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Three people have died on the spot while more than 40 have sustained serious injuries after the bus they were travelling in over turned near Mumbezhi area along the Solwezi Mwinilunga road.
North-western Province Police Commissioner Eugene Sibote confirmed the incident in Solwezi.
Mr Sibote said the accident happened yesterday around 20 hours after the driver of a Ticklay bus which was coming from Solwezi over turned as the driver was avoiding to hit into an oncoming light truck.
Among the dead are two females and one male.
Mr Sibote said the death toll may rise because some people were trapped beneath the bus wreckage.
All the injured have been rushed to Solwezi General Hospital where they are receiving treatment.
The dam wall at the Kariba North Bank Power station
The Engineering Institution of Zambia says there is no imminent collapse of the Kariba Dam.
EIZ Vice President for Policy, Public Relations and National Development George Sitali told a media briefing that the state of the dam report shows the dam is not under an imminent collapse.
Mr Sitali said the report also demonstrates the Zambia River Authority’s efforts to proactively enhance the safety of the dam and ensure that it continues to perform according to its intended purpose.
He however observed that the proposed remedial and plunge pool enlargement works and modernisation of the monitoring equipment need to be implemented in the shortest possible time to guarantee continued dam safety.
“The recommendations follow very serious and alarming concern raised by the media about the state of the Kariba dam. The EIZ constituted a team of experts to undertake investigations on the state of the Kariba dam and give recommendations,” Mr Sitali said.
He added, “The plunge pool scouring has reached depths of the order of 80M and if not addressed can lead to undermining of the dam wall foundation and instability of the wall.”
Mr Sitali said the present spill way gates do not allow emergency operation in cases when the downstream gates fail to close due to deformities over the years.
“The effects of Alkali Aggregate Reaction (AAR) are volumetric expansion of the concrete leading to deformation in the spillway gate built-in parts leading to gate operation problem.”
Mr Sitali recommended that large concrete structures while operating safely are characterized by cracks of one form or the other adding that the cracks on the Kariba Dam are due to shrinkage of concrete and temperate effects over the years.
He said currently there is no possibility of closing the sluice gates under flow conditions should there be need saying this has been proposed to install an emergency spillway gate and a new gantry.
Mr Sitali also observed that most of the research on the Kariba dam has been conducted by external institutions without the participation of local researchers.
“It is therefore highly recommended that the two nations (Zambia and Zimbabwe) consider funding research using local institutions.”
Copperbelt Patriotic Front (PF) has distanced itself from the Kitwe City Council (KCC) operation to demolish houses in Mindolo North.
Copperbelt PF provincial chairperson Stardy Mwale said the party had nothing to do with the demolition exercise.
Mr Mwale said this when he addressed a special PF meeting in Kitwe held in the council chambers and attended by all councillors including Mayor Kelvin Sinyangwe, party district and provincial executive members.
“As a party in the province, we came to learn about the demolition when the bull-dozer was already on the ground and as PF, we have nothing to do with the operation,” he said.
Mr Mwale said the demolition of houses in Mindolo North was initiated based on a court order obtained by Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) and Phoenix Materials who owned the land in question.
He said notwithstanding that, the party still condemned the encroachment of people onto the Mindolo North land because the PF would not want to support illegality.
Mr Mwale said it was in this vein that he has taken the step to suspend Mindolo ward councillor Fonstine Mwape for his alleged involvement in illegal plot allocation in Mindolo North.
“I have summoned him to come and answer charges on his alleged involvement but he has not come. When I phone him, he keeps telling me that he is busy and that he will phone me later. Up to now, he has not done so,” Mr Mwale said.
Mr Mwape has been suspended for his alleged involvement in illegal land allocation in Mindolo North where hundreds of houses built on illegally acquired plots had been demolished.
THE Bank of Zambia (BoZ) says it remains alert on the Kwacha performance as it continues to monitor the sharp recovery process from a shocking slump that hit a record high of over K7 against the dollar recently.
The BoZ said it would continue to address the key structural constraints in the financial sector and make the inter-bank foreign exchange market more efficient.
