Southern Province alone can’t Change Government, Gary Nkombo told in Parliament
MINISTER of Local Government and Housing Stephen Kampyongo has said that Zambia is bigger than any one province which may think it alone can change or form government.
Mr Kampyongo said this in Parliament last night on a point or order he raised in response to Mazabuka member of Parliament (MP) Garry Nkombo (UPND) who said that the people of Southern Province are resolved on changing government in next year’s general elections.
“Mr chairman, governments are voted for by people and how I wish one province could put a government in power. But this country is bigger than one province,” Mr Kampyongo said.
He also sought the chairman’s ruling on Mr Nkombo labelling the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) as a curse when the party was elected into office by the people.
“Is this member in order to underrate the people’s voice and will which put the PF in power?” Mr Kampyongo asked.
The chairman of the committee of supply Mkhondo Lungu ruled that Mr Nkombo’s assertions would be later rebuffed by the Minister of Finance.
In his debate on the estimates of revenue and expenditure for Southern Province, Mr Nkombo said: “People of this province are very clear about what the future of this country should be.”
He accused the PF of being a violent group of people who are living on borrowed money which they have allegedly spent on cosmetic development.
Government will support both small-scale and commercial farmers in Zambia
GOVERNMENT will support both small-scale and commercial farmers in Zambia to increase momentum for a consistent agriculture-based economy, President Lungu has said.
Mr Lungu reiterated the need to increase momentum for agricultural activities throughout the country to reduce dependency on copper as the economic mainstay.
He said his administration will also ensure that small-scale farmers receive farming inputs and are paid on time.
The President said this yesterday when he paid a courtesy call on chiefs Chitambo and Muchinka of the Lala people in Chitambo.
“I would like to thank you for your warm welcome and also for voting for us in January and for maintaining peace. I am on a fact-finding mission here [Central Province] to check on how the commercial farmers are doing, and if the small-scale farmers have been paid on time because that is the way to go. We also want to check on development projects.
“We want to keep the momentum of agriculture high and move from copper dependency because of inconsistencies in copper pricing and this is historical,” he said.
And President Lungu said Zambians must continue to respect the traditional values of various chiefdoms where they are resident to enhance the `One Zambia One Nation’ principle.
Mr Lungu said it is important for ethnic groupings to co-exist in diversity and avoid provoking each other.
He also urged traditional leaders to embrace people from other tribes and guide them to live in harmony with others.
“We are happy and grateful that you are looking after people from different backgrounds well, and continue to do so. They must also respect you and the traditions and values in your land, and do not hesitate to engage us as Government on various issues just like we will approach you. We have to work together closely,” he said.
Chief Chitambo said he is happy with President Lungu’s style of leadership and will continue giving his administration the necessary support.
He also urged Mr Lungu to ensure that the Patriotic Front adopts a capable aspirant in Chitambo constituency for the 2016 elections.
“We are not in politics but we are messengers, we will support anyone you will give us as MP who can work with us and work with PF as the government of the day. You (Mr Lungu) have a lot of work to do so remain focused to leave behind a legacy you will be remembered for,” Chief Chitambo said.
And addressing students at Chitambo School of Nursing, President Lungu reiterated the need for men and women to work in partnership in fostering development.
“We should have as many men as women ruling this country together,” President Lungu said. “There is no need for women alone and for men alone, we are partners.”
Mr Lungu said gender equality should be felt at all levels, and there should be no segregation on the basis of gender.
“We need to strike a balance when it comes to gender. There is nothing, that this is a man’s world [or] that this is a women’s world,” he said.
President Lungu also called for gender balancing in enrolments in institutions of learning.
Mr Lungu urged management at Chitambo Nursing School to “strike a balance” by enrolling students from within the district and those from outside.
Mr Lungu said it does not augur well when local people are deprived of places in tertiary institutions.
He said ensuring that people from other parts of Zambia access training at the nursing school is one way of promoting unity in the country.
Mr Lungu also told the students that he is aware of the challenges the nursing school is experiencing but they are not insurmountable.
“With the help of the teaching staff, management and Government, we will get over them because we need quality, and quality service can only come with well-trained students in any field,” he said.
President Lungu later addressed a rally at Mukando Basic School in Serenje where he urged residents to register as voters.
Mr Lungu said he is happy to interact with the people of Serenje and encouraged them to take advantage of the voter registration exercise.
