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Nkana skipper Sydney Kalume is confident the Wusakile outfit will triumph over Uganda’s Kampala City Council Authority in Saturday’s 2014 CAF Champions League match in Kitwe.
Kalume’s Nkana hosts KCCA in the first leg, first round tie at Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe.
The international midfielder said Nkana must beat KCCA in the first leg match.
“We are going to win whether we like it or not,” Kalume said.
“We have to work hard for us to win that game,” he added.
Kalume said Nkana players are eager to face the Ugandan side.
“All Nkana players are looking for forward to winning that game. We have to win that game,” he stated.
Nkana advanced to this stage after eliminating Mbabane Swallows of Swaziland 5-4 over two legs early in February.
Parliament has unanimously ratified two Supreme court judges and five High court judges which President Michael Sata appointed to serve as puisne judges.
Those appointed are justices Evans Mweembani Hamaundu and Albert Mark Wood as Supreme Court Judges while Justices Betty Mwaka Majula Mung’omba, Mrs. Chilombo Maka-Phiri, Mr. Mwila Chitabo, SC, Mr. William Smith Mweemba and Mr. Charles Chanda are High court judges.
Patriotic Front (PF) Chama South Member of Parliament (MP) Effron Lungu, who moved the motion of the parliamentary select committee, said the nominees were interviewed and qualify to hold the positions since they have vast experience in the judiciary as judges.
United Party for National Development (UPND) Monze Central MP Jack Mwiimbu said nominees were of good standing and they were admitted to the Zambian bar a long time ago.
Meanwhile, Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini today threatened to curtail the maiden speech presented by newly elected UPND Katuba MP Jonas Shakafuswa who repeatedly used ‘unparliamentary’ language in the House.
“I will curtail your debate honourable member for Katuba. It is unparliamentary here and you can’t use this kind of language in this honourable House,” the Speaker wnred.
Dr. Matibini later advised Mr. Shakafuswa to raise matters of national interest instead of concentrating on debating on individuals.
Mr. Shakafuswa, who was absent from the House for a period of three years, was however re-elected to parliament three days ago by the people of Katuba constituency.
And government has clarified that it has not failed to distribute 2013 agro-farming inputs to the farmers.
Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Bob Sichinga told parliament that all the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) packs were distributed in January contrary to claims by some opposition MPs that government has failed to efficiently manage FISP alleging that some people have not received top dressing fertilizers in some constituencies.
Mr. Sichinga has since called on the opposition lawmakers to engage government on fertilizer distributions than advancing false information in parliament and to the press.
Meanwhile, police officers today surrounded parliament premises to keep vigil of the parliamentary proceedings in anticipation of confusion following protest by MPs from opposition political parties.
A check conducted by ZANIS yesterday and today revealed that police officers were deployed both inside and outside the premises.
Christmas Shopping in Lusaka
Zambia’s annual rate of inflation consumer index has risen by 0.3 percentage points from 7.3 percent in January to 7.6 percent recorded in February.
Of the total 7.6 percentage points, food and non alcoholic beverage products accounted for 3.9 percentage points while non-food products accounted for a total of 3.7 percentage points.
Central Statistical Office Acting Director of Census and Statistics Goodson Sinyenga confirmed the development at a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday.
Mr. Sinyenga said the annual food inflation rate for February was recorded at 7.5 percent compared to 5.9 percent recorded in January 2014, representing a 1.6 percentage point increase.
He said the annual non-food inflation rate decreased by 1.1 percentage points from 8.8 percent in January to 7.7 percent in February, 2014.
Mr. Sinyenga also revealed that the country recorded a trade surplus valued at K283 million in January from K161 million recorded in December 2013.
He said this means that the country exported more in January 2014 than it imported in nominal terms.
Mr. Sinyenga disclosed that the highest trade surplus valued at K364 million was recorded in April 2013 and the lowest was in November the same year valued at K5 million.
And Mr. Sinyenga that the institution has finalised the benchmarking of the national accounts statistics for 2010 following the successful conduct of the economic census and other surveys.
He said according to the benchmark estimates, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for 2010 is estimated at K97, 215. 9 million, out of which the informal sector accounted for 33.6 percent.
