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The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has set Tuesday, August 19, 2014, as the date on which parliamentary by- elections for Mangango constituency in Western province will be held.
The by- election comes after the nullification of the election of MMD’s Robert Taundi Chiseke by the Supreme Court on May 19, 2014 on grounds that his election was fraught with electoral malpractices.
Patriotic Front losing candidate Richard Simbula petitioned the election of Chiseke alleging illegal and corrupt practices.
Until the nullification of his seat, Chiseke served as Deputy Minister for Commerce, Trade and Industry.
ECZ Public Relations Manager Crispin Akufuna announced the dates in Lusaka today in a media statement released to ZANIS.
Mr Akufuna said aspiring candidates wishing to contest the by-elections should fill in nominations on Thursday July 10, 2014.
He also said 20 local government wards by-elections from five provinces will also be held on the same date.
The ward elections will be held in Central, Copperbelt, Luapula, Southern and Western provinces following deaths, resignations and convictions of some councillors.
The ECZ has advised media and non-governmental organisations wishing to monitor the elections to apply for accreditation from ECZ Offices from Saturday July 6 to August 15 2014, while accreditations for political parties has been restricted to only 10 officials per political party.
The campaign period is set to commence from Thursday July 10 after the nominations and end on Monday August 18, 2014 at 18:00 hours.
Government has attributed the volatility of the Kwacha to reduced export earnings as a result of the falling copper prices on the international market, high liquidity in the market and speculation by the market players.
And Government has indicated that it intends to minimize on the rate of borrowing both domestic and external in the near future for the betterment of the country’s economy.
Speaking during a joint Zambian Government and International Monetary Fund (IMF) press briefing in Lusaka today, Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba says the Bank of Zambia has taken measures to address these issues by limiting liquidity in the market and encouraging big market players to conduct their business in more responsible manner.
Mr. Yamba says government will continue to encourage diversification of the economy to expand the export base towards manufacturing, tourism, agriculture and value addition particularly in the mining sector and construction.
Mr. Yamba says an IMF team from the United States of America led by Byung Jang has been in the country since May 27th to review economic developments and discuss the macroeconomic framework with the Zambian authorities.
He states that Zambia’s growth prospects remain positive and strong and that government has projected that real domestic product growth in 2014 will be around 6.5 percent driven by positive growth in agriculture in the preceding farming season, pick up in mining activities, manufacturing, construction and energy services.
On the External Sector Development, Mr. Yamba says the challenge in the sector is the volatility of the Kwacha and the fluctuations in the prices of metals on the international market.
Speaking during the same briefing, IMF Representative, Byung Jang, observed that the recent steep depreciation of the Kwacha is raising inflationary pressures and that expansionary fiscal policy has created large budgetary imbalances.
“The recent steep depreciation of the Kwacha is raising inflationary pressure and expansionary fiscal policy has created large budgetary imbalance,” Mr Jang said.
Mr. Jang notes that rebasing of the national accounts has revealed that the economy is 20 to 25 percent larger than the earlier estimated growth which is projected to remain strong at 6.5 percent in 2014 and the medium term outlook is supported by ongoing expansion in copper production.
He states that the Bank of Zambia has already substantially tightened monetary policy in response to exchange rate developments and to address rising inflation, including raising its policy rate and reserve requirements for banks.
He adds that the Zambian government has indicated strong determination to ensure that the fiscal deficit does not go beyond the budgeted 5.2 percent of rebased GDP in 2014 and is reduced to 3 percent of GDP over the medium term.
Patrice Beaumelle seeks to end his poor run against high profile opponents when Zambia face Japan in Florida.
Zambia and Japan meet in an international friendly in Tampa in a 01h30 CAT kick off early on Saturday morning at Raymond James Stadium.
The match will Beaumelle 11th match in charge in which he has already faced two high profile opponents without success.
Zambia lost 2-0 to 2014 World Cup hosts Brazil on October 15 in Beaumelle first game in charge and on November 14 also lost by the same margin to seven-time African champions Egypt in Cairo.
And Japan will be the second 2014 World Cup-bound opponent he will face in his already nine month tenure.
“In Africa Zambia is known and but outside maybe not so far much. We want to see how far we are from a team that has qualified for the World Cup,” Beaumelle said.
