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Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda says he acted professionally with regards the bribery allegations he made against a Dangote official.
Mr. Shamenda says he acted in a professional manner by confronting Dangote Cement Zambia to stop what they were doing.
Mr. Shamenda says those calling for his resignation and prosecution for failing to report the bribe offer to the Anti Corruption Commission within 24 hours should understand that it was up him to act in the manner he did.
He says it is shocking that some people do not believe that a public officer can reject a bribe offer.
Mr. Shamenda says how he decided to expose what happened between him and the Dangote official was entirely up to him.
Mr. Shamenda says he is not a corrupt public officer and he will always adhere to upholding integrity.
Traditional dancers in action at Parliament grounds
PARLIAMENT yesterday heard that Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) Plc paid K782,269,066.72 in form of taxes to the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) in 2012.
Mines, Energy and Water Development Deputy Minister Richard Musukwa told the House that KCM was not selling copper to Vedanta Resources but was selling at the international market on the London Stock Exchange.
Mr Musukwa was responding to a question for oral answer from Lumezi MMD MP Isaac Banda who wanted to find out what the total number of workers employed by Vedanta Resources Plc was, whether KCM sold copper to Vedanta Resources, how much copper was sold in 2012 and how much money was paid by KCM in form of taxes to the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) in 2012.
He said the company had a total number of 7,553 workers as of August 29, 2014. Opposition MPs in the House, however, took the Government to task over the auditing of KCM.
Mafinga MMD MP Catherine Namugala wondered what the Government was doing about suspicions by many Zambians that KCM was under-declaring its earnings considering that Zambia had 20 per cent shares.
Ms Namugala and Chipangali MP Vincent Zulu also wanted to find out why the Auditor General was unable to audit KCM operations.
But Mr Musukwa assured the House that the Government was working to eradicate the suspicions that KCM was under-declaring its taxes so that Zambians, as shareholders in the mine, could get the best in terms of tax.
He said Zambia owned KCM and was determined to ensure the value of its 20 per cent shareholding in KCM was realised.
Keembe MMD MP Ronnie Shikapwasha and his Chavuma counterpart Kenneth Konga also called for the Government to ensure that KCM was audited by the Auditor General’s office for the benefit of the Zambian people.
But speaking on behalf of the Government, Sports Minister Chishimba Kambwili maintained that KCM had its own auditors, adding that ZRA did audit KCM.
And Parliament heard that the Government would soon start working with the American government to construct 144 bridges throughout the country.
Transport, Works and Supply Deputy Minister Panji Kaunda said the Government was determined to work on the critical areas for the benefit of the Zambians.
He urged members of the House to support local contractors for the benefit of the Zambian people.
Information and Broadcasting Services Deputy Minister Poniso Njeulu said the Government had procured 70 cameras to be distributed to Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) throughout the country this year.
Mr Njeulu was responding to a question from Kaputa PF MP Maxus Ng’onga who wanted to know when ZANIS in Kaputa District would be provided with cameras and other related equipment, including a vehicle.
Kalomo UPND MP Request Muntanga urged the Government to address the serious deforestation that had taken place in some parts of the country like Chikankata.
He was commenting on Chipili PF MP Davies Chipili who wanted to find out from the minister of Lands, Environment and Natural Resources when the tree planting project in Kawambwa would be completed.
Colonel Kaunda said more than 20,000 hectares of land had been set aside for the tree planting project in Kawambwa.
He, however, assured the House that the Government was revising the Forestry Act for the benefit of the Zambian people.
Other opposition MPs in the House, including Chembe MMD MP Mwansa Mbulakulima, Choma UPND MP Cornelius Mweetwa, Chikankata UPND MP Munji Habeenzu, UPND Kabompo West MP Ambrose Lufuma and Mr Muntanga urged the Government to complete school buildings that had remained incomplete for years throughout the country.
This followed a question by Sesheke UPND MP Siyauya Sianga who wanted to find out when the construction of a classroom block at Kaale Primary School in Sesheke District would be completed.
Mines, Energy and Water Development Minister Christopher Yaluma
GOVERNMENT has called on mining industries to begin to develop local capacity to undertake specialist projects in order for them to contribute to long term sustainable development of the country.
