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Opposition All People’s Congress President Nason Msoni has threatened to take legal action against Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda for referring to his suggestion as foolish.
Mr. Msoni has since given Mr Chanda a seven days ultimatum beginning 8th June to issue a public apology over his statement which he has described as reckless and unfortunate.
Mr. Msoni was offended that Mr. Chanda used the foolish remark to refer to his suggestion Nasonthat government should consider cutting down on international trips to serve money that could be used on needy areas in the country.
[pullquote]people who are being paid from tax payers’ money should not insult in that manner[/pullquote]
Mr. Msoni told Qfm News that should Mr. Chanda decline to apologise he will be left with no choice but to seek the recourse of the law.
The APC leader stated that his party does not expect people who are being paid from tax payers’ money to insult in manner that Mr. Chanda allegedly did in the said statement.
He notes that the APC is of the view that power should never be used irresponsibly so as to defame and insult citizens.
Mr. Msoni says he feels that he had been abused when Mr. Chanda referred to his suggestion as foolish besides referring to him as an alleged ignorant politician.
He says the combination of words foolish and ignorant politician is unZambian and unacceptable especially coming from a young man.
Kanyama Member of Parliament Gerry Chanda has ordered for an immediate closure of two schools in his constituency for operating without the required minimum hygienic standards.
Colonel Chanda ordered for the immediate closure of the two schools yesterday when he conducted an impromptu visit to check on the sanitation conditions following the recent reported outbreak of typhoid in some named institutions in his constituency.
The closed schools are Devine Community School and House of Joseph Ministries both of Linda of compound and run by clergymen.
Col. Chanda, who is also Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, said it was not right for schools to risk the lives of children in preference for money.
He has since warned of immediate closure of more schools in his constituency if they will be found operating in poor hygienic conditions.
Typhoid broke out in some schools in Kanyama constituency and one person has since been reported to have died of the disease.
File:what looks like an Abandoned Pave Zambia project.The Pave Zambia 2000 Road was launched by the President Sata and was to be implemented at a total cost of K1.6 billion to pave approximately 2000km of township roads in 10 Provincial Centres
Opposition UPND Bweengwa Member of Parliament Highvie Hamududu has warned of unprecedented excess expenditure if government does not revise the 2015 national budget.
Mr. Hamududu who is also Chairperson of the Expanded Parliamentary Committee on Estimates said the budget is law and therefore the 2015 national budget must be inevitably revised now that six months has elapsed from the time it was passed by Parliament.
He told Qfm News by telephone that he thinks the PF government knows what it is supposed to do and must not pretend as if things are normal after adjusting the Mine Tax regime.Mr. Hamududu has maintained that government must cut down on non priority expenditure areas in revising the national budget if the country is going manage to sail through.
He said that in its current form, the 2015 budget is already indicating a serious overrun because the PF government has announced too many projects beyond what the budget can carry.
Mr Hamududu says he has taken note that the budget overruns under the PF government has been mounting over the years and therefore what is happening now is the fruition of the mismatch between Zambia’s capacity to generate revenue and the many expenditure items the government has pushed through.
First Lady Dr Christine Kaseba speaks during the High level dialogue with African first Ladies on maternal and New born Health beyond 2014 with focus on adolescent girls at the UN Building in New York on September 22,2014 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
Former First Lady Dr Christine Kaseba has denied joining the United Party for National Development (UPND) as its Vice President for Administration replacing Richard Kapita.
There was a statement circulating on social media stating that UPND national chairperson Mutale Nalumango announced the appointment of the former first lady as UPND vice president for administration. The statement was circulated on social media and caused a storm among supporters of the Patriotic Front (PF) and the UPND.
