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SOUTHERN Province Minister Nathaniel Mubukwanu addresses the participants (not in Picture) for Southern Women Economic Empowerment Expo workshop at Woodlands lodge in Livingstone On the left is Southern province Permanent Secretary Sibanze Simuchoba and Gender Rights Protection Director Pumulo Mundale (r).
GOVERNMENT has warned of punitive action against citizens aiding foreigners to obtain the National Registration Cards (NRCs) through fraudulent means.
Southern Province Minister Nathaniel Mubukwanu said any Zambian found aiding a foreigner to obtain the national identity card during on-going mobile issuance of NRCs would be prosecuted.
“It should be noted that, we have capable officers that can detect false presentations and arrest anyone that might want to use fraudulent means to obtain our national identity document,” he said.
The minister was speaking in Choma on Monday at the launch of phase-two of the mobile issuance of NRCs for Southern Province.
The NRCs are issued under National Registration Act Chapter 126 of the Laws of Zambia. Only persons who meet the registration criteria stipulated under the Act are eligible for registration.
Mr Mubukwanu urged youths who had attained 16 years and other citizens who have lost or in possession of damaged NRCs to acquire new national identity cards.
He called on officers undertaking the mobile registration exercise to work diligently in line with Government’s expectation of serving the people of Zambia.
“Any officers that might misconduct themselves during this national exercise, shall not only be withdrawn, but would be disciplined in accordance with the regulations,” he said.
He cautioned opposition leaders and other stakeholders against politicising the issuance of NRCs during the 90 days of the exercise being undertaken in the four provinces namely Southern, Lusaka, Eastern and Western.
Speaking at the same occasion, United Party for National Development (UPND) Choma Central Member of Parliament Cornelius Mweetwa urged residents to utilise the exercise to obtain the NRCs.
He hailed President Edgar Lungu for his recent directive to all parliamentarians to sensitise people in their constituencies to obtain NRCs.
A FIVE member Korean delegation is expected to arrive in Lusaka, Zambia to explore various opportunities especially in the construction sector.
First Secretary for Tourism at the Zambian Embassy in South Korea, Nthemba Kamanga Minja, said in a press statement that the delegation was expected in the country by yesterday on Tuesday.
“This is the first team of prospective investors to obtain visas and travel to Zambia from Korea since the Zambian Mission opened in late 2014.
The team is on a seven day fact finding trip to explore the various opportunities available in the Construction sector,” Ms Minja said.
The delegation members include Jeong Jin Young and Martin Joe, Consultants from GE Construction as well as Ahn Chun Woo, an Architect from Design Group HAM, JaeHyun Park, an IT Programmes Developer from East Busan Holdings and Ri Cheon Cha, a Surveyor from Yoolim Driling.
Speaking at a meeting held at the Zambian Embassy in Seoul, Korea, Zambia’s Ambassador to South Korea Mumba Kapumpa, said he was delighted that the team was heading to Zambia and highlighted the various sectors that Zambia has to offer in terms of investment.
Mr Kapumpa said Zambia was a peaceful and politically stable nation.
“In addition to its welcoming business environment and many tourist attractions, Zambia is at a strategic location in a dynamic region that could serve as a land-linked transit hub to its eight neighbours, Mr Kapumpa said.
He noted that much of the investments thus far in Zambia had been in the mining sector and there remained a number of vast untapped opportunities still awaiting development particularly in the Energy, Tourism, Construction and Agriculture sectors.
The ambassador noted that the coming of investors to Zambia was also an indication that the country had continued attracting investments and still remained a key investment and tourist destination of choice.
Mr Kapumpa also encouraged the delegation to take time to enjoy the various tourist attractions Zambia has to offer which includes the breath-taking Victoria Falls.
THE misunderstandings between Chewas and Nsengas has deepened with the former claiming that the later should not bury the heads in the sand over the straight forward history of the link between Chewas and Nsengas.
Chewa Royal Establishment Spokesperson Chief Chanje said in a statement yesterday that the Nsengas should not expose their ignorance and failure to understand their own history by rushing to the media and offend Paramount Chief Kalonga Gawa Undi as they have stayed peacefully in the past.
He said there was no need for the Nsenga Chiefs and other young boys to respond to Kalonga Gawa Undi’s complaint during the Kulamba Ceremony because the message was not directed to them but to Government.
