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National Youth Development Council (NYDC) Chairman Savior Chishimba has instructed his lawyers to commence legal proceedings against Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) over allegations of abuse of funds at the council.
And Dr. Chishimba has called for a forensic audit at the Ministry of Youth and Sports and NYDC for the period 2003 to 2014.
Dr. Chishimba says the unverified statements by Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) including reference to outdated Cabinet circulars call for stern legal action.
Addressing media press briefing, Dr.Chishimba says he represents international corporate entities in Zambia with multimillion dollar investments whose interests have been put in jeopardy by TIZ’s libelous statements.
He says if TIZ believes in transparency, they would have gone further to also reveal what the expenditures in question were meant to achieve.
Dr Chishimba adds that the impression created by such vexatious and frivolous statements is that funds were being drawn for personal projects and yet the many activities that were being carried out have deliberately been ignored.
And Dr. Chishimba, who has refused to step down in view of the allegations, says senior officials in the Ministry of Sports must be sent on leave to allow for their investigation.
He says government should immediately constitute a combined team of investigators from the Anti Corruption Commission, Zambia Police and the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) to thoroughly investigate senior officials in the ministry and NYDC.
President Edgar Lungu has dismissed assertions that he wants to manipulate the country’s constitution so that he can rule up to 2022.
Speaking upon his arrival at Mfuwe International Airport today at about 11:55 hours, Mr Lungu said that he respects the republican constitution and would stick by it.
The head of state explained that he would re-contest the presidential election next year if the constitution allows him to do so.
President Lungu explained that he respects democracy stating that people would vote for the opposition if they felt that they would perform better than PF in government.
Meanwhile,President Lungu has asked the people of Msoro in Mambwe District to vote for Patriotic Front (PF) candidate Jacob Shuma for the development of area.
He was speaking when he addressed a public rally to drum up support for Mr Shuma in the June 30th Malambo parliamentary by-election held at Msoro Post Office today.
The Head of State said he would be comfortable to work with someone whom he would be paddling the boat together in terms of developments after the bye-election.
“I will be more comfortable to work with someone whom I will be paddling the boat together. Let me assure you (the people of Msoro) that as long as support the party (PF) of the day we shall bring more developments here,” he said.
President Lungu said there was already an ambitious programme under the Link Zambia 8, 000 Road Project which was being done across the country which he said he was expecting the people of Msoro to benefit.
He said his Government was ready to work on the road networks leading to Chief Msoro’s area.
He asked Mr Shuma that once he is voted into office as a Member of Parliament (MP) after the by-election he should work extra hard to develop the area.
The President has also promised Chief Msoro that he would look at the problems facing his chiefdom like the roads network.
President Lungu said his Government would revamp the Zambia Cooperative Federation (ZCF) in order to increase the food production in the country.
The assurance follows Chief Msoro’s complaint that his chiefdom had been neglected saying the Msoro-Mtezezi road and Msoro –Chipata road was in a bad state despite leading to ZESCO sub-station.
Chishimba Kambwili
INFORMATION and Broadcasting Services Minister Chishimba Kambwili has said that tribe does not matter for a president as long the person can deliver development to the people.
Speaking in Malambo constituency where he is campaigning for the Patriotic Front (PF) candidate Jacob Shuma, Mr Kambwili said he does not matter where one comes from but what one can offer to the people of Zambia.
“Tribe is nothing, that’s the reason we have President Lungu has our President in a party perceived to be for Bemba’s. We look at the quality of the leader and not the tribe,” he said.
Mr Kambwili added that people campaigning on tribal grounds should not be tolerated in a democracy and should not be voted for.
The minister said the ruling party has already shown what it can do for the people through various developmental projects going on throughout the country.
He cited the construction of health facilities, roads, provision of electricity to households and schools in rural areas as some of the major developmental projects that the ruling party has embarked on to alleviate the suffering of the people.
Mr Kambwili has since urged the people Malambo constituency in Mambwe district of Eastern province to give President Edgar Lungu more MPs from Eastern province.
He said President Lungu is committed to delivering development to the country hence the need to support him by giving him more MPS.
Mr Kambwili said he is confident that Mr. Shuma will perform if elected to office because President Lungu does not entertain non performing MPs.