Mr. Sinyenga said the new estimates are 25.2 percentage points higher than the old which were estimated at K77, 666.6 million.
He said notable changes in these estimates include the change in the relative contribution of each industry to the overall GDP.
Mr. Sinyenga further stated that the wholesale and retail trade accounted for most of the value added at 18.4 percent followed by mining and quarrying at 12.9 percent and construction at 10.9 percent.
He said agriculture, forestry and fishing contributed 9.9 percent to the overall GDP.
The Zambia Kwacha has closed the month of February with a further depreciation.
Yesterday, the local currency depreciated further owing to increased demand for the United States dollars from importers wanting to cover their foreign obligations so as to minimise currency losses.
The local unit opened trading at K5.780 to K5.810 and closed at K5.795 to K5.825 yesterday.
This is according to Cavmont capital bank market report for Thursday, February 27, which was released to ZANIS in Lusaka today.
The bank said in the absence of improved supply, the Kwacha was likely to remain under pressure in the short to medium term.
And the bank’s aggregate current account balance increased by K86.99 million to K691.99 million while the cost of interbank borrowing and lending declined by 0.17 percent to 10.00 percent.
The financial institution further disclosed that funds traded on interbank were K170 million.
First Lady Dr Christine Kaseba being ushed by LAZ president James Banda on arrival at Radisson Blu Hotel for the LAZ programme for Anti-GBV Breakfast in Lusaka on Ocober 22,2013 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has issued a press statement to the media in support of the action taken by opposition members of Parliament to disrupt the proceeding of the house.
According to the statement signed by LAZ president James Banda, LAZ warned that as long as the government continue to trivialise the constitution matter, they should expect that Pressure will continue to come from all well-meaning Zambians who are simply demanding what they are entitled to.
Below is the full statement.
PRESS STATEMENT ON THE DEMANDS BY HONOUABLE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT FOR A NEW CONSTITUION-27th February 2014
The Law Association of Zambia welcomes the demands by Members of Parliament for the enactment of a people-driven constitution following the Ministerial statement by the Minister of Justice on the status of the constitution-making process in Parliament. We agree that the Minister’s Statement did not do Justice to the issue considering that the Republican President Mr. Michael. C. Sata has clearly stated that there is no need for a new Constitution.
For as long as the President and his government will continue to trivialize this matter they should expect that Pressure will continue to come from all well-meaning Zambians who are simply demanding what they are entitled to. What is being asked for is exactly what the PF promised; nothing new! We dare say that the President should not be surprised that even his own Ministers and Party officials who he has declared useless have already and or will soon see sense in this whole matter and equally demand that a new constitution be enacted or at least that the process be allowed to run its natural course
We are pleased that finally the Members of Parliament have taken this fight right into the House. Our MPs are elected to stay in the house and debate and not to walk out
The demands of the Member of Parliaments, who represent various constituencies in Zambia echo the growing discontent and waning tolerance of the Zambian people over the failure by the Government to expedite the constitution-making process. The Association again urges and pleads with the government to take swift action to remedy the situation and respond to the People’s cry for a new constitution.
File Picture:Police officers manhandle a UPND supporter
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on February 27 released the 2013 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. The country-specific Human Rights Reports are documents the U.S. Congress, by law, requires the State Department to prepare annually and make public. The reports cover internationally recognized individual, civil, political, and worker rights, as set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international agreements. The publication of the annual reports reflects U.S. commitment to the advancement of human rights around the world.
The U.S. Human Rights Report on Zambia highlights noteworthy improvements in several key sectors, notably in prison capacity, anti-corruption investigations, and mine safety. Increased visibility of the Human Rights Commission gives evidence that an independent government organization is actively working to ensure all Zambians may exercise their human rights.
At the same time, the U.S. government in 2013 observed serious human rights problems. These include arbitrary arrest; extrajudicial killings; prolonged pretrial detention; arbitrary interference with privacy; restrictions on freedoms of speech, assembly, and the press; government corruption; violence and discrimination against women; child abuse; trafficking in persons; discrimination against persons with disabilities and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community; restrictions on labor rights; forced labor; and child labor.
