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Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) has joined other political parties and civil society organizations standing in solidarity with the University of Zambia (UNZA) protesting students who were on Friday arrested by the police.
The arrested UNZA students were protesting against government’s decision to lift the subsidies on fuel and maize.
Speaking to Qfm in an interview, FODEP Executive Director McDonald Chipenzi has expressed worry at the rate at which the ruling Patriotic Front has gone in denying people their democratic right to express themselves.
He maintained that it was not justifiable for President Michael Sata to direct the police to arrest the UNZA students over a mere protest.
Opposition Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) has announced its intentions to participate in the July 25 by-elections to reclaim the three parliamentary seats it recently lost through resignations of it Members of Parliament.
Director of communication in the office of the MMD president Muhabi Lungu has maintained that the former ruling party has sufficient resources to participate in the by-elections.
Speaking to Qfm in an interview Mr. Lungu also expressed optimism that the MMD would win in all three constituencies it had lost the parliamentary seats.
The three Parliamentary seats which were held by the MMD include Kafulafuta, Mkushi North, and Solwezi west constituencies.
Opposition Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) has expressed solidarity for the University of Zambia students who were this morning arrested for protesting against the removal of the maize and fuel subsidies by government.
The arrest of the undisclosed number of protesting students was a direct order by president Sata who also called for their expulsion from the University.
Director of Communications in the Office of the MMD President Muhabi Lungu has charged that the president had no right to order the arrest of students who merely expressly their democratic right.
Speaking in an interview with Qfm Mr.Lungu noted that such a directive by President Sata is yet another clear indication of the direction Zambia is taking in turning into a country ruled under dictatorship.
Mr.Lungu wondered why the President did not react in the same when earlier the same University student demonstrates in favor of the government’s decision to lift the maize and fuel subsidies.
He said that people in the country should be allowed to peacefully exercise their democratic rights as Zambia is a democracy.
The Director of Communications in the Office of the MMD President also urged president Sata to realize that Zambia is a country that is formed under tenets of democracy.
Lusaka Province Commissioner of Police, Joyce Kasosa
Lusaka Police Chief Joyce Kasosa has confirmed that 31 people have been picked up following the street riots at UNZA Great East Road campus in Lusaka Friday afternoon.
“Yes we have 31 people apprehended, we have not yet arrested anyone yet and we are yet to interview them. I will not reveal the locations where we are holding them from,” Mrs. Kasosa said.
She said police has apprehended the 31 people to help with investigations into the UNZA riots.
Ms. Kasosa could however not confirm reports that some of the people apprehended are senior officials from the Young African Leaders Initiative.
“Like I said, we have not yet interviewed these people so I cannot assume they are all students or YALI members, let us first do our job and we shall inform you accordingly,” she said.
UNZA students ran amok Friday afternoon in one of the tense street battles with the police seen in recent years.
Three rooms at UNZA hostel have been burnt to ashes as a result of the demonstrations.
MINISTER of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education John Phiri has warned students in various public universities not to be used by disgruntled politicians as tools to cause confusion.
Dr Phiri was speaking after receiving a directive from President Michael Sata to expel University of Zambia Students protesting against the removal of subsidies.
“There are disgruntled Zambians out there, who want to use students in universities and colleges to cause confusion, as Minister in charge, I will not allow this and I want to warn students not to allow to be used as tools of confusion,” Dr Phiri said.
He said the students were also beneficiaries of the removal of the subsidies as some of the funds saved would be channeled to the education sector.
“I don’t want any of my students in all institutions to be at risk of arrest or expulsion ,the PF needs all the students to prepare them to be the leaders of tomorrow,” Dr Phiri said.
Dr Phiri also disclosed that despite two rooms being partially burnt due to teargas canisters, there were no serious casualties. Only a few students were being treated for minor injuries,
[pullquote]“Today some opposition leaders like HH are taking money to buy students from UNZA to start going to cause trouble at Arcades and on the Copperbelt. To this end, I ask you Minister of Education, identify those students, expel them from the university and hand them over to Ms Kasosa, who will arrest them,” he said.[/pullquote]
Dr Phiri also urged the Police to find the people who were advocating the declaration of the black Friday to ascertain what was behind it.
