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Zambia defender Stopilla Sunzu is a doubt top face Niger in Saturday’s 2015 Africa Cup Group F qualifier away in Niamey.
The defender from French Ligue 2 club Sochaux has left camp due to a family bereavement following the death of his sister.
Zambia coach Honour Janza said he could not state whether Sunzu will be available for the Niger doubleheader that will conclude in a second leg match on October 15 at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
“Everyone is aware he has a bereavement. He will say whether he is ready to go or not,” Janza said.
“From a football side, we have to go forward, the game has to be played but it brings some challenges without him because he is part of this family but we mourn with him.”
Meanwhile, the team is expected to fly out to Niger at 08h00 on Thursday morning on a five hour chartered flight from Lusaka.
Nkana have been drawn against Konkola Blades in the semifinals of the 2014 Barclays Cup.
The two sides will meet in a semifinal doubleheader on October 18 at Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe.
Nkana and Blades will meet just six weeks after the Chililabombwe side beat the defending FAZ Super Division champions 1-0 in a league game on September 3 at Konkola Stadium.
That game was Nkana coach Beston Chambeshi’s first meeting with his former team after dumping them in late July to take up the Wusakile job.
Nkana had earlier in the season defeated Blades 2-1 in the first leg meeting last May in Kitwe.
Nkana are hoping to qualify to the Barclays Cup finals in their fifth appearance in the competition.
Blades’ best record in the competition has been a runners-up finish in 2011.
Meanwhile, record three-time champions Zesco United will face 2012 winners Napsa Stars in the lunchtime kick-off.
President Sata greets Service chiefs on arrival the ZAF commissioning Parade in Livingstone on May 9,2014 -Picture by T.Nsama
President Michael Sata should consider firing some of the heads of State security wings because it has become clear that their loyalties are divided, said Paradious Sakala.
He said this was the reason why there was inertia on the part of these officers to crack down on those alleging to be stealing government secrets and undermining the party in power.
Mr Sakala, who is former Kapoche PF losing candidate, said it was strange for all State security agencies to have failed to act on clear criminal acts of stealing State secrets even after there had been complaints from government.
[pullquote]State security wings such as the Zambia Police and the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) should not wait for instructions from government to deal with criminal acts such as stealing and circulating State secrets[/pullquote]
He said it was shocking that some media houses had gone as far as invading the privacy of ministers and recording their private conversations and publishing them without the police and other State security wings taking action.
Mr Sakala said there was a danger that President Michael Sata could be a victim of such criminal illegal recordings and that the scam of stealing government secrets was posing a security risk to the country and its governance.
He stated that State security wings such as the Zambia Police and the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) should not wait for instructions from government to deal with criminal acts such as stealing and circulating State secrets.
He said this was the first time that individuals and institutions could be tolerated to secretly record and publishing private conversations of government ministers such as Alexander Chikwanda.
He wondered why there had been inertia on the part of the police and DEC to act on government’s complaints over stolen State secrets, adding that there was a danger that the people with classified State documents could easily blackmail and sabotage government.
Mr Sakala said President Sata should realize that the cartel was still active because most of its members were still in the party and government, adding that the earlier the Head of State took action the safer for the country and government.
He stated that the PF and government was aware of its enemies and that the cartel would never rest until it achieved its objective of making the ruling party stay in government for one term.
He explained that although President Sata was preaching peace and unity in the party, there was need to get rid of elements that were blackmailing and sabotaging government.
“In as much as we want unity and peace in the party and government, it is a fact that the cartel is not sleeping because they do not want us to go beyond 2016. We need to immediately offload some elements that are sabotaging government programmes. Government secrets are missing and are in the wrong hands and everyone is quiet,’’ he said.
File:First Lady Dr Christine Kaseba gives a talk at Chinsali Girls Secondary School
Police in Chinsali district of Muchinga Province have retrieved a day- old baby from a pit latrine after its 15-year-old mother abandoned it for dead.
Muchinga Province Deputy Police Commissioner, Bonny Kapeso, confirmed the incident in an interview in Chinsali today.
Mr Kapeso said police in the district retrieved the infant from a pit latrine at Chinsali Girls’ Secondary School on Sunday morning.He added that the police found the infant in deep water in the toilet.
