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Chief Government Spokesperson, Mwansa Kapeya, has responded to UPND President UPND Leader Hakainde Hichilema’s article in the Post Newspaper.
In a statement issued to the media, Mr Kapeya said that Zambians should begin to question whether Mr Hichilema deserves to be President of this country.
Below is the full statement
Republic of Zambia
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services
STATEMENT BY HON. MWANSA KAPEYA, MP, MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING SERVICES AND CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON ON UPND LEADER HAKAINDE HICHILEMA’S COMMENTS ON PRESIDENT MICHAEL SATA’S RETURN FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM
Remarks attributed to UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema in The Post edition of Monday, February 10, are at best disappointing, and Zambians, including UPND members, should, if they have not already started, begin questioning his fitness as a political leader.
Mr Hichilema, according to The Post, says “he is happy to have recalled President Michael Sata from the United Kingdom” where he was “malingering.”
Government, too, is happy that His Excellency President Sata’s trip to the United Kingdom has exposed Mr. Hichilema’s level of understanding duties of the President and Zambians should begin to question whether he deserves to be President of a serious opposition party and later on of this country.
Government wishes to advise the opposition leader that even when the President is on leave, he does not abandon his duties. He very much performs his functions and His Excellency President Sata despite being on leave was very much aware of this fact and he was performing his functions.
In his own careless talk, Mr Hichilema misinformed the nation that President Sata had been flown to India for treatment and now that he has begrudgingly witnessed the return of the President he is struggling to remain credible.
Mr Hichilema should not talk about the President ‘malingering in the UK’, he should inform us about how the President is recovering in India since he reported about the illness.
Granted Mr Hichilema is still recovering from the crashing 2011 defeat, surely he should realize that it is one President at a time. The earlier he realizes this, the better for his health.
Hon. Mwansa Kapeya, MP
MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING SERVICES AND CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON
MMD die hard youth leader Bowman Lusambo captured during the gathering to demand for the release of the Zambian draft constitution.
President Michael Sata should replace his press aide George Chellah because he has hugely mismanaged the presidency with his immature way of handling matters of national importance, says MMD youth diehard coordinator Bowman Lusambo has said.
Lusambo said the MMD youths are happy that the President is back in the country but they wanted him to replace Chellah as his press aide because he had failed the presidency in handling serious national statements.
“We want the President to change Chellah with a mature person bearing in mind that he uses tax payer’s money when he does not know how to do his duties,” Lusambo said.
Lusambo said Chellah does not communicate to the people of Zambia in the manner befitting the presidency especially when dealing with the public relations surrounding the presidency.
He said the Landon holiday trip; Chellah in his statement did not mention the President’s delegation and that the President’s working holiday had been turned into a fiasco because it was hugely mishandled.
“We wanted to know the delegation the President went with to Landon. Know one knows which Minister accompanied the President to Landon. He just said the President was having a 14days working holiday in London,” Lusambo said.
He said Chellah never informed Zambians which investors the President was going to be meeting in London.
Lusambo said the country needed a press aid who was mature and not someone who would be just saying yes to whatever the President told him to do.
“Chellah has failed the people of Zambia because he is just a yes bwana person to the president. He needs to be disagreeing to certain things which the President wants him to be telling t us. He must be telling the president what is right and wrong when it comes to information of the State,” he said.
Lusambo said the country needed a mature person who would be explaining to the people of Zambia in details concerning the president’s trips unlike what was happening now when Chellah was the President’s press aid.
He said this was why in 2016 the Zambian people would replace President Sata with MMD president Nevers Mumba.
Police this afternoon, warned and cautioned Kasama Central MP Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba for eight counts for offences which he is alleged to have committed between 1st April and 30th November, 2012.
Police Spokesperson Charity Munganga Chanda said whilst acting as Republican President, Mr Mwamba is alleged to have committed the offence of Disobedience of Statutory Duty C/Sec 126 Cap 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
He is also alleged to have Abused his Authority of Office C/Sec 21 (1) (a) and (b) of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 3 of 2012 by directing and influencing the award of a contract for supply and delivery of 9, 10 and 12 meter wooden poles to Zesco Limited on a one year running contract to Arizona Marketing and Distributors in which Company he was a Director/Partner.
As Director/Partner of Arizona Marketing and Distributors he is alleged to have committed three counts of uttering a false document C/Sec 352 of Cap 87 of the laws of Zambia involving Manufacturers Authorization, Company profile and Pole Specifications to the Zambia Public Procurement Authority and ZESCO purporting them to have been issued by Board Timber Limited of Zimbabwe when in fact not.
