Join our community of SUBSCRIBERS and be part of the conversation.
To subscribe, simply enter your email address on our website or click the subscribe button below. Don't worry, we respect your privacy and won't spam your inbox. Your information is safe with us.
A SYRIAN has appeared in the Lusaka Magistrate’s Court for allegedly smuggling people from that country and forging documentation purporting that they are refugees in Zambia.
Suleman Alhamdan is charged with two counts of smuggling people and forgery.
In the first count, it is alleged that Alhamdan, between August and September, this year, in Lusaka, jointly and whilst acting together with persons unknown, participated in smuggling an Iraqi identified as Ezair Mohamed, holder of passport number A996213 into and outside Zambia.
In the second count, Alhamdan is alleged to have forged two letters from the office of the Commissioner for Refugees stating that Walid Iyabub and Abbar Bachar, both Syrian, were granted refugee status when in fact not.
Alhamdan is appearing before the same court on charges of abducting an Iraqi boy and demanding ransom from his family in that country.
It is alleged that Alhamdan and Mohammed Ibrahim, between August 30 and September 5, this year, in Lusaka, jointly and whilst acting together with others, abducted Walid Mofakzekri with intent to cause him to be secretly and wrongfully confined and was actually confined.
In the second count, the two are alleged to have on September 6, this year, in Lusaka assaulted Mofakzekri.
Zambia coach George Lwandamina has saluted in-form striker Collins Mbesuma for winning the South Africa league player of the month award.
Mbesuma won the ABSA player of the month award for October in what is his best start in the PSL for years where he currently tops on six goals so far.
“It is good for him, it is good for the nation,” Lwandamina said.
“I am sure he is experienced enough now after going through thick and thin in his career and I am sure it will not go to his head. He is an integral part of the national team and we need him.”
Mbesuma is part of Lwandamina’s nine foreign-based call-ups for next weeks 2018 World Cup second round doubleheader qualifier against Sudan.
Lwandamina recalled Mbesuma in September after he was axed by ex-coach Honour Janza a year ago and repaid the Zambia trainer with a goal and assist in a 2-1away win over Kenya in a 2017 Africa Cup qualifier on September 6 in Nairobi.
Zambia travel to Sudan on November 11 in Khartoum before hosting them on November 15 in Ndola.
Winner will advance to the final group stage qualifiers.
Please allow me space in your publication to air my grievances with Be Forward JAPAN.
I bought a vehicle from Japan through Bforward. I sent funds through FNB and Beforward confirmed receipt and gave us a shipping date enroute to Daresalam. However, close to the shipping date, they changed saying that the ship was not yet full and as such couldn’t leave. They then advised a new departure date.
After several e-mails and phone calls, BForward then informed me that the country of destination had been changed from Zambia to Uganda and that the vehicle was already delivered. They couldn`t even explain clearly who gave them instructions to divert the vehicle to Uganda and why they kept saying it hadn`t left. There after I discovered that the vehicle ordered had also been changed from a Mazda Versia to a Toyota Vitz but bearing the same invoice number .How this happened only BeForward knows.
I was then advised to report to InterPol so that this Vitz could be traced in Uganda. Now it has become my problem to trace the Vitz while Bforward takes no responsibility at all. It appears,the fact that they are based in Japan, they`ll have no legal consequences and such they take advantage. Their BForward Zambia office is apparently just an agency and is therefore not liable for Japan`s dealings. Our police is also not very helpful. It appears one has to really be super connected for them to do something.
I would like to warn other members of the Public to be extra careful when buying anything from Bforward. I am told this is not the first time they are doing this and they always get away with it.
Most people will relate how hard it is to buy a vehicle from monetary point of view and to have it stolen is just hard breaking. I hope and pray that one way of another BForward will be brought to Justice.
Immaculate Teachers training College had its fourth graduation ceremony in Kabwe were 208 students were conferred with diplomas in various discplines. Above, Copperbelt University (CBU) acting Vice Chancellor professor Patrick Phiri presents the best student award in English language and Religious education to Robert Mudenda.
