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The Zambia Police Service has denied the opposition UPND a permit to hold countrywide demonstrations today over the constitution making process.
But the UPND has vowed to go ahead with their planned demonstration in Lusaka today at 14hrs.
UPND Demonstration Coordinator Chisankama Mudenda has told journalists in Lusaka that the party does not need a Police permit to air out their anger on the delay to enact a new republican constitution.
Mr. Mudenda says it is a constitutional right to demonstrate without seeking Police permission.
He states that the demonstration in Lusaka will start from Munali round about through Manda Hill up to State House.
The Copperbelt Energy Corporation has announced plans to expand its business following the full acquisition of the Realtime Technology Alliance Africa, the country’s second largest Internet service Provider.
CEC Liquid Telecom’s Managing Director Andrew Kapula has announced the development to ZNBC News in Kitwe on Friday.
Mr. Kapula said in a statement that Realtime will now focus on the retail and business markets not regulated by the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority –ZICTA.
Mr. Kapula said the CEC liquid telecom would provide communication services to homes and businesses of all sizes across Zambia, using satellite and fibre networks of CEC Liquid telecom as well as its existing WiMAX network.
He said CEC Liquid Telecom will continue to provide wholesale products and services to all licensed operators in Zambia.
Mr. Kapula further said Realtime will receive network access from CEC Liquid Telecom on the same terms as other providers.
CEC Liquid Telecoms is a joint venture between The Liquid Telecom Group and Copperbelt Energy Corporation Plc (CEC), a Zambian power generation, transmission and distribution company.
FILE: UPND campaign manager Depak Patel confers with party president Hakainde Hichilema
UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema this morning failed to appear before Kabwata Police for questioning in connection with alleged breach of the Public Order Act.
Mr Hichilema along with UPND Deputy Secretary General Kuchunga Simusamba was summoned for questioning for alleged breach of the Public Order Act.
This is after Mr Hichilema visited shops and homes in different parts of Lusaka this week.
Mr. Hichilema and Mr Simusamba who were expected to be questioned at Kabwata Police station at 10 Hours did not show up because the summons was not properly served on him.
Several UPND supporters had converged at Kabwata Police Station to offer solidarity to Mr Hichilema.
Lusaka Province Police Commissioner Charity Katanga disclosed that Mr. Hichilema is expected to report to Kabwata Police on Monday next week for questioning.
Meanwhile, Former Minister of Commerce Dipak Patel has applied for a police permit to allow him freely move and mingle around in the country and greet people as a recognisable public figure.
Mr. Patel, who is also former Campaign manager for UPND President Hakainde Hichilema in the January 20th Presidential by-election and a Former Lusaka Central Constituency MP took his letter to Lusaka’s Kabulonga Police Post around midday today.
In his comments after applying for the permit, Dipak encouraged all current and former Members of Parliament and Ministers, formers Presidents, First Ladies and all other public figures like musicians, artists to ensure that they apply for police permits in order for them to meet, greet, talk and mingle with people within the boundaries Zambia, especially if they attract crowds as a requirement under what he called the PF/Zambia Police regime.
Zone fam are set to release their latest single “Slo mo” . The single will feature Badman Shapi of Urban Hype as well as Nigerian artists Ice prince and Patoranking .
UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema and Deputy Secretary General Kuchunga Simusamba have been summoned to Kabwata Police Station today at 10:00 hours.
Mr. Simusamba confirmed that the police call out was left at UPND party secretariat yesterday and did not specify the reasons for summoning.
Simusamba said he was totally blank on the reasons for the police summoning but joked that it could be for ‘conduct likely to win an election’.
Meanwhile the UPND leader continued his community work of thanking voters in Lusaka’s Kamwala area yesterday he interacted with residents and party officials.
Mr. Hichilema, who was accompanied by UPND National Chairperson Mutale Nalumango, continued appreciating the various challenges marketeers, traders, and residents were facing in the area and reiterated the need to revamp the economy and create more job and business opportunities for Zambians.