He said he will continue with the projects which late President Sata initiated in Central Province and the rest of the country.
He said he wants more people in rural areas to benefit from various development projects including the rural electrification projects being implemented by the Rural Electrification Authority (REA).
President Lungu has since asked REA to “find ways and means” to ensure that the people of Serenje rural benefit from the power project.
“I want you to benefit from electricity and I want REA to find ways and means to ensure that you have electricity which bypasses you overhead,” he said.
Mr Lungu said his administration also wants to ensure that farmers are supplied with inputs in good time for the farming season.
And President Lungu has advised the electorate to be patient with elected leaders and allow them to work within their period of mandate.
“Allow your leaders to work until the time for campaigns,” he said.
He also reiterated the need for PF members to accept new members into the ruling party as this is key to uniting and strengthening the party.
President Lungu said “the party is bigger than individuals”.
And after touring new housing units in Serenje, President Lungu directed Central Province Minister Davies Chisopa to find land for construction of social amenities near the site where Walltech Enterprise Limited is constructing 66 houses for the police.
He said the development of the new residential area should be accompanied by social facilities like play parks, churches and markets.
President Lungu also toured the site where Datong Construction Company is constructing a police station and police camp in Serenje at a cost of about K34 million.
Mr Lungu is happy with the quality of work at the two construction sites.
He also toured the new Serenje district hospital which is expected to be opened soon after the mortuary is completed.
Earlier, President Lungu had a meeting with Chieftainess Serenje, chiefs Mailo, Chibale, Kabamba and Chisomo.
Zambia’s net FDI inflows rose to $3.2 billion
ZAMBIA’S net foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows rose from US$1.7 billion in 2013 to US$3.2 billion last year, according to the 2015 Foreign Private and Investor Perceptions Survey.
Bank of Zambia governor Denny Kalyalya said when he officially opened a dissemination workshop on the survey in Lusaka yesterday that successful implementation of the fiscal measures announced by President Lungu will go a long way to improve fiscal consolidation.
Dr Kalyalya said the highlighted measures and Government’s commitment to maintaining macroeconomic stability and addressing the cost of doing business, will further increase investment opportunities for both domestic and foreign investment.
“Preliminary analysis of the available data for the first half of 2015 shows notable pick up in investment momentum, with FDI inflows higher than recorded during the first half of 2014. A number of areas of improvement have been raised by the private sector,” he said.
Dr Kalyalya said according to the survey, FDI liabilities to Zambia declined by 29.1 percent to US$1.5 billion in 2014, from US$2.1 billion recorded in 2013.
He said the ongoing economic reforms of promoting private sector-led growth continue to bear fruit as evidenced by notable amounts of both local and foreign investment, and that this is critical to sustaining growth and employment.
“In this regard, we welcome the ‘foreign private investment and investor perceptions in Zambia’ which establishes the magnitude and direction of foreign private investment flows as well as investor perceptions on the investment climate,” Dr Kalyalya said.
He said the survey also underscores the Bank of Zambia’s commitment to catalysing private sector development and investment promotion and that the central bank will continue to work with other balance of payments technical committee members.
According to the 2015 report, the country’s FDI inflows rose to US$3,194.9 million from US$1,690.5 million recorded in 2013, driven by a higher drawdown in FDI assets.
The report also indicates that FDI liabilities, however, declined by 29.1 percent and this was attributed to reduced investment in mining, manufacturing and construction, among others.
We Shall Press the “Eject” Button if PF Manipulates the Constitution – MMD
Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) President Dr Nevers Sekwila Mumba says that his party reserves the right to press the “Eject” button in the ongoing constitutional process in Parliament if there are any manipulations or machinations by the Patriotic Front (PF).
Addressing a press briefing in Kitwe yesterday, Dr Mumba said that important concerns were raised by MMD Nalikwanda MP Honourable Professor Geoffrey Lungwanga on the possibility of the PF mutilating the constitution or diluting it through unauthorized amendments. He said that the MMD would withdraw their support for the constitution amendment bill if there were any manipulations or machinations or if any strange “ghosts” appeared from the PF.
He further said that the MMD as initiators of the process through the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) would not allow the bill to fail but would see it through to the end unlike the United Party for National Development (UPND) whose Members of Parliament took part in the the NCC and collected allowances but abstained from voting in the end. He said that the PF walked out of Parliament before the vote on a similar constitution amendment bill in 2011. He blamed the PF and UPND for the subsequent failure of the constitution process.
