PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has directed newly appointed Defence minister Richwell Siamunene to ignore baseless criticism and concentrate on transforming the operations of the defence forces.

President Lungu said this yesterday when he swore in Mr Siamunene and Transport, Works, Supply and Communications deputy minister James Kapyanga as State House in Lusaka.

Mr Siamunene is opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) Sinazongwe Member of Parliament (MP).

Mr Lungu said Mr Siamunene should ignore those that were criticising him over his appointment and work on transforming the defence forces.

He said the new minister was joining the Ministry of Defence at a critical time when the ministry was transforming its operations to suit the needs of the country even in the times of peace.

“Lucky for you, you are taking over from me and below you, you have competent staff that will help you in your work. Ensure that you transform the defence forces,” President Lungu said.

He said the Zambia National Service (ZNS) has already started transforming by providing services in road rehabilitation.

ZNS was working with the Rural Roads Unit to rehabilitate roads in rural areas.

President Lungu said leadership was lonely especially that most people spoke negatively about leaders.

“Especially for you, Mr Siamunene, many people want to be where you are. They are not saying nice things about your appointment because they are just full of envy,” he said.

Mr Lungu said Mr Siamunene should take heart because some people spoke negatively about him (President Lungu) as well but he responded by working hard.

He said the best way to shame critics was by working hard.

On Mr Kapyanga, President Lungu said the deputy minister was a good example of what could be achieved by working hard silently.

Mr Lungu said Mr Kapyanga was a hard worker and a veteran in labour matters, politics, governance issues and party matters.

“You are a good example of how one can move from the back bench, not by talking too much but by working hard,” he said.

The President said Mr Kapyanga should explain and defend Government’s position in Parliament well.

Meanwhile, Mr Siamunene said he was grateful to President Lungu for appointing him as Defence minister because he was a youth who had been given a huge responsibility.

He said his appointment was proof that Zambia was a united nation.

Mr Siamunene said he was not going to pay the detractors any attention but instead pledged his loyalty to President Lungu.

He said Mr Lungu had shown a lot of trust for youths which should encourage them to work for the country and not for other reasons.

He said he was still an MP even though the UPND president Hakainde Hichilema was reported to have said that his appointment wrong because he was an expelled member of the party.

Mr Kapyanga said he would work to encourage commitment from civil servants in his ministry because commitment and unity was key.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Chief Sinazongwe, ministers, permanent secretaries and family members.

Chief Sinazongwe said later that the chiefs in Southern Province had mandated their chairperson to engage President Lungu over their demand for an apology from PF Secretary General Davies Chama on some remarks he allegedly made against people of Southern Province.

Luangwa District Voters Registration Officer, Given Muleya has called on the newly constituted District Voter Education Committee (DVEC) to engage serious and dedicated people to conduct the voter registration exercise so that more people register as voters.

Speaking during a DVEC meeting held at the Council Chamber yesterday, Mr. Muleya urged the DVEC members to engage committed people who will conduct the registration exercise in a free and transparent manner ahead of the 2016 Presidential and General elections.

He said the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) wants to capture a lot of eligible voters for the 2016 elections hence the need to engage serious and dedicated people for the exercise which will commerce in September this year.

Mr. Muleya told the DVEC members that eighty – six (86) people applied to conduct the voter registration education exercise and only ten (10) people were required for the exercise hence the need for the committee to engage dedicated people who will conduct a massive sensitization on the importance of registering as voters and participate in the elections.

He added that the District has a lot of eligible voters who need to be captured so that they participate in next year’s elections

PF Secretary General Davies Chama has charged that Wynter Kabimba is not fit to hold the post of Republican President because he allegedly failed to run the PF Secretariat when served as party Secretary General.

Mr. Chama claimed that Mr Kabimba accrued huge debts and caused chaos in the PF as Secretary General.

He said Mr Kabimba has no moral authority to seek the highest office in the land because he is a failure.

“How come this man now wants to turn around and position himself for the republican Presidency when he lamentably failed to run the secretariat, the party owed a lot of people and companies by the time he was getting fired,” Mr Chama said.

He added, “Mr Kabimba left a lot of debts which I have inherited as new S.G, I have been wondering what kind of a leader is this? A lot of people at the secretariat where not paid during his time and it is really sad to see the chaos he left behind.”