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UPND president Hakainde Hichilema interacts with residents in Kamwala compound
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UPND president Hakainde Hichilema visits a market in Kamwala
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UPND president Hakainde Hichilema interacts with residents in Kamwala compound
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UPND president Hakainde Hichilema buys some groundnuts in Kamwala
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UPND president Hakainde Hichilema interacts with residents in Kamwala compound
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UPND president Hakainde Hichilema interacts with residents in Kamwala compound
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UPND president Hakainde Hichilema visits a market in Kamwala
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UPND president Hakainde Hichilema visits a market in Kamwala
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UPND president Hakainde Hichilema interacts with a shop owner in Kamwala
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UPND president Hakainde Hichilema interacts with residents in Kamwala compound
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UPND president Hakainde Hichilema interacts with residents in Kamwala compound
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UPND president Hakainde Hichilema interacts with residents in Kamwala compound
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UPND president Hakainde Hichilema interacts with residents in Kamwala compound
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UPND president Hakainde Hichilema interacts with residents in Kamwala compound
WE are perturbed by utter misrepresentation of facts by one Bishop John Mambo who wants to wage war against the legitimate owners of Zambezi Portland Cement (ZPC) in his desperate antics of helping Rajan Mahtani in trying to shift attention from real issues surrounding the company.
We dare Bishop Mambo to come out clean in the issue of ZPC rather than fabricate stories on the legal status of our cement company and misleading the general public with his concocted statements.
We reiterate our earlier statement in which we assured our customers and the general public of prompt product and service delivery as we are effectively fully in control of the repossessed assets. We further repeat our advise to our clients and the public to ignore Dr Mahtani’s purported ownership of ZPC.
Ordinarily, we would not have reacted to Bishop Mambo’s wild accusations against my management of ZPC but because he seems to have his facts fragmented, we are motivated to respond and to put the record straight.
One, it is outlandish for the so-called man of God to embarrass himself by branding our Managing Director Mr Antonio Ventriglia as a racist when he has stayed in Zambia for more than 58 years and has lived and worked with people of different races without such insults being hurled at him.
We do not take kindly to Bishop Mambo’s racist remarks against our MD and against management of Zambezi Portland Cement. Rather than imply that workers are subjected to inhumane matter of body searches, Bishop Mambo should have been smart to undertake an intelligent probe into such unfounded allegations.
There are no such actions, but what we can confirm is that, we uphold strong work ethics and culture at Zambezi Portland Cement and undertake routine disciplinary processes and formal security checks, like at any company, which should not be interpreted as racism and an insult to the workers.
We would also like to respond to Bishop Mambo’s biased remarks regarding the deportation of Mr Ventriglia and other directors, and say that, while we are fully aware that the deportation was instigated by Dr Mahtani in order for him to have a free hand on ZPC, management followed laid down legal processes to challenge the action and the courts ruled that there was no material evidence for the deportation of the founding directors.
We would like to remind Bishop Mambo that, following our decision to challenge the deportation, the Lusaka High Court recently ruled that the rightful owners of the cement firm are the Ventriglia family. In case he is not also aware, the court also quashed the deportation order of 2012.
It is a known fact that the claim by Dr Mahtani of 58% ownership of ZPC through Finsbury Investment is fraudulent, illegal and forgery which we cannot accept. For about Seven years, no original transfer share documents have been submitted to the Patents and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA), a situation which raises a lot of dust.
We pride ourselves in credible business undertakings and we shall always endeavour to follow the legal systems in an event of underhand methods being engaged by the likes of Dr Mahtani.
We would also like to request Bishop Mambo to leave the President of the Republic of Zambia Mr Edgar Lungu and the Government out of the personal feud between us (the legal and legitimate owners of ZPC) and Dr Mahtani. He should not drag the President into our personal dispute because that is tantamount to lack of respect for the Presidency.
ISSUED BY MANAGEMENT
ZAMBEZI PORTLAND CEMENT LIMITED
NDOLA.
President Lungu
THE Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has appealed to President Edgar Lungu to uphold his earlier statements to allow access to information as a right for all Zambians.
Mr Lungu last month said that no one should be barred from accessing information as stipulated in the Constitution.
LAZ President George Chisanga has however expressed concern at the recent statement by republican President Edgar Lungu that he is reconsidering whether the Access to Information Bill, (AIB) should be tabled before parliament owing to the publishing of information allegedly leaked to some Journalists.
Mr Chisanga said the purpose of the access to information law was to increase the capacity of ordinary citizen’s participation in the governance of the country through making informed decisions based on available information.
“This will in turn enhance the transparency and accountability of Government for the betterment of all Zambians.