Mines, Energy and Water Development Minister Christopher Yaluma said currently, the Zambian mining industry was importing more than 80 per cent of its technical know-how because of insignificant local specialist service providers in the country.
Mr Yaluma said this in Kitwe yesterday when he graced the ceremony for the last blast in the sinking of the Mopani Copper Mines (MCM)’s US $323 million Synclinorium Shaft at Nkana Mine by Murray and Roberts Cementation, the contractor engaged for the project.
He said in a speech read for him by Mines acting Permanent Secretary Paul Chanda that the importation of technical know-how was contributing the high cost of production in the country’s mining industry.
“To change this setting, I urge the industry to begin to developing local capacity to undertake these specialist projects.
“This can only be achieved when international mining groups like Murray and Roberts Cementation forge partnership with Zambian entrepreneurs to form companies through which meaningful technology and skills transfer can take place,” he said.
Mr Yaluma commended MCM for investing in the project of sinking of the Synclinorium Shaft, which upon completion, would extend the life of the mine by at least 25 years.
He said Government was delighted by the development because not only would it secure long term employment of the people but also continues to sustain the economy of Kitwe and contribute to the country’s economy at large.
Mr Yaluma described the last blast in the sinking of the Synclinorium Shaft as a key milestone in the continued development and of the mining industry in the country.
MCM chief executive officer Danny Callow said the completion of the sinking of the main Synclinorium Shaft marked a major milestone in the construction of the state-of-the-art Synclinorium Shat aimed at extending the life of the mine beyond the current expected depletion dates of the existing reserves.
“This shaft will secure more than 3, 000 jobs which would otherwise have been lost as a result of closure of some of our uneconomic mines beginning in 2015,” he said.
Mr Callow said apart from securing the 3, 000 jobs, the new shaft would provide MCM with access to some 115 million tonnes of ore at a grade of 1.9 per cent copper and 0.09 per cent cobalt as well as provide sustainable income to the Government treasury.
Currently, he said, MCM was producing between 2.7 and 3 million metric tonnes of copper ore per year at Nkana but that with the coming the coming of the new shaft, the production level would almost double to around 5.1 million tonnes annually.
Mr Callow, however, bemoaned the continued withholding of the mining-giant’s US $200 million value added tax (VAT) refunds, a thing he said could force the mining firm to slow down progress on some of the development projects.
“In fact I must say mention that some of the projects have since been suspended due to financial constraints and these suspended projects will have a major future impact on our goal to increase copper production yet again by more than 50 per cent,” Mr Callow said.
ZAMBIA still has adequate fuel stocks to cover for the period that Indeni Petroleum Refinery will shut down for annual routine maintenance this month.
Minister of Energy Christopher Yaluma said the country has sufficient fuel stocks to maintain a sustainable flow when Indeni closes for routine maintenance next month.
In an interview on Tuesday, Mr Yaluma assured the public that the closure of Indeni would not disrupt the supply of fuel as the country has fuel reserves above 20 days.
“There is no need for the public to panic. Indeni will be closed any time from now for the usual maintenance, but we have enough stock to see us through this closure.
“We have fuel reserves going above 20 days which should sustain the country next month when Indeni is closed for two to three weeks,” he said.
Mr Yaluma also assured the nation that there would be no fuel increment for the remainder of this year.
“We are not likely to see any increment of fuel this year because the prices were adjusted upwards recently,” he said.
On electricity tariffs, Mr Yaluma said the country will not experience another tariff hike this year other than the one that was announced in March and is yet to be implemented.
File: Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda with Muchinga Permanent Secretary Charles Sipanje touring newly opened Zambia National Commercial Bank Branch in Nakonde
FINANCE Minister Alexander Chikwanda has taken Rabobank to task over the insignificant number of Zambians in the top management of Zanaco from the time the bank was privatised.
Mr Chikwanda said Zanaco had always been run by Zambians who were doing very well but from the time the bank was privatised, the presence of Zambians in top management of the institution had become insignificant.
The minister said this at the handover of the Zanaco dividend payment to the Government in Lusaka yesterday.
