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Vice-President of Zambia Inonge Wina delivering a lecture at Columbia University in New York on 11 March, 2015. PHOTO | ZAMBIA UN MISSION | CHIBAULA D. SILWAMBA
Vice President Inonge Wina has called for transparency in the distribution of relief maize.
The Vice President has also warned that segregation should not be entertained in the distribution of relief maize as everyone must benefit from the exercise.
The Vice President was speaking today during a rally held at Nasilimwe Primary School in Nalolo District of the Western Province.
And Mrs Wina added that there is need for crop diversification due to climate change adding that people should not depend on maize alone but grow other crops as well that could sustain their livelihood.
And in another development Community Development Mother and Child Health Minister Emmerine Kabanshi said government is determined to improve the living standards of the vulnerable in society especially those living in rural areas through the social cash transfer scheme.
Ms. Kabanshi also added that the Western Province had a large number of people benefiting from the social cash transfer scheme.
She disclosed that a total number of 31,000 people are benefiting from the programme in the Western province compared to Luapula where only 21,000 people are accessing the funds.
Ms. Kabanshi has since called on the people of Nasilimwe to work with government in order to foster development in the area.
And Speaking at the same function Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) National Coordinator Patrick Kangwa said government was aware of the drought being experienced in the country due to dry spells and has allocated 1,409 metric tonnes of maize to the Western province.
Mr Kangwa added that Nalolo District had already received its share which is awaiting distribution adding that no one would go hungry because of the dry spell as there was enough maize in the sheds to benefit the vulnerable gropus.
Zambia’s Ambassadors to the UN and US, Mwaba Kasese-Bota (right) and Palan Mulonda, respectively, listening to Vice-President Inonge Wina lecture at Columbia University on 11 March, 2015. PHOTO | CHIBAULA D. SILWAMBA | ZAMBIA UN MISSION
The Auditor General‘s office has completed audits for the 2013, 2014 and the first quarter of 2015 at the Embassy of Zambia in the United States of America.
Auditor General Anna Chifungula has since commended the mission for providing maximum cooperation to her officers during the week long audit period.
Ms. Chifungula has further commended the mission for their exceptional management of government resources.
She added that the audit had shown that the mission managed public resources appropriately.
She has however urged the mission staff to continue looking after public resources and assets prudently.
Ms. Chifungula added that the savings from the well managed government resources can be redirected to other areas such as health, education and water sanitation.
And Zambia ‘s Ambassador to the United States of America Palan Mulonda said the mission was committed to operating within the established financial and other governances regulations in order to safeguard public resources.
Ambassador Mulonda has since thanked the office of the Auditor General for providing guidance to the mission on matters of significance as provided for in various government regulations.
This is contained in the statement issued by the First Secretary for Press and Public Relations at the Zambian Embassy in USA, Patricia Littiya.
FILE: Kabwata MP Hon. Given Lubinda (l) discussing with Human Rights Commisioner Isabel Katongo Simukonda during the Launch of the Parliamentary Caucus on Children Strategic Plan 2012-2016 at Raddison blu Hotel
Agriculture and Livestock Minister Given Lubinda says maize yields have increased from below 1 ton per hectare to 2.4 tons per hectare.
Mr Lubinda said the increase in yields was as a result of the usage
of improved hybrid seed among small-scale farmers since the inception
of the farmer Input Support Programme (FISP).
He said government has put in place initiatives such as FISP, of which
Pioneer DuPont was a major supplier of improved seed varieties noting
that seed varieties were of high quality that enhance crop production
and productivity at household.
Mr Lubinda said this in a speech read on his behalf by Deputy
Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Maxas Ngonga in Kasama today
during a Pioneer National Field day.
And DuPont Pioneer Managing Director Munyaradzi Mutsvairo said, it was
important for farmers to gain better and higher yields through the use
of fertilizer.
