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Nkana beat relegation threaten and bottom placed Konkola Mine Police 3-1 in Kitwe to shift within seven points of FAZ Super Division leaders Zanaco.
Zeddy Saileti’s side took a 2-1 lead thanks to goals from striker Festus Mbewe and defender Christopher Munthali.
Mbewe made a dream return to action for Nkana after returning from his six-month loan spell at Golden Arrows in South Africa when he raced into the box to beat Evans Chewe in the 19th minute.
Munthali added Nkana’s second from the penalty spot in the 26th minute.
Five minutes later, Mine Police got on the scoresheet from the penalty spot when on-loan Nkana defender Warren Kunda converted a penalty.
Simon Bwalya sealed Nkana’s win in the 88th minute to see Nkana stay put in fifth place but move to 26 points from 13 games played with two matches in hand.
Acting President Winter Kabimba has urged people in Kaoma district of Western province to work tirelessly in order to mobilize the party in the province.
Mr Kabimba who is also PF Secretary general received a thunderous welcome by PF members and heads of government departments today when he touched down at Kaoma airstrip at around 11:05 hours to grace this year’s Kazanga ceremony of the Nkoya speaking people that will be held at Mangongi Royal village in Chilombo area in Kaoma district.
He said people in Kaoma should work for the party so that the majority poor Zambians felt the need that compelled PF as a party to come into power.
Mr Kabimba said PF members should turn in large numbers to attend a brief meeting before officially opening the Kazanga ceremony during the day at Mangongi royal village.
He said people in Kaoma district was very alive and appreciated their big turn up to receive him at the airstrip; a signal he said was gracious to the party in the area.
Notably among those who received him were Kafue MP Obvious Mwaliteta, Mongu central constituency and North-Western province deputy minister Nathaniel Mubukwanu and district commissioners of Western province.
Opposition ABZ has praised Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) Chairperson Irene Mambilima’s courage to challenged acting republic president and Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba to explain his recent revelation that he allegedly smuggled Kenyans into Zambia to help the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) with Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) during the 2011 general elections.
ABZ president Frank Bwalya has observed that the Justice Mambilima’s boldness is the most courageous statement he has ever heard since country’s reverting to multi-party democracy in 1991.
Fr. Bwalya says the statement by Justice Mambilima to ask Mr. Kabimba to explain his recent revelation that he alleged smuggling of Kenyans into Zambia has distinguished her as the most independent thinking person among those working in our vital state institutions in the country.
He has told Qfm news in statement that he also thinks that Justice Mambilima’s courage over the same matter has also made her stand out as a fearless professional who upholds the rule of law and good governance in general.
The ABZ president says this especially that he knows that the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) besides the speaker of the National Assembly have allegedly not shown the spine to challenge Mr. Kabimba in the manner she has done.
He says her boldness makes has made him convinced that she is prepared to lose her job for standing up for the truth and common sense.
Fr. Bwalya further notes that his prayer is that Zambians will support professional people like Justice Mambilima who are ready to sacrifice personal gain to speak for the people and advance justice in the country.
Patriotic Front (PF) National Chairperson Inonge Wina has dismissed suggestions that the up-roar sparked by Vice President Guy Scott’s utterances that Lusaka Mayor Mulenga sata is not eligible for presidency is an indication of a power struggle in the ruling party.
Dr. Scott, who is also PF vice president, was recently quoted as saying that he together with Mulenga Sata and Kabwata members of parliament do not qualify for the presidency because of the parentage clause in the republican constitution.
Ms. Wina has told QFM news that the media is only trying to sensationalize the issue by creating an impression that there are deep differences in the ruling PF.
She says Dr. Scott was only trying to explain his part with regards his parentage and his ineligibility to stand as republican president under the current constitution, while Mr. Sata was also merely clarifying that he is eligible to stand for the position of republican president.
Ms Wina has stressed that it is also important to be mindful that Dr. Scott was in Zambia when he made his statement while Mr. Sata responded to it while in south Korea.
