyone that she is here to take over. As the saying goes, “it’s not bragging if you can back it up”.
“Got that diva mentality but a beast on the mic / I got that butterfly swag but I bring the fist to the fight…”
I would describe Geminice as an album of 2 half’s. The first 7 tracks are phenomenal. On them she talks about life, love and everything in-between in a fantastic way. The second half of the album is more up-tempo, and party oriented, but lacks the substance of the previous songs have. But that is not to say that the songs are not good, they are all major club bangers.
One song in particular I did not enjoy is “Boys talking”. I get the concept of having some of the best female rappers from all over Africa on one song (Nigerian female rapper Eva Alordiah , South African female rapper Nadia Nakai, Kenyan female rapper STL), but the outcome is cringe worthy .
Cleo ice Queen is at her best when she wears her heart on her sleeve and tells it as it is .She is multi-talented and has a super bright future ahead of her. Expect this album to get her recognition not only in Zambia but all over Africa and beyond. Geminice is the first Zambian female rap album, Cleo is opening doors for others who thought Hip-hop was only for the men. She has set the bar high for others that will follow.
“Every time I close my eyes, I see the angles come right by /every time I breath I feel alive , and I’m so grateful for my life / I see the futures looking bright / I want to dream by day and night /one day I’ll tell you about my stripes but I got the Lord to thank for life “
ZNFU President Dr. Evelyn Nguleka
THE Zambia National Farmers’ Union (ZNFU) says the draft forensic audit report in which senior officials at the organisation have been accused of allegedly misappropriating K34 billion (old currency) through fraud, tax evasion and abuse of authority does not provide any substantiated evidence.
ZNFU first vice-president Richard Lisimba told a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday that the audit report which was commissioned by Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency (SIDA) and carried out by Elasto Mambo of EMM corporate partners does not give any substantiated evidence of fraud of both ZNFU and donor funds.
“The preliminary report does not give any substantiated evidence of fraud of both ZNFU and donor funds,” he said.
Mr Lisimba said ZNFU observed that the auditor had inadequate understanding of the union’s operations and its partnership arrangement with donors under the core support.
He called upon the Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants (ZICA) to appoint a high-level panel of independent experts to review the terms of reference of the audit.
Mr Lisimba said ZICA should interrogate the professional conduct of the Auditor of the Auditee and review the entire audit process and findings with a view to appointing an independent auditor to be agreed upon between the co-operating partners and ZNFU.
He said all this must be done by first setting aside the “so called” special audit report.
CHIEF Government spokesperson Chishimba Kambwili says no child should be deprived of education because of high school fees.
Speaking when he visited Mpatamatu Secondary School in Luanshya yesterday, Mr Kambwili, who is Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, said it is Government’s duty to provide education to citizens because all children have a right to education.
The minister visited the school to verify reports that management had not adhered to Government’s directive to reduce school fees.
Mr Kambwili said it is important for schools to adhere to the circular issued by the Ministry of General Education to all schools to reduce school fees.
“My office has been receiving complaints from parents that the fees are too high. Even when I was on radio in Kasama, parents were calling to complain about high school fees.
“I think the problem is with the circular from the Ministry of General Education. I think there is need to harmonise the circular with what is obtaining on the ground. Cabinet needs to re-look it,” Mr Kambwili said.
The minister said he will discuss the issue with his ministry of General Education counterpart John Phiri before it is tabled before Cabinet.
The Ministry of General Education has directed secondary schools to charge school fees between K250 and K500 per term but some parents are complaining that the fees are exorbitant.
Mr Kambwili, who is also Roan member of Parliament (MP), said many people in his constituency cannot afford high school fees because they are not in employment.
And Mpatamato Secondary School head teacher Pamela Sakala said the school is facing challenges in paying support staff and settling utility bills for water and electricity.
She said the school has not increased user fees in the last three years.
Luanshya district education board secretary Terry Changwe said schools in the district complied with the circular to reduce school fees.
CHOMA’s Sibanyati School and a health centre face closure following increased witchcraft practices in the area.
Some teachers and health staff working in Sibanyanti area have called on government to redeploy them to other places due to rampant witchcraft practices.
