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Road Development Agency (RDA) Director Bernard Chiwala (right), Pave Zambia Project Senior Manager Thomson Banda and President Michael Sata Economic Advisor Paul Siame.
A section of the Great North Road between Nakonde and Chinsali has been cut off due to heavy rains experienced in the past few days.
The section of the road which has been cut off is approximately six kilometres from Nakonde in Muchinga province.
The situation has resulted in trucks particularly coming from Nakonde to be marooned.
RDA Chief Executive Officer Bernard Chiwala told a media briefing in Lusaka that the agency has since dispatched a team of officers to carry out repair works on the affected road.
Mr. Chiwala said RDA is working round the clock to ensure that the rock fill is dumped on the affected section of the road by the end of today.
He however said that some remedial works have already been carried out which have enabled trucks, buses and lighter vehicles from Lusaka proceeding to Nakonde to pass.
And, Disaster, Management and Mitigation Unit National Coordinator Patrick Kangwa said DMMU has also dispatched a team of experts to beef up the team that is already on the ground.
Zambia Railways Limited has dispelled reports that it has misused part of the money allocated to the railway firm from the Eurobond.
Zambia Railways Limited Chief Executive Officer Muyenga Attanga clarified that only 60 percent of the US$ 120 million Eurobond has been utilized so far.
He assured that the money will be spent on planned projects.
Professor Attanga also clarified that the failure by some contractors engaged to pay their workers recently was due to the delayed process of transferring money from ZANACO to their Finance Bank accounts.
“The money is still safe, only 60 percent has been used so far, the rest of the money is at ZANACO safely sitting there,” he said.
He said the transfer of money by ZANACO was delayed by a day resulting in the uproar by some workers.
Professor Attanga said the Company has since directed contractors to open accounts with ZANACO to ensure smooth and easy transactions between the two parties.
He also assured that Zambia Railways has the capacity to pay contractors and will ensure that they are paid on time.
And Professor Attanga has announced that Zambia Railways will double its passenger train coaches by June this year to meet the increasing demand for passenger services.
The company currently runs two passenger trains with seven coaches, which will be doubled to 17 coaches each.
Professor Attanga said Zambia Railways will also by September this year introduce an express train and that 30 coaches will be ordered from South Africa.
He added that the company will by the second quarter of next year have five passenger trains from the current two depending on demand.
And Professor Attanga said the company has created the Directorate of Passenger Services which will be headed by Mrs. Mary Mulenga.
He said that Zambia Railways is determined to improve its passenger services in order to attract more customers and meet passenger’s expectations.
First Republican President Dr Kenneth Kaunda (centre) expresses surprise after being welcomed by Vice-President Guy Scott’s wife Charlotte at his office as Patriotic Front deputy secretary general Bridget Atanga (left) looks on. This was during the launch of Dr Kaunda’s 90th birthday celebrations in Lusaka
When Dr Kaunda arrived at his Kabulonga office around 10:00 hours on Monday morning, he was surprised to be welcomed by Vice-President Guy Scott’s wife Charlotte, Deputy Permanent Secretary to the Cabinet Peter Kasanda, KK at 90 committee chairperson David Kombe and Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Zhou Yuxiao, among others.
Dr Kaunda only came to learn what was happening shortly afterwards when he was led to a marquee where some Freedom Fighters and local artistes as well as other people were waiting to welcome him.
It was after leading the gathering to singing his favourite Tiyende Pamodzi song that he confessed that no one had told him that such an event was happening at his office.
[pullquote]Continue to build One Zambia One Nation, it’s a great thing[/pullquote]
“You know my age. I don’t remember at any time when I have been surprised in this way as I was today.They didn’t tell me anything about it at all and if I came a few minutes late, ladies and gentlemen, your excellencies, it was not deliberate at all, I didn’t know,” he said.
He described the surprise as amazing, incredible and wonderful and was grateful to everyone for the gesture.
“Am sorry Betty is not here but it has happened what can we do? She’s not here but am representing her,” he said.
