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FORMER republican President Rupiah Banda is this Friday expected to travel to South Africa following a court order to allow him travel out of the country for medical check ups.
Lusaka High Court judge Anesi Banda-Bobo yesterday ordered and directed that Banda‘s passport be released to enable him travel.
Banda who has been on a travel ban had his diplomatic passport cancelled by the government in June this year has since been issued with a new diplomatic one.
This was after President Michael Sata allowed Banda to travel following his request to the Head of State.
In a consent order for variation of bond Ms Justice Banda-Bobo ordered that Banda who was facing corruption related charges, have his passport released to enable him travel.
She ordered that Banda leaves the country on October 4, 2013 and be back by October 20, 2013 after which he would be required to hand over his passport to the State.
Her order follows consent of both the State and Banda’s lawyers.
According to court documents, Home Affairs minister Edgar Lungu had in his letter dated September 24, 2013 written to George Kunda and Company enclosing a duly issued passport numbered D0011359 in the name of Banda for his use as per approval of Mr Sata.
University Teaching Hospital (UTH) Managing Director Luckson Kasonka also wrote to that according to records, Banda had been undergoing treatment in South Africa from 2007 and have had regular reviews since then.
Mr Banda’s physician Shailen Desai of Victoria Hospital stated in his letter that Banda has not had yearly full medical examinations for two years now and as such, he needed to undergo check ups.
VICE President Guy Scott has said the 2014 National Budget will shift its focus towards income distribution for the benefit of the poor.
Speaking during the launch of the Zambia Economic Briefs, in Lusaka yesterday Dr Scott said there should be a distinction between income distribution and job creation.
He said income distribution such as cash transfers and community based activities among others, were important as opposed to merely finding jobs for the people.
“There is need to distinguish between income distribution and job creation and that is why the 2014 budget will shift its focus on job creation to income distribution activities,” Dr scott said.
The Vice President also said that there was need to find ways and means of handling the natural resources which Zambia is endowed with for the benefit of citizens and the youth in particular.
He said there was considerable arable land and water resources in most parts of Zambia such as Luapula province, which could be harnessed to increase earnings of the rural people and reduce poverty.
He said stakeholders should work together and find practical and feasible solutions to the issue of jobs which was one of Zambia’s challenges.
And World Bank Country Director Kundhavi Kadiresan has advised Zambia to use foreign debts prudently.
Ms Kadiresan said Zambia continued to experience decent economic growth, but that there were emerging challenges and risks ahead.
She said one of the emerging challenges in economic management were the country’s capacity to use costly foreign debt in an efficient manner and keeping personnel costs low so that essential expenditure on health and education services for the poor were not crowded out.
“The copper prices, which are currently under pressure, could cause instability to Zambia’s mining industry.
“I must say from the very onset that this report is not intended to provide solutions to Zambia’s job challenge. The days of the World Bank coming with prescribed solutions are long gone,” she said.
She said the brief merely provided a mirror to realities on the ground that should enable all stakeholders to look at the challenge from a fresh perspective.
Ms Kadiresan said ways of increasing productivity in agriculture should be found so that poor farmers were able to get returns from their labour.
This, she said was so because urban youth unemployment was a serious issue as urban jobs were growing at a very slow pace.
While creating formal private sector jobs was a priority, another equally huge development priority was to improve people’s living standards and earnings for working Zambians.
“Equally, we should improve the quality and access to basic education which forms the foundation on which future skill building rests,” Ms Kadiresan said.
GOVERNMENT has bemoaned the low productivity levels from the civil service despite making efforts to pay civil servants decent wages.
Labour and Social Security Minister Fackson Shemenda said the productivity levels from civil servants and most parastatal companies in Zambia were generally very low compared to other countries in the region.
Mr Shamenda was speaking in Livingstone yesterday when he addressed heads of Government departments at the former provincial office.
The Minister was however saddened at the absence of some heads of Departments during the meeting and ordered Livingstone District Commissioner Omar Munsanje to take note of those who were not present so that they could be disciplined.
“Why is that I am only seeing few heads of departments? This is an important meeting where we are supposed to be discussing issues of policy direction and I expected them to be here.
