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Opposition political parties are suspicious of the intention by government to introduce the Political Parties Act.
MMD Spokesperson Raphael Nakachinda says such legislation would be a way of silencing the opposition political parties.Mr. Nakachinda told QFM News that it is wrong to regulate political parties which are not financed by the government.
He challenged the government to give full details of the same Act so that political parties understand its intention fully.
And UPND Acting Secretary General Kuchunga Simusamba says the PF are on record saying they want the country to revert to a one party state and that such a law would be the first step towards reverting to a one party state.
Mr. Simusamba said political parties are already regulated by the Registrar of Societies and wondered the motive behind such a law.
Meanwhile, Green Party President Peter Sinkamba says there is need for all political parties to have an input before the Act is tabled before Parliament for possible enactment.
Mr. Sinkamba has however, stated that the country ought to be cautious on how some political parties mobilize resources from abroad so as not to put the security of the nation at risk.
Mighty Mufulira Wanderers captain Taonga Bwembya says the legendary club is looking forward to this Saturday’s FAZ Super Division match against old foe Nkana in Mufulira.
Mighty and Kalampa renew their old rivalry when they clash in a Week 14 match at Shinde Stadium in Kantanshi.
The two legendary clubs who have won 21 league title between them last met in a competitive game in 2009 when they were both in Division One North.
In a pre-match interview, Bwembya predicted an interesting game when Mighty host Nkana.
“It is a big game and we are anxiously waiting for it.For sure this will be an interesting game. We are looking forward to the match and hoping for the best,” he said.
Promoted Wanderers have performed better than Nkana so far in the season.
“It is a must win game, so we shall do our level best to win and we promise the fans that we shall record a win against Nkana,” Bwembya said.
Nkana and Mighty are the best two successful clubs on the local football front.
Nkana have 12 league titles under their belt while Wanderers have won nine titles.
Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations for the President, Amos Chanda has said government was concerned with the way Zambian journalists that covered the AU summit were treated by South African authorities.
Mr Chanda said government was not happy that out of the seven Zambian journalists who were officially accredited by both the African Union and South African government to cover deliberations at the assembly, only two were allowed access to selected events by authorities in that country while the rest were completely barred.
The Zambian journalists were also barred by South African police from covering the arrival of President Edgar Lungu at the Lanseria International Airport near Pretoria despite repeated pleas by officials from Zambian High Commission in Pretoria to allow the press access.
The ZANIS cameraperson was forcefully ejected by South African police from the airport premises as she captured the taxing of the Presidential challenger.
Mr. Chanda said the Zambian government will take up the issue of ill treatment of the Zambian journalists with the African Union which had signed protocols with the South African government for hosting the AU summit in that country.
Government has described Fourth Revolution Party leader Eric Chanda as a political novice who has no following in Zambian politics.
Chief Government Spokesman Chishimba Kambwili stated that the PF Government takes great exception to remarks by Mr Chanda for insinuating that Zambians should not vote for President Edgar Lungu next year so that he can pay attention to his health.
Mr Kambwili said Government is concerned that for some time now, Mr Chanda has been quoted in some sections of the media disparaging President Lungu.
He warned the 4R leader that soon he will be required to answer for his careless statements.
‘Mr Chanda’s disrespect for the Head of State makes one wonder whether he has any respect for the office of the President which he so envisions as would be his in future,’ Mr Kambwili said,
He added, ‘Contrary to Mr Chanda’s distasteful comments in Wednesday’s edition of The Post, Government, under the leadership of His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, is on course to deliver development to the people and no amount of negativity from Mr Chanda and his ilk will derail it from achieving this objective.’
He continued, ‘And the earlier Mr Chanda woke up to the reality that he is a political novice, with no following, the better for him, otherwise he is destined for political archive.’
Mr Kambwili said on the incident where police are reported to have dispersed a crowd of people that had gone to attend a meeting over a land settlement dispute in Chiparamba area of Eastern Province last Sunday, he stated that it was police duty to ensure there was peace in the area and that reports of tear-gassing residents were highly exaggerated in the media.
