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FILE: President Lungu talks to Zambia army commander Lt Gen Paul Mihova as ZAF Commander Lt Gen Eric Chimese looks on
THE Zambia Army has warned that it would not condone unscrupulous people encroaching on its pieces of land earmarked for various military projects in the country.
Army Commander Lieutenant-General Paul Mihova, who described the encroachment as an act of indiscipline, said the army would not tolerant such behaviour.
Gen Mihova was not happy that some people could start setting up projects such as construction of houses on pieces of land which belong to the Zambia Army.
He sounded the warning in Choma on Friday when led a team of senior army officers inspecting a piece of land earmarked for construction of army staff office complex.
At the time of the tour, the Army Commander discovered that some people had dug foundations to start building houses and other infrastructure on the same land belonging to the army.
The piece of land in question was adjacent to the new six-storey Southern Province administration complex under construction at the old Choma airstrip.
“We can’t tolerate this behaviour, it’s an act of indiscipline on whoever is doing this, how do you start digging foundations on land which doesn’t belong to you, this piece of land belongs to Zambia Army, we need to stop this encroachment immediately,” he said.
He directed the officers at Zambia Army Choma provincial office to work hand in hand with their Zambia National Service counterparts to bury the foundations with an excavator.
“By Monday (today), all these foundations should be covered up,” he said.
The Army Commander, who was in Southern Province on a tour of some army facilities, said land encroachment, should not be condoned in the country.
He, however, hailed Government for giving the Zambia Army a piece of land to construct a provincial staff office complex in Choma.
Some trucks were found offloading building materials such as sand and stones for the intended army office project which would start soon.
Davies Chama
Patriotic Front (PF) Secretary General Davies Chama has said tat the ruling party has never been a violent political party because its leader Edgar Lungu abhors any form of violence.
Mr. Chama said that President Lungu is on record many times condemning all sorts of violence because the party wants the country to remain peaceful.
The PF Chief Executive Officer said this when he featured on Kitwe’s Catholic run Radio Ichengelo programme.
Mr. Chama said it is unacceptable and shocking that some leaders in the opposition are propagating the use of violence and wondered what kind of leaders they were to vie for State House.
He also charged that members of the opposition have in the past put on PF regalia and head barrette and beat up people to tarnish the image of the ruling party and that of the Presidency.
Mr. Chama said the PF is enjoying massive and strong support in 9 out of the 10 provinces of the country.
The PF Secretary General also disclosed that his party is making positive inroads in Southern Province, with a lot of people from the region aspiring to be adopted on the PF ticket in next year’s general elections.
Teargas canisters thrown by Police to disrupt an MMD meeting
Police Brutality against MMD and Opposition parties is a reflection of a persisting colonial mentality in Zambia Police
The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) is greatly disappointed at reports of a violent attack at the Movement for Multi Party Democracy (MMD) in Eastern province by the Zambia Police in an attempt to disrupt the MMD’s party mobilisation meetings in the province and calls for the Police Inspector General Kakoma Kanganja to resign.
This violent attack by the police against unarmed citizens who express their fundamental political rights is extremely saddening because it comes at a time when President Lungu was swearing in the Inspector General and new Provincial Police Commissioners, urging them to treat all persons equally and fairly under law. What we saw in Eastern province was police brutality and intolerance and this calls for the Police Inspector General to immediately resign as it appears that he is not in control of his men and women in uniform.
The Zambia Police must avoid playing double standards on the way they want to enforce the law and they must understand that violations of people’s fundamental rights such as the right to freedom of Assembly, movement and expression is shedding a bad light about Zambia’s leadership on the international scene.
President Lungu as the Commander in Chief must actually be worried and disappointed to note that while his own wife, our First Lady Mrs. Esther Lungu and PF officials are continuing to hold campaign meetings on his behalf without being subjected to this inhuman treatment by the Zambia Police, his competitors such as MMD leader Pastor Nevers Mumba, UPND leader Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, Rainbow Party leader Mr. Wynter Kabimba and other opposition officials, are daily being brutalised by the police.
It is not enough for the President to urge his police command to administer the Public Order Act fairly and justly; it his duty to ensure that the police actually do so, and where they clearly fail to follow the law, we expect President Lungu, as custodian of the Constitution, to act immediately to safeguard the constitutional rights of the opposition, not just the ruling party.
The President must immediately relieve the Inspector General of Police for failing to protect Zambians and assure citizens that their rights will not be trampled upon by overzealous police officers.