Further Mr Mwamba, acting in his capacity as the then Director/Partner of Arizona Marketing and Distributors has also been warned and cautioned for two counts of making a false document C/Sec 344 of Cap 87 of the Laws of Zambia namely a company profile for Boarder Timbers and Poles specifications purporting that they were issued from Border Timbers Limited when in fact not.
In the last count, he is alleged to have forged two manufacturers authorization documents C/Sec 342 of Cap 87 of the laws of Zambia purporting that they issued by Border Timbers Limited when in fact not.
Ms Chanda said investigations into the matter continue and Mr Bwalya’s wife Chama and Daughter Sibongile will appear for more questioning tomorrow at 10 Hours.
But Mr Mwamba says his lawyers have asked for more time to study the offences and will issue a statement soon.
He told Reporters outside Woodlands Police Station that despite what is happening to him, he will remain a loyal member of the PF because he still loves the party.
Mr Mwamba said, as one of the founder members of the PF, he will remain faithful and loyal to the PF leadership.
Also present at the police station were MMD acting national secretary Kapembwa Simbao, MMD Kasempa MP Kabinga Pande, National Revolution Party president Cosmo Mumba, Alliance for Better Zambia (ABZ) president Frank Bwalya and political activist Dante Saunders.
Police cordoned off the police station keeping Mr Mwamba’s placard and red card brandishing supporters at bay.
The Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has condemned Government for going ahead to issue final dismissal letters to over five hundred nurses despite many pleas from the trade unions and appeals from affected health workers.
Speaking during a media briefing in Lusaka today, ZCTU Secretary General, Roy Mwaba, said the dismissal of these workers is a serious error on the part of government especially that nurses and paramedics were trained at a huge government cost.
Mr. Mwaba said the few nurses remaining in hospitals, more especially UTH are clearly overworked and this has put a lot of pressure on them and doctors.
He wondered how it was possible for President Michael Sata to pardon the prisoners using his discretion and yet find it difficult to pardon innocent nurses.
Mr.Mwaba added that it is hard to believe that a government which is preaching the improvement of the social and economic status of the people can fire so many people at once and condemn all the people to poverty and yet claim to be creating employment for people.
He stated that it is not too late for the Head of State to pardon the nurses and show that he is a father of the nation by listening to the plea of the people.
And Mr. Mwaba said the ZCTU is concerned with the pace at which the constitution making process is moving.
He says there is need for the PF government to give the people of Zambia a clear road-map of how they are going to deliver a people driven constitution.
Mr. Mwaba has also expressed concern at the increasing tension between the opposition political parties and the ruling PF.
He has since called on the Zambia Centre for Interparty Dialogue to play its role by defusing the tension.
President Sata disembarks from an Emirates plane at the Kenneth Kaunda international airport
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President Sata disembarks from an Emirates plane at the Kenneth Kaunda international airport
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President Sata disembarks from an Emirates plane at the Kenneth Kaunda international airport
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Justice minister welcome President Sata back in the country from his holiday
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President Sata arrives at Kenneth Kaunda international airport
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President Michael Sata greets Emirates Ground Crew at Kenneth Kaunda international airport aboard Emirares Flight
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President Michael Sata greets Emirates Ground Crew at Kenneth Kaunda international airport aboard Emirares Flight
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President Sata greets Defence minister Edgar Lungu on arrival at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport iPresident Sata greets Army Commander MiyovuPresident Sata being welcomed by Lusaka Mayor Daniel Chisenga on arrival at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport
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President Sata greets Service Chiefs on arrival at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in LusakaZAF Commander Lt Gen Chimese salutes President Sata when he arrived at Kenneth Kaunda International AirportPresident Sata flanked by Justice minister Wynter Kabimba on arrival at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport
US based Zambia artist ,Princess Mwamba , released her new single for the year 2014 . the song is called “Should have never”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3QGx-jIcKc&feature=youtu.be BY KAPA187
The Unspoilt Lower Zambezi National Park- however new mine coming soon
By Mbinji Mufalo
Extract, destroy and leave rich
I have overtime kept away from commenting on environmental issues. More so, because of the time in the 1990s when World Bank-likes moved into the territory. They had an unnerving “economics, free-market and technology will fix it all” attitude. The arguments of simply preserving or conserving our environment more on its life-support attributes, and indeed the celestial aesthetic appeal of its wilderness went out through the window. Their belief always seemed to be one of “we can always eat a piece of the earth for economic development, but we will eat it nicely”.