BoZ Governor, Michael Gondwe was confident of achieving the set objective of a flexible and market-determined exchange rate that reflected market fundamentals and promoted macroeconomic stability.
The Kwacha was now trading at around K6.4 against the dollar and it was expected that with financial interventions introduced by the Central bank, the local currency would continue to show signs of recovery.
“We are confident that efforts to develop our financial markets and make the interbank foreign exchange market more efficient, coupled with the continued strong growth in non-traditional exports, will promote a diversified supply of foreign exchange and help achieve greater resilience in the foreign exchange market,” Dr Gondwe said.
Dr Gondwe said in a statement issued in Lusaka yesterday that as a result of additional measures implemented on May 30, this year, the exchange rate had shown signs of stability over the past week.
Giving an update on developments in the foreign exchange market and measures taken to stabilize the Kwacha, Dr Gondwe assured that Zambia’s economic fundamentals remained sound and that the rate at which the Kwacha depreciated was not consistent with economic rudiments.
Dr Gondwe said the targeted 6.5 per cent end-year inflation remained on course despite indicators showing it was pegged at 7.8 per cent last month with contributing factors causing the rise, being the depreciation in the exchange rate.
This, he based on higher food prices during the period between October, last year and March this year, prior to the crop harvest and the increase in fuel prices and the more recent announcement of electricity price hikes, which would exert inflationary pressures.
“Having said this, we are confident that the increased investment in the electricity sector supported by economic tariff rates will bring the benefit of higher exports and more stable power supply, which ultimately will support export diversification, exchange rate stability, greater productivity in industry and lower inflation,” Dr Gondwe said.
Paramount chief Chitimukulu Kanyanta Manga II of the Bemba people has challenged government to arrest him if they are aggrieved that he has been installed as Mwinelubemba.
The Mwinelubemba, Henry Chanda Sosala told the Daily Nation from Kasama yesterday that he would be in the town to wait for police officers to arrest him.
Chief Chitimukulu was responding to an order by Chiefs and Traditional Affairs minister Nkandu Luo that he and the other chiefs that were masquerading as duly elected chiefs should be arrested.
“Ok I am around, I am not at Kanyanta village, I am in Kasama and it will be easy for them to arrest me. I don’t remember imposing myself as Mwinelubemba but the Bashilubemba are the ones that elevated me to this position,” said the Paramount chief.
He said the Supreme Court ruled has already ruled that the appointing authority for the Paramount chief of the Bemba people was the Bashilubemba and not anyone else.
Earlier at a press briefing in Lusaka, Professor Luo said the law enforcement agents should arrest all chiefs that were not recognised by government including Henry Kanyanta Sosala.
“Anybody who is walking around and calling himself a chief in a chiefdom where they have not been recognised are committing an offence and must be arrested,” Prof Luo said.
She said Mr Sosala did not follow procedure together with several other individuals who were claiming to be chiefs in Zambia.
“As far as this office is concerned, we do not recognise anybody who has not been gazetted by President Sata,” Prof Luo said.
The minister further said the Mwamba chiefdom did not have a chief because procedure was not followed when choosing Mr Sosala and that it was not only Mr Sosala who was masquerading but many others.
“The Musokotwane chiefdom of Southern province has not had a chief because they also did not follow procedure, we are not selective when applying the law,” she said.
Prof Luo cited Mr Kapotwe’s case who went to Chienge district in chief Puta’s area and decided that he becomes Chief Puta when in fact the holder of the throne had been governing the area for quite some time.
“In this country, there is only one person who recognizes chiefs and that is the president of the republican of Zambia,” she said.
Prof Luo told journalist that whoever was claiming to be chief should produce their recognition from the president.
“There is supposed to be a meeting which is called to select a chief guided by the Chiefs Act. The members who attend the selection meeting, other government institutions, chief affairs officers, and other people are recorded according to traditions that select the chief,” Prof Luo said.She said people who attend were recorded together with the the minutes of the meeting.
