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The Foundation for Democratic Process says President Edgar Lungu’s pronouncement of the creation of two new districts in North-Western Province and the commissioning of the US$1.2billion Sentil Copper Mine at Kalumbila Minerals barely a day after the Solwezi West parliamentary nominations is an act of electoral blackmail.
FODEP Executive Director Macdonald Chipenzi said President Lungu has not only undermined the credibility of the Solwezi West Parliamentary electoral outcomes but his party, the Electoral Commission of Zambia’s effort of ensuring a credible process and the entire electoral process in Zambia too.
Mr Chipenzi said it is amazing how President Lungu, who has been frequenting Solwezi and North-Western Province in general has find it appropriate to create Mushindano and Kalumbila Districts during electoral campaigns period.
He said Mr Lungu’s action is irregular and part of electoral malpractices and bribery especially that he had all the time to do so well before the parliamentary bye-election.
“Since this act has been committed right at the start of the electoral campaign period prescribed by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) and at the time the Electoral Code of Conduct statutory Instrument No. 52 of 2011 is in force, participating political parties should lodge a formal complaint with the Conflict Management Committee, so that the Commission can censure the culprit,” Mr Chipenzi said.
Mr Chipenzi said this action from the President, who swore to protect the Zambian Constitution, demonstrates how defective the current constitution is as it vests so much power in one person as long as that person is in power and includes power to breach the same Constitution with impunity.
“The President’s disregard of the provisions of section 79 of the Electoral Act No. 12 of 2006 has undermined the electoral democratic process in Zambia. Such acts from the highest office in the land dampen electoral stakeholders’ hope of achieving an electoral process that is credible and free of electoral malpractices, corruption, bribery, irregularities and petitions.”
Mr Chipenzi said President Lungu’s action will buttress sentiments that President and his party are desperately want to win the Solwezi West parliamentary by-election either by hook or crook especially observing events that have so far characterized the bye-election where MMD candidate suspiciously defected to PF on the day of nomination.
“Therefore, Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) wishes to condemn this act and strongly urges the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) and other law enforcement agencies to censure President Lungu and any politicians in the habit of undermining the electoral process in order to instil confidence in the electoral process and its outcomes ahead of 2016 tripartite elections.”
Experienced striker Luka Lungu scored a brace as Power Dynamos stunned Nkana 2-1 at Arthur Davies Stadium on Saturday to record their first derby win over Kalampa in three years.
Lungu scored in each half in this action packed Week 22 tie watched by a huge crowd to help his coach Tenant Chilumba register his first derby win over Nkana.
It was a game in which both sides missed several chances in either half.
Lungu headed the home side in front in the 39th minute against the run of play after benefiting from a poor clearance by Maybin Chishimba inside the box.
However, Freddy Tshimenga restored parity four minutes later to ensure that the two teams went to the break with a 1-1 score-line.
The game seemed to be heading for a draw before Lungu slotted in the clincher six minutes from time after walking into the box with the ball before beating Nkana keeper Scot Ngokene with a low shot from a tight angle.
Meanwhile, Power had goalkeeper Allan Chibwe to thank for denying Nkana several scoring opportunities.
Chibwe, who was fantastic through out the match, was called to action as early as the first minute before he denied Walter Bwalya and Jimmy Ndhlovu great chances all in the first 20 minutes.
RESULTS
29/08/2015
Power Dynamos 2-Nkana 1
Green Buffaloes 1-Nchanga Rangers 1
National Assembly 1-Nkwazi 0
Lusaka Dynamos 0-Napsa Stars 1
Zanaco 0-Nakambala Leopards 0
Green Eagles 0-Red Arrows 1
30/08/2015
13h00: Forest Rangers-Mufulira Wanderers
15h00:Zesco United-Konkola Blades
A MANSA magistrate’s court has jailed a man of Chikaya village in Chipili district to one month imprisonment for insulting a woman.
Stanley Mulenga, was sent to jail for calling a woman a vagina using the Bemba language.
Appearing before magistrate Sibaleya Chikuba was Mulenga of Chikaya Village in Chipili District who pleaded guilty to one count of using insulting language.
On August 18, 2015, Mulenga approached Catherine Chanda’s house in Chikaya Village around 01:00 hours and begun using obscene language.