This is indiscipline and I want you Mr Munsanje to take note of those that have been attended this meeting,” Mr Shamenda said.
He said it was for such tendencies that President Michael Sata was complaining that Government programmes and policies were not being explained to the people because civil servants were in a habit of not doing the right thing at the right time.
And Mr Shamenda has said that Government was committed to seeing that workers across the country got decent wages that could make their lives and families much easier.
“We as Government are committed to seeing that our workers across the country get decent wages but we also need to see to it that our productivity levels go up, we need to have a situation of equal pay for equal work,” Mr Shamenda said.
He said Government was going to develop a productivity centre which would help to monitor the productivity levels especially in the civil service.
Mr Shamenda also said the Government would not allow foreign or local investors who would want to pay meager salaries that exposed people to suffering at the expense of decent living.
THE Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) has condemned the behaviour by some prophets swindling people out of their money and cattle as a form of payment after ‘healing’ prayers are conducted.
Some fake prophets have invaded Mapanza area in Choma District in Southern Province where they are swindling locals, a move which has angered some senior residents in the area.
CCZ has since appealed to all Zambians to be wary of such false ‘men of God’ who should be exposed as proclaiming the Gospel of Christ was a calling from God and not an employment undertaking.
In an interview yesterday, CCZ General Secretary Suzzane Matale said the council was disappointed with such ‘evil’ behaviour by the unidentified prophets whose actions needed collective condemnation.
“We are now living in a very dangerous era where we are seeing a lot of false prophets and I want to strongly appeal to all Zambians to be wary of these people who are not even men of God,” she said
Reverend Matale said the purported prophets were just a group of conmen whose objectives were to exploit people in the name of proclaiming the word of God.
Such people, she said should not be entertained because they were prophets of doom stealing from the poor Zambians.
“I think we should not allow ourselves to be conned by these conmen and not real prophets. How do you ask for money or any reward for delivering the word of God? This is unacceptable,” rev Matale said
She said the church would not support such immoral vices adding that people engaged in such acts were tarnishing the good image of established church organisations in the country and globally.
Some senior residents of Mapanza on Sunday stormed the Times of Zambia offices in Choma to register their complaints over increased cases of fake prophets swindling the locals.
Jonathan Muchindu of Chief Mapanza’s area said that the prophets had continued to visit the area and charge the locals after conducting purported healing prayers.
On the Copperbelt Province last week, irate members of the public in Kitwe battered a man for publicly claiming to be Jesus Christ.
The man was beaten after he was spotted going round town preaching God’s message claiming to be Christ and that all divine powers of Jesus Christ had incarnated in him.
TOURISM and Arts Minister Sylvia Masebo has taken a swipe at Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) officers in Livingstone for locking the main gate to Mosi-oa-tunya National Park and several other tourism entities during their protests on Monday.
ZAWA officers on Monday protested over poor conditions of service and locked the main gate at Chrismar Hotel in Livingstone.
The locking of the gate blocked several motorists and tourists who were going to David Livingstone Safari Lodge, Zambezi Water Front, African Queen, Taonga Safari, Zambezi Boat Club and Mosi-oa-tunya National Park among other places beyond the gate.
After some time, police officers led by Southern Province assistant Commissioner of Police Kashif Mphande rushed to the scene and opened the ZAWA gate.
Speaking in an interview upon her arrival at Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport on Monday afternoon, Ms Masebo said it was disappointing, unnecessary and unacceptable for ZAWA officers to lock up the main gate at Chrismar Hotel in Livingstone.
She said although any person had a right to protest, closing the ZAWA gate in a tourist city was unfortunate because the country would lose revenue from such an action.
“You don’t help Government because it is the same tourists that bring money and if you are going to interrupt the same tourists who bring in revenue for the treasury, how do you have your salaries increased? I was very disappointed and I am happy that the police acted quickly,” she said.
She said ZAWA should appreciate that in the last six months from January to date; all the funds used came from the treasury and not from their operations.
Ms Masebo said the Ministry of Finance had in the past six months released almost K70 million and the money went beyond the budget of about K30 million.