LAZ was against the notion that the AIB, if enacted, into law can be abused to publish state secrets by anyone.
Mr Chisanga urged President Lungu to urgently enact the AIB to accord the Zambians the freedom to know how the Government is conducting their affairs.
The current constitution and legal dispensation of the country made it imperative for the public to always be kept informed about how leaders are conducting the affairs of the country.
A POLICE Traffic Officer at the Lusaka Central Police has been sentenced to 36 months imprisonment with hard labour for corrupt practices involving K 1, 000.
Lusaka Magistrate Lameck Mwale on Wednesday found Titus Chisanga, 36, of House No. 3 Block 10 Kafue Police Camp, a Traffic Officer at the Lusaka Central Police, guilty of one count of corrupt practices by public officer contrary to section 29 (1) and 41 of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 41 of 1996 to the laws of Zambia.
In a statement released by Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) public relations officer Tomothy Moono, details of the offence are that Chisanga, between August 25 and December 3, 2009, corruptly solicited for K1, 000 and actually received K500 from Mable Chisanga as an inducement or reward for him to release her impounded motor vehicle registration number ABT 1022 from police custody.
Chisanga was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Commission on 22 December 2012 and charged with one count corrupt practices by public officer contrary to the laws of Zambia.
President Lungu
President Edgar Lungu is on Sunday expected in Angola –Luanda for the Extra Ordinary Summit on the International Conference on the Great Lakes region.
The Conference is expected to focus on the growing concern of peace and Security, as well as the Humanitarian Situation in the region.
Zambian Ambassador to Angola, Barbara Chilangwa says the summit is crucial as the Heads of State share ideas and consult one another on the situations in the region.
Ms. Chilangwa also stated that the happenings in Burundi will also be part of the Agenda of the Summit.
Ms. Chilangwa was speaking in an interview with journalists in the Angolan capital, Luanda.
Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Minister, Harry Kalaba is expected in Angola on Friday, where he will join other foreign affairs Ministers from the region for a meeting ahead of the Summit of the Heads of State on Monday.
The Ministers meeting will feed into the Summit of the Heads of States which will be held on Monday.
President Lungu will be expected back , in Zambia on Tuesday, 19, 2015.
FILE: Late President Michael Sata’s son Mwango (c) with mother Dr Christine Kaseba and grand mother Loyce Kaseba (r) after his Chef management programme graduation ceremony at Capsicum Cape Town Campus in South Africa on June 11, 2014 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
POLICE in Kitwe have arrested late President Sata’s son, Mwango, for allegedly knocking down a 10-year-old girl with his vehicle and killing her on the spot, Copperbelt deputy commissioner of police Byemba Musole has said.
Mr Musole said yesterday that that the accident happened on Wednesday around 11:10 hours on the Kitwe-Ndola dual carriageway.
Mr Musole said Mwango, 39, of house number 3979, Niger Avenue, Riverside in Kitwe, was driving a Toyota Corolla registration number ADC 8494 when he lost control of the vehicle and ran over the girl.
He said Mwango was arrested and charged with causing death by dangerous driving.
“Mr Mwango Chilufya Sata was allegedly over speeding and he lost control of the vehicle and hit the girl who has not yet been identified,” Musole said.
Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda
THE Lusaka High Court has ordered Minister of Labour and Social Security Fackson Shamenda (left) to pay Dangote Industries Zambia Limited over K112,000 for defamation.
But when the matter came up yesterday, lawyer representing Dangote Industries Armanda Theotis applied for adjournment because the cement company and Mr Shamenda wish to settle the matter out of court.
High Court deputy registrar Charles Zulu has ordered Mr Shamenda to pay Dangote Industries Zambia Limited K112,042.84 for not appearing in court and failure to file any defence.
This is according to an interlocutory judgment in default of appearance and defence signed by Mr Zulu on Wednesday.
In this matter, Dangote Industries Zambia Limited had sued Mr Shamenda demanding aggravated damages for alleged slander and libel after he accused the cement company of trying to bribe him last year.
“The defendant having not appeared or delivered any defence to the writ of summons and statement of claim, following the expiration of the conditional memorandum of appearance and the defendant’s failure to amend his application to set aside writ of summons for irregularity.
“It is this day adjudged that judgment in default of appearance and defence be and is hereby entered in favour of the plaintiff and against the defendant for special damages in the sum of K112,042.84 to be assessed by the deputy registrar,” he said.
