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Egypt based striker Ronald “Sate Sate” Kampamba has joined the Zambia Under-23 squad that has camped in Lusaka ahead of Saturday’s must win 2015 CAF Championship qualifier against Ivory Coast.
Kampamba of Wadi Degla on Tuesday morning could not report to the Under-23 camp despite being in Kitwe.
He joined camp on Tuesday after mid-day and was part of the afternoon training at Heroes National Stadium.
FAZ spokesperson Nkweto Tembwe said all the players summoned for camp have reported except Israel based defender Emmanuel Mbola.
“Kampamba is in and was part of training this afternoon at Heroes Stadium.All players are in and only Mbola is being awaited,” Tembwe said.
Zambia hosts Ivory Coast in the return leg of the CAF Championship qualifiers at Nkoloma Stadium after a goalless draw in the first leg in Abidjan.
The winner of Saturday’s match qualifies for the CAF Under-23 championship finals in Senegal where the top three finishers will advance to the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.
Zambia’s costs for its third Eurobond issue soared compared with its debut sale in 2012, both managed by Barclays Plc and Deutsche Bank AG, the prospectus for the deal shows.
The southern African nation paid $4.14 million in fees and commissions for banks and lawyers, as well as costs associated with marketing the $1.25 billion sale, after taking account of the discounted price at which the notes were sold, according to data compiled by Bloomberg from the sale and prospectus documents. That compares with $1.4 million for its first offering in 2012, which was also managed by Barclays and Deutsche Bank.
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This is the most expensive dollar debt issuance for an African government
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The securities were sold at 97.257 of face value, a discount premium of $34.3 million, pushing total costs for the transaction to $38.4 million, the data show. The nation paid a discount premium of $14.6 million for its $750 million issue in 2012.
Yields on the latest Eurobond were 9.38 percent at sale, making it the most expensive dollar debt issuance for an African government. They climbed to 9.67 percent on Tuesday. Zambia, Africa’s second-biggest copper producer, had to pay up as prices for the metal slid to six-year lows and its fiscal deficit eclipsed government’s targets.
The shortfall will rise to 6.9 percent this year from a budgeted target of 4.6 percent, according to the prospectus.
Starting as single-celled yellow organisms, Minions evolve through the ages, perpetually serving the most despicable of masters. Continuously unsuccessful at keeping these masters,the Minions find themselves without someone to serve and fall into a deep depression. But one Minion named Kevin has a plan, and he-alongside teenage rebel Stuart and lovable little Bob-ventures out into the world to find a new evil boss for his brethren to follow.
PROS
Extremely entertainer
Easy to follow story line
CONS
the movie is predictable
FAVORITE QUOTE
Stuart the Minion: Banana!
CONCLUSION
Minions is an hilarious movie that the whole family can enjoy . The story line may be a little too straight forward , but it is filled with many wacky , witty ,amusing jokes and gags . The little Minions , Kevin , Bob and Stuart were so adorable and their “language” was super funny . Minions is a great movie for family night out with the Kids .
The current mess at ZESCO with load shedding and all the politically induced problems there can be solved if courageous people can bite the bullet and make the right choices. I don’t know why we are beating about the bush and trying to complicate things.
The very simple answer to load shedding is to increase prices of electricity. More precisely, to stop government price controls in the energy sector by completely removing the power of the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) to approve changes in prices of electricity and leaving pricing completely and totally to market forces.
It baffles me why governments the world over think they can defy the most fundamental law of economics (Demand and Supply) by controlling prices. Economics 101 says that the price of goods and services fluctuate in order to bring demand and supply into an equilibrium. Tampering with the equilibrium by keeping prices artificially low causes shortages.
There is load shedding in Zambia because the price of electricity in Zambia is too cheap, relative to the demand for it, with supply not significantly increasing. There are too many households who can afford it and this high demand should ordinarily cause prices to rise until some households reduce their usage or else stop using it altogether, such that demand drops and eventually the supply becomes enough for those that can afford the higher price. But the government has fixed the price too low through ERB so there is not enough electricity to go round, hence load shedding.
