Join our community of SUBSCRIBERS and be part of the conversation.
To subscribe, simply enter your email address on our website or click the subscribe button below. Don't worry, we respect your privacy and won't spam your inbox. Your information is safe with us.
Forest Rangers and Lime Hotspurs have battled to a goalless draw in Sunday’s bottom of the table FAZ Super Division tie at Dola Hill in Ndola.
A draw in this delayed Week 16 match seems to be a fair result for both Forest and Lime but it has done little to revive the two teams’ diminishing chances of surviving relegation.
Lime are still stuck at the foot of the table on seven points while Forest, who are one place above them, are now on nine points after a round of 16 matches.
Forest defeated Lime 1-0 in the corresponding fixture on March 16.
Finance Minister Alexander Chikwnda is flanked by Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba (left) and Bank of Zambia Governor Michael Gondwe (right) at a media breakfast at Taj-Pamodzi hotel in Lusaka
Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda has for the first time admitted that the PF government has a deficit on its 2013 national budget.
Without specifying the actual value of the deficit, Mr. Chikwanda told a media briefing Sunday morning that the deficit was as a result of unbudgeted expenditure.
Several stakeholders have been arguing that Zambia was in a budget deficit situation with some claiming that the budget role runs in the region of K5 billion.
“Yes there is a budget deficit but deficits are normal. It happens everywhere and there is nothing strange about it but what it is important is the measures that the treasury will devise to cut the deficit,” Mr Chikwanda said.
He attributed the deficit to a multiplicity of factors such as the huge expenditure on maize purchases by the Food Reserve Agency and the oil import bill before the subsidies on fuel were removed.
“The huge increment in public service wages which comes into effect in September has also contributed,” said Mr Chikwanda.
“The global economic situation has not been very favourable, this has posed a challenge to us on the revenue side. Our projections have not matched our financing requirements.”
Mr. Chikwanda however vehemently denied that the cost of financing bye elections has contributed to the fiscal challenges.
“Bye elections are budgeted for and they are constitutional. We have not over spent on bye elections.”
He added that government will keep a tight grip on borrowing despite the budget deficit.
“We don’t want to over burden the future generations with unsustainable debt levels. Our debt to GDP ratio stands at around 5 percent so will don’t want to increase that further, we will only go to the bond market at an appropriate time.”
Mr. Chikwanda also revealed that he will soon be tabling the Medium Term Expenditure Framework in Parliament which will spell out details on how government will respond to the fiscal challenges in the short to medium term.
Todays Zimbabwe versus Zambia’s 2014 CHAN qualifier has been called off.
This is after the Cameroonian match officials failed to arrive in time for the game at Rufaro Stadium in Harare after they were delayed in transit in Nairobi.
FAZ and ZIFA have agreed the match be played on August 18 while the return leg in Ndola will go ahead as scheduled on August 24.
The home based Zambia squad today continues fighting for a place at the 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN) when they take on Zimbabwe away at Rufaro Stadium in Harare.
And LT Sports has learnt that that late arrival of Cameroon Aurelien Juenkou will delay this match by almost two hours.
Zambia and Zimbabwe clash in the first leg, second round 2014 CHAN qualifiers.
Herve Renard’s side trots into Rufaro Stadium as favorite having beaten the Warriors in the two teams’ last meetings.
Zambia can move closer to qualifying to the 2014 CHAN to be hosted by South Africa if they avoid losing in Harare today.
The two teams will clash in the return match at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on August 24.
Forest Rangers and Lime Hotspurs on Sunday clash in the bottom of the table FAZ Super Division tie at Dola Hill in Ndola.
The bottom two teams clash in this delayed Week 16 Ndola derby seeking to revive their diminishing chances of surviving relegation.
Lime are at the foot of the table on six points while Forest, who are one place above them, have eight points after a round of 15 matches.
Forest defeated Lime 1-0 in the corresponding fixture on March 16.
Meanwhile, Lime coach Levy Chabala is on Sunday expected to unleash new signing Brian Chilando.
The ex-Nchanga Rangers and Green Buffaloes top striker joined Lime from National Assembly last month.
Chilando is available for selection as Lime date Forest.
On the other hand, striker Kameta Mutambo is expected to re-launch his career at Dola Hill after re-joining his old club from Roan United last month.
GOVERNMENT has dismissed as mischievous allegations by FDD president Edith Nawakwi that the country is headed for a K5 billion budgetary deficit.
In a statement issued to the media, acting Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, Fackson Shamenda said Ms Nawakwi’s allegations are “symptomatic of a frustrated and failed politician who wants to use lies to gain cheap political mileage”.
