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Power Dynamos coach Tennant Chilumba has saluted his reverse side for showing character against TP Mazembe on Wednesday night.
Power rallied to draw 1-1 with the DR Congo giants in an international club friendly at Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe.
“I think it was an excellent result. We wanted to give everyone a chance but I am happy we used a number of player from our junior team they showed they can cope well,” Chilumba said.
“To me there is no such thing as a B team at Power, everyone has a chance to play if he works hard in training.We just wanted to give everyone a chance.”
Chilumba rested all his key players including goalkeeper Joshua Titima, defender Nyambe Mulenga, midfielder Kennedy Mudenda and on-fire striker Jimmy Ndhlovu.
Only Zambia midfielder Julius Situmbeko, striker’s Felix Nyaende and Ignatius including second choice goalkeeper Joel Kanyemba who regulars on substitutes list were the major notables who face Mazembe.
Kanyemba was on fire in a game Power held out against a rampaging Mazembe denying the visitors international stars Mbwana Samatta of Tanzania, Zambian Rainford Kalaba, DR Congo’s Jean Kasusula and Ghanaian Solomon Asante.
Lwipa equalised for Power in the 37th minute after Kalaba had scored for Mazembe in the 13h minute.
President Nawakwi telling off the police officer in charge who came to disrupt the FDD meeting to leave the FDD Offices
17th April 2014
PRESS STATEMENT ON POLITICAL VIOLENCE
We as FDD are gravely worried with the wave of political violence that has engulfed our country. If nothing is done to stop this violence our country will soon degenerate into anarchy and civil strife.
CAUSES OF POLITICAL VIOLENCE
There are several factors that have given rise to a culture of political violence among them being:
1. Our collective failure to embrace democracy in its full sense. Democracy entails that tolerating divergent views, stiff competition for public office and an obligation on the part of those in leadership to publicly account for their actions.
2. The infiltration of the Police Service by known PF cadres who are ill- trained.
3. High levels of poverty and lack of education among the youths has made many of our youths vulnerable hence they are hired as tools of violence. These youths use violence as a means of survival.
UPND’S THREATS THAT THEY WILL ARM THEMSELVES
While we as FDD recognize and appreciate the fact that the UPND has in the recent past been at the receiving end of political violence i.e. both police and PF violence, the statement that the UPND will arm themselves sends shivers in our spines because we know that such a scenario will not resolve the violence but instead worsen it and we risk going into an armed conflict.
As a Party we do not believe that having an armed PF and an armed UPND is the way to resolving conflict. We therefore propose the following as a solution to ending political violence.
WAY FORWARD
1. His Excellency President Michael Chilufya Sata as Commander- in- Chief of the armed forces PF President should come out in the open; condemn the PF violence and instruct his men and women in uniform to get down to work and disarm and cage these PF thugs.
2. Instead of threatening UPND who are the victims of PF violence the Minister of Home Affairs, Dr. Simbiyakula should instead focus his energy on ensuring that the police bring those violent PF cadres to book.
3. The police should conduct themselves in a professional way and stop getting instructions from PF officials and cadres.
4. The police command should weed out PF cadres who have infiltrated its rank and file.
5. The PF leadership should desist from hiring our youths and unleash them on innocent citizens. The PF leadership is taking advantage of the poverty of the majority of our youths whom they hire for a fee cause havoc
6. As leaders we should learn to talk to each other and see eye to eye. We should not allow our personal ambitions to go to State House or to remain in power to supersede our moral obligation to foster peace, unity and stability
Politics should not divide us but rather if should unite us because it is the only vehicle that we should use to address the social and economic woes facing our people.
7. The government should seriously and urgently address issues of youth poverty and unemployment as it is a threat to national stability – we have all seen the political turmoil that has erupted in several countries due to high youth poverty and unemployment. We are all aware that the youths that are being used to perpetrate violence are those youths that are poor and illiterate so we should address these issues if we are to seriously address political violence in a long term.
Lastly I urge all my fellow political leaders to use the forthcoming Easter Holiday as a period of forgiveness and reconciliation.
Prepared and issued by: Edith Z. Nawakwi FDD President.