“After the meeting, the provincial local government officer submits the minutes and the record of discussion to the provincial minister who scrutinises and forwards them to my ministry. And when they get here our director of chief’s affairs also scrutinises and compiles the minutes with a covering letter and then recommends to the president’s office,” Prof Luo said.
MMD president Nevers Mumba arrives at St Ignatius Parish for the way of the Cross service
MMD national secretary Muhabi Lungu has said five former National Executive Committee (NEC) members who were stripped of their positions still have a chance to get back into NEC as long as they follow the procedures.
Recently the MMD NEC stripped Dora Siliya, Michael Kaingu and Brian Chituwo, Lucky Mulusa and Tobias Kafumukache of their positions.
Mr Lungu said in Chipata on Monday that the affected people still have a chance to get back into the executive.
He said that the five could get back into NEC as long as they follow the disciplinary measures.
Mr Lungu maintained that the five still enjoy full rights as any other members but should abide by the terms of the disciplinary measures and show that they were not above the party.
He said that the party stripped the five of their positions in accordance to the disciplinary measures of the party.
Mr Lungu also assured MMD members in Eastern Province that the party was still very strong.
He said that the MMD would be a strong contender in the 2016 tripartite elections.
Mr Lungu said that the MMD was not a one man party like other parties which depend on individuals.
The Non-Governmental Organisation Coordinating Council (NGOCC)has called on council country wide to take the issue of land allocation seriously so as to avoid putting citizens in difficult and uncomfortable situations such as the recent demolitions in Kitwe where over 400 families have been left in the cold.
NGOCC Executive Director Engwase Mwale said councils in the country must clean up the their systems and structure so as to ensure that people that are not well meaning in the councils who are allocating land illegally to unsuspecting citizens are flashed out of the system.
Ms. Mwale noted that if land allocation is to become more transparent there is need for councils across the country to ensure that the systems and structure are cleaned up and council officials who illegally allocate land to citizens are flashed from the system immediately to avoid a repeat of what happened in the Copperbelt.
And Ms Mwale has called on the Kitwe City Council to ensure that people whose houses were demolished are not left in the cold for too long as there are children spending nights in the cold.
She added that it is of great importance that families spending nights in the open are not left to spend the night outside for too long as children might start getting sick which will be another predicament for the families.
She further urged Zambians to ensure that they go through the right procedure when they are obtaining land and avoid being found in such situations.
Meanwhile NAREP president Elais Chipimo condemned the actions of the Kitwe City Council saying the council should have tried to find other solutions before engaging in such a reckless exercise.
He said what the council did was inhuman as there is no way they can demolish so many houses and affecting so many families without providing alternative solutions and that NAREP will never support such actions.
Mr. Chipimo further said the actions of council was inhuman and unacceptable as Zambia being a civilized country other solutions could have been found before taking such drastic measures further wondering what kind of people puts their friends in such hardships when they can hardly survive with the hash economic challenges the country is going through.
The National Restoration Party (NAREP) has challenged House of Chiefs Chairperson Her Royal highness Chieftness Nkomeshya Mukamambo the third to come out in the open and tell the nation on whose side she is regarding the continued harassment of traditional leaders by the ruling patriotic front government under the leadership of President Sata.
NAREP General Secretary Bwalya Nondo noted that Her Royal Highness has conspicuously been quiet over the continued harassment of traditional leaders by the PF hence the call by the opposition to have clarification from the Chietness as head of House of Chiefs.
Mr. Nondo challenged Her Royal Highness to categorically state her position on the recent threats by the government through Chiefs and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkadu Luo that chiefs masquerading as chiefs should be arrested which was in apparent reference to His Royal Highness Chitimukulu elect Henry Sosala.
He said Her Royal Highness should come out and show that she is not partisan by condemning threats and properly advising the state as situation where traditional leaders are becoming fugitives in their own country should be contained immediately.
Mr. Nondo further called on Chietness Nkomesha to show leadership as the chairperson for House of Chiefs and advise republican president through Professor Luo to stop “pocking their noses in the traditional affairs” of the country as the constitution does not allow them to do so.
