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Mufulira Wanderers moved up to 4th place on the FAZ Super Division table after a dramatic home win over Forest Rangers.
The nine-time champions beat Forest 2-1 at Shinde Stadium to jump from 7th to 4th on 10 points on the log.
Wanderers took a 1-0 halftime lead in the 20th minute through Progress Kalenga who headed in a Jacob Ngulube freekick.
But Forest gave Wanderers a scare in the 55th minute when Mundia Makokwa equalised to bring back memories of the hosts’ 2-1 loss to their guests last season when they were battling promotion from in Division One North.
Wanderers were pacified in the 71st minute when Nicholas Kamocha capitalised on a defensive blunder by Lytton Kasolota to head in the winner.
Manfred Chabinga side is now seven points behind leaders Zanaco and stay unbeaten for a third successive game in which they have picked up five out of a possible nine points.
The opposition UPND has charged that President Edgar Lungu has not effected the lifting of the wage freeze.
UPND Chairman for Labour and Industrial Relations Percy Chanda observed that President Lungu has simply lifted the “no negotiation” position that was effected 2 years ago by the Minister of Finance Alexander Chikwanda.
Mr Chanda said there will be any new salaries in 2015 for civil servants.
He was reacting to President Lungu’s Labour Day announcement that he was directing Mr Chikwanda to lift the wage freeze.
President Lungu further directed Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda to conclude negotiations with trade unions by December 2015.
Mr Chanda said the change did not need to be done on an occasion like Labour Day.
‘First we are happy that the wage freeze debate is over. It was expected that Lungu wanted to play a political card on this. We all know that Chikwanda’s freeze was for two years,’ Mr Chanda said.
He added, ‘We fought this since 2013. As we celebrate that little victory we are immediately dismayed by the timelines. Edgar Lungu has set December 2015 as the deadline for collective bargaining. At that time the Appropriations Act that authorises Government spending for 2016 would have already been passed by Parliament.
So what will they be negotiating with Government when the budget would have already been completed?’
‘Secondly, President Lungu and his spokesperson are on record stating that they will have 2.3 billion Kwacha less revenue this year than budgeted. They will defer some of the projects. Defer to when? 2016.’
He continued, ‘ And they want us to believe that the door will be open to add a wage bill that might go up by over 20% since the civil servants would not have had an increase in two years.’
Mr Chanda said under a UPND-led Government there would have been no wage freeze to start with.
‘Why freeze wages to accommodate the wasted revenues spent on a bloated cabinet, expensive by-election after by-election and sending large delegations on international trips on an almost weekly basis and growing debt payments?’
He added that there is need to improve tax revenue collection saying this is a point PF will never address because they are used to the easy way out which is borrowing.
Mr Chanda said the UPND will improve workers welfare by expanding the economy and creating a supportive environment for Zambian businesses to grow the tax base will increase along with Government revenues.
‘Together these steps would not lead our civil servants to such inhuman treatment as wage freezes, particularly in the face of the rising cost of living,’ he said.
Power Dynamos coach Tenant Chilumba will be hoping for better fortunes in the big Kitwe derby when his side visit Nkana in Wusakile on Sunday.
This delayed FAZ Super League round seven meeting will be the first Kitwe derby of the 2015 season involving Nkana and Power.
Chilumba is yet to beat Nkana as coach since coming to Arthur Davies in mid-2013.
Interesting Power are also pushing to end their four-match derby winless run against their sworn Kitwe rivals.
Power go into the derby placed third on the table with 10 points from five games while,struggling Nkana have picked six points from six games and lie tenth on the table.
“It will be a different ball game playing Power Dynamos and we have to prepare very well and see to it that each and every player is mentally and physically fit,” Nkana coach Beston Chambeshi said.
Chambeshi will miss suspended first-choice keeper Scott Ngokene while Power are without dependable striker Jimmy Ndhlovu.
Ndhlovu is at Power on loan from Nkana but a new clause in his contract bars him from featuring in the Kitwe derby.
Both Nkana and Power are without a win in their last two games.
The latest Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWSNET) report shows that Zambia will have reduced maize harvest this year.
It says this is due to late start-of-season and prolonged dry spells between late February and late March will likely reduce crop yields in typically surplus-producing Eastern and Southern Provinces.
