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Zesco United moved into second place today after a resounding 4-0 away win over troubled Forest Rangers in a Ndola derby played at the Trade Fair Grounds.
The three-time champions jumped from eighth to second replacing Nchanga Rangers who collapsed to a 3-1 loss at the hands of struggling Lime Hotspurs in the lunchtime kickoff at the same venue.
Zesco took a 2-0 halftime lead thanks to strikes from Winston Kalengo and Maybin Mwaba in the 11th and 20th minute respectively.
Kangwa Chileshe added Zesco’s third goal in the 61st minute before Kalengo completed his brace seven minutes later.
Zesco are now four points behind Nkana on 15 and 19 points respectively from eight games played.
Forest meanwhile exchange places with Lime with the latter moving from bottom to 15th while the former slump into 16th place.
A Special council meeting held by Bemba Traditional Councillors (BTC) has resolved to ignore President Michael Sata’s decision to put the Mwamba chieftaincy on hold.
President Sata had decreed that Henry Sosala should not be referred to as Senior Chief Mwamba of the Bemba people in Kasama until controversy surrounding the chieftaincy settles.
The meeting called Ichenje, held in late Chief Chitimukulu’s area, was attended by traditional councillors called Bashi Lubemba and the caretaker of the Chitimuluku paramount chieftaincy, Chief Chimba, resolved that Mr Sata’s actions were eroding the powers of Bashi Lubemba who are responsible for making royal appointments or dethronements.
Sources that attended the meeting said the Bashi Lubmeba emphatically maintained they still consider Henry Sosala the duly appointed senior Chief Mwamba.
When contacted acting Chief Chitimukulu, Chilufya, confirmed the resolutions but said bashi Lubemba would travel from Mungwi on Monday to give the official position on the matter to the Press.
Mr Sosala was however, quoted on Radio Mano saying the position of Senior Chief Mwamba had not made him royal. Speaking in his native ichiBemba, Mr Sosala said: “Ine nafyelwe imfumu kabili nkafwa imfumu.
Tekweba ukuti nasangwike imfumu elo naile pali bu Mwamba. Nafyalwa ku bafyala imfumu.”
When translated Mr Sosala said he was born a royal and would die a royal as his mother was a queen mother who gave birth to chiefs.
President Sata in a letter addressed to Traditional Affairs Minister Nkandu Luo said it was not the intention of his administration to meddle in chief’s succession processes but would not stand aside and watch confusion take root.
Mr Sosala had been quoted by a daily newspaper as having said he had not undergone traditional initiation ritual are required by custom.
The Labour and Social Security Minister, Fackson Shamenda who is also Ndola Central Member of Parliament says the Patriotic Front government is an inclusive government which wants to have ministers from all corners of the country.
Speaking when he addressed heads of government departments at Council chamber in Itezhi tezhi district yesterday, Mr Shamenda said there is nothing wrong for people from other parties scramble for government positions.
“There has been a lot of criticisms that we are causing by-elections by poaching opposition members of parliament. That is not true. The appointments are meant to ensure PF government has ministers from all corners of this country,” Mr Shamenda said.
He said that the party has a lot of Legislators whom it can appoint in various government positions but they are looking at inclusiveness.
“There so many good and hard working ministers like Dr Patrick Chikusu who is not being harassed by his party and he has continued working for the people of Zambia,” Mr Shamenda said.
He also said that his party cannot stop opposition members of parliament who want to join PF because they have a right to belong to any party.
Mr Shamenda also defended the appointment of more deputy ministers by his government saying that without them work would be very difficult for cabinet ministers.
“We need deputy ministers because those people help us a lot. We cannot be everywhere every time and deputy ministers help take government presence when cabinet ministers are not able to reach certain places where government presence is required,” he said.
And Acting Senior Agriculture officer, Petronela Lubasi said that government has not been confirming people who have been acting for a long time.
Ms Lubasi said that many people have upgraded their qualifications but have not been elevated or confirmed and have been acting perpetually.
But Mr Shamenda said that government is working out modalities to address those issues adding that public services will now be an enviable place to work in due to continuous PF government’s policy to improve conditions of civil servants.
He said that the government from September will be paying their lowest worker K3,200 and challenged private institutions to match up with the government standard on paying their workers.
10-man Nchanga Rangers capitulated in the last five minutes of the second half to crash 3-1 away at the Trade Fair Grounds in Ndola and hand bottom placed Lime Hotspurs their first win of the season.
