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Zambia’s female boxer Esther Phiri has officially come out of her retirement following a brief hiatus.
Esther’s Promoter and manager Anthony Mwamba confirming this in a statement last evening.
Mwamba says although there was a lot of miscommunication and speculations from various quarters about his boxer’s return it does not surprise his stables because the status of Esther Phiri as a world champion.
He however thanked the Professional Boxing Board and Wrestling Control Board (PBBWC) and boxing fans who have remained unyielding in their support.
“Special thanks go to the medical personnel for their professional approach throughout.
“We wish to apologies unreservedly if they felt injured in anyway arising from the speculations and miscommunication during Esther’s absence from the ring, ‘read the statement in part.
Mwamba has however assured the boxing fans, Esther is back and determined more than ever before to produce the best boxing Zambia has ever seen.
Dr Nevers Mumba greeting people at Levy Mwanawasa Hospital
MMD President Nevers Mumba says Zambians are not interested in projects about record high Maize bumper harvest from the PF Government in the midst of record Mealie meal prices.
Dr Mumba said mere projections of Maize bumper harvest when Mealie Meal prices are still very high make a mockery of hard working farmers.
Dr Mumba said Minister of Agriculture Wilbur Simuusa should not have rushed to the media to release statistics based on projections even before the crop is fully harvested.
“We don’t understand the euphoria that has come with these projections. Our stance as the MMD is that these numbers are meaningless as long as Mealie Meal prices remain high,” Dr Mumba said.
He said the MMD Government left a good legacy in agriculture with successive Maize bumper harvest which translated into cheaper mealie meal.
“When we left Government, a 25 Kg bag of Breakfast Mealie Meal was selling at K 38 and now just under three years, the PF has taken the price to K 85. The high prices are killing the poor people and this government is now giving us a hoax of estimates about record Maize production,” he said.
Dr Mumba was speaking to Journalists in Lusaka after touring the Levy Mwanawasa Hospital.
At the hospital, Dr Mumba who was accompanied by some NEC members, Lusaka Province Youth Chairman Scorpion Kadobi took time to pray for the sick who included former Kabwe Mayor Richard Yumbwe who is hospitalized.
Dr Mumba visits former Kabwe Mayor Richard Yumbwe who is hospitalised at Levy Mwanawasa HospitalDr Mumba takes time to chat with members of staff at Levy Mwanawasa HospitalDr Mumba greets ZCTU President Leonard Hikaumba who is nursing his sick father at Levy MwanawsaDr Mumba lays his hands on Mr Hikaumba senior who is hospitalised at Levy Mwanawasa Hospital
“And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].”
(Colossians 3:15, AMP)
TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria
An umpire calls the players safe or out. As believers in Jesus, we have an internal umpire, so to speak, calling the plays and giving us direction. Before you ever make a decision, you should stop and see if you have peace inside. If there’s unrest or an uneasy feeling inside, then don’t move forward. Let peace be your umpire.
How many people get into a relationship that they didn’t have peace about and end up miserable? They buy things they didn’t have peace about. They end up in debt. They take a job they didn’t have peace about. They end up frustrated. Here’s the key: If you don’t have peace before you make the decision, you’re not going to have peace after you make the decision.
If you don’t have peace about that person now, you’re not going to have peace if you get into relationship. If you don’t have peace about buying that new car, you’re not going to have peace when the payments come each month.
Remember, God gave us peace for our protection. No matter what circumstances look like, always trust His inner peace. Let peace in your heart be your umpire and settle any questions you have in your mind.
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father, thank You for Your peace that passes understanding. Thank You for leading and guiding me by peace. Help me to tune in to Your voice better so I can walk in the peace and protection You have for me in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Zambia Under 20 have made great progress in their hopes of advancing to the final round of the 2015 Africa Youth Championship qualifiers after beating Mozambique today in Maputo.
Zambia beat Mozambique 2-0 to take an important away win on the road to Senegal.
Goals from Peter Ngoma in the 23rd minute and another from captain Lubambo Musonda secured Zambia’s away win.
Zambia will host Mozambique on May 24 in the two sides second round, final leg qualifier in Lusaka with the winner going on to meet either DR Congo or Malawi in the final round decider this August.
Striker Elson M’kandawire grabbed a brace on Saturday as Konkola Blades eased to a 3-1 win over Nchanga Rangers in a FAZ Super League match at Nchanga Stadium in Chingola.
M’kandawire registered his brace in 4th and 75th minutes while Francis Simwanza scored after 16 minutes before Martin Daka’s consolation goal for Nchanga came 12 minutes from full time.
It was a well deserved victory for Beston Chambeshi’s Blades who dominated both halves.
