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Zambia National Service (ZNS) Commandant Nathan Mulenga has warned young people against co-habiting instead of adhering to the African tradition and Christian values of marriage.
Major-General Mulenga says co-habiting is not good because it lacks the support and advice of parents and guardians.
Gen. Mulenga said this in a speech read for him by Colonel Anthony Sapuleni at a colourful wedding reception for ZNS Lance Corporal Ignitious Chimbinde and Melody Imbwae at the weekend.
He said his men and women in uniform should follow biblical principles on marriage so that they can have stable homes.
“It is disheartening that in this era, most young people have thrown away our African tradition and biblical values and adopted strange cultures of co-habiting which is against marriage, an institution of God,” Maj.-Gen. Mulenga said.
He said marriage was sanctioned by God therefore Christianity should take centre stage in married people’s lives.
Gen. Mulenga advised Mr. and Mrs. Chimbinde to submit and respect each other in marriage.
He warned against divorce saying it contributed to HIV/AIDS and irresponsibility to both the family and the nation at large.
“The service expects you to live in harmony and there should not be any differences in making God your pillar because he is the key to unlock any serious marital challenge,” he said.
And speaking earlier, father to the Bride, Leonard Makina urged the newly married couple to seek God’s guidance when they are faced with problems.
Mr. Makina, a former civil servant, said marriage may not last long if the couple do not follow Christian values.
File:The classrom block’s roof is too low for the average person as one has to stoop to stand under the assemblage of ricky corrugated iron sheets as demonstrated by Mango groove head teacher.
Government is planning to recruit 5,000 new teachers who will be deployed to various schools across the country next year to improve the pupil-teacher ratio.
Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education Minister John Phiri says government plans to recruit 5,000 teachers next year to address the pupil teacher ratio challenge.
Dr. Phiri said the recruitment of the teachers will also include teachers for pupils with special needs.
Dr. Phiri said that government is keen to transform the education sector by reducing the gap between teachers and pupils.
He says government recently recruited one thousand early childhood education teachers countrywide and that next year the number will be increased.
He added that last year government recruited 5, 000 teachers and the recruitment of 5, 000 more teachers next year will go a long way.
File:President Michael Sata with MMD member of Parliament Felix Mutati at the Cathedral of the Child Jesus during the requiem Mass of Late George Kunda in Lusaka
Former Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Felix Mutati is worried that the PF Government has continued to accumulate huge foreign and domestic debt.
Mr Mutati said the high level of borrowing by the PF government has the potential to threaten Zambia’s macroeconomic position.
Mr. Mutati who is also Lunte MMD MP said the debt accumulation under the three years of the PF is too huge for a small economy like Zambia’s.
“The foreign debt now stands at US$4.7 billion while domestic debt is now in the region of K21 billion which is almost half of the budget,” Mr Mutati said.
He added, “That level of borrowing threatens stability our macroeconomic position and also threatens our growth prospects including our inflation targets and impacts on cost of doing business in Zambia.”
Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda announced on Friday during the national budget presentation that Zambia’s external debt currently stands at $4.7 billion while domestic debt is at a staggering K21.9 billion.
Premature celebrations over Kabimba’s political demise
Kasama central member of Parliament Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba and Kabwata member of parliament Given Lubinda and Sports minister Chishimba Kambwili dancing during a rally to drum up support for Solwezi PF parliamentary candidate Newton Malwa on September 10 ,2014 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
Fear, confusion, and uncertainty are more congenial to the mood in the Patriotic Front party. The Geoffrey Mwamba, Given Lubinda, and Chishimba Kambwili’s premature victory dance on Kabimba’s political grave could come back to haunt them because none of them know who Michael Chilufya Sata is. Having met him in the recent past, they hardly understand his mind so well as to foreknow for sure his predilection.