The United States government appreciates its ongoing dialogue with the Zambian government about the internationally recognized human rights that both our nations have pledged to uphold. These are important commitments we make with all our citizens. We firmly believe both the United States and Zambia are more secure in a world where governments protect their peoples’ rights and freedoms.
The full report is available at http://zambia.usembassy.gov/keyreports.html.
Channel O award winning Hip hop group, ZONE FAM will be releasing their latest single on 3rd March . The song is called “Loving you” and is produced by Zone fam member Jay Rox .
President Michael Sata, who was accompanied by First Lady Dr Christine Kaseba (right), walks side by side with Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini, who was also accompanied by his wife Ethel (left) on arrival at Parliament buildings in Lusaka
By Hjoe Moono
Earlier this week the PF government through its MPs in parliament passed a motion that increased government borrowing from the domestic loan threshold of K200 million to K13 billion, representing a 6400% increase!! Yes, 6400% increase in domestic borrowing!! Wow!! Can someone please confirm my calculations, could I be wrong?
If the government therefore borrows at the limit from the banks, the debt would rise as high as 6400% from where it is today. I could not believe this, my simple calculator could not get this right-it gave me an ERROR! Seriously, this is an ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT ERROR!! The economists at Ministry of Finance should have honestly told Ba Chikwanda that there is an error in the calculation! I know there is an Economic Management Division (EMD) at Ministry of Finance, could it have been changed to Economic Management Error, (EME)? No disrespect for my fellow economists there, they are fine economists, but I suspect they must be working under tough instructions & conditions.
Noting that it passed parliament, I cannot agree more with Mr. Sata’s honesty about his MPs, they seem indeed to be as he said: Useless! For if they weren’t, how could they pass a motion with an error? But then, many things have become LESS in Zambia lately besides the MPs: Our hospitals are Nurse-less and our Kwacha is becoming Worth-less by the day.
Back to the 6400% increase in debt threshold, this is clear preparations for economic failure on the part of PF. But to cement their borrowing appetite and crowd out private investment and borrowers, they have increased the minimum bank reserve ratio from 8% to 14%. What this means ladies and gentlemen is that there is now 6% less money (14%-8%=6%) for banks to lend to you and I, period! It means there is less money in the banks for loan, therefore NO more money in your pockets!
[pullquote]Noting that it passed parliament, I cannot agree more with Mr. Sata’s honesty about his MPs, they seem indeed to be as he said: Useless![/pullquote]
But what is the reserve ratio you may ask? A reserve ratio is a percentage of deposits that banks must keep in their banks to enable them be liquid, i.e, to easily meet the demands of clients through withdrawals etc. So if you have a reserve ratio of 8%, it means that out of all deposits, the bank will keep 8% and lend out 92%. What the PF has done now is to command the banks to lend less to you and me from 92% to 86% by increasing the reserve ratio. So if you had applied for a loan a week ago, expect it to be declined! Sorry!
But you see, while they have reduced money for you and me, they have increased their need to borrow from the same banks. So it’s the pure case of a dad reducing your daily meals from 3 to 1 to that he can increase his from 3 to 5—Mwadya Mweka Daddy reloaded!
But then, the comedy of errors in Mr. Chikwanda’s economics fails him further: While he reduces the borrowing to the public, he still insists on a policy rate to cap interest rates on domestic borrowing, when the demand and supply sermons he gives on a nose diving kwacha will dictate that the interest rates should rise. Soon, expect to hear higher lending rates from the banks and financial institutions.
It seems the septuagenarian Minister of Finance and his colleagues, mostly septuagenarians too, including the president, have absolutely no idea what they are doing. The best we can do is to prepare for the worst: Higher inflation and higher debt coupled with a valueless kwacha.
With the kwacha free falling at Newton’s 10metres per second speed, higher levels of debt, reduced loans and upcoming higher interest rates, ladies and gentlemen, brace for impact! The economy is diving! Brace for negative impact!
PS: A septuagenarian is a person who is between 70 and 79 years old.
The Civil Society Constitution Coalition has commended opposition Members of Parliament stance they have taken to demand the issue of the new constitution to be addressed by government.
Opposition Members of Parliament have in the last two days disrupted Parliamentary business demanding the issue of the constitution to be addressed.
