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President Edgar Lungu addressing a Public Rally in Serenje on Tuesday after he toured Zambia Police Housing Project in Serenje, Serenje District Hospital, Newly Constructed Roads and New Police Headqaurters and Staff houses in the District. The President is on tour of three Districts of Central Province, Luano , Mkushi and Serenje Inspecting developmental Projects..PICTURE BY EDDIE MWANALEZA/STATEHOUSE..
PRESIDENT Lungu says Government could be forced to intervene to make mealie-meal affordable in regions where people are being exploited.
President Lungu is disappointed by the high cost of mealie-meal in Mkushi despite it being a high maize producing area.
“I want to know why here in Mkushi the price of mealie-meal is so high,” President Lungu said during a public rally at Mkushi grounds yesterday.
He said the high prices of mealie-meal in Mkushi amount to economic sabotage and that his Government will be forced to intervene so that people can access affordable mealie-meal.
“If I intervene those who are talking about the free market should not complain because they have started this. We are doing our best and our best is to be close to the people and ensure that they access basic food cheaply, and basic food is mealie-meal,” Mr Lunga said to a cheering gathering.
And at a meeting with teachers the President said business houses must reduce prices of goods in view of the Kwacha rebounding.
He urged technocrats and PF members to help explain the prevailing economic fundamentals to the people in the wake of the recovering Kwacha.
Mr Lungu said it is unfortunate that some sections of society that were very critical have kept quiet about the appreciation of the local currency.
Meanwhile, President Lungu has asked Minister of Local Government and Housing Stephen Kampyongo and the Road Development Agency (RDA) to investigate what has caused the delay in constructing township roads in Mkushi.
Mr Lungu said people are looking forward to having better roads but Keren Motors Limited has delayed the project and in two years the contractor has only tarred three kilometres out of 20.2 kilometres.
And speaking to journalists before his return to Lusaka, President Lungu said Government will consider ways of effectively engaging the Zambia National Service (ZNS) to help boost the agriculture sector as the mainstay of the economy.
He said there is need to engage ZNS in the drive as serious large-scale farming is demanding, requiring concerted efforts.
“We are going to sit in the defence council meeting and see what we can do. They (ZNS) will have to do the roads, open up some areas, clear land to facilitate the installation of electricity in certain areas. Serious large-scale farming requires electricity, and that is why we also want to explore solar energy,” he said.
President Lungu also urged government leaders to visit their constituencies and inspect developmental projects under construction.
He said MPs should “take a leaf” from him and visit construction works.
Mr Lungu said failure to do so has resulted in some contractors doing shoddy works and swindling Government out of colossal sums of money.
The Football Association of Zambia’s long-held resistance to an autonomous Super Division will see the top-flight miss out on joining a global elite top-flight forum.
While FAZ clings on to the cash cow that is the Super Division for its preliminary revenue base and a measure of welding power, the South African, Kenyan and Nigerian Soccer League have been invited to become Africa’s founding members of the World Association of Leagues (WAL) following a meeting in Paris on December 1.
The 20-team forum includes the English, French and Spanish top flights who intend to work alongside beleaguered FIFA.
“Africans cannot afford to simply sit back but play a significant role in world football. We are all happy with the steps taken and the doors this gathering will open for football on the continent,”Kenya Premier League chief executive officer, Jack Oguda told the BBC.
Mbala district in Northern Province has run out of HIV/AIDS test kits and free supplied condoms.
Mbala General Hospital Medical Superintendent Ernest Mutale disclosed this during the commemoration of World AIDS Day at Senga Hill yesterday.
Dr. Mutale said the district has had not test kits for two months and was only assisted with 200 by Kasama General Hospital to test people during this year’s World AIDS Day.
Mbala District HIV/AIDS Coordination Advisor Solomon Kaluba also confirmed the shortage yesterday with ZANIS in an interview.
Mr. Kaluba said the situation is very worrying as most people cannot manage to buy condoms from the private shops.
Both Dr. Mutale and Mr. Kaluba have since appealed to the Medical Stores Limited and other partners to immediately supply the test kits and condoms.
And Traditional leaders have been urged to step up efforts of championing zero sexual cleansing practices particularly in rural areas to help promote an HIV/AIDS free generation.
Choma District Sheena Muleya said sexual cleansing was a silent factor augmenting the burden of HIV/AIDS hence the need for chiefs to enforce measures of zero sexual cleansing.
Ms Muleya said, thousands of people in Choma were on Antiretroviral (ART) treatment, which was a four-fold increase since the start of ART in the district.
“To our traditional leaders, please make sure we have zero sexual cleansing in the rural areas so that we have an HIV/AIDS free generation,” she said.
Ms Muleya said this in a speech read for her by district administrative officer Vincent Sikanyeela on Tuesday at the commemoration of World AIDS day at Airport Community School.
This year’s commemoration was held under the theme ‘Getting to zero new infections, zero deaths, zero stigma and discrimination’.
Ms Muleya also urged religious leaders to help teach children about sexual and reproductive health in youth meetings to keep communities abreast of HIV/AIDS.
HIV/AIDS was a sexual reproductive health issue and that life skills have been included in the new education curriculum and taught to learners from the gage of eight.