Dr Mumba also touched on the crisis on the Copperbelt with job losses of more than 7,000 and said that solving the crisis would be his first assignment once elected into office. He referred to his successful negotiation for an $8 billion investment by Barrick-Gold while he was Canadian High Commissioner which created 4,000 jobs.
Dr Mumba’s full speech is below.
PRESS BRIEFING ON 1ST DECEMBER 2015
BY MMD PRESIDENT DR NEVERS SEKWILA MUMBA
Members of the Media Fraternity; Members of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy; Our Party supporters; Ladies and Gentlemen.
Today, I wish to address a very important issue that has been on the minds of Zambians for the last several days; namely the Constitution making process which culminated in the Constitution Amendment Bill number 16 passing the second reading in Parliament last week Thursday 26th November 2015.
On behalf of the MMD, I wish to clearly explain our position so that the nation is fully aware of the reasons why we supported the bill. I also wish to address some unfounded allegations from some quarters that are mis-representing our stance.
Before I delve into the matter at hand, I firstly wish to congratulate our members of Parliament for helping attain the two-thirds majority vote. The debate has now been opened up so that we can finally make tangible progress in enacting a new people-driven constitution which we have not succeeded to do since 1972 when the first Constitutional Review Commission was set up.
Getting into the matter at hand, I wish to reiterate our position which has been consistent by referring to what two of our honourable Members of Parliament stated on the floor of the house during the debate last week; namely Chembe MP and MMD National Secretary Honourable Mwansa Mbulakulima and Chipata Central MP and MMD Parliamentary Whip Honourable Mutolo Phiri.
In summary, we as the MMD support the piece-meal amendment of the constitution because it is the most practical method with a higher probability of success and is also the least expensive. As Honourable Mbulakulima said in Parliament last week, we would have loved to have the entire document presented for enactment but are constrained by provisions relating to the Bill of Rights which can only be amended by a Referendum.
We are of the opinion that subjecting the entire document to a referendum carries the risk of failure for the entire process if the final document is voted against or if voter turnout does not meet the stipulated legal requirements such as 50% of ELIGIBLE voters participating in the vote. It is said that “a bird in hand is worth two in the bush”. The draft constitution contains several progressive clauses which if enacted shall be a huge positive boost to governance, politics and the economy. These clauses are a must and the following are some of them:
1. 50%+1 electoral system which ensures that we shall have a majority president unlike the current system where a candidate can become president even with 10% of the vote as long as he or she has the highest vote.
2. Presidential Running Mate Clause to prevent a by-election in case the sitting president is no longer able to continue in office. It is important for this bill to clarify explicitly what happens if the Running Mate who was Vice-president also has to leave office while completing the term of his predecessor and the mechanism of selection of the Vice-President in these kinds of scenarios. We have already gone through two costly presidential by-elections in 2008 and 2015 at huge cost. These could have been avoided with the Running Mate Clause in place.
3. Dual Citizenship for Zambians to make it easier for them to invest back home.
4. Strengthening of the Auditor General’s office to effect prosecutions of erring civil servants.
5. Mandatory national Debt contraction through parliament to prevent the current situation where Cabinet can just borrow anyhow and leave future generations in perpetual debt.
6. The Supplementary Appropriation Act to prevent government spending money that has not been pre-approved by parliament.
7. Preventing Parliamentary Defectors from contesting seats for life of that Parliament. This shall eliminate costly unnecessary by-elections.
Colossal sums of money have been spent on Constitutional Review Commissions since 1972 and we are still going round in circles which must stop now. We shall not abrogate our responsibility to defend and speak on behalf of Zambians through MMD elected MPs. NGOs and all other interest groups must learn to respect the opinions of others without resorting to mudslinging and character assassinations. Just because we support the constitution bill does not mean we have been bought by the PF as some NGOs are insinuating.
Important concerns were raised by MMD Nalikwanda MP Honourable Professor Geoffrey Lungwanga on the possibility of the PF mutilating the constitution or diluting it through unauthorized amendments. As stated by our Whip Honourable Phiri, we as MMD shall not tolerate that and we reserve the right to press the “Eject” button. This is another warning to PF that if there are any manipulations or machinations, or if any strange “ghosts” appear from the PF, we shall immediately withdraw our support for the bill. We are only here because of the promise that the constitution shall be enacted with the aforementioned progressive clauses.