He said the Nsenga chiefs should not insult Kalonga Gawa Undi as the history was readily available and clear in the High Court and Supreme Court that Gawa Undi was the creator of Senior Chief Kalindawalo’s chieftaincy.
Chief Chanje said all chiefs under Senior Chief Kalindawalo were under the leadership of Kalonga Gawa Undi as per history.
He said the correct Senior Chief Kalindawalo according to both the High and Supreme Court was Mndikula and not Michael Sangu.
Chief Chanje alleged that Chief Mumbi of the Nsenga of Petauke was among four counsellors who were only recognised after recommendation by Kalonga Gawa Undi as per tradition.
“In Kalonga Gawa Undi’s kingdom in Zambia, there were only four counsellors among who Mumbi and Mwanya were part of the four until when Kalonga Gawa Undi recommended to Government to consider recognising the counsellors to be traditional leaders,”he said.
According to Chief Mumbi’s sentiments in the Post Newspaper of Monday said that the Nsenga chiefs met in Nyimba and resolved their problems of Senior Chief Kalindawalo.
Chishimba Kambwili
LUANSHYA Copper Mines (LCM) has confirmed that 1, 200 miners at Baluba mine have been sent on forced leave while the attendant departments have been placed on care and maintenance.
This comes a day after Government’s call not to send the miners on forced leave and place Baluba mine under care and maintenance.
Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Chishimba Kambwili warned at a press briefing on Monday that Government would not condone any threats by mining companies to lay off workers.
Mr. Kambwili said there was power being imported from Namibia for mining companies to buy at a premium rate.
“We are not going to condone any mining company that will cease operations and lay off workers on the basis of power shortage, there is an option of buying power at a premium rate which is being imported from Namibia for mining companies to operate at full capacity,” he said.
But LCM head of Public Relations Sydney Chileya said the Company had maintained to suspend the operations at the plant and that so far, 1, 200 miners had received letters to proceed on leave.
“Workers have started receiving their letters and I can confirm that about 1, 200 miners have so far received and are going on leave,” he said.
He said the affected employees would be paid a monthly allowance in order to lessen the economic burden until the next course of action was advised.
Mr. Chileya said it was management’s intention to conduct an orderly shutdown and cleanup of the operation with the controlled release of all personnel except for those who shall form part of the care and maintenance team.
He said the decision was arrived at after considering the escalating cost structure for Baluba Mine owing to the reduced copper price, coupled with the energy deficit the country was currently experiencing.
Mr. Chileya said the improvement, to acceptable and economically viable levels, of the fundamentals which had forced this action would prompt the re-opening of the Baluba Mine and its attendant departments and the recalling of all employees from leave.
In a separate interview, Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) president Nkole Chishimba said LCM did not consult the union before taking the drastic action.
Mr. Chishimba said it was saddening to note that mining firms had
continued to lay off workers without engaging in dialogue key stakeholders.
“Luanshya mine is a big mining firm , it should consult key stakeholders before taking such actions, as a union we are not involved, as it is now, we are only reading in the papers that workers are being laid off,” he said.
Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba (GBM)
OPPOSITION UPND vice president Geoffrey Mwamba was yesterday prevented from leaving the country after the Immigration Department withdrew his diplomatic passport.
Mr Mwamba, popularly known as GBM, was forced to surrender his diplomatic passport by immigration officials at Lusaka’s Kenneth Kaunda International Airport yesterday afternoon.
The former Kasama Member of Parliament (MP) was apparently on his way to South Africa.
Immigration Department director general Moola Milimo who confirmed in an interview yesterday said the former Defence Minister would be allowed to apply for an ordinary passport like any other citizen.
“There were speculations earlier in the day that Mr Mwamba was detained at the airport for using the document which he did not qualify,” he said.
However, Mr Milimo said the former MP was just asked to surrender his passport before returning home.
“We did not detain him; we just withdrew his diplomatic passport this afternoon because he is no longer a minister. In this regard, he is free to apply for an ordinary passport just like any other citizen.
“I must assure you that it will absolutely replaced but he must apply and follow the process that everyone follows because he is not a minister,” Mr Milimo said.