“You cannot take an institution which is running very well but now you have changed management, you leave them as board chairman when that position is just window-dressing,” Mr Chikwanda said. “We want much more significant representation of Zambians in the running Zanaco.”
He, however, commended the bank for increasing its capital stock up to US$30 million, saying that showed that the shareholders were behaving responsibly.
Mr Chikwanda said the dividend the Government had received would go a long way in the continued development projects that the Government had embarked on this year and beyond.
He said the Government wanted Zanaco to be bigger than it was and requested it to increase its support to small-scale farmers and small and medium enterprises and improve support from $20,000 beneficiaries to $30,000.
“We want the $30,000 to be expedited so that small-scale farmers and small and medium enterprises could benefit,” Mr Chikwanda said.
Zanaco managing director Bruce Dicks said the bank had recorded K186.3 million, recording a growth of 19 per cent and total equity of K867.6 million, representing growth of 22per cent.
Total assets for the bank were at K6.9 billion, recording a growth of 20 per cent.
Mr Dicks said Zanaco was committed to conducting its business in a transparent and efficient manner.
Zanaco was proud to be associated with the Zambian Government which the bank had continued to partner with in the education, agriculture and health sectors.
The Lusaka City Council has partnered with the Lusaka Animal Welfare Society (LAWS) in the enforcement and protection of the welfare of animals in the city of Lusaka.
The Lusaka Animal Welfare Society is an organisation which cares, treats, rehabilitates and re-homes abandoned, abused, neglected and stray dogs and cats in Lusaka.
LCC Public Relations Manager, Habeenzu Mulunda, said in a statement to ZANIS yesterday that in order to foster the partnership, the local authority and LAWS will jointly enforce the existing laws such as the prevention to animal cruelty Act Cap 245 and the control of dogs Act Cap 247 of the laws of Zambia.
Mr Mulunda said the two organisations will conduct joint operations in various parts of the city saying any pet owners who will be found wanting under the laws will be prosecution.
He has since advised residents to vaccinate their dogs with established veterinary clinics, register them with the council and confine them within their premises.
He said any act of abuse, neglect, animal cruelty as well as selling of dogs and puppies in undesignated places such as Manda Hill, Kabulonga traffic lights, Makeni junction and others will result in prosecution.
He noted that according to the law, residents are only allowed to keep two dogs, adding that keeping more than two will require permission from the council or pay a penalty fee of K600 or be imprisoned for two years for failing to adhere to the rules.
Over the years, LAWS has served as a resource to the community and all pet owners by providing education and information on responsible pet ownership, including the importance of positive behaviour training and good nutrition.
English Championship side Wolves say they will not bring Zambia striker Emmanuel Mayuka on loan from Southampton.
Wolves have instead opted to bring in 30-year-old Sierra Leone international striker Ki Kamara.
“We’ve watched him (Mayuka), we’ve had conversations and he’s available but I wouldn’t say he’s a realistic target,” Wolves coach Kenny Jackett told the Express and Star.
23-year-old Mayuka has yet to play any competitive game this season at Southampton since returning from his twelve month loan stint at French club Sochaux.
Mayuka has been on the Southampton bench in their last five EPL matches.
Nkana on Wednesday seek a win to keep them in the top four while the number one spot beckons for Zesco United on the same date in their respective rescheduled matches.
At Nkana Stadium in Kitwe, bruised Nkana host Nakambala Leopards as they look to redeem themselves after losing 2-1 to Nchanga Rangers at the same venue last Saturday.
Should fifth placed Nkana bounce back from that defeat, they will reclaim fourth place and move within six points of leaders Zanaco.
Nkana have 42 points from 24 games with a match in hand are are nine points behind Zanaco who have played 25 matches.
Meanwhile third placed Zesco could sneak into top spot for the first time this season with a home win over Red Arrows at the Trade Fair Grounds in Ndola.
Only Zanaco and second placed Power Dynamos have basked in the glory at the top of the table this season.
A win over fourth from bottom Arrows will see Zesco take a one point lead on 52 points with five games left to play.
