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A muscle injury has ruled out Zesco United winger Lottie Phiri from this Saturday’s season opener Charity Shield semifinal against Power Dynamos at Nkoloma Stadium on Lusaka.
Phiri sustained the injury during Zesco’s recent pre-season training in Mongu.
According to the team medics, the ex-Red Arrows and Power player will return to action in two weeks.
Phiri, who watched from the stands as Zesco beat Kitwe United 2-0 in a friendly played at the weekend, resumed training on Tuesday.
“Anyway, I am glad to hear that I will start playing in two weeks because I am injured but I will be fine next week,” he wrote on his facebook page on Tuesday evening.
Zesco will face Power in the 13:00 hours kick-off match at Nkoloma Stadium while Zanaco will take on Napsa Stars in the second semifinal match at the same venue two hours later.
File: Coal Mine workers picking coal without protective clothes at Shaft One at the chinese collum mine
Government has with immediate effect cancelled the mining licence for Chinese run Collum Coal Mine.
Based in Sinazongwe area of Southern Province, Collum Mine has been the subject of fierce labour disputes