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Some PF members protesting against party Secretary General Wynter Kabimba in Kasama , demanding for him to reliquish his position on accusing him of failing to unity the ruling party.
Former Defence Minister Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba popularly known as GBM has denied allegations that he is behind the anti-Kabimba demonstrations which have resurfaced in the ruling Patriotic Front.
Some senior PF members have accused Mr. Mwamba of allegedly organizing some PF cadres to rise against PF Secretary General Wynter Kabimba for allegedly misleading President Michael Sata to take the stand in his court case against the Daily Nation.
But Mr. Mwamba, who is also Kasama PF Member of Parliament, says he has nothing to do with the demonstrations against Mr. Kabimba that have re-emerged in the ruling party.
Mr. Mwamba says he has put petty politics aside and is now concentrating on his business.
The Kasama central lawmaker states that he has decided to stop responding to accusations that lack facts and are merely aimed at bringing confusion either in the party or the nation.
Mr. Mwamba says his focus is now on his business.
PF Northern Province acting chairperson Peter Mwansa (red) franked by Kasama District Chairman Caleb Monta offering solidarity to PF secretary general Wynter Kabimba at their party office in KasamaSome PF members protesting against party Secretary General Wynter Kabimba in Kasama , demanding for him to reliquish his position on accusing him of failing to unity the ruling party.
MINISTER of Sport, Youth and Child Development Chishimba Kambwili
Sports and Youth Development Minister Chishimba Kambwili has with immediate effect banned the hosting of private functions such as weddings and Kitchen parties at the ultra modern Olympic Youth Development Centre.
Mr Kambwili told Journalists that the OYDC was created to stage sports tournaments and festivals and not weddings and Kitchen parties.
He said his office has received a number of complaints from sports associations who are being turned away by management that they are fully booked.
“Just now the Handball Association of Zambia came to complain that they are never hosted at OYDC. Management somehow always has an excise. The entire place is always fully booked with weddings and Kitchen parties. From now on, I don’t want to hear of weddings at OYDC,” Mr Kambwili said.
He said Government will not allow the facility to continue hosting events for which it was not intended.
“Zambia needs to have a busy OYDC for us to produce world champions in athletics and other sports but we am afraid we will not if this mentality of frustrating noble initiatives continued.”
Mr Kambwili said the Zambian Government and the International Olympic Committee spent a lot of money to put up OYDC hence the need to efficiently utilize the facility.
FILE: Senior chief Nsokolo innaugurates traditional beer chipumu at the Mutomolo traditional ceremony for the Mambwe people in Mbala
Senior Chief Nsokolo of the Mambwe people in Mbala District in Northern Province is disappointed with the Rural Electrification Authority (REA) for prioritising the electrification of communication towers in his Chiefdom at the expense of the local people who approved the electrification of the same facilities in their land.
Senior Chief Nsokolo is incensed that despite the Government’s pledge and commitment to electrify palaces for the traditional leaders, REA has gone ahead to provide electricity to the towers that were installed in his Chiefdom which he said were not important.
He lamented that the residential village of the Mwene Mambwe, the tribal leader of the Mambwe people was also left out.
Senior Chief Nsokolo said this in a press statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday issued by his Personal Assistant, Jeff Kapembwa.
He complained that the slow pace of development in Mbala district since 1964 is worrisome.
“Mbala, the ethnically Mambwe tribal area, has been neglected and side lined of development since independence. The last meaningful development was the building of Mbala Secondary School in 1970. All other developments like basic schools and clinics were built by communities with the help from the World Vision International,” Senior Chief Nsokolo said.
The chief recounts that it has been his cry and that of his subjects to seek the construction of a police post in his area about 84 km away from Mbala Boma to redress cases of rape, assault, murder and other crime related activities that were on the increase.
“Repeated appeals to relevant authorities including the Ministry of Home Affairs and the State seeking redress have failed to yield good results as cases of crimes go unabated,” he said.
Efforts to get a comment from the Northern provincial leadership proved futile over the matter.
