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Police in Livingstone yesterday released a hired white Mitsubishi canter from Lusaka registration number AEL 409 that was impounded by police in Livingstone on 24th February 2013.
The vehicle that was hired by the Zambia Red Cross Society Lusaka branch was carrying 45 bicycles meant for distribution to the Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVCs) care facilitators for both Kazungula and Sesheke districts.
Red Cross Project officer for Kazungula branch Moono Mutambwa disclosed the development to ZANIS in an interview yesterday.
Mr. Mutambwa mentioned that the vehicle was also carrying boxes of school shoes for the 430 OVCs that are under the support of Red Cross for both Sesheke and Kazungula districts as well as T-shirts for the volunteers.
He said the police officers who impounded the vehicle thought the items belonged to one of the political parties taking part in the deferred Livingstone bye-election and was earmarked for distribution to bribe the electorates in Livingstone.
Mr. Mutambwa charged that after investigations, it was discovered that the items in question were meant for Red Cross’s distribution to the OVCs in the named two districts.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mutambwa managed to distribute 15 bicycles to the OVC care givers in Kazungula yesterday while the 30 bicycles went to the beneficiaries in Sesheke district in Western Province.
People in a queue for mealie meal in Chililabombwe this week
Namwala district commissioner Gevar Nsanzya has disclosed that most traders in the area have stopped selling mealie meal following the Presidential directive to peg the price at K50.00 per 25 kilo gram bag of breakfast.
The District Commissioner said this when a team comprising Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet Ambassador Peter Kasanda, Southern Province Permanent Secretary Dr.Mulenga Chileshe, and Permanent Secretary for parliamentary affairs Dr Simon Miti visited Namwala.
The team was in the area at the weekend to assess the extent to which Presidential directives and pronouncements have been implemented and the challenges encountered.
Mr.Nsanzya told the team that only Zambeef has maintained selling at K50.00 per 25 kg of breakfast and K38.00 for roller meal.
He said that recently he had a meeting with all mealie meal traders in the district who claimed that they were not making a profit because of high transportation costs from Namwala to Choma.
Mr.Nsanza added that the traders want government intervention to convince milling companies to bring mealie meal direct to the district so that the traders sell the commodity at the recommended price.
Meanwhile, Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet Ambassador Peter Kasanda has urged civil servants to implement government policies in line with the Patriotic Front manifesto.
Dr.Kasanda was speaking when he addressed government heads of departments in Namwala.
The Heads of department presented various issues such as restructuring of some government departments, nonpayment of rural hardship allowances, and settling in allowances among other issues.
By Barnabas Mwansa
Abraham Lincoln once said “Government of the people by the people for the people shall not perish from this earth”. Democracy will always triumph, of course premature democracies are noisy, but not as violent and intolerant as Zambia is witnessing. The rising political intolerance and violence between and within the ruling party and the opposition is non democratic.
Respect for rule of law and abuse of institutions of governance
The values of democracy are tolerance, respect for the rule of law and institutions of governance including the courts and the police. Democracy is a system of rule by laws, not individuals. In this vain institutions of governance must restrain themselves from political abuse.
Custodians of the law must act with impartiality and professional to secure the course of justice and maintain rule of law. The Zambia police are playing to the gallery for failure to perform their duties in line with democratic principles. In a democracy, the rule of law protects the rights of citizens, maintains order, and limits the power of government.
The Zambia police under the deputy leadership of Solomon Jere have abused authority in their dealings with opposition political parties both in the application of an outdated colonial ‘public order act’ and in the enforcement of the law.Dr. Solomon Jere must resign to serve and restore public confidence in the police service. It is a well known fact that his behaviour in most recent months has tarnished public imagine of the police service and the government of Zambia. The police must understand that in a democracy no one may be arrested, imprisoned, or exiled arbitrarily and no one may be denied their freedom without a fair and public hearing by an impartial court.