Earlier, President Sata directed that the unruly students should be expelled from UNZA with immediate effect.
He further said that he had information that opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema was behind the sponsoring of the students to engage in unruly behaviour.
“Today some opposition leaders like HH are taking money to buy students from UNZA to start going to cause trouble at Arcades and on the Copperbelt. To this end, I ask you Minister of Education, identify those students, expel them from the university and hand them over to Ms Kasosa, who will arrest them,” he said.
“It is immoral for us as a country to subsidise fuel when our children can’t even afford an education. I am appealing to all Zambians to trust me because our priority is to distribute national resources equitably,” he said.
He said it would cost the country, KR250 million to build five universities and that KR1.1 billion was being spent on subsidies, which was wrong.
He said Zambians sacrificed a lot during the privatisation process, when people like Mr Hichilema allegedly enriched themselves at the same time.
[pullquote]“It is immoral for us as a country to subsidise fuel when our children can’t even afford an education. I am appealing to all Zambians to trust me because our priority is to distribute national resources equitably,” he said.[/pullquote]
And University of Zambia (UNZA) Registrar Kavwanga Yambayamba has warned students that the Institution would not hesitate to expel students who would be found disrupting the normal academic functions of the University.
Dr Yambayamba said there were more peaceful ways of airing grievances and that management would not hesitate to expel anyone found wanting adding that students should focus on their academic studies.
“It has been observed that some students over the past few days have involved themselves in activities which have lead to the disruption of academic programmes,” Dr Yambayamba said.
Madalitso Muthiya put behind his bad start on Thursday at the Zambia Open to record his best second round score at the vent in six years.
He is one of two Zambian golfers to make the final two rounds of the four-day Zambia Open together with Patrick Mwendapole who finished at one-under.
Muthiya made the cut after carding five-under and his five shots behind leader for the second successive day Martin du Toit of South Africa.
The last time Muthiya had a good second round result was at the 2007 event when he fired a six-under 66 on his way to finishing 19th in Ndola.
“I just played consistently today and I put myself in the right position and I made the putts that I didn’t make yesterday,” Muthiya said.
“Today I putted slightly much better.”
On Friday, Muthiya carded three birdies and as many bogeys.
The USA-based golfer has an unenviable three day outing of his every move followed by the usually partisan crowd at his home base, Lusaka Golf Club.
“Psychologically I will just try to focus and block it because at the end of the day I am out to do well and play well,” he said.
“I just view it that people are there to watch. You just have to do what you have to do.”
Overall, it was a bad day for Zambian golfers with teenage prospect Dayne Moore, Michael Chiluba and Timothy Sondashi who was looking strong to making his debut Zambia Open cut all tumbling out of the tournament.
Meanwhile, defending champion Justin Harding has made the cut after carding three-under.
Joining him are ex-winners Doug McGuigan and Adilson Da Silva who are both tied on seven-under.
President Michael Sata has directed Lusaka province police commissioner Joyce kasosa to arrest all students protesting against the lifting of the fuel and maize subsidies.
The head of state sounded the order shortly before he laid ground for the contraction works for Palabana University in Chongwe district this morning.
President Sata has also accused United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema for allegedly dishing out money to students at University of Zambia Great East campus and Copperbelt University to protest against government’s decisions to lift the fuel and maize subsidies.
Qfm staffer Yande Musonda reports that President Sata also commended Chieftains Nkhomeshya for her developmental ideas she has been executing in her chiefdom.
The head of state assured chieftains Nkhomeshya that the Patriotic Front government will remain committed to implementing development projects in her chiefdom.
Vexed with government’s decision to remove subsidies on mealie meal and fuel, University of Zambia students have launched a black Friday campaign aimed at pressurizing government to reverse its decision.
As of this morning police in riot gear surrounded the University premises in redness to any possible protest.
Meanwhile, police on the Copperbelt have sealed off Muvi Television Ndola studios in anticipation of protests by Copperbelt Students over the recent announced removal of fuel and maize subsidies.
