Today’s Message: When Life Isn’t Fair

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February 24, 2013

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”
(Romans 8:28, NLT)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria

Everyone goes through things that don’t seem to make sense. It’s easy to get discouraged and wonder, “Why did this happen to me?” “Why did this person treat me wrong?” “Why did I get laid off?” But we have to understand, even though life is not always fair, God is fair. And, He promises to work all things together for good for those who love Him.

I believe the key word is this verse is “together.” In other words, you can’t just isolate one part of your life and say, “Well, this is not good.” “It’s not good that I got laid off.” “It’s not good that my relationship didn’t work out.” Yes, that’s true, but that’s just one part of your life. God can see the big picture. That disappointment is not the end. Remember, when one door closes, God has another door for you to walk through — a better door. Those difficulties and challenges are merely stepping stones toward your brighter future. Be encouraged today because God has a plan for you to rise higher. He has a plan for you to come out stronger. He has a plan to work all things together for your good so that you can move forward in the victory He has prepared for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, thank You for working all things together for my good. I choose to release any doubt, any frustration, any confusion over my past, and I choose to trust in You in Jesus’ name. Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen

Power and Zanaco Set for Zoom Cup final Showdown

Sports

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February 23, 2013

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Zanaco and Power Dynamos have qualified to the final of the 2013 Samuel Zoom Ndhlovu Memorial Charity Shield.

Power beat 10-man Zesco 2-1 while Zanaco defeated Napsa Stars 4-2 in the semifinal doubleheader played at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka today.

Power secured their victory thanks to goals from Kennedy Mudenda and Mukuka Mulenga in their 45th and 65th minutes.

Zesco, who were reduced to 10-men in the 43rd minute after Winston Kalengo was sent off for stomping on Gilbert Kalusha, scored their consolation through Kangwa Chileshe in the 65th minute.

And in the second kickoff, Zanaco made sure of their final passage through goals from two late substitutes in this see-saw match.

Matthew Nkowani gave Napsa the lead in the 3rd minute before Davies Mwape levelled for Zanaco in the 10th minute.

Roderick Kabwe later headed Zanaco ahead in the 24th minute to score his second goal of the season in as many games to see The Bankers go 2-1 into the break.

Spencer Ngalande restored parity in the 59th minute after a howler by goalkeeper Racha Kola who gifted him with the ball that he rolled into the Napsa midfielders path.

However, Keagan Mumba made two late changes bringing on Aubrey Zulu for Mwape and Boyd Mwangelwa for Portipher Zulu in the 82 and 84th minutes respectively.

Mwangelwa slotted in Zanaco’s third with virtually his first touch from close-range in the 86th while Zulu headed in the fourth deep into extra time.

Power and Zanaco will play in the final on March 9 at a venue to be announced by the Football Association of Zambia.

Sata urges Ngonis to turn their warrior instinct to assault poverty

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February 23, 2013

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Sata urges Ngonis to turn their warrior instinct to assault poverty

Eleven year old Omega Nkhanza, presents a knobkerrie and shield to Finance Minister, Alexander Chikwanda, at Chipata airport on yesterday. Mr. Chikwanda was guest of honour at this year’s Nc’wala traditional ceremony of the Ngoni in Chipata

President Michael Sata has urged the Ngoni people of Eastern Province to turn their warrior instinct into a massive assault of poverty.Speaking in a speech read for him by Finance Minister, Alexander Chikwanda, at the Nc’wala annual traditional ceremony in Chipata today, President Sata observed that the Ngoni people are hard working and capable of fighting poverty among the local people.

He said in the history of African people, the gallant and heroic action of the Ngoni ancestor, Shaka Zulu stands out as the most galling resistance to foreign domination.Mr Sata said Zambia has a large chunk of land with rich soils and in almost all the years with good rainfall which can be a renewable resource if well looked after.Mr Sata said the ceremony has significance for the Ngoni people as it cements their ancestral connections and spurs them to perform many feats in several spheres of life.He observed that the Ngoni are a proud people with confidence in themselves which makes them make independent decisions based on their own values.“That is why we have turned up in large numbers from many corners and a broad spectrum of the Zambian society,” he said.