The results are there for all to see. Industries have reduced production by up to 30% in some cases. No more heavy industries like mining or manufacturing are likely to open or expand in this scenario. They will be forced to scale back at some point. People and companies who could have been more productive are forced to periodically halt production and at night people end up sleeping. The result is reduced economic growth for the foreseeable future and ironically, a reduction in the ability to take electricity to more people in Zambia.
A rise in electricity prices and reduction of demand will mean industries and businesses will have enough electricity to produce and the economy can still grow. This would in turn lead to more investment in the electricity sector since the high prices would attract new players who want to make a killing. Ultimately, the increased competition would causes prices to fall and quality of service to increase.
Now, things in reality are not so clear cut because a reduction in demand for electricity also has consequences for productivity in other areas of the economy. For example, if the poorer households are consuming less electicity because they cannot afford the increased prices, they will be less productive, buy fewer goods and services and pay less taxes. They shall contribute less to the economy.
A rise in electricity prices will also mean prices of many goods and services will increase, including the price of copper produced in Zambia. Workers will begin demanding higher salaries and the result is increased inflationary pressures. Zambian copper exports will become less attractive which means less foreign exchange earnings and a weaker more unstable Kwacha. This is likely to translate into reduced government revenue.
We are in big trouble without a dramatic increase in electricity production, which is the ultimate solution. Keeping the status quo is bad, but increasing prices is also bad. I think the latter is a lesser evil and it will enable more investments in the energy sector to meet the current huge demand. It will also make alternative energy solutions like solar or gas more viable because the pricing will become comparable to power from the grid.
The current model of price controls is not sustainable because shortages are always worse than high prices. During the terrible UNIP days in the late 80s, you could not find essential commodities in the shops like sugar or soap, not matter how much money you had. Then in the MMD period after 1991, everything was available in the shops. All you had to do was make more money and this was a far better situation than the alternative.
Moreover, keeping electricity prices artificially low means there is effectively a subsidy from government which of course comes out of taxes. Subsidies are not sustainable in the long run. They are a waste of public resources which can be put to better more efficient use.
ZESCO needs to be split up into Generation, Distribution and Retail. The three companies should be privatized so that the new owners have an incentive to be more efficient and more responsive. Anyone should be able to start an electricity company and rent the grid from ZESCO Distribution to supply their clients after buying power from generation companies.
ZESCO Distribution being a separate independent company should not favour anyone thus ensuring good competition. It can operate under a law that prohibits it from favouring any electricity company in terms of pricing or any other practices that would give an unearned advantage to anyone.
Some Zambians fear privatization but I believe the case of Zamtel should put most arguments to rest. It was a huge mess, making millions of Dollars in annual losses under government until 2010 when it was sold to LAPGreen who turned it around in just a year. The monopoly of Zamtel was killed and prices of phone calls reduced. The successful privatization of Zamtel can be replicated in ZESCO. Zamtel was nationalized by the PF government in 2012 and has never made a profit since then.
Let me end with a slightly paraphrased quote from Albert Einstein.
“Insanity is repeatedly doing the same thing while expecting different results each time”.
Trade Kings Managing Director Allan Jackman showing Commerce Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe some of the products during the tour of Trade Kings
The Zambian Voice says it will proceed to report Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe to the Anti Corruption Commission for corruption.
Zambian Voice Executive Director Chilufya Tayali said in a statement that it is now clear that Mrs Mwanakatwe and her husband Mupanga must be investigated on how they acquired the CEEC loan.
Mr Tayali has since appealed to President Edgar Lungu to send Mrs Mwanakatwe on forced leave to pave way for smooth investigations so that she does not put undue pressure on CEEC.
He said the Zambian Voice is convinced that the loan was corruptly obtained with no intention on her part to pay back.
Mr Tayali said Mrs Mwanakatwe does not seem to have any shame to admit that she does not qualify to be among the people that should have benefited from the CEEC.
He added that the Commerce Minister has no shame to admit that she defaulted on the said loan adding that she should have apologized for having a non-performing loan for almost 6 years as a senior Banker.
Below is Mr Tayali’s statement
MRS. MWANAKATWE’S RESPONSE IS SLURPISH, WE HAVE TO REPORT HER TO ACC
Looking at the track record of Mrs. Mwanakatwe in Banking, we gave her the benefit of doubt thinking she is a professional with some credibility to be honourable in handling matters like her Loan acquisition from a public institution which was meant for the underprivileged people.