“The people will benefit, the environment will benefit”. It was and still is a valid argument, I must admit. But, we forget, like Mahatma Gandhi observes – “Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed”. Thus, in a developing country context like ours, the degradation of the environment on the premise of enhanced economic development has in most cases neither benefitted the people nor the environment. In any case, there is now grounded knowledge that it is not those that allow more extraction from the earth that develops the most. It is those that come and extract, destroy and leave rich.
[pullquote]Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed[/pullquote]
The fact is always that those that come to extract, destroy and leave rich do not come yielding guns or drones. They come because we allow them in the name of seeking economic development. They dangle a nicely ripe banana that we believe will quench our hungry and deprived, and we jubilantly pontificate the necessity of their investment. We even parade deprived traditional leaders to launder the argument clean. But, then some State oversight agencies and other interest groups rise up and dissent. “Even if it’s in the name economic development, this piece of the earth can never be eaten nicely”. “It is in a game park”.
[pullquote]they dangle a nicely ripe banana that we believe will quench our hungry and deprived[/pullquote]
Well, the Kangaluwi Copper Project in the Lower Zambezi National Park keeled me back into the environmental discourse after nearly a decade.
The Legal Confusion
In my further reading to understand what it was all about, two statements interested me.
The first is what I came across in Kangaluwi Copper Project, Mwembeshi Resources Ltd, Environmental Impact Assessment of February 2012. The Kangaluwi Project already had a large scale mining license – No 15547-HQ-LML! And this is where the legal confusion starts.
In section 25 of the Mines and Minerals Development Act, 2008 a large scale mining licence can be granted, but with an attendant environmental management plan (subsection 1(e); and that the “applicant’s environmental management plan conforms to specifications and practices established by national standards for the management of the environment as it is affected by mining operations (section 26(1)(d))”.
Further, if we read this with section 127 (1)(h) it provides that “a holder of a licence or permit shall not exercise any rights under this Act or the licence or permit upon any land comprised in a National Park or game management area without complying with the Zambia Wildlife Act”. This is corroborated by section 24(2) of the Zambia Wildlife Act 1998 which stipulates that “the Authority may impose conditions as to the exercise of any mining rights in accordance with the measures specified under an environmental impact assessment[1] approved by the Environmental Council (now Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA))”.
Put simply. I want to dig a hole for copper in a national park. So I go to Mines department, there they give me a license, but they tell me I should do an EIA approved by ZEMA; and get permission from Wildlife department, who will also tell me I need an EIS approved by ZEMA. I do that, but ZEMA disapproves, yet I still have my license. But now I cannot start my mine development. I am seriously confused! Why did you grant me the license when surely you should know that ZEMA and ZAWA will refuse simply because it is in a national park?
Anyway, since the green light from ZEMA is paramount to the exercise of the mining rights the license provides, does the license have no legal force? Can we surmise that the Mwembeshi Resources Ltd large scale mining licence No 15547-HQ-LML, is just a piece of paper?
No, it is not just a piece of paper. It has an inherent power of appeal to authorities higher than ZEMA. The Environmental Management Act, 2011, in section 116(1) provides that, “a person aggrieved with the decision of the Agency may appeal to the Minister within thirty days of the decision; (2) A person aggrieved with the decision of the Minister may appeal to the High Court within thirty days of the decision”.
And this happened when on September 19, 2012, Mwembeshi Resources appealed to the Minister (Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection) against the decision of ZEMA not to permit the development as provided in the Decision Letter of September 5, 2012. Mwembeshi Resources’ appeal was upheld by the Minister on January 17, 2014.
Thus ultimately, in all these legal provisions that permits or does not permit mining development, not only in a national park, the final decision maker is a political entity or the Courts of Law. But this is not to say ZEMA’s decision[2] is not respected, it is but it should be founded on strong arguments against a particular development. Political decisions are more often about perceived economic development gains, than environmental protection. It is only when environmental protection arguments are meaningful, that they can influence political decisions.
Perhaps, this where the main actor in this debate, ZEMA, lost the environment!
News media evidence so far shows that ZAWA had concerns; such concerns were appropriately provided to ZEMA as per legal requirements.
In addition, ZAWA in its position paper of April 2013 observes:
“It is the strong position of ZAWA that Mining should not be allowed in the Lower Zambezi National Park. The General Management Plan (GMP) for Lower Zambezi National Park approved by the then Permanent Secretary MTENR Mr. J. C. Kasongo on 1st November 2001 and ratified by the Minister, Honorable M. M. Mabenga, MP did not provide for mining operations in the area which was zoned as a Wilderness Zone”.
ZAWA can be absolved of any failings for as stakeholders they did their part. But can ZEMA be absolved?
How Mwembeshi Resources where able to rebut ZEMA’s arguments
And this brings me to the second statement.
