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Kasenengwa Member of Parliament, Victoria Kalima has charged that government is panicking to explain removal of subsides on fuel and maize after students at the University of Zambia and Copperbelt University protested against the decision.
Ms Kalima said government should have explained to the people, before removing fuel and maize subsidies.
ZANIS reports that the Kasenengwa Member of Parliament said this last evening during a program dubbed Political Hour on Breeze FM in Chipata District.
She said most people especially in rural areas, do not have full understanding of the move taken by government, because no proper explanation was given.
Ms. Kalima also condemned government’s decision to remove fuel and maize subsidies at the same time.
She explained that government should have given Zambians sometime to get used to the increased fuel prices due to the removal of subsidies, before taking another step of removing the maize subsidies.
The parliamentarian stated that the decision to remove fuel subsidies has led to the rise in the prices for most basic commodities in the country.
Government has disclosed that it will recapitalise the Zambia Education Publishing House (ZEPH) in order to reduce the shortage of teaching materials in schools countrywide.
Education Deputy Minister David Mabumba disclosed this at Mutono Junior Secondary School in Nchelenge on wednesday when he addressed the teaching staff from Nchelenge Secondary and Mutono Junior Secondary Schools.
Mr Mabumba said from his tour of schools, he had noted that many schools had a shortage of teaching materials and government is thinking of recapitalising ZEPH which was responsible for printing education teaching materials in the past.
He added that once ZEPH is recapitalised, the problem of shortage of teaching materials and course books in schools will be a thing of the past.
The Education Deputy Minister said he had also noted that the selected primary schools which should be upgraded to junior secondary schools had some challenges which included the qualifications of the teachers to handle the secondary education subjects for the pupils, shortage of classrooms, availability of land for expansion, readiness of community contribution towards the construction of infrastructure among others.
Mr Mabumba said the community contribution was important because it promotes the sense of ownership of the school by the community as the beneficiaries of the facility are members of the same community.
He added that government will be quick to release funds for buying roofing materials and other requirements for construction after the community demonstrates commitment and devotion to the dream of the secondary school for their children.
He disclosed that government has also noticed that the 83 secondary schools under construction countrywide and the 35 more provided for in the 2013 national budget as new projects will still not be enough to cater for the increasing demand of secondary school education countrywide.
Mr Mabumba said it was for this reason that government was looking at other alternatives of increasing secondary school education places by identifying some primary schools for upgrading into junior secondary schools or day secondary schools to increase school places at secondary school level and also to reduce on the walking distances for the pupils who were covering several kilometres to access the schools.
The minister encouraged the teachers in all the schools that he visited to remain focussed and passionate about their dream of a junior secondary school presence in their area because of the other economic benefits that the infrastructure would inevitably bring to their areas.
He called for unity of purpose and concerted effort as a critical synergy for achieving their secondary school dream.
The Deputy Minister assured the teachers that government was ready to assist them after seeing their commitment.
And Mutono Junior Secondary School Head Teacher Florence Kashimbi said the school lacked accommodation for teachers, learning materials, laboratory and equipment for technical drawing while course books were few.
Ms Kashimbi also said that the school had no power and has only one VIP Toilet and a borehole which is being shared with the community while the road to the school is in a deplorable state.
Shefurther disclosed that the school has no school furniture for members of staff and had only few desks for pupils which caused problems every morning as most pupils sit on the floor during their learning time.
And Nchelenge Secondary School Head teacher Kaputula Kwandangala said the Nchelenge community, members of staff and pupils of his school were indebted to the government for coming to their aid when the school was at the verge of closure due to deplorable sanitary conditions last year but the funds given to the school had helped the situation to bring it to where it is currently.
Mr Kwandangala said pupils had even tested a warm shower on Tuesday morning following the near completion of the rehabilitation works of the school infrastructure.
The Head teacher however informed the minister that some thieves broke into the school last December and stole property worth KR2,646 for which no recoveries have been made yet.
President Michael Sata has said Zambia will not support calls for all African countries to use one passport for Africans to move freely around the continent and to enter other continents.
President Sata said the issue of African countries using one passport will promote crime and other vices on the continent.
He said Africa has the highest rate of crime in the world and using one passport will only make the movement for criminals easy.
He said this today during an Intergenerational Dialogue for Children and Youths Assembly at the United Economic Commission of Africa Headquarters (UNECA) in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia.
Mr. Sata was responding to a proposal by a youth from West Africa to the African Union that the continental body should revisit its proposal for the continent to use one passport.