The chief is, however, optimistic that President Michael Sata would turn things around because he is a man of action.
ZESCO Limited says the recently increased electricity tariffs are minimal to every ordinary person.
ZESCO Spokesperson Henry Kapata says the recently adjusted electricity tariffs on residential, commercial and social services are minimal and affordable.
Mr. Kapata said this in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka, this evening.
He however explained that the metered consumption for every zero to 100 units are still pegged 15 Ngwee per unit.
He said only consumption of 101 units to 300 units and consumption above 300 units which has been increased from 0.25 Ngwee to 0.31 Ngwee and 0.41 Ngwee to 0.51 Ngwee respectively.
Mr. Kapata said the residential electricity fixed monthly charge has only been raised from K14.63 Ngwee to K18.23 Ngwee.
And on commercial tariffs, the consumption of 700 Kilowatts per hour has only been increased from 0.27 Ngwee to 0.31 Ngwee while the commercial fixed charged has been raised from K47.75 Ngwee to K55.09 Ngwee, Mr. Kapata said.
And Mr Kapata further said the social service tariffs has only been increased from 0.27 Ngwee to 0.31 Ngwee while the fixed charged has been adjusted from the previous K41.52 Ngwee to K47.91Ngwee.
The spokesperson said the new electricity tariffs will be reflected on all its customers bill effective July 2014.
He assured customers that the tariff adjustment and ZESCO’s investment programme will no doubt translate into improved service delivery and efficiency to all its customers.
Recently, the Energy Regulation Board ERB approved ZESCO’s revised electricity tariffs with effect from 1st July 2014
Meanwhile, Mr. Kapata said ZESCO has continued with its investment program of increasing the power generation capacity through the development of large and small power plants across the country.
Mr. Kapata stated that the massive investment plan the company is undertaking is due to the increased power demand and one way of avoiding reversing to the previous extensive load shedding.
The Power company spokesperson stated that ZESCO has made significant progress in the implementation of its investment program which has been facilitated by the movement of ZESCO’s tariffs toward cost reflective level.
The opposition MMD youth leadership in Kaoma district of Western Province has urged the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC ) not to field a parliamentary candidate in the forthcoming Mangango Constituency by-elections slated for August 19, 2014.
MMD district youth Chairman Kenny Ndumba says this is because the wrangles that have rocked the former ruling party at national level have made the MMD unpopular in the area.
Mr Ndumba said the MMD should instead opt to support the UPND for the Mangango parliamentary seat which fell vacant following the nullification of Taundi Chiseke’s election as area Member of Parliament.
ZANIS reports that the MMD district youth Chairman said this in an interview in Kaoma District , today.
He said, at constituency level, most MMD officials have defected to the PF while at district level the officials have gone to the UPND -a clear indication that the former ruling party is losing ground in the locality.
Mr Ndumba said that a district situational analysis indicates that only the PF and UPND stand a chance of scooping the Mangango seat depending on the candidates the two parties will adopt.
He said the PF might currently be seen to be weak in the area but the ruling party may capitalise on the popularity of the candidate it is most likely to field for the Mangango parliamentary seat.
Mr Ndumba acknowledged that both the PF and UPND have made inroads in the area but said it would be prudent for the MMD to support their counterparts in the UPND if the opposition is to grab the seat.
The Supreme Court of Zambia recently nullified the election of MMD’s Robert Taundi Chiseke as Mangango MP on account of that he was not dully elected because of electoral mal-practices.
Non-Governmental Organization Coordinating Council NGOCC Executive Director Engwase Mwale has advised Sports Minister Chishimba Kambwili to stop making wild statements on the constitution making process.
And Ms. Mwale has charged that her organization has stopped taking the Sports Minister seriously because his statements are very uncoordinated and in most cases lack merit.
Speaking in an interview Ms Mwale said Mr. Kambwili should be well versed with tenets of a democratic society and that the Minister should not be making wild statements which are not in tandem with what is obtaining in the country.
She said it is unfortunate and disappointing that a person who should be part of a group of individuals entrusted to run the affairs of the country can be making such suggestions over a very important document which the government should be in-charge of.