MMD President Nevers Mumba has written to President Sata asking to convene a meeting with stakeholders where the country’s divisive issues can be discussed and resolved as a family.
In a letter made available to the media, Dr Mumba listed four ministries that he accused of having misled the President on several national issues.
Below is the full letter.
April 17, 2014
His Excellency Mr. Michael Chilufya Sata President of the Republic of Zambia State House LUSAKA
Your Excellency
RE: THE STATE OF THE NATION
I refer to the above.
As your party’s mandate to govern has passed the halfway mark, it has now become necessary for the Zambian people to demand higher levels of accountability from you as President and your Ministers in Cabinet.
Most Zambians now believe that their fortunes as a people have dwindled at an alarming rate since your party took over government in 2011.
We further believe that your Ministers in Cabinet have abandoned you and have successfully alienated you from the same people who gave you the mandate to form government. They have abandoned you because they have abrogated their responsibility as your principle advisors.
1. The Minister of Finance has abandoned you into alienation by not advising you to avoid drowning the nation into unsustainable debt which will enslave our future generations. The anticipated national debt at the end of 2014 stands at $11 billion. This is a sum total of the current debt stock of $4.5 billion (inclusive of the recently contracted $1 billion bond). The domestic debt which stands at $3.5 billion and our monthly borrowing from the domestic market which is growing at a rate of 1.5 billion kwacha a month. This translates to $1 billion dollars every four months). All this careless borrowing has been done in three years of PF in government as compared to the $7 billion contracted by the UNIP and the MMD governments over a period of 35 years from 1971 to 2006. Your Minister of Finance has alienated you from all forward looking Zambians who understand the damage your government is causing to the economy. All this at exorbitant interest rates of 8 percent in regard to international debt and 17 percent in respect to domestic debt. This is unacceptable given the fact that other countries are borrowing at less than 3 or 2 percent on the international market while, we as MMD were borrowing at less than 9 percent on the domestic market.
2. The Minister of Home Affairs has abandoned you into alienation by not advising you not to turn the police service into a brutal force against your political opponents. He has failed to advise you to respect the human rights of Zambians. He has continued to use the police to stop us from holding meetings or travelling freely in the nation as opposition parties. He has failed to advise you from using your PF cadres as instruments of violence against your perceived political opponents. Recently, the MMD, UPND and ABZ Leaders have all suffered at the hands of unruly and armed PF cadres. There has been no statement from State House condemning these acts. Your Minister of Home Affairs has failed you and has by so doing made you, Mr. President a candidate for the Hague.
3. The Minister of Justice has abandoned you into alienation by not advising you to remain true to the promise you made to the Zambian people to deliver a people driven constitution within 90 days of forming government. Instead of advising you to do the honourable thing, he has been in the forefront of mocking Zambians that, they shall not eat the constitution and that it is now not a priority. This stance your excellency will mortally injure your political career.
4. The Minister of Agriculture has abandoned you into alienation by not advising you of the negative impact of the removal of subsidies from agricultural inputs which has resulted into un affordable mealie meal prices across the nation. The minister has failed to advise you that the reckless act of removing subsidies will result in the lowest harvest Zambia has had in a long time. This will trigger a serious food deficit in the nation. High cost of food stuff and in an economy without jobs, this is a recipe for riots as it happened in 1986 under the UNIP regime which undertook similar agricultural policies to yours.
We have decided to only deal with four of your ministers although all of them are guilty in creating the current environment of distress in the nation.
It is our considered view that you must find ways to deal with this crisis your government has created and face the reality that the nation is headed in the wrong direction. If you are not seen to confront these challenges, you would have succeeded in taking Zambia more than twenty years back and no Zambian will take such a situation kindly.
As a nation, we have faced several challenges over the years. We however, have a traditional way we resolve such problems. We have always used the concept of Insaka to work ourselves out of such difficulties. It will be in the interest of the nation if Your Excellency could convene an “Insaka” with stake holders where we can discuss these divisive issues as a family.
We challenge you and your government to act in the interest of all Zambians while you still have time.