Second placed Nchanga were all over Lime for most of 85 minutes and took a deserved lead in the 70th minute through winger Alex Ngonga who headed in a corner.
However 10 minutes later, Ngonga was sent off for a punching an opponent inside the box as they lined up for a Nchanga corner.
Nchanga were denied second goal in the 84th minute when Kasonde Bwalya headed in the ball but it ruled out for offside by Wellington Kaoma.
A minute later, Mwelwa Mendela headed in equaliser to beat goalkeeper Rabson Muchelenganga.
Lameck Kafwaya put Lime ahead in the 87th minute with a fine volley past Muchelenganga.
Dead on 90 minutes, Brian Mwila thumps in left footed shot from close range to send Nchanga to their second league defeat of the season.
Ex-Power Dynamos defender Zifa Nkhoma says under-fire Beston Chambeshi should not be fired.
Power on Saturday lost 2-1 to a resurgent Roan United in what is a stuttering start to the 2013 season dropping from eighth to 11th place after that defeat on 10 points and with two wins all season.
“You can’t fire Beston he is a very good coach,” Nkhoma said.
“The problem is most of the players at Power Dynamos they have grown big headed that’s why they can’t win.
“They should respect the coach, official and the supporters.
“They are getting a lot of money but they are not concerned about football.”
Chambeshi last season failed to retain both the league and Barclays Cup to finish second behind Zanaco after taking full charge from Fordson Kabole who was fired at the start of the 2012 campaign.
“If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God.”
(Deuteronomy 28:1–2, NIV)
TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria
God rewards the people who seek after Him. Every time you obey His Word, His blessing will follow. If you’ll learn to obey Him in the small things, if you learn to pass the small tests, there’s no limit to how high God will take you. The scripture says, “When we fully obey God, blessings will chase us down and overtake us.” You can’t outrun the good things of God.
Always remember, when you obey God in the small, He will release big blessings. He has big opportunities, new levels of favor, healing, restoration, vindication, promotion, planned in your future. As you stay faithful to Him, you’re going to step into the fullness of your destiny and be all that God has created you to be!
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father, today I bless and lift You up because You are worthy. I dedicate myself to You afresh and anew. Keep me close to You and help me see Your goodness as I obey Your Word and honor You in all that I do in Jesus’ name. Amen. — Joel & Victoria Osteen
Nkana bounced back from last weekend’s first leg defeat of the season to record a sensational home win over nemesis Zanaco on Saturday at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe on Saturday.
The record 11-time league champions beat Zanaco 2-1 to pick up their first home win over Zanaco since 2010.
Nkana’s win saw them to open a five point gap at the top of the Faz Su00per Division table.
The hosts took a 49th minute lead through Festus Mbewe who fired in a volley to put Nkana ahead.
Reynold Kampmba extended Nkana’s lead from the penalty spot in the 64th.
Just three minutes later, Zanaco picked up their consolation goal also from the spot through Henry Banda.
Nkana came close to adding a third goal in the 88th minute but Chakwa Lungu blasted his close range shot into the side of the net when it looked easier to score in front of an obliging Zanaco goal mouth.
The Kitwe giants have 19 points from eight games played so far this season.
Nkana will stay top regardless if Nchanga Rangers beat Lime Hotspurs on Sunday at the Trade Fair Grounds in Ndola.
Second placed Nchanga have 14 points from seven games heading into their trip to Ndola on Sunday.
Kalulushi Modern Stars ended a six-match winless spell on Saturday with a convincing 2-0 win over Konkola Blades at Independence Stadium in Kalulushi.
Striker Nawa Nawa put Kalulushi in the lead after 15 minutes with a low shot that penetrated through the legs of Blades Congolese keeper Becky Bizangi.
Nawa’s goal sent the two teams to the break with a 1-0 scoreline in this first Super Division match at Independence Stadium in 12 years.
Three minutes after the restart winger William Chinse doubled Kalulushi’s lead with a rebound after Bizangi parried Nawa’s shot in his path.
Nawa, who had a fantastic match was denied a brace by Bizangi, who saved his powerful shot in a one on one situation on 65 minutes.
Blades remain on 14 points after this loss while Kalulushi have increased their tally to 10 points.
Political Activist Bonny Tembo says the forthcoming series of by elections that will be held across the country will put to test a number of political parties including the mushrooming ones.
Mr Tembo says it will be interesting to see more political parties participating in the by-elections to check if at all the opposition have the capacity to mobilise and woo voters.