“So you can see the money which Government has given to ZAWA to keep them is more than double than what was approved in the budget. It is unacceptable for ZAWA to block the road. You can protest and go home and not to block the road because you inconvenience people who have nothing to do with Government business and ZAWA problems,” she said.
She said ZAWA was not part of the civil service but it was a statutory body with its own conditions of service and hence workers should not expect the salary hike given to civil servants.
“I do appreciate that the lower workers of ZAWA their conditions of service are not good. I was disappointed to hear that ZAWA protested yesterday and locked up the ZAWA gate at Chrismar Hotel,” she said.
And speaking when she addressed ZAWA officers at Livingstone City Council Chambers yesterday, Ms Masebo reiterated her earlier sentiments that it was not correct for officers to lock the ZAWA gate leading to the Park and several other business entities.
Emmanuel Mtonga, who spoke on behalf of ZAWA officers in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, told Ms Masebo that poor conditions of service prompted the protest.
A SUSPECTED wizard has been shot dead by unknown people in Muchinga Province’s Nakonde District.
Muchinga police chief Lemmy Kajoba identified the deceased as Simon Sichilongo of Chief Nawatwika’s area.
Mr Sichilongo, in his 60s, who died of gunshot wounds on his waist, was accused of being a wizard.
Mr Kajoba said relatives of the deceased said Mr Sichilongo was not liked by other family members who had been accused at several family meetings of practising witchcraft.
His body was taken to Nakonde District hospital mortuary.
Meanwhile, police in Chilubi said a man accused of attempting to axe his wife to death has been admitted to hospital after being lynched by an instant justice mob.
The mob was spurred by rumour accusing James Mpundu of having promised a named business a human heart in exchange for money.
Mpundu is alleged to have attempted to kill his wife with the axe with the intent of supplying her heart to the named business person.
Police however, declined to comment on the issue of the human heart saying they had received no such information.
AN illegal miner was yesterday crushed to death after a rock fell on him at Mopani Copper Mines Salvage yard.
Moffat Mbilikita aged 35 died after a rock fell on him during an illegal mining while in the company of his fellow illegal miners.
Copperbelt police commissioner Joyce Kasosa confirmed the incident and said Mr Mbilikita died on the spot after sustaining a crushed head and broken right arm.
His body is lying in the Kitwe Central hospital mortuary.
In another incident, a pedestrian in Chililabombwe has died after being hit by a South Africa vehicle on Kasumbalesa road.
Harrison Mwansa 31 died after being hit by an Iveco van registration number CM 27 PGP which was being drive by Chali Mbole, a South African national who did not sustain any injury.
Mr Mwansa was hit on Monday night as he was crossing the road sustained cuts on the head, broken ribs and legs and died on the spot.
And a pirate taxi driver is battling for life at Kitwe Central Hospital (KCH) after he was stabbed and wounded by two criminals who booked him.
Ms Kasosa confirmed the incident and said the assailants after attacking the taxi driver run away with the Toyota Spacio.
She said the taxi driver was attacked on Monday around 23:00 hours along the Kitwe-Chingola Road as he was driving to Kitwe, the destination the two criminals said where going.
“They booked the taxi driver from Chingola to Kitwe but when they reached the area near Sabina-Kalulushi junction, the two criminals attacked the driver and stabbed him before speeding away with his vehicle,” she said.
The Zambia Union of Nurses Organisation -ZUNO-says it feels cheated over the 21 percent salary hike for civil servants.
ZUNO says its members’ are concerned because the total increment does not amount to 21%, but less.
Organisation President Thom Yung’ana explained that the true status after critical analysis of a number of nurses and midwives September 2013 pay slips, has established that, almost all nurses and midwives have been awarded a collective total salary increment of 21%.
The increment is broken down into 4% increment on basic salary, 2% increment added to the existing 5% basic salary as commuted night duty allowance and 15 % of one’s basic salary as the newly introduced health personnel shift differential allowance.
Mr. Yung’ana said in monetary terms, no lowest paid nurse or midwife, who is correctly placed on the salary structure and with the correct revised monthly basic salary, has received less than K600 as salary increment, before individual’s statutory tax deductions and NAPSA contribution.
