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Red Arrows reached their first Barclays Cup final today after beating Green Buffaloes in the semifinals Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe.
Arrows defeat Buffaloes 2-0 to book a final date against Nchanga Rangers on November 23 in Lusaka.
The Airmen took the lead in the 38th minute through Lubinda Mundia.
Bruce Musakanya cemented Arrows passage to the final two minutes after the break.
Meanwhile, Nchanga booked their debut final appearance after a 1-0 win over three-time champions Zesco United in the lunchtime kickoff at the same venue.
Nchanga Rangers have eliminated three-time champions Zesco United from the 2013 Barclays Cup at the semi-final stage.
Nchanga beat Zesco 1-0 in the lunch-time kick off match at Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe on Saturday.
Bwalya Kasonde scored the lone goal in the 55th minute to send Fighton Simukonda’s Nchanga into the final.
Simukonda coached Zesco when they won the Barclays Cup in 2010.
Nchanga advanced to the last four after knocking out Zanaco while Zesco found themselves in the semis after struggling to beat Division One side Green Eagles.
The cup game loss has added more misery to Zesco who have recently put up unconvincing performances in the FAZ Super League.
Zesco are seven points behind leaders Nkana with four matches before the league closes.
FILE: President Michael Sata walking to the rally arena upon arrival at meembe basic school grounds to drum up suport for the patriotic front candidate for the kapiri mposhi bye election Eddie Musonda , with his is (PF) general secretary Wynter Kabimba in lukanga swamps chipepo ward
Patriotic Front Secretary General Wynter Kabimba says trust and same values bind his relationship with President Michael Sata.
Mr Kabimba stated that he had been President Sata’s disciple for the past 30 years and he served him honestly during the same period.
“I have been Michael Sata’s disciple for the past 30 years. We trust each other, as I served him honestly and he probably shaped the good part of my character,” he said.
Mr Kabimba who is also Justice Minister said this today when he addressed PF members at Courtyard hotel in Livingstone.
His sentiments comes in the wake of some party members accusing him of being arrogant, disloyal to the party and President Sata by harbouring presidential ambitions ahead of the 2016 general elections.
But, Mr Kabimba accused those allegedly trying to hound him out of the party of being men and women with evil intentions.
“I am innocent and those trying to hound me out of the party will never succeed because they are on the wrong side of the argument with God and am on the right side,” he said.
He pledged to continue standing for the truth even if it meant losing his life.
“The truth does exist and it is objective. At no time in history have lies defeated the truth because the truth belongs to God and I have always stood for the truth…I will never change on that even if it means losing my life,” he said.
Mr. Kabimba said it was sad for him to be labelled as ‘enemy number one’ of the party when he worked so hard in building it.
He charged that his focus in the party was not on leadership positions but service delivery to the people of Zambia.
“I have seen death, poverty and despondency in various parts of the country, so my focus is on how to address these challenges and not party positions,” he said.
Mr Kabimba reiterated that there was nothing special about him as any member of the party could serve in his position as Secretary General.
Earlier, PF Southern province Chairman Daniel Munkombwe called for peace and unity in the party.
Mr Munkombwe who is also Southern province minister said all party members were useful but cautioned them to guard against being used to de-campaign other party members.
“All PF members are useful but desist from being used to de-campaign other party members as we are all here to serve the party and not individuals within the party,” he said.
The meeting was also attended by Livingstone area Member of Parliament Lawrence Evans, Provincial Political Secretary Leonard Siachonga and other party officials.
Sports Minister Chishimba Kambwili has congratulated Joe Malanji on his recent election as African Golf Confederation president.
Malanji was elected AGC president on Wednesday after beating the incumbent Alfred Dunn during a meeting held Swaziland.
He was the confederation vice-president prior to this week’s AGC election.
“On behalf of the President Michael Sata and the PF Government let me congratulate Ambassador Malanji on his election as Africa Golf Confederation President,” Kambwili said.
“This is not a mean achievement and I encourage him to work more hard and put Zambia on the World map,” he said.
Kambwili added:”We are extremely excited with the news, it clearly shows that Zambian sports administrators are being recognised World-wide. I intend to invite him to my office next week so that we can officially congratulate him.”
Malanji once served as Zambia Golf Union president.
Struggling FAZ Super League side Kabwe Warriors have fired acting head coach Happy Sichikolo.
Warriors have since replaced Sichikolo with Chipolopolo defender Kampamba Chintu who has been made player-coach.
Chintu, who has a coaching lincense, is being assisted by Tom Kampamba and Peter Mwila.