I am a keen follower of developments in our education system. I would like to comment on recent developments in our teacher education system particularly at primary teacher training level.
In a quest to provide quality teacher education, the Government declared that by 2015 the minimum qualifications for teachers would be a diploma.
As a result of this teacher training colleges began to phase out the two-year certificate programme called ZATEC and introduced the three-year Primary Teachers’ Diploma underwritten by the University of Zambia. This meant that primary teachers began obtaining a university diploma. This was a great move as it helped to assure quality in the provision teacher training.
However, this year the Ministry of Education instructed all teacher training colleges to discontinue with the UNZA programme and begin to implement the so-called new curriculum. As though that was not enough, all first year students have been registered with the Examinations Council of Zambia (ECZ). This means that from now on primary school teachers will graduate with an ECZ diploma!
First of all this is a retrogressive move and one wonders what is going on in the minds of the technocrats at teacher education. How can our officials at teacher education feel proud that their teachers will no longer receive a university diploma but one offered by ECZ? Yet the same officers are proud that they are graduates of UNZA but are now denying our trainee teachers this opportunity.
It is sad that while most colleges in Zambia are affiliates of the university, teacher education has decided to go the opposite direction. Note that Evelyn Hone College, Nkumbi International College, NRDC, all Zambia colleges of agriculture are affiliates of UNZA through respective schools. Further, the Ministry of Health is also moving towards affiliating its nursing schools to UNZA through the School of Medicine. What is wrong with the Ministry of Education?
Another fact teacher education should not ignore is that it is disadvantaging its own teachers. First they will have an inferior paper but more seriously our teachers who will be graduating with the ECZ paper may never go to the university. At the moment because of the partnership with UNZA teachers can enrol with UNZA just with the diploma. Meaning UNZA only considers the diploma and not their Grade 12 certificate. But with this retrogressive arrangement, teachers will have difficulties upgrading as they will have to compete with school leavers.
It should also be noted that under the current arrangement ECZ does not have the capacity to handle examinations for teacher training colleges. There are only two officers at ECZ responsible for teacher education. How shall the two officers supervise examinations and assure quality in the assessment of students? From my interactions with colleagues in colleges there is already panic because ECZ examinations will be administered soon but papers have not yet been distributed maybe not even printed.
There is also a cost implication to the new arrangement. Students will be required to pay K960 examination fees yearly to ECZ in addition to college fees.
I believe it is the technocrats misleading government on this one. The new minister of General Education Dr John Phiri under whom colleges fall should try to address this matter and save our education system. What will be good for the country will be to continue with the old arrangement, but colleges should have a common curriculum which should be coordinated by teacher education in conjunction with the University of Zambia.
UPND Chairperson for Information and Publicity Charles Kakoma has said that it is a shame that that countries such as Rwanda, war torn even in the 1990s, is now far better in Information and Technology infrastructure than the so called peaceful Zambia.
In a statement released to the media in reaction that to a story that Grade 9 pupils had to wait till midnight to write ICT exams due to lack of computers, Mr Kakoma said that introducing compulsory computer lessons and examination is one policy that his party warned the PF Government that it would not work due to a lack of facilities, which has now only worsened due to current load shedding.
Below is the full statement
When we advise our friends in the PF to implement projects and ideas with a thorough and well thought out plan they claim we are bitter.
The case of introducing compulsory computer lessons and examination is one policy that we warned them would not work due to a lack of facilities, which has now only worsened due to current load shedding.
The PF have been risking the future prospects of our children across the country by making them sit for these exams sometimes until the early hours of the morning and without food. How do we expect children to have good grades when they are writing their exams half asleep?
The same President Edgar Lungu was busy insulting and threatening teachers across the country if they decampaign him. How does he expect any teacher to be cheering for him when they are being subjected to such poor working conditions?
Our teachers and civil servants are already facing serious economic hardships and now we add such inhuman treatment to both teachers and our children.
The money the PF leaders are using gallivanting the world in private jets would go a long way in purchasing computers for schools and some gensets. The same could be said for the money spent on the more than 30 parliamentary by elections since 2011.