“Ms Nawakwi once served as Minister of Finance under the MMD government when corruption and general mismanagement of the country thrived, which this government is now working hard to reverse,” Mr Shamenda said.
He said the FDD leader should not pretend to have answers to the management of the country’s economy.
Below is the full statement
Republic of Zambia
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services
STATEMENT BY HON. FACKSON SHAMENDA, MP, MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING SERVICES AND CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON ON ALLEGATIONS BY FDD LEADER EDITH NAWAKWI
Government wishes to dismiss as mischievous, the allegation by FDD leader Ms Edith Nawakwi that the country is headed for a K5 billion budgetary deficit.
This allegation is symptomatic of a frustrated and failed politician who wants to use lies to gain cheap political mileage.
Ms Nawakwi once served as Minister of Finance under the MMD Government when corruption and general mismanagement of the country’s economy thrived, which this Government is now working hard to reverse.
She should, therefore, not pretend to have answers to the management of the country’s economy now which she failed to provide then.
On by-elections, Ms Nawakwi who at one time served as a Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister, should desist from cheap politicking on an issue she ought to be well familiar with.
The current Constitution provides that a by-election is held within 90 days when a vacancy occurs for an elected Member of Parliament.
By-elections are therefore a constitutional expenditure and obligation. The current Constitution gives a Member of Parliament freedom to resign and join another political party.
As a democratic and law abiding leadership, this Government cannot stop anyone from defecting from one party to another. It is their democratic right to do so.
And defections have not gone one way. Both the ruling and opposition have had their fair share of loss or gain of defectors. Why should it be right for the opposition to receive defectors and wrong for the ruling party to do so? This is undemocratic.
And the fact that FDD is not receiving defectors does not mean that the practice must be demonized.
Ms Nawakwi is, therefore, urged to concentrate on rebuiding her crumbled political party instead of peddling falsehoods she cannot substantiate.
This Government reiterates its commitment to good governance, the rule of law and prudent management of public resources for the betterment of the Zambian people.
Hon. Fackson Shamenda, MP ACTING MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING SERVICES AND CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON
MINISTER of Justice Wynter Kabimba says the people running the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) are a danger to democracy and has called for a new crop to run the institution charged with conducting elections in the country.
Mr Kabimba yesterday said the issue of candidates whose seats were nullified because of corruption should not have come this far had the ECZ done its duty.
The minister, who is also Patriotic Front (PF) secretary general, said: “I would like to agree with our chairperson for legal affairs Edgar Lungu that the ECZ is now a danger to democracy and is not taking the fight against corruption seriously.”
Mr Kabimba said it is now very clear that the ECZ is abusing its mandate to promote democracy.
“The ECZ is undermining democracy. This debate has been raging for the last two weeks and one expected that the institution charged with managing our elections should have shown leadership,” he said.
Mr Kabimba said the ECZ’s action to postpone the filing of nominations at the last minute showed gross irresponsibility and disregard for democracy.
He said political parties spent huge resources to go to nomination centres.
[pullquote]“The idea of having recycled people to manage our elections is not good at all. They are not liable to the Zambian people,” he said.[/pullquote]
Mr Kabimba said as Minister of Justice and PF chief executive officer, he sees need for a crop of new people at ECZ.
“The idea of having recycled people to manage our elections is not good at all. They are not liable to the Zambian people,” he said.
Mr Kabimba said Zambians deserve an ECZ which is responsible and has the interests of them at heart.
He said the PF stands on the principle of fighting corruption and Article 65 of the constitution as well as Section 22 and 104 of the Electoral Act are clear on corruption during elections.
“We expect the ECZ and other agencies to fight the culture of corrupt regimes but it is clear they don’t value the fight we have embarked on,” Mr Kabimba said.
Mr Kabimba said the fight against corruption has been left to the PF alone. He said there is a danger of corrupt elements re-grouping so that they run the country again. He said all the PF government wants is a competent and impartial ECZ.
[pullquote]“When we say there is need for a new crop of people at ECZ, we are not seeking their favour. We want them to act responsibly to the Zambian people,” he said.[/pullquote]
“We want ECZ to serve Zambians and not the PF. What we want are democratic elections which are not smeared with corruption,” he said. Mr Kabimba said the PF is not seeking any favour from ECZ just like it did not in 2011.
“When we say there is need for a new crop of people at ECZ, we are not seeking their favour. We want them to act responsibly to the Zambian people,” he said.
The Justice minister said if the PF regime did not want the people at ECZ, it would have removed them long ago.
