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UPND special assistant to the president for special duties Edward Mumbi (L) with William Banda
THE United Party for National Development (UPND) says it does not want the new amended Constitution to be subjected to yet another amendment to satisfy those who have fallen victim to clauses such as a Grade 12 certificate or its equivalent for anyone aspiring to participate in any elective position in the August general elections.
UPND presidential spokesperson for special duties Edward Mumbi disclosed that some senior Patriotic Front (PF) officials, members of Parliament and ministers have been petitioning President Edgar Lungu to consider taking the amended Constitution back to Parliament to amend certain clauses believed to be unfriendly.
He said President Lungu should be commended for having respected the decision of the PF and MMD members of Parliament and he should not be arm-twisted to take the amended Constitution back to Parliament to satisfy those who had been disqualified by some progressive clauses in the new law.
“The UPND has no problem with the amended Constitution and we want to go to the general elections with the entirety of the clauses that were amended. The amended Constitution was extensively debated; the clauses such as Grade 12 certificate or its equivalent was unanimously passed by Parliament.
‘‘But we are concerned that some PF officials, MPs and ministers have been petitioning President Lungu to consider taking back the amended Constitution to Parliament for yet another amendment. Many of the PF MPs have become victims of the Grade 12 certificate clause and want it changed. My advice to the President is that he should not succumb to the demands of his MPs or ministers and attempt to alter any part of the new law,” Mr Mumbi said.
Zambia mark their CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) return with a big derby against Zimbabwe on Tuesday in Rubavu, Rwanda.
This is Zambia’s first game back at CHAN after failing to qualify for the last two editions of the competitions since finishing 3rd in 2009 at the inaugural tournament hosted by Cote d’Ivoire.
But George Lwandamina’s side heads into the tournament without striker Winston Kalengo whose three goals in the qualifiers inspired Zambia to victory.
Kalengo is ineligible for the tournament after moving abroad to join AC Leopards this month on a one year deal.
CHAN is a second tier Africa Cup tournament exclusively for home-based players.
However, Lwandamina will be banking on the experience of 2012 Africa Cup winning duo of Green Buffaloes striker Christopher Katongo and Zanaco midfielder Isaac Chansa who were last minute inclusions in the team.
Meanwhile, the meeting has the hallmarks of a grudge match after Zimbabwe eliminated Zambia from the qualifiers of the 2014 edition.
The elimination was even more painful from that match saw Zambia suffer an embarrassing and rare 1-0 home loss in Ndola where they had not lost in over 40 years prior to that defeat in August, 2013.
And Tuesday’s meeting will mark the first time the two record four-time Cosafa Cup winners will meet in a high-level CAF tournament after dominating their regional zone.
THE Patriotic Front (PF) will not entertain any member scheming to cause divisions in the ruling party in an attempt to take it back to the days of intra-party fights and differences following the death of president Michael Sata, Jean Kapata has warned.
She said PF was bigger than any single individual and that those who felt were more important and popular should consider exiting from the party so that they could test their popularity outside the ruling party.
Ms Kapata who is PF elections chairperson said Zambians had fallen in love with President Edgar Lungu and were eager to give him a new mandate to continue governing the country with humility and humbleness.
Commenting on a statement by PF Matero member of Parliament Miles Sampa who said he was playing Donchi kubeba part II in the ruling party. Ms Kapata wondered why the Matero law-maker was planning to ambush the ruling party with a resignation when he could easily leave the party without causing consternation.
Ms Kapata said Mr Sampa should realize that the PF was bigger than any single individual and should therefore tame his ambitions because one would only become President if ordained by God.
She said many Zambians had ambitions of becoming presidents but if not ordained by God, their efforts would be in vain.
Ms Kapata stated that those who were planning to cause confusion in the PF because of their presidential ambitions should exit from the ruling party because President Lungu was the sole presidential candidate for the ruling party.
“What we should know as PF members is that no one is bigger than our party. The PF is bigger than Mr Sampa and we shall not entertain anyone to take us back to the days of intra-party fights following the death of president Michael Sata. Those who want to cause confusion, the door is open and they are free to leave. Zambians have fallen in love with President Lungu and they are going to give him a landslide victory. So those who are fantasizing of becoming presidents of Zambia are wasting their time because only God can ordain someone to become president. Mr Sampa should tell us about his Donchi kubeba part II mantra, instead of scheming to ambush the party with a resignation,” Ms Kapata said.