This prompted Ms Chanda to go outside to investigate who the person insulting her was. She found Mulenga and proceeded to report him to the community crime prevention unit that apprehended and took him to police.
Mulenga wept loudly before he was sentenced as it became clear he would go to prison for telling Ms Chanda ‘cinyo cobe’ in iciBemba.
He pleaded with the court to be lenient as it was the devil that had taken hold of him when he committed the crime.
“My lord I have not even built a house for my children and if I go to jail they will suffer,” he said in mitigation.
The magistrate sentenced him to one month imprisonment which he hoped would act as a lesson.
Home Affairs Minister, Mr. Davies Mwila and Finance Deputy Minister, Mr. Christopher Mvunga during the meeting.
ZAMBIA has assented to the Anti-Terrorism Amendment Act which seeks to establish the National Counter Terrorism Centre in the country.
Home Affairs Minister, Mr. Davies Mwila has said that the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Act, No. 2 of 2015 which aims to facilitate for the establishment of the National Counter Terrorism Centre was assented to on 14th August, 2015. He has said that Government was now in the process of establishing the Centre.
“The next step is now to establish the Centre. I wish to state that we have the money for this in the 2015 budget and will have a budget line in the 2016 budget so that we can implement this process fully,” Mr. Mwila said.
Mr. Mwila made the disclosure yesterday at the Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG) Council of Ministers Meeting in Boksburg, South Africa as part of Zambia’s status update following observations made by the Council of Ministers in March 2015 that Zambia had not made adequate progress since the last meeting in addressing the key deficiencies identified.
Mr. Mwila was accompanied by Finance Deputy Minister, Mr. Christopher Mvunga and Attorney General, Mr. Likando Kalaluka.
The Minister also disclosed that Government expected to have amendments to the Financial Intelligence Centre Act of 2010 assented to by December this year. The law is meant to adequately provide for the legal autonomy and operational independence of the Financial Intelligence Centre.
Mr. Mwila further disclosed that with regard to the United Nations Convention on Terrorism Financing, Zambia has ratified four out of nine Conventions related to Anti-Money Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) matters. The outstanding five Conventions will be ratified before March 2016.
He said development of programmes to facilitate AML/CFT supervision and monitoring compliance was addressed through the Financial Intelligence Centre Amendment Bill and that the Bill would be enacted into law before March 2016.
The Minister said Government also expected to issue regulations to implement United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs) 1267 and 1373, and the respective successor resolutions by March, 2016. UNSCR 1267 (1999) and its successor resolutions require countries to immediately freeze funds, financial assets or economic resources of individuals and entities who are designated by the United Nations Security Council based on such person’s / entity’s connections with terrorism and terrorist financing. Further, countries should ensure that no funds, financial assets or economic resources are made available to or for the benefit of such designated persons or entities or their beneficiaries.
UNSCR 1373 (2001) and its successor resolutions refer to designating individuals and entities related to terrorism and terrorist financing in national level. Accordingly, Institutions are obliged to have measures in place to identify and freeze funds, financial assets or economic resources of such designated persons and entities upon order by the Competent Authority.
A group photo of Ministers from the 15-member Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group who were delegates to the 15th Council of Ministers meeting held in Boksburg, South AfricaAttorney-General, Mr. Likando Kalaluka (in red neck-tie) joins other delegates for a group photoAttorney-General, Mr. Likando Kalaluka (in red neck-tie) joins other delegates for a group photoHome Affairs Minister, Mr. Davies Mwila and Finance Deputy Minister, Mr. Christopher Mvunga join other delegates for a group photoHome Affairs Minister, Mr. Davies Mwila and Finance Deputy Minister, Mr. Christopher Mvunga during the meeting
Bowman Lusambo shakes hands with Home Affairs Deputy Minister Stephen Kampyongo as RTSA Director Zindaba Soko looks on.
MMD National Youth Bowman Lusambo is on Monday set to meet the leadership of South Africa’s opposition party the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) headed by Julius Malema.
According to a letter dated August 28 2015 from the Office of the EFF Chief Whip and released to the media, the meeting will take place at EFF Headquarters in Braamfontein, Johannesburg at 12 Hours on Monday, August 31 2015.
The two leaders are expected to discuss a number of issues such as the participation of young people in politics and the economic emancipation of young people in South Africa and Zambia.