“We found these people at ECZ. They were appointed and ratified by the MMD. If we didn’t want them, we would have removed them immediately we won,” Mr Kabimba said.
He said there was no need for the ECZ to have waited for the Judiciary on matters that are clear at law.
File: Father Frank Bwalya addressing a PF rally during the run up to the 2011 elections
Fr Frank Bwalya says the successful launch of his Alliance for Better Zambia party marked the beginning of the journey to restore the moral campus in Zambian politics.
Fr Bwalya who launched ABZ yesterday at Changanamai grounds in Kitwe’s Kwacha East Township said the launch marked the beginning of the restoration of servant leadership in Zambian politics.
He said yesterday’s launch marked the beginning of the participation of new people in the governance of Zambia.
Fr Bwalya said Zambia needs new people with the new thinking in order to create a new Zambia.
Fr Bwalya declared that time has come for ordinary Zambians to eat hence the decision to pick the “Pot” as a symbol for ABZ.
“Therefore, I have the audacity to declare that time has come for you the people to eat as well. This is why we have chosen the “Pot” as a symbol of our party. The powerful including politicians have benefited more hence creating a huge gap between the rich and the poor, the haves and the have not. Time has come for you the people to benefit equitably from economic progress,” he said.
The outspoken Catholic Priest said time has come for Zambians to enjoy the benefits of paying tax.
“Time has come for new people with new thinking to participate in politics and provide leadership required for the creation of a new Zambia where all citizens should afford three decent meals.
He charged that the powerful in society including politicians have benefited more hence creating a huge gap between the rich and the poor.
He charged that the majority Zambians are poor because a small group of citizens has monopolized political power.
Fr Bwalya said this ground of the same recycled politicians has been making laws to exclude the majority of Zambians in public life.
“We had a wonderful and success launch. It was peaceful and people enjoyed. To the get the kind of crowds we did during a time which is outside the period of general elections is a big success – many have told us, “he said.
He added, “It was clear that people missed my voice from a platform and I really enjoyed it. The part I liked most is when I asked those who wanted to join ABZ to raise their hands. Almost everyone did.”
“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
(Psalm 23:4, NIV)
TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria
When Moses was born, the king ordered that all the male babies were to be killed. You can imagine how devastated this mother must have been. She could have easily given up, but instead, she chose to believe that God was still in control. She put Moses into a little basket and sent him down the Nile River. It just so happened that Pharaoh’s daughter was out taking a bath — at the right place and the right time. She heard the cries coming from the basket. She opened it up and saw baby Moses and fell in love with the boy. She was so excited and said, “I’m going to take him as my own.” She looked at her maids and said, “We need to find somebody that can nurse the baby.”
One of the maids said, “I know just who to get.” She went and found who? Moses’ mother. Moses’ mother was not only able to raise her son, but she got paid for doing it on top of that. Only God could orchestrate all of that.
Today, remember that even in loss, heartache or disappointment, God will order your steps. He’ll line up the right people and the right opportunities and lead you into victory all the days of your life.
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father, thank You for being with me even in the hard times. I praise You because You are faithful, and I know You are leading and guiding me into victory all the days of my life in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Zesco United have replaced Nkana at the top of the table after a dramatic 3-1 home win over Kabwe today at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
Warriors were denied a chance to take an early lead after seeing clear a penalty appeal in the 19th minute quashed.
This is after Warriors striker Abudi Sakala suffered a concussion after Zesco defender Zimiliseni Moyo hit him in the face with a high boot but referee Stanley Hachiwa awarded Warriors an indirect free kick inside the box that midfielder Larry Siakapisa marginally missed.
Zesco took the lead in the 33rd minute after Kelvin Musonda’s howler was pounced on by John Chingandu who punished the time-wasting goalkeeper .
Warriors equalised in the 48th minute when Siakapisa made no mistake with another trade mark free kick.
Zesco sealed their win thanks to goals from second half substitutes Akakulubelwa Mwachiaba who headed in his sides’ second on 79th minutes and Alfred Luputa who tapped-in the final goal in the 90th minute.
Week 16
10/08/2013
Green Buffaloes 3-Napsa Stars 1
Konkola Blades 2-Nkwazi 1
Kalulushi Modern Stars 1-Konkola Mine Police 0
Zesco United 3-Kabwe Warriors 1
11/08/2013
Forest Rangers -Lime Hotspurs
Power Dynamos 0-Nchanga Rangers 0
Postponed
Roan United-Nkana
Red Arrows-Zanaco
File : Zambia Red Cross Society General Secretary Charles Mushitu (r) and public relations manager James Zulu (l) talk to journalists on the Haiti earthquake aid appeal in Lusaka
The Drug Enforcement Commission has re-arrested former Zambia Red Cross Society (ZRCS) Secretary General Charles Mushitu, 46, and his Finance Manager Sydney Chituta, 32 for abuse of authority of office and for destroying evidence.