Civil Society Constitution Coalition vice Chairperson Judith Mulenga has told Qfm News in an interview that the opposition Members of Parliament need to be commended for their courage to speak out and demand for what the people want.
Ms. Mulenga says it gives hope to the coalition and the majority Zambians to see everyone getting united in demand for the new constitution.
Ms .Mulenga stressed that it is only right that President Micheal Sata releases the draft constitution because Zambians are getting tired of depressing statements over the document.
She further stated that the CSO’s will not stop demanding for a people driven constitution.
Yesterday, Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini called for a closed-door meeting with representatives of backbenchers and Government to resolve differences over the constitution-making process.
This cane in the wake of disruptions of debate by backbenchers in the House for the second day yesterday. The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday next week.
Dr Matibini told Parliament yesterday that the disruptions were “unprecedented” and “unfortunate”.
“It also goes without saying that in a democracy there are differences of opinion [and] one of the tenets of democracy is dialogue,” Dr Matibini said in urging the MPs to exhibit leadership.
“Both members on the left [backbenchers] and right [executive] are leaders. Zambians look up to us. So, the spirit of dialogue is key; it is absolutely essential,” Dr Matibini said.
He said this last night when Parliament resumed seating after another abrupt discontinuation earlier in the afternoon.
The Speaker was prompted to call for security to help restore order when some backbenchers attempted to walk over to the Speaker’s mace.
The Speaker then went into a meeting with Vice-President Guy Scott and chief whips.
When Parliament resumed seating, Monze Central MP Jack Mwiimbu (United Party for National Development) raised a point of order and said: “We have decided that this process be given an opportunity to reach fruition under your able guidance Mr Speaker. On Tuesday, you will call for a meeting where this impasse will be resolved for the benefit of this House and the nation.”
The Planned Parenthood Association of Zambia has called for increased budgetary allocation to family planning programmes in the country.
PPAZ Executive Director Edford Mutuma said the Ministry of Finance should scale up its allocation to programmes aimed at increasing access to family planning in Zambia.
Mr Mutuma was speaking in Lusaka when PPAZ hosted a working lunch on family planning for officials from the Ministry of Finance and other stakeholders.
In the 2014 budget, family planning programmes are have been provided for with allocations for the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health receiving a combined allocation of seven percent of the total budget.
Mr Mutuma proposed that Government increases spending on health and education budgets by 30 percent in line with regional and international protocols.
“Admittedly, the Zambian government has shown political commitment towards family planning but what we are asking for is Government translating these commitments into actual spend on family planning,” Mr Mutuma said.
“We need visible, frequent, consistent support from political leaders and we also need support within key government ministries for family planning programmes,” he said.
Mr Mutuma said there is need to translate sexual and reproductive health family planning commitments into action to achieve national health targets.
He said the Ministry of Health plays a key role in resource allocation to family planning service delivery in Zambia.
“Government is targeting to improve health system by working on the infrastructure and human resource and increasing contraceptive prevalence rate from 33 percent to above 70 percent which will result in manageable families to match the economic aspiration and empowered women,” he said.
“Targets such as reducing maternal mortality especially unintended abortions to half and lowering total fertility rate from 6.2 percent to lower than four percent will only be achieved by increasing government spending on family planning.”
Mining Companies paid tax amounting to US$87 million to the Zambian government in 2011 according to the latest 2011 Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative EITI report.
The mining companies that paid the windfall tax are NFC Africa mining, Chibuluma mines, Chambeshi metals, Kansanshi mine, Mopani mine and Konkola Copper Mines.
Windfall tax was abolished by the Rupiah Banda led MMD government.
And Caritas Zambia has implored the government to have a listening ear and consider reintroducing windfall tax.
Caritas Zambia Executive Director Samuel Mulafulafu in a statement issued to QFM News today says the $87 million paid as windfall tax is what Government could have been receiving every year from the mining companies which would have made a huge difference to infrastructure development and employment of more civil servants like nurses and doctors.
Mr. Mulafulafu says government’s position on windfall tax has continued to disadvantage many poor Zambians who require quality social service delivery.
