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Dr George Mpombo
Opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president George Mpombo says he finds it ironic that an emerging economy like Zambia still does not see the need to subsidize the Agriculture sector.
Dr. Mpombo says this is considering that European Countries and America are currently highly subsidizing their Agriculture produce.
He has told Qfm News by telephone from Kafulafuta that beef is one such product European Countries are subsidizing and which European farmers are exporting to Africa.
Dr. Mpombo points of that corn production is also heavily subsidized by the American government.
He has thus wondered why the Zambian government wants to do away completely with subsidies in the Agriculture sector when the sector is in fact a priority.
Singer David Bowie, one of the most influential musicians of his era, has died of cancer at the age of 69.
David Bowie was the Picasso of pop. He was an innovative, visionary, restless artist: the ultimate ever-changing postmodernist.
Along with the Beatles, Stones and Elvis Presley, Bowie defined what pop music could and should be. He brought art to the pop party, infusing his music and performances with the avant-garde ideas of Merce Cunningham, John Cage and Andy Warhol.
He turned pop in a new direction in 1972 with the introduction of his alter ego Ziggy Stardust. Glam rock was the starting point, but Ziggy was much more than an eyeliner-wearing maverick: he was a truly theatrical character that at once harked backed to pre-War European theatre while anticipating 1980s androgyny and today’s discussions around a transgender spectrum.
He was a great singer, songwriter, performer, actor, producer and collaborator. But beyond all that, at the very heart of the matter, David Bowie was quite simply – quite extraordinarily – cool.Will Gompertz, BBC Arts editor
A statement was issued on his social media accounts, saying he “died peacefully, surrounded by his family” after an “18-month battle with cancer”.
Tributes have been paid from around the world to the “extraordinary artist” whose last album was released days ago.
Sir Paul McCartney described him as a “great star” who “played a very strong part in British musical history”.
Bowie’s son Duncan Jones, who is a Bafta-winning film director, wrote on Twitter: “Very sorry and sad to say it’s true. I’ll be offline for a while. Love to all.”
The artist’s hits include “Let’s Dance”, “Changes”, “Space Oddity”, “Starman”, “Modern Love, Heroes”, “Under Pressure”, “Rebel Rebel” and “Life on Mars”.
He was also well known for creating his flamboyant alter ego Ziggy Stardust.
The singer, who had been living in New York in recent years, only released his latest album Blackstar last Friday, his birthday.
The album has been well received by critics and was intended as a “parting gift” to the world, according to long-time friend and producer Tony Visconti.
Visconti wrote on Facebook: “His death was no different from his life – a work of art.”
He added: ” He was an extraordinary man, full of love and life. He will always be with us.”
Blackstar is on course to be number one in the UK this Friday, according to the Official Charts Company, with combined sales of more than 43,000.
Sir Paul McCartney said he would “always remember the great laughs” the pair shared, saying in a statement: “David was a great star and I treasure the moments we had together.
“His music played a very strong part in British musical history and I’m proud to think of the huge influence he has had on people all around the world.”
Friend and collaborator Brian Eno said: “David’s death came as a complete surprise, as did nearly everything else about him. I feel a huge gap now.”
The Rolling Stones paid tribute to “an extraordinary artist” and a “true original”.
Brian May, guitarist with Queen – with whom Bowie collaborated on Under Pressure – described him as “a fearsome talent”.
Friend and collaborator Iggy Pop wrote on Twitter: “David’s friendship was the light of my life. I never met such a brilliant person. He was the best there is.”
Madonna said she was “devastated”, writing on Facebook that Bowie “changed the course” of her life after she saw him perform – her first ever concert.
“I found him so inspiring and innovative,” she wrote. “Unique and provocative. A real genius.”
Rapper Kanye West said: “David Bowie was one of my most important inspirations, so fearless, so creative, he gave us magic for a lifetime.”
Midge Ure, who helped organise the Live Aid concert in 1985 – at which Bowie performed – told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “He wasn’t just a brilliant songwriter and an amazing creator, he excelled at everything.”
Bowie was born David Jones in Brixton, south London, on 8 January in 1947. He changed his name in 1966 after The Monkees’ Davy Jones achieved stardom.