LIVINGSTONE District Commissioner Ommar Munsanje congratulates a 92 year old Alesi Moono before presenting with gifts. This was during the International Day of the family commemoration at Civic centre in Livingstone on Wednesday. Lifting Alesi Moono is Evangelist Fred Siayaba of Church of Christ
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LIVINGSTONE District Commissioner Ommar Munsanje congratulates a 92 year old Alesi Moono before presenting with gifts. This was during the International Day of the family commemoration at Civic centre in Livingstone on Wednesday. Lifting Alesi Moono is Evangelist Fred Siayaba of Church of Christ
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Inyatsi Roads Zambia contracts director Robert Boutelje (far left), Transport Minister Christopher Yaluma (second from far left), Inyatsi asphalt manager Yohan Ratef (second from far right) and RDA chairperson Willie Nsanda (far right) inspecting Inyatsi machinery which is currently not operational in Livingstone
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Transport, Works, Supply and Communication Minister Christopher Yaluma (middle) inspecting road works on Mosi-oa-tunya Road in Livingstone
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Transport, Works, Supply and Communication Minister Christopher Yaluma (middle) inspecting construction works at Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport in Livingstone
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CHIEFS and Traditional Affairs Permanent Secretary Coilard Chibbonta (r ) plants a Khaya nyasis tree at Victoria Falls World Heritage site, on the right is an Ecologist Musawa Hamusonde helping him. This was when the Minister and Permanent Secretary visited the heritage sites in Livingstone City recently
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CHIEFS and Traditional Affairs Minister Professor Nkandu Luo (l)admires the curios as Mukuni Victoria Falls curio Market Association Chairperson Patrick Malake guides her. This was when she visited the heritage sites in Livingstone City
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Zamtel Managing Director Mupanga Mwanakatwe and Samsung Vice President George Ferreira shake hands after the signing ceremony between Zamtel and Samsung at Zamtel house in Lusaka
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Zamtel Managing Director Mupanga Mwanakatwe and Samsung Vice President George Ferreira shake hands after the signing ceremony between Zamtel and Samsung at Zamtel house in Lusaka
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President Michael Sata with Freedom fighters from Muchinga province when they visited him at State House
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President Michael Sata with Freedom fighters from Muchinga province when they visited him at State House
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JUSTICE Minister Wynter Kabimba addresses students at Cavendish University in Lusaka on Tuesday. This was during the inauguration of presidents of the Law Society and Business and Economic Association of the Cavendish University Zambia Students Union
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Road Development Agency (RDA) Director Bernard Chiwala (right), Pave Zambia Project Senior Manager Thomson Banda and President Michael Sata Economic Advisor Paul Siame inspects the equipment that has been procured ahead of the August 30 groundbreaking ceremony of Pave Zambia 2000 project at RDA Mumbwa road workshop
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Road Development Agency (RDA) Director Bernard Chiwala (left) and Pave Zambia Project Senior Manager Thomson Banda inspects the equipment that has been procured ahead of the August 30 groundbreaking ceremony of Pave Zambia 2000 project at RDA Mumbwa road workshop
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Nurses and midwives participating in a match past during the commemoration of international nurses day held in Serenje district and was attended by all nurses from all districts of the province including newly created Chitambo district
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Central province minister Philip Kosamu second last in a suit leading the nurses and midwives during the commemoration of nurses day in Serenje district which attracted participants from all parts of the province
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Nurses and midwives participating in a match past during the commemoration of international nurses day held in Serenje district and was attended by all nurses from all districts of the province including newly created Chitambo district
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Nurses and midwives participating in a match past during the commemoration of international nurses day held in Serenje district and was attended by all nurses from all districts of the province including newly created Chitambo district
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Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda with Muchinga Permanent Secretary Charles Sipanje touring newly opened Zambia National Commercial Bank Branch in Nakonde