These three myopic men, like many in the hierarchy of the PF, do not know why Sata is surrounded by so much secrecy and intrigue. They know him simply as the epitome of hardnosed grassroots politics, and as their current savior. They, for instance, do not know the deep-rooted and convoluted relationship between him and Kabimba. They do not know the emotional stress and pain that raged in him on that fateful day when he succumbed to parting ways with his alter ego.
It can be stated that on August 28, 2014, the recuperating Sata was dragged into a dilemma against his will, a decision thrust upon him, which he could not fend off as his mind had not recovered its steadiness. Upon his return from Israel on July 4, 2014, he was under pressure from intimate bedfellows to fire Kabimba whose presidential ambitions were over the top. On that fateful day, although Sata assented to the idea, he could not bring himself to believe that he had disowned a man who for years had been the scaffold of his calamities.
When Mwamba, Lubinda, Kambwili, and other anti-Kabimba cadres around the country began to publicly wriggle their waists in celebration, Sata uncharacteristically cautioned them. He did not want anyone to discuss the Kabimba dismissal. It took those with remarkable prescient to instantly read the tea leaves in the cup. They sensed something amiss, more so when he appointed Edgar Lungu as concierge of the Patriotic Front party and vanguard of the two ministerial portfolios of Justice and Defense.
Kabimba’s exit
Wynter Kabimba at his farm
Kabimba, fully aware Sata chartered his course, chose a more tempered exit. He calmly retreated to his farm. As Sata’s prodigy and an inducted member of the Sata cartel, he was thoroughly convinced that Sata acted under duress. A list of his foes ran through his mind—Mulenga Sata, Alexander Chikwanda, Edgar Lungu…
As he drove his tractor, at times with fury, his mind was inundated in a plethora of questions. He did not understand how a man from whom he had learned to be insidious and perfidious, and who had recently abled him to enjoy privilege by appointing him Acting President at the most critical moment of his health, had failed to defend him.
It was during this period of seclusion that a feeling stole upon him that he was not alone; that he was still basking in the adulation of loyal cadres, sympathizers, and aficionados within the PF like Geoffrey Chumbwe, Goodson Banda, and Kennedy Kamba, and most importantly, from a member of the cartel, proprietor of The Post and “Michael’s” nightmare, Fred M’membe.
The cartel on which M’membe’s life depended had suffered a severe blow. There was a lot at stake—ZK14 billion owed to the Development Bank of Zambia; more than ZK8 billion (unrebased) owed to ZRA; business malpractices and various pending court cases and lawsuits. A petrified M’membe had no choice but to become Kabimba’s chief propagandist. It was the only rat hole left for him and his newspaper.
Resurrecting Kabimba
FILE: PF Anti-Kabimba cadres in Kasama carry a mock coffin
During ploughing intervals Kabimba took time to read The Post and relished in M’membe’s lionization of him. On August 29, 2014, M’membe decried that the sacking of Kabimba was “the culmination of a long and sustained campaign of lies, malice and all sorts of propaganda against him. It is a continuation of the campaign that we saw last year being waged against him by well-known elements.” Here he was referring to the so-called “Bemba clique.”
While hypocritically praising and portraying “Michael” as a good man, he launched scathing attacks. On August 31, 2014, he wrote: “And if Wynter was not loyal to Michael, who was, who is? Can it be the people who just a few weeks ago were going round, saying Michael is not coming back alive from Israel and were politically repositioning themselves to take over…There are many things we can say on this score. But for the sake of Michael, we will keep quiet, we will leave things here.”
In a fraught effort to resurrect Kabimba, the brazen and unscrupulous M’membe went even further as to apply “Watergate” clandestine tactics on Alexander Chikwanda that would lead to Zambia’s first phone tapping by a citizen on a cabinet minister. Fearing there were more “smoking guns,” Chikwanda turned yellow and let sleeping dogs lie.
Sataleaks
President Sata with Mr George Chellah at AU Summit
Sata was equally troubled. He too feared M’membe could hit him with damning revelations. A Sataleaks scandal was already brewing. Presidential confidential letters and memos were finding their way out of State House to M’membe and rolling into public view.