Speaking during a meeting called by the Choma district administration at Sibanyanti health centre on Thursday, Honest Mushutila head teacher at Sibanyanti Primary School said witchcraft practices in the area were so rife.
Mr Mushutila said the teachers and all the staff want to leave the school because of the witchcraft practices.
“If I am to narrate some of the incidents of witchcraft here it will take the whole day but witchcraft practices here is so rampant, we are now living in fear and we want to leave this place immediately,” he said.
He told the district administration which was led by acting district commissioner Vincent Sikanyela that the incidents of witchcraft were on a daily basis.
He cited an incident where they found human excreta in a grade five classroom which was smeared on some desks and they also found some traditional medicines around one of the teacher’s houses.
He said the teacher who was occupying that house was forced to shift
from the house and to date no one was willing to occupy that said
house.
Sibanyanti Health Centre in charge Gerald Hansunu said patients and staff at the centre have been experiencing attacks of witchcraft.
Mr Hansunu said patients and expectant mothers in the labour ward have reported incidents of hearing footsteps of a person while asleep and that person does not show up.
He said one patient was attacked by a huge snake which wanted to force sexual intercourse with her but upon jostling with the said snake she became paralysed.
In response Mr Sikanyela said government wants the school and the health centre to continue existing in the area that was why they called for a meeting with members of the community to help resolve the problem.
Mr Sikanyela said Sibanyanti Parents Teachers Association with the health committee would meet this chief Singani of the Tonga speaking people of Choma this weekend to decide on what action to be taken to resolve this impasse.
But the members of the community appealed to the staff not to leave the school and the health centre because that would retard development and called on the district administration to assist in finding a traditional doctor who would expose those engaged in such practices.
Mr Ben Mahombe senior citizen called on the district administration to find a solution to the problem because they had fought had to bring a school and a health centre in the area.
“Lets find a solution to this problem than the threats of leaving because we fought had to bring the school in this area,”he said.
Chief Singani’s representative Albert Ngandu appealed to members of the community that had charms to desist from such practices of attacking the teachers and the health staff.
“Lets also commit to prayer one day people involved in such practices will be exposed,” he said.
Area ward councillor Festus Hachambwa urged members of the community to work together and find a solution to end this problem.
LOCAL Government and Housing Minister Stephen Kampyongo has said he expect Chipata Municipal Council employees to follow the laid down procedures when handling street vendors after President Edgar Lungu had intervened in the matter.
He said yesterday that there was no need for the local authority to be inconsistent regarding the issue of street vendors.
Mr Kampyongo said that it was sad that council officers were busy chasing away street vendors instead of providing them with land where they could trade from.
“Following Presidential directive regarding the issue of street vendors I had a meeting with the council in which measures are suppose to be taken because you cannot treat the vendors in a barbaric manner,” he said.
The minister said street vendors were going through a number of difficulties in which they should be treated like human beings.
On Tuesday at Luangwa Lodge in Chipata when he addressed PF officials, President Lungu warned council and civil servants not to undermine his Government because he would flush them out.
The Head of State said he was disturbed with reports that Chipata Municipal Council officials were treating street vendors like criminals in the border town.
He said street vendors were not criminals which could warrant the local authorities to start treating them like criminals even burning their trading places and merchandise.
He warned that whoever undermined his Government would be flushed out from the office without any restraint.
President Lungu had since ordered Mr Kampyongo to do something regarding the council
Mr Kampyongo has also indicated that there was a process to be followed by his ministry for it to grant a town a city to any town.
He said once the process was followed, the ministry recommends to the Head of State to declare it a city.
Zambia International Investment Forum 2016 Launch: Zambian Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Margaret Mhango Mwanakatwe delivering her speech
ZAMBIA has signed a bilateral trade agreement with Angola to increase trade between the two countries. The trade stands at US$8 million in exports and US$175,000 in imports.
The bilateral trade agreement will further exempt some products from customs duty.
Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Margaret Mwanakatwe, who signed for the Zambian government, said that the bilateral trade agreement will have a positive impact on the diversification programmes being pursued by the two countries.
This is according to a statement issued in Lusaka yesterday by Ministry of Commerce Trade and Industry permanent secretary Kayula Siame
Mrs Mwanakatwe said the agreement is designed to facilitate the expansion of trade between the two countries and further strengthen economic and political ties.
