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.
The Zambia Consumers Association (ZACA) has called on government to reconsider the move to increase fuel pump prices as it has adverse effects on the national economy.
In an interview with ZANIS today, ZACA Executive Director Muyunda Ilionga said the move will result in increased cost of living for the Zambian population, whose majority is still wallowing in poverty.
Mr Ililonga has implored government to also consider the plight of the unemployed, poor and lowly paid citizens whose budgets cannot be stretched.
He stated that the increase in fuel prices will lead to increased cost of goods and services thereby impacting the lending services in the banking sector as workers will not have the capacity to save.
ZACA further explained that increased fuel prices and the pending revision of electricity tariffs will cripple the private sector as it remains an active participant in growing national economy.
Mr Ililonga said fuel and electricity play a major role in the production cycle and that increased prices will raise the cost of production for private sector businesses, which will not expand and result in increased unemployment levels.
He said as government is striving to alleviate the life of all Zambians and create employment, there is need to control and stabilise the economy.
Various stakeholders in the provision of goods and services such as transport have announced upward adjustment in their services due to the increased pump price of fuel following government’s announcement of the removal of subsidise on petroleum products.
The Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) says it is not shaken with the resignation of their Kafulafuta Member of Parliament James Chishiba to join the ruling Patriotic Front on the Copperbelt.
MMD Chairman for elections, Kenneth Chipungu, said the party knew very well that Mr Chishiba was going to part company with the former ruling party a long time ago.
Mr Chipungu, who is also Rufunsa Member of Parliament, said his party knew that Chishiba wanted to resign from the MMD soon after the 2011 general elections and that his stay in the MMD was highly questionable.
He told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that such kind of MPs lack principles because causing unnecessary by- elections was a drain to the national coffers.
He condemned the move adding that by- elections are too costly to the nation which is under developed such as Zambia.
Mr Chipungu said money going for by-elections would have been used to build clinics, schools and other important things as opposed to wasting huge sums of money on by- elections caused by individuals who are self-centred.
The Rufunsa MP has further advised Zambians and the people of Kafulafuta and Feira not to vote for such people as they are not interested in national development and their constituencies.
Mr Chipungu said Kafulafuta is a very poor constituency without basic needs of the people, stating that for Mr Chishiba to defect to the ruling party was a misguided strategy which the people of the constituency are not happy with.
He noted that MPs ditching their parties to join the Patriotic Front should be taught a lesson by the electorates like was the case in Lukulu West where the people vehemently refused to vote the PF to deter others planning to do the same.
“Zambians should look at such people carefully. Electorates are not fools to be cheated and fooled all the time. It is high time such people should swallow a bitter pill”, Mr Chipungu said.
Mr Chipungu made an ernest appeal to the electorates in Feira and Kafulafuta to seriously reflect and make a right decision on the voting day in the two constituencies by not voting the same people and instead usher in serious politicians eager to develop their constituencies.
He said MPs should not always think that their constituencies can only be developed if they belong to the ruling party.
He said it is the responsibility of Government to take development to every party of the country.
Kafulafuta Member of Parliament, James Chishiba, announced his defection to the ruling PF today during the press briefing citing bad leadership style being exhibited by party president, Nevers Mumba.
Meanwhile, Mr.Chipungu is happy with the 10 000 hectors of land given to Rufunsa district for the construction of the district administration structures.
Mr Chipungu told ZANIS that on Tuesday Chief Mupashya will be handing over the peace of land to Government for the construction of the newly created district offices in Rufunsa.
He said recently, the Permanent Secretary, Provincial Planning Officer and other stakeholders held a meeting to finalise few outstanding issues such as where to take those people who would be displaced following the construction of the modern structures for Rufunsa district town.
Kabwe Warriors today ended Green Buffaloes unbeaten run to win 2-0 at Godfrey ‘Ucar’ Chitalu Stadium in Kabwe.
Buffaloes defeat comes just 24 hours after Nkana’s unbeaten run also came to an end when they lost 1-0 away at Napsa Stars in Lusaka.
Both Nkana and Buffaloes were hitherto this weekend Faz Super Division Week Seven games the only unbeaten teams in the top flight since the start of the season on March 16.
Warriors win also benefitted from the 21 minute send off of Buffaloes goalkeeper Davy Kaumbwa who was red carded for elbowing Abudi Sakala while battling for the ball in a corner situation.