Mr Zulu further ruled that an interlocutory judgement be entered against Mr Shamenda in favour of Dangote Industries for damages for general damages for slander he published.
Mr Shamenda is alleged to have published the slander in the presence and hearing of the Labour Commissioner Cecilia Kamanga, Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) president Nkole Chishimba and his general secretary Joseph Chewe, Workers Compensation Fund Control Board public relations manager Maybin Nkolomba, Patriotic Front (PF) members and various members of the local press present on September 13, last year at a meeting held at the company’s premises in Ndola.
The court also ordered that Mr Shamenda pays general damages for libel he caused to be published in the local media on September 15, and October 1, last year.
Mr Zulu also ruled that the minister pays aggravated and exemplary damages for slander and libel and interest on the money at current bank lending rate.
But Dangote Industries’ lawyer Armanda Theotis applied for adjournment.
“I have an application to make for an adjournment, reason being that I have received instructions from my client that they may want to resolve this matter amicably and out of court,” Ms Theotis said.
She said she wants to get further instructions on the issue so that she can make an appropriate order if the parties want the issue settled out of court.
THE United Front for Democracy (UFD) has backed Government’s roadmap of amending the constitution in a phased manner by taking non-contentious clauses to parliament and subjecting contentious ones to a referendum.
The UFD, which comprises Christian Democratic Party (CDP), All People’s Congress (APC), People’s Party (PP), National Democratic Party (NDP) and Zambia Direct Democracy Movement (ZDDM), yesterday met Minister of Justice Ngosa Simbyakula and pledged to work with Government in amending the new constitution.
The UFD submitted that the 50 percent plus one vote threshold of electing the President is one of the clauses that they want amended through Parliament.
UFD representative Daniel Pule said in an interview yesterday that the political parties under the umbrella of UFD will lobby Government and contribute to the amendment of the constitution through Parliament.
Dr Pule said UFD does not support calls by some sections of society to amend the constitution through a referendum.
On Wednesday, Dr Simbyakula told journalists in a post-cabinet meeting briefing that Cabinet approved the recommendation to enact the new constitution in a phase manner by taking non-contentious clauses to parliament and subjecting contentious ones to a referendum.
THE BANK of Zambia (BoZ) and Ministry of Finance are in talks on the possible revision of the 2015 national budget due to the misaligned fiscal position.
The overall balance of payments (BoP) deficit has also widened to US$405.2 million from US$131.9 million recorded during the fourth quarter of 2014, largely on account of unfavourable performance in both the current and financial accounts.
BoZ governor Denny Kalyalya told a press briefing yesterday that it is important to make adjustments to the budget because the fiscal position is misaligned as demonstrated by the low revenue.
“To complement monetary policy, further fiscal adjustments are required to address revenue shortfalls and rationalise expenditure so as to achieve fiscal stability,” Dr Kalyalya said.
Preliminary data indicates that a budget deficit of 1.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) was recorded during the first quarter mainly due to lower than programmed revenues.
Dr Kalyalya explained that the total revenue and grants were 3.0 percent lower than programmed as a result of lower non-tax revenues attributed to weak performance in mineral royalty revenues and the non-receipt of grants.
“Lower than programmed revenue is putting immense pressure on the financing requirements for the budget from the domestic market, which is causing yield rates on Government securities and other interest rates to rise.
“On the other hand, total expenditure was 4.0 percent lower than the programmed amount,” Dr Kalyalya said.
He said failure to adjust the budget will have a negative impact on the economy, citing pressure on domestic financing as one of the challenges.
On the BoP deficit, Dr Kalyalya said unfavourable performance in the current and financial accounts contributed to the deficit.
The current account deficit widened to US$223.3 million from US$179.6 million recorded the previous quarter, driven by a decline in the surplus on the balance on goods and lower secondary income inflows.
“The surplus on the balance on goods was 56.9 percent lower than the preceding quarter, explained by a higher decline in goods exports relative to imports. Goods export earnings were 31.2 percent lower than in the previous period, largely due to a 40.5 percent fall in copper export earnings following the drop in both realised prices and export volumes,” he said.
Non-traditional exports decreased by 3.3 percent due to lower earnings from petroleum products, fresh fruits and vegetables, electrical cables, raw hides and skins, gemstones, cotton lint, industrial boilers, cement and lime, electricity, sulphur, copper wire and fresh flowers.