At the same event, Brian Chengala’s Shakarongo Arts and Youth Academy (SAYA) with support from Raising Rhythm from Canada presented Dr Kaunda with a guitar, which he tested by strumming to a song.
InterBrands Investments and Distributors also presented gifts to Dr Kaunda and other Freedom Fighters present.
Mr Kombe said yesterday marked the launch of the 90 Minutes Helping Hand programme aimed at dedicating of 90 minutes at individual and institutional level to lend a helping hand to the needy in society as part of the activities lined up ahead of Dr Kaunda’s 90th birthday on April 28.
Dr Kasanda echoed Mr Kombe’s remarks that Government had decided that Dr Kaunda’s 90th birthday and Golden Jubilee celebrations go hand in hand and recalled how he worked as Dr Kaunda’s private secretary for a decade.
Gender Permanent Secretary Annie Sinyangwe said the country was indebted to Freedom Fighters for what it was now, owing to their vision for unity, prosperity and peace. She said this was why they needed to be honoured and respected for God to continue blessing the country.
Among the Freedom Fighters in attendance were Sikota Wina, Peter Matoka and Mama Kankasa.
Dr Kenneth Kaunda has urged Zambians to remain united regardless of their divergent backgrounds.
He reiterated his appeal for adherence to the One Zambia One Nation motto and avoiding any divisive elements.
“Continue to build One Zambia One Nation, it’s a great thing. One Zambia One Nation so that even if we hear so many things being talked about, parties or what have you, please ignore them. Remember, one Zambia is one nation,” Dr Kaunda said.
Dr Kaunda said the One Zambia One Nation slogan meant unity across colour, tribe, faith and against any other divisive elements.
t Dr Kenneth Kaunda (centre) shakes hands with Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Zhou Yuxiao as Deputy Permanent Secretary to the Cabinet Peter Kasanda (in maroon tie and spectacles) and Vice-President Guy Scott’s wife Charlotte (left) look on. This was when Dr Kaunda arrived at the launch of his 90th birthday celebrations at his office in LusakaFirst Republican President Dr Kenneth Kaunda (right) greets fellow Freedom Fighter Peter Matoka. This was at the launch of Dr Kaunda’s 90th birthday celebrations in LusakaFirst Republican President Dr Kenneth Kaunda interacts with Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Zhou Yuxiao in Lusaka . This was during the launch of Dr Kaunda’s 90th birthday celebrations
NGOCC chairperson Beatrice Grillo talking during the meeting that was held to demand for the release of the draft Zambian constitution
As the municipal Councils prepare for Mayoral elections countrywide, we would like to urge the Councilors countrywide to cease the opportunity to deepen the virtues of gender equality and equity by voting for more women to take up decision-making positions, as Mayors and deputy mayors.
It is high time that Zambia began to domesticate the provisions of the SADC Gender protocol on 50 – 50 women representation in decision-making. It is sad that 50 years after independence, the participation of women in decision-making has remained very low at all levels.
It is totally unacceptable that the numbers of women Parliamentarians has remained very low, just like that of female councilors. Surely, there must be something wrong that less than 90 women are councilors out of an establishment of more than 1, 300 countrywide.
Attention has been drawn to the persisting inequality between men and women in decision-making in our country. The Beijing Platform for Action reaffirmed that women’s persistent exclusion from formal politics, in particular, raises a number of specific questions regarding the achievement of effective democratic transformations, in practice. It undermines the concept of democracy, which, by its nature, assumes that the right to vote and to be elected should be equally applied to all citizens, both women and men. The absence of women from political decision-making has an obvious negative impact on the entire process of democratization.
Women’s equal participation in decision-making is not only a demand for justice or democracy, but can also be seen as a necessary condition for women’s interests to be taken into account. Without the participation of women at all levels of decision-making, the goals of equality, development, and peace cannot be achieved.
There is need therefore for both women and men to participate in the governance processes of the country. We therefore urge the Councilors to vote for female candidates during the forthcoming Mayoral elections. In Councils already run by women we urge them to maintain the status core.
