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FOLLOWING Government’s intervention to off load subsidized maize to millers, mealie meal prices in Livingstone’s Shoprite and Spur outlets have gone down.
A check by Times in Shoprite revealed that a 25kg bag of breakfast was now selling at K59.99 while roller meal was pegged at K39.99, While Spur was selling a 25kg bag of breakfast at K65.90 and roller K44.90.
Musanza breakfast meal in Spur had maintained the old price of K72.60 for a 25kg breakfast bag while roller meal was still at K54.80.
A 25 kg of Pembe’s breakfast and Mealile mealie meal in Shoprite had also maintained their old prices of K73 and K77.99 respectively.
The situation in markets was different from that in the two supermarkets as the survey revealed that old prices had been maintained in these trading places for various brands of the staple food.
A check at Maramba market showed that a 25kg bag of national milling was selling within the ranges of K72 to k73, while roller meal was maintained within the old ranges of K54 to K56.
The situation was not any different at Dambwa central market were Musanza breakfast 25kg was going within the ranges of K72 to K74.
Some retailers talked to in these markets said they had maintained old prices because they were still getting orders from the millers at the old prices.
Nathan Malimba a trader at Maramba market said Mwasimu and Musanza milling were still supplying them mealie meal at old prices hence the difficult for them to adjust the prices down wards.
“The millers here in Livingstone have not reduced their order price for mealie meal. We are still getting the commodity at same old price so we can only adjust if they also bring the price down,” Mr Malimba said.
And a miller who opted for anonymity said despite government announcing that millers would be supplied with subsidized maize, they had not yet seen that come to reality.
The miller said they had found it difficult to get maize from the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) in Livingstone because they had not yet been given a go ahead by the FRA head office.
At press time, efforts to get comment from Musanza milling proved futile as the Marketing Manager was reported out of the station.
President Edgar Lungu with President Robert Mugabe after 4hours official talks at Harare Statehouse in Zimbabwe on Friday 06-02-2015 PICTURE BY EDDIE MWANALEZA/STATEHOUSE.
Government says it is concerned with the escalating incidences of violence targeted at foreigners in South Africa.
And President Edgar Lungu has consulted with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe who is both the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and African Union (AU) Chairperson on the xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
Chief Government Spokesperson Chishimba Kambwili has disclosed that President Lungu will soon speak to Southern African President Jacob Zuma and other heads of state in the Southern African region on the matter.
And Mr Kabwili said in a statement to media yesterday that the Zambian High Commission in Pretoria has been closely monitoring the situation in that country.
He said there are no records so far of any Zambian nationals living in South Africa that have been victims of the xenophobic attacks.
Mr Kambwili said the Zambian High Commission has been instructed to advise all Zambians living in South Africa to be cautious in their daily activities and avoid areas that have recorded xenophobic attacks.
He said government has deployed a team in Durban to assess the situation and render support to Zambians in the area if required.
Mr Kambwili who is also Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services has also advised cross-border traders to ensure personal security when they travel to South Africa for business.
The Minister noted that government was however encouraged by measures taken by the South African government to avoid further attacks.
The xenophic attacks have left six people dead including a 14-year-old boy in the port city of Durban.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, who also chairs the Southern African Development Community and the African union, has come under fire over his silence, as xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals spread from Durban to Johannesburg.
According to News Day, anxiety and anger gripped Zimbabwe, with opposition politicians and social commentators criticising Mugabe’s Zanu-PF government for taking long to react to the attacks.
Ousted former vice president Joice Mujuru and United States-based Zimbabwean musician Thomas Mapfumo criticised the government for taking too long to react to the attacks and repatriate its citizens.
Zambia Union of Financial Institutions and Allied Workers (ZUFIAW) has urged government to ensure that a Board of Directors at the Bank of Zambia (BOZ) is urgently instituted.
ZUFIAW President Ackim Mweemba told ZANIS in an interview in Ndola today that financial sector institutions occupied a special position of trust in the national economy.