I also wish to clarify that despite statements to the contrary, the failure of the last constitution bill in 2011 was due to the PF and UPND who both defeated the bill. The PF by walking out before a vote was taken and the UPND by going to parliament but abstaining from voting. This shall not be allowed to repeat itself and that is why we support the bill. We are only interested in the end result and not pointless debates.
We as MMD were the initiators of this process through the National Constitution Conference (NCC) under late president Levy Mwanawasa and the current document being debated is the product of the NCC. We want to see this whole process through to completion and we shall not abandon it halfway the way the UPND did by collecting allowances from the NCC but abstaining from voting in the end.
How can we reject the process we started by depending on speculations about the intentions of the PF who are merely completing the process we started? We have been consistent on this issue from the beginning including during the Presidential debate just prior to the January 2015 presidential election.
Finally, we are aware that there is much debate remaining before this bill is enacted but we remain confident that reason shall finally prevail and hopefully Zambians will have a document that addresses the most cardinal issues in the governance of the nation.
I thank you,
Dr Nevers Sekwila Mumba
MMD President
YALI urges Parliament to Enact Constitution Amendment Bill and Respect the Will of the People
The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) is relieved that the Constitution Amendment Bills No. 16 and 17 have passed the Second Reading in Parliament and we now wish to call on Members of Parliament to rise above partisan politics and enact the Bills into law when they come up for Committee Stage and Third Reading.
We want to remind the PF Government that YALI has not supported the Patriotic Front to do what they want but we have supported Government to do what is right and what is in the interest of the Zambian people’s. President Lungu must be reminded that there are some MPS within his party who would like him to be voted out of power and will use the Constitution Reform process to achieve this desire by supporting the removal of progressive clauses such as the 50 percent plus 1 and the Presidential Running which the people of Zambia have consistently said they want to see in their Constitution.
As leader of the Patriotic Front, President Lungu must guide his party MPS to avoid removing progressive clauses from the Constitution which would lead to withdrawal of support by some opposition Members of goodwill who would like to see that Zambians get a better law before December 31, 2015.
The Board of YALI unanimously resolves to support this process that is aimed at giving Zambians a better supreme law and we urge President Lungu and all our MPS to give Zambians a good and progressive Constitution before 31st December 2015.
YALI would like to remind our Members of Parliament that the duty to make, repeal and enact laws is vested exclusively in the House through Articles 62 and 78 of the Constitution of Zambia which is the supreme law that must be obeyed by all. We therefore call on those Members of Parliament to use the Committee Stage and Third Reading to draw consensus on the making of a better Constitution and removal of ambiguities in the Bill.
We also acknowledge that during this time when Zambia is facing huge economical challenges, it can be a challenge to have all costly provisions of the Billl effected and operationalised soon as the Bill is signed into law of the Bill passes through the Third Reading but the Members of Parliament must resist the temptation of removing progressive clauses in the Constitution based on the costs and current economic challenges which may be temporal.
Parliament must unanimously resolve to support all progressive clauses while guiding the nation on the effective date of some of the provisions where costs may be an issue. The lesson from Zimbabwe can be borrowed on this matter.
All members of Parliament represent the people, most of whom may not have sufficient knowledge on the content or implications of the current Draft Constitution and, at a time like this, we want to remind all MPs to remember the very reason why the people elected them to Parliament. The Draft Constitution and the Constitution Amendment Bill was arrived based on the participation of 12,000 plus Zambian elites who represented the 15 Million Zambians and it is the duty if Parliament which represents the 15 million Zambians to interrogate the content of the Bill and realign them so Zambians can have a better law which approved by MPs who are the real representatives of the the Zambian peoples.
We particularly remind President Lungu that while his party may be enjoying an a majority in Parliament, this advantage must never be used to subvert the will of the people contained in the Constitution Bills which Government has presented to Parliament. President Lungu has an opportunity to show Zambians that he means well on the Constitution by urging his Party’s Members of Parliament to enact all progressive clauses as contained in the Bill irrespective of whether the Patriotic Front which he leads, agrees with them or not.