Kampamba Chintu stepped up to successfully convert penalty to score his second goal of the season.
Warriors sealed their home win over 10-man Buffaloesin the 61st minute through another veteran after striker Owen Mwendabai raced into the box to blast in the second just four minutes after coming on for Shabby Mwaba.
Mwendabai’s goal brought his tally to four so far this season.
Warriors rise from sixth to fourth place on 14th place, two points behind leaders Nkana
Mopani Copper Mines has increased its monthly grant to Zambia Rugby Union League champions Diggers by $ 1000 (KR 53,000).
Diggers chairman Chileshe Bweupe made the revelation during the club’s annual general meeting in Kitwe on Friday.
Bweupe said the grant has been increased from $25,000 (KR13,250) to $35,000 (KR18,500).
“Mopani has increased the monthly grant to the club from $25,000 to $35,000 to enable us help junior players with their education sponsorship and improve our youth rugby,” he said.
“We have since commenced assisting the deserving players,” Bweupe added.
He paid tibute to Mopani CEO Danny Callow over his firm’s support to Diggers.
” Many thanks to Mr. Danny Callow for his personal commitment to Diggers which motivated us to regain the league title after it eluded us for four years from 2008.”
Meanwhile, Bweupe bounced back as Diggers chairman unopposed together with his vice Brighton Mvula, secretary Millington Mambwe and treasurer Lawrence Njovu.
Struggling FAZ Super Division side Forest Rangers have fired coach Weston Mumba.
A committee member at the club has told LT Sports in confidence on Sunday.
Mumba’s eminent dismissal comes hours after Forest lost 1-0 to Konkola Blades away in Chililabombwe.
“Yes, the secretary (Lubinda Maginda) told him (Mumba) that his services were no longer needed.
We are just finalising everything,” the source revealed.
Neither Maginda nor Mumba was available for a comment as their mobile phones were off.
Forest have lost six matches and winning one so far in the league.
Mumba’s assistant Shex Chipoya is expected to take charge of the team.
After last week’s 2-1 loss to visiting Nkwazi in Ndola Mumba said:”It’s dangerous, we can’t go five games without a win it’s a risk to my position as coach.”
Forest hired Mumba late last season after Hector Chilombo left the Dola Hill outfit to join Power Dynamos as an assistant to Beston Chambeshi.
The United Party for National Development (UPND) has called on President Michael Sata to dispatch a special envoy to South African President, Jacob Juma, with unreserved apology as a reparation measure over Zambia’s Vice President, Guy Scott’s remarks on the people of South Africa.
UPND Chairman for International Relations, Mulondwe Muzungu, said South Africa is a great African nation which, under its able and dynamic leadership, is instrumental to the development and growth of economies of her neighbours including Zambia.
In a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today, Mr Muzungu noted that since the advent of the African National Congress Government, Zambians and South African people have enjoyed strong bonds of brotherly friendship and mutual respect which Zambia should not destroy.
He said the UPND would like to see the country run in a manner that sustains peaceful political and economic relations with its neighbours and the international community.
Mr Muzungu observed that Zambians cherish peace and would love to see their peace maintained.
The Guardian UK recently quoted Zambia’s Vice President Guy Scott in an interview alleging that the South Africans are backwards in terms of historical development.
-Fifteen Chisamba road accident victims have finally been laid to rest at the old St. Mary’s cementery in Kabwe yesterday.
And government says the death of eighteen people arising from one accident was a big loss and tragedy not only to the bereaved families but the nation at large.
Speaking at the occasion of burial at the cemetery in Kabwe today, central province minister, Phillip Kosamu, said the loss of these lives was devastating and that it has happened barely eight weeks after another accident on the same road which claimed the lives over
50 people.
“Most of these people were business men and women who were travelling to Lusaka to purchase merchandise for trade in Kabwe. They were on their way contributing to the economy of Kabwe and consequently to the nation as a whole,” Mr Kosamu reiterated.
Mr Kosamu said road safety, which includes issues such as road worthiness of vehicles, the state of the driver as well as obedience of the road traffic rules, was a responsibility of everyone to be adhered to in order to avoid accidents.
To the bereaved families, the Minister said the people of Kabwe and the nation at large share the pain, sorrows and grief on such huge loss, and assured them of government’s quick response of speeding up investigations to ascertain the cause of the accident.