They will also explore how the EFF and the MMD could strength mutual cooperation for the deepening of democracy in the two countries.
Commenting on the invitation, Mr Lusambo said he was looking forward to meeting the EFF team to share experiences on the MMD youth wing we can galvanize the youth vote especially as we head towards 2016.
“Mr Malema has emerged as a true icon for the New Africa, he represents great hope for the continent which if managed properly, all its inhabitants can live a decent life,” Mr Lusambo said.
The Economic Freedom Fighters is currently the third-largest party in both houses of the South African parliament receiving 1,169,259 votes and a 6.35% share of the vote in the 2014 general election.
MORE than 1 000 people mostly residents of Ichimpi farming had yesterday morning protested at Kalulushi civic centre,demanding explanation from the council why the piece of land they had acquired residential plots from had been now allocated to a Chinese firm.
The people whose most of them were women said the Ichimpi land was degazetted in the MMD government and later this year the Kalulushi Municipal Council had a meeting and allowed them to acquire plots.
One resident Mrs Suzen Katunasa said she had stayed in that area over 20 years.
“I started staying there before 1991. I have a farm and a plot, so we want to know where the council will take us if they give it to Chinese,”she said.
But Kalulushi Public Relation Manager Beauty Undi said those people had illegally acquired plots, because the land in question had no Statutory Instrument from the Ministry of Lands.
She alleged that it was a named councillor who had been allocating them plots, adding that he was asking K500 for each plot.
“We know that these people got plots illegally. We know that a certain area councilor charged them K500 and to some extent K20 for a plot,”Ms Undi said.
She also explained that the plot where Chines company is building is not the same land, as that one for Chinese company is in Kalulushi area under plot title Number 1884.
She stressed that her council will not tolarate any illegality in terms of land allocation.
THE Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company (LWSC) has dispelled rumours that the water shortage which hit some parts of the city three days ago was caused by massive load shedding.
LWSC public relations manager Topsy Sikalinda said stories that where published in some sections of the media suggesting that the water shortage was due to power failure was not true.
Mr Sikalinda revealed that the company carried a normal maintenance operation in some parts of the city.
He said the company decided to carry out maintenance in order to improve the water challenges that some parts of the city were experiencing.
“We carried a normal maintenance exercise in some parts of the city and we finished the works at mid night and some members of the media were invited to be with us on the site we were working from,” he said.
Mr Sikalinda said the company would continue to up date the members of general public if there was any problem.
He said the water utility company had completed with the maintenance exercise and normal water supply had been restored in all the townships.
Mr Sikalinda said there was no sign that the situation was to get worse in few months to come and that the situation was likely to improve
File:Copperbelt University students listening to speeches by union leaders
THE Copperbelt University Academics Union (CBUAU) has commended Government for dissolving the Copperbelt University (CBU) council.
CBUAU general-secretary Kawunga Nyirenda said in an interview in Kitwe yesterday that Government’s move to dissolve the CBU council is a step in the right direction.
Dr Nyirenda said the council was not doing its work of supervising CBU management and that the union is happy that Government has acted on one of its recommendations.
Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education Michael Kaingu dissolved the council on Thursday.
“It is a welcome move. The council was not doing its job of supervising CBU management. The minister is beginning to address our issues. We are hopeful that the caretaker council will do its job of supervising management,” Dr Nyirenda said.
The minister has retained Friday Ndhlovu as chairperson, others are Ministry of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education permanent secretary Patrick Nkanza and CBUAU president Mwiya Songolo.
Others on the interim council are Owen Mgemezulu, Henry Tukombe, both directors at the Ministry of Education, CBU lecturer Patrick Phiri, Copperbelt University Students Union (COBUSU) president Humphrey Mwenya and Lucy Mungoma of University of Lusaka.
Speaking when he dissolved the CBU council, Dr Kaingu said the decision was in line with an agreement with CBUAU to re-open the university that was embroiled in confusion.
And Zambia National Students Union (ZANASU) vice-president Prince Ndoyi said what Dr Kaingu has done is in the best interest of CBU.
“It is a welcome move though late. We expected this move a lot earlier. We can only hope that the newly-constituted caretaker committee shall and must be more proactive and responsive to the challenges affecting the institution.