Mr Mutsvairo also said DuPont Pioneer had a collaboration with the
University of Columbia and Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock in
launching a soil testing facility that will enable farmers have soils tested and so that suitable inputs be applied to their crops.
And Northern Province Permanent Secretary, Hlobota Nkunika thanked Du Point for its quality seed products that have seen the yields increase.
Mr Nkunika encouraged farmers to also use mechanised farming in order to
increase their area under production and enhance productivity.
Voting in the Masaiti Parliamentary by-election in the early hours of the day experienced heavy rains.
A check by ZANIS at some polling stations in the district however found the voter turnout fair at most stations despite the heavy down pour.
A check at selected polling stations revealed that by 10:18 hours today, 140 people had already cast their vote at Fiwale polling station out of a total of about 1000 registered voters, while more than 100 people had cast their vote at Mikula polling station out of the 814 registered voters by 10:24 hours.
And by 10:44 hours, about 130 people had cast their vote at Kabwata polling station out of 777 registered voters.
Meanwhile, 150 out of the 750 registered voters had cast their vote by 11:00 hours at Chankute polling station, while 87 out of the 510 registered voters had voted by 11:18 hours at Kaunga polling station.
By 11:52 hours, 150 out of the 689 registered voters had cast their vote at Mishikishi polling station, while 56 out of the 800 registered voters had cast their vote at Fifungo polling station by 12:22.
And 55 out of the 613 registered voters had cast their vote at Chafunta polling station by 12:40 hours.
Voting at all the checked polling stations opened at exactly 06: hours and is expected to close at 18:00 hours.
Voters voting for the new Republican president at Kaumbwe Polling station in Chipata
A recent Afrobaromenter survey has revealed that a majority of Zambians, about 74 percent say they prefer democracy to any other kind of government.
Results from the survey which was conducted in October 2014 involving 1, 200 adult Zambians show that majority do not approve of non-democratic means of governance.
The survey shows that Zambians in general have faith in the country’s democracy.
Nine of out 10 Zambians disapprove of military rule and eight out of 10 disapprove of one party rule while another nine out of 10 have faith in Zambia’s democracy.
Close to seven out of 10 Zambians, about 65 percent say Zambia is either a full democracy or a democracy with minor problems.
The results are being released in view of the January 20 presidential election that showed regional polarisation in voting patterns which have the potential to slow down the democratic process.
President Edgar Lungu
President Edgar Lungu has appointed Esau Chulu as chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) subject to ratification by the National Assembly.
President Lungu has also appointed Emily Sikazwe and David Matongo as commissioners for the ECZ subject to ratification by the National Assembly.
Justice Chulu is currently serving as a commissioner at the ECZ.
He will replace Justice Ireen Mambilima who is now Chief Justice while Ms. Sikazwe will replace the late Mineva Tembo and Mr. Matongo will fill the vacancy to be left by Justice Chulu.
Meanwhile, the President has also reappointed Patrick Mvunga as chairperson of the Judicial Complaints Authority with Justice Christopher Mushabati and Lusaka lawyer Mwangala Zaloumis to continue as members.
Mr. Lungu has also repointed members of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) board.
The President has since reminded the commissioners that corruption is a serious crime against development whose consequences are borne more by the poor and vulnerable Zambians.
This is contained in a statement released to ZANIS by Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda.
A train in Lusaka has run over a man between Ngwerere and Kabanana townships.The unidentified man believed to be between the ages of 30 and 35 has since died.
In a statement released today by Zambia Police spokesperson Charity Chanda said the incident happened this morning.
“When the police rushed to the scene he was still alive but had lost both legs and died as he was being taken to the hospital by police officers,” she said.
Ms Chanda said investigations into the matter have been instituted to establish whether the deceased was beaten and thrown on the rail line or it was a mere accident.
