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TWO Patriotic Front (PF) members have pleaded not guilty to charges of obstructing a police officer from performing duties and threatening violence in the Kitwe magistrate’s court.
Copperbelt provincial chairman Stephen Kainga and a party member Richard Chileshe appeared in separate court rooms where they denied the charges.
Kainga, 49 of M2, Mukuba secondary school teachers compound appeared before Principal Resident Magistrate Ikechukwu Iduma.
He is jointly charged with PF Copperbelt provincial vice youth chairman Stanley Chandindi after they allegedly obstructed a police officer, only identified as Lungu from executing his duties on July 15 this year.
The matter was adjourned to August 10 this year for trial.
In another court, Chileshe who is charged with threatening violence appeared before Chief Resident Magistrate Penjani Lamba.
The matter comes up on August 18, this year.
Two other members Sampa Mulenga and John Kangwa were also arrested and charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and are expected to magistrate Kampinda Chipamu.
The offences were allegedly committed during a fracas when opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema visited Kitwe last week.
FDD President Edith Nawakwi
FDD President Edith Nawakwi says women in the church being the gate keepers of the country should use their influence to change society for the better.
Ms. Nawakwi who was the Guest of Honor at the 2015 United Church of Zambia Lusaka Presbytery Women’s Christian Fellowship Annual Conference last Sunday, urged the women to be mothers not only to their own children but to orphans and other children in need as well as society at large.
“Being a Christian should not only be about congregating at church on Sunday and it ends there, it should be about improving society and making communities we come from better. It should be about being a mother to that child sleeping on the streets, the child who has no mother, to the child that has no food, I think that is the mission of the WCF,” Ms. Nawakwi noted.
She challenged the women in the Church to take up the responsibility of looking after those in need of assistance as opposed turning a blind eye to the challenges of others.
“Most of us only become Christians on Sundays but we have no compassion in the communities we come from, you see your friends child being defiled and you turn a blind eye saying she is not my child that is not being a Christian. I believe that if the women in the Church can raise up and become the gate keepers of the neighbor’s child we will have a better society.”
She also appealed for women’s support saying “I too am a Naomi (of the Bible), I need friends and I need those friends to take me to the end, I need your support because without your support am a no body.”
And United Church of Zambia Lusaka Presbytery Bishop Mwape Chomba called on women in the country to use their influence to fight the scourge of corruption and other bad social vices that has gripped the country.
He observed that men can boast of being the heads of the households but that women are more influential hence the need for them use their influence positively.
“You (women) can change Zambia and it can become a corruption free country. We have lived in bitterness for too long and women should stand up and break those ancient walls of bitterness. We don’t want to become another Rwanda because of tribalism and God did not create Tongas, Bembas, Lozis, Tumbukas but He just created us as one and I always wonder where this issue of tribe comes from,” Bishop Chomba said.
The conference was attended by more than 800 women from the UCZ Church and over 400 women were bloused.
FDD President Edith Nawakwi receives flowers from Bishop Chomba at Kasama in Kafue.
Government has says it will continue providing an enabling environment for contractors who will observe and respect the Zambian Labour laws.
Kasama acting District Commissioner, Beauty Namukoko, said this when she officiated at the official closing of a five-day training workshop which was held for Medium and Small Scale local Contractors (MSSC) in Kasama, over the weekend.
Ms. Namukoko assured the contractors that Government will continue providing all necessary support to any contractor as long as they operate within the confines of the law.
She further urged them to avoid doing shoddy work wherever they were awarded any contract by Government.
Ms. Namukoko noted that it is so disheartening to not that local contractor were failing to perform despite Government continue giving them contracts in the country.
Meanwhile National Medium and Small Scale Contractors association vice president Rosemary Samboko assured the District Commissioner that the local contractor will continue their best to start providing quality work in the area.
Ms. Samboko thanked International labour Organisation (ILO) for having organized a workshop aimed at equipping small scale contractors with necessary working skills.
Zambia ‘s President Edgar Lungu directed the Industrial Development Corporation of Zambia (IDC) to target and develop at least 600 MW of solar power in the shortest possible time to redress the current power deficit the country is currently facing.