“This way, children will be able to get correct information consistently at the appropriate age as they grow into adulthood,” she said.
She said Government was making positive strides to ensure more people living with HIV/AIDS have full access to essential care and treatments.
District medical office representative, Naomi Tembo said Choma, was recording a scale up in interventions of reducing HIV/AIDS cases.
She said health promotion, HIV/AIDS counseling and testing, condom usage, were among key factors in preventing the spread of the diseases.
FILE: President Edgar Lungu comforting Mike Banda (L) one of the relative deceased Fades Banda the President who is accompany with his Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda (r), State House Deputy Minister Mulenga Sata (2nr), DMMU Coordinator Patrick Kangwa (3rd r) and PF Lusaka Central Member of Parliament Guy Scot during the tour of the affected Houses in Baulini
President Edgar Lungu has retained former PF and republican Vice President Guy Scott to the 56 member new look PF Central Committee.
President Lungu has however retained Dr. Scott who was stripped of the PF vice Presidency at the height of the party succession dispute early this year as an ordinary Central Committee member.
President Lungu has also retained Inonge Wina and Davies Chama as PF vice president and Secretary General respectively.
Notable among those that form part of the new look PF Central Committee is former UPND vice president Richard Kapita who has been appointed chairperson for tourism, arts and culture and Nchanga MP Wilbur Simuusa who has returned as an ordinary MCC.
President Lungu says he expects the new appointees and old members of the Central Committee will rise to the challenge, articulate the party manifesto and prepare the PF for the 2016 general election.
He has further directed all PF Members of Parliament to get back to their respective constituencies as often as possible and to all party grassroots to mobilize people to register as voters, articulate the PF manifesto and explain the ongoing developmental programmes to the nation at large.
Energy regulation Board has allowed Zesco to adjust upwards the electricity tariffs from the average of 37 ngwee to K1.13 ngwee per kilowatt effective midnight Wednesday.
The board says the electricity tariffs are according to the cost of supply for each specific customer category which range from the residential, services, commercial and maximum customers.
The board has further disclosed that the fixed monthly charge for residential customers remains unchanged at 18.23 kwacha.
The proposed tariff adjustment is also expected to generate revenue that will facilitate investment of 3.7 billion USD in generation projects by adding capacity of 1500 mega watts to the national grid.
The board has also directed ZESCO to reduce allocation of subsidized electricity to ZESCO staff from 2000 kilowatts –hours 300 kilowatts –hours per month.
ZESCO recently applied to ERB to have the electricity tariffs adjusted upwards due to the economic environment that has worsened by the drastic hydro power generation capacity as a result of low water levels.
Below is the full ERB Statement
Press Statement
STATEMENT ON ELECTRICITY TARIFF ADJUSTMENTS
1. INTRODUCTION
On 24th August, 2015 ZESCO made an application to the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) for a tariff adjustment in conformity with the Electricity Act – Section 8(2), Chapter 433 of the Laws of Zambia. The application was to increase electricity tariffs for its various customers.
This tariff application has been made in a challenging economic environment. The situation has been worsened by drastic reduction in hydro power generation capacity as a result of low water levels. This has caused a severe energy deficit necessitating the importation of emergency power at a huge cost to Government. This is so because ZESCO by itself cannot afford to meet the high cost of imported emergency power on account of low electricity tariffs.
The other factors that have necessitated the tariff adjustment include the following:
New investment
The proposed tariff adjustment is expected to generate revenue that will facilitate investment of US$3.7billion in generation projects thereby adding capacity of 1,500 Mega Watts to the national grid.
Low tariffs
ZESCO has signed Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with Independent Power Producers (IPPs) at tariffs higher than existing average tariffs. With such a situation, ZESCO could default on the monthly payments to the IPP, if tariffs were not adjusted. The current average tariff ZESCO is paying to purchase power from IPPs ranges from 7 to 13.23 US cents per kilowatt hour and yet current average tariff is 6 US cents per kilowatt hour.
Macroeconomic factors
Energy supply costs and revenues are affected by changes in macroeconomic factors such as inflation, exchange rate, interest rates and the operating environment. In the recent past, the country has seen marked deterioration in these factors which has resulted in escalating operational costs for ZESCO without corresponding increase in tariffs.
2. NEW APPROVED TARIFFS
In view of the foregoing, tariffs for residential, social services, commercial and maximum demand customers have been adjusted upwards by various margins according to the cost of supply for each specific customer category. The detailed outlook of the new tariffs in absolute terms is as follows:
A. METERED RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS
There has been a change to the residential tariff structure where the life-line consumption band has been revised however; the tariff remains unchanged at 15 ngwee per kilowatt-hour. The life-line consumption band has been revised upwards to 0 to 300 kilowatt-hours per month from the current 0 to 100 kilowatt-hours to enable low income households have access to electricity. Below is a regional comparison of regional lifeline consumption bands which shows that the Zambian low income household is relatively in a better off position:
Table 1: life line consumption bands in selected African countries
No.
