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Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba has dispelled reports that Government is working on measures aimed at introducing currency and capital controls.
Opposition UPND Hakainde Hichilema recently revealed in an interview that the PF administration is drafting a new statutory instrument that will restrict the flow of foreign exchange by combining the revoked SI 33 and SI 55 of 2012.
But Mr Yamba said these reports are misleading and mere fabrications.
‘It’s all false. In this respect, the Ministry of Finance would like to assure the general public, private sector and all other stakeholders that, the Government remains unequivocally committed to principles of a free-market economy driven by the private sector with Government playing a role of facilitator and regulator,’ Mr Yamba said.
He said this is in line with progressive and modern day economic management world-wide.
Mr Yamba said Government has no intentions of re-introducing capital controls, or any other form, such as price controls adding that Government will stand by this assurance.
‘The Government is however, considering the re-introduction of currency regulations whose principal objective is to reinforce the Kwacha as legal tender in the nation,’ he said.
He added, ‘The other objective is to ensure effectiveness in the conduct of monetary policy whose principle purpose is price stability, a necessary condition for any economy to thrive.’
‘The general public, business community and all stakeholders may remember that SI 33 (Currency Regulations) and SI 55 (Balance of Payments Monitoring) of 2012 were revoked to allow for wider consultations across sections of the Zambian society,’ he said.
Mr Yamba said after the revocation, the Government embarked on consultations with key interest groups, more importantly representatives of private sector entities and associations.
‘I wish to inform the public that a lot of progress has been made with respect to consultations on currency regulations which His Excellency, President Edgar Chagwa Lungu made reference to in his press conference held on 26 November 2015.’
He added, ‘The consultations have been very open and focused on getting the views and suggestions from a cross section of stakeholders on what would be the ideal regulations required to enforce the Kwacha as legal tender without any disruption to business activities.’
He said, ‘The public may also wish to know that consultations on this matter were extended to selected countries in the region and beyond.’
‘At the back of these consultations, Government fully recognises its responsibility of ensuring macroeconomic stability, and is strongly resolved in quickening the pace of fiscal consolidation and implementation of attendant measures as recently outlined by the President.’
President Lungu during the first-ever Zambia Medical association annual ball and awards gala at Inter Continental Hotel in Lusaka on Saturday, December 19,2015 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
Letter to President Edgar Lungu
Your Excellency,
Choice greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the Name above all names!
Your Excellency, I am compelled to react to part of your statement in Kasama yesterday. On Tuesday 15th December 2015 during the evening news, the ZNBC reported your speech in Kasama, whereby you declared the following, inter alia, that “under the new Constitution, when it comes I shall sign it with eyes closed because that is what Zambians wanted”. As a very concerned Zambian I was startled and alarmed to hear my President pledge to sign this solemn document with eyes closed without assigning a plausible reason. You may have justifiable reasons but you did not state them.
Your Excellency, the following are some of the reasons why you must keep your eyes open as you read and meditate before you sign the Constitution:
1.NO TIMELY BOLD POLICY POSITION DURING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILLS: There are contentious issues in National Assembly Bills N.A.B. Numbers 16 and 17 over which your Emissary to Parliament, the Honourable Minister of Justice Hon Ngosa Simbyakula, DID NOT OR NEGLECTED to present a policy statement during the Second Reading stages of the said Bills. Surprisingly, he had submitted to the Committee on Legal Affairs, Governance, Gender Matters and Child Affairs, that your Executive had no position on the Constitution. A bold policy statement during the Second Reading would have assisted MPs to focus on and debate salient issues before voting.
2.PRESIDENT’S CONSTITUTIONAL OBLIGATIONS: Article 44 of the current Constitution obliges you, Mr President, to protect, administer and execute the Constitution. As the Fountain of Justice you MUST NOT close your eyes to demands for justice, for example as demanded by at least six opposition political parties regarding the 1000 threshold of supporters for a presidential candidate (Heritage Party is on record at Parliament against this provision). You have arbitrarily rejected the grievance out of hand without a hearing. Justice is one of the pillars of democracy, and you are under oath to administer and execute justice without closing your eyes when citizens petition you.