Zambia’s Members of Parliament must never fail the nation once again, as they so shamefully did in March 2011, when they failed to give Zambians a constitution that was more progressive than the current 1996 Constitution.
Isaac Mwanza
Governance Advisor
Young African Leaders Initiative
South Africa dump Zambia out of race to Rio
Zambia’s dream of qualifying for the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil is over after losing their second consecutive match at the 2015 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.
Zambia conceded three second half goals in a space of seven minutes as South Africa came from behind to overcome their COSAFA region rivals.
Fighton Simukonda’s side led after 35 minutes with Lusaka Dynamos youngster Conlyde Luchanga netting a superb goal after finishing off a Spencer Sautu cross.
But South Africa turned the game on its head after the break with three goals in the 46th, 51st and 53rd minutes inked by Menzi Masuku and Gift Motupa who grabbed a brace.
However, Zambia never gave up easily as defender Billy Mutale reduced the deficit to 3-2 when he finished off Lubambo Musonda’s corner after 72 minutes.
This result means that Zambia cannot advance to the semi-finals of this CAF Championship as they lost their opening Group A match to Tunisia via a 2-1 score-line.
Zambia last took part in the Olympics football competition in 1988.
Supreme Court reserves ruling in Mutembo Nchito’s case
And Attorney General Likando Kalaluka contends that the High Court ought not to have entertained the application for Judicial Review by Mr. Nchito as it cannot be allowed to curtail investigative processes of the Tribunal.
Chief Justice Ireen Mambilima deferred ruling on the matter after hearing submissions and arguments from both parties at the Supreme Court in Ndola this morning.
Justice Mambilima sat with a panel constituting four Supreme Court Judges namely Deputy Chief Justice Marvin Mwanamwambwa, Justice Evans
Hamaundu, Justice Elizabeth Miyovwe and Justice Henry Chibomba.
This is in the matter where Mr. Kalaluka and Solicitor General Abram Mwansa have on behalf of the STATE raised three grounds of appeal against the Lusaka High court decision.
Mr. Kalaluka submitted that Mr. Nchito should have waited for the tribunal proceedings to come to an end and only go to court if he felt there was injustice in the tribunal findings.
The Attorney General argued that there is no need for the suspended DPP to go to court now, supposing that the tribunal clears him of alleged professional misconduct.
Mr. Mwansa submitted that the Judicial Review sought by Mr. Nchito was prematurely before court.
In Response, Mr. Nchito argued that some of the members sitting on the tribunal are connected to what he is alleged to have done and should not be allowed to sit on the panel.
He submitted that as a constitutional office holder facing a tribunal, he can only seek recourse in an event where there is unfair justice through Judicial Review.
Zambia appointed to facilitate the High level Meeting on HIV/AIDS
Zambia has been appointed to facilitate the High level Meeting on HIV/AIDS to be held next year in June in New York.
UNAIDS deputy Executive Director Luiz Loures disclosed the development when he met the Vice President Inonge Wina in Harare , Zimbabwe.
He said Zambia was chosen because Africa bears the impact of the pandemic and that the best practices in the fight against of the disease are on the continent.
Dr. Loures said his organization is confident that Zambia will help the organisation and other partners set new programmes in the fight against the pandemic.
He further said UNAIDS was happy that Zambia was being represented at the 18th international conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa at a higher level.
He urged the Vice President to use her influence to continue pushing the battle forward against the pandemic at a higher level.
And Ms. Wina said the Zambian government was happy that it has been given an opportunity to facilitate the high level meeting.
She said government was taking the fight against HIV/AIDS seriously due to the devastating effect the disease has on the economy.
She stated that government was taking the issues of women empowerment seriously as they are key in the fight against the pandemic.
She said Government realized that they were gaps during the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals, and that it will come up with new strategies in line the Sustainable Development Goals to achieve greater results in the fight against the disease.
The Vice President Arrives this morning in Harare to attend the 18th ICASA Where she will give a key note speech at a special session of the African Parliamentary and Leadership Colloquium under the theme “African Union sustaining visionary leadership towards ending AIDS in Africa by 2030.
Politicisation of the construction of a clinic in Livingstone saddens First Lady
FIRST LADY Esther Lungu has expressed sadness that the delayed construction of the maternity wing at Mahatma Gandhi Clinic in Livingstone has been politicised.