He also assured the residents that the problem of water reticulation in Mambwe district will be resolved as government had procured drillers for all the 10 provinces.
Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Given Lubinda
Agriculture and Livestock Minister Given Lubinda has urged farmers to take advantage of the shortage of maize grain in the region and bargain for a better maize floor price.
Speaking in parliament today during the oral question and answer session, Mr. Lubinda said the price at which the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) buys maize from the farmers was not the floor price that farmers should use to sell their commodity to traders.
He explained that the floor price announced by FRA was the amount which the agency will use to purchase maize from the farmers for strategic reserves.
Mr. Lubinda said government will not fix or control the floor price of maize as the Patriotic Front (PF) was not a socialist party.
He said government will rather leave it to farmers to bargain for the best price of their produce.
He was responding to a question raised by Monze central UPND Member of Parliament Jack Mwiimbu who wanted to know whether government was going to announce this year’s floor price of maize.
In response, Mr. Lubinda said the current government has never established the floor price of any agriculture commodity.
The minister explained to the house that successive agriculture ministers have only announced the floor price of maize at which FRA will buy the required quantities of the crop.
He stated that announcing the floor price at which FRA will purchase the required quantities of maize from the farmers does not entail fixing of the price.
He stated that farmers were at liberty to sell their produce to traders at the best negotiated floor price.
Mr. Lubinda said farmers should not wait for the FRA to announce the floor price at which it will buy maize from them but they should take advantage of the maize deficit in the region and bargain for prices determined by the market forces.
He has since urged farmers to work in cooperatives as this will help them to strengthening their bargaining power when selling their produce.
The minister said government was running a liberal economy and as such will not fix the floor prices of agriculture commodities.
He reiterated that the current government has not formed a communist or socialist state which can be fixing prices of commodities.
And Mr. Lubinda has refuted assertions made by Mumbwa MMD Member of Parliament Brian Chituwo that FRA was the major player in maize marketing.
The minister said the private sector was the major player in the maize marketing and not the FRA.
He explained that the agency only targets areas where the private traders cannot reach.
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has said he can white-wash any political contender if elections were held any time soon.
Mr Lungu said although he had not initiated the current debate where some lawyers were suggesting that his term of office ends in 2020 according to the constitution since every President was elected for a period of five years, he was still able to beat any contender if elections were held in the near future.
He was speaking in Maputo, Mozambique on Thursday night when he met Zambians living in Mozambique.
Mr Lungu was responding to a question from a Zambian living in Mozambique, Friday Musukwa, who wanted to know if it was true that President Lungu wanted to change the electoral process and call for general elections in 2020 instead of holding elections in 2016.
“There is a lawyer in Zambia, Rabson Malipenga, who has gone to court to say that the law provides that a president shall be elected on a term of five years and so Mr Lungu has been elected from January 2015 for a five year period up to 2010.
“Mr Malipenga has argued that my term of office does not expire in 2016 and therefore I should be allowed to be in power up to 2020. This is an augment being debated and I am giving you the report from people who reported to me two days before I came here in Mozambique,” he said.
He said he had not met Mr Malipenga as he also got the story while he was going to Mozambique.
“Looking at the law, yes a President shall be elected for five years and the same law states that when a president dies, another one shall be elected.
“I am not behind this story but the argument is worthy following. When President Levy Mwanawasa died in 2008, former President Rupiah Banda (RB) served for three years and other people are saying that was a mistake as RB should have served for five years,” Mr Lungu said.
He said he was a lawyer and he swore to the people of Zambia that he would defend, protect and preserve the country’s constitution.
“To cut the story short, there is a debate on whether RB was cheated or not cheated out of office as he should have been allowed to run for five years when Mwanawasa died.
“The other school of thought says parliament runs for five years unless you resign or due to misfortune,” Mr Lungu said.
He said some people were accusing him of trying to defeat the constitution which was not correct.
“In interpreting the constitution, it is the power of the courts of law headed by Chief Justice Ireen Mambilima to determine on whether the issue under discussion is relevant or not.
“This is a debate which is going on now. However, I am not afraid of elections as I can white-wash any contender,” he said.
