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Dr Mumba congratulating Brian Kajoba as Solwezi Mayor
Press Statement:
President Sata’s abusive style of leadership
The MMD is deeply concerned by President Sata’s continued terror tactics against his perceived opponents.
The recent attack on the UPND and President Hakainde in Ndola by PF cadres and the most recent attack on President Frank Bwalya, President of ABZ defines the nature of Mr Sata’s leadership of violence.
The Bible says, “You shall know them by their fruit.” Mr Sata’s political history is that of violence, antagonism and lies. The current spirit of Zambian politics has been heavily influenced and defined by Mr Sata’s type of politics.
Many people define politics by Mr Sata’s creation of a bankrupt culture of politics which believes that, “The more crooked and violent you are the more of a politician you are.”
You usually hear people say, ” When Mr Sata was in the opposition, he insulted and intimidated the sitting President, and in order for you to succeed you need to emulate him.”
Zambia shall not be saved by a Godless approach to politics. We need a new breed of leadership which espouses morality and integrity in politics. Politics of justice and fair play.
Politics which rewards those who play according to the rules and not the lawless cadres sent to injure or kill opponents.
It is for this reason, MMD condemns in the strongest terms, the uncalled for attack by PF cadres on UPND President Mr Hakainde and President Frank Bwalya of ABZ.
We further warn the police that if they continue to blindly support the failing regime of PF, they have the capacity to spark unnecessary unrest in the nation.
Opposition parties must be allowed to function without any interference. If not, we pledge to defend ourselves.
MMD however, wishes to assure all Zambians that regardless of the brutality of the PF against political opponents and ordinary Zambians we are determined to fight for your rights and emancipation from the weakening grip of Mr Michael Sata.
As we fight for justice, MMD also wishes to call upon all Zambians to rise up and use assertive means to stop PF from drowning our nation into indescribable debt.
In 27 years, UNIP contracted US $7billion, which MMD cleared through prudent economic management.
In two years, the PF has contracted an external debt of $4.5billion. By the end of December 2014, the PF will have contracted a minimum of $11billion.
This debt is unsustainable and will cripple our economy for many years to come.
We condemn these levels of recklessness and irresponsibility. PF must stop this insatiable appetite to borrow.
Chief government spokesperson Joseph Katema has said that it is unfair and unfounded for Mr Hichilema to accuse Government of sponsoring cadres to harass him.
Dr Katema, who is also Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, said that it is baseless for Mr Hichilema to threaten to take Government to the Hague let alone call for the resignation of President Sata.
He said in a statement yesterday that the PF administration is a disciplined Government which does not condone lawlessness and indiscipline by anyone regardless of their political affiliation.
He stated Government has a duty and mandate to protect life and property of all citizens, saying that is why police acted swiftly to protect Mr Hichilema when he came under attack from hooligans masquerading as party cadres.
Mr Hichilema charged at a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday that PF cadres are operating as militias.
He accused President Sata of intending to declare a state of emergency in order to delay the 2016 general elections.
Mr Hichilema also accused the police of being “PF cadres”.
Below is the full statement
Republic of Zambia Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services
STATEMENT BY HON. DR JOSEPH KATEMA, MP, MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING SERVICES AND CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON ON VIOLENCE AGAINST OPPOSITION UPND LEADER MR HAKAINDE HICHILEMA IN NDOLA
It is unfair, unfounded and unfortunate for opposition UPND leader Mr Hakainde Hichilema to accuse Government of sponsoring cadres to harass him when he featured on Sun FM Radio in Ndola last weekend.
This is a disciplined Government which does not condone lawlessness and indiscipline by anyone regardless of their political affiliation.
It is common knowledge that a number of people accused of perpetrating violence, including those from the ruling party, have either been convicted or are currently appearing before the courts of law, a clear demonstration that no one is above the law under the Patriotic Front Government.
It is Government’s duty and mandate to protect life and property of all citizens. This is why police acted swiftly to protect Mr Hichilema when he came under attack from hooligans masquerading as party cadres at Sun FM Radio in Ndola.