And Mr Sata has urged the Ngoni people to stand up and defend him against some quarters that have been attacking the head of state because he is a tireless warrior for the disadvantaged in the country.He observed that there are many people who are used as Trojan horses to defend foreign interests invariably for cheap, flatter and illusory stakes.

[pullquote]Mr Sata has urged the Ngoni people to stand up and defend him against some quarters that have been attacking the head of state[/pullquote]

And President Sata said the PF government has an ambitious agenda to change the country for a better and prosperous place for all.He said the government will continue to add and improve on the existing network of schools and health and social services.He said government intends to improve on inadequate road and railway networks which he said are critical to economic development.The President also said there is need to improve the delivery of farming inputs to farmers across the country.

“The PF government has done better by paying farmers a lot earlier, we do not want to see a past failure in crop marketing and input distribution,” he said.

President Sata said government intends to equip cooperatives, saying it had already started funding the cooperatives through the Zambia Cooperative Federation which has shown seriousness and commitment.

“The game plan is to let people at local level be involved in activities which include local processing. Reliance on Lusaka based bureaucracy will not go anywhere,’ he said.“The distribution of inputs, seeds and fertilizer also needs to be improved, “he said.

Paramount Chief Mpezeni ( in Lion Skin),junior chiefs and his warriors march to the main arena where the Nc’wala traditional ceremony takes place

Meanwhile, Paramount Chief Mpezeni of the Ngoni people of Eastern Province has castigated politicians advocating for the suspension of Zambia from
the commonwealth.

Paramount Chief Mpezeni said it is disheartening to hear that some political leaders are so disenchanted with the government of President Michael Sata that they are advocating for the country to be expelled from the commonwealth.The Paramount Chief said politicians need to dialogue as a way of resolving conflicts, saying they should create a climate of political accommodation and finding local solutions to resolve local problems.

Paramount Chief Mpezeni said Ngoni people have rich experiences in victory and defeat, saying the experience has demonstrated that magnanimity is a unifying factor in both victory and defeat.He urged government to continue listening to the people and act accordingly to issues of concern.

He also urged government to continue its mandate through increased direct cooperation with citizens and other groups.The Ngoni people held today’s Nc’wala traditional ceremony in honour of Paramount Chief Mbelwa of the Ngoni people of Malawi who died two weeks ago for whom they also observed a minute of silence.The occasion was also characterized by solemn traditional songs and dance.

Also in attendance were several Ngoni chiefs from Malawi, Tanzania, Mozambique and Zambia among other local chiefs.

Chiefs Affairs Minister, Nkandu Luo, Mines Minister Yanfwa Mukanga, Energy and Water Development Deputy Minister, Charles Zulu, Defence Deputy Ministers, Joseph Lungu and Davies Mwila, Home affairs Deputy Minister Elfreda Kansembe and several other government officials were also in attendance.

The Barotse Royal Establishment was represented by Induna Nangana while Chieftainess Nkomeshya Mukamabo II of the Soli people also attended the occasion.

Wynter Kabimba to represent Sata in Addis Ababa

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February 23, 2013

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African Heads of State from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and Great lakes region are expected in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to sign a peace, security and Cooperation Framework tomorrow for Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the region.

Justice Minister, Wynter Kabimba, who will be representing President Michael Sata during the signing ceremony, is expected in Addis Ababa today.

This is contained in a statement issued to ZANIS today by First Secretary Press at the Zambian Embassy in Ethiopia, Dorcas Chileshe.

The framework is intended to bring lasting peace and stability to the war-torn Eastern DRC and the region as a whole.

The United Nations (UN), African Union (AU), SADC and the Great Lakes region have worked together to formulate the framework to strengthen other efforts already being implemented to address the conflict in Eastern DRC.

UN secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon and AU Commission Chairperson, Nkosazana Dlamina Zuma, will attend the signing ceremony.

