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Copperbelt Minister Mwenya Musenge speaking at a Youth Rally at Freedom Park
Government has observed that changing people’s attitudes towards speed, drink-driving and dangerous driving was the most critical areas of reducing road traffic carnages in the country.
And government has said instituting collaborative measures with the private sector, non-governmental organizations, other government departments and upgrading the enforcement programmes can transform the behaviour of road users.
ZANIS reports that Copperbelt Province Minister Mwenya Musenge said this in a speech read on his behalf by his Permanent Secretary Howard Sikwela during the commemoration of world day of Remembrance of Road Traffic Victims and the Africa Road Safety Day in Ndola today.
Mr. Musenge said Zambia is also affected by the high number of road traffic accidents and their results of deaths and injuries.
The Copperbelt Minister explained that the world day of remembrance of traffic victims is a global event which is designed to remember all those who lost their lives as a result of road traffic crashes.
He said this year’s theme, “Africa Road Safety Day is, towards enhanced implementation of Africa plan of action measures for the 2011-2020 road decade of action” calls on all the people to think globally but act locally.
“Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA), being a lead agency on road safety matters, means that this theme is specifically speaking to RTSA to develop strategies and means of enhancing the implementation of the Africa Road Safety Action Plan,” he said.
Mr. Musenge also urged all stakeholders to implement road safety campaigns that can help improve speed management.
He further said there was need to eliminate bad user behaviour from public roads by reducing and eliminating dangerous, drink-driving and eliminate unlicensed driving.
Mr. Musenge also said enhancing post-crash response and introducing speed limits should be accompanied by sustained and visible enforcement of speed limits.
UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has described as atrocious the poverty levels in Nalolo in western province.
Nalolo district is where Vice President Inonge Wina hails from.
Mr Hichilema who is on a tour of western province said the high poverty levels are disheartening especially that is the constituency where the Vice President Ms Inonge Wina is MP.
He said Nalolo is facing numerous challenges.
‘The stark poverty ravaging through this constituency is atrocious. If PF really want to continue telling people that development can only happen in constituencies where they have MPs, this is another reminder of the deception with which the affairs of the nation are being conducted,’ Mr Hichilema said.
‘Our message to the people of Nalolo was simple. Get your NRC, get your Voter’s Card, usher in UPND in Government. We shall work for the people that will elect us into Government,’ he said.
On Saturday, Mr Hichilema and his entourage paid a courtesy call on the Litunga of Barotseland and his Indunas at his palace in Limulunga.
The UPND leader was accompanied by Former First Lady Dr. Maureen Mwanawasa, UPND Deputy Secretary General Captain Liambela and other senior party officials.
‘Our message was that of being thankful to the traditional leadership in our country for their relentless calls for unity and development both in urban and peri urban.’
He added, ‘our traditional leaders have since time in memorial been uniting people and Western province traditional leaders are no exception. We have great passion for development for all Zambians hence seeking public office.’
Mr Hichilema appealed to the Litunga to encourage the people of Western Province to obtain National Registration Cards cards and voters cards so as to vote for a better leadership in 2016.
‘We called on the Litunga to continue offering guidance to the UPND and its leadership even when in government. It is only through voting for a better leadership of the UPND that the current economic climate can be halted.’
Mr Hichilema assured the Litunga of the UPND’s continued calls for peace and meaningful development in Zambia.
Mr Hichilema made a stopover in Senanga where multitudes of people were waiting to meet him.
‘So far we have had a very successful mobilization tour, Senanga was phenomenal. Our team could not believe what we were seeing in Senanga. The entire town and main roads were painted RED,’ he said.
‘Ours was to just pass through enroute to our meetings, but we were stopped and told in no uncertain terms to address our supporters with our message of hope. We delivered our message much to the amusement of all our supporters who now have renewed vigour to change the driver after hearing our message.’
Mr Hichilema said Senanga is a beautiful place which seats near the Zambezi River in the plains.
‘People here grow rice, the famous Mongu Rice with that aroma is grown in Senanga. The story of Government letting them down and preferring imported rice is damaging the local economy,’ he said.