3.CHRISTIAN NATION DECLARATION: Mr President, you recently publicly reiterated and affirmed that Zambia is a Christian Nation. Consequently I urge you, with your eyes open and in serious meditation as a believer, to examine the New Preamble by comparing the following declarations in the said Preamble:
i. “DECLARE the Republic a Christian Nation while upholding a person’s right to freedom of conscience, belief or religion”.
ii. “RECOGNISE AND UPHOLD the multi-ethnic, multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-cultural character of our Nation….”
I petition you to personally make a public policy pronouncement on these two provisions and clarify the need for the second declaration, especially the motive of this extended verbiage which seems to counter the first one.On this issue, my President, DO NOT emulate Pontius Pilate.
4.CITIZENSHIP: Please expound and clarify your policy regarding the following questions:
i. On the Wholesale and Ambiguous Declaration of Dual Citizenship: please clarify the following. A Zambian named Edgar acquires citizenship of a country called Zombie. War breaks out between Zambia and Zombie. For which country must Edgar fight? If Edgar chooses to fight for Zombie against Zambia, will he be amenable to treason charges in Zambia since he has breached his allegiance or loyalty to Zambia, or will he get away scot-free? Will you remove the treason offences from the current penal statutes?
ii. Obligations of Commander-in-Chief: As Commander-in-Chief, what safeguards do you envisage in the execution of this “dual citizenship”? As an alleged “multi-racial” country literary every race on planet earth has a right to lay claim to their inheritance of Zambia, even those coming from countries that promote terrorism. Even in the Bible you find a clear distinction between local or indigenous people and foreigners. Before you assent please make clear these distinctions which are intended to assure the survival of Zambians and to safeguard the security and sovereignty of the State. I petition you to facilitate such a consultative forum before you assent.
iii. Compensation of Citizens: Since citizens are obliged to defend the Constitution why should they be compensated for carrying out citizens’ obligations? Who will fight to defend Zambia if invaded by Martian forces if compensation be a condition precedent to national service? Is this a bribe enshrined in the Constitution? Will you do the same for, say, Whistle Blowers?
5. Land: God has stopped creating new lands. So it is a priority issue much, much more than 50 % and should take precedence at the beginning of the Constitution; we are Zambians because of land; our chiefs are chiefs because of land and its peoples; citizens should sacrifice to die for their land! Clause 262 (1) states inter alia, “land shall be held, used and managed in accordance with the following principles (c) recognition of indigenous cultural rites”. This is good; but how do you recognise ‘indigenous rites’ without recognising the actual indigenous tribes? The 73 tribes must be recognised in the Constitution. That said, Mr President, how do you intend to protect the indigenous populace, now that you are about to declare Zambia a ‘multi-racial’ nation, without any restrictions or clear and unambiguous definition of this declaration? With your open eyes please visit Mungule chiefdom and comment on what is happening there. The Nkomeshya chiefdom and maybe other areas are not spared. We have had the British people (our former colonisers) for many years before independence and after but we have not experienced this “Scramble for Zambia” as is now happening under the schemes of some of your so-called investors. Your Excellency, I petition you to facilitate such a consultative forum before you assent to the Constitution.
we have not experienced this “Scramble for Zambia” as is now happening under the schemes of some of your so-called investors
6. Political Parties:
a. Why must tax payers pay for private clubs called ‘political parties’? There is no justification. Since you have emphasised the need to reduce costs, is this not a contradiction? Please explain because your Minister did not raise this in his Second Reading statement and many such contradictions.
b. Why must a political party that has not filled in some administrative forms be dissolved? Is this not a breach or abridgement of the right to freedom of assembly and association already granted under Article 21 of the current Constitution?
c. What is the rationale for the 1000 threshold as presidential supporters? What does it prove if you have 1000 supporters when filing your candidature? Does this guarantee that those 1000 will vote for you? What will stop those with money to buy supporters the same way they buy votes? Why complicate our hard won democracy? Does it mean that promoters of 50 % plus one vote have no confidence in their scheme? Just leave it to voters to decide instead of creating artificial road blocks.