On the constitution making process, President Lungu said his Cabinet had identified some clauses in the draft constitution which would be taken to parliament while the clauses which would be left out would be subjected to a referendum.
He said the proposed 50 + 1, duo citizenship and Vice President being a running mate to the President were some of the clauses which would be taken to parliament.
Mr Lungu also said the Patriotic Front (PF) Government was willing to have an election date fixed in the constitution as demanded for by some sections of society.
“There is nothing hidden about this constitution making process. What people want to do is to go to parliament or State House using the back door.
“People have left churches to come and join us in politics because they want political power. We will not allow the civil society to hijack the constitution making process,” Mr Lungu said.
Mr Lungu asked Zambians to clearly read and understand the proposals made in the draft constitution, which he released last year when he was Defence Minister, so that they make informed decisions.
He said only chiefs had told him that article 296 of the draft constitution was not good while the rest of the Zambians had not told him their fears and concerns.
And President Edgar Lungu has told Zambians living in the diaspora that government remains committed with the agenda of increasing economic growth for the well-being of the citizenry.
President Lungu says this commitment is already receiving attention as a number of developmental projects such as road construction, hospitals and schools among others are on course.
And President Lungu explained the benefit that Zambia will get once milling plants are established in all the ten provinces.
Mr. Lungu added that the introduction of milling plants will help reduce the maize meal prices thereby making the commodity affordable to the local people in the respective regions.
The Head of State also observed that such investments were expected to have a direct economic impact as they will promote creation of jobs and other opportunities among the citizens.
In his remarks, President Lungu cited Mbala district in Northern Province where the milling plant is already operational.
The President is confident that the projects being initiated will result in wealth creation and wealth maximization.
He observed that allowing many economic players in the milling industry will promote participation of various business activities that will result in the improvement of their wellbeing.
“In Mbala district, the milling plant is already operational and people are going there,” he said.
And on the issue of land acquisition for Zambians living abroad, President Lungu said submissions will be made on the policy of Zambians living in the diaspora so that their concerns are met.
A Critical Analysis of the Imperialist Driven Constitution Part 6-Zambia: A Nation without Conscience
By Henry Kanyanta Sosala-Chitimukulu
The question is: why have we allowed these stooges to lead us to the extent of self-destruction? Where is the intelligentsia that is supposed to be the conscience of our society? The Post observed in the editorial:
‘’Our society has very few thinkers…..when our future generations ask themselves who the greatest thinkers were at this stage of our history, what will they find? We are afraid they may come up with none. If they should see an amorphous mass of mediocrity ruled by fear of being thought different and in so being subversive. It should not surprise us. It is because we only have time to chase after the little material gleam that is left from the plunderers’ table and nothing more.’’ (ibid. 29th June 2005).
Indeed, it is very unfortunate that there exists in this country, a deep sense of intellectual timidity, which means that the majority of ‘’genuine’’ intellectuals are in the habit of ‘’thinking with breaks on.’’ This is where one realizes the excruciating dilemma in which bonafide intellectuals find themselves because they have to trim their minds continually in order to stay ‘’on course’’, that is, in line with quack ‘’intellectuals’’ who have dominated the intellectual scene.
And of course, this does not surprise me because I have been privileged to mix and watch many fortunate and ambitious intellectuals ascend career ladders with comfortable predictability, though none of those predictable steps necessitated original thought. This then follows that one must know one’s academic rank and respect group harmony and thus original thought would be discourteous if not offensive to one’s peers, (usually referred to as ‘’highly profiled intellectuals’’) and one must therefore shrink from freewheeling thinking in order to maintain peace. The safest career path is the surest path, and the surest path is sufficiently well worn out by previous travelers, so it cannot be missed.
I strongly believe that Zambia is an intellectual colony, but she badly needs intellectuals with swollen heads i.e., courageous, revolutionized and radicalized in order to become the kind of forum for freewheeling thinking needed to cultivate a creative and dynamic society. The most distinctive feature in the western societies is tolerance of the human being’s potential to think and create. And this respect for the individual’s mind is the key to creativity.
