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Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda
GOVERNMENT yesterday presented four amendment bills to Parliament.
The four amendment bills are National Pensions Scheme, Local Authorities Superannuation Fund, Supplementary Appropriation (2013) and Excess Expenditure Appropriation (2012).
The National Pensions Scheme (Amendment) Bill seeks to increase the retirement age to 60 years and provide for early retirement at 55 years and late retirement at 65.
Deputy Speaker of National Assembly Mkhondo Lungu asked Minister of Labour and Social Security Fackson Shamenda to present the National Pensions Scheme Bill to amend the National Pensions Act.
Mr Shamenda said: “I intend to present the bill entitled the National Pensions Scheme amendment bill. The object of this bill is to amend the National Pensions Scheme Act so as to revise the retirement age. I thank you.”
Clerk of the National Assembly Doris Mwiinga read the bill for the first time in the House.
Mr Lungu referred the bill to the committee on economic affairs, energy and labour.
He asked the committee to submit its report to the House on Wednesday, July 15.
President Lungu with Dr Ngosa Simbyakula at KK international airport
Government has congratulated President Edgar Lungu on his appointment as promoter for the “He For She” Campaign, a United Nations women movement for gender equality.
The United Nations has appointed President Lungu as promoter for the campaign in recognition of his contribution and commitment to women empowerment.
Chief Government Spokesperson, Chishimba Kambwili, says the appointment of President Lungu to the high profile global responsibility is not only well deserved, but also a source of immense pride and honour to the nation.
Mr Kambwili, who is also Information and Broadcasting Services Minister, stated that the appointment is also a sign of the confidence the international community has in Zambia’s political and governance system that has placed gender equality at the centre of national development.
He said government is proud that since coming into office six months ago, President Lungu, like his predecessor, the late President Michael Sata, has shown unprecedented commitment to the gender agenda by appointing more women to various positions of influence.
He said the President has appointed women to positions that include the first ever female republican Vice President, Inonge Wina and the Chief Justice, Ireen Mambilima, among others.
Mr Kambwili said government has reaffirmed its commitment to gender equality by creating more and equal space for women participation in national affairs.
This is according to a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday by Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services and Chief government Spokesperson Chishimba Kambwili.
FILE: HH and Katele Kalumba on the shores of Lake Mweru
RENOWNED politician Katele Kalumba says the United Party for National Development (UPND) has allegedly launched an online campaign of scathing insults against him because of his support for President Lungu.
Dr Kalumba, who is former MMD national secretary, supported UPND president Hakainde Hichilema in the January 20 presidential election but recently declared his allegiance to President Lungu.
Dr Kalumba said in a statement yesterday that there has been a barrage of insults, misconceptions and gibberish for the correct decision he made.
“The UPND’s insults to me vindicates both my concern that this party [UPND] is of elitism and regionalism. If HH [Hakainde Hichilema] wants to stand as a national leader, UPND cannot be assumed to some sector of Zambia,” he said.
[pullquote]Dr Kalumba said he is now proud of supporting the PF as an “educated kaponya” and not the UPND.[/pullquote]
Dr Kalumba said no-one can have a right to “forget about Luapula or Northern thieves or bakaponya [call boys]” as demanded by the UPND.
“In the equation of Zambia, the self-righteous, the ‘bakaponya’ and many other categories cannot be subtracted from the totality that make up Zambia,” he said.
Dr Kalumba said he is now proud of supporting the PF as an “educated kaponya” and not the UPND.
“It is infinitely better to support the PF than an English golem with a fraction of a brain of a single cell species. Either because of a deficit of mental or social intelligence, they believe I make my important decisions based on some imaginary ontological insecurity about my legal situation,” Dr Kalumba said.
Patriotic Front (PF) Deputy Secretary General Mumbi Phiri says the PF will not shield any member breaking the law and has since ordered the Police to arrest to any cadre breaking the law.
She wondered why Police have not acted against suspected PF cadres that have been harassing commuters and bus drivers at a bus station near Friday’s Corner in Lusaka’s Kabulonga.
Mrs. Phiri said she was prompted to execute a citizen’s arrest against violent cadres who were later apprehended by police at Kalingalinga Police station.
On Thursday, some suspected PF youths attacked a journalist from a named tabloid newspaper in Lusaka.And Lusaka Province PF Youth Chairman Kennedy Kamba has appealed to youths to desist from acts of violence.