Ms Kapata said the support the PF was getting was overwhelming and that the ruling party was headed for landslide victory because Zambians were impressed with the massive development the ruling party was delivering.
She predicted that the opposition would certainly sink into oblivion after the August general elections adding that her assessment was that the PF had become the people’s party and many were defecting from other political parties to join the PF.
Recently, Mr Sampa told his supporters that the ultimatum given to him to resign from the party was short and needed a month to undertake a tour of the country to consult his relatives and supporters on whether to stay or leave the ruling party.
Mr Sampa also told his supporters at Central Park last week that for now, there was a Donchi kubeba part II in the PF and that as a member of the central committee, he was only answerable to President Lungu and the PF secretary general Davis Chama.
Efforts to get Mr Sampa failed as his mobile phone was switched off by press time.
MMD President Nevers Sekwila Mumba
Opposition MMD leader Nevers Mumba has refuted media reports that the party has opened talks with other political parties with the intention of forming an alliance ahead of the August 11 polls.
Dr Mumba said the MMD is yet to engage any political party and has urged the public to dismiss the ongoing reports.
He said the decision on whether to enter into an alliance will depend on the resolution of the National Executive Committee.
Dr Mumba did not however rule out any possibilities of the MMD entering into an electoral pact.
The MMD leader was speaking Monday morning when he featured on a live special programme on Hot FM from his residence in Kabulonga, Lusaka.
“At this stage, we have not engaged any political party to discuss issues of alliances as we go to the elections. We are yet to table the matter at the NEC and until that is done, all these are mere speculations,” Dr Mumba said.
He added, “What is important to note however is that with the amended constitution in place, all political parties must start positioning themselves on how to respond to the issue of the 50+1 clause and focusing on individual parties’ s strengths.”
The opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) has been challenged to test its democracy and tribe inclinations by, for the first time, allow a non-Tonga be its leader.
The UPND is being encouraged as a government in waiting to emulate what the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) which was said to be a political parties for the Bemba-speaking people has done to allow an Easterner be its leader.
According to Dr Kakuwa, the Every Home for Christ thinks that the ruling Party, PF, has shown leadership to replace its late party and republican President Michael Sata with President Edgar Lungu who is from Eastern province.
Dr Kakuwa said that his organization is of the view that the opposition UPND can do the same if it wants to remove its alleged tag of tribalism.
Dr Kakuwa further said that as things stand, the UPND appears to be a one man political party which seemingly may not survive in the political arena without Mr Hakainde Hichilema leading it.
Dr Kakuwa observed that is because all activities in the UPND are somewhat centered on party president Hakainde Hichilema.
Dr Kakuwa has urged the opposition UPND to consider going for a convention and elect another leader who is not Tonga on account of its alleged tribalism tag.
Dr Kakuwa stated that the UPND should prove that it is not a tribal political party if it is to govern the Country on the One Zambia One nation motto.
Honourable Brown C. Kapika By Honourable Brown C. Kapika
Zambia has been made naked because of the high level of corruption, and the big challenge is that many political leaders are have been engaged in some non-stop corruption practices and always got away with their heavy crimes because of the rotten system within Judiciary of the Country. The Moderator noted that political corruption in Zambia had taken such firm root and become so pervasive in all sectors of the nation’s socio-economic and political life that making it difficult for the nation to make headway in its development effort, and as long as the canker thrived, the country’s development would continue to struggle.
“Corruption diverts resources from the poor to the rich, increases the cost of running businesses, distorts public expenditures and deters foreign investors…it is a major barrier to sound and equitable development”
Eliminating corruption should be a central policy goal of policymakers around Zambia. It is known that Zambia political corruption is a barrier to economic development because it increases the costs and risk of business activity, and deters investment. The Cancer of Corruption it is a theoretical mechanism connecting corruption and poverty, and who suffers are the people of Zambia, and therefore.