“Of course, it’s a friendly but in high level there is no friendly. We are highly motivated.”
And for the first time this year, Beaumelle has his strongest side available minus Rainford Kalaba who has only played once for him on March 5 in a 2-1 home win over Uganda in Ndola.
Kalaba will miss this friendly due to a 2014 CAF Champions League engagement with TP Mazembe who host Zamalek Of Egypt this Sunday in Lubumbashi.
Meanwhile, striker’s Jacob Mulenga, Christopher Katongo, Emmanuel Mayuka are all at the Frenchman’s disposal in attack against Japan.
In midfield, is blessed with the availability of Nathan Sinkala, Chisamba Lungu and Felix Katongo including Isaac Chansa who returns after a two year hiatus and could just him start in place of Kalaba.
However, Beaumelle will be without defender Davies Nkausu and goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene who are injured.
Mweene’s position is a two-way contest between Joshua Titima of Power Dynamos and Nchanga Rangers goalkeeper Toaster Nsabata.
Meanwhile, Japan head into the friendly on the back of a four wins and a draw and trace their last defeat to October 15 when he lost 1-0 away to Belarus.
Zambia Episcopal Coneference representative Father Chiti makes a speech
The Coalition on Access to Information (ATI) comprising OF JCTR, MISA Zambia and the Press Freedom Committee of the Post has demanded that Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Joseph Katema presents the Access to information Bill to Parliament during the next sitting which resumes on 17th June, 2014.
Speaking during a media briefing this morning, Coalition Chairperson Father Leonard Chiti requested that Dr. Katema makes public the copy of the harmonized Access to information bill to allow the general public to participate in authenticating and making the Bill their own.
Fr. Chiti said the Coalition is worried that the Country is only practicing democracy during elections, and not putting in place Laws to actualise the system of governance that cannot successfully exist if accessing information from the public institutions is limited or denied.
He has challenged the Patriotic Front government to quickly guarantee the people of Zambia their right to participate in the running of the affairs of the nation through the enactment of the ATI Bill.
Fr. Chiti stated that it is clearly evident that not having the Access to Information Law is enough to qualify that Zambia’s democracy is not participatory enough.
[QFM]
The PF government demolition of people’s houses currently going on in Kitwe and some parts of the country must immediately be halted and find a more civilised and humane way of doing it.
While we do not condone illegal occupation of people’s properties, we feel there must be a more humane way of resettling people that have built on such plots.
Going around midnight and waking up families with children and start razing their houses leaving them in cold is really cruel no matter the circumstances.
As UPND, we are also wondering why government allowed the so-called illegal settlers to build houses up to completion level, only to realise at midnight that the structures were illegal and must be razed.
[pullquote]Going around midnight and waking up families with children and start razing their houses leaving them in cold is really cruel no matter the circumstances.[/pullquote]
Where was the so called working and caring PF government when people were allowed to spend a lot of their hard earned income to build those houses, only to demolish them at completion at night?
It shows a clear lack of plan and care for the people on the part of the PF government to fail to amicably settle its people in a more civilised manner.
Our appeal to the PF government is to immediately halt the painful exercise, engage the affected families in a more civilised manner, and resettle them properly than leaving them in the cold, especially during this winter season.
We also appeal to the PF government to address the corruption in Local Authorities regarding allocation of plots.
President Sata congratulates Zambia’s Ambassador to Russia Solomon Mbuzi during the swearing in ceremony at State House on 6 th June 2014
President Michael Sata has advised the newly sworn in Ambassador to the Republic of the Russian Federation, Solomon Mbuzi, to execute his diplomatic duties diligently.
President Sata said Russia was a powerful country, hence the call to Mr Mbuzi to discharge his duties prudently while serving in that country.
“I expect you to represent us well. Russia is a powerful country and will always be. Russians will expel you,” President Sata said.
The Head of State stressed that Russians will not hesitate to expel Mr Mbuzi should he fail to work to their expectations.
Mr Sata reminded the Ambassador to be careful in his discharge of duties as Russia is a powerful state.
“Congratulations. Russians will sort you (Mr Mbuzi) out. They are not people to play with” cautioned Mr Sata.
President Sata implored Mr Mbuzi to strive to represent well Zambia while serving in that country as Zambia’s envoy.