Unfortunately she does not seem to have a shame to admit that she does not qualify to be among the people that should have benefited from CEEC.
Further she has no shame to admit that she defaulted on the said loan. If she was a professional as we thought, she would have apologized for having a non-performing loan for almost 6 years as a senior Banker.
Reflecting on how the loan was acquired, we are somehow convinced that it was corruptly obtained with of intention on her part to pay back.
Aluworks Industries does not seem to have benefited from the money otherwise it would have done better. There is nothing to show for out of the money borrowed.
Her response and pressure exerted on CEEC to make a misleading statement alarms us, we have to engage the next gear.
We are going to report the matter to ACC so that Mr.s Mwanakatwe and her husband must be investigated on how they acquired the loan when there were so many suitable people to benefit from CEEC.
Further we want an audit to be done on the Aluworks which benefited from Public funds so that the Mrs Mwanakatwe can account for the loan.
While this is happening, we hope President Edgar Lungu will put Mrs. Mwanakatwe out of office so that she does not put undue pressure on CEEC to do wrong things.
We have been investigating her for sometime and brought the issue to her attention so that she can quietly deal with it, but ignored the gesture. She has continued with her arrogance to cover the wrong things she has done. We have no choice but to bring even more and she better be ready for more to come.
A traditional leader in Kapiri Mposhi District has welcomed government’s resolve to revise the Witchcraft Act to make it more current and applicable to the prevailing social and cultural conditions in the country.
Chief Nkole of the Swaka speaking people told ZANIS that amendments to the Witchcraft Act were long overdue because it was an old law which was imposed by the colonial masters on Zambians.
He stated that the Act should be revised to take into consideration the role of traditional leaders in resolving witchcraft cases in their respective chiefdoms in the country.
The traditional leader said the law which was passed in 1914 was still being used despite Zambia gaining her independence 50 years ago adding that the piece of legislation was inconsistent with several social and cultural settings and practices in the country.
“The revision of the Witchcraft Act should have been done just after the country gained independence in 1964 because most of its content is not permissible to the current human rights society that we are living in today… this law was basically a law enacted by the whites to dehumanize Africans”, Chief Nkole said.
Chief Nkole further observed that the Witchcraft Act of 1914 does not recognize the significant role of traditional leaders in handling and resolving witchcraft cases in their jurisdictions but imposes penalties against them ranging from a fine to a maximum three-year imprisonment if believed to encourage witchcraft in their areas.
He hoped that once revised, the Act will provide clear and documented guidelines to their royal highnesses and empower them to handle witchcraft cases in the country.
“Traditional leaders should be given roles with regards to the amicable determination of witchcraft cases in their territories because they understand these issues amongst their subjects therefore the revised Act should provide us with clear guidelines and powers to do so,” Chief Nkole said.
Chief Nkole stated that traditional leaders that include Chiefs and headmen currently do not have any standard guidelines and authority to administer witchcraft cases even though they are on a daily basis confronted with witchcraft cases which are widespread in the rural areas.
Government through the Zambia Law Development Commission is revising the Witchcraft Act Cap 90 of the Laws of Zambia.
And speaking in an interview with ZANIS Zambia Law Development Commission Research Officer Otema Musuka said the Commission was going round the country to obtain submissions from traditional leaders on the matter.
He said the Witchcraft Act which provides for penalties against the practice of witchcraft and for matters incidental to or connected with witchcraft has never undergone major revision since its enactment in 1914 by the colonial government.
The Zambia Institute for Policy Analysis and Research has pointed out that the latest US$1.25 billion Eurobond issue by Government will increase total interest payments on the three Eurobonds taken out so far from about US$125 million a year to over US$240 million or ZMW1.8 billion a year.
In a statement released by ZIPAR Acting Executive Director Caesar Cheelo, the organisation has observed that the latest US$1.25 billion Eurobond comes in the wake of a depreciating Kwacha and declining non-traditional exports.
The Institute notes that other challenges include 30-50% drop in electricity supply, which are likely to reduce production and productivity, and ultimately dampen growth even further than the 5.8% revised economic growth for 2015.
