The lead up to the Zed Me Free, A Concert to end HIV, which will take place on the 28th November 2015, has seen a number of “Roadshows” taking place. These take the form of mobile clinics, where free HIV testing takes place, which is all that is required to gain entrance to the Zed Me Free, A Concert to End HIV.

The Clinics have proved to be a great success with a total of 4,835 people having been tested so far. Knowing your status is a step in the right direction in the ongoing war against aids,” says Francis Kasonde, Prevention program Manager, AIDS Healthcare Foundation Zambia. Testing will continue at Chawama from 09:00 to 17:00 featuring guest appearances from Maiko Zulu, John Chiti and Danny Kaya, where tickets for the show will be given to all those who are tested.

This spectacular show, which has been arranged by the The Muchimba Music Foundation, features Headline Act, Thomas Buttenschøn as well as some of Africa’s top talent including; Macky 2, Mampi, Afunka, Chef 187 and B Flow to name a few. The Muchimbas Music Foundation is dedicated to raising awareness through the power of music. Co-founder, Thomas Muchimba Buttenschøn has spread his messages of positivity and hope through his pervasive and powerful music which has taken him around the world from his home country of Denmark, to his motherlands of Zambia. It’s within these journeys that Thomas has seen, firsthand, just how the power of music can change the hearts and minds of entire communities and help create positive changes within societies.

So get on down to the testing centers, get tested, get condoms, get the t-shirt and get access to Zed Me Free, A Concert to End HIV!

Mr. Banda says the Rainbow party is getting stronger everyday and that come 2016, the PF will Goodson Bandabe in for a rude shock.

Mr. Banda has wondered where Patriotic Front is getting the impression that the Rainbow party under its leader Wynter Kabimba is not liked by Zambians.

He says to the contrary, what is on the ground is that people are not happy with the PF.
Meanwhile Mr. Banda has dismissed as false and unfounded reports suggesting that his party is working with the UPND.

Mr. Banda says the two political parties have different beliefs, adding that it is a well known fact that the Rainbow party is a socialist political party.

Gospel artist ,Mag44, released the video for the second Single from the Brave Only album. The song is called “Mwentula”  and features Lelwa

 
BY KAPA187

Vice President Inonge Win says her statement in Parliament last week on opposition political party meetings on the Copperbelt has been taken out of context.

During the Vice President’s question time this morning, Ms. Wina says at no point did she insinuate that all political meetings on the Copperbelt had been banned.

She says what she said was that at the time the UPND requested for permission to hold meetings on the Copperbelt, President Edgar Lungu was in the province engaging mining companies on how issues relating to their operations could be resolved.

She says while every political party has a right to hold a political rally, Police on the Copperbelt could have at that particular time deemed it not appropriate for political meetings after assessing the situation.

Ms. Wina says it is only those who are taking her statement on political meetings on the Copperbelt out of context who know their reasons.

She states that Zambians and political parties in particular have the right to hold rallies anywhere in the country provided they follow what is provided in the law.

Asked by MMD Mumbwa Member of Parliament Brian Chituwo whether she still stands by her statement that political parties should not go to the Copperbelt because of the challenges being faced in the mining province, Ms. Wina said there is no way Dr. Chituwo would suggest that she is changing her statement.

THE United Party for National Development (UPND) and the Patriotic Front (PF) are abrogating the electoral code of conduct by engaging in early campaigns for the 2016 general elections, the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) has charged.

And the UPND has claimed that it was only following what President Edgar Lungu was doing and will continue with its campaigns until the ruling party changed its way of doing politics.

Reacting to the violence that erupted on the Copperbelt following the clash between UPND and PF cadres on Wednesday, EFZ executive director Pukuta Mwanza urged the two political parties to halt their activities especially on the Copperbelt where the political environment was volatile.

Rev Mwanza said leaders of the two parties must act responsibly by caging their unruly cadres and halt their election campaigns because they breached the electoral code of conduct.

“Regardless of who started the violence, what happened on Wednesday is very unfortunate and is a sign of worse things to come as we draw closer to 2016.

‘‘It is lack of responsibility on the part of the leaders of the two political parties which have continued to abrogate the electoral code of conduct with impunity. How do they start campaigning even before ECZ announces the campaign window period?” Rev Mwanza asked.

But UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma accused the PF of starting the campaign.

Mr. Kakoma said his party was simply following the trend set by President Lungu who was allegedly campaigning for his party.

“What do you expect us to do when the President himself and his wife are campaigning? We will also campaign. As a matter of fact, you do not expect us to be inactive.

‘‘We have continued to mobilise our party by putting structures in place and if PF campaigns, we will also campaign because you don’t expect us to keep quiet when the President himself is calling for people to vote for him in 2016,’’ said Mr Kakoma. But PF secretary general Davies Chama said the UPND was the one that was fanning violence in the country.