And speaking to journalists shortly after being sworn in, Mr Mbuzi said his first task will be to cement and foster the existing bilateral relations between Zambia and Russia.
Mr Mbuzi said Russia is a global power, hence the need for Zambia to strengthen her relationship with that country.
Prior to serving in foreign service Mr Mbuzi served as Eastern Province Minister under the Patriotic Front government and later as Ambassador to Canada.
President Sata with permanent secretary, administration at Cabinet office Anne Sinyangwe and State House Principal Private Secretary Francis Chalabesa shortly before the swearing-in-ceremony at Zambia’s Ambassador to Russia Solomon Mbuzi at State House on 6th June 2014
U.S Embassy Charge’d’Affairs, David Young talks to journalists
The United States government has expressed concern over the culture of political violence in Zambia were political cadres resort to using machetes whenever disagreements arise.
Speaking during the commemoration of the 238th independence anniversary of the United States of America and 50 years of good relationship between with Zambian in Lusaka last evening, U.S Embassy Charge’d’Affairs, David Young, said in a democracy, disagreements are settled with words not machetes as witnessed in the Zambian politics.He bemoaned the intolerable levels of violence in Zambia where citizens who disagree with government views are attacked by state sponsored cadres.
Mr. Young said it is regrettable that the Police harass political parties, civil society groups and journalists who are merely exercising their constitutional rights to freedom of expression and assembly.
He stressed that freedom of speech, assembly and the press are foundational rights, adding that democracy can only flourish when the said rights are guaranteed for all citizens no matter which party or group they support.
[pullquote]it is regrettable that the Police harass political parties, civil society groups and journalists who are merely exercising their constitutional rights to freedom of expression and assembly.[/pullquote]
He further stated that a vibrant and independent NGO community is crucial to democracy and development.
Mr. Young strongly encouraged the Zambian government to work with the NGO community to find a mutually acceptable solution regarding NGO registration and autonomy.
And Health Deputy Minister Chitalu Chilufya said Zambia will continue to play its role as a beacon of peace stability in the region through its commitment to the principles of democracy and good governance.
Dr.Chilufya said government will continue to pursue social and economic programs in order to fulfill the aspirations of the Zambian people into a future of hope and dignity and that assures them of education and employment opportunities, poverty alleviation and justice for all.
Some of the prominent people who attended the function include, First Republican President Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, Vice President Guy Scott, Chieftainess Nkomesha Mukamambo II of the Soli people in Chongwe district, who is also the House of Chiefs Chairperson,UPND Mazabuka MP Garry Nkombo, and senior government officials.
Vice President Guy Scott,First Zambian president Kennneth Kaunda and Mama Chibesa Kankasa during the U.S independence anniversary
ZAMBIA has been ranked number three on the top 50 Top travel destinations that will be huge and lucrative in the next 10 years.
The list has been dominated by countries in Africa, with Namibia taking the number one spot.
Sixteen other African countries made the list, including Zambia (Number three), Angola (Number 4), and Cameroon (Number 16).
This is according to the latest edition of the globally acclaimed business publication known as Business Insider.
Business Insider is a US business and technology news website launched in February 2009 and based in New York City.
Love Home Swap compiled a list of the top 50 up-and-coming countries to watch, based on data from the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).
They compared growth figures for each country by looking at the annual growth per year figures for travel and tourism’s direct contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) between 2014 and 2024.
Several Asian countries also made the list, including China (Number five), Burma (Number seven), Cambodia (Number eight), and Thailand (Number nine).
“Although some of these destinations don’t necessarily have the infrastructure ready yet to support tourism, they are building up hotels, restaurants, and shops that cater to foreign visitors and promoting themselves as top tourist destinations,” the report reads
A truck that was carrying maize bran for export to Botswana from Zambia was turned away at Botswana’s Kasane border after failing to properly package and label their products
The Centre for Trade Policy and Development (CTPD) says the recent bans in the export of maize lacked transparency.
CTPD Executive Director -Isabel Mukelabai has however commended the government’s decision to lift the export ban on maize on the back of this years predicted bumper maize harvest.
“The lifting of the export ban on maize should be encourage as it will help expand trade in the agriculture sector.
The country’s exporters are not given sufficient warnings on the conditions under which such bans will be used as they affect and deters investment and thus inhibits growth in the sector.”
