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Chieftness Chiawa (r) Senior Chieftness Komesha Mukamambo ii (l) and Vice President Dr. Guy Scott cutting the ribbon during the Official Opening of Michael Chilufya Sata Bridge in Chiawa crossing the Kafue river.
Vice president Guy Scott has asked the people of Zambia to give the Patriotic Front (PF) government 10 years more to develop the country further.
Speaking when he officiated at the Chikwela Makuumbi tradition ceremony of the Soli people of Chongwe District Dr. Scot observed that the PF government has scored more significant infrastructure development but that more has to be done.
And Dr. Scott has called for calm among farmers as government is aware of the delay of their payments of the maize the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) bought from them.
He has assured the farmers that their dues will be paid soon.
And Senior Chieftainess Nkomeshya Mukamambo the second of the Soli people has hailed government for taking development to her chiefdom.
Chieftainess Nkomeshya has urged other traditional leaders to support the government of the day.
Director for Policy and Planning at the National Aids Council (NAC) says although projections show that Zambia’s HIV/AIDS prevalence rate has reduced from 14 to 12.7% more needs to be done.
Elizabeth Mvula said despite positive strides recorded in the fight against the pandemic the situation still remains worrying.
This is contained in a press statement availed to ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday by First Secretary for Press at Zambian embassy to Brazil Patson Chilemba.
Ms Mvula said this while leading a delegation involving officials from NAC and the civil society on a project themed “Strengthening of the National Strategic plan for HIV/AIDS” in Brasilia ,Brazil.
Ms Mvula said the study tour was aimed at getting important lessons, particularly that NAC was revising the strategic framework for people living with HIV/AIDS.
And Programme Manager for network of Zambia living with HIV Prisca Chintomfwa noted that there is need to emulate the Brazilian system which she said is more open and supportive in handling cases of discrimination.
Ms Chintomfwa said much emphasis against discriminating people with HIV/AIDS was revealed with strong supportive mechanisms which could lead to the prosecution of offenders.
Meanwhile, civil society coordinator at NAC Scrivener Kambikambi expressed happiness with the way Human Rights Commission in Brazil interacted with civil society on the joint committees that had been formed.
During their tour the delegation paid a courtesy call on Zambia’s Ambassador to the Federative Republic of Brazil Cynthia Jangulo and other officials.
The delegation also presented a general overview of the Zambia HIV and AIDS situation during one of the meetings.
President Sata greets Defence minister Edgar Lungu
PRESIDENT Sata and the Patriotic Front (PF) Government love and care for the people of Western Province, party secretary-general Edgar Lungu has said.
And Mr Lungu, who is also Minister of Defence and Minister of Justice, says issues of security concern have emerged in Western Province.
“President Sata and this Government love the people of Western Province and want the area to develop at the same pace with other parts of the country,” Mr Lungu said.
He was speaking here yesterday when he addressed scores of PF members who thronged the airport to welcome him.
“I have come here to tell you that President Sata loves you. I am also here to generally check on the security situation,” Mr Lungu said.
And Mr Lungu says there have been reports of security concern in the province.
He did not elaborate further but assured the people that security wings have adequately dealt with the situation.
“Dr Kaunda and UNIP ruled us for 27 years, the MMD for 20 years and President Sata for 3 years, making it 50 years. It has always been ‘One Zambia One Nation’ and it will always be so. Therefore, turn up in numbers and celebrate the golden jubilee,” Mr Lungu said.
Mr Lungu said he is happy to learn that there is peace in the province.
“Government will probe the issue of security concerns and I will visit the King [Litunga] to consult him. If we don’t guard our peace today, we may be talking of violence tomorrow,” he said.
Mr Lungu said the PF will lead the way in celebrating Zambia’s 50 years of independence and urged those wishing to boycott to stay away in peace and not disrupt celebrations.
Mr Lungu has been accompanied by Daniel Munkombwe, Willie Nsanda, Josephine Limata, Evans Lawrence, Ronald Chitotela, Poniso Njeulu and Bridget Attanga among others.