[pullquote]the current political situation seems to be driven more by the desire to consolidate political power than by the willingness to serve” and develop the country.[/pullquote]
In a democracy, anyone accused of a crime and arrested is presumed innocent until proven guilty. A person’s guilt must be proved in a court of law, through a fair, speedy, and public trial and not in the media as the case is in Zambia. Only the courts can decide the guilt or innocence of individuals charged with a crime, and only the higher courts can determine whether a law or a government action or policy is constitutional.
PF political intolerance
I believe political tolerance rest on the shoulders of the political party in power. “Intolerance is itself a form of violence and an obstacle to the growth of a true democratic spirit” Mahatma Gandhi.
The PF government has failed to tolerant its opponents and instead they have demonstrated inability in promoting fundamental principles of democracy and inclusive political dialogue. The continued lack of political tolerance and dialogue since PF came into power is a threat to Zambia’s young democracy. The PF government due to its inability to deal with pressure from the opposition have adopted a reactionary approach rather than being proactive and engage in constructive national development debate.
While this may help them prove a point that there are the party in power, it will not take PF anywhere and worse still, it will be to the detriment of the nation development. When PF spend most of the time squabbling with the opposition, development is undermined. JCTR rightly observed that “the current political situation seems to be driven more by the desire to consolidate political power than by the willingness to serve” and develop the country.
Our appeal, if Michael Sata is a true democrat let him create an environment in which effective opposition political parties can flourish. He should not leave it to his overzealous political vuvuzelas like Wynter Kabimba and Edgar Lungu. Zambians voted PF into government to restore political order and reconciliation, maintain peace and stability, both economically and politically cracked down by the MMD government.
Opposition Political Parties Aggressiveness
In fairness, hostility, egotism and aggressiveness exhibited by the leadership of MMD and UPND have not helped resolve political intolerance. In a democracy, the exercise of political power must respect the law, the constitution and the will of the people.The current leadership of MMD and UPND have lost foresight on the role of the opposition. It seems their preoccupation is to make it difficult for PF to govern and deliver development to the people of Zambia. Again as observed the current political situation seems to be driven more by the desire to consolidate political power than by the willingness to serve and develop the country. The leadership of MMD and UPND is ambitious for presidency than visionary for national development. [pullquote]The leadership of MMD and UPND is ambitious for presidency than visionary for national development.[/pullquote]
Zambia will not develop through political intolerance and/or failure of PF, but by the collective responsibility of all of us. The opposition ought to find suitable and appropriate channels to engage with the PF government. After all, democracy is about debate on important development and policy issues that affect the citizenry and not name calling. Primitive stone aged politics of tribal, regional or frustrating the government in power is long gone.
Mature opposition should demonstrate the ability and maturity to take over from the current government through articulating sound development policy and providing accurate checks and balance on governance and service delivery.
The leadership of the opposition need soul searching and reflection on how best to engage in constructive dialogue with the PF government because no one will develop Zambia within the limited tenure of office provide by our constitution.
There is need to realised that each one of us will only make a contribution to the development of our beloved country. Zambia has a long way to go. Politicians will come and go. But the government of the people by the people for the people shall not perish from this country and democracy will triumph in Zambia.
Following the tragic death of one man and subsequent riots prompting the postponement of the Livingstone by-election, the Coalition for the Defence of Democratic Rights (CDDR) is calling upon the Patriotic Front government of President Michael Sata to stop its reckless manipulation of violence and show greater responsibility to uphold unity in the country.
The CDDR finds it unfortunate that in a moment of dangerous turmoil that the ruling party chose not pursue dialogue and peace, but instead began assigning blame toward political opponents before allowing for an investigation and due process of the law. The CDDR denounces the fact that 13 prisoners continue to be held under politically motivated charges, some carrying the death sentence, while the state-owned media has heightened tensions between ethnic groups by issuing false, prevocational reports.
In the report presented to the Commonwealth on February 12, the CDDR warned that the PF government had exhibited a dangerous history of violence, including but not limited to orders given by President Sata to the Armed Forces to fire upon citizens in Western Province, as well as numerous incidences of sending cadre militias to threaten and intimidate voters.