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Western Province Permanent Secretary Emmanuel Mwamba shaking hands with the Commissioner General Berlin Msiska when after the Permanent Secretary toured the border post
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Western Province Permanent Secretary Emmanuel Mwamba sitting on the desk without upper writing board while the School headmaster Lutoombi Mwananyanda trying to put back the upper writing board that was remove off it during the tour of the school
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Western Province Permanent Secretary Emmanuel Mwamba looking in pity how the School cookies Cooks struggle in preparing food for the school children who are more than 1000 using one cooking pot during the tour of the school
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Western Province Permanent Secretary Emmanuel Mwamba looking in pity how the School cookies struggle in preparing food for the school children who are more than 1000 using one cooking pot during the tour of the school
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Second Lady, Charlotte Scott signing her autograph at the just launched ”Junior Reporter Magazine” and surrounding her are Junior Reportersduring the launch of ” Junior Reporter Magazine” at Elunda 2 Building in Lusaka
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Second Lady, Charlotte Scott signing her autograph at the just launched ”Junior Reporter Magazine” and surrounding her are Junior Reportersduring the launch of ” Junior Reporter Magazine” at Elunda 2 Building in Lusaka
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Education Ps Dr. Patrick Nkanza delivering a speech on behalf of the Education Minister Dr. John Phiri during the launch of ” Junior Reporter Magazine” at Elunda 2 Building in Lusaka. On the left is a group of Junior Reporters
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Mukuni Victoria Falls Curio Market currently covered in readiness for the construction of the new market to prepare for August 2013 UNWTO conference
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Workers from Kalomo Hiware Enterprises digging the foundation for the construction of new Mukuni Victoria Falls Curio Market in Livingstone in readiness for UNWTO conference
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Emmanuel Chenda tees off during the 2013 Airtel Zambia sponsored Pro-Am Golf Tournament at the Lusaka Golf Club
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Emmanuel Chenda tees off during the 2013 Airtel Zambia sponsored Pro-Am Golf Tournament at the Lusaka Golf Club
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ZAMBIA’S Melissa Nawa tees off during yesterday’s 2013 Airtel Zambia sponsored Pro-Am at the Lusaka Golf Club
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ZAMBIA’S Melissa Nawa tees off during 2013 Airtel Zambia sponsored Pro-Am at the Lusaka Golf Club
Nkana striker Reynold Kampamba has been snubbed for Zambia’s friendly against Namibia next week.
The 2012 top scorer who finished the season on 15 goals has suffered a second successive blow from Herve Renard after he was overlooked for Zambia’s April 28 friendly against Zimbabwe that Chipolopolo won 2-0.
Renard today named a 24-member home-based team to face Namibia away on May 24 in Windhoek.
Kampamba currently has five goals in eight games for Nkana heading into Saturdays big Copperbelt derby away to Nchanga Rangers at Nchanga Stadium in Chingola.
Meanwhile, Zambia is almost unchanged from the side that beat Zimbabwe a fortnight ago.
Power Dynamos midfielder Mukuka Mulenga and Red Arrows goalkeeper Danny Munyau who missed the Zimbabwe game are the only notable changes to the team that enters camp in Lusaka on May 20.
And Renard will name his 2014 World Cup qualifier team to face Lesotho on June 8 in Ndola when the team returns from Windhoek.
Fr Bwalya conducting an interview in South Africa this week
Fr Bwalya conducting an interview in South Africa this week
Father Frank Bwalya’s press assistant has released a statement from the media denying media reports that father Bwalya supported gay marriages in his interview in South Africa. The statement allege that the information was mere propaganda peddled by Government media to try and get attention from the PF government that they are Times of Zambia is important.
Below is the full statement.
PRESS STATEMENT – MAY 17, 2013
FATHER BWALYA NEVER SUPPORTED GAY MARRIAGES – ITS PROPAGANDA
There are so many MALICIOUS AND FALSE allegations being peddled against Fr. Frank Bwalya. Zambians, I trust that you are not so gullible to believe the stupid and malicious statements being peddled, said so many times by several people does not make a bunch of lies to be facts or truth.
These allegations are a product of PANIC PROPAGANDA by the PF so that they divert attention from the real issues of wasted public resources on by-elections, imposed national starvation strategy by removing mealie meal subsidies and spiral effects of increased fuel prices .