Mr Tembo who is former Anti-Voter Apathy project Executive Director, observed that participation in the forth coming by elections by the opposition political parties is critical if they were to defend their existence in Zambia.
He was speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today.
Mr Tembo noted that in Zambian scenario, most political parties have become talking shops through the media, making democracy irrelevant in the political scene in the country.
He urged the electorates where the by elections would be held to reject ‘selfish’ politicians that are bent on insults as opposed to constructive politics.
Mr Tembo has since appealed to all the political parties in the country to support and promote democracy they advocated for and show case their existence by participating in the forth coming by elections through articulating on issues that affect the people in the communities.
At least four parliamentary by elections will be held across the country following the resignations of either opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) who are defecting to the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) and others caused by court rulings.
The opposition Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) has continued to suffer a political setbacks as its MPs the latest being for Mkushi North, Mr Mutale Musonda who has dumped the party to join the PF.
Other parliamentary by elections are expected to be held in Solwezi East, Kafulafuta, Chipata Central and Feira respectively.
The latest registered political party called Alliance for Better Zambia (ABZ) is formed by outspoken Catholic Priest Father Frank Bwalya.
Fr Bwalya announced on May 8th, 2013 that he has finally registered his party and appealed to the Zambian people to join his party.
He further thanked those who have supported him since coming on Zambia political lime light.
Fr Bwalya, a former member of Get Involved Zambia was Executive Director before he was appointed to serve as Chairman on the ZESCO Board of Directors.
Central Province Minister Hon. Phillip Kosamu(second from right), PF Provincial Chairperson Benson Chali(right) welcome MMD MP who resigned to join PF
Another By-Elections looms Mkushi North where MMD Member of Parliament, Mutale Musonda anounced his resignation to join the ruling Patriotic Front (PF)
Speaking shortly after his defection today, Mr Musonda said he has decided to defect to the ruling PF because MMD is a dead party.
Mr Musonda said no matter how good a person is it is impossible to score in a losing team.
He said he wants to work with the PF government because it has shown commitment in as far as the development of this country is concerned.
And welcoming the defectors, Central Province Minister, Philip Kosamu said the continuous defections by members of the opposition are not being engineered by the PF government.
Mr Kosamu said the defections are as a result of poor leadership by the opposition leaders and good leadership in the party in government.
He said people should not be deceived by malicious people like Father Frank Bwalya whose main aim is to frustrate the efforts of government by spreading lies to Zambians.
He said the PF government has only been in power for 20 months and, already, has scored a lot of successes in as far as development is concerned.
Mr Kosamu cited improvements in the Fertilizer Support Programme (FSP) and that more efforts are being made to ensure that every farmer gets his package before the farming season.
And the Deputy Minister of Health, Christopher Mulenga, has distanced the ruling PF from inciting defections saying PF has nothing to do with the on-going defections in the country.
Mr Mulenga said government is aware that people, including the opposition are complaining over the continued defections by the opposition MPs but that there is nothing it can do to curb this.
He said this is because Zambia is a democratic state and as such, the PF government although in power cannot hinder people from joining political parties of their choice.
He said the tenets of democracy are very clear as everyone is at liberty to belong to any political party that makes sense to them.
Mr Musonda also wondered why it is always an issue for people when a defection is in the favour of the ruling PF.
He said it is high time people appreciated the good policies of PF rather than implicating them in the defections.
He further advised other MPs who are still in the opposition to consider joining the PF in order to ensure development in the country.
Mr Musonda said the opposition has nothing much to offer the Zambians because most of the opposition leaders have worked in previous governments before but still failed to deliver development to Zambians.
About 300 PF members including Kapiri-Mposhi MP, Eddie Musonda, Bwacha MP, Sydney Mushanga and Kabwe Central MP, James Kapyanga witnessed the defections.
She told vendors to park their goods and vacate the street to promote cleanliness in the city
Government has reiterated that it will not allow anarchy in the manner trading was being conducted in the Tourist Capital saying doing so would dent the image of Livingstone as a Tourist capital.
Minister of Tourism and Arts Ms Sylvia Masebo maintained that no street vendors would be allowed on streets and shop corridors along the main Mosi-0-Tunya road in order to clear the streets in readiness for the United Nations World Tourism General Assembly (UNWTO) in August this year.
Addressing 156 streets vendors at the council chambers who were removed from the streets yesterday, Ms Masebo said government was concerned with the plight of streets vendors and was at the same time mindful of keeping the city clean and safe for tourists.
