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A CLOUD of uncertainty still surrounds the fate of a Pentecostal bishop in Kitwe who allegedly committed suicide after being slapped with sexual charges involving nine girls from his church.
Dominic Nyondo of Holy Fire Christian Ministry Church was on Monday around 23:00 hours believed to have thrown himself in the crocodile-infested Kafue River.
But Copperbelt Commissioner of Police Joyce Kasosa said yesterday it was yet to be established whether Bishop Nyondo had truly committed suicide or had just run away.
Ms Kasosa said this was so because the body of the bishop had not been traced anywhere to serve as testimony that he had really committed suicide.
“We have not found anything yet but we are still investigating to establish whether Bishop Nyondo committed suicide by throwing himself in the river or he just ran away,” Ms Kasosa said.
Kitwe City Council spokesperson Dorothy Sampa said the council fire department had not received any report on a person throwing himself in the Kafue River and as such, she had nothing to say.
Deputy Minister in the office of the vice President Davis Mwango and Chibombo District Commissioner Felix Mangwato joining Namayani pupils in celebrating the handover of the classroom and the house during the handover of the 4 school built in Chibombo District at Namayani Primary School
Government says the re-introduction of arts subjects in all school across the country will encourage creativity among pupils.
Tourism and Arts Minister Jean Kapata said the reintroduction of arts subjects such as needlework and home craft is an excellent way of preserving the country’s heritage.
Ms. Kapata made the call after a Tapestry Exhibition held at the Parliament Buildings in Edinburg, Scotland.
ZANIS reports that the tourism minister said this in a statement released in Lusaka, today.
Ms. Kapata was in Scotland where she was attending the Second Edinburg International Cultural Summit which ran from the 9th to August 14 2014.
The Minister added that arts subject area also a productive and creative way of bringing up the youths in the country.
And Ms. Kapata has called on Zambian tour operators to partner with the Scottish counterparts to develop tour packages targeting routes undertaken by late Scottish explorer David Livingstone.
Ms. Kapata sentiments come after a group of tourists, scholars and history students decided to embark on an exploration of retracing the trips made by David Livingstone.
The former ruling party the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) has stated that the party is not satisfied with the Mangango by-elections results.
MMD National Secretary Mhabi Lungu has said he is still waiting for a full report with regards to Mangango by-elections on what exactly transpired there.
Mr Lungu hinted that his party will hold a press briefing tomorrow to give a detailed report concerning the just ended by-election in Mangango.
And the Patriotic Front (PF) says its party is delighted for scooping the just ended Mangango Parliamentary seat in Western Province.
PF Media Director Chanda Mfula said the ruling party welcomes its victory with humility because people of Mangango and the entire nation are pleased with the PF agenda in developing Zambia.
Mr Chanda told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka that some political parties were saying the Mangango by-elections were going to be a litmus test for the 2016 general election, a thing which he said has come true.
He stated that this has shown the opposition clearly that the PF will no doubt scoop the 2016 elections without difficulties.
Mr Mfula thanked the people of Mangango and electorates in the local government elections in which the PF won 18 out of the 25 ward by-elections.
Government wishes to congratulate the people of Mangango for choosing to work with the ruling party in developing their constituency.
Chief government spokesperson Joseph Katema says by electing the PF candidate, the people of Mangango have shown that they are happy and satisfied with the PF’s programmes, policies and projects aimed at improving their well being.
Dr. Katema says the victory signifies the trust and commitment the people of Mangango have in the PF Government.
The people of Mangango have further shown that they value good leadership and detest opportunistic and self- centred leadership, says the spokesperson.
“ Let me also take this opportunity to congratulate the political parties that took part in the by-election. This is a sign of Zambia’s flourishing and competitive democracy, “ he said.
Dr. Katema, who is also Information and Broadcasting minister says this in a statement realized in Lusaka, this evening.
PF has scoped Mangango seat after getting 2,971 votes, UPND 2,336, ADD 611, UNIP 377, MMD 147, FRP 29 from 32 poling stations out of 33 polling stations.
MMD Die Hard National Coordinator Bowman Lusambo shakes hands with Home Affairs Deputy Minister Stephen Kampyongo as RTSA Director Zindaba Soko looks on.
Opposition Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) Lusaka District executive committee has called for the immediate expulsion of its outspoken youth leader Bowman Lusambo from the party.
Lusaka district MMD chairman Blackson Lungu said Mr. Lusambo should be expelled for his senseless attacks on senior leaders of the party.