Mr. Mweemba noted that for any institution to move the policies forward there was need for a board of directors to provide checks and balances in order not to risk the public losing confidence in a given institution.
“BOZ is an institution that supervises institutions that hold the funds of depositors and creditors, if it does not have a board of directors instituted as soon as possible to provide checks and balances then it risks the public not to have confidence in the banks that secure people’s funds,” Mr. Mweemba said.
He observed that the nation was in a globalised financial market and other technological advancements and new innovations in the financial products of the sector that brought about a complex of risk management.
He stressed that the board of directors should be in the forefront of seeing to it that government programmes were implemented and are on course.
He cited the Industrialization and job creation strategy in the manufacturing, tourism, agriculture and construction sectors as some of the government programmes that should be implemented and seen to be on course by the year 2017 but that if there was no board at BOZ then it will be difficult to achieve the goals.
Mr. Mweemba wondered who would carry out the checks and balances and ensure that the programme is implemented if there is no board of directors in place.
Mr. Mweemba however said government should ensure that once the board of directors is instituted it should deal with the high levels of casualization of labour which he said is not only detrimental to the financial sector but the private sector as well.
“It is a pity that when the country is grappling with high unemployment levels, BOZ can have over 100 vacancies. The effectiveness of the institution is being affected,” he said.
He said the other issue that the board of Directors should deal with is the erring in-house pension funds which he termed as being in a coma due to the policy at the bank which has been pursued for the past 12 years.
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has warned that the Government would be left with no option but repossess the country’s only underground coal mine again if there was no change in the safety and operational standards.
The President was speaking today in Sinazongwe District in Southern Province when he re-commissioned the Collum Coal Mine which is set to employ more than 1,000 workers.
The mine which is set to start its operations on Tuesday was placed under care and maintenance in 2012 after the government revoked the license of Collum Coal Mining Industries due to persistent breaches of regulations.
President Lungu who commissioned it today said the Government has decided to give back the mine to the Chinese firm after assurance that necessary measures have been taken to improve the operations.
The Government revoked the mining license of the Chinese firm in 2012 following persistent failure to comply with mining regulations. As well as failing to provide personal protective equipment to its employees, the company could not afford to pay mineral royalty tax.
Mr Lungu warned that the Government would not hesitate to close the mine once again if there was no improvement of operations.
In 2010, more than 10 miners were shot at the mine by Chinese managers after labour disputes while then Southern Province Minister Alice Simango could not hold back her tears upon seeing employees working without garments earlier.
“A decision was made to close this mine because there were so many breaches and it became intolerable for Government to ignore the operations,” he said.
“But after being elected president, I decided to reopen it, but I have taken a personal risk although I am glad to hear that my concerns have been taken care of and that the mine will employ more than 1,000 workers.”
Mr Lungu admitted that he had taken a risk by giving back the mine to the Chinese firm and directed the Ministry of mines to ensure that safety was guaranteed before full operations resumed.
He also directed Chinese managers at the company to familiarise themselves with the local traditional and culture to avert misunderstandings.
The President also assured that no one would die from hunger following poor rains because his Government was currently assessing the needs of the people in dufferent parts of the country.
Earlier Collum Coal Mining Industries general manager Xu Jain Xue said the handing over of the mine was a sign that the Government had confidence in the Chinese firm.
“The handover of the coal mine by Government back to us as the Chinses
owners is a great and positive development for the people of Sinazongwe, Southern Province and Zambia as a whole.
“More so that there will be more job creation and ultimately poverty alleviation not only in this part of Zambia but in the country as a whole,”he said.
Mr Xu said the company had committed to invest about US $40 million in the next four years for infrastructure renovations and development as well as exploration.
The company further intends to increase its production capacity from the current 12,000 tonnes per month over 40,000 tonnes.
Chief Sinazongwe said in his vote of thank that the reopening of the mine would change the economic outlook of the district and assured the head of state that traditional leaders would support efforts aimed at developing the country.