And in a separate interview Kabwe Chamber of Commerce and Industry president, Winston Makukula, said his organisation was badly hit because the majority of the commuters in the bus were community business people who were trying very hard to earn a living and fulfill the government’s wish of putting more money in people’s pockets.
Mr Makukula appealed to transport owners to join the Chamber and business Association so that they can work together in providing business skills and ethics that would help them achieve their business goals and targets without resorting to illegal or unauthorized means
of raising more money such as pirating, overloading and over speeding to make many trips.
He said the association has observed that there was too much drunkenness among public service vehicle drivers especially at night, adding that there were too many buses being driven by unlicensed conductors.
He appealed to the government to urgently work on the much needed dual carriageway between Lusaka and the Copper belt as the number of accidents on this road testifies to the urgent need to sort out the problem that traffic congestion has caused.
Presiding at the church service, Rev Timothy Chipyoka said the stretch between Kabwe and Liteta in Central Province has repeatedly been a scene of accident which should make the believers to declare the stopping over the power of the devil to rule over Zambia.
Rev Chipyoka urged the mourners to remain firm during this trying moment and look to God for the strength bearing in mind that everyone will die but each in the way God wants.
The death toll in the April 30 Chisamba accident rose to 18 by yesterday after the death of one victim who died at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka yesterday.
Fifteen out of the eighteen deceased were buried by government at a common burial site which took place at St. Mary’s Old Cemetery today in Kabwe, while the others have been buried by relatives elsewhere.
MMD Vice President for Political Affairs Michael Kaingu has charged that he see the PF government to be in power for only a single term due to its poor leadership.
And Dr. Kaingu has observed that the PF leadership was full of arrogant people who have now ended up bringing the country into disrupted with the South Africans.
Speaking during a press briefing at his Kozo lodge in Livingstone on Saturday morning, Dr. Kaingu said that he does not see the PF to be in power for more that one term especially that outspoken Fr. Frank Bwalya has abandoned them.
Dr. Kaingu said that there is nothing which the PF government has done since it took over power from the MMD in 2011.
He said that all the developmental projects the PF was boosting about were left by the MMD which includes the Eurobond and the bid to host the UNWTO.
Dr. Kaingu charged that the PF government is lack to have found a strong foundation which was left the MMD but that it was unfortunate that the PF is trying to subdue and hide what was left by the former government.
The MMD vice president has also condemned the docility of Zambians for failure to take the PF government to task following increment in the price of fuel.
Dr. Kaingu said that on the day when fuel prices were hiked, Zambians marched and celebrated the Labour Day without feeling anything.
“The docility of Zambian people amuses me, when PF announced the fuel subsidy they kept quiet without asking for an explanation from government why they have increased the fuel price when it is cheaper on the international market,” he said.
“And when the prices of fuel was increased many Zambians marched and celebrated Labour Day without feeling anything,” Dr. Kaingu said.
He said that it was surprising to note that the PF government was increasing the price of fuel when neighboring countries were reducing.
“They are increasing fuel prices when their neighbors are reducing. And even on the international market fuel is cheaper,” he said.
“As Zambians we need an explanation from the PF government and not the waffling ministers are telling us. PF do not know what they are doing in government,” Dr. Kaingu said.
And Dr. Kaingu has observed that the PF leadership was full of arrogant people who have now ended up bringing the country into disrupted with the South Africans.
Commenting on the Vice President’ statement which has sparked the international attention, Dr. Kaingu said that it was unfortunate that the Vice president Guy Scott insulted the people of South Africa for no apparent reasons.
He said it was also wrong for Government Spokesperson Kennedy Sakeni to try to mend it instead of apologizing to the South African government.
“There is no private life in leadership and our Vice president has embraced the government and he has put us in disrepute with our colleagues in South Africa,” he said.
“Sakeni is trying to mend it but it is not possible. They should just apologize because there was no apparent reason to insult them,” Dr. Kaingu observed.
“PF has brought a type of leadership with no respect because they are very arrogant. They should know that they will come out of power and those they are insulting will wait for them, people like Kabimba,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Kaingu has paid tribute to Catholic priest Fr. Frank Bwalya for being robust and energetic by deciding to dump the PF government.
Dr. Kaingu said that Fr. Bwalya took PF into government single handedly adding that it is wrong for the PF to call him mad because he has turned against them.
He said that the crusade must continue until Zambian put the right person in state house.