“The proposed site is not suitable for the nature of the project because it is located in the middle of a national park thus intends to compromise the ecological value of the park as well as the ecosystem,” – Ms Chipili (Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) public relations officer)[3].
I found this statement unfortunate and legally ill-informed. This statement has no legal basis as Kangaluwi Copper Project’s Large Scale Mining License 15547-HQ-LML is valid, as shown earlier. Mineral rights reign supreme in a national park, though conditional.
Noteworthy, however is that, ZEMA rejected the Kangaluwi Copper Project EIS on five other issues, not simply “because it is located in the middle of a national park”.
On location of the mine in a National Park, ZEMA’s concerns were that:
“ The proposed site is not suitable for the nature of the project since it is located in the middle of a national park;
The adverse impact of open pit mining would therefore permanently destroy the landscape of the park, thereby reducing the tourism value of the Lower Zambezi National Park;
Lower Zambezi National Park is one of the four major national parks according to ZAWA which earns the country a lot of money”[4].
Unfortunately, I must admit Mwembeshi Resources rebutted these concerns very well. On the first (like noted earlier), they were on firm legal ground. On the second and third, especially on the tourism value of the park, perhaps ZEMA should never even have raised this.
Mwembeshi Resources observes,
“Tourism in the Lower Zambezi National Park contributed approximately US$600,000 revenues in 2011 (ZAWA Annual Report for the LZNP, 2011). This value is substantially less than the total foreign direct investment to be made by Mwembeshi Resources Ltd, which will exceed US$495 million.”[5]
Ecological resource exploitation for aesthetic value or ecological protection for ecosystem integrity can never compete with expected or projected economic returns from mineral extraction. Mines have a higher socio-economic multiplier effect (though not sustainable in the long term) than tourism based economic activities.
At face value the socio-economic returns from a mining development are always extremely enticing. The nicely ripe banana that we believe will quench our hungry and deprived – direct and indirect employment opportunities, increased socio-amenities, local business opportunities, and indeed the biggest catch of them all, increased revenue to the State!
But, the figures on contribution to domestic revenue tell a different story.
“Copper is Zambia’s most important export, making up 75% of its export revenue. However, despite all this, copper mining only contributes 2% to Zambia’s domestic revenue.”[6]
The Laws need to be changed
Notwithstanding the foregoing, ZEMA has a legitimate question on the location of Kangaluwi, even if not legally valid or not economically sound. Perhaps it is time environmental protection lobby groups (and ZEMA), also started focusing their energies on reviewing the laws. A national park is a pristine area, a celestially aesthetic wilderness. It’s a heritage! No law should allow its rape and defilement. Period.
Thus, I here argue that, this is one environmental battle that should go beyond Kangaluwi. We hope the laws that allow such development acts like the Kangaluwi Copper Mine project can be found inconsistent with environmental protection for ecosystem integrity, and thus are invalid. National parks should all simply be declared as Environmentally Protected Areas. Perhaps, we can amend the Protected Places and Areas Act CAP 125, to include National Parks (Just a digression)!
ZEMA’s other concerns were on:
Treatment of Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) -possible damage to TSF due to seismic activity, possibility of effluent from TSF reaching major rivers in the event of catastrophic failure;
TSF failure and location adjacent to Mana Pools – that is, likely tailings impact on Mana Pools from TSF failure;
Acid rock drainage – this issue and consequently the metal leaching has not been addressed;
Infrastructure would compromise the ecology – “The footprint of the mine would increase when the road is widened and the power line is constructed. The integrity of the national park will therefore be compromised and in the long-term the ecological value would be affected”; and,
Contradictions in life of mine contained in the EIS.
Further concerns during the appeal hearing of June 7, 2013 were likelihood of groundwater aquifer pollution and, wildlife and wildlife movements.
Mwembeshi Resources again ably responded to these technical concerns and issues, but perhaps for the response to seismic activity. Mwembeshi Resources observes that “the proposed area of the mine and the TSF is within the Zambezi escarpment, this area is considered to be seismically inactive”. And in the same breath they do acknowledge the likelihood of tremors. Precaution is needed as even Dumisani (2001) observes that the Deka fault zone and the mid-Zambezi basin show high seismic activity[7].
The core defense of Mwembeshi Resources is clearly that environmental impacts due to development are always likely as any human development process is ecologically permissible, and that technological fixes can minimize the likely impacts.