I also clearly experienced this timidity during my persecution because well-meaning individuals and even intellectuals were advising me not to respond even when Professor Nkandu Luo used to tell blatant lies about Bemba rituals of which being a Bisa knows nothing about. But to me it was clear that what they lacked was the active spirit of confrontation. And by confrontation I do not, of course, mean the negative way of an ugly scene of exchanging bitter words. Confrontation is speaking the truth in a personal face-to-face encounter regarding an issue that needs correction. Confrontation is having the courage to question and reject certain issues so as not to compromise one’s integrity.
And what has really made us so unreasonably docile? When the South African Communist Party, Secretary-General, Dr. Blade Nzimande visited Zambia, he wondered why we failed to do anything, ‘’the moment Chiluba begins to misbehave terribly such as selling mines and the country’s assets.’’ And according to Mr. Francis Kaunda in The Selling of Family Silver,
Konkola mine was sold to Anglo American at US$ 90 million rejecting an offer of US$ 310 million plus committed expenditures of US$ 400 million from Kafue Consortium for a similar package.
The greatest problem is that the entire nation reads the same type of books and we are therefore on the same political-wave bands and we cannot therefore detect any anomalies concerning the affairs of our country. And this was also easily identified by Dr. Blade Nzimande when he met leaders of different political parties as well as the civil society groups at different meetings:
“What is disappointing in Zambia is the extent to which virtually all major political parties that will contest elections this year (i.e., 2006) are effectively committed to a path broadly similar to that of Chiluba.” (Sunday Post 9th April 2006).
How true are the words of Mr. Kapwepwe:
‘’We have lost love for the people and political direction. We have fallen victims to the flattery from imperialists. We no longer mind what happens to the people of Zambia or to their children’s future.’’
For example the Ministry of Education has introduced computer subjects in the primary school curriculum and grade ix students are this year going to sit for examinations which will include practicals. I was last week shocked when a teacher brought students from a community school because they had never seen a computer to my palace just to come and have a look at my desk computer and lap-top. These are the people whose children play computer games and it can therefore never come into their perverted minds that they are people out there who had never seen a lap-top. These are the people who have never even heard of the rumour that about eighty percent of Zambians are living in absolute poverty.
Epilogue
Karl Marx once said,
history repeats itself; the first time in tragedy; the second time in farce.’’
The imperialist-stooges are demanding the referendum, yes give us the chance to have one and see if anybody will agree to set Zambia on fire.
We must raise our eyes and learn from Latin America about mass mobilization based on popular participation in the daily struggles around issues facing ordinary people. It must be mobilization based on the ‘’lived experiences’’ of the poor and not some ‘’feel-good’’ fake inflation figures, predominantly measuring the confidence of the bourgeoisie and the middle class.
What marks a new era in Latin America was that the workers and the poor, principally through movements, made it possible to more directly take charge of democratic revolutions without class mediation from the ‘’patriotic’’ foreign-stooges. And these popular revolutionary formations are beginning to master the election terrain as an important platform, to advance revolutionary goals. May the immortal soul of the Great CHAVEZ rest in peace.
Hezbollah’s success as an effective practitioner in the art of grass-root politics has a great bearing to traditional leadership in this country, because by using grass-root approach, Hezbollah has been able to convert the ignored Shi’ite underclass of southern Lebanon into a powerful lever in regional politics. The lesson is clear: chiefs being close to the underprivileged are more than able to work in the under-belly of local politics, as Hezbollah has done, since we are certainly very much aware of local pressure points and the knowledge of how to press the buttons and to get the desired results. And this is what must be done when we go for the referendum.
Siphiwe Wright , born and raised in Zambia, is currently based in the United States ,she has been there since 2002. The soft spoken artiste had this to say in a recent interview “I grew up in a musical family and so singing came naturally to me. when I was nine years, me and my twin sister formed a trio with our cousin called the shinning stars that helped me grow in music and the love of music. In my teenage years I joined a group called golden shields today known as the Twelve Gates, we traveled all over Zambia even outside of the country and those are some good memories I cherish singing to the glory of God.”
It’s not until she went to the States that she was encouraged to sing solo . That is something she has grown to love.
Professor Chomba with Ambassador Mulonda, and other members of the Zambian delegation
Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health Permanent Secretary Prof. Elwyn Chomba says maternal and child mortality have dropped significantly over the last couple of years.