Meanwhile President Lungu also toured on the ongoing construction of Sinazeze Market where scores of residents lined up in the streets to catch a glimpse of him.
Mr Vincent Mwale Minister of Youth and Sports who is Acting Chief Government Spokesperson with Mr Amos Chanda Special assisstant to the President Presss and Public Relation -Picture By EDDIE MWANALEZA /STATEHOUSE.
Government says it will ensure that all sports disciplines in the country are given equal attention.
Youth and Sports Minister Vincent Mwale said the move is aimed at ensuring that all sports disciplines develop together and in tandem with the rest of the world.
Mwale has since called on the corporate world and all stakeholders to supplement government efforts particularly in supporting minor sports disciplines in the country.
He said this when he received a cheque worth K50, 000 from Trade Kings Limited on behalf of the Special Olympics Committee of Zambia towards the Special Olympics games slated for Los Angeles in August this year.
The Sports Minister praised Trade Kings Limited for its commitment to advancing sports for people with special needs in the country.
And Mwale has urged sports associations in the country to be professional and transparent in running the affairs of their respective sports associations.
Mwale said the wrangles that have rocked some of the sports associations in the country are as a result of lack of transparency and professionalism thereby hampering the development of sports in the country.
Earlier, Trade King Limited Director of Corporate Affairs Bright Chunga said his company was proud to be associated with the Special Olympic Games as they raise the esteem of people with special disabilities.
Chunga said disability of any form should not deter people from participating in sports hence his company’s desire to promoting games for people with special needs.
Meanwhile, Special Olympic Committee of Zambia board vice chairperson Clement Chileshe said the committee is scouting for K250, 000 to send a team to the Special Olympic Games to be held in Los Angeles in August.
Chileshe disclosed that so far, the committee has only managed to raise K150, 000 and called on the corporate world to come on board and support the committee in raising the remaining funds.
President Edgar Lungu is tomorrow expected in Muchinga Province for a one-day official visit.
Muchinga Province Permanent Secretary Bright Nundwe, who confirmed this to the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in Mpika today, said President Lungu is expected to arrive in Mpika around 08:00 hour tomorrow.
Mr. Nundwe said President Lungu is scheduled to have a closed door meeting with traditional leaders before proceeding to commission Mpika District Hospital whose phase one works have just been completed at a cost of K10.1 million.
He said the President is expected to return to Lusaka later in the day.
And Patriotic Front (PF) Muchinga Province Chairlady Mary Chifuna said the party in the region was excited to host President Lungu who will be making his debut visit to the province after being voted into office three months ago.
Discussions are underway between the Zambian government and Shacman, a renowned Brazilian firm to set up a military equipment assembling plant in the country.
Deputy Minister of Defence Christopher Mulenga disclosed that the Brazilian firm has requested to come to Zambia in June this year to further explore possibilities of putting up a plant.
Mr. Mulenga said this after a meeting with Shacman Chief Executive Officer Reinaldo Reis Vieira and his delegation in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil yesterday.
The meeting was facilitated by Zambia’s Ambassador to the Federative Republic of Brazil, Cynthia Jangulo.
Mr. Mulenga is in Brazil where he is attending the tenth Latin American Agribusiness Development Corporation (LAAD) exhibition on defence and security.
This is according to a statement issued to ZANIS in Lusaka today by First Secretary for Press at the Zambian Embassy in Brazil, Patson Chilemba.
He explained that the plant will be assembling the troop carrier and other vehicles related to transportation in the defence and security wings.
Mr. Mulenga said the development has come at the right time when Zambia is facing a challenge of troop carrier vehicles.
And Mr. Mulenga said Shacman considered it appropriate to invest in Zambia because of her political stability and security.
He said Zambia will also act as a supplier of the military equipment to the rest of the region.
He said the company was quite advanced as it supplied most of its goods to several countries across the globe, including the United States of America (USA), Britain, Saudi Arabia, with African interests in Ghana, Namibia and many other countries.
