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A drama based on the experiences of Agu, a child soldier fighting in the civil war of an unnamed African country.
PROS
Outstanding performance by the young Ghanaian actor Abraham Attah , who played the part of Agu.
Idris Elba also gave an Excellent performance as the ruthless commandant.
Very tense and emotional story-line .
The movie was visually appealing , it had many scenic locations and had great cinematography .
FAVORITE QUOTES
Agu: “I saw terrible things… and I did terrible things. So if I’m talking to you, it will make me sad and it will make you too sad. In this life… I just want to be happy in this life. If I’m telling this to you… you will think that… I am some sort of beast… or devil.”
Commandant: “All of you that have never been listened to before and have seen your family killed, huh, you now have something that stands for you. You now have something that stands for you!”
Agu: “Bullet is just eating everything, leaves, trees, ground, person. Eating them. Just making person to bleed everywhere. We are just like wild animals now, with no place to be going. Sun, why are you shining at this world? I am wanting to catch you in my hands, to squeeze you until you can not shine no more. That way, everything is always dark and nobody’s ever having to see all the terrible things that are happening here.”
CONCLUSION
“Beasts of no Nation” may be a fictional movie but it gives a true-to-life depiction of the harrowing effects of war in Africa ; tearing families apart ,displacing thousands of people and the inhumanity of child soldiers and the horrors they go through. The innocence is stolen from these children and they are made to commit heinous acts of violence . They are brainwashed into believing the ideologies of their leaders such that they wouldn’t escape even if they had the chance.
Abraham Attah gave a tremendous performance as Agu , a young boy caught up in a vicious war and forced to be a child soldier . There was great character development ,as you watch him go from a care-free boy playing with his friends and brothers , to a dangerous child soldier getting deeper and deeper involved in the rebel army . You will get emotionally attached to the character .
Idris Elba may have been outshone by Abraham Attah ,but he gave a phenomenal performance as the ruthless , cunning commandant of the rebel army.
This is a fascinating and thought-provoking movie that all must watch . It will make you appreciate the peace we have even more .
The Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company has shut down water supply to the entire city following an accident involving a vehicle which left the main supply line vandalized at Lusaka Water Works station in Libala.
The accident occurred in the early hours of today when a driver who was trying to avoid another motorist lost control and rammed into an air valve at the LWSC Water Works station in Libala area.
Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company Spokesman Nshamba Muzungu said this has damaged the Kafue water supply line which is our main source of water supply to Lusaka.
“Because of the extent of the damage and in order for the engineers and technicians to start repairs, we have been forced to shut down supply to Lusaka city,” said Mr Muzungu.
He added, “This means that most parts of the City will not have water supply until repairs to the line are completed.”
“Our engineers and technicians are already on site and we anticipate to restore water supply atleast in the next 48 hours. However, it will take a few more days for the supply to stabilize after connecting.”
President Edgar Lungu speaking at Statehouse swearing in Ceremony on Thursady 7th January 2016. Picture by Eddie Mwanaleza/Statehouse.
President Edgar Lungu has assured the nation that cost implications will not hinder government’s commitment to implementing the new constitution.
Speaking during a swearing in ceremony of six officials at State House this morning, President Lungu said democracy which Zambia has embraced is expensive.
The President said the costs will not stop government from implementing the challenges and changes following his assenting of the Constitutional Amendment Bill on Tuesday.
He said while most Zambians are talking about political changes such as the 50percent plus 1 and running mate clauses, government and the judiciary have also changed.
The President adds that the changes will call for more resources to set up the constitutional court and courts of appeal which have to come into being.
He has noted the need for all civil servants and relevant offices to work together and ensure that the desires of Zambians are actualised.
President said he has been liaising with the Chief Justice and Speaker of the National Assembly to ensure the three arms of government respond to the challenges and changes in the new constitution.
He has also instructed newly sworn in Chairperson of the Industrial Relations Court Justice Jones Chinyama and his Deputy Derrick Mulenga to ensure that dispensation of justice is expedited especially among the poor.
President Lungu has also advised newly sworn in Lusaka Province Commissioner of Police-Operations Nelson Phiri to rid the service off bad elements.
He has observed that the police have of late been getting away with cases such as shooting of innocent people among others.
Others sworn in are Police are Peter Chingaipe as Prisons Service Commission Chairperson, Dr. Felix Phiri as National Coordinator for the Centre for E-Government and ICT and Public Policy Specialist at the Public Service Management Division Chikula Chinyanta.