Mr Mwamba left Government in 2013 before joining UPND in July this year although he could not surrender his diplomatic passport.
Meanwhile, UPND candidate for the Lubansenshi parliamentary by-election Patrick Mucheleka yesterday allegedly failed to respond to police summons owing to a hitch involving his lawyers.
Police in Luwingu had summoned Mr Mucheleka to assist with investigations on the assault of Luwingu district commissioner Patrick Chanda by suspected cadres.
Northern Province acting commissioner of police Luckson Sakala, said Mr Mucheleka’s lawyers allegedly lost their way to luwingu district in Northern Province and instead found themselves in Isoka in Muchinga Province.
According to a report filed at Luwingu central police station by the UPND campaign manager for the forth coming September 24 by-election, the lawyers only found out they were in a wrong district after arriving and asking if they were in Luwingu.
The proxy who reported to the police on Mr Mucheleka’s behalf promised that he would with his lawyers in tow report to the police station at 08:00 hours today.
Zambia ended their September match engagements with a draw against Gabon at National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka.
Rainford Kalaba put Zambia ahead in the 22nd minute after the Chipolopolo captain connected with a cross from striker Winston Kalengo.
Gabon goalkeeper Moto Biteski equalised from the penalty spot in the 78.th minute after defender Boyd Mkandawire fouled an opponent.
Meanwhile, two power outages threatened to scuttle the match for five minutes before kickoff and seven minutes inside the opening 20 minutes of the first half before Kalaba pounced to put the home side 1-0 into the break
The draw came just two days after Zambia beat Kenya 2-1 away in Nairobi in a 2017 Africa Cup Group E qualifier and 24 hours earlier, Gabon beat Sudan 4-0 in Libreville in another friendly.
Gabon are the hosts of the 2017 Africa Cup tournament.
The Association of Mine Suppliers and Contractors has accused some mining companies of exaggerating the energy crisis being faced when making decisions affecting their future in Zambia.
This follows a decision by Chinese owned Mine in Luanshya on the Copperbelt to send 1,640 miners on forced leave and place Baluba mine on care and Maintenance due to the energy crisis.
Glencore the owners of Mopani Coppers mines one of Zambia’s largest employers have also announced intentions to suspend production for 18 months following a slump in copper prices.
And the Mine Suppliers have appealed to Government to immediately call for an indaba with the ministries of Finance, Mines , Commerce, Energy, Mining Companies , labour movement and mine contractors to address issues affecting the mining sector.
Association President Augustine Mubanga says it is unfortunate and a blow on Zambia’s Economy when Mines begin to close due to Electricity problems when government has put in place measures to address the situation.
He says Government is currently importing power to ensure that the mines are well fed to maximize on production to boost economic growth.
Mr. Mubanga appealed to ZESCO and the Copperbelt Energy Corporation to prioritize power supply to the mining companies if Zambia’s economy is to survive.
And Mines Minister Christopher Yaluma has appealed management at Baluba Mine to engage in dialogue with government as opposed to closing down and retrenching workers.
Mr. Yaluma says the issue of the mine laying off workers as a result of a drop in copper prices and power deficit is unfortunate.
He says Baluba Mine must realise that the drop in copper prices on the international market is a global issue which has weakened commodity prices in various economies across the global.
The Minister says the drop in copper prices is a global issue that Baluba mine should run with to see how they can cope and proceed with their business.
Mr. Yaluma also added that the power deficit is another issue that has come, stressing that Baluba Mine should NOT use it as an excuse to retrench workers.
He says the mine should see how it can manage its operations within the given constraints to maintain and sustain their operations.
Mr. Yaluma says he has already met representatives from Baluba mine and indicated to them that the power is highly constrained in the country.
He told ZNBC News in an interview that ZAMBIA will receive some premium power coming in adding that anyone that want to draw power will draw it on a premium price.
Mr. Yaluma said companies can utilise the premium power coming to compensate their current power deficit.
He said premium power to be supplied will however NOT be subsidized.
President Edgar Lungu shakes hands with his counterpart President Eduardo Dos Santos at the presidential palace yesterday. Picture by ROYD SIBAJENE/ZANIS
Promoters of the Zambia- Angola Oil Pipeline (AZOP) Basali Ba Liseli Resources have dismissed as distorted information suggesting that President Edgar Lungu is involved in the deal to construct an oil pipeline from Lobito Bay in Angola to Lusaka.