The Deputy Police Commissioner said that the infant was dumped in a pit latrine by its mother after delivery, saying the baby was a full term baby.
Mr Kapeso said that the mother, who is a Grade Eight pupil, has since been charged with infanticide and will appear in court soon today Wednesday October 8, 2014.
FILE: PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda flags off the 2011 campaign for his party MMD during the occasion of the dissolution of the National Assembly at State House
Political Scientist, Alex Ng’oma, has challenged former Republican President Rupiah Banda to state clearly why he wants to make a political comeback.
Dr. Ng’oma has told QFM News in a telephone interview that it is worrying that Mr. Banda is busy allegedly campaigning for his political comeback and not telling the people what he intends to achieve after coming back into politics.
He states that it is important that Mr. Banda tells the nation what he intends to do which he never did in his three years as President.
Dr Ng’oma says though it is his democratic right to contest for the presidency, it is only logical that Mr. Banda leaves room for other people to try and build on where he left.
He adds that Zambia is not in short of leaders who can contribute meaningfully to the development of the country.
Dr Ng’oma says Mr. Banda should clearly give reasons why the people of Zambia should give him another chance when he already had his time to serve as a President.
And Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) President Andrew Nthewewe says it will not make sense for the former president to come back into active politics.
Mr Nthewewe says the former President has already contributed enough to Zambian politics.
Mr. Nthewewe says there is need for the older generation of leaders to give the young people chance to showcase their leadership skills.
Former Finance Minister Ng’andu Magande says he hopes the 2015 national budget to be presented to Parliament this Friday will be a balanced one especially in view of revelations that government has no money to complete the Link Zambia-8000 road project.
Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda has been recently quoted in the media as saying the Link Zambia 8,000 Road project is an ambitious undertaking which could not be achieved in 20 years.
Speaking to Qfm news in an interview, Mr. Magande has wondered how government will be able to pay international contractors working on the project when it is indicating that there could be no money to complete the road project.
He says this is why he is hoping that government will present a balanced national budget in which revenues will equal expenditures.
Mr. Magande, who is also opposition National Movement for Progress president says this, is the only way government will be able to accommodate its loft ideas.
He notes that there is also need for government to start funding priority projects from which Zambians will be able to earn their own incomes.
Chinsali District Commissioner, Evelyn Kangwa, has directed the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) in the district to pay farmers their dues for the crop marketing season that officially closed yesterday.
Ms Kangwa said she is very disappointed that the FRA has not started paying the farmers in Muchinga Province despite the monies being available in the banks.
She said it will be logical that farmers are paid as they celebrate Zambia`s Golden Jubilee of 50 years of independence.
The DC said this in an interview with the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in Chinsali today.
Ms Kangwa said the FRA must always ensure that they prepare names in advance in readiness for payments even before the money is ready.
She also said that with the powers invested in her she has further directed FRA to shift its Provincial offices from Isoka District to Chinsali, the Provincial centre.
Efforts to get a comment from FRA Provincial Marketing Officer, Musiwa Mukololo, failed by press time as his phone went unanswered.
Zambia Railways Limited has requested for US$150 million from government to improve its operations.
Zambia Railways Chief Executive Officer Muyenga Attanga disclosed that the firm has already exhausted the US$120 million obtained from the Eurobond allocation.
Professor Attanga revealed that the bulk of the Eurobond funds have been used for ongoing rehabilitation of the railway network and purchase of new wagons.
He said Zambia Railways needs over US$530,000 to completely revamp its operations.
Professor Atanga however observed that US$150 million will be adequate to carry out further rehabilitation works on its network and meant obligations such as the purchase of fuel.
[pullquote]If we don’t get that amount, it means that all the good work we have done so far using the 120 million dollars from the Eurobond would go down the drain,” Professor Attanga warned.[/pullquote]
He was speaking in Lusaka Tuesday afternoon when Secretary to Cabinet Dr Rowland Msiska paid a courtesy call on him at his office.
“We need the 150 million dollars to completely get Zambia Railways back on track. If we don’t get that amount, it means that all the good work we have done so far using the 120 million dollars from the Eurobond would go down the drain,” Professor Attanga warned.
