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Limiting our movement does not solve economic challenges- Hakainde Hichilema

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Limiting our movement does not solve economic challenges- Hakainde Hichilema
Police in Chingola blocking the way for UPND leaders who are in the copperbelt
Police in Chingola blocking the way for UPND leaders who are in the copperbelt

UPND president Hakainde Hichilema said limiting the UPND’s movements and activities does not solve the economic challenges the people of Zambia are going through.

He said Copperbelt residents called for a rally, but UPND are law abiding citizens and as all their police notifications for rallies in the Copperbelt had been denied or cancelled they could not oblige.He said in fact these are serious governance issues that further dent the country’s image and have the potential to scare investors and international development organisations. The UPND  therefore downscaled to a mobilisation tour which was still being hindered by Zambia Police.

Mr Hakainde said Zambia Police and other law enforcement agencies have been trying to block the UPND’s indoor party mobilisation meetings on the Copperbelt since they arrived.

‘To be honest, these officers need our support as they are equally going through the same economic hardships like all other Zambians.In some cases it is even worse for them, as their salaries are not only low but these days often paid late. They are not well motivated by the PF government yet they work under extreme pressure.

These officers and other security personnel do not have special shops, schools, etc which are cheaper. They are human like all of us and know what is good for the country.
We have no issues with these innocent officers at all. We only have issues with the country’s ruling PF political leadership that abuse our men and women in uniform, including all other security wings.

Honestly how do you have a ruling party politician imposing basically a curfew on the people of the Copperbelt that they should never hear any alternative economic solutions other than from those who cannot even articulate or solve the challenges people are going through?



We are trying to embrace democracy in our country in a manner that promotes good governance that attracts economic investment and betters our people’s lives.Honestly how do you have a ruling party politician imposing basically a curfew on the people of the Copperbelt that they should never hear any alternative economic solutions other than from those who cannot even articulate or solve the challenges people are going through?’

Fellow Zambians, we all love this great country and we must both defend that which we think is just and at the same time condemn those injustices in our society.
Today it is HH, GBM, and others being denied freedoms, but tomorrow it will be students, trade unions, women and men, civil society organisations, workers and eventually individuals. This is a dangerous path,’

UPND president Hakainde Hichilema addresses Chililabobwe residents during the opening of new party offices in the town
UPND president Hakainde Hichilema addresses Chililabobwe residents during the opening of new party offices in the town

Addressing hundreds of supporters in Chililabombwe during the opening of new UPND offices,Mr.Hakainde said Chililabombwe remains a major contributor to Zambia’s wealth production since independence. He said Chililabombwe has been depleted even of its meager resources, hence leaving the residents more impoverished and urgently in need of an economic lifeline to revamp it.

The UPND leader said the UPND will not relent until the people of Chililabombwe on the Copperbelt and Zambians in general are economically liberated and proud again.

‘We are so far enjoying massive support from the people of Chililabombwe and across the Copperbelt. We ask that they remain resolute as 2016 is nearing and will be the birth of a new journey for Zambians,’Mr.Hakainde said.

‘We are calling on the provincial leadership to embrace everyone as UPND is determined to unite the country and never permit divisions,’he said.

And speaking at the same event, UPND Vice President for administration Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba reminded the Chililabombwe residents of how PF has blatantly made false promises, such as lowering the price of mealie meal, cooking oil, and other essential commodities.Mr. Mwamba said the time has come for Zambians to choose a leader based on capabilities, skills, credibility, and economic know how.

Chililabobwe residents
Chililabobwe residents

8 year old boy dies in ambulance accident

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8 year old boy dies in ambulance accident

An ambulance on surveillance during the inter-company relay in Lusaka

An eight year old boy of Maluza village has died on the spot while three others escaped death after an ambulance they were traveling in overturned along Lundazi -Mwase road in Lundazi Ditrict.

Lundazi Community Medical Officer, David Zulu confirmed the accident which occurred around 10:00 hours on Saturday.Dr Zulu identified the boy as George Mungula while the three survivors are Tomaida Mkandawire 51, Mathews Muyula 43 and Hilda Jere 41 all of the same village.

He said the boy was being taken to Lundazi Community Hospital from Mwase Rural Health Center to be treated for burns when the accident happened.Dr Zulu further indicated that the ambulance driven by Moses Sakala overturned few kilometers away from the health center.

He explained that that the accident occurred after the driver of the ambulance lost control when he was trying to avoid hitting a motorcycle rider, who was in front of him.Dr Zulu said that the other accident victims are out of danger and that they were likely to be discharged.

No Zambian refs picked for 2015 CAF U23 Cup

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No Zambian refs picked for 2015 CAF U23 Cup

There will be no Zambian referee at this years CAF Under-23 Cup in Senegal.

CAF on Monday released the names of the 10 referees and 13 assistant referees to officiate at the tournament that will run from November 28 to December 12 and where Zambia are in Group A together with South Africa, Tunisia and hosts Senegal.

Jan Sikazwe made the cut for the inaugural tournament in 2011 where he refereed three games including a semifinal.