What a shame that countries such as Rwanda, war torn even in the 1990s, is now far better in Information and Technology infrastructure than the so called peaceful Zambia.
If the PF cannot plan for such matters, how do we expect them to deal with issues of mine joblessness, high inflation, economic diversification programmes and job creation?
Charles Kakoma UPND Chairperson for Information and Publicity
President Lungu addresses pupils when he visited his former School at Mukuba Secondary school in Kitwe on Monday, November 2,2015 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
President Edgar Lungu has described his six day working visit to the Copperbelt province as successful. The President said that his visit to the province helped resolve most of the issues on the Copperbelt and added that he is scheduled to visit all provinces in the country.
Meanwhile, the President has announced that he will travel to Tanzania for the inauguration of that country’s’ new President. The President said this on Wednesday when he arrived in Lusaka from the Copperbelt.
And speaking to Journalists, Special Assistant to the President, Amos Chanda said that President Lungu has secured all jobs at Luanshya Copper Mines.
Mr. Chanda said that the President has also laid firm ground, for meaningful dialogue between the mines and the labour movement, at Konkola Copper Mines -KCM- and Mopani Copper Mines -MCM.
Mr Chanda said that the President has been assured that job losses at KCM and MCM will be the last resort.
Patents and Company Registration Authourity (PACRA) Board Chairman William Nyirenda (right) briefing the Minister of Commerce Trade and Industry Margaret Mwanakatwe (centre) and Central Province Minister Davies Chisopa how PACRA operates during the official launch of a new PACRA office in Kabwe
FIRST Capital Bank has dragged Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe to court over an unpaid loan after failing to meet the debt obligations before the October 31, 2013 which was the debt service period.
This is in a matter in which a company owned by Mwanakatwe and her husband Mupanga Mwanakatwe- Aluworks Industries Limited obtained a loan from First Capital Bank in October 2012 in the sum of K800,000 to be paid back within one year.
Aluworks Industries, Mwanakatwe and husband Mupanga as borrower, customer and guarantor respectively have been sued together in the sum of K1,034,965.48 as outstanding sum under a credit facility offered to the company, which was guaranteed to be paid by October 31, 2013.
“Repayment was guaranteed by the second and third responded as directors. The debt was secured by the third party mortgage dated October 18, 2012 relating to stand number 11357/M off Leopards Hill Road. In their submissions to the High Court, the Bank has demanded that the duo, as directors of Aluworks should pay back the money in 14 days or risk losing their property under the aforesaid credit facility that ordered to honour terms of their guarantee.
Aluworks Industries obtained an overdraft facility to finance its working capital at K800,000 on an agreed term on a revolving line of credit with 18 percent added only if the loan was serviced beyond the agreed first 12 months.
The Bank accused Aluworks and its directors of neglecting to settle the debt and as at October 15, 2015, the total outstanding amount was K1 034 965.48 which sum was due and payable either jointly or severally.
Wynter Kabimba
WYNTER Kabimba has very dictatorial qualities which make him unsuitable for national leadership, Southern Province Rainbow Party chairman Leonard Hiyachoma has said.
Mr. Hiyachoma alleged that in his administration Mr Kabimba was exhibiting autocratic and domineering administrative tendencies by operating without following rules of natural justice, including suspending members without informing them or giving them an opportunity to be heard.
Mr Hiyachoma who has been suspended after resigning from Rainbow Party said it had been difficult to work with Mr Kabimba as they had differences on a broad range of issues including how the party could be governed.
Attempts to get a comment from Mr Kabimba and Rainbow Party mobilization chairman Robert Chikwelete proved futile.
Mr. Hiyachoma said because of the differences, he had even decided to resign from the party and was shocked that Mr Kabimba decided to suspend him without any correspondence.
He told the Daily Nation that Mr Kabimba was a leader who did not believe in listening to the views of other party members and that accusations that he (Hiyachoma) had been treacherous were unfounded as he had never engaged in any form of clandestine political activities against the Rainbow Party.
Mr Hiyachoma said every organization had administrative procedures and that Mr Kabimba should have written to him before running to the Post Newspaper to announce his suspension.
