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CENTRAL Province Road Transport and safety Agency (RTSA) manager David Manjulunji has called on the Kabwe Municipal Council to address the issue of indiscriminate parking by truck drivers citing this as one of the causes for accidents.
Mr Manjulunji said the issue of truck parking in the central business district in Kabwe is an issue of grave concern to RTSA, especially trucks carrying flammable and hazardous goods.
“The parking of trucks in the central business in Kabwe is a recipe for disaster, especially the trucks carrying flammable goods as they park close to the filling stations and should a fire break out, the whole town centre would be gutted,” Mr Manjulunji said.
He said this at the weekend during the World Day of Remembrance of road traffic accident victims’ memorial service at Ebenezer Church in Kabwe.
He called for close collaboration with the local authority to address issues that threatened the lives of pedestrians.
Mr Manjulunji said that the issue of billboards in various spots around town and highways had also become a public concern as they were erected in a manner where pedestrians and other road users were obscured from seeing oncoming traffic.
He called on the public and organisations to seek RTSA’s road safety specialisation before engaging into such practices because ultimately, there was no winner when an accident happens.
Kabwe Mayor Richard Bango said the council did not allow the trucks to park in town and that the trucks that parked in the town centre did so illegally and were equally worried with the effects of such activities.
Mr Bango said the municipality had found alternative land for the construction of a parking area for the trucks and had put up road signs that indicate to the truck drivers that they should not park within the town centre during the day or night time.
“As a council we are very much concerned with the safety of the residents and it is for this reason that we have put up road marks in the town centre to ensure that traffic flow is not interfered with, we are ready to collaborate with RTSA any time we are called upon,” he said.
Permanent secretary Chishimba Nkosha
MORE than 700,000 children of school-going age who are supposed to be in school are currently not enrolled in the country’s education system, General Education Permanent Secretary Chishimba Nkosha has said.
Mr Nkosha said the situation was of grave concern to Government and called for stakeholder involvement in the provision of education, to go around the situation and ensure that all children of school-going age were enrolled.
He said Zambia being a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the right to education, the number of children not in school was worrying.
He was speaking in a speech read for him by the Ministry’s director of planning and information, Owen Mgemezulu during the Zambia Open Community Schools (ZOCS) annual general meeting.
“Latest survey reports indicate that there might be over 700,000 children of school going-age in the country who are not in school; a situation that is worrisome to us, especially that Zambia is a signatory to the United Nations convention on the right to education.
“It is for this reason that we call upon all the players in the education provision arena to join hands in the fight to enrol all children in schools,” he said.
Mr Nkosha said the ministry was ensuring that community schools were not sidelined as the children in those schools were also its responsibility.
He urged civil society organisations such as ZOCS to continue to help in the provision of quality and equitable education through public awareness and other activities essential to improving the quality of learning.
He said the revised curriculum was successfully rolled out and had shown great improvement in academic performance of literacy programmes, especially among grade one pupils.
He said pupils were now able to understand better and had improved interactions between them, teachers, the school and the community.
ZOCS board chairperson Maureen Simunchembu said community schools were offering education to around 117,000 children across the country.
Ms Simunchembu said ZOCS’s vision was to ensure that the vulnerable children had access to quality education to help them realise their dreams.
“Community schools provide education to 117,000 learners – 46, 800 boys and 70,200 girls,” she said.
ZOCS was currently supporting over 524 community schools dotted around the 43 districts in the country.
THE Patriotic Front (PF) legal counsel has clarified that President Edgar Lungu is mandated by the party constitution to be in office for a full five-year term from the date of election during the November 30, 2014 convention.
The ruling party described as disgruntled and frustrated, members that are calling for a convention to be held before next year’s general elections.
The Constitution also allowed for another convention if the current party President was incapacitated and could not perform by virtue of mental or physical health, he decided to resign or through death.
Below is the full statement
LEGAL RESPONSE TO CALLS FOR A CONVENTION TO ELECT A PF PARTY PRESIDENT -BY PF LEGAL COUNSEL TUTWA .S. NGULUBE
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, this is my Legal response to the calls by some seemingly disgruntled and frustrated members calling for a Party Convention before Next year’s elections to elect another President of the Patriotic Front Party.
On the 30th November 2014 at the Mulungushi University I was privileged to officially handle the Bye election of the election of President of the Patriotic Front Party.
Eleven candidates had verbally expressed their intentions to stand as Presidential candidates but only president Edgar Chagwa Lungu met the election criteria enshrined in the Patriotic Front Constitution.
None but President Lungu turned up for the nominations just before elections and only President Lungu paid the none refundable fee of K20,000.00 required to be paid by all the candidates.
It was only President Lungu who even organised and presented 200 live supporters drawn from the 10 provinces before me the Returning officer after the announcement that all should do so. This means the rest of the candidates did not only fail to pay but even to present their 200 supporters.
President Lungu is the only candidate that filled in Nomination forms and declaration of intentions to stand as President during the bye elections.
Having been fully satisfied that only one of the 11 candidates was duly nominated and in line with the Constitution of the party I declared him unopposed and swore him in as President of the Patriotic Front Party for a term of 5 years.
According to the Patriotic Front Constitution the President carries a mandatory 5 year term from the date of election. This means that the President of Patriotic Front Edgar Chagwa Lungu was elected for a period of 5 years from the 30th November 2014.