The statement read; “Former firstly lady Dr. Christine Kaseba Sata has been appointed as United Party for National Development (UPND) Vice President for Administration with immediate effect, taking over from Mr Richard Kapita who left the party to join the PF. Announcing her appoint, UPND Chairperson Mutale Nalumango said Dr Kaseba had shown and demonstrated exemplary service to the people of Zambia during the time she served as first lady. Mrs Nalumango said her willingness to assist and ensure that every Zambian, be in the rural or urban areas was recognised and taken care of was a rare virtue in many politicans today hence the party decided to adopt and appoint her as Vice President.
Mrs Nalumango has since wished Dr. Kaseba the very best as she takes up her new appointment in the party’s quest to see to it that a better Zambia is realised for every Zambian.
Issued by: Jonas Kalimamukwento (Personal Assistant to Dr. Kaseba)
Cc. UPND President Hakainde Hichilema
But Dr Kaseba on her official Facebook page Bev Kaseba, Dr Kaseba wrote;
“I often wonder how people can blatantly tell untruths and be able to face the world. To start with, I don’t have a personnal assistant let alone know of any Jonas Kalimamukwento.
I wonder how UPND would make such an appointment without consultation and consent from me. I urge all to ignore that false statement with the contempt it deserves and if anyone knows of this Jonas please let me know for he deserves to be in prison. I remain proudly PF (patriotic front).”
In April Dr Kaseba appealed to the person running the fake page bearing her names to close it.
Minister of Health Joseph Kasonde receives the present from Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Yang Yaoming during the unveiling ceremony of Medical Park at multi facility Economic Zone
Health Minister Joseph Kasonde says the PF government is not running broke.
Dr Kasonde said government is only reducing expenditure on some non-priority projects in light of reduced revenue.
In an interview, Dr Kasonde insisted that Government is not broke and still running its programs in line with the national budget.
“There have been delays in funding some projects but we shall resume once we smoothen things up,” Dr Kasonde said.
He added, “This kind of delay relates to our revenue as a country. We have been here before as a country and this shall pass, it is a passing phase and we will be back in business.”
Dr Kasonde said government decided to suspend funding to some government projects after a careful analysis of the situation.
“Government looked around and said, at the present rate of spending, we might have problems, let us reduce now on the rate of expenditure, it is a precautionary move and Government should be commended.”
He continued, “This is a way it works, if you wait until the lights are switched off, that is not the way it works. So government has taken steps to slow down some of the expenditure after taking a look at the way things are going with regard to revenue. We have agreed on what you can call smoothing out some of the expenditures.”
OPPOSITION United Party for National Development (UPND) Sesheke central Member of Parliament (MP) Siyanga Siyauya has called on the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to postpone the elections due to violence that has erupted between his party and the ruling Patriotic Front (PF).
Mr Siyauya, who is UPND campaign manager for the Mulobezi by elections, said the violent clashes which happened between the two political parties on Saturday which saw one UPND cadre shot at was a clear indication that the elections would not be held in a peaceful manner.
He said if the elections were not postponed, there would be more violence in the area because more cadres from the UPND had since started trooping into Mulobezi to beef up their team.
Speaking in to the press in Livingstone when he visited the shooting victim Mushaukwa Mushaukwa at the Livingstone Central Hospital yesterday, Mr Siyauya said it was unfortunate that him and his UPND counterparts were attacked by the PF cadres in Mulobezi where Mushaukwa was shot at in the thigh and sustained a dip knife cut in the buttock as well as another cut on the left eye.
Mr Siyauya said it was surprising that after the attack from the PF cadres, he and one of his colleagues were instead arrested and detained on Saturday instead of arresting the perpetrators of the crime.
He said he was lucky that he was not also injured but alleged that the driver of the PF Secretary General Davies Chama was aimed at shooting him as well.
Mr Siyauya, who did not give details of his arrest and subsequent detention the by Mulobezi police, said he was released on police bond and that the matter would be coming up in court next Monday.
And speaking from his hospital bed, the victim Mushaukwa said he was recovering well and ready to go back to Mulobezi and campaign for his party.
Mr Mushauko urged his fellow UPND youths not to be intimidated but be strong and forge ahead with the campaigns.