As a responsible and law abiding Government, we condemn in the strongest terms the impunity and lawlessness exhibited by the so-called party cadres at Ndola’s Sun FM Radio where Mr Hichilema was due to feature on a radio programme.
As a matter of fact, Patriotic Front Secretary General and Justice Minister Hon. Wynter Kabimba, MP, is on record as having strongly condemned the violence against Mr Hichilema in Ndola soon after it occurred – a confirmation of Government’s zero-tolerance for violence regardless of who is involved.
As a country, we have enough lessons to learn from what is happening in other countries regarding political violence and we cannot afford the luxury of descending into such anarchy.
Zambia has enjoyed peace and unity for the past 50 years and it is the duty of every citizen to preserve and protect this unique attribute which has earned the country worldwide respect and admiration.
Since coming to power about 30 months ago, the Patriotic Front Government, under His Excellency President Michael Chilufya Sata, has demonstrated its unwavering and uncompromising commitment to peace and unity save for isolated incidents of political violence.
It is therefore, baseless for Mr Hichilema to threaten to take Government to the Hague let alone call for the resignation of President Michael Chilufya Sata.
Government further wishes to observe that the aggrieved party is supposed to cooperate with the police by reporting and giving statements as requested. That is procedural.
On the other hand, Government condemns opposition leaders who are inciting their members to take the law in their hands by arming themselves. Government is not going to allow anarchy to prevail in the nation.
All political parties are advised that in this free and democratic dispensation, moderation and mutual respect should be exercised so as not to provoke each other. This also goes to the UPND leader Mr Hichilema.
Government and the people of Zambia will not allow him or any other person to forment acrimony or to necessitate a state of emergency which he talks about. Government has no intention whatsoever of declaring a state of emergency.
Hon. Dr Joseph Katema, MP MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING SERVICES AND CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON
Zambia have scampered to quickly confirm their participation in this years Cosafa Cup.
The Football Association of Zambia’s confirmation came barely 24 hours after seven teams that included South Africa and 2013 losing finalists Zimbabwe confirmed their participation in September’s tournament in Botswana.
Cosafa on Wednesday confirmed that Zambia and Mozambique have brought the number to nine out of 15 the teams that have beat the April 25 deadline for tournament entries.
Zambia are the defending champions after beating Zimbabwe 2-0 in last years final they hosted in July at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
Ex-Zambia international midfielder Jericho “Tanker” Shinde has fumed after being left out of the legends team to face Members of Parliament in a game to mark first republican President Kenneth Kaunda’s 90th birthday this month.
Shinde is not part of the initial 18-member Zambia legends squad to face Lawmakers on 28th April at The National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka.
The Nkana legend and veteran coach said it was an insult for the organisers of the match to snub him.
Shinde questioned the criteria used to come up with the squad that has ex-Zambia players Fighton Simukonda, Linos Makwaza, Kalusha Bwalya and Andrew Tembo among others.
“It is an insult that I have been left out of that squad because I played in the KK 11 team,” he said.
“I know there are some people who are against me. I want to know the organisers so that I can do shadow boxing with them,” he added.
Shinde played for Zambia between 1981 and 1987.
He coached Nkana, Power Dynamos, Kalulushi Moderns Stars and Afrisport.
A second string Power Dynamos side came from behind to survive a 10-man TP Mazembe onslaught to finish 1-1 in an international club friendly played on Wednesday night at Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe.
The only notable names in the Power starting lineup were defender Billy Imonda, midfielder Julius situmbeko, striker Felix Nyaende and second choice goalkeeper Joel Kanyemba who was outstanding between the post.
Mazembe took the lead in the 12th minute through Rainford Kalaba who crashed in a cross from Solomon Asante who tormented leftback Lawrence Chungu throughout the game.
Power’s goal , and their only shot on goal in the first half, was scored by Ignatius Lwipa who blasted in a screamer that caught Robert Kidiaba out of position.