The President noted that the African Union was a loose alliance while Zambia was a sovereign state that makes its own laws.
“AU has no control over Zambia. Zambia makes its own laws,” he said.
The agenda to have a single passport was proposed by late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi during the AU summit of 2009, where he envisaged a single military force, a single currency and a single African passport for Africans to move freely around the continent.
[pullquote]“AU has no control over Zambia. Zambia makes its own laws,” he said.[/pullquote]
And President Sata said the Zambian government has attached great importance to the issues of the girl child development.
He said Zambia has excelled in its endeavour to promote the rights of women and girl children by employing more women in key positions and creating more universities for women to have access to higher education.
He also said First Lady Christine Kaseba has launched a campaign to fight early marriages and cervical cancer in Zambia.
Speaking earlier, Zambia’s first President Kenneth Kaunda said the African continent was ravaged with problems of poverty, hunger, disease, crime, corruption and exploitation of man by man.
Dr. Kaunda said these problems can only be overcome by accepting God’s commandments of ‘loving your neighbor as you love yourself’.
He said it was important for young people to understand the importance of unity based on God’s commandments.
He also said women were important hence the need to protect and empower them.
Dr. Kaunda is tomorrow expected to be honoured by the African Union for his contribution to the liberation of southern Africa. The ceremony will take place at the Millennium Hall in Addis Ababa during the AU golden jubilee celebrations.
And African Union Commission Chairperson Dlamini Zuma called on youths to get involved in the democratic dispensation of their countries in order to be part of the future.
Dr. Zuma said it was important to give equal opportunities to all children while governments should put in policies for the girl children to realize their full potential.
The meeting was attended by Ethiopian Prime minister, Hailemariam Desaiegn, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenneyata and Liberian President Ellen Johnston Sirleaf among other leaders.
Zambian singer M.Foreal released a promo for his new video which will be out soon . The song is could “Never Leave”
Never Leave is a song promising your lover that you will never leave her.The video shows a story of a normal lovey dovey couple’s day from the time they wake til they get back to bed and features Prue Sheridan on the chorus..a new Perth pop artist.
Lusaka High School pupils entertain invited guests in traditional song and dance when President Michael Sata laid a foundation stone at Palabana University site in Palabana recently.
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Lusaka High School pupils entertain invited guests in traditional song and dance when President Michael Sata laid a foundation stone at Palabana University site in Palabana recently.
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Lusaka High School pupils entertain invited guests in traditional song and dance when President Michael Sata laid a foundation stone at Palabana University site in Palabana recently.
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Lusaka High School pupils entertain invited guests in traditional song and dance when President Michael Sata laid a foundation stone at Palabana University site in Palabana recently.
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Guests arriving for Tyler Perry’s Temptation movie premier at Arcades Sterkinekor
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Guests arriving for Tyler Perry’s Temptation movie premier at Arcades Sterkinekor
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Nebat Mbewe from Zambia Daily Mail poses for a picture on the red carpet
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Captain Ngoma from Zambia Airforce with his wife Mulonda pose for a picture on the red carpet
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Claire Chona of Ubuntu designs arrives for the Tyler Perry’s premier with her daughter Yolanta.
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Guests posing on the red carpet at Tyler Perry’s Temptation movie premier at Arcades Sterkinekor
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Maria Banda from Nestle poses for a picture on the red carpet
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Sterkinekor Cinemas manager David Mwaka (purple tie)talks to guests
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Eric Ngondo from Barclays with wife pose for a picture on the red carpet
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Guests posing on the red carpet at Tyler Perry’s Temptation movie premier at Arcades Sterkinekor
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Guests arriving for Tyler Perry’s Temptation movie premier at Arcades Sterkinekor
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Lusaka province minister, Freedom Sikazwe(left) with Tourism director for culture and arts, Monde Mwala(right)during the tour of exibitions at the National Arts Exibitions to commemorate the African Freedom Day and 50th Anniversary of the African Union at Henry Tayali center at showgrounds in Lusaka
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Tourism director for culture and arts, Monde Mwala(middle) explains to Lusaka province minister, Freedom Sikazwe(right)during the tour of exibitions at the National Arts Exibitions to commemorate the African Freedom Day and 50th Anniversary of the African Union at Henry Tayali center at showgrounds in Lusaka.while Lusaka province assistant secretary, Mercy Miti(left) looks on.