The duo of Plot No.31326, Woodlands, Chalala in Lusaka and Plot 4839/917, Kamwala South, respectively, have in the first count been arrested and jointly charged with Kelvin Chiposwa, 49, a former ZRCS Board Chairman, for abuse of authority of office contrary to section 99 of the Penal Code Cap 87 of the laws of Zambia.
And in the second count Mushitu and Chituta have been jointly charged for destroying evidence contrary to section 111 of the Penal Code Cap 87 of the laws of Zambia.
The three suspects have since been released on Police bond and will appear in court soon.
Meanwhile the Commission in Lusaka has arrested a 68 year-old businessman of Kitwe for being in possession of counterfeit notes.
Alex Mambwe, 68, of Kitwe has been arrested for being in possession of K100, 500, 000.00 counterfeit notes of the old currency, $5,800 US dollar counterfeit notes and 100 thousand of the Angolan currency Kwanza suspected counterfeit notes.
The suspect was apprehended at a named Guest house in John Laing.
And in a related development the Commission in Chipata has arrested and jointly charged Chadwick Mudenda, 35, a businessman of House No. 22 Lubuto, Ndola and Owen Mudenda, 28, a businessman of B19 Macha Road in Choma for being in possession of paraphernalia used for manufacturing forged bank notes.
All suspects will appear in court soon.
This is contained in a statement released to QFM by DEC spokesperson Samuel Silomba.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia-ECZ says it will not accept nominations from candidates whose seats were nullified on grounds of malpractice.
This means that former Petauke Central Member of Parliament Dora Siliya and her Malambo counterpart Maxwell Mwale whose seats were nullified cannot re-contest.
ECZ Acting Public Relations Manager Sylvia Bwalya has confirmed this in an interview with ZNBC News in Lusaka.
Ms. Bwalya says the decision has been arrived at after receiving official notification from the high court.
Ms. Bwalya says aggrieved political parties should now seek guidance from ECZ on the matter.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia-ECZ yesterday postponed nominations for Petauke, Malambo and Mulobezi.
The nominations will now take place on Tuesday August 13.
The ruling Patriotic (PF) is Lusaka District has backed calls by various stakeholders to have the senior top management of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) step down.
The PF leadership in the District has suggested that this will be the only way credibility can be restored to the commission following its alleged failure to evoke the Electoral ACT promptly.
The alleged failure to evoke the electoral ACT relates to barring of candidates who did not legally qualify to participate in the September 5th Malambo, Mulobezi and Petauke Central Parliamentary by-elections.
PF Lusaka District chairperson Goodson Banda says the ECZ has also demonstrated biasness to postpone the filing in of nominations of candidates for the Malambo, Mulobezi and Petauke Central Parliamentary by-elections.
Mr. Banda has observed that the postponement of the filing in of nominations for the three by-elections has only favored the opposition as it is evident that their candidates would have not legally qualify to take part in the by-election after section 104 of the Electoral Act was evoked.
Mr. Banda has also observed that the abrupt postponement of the filing in of nominations for the three parliamentary by-elections cost a lot of resources which some political parties like the ruling PF had spent to have its candidates’ credentials filed in to participate in the by-elections.
And Mr. Banda has reiterated the need of PF youths not to attempt to engage in violent acts during the campaigns in the four constituencies where the September 5th by-elections will take place.
Mr. Banda notes that the youths should instead use the PF manifesto in campaigns to allow electorates freely accept such messages in a peaceful atmosphere.
The PF Lusaka District chairperson was speaking to Qfm in an interview.
The opposition Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) has cautioned that the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) will be initiating its exit from government if it dares to temper with the work of the Electoral Commission of Zambia(ECZ).
This follows calls by Home Affair Minister Edgar Lungu that the top management of the Electoral Commission of Zambia be removed because it has allegedly failed in implement the Electoral ACT in the country.
MMD president Nevers Mumba has charged that allegations that the ECZ has failed to live up to its mandate are not true as the ECZ has demonstrated a level of independence on most contentious issues in the country.
Dr. Mumba said that his party also congratulated the ECZ because it had not made itself a puppet of the ruling party amidst the so many threats and intimidation it had been going through under the PF government.