Kanyemba meanwhile gave the scoreline some respectability after denying Kalaba, Gladson Awako, Mbwana Samatta and Jean Kasusula some sure chances.
Mazembe were then reduced to ten men in the 79th minute when Awako was sent off after a two footed challenge on Martin Phiri.
Referee Milton Mweemba decision led to a pitch invasion by the Mazembe bench and it took officials and police five minutes to quell the situation before Power’s B team held on to pick a brave but convincing draw.
And in the late afternoon kickoff, Mazembe B beat Konkola Mine Police 1-0.
Malian striker Cheibame Traore scored the games lone goal in the first minute after Caesar Ndhlovu spilt the ball across the line.
Mine Police then missed a 21st penalty when Chanda Mushili’s spot kick was saved by Aime Bakula.
Zambia Railways workers in action during the commencement of the truck rehabilitation programme in Livingstone
Over 180 workers engaged by MALA Limited a contractor engaged to repair the Zambia Railways (ZR) railway line in Kapiri Mposhi have downed tools yesterday for non payment of their dues.
The workers , who stormed ZANIS today in Kapiri Mposhi District today to air their complaint , said they have gone for over one month without being paid their money despite meeting the target of laying the railway.
Group spokesperson, Mathews Chinyimba said their supervisors and officers from the construction company have since abandoned the site and equipment after failing to pay them their salaries.
Mr. Chinyimba said the workers who are camping along the railway line are facing challenges in feeding themselves because of the nonpayment of their salaries.
He said according to the agreement they signed with MALA Limited the workers are supposed to be paid salaries upon completing rehabilitation works on each kilometer of the railway line.
“We have stopped working until we are paid the money it is now over one month and as you know we have left our homes and camping along the railway line …we don’t have any food and these guys have abandoned us in the bush,” Mr. Chinyimba said.
But MALA Contract Manager, Caesar Malisase has appealed for patience from the workers saying the company will soon pay them their monies.
Mr. Malisase told ZANIS in a separate interview that his company was still waiting for Zambia Railways’ (ZR) honouring of the invoice to disburse the funds into the company’s account.
“we just appeal to the workers to wait patiently because the funds from Zambia Railways will hit our accounts maybe tomorrow we will pay them … we understand the difficulties they are going through,” Mr. Malisase said.
ZR has engaged eight local contractors in Kapiri Mposhi to rehabilitate its railway line using funds it accessed from government’s Eurobond.
Over 500 youths have been employed by the eight contractors in Kapiri Mposhi district alone.
International trade consultant Trevor Simumba has urged Government to come out openly on the current foreign debt stock.
Mr Simumba said Government through the Ministry of Finance should also explain how it hopes to sustainably repair all the loans that Zambia is contracting.
He said the level of Zambia’s debt contraction is now becoming a source of concern.
“This issue should concern every Zambian. Let us be very clear minded on the level of borrowing. If we include loans from China our borrowing goes up by an additional over 2 billion dollars,” Mr Simumba wrote on his recent Facebook posting.
Mr Simumba said according to the Finance Ministry’s 2013 Annual Economic Report,, Zambia contracted an additional $850 million in loans from China last year.
“That is on top of the $1 billion concessional loan the two countries (Zambia and China) agreed to in 2010, and more than $400 million agreed to already this year ($360 million for the new KK International Airport and at least $40 million for power infrastructure).”
He said, “Added together, this totals well over $2 billion, or more than 10 percent of Zambia’s GDP is loans from China alone.
Now I would like to know from learned colleagues and the very sharp economists from Ministry of Finance how do we hope to sustain this level of borrowing? What sectors will bring the necessary economic growth to justify all this expenditure? Please enlighten us so we may learn more.”
MMD National Youth Chairman Howard Kunda has appealed to embattled Vice President for Politics Michael Kaingu to step down from his position.
Mr Kunda who is also Muchinga MP has charged that Dr Kaingu should step down from his position and stop bringing confusion to the former ruling party.