The minister said in Luanda during the signing ceremony last week that: “Synergies between trade promotion and investment promotion will be critical to harnessing the benefits associated with the implementation of the bilateral trade agreement.”
She urged Zambian exporters to take advantage of the trade agreement and the Angolan market by ensuring that their goods meet international standards and to work with the Zambia Bureau of Standards.
“The Zambia Development Agency will be on hand to provide any facilitation the exporters will require to access the Angolan market,” Mrs Mwanakatwe said.
Angola’s Minister of Commerce, Rosa Escorcio Pacavira De Matos said the agreement will enhance trade, improve market transactions and the movement of people and goods.
Ms De Matos said the agreement will also foster public and private investments between the two countries.
The agreement is intended to make Angola one of Zambia’s largest export markets and further create an opportunity for investment, competition and innovation for the private sector, thus, enhance job and wealth creation in areas such agriculture, tourism, energy and construction.
The trade agreement has provided a list of products that will be exempted from custom duty.
The agreement will further compliment other initiatives such as the development of the Lobito Corridor, which is aimed at renewal of the Benguela Railway Line which was commissioned last year.
First Lady Esther Lungu Esther Lungu listens to Agriculture Deputy minister Greyford Monde on arrival in Itezi Tezhi for the continued outreach Programme for People with Special needs hon Sunday, September 6,2015 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
THE cattle population in Kazungula District of Southern Province has increased to about 87, 000 currently from 36, 000 over the last few years because of various measures the Government has put in place to eradicate livestock diseases, Livestock and Fisheries Minister Greyford Monde has said.
Mr Monde said the Patriotic Front (PF) Government and chiefs had been highly instrumental in systematically and effectively implementing Contagious Bovine Pleural Pneumonia (CBPP) control and eradication measures since the outbreak of the livestock disease during the year 2000.
He said in some cases, the measures employed such as test and slaughter of positive herds and movement restrictions may have appeared to be very harsh but they were very necessary and intended to control the disease.
Mr Monde was speaking in Livingstone at Protea Hotel yesterday when he officiated at the livestock stakeholders’ consultative meeting for Livingstone, Kazungula and some Districts in Western Province.
Senior Chief Mukuni, Chief Nyawa, Chief Sekute, representatives from Chief Moomba and Musokotwane of Southern Province as well as representatives from Senior Inyambo Yeta and the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) attended the meeting which was hosted by the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries.
“The PF Government through the wise leadership of President Edgar Lungu, the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, with the support and participation of your Royal Highness, stakeholders gathered here, has been instrumental in implementing CBPP control and eradication measures.
“Kazungula District has achieved a growth of cattle from 36, 000 at the peak of the disease outbreak to about 87, 000 herds currently,” he said.
Mr Monde in view of the positive developments, his Ministry was determined to continue with systematic control and eradication measures in order to roll back the disease to the national borders.
“To reduce illegal inflows of cattle and facilitate safe trade, my Ministry is proposing measures such as cattle identification through branding as well as maintenance of stock registers and enhanced policing of cattle movements by the community through traditional leadership taskforces and other stakeholders like stock theft wing of the Zambia Police,” Mr Monde said.
He said CBPP was one of the national important diseases that had a very devastating effect on cattle through lung infection and it spread from one animal to another through close contact.
“You may recall that since the CBPP outbreak of 2000 in Western Province, and later on the spread of the disease in 2004 to Kazungula District of Southern Province, many of our farmers lost their means of livelihoods.
“In Kazungula District, for example, the cattle population drastically reduced from 45, 000 to 36, 000 within a period of about two years,” Mr Monde said.
He said the loss of animals lead to financial insecurity and social-cultural disruptions such as inability to pay for dowries and perform significant traditional ceremonies.
Speaking at the same meeting, Livestock and Fisheries Deputy Minister Lawrence Evans said there was need to control livestock diseases that the county could export beef to neighbouring countries.
Mr Evans said Zambia had the potential to become a hub for exporting beef to other countries.
Livingstone District Commissioner Omar Munsanje urged livestock farmers to consider adding value to their beef to enable them broaden their revenue base.