I hope that this proposal will be acceptable to your Excellency.
National Restoration Party NAREP in the Copperbelt has challenged Patriotic Front General Secretary Wynter Kabimba to issue a statement clearly stating the position of his party on the regarding the “brutality and misbehavior of the PF cadres” in the Copperbelt.
Mr Musonda said his party is concerned with the continued harassment of opposition leaders by some youths alleged to be from the ruling PF and condemns the actions in strongest terms and challenges the party general secretary to categorically state the party’s position.
“we request the general secretary of the Patriotic Front to issue a statement stating clearly the Patriotic Front’s position regarding the brutality and misbehaviour exhibited by PF cadres,” he said.
And Mr. Musonda has observed that the on going violence in the province demonstrates why the country needs a new constitution which will protect every one regardless of their political affiliation.
“This on-going violence and the silence from PF leaders demonstrates clearly why we need a new constitution. A new constitution will protect innocent Zambians from party-sponsored and party-endorsed violence and give hope to the lives of people struggling with the high cost of living.”
Mr Musonda also observed that PF’s ascendancy to power was due to the political stability that existed during the rule of the previous regime hence they have the responsibility of putting an end to the harassment of national leaders by their youths.
“We urge the PF leadership to quickly clear its name of these actions. As the party in power, it is the Patriotic Front’s responsibility to ensure that the security and protection of every Zambian is guaranteed, regardless of political affiliation.”
“The PF is in power today because of the political stability that existed during the rule of the previous regime,” he added.
Meanwhile Mr Musonda has demanded that the police in the copperbelt exhibit some professionalism and do their job diligently as they have sworn to protect the lives of innocent members of the public.
“We demand professionalism from the Police Service on the Copperbelt whose sworn duty is to protect the lives of innocent Zambians.”
The Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) has pumped in about K5 million for the development of a cotton value chain in Mumbwa district of Central province.
Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Robert Sichinga, who flagged off the cotton value chain project in Mumbwa yesterday, said more than 11,000 jobs were expected to be created in the district.
Mr. Sichinga revealed that a bulk of the money amounting to K3.5 million went towards the Mumbwa Ginning and Pressing Company which was established by the Zambia National Farmers’ Union (ZNFU), Cotton Association of Zambia and the Mumbwa District Farmers’ Association.
He said Mumbwa Ginning and Pressing Company, which will be the only indigenously owned cotton ginning company in Zambia, will be the anchor of the cotton value chain.
The minister said the establishment of the company will have a multiplier effect as 2,200 cotton farmers were expected to feed into the ginning company while other beneficiaries will be suppliers, contractors and transporters.
Mr. Sichinga said the project was an indication that government was committed to delivering development to all parts of the country.
He said the cotton value chain project was the beginning of the Mumbwa’s industrialisation as the CEEC will identify other projects to support once resources are available.
And Mumbwa Ginning and Pressing Company Managing Director, Danford Simujika, said the establishment of the cotton company has helped improve the price of cotton in the country.
Mr. Simujika said during last year’s cotton marketing season, other cotton companies were offering K1.80n per kilogramme, while his company was offering cotton farmers a fair price of K2.20n per kilogramme.
He also said more farmers will be accorded an opportunity to own shares in the company because once the CEEC loan is settled, the 32 percent stake CEEC currently holds will be offloaded to farmers.
Mr. Simujika thanked government for supporting the company saying it will result in the creation of employment for the people of Mumbwa district.
, Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Robert Sichinga
The national students’ leadership and business conference has opened in Lusaka with a call for higher learning institutions to inculcate a mind of entrepreneurship in students.
Gracing the first ever national students’ leadership and business conference, Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Robert Sichinga observed that most of the learning institutions in the country only prepare students for white collar jobs.
Mr. Sichinga explained to the students that the formal sector cannot absorb all of the graduates hence the call for students to develop a mind of entrepreneurship.
He has since implored colleges and universities to tailor their programmes towards entrepreneurship.
He insisted that there were few jobs in the formal sector hence the need to encourage students to be entrepreneurs.
The minister said the conference has come at the right time when the country was looking for human resource to contribute to national development.