This clearly does not make him eligible for another election before the 5 years mandate elapses.
The convention convened to elect a new president was an Extra Ordinary General Conference. According to the Patriotic Front Constitution all decisions of a General conference can only be overturned by another General conference.
The life span of a General conference is 5 years meaning that the next General Conference shall only be held after 5 years.What, then, will be the fate of the decisions made by the General Conference?
The decisions of the general conference equally have a lifespan that is untempered unless and until the said decisions are subjected to another General Conference for questions whether the said decisions should change.
A perusal of the PF Constitution reveals no short cut to the election of another president within a year.
What might be argued by fellow Legal minds is: But under what circumstances another election of the Party president can be held before 5 years?
My analysis is that only when the questions of :
(a) Incapacity to perform by virtue of mental or physical health of the Party President,
(b) Resignation of the Party President,
(C ) Death of a party President,
Other than these three I do not see how we can have calls for the election of a President when President Edgar Lungu remains PF PARTY president.
Let me state that there can only be an election if there is a vacancy in that office.
None of the three situations have arisen to create a vacancy and for as long as there is no vacancy, there will Not be another election of the President of the Patriotic Front Party.
The issue of who the rightful party President of the Patriotic Front is arose when a replica Convention was held by Dr. G. L. SCOTT on the 2st December 2014.
This question is now an academic one as President Lungu was subjected to the due process of the law and regulations and the High Courts and the Supreme courts of Zambia had occasion to adjudicate upon this question.
JUDGE I.C.T CHALI and JUDGE M.S. MULENGA presided over similar cases in the High Court.
The Judgment of Judge M. S. Mulenga at the Lusaka High COURT declared Edgar Lungu President of the Patriotic Front while judge CHALI dismissed the case for Miles Sampa saying it lacked merit.
The Supreme Court equally adjudicated upon this matter in a matter where Miles Emannuel Sampa appealed to the Supreme Court to challenge Judge MULENGA’S judgment and Judge Chili’s dismissal.
Both Appeals were heard together and refused and dismissed together.
He was unsuccessful. The supreme court refused to declare him President of the Patriotic Front because Judge Mulenga had already declared Edgar Lungu.
That Supreme Court judgment also heard the complaint by Miles Sampa that the procedure used to elect president Lungu was wrong. The courts did not agree with Mr. Sampa and the matter died having been fully determined by all the courts.
In conclusion, the calls for a convention to elect another party president are unfounded and unconstitutional and cannot be legally sustained. The President of the Patriotic Front Party remains Edgar Chagwa Lungu until the 30th November 2019.
I thank you all.
TUTWA SANDANI NGULUBE- ZAMBIAN (LLB- UNZA)AHCZ, ASCZ (AIHR,) GIZA, EGYPT. LEGAL COUNSEL OF THE PATRIOTIC FRONT PARTY
George Lwandamina and Kalusha Bwalya in KenyaChipolopolo coach George Lwandamina says Zambia is looking forward to qualifying for the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Zambia on Sunday advanced to the group stage of the World Cup qualifiers after beating Sudan 2-0 in Ndola to progress 3-0 on aggregate.
In a post-match media briefing, Lwandamina said he was confident that Zambia can qualify for the Word Cup.
“It was a very difficulty game especially that we were carrying a slender victory. After this hurdle now we have to sit and chat the way forward,” Lwandamina told reporters.
“Definitely we are all optimistic not just players. I am sure all Zambians are looking forward to go to the World Cup.
So we will try our level best and plan to achieve the objective of qualifying to the World Cup,” he said.
Twenty teams will go into the groups after the final second round matches are played on Tuesday.
Zambia goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene says the team looking forward to the group stage draws of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers before making any team prospects.
Zambia advanced to the group stage after beating Sudan 2-0 at advance 3-0 on aggregate.
“Preparations start now but we will have to wait until the group draws are done so we know who we will play so that we can prepare properly. But we will have to work extra hard,” Mweene said who also captained the team on Sunday in the absence of Rainford Kalaba who missed the match due to a fever.
Twenty teams will go into the groups after the final second round matches are played on Tuesday.
Government has said that it will borrow not more than one billion Kwacha from commercial banks next year.
Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda said that this was to allow commercial banks have sufficient funds available to lend to productive sectors of the economy.
Mr Chikwanda said that government also wanted to reduce the current high interest rates that commercial banks are charging.
He noted that the high cost of doing business in Zambia has also been triggered by high interest rates.
Mr.Chikwanda said that this has hampered the Small Medium Enterprise -SME- sector to access affordable funding to grow their businesses.
The Minister was speaking during the commission of National Savings and Credit Bank NATSAVE Nchelenge branch in Nchelenge district.
Mr Chikwanda praised NATSAVE for assisting farmers in the district through loan facilities.
He said Luapula province needs to transform from fishing to promoting Agriculture.
At the same function NATSAVE Managing Director Cephas Chabu said the Nchelenge branch held a saving deposit of 7 point 5 million Kwacha as at 31st October 2015.
Mr. Chabu said the branch has given out K4.9 million worth of loans to 698 people in the community.
And Nchelenge Member of Parliament Raymond Mpundu thanked government for rolling out banking services into rural areas.
Mr Mpundu said the establishment of a bank in the district will boost economic activities in the area.
And Luapula Province Minister Benson Kapaya said the province is posed for further economic growth due to a number of developmental activities that government has embarked on.