Referees
1-Redouane Jiyed (Morocco)
2-Zio Juste Ephrem (Burkina Faso)
3-Joshua Bondo(Botswana)
4-Mehdi Abid Charef(Algeria)
5-Hudu Munyemana (Rwanda)
6-Antoine Max Depadoux Effa Essouma
(Cameroon)
7-Nampiandra Hamada (Madagascar)
8-Sinko Bienvenu (Cote d’Ivoire)
9-Diedhiou Malang (Senegal)
10-Youssef Essrayri (Tunisia)

Assistant Referees:
1-Jerson dos Santos (Angola)
2-Arsenio Marengula (Mozambique)
3-Eldrick Adelaide (Seychelles)
4-Drissa Kamory Niare (Mali)
5-Berhe O. Michael (Eritrea)
6-Yahaya Mahamadou (Niger)
7-Mark Sonko (Uganda)
8-Samba Malik (Senegal)
9-Elmoiz Ali Mohamed Ahmed (Sudan)
10-Mahmoud Ahmed Abo el Regal (Egypt)
11-Issa Yaya (Chad)
12-Oliver Safari (DR Congo)
13-Sidiki Sidibe (Guinea)
Source: CAF

HH vows to proceed with Copperbelt meetings with or without Police permits

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HH vows to proceed with Copperbelt meetings with or without Police permits
UPND president Hakainde Hichilema
UPND president Hakainde Hichilema

UPND President Hakainde Hichilema has vowed that his planned meetings on the Copperbelt will go ahead with or without Police permission.

Mr. Hichilema is on the Copperbelt for a series of political meetings.The UPND leader yesterday held an engagement with Bus and taxi drivers in Ndola who vowed to rally behind him.

The drivers told Mr.Hichilema that their decision to rally behind him is as a result of exploitation from the ruling PF through the Road Transport and Safety Agency RTSA.They complained that under the PF government, transport taxes have been highly increased while acquiring a Public Service vehicle PSV license has also been made complicated.

Speaking on behalf of other bus and taxi drivers, Donald Mutale said public service drivers on the Copperbelt are fed up with increased taxes being introduced by the RTSA from time to time.

The drivers made the petition to Mr. Hichilema and his entourage toured the market behind Mulungushi bus station in Ndola.

The UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema promised the drivers that once elected president in 2016 such issues will be among his first priorities.

Meanwhile UPND Vice president for Administration Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba has questioned the caliber of people surrounding President Edgar Lungu to give him sound advice on many national matters.

He has since asked the people of Copperbelt to vote for the UPND in 2016 so that they usher in a government of intellectuals who will manage the country’s economy for the betterment of all Zambians.

Meanwhile the UPND leader said he had fruitful meetings with key stakeholders last night especially in the mining sector with a view to sharing ideas and finding some solutions to the plight of the workers facing massive job losses.

Copperbelt residents at a UPND meeting
Copperbelt residents at a UPND meeting

He said thanks to the visit on the Copperbelt the UPND have fully come to appreciate the scale and extent of the problems facing the mining industry.Of interest is that the commodity prices on the international market are not as bad as a few years ago when prices dropped to US $2000 per ton.Mr Hakainde said this means with a bit of government support like many other countries such as Chile have done, Zambia would not be in the situation where people are losing jobs like this.

He said there are so many outstanding issues and misunderstandings with the PF government that needs resolving including VAT refunds, some mining houses like KCM are owed as much as US $200 million in VAT refunds.Mr.Hakainde said it is clear to that no one in government is taking these issues seriously, but instead heaping blame on the external environment.

He said we need serious government intervention to solve outstanding issues, rather than just leaving it to the workers and their unions to solve these problems.

‘On our part we shall do our best, but we are very limited on what we can do as we do not have the mandate to fully intervene. However, we will continue to advise our colleagues in leadership which we have done repeatedly,’he said.

Is Africa the New Frontier on the war against Terrorism?

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Is Africa the New Frontier on the war against Terrorism?
paris attack1
November 13 terrorist attacks in Paris

ISIS has hit Paris, the City of light, and at least 120 people have been tragically killed. This is the deadliest attack on French soil since WWII and President Francois Hollande has called this act of terror an “act of war”.

In 2003, the United States led the invasion of Iraq, a protracted conflict that led to the loss of at least one million lives and destabilized the entire region.The war created very harsh and extreme living conditions for the Iraqis, making Iraq a breeding ground for militant groups like Al-Qaeda and eventually this led to emergence of the Islamic State, ISIS.
ISIS is an armed group that has captured massive portions of land in Iraq and Syria.

Africa is fast becoming the new frontier of terror attacks. This scourge on the continent’s soil equally deserves more attention and serious action to contain it by the global community than it gets.