Despite the positive forecast by the Southern Africa Regional Climate Outlook Forum and the Zambia Meteorology Department of normal to above normal rainfall for the 2014/15 rainy season (Oct-April), below average rainfall has been recorded in most parts of southern and eastern Zambia.
The report said in addition, delayed start of season and prolonged dry spells from end of February to end of March at a critical time of crop growth (flowering and grain filling) has led to crop stress and wilting.
‘Recent increase in rainfall may have helped to eliminate moisture deficits in some areas, but prolonged dry spells have already negatively impacted crops and subsequently below average yields are expected in many areas in the southern half of the country,’ it said.
Most of the crops in these areas is in fair to poor condition with maize crop severely stressed having failed to recover after resumption of rains at the end of March.
Other crops which are typically planted after maize such as groundnuts, soybeans, rice, and cotton have also been affected and lower output is expected.
Very few crops (such as sweet potatoes and late planted beans) have benefited from the rains received in April. In these areas, little green harvests are available as most early-planted plots designated for green harvests produced well below-average crops.
Most of the country’s maize stocks are in the hands of the FRA, which is holding about 87 percent of the 1,370,000 estimated total stocks.
The Agency is selling maize to millers at a subsidized price of K1.30/Kg (16% below prevailing market price and 7 percent below cost price) which has to some extent led to stabilizing the maize meal prices.
The Grand Coalition on the Campaign for the People Driven Constitution has confirmed participation in the opposition UPND’s countrywide May 14 constitution protests.
Coalition spokesperson MacDonald Chipenzi says for the fact that the opposition UPND is a member of the Grand Coalition its protests are also part of the Grand Coalition’s activities.
Mr. Chipenzi has explained to Qfm News that it is therefore difficult for the entire Grand Coalition to distance itself from the activities of its constituent member that takes a proactive role.
He says this is especially that the Grand Coalition has resolved not to be ever interested in any piece meal amendments to Zambia’s constitution and will thus do everything possible to stop maneuvers that are meant to validate or authenticate the move government wants to take with respect the enactment of the country’s new constitution.
The Grand Coalition spokesperson has disclosed that to this effect his Coalition has put every option on the table in addition to the instruction it has given to its member to be proactive in this endeavor of stopping government’s planned constitution engineering.
He says this entails that Grand Coalition members can take any action they deem fit will compel the Patriotic Front government to listen to the people’s demand.
Government has described as good development Zambia’s not being mentioned in the latest Amnesty International report which has revealed that media freedom in Africa is under threat.
In a statement released ahead of World Press Freedom Day which falls on the third of May annually, Amnesty International which is a non governmental organization that focuses on human rights, has referred to some Countries in Eastern, Western and Southern Africa as the ones in which media freedom is under threat.
Chief government spokesperson Chishimba Kambwili says the fact that Zambia has not been mention in the human rights non governmental organization’s report is an indication that the Patriotic Front government is not restricting the media to operate freely.
Mr. Kambwili who is also Information and Broadcasting Services Minister has told Qfm News by telephone that this entails that country’s media is not under attack.
He states that Patriotic Front government does not in fact have any intentions to guard the media the more reason it has allowed the media to regulate itself.
The Chief government spokesperson states that what government does not however want is an irresponsible media which it fears may send the country into toil moil.
He has particularly encouraged the media to exhibit a level of professionalism and adhere to ethics.
The opposition MMD has described the move by its former Petauke Central MP Dora Siliya to apply to recontest the seat on the PF ticket as expected.
MMD Spokesman Raphael Nakacinda said in an interview that Ms. Siliya’s move to the PF is meant to satisfy her personal desires.
‘This has nothing to do with her desire to serve the people of Petauke or further our democracy as a nation but simply about her personal ambitions,’ Mr Nakacinda said.
He added, ‘as a party, we are not surprised by the turn of events because the signs were there to see where she was headed. We wish her well.’
Mr Nakacinda also revealed that the MMD and the PF have not held any negotiations on the possibility of entering into an alliance for the Petauke Central by election.
Prominent Lusaka Lawyer Sakwiba Sikota says holding a referendum on the constitution before 2016 general elections is no feasible.
Mr. Sikota said an interview that lack of resources coupled with voter apathy recorded in recent elections makes it impossible for Zambia to hold the referendum any time before 2016.
He said the practical thing to do is to hold the referendum alongside the 2016 general elections as proposed by government.
‘The most logical thing to do is now the two processes together at the same time, that way we can save on time and money and ensure that they are both successful,’ he said.