“It is clear from the very beginning, the UPND made it clear that it will not stop campaigning even after all political parties were advised to desist from that. So, who is acting irresponsibly here?

“President Lungu is a leader for the entire country and so he is free to go to any part of Zambia to familiarize himself with the challenges facing the people of this country and so you cannot say by visiting certain provinces, he is campaigning,” Mr. Chama said.

UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has stepped up his party mobilisation activities with a weekend trip to western province.

Mr Hichilema accompanied by senior party officials including former First Lady Dr Maureen Mwanawasa arrived at Mongu airport this morning to a thunderous welcome.

Addressing some UPND supporters who welcomed him at the airport, Mr Hichilema said the economic challenges Zambia is currently facing are purely own creation through leadership choices.

Mr Hichilema said Zambia has enormous economic potential that must be harnessed from every corner of the country.

‘We call on all our members countrywide to continue party mobilisation.

Many thanks to our brothers and sisters in Mongu, Western Province, who came out in thousands to give us moral support,’ Mr Hichilema said.

‘But these crowds must be turned into actual voters through the ongoing voters registration exercise. We shall not let you down and will unite this country once again even more regardless of where we come from.’

Mr Hichilema was yesterday forced to halt his campaigns on the Copperbelt after violent clashes between the PF and UPND cadres forcing the Police to fire tear gas canisters.

With it being Mango season in Zambia, I figured I should inspire you with a few ideas of how to enjoy the juicy fruit.  Most of us don’t need ways to disguise a mango in our food, but it’s always nice to be able to enjoy the same fruit in variety of ways; whilst still getting all of that goodness. Did you know that mangoes are so tasty that more mangoes are eaten fresh, than any other fruit in the world?  But it’s not just their taste that’s great – like most fruits and veggies mangoes come with a variety of health benefits.  So I thought I’d share a few with you; you will be pleasantly surprised, and I’m sure this will make you indulge in mangoes a lot more than ever before.

Mangoes help prevent Cancer – the antioxidant compounds in them protect against colon, breast and prostate cancers; and leukaemia. They Lower Cholesterol because they have high levels of fibre, pectin and vitamin C which help to lower serum cholesterol levels.  They help clear the Skin by unclogging pores and eliminating pimples; and can be used both internally and externally on the skin.  Mangoes improve eye health – one cup (175g) of sliced mango provides 25% of the necessary daily amount of vitamin A, which promotes good eyesight and prevents night blindness and dry eyes.  Mango leaves help in Diabetes by normalising insulin levels in the blood.  The home remedy involves boiling the leaves in water, soaking them through the night and then consuming the filtered product in the morning. The mango fruit also has a relatively low glycaemia index so moderate quantities will not spike sugar levels.   They improve digestion because they contain enzymes that help in the breakdown of proteins; and the fibre in them also helps in digestion and elimination.  Because of their generous amounts of vitamin C and vitamin A, mangoes help boost your immune system and help keep it strong and healthy.  And last but certainly not least mangoes help improve your Sex life; they are a great source of vitamin E, which studies show, helps in the bedroom.  Need I say more?  What are you waiting for go get your mangoes….  So in conclusion people, mangoes are good for you, run and tell your friends and family and enjoy as many mangoes as possible.  Drink them, eat them, and even apply them to your skin…and if you have any mangoes leftover try out one of these recipes:

Mango passion Mocktail (Mocktail simply means it is non-alcoholic) and a simple and sweet Mango Cake

Preparation and cooking time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Serves: up to 20 people

Ingredients

For the Mango Cake loaf

• 250g plain flour
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon (optional)
• 2 teaspoons bicarbonate of soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 250g caster sugar
• 2 eggs
• 175ml vegetable oil
• 400g of mango, peeled, stones removed and chopped
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 4 tablespoons sultanas or raisins (optional)

For the Mango passion Mocktail

• 1 and a ¼ large mangoes, chopped
• 5 ½ tbsp of orange juice
• 250ml apple juice
• 1 or 2 large apples chopped

Method

Preheat the oven to 180 ? C.  Grease 2 loaf tins, and then pour flour into them, making sure every side and corner is covered with flour.

Combine all of the dry ingredients. Using a whisk, or electric mixer, beat the eggs with oil and add them to the flour mixture. Add mangoes, lemon juice and raisins, and mix well, until fully combined.

Pour the mixture equally into the loaf tins; and bake for about 60 minutes.  Pierce a knife through the middle of the cakes; if it comes out clean then they are cooked. Remove them from the oven; allow them to cool in the tins for about 30 minutes.  Then remove the cakes from the tins and sprinkle some sugar over the top or cut some left over mango slices and place them over the top, to decorate.

Combine the mangoes and orange juice in a blender, and blend, until completely smooth.  Gradually add the apple juice, and blend once more.  Add ice blocks and the chopped apples, and place in the fridge ready to serve.