  • Al-Shabab is a militant group from Somalia. It started out as one of the many factions that were fighting against the U.N backed Transitional Government based in its capital Mogadishu.
  • Al-Shabab is one of Somalia’s largest armed militant groups and has also pledged allegiance to Al-Qaeda.
  • Al-Shabab has been labeled a terrorist organization after staging attacks on some prominent targets both national and foreign.
  • In 2013 Al-Shabab attacked Westgate Mall in Nairobi killing 67 people and took dozens of hostages.
  • In April of 2015 Al-Shabab struck again killing 148 students at Garissa University in the northeastern town of Kenya.
  • Al-Shabab appears to have been boosted by the rise of the Islamic State in Iraq.
  • ISIS has also recently affiliated itself with Boko Haram an insurgency group that originated from the impoverished northern region of Nigeria that seeks to establish a “Caliphate”.
  • In April 2014, the Boko Haram group made international headlines when it abducted more than 200 girls from a boarding school in the region.
  • Dozens of Boko Haram gunmen in a convoy of vehicles stormed the Girls Secondary School in Chibok, west of Maiduguri and took away over 200 defenseless girls and most of them have not been found yet.
Little girl runs to police during Westgate shopping centre terrorist attack in Nairobi, September 21, 2013.
Little girl runs to police during Westgate shopping centre terrorist attack in Nairobi, September 21, 2013.

Unless Africa’s leaders address the youth opportunities challenge, the continent could become a breeding ground for extreme sentiment that can lead to a security threat susceptible to violence, crime and extremism.

In the advent of globalization and social media connectivity the African youth is exposed and wants the same branded consumer goods just as the youth in the United States, Hong Kong or South Korea.More importantly they also aspire for the same opportunities for a descent education and a career.

They share a noble ambition like any other youth in the developed world to become business entrepreneurs, medical doctors, Scientists and Engineers.Yet this generation is captive to unrealistic expectations when the economies they live in are not delivering the kind of growth that would sustain this exploding demographic.

For example, South Africa is a relatively young nation with about 40 percent of the population born after 1994 and youth unemployment is more than 50 percent for this generation, double the national average.Nigeria is the most populous nation on the African continent with a population of over a hundred and fifty million people.An estimated twenty million Nigerian youths are unemployed.

Developmental initiatives across various sectors of government aimed at primarily addressing the problem of unemployment in Nigeria are regrettable and hardly visible.
Most of the initiatives fall short in terms of scope and scale.Added together, interventions in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors reach fewer than one hundred thousand youths per year out of twenty million unemployed.
Youth unemployment in Africa is a “time bomb without borders”.

By Joshua M. Ngoma
[Facebook post]

Improved post-harvest fishing brings hope to Western Province

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Improved post-harvest fishing brings hope to Western Province

DRY-FISH-MARKETEER

Hadon Sichali has been in the fish trade for over 22 years. But he says only now does he feel a true businessman- why is this?

“Because I now make reasonable income after struggling for so many years,” said the 55-year-old entrepreneur of Mongu, Western Zambia.Until he was recently introduced to improved post-harvest handling techniques, Mr Sichali, one of the retrenchees under the infamous Structural Adjustment Programme imposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), struggled to break even in his business.

However, he now earns as much as K5,000 per month from a paltry K700 that he used to earn before.

“Over the years, I have just been making enough for my family; it has been a subsistence kind of trading – from hand to mouth. But I would say that since we met WorldFish and the CultiAF people, we have reduced our losses through improved post-harvest handling such as salting. My capital has grown and I have even diversified into rice and groundnut business,” Mr Sichali said.

He is one of the people in the fish value chain who are working with researchers in a newly launched project on post-harvest losses of fish, being supported by the Cultivate Africa’s Future (CultiAF) Fund, an initiative jointly funded by Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research (ACIAR).

The three-year project, led by scientists from the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, the University of Zambia and WorldFish as a partner organisation, aims at improving effectiveness, reducing losses, and promoting greater equity among the men and women who work in the fisheries sector.

This comes from a background that sub-Saharan Africa has the lowest fish supply per person of any global region, with supply predicted to fall by 20 percent in the next two decades. Poor processing and management are major factors, resulting in losses of up to US$5 billion each year.

Narrowing it to countries, poor post-harvest handling of fish is said to contribute greatly to the declining per capita fish consumption in Malawi and Zambia. However, it seems to receive little attention. The project is therefore undertaking fish value chain analyses to understand post-harvest biomass losses, economic value and nutrient content changes, and gender norms and power relations.

Typically, fish processors in the area preserve their fish through sun-drying or smoking, and small quantities of fish are sold fresh. However, the processing results in the fish becoming very brittle and easily damaged during transportation, among other losses, destroying the quality and value of the fish.

There are four technologies being tried, among which is solar tent drying, a technique where a tent made from plastic sheeting is used. These have the advantage of protecting fish from dust and flies during the drying process and speeding up the time for fish to dry due to elevated temperatures.

“Apart from materials being locally available and cheap, solar dryers have the advantage of elevated temperatures for fast drying and an assurance of a clean end product,” Robert Lubilo, chief fisheries training instructor, said.

Mr Lubilo added that another method which is gaining popularity among the locals is salting—an ancient method which he said has “unfortunately been ignored by the local community.”

