CHINESE ambassador to Zambia Yang Youming says more Chinese investors are willing to invest in various sectors of the Zambian economy.

Mr Yang also says more Zambian students are choosing to study in China, making it a two-way interaction between Zambia and China.

He said the bilateral relations between the two countries have created more opportunities than ever before for Zambians and Chinese to pursue their dreams.

Mr Yang was speaking at the award ceremony of founding Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda and other eminent people who included former President Rupiah Banda and former minister of Foreign Affairs Vernon Mwaanga hosted by the Chinese embassy at Intercontinental Hotel in Lusaka on Wednesday.

“There may be cultural misunderstandings from time to time, but what we have achieved in the process is that we have learnt about the merits of each other, learnt to understand each other and brought tangible benefits to the two countries,” he said.

Mr Yang also said China is ready to enhance co-operation with African countries, including Zambia, in various fields on the basis of mutual understanding.

The embassy awarded Dr Kaunda with the life-time achievement award.

Mr Yang has also awarded Mr Banda and Mr Mwaanga with the remarkable contribution award.
Other eminent people that received the remarkable contribution award include former special assistant to Dr Kaunda Mark Chona, deputy general manager of China Non-Ferrous Metal Corporation Tao Xinghu and general manager of Johnken Farm (Zambia) Li Li.

The Chinese medical team won the Outstanding Group Award.

The Chinese embassy in Zambia decided to set up the Chinese Ambassador’s Award of Friendship and host the first award ceremony to honour eminent figures and carry forward the all-weather friendship between Zambia and China.

And Deputy Minister of Tourism Rayford Mbulu has hailed men and women who have tremendously contributed to the long standing ties between Zambia and China.

Mr Mbulu also acknowledged Dr Kaunda who, together with China’s Chairman Mao Zedong, laid the foundation for strong bonds of friendship that the two countries enjoy today.

“Zambia will forever be indebted to China for the unwavering support rendered during our struggle for independence as manifested by Zambia’s unrelated support for China to be admitted to the United Nations family,” he said.

MATERO member of Parliament (MP) Miles Sampa has called for more unity in the Patriotic Front (PF) as the ruling party prepares for 2016 presidential and general elections.

Mr Sampa said everyone in the PF is a factor, hence the need to embrace them.

“As long as you call yourself a PF member, we need to unite with all other members,” he said.

Mr Sampa, who recently pledged to support President Lungu in the 2016 elections, said the PF should work together because there is strength in unity.

Meanwhile, Mr Sampa has handed over a brick-making machine worth K120,000 to the youth of Matero.

Mr Sampa said: “The machine is electrical, it can make over 100 bricks within a few minutes.

“The brick-making machine is not a donation, you are expected to utilise it and pay back the money because the money I used to purchase the machine is a K150,000 loan from Indo-Zambia Bank,’’ he said.

Mr Sampa said he has acted as collateral for the bank to give them the loan and that if the youth fail to pay back, he will be forced to use his gratuity to pay back.

Mr Sampa said brick-making is a lucrative business that is being prioritised.

He said 50 youths of Matero have united to take charge of the brick-making project.

Mr Shamenda said Government will soon open offices for labour attachés at some selected missions abroad starting with Geneva, Switzerland.

He said in Parliament on Wednesday evening that Cabinet had approved the opening of labour offices at some selected missions.

Mr Shamenda said the labour officers to be recruited by the government will be tasked to educate or inform investors intending to invest in Zambia about the country’s labour laws.

“We will soon be recruiting labour officers in some selected missions abroad and I am happy to inform the House that the ministry is just waiting for authority to employ from the Public Service Management Division.

“Once we are given the authority, we will employ starting with Geneva and these officers will be tasked to co-ordinate labour matters,” he said.

Mr Shamenda said Government is working hard to ensure that all the investors adhere to the country’s labour laws.

the labour attachés will be tasked to educate investors on labour matters so that when they come to Zambia, they follow the standards of employment as well as protect the interests of workers.

Mr Shamenda said Government is concerned about some investors that are abrogating the country’s labour laws.

He also said Government will launch the revised National Employment and Labour Market Policy before the end of this year.

Mr Shamenda said the policy is aimed at building an effective labour administration system, adding that his ministry will also launch the 2014 Labour Force Survey by the end of this month.

The UPND MPs have vowed to continue walking out from Parliament until the rights of the citizens stop being infringed upon by the Zambia Police.

The MPs say they are determined to carry on signaling to the PF government on behalf of the Zambian people that things are not ok in the Country.