Professor Chomba says infant mortality declined from 107 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1992 to 45 deaths per live births 1,000 in 2013/2014 while the maternal mortality from the 2013/2014 Zambia Demographic Health System (ZDHS) is 323-474 deaths per 100,000 live births compared to 729 and 649 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1996 and 2001.
The Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health Permanent Secretary is in Washington DC attending the Global Network for Women’s and Children’s Health Research meeting.
Professor Chomba says the research done in Ndola, Lusaka, Kafue and Chongwe has shown reduced child mortality and associated this to the increased training of birth attendants in ensuring that they make baby’s breathe soon after birth.
She added that traditional birth attendants are also trained to care for the babies up to 48 hours from birth.
Under the Global Network for Women’s and Children’s Health Research, Zambia is rated among the countries with significant progress in maternal lifesaving interventions.
Professor Chomba added that the Global Network for Women’s and Children’s Health Research was currently running another study in Zambia under Misoprosostol aimed at preventing severe bleeding that ultimately leads to death after delivery.
She noted it was important for Zambia to be part of the Global Network for Women’s and Children’s Health Research because the country benefited from lifesaving initiatives for mothers and children, before, during and after delivery.
Professor Chomba added that Zambia had also benefited from the ‘First Look Study’ that provides for mobile ultra sound facilities that allow access to remote parts of Zambia.
She added that with the ‘First Look study‘, women have access to early scans on location and are transferred to hospitals if complications are detected at an early stage.
And speaking at the same meeting US Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary, Global Affairs Ambassador Jimmy Kolker said his office had worked tirelessly to direct policy towards the support of research and services in world health issues.
Global Network for Women’s and Children’s Health Research is celebrating its 15 year of existence. Zambia’s Ambassador to the United States Palan Mulonda also attended the event.
Issued by
Patricia Littiya
First Secretary (Press and Public Relations)
Embassy of the Republic of Zambia
Washington DC 20008
Ten million Zambians are at risk of contracting elephantiasis, Health Minister Dr Joseph Kasonde has said.
Dr Kasonde said the mapping that was done by his ministry revealed that the parasites that cause elephantiasis were present in 85 districts. He said Kalabo in western province had the highest percentage of the parasite.
In a ministerial statement on elephantiasis delivered in Parliament yesterday, Dr Kasonde said the ministry started mass administration of drugs to eradicate and prevent spread of the disease after the mapping was done.
The minister said some districts have passed the target for the people to be treated while other districts are still undergoing the ‘immunisation’ process. He said Government and cooperating partners started the mass administration of the drugs on 8 June 2015 and will run upto 2 July 2015.
He said the Government has started controlling and eliminating the parasite that causes elephantiasis and that the government is in line to meet the 2020 target of eliminating elephantiasis.
10 per cent of Kitwe’s population has the elephantiasis parasite, according to district health officer Dr Chikafuna Banda. Dr Banda said having 10 per cent of the district’s population with elephantiasis was too big a number to be ignored as the disease was dangerous.
Elephantiasis is a parasitic infection that causes extreme swelling in the arms,legs or groin. It is typically characterized by a thickening of the skin and subcutaneous tissue that leads to enlarged and swollen limbs. The condition is medically called lymphatic filariasis. It is caused by a worm that disturbs the flow of fluids in the legs and private parts leaving victims with swollen body parts.
While the infection is usually acquired in childhood, its visible manifestations occur later in life, causing temporary or permanent disability. In endemic countries, lymphatic filariasis has a major social and economic impact
The worm is transmitted by the female mosquito which also transmits the malaria parasite.When a mosquito bites a person who has lymphatic filariasis, microscopic worms circulating in the person’s blood enter and infect the mosquito. If the infected mosquito bites another person, they can then get lymphatic filariasis. The microscopic worms pass from the mosquito through the skin, and travel to the lymph vessels. In the lymph vessels they grow into adults. An adult worm lives for about 7 years. The adult worms mate and release millions of microscopic worms into the blood. Once a person has the worms in their blood, when a mosquito bites, the mosquito can transmit the disease to yet another person.
A person needs many mosquito bites over several months to years to get lymphatic filariasis. People living or staying for a long time in tropical or sub-tropical areas where the disease is common are at the greatest risk for infection. Short-term tourists have a very low risk. An infection will show up on a blood test.