Mr. Mulenga also held various bilateral meetings with other companies that expressed hope to invest in Zambia, including Embraer, which manufactures commercial, military and cargo planes.
It was a Wednesday night to remember for Collins Mbesuma and one to forget for Kennedy Mweene in the South African Premiership.
In Pretoria, Zambia number one Mweene made a rare appearance for Mamelodi Sundowns he will want to forget very quickly after conceding three goals in a 5-0 home defeat to Bloemfontein Celtic.
Mweene, who has been confined to the bench this season, came on for new Sundowns first choice Denis Onyango after the Ugandan number one was sent off in the 25th minute with the scores at 2-0.
Mweene let in three goals in an eight-minute spell in the 48th, 54th and 56th minutes before saving Sundowns from further punishment with a couple of key saves after the hour mark.
His compatriot Mukuka Mulenga came on after the break for Celtic but continued to produce his trademark misses carried on from his Power Dynamos days and most recently at the 2015 Africa Cup.
This was Mweene’s second league game this season since March 11 when incidentally Sundowns won 5-0 at home to Polokwane City on that date.
The defending PSL champions are second on 47 points but must now settle for a runner-up finish with leaders Kaizer Chiefs on 60 points and needing a win on April 22 to seal the title with three games to spare.
Meanwhile down in Nelspruit, Mbesuma scored the lone goal in Mpumalanga Black Aces 1-0 home win over Maritzburg United.
The goal was the forgotten Zambian strikers’ fifth of the season from 21 league starts for the 11th placed side.
Rapper Destro released the song “Dear God” that features Abel Chungu and Cliff G
D.E.S.T.R.O (Delivering Etiquette Stories Through Relative Openness)
Born Dexter Chisenga Dumisani Fundanga on the 3rd Of March In Kabwe, Zambia, he was raised by his late single mother in the city of Lusaka. Destro had his first taste of music at a young age as his mother used to love playing golden oldies in their home. It was not until the age of six that he got introduced and captivated by hip hop. A sordid affair, he would put it, as it guided and molded his decisions as he grew.
He gave his life to Christ in 2009 but because the person who led him to Christ was unable to ensure he rooted himself in the Christian faith, he was caught up in atheism momentarily. though through all this his love for hip hop never died.
In the year 2011, He began to write songs that he previewed to a couple of close friends in his class. One fateful day, one of his friends introduced him to the Cypher 260, hosted by So’ Good Entertainment. It was there that he met So’ Good managers, Superman and Beretta including 2wo-1ne members K.R.Y.T.I.C and K-Star. After a series of auditions and ‘rap school’, he was added to the So’ Good Entertainment label roster.
Destro felt called to minister and disciple others through rap in the year 2012, a year in which his mother passed.
Aside from using music ,he is also a Spoken Word poet part of the dynamic poetry crew “Please Don’t Snap” and would love to fuse the arts together and work with as many artists and poets to create and produce quality music expressing truth artistically. Knowing that the church and the Zambian music industry are gradually growing to accept and welcome expressive art forms, Destro wishes to continue to grow and learn as much as he can and wants to offer a different dimension to ministry and art that will go beyond African borders with the hopw of working with renowned local and international artists.
Listen to/download the song here: http://www.datafilehost.com/d/b91bb91b
File:FISRT Quantum general manager Rudi Badenhorst (Third from left ) briefing Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda (next) on the progress of the Trident Kalumbila mining Project in Solwezi when the visited the mine
The Zambia council for Social Development (ZCSD) maintains that the 2015 National Budget is a disaster and would like to urge the government to take the budget back to parliament for ratification because of the significant amendments that have occurred both on the revenue and expenditure sides.
We regret that the proposed amendment to the mining taxation will upset the estimated revenue that will in turn affect service delivery especially the uplifting social infrastructure in rural areas meant to curb poverty and inequality.