‘Government, therefore, wishes to advise the media to report professionally and objectively and avoid fanning unnecessary tensions over the incident.’
The Chief’s and Traditional Affairs department in the Eastern Province has embarked on a sensitization campaign of village headmen to acquaint them with preparations in readiness for construction of Paramount Chief Mpezeni’s palace.
ZANIS reports that addressing a meeting at Chief Mpezeni’s palace were over 100 village headmen out of 165 were in attendance, Provincial Chiefs Affairs Officer Penias Kakoma said the project is labour based which demands community contribution of upfront materials.
Mr Kakoma said the construction works will start next week depending on how quick the villagers will clear the land where the palace will be built and also meet the contribution of 20 t0 30 percent upfront materials for the project.
Mr Kakoma noted that government was in a hurry to ensure the works start adding that the money for construction was released last year but the project delayed due to unforseen circumstances.
He stated that two committees will be formed with one to be headed by the Provincial Permanent Secretary and the other at district level to be chaired by the Senior Induna of the Paramount chief to ensure works go on smoothly.
Mr Kakoma said the contract was given to Nawela General Dealers, a Chipata based Company which will move on site immediately mobilization of resources are taken to site.
“The demand for upfront materials is meant for you to have a sense of ownership and also since time in memorial subjects used to take care of their chief’s,” Mr Kakoma added.
And Mugeme Jere, the Paramount Chief’s Advisor, urged government to engage communities once such big projects are still at the initial stage.
Mr Jere said communities cannot fail to provide upfront materials but was concerned that construction of palaces demanded for the communities to provide material and yet houses for presidents who are elected by the people are built on full contract once they leave office.
He however noted that the move was welcome and mobilization of resources will commence in villages as the headmen will brief the villagers of what is expected of them.
And Headman Maulawo stated that the construction of the Paramount Chief’s palace by government had come at a right time because the current one was in a deplorable state.
FDD’s Edith Nawakwi
FDD leader Edith Nawakwi has observed the need for stakeholders in the country’s mining industry to come up with measures that will address youth unemployment in the country using resources from the mining sector.
Commenting on a presentation by the world bank at the 5th Zambia Economic Brief at Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka the opposition leader said the country needs to take a leaf from other mining countries such as Chile which has ensured that its people benefit from their resources by structuring up win win policies.
She explained that youth unemployment can significantly reduce if stakeholders such as the World Bank, Mining Companies and the Government itself come up with strategies would help not only the mining communities but the government in its fight against youth unemployment.
” is there no possibility that the Government, the Mining houses and the Communities could get together and adopt the same situation that we find in Chile were monies are put in a pool to specifically address youth unemployment with or without high income? I saw that there was a request on how should Government behave when the mineral prices are low but how should Government behave when prices are high?” She wondered.
She added ” is there a possibility that Government, the World Bank and the Mining houses could sit together and craft something for us so that we address youth unemployment in the country using resources from the taxes from the Mining houses and contributions from government so that we can address youth unemployment in the mining communities.”
And speaking when she officially released the brief entitled Making Mining Work for Zambia: the Economic, Health, and Environment Nexus of Zambia’s Copper Mining Economy, World Bank Country Director fro Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe Kundhavi Kadiresan noted the importance of the mining sector in providing tax revenue, foreign currency, and jobs for the country adding that It was important that decisions which are made be conducive for sustained growth of the sector as well as national wealth.
Mining is an important source of tax revenue, foreign currency, and jobs for the people of Zambia. It is therefore important that decisions made are conducive for sustained growth of the sector and national wealth,” said Ms. Kadiresan.
Small Scale Farmers for Development Agency (SAFADA) Director, Boyd Moobwe, has commended President Edgar Lungu for bringing the idea of putting up milling plants in all ten provinces.
Addressing the media today at Kwacha House in Lusaka, Mr Moobwe says the move will help small scale farmers in the smooth production of their produce.
He, however, said government must put up serious measures to improve the importance of the agricultural sector in the country and build the economics of agricultural development on proper footing.