Not surprisingly, the international financial institutions have weighed in. The World Bank has made “good governance” a major thrust of its work, asserting that the “World Bank Group focus on governance and anticorruption (GAC) follows from its mandate to reduce poverty — a capable and accountable state creates opportunities for poor people, provides better services, and improves development outcomes.” Because it erodes trust in government, Zambia political corruption must certainly be condemned and corrupt officials resolutely prosecuted. Corruption also weakens the moral bonds of civil society on which democratic practices and processes rest.
The Zambian political corruption-causes-poverty narrative and has become so hegemonic that it has often marginalized policy issues from political discourse. This narrative appeals to the elite and middle class, which dominate the shaping of public opinion. It’s also a safe language of political competition among politicians. Political leaders can deploy accusations of corruption against one another for electoral effect without resorting to the destabilizing discourse of class. And yet this narrative of corruption has increasingly less appeal for the poorer classes across the Nation.
The case of the Zambia’s since 1991 illustrates the greater explanatory power of the “wrong-policy narrative” than the corruption narrative. According to an ahistorical narrative, massive corruption suffocated the promise of the post- late Fredrick Chiluba democratic republic. In contrast, the wrong-policy narrative locates the key causes of Zambia underdevelopment and poverty in historical events and developments.
The complex of policies that pushed the Zambians into the economic quagmire over the last 15 years can be summed up by a formidable term: structural adjustment. Also known as neoliberal restructuring, it involves prioritizing debt repayment, conservative macroeconomic management, huge cutbacks in government spending, trade and financial liberalization, privatization and deregulation, and export-oriented production. Structural adjustment came to the Zambians courtesy of the World Bank, the IMF, and the World Trade Organization (WTO), but local technocrats and economists internalized and disseminated the doctrine.
Late Patrick Mwanawasa was personally honest — indeed the epitome of non-corruption — and his contribution to the reestablishment of democracy was indispensable. But his acceptance of the IMF’s demand to prioritize debt repayment over development brought about a decade of stagnation and continuing poverty.
Corruption is man-made or man driven. The ‘sacred cow’ syndrome must be totally eliminated in Zambia. Nobody is above the law. Political Corruption in Zambia is the master key to injustice. It allows innocent citizens jailed, while despicable criminals fill seats of authority. Judges serve not justice but deliberate according to the price offered. Police are bought as well as all security apparatus. Drugs and weapons are stored in ministerial offices and residence and in many times under the bed of presidency itself. No nation can prosper nor enjoy persistent peace without eradicating corruption. It is a slow killer but surely a killer that misses no target, as the target is so big to miss. It aims the entire nation of Zambia.
Democracy as a safeguard of human rights can function, where rule of law prevails. That guarantee is non-existent in most developing nations. The Western Democracies rather than helping to nurture the essential institutions of democracy, engage greedy local politicians in transactions that are illegal to say the least and mostly of criminal in nature. They offer aid, grants and loans to despotic governments and in many times earn kickbacks in the process. It is that which cements a system of bribery and sleaze in developing states. Most grants and loans earmarked for the poor ends in the mouths of tyrants and their entourage.
President Obama is right to address corruption in Africa, but that should entail all countries. Let us reward good governance and democracy and punish the rotten regimes that stick to the chair of satanic authority. They defend their illegitimate power ruthlessly and nothing to contribute to the well-being of their people. They rule by denying all basic human rights, turning the masters of their power into slaves. They loot people’s properties, as they did to people’s power. Ban them to travel, never giving them the chance to enjoy the courtesy of civilised nations. Trace their ill gotten wealth and prohibit them to taste purchase of a single penny they stole.
President for Adedo – Zamucano Political Party (Zambia)
President for ‘Beweging voor Burger -en Mensenrechten’Political Party (Netherlands)
(Partij voor de Burgerlijke-en Mensenrechten )
Dr. Pius Chilufya Kasolo
THE Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Investment (ZCCM-IH) is in the process of constructing a cement plant in Ndola with an initial investment of US$600 million.
ZCCM-IH chief executive officer, Pius Kasolo said the plant which would be setup at Ndola Lime on the Copperbelt would be completed in three years time and is expected to create more than 1,000 permanent jobs.
Dr Kasolo said in an interview in Lusaka that the plant’s production capacity would be 5,000 tonnes per day and would absorb a good number of retrenched miners on the Copperbelt.