The victory pushed Blades from 8th to 6th on the table as they have now amassed 12 points from eight matches.
Earlier at the same venue, Napsa Stars thrashed Konkola Mine Police 2-0 in the lunch time kick off encounter.
A goal in either half from White Mwanambaba and debutant Brian Lubaba aided Napsa to a victory.
The Lusaka outfit bounced back from their first defeat of the season inflicted on them by Indeni via a 1-0 loss last Sunday in Lusaka.
Power Dynamos’ lead at the top of the 2014 FAZ Super League table has been reduced to one point after they squandered a 1-0 lead to finish 1-1 with Red Arrows at Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe on Saturday.
The home draw lifted Power up to 18 points from eight games played but hot on their heels are Zanaco who beat bottom placed Kabwe Warriors 3-0 away in Kabwe.
Power took the lead in the 35th minute thanks to a Richard Kasonde header after some good work by Jimmy Ndhlovu.
Arrows equalised from the spot in the 83rd minute through Stanley Nshimbi after defender Nyambe Mulenga brought down Lubinda Mundia.
Power have now picked up three successive draws and trace their last win to April 20 when they beat Green Buffaloes 3-1 at the same venue.
The draw was also unbeaten Power’s first at home this season after three wins at Arthur Davies.
At Godfrey ‘Ucar’ Chitalu Stadium in Kabwe, Zanaco heaped more misery on winless and bottom placed Warriors after a second half goal blitz.
Moses Phiri stood up to convert a 60th minute penalty he had just won, Roderick Kabwe added goal number two in the 78th minute before Boyd Mwangelwa scored the final goal with five minutes left on the clock.
MTN/FAZ Super Division Week 8 Results & Fixtures
10/05/2014
Nakambala Leopards 0-Roan United 1
Power Dynamos 1-Red Arrows 1
Kabwe Warriors 0-Zanaco 3
Green Buffaloes 1-Green Eagles 0
Dispute has arisen over the ownership of the disused slug pit commonly known as Black Mountain in Kitwe’s Wusakile Township.
A group of Chinese investors is claiming ownership of the Black Mountain and are forcing police to chase away the thousands of young people who depend on the mountain for livelihood.
The Black Mountain is now a source of livelihood for more than 1,000 young men without jobs in Kitwe.
The Black Mountain is one of the old heaps of waste rock which piled in Kitwe’s Wusakile Township by the ZCCM before privatisation.
Information has resurfaced that the PF Government has decided to sell the dump site to Chinese investors who extract copper from the waste.
Small Scale Mining Association of Zambia President Simon Njovu said the youths in Wusakile are not happy that the PF government has sold the Black Mountain to Chinese investors.
Mr Njovu said his association has information that Government has forced Chambishi Metals to sell the mountain to Nkana Alloys.
“Government needs to be careful on how this matter is handled. The youths are now threatening to decampaign the PF government if they don’t rescind this decision,” Mr Njovu said.
But Mines Minister Christopher Yaluma has clarified that the decision to transfer the mountain to a foreign investor has not been made.
“What we have are options on the table on how to deal with the Black Mountain, what is true also is that there is a lot of illegal mining taking place there which has to be stopped. We also aware that young people need jobs to sustain their lives but off course generation of income needs to be done within the law,” Mr Yaluma said.
He said the manner in which the illegal miners are currently operating is hazardous because they risk being buried alive when the caves at the mine dump collapse.
Mr Yaluma said it is Government’s desire to create employment for the youth in the mining sector and to ensure that they work in a safe environment.
People close to the matter revealed that a group of Chinese investors under a company called Nkana Smelter appeared on the scene around 2011 and started claiming ownership of the mine.
Wusakile MP and Deputy Mines Minister Richard Musukwa has opposed the move to sell the Black Mountain as it would deprive poor youths of their livelihood.
Mr Musukwa has pledged to defend the existence of the Black Mountain as long as he remains Member of Parliament.
AGRICULTURE and Livestock Minister Wylbur Simuusa (centre) flanked by his deputy Lackson Kazabu (left) and Permanent Secretary Julius Shawa during a 2013/2014 Crop Forescasting Survey media briefing in Lusaka
Government has been challenged to substantiate its projection of a bumper harvest in the 2014/2015 farming season.
Government has projected a bumper harvest for the farming season with a maize production expected to reach over 3, 350, 671 metric tonnes.
But the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) says the Minister of Agriculture Wylbur Simuusa should tell the nation exactly how this projected bumper harvest will be attained.
YALI governance advisor Isaac Mwanza says his organization’s asking government to substantiate this projection is in view of how the last farming season performed badly due to delayed rains and late delivery of farming inputs.