Kabompo residents protest against maize, meal prices

Rural News

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February 23, 2013

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Several Kabompo residents yesterday stormed the office of the District Commissioner (DC), Dennis Kanyakula, to protest over high prices of maize which have shot up to KR250 per 50 kg bag this month from KR100 in January.

Mr Kanyakula who confirmed the development to ZANIS also said shops in Kabompo have run out of both breakfast and roller meal for a week now.

Mr Kanyakula said the residents stormed his office to ask the government to offload the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) maize on the market for the public to buy at affordable prices to avert the hunger from worsening.

The maize prices in small quantities in Kabombo have also increased from KR20 per 20litre container in January to KR100 for the same quantity and cassava from K15 per 20 litre container in January to KR30.

Mr Kanyakula, who later addressed the crowd, assured people that government was aware of the hunger situation in Kabombo and has allocated 2000 metric tonnes of FRA maize to be offloaded on the market for the general public to buy at affordable prices.

The DC said the sale of the commodity to the public will, however, be controlled by his office to ensure that all residents were catered for and avoid corrupt practices and hunger from escalating.

[ZANIS]

ZANACO must explain why it released Hakainde Hichilema’s Private and/or Confidential Information

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February 23, 2013

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By Dr. Francis Mubanga(MSc. Network and Communications Management – Information Security,Information Security Advocate)

Zambia National Commercial Bank Plc (ZANACO) must explain the reason why it released Private and/or Confidential Information for Opposition Leader Mr. Hakainde Hichilema.Reference is made to the recent articles concerning the release of Mr. Hakainde Hichilema’s private and/or confidential information concerning his business affairs and his response.

How Government spying agents are supposed to handle private and confidential information

Politically, Zambians have a right to know their politicians’ business affairs through many sources such as Newspapers, TVs, Internet and Others. At the same time Government Spying Agents have a duty (depending on legal limitation) to spy and investigate about anyone but in this case they are limited in their role of releasing spied private information. Their role of releasing this private information (findings) after spying and investigations ends at the specific politicians in Government office (who in this case gave them this assignment).

After this the Government Spying Agents are supposed to advise specific politicians in Government office not to release this private information to the members of the general public. If the Government Spying Agents feel or think that they are chances that the politicians in Government office will release this private information to the members of general public then the Government Spying Agents need to make sure that these politicians in Government office sign the disclaimer. This disclaimer can later be used as defense if these Government Spying Agents are held responsible for that unlawful release of private and confidential information. Most of the time politicians in Government office will sign this disclaimer.

In other words after spying and investigating, these Government Spying Agents’ role is limited to informing and advising the specific politicians in Government office. Thereafter, politicians in Government office make decisions basing on the information spied and investigated on. The decision to release the private and/or confidential information to the members of general public lies on the specific politicians in Government office. This though cannot operate as a shield or protect the Government Spying Agent and other collaborated institutions such as Zambia National Commercial Bank Plc (ZANACO) and others. In fact these Government Spying Agents are supposed to be advocates of Information Security.

The big business of Cyber-espionage

Though Mr. Hakainde Hichilema has responded and claimed to be victimized, we expected him to have even gone further than this and focused more on how he was going to protect and defend private individuals’ private information for all Zambians if he became the President. This was an opportunity were he needed to give Zambians a comprehensive plan on how he was going to handle and protect private information for ordinary Zambians.

Private information has become big business (Cyber- espionage) in developed and emerging countries and therefore Zambians needs to wake up and protect their private information. For example the allegation that the Chinese are being contracted for $5 million in helping the Zambian government with deep packet inspection technology to eavesdrop, mine data, censor and intercept communications (http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2013/02/20/6934340.htm) should make us wake up. Apart from this China is also being accused of cyber-attacks by the U.S.A Government and if these attacks are true then all this is being done possibly for money and this is what Chinese are good at. A report was released by Cyber-security consultant Mandiant (U.S. A. Federal Government Contractor) February 19th, 2013. This report is the most detailed look to date inside the Chinese People Liberation Army (PLA)’s direct involvement in hacking into American government and corporate websites.