“It is in the same vein that we are also delighted at the appointment of ZANASU president Humphrey Mwenya to the new committee. It is encouraging that Government recognises the great need to engage youths and student leaders in decisions affecting us,” Mr Ndoyi said.
He said ZANASU is disappointed with the prevailing situation at the University of Zambia, where results for students have been withheld because of unresolved issues lecturers have with authorities.
He called for the immediate release of the results and urged Government to intervene in the matter.
Indeni Oil Refinery in Ndola
INDENI Oil Refinery has procured new crude oil free of impurities under the October consignment.
Company’s Managing Director Maybin Noole said when he addressed journalists in Ndola yesterday that Indeni was operating under difficult conditions regarding the current processing of the crude oil which was contaminated.
Mr Noole said the company would continue to operate to process the contaminated crude oil for a month and half before normal operations resumed.
He said the already purchased crude oil for the October consignment was free of impurities.
“We have purchased the crude oil for the October consignment, the crude oil is free of any impurities, right now we have continued to operate but under difficult situations. It will take us a month and a half to get back to normal operations,” he said.
Mr Noole said the company had put measures in place to mitigate the challenges as there was a strong chemical that was being used to flush out the contaminated crude oil.
He said the suppliers took responsibility adding that they would send engineers to the plant and do an assessment on the impact caused by the contaminated crude oil.
“The suppliers were met and they took responsibility, soon they should be sending engineers to come and do an assessment on the impact of the contaminated crude oil at the plant,” he said.
Earlier this month Mines, Energy and Water Development minister Christopher Yaluma said the contaminated crude oil was being refined at Indeni Petroleum Refinery.
Mr Yaluma said Government procured 115,000 metric tonnes of crude oil from Oman which later turned out to be unsuitable for Indeni Petroleum Refinery.
He said necessary measures were taken to protect both the refinery and cars and ensure that the oil was adequately processed.
Meanwhile, the K1.6 million Indeni Site Clinic in Ndola which would help Indeni Oil Refinery employee’s access quality medical services has been commissioned.
Copperbelt acting Provincial Medical Officer (PMO) Kennedy Chibwe said Government was encouraged every time the corporate world came on board to compliment the efforts in the provision of health care services.
Dr Chibwe said Government had rolled out its blue print which included social services and poverty eradication through the provision of infrastructure that offered holistic and comprehensive services in communities.
Dr Chibwe said the clinic would also provide male circumcision, laboratory investigations, skin, eye conditions and HIV/AIDS services to the employees.
Mr Noole said it was management’s vision to ensure employees were offered medical services within their environment.
Mr Noole said with the facility, the company would be able to scale up male circumcision and routine HIV/AIDS tests.
A 50-year-old farmer of Kafue district has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for sexually abusing his 16-year-old grand daughter whom he later impregnated.
In another matter, the Lusaka High Court has jailed a 28-year-old man of Kafue to 22 years for sexually abusing his nine-year-old sister on two occasions.
Judge Anessie Banda-Bobo jailed Samson Chibuno for taking advantage of the granddaughter whom he was looking after thereby sexually abusing her.
Chibuno, howeve,r threatened to beat the girl when she disclosed that he was the one behind her pregnancy arguing that it was unheard of for a grandchild to accuse her grand father of such a thing.
Ms Justice Banda-Bobo said in her judgment that she was inclined to be merciful but her hands were tied because Chibuno betrayed the trust of the girl and his family.
Chibuno was charged with incest which he committed between June 1 and September 5, last year in Kafue.
The girl had told the court during trial that Chibuno called her in his house on three occasions, whenever people had gone to the fields, to have sex with her.
She told the court that court that she fled to her mother’s house when Chibuno attempted to have sex with her for the fourth time.
Chibuno in his defence denied the charge but said that the girl had informed the family that she was impregnated by a man whom she didn’t know the name but could identify him if she saw him.
Ms Justice Banda-Bobo jailed Chibuno for 20 years effective from the
President Edgar Lungu talks to a nine year old girl Sante Mwanza upon arrival at Solwezi airport as provincial Patriotic Front (PF) women’ chairlady Martha Mpila ( r) looks on in Solwezi
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has declared Kalumbila and Mushindano areas in North Western province as districts.
Kalumbila and Mushindano were part of Solwezi district situated in Solwezi West and East respectively in North Western Province.
