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First Quantum Minerals reports the restoration of full power supply to its Zambian operations First Quantum Minerals.
First Quantum has reported that ZESCO restored full power supply to its Kansanshi operation and Sentinel project on August 6, 2015.
This follows the receipt of notice of the declaration of Force Majeure for the supply of electricity from ZESCO to Kansanshi and the subsequent reduction in electricity supply to both Kansanshi and Sentinel as reported on July 27, 2015.
First Quantum Minerals President Clive Newall said while the Company believes some restrictions may be re-imposed during the remainder of 2015, ZESCO has stated that it has contracted independent power producers such as Maamba Collieries Limited and Itezhi Tezhi Power Corporation through the signing of Power Purchase Agreements to procure more electricity by the end of 2015.
THIRTEEN Patriotic Front (PF) members have applied for adoption as parliamentary candidates for the Solwezi West seat while nine intend to contest the Lubansenshi parliamentary by-election on the ruling party’s ticket.
PF chairperson for elections Emmanuel Mpakata said in an interview yesterday that the party has already conducted interviews at constituency and district levels for candidates wishing to contest the Solwezi West parliamentary seat.
“Interviews for the district and constituency in Solwezi West have already taken place. We are remaining with the provincial ones coming on Wednesday next week,” Mr Mpakata said.
The Solwezi West parliamentary seat fell vacant after the death of Humphrey Mwanza while the Lubansenshi poll has been necessitated by the Supreme Court’s nullification of the election of Patrick Mucheleka.
Mr Mpakata said district, constituency and provincial interviews for the Lubansenshi seat will be concluded by Saturday this week.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has set September 24 as the day for the by-election.
And the United Party for National Development (UPND) says it will contest the Solwezi West and Lubansenshi parliamentary seats while the Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) will only contest the Lubansenshi seat.
UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma said in an interview yesterday that the opposition party is in the process of identifying candidates to contest the two parliamentary by-elections.
“We are in the process of identifying people to participate but for Lubansenshi, if Patrick Mucheleka will be interested to work with UPND, then we can work with him,” he said.
FDD spokesperson Antonio Mwanza said the party will by Thursday next week select a candidate to contest the Lubansenshi by-election.
Mr Mwanza said the FDD national policy committee is currently scrutinising candidates to contest the seat.
“By next week, we will have a name of a candidate in the Lubansenshi by-election but we will not be participating in the Solwezi west parliamentary by-election,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Mucheleka claimed the people of Lubansenshi feel cheated because he won the parliamentary seat and he was surprised by the Supreme Court’s nullification of his election.
“I will make a statement in the next few days about my next course of action. Right now, I am reflecting on what happened,” he said.
Chishimba Kambwili with Amos Chanda at Statehouse
GOVERNMENT says it is aware of a scheme and union of convenience by a cartel formed by a “desperate” opposition political party and a newspaper aimed at wrestling power from the Patriotic Front (PF).
Chief government spokesperson Chishimba Kambwili said the cartel is desperate and making panicky efforts to hoodwink and influence people’s minds through negative portrayal of the PF administration.
Mr Kambwili, who is Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, said this in an interview in Lusaka yesterday.
“We are aware of a cartel that has been formed mainly to discredit Government at all costs. Just observe the way they have been covering President Edgar Lungu,” he said.
Mr Kambwili said the people of Zambia are now aware of what they want and can no longer be cheated through negative publicity in some sections of the media.
He said the cartel has for a long time been trying to sway the thinking of the people by attacking President Lungu at any given opportunity.
Mr Kambwili said the newspaper in the cartel is now recording declining sales because people have lost interest in its manner of reporting.
He said the newspaper’s belief that it can influence readers’ opinions is misplaced and ineffective.
Mr Kambwili said people in Zambia are now in a position to make informed decisions.
And commenting on Father Leonard Chiti’s attacks on the PF government, Mr Kambwili advised Fr Chiti to concentrate on preaching the word of God or join politics.