The PLA Unit 61398 is identified by the report as the most prolific hacking group inside the Chinese government. Dedicated to infiltrating English-language sites, the unit recruits English-language proficient speakers and experts in computer security, but otherwise scrubs any mention of its organization from Chinese-language websites. Operating out of a 12-story, 130,663 square foot facility in the Pudong New Area sector of Shanghai, its building is able to contain as many as 2,000 personnel. Special high capacity fiber-optics was installed by China Telecom when the building was constructed in 2007 and the outfit utilizes over 1,000 servers.

In this three-year investigation, Mandiant documented Unit 61398 hacking into 141 companies (including 115 in the U.S.) across 20 industries, and stealing many terabytes of compressed data in sustained attacks averaging 356 days. The longest persistent attack documented by Mandiant lasted 4 years and 10 months. The largest recorded theft was 6.5 terabytes from a single company over 10 months. China has denied these allegations though (U.S. News, 2013).

China having a record or history of cyber-attacks at least has money to defend itself if taken to task or Court for damages. In case of Zambia, Zambian Government has no money or luxury to start defending itself over cyber-attacks it is trying to initiate or implement through telecom companies registered with Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) as alleged. If these cyber-attacks are implemented or go on, all these companies registered with ZICTA and associated with these cyber-attacks will be lined up for legal suits. Not only will they face legal suits but also see their stock prices falling in the international financial markets quickly.

Government Spying Agents needs to know that their roles are very important when it comes to information security. They need to step up to the politicians in Government office and advice on the dangers of awarding a contract of $5 million to a Chinese company when China has a record and history of cyber-attacks to other nations. What makes us trust this Chinese company with our private information? Absolutely nobody wants his or her private information be in the hands of the Chinese company.

Instead of awarding $5 million contract to the Chinese for Cyber-attacks on Zambians, Government needs to focus on protecting Government networks and information for all Zambians through creation of employment for young Zambians in information security and other related areas. This way we are not only going to take care of our own networks and information, we are also going to export the knowledge of information security to our neighboring countries. Developing countries in Eastern Europe in the same situation like Zambia is economically are profiting from computer research and information security knowledge by exporting it to the same China and developed countries. Why can’t Zambia do the same? We have a lot of young talented educated Zambians who can be trained to the level of the same Chinese in information security in short time.

Sueing ZANACO

Coming to ZANACO, ZANACO has no authority to release Mr. Hakainde Hichilema’s private and/or confidential information unless requested by Court Order or other laws such as Money Laundering laws and that is if Mr. Hichilema is being suspected of Money Laundering or other criminal activities. In this case no Money Laundering activities have been uncovered. ZANACO is now supposed to write to Mr. Hakainde Hichilema to explain the circumstances without even Mr. Hakainde Hichilema requesting for the explanation. If ZANACO does nothing Mr. Hakainde Hichilema can now choose to see a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) or lawyer on the way forward.

Once again a Public Listed Company (Plc) such as ZANACO should not allow itself falling in the trap of politics or politicians. Instead it should or come up with universal standards of handling private information of clients adopted by peer international banks. We have not forgotten how by then the same ZANACO owned by Government fell into similar trap when politicians took advantage of it during late former President FTJ Chiluba’s Government. Politicians in Government used Government Spying Agent to launder cash from ZANACO – ZAMTROP A/C (Lusaka and London) until this activity was uncovered (http://www.solicitorstribunal.org.uk/Content/documents/9575-2005%20-%20Meer.pdf).
Now that ZANACO is in private ownership and listed on Lusaka Stock Exchange (LuSE), it cannot afford to start conducting itself in line with politicians or politicians in Government office without looking at its obligations towards its clients first and implications of its actions. It’s only in Zambia Public Listed companies are being spared by private individuals in terms of legal suits. In developed countries most of these Public Listed companies are being taken to court to pay damages for such actions such as unlawful release of private and/or confidential information through Class Action Suits.