After addressing the cadres, Mr Lungu was scheduled to pay a courtesy call on the Litunga and address a rally in the afternoon.
Meanwhile, Senior chief Puta of the Bwile people of Chiengi district says he is disappointed AT the continued infighting in the Patriotic Front (PF) which has overshadowed the many development projects the party has done in the past three years.
The traditional leader urged PF party members to give to President Sata chance and peace of mind to execute his duties diligently and fulfil his campaign promises.
“The Zambian people only gave one person the mandate to be President up to 2016, he should be given chance and those who are very ambitious and want to take over should get out of the party and form their own political parties,” Chief Puta said.
“I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises.”
(Psalm 34:1, NLT)
TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria
When you wake up in the morning, what’s the first thing you think about? What’s the first thing you say? Do you set the tone for success, favor and blessing? Yesterday may have had some hardships or some difficulties, but it’s a new day. We should be on the lookout for God’s blessings.
The scripture tells us that the darker it gets in the world, the brighter it’s going to be for God’s people. The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn shining brighter until the new day. Things may be bad all around you, people may be negative, complaining and discouraged, but don’t let that rub off on you. The worse it gets, the brighter you’re going to shine. Be determined to set the tone for your day by praising God and speaking words of faith over your future. Be determined to shine. Stand strong in faith and set the tone for your future!
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father in heaven, I choose to bless You at all times. I choose to set the tone today to receive Your favor, grace and mercy. Thank You for Your faithfulness to me at all times in Jesus’ name! Amen!
Mathew Nkowani came off the bench to score a last minute goal as three time Barclays Cup winners Zesco United overcame Napsa Stars 1-0 at Arthur Davies Stadium to reach the final on Saturday.
Zesco and Napsa had missed several chances in this lunch-time first semi-final tie in Kitwe before Nkowani headed in the solitary goal two minutes into stoppage time.
Napsa’s White Mwanambaba denied Zesco a chance to lead when he cleared Jackson Mwanza’s goal bound shot that had hit keeper Philip Banda on 24 minutes.
Ten minutes later Mwanza hit the cross bar as the two teams went to the break after a goalless first half.
The second half saw Napsa waste many scoring chances through Saith Sakala who tormented the Nyambe Mulenga led Zesco backline.
Sakala saw his 77th minute goal bound shot cleared on the line by Benard Mapili.
Sakala had earlier wasted a golden chances inside the box.
Zesco will now face Nkana in the final.
Nkana trounced Konkola Blades in the second semifinal in Kitwe.
Nkana have reached their debut Barclays Cup final in convincing fashion after a 2-0 win over Konkola Blades at Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe.
Nkana will face record three-time champions Zesco United in the final on November 22 at a venue be announced by FAZ.
Both goals came in a drama-packed last seven minutes of the first half that began with a missed 38th minute penalty by defender Christopher Munthali.
Munthali penalty was saved by Collins Chomba that was won after midfielder Kelvin Mubanga was tackled in the box by Blades defender Clement Chileshe.
Two minutes later, Claude Bwalya punished his former team when Chomba flapped Mubanga’s cross into his path.
Ronald Kampamba then setup Simon Bwalya for the second goal in the 45th minute.
Man-of-the-match Kampamba was unfortunate not to find the back of the net despite an outstanding game firstly in the 58th when his shot came off the far post and 75th minute when he fired his effort high and over from close range.
However, Kampamba’s all-round performance on both wings and constant threat inside the box surely did not go unnoticed by Zambia coach Honour Janza who was in the stands for the match.
Former Prime Minister in the UNIP government Malimba Masheke has called on Zambians to pray and thank God for the peace the country has continued to enjoy in the last 50 years.
Speaking in Lusaka today in an exclusive interview, General Masheke said Zambia has been a haven of peace, stability and unity while other neighbouring countries have been engulfed in wars.
He noted that the jubilee celebrations should be used to thank and pay special tribute to the leaders who guided the country through the path of peace amidst turmoil in other African countries.