He was in several bands before he signed with Mercury Records, which released his album Space Oddity in 1969, with the title track becoming his first UK number one.
His breakthrough came with 1972’s The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars.
Bowie also carved out a successful acting career, including his role as an alien seeking help for his dying planet in Nicolas Roeg’s The Man Who Fell to Earth in 1976.
Other roles included Labyrinth, Cat People, The Last Temptation of Christ and The Hunger.
The late 1980s were dominated by Bowie’s involvement with his new band, a postmodernist heavy metal outfit, Tin Machine.
The 1990s saw him flirting with drum-and-bass on the Earthling album, while his 2002 album Heathen saw a long-awaited return to form for the singer.
Bowie attended the Theatre Workshop in New York last month for the premiere of Lazarus
He had headlined Glastonbury in 2000 – his first appearance there since 1971.
Festival founder Michael Eavis told the BBC: “He’s one of the three greatest in the world, ever – Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and David Bowie. There’s no-one else even close.”
Bowie was thought to have suffered a heart attack in 2004, after which he largely stopped making public appearances. His last live performance was at a New York charity concert in 2006.
But after a decade without a studio album he released The Next Day in 2013, surprising fans who thought he had retired. It became his first UK number one for 20 years.
He co-wrote Lazarus, a musical featuring his songs and inspired by his role in The Man Who Fell to Earth, which opened in New York last month.
And a truncated version of Blackstar, the title track of his new album, appears as the theme music for the TV show The Last Panthers.
Grand Coalition
The Grand Coalition on the Campaign for the People Driven Constitution is expected to usher in a new leadership as part of a reorganization strategy which will see its focus shift to pushing for the enactment of the expanded Bill of Rights which will be subjected to a referendum.
Sources within the Grand Coalition have disclosed to Qfm News that the idea is for the Grand Coalition to try and re strategize as it moves forward given the fact that it now has a new focus.
They note that this new focus however, needs new ideas and fresh blood in order for the Coalition to be successful in its quest.
The sources have disclosed that the Grand Coalition believes it has been successful thus far in its campaign for a people driven republican constitution even though it did not get what it wanted.
They say the Grand Coalition therefore wants to finish the last lap of its campaign which is the adoption of the expanded Bill of Rights.
The sources state that this is the more reason the Coalition has resolved to freshen up and come up with new strategies by ushering new leaders through an election.
They note that the Coalition’s view on the feasibility of holding a national referendum alongside this year’s general will also be made known once its new strategy is availed after its leadership elections.
File:SACCORD Executive director Boniface Chembe captured in the audience during the presidential debate
The Southern Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes has expressed concern at the level of hate speech prevailing in the country.
Speaking in an interview SACCORD Executive Director Boniface Cheembe said the country’s politicians should realize that most of the continents tribal conflicts are as a result of political leaders creating an atmosphere that paints certain tribes and regions as the causers of problems their nation may be be experiencing.
“As SACCORD we are concerned at the level of hate speech prevailing in the country that seeks to divide and scapegoat certain regions and tribes. Africa as a continent has many cases of many tribal conflicts and often times these tend to stem from political leaders creating an atmosphere of scapegoating certain tribes or regions for the problems that a nation may face. Many examples of this nature are present and one of them is the Rwanda genocide of 1994 and beyond the borders of Africa is the attempt to exterminate Europe’s Jews during the holocaust.
“Nobody should take pride in tribal politics and we must ensure that hate speech from our political leaders are not entertained and we believe that the ruling party and its leaders must set an example to the rest of the country on unity, love, tolerance and co-existence,” Cheembe said.
He said both parties (the opposition and the ruling party) had a responsibility to engage in politics that does not bring divisions in the country.
“The opposition equally have a responsibility to practice politics of unity, but the ruling party has a larger responsibility. Tribal remarks by our leaders are not healthy especially when we are going through a trying time as a Republic. The nation is not in need of tribalism and we need to focus on addressing the challenges that the nation is facing such as job creation, amending the Public Order Act and providing energy among other needs.