Country
Life line Consumption Band
Ghana
0 to 50kWh per month
Kenya
0 to 50kWh per month
Mozambique
0 to 100kWh per month
South Africa
0 to 50kWh per month
Tanzania
0 to 50kWh per month
Zimbabwe
0 to 50kWh per month
Malawi
Not applicable
Uganda
0 to 15 kWh per month
Lesotho
Not applicable
Additionally, the fixed monthly charge for residential customers also remains unchanged at K18.23. The tariff measures on residential customers will enable the underprivileged to benefit without over compensating those who are able to afford the power. The tariff reviews for residential metered customers are as follows:
Table 2: Metered Residential Tariffs
CATEGORY
Current tariffs
Approved new Tariffs effective 2015
(K)
Absolute Change
(K)
(K)
METERED RESIDENTIAL (Prepaid) (capacity 15 kVA)
R1 – Consumption band up to 300kWh per month.
Energy charge/kWh
0.15
0.15
0.00
R2 – Consumption above 301kWh per month
Energy charge/kWh
0.51
1.54
1.03
Fixed Monthly Charge
18.23
18.23
0.00
COMMERCIAL TARIFFS
Table 3: Commercial Tariffs
CATEGORY
Current tariffs
Approved new Tariffs effective 2015
(K)
Absolute Change
(K)
(K)
2.COMMERCIAL TARIFFS (capacity 15kVA)
Commercial
Energy charge/kWh
0.31
0.88
0.57
Fixed Monthly Charge
55.09
156.47
101.38
SOCIAL SERVICES
Table 4: Social Services Tariffs
CATEGORY
Current tariffs
Approved new Tariffs effective 2015
(K)
Absolute Change
(K)
(K)
3. SOCIAL SERVICES
Schools, Hospital, Orphanages, churches, water pumping & street lighting
Energy charge K/kWh
0.28
0.81
0.53
Fixed Monthly Charge
47.91
139.41
91.5
MAXIMUM DEMAND CUSTOMERS
Table 5: Maximum Demand Customer Tariffs
CATEGORY
Current tariffs
Approved new Tariffs effective 2015
(K)
Absolute Change
(K)
(K)
4. MAXIMUM DEMAND TARIFFS
MD1 – Capacity between 16 – 300 kVA
MD charge/kVA/Month
13.97
48.05
34.08
Energy charge /kWh
0.20
0.70
0.50
Fixed Monthly Charge
136.82
470.65
333.83
Off-peak MD charge//kVA/Month
6.98
24.03
17.05
Off-peak energy charge/kWh
0.15
0.52
0.37
Peak MD charge//kVA/Month
17.46
60.06
42.60
Peak Energy Charge/kWh
0.25
0.87
0.62
MD2 – Capacity 301 to 2,000 kVA
MD charge/kVA/Month
26.13
89.90
63.77
Energy charge /kWh
0.17
0.58
0.41
Fixed Monthly Charge
273.62
941.25
667.63
Off-peak MD charge//kVA/Month
13.07
44.95
31.88
Off-peak energy charge/kWh
0.13
0.43
0.30
Peak MD charge//kVA/Month
32.67
112.37
79.70
Peak Energy Charge/kWh
0.21
0.72
0.51
3. IMPACT ANALYSIS
In terms of impact on household expenditure consumers will experience marginal changes. For example, for households consuming 100 kilowatt-hours per month, their monthly expenditure will not increase but remain unchanged. Meanwhile, for households consuming 300 kilowatt-hours per month which is the consumption level for most low income households, their monthly expenditure will decrease by K38.23. Further, for households consuming 500 kilowatt-hours per month, their monthly expenditure will increase by K231.79.
Furthermore, it is understood that the new tariff will be a challenge to small businesses and commercial clients; however it is unavoidable if we are to continue having power. Industries will therefore be expected to put in place effective energy management measures including power factor correction measures.
In an effort to provide for equity in carrying the tariff burden, the Government is in the process of engaging the maximum demand customers so as to ensure that all consumers of electricity pay revised tariffs.
The much needed investment in the power sector has been lacking due to low tariffs, and Zambia at current average tariff of 6.02 US cents per kilowatt-hour ranks among the countries with the lowest tariffs in the region. This is in comparison with countries like Tanzania, Swaziland and Zimbabwe whose tariffs are at 16.8 US cents; 10.9 US cents; and 9.8 US cents per kilowatt-hour respectively.
With the new increment Zambia’s tariff will average 10.35 US cents per kilowatt-hour, which will be close to the regional average of 10 US cents per kilowatt-hour. At this tariff, Zambia will become competitive and will attract the much needed investment in electricity sub sector.
4. REGULATORY DECISIONS
The following regulatory decisions have been made with regard to ZESCO’s application to adjust electricity tariffs in 2015.