Placards denouncing Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba over the constitution
The constitution making process has reached its dead end with the technical committee being ordered to deliver the draft constitution, the Constitution Bill and the constitution report to Ministry of Justice Permanent Secretary administration Joseph Akafumba instead of President Michael Sata as was stipulated in the terms of reference, NGOCC board chairperson Beatrice Grillo has observed.
Grillo has challenged the government to explain why it had allowed the technical committee drafting the constitution to hand over the draft constitution, constitution bill and the constitution report to the Permanent secretary at the Ministry of Justice instead of delivering it to President Michael as stipulated in the terms of reference.
Grillo said that the constitution making process was from the beginning a failed project because there was no political will from President Sata and his government to deliver a people driven constitution to Zambians.
Grillo said that it was unacceptable that the document had finally found itself at the Ministry of Justice when Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba informed the nation that the committee was going to hand over the document to the President.
She said government had completely discredited the constitution making process by taking it to a permanent secretary who was not the appointing authority of the technical committee stating that Zambians have yet again been taken for a ride on the constitution making process.
She said President Sata and his government would have to be ready to face the wrath of Zambians for recklessly wasting money on a programme they knew was nothing but a public relations campaign to win the votes of the people.
“We want the document to be handed to the appointing authority and not to the ministry of Justice. We do not know what they will do to the document and we want to make sure we have the right document that will be read by the executive and the general public simultaneously,” Grillo said.
Grillo said that the PF was a “stubborn” government and that if they continued showing arrogance and impunity towards the people that voted for them, they risked leaving government in the most humiliating manner ever suffered by a ruling party.
She said President Sata should stop fishing for excuses for failing to fulfill his promises and should change his attitude in the handling of national affairs because he was not the beginning and the end in Zambia’s democratization process.
“We want full development that will benefit our people and if the government is just hiding in the name of constructing roads, we going to show them that even in the midst of massive infrastructure development, Zambians are still annoyed over their failure to deliver the constitution. That is why we want the constitution to be released now so that everyone is protected by the document, because not everyone is benefiting from the road construction,” Grillo said.
She said that politicians wanted to manipulate the document in a bid to safeguard their interest, adding that now that the technical committee had handed over the document, the Zambians expected nothing less than transparency and accountability.
Grillo said that the Zambians would not stop demanding for the release of the draft constitution because the document was not for the ruling party alone.
File:President Sata Being briefed at Royal Zambezi Hotel
Useless honorable Ministers and MP’s
What is wrong with the phrase “honorable useless MP or honorable useless Minister”? And what happens when the “honorable” become useless? Jesus spoke about this scenario when he reminded his followers that: “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot” (Matt 5:13).
Some of us who celebrated King Cobra’s victory in 2011 are wondering what really happened to the Cobra we voted for—we are ashamed. The Cobra is tame, and accordingly, his cabinet and MPs are useless.
The word “useless” can mean “of no use,” or “good for nothing.” In Bemba, a useless person is called ichipuba—thus nobody expects anything sensible from such a person. In fact, it is said that don’t waste your time arguing with a useless person—unless you are useless too.
[pullquote]So next time we hear useless MPs or Cabinet Ministers speak, let us remember that we are listening from honorable useless politicians—so we should not believe their useless statements.[/pullquote]
Evidently, President Sata is right,all his ministers and PF Members of Parliament are useless—and he means good for nothing. A simple illustration makes sense—who can disagree with the President that Chishima Kambwili, Edgar Lungu, Wynter Kawimba, Mwansa Kapeya and Miles Sampa are all honorable useless Ministers—just ask the president? If they were not, they would have resigned. But why should they—after all, they are all useless.
Honorable useless Minister Kambwili can rant as much as he wants—the truth is, he is useless too. According to President Sata, all PF “MPs were useless” and all [his] “ministers are just useless,” and that is why they are not doing their jobs! Come 2016, the president has promised he won’t even look at their application papers to contest on the PF ticket–they are awfully and execrably useless. His reshuffling of his useless cabinet is justified—nobody can govern with a cabinet of fipuba. So next time we hear useless MPs or Cabinet Ministers speak, let us remember that we are listening from honorable useless politicians—so we should not believe their useless statements.