ZAMBIA’S High Commissioner to Rwanda, Judith Kapijimpanga with Minister of Foreign Affairs Harry Kalaba paying a courtesy call on President Paul Kagame of Rwanda at Kigali Serena Hotel in Kigali on Sunday June 7, 2015. PICTURE: MACKSON WASAMUNU
Rwanda is seeking to recruit teachers of English from Zambia, whose educational standards have impressed the central African country, which has switched its official language from French to English.
This came to light when Minister of Foreign Affairs Harry Kalaba met Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs and Co-operation Louise Mushikiwabo.
“We have realised that Zambia has had a very good educational system for many years, and in our search for teachers of the English language and other topics, we felt we could get those services from there, ” said the Rwandan Minister
She said after conducting research, Rwanda has identified Zambia as one of the countries where that country could source teachers of English, technical and vocational trades.
And minister of Foreign Affairs Harry Kalaba has delivered a message from President Lungu to Rwandan President Paul Kagame here.
Mr Kalaba met President Kagame on Sunday night at Kigali Serena Hotel, where they had a closed-door meeting that lasted close to an hour.
The minister said President Kagame and his government want enhanced relations with Zambia in such areas as trade and foreign direct investment.
He said that during the meeting, Mr Kagame expressed interest in Zambian teachers who could teach English in Rwandan schools.
Mr Kalaba said President Kagame also talked about the need to maintain peace in the Great Lakes Region in order to increase trade for the benefit of the people.
To this effect, Rwanda will soon host a Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) to discuss issues of trade, co-operation, peace and security and Zambia will attend as a member.
Mr Kalaba further said Rwanda would like to widen the canal from Lake Kivu to Mpulungu Harbour via Lake Tanganyika.
“President Kagame talked about the need to hold a JPC between the two countries to look at different areas of bilateral co-operation, peace and security. President Lungu is playing a pivotal role in the peace process in the Great Lakes Region, where Rwanda is a member,” he said.
Earlier, Mr Kalaba met with his Rwandan counterpart Louise Mushikiwabo and discussed several issues on peace and security, bilateral co-operation and trade, among others.
The minister noted after the meeting that Rwanda has shown so much potential for co-operation, as it has changed from being a Francophone country to an Anglophone one.
He said as a result, Zambia will consider an exchange programme for English and French teachers to work in either country.
“We acknowledge our trade potential between the two countries and we want to see that most of our products come into Rwanda. We want to see if we can have our companies coming into Kigali to set up their businesses,” Mr Kalaba said.
The minister said copper cathodes, sugar and cement are some of the products with good market in Rwanda.
Mr Kalaba also said there is need for Zambia to learn how Rwanda has excelled in land management.
He pointed out that out of a population of 12 million people, Rwanda has been able to issue 11 million title deeds, while Zambia has only 80,000 titled land with a population of about 14 million people.
Meanwhile, the two ministers indicated that their governments are working in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on the issue of Rwandan refugees in Zambia. Speaking after the meeting, Ms Mushikiwabo also said the two countries are working on an extradition treaty for individuals who may be wanted by either country.
Mr Kalaba’s delegation includes first secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Vincent Mwewa and acting surveyor general Francis Minango.
POLICE in Western Province have charged United Party for National Development (UPND) Sesheke Central member of Parliament (MP) Siyauya Sianga and three others with possession of offensive weapons.
Mr Sianga was allegedly part of a group of people who attacked Patriotic Front (PF) secretary general Davies Chama and his entourage in Mulobezi on Saturday.
Western Province commissioner of police Standwell Lungu said in an interview yesterday that Mr Sianga, Gerald Imenda and Godfrey Likamba have been released on bond and will appear in court either today or tomorrow.
Mr Lungu said Mushaukwa Mushaukwa is still nursing a gunshot wound under police guard at Sesheke District Hospital but that his condition is stable.