Mr. Mwanza has told Qfm news that this is why much as his organization welcomes the projection of a bumper harvest such a projection should be authenticated so that people in the country are not given false hope of a the country having sufficient food production.
He adds that if indeed there will be a bumper harvest government should also ensure that the harvested crops do not go to waste as it has been in the past where the harvest goes to waste due to insufficient storage space.
Mr. Mwanza says government should for this reason ensure that the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) is able to transport the harvest in the quickest possible time to designated areas of storage.
POLICE in Kasama have apprehended two notorious criminals who have been terrorizing Kasama residents and have recovered property worth over K40 000.
ZANIS reports that Northern Province police commissioner Charity Katanga confirmed the arrest and identified the culprits as Patrick Musonda, aged 32, and James Mulenga, aged 28.
The duo were believed to have, whilst acting together, conducted breaking ins and in the process stealing assorted household goods including plasma T.Vs, mattresses, assorted kitchen utensils, blankets and clothes.
Ms. Katanga said the goods were stolen over a period of four months from different households.
She has warned that police would not rest until all the perpetrators of the crime were brought to book.
The duo will appear in court soon.
Meanwhile police in Mpulungu are holding a 12 year old boy for sodomizing a five year old girl.
The incident happened in Isoko village of Mpulungu on 7th May, 2014, around 18:00hrs.
The boy is alleged to have lured the five year old into a maize field where he forced himself on her.
“The infant sustained anal lacerations on her private parts and the boy has since been arrested and will appear in court soon for sodomy in that the act is against the order of nature,’’ said
Ms. Katanga.
Government says remarkable improvements have been made in addressing Maternal and Child Mortality and other health problems facing the country.
Chief Government spokesperson Joseph Katema says government has dedicated 9.9 percent of the 2014 national budget to the health sector in order to ensure delivery of quality health care in the country.
He however said despite the reduction of maternal and child deaths, the rate of decline is not adequate to meet the MDGs targets and cited malnutrition in children as a major challenge that requires to be tackled.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says it is pleased that Zambia has shown commitment towards achieving Health related Millenium Development Goals (MDGs).
WHO Country Representative Olusegun Babaniyi says the commitment is manifested in measures that the Zambian government has put in place to improve health service delivery.
Dr Babaniyi cited the creation of the Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health as one positive stride in improving maternal and child health.
ZANIS reports that the WHO Country Representative said this during an orientation workshop of Members of Parliament on Health related MDGs at Chamenuka Lodge , in Lusaka today.
He also said the expansion of existing health facilities and construction of Health Centers in rural areas as well as various strategies meant to scale up interventions on maternal and child health are indications of Zambia’s possibility to attain the Health related MDGs.
And Minister of information and Broadcasting Services, Dr Joseph Katema said remarkable improvements have been made in addressing Maternal and Child Mortality and other health problems.
Dr Katema , who is also government spokesperson, said government has dedicated 9.9 percent of the 2014 national budget to the health sector in order to ensure delivery of quality health care in the country.
He however said despite the reduction of maternal and child deaths, the rate of decline is not adequate to meet the MDGs targets and cited malnutrition in children as a major challenge that requires to be tackled.
First quantum minerals through its subsidiary Kansanshi mining plc has opened a job Centre in Solwezi aimed curbing irregularities in it recruitment process.
Kansanshi mining plc Assistant manager, Allan Delaney, says through the job centre management hopes to create an inclusive and transparent recruitment process void of any malpractices.
The job centre which has been built at the cost of US$62,000 will provide information on available job opportunities in the mining company and assist prospective employees in the application process.
ZANIS reports that Mr. Delaney said this at the launch of the centre in Solwezi District, last evening.
He said FQM wants to give an equal opportunity to job seekers who have no access to internet to come to the centre and apply for jobs online.
He said FQM no longer accepts hard copy job applications as they have proved too difficult for the company to handle.
And North-western province deputy permanent secretary, Alfred Chingi said government is in support of initiatives aimed at removing acts of corruption in the employment process.
Mr Chingi noted that the objectives of the job centre are in line with government’s position on the need for transparency and accountability in the recruitment of workers.
FQM is the largest employer in Solwezi with about 13,000 employees directly employed by the mine or through contractors.
Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation Director General Chibamba Kanyama has resigned. He has resigned to take up a new role at the International Monetary Fund as Communications Advisor.
He was appointed ZNBC Director General on March 6th, 2012, taking over from Joe Chilaizya. Both Mr Kanyama and ZNBC Board Chairman John Mulwila confirmed the development. Mr Kanyama will start his new role at the IMF on July 7th 2014.