“Fr Chiti is a United Party for National Development sympathiser, hence should not be taken seriously, especially when he attacks the PF,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Kambwili said the Chuundu Chaitwa organising committee has their right to either accept or reject the apology rendered by Government through Vice-President Inonge Wina over remarks made by PF secretary general Davies Chama.
Mr Kambwili said the apology that was made by government is sincere and that the resolutions of the committee should be respected.
President Edgar Chagwa Lungu join a queue for Lunch during the junior achievers Mentorship Programme at State House on August 10,2015 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA / STATE HOUSE
FIrst Lady Esther Lungu serving pupils during the First Lady's Mentorship Programme of the Junior achievers at State House on August 10,2015 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA / STATE HOUSE
FIrst Lady Esther Lungu serving pupils during the First Lady's Mentorship Programme of the Junior achievers at State House on August 10,2015 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA / STATE HOUSE
President Lungu and First Lady Esther Lungu and ministers spouses pose for a photograph with Junior achievers during the First Lady's Mentorship Programme of the Junior achievers at State House on August 10,2015 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA / STATE HOUSE
President Lungu and First Lady Esther Lungu pose for a photograph with Junior achievers during the First Lady's Mentorship Programme of the Junior achievers at State House on August 10,2015 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA / STATE HOUSE
President Lungu and First Lady Esther Lungu and ministers spouses pose for a photograph with Junior achievers during the First Lady's Mentorship Programme of the Junior achievers at State House on August 10,2015 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA / STATE HOUSE
President Edgar Lungu says his Government is working hard to enable children in rural areas access quality education.
President Lungu says rural based pupils especially the girl child are key in achieving 50 percent representation of women in various positions.
The President was speaking at State House Monday when he graced the First Lady for a Day Mentorship Programme organised by the Junior Achievement Zambia.
President Lungu implored the pupils to work hard and achieve their dreams.
And the First Lady says she is delighted to play a role in mentoring rural girls and boys from across the country.
Mrs. Lungu encouraged pupils to make education their priority as the country’s development depends on them.
Meanwhile, Education Minister Michael Kaingu says government is expected to spend over 19 million kwacha on vulnerable children in the education sector.
Dr. Kaingu who was represented by Director Early Childhood Education, Christine Mayondi, said 60 percent of the money will benefit girl pupils.
And Stanbic Bank Board Chairlady, Mary Ncube says the bank has so far spent over 4 hundred and 70 thousand kwacha on the Junior Achievement Zambia programme.
And Junior Achievement Zambia Board Representative, Francis Ndilila says the programme has so far impacted over two hundred and 60 pupils across the country.
Nkana coach Aggrey Chiyangi had demanded they have to maintain their current unbeaten run and return to the top eight of the FAZ Super Division.
Nkana on Saturday beat struggling national Assembly 3-1 at home in Kitwe steadily swim away from the fringes of the bottom four relegation zone.
The was Nkana’s second on the trot and also saw them extend their unbeaten run to five successive matches in which they have picked three draws.
Chiyangi said the next game away against defending champions and current league leaders Zesco United will test their current good form.
“What is important is to win the next game because that will help push us from the zone were we are because I think Nkana is a big club and doesn’t belong where it is right now,” Chiyangi said.
Nkana moved from 11th and are now knocking to the top 8 door.
The 12-time champions are at number 9 on 25 points from 19 matches with eleven games left to play and are fifteen points behind leaders Zesco.
Inspector General of Police Stella Libongani
Inspector General of Police Stella Libongani Stella Libongani says it is not true that even police officers want President Edgar Lungu voted out in 2016.
Mrs. Libongani said in a statement that the Police Command would like to correct the wrong impression and unfounded statement reported in today’s post newspaper Edition number 6870 under the Headline “Police Officers, like everyone else, want political leadership change in 2016 – Mucheleka.”
She said police officers individually and collectively as a department are not politicians therefore, will not tolerate people creating an impression that the Zambia Police is political.