Firstly, you must understand the SOURCE of such information – TIMES OF ZAMBIA, who have not been paid their two months salary arrears. So, its not surprising that they had to resort to unfounded propaganda to make themselves “relevant” to the PF government as one way of saying “we are important”.
Secondly, since when did the Times of Zambia ever publish anything positive about the opposition, now and before – even when PF was in the opposition? Get to their archives and prove me wrong. All these are lies because they are dead scared of Fr. Bwalya’s wide appeal to the Zambians on the political scene.
Times of Zambia, Zambia Daily Mail are experts in spinning and giving wrong views to the government of the day. That’s why readers stopped buying enmass and now they are in continuous financial troubles. These lies against Fr. Bwalya is just mere cheap recycled propaganda. The public media feasted on Sata and the PF with same allegations and same reasoning, people ignored their bluff and voted for PF.
In fact, these public media chaps all deserved to be fired (or just close them down and save tax payers money). If my boy, PS Amos Malupenga can get to the archives and read what they wrote about the PF and Michael Sata in particular, none would survive at these two institutions.
ZNBC is beginning to be different under DG Chibamba Kanyama – he truly wants ZNBC to serve public interest, because he knows that the public funds their well being as an institution. We are not moved nor surprised. They have no new ideas on how to run their media, hence their begging bowls year in year out. They are using the same old dogs that their enemies unleashed and used against PF towards the 2011 elections.
Its shameful. Fr. Bwalya never said he supports gay rights. Fr. Bwalya is not a product of same sex marriage, how can he dare to support that? Those same sex arrangements are sick people, sick in the minds because they want to condemn God’s way of perpetuating life. Everything God made is male and female, how can anyone think same sex couples are sane? However, this propaganda wont’ stick on Fr. Bwalya. Wait you will hear more when we start campaigning.
For your own information, Kambwili, UPND and others say something to the public and in the night, they call Fr. Bwalya to say something else, they are living double lives, you cannot please two masters at the same time.
Kambwili said that Fr. Bwalya is not a factor, so why are they launching unwarranted attacks on a person who is a nonentity? The fact is, after 2011 elections they went to sleep, thinking that there can never be a challenger to the PF reign.
In fact, they boasted that those to challenge PF are not yet born. But, the emergence of Fr. Bwalya has shocked them and they have no system of positive response to what is happening on the ground.
For UPND, they may lose another golden opportunity to get into government depending on how the party would handle itself within the opposition ranks. But, we have faith in UPND President, Hakainde Hichilema.
For 15 years, UPND may well become a professional Opposition if nothing changes for them in 2016. PF spent 10 years in opposition and you can see the effect of lack of direction, misuse of State power.
We won’t be daunted. Our eyes are on the ball. Looking at spectators may detract our focus on the main goal – bringing about real economic, social transformation of the way Zambians live. They have been taken for granted for too long.
Emmanuel Chilekwa, Special Assistant for Press & Public Relations.
Three people died on the spot while four others were critically injured in a road traffic accident involving eight vehicles along the Kitwe-Chingola Road late Thursday afternoon.
The accident was caused by the driver of a Freight Liner Truck registration number 2580,who failed to break and rammed into several other vehicles that were in front before hitting into the back of a Hino Ranger, laden with several workers causing it to collide with a light truck.
Copperbelt Police Commissioner Mary Tembo yesterday confirmed the accident and named the three deceased as John Masan, 24, Charles Besa and the third only identified as Misengo who all sustained fatal injuries.
The driver of the Freight Liner Fabian Siame and his Hino Ranger counterpart both ran away after the accident.
Kitwe District Commissioner Elias Kamanga who rushed Kitwe Central Hospital regretted the accident and the loss of lives, which he said could have been
avoided had it not been the reckless driving of the truck drivers.
“It is a pity that we have lost lives because of the over-speeding of the driver and what is of more concern to us as Government is that most of the accidents we are recording involve either truck or bus drivers,” he said.
Mr Kamanga called on the Road Safety Agency to do everything possible to ensure that truck and bus drivers comply with traffic regulations to avoid unnecessary loss of lives.