‘Namibia, Angola and Botswana is literally a stone throw away, but we have no formal trade routes and developed markets that our people can exploit. Why?’ he queried.
‘The PF Government is not interested. Senanga would be host to a rice processing plant and export the commodity straight into Angola. But rice from Senanga comes to Lusaka through Mongu, this does not make sense.’
He said the UPND is serious about localized development as it stimulates the local economy.
‘Our tour continues today, Sunday, 22nd November. We are grateful to the people of Western province for their resilience and overwhelming reception,’ he said.
HH touring SenangaHH greeting multitudes in MonguSenanga residents turn up at HH’s meetingArriving to meet the Litunga at the palace
The opposition UPND has disassociated itself from cadres that are reported to have attacked Republican Vice President Inonge Wina’s House in Nalolo, Mongu, Western Province.
UPND Vice President Canisius Banda said that his party suspects that whoever is said to have attacked Ms. Wina’s home may have been PF cadres disguised in UPND regalia.
Dr. Banda noted that this is because his party the UPND does not support acts of lawlessness as has been alleged were perpetrated at the Vice President’s Nalolo House.
He has told Qfm News by telephone that the UPND is for the rule of law, for fearing God and for respecting citizens.
Dr. Banda stated that the UPND also stands for prudent economic management and does not stand for criminality.
He noted that his party recognizes that all people despite their political affiliation they are one Zambia and one nation.
Dr. Banda has encouraged people in the Country to focus on managing Zambia well in peace and unity.
He said that the UPND is interested in seeing that people in the Country have safe drinking water and food in their homes and seeing that education is provided for citizens.
Yesterday Suspected opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) cadres attacked and destroyed property at Vice President Inonge Wina’s private residence in Muoyo area of Nalolo district in Western Province.
Vice President Inonge Wina said in Lusaka today that the cadres, who were seen by everybody who was present, attacked and beat up her relatives who were found at her private home in Nalolo constituency.
Mrs. Wina expressed disappointment that the cadres had the audacity to attack her relatives noting that they were targeting her sister who was however away from home at the time of the attack.
“If they want to attack, let them attack me here in Lusaka,” she said.
Ms. Wina explained that the cadres vented their anger by attacking people that were at the home and broke window panes.
She said this happened when UPND president Hakainde Hichilema was in the area about to pay a courtesy call on Litunga Lamboela in Nalolo.
But when contacted for a comment, UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma expressed ignorance on the matter saying he had not yet received any information to that effect.
Meanwhile, stakeholders have roundly condemned the political violence urging law enforcement agencies to thoroughly investigate the violence and bring culprits to book.
Meanwhile, some civil society organisations have condemned the behaviour of suspected UPND cadres that attacked Mrs. Wina’s home.
Zambia Centre for Interparty Dialogue (ZCID) Executive Director, Horrance Chilando condemned the violence and appealed to political parties to co-exist.
Mr. Chilando said the violence is a draw back because last week, the centre conducted a workshop for political parties on how to conduct themselves when interfacing.
He has since called on all political parties to adhere to the provisions of the ZCID code of conduct and ethics which they signed in 2010.
Mr. Chilando further called on political parties to also follow the provisions of the Public Order Act in order to maintain peace at all times.
And speaking in a separate interview, Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) Executive Director Pukuta Mwanza implored political parties to respect divergent views and desist from using coercion to win political support.
Reverend Mwanza said the attack of Vice President’s private residence sends a wrong signal considering that Zambia will hold its tripartite elections in 2016.
He noted that peace should prevail so that Zambians can freely choose their leaders without being coerced through violence.
“The news is very unfortunate because we are dealing with the V.P of this country and political cadres must not go to this extent of trading violence to this degree and we have been condemning violence to any extent among cadres of various parties,” he said.
Rev. Mwanza has since called on the police and other law enforcement agencies to thoroughly investigate the matter in order to curb the violence.
He explained that political violence cannot be allowed to go on uncontrollably in a bid to ensure that political campaigns in 2016 are held in a conducive and peaceful environment.
Rev. Mwanza also implored leaders from both the ruling and opposition political parties to disown violent cadres.