Mr Moobwe wondered why poverty levels still stand at 56 per cent in urban areas and 73 per cent in rural areas despite reordering rural income increments.
He hoped that government shall the reduce fertilizer price.
Mr Moobwe said agriculture in Zambia is melting at very slow pace invisibly.
He said a number of positive projects are being carried out by the government although its impact is less expected due to poverty levels experienced in the country.
He added that SAFADA would like to see small scale farmers become specialised business partners to reduce the influence of one commodity on the market through partnership with government and other stakeholders.
Meanwhile, Mr Moobwe said SAFADA is introducing pre-medium term credit facility that can help farmers to pay loans within a stipulated period of time.
He added that farmers will now afford to obtain fertilizer and seed at a cheap price and pay the balance within 24 hours.
And Kapiri Mposhi-based small scale farmer, Kenneth Fasangili, has noted that agricultural policies are not benefiting farmers.
Mr Fasangili has called for innovative structures that can help reduce poverty levels in the country.
He said if agricultural policies are improved, Zambia can became a powerful agricultural product supplier in southern Africa within 5 years.
GOVERNMENT has presented the Referendum Amendment Bill to Parliament. The bill seeks to amend the Referendum Act of 1967 to bring it in conformity with the constitution on the eligibility criterion for voting in national referendums.
Minister of Justice Ngosa Simbyakula presented the bill to the House on Tuesday.
Dr Simbyakula said the bill is aimed at amending the Referendum Act of 1967 to bring it in tandem with the Zambian constitution.
And Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini has referred the Referendum Amendment Bill to the committee on legal affairs, governance and human rights.
Dr Matibini has also ordered the committee to present the report on the Bill to the House on June 26, 2015.
He also asked members of Parliament (MPs) willing to make submissions to the bill to do so.
Parliament also heard that no Zambian died during the recent xenophobic attacks in Durban, South Africa.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Rayford Mbulu said government worked with staff at the Zambian mission in South Africa to sensitise citizens on how to avoid being caught up in the attacks.
“We also informed Zambians who intended to travel to South Africa during this time to report their presence in that country to the High Commission with a view to securing their lives,” he said.
Mr Mbulu also said Government has put in place measures to ensure safety of Zambians in the diaspora.
Minister of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Christabel Ngimbu also presented the Forests Bill.
PRESIDENT Lungu has started his medical review in South Africa after attending the 25th Africa Union (AU) summit, which closed on Monday.
Special assistant to the President for press and public relations Amos Chanda said doctors will advise on how long they will attend to Mr Lungu because this is his first medical review after he received treatment in March for a condition medically known as achalasia, caused by the narrowing of his food pipe.
“The doctors are currently attending to the President, carrying out medical reviews. They will advise us on what happens next and that is the directive we shall take,” Mr Chanda told journalists here on Tuesday night.
Mr Chanda, however, could not disclose the hospital where President Lungu is having his medical review because the arrangement is under the courtesy of the South African government and it does not want to draw public attention.
Meanwhile, President Lungu is satisfied with the outcome of the AU summit and Zambia’s participation, particularly the country’s recognition as one of the top pioneers of empowering women in key government positions.
Commenting on the award given to Zambia by the AU for championing the women empowerment programme, Mr Chanda said President Lungu praised late President Michael Sata for pioneering the affirmative action of appointing many women to key government positions.
“The President thinks the award will inspire his Cabinet to work towards increasing the number of women in key positions,” Mr Chanda said.
He also said Mr Lungu is happy with the AU summit’s theme: “Year of women empowerment and development towards Africa’s agenda 2063” because it resonates with his focus to tackle rural poverty among women.
Mr Chanda said the campaign launched by the AU to retire the “hand hoe to the museum” and introduce mechanised farming among rural African women fits well with President Lungu’s agenda to fight rural poverty.
Mr Chanda said the President planned to roll out the campaign to mechanise farming through Zambia Cooperative Federation (ZCF) in partnership with the Ministry of Gender and Child Development and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.