By keeping quiet over such matters, Sata continued to unveil his vulnerabilities. The anti-Kabimba faction that included Mwamba, Lubinda, Kambwili, and others expected Sata to immediately expel Kabimba from the party and put him under some sort of house arrest, pending investigations. They also hoped he would revoke his protection for Mmembe and make him answerable for his crimes. When this was not happening they began to see the full extent of Sata’s relationship with Kabimba and M’membe, and some like Kambwili could not bear the spectacle. In fact, it is this that has caused Kambwili to lose his mind and appoint himself de facto president.
Something else was emerging: The delay to appoint a Minister of Justice or Defense was tormenting people like Lubinda and Mwamba who are itching to bounce back. Why would the president award two ministerial posts to one man? Speculations began to fly around—he does not trust anyone anymore; he is suspicious of the Bemba clique; he has forgotten names of his Central Committee; he wants to bring Kabimba back; he is about to promote his son Mulenga to cabinet level, appoint him Minister of Defense so he can act president, and succeed him should he retire.
Grooming Mulenga Sata to take over presidency
LGAZ president Mulenga Sata (left) and German Embassy Counsellor Frank Hofmann (right) at Chrismar Hotel in Livingstone during the launch of a book titled 50 years of local government in Zambia.
The Mulenga speculation must not be trashed. It is an adroit political move that could see him succeed his father before we realize it. Like fireflies, indications of Sata grooming his son are conspicuously flickering and attracting gullible prey in a colony where 80% of the population can be easily swayed. Mulenga himself is at work creating a suitable resume. Lately, he has moved from been a reclusive and introvert to a gregarious fellow, always engaging the PF crowd and behaving like the anointed one.
When the international media reported that his father had died in a New York hotel, he took upon himself to hold a press conference at the Civic Center and spoke like a head of state: “I wish to inform the nation and the world at large that His Excellency the President Michael Chilufya Sata is well in New York contrary to the online and international media reports insinuating that the president had been hospitalized.” By doing so, Mulenga had steamrolled over the Acting President Edgar Lungu whose duty it was to inform the nation.
Prior to that, Mulenga had flown to South Korea on a so-called business trip to “woo” Koreans to invest in Zambia. He did this without the knowledge of the Acting President Wynter Kabimba. It has become clear that during both the Lungu and Kabimba acting periods, Mulenga has disrespected and disregarded their roles, and laid bare his desperate desire to succeed his father.
Mulenga knows that a debilitating illness is weighing heavily on his father and causing him unsteady leadership. As of now, Sata has done more than leave a gaping hole in the leadership of his party and the country.
The party is embroiled in a crisis. Each day that passes, PF cadres are becoming more confused than committed to Sata. Some are sitting on the fence waiting to see which one among the lame ducks can stir them out of the quagmire. Mulenga is fully aware, and so is Kabimba, Scott, Kambwili, Mwamba, Lubinda and all those with presidential aspirations. In other words a free-for-all battle is raging.
Kabimba -the trigger that will detonate PF
In all this kerfuffle, Kabimba is the time bomb. In a party of egoistic, envious, vengeful, ambitious, violent, greedy, and fanatic people, Kabimba can cause havoc that is if he is not already. Among all the aspirants, he is the most strong-willed, imaginative, and opinionated. Even after being flushed out of office, he has remained a dedicated member of the party, simply by sheer of force of determination. Many within the PF, including those who ran on the street to celebrate his removal, are beginning to have second thoughts. His message to them sums it all up:
“Good morning comrades. Thank you for keeping in touch. I’ve been at the farm where I’m doing some work, and thought of sharing some pictures. I wish you a productive week ahead. God bless you.”