a) The electricity tariffs for residential, services, commercial and maximum demand customers have been adjusted upwards by various margins according to the cost of supply for each specific customer category. Tariffs for the various customer categories have been increased from an average of 37 ngwee to K1.13 per kilowatt-hour, that is, 6 US cents to 10.35 US cents per kilowatt-hour;
b) The tariff structure for residential customers has been altered to include a life-line consumption band (R1) of up to 300 kilowatt-hours per month. For this consumption band, the tariff will remain at 15 ngwee per kilowatt-hour;
c) Additionally, the fixed monthly charge for residential customers remains unchanged at K18.23;
d) During the Public hearings, concerns were repeatedly raised about the allocation of subsidised electricity units to ZESCO staff. While recognising that the staff tariff is a condition of service, the current challenging environment calls for all stakeholders including ZESCO to sacrifice. In this regard ZESCO is hereby directed with immediate effect to reduce this allocation to its staff from the current 2,000 kilowatt-hours to 300 kilowatt-hours per month;
e) ZESCO must immediately start implementing demand side management measures which include, among other things, the following: Power Factor Surcharge; migration of all customer meters to Time of Use (ToU); implement the use of energy saving bulbs; and install ripple control system for electric geysers;
f) ZESCO is further directed to start a programme of tariff differentiation for the poor starting with the rural consumers;
g) ZESCO is also directed to devise sustainable strategies and systems that are aimed at improving service delivery and enhancing operational efficiency including reducing its staff costs as a proportion of total operating and maintenance costs. Along this line, ZESCO is directed to strictly adhere to the performance benchmarks which have been agreed upon with the Energy Regulation Board;
h) ERB has established an Electricity Strategic Fund (ESF) which is meant to generate sustainable funding for the electricity sub-sector. The ESF, will among other things, provide for infrastructure development and also facilitate emergency power imports. ZESCO is hereby directed, to immediately start remitting one per cent (1%) of the additional revenue to be realised from this tariff adjustment into the fund; and
i) The proposed tariffs and allied directives are effective midnight tonight (Midnight of 2nd December 2015).
This yesterday President of the UPND Mr. Hakainde Hichilema addressed thousands of government officials and investors from across the globe as he spoke at the Global Investment In Africa Summit in London. Speaking alongside the President of Namibia H.E. Hage Geingob, UK Minister of Foreign Affairs Phillip Hammond and Ministers from the governments of Rwanda and Uganda, speakers at the Summit include President John Dramani Mahama (Ghana), President Peter Muthurika (Malawi), and President Thomas Boni Yayi (Benin).
Addressing the audience on the transformative potential of private equity Mr. Hichilema drew on his experience as a self-made businessman and entrepreneur; as well as his ideas about how governments can make changes to facilitate increased investment in areas that will help them to deliver on ambitious growth and development agendas.
Mr. Hichilema noted that while investor interest and appetite in African countries has continued to grow, many countries have failed to capitalise on this fully. In Zambia, for example, he noted that a heavy focus on the mining sector and continual fiddling with the regulation has not only resulted in damaging government’s relationship with companies, but has also seen other sectors neglected where investors are actively looking for opportunities, such as in tourism, agriculture, retail, finance and telecommunications.
These are sectors, Mr Hichilema stressed, which would have the added benefit of creating jobs and driving economic diversification, which is essential to stability and reducing the vulnerability of the currency to changes in the price of any one commodity. Value-addition industries were another priority area identified by Mr Hichilema.
He noted that when Zambia grows its value-addition industries not only will more jobs be created, but also workers can expect to see the value of their wages rise as prices fall due to reduced reliance on imports. We see value addition primary in agriculture. He stressed that selling raw agriculture produce has not helped the farmers that produce the crops. He also said tourism is an enabler that would create many jobs. He said Zambia’s tourism potential has been haphazardly marketed and as a result the country has not properly benefitted from it.
To increase investment flows Mr Hichilema advocated reductions in red tape and the streamlining of unnecessary bureaucratic processes, which are costly and confusing for both local and international businesses. He also spoke about the importance of governments recognising the full extent and transformative potential of opportunities within its own borders.
When a government can identify these opportunities and communicate them to those with the capital then the need for government to build up heavy debts both at home and abroad will be removed, Mr. Hichilema explained. He cautioned about the need for transparency, however, so that the benefit to each party was clear to see and no party was benefitting through corrupt means.
In summing up Mr. Hichilema said for him and the UPND discussions such as these are essential as economic growth is the only sustainable way of reducing poverty and ensuring that enough jobs are created for every citizen to be able to make a decent living. This, he said, would be done with the private sector as the major driver of economic growth.
Petauke MP Dora Siliya
Energy Minister Dora Siliya says there is need for Zambian households to start thinking of migrating from charcoal to using coal as a domestic source of energy. Ms Siliya is particularly concerned that the country may start receiving reduced amount of rainfall should citizens continue to cut down trees for making charcoal.
The Minister was speaking shortly after inspecting the thermo power plant being built by Maamba Collieries Limited in Sinazongwe District. Ms Siliya is of the view that if the country substitutes charcoal for coal, the distribution of the commodity would create more jobs.
She is also concerned that coal is being stock piled instead of using it as a domestic source of energy. Zambian households mostly use electricity and charcoal to cook their meals.
Meanwhile, Ms Siliya says government is happy with the compensation given to families that were displayed to pave way for the construction of the thermo power plant in Sinazongwe District.
Ms Siliya is pleased that Maamba Collieries Limited, which is building the thermo power plant has compensated families through building houses and giving them cash. She explained that Government does not want to stop development but at the same time does not want displaced families to be left in the cold.
The Minister was speaking when she visited the newly built residential complex for displaced families. Ms Siliya recalled that the country has a history with the construction of Kariba dam where displaced families were not taken care of.
The Minister stressed that Government does not want the Kariba dam incident to re occur. Sixty-two families have been resettled after they were displaced by the coal mine.