Response to the on-going drug administration exercise against elephantiasis in Ndola has been overwhelming, a survey has revealed.At three public health institutions, more than 50,000 people had accessed preventive medication against the disease.
The eradication program involves treating the disease it is not a vaccine or preventative in any way.The drugs used are Albendazole and Ivermectin.These drugs will kill any worm infestations.Transmission of the infection can be broken when a single dose of these combined oral medicines is consistently maintained annually for a duration of four to six years.
The strategy for eliminating transmission of lymphatic filariasis is mass distribution of medicines that kill the microfilariae and stop transmission of the parasite by mosquitoes in endemic communities. With consistent treatment, and since the disease needs a human host, the reduction of microfilariae means the disease will not be transmitted, the adult worms will die out, and the cycle will be broken.
Coach Tenant Chilumba has declared that Power Dynamos are on the right track after beating Nkwazi 3-1 in a delayed FAZ Super Division match at Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe on Wednesday.
Power roared into second place with 24 points after the home win.
Chilumba said Power are looking forward to taking over the league leadership as the season progresses.
He saluted his charges for thumping the Police outfit.
“I can congratulate the boys for putting up a good game. We played a very tactical team,” Chilumba.
“I think we are on the right track,we just need to work hard,” he added.
The victory over Nkwazi was Power’s first home win since April 11 when they crushed Napsa Stars 3-0 before their league programme was disrupted by 2015 Cosafa Cup and 2017 Africa Cup qualifier engagements in May and June.
FILE: SADC Executive Secretary Stergomena L. Tax during her visit to First Lady Dr Christine Kaseba at State House on November 10,2014 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
THE Democratic Governance and Human Rights Advocates (DEGHA) has spoken out so strongly against former first-lady Christian Kaseba over the manner she has conducted herself concerning accommodation.
DEGHA president Gerald Mutelo said that in fact, Government has spent colossal sums of money on the former first family in ensuring that they lead a comfortable life as permanent accommodation was being sought.
Mr Mutelo said was commenting on the issue of accommodation surrounding the former first-lady where she is said to have been evicted from Eight Reedbuck Lodge.
He said in an interview in Kitwe yesterday that the K2.2 million is a huge amount which could have otherwise been spent on other need areas such as poverty alleviation.
Mr Mutelo said his organization was at pains to comprehend the conduct by Dr Kaseba to have turned down alternative accommodation made available to her by Government in preference to a rented expensive lodge.
“This nation needs resources to go towards poverty alleviation and if Dr Kaseba was considerate enough, she should have accepted alternative accommodation that was offered to her by Government,” Mr Mutelo said.
The DEGHA president cautioned Dr Kaseba against playing politics in the matter involving her accommodation.
“It it is not fair for her to refuse alternative accommodation that could have helped the nation save some resources for other need areas and in fact she has love for this nation, she has to be reasonable enough to help Government address important issues affecting the general citizenry,” he said.
And Evangelical Youth International president Moses Lungu has appealed to former First Lady Christine Kaseba to strengthen the legacy of late President Sata by not politicising her issue of accommodation.
In an interview with the Daily Mail yesterday, Reverend Lungu said: “The former First Lady must not embarrass President Lungu by making him or the Government appear as though they are not caring.”
Rev Lungu said Dr Kaseba must support the programmes her late husband started by rallying behind President Lungu.
The clergyman said President Lungu has taken a sincere position on the matter by letting Secretary to the Cabinet Roland Msiska respond to allegations that she was evicted from a lodge where Government has paid up to June 30.
“Dr Kaseba is still in Government hands. We believe there is a cartel that is holding her hostage. Let her redeem herself and defend the legacy of her late husband,” he said.
National Youth Development Council Chairman Dr Savior Chishimba is today expected to step down from his post after he was implicated in a corruption scandal.
Transparency International Zambia this week released a letter addressed to Youth and Sports Permanent Secretary Agness Musunga in which she was given 72 Hours to act on findings that Dr Chishimba had been plundering funds at NYDC.
A source at the Ministry revealed that Dr Chishimba has been asked to step down by Youth and Sports Minister Vincent Mwale or be fired.