With these words the die is cast. Wynter Kabimba has crossed the Rubicon and is about to blast the PF party into splinters. As evidenced by a recent fight among PF cadres in the presence of Edgar Lungu in Livingstone, Sata’s party has become a good target for bombardment. A disembodied hand has appeared and written on the PF wall the words, “Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin.”
Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda (right) and Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) General Secretary Roy Mwaba
Judiciary and Allied Workers Union of Zambia President Peter Mwale has called on the PF government to rescind its decision to maintain the “stupid” wage freeze or risk having a countrywide protests in the judiciary.
And Mr. Mwale has described Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda as the worst Labour Minister the country has ever had.
Speaking when he featured on Muvi TV’s the Assignment program on Sunday Mr. Mwale said it was unfair for poor workers who have already sacrificed enough to continue doing so when Ministers and other senior Government Officials such as Permanent Secretaries are not doing so themselves.
Mr. Mwale said the wage freeze should not be maintained because the cost of living has gone up and the increment public workers got in September 2013 has been over taken by events as commodities and services such as electricity, water and transport have all doubled since the last salary hike.
“Do you know that Ministers, Deputy Ministers and PSs are getting a lot of money. In terms of housing allowances a Minister gets about 9000, a Deputy 7000 and a PS gets about 17000 fuel allowance per Month and on top of that they have two official Vehicles one for the Minister and the other one for the family and that is just talking about fuel and maintenance now it will be very naïve and unreasonable come and call on the poor workers to sacrifice.
Why is this sacrifice always targeted at the poor worker, the lowly paid in the Civil Service? The sacrifice that is being called by government has never been genuine; it has never yield any results, we have been engaging with government and there is nothing that we as Labour leaders have put on the table that government has taken.”
Mr. Mwale further said the workers in the country will not be intimidated by threats of dismissal if they take to the streets because demonstrations are part of negotiations adding that the Labour Minister should be in the best position to know that going to the media and demonstrations are part of negotiations.
“To intimidate workers it has proved elsewhere and even in Zambia that it does not work. I know that the Minister of Labour has always come out strongly to say that protests are always not a better way of engaging government, going to the media is not the way to engage government but you see engaging government has got different points even coming to the media and talk about issues that haven’t agreed on is engaging government.
I think that Mr. Shamenda himself knows very well that engagement is not just sitting on the round table to talk about issues but also protests, peaceful protests and going to the media is also another way of engaging government so that they can listen to our demands because will spoken in the round tables, we have cried, we have said can this stupid wage freeze be lifted we have said it time and again but they have refused,” he said.
Mr. Mwale added that workers will not stand by and watch while they are treated unfairly by government further wondering why government continues to have a bloated cabinet when it claims that it does not have money for the poor workers in the country.
He said the workers in the Judiciary wwill withdrew their services and camp at Mr. Chikwanda’s office till their demands are met as talking has not yielded any results adding that a protest is the only language that Mr. Chikwanda will listen to and that it has become apparent that the PF is not a listening government.
Mr. Mwale also said the fight against corruption in the judiciary will remain a fight in futility as long as workers in the sector remain under paid further wondering how someone who is hungry can not be corrupted.
Meanwhile Mr. Mwale has described the country’s Labour Minister as the Worst Minister the nation has ever had.
He also doubted the negotiating skills of Mr. Shamenda saying ” Mr. Shamenda boasts that he was a good labour leader and that he was good negotiator I think he was not and the records are there at ZCTU to prove that.”
Angolan Minister of External Relations Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti (L) being welcomed by Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary George Zulu
ANGOLA has expressed interest in becoming a major supplier of oil to Zambia following expansion of its oil refineries.
Angolan Minister of External Relations Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti said yesterday that the two countries should develop transport infrastructure to facilitate the movement of oil from that country to Zambia.
Dr Chikoti was speaking yesterday on arrival at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport for a two-day visit.
Angola is developing a new oil refinery in Lobito and Lua borders, which would greatly enhance oil supply in that country and Zambia stands to greatly benefit from this.