“We strongly believe that the Minister is clearly out of step and we are requesting to the executive to take charge of the constitution making process and ensure that they provide the direction as well as the road map.
Seriously as NGOs in the country we do not take Honorable Kambwili seriously any more because his statements are very uncoordinated and I think it will be very hopeful for this country if the Minister can take time to ensure that he is in tandem with what is happening also that he is tandem with appreciating the governance and democratic tenets of this country,” said Ms. Mwale.
Ms. Mwale added that the Minister should be aware that the constitution making process is an important process which requires seriousness from leaders and that leaders should ensure that they do not take the Zambian people for granted.
She also called on government to hid to people’s demands on the constitution making process as it boarders on the supreme law of the land hence the need for their full participation.
Ms. Mwale was commenting on remarks attributed to out spoken Minister Chishimba Kambwili who is quoted in the media as challenging CSOs and Opposition Political Parties to fund the constitution making process because government has prioritized development of country.
Meanwhile the Grand Coalition on the Release of a People Driven Constitution has challenged Mr. Kambwili to show them the constitution as money for the process is not an issue as there are some partners ready to fund it.
Grand Coalition Vice Chairperson Beatrice Grillo said claims that government does not have money are unjustified as the country has been known to mobilize funds for less important things in a blink of an eye giving an example of the bonuses given to the footballers after they won the Africa Cup in 2012.
She noted that there was no budget allocation for the bonuses but footballers were splashed with millions hence telling the nation that there is no money for such an important undertaking does not make sense.
Ms Grillo who is also NGOCC board chair reminded the PF government that Zambians where not there when they wrote their manifesto in which they promised Zambians a new constitution within 90 days.
Power Dynamos coach Tennant Chilumba has saluted his midfielder Lubambo Musonda’s 15 minutes in the spotlight during Zambia’s June 6 friendly against Japan in Florida.
The 19-year-old midfielder capped his sixth Zambian cap with his debut senior goal in Chipolopolo’s 4-3 defeat to 2014 World Cup finalists Japan.
Lubambo came on in the 75th minute to replace Chisamba Lungu and twelve minutes later thundered in a long-range shot to level scores before Japan broke Zambia’s hearts with a stoppage time winner.
“I think, I was happy for the boy,” Chilumba said.
“He is working hard even when he is playing for the Under-20. I think he has matured.
“We will keep advising the boy to be disciplined because he is still very young.”
FAZ vice president Boniface Mwamelo has hailed Shepolopolo for qualifying to the 2014 Africa Women Championship to be held in Namibia in October.
Zambia on Sunday beat Zimbabwe 1-0 in the return leg of the final round in Lusaka to qualify for their maiden Africa Women Championship 2-0 on aggregate.
“It is congratulations to the girls. It is a great moment because we told the nation that the girls will deliver a Golden Jubilee present and they have done it,” Mwamelo said.
He has since called for early preparations.
“To us as FAZ the real battle has just started. We need to start preparing for Namibia now. We really need to be adequately prepared,” Mwamelo said.
Meanwhile, Zambia are now in the race to qualify for the 2015 FIFA Womens World Cup to be held in Canada.
Africa’s representatives at next year’s Senior Women World Cup will be picked at the Namibia finals in October.
Zambia Episcopal Coneference representative Father Chiti makes a speech
Grand Coalition says it is saddened at the summoning of opposition MPs who participated in the parliamentary debate boycott that characterized the last few seating during the last session.
The MPs who are part of the Grand Coalition had been summoned by Parliament but United Party for National Development Mazabuka MP Garry Nkombo told journalist that the committee that had been formed to look in to their matter has been disbanded hence nullifying the summons.
Coalition Chairperson Fr. Leonard Chiti speaking at a Media Briefing flanked by his Vice Beatrice Grillo, and Spokesperson McDonald Chipenzi challenged the speaker of the national assembly to summon President Sata, his Vice Dr. Scott as well as justice Minister Wynter Kabimba who have told lies in the house and have not faced any punishment from parliament and the speaker has remained mute on the issue.