Gen Masheke who is also Universal Peace Federation Chairperson observed that the peace and unity prevailing in the country was as a result of the good leadership exhibited by the founding leaders.
Meanwhile, Gen Masheke has said his organization will celebrate the jubilee by cleaning the surrounding areas of COMESA and Peace Embassy.
He pointed out that there is need to celebrate the golden jubilee which falls on October 24 in a clean environment.
Gen Masheke said there is a lot of dirt in the city that needs to be cleaned as the country positions its self to commemorate the golden jubilee.
He has since implored other stakeholders to join hands with his organization in a bid to clean all the filthy parts of the city.
FIRST Quantum Minerals (FQM) Copper Mine in Solwezi
A wrangle is emanate in Kainafumu Resettlement Scheme in Solwezi East were government has demarcated 9000 farm plots to resettle farmers and the First Quantum Mining (FQM) has started mining exploration on the same piece of land.
The mining explorations have been authorized by the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Water Development.
The mining exploration exercise may displace farmers in an event that copper ores is found in the resettlement area.
The office of the vice president had earlier designated the 14,000 hectares of land as a resettlement scheme and approved the demarcation of 9,000 farm plots in the area.
Kainamfumu resettlement scheme committee chairperson John Kamwanga said the fear of farmers is that they will be evicted from the land should copper ores be found in the area.
Mr Kamwanga also complained that exploration activities by FQM have damaged the road that government rehabilitated and this will affect the transportation of agricultural inputs in the resettlement.
And Campsite Supervisor Daniel Saji confirmed that FQM started the explorations in March this year when North-western Province Permanent Secretary Amos Malupenga visited the area.
Mr Malupenga assured the farmers that his office will engage the parties involved so that an amicable solution is found because the matter is between government institutions.
Government has already completed the construction of the health post and staff houses at a cost k300, 000 in the resettlement as part of its programme to provide basic services to the farmers.
FQM is a company running the mining operations at Kansanshi mine.
(From left to right) Zambia @ 50 chairperson Mulenga Kapwepwe, Charlotte Scott and the Vice president Dr. Guy Scott at the national heroes Stadium during the mass display of performance in preparation of Golden jubilee celebration
Vice President Guy Scott said he is happy with the pre golden jubilee rehearsals currently being displayed ahead of Zambia’s 50 years of independence.
Dr Scott said this last night when previewing the final rehearsals of the Golden Jubilee celebrations at the Heroes Stadium in Lusaka.
The Vice President who was accompanied by his wife Charlotte commended the instructors for the job well done.
The Zambia defence force team and pupils drawn from various schools across the country conducted several drills in readiness of the golden jubilee celebrations.
Dr Scott expressed hope that the performances will be more pleasing on the eve and the actual day of Zambia’s independence commemoration.
Present during the final rehearsal were Secretary to the Cabinet Roland Msiska, Transport, Works, Supply and Communications Minister Yamfwa Mukanga, Youth and Sports Deputy Minister Christopher Mulenga, Local Government and Housing Deputy Minister Nickolas Banda and other senior government officials.
And Zambia @ 50 Chairperson Mulenga Kapwepwe said the performances were a half-dressed rehearsal and that the full performance will be presented on the eve of Independence Day.
Meanwhile, Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Yang Youming was also delighted with the presentation.
He said the mass display will be more appealing on the actual day as the participants will be dressed in the appropriate attire.