And Jesuits Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) Director, Leonard Chiti asked political party leaders and well-meaning Zambians to embrace President Edgar Lungu’s reconciliation calls.
Father Chiti said Zambians should embrace calls for national unity regardless of their political and religious affiliations in order to preserve the peace that the country has enjoyed since 1964.
Power Dynamos are regretting their failure to secure a place in next year’s CAF Club competitions.
The Kitwe cub missed out on qualifying for both the Champions League and the Confederation Cup after finishing third in the ended FAZ Super Division season.
Power deputy coach Anderson Phiri said it was unfortunate that the club won’t compete in Africa next year.
“It is very unfortunate that we are not playing the Champions League or Confederation Cup,” Phiri said.
“It is every team or coach’s dream to play either in the Champions League or Confederation Cup,” he said.
The Tenant Chilumba coached Power side this year competed in the Confederation Cup and exited at the first round stage after losing to Gabonese cub CF Mounana 4-3 on aggregate.
“It is regrettable that we didn’t finish first or second in the league for us to play continental.We will try and do our best next season.
Power finished with 57 points, ten behind champions Zesco United after posting 17 wins, six draws and seven defeats.
The Anti-Voter Apathy Project (AVAP) says the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) is on course to attain its targeted 1.7 million new voters.
AVAP Executive Director Richwell Mulwani said the 21 days extension period for voter registration will suffice to meet the target from the current 1.2 million.
Mr. Mulwani told ZANIS in an interview that the harmonisation of the mobile issuance of National Registration Cards (NRCs) with the voter registration exercise has contributed to the impressive voter turnout of new registrations in the voters register.
“The 1.7 million target is attainable looking at the number which is at 1.2 million because the extension period will allow more new entrants to register. As AVAP we want to commend the Electoral Commission for the stride made in attaining the target,” he said.
He said apart from the extension of the registration period, other interventions such as the continuous registration of voters at all civic centres around the country up to March next year will enable more people to register.
Mr. Mulwani also noted that the move by the ECZ to come up with a system that enables people to register away from their respective voting centres is a commendable development that people who are currently away from their usual residence should take advantage of.
“ECZ should also be commended for coming up with a very user-friendly system which is promoting citizens’ participation required for a democracy. This most user-friendly system is allowing people to register from anywhere, if you are from Lusaka, you can register in Chipata, Kasama or anywhere but you will still vote from where you live,” he explained.
And Mr. Mulwani has urged the youths to participate in the voter registration exercise because it is their democratic right to participate in the election.
Mr. Mulwani disclosed that his organisation is currently carrying out programmes aimed at encouraging people to register as voters after which another programme will be introduced to get people to verify their details on the voters’ roll.
He said in order to ensure that next year’s tripartite elections are not characterized by apathy, AVAP will embark on a programme dubbed “Goal vote goal” to try and get people to vote in numbers.
Mr. Mulwani further noted with concern that AVAP has received information that some people who lose their voters’ card a few days after obtaining the document fear to go back and have them replaced.
He urged such people to have their cards replaced because it is within their rights to replace such documents even if they lose them within a short period after obtaining them.
“It is within their democratic right to go back and just fill in a police report and get their cards, no one will question or charge them for losing their cards,” Mr. Mulwani said.
On Wednesday 18th November, ECZ announced that it had captured 1,246,626 new voters in an exercise which ran from 14 September to 11th November this year.
The Grand Coalition on People driven Constitution has said that it will hold republican president Edgar Lungu responsible if the constitution bill in parliament fails. In a statement released to the media and signed by the chairman Father Leonard Chiti, the Grand Coalition accused President Lungu of setting up the constitution to fail by taking it to parliament.
Below is the full statement
Press Statement
President Lungu will be held responsible if the Constitution fails in Parliament
Lusaka, 21 November 2015
The Grand Coalition on the Campaign for a People Driven Constitution has observed that President Edgar Lungu has finally acknowledged that he set up the Constitution to fail by taking it Parliament.