FAZ in Hot Soup With FIFA

Sports

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February 23, 2013

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FIFA finds FAZ with a case to answer as to how Zambian players banned for match fixing in Finland in 2011 were cleared to play in the FAZ league in 2012.

FIFA disciplinary committee said it would also like to know how four players were even cleared to play in the Super Division.

“On 19 February 2013 FIFA opened disciplinary proceedings against the Football Association of Zambia for having allegedly transferred and registered eight players in breach of the FIFA regulations governing the transfer of players,” FIFA said.

“It appears that eight players were transferred from the Finland Football Association to the Football Association of Zambia outside of the FIFA Transfer Matching System (TMS), without an International Transfer Certificate (ITC), and outside of the registration period.”

The players are Godfrey Chibanga, Chileshe Chibwe, Francis Kombe, Stephen Kunda, Chanda Mwaba, Nchimunya Mweetwa and Christopher Muosnda who all played for Rovaniemi Palloseura (RoPs).

Others are brothers Dominic Yobe and Donewelll who played for HJK Helsink and AC Oulu respectively.

The players were convicted and slapped with suspended sentences and later deported from Finland in 2011.

“In addition, the players were all suspended by the Finland Football Association for match-fixing offences and these sanctions were extended as to have worldwide effect by the Chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee. At least four of the eight players apparently played in official matches in Zambia despite being suspended on a worldwide basis,” FIFA stated.

Mweetwa and Musonda featured for Napsa Stars while Donewell Yobe played for National Assembly in April, 2012 before their clearances were reversed by FAZ that same month.

“The Football Association of Zambia is invited to provide its position to FIFA, together with any documentary evidence it might deem appropriate,” FIFA said.

Lack of bed spaces at UTH due to influx of patients from other health institutions

Health

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February 23, 2013

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University Teaching Hospital (UTH) Managing Director, Lackson Kasonka, has attributed to lack of bed spaces to over use of the beds at the institution.

Dr Kasonka further says there is constant usage of beds at UTH due to the influx of patients from other health institutions who are being referred the institution.

Dr Kasonka was speaking when he received 25 beds, 25 mattresses and other hospital linen to the UTH wortha US $13,000 donation from Huawei Technologies Zambia Limited.

The donation will benefit the institution’s Adult Medical Emergency Unit popularly known as the Filter Clinic.

Dr Kasonka said the number of patients at UTH is ever increasing and called on the private sector to demonstrate their social responsibility by sharing their profits.

He paid gratitude to Huawei firm and called on others to emulate, saying the improvement of the health sector in the country is critical to improving the health of the people.

And Huawei Technologies Zambia Director for Government and Public Affairs, Jacky Zhang, said his company decided to donate to the country’s largest health institution because it is proud to be associated with improving the quality of health of the people.

Mr Zhang noted that China and Zambia enjoy warm and cordial relationship with one another and pledged to donate materials to UTH in the near future.

The donation made today at UTH was witnessed by both hospital staff and Huawei Technologies Zambia officials.

Huawei Technologies is a Telecommunication Company operating in Zambia.

ZANIS

Government refutes reports of tapping into citizens phone conversations

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February 23, 2013

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Government refutes reports of tapping into citizens phone conversations

Government has refuted reports that the Special division of the office of the President is tapping into phone conversations of citizens.

Communication and Transport Minister Christopher Yaluma said that the rumors are not true, stating that government can never authorize such because it respects the rights of citizens.

Mr. Yaluma said that it is time some citizens let go of their speculating mentality and concentrated on issues that are of more importance.

Speaking to QFM NEWS, Mr. Yaluma has since appealed to citizens not to believe the speculations and be discouraged to register their SIM cards.

He stated that it is important that citizens realize the many benefits that come with the SIM card registration exercise instead of listening to liars who only want to paint a bad picture of what the PF government is working on.

Mr. Yaluma has further reminded members of the public to have their SIM cards registered as the deadline is approaching.