“We have charged the suspects with one count of being in possession of offensive weapons and they were released yesterday [Sunday] in the afternoon on police bond,” he said.
He appealed to political parties to conduct peaceful campaigns and to help police maintain law and order before, during and after the parliamentary by-elections.
“Any cases of violence must be reported to the police and we will not allow individuals who will perpetrate violence to go scot-free,” Mr Lungu said.
The four allegedly attacked Mr Chama and his entourage as they were driving to the campaign centre in Mulobezi.
Police spokesperson Charity Chanda said a pistol and other offensive weapons were found in a vehicle suspected to belong to Mr Sianga.
TWO criminals have been gunned down by Police in Lusaka while two Sub Way foods workers have been injured in the confusion that ensured during a robbery at Twin Palm mall in Salama Park Lusaka Police commissioner Charity Katanga confirmed the incident in an interview and said the two criminals were gunned down after an exchange of fire with a paramilitary officer who accompanied an Amaguard security vehicle that went to collect cash from Shoprite at Twin Palm mall.
“The criminals were trailing a Toyota single cab registration number ALP 5794 belonging to Amaguard Security Company which was being driven by Donald Mawili of Chawama Township and was going to collect cash from Shoprite store,” she said.
Ms Katanga explained that when the Amaguard vehicle parked to collect the money, the two security officers went to collect money from Shoprite and after collecting the cash box, two men appeared one with an AK 47 assault rifle while the other was armed with an iron bar.
“The one with an iron bar threatened to hit the man carrying the cash box but the security officer resisted to surrender the cash box. This prompted the man which an AK47 to point the gun at the security officer who dropped
the cash box,” she narrated.
She added that the paramilitary police officer who was standing outside sensed danger and charged at the criminals and managed to shoot the criminal with an iron bar in the leg while they exchanged fire with the one carrying an AK47 who dropped the gun while escaping the scene with the cash box. The injured criminal managed to charge at the police officer but was shot dead.
“Our police officers gun developed a fought but he
managed to get the criminals gun which he used to shoot the same criminals down while the other two who were in the Spacio managed to escape with K337, 000 cash,” she said.
In the confusion two Sub Way workers Nicholas Kachinga and Mwandu Kaluba were shot in the upper arm and the stomach and are admitted at Levy Mwanawasa hospital and University Teaching Hospiyal (UTH) respectively.
According to an eye witness who was at the scene during the robbery, the criminals grabbed a cash box from one of the Armcor security officers which he used to hit the same security officer with.
Upon seeing the robbers attack Armcor security officers, a police man twin officer opened fire on the robbers killing two on the spot while others fled.
MISA Zambia Chairperson Hellen Mwale
MISA Zambia says individuals should not be criminalised for merely expressing themselves.
MISA Zambia Chairperson Hellen Mwale said Freedom of Expression is a fundamental right to be enjoyed by all citizens regardless of their background and political orientation as provided for under the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, which Zambia ratified.
Ms Mwale said this in a statement in Lusaka following the decision by the Zambia Police to summon controversial musician Pilato.
“Freedom of Expression is a hallmark of Democracy as its unfettered enjoyment contributes to functional democracy that encourages citizen participation for good governance and accountability.
Good governance and accountability requires that leaders must be amenable to criticism and would thus need a high level of tolerance,” Ms Mwale said.
She added, ‘ It is for this reason that MISA Zambia has continued to advocate for the repeal or amendment of certain sections of the penal code that impede the enjoyment of freedom of expression.
These include provisions in Section 69 on Defamation of the President, Section 53 on Prohibited Publications, section 60 on Seditious Practices among other laws such as the Public Order Act.”
“These legal provisions have been used on several occasions by government functionaries to suppress dissenting views and there by oppress individuals perceived to be opposed to the party in power,” Ms Mwale.
“We therefore call for these laws to be re-examined to allow for increased citizen participation without fear of unnecessary retribution at any given time. MISA Zambia remains committed to its vision of a region in which members of society, individually or collectively are free to express themselves through any media of their choice without hindrance of any kind.”