He said Zambia Railways is also concerned that it has not been catered for in the 2015 national budget.
“We are worried that we are hearing stories that we have not been catered for in the 2015 national budget, this will make our life even more difficult. We need to secure at least US$ 150 million to get this company running efficiently again,” he said.
And Secretary to Cabinet Rowland Msiska said he is greatly impressed with the transformation that Zambia Railways Limited has undergone.
“I strongly believe that Zambia have the potential to carry out excellent projects if given a chance. This is an example of what can be achieved if Zambians are given a chance. I’m impressed with the way you have used the space here since moving the Coperate Head Office from Kabwe to here (Lusaka).
MMD die hard youth leader Bowman Lusambo captured during the gathering to demand for the release of the Zambian draft constitution.
RB IS WELCOME TO REJOIN BATTLE FOR PRESIDENCY
We as the MMD youths have been vindicated over the happenings of the last few weeks regarding intentions by former Republican President Rupiah Banda to return to active politics.
When we first spoke about this matter, some people doubted our sincerity over this issue when we counseled President Banda and other old politicians to leave the political stage for young politicians.
Now that it has become apparent that Mr Banda wants to return, we have drawn up a six point plan why we believe President Banda should continue in political retirement. He is however welcome to rejoin the battle for the presidency for 2016 although he should be prepared for the following consequences.
1. Zambia requires young and emerging leaders and not political fossils.
2. What political strength does he have now which failed to make him win when he had the privileges of incumbency in the 2011 polls?
3. Currently RB is regarded as a Statesman, but by coming back into active politics, he will lose that status and get embarrassed by insults from party cadres.
4. RB is currently facing criminal charges before the courts of law and these cases may take long to be disposed even before 2016. The Zambian Constitution is very clear that a Presidential candidate should not have such matters standing against him at the time of nomination. What will happen if by such time, the cases are not disposed off?
5. Unless RB is forming another political party, MMD already has a Presidential candidate. He should tell us which party he is going to use unless he has been sponsored to come and destroy MMD.
6. The youth from all political parties should not be compromised to bring back very old politicians to govern this country when there so many intelligent, educated, visionary young Zambians to take this country forward. We appreciate that these are former freedom fighters who fought hard to bring Independence to Zambian but they should now retire and leave chance to the current generation. We shall continue consulting their wealth of wisdom.
7. RB as a father of the nation should have supported the current MMD President Nevers Sekwila Mumba and ensure that the MMD bounces back into power. By deceiving himself that he can win re-election as Republican President, Mr Banda is making a grave mistake. We believe deceiving oneself is dangerous.
Issued by Bowman Lusambo-MMD Die Hard National Coordinator
OPPOSITION political parties have welcomed the Government’s decision to transform the University of Zambia (UNZA) bursary scheme into a loans board.
MMD deputy national secretary Chembe Nyangu said in an interview yesterday that giving loans to students would go a long way in promoting education in Zambia.
He said introduction of a loans scheme would ensure that more students have accessed to funds to enable them attain their desired education.
“The idea of a loans board is a very important new idea and needs to be supported as it will go a long way in improving education in Zambia,” Mr Nyangu said.
Mr Nyangu, however, called for the proper management of the loans board to be introduced to ensure that it saved the desired purpose.
He said it would be important for the Government to consider relaxing the conditions to be attached to the loan scheme to ensure many vulnerable people were given an opportunity to get education.
UPND secretary general Winston Chibwe said e introduction of the loans board was long overdue.
He said the Government should not just turn the bursary into a loans scheme but also create an environment which would make it possible for the students to pay back the loans.
Mr Chibwe said the Government should increase employment in the country to assist students pay back loans after completion of studies at the university.
He said that without employment, it would be difficult to maintain the loans board as a revolving fund organisation because many students would not be able to pay back.
Education Minister John Phiri told Parliament last Friday that the Government was working out modalities to transform the bursary scheme into a loans board to ensure as many students as possible accessed education.