According to the statement released to the media by State House, the IDC yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment wing of the World Bank Group, to develop an initial two 50MW solar photo-voltaics (PV) independent power projects in Zambia.
The projects would be Zambia’s first utility scale PV projects, providing competitively-priced, clean power that would reduce Zambia’s dependence on hydro resources and diversify the energy supply mix.
The Head of State, who is the Board Chairman of the IDC, says new power projects are required to address the energy problems affecting Zambia. Poor rainfall over the past year has resulted in a national power generation deficit of about 560 MW.
The IDC, working with the IFC, therefore anticipates that the proposed solar power projects, with a combined initial target capacity of 100MW, will represent the first of several development rounds, leading to the rapid deployment of up-to 600MW of solar power in Zambia.
The proposed projects would be situated on separate sites and developed by different private sector sponsors, based on open and transparent selection. The projects will involve Zambian participation in their ownership structures. The commercial structure is expected to follow IFC’s recently-launched Scaling Solar initiative (www.ifc.org/scalingsolar). Scaling Solar is an innovative World Bank Group packaged solution that enables the rapid roll-out of utility-scale PV power plants across sub-Saharan Africa at locally competitive prices.
The President has reiterated Government’s resolve to address the current hydropower shortages, caused by low rainfall by active promotion of increased use of renewable energy technologies.
The IDC, an initiative of the late President Michael Sata, is an investment company wholly owned by the Government of Zambia and was incorporated in early 2014. The mandate of the IDC is to play a catalytic role in deepening and supporting Zambia’s industrialization capacity in order to support job creation and domestic wealth formation across all key economic sectors. The IDC plays its role through evaluation, pricing and lowering of investment risk profile by serving as co-investor alongside private sector investors and facilitating provision and raising of long term finance for projects. Simultaneously the IDC serves as an investment holding company for State Owned Enterprises and new investments and ultimately generates earnings for the proposed Zambia Sovereign Wealth Fund.
And IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused exclusively on the private sector. Working with private enterprises in about 100 countries, we use our capital, expertise, and influence to help eliminate extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity.
Preliminary and unaudited data for the fiscal year ending Jun 30 indicate that IFC’s long-term
investments totaled about $17.6 billion, including funds mobilized from other investors. That marked a 16 percent increase over FY14. IFC made about $10.5 billion in long-term investments for its own account and mobilized about $7 billion from other investors. These investments supported more than 400 projects across the world. For more information, visit www.ifc.org
Mumbi Phiri
Patriotic Front Deputy Secretary General Mumbi Phiri says she is not intimidated by the resolution of the Chuundu meeting of the Tonga speaking for President Edgar Lungu to fire her together with PF Secretary General Davies Chama and Information Minister Chishimba Kambwili.
Ms Phiri has told QFM News that she will not be distracted by such calls, but will instead concentrate on growing the ruling party.
And Ms Phiri has accused UPND President Hakainde Hichilema of lying against her that she maligned the people of Southern Province.
She says the UPND leader is allegedly fond of lying as witnessed during his appearance on Muvi TV’s the Assignment program were he said she defended the people who attacked him in Kitwe.
Msd Phiri says she will not be drawn to join the category of liars stating that she is comfortable where she is in the ruling party.
And PF Secretary General Davies Chama has told QFM News in separate phone interview that his main focus is to ensure the ruling party grows and not on tribal issues.
Mr. Chama has however stated that those people calling on President Lungu to fire him are exercising their constitutional right and he cannot stop.
FILE: Defence Minister Edgar Lungu (right) shakes hands with Archbishop of Lusaka Telesphore Mpundu (left) as Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda looks on at the memorial service of the aate Benjamin Mwila at the Cathedral of the Chile Jesus
PRESIDENT Lungu has ordered the evacuation of Archbishop of Lusaka Telesphore Mpundu to South Africa for specialist treatment, special assistant to the President for press and public relations Amos Chanda has said.
Mr Chanda said in an interview yesterday that Archbishop Mpundu has since arrived in South Africa.
“His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu has ordered the evacuation of Archbishop of Lusaka Telesphore Mpundu to South Africa for specialist treatment and His Grace has since arrived in South Africa,” Mr Chanda said.