Honour Janza has dropped Mukuka Mulenga while benchwarmer Emmanuel Mayuka is in the 12-foreign-based players called up for October’s 2015 Africa Cup Group F qualifying matches.
Mukuka is one of five players axed by Janza for Zambia’s forthcoming 2015 Africa Cup Group F qualifiers against Niger away on October 11 and at home on October 15.
Joining the 21-year-old Bloemfontein Celtic playmaker off the list are two other fellow PSL-based compatriots.
Striker Collins Mbesuma of Mpumalanga Black Aces and veteran defender Joseph Musonda from Polokwane City have also been dropped.
Also dropped are TP Mazembe striker Jonas Sakuwaha and midfielder Felix Katongo of Al Ittihad in Egypt.
Meanwhile, striker James Chamanga returns to the team for the first time since Zambia’s 2-0 friendly defeat against Brazil in Beijing on October 15, 2013.
However, Mayuka keeps his place despite not playing a single competitive game at Southampton this season and for Zambia in the Group F qualifiers.
The 12 players are expected to join camp in Lusaka at the end of this weekend where they will find the 17 home-based players enter camp on October 1.
Goalkeeper: Kennedy Mweene (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa)
Labour and Social Security Minister Fackson Shamenda has implored workers in the country to change their attitude towards work if their demands for improved conditions of service are to be justified.
Speaking in Lusaka today when he officiated at a stakeholders consultative workshop on the productivity year book, Mr. Shamenda expressed concern over the workers%u2019 attitude towards work.
Mr. Shamenda who was made to wait for the participants of the workshop who had come late for close to forty minutes says there is need for workers to change their culture of reporting for work and functions late.
Mr.Shamenda says there is also need for trade unions to join forces in educating their members on the importance of productivity.
He adds that with higher productivity levels, the unions will negotiate for improved conditions of service from a stronger position as the profitability of a company would have gone up.
The Labour Minister states that it is high time employers and employees begin linking the demands for higher wages to higher productivity because this is the reason why performance appraisals are important and must be taken seriously.
And Mr Shamenda says government remains committed to reviewing the labour laws which will among other things address casualization of labour, unjustified and un explained termination of contracts.
Mr. Shamenda however says even as government seeks to protect workers against unfair termination of contracts or dismissals, his ministry will not support workers who are dismissed because of poor culture, cheating or fraud.
National Restoration Party president Elias Chipimo following proceedings during the meeting to demand for the release of the draft Zambia constitution.
The opposition Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) has accused NAREP President Elias Chipimo Junior of defending Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda’s intentions to refund mining companies for personal interests.
In a statement made available to media today, FDD Spokesperson Antonio Mwanza says Mr. Chipimo is a beneficiary of the mines through his connection to Corpus Globe, a law firm he founded and whose major clients are the mining companies.
Mr. Mwanza has challenged Mr. Elias Chipimo to come out in the open and take the people of Zambia to court so that they pay his associate clients, the tax refunds he is demanding.
On Sunday, Mr Chipimo defended Minister of Finance Alexander Chikwanda’s decision to pay over US$600 million in value added tax (VAT) refunds to mining companies.
Mr Chipimo said Mr Chikwanda should not be blamed for wanting to effect the VAT refunds to mining companies because that is what the law requires.
“Every Finance minister since 1997 has been refunding mining companies for the VAT that they pay when they bring goods and equipment. It is surprising to see the current Minister of Finance Alexander Chikwanda being criticised for advocating VAT refunds to mining companies,” Mr Chipimo said.
Below is the full FDD Statement
FDD responds to ELIAS CHIPIMO’S campaign on vat refunds to mining companies
In the last few days we have seen Elias Chipimo Jr, President of NAREP wage a brazen campaign demanding that the government of Zambia refund the mining companies the over US600 million Dollars that it owes them in tax arrears.
He has been so overzealous in his advocacy and defense of mining companies to a point of attacking individuals such as FDD President Edith Nawakwi who has raised concern that that the mining firms should prove their demands by producing relevant documentations before ZRA.
Actually, in his overzealousness he has even claimed that President Edith Nawakwi refunded the mines when she served as the country’s Finance Minister.