“As Police Command, we would like to correct the wrong impression and unfounded statement reported in today’s post newspaper edition number 6870 under the Headline “Police Officers, like everyone else, want political leadership change in 2016 – Mucheleka”.
“I would like to state that police officers individually and collectively as a department are not politicians therefore, will not tolerate people creating an impression that the Zambia Police is political,” Ms Libongani said.
Mrs. Libongani said the mandate of the Zambia Police Service is to ensure the provision of utmost security which is critical at times like the one during elections.
“Our main duties among others are to save life and protect property in the interest of all people of the country and the state at large. Statements like the one in the Post Newspaper are an affront to our professional stance and therefore we would like to take this opportunity to remind our Police officers to remain professional and not to be swayed in political biases but to concentrate on fighting crime and lawlessness in the Country,” Mrs. Libongani said.
She said Politicians such as the former Independent Member of Parliament for Lubansenshi Constituency Mr. Patrick Mucheleka and FDD President Ms Edith Nawakwi should not be making statements linking the police to politics.
“Politicians such as Mr Patrick Mucheleka and Ms Nawakwi should not be making statements linking the police to politics.
“Equally, the press should desist from reporting unconfirmed reports which could have potential to influence the security of this country negatively,” she said.
Patents and Company Registration Agency (PACRA) says they have recorded an increase in business registration in the last four years countrywide.
PACRA Public Relations Officer Vaida Njobvu said about 15,000 local companies and businesses had been registered with the agency in the first half of this year.
Mrs. Njobvu told (ZANIS) in an interview in Lusaka today that the agency was pleased that of the companies registered 5,000 are companies and over 10,000 are small businesses.
She observed that the establishment of provincial offices and the One Stop Business Centers had created a platform for many businesses to be registered in the country.
Mrs. Njobvu said the establishment of the One-Stop Business Centre’s in all the ten provinces was still in progress.
She however, reported that no company had been deregistered in the last six months.
Mrs. Njobvu explained that failure to comply with the legal requirement of annual returns was the main reason of deregistration.
Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda
Minister of Finance Alexander Chikwanda has implored Zambians to develop a culture of hard work.
Mr. Chikwanda said this is the only way the country can continue to make steady progress in its social and economic development.
The Minister said government stands ready to support all Zambians with various entrepreneurial skills aimed at enhancing their wellbeing.
He said this when he addressed residents of Chilubi district in Northern Province shortly after commissioning the new NATSAVE Bank.
Mr. Chikwanda further urged the people of Chilubi to come up with progressive initiatives on the profitable utilisation of the vast natural resources surrounding the island district.
He said government will continue to provide an enabling environment to all Zambians regardless of their status in society in order to develop the nation.
FDD President Edith Nawakwi has encouraged more women in Luapula Province to go back to school and ensure that they acquire an education if poverty and high illiteracy levels are to be fought successfully in the Province.
Ms. Nawakwi who took time off her busy campaign program during the recent Bangweulu Constituency by-election to visit some schools in the Constituency said acquiring an education was key to improving the lives of the people in the Constituency and Province at large.
She also noted that education will equip women with information which would help end teenage pregnancies which was “a fashion in the area” and that it would help motivate children to stay in schools.
“I am happy to see that some mothers are going back to school Ms. Nawakwi said as she inspected some books of adult pupils at Milulu Primary School. This is really nice, for once it is good to see that some of you have seen the importance of education and have decided to go back to school even if you are Grandmothers and mothers.
The illiteracy levels in this province are too high that’s why even the poverty levels are also high. I urge you to encourage other parents to join you because education has no age limit and with education you will equip yourselves with information which will help improve your lives not only as a family but as a community. I have seen one thing which is like a fashion were ever I have gone in this area, almost all women and girls are either pregnant, has a baby or both but I believe this will change once women are able to read because then they will understand that they can control their parenthood.
Ms. Nawakwi checks some books of grade 4 adult pupils at Milulu Primary School.