He said this in a statement released in Lusaka.
Below is the full statement from Mr Kunda.
We want to agree with Dr Kaingu on some of the issues he talked about when he appeared on ZNBC’s Sunday interview.
We agree with him that he has no capacity to be a leader in our big political party that is not short of leaders. He only has the capacity to bring confusion in the party.
We demand that he steps aside so that people with the capacity to lead can come in.
We agree with him that MMD is a collective party and therefore we agree with all the members who have said no to the call to go to an extraordinary convention , when we know that we have a president who was elected and given a 5 year mandate. So it is with common sense that we are going to hold a convention after 5 years.
We agree with him that with the true colors that he has shown, he cannot work with sober minds in the party.
He should avoid the embarrassment by just stepping aside.
We shall not allow the PF to destroy our party through these selfish individuals.
We the MMD youth are behind the leadership of our president Dr. Nevers Mumba who was elected by the people by a landslide victory of 70 percent plus.
RESPECT THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND THE MEDIA – MISA ZAMBIA
The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia is disturbed with the calls by Copperbelt Minister Mwenya Musenge that radio stations in the country must notify the police before they host political party leaders on their programmes.
This statement is not only disappointing and retrogressive, especially from a party that benefited so much from the Zambian media to gain popularity and win the vote, but a big danger to the rights of the Zambian citizens to express themselves freely, to access vital and truthful information and to media independence.
MISA Zambia would like to urge the Patriotic Front to teach its members that democracy is a governance system in which ideas are the only commodity that is traded through freedom of expression which can be achieved via appearance on radio, television or through meetings and other means as social media.
However, it seems the party is trying to curtail this right in order to stop dissenting views or ability of others to share their ideas and opinions as provided by our constitution which is the supreme law of the land. We urge the PF to denounce the violence and bring to an end this violent behavior of their cadres instead of them extending their intimidation to the media which every citizen is free to use to express their views.
The rights to freedom of expression and access to information in addition to the media’s ability to operate independently are vital in any society especially a democratic one as they protect other human rights such as the right to access clean water, better health facilities while they prevent bad governance and underdevelopment which are common in our country.
Therefore, we wish to urge the PF to educate its cadres and teach them that Zambia is a democracy in which only ideas compete and not blows or any form of terror. Zambia is not a mafia state where the most violent take the reins of power, instead it is only those with the brilliant ideas that should triumph.
JOYCE KASOSA’S STANCE ON POLITICAL VIOLENCE IS VERY WORRYING
The stance of Copperbelt Province Police Commissioner, Joyce Kasosa on political violence being perpetrated by PF cadres is very worrying. Instead of condemning the violence and concentrating on caging the violent PF thugs, Ms Kasosa is busy condemning the opposition political leaders for not asking for police permission and for not notifying the police whenever they want to address their supporters or go to radio stations.
Honestly it is the job of Kasosa and her fellow police officers to cage those PF thugs. It is very illogical and unfair for Kasosa to blame the opposition leaders who are the innocent victims of PF violence.
Last week, Joyce Kasosa condemned President Edith Nawakwi for not asking for permission from the police to hold an indoor meeting with FDD officials at the FDD Offices in Ndola saying it was a breach of The Public Order Act.
Today, Ms. Kasosa is blaming the management of Sun FM Radio for not notifying the police that they were to host President Hakainde Hichilema after he was attacked by PF cadres in Ndola, forcing him to escape through the rooftop of Insurance House.
From her sentiments, it is very clear that Commissioner Kasosa does not understand the provisions of the Public Order Act. The word ‘public’ means “open to all or involving the whole community”.
Clearly, a private meeting at someone’s office as was the case with the meeting President Nawakwi was having in Ndola at the FDD offices does not fall under the realm of The Public Order Act.
If we have to follow Kasosa’s misguided interpretation of the Public Order Act then it means that we all have to ask for police permits or at least notify the police every time we gather at church for prayers or when we gather at a funeral for mourning or even when we gather in our homes for lunch or family meetings.