“Zambia is and most likely will always remain a unitary state under the Motto of One Zambia One Nation and we must respect the fact that in a democracy people will make a decision on how they should vote. The notion that we must coerce people to vote in a certain way is contrary to the spirit of democracy. In some of the most advanced democracies on this earth such as the United States one will find certain regions that will either almost always vote Democrats or Republicans that is what democracy is about having the right to free will,” he noted.
He further added “as SACCORD we appeal to our political leaders to stop the culture of scapegoating some tribes and regions in Zambia because this is a source of conflict and such behavior has the potential of leading to chaos, disunity and hatred.
UPND vice president Dr Canisius Banda
UNITED Party for National Development (UPND) Vice-President for political affairs Canisius Banda said all miners who were retrenched by mining companies will be reinstated when UPND takes over power after this year’s 2016 general elections.
Dr Banda said this when he featured on Kokoliko FM Radio station in Chingola recently.
He said UPND is a party for every Zambian and every citizen is at liberty to belong to it and contribute effectively.
“Once voted into power, we shall bring back all retrenched miners who lost jobs recently due to low copper prices and power shortage caused by ZESCO load shedding in mining industries’’ Dr Banda said.
Dr Banda also said critical fundamentals which are needed to tackle quickly are farming, free education, build more houses for the citizens and creating of employment that people live a better life.
He mentioned several countries that are in the region which offers free educations such as Tanzania, South Africa and Malawi that it has worked well in education sector, and saying Zambia cannot fail.
Dr Banda said UPND’s manifesto is arched on four pillars, Prudent, judiciary, economic and management having right consistence polices in place.
He said farming sector is where the country can have large employment and increases food basket which can reduce high cost of prices.
He also said having influx of shopping malls does not mean prices can be dropped because most commodities found in shopping malls are imported from neighboring countries.
“Over 1.4 Billion every month goes out for imported goods, because most of goods come from South Africa and America, Zambia is an import country” He said.
FILE: President Sata addresses Chinese Investors at China Nonferrous Metal Mining (Group) Co . Ltd ( CNMC ) during the Zambia China Economic and Trade Forum on April 11,2013-Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
The MMD has advised ruling PF operatives to stop following the footsteps of the founder of their party Micheal Sata by using the same language that he used against his opponents because he could get away with it without annoying any one due to his advanced age.
Responding to Chief Government Spokesperson Chishimba Kambwili who called the opposition ” a bunch of crazy people” party Spokesperson Raphael Nakacinda said he did not expect the likes of Chishimba Kambwili, Davis Chama and others to use Mr. Sata’s Language because they were dealing with their equals in terms of age.
“They want to literally follow Mr. Sata’s footsteps. The want to use his language but Mr. Sata was not taken seriously when he used disparaging language against his political opponents because of his advanced age, they took him as a father and a grand father hence laughed it off.
We don’t expect the same language to be used by the likes of Davis Chama, Chishimba Kambwili, Mumbi Phiri and others to use it because it changes from being words of humor to insults, you can’t say something that your grandfather can say to your age mates,” Mr. Nakacinda said.
He said it was hard to engage in any meaningful debt with Mr. Kambwili because he was not intellectually sound.
“As MMD we are reluctant to be drawn into a debt with the likes of Chishimba Kambwili. When you are dealing with people who are mature and intellectually sound you can be able to have a progressive debt but with the likes of Kambwili as Zambians have come to know you wouldn’t even know were to start from,” he said.
Mr. Nakacinda added the language used by the Chief Government Spokesperson only goes to show what kind of leadership the PF has and that it would be far fetched to say that Zambians will make a decision on what kind of leaders they want to lead them when the opportunity comes.
He further urged the media to continue giving Mr. Kambwili opportunities to open his mouth as it says a lot about him and the PF.
“As MMD we would like to urge the media to continue giving Mr. Kambwili opportunities to open his mouth because like the bible says through the abundance of his heart the mouth speaks so what was coming from his mouth on Sunday just goes to show the kind of thinking that they have towards the governance principles like democracy, existence of the opposition who are in essence the government in waiting, that attitude from the Chief Government Spokesperson shows the character and thinking of the government we have today,” he said.
THE Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) has advised traffic police officers to desist from confiscating driving licences from motorists who have not displayed motor vehicle insurance discs.