7. Defence and Security: literary nothing has been said about the continued existence and survival of our nation and state. The right time is now when the Constitution is being considered and before assent. Are you, Mr President, going to allow political parties to come into government with parallel Defence and Security structures as has happened in recent times?
8. SOURCE OF CAMPAIGN FUNDS FOR POLITICAL PARTIES:
a. This is a loophole where those with money, especially foreign interest groups, launder money to control which party wins elections. Beneficiaries of such dirty money become captive presidents. What is your position on this before you assent? Meditate with open eyes.
b. I am concerned about the First Family. What measures have you put in to ensure that our First Lady’s integrity is not compromised even if she may have “good intentions”? Better now than later during contentious litigation. The 2016 election has been imminent and you know it. Ignore the ECZ proclamation of an official campaign period; I contend that this has no force of law, otherwise those with devious minds can commit election offences with impunity. Let us protect the First Lady who may mean well, yet she is clearly on an election campaign mission. Do not listen to the usual praise-singers who are praising her; they will disappear as soon as they smell trouble.
9. MEDIA FREEDOM: this is a joke and you must surely know it Mr President! This is 50 years after independence and we are still quarrelling over access to public media. We have gone back to days of the One-Party State. Public media news used to be KK, Central Committee, Ministers, Party cadres, in that order and then a little about the rest. Today it is the same.
10. COMBINING THE REFERENDUM WITH THE 2016 ELECTIONS: Need I say more? This is another questionable scheme which must not be carried out. Do not take advantage of the majority uninformed and illiterate citizens! It is deceptive to have a “One answer referendum” when responding to serious constitutional issues such as amending Part III. Remember the literacy levels of most of our people; remember the one-sided coverage of news by special interest groups. Remember your Ministers preamble during the Second Reading which contradicts his “single answer” theory.
As you may be aware, Your Excellency, it is NEITHER AUTOMATIC NOR MANDATORY for you to assent to a Bill in the form it has been conveyed to you. The process requires careful examination and even consultation before assenting. Appending the Presidential signature completes the act of enactment! I appeal that you revisit your decision to sign with closed eyes, meaning without serious examination of the contents and/or even complaints. It is a serious and solemn constitutional duty for you to undertake with all your faculties at full throttle.
Last but not least, Your Excellency, if you are serious about your clarion call for unity, you should facilitate a national indaba so that we can engage one another as one family and seek to find a way out of the new ‘frontier’ you have designed for us since the reasons I have listed are NOT exhaustive. But as of now I am mainly concerned with your intention to assent to our Constitution blind-folded! Please revise this decision and engage us. Many of us mean well for our country. As a citizen I am at your beck and call and personally ready to clarify and/or amplify any issue raised should you deem this necessary. The nation is at an unclear cross roads; and yet your decision is a grave matter deserving serious attention. Your Excellency, unity can never be achieved by pronouncements; actions speak louder than words.
May the Lord richly bless you and give you the wisdom to consider the matters in the national interest. Peace be with you and your family.
GODFREY MIYANDA,
BRIGADIER GENERAL,
ONE OF MANY CONCERNED ZAMBIANS
[16TH DECEMBER 2015]
NB:
As this is a matter of public interest I shall make this paper available to the general public after delivery to your office. Your copy is the only one distributed for now. Other copies will be released a reasonable time after delivery to your office.
*****************************************
Power utility firm Zesco says it has launched investigations to establish the cause of the last night’s partial country-wide black out barely a week after the country was plunged into a similar tragedy, reports pan African radio journalist Hermit Hachilonde.
Company spokesperson Henry Kapata says in a statement availed to pan African radio that investigations are underway following a system’s disturbance at the Kafue gorge adding that a comprehensive statement will be issued after thoroughly investigating the matter.