Maybe it is time to ask, is King Cobra useless too? How on earth can one justify his lack of self-discipline in official communication? President Sata informed the nation that the acting High Court Registrar George Zulu was “a fake Lawyer” during the swearing in ceremony of judges. Yet one wonders why Zulu did not get arrested for being a fraud, or else let him sue the President for defamation—I guess he is a fake lawyer after all.
But the swearing-in-ceremony encounter also revealed serious flaws in the president’s office. In the normal world, such ceremonies are rehearsed to avoid such embarrassing encounter. So rather than blaming Zulu the fake lawyer, President Sata revealed his own failures to run his own house. Where was his chief of Staff? Why ask, they are all useless.
Comedy permeating diplomatic events
It is sad that comic leadership of President Sata is not limited to national politics but extends to diplomatic events. He can hardly differentiate between being a comedian, and dealing with diplomatic issues. It’s not long ago that Sata brought ridicule on Zambia when he joked about South African President’s shaved heard; it’s not long ago that he embarrassed Zambia over his role in the Zimbabwe situation in Angola; it’s not long ago that he insulted President George Bush; it’s not long ago that he made embarrassing diplomatic “war remarks”— claiming that Zambia will host war refugees should Malawi–Tanzania go to war over boundary disputes—only useless MPs and ministers can be associated with such a president.
The president expects us to follow the guidance of useless politicians when it comes to policy decisions. But why should ordinary Zambians entrust their future to useless individuals; and why should we continue to pay very high salaries and allowances to useless politicians? That aside, does the President really understand the implications of having useless cabinet ministers, useless MPs, and fake lawyers on national security, foreign policy and the economy?
As head of State, President Michael Sata needs self-respect and restraint in his words. As president, he is a role model in word and action to the nation. It is sad that the president demeans those who help him govern, and he expects us to respect them.
Mr. President Sir, only useless people can be governed by useless politicians—and I believe Zambians are not useless. In 2016, they will remember that your MPs and ministers are “no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” As for now, we should not expect anything sensible from your useless administration—it is made up of useless politicians—to paraphrase your own words.
The Bemba Royal Establishment (BRE) says it considers Henry Kanyanta Sosala as the duly elected Paramount Chief Chitimukulu of the Bemba speaking people even without government recognition.
BRE Spokesperson Washanga Mpika Shapalubemba has told QFM News in a telephone interview that the Bemba speaking people will continue to honor and respect Sosala because he was chosen following the right procedure.
Washanga states that Bashilubemba will never allow another person to be Paramount Chief Chitimukulu other than Henry Kanyanta Sosala.
Washanga, who could not hide his emotions, states that President Michael Sata should simply allow the BRE to install their chief without interference in any way.
He adds that Bembas from Kasama will not allow and accept an imposed chief because they have their own tradition ways of choosing their traditional leader.
He laments that operations in Chitimukulu chiefdom have been paralyzed following the interference from government in straight forward matters.
MINISTER of Youth and Sport Chishimba Kambwili displays a copy of the 2014-2018 Luanshya District Strategic Plan, as District Commissioner Harold Mbaulu(left) and Luanshya Mayor Nathan Chanda Bwalya (right) and Town Clerk Alex Mwansa looks on during the launch of Strategic Plan at Luanshya Civic Centre grounds
THE Luanshya Municipal Council (LMC) has launched a four-year strategic plan that it intends to use as a tool for economic transform in the town.
Out-going Luanshya Mayor Nathan Chanda said the “Luanshya District Strategic Plan 2014-2018”, is a catalyst that local authority will use for the town to attain sustainable economic transformation.
Mr Chanda said this on Monday during the official launch of the strategic plan at the Civic Centre in Luanshya.
“The strategic plan that runs from 2014 to 2018, is a development manifesto that the local authority would use to attain sustainable economic transformation for the town of Luanshya and its residents,” he said.
Mr Chanda said the strategic plan encompasses goals and objectives that when successfully implemented, would improve the livelihood of residents in all the 28 Wards of Luanshya constituency.