Reacting to today’s front page story in the Post headlined “Lungu, Santos strike Oil Deal”, Basali Ba Liseli Resources says neither President Lungu nor his government are in anyway involved in the Oil deal.
Executive Chairman Wamulume Kalabo has told a media briefing in Lusaka this afternoon that the oil deal in question is purely a private sector initiative.
He however says the deal requires the support of both the Angolan and Zambian governments.
Mr. Kalabo says this is particularly that no such business project of this nature and magnitude, whose total investment is about US45 Billion, involving two sovereign States can proceed without the blessing and explicit support of the two governments.
He has explained that following the Cabinet decision of June 29, 2015 to support the privately led Zambia-Angola Oil Pipeline initiative, President Lungu appointed a special envoy, State House Deputy Minister Mulenga Sata to deliver a message of support to the Oil Deal to his Angola Counterpart Jose Eduardo do Santos.
Mr. Kalabo states that Mr. Sata and himself being the Zambia- Angola Oil Pipeline Executive Chairman and in the company of government officials met President Santo on the 10th of August this year.
He notes that contrary to the said newspaper article, once constructed the Pipeline will in fact be able to deliver 100, 000 barrels per day of refined petroleum products into Zambia and not 50, 000 barrels.
Mr Kalabo says the fact that the Oil deal will eliminate the need for middlemen and shipping costs and thus significantly lower the cost of fuel pump prices, it is in the interest of Zambia and that of BBLR to acquire equity in the Lobito Refinery in order to ensure sustainability of affordable petroleum suppliers in the country.
Last weekend, a horde of Lusaka’s youths gathered at the NASDEC Sports Complex for the 12th triannual Street Culture Festival.
The complex came alive as a centre of skateboarding, dancing, rap and art as the youths displayed their skills mainly exuding hip-hop street culture.
Artist Slap D brought his hip-hop flavour to the festival, performing a number of hits before an excited, youthful crowd.
The skateboarding featured different categories and the offer of prize money.
There was also a dance competition featuring a dance-off in various categories, which included hip-hop, free style, break-boy and afro hip hop. “The Street Culture Festival is one that has been growing steadily. We always have the largest turnout in December because everyone is free during school holidays,” festival organiser Mauthos Ndhlovu shared with the Weekend Mail in an interview.
The festival has been in existence for nearly four years now, beginning modestly in 2011 and growing in the hundreds since then.
It was started by two friends named Elijah Zgambo and Kapembwa Siame and is hosted three times a year by a company called Street Culture Events and Arts.
Elijah is a skateboarder and b-boy while Kapembwa is a b-boy only. Elijah spent some time in Russia during the period his mother worked there in Foreign Service while Kapembwa had experienced life in South Africa.
The pair noticed there was not much happening on the local scene with regards to skateboarding and b-boying. So using their combined skills they decided to come up with an event to showcase these skills.
Beginning modestly in December 2011 at Lusaka’s Arcades Shopping Mall, the show had an attendance of not more than 20 people, but today it draws a youthful crowd of over 2,000.
JK drops the most anticipated Music Video for the recently released single ‘Open‘. The stunning visuals were shot in South Africa by Studio Space Pictures.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdB1eCT78gc BY KAPA187
Today I want to show you how to turn your Monday night leftovers into – Tuesday’s tasty dinner. We all know what it’s like to have left over food from the night before; whether it is beef, chicken or pork, sometimes it can be hard to think of a new and exciting way to use those leftovers. So rather than cook something completely new, why not use this easy vegetable stir fry to spice up your leftovers. Not only is it a good way to save money, but it is also a good way to pack in your five a day. Whether you want to have a fancy dinner for you and your man, want a quick and healthy meal; or you are trying to persuade the kids to eat vegetables; you can’t go wrong with a stir fry.
The secret to a good stir fry is not to put too much in the wok at once, if you do, the vegetables will ‘sweat’ instead of fry. This recipe is for two people, but if you are cooking for four, be sure to do it in two batches. This stir fry is suitable for all you vegetarians and can also be modified to satisfy all the “carnivores”.