Meanwhile Mr. Kapata has confirmed that power has been restored in most affected parts of the country except for a few isolated areas which he assured will have the necessary commodity back today.
He also disclosed that the power utility company was working round the clock to rectify the situation in affected areas.
“we have experienced a system disturbance which has resulted in a partial national blackout, of course affecting most parts of the country, except parts of Western and southern provinces and so investigations are currently underway to establish the course of this particular system disturbance, and as it stands now, restoration of power in the affected areas is going on steadily I must say, and we shall certainly issue a comprehensive statement to this effect, after thoroughly investigations and so that is what is going on now, Henry Kapata said”
Meanwhile ZNBC has reported that Mr Kapata has said that the partial nationwide power outage was caused by a fault at the Leopards Hill Sub Station in Lusaka, which consequently shut down Kafue Gorge and Kariba North bank power stations.
Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) Executive Director MacDonald Chipenzi has advised the MMD to be cautious in their association with the ruling PF, reports Pan African Radio Journalist Hermit Hachilonde.
This comes in the wake of the recent tear gassing of the MMD president Dr. Nevers Mumba and party members in Eastern Province.
Mr. Chipenzi said a statement in Lusaka that the former ruling party should learn from past experiences so that they are not duped as they were in the past.
He observed that after using the MMD to pass the amendment in parliament, the PF have now turned against their new found political bed-fellows and started disrupting their activities across the country.
The FODEP executive Director stressed that callous treatment occasioned on the MMD by the PF should serve as a lesson and a reminder that PF does not mean well in their marriage of convenience.
“MMD also should learn, it’s like they didn’t learn from the 2011 loss of power to the PF, these are the people who collaborated with the PF to pass this constitution in an amended manner, ok, and those time, before actually, before that debate, the President of MMD was around the country, holding meetings, his mobilization meetings without any problems, he was not attacked, he was not denied, everything, not knowing that the hyena, was only looking for a space to warm itself, after the passing of the law that they wanted, those amendments, today hyena has woken up and say now am hungry I want to eat you, ok, so president Nevers mumba should know that when you go to bed with hyena, don’t expect peace in the morning, it will eat, ” Chipenzi said
Meanwhile, Mr. Chipenzi has denied assertions that the Grand Coalition on the Campaign for the People Driven Constitution intends to engage in partisan politics in the run up to the 2016 general election.
Mr. Chipenzi argued that the Coalition can only be said to be engaging in partisan politics if the people driven constitution it is pushing for is a political party.
Mr.Chipenzi stated that the fact that the republican constitution is not a political party there are no partisan politics involved in the Coalition’s crusade.
He said that the Grand Coalition will thus continue talking about a people driven constitution and will go along with people that will promise to deliver such a constitution to the Zambian people.
And Mr. Chipenzi has said that the issue of members distancing themselves from the position taken by the Grand Coalition will be dealt with internally.
He stated that all members of the Coalition fully understand how decisions are made within the Coalition before they are made public.
Canisius Banda (left) Hakainde Hichilema (center) Geoffrey Mwamba (right)
UPND vice president for politics Canisius Banda has said that it wouldn’t be wrong for him to be picked as UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema’s running mate in the 2016 elections.
Dr. Banda has however, cautioned the party to be very careful in the manner it handles the issue of the presidential running mate.
Dr. Banda said that the party’s decision on who should be Mr. Hichilema’s running mate should be inspired by God.
In an interview with Qfm News, Dr. Banda urged his party to seek God’s guidance on the issue.
Dr. Banda stated that this was because the decision of who should run alongside Mr. Hichilema is one that should unite the UPND and ensure its victory in next year’s general election.
He added that whoever will be the presidential running mate between him and his counterpart for administration Geoffrey Mwamba should equally add value to the party ticket.
Asked whether he would leave the UPND in the event that he is not picked as the running mate, Dr. Banda ruled out that possibility, stating that what is paramount to him is selfless service.