President Edgar Lungu with Mrs Inonge Wina at Statehouse in Ceremony on Thursady 7th January 2016. Picture by Eddie Mwanaleza/Statehouse.President Edgar Lungu swears in Justice Jones Chinyama Chairperson Industrial relations Court After at Statehouse Ceremony on Thursady 7th January 2016. Picture by Eddie Mwanaleza/StatehousePresident Edgar Lungu during the Swearing in of Mr Chikula Chinyanta Public Policy Spcialist at Cabinet office at Statehouse Ceremony on Thursady 7th January 2016. Picture by Eddie Mwanaleza/Statehouse.President Edgar Lungu swears in Mr Derrick Mulenga deputy Chairperson Industrial relations Court After at Statehouse Ceremony on Thursady 7th January 2016. Picture by Eddie Mwanaleza/StatehousePresident Edgar Lungu with Mrs Inonge Wina at Statehouse in Ceremony on Thursady 7th January 2016. Picture by Eddie Mwanaleza/Statehouse.
HH SUES TIMES OF ZAMBIA, ZAMBIA DAILY, INDIVIDUAL JOURNALSTS AND PF OFFICIALS
We wish to confirm that we have commenced legal proceedings against Times of Zambia, Zambia Daily Mail, and media personal in their individual capacities before the High Court over what we consider are defamatory articles they recently published.
Others we have taken to court are some senior PF officials such as PF Secretary General Davies Chama, PF Deputy Chairperson for Information and Publicity Sunday Chanda, and PF Lusaka Province youth chairperson Kennedy Kamba.
We have asked the Lusaka High Court to order all the defendants to pay K1 million each in damages for alleged defamation of character and further restrain them from publishing similar defamatory words against us.
In the Times of Zambia legal suit, we are citing articles published on December 28, 2015, in which the newspaper published a story under the headline “PF slams tribal remarks” and another article accusing us of having castigated a chieftainess headlined “Refute tribal remarks HH told “, which article was published in theSunday Times of Zambia on December 27, 2015.
For the Zambia Daily Mail, we are citing articles the newspaper published on December 27, 2015 under the headline ‘Its shameful to welcome Bembas-HH and another one on December 28, 2015 alleging that we were not good leaders because we has continued to issue tribal remarks.
We feel the words complained of were in their ordinary and natural meaning understood to mean that we were not fit to be president of UPND and let alone, Republican president.
That we are tribalist who will never preside over critical affairs of the country and that we are bitter because Mr. Chama visited the Southern Province.
We have asked the court to grant us an injunction restraining the defendants, their agents, servants or employees from commenting, publishing, and uttering similar words against us.
We wish to request members of the general public to please refrain from commenting on these issues, as doing so will now amount to contempt of courts.
FILE: FIRST Quantum Minerals (FQM) is building a new town which will be located near its Trident Mining projects in Solwezi. Above, workers working on a window frame as a finishing touch to one of the model houses for 1,500 housing units the mining firm will build at the new town in Kalumbila area for its miners. The workers were captured during a tour by media heads and other senior journalists to Trident’s Sentinel Mine
Kalumbila Minerals Limited has summoned mine Unions to a consultative meeting following plans to retrench 730 workers at its 2.1 billion US dollars Trident Sentinel Copper mine in Solwezi North Western province.
Both the National Union of Miners and Allied workers -NUMAW- and the Mineworkers Union of Zambia have confirmed the development to ZNBC News in Kitwe.
NUMAW Vice National Secretary Stephen Mwaanga said the unions will meet Kalumbila Management for a consultative process tomorrow.
Mr. Mwaanga said this when he featured on the Kitwe edition of morning Live News and current Affair Program today.
But Chief Government spokesperson Chishimba Kambwili says the decision by Kalumbila mine to retrench 730 Miners at its Trident Sentinel mine is regrettable.
Kalumbila has further indicated that 360 jobs currently under recruitment will be placed on hold if the power supply restrictions to sentinel plant are not lifted.
Mr. Kambwili said Government is committed to ensure that the construction of the Lusaka Kalumbila ZESCO Electricity supply power line to the mining industry and other economic sectors in North Western Province is completed.
He said the project once completed will boost power supply to the area.
Kalumbila Mine has demanded that Government and ZESCO re- energize the Lusaka Kalumbila Power line to boost production at the mine which will in turn save the 730 jobs.
The ruling PF has denied allegations that it is using the intelligence service in Zambia and an Israeli elections consultant to rig the August 11 elections.