President Sata greets deputy speaker of the Natiional Assembly Mkhondo Lungu during the opening of parliament on September 19, 2014 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
DEPUTY SPEAKER of the national assembly Mkhondo Lungu yesterday reserved ruling in the case in which PF cadres on Monday openly fought at the Livingstone city council chamber in the presence of PF Secretary General Edgar Lungu, provincial minister Daniel Munkombwe and area MP Lawrence Evans.
This followed a point of order raised by UPND Mazabuka Central MP Gary Nkombo.
Mr Nkombo sought to find out whether the PF was in order to continue perpetrating violence which had the capacity to keep citizens unease and destabilise the country.
Mr Nkombo said the violence by PF cadres was a breach of the Constitution article 21.
And parliament yesterday heard that 51 percent of rural areas will be electrified under the rural electrification programme by 2016.
Mines and energy deputy minister told the House that Government was currently carrying out feasibility studies in rural areas under the rural electrification master plan.
Mr Musukwa was responding to a question raised by Beach a PF MP Sydney Mushanga who wanted to find out when Government would electrify wards in his area.
Many opposition MPs took the Government to task over the electrification of their areas but Mr Danny Chingimbu maintained that his ministry was waiting for funding from ministry of finance to hasten progress on the electrification programme.
The opposition also took Government to task over the outstanding road works under the link Zambia 8000 project.
This followed a question by Lumezi MP Isaac Banda who wanted to find out when the tarring of the road linking eastern province to muchinga province.
Mafinga MMD MP Catherine Namugala caused a stir from the ruling PF when she accused Government of neglecting to work on that road because it belonged to non Bemba speaking people.
But transport deputy minister mwimba malama expressed disappointment over Ms Namugala’ sentiments saying that it was the MMD that awarded that project without designs so the PF had to carry out the feasibility studies and give designs to the contractor.
Mr malama reiterated Governments commitment to complete the road and connect it from chama to lundazi.
Chongwe PF MP Sylvia Masebo also condemned the violence saying it should be curbed by the Government before it escalates beyond control.
Choma UPND MP Cornelius Mweetwa questioned the delays in swearing in some high court judges and the continued silence by minister of finance Alexander Chikwanda not to address the House on rule 18 of VAT refunds despite the continued debate of the issue outside the House.
GOVERNMENT says there is need to clean up the Bursaries Committee to rid it of corruption allegations.
Minister of Education, Science and Vocational Training John Phiri says that he has received complaints that some undeserving students have been awarded bursaries at the expense of genuinely needy scholars.
“We have given the bursaries committee guidelines, I have asked them to give me a report on the allocation of the bursaries,’’ he said.
Dr Phiri said the findings of the report from the Bursaries Committee will be made public and Government will only take the next step once the report is out.
ZAMBIA Consolidated Copper Mines Investment Holdings (ZCCM-IH) shareholders have approved payment of a K250 million dividend to Government.
ZCCM-IH investor relations officer Joseph Lungu announced at a press briefing yesterday that the decision was made at the firm’s annual general meeting (AGM) in Lusaka.
“Today, our shareholders approved payment of a final dividend of K1.56 per share which had been recommended by the directors,” Mr Lungu said.
This is the first dividend that ZCCM-IH has paid since its transformation into an investment holding company in 2000.
Mr Lungu said the dividend has come as a result of the steps government took to convert the debt of K1.8 billion that ZCCM-IH owed it into equity through a clawback rights offer which was completed in March this year.
This has also led to the company raising K257 million as capital.
“This has really positioned the company strongly to exploit investment opportunities that will benefit the shareholders and the nation,” he said.
Mr Lungu said the capital market has recognised the steps the company has taken and this is evidenced by the performance in the share price.
He said this year alone, the company’s share price has gone up by 134 percent, valuing the company at over US$1 billion, which makes it one of the largest companies on the Lusaka Stock Exchange by market capitalisation.
“In fact, since 2011, the share price has gone up by 300 percent which is a remarkable return for our shareholders,” Mr Lungu said.
He also said the company has incorporated a representative of the minority shareholders.
Financially, the company performed well this year with a revenue of K803 million compared to K305 million in the previous year, representing a 163 percent rise.
The company’s profit after tax was K892 million from K567 million, while total assets were K8.7 billion from K7.3 billion.
The group had a revenue of K1 billion and profit after tax of K277 million.