He however, noted that ZUNO has noticed some disparities, amounting to underpayments affecting a very small number of its members.
The ZUNO President said the few effected nurses and midwives’ monthly basic salary seems to have been increased by 1.1% only, instead of the agreed 4%.
Mr. Yung’ana said he has since formally written to government, informing them of the alleged disparities, as well as to seek their urgent intervention and clarification.
However, Government has assured nurses and midwives that the salary disparities recorded in the new conditions of service effected in September this year will be rectified.
Health minister Joseph Kasonde said the disparities were merely a problem associated with the new salary management and migration from a fragmented salary structure to a single spine structure that Government was implementing.
The minister said this in Parliament yesterday when United Party for National Development (UPND) Lukulu West Member of Parliament (MP) Misheck Mutelo asked whether the Government was aware that nurses countrywide were threatening to go on strike.
Mr Mutelo also questioned the minister of Health what the cause of the strike agitation was and what measures the Government had taken to avert the planned strike.
Dr Kasonde said the ministry was aware of the planned strike action by nurses countrywide but that the issue had already been brought to the attention of Government and corrective measures were being undertaken.
He said the matter was purely a payroll issue and had nothing to do with the collective agreement.
The Road Traffic and Safety Agency has refused to meet deputy Inspector General of Police Solomon Jere who has accused the agency of making the Patriotic Front unpopular by maintaining roadblocks, for among other things stopping drunken driving.
The agency feels that they have a duty to save lives and not promote political interests at the expense of road safety.
The stand off started last week on Saturday after the agency was stopped from mounting checkpoints to monitor drunk and driving offenders.
Dr Jere, who stormed a checkpoint which was mounted on the Great East road around Lusaka’s Chainama area on Saturday night after a lady indentified as Monica called him “for help”, threatened RTSA officers of arrest and accused agency of making the ruling party unpopular.
He told the traffic officers that they did not have any power and authority to mount a checkpoint without the presence of police, adding that grabbing of car keys and impounding motor vehicles would cause problems for the police, RTSA and the government.
“Stop this mess we are having here, these officers are grabbing ma drivers licence ya bantu, they are grabbing ma keys ya bantu without any police presence; on their own they have mounted ma road blocks.”
And RTSA chief executive officer Zindaba Soko’s attempt to save her officers was met with force and resistance from Dr Jere who insisted that the agency was operating illegally by checking drunk driving drivers.
Soko wanted explained that drunk driving was a serious offence punishable according to the laws of the land but Dr Jere was in no compromising mood. He started mobilizing police officers from Chelstone and Ben Mwiinga Police Station for reinforcement while vehicle owners took advantage of the development and demanded to have their vehicles back.
He said that “Some of these people whose vehicles have been impounded are not drunk, the officers are using emotion and not reason. Mr Soko, can you clear this mess or I order police to arrest these officers,” said Dr Jere.
However, Soko insisted that no one would be arrested because his officers were just carrying out constitutional duties which were in the best interest of the nation, government and the police itself.
“Which rule are you using?” asked Dr Jere before officers from RTSA responded by saying “The road traffic Act, it says any road traffic officer in uniform employed by RTSA or any police officer can impound or arrest a vehicle which is alleged to have committed a criminal offence,” the officer read the act.
Jere told the officers that he was the first vice-chairman of the RTSA board and that there was nothing that the junior officers would tell him as armed police officers were waiting for orders.
Officers explained to Dr Jere that they were not pleased with him because he had incited drivers to rebel against the law, “when you are saying in the presence of the offenders that we don’t have powers to do that it dents the image of RTSA. I don’t want the name of the IG, I don’t want the name of the police and that of government to be brought into ridicule, at this road block what books are you using, pakucharging’a bantu aba mwatengela makey namamotoka?”
But when Dr Jere was reminded that the people who had their vehicles impounded were contributing to the increase in road traffic accidents, Dr Jere lambasted the officers for allowing RTSA officers mounting check points at night inspecting people who are drunk and driving.