Meanwhile, the immigration in Kitwe on Friday, 10 April, 2015 arrested 7 Egyptian nationals. Of the 7 Egyptians, 5 were apprehended for having what appeared to be fake entry endorsements in their passports while the other 2 were apprehended for unlawful stay. Immigration in Kitwe also arrested 3 Malian nationals and 2 Congolese nationals for a similar offence. Furthermore, the Kitwe Office on Monday, 13 April, 2015 also arrested an Australian national for failing to observe conditions of his employment permit by working at a company not stipulated in the permit.
Immigration in Isoka on Monday, 13 April, 2015 intercepted 7 Tanzanian hairdressers for unlawful entry. They were intercepted at a check point as they were heading to Lusaka.
Zambia Police Service spokesperson Charity Munganga Chanda
FIFTY people have sustained injuries after the Power Tools bus Registration number APX 7615 they were on over turned along the Great North Road in Chibombo district due to excessive speeding. The bus was coming from Kitwe heading to Lusaka with 60 passengers on board.
The accident happened at around midnight 14 April, 2015.
In statement released today by Zambia Police spokesperson Charity Chanda, the injured that include the driver were taken to Liteta Mission Hospital while others who sustained serious injuries have been transferred to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH).
“We are appealing to members of the public who suspect their relatives to have boarded on the power tools bus from Kitwe to Lusaka to check on them from the two Hospitals,” Ms Chanda said.
In 2013 over 50 people died in Chibombo district, Central province, after a Post Bus from the Copperbelt collided head on with a truck which was coming from Lusaka.
Close to 70 people were on the Post Bus registration number ABV 4020 that collided with the Congolese truck registration number is 1793 AB 05.
The Grand Coalition on the Campaign for a People-Driven Constitution has called on the PF Government to facilitate the enactment of a people driven Constitution via a referendum before the 2016 General elections.
This is contained in a statement released to the media today. Below is the full statement
PRESS STATEMENT
For Immediate Release
Siavonga, 13th February 2015
New People-Driven Constitution a Must Before 2016 General Elections
The Grand Coalition on the Campaign for a People-Driven Constitution reiterates the need for the Patriot Front (PF) Government to immediately facilitate the adoption of a new constitution through a national referendum, and ensure the wholesome enactment of a people-driven constitution before the 2016 elections.
Following a two-day strategic retreat in Siavonga, constituent members of the Grand Coalition have resolved to use all lawful means to ensure that Zambia holds the 2016 Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government elections under a new people driven constitution.
The Grand Coalition maintains that the Zambian people are determined to have a new constitution adopted through a National Referendum before 2016 general elections. The only setback is the lack of political will within the executive and the ruling party in general. We have therefore lined up a number of activities that we will be rolling out immediately, in all parts of the country, to continue with our demand for the new constitution to be adopted through a national referendum.
It is shocking and sad to note that the Government is back pedalling on its promise to facilitate for a people driven constitution. Clearly the Government’s proposed partial amendment and two-tier approach to the enactment of the new constitution goes against the wishes of the Zambian people as expressed in the various constitution making processes.
The Grand Coalition observed that the Constitution as the supreme law of the land was crucial to sustainable national development. Most of the current national challenges the country is facing today are as a result of the flawed national Constitution. It is totally unacceptable that today Zambia is still grappling with governance challenges and high poverty levels largely because of inadequate constitutional safeguards.
We look forward to active participation by all peace loving citizens in all the advocacy activities that have been lined up. Zambia has spent a lot of national resources on this constitution reform process and it will be irresponsible of the Government to allow the process to needlessly botch at this critical stage.
We DEMAND that President Edgar Lungu and the Patriotic Front party must abide by their mandate to facilitate adoption through a referendum and enactment of a people driven constitution before the 2016 general elections.
United Party for National Development (UPND) President Hakainde Hichilema at the funeral of slain UPND member Grayser Matapa
OFFICIAL STATEMENT
14 APRIL 2015
We call on President Edgar Lungu to urgently prioritise the nomination of substantive Chairperson at the Electoral Commission of Zambia to take over from Justice Ireen Mambilima who previously held the position.