In support of these allegations, the CDDR has released a new video containing recordings of President Sata’s orders to the military, along with past instances of Minister of Justice Wynter Kabimba urging cadres to engage in violence, as well as the aggravated assault against a former PF member by Judge Ngoma and others. As noted in the report, one of President Sata’s first acts as president was to release Mr. Ngoma, a convicted felon, from jail despite having perpetrated these violent acts.
The CDDR shall continue to document violations of civil and human rights in Zambia and present findings to international bodies in order to urge international action and bring about a return accountability and the rule of law.
More information on the CDDR’s activities and the full copy of the Commonwealth Report can be read at http://cddr-zambia.org.
KCM
Konkola Copper Mines says the closure of its Nchanga Open Pit is costing it US$1.5 million daily.
This is according to a March 5 London High Court judgment obtained in Lusaka.
The mining giant claims that it has now lost over US$90 million as at March 1 following the mine closure.
The court document also notes that KCM accounts for a substantial percentage of Zambia’s gross domestic product.
KCM did not renew U&M Mining Zambia Limited’s mining contract at the Chingola F&D open pit, which expired on December 31.
The firm also ended another contract to mine waste at the operation on January 28, saying U&M had failed to meet production targets for five straight months.
In the court document, the contract miner, owned by Brazil’s U&M Mineracao e Construcao S/A, denied any breach of contract terms.
KCM obtained a court order in Zambia on January 31, compelling U&M to immediately vacate the mine, and hand over equipment worth about US$12 million to the Vedanta unit.
According to the London judgment, the court set the return date for January 31, and later postponed it to March 5.
Under their contract agreement, the two companies will take their dispute to the London Court of International Arbitration, but no starting date has been given for the mediation.
All U & M employees have been fired.
But KCM says it expects to resume production at its Nchanga Open Pit mine in the next two to three months.
KCM Spokesperson Joy Sata revealed that the mining giant is looking at resuming production in the next three months or so.
Ms. Sata said KCM is already mobilising equipment in readiness for the resumption of operations.
Government says there is sufficient maize stocks in storage facilities being held by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) amounting to over 900,000 tonnes as of the beginning of January this year.
He said a maize stock verification exercise was undertaken two weeks ago to ascertain quantities of maize stocks held by FRA which showed that, at the beginning of January 2013, there was 916,934.44 tonnes of maize in storage facilities throughout the country.
“In order to mitigate the rising maize and mealie meal prices, on the domestic market, the agency was allowed to offload some maize to millers from its new maize stocks commencing December 2012.
“In an effort to contain maize and mealie meal prices, the agency was authorised to sell a total of just under 184,000 tonnes (183,405.28 tonnes) to millers and communities between January 1 and January 26 February 2013 which left a balance of 733,529 tonnes of good quantity maize grain purchased in 2012,” he said.
He said the balance of maize grain was more than sufficient to last up to the 2013/2014 farming harvest based on current average consumption of about 100,000 tonnes per month and to meet contractual obligations, both private and public.
Mr Sichinga told the House that there were sufficient maize reserves for FRA to export some of the excess which could deteriorate due to poor storage.
“This will not only contribute to required revenues for repayment of bank loans obtained by FRA under guarantee from the treasury but will also free the much needed storage space to accommodate the 2013 harvest stocks,” he said.
He said the 2012/13 farming season was likely to yield above two million tonnes and that if a total consumption requirement was about 2.5 million tonnes annually, the country would have a shortfall of 500,000 tonnes which would be met by current carry over storage reserves of about 500,000 tonnes.
He said FRA would not offload its maize stocks on the domestic market after the end of April each year since there was normally new output from farmers onto the open market.
“This measure is intended to ensure that maize prices at harvest time, are not dampened by the activities of the agency,” Mr Sichinga said. He said FRA would only be allowed to export about 200, 000 tonnes of excess maize stocks and maintain 500,000 tonnes for strategic reserves.
MMD Petauke Member of Parliament Dora Siliya wondered why some parts of the country were experiencing shortages of mealie meal such as Eastern province, to which Mr Sichinga said the shortage was as a result of insufficient milling firms in those areas.