ZIPAR says, with all these economic malaise, it is therefore not surprising that the third Eurobond, at an annual interest rate of 9.375%, is more expensive than the 2012 and 2014 Eurobonds whose interest rates were 5.375% and 8.5%, respectively.
It says this means Zambia will pay US$117.2 million annually in interest until 2025 on this new Eurobond alone adding that between now and 2022, interest payments for the three Eurobonds will increase from US$125 million to over US$240 million annually.
ZIPAR says while the third Eurobond should provide some respite for the weakening Kwacha, and is also expected to reduce the reliance on short-term expensive domestic debt, it warns that higher interest payments on Eurobonds are likely to crowd out public investment and social spending.
It cited the interest on all external debt, owed by the Zambian government to international lenders which include Eurobonds alongside other borrowing, were budgeted at K 2.4 billion in 2015, but this will rise to about K3.8 billion.
The Institute said coupled with domestic interest payments currently budgeted at K2.9 billion, total interest payments on public debt may rise to over K6 billion from 2016 saying this will be higher than the 4.5 billion allocation to the health sector and the 5.6 billion allocation for roads construction in the 2015 budget.
ZIPAR reiterated that commercial borrowing from international markets can be beneficial if the proceeds are invested wisely hence, the Zambian Government should formulate credible spending plans, which should be publicly announced for transparency and accountability, with clear and strengthened project selection processes that prioritise capital spending on viable, high economic return projects.
It says Government also needs to improve tax administration and should in particular tap into new high-economic-return projects.
ZIPAR says it will also be prudent for government to rationalise spending on non-priority areas.
It says Government should also avoid the temptation and pressure for fiscal spillages as the borrowing has come at a time when there are so many headwinds and when we are about to enter an election year.
The Institute added that the establishment of the sinking fund approved by the Minister of Finance for the first two Eurobonds should be fast-tracked and extended to the third Eurobond.
It said through the sinking fund, government will set aside funds annually, which would be used to make payments against the principal.
ZIPAR Research Fellow Shebo Nalishebo when funding is invested well there can be benefits to international borrowing.
“However, the risks also need to be managed. One such risk is the cost of paying the interest on a growing debt and how that can reduce government investment in services such as health and education. To manage that risk, government should, amongst other things, put more funding aside into a sinking fund with funds generated from domestic revenue receipts,” Mr Nalishebo said.
He added, “Due to issues of fungibility – the possibility that funds are used in ways not intended – the sinking fund should be set up as a bond buy-back scheme rather than a reserve fund. Government should also update its Debt Sustainability Analysis – a vital tool for effective debt management.”
ZIPAR notes that the last DSA was conducted in June 2014 adding that some of the baseline macroeconomic assumptions that were used no longer hold.
“For example, the 2014 DSA assumes no issuance of Eurobonds in the short to medium term after the 2012 and 2014 issuances. Therefore, the third Eurobond changes the debt dynamics upon which the 2014 DSA was premised. A new DSA will enable the country assess the vulnerabilities of the current debt portfolio,” Mr Nalishebo said.
He said this will be key for coming up with a medium-term debt management strategy and annual borrowing plans consistent with fiscal policy, monetary policy and current macroeconomic conditions saying sound debt management will help the government to reduce its exposure to interest rate, currency, refinancing, and other risks.
FILE: First Lady Esther Lungu when she paid a Courtesy call on Mwine Lubemba Chitimukulu at his palace in Mungwi District , Northern Province. This was during First Lady’s Outreach Programme for People with Special Needs -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA on 1st March 2015 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
The Bemba Royal Establishment has reiterated its warning to political parties against politicizing the coronation of Paramount Chief Chitimukulu the 38th and the Ukusefya Pa Ng’wena Bemba Traditional ceremony slated for this weekend in Mungwi District.
Bashilubemba’s spokesperson Washanga Impika Sha Lubemba – James Mulenga warned that the two ceremonies are purely traditional and not political.
Mr. Mulenga stated that traditional affairs have always been none partisan and should remain so.
He has since warned those who will attend the two events not to wear any party regalia or display banners saying no form of campaign will be tolerated at the ceremonies.
Mr. Mulenga added that the Bashilubemba would like the two traditional functions to be held in a peaceful manner without any disturbances.
He warned that the traditional council had requested police to ensure that they deal firmly with the would-be trouble makers.