On Thursday 19 November 2015, President Lungu said he if the constitutional amendment bill was not passed in parliament, he “will keep away from it” and vowed that he would not “touch it in future”.
It is not surprising that the President is predicting that the Constitution will be sabotaged in Parliament before the process has even started, because he knew all along that the Parliamentary Route to amending such a document was treacherous and risky. The President deliberately set up the whole process to fail by taking it to the wrong platform.
The GC has consistently advocated against this route for the very reason that it is treacherous and would subject the constitution to failure. The GC therefore asserts that President Lungu cannot wash his hands off the constitution at this moment, when it has been his intention all along, to see the process fail. This is because the Patriotic Front does not want the new constitution to be enacted in their lifetime as a ruling party altogether. From the time they saw that the draft constitution was progressive and would ensure good governance, the President and his party have never been interested in delivering it because the PF seems to be not interested in fostering good governance in this country.
The President wants to hoodwink the people of Zambia so that they can blame the parliamentarians and the opposition for the PF’s failure to deliver a new constitution before 2016, a snare the GC was very much aware from the beginning when the Government abandoned its position of cherry picking clauses for amendment. The people of Zambia are not foolish and they cannot be easily misled. We all know that it is President Lungu and his party the Patriotic Front who do not want a new constitution because it will give more power to the people.
What kind of a leader who “washes off” his hands on his responsibilities, after having made so many public promises to deliver a new constitution during the campaign? The Grand Coalition hereby reminds the President that if he washes off his hands on the constitution, he would have also washed off his hands on the Presidency, and people of Zambia will wash him off from that office in 2016 too.
The Grand Coalition is aware that the PF have already decided which provisions they do not want and we have been reliably informed that they plan to drop all the progressive provisions and retain the provisions on dual citizenship, the date of the election and the renaming of the Police Force to Police Service. We know that they have even taken steps in pursuit of this scheme, by engaging some Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) MPs to support them. This is unacceptable.
Whatever fails in Parliament cannot be blamed on the opposition because it is the PF that has a majority, and they have also joined forces with the MMD. The PF have 87 Members of Parliament, while the opposition parties and independent MPs hold combined total of 71 seats. Out of the 71 opposition MPs, 12 have been appointed to the PF Government as Ministers, Deputy Ministers and New Constitution, Better Lives for Allprovincial ministers. This means practically, the PF has at least 109 MPs pushing its agenda in the National Assembly. So if there is any scheme to make the constitution fail in Parliament, it is by the PF.
On our part as the Grand Coalition, we have been consistent and principled that the Parliamentary route to amend a people’s document is undemocratic, treacherous, fraudulent, retrogressive, counter-productive and undermines the power vested in the people by the constitution.
The Grand Coalition will continue to remind the people of Zambia who are the real bosses that their servants – the President and the Patriotic Front – have failed on their task to deliver a new constitution and should therefore pave way for servants who will act in line with their bosses’ aspirations. The people of Zambia are the bosses, and the President and his party should not think they would be doing us any favour by delivering a new constitution because that is their responsibility. If they fail on that responsibility, the people of Zambia will chuck them out in 2016.
To this end, the GC strongly believes that the failure of this process in parliament which has become the graveyard for draft constitutions in Zambia, lies squarely on the President’s head, shoulder and hands and he cannot escape blame.
Issued by: Fr Leonard Chiti Grand Coalition Chairperson
Striker Emmanuel Mayuka first match back in Ligue 2 action on Saturday ended in a defeat .
The result came seven days after the Zambia striker scored a goal in his first match back from a five-week injury layoff with a goal in a 3-1 away French Cup win over Montceau.
Mayuka played the full 90 minutes for 3rd placed Metz who lost 1-0 at home to 7th positioned Auxerre.
Mayuka has now played six Ligue 2 games and scored one league goal.
Meanwhile in Armenia, midfielder Lubambo Musonda played the full 90 minutes in 3rd placed Gandzasar’s 2-2 away draw against 4th placed Ararat but was not on target.
OVER 50 houses have collapsed in Kitwe following a downpour on Friday night, leaving several families without shelter.