And Soko attempted to explain the operation which started in January this year failed as Dr Jere kept on threatening officers with arrests saying:
“Are you doing it on your own. Which books are using to charge these people? Don’t laugh Soko, you see we have a lot of confusion on the road, you see, and by this act of an activity it is making government unpopular, it is making the law enforcers difficult to operate. We need to be organised. Number one these officers have grabbed ma keys ya bantu, these are not impoundable offences they have committed but others are impoundable offences.”
He said that there was no mess which he needed to clear, saying that he was concerned about the attitude and action of Dr Jere.
“We have a problem here, then let us come and discuss the matter at the office, lets normalise the operations-come to our office and discuss. You must be concerned because lets us apply the law effectively. Mr Soko; we formed RTSA and I was the first one to be on the board of RTSA, and I understand the law. Don’t talk-I am talking to you, I am talking to you. Do you understand the purpose of RTSA ,” Dr Jere said.
He told RTSA officers that they did not have powers to mount any road block and impound vehicles as there was no law that supported the action by RTSA.
Dr Jere then “ordered” Road Traffic and Safety Agency (RTSA) chief executive officer Zindaba Soko to stop road blocks without police officers and asked to meet him at his office yesterday but Soko did not go there.
The police have embarked on redeeming the Patriotic Front’s dwindling popularity in Lusaka by, among others, urging the RTSA to stop enforcing traffic rules at night.
Solomon Jere, has accused the Road Traffic and Safety Agency (RTSA) of making the Patriotic Front unpopular by mounting nighttime road patrols and checkpoints.
Mopani Copper Mines says it is on course to commission its $323 million deep mine copper project by the second quarter of 2015.
Mopani, owned by Glencore Xstrata PLC said the commencement of production is part of the mine’s expansion drive in Zambia to boost production.
It said in a statement that the deep shaft has reached a depth of 1,000 meters and there is only another 277 meters to go to reach the final depth.
The shaft will enable the mining firm to access to some 115 million metric tons of mineral ores.
Mopani said its Synclinorium Shaft is designed to extend the lifespan of its Nkana copper mine in Kitwe by 25 to 30 years and safeguard up to 3,000 jobs.
In addition to the Synclinorium Shaft, Glencore is upgrading its cobalt plant in Zambia to enable it to more than double its current production capacity to 7,000 tons from 2,800 tons by 2015.
Mopani Chief Executive Officer Danny Callow said he is encouraged that the project is on target both in terms of time and budget.
Mr Callow said he has no doubt that the team will ensure that the remaining part is delivered both on time and within budget come the second quarter of 2015.
Patriotic Front’s reign is endangered because the electorate are already tired of it, Hakainde Hichilema has charged.
Speaking during a Livingstone United Party for National Development fundraising braii over the weekend, the party leader said that the PF was feeling the UPNDs heat in terms of political fortunes.
Hichilema said that the UPND had made Zambia an unsafe political zone for the PF and would continue reminding the party of its failed promises.
“There is no safe area for PF in Zambia anymore. The UPND has entered what they (PF) used to call their stronghold like Kafulafuta and we beat them hands down,” Hichilema said.
“I want to tell you the people of Livingstone that the outcome of the recent by-elections where we beat PF 4-1 as opposition is a clear sign that Zambians have rejected them. And I promise you that UPND will get its first seat in Eastern Province through Malambo,” he said.
Hichilema said that the whole country was responding well to the UPND including Northern and Luapula provinces where PF used to feel safe.
He said that UPND is growing by the day adding that he was optimistic that 2016 would be a bad year for the PF as a government and as a party.
“The whole country is responding to your party UPND, including Northern and Luapula where PF was safe as its stronghold,” he said.
Hichilema urged UPND members countrywide not to relent but instead continue selling the party and its agenda to the Zambians.
And Hichilema has noted that UPND as a party will no longer rely on contributions from members of parliament for it to run smoothly.
Hichilema said it was therefore imperative for the party to venture into fundraising activities that would raise resources for the party.
“I want to commend the district chairman for organising this braii. As a party, we should no longer rely on contributions from the MPs much as they went to Parliament on UPND tickets. We should also look at other avenues of raising funds for the party,” he said.
And speaking at the same event, UPND provincial chairman for Southern Province Billiard Makwembo encouraged other district to emulate Livingstone, Kalomo and Choma districts that have successful fundraising braiis.