Your desire to have an education will also encourage children to go back to school because they will be motivated by the fact their parents are going back to school and this will also help in the fight against teenage pregnancy which is rampant here. It is so sad that children as young as 12 and 13 are becoming mothers when they are supposed to be in schools.”
She also noted that acquiring an education will improve the economy of families hence help in the fight to eradicate poverty in the Province.
“I believe that what you are doing here will help improve the economy of your families. When you are enlightened you discover opportunities were someone without an education will not see so you will find that there are a number of opportunities which you will cease because you spent time in a classroom. In fact you can even go to college and become nurses and teachers in these same communities. You also have fertile land and abundant water sources which you can use positively with the correct education, ” she explained.
Meanwhile some adult pupils at Milulu Primary School said they had decided to go back to school because they wanted to be good examples to their girl children who are the most affected by the high illiteracy levels.
They said it was difficult to motivate their children especially girls to remain in schools because there were no role models to point at as examples of the importance of education.
They also said they wanted to equip themselves with information and take charge of some things such as withdrawing money from banks.
Mrs. Mwansa who spoke on behalf of the class at Milulu further called on well wishers to equip the schools with modern learning materials.
Lily Mutamz makes her graceful return to the music scene with an afro-pop banger ‘WOZA‘ after being busy with MUTAMZ RECORDS, ZED FACTOR and a lot more entertainment related activities that keeps her connected to her homeland.
Copperbelt University
LECTURERS at the Copperbelt University (CBU) in Kitwe say they will not hesitate to withdraw their labour if Government fails to act on their submissions to Government.
Copperbelt University Academic Union (CBUAU) General Secretary Elaston Njovu said lecturers submitted during the meeting last week that while they resumed work Government should investigate their concerns.
On Thursday, lecturers agreed to resume work after holding a meeting with Minister of Education Michael Kaingu and his counterpart for Labour Fackson Shamenda.
Mr Njovu said the union submitted to the Minister of Education that he should ensure that the four top senior managers at the institution are removed.
He named the top four managers as Vice Chancellor Naison Ngoma, his deputy Shadreck Chama, bursar Fanwell Musonda and the registrar Hellen Mukumba.
“We also submitted that the dismissal letters which were issued to lecturers by the Copperbelt University Council should be withdrawn. We submitted to the minister that the dismissal letters were misplaced because it was done contrary to the disciplinary charges of the council so we requested the letter to be withdrawn and no academic staff should be fired,” Mr Njovu said.
He revealed that during the meeting with the two ministers, the union submitted that Dr Mwiya Songolo should be restored to the CBU council.
“We have also submitted to the minister to give us a clear road map to ascertain when they will complete investigating allegations leveled against the top four managers,” Mr Njovu said.
He said the lecturers were expecting as soon as possible to hear from the minister the action he would take on their submissions.
Mr Njovu told Daily Nation that the lecturers would take necessary measures if Government failed to take action on their submissions.
“We want to believe that Government will take appropriate action on our submissions. And Government should trust us and we shall deliver,” he said.
Mr Njovu thanked Dr Kaingu and Mr Shamenda for being fair during the meeting.
He however accused the CBU council of bias and making wrong decisions when it issued dismissal letter to the academic staff.
Last month, the CBU was closed indefinitely by Dr Kaingu.
This was after lecturers at the institution downed tools for more than three weeks to push for the resignation of Professor Ngoma and the entire management for alleged failure to manage the institution.
Dr Kaingu further revoked the appointment of CBUAU president Dr Songolo to the University Council. On Friday, Dr Kaingu announced that CBU would reopen on August 17.
Biology Department – UNZA
UNZA lecturers are angered that in spite of instructions from President Edgar Lungu, the Minister of Education Dr. Michael Kaingu has failed to open dialogue with them on how Government intends to settle the K340 million owed to them.