Five churches in Garneton – Baptist Church, Seventh Day Adventist Church, Pentecostal Assemblies of God, Life in Christ Church and Chipangano Church – also crumbled in the hailstorm.
A check by the Daily Mail in Garneton, New Kitwe, Kandabwe and Mulenga townships revealed utter destruction that has left residents in shock and at a loss of what to do next.
The shock is more so for residents whose houses have been completely destroyed.
Church services today could take a different form at congregations that have had the roofs of their buildings ripped off.
Kitwe district commissioner Chanda Kabwe, who visited some of the affected residents, said the initial assessment is that 50 houses have been affected.
Mr Kabwe said Government has assigned experts to determine the extent of the damage so that the victims can be given support.
He said Government will provide the necessary support, including temporary shelter, to all victims immediately a report is done by tomorrow.
“I would like to confirm that over 50 houses have collapsed in Kitwe due to the heavy rains we experienced on Friday night. We have sent a team of experts to affected areas to assess and verify the extent of the damage and how we can help the affected people,” Mr Kabwe said.
He said there were no casualties.
One of the affected residents, Mr James Mutale, described the incident as a disaster which requires quick intervention by the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) through provision of humanitarian assistance.
Mr Kabwe also appealed to Kitwe residents to help prevent drainages from being blocked.
He cautioned the residents against throwing litter in drainages as it is their responsibility to guard these and other public infrastructure.
One of the campaigners outside Downing Street – where the UK Prime Minister and Chancellor live – holds up a cake of Africa with New Alliance countries marked out with flags. Photo: WDM
Huge tracts of land in African countries with access to the sea and high economic growth are being targeted by corporations such as Monsanto and Unilever with help from the British and American governments –including millions of dollars that are intended for helping the poor, says a report published today by UK campaigning group World Development Movement.
The document, titled Carving up a continent: How the UK government is facilitating the corporate takeover of African food systems, explains that a G8 initiative called the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition is using money intended for poverty reduction to instead ease access to key African locations for some of the world’s biggest companies, which already control much of the global food market.
Doublespeak and the new “scramble for Africa”
What’s more, the New Alliance agreements signed with ten key African countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal and Tanzania) are conditional, and many of them require the country in question to bring legislation – for example, revising seed laws to force small farmers to buy seeds and fertilisers from the corporates rather than seed sharing, which has been practised for generations and ensures biodiversity.
Under the new paradigm, multinationals gain access to fertile land and agricultural corridors on the pretext of tackling food poverty and helping Africa’s starving and needy. In reality this is doublespeak. If the New Alliance continues unchecked, it’s likely that problems are stored up for the future, as small scale and family farmers are forced off their land to make way for industrial scale crop production. WDM also identifies issues such as insecure and poorly paid jobs and a focus on producing for export markets rather than to feed local populations.
The report’s introduction, by WDM director Nick Dearden, says: “This is an old story given new impetus. More than a century ago the ‘scramble for Africa’ was instituted under the pretence of civilising the continent. Barbaric crimes were committed and the continent systematically de-developed because it profited Europe. Since that time, Africa’s problem has never been a lack of integration into the international economy – the problem is how it is integrated and in whose interests.”
Campaigners protest outside the UK Department for International Development. Photo: WDM
[pullquote]Using money intended for poverty reduction to ease access to key African locations[/pullquote]
Oblivious citizens
This isn’t the first time the New Alliance has come under fire – the Guardian newspaper published a critical piece last year. But the general populations of the countries whose taxpayers are supporting this power grab are woefully unaware that it is even happening, and so too are the citizens in whose countries these events are unfolding. This despite the fact that a whopping £600 million of UK aid money, for example, via the Department for International Development (DFID), is being channelled into this between 2012 and 2016.
Ironically this comes at a time when alternatives to the industrialisation of agriculture are being explored worldwide, and as the realities of climate change are being better understood. Africa is a place where new models of permaculture could meet old models of sustainable farming and cooperation to leapfrog the West – finding sustainable and locally owned solutions to nutritious food production.