“Salting is an ancient method but people here in Western Province don’t use it. This makes fish firm and addresses the prevailing challenge of fish fragmentation,” Mr Lubilo said.

And fish trader Mr Sichali knows the value of salting.

“We used to lose a quarter of our stock due to breakables during transportation especially over long distances. But now we have learnt salting, salted fish does not break no matter what,” said a delighted Mr Sichali.

Mr Sichali, who now belongs to a co-operative of fish traders in the area – one way of minimising losses through aggregation – thinks the heavy post-harvest losses that fishers incur force them to resort to destructive fishing methods and refusal to observe the fishing ban that the government has imposed to allow for breeding of fish.

And Western Province principal fisheries officer Gethings Chisule agrees with this reason saying, “The CultiAF project has come with an added advantage on our management of the fisheries sector. We are seeing an improvement on the understanding of conservation.”

With the other two technologies: the Choka-Kiun (which uses less firewood for fish smoking) and promotion of the usage of ice, which is not common, and the soon to be established ice plant by the private sector supported by the project, the fishing community in Western Zambia could be harvesting their way out of poverty.

“Some literature put post-harvest loss figures at 30 percent countrywide but Western Province could be slightly higher,” said Alex Chilala, Western Province Agricultural Co-ordinator, highlighting that the flood plain is a complicated area where fishers walk for as long as 25 kilometres to get to the harbour after harvesting their catch.

Dr Chilala, who is also the project site manager, said the interventions are meant to minimise the losses for the community, which heavily relies on fishing for livelihood.

“Most of those involved in fish processing and trading are women. And you can imagine the stress they go through walking long distances across the vast flood plain to the harbour. So the interventions are aimed at minimising the losses they incur in the process,” added Dr Chilala, who stressed that the gender dimension is a key feature in the fish value chain that the project is trying to understand and strengthen.

Working with fishing communities in the Barotse flood plain in Zambia and Lake Chilwa in Malawi, and other partners, the research team has developed pilot interventions to reduce the identified losses.

Dr Kate Longley of WorldFish believes conducting participatory research has some important advantages over other methods of technology introduction.

“The best way for people to learn about new technologies is to try them out themselves,” she said. “It’s very much a ‘learning-by-doing’ approach, where basically we give them the ideas and they put them into practice, and then adapt them according to their local context to meet their needs.”

And project leader Dr Alexander Shula Kefi, of the Department of Fisheries, concurred: “It is always important for people to discuss the weakness and strengths of the innovations amongst themselves, of course with the guidance of the researchers.”

Edith Nawakwi saddened with use of buckets at Santa Maria Mission Hospital

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Edith Nawakwi saddened with use of buckets at Santa Maria Mission Hospital
Chief Matipa with President Edith Nawakwi at his residence in Chilubi island.
Chief Matipa with President Edith Nawakwi at his residence in Chilubi island.

FDD President Edith Nawakwi is saddened with the use of buckets at Santa Maria Mission Hospital’s labour ward and the theatre in Chilubi island during labour and surgical operations respectively due to a lack of running water.

The Hospital which is located at the island and serves as the district referral for over 98,000 people of the district does not have running water forcing the medical officers to carry out operations using buckets and drums. Meanwhile the hospital’s mortuary has not been working for almost a year now owing to gas leaks.

Ms Nawakwi has since called on Government to supplement the efforts of the hospital and the Sisters who have volunteered to work in extremely difficult conditions. She said it was imperative that Government supported the mission hospital in areas of need as the church can only do so much and that the facility was the only referral hospital, serving both the island and the mainland of Chilubi District.

“We should not continue to demoralise and humiliate the spirit of volunteerism that we find in the church workers.Yes we know its a calling but let Government support them with the necessary supplementary services. Yes the Sisters have volunteered to come here and offer their sweat and time to the needy in our community but government has a sacred obligation to do its part in complementing and supplementing the Church’s efforts. It’s really sad to note that there is no water, no functional mortuary and the medicine is quite inadequate. We have been through the wards and its sad that even simple stuff such as blankets are scarce. There is no food for the patients, not even the minimum supplies of food that you expect a clinic to have and this is a referral hospital.”

Sister Brenda Chembo of Santa Maria Mission Hospital explaining the use of the drum to FDD President Edith Nawakwi during her tour of the Hospital.
Sister Brenda Chembo of Santa Maria Mission Hospital explaining the use of the drum to FDD President Edith Nawakwi during her tour of the Hospital.

Meanwhile Ms. Nawakwi has warned of stiffer punishments for defilers once voted into office in a bid to protect the girl child and ensure that girls complete their education.

She called on mothers to help one another in ensuring that the girl child is protected and that it was the responsibility of the community to ensure that girls were accorded the same opportunities as boys to complete their studies.

“As mothers we are the ones who end up with the problems of taking care of the children when a young girl is impregnated and has a child at a tender age. I was telling the mothers in Chaba that they should not be allowing young girls to have children. I was telling them that we should be looking after our young girls whether they are our own blood or not because when a young girl is defiled and impregnated the burden is for the whole community.