He said he was disappointed that he had to learn about his suspension in the Post Newspaper when Mr Kabimba could have easily called him to find out the truth ‘’before excitedly rushing to the media’’.
He said he had never met any United Party for National Development (UPND) official and that it was shocking that Mr Kabimba who is the general secretary of the Rainbow Party could suspend him without verifying his allegations.
“You mean Mr Kabimba has suspended me from the Rainbow Party? I have not been informed and there has not been any form of correspondence. It is undemocratic to take punitive actions against members in a party without informing them or giving them an opportunity to be heard. I do not understand Mr Kabimba’s kind of administration and leadership. In a normal organization, I should have been given the opportunity to be heard before being punished.
‘‘I am shocked that Mr Kabimba has suspended me and decided to inform the Post Newspaper before giving me the letter. I have never belonged to the UPND and it is not true that I have been treacherous. In fact, because of the many differences I have had with Mr Kabimba, I resigned from the Rainbow Party,” Mr Hiyschaoma said.
Mr Hiyachoma said he was not a pushover in politics and that his suspension was going to anger a lot of his supporters in the region and that the Rainbow Party risked becoming extinct if Mr Kabimba was going to continue governing the party using autocratic means.
He said Mr Kabimba had been receiving false reports about him and it was unfortunate that the Rainbow Party leader had been acting against his party members on hearsay.
He said that since he was a more organized leader, he was going to follow administrative procedure and wait for his suspension letter before taking any action.
“Just wait, I want to follow procedure and wait for my letter of suspension”,Mr Hiyachoma said.
President Jacob Zuma has congratulated hip hop artist Cassper Nyovest on being the first South African musician to fill the 20,000 seating capacity Dome in Northgate, Johannesburg, without the help of an international act.
Cassper Nyovest, real name Refiloe Maele Phoolo, performed to a full capacity Dome arena over the weekend, fulfilling his dream and in the process achieved a feat that no other South African artist had ever achieved. “We congratulate Cassper Nyovest for his tremendous success which has demonstrated the rich talent that exists within our country’s music industry especially amongst our youth,” said President Zuma. “Cassper has also confirmed the enormous support for local music by our youth, which augurs well for the development of our arts, culture and heritage,” said President Zuma.
Are our Zambian artists capable of doing something similar ?
The Zambia Institute of Estate Agents says it is deeply concerned with current trend by landlords and property developers charging rentals in US dollars.
The Institute said this situation has caused serious difficulties amongst the business community.
Institute President Saul Kiwempindi said the hedging against Kwacha depreciation and uncertainty of future currency trends should not be shifted or be shouldered by tenants alone.
‘ZIEA is deeply concerned with current trend by landlords and property developers charging rentals in US Dollars. The current economic difficulties we are experiencing are caused by the regular depreciation factors among them the decline in the demand for our major export and therefore we need to bare and share the burden collectively,’ Dr Kiwempindi said.
Dr Kiwempindi said commercial and some residential tenants are having difficulties raising rentals that have increased in Kwacha terms due to the dollarization.
‘The dollarization of the rentals is stifling the economy and defeating government efforts to stabilize the economy. ZIEA understood the consequences of SI 33 and its revocation, however, it is time to bring to the attention of government the likely consequences of dollarization of rentals,’ he said.
Dr Kiwempindi said, ‘If the private sector is overburdened by high rentals due to dollarization government will not meet its targets in terms of revenue collections and ultimately fail to meet its obligations. ZIEA is calling upon government through Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Trade and Commerce and other related departments to critically examine this situation with the urgency it deserves.’
He said the Institute proposes a subsidiary legislation to deal with aspect of commercial rentals to enable the private sector continue operating in this current situation and emerge out of it without disturbance.
He said in some cases, the rentals have gone up between 50% to 100% while in other cases it is beyond 100%.
Dr Kiwempindi said the Institute believes that this situation is unacceptable in an economy which is suffering severe external factors beyond our control.
He said the dollarization of the rentals is stifling the economy and defeating government efforts to stabilize the economy.