[pullquote]The ‘scramble for Africa’ was instituted under the pretence of civilising the continent[/pullquote]
The wheels are already turning
But this hangs in the balance. Many New Alliance partnership countries, such as Malawi, have already instituted many of the changes demanded as part of their agreement, and it has become much easier for foreign corporations to buy great tracts of land. Ghana recently saw the Plant Breeders’ Bill being pushed through its Parliament by politicians that Food Sovereignty Ghana implied might be on the take.
The corporations involved in the New Alliance are huge – Monsanto, Unilever, Syngenta, DuPont, Cargill, Diageo, SABMiller, Coca Cola, Yara. The last company – Yara – may not be a name you recognise, but is the largest global manufacturer of fertiliser. According to the WDM report, these agrochemicals “already cause serious levels of food poisoning in sub-Saharan Africa, with the UN estimating that health problems linked to pesticides could cost the region $90 billon between 2005 and 2020. Fertilisers also damage soil, leading farmers to rely on them even more in order to maintain production, which increases their risk of getting into debt.”
“The tragic consequences of small-scale farmers’ reliance on fertilisers in India have been much reported. An estimated 250,000 farmers committed suicide between 1995 and 2010 after getting into debt through buying agrochemicals.”
Campaigners representing the New Alliance multinationals carve and eat up Africa. Why no protests anywhere in Africa? Because most of us are oblivious to what’s being done behind our backs, is the simple answer. Photo: WDM
Under the guise of charity
Remember that old development chestnut “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Show him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime”? The New Alliance seems to be about snapping his fishing rod in half, throwing it into the sea and telling him that you now own the sea and he must buy his fish from you, at wildly fluctuating prices. And it’s under the guise of charity.
The ‘scramble for Africa’ was instituted under the pretence of civilising the continent
Yet look at the personnel. Unilever’s external affairs director was previously at DFID and DFID’s director of policy used to work for Unilever. Meanwhile, for all the talk of wanting to solve African hunger, the chosen countries are almost all coastal, and tend to have high economic growth. Of the countries in Africa that have the worst hunger index scores, only one – Ethiopia – is a New Alliance country.
While all the players talk about poverty reduction and food security, the reality is that the path that will have the most positive effect for African farmers and populations long term is food sovereignty. That means ownership and control of land and non-reliance on imported seeds and foods, as well as being able to adjust crops to need. It might be tempting to apply the machine logic of industrialisation to agriculture and scale it up, on the basis that more food grown equals more people fed. But in reality the problem of hunger is not one to do with volume of food produced worldwide – rather it’s to do with existing unjust systems of food production and distribution. These are the very systems that the New Alliance is desperate to bring to Africa.
Other players are the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa, set up by the Rockefeller Foundation, and the Gates Foundation; the New Vision for Agriculture, launched by the World Economic Forum and led by 33 multinationals from Monsanto to Walmart; and Grow Africa, a collaboration between the World Economic Forum and the African Union.
Of course, the New Alliance does have its defenders. Namely, international pop gimp Bono’s ONE Foundation, which hit the headlines a few years ago for giving a whopping 1% of its funds to actual charity…
In its 2013 report Growing Africa: Unlocking the potential of agribusiness the World Bank said: “Africa represents the ‘last frontier’ in global food and agricultural markets.” Once Africa’s greatest commodity to line the pockets of its pillagers was its human capital. Now they’re coming for the land, and the sustenance it offers. Don’t wait until it’s too late.
Permanent secretary Chishimba Nkosha
THE Ministry of Education says the current Education Policy does not have a provision which regulates pupils from using mobile phones in schools.
It is in view of the foregoing that the Ministry of Education is considering including the mobile phone regulatory measure as it revises the Education Policy.
Ministry of Education Permanent Secretary Chishimba Nkosha said in an interview that the current Education Policy was written before the advent of mobile phones hence it being devoid of the mobile phone regulatory provision.
Mr Nkosha, however, said even with the absence of the regulatory provision in the existing Education Policy, the Ministry of Education had given schools guidelines stating that the use of mobile phones in schools should not tamper with the learning of the pupils.
“As you may be aware, the use of cell phones is a new development which began after the Education Policy had been written and at that time there was no attention paid to such issues as the use of cell phones in schools.