Next year when i become president, those who will be found wanting in terms of sleeping with young girls will be given stiffer punishments because I want girls to have the same opportunities in school as that of boys.”

Ms. Nawakwi later paid a courtesy call on His Royal Highness Chief Matipa of the Bisa people of Chilubi island were she assured his Royal Highness of full government support and cooperation when elected into office.

She told the traditional leader that her Government, unlike the current Government will not interfere in traditional affairs but would rather work hand in hand with the chiefs in the planning and implementation of developmental programs in the respective chiefdoms.

Mumbi Phiri’s Fake Defections Have Flopped – MMD East

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Mumbi Phiri’s Fake Defections Have Flopped – MMD East

Patriotic Front Deputy National Secretary,Mumbi Phiri with Members of the party doing what they know best during the rally in Luwingu
Claims by Patriotic Front (PF) Deputy General Secretary Mumbi Phiri that the PF received hundreds of UPND and MMD defectors in Eastern province are a total fabrication and typical of their lies. Ms Phiri and her team have been terribly embarrassed by the pre-emptive unearthing of her fake defection plans by the vigilant MMD mobilization team and our structures on the ground in Eastern Province.

We informed the nation recently that Ms Phiri was planning to use expelled MMD Sisinje Ward Councillor Samuel Lugomo to organize these fake defections. The PF is wasting millions of tax-payers’ money on these evil schemes which they are doing everywhere to buy poor people.

I was recently privileged to be on Party President Dr. Nevers Sekwila Mumba’s team in the Lubansenshi by-election and we were shocked to see PF no longer bothering to campaign but just dishing out money openly. A few days before the election date, the PF came with 6 brand new Nissan Navaras and in the evening lined up villagers and openly started dishing out money. This continued right up to Election Day.

What I witnessed in Lubansenshi is exactly the same thing we have seen here in Eastern Province when Ms Phiri came. She arrived in the province with huge amounts of money which her team was dishing out to compromise the suffering people. When it became clear to Lugomo that he could not lure genuine MMD members, he started to round up the innocent poverty-stricken villagers to come and pose as defectors after offering them money.

The so-called defectors included Chembe Daka, the disgraced former party official who who has been on indefinite suspension in MMD and who had urinated in the council chambers during counting of presidential election votes in January 2015.

The other is Susan Ngoma, Provincial Women’s Chairlady. Lugomo has been promised the position of PF Chipata District Chairman, by-passing the current Chairman who has been in that seat for only 3 months. If Lugomo had succeeded in bringing enough MMD members as defectors, he would have replaced the current Chairman.

This PF government has turned the people of Eastern province into beggars by destroying the only livelihood they had which is agriculture. Ms Phiri is capable of doing anything to win votes but we Easterners shall never be deceived again. She and her party PF must accept that their diabolical plans to destroy the MMD structures by using RB have backfired against them because the people of Eastern Province are not children to be cheated.

We, the wise men of the East send an alarm warning to the entire Zambia. Beware of PF. Don’t allow them to cheat us again.

Jacob Mwanza
MMD PROVINCIAL CHAIRMAN – EASTERN PROVINCE

All political parties want my signature to contest on their ticket-Shakafuswa

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All political parties want my signature to contest on their ticket-Shakafuswa

Jonas Shakafuswa
Jonas Shakafuswa

Opposition UPND member of Parliament for Katuba constituency Jonas Shakafuswa says he will not be part of a group of politicians who do not offer solutions to the governance of the country for the sake of criticizing those in leadership.

Mr. Shakafuswa said being in the opposition did not mean that he should create enemies with those in power and criticize them unreasonably, adding that modern politics required wisdom by offering solutions.

“That is the only way the people of Zambia will see a difference between those offering solutions and those aimed at politicking and it is not the way I do politics. Some of my political colleagues are doing that just criticizing, insulting and name- calling – which is not healthy for this country.

‘‘The challenges this country is experiencing need concerted efforts and it is us in the opposition to offer credible and responsible checks and balances for the people of Zambia to see the difference we can offer from those in power,” he said.

In an interview with the Daily Nation yesterday, Mr. Shakafuswa said he was not worried about various manoeuvres by people within and outside UPND to get adopted in Katuba to contest next year’s elections. Mr. Shakafuswa said people who were plotting against him should realise that all political parties in the country were after his signature to contest in next year’s general elections.

“I have to be honest with you that all political parties in Zambia want my signature ahead of next year’s general elections because my constituency goes beyond Katuba.
Mr. Shakafuswa said he would win the election next year because the people of Katuba and Zambia in general wanted him in Parliament because of his contribution to the governance of the country.

He said he was aware of some people campaigning in the constituency ahead of the party’s adoption process.

Mr. Shakafuswa claimed one of them was Patricia Mwashingwele who has been in the constituency, but it did not worry him because the area had already decided the leader they wanted next year.

“Mwashingwele has been in the area before and she understands Katuba and she has seen who people want. And that is why I am saying I will win next year. I have a strong foundation and I am strong on the ground …,” he said.