ZANIS reports that this is according to a petition letter over Mr. Lusambo signed and addressed to the MMD provincial executive committee made available in Lusaka today.
Mr. Lungu also asked the provincial executive committee to take quick disciplinary measures against Mr. Lusambo for his recent attacks on former president Rupiah Banda.
And Mr. Lungu said that Mr. Lusambo has clearly breached the party manifesto by forming an organ called Die Hard MMD Youths which he said is not in the party structures.
But efforts to get a comment from Mr. Lusambo failed by broadcast time as his mobile phone was off.
THE opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) has scooped all the four Local Government by-elections held in the four districts in Southern Province on yesterday.
In Batoka Ward in Choma District, UPND councilor, Judge Hambayi polled a total of 1,481 votes against his closet contender Maxon Simwami of Patriotic Front (PF) who got 164 from all the four polling centres in the ward.
MMD aspiring councillor Victor Mwiinga polled 38 votes. Batoka Ward returning officer Chiko Chileshe declared Mr Hambayi as councilor for Batoka Ward seat which fell vacate after recent resignation of UPND area councilor Mr Simwami who joined PF.
Mr Hambayi said shortly after he was declared winner around 23; 00 hours on Tuesday at Batoka Basic School polling centre that he would work hard to improve the lives of local people.
“ I am happy I have won n I want to assure the people of Batoka that I will represent the ably at Choma Municipal Council in line with their expectations,” he said.
In Chitongo Ward in Namwala District, UPND candidate Joseph Chvwanga polled a total of 857 votes again this closet contender Steurt Banda of PF got 159 while MMD candidate Happious Mwaka got 44 from the four polling centres in the ward.
In Moomba Ward in Monze West, UPND candidate Clement Hamakala got a total of 1,380 votes while his opponent PF’s Francis Hangonga polled 221 votes.
In Siavonga District’s Mulinda Ward, however, the returning officer was unreachable by press time, but PF Southern Province Chairperson Daniel Mukombwe said the party had lost the seat.
‘We have lost all the four seats in the province but PF is a strong and the biggest party in Zambia. The party is growing from strength to strength and we have won the Mangango seat in Kaoma,” he said yesterday when Local Government deputy Minister Forrie Tembo paid a courtesy call on him.
Freedom fighters (from left) Mama Chibesa Kankasa, Ranken Sikasula, William Chipango and Cuthbert Kolala listen to a press briefing addresses by Mr Sikota Wina at Inter-Continental Hotel in Lusaka
Former Mozambican President Joachim Chisano last evening dined with Zambia’s former freedom fighters and shared memories of the freedom struggle which the two countries underwent.
President Chisano was happy that he could still recognize almost all the Zambian freedom fighters and called them by their names as he joked in Chinyanja one of the Zambian local languages, when greeting each one of them upon entry into the venue.
The former head of state noted that protocol during the dinner was not necessary as he took over from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary George Zulu and demanded that freedom fighters be given chance to remind the gathering how they contributed to the struggle in the two countries.
And freedom fighters took the chance to narrate how in their various capacities helped the two countries gain independence.
One of the freedom fighters Mr. Sikota Wina narrated that the fight for liberation started like a joke as some elders were adamant to start the fight against colonies but were influenced by youths.
And General Malimba Masheke who commanded the soldiers who helped Mozambique in the struggle noted that he would not have regretted losing his life to serve many lives.
And former Zambia National Defence Force (ZNDF) Commander Lieutenant General Peter Zuze said that during the period of liberation struggle of Southern Africa flying jets on various operations was his calling and a way to pay back to the people of Zambia for the free education he enjoyed from the era of the United National Independence Party (UNIP).
He stated that he grew up as a strong youth who was used by freedom fighters to set properties of the colonial master ablaze which earned him education sponsorship from the UNIP.
Veteran Politician and freedom fighter Vernon Mwanga disclosed that he joined the struggle for liberation as a young boy and was part of the team that launched the popular Cha Cha Cha campaign in 1961.
Former UNIP Secretary General Grey Zulu boasted that he helped Mozambique gain liberation and attended their independence which was shunned by many Presidents due to security reasons.
Mr Zulu expressed gratitude to the visiting former head of state for considering celebrating the country’s jubilee.
The former President of Mozambique is in the country for a three-day state visit to commemorate Zambia’s Golden Jubilee anniversary which will be held on October 24 this year.