She notes that this implies that Mr. Sata’s reaction was also dependent on how the question was put to him to respond to Dr. Scott’s statement.
Hundreds of unruly PF cadres thronged the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport Saturday afternoon to welcome Lusaka Mayor Mulenga Sata back home from his weeklong trip to South Korea.
Some of the cadres were however made to believe that were going to welcome President Michael Sata from his working holiday in Israel.
The cadres who mostly appeared drunk were loaded in several buses and pick up vehicles and were at the airport by 12 Hours chanting pro PF slogans.
Some of them interviewed revealed that they were asked to join their colleagues to the airport on the pretext that they would be welcoming President Sata and that they did not know anything about Councilor Sata’s arrival.
Councilor Sata who was overjoyed with the massive turn out thanked the cadres and asked them to be disciplined.
The cadres started chanting Mulenga Sata for 2016 slogans as he left the international arrivals terminal causing chaos at the airport.
Councilor Sata addressed them mostly in Bemba and urged them to remain united.
“I was worried when I was in South Korea that maybe our party in the district has disintegrated. It is good to see that we are still united, let us remain this way,” he said.
He said the PF is a party for all Zambians and everyone should feel proud to belong to this party.
Councilor was also heard instructing the youth leaders to buy the cadres opaque beer known as Shake Shake as a token of appreciation.
“Lelo naikkosa, mwaisa abengi, mwalapitafye muli Shake Shake (today is difficult, you have come too many. You will only have Shake Shake,” Councilor Sata could be heard as he sped off.
The cadres later caused serious traffic chaos on the road leading from the airport right through to the Great East road, honking and singing pro Mulenga Sata 2016 songs.
Mulenga Sata’s arrival at Kenneth Kaunda International AirportMulenga Sata’s arrival at Kenneth Kaunda International AirportMulenga Sata’s arrival at Kenneth Kaunda International AirportMulenga Sata’s arrival at Kenneth Kaunda International AirportMulenga Sata’s supporters at the airport
The MMD wishes to express concern at the abrupt cancellation of the commencement of maize purchases from farmers announced by Deputy Minister for Agriculture Greyford Moonde. A few days ago, the Minister of Agriculture Wilbur Simuusa informed the nation that the purchase of maize by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) countrywide would commence on 1st July 2014.
From the time the statement was made, Zambian farmers have been preparing for the FRA purchase program by packing their maize harvests in grain bags. But as is characteristic of the Patriotic Front (PF) Government, they have been treated to a rude shock by being told that the maize is not “dry enough”. Zambian farmers do not need this kind of “Donchi Kubeba” style of governance.
We wish to echo the concerns expressed by the World Bank Country Director Dr. Kundhavi Kadiresan, made in Kitwe on 24th June 2014 when she addressed members of the Copperbelt University (CBU) Economic Association and other Students. Her concerns were captured in the third “Zambia Economic Brief”, with particular reference to the PF policies on Agriculture.
In Dr. Kadiresan’s own words, “… when it comes to policies, when there is no consistency, it makes it difficult for the private sector to grow and this is because for the private sector to invest in an economy, they need to be certain there won’t be changes in policy come next year.” She said that “unpredictable” agriculture trade policies are hurting the country in many ways. The agricultural sector is run by the private sector that includes Commercial, Small Holder and Subsistence Farmers. More importantly, the vast rural populations in our country depend on Agriculture which employs 85% of the total Zambian labour force, both formal and informal.
The Zambian agricultural sector under the MMD scored unprecedented successes having managed to yield 3 successive, verifiable (not “scientific”) Bumper harvests in the nation’s staple food which translated into exports to various countries in the region. This was due to the professional and predictable manner that the MMD managed the entire spectrum of the Agricultural sector. Maize floor prices were announced in good time, farmers knew when their inputs would be delivered, and more importantly, they were paid in a timely fashion.