We wish to remind PF leaders to learn a lesson from the MMD leaders who failed to do their duty to protect the rights of all Zambians and looked the other way when the Police Force used violence against political opponents.
Zambians have been yearning for clean and competitive politics in which all political parties play on a level playing field..
At the rate at which the Zambia Police Force are brutalising the opposition, we don’t see the Police contributing to free, fair and peaceful elections in 2016. This kind of selective enforcement of the law may move the opposition to take the law in their own hands and police their own meetings against the primitive Zambia Police Force.
If the Zambia Police are committed to fair play in the 2016 elections, they must do some introspection of their conduct which is not building trust among stakeholders. Certainly, the Inspector General and his top command are ensuring their own summary dismissal, should the opposition win in 2016.
Isaac Mwanza
Governance Advisor
Young African Leaders Initiative
The documentary looks at the story of two girls and a boy who were married off at a young age in Zambia’s Nchelenge District located in Luapula Province. They share the story of the hardships they faced during their marriages. We also look at the interventions being implemented in the area in dealing with the problem of early marriage by the traditional leadership. The News in Depth program aired on 14th
The forgotten and the comeback kid saw Zambia steal the spotlight in South Africa on Saturday when the PSL resumed after a month-long break.
In Durban, striker Mwape Musonda, who has not received a call-up in 12 months, scored for number 6 side Golden Arrows with a 24th minute strike in their 1-0 home win over 11th placed Polokwane City.
This was Mwape’s debut PSL goal since he joined Orlando Pirates last year who have since loaned the Zambia striker to Arrows.
Mwape left the pitch in the 59th minute.
Not far and up the road on the Low Veld in Nelspruit, in-form Collins Mbesuma led home-side Mpumalanga Black Aces to a home win against 13th positioned Ajax Cape Town via a similar scoreline to keep the hosts in 2nd place.
The Zambia striker fired in from close-range in the 42nd minute before he was substituted in the 46th minute at Mbombela Stadium.
The goal was Mbesuma’s 7th PSL goal of the season as he continues to enjoy a memorable revival of form for both club and country in 2015 .
Meanwhile, the PSL takes a Christmas break before resuming on January 8, 2016.
Bishop Sky Banda, the senior pastor of the Maranatha Church in Kitwe has died.Bishop Banda had been pastoring the popular Maranatha church for over 28years and had raised many sons and daughters in the faith who have impacted Zambia and many countries of the world. He was considered a father to many and was one of the top Christian Leaders in the country.
As Zambians in the diaspora, we have been rejoicing at the passing of progressive clauses to be included in the new constitution especially on Dual Citizenship in which we are very pleased that the Movement for Multiparty Democracy under the able leadership of Dr Nevers Sekwila Mumba played a very significant role.
We are however extremely disappointed and displeased at the shocking incident on Friday 18th December 2015 in Lundazi where teargas was used by the Police to disrupt a peaceful indoor meeting of MMD party structures as they were being addressed by Dr Mumba. This is primitive stone age politics that has destroyed our beautiful nation of Zambia. This is totally unacceptable. We were thinking that we have left such things behind after making wonderful progress on the constitution.
I join my fellow Zambians in the diaspora to strongly condemn the action of the police as shown in the video clip on Facebook and YouTube. Dr Mumba is a very well respected man in Zambia by many people and in many countries in Africa and other parts of the world for him to be treated like this. This is very shameful and makes a total mockery of the day of prayer, fasting and reconciliation that was held on 18th October 2015. We call on all Zambians to rise and cry to God for our country.
Rev. Nathan Nkhama, Dallas, Texas, USA
Executive Director/Producer
Zambia Blog Talk Radio
Inspector General of Police Kakoma Kanganja taking Oath during the swearing -in-Ceremony
INSPECTOR General of Police Kakoma Kanganja says police acted within the law in dispersing a meeting convened by MMD president Nevers Mumba in Lundazi on Friday.
Mr Kanganja said in an interview yesterday that Dr Mumba did not inform the police of his meeting in Lundazi, a situation he said is against the Public Order Act.
“At my swearing in ceremony, President Lungu directed me to administer the Public Order Act fairly and transparently. There was nothing wrong with what the police did by dispersing that meeting held without police notification,” he said.
Mr Kanganja said the police were made to use minimum force to stop the meeting because the conveners refused to leave after they were asked by the law enforcers to do so.
“Minimum force was used to disperse the gathering and two MMD officials were arrested in the process. The two are still in police custody although they were granted bail but it was late,” he said.