Katuba has attracted notable names such as former ambassador Cecil Holmes, who has not yet indicated which party he would love to contest on but is reported to be organizing on the ground, as well as Moses Chilando of Patriotic Front and Joseph Mushalika who contested on the NAREP ticket in the 2014 by-elections.

Mr. Shakafuswa’s candidature for the Katuba constituency on the UPND ticket in next year’s elections has come under serious scrutiny after he strongly criticized opposition cadres insulting and disrespecting President Edgar Lungu.

Zambia is the largest importer of Goods in Comesa region

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Zambia is the largest importer of Goods in Comesa region
File:Delegates at the COMESA Council of Ministers conference in Lusaka
File:Delegates at the COMESA Council of Ministers conference in Lusaka

ZAMBIA is the biggest importer in COMESA after she posted the biggest market share of 25 percent in 2013 and is likely to record a much higher figure this year, says business council chief executive officer Sandra Uwera.

Ms Uwera attributed the increase in the market share to a large number of products that Zambia imports.

She said Zambia was followed by DR Congo, Libya, Kenya and Uganda with intra-COMESA import market shares of 18.2 percent, 12.7 percent, 6.5 percent and 6.4 percent respectively.

“The level of intra-trade growth in COMESA region over the past two years clearly indicates that the private sector has begun to take advantage of the opportunities before them and grow the region to new heights,” she said.

She also said the services industry had shown notable growth over the last 20 years and accounts for 70 per cent of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Ms Uwera said the role of services and its significance was largely accelerating beyond the traditional contributors – manufacturing, agriculture and mining.

“In the COMESA region services contribute to an average of 50 percent of GDP of COMESA member states with the contribution being even higher for countries like Mauritius, Kenya, Seychelles and Egypt.

‘‘One of the key industries that drives the services sector in the region is tourism,” she said.

Meanwhile, Ms Uwera said the COMESA region achieved an average growth rate of 6.6 percent in 2013, up from 5.5 percent in 2012 and underscores again the region’s resilience to global and regional headwinds.

She said Zambia was among the countries that contributed to the regional growth together with Madagascar, Congo DR, Burundi and the Comoros.

She explained that COMESA’s trade with the rest of the world currently stands at US$283 billion in 2013 with total exports at US$113 billion in 2013 while imports were US$170 billion in the same year.

“Regarding intra-COMESA trade in 2013, total trade grew by over 8 per cent compared to 2012, from levels of US$19.3 billion to US$20.9 billion.

“Contributing to this regional growth were Swaziland, Madagascar, Congo DR, Zambia, Burundi and the Comoros,” she said.

No one should be forced to undergo an HIV test-TALC

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No one should be forced to undergo an HIV test-TALC
University Teaching Hospital
University Teaching Hospital

The Treatment Advocacy Literacy Campaign says no one should be forced to undergo an HIV test.

TALC Country Cordinator Felix Mwanza said the move by the University Teaching Hospital and other public health facilities to start diagnosing all admissions for HIV without the consent of the patients is an abuse of human rights.

Mr Mwanza said HIV diagnosis and any other clinical tests must be carried out if the full consent of the patient.

He said his organisation has always advocated for the full knowledge of testing and treatment regimes that patients living with HIV have to undergo.

“Our fear is that if not properly handled, this might lead to increased cases of stigma against people living with HIV. Our stance is that patients have to be taken on board,” Mr Mwanza said.

He said the national HIV response strategy also advocates for Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) which he said should be promoted.

It has emerged that UTH and some public clinics are implementing a new testing protocol called Diagnostic Testing and Counselling (DTC) which entails that all admissions are subjected to HIV testing.

UTH Spokesman Mwenya Mulenga explained that DTC is aimed at helping the hospital diagnose patients faster and speed up the treatment process without wasting time on unnecessary tests.

Owas premieres Secrets Untold

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Owas premieres Secrets Untold

owas

Filmmaker Owas Mwape is so optimistic about the local film industry and he is dedicating all his energies to producing films.
In June, Owas released Chenda, and only last week, he premiered Secrets Untold at Ster Kinekor in Lusaka in a red carpet affair.
“The Zambian film industry has serious potential. There is no reason why it cannot be a major contributor to the country’s GDP [gross domestic product] and a leading film industry in Africa,” says Owas, who was recently appointed country representative for African Film Consortium (AFC), a pan-African movement to foster African cinema development.
Owas, a seasoned actor, director, producer and scriptwriter, has dedicated his efforts to filmmaking since 2013.
Owas has starred in Kabanana as Chembo the lawyer from 2004 to 2008 when he developed an interest in directing his own films.
He then featured in The Lawyer, Redbag, Complicated Affairs, Justice at Stake, The Wife, Mwansa the Great, Chidongo, The ticket, A beautiful Lie, Guilt, The Minister’s House and Chenda under his production house Owas Films.
For Owas, who grew up in Ndola, he says while at secondary school, it was already clear to him that he had a love for theatre.
He wrote several well-received plays and won national awards for best actor for three years consecutively in 1990, 91 and 92 making him the only Zambian to achieve this winning streak to date.
His transition from theatre to film was inevitable.
His latest film Secrets Untold written and directed by him, with Ivory van der Boom doing screenplay, is based on the secrets of married couples that break or cement their relationship.
Other than Owas and Cassie, the film also features Catherine Soko, Wanga Zulu, James Banda, Adora Mwape, Chilala Mainza, Gift Muneka, Max Owas and Titus Sinyangwe.