Matero MP Miles Sampa (r) dresses Vice President Dr. Guy Scott (l) a PF scarf on arrival at Kaoma air strip to drum up support ahead of the forthcoming Mangango August 19 2014, Parliamentary bye elections in Kaoma District, Western Province,
Newly elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Mangango Constituency Lingweshi Lyambai has been whisked away to Lusaka for safety immediately after scooping the seat.
Ministry of Commerce Deputy Minister Miles Sampa who is also Matero Constituency Member of Parliament disclosed the development to ZANIS today in Mangango.
Mr Sampa said the party decided to take Mr Lingweshi Lyambai to Lusaka immediately after scooping the seat to secure his safety following attacks on him by unknown people a few days ago.
He said the newly elected MP will be in Lusaka until when security in Mangango improves.
Mr Sampa urged the vanquished opposition political parties to concede defeat just as the PF does when it loses elections.
And Mr Sampa commended the PF campaign team in Mangango for running a strong issue based campaign to the electorates of delivering development to the area.
Mr Sampa expressed hope that the PF will win the forthcoming five by- elections scheduled for September 11, 2014.
The Zambia Bus and Taxi Workers’ Union (ZABUTWU) has backed the Road Traffic and Safety Agency (RTSA) directive to public operators to paint or fix a 10 centimetre diameter reflective ribbon on their vehicles by end of August 2014.
ZABUTWU President James Lyambai said RTSA should enforce the law to ensure safety of both public transport service vehicle drivers and the traveling publics.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today, Mr Lyambai said the August 31st deadline would bring sanity and reduce traffic contravention and piracy on the roads countrywide.
Mr Lyambai observed that some taxis and mini-bus drivers were not paying tax to the government through RTSA.
He observed that in the recent past, some taxi and mini-bus drivers were murdered by unsuspecting bandits because of using unregistered vehicles.
Mr Lyambai appealed to his members to comply with RTSA regulations to avoid being in conflict with traffic law enforcement officers.
RTSA has maintained that 31st august, 2014 is the final deadline and ruled out any possibility of extending the grace period given to public service vehicle operators to paint or fix a 10 centimetre diameter reflective ribbon on their vehicles.
RTSA Information Officer Fredrick Mubanga said that the new regulation aims at addressing the concern of pirate taxis and mini-buses or vehicles that are being used for the conveyance of passengers on hire without being licensed.
Mr Mubanga urged public service vehicle operators to comply with the Statutory Instrument No. 39 of 2013 of the Road Traffic Act No. 11 of 2002 which took effect on 31st August, last year.
Mr. Mubanga is however, impressed with the compliance coming from bus operators but regretted that taxi operators were reluctant in fixing the ribbons.
He emphasized that the new colour schemes for passenger public service vehicles is making it easy for passengers to identify public transport vehicles from private ones and added vehicles without the approved colour scheme are at risk of being easily hijacked by criminals.
In Lusaka, buses and taxies are required to have orange ribbons, sky blue for Luapula, emerald green for Eastern, while Copper belt buses and taxies will have copper ribbons.
Central province will have yellow, Northern Province red, North-western silver, Muchinga wispy or lime green, Southern province purple-amethyst, and Western province light brown ribbons.
Midfielder Isaac Chansa has thanked Zanaco for giving him an opportunity to team.
The Zambia midfielder left the country on Wednesday to join Shillong Lajong F.C.
This is after training and playing for Zanaco on an open-ended contract for the last two seasons after leaving Chinese club Henan Jianye following their demotion in 2012.
“I am grateful to God and also Zanaco who kept faith in me and were very supportive during my time there,” Chansa said.
Chansa will be joined at Shillong by Zesco United midfielder Kondwani Mtonga who signed six month loan deal with the club.
Barney augments his team with new blood for a personal battle: to take down Conrad Stonebanks, the Expendables co-founder and notorious arms trader who is hell bent on wiping out Barney and every single one of his associates.
PROS
Good performance by the huge cast , especially Sylvester Stallone and Jason Statham . Antonio Banderas also had a good performance providing the comic relief .
Excellent action scenes .
CONS
It was great to see Wesley Snipes in the movie , but his character didn’t really contribute much to the grand scheme of things .
the movie was a bit predictable .
FAVORITE QUOTES
Conrad Stonebanks: Hey, Barney. You shoulda kill me when you had the chance.
Doc: I’m the knife before Christmas.