As they say in hip-hop, the ‘beef’ between Macky II, representing Kopala Swag, and Slap D, the XYZ leader, will take another dimension with a show this Thursday, 24th December, at Hollywood City in Lusaka involving the two artistes, who have undoubtedly dominated the genre since CRI$I$ released the first Zambian hip-hop album , “Officer-in-Charge.
They say beef fuels hip-hop, and it seems the two want to religiously tag that line.
The beef between Macky II and Slap D may not be on the levels of, say, Tupac vs Notorious B.I.G, NWA vs Ice Cube, Jay Z vs Nas, Meek mill vs Drake ;but it still has own place locally.
Debate as to who is better between Macky II and Slap D tends to be emotive, exposing the divide between those with roots on the Copperbelt and those who have grown up in the capital city.
It is a debate that can never be settled.
But the two camps have now decided to take the beef to the stage for fans to judge who is the best. “The beef has been on-going for a long time now, so we thought let’s do this once and for all. It’s taken us like three months to convince them [Macky II and Slap D] to do this. So, we’re going to have XYZ on one hand, and Kopala on the other. We’re calling it judgment day; it’s not a reconciliation thing,” Macky II’s manager Shawn, flanked by Slap D’s manager Harry, told the Weekend Mail in Lusaka. “They will perform all their songs, throughout their journeys. The two have shared the stage before, but that’s in nightclubs, say, where East Point invites them. But this is the first exclusive show organised by the two camps. “In terms of security, we’ll have about 26 police officers providing security. So, safety-wise, we’re not worried. And also, this being the rainy season, we thought Hollywood will do as a venue because its in-doors,” said Shawn.
Siliya with Kafwaya Tazara MD and Energy director during the tour of Solwezi fuel depot
Almost the entire Zambia is experiencing a blackout, a second in two weeks.
Power was cut around 18:45 Hours to all parts of Zambia except for Southern and Western Provinces.
As at 21: Hours all the affected areas were not restored with supply.
Energy Minister Dora Siliya confirmed that all parts of the country are in darkness except for the two provinces which are supplied by Victoria Falls station.
Mrs Siliya said the cause at the moment is unknown but it implies a fault at Kariba and Kafue which supply the provinces affected.
On December 10th 2015, the country suffered a similar power failure which plunged almost the entire nation into total darkness.
The cause of that incident was an overload on the Kariba system which caused the trippings at Kafue power station which feeds most of the country.
Mahogany Airline chief executive officer Jim Belemu (far left), Livingstone Town Clerk Vivian Chikoti (next to him), Livingstone District Commissioner Omar Munsanje (second from far right) and Livingstone Mayor Aggrey Njekwa (far right).
THE Kabwe Magistrate’s Court has acquitted Livingstone Town Clerk Vivien Chiwila Chikoti for one count of abuse of authority involving more than K 750, 000.
Ms Chikoti, who was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in September 2014, has since resumed her normal duties at the Livingstone City Council.
Details in the matter were that, Chikoti, on dates unknown but between 1 October 2010 and 31 October 2010 whilst employed as Town Clerk at Kabwe Municipal Council, was alleged to have abused the authority of her office.
This was in the manner she had allegedly facilitated the awarding of a Land Survey Contract to William Mhango from Kabwe Municipal Council amounting to K 778, 100 which was above the threshold of the council, a matter or transaction that concerned the Kabwe Municipal Council, a Public Body.
And Livingstone acting Mayor Fred Sikazwe said Ms Chikoti had taken charge of her office following her acquittal.
Speaking at a media briefing in Livingstone on Monday afternoon, Mr Sikazwe appealed to management and staff at the Livingstone City Council to support Ms Chikoti in her endeavors to enhance service delivery in the City.
“On behalf of the Livingstone City Council and indeed on my own behalf, we are thrilled by this turn of events as you may agree with me that Ms Chikoti is a hard working executive.
“She is driven by target attainment as can be demonstrated by her commitment to cleaning the city and actively meeting stakeholder expectations during the time she was with us,” Ms Chikoti said.
He said councilors had no doubt that Ms Chikoti was coming back with a more rejuvenated and burning desire to serve the people of Livingstone.