The minister said there was need to improve the railway transport system between Zambia and Angola to facilitate for the transportation of oil between the two countries.
“We have a railway line from Angola up to DRC but there is hope for Zambia and Angola to discuss a shorter rail line to facilitate the transportation of oil so that Zambia can benefit,” Dr Chikoti said.
Hs was met at the airport by Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary George Zulu and some Angolan officials.
Dr Chikoti also said that his government would engage Angolan businesses on possibilities of purchasing agro products such as maize from Zambia.
He said this in response to an appeal by Mr Zulu for Angola to consider buying maize and other products from Zambia, which has in excess of three million tonnes of maize this year and requires a market.
But Dr Chikoti said the purchase of food in Angola had been left to the private sector and called for meetings between Zambia and the Angolan private sector.
There is need to have sustained production every year to avoid shortage of the commodity on the market once Angola starts buying maize from Zambia.
He was glad that agriculture in Zambia was growing very fast and that Angola’s open economy would greatly benefit from that sector.
“Zambia and Angola should also enhance energy supply and see how best the two countries could share power, especially in border areas. There is a lot we are anxious about and open to assist,” he said.
Mr Zulu said Zambia would continue to pursue the agenda of benefiting from the oil industry in Angola.
He said Angola should also consider getting its food from Zambia and not Brazil because the country had excess maize available for sale.
While in Zambia, Dr Chikoti is expected to meet President Michael Sata or Vice-President Guy Scott.
He is also expected to hold meetings with Commerce Trade and Industry,Transport and Communication, as well as Foreign Affairs ministers.
Dr Chikoti will also meet Angolan residents in Zambia.
Angolan Minister of External Relations Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti (R) being with Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary George Zulu
FAZ has postponed the Super League Week 27 match between Roan United and Indeni to facilitate its live broadcast on SuperSport next week.
This match which was scheduled to be played at Kafubu Stadium on Sunday has now been pushed to October 19.
Both clubs have confimed that FAZ instructed them not to go ahead with the game as planned.
“Late last week, we received instructions from FAZ General Secretary George Kasengele that will should not go ahead with the match. He said SuperSport wants to televise the game,” a Roan official said.
This was supposed to be Roan’s first game at Kafubu Stadium in Luanshya after serving a five-game home slapped on them over crowd trouble.
Bottom placed Roan have 17 points from 26 mathes while Indeni are 15th on the table with 24 points.
Power Dynamos stayed second after failing to reclaim top spot on the FAZ Super Division table.
Power drew 0-0 away to Napsa Stars at Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka just 24 hours after Zesco United replaced them at the summit of the table after a 3-0 home win over Nkana in Ndola.
Zesco and Power are now on 55 and 54 points respectively from 27 matches with three matches left before the 2014 league title is decided.
The result see Zesco, Power and Zanaco separated by three points in a now three-horse race for the title.
Napsa are fifth on 45 points, one behind outgoing champions Nkana.
Education Minister John Phiri says government has put up effective mechanisms to seal all loopholes leading to leaking of final examination papers.
Recently scores of Grade 12 pupils at Helen Kaunda, Kitwe Boys and Mukuba Secondary Schools in Kitwe ran amok throwing stones and burning vehicle tyres after discovering that they had fake leaked examination papers.
And about thirty nine Grade 12 pupils were this week rounded up in Lusaka after they converged to study a leaked examination paper.
But Dr. Phiri has told QFM News that his ministry together with the Examination Council of Zambia (ECZ) has worked out measures of protecting exam papers.
Dr. Phiri says government is pleased that this year there are no cases of real leaked examination papers.
He says the people selling papers are just conmen who are just taking advantage of the pupils knowing that some of them are desperate.
The Education Minister adds that with the new measures that have been put in place, it is quiet difficult to have access to any examination paper.
Dr. Phiri states that the ones that the people are having access to are fake.
He has since urged pupils not to rely on examination leakages but rather prepare adequately for the examinations.