-(From left to right) Vice president Dr. Guy Scott, Chinese to Zambia Yang Youming, Health Minister Joseph Kasonde, and Sports Deputy Minister Christopher Mulenga at the National Heroes Stadium during the mass display of performance in preparation of Golden Jubilee celebrationCombined team of Defence forces at the National Heroes Stadium during the mass display of performance in preparation of Golden JubileeA Combined team of performs during the mass display of performance in preparation of Golden Jubilee celebrationVice president Dr. Guy Scott speaks to Secretary to the cabinet Rawland Msiska at the national heroes Stadium during the mass display of performance in preparation of Golden jubilee celebrationChinese to Zambia Yang Youming speaks to Communication Minister Yafya Mukanga who is flanked by Secretary to the cabinet Rawland Msiska (2nr) and Sports Deputy Minister Christopher Mulenga (2nl) during the mass display of performance in preparation of Golden jubilee celebrationChinese to Zambia Yang Youming having the moment with performers during the mass display of performance in preparation of Golden jubilee celebrationSecretary to the cabinet Rawland Msiska chats with Communication Minister Yafya Mukanga who is flanked by Sports Deputy Minister Christopher Mulenga during the mass display of performance in preparation of Golden jubilee celebrationSecretary to the cabinet Rawland Msiska chats with Communication Minister Yafya Mukanga who is flanked by Sports Deputy Minister Christopher Mulenga during the mass display of performance in preparation of Golden jubilee celebration
TOURISM and Arts Minister Jean Kapata has opened the first ever art gallery in Livingstone which was constructed at a total cost of K6,000,000.
Officially opening the art gallery on Thursday, Ms Kapata urged artists in Livingstone to trade in authorized areas.
Ms Kapata said the Ministry of Tourism and Arts, through the National Arts Council of Zambia (NAC) would continue to develop the facility to higher standards expected of a gallery in a tourist capital.
She said as the country celebrated its 50 years of independence, the expectations of the newly built art gallery were high.
Ms Kapata said the Ministry was expectant that artists would maximize the usage of the gallery to promote tourism in the country.
“With the construction of this gallery, we do not expect to see artists trading in unauthorized areas. The Maramba cultural village just across will also provide improved market access to the tourists as well as the public who wish to buy souvenirs from Livingstone the great tourist capital of Zambia,” Ms Kapata said.
Ms Kapata said the gallery would also contribute towards employment creation in the creative arts industries space.
She said the Livingstone gallery which would carter for visual arts from various categories including painters, photographers, sculptors and ceramics, had commenced installation of equipment and that the exercise was expected to be completed by January 2015.
Ms Kapata appealed to the Livingstone Tourism Association (LTA) and other tour operators in Livingstone to include the gallery and the recently built Maramba cultural village on the city tourism circuit.
And speaking earlier at the same occasion, NAC Chairperson Mulenga Kapwepwe said much had happened in the art sector in Zambia from the colonial times.
Ms Kapwepwe said artists during the struggle for independence played an important role by expressing themselves in order for the country to be liberated.
She said the art gallery was a special gift and had a special meaning for the artists as the country celebrated 50 years of independence.
“Artists played their role during the struggle for independence, they expressed themselves using among other things paint and brushes.
The works of artists capture vividly the experiences of our people during the struggle for freedom,” Ms Kapwepwe said.
Ms Kapwepwe appealed to artists to embrace the arts gallery and make use of it to promote local tourism.
Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda delivering the 2015 budget
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OFFICIAL STATEMENT
17th October 2014
WAGE FREEZE: KILLING THE WORKER
The announcement by Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda that the wage freeze will be implemented even in 2015 was actually made during the presentation of the 2014 budget in parliament last year.
UPND, warned the Zambian people that the wage freeze would hurt most Zambian families especially that the PF had removed fuel and mealie meal subsidies. The subsidies were acting as a cushion to ameliorate the high cost of living.
The PF government and Mr. Chikwanda should not punish innocent Zambians for his reckless borrowing and myopic planning in national economic matters.
It is not the people of Zambia that forced Hon. Chikwanda to recklessly and corruptly dish out contracts for roads and bridges even when he had no money to pay and now wants to lamp the burden on the already heavily taxed but poorly paid Zambian workers.
UPND does not believe in a confrontational approach to solving issues such as demonstrations as ZCTU and its affiliates now want to do. But in a situation where dialogue fails as has been the case with the PF government that does not believe in round-table discussions, we have no choice but to support the workers in addressing their grievances because confrontation is the only language the PF understands.
We all know PF won elections on, among other lies, ‘more money in your pockets and lower taxes’ slogan. How does Chikwanda, who has imposed a wage freeze, reconcile this slogan with the real life for the Zambian workers and the firms that employ them?