“If the rules of the house were to be applied fairly, at least in the name of natural justice, we believe that those who have made statement that have not come to pass should be summoned to explain why they have either lied to the nation or misled the Zambian people that a constitution will be enacted within the first three months of the PF assuming power.
If this is not done we believe that the House will become a laughing stock in the region and as Grand Coalition we demand that Hon. Kabimba and the President who are both members of Parliament be summoned by parliament to explain why they have continued to issue statements on the floor of the house which have never materialized.”
And the Coalition on the Release of a People Driven Constitution has vowed that it will camp at Parliament the day that the summoned will appear to show solidarity.
And Ms Grillo said the PF has shown high levels of arrogance on the matter.
But Mr. Nkombo told Journalists shortly after the briefing that he had received a call informing him that the select committee which was formed to look into their issue had been disbanded.
He explained that the disbanding of the committee nullifies the summons.
Those summoned include Opposition UPND President Hakainde Hichilema, UPND’s Mazabuka MP Gary Nkombo and MMD’s Vincent Mwale among others.
Dr Mumba takes time to greet and chat with children
MMD President Nevers Mumba has concluded the tour of Central Province with a call to civil servants to ‘cast away the demon of fear’ that has gripped them since the Patriotic Front took over office in 2011.
And the opposition leader has called on Zambians to stop being amused at the wrong things obtaining in the country because they will one day wake up to a rude shock as the current administration will stop at nothing in order to maintain power.
Dr. Mumba who started the tour of the province from Mkushi and was accompanied by Provincial Chairperson Sydney Chisenga, Provincial Chairlady Idah Ngoma and later joined by National Youth Chairman Howard Kunda observed that civil servants are so afraid of PF leaders.
He said it is regrettable that civil servants are scared of PF officials when the opposite should be the case as the PF was elected into office by people hence they should be afraid of them.
Dr Mumba said the level of fear in Zambia is shocking as almost the entire nation seems to be afraid of President Sata and his Government as if they are not the ones who elected them into office.
He observed that the opposition needs to deal with the current situation expeditiously and protect their existence in the country.
“Through you I want to confirm that there is a spirit of what we call in Church as a demon in the country which is the demon of fear that has entered the civil service, it’s a demon of fear that we have never had in this country since independence. The only time we used to have it was towards the end of the rule of UNIP but now the fear by those people that work in the offices is the fear of death because they are scared of losing their jobs. It is a demon of fear that we must deal with as political parties,” Dr Mumba said.
He added, “When you are dealing with a demon, what do you do? You cast it out and when you want to cast a demon, you don’t run but you deal with it face to face. This spirit of fear that has engrossed Zambians which has made people scared of President Sata and the PF is a demon that must be cast out now.”
Dr Mumba continued, “I have dealt with a lot of demons in my life, demons of snakes, demons of lions and even this demon that is in government will be cast out,” Dr. Mumba said as he addressed officials from Kapiri district who had struggled with police to be given a permit to have an indoor meeting.
He reiterated that the Police is not the enemy of the people but that the politicians in Government are the ones who do not want their failures to exposed to the public and would want to hang on to power using undemocratic means.
Dr Mumba warned that the demise of the opposition in Zambia is inevitable if the opposition does not take the bull by its horns and demand that the PF gives them back their liberties.
He added that the ruling party is feeding on the fear of the civil servants and the general public hence the need for opposition leaders to be more fearless as they are the people who should speak for the suffering masses in the country.
“What we need in our party are leaders who are fearless , leaders who are strong and not afraid of the police because where we have reached, Mr. Sata and his Government won’t be giving us permits, as am speaking to you we have cancelled a rally in Kabwe because they refused to give us a permit.”
He added, “What the PF want is for them to be campaigning and us not campaigning when elections come we find our committees have only six or five members because we don’t meet but it will not happen under my watch as MMD leader if they want to kill us for fighting for our liberties and freedoms let them do that.”