RTSA public relations manager Mukela Mangolwa said the grace period for the display of insurance discs would elapse on February 1, 2016.
Mr Mangolwa said this in reaction to a Ndola motorist who complained that a police traffic officer confiscated his licence when there was a grace period for the display of insurance discs.
He said it was not in order for any traffic officer to confiscate licences or impound motor vehicles because the extension of insurance disc display still stood.
“We have communicated to the Zambia Police high command on this issue. No one is supposed to grab any one’s licence and our stance on the issue still stands. People have to differentiate between an impoundable and non-impoundable offence,” he said
Mr Mangolwa further advised members of the public to ensure that their documents were in order before the February 1, deadline to avoid prosecution.
“As an agency we would like to implore members of the public to put their papers in order so that they are not caught unawares.
“People have a tendency of waiting for the last minute before putting things in order.”
Last week, a traffic police officer only identified as a Mr Malama, confiscated David Kaunda’s driving licence for failure to display his motor vehicle insurance disc.
Mr Kaunda said he was shocked that the police officer at a check point on Kwacha Road confiscated his driving licence just because of the insurance disc even when there was an extension.
In Zambia, the state of the economy at any given time is a function of who is at the helm of affairs. It is even hard to predict the trend of the economy in the short or long run. Politically, leadership is here for grabs by the strongest. Socially, the moral fibre that holds this nation seems to be getting worn out. In short, the things that make life worth living are lacking.
The complexity and magnitude of these problems create confusion among ordinary Zambians. Our leaders also seem to face the same confusion. They don’t know where to start from to tackle the myriad of problems.
Therefore, the solution to the country’s economic, political and social problems must have a common locus. Though the approach may be different, the end result would be the same. Our problems in this country are complex meaning that they’re interrelated and traceable to a common source. The source of all our problems is ignorance or illiteracy. When this key problem is tackled squarely, the rest of the problems would definitely find their fix. An illiterate and ignorant mind can’t appreciate lofty ideals. People must first be educated before they can appreciate what government is doing.
But if the question were posed to a cross-section of Zambians, depending on the status of the persons, there will be different answers. While some will say bad leadership, lack of social amenities, others would say poor infrastructure, poverty, hunger, disease, and many more. Whereas all these are problems confronting the country, to my mind, they’re not the greatest. Lack of an educated population is the greatest problem facing this country. This in turn affects every other aspect of our national development drive. If we have an educated and enlightened population, most of the other problems would be solved.
Take the issue of leadership for instance. Because the majority of Zambians are not knowledgeable with little or no say in the political dynamics of their country, the few educated people have unfettered latitude to lord it over their people. All that the poor uneducated masses need is handouts to buy over their votes. That trend has continued till today because the majority of the people are still uneducated wallowing in poverty and ignorance. That explains why the politics of bread and butter flourish. All that the poor masses need to be bought over is mere pittance, food, t-shirts, caps and all that simple material inducements.
On the other hand, it would be hard to mortgage the conscience of an educated person with such material inducements. When the wrong persons use money and other inducements to buy hungry followers, what do you expect from the leadership?
But you can’t have that kind of situation in the developed world where people are enlightened. In the developed Western countries, those who want to be leaders prepare themselves intellectually. This is because the electorates know what they want. Barack Obama won the Presidency of the United States not because he is rich but because he has the intellectual capacity to face and convince an enlightened American society. You don’t win election in the developed societies because you have money to buy votes and employ thugs to ensure that the votes are captured for you.
In those nations, even when you win the election based on what you promised to do, the prying eyes of the enlightened electorate would be watching to see that you fulfill your promises. That one has won an election to be in office for five years doesn’t guarantee that he or she would have another term of five years. It is not automatic. If one must have another term, it must be based on measurable performance.
These ideals are lacking in Zambia because majority of the people are uneducated. Here, money is what matters because there is mass poverty. Political aspirants have no need for intellectual capacity because the people are mostly uneducated illiterates. There is no political debate based on issues of the time.
To contest for a political office, you must have a strong financial backing because the race is not for the most intelligent but to those that can throw money about to the poor hungry and illiterate electorate. With the winner takes all mentality, whoever wins election automatically becomes a small fief that lords it over the rest of the illiterate masses. The masses even lack the capacity to question how their taxes are being used.
