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Herve Renard believes Zambia are still on track to reach the 2013 Africa Cup quarterfinals.
Zambia escaped with a late and soft penalty to finish 1-1 against Nigeria to keep their precarious hopes of retaining the title alive.
“I am happy with the result never forget we have Nigeria the Super Eagles in front of us and they did not lose any game in 2012,” Renard said who had vowed to mete-out revenge on the Super Eagles in the build up to this game.
“And they continue the same way that means we are still alive and we are still in a good way to get qualification for the both teams.”
Zambia, on two points, must beat Group C leaders Burkina Faso who have four points regardless of the result in Nigeria’s final game against Ethiopia up in Rustenburg on January 29.
Nigeria too have two points after today’s draw against Renard’s side.
Kennedy Mweene says there is still hope of Zambia reaching the quarterfinals after stuttering to a second successive draw in Group C at the 2013 Africa Cup.
Mweene kept Zambia’s Africa Cup hopes alive when he converted an 83rd minute penalty to make sure they shared the points with Nigeria.
“I think we still have hope we are working extra hard we cannot just give up the Cup like that,” Mweene said at Mbombela Stadium after the game.
“We have to fight that is why we are champions we have to fight back like we did today.”
Zambia must beat Burkina Faso on January 29 at Mbombela to keep their dreams alive of making into the last eight for a third successive outing.
Burkina Faso enjoy a two point lead at the summit of Group C on four points after thumping Ethiopia 4-0 in the second game of the groups doubleheader at Mbombela on Friday.
“So I think it will not be easy for us to go out we have to fight until the last game we will qualify to the quarter finals,” Mweene said.
United Party for National Development (UPND) has anounced that their planned public rally in Kabwata will go ahead after various consultations with Zambia Police.
In a statement made available to the media by Kuchunga Edwin Simusamba, the Deputy general Secretary for Politics, UPND said that Police has agreed to allow the rally to proceed.
” On behalf of the United Party for National Development (UPND), I would like to inform members of the general public that the planned rally in Kabwata will go ahead this Sunday 27th January 2013, starting at 12:00hrs at Kabwata Basic School grounds, ” read the statement
“This follows various consultations between the UPND and the government. The Police has finally agreed to follow the law by allowing the rally to proceed. See you there! Zambia forward,” concluded the statement
Earlier today, Home Affairs Minister, Edgar Lungu, has reiterated government’s duty to ensure law and order is maintained in the country.
Mr Lungu noted that he does not see anything wrong with the Zambia Police Service restraining the United Party for National Development (UPND) if they have reasons to do so.
He was reacting to allegations by the UPND leader, Hakainde Hichilema, who complained that it is the eleventh time that his party is being denied a police permit to hold rallies.
Mr Lungu was speaking in an interview with ZANIS at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport this morning shortly before President Michael Sata left for Ethiopia.
He explained that Mr Hichilema should understand that each case has to be different, adding that the current one had too many disadvantages.
Mr Lungu also noted that the UPND leader was invited by the Police Service, saying he should have launched a complaint from there.
He observed that opposition political parties should be working with the government of the day instead of perpetrating anarchy in the country all the time.
Yesterday, Mr Hichilema was reported on Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) as having said this was the eleventh time that his party was being denied a police permit since the PF government came into power.
File: Dr Katele Kalumba and Faustin Kabwe bundled in a police car after their sentencing to jail by a Lusaka magistrate Court
The Lusaka High Court has dismissed an application by former directors of the defunct Access Financial Services Limited (AFSL), directors Aaron Chungu and Faustin Kabwe to have their five year jail term appeal re-opened.
The four were slapped with a five-year jail term by a Lusaka magistrate’s court on corruption charges.
In this case Chungu and Kabwe who are jointly charged with former Finance Minister Katele Kalumba, his Permanent Secretary, Stella Chibanda had applied to have their appeal case re-opened before delivering judgment.
High Court Judges Nigel Mutuna and Jane Kabuka in delivering their ruling today on whether the applicant’s appeal should be re-opened before passing judgment on grounds that they had established fresh evidence said the court was not convinced with the arguments advanced.
Judge Kabuka who read the ruling said the evidence which the applicants adduced that they had established fresh evidence indicating that some witnesses were paid to testify against them could not constitute credible evidence of a bribe.
“At the most, we find it can only amount to an allegation on the said paid named witnesses, and for the reasons given, the application for leave to re-open the appeal must fail as well as the second limb of the application. To file a further ground of appeal, having been anchored on the success of the application for leave to re-open the appeal, accordingly falls away,” she said.