Mr. Sikota has charged that those calling for the referendum to be held before the 2016 general elections are being unrealistic.
‘I think it is important that even those that are opposed to government proposed roadmap take time and reflect on what they are demanding for because i think they are not being realistic in their demands,’ he said.
King Goodwill Zwelithini arrives for the opening of the House of Traditional Leaders in Ulundi. Picture: Sandile Makhoba
Durban – King Goodwill Zwelithini has issued a set of instructions to traditional leaders on the processes to follow when foreigners want to settle in their areas.
The king called on traditional leaders to make sure that foreigners had legal documents that allowed them to be in the country.
He said foreigners who wanted to settle on land controlled by the Ingonyama Trust should also be introduced to him in the company of the ambassadors of their countries.
The king was addressing traditional leaders from across the province during the opening of the House of Traditional Leaders in Ulundi on Thursday.
Traditional leaders from other provinces also attended.
“Once the foreigners are introduced to you, there should be a way of bringing them to the royal palace. They should be accompanied by ambassadors from their countries,” King Zwelithini said.
He would soon meet community safety and liaison MEC Willies Mchunu to talk about the formation of the KwaZulu-Natal Public Peace Process, which he announced during a peace imbizo at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, in Durban, on April 20.
“I wish this peace agreement to be signed by every affected country (whose citizens are foreigners in the country).
“I need every traditional leader to have personal details of foreigners living under their territories.”
He said locals who wanted to accommodate foreigners should get permission from a traditional leader. In addition:
The traditional leader should ensure that the foreigner had the right documents to be in the country and double check the authenticity of those documents.
Once the traditional leader was satisfied with the documents’ authenticity, he should go to a police station and Home Affairs office to get a stamp, which would allow the foreigner to settle in an area and ensure the terms of the arrangement were not breached.
The municipalities, Home Affairs and police should ensure that foreigners who wanted to run a business did so under strict guidelines.
The Ingonyama Trust Board should provide guidelines on allocating land to foreigners.
Traditional leaders should attend a workshop on laws governing foreigners.
The various levels of the government should come up with guidelines before June 25.
The king also asked Premier Senzo Mchunu to organise a meeting between himself, traditional leaders, the government and ambassadors to talk about the xenophobic attacks, illegal immigrants and the relationship between KwaZulu-Natal and affected countries.
“I also appeal to (Home Affairs) Minister (Malusi) Gigaba (State Security Minister David) Mahlobo and (Police Minister Nathi) Nhleko to assist with training of traditional leaders on how to accommodate foreign nationals,” he said.
“I say this because I know that foreign nationals in any country are controlled under international laws. We need to understand the details of these laws.”
King Zwelithini said this would help foreigners and locals to live in harmony and understand each other’s culture.
“On the other hand, we are going to teach foreigners about our culture and way of life.”
He again denied having called on foreigners to pack their belongings and leave South Africa during a speech in Pongola in March. It was widely reported that he said that foreigners were changing the country’s culture and were taking over the local economy.
The SA Human Rights Commission is investigating complaints, including that the Pongola speech constituted hate speech and violation of the right to life.
ZTB tourism promotion manager Jocelyn Mutinta (far left), Tourism and Arts Permanent Secretary Stephen Mwansa (second from far left), ZTB managing director Felix Chai;la (third from Mr Mwansa) and others during a cocktail hosted for RETOSA delegates in Livingstone at Chrismar Hotel on Wednesday night
GOVERNMENT is currently spending US$ 2.4 million to market Zambia’s tourism sector on the international market.
Tourism and Arts Permanent Secretary Stephen Mwansa said yesterday that the money which the country spend to market tourism sector on international market was less than US$ 13 million which Zimbabwe is spending.
Mr Mwansa said South Africa is spending US$ 180 million to market tourism sector on the international market.
He said that the Government was doing a lot in ensuring that the Zambia’s tourism sector was marketed internationally.
He said Government had also done a lot to market Mfuwe which host the famous Luangwa South National Park to international market.
“We are currently spending US$ 2.4 million to market Zambia’s tourism on international market, Zimbabwe is spending US$ 13 million and South Africa is spending US$ 180 million.So as the Government we are doing a lot,”Mr Mwansa said.
He said there was need for the private sectors in the country to appreciate the role which the Government was doing in marketing the country’s tourism to international market.