The source further disclosed that Mr Mwale has since reported the matter to the Anti Corruption Commission for further action.
In the letter to Mrs Musunga, TIZ Executive Director Goodwell Lungu alleged that the NYDC was involved in double payments to its Chairperson amounting to K153,134.41 which the Auditor General’s Office report have clearly stated that this was wasteful expenditure.
‘The report clearly shows that the total budget for the financial year ending December 31st 2014 for Board meetings was K154, 710. The report notes that the whole budget was applied towards the payment of the council Chairman’s allowances totaling K153, 134.41 (K95, 384.41 daily subsistence allowances and K57, 750 sitting allowances),’ the letter read.
It said, ‘That a total of K294, 596.37 representing 30% of the funds released to NYDC were applied on the Council Chairman’s expenses against a Board Meetings budget of K154, 710. You will recall that in our letter of 18th August 2014 to you, we provided you with evidence alleging that over 32% of the NYDC funding received for seven months from January to July in 2014 had been spent on the Board Chairperson totaling K102, 000.00 and subsistence allowances totaling K120, 564.91. 4.’
‘That contrary to Treasury and Financial management Circular no. 8 of 2012, the NYDC overpaid its Chairman. 5. The Audit report notes as we had already reported to your office, that contrary to Section 13(2) of the Youth Act which provides that the Secretary of the Council shall be responsible for the administration of the day to day affairs of the Council, from November 2013 to August 2014, the Chairman undertook the roles of the Council Secretary who was supposed to be the Chief Executive Officer of the Council.’
LUSAKA City Council (LCC) has approved a K72,793,527 supplementary budget.
The local authority has also approved a reduction in residential and commercial land rates.
Lusaka mayor George Nyendwa said in an interview shortly after a full council meeting yesterday that the municipality has approved a revised valuation roll and resolved to sell pieces of land that have remained dormant for many years.
“We made this decision as a council last year and we are going to make sure that it is implemented. I would like to emphasise that no play parks are going to be sold by the council and if there are reports of parks sold, the council will definitely repossess them, we need children in our communities to have places from which they can play games and interact when they are not in school,” he said.
Mr Nyendwa said sale of council property is transparent and urged residents to take advantage of the sale.
“We are doing this exercise in a transparent manner and we want everyone to participate as long as they have money to buy the property. Apart from earning the local institution additional revenue to be used in service delivery, the other main purpose of the sale of property is to pay off terminal benefits to 137 retirees,” he said.
And LCC chairman for finance, human resource and general purposes Chrispin Kabole said the council has approved a reduction in ground rates and an increase in the value of properties.
Mr Kabole said LCC will benefit more through revenue generation because people will be required to pay rates depending on the value of the property.
“People will pay more not because of the rate but based on properties value. I would urge the general public to make use of their properties because the value of property is very important as it may be used as an investment to earn more money,” he said.
Mr Kabole said LCC reduced residential land rates from 0.2 percent to 0.125 percent and commercial or institutional land rates have been reduced from 0.4 percent to 0.2 percent.
FILE: President Edgar Lungu being welcomed by Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe at State House on April 28,2015. Looking on are Zambia’s First Lady Esther Lungu and Zimbabwe’s First Lady Grace Mugabe -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
SOUTHERN African Development Community (SADC) chairperson Robert Mugabe has saluted Zambia’s First Republican President Kenneth Kaunda (KK) and other revolutionists who worked tirelessly to liberate the Southern African region.
And the people of Mozambique yesterday celebrated their 40th independence yesterday at a colourful ceremony at Machava Stadium.
Mr Mugabe, who is African Union (AU) chairperson and Zimbabwe President, said there was need for the region to join hands in celebrating their achievements together.
He was speaking to journalists yesterday in Maputo, Mozambique after he laid wreaths at the national monument to the Mozambican Heroes as part of Mozambique’s 40th independence celebrations.
Zambia’s Republican President Edgar also laid wreaths at the same monument and attended the independence celebrations at Machava Stadium.
Other Heads of State in attendance during the independence celebrations at the stadium were Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwetwe, Namibian President Hage Geingob, Mr Mugabe and the host Mozambique President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi.