He said at construction stage, ZCCM-IH would create about 10,000 jobs but that once the plant was completed, the number would reduce to over 1,000.
“We have diversified and we are planning to setup a cement plant in Ndola with an initial investment of about $600 million.
“It will be a bigger cement plant which will be producing 5,000 tonnes of cement per day and we will be generating our own energy from the cement plant,” he said.
Dr Kasolo explained that finances were being put in place and the feasibility studies had since been conducted.
He said this was in line with the Zambia International Investment Forum (ZIIF -2016) which would be held under the theme “Investment for Industrialisation, Wealth and Job Creation.”
Commerce Trade and Industry Minister, Margaret Mwanakatwe launched the Investment Forum in Lusaka on Friday.
Dr Kasolo said once the prices of cement drop further, it would mean that more people would be able to construct houses and factories.
He said this meant that the more the prices of cement drop, the more industrialised Zambia would be.
Defence Minister Richwell Siamunene (middle wearing a red necktie) in Livingstone yesterday during the Board Meeting for the Organisation of Military Sports in Africa (OSMA). Picture by KELVIN MUDENDA
GOVERNMENT has applauded the Organisation of Military Sports in Africa (OSMA) for providing peace and security in Africa through sports based activities among African countries.
Minister of Defence Richwell Siamunene said sports was an important platform which advocated peace in Africa where military personnels could meet and share different values.
Mr Siamunene was speaking in Livingstone yesterday when he officially opened the Board Meeting for the Organisation of Military Sports in Africa at Livingstone Safaris Lodge and Spar.
Mr Siamunene said peace and security was a pillar on which social and economic Development in Africa could be achieved.
He said OSMA through its sports activities such as Football and Boxing provided a good platform where soldiers who met on the battlefield could meet again in sports field where peace prevails.
Mr siamunene said despite the Organisation facing challenges it was still able to conduct such meetings where various issues facing the organisation are discussed.
He said their was need for stakeholder to come on board so that the organisation could be helped in its sport activities it carries.
“There is need to bring on Board on International companies and corporate institutions to sponsor some of the various sports activities,in turn this will help Markt their products and services,” he said.
Speaking at the same meeting, OSMA Secretary General Djendola Peirre thanked said the aim of the Organisation was to enhance peace and security through sports activities such as Football and Boxing.
Lt Col Pierre said sports integrated various military groups in africa who in turn shared different values through sports.
He said there was need for Government in various countries to support and recognise the organisation if it was to carry out its objective of bringing unity among African military personnels.
The meeting is been held from Janury 17-22, 2016.
OSMA secretary General Lieutenant Colonel Djendola Pierre (right), Defence Mijister Richwell Siamunene (middle) and Chief Delegate and Host Brigadier General Raymond Siankope (left ) in Livingstone . Picture by KELVIN MUDENDAOSMA Secretary General Lieutenant Colonel Djendola Peirre (left) greets Defence Minister Richwell Siamunene (right) in LivingstoneOSMA Secretary General Lieutenant Colonel Djendola Peirre (left) presenting a medal to Defence Minister Richwell Siamunene (right) in Livingstone yesterday for the role the Minister has played in fostering OSMA activities. Picture by KELVIN MUDENDA
Newly appointed North Western province minister Dawson Kafwaya inspects the bridge
GOVERNMENT has commissioned the construction of a 35km stretch of the Kimakolwe-Kandakanda road in Solwezi.
The project, which will be undertaken by the Zambia National Service (ZNS) at a cost of K1.2 million, will involve grading the road from Kimakolwe to Kandakanda.
Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony for the project on Saturday, North-Western Province Minister Dawson Kafwaya said Government has embarked on an ambitious programme to work on feeder roads to open up the rural areas to development and boost the agriculture sector.
“We are constructing this road under Zambia National Service and I can assure that the engineers, including the ZNS Commandant, have assured me that we are going to grade this road within 60 days,” Mr Kafwaya said.
He said the feeder road project will ease the transportation of farm produce to the markets and motivate more people to venture into agriculture in line’s Government’s economic diversification drive.