Mr. Lungu and his PF government must know that ECZ is such an important institution that it cannot continue without the top leadership such as the Chairperson.
As the Commission will soon embark on a voter registration exercise and preparations for next year’s tripartite elections it is essential that planning for such important undertakings is overseen by a Chairperson that has the confidence of political parties, civil society and the public.
A suitable name must be nominated for possible ratification at Parliament so that whoever takes over has sufficient time to get to grips with the huge task ahead, address the deficiencies identified in previous elections and build relationships with the necessary stakeholders
Confidence in the election process starts with the kind of people that are appointed to manage the electoral process, hence the need to urgently identify an appropriate successor for Justice Mambilima who is widely respected.
Hakainde Hichilema
UPND President
___________________________
UPND Information (PI Dept)
President Edgar Chagwa Lungu casts his voting at Andrew Mwenya Polling Station in Lusaka’s John Howard Township on April 15,2015. PF’s Lawrence Sichalwe and UPND’s Charles Kaselwa are Hoping to succeed President Lungu in an array that has also attracted National Revolution Party president Cozmo Mumba’s wife , Martha, UNIP’s Bywell Kaluba and 4th Revolution Party’s Benson Silwimba -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has hailed the Patriotic Front (PF) leadership in Lusaka for conducting peaceful campaigns ahead of today’s parliamentary by elections in Chawama constituency.
Mr Lungu said he was very happy with the manner his party conducted campaigns in all three constituencies.
There have never been any incidences of violence or intimidation recorded in all three constituencies where by elections are taking place today. Chawama, Masaiti and Senga Hill constituencies have all recorded peaceful campaigns.
“That’s how it should be, you have been very peaceful. I want to thank you for that and please continue being peaceful even after winning don’t mock the losers just celebrate in peace,” Mr Lungu said after arriving at Andrew Mwenya polling station shortly before casting his vote.
He was speaking to PF Lusaka province youth chairman Kennedy Kamba who was flanked by the PF Chawama candidate Lawrence Sichalwe, Matero MP Miles Sampa and Deputy Minister in the Office of the Vice President Stephen Kampyongo.
President Lungu cast his vote around 0945 shortly after arrival.
And PF candidate Lawrence Sichalwe said he is confident of winning the seat that fell vacant after the area MP Edgar Lungu was elected republican president on 20 January 2015.
“I am confident of getting this seat because the opposition has been building castles in the air with their campaigns,” he said.
Mr Sichalwe added that if elected he will continue with the projects he started as a councillor with the major one being the construction of the drainage into blue water that will mitigate the flooding Chawama experiences during the rainy season.
JK, Eddie Black, DJ Cosmo, Kayombo and F Jay are a new crew in town called ‘Usual Suspects’and they just raised the bar with this tune! ‘FAME’ is a Hip Hop/Dance-hall jam produced by Peezey Cables showcasing a whole different side of JK’s vocals, a beast delivery by Eddie Black, hyper Dance-Hall vocals by DJ Cosmo & Kayombo and at the end the King of R&B F Jay fuses in his magic to complete this phenomenal piece of art.
File:The heavy rainfall being experienced in some parts of the country have caused severe floods. Here, a motorist wades in a flood of stagnate rainwater in Kanyama Township
The Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) has warned that Zambia will be forced to ration water because of the poor rainfall pattern experienced this season.
DMMU national coordinator Patrick Kangwa called on relevant stakeholders to take appropriate measures in anticipation of crop failure due to poor rainfall pattern.
The country has experienced an unpredictable rainfall pattern with more than 14 days of a dry spell reported in Western, Southern and Eastern provinces which has resulted into wilting of crops.
“Water for power generation, irrigation, domestic and other uses will significantly reduce in the coming months and this will call for enhanced water and electricity rationing throughout the country,” Mr Kangwa said.