Archbishop Mpundu was admitted to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) and was discharged last Wednesday.
Sharon Kanene
Controversial Zambian musician Clifford Dimba aka General Kanene who was last week pardoned by President Edgar Lungu after he was jailed for having sex with a minor on Sunday savagely beat up one of his three wives after she refused to have sex with him.
Kanene’s third wife identified as Sharon suffered heavy injuries on her face and right eye after she was beaten by General Kanene for refusing to sleep with him.
Close family members narrated the incident in separate interviews that General Kanene took his wife to a named Lodge in Lusaka and demanded that he sleeps with her but she refused because she was having her periods.
This infuriated Kanene who started beating Sharon forcing her to flee the room, a situation that attracted onlookers.
The family this morning tried to persuade Sharon to report the matter to the police but she refused.
Concerned family members have since brought the matter to the attention of President Lungu since the victim is unwilling to lay charges on Kanene.
The family have made their disappointment known to State House that a man President Lungu released from prison recently has beaten up their relative.
They are waiting for President Lungu’s response before taking further action.
President Lungu pardoned General Kanene last week and urged him to be an ambassador in the fight against Child defilement and gender based violence, a move which caused uproar in the women’s movement.
Patience Chisanga is a Radio and Television Broadcaster who has worked her way up in the industry through hard work and determination. From Volunteering at a University Radio station during her time at the University of Zambia to being the Face of Zambia’s only indigenous telecommunication Company (ZAMTEL) through weekly educational historical and cultural Documentary series. Her passion and determination to bring professionalism in her work as a Radio Dj and Television broadcaster have driven her to being one of the most respected young women in the industry interviewing some of the most respected leaders in the country including Zambia’s first President Dr Kenneth Kaunda. She is not just a pretty face with a Pretty voice. She is a Communicator and an educator. We had a chance to interview her online while she attends the Mandela Washington Fellowship for young African leaders in the United States
KAPA187: Briefly tell us about yourself.
Patience Chisanga: My name is Patience Kalusanzhi Chisanga. I was born in a family of 3 on the Copperbelt Province where I was raised by my single Mother in Luanshya district. I attended government schools throughout my school years and studied Mass communication at the University of Zambia. Currently I work for Hot Fm Radio as a Radio Presenter and Zamtel as a researcher writer and presenter of the Companies weekly Television show.
KAPA187: What first got you interested, and made you decide to take up a career in the media industry?
Patience Chisanga: I studied Broadcasting at the University of Zambia and that sort of just laid out the foundation for me. I must admit it was not my first option on my career list but it so happened I could only get a place a school place in the Mass communication department. That was the beginning of my passion and journey in Broadcast media.
KAPA187: How can the media be used to bring about positive change in our communities?
Patience Chisanga: There are so many ways that Broadcast media can be used in bringing about Change especially in today’s fast changing world that is becoming a global village. We need to use media as a platform where people can learn and understand the world they live in and make decisions based on well researched programs. It also provides a feedback platform where audiences can share their views on social issues. We hold our Community leaders accountable through media and we offer a level playing field on this platform as all of us on the same page. I think of Media as a place we call ‘Insaka’ in our villages where people come and sit in a circle to discuss issues affecting them. The key thing is to have key messages or key issues that are affecting us and finding the right people to discuss them at the same time allowing audiences to have a say after all the audience is why Media outlets exist.
KAPA187: Do you think the media in Zambia is doing enough to effect the needed change?
Patience Chisanga: Social media is growing in Zambia and it is pleasing to note that Social media to a certain extent has provided that platform for Zambians to share their stories and their thoughts on issues making them engage with other people. I feel Radio and Television have also provided that platform. Hot Fm for example is one Radio Station that has really shifted and balanced the agenda when it comes to promoting social change. It has become a place where Audiences meet the leaders in different fields through on air open discussions. This is something that all Media outlets should emulate; and I am not saying this because I work there but because I have seen the value of this type of broadcasting. However there is so much room to do more especially when it comes to mobilization and focusing on some of the most pressing issues affecting our communities outside Politics. There are a number of Media institutions that are pushing forward the agenda to address issues like health, unemployment, Youth innovation, entrepreneurship and Governance. However most or some of these are programs that are paid for by NGO’s. Media outlets need to and can afford to set these Platforms with or without funding because it is for the greater good of our society.