Serving

You can enjoy the cake loaf and the Mocktail together.  But I personally love to eat thick slices of the cake with a cool glass of milk.

Your mocktail is perfect for the hot weather, so sit back soak up the sun and relax, with your mocktail in one hand and a gossip mag in the other.

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

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

As MMD youths, we feel the presence of UPND President Hakainde Hichilema’s on the Copperbelt cannot pass without a comment.

Typical of Mr Hichilema, he has found his way to the Copperbelt on a mission to mislead miners in the province that he has the answer to their plight.

What we do not find surprising is that Mr Hichilema always takes advantage of the weak in society.

Throughout his business and political life, Mr Hichilema has always preyed on the weak to his benefit.

He has seen it fit to go and camp on the Copperbelt to peddle half truths because he believes the miners, in their desperation will listen to him.

President Edgar Chagwa Lungu’s recent trip to the region was fruitful. We know that the engagement he initiated with the mining executives has started bearing fruit and the stabilisation plan for the mining sector will soon be rolled out.

But as usual, Mr Hichilema is attempting to undo the good works that President Lungu initiated whilst on the Copperbelt by taking a cocktail of lies to struggling miners who are facing a world of uncertainty.

We challenge Mr Hichilema to come out in the open and lay down a blue print for the revival of the mining sector.

As MMD youths, all that we have heard from Mr Hichilema about how he plans to run the mining sector have been contradictory.

On a Monday, he says he will bring back Anglo American, on a Tuesday, he says he will promote local ownership of the mines. On a Wednesday, he says his Government will increase its stake in the mines.

On a Thursday, he says he will go for optimal taxation of the mines and on a Friday, he says his mining policy will be dictated by the prevailing conditions at the time.

All followers of Mr Hichilema’s public statements will attest to the fact that he has been flip-flopping on the issue of the mines.

When Zambia debated the issue of the mineral royalty tax, Mr Hichilema has usual offered somersaulting answers each time he was asked about his taxation policy for the mines.

Up to now, Mr Hichilema’s definite position on the mining sector is unknown.

If he has any, we challenge him to lay it out for national debate because we know that whatever it would be, it will be found wanting.

We do not believe that Mr Hichilema’s holds the magic bullet to resolving the challenges facing the mining sector.

The key problems facing the mining sector are global in nature.
The slump in metal prices is beyond Zambia. We know that key commodity exporters including Botswana (Gold), DRC (Copper & Cobalt), Chile (Copper & Gold) Australia (Copper, Iron, Zinc) including India (Zinc, Iron and Copper) and China (Copper) have all been hard hit by the fall in metal prices.

The decision by mining companies to place certain operations on care and maintenance is part of a global business response. Most of those decisions have little to do with the Government in power.

As MMD youths, we wish to applaud the efforts by President Edgar Chagwa Lungu to ensure business continuity and protect employee welfare even in this challenge economic environment.

The route that President Lungu has taken which promotes dialogue between Government, the unions and the mining investors is timely and commendable as it is the surest way of sustaining the mining sector.

We know that Mr Hichilema deep down his heart wishes that all the mines could close so that he could score some cheap political scores in the hope that he could win the next elections and then sell the mines on a cheap to his Anglo American friends.

We wish to tell Mr Hichilema that his evil intentions will not come to pass. Zambians now know him very well for a cheap politician he is. The mining companies have all reaffirmed that they will not abandon Zambia because they are confident that the country presents the best investment climate possible.

Just on Monday, Konkola Copper Mines CEO Steven Din reaffirmed that Vedanta Resources Plc is in Zambia for the long haul.
Last month, Glencore A.G CEO Ivan Glansenberg told investors that Zambia is the place to go for long term investors and that his plans for Mopani are well in place.

Our appeal is to all mining players including the mine unions not to be gullible and pay audience to Mr Hichilema.

Recent history shows that he personally plundered the resources of this country by agreeing to be part and part of a flawed privatisation process which even the IMF and the World Bank have agreed was badly implemented.

So where then does Mr Hichilema get the moral authority to go and deceive the miners? Until he truthfully answers questions about how he personally benefited from the cheap sale of ZCCM assets to his friends for a song, he does not have the right to address our miners in the manner he seeks to do.

To the residents of the Copperbelt, our advice is that they should dismiss Mr Hichilema’s machinations with the contempt they deserve.

He does not deserve to even an audience with the people of the region because he is the one responsible for their misery.

Our humble advice to Mr Hichilema is that let him return to Southern Province and take care of his ranches than making a mockery of a precarious situation on the Copperbelt which President Lungu is delicately handling.

Issued by: Mr Bowman C. Lusambo
MMD Vice Presidential Aspirant & Kabushi Aspiring Candidate 2016