Sichikolo and his assistant Vias Mwendalubi have been demoted to the role of youth coaches.
“Chintu has been elevated to player-coach and will be assisted by goalkeeper coach Tom Kampamba and Peter Mwila who is the youth coach,” club chairman Andrew Kamanga said.
And Warriors are courting clubless Chipolopolo winger Fwayo Tembo after acquiring midfielder Justin Zulu.
Fwayo has remained unattached after leaving Romenian club Astra Giurgiu last month.
“I can confirm that Justin Zulu is with us and Fwayo is the next player we want to have in the last four games,” Kamanga said.
Warriors are tenth on the table with 32 points in 26 matches.
FORMER Minister of Energy in the MMD administration, Kenneth Konga, yesterday told the Lusaka Magistrate’s Court that insistent interrogations by the police resulted in him suffering a stroke.
Mr Konga said he suffered a stroke because of continued questioning by the police at the Government Joint Investigations Team offices in Lusaka’s Woodlands.
He was testifying in a case in which Banda, 75, of house number 3 plot 2759 off Leopards Hill Road in Lusaka, is charged with one count of abuse of authority of office.
The offence is contrary to Section 99 (1) of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
“The stress I was subjected to during the insistent searches and interrogations by the police and other State agencies led me to have a stroke. In fact, I had a stroke while I was being interrogated,” Mr Konga said.
He said during cross-examination by one of the defence lawyers, Sakwiba Sikota, that he did not do anything wrong with the oil transactions.
Mr Konga said even late President Levy Mwanawasa explored ways of sourcing for cheaper oil for Zambia.
In re-examination by Director of Public Prosecutions Mutembo Nchito, Mr Konga said he had a stroke when investigators were questioning him over a different matter and not the case involving Banda.
Particulars of the offence are that on dates unknown but between May 1, 2008 and September 24, 2011 in Lusaka, Banda, being a person employed in the public service as President, did abuse the authority of his office.
Banda allegedly procured a US$2.5 million Nigerian government-to-government oil contract in the name of the Republic of Zambia “which he in fact meant to benefit himself and his family.”
He is accused of instructing his son, Henry, to determine the destination of the proceeds of this contract, an instruction from which Zambia did not receive any benefit.
Banda’s alleged act is “arbitrary and prejudicial to the interests of Zambia.”
Secretary General of the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) Wynter Kabimba
MINISTER of Justice Wynter Kabimba told Parliament yesterday that holding a national referendum will depend on the format of the final draft constitution.
Mr Kabimba, in response to some members of Parliament who wanted to know how much has been allocated for the referendum, said there is no money set aside for such a ballot.
He said there is also a possibility that the referendum may not be necessary.
“Should the process require a national referendum, Government will, through the co-operating partners, source for funds for the process,” Mr Kabimba said.
The minister said to date, K103 million has been spent on the constitution-making process and it is estimated that another K115 million will be spent until the completion of the process.
Mr Kabimba said the current constitution-making process is cheaper than previous ones that the MMD Government carried out.
“The previous constitution-making process ended up producing nothing for this country. I have not seen any NCC [National Constitution Conference] document that has been used because it failed,” Mr Kabimba.
The minister was responding to Mwinilunga member of Parliament Stephen Katuka (UPND), who wanted to know how much money has been spent on the constitution-making process to date.
Mr Katuka also wanted to know the estimated cost of the whole constitution-making process.
Minister of Commerce,Trade and Industry Emmanuel Chenda
COMMERCE, Trade and Industry Minister Emmanuel Chenda has urged Zambians in the diaspora to share professional knowledge that can help the country develop.
Speaking at the 49 th Independence Day celebrations at the residence of Zambia’s ambassador to Ethiopia Susan Sikaneta, Mr Chenda urged Zambians to work hard and share professional knowledge that could help the country develop.
According to a statement by First Secretary for Press and Tourism at the Zambian Embassy in Ethiopia Dorcas Chileshe, the Minister said Ethiopia was one of the African countries benefiting greatly from foreign investors.
Mr Chenda, who is currently in Ethiopia to attend a meeting of African Ministers of Trade, graced the independence celebrations where he said Zambians could learn from Ethiopia on how to engage more investment to boost its economic development.
And Mines Deputy Minister Charles Zulu appealed to Zambians in the diaspora to educate their children on the meaning of independence so that they could appreciate the country’s history.
Mr Zulu said that Zambian children needed to know that the peace which the country was enjoying was fought for and should not be taken for granted.
He also advised Zambians in the diaspora to invest in rural parts of Zambia and not only in Lusaka.