He said the policy highlights the necessary strategies required to win the battle against high unemployment and poverty levels.
“This plan is a tool that will transform the livelihood of Luanshya residents, young and old and the future generations,” he said.
And gracing the official launch of the strategic plan, Roan Member of Parliament Chishimba Kambwili urged the local authority to ensure that residents participate in the implementation of the development plan.
Mr Kambwili who is also Youth and Sport Minister said the strategicplan would showcase direction of implementing decisions on allocating resources needed to pursue the new development agenda for Luanshya.
“It is important to stress that this strategic plan belongs to residents of Luanshya who must be seen to participate in its implementation,” Mr Kambwili said.
The strategic plan is expected to gobble-up K93 million during its implementation stage.
MINISTER of Youth and Sport Chishimba Kambwili displays a copy of the 2014-2018 Luanshya District Strategic Plan, as District Commissioner Harold Mbaulu(left) and Luanshya Mayor Nathan Chanda Bwalya (right) and Town Clerk Alex Mwansa looks on during the launch of Strategic Plan at Luanshya Civic Centre grounds
Transport, Works, Supply and Communications Minister Yamfwa Mukanga
TRANSPORT, Works, Supply and Communication Minister Yamfwa Mukanga has disclosed that some big international airlines have expressed interest to partner with Zambia on the reintroduction of the national airline.
Mr Mukanga, who declined to name the airlines as the matter was yet to be tabled before cabinet, said some big international air carriers were just waiting to partner with the country so that they could paint their planes in Zambian colours and employ local people.
He said other airlines were also interested in buying or financing the buying of new planes for the country.
Speaking in an interview in Livingstone, Mr Mukanga said the Government had learnt many lessons in the past and hence cabinet would assess all the options on the table and come up with the best decision on behalf of the Zambian people.
“We will be presenting a paper containing various options to cabinet soon so that a decision can be made.
“The Patriotic Front (PF) cabinet meets every week to make decisions and therefore the paper will be presented to cabinet this year,” he said.
Mr Mukanga said it would very interesting and good news to citizens to see Zambian colours in the sky.
He said the Government would look at the various proposals seriously as lessons had been learnt that documents should not be signed without reading.
“If you sign any document without reading, you may be signing your own death sentence.
“We will try to go through the various documents and ensure to get the very best option for the people of Zambia,” he said.
Mr Mukanga said there was need to examine how much money Zambia was currently loosing in the absence of the national airline and ensure that the country gained when the airline was reintroduced.
THE MMD on the Copperbelt has resolved to back the candidature of Muhabi Lungu for party national secretary.
The MMD secretariat has set this month for holding of party elections of national secretary and chairpersons of committees.
A circular issued by MMD acting national secretary Chembe Nyangu dated March 17, 2014, the party was this month scheduled to hold elections for the vacant positions of National Secretary, Health, Labour and Social Development, and Lands and Natural Resources.
The other vacant elective position on the party National Executive Committee (NEC) includes Local Government, Housing and Environment Protection, Mining and Natural Resources, and Transport and Communication.
But with the MMD top brass that includes the two vice presidents Michael Kaingu for political and counterpart Brian Chituwo for administration including party spokesperson Dora Siliya favouring Senga Hills Member of Parliament (MP) Kapembwa Simbao for national secretary, the Copperbelt party leadership opted for Mr Lungu’s candidature.
Copperbelt party information publicity secretary Peter Phiri told the Times in Kitwe yesterday that the leadership in the province had resolved to rally behind Mr Lungu because they felt he was the right candidate for the position.
“The MMD on the Copperbelt has endorsed Mr Muhabi Lungu for national secretary because he has all the time and passion for the party,” Mr Phiri said.
He said for an opposition party like the MMD to give effective checks and balance to Government, they needed a person for national secretary who was full time.
“We don’t want a national secretary who has other commitments like duties for an MP because we believe the position of national secretary is full time,” he said.
Mr Lungu and Ms Siliya have recently crossed path, an incident believed to have stirred leadership wrangles.
According to a circular obtained in Kitwe, the elections were earmarked to take place after 21 working days commencing March 17, 2014.