“With the implementation of the decentralization policy having practically began, we all need to move together while being linked and associated by the need to move our district to another level,” he said.
A TWENTY Seven year old driver of Kazungula has been fined K1000 by the Livingstone magistrate’s court for illegal transportation of charcoal contrary to the laws of Zambia.
This is in a case in which Professor Choongo of Luntele village in Kazungula is charged with illegal conveyance of major forestry produce.
It is alleged that on November 13 this year in Livingstone, Choongo had collected and conveyed 17 bags of charcoal to Livingstone without lawful authority.
On the date in question, a Forest Technician Peris Mwamba whilst he was riding his bicycle home, he saw a vehicle with registration number AJD 156 which was carrying charcoal along Botswana road in Livingstone.
Mwamba trailed the vehicle until it parked at Dambwa Central Market and he approached the vehicle.
He asked the driver if he had a permit to allow him to transport the charcoal and he respond that he had none.
Mwamba then seized the charcoal and the vehicle as well as took them to Forest Department office where he charged the driver.
During mitigation, Choongo pleaded that he was asking forgiveness from the court.
“I am asking forgiveness from the court. I am guilty from the offence because I wanted to help the trader who booked my vehicle,” he said.
Livingstone Magistrate Benjamin Mwelwa said he had fined the driver K1, 000 or in default he would serve three months simple imprisonment.
He said the charcoal would be disposed off by the clerk of court.
“You should stop using vehicle for illegal activities otherwise they will be fortified to the state so next time you will lose your property and you should learn to follow the right procedure,” he said.
Magistrate Mwelwa said the vehicle would be returned to the rightful owner.
Football expert Ponga Liwewe says the selection of Christopher Katongo and Isaac Chansa into the CHAN squad is detrimental for the long term development of the next generation of players.
Liwewe said Zambia should be looking at bigger objectives such as qualification for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
He said to include two players who will not be a part of this qualification process in a developmental team loses sight of the purposes of these competitions.
Liwewe said in his Facebook posting that he has always been opposed to the selection of players from the senior national team into junior sides as it adds nothing to their development and denies those players who need the experience to get to the next stage of their growth.
Coach George Lwandamina on Monday revealed that he has added Katongo and Chansa to his CHAN squad that will play in Rwanda finals.
Meanwhile, Isaac Chansa has expressed delight at being recalled to the national team set up adding that he believes his experience will add value to the team at the 2016 African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament which starts next month in Rwanda.
Chansa, currently on the books of Zanaco, is one of the two Afcon winners who have been drafted into Lwandamina’s 26-man squad along with Christopher Katongo who plays for Green Buffaloes.
“The coaches have shown that they still have belief in me and I want to repay them by working hard because it is not going to be easy. I have to work hard to win a place in the first eleven. Otherwise, it feels great and I am very honoured to be back in the national team,” Chansa said following Tuesday’s morning training session in Lusaka.
Chansa, 31, has 61 previous appearances for the Chipolopolo which all came between 2004 to 2013.
He reckons that the current crop of players is very skilled and that even if he does not get to play, his contribution will be valuable in other areas.
“My experience and that of Chris will definitely make a difference in the team, not only in the field of play but also in terms of advising the younger players.
“Our 2012 Africa Cup of Nations experience will come in handy for the young players.
“Personally, I hope that my presence in the team will help instill a winning spirit when we get to the tournament,” he said.
“In training, we will try and push everyone; we want to work hard because the teams going to Rwanda want to become champions and we are one of them.
“We have won the Afcon before; we know how sweet the victory is. That is what we are pushing for.”
Chansa added that there will be a lot of expectation placed on him and Chris but they they too are only human.
“The team has been doing well with young players. They might have made mistakes but we all learn through mistakes. Even the big players make mistakes and we as senior players we have been watching and we know that the current squad has a lot of talent. It is just a matter of time and experience, they will bring joy to the country.”