“So at the moment, there is no policy in our policy documents regulating the use of cell phones in schools, but the Ministry has given guidelines that the use of the cell phones should not interfere with the learning of the pupils,” he said.
Mr Nkosha said based on the ministry’s guidelines, some individual school boards and Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) had come up with regulations in their schools.
He said the regulations included completely banning pupils, especially from Government schools and some Grant-aided learning institutions, from going to school with mobile phones.
Mr Nkosha said some other ‘flexible’ schools had realised that such technology had come to stay and had allowed pupils to use mobile phones outside classrooms only as carrying mobile phones in classrooms would disturb them during lessons.
“I think as we revise the policy on education, this is one thing we should pay attention to and come up with something more specific on what schools should be doing,” Mr Nkosha said.
President Edgar Lungu shows the Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Frank-Walter STEINMEIER a lion at State House Yesterday 20-11-2015. Picture by ROYD SIBAJENE/ZANIS
VISITING German Minister of Foreign Affairs Frank-Walter Steinmeier is confident Zambia will overcome its current economic problems.
And Germany has decided to open a representation of the Southern African-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry office in Lusaka.
Dr Steinmeier said Germany does not under-estimate the current challenges, but sees Zambia’s vast potential.
“Today we are here at a difficult time for Zambia. The economic, financial and energy crisis creates a lot of hardships for many Zambians.
“But I am confident that Zambia will overcome the current difficulties. The fact that I am accompanied by a high-ranking delegation from parliament, business and academia is proof of me not being the only German who thinks so,” he said.
The German Minister of Foreign Affairs was speaking on Friday evening during a cocktail reception held in his honour in Lusaka.
He said there is need to come up with a coherent reform strategy to make swift head-way on what President Lungu called a ‘journey of national transformation for a smart Zambia’.
Dr Steinmeier said Germans have explored economic possibilities and challenges for German investors in Zambia.
He also said the Southern African-German chamber of Commerce and Industry office will start operating early next year, noting that the importance for creative industries is rising all over the globe.
And Minister of Foreign Affairs Harry Kalaba said Zambia desires to tap into Germany’s expertise on economic diversification.
He said the Zambian government is therefore interested in establishing more economic and trade links with Germany through public private partnerships.
Mr Kalaba is confident that the visit by the German Foreign Affairs minister will result in representatives from Zambian business sectors forging closer partnerships to accelerate economic growth and development in Zambia.
He said the Zambian government is pleased with the high-powered delegation that came from Germany and was hopeful various networks and contacts had been established between respective business persons.
A 95-member German delegation was in Zambia to explore business and bilateral opportunities.
Meanwhile, Dr Steinmeier has urged the ruling and the opposition parties to ensure a levelled playing field during next year’s general elections.
He said Zambia has been a beacon of peace and stability and a good example in handing over power smoothly, which was demonstrated by President Kaunda and President Banda.
Dr Steinmeier earlier met President Lungu at State House before meeting opposition leaders at Pamodzi Hotel. The opposition leaders that attended the meeting were Edith Nawakwi of the Forum for Democracy and Development, Nevers Mumba of the Movement for Multi-party Democracy, Elias Chipimo of the National Restoration Party and Mutale Nalumango of the United Party for National Development.
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
(Psalm 23:6, NKJV)
What’s Chasing You?
In the Bible, David was known as a man after God’s own heart. Notice what what He says in Psalm 23, “Goodness and mercy are following me.” David lived with an attitude of expectancy. One translation says, “God’s kindness chases me everywhere that I go.” David’s attitude was, “Something good is going to happen to me. Everywhere I go, I know God’s blessings are chasing me. Favor is following me around.” No wonder he saw God’s goodness! No wonder he overcame his obstacles and accomplished great dreams. He knew good things were chasing after him!
Do you know what’s chasing you right now? Not debt. Not failure. Not mediocrity. Not defeat. Not lack. Not at all! You are a child of the Most High God. You have been crowned with favor. You have been redeemed from every curse. God has set you apart as His own special treasure. When you look back in your rearview mirror, you’d better get ready because you have a tailgater! There’s something coming toward you at a high rate of speed. You know what it is? Blessings, favor, supernatural opportunities, restoration, divine connections—God’s goodness and mercy following you all the days of your life! That’s what’s chasing you!