CONCLUSION
Expendables 3 was everything that we were promised , an over the top , testosterone filled ,action packed , joy ride . But having watched the first 2 films in the series , this one should have been a little less predictable . Dont get me wrong it was an awesome movie , but it lacked the “WOW” factor. I could easily see there being an Expendables 4 , even 5 . but the franchise needs to be shaken up a bit .
PF Supporters hoist the candidate at Mangango Parish Hall after he was declared the winner of the Tuesday’s parliamentary by-elections in Kaoma District
Newly elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Mangango Constituency Lingweshi Lyambai said his first priority is to look into the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) so that farmers in the area are empowered through the formation of cooperatives.
Mr Lingweshi said he will also lobby the Ministry of Community Development Mother and Child Health to ensure that an ambulance is sent to Mutondo health centre to ease the transport challenges the people face in accessing medical services at the nearest Mangango Mission Hospital.
Meanwhile, PF Mangango Constituency Campaign Manager Obvious Mwaliteta who is also Kafue Constituency Law maker said violence could not have made UPND win the by- election but that PF gave credible developmental messages to the electorates.
Mr Mwaliteta said PF has now three seats out of the 17 constituencies in Western Province.
And efforts to get a comment from UPND campaign manager who is also Lukulu West Member of Parliament Misheck Mutelo failed as he and his members run away from the mocking victory of Chongwe MP and PF Chairperson for elections Silvia Masebo and her campaign team.
PF Supporters hoist the candidate at Mangango Parish Hall after he was declared the winner of the Tuesday’s parliamentary by-elections in Kaoma DistrictPF Supporters hoist the candidate at Mangango Parish Hall after he was declared the winner of the Tuesday’s parliamentary by-elections in Kaoma District
Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda has hit back at his critics who have launched a sustained media campaign against him over his dealings with mining companies.
Mr Chikwanda charged that the individual maligning him in the media is positioning himself for the Presidency.
He said he is also shocked that some leaders in the PF are positioning themselves for the Presidency when the position is not vacant.
Mr. Chikwanda was speaking to Journalists in Lusaka this morning before kicking off a tour of selected Lusaka roads under the L 400 road project.
“The same individual attacking me is infact positioning himself for the Presidency and my advice is that people should not position themselves for public positions where there are no vacancies. We should not be working on presumptions on the Lord, he holds the exclusive right to recall anyone of us,” Mr Chikwanda said.
He stressed that some senior leaders in the PF are behaving as if the Republican Presidency will soon be vacant.
Mr. Chikwanda wondered why the individual was vying for the top position when he has failed to blend with the grass root in the PF.
The Finance Minister has stressed that people should not vie for the Presidency through conspiracies as only God can ordain one to the position.
Mr. Chikwanda said he should not be considered be considered as a political threat because he is too old to vie for the Presidency.
Meanwhile , State house has released the following statement to the media
Media Statement
For Immediate Release
PRESIDENT SATA TOASTS MANGANGO VICTORY
LUSAKA, Wednesday, August 20, 2014 – His Excellency, Mr. Michael Chilufya Sata, President of the Republic of Zambia, says the Patriotic Front (PF) government acknowledges with humility, the resounding acceptance it has received from the people of Mangango following its victory in the just ended parliamentary by – election.
The Head of State said the victory in Mangango reinforces the people’s belief and optimism in the government’s policies and programmes in line with the PF manifesto.
“The people of Western Province have sent a clear message that they are not interested in politics of name-calling, violence and regionalism. We would like to assure the people of Mangango and Zambia in general that this administration will intensify its sustained efforts to take development countrywide and ensure that all growth projects are implemented with immediacy,” President Sata said.
President Sata has also expressed gratitude to the Zambian people for their continued show of confidence in his government following the nationwide local government by-elections in which the ruling Patriotic Front has scooped a sum of 18 out of the 25 ward by-elections.
“Without a doubt, the PF, which is the people’s party, has continued gaining incredible ground in Western, Central and Southern Provinces. The latest victories in areas like Mkushi, Kalabo and Kaoma underscores our party’s growing recognition across the country,” President Sata said.
The Head of State reiterated that government remains steadfast to engaging progressive forces within the opposition in its pursuit to accomplish pro-poor measures that will culminate into fast economic growth, job creation and poverty reduction.
Issued by:
GEORGE CHELLAH SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT PRESS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
Zambia’s Governor of the Bank of Zambia, Mr Michael Gondwe, has without fanfare unveiled a list of four eminent Zambians to be “recognised” during this year’s 50th Jubilee celebration (namely former Presidents Kaunda, Chiluba, Mwanawasa and incumbent President Sata).