President Lungu was prompted to declare the two areas as districts following the impressive construction of Kalumbila town developed by First Quantum Minerals (FQM) owners of Kulumbia mines.
Mr Lungu declared Mushindano as a district with a call that it should emulate the modern developed Kalumbila town by FQM.
He said this yesterday when he unveiled the foundation stone for Kalumbila town in Solwezi district, North Western province.
“As it is, I have made a decision that Solwezi West will become a district and should be a model town, for new towns to be developed in the country in the near future.
“In the same vain I would like to declare Mushindano town in Solwezi East as a district. I want it to emulate the development here in Kalumbila,” Mr Lungu said.
FQM has developed a modern town in Kalumbila with all the necessary social facilities, with high and low cost houses to offer accommodation for more than 15,000 people by the year 2020.
The town currently has over 5,000 people since it was developed 18 months ago.
Earlier President Lungu commissioned the US$ 2.1 billion Sential Copper Mine at Kalumbila Minerals owned by FQM.
Sential Copper Mine is the biggest copper mine in Zambia and once fully operation would employ 3,064 people.
Development of the mine started three years ago and the processing of copper ore started six months ago.
Assistant general manager of Kansanshi minerals Tristan Pascall described the project as a success.
Mr Pascall said the company was doing everything possible to train local people to take over the management and operation of the mine and other investments.
He said low power supply to the mine was one of the major challenges to its operation as it was currently receiving only 45 mega watts (MW) of electricity instead of 160 MW.
However, the mine is expected to be supplied with 160MW once ZESCO commissions the new power line under construction to supply sufficient power for its operation.
“We have entered into partnership with ZESCO to construct a new power line to feed the mine all the way from Lusaka West. It has five substations up to this place which have been completed and we will commission on September 18,” Mr Pascall said.
President Lungu is in the province for a two days official visit.
The Presidents would also attend the Likumbi Liamize today.
He is accompanied by Justice minister Ngosa Simbyakula, Chiefs and Traditional affairs minister Joseph Katema, Mines, Energy and Water Development Minister Christopher Yaluma, Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education minister Michael Kaingu.
Others are special assistant to the President for Economic affairs Hibeene Mwiinga, special assistant to the President for political affairs Kaizer Zulu, Patriotic Front (PF) deputy secretary general Mumbi Phiri and other government officials.
PF candidate George Mwamba flash the party symbol whilst Tasila Lungu (2nl), Hon. Ester Banda (l) and Father Bwalya (r) presents his credentials for nomination to presiding officer Christopher Simusokwe during the filling in of nomination for Lubanseshi constituency Luwingu District Council
The ruling Patriotic Front has pledged to conduct violence free campaigns in the Lubansenshi Parliamentary by-election slated for September 24th.
PF Lubansenshi Deputy Campaign Manager Frank Bwalya says his party has resolved to ensure its cadres do not engage in any conduct that is likely to breach the peace and order in the area.
Father Bwalya has told Qfm News by telephone from Lubansenshi that his party does not want to give the opposition any reason to complain when they lose the by-election.
He notes that the campaigns which kicked off on Wednesday, 26th August have started on a peaceful note and that he believes this will continue.
Father Bwalya says his confidence is based on how opposition political party members and members of the ruling PF were able to interact during the filing of nominations.
He says UPND vice president for administration Geoffrey Mwamba hugged him and also hugged his opponent in the impending Kasama Central Parliamentary by-election, Kelvin Sampa during the filing of nominations for the Lubansenshi Parliamentary by-election.
Father Bwalya states that this is how it should be.
Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) Deputy National Secretary Winnie Zaloumis has urged the Patriotic Front (PF) Deputy National Secretary Mumbi Phiri and Information Minister Chishimba Kambwili to stop their usual senseless political rhetoric in responding to serious issues raised by the opposition.
“As the biggest political party, we are posing serious questions to the PF on the manner it is managing affairs affecting our people in our role of providing checks and balances and we therefore expect them to provide well researched, intelligent answers otherwise the people of Zambia will conclude that late President Michael Sata was right when he declared that his ministers were useless,“said Ms Zaloumis.