The conference is being held under the theme “maximizing your potential for career and entrepreneurial enhancement”.
And speaking earlier at the same conference, Zambia Centre for Accountancy Studies (ZCAS) Executive Director Alvert Ng’andu urged students to make use of the knowledge they will acquire during the proceedings of the conference.
Dr. Ng’andu said speakers of the conference have been drawn from various fields adding that students should tap into the speakers’ work experience.
And Zambia Institute of Marketing (ZIM) president David Kombe appealed to marketers to raise their standards.
He said currently, Zambia has got no good marketers that can compete at international level.
Mr. Kombe stressed that no marketer from Zambia can get a foreign job because the country lacks good marketers.
The use of local languages as a medium of instruction in schools of lower grades has impressed Government has most learners have responded positively. Here, Education Deputy Minister David Mabumba monitoring the use of icibemba at Ray of Joy Primary School in Nchelenge
Government says the mixed reactions coming from members of the general pubic on the use of local languages in schools is worrying.
Director of Standards and Curriculum at the Curriculum Development Centre Cecilia Sakala said it is worrying her office that sections of society are less keen to use local languages as a medium of instructions from grades one to four under the new revised education curriculum.
Mrs . Sakala said it was important that stakeholders including the media come on board to help in sensitizing the public on the positive benefits of using familiar languages as mediums of instruction in schools.
She said that the use of local languages in schools was not a new phenomenon as even before pupils especially grade ones were taught in local languages.
The Director of Standards and Curriculum however said this did not mean that English will no longer be taught to pupils but be introduced in grade two as a subject.
She was speaking in Kabwe yesterday when she officially opened a two day sensitization workshop for media personnel on the new revised education curriculum held at Tuskers Hotel.
She however expressed optimism that the workshop carried out in conjunction with USAID, UNICEF and the Irish AID will make journalists understand the history of the curriculum development in Zambia and other important aspects of the education policy for them to easily interpret and disseminate it to the public.
And making a presentation on the national literacy framework principal curriculum specialist Boston Mwendende appealed to parents and guardians to support the policy as it was their continued resistance will not help the children in anyway.
Mr. Mwendende said it was surprising that children themselves had no problem with the language and complaints were only coming from adults.
And University of Zambia Senior Lecturer Dr John Simwinga explained that as way back as 1926, Britain then colonial masters, had recognized the use of local languages as an important tool in preserving culture and spirit of nationalism.
Dr Simwinga said that the use of local languages as a medium of instruction for learning for grades one to four was also implemented just when the country got independence.
The workshop has attracted over 40 participants from both community media and mainstream media organisations.
Alliance for Better Zambia president Father Frank Bwalya blows a whistle against the government’s refusal to release the Zambian draft constitution
Alliance for Better Zambia (ABZ) President Father Frank Bwalya has become the latest victim of an attack by suspected Patriotic Front cadres in Ndola.
Fr Bwalya has QFM News from Ndola that he was this afternoon roughed up by known PF cadres in Ndola’s Kawama compound.
Father Bwalya said he has since reported the incident which resulted in buttons on his shirt being torn to Chifubu Police station.
He explained that he was in Kawama compound to visit one of his members who is not well and that it was while at the same house when two suspected cadres arrived and stated beating people who had accompanied him and he was also roughed up during the same fracas.
UPND leader Hakainde’s entourage was attacked on Saturday by suspected PF cadres while he was appearing on a radio program on Sun FM.
File:People in a queue for Mealie meal at National milling in kabwe
The Millers Association of Zambia (MAZ) says it is not to blame for the high mealie meal prices in the country.It has instead attributed the increase in mealie meal prices to high transportation costs from the production point of the commodity to the market.
MAZ President Allan Sakala told Qfm in an interview that transporters are overcharging mealie meal traders to transport the product to various parts of the country.
Mr. Sakala explained that most milling companies are situated in urban areas, hence traders buying the mealie meal are incurring additional costs to transport the commodity to rural areas.
Mr. Sakala noted that for as long as the cost of transportation continues to increase, the price of Mealie Meal will also continue escalating.