KAPA187: Almost all media houses in Zambia seem to specialize in programs to do with politics. Why do you think other issues are seen as less important?
Patience Chisanga: Traditionally media plays the role of holding leaders accountable for their decisions. I would say that everyone is interested in the way the Country is being run. At times almost every sector somehow brings us back to what the Government or Political leaders are doing to address what is WRONG. Every citizen is concerned about how his or country is being a run. This also brings in the question of whether there are too many things that people think Politicians are doing wrong. But what we should not do is think that setting our agenda should only revolve around Politics. What happened to having more success stories around people who are not politicians but are doing something to change the world for a better place, what happened to setting the agenda on Morality, health education, culture promotion and our Heritage? These are just random thoughts am sharing and am not saying no one is doing this, all am saying is can we have more Media platforms that address other issues we are over looking.
with Mr Francis Kaunda the Former ZCCM boss
KAPA187: You hosted a TV documentary, “Zambia’s road to independence”, that highlighted significant events that happened in Zambia’s history. Do you think Zambians; especially the youth are knowledgeable about their history and their culture.
Patience Chisanga: What I realized whilst working on Zambia’s road to independence is that there was so much I took for granted that I appreciate today about my Country’s history. Today’s youth are knowledgeable about the Country’s history, but the question is do they appreciate it and do they know how valuable it is? Are they willing to guard this history as part of our treasure? Or do they know about our history because the School curriculum requires you to learn this bit in a classroom? Our leaders and senior citizens will not be with us for forever. One day it will be in our hands to relate our history to our Children. We will have to conserve this part of our history and pass it on to our Children and our Children’s Children. I think that we as young people need to be passionate about our history and learn as much as possible from our Senior citizens. This is what our Documentaries have taught me. Our aim is to learn from the past to understand today and look into the future with a clear view of where we are coming from. Every young person needs to have this drive.
Patience with Dr Kenneth Kaunda after she interviewed him about Zambia’s liberation movement
KAPA187: Zambia is a very beautiful country filled with many tourist destinations, some of which you showcase on a TV show “Today with Zamtel”. How has the experience been travelling all over Zambia, and what can be done to encourage more local tourism.
Patience Chisanga: I always say I count it a blessing to work on Today with Zamtel. The experience travelling around Zambia ,what I now call a little piece of paradise on Earth, has been very exciting and educative. Our country has some of the richest Tourism resources in Africa. There is more to see in Zambia than the Victoria Falls. Think about Lake Bangweulu, white sandy beaches not found anywhere in Central Africa, the Mwela Rock art paintings monument, representing some the densest ancient rock art population in Africa ,a world heritage site, and the dozens of waterfalls in Northern Province. The list is endless. I think there is more need to promote the places around Zambia that are touristic. Tourism promotion is key. More investment by the government in that sector is vital. We all need to develop a habit of Traveling around Zambia and appreciating what the country has to offer if we can, we can utilize the low season market when tourism players reduce their fees for activities. Tell a friend about the places you have visited or should visit. If it means incorporating site visits into school programs, let that be done.
KAPA187: Having worked as both a Radio and Television presenter, which one do you enjoy more?
Patience Chisanga: Wow…. I was not expecting this question. This has to be one of the toughest questions in this interview. I love both but because Radio was my first love I think I will say I enjoy it more. It takes me to a whole different world. I think Radio is my Therapy.
KAPA187: You were selected to be part of the Mandela Washington fellowship. Tell us what it is about, and what you hope to gain from this experience.
Patience Chisanga: President Obama launched Young African Leaders Initiative in 2010 to support young African leaders as they spur growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance, and enhance peace and security across Africa. Its 6 weeks spent in the United States learning about Leadership and in my case am also learning about Business and Entrepreneurship. I hope to learn everything I can about Entrepreneurship and Leadership. When I come back hope I want share this knowledge with the rest of Young Zambians. They are today’s leaders and I believe they can have control of their destiny by the leaders they want to be in various settings and can start up their own enterprises; therefore instead of Looking to find Jobs, they will be looking to creating Jobs for others.