Makwembo said that the decisions to hold fundraising braiis are meant to raise funds for the party’s operations.
He said that this will also help the party grow in all areas countrywide as it will also give an opportunity for members to interact.
Makwembo further charged that the UPND in Southern Province was angry and disappointed with PF cadres who attacked Hakainde Hichilema and his entourage when he went to Kasama recently.
He said that as a result of that, the UPND would not allow the PF to organise itself in Southern Province.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has set Thursday 22nd November, 2013 as the date for the Mansa Central parliamentary by-election and seven local government by-elections.
The ECZ has also set Tuesday October 22nd, 2013 as the date for filing nominations by aspiring candidates.
In a statement issued to Qfm, ECZ Spokesperson Cris Akufuna has also disclosed that aspiring candidates for the Mansa central parliamentary by-election are also scheduled to attend a nomination briefing on Saturday 19th October at the Civic center in Mansa.
The Mansa Parliamentary seat fell vacant following the death of area Member of Parliament Kennedy Sakeni last month.
And the Electoral Commission of Zambia has confirmed receipt of a complaint letter from the opposition Movement for Multiparty Democracy over premature campaigns by the ruling Patriotic Front ahead of the Mansa central by-election.
Mr Akufuna has told QFM News that the commission is looking into the matter.
Nkana have a chance to return to the top of the FAZ Super Division
when they host struggling Forest Rangers in a delayed Week 17 match at
Nkana Stadium in Kitwe on Wedneday.
Second placed Nkana are a point behind leaders Zesco United who sits
on 45 points after the weekend matches.
Forest are second from the bottom of the table.
Nkana beat the Ndola side 3-2 in the reverse fixture in March.
Meanwhile, Nkana’s city rivals Power Dynamos take on Nkwazi in another
delayed mid-week fixture at Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe.
And in Chingola, Nchanga Rangers hosts Red Arrows in rescheduled Week
17 match at Nchanga Stadium.
Nchanga and Arrows are seprated by two points.
The two teams are fighting for the third spot as they clash on Wednesday.
Two Zambian boxers have left for Kazakhstan ahead of this month’s AIBA
World Boxing Championships that takes place from 11-27 October in
Almaty.
Gilbert Choombe and Kaonga Mbachi on Monday flew to Kazakhstan in the
company of charismatic national boxing coach Kennedy Kanyanta.
The team boxing team will hold a ten-day training camp in Kazakhstan
before the competition starts.
The planned training camp before the championships begin has excited
coach Kanyanta who is expecting Choombe and Kaonga to compete for
medals in Asia.
Kanyanta said:”It’s a motivation that ZABF (Zambia Amateur Boxing
Federation) is working extra hard to improve boxing.”
“I am delighted to have Mbachi Kaonga and Choombe Gilbert as boxers to
represent us in the AIBA World Championship in Asia (Kazakhstan). My
expectation is to be competitors for medals and not participants.”
576 boxers from 116 countries are expected to compete for medals in Kazakhstan.
Chipolopolo coach Herve Renard has included Netherlands based striker Jacob Mulenga in his strong 26-member squad to face Brazil in the 15 October friendly match in the Chinese capital Beijing.
Mulenga of FC Utrecht returns to the squad team after missing the crucial 2014 World Cup qualifier against Ghana last month due to injury.
According to the squad released by FAZ on Tuesday, Renard has also recalled midfielder William Njobvu who is now based in Cyprus.
Njovu has never featured for Zambia since the 2013 Africa Cup in South Africa.
Other notables in the Chipolopolo squad are skipper Christopher Katongo, Collins Mbesuma, Kennedy Mweene, Emmanuel Mayuka and James Chamanga.
The friendly is scheduled to kick off at 14:30 hours Zambian time which is 20:30 hours Chinese time.
Forwards: Christopher Katongo(Henan Jianye, China), Jacob Mulenga (FC Utrecht, Holland), Emmanuel Mayuka (Sochaux, France), Roger Kola (KAA Gent, Belgium), James Chamanga (Liaoning Whowin, China), Collins Mbesuma (Orlando Pirates, South Africa)