(DailyMail)

In The Kitchen With Kanta: Chicken noodle stir-fry

Entertainment Editor
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In The Kitchen With Kanta: Chicken noodle stir-fry

In-The-Kitchen-With-Kanta-Logo (1)

chicken noodle stir fry.jpg 2

In my weekend reading I came across an article about a lady called Monica Musonda, who is considered ‘Africa’s noodle Queen’.    She was a lawyer who moved from Zambia to Nigeria to work. She then took a leap of faith and quit her job to start Java Foods, which aims to provide affordable nutrition to Africa.  She created eeZee Instant Noodles; which are now Zambia’s biggest-selling brand and are growing in popularity across the continent.  According to the article the noodles sell for just two kwacha.  This offers young people an affordable and convenient meal; they have a preparation time of only three minutes, and are available in beef and chicken flavours. They are enriched with nutritious protein, vitamins and minerals; and are readily available in most wholesale and retail outlets, mini marts, universities and colleges across Zambia.   Reading this article was so inspiring; I love a good story about people, females, Zambians making bold decisions, following their hearts and becoming successful.  I also love how her product caters for the Zambian population, and is affordable, yet tasty and nutritious.  The article inspired me so much that I decided to make a noodle based dish, to show you a few ways to enjoy these noodles.  Whilst they can be eaten on their own, they can also be mixed with extra veggies and protein to make them even more interesting and take the nutrition value and tastiness to another level.

So today ladies and gents I bring you “Chicken noodle stir-fry” for your weekly drool session.  Oh, and to read the inspiring article about Monica Musonda please follow this link – http://afkinsider.com/97874/zambian-lawyer-quit-her-job-and-became-africas-noodle-queen/

Preparation and cooking time: 20 minutes

Serves 4 people

Ingredients

  • 300g of eeZee noodles chicken flavour
  • 4 chicken thighs, chopped, with the skin on
  • 1 large onion, sliced
  • 3 cloves of garlic, crushed, peeled and chopped
  • 1 small-finger piece of fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
  • 1 red pepper, thinly sliced
  • 1 fresh red chilli, deseeded and chopped OR chilli flakes (optional)
  • 2 carrots, 1 head of broccoli, 1 handful of green beans OR any vegetable that you would like to mix in (optional)
  • Vegetable oil
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • Ground sea salt
  • 1-2 tablespoons low-salt soy sauce

chicken noodle stir fry.jpg 1

Method

Preparation

Peel and finely slice your garlic, ginger and onion, deseed and finely slice the chilli. Peel and thinly slice the carrots longitudinally.  Cut the broccoli into small florets.  Cut the chicken into small pieces and marinate it with salt and pepper.

Cooking

Cook the noodles according to packet instructions, then drain and refresh under cold water; drain again, toss in a little vegetable oil and put them to one side.
Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large frying pan or wok. Add your marinated chicken to the pan and stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes, or until golden. Add the garlic and ginger and cook for a further minute.  Then add the onion, carrots and broccoli (or other veggies if you are using them) and stir-fry for a further 2 minutes.  Lastly add the cooked noodles – keep frying until the noodles are warm and the chicken is cooked through.   Now stir in your soy sauce and remove the dish from the heat.

Serving

Divide your delicious chicken noodle stir fry between bowls or plates, sprinkle over your sliced chilli or chilli flakes (optional), and serve with a cool beverage of your choice.

Enjoy.
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Kanta Temba is a cake maker and decorator. She is also the owner and founder of Kanta Kakes – cake shop.

You can find her work on www.kantakakes.com.  Follow her on twitter @KantaKakes and Instagram @KantaTemba.

Baking with Kanta - IMG

 

 

 

Sugar prices in Zambia high but not excessive-CUTS

editor
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Sugar prices in Zambia high but not excessive-CUTS
A hawker peddling sticks of sugar cane along Cairo road in Lusaka
A hawker peddling sticks of sugar cane along Cairo road in Lusaka

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A new report by the Consumer Unity Trust Society shows that although domestic sugar prices are high, they are not excessive.

The report also shows that the margin made by cane farmers does not seem to be excessive and therefore, there is no reason to suppose that high shelf prices are caused by farmers.

It also pointed out that the cost of fortification Vitamin A appears to be extremely low, with one Sugar Company saying the cost of fortification to them is currently 5 Ngwee per Kg.
It charges that the cost of fortifying sugar in Zambia is not responsible for the apparent higher prices charged.

‘In addition, CUTS feels that the fortification policy – whereby all sugar sold for household use in Zambia must be fortified with Vitamin A– is a barrier to investment and investors have been unable to infiltrate the market, as entrants in the market may need to invest in fortification equipment. However if the fortification policy is removed, this could put Zambian jobs at risk, as it would allow for easier imports,’ it said.