Kalampa Beat Mighty

Sports

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February 23, 2013

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Nkana have beaten FAZ Division One North side Mighty Mufulira Wanderers 1-0 in Friday’s pre-season friendly played at Shinde Stadium in Mufulira.

New signee Lottie Nyimbiri scored the solitary goal which seperated the two legendary clubs.

Nkana are getting ready for this year’s FAZ Super Division campaign while Wanderers led by coach Israel Mwanza are preparing for the 2013 Division One North League.

Friday’s match was Nkana’s third pre-season match in eight days.

Meanwhile, Nchanga Rangers beat FAZ Division One North side Kitwe United 4-0 in a warm-up match played at Kitwe’s Garden Park Stadium on Thursday morning.

2013 Season Zooms Into View

Sports

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February 23, 2013

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The 2013 local soccer season kicks-off on Saturday with the Samuel “Zoom”Ndhlovu Charity Shield semifinal doubl header at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka.

Zesco United will face Power Dynamos in the 13:00 hours kick-off match while Zanaco will take on Napsa Stars in the second semifinal two hours later.

Power are the defending champions of the season opener Charity Shield.

The two matches will help Zambia’s envoys in CAF club competitions Zanaco and Power to warm-up ahead of their respective away preliminary round return legs to be played next weekend.

Zanaco are in the Charity Shield semifinal after winning the 2012 FAZ Super Division while Napsa are Barclays Cup defending champions.

Power and Zesco finished second and third respectively on the 2012 Super Division table.

FRA to sell 20,000 tonnes of maize to Tanzania

Economy

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February 22, 2013

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The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has signed a contract with the Tanzania National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) to supply 20, 000 metric tonnes of white maize valued at US$7million to Tanzania.

FRA Executive Director, Chola Kafwabulula, signed on behalf of FRA while the Tanzania National Food Reserve Agency Chief Executive Officer, Charles Walwa, signed on before of his agency.

Speaking during the signing ceremony at the FRA Head Office in Lusaka, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Permanent Secretary, Siazongo Siakalenge, congratulated the two food reserve agencies for successfully signing the agreement.

Mr Siakalenge stated that the transaction is meant to assist Tanzania to mitigate any chances of a shortage of white maize that is imminent in that country.

He thanked the Tanzanian Government for looking up to Zambia for the supply of maize, saying this shows the confidence that that country has in Zambia’s capacity to feed the Southern African region in particular and the continent in general.

Speaking earlier, representative of Tanzania’s High Commissioner in Zambia, Justa Nyange, thanked the FRA for coming to the aid of NFRA to balance the maize stock in her country.

Ms Nyange also thanked President Sata for offering Tanzania an opportunity to procure maize from Zambia through the FRA.

ZANIS

Mealie meal shortage gets out of hand in Kabompo

Rural News

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February 22, 2013

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Kabompo District commissioner, Dennis Kanyakula has called on Antelope and Olympic Milling companies to open depots in the newly created Manyinga district to avert mealie meal shortage that has hit the two districts.

Mr. Kanyakula said there is a shortage of mealie meal stocks in Kabompo and Manyinga districts for a week now and the situation is getting out of hand.
Mr Kanyakula said this in an interview with ZANIS in Kabompo today.

According to a random survey by ZANIS, people in the two districts have resorted to buying maize from unscrupulous grain dealers on the black market at KR 60 per 20 litre tin while a 50 kilogram bag of mealie meal is now selling at KR 180.

The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) off loaded 2000 by 50 kg bags of maize on the market to enable the people buy maize at KR 60 per bag last month which has also finished.

Mr Kanyakula described the situation is not good as people are made to scramble for the mealie meal wherever it is available.
The mealie meal shortage has resulted in the commodity being sold at KR 75 for a 25 kg bag instead of the government directive to sell a 25 kg bag at not more than KR50.

Mr Kanyakula has since urged the FRA to supply more maize on the market for people to buy and to revise the system of selling the commodity so that unscrupulous traders are curtailed from accessing as they are the ones reselling on the blackmail.