She said MISA further believes in a system in which Access to Information is unhindered and must be readily available.
Maybin Chama has threatened to resign as coach of FAZ Division One North side Real Nakonde over alleged interference from club officials.
Chama joined promoted Nakonde at the start of the season and has managed to stabilise the club.
Nakonde are fifth on the table with 23 points, six behind leaders Kalulushi, after 13 games.
Speaking after his side lost 2-0 at Kalulushi Modern Stars on Sunday, the ex-Ndola United and Nchanga Rangers player charged that some club officials are involving themselves in team selection.
“I can’t hide you (reporters) there is a lot of interference in team selection. There are some guys (officials) who are trying to make a team for me.
They want me to be putting players even in positions in which they can’t fit,” he said.
Nakonde have so far posted six wins, five draws and two defeats only.
Chama added:”If I pack my bags and go back to where I come from it would be extra disaster.”
“I train the team from Monday up to Friday then somebody comes up to say let’s do this. I have just told them that you guys are employers. You hire and fire, if I fail fire me than try to interfer with my work.”
George Lwandamina heads back to the familiar territory after a five-year hiatus from the Zambia national team.
Lwandamina returns for a second stint as Zambia coach after an unsuccessful two-match reign as interim trainer in 2010 when he failed to lead the team to the 2011 CHAN tournament.
He also served as Zambia assistant coach under Herve Renard from 2008 to 2010.
Lwandamina also led the Zambia Under-20 team to the 2007 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Canada where the team reached the last 16.
Some the players in that Under-20 team and now Zambia mainstays are defender Stopilla Sunzu including strikers Emmanuel Mayuka and Fwayo Tembo.
Midfielder Nathan Sinkala was part of his unsuccessful 2009 Cosafa Youth Championship team that made a group stage exit in Kimberley.
Lwandamina led the Zambia Under-20 to Cosafa victory in 2003 including two runner-up finishes in 2004 and 2006 where he groomed the likes of Rainford Kalaba, Davies Nkausu, Jacob Mulenga and Clifford Mulenga.
At club level he led Green Buffaloes to runners-up finishes in 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007.
He won the Barclays Cup with Red Arrows in 2013 that he retained last season when the win the league and Cup double in his first season at his current team Zesco United.
His other previous appointments include Kabwe Warriors, Nchanga Rangers where he was technical director from 2000 to 2001, and Mufulira Wanderers where he won two league titles as Ashios Melu’s assistant in 1995 and 1996.
File: Peasant farmers wait for the Food Reserve Agency to buy their maize
Government has announced that it will only buy 500,000 metric tonnes of maize during this year’s crop marketing season.
Agriculture Deputy Minister, Maxas Ng’onga said government will not extend the buying of maize once it reaches its target of 500,000 metric tonnes.
Mr. Ng’onga explained that unlike the previous years where government was forced to extend the buying of maize after reaching its target, it will stick to its target this year.
He added that every quantity of maize that will be left by government through the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) should be bought by the private sector.
The Agriculture Deputy Minister said this in Kaputa district yesterday when he held a meeting with the business community and members of the Kaputa District Business Association.
He said the decision to only stick to 500,000 metric tonnes was arrived at during meetings held with the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU), the Zambia Cooperative Union and other stakeholders.
He has since urged the private sector to help government buy the excess maize from farmers.
Inonge Wina
Vice President, Inonge Wina, has appealed to the Africa Export –Import Bank (Afreximbank) to consider financing industries that will engage in value addition.
Speaking at her office today when a delegation from the Afreximbank paid a courtesy call on her, Mrs Wina explained that establishing of industries will help to boost trade and increase the country’s export earnings.
She cited copper, agriculture products and forest products as some of the products that need value addition.
The Vice President lamented that Zambia is dependent on row materials to enhance the need to establish industries that can help add value to local products.