This is contained in a statement made available ZANIS today and signed by Mr. Mulenga.
The installation of paramount chief Chitimukulu will take place this Friday 31st July, 2015 while the Ukusefya Pa Ng’wena Bemba Traditional ceremony will follow on Saturday 1stAugust, 2015.
Zambian music is now going on the global map with the Afro-Pop R n B Singer ‘Timothy’ slowly starting to make a lot of noise and building a large following through his recently released singles; ‘Chikondi’ and ‘Fly away’.
He unleashes visuals to the huge sweet melody titled ‘Fly Away’. video produced by MT Productionz in Lusaka. Fly Away is a song produced byDjLo of Ikonik Music.
As MMD youths, we have keenly followed the parliamentary debates and we can emphatically state that the current crop of Members of Parliament have failed the Zambian people.
We are shocked that the MPs including those from the opposition are agitating for the increase in their salaries and allowances.
Our analysis shows that those supporting the motion are doing so to embarrass President Edgar Lungu and his administration.
These MPs fully understand that any increment in their allowances will be rejected by Zambians thereby alienating President Lungu from majority Zambians.
Our appeal to President Lungu is that he should not entertain the Bill to increase emoluments for Constitutional Office Holders including Mps.
By tossing out that Bill, President Lungu will be siding with the poor people of Zambia who voted for him in the January 20 election.
We are further disappointed that the Speaker has allowed shallow debates to continue dominating proceedings and uninformed questions appearing on the Order paper.
We fully agree with UPND Bweengwa MP Highvie Hamududu who stated in his recent debate when contributing to a motion on the report from the Committee on Education, Science and Technology that Parliament has over the years been failing Zambians.
To quote his words, Mr Hamududu said, “Mr Speaker, this House is the apex body in this country. All the 14 million Zambians chose 150 hon. Members to make decisions for them. This House has, over the years, been failing Zambians. So, we must question what education really did to us. If education cannot make us sit together and sort out national problems, then, we should question our education, as hon. Members here.
Mr Speaker, look at the issue of the Constitution, for example. We cannot make a Constitution. The problem is that people cannot forego partisan political interests and sit across a table.
Everyone is partisan. Who said that the Constitution is a partisan issue? It is a national issue. It is always, “My party this” and “My party that.” My friend, Zambia is bigger than the party.”
From Mr Hamududu’s debate, we are able to deduce some things which are worth noting.
The majority of men and women who gather in that August House do not deserve to even enter that House. They are of low calibre and merely interested in serving their bellies.
Late President Michel Sata often referred to his Members of Parliament as useless. He also lamented how weak the opposition had become in his absence. As we celebrate his legacy, we are left with no option but to agree with his sentiments that most of the MPs sitting in Parliament are not adding value.
Over the last few months, we have taken strong interest to monitor Parliament Radio and follow proceedings in the House. As young politicians, we have found the quality of debates in the House uninspiring. The current crop of MPs does not seem to understand their role.
Most of the debates lack national character. They are usually individualised and are approached with a certain lack of seriousness. We have also heard the Speaker at pains to educate his MPs on the need to be serious when they are in the House.
By the time this House is dissolved, we can confidently predict that it would have passed the fewest number of bills in the history of Parliament.
The lack of seriousness is further exemplified by the fact that the House normally adjourns around 18 Hours because there are usually fewer items on the order paper.
A further examination of the order paper reveals something even more shocking. How in the world does an MP bring into the House a question about when Government will rehabilitate a blown off roof at Police Post in Lukulu or when Government will finish the construction of the two toilets at a Market in Nakonde?
If we reduce Parliament to debating community issues, what then will the Council chambers be debating? We know that one of the crucial roles of Parliament is to appropriate funds in the national budget for various programmes but we also know that MPs have a greater role in the implementation of the Constituency Development Funds. Why don’t they channel these issues to the District or Provincial Development Committees or even use CDF to replace blown off roofs and doors at the Headmasters House?
Our colleagues in other democracies use Parliament to push legislation that will shape the future of their nations in the next 50 or 100 years.
Recently, Commerce Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe proudly told the House that foreign investors are free to run block making businesses in Zambia. We expected the opposition MPs to take Mrs Mwanakatwe to task and force her to move a motion to ban foreigners from operating businesses that can ordinarily be done by local Zambians. Alas, our opposition MPs were dozing as usual and that question passed without further debate.