Wynter Kabimba
Rainbow Party leader Wynter Kabimba says not even sending PF cadres to attack him will stop the tide of change against the PF.
He says it is clear that the tide of change is on against the ruling Patriotic Front.
Mr Kabimba has told QFM News in an interview that it is also clear that the ruling party has lost ground.
He says the PF has continued lying to the Zambian people and do not want anyone to tell the people the truth.
Mr. Kabimba adds that the Patriotic Front under the leadership of President Edgar Lungu has succeeded in destroying the good things late President Michael Sata built.
And Mr Kabimba says it is illogical for Patriotic Front Secretary General Davies Chama to insinuate that he hired the youths who attacked him masquerading as PF cadres.
Mr. Kabimba says it is unfortunate that Mr. Chama who was not even in eastern province at the time could deny that the youths who attacked him while appearing on a radio program on Breeze FM were not PF members.
He says not even a patient from Chainama mental Hospital can refute the fact that PF members were the ones that attacked.
Mr. Kabimba has since challenged Patriotic Front members in eastern Province to come out in open and tell the nation the truth and shame Mr. Chama.
Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan say they will give away 99% of their shares in the company to good causes as they announce the birth of their daughter Max.
He said they are donating their fortune to the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative because they want to make the world a better place for Max to grow up in.
The donation amounts to $45bn (£30bn) at Facebook’s current value.
However the shares will not be donated to charity immediately, but over the course of the couple’s lives.
Max was born last week, although her birth was only made public public on Tuesday.
In his letter Mr Zuckerberg said the aim of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative is “to advance human potential and promote equality for all children in the next generation”.
Its initial areas of focus will be personalised learning, curing disease, connecting people and building strong communities.
“Your mother and I don’t yet have the words to describe the hope you give us for the future,” Mr Zuckerberg said at the start of his letter to Max.
“You’ve already given us a reason to reflect on the world we hope you live in,” it added.
Billionaire investor Warren Buffet congratulated Zuckerberg and Chan, proclaiming that when it comes to giving away your fortune, “30 is the new 70”.
No longer should billionaires wait to die before handing over money to a different generation, Buffet said, in a gushing approval of Silicon Valley’s newest and most influential power couple.
Everything Mark Zuckerberg does is eyed with intense scrutiny, not least due to the nature of Facebook’s business of making money from personal data.
But while the 31-year-old’s previous charitable efforts have been criticised for being too focused on building Facebook’s user base, this latest pledge appears to leave the Facebook business to one side.
It’s a continuation of what we’ve seen developing over the past six months, where Zuckerberg appears at ease hosting heads of state as he does in the company of his own development team.
The days of Mark Zuckerberg being seen as a nerdy, awkward tech dork are well behind us.
His ambition now is clearly to be a significant figure on the global political stage.
The letter highlighted the important role of technology in achieving the couple’s goals of advancing human potential and equality.
“Many of the greatest opportunities for your generation will come from giving everyone access to the internet,” Mr Zuckerberg wrote to his daughter.
He said more details about the donation will be released once he and Ms Chan return from paternity and maternity leave.
Mr Zuckerberg, who Forbes estimate is worth some $46.8bn, said he will remain chief executive of Facebook for “many, many years to come”.
In a filing to the US Securities and Exchange Commision, Facebook said that Mr Zuckerberg “plans to sell or gift no more than $1bn of Facebook stock each year for the next three years and that he intends to retain his majority voting position…for the foreseeable future.”
Opposition Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) President Edith Nawakwi has charged that it is not worthy commenting on president Edgar Lungu’s commissioning of the 750 megawatts kafue gorge lower hydro power plant.
When contacted for a comment by Pan African Radio staffer Hermit Hachilonde, the agitated Ms. Nawakwi pleaded with the reporter not to interview her on meaningless projects.
She said it is a sheer waste of time to be commenting on the haphazard projects being launched by president Lungu and the PF government.
The opposition leader further advised Mr. Hachilonde to be seeking newsworthy comments from her which she claims are abundant.
“am saying come to me for better news, so don’t come for me for Edgar Lungu’s “chipante-pante” stories. “waumfwa” you have a lot time to come and get important news. The man is dreaming every time! He went to Kasama and said the mealie-meal is now k45, so I do not want to comment on things I cannot see, I was there I just arrived yesterday, ok, thank you! Edith Nawakwi said”
On 28th November, 2015 president Lungu launched a 750Mw power generation plant worth US2m in Kafue to cushion the current power deficit the nation is grappling with.
By the virtue of being former energy minister under Chiluba administration, Ms. Nawakwi has come under severe criticism by some sections of society for not having done enough while she was in charge.
Therefore, Pan African radio deemed it necessary to seek a comment from the FDD leader.
Coach Fighton Simukonda says the Zambia Under-23 squad is disappointed with its elimination from the ongoing 2015 CAF Cup in Senegal.
Zambia’s dream of qualifying for the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil is over after losing their second consecutive match at the CAF Under-23 Cup in Senegal.
The Junior Chipolopolo on Tuesday evening lost 3-2 to South Africa to exit the CAF Championship where top three teams will qualify for the Rio Olympic Games.