The judges said it was further clear that the information sought to be adduced as additional evidence was available to the applicants as shareholders or directors in AFSL if they had bothered to look for it.
“Against this backdrop we are constrained from finding that the facts disclosed can, even with the most liberal approach, qualify to be classified as ‘exceptional circumstances’ to justify reception of this evidence as fresh evidence,” said judge Kabuka.
Chungu and Kabwe’s lawyers, Robert Simeza and John Sangwa from Simeza, Sangwa and Associates had asked the court to grant them permission to have the appeal case re-opened claiming two of the key witnesses were paid substantial amounts of money by the prosecution.
The lawyers told the judges that it would be in the interest of justice for the appeal to be re-opened and allow them to file fresh evidence.
They said granting them this application would demonstrate how two former employees of Access Financial Services, Enock Mwale and Isaac Chitundu were allegedly paid K800 million and K658 million, respectively, to testify against them.
They charged that the two witnesses were paid to “colour” their testimonies against their clients and were also paid K2.1 million and K11 million respectively, in excess of their terminal benefits.
Judgment has since been set for March 29 this year.
President Sata waves at PF party officials and Government officials at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport before his departure for Tokyo, Japan
President Michael Sata has today left for Ethiopia where he is expected to attend the 20th African Union (AU) Summit.
Mr Sata left this morning at 10:30 hours at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport.
The President is accompanied by his Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations, George Chellah and First Lady, Christine Kaseba.
At hand to see off the President were Vice President, Guy Scott, Finance Minister, Alexander Chikwanda, Defence Minister, Geoffrey Mwamba and Information and Broadcasting Minister Kennedy Sakeni.
Others were Home Affairs Minister, Edgar Lungu, Lusaka Province Minister, Freedom Sikazwe, Senior government officials and service chiefs.
President Sata will be among other African Heads of State expected to attend the summit.
The summit, which will among other issues talk about conflicts in the region, would be held under the theme “Pan- Africanism and African Renaissance”.
This year’s AU summit is expected to attract over 50 heads of state and Government representatives.
The Head of State is expected to return home after the summit.
Transparency International Zambia Chapter (TIZ) has said that the nomination of Gabriel Namulambe by the Patriotic Front to represent the ruling party in the Mpongwe by-elections sends a wrong signal to government’s quest to fight corruption.
TIZ Executive Director Goodwell Lungu said that the action clearly demonstrates that the PF can easily accept former MMD government officials whom it has loudly said were allegedly corrupt to now become part of the PF for political convenience and not on principle.
Mr. Lungu said that it is a known fact that Mr. Namulambe is currently facing criminal prosecutions in the courts and having such an individual represent a party in government that is allegedly allergic to corruption is inimical to the party’s energy of fighting corruption.
He has since strongly advised the Patriotic Front government to lead by example by requesting Mr. Namulambe to concentrate on clearing his name for the alleged offenses he is being prosecuted for.
Mr. Lungu told QFM news in a statement that in as much as Mr. Namulambe’s democratic right to resign and join a party of his choice, TIZ believes that it is wrong for such candidates to be given a second chance of re-contesting because of their self inflicted by-election which subjects huge sums of tax payers’ money to wastage.
He categorically stated that TIZ has got nothing against Mr. Namulambe as his organizations’ main interest is to constantly keep reminding government to avoid diluting the corruption fight and sending signals that the PF is becoming a haven for those who are seeking protection.
Mr. Lungu stated that TIZ will closely monitor Mr. Namulambe’s corruption charges to avoid any foreseeable miscarriage of justice.
US based Zambian Rapper Chanda Mbao recently did a video interview with Zambia’s Finest Talents
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3OKm4SsmaE&feature=youtu.be
Former President Kenneth Kaunda with President Michael Sata
By J.Musonda
The age of the President is important in Zambia. In 2011 we had elected a president who is at an advanced age and we all expected to see change in 90 days. Looking at his age some of us thought with his age a 90 day promise is aright a least we can see something. 90 days is over and far gone we are looking forward to the future to see change.
However, when we look at the age of our current president how long will he be there? In twenty years time will he be there? If yes then he will be a vegetable.KK is still here because was he young and healthy when he was president.If we continue to elect presidents we all know will not there tomorrow and expect them to plan for the future of this country then we are fishing dry fish.
[pullquote]Right now we have a president who is old and will not be there much longer and the worst thing is, we still want him to make decisions for our future including the constitution.[/pullquote]
From our short democracy we have seen how we have already made a big mistake causing the death of the president.It seems we never learn, we heard many times about the health of the late president Mwanawasa and we still went on to elect him for a second term.Despite being the best president we’ve had so far, we did not love him. At the end of his life we came out showing as if we loved him so much.If we loved him we would not have elected him for the second term basing on his poor health.