The clinic is located in Dambwa Central where United Party for National Development (UPND)’s Likando Liswani is the ward councillor.
Ms Lungu said she would report to President Edgar Lungu over the matter people as the people of Livingstone deserved good health facilities.
The First Lady was speaking in Livingstone yesterday when she toured Mahatma Gandhi Clinic.
Ms Lungu, who also toured Linda Clinic and paid a courtesy call on Senior Chief Mukuni of Kazungula District in Southern Province, is in Livingstone to officiate at today’s national celebrations for the World AIDS Day at Villa Grounds.
Southern province Permanent Secretary Sibanze Simuchoba, Livingstone District Commissioner Omar Munsanje, Livingstone District Medical Officer Cliff Hara, National AIDS/STI/TB Council (NAC) and Livingstone HIV/AIDS Coordination Advisor Stephen Ndebele were some of the officials in Ms Lungu’s entourage.
“I am told the non-completion of maternity wing at Mahatma Gandhi Clinic has been politicised. I will take the message to the President myself.
“Government, through the civil leaders, should endeavour to see to it that the people in Livingstone get good health facilities which they deserve,” she said.
Ms Lungu said the mothers needed to deliver in better health environment and hence it was not correct to play games on people’s lives and the health environment.
“Let us have the heart for humanity and fellow human beings. People at times are neglected and given poor services due to seemingly lack of facilities and yet the resources are there.
“Livingstone area Member of Parliament, Hon Lawrence Evans, note that before you come to State House to bring this issue to the President, I am your DHL massager and I will take the message. It is so painful to see people’s lives being taken lightly and yet we are God’s people,” Ms Lungu said.
She was however happy that the health facility was proving services in all areas of humanity.
At Linda Clinic, Ms Lungu commended the heath personnel in Livingstone for taking care of their patients effectively.
Mr Evans, who is also Livestock and Fisheries Deputy Minister, thanked the First Lady for visiting the tourist capital.
“Mahatma Gandhi Clinic should not be politicised and we need to look at the lives of people. When I come to Lusaka, I will lobby for a bit of money to see to it that this clinic is completed,” he said.
And Dr Hara told Ms Lungu that Livingstone had a total population of 164, 157 people out of which 41, 532 were living with HIV/AIDS.
He said 16, 121 people in Livingstone were on antiretroviral therapy out of which 6, 158 were at Mahatma Gandhi Clinic.
Construction of the 300 MW Thermal Plant almost complete-Dora Siliya
The construction of the 300 megawatts thermal power plant in Sinazongwe District is almost complete with 83% of work has been done. Energy Minister Dora Siliya who toured the construction site for the power plant said that government is anxious to get the facility up and running.
Ms Siliya has also directed the Permanent Secretary in her ministry to announce the names of those who want to invest in solar energy. The Minister said government will continue to encourage private sector investments into the energy sector.
She said that the involvement of the private sector will enable government channel resources to social sectors such as health and education.
Ms Siliya also said that she is happy that Maamba collieries Limited is also keen to have an additional three hundred megawatts once the plant is completed.
She also said she is happy that 2000 Zambians have been employed on the power project. Ms Siliya said that government wants to see skills transferred to Zambians.
And in a separate interview, Maamba Collieries Chief Executive Officer Venkat Shankar has assured government of the firm’s commitment to complete the construction of the thermal power plant.
Meanwhile, Government has reiterated its commitment to continue implementing both short term and long term solutions to nationwide electricity deficit challenge, by adding a new 420 Megawatts to the national grid.
Among the short term solutions is the Itezhi-Tezhi power plant, which will come online end of this month, as well as the Maamba thermal plants which are all still under developed.
The medium term power projects are the Ndola Heavy Fuel power plant, Chavuma Mini Hydro- Power plant, which will come online in 2017, as well as 200 Mega Watts Solar Power Plant, to be commissioned by early 2016.
The long term measures, which will be effective in 2021 are 1 200MW Batoka power project, 1000 MW Luapula River power project and the 340 MW EMCO Coal fired power plant.
Mr Kambwili says all the short, medium and long term projects will result in an additional 2,740 Megawatts of electricity, which will make Zambia, in the next few years, become the main electricity exporter in the Southern region. .