“We wrote to the President who referred the matter to the minister, but to date he has made no effort to discuss the matter with us,” University of Zambia Lecturers’ and Researchers Union (UNZALARU) general secretary Jason Mwanza has said.
The union has now mantained that unless the matter is resolved it will not release exam results, a move which may lead to the institution not reopening as scheduled on 4th October, 2015.
He said UNZALARU was not asking Government to pay the whole figure at once because the debt was too big but that the union was only seeking a commitment that it would pay the debt within a specified time because it had taken a long time to address the issue, while the debt continued accumulating.
“We know that the amount of money involved is quite substantial because it has accumulated over many years. All we want is an assurance and scheme on how the money will be paid.”
Mr Mwanza explained that the union was still waiting for a response from the ministry over a letter it wrote concerning the debt that Government owed the lecturers.
Mr. Mwanza said as long as the two parties did not meet the results would be withheld because the dues had continued to swell over the years.
He explained that UNZALARU had earlier written to President Lungu to raise their concerns over the debt and that it was directed to table its issue with the Ministry of Education.
He explained that the union would continue to wait for Government’s intervention to iron out the stand-off before the institution is opened.
“You may be aware that we wrote to the President over the same issue some time back and we were asked to engage the Ministry of Education so that we could find a common ground but it has been two weeks now from the time we wrote the ministry and we have not yet been given any feedback.
What we are waiting for right now is the ministry to get in touch with us so that we can sit down and address the issue,” Mr. Mwanza said.
“We are waiting for Government’s action but at the moment, we have heard nothing from Government, but we hope they will get back to us to resolve the matter. We have written to the Ministry of Education but it is more than two weeks now, and the ministry has not responded,” Mr Mwansa said.
He explaine that if the status quo continues, the students would not receive their results as earlier agreed.
“There should be commitment to breaking down the indebtedness. So, it is that commitment to breaking down the indebtedness which we are not seeing and if that remains unresolved, students won’t have the results,” he said.
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) deputy secretary general Mumbi Phiri says malicious attacks on President Edgar Lungu by some opposition political leaders will not deter the Head of State from delivering to people’s expectations.
Mrs Phiri said the attacks were making President Lungu stronger and making his drive to develop the country more resolute.
“Criticism and insults will not put food on Zambians’ tables, our focus is to develop Zambia,” she said.
In an interview with the Daily Nation yesterday, Mrs Mumbi said the opposition were ashamed that PF was developing the nation hence their insults and negative criticism.
Mrs Phiri said when PF was formed opposition UPND and FDD were already formed and challenged the two political parties to check themselves to ascertain why they had never formed Government.
Mrs Phiri said when late Christon Tembo was FDD president the party had a lot of representation in Parliament.
Mrs Mumbi said when Ms Edith Nawakwi took over the helm the party started losing representation in Parliament.
She challenged Ms Nawakwi to concentrate on finding a solution to the reason why the party had lost many seats in Parliament.
“So we have told our President not to respond to negative criticism and insults but concentrate on working. We have told him that we shall respond by explaining to Zambians what projects PF has done so far,” she said.
Mrs Mumbi said by 2016 the opposition political parties would have nothing to talk about as PF Government would have finished working on all its projects.
She said before 2016 Government would have finalized the possible importation of cheap fuel from Angola, the 650 health posts, district hospitals and revamping the railway systems across the country.
Mrs Phiri said Zambians were appreciative of the massive development projects being implemented across the country.
She said citizens were the best judges of the performance of the PF unlike politicians who had vested interests. And commenting on the by-elections Mrs Phiri said she was disappointed that GBM had decided to go to court.
“We are disappointed that the Kasama seat has been taken to court otherwise we were very ready to scoop all the parliamentary seats,” she said.
Mrs Phiri said the Patriotic Front was more than ready to participate and eventually scoop all the forthcoming by-elections.
She said the PF’s adoption process for the Solwezi West and Lubansenshi by-elections was currently on.