Government is reviewing policies that have a bearing on children in order to end violence perpetrated against girls.
Gender and Child Development Minister, Inonge Wina, says the policies that are being revised include the National Child Policy, the National Gender Policy, the Education Policy, the Social Protection Policy and the Cultural Policy among others.
Ms Wina was speaking during the commemoration of the International Day of the Girl Child held at Chawama Basic School ground in Lusaka.
She said the revision of the policies is aimed at making them more responsive to the needs of children especially the girls by ensuring that they provide adequate protection.
Ms Wina said government is also implementing programmes such as the Youth Empowerment Programme under the Ministry of Youth and Sport and the Women Economic Programme under her ministry meant to empower young people in Zambia.
She counselled girls on the need to concentrate on their studies and engage in various sporting activities that will not only keep them busy but also contribute to their wellbeing and further encouraged them to participate and excel in mathematics and other science subjects.
Ms Wina also called for conceited efforts to fight vices such as child marriages, teenage pregnancies, sexual exploitation of girls as well as other harmful traditional practices which are a hindrance to girls advancement in life.
She also cautioned parents and guardians to take up parental responsibilities seriously in order to address the challenges affecting the girl child.
And SOS Children’s Zambia National Director, Lavert Zulunde, said children, especially the girl child, need to be cared for in order to shape their future in a positive manner.
DR Chilufya (middle) explain how basic support systems operates in an ambulance to Chief Nabwala (right) during the handover of the facility to Nabwalya health center. Looking on is area member of parliament Mwimba Malama
Government has assured the people of Zambia that government has put everything in place to ensure that there will be no shortages of drugs in the country by next year.
Health Deputy Minister Chitalu Chilufya has told QFM News in an interview that government is strengthening the supply chain to ensure that there are drugs in health institutions at all times.
Dr. Chilufya says it is for this reason that government is currently decentralizing the Medical Stores of Zambia in a bid to create regional hubs across the country.
He says health institutions will not be needed to order medicines from Lusaka but that they will easily access them from the regional hubs.
He adds that government has declared a zero tolerance to drug stock out in the country.
The Southern African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) would like to observe that the 2015 has exhibited an improved sense of economic independence in that most of it will be financed locally. However, we express our disappointment with the failure by the Minister of Finance to positively respond to the many aspirations of stakeholders with regards to the 2015 budget.
In our case of major disappointment is the failure by the government to provide sufficient funds to enable the constitution making process to be completed. We find the K29.3 million allocated to the process insufficient considering that together with most stakeholders, we have been calling to an expedited constitution making process which is supposed to end with a referendum adopting the new constitution in readiness for the 2016 general elections.
Over the years we have noted that the electoral process has been a potential source of conflict and that measures should have been taken to ensure that genuine and honest reforms are undertaken so as to prevent electoral conflicts. With the failure to address concerns within Zambia’s electoral laws and system, the potential for conflict as a result of a poorly managed electoral system still abound in this environment and the effects could be worse than what was experienced in other African countries.
SACCORD is also disappointed that key sectors such as Health, Education and Agriculture have seen reductions in the budget allocation for the year 2015 with the construction sector receiving more funds as compared to 2014. The constructive sector has been a source of concern with the way contracts are being awarded. We urge the minister to ensure that the sector benefits all the people of Zambia.
We also feel that the budget should have had more policies that seek to sustain current jobs while seeking to create many more so that the poverty our people are experiencing as a result of lack of employment can be reduced. The major losers again are the young people of Zambia who are being ignored in terms of creating a suitable environment for them to get jobs or engage in sustainable income generating activities.
While more schools and universities are either being built or upgraded, there has not been a corresponding program on the part of government to ensure that the many young professionals who are graduating from these institutions get to be employed. While few may be employed under the health and education sectors, many more will still have to wait or survive by engaging in jobs that are outside their areas of training. We would like to remind the government that Zambia will only prosper when these professionals are put to good use. It is government’s responsibility to ensure that it provides for its nationals not only those that are its supporters and where they seek to get benefits.