And that is a very wrong interpretation of the Act. We implore Ms Joyce Kasosa to take time to read the Christine Mulundika versus the Attorney General Judgment in which the Supreme Court of Zambia ruled that in a democracy one does not need to ask for permission from the police to assemble or to peaceably protest because the right to protest or assemble is a fundamental right enshrined in the Constitution of Zambia.
As Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD), we wish to condemn in the strongest terms the PF violent attacks on President Hakainde Hichilema and his entourage when he made an appearance on Sun FM Radio in Ndola, last week.
We challenge Commissioner Joyce Kasosa to bring those PF thugs who attacked Mr. Hichilema and his entourage to book. Instead of her issuing shallow and empty statements blaming the victims of violence for not notifying or getting permission from the police before addressing the people, Kasosa should get down to work and cage those PF thugs. She knows them.
Prepared and issued by: Antonio Mwanza FDD Spokesperson
National Restoration Party president Elias Chipimo delivers a speech during the meeting to demand for the release of the draft Zambian constitution
Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard once said: “There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true.”
Many voters in 2011 chose to believe what the PF promised to deliver – “more money in your pockets, lower taxes, jobs”. They believed the PF because their words offered hope at a time when frustration with the MMD government had reached an all-time high after 20 straight years in power. So out of a desperate bid to eject the MMD, they chose to believe what was not true. And how things have since changed.
In the two years under PF
In a space of 2 short years under the PF, our kwacha had tumbled to its lowest level in our history; there are very few decent new jobs to speak of; prices of mealie meal have reached an all-time high and the mismanagement of our economy has meant that instead of Zambians having more money in their pockets, they are left to fiddle around with unwanted coins.
To make matters worse, largely as a result of the general lack of clear policy direction and haphazard, unplanned and uncoordinated governance directives, inflation – the rate at which the price of goods and services increase over time – has risen, hitting the poorest hardest. The official statistics do not come close to reflecting just how difficult it has become for people to survive. This can easily be demonstrated through the example of our staple diet, mealie meal.
The Poor
Studies show that a 25 kilogramme bag of industrially milled maize costs between K75 and K90 (or more depending on which part of the country you are buying it from). What these surveys do not reveal, however, is that the majority of Zambians do not have enough money to buy their monthly mealie meal requirements at one go. Instead, they often have to purchase their staple diet one meal at a time. Being forced to purchase mealie meal in small units (pamela – one standard cup measure at a time) means that the poor spend in total K126 (over Kw50 more) on buying a full bag of mealie meal than those in the middle class who may have enough ready income to purchase a full bag at one time for Kw75.For the poor, the cost of living has become so high that relatively few people can afford to have even one decent meal a day.
As a party dedicated to addressing the plight of the vulnerable, we are deeply saddened by the suffering we witness in numerous communities across the country. Let us be clear and frank, there is no spare money in most people’s pockets, costs are constantly going up and the future seems as bleak as ever.
Lets stop pretending
We could go on pretending, as the PF would want us to do, that all is well; that things will come right and we only need to be patient. We could entertain the idea of refusing to believe what is true and pretend that our national leaders really care about the people. Unfortunately, we see the continued harassment of Opposition leaders. We face, daily, the threat of being ambushed by knife-wielding cadres whenever we walk into a public market or try to reach out to supporters at a public bus stop. We see continued lawlessness against innocent citizens prevail without a word of condemnation from the leadership in power. We are neither fooled nor hopeful of any commitment to the people by the PF. All we see in their style of leadership is a desire to be in power at any price, no matter who gets injured in the process.
We strongly urge the PF to be more tolerant of alternative views and to listen to the people. We urge them to consider the wise words of Abraham Lincoln: “You may fool all the people some of the time; you can even fool some of the people all the time; but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time”.
It is time for us to believe what is true and act upon it. The PF have increased the suffering of the people and desperately undermined the democracy we fought so hard to attain in 1991. Let us not give them any more excuses or reasons to fail the people of Zambia again.