He also said ZNS has completed constructing a 28km stretch of the Kyafukuma-Mulenga road in Solwezi.
Mr Kafwaya also said the construction of feeder roads in Chavuma and Zambezi districts by ZNS is on course and progressing well.
He said Government has identified the road sector as a key driver to the attainment of social-economic development.
The minister appealed to the people to be wary of politicians who would want to politicise the development projects Government is undertaking countrywide.
And a community representative, Sylvester Mwala commended the government for embarking on the feeder road project.
Mr Mwala said residents in the area were delighted with the project as the area will become accessible by road and they will be able to transport farm produce to the markets with ease.
A nine (9) member delegation from the African Development Bank (AfDB) headquarters in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, arrives in Zambia today for a series of meetings with Government and other stakeholders on Zambia’s ongoing preparations to host the Bank’s Annual meeting scheduled to take place from 23th to 27th May, 2016.
The delegation which touches down at 14:00 hours at KK international airport aboard Emirates airline, comprises, among others, the Bank’s experts in media and communication, conference infrastructure, protocol, transport and information communication technology, ICT. It is led by Mr Olivier Pinzi, Director at the Bank’s headquarters in Abidjan.
This is the second time the AfDB mission is coming to Zambia in a space of six months as Government intensifies preparations to host the Bank’s high level annual gathering to be attended by over 4,000 delegates from Africa and beyond.
While in the country, the delegation’s week-long programme includes meetings with officials at the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Transport and Communication and members of various technical sub-committees in the ongoing preparations for Zambia’s hosting of the 2016 AfDB among them media and communication, tourism and hospitality, protocol, health and investment and promotion.
Field visits to KK international airport, the main entry and exit point for foreign delegates coming for the conference, Mulungushi international conference centre, venue for the conference, and hotels and other hospitality facilities earmarked to accommodate the thousands of delegates expected to converge on Lusaka for the conference, is also high on the AfDB delegation’s programme while in the country.
The delegation will wrap up its mission to Zambia on 25th January with a meeting with Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba and depart the following day back to Abidjan.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) is a multi-lateral development finance institution established to contribute to the economic development and social progress of African countries.
Founded in 1964, the Bank’s mission is to fight poverty and improve living conditions on the continent through promoting investment of public and private capital in projects and programmes that contribute to the economic and social development of the continent.
Zambia is one of the 54 member states of the AfDB and current chair of the Bank’s Board of Governors through Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda. (more… next page)
Government has since stepped up its preparations for Zambia’s hosting of the 2016 AfDB annual meeting.
With the approval of Cabinet, a Committee of Permanent Secretaries chaired by Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba, was recently appointed to spearhead preparations for Zambia’s hosting of this high level meeting.
The Committee comprises among others Permanent Secretary – Policy Analysis and Coordination Division at Cabinet Office, Permanent Secretary – Economic Management and Finance at the Ministry of Finance, Permanent Secretary, Budget and Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Permanent Secretary – Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Permanent Secretary – Ministry of Home Affairs and Permanent Secretary – Ministry of Health.
Others are Permanent Secretary – Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services, Permanent Secretary – Ministry of Works and Supply, Permanent Secretary – Ministry of Transport and Communication, Permanent Secretary – Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry and Permanent Secretary – Ministry of Tourism and Arts.
The Clerk of the National Assembly, Commissioner-General – Zambia Revenue Authority and the Governor of the Bank of Zambia, are also members of the Committee.
President Edgar Lungu with First Lady Mrs Esther Lungu at Golden Jubillee Celebration closing Worship at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe. The United Church of Zambia celebrated 50 years of existence with a series of events, the Synod Bishop, the Synod General Secretary and the clergy and church members from the various presbyteries, consistories and congregations._ PICTURE BY EDDIE MWANALEZA/STATEHOUSE17-1-2016.
President Edgar Lungu says it is unfortunate that some people are blaming him for the economic challenges the country is going through.
The President said the depreciation of the kwacha and the low rainfall which the country is currently experiencing are natural phenomenon which has nothing to do with his administration.
President Lungu said he is just coming from Namibia where people are equally complaining about the poor rainfall pattern and the depreciation of their country’s currency.
President Lungu was speaking when he addressed the people who gathered to welcome him at the presidential lodge in Kitwe.