Yesterday during a press briefing Chiefs and Traditional Affairs Minister warned that the state will not hesitate to imprison anyone masquerading as a chief when they are not.
Nchanga Rangers coach Fighton Simukonda has reluctantly backed his goalkeeper Toaster Nsabata after his questionable display when Zambia lost 4-3 to Japan in a friendly played in America on Saturday.
Nsabata has been heavily criticised for leaking four goals as Chipolopolo squandered a 2-0 lead to lose the friendly match Japan used to warm up for the 2014 FIFA World Cup that begins this Thursday in Brazil.
Simukonda said Nsabata tried his best in the early morning friendly played in Tampa, Florida.
“That is a national issue I can’t comment but he did his best,” he said.
Nsabata started ahead of Power Dynamos keeper Joshua Titima as number one Chipolopolo keeper Kennedy Mweene is out because of injury.
“The whole team performed well and deserve a pat on the back. You know Japan have qualified for the World Cup,” Simukonda added.
SuperSport has announced that it will broadcast this Saturday’s big Kitwe derby between Nkana and Power Dynamos set for Nkana Stadium in Wusakile.
Defending champions Nkana host Power as the FAZ Super League enters Week 13 at the weekend.
SuperSport Marketing Manager- Southern Africa Marlon Kananda confirmed that Nkana Stadium will on Saturday host a double-header with Roan United facing Green Eagles in the 13h00 kick off match before Nkana and Power clash at 15h00.
“We have a local derby between Nkana FC and Power Dynamos at Nkana Stadium and the game is expected to produce fireworks as both teams would want to have the bragging rights of being the dominant team in Kitwe,” Kananda said.
Meanwhile, SuperSport will on Sunday broadcast the delayed FAZ Super League Week 13 match between Konkola Blades and National Assembly to be played at Konkola Stadium in Chililabombwe.
A United Party for National Development (UPND) official has appeared in court for disrupting proceedings of the block agricultural show in Mbila ward in Chief Shezongo’s area in Itezhi Tezhi district.
The 29-year-old Jacob Mubambo, who was arrested on Friday last week, pleaded not guilty before Itezhi Tezhi magistrate,Munalula Mubita yesterday.
Mubambo is alleged to have led a group of UPND cadres who hijacked the show proceedings and allegedly turned the government activity into a political rally.
Mubambo of Dambwa in Livingstone, who is aspiring UPND candidate for Itezhi Tezhi Constituency, is charged with disorderly conduct likely to cause breach of peace contrary to Section 178F of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
It is alleged that Mubambo on June 6, 2014 in Itezhi Tezhi at Itezhi, conducted himself in a manner likely to cause breach of peace.
On Friday last week, UPND cadres hijacked the Agricultural Block Show in Mbila area and turned it into a political rally.
The opposition cadres disturbed the whole function to the extent that only two exhibitors showed up and the rest were opposition UPND cadres who were dressed in political regalia.
The opposition political party cadres openly distributed UPND political fliers and were heard shouting ant-PF political slogans to the annoyance of Home affairs Deputy Minister, Nixon Chilangwa, and Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Greyford Monde, who graced the agricultural shows in Mbila.
Despite Mbila area having the largest population of farmers and exhibitors, only two exhibitors were present.
And area Member of Parliament, Greyford Monde, has expressed disappointment at the incident in Mbila ward, saying it was unheard of for opposition political parties to high jack a government activity in the manner they did.
He threatened to recommend for the disbanding of the agricultural show if such behaviour by cadres repeats itself in the remaining block shows.
United Party for National Development (UPND) President Hakainde Hichilema has told President Michael Sata to stop bullying and tormenting the Bemba speaking people who have willingly chosen their own Paramount Chief Chitimukulu using their traditional council.
In a statement released to the media today, the UPND Leader said that UPND is fully aware that there are no disputes regarding the choice of Henry Kanyanta Sosala as the new Paramount Chief Chitimukulu of the Bemba speaking people and government must never interfere in the people’s choice.