Mr Kanganja said the police in executing their duties will not tolerate people who will go against the Public Order Act but will co-operate with those who will abide to protect all Zambians.
He said people should stop preaching violence and instead emulate President Lungu in promoting peace and unity in the country.
MMD party spokesperson Raphael Nakachinda said there was no justification for the way police acted on Friday because the meeting did not require a permit.
“That meeting did not require a permit because it was a peaceful indoor meeting. The police need to be professional in their conduct,” Mr Nakachinda said.
On Friday, the police reportedly tear-gassed an MMD party meeting in Lundazi in Eastern Province that was being addressed by it Dr Mumba.
A GOVERNANCE activist David Kapoma has challenged the Grand Coalition to tell the nation the source of its funds it will use to campaign against the Patriotic Front (PF) and MMD on allegations the two parties have betrayed Zambians on the constitution making process.
Mr Kapoma said conducting countrywide campaigns is a very expensive undertaking which requires serious injection of resources both human and financial.
He said the Grand Coalition should, therefore, tell the Zambian people who will give them the money to conduct this serious undertaking and what the funders will benefit from the exercise.
Speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka, Mr Kapoma said the Grand Coalition should clearly state who it wants the Zambian people to vote for in the 2016 general elections.
“Since they are saying people should not vote for the PF and the MMD, it means they have someone in mind that they want the people to vote for and I challenge them to tell us who that person is so that we can tell them in their faces that they are taking sides and not doing their job,” he said
Mr Kapoma who said the Grand Coalition was formed to speak for the voiceless wondered which people it is representing when the majority of Zambians are happy that about 80 percent of the constitution has been passed.
He also said Zambians are happy about Government’s constitution-making process and parliament’s subsequent passing of some of the contentious clauses.
“Now that most Zambians are happy with the outcome of parliament regarding this process, the Grand Coalition should tell the Zambian people who they are representing,” he said.
Meanwhile, the PF and MMD have said the grand coalition should come out in the open and form a political movement which will actively participate in the elections rather than hiding in the name of Civil Society Organisations.
“Since they are saying people should not vote for the PF and the MMD, it means they have someone in mind that they want the people to vote for and I challenge them to tell us who that person is so that we can tell them in their faces that they are taking sides and not doing their job,” he said
PF Secretary General Davies Chama said the Grand Coalition is disappointed that what it suspected the PF would do has not happened hence its (Grand Coalition) threats.
“The bill that has been passed is representative of the peoples aspirations which the grand coalition was party to so why are they upset,” he said.
And MMD Spokesperson Raphael Nakachinda said the Grand Coalition needs to join the rest of the country in celebrating the passing of the bill in parliament which he described as progressive.
“I am not saying this because we are in league with the PF because we are not. We should all be happy that at least about 80 percent of what Zambian have been crying for has been passed,” Mr Nakachinda said.
Last week the Grand Coalition announced that it will campaign against the PF in next year’s elections for allegedly refusing to respect the wishes of the Zambian people over the enactment of the new republican constitution.
Among new clauses that have cheered many stakeholders are those on the running-mate, 50 percent plus one presidential winning threshold and dual citizenship.
Meanwhile, PF chairperson for information Father Frank Bwalya says President Lungu should be praised for assuring Zambians that he is ready to assent to the Constitution of Zambia Amendment Bill.
He has also said that the 50 percent plus one vote threshold has scared the United Party for National Development (UPND).
Fr Bwalya said President Lungu’s goodwill to give Zambians the constitution they want is an indication that PF is not afraid to go to the 2016 general election under the 50 percent plus one winning threshold.
“It is UPND that is insecure and these other political parties are small while other political parties have supported the 50 plus one, and as PF we explained the disadvantages of this mode but this is what the people want we have done what they want,” Fr Bwalya said.
Fr Bwalya said this on a special live programme on KNC Radio in Kabwe on Wednesday .
Opposition party leaders: Cosmo Mumba and Mike Mulongoti!
SEVERAL opposition political parties say they will seek mergers or support candidates of other parties in next year’s presidential election to ensure the winner gets a 50-percent-plus-one-vote threshold required to get into State House.
Some, however, say they will still give it a shot although they know that the Patriotic Front (PF) candidate Edgar Lungu is a clear favourite.
People’s Party (PP) president Mike Mulongoti said in an interview that political parties need to work together ahead of next year’s elections.
He said his party will choose a preferred presidential candidate and political party it will support in the 2016 polls.