And Ms Sikaneta commended Zambians in Ethiopia for the unity and spirit of team work.
She said it was gratifying to see Zambians in Ethiopia teaming up to contribute resources towards Independence Day celebrations.
“The spirit of one Zambia one nation is real and everyone is contributing to lifting the Zambian Flag higher,” she said.
She said Zambians in Ethiopia were a good example of a community ready to support Government’s programmes.
DIRECTOR of public prosecutions (DPP) Mutembo Nchito has urged the Lusaka magistrate court to convict former republican President Rupiah Banda’s son, Andrew saying his conduct of soliciting more than K 171, 000 from an Italian road construction company is classical corruption.
Mr Nchito said Andrew should be convicted because it was clear that he solicited and directed the payment of the bribe to be paid to his company AB logistics using his influence as the son of the president and government official.
This is in a matter in which Andrew, 52, now a farmer of Chasimpa farm in Chipata is charged with one count of soliciting 2 per cent gratification amounting to K171, 000 on all payments made by RDA on current and future road construction projects contrary to the law.
He is alleged to have solicited the same from Locci SRI Limited, a road construction company through its director Antonello Locci.
But Mr Nchito in his final submission on Wednesday to chief resident magistrate Joshua Banda who is handling the matter urged the court to convict Andrew because the State had established all the ingredients of the offence for Andrew to be convicted.
Mr Nchito submitted that there was enough corroborating evidence among State witnesses out of which most of it went unchallenged by Andrew during his defence.
He said that unlike the State’s evidence in which it called nine witnesses, there was a contradiction inherent in the testimony of Andrew and inconsistency in his defence.
Mr Nchito further said that Andrew was the author of the two percent agreement he was soliciting from Mr Locci evident in the signature he appended on the agreement which he did not even refute in his defence.
He said that there was consistency on the part of Mr Locci when he told the court that he had signed the agreement due to pressure and threats by Andrew who threatened that the contracts would be terminated if did not agree on the conditions.
“Our position is that there is sufficient corroboration on record for the court to rely on. The first corroborative evidence provided by the Prosecution is P1 which is documentary evidence” Mr Nchito stated.
Mr Nchito further said that the claim by Andrew that his company AB logistic limited had done some work for Fratelli Locci was a mere facade or front to perpetuate an illegality by him.
“We submit that it was the accused that solicited and directed the payment of the bribe to be paid through the account of AB logistics limited. It was not AB logistics limited that solicited for a bribe but the accused person” Mr Nchito.
Mr Nchito said Andrew had failed to defend himself going by his failure to challenge evidence adduced against him by the State, as such, there was a proper case to have him convicted.
Magistrate Banda has since set January 31, 2014 as the date for judgement.
Standard & Poor’s has cut its credit rating outlook for Zambia to negative from stable.
The agency has however left the sovereign credit rating at B-plus saying there was a more than one-in-three chance it could downgrade if the country’s financial situation deteriorated.
It said the change in the outlook signifies a one-in-three chance that Zambia could see its credit rating downgraded within a year.
The agency pointed toward rising civil servant salaries starting in 2013 and an expectation the government plans to increase social welfare spending and capital expenditures for the anticipated fiscal deterioration.
Standard & Poor’s analyst Marie-France Raynaud said in a statement Friday that the firm believes that the PF government is adopting this expansionary fiscal stance just as it faces decreasing support, given the economy’s failure to generate sufficient job opportunities.
Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda announced a 33 percent increase in spending for 2014, saying the budget deficit will grow to 8.5 percent this year, nearly double what had been planned.
Standard & Poor’s said Government debt will reach about 35% of gross domestic product by 2016 compared to 19 percent last year, even if Zambia meets its revenue targets.
The ratings agency said the budget deficit will be 7.6 percent next year, higher than the 6.6 percent Mr Chikwanda is planning for.
Zambia is rated B1 with a stable outlook by Moody’s Investors Service and B-plus with a negative outlook by Fitch Ratings
Finance and National Planning Minister Alexander Chikwanda and his wife, Margret, displays the copper briefcase containing the budget
The Civil Society Scaling up Nutrition (CSO-SUN) has observed that there is no change in provision to direct nutrition interventions in the 2014 national budget.
CSO-SUN National Cordinator William Chilufya observed that direct nutrition interventionsin the 2014 national budget still stands at 0.03% as a share of the national budget.
Mr Chilufya said his organisation has calculated that the Zambian government is spending an average of K 3 per child under two years old on nutrition interventions.