The CUTS study was however was unable to identify refining costs although comparisons between Zambia Sugar and Kasama Sugar support the possibility that the former charges up to K 1 more per 1 Kg bag of unrefined household sugar than it might if competition in the sector was stronger.

It noted that the pricing of sugar varies and there is some level of price competition among players.

It showed that Kasama prices its sugar around K 5.50 while a 1 kg Zambia Sugar is pegged at K 6.80 per 1 kg.

‘Prices are actually negotiated between the sugar producing companies and suppliers/wholesalers and the level of bargaining power and quantities being bought has a huge influence on the prices. The larger buyers use bulk purchases and their retail clout to push prices down,’ it said.

It stated that average transport costs around the country from Mazabuka may be in the range of 30 Ngwee per KG.

‘This may contribute to greater prices than in other regional countries with lower transport costs (not including transporters’ margins) but it cannot be the cause of all of the difference,’ it said.

‘Over 95% of the costs of production for sugar producers are locally sourced and the devaluation of the Kwacha, we assume, should cushion the pressure against exports that Zambia Sugar, being the only exporter, feels with the drop of the world sugar prices on the export market.’

The report also said that Zambia is a low cost producer and there is no reason why sugar prices should be similar (in US$ terms) to a country like Botswana that imports Sugar adding that on-farm sugar productivity is high in Zambia.

CUTS also suggested that Zambia should facilitate investment in the sugar sector, as this would bring jobs to Zambia.

‘During this study CUTS learned through interviews with a sugar producer that there is actually a fourth sugar producer which is a recent entrant in the market but is yet to start production,’ it said.

‘Certainly if the Government wanted to adopt a market-orientated approach (rather than an interventionist one) to reducing sugar prices, encouraging or facilitating this kind of investment could be recommended.’

It also suggested that Government should open the market to imports by dropping the vitamin A fortification requirement but that this has to be driven through a quota system.

It also called on Government to facilitate investment in domestic sugar production.

PF Demands Probe into Dandy Crazy’s Mazabuka Attack

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PF Demands Probe into Dandy Crazy’s Mazabuka Attack
Sunday Chanda
Sunday Chanda

PF DEMANDS A FULL REPORT AND ACTION ON THE MAZABUKA VIOLENT ATTACKS AGAINST DANDY CRAZY AKA WESLEY CHIBAMBO’S LIFE AT NATASHA NITE CLUB, MAZABUKA, BY UPND CADRES– SUNDAY CHANDA, VICE CHAIRPERSON, PF MEDIA AND PUBLICITY COMMITTEE

Lusaka, Zambia, 16th November 2015 – Patriotic Front (PF) is demanding an explanation from the Inspector General of Police Madam Stella Libongani through her Southern Province Police Command regarding the circumstances that led to Zambian Singer Dandy Crazy aka Wesley Chibambo being attacked in the full view of Police Officers at Natasha Nite Club in Mazabuka where he was scheduled to perform. The attack in full view of the Police was orchestrated by well-known United Party for National Development (UPND) cadres clad in their Political party regalia.

Among the sharp objects used was a knife that missed Dandy’s body after he dodged it and ended up tearing his vest. This is a clear attempt on human life and the intention is clear for all to see. We also do not need to present the Zambia Police a rocket scientist to prove that Dandy Crazy was attacked by UPND cadres in full view of the Police because of his political affiliation.

A fortnight ago, another artist Macky II aka Mulaza Kaira was almost attacked under similar circumstances in Mazabuka. As PF, we shall not sit back and watch our members and sympathisers being attacked in full view of the Police and pretend that it is business as usual. We demand that justice must not just be done, it must be seen to be done in these matters.

Further, we wish to warn of the repercussions of these violent attacks because an eye for an eye makes the world go blind. Even under very provocative circumstances, the PF on the Copperbelt Province have never attacked artists such as Pilato.

This is because we as PF are civilized enough to understand Pilato’s entitlement to express himself even under undesired and highly provocative circumstances. No single member of PF has ever and will ever attempt to attack any artist opposed to the PF and its leadership.

On this score, we are calling on the UPND leader Mr. Hakainde Hichilema to condemn these violent attacks and appeal to his support base in Southern Province to restrain themselves by abandoning the Mapatizya violent formula.

The deafening silence by the UPND leadership on a matter that occurred in Mazabuka with their full knowledge is totally unacceptable and must be condemned with the deserved contempt.

In conclusion, PF assures the nation that it shall adhere to His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu’s directive for non-violence, unity and peace-building as we interface political opponents. President Lungu has guided the Party membership across the country that democracy is about divergent views and freedoms of expression and this diversity must ever be used to hurt or harm one another. We demand the same from other political players in the country. President Lungu personifies the motto “E pluribus unum” which is translated as “Out of many, One”.

Issued By: Sunday Chanda, Vice Chairperson, PF Media and Publicity Committee

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