Preparation time 5 mins
Cooking time 5 mins
Serves 2 people
Ingredients
1 tbsp of vegetable oil
3 spring onions, thinly sliced
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
1 red chilli thinly sliced/ ½ a tsp of chilli flakes (optional)
1garlic clove sliced/ ½ tsp of garlic powder
300g – 500g pack of mixed vegetable with bean sprouts, or baby corn
1 ½ tbsp of soy sauce
2 tbsp of sweet chilli sauce (optional)
A pinch of salt
Method
Heat the oil in a large frying pan or wok until very hot, and then fry the chilli, garlic, spring onions and red onion for 1 min.
Add the veg and toss it, to coat in the oil. If you are making this with meat or chicken – add the desired meat and mix well.
Fry for 2-3 mins, then add the soy and chilli sauce, mixing well.
Cook for 2-3 mins more until the veg are tender.
Serving
Quick Tips
You can use fresh vegetables rather than packed vegetables in the following quantities;
A handful of broccoli
A handful of chopped carrots
A handful of red pepper
A handful of mushrooms or finely chopped cabbage
A handful of snow peas with the ends cut off
Or add a handful of beef, pork, or chicken chopped into small pieces
Serve with rice or noodles, or eat it as it is.
Kanta Temba is a cake maker and decorator. She is also the owner and founder of Kanta Kakes – cake shop.
You can find her work onwww.kantakakes.com. Follow her on twitter @KantaKakes and Instagram @KantaTemba.
President Edgar Lungu has moved the department of the Rural Roads Unit (RRU) from the Ministry of Works and Supply to the Ministry of Defence, under the Zambia National Service (ZNS).
The President announced this when he launched the 4-hundred Million Kwacha heavy duty earth moving equipment for the Zambia National Service (ZNS) at Chamba valley in Lusaka on Tuesday.
President Lungu said the equipment will supplement the link Zambia 8-thousand and the Pave Zambia 2-thousand road projects.
The President who was clad in the ZNS uniform pointed out that there is no doubt that many areas have been opened up and many places that were Not accessible are now being reached.
President Lungu added that the equipment will boost the capacity of the ZNS Land Development Branch in carrying out its tasks.
The Head of State explained that government has bought a fleet of assorted earthmoving equipment which will see an improvement in efficiency and quality of the works.
President Lungu is confident that ZNS will operate effectively and efficiently
The equipment that includes excavators, concrete mixers, folk lifts and vacuum tankers will be distributed to all the Provincial centres to cater for the construction needs of the country.
And Defence Minister Richwell Siamunene reiterated that his Ministry will not tolerate abuse of the equipment that has been bought at a great cost.
Earlier, ZNS Commandant Lieutenant General Nathan Mulenga thanked government for making ZNS a vehicle in which to spearhead the rural development.
General Mulenga pointed out that ZNS operations had negatively been affected by the use of obsolete equipment.
He disclosed that the equipment was bought at a cost of 62. 3 Million US dollars.
And General Mulenga cautioned ZNS staff to ably apply themselves to duty or risk being fired from the service.
And Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Yang Youming said his country is pleased to partner with Zambia in infrastructure development.
Mr Yang said China and Zambia will continue to find areas of corporation in various areas.