He said the best way to address the escalating mealie meal prices is by addressing price of fuel.
He however lamented that it is the poor Zambians who are being affected by the increase in the price of Mealie Meal.
Mr. Sakala has since appealed to people to buy Mealie Meal from traders who are contracted by the Millers stating that their prices are controlled.
He also appealed to government to consider reintroducing subsidies on fuel and maize to help cushion the impact of the high prices of mealie meal.
Dj Toots released a video for the song “Instagram” that features F jay Thee Ajay and Marvel. The song was produced by CardiMan for So’Good Ent. The video by Th33 Brizz for FAFO
The Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) has charged that Agriculture Minister Wilbur Simuusa’s expression of shock at the high price of Mealie Meal in the country is an indication of how detached Ministers are from the realities of ordinary Zambians on the ground.
FDD Spokesperson Antonio Mwanza says this is also evidence that Ministers do not share in the poverty, destitution and the suffering of the Zambian people.
Mr. Mwanza has told QFM News that this is why the PF government has failed to respond to the needs of the Zambian people.
Mr. Mwanza says the challenge Zambians have is that Ministers are living comfortably in their homes without any idea of what the ordinary people are going through.
He states that Zambians have been complaining about the high Mealie meal prices for a long time, and that it is sad that the minister in charge who should have first hand information had no idea about the cost of mealie meal.
Meanwhile, the Millers Association of Zambia (MAZ) says it is not to blame for the high mealie meal prices in the country, attributing the increase in mealie meal prices to high transportation costs from the production point of the commodity to the market.
MAZ President Allan Sakala has told Qfm in an interview that transporters are overcharging mealie meal traders to transport the product to various parts of the country.
Mr. Sakala explains that most milling companies are situated in urban areas, hence traders buying the mealie meal are incurring additional costs to transport the commodity to rural areas.
Mr. Sakala notes that for as long as the cost of transportation continues to increase, the price of Mealie Meal will also continue escalating.
He says the best way to address the escalating mealie meal prices is by addressing price of fuel.
He however laments that it is the poor Zambians who are being affected by the increase in the price of Mealie Meal.
Mr. Sakala has since appealed to people to buy Mealie Meal from traders who are contracted by the Millers stating that their prices are controlled.
He has further appealed to government to consider reintroducing subsidies on fuel and maize to help cushion the impact of the high prices of mealie meal.
The Copperbelt province Police Command says the United Party for National Development did not make a formal complaint to the Police over the attack by suspected PF cadres on UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema’s entourage to necessitate the opening of a docket.
Copperbelt Police Commissioner Joyce Kasosa has since described as unfortunate media reports suggesting that a docket that was opened against the perpetrators of the violence in Ndola over the weekend has gone missing at Ndola Central Police Station.
Ms Kasosa has told QFM News in a telephone interview that the UPND did not register any complaint at any Police station.
She says reports suggesting that a docket in relation to the weekend violence in Ndola has gone missing are therefore false as no such docket was opened.
Ms Kasosa says her office has only received complaints of assault and malicious damage to property.
And Alliance for Better Zambia (ABZ) President Father Frank Bwalya has become the latest victim of an attack by suspected Patriotic Front cadres in Ndola.
Fr Bwalya has told QFM News from Ndola that he was this afternoon roughed up by known PF cadres in Ndola’s Kawama compound.
Father Bwalya says he has since reported the incident which resulted in buttons on his shirt being torn to Chifubu Police station.
He explains that he was in Kawama compound to visit one of his members who is not well and that it was while at the same house when two suspected cadres arrived and stated beating people who had accompanied him and was also roughed up during the same fracas.
UPND leader Hakainde’s entourage was attacked on Saturday by suspected PF cadres while he was appearing on a radio program on Sun FM.
A KASAMA-based business executive yesterday committed suicide at his farm near the airport after a seven-year incestuous relationship with his twenty-one-year-old daughter was exposed.
The late business man was identified by police as Frank Sampa aged 50.
Mr Sampa who was popularly known by locals as Doux and owned a transport business by the same moniker, shot himself with a shotgun around 6:30 hours.