Mr Sichinga told the House that the challenges on shortages of mealie meal were because of increased demand against inadequate milling firms in some areas.
He was expected to convene a meeting with some millers to find a lasting solution.
Meanwhile, mealie meal traders at Situlu area in newly created Sikongo district of Western province on the Zambia-Angola border have increased the price of the staple food by KR 20.
The increase is with effect from the third week of last February.
A 25 Kilogram bag of Breakfast that was costing KR 100 is now selling at KR 120 while a 25 Kilogram bag of Roller Meal that was costing KR 80 is costing KR 100.
A resident working in Situlu who declined to be named disclosed the development to ZANIS in Kalabo yesterday.
The Situlu resident said that the Mealie meal traders were taking advantage of hiking the price of the commodity in Situlu as the villagers have no maize to harvest since their crops were swept away by the early floods that hit the area this farming season.
The resident said that meanwhile some villagers who were not affording to buy the mealie meal were doing some piece works of weeding in cassava fields in Malundu area in the neighbouring Angola where their payment was either fresh or dried cassava.
He added that only a few villagers in Situlu who planted rice early were expected to harvest their crop this year.
The provincial administration in eastern province has attributed the shortage of mealie-meal in the region to the constant power black-outs by ZESCO which affect production.
Provincial deputy permanent secretary, Zachariah Luhanga said the region has enough maize to feed the people but was having challenges because there was only one milling company in the entire province to produce and supply the commodity.
Mr. Luhanga noted that the milling company only had a few hours of milling the commodity due to electricity blackouts hence the shortage which was being experienced.
He was speaking when British High Commissioner to Zambia, James Thornton, paid a courtesy call on him in Chipata yesterday.
Earlier, Mr. Thornton asked whether the province was also experiencing a shortage of mealie-meal.
“As a province we only have one milling company and the rest are hummer mills. One milling company cannot manage to feed the entire province, especially when it has few hours of production,’’ Mr. Luhanga said.
He said people were taking advantage of the shortage and increased the price, adding that, that was not accepted by government because there was a Presidential directive that the commodity should not be sold at more than K 50.00 per 25 kilogram bag.
And Chipata district commissioner Kalunga Zulu, who flanked Mr. Luhanga, said anything above K 50.00 as a price for mealie-meal was exploitation because government knew the production cost and what income the millers were making.
Meanwhile, Mr. Luhanga has asked the British High Commission to support eastern province in the tourism industry.
He said the region had two Paramount Chiefs with rich cultures and that the two major traditional ceremonies Nc’wala of the Ngoni people and Kulamba of the Chewa people attracted a lot of tourists.
And Mr. Luhanga said the provincial administration was relating well with opposition political parties.
He said politically, the region was stable, unlike in other provinces where there were squabbles.
Mr. Luhanga was responding to a question from British High Commissioner, James Thornton, who wanted to find out if there was a good transition when the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy ( MMD) handed power to the ruling Patriotic Front (PF).
He said the provincial administration was relating well with opposition political parties because the development that was going on in the province did not look at political inclinations.
“The President appointed three opposition political party Members of Parliament in the province to Ministerial positions and since their appointments, there has been cooperation because they speak for the development of the people,’’ Mr. Luhanga said.
The British High Commissioner is in Chipata to hold a series of meetings with different stakeholders.
Promoted Kabwe Warriors have a big day opening test in the Super Division when the 2013 league campaign starts on March 16.
Warriors, who return after one season campaigning in Division One South, will be home at Godfrey “Ucar” Chitalu Stadium where they will host Zesco United in a Week One game.
The Railwaymen enjoy a slight 7-6 edge in wins at “Ucar” Stadium over Zesco following the latter’s promotion in 2004.
That match will also be a reunion of sorts with Warriors coach Dick Ngwenya facing the team he coached in 2005.
And there will be another reunion when Napsa Stars host Green Buffaloes.
That match will mark Buffaloes coach Patrick Phiri’s first game back on the bench since Napsa sacked him last October.