Forum for Democratic Alternatives President Ludwig Sondashi said he will not contest the election but choose one formidable and relevant party to support.
“It is not good for all political parties to contest the 2016 elections, especially after the adoption of the 50-percent-plus-one-vote clause,” Dr Sondashi said.
Christian Democratic Party president Dan Pule said the possibility of political parties merging ahead of next year’s elections cannot be ruled out because of the passing of the 50-percent-plus-one-vote threshold.
“The 50-percent-plus-one-vote has brought a challenge to all of us as politicians. We can’t rule out the possibility of merging or supporting one preferred candidate ahead of the polls,” he said.
Dr Pule said his party will have to make a decision on whether to support a preferred candidate or contest the general elections.
He also supports the running mate clause and dual citizenship clause, which he described as progressive.
Dr Pule said the running mate clause has worked well in countries like Nigeria and Malawi.
Zambians for Empowerment and Development president Fred Mtesa said it is possible for a well organised political party to have its candidate win the election under the new law.
Dr Mtesa said it was, however, too early for his party to state its position on whether it would support a particular candidate or contest elections.
National Revolution Party president Cosmo Mumba said he would contest next year’s presidential election.
Dr Mumba said he knew President Lungu would win the election but he (Mumba) will still contest.
Green Party president Peter Sinkamba said he would contest the election.
UNIP president Tilyenji Kaunda and Alliance for Development and Democracy president Charles Milupi said they would state their positions later.
Migrants
MINISTRY of Home Affairs permanent secretary Mulenga Chileshe has called on Zambians to observe and respect the rights of migrants.
Dr Chileshe said refugees contribute towards economic growth and human development in both home and host countries and enrich societies through cultural diversity, fostering understanding and respect among peoples, cultures and societies.
Speaking during the International Migrants Day on Friday, Dr Chileshe said Government is committed to addressing challenges of migrants.
“Government is committed to address, challenges related to migration by valuing the need to protect vulnerable people on the move, including victims of human trafficking, unaccompanied and separated children and also putting in place adequate mechanisms,” he said.
Dr Chileshe also said migration is not a problem to be solved, but a reality that can be managed.
“It is nonetheless encouraging to note that migration has formally been included in the 2030 agenda for sustainable development with the adoption of specific targets on migration,” Dr Chileshe said.
And UNHCR representative Laura lo Castro said Zambia acknowledges that refugees, such as doctors, nurses, teachers and farmers, who recently lost their refugee status can positively contribute to the economy of the country.
She said Zambia has shown the world that it is a nation that welcomes different kind of people.
Meanwhile, International Organisation for Migration (IOM) director general William Swing said it is unfortunate that sections of the media and society have sought to paint migration as a social evil and a spawning ground for fanaticism.
“I see an anti-migrant sentiment beginning to seethe. I see political malaise; an absence of courage, a bankruptcy of leadership and a paucity of moral sensitivity,” she said.
He has commended Zambia for showing generosity amidst high numbers of asylum-seekers, refugees and migrants.
Patriotic Front indoor Meeting in Vubwi
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) Chairperson for Elections, Jean Kapata has called on the ruling party’s members to avoid unnecessary disagreements and squabbling if the party has to win the 2016 tripartite elections.
Addressing party officials from different wards in Chadiza in Eastern Province yesterday, Ms Kapata said President Lungu only marginally won the January 2015 elections because there was too much disunity among party members.
Ms Kapata said this in a statement issued by PF vice-secretary for mobilisation committee Samuel Kasankha.
“So many people from the PF wanted to stand as president and this created many camps. The infighting caused deep divisions which enemies of the party from within and outside took advantage of. The result was that we almost lost the elections,” she said.
She warned that this could repeat itself in 2016 unless members guarded against unnecessary divisions and disunity.
Ms Kapata urged the party to rally behind the leadership and candidacy of President Lungu, including those who would be adopted as candidates for parliamentary and local government seats for the 2016 election.
And most party officials in the province have cited long distances between wards and branches as being a major impediment to effective party mobilization.
PF mobilisation chairman Charles Banda has assured that everything possible will be done to ensure that such impediments are addressed.
Speaking in Chipata, Mr Banda urged the members to continue working and growing the party in Eastern Province.
And speaking earlier at the same event, Women chairperson Esther Banda urged the members to tailor their campaign messages on the developmental projects the party had embarked upon in the last four years.
Mrs Banda said the projects were good enough testimony that the PF is a working government, so there is no need to struggle in convincing voters to vote for continuity and progress.