Mr Nyangu said MMD members were free to nominate preferred members with consent of the nominees concerned.
Alliance for Better Zambia president Father Frank Bwalya
ALLIANCE for Better Zambia (ABZ) leader Frank Bwalya has u-turned on his earlier decision to defend himself against a charge of defaming the president by applying for leave to engage legal representation.
Bwalya who has been representing himself from the time he was put on trial, changed tack saying he thought it prudent to engage SBN Chambers to represent him because the stakes in the case were high.
Particulars of the case where that Bwalya made derogatory statements on a live radio show where called Republican President Michael Sata.
Presiding magistrate Vincent Siloka allowed the application and set May 6 for as the new date on which the opposition leader would begin his defence.
Bwalya, 45, a former Catholic priest now turned politician of house number 5607 Mwase Close Riverside in Kitwe also complained of verbal harassment and haranguing from Patriotic Front carders at the court buildings.
Magistrate Siloka warned the PF members from turning court premises into rally-like arena.
“Insults and demeaning statements must not be used at the court premises. It is not members of the public to try the accused and he should be treated as innocent till proven guilty.
“Do o not tempt the court to punish you. The court cannot be swayed by political inclinations,” Mr Siloka said.
And in an interview after coming out of court, Bwalya who carried a large white sweet potato which he said would be part of his defence has assembled a 170-strong coterie of witnesses.
“Though there might be more witnesses than 170 I have lined up,” he added.
Government has disowned statements by some government officials on the constitution making process, describing them as personal opinions.
Chief Government Spokesperson Joseph Katema has told QFM News in an interview that statements being issued by government officials on the constitution other than those by the ministry of Justice are personal opinions.
Dr. Katema has since advised people not listen to personal opinions by government officials on the constitution, but get the government position on the issue through the ministry of Justice.
He says there are no contradictions in the government position on the constitution as perceived, stating that government’s position remains the same as stated by the minister of Justice.
Dr. Katema states that people should not complain about being misled by different statements by government officials, stating that the right information can only come from the ministry of Justice and the President.
MMD president Nevers Mumba says he cannot take the advice of MMD founding members Katele Kalumba, Mbita Chitala and others because they allegedly do not mean well for the party.
Recently, Dr Kalumba and Dr Chitala observed that Dr Mumba has contributed to the crumbling of the party and that the only way to save it from total collapse is to have a crop of new leaders.
Dr Mumba said in an interview yesterday that the MMD founding members who mean well are those who would approach him to address pressing issues instead of issuing statements through the media.
“Anybody in the country can make comments that they want. Those who mean well, they don’t go to the press. They come to the president at the office and make submissions,” he said.
“So those who go to the press to praise us for some of the successes we have enjoyed, we welcome that. But if you go to the press to speak against your own party, which you said you are a founding member of without making other efforts, then we have a lot of questions.”
Dr Mumba said some of the people who are saying that they are founding members are no longer MMD members.
The former television evangelist said founding members who are interested in strengthening the MMD would not go to the press but use the right channels.
Dr Mumba said people who go to the media to speak against MMD leaders could have a hidden agenda.
On allegations that MMD has been hijacked by outsiders, Dr Mumba said all Zambians are insiders and that there are no outsiders.
He said the talk of MMD being hijacked by outsiders does not exist in the former ruling party.
“When you come to join us today, you cease to be an outsider, you are an insider from today onwards,” he said.
Dr Mumba said any person who joins the MMD is considered a bona fide member and expected to contribute equally to the wellbeing of the party.
And Dr Mumba has said that his preoccupation is to deal with the issues affecting the Zambian people despite facing a rebellion in his party.
Dr. Mumba told Qfm News in an interview today that his focus is to provide leadership to the MMD and prepare the party for the 2016 general election.
Dr. Mumba maintained that the MMD is still a robust and forward moving political party.
He added that it is not the first time the former ruling party has found itself in a situation where party members are holding different views on an issue.
Dr Mumba stated that it was for this reason that he thinks any problem that arises in the party can only be resolved within the party.