Elias Chipimo
President
National Restoration Party
With more than half the term of the Patriotic Front (PF) mandate gone, it is becoming evidently clear that Mr. Sata is a mis-fit in a democratic setting such as ours. The decline in the enjoyment of civil liberties, the deficiencies in good governance and the total breakdown of law and order since the ascendance of Mr. Sata to the Presidency all attest to the fact that Zambia has a full blown dictator as President.
Mr. Sata’s Character
A careful analysis of Mr. Sata’s conduct shows that violence and terrorism are a big part of the current President’s character.
(i) Colonial History
We are made to understand that Mr. Sata was a ‘Capri cone’ who used to spy on freedom fighters and caused many of them to be beaten and arrested by colonial masters.
(ii) One Party State History
He was part of the vigilante group that unleashed untold misery to our people during the one party state era.
(iii) Post One Party State era
Mr. Sata as National Secretary of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) introduced panga wielding cadres on the Zambian political scene especially during the Chawama by-election of 2001.
He further orchestrated the 3rd term campaign violence that characterized the MMD convention of 2001.
This is the man who is President today, and remember a leopard does not change its spots.
Political violence under the PF Government
Ever since President Sata ascended to power in 2011, political violence has escalated. Some of the recorded incidences of political violence were in Rufunsa, Livingstone, Kanyama, Kabwata, Kasama and Eastern Province. Others were at Woodlands Police Station, Kampasa and Cathedral of the Holy Cross. The list is endless.
PF Militia attack at Sun FM Radio in Ndola
The latest incident happened just a few days ago in Ndola. The PF Militia who were heavily armed with guns, machetes, planks and other weapons attacked UPND members at Sun FM radio station. Going by the weapons in the possession of these thugs and their savage actions, one can safely state that what they intended to do was to kill.
We are deliberately describing the PF thugs as a militia because they suit into the dictionary meaning of a militia. They are an armed force, a private army and a band of soldiers who have been spotted in combat military uniform. In the Ndola incidence, the PF militia fired gun shots at both the Sun FM Radio Station and the UPND regional Secretariat.
The PF attack at Sun FM Radio Station is also meant to scare media institutions from inviting opposition leaders and other stakeholders with views different from those of the PF from featuring on their programmes. The attacks are also intended to stifle debate and infringe on our constitutional freedoms of speech and expression. This is totally unacceptable and should not be condoned. We appeal to all concerned stakeholders such as the media, church, civil society organizations, political parties and the international community to pay attention to the degenerating situation in Zambia and condemn this barbaric attack on media institutions.
Police Conduct
Police have become increasingly brutal, unprofessional, biased and compromised under the PF administration. Judging from their conduct, no citizen should expect Police protection when attacked by PF militias. If anything, our citizens risk being sold out to the PF by the very Police which is supposed to protect them, a trend which should come to an end forthwith.
Ministry of Home Affairs Conduct
The Ministry of Home Affairs has allowed a situation to obtain where law enforcement is executed in a manner that protects PF militias/thugs at the expense of other citizens. How does the Minister explain the current situation where no arrests are effected to known PF cadres who have continued to commit serious crimes such as grabbing land from genuine owners, injuring and in some cases killing citizens, wearing military gear, wielding pangas and other dangerous weapons, carrying guns and discharging live ammunition in public. In the case of Sun FM, the Police have arrested none of the thugs yet they were present at the scene and know the ring leaders by name.
Fear over Constitution
We are aware that the PF are agitated and panicking over the consistent demands by Zambians for a people driven constitution. When they heard that the UPND leadership was on the Copperbelt they were shaken. In their panic they thought the solution was to eliminate us. This will not diminish the people’s demand to have a new constitution.
Conclusion
(i) Assassination Attempt
Looking at the manner in which the attack on us at Sun FM was executed and the weapons in possession of the PF thugs including the gun shots fired, it is clear that this was an assassination attempt.