The Government expected the yields to be much lower than the previous years because of the prolonged dry spells.The dry spell over the affected areas of the country has led to wilting and crop failure, raising production uncertainty.
“The crop damage is reported to be irreversible as the rainy season for agriculture purposes comes to an end. The Government is fully aware of the prevailing situation and is putting in place some measures in the short to medium term while awaiting the results from the in-depth assessment that is currently in progress,” he added.
The rainfall forecast in September last year had indicated that most parts of the country were expecting normal rainfall during October to December with isolated areas likely to get normal to below normal rainfall.The forecast further indicated that normal to above normal rainfall was likely to be received during between January and March 2015.
However, the country experienced mixed rainfall performance with an early onset confined to Northern, Luapula, some parts Western and Western Provinces.The rest of the country experienced a late onset with much of the rains received during the last 10 days of December 2014.
Mr Kangwa said while crops looked fined in February, the situation in the southern half of the country deteriorated due to the prolonged dry spell.
He however, assured that despite the situation being desperate, the Government would do everything possible to mitigate the impacts of the poor performance of the rainy season.
File:Zambia Daily Mail Managing Director and Editor Anthony Mukwita
Deputy Ambassador to Sweden Anthony Mukwita has been sued for defamation of character. Former Zambia Daily Mail (ZDM) managing director and now Media and Press Development director at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services Isaac Chipampe, ZDM managing director Bryson Mumba and human resource and administrative manager Lutato Nyendwa have sued Mr Mukwita.
The trio have also sued Mwebantu New Media staffer Kasabo Kalusa, Radio Phoenix and its former news editor Billy Kazoka for alleging that they were corrupt.
Mr Chipampe and others are demanding that Mr Mukwita be ordered to pay them compensatory, exemplary damages and interest on the damages claimed.
The three are further asking the Lusaka High court to grant them an injunction to restrain Mr Mukwita, Mr Kalusa, Mr Kazoka and Radio Phoenix from further writing or publishing any defamatory words against them relating to the issue.
They want another order that the defendants broadcast both on air and by way of printed media specifically the Zambia Daily Mail newspaper an apology and a retraction of defamatory publication and broadcast.
That the four should also meet the legal costs of the court proceedings and pay any other relief the court may deem fit.
Mr Chipampe stated in a writ of summons that on February 24, 2015 at 18 hours Mr Kalusa posted on his electronic website known as Mwebantu New Media and Mr Kazoka and Radio Phoenix broadcast on air a malicious story authored by Mr Mukwita which contained statements that were economical with the truth.
The statements alleged among other things that ACC had established a case against the three for abusing up to K350,600 in relation to the engaging of a private firm they single sourced to print films for ZDM.
The three stated that the words were in their natural and ordinary meaning meant and were understood to mean that they were guilty of corrupt practices, abused their authority and that they are being investigated.
Mr Chipampe and others further stated that the words also were understood to mean that they were so corrupt as they went a step further and illegally terminated Mr Mukwita,s contract to enable them easily facilitate corrupt practices in the manner they out sourced the printing company when Mr Mukwita,s contract of employment was terminated lawfully on the ground not pertaining to the procurement of a printing company.
They stated that the words have tainted, distorted and fed the public with falsehoods and unsubstantiated facts which are alleged to have been copied from confidential letter written by the director general of the ACC to the permanent secretary of information.
Mr Chipampe and others stated that the letter was marked confidential and should not have been in the possession of defendants. They said that they will show to the court that if anything, the letter confirmed that the ACC had previously cleared them of any allegations of wrongdoing and allegations of abuse of authority of office which letter Mr Mukwita and others had in their possession but maliciously and negligently caused to be published.
Mr Chipampe said that the story was authored, published and broadcast by the defendants in a sensational manner when Mr Mukwita knew that the story he caused to be authored was distorted and contained falsehood which his co-accused were fully aware of before they published and broadcast the story.
The three said they have been defamed, severely injured in their character and reputations and have been brought into scandal and contempt.