“Fr. Bwalya is robust and energetic; he took the PF into government single handedly and now they are calling him a mad man because he is criticizing them. Fr. Bwalya is welcome in the MMD infact I can resign as vice president so that he can take up that position,” Dr. Kaingu said.
Vice-President Dr. Guy Scott has told a Pan-African conference organized by the Oxford University Union that Zambia is seeking to create opportunities for young Zambians to access affordable mortgages in a bold move designed to reduce the housing deficit in the country.
Delivering a keynote address at the Oxford University-Africa Society “Pan-African Conference 2013” themed “Towards a 21st Century African Renaissance”, Dr. Scott said the lack of access to affordable loans for decent homes has led to many young people entering the labour market to live in sub-standard accommodation for which they pay rents perpetually.
The Vice-President said the high interest rates banks charged on home loans hindered people’s access to affordable housing.
“The interest rates charged on homes here (Britain) are almost negligible and therefore people are able to get home loans even before they complete their postgraduate studies,” Dr Scott said.
The government is targeting to bring mortgage interest rates to an average of five percent in order to make as many young Zambians as possible to afford homes when they graduate from school. “You need to borrow at affordable rates in order to buy a house.”
At national level, Zambia has restructured some loans it inherited from the previous administration to longer-term arrangements and invested them in infrastructure development.
He also assured investors that Zambia’s political stability provides the necessary confidence business looks for when investing in any country.
His Majesty King Letsie III of Lesotho made the closing speech. Other speakers included senior diplomats, business leaders and academics assembled from a cross section of areas related to the theme of the 2013 conference. Dr Scott, a graduate of the prestigious Cambridge University lectured at Oxford University before he returned to Zambia. His wife Charlotte, a graduate of Oxford, participated as panelist during a session on infrastructure, urbanization and economic growth.
Meanwhile Dr. Scott told BBC Focus on Africa’s Joseph Onyango in a special interview earlier that unemployment was one of Zambia most immediate challenges the PF government was working hard to address.
“We are working hard to diversify the economy and we are doing this very fast. We are creating jobs but there is a huge gap we have to fill because only half a million people were in formal employment at the time we came to power.”
He said the government had put in place changes that sought to create more incentives for investors creating employment rather those simply seeking to extract the country’s resources without due regard to sustainable development.
Dr Scott dismissed as noisy, the Zambian opposition who had it a habit to rush to the international community seeking sanctions against the people of Zambia.
“The opposition are insincere…they are trying to create trouble for the government. They have lost support and now want to create a false impression in the eyes of the international community.”
He said the question of the trial of former president Rupiah Banda was before competent courts of law that would decide the outcome following Parliament’s decision to lift his immunity from prosecution.
There are no violations in Zambia warranting international intervention because the country is functional democracy where the rule of law, respect for property rights and a free political space were guaranteed in the constitution.
“If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.”
(James 4:17, NIV)
TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria
Many people expect the voice of God to boom like a loudspeaker, but scripture tells us that He speaks in a still, small voice. To us, it seems like an impression inside.
We think, “I know I should go visit my parents. I know I shouldn’t eat so many sweets. I know I should stay home and do my schoolwork.” The “I knows” are God talking to you. Don’t ignore it. Learn to be quick to obey.
A lot of times we know what we should do, but we make excuses and reason it out. “I’ll do it later. I’m busy now.” But, we have to understand God doesn’t ask us to do it for His sake. He asks us to do it for our own sake. I’ve learned that before God will release big blessings, He will give you small tests. Too often we dismiss it and think, “Oh, that’s no big deal.” But if you don’t pass these small tests, it will keep you from the big things God has in store.
Today, don’t put off the little things that you know you should be doing any longer. Take a step of faith and obey Him. As you’re faithful in the little things and pass the small tests, He’ll lead you into the greater things He has in store for you.
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father, thank You for speaking to my heart. Thank You for leading me in the path of blessing. I choose to obey You in the small things. I desire to pass the small tests so You can trust me with the greater things You have prepared in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Nkana suffered their first league defeat of the season today after losing 1-0 away to Napsa Stars.
The 2013 league pacesetters where stunned by a 15th minute goal via a header scored by veteran striker Harry Milanzi.
Nkana were disjointed throughout the first half as Napsa dominated.
Dube Phiri came close to extending Napsa’s lead in the 22nd minute but his header was saved by Chansa Kabwe.
Two minutes later, Kabwe was again tested by Milanzi but his effort was saved.