“The President will also announce construction of 4,000 solar-powered milling plants to be dotted across the country to create cooperative movement where maize will be milled within distances of production areas,” he said.
He said the President has further extolled the launch of the continental free trade area (FTA), which fits well into Zambia’s programme to ensure that trade barriers and cost of doing business are brought down.
Zambia is preparing to launch a new Eurobond of up to $2 billion before the end of the year in an attempt to close the financing gap.
The Zambian government has raised $1.75 billion in two separate Euro bonds since 2012.
Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda said Zambia will return to the international capital market for fresh borrowing following the widened budget deficit in the first six months of the year which has risen to K 20 billion accounting for 18.5 percent of the GDP.
Mr Chikwanda told Journalists in Lusaka Wednesday afternoon that Zambia is definitely issuing a third Eurobond in four years but refused to confirm that the country will seek to borrow as much as $ 2 billion.
‘We don’t do things in the dark. This is a government and we will tell you when we are ready to launch the Eurobond. Let us not get ahead of ourselves. For now just know that we are exploring all possible borrowing options externally because we don’t what to continue borrowing domestically for fear of crowding out the private sector,’ Mr Chikwanda.
But senior officials at the Ministry of Finance have confirmed that Government will seek to borrow up to US$ 2 billion to plug the budget deficit.
The officials who sought to remain anonymous revealed that they will embark on a road show next month in the USA and the UK to market the Zambian sovereign bond.
On Tuesday, Mr Chikwanda told Parliament that he will seek its approval to increase in the ceiling in external borrowing to 60 billion kwacha from 35 billion kwacha.
Government has appealed to the British government to assist in equipping the three public media houses, namely the Times of Zambia, Zambia Daily Mail and the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC).
Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, Chishimba Kambwili, says ZNBC studios need total overhaul while Times of Zambia and Zambia Daily Mail are over-burdened with statutory debt owed to the National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) and the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) which has adversely affected their operations.
Mr Kambwili, who is also Chief government Spokesperson, also says training of media personnel in the three institutions is another area where government would appreciate the British government’s assistance.
He further says government plans to offload some shares in the Times of Zambia after improving the newspaper’s financial standing through recapitalisation and conversion of statutory debt into share capital.
The minister, however, says government remains committed to the enactment of the Access to Information (ATI) Bill and that consultations are ongoing to this effect.
Mr Kambwili said this when British High Commissioner to Zambia, James Thornton, paid a courtesy call on him at his office in Lusaka today.
And British High Commissioner to Zambia, James Thornton, has hailed the Zambian government’s efforts in entrenching media freedom in the country.
Mr Thornton cited the establishment of the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) and the ongoing process to enact the Access to Information (ATI) law as some of the shining examples of government’s commitment to reform and reposition the Zambian media so that it plays its full and rightful role in national development.
Mr Thornton said it is important that government persists in its defence and promotion of media freedom as demonstrated so far as the benefits to the country are huge in the long
President Edgar Chagwa Lungu being PF Deputy National Secretary Mumbi Phiri on arrival at Kennneth Kaunda International Airport from Livingstone on May 10,2015 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
Patriotic Front (PF) Deputy Secretary General, Mumbi Phiri, says party campaigns in Mulobezi, Petauke Central and Malambo Constituencies are going on well ahead of the June 30, 2015 Parliamentary by-elections.
Ms Mumbi says there is no doubt that the ruling PF will scoop all the seats and warned the opposition to stop misleading people that the PF is causing violence in Mulobezi.
She said this during a telephone interview with the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in Lusaka today.
Ms Phiri said it is clear that the opposition is headed for defeat come the voting day.
She said Zambians have seen that President Edgar Lungu is delivering what he promised the citizens during campaigns prior to the Presidential by elections in January, this year.
She said the opposition will wake up to a rude shock to discover that all the seats are taken by the PF.
Ms Phiri has also refuted opposition allegations that the ruling party is buying voters in all the three Parliamentary constituencies.
But the United Party for National Development (UPND) deputy spokesperson, Kachunga Simusamba, says his party will issue a consolidated statement tomorrow with regard to campaigns in Mulobezi, Malambo and Pentauke Central constituencies.