PF Chairman for Media Fr Frank Bwalya said the allegations are coming from desperate UPND members who are psyching their members for defeat.
Fr Bwalya said the PF cannot sink so low to start abusing state institutions such as the Zambia Intelligence Service for purposes of winning the elections.
He said the UPND is always in a defeatist mode because it has never beaten any political party in the history of Zambia.
‘This is a party that is used to losing elections because they have never won anything, they kept losing to the MMD and they will lose again to the PF so they have started preparing their members for defeat,’ he said.
Fr Bwalya said the hiring of an Israeli consultancy is purely an internal party issue and has nothing to do with state institutions.
UPND Vice President Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba
Opposition UPND Vice President Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba has said that people will be shocked when he produces his Grade 12 Certificate.
Speaking to Journalists after his press briefing yesterday, Mr Mwamba accused the PF Government of trying to use the constitution to bar him from taking part in the August 11 general Elections.
‘All these are machinations of the desperate Panga Family because they think I don’t have qualifications but they will be shocked, I will not say much today but come that day for nominations, they will be shocked,’ he said.
He added, ‘ Remember, the MMD under Rupiah Banda tried to use the same trick on Michael Sata not knowing that the man had a University Degree, we know these tricks and all I can say is that they will be shocked when I produce my Grade 12 Certificate
Mr Mwamba also said that he was not concerned about reports that he may be not be picked as presidential running mate for Hakainde Hichilema in the August 11 general elections.
Mr Mwamba who is commonly known as GBM said he joined politics to serve the Zambian people and that he is not bothered about holding positions.
He said he is ready to serve the UPND in any capacity adding that the running mate is an administrative one which will be discussed at an appropriate time.
‘I am not bothered by this issue, look here, I joined politics to serve the Zambian people. If I wanted to enrich myself through politics, i could have stayed to continue running my businesses which are all over Africa but i joined politics to help the Zambian people,’ Mr Mwamba said.
Netflix, the popular American multinational subscription-based internet streaming media service provider was launched across Africa on Wednesday 6th January as part of its mission to extend its services to almost every country in the world. The subscription video on demand (SVoD) provider has been on a global expansion spree, having entered the Asian market with a launch in Japan last September, and another in Italy in October.
While its expansion to Africa is a welcome development, as SVoD services are growing exponentially across the globe, the American multinational might not record as much success in the continent as it did in other parts of the world due to the lack of excellent broadband infrastructure and the high cost of internet mobile data for their streaming services.
Save these obvious impediments, Netflix is bound to garner quite an audience, as Africans are already major fans of most of its content, particularly its original programmes and series. The world’s leading internet TV service providers also stands the chance of ousting Multichoice’s digital satellite TV service, DSTV, as users have constantly complained about the company’s high monthly subscription fee.
But as it appears, Netflix, like DSTV, would be providing services targeted mainly at elite viewers who in spite of the high cost of mobile data, can afford streaming services.
In terms of content, the US based streaming media might begin streaming more African content as they recently featured “October 1st” by Nigerian film maker, Kunle Afolayan. This is definitely a great step towards improving the visibility of Nollywood to the rest of the world. As of October 2015, Netflix had 69.17 million subscribers globally, including more than 43 million in the United States of America.
Popular US TV shows that you can watch on Netflix include hits such as Suits, DareDevilandArrow. Meanwhile original Netflix content like Narcosand Marco Polo are also available .
Netflix, which started its streaming service in the US in 2007, last year expressed a goal to expand to an extra 150 countries across the globe.
Prophet Shepherd Bushiri has acquired his third private jet in a space of 2 years.This is according to his facebook page.The Malawian born prophet who is currently based in South Africa was presented with a certificate of ownership by Gulf Stream manager Larry Flynn who said the prophet is now the youngest buyer of a gulf stream jet.The prophet is rumored to be the richest man in Malawi.He is said to have investments across Africa including in oil mines in Saudi Arabia.He recently revealed that he plans to open a bank and mobile company in South Africa.
Prophet Bushiri recently made history when he filled the FNB stadium -the largest stadium in South Africa at a service during the 2015-2016 crossover.
However his lavish lifestyle has met with criticism.On his facebook page a Mr.Friday Mulenga wrote the following
How many street kids? How many blind beggars on the street? Not even an orphanage has been built. But someone has bought a jet, expensive cars, expensive clothes. What kind of worship does want? Turning water into paraffin? Who used that paraffin? Manipulating the ipad and think a picture has been captured in air? Any benefit? God help us before the innocent souls are lost. Your people are very thirsty for your word but they are following blindly because they can’t see.