Former president Rupiah Banda
Working with his Excellency Rupiah Bwezani Banda outside State House has been, yet , another instructive curve in my life; exposing me to a whole new world of understanding African politics using the Zambian model.
This model now compels me to ask: Is this why some African presidents resist leaving office after losing elections?
Or is it mere coincidence that presidents Kenneth Kaunda, Frederick Chiluba and Rupiah Banda all did endure some nasty experience after leaving office as Zambian heads of State?
Well, this is a subject for another day.
For today, I want to say I cannot thank Mr Banda enough, for the opportunity he accorded me to serve him in the Office of the Fourth President as Deputy Administrative Assistant, just months after I had worked as Chief Policy Analyst for Press and Public Relations at State House during his tenure as our country’s fourth president.
It has been an eventful three years—from 2012—that has given me such a clear understanding of friendship that I am now able to categorise it into seven classes.
Yes, seven categories of friends.
Friends, it was once said, are the thermometers by which we gauge the temperature of our fortunes.
“When the sun shines on you, you see your friends,” wrote Marguerite Blessington in Commonplace Book.
I have observed this, right from the time Mr Banda lost the Zambian presidency to Mr Michael Chilufya Sata in the September 2011 election; when he had his immunity lifted; the time he was summoned by the Joint Government investigation team; the moment he began appearing in court; up to the day of his acquittal on 29th June, 2015.
There was also the time he decided to, again, throw his hat into the political ring; when the Supreme Court ruled that Nevers Mumba was to be the Movement for Multiparty Democracy candidate in the January 2015 presidential election; when he resolved to back the candidature of the Patriotic Front’s Edgar Lungu; up to the time Mr Lungu became Zambia’s sixth President.
I know what true friendship is!
When Mr Banda lost the 2011 elections, I remained at State House for two weeks, during which time I handed over office to George Chellah, the newly-appointed Special Assistant to the President (Press and Public Relations), and his deputy Amos Chanda.
After the handover, I was gone.
Almost suddenly, my mobile phone went literally off; no incoming calls!
Fast-forward to January 2015 when Mr Banda helped Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu assumed the title of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia and Commander-in-Chief of the Zambian Armed Forces, my phone became busy again!
Rupiah Banda still had friends!
With time, I have learned to place friends into seven categories.
My time with Zambia’s former president has been a lesson on its own, and I will always cherish it.
In my own quiet moments with Mr Banda, during his trying period, I came to understand him more closely than I did when I worked with him at State House.
I came to know what a courageous person he was. He also taught me the spirit of humility, love and forgiveness.
He would often tell us that life was too short to be spent on harbouring vengeance; vengeance, he would explain, invariably devoured the one who sought to exercise it.
I remember being with Mr Banda at his New Kasama home on the evening of 15th March, 2013 when his immunity was being lifted in Parliament. He watched all the proceedings live on television. Did we need to be the ones reassuring him?
No, it was he asking us to be strong in the wake of his lost immunity against prosecution.
There is a lot to write about, based on my experience with the former president, as he would, sometimes, ask me to travel with him in his official vehicle as we hit the road to Chipata.
Those times, I could see Rupiah Bwezani Banda the person; a loving father, uncle, brother-in-law, father-in-law and grandfather. Not Rupiah Banda the politician.
I also recall how, during our travels out of Zambia, Mr Banda would be denied his deserved diplomatic courtesies by our missions abroad, leading to a near-diplomatic contretemps with the Kenyan government at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in February 2013 when we arrived in Nairobi to observe that country’s presidential elections under the Carter Center.
Not to be forgotten, either, is the morning of 9th April, 2013 when we arrived at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport on our way to Nairobi to attend the inauguration ceremony of Kenya’s President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta.
Just before we could board the Kenya Airways plane, we suffered some humiliation when airport authorities informed us that they had been instructed by authorities “above” to not allow the former president leave the country.
This humiliation was to repeat itself three months later, on a trip to Johannesburg.
On a personal level, I, too, have endured some humiliation, particularly in the past one year.
Fortunately, I learned, during my time as a waiter and barman over 20 years ago, how, as Brian Tracey teaches in The Science of Self Confidence, to turn lemon into lemonade and to pluck success from the jaws of failure.
The details of my experience, both within and outside State House, and indeed the seven categories of friends, are part of the subjects in my upcoming book.
Perhaps, just as well, I did not have it published immediately just after the 2011 elections.
The four years of the post-Rupiah Banda presidency have added an even richer dimension to my book.
The autobiography also encompasses a number of profiles of individuals, many of them from humble backgrounds—whose trajectories have, over time, somewhat intertwined with mine.
Having come to the finishing line of another race in my life, it is now time to say farewell to the Office of the Fourth President and I wish to wholeheartedly thank all of you for the priceless support.
I have moved to Cabinet Office to open another chapter in my career.
Taking over from me is Mr Chibeza Mfuni, a former deputy ambassador to the People’s Republic of China.
As Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD), we take great exception to claims by Patriotic Front (PF) Deputy Secretary-General Mumbi Phiri that our party president Dr Nevers Sekwila Mumba is an “impostor” who was not genuinely elected to that position. This is the most nonsensical statement to come out of her mouth which seems to specialize in verbal diarrhea. She has even outdone Mr Chishimba Kamwili on this occasion!