Hotel Catering Tourism and Allied Workers Union of Zambia Regional Secretary Zephaniah Kaleya accused the Government of not doing enough to market Zambia’s tourism sector on the international market.
Mr Kaleya said that areas like Mfuwe which have so much to offer in terms of tourism were not being given enough publicity stating that marketing of Zambia’s tourism has concentrated on Livingstone.
He said that while Zambia records an annual figure of 1 million tourists visiting the country, other countries record such figures within four months.
He said that it was sad that Government was failing to take advantage of confusion that has rocked some countries in West Africa to woo tourists to Zambia, which was a peaceful country.
Mr Kaleya has challenged foreign tour operators in Mfuwe to ensure that they use local radio stations to market themselves unlike only marketing their business in their countries of origin.
AN UNIDENTIFIED middle aged woman of Kabwe was on Wednesday completely stripped naked by a horde of youths who accused her of indecent dressing but the Young Women Christian Association has condemned the act.
The incident which attracted the attention of many onlookers occurred in the morning near Zambeef store as the woman who was dressed in skimpy skirt exposing more than half her thighs walked the corridors.
Eye witnesses told the Daily Nation in Kabwe that the woman’s dressing attracted running commentaries among taxi drivers and other passers-by who ordered her to buy a Chitenge wrapper and dress decently but the woman instead told off her critics.
“She was just politely advised to buy a Chitenge and wrap her body but she answered very rudely and that is what caused the youths to descend upon her and strip her completely naked and even the bra and under wears were removed, it was so embarrassing,” lamented the witness while others argued that she deserved the punishment.
The witness said when the woman sensed danger, she fled the scene and jumped into a taxi nearby but the unruly youths pursued her and got her from the taxi and completely stripped her clothes.
Efforts by other women to donate the Chitenge to the victim still yielded no results as the mob kept tearing any piece of garment on her.
“We want to warn women to dress decently, we carried out the punishment because she was already naked so we just completed the exercise and we will continue doing so to others,” said one of the youths who personally confessed to taking part in the act.
Meanwhile,YWCA central region coordinator Juliet Kawanda has condemned the act, calling it an assault on women.
Through KNC radio, Ms. Kawanda advised citizens against taking the law into their own hands.
She said if people noticed such wrongs, the right thing to do was to report such to police and allow the police to take action.
“There is a law against indecent exposure, and instead of taking the law in their own hands by undressing a person the right thing to do is to report such a matter to the police and allow the due process of the law to take its course,” she said.
Recently another woman was stripped naked in Lusaka for indecent dressing.
President Edgar Lungu has appointed former Bank of Zambia deputy Governor Felix Mfula as new chairperson of the Northern Province Patriotic Front executive committee.
PF Chairperson for Election Musonda Mpakanta announced this when he unveiled new members of the party’s interim provincial committee to general membership in Kasama yesterday.
Mr. Mpakanta said President Lungu expects the new executive committee to foster unity of purpose in the ruling party.
He noted that the newly-appointed provincial leadership has a huge task of re-organising the party structures at lower level ahead of the next year’s general elections.
He also urged the PF interim committee to make sure that it operates within the laid down party regulations, adding that anything short of that will not be tolerated.
The PF Elections Chairman further disclosed that the ruling party has started preparing for 2016 tripartite elections by holding of primary elections at lower organs of the party.
And Mr. Mfula has thanked President Lungu and the PF Central Committee for showing confidence in his leadership through his appointed as Provincial chairman.
Mr. Mfula has since advised PF members to work hard in consolidating the support base of the ruling party in Northern Province.
He observed that the success of the new provincial leadership lies in having a united force at grassroot level.
Some of the notable personalities appointed to sit on the new Northern Province PF executive committee include Vice Chairman Peter Mwansa, Secretary Ben Kabwela, Treasurer Chomba Chipili, women’s chairlady Theresa Mubanga and youth chairman Chanda Kabwe.
Recently, the PF Central Committee dissolved the party’s Provincial executive committee due to acts of indiscipline by some old members.
Transport and Communication Minister Yafya Mukanga receives scissors From African Direction Performer whilst RDA Senior Public Relation Manager loyce Saili looks on during the launch of Road Maintenance Strategy 2015-2024 book
GOVERNMENT is mobilising money to pay road contractors who stopped constructing roads due to non-payment.
Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications Yamfwa Mukanga said Government will be able to pay all the concerned contractors soon so that they can continue their work.
“We had a few challenges in terms of financing, and then contractors wanted to be paid for all they had worked for, so Government has been trying to do that. So we will pay all the contractors as we go on,’’ he said.
Mr Mukanga said in an interview in Chongwe yesterday that some of the contractors who had stopped constructing roads have already resumed work.
The minister is waiting for a comprehensive report from directors in his ministry on the amount owed and what has so far been paid to the contractors.
Mr Mukanga, however, said some contractors stopped working because of the rainy season and others went back to their countries for holiday.
“Rainy season is a window period. As long as it is raining, it is difficult to do road construction,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Mukanga says he expects bus operators to reduce bus fares soon because it is long since the fuel prices came down.
He observed that transport operators are too quick to increase bus fares when fuel prices rise but are hesitant to reduce fares when prices fall.
“Bus operators made a proposal of how much they should reduce the bus fares, but other stakeholders refused the proposal.
Last week, bus operators had a meeting with the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) to see what prices the operators are proposing and once they conclude, they will come to my office,’ Mr Mukanga said.
He urged bus operators to allow market forces to play their role, saying when fuel prices come down, bus fares should equally come down.
Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA)Commissioner General Berlin Msiska during the official opening of Chipata domestic taxes offices
ZAMBIA Revenue Authority (ZRA) commissioner general Berlin Msiska says institutions should develop capacity to secure financial information stored on devices from illegal access.
Mr Msiska said it is a recognised fact that most businesses today generate, store and distribute financial data using electronic devices such as computers and point of sale iPad phones hence the need to secure them.
He said this in Lusaka on Thursday during a graduation ceremony of 26 ZRA employees who were trained in computer forensic and cyber investigations at the Zambia Institute of Legal Education (ZIALE).
“I am, therefore, confident that the training will enhance effectiveness in their investigations work and increase the chances of successful prosecution of tax offenders and ultimately lead to enhanced voluntary tax compliance,” Mr Msiska said.
Mr Msiska said apart from collecting the much needed revenue by Government, the successes recorded by ZRA include the implementation and roll-out of two new web-based and robust Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and business systems called tax online and asycudaworld under domestic taxes and customs service divisions, respectively.
“The systems can be accessed online on a 24-hour basis, for as long as you have internet connectivity, and anywhere in the world,” he said.
Earlier, ZIALE director Enock Mulembe said the institute offers other educational programmes other than law, which it is known for.
Mr Mulembe said the institution hopes to do more of such programmes so that it can grow.
And giving a vote of thanks on behalf of fellow students, Joseph Mfula said they will diligently put into practice the knowledge and skills acquired from the course to improve their efficiency and effectiveness in their operations.
President Edgar Lungu with PF Secretary General Davies Chama and Justice Ngosa Simbyakula on arrival at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport on February 1,2015 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) secretary general Davis Chama has welcomed the decision by former Petauke member of Parliament Dora Siliya to recontest the seat under the ruling party.
Mr Chama said people are free to express their intentions to contest the Petauke seat under the PF by applying.
“We are a welcoming party. We embrace everyone,’’ Mr Chama said.
He said that the selection of candidates who will contest the Petauke and other parliamentary seats under the PF will be done in a democratic and transparent manner.
Mr Chama said that PF is willing to work with anyone who would like to join the party and that those interested should not hesitate to join the ruling party.
Speaking in an interview in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Chama said the PF is an attractive party which many people want to associate with.
He said the PF is an all-embracing party with an open door policy.
Mr Chama said President Lungu has a philosophy of uniting Zambians because it is the only way of ending tribalism.
“The President wants to unite the country and deal with the problem of tribalism which was evident during elections,’’ Mr Chama said.
Meanwhile, MMD spokesperson Raphael Nakacinda says the opposition political party is unshaken by Ms Siliya ostensibly leaving the party to seek re-election on a PF ticket.
MMD spokesperson Raphael Nakacinda said the party was aware that Ms Siliya’s crossover to the ruling party was imminent because of her activities in the constituency.
“As MMD we will continue fighting to put back the party on the level it was years back even without some members because our ideologies are based on satisfying people’s needs,” Mr Nakacinda said in an interview.
On Mr Mfula’s appointment, PF chairperson for elections Emmanuel Mpakanta said President Lungu expects the provincial executive committee to foster unity in the ruling party.