He has also implored government to seriously ensure that all mining companies pay their dividends so that the nation can benefit from the inordinate profits generated, considering that only two mining companies Chibuluma and Kasanshi mines paid dividends of the mining companies that were reconciled.
He further wonders how the government reported to have received K7.72 billion from mining companies, more than what the mining companies paid which is K7.67 billion.
Mr. Mulafulafu however says Caritas Zambia is encouraged to note the 100 percent revenues increase from K3.02 billion in the 2010 EITI reported figures to now K7.5 billion according to the latest 2011 EITI report.
Mr. Mulafulafu has since implore the government through the Auditor General’s office to play an active role in enhancing transparency on tax revenue recordings and tax expenditures as well as monitoring and applying pressure for the implementation of audit and EITI recommendations.
Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini has described the opposition Members of Parliament (MPs)’s action to disrupting proceedings in the House today as unruly and disorderly.
Dr Matibini threatened to invoke Standing Order number 70 which could have seen the MPs being led out of the House by the Sergeant-at-Arms.
“It is clear this is a deliberate attempt to disrupt proceedings. This is disorderly conduct I thereby order the Sergeant-at-Arms to remove unruly MPs.”
“This conduct is disorderly and not permitted by our Constitution. Standing Order number 70 has been violated and it is clear we cannot transact with the Honourable MPs conducting themselves in this way. The only thing to do is like in the past, to walk out. We cannot talk in this kind of situation,” Dr Matibini said.
Parliament’s security wing swung into action to restore order inside Parliament as MPs flocked to the Speaker’s mace area to air their grievance over the Constitution making process amidst flared tempers.
Zambia Police officers were also deployed around Parliament grounds to monitor the situation.
Dr Matibini however suspended Parliamentary business to allow for order to return to the House.
The opposition bench continued their in-house protests over the Constitution which started during Tuesday’s session which led to an early adjournment.
The MPs constantly obstructed the deliberations by insisting that it was inappropriate to continue proceedings without attending to issues of the Constitution process.
But the Speaker said in order to restore order and decorum of the House it was inevitable to suspend business until normalcy was restored.
As the Speaker presided over business, opposition MPs tussled with the security officers who were more than 10, in a bid to bring order in the House.
Cabinet members watched as the scuffle ensued amidst an exchange of words between the opposition and the ruling bench.
Vice President Guy Scott’s security personnel entered the House but this was protested against by the opposition MPs demanding that they leave the House along with the Parliament security officers.
However business resumed at 17:43 with the Speaker stating that what had transpired was unprecedented and unfortunate and that his office would address the matter accordingly.
“What transpired is unprecedented and unfortunate but I have a structure and it will be dealt with accordingly, let us not go back to this issue through points of orders as it has been communicated to me formally and it shall be dealt with,” Dr Matibini said.
Dr Matibini said Zambians were watching and that such matters should be addressed through dialogue as opposed to disrupting proceedings.
Zambia on Wedneday afternoon beat FAZ Super League side Power Dynamos 2-1 in practice match at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
The home-based Chipolopolo squad has set up camp in Ndola prior to 5th March friendly against Uganda.
Little known defender Adrian Chama of FAZ Division One South side Riflemen headed Zambia in front from close range on the half hour mark.
Clubless captain Christopher Katongo extended Chipolopolo’s lead after 54 minutes when he converted a penalty after striker Evans Kangwa was fouled in the box.
Power’s lone goal came via a spotkick converted by striker Patrick Kabamba after midfielder Roderick Kabwe handled in the box.
Chipolopolo coach Patrice Beaumelle says he respects the Uganda Cranes ahead of the 15th March friendly in Ndola.
Beaumelle’s Zambia host Uganda in their first match in 2014 set for Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.
“Uganda is a good team, I have respect for the team. They have some good players and they always give us a good challenge so it will be an interesting game,” he said.
Beaumelle said he expect massive support from fans.
“I am very happy to play my first game as head coach at home .We are expecting a lot of support because it is the first game in 2014,” he said.
And Beaumelle believes that Sochaux defender Stoppila Sunzu should be available and fit for the Uganda friendly.
Sunzu missed Sochaux’s last league match on Saturday due to an hamstring injury.
“It seems like he will be ready hopefully he will be ready,” he added.