In sharp contrast, the current situation in Agriculture under the PF Government is in total shambles. The PF needs to be made aware that there is a bigger picture as to why the MMD Government paid so much importance and attention to the Agricultural sector. The world over, strong growth in Agriculture is cardinal to produce a thriving economy. This was partly why the Zambian economy during our tenure performed so well. The rapid growth being witnessed in the South Asian and Indian economies today have foundations in their “Green Revolutions”. Even England’s Industrial Revolution and eventual ascendance to a First World economy was preceded by an Agricultural Revolution.
Unfortunately, the PF Government is playing with Agriculture like a child with a cheap toy.
International economists have indicated that it is Africa, particularly Sub-Saharan, that shall provide global food security in the coming years due to its enormous natural, physical and human resources.
The continent uses less than 25% of its arable land and less than 14% of the irrigation potential. Globally, the demand for food is rising at 3.3% per annum whilst the supply of farmable land is increasing by only 1% annually. With agricultural land in developed countries shrinking as urbanization continues unabated, food production will become the most critical industry in the world and Africa can deliver to the entire world, with Zambia taking center-stage due to having 40% of the total water resources in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Farmers are a major key to the growth engine of our economy. Zambians can still remember how well the MMD managed Agriculture. They used to pay K37 for a 25kg bag of mealie-meal but are paying nearly K90 today in many parts of Zambia. The MMD Government succeeded in keeping prices affordable without resorting to getting a One Billion Dollar “Kaloba” (loan) under the guise of a Euro Bond as the PF have done. Our good results were based on careful planning and execution of clear, predictable and well thought-out agricultural policies.
The current situation under the PF Government is one of complete confusion and is an embarrassing shambolic mess. The recklessness with which this PF government is borrowing is frightening. It is because they do not have a long-term view of their stay in power. They are not worried about leaving these massive debts that shall be a huge burden on future generations, long after they have been kicked out of power.
This recklessness must be stopped immediately!
The New MMD is still carrying the vision crafted by our founders almost 25 years ago. Many who welcomed and believed in this vision have come and gone, but the vision still lives on. It is not a “personal-to-holder” vision but is there for all Zambians to embrace. All Zambians that believe in politics of Multi-Party Democracy and Free Market Policies feel at home with this vision.
MMD die hard youth leader Bowman Lusambo captured during the gathering to demand for the release of the Zambian draft constitution.
Press statement for immediate release
EXTEND MINING FORENSIC AUDIT TO PRIVATISATION PROGRAMME
As MMD youths, we wish to commend the Patriotic Front Government for launching a forensic audit of the mining industry. We hope that the debate about Zambia’s benefits from the mining industry will find some rest after the audit. The move is commendable as it will help reposition the country’s mining tax regime and help bring out a more predictable and stable taxation environment for the mining industry.
We however wish to take this opportunity to appeal to the Government of the day to extend the forensic audit to the people (s) that were behind the privatization programme in the early 90s.
It is common knowledge that the privatization programme was an agreed upon structural adjustment programme with the full blessings of the World Bank and the IMF. The MMD Government faced a difficult situation but soldiered on and eventually presided over the longest period of economic growth Zambia has ever recorded.
It is also common knowledge that some individuals close to the privatization programme unduly benefitted and amassed huge profits at the expense of Zambians.
Some of these individuals are today well documented to be some of the richest individuals in Zambia.
We are not against Zambians amassing wealth, if anything, we should ecourage every Zambians to aim to create wealth and fight poverty.
What we however strongly disapprove is a small group of people reaping state assets for their personal gains.
The mining forensic audit should not stop at reviewing the production, profits and the cost structures of individuals mining houses in Zambia.
The auditors should go beyond and investigate how some individuals tasked to negotiate better privatization deals for the nation ended up pocketing more money than the state.
If at all the audit reports confirm what we have all being saying, it will be appropriate that criminal prosecution is initiated to ensure that the nation gets to the bottom of the matter.