‘Furthermore, we call upon property developers and landlords to seek the understanding of the current economic situation to be able to make informed decisions that will not harm the economy further.’
‘It is the concerted efforts of individuals and government that will allow the country emerge economically strong and therefore we appeal to property developers and landlords not to hedge against uncertainties by overburdening their tenants,’ he said.
Jay Rox recently won Best International African Act at the 2015 BEFFTA Awards ! We caught up with him to get his feelings about it , and about the continued success of his second album “Outside the Rox”.
KAPA187: First off, congratulations for winning Best international African Act at this years BEFFTA Awards. What does winning this award mean to you?
Jay Rox: This award means a lot to me, it’s my first international award as a solo act and will also be treasured.
KAPA187: What was your initial reaction when you heard you won?
Jay Rox: I only got to hear the news a few hours after the announcement was made. One of my managers from the UK that attended the awards on my behalf decided to not tell me just so she can see how anxious I can get. So when she told me I won, I kind of didn’t believe then after a few minutes it sank in and I was grateful to God and my fans for making it possible.
KAPA187: Zambian music is slowly but surely getting recognition internationally, what in your opinion needs to be done to accelerate the process?
Jay Rox: We need more artists focusing on exporting the music. When there are a lot of artist making noise internationally from Zambia, it will be impossible to avoid us.
KAPA187: Your Album “Outside the Rox” has been highly acclaimed by fans and music critics alike, some calling it the album of the year. How was the process of coming up with the album, and how do you feel about the success it has attained?
Jay Rox: The creation of Outside The Rox was not easy. I lost my mother along the way and she was the fuel behind the idea and also lost a couple of friends but God stayed faithful and made it possible.
Seeing the album do what’s its doing brings me great joy because for longest time, all I longed for is to be able to have a positive impact on the people that listen to my music and it’s happening now.
KAPA187: Having done some high quality videos for your singles such as “Autopilot” , “Not for Sello” , how important is it to have a good video to go along with great music.
Jay Rox: We are living in a generation were the fans tend to have their eyes glued to television sets more than they listen to radio. So for you to be able to reach the masses you have to work on both a song and a video. And the western world has accustomed our people to quality music videos, so the only way you can fully have the people’s attention is by producing a music video that’s of similar standard.
KAPA187: My favorite songs on your album are,” Time of my life” and “Not For Sello”. Can you give us a brief background about those songs?
Jay Rox: Time of my life talks about finding inner happiness. When man finds inner happiness no one can darken his days. The song was produced by Cashroll at So Good Ent.
– Not for Sello is a gender based violence and self-worth song. No matter how hard life maybe get, just believe in yourself and God. Selling yourself for temporal happiness will only damage your life.
KAPA187: What do you have in store for your growing fan base as the year draws to an end. Willz and yourself are said to be working on a collaborative album , could you shed some light on that . Could you also update us on the status of Zone Fam .
Jay Rox: Yes Willz and I are working on a collaborative album that will be coming out some time next year called “Run Town”. So before the end of the year, the fans should expect a single from the album.
– Zone Fam is still together and we have some new music dropping soon.
KAPA187: As Zambia just celebrated 51 years of independence, what is your word to your fellow young people as we moved to our next 50 years?
Jay Rox: Our fathers have managed to bring our country to where it is, it’s now time for us to wake up and build it for the next generation. Let’s start by registering to vote for next year’s elections.
KAPA187: Any last words…
Thanks a lot to everyone that voted for me at this year’s BEFFTA Awards. May God bless you guys..
Kabwata Member of Parliament GIVEN LUBINDA
Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) says President Edgar Lungu’s warning that government could introduce price controls if miller’s continue exploiting consumers is a threat on the operations of the private sector.
CSPR Civic Participation and Advocacy Programme Officer Maxson Nkhoma says President Lungu should realize that Zambia is a free market economy where prices are determined by the forces of demand and supply.
Mr. Nkhoma says President Lungu should accept that things are not well in the country due to operational challenges affecting millers in their production.
He says it is a known fact that the power deficit current the country is facing has contributed massively to the escalating mealie meal prices because millers are spending a lot on their production.