Ms Zaloumis has charged that it is astonishing that at a time when the people of Zambia are faced with one of the most difficult times in the life of the nation, with a rise in the cost of living fueled by a sharp drop of the Kwacha exchange rate to an all time high of K8.50, sky rocketing cost of basic foods, farmers stranded with their ‘bumper’ maize harvest and untold suffering due to endless power outages, all Mumbi Phiri can say is that Nevers should go back to the pulpit.
She told Phiri and Kambwili to face the stark reality that their ‘donchi kubeba’ lies have caught up with them and their efforts to silence the MMD have failed and will have to face the brilliant minds of the MMD. She said PF must start providing sensible answers to serious questions and she further told the PF to understand that politics is managing people, which they have lamentably failed to do in their short stay in power. She said MMD have real solutions to the challenges being faced by the nation.
Ms Zaloumis told the PF to wake up to the fact that Zambians realize that the PF misrule has been characterized by blunder after blunder from day one and Zambians are not so stupid as to be blinded by the usual song of ‘massive infrastructure development projects’ because they are now aware that these are just a smoke screen to hide massive corruption never experienced before in the 50 year history of Zambia.
“We are baffled by Mumbi Phiri’s statement that the PF Government has given Zamtel back to the people while the same people are paying for it’s losses. Has PF asked Zambians if they are happy to have their money wasted on a bottomless pit full of cadres and incompetent management? She should think instead of just yapping,” said Ms Zaloumis.
And Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) Northern Province Information and Publicity Secretary Cephas Bwalya has charged that the shockingly desperate behavior of the Patriotic Front (PF) in the political drama in Solwezi West reveals that they are scared of Nevers Mumba and unknowingly declaring that the MMD is their greatest threat in the 2016 General Elections. The PF allegedly paid a bribe to the MMD candidate, Fordson Malishinyi, to have him skip filing in his nomination and party president Dr Nevers Sekwila Mumba has announced that the MMD is taking the matter to court.
Speaking in Kasama after news of what had transpired in Solwezi spread like wild-fire, Mr. Bwalya said the PF is extremely desperate because they now know that Zambians throughout the whole nation have realized the terrible mistake they made in voting the PF into po wer.
“The PF are merely exposing their fear of MMD in 2016 and showing that in spite of being the party in power, they are unable to attract popular candidates to stand on the PF ticket and are scared of any candidate who stands on the MMD ticket. This why they are continuing to use taxpayers’ money to fund their hopeless attempts to remove the MMD from the Zambian political scene. This is the same thing they did in the Kafulafuta by-election with Mrs. Evelyn Mwanawasa,” said Mr. Bwalya.
Mr. Bwalya said the PF cannot blame anyone for their failure to run this country and know that they are going to face a devastating defeat at the hands of the MMD in 2016 no matter what they do. He said state funds they are abusing to shamelessly bribe candidates belonging to other parties does not belong to the PF but to the
people of Zambia and should not be used to buy candidates but to buy medicines which have now run out of most hospitals in the country.
“Let them know that in spite of these crooked tactics, their days are numbered as they will not be able to bribe all the parliamentary candidates in 2016,” said Mr. Bwalya.
Mr. Bwalya further said that the mood in Northern Province has changed in the recent past and is extremely volatile as the northerners are watching the unfolding scenario with interest, having realized that they were deceptively enticed to move their support from the MMD in 2011 only to get the incompetent PF into power who have abandoned them. He said the so-called infrastructure projects may deceive and blind other people but not the people of Northern Province.
“President Lungu should know that he does not have what it takes to win a fight with Nevers Mumba and we bring a strong warning to the PF that the eruption of the MMD volcano which was feared by the late President, Mr. Michael Chilufya Sata May His Soul Rest in Peace is at their door step and PF should watch out,” said Mr. Bwalya.
Opposition Movement for Multy- Party Democracy (MMD) Solwezi west parliamentary by- election candidate Fordson Musele (l) with MMD national secretary Rapheal Nakachinda (r ) walking towards the nomination center at Mwajimambwe primary school in Solwezi on Wednesday before the former withdrew his candidature at the last minute in the nomination room to rally behind Patriotic Front (PF) candidate Martin Mbaya. Picture by BETRAM KAOMA /ZANIS
Meanwhile, the Patriotic Front has refuted allegations that it is behind the last minute withdrawal of MMD Solwezi West parliamentary candidate Fordson Malishinji from the by-election.