Zambia may not attain the full benefits from its mineral resources if we fail to establish how those tasked to manage the privatization programme performed.
This exercise should be extended to for the sake of our prosperity.
Issued by: Bowman Lusambo-MMD National Youth Coordinator 04/07/14
A SEVENTY-FIVE-YEAR-old man of Kalomo District has been shot dead by suspected family members on suspicion of practicing witchcraft.
The man, identified as Ezekiel Munkombwe, of Kayasanguni village in Chief Chikanta’s area, was shot dead on Tuesday around 02:00 hours by suspected relatives who besieged his house.
The matter was reported to police on Wednesday morning by one of the deceased’s sons, Richwell, that unknown had killed his father in the house.
Police have since arrested one of the sons, whose name has been withheld, to help with investigations over the killing of their father.
Southern Province Police chief, Mary Chikwanda who confirmed the incident in an interview yesterday, said the man was killed by suspected relatives using unknown gun.
“We received a report over the murder of Mr Munkombwe, 75, who was shot dead by unknown people but to be suspected relatives,” she said.
Ms Chikwanda said that some relatives had been accusing the old-man of being a witch and practicing witchcraft in the village.
A villager of Chief Chikanta’s area was last week also shot dead by assailants who are on the run.
A couple of Siamabandi Village in Chief Siachitema’s area was also killed by unknown people last week using an axe and a gun after the assailants besieged their house on unknown reasons.
The couple sustained deep cuts in their heads, bodies and died on spot.
SOME officers from Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) trailing about 10 trucks laden with Mukula logs were on Thursday stoned by irate Malawian villagers.
And another truck laden with Mukula logs destined to Malawi believed to be from Katete has been impounded in Chadiza District.
Eastern Province Permanent Secretary Dr Chileshe Mulenga confirmed the development in Chipata yesterday that the ZRA officers were stoned by the Malawians for trailing the trucks laden with Mukula logs.
“The officers from ZRA who were trailing trucks laden with Mukula logs were stoned yesterday (Thursday) in Malawi and after being stoned they decided to discontinue with their mission to continue trailing of the trucks,” he said.
Dr Mulenga said the Malawian authorities however denied the entry of the trucks into that country.
He said his Government would engage the new Malawian government in an effort to clamp down the vice.
He also said the trucks that slipped into Malawi were because of the police officers who did not do their job accordingly.
Dr Mulenga however said the 34 trucks which were impounded for being in possession of the Mukula logs weighing 30 tones would wait the advised from the Attorney General’s office.
He said the trucks would not be released until the advice from the Attorney General and said anyone found wanting would be dealt with accordance with the Penal Code Cap 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
On Wednesday, 34 trucks laden with Mukula logs were impounded at Mwami Border Post.
Last week, Dr Mulenga said it was illegal to harvest, posses, transport and trade the Mukula tree species.
He warned foreign nationals involved in the harvesting, storage, transportation and trading in the Mukula tree of deportation while the equipment, buildings and motor vehicles used in the illegal harvesting transportation and storage of the tree species shall be forfeited to the state.
Heritage Party President Brig Gen Godfrey Miyanda speaking during the Rescue the constitution national prayer meeting
STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT SATA’S SECRET DEPARTURE FROM ZAMBIA
[Brig Gen Godfrey Miyanda – 1st July 2014]
I have been asked to express an opinion on the circumstances surrounding the secret departure of our President from Zambia. So far I have been constrained to comment because the topic is neither a joke nor a subject for making political mileage; also I do not have credible facts to make a meaningful assessment other than to speculate. This debacle has exposed the whole country to a serious security danger.
It is operationally highly questionable to suggest that the Secretary to Cabinet is responsible for communicating the movements of the President to the Service Chiefs. Also the failure by those in the Executive to act on the reported incapacity of the President is unacceptable. Although I have been out of the Defence and Security environment, I do not think that operational procedures have changed so much as to give the Secretary to the Cabinet operational responsibilities; he is a mere manager of the Cabinet’s Office or Secretariat; he is the Chief Civil Servant, the Cabinet’s “Chief Clerk” but with powerful administrative functions for the whole Civil Service. However I contend that strictly speaking the Army, Air Force, Police Service and Intelligence communities are not civil servants and do not fall under him for operational control.