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United States of America Ambassador to Zambia Mark Storella (far left), Miss USA (second from far left), United States of America Ambassador to Zimbabwe Bruce Wharton (second from far right) and Zambia’s Tourism and Arts Minister Sylvia Masebo (far right) pose for a photo on Zambezi River near Victoria Falls
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United States Ambassador to Zambia Mark Storella (right) is made is put a basket of carrots on his head .The carrots were donated by a member of Nsongwe Women’s Association in Livingstone
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United States Ambassador to Zambia Mark Storella (right) is made is put a basket of carrots on his head .The carrots were donated by a member of Nsongwe Women’s Association in Livingstone
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United States Ambassador to Zambia Mark Storella (middle) appreciates the carrots and eggplants he received from a member of Nsongwe Women’s Association in Livingstone on Monday afternoon
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United States Ambassador to Zambia Mark Storella riding a bike on a 20 km stretch from Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport to Nsongwe in Livingstone on Monday afternoon to promote international tourism, economic growth, and wildlife conservation in Zambia and Zimbabwe.
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United States of America Ambassadors to Zambia and Zimbabwe Mark Storella and Bruce Wharton joined by officials from the two countries ride from Victoria Falls through Mosi-oa-tunya Road to Livingstone Museum
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The Zambia Defence Forces listen to a church sermon at the Anglican Cathedral of Nativity during the inter denomination prayer meeting for the African Union’s Golden Jubilee on Sunday 19th May,2013 in Ndola.
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The Zambia Defence Forces listen to a church sermon at the Anglican Cathedral of Nativity during the inter denomination prayer meeting for the African Union’s Golden Jubilee on Sunday 19th May,2013 in Ndola.
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Aerial view of the new Lusaka Stadium under-construction
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Minister of Tourism and Arts Sylvia Masebo joins the Sioma Dancing group in dancing during the topping out richtfest ceremony for the new park Headquarters construction of the Sioma Ngwezi falls National park
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Minister of Tourism and Arts Sylvia Masebo showing her joy by dancing together Sikandi Basic School dancing group during the topping out richtfest ceremony for the new park Headquarters construction of the Sioma Ngwezi falls National park in Sioma District
Some Zambian delegates who went for the Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) and wanted to share hotel rooms to cut down on costs were denied to do so as it amounted to breaking the law on Homosexuality in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
A Congolese journalist Blaireou Kajam explained that there was no law against homosexuality, but it was a taboo and anyone found practicing homosexuality was immediately arrested and jailed for not less than three years.
Mr Kajam said hotels did not allow people of the same sex to share the same room for fear of homosexuality.
“If people of the same sex are discovered to share the same room, they are immediately arrested and are jailed,” Mr Kajam said.
He said it was normally advised that people of the same sex that wanted to get accommodation should find hotels that were suitable for their pockets.
However, after negotiations some hotels allowed Zambian delegates of the same sex who wanted to share a room and were asked to pay an extra 50 percent of the actual price.
Hotel accommodation in Lubumbashi is expensive as some standard accommodation costs about US$ 300 per night.
Vice President Guy Scott has accused the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) of being the actual master minder of the first stage of removing subsidies on essential commodities of fuel and maize.
Dr. Scott note that, the Patriotic Front government has only implemented what the previous MMD government started.
Dr Scott said that the the development remove subsidy is not new as it was started by the MMD government. Dr Scott explained that the former ruling part agreed to remove subsidies on fuel in 2010 in three phases but u-turned on their decision towards the general election.
He said the PF government is just continuing from where the previous administration left.
Dr. Scott has also urged the MMD to support PF government’s decision to lift subsidies on fuel and maize as a fulfillment of the course the former ruling party earlier initiated.
Meanwhile, Dr Scott, has assured the people of Luangwa district that the removal of fuel and maize subsidies will not affect the distribution of relief food in the area.
Dr Scott noted that his office is fully aware that Luangwa is a drought prone area and as a result there will be will be no changes in the distribution of relief food.
The Vice Presidet added that the removal of subsidies on selected items is for the benefit of the Zambian people.
The Vice President was speaking during a rally in Luangwa to drum up support for the PF Feira Parliamentary candidate, Patrick Ngoma, in the forth coming by election.
Meanwhile, Dr Scott has dismissed assertions being made by opposition political parties that the PF government is trying to create a one party state.
He said the PF is there to work for the people who voted for it, saying it is the only party that knows how to deliver on the campaign promises it made compared to the previous regime.
Dr Scott said apart from the road construction, hospitals and secondary schools will be constructed in Feira.
He further stated that government will also look into the opening of mines so as to create job opportunists for the youth in Luangwa district.
And PF aspiring candidate for Feira by election, Patrick Ngoma, said his resignation was a result of him being asked to leave the MMD by party officials in the area.