As MMD youths, we can confidently tell the nation that there are less than 15 MPs that are able to debate intelligently with depth of key issues facing the nation.
The rest of the MPs are either dozing or busy counting down to Friday to receive their weekly allowances. We further challenge the Speaker to clamp down on absenteeism and late coming which has become so endemic among the current crop of MPs.
It is a common feature to see our MPs loitering around Manda Hill and Arcades shopping centres as Parliament is sitting. We also know that most questions on the order paper are forced to lapse because the MP who might have filed the question is either absent or running late. We find this practice unacceptable and an abuse of national resources.
The National Assembly of Zambia is one of the well funded public institutions. It therefore follows that it should be producing services that will aid the development process of the nation. It is laughable that MPs who themselves have fallen victims of the draconian and archaic Public Order Act have failed to successfully move a motion for its amendments.
As MMD youths, we wish to place it on record that this current crop of MPs is the most uninspiring. We further urge Zambians to critically analyse the quality of the men and women they are sending to Parliament because that has a direct effect on the quality of debates and the overall conduct of parliamentary business.
We also advise Zambians to take a keen interest in the proceedings in Parliament for them to have an informed basis to judge this Parliament. We also call on young politicians to start positioning themselves to take up parliamentary duties in 2016 if we are to see a change in the manner Parliament is governed.
OFFICE OF THE MMD NATIONAL YOUTH SECRETARY
Contact: Bowman Lusambo
National Youth Secretary
Vincent Mwale Sports Minister at Nkana Golf Club
Youth and Sport Minister Vincent Mwale has urged young people in the country to take advantage of the Youth Development Fund which is being disbursed by his ministry.
Mr. Mwale said the fund does not belong to any political grouping but was meant to benefit all the young people who have viable projects.
He said government decided to come up with an empowerment fund in an effort to empower youths with finances.
He said this during the official opening of the national workshop on longitudinal study on the impact of the building young future’s programme being implemented by Barclays Bank and the United Nations Children’s Emergence Fund (UNICEF).
Mr. Mwale explained that the fund is decentralized and is being coordinated through the national and provincial technical committees.
Speaking earlier, UNICEF Country Representative Hamid El-Bashir said in a speech read for him by Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist Joshua Kakaire that government should be commended for partnering with UNICEF and Barclays Bank in equipping the young people with entrepreneurship, marketing and financial skills.
And Barclays Bank Managing Director Saviour Chibiya said there was need for concerted efforts in ensuring that youths are economically empowered for them to contribute effectively to national development.
The young entrepreneurs drawn from across the country also showcased the different business ventures that they are engaged in.
Opposition UPND President Hakainde Hichilema says Kasama PF Central MP Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba (GBM) was unanimously elected and accepted as party vice-president by the entire UPND structures at all levels.
Speaking when he addressed what UPND media unit described as a mammoth crowd that welcomed the UPND team at Kasama Airport yesterday morning, Mr. Hichilema told the people of Kasama to ignore those saying GBM was imposed on the people.
“I want to thank you people of Kasama and Northern Province for giving us such as gallant friend of mine and fellow citizens to be the Vice-President of the UPND, the party that will form government in the next few months with your support. Like we said, GBM has not resigned from PF, the party he tirelessly worked for to put in government but has now been hijacked by other people without a vision these colleagues had. But as usual they have appetite for creating bye-elections even when farmers have not been paid and there are other serious economic challenges facing the country,” Mr. Hichilema who spoke in Bemba told the jubilant Kasama residents that later lined-up the entire route from airport to town center.
And Kasama MP GBM said he was happy to be the Vice President of UPND, a party which represents all people in Zambia and has a clear alternative policies to economically liberate the country.
The Kasama law marker said Zambians were one people and must all solidly rally behind the UPND leadership that has people’s interest at heart.
“The entire country is now shouting ‘Zambia Forward. Are we people in Kasama and Northern Province going to remain? GBM asked the crowd that responded they will not remain”. I cannot mislead you people here and it is important you all come with me in the UPND and its leadership. I don’t just move anyhow like others who are being paid money at the expense of the country.