Mrs Phiri said the party would work hard to ensure that it scooped both seats and increased its presence in Parliament.
icture Credit L/R: Mawano Kambeu speaking at the 59th Local Government Association of Zambia annual conference
Dot Com Zambia Chief Executive Officer Mawano Kambeu has urged Local Government and Councils to embrace Information Communication Technology, ICTs, because they are vital in the delivery of services to the general public, and councils have to adapt to the changing times.
E-governance is the application of ICT for delivering governments services to stakeholders, in addition to using ICT to make backend operations more efficient. Mr Kambeu made these remarks in Livingstone during the 59th Local Government Association of Zambia Annual Conference under the theme “Inclusive Local Governance: Strategy for Success”. ”
He added that Dot Com Zambia, is an example of a company that has been successful, because it has used ICTs to solve problems that Zambians are facing, proving that Zambian problems can be solved by Zambians” He added that, “local government is faced with many challenges as it attempts to deliver its services to the people effectively and Dot Com Zambia wants to help them face these challenges through Public Private Partnerships, which is the best way to make the model work.
He later went on to stress the importance of government’s support if the local ICT movement that is happening by young entrepreneurs is to succeed as is the case in countries like Kenya and Rwanda to name a few. He said “There are a number of talented ICT companies and entrepreneurs in the country that government can work with, who understand the real problems on the ground, and we don’t always need to look outside to countries like South Africa for these solutions”.
He further called on government to work with local ICT companies not because they are Zambian, but because they have demonstrated that they are innovative and have the capacity to deliver, and in turn, supporting local businesses will have tremendous economic benefits.
During his speech, he cited examples of Councils like Ndola City council that have started embracing ICT and e-governance, adding that they have already seen their revenue base double because of improved control systems and increase the publics access to services.
Playing on the theme of strategies for success, Mr. Kambeu went on to reveal some of the specific strategies that Dot Com Zambia can implement with the councils, which included, facilitating partnership between approved, licensed Call Boys and Councils to officially sell Bus Tickets and other products in a controlled organized manner, benefiting both parties and the general public, who have complained bitterly at the mobs of harassful call boys that have invaded bus stations.
He also sighted building ICT systems that would make the management of parking enforcement and other levies collected in the field more efficient as well as give field inspectors access to information in real time.
Mr. Kambeu concluded by advising the creation of E-services and content that will allow easy access to information and for select services to be done electronically or through third party agents reducing congestion at councils and increasing the capacity and quality at which these services can be offered, as there are many instances of the public have to line up for hours or days waiting for select services and permits to be processed.
Dot Com Zambia is a local technology company specializing in e-commerce solutions for the Zambian market. In addition to their online shopping and shipping platforms from the UK and USA, the company has been recognized for its innovative intercity bus ticketing system called Bus Tickets Zambia which was named Africa’s best new venture for 2015 by Harvard Business School and by ZICTA for the project’s role in creating accessibility.
icture Credit L/R: Mawano Kambeu speaking at the 59th Local Government Association of Zambia annual conference
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) Secretary General Davies Chama has charged that the ruling party cannot fall into the same trap like the previous regimes who failed to satisfy the majority Zambians.
Mr Chama said today that UNIP and MMD failed to deliver the much needed people’s expectations adding that the PF Government was working around the clock to correct the mistakes left by the two regimes.
He said the PF Government was working towards the construction and reconstruction of the roads, hospitals and schools as part of satisfying the majority Zambians.
“Universities and hospitals are being constructed and opened by the Patriotic Front Government. So our role is to try correcting the mistakes created by UNIP and MMD governments,” he said.
He said UNIP was in power for 27 years with MMD governing the country for 20 years which he both created different mistakes.
Mr Chama the ruling party was careful with some of its decisions it was currently making in ensuring that people were satisfied with its policies.
He said the operationalisation of the Chipata-Mchinji railway line was one of the biggest milestones which the PF had scored in Eastern Province.
He said soon, the railway line would be extended to link the Tanzania –Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA).