The bullet which entered from the back of his head left a gaping hole where his face should have been.
Northern Province acting police chief Lewis Musonda confirmed the suicide and receiving a report from Mr Sampa’s relatives who reported him for incest on Tuesday.
Mr Musonda identified Mr Sampa’s daughter as Kelly Sampa a student nurse at Chengelo School of Nursing.
“According to the information we have gathered, Kelly Sampa got tired of the relationship that her father had forced her into and wanted to put a stop to it.
“She told family members of the incestuous affair saying her father had been having sex with her form the time she turned 14,” Mr Musonda said.
Kelly said her father used threats ranging from physical harm, killing her and cutting off sponsorship for her education to deter her from outing him.
After the damning relationship was revealed, a group of Mr Sampa’s relatives called for a meeting which was held at one of Mr Sampa’s house in Mulenga Township.
At that meeting, Mr Sampa admitted his actions and pleaded to forgiveness for actions.
Some of the family members were however, not happy with keeping the information within the family and strongly felt the issue needed to reported to police and Mr Sampa prosecuted.
He was however, furious and gave an inkling of his eventual suicide when he was called in for questioning by police where he reportedly said “you don’t know me I will kill myself.”
Mr Sampa who yesterday before shooting himself dead left a suicide note at his home outlining how and where he is to be buried.
A relation who discovered his lifeless body lying in a pool of blood in some grass at his farm said he got a call from Mr Sampa early in the morning asking him to meet him at the farm.
When the relation got there, he found the deceased’s vehicle parked and went in search of him only to find him lying face down in some grass looking apparently dead.
His body was retrieved by police officers that took it to Kasama General Hospital.
A shotgun, an empty cartridge and a Land Cruiser registration number ABC 1827 was recovered from the scene.
Government says there is no constitutional crisis in the country.
Chief Government Spokesperson Joseph Katema said if there was a crisis, other important programmes would have been suspended or cancelled to address such a crisis or concern.
Dr. Katema said some selfish individuals and interested groups are the ones portraying that Zambia is faced with a constitutional crisis.
Dr. Katema, who is also Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, said the government is determined to produce a people driven constitution.
He was speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday.
“There is no constitutional crisis in this country because if there was such a crisis, it means some programmes would have been suspended by government to address it. It’s only some selfish individuals and interested groups portraying as if there is a crisis in Zambia. What constitutional crisis?” he asked.
He said the Technical Committee drafting the document was tasked to do that on behalf of the millions of Zambians.
Dr. Katema dismissed calls from some sections of the society that government officials were issuing contradictory statements on the constitution.
He explained that government has put a road-map on the constitution making process and appealed to the Zambian people to be calm and not to be swayed by selfish people with different agendas.
“Government has put the way forward and there are no contradictions. Which minister or government official is contradicting who? The PF is ready to give the Zambian people a people driven constitution,” he said.
On Access to Information Bill, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary (PS) Bert Mushala said the bill would be tabled in parliament in the next sitting.
The PS observed that the piece of legislation would be taken to cabinet and thereafter to parliament for possible enactment.
He said parliament is on recess at the moment and all Members of Parliament are currently in their respective areas explaining government policies and programmes to the people.
Mr. Mushala condemned the publication of obscene materials in some tabloids because they abuse the readers and viewers.
He said media regulation has been miss-understood and advised media owners to desist from publishing nude pictures especially women.
Small scale farmers in Kasama have wowed not to sell their maize this marketing season to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) if their conditions are not met.
They have since called on FRA authorities to ensure that farmers are paid their money immediately or shortly after selling the commodity to them than subject a farmer to wait for a long period of time after selling the agricultural produce.
Isaac Mubanga a Small Scale farmer’s spokesperson from Munkonge Village said this in an interview with ZANIS in Kasama District, yesterday.
He said that the trend of paying the farmers late subjected them to miserable lives as they were able not to meet their daily needs and yet they had the money hanging elsewhere.
The group has since urged government through FRA to speed up the mechanism of paying farmers quickly come this marketing season.
He however commended government for delivering the farming inputs in good time and wished that it could do the same this farming season.