KAPA187: You seem to have a lot on your plate. What do you do to relax and have fun?
Patience Chisanga: I love to travel, so you know I really enjoy my work. It involves a lot of Travelling. I listen to music a lot; it takes me to my happy Place so you know I love my Radio Job. I love watching television and spending time with my Family and Friends.
KAPA187: Is there anything you would like to add?
Patience Chisanga: I would like to share a life quote that I hope inspires who ever will come across this interview. ‘It does not matter how fast or slow you Move, Just don’t stop Moving, Life is a Race you have to run at your own Pace, You are your own Competition.’
Jay Rox shows his love for the women folk in this Cashroll produced song , “Not for Sello”, by encouraging them to be strong and stand up for their rights.
The video was directed by fast rising Directors Qbick and Lawdak of Nxt Solutionz.
The Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA), has unearthed a scam at Katima Mulilo Border Post, in which some unscrupulous importers smuggled cigarettes worth K6 million into the country.
ZRA in collaboration with the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) intercepted and seized 995 cartons of cigarettes without the necessary tax stamps to prevent government from collecting any duty on it.
The owners of the smuggled cigarettes intended to defraud government of over K1.6 million kwacha in other taxes.
ZRA Corporate Communications Manager Mumbuna Kufekisa said the cigarettes were brought into the country without the necessary tax.
ZRA Station Manager at Katima Mulilo Border Post, Thomas Mulenga said one of the seized consignments had 900 boxes and came from Zimbabwe, purporting to be in enroute to Angola.
Mr. Mulenga said the second consignment of 60 cartons was from China and came into the country through Namibia, while the last consignment contained 1, 766 bricks wrapped in black boxes and the owners abandoned it.
“With cigarettes, if they have been seized and have not been paid for; there is nothing like auctioning, they have to be destroyed. So this whole consignment you are seeing here, we are going to have it destroyed by burning,” he said.
And Sesheke Council Health Inspector Jacob Kaveya said issues of smuggling should not be tolerated at any cost.
Mr. Kaveya said the local authority was working with ZRA to win the battle against smuggling.
He however, said challenges came in due to the Zambezi River, which smugglers used to bring in goods at night.
“People are using boats to bring in goods and we cannot capture them because, we do not conduct operations at night,” he said.
Minister Kaingu, I hope this correspondence finds you in good health. I am writing to you to express my concern as a Zambian Citizen on the closure of Copperbelt University.
My name is George Nshindano Mtonga II. I was born at Ndola Central Hospital and grew up in Kabushi Constituency Masala Ward ( Masala Compound). I’m concerned at the fact that our developmental goals as a nation are forsaking the need for our children to be educated. While development comes in many forms the basis is the education of citizens. An estimated 14, 000 students are out of school because of your ministry’s decision to close Copperbelt University.
Education for most young men such as myself is not just a matter of going to school, but an opportunity to take our families out of poverty. From Masala Compound I have been able to travel the world and attain university degrees because the world around me wanted me to succeed. I have worked hard, and only hard work has determined were I am today in life. As an investment banker based in the USA, I have been able to help my family and friends, and contributed to my community by sponsoring young women finish primary and secondary school all because I was given a chance at an education. We are taking this away from our children at Copperbelt University.
When I look at Zambia, I have stopped reading myself into her future because my future was fought in 1991 when great men and women decided that posterity would benefit from a democratic society. The freedoms earned through that struggle is what I enjoy now. With that same spirit I’m inclined to support initiatives that favor our young Zambians considering that they will be the ones leading our country in the coming years. Closing the university they are attending is shooting ourselves in the foot; because it undercuts the fundamentals of developmental economics: an educated citizenry.
Management and Lecturers at Copperbelt University can reach a meaningful settlement of their issues while our children continue to go to school. Zambia is no longer an isolated country, the world is global and our university graduates are competing with the world not just local universities. WE NEED to give them the leverage to represent our country in the many professions they will be entering. WE NEED to start prioritizing our children’s education and ensure that they are equipped with the skills to succeed in an economy that is more global than local.