In a post-match interview, Simukonda told journalists that Zambia wanted to at least reach the semi-finals of the CAF Under-23 Cup.
“Everybody is disappointed in our team,” he said.
“First half we played so well and we thought we were going to finish them in the second half.
We slept in the second half and gave South Africa room to play,” he said.
Zambia launched the campaign with a 2-1 loss to Tunisia on Saturday prior to losing to South Africa.
” We came here to reach the top four but luck was not with us,” Simukonda added.
Zambia is now scheduled to conclude their Senegal outing with a formality matcg against the host nation.
Senegal are already in the semi-finals after beating South Africa and Tunisia in their opening Group A games.
“Of course we have to win the last match but we are not taking things lightly,” Simukonda said.
President Edgar Lungu addressing a Public Rally in Serenje on Tuesday after he toured Zambia Police Housing Project in Serenje, Serenje District Hospital, Newly Constructed Roads and New Police Headquarters and Staff houses in the District. The President is on tour of three Districts of Central Province, Luano , Mkushi and Serenje Inspecting developmental Projects..PICTURE BY EDDIE MWANALEZA/STATEHOUSE..
President Edgar Lungu has reiterated his call for peacefulness and accommodativeness among members of the Patriotic Front (PF).
President Lungu said for the party to grow even bigger, its old members should accommodate the people that are just joining the PF.
He said the party for which he is a leader, was not violent and tribal but an organisation which is issue-based and accommodative in its operations.
The President reminded Zambians that violence has cost lives in other countries hence the need for people to always observe peace and love one another.
Mr Lungu was speaking in Serenje yesterday when he addressed a public rally at Kenneth Kaunda square grounds.
Mr. Lungu has meanwhile advised those joining the PF to be ready to follow its ideologies.
And President Lungu has said the PF administration has worked to fulfil its 2011 pre-election campaign promises in the country.
He said his administration was constructing roads, schools, health institutions and other infrastructure countrywide.
The President also urged youths to take advantage of the extended voters’ registration exercise to acquire voters’ cards.
He said for the PF administration to continue with the on-going development activities, Zambians should re-elect him in next year’s general elections.
And PF deputy secretary general Mumbi Phiri has urged the people of Serenje to scrutinise political leaders aspiring for election as president of Zambia.
Earlier, Mr. Lungu inspected police houses and the new police station being constructed in Serenje district.
The President will today wind up his three days tour of Central province. Since Monday this week, Mr. Lungu has visited Luano, Chitambo, Serenje and Mkushi districts in the province.
President Edgar Lungu on Tuesday toured Zambia Police Housing Project in Serenje, Serenje District Hospital, Newly Constructed Roads and New Police Headqaurters and Staff houses in the District. The President is on tour of three Districts of Central Province, Luano , Mkushi and Serenje Inspecting developmental Projects..PICTURE BY EDDIE MWANALEZA/STATEHOUSE..President Lungu at Serenje Police Housing ProjectChief Chikupili of Luano
The Daily Nation reports that former first lady Christine Kaseba has not yet taken occupation of the house that Government found for her after leaving 8 Reedbuck Lodge in June this year.
The Government secured the residence occupied by the former World Bank country representative in Woodlands along Mutende Road.
The house has however remained vacant for many months, a situation which may raise serious audit queries as the Government is paying for a vacant house.
The house was identified some months ago and the information was communicated to the former first family.
“To date, the house still stands vacant and it is not clear if the former first lady will move in although some of the children have indicated an interest to move,” the source said.
Asked to comment, permanent secretary for administration at Cabinet Office Margaret Miyoba confirmed that Dr. Kaseba had not moved into the house but asked that the matter should not be publicized because it was only going to antagonize the former first lady and her family.
Mrs. Miyoba said it was not correct to discuss the accommodation of Dr. Kaseba in the press, claiming that the story was not only going to injure her family but also the late president.
She said Dr. Kaseba as a former first lady was a respectable citizen who should not be seen to be antagonising Government and the story should therefore not be pursued.
“We do not deal with matters of our leaders in the press and Dr. Kaseba as the former first lady is a senior citizen who deserves our respect. If we start writing about her in the press, she will be seen to be antagonizing Government.
“Imagine if Mr. Sata was alive, how he would feel to see his wife in the press with negative stories. So, sir, please leave the former first lady out of the press because it will not auger well.
“I will be the first one to call you after she has moved to the house but for now please leave her out of this,” Mrs. Miyoba said.
Earlier this year it was reported that Dr. Kaseba had been evicted from 8 Reedbuck Lodge because Government had failed to pay rentals, an assertion that Government disputed.
The story of the eviction, which appeared in a named newspaper, has now been photocopied and is being distributed in Kasama by a named opposition political party, to show that Government did not care about the welfare of the former first lady and her family.
It has been revealed that the said story was being distributed in Kasama in a bid to make the people in the area revolt against President Lungu and his Government.
The reconfiguration of Cabinet; An affront to the Supreme Law of Land
During the month of October 2015, the President of the Republic of Zambia made an announcement inviting deputy ministers and provincial deputy Ministers to attend cabinet meetings depicting that Cabinet had been reconfigured thus suggesting a shift in practice and policy in so far as it related to the manner in which Cabinet meetings are conducted vis –a vis its composition, who should attend as well as participate in the deliberations during Cabinet meetings. It is trite that the Constitution of Zambia prescribes the composition of Cabinet as an executive branch of government therefore an assessment of the constitutionality of the President’s decision is warranted.