The Lusaka High Court has granted Avarmma Mining leave for judicial review against the decision of the Minister of Mines who cancelled its Katokamema large scale prospecting mine licence and awarded it to Kasempa Community and ZCCM Investment Holdings.

Judge Bobo Banda that the leave for judicial review will also act as a stay restraining Kasempa Community and ZCCM-IH from taking possession of the mining area and properties belonging to Avarmma Mining until the final determination of the application for judicial review.

Last Sunday, Minister of Mines Christopher Yaluma cancelled the prospecting licence belonging to Avarmma and gave it to the community and ZCCM-IH but Avarmma filed for leave to issue judicial review proceedings against the decision of Mr Yaluma.

According to court documents, the mining company stated that it has not committed any offence for which such a punitive conversion of the mining right to its detriment should have been undertaken without being given an opportunity to be heard.

“If Avarmma has committed any offence, they should have been prosecuted under the Act but the Minister deprived the company of its mine without notice or any reasons and without being heard,” it stated.

It stated that the Minister is not a member of the Mining Advisory Committee and cannot exercise his powers without consultation with the Committee.

“The procedure for the cancellation of a large scale prospecting licence was not adhered to and the subsequent decision was illegal and no decision at all. The Minister acted ultra vires as there is a restriction in the Act as to how he can exercise his powers, his failure to consult the Committee is fatal,” it stated.

In his affidavit in support of ex-parte summons for leave to apply for judicial review, Avarmma Mining managing director Andrei Fateev said the company was granted a prospecting licence by the Department of Mines in conjunction with the Geological Survey Department.

“There is also a beacon certificate and the coordinates showing that the owner of the licence is Avarmma Mining. The company has spent colossal sums of money in paying consultants to complete the environmental impact assessment and the company also flew into the country a Russian geologist to undertake the ore reserve statement,” he stated.

Cleo Ice Queen and Kaladoshas come together for the King and Queens double album launch party scheduled for 2015. According to sources, the two signed and confirmed their double album launch party on Friday 31^st July 2015 and plan on having the official show two months from now. Sources further reported that among the VIP guests for the show will be South Africa’s Nadia Nakai, HHP, Nigeria’s Tiwa Savage, Patoranking, Burna Boy and Namibia’s Dillish. local celebs jayrox ; Salma ; Bombshell ; JK ; Roberto ; CQ ; AfunIka ; all speculated to be there along with international acts. The two are currently working on their highly anticipated Collabo which drops next month and the video premiered at the party. Kamimikazi and Tilimo Entertainment the two record labels to which the two artists are signed under have prepared a Lusaka music tour to boost promotion for the double album launch.
KALADOSHAS COCOA BUTTER ft Petersen Zagaze and Cleo Ice Queen

BY KAPA187

UPND president Hakainde Hichilema has called on government to for once care more about fixing economic policies that create job opportunities for the Zambian people than trying to fix o their political competitors and fortunes for short term political gains at the expense of the country at large.

The UPND has been receiving several concerns regarding the ongoing NRC issuance exercise around the country. Mr.Hichilema said the UPND have argued before that part of our leadership defiance challenges facing our country is wanting to politicise everything.

‘We are always thinking about how to fix our dwindling political fortunes instead of thinking about fixing our economic downturn like now,’he said.

Mr.Hichilema said the NRC document MUST be given equitably to all deserving Zambian citizens without any political or electoral considerations. Having an NRC,he said ,is not a political privilege but a right to any Zambian citizen as a legal requirement and as an ongoing exercise throughout the country.

He said this is a primary document in Zambia we all need in our daily life opportunities. Our youths need this document to get into local and international schools, colleges and universities. Our women, youths, civil servants, farmers, and citizens in general need this NRC document for employment opportunities, apply for small loans, get passports and driving licences, buy items on credit, etc.

‘Elections only come once in five years. Why should citizens in an entire constituency or ward in Kaputa, Kasama, Mkushi, Serenje, Kasempa, Katuba, Chingola, Kanyama, etc be denied such a vital document for life opportunities because of the manner they may have exercised their democratic right of voting,’Mr Hichilema asked.

‘We have been touring various parts of the country and no areas should be considered as favouring any political party any more and be used as a consideration for issuance of NRCs.

It’s the issues and viable economic policies that we offer citizens that we should care more for public service and political office,’the UPND president said.

Jk will be releasing his latest single “Open” on 21st August . The song is produced by Peezey Cables 

BY KAPA187