At first we opted to ignore Mr. Chipimo because we took it that he was just fishing in his desperation to gain public attention by cloning himself to President Edith Nawakwi so that he can assume some political relevance. After all this is a man who once came up with a bizarre and fairytale ‘Blueprint’ to have a caretaker government when our laws clearly spell out how government is formed.
But when we dug deeper we discovered that Mr. Chipimo’s defense of the mines is driven by something deeper. Personal interest. The man is an interested party in the mines.
Mr. Elias Chipimo Jr is a beneficiary of the mines through his connection to Corpus Globe, a law firm that he founded and whose major clients are the mining companies. He is the lawyer and Chikwanda is the supplier. It is not about what VAT Regulation No. 18 says. No. It is about bread and butter.
As FDD, we challenge Mr. Elias Chipimo to come out in the open and take the people of Zambia to court so that they pay his associate clients, the tax refunds he is demanding. He shouldn’t hide behind our elder brother, Mr. Alexander Chikwanda or try to play Smart Lawyer.
No. Mr. Chipimo is protecting his associate clients, the mines.
For the record, President Edith Nawakwi worked around the clock, as Finance Minister looking for investors to invest in our mines. Negotiations between government and foreign investors had collapsed prior to her appointment as Minister of Finance. The mining industry in Zambia was in total disarray. And it took Edith Nawakwi to convince foreign investors to invest in the mines and secure thousands of jobs for our Zambian brothers and sisters.
Since Mr. Chipimo knows how to read we ask him to read the Chamber of Mines of Zambia Statement of 24th September, 2014 on VAT rule 18. He will learn from the statement that the privatization process spanned a period of three years, from 1997 to 2000. The mining industry only became fully operational in 2000. By then Edith Nawakwi was not Finance Minister, so how then was she authorizing the payments of VAT refunds when she was no longer Minister of Finance?:
Mu Tonga wambakuti Malweza atalikila kumunda. Zambia is in trouble; all its children are defending foreign capitalists. Iyee tata ichalo chesu natulola imipamba. Ba Chipimo twapapata imipamba yakulisha. Imilonge yayamba ukumonekela mu September nga mu December tukamonenshi?
Ba Chipimo, just come out in the open and defend your clients. Do not hide behind our elder brother, Hon. Chikwanda. At least the Minister has been gracious enough to admit that he is a supplier to the mines. Mr. Chipimo, to this end we urge you to go ahead and take legal action against the people of Zambia on behalf of your mining clients.
As FDD we demand for a fair and equitable tax regime that does not only benefit the foreign mining firms but the local Zambian people as well. To us VAT Rule No. 18 is not fair and equitable since the mining firms are now making super profits. We therefore call for its amendment.
As Mr. Chipimo defends and campaigns for his mining clients to get US600 million Dollars in tax refunds he should at least have a modicum of morality and sympathy to feel for the mothers who are giving birth on the floors of our deplorable clinics. He should feel for the farmers who have not received their dues despite selling their maize to FRA. He should feel for the young girl who walks 10 kilometers to go to school. These people want the tax from the mines to ease their lives.
It is a shame that an upcoming politician like Mr. Chipimo who desires to lead our country can be advocating for the continuity of unfair tax regulations simply because others in the past had done so. What a tragic reasoning from our smart lawyer.
Prepared and issued by: Antonio Mwanza FDD Spokesperson.
The number of mothers giving birth at home in rural parts of Zambia stands at 25 percent despite the numerous health facilities that have been constructed in all the districts.
This means that three out of 12 deliveries in most rural areas are conducted at home by unskilled birth attendants.
The Preliminary Baseline Results of the Child Health Targets Impact Study (chTIS) has revealed that the proportion deliveries conducted at home was significantly higher in rural areas reaching 25 percent.
The study indicates that of those who gave birth at home, about half informed the researchers that either the facility was too far or there was no transportation available to take them to the health facilities.
The study however shows that deliveries conducted by trained providers who include doctors and nurses were about 70 percent of the mothers.
Despite not giving birth from the health facilities, the study shows that the proportion of women who were checked after delivery was significantly higher reaching about 96 percent.
And the study shows that the rates of under-nutrition among children 0-59 months of age are quite high in all the areas where the study was conducted.