The importance of education in the development of this nation cannot be over emphasised. So long as the majority of Zambians are uneducated and unenlightened, even the most progressive of government programmes would face uphill task until we embrace education.
Consequences of illiteracy
The consequences of illiteracy are many and harmful in several respects. As well as affecting illiterate individuals themselves in their daily lives and often jeopardizing their future, this scourge has a significant effect on society, both socially and economically.
The consequences of illiteracy on individuals and society include the following:
For individuals
Limited ability to obtain and understand essential information;
Unemployment: The unemployment rate is 2–4 times higher among those with little schooling than among those with Bachelor’s degrees;
Lower income;
Lower-quality jobs;
Reduced access to lifelong learning and professional development;
Precarious financial position;
Little value is given to education and reading within the family, and this often leads to intergenerational transmission of illiteracy;
Low self-esteem, which can lead to isolation;
Impact on health: Illiterate individuals have more workplace accidents, take longer to recover and more often misuse medication through ignorance of health care resources and because they have trouble reading and understanding the relevant information (warnings, dosage, contraindications, etc.).
For society
Since literacy is an essential tool for individuals and states to be competitive in the new global knowledge economy, many positions remain vacant for lack of personnel adequately trained to hold them;
The higher the proportion of adults with low literacy proficiency is, the slower the overall long-term GDP growth rate is;
The difficulty understanding societal issues lowers the level of community involvement and civic participation.
Without the basic tools necessary for achieving their goals, individuals without an adequate level of literacy cannot be involved fully and on a completely equal basis in social and political discourse.
By Honourable Brown C. Kapika President for Adedo – Zamucano Polititcal Party (Zambia) President for ‘Beweging voor Burger -en Mensenrechten’ Political Party (Netherlands) (Partij voor de burgerlijke -en mensenrechten )
Edgar Lungu and Vernon Mwaanga
The ruling Patriotic Front is happy that Police have been legally compelled to investigate insinuations by retired veteran politician Vernon Mwaanga that the 2016 general election could be rigged.
PF Deputy Spokesperson Frank Bwalya has particularly commended MMD national youth Secretary Bowman Lusambo for taking it upon himself as a citizen to file a complaint with the Police against Dr. Mwaanga.
Fr. Bwalya says the ruling PF feels if not investigated, Dr. Mwaanga’s claims could be recipe for confusion after this year’s general election.
Father Bwalya says the PF is glad that there are some vigilant citizens in the Country who prioritize national interest whenever they see someone practicing politics likely to endanger lives of the people.
Earlier today, MMD National Youth Secretary, Bowman Lusambo petitioned the Zambia Police to summon veteran politician Vernon Mwaanga to explain the vote rigging statement attributed to him.
Mr. Lusambo said that he felt duty bound as a citizen to petition the Police because the rigging statement attributed to Dr. Mwaanga is a threat to peace and national security.
He told journalist after a closed door meeting with the police intelligence unit that Dr. Mwaanga must explain how governments have been rigging elections.
Mr. Lusambo said the statement is likely to cause voter apathy and discontent during and after elections.
Mr. Lusambo is confident that the police will do a good job over his petition.
Waiters busy opening champagne in readiness of a toast.
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Shaking hands : ZP IG Kakoma Kanganja and President Edgar Lungu
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Toast: ( From left to right) ZP IG Kakoma Kanganja, President Edgar Lungu and First Lady Esther Lungu.
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Presidetn Edgar Lungu conferring with the Katanga couple: Charity and Chola Katanga
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Zambia Air Army Commander Eric Chimese with President special assistant to the press: Amos Chanda.
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President photographer Eddie Mwanaleza, that was celebrating his 56th birthday, conferring with Zambia Army Spokesperson Col Chris Musonda.
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A Zambia police member using his phone to record.
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Opening the floor : President Edgar Lungu and First Lady Esther Lungu while trailing behind is ZP IG Kakoma Kanganja,
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Zambia first Lady shaking hands with journalists form left to right: Post photojournalist Tenson Mkhala, Post Reporter Roy Habaalu, ZNBC reporter: Michael Kaumba and Times of Zambia reporter: Sam Phiri
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The Katanga’s on the floor.