A Prayer for Today
“Father, I love You so much. Thank You for Your abundant grace and mercy. Today, I choose to look for Your goodness, favor and blessings. Let everything I say and do bring honor to You in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda has said that Government has put in place measures aimed at promoting value addition to the country’s natural resources.
Mr. Chikwanda said that this was why Zambia is an active participant in the COMESA adjustment facility that is aimed at fast tracking the diversification of exports in the region.
The Minister said that the facility will help maximize the regional value chains in various economic sectors to foster economic transformation.
Mr. Chikwanda said that the facility must be used as a tool for joint sourcing of finances at regional level.
The minister noted that through COMESA, countries in the region can accelerate efforts in economic diversification and macroeconomic stability which will foster improved living standards of the people.
Mr. Chikwanda was speaking at the opening of the inaugural convergence council and 11th meeting of the COMESA fund Ministerial committee.
And COMESA Secretary General Sindiso Ngwenya said that countries in the COMESA region should shift from commodity orientated economies to other economic activities.
And EU head of delegation for Zambia and COMESA Alexander Mariani says the EU will continue to support economic integration in the COMESA region.
Hifikepunye Pohamba, the former President of Namibia, last night accepted the 2014 Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership at a special ceremony in Accra, Ghana.
The Ibrahim Prize recognises and celebrates excellence in African leadership. It is an annual US$5 million award paid over 10 years and US$200,000 annually for life thereafter.
Presenting the award to President Pohamba, Dr Salim Ahmed Salim, Chair of the independent Prize Committee, said: “President Pohamba’s focus in forging national cohesion and reconciliation at a key stage of Namibia’s consolidation of democracy and social and economic development impressed the ?Prize Committee. His ability to command the confidence and the trust of his people is exemplary.”
Accepting the Award, President Pohamba said: “This honour is not for me alone. I accept it with a sense of great humility, on behalf of the Namibian people, who entrusted me, through democratic processes, to lead our country as President for two consecutive terms. Their commitment to uphold democracy and the rule of law, made the modest achievements that were recorded during my tenure of office possible.”
Mo Ibrahim, the founder of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, said: “We need to change the narrative about African leadership. The world knows everything about our bad leaders, but nothing about our heroes, especially those who are doing wonderful things for their people. We need role models – we need heroes – to inspire and motivate our young people. President Pohamba is one of the unsung heroes of Africa.”
The Ibrahim Prize Ceremony kicks off the 2015 Governance Weekend, a series of events and debates organised by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation. On Saturday 21 November, the Ibrahim Forum will bring together experts from across Africa and the world to discuss African urban dynamics. It will be followed by a free concert in Accra’s Independence Square involving Angelique Kidjo, Sarkodie, Stonebwoy, Youssou N’Dour and others. On Sunday 22 November, TP Mazembe from Democratic Republic of Congo will compete against Ghana Dream Team for the Ibrahim Cup in a special football match at Accra Stadium.
Green Buffaloes are the 2015 Barclays Cup champions.
Buffaloes beat Nkwazi 2-0 at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka to become the fifth team to lift Zambia’s only lucrative knockout Cup competition.
First half goals by Stephen Kabamba and Christopher Katongo handed Buffaloes their debut Barclays Cup triumph.
Kabamba headed-in the first goal in th 21st minute off a Sebastian Mwansa corner.
Katongo completed the scoring in the 34th minute from the penalty spot after Jasper Masialeti was brought down in the box by Nkwazi goalkeeper Makasa Kalaba.
This is Buffaloes first silverware since 2010 when they won the season-opening Samuel ‘Zoom’ Ndhlovu Memorial Charity Shield and also a debut Cup win for coach Bilton Musonda.
Green Buffaloes Second goalGreen buffaloes SupporterPresident Edgar Lungu watches Buffaloes Captain Katongo Lift Cup