He said the current challenges the country is facing can only be addressed by praying to God and not finger pointing.
The president reminded the people that God loves them and that is why the country has remained peaceful through the reign of the various presidents that have ruled the nation.
He has advised the people of Zambia not to listen to those cheating them as they are just interested in usurping power.
He said that his administration is a pro- poor government that is why it is carrying out projects which will benefit the people.
The president wondered why the same people who are boasting of being wealthy are failing to help the marginalized.
He said Zambia needs a caring president not those who just want to get to state house to enrich themselves.
Meanwhile, President Edgar Lungu has called on political players in the country to exercise maximum restraint as the elections draw near.
President Lungu has also challenged the church to continue preaching peace across the country and to inculcate values of oneness among Zambians ahead of the polls.
The head of state made the remarks when he addressed thousands of United Church of Zambia -UCZ-Members who have assembled at Nkana Stadium to take part in the Golden Jubilee celebrations.
President Lungu has insisted that violence has no place in Zambia because the country has been known regionally and globally to be a beacon of peace.
The President has emphasized that there is need for every Zambian to work hard and maintain this record.
And President Lungu has appealed to all registered voters to turn out in large numbers on August 11 when the country holds general elections and vote.
The President says he is happy that UCZ has been a pioneer in promoting gender equality.
President Lungu says this is evidenced by many female clergy who have been ordained to preach the word of God side by side their male counterparts.
The President reminded the church that before appointing Inonge Wina as Vice President UCZ had already demonstrated impartiality by putting the responsibility of the Synod General Secretary on the shoulders of a woman.
And UCZ Synod Bishop for Zambia Mutale Mulumbwa encouraged President Lungu and his government that the church is always praying for them because they have a biblical mandate to do so.
President Edgar Lungu with Synod general sceretary Bishop Rev Mutale Mulumbwa at Golden Jubillee Celebration closing Worship at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe. The United Church of Zambia celebrated 50 years of existence with a series of events, the Synod Bishop, the Synod General Secretary and the clergy and church members from the various presbyteries, consistories and congregations._ PICTURE BY EDDIE MWANALEZA/STATEHOUSE17-1-2016.President Edgar Lungu with Bishop Rev Mutale Mulumbwa at Golden Jubillee Celebration closing Worship at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe. The United Church of Zambia celebrated 50 years of existence with a series of events, the Synod Bishop, the Synod General Secretary and the clergy and church members from the various presbyteries, consistories and congregations._ PICTURE BY EDDIE MWANALEZA/STATEHOUSE17-1-2016.Golden Jubillee Celebration closing Worship at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe. The United Church of Zambia celebrated 50 years of existence with a series of events, the Synod Bishop, the Synod General Secretary and the clergy and church members from the various presbyteries, consistories and congregations._ PICTURE BY EDDIE MWANALEZA/STATEHOUSE17-1-2016.First Lady Mrs Esther Lungu at Golden Jubillee Celebration closing Worship at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe. The United Church of Zambia celebrated 50 years of existence with a series of events, the Synod Bishop, the Synod General Secretary and the clergy and church members from the various presbyteries, consistories and congregations._ PICTURE BY EDDIE MWANALEZA/STATEHOUSE17-1-2016.First Lady Esther Lungu with Bishop Rev Siame join in the Dance at Golden Jubillee Celebration closing Worship at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe. The United Church of Zambia celebrated 50 years of existence with a series of events, the Synod Bishop, the Synod General Secretary and the clergy and church members from the various presbyteries, consistories and congregations._ PICTURE BY EDDIE MWANALEZA/STATEHOUSE17-1-2016.
Zambia’s High Commissioner to S. Africa, His Excellency Mr. Emmanuel Mwamba with the five nominees in his office in Pretoria
THE Zambian High Commission in South Africa has secured apprenticeship opportunities for five Zambian newly graduate students with a South African-based company.
The five who recently graduated in civil and mechanical engineering from the University of Zambia arrived in Johannesburg yesterday and were met in Pretoria and handed over to the South African company, Ubun2 Group of Companies, by Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa Mr. Emmanuel Mwamba.