To allege that the Secretary to the Cabinet is the custodian of the Instruments of Power is at most a misinterpretation or exaggeration of his administrative functions because this may suggest that as custodian he may refuse to act when called upon. It is not the paper that is kept by the Secretary to the Cabinet that makes the appointment constitutional but the act of the President consciously appointing someone. He can do this even on a piece of un-headed paper which is authenticated by someone else. That is why the Government Gazette authenticating the appointment almost always follows the event. When I first acted as President my appointment by President Chiluba was verbal but in the presence of four ministers who included now President Sata and me. There was no civil servant but the Secretary to the Cabinet was later informed and acted on the instructions. He is NOT and must never be “custodian of presidential authority” as this would contradict the Constitution!
Additionally, the powers of the President are not shared with anyone, let alone the Secretary to the Cabinet, unless delegated. The President has and must always have direct access to the Service Chiefs and vice versa. If this were not so the President’s own security would be compromised as well as that of the whole nation. The President is not even one of the Commanders of the Services as is nowadays portrayed. As Commander-In-Chief he or she is really the political head. Operations are the preserve of the Service Chiefs, but under political direction. If the Secretary to the Cabinet becomes the link between the President and the Service Chiefs as alleged then the President would lose one important function of his executive powers, that of being the War Head of the country and nation who is not in touch with the Service Chiefs!
The Constitution of Zambia is clear and predictable in guiding what should happen when the President is incapacitated or is suspected to be incapacitated. However the present inaction is either due to lack of knowledge or stage fright by those who ought to have acted. In this regard the Cabinet must surely take full blame.
The statement by the Minister of Defence that the Secretary to the Cabinet did not communicate to the Army for the sentries to vacate the State House front gate is not the part of the Standing Orders. The Minister’s statement suggests that the Defence and Security Chiefs were not aware of the President’s movements. But more ominously it suggests that there is another group taking care of the President’s security. Who or what is this group? Who is paying them? Are they Zambians or foreigners? Is our President in control of things? If not who is in charge? How did they assume the security of the President?
This sad scenario must make all of us be concerned for President Sata and his close ones and treat it as an emergency, regardless of our political views or disenchantment with the PF’s misrule. Each one of us has an appointment with death, whether we accept it or not, and this appointment with death will never be cancelled but will surely arrive! I appeal to all our consciences in this unpredictable situation to come together, pray for the President and his family, and for the nation to avoid a potential outbreak of lawlessness created by the PF themselves. It is not in our interest to go the Congo or Rwanda way. We are in this situation because many politicians who aspire to high office do so for narrow personal or partisan interests; but there are national concerns of nation-building that must now take centre stage. I believe that it is possible for all of us to unite to confront this situation and rescue our President, who is the fulcrum on which turns the unity, security, survival and advancement of the Sovereign State of Zambia. Let us “cease fire” and somehow cross this bridge and then we can put our boxing gloves back on when this situation (the absence of the President) has panned and petered out.
Although I have other issues with the PF and their party president, this is for another and appropriate occasion. God bless Zambia; God save Zambia.
GODFREY MIYANDA, BRIGADIER GENERAL, HERITAGE PARTY [1ST JULY 2014]
The Electoral Commission of Zambia has disclosed that it will next week announce the dates for five constituencies following the landmark Supreme Court judgment delivered on Friday.
ECZ Chairperson Justice Ireen Mambilima announced that by elections will be held in Kasenengwa, Mkushi South, Vubwi, Solwezi Central and Zambezi West constituencies.
She has however clarified that the Commission will not hold by-elections in Malambo, Mulobezi and Petauke Central constituencies until determination of the matter in the Supreme Court.