She warned party cadres in the habit of harassing innocent people that they will be subjected to the wrath of the law.Mrs. Phiri said the ruling party will not shield any PF member defying the law through acts of violence or any illegality.
She said PF youths that are reportedly harassing people in some parts of Munali constituency must be visited by the law.Ms. Phiri has called on the police to arrest any PF youths engaged in violent activities in Lusaka and other parts of the country.
File:Education Minister John Phiri tours sanitary facilities at the University of Zambia
Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) Nalikwanda Member of Parliament Professor Geoffrey Lungwangwa has called on the Government to close down private universities that are offering below par qualifications.
Professor Lungwangwa said the universities are not adding any value to the education system in the country as they are just interested in making money and not the well being of students after their graduating.
“These universities are not offering any meaningful education to our children. They are producing graduates with under par qualifications which cannot add any value to the labour market,” he said.
But MMD Mumbwa Member of Parliament Dr Brian Chituwo who is also a founder member of the Lusaka Apex Medical University (LAMU) said there was need for all people to support the private universities than calling for them to be shut.
He said currently LAMU was helping Government produce medical personnel who are much needed in the health sector in Zambia.
“Let’s support these institutions and ensure that they produce quality graduates who can contribute effectively to the development of the country,” he said.
And Chongwe MP Sylvia Masebo appealed to Government to address challenges facing public higher learning institutions if the private ones were to improve as well.
“We need to improve our public colleges and universities if we are to regulate the private one. How can you tell a private university that you are dirty when your own university is filthy,” she said.
Ms Masebo added that accommodation at the University of Zambia (UNZA) is a major problem which has forced students to seek accommodation at nearby houses thereby making the students vulnerable.
“These students end up having sugar daddies and sugar mummies but sugar mummies are better than sugar daddies,” she said.
The MPs were debating on the motion to adopt the Higher Learning Authority board act. The authority was established under the Higher Education Act No.4 of 2013 and will ensure quality, demand responsiveness, financial sustainability, access and equity to higher education in Zambia.
The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) has opposed to the Government’s plan for an upward adjustment of the debt ceiling from K35 billion to K60 billion.
In a statement the JCTR said;
“While we appreciate the Minister of Finance’s right to increase the debt ceiling in accordance with the provisions of the Loans and Guarantees (Authorization) ACT Cap 366 of the Laws of Zambia, we disagree with his request for an upward adjustment of the ceiling from K35 billion to K60 billion.
However, we are glad that government has created a sinking fund, though belated, as it will ensure smooth repayment of the two Eurobonds which were contracted in 2012 and 2014. We are however, dismayed at the extent of the fiscal deficit reported in the Minister’s statement and the key policy proposals by which he intends to address the fiscal deficit.
The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) is saddened by the gloomy economic outlook that was stated in the 2015 Mid- Year Economic and Budget Review Statement made to the National Assembly on 16th June 2015 by the Minister of Finance.
[pullquote]Zambia should not embark on reckless additional debt contraction[/pullquote]
What is particularly saddening is the size of the projected fiscal deficit of K20.0 billion representing close to half of the 2015 budget. We are also disturbed that the government plans to abridge the fiscal deficit by way of borrowing on commercial terms. The Minister of Finance in his statement further requested the Legislature to increase the ceiling on external borrowing from the current K35 billion to K60 billion. As a Centre we hold that Zambia’s current economic malaise though it has some historical attributions, we are nevertheless convinced that it has been worsened by poor fiscal governance attributed to poor policy choices. Clearly, there is a massive mismatch in national policy priorities.
We dismiss the Minister’s rational for additional debt contraction to address the fiscal deficit. His argument that Zambia’s public debt currently standing at 29 percent of Gross Domestic product (GDP) is still sustainable and therefore warrants room for further debt contraction should not be entertained by parliament. We contend that Zambia’s public debt as a share of domestic revenues has already reached the critical threshold of 15-20 percent beyond which austerity policy measures will have to be undertaken. Given the size of our economy, additional debt contraction is going to adversely affect social sector spending therefore spelling grave consequences on posterity.
A government that throws away its mining tax regime that would have ensured a more balanced budget should not be trusted with borrowed resources.