The five, Alice Munthali, Ricky Siamatu, Enoch Sichone, Wilson Kapungwe and Charles Silungwe, will be attached for a three-month period to Ubun2 Group’s operations situated in Pietermaritzburg and Durban in KwaZulu-Natal.
Mr. Mwamba described the development as an exciting and momentous occasion for Zambia which came to fruition two months after the idea was mooted in his office.
He commended Ubun2 for responding positively and immediately to the request for the company to contribute towards helping the Zambian Government address youth unemployment and skills development.
“There are over 250 South African companies operating in Zambia and another hundred waiting to enter the Zambian market. Whenever they come to my office, I always narrate to them about our high unemployment levels and the fact that they need to develop quality and skilled employees as we are not a dumping site. I am happy to note that Ubun2 Group is one such company that has responded positively and immediately. This comes at their own cost and they are not even benefitting at the moment as they have not yet invested in Zambia,” he said.
“So this is a remarkable and commendable gesture by Ubun2. Government is very excited for the fact that they are this committed,” he added.
Mr. Mwamba was speaking at the hand-over of the five nominees to Ubun2 Group of Companies at the Zambian High Commission in Pretoria yesterday.
He told the five to realise that they were a privileged group who were lucky to have been picked for the programme.
“You have come here for exposure. This is a moment of sacrifice for a better future and it is one opportunity many others would jump for using their own resources but you are lucky that Ubun2 has fully taken up all the expenses. You will live to remember this moment as it has permanently been inked on your CV’s. It is a great day which has come to fruition after two months of working on the idea,” the High Commissioner said.
Mr. Mwamba took the opportunity to urge young Zambians to strive to be employers and not employees by taking up courses that would equip them with entrepreneurial skills. He said he received a lot of distressing requests from young qualified Zambians for assistance in getting jobs which were not even available in Zambia.
Mr. Mwamba urged Zambians to emulate Germany and Japan which recovered and built their economies to becoming among the world’s strongest after having had suffered calamities. Germany suffered extensive destruction by the end of the Second World War in 1945 while Japan was demolished when two atomic bombs were dropped on the country in 1945.
The High Commissioner explained that in their re-building efforts, Germany focused on strengthening its engineering industry while Japan identified technology.
“Most of us want white-collar jobs but if you look at Germany which invested in engineering and Japan which focused on technology, today they are some of the biggest economies we have,” he said.
And Ubun2 Group of Companies Corporate Affairs Director, Apostle Emmanuel Nkhoma, said his company was happy to receive the five candidates. He explained that the civil engineering nominees will be involved in township development projects in Pietermaritzburg while those with mechanical engineering qualifications will be deployed to work under one of oldest engineers in South Africa who was running the equipment manufacturing division of the company.
“They will be involved in working on building one of the biggest stone mining equipment. At the end, they will not only have acquired knowledge but would have made a name for themselves by being involved in building a mobile stone crushing plant,” he said.
Apostle Nkhoma said Ubun2 hoped to enter the Zambian market with a labour force that possessed appropriate skills. “We are eagerly looking forward to starting our operations in Zambia as soon as we are done with preparatory work,” he said.
The five candidates particularly thanked President Edgar Lungu and his Government for showing commitment to alleviating challenges being posed by the high unemployment levels in Zambia.
They also thanked the High Commission for facilitating their participation in the internship programme and pledged to apply the skills they will have acquired when they return to Zambia.
Zambia’s High Commissioner to S. Africa, His Excellency Mr. Emmanuel Mwamba with Ubun2 Group of Companies Corporate Affairs Director Apostle Emmanuel Nkhoma at the High Commission in PretoriaThe five nominees listen to Zambia’s High Commissioner to S. Africa, His Excellency Mr. Emmanuel Mwamba when they were welcomed at the High Commission in PretoriaZambia’s High Commissioner to S. Africa, His Excellency Mr. Emmanuel Mwamba with Ubun2 Group of Companies Corporate Affairs Director Apostle Emmanuel Nkhoma (l) and First Secretary for Political Affairs Mr. Josephat SakalaZambia’s High Commissioner to S. Africa, His Excellency Mr. Emmanuel Mwamba welcoming the nominees at the High Commission in PretoriaZambia’s High Commissioner to S. Africa, His Excellency Mr. Emmanuel Mwamba welcoming the nominees at the High Commission in Pretoria
UPND president Hakainde Hichilema speaks with AFP and Wall Street Journal, calls for consistent economic policies
Leading opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema has emphasised the need for stable and consistent economic policies.