Mrs Wina said Afreximbank is critical in financing the establishment of local industries in the country.
The Vice President further implored Afreximbank to establish a department that will help to promote entrepreneurship.
She stated that most of the women fail to access the services of banks hence the need to establish an entrepreneurship department.
Mrs Wina noted that only big institutions are benefiting from the services of banks while majority of the women are left out.
The Vice President has since saluted Afreximbank for the financial assistance the bank is rendering to Zambian campaigns.
And speaking on behalf of the visiting delegation, Afreximbank President, Jean Louis Ekra, assured the Vice President that his bank will critically look at ways of helping in financing establishment of industries.
Mr Ekra said value addition was a challenge hence the need for the bank to set up a facility that will help with value addition.
Meanwhile Mr Ekra has disclosed that the bank is currently negotiating with the Development Bank of Zambia (DBZ) to acquire land so that the bank can put up a facility that will benefit many people in value addition.
The Afreximbank delegation is in Zambia to attend the Annual General Meeting which will run from the 8th to the 14 of June, 2015.
Zambia is a shareholder of the multilateral financial institution which was established in 1994 by African governments and private institutions.
Cabinet, at its 10th special meeting held at State House today, has approved the Constitution of Zambia 2015 Amendment Bill and the 2015 Constitution of Zambia Bill that seeks to increase the number of elected Members of National Assembly from 150 to 156.
Acting Chief Government Spokesperson, Ngosa Simbyakula, disclosed this at a press briefing when he gave an update.
“At the 10th Cabinet meeting held this morning, Cabinet considered 10 agenda items, among them the Referendum Amendment Bill of 2015, National Disaster Management Policy, National Youth Policy and the Financial and Monetary Affairs,” he said.
Dr Simbyakula, who is Justice Minister, said the increase of six constituencies is as a result of 30 newly created districts across the country, noting that some constituencies were belonging to more than one district.
He said the six constituencies would be in effect after the dissolution of Parliament and that there would be no by elections.
Dr Simbyakula explained that the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has been allowed to conduct the delimitation exercise and all the political parties were engaged and unanimously agreed to increase the number of constituencies.
He named some of the newly created districts as Kapoche and Sinda in Eastern Province, Nkeyema, Sioma and Sinjembela in Western Province, Ngabwe in Central, and Chirundu in Lusaka that were sharing constituencies with other districts hence the increase.
And Dr Simbyakula has further disclosed that Cabinet has approved the Referendum Amendment Bill of 2015, the Financial and Monetary Affairs which have allowed the contraction of a US$22,467,000 loan from the African Development Bank towards the implementation of the Lake Tanganyika Basin to help the quality of lives of the basin population.
Under this, there shall be contraction of a K175,310 million Asset Lease facility from Stanbic Bank Zambia Limited for the purchase of motor vehicles and other requisite equipment for government institutions to ease transport and logistical challenges.
The minister said Cabinet approved and revised the National Disaster Management Policy as a result of the emerging pro-active disaster risk and climate change issues.
Other approvals made by Cabinet are the National Resettlement Policy to protect resettlement schemes from illegal land allocation to create stable and sustainable human settlements, the National Youth Policy of 2015 to bring it in line with the African Youth Charter and other international statutes.
Under this policy, Cabinet has revised the definition of a youth from 15 to 35 from 18 to 35 years of age.
Dr Simbyakula said in order to actualise the National Youth Policy of 2015, Cabinet has approved the Action Plan for Youth Empowerment and Employment which strategises government’s vision of creating jobs and empowerment opportunities for the young people.
He added that Cabinet has approved the issuance of a Statutory Instrument to raise the minimum paid up share capital for insurance companies to enable them grow their capital base, develop by required to under-write mega risks.
The Acting Chief Government Spokesperson said Cabinet has introduced a Furniture Loan Scheme in order to reduce government expenditure on the procurement of VIP furniture at residential places for state’s Very Important Persons (VIPs).