AIDS Healthcare Foundation and B Flow present the worldwide release of the “Know Your Status” video
This World AIDS Day, AIDS Healthcare Foundation and B Flow are proud to present an important message about HIV/AIDS, with the worldwide release of the “Know Your Status” video: Together we can #DreamBigEndIt. We can reach this goal with initiatives like AHF’s 20×20 campaign, which aims to test and treat 20 million people around the world by the year 2020.
Today, we’re saluting the #500kLives currently in our care, and remembering the 23 million currently living without life-saving medication.
Use this #WAD2015 to remind your friends and family: “When you #KnowYourStatus, you know how to live your life.”
Tasila Lungu’s visits to Ndola rural in Pictures
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UPND MPs should be arrested and prosecuted for “Chewing” NCC Money-Kapata
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) elections chairperson Jean Kapata has demanded the arrest and prosecution of UPND members of Parliament (MPs) who actively participated in the National Constitution Conference (NCC) and enjoyed its huge allowances but shot down the Bill when it went to Parliament, leading to the collapse of the constitution-making process in 2011.
Ms Kapata has charged that the UPND parliamentarians defrauded Zambians by receiving the NCC allowances under the guise of supporting the constitution-making process under the Levy Mwanawasa presidency.
Reacting to UPND presidential spokesperson Edward Mumbi who accused the PF of having caused the collapse of the NCC because the then opposition political party refused to participate in the NCC, Ms Kapata demanded that all the UPND parliamentarians who received NCC allowances but boycotted the process in Parliament should be made to pay back the money because it was fraudulently obtained.
She explained that while it was true that 20 MPs of PF were expelled for defying a decree by former president Michael Sata, the 17 that remained were determined to have a transparent constitution-making process and that was why they did not attend the NCC sittings where the UPND MPs drew huge allowances but later shot it down in Parliament.
Ms Kapata said it was not only the 17 PF parliamentarians that boycotted the NCC but other stakeholders including the Oasis Forum, the Catholic Church and other civil society organizations because their desire was to have a process that was universally agreed upon.
“There is no way the UPND is going to deny the fact that they caused the collapse of the NCC and the entire constitution-making process in 2011.
“MMD president Nevers Mumba is correct to blame the UPND for the failure for Zambia to have a new and people-driven Constitution because their MPs were part of the NCC. They attended the NCC sittings at Mulungushi International Conference Centre and got huge allowances.
“When it went to Parliament, the same UPND MPs walked out, boycotting the process. If the UPND had voted with the MMD after enjoying allowances, a two-third majority mark was going to be reached and the NCC could have been successful. They must be charged and arrested for defrauding Zambians,” Ms Kapata said.
MMD in Central Province to Support Felix Mutati for Presidency at Convention
THE MMD in Central Province says it will support former commerce minister and Lunte MP Felix Mutati for the party presidency at a convention that must be held soon and later field him as the candidate in next year’s elections.
Provincial vice chairman George Kangwa said it was also the party’s wish that former finance minister and Liuwa MP Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane be Mr. Mutati’s running mate to give the party a formidable team which will secure victory in 2016.
“The MMD leadership in Central Province will support and vote for Hon Felix Mutati as president of the party at the forthcoming party convention and field him as a presidential candidate in the 2016 general elections.
‘‘It is also the wish of the party in the province to have Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane as a running mate for the 2016 general elections,” read a press statement signed by Mr. Kangwa and made available to the Daily Nation in Kabwe.
He said with the support of Central, Eastern, Luapula and Northern provinces which have endorsed Mr. Mutati, it would be easy for him to secure victory.
Mr. Kangwa also said the party has declared a general amnesty to allow members who have gone to or joined other parties to come back and that suspensions imposed on some members have been lifted.
The victims of disciplinary case were free to rejoin MMD and continue in their former positions and enjoy the full membership of the party. Mr. Kangwa however did not state how many members were facing disciplinary action and were free to come back.
The provincial party strongman also lambasted those opposed to the holding of the convention, arguing that it was only the convention which had powers to amend or revoke the party constitution in line with article 13 (e) and that not a single individual, including party president Dr. Mumba.
“We also advise other disgruntled elements who are discouraging members from attending the convention that it is only the convention which has powers to amend or revoke the constitution.
“Article 13 (e) says the party convention has powers to amend or revoke the constitution by secret ballot of two thirds majority of delegates,” reads Mr Kangwa’s statement. MMD president Nevers Mumba could not be immediately reached for a comment.