In response Prophet Bushiri said
“Mr Friday Mulenga you can also sell your phone and give the money to the poor. The phone you are using to some is very expensive and they do wonder how you could buy a such a phone and not using it for the poor.
N’tity Serokane asked the following
When will Prophet Shepherd Bushiri take a picture of himself delivering food parcels to needy children or feed the hungry , or visit prisons take pictures with inmates ? I mean if man like you can afford to travel in private jets imagine how much you can do for your countrymen , you could make a far much greater example to humanity or maybe your blessings are not to be shared amongst the greedy ? Or for somewhat reasons prophecy comes with a pride tag not to even visit HIV infected wards? As a black man and as influencial as you are I believe cursing blessings to individuals is a drop in an ocean for u with all due respect Prophet Shepherd Bushiri Ministries preaching prosperity amongst individual has degraded us far much as a continent , what about the ones below the poverty line, who cant afford to fill up stadium’s? So your blessings wont even go passed them ? Or it is for God to decide? Your response will be highly appreciated , P.s im still not convinced
In response Prophet Bushiri said
“When are you going to sell your phone which you have used to type here and give the money to the poor?
Prophet Bushiri enters his jetGulf Stream Manager Larry Flynn presents the certificate of ownership to Prophet Bushiri
CRISIS Mr Swagger released the video for his song “Mustang Music”
The song is dedicated to Carroll Shelby ,who was an American automotive designer, racing driver and entrepreneur. He was best known for his involvement with the AC Cobra and later the Mustang-based performance cars for Ford Motor Company known as Shelby Mustangs which he had done since 1965. His company, Shelby American Inc., founded in 1962, currently sells modified Ford vehicles, as well as performance parts.
Outspoken Vice-Chairperson for Media and Publicity Committee of the ruling PF has been relived off his duties.
Mr. Chanda writes on PF facebook page that he has been informed by the chairperson of the committee Fr. Frank Bwalya that he is no longer his vice a decision he says was made during a meeting which he did not even attend.
Mr. Chanda has since pledged his unflinching support for President Lungu and the PF.
Below is a statement pick from PF Facebook page.
I am no Longer Vice-Chairperson- Media & Publicity Committee
Dear Colleagues and Comrades,
I have been informed by Father Frank Bwalya – Chairperson for the Media Committee that I’m nolonger the Vice Chairperson for the a Media and Publicity Committee.
I have gladly accepted the resolution of a meeting which was held today. I was unable to be in the meeting due to circumstances beyond my control.
The Committee shall elect a Vice Chairperson to support Father Frank Bwalya in discharging his functions as Chairperson for Information.
I will support Father Bwalya as and when I’m required to do so.
My unflinching support for President Edgar Lungu remains strongest and so does my allegiance to the PF.
Thank you very much each one of you for the support that you rendered to me when I discharged my functions as Vice Chairperson of our media committee.
God bless.
UPND vice- president for administration Geoffrey Mwamba has said that that he was going to contest the August elections despite not clarifying over his academic qualifications, saying he would be seen on the day of nomination,
Speaking yesterday at a media briefing in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Mwamba said that he said he was not going to go back to the PF and that he was in very good terms with UPND president Hakainde Hichilema.
Mr. Mwamba emphasized that he cannot be so naïve as to go back to a party he claimed had failed the people and subjected them to suffering.
Mr. Mwamba further said that even if he is not picked as the running mate he will remain a strong UPND member and stated that he is also ready to recontest the Kasama central seat.
Meanwhile, SOME Members of Parliament (MPs) and a councillor have gladly welcomed the new law that requires them to have a minimum education qualification of Grade 12 certificate.
Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) Kasenengwa Constituency Member of Parliament (MP) Victoria Kalima said in an interview yesterday that the new law is good because it brings in quality presentation of citizens to parliament.
Ms Kalima said the law is long overdue because it is important that people are represented by knowledgeable individuals.
“This is a wonderful law in that it brings in quality and enables us as a country to have knowledgeable lawmakers. We need people who understand various fields and policies,” she said.
Ms Kalima said she will participate in the forth-coming elections because she meets all the qualifications and wants to represent women in the country.
Chavuma MP Kenneth Konga said it’s a welcome clause because it doesn’t make sense for uneducated individuals to represent a learned society.