In the same vein, even the Joint UNESCO World Heritage Centre/IUCN Mission Report Reactive Monitoring Mission Mana Pools (2011), observes the following:
“The mission recommends that regulations related to mining in ZAWA managed areas (GMA and NP) should be complied with and the compliance monitored by ZAWA and special regulations and requirements developed to ensure that overburden and drainage from the mine activities can, in no way, enter the drainage systems that lead to the Zambezi River. Further the Zambezi River waters should be monitored at strategic points to ensure that any appearances of pollutants related to the mining operations are detected and the mining operations charged with removing same and the sources thereof.”[8]
There is nothing wrong with this, as the core objective of an EIA is just that. An EIA does not seek to stop development, but to guide it in a manner that environmental damage can be avoided or reduced so as to ensure that development projects and their benefits are sustainable. An EIA is in the ambit of development, not outside it.
Mwembeshi Resources are legally right and legitimately wrong
Clearly, in my opinion so far, there is no substantive argument provided that the intended technological fixes cannot minimize the likely impacts from Kangaluwi Copper Project, nor that the socio-economic benefits are a fallacy. Perhaps, this is where the Minister and Mwembeshi Resources are right.
But they are also very wrong, and ZEMA and environmental protection interest groups are right. Though, legally they are wrong!
ZEMA is not simply a question of the legality of environmental protection but more so its legitimacy. This is because environmental protection is not solely a legal question. It is more a question of legitimacy. The act of mining right in the middle of a National Park (a national heritage), irrespective of the technological fixes, can never be ecologically legitimate. In hindsight, perhaps we should accept that an EIA request for a mining development in a national park should not even arise. The laws have to be reviewed and amended accordingly.
In other words, “we cannot always eat a piece of the earth for economic development, if the law allows, especially if eating that piece of the earth is not publicly perceived to be fundamental and acceptable as it does not enhance the integrity of ecosystems and indeed the social well being of the hungry and deprived in the longer term.”
Conclusion
In conclusion and undoubtedly, for me the Kangaluwi Copper Project is a NO. National Parks are more a question of the legitimacy of environmental protection for ecosystem integrity, than the fulfillment of EIA legal requirements for resource exploitation.
Like the Chinese say, “the frog does not drink up the pond in which it lives”.
Ora pro nobis.
End script: Comments on errors of fact are most welcome.
[1] Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is a comprehensive document that reports the findings of the EIA.
[2] Note that ZEMA’s decisions are also founded on stakeholder concerns.
[3] ZEMA rejects Australia’s mining firm proposal to develop a $494m copper mine in the National Park (September 12, 2013; http://www.lusakatimes.com/2012/09/13/zema-rejects-australias-mining-firm-proposal-develop-494m-copper-national-park/
[4] Mwembeshi Resources appeal letter of September 19, 2012
[5] op cit.
[6] Lusaka Times, July 22, 2011, ‘Mining Sector contributing less than 2% of domestic revenue-ZCTU (as extracted from Das and Rose, (2014). Copper Colonialism – Vedanta KCM and the copper loot of Zambia. Foil Vedanta.
[7] Dumisani, J.H. (2001). Seismotectonics of Zimbabwe. African Journal of Science and Technology (AJST), Vol. 1, No.4, pp. 22-28.
[8] Mission Report Reactive Monitoring Mission Mana Pools, Sapi and Chewore Safari Areas (Zimbabwe), 9-15 January 2011
Coach Masauso Mwale says Nkana can advance to the next round of the 2014 Champions League despite Sunday’s shocking 2-0 loss to Mbabane Swallows in the first leg of the preliminary round.
The two teams clash in the return match at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe this Saturday with Nkana aiming to score three unanswered goals if they are to qualify to the first round.
Mwale believes the 2013 FAZ Super League champions can score the needed goals in the second leg set for Wusakile.
“We are still in the game and it is possible to score three goals” he said.
Mwale, however, demanded improvement from his squad ahead of the return leg.
“I think you saw we missed some chances and we just gave them the game. I think we have to work on our lapses especially in defense,” he said.
Second half goals from Zimbabwean striker Kudzanayi Matanda and Swaziland international attacker Felix Bardenhost condemned Nkana to a 2-0 loss to Swallows at Somhololo Stadium in Swaziland.
And Swallows Zambian-coach Christopher “Gaza”Tembo described the win as a good result for the Swazi champions.
“It’s a mixed grill bitter and sweet but for me personally I feel good for my team. I think today hard luck to Nkana they didn’t play their cards correctly,” Tembo said.
He warned that Swallows will not allow Nkana to overturn the 2-0 defeat in the reverse fixture.
“We wouldn’t allow that to happen to us no no,” Tembo added.