Zambians already know that on 25th May 2012, MMD held a nationwide party convention in all the provinces at which Dr Mumba was elected in the second round with 70% of the vote by more than one thousand delegates using the 50%+1 system which is not even in use in the Zambian constitution. The vote was supervised by independent monitors and certified free and fair. No other political party can claim to have done the same.
In sharp contrast, the election of the person who appointed her as Deputy SG, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, was marred with disorder and was a total sham. The PF convention to elect the successor to Mr Michael Sata had a lot of chaos and confusion on the dates and venue with the delegate selection process full of irregularities.
There were two separate conventions to elect Mr Lungu and Mr Miles Sampa as PF President headed by two separate factions in PF that continue to this day, despite public pretensions that all is well. We had delegates standing up and lifting their hands to elect Mr Lungu as if in a classroom, which contravenes good election procedures that require a secret ballot. The PF cannot even tell us how many people voted for Mr Lungu because no one even bothered to count them!
Ms Phiri is clearly not qualified to comment on our election process considering how confused her party is. They are allergic to democracy and since they took office on that fateful day of 23rd September 2011, they have been destroying the hard-fought democracy we as MMD introduced in 1991. PF are only interested in bringing back the one party state which the United National Independence Party (UNIP) introduced in 1973 and used for 18 years to harass, intimidate and even eliminate dissenting voices.
We have news for you Ms Phiri. You shall never succeed. Neither shall you ever succeed in tarnishing the good name of Dr Mumba whose moral standing is millions of times greater than yours. Your lies have very short legs. It is clear to all Zambians that you have no scruples about lying and you think that being a loud-mouthed “inkaka” is the pathway to being a great politician, irrespective of whatever unprintables come out of your mouth.
You are a disgrace to upcoming female politicians, especially young ones Ms Phiri. Just remain with your corrupt incompetent clueless PF which is the worst government Zambia has ever had. The PF has specialized in destroying the good economy that we left behind and all Zambians can attest to this fact.
We wish to remind Zambians that what we said on 13th November 2015 through our Eastern Province Provincial Chairman Jacob Mwanza about the fake stage-managed MMD defections in Eastern Province is true. PF has been using this formula for years and they often get people who were already expelled from MMD or resigned and they parade them before cameras claiming that they have defected. They round up poor villagers and give them small amounts of money to join the bandwagon claiming to be MMD defectors.
We hereby advise all Zambians to ignore PF defection ceremonies of opposition members forthwith. The PF have no message or strategy to take Zambia out of the mess they have put us in but the usual “Donchi Kubeba” culture of lies and deception which are coming back to haunt them in 2016.
Mrs Mwanakatwe
Minister of Commerce Margaret Mwanakatwe says intellectual property has the potential to stimulate economic growth.
Mrs. Mwanakatwe said intellectual property has been stimulated through innovations.
Mrs. Mwanakatwe said intellectual property has evolved into a strategic policy instrument for stimulating economic growth.
The Minister was speaking in Lusaka today when she opened the 39th session of the African regional Intellectual Property Organization, (ARIPO) Administrative Council.
The five day meeting has attracted 19 countries including the host, Zambia and it is being organized by Patents and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA) – Zambia.
She advised people in Africa to nurture innovations to realise this growth.
She said technology was offering all domains in people’s lives and commended ARIPO organisers for emphasising and raising capacity in member states.
And speaking earlier, PACRA Chief Executive Officer Anthony Bwembya called for compliance and international best practices in tackling changes to national and global trends on intellectual property.
Mr. Bwembya disclosed that his institution was reviewing intellectual property laws and that PACRA has made significant strides to automate legal procedures using information technology.
The high level meeting is being attended by ARIPO Director General Emmanuel Dos-Santos, Senior PARCA officials and visiting government officials.
1This Mitsubishi Government Vehicle belonging to the department of Works and Supply in Kabwe was involved in a road accident with another GRZ Ford Ranger Vehicle of Kaputa district of Northern Province. The Accident happened between Kabwe and Kapiri Mposhi over the weekend, no casualties were recorded
2President Nawakwi joins traditional dancers at the Ichasaka Cha Lubumbu Traditional Ceremony in Chilubi.
3FDD President Edith Nawakwi has launched a Poultry Start-Up Grants project where she will donate over ten thousand (10000) chicks plus feed to twenty (20) organizations looking after orphans and vulnerable children in Northern Province.
4FDD President Edith Nawakwi has launched a Poultry Start-Up Grants project where she will donate over ten thousand (10000) chicks plus feed to twenty (20) organizations looking after orphans and vulnerable children in Northern Province.
5Mochipapa community market which is being upgrade to a modern facility by Patriotic Front Choma Central Constituency secretary Joel Kamoko.
6Patriotic Front Choma Central Constituency secretary Joel Kamoko (left) with other youth party members inspect the Mochipapa community market which he is upgrading to a modern facility.
7Patriotic Front Choma Central Constituency secretary Joel Kamoko (left) with other youth party members inspect the Mochipapa community market which he is upgrading to a modern facility.
8Patriotic Front Choma Central Constituency secretary Joel Kamoko (left) with other youth party members inspect the Mochipapa community market which he is upgrading to a modern facility.
9THE new provincial headquarter for Southern province will soon have a modern Double Broadcasting studio. In the picture the works are going on well with the slab completed along Lusaka – Livingstone road in Choma district.
10ONE of the eight high cost houses under construction for provincial administration officers in Choma is almost completed.