MMD RUFUNSA Member of Parliament Kenneth Chipungu (l) accompanied by a sympathizer leaves High Court after his petition hearing in Lusaka.
Rufunsa Member of Parliament, Kenneth Chipungu, is happy and gratified with his party, the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) for pardoning and welcoming him back to the former ruling party.
Mr Chipungu says he received the news of the decision of the National Executive Committee (NEC) with delight and appealed to all those who have been pardoned and re- instated to the party to welcome the move for the unity of the MMD.
He was speaking to the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in Lusaka today.
He said he has been a genuine member of the MMD for a long time and all allegations which were levelled against him were totally untrue.
Mr Chipungu said it is good now that the truth has come to prevail and urged all old and new MMD party members to bury their differences and forge ahead to rebuild the party.
He said the MMD is the party which sponsored him to Parliament and as such, he will not abandon the former ruling party which has done a lot for the people of this nation during its tenure of office.
Mr. Chipungu said President Nevers Mumba should be supported in his quest to revive the MMD, adding that he should not be swayed by some detractors who are not for the idea of rebuilding the party.
And Nalikwanda Member of Parliament, Geoffrey Lungwangwa, says he will give his statement tomorrow with regard to the new development where he has been pardoned by the party.
Today, during a media briefing, the MMD has expelled three NEC members for various party offenses while three members of parliament have been re-instated to the party following NEC decision of Saturday 13, June, 2015 to pardon them of their disciplinary cases.
The former ruling party has also pardoned 16 Members of Parliament who were facing minor disciplinary actions against the party.
Those expelled from the party are Joyce Musenge, Chairperson for International Relations, Chairperson for Local Government and Housing Rosemary Banda, and National Trustee, Jane Mukalipi, while those re-instated are Kabinga Mpande for Kasempa, Kenneth Chipungu for Rufunsa and Levy Ngoma for Sinda.
FILE: Harry Kalaba with Zambezi district commissioner Catherine Mukuma and Provincial Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) cross the Mighty Zambezi river on the Chinyingi suspension bridge in senior chief Ndungu’s area
Parliament today heard that the feasibility studies to construct a bridge on the Zambezi River in Zambezi district will soon commence.
Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications, Yamfwa Mukanga, told the House in a supplementary response that his ministry will engage the Road Development Agency (RDA) to conduct feasibility studies and construction of the bridge would take a period of one year.
Mr Mukanga, who is also Patriotic Front (PF) Kantanshi Member of Parliament (MP), said the cost of the bridge would be determined once the designs are done.
The bonus answer arose from Solwezi West MP, Humphrey Mwanza, who wanted to find out whether the government has any plans to construct a bridge across the Zambezi River to connect Zambezi East to Zambezi West Constituencies, when the plans will be implemented, what the estimated cost of the project is and what the time-frame for completion of the project is.
The Fourth Session of the Eleventh National Assembly, which adjourned sine die on March 26, this year, resumed sitting yesterday and is expected to discuss wide-ranging issues in its life.
The Referendum and Constitutional Amendment Bill was tabled in the House yesterday to shape the constitution-making programme which Zambia has embarked on and many other bills are expected to be tabled in the due course of this session.
The House is also expected to ratify the appointment of Justice Esau Chulu as Electoral Commission of Zambia Chairperson.
It will be without PF Bangweulu law-maker, Chifita Matafwali, who died in India last month.
Chawama law-maker, Lawrence Sichalwe, (PF), who succeeded President Edgar Lungu in the constituency, took his seat in the House including his Chisamba counterpart, Moses Muteteka (MMD), who was recently pardoned from prison by President Edgar Lungu.
Formerly Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) MPs returned to the House on ruling PF tickets and these are Senga Hill’s Kapembwa Simbao and his Masaiti counterpart, Michael Katambo following their re-election in Parliamentary by-elections held in their respective constituencies.
The House would in due course receive three members from Petauke Central, Malambo and Mulobezi constituencies after by-elections slated for June 30, this year.