KASAMA Central Member of Parliament (MP) Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba (GBM) (left) and his wife Chama Mwamba (right) in blue when President Michael Sata was endorsed as Presidential candidate at Northern Provincial Conference hall in Kasama
Former Defence Minister Geoffrey Mwamba has revealed that he will report himself to the police at Woodlands Police for questioning over the failed ZESCO poles contract.
Mr Mwamba confirmed in a posting on his Facebook page that he will report to Woodlands Police Station at 14:00hrs for what referred to as the so-called interviews.
“I remain unshaken about what is likely to follow thereafter and will avail myself as a law-abiding citizen,” he said.
He said he remains grateful for the concerns various sections of the society, including political parties, civil society organizations and members of the public, have raised over his persecution.
“As you may all be aware, I resigned my position as Defense Minister on a matter of principle and while this has invited opportunistic calls for my resignation, I have resolved not to yield unless I am expelled from PF.”
Mr Mwamba has since appealled for calm and restraint from his supporters and friends.
“Let us remember that we have a country whose interests and peace we must safeguard. This is a passing phase and my stance will be vindicated. God Bless Zambia.”
The late Zambian soccer star Dennis Lota will be buried here in South Africa at West Park Cemetery in Johannesburg, on Wednesday, February 12, 2014.
This came to light today when Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa Mr Muyeba Chikonde visited the funeral house to deliver a message of condolences to the Lota family on behalf of government.
Mr Chikonde said every body in government, including Republican President Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, and the general populace in Zambia were deeply saddened at Lota’s passing on.
He announced that that was the reason why the government would be represented by sports minister Mr Chishimba Kambwili at the memorial service tomorrow.
“The President has been consistently requesting for updates over this issue. Even as he was leaving London he called to find out on the status. This shows the importance that government and people of Zambia attach to this funeral,” Mr Chikonde said. “We are deeply saddened at the passing on of Lota. This is the reason why government will be represented by sports minister Chishimba Kambwili, myself and officials from Football Association of Zambia (FAZ).”
Mr Chikonde was informed by Mr Eugen Malao, uncle to late Lota’s widow, Bonita, that the burial ceremony will be preceded by a memorial service to be held tomorrow at Church of Johannesburg Harvest Time Clairmont, from 19:00 hrs to 21:00 hours, to be attended by family members, representatives from the PSL, Moroka Swallows, other dignitaries and mourners, in addition to the delegation from Zambia.
Mr Chikonde urged family members to settle any differences they may have amicably, saying the late Lota was a respected person, a unifier and humble.
He said while government was able to assist in repatriating the body to Zambia, it could not dictate to the Lota family on where his remains should be buried, as government is careful not to overstep its responsibility into the private life of the late soccer star.
During the meeting, a good friend of Lota, John Mphatsoe, bemoaned that Moroka Swallows would not be fully involved in the financial aspect of the funeral, and that it had only been left to individual members to make their contributions.
This prompted Mr Chikonde to announce that the government would look into the issue of purchasing the casket, and government, through FAZ, had also purchased four air tickets for the members of the Lota family to travel to South Africa for the funeral.
The late Lota starred for the Zambia National Soccer Team and several clubs in Zambia, including Nchanga Rangers and Kabwe warriors, before embarking on international stints in Switzerland, and South Africa.
After retiring from international football Lota settled in South Africa, working as assistant coach for Moroka Swallows at the time of his demise.
The late Lota is survived by a wife, Bonita and four children.
Pupils at Buseko Primary School in Kitwe’s Buchi Township
A former pupil and teacher of Buseko Primary School in Kitwe’s Buchi Township has appealed to former pupils to go back and help their former schools in order to improve the standards of education in Zambia.
Simon Kabanda who was a pupil between 1971 and 1977 and later returned as a teacher in 1986 said it is important for former pupils to assist their former schools in whichever way possible.
Mr Kabanda who was elected Interim Chairman of the Lusaka based members of the Buseko School Old Pupils and Teachers Association on Saturday said most old schools in Zambia are dilapidated and requires urgent attention.
“We decided to come together as former pupils of Buseko to explore ways in which we could assist our former school. This is the first association of former pupils at a primary school coming together and we are determined to help the school return its former glory,” Mr Kabanda said.
He said, “As much as the government is building new schools, we feel old schools equally need attention but we also believe that waiting on the government to start rehabilitating these schools is a far-fetched dream and this is the reason we are coming together to assist the government take care of our former school.”
Pupils at Buseko Primary School in Kitwe’s Buchi Township
Mr Kabanda said the report from the School Manager Ms Matildah Chisunka over the deplorable state of the school infrastructure prompted the formation of the association.
He said the there is need to construct more classrooms to accommodate a population of 1,800 pupils adding that the school only has 12 classrooms.