The PF wants to eliminate the UPND leadership. This is a dangerous plan that the PF have for the country. Shedding blood is not a good strategy for good governance. Violence breeds violence and will lead to political unrest and could put the Country in flames.
(ii) State of Emergency
We are now vindicated that this political violence is being perpetrated by the PF as a pretext to declare a state of emergency. Once this state of emergency is declared, opposition political leaders will either be detained without charge or even killed. Under a state of emergency, the government will even delay general elections in 2016 and cling on to power indefinitely.
(iii) Mr. Sata should order arrest of his militias
President Sata should personally condemn the attempts by PF cadres to eliminate other political leaders. In the Sun FM case, some of these militias were transported to Ndola from other towns on the Copperbelt such as Kitwe and Luanshya, in a well planned and deadly mission. It was a well planned assassination attempt. They were in motor vehicles which were identified and ring leaders that were known.
President Sata should order the arrest of these PF militias. From the behavior of the Police in Ndola, it is clear that they were scared to arrest the PF militia for fear of loosing their jobs. It is abundantly clear that the Police will only arrest these PF militias if President Sata orders them to do so.
(iv) Report to the Hague
We would like to warn President Sata that if he does not stop this violence, disband his militia and have the people that attempted to assassinate Hakainde Hichilema in Ndola arrested, we will have no option but to report him to the International Criminal Court at the Hague for prosecution for crimes against humanity.
(v)Resignation
The events that have beset our Country in the last two and half years demonstrate that President Sata is incompetent, lacks the necessary skills to lead our Country and should resign forthwith.
(vi)Appeal for calm
Even though we are targets and victims of this brutal and savage attacks from the PF militias and thugs, we call upon the nation and all our supporters and sympathisers not to return violence with violence. Lets us not take the law in our own hands but rather remain calm as we seek a sensible solution to the persistent and demonic aggression from President Sata and his PF.
As we seek leadership of this great country, we are clear in our minds that no one can lead their country to development in an environment of instability, violence and bloodshed which the PF is promoting. The PF should concentrate on reducing the high cost of living, creating genuine jobs and facilitating the delivery of a people’s driven constitution.
Thank you for your attention and may God bless our country.
Ex-Chipolopolo goalkeeper Kalililo Kakonje is excited to proceed into coaching after retiring quietly from playing this year.
Kakonje ,28, was last month appointed goalkeeper coach at Red Arrows.
The former Lusaka Dynamos, Power Dynamos and Golden Arrows keeper thanked Arrows for making him goalkeeper trainer at Nkoloma.
“Being a goalkeeper coach at such a big club is a good thing for me. I am grateful to Red Arrows and the Zambia Air Force for awarding me this opportunity to showcase my coaching talent,” Kakonje said.
He recounted his transition from playing to coaching.
“I am still adapting obviously I might miss playing from time to time but now I realise that I have a new role. I am taking a day at a time, I am still learning,” Kakonje said.
He added:” I want to still contribute to football after retiring and I will do my best.”
Kakonje is a veteran of three Africa Cup finals in 2008, 2010 and 2012.
A survey by the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection shows that demand for small unit repackaged mealie meal popularly known as Pamela has increased in peri-urban areas following the rise in mealie meal prices.
JCTR says the demand for Pamela is indicative of the systemic increase in the number of families living from hand-to-mouth in peri-urban areas.
It says local mealie meal traders justify the high prices on grounds that millers have not reduced the wholesale price despite government intervention.
JCRT said during the month of March, the price of breakfast mealie meal sharply increased from K68 to over K82.00 per 25kg bag in some parts of the country making it difficult for many to access the commodity.
In a statement, JCRT says the high cost of mealie meal is very saddening and alarming especially for a country whose staple food is maize.
“The increasing systematic exclusion of families in accessing a 25 Kg bag of maize meal has been compounded by the reality that over 60% of the population is living in absolute poverty and depends heavily on maize and maize supplements for their dietary needs. Further, it has been observed that the price of mealie meal remains high despite the various interventions by the government,’ it said.