He said this compares unfavorably with the estimated K190 per child as prescribed by the World Bank.
Mr Chilufya was speaking at Parlaiment when he made a presentation to the Parlaimentary Expanded Estimates Commitee on nutrition in the 2014 national budget.
He said the state of Malnutrition is in crisis in Zambia today adding that poor nutrition affects overall growth in childhood and limits the development of full intellectual and physical potential of children.
„In effect, it devalues the country‘s human capital. We commend the Goverment for beginning to meet, in part, some of the commitments made during the Nutrition for Growth in London.In as much as we note budget line increase, allocations on direct nutrition intervention remain very low. Government has not increased allocation on direct Nutrition interventions by 20% as committed. Instead, in light of the overal increase in the size of the National Budget,“ Mr Chilufya said.
Mr Chilufya also noted that the focus on livestock seems to be limited to cattle restocking and fighting cattle diseases.
“We would recommend that government begin to support small livestock farming, such us Goats, pigs, sheep etc. These play an important role when seeking to improve the nutrition status of the people.”
He however said his organisation is happy with government’s focus on fisheries.
“But again we reiterate that the focus should not only be about the economic gains through exports but also strongly focus on improving the diet of the people.”
Mr Chilufya added, “We congratulate the government for prioritization social protection, as a very important indirect intervention of fighting malnutrition. However, a major concern is that a huge portion of the funds is going to pensions (K754.2 Million out of K1.18 Billion) the money that Government owes to former employees. Very little is remaining for fighting poverty among vulnerable households.”
He further observed that deferring new recruitment is a blow to Zambia’s ambitions of resolving the human resource for nutrition, where Zambia is in a crisis stage.
“Moreover, Government committed itself to resolving the human resource gaps in the five key line ministries during the nutrition for growth summit in London. We asko MPs to contribute to nutrition development through to holding Government to account on the 1000 days program and commitments made thereof (the NFNC Strategic Plan), he said.
He said MPs should be raising Nutrition issues in Parliament and ensuring that the Minister of Finance presents Social-Economic indicators in the next Budget.
Zambia’s President Michael Sata appears to have shifted the goal posts on President Robert Mugabe by demanding cash upfront for maize imports, despite his earlier promises to deliver the grain on credit.
Areas in the south of the country are struggling with the food crisis, and the state-controlled media reported this week that children in Lupane are failing to attend school because of their hunger.
In a speech in May, Mugabe said that Sata had told him that 150 000 tonnes of maize valued at nearly $25-million would be delivered to Zimbabwe with no questions on payment asked as that issue was not a priority in the face of starvation.
But in Parliament, Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Joseph Made said Zambia was now demanding cash up front, and so far Zimbabwe had only managed to import 14 000 tonnes of maize.
“Let me start by saying that the government is committed to importing 150 000 tonnes from Zambia. Of this, so far we have brought into the country 14 000 tonnes,” Made said.
Launching the Food and Nutrition Security Policy in Harare in May this year, Mugabe described the current food shortages as the worst in living memory, saying: “Farmers are all in tears in those areas because there is no food for the farmers themselves and no cash crop to rely on.”
A “great man”
He said Sata was a “great man” for agreeing to export the maize to Zimbabwe without insisting on immediate payment.
“When I was talking to him about what we had in mind about paying, he said ‘no, no, no’. He is a humorous man, as you know. He said ‘let’s have the food in the stomachs of our people first, and when we have the food in the stomachs, then we will talk about the price’, and I said ‘that is a great man, he shares our affliction’,” said Mugabe.
Mugabe’s spokesperson George Charamba was not immediately available for comment.
A commentator this week said that, though Sata may have made a huge political statement, his economic advisors behind the scenes might have warned him against political grandstanding at the expense of exercising financial prudence.
Economist John Robertson said Zambia might have changed its reasoning based on Zimbabwe’s track record in recent years of failing to honour its debts.
“It’s one of the consequences of failing to pay, so we are considered as a high risk. They don’t believe that we would keep our promise to pay – that’s why they need cash upfront. We have to restore our credibility as a country by becoming much more dependable payers,” said Robertson.
Sanctions, food security Zimbabwe has a $10-billion external debt that it is battling to settle.
Sata’s spokesperson George Chella said he was going to verify the details surrounding the issue, but several calls to him later went unanswered.
In Parliament, Made told lawmakers that Zimbabwe’s maize shortages were caused by sanctions imposed by Western countries. He said one of the effects of the sanctions was that farmers were failing to get or pay for farming inputs.