“We also need a Computer room at the school, it is sad that there is no ablution block for teachers and they also do not have a Staff room. We also need to Books for Grades 1 to 7 in all subjects and the issue of electrifying classrooms is also important,” Mr Kabanda said.
He also appealed to former pupils at home and in the Diaspora to contact the association on 0950 304123 or join the Facebook page Buseko OldPupils and contribute to the cause.
Meanwhile, Norah Kipenda who attended Buseko Primary School between 1984 and 1988 called on former pupils to come forward and help the school.
Ms. Kipenda who is now a teacher at David Kaunda Technical School in Lusaka said the current state of the school leaves much to be desired and requires urgent attention.
“I was motivated to join the association after my former teacher Mr Kabanda sold the idea to me. This is where most of our lives started from and it is only fair that we look back to see how we could help,” she said.
Buseko Primary School in Kitwe’s Buchi Township is one of the oldest schools in Kitwe opened around 1940s.
THE Patriotic Front (PF) on the Copperbelt has successfully held elections in which Masaiti PF chairperson Stardy Mwale was elected chairperson.
The previous provincial executive committee was dissolved last year in August.
The elections were held at Ndola’s Hindu Hall and voting started on Saturday into yesterday around 03:30 hours after which counting started at about 08:30 hours.
Three officials from each constituency on the Copperbelt constituted the Electoral College bringing the number of delegates to more than 500.
The returning officer was PF chairperson for Elections, Sylvia Masebo.
Mr Mwale polled 293 beating Mines, Energy and Water Development Deputy Minister, Richard Musukwa who polled 222 votes to become the new chairperson.
The position of vice-chairperson went to Stephen Kainga who beat Menyani Zulu.
Nathan Chanda polled 337 votes against Jones Kaliati who polled 140 to assume the position of youth chairperson.
Hilda Kawesha beat three others and got 117 votes to emerge women’s chairperson.
Other people that were elected were David Bwalya Nsala of Kitwe as treasurer and Keith Maila of Mpongwe scooped the deputy treasurer position.
Tenant Chishimba got the position of information publicity secretary and he would be deputised by Kalulushi Mayor Howard Simpemba.
Amon Chisenga got the position of secretary and he would be deputised by Ken Siachisumo.
Fourteen other positions were elected and the new executive committee is expected to coordinate party structures in readiness for the 2016 general elections.
PF weekend elections
Meanwhile, former Mufulira PF district chairperson John Katati and his team have petitioned last week’s election results that ushered in a new district executive led by Dominic Mwale.
Mr Katati and other members in his previous executive suffered humiliating defeat at the hands of Dr Mwale’s camp which scooped all save for a few positions that were up for grabs in the district executive elections held a week ago at Hindu Hall in Mufulira.
But Mr Katati has petitioned the results of the elections to PF’s chairperson for elections Sylvia Masebo alleging that the polls were not free and fair.
He said in an interview yesterday, that he felt robbed of the victory because the elections were allegedly manipulated by some people to favour their preferred candidates.
“We have petitioned the chairperson for Elections Madam Sylvia Masebo to nullify last week’s election results because of the manner the polls were conducted which was not free and fair,” he said.
Mr Katati said he sent the petition letter last week on Tuesday to Ms Masebo which was copied to Party President Michael Sata and Secretary General Wynter Kabimba giving grounds why the election results should be nullified.
PF deputy Secretary General Bridget Atanga who flagged off the election could not be reached for comment as her mobile phone went unanswered while member of the Central Committee Ngosa Simbyakula who conducted the election said Mr Katati was free to petition because that was his democratic right.
United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichelem has distanced himself from assertions that he wished President Michael Sata ill health.
Mr. Hichilema said it is normal and human for anyone to fell sick hence there be no need for anyone to become emotional and too sensitive over someone’s illness especially when one is a public officer.
ZANIS reports that the opposition leader said this in a statement made available in Lusaka yesterday.
He said mocking someone over their health status is sad and unacceptable especially in a civilized society like Zambia’s.
Mr. Hichilema said he and his party, the UNPD do not subscribe to such behavior.
He claimed that his alleged comments over the health of president Michael Sata was misconstrued in order to divert people’s attention from matters of national interest that have surfaced lately.
Mr. Hichilema recalled that the issue came about via a question from a journalist at the last press briefing at the UPND secretariat when he was asked to comment on speculation that State House was not been sincere to the public on whether or not President Sata was unwell and his whereabouts.
Mr. Hichilema said his response was to ask State House to clear the air on the whereabouts of the President and definitely, state whether the President was unwell given that he is a public asset.