I know what I am doing and it is important we join hands and save our collapsing economy through Mr. Hichilema and the UPND leadership. I know the PF are pushing for a bye-election here even when they have not paid you for your maize and there is no medicines in hospitals.
If they push for it, we should show them that we can’t accept the nonsense of having wasteful expenditure when the country has no money,” GBM told the crowd.
The UPND team comprised President Hichilema, Vice-President GBM, National Trustee Bernard Mpundu, Senior Officials Fredson Yambayamba who was also losing candidate for Senga Hill, Former MMD National Secretary Richard Kachingwe, and other senior party officials in the province and district.
UPND Supporters welcome GBM and HHUPND Supporters welcome GBM and HHUPND Supporters welcome GBM and HHUPND Supporters welcome GBM and HHUPND Supporters welcome GBM and HHUPND Supporters welcome GBM and HHUPND Supporters welcome GBM and HHUPND Supporters welcome GBM and HHUPND Supporters welcome GBM and HH
At times we don’t really think it is worth responding to the PF Media team headed by Sunday Chanda under the supervision of Secretary General Davies Chama and Deputy Mumbi Phiri that are daily damaging PF’s reputation and image.
Perhaps the day they will engage in civilized debate that affects our people is when we shall be constructively engaging each other.
On UPND President Hakainde Hichilema’s visit to UTH on Sunday evening, Chanda and his fellow PF leaders, that are currently enjoying high quality medical facilities abroad and don’t know how local hospitals are, must first have checked and gotten his facts right.
The newly appointed UPND Secretary General, Hon Stephen Katuka, was involved in a road traffic accident on his way to the Muvi TV interview.
On being informed after the interview, Mr. Hichilema, Vice-president Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba (GBM) and team went to visit the injured SG and his driver.
And naturally, while awaiting to ascertain the condition of SG Hon. Katuka and his driver, Mr. Hichilema and team went to greet other patients, including those that were sleeping on the floor due to lack of bed spaces at UTH.
But in a typical and non-caring attitude by PF, instead of wishing our SG Hon. Katuka by sending a goodwill message and quick recovery, they clearly wish he never survived and have now resorted to the usual useless rantings of how much they have done to the healthcare delivery system in Zambia.
Did the PF leaders who clearly have no idea how people are suffering in those local clinics and hospitals surely expected Mr. Hichilema and team to abandon the human nature in him and shun those that may even have recognized him as a leader?
What kind of heartless individuals are the PF leaders who would rather rush to evacuate themselves for luxury specialized treatment and medical reviews abroad while the majority of the citizens are laying on UTH corridors on the floor?
Instead of addressing real issues, Sunday Chanda and PF leaders would rather be boasting about how much has been corruptly spent on scanners etc, in the health sector without addressing the critical question of whether these are accessible by people.
Sunday Chanda and PF leaders currently loitering all over the world, should tell us how real people’s lives are being uplifted in the health policy initiative not money they have been stealing through over priced contracts such as fertilizer supply, oil procurement deals, and road contracts, among others.
Sunday Chanda should further tell us why patients at UTH and other hospitals are sleeping on the floor when the country has held the highest number of PF induced by-elections in the history of Zambia.
If the PF government was caring as he is trying to portray, they should have spent the money they have been borrowing is being allocated to expenditures like increasing patients bed spaces at UTH.
A few weeks ago, we challenged Sunday Chanda’s surperviors such as Mumbi Phiri to report Mr. Hichilema to the ACC if they have any evidence of his illegal dealings during the MMD’s privatization programme.
Todate nobody has taken Mr. Hichilema to any law-enforcement agencies but just keep yapping on a dead issue with a view to divert people’s attention to the economic problems at hand.
Zambia recorded its lowest investment pledges in recent history when it received a meagre US$1.1 billion in the first six months of the year.
The country recorded US$3.6 billion investment pledges over the same period in 2014.
Zambia Development Agency Director General Patrick Chisanga who revealed the development during a media briefing in Lusaka Tuesday morning blamed the low investor appetite on the January 20 presidential election.
Zambia held a tightly presidential election on January 20 which saw Edgar Lungu elected President following the death of President Michael Sata.