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Past IGs Dr Marting Malama and Stella Libongani joined other zambia policemen.
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Zambia Police Oria band entertaining the invited guests.
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Past IGs Dr Martin Malama and Stella Libongani dancing together.
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The Zambia Police band ORIA queen dancers leaving the high table.
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( From left to right) Hight table during the singing on the national anthem (closing) ZP IG Kakoma Kanganja, President Edgar Lungu and First Lady Esther Lungu.
The opposition UPND has reacted to Chief Government Spokesman Chishimba Kambwili’s attacks on Sunday evening by calling on the Zambia Police Service to arrest the Roan MP for spreading hate speech.
UPND Spokesman Charles Kakoma stated that Mr Kambwili’s statement bordered on blasphemy and mocking of God.
Mr Kambwili during his Sunday Interview TV programme stated that people from Southern Province are so tribal such that they could not vote for Jesus Christ even if the Son of God stood against a Tonga candidate.
But Mr Kakoma said Mr Kambwili’s attacks shows reality of PF approach to leadership and that the UPND is not surprised.
“Chishimba Kambwili, who while representing President Edgar Lungu and the entire PF Government uttered dangerous and divisive statements against the people of Zambia during his ZNBC Sunday Interview programme on 10th January 2016. Kambwili said on behalf of Lungu last night that there are regions in this country where even if Jesus Christ stood against their leader, they would reject Jesus,” Mr Kakoma recollected.
He added, “This is not only unconstitutional and hate speech at the highest level but now amounts to blasphemy against Jesus the Son of God. This is against the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation.
The UPND Spokesman said Mr Kambwili has broken the law and gone against the penal code adding that criminal procedures must commence now.
He said, “According to Cap 87, Section 70(1) of the laws of Zambia it is stated as follows: “Any person who utters any words or publishes any writing expressing or showing hatred, ridicule or contempt for any person or group of persons wholly or mainly because of his or their race, tribe, place of origin or colour is guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years.”
Mr Kakoma challenged the police to rise up now and arrest Mr Kambwili for breaking the law, before aggrieved citizens rise up against Kambwili and the PF regime.
“The evidence is overwhelming that this could be the shortest criminal matter to be adjudicated by our courts of law. Clearly, the PF leadership have now crossed the path and are resorting to blasphemy, as was the case with the people that built the titanic ship and later mocked that not even God would sink the boat, which is also the PF symbol.”
Mr Kakoma urged the international community to take a greater interest in what is happening in Zambia, rather than waiting to react once things have gotten out of hand and damage has already been done, as they have reacted in many African countries.
“Clearly, hate speech and promotion of tribal division is now an institutionalised PF Government policy away from real issues affecting our citizens, such as massive job losses, poverty and hunger, unemployment, and the general economic meltdown.”
He added, “The whole scheme by the PF leadership of wanting to cause tribal divisions and divert attention away from critical issues of load shedding, high cost of living, high cost of fertiliser and other inputs for farmers, increasing inflation rate, and unemployment for our citizens, especially youths and women, is well known.”
Mr Kakoma said the conduct of the public media such as Times of Zambia, Zambia Daily Mail and ZNBC also confirms what that they have now become tools that are being used to tear apart the country, as opposed to uniting the nation.
“It is not a coincidence that programmes such as ZNBC Sunday Interview and many others are merely being masked as public platforms yet they are purely PF propaganda tools with the intention of dividing the country where only PF leadership are featured demeaning and insulting others without giving them room to feature and respond.”
Chishimba Kambwili stresses a point on Sunday Interview
Permanent secretary Chishimba Nkosha
The Ministry of Education lost the entire 2014 budgetary allocation for textbooks amounting to K60 million due to various court processes.
This came to light this morning during the signing ceremony for contracts for the supply and delivery of school textbooks for Grades 2, 6, 9 and 11 based on the revised curriculum to respective schools countrywide.
General Education Permanent Secretary Chishimba Nkosha says apart from the budget loss, the ministry also lost fifteen months in floating the other tender for the supply and delivery of textbooks for both pupils and teachers in Grades 2, 6, 9 and 11 based on the revised curriculum to respective schools countrywide.