As JCTR we state that Zambia should not embark on reckless additional debt contraction. The nation cannot borrow its way out of its development challenges at every instance. We appeal to the executive and the legislature that the way ahead for Zambia clearly requires tough decisions, tough choices and fundamental socio-economic transformation without which the current situation will worsen as we proceed into an election year. We therefore appeal to parliament not to heed to the dictates of the executive on further debt contraction. Parliament must guarantee Zambia from a sovereign insolvency on this score. If parliament approves the executive’s midyear budget proposal on increasing the debt ceiling Zambia will pay a high price in terms of further social and economic polarization which will include diminished investor confidence and higher future taxes.
Proposal
Accordingly, JCTR recommends a wide range of policy proposals which include
a reconsideration of the nation’s taxation system as well as guaranteed public policy consistence and a re-evaluation of some of the current capital and infrastructure projects.
Government needs to do more in terms of reducing unnecessary expenditure including closure of some embassies that have hugely contributed to this crisis as the Minister himself mentioned.
Further, the decline in trade taxes recorded by the treasury on account of reduction in import volumes though attributed to the high cost of foreign exchange also stems from the administration of trade taxes. Has the executive dared to compute the customs business and tax collection downturns on account of recurrent failures to clear goods in accordance with the ZRA service charter owing to intermittent internet services which impinges on efficient and effective functionality of Asycuda World which results into goods being marooned at ports of entry?
We find it disturbing that of all the reasons advanced regarding the dismal economic performance recorded in the first half of the year resulting into a K20 billion deficit, the executive has all but blamed it on exogenous factors and not once have they taken responsibility for some poor outcomes stemming from reckless policy choices they have pursued.
We shudder to think what the end year deficit will be. While there could be room for more borrowing, the current government’s public finance management record does not inspire confidence that increased borrowing will bring any meaningful results.
A government that throws away its mining tax regime that would have ensured a more balanced budget should not be trusted with borrowed resources. Government has further surrendered markets and bus stations that would have brought in more revenue to government to PF cadres and yet they expect Zambians to support their borrowing spree. The poor economic choices of the government are no longer sustainable. Therefore, we call for the executive to put its act together by intensifying domestic resource mobilization, rationalizing expenditure and asserting the nation’s fiscal sovereignty.”
A Kitwe maid who ran away with two children from a Kitwe home has been arrested by Police in Kabwe, Copperbelt Police Commissioner Joyce Kasosa has said.
Ms Kasosa said the maid dumped the six year old girl at Big Bite bus stop in Kabwe while the six months old baby was in her custody.
A Good Samaritan picked up the six year old and advertised through posters that they had a child in their custody and Police have since retrieved the baby from a Good Samaritan in Chibombo district.
The kidnapper is currently in police custody at Choba Police Station in Kabwe.On Sunday the teenage maid in Kitwe disappeared along with the two children she was looking after.
Linda Chintu, 18, was last seen on Sunday with the two children.
Copperbelt Police Commissioner Joyce Kasosa said the two children were left in the maid’s custody by their parents at their home in Nkana East.The incident happened between 16:00 and 17:00 hours on Sunday.The father to the children, Kennedy Simfukwe reported the missing children to police in Nkana East.
Cases of women being stripped naked by call- boys who regard their dressing as indecent are commonplace. Now Mampi, herself known for her sleek outfits, has released a song titled Boyo, which talks about the very issue.
On the song, Mampi first makes a moral appeal to those involved in stripping women, asking them to provide a chitenge if they strongly feel that the dressing falls below what is generally accepted by the public. Then she gives them something to think about – that the very woman being stripped could be a sister from their father’s other wife.
Either way, it is a touchy subject by Mampi as the issue of dressing, and particularly indecent dressing, always sharply divides the public.
Early in her career, she was herself subject to criticism from some sections of society who thought some of her stage outfits were too skimpy and wanted her to moderate. But she stuck to her guns, insisting it was part of her art, It goes with the job.
Even as they were criticising her, they were always too happy to watch her performance and see her latest stage outfit.
In releasing “Boyo”, Mampi is trying to address an issue that pops up time and again. And whenever there is case of a woman being stripped, there are always two sides – one supporting the right of women to wear whatever they are comfortable with and the other suggesting that the stripped woman has rightfully got what she asked for with her dressing. Listen to the song here:http://www.zambianmusicblog.co/mampi-boyo-prod-dj-baila/
KITWE farmers showcasing their farm produce during the District Agriculture Show
The PF government must immediately announce a decent floor price for various agriculture produce for this year so as to protect farmers from being exploited by briefcase businessmen.