She further observed that zambia has great potential to become a food basket within the region and therefore attention must be paid to ensure that the potential can be unlocked by encouraging private sector participation not just in crop production but in the entire agriculture value chain.
Ms Mukelabai said this in a statement released to the press yesterday.
Construction of Itezhi tezhi hydro power plant underway
Construction of the Mujila and Itehzi tezhi hydro power projects is progressing, ZESCO Integrated Management Systems senior Manager, Ellenestina Mwelwa has said.
Ms Mwelwa said the two projects would sustain the supply of electricity in both the rural and urban communities of Zambia. She said that once the two hydro power plants were complete they would massively contribute to the economic growth in the country thereby having a jump in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
She said in Lusaka that the Mujila would light the rural and create approximately 400 jobs while the Itezhi tezhi would light the nation would create an estimated 1000 jobs.
The Itezhi tezhi hydro project is expected to be complete by the end of 2014 and the Mujila was to be completed in 2018.
Ms Mwelwa said the two plants that would enhance development will benefit the citizens in various ways.
“We are a hydro power based country which makes our power clean. Therefore, all our new developmental projects which are mitigation programmes, that is why we are encouraging hydro power schemes in order to export clean power.
She said the biggest challenge for implementation of power projects had always been a lack of resources.
An expert in Climate Change and Resource Management, Lemmy Namayanga has called on Government to consider supplying electricity through renewable energy such as solar panels throughout the country.
Speaking in a separate interview Mr Namayanga said the low water levels in the Zambezi River cause power cuts which called for the need to have a backup plan to avoid power cuts in the near future.
“If we invest in that as a nation it will lessen the power cuts we are experiencing as we are blessed with solar, the current power generating stations were built long ago when the population was less and yet the population is growing,” he said.
He said the environment was unpredictable and encouraged that Government must invest in constructing more dams for water storage as the current dams were insufficient.
Home Affairs Deputy Minister Stephen Kampyongo is dressed on traditional Ngoni head gear during the launch of the N’cwala traditional ceremony festivities at Arcades shopping center in Lusaka on Saturday
Home affairs Deputy Minister, Steven Kampyonga, has described the newly constructed immigration offices in Mpulungu district as a scandal.
Mr Kampyongo charged that the office block is a sheer waste of government resources due to the poor workmanship on the project by a Zambian contractor.He observed that in its current state the building cannot be used by immigration officers as it does not meet the standards. He said this when he inspected the newly constructed immigration offices in Mpulungu district.
The Deputy Minister warned that he shall not tolerate shoddy works from Zambian contractors on home affairs projects and threatened to lock them up. He revealed that the building, which was earlier abandoned in 2010, is incomplete as it has no electricity sockets, ceiling board and the walls are already cracking.
Mr. Kampyongo ordered that the building be redone from scratch as substandard material was used and the contractor did not follow the plan.The Deputy Minister advised Zambian contractors to be patriotic on capital projects that are being given to them as government shall not tolerate any substandard works on projects.He said the office block cannot be occupied by immigration officers as it does not look like a government office.
Zambia Daily Mail board members: From left to right is Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and Labour permanent secretary Amos Malupenga, UNZA lecturers Caroline Chibbonta and Tamara Kambikambi, Daily Mail director of finance Boyson Mumba, minister of Information, Broadcasting and Labour Fackson Shamenda, board chairperson Mizinga Melu (centre), Zambia Daily Mail managing director Isaac Chipampe, Daily Mail company secretary George Zulu, legal practitioner Philemon Songolo and Barclays Bank head of corporate affairs Webster Malindo.
GOVERNMENT has reaffirmed its committed to deploying more press attaches in Zambian missions abroad to entrench Zambia’s relations with other countries as well as to enhance the country’s visibility and unique identity of peace.
Most Zambian High Commissions and Embassies abroad don’t have press the office of press attaches.
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Director of Media and Press Media Isaac Chipampe said it was Government’s commitment through his Ministry to continue deploying more press attaches in Zambian missions abroad.
Mr Chipampe said this in his paper titled the ‘Role of Press Attaches in Zambian Missions Abroad’ presented to the ongoing Conference for Heads of Zambians Missions Abroad in Livingstone on Wednesday at Protea Hotel.