Dr Mumba said he personally does not have a problem with the police.
“The police are facing serious problems. They are heavily under paid, poorly dressed, their equipment is insufficient and yet they are the ones being used to fight us, the people trying to help them, they are our people but they are tied by the current regime who are using them as tools.”
Dr. Mumba has urged Zambians to stop being spectators in the running of the country’s affairs as it belongs to them.
The MMD leader who was on a fact finding mission as well as reorganizing the party in the Province visited several constituencies including Chitambo where he had time to pray for the sick at one of the oldest health institutions in the country and a hospital he said was dear to him because it was his birth place, Chitambo Mission Hospital.
Dr. Mumba also visited Muchinga, Mkushi North and South, Kapiri and completed his tour with Kabwe where the trip was supposed to culminate into a public rally but the police denied them a permit forcing the MMD leader to resort to an indoor meeting with his party officials.
Mighty Mufulira Wanderers beat Lime Hotspurs 1-0 in Ndola on Sunday to preserve their second spot on the FAZ Division One North table.
Ambungeni Kabuswe’s goal seperated Mighty and bottom placed Lime in this Week 13 match played at Trade Fair Grounds.
The win pushed Manfred Chabinga’s side to 25 points on the log, just one point behind league leaders Kalulushi Modern Stars who stole a 2-1 win away at Grinaker in Chililabombwe on Sunday.
This was Mighty’s third straight win and Lime’s second consective loss under new coach Linos Makwaza.
Elsewhere, Forest Rangers maintained third place after Sunday’s goalless home draw with Mufulira Blackpool at Dola Hill in Ndola.
Forest are now on 22 points, three behind second placed Mighty.
In other matches, Mining Rangers moved into sixth place after stunning FQMO Operation 1-0 away in Solwezi, while a 2-0 win at Ndola United saw Chambishi climb into seventh place.
Ninth placed Kitwe United beat Gomes Wanderers 1-0 at Garden Park Stadium in Kitwe.
The Zambia National Women’s Lobby has observed that the continued under representation of women in both the political leadership and administration at local level has resulted in inequitable access to services fundamental to satisfying basic needs and quality of life.
Speaking during a press briefing for the Zambian women councillor’s exchange visit to Finland ZNWL chairperson Beauty Katebe noted that increasing the number of women representation at local level will help improve opportunities for equal accessibility to services by local communities.
Ms. Katebe also noted that the current numbers of women representation at local government level leaves much to be desired as there are only 84 out of 1382 local government councillors representing only 6.1percent of all seats.
She explained that the exchange visit is meant to strengthen female councillors’ capacities for increased participation and representation at local government level in the country.
And Finnish ambassador to Zambia Pertti Anttinen said the project is aimed at strengthening leadership and technical capacities of elected and aspiring female councillors; lobbying and sensitising political party leadership on the importance of women’s participation in politics.
He added that the project will increase cross party collaboration of women politicians at local, national and international level.
Meanwhile councillor Dorothy Mambwe who represented her counterparts said the exchange visit will afford the councillors and aspiring councillors an opportunity to learn more on democracy and women’s participation so as to increase cross-party collaboration both at local government and national level.
The five political parties taking part in the exchange visit are the ruling PF, former ruling parties MMD and UNIP, FDD and UPND. The exchange visit is expected to last for 9days
Local Government Minister Emmanuel Chenda (left) listens to Lusaka Mayor Mulenga Sata during a tour of Lusaka town centre market
PF Lusaka District Chairperson Mulenga Sata has boasted that his responsive leadership is responsible for the stability that the ruling PF has enjoyed in Lusaka.
Mr. Sata who is also Lusaka Mayor said from the time he took over as Lusaka District PF Chairperson, there have been no unrests in the ruling party.
He said Lusaka residents deserved to live in a peaceful city without any trouble from the party cadres.
“Lusaka is traditionally a peaceful place and what was happening sometime back was a sign that leadership was failing. What I have tried to do is provide leadership and everyone in the party is following through,” Mr Sata said.