Whether we like it or not I have said it. Right now we have a president who will not be there in short time to come and the worst thing is, we still want him to make decisions for our future including constitution. We need a young man for president who we will praise if he is still living after his office or persecute him if he steals our money. Not the one who will be dead or hospitalized when need for court trials.
To the young ones who have ambitions to stand for president grow up by showing us maturity. To Opposition parties stand for real issues in parliament.It is painful when you are only seen talking about increasing your allowances because it benefits you but silent on real issue affecting people like allocations of plots.
Our democracy is still very weak especially the constitution.We need a president who will be there in future to see development. So far the politicians we have had,have just been power hungry.Unfortunately in Zambia we have reached that stage when we elect someone he because so powerful that we can not touch him/her even when evil they are involved in is public.
Lusaka Province Commissioner of Police, Joyce Kasosa
Lusaka Province Commissioner of Police, Joyce Kasosa has reiterated the police warning to UPND that it would not allow the opposition political party to go ahead with its rally in Kabwata on Sunday.
She assured that the police had not denied the UPND to hold its rally and reiterated that the party would be given a go ahead once it was safe to do so.
Ms Kasosa’s remarks come in the wake of UPND’s insistence through its deputy spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa that the party would go ahead with its rally as planned as it had followed all the necessary requirements to enable it conduct the activity.
She said she had put it in writing to the UPND that it would not be ideal to hold the rally this Sunday because of recent chaotic happenings in Lusaka, adding that the Hakainde Hichilema-led party would be advised in due course when it would be conducive to do so.
“We haven’t allowed them (UPND) to go ahead with the rally on Sunday. I wrote to them to say it is not possible to hold the rally this Sunday because the prevailing conditions are not conducive and our position still stands,” she said.
She appealed to the UPND to adhere to that advice.
Ms Kasosa said the police’s objective was to maintain law and order as entangling itself in confrontations was unfortunate and unproductive.
“We, as police, are not interested in confrontation. We would rather dialogue. We are therefore appealing to the UPND to dialogue with us,” she said.
THE Anti- Corruption Commission (ACC) says it was doing everything possible to ensure that all proceeds of corruption were confiscated from people found guilty.
ACC Eastern Province Community Education Officer, George Kaguya said that this was in line with the key area of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), protocol on corruption known as the confiscation of proceeds of crime.
He was speaking during a Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Corruption training held organised by the Young Women Christian Association (YWCA) held at Pine View Guest House in Chipata on Tuesday,
He said the proceeds of crime such as vehicles, houses and cell phones would continue to be confiscated from the suspects.
Mr Kaguya however said that if the property that has been confiscated does not belong to the person being investigated the original owner of that particular property had the right to claim it after 90 days of its confiscation.
He said that the aim of confiscating proceeds of graft was to ensure that corruption was a non-profitable venture so that people stop getting involved.
Mr Kanguya said the SADC protocol against corruption was adopted by the SADC Heads of State and Government at their August 2001 Summit in Malawi.
“The adoption of the SADC Protocol is recognition of the extent to which corruption has become a menace worldwide and Southern Africa is not exception in this regard, “he said.
Mr Kanguya said the first idea came to the fore in the form of a draft Declaration Against Corruption at a meeting of SADC senior officials held on 23rd August 1998 in Harare, Zimbabwe in which it was felt that there was need for Southern Africa as a region to take stance against corruption.
He said the purpose of the protocol was to promote the development of anti corruption mechanisms at the national level, the promotion of cooperation in the fight against corruption by state parties and to harmonise anti corruption national legistration in the region.
He explained that some of the key areas of the protocol were to extradite offenders who were involved in criminal activities including SADC to provide judicial cooperation and legal assistance among state parties.
Mr Kanguya said in order for protocol to effectively work there was need for close cooperation between and among all the SADC member countries.
Former Eastern Province Permanent Secretary Emmanuel Mwamba (centre) and acting Chipata Town Clerk Mutemwe Mwape during the tour of Kapata Market in Chipata
Wetsern Province Permanent Secretary, Emmanuel Mwamba has defended President Michael Sata over his decision to transfer him to Western Province.
The transfer, which came barely two months after Mr. Mwamba was transferred from Northern Province to Eastern, has been received with mixed feelings in different sectors.
He said that people should understand that the Head of State had the right to transfer any civil servant to ensure that Government performs.
In an interview yesterday Mr Mwamba said that he hopes that the new permanent secretary Bert Mushala would continue to implement developmental plans, which he had put in place.