Mrs Nawakwi after she proceeded to address a muslim gathering
PF cadres on Tuesday afternoon attacked opposition FDD Leader Edith Nawakwi in Mtendere compound in Lusaka when she was addressing Muslim women at a mosque.
Mrs Nawakwi was attending the meeting at the invitation of the Islamic Supreme Council of Zambia to enable her appreciate the various challenges facing the Muslim community in Zambia
The cadres disrupted the meeting and damaged Mrs. Nawakwi’s official vehicle and another vehicle belonging to Islamic Supreme Council of Zambia President Suzyo Zimba.
Ms. Nawakwi who proceeded with the meeting described the attacks as unfortunate.
She has demanded for an apology from President Edgar Lungu over the continued attacks on her by PF cadres.
Ms. Nawakwi said the continued violent attacks on innocent citizens are denting the image of the nation.
She has vowed not be deterred from achieving her mission despite the attacks from the PF cadres.
‘It’s unfortunate, this is a Mosque, it’s a house of prayer and everybody should understand that Christians and Muslims, we are all descendants of Abraham, whether you are Muslim or Christian, the challenges we are faced with here are all the same,’ she said.
Mrs Nawakwi added, ‘For them to think that because they are PF, they must disturb the peace of Christmas, the joy of Christmas, it is extremely sad. This is when we call upon President Lungu to take leadership, this people are doing these heinous crimes under his watch and for him and with him.’
On December 16th, Mrs Nawakwi was also harassed by Police in Mwense after they stopped her and detained her on her way to Kawambwa when she went to training over 400 small scale farmers whom the FDD has empowered with Soya beans seed.
This was she successfully conducting the first training in Mpambashi constituency where again she was harassed by some PF cadres who went as far commanding the police to come to the venue of the meeting to stop the gathering.
MMD leader Nevers Mumba was recently tear gassed by police in Eastern Province as he was having an indoor meeting with his party officials.
Smashed windows of one of the vehicles belonging to the FDDPandemonim characterised the meeting addressed by Mrs Nawakwi after PF cadres stormed the gatheringChaos broke out at the meeting addressed by Mrs Nawakwi
Ambassador Mwamba shares a light moment with PF official Sunday Chanda at KKIA on Tuesday before departure for South Africa
Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa Emmanuel Mwamba says Zambians living in that country have praised President Edgar Lungu over the adoption of a dual citizenship clause in the amended constitution.
Mr Mwamba said most Zambians living in South Africa feel that President Lungu has achieved a lasting legacy over the new constitution.
He said in an interview in Lusaka that Zambian citizens in that country are happy as it was long overdue.
Mr. Mwamba added that the absence of such a law has had a lot of restrictions for Zambians living outside the country.
‘The community in the Diaspora and speaking for South Africa to be specific is happy President Lungu for firstly passing the new constitution and secondly a constitution that allows for modern spaces such as dual citizenship. They feel this is one of his lasting legacy,’ Mr Mwamba said.
He added, ‘For a national to attain the statutes they attain in South Africa, if they are not citizens, they can only rise up to a certain level, so they are forced to assume citizenship in those areas so that they could be Directors, CEOs, they could be board Chairs but they still love Zambia, their roots are here, their relatives are here and they still want the sacred nationality of been a Zambian.’
Mr Mwamba said this is one of the biggest milestones for the people in the Diaspora.
He said Zambia has one of the most educated people working as professionals in the Diaspora working as Engineers, Doctors and nurses who would like to bring those skills home with no restrictions.
UN human rights experts have criticised President Edgar Lungu for pardoning General Kanene who was convicted of the rape of a 14-year-old girl and appointing him as an ambassador in the fight against gender violence.
General Kanene whose real name is Clifford Dimba was convicted in 2014 and sentenced to 18 years in prison, but was pardoned by President Lungu after serving one year.
Since his release, the singer has been involved in two further incidents of violence against women.
“Such an outrageous release and appointment as an ambassador for the fight against gender-based violence not only traumatises the victim all over again but discourages other victims from reporting similar offences,” said Dubravka Šimonovi, UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences.