Below is the full statement
OFFICIAL STATEMENT For Immediate Release Hakainde Hichilema
The PF and the Chitimukulu
The PF government continued overstepping and interference into traditional leadership of the country must stop forthwith.
The case in point is where President Michael Sata and his PF administration have continued to bully and torment the Bemba speaking people who have willingly chosen their own Paramount Chief Chitimukulu using their traditional council.
As UPND, we are fully aware that there are no disputes regarding the choice of Henry Kanyanta Sosala as the new Paramount Chief Chitimukulu of the Bemba speaking people and government must never interfere in the people’s choice.
We in UPND want to recognize Mr. Sosala as the duly chosen Paramount Chief Chitimukulu and must be allowed to settle and serve his people and the people of Zambia.
The UPND stance on such issues is that we will respect the choices and processes of various traditional leadership as the law clearly states, unless there is an impasse within the family, which can also still be resolved through courts of law.
As UPND, we believe this is a totally none political and straight forward matter, which the PF and Mr. Sata are just being dictatorial about, just like they do with other issues of national importance.
British High Commissioner to Zambia James Thornton
British High Commissioner to Zambia James Thornton has implored the Zambia Police Service to be steady fast in bringing those responsible for political violence to justice.He said violence has no part in Zambia’s democratic dispensation.
Mr Thornton said it is imperative that the Police ensure there is a level political playing field in the country.He added that it is high time the Zambia Police Service saw the need to be proactive and start discussions with stakeholders in a bid to find ways of resolving issues that lead to violence whenever there are political gatherings.
And Mr Thornton has backed calls for the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to be given more powers to disqualify any political party whose supporters engage in violence prior to voting day.
Mr. Thornton told QFM News in an interview that the Zambia Police Service and the Electoral Commission of Zambia play a significant role in the democratic life of the nation.
The Summit of the Group of 77 developing countries plus China (G77 + China) opens in the historical eastern city of Santa Cruz, Bolivia, in South America this weekend.
The Summit brings together 133 developing and emerging countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia and over 100 high-level delegates, among them, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon who is expected to deliver a key- note speech at the summit.
Twenty Heads of State from around the world are expected to attend the Summit and Zambia will be represented by the Vice President, Guy Scott.
According to a statement released to the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in Bolivia today by the Zambian Embassy in Brazil, Dr Scott is expected to arrive in Bolivia on Friday, June 13 ahead of the official opening of the Summit by the host president on June 14.
Bolivian President, Evo Morales, who is this year’s president of the bloc, has told the local media here that the UN Chief is expected to be part of the Summit of the G77 + China whose delegates have already started arriving.
Other speakers expected at the Summit include the President of the General Assembly of the UN His Excellency John W. Ashe.
Just like Zambia back home, the Santa Cruz G77 + China summit coincides with the 50th Anniversary of the bloc, which was founded in 1964 to jointly voice the concerns of the developing countries within
the UN system.
A number of activities have been lined up to celebrate the golden jubilee of the G77 + China Summit and the Zambian Vice President, Scott, is expected to give a speech during the commemoration of the G77 + China golden jubilee celebrations on Saturday June 15.
President Morales has indicated that the successful hosting of the Summit and the golden jubilee celebrations will not only make people of Bolivia happy but also bring glory to the entire Latin America.
The Group of 77 was established on the 15th of June 1964 during a United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) held in Geneva, Switzerland.
From the on-set, the conference that started with a group of 75 developing countries pledged to promote equality in the international economic and social order and promote the interests of the developing world.
The 2013, G77 + China Summit was held in Fiji, which is an island country in Melanesia in the South Pacific.
Meanwhile, President Morales yesterday visited the exhibition fair called Fexopo Cruz, the venue for the 2014 G77 + China Summit.
Addressing the media shortly after a conducted tour, President Morales said the venue will be closed to the public as from Thursday this week to prepare for the Summit that opens on Saturday.
President Morales said only people who have been accredited will have access to the facility before and during the summit.