PF Secretary General Davies Chama has told Qfm News that the PF cannot sink so low to buy a candidate who has no value.
Mr. Chama says the MMD is a finished political party which is not a threat.
Mr. Chama says if that is what MMD used to do when they were in power, they should not think the PF is doing the same as the PF cannot engage themselves in such illegal activities.
He says he does not think the MMD had a candidate in Solwezi West, especially that the former ruling party has not fielded candidates in past by-elections.
Mr. Chama adds that President Edgar Lungu cannot send a plane at huge cost simply just to pick up a candidate from what he termed as a finished political party.
He says the MMD has no following in Solwezi West, but that instead it is the UPND which has a bigger following there.
The National Water Supply and Sanitation Council (NWASCO) is concerned with the status of water supply and sanitation services in western province particularly in Mongu and Mwandi districts.
NWASCO has since instructed Western Water and Sewerage Company to immediately correct the situation and ensure that stalled projects earmarked for water improvement are completed.
NWASCO Public Relations and Communications Manager Rose Tembo said the water utility has also been directed to comply with the approved tariff for new connections and standardize format for complaints register to include resolution dates and complaints numbers among other instructions.
Ms Tembo said NWASCO just concluded a detailed inspection of western province to monitor compliance to licence conditions, Service Level guarantees as well as application of the tariff in a bid to protect customers.
She said the inspections undertaken from 16th to 21st August 2015 revealed that since January 2015, there has been a significant drop in hours of supply in Mwandi from 24 hours to 9 hours per day after a newly constructed overhead tank with a capacity of 441 cubic meters erupted.
Ms. Tembo said the drop in hours of supply has forced residents to use alternative water sources which do not guarantee the quality thereby posing a risk to public health.
The tank which was commissioned towards the end of 2013 was supplied by Savannah and erected by Best Brand which was a sub – contractor of African Brothers Corporation.
“It is alleged that the failure of the tank was due to the snapping of long holding bolts on top along the welds. The erupted tank caused damage to the western water and sewerage company office block which was constructed right next to it,” Mrs Tembo noted.
“This is the third tank that has collapsed after the two tanks collapsed in Luapula province last year. NWASCO regrets the continued collapse of newly constructed tanks and has called for comprehensive supervision of projects by Water Utilities.”
Meanwhile, a number of collapsed boreholes in Mongu have impacted on water supply with some areas like St Johns receiving only 2 hours per day.
Ms Tembo said customers have requested for a surface water source which would be more reliable than ground water.
She however said the Mandaga Project in Mongu funded by the Devolution Trust Fund (DTF) earmarked for the improvement of water supply has been completed.
“The Project worth K1.7 Million kwacha was completed in May 2015 and awaits certification of works before commissioning. Delayed completion of projects in various districts has denied consumers to access clean water,” she said.
“Further, power outages and low voltage in the province ranging from 5 to 8 hours per day have adversely affected water supply. Western Water and Sewerage Company is the 9th water utility to be inspected this year. Lusaka and North-western water and sewerage companies will be inspected next month to ascertain compliance to guidelines and standards.”
New Kwacha Notes
The Bank of Zambia has issued new notes with a tactile feature to cater for the visually impaired.
The special marks are in the form of slanting lines on the front of each denomination ranging from two slanting lines on the lowest banknote for K2 to seven slanting lines on the highest denomination of K100.
These range from two slanting lines on the lowest banknote of 2 Kwacha to seven slanting lines on the highest denomination.
Head of Communications Kanguya Mayondi said this during the official opening of a workshop on the new tactile feature on the Zambian banknotes in Lusaka.
Mr Mayondi said the banknotes with the special tactile features are intended to be rolled out during the course of the last quarter of 2015.
Mr Mayondi said the move is timely as not all visually impaired persons are able to read Braille marks.
He said the current banknotes will circulate side-by-side with the new banknotes with the tactile feature without a time limit for withdrawal from circulation.
He added that the feature will not only benefit the visually impaired but all Zambian as it provides an extra security feature and make counterfeiting difficult.
And Zambia National Federation for the Blind Executive General Secretary Keshi Chisambi commended the Bank of Zambia for the move saying it is an important undertaking which will protect the financial privacy of the blind.