11ONE of the eight high cost houses under construction for provincial administration officers in Choma is almost completed.
12AFTER being declared as a new Provincial headquarters for Southern Province, Choma will soon have new and improved building structure. In the picture the contractor is on site working on the building.
13AFTER being declared as a new Provincial headquarters for Southern Province, Choma will soon have new and improved building structure. In the picture the contractor is on site working on the building.
14A six storey building for Southern Province administration under construction in Choma takes shape. The building complex will accommodate most government departments once complete.
15A six storey building for Southern Province administration under construction in Choma takes shape. The building complex will accommodate most government departments once complete.
16ZAMBIA National Service has been empowered with some more road equipment machinery by the government. In the picture is a water bowser truck watering in of the Mochipapa township roads in Choma.
17MOST of the roads in Choma district are being worked on by the engaged contractors.
-Solwezi municipal council recently sourced K13,400 to construct a modern three storey civic centre to easy office accommodation for its workers. Above, the structure at 65 percent completion stage
18A nurse from Solwezi general hospital Cynthia Muyoya (m) checks sugar levels of a 70 year old Esnart Mashilipa (r ) of Kazomba compound during random sugar level checking to commemorate this year’s World Health Diabetes Day held at Kyawama school grounds last Saturday in Solwezi as her counterpart Bupe Sachibobe (l) looks on.
19The Bible in Psalms 127: 3 says Children are a gift from GOD; and such they are a real blessing. Above, Faviour Kaoma (in a white dress) being given a cake by her auntie Jessie Swetu (l) as Faviour’s mother, Christine Kaoma (standing left) looks on during Faviour’s third birthday celebrations on Sunday in Solwezi
20Western Provincial Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) Investigator Mutemwa Nakambowa (c) checking the expiring date on baby products in Shoprite during an Inspection and Sensitization Tour to Traders to observe the CCPC Act in Mongu
21Ministery of Health Environmental Health Technologist Nanzaluka Hantontola (r) and Western Provincial Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) Investigator Mutemwa Nakambowa (l) checking expiring dates on Zambian Breweries beverages at Mongu Depot during an Inspection and Sensitization Tour to Traders to observe the CCPC Act
22Western Provincial Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) Investigator Mutemwa Nakambowa (l) explaining to a Shoprite worker during an Inspection and Sensitization Tour to Traders to observe the CCPC Act in Mongu
23Mule Secondary School pupil Rachael Kandanda (r) reacts during a Competition and Consumer Protection Commission School Clubs debate in Mongu
242nd Position in the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission School Clubs debate St. Johns Secondary School pose for a photograph with Western Provincial Competition and Consumer Protection Commission Investigator Mutemwa Nakambowa (r) and Mongu District Education Board Secretary Mulonda Sendoi (c)
25Second runners of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission School Clubs debate Holy Cross Secondary School pose for a photograph with Western Provincial Competition and Consumer Protection Commission Investigator Mutemwa Nakambowa (r) and Mongu District Education Board Secretary Mulonda Sendoi (c)
26Best debater Muleya Luyando (l) of Holy Cross Secondary School displays her cheque with Mongu District Education Board Secretary Mulonda Sendoi (c) and Western Provincial Competition and Consumer Protection Commission Investigator Mutemwa Nakambowa (r) during the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission School Clubs debate in Mongu
27Minster of Youth and Sport Vincent Mwale officiates at the Zamtel Swim Challenge Grand Finale while attending were Zamtel Acting Corporate Communication Manage Patricia Mulenga, OYDC Director Clement Chileshe and participants drawn from OYDC neighborhood at OYDC on Saturday, November 14th, 2015.
28Bank of Zambia Governor Dr Danny Kalyala taking part in the a Tug of War during the 3rd Zufiaw Sport festival at OYDC.
29Bank of Zambia Governor Dr Danny Kalyala taking part in the a Tug of War during the 3rd Zufiaw Sport festival at OYDC.
30Minster of Youth and Sport Vincent Mwale officiates at the Zamtel Swim Challenge Grand Finale while attending were Zamtel Acting Corporate Communication Manage Patricia Mulenga, OYDC Director Clement Chileshe and participants drawn from OYDC neighborhood at OYDC on Saturday, November 14th, 2015.
31Minster of Youth and Sport Vincent Mwale officiates at the Zamtel Swim Challenge Grand Finale while attending were Zamtel Acting Corporate Communication Manage Patricia Mulenga, OYDC Director Clement Chileshe and participants drawn from OYDC neighborhood at OYDC on Saturday, November 14th, 2015.
32Minster of Youth and Sport Vincent Mwale officiates at the Zamtel Swim Challenge Grand Finale while attending were Zamtel Acting Corporate Communication Manage Patricia Mulenga, OYDC Director Clement Chileshe and participants drawn from OYDC neighborhood at OYDC on Saturday, November 14th, 2015.