ZANIS

Sakeni responds to Sakwiba Sikota

Headlines

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February 22, 2013

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Chief Government spokesperson, Kennedy Sakeni has castigated United Liberal Party (ULP) leader Sakwiba Sikota for defending Robert Amsterdam’s insults on Zambians and that government was not surprised.

In a statement to ZANIS in Lusaka today the Chief Government spokesperson said the reactionary trappings in Mr Sikota’s statement are as large treacherous intentions.

Mr Sakeni, who is also Information and Broadcasting Services Minister, said it is honourable to admit when one blunders, pointing out that Mr Sikota must not justify the unjustifiable.

“There is nobody living in Zambia who was there during Mr Banda’s tenure who can argue honestly that there were no credible allegations of corruption against the former President and his children. And today Mr Banda, through his lawyer, has chosen to label Zambians idiots for calling him to account,” Mr Sakeni said.

He asked, “ what charges does Mr Banda want to be made available to him when he refused to cooperate with the law enforcement agencies, basing his dispute on his immunity?”

Mr Sakeni said clearly, people like Mr Sikota and Mr Amsterdam have misadvised their client, saying they may as well not be worth the money he is paying them.

“For us, it is good that Mr Sikota has identified himself as playing a political role because it is clear that he is not giving Mr Banda legal but political advice. The same is true with Mr Amsterdam,” Mr Sakeni observed.

He said Mr Banda is facing credible allegations of criminal activities since he refused to make himself available to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

“Let him wait, he will be given the allegations and chance to address them at an opportune time. Mr Banda and his lawyers must know that calling Zambians idiots when they insist on accountability will not make the charges he is likely to face go away,” he said.

Mr Sakeni pointed out that trying to launder himself both locally and internationally will not help him either, stating that it will just make his fall from grace faster.

He further added that it is very clear that Mr Sikota and Mr Amsterdam’s behaviour is expediting their client’s fall from grace.

“The most honourable thing Mr Banda can do either personally or through his so called lawyers is to apologise to the Zambian people for calling them idiots. We insist that Mr Banda must take full responsibility of Mr Amsterdam’s insults,” Mr Sakeni added.

Mr Sakeni noted that in any case, Mr Amsterdam does not even value the dignity of Zambians, saying his outright disrespect smacks of a classic stereotype that has no respect for Africans and Zambians in particular.

“And it is shameful for Mr Sikota to be cheerleading someone who is insulting his kind. We wonder where Mr Sikota has deposited his Zambian pride, dignity and values,” the Chief Government spokesperson asked?

ZANIS

Let HH ask his bank on how Sata accessed information-Scott

General News

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February 22, 2013

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Vice President Guy Scott has advised opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) president, Hakainde Hichilema to inquire from his bank on why it disclosed his personal bank account information to an individual.

Dr. Scott told parliament today that if Mr. Hichilema was bothered about President Sata’s having access to his bank account data, it was necessary for him (Hichilema) to follow it up with his bank and find out why it released the information.

The Vice President was responding to a question by UPND Kabompo West Member of Parliament, Ambrose Lufuma who wanted to know whether it was not illegal for anyone to access private bank account information without permission, referring to the circulation of a dossier released by President Sata containing details of wealth amassed by the opposition leader, including bank account information.

Recently, President Sata exposed Mr. Hichilema’s financial and estate records valued at more than KR360 million (K360 billion).

And Dr. Scott said it was unfortunate if opposition political parties were feeling the impact of the Patriotic Front in by-election campaigns.

The Vice President was responding to a question raised by Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) Chipata Central Member of Parliament Rueben Mtolo who wanted to know whether the PF prioritized by-elections over the N’cwala Traditional Ceremony which takes place tomorrow as its MPs had not travelled to Eastern Province but were instead present in the house.

Dr. Scott responded by saying he was sorry if the opposition were affected by the positive impact the PF has made in the areas it was campaigning ahead of the by-elections in Livingstone and Mpongwe.

ZANIS

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