“Personally I am a civil servant who is oblige to work anywhere were the Head of State has assigned me,”he said
Recently ,the Church, Chiefs and the Patriotic Front Provincial Committee in Eastern Province were among those that have requested President Sata to consider allowing Mr Mwamba to stay in Eastern Province as he had initiated a lot of development programs which they feared, might not be carried out with his recent transfer.
President Michael Sata swapped Mr Mwamba with his counterpart from Western Province Mr Mushala.
FLASHBACK: FORMER President of Zambia,Dr.kenneth Kaunda was present at the ceremony of South Sudan independence birth day in Juba, South Sudan
ZAMBIA first republican President Kenneth Kaunda will during the 50th anniversary of the African Union (AU) be honored for the role he played in the liberation struggles of various Southern African states.
The colorful and historical event is scheduled to take place here at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa in May.
Zambian Ambassador to Ethiopia Francis Simenda told journalists here that Dr Kaunda was among great African leaders who immensely contributed to the liberation struggles in most African countries.
‘I am happy to inform to inform you that Dr Kaunda will be honoured this year here at the AU for his role he played in the liberation of Southern Africa.
“You know, Zambia sacrificed so much of its resources including manpower to liberate the southern region, countries like Angola, South Africa, Mozambique and so on benefited from Zambia,” he said.
He said it was surprising to note that even after the immense contribution to Africa’s welfare by Dr Kaunda, his recognition was barely noticed.
“If you look around the conference here (AU headquarters), look at the pictures of those who contributed to this organization, you didn’t see the picture of President Kaunda here,” he said.
Meanwhile, President Michael Sata is today expected to arrive here for the 20th ordinary session of the AU summit which takes place on January 27 to 28.
Mr Simenda said President Sata is today scheduled to touch down at Bole International Airport at about 12:00 hours Zambian time (13:00 hours local; time).
Mr Simenda said President Sata would be accompanied by the first lady Dr Christine Kaseba who will be attending the Organisation of African First Ladies (OAFLA) General Assembly on the sidelines of the AU heads of state summit.
He said the AU summit among many other issues would discuss prevailing conflicts on the continent.
“There are a number of issues to be discussed and one of them is the issue of conflicts in Africa. For Africa to develop we need to have peace on the continent in the various member states.
“So there are a number of conflict areas in Africa, the situation in Mali, Central African Republic, and Democratic Republic of Congo. Focus will be made to try and see how heads of State can try and resolve these issues,” he said.
He said there was also a surge in which some rebel groups in Africa wanted to overthrow legitimately elected governments hence the need to halt the trend.
Mr Simenda said the summit would also tackle issues of poverty in Africa and youth unemployment.
Mr Simenda said Africa was endowed with a lot of resources but unfortunately the continent was not managing these resources properly.
Other issues to be discussed are maternal health care and the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
And Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba is in the advance party leading the Zambian delegation.
Zambia will tomorrow (January 26) be reviewed on the strides made under the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM).
THE CITIZENS Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) will this year give out over K100 billion (KR100m) as economic empowerment loans throughout Zambia, Director General Likando Mukumbuta has disclosed.
Mr Mukumbuta said each province would receive between KR10 million and KR12 million of which 30% would be allocated to the women and 40% to the youths while the balance would be for various entrepreneurs and the disabled.
Speaking yesterday during a stakeholder’s consultative meeting in Kabwe, he said in order for the economic clusters to work, local people should be engaged.
He explained that it was for this reason that the commission had started carrying out consultative meetings throughout the country to identify the products that were found in each province so that an economic cluster would be built based on the products found in that area.
He said in the past the commission used to give out loans directly but since the loans had increased, the commission decided to engage financial institutions that were supervised by the Bank of Zambia to act as intermediates for the process to be effective.
Mr Mukumbuta said for the economic clusters to work well, the commission started identifying products in each province that were abundant and build around that to ensure that a finished product is merged.
He said starting from 2013 the commission would be picking three districts and identifies the product that was readily available and so far the commission was consulting on the need to build on the dairy industry in Kabwe district.
He said the commission would soon call for proposals in 30 districts and he encouraged the local people to apply.
And Kabwe chamber of commerce representative Lauren Haangala was happy over the need to have the local people tap into the economic cluster.
Mr Hangala said the district produced a number of products that would generate higher incomes if turned into finished products.
Meanwhile chairperson for the Zambia Federation of Association of Women in Business in Kabwe Symphrosa Chomba said the programme was well thought and that it would yield good results if well managed.
Ms Chomba said the programme would not only benefit already set up businesses but also upcoming ones.