33First Lady Esther Lungu speaks with former Zambia Army Commander Gen Benjamin Mibenge during a wedding for his son Bweupe Mibenge and PF Chifubu member of Parliament Susan Kawandami’s daughter Chinyimba at ZAF Chamba Valley Officers’ Mess in Lusaka on Saturday, November 14,2015 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
34First Lady Esther Lungu congratulates PF Chifubu member of Parliament Susan Kawandami’s daughter Chinyimba who got married to former Zambia Army commander Benjamin Mibenge’s son Bweupe (in a white shirt) at ZAF Chamba Valley Officers’ Mess in Lusaka on Saturday, November 14,2015 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
35First Lady Esther Lungu take to the Dance floor during a wedding for Former Zambia Army Commander Gen Benjamin Mibenge’s son Bweupe (L) and Chifubu PF Member of Parliament Susan Kawandami’s daughter Chinyimba at ZAF Chamba Valley Officers’ Mess in Lusaka on Saturday, November 14,2015 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
36Chifubu PF Member of Parliament Susan Kawandami’s congratulates her daughter Chinyimba as Former Zambia Army Commander General Benjamin mibenge’s son Bweupe (L) and First Lady Esther Lungu looks on during a wedding for Bweupe and Chinyimba at ZAF Chamba Valley Officers’ Mess in Lusaka on Saturday, November 14,2015 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
37Chifubu PF Member of Parliament Susan Kawandami’s receives a cake from her daughter Chinyimba as Former Zambia Army Commander General Benjamin mibenge’s son Bweupe (L) and First Lady Esther Lungu looks on during a wedding for Bweupe and Chinyimba at ZAF Chamba Valley Officers’ Mess in Lusaka on Saturday, November 14,2015
38Chifubu PF Member of Parliament Susan Kawandami’s receives a cake from her daughter Chinyimba as Former Zambia Army Commander General Benjamin mibenge’s son Bweupe (L) and First Lady Esther Lungu looks on during a wedding for Bweupe and Chinyimba at ZAF Chamba Valley Officers’ Mess in Lusaka on Saturday, November 14,2015
39President Lungu and First Lady Esther Lungu on arrival tab Levy Mwanawasa Stadium for Zambia verses Sudan Match on Copperbelt on Sunday, November 15,2015 . Zambia Beat Sudan 2-0 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
Christoper Yaluma
Government has maintained that it will not be arm twisted by mining firms in the midst of operational challenges that have arisen due to low copper prices on the international market.
Mines Minister Christopher Yaluma says Government will however continue to call for dialogue with all stakeholders in the mining sector.
Mr. Yaluma says if any mining firm decides to close, Government is capable of taking over the mine to avoid work stoppages and the cost of resuscitating the mine if left inactive.
He however said government would manage to run the mine on a temporal basis as it waits to attract new investors to take over the mine.
Mr. Yaluma was speaking during Sunday interview on ZNBC TV.
And Mr. Yaluma says retrenchment of any workers in the mines should be justified adding that government will not dictate but ensure that its negotiates with the mining houses on their decisions.
He added that the mines in the country are still operational though at a low scale due to the low copper prices.
Mr Yaluma said only Luanshya Copper mine has been placed under care and maintenance.
File:President Michael Sata talks to Copperbelt minister MwenyaMusenge upon arrival at Mkushi Farming centre to drum up Support for PF Parliamentary Candidate Ingrid Mphande (in glasses) on July 18,2013-Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
Caution:The credibility quotient for this article is this: If it deals with politics it’s a fact; if it is dramatized it’s fiction; if it is outrageously unbelievable, it’s a fact. While the names of the characters are true, the impact of the story as it unfolds involves my imagination, deductions, and surmise.
The PF is a volcano brewing and readying for the inglorious eruption. In the magma chamber of Zambian politics, a sense of betrayal is simmering portentously. It has been since Edgar Lungu became president. Day after day, thick PF lava is flowing up the main vent and it’s a matter of time before it reaches the crater, and when it finally explodes, Lungu will be engulfed in it. Patriotic Front stalwarts will blame him for destroying the party of Michael Chilufya Sata.
Chishimba Kabwili will be on television: “The PF died when Lungu and his thugs hijacked the party of Michael Chilufya Sata at the November 2014 convention. Me, Dr. Guy Scott and others, refused to accept the bogus results, I actually was courageous enough to tell the nation that the election of Edgar Lungu was invalid and illegal. I warned Edgar not to abrogate the PF constitution, but he went ahead and did just that. Look where we are now.”
Interviewer: “And yet you Mr. Kabwili were quick to serve in his cabinet and defend him to the core. Why have you now turned against him?
Kambwili: “I had no choice. When a head of state appoints you, you’ve to oblige. But the truth is I was sad to see the party of Michael Chilufya Sata begin to disintegrate. The minute Edgar Lungu dismissed Guy Scott and became an ally of Rupiah Banda I knew there and then that we were headed for disaster. My most frustrating moment was when Dora Siliya left MMD and joined PF without first apologizing for insulting and demeaning the founder and architect of the party.”
Interviewer: “But Mr. Kambwili, if indeed you were saddened by president Lungu’s open support for Dora Siliya and other MMD defectors, why didn’t you resign in protest?”
Kambwili: “I didn’t want to fail the people of Zambia. When I was appointed Minister, I chose to serve my party, the people, and not Edgar Lungu. I did not want to be associated with him, because I knew right from the beginning that he was not a leader. He has no presidential acumen or qualities, and I might add no vision. That’s one of the reasons I took part in the elections. I was afraid Lungu would take us nowhere. I saw that in him each time he acted as president. He was a mere egg warmer. There was a huge difference between him and Guy Scott. Even me, had I become president or had Dr. Scott continued we would not be having this interview.”