In the absence of an explanation of how he arrived at his list, we can assume that this is a short list of “independence heroes”. Clearly opinions are and will be divided as to who should be recognised, if at all; emotional attachments to the independence struggle will result in opponents being condemned for disrespecting the Founding Fathers of Zambia.
[pullquote]now it is time for Jubilee, so to keep quiet in order to be politically correct is to betray our independence aspirations and objectives.[/pullquote]
But although all Zambians should be proud of the Liberation Struggle, there is a time for everything; now it is time for Jubilee, so to keep quiet in order to be politically correct is to betray our independence aspirations and objectives. On our part we vehemently oppose this ill-advised, unproductive, costly and divisive project for it is not in the spirit of Jubilee.
If the idea of the Commemoration Coins is to create effigies for purposes of giving Zambians free objects for publicly venting out their anger by stepping on them or expressing distaste by using the coins for pelting which ever head of the four they detest most, then Mr Gondwe has earned himself full marks!
This 50th Jubilee must be a time for reparations. At a time such as this we should NOT be commemorating a select few but we should be shouting with great joy about this redemptive season, a season that has some biblical history as well as other life experiences such as Man cheating Man. It is a time when the plight of the poor should be the focus instead of merrymaking. Why must we recognise those who have already been recognised?
[pullquote]All the four have already been recognised by granting them a hefty tax-free pension for life, which increases pro rata at 80 percent as the incumbent President’s salary increases[/pullquote]
All the four have already been recognised by granting them a hefty tax-free pension for life, which increases pro rata at 80 percent as the incumbent President’s salary increases; they are entitled to a mansion on some prime land built by tax payers’ money; they have other perks including servants paid for by the state as well as an annual holiday ticket for the family to wherever. What further recognition do you want to give them? Why not begin this Jubilee celebration by paying Mr Alexander Grey Zulu his dues forthwith, without subjecting him to court harassment. Thereafter dig out the Independence Trail for other names that have NOT been recognised but are in various archives, official and/or private. How can you forget those who were really in the trenches with Dr Kaunda?
More importantly the Governor should tell us how the commemoration coins of the four heads of pensioned presidents will put more money in poor Zambians’ pockets. How will these coins improve our health system and stop the perennial trekking to foreign hospitals by the privileged few? How will these heads restore the ravaged agriculture and marketing set up?
This Jubilee must not end up as a populist political gimmick. This Jubilee must also be about reflecting seriously on what we have learnt from past errors of judgement and plain mediocrity. If we are to celebrate a befitting 50th Jubilee let us start afresh by correcting past errors of judgement and avoiding contentious and arbitrary decisions. Some of the proposed heads will just revive emotional memories.
Instead of “recognising” former presidents the Government must take serious steps for healing and restoring those who are still disadvantaged, dispossessed and down-trodden.
It is not a joke to be poor in the land of plenty. Let Government take steps to ameliorate families that are in abject poverty and give them a serious fresh start.
Governor Gondwe’s scheme will only take money out of poor people’s pockets and fast-track the taking out of even more through such ingenious business ventures.
Finally we must praise God this Jubilee for creating our tribes.
Let us use our tribes for positive contributions and strengthening of our nation and country. Regrettably the PF leadership, whether consciously or not, have planted a dangerous and abysmal society of special Zambians based on ethnicity.
This is a fact and those in authority had better listen and not react defensively. It is not too late to change direction in spite of the political goofs done thus far. This Jubilee should be the turning point for the commencement of the reversal of this secret and selfish policy of setting one tribe against the rest. The spectre of violence and tribalism must be exorcised from our nation this 50th Jubilee Year.
The Governor must stop this idol worship forthwith. Let him remember what happened to Saddam Hussein’s and Chairman Mao’s statues! But if the Governor (is it really him?) still insists on a Jubilee list,
he should instead put the 73 tribes on the Commemoration Coin; perhaps a symbolic Jubilee logo of say a tree with 73 branches, spanning out over Zambia, fluttering in the sweet fresh Zambian breeze, calling on each one of us from every corner of Zambia, even the Diaspora, singing WE ARE ONE.
Speaking for myself, I wish I could be the one to draw such a tree; there is no harm in trying – because Zambia is my heritage too!
Godfrey Miyanda,
BRrigadier General,
HERITAGE PARTY