“I have always been in support of this law because we cannot have uneducated individuals representing learned people,” he said.
United Party for National Development (UPND) Magoye MP Oliver Mulomba said the new law does not affect him as an individual but that it will adversely affect other potential leaders.
Mr Mulomba said people who do not have this qualification but have the potential to represent people well have been deprived of the opportunity to do so.
“The law of having a Grade 12 certificate does not affect me as an individual but those who do not have. It has been passed and I cannot go against it,” He said.
Mr Mulomba said the local government should have been given lower qualifications because most councillors only have experience, not educational qualifications.
Chilenje Ward eight councillor Maggie Zulu said the law is good but should not be compulsory because voting is not based on education qualifications.
Ms Zulu said, however, that councillors should be able to understand and explain things intellectually in the chambers.
She is, however, concerned that some leaders, especially in rural areas, do not have Grade 12 qualifications.
UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma said even if the new law will knock out some candidates from participating in the forthcoming elections, it is good as it will enhance quality.
mealie meal
SEVEN of the 2, 000 solar-powered milling units have been installed in Northern Province, bringing the price of mealie- meal down to K48 per 25 kilogramme bag of roller meal in Kasama District and surrounding areas.
So far, 100 of the 2,000 units, which are being procured by the Zambia Cooperative Federation (ZCF), have arrived in the country pending installation in selected districts.
The seven units have been commissioned and have since started offloading mealie-meal to Kasama residents, in the province where a 25 kilogramme bag of breakfast is going at K52, while the same quantity of roller meal is fetching at K48.
This is opposed to the situation among other suppliers in the province, who sell the commodity at about K100 per 25 kilogramme bag of breakfast and K80 for roller meal.
Both ZCF director, operations and projects Derrick Sokoni and Northern Province Cooperative Marketing Union (NPCMU) general manager Danny Mulenga confirmed the development in separate interviews yesterday.
“We have started offloading the cooperative mealie-meal to the public following the installation of the solar units in Kasama and Luwingu Districts.
“Our Breakfast is costing K52, while the roller meal is selling at K48 per 25 kilogramme bag. So you can see that our mealie-meal is sold cheaply compared to other millers, whose mealie- meal is costing K100 and K80,” Mr Mulenga said.
About six units have been installed in Kasama District, with one having being installed in Luwingu District.
The milling units have the capacity to produce 80 by 25 kilogramme bags of mealie-meal per day.
Mr Mulenga said the cooperative started offloading the mealie-meal to members of the public on Tuesday this week and attributed the lower prices to the sourcing of maize locally, among other factors.
He explained that as of Tuesday, the cooperative had 120 kilogramme bags of mealie-meal and had managed to sell over 50 bags by press time.
“The response from members of the public so far has been overwhelming. We expect that by the end of the day, more bags will be offloaded,” he said.
Mr Mulenga anticipated that mealie-meal prices would reduce further once the Cooperatives start buying the maize directly from the farmers.
Kasama resident, Malama Mulenga, who bought two 25 kilogramme bags commended the cooperative for selling their mealie-meal cheaply, saying that was what residents have been waiting for, for a long time.
ZCF director general, James Chirwa said the cooperative will soon start offloading mealie- meal in Solwezi District.
He said the cooperative would find ways of ensuring that consumers were not being exploited by the traders.
Two days ago, Mr Chirwa announced that another batch of the 49 solar-powered milling units had arrived in the country through Beira Port bringing the total number to 100.
A week ago, 48 units arrived through Nakonde border post and were dispatched to Kasama District for installation.
THE Ministry of Home Affairs has encouraged all interested Zambians living in the diaspora and non-Zambians living in Zambia to apply for dual citizenship following amendments to the Constitution that have now been assented to by President Edgar Lungu.
Home Affairs spokesperson Moses Suwali said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that the Ministry has modalities for dual citizenship.
Mr Suwali said the new Law puts the country on a progressive road as most people living in the diaspora would be able to come back home and contribute positively towards development.
“For people living in the diaspora, this puts them at great advantage even foreigners who wish to be Zambians can now apply. Even people who are refugees can apply as long as they have a valid passport from their country,” he said.
Mr Suwali said the procedure for applying for dual citizenship was just like that of getting a passport except that the dual citizenship one required a valid passport.
He warned people against using the new Law with ill-intentions or for abusive purposes, stating that this should only be used for the good of Zambia and the country, where a citizen is also residing or coming from.
Mr Suwali said there were legal implications of abusing the dual citizenship clause.