Speaking at the same event, Book Publishers Association of Zambia, Chairman, who is also Oxford Press Country Coordinator, Anson Banda says learners in Zambia deserve access to quality education if they are to be useful in society.
Mr. Banda says publishers will always be there to see to it that they publish books according to syllabus and work together to address challenges faced by learners in the country.
The contractors awarded contracts include; Gray Matter Zambia Limited, Book World Africa, Book Hut Zambia Ltd, MK Publishers Ltd and Oxford University Press.
President Edgar Lungu with ZNBC Board Chairman Dr John Mulwila
ZNBC Board Chairperson, John Mulwila says the public broadcaster is committed to operating within the law and its mandate.
Dr. Mulwila says ZNBC will continue to provide varied programming that is objective, impartial, balanced and work in public interest.
He told ZNBC News in Lusaka today that aggrieved stakeholders should submit their complaints to the Independent Broadcasting Authority -IBA- instead of rushing to courts.
Dr. Mulwila said ZNBC has strived to remain professional and impartial even in times when members of staff have been harassed by some political party cadres.
And Dr. Mulwila said that ZNBC in consultation and guidance from the Electoral Commission of Zambia -ECZ-has constituted an evaluation committee which will be reviewing content before broadcast.
He said advertisers will be required to pay a prescribed fee after the evaluation committee has approved the content for broadcast.
Dr. Mulwila said this in an effort to provide all stakeholders chance to be heard without risking the unity and peace especially in this election year.
On Sunday, the Media Liaison Committee -MLC- announced that it has resolved to take legal action against the three public media institutions for allegedly not giving equal coverage to all citizens as opposed to Patriotic Front members and sympathisers.
Committee Chairperson Enock Ngoma said ZNBC, Zambia Daily Mail and Times of Zambia have not changed for the better despite the 10 day ultimatum the Committee gave them.
Mr. Ngoma said the Committee has assembled a team of high profile lawyers and that within a week the process should start.
FILE: Police officers attempt to keep Bowman Lusambo from Muhabi Lungu (not in picture) at the Supreme Court in Lusaka. Courtesy Mwebantu
MMD National Youth Secretary, Bowman Lusambo has petitioned the Zambia Police to summon veteran politician Vernon Mwaanga to explain the vote rigging statement attributed to him.
Mr. Lusambo says he feels duty bound as a citizen to petition the Police because the rigging statement attributed to Dr. Mwaanga is a threat to peace and national security.
He told journalist after a closed door meeting with the police intelligence unit that Dr. Mwaanga must explain how governments have been rigging elections.
Mr. Lusambo said the statement is likely to cause voter apathy and discontent during and after elections.
Mr. Lusambo is confident that the police will do a good job over his petition.
He was flanked by Evangelical Youth Alliance president, Moses Lungu and other sympathisers.
Dr Mwaanga was quoted in the Post Newspaper edition of January 9th 2016, as urging opposition political parties to invest in efficient Parallel Vote Tabulation mechanisms to detect any schemes of rigging.
But Dr Mwaanga has distanced himself from the Post Newspaper story saying he never issued such a statement.
Dr Mwaanga says he is ready to appear before the police if he is summoned over the matter.
He was speaking in a telephone interview with ZNBC News on Monday.
Zambia has kept a low profile despite beating Angola 2-1 in a friendly match played in Johannesburg on Sunday.
The match was a warm-up ahead of both sides participation in the 2016 CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament that kicks off in Rwanda on January 16 and will run until February 7.
This was Zambia’s first victory over Angola since 2006.
Skipper Christopher Katongo said the scoreline in the friendly against Angola was not important.
“Naturally, we are happy to win. But it’s not the score line which was important today. Today, we wanted to see how well we have prepared,” Katongo said.
“We know that at final tournaments there are no easy games and every group is tough. So it was important for us to show good progress today,” he said.
“I am sure with the work we have done and will put in over the coming days, we will be ready to do our best and well in Rwanda,” Katongo added.
Meanwhile, Zambia face Mamelodi Sundowns’ junior team on Tuesday before flying out to Kigali on Wednesday.