He said he does not expect a repeat of the leadership wrangles that rocked the party’s leadership in Lusaka.
Meanwhile, the Lusaka City Council (LCC) has sent a final warning to defaulters owing the Council close to K1 billion to pay up or face legal action.
The LCC is owed millions of Kwacha in rates, rent and billboards that has accumulated over a period of time.
Assistant Public Relations Manager, Brenda Katongola said the Council has since given tenants occupying its properties in Lusaka’s Ibex Hill, a 21-day ultimatum which elapses today (Tuesday, 10th June) to pay up or face eviction.
She said the Council has also sent warning letters to other defaulters to pay up or come 1st July, the civic authority will send bailiffs to help the institution recover the monies owed to it.
“The Council is owed a lot of money in unpaid rent and rates by various institutions and individuals and from billboards over a long period of time. Paying rent and rates is mandatory by law. This time we are not encouraging defaulters to pay, but we are warning them.
We sent out letters to tenants occupying the few remaining Council houses in Ibex Hill on 21st May, 2014 to pay up, failure to which they will be evicted. Some tenants are owing the Council more than K100,000 in unpaid rentals,” Ms. Katongola said.
Ms. Katongola said the Council will not allow illegalities to hamper its efforts of providing quality service delivery and warned defaulters with outstanding amounts in rates, rent and billboards to pay for the civic authority to deliver on its mandate.
“People need to honor their obligations and pay what they owe the Council for us to offer quality service delivery to the community and also for us to be able to function effectively.
“Come 1st July, bailiffs will pounce on the defaulters. This is in a bid to generate revenue for the council especially that people have failed to honor their obligations even after reminders were sent out.
Apart from sending bailiffs, we will also start taking defaulters to the courts of law for the necessary action to be taken,” she said.
Bishop Joe Imakando talks with the Nigerian preacher
Bread of Life Church International Overseer Bishop Joe Imakando has appealed to Zambians to stop wasting their money travelling abroad to seek divine intervention.
Bishop Imakando wondered why sick people do not seek prayers locally when Zambia also has powerful men of God.
“What is interesting is that some of these people that travel abroad for healing have come back dead, including senior Government officials. This shows that one does not need to travel abroad to receive healing,” Bishop Imakando said.
Bishop Imakando said Zambia is blessed with men and women of God that are appointed to perform miracles.
“There is no need to travel abroad. Zambia has plenty of anointed servants of God to heal and perform miracles. Zambians just need to have faith,” he said.
A growing number of Zambians have been trekking abroad especially to Nigeria for healing and other forms of healing.
Former Finance Minister Katele Kalumba has encouraged members of public to take advantage of the commencement of the preparations for 2015 Budget by making submissions that will confront the current economic situation in the country.
The Ministry of Finance announced the commencement of the preparations for the 2015 National Budget and the 2015 -2017 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) to which members of the public have been encouraged to make submissions on issues related to Tax and Non-Tax Revenue matters before July 31 2014 deadline.
Dr. Kalumba has observed that with Zambia’s current economic performance, anyone coming from outside the country would have a mixed and uncertain assessment of the country’s future.
He said his observation is based on the fact that in spite of how the country’s economy is performing, the informal sector is booming especially in housing and estate development while the formal sector is stagnating and also deteriorating.
Dr Kalumba told Qfm News in an interview that this requires confronting without necessarily creating political costs to the government.
He has also called upon members of the public to demand a tax regime in line with revelations of what the country’s Mines are able to make per year going by the recent disclosure that Konkola Cooper Mines is able to make US$500 million dollars per year in profits.
Dr Kalumba said government should be encouraged to revise the current mining agreements signed with the mines and examine the possibility of renegotiating the tax regime.
Dr. Kalumba also said there is need to examine other sectors not adequately taxed such as the Tourism sector without necessary changing the instruments that are being used to attract investments in the sector.
Dr. Kalumba said he holds the position that the Agriculture sector should be given more incentives.
He also advised that government considers the economic situation in the country and ensures that workers are well paid to meet the cost of living in the country.