Beit Cure Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon Dr. Uta Froeschl shows the machine they use for eyes to the First Lady Esther Lungu during the Starkey Hearing foundation and tour of Beit cure Hospital
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First Lady Esther Lungu and Stakey Hearing Foundation co- founder Tani Austin tour the stands of hearing Aid at Beit cure Hospital
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First Lady Esther Lungu and Stakey Hearing Foundation co- founder Tani Austin tour the stands of hearing Aid at Beit cure Hospital
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First Lady Esther Lungu and Stakey Hearing Foundation co- founder Tani Austin tour the stands of hearing Aid at Beit cure Hospital
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First Lady Esther Lungu fits the Hearing Aid to Memory Kapembeza during the giving of Hearing Aid to Patients at Beit cure Hospital
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First Lady Esther Lungu fits the Hearing Aid to Memory Kapembeza during the giving of Hearing Aid to Patients at Beit cure Hospital
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First Lady Esther Lungu lightens up a patient during the Starkey Hearing foundation and tour of Beit cure Hospital
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First Lady Esther Lungu fits the Hearing Aid to Mathews Tembo during the giving of Hearing Aid to Patients at Beit cure Hospital
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First Lady Esther Lungu and Stakey Hearing Foundation co- founder Tani Austin fitting Hearing Aid to Phiri Lekesina during the giving of Hearing Aid to Patients at Beit cure Hospital
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First Lady Esther Lungu fits the Hearing Aid on Phiri Lekesina whilst Stakey Hearing Foundation Director Owen Olende looks on during the giving of Hearing Aid to Patients at Beit cure Hospital
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First Lady Esther Lungu and Stakey Hearing Foundation co- founder Tani Austin giving Hearing Aid model to Mathews Tembo during the giving of Hearing Aid to Patients at Beit cure Hospital
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First Lady Esther Lungu and Stakey Hearing Foundation co- founder Tani Austin fitting Hearing Aid on Harold Kajila during the giving of Hearing Aid to Patients at Beit cure Hospital
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First Lady Esther Lungu fits the Hearing Aid on Harold Kajila whilst Stakey Hearing Foundation Director Owen Olende looks on during the giving of Hearing Aid to Patients at Beit cure Hospital
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First Lady Esther Lungu shake hands with Harold Kajila shortly after giving him the hearing Aid during the giving of Hearing Aid to Patients at Beit cure Hospital
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First Lady Esther Lungu donates food staffs and blankets to Beit cure Executive Director Tim Ebbers during the giving of Hearing Aid to Patients at Beit cure Hospital
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First Lady Esther Lungu encourages a patient and mother during the Starkey Hearing foundation and tour of Beit cure Hospital
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Beit Cure Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon Dr. Uta Froeschl and First Lady Esther Lungu during the Starkey Hearing foundation and tour of Beit cure Hospital
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First Lady Esther Lungu and Beit Cure Matron Julianne Hachaambwa having a light moment with patients during the Starkey Hearing foundation and tour of Beit cure Hospital
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First Lady Esther Lungu and Stakey Hearing Foundation co- founder Tani Austin helps Memory Kapembeza during the giving of Hearing Aid to Patients at Beit cure Hospital
The Unspoilt Lower Zambezi National Park- however new mine coming soon
UPND Policy Statement
Not long ago Ms. Jean Kapata and her colleagues in the PF Government lifted the ban on the hunting of lions. Their reasoning was that Zambia had enough lions to be hunted for trophies and that the government had enough safeguards against poaching and the illegal issuance of hunting licenses. Just last month Special Assistant to the President for Project Monitoring and Implementation, Mr. Lucky Mulusa, informed the nation that 35 elephants have been killed by poachers in the last 6 months. The Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA), whose duty is among others to protect endangered animals from poachers, failed to protect these 35 elephants.
The sad part about this story is that Mr. Mulusa further said that the poachers had been arrested but were later released upon payment of a K900 fine. This is laughable if it were not sad. For Ms. Kapata and her colleagues, K900 fine is a deterrent for poaching! According to Mr. Mulusa, the existing legal framework on game management is inadequate; this is exactly what we said in the policy statement in relation to this issue when it appeared the first time. Kapata says we have a robust animal protection system, while another minister in the very same government says we do not have. These are the inconsistencies of the PF we have been talking about.
[pullquote]a lion or leopard can be photographed a million times. The gun, on the other hand will shoot once and kill[/pullquote]
On July 1, 2015, the world woke up to shocking news that Cecil, a 13 year old male lion wearing a tracking collar had been killed by hunters in a National Park in Hwange, Zimbabwe. The hunters claim to have obtained a hunting license but the authorities in Zimbabwe dispute this. This helps solidify our earlier opposition to the lift on the ban of hunting lions. If a lion wearing a tracking collar can be killed by hunters, what hope is there for those without? It is not a secret that our colleagues in Zimbabwe have a better game management system than ours, but even there animals are being illegally hunted. We are now going to Botswana to learn how they do it. Wasn’t this supposed to happen before the lifting of the ban?
Zambia is one of the few countries in the world that still has game such as elephants, lions and other big cats in their natural habitat. We are duty bound to protect these animals for posterity.