“We recorded US$3.6 billion in investment pledges in the first half of 2014 but we have seen a reduced in 2015 over the same period, we received US$1.1 billion since the start of the year. This reduction can be attributed in part to the presidential election activities we had in January right through to February and normally, investors in any country particularly in Africa want to step back,” Mr Chisanga said.
He added, “The good news is that we have started receiving more inquiries from potential investors and we are hopeful that the figure will improve.”
And Mr Chisanga has revealed that Dangote Cement Zambia is keen on developing a second cement plant in the Chongwe area of Lusaka province after commission the US$400 million Masaiti plant in Ndola rural.
He said the new plant whose planned investment cost has not been disclosed will further help lower the cost of cement which has been reducing since Dangote started flooding the Zambian market with its cement products.
“Many of you have seen the impact of that investment on the Zambian market, the price of cement has reduced from an average of K 82 to somewhere around K62. Those are some of the benefits of investment in key sectors of the economy. To ease the cost of doing business and improve the standards of living for our people,” Mr Chisanga said.
Mr Chisanga also revealed that an additional 460 megawatts of power will be put on stream once ongoing projects are completed by December 2015.
He said the agency is confident that the amount of load shedding will significantly reduce once the projects being developed are completed.
“We have concretised for projects which we hope will come on stream by December this year the Maamba thermal plant being developed by Nava Bharat and ZCCM-IH, this will add 130 MW, the second is the Itezhi Tezhi hydro power plant which will generate 120 MW and will also have the Kabompo hydro power station by CEC which will contribute 40 MW,” Mr Chisanga said.
And on the impact of ongoing load shedding on investor confidence, Mr Chisanga said investors are sympathetic to the situation and are confident that the situation will normalise.
He also dispelled assertion that the increased load shedding is due to corruption and inefficiency at ZESCO but that load shedding is affecting the entire region due to low water in the water bodies.
UPND Vice President and Kasama Member of Parliament (MP) Geoffrey Mwamba popularly known as GBM, has lost his parliamentary seat.
This means that Mr. Mwamba immediately ceases to be Kasama Central MP even though he did not voluntarily resign from the Patriotic Front (PF), the party which sponsored his candidature in the 2011 general elections.
Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini announced in parliament when he made a ruling on a point of order which was raised last week on whether Mr. Mwamba, who was elected on a Patriotic Front (PF) ticket in 2011, was in order to remain in parliament when he has joined another political party and subsequently appointed its Vice President.
Dr. Matibini, who delivered a 55-minute ruling, explained that the Kasama lawmaker, Mr. Mwamba, crossed the floor.
The House was characterised with jubilation from mainly PF parliamentarians as the Speaker was delivering the ruling.
Dr. Matibini quoted Article 71 (2)(c) of the constitution and said a member of the National Parliament shall vacate his seat in the Assembly if she/he becomes a member of a political party other than the party of which he was an authorised candidate when he was elected to the National Assembly.
“I now declare the Kasama Central parliamentary seat vacant and Honourable Mwamba loses his seat forthwith because he crossover to another political party,” the Speaker said.
Last week, Home Affairs Minister and PF Chipili MP Davies Mwila rose on a point of order seeking the Speaker’s ruling on whether it was in order for Mr. Mwamba to continue sitting in Parliament when he had joined the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND).
Dr. Matibini further ruled that Independent Lubansenshi MP Patrick Mucheleka has not lost his seat although he is a strong sympathizer of the opposition UPND.
The appointment of GBM as Vice President in the UPND has attracted reactions from various stakeholders.
Recently, President Edgar Lungu advised the former Kasama Central parliamentarian to choose between serving the ruling party or stay in the opposition.
On opposition UPND MPs who are serving in the government after being appointed by President Lungu and have been campaigning for the Patriotic Front, during by-elections, the Speaker ruled that the named lawmakers were still MPs because they were appointed by the Republican President.
President Edgar Lungu appointed MMD Mwandi MP Michael Kaingu as Minister of Education among other MPs from the opposition.
The Speaker also guided the House on how former opposition National Party MP Ben Tetamanshimba, who crossed over to the UPND then and lost his parliamentary seat.
“Hon. Tetamanshimba (deceased) lost his parliamentary seat in a similar manner if you recall honourable members,” the Speaker said.