“Deploying more press attaches abroad is essential not only for entrenching Zambia’s relations, stature and visibility with the outside world, but also promoting the country’s unique identity of peace, stability and the vast and virgin investment and development potential we are so richly endowed with,” Mr Chipampe said.
He said the Head of Mission, working with senior staff including the press attaché, had to articular a set of objectives that needed to be accomplished.
“For example, the objectives may include realising, by 30 per cent, the current number of tourists visiting Zambia from your country of accreditation, say Germany, by the end of 2014.
In realising this objective, the role pf press attaché, is to ensure that every action the Head of Mission or other officials take, ranging from delivering a speech, to giving a television interview, should centre on and around this objective,” Mr Chipampe said.
He said the primary responsibility for the media relations officer abroad was to ensure that Government’s messages and initiatives received media coverage and that the covering was fair and accurate.
Mr Chipampe said press attaches were eyes and ears of Zambia in the country of accreditation by being alert of issues that relates to the nation back home and advise the Head of Mission accordingly.
“The press attaches should advise the Head of Mission and staff on press relations and potential media reactions and clarifications as well as oversee speech writing and also review speeches and messages.
It is the duty of press attaches to cooperate and work closely with the Head of Missions abroad on daily basis,” Mr Chipampe said.
Dr Mumba interacts with farmers who complained over poor yields in Mkushi
MMD President Nevers Mumba has expressed shock at the devastating effects of the PF’s disastrous agriculture policy which he said has left most small scale farmers impoverished.
Dr. Mumba noted that PF has destroyed the country’s once flourishing agriculture sector adding that small scale farmers are the hardest hit.
Dr Mumba is touring Central Province on a fact finding mission to check on the impact of the PF’s agriculture policy and reorganize the former ruling party.
The MMD leader who made several stop overs to interact with farmers in Mkushi South where he started his tour of duty told the villagers that it is sad that they continue to suffer due to the PF’s lack of policy direction especially in the agriculture sector.
Dr Mumba predicted that at the rate the PF is going, Zambia will soon have no agriculture sector to about.
He called on Zambians to vote the PF out of office in 2016 and vote back the MMD, the party that had a sound agriculture policy.
Dr Mumba said the MMD heavily supported small scale farmers through the Farmer Input Support Programme and purchased produce from farmers on time which ensured that farmers got real value for their labour.
He charged that the PF’s stay in the office has completely destroyed the agriculture sector due to a lack of policy direction.
And the opposition leader has compared the ruling PF to a dishonest man who promises good things to his wife but does not honor his promises.
Speaking when he addressed villagers in Mkushi South constituency where he met party officials, Dr. Mumba said what the PF has done to Zambia is not different from lying to a woman before marrying her.
He said Zambian should detest the PF just like a woman detests being lied to.
Dr Mumba said the PF knowingly deceived the small scale across the country that they would increase the bags of fertilizer and seeds but the opposite has happened as vulnerable small scale farmers have been reduced to destitutes.
The MMD leader said farmers are now made to share inputs and fertilizer amongst themselves, something he said was unheard of during the MMD administration.
He said the PF got to power with many flowerily promises which they have since failed to deliver as they have realized that governing a country cannot be done by word of mouth.
Meanwhile, several small scale farmers have complained to Dr Mumba that delays by government to announce the Maize floor price for this year’s Maize marketing season is forcing them to sell their produce to briefcase business men who are exploiting them.
And Dr Mumba also stopped to chat with some business men involved in the buying of maize who also had their share of complaints.
The Maize traders called on the opposition leader to lobby government on their behalf to open up the export market for Maize to enable them earn more money.
They said it is unfair for government to treat them like criminals whenever they tried to sell their maize across the border hence the need for the government to legalize the export of maize.
Dr Mumba chats with villagers in Mkushi during his party mobilisation tours
Nkana held its first evening training session in Sousse on Thursday ahead of Saturday’s 2014 CAF Confederation Cup Group B game.
Nkana will play host Etoile du Sahel under floodlights on Saturday evening in the two sides Group B tie.
After two and a half days of daylight training since arriving in Tunisia on Tuesday, Nkana skipped Thursday afternoon practice at the Stade Olympique training grounds in Sousse after opting for an evening session under coach Zeddy Saileti.
On Friday night, Nkana will get a feel of the Stade Olympique main pitch ahead of their June 7 Group B match.