After the break, Nkana came back strong with some good possession but have very little to offer in terms of goal mouth action despite their entertaining football.
Meanwhile, Napsa’s victory was their second successive win after thumping bottom placed Lime Hotspurs last weekend.
Napsa move out of the bottom four from 14th to 15th place after picking up their second win of the season on seven points from as many games played.
Meanwhile, Nkana’s defeat sees their five point lead cut to just two points after Nchanga Rangers beat Konkola Mine Police 3-1 to close the gap.
Nkana stay on 16 points, Nchanga have 14 points after seven matches played.
Kabwe Warriors coach Dick Ngwenya says his side will not fear Green Buffaloes in Sunday’s delayed Super Division match in Kabwe.
Warriors and Buffaloes clash at Godfrey “Ucar” Chitalu Staduim hoping to shed off their respective 1-1 draws in previous matches with Kalulushi Modern Stars and Nchanga Rangers.
“The game will be tough”, Ngwenya predicted.
“We respect Buffaloes but we shall see after 90 minutes. I am urging my players to work hard and remain focused,” he said.
Nchanga Rangers on Saturday eased to a 3-1 win over Konkola Mine Police in the FAZ Super Division Week Seven match in Chingola to move into second place on the FAZ Super Division table.
.
Rangers did not hesitate to take an early lead as Cletus Chama tapped in from close range after 13 minutes.
Chama’s early goal aided dominant Rangers to go into the half time break leading Mine Police 1-0.
Bornwell Mwape doubled Rangers’ lead when he scored on 52 minutes with his traditional powerful shot before Alex Ng’onga added the third goal for the home side 20 minutes later.
Chanda Mushili ensured that Mine Police lost with dignity when he pulled one back two minutes before the final whistle.
Rangers are joint second on the log with 14 points while Mine Police remained in the bottom half with six points in seven fixtures.
Malole Member of Parliament, Christopher Yaluma, today held a series of meetings and distributed assorted goods to people in his constituency as a way of appreciating them for having voted for the Patriotic Front (PF) in the 2011 general elections.
And Mr Yaluma has reaffirmed Government’s commitment to developing the country by constructing roads, schools, health centres and sinking boreholes and many other infrastructures countrywide as per PF pledges during the campaigns.
Speaking at various gatherings in Malole Constituency, Mr Yaluma said the PF government started re-building the country immediately after winning the 2011 elections, saying a number of projects have since been launched in almost all constituencies.
Mr Yaluma, who is also Transport, Works, Supply and Communications Minister, said his government has already embarked on countrywide road construction, citing the Mbala-Nakonde road, Kasama-Mporokoso road, Kasama-Mbesuma road and the bridge, and the construction of schools and health centres in his constituency as some of the projects that have taken off.
The MP noted that the PF made a number of promises to the people and has since started fulfilling them, adding that by 2016, the party will be judged based on its performance.
He commended the people of Malole for giving their votes to the PF, saying his government will ensure that it delivers according to the people’s expectations.
He said President Michael Sata is grateful to the people of Malole for believing in the PF party and its various candidates.
Among the things Mr Yaluma has distributed were chitenge material and blankets to the women and men, and beddings to some health centres plus a fridge to St Joseph Basic School tuck shop.
The minister started the tour of his constituency yesterday and is expected to wind up after handing over hammer mills to women clubs under the Women Empowerment Programme which is being implemented by the Ministry of Gender and Child Development.
During his tour of the constituency, the minister has been encouraging Women and Youth to form clubs in order to access funds while men have also been urged to apply for the Citizens Economic Empowerment Funds which is being administered by the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry.
Meanwhile the people of Malole in various wards have commended Mr Yalume and the Patriotic Front Government for embarking on various developmental projects that include road constructions and infrastructural development in the constituency.
A representative for the Natubombelepamo Women Club of Henry Kapata village, Makaliyo Katanda, noted that people in the area are facing numerous challenges but quickly noted that the PF government is on course to address them going by their performance in few years the party has been in power.
Mr Katanda stated that even though some developmental projects have kicked off, there is need to ensure that the Constituency Development Funds reach people in all wards.
He said the people have not been updated on how the CDF has been utilized which he said have raised concerns among the villagers.
But in response, the minister told the gatherings that the council met recently and agreed to call auditors to audit the usage of CDF in the district.
He said government will not allow mismanagement of public resources as it has a huge responsibility of rebuilding the country, hence the need to use all resources prudently.