Veteran Broadcaster Ben Kanyama who until recently was Deputy Ambassador at the Zambian Mission in the United States is earmarked to replace Mr. Kanyama.
And Mr Kanyama wrote on his Facebook page that “I leave ZNBC on June 15th, 2014 to take up an appointment with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as Communications Advisor. I joined ZNBC on March 6th, 2012 and the past two years at the helm of the Corporation provided me with an incredible experience.”
“ZNBC is a dynamic organization that holds great promise towards changing the socio-cultural and economic dynamics of Zambia. I am grateful the Government has shown willingness to continue supporting ZNBC so that it fulfills its mandate, given the backdrop of anticipated digital migration. “
He continued, “ZNBC employees are enviable professionals to work with. With reduced external interference in operations, as witnessed in the last two years, the public should expect international level service provision. I implore the public to continue supporting the staff that is committed to execute national assignments in public interest.”
“I take the opportunity to pay tribute to the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr. Michael C. Sata for supporting the Office of Director General. He never interfered in my operations but encouraged me to function as required by CAP 154 that governs the operations of ZNBC. I thank all the Ministers and Permanent Secretaries that served at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for having given guidance to my office, particularly during the period ZNBC had no Board of Directors.”
Mr Kanyama added, “I greatly value the mentorship I received from the Board of Directors Chaired by John M. Mulwila. Appreciation also goes to the management and staff of ZNBC for having participated in the big vision that sought to reposition ZNBC as a true public broadcaster. It is my desire and hope that the dream will be fully realized.”
“Finally but not least, to all ZNBC stakeholders, particularly members of the public, that gave me encouragement to provide leadership at the Corporation. I do hope that the public will continue to render support to my successor and ZNBC at large.”
Indeni coach Steven “Barnes” Mwansa says the Oil Men are looking forward to Sunday’s FAZ Super League match against defending champions Nkana set for Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
Mwansa’s side face Nkana in the 13h00 kick off Week 8 match targeting their second win in the league this season following last Sunday’s 1-0 victory over Npasa Stars in Lusaka.
Mwansa said Indeni are ready for Nkana.
“We are looking forward to getting another victory as the morale is high following our win over Napsa,” he said.
Nkana are 7th on the table with 9 points from five matches while Indeni are fourth from the bottom with five points so far in the campaign.
Mwansa said:”We train to win but 90 minutes will tell.”
And Nkana coach Masauso Mwale said the match against Indeni will not be an easy one.
“It will be tough. Each and every game is tough we just need to work hard and continue amassing points.”
Nkana have won their last two league matches after kicking off the season with three goalless draws.
Mighty Mufulira Wanderers coach Manfred Chabinga has warned that the
legendary club must sweat to win promotion back to the FAZ Super
League.
Wanderers are joint third on the FAZ Division One North table with 12
points from seven matches ahead of Sunday’s home clash against second
placed Forest Rangers at Shinde Stadium.
Chabinga said it won’t be easy for Mighty to end their nine-year exile
from the topflight league this season.
“Winning promotion is our main objective but it won’t be easy, it will
be tough,” he said.
“So far the competition in Division One has been very tough so I have
been pushing my players to work hard for us to go to the Premier
League,” Chabinga said.
Wanderers first suffered demotion in 2002 before briefly making a
return to the elite league in 2005.
Mighty is the most successful local club overall and have won the
Super League nine times.
UPND deputy secretary general Kuchunga Simusamba
The United Party for National Development (UPND) says the projected record bumper harvest should benefit the public “with record reduction” in mealie meal prices.
Speaking in an interview UPND Deputy Secretary General Kuchunga Simusamba said government should not only announce record high harvest projections but must go further and tell the people how they will benefit from the projected bumper harvest.
Mr Simusamba notes that citizens are more interested in being told that mealie meal prices will be reduced since the country has produced record high maize grain.
“It is good that government is saying that the country will have a bumper harvest now government should go further and tell the nation that there will record reductions on the commodity which is the country’s staple food,” Mr. Simusamba said.
He observes that in the past two years people have been told that the country has produced enough maize but that has not corresponded with the prices of mealie meal which has continued to go up reaching record highs of over K72.00 per 25Kgs of breakfast and in some places even higher.
He also called on government to ensure that it puts in measures to prevent the wastege of grain through lack of storage facilities and bad crop marketing strategies.
He said the country can not afford to continue recording bumper harvests then letting the produce go to waste because there are no storage facilities or that some farmers could not maximize their profits because they could not be reached by government because of bad roads and other social facilities such as lack of FRA deports.
The Ministry of Agriculture has projected a 23 percent increment in this year’s maize harvest which will see the country produce over 3million metric tones of the commodity.