“We will be announcing the dates for the by elections next week, we shall meet to determine those dates and we shall be announcing the dates next week now that these issues have been resolved by the courts but I need to emphasize that it is for the five constituencies that were subject of the rulings for yesterday. The by elections for… I think for Malambo, Petauke Central and Mulobezi, that matter is still pending in the Supreme Court and there is a stay which was granted in the Supreme Court for the judgement of the High Court not to be implemented,” Justice Mambilima said.
“So that one we shall wait for the Supreme Court again to make their rulings, so for those others, by early next week, we shall be announcing the dates for those by elections and off course we have the Mangango which is…we shall have the nominations I think its Thursday next week so Mangango is on course,” she said.
She was speaking in Lusaka during a media luncheon held for the ECZ Media Corps at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre.
Meanwhile, Justice Mambilima has challenged Acting President Wynter Kabimba to explain to the nation about the Kenyans he smuggled into Zambia to conduct the Parallel Voter Tabulation during the 2011 general polls.
She has stressed that Mr. Kabimba is better placed to avail more details on the matter.
“We cannot say more about that issue, as a Commission we believe Mr Kabimba is in a better position to clarify that matter,” she said.
Justice Mambilima maintained that elections conducted the ECZ are done in a transparent manner and the Commission has no control over electoral malpractices some candidates are engaged in.
She has since called on the media to play their active role in sensitizing people on the delimitation exercise.
Justice Mambilima said the delimitation sittings which will begin soon shall be publicized in the local papers in order to encourage local participation.
Nkana play their first of three backlog matches on Saturday when they host bottom placed Konkola Mine Police in a recsheduled Week 9 game.
Nkana is using the entire first week of the three-week mid-season break to clear its remaining unplayed matches.
They host Mine Police on Saturday, Zesco United on Wednesday before heading to Chingola on Saturday to play Nchanga Rangers.
“I think we have rested and done away with the fatigue and we just have to work very hard to get the maximum points,” Nkana coach Zeddy Saileti said.
“We are looking forward to facing Konkola Mine Police.”
The match will mark the first game back for striker Festus Mbewe following his recent clearance to return to action for Nkana after ending his six-month loan deal at Golden Arrows in South Africa.
Mbewe will slot into the position vacanted this week by Evans Kangwa following his twelve month move to Hapoel Ra’anana of Israel.
However, Nkana will be without defender Billy Mwanza due to a hamstring injury he sustained in last weekends 3-2 win over National Assembly.
“Chris Munthali is OK but Billy is still injured and will not be able to play on Saturday,” Saileti said.
Meanwhile, victory for Nkana over bottom placed Mine Police will see them move within six points of leaders Zanaco.
Nkana are currrently fourth on the log on 23 points from twelve games played.
Zanaco lead the table after 15 rounds of matches played on 33 points.
Senior Chief Nsokolo of Mbala District in Northern Province has rejected the proposed K70.00 floor price for a 50 kilogram bag of maize by the Ministry of Agriculture describing it a ‘Mockery’.
His Royal Highness argued that the Government should have instead considered increasing the price of the staple food to at least K 95.00 per 50kg bag than the K70.00, a mere increase of K5.00 from the price it was pegged at last year. This decision, his Royal Highness contends, would make the farmers make profit from their efforts put into the production of the country’s staple food and contribution to the national food security.
[pullquote]The government seems to mind the welfare of those in urban areas of which 80 percent are loafers, lazy layer abouts who can’t go back to the village, to be useful.[/pullquote]
“The price increase is a mockery. The government seems to mind the welfare of those in urban areas of which 80 percent are loafers, lazy layer abouts who can’t go back to the village, to be useful.”
“The Government shouldn’t forget the role of the farmer, who not only feeds the nation but also provides jobs to many whom the government can’t employ nor create employment for them”.
His Highness has appealed to the Government to consider reviewing priorities in the annual national budgets which have always favored the town dwellers at the expense of farmers and other stakeholders.