Indeed, workers were promised more money and got a 52% increment in the 2014 budget towards personal emoluments and this pressure extended to private sector who had to match the civil servants salary increments by implementing a mandatory minimum wage.
But simple economics dictated that the firms equally had to increase cost of goods and services to raise money to meet these wages and this was coupled with a high cost of doing business after the removal of fuel subsidies.
The PF and Mr. Chikwanda’s poor and outdated economic measures are what we are seeing now where the cost of essential commodities and generally the cost of living is unbearable, the Kwacha is very weak, hospitals are poorly funded, and the education sector is in tatters. You know that your education sector is in tatters when students start committing suicide due to lack of bursaries.
There is no way we can have a wage freeze when electricity tariffs have increased, water tariffs increase, fees increased, and transport costs have increased.
UPND and my president Hakainde Hichilema, we resolved to first robustly grow the economy above 10% GDP through agriculture, mining, tourism and manufacturing (including agro processing) sectors with right incentives and this will increase employment sources, widen the tax and export base. The money generated from these sectors will then be used to support the social sectors such as education, health and develop road and other infrastructure without resorting to reckless borrowing.
Let me reiterate this, when Government closes its doors to collective bargaining and resorts to heavy handedness, the way Chikwanda is doing, the only way is to withdraw one’s services. So ZCTU and other unions are on firm ground to compel this Government to come to the table and give our civil service decent wages and this is fully supported by UPND.
PARLIAMENT yesterday heard that over 800,000 men in Zambia have been circumcised from 2007 when the campaign started to August 2014.
And Chikankata member of parliament Munji Habeenzu caused a stir in the House when he asked Health Minister Joseph Katema, whether he was circumcised as a role model.
This raised a stir in the House prompting Health deputy minister Steve Kampyongo to raise on a point of order on whether Mr Habeenzu was in order to ask Dr Kasonde, whom he described as an elderly father in the House such a question.
“Is the Chikankata MP in order to bury our cherished morals to ask our elederly father to compel him to divulge such private information,” Mr Kampyongo asked.
Speaker of the National Assembly Dr Patrick Matibini however said Dr Kasonde was not compelled but was at liberty to either answer the question or not.
Former Health minister Brian Chituwo caused laughter in the House when he said that he was 67years old and was not afraid to inform the nation that he was circumcised.
He said leading by example would either encourage or discourage those one was leading.
In responding to the question however, Dr Kasonde urged MPs to respect the confidentiality of medical issues inside and outside the House.
He was disappointed with Dr Chituwo fdor going against ethical principles of the medical profession of the right to confidentiality for which he was a part of as a medical doctor.
Dr Kasonde said there was a huge response from members of the public with regard to circumcision.
He was responding to a question for oral answer raised by Mwinilunga MP Katuka who wanted to find out homw many males countrywide had been circumcised from the time the exercise started to August 2014.
Male circumcision had gone a long way in preventing HIV/Aids and other STDs as well as penile and cervical cancers.
Mafinga MMD MP Catherine Namugala urged Government to educate people on the negative effects and myths about male circumcision but Dr Kasonde said reports of loss of sexual function had been raised but there had been no effect of sexual function.
Ikelengi MMD MP Elijah Muchima said shouldn’t circumcision be made a Bible policy where it was compulsory for boys by the age of eight years but Dr Kasonde maintained that the vice would remain voluntary.
Choma UPND MP Cornelius Mweetwa condemned compulsory HIV/Aids testing for people who wanted to be circumcised.
DEPUTY Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Miles Sampa
GOVERNMENT is scouting for $410 million to upgrade Indeni Oil refinery and thereafter sell 49 percent of the company’s shares to an equity strategic partner and prolong its long term reliability.
Commerce, Trade and Industry deputy minister Miles Sampa told parliament yesterday Government wanted to upgrade the company from its current form of being just a separator into an oil refinery to allow it to produce low price gas and pure crude oil and other petroleum by-products.