While our parliament debates the 2015 budget, in the interest of the nation, we call on Members of Parliament to introduce new proposals to strengthen this budget so that it is more centered on the people.
We want to welcome the creation of the Sovereign Wealth Fund as we believe that peace and prosperity goes hand in hand. As SACCORD we believe that the creation of this fund will help improve Zambia’s rating on the COMESA Peace and Prosperity Index (CPPI). We also welcome the allocation to public order as it will enable more officers to be recruited and employed which will enhance the administration of the Public Order Act and enable more citizens to enjoy their rights.
Sports Minister Chishimba Kambwili has told Chipolopolo to be serious after Saturday’s disappointing goalless draw with Niger in the away 2015 Africa Cup qualifier in Niamey.
Zambia remain stuck in third place in Group F with two points from three matches and are four points behind leaders Cape Verde.
Kambwili said he was shocked to see Zambia fail to beat Niger.
“I am extremely disappointed with the result. I never expected that we were going to draw with Niger,” Kambwili said.
“I appeal to the technical bench and the players to please die a little for Mother Zambia and be serious with what they are doing,” he said.
Zambia started the Morocco 2015 AFCON qualifiers with a scoreless draw against Mozambique before succumbing to a 2-1 loss in Cape Verde.
“We need to pull up our socks as time is not on our side. We have drawn two games and lost one. This is not a healthy situation for Zambia.
On Wednesday, Honour Janza’s side faces Niger in Ndola in the two teams fourth Group F match.
Governor of the Bank of Zambia Dr Michael Gondwe, has been presented with the prestigious “Central Bank Governor of the Year Award,” at the Africa Investor (Ai) Investment and Business Leader Awards ceremony held at the Ritz Hotel, in Washington DC during the week.
Monica Musonda founder of Java Foods was also bestowed with the “Africa’s Leading Women in Business Award” at the same ceremony.
The awards were presented at the Ai CEO Investment Summit, held in association with the IFC and the World Bank Group Trade and Competitiveness Global Practice ahead of the annual meetings.
Director General of Zambia Development Agency, Mr Patrick Chisanga, said the Agency had received the news about the Investment and Business Leader Awards with great pride and excitement.
“ZDA has received with tremendous pride and elation the confirmation of the news of the award of Central Bank Governor of the Year, Dr Michael Gondwe, as well as Monica Musonda as Africa’s Leading Woman in Business. This is a reflection of the growing confidence by the international community in Zambia’s unfolding economic programme. It shows that the Central Bank under Dr Gondwe’ s stewardship has recorded positive achievements, which have been noted and recognised by the international economic community. ”
He added, “Monica Musonda is an up and coming indigenous Zambian entrepreneur who has achieved international recognition at a very tender age. We are proud of her achievements in the agro-processing industry as MD of Java Foods. We want to take this opportunity to encourage other Zambians to show total commitment in the advancement of their business enterprises.”
Mr Chisanga assured the private sector that ZDA will do everything possible to support and facilitate the growth of the Zambian entrepreneurial sector from being small, medium to large enterprises.
Monica Musonda was selected from a list of eight distinguished business women that included Isabel Dos Santos an investor from Angola, Folorunsho Alakija an oil investor from Nigeria and Maria Ramos CEO of ABSA.
Zambia are back home from Niger ahead of Wednesday’s final leg Group F qualifier against opponents from the Sahel.
Honour Janza’s sides returns from Niamey just hours after firing blanks on Saturday night against Niger in a 0-0 draw.
Zambia landed at Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport in Ndola on a charter flight just after 06h00 on Sunday morning.
The team later drove to Mukuka Hotel in Ndola where they will be camped and for a days rest before resuming full training on Monday at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
Zambia will host Niger at Levy Mwanawasa in an 18h00 kickoff on October 15.