The above hypothetical dialogue, although potentially delicate, does invoke the reality of Zambian politics in which back-stabbing, turn-coating, and Judas Iscariot tactics are modus operandi. I use Kambwili as a model because he has shown emotional devotion and acts simultaneously as a defender and preserver of what he calls “the party of Michael Chilufya Sata.” He is the erratic and maladroit devotee who despises Lungu inside and loves him outside.
It is not a travesty to claim that most PF zealots covertly accuse Lungu of hijacking their party, personalizing its apparatus and moving its centrifugal force to Chipata. They say he has snatched the PF away from the Bembas and handed it over to his Nyanja kith and kin. It is here that the rupture on the crater is about to erupt, ignited in part by Lungu’s dismal performance, the worst depreciation of the Kwacha, and the appointment of Dora Siliya as minister. Eleven months into Lungu’s reign, there are already surreptitious calls for a convention and whispers of “we want our party back!”
Jeremy Gould, Professor of Development and Cooperation at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland writes in his book Left Behind: Rural Zambia in the Third Republic that “tribalism is a register generally eschewed in public political discourse in Zambia” and that “ethnic tension is still considered an unmitigated virtue in each leader’s political legacy.” He adds: “ethnic identity and rivalry simmer ominously beneath the surface of Zambian politics.”
“It’s true,” a Zambian political pundit added. “Since the Tongas lost to the Bembas in the Kaunda-Nkumbula contest of January 1964, tribal affiliation continues to play a major role in national politics. When Frederick Chiluba became president the MMD was more assertive on the copperbelt and in Northern and Luapula provinces. When Rupiah Banda became president MMD power-base moved to the east.”
And according to information in the book Zambia: Building Prosperity from Resource Wealth edited by Christopher Adam, Michael Gondwe, and Paul Collier, when Sata founded PF in 2001, he was dependent to a large extent on the people of his homeland. “The PF was understood as an essentially Bemba party.”
Like Chiluba and Banda, Sata too was a tribalist. It is the reason he designed a party logo of a boat with the Bemba words “pabwato” (dugout canoe) as the party’s slogan. He was appeasing the subjects of Chitimukulu and Mwata Kazembe.
“That’s without doubt,” said the Zambian pundit. “Sata knew that voting was heavily determined by tribal loyalties. In other words, he was aware that tribalism plays a major role in the election of a leader. In fact it was Sata who in 2006 reinjected tribalist language in Zambian politics when he accused the United Democratic Alliance and the MMD of being biased against the Bemba.”
When Sata become president the tribalist assertion became clear. He appointed Bembas in the key ministries of Finance (Alexander Chikwanda), Defence (Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba), Foreign Affairs (Chishimba Kabwili), Health (Joseph Kasonde), and Home affairs (Kennedy Sakei). Nepotism manifested itself in government, diplomatic, and parastatal appointments, just like it did in the Banda regime. Relatives and underqualified tribes-mates found their way to embassies around the world.
Moreover, Sata allocated the bulk of government disbursement for roads, universities, and other social structures to Northern and Luapula provinces, causing Itezhi-Tezhi District Commissioner Roy Nangalelwa to accuse him of being a tribalist “who only favors and takes development to provinces occupied by the Bembas.”
Nangalelwa’s remarks did not deter Sata. By concentrating on Bembaland he was affirming his large power and making the Bembas more politically relevant. But things would happen quickly. As is the case in most personal-cum-cadre parties, Sata’s sudden departure caught many of his beneficiaries off guard and toppled the PF into chaos.
The PF Bemba elite of Geoffrey Mwamba, Miles Sampa, Mulenga Sata, Chishimba Kambwili, and Christine Kaseba, were hoping a successor among them would emerge. Lungu detected a loophole. Taking advantage of the dust cloud that shrouded the party, he recognized his opportunity. Knowing he would garner little support from the Bemba PF power circle, he turned to the East for help and found it in Rupiah Banda, the man who was still popular among his eastern vassals. Before the dust could settle, Lungu was standing on the stairs of the Supreme Court, the Holy Bible in hand.
Since he became president, Lungu too has shown infallible tribalist symptoms. It is because of him that Sata’s arch-rival Rupiah Banda has stealthily weaved his name into the fabric of the PF party. Together, Lungu and Banda are working to reduce the Bemba’s strong hold of the PF by dismantling its one-sided benefaction complex. So far they are on their way to dexterously moving the PF party to the east.
“Sata must be turning in his grave!” one of the PF zealots exclaimed. “How can we allow Banda of all the people to hijack our party? How? Can someone please tell me? This is a man who smeared and trashed our leader.” He went into a rant: “How can we sit back and allow Dora Siliya to become minister. How about us who sacrificed our lives, worked day and night to make sure PF won? He shook his head. “I don’t understand.”
The zealots around him exclaimed: “We want Sata’s PF back!”
Please Note: The objective of this article is to show that Zambia is far from being tribalism free; that tribalism and nepotism are Zambia’s Achilles’ heel—a drawback in spite of our cultural co-existence. Tribalism and nepotism retard our development, they are the reason we are at the bottom of the totem pole, barely hanging in there. We need to find a quick way of rising above the fray.
The terrifying story of a brother and sister who are sent to their grandparents’ remote Pennsylvania farm for a week long trip. Once the children discover that the elderly couple is involved in something deeply disturbing, they see their chances of getting back home are growing smaller every day.