Mr Ngoma, who is confident of scooping the seat, asked the people of Feira Constituency to vote for him as a way of showing appreciation to the president for the development that has so far been taken to the area since the PF party came into power.
The Feira seat fell vacant when Patrick Ngoma resigned from MMD to join the ruling PF party.
The seat is also being contested by NAREP candidate, Samuel Sikaonga, MMD candidate, Elias Phiri, UNIP candidate Charles Kanyama Phiri and UPND candidate, Eularia Zulu.
Special adviser to the United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema, William Banda has expressed sadness on the Patriotic Front administration’s failure to tame its alleged violent cadres.
Mr. Banda who was once Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) Lusaka province chairman notes that there is need for the police and the Ministry of Home Affairs to effectively address the issue of PF cadres engaging in politics of violence if Zambia is to remain a peaceful country.
Mr. Banda has also urged the Ministry of Home Affairs to consider calling for a gathering of all political parties to denounce politics of violence in an effort of creating a rapport amongst political party cadres in the country.
Mr. Banda has maintained that UPND still remains a peaceful political that is ready to mingle with all other members from other political party.
Information and Broadcasting Deputy Minister, Mwansa Kapeya (c)
Deputy Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Mwansa Kapeya has observed that the removal of subsidies on maize and petroleum products was being sensationalized and politicized by enemies of the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) government.
Speaking yesterday when he featured on ‘Good Governance’ radio Programme on Radio Yangeni in Mansa district of Luapula province, Mr. Kapeya said the removal of subsidies is aimed at yielding long term benefits to the country.
He said this aim has however been demonized by some opposition political parties who are bent on criticizing every developmental stride which government makes.
The Deputy Minister has noted that other opposition political parties have however seen and understood the rationale of removing subsidies in spite of those intending to gain political mileage on the issue.
Mr. Kapeya charged that the opponents of the PF were busy deceiving people that government does not care for its people.
He underscored that the PF government realized that subsidies were not benefiting the intended beneficiaries who are the poor citizens of Zambia.
He said subsidies were instead benefitting the already rich people who took advantage of the scheme even though they were the minority in the country.
Mr. Kapeya reiterated that government wants to use the savings from subsidies to develop agricultural enterprises such as the livestock development and production in Southern and Western provinces and enhancing cassava production and fish farming in Luapula among other farm products.
He said the savings will further be used to construct roads, schools, health centres and many other social amenities in the country.
He noted that many Zambians, especially in rural areas, do not own cars while they have been used to subsidize fuel for the few rich people in town.
Mr. Kapeya said the removal of subsidies was enshrined in the PF manifesto noting that government will not keep on allowing poor people to reduce the cost of living for the rich.
Meanwhile, the people of Mansa have expressed mixed feelings on the removal of subsidies.
Some residents have since commended government for the brave decision it has taken while others spoke against the removal of subsidies.
Contributing to the radio programme via text messages, some people felt the decision would bring about high cost of living while others hoped the savings from subsidies will not be used on salaries for civil servants but on alleviating poverty.
Mr. Kapeya is on a familiarization tour of media houses in Luapula and Northern provinces but has taken advantage of the visit to explain government policies and programmes on radio during his tour.
The Zambia National Women’s Lobby (ZNWL) has joined other civil society organizations in condemning Defense Minister Geoffrey Mwamba for a statement attributed to him in the media suggesting that beating a wife by a husband is a sign of love.
ZNWL chairperson Beauty Phiri noted that the statement by Mr. Mwamba is retrogressive to the efforts being made to deter gender based violence in the country.
In statement released to media, Ms. Phiri also noted that the country does not expect a national leader like the Defense Minister to pass such a negative statement in the media as such a statement has a potential to entice young men in the country to mistreat their wives in the name of showing love.
Ms. Phiri has maintained that there is no beating that can be described as loving way beating as Mr. Mwamba was quoted to have said in the media.
The ZNWL chairperson has since encouraged men in the country to promote dialogue in place of physical confrontation as a means of solving problems.
She has also challenged men to team up with their female counterparts in building a cohesive society devoid of violence.
Coach Herve Renard has axed four players from the Zambia home-based squad that will play Namibia in Saturday’s away friendly in Windhoek.
Casualties from the team scheduled to leave for Namibia on Friday midday include Red Arrows
keeper Danny Munyau, Zesco United striker Kangwa Chileshe, Zanaco defender Salulani Phiri and his injured Sunset team mate Rodrick Kabwe.