However, protecting them also makes a lot of economic sense. They are part of the reason tourists travel from far and beyond to come to Zambia. Tourism in Zambia, if well managed has a potential to create employment for our youth and be a major source of foreign currency.
Thailand raked in US$16 billion last year from tourism. I will end by repeating what I wrote in an earlier statement when the ban on hunting big cats was lifted. I proposed the following alternatives:-
UPND will encourage wildlife conservation. The aim of this will be to protect animals and their habitat for posterity;
UPND will provide incentives for businesses in tourism industry such as reduced or zero rated VAT;
UPND will reduce the number of licenses required for setting up a business in the tourism sector and in general;
UPND will review visa requirements so as to encourage more tourist arrivals;
UPND will enhance training and research in ecosystems science;
UPND will incentivise institutions of higher learning that will teach degree courses in tourism and hospitality.
It is not rocket science to know that a lion or leopard can be photographed a million times. The gun, on the other hand will shoot once and kill. The camera will create jobs and improve the livelihoods of our people.
Compatriots, lets protect that which God has given us. Let us agree with the US Ambassador to Zambia Eric Schultz, who said “Lions belong to the wild and not the wall.”
In Zambia, political detentions were carried out under a State of Emergency, which allowed for colonialist style preventative detentions by the state. This State of Emergency lasted throughout the first 27 years of the independence era, under President Kenneth Kaunda. This was in place on the self-government eve of independence, under the Prime Ministership of Kenneth Kaunda. It was resorted to in the violent suppression of the uprising by members of the Lumpa Church of Alice Lenshina. This continuous State of Emergency was retained until the end of the One Party State in 1991. It was reverted to after the 1991 re-introduction of multi-party politics, but only for a limited period.
However, even without a State of Emergency there has been regular political imprisoning of Barotse people. A Barotse national, who was a District official of the opposition United Party, Timothy Kalimbwe Lupasa, holds the record for enduring the longest period of political imprisonment in Zambia, from 1973 to 1990. This is more than six times more than any political actor was imprisoned under British Colonialism in Northern Rhodesia.
Earlier, immediately after the imposition of the One Party system on 30th December 1972, at least eight Barotse traditional leaders and prominent citizens were subjected to violence and terrorizing post mid-night bundling out of homes to far distance detention centres, after a couple of days of being denied food. This was under the colonial preservation of public security regulations, backed up by a permanent State of Emergency.
Some detainees in this dragnet sweep are Lisulo Muchanza, Pumulo Mulope, Kuwabo Kaunda, Musialela Mupatu, Sitamlaho Musole, Kaluwe Mukena, Zeko Mulundumina and Welesani Mulele. They were detained without trial under falsified charges of seeking the secession of Barotseland, when, in fact, they were demanding the restoration of the Barotseland Agreement.
This was neither the first nor the last time the Zambian Government used politically motivated police brutality as well as detentions and imprisonment to suppress freedom of expression over the status of Barotseland. Some have been visited by the Zambia law for pleading for the restoration of the Barotseland Agreement, while other have faced the same for accepting the Agreement’s abrogation, and interpreting it as act of divorce. On both these score, hundreds of Barotse people have been detained, brutalized and killed under Zambian authorities, since independence to date.
This Agreement is the basis under which it was mutually and formally agreed for Barotseland Protectorate and Northern Rhodesia Protectorate to jointly constitute one independent new nation state called Zambia. Even earlier than this, in 1969, after Zambia’s unilateral and un-discussed abrogation of the Barotseland Agreement, the Zambian government arrested and detained other Barotse people, including Luyanga (Induna Imukondo), Biemba Muteto (one time holder of the traditional leadership position of Mwene Kandala), Namumba Katenekwa, Namuyamba Mushala and Nasando as well as Mufaya Mumbuna, among many others.
These draconian measures have continued throughout the period of the fifty years of Zambia’s independence up to and including to date. The Zambian prisons are hardly ever free of Barotse political prisons, including right now, in 2015.
In short, in the handing over of state power from British Colonial governance to African rule after independence there has been change, but with continuity with the preceding regimes’ undemocratic and non-libertarian underpinning. The same continues with the change from the One Party State systems to multi-party governance, as well as from military back to civilian administration.
Half a century after independence, Zambia remains with unaddressed challenge of managing contradictions and conflicts in a just and democratic manner.