We expect our government to focus on enhancing local resource mobilisation and ensure that the people of Zambia have maximum returns out of their nature resources which we our government have chosen to auction cheaply in name of retaining investors.
The Honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Alexander Chikwanda must for the first time in history be commended for his earlier direction to ensure Zambians benefit from the mining industry by introduction mining taxation that was based on production which was easy to track and operationalise and enable Zambia Revenue Authority to collect relevant taxes from the mines.
ZCSD is also concerned with the manner the highest office of the land, the Republican President is being engaged by the individual mining companies as the decisions coming from statehouse have the potential to erode the institutional integrity of relevant government agencies.
It is therefore our earnest appeal that the amendments being proposed must also be accompanied by regulations that will enable ZRA to collect mining taxes without complications and that decisions made by our government should NOT be enablers of tax eversion and dodging by the mining companies.
We also call upon the mining companies to be transparent in their dealings and should NOT take advantage of government good will in this matter.
Finally, ZCSD wishes to remind and advise the Patriotic Front that the people of Zambia elected and maintained the president from the ruling party (PF) during the 20th January presidential by-elections to avoid abrupt fiscal and economic policy change and possibility of overburdening the already approved 2015 Budget. We hope that “Continuity without Change” campaign message by the PF must be kept as a demonstration of trustworthiness, truthfulness and integrity by the elected leader, H.E Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu.
DPP Mutembo Nchito
THE confession by suspended Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Mutembo Nchito that he entered a nolle prosequi in favour of Finance Bank chairman Rajan Mahtani on instructions from then Attorney General Mumba Malila was admission of unconstitutional and illegal conduct worthy of prosecution, former deputy Finance Minister Newton Ng’uni has said.
The illegality, he said, merited the constitution of the tribunal and subsequent prosecution because the Constitution did not allow the DPP to take instructuions from any authority.
It was for this reason, he said, that Zambians should be wary about the meetings between Mr. Nchito and the Attorney General Likando Kalaluka where a “deal” was being considered in excahnge for a resignation.
He described as shocking revelations that Nchito, who was DPP acted on external instructions contrary to the Constitution and was now dragging Supreme Court Judge Mumba Malila into the judicial scandal.
It was very clear, he said, that the consent order seemingly absolving Mutembo Nchito and Fred M’membe from the US$4.2million debt they owed was related to the nolle prosequi and hence the ned for a tribunal.
Mr Ng’uni said it was incredible that Nchito eagerly accepted the illegal directive from Mr Malila and that no deal should be struck because there was no national interest to be served in hiding the criminality of the transaction.
He told the Daily Nation that no national interest was in danger for the tribunal to proceed to get to the bottom of the matter.
“If the suspended DPP is scheming on resigning with the hope of defeating the course of justice, he should know that he will be held accountable even after quitting his position.” Mr Ng’uni said.
Mr Ng’uni stated that many families had been ruined by Mr Nchito’s evil schemes which saw their bread winners prosecuted over the same charges he was facing but was now scheming to elude by resignation.
“Mr Nchito knows that from the Kashiwa Bulaya case, it is unconstitutional for Mr Malila as Attorney General to initiate the process of considering public policy implications for the charge of forgery Dr Mahtani was facing in the court and directing the DPP to enter a nolle prosequi in favour of the duo, Nchito is disclosing this information because he does not want to go down alone,” Mr Ng’uni said.
He advised that Zambians must take interest in what Mr Nchito would get from the discussions they have been having which led to the adjournment of the Annel Silungwe Tribunal which should essentially have commenced its sittings on Monday.
Mr Ng’uni said Mr Nchito had prosecuted other people and his ally and praise singer Fred M’membe had been boasting that the DPP’s conviction rate was almost 100 percent and should therefore not be scared of the very process he used to send fellow citizens to jail.