Meanwhile, rising demand for the dollar amid low supply and a stronger greenback has resulted in a weakening Kwacha against major currencies.
UPND president Hakainde Hichilema interacts with residents in Bauleni compound
Police in Lusaka have summoned United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema for questioning over an alleged breach of the Public Order Act (POA).
The UPND leader is alleged to have broken the law during his door-to-door visits to houses and shops in Kabwata, an action that brought confusion and lawlessness.
Lusaka Province commissioner of police Charity Katanga said in an interview on Thursday that Mr Hichilema’s visits to shops and homes in Kabwata allegedly caused confusion.
“The UPND leader was busy going round the shops, so we have summoned him to appear before Kabwata Police Station officers at 10:00 hours. We just want to interview him,” she said.
Ms Katanga said, however, that police had not served the summons on Mr Hichilema by 17:40 hours yesterday.
She said being a public figure, the UPND leader is expected to notify the police before engaging in any public meetings, including visits to shops and residential areas.
Ms Katanga said Mr Hichilema has allegedly breached the POA and that is why police have summoned him.
“There is nothing wrong with him visiting an area but he is doing a certain action, which is breach of peace. The police want law and order to prevail,” Ms Katanga said.
She said political figures like Mr Hichilema attract attention and it is important for the opposition leader to adhere to the provisions of the POA
Mr Hichilema and his team have embarked on a campaign to visit constituencies around the country thanking voters who voted for the party. The move is also meant to have the UPND leader attached to the grassroots who critics say he has detached himself from.
Guinea Bissau coach Paulo Torres has named five ex-Portugal junior international into his provisional team ahead of their 2017 Africa Cup qualifier against Zambia.
Zambia will host Guinea Bissau in the two sides opening Group E qualifier on June 14.
They include defender Edgar of Barcelona B in Spain, striker Balde from Israeli club Hapoel Tel Aviv including the Portuguese based duo of midfielder pele and Abel camara from Belenenses.
Striker Ismael Gonçalves from Anorthosis in Cyprus is the other ex-junior Portugal international Torres has named in his 40 member team.
The team has ten players playing their football in Africa, eight alone home based while the other two striker Basile de Carvalho and midfielder Braima Cassama both of Angolan side Inter Clube de Luanda.
Meanwhile, Kenya and Congo-Brazzaville are the other teams in Group E.
GOALKEEPERS Gama (Benfica de Bissau), Germano Mendes (Nelson FC/Ing), Jonas Mendes (Vianense/Por).
DEFENDERS: Eridson (Académico de Viseu/Por), Edgar Ié (Barcelona B/Esp), Eliseu Cassamá (Reus/Esp), Sambinha (Sporting B/Por), Tomas Dabo (Arouca/Por), Vasco Fernandes (Aris Salónica/Gre), Anju (Benfica de Bissau), Agostinho Soares (Sporting da Covilhã/Por), Emílio da Silva (1.º Dezembro/Por), Edson (Oliveirense/Por) e Mamadu Candé (Portimonense/Por).
MIDFIELDERS: Braima Cassamá (Inter de Luanda/Ang), Zezinho (Sporting B/Por), Arnold Mendy (Lincoln City/Ing), Ericsson (UDIB), Bocundji Cá (Chateauroux/Fra), Lote (Benfica de Bissau), Midana (Benfica de Bissau), Bura (Benfica de Bissau), Sana (Sporting de Braga B/Por), Calilo (Sporting de Bissau) e Pelé (Belenenses/Por).
STRIKERS: Ivanildo (Académica de Coimbra/Por), Ismael Gonçalves (Anorthosis/Chp), Sumaila Djassi (Benfica de Bissau), Abel Camara (Belenenses/Por), Toni Silva (CSKA Sófia/Bul), Ansu Faty (Freamunde/Por), Sami (Vitória de Guimarães/Por), Piqueti (Gil Vicente/Por), Yazalde (Gil Vicente/Por), Amido Baldé (Apoel de Telavive/Isr), Basile de Carvalho (Inter de Luanda/Ang), Alfa Baldé (Bula FC), Cícero (Paços de Ferreira/Por), Adul Seidi (União de Leiria/Por) e Rachide Forbes (Vitória de Setúbal/Por).