Interestingly, whilst drafting the journal article on the subject matter at hand the author came across a newspaper article, reporting observations made by Professor Muna Ndulo ,in the Sunday Post Newspaper dated 25th October 2015 entitled ‘Allowing Deputy Ministers to attend cabinet meetings is ill-advised.’ The author is of the view that Professor Ndulo’s observations are legally sound and agrees with him on the law for the reasons given in this Article.
First and foremost we must be reminded of two critical issues.
Firstly at his inauguration, the President swore on oath to uphold and protect the Constitution as the supreme law of the land.
Secondly, that Cabinet is a creature of the Constitution and its existence is drawn from this constitutional source and thus the question is whether the “bloated and re-designed Cabinet” actually exists notwithstanding the fact that Article 49 clearly spells out the constitutional office holders who make up the composition of this executive body.
It must be appreciated that the existence and recognition of a Constitution in Zambia presupposes constitutional governance at all levels of government including the Presidency because any power exercised or decisions made by the three arms of government and all government agencies are subject to the supremacy of the Constitution which is the supreme law of the land from which all constitutional office holders including the Presidency draw their powers.
Therefore the office holders under these arms of government or government agencies including the Presidency are expected to act within the law so as to prevent inconsistency, injustice, unpredictability, subjectivity, illegality, arbitrariness and rule by individual preferences which are all contrary to the doctrine of constitutionalism. This calls for the respect of constitutionalism and the rule of law both in theory and in practice and its sustainability thereof, which is centred on the knowledge, accessibility and applicability of laws invoked by governors which should be for the benefit of all Zambians and not just the privileged few.
What the Constitution says
Article 50 of the Constitution stipulates that the functions of Cabinet are to formulate government policies and to advise the President on policy issues or such other matters as the President may refer to Cabinet. There is no legislative or regulatory space that has been provided to expand on the day to day operations of Cabinet but nevertheless it has its operations spelt out under the Cabinet Handbook which is merely an administrative guide.
Clause (1) of Article 49 provides for the composition of Cabinet and these are; the President, the Vice-President and the Ministers.” The author’s contention is that under clause (1) of Article 49 reference to Ministers connotes ‘full’ Cabinet Ministers only and does not include deputy or provincial ministers. We say this because the Constitution itself construes and differentiates between a ‘full’ Cabinet Minister and a deputy minister under Articles 46 and 47. You will note that Article 46 refers to Ministers appointed by the President from the National Assembly and entrusted with responsibilities as directed by the President to run government business which includes the administration of ministries or governments departments as the President may assign to such Ministers.
Then Article 47 creates a new class of ministers referred to as deputy ministers under clause (1) of Article 47 and provincial deputy ministers under clause (2) of Article 47. This distinction made to ministers under Articles 46 and 47 makes it clear which ministers are referred to under Articles 46 and 49 and clearly excludes deputy ministers and provincial deputy ministers.
If the intention was to include deputy ministers and provincial deputy ministers in Cabinet this would have been made explicit in Article 49. The lack of express reference to deputy ministers and provincial deputy ministers in Article 49 indicates a strong intentionality to exclude them from Cabinet. Arguably this understanding of the distinction between ‘full’ Cabinet Ministers from deputy ministers and provincial deputy ministers has shaped the composition of Cabinet and matters incidental thereto vis a vis who should be a substantive part of their meetings. Notably this is also the governance norm all over the world.
the President has acted outside his powers by extending an invitation to deputy ministers and provincial deputy ministers to form a constituent part of Cabinet meetings thus rendering his decision unconstitutional
Consequentially the author’s assessment is that the President has acted outside his powers by extending an invitation to deputy ministers and provincial deputy ministers to form a constituent part of Cabinet meetings thus rendering his decision unconstitutional.
It is apparent that the ‘re-designed Cabinet’ falls outside the parameters within which Cabinet is constitutionally set and recognised and the effect of this is that the ‘re-designed Cabinet which is non-existent under our Constitution is null and void abinito as it is illegally constituted and any of the meetings, deliberations, advise given and decisions adopted at any meeting held for the ‘re-designed Cabinet’ are of no effect at all. It is immaterial whether or not the so called ‘new members’ of cabinet are compelled to subscribe to the practice and procedure of such cabinet meetings in terms of quorum, deliberations as well as voting on a matter that has been tabled for consideration before Cabinet. What is fundamental in this respect is that deputy ministers and provincial ministers are, legally, not supposed to be in these meetings or even participate in them neither are they ex-officio members and as such the meetings of this redesigned Cabinet should ordinarily not continue if what we have now is a permanent structure and government should be unqualified on this point.
The author’s immediate reaction is that there was an attempt to modify the structure of Cabinet by the President through such an action and the resultant effect was that there was an attempt to have Article 49 jettisoned or rather expunged in its form and application from the constitutional text and this can be classified as another grave, arbitrary and illegal act primarily for the reason that the President does not possess the power to unilaterally modify any part of the Constitution. Undoubtedly that is the function of the legislature who are the elected representatives of the people and these people (the general citizenry) are ultimately the ones who hold the reserve power to enact a Constitution and call for an amendment or repeal thereof of any provision, section or part through these established legislative channels.