The University of Zambia’s Institute of Economic and Social Research researcher, Richard Zulu yesterday presented this research paper result which was conducted in Luampa, Magoye and Nyimba areas.
The Child Health Target Impact Study is a five year research between World Vision and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health which has been running from 2012 and will come to a close in 2017.
The study is designed to measure the impact of World Vision’s maternal, neonatal and child health and nutrition programmes on the health of mothers, babies and children.
The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) in North-western province has arrested a couple for unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis plants weighing
over 700 kgs.
DEC Assistant Public Relations Officer Chibu Mwansa said Kalombo Muchinyi, 23, a Bricklayer
of Chiyeke area in Chavuma district, has been arrested and jointly charged with his wife of the same abode for unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis plants weighing 725kgs.
Ms. Mwansa confirmed the arrest in a statement to the Zambia News and Information Services in Lusaka today.
Meanwhile, Ms. Mwansa said at the weekend, the commission arrested more than 50 people countrywide for unlawful cultivation and trafficking in various quantities of cannabis.
She said among those arrested and jointly charged include, John Sawendele, 62, of Chiyeke area in Chavuma district, who is jointly charged with Hintu Maseka, 29, a peasant farmer
and Collins Sawendele,19, all of the same area for unlawful cultivation of fresh cannabis plants weighing 11.5kgs.
She further said DEC also arrested Emmanuel Kapanda, 35 of Manyinga area in Kabompo district for trafficking in loose cannabis weighing 4 kgs and Kennedy Sambaulu, 25, of
Muselepete area in Kasempa district for trafficking in loose cannabis weighing 3.5 kgs.
Ms Mwansa said others arrested Tarick Kasanga, 20, a student at a named institute for
trafficking in 26.4kgs of loose cannabis, Edith Kapasa, 51, a businesswoman for trafficking in 11.5kgs of loose cannabis and Grey Munsene, 64, a peasant farmer for trafficking in loose cannabis weighing 3.4kgs.
She said these were arrested in Namwala district in Southern province.
And in Luapula province, commission has arrested Godfrey Mpundu, 46, a peasant farmer of Munduli village in Samfya district for trafficking in loose cannabis weighing 13.7kgs.
She said all the suspects will appear in court soon.
Elias Chipimo speaking at the press briefing at the NAREP Secretariat
National Restoration Party (NAREP) president Elias Chipimo has advised opposition political parties to offer constructive criticism to the government.
Mr. Chipimo said some opposition political party leaders were in the habit of criticizing government even when it has done a commendable job.
He said this in Lusaka today when he featured on Komboni Radio programme dubbed “Is Zambian politics growing or not?”
Mr. Chipimo said he does not object to the trend of criticising government when it makes wrong political decisions because such were not in the interest of the Zambian people.
He added that the work of the opposition was to provide checks and balances to the government on behalf of the citizens.
And Mr. Chipimo has also condemned political parties campaigning on tribal lines.
He said people of Zambia were one and as such, politicians should promote unity among citizens.
He stated that peace and love should be one thing which should pre-occupy the minds of the Zambian people.
Mighty Mufulira Wanderers stayed second in the race for promotion from FAZ Division One North after a 1-0 home win over Kansanshi Dynamos at Shinde Stadium in Mufulira.
After a goalless first half Mighty left it late to stun the North Western Province club.
Manfred Chabinga’s Mighty are now on 51 points from 28 matches played.
Forest Rangers maintained their two point lead at the top of the FAZ Division One North table after beating Kitwe United 1-0 away at Garden Park in Kitwe on Sunday.
Willy Nkonde’s Forest now sits on 53 points, two above Mighty.
Congolese forward Diego Karaganda scored a 42nd minute goal as Forest silenced the Buchi Boys in Kitwe.
Forest are now six games away from winning promotion back to the Super League.
Chambishi moved into third position after edging visitors FQM Mining Operation 2-1 in Chambishi to accumulate 50 points.
Chambishi’s town rivals Kalulushi Modern Stars dropped from second to fourth place after a frustrating 1-1 home draw with lowly placed Zesco Luapula in Kalulush