Ahead of the Namibia friendly Renard has maintained faith in two goalkeepers Davy Kaumbwa of Green Buffaloes and Nchanga Rangers’ Rabson Mucheleng’anga.
The team entered camp in Lusaka on Monday.
After the friendly in Windhoek, the Frenchman will name the Chipolopolo squad for the June back to back 2014 Brazil World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Sudan.
The team is scheduled to enter camp on 28 May on the Copperbelt before the Lesotho match on 8 June and the Sudan encounter a week later.
Nkana skipper Sydney Kalume says the FAZ Super Division leaders are wary of Kabwe Warriors as the two teams clash on Saturday at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe.
Warriors lie third on the table with 15 points, seven behind Nkana.
Kalume said Kalampa will not underrate Warriors in the Week Ten tie.
“Warriors is a good team so we are not going to underrate them,” he said on Thursday.
However, Kalume is confident that the Wusakile outfit will triumph in Saturday’s match.
“We are going to win, I know the team is confident and there is competition,” he added.
Nkana thrased Warriors 4-0 in a pre-season friendly to mark the reopening of Nkana Stadium on March 10.
Chipolopolo striker Collins Mbesuma has finished top scorer among Zambians playing in the South African Premier Soccer League.
In the ended 2012/13 PSL season, Mbesuma scored six league goals for Orlando Pirates who failed to defend the title recaptured by their Soweto rivals Kaiser Chiefs.
Mbesuma was seven goals behind league top scorer Katlego Mashego of Moroka Swallows who netted 13 goals.
Clifford Mulenga scored two goals for SuperSport United while the Free State Stars duo of keeper Kennedy Mweene and midfielder Noah Chivuta scored a goal each.
Meanwhile, no Zambian player has been nominated for the upcoming PSL awards in South Africa.
Last season, only Mulenga made the cut after being nominated for the best goal of the season award.
Unionized workers at Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) in Kapiri Mposhi have started a sit in protest following the railway company’s delay to pay them their April salaries.
The workers have not been paid their April monthly salaries.
Workers Union of TAZARA (WUTAZ) Coordinating Secretary General, Josam Nkhoma confirmed the development to ZANIS today.
Mr Nkhoma said that the failure in paying them their salaries was as a result of the delay by Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) to effect payment to TAZARA for the transportation of copper to Dar-es-Salaam.
TAZARA and KCM have entered into a contract to transport copper by cargo trains.
Mr Nkhoma attributed the delay in payment of April salaries to the mix-up by KCM in raising an invoice for transportation of copper which was issued to Zambia Railways Limited (ZRL) instead of TAZARA.
“The workers are protesting about the delay by TAZARA to pay them their April salaries, this delay has been caused by the delay by Konkola Copper Mines to effect payment to TAZARA for the transportation of copper to Dar-es- Salaam after a mix-up in the invoice they raised for transportation of copper which was issued in the name of Zambia Railways and not TAZARA …As you may be aware, TAZARA and KCM have entered into a contract to transport copper by cargo trains,” Mr Nkhoma said.
Mr Nkhoma said the sit in protest is only in Kapiri Mposhi while all other TAZARA stations in the country were operating normally.
He disclosed that TAZARA management from both Zambia and Tanzania are traveling to KCM head office to rectify the situation so that workers are paid their salaries.
“The Regional General Manager – Zambia, a Mr Changala, officers from the marketing department and other senior managers from Tanzania are on their way to Lusaka to meet KCM management to resolve the issue,” Nkhoma added.
He said the workers will continue with the sit in protest until they are paid their April salaries.
Mr Nkhoma has however blamed TAZARA management for not detecting the anomalies in the invoices.
President Michael Sata has arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to attend the 21st AU Summit of Heads of State and government .
The summit, which is anchored on the theme “Pan Africanism and the African Renaissance” is scheduled to take place from the 26th to the 27th of May at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa.
Over 45 Heads of State and government representatives are expected to attend the Summit which will coincide with the Golden Jubilee of the African Union.
President Sata is accompanied by First Lady Christine Kaseba and his Special Assistance for Press and Public Relations, George Chellah.
The President was received at Boli International Airport by Ethiopian Minister of Agriculture, Tefra Derbew, and other official from the Ethiopian government.
Also on hand to receive the president were Foreign Affairs Minister Effron Lungu, Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba and Zambia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Susan sikaneta.
The AU Summit, which is also celebrating its Golden Jubilee of the defunct Organization of African unity (OAU) is also expected to honour Zambia’s first Republican President, Kenneth Kaunda, for among other attributes, his contribution to the liberation of African countries from colonial rule.