Speaking on behalf the protesting MPs shortly after walking out from the proceedings, UPND Choma Member of Parliament Cornelius Mweetwa says his fellow MPs will not stop boycotting proceedings in spite of the Speaker asking the Minister of Home Affairs to issue a ministerial statement early next week over the attacks on UPND president Hakainde Hichilema on the Copperbelt.

Mr. Mweetwa who is also UPND party deputy spokesperson states that his fellow MPs suspect that the Zambia Police is being used by President Edgar Lungu to preserve himself in power.
He has told journalists that UPND thinks that President Lungu is allegedly desperate to stay in State House.

Mr. Mweetwa notes that the UPND MPs will not however pretend as if things are well when in fact not.

He says the UPND is also left to wonder how possibly the PF government can continue preaching reconciliation when on the other hand people’s rights of movement are being infringed upon.

Mr. Mweetwa says his fellow MPs can only conclude that President Lungu and his government are proclaiming reconciliation to allegedly hoodwink the people that things are ok in the Country.

Mr. Chanda says it is disappointing that Mr. Hichilema who is aspiring for the presidency does not respect the advice that was granted to his party by the police not to hold political meetings on the Copperbelt.

He said this in an interview with ZNBC news in Lusaka.

Mr. Chanda also urged the opposition leader to condemn the recent attack by UPND cadres on local musician Wesley Chibambo commonly known as Dandy Crazy in Mazabuka where he was scheduled to perform.

And MMD National Youth Chairperson Bowman Lusambo has urged the opposition UPND to condemn the recent violence in which a woman was manhandled for wearing another party’s regalia.

UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has revealed that he has decided to temporarily halt his campaigns on the Copperbelt because it does not want to put the lives of UPND supporters at risk.

In a statement, Mr Hichilema said the UPND has decided to temporarily stop the campaigns in the region because it is a responsible and peace loving party.

He said the UPND does not want its supporters to be shot at, injured, and arrested by trigger happy police officers.

Below is Mr Hichilema’s full statement

Dear colleagues in the Copperbelt

Firstly we would like to wholeheartedly thank you for the wonderful reception and the massive support accorded to our team despite the numerous challenges.

Today we had planned to visit our colleagues who were injured and are in hospitals, and also those who were arrested.

We also planned to meet our teams and other key stakeholders in Mufurila, Kalulushi, Masaiti, Lufwanyama, Mpongwe, Chambeshi and some traditional leadership.

But as a responsible political party and peace loving Zambian citizens, we have decided to temporarily halt our programmes as we do not want our people to be shot at, injured, and arrested by trigger happy police officers being commanded by our political competitors in the ruling PF.

What we experienced in Kitwe and Luanshya yesterday were basically Crimes Against Humanity akin to a war zone. Those who witnessed it would not believe we are now 51 years independent.

Our experience yet again revealed the urgent need for a new people driven constitution that will guarantee people’s liberties, enshrine respect for human rights and good governance, and foster economic development.

For now we call on all our supporters across the country to arm themselves with the mighty defensive weapons at their disposal which are NRCs and voters cards, while our colleagues in the PF are arming themselves with pangas, guns, machetes, and other dangerous weapons.

We all have to stand up and defend our democratic ideals and institutions in order to secure and protect our freedoms of speech and association.

We remain fully focused on our mission to help drive the economic development of our country through a robust diversification programme

Once more many thanks to the massive support from our Copperbelt residents and we promise we shall come back again soon.

And the Ministry of Higher Education has since handed over the Robert Makasa University to UNZA.

Director for Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training in the Ministry of Higher Education, Alex Simumba says the Ministry resolved that UNZA is best suited to run the new University.

ZNBC’s Yotam Mugara reports that Mr. Simumba disclosed this development when a team from schools of Medicine and Education inspected infrastructure at the new University in Chinsali District.

And UNZA delegation leader, Christine Kanyengo said her institution is ready to open Robert Makasa University once all formalities with government are concluded.

And Muchinga Province Permanent Secretary, Bright Nundwe has appealed to UNZA to quickly open the University.

Mr. Nundwe said the University will not only decongest the current Universities but also bring development to the province.

Ms Masebo took plea along with four others who equally pleaded their innocence.

Ms Masebo and four other took plea this morning before Lusaka Resident Magistrate Prince Mwinga.

Ms Masebo’s co- accused are Benson Mbewe, Joyce Sakala, Kennedy Kabunda and Emmanuel Chabo.

Magistrate Mwiinga has set December 3rd for mention and setting of trial dates.

Ms Masebo and her co-accused allegedly committed the offence of unlawful assembly on September 15, 2015 in Lusaka on Nationalist Road and Independence Avenue.