“People are in jail for abuse of authority of office, forgery, uttering false documents, contempt of court, obtaining money by false pretence and theft by agent, the same offences Mr Nchito is likely to face if he appeared before the courts of law. How many families have been ruined after their bread winners were prosecuted by Mr Nchito over the same charges he is facing? How many good citizens had their persona and careers ruined by Mr Nchito over the same charges he is trying to avoid? We are going to wait and see what Attorney General Likando Kalaluka will come up with,” Mr Ng’uni said.
Mr Ng’uni accused Mr Nchito and his freinds of managing to create two criminal justice systems with one for themselves and the other for other citizens while laundering nolle prosequis for their associates.
FILE: The Then Vice-President Dr Guy Scott makes the first call from Huaweis new tower
Consumer Unity and Trust Society (CUTS), International Lusaka has responded to the presentation made by the Zambia Information and Telecommunication Authority (ZICTA) before parliamentarians.
In a statement released to the media, CUTS exonerated itself from the gross misrepresentation and uptake of the findings of their initial report on the chiefdom tower project by some sections of media and the regulator, saying the findings of their report has never been generalised.
Below is Mr Ng’ona full statement.
CUTS Responds to the emerging discourse on the Chiefdom Tower Project
For Immediate Release
15/04/15
Consumer Unity and Trust Society (CUTS), International Lusaka would like to exonerate itself from the gross misrepresentation and uptake of the findings of its initial report on the chiefdom tower project by some sections of media and the regulator – the Zambia Information and Telecommunication Authority (ZICTA).
CUTS has been clear from the onset that the initial assessment undertaken was concentrated on the initial set of towers erected under the ZICTA chiefdom tower project. Specifically, the areas visited include Matanda in Mansa and Malendema, Shakumbira and Kaindu, in Mumbwa. The findings of this report have never been generalised.
There are series of subsequent reports in the pipeline and these will be released as and when they are completed.
At Matanda, our findings revealed that network coverage averaged around 1.65 km as opposed to the prescribed 5 km radius.
Therefore, we are elated by the revelations of ZICTA that its recent audit on this site shows that the tower meets the 5 Km radius requirement in the North direction of the tower.
In the eastern direction, it has been revealed that coverage was limited by mountainous terrain.
This is a better picture than what existed in August 2014 when CUTS conducted its initial audit.
However, we still need to make more efforts to equalise the coverage between the north and the south.
The 2 Km coverage in the South is too low and undermines the very principle of 5killometer radius as prescribed by ZICTA.
We believe it is the responsibility of the vendor contracted to find solutions on how to eschew mountains and terrain challenges.
Further penetration in the south is required if the communities in the south are to benefit from this tower.
In Mumbwa, it must be re-emphasised that, our initial report acknowledges that towers at Shakumbira and Kaindu were not fully functional due to lack of power.
ZICTA has also indicated that the sites are still not live due to lack of power.
Though there could be questions on why installation of power has dragged, it is beyond the scope of this statement to discuss this issue.
Lack of power entailed that tests could only be carried out at the Malendema tower by CUTS.
As of August last year, it was discovered that the installed tower at Malendema site could only cover an average of 2.8 km.
Again, we are elated by the revelations of ZICTA that indicate that the tower now meets the 5 kilometre radius in all directions. This is a good development.
CUTS is also exultant to learn that the results from 61 sites audited so far by ZICTA which indicate that 45 sites (representing 73.8 percent) meet the minimum coverage requirements and 16 sites (representing 26.2 percent) do not.
Again efforts need to be made to equalise the situation and ensure that those covered in the 26.2 percent are improved upon.
Comfortingly, it is exhilarating to also learn that ZICTA has given an assurance that, where the minimum requirements are not met, the contractor shall be requested to remedy the defects and where possible, a detailed report of the coverage audit shall be availed in due course.
This is a good and bold policy directive by ZICTA management. Alas, it contradicts with the earlier statement and position by ZICTA.
In a statement released late December 2014 directed to the Post Newspaper and copied to CUTS, one part of the statement read as follows; “Phase two of this project will be embarked on in a couple of months’ time and will include approximately 270 towers to cover all the other communities which are not covered in Phase one of the project. All related concerns noted from Phase one will be addressed during the second phase of the project”
The latter part of this extract entail that phase one challenges will be deferred to the second phase.
We have argued over the months that it does not make logical and moral sense to transport inefficiencies of phase one into phase two.
Therefore, we take it that the directive given above supersedes this position.
In moving forward, there is need for ZICTA to invest more in giving the public coherent positions as such uncoordinated statements have potential to breed information asymmetry among different stakeholders on the subject.
Further, there is also need to reconcile certain issues on this project.
In the same statement issued last December 2015, it was indicated that “On average, the typical cost of a Communication Tower site is between USD 200,000 – and USD 250,000.
However, for each Communication Tower in phase one of the Connecting Chiefdoms project, ZICTA has spent approximately USD 80,000 because of the lower specifications which were used”.
Our question over the months has been why use lower specifications against the legally prescribed specifications developed by ZICTA itself.
Surely, a saving should not make one go against legally defined specifications in the terms of reference.
This has to be clarified unless there was a misprint in the statement.
The other issue which might require further clarification is on the number of towers to be erected under phase one.
What is in the public domain is that ZICTA has targeted construction of 169 towers.
This is also confirmed in the December statement by ZICTA which reads in part “The cost of the project for the 169 towers is USD 13.5 million dollars and not what the article intimated.
We have now been informed that the towers being erected are 204 under phase one and no contract has been signed with any vendor for phase two.
The question that ensues, therefore, is where do the extra 35 come from and at what cost?
Perhaps it could be a generous gesture by the vendor to set up the towers for free. Whatever the reason is, a more concrete statement by ZICTA could assist in addressing such questions.
To end, it must be stressed again that, when CUTS divulged the findings of the initial assessment, the expectation was that ZICTA would take it positively and invest more in monitoring the installations as and when they are installed.
It was CUTS’ reasoning that the probability of success of phase one was higher if ZICTA vetted every installed tower (or through a quotavetting process) before a green light for other installations is given.
This was a prudent way of managing such highly financed projects than deferred audit exercises to project partial acceptance or completion stages.
We are glad that ZICTA is conducting the audit now and in-tern the vendor is being coerced to deliver without any reservations.
Funds permitting, ZICTA should also consider engaging an independent auditor to undertake the due-diligence of the project and this will give the institution an independent perspective devoid of personal interest to the project.
It must also be noted that it’s not about proving CUTS wrong.
Setting up towers that meet the agreed specifications is the right thing to do as public resources are at stake and our interest rests there.
We are also comforted that, ZICTA under phase two has sought to engage the services of an external project manager to manage the proposed phase two of the chiefdom tower project.
This is a timely and positive development, and to some extent, confirms with CUTS’ observation that capacity within ZICTA was limited to handle such a complex project.
For details contact;
Simon Ng’ona
Centre Coordinator
Consumer Unity and Trust Society CUTS International Lusaka
E-mail: [email protected],[email protected] (+260 950624874)
Oxfam Country Acting Director Isa Miah stresses a point during teh launch of the new country strategy
Oxfam Zambia has observed that majority of Zambians still live in poverty despite the country recording impressive economic growth over the years.
Oxfam Country Acting Director Isa Miah stated that poverty in Zambia is still over 60 percent and stuck among rural, agriculture, women, youth and urban poor including under nourished children.
Mr Miah said poverty is stagnant while inequality is growing between Zambians who have much and those that have nothing at all.
He was speaking at Oxfam offices in Lusaka when he unveiled a new five year country strategy for the organisation to run between 2015-2019.
Mr Miah said the new country strategy is anchored on four main goals which include the promotion of agriculture productivity and building resilience through increased investment and access to markets for small holder famers.
He added that the new strategy also focuses on gender equality and women’s rights through the building of a stronger women’s rights movements and creation of a conducive policy and social environment for women and girls.