He was responding to a question for oral answer raised that Chipili PF MP Davies Mwila who wanted to find out why the Government had decided to sell some shares in Indeni oil refinery to the public.
Government was exploring all avenues to come up with a strategic partner who would assist it co-finance and upgrade Indeni oil refinery.
He said Government had realized that Indeni had not been very efficient hence the move to upgrade and sell its shares.
Luena UPND MP Getrude Imenda wondered what happened to the Italian Government investor who was running the refinery together with the Zambian Government and Mr Sampa informed the House that the Italian investor disengaged from the partnership.
Vice President Guy Scott is welcomed by Deputy Skeaker of the National Assembly Mkondo Lungu when he arrived at Parliament.
GOVERNMENT is discussing with trade unions over the wage freeze. During the vice president’s question and answer session, Vice President Guy Scott told parliament that a dispute had been declared on the issue of the wage freeze with the workers unions.
He said negotiations were however on-going between the union and the Government to finalise the issue of the wage freeze.
The situation with regard to the wage freeze was a tricky one for the Government but negotiations had continued between the Government and the unions.
The House also heard that Choma central MP Cornelius Mweetwa would next week raise a private member’s motion against the wage freeze.
GOVERNMENT has dispatched medical personnel to Choma to verify a suspected Ebola case after a truck driver was found dead in his cabin on Thursday.
Vice president Guy Scott told parliament that Government had received information on the truck driver found dead in Choma and said a team of medical experts had since been sent to the town to ascertain the facts.
This followed a question from Dundumwezi UPND MP Edgar Singombe who wanted to find out what Government was doing about the panic that had gripped Choma residents following a truck driver who was found dead in his truck cabin.
Dr Scott however said that Zambia has never recorded a case of Ebola from the time the disease broke out.
He called for peace and calm among the people as the country was not at high risk of contracting the disease as it did not have direct flights to affected countries.
He urged the public to take correct measures to avoid contracting Ebola.
Choma residents were on Thursday afternoon gripped with fear and panic after news spread of a Zimbabwean driver who was found dead in his truck from suspected Ebola.
Some residents rushed for the safety of their homes after word spread in the central business area of Choma.
China Maduma, 59, who had been travelling from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to South Africa, was driving a truck belonging to Moody Blue Transport, registration number WPV001GP.
Mr Maduma’s truck was laden with copper and he had stopped for a rest on Thursday morning at a truck stop along the Choma-Livingstone Road.
He spent some time cleaning his truck and some workers at the truck stop heard him communicate with fellow truckers who were still transiting from Lusaka, that he was unwell.
Mr Maduma was seen sleeping on his driver’s seat and by 13:00 hours when his counterparts arrived, he was already dead.
After this, no one dared to go close to the truck for fear of contracting what they suspected to be the Ebola virus, which had ravaged some West African countries, as well as some confirmed cases in the DRC.
Health workers from Choma medical office were immediately informed about Mr Maduma’s death, which some people at the car park suspected could have been caused by Ebola.
A check by the Times at the scene around 15:30 hours found two health workers clad in Ebola protective clothing disinfecting the truck and the body which was lying inside the cabin.
Scores of truck drivers and other health workers stood at a distance as the two workers continued spraying.
Southern Province deputy police commissioner, Milner Muyambango said police could not remove the body from the cabin immediately as they had to wait for health officials to fumigate the truck.
Mr Muyambango said that the body was only removed from the cabin around 20:00 hours and was taken to Choma Hospital mortuary after it was examined by health workers.
He said Zimbabwean authorities had since been informed about the death of Mr Maduma to enable his family come to identify the body.
Provincial medical officer Jelita Chinyonga, however, said Mr Maduma did not die from Ebola, but he was discovered to have been suffering from ulcers, after being screened.
“Immediately when we were informed about his death, our health officials who were in Ebola protective clothing rushed to the scene, fumigated the entire truck and the cabin. It was discovered that Mr Maduma was suffering from ulcers,” she said.
Dr Chinyonga said health officers were geared to curb any case of Ebola outbreak and urged people to continue taking precautionary measures against Ebola.