But Zanu-PF’s outspoken Hurungwe MP Themba Mliswa also told Parliament that ministers should stop blaming everything that is going wrong on sanctions.
Mliswa added that the country’s food security is in a precarious state. He accused the government of offering local farmers lower prices for their produce, but then paid more for imports.
“The government is paying $430 [a tonne] to import maize and that $430 is paid instantly. Our own farmers are being paid $380 and it is taking two years for them to get that money. It is a situation that the minister needs to address,” said Mliswa.
Some of the problems encountered by farmers emanated from the situation at grain parastatal the Grain Marketing Board (GMB), he said.
“They [farmers] are not prepared to grow food and sell to the GMB. For as long as GMB is not capacitated to pay the farmers, the aspect of food security will remain a problem. I say so because the government owes the GMB $44-million and that money is needed by the GMB to pay the farmers.”
The government had to come up with a “command” agricultural structure that would direct beneficiaries of its land resettlement programme to grow maize, he said.
Zesco United seek solace in the 2013 Barclays Cup when they face Nchanga Rangers on Saturday in a semifinal doubleheader at Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe.
The three-time champions head into the semifinals looking to shrug-off some unconvincing performances in the FAZ Super Division.
Despite sitting second on the FAZ Super Division table, Zesco have struggled to keep pace with leaders Nkana and are seven points adrift of the latter with four games left before the 2013 league title is decided.
“It is important that we do well and reach the final because this is Zambia’s only cup competition,” Zesco coach Tenant Chembo said.
Zesco will have to dig deep against Nchanga who embarrassed them 2-1 in the league at home in Ndola in July.
Meanwhile, Nchanga coach Fighton Simukonda said they are very motivated to pick up another win over Zesco and reach their first-ever Barclays Cup final.
And Nchanga are in good hands with Simukonda who is very familiar with good fortunes in the competition after winning the trophy with Zesco in 2010.
“I have won it as coach before and the players want to win it here as well and I can see that desire to win among the players,” Simukonda said.
Winner will face victor of the second Barclays Cup kickoff at the same venue involving Red Arrows and Green Buffaloes.
FIRST Republican president Kenneth Kaunda and President Michael Sata joins Zambians-based USA musician Todd Seely in singing along to an Independence song during yesterday’s celebrations held at Kitwe Playing Field
Government has denied ‘parading’ former president Kenneth Kaunda in public forums and at international gatherings in order to gain popularity.
Vice President Guy Scott said Dr. Kaunda was an national asset which the Patriotic Front (PF) treasure.
Dr. Scott disclosed in parliament today that Dr. Kaunda was a founding father of the nation who has opted to help government.
He said Dr. Kaunda’s recent trip to Kenya during that country’s independence helped the Zambian government score a mark.
He explained that Dr. Kaunda escorted President Michael Sata and attended the independence celebrations held in the Copperbelt province yesterday in national interest adding that the PF had no hand at all.
“D. Kaunda is our founding father who has chosen to make himself available to work for the benefit of the nation and not the PF. For example, l went with him to Kenya during independence celebrations and everybody was happy to see KK,” Dr. Scott said.
And the Vice President has thanked the opposition political party leaders who attended the independence celebrations in Kitwe yesterday.
MMD leader Nevers Mumba and his counterpart of the National Revolution Party Cosmo Mumba attended the uhuru celebrations whilst UPND’s Hakainde Hichilema and others boycotted.
D. Scott said the PF government appreciates the maturity exhibited by the opposition leaders because shunning the event was retrogressive and an insult to the freedom fighters in particular and the Zambian people at large.
And Dr. Scott, who is also PF Lusaka Central Member of Parliament (MP), has said the ruling party and the opposition UPND should resolve their differences in an amicable manner.
He condemned the violence that was perpetrated by the cadres in both parties especially during political campaigns.
The Vice President has since advised the cadres from both sides to desist from engaging themselves in barbaric acts.
He was responding to UPND Kalomo MP Request Mutanga, who alleged that suspected PF cadres were terrorising the UPND camp in Mansa ahead of parliamentary campaigns and when government would stop the violence.
This was during the 30 minute Vice President’s question time.
On agriculture, Dr. Scott told the nation that two-thirds of the maize sold to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has been stored safely and would not go to waste.
He said government learnt lessons last year during the 2011-2012 farming season hence it has this year put in place prudent measures to keep in safe storage facilities.
Dr. Scott further disclosed that government obtained a U$S20 million loan from Saudi Arabia to procure 50,000 metric tonnes of urea from that country because it is cheaper.
Government bought the commodity from Nyiombo investments last year.