“The pardon and appointment undermine the strong message against sexual abuse of women and girls that was sent with the original sentence and trivialise the serious nature of these offences,” Ms Šimonovi added.
“Rather, Clifford Dimba has been placed in a prominent position and even portrayed as a role model to fight violence against women.”
UN experts have since called on the Zambian Government to withdraw Dimba’s appointment and ensure there are no further pardons for crimes against women and girls.
“This clearly shows that impunity for these offences generates more violence and harm,” said Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, the UN Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.
“Furthermore it constitutes an utter disrespect for women and girls in Zambia who might rightly feel that their Government is not protecting them. The pardon has meant impunity for an abhorrent crime and his subsequent appointment as ambassador for the fight against such violence is more than cynical and adds insult to injury for the victim,” she added.
The two independent experts highlighted that the granting of a pardon under such circumstances is incompatible with Zambia’s international human rights obligations and the President’s role as a champion in the UN Women’s campaign, He for She.
“For rights to have meaning, effective remedies must be available to redress violations,” said Ms. de Boer-Buquicchio. The best interest of the child should always be considered when considering the release of an offender, the two experts stressed.
“For rights to have meaning, effective remedies must be available to redress violations,” said Ms. de Boer-Buquicchio.
The experts urged the Zambian Government to hold accountable offenders of sexual and gender-based violence without exceptions.
Zambia, as a State Party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, should also ensure the physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration of a child victim, which were clearly undermined in this case.
Protection and prevention measures should also be adopted, including awareness-raising and education campaigns targeted at both men and women on the importance of gender equality and respect for women and girls.
The best interest of the child should always be considered when considering the release of an offender, the two experts stressed.
Experienced striker Christopher Katongo has welcomed his inclusion in the provisional Zambia squad for next month’s CHAN in Rwanda.
The 2012 Africa Cup winning captain has been recalled to the national team for the first time since October 2014.
Katongo,33, of Green Buffaloes, was dropped by former Zambia coach Honour Janza two days after Chipoloplo’s goalless draw in Niger in a 2015 Africa Cup qualifier played on 11th October 2014.
“I am humbled to be called up for the CHAN squad. As always I’ll put in my best effort,” Katongo reacted to his recall.
On Monday, FAZ announced that Katongo and Zanaco midfielder Isaac Chansa have been drafted into the CHAN squad that has regrouped in Lusaka.
“Both Isaac and Christopher have already been spoken to and have since agreed to be part of the squad,” FAZ stated.
The 2016 CHAN will be held between January 16 – February 7 in Rwanda.
Zambia’s bid to erase a poor 2015 has forced George Lwandamina to summon old guns Christopher Katongo and Isaac Chansa to try and lift Chipoopolo’s chances of reaching the knockout stage at the 2016 CHAN finals.
No senior and junior Zambia national team managed to advance from the group stage of any continental competition they qualified for in 2015.
The 2012 Africa Cup winning duo were surprise late call-ups for Zambia’s preliminary training camp that began in Lusaka December 22.
Striker Katongo and midfielder Chansa return after they were discarded in a radical shake-up of the team under Honour Janza that began in August 2014.
And the prospective departure of 30-year-old Zesco striker Winston Kalengo for El Merriekh in Sudan who scored three goals in the CHAN qualifiers may have forced FAZ to turn to the old guards after the junior prospects thrust onto the big stage to replace them flopped.
“Both Isaac and Christopher have already been spoken to and have since agreed to be part of the squad,” Football The duo is humbled by the call up and confidence shown in their abilities and have promised to give their best,” Football Association of Zambia spokesperson Nkweto Tembwe said.
“Chansa and Katongo have emphasised that they are doing this for the love of the country and will do their best to add value and experience which they have gained in their illustrious careers.”
Fortunately for Zambia, Katongo and Chansa return to the FAZ Super Division in 2015 to play for Green Buffaloes and 2014 for Zanaco respectively has given Chipolopolo an opportunity to tap into that experience as FAZ seeks to stem the downward spiral of results.