The former Presidents in attendance were Kenneth Kaunda (Zambia), Joackim Chisanu (Mozambique), Benjamin Mkapa (Tanzania), Hifikepunye Pohamba (Namibia), Amarndo Gwebuza (Mozambique), Festus Mohae (Botswana) among others.
After the independence celebrations, Mr Lungu and Heads of States as well as special dignitaries attended the official reception hosted by Mozambique President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi at that country’s Presidential Palace.
“That is why we say together with President KK and other revolutionalists, this is the making of freedom in Southern Africa and the making of freedoms for the rest of the countries in the region.
“But of course we do commemorate Mozambique’s 40th independence also with some sadness that those we worked with the great ones like Edwardo Mondlane and Samora Machel are no longer with us but this is their legacy. Their legacy produced other revolutionary legacies but we are glad that we still have the likes of former Presidents such as Joackim Chisanu, Amarndo Gwebuza and others. That is why as long as we are still alive, we must celebrate together,” Mr Mugabe said.
He said it was a very important day for countries in Southern Africa to celebrate the 40 years of independence in Mozambique.
“This independence speaks quite a lot of other revolutionary histories. It was the making of the independence also of Zimbabwe and making of the independence of Namibia and the coming of political dispensation of South Africa.
“The freedom of Mozambique meant that we now had a country next to us which we can use as a launching pad for our own revolution,” he said.
Mr Mugabe said that country’s independence meant that the people of Mozambique were also joining other countries in Southern Africa in their struggle.
“We commemorate this independence in that perspective. It is our key achievements together and so we say congratulations to the people of Mozambique,” Mr Mugabe said.
Meanwhile, the 40th independence celebrations for Mozambique were held at a colourful ceremony at Machava Stadium.
There was jubilation and a standing ovation when Mozambique President Mr Nyusi arrived in the stadium in a presidential van while waving to the audience.
Later, the National Unity Torch arrived amidst jubilation from all corners of the stadium and President Nuyusi received the torch and later lighted the pyre.
Simultaneous cultural performances were given followed by different exciting security and military parades as well as air show and deployment of paratroopers inside a fully packed stadium.
The Zambia Alliance for Agro-Ecology and Biodiversity Conservation has called on government not to sign the African Region Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) draft protocol on the protection of new plant varieties as it criminalizes small scale farmers’ rights to seed and threatens local food security.
The alliance made the call today during a media breakfast held at Chrisma Hotel in Lusaka.
The alliance says the protocol if signed will also undermine the national seed and food sovereignty.
Alliance Chairperson Emmanuel Mutamba in a presentation said the protocol will also kill the practice of freely saving, exchanging and selling indigenous seeds by small scale farmers and will instead be monopolized by multinational seed companies.
Mr. Mutamba said the alliance’s concerns are that any decision that undermines the country’s agriculture system and affects small scale farmers who are the major producers of the bulk of the food should not be entertained.
From June 29th to 1st July 2015, a Diplomatic Conference of the African Regional Intellectual property organization (ARIPO) will take place in Arusha, Tanzania where the draft Plant Varity Protocol is expected to be adopted, and Zambia being a member is expected to sign.
Mr. Mutamba noted that the country has already in place a well-developed seed regulation and legislation system through the 2007 plant breeders’ rights act which is more inclusive and safe guards’ national interest.
Mr. Mutamba explained that the draft ARIPO protocol is inconsistent with the Zambian act as it accommodates the demand of industries from developed countries particularly Europe.
He said these industries, once given a chance, will monopolize the seed industry and put to an end the tradition of recycling seed which is very popular among rural farmers.
Mr. Mutamba pointed out that there is need for the Zambian government to join calls to have the ARIPO diplomatic conference postponed indefinitely until all the contentious issues raised by farmers in the affected countries are resolved.
And speaking during the same function, Rolf Shenton, a conservationist said the world was today facing an environmental crisis as communities were not looking after the environment properly.
Mr. Shenton said failure to adhere messages of caring for the environment is now leading to the current climate change effects being experienced.
He said the Zambian seed market is been targeted by many multinational companies because of its business potential.
“Zambian should guard against agreements that disadvantage poor farmers and the environment. Such companies if not stopped, will lead to the complete abandoning of the traditional open pollenated seeds which are more environmentally friendly and healthy,” said Mr. Shenton.