Mr Munsanje said Livingstone, which was Zambia’s Tourist Capital, was one of the huge markets for the beef industry.
Senior Chief Puta of the Bwile people of Chienge District in Luapula,in action during last year’s Bwilile Ceremony at his palace.
SENIOR Chief Puta of the Bwile people of Chienge district in Luapula Province has refuted a story attributed to him in yesterday’s edition of The Post in which he is alleged to have asked President Lungu to get rid of most of his members of Parliament (MPs) in the region if he is to get any support.
Bwile Royal Establishment spokesperson Katele Kalumba, whose traditional name is Natende Walushiba, said in a statement issued in Lusaka yesterday that the story in The Post was allegedly inaccurate.
“The Royal Establishment on behalf of Senior Chief Puta would like to refute the story published in The Post of yesterday. The royal highness did not at any point say at a meeting he called at his palace that President Lungu should get rid of most of his MPs if he is to get support in the region.
“The senior chief said he is non-partisan and that he supports the government of the day but his statement was singularly about development in Chienge and carried the meaning that if MPs are not performing to the electorate concerns, it will be difficult for them to be re-elected if they are adopted by their political parties,” Dr Kalumba said.
He said in making this general statement, Senior Chief Puta did not say that the head of State should get rid of most of his MPs if he is to get support in the region but that the traditional leader is merely interested in seeing that development is fostered in the area.
Dr Kalumba said the statement published in The Post was, therefore, not only gravely erroneous but also injurious to the Bwile Chieftaincy and the people in the region.
He said the traditional leader will remain non-partisan and will not accept his name to be abused by politicians.
Dr Kalumba said the Bwile Royal Establishment is, therefore, behind Senior Chief Puta in ensuring that development becomes priority in the Bwile chiefdom.
He advised the media fraternity to remain factual in their reporting ahead of the August 11 general elections.
Dr Kalumba said this will help in ensuring that there is peace and unity in the country before, during and after this year’s general elections.
President Edgar Lungu with Mr Harry Kalaba foreign affairs minister at NEPAD Summit
President Edgar Lungu has commended NEPAD agency for coming up with a concept note on the African continental framework on youth empowerment.
Delivering a NEPAD international statement in Addis Ababa today during a closed door meeting on the occasion of the 26th ordinary session of the assembly of the African Union (AU), President Lungu said Zambia has no doubt that the implementation of the concept note on the African continental framework on youth empowerment, will greatly contribute to the full utilisation of the capacities of the youth for Africa’s desired transformation.
President Lungu said now that the African Union member states have embarked on the first ten-year implementation plan of agenda 2063, which he said is transformative in nature, the need for comprehensive solutions that are innovative and designed for the transformational sectors of the continent cannot be over emphasised.
He said it was from this backdrop that his delegation from Zambia was urging the NEPAD coordination agency to scale up the putting in place of comprehensive solutions that are designed and made operational in order to contribute to the transformation of the African Continent.
President Lungu added that his delegation is cognisant of the fact that coordination during the implementation plan of the agenda 2063 will be key in realising the dream for “Africa we want”.
He said going forward, the coordination role of NEPAD was very cardinal in achieving the objectives of the agenda 2063 and its first ten-year implementation plan adding that this places a mammoth task for NEPAD than never before to coordinate a cluster of solutions around Africa’s transformational sectors that will result in spurring job creation for the continent’s citizens and in particular for the youth.
The delegation of President Lungu includes Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba, Justice Minister Ngosa Simbyakula, Gender Minister Nkandu Luo and Zambia’s permanent representative to the AU Susan Sikaneta.
Speaking earlier during an open meeting of NEPAD, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe condemned the continuous risky journeys of the young people from Africa crossing dangerous waters to seek good life in Europe.
President Mugabe said it was wrong for the young people to continue trekking to Europe when they need to contribute to the economic development of their respective countries.
President Mugabe, who is also AU Chairperson, called on African leaders to help find a lasting solution to the increasing number of youths risking their lives by trekking to Europe through dangerous waters in search of a good life.
The 52 member countries of the AU have converged in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for the 26th AU summit being held under the theme, “2016 Year of Human Rights with particular focus on the rights of the women.