The gravity of a breach by the President of the Constitution cannot be underestimated because the Constitution of the Republic of Zambia is very clear with regard to the remedies available under clause (1) of Article 37 of the Constitution of Zambia which provides that a President can be impeached for any violation of the Constitution.
[pullquote]under clause (1) of Article 37 of the Constitution of Zambia provides that a President can be impeached for any violation of the Constitution.[/pullquote]
Why did President Lungu break the Law
In exploring the possible reasons as to why the President would go out of his way to attempt to illegally reconfigure Cabinet and ultimately the political and decision making system in the country, one would be inclined to subscribe to the notion that that the political reality on the ground is that, in the recent past the Patriotic Front (PF) made significant campaign promises in two major electoral campaigns in the run up to the 2011 tripartite elections and 2015 Presidential by elections respectively to deliver a new constitution once they are elected into Government. So perhaps the PF is under pressure to deliver a new constitution, whether acceptable or not, in readiness for the 2016 tripartite election. Thus it is perceived that the President’s decision to extend this invitation to deputy ministers and provincial ministers is a political strategy by the President to invent and award imaginary powers to deputy and provincial ministers under the circumstances in order to incentivize political loyalty and secure support for the draft constitution bill in parliament.
Implications
In terms of implications the invitation would achieve two undesirable things.
1.Firstly in view of the already imperfect application of the doctrine of separation of powers prevailing under the Zambian Constitution that allows members of the National Assembly to be appointed as Cabinet Ministers under clause (2) of Article 46 and at another level the appointment of provincial deputy ministers, from the National Assembly, under clause (3) of Article 47, the decision by the President has gone further to intensify an appointment system that leads to the undesirable fusion between the legislative arm of government with the executive.
This is contrary to the doctrine of separation of powers which aims at the prevention of the fusion between the legislature and the executive. The invitation would therefore results in the concentration of power in the same hands thus enhancing their exertion of power on the other branches of government. If the same people are appointed to the different arms of government conducting effective checks and balances becomes doubtful and problematic.
Article 51 of the Constitution which also clarifies the distinction between ‘full’ ministers and deputy ministers provides that “Cabinet and deputy ministers shall be accountable collectively to the National Assembly” compelling unity despite its undemocratic characteristic of discouraging disagreement even on ‘bad’ policies since ministers are not permitted to dissent against cabinet decision unless they resign. Notably the concept of collective responsibility was developed to bind ministers to Cabinet decisions as a powerful political imperative to appear publically as organised, united and convincing. However a dilemma arises in a multiparty democracy if full cabinet Ministers and other junior ministers are drawn from the opposition which introduces the possibility for division and dissent and the question that begs determination is whether they will be bound by the concept of collective responsibility? In comparison to New Zealand which has innovatively gone around this unity-dissent dilemma by including in coalition agreements ‘agree to disagree’ provisions that relieve ministers drawn from opposition in a coalition government to be free from the collective responsibility obligation; it is not clear whether we have the same arrangements in place in Zambia .The actual position on this issue may perhaps signal the real intent behind the invitation that was made by the President.
Invariably the implication of the President’s decision to invite deputy minsters and provincial deputy ministers to participate in Cabinet meetings is an attempt to stifle the independence required when considering matters tabled before the National Assembly and this further expands and fortifies the already weak system that is in place in so far as it relates to what is ordinarily expected of members of parliament when checking and scrutinising policies and laws adopted in Cabinet when presented to the National Assembly for approval. We must be reminded that natural justice dictates that if a person or group of persons, in this case Cabinet, decide on a matter how can they be expected not be biased when considering the same matter presented by them from Cabinet to themselves in the legislature.
Interestingly the President’s attempt to bloat the Cabinet has the undesirable effect of creating a ‘shadow National Assembly’ within itself and this is an act that does not fall short of whimsicality.
2.The second undesirable thing is that bloating Cabinet increases government expenditure of course at tax payer’s expense during an economic crisis when we are supposed to put in place austerity measures. It is rather unjustifiable in the current economic dispensation to increase government by giving a phantom credence to a body of mere unproductive advisors who do not serve any public interest purpose but are only in such an arrangement for political expediency as alluded to earlier. Furthermore there is an inevitable increase in government expenditure on illegal and unconstitutional travel, accommodation and other miscellaneous costs for ministers coming from outside Lusaka to attend Cabinet meetings which funds really should be directed resources towards demanding social sectors that will benefit the majority of Zambians.
By Chanda Nkholoma – Tembo Lecturer at Law and Special Research Fellow, School of Law at the University of Zambia and PhD candidate (Law) at the University of Sheffield, UK, LL.B, LLM, Advocate of the High Court of Zambia
Cleo ice Queen releases official artwork for her debut album “GeminIce”.
Cleo Ice Queen and Kaladoshas will have a double album launch slated for the 5th of December at the Lusaka Grand Hotel.
The dynamic duo have been working together a lot lately , they recently released the video for their hit single “Oxygen” ,a Collaboration produced by one of Zambia’s award winning producers, Shom C.