He said that the UPND also indicated that if the President was unwell, then Zambians should pray for his quick recovery and that the UPND wished the President well for him to govern up to 2016.
Mr. Hichilema stated that the UPND further indicated that it would like to defeat President Sata and the Patriotic Front at the 2016 elections given his alleged failure to meet many of his campaign promises and overall poor governance of the PF.
He claimed the sickness issue is aimed at diverting the attention of Zambians from demanding for a people driven constitution.
Meanwhile, CHIEF Chimbuka of the Bemba speaking people of Chinsali District in Muchinga Province has asked UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema to explain the illness of President Michael Sata.
Speaking when he paid a courtesy call on Paramount Chief Mpezeni of the Ngoni of Eastern Province at his Ephendukeni palace in Chipata yesterday,Chief Chimbuka said he was dismayed that Mr Hichilema has continued talking against the health of President Sata to the public.
He said being one of the relatives ,President Sata had not briefed him about his sickness which Mr Hichilema had continued talking.
He said most of the relatives of President Sata were unaware of his illness which the opposition leader has continued to talk about.
He said it was always inhumane for people like Mr Hichilema to continue talking about the health of someone like President Sata.
Chief Chimbuka said Mr Hichilema has showed that he was too emotional with President Sata and charged that the opposition leader would continue to be a failure if continues with his outburst on the Head of State.
“HH has continued to talk about the health of President Sata.Let him explain the sickness of Mr Sata because as far as i am concerned we have not being briefed by President Sata that he is sick.He is my relative,”he said.
Chief Chimbuka said late UPND Leader Anderson Mazoka led the opposition political party very well because he did not practice on tribal lines unlike Mr Hichilema whom said was fond of tribalism.
And Chief Mpezeni said Mr Hichilema had no love for President Sata and asked the opposition leader not to play with illness.
He said Mr Hichilema should stop talking about the health of President Sata but questioned the Government on developmental which it had done implemented since it came into power.
Chief Mpezeni said Mr Hichilema should practice his politics very well because President Sata was appointed or elected to lead Zambia by the majority of Zambias.
He said politics was not about insults but reminding Government what it had not done.
He said Mr Hichilema should happy that the current Government had done a number of projects like schools and roads.
Chief Mpezeni said he was particularly happy that China Jiangxi International Corporation was working on Chipata-Vubwi road.
He also declared this years Nc’wala traditional ceremony as ready saying a number of chiefs have been invited.
National boxing coach Kennedy Kanyanta has announced that the Zambia Amateur Boxing Federation is this week set to begin the process of selecting boxers to represent the country at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Scotland.
Kanyanta said the first open national selection will take place from 15-16 February in Lusaka.
Over 18 boxers are expected to take part in the two-day event at the Olympic Youth Development Centre in Lusaka.
‘We are having the national open selection on 15th and 16th February at OYDC in Lusaka. This is in a sense of coming up with meaningful boxers to compete at games in Glasgow,’ Kanyanta said.
He added: ‘We are likely to have not less than 18 boxers and trim the team to the allocated number of slots by National Olympic Committee of Zambia.’
The Glasgow Games will take place from July 23- August and team Zambia is expected to regroup in April.
Nkana have been left with mountain to climb after losing 2-0 away to Mbabane Swallows of Swaziland today at Somhlolo stadium in their first return to CAF Champions League action since 2002.
The defeat was Nkana’s first ever against a Swaziland team ending an unbeaten record stretching as far back as 1983.
Nkana were guilty of poor finishing especially in the first half with midfielder Kelvin Mubanga, Claude Bwalya and Ronald Kampamba all had great chances going begging in the first half.
However, a spirited Swallows went on to dominate Nkana on their way to a historic kill over a once revered giant.
Swallows were rewarded for their perseverance courtesy of goals by Zimbabwean striker Kudzanayi Matanda and Swaziland international attacker Felix Bardenhost who scored in the 61st and 66th minutes respectively.
But it was Bardenhost’s goal that has the Nkana camp talking after Christopher Munthali was easily dispossessed of the ball inside the box to put the result beyond doubt.
Nkana must now score three unanswered goals this Saturday under the pressure of their demanding home fans to keep their ambitions of advancing to the second round alive.
Nkana: Rabson Muchelenganga, Donashano Malama, Masauso Zimba, Billy Mwanza, Christopher Munthali, Sydney Kalume, Simon Bwalya (Shadreck Musonda 71’),Kelvin Mubanga, Claude Bwalya, Ronald Kampamba (Jimmy Njobvu 80’),Francis Kombe (Lottie Nyambili 57’)