It added, “The free falling Kwacha has also contributed to the high cost of mealie meal due to the increase in the cost of importation of production related inputs needed by millers. This has adversely affected people’s livelihoods and coping capabilities as it inadvertently pushes up the cost of production of goods and services thereby making the cost of goods and services beyond reach of ordinary citizens.”
JCTR stated that the cost of living has generally increased owing partly to the fact that key accounts of inflation which include prices of basic food items and non-food items have continued rising.
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) Report, The Monthly for the month of March affirms that annual food inflation has risen by 0.1 percentage point from 7.5 % to 7.6% while non-food inflation rate has increased by the same rate from 7.7% to 7.8% from February to March 2014.
“This simply means that there is an upward thrust on the average prices of goods and services particularly over the first quarter of 2014 as evidenced by both the rising cost of Basic Needs Basket (BNB) and the CSO Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the months of February and March 2014,” JCTR says.
The organisation says it is concerned with the rising cost of living due to its adverse effects on majority of the citizens as evidenced by the failure of some families to meet the cost of a 25Kg bag of maize meal.
“On a general scale, the cost of living for the month of March 2014 as measured by the JCTR’s Basic Needs Basket for an average family of five living in Lusaka stood at K 3,687.72. This reflects an increase of K71.44 compared to the month of February 2014 when the basic needs basket stood at K3, 616.28. The increase is mainly due to the rise in the cost of Mealie meal. However, there has been a minimal decrease in the price of beef from K30.58 to K29.36 per Kilogramme which translates into a net decrease of K1.22.”
It added, “Conversely, during the month under review, the price of onion, due to the commodity’s season induced scarcity is showing an upward price trend from K6.12 to K8.78 per Kilogramme.”
JCTR has since called on government to intervene, both in the medium and long term, in the rising cost of mealie meal bearing in mind that Maize pricing is overtly over-sensitive to market forces and weather patterns.
“Further, the JCTR urges the government to ensure that the price of mealie meal should not increase any further as it will adversely affect and exacerbate the already eroded coping capabilities of the majority of Zambians who depend on this staple food and often have very limited escape opportunities from the poverty trap.”
He added, “Additionally, we urge the government to ensure a stable macro-economic environment buttressed on consistent and sound economic policies rather than political imperatives. We also add that the depreciation of the Kwacha must be squarely addressed as millers are transferring the cost to the consumers.”
President Michael Sata talks to Copperbelt minister MwenyaMusenge upon arrival at Mkushi Farming centre to drum up Support for PF Parliamentary Candidate Ingrid Mphande (in glasses) on July 18,2013-Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
COPPERBELT Minister Mwenya Musenge has urged Radio Stations in the province to seek police permits whenever they are having political leaders as guests on air.
Mr Musenge said in an interview yesterday that radio stations should seek security from the police when political leaders appear on radio in order to protect their equipment from being damaged by rival party cadres.
He said the political party leaders should also desist from carrying a span of cadres when appearing on radio programmes.
Last week, United Party for National Development (UPND) and Patriotic Front (PF) cadres clashed in Ndola temporarily disrupting operations at Sun FM when UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema was appearing on the station.
Mr Musenge said radio stations should always take precaution whenever they invite political leaders on radio to protect their own property and personnel .
“Radio station should inform the police so that they can be advised on how to go about it, especially where political leaders appear on radio and make statements that anger supporters of other parties. The media, especially radio stations should always liaise with police,” he said.
Mr Musenge said the community radio stations were playing an important role in informing and entertaining the nation and that Government would not want to see them close due to damage of property by unruly political party cadres.
The Minister also urged opposition leaders to seek police advice whenever they are having metings including appearing on radio stations.
He said that Copperbelt was a stronghold of the PF and that opposition leaders should always put it in mind that whenever they are in the province and make negative statements against Government on public radio.
Mr Musenge, however, condemned the behaviour of the cadres from both the ruling party and the UPND when Mr Hichilema appeared on Sun FM Radio.