2013 MTN/FAZ Super Division Week 1
16/03/2013
Nkana-Roan United
Nchanga Rangers-Power Dynamos
Lime Hotspurs-Forest Rangers
Kabwe Warriors-Zesco United
Konkola Mine Police-Kalulushi Modern Stars
Nkwazi- Konkola Blades
Napsa Stars-Green Buffaloes
(Postponed)
Zanaco-Red Arrows
Opposition NAREP Youth League President Aquino Mutale has resigned from the party with effect from Tuesday, March 05 203.
In a statement, Mr. Mutale said he has decided to resign from the party after much consultation and prayer.
He said his resignation has been triggered by a lack of tolerance to divergent views, a high level of hypocrisy and political immaturity.
“Lest I be accused of merely being frustrated, I must put on record that NAREP has the potential to amass a national wide support. However, even after 3 years in existence, a political Party that only has one face, one voice and a stubborn unrealistic approach to our politics is a bar to political maturity and I can no longer be part of it. I have been fatigued,” Mr. Mutale said.
He said he will take the next few days to reflect on his political vocation and further consult and seek guidance.
“After much thought, I and other like-minded colleagues will announce our future political prospect.”
Agriculture and Livestock Minister Robert Sichinga has attributed the continued shortage of mealie meal in some part of the country insufficient milling capacity in provincial centres.
Mr Sichinga told parliament in a ministerial statement today that apart from Lusaka and the Copperbelt provinces, most provinces do not have sufficient milling capacity to satisfy the demand of mealie meal.
He explained most of the milling companies in Lusaka and Copperbelt have to meet their respective local demands before taking the surplus stock to outlying areas of the country.
Mr Sichinga further assured the nation that the country has sufficient maize stocks to last until the next harvest season.
He said he has called a meeting with millers to try and find ways of mitigating the shortage of mealie meal in some parts of the country.
Solwezi, Kasama and Chipata are some of the areas that have been hit by mealie meal shortages.
And Mr Sichinga says the FRA has sufficient maize reserves both for local consumption and export.
And Mr Sichinga says indications are that the 2012 / 2013 farming season is likely to yield above two million metric tonnes of maize.
He says assuming a total consumption requirement per year of 2.5 million metric tonnes; the country will have a shortfall of around 500 metric tonnes which he said will be met by the current carryover strategic reserves of around 500 metric tonnes.
Mr Sichinga has also revealed that more than 30 percent of the maize purchased annually by the Food Reserve Agency goes to waste.
Airtel Zambia was the most complained against mobile phone service provider by customers while Zamtel is the least complained against mobile phone service provider during the year 2012.
The complaints include transmission of promotional messages, over charging, poor network, poor internet quality, expiration of data bundles and unavailability of the customer centre and redress line.
Consumer Competition and Protection Commission (CCPC) Public Relations Officer Hanford Chaaba said the trend had not changed in 2012 from that of 2011 as the commission again received and resolved complaints against the three mobile phone service providers namely Airtel, MTN and Zamtel.
Mr. Chaaba said a bulk of these complaints were against Airtel.
He told ZANIS in response to a press query in Lusaka today that the commission received a total of 25 cases, 15 against Airtel, six against MTN and four against Zamtel.
He however noted that this did not mean that Airtel was not compliant with the competition and consumer protection law but could be because the mobile company has more subscribers than the other two mobile operators.
Mr. Chaaba further stated that although not much had changed in terms of which company garnered more complaints, there has been a huge reduction in cases against mobile phone service providers.
He said this shows that the mobile phone service companies were making significant strides in improving their services.
In 2011, Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) revealed that it had recorded 149 complaints from customers against the three mobile companies.
ZICTA indicates that Airtel topped the chart with 68 complaints, ZAMTEL 40 and MTN 25.
The complaints against mobile companies include transmission of promotional messages, over charging, poor network, bad internet quality and unavailability of the customer centre and redress line.
Zambia’s Deputy ambassador to Nigeria George Mpombo and his lawyer today failed to turn up in court prompting Chief Resident Magistrate Joshua to adjourn the case to next week.