Ms Masebo said overcrowding on the streets due to trading activities has posed a number of challenges for the council including security concerns for both tourists and locals.
“As government we will not fold our arms and let anarchy prevail because we will look like we are disorganized as the Patriotic Front government,” said Ms Masebo.
Ms Masebo also noted that government has been let down by some civil servants who she accused were bent on frustrating government efforts in preparation for the UNWTO.
And Ms Masebo said government would look into the plight of all the affected street vendors and empower them with funds to venture into tourism related products.
The minister encouraged street vendors in Livingstone to take advantage of the government’s Tourism Product Development revolving funds to engage in tourism related products for them to benefit from the event in August this year.
Meanwhile, Livingstone city council has allocated all the street vendors an alternative place to trade from following their removal from the streets yesterday.
A Check by ZANIS at the site this morning found Ms Masebo facilitating allocation of plots to scores of traders behind the former cabinet office.
Chief Mutondo of the Nkoya speaking people in Kaoma district has threatened that there will be bloodshed if government will fund the expansion of Naliele royal palace of the Barotse Royal Establishment claiming that the palace is squatting illegally in his chiefdom.
He said the Naliele “Palace” was established in 1936 as a village for the native authority.
Chief Mutondo was speaking in Nkoya language through his interpreter, the former Ambassador to Malaysia under the Chiluba administration, Crispin Shumina when Western provincial Minister Obvious Mwaliteta paid a courtesy call on him today.
He said Naliele palace was occupied by a prince and not a chief and wondered why today the prince has become a Senior chief of the district in his chiefdom and complained that this is what is causing problems in Kaoma.
Chief Mutondo accused the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) of suppressing other tribes to which he said he cannot succumb.
Although on the other hand, he claimed that Nkoya speaking people want peace, he maintained that Naliele palace should be removed from Kaoma in order to maintain what he called harmony in the district.
In response, Mr Mwaliteta appealed to Chief Mutondo to embrace dialogue through the already established government structures and channels.
“It is not the issue of shedding blood but dialogue so that an amicable solution is attained through all peaceful means”, emphasized Mr Mwaliteta.
He assured Chief Mutondo that he has carried the message to the Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs who have the mandate to handle such important matters.
Mr Mwaliteta explained that it was not government policy of interfering with the traditional matters and that if chiefs want to appoint representatives in the councils they were free to do so.
Speaking at the same meeting, Induna Kalubi Mwanamute appealed to government to scrutinize the jurisdictions of each individual chief in Kaoma district in order to address the differences between Chiefs Mutondo and Senior chief Amukena of Naliele royal palace.
Induna Mwanamute said that each chief through a statutory Instrument (SI) provided by government has his area of jurisdiction clearly indicated.
Zambia Episcopal Conference-ZEC-President, Ignitius Chama
The Catholic Church has said that it is unfair for senior government officials to allocate themselves heft salaries and allowances while the majority Zambians continue to wallow in poverty.
Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) president Ignatius Chama said that the Catholic church will will continue to not only speak for the poor but serving them through the building of hospital, schools and other social amenities.
Bishop Chama said that this is what GOD expects the church to be doing.
And Archbishop Ignatius Chama has called on Catholics in Zambia to emulate Pope Francis by showing compassion top the poor in society.
Speaking during the thanks giving ceremony on the election of Pope Francis at the Cathedral of the Child Jesus in Lusaka today, Archbishop Chama urged Catholics to fight for the rights of the poor in society, and stand up for peace, truth, and justice.
He explained that the mass was held to introduce Pope Francis to the Zambian church as well as to pray to God to grant him strength in his journey as the leader of the Catholic church.
The Archbishop said the mass was also to appreciate Pope Benedict XVI for his service to the church during his reign as Pope.
Archbishop Chama said the church has the responsibility to spread God’s love and compassion as a way of evangelism.
He called on Catholics to also emulate Saint Francis of Assisi after whom the new Pope is named, whom he said sent out his disciples to evangelize with the instruction that they are only to use words when necessary.
The Archbishop said it is unfortunate that many Christians in Zambia only profess to be Christians when they do not show it by their lives.
He said Christians need to make their lives be a tool of evangelization by showing compassion and helping the needy.
And speaking at the same function, Zambia’s Apostolic Nuncio, Julio Murat commended Pope Benedict for his good leadership which he has displayed in the short time he has been in office.