He also cited the need for quick upgrading of Kitwe-Chingola Road into a dual carriageway.
File:President Mugabe (l) and President Sata after a closed door meeting at Royal Livingstone Hotel
Zambia has told Zimbabwe that it is in no hurry to be paid for 150,000 tonnes of maize it is sending to its southern neighbour, President Robert Mugabe said on Thursday.
Zambia’s Vice President Guy Scott was in Harare last week to finalise the maize deal, but Mugabe said the two neighbours are as yet to put a value on the rescue cargo.
Mugabe said following his meeting with Scott, he spoke to Zambian President Michael Sata on the phone who took pity on his neighbour’s poor bank balance.
“When I was talking to him about what we had in mind about paying, he said ‘no, no, no’. He is a humorous man as you know,” Mugabe told a conference in Harare on Thursday to launch the Food and Nutrition Security Policy and Implementation Plan.
“He said ‘let’s have the food in the stomachs of our people first, and when we have the food in the stomachs, then we will talk about the price’ and I said ‘that is a great man, he shares our affliction’.”
At today’s prices, 150,000 tonnes of maize is valued at about US$25 million.[pullquote]
Sata told Mugabe let’s have the food in the stomachs of our people first, and when we have the food in the stomachs,then we will talk about the price
[/pullquote]Mugabe’s partners in the coalition government have expressed fears that the maize – which is set to be distributed free in drought-prone provinces like Matabeleland South and North, Masvingo as well as parts of Manicaland and the Midlands – could be used as a campaign tool through selective distribution.
The conference was largely boycotted by the MDC parties in the ruling coalition with Zanu PF – with just two MDC-T ministers in attendance. Parliamentary and Constitutional Affairs Minister Eric Matinenga and Obert Gutu, the Deputy Minister of Justice, were the only ones other than Zanu PF ministers in attendance.
Mugabe told the gathering: “The official launch of the Food and Nutrition Security and its implementation plan, indicates the government’s strategic shift in addressing an issue which is not only of national, but global concern as well.
“It is a well-established fact that food and nutrition insecurity lead to a vicious cycle of malnutrition, increased susceptibility to disease, impaired mental and physical development, reduced productivity and poverty.
“In Zimbabwe, the nutrition situation is of concern to the government as one out of every three children is chronically malnourished. Twenty-five percent of all deaths of children under the age of five are attributed to nutritional deficiencies and 47 percent of women are anaemic.
“Given the recent challenges of spiralling food prices and climate change, the food situation in our country has worsened as the number of people unable to meet their daily food requirements has increased by 21 percent since 1995.”
Mugabe said apart from food handovers, some remedies lay in supporting new black farmers who benefitted from his government’s land reforms over the last 13 years.
“The government will continue to take measures that empower farmers, especially small-holder farmers and women so that they access cheap finance, knowledge on climate and the environment, smart farming systems, infrastructure and farm machinery,” Mugabe said.
Vice President Joice Mujuru, who chairs a National Food and Nutrition task force which was first introduced to respond to the 1993 drought, will lead the government programme to “co-ordinate and implement multi-sectoral interventions to address the challenges of food and nutrition insecurity”, she said.
Zesco United coach Tenant Chembo says the 2013 FAZ Super Division campaign is unpredictable.
After a round of eight games, Nkana are the surprise league leaders with 19 points, defending champions Zanaco are 7th and last year’s runners up Power lie 11th on 10 points.
Speaking at a media briefing held on Thursday in Ndola, Chembo noted that this year’s league was very competitive.
“The league is very competitive such that you cannot afford any slip ups.
“We can see that every week on Monday the league standings are changing meaning there are no longer underdogs in Zambian football,” he said.
On the Week Nine match against Kalulushi Modern Stars on Saturday, Chembo said Zesco will not underrate the Kalulushi outfit.
“We respect Kalulushi they are a good team and they play attractive football so it will be a very interesting game. We are preparing to get a positive result.” he added.
Zesco lie second on the table with 15 points while Kalulushi are 12th on 10 points.