This is in the matter in which the ex-Defence Minister is charged with theft by public servant. When the matter was called before Chief Resident Magistrate Joshua Banda by Divisional Prosecutions Officer Christopher Kanema for continued trial, both Mpombo and his lawyer Abraham Mwansa were not before court.
Mr Kanema then told the court that the State was scheduled to make an appropriate application in the matter but in the absence of the accused person and his lawyer applied to have the matter adjourned to another date.
Magistrate Banda adjourned the matter to Monday March 11, 2013.
Mpombo is facing three counts of theft by public servant, forgery and uttering a false document.
It is alleged that Mpombo on an unknown date but between June and September 2008 in Lusaka, jointly and whilst working together with others unknown being a public servant as Minister of Defence stole K18 million which came into his possession by virtue of employment.
Nkana’s sponsors Mopani Copper Mines have installed CCTV cameras at Nkana Stadium following their U$450,000 upgrade of the venue to guard against vandals and hooliganism.
Nkana chairman John Chiwele said they will use the CCTV to full effect especially against hooliganism during matchdays that has blighted the clubs image over the years.
“It will probably take a few examples,” Chiwele said.
“People don’t come to games to cause trouble.
“Very few people come to games to cause confusion so it will probably take one or two examples and we intend to maintain discipline here.”
Mopani has also installed a new perimeter fence including jump seats in the old VIP area that will now be the VVIP area.
The old grandstand has bucket seats and has been converted into the VIP area.
A new training pitch has been laid in the old car park while a new concrete perimeter fence has been erected outside the legendary “Chitala” which has also received a makeover while maintaining its iconic red colour.
Mopani has also rehabilitated Nkana’s entire water and sewer systems and installed a new irrigation system for both the main and new training pitch.
Mopani Chief Executive Officer Danny Callow said the company was excited that Nkana will be back home after a year playing their games at Arthur Davies Stadium while rehabilitation works were taking place at Nkana Stadium.
“This means one very important thing to us, to the fans and the club-Nkana is coming back home this season,” Callow said.
“We can once again start enjoying the pleasure if playing at home at our famous “Chilata.”
Nkana will not have to wait long to test-run their pitch before their March 16 league kickoff against Roan United at the same venue.
This Sunday, Nkana hosts Kabwe Warriors in a pre-season friendly to officially open Nkana Stadium.
Coach Herve Renard has dropped three veterans from his team for Zambia’s March 24 engagement away to Lesotho.
Striker James Chamanga, midfielder Noah Chivuta and Kampamba Chintu have all been axed for the 2014 World Cup Group D qualifier.
Renard has otherwise kept faith in the majority of his players that have served him during his last two stints as Zambia coach.
However, another player missing will be defender Joseph Musonda who is serving a one-match suspension after accruing two yellow cards at the 2013 Africa Cup.
Meanwhile, Renard has named four home-based players in his 19-member team that includes Power Dynamos midfielder Mukuka Mulenga plus his team mate at Arthur Davies goalkeeper Joshua Titima.
Others are Zanaco midfielder Roderick Kabwe and his club mate in goalkeeper Racha Kola.
The team is expected to go into camp in Johannesburg on March 17.
Team:
Goalkeepers: Kennedy Mweene (Free State Stars, South Africa), Joshua Titima (Power Dynamos), Racha Kola (Zanaco)
Defenders: Stopilla Sunzu, Hichani Himonde (Both TP Mazembe), Davies Nkausu (SuperSport United, South Africa), Emmanuel Mbola (FC Porto, Portugal)
Midfielders: Chisamba Lungu (FC Ural, Russia), Mukuka Mulenga (Power Dynamos) Roderick Kabwe (Zanaco), Nathan Sinkala, Rainford Kalaba, Jonas Sakuwaha (All TP Mazembe, DR Congo), William Njobvu ( Be’er Sheva, Israel), Isaac Chansa (Henan Jianye, China)
Strikers: Emmanuel Mayuka (Southampton, England),Collins Mbesuma (Orlando Pirates, South Africa), Christopher Katongo (Henan Jianye, China), Jacob Mulenga (FC Utrecht, Holland)