Your leadership is needed on this issue to ensure that our children go back to school.Many of these young academics are the first in their families to attend university; lets not take away that achievement merely because we can’t come to a meaningful conclusion on whats going on at CBU.
I am encouraged that your leadership on this issue will be nothing but outstanding and will reflect your continued commitment to education and the need to equip posterity with the foundation to take our country into a brighter future.
YOUR FAITHFUL CITIZEN,
George Nshindano Mtonga II
Masala Compound
In recent days Mumbi Phiri, the PF Deputy Secretary General has been gorging quite a sludge of Political diatribe against President Edith Nawakwi.
Instead of responding to the specific and critical issues of national importance such as the persistent load shedding, the increase of fuel prices, the wrong crude oil purchases, the high cost of living, the excrutiating debt burden, the depreciation of the Kwacha, the political violence and the general mismanagement of the Zambian economy by the PF Government, issues President Nawakwi has been raising, Mumbi Phiri has opted to engage in Political Masturbation.
Since we are dealing with Mumbi Phiri we have no choice but to define for her what political masturbation is lest she misunderstands us. Political Masturbation is a deliberate act that is meant to divert people’s attention from more important national issues to trivia. The most important things are the economic and governance issues that Madam Nawakwi has been raising. Mumbi Phiri please respond to the specific economic issues that Ms. Nawakwi’s has raised or kindly spare us your political masturbation.
It is preposterous for a charlatan like Mumbi Phiri to attempt to lecture us on a democracy. What democracy can a panga wielding and gun slinging Political Party like PF teach us? Who elected Mumbi as Deputy SG? Why was she recalled as a diplomat?
How can Mumbi Phiri be talking about things beyond her intellectual capacity? Why has she recklessly decided to advertise her ignorance? Doesn’t she know what the Bible states that even a fool can be mistaken for a wise man when he chooses to be quiet?
Mumbi Phiri cannot even pronounce Carlington Maize deal, she says Clinton Maize Deal. Was she watching Hillary Clinton on CNN and she is mistaking her for Edith Nawakwi?
If Mumbi Phiri in her ignorance has evidence of any wrong doing on the part of President Edith Nawakwi with regards to the so called Carlington Maize deal, we challenge her to take our President to Court.
You Make It Slow is A bitter sweet love song by Zambia’s underground hip hop super groupSo Sick & Bugsy with Emikhe. Video shot and produced by Big Deal Graphix.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5CSXbrffOo BY KAPA187
FILE: UPND president Hakainde Hichilema arrives at Kabwata Police Station for questioning
United Party for National Development (UPND) President Hakainde Hichilema has challenged UPND youths to have courage and deal with cadres from ruling patriotic front who are perpetuating violence.
Mr. Hichilema says the problem with the UPND youths is that they have too much fear citing that this should not be the case as their fellow cadres have taken law in their hands.
He has told the UPND youths not to just watch when their friends are being brutalized by cadres from the PF but protect each other since the police cannot protect them.
Mr. Hichilema says the cadres have taken the law in their hands and are now operating above the law noting that the people of Zambia have no option but to look for ways of protecting themselves from the harmful cadres.
He has stressed the need for his youths to be courageous enough to deal with those trying to harm UPND members.
THE $2.1 billion Kalumbila Mines is scheduled to commence full scale production before the end of the year to contribute to the country’s economy.
Kalumbila Minerals Limited (KML) general manager Damien Marantelli said the company was currently installing some of the final equipment required to full commissioning of the mines.
Mr Marantelli said the equipment currently being installed include in-pit crushers, ore conveyors to the processing plant and ZESCO power connection to the machinery.
This came to light when Solwezi District Development Coordinating Committee(SDCC) led by acting district commissioner Chipawa Chipawa held a meeting with KML management at the weekend..
Mr Marantelli said KML which was expected to produce between 280, 000-300, 000 tons of copper per annum, has in the last six months stockpiled 6, 000 tons of copper concentrate processed using on-site power sources.
KML assistant general manager Tristan Pascall said the company was committed to using local labour but needs highly skilled staff because of the latest mining methods at the mine which would put Zambia at the top of mining technology.