The idea of always leaving farmers to speculators is what has killed the agriculture sector and led to an increase in the cost of food due to lack of motivation and incentives.
By committing to early and regular announcements of floor prices that can be relied upon farmers will be more able to advance their operations and consider other options such as diversification and value-adding ventures.
Agriculture is just one of the many sectors that has suffered due to the lack of vision and direction under the PF government.
If government cant announce the floor price now we wonder if they will even be able to pay farmers on time, or whether they will once again be subjected to the usual punishment where payments are delayed and delayed. Many of us have still not forgotten the detentions and arrests farmers faced in November and December 2014 for protesting that government should pay them what they were owed for maize supplied long before.
The PF government must take its responsibility to support farmers seriously. Only by doing this can we improve food security, lower food prices and increase employment opportunities in the sector.
Charles Kakoma
UPND Party Spokesperson
___________________________
Ricardo Mannetti has resigned as Namibia coach just four days before the Warriors host Zambia in a 2016 CHAN qualifier.
Namibia hosts Zambia on Sunday in a CHAN qualifier first round, first leg match in Windhoek.
In a statement, the Namibia Football Association said Mannetti stepped down from the job on Thursday after talks over a new contract collapsed.
Mannetti quit less than a month after leading Namibia to their debut Cosafa Cup triumph in South Africa whose highlight saw them eliminated the then defending champions Zambia at the quarterfinal stage on post-match penalties.
“He did not accept what he was offered and decided to step down from the senior national team. It is a decision that has shocked us and we are disappointed by it but we have to respect it and move forward.” NFA general secretary Barry Rukoro said.
Rukoro said Manetti’s assistant and former Namibia and Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Ronnie Kanalelo will take charge as interim coach.
The ex-Namibia defender has been coach since 2012.
His last match in charge was last Sunday in a 1-0 away loss to Niger in a 2017 Africa Cup Group K qualifier.
John Sangwa speaking during the public debate on Freedom of Expression
Constitutional lawyer John Sangwa says the law has to find a way of responding to the threat posed by online Journalism which he says threatens freedom of expression.
Mr Sangwa said the emergence of online media poses the greatest threat to freedom of expression because of the irresponsible manner in which some online media outlets are operated.
He was speaking in Lusaka on Thursday evening during a public discussion organised by the Law Association of Zambia and MISA Zambia on Freedom of Expression.
Other panellists included Daily Nation Managing Editor Richard Sakala and Media Consultant Kellys Kaunda.
‘Today you have got online sites like Tumfweko, Kachepa 360, Zambia Reports and Zambia Watchdog, these sites are a danger to freedom of expression, they cause havoc because they are not accountable to anyone,’ Mr Sangwa stated.
Mr Sangwa who is a State Counsel from Simeza Sangwa Associates said technology has gone ahead of the law hence to develop new responses to deal with threat posed by online media.
‘Unfortunately, the law is now trying to play catch up and we are not doing too good well in that regard. The challenge is how do you police the Internet in the era of self media regulation?’
He said some of the reports published on some online media sites are shocking, rubbish and destructive to society.
Members of the audience following the discussion last evening at Hotel Intercontinental
‘You might be reading a report online published by a Mr Evans Mulenga, for all you know that Evans Mulenga does not even exist , so how do you hold him to account?’
Mr Sangwa added, ‘in this era of globalisation, people reading those reports in America will believe, down here in Zambia we will know that this rubbish. For me the fact that someone does not want to take ownership of what they publish, it means their intention is evil. They have evil intentions.’
‘The law has to respond to this and when we talk about protection of the law, protection has to be balanced. As much as Journalists want protection from the law, I also want protection from the law because as a lawyer I want to protection the little reputation I have because once you trash that, I will not earn a living,’ Mr Sangwa.
And Mr Sakala said a number of legislation in Zambia make the practice of Journalism a high risk job.
Mr Sakala said the law on defamation, State Secrets and many sections in the penal code infringe on media freedoms and freedom of expression.
He called for Corporate Veil on newspapers publishers to be protected from litigation and liability as in the case of some Directorship in other corporate organisations.
‘The law is draconian. As a publisher, if I publish a newspaper article that incenses the authority, I can be arrested, the Reporter will be arrested including the newspaper vendor,’ Mr Sakala said.