PROS
Very compelling story-line . It is interesting to see how the children react as their grandparents behavior gets increasingly erratic .
Olivia DeJonge (Becca) and Ed Oxenbould (Tyler) did an excellent good in their performances .
Deanna Dunagan also had a great performance as Nana . She displayed a wide array of emotions and switched from horror to dramatic scenes seamlessly .
The movie is a mix of Horror , drama and a bit of comedy .
CONS
The pace of the movie was too slow .
FAVORITE QUOTES
Olivia DeJonge (Becca): Mom, there’s something wrong with Nana and Papa.
Mom: They’re just OLD!
Grandma: Would you mind getting inside the oven to clean it?
CONCLUSION
As far as horror movies go , this one was not so scary . The trailer was more scary than the actual movie . With that said , it is still a pretty riveting movie . It has simple but very interesting story line , that gets more and more intriguing as it goes on . There is a huge twist in the movie which legitimately shocked me , i did not see it coming at all .
The story is very original and plays on the mystique of old age . It will leave you looking sideways at your aging grandparents LOL .
KCM Chief Executive Officer Steven DinKonkola Copper Mines has assured that has no intentions of closing its Nchanga mine despite a sharp fall in copper prices on the international market.
KCM Chief Executive Officer Steven Din said the mining firm, majority owned by Vedanta Resources Plc is fully committed to the Zambian market.
Mr Din was speaking in Lusaka this morning during a news briefing.
‘Vedanta has invested US$3 billion in Konkola, is in fact Zambia’s single largest private investment and one of the largest employers in this country. Some people think KCM is closing, I can assure you that we are not, we have 16,000 people there, we produce 200,000 tonnes of copper, we move 20 million tonnes of material every year and it is a very vibrant mine to work,’ Mr Din said.
‘KCM has a rich and long history, some of you might be aware that production started in 1934 at Nchanga and in November 2004, Vedanta became majority shareholders with 51 shares but 2008, it increased its stake up to 79.4 and the balance is owned by ZCCM-IH, we have on our Board of Directors, representatives of ZCCM-IH,’ Mr Din said.
He said the investments by KCM into Nchanga Mines have extended its mine life from 10 to 30 years.
‘When Anglo American and ZCCM were running the mines, they were producing copper from ore grades of 5-6 percent but we are currently running at much lower grades but in those days, it didn’t make sense to be processing 1 or 2 percent copper because it was a lot more profitable to produce copper out of 5 or 6 percent, so there was a lot of copper in stockpiled material or refractory material and all those stock piled are in production and that is about 15 years of production, so Nchanga is not closing,’ Mr Din said.
Meanwhile, Mr Din has revealed that KCM is saving between 5 and 10 percent of its power after implementing a rigorous energy saving plan following the decision by Copperbelt Energy Corporation to cut power supplies by 30 percent.
‘Even before CEC announced a 30 percent cut in power supplies, we had started implementing our own usage rationing plan around July and we are now saving between 5 and 10 percent of power,’ he said.
And asked about the pending job losses at KCM, Mr Din refused to comment on the matter saying it would be unfair to do so as negotiations with Government and the mine unions over the issue are in progress.
PINK Diamonds International, which is run by model Sphiwe Benasho, will next Saturday, 21st november , hold what it is calling the Pink Cancer Benefit Gala at the Hotel InterContinental in Lusaka that is meant to raise awareness on breast cancer.
The agency, which is a models club and a direct link to events, international beauty pageants, fashion shows and commercials models, last week conducted auditions at Chrismar Hotel where it recruited models for the pink gala.
Pink Diamonds was looking for 15 professional runway models, 15 beauty queen title holders and 50 upcoming models to be trained into professional models.
“The selection was tough,” Sphiwe said ahead of today’s one-day intensive modelling boot camp at Sylva University opposite the University of Zambia for those selected to prepare for the pink gala.
Charges for the pink gala, which Dj Roxy will host on the pink carpet, are pegged at K300 for VIP and K150 standard. Macky II and model Alice Musukwa will be among those gracing the event.
The 50 selected models are Mwenya Mvjamba, Yvette Mununga, Eliter Zulu, Sharon Mwale, Sikuka Simonda, Towani Nkhuwa, Maimbolwa Ing’ombe, Memory Sankalimba, Navile Chilomba, Esnart Phiri, Womba Masumba, Caroline Kalokoni, Colin Ilunga, Jane Chiluka, Joseph Mulenga, Chilungu Kabanshi, Rita Lupulwe, Serah Moyo, Luisah Malimba and Thomas Sangungi.
Others are Kalumbo Chipati, Mamita Kapenda, Mudenda Siabenzu, Alice Holmes, Abigail Sitwala, Sylvia Zulu, Hope Kalela, Mpanga Katongo, Esnart Nguni, Changwe Mbulo, Thokozile Mpande, Mundia Siisi, Kennedy Malasha, Tamara Sakala, Yolanda Hamilton, Mutinta Kooma, Mutale Mwamba, Mapalo Mulenga, Cynthia Sakala and Charity Mwanza.
The rest are Benson Chiwila, Kunda Chibuye, Natasha Chikola, Esther Sepa, Lunza Batunda, Tsepho Mubiana, Natasha Mzyece, Marriana Chibwe, Joseph Kapondo, Antonio Phiri, Esther Twapashaga, Limpo Mung’omba, Vitumbiko Musonda and Ruth Nasilele