The three PF members of the Central Committee are in the province to strengthen the party structures at the grassroots and prepare them for the 2016 tripartite election.
A FUEL shortage which had hit most parts of Lusaka has ended.
Fuel tankers rolled out of fuel depots on Friday night and yesterday to deliver petrol and diesel to filling stations that had run out of stocks.
The shortage was caused by a strike by tanker drivers who were protesting the gunning down of their colleague who was allegedly stealing fuel.
Random checks by Sunday Mail at filling stations revealed shortened queues of motorists waiting patiently for their turn to buy the commodity. On Friday night, the queues were much longer.
Most filling stations on the Great East Road had fuel as early as 07:00 hours while some fuel tankers were found off-loading the commodity.
Motorists, who had earlier been frustrated about the shortage, were eventually relieved that they were able to buy fuel.
They were also relieved that the fuel tanker drivers had called off their protest.
“My fuel gauge was at empty last night, so I withdrew from the queue and went home for fear I might be stuck. I woke up this morning with a container to look for fuel until we were tipped that Puma Chelstone had fuel,” Charles Banda said.
By press time yesterday, queues at most filling stations had cleared as motorists were buying the commodity normally.
On Friday, Minister of Local Government and Housing Stephen Kampyongo, Minister of Home Affairs Davis Mwila, and Deputy Minister of Energy Charles Zulu held a lengthy meeting with the drivers, who agreed to resume transporting fuel to service stations.
Mr Kampyongo, who urged motorists not to panic, said government attaches importance to the fuel chain.
Minister of Energy Dora Siliya, in a statement issued on Friday evening, said the shortage was as a result of non-delivery from the holding depot within Lusaka to the main depot and filling stations.
Last Tuesday, a fuel tanker driver was shot dead by a security officer in Lusaka after the owner of the truck found him allegedly decanting fuel from his Lake Petroleum truck.
“I have seen that everything [human] has its limits and end [no matter how extensive, noble, and excellent]; but Your commandment is exceedingly broad and extends without limits [into eternity].”
(Psalm 119:96, AMP)
Take Off the Limits
Did you know you can limit your life by dwelling on the wrong things? So often, wrong thinking keeps people stuck right where they are.
If you think you’ll never accomplish your dreams, then you’ll stay stuck where you are. If you think you don’t have the talent, the connections or the funds, then you are limiting yourself.
We have to remember that God’s promises never return void. His Word stands true forever! Don’t limit what God can do in your life by focusing on what you see in the natural realm. You have to realize that you serve a supernatural God, and just because you don’t see a way doesn’t mean that God doesn’t have a way. God can bring one opportunity across your path that will launch you to a whole new level.
He has explosive blessings in store that can blast you out of where you are and into a place of abundance! Shift your focus from this limited realm, start looking at God’s supernatural realm, and see His unlimited possibilities for your future!
A Prayer for Today
“Father, today I lift my eyes to You. You alone are the source of my strength, peace and provision. I choose to delight myself in You knowing that You will give me the desires of my heart in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Jean Kapata prepares the audience for the Lukulu Rally
THE Patriotic Front (PF) would value the contribution of former vice-president Guy Scott in next year’s general elections because as a founding member of the ruling party, he still has a lot to offer to the continued growth of the party, Jean Kapata has observed.
Dr Scott has reunited with the PF and has since been brought back into the central committee of the ruling party, a move that has cheered the ruling party’s members.
Ms Kapata who is PF elections chairperson said it was in the spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation that Dr Scott had been given his space in the ruling party’s central committee.
Ms Kapata said the PF had healed from its differences that almost left the party fractured during the transition last year following the death of president Michael Sata because President Edgar Lungu had been a strong proponent of peace, unity and forgiveness in the ruling party.
She said Dr Scott was one of the founders of the PF and it was only politically correct that the former vice-president should remain a member despite what the party went through when he (Dr Scott) acted as republican president.
She stated that the PF was starting afresh and was open to all the members who had left the party during the confusion that rocked the ruling party after the death of President Sata.
“Dr Scott is one of the founding members of the PF and the party missed him when he retreated following the differences the party suffered from during the transition period. He stopped attending central committee meetings but it is good that he has come to terms with the reality that the majority of Zambians want President Lungu. He is more than welcome and we need his contribution,” she said.
And PF deputy secretary general Mumbi Phiri said although Dr Scott had not officially left the central committee, he had not been attending central committee meetings.
Mrs Phiri said Dr Scott exercised his democratic right to reject the candidature of President Lungu but that he had now realized