And Agriculture Minister Given Lubinda says Government is concerned with the high cost of fertilizer in the country which most farmers cannot afford.
Mr. Lubinda says this high cost of fertilizer means the country should expect reduced production in the coming farming season.
He however, says government is looking at how best it can intervene to help reduce the cost of fertilizer so that as many farmers as possible can afford and thereby produce as much as they can.
Mr. Lubinda says government owes it to the farmers and to the citizens at large to ensure that the cost of fertilizer goes down.
He states that this is considering the impact farming has in reducing poverty in the country.
The Agriculture Minister has since encouraged relevant stakeholders to come up with suggestions on how best government can help reduce the cost of fertilizer.
First Lady Esther Lungu breaks down during the burial of the three Chinese nationals who were murdered on the Copperbelt. This was at Kitwe-Chingola road Cemetery in Kitwe on Tuesday, November 3,2015 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
The three Chinese business executives who were killed by bandits in Kitwe last week have been cremated at the Chingola Road cemetery.
First Lady Esther Lungu, who attended the cremation, said that the killing of three Chinese nationals on October 26 in Kitwe’s Garnatone area was regrettable.
Mrs. Lungu said that the Zambian people were devastated at the gruesome murder of the three. She said the death of the three Chinese nationals should not break the relationship between Zambia and China that has existed for decades.
The First lady said government is doing everything possible to bring the culprits to book.
Mrs. Lungu said this during the cremation of the three Chinese nationals at Kitwe Chingola Road Cemetery on Tuesday.
Mrs Lungu said that President Edgar Lungu is saddened that Zambians can behave in such a manner and has since directed the police to bring the culprits to book as soon as possible.
And Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Yang Youming has appealed to the Zambian Government to arrest the criminals that murdered the three Chinese nationals and take necessary action to safeguard the Chinese community.
Mr. Youming said China will continue working with Zambia to strengthen their relations.
He said the Chinese community is touched that First Lady Esther Lungu attended the funeral of the three Chinese nationals that were killed in Kitwe.
Meanwhile, Kitwe District Commissioner Chanda Kabwe said that three people have since been arrested in connection with the killings and will appear in court soon.
Mr. Kabwe also disclosed that the police have intensified patrols in Garnatone in view of the killings.
The three are Wang Gang, Yu Xiao Bin, Wang Hui of Golden King Investments, which deals in building materials, and employees about 70 Zambians.
First Lady Esther Lungu pays her last respects during the burial of the three Chinese nationals who were murdered on the Copperbelt. This was at Kitwe-Chingola road Cemetery in Kitwe on Tuesday, November 3,2015 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
TRANSPARENCY International Zambia (TIZ) has welcomed the Lusaka High Court’s dismissal of the appeal by former first secretary at the Zambian mission in Italy Andrew Banda in which he was challenging his two year jail sentence.
The Court on Monday rejected the appeal by Mr Banda who was found guilty by the Lusaka Magistrate of soliciting and receiving K171,000 as a reward for assisting Fratelli Locci SRI, an Italian firm.
TIZ information officer Charles Chulu said in a statement in Lusaka yesterday that the organisation was happy with the decision by High Court judge Mwila Chitabo.
“As an institution founded on morals of transparency and accountability, we further hope that the lesson of sentencing and conviction of Mr Banda will compel public officers to refrain from engaging in similar criminal offences that only benefit them and not the people of Zambia.
“As we welcome his conviction, we feel that the two year sentence slapped on him and others in the recent past, is light and will not serve to deter other would be offenders from engaging in acts of abuse of office and corruption,” he said.
He said the oragnisation hoped that the courts of law would consider increasing the number of years of imprisonment for similar offences.
He appealed to the Judiciary to continue finding means and ways of speeding up the onclusion of such matters in good time.
“We fully recognise the need for the due process of the law, but we would at the same time urge the necessary authorities to put in place measures that reduce the overall workload that the courts of law have to contend with,” he said.
He said the courts have an important role to stem out the wanton corruption and such judgments were strong reminders.