Mr Miah said the third goal is to mobilise and build capacity of civil society and citizens to hold government and private sector accountable in the use of natural resources and ensure the benefits accrue to the ordinary Zambians especially women.
He further stated that Oxfam also hopes to build partner capacity to respond to humanitarian emergencies, reduce community vulnerability to hazards and increase ability to recover from shocks.
And Oxfam Regional Director Nelly Nyang’wa commended Oxfam Zambia for the launch of the new country strategy which she says fits into the global Oxfam framework.
Mrs Nyang’wa expressed happiness that the new strategy also focuses on gender with the aim of ending violence against women and girls.
THE Zambia Police Service has advised people using vehicles during wedding and funeral processions to adhere to road traffic rules and regulations.
Police spokesperson Charity Chanda said in a statement yesterday that bridal parties should desist from sitting on car windows and standing up through sunroofs because doing so makes drivers lose full control of the vehicles.
“This also obstructs other road users as well as endangering people’s lives.
Members of the public are being reminded that there is no law in this country which exempts people from committing offences simply because they are celebrating or conducting a procession,” Mrs Chanda said.
She said it is an offence for people not to obey traffic rules and regulations during any procession, including weddings and funerals.
“It is also the duty of the drivers of vehicles ferrying such passengers to make sure that they conduct themselves within the provisions of the law, failure to which such a driver will be charged accordingly,” Mrs Chanda said.
She warned that police officers countrywide will be on the lookout for motor vehicles with such passengers in order to bring sanity to roads and to protect people’s lives and property.
PRESIDENT Lungu’s appointment of Justice Esau Chulu as Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) chairperson has received overwhelming support from the civil society and opposition political parties.
On Tuesday, President Lungu promoted Mr Justice Chulu to replace Mrs Justice Irene Mambilima, who was recently appointed as Chief Justice.
The President has also appointed former Women for Change executive director Emily Sikazwe and former Pemba member of Parliament (MP) David Matongo as ECZ commissioners.
MMD president Nevers Mumba said in an interview yesterday that he is inspired by President Lungu’s choice in Mr Justice Chulu for the position of ECZ chairperson.
Dr Mumba said Mr Justice Chulu is qualified because he has acted in the position after Mrs Justice Mambilima’s appointment as Chief Justice.
“We have no objections to the appointment as MMD and we hope parliament will ratify him because the country will be going to the polls next year,” Dr Mumba said.
He also described Ms Sikazwe and Mr Matongo as a colourful combination because they have both greatly contributed to national development.
And Ms Sikazwe said it is a big responsibility on behalf of the people of Zambia and an opportunity for her to contribute towards the making of the electoral process accountable, transparent, and inclusive.
She said in a separate interview that she will diligently discharge her responsibility to the people of Zambia.
She said Zambia has a lot of capable people and it is an honour for President Lungu to appoint her.
“Women in Zambia have always asked for participation in the democratic process and this is one of the ways the women movement can contribute,” Ms Sikazwe said.
Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) executive director McDonald Chipenzi said the appointment of Mr Justice Chulu as ECZ chairperson, Ms Sikazwe and Mr Matongo as ECZ commissioners is a challenge to them to guide the nation towards next year’s general elections.
“We are in support of the filling of vacancies because the commission was put in a very awkward position. The expectations on the trio are high because elections require level-headedness and fairness,” he said.
And United Party for National Development (UPND) spokesperson Charles Kakoma said it is good that President Lungu has filled the vacancies at ECZ to enable it to start preparations for next year’s tripartite elections.
Mr Kakoma said UPND members of Parliament will support the ratification of Mr Justice Chulu’s appointment and the two commissioners because they are credible people.
Southern African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) executive director Boniface Cheembe said: “In view of Ms Sikazwe’s track record as a civil activist who understands the issues and concerns of the Zambian people, the President has made a right decision, and as SACCORD, we welcome and believe that she will add value to the conduct of elections, especially as this relates to the holding of free, fair credible and peaceful elections.”