Mr Hichilema said stable economic policies are a key ingredient to attracting local and foreign investment that will create jobs for Zambians people, especially the youths.He said this when he met Journalists from leading international news outlets the Wall Street Journal and Agence France Press (AFP).
“We sat down with colleagues from Wall Street Journal and Agency France Press (AFP) for interviews today.These are highly respected and appreciated international media houses and colleagues that can help put our country’s image in correct perspective,” Mr Hichilema said.
He added, “As usual, we do not wish to preempt the interview, as we believe they are professionals who should be left to decide what they write.”
“Suffice to say that on the economic side we emphasised the need for stable and consistent economic policies as a key ingredient to attract local and foreign investment that will create jobs for our people, especially the youths. We also highlighted the need for robust economic transformation and diversification programmes as one way to promote sustainable and accelerated growth.”
Mr Hichilema has attracted the attention of the international community with leading international news outlets lining up for interviews with the UPND leader who many analysts feel poses the greatest election challenge to President Edgar Lungu.
Last week, the UPND leader was again interviewed by Journalists from All Jazeera TV and Bloomberg over his development plans for Zambia.
Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) National Youth Treasurer ?and National Executive Committee (NEC) member Lengwe Cornelius Bwalya has charged that Zambians have been robbed by the Patriotic Front (PF) government.
He said that benefits accrued from the infrastructure development originally started by MMD but hijacked by PF have largely benefited Chinese companies at the expense of indigenous Zambian contractors.
?Mr Bwalya regrets that the loans the PF government has been getting from the Chinese come with many hidden conditionalities such as the Zambian government being forced to engage Chinese firms on the projects under which those loans were collected, thus denying Zambian contractors opportunities to improve their skills and gain financially. He argued that when Chinese firms come to Zambia and many other African countries, they bring with them their own nationals to work on these projects and only employ a handful of Zambian casual workers who are given a merger pay at the end of the month.
“The reality of our people suffering cannot get any more serious than it is right now. That is why as MMD under the leadership of Dr Nevers Sekwila Mumba, we have pledged to appropriately engage the Chinese to allow for massive technology and skills transfer to Zambians,” Mr Bwalya said.
“Zambians will not eat roads. We will not use the roads to buy kapenta, chibwabwa or kalembula. The Zambian people want hard cash in this difficult economy to enable us take care of our families,” a visibly annoyed Mr Bwalya said.
Mr Bwalya who is currently touring the Copperbelt with his team bemoaned the high levels of poverty and anguish that the people on the Copperbelt are going through. He wondered how a thinking, normal government would expect former miners to switch to farming within months of losing their jobs.
“Zambians will not eat roads. We will not use the roads to buy kapenta, chibwabwa or kalembula. The Zambian people want hard cash in this difficult economy to enable us take care of our families,”
“What I am seeing here is a total failure of leadership in the PF government, something that will never happen under the New Hope MMD under Dr. Mumba when we form government after 11th August 2016, and something that never happened under previous MMD leaderships.
“Under Dr Mumba, a seasoned diplomat, former Vice-President and head of business in Parliament, in the same fashion that he negotiated for Barrick-Gold to come and invest $8 billion in Zambia, MMD will negotiate with the various mining firms in the country to re-employ our people. This is a total mess by the PF and the more reason why we have to vote them out of office this August.
“MMD is going to make Zambia great again. I call on all well-meaning Zambians to rise up and stand up for what is right and noble, which is to vote PF and Edgar Lungu out of government and vote for MMD and Dr. Mumba. There is no room for experiments with untested parties and untested candidates. No room to make the mistakes of the past as we did in 2011 as we cannot afford to be deceived by ‘Forward, Forward or Ifintu ni cakuti’ when ifintu nafi lungula. We are being taken back to the UNIP days of a collapsed economy, high unemployment and runaway inflation. We need to bring in Dr Mumba and the MMD which is tried and tested leadership,” said Mr Bwalya.