Meanwhile, Mr Kaunda appealed for greater protection of Journalists in the course of their work due to unique role they play in society.
‘History tells us that in Hellenic times, people met in the Amphitheatre to exchange ideas but that was when populations were smaller and in today society, there are millions of people and the Amphitheatre of today is the media hence the need for protection,’ Mr Kaunda said.
A teenage maid in Kitwe has disappeared along with two children she was looking after.
Police suspect the maid has kidnapped a six-year-old girl and her two-month-old sibling.The maid, identified as Linda Chintu, 18, was last seen on Sunday with the two children.
Copperbelt Police Commissioner Joyce Kasosa said the two children were left in the maid’s custody by their parents at their home in Nkana East.The incident happened between 16:00 and 17:00 hours on Sunday and their whereabouts are unknown.
The father to the children, Kennedy Simfukwe reported the missing children to police in Nkana East as well as the missing maid.
“We have a case of missing children, who were left in the care of the maid in Nkana East but unfortunately the maid disappeared with them and their whereabouts are still unknown,” she said.
Ms Kasosa said police were investigating the matter.
Meanwhile, a Zambia Intelligence Security Services (ZISS) officer has been apprehended in connection with last week’s shocking theft at the Office of the President Kabwe division.
The office’s identity has been withheld but is confirmed to be in Police custody to assist with investigations.
Last Thursday, the ZISS offices which are highly secure were broken into and several computers and documents were stolen.
“We are holding an officer from OP to assist with the ongoing investigations. This is a sensitive matter and we cannot give out names at this stage of the investigations,” the source said.
The break-in had shocked provincial administration as the ZISS offices are directly opposite their buildings and highly secured.
“We are suspecting that this is an inside job, because no ordinary person can go in a highly secure location to steal computers and documents,” another source said.
The source said more statements would be recorded from officers who were on duty on the day robbery.
Veteran Green Buffaloes midfielder Buchizya Mfune says he is ready to fight for place in the starting line-up as Zambia face Namibia this Sunday away in Windhoek in a 2016 CHAN first round, first leg qualifier.
Mfune is set to earn his debut Zambia cap after being named in the final 18-member squad by coach George Lwandamina.
Despite a promising career at Kitwe United before going to Green Buffaloes, Mfune was never selected for the national team.
“I have no pressure so far and everything is going on well,” he said.
“There is always competition for places in the national team but I am adapting,” Mfune said.
Meanwhile, Zambia will host Namibia in the final leg on July 4 with the winner over both legs to face victor of the other first round tie between Mozambique and The Seychelles in the final round decider in October for a place at next years finals in Rwanda.
Nchanga Rangers coach Fighton Simukonda says the Chingola side will not fear Power Dynamos when the two teams clash in a Super Division match in Kitwe this weekend.
Power are scheduled host struggling Nchanga in a Week 14 tie at Arthur Davies Stadium on Saturday.
Simukonda believes Nchanga will travel to Kitwe motivated by Sunday’s 3-0 win over Mufulira Wanderers in Chingola.
“Power is a team and we are a team like them so there is nothing to fear,” he said.
Nchanga have picked just two wins from 12 games.
“Losing does not mean we are a small team. I hope people will enjoy the game,” he added.
Power are third on the table with 20 points from 10 games while Nchanga who are third from the bottom have 11 points.
Elias Chipimo speaking at the press briefing at the NAREP Secretariat
The National Restoration Party has demanded that an audit of the Patriotic Front showing precisely what the two previous Eurobond amounts have been spent on should take place before the country’s debt ceiling is raised.
NAREP President Elias Chipimo jnr has lamented the level of debt that Zambia is incurring under the Patriotic Front’s governance.
Speaking on behalf of the National Restoration Party, fresh from his tour of duty to the Northern, Copperbelt and Luapula Provinces; Mr. Chipimo registered shock and disbelief at the rising debt and highlighted how under the PF, the country had already spent K208m on bye-elections alone and had not focused on development matters. He further underscored the lack of quality leadership to drive innovation that could benefit the various provinces of Zambia by producing capital produce suited to specific environments.
By example, Mr. Chipimo observed that Mongu was fertile territory for production of the highly priced Cashew nut which Zambia continues to import. Tables could be turned and Zambia, through Mongu, could become a Cashew nut export haven competing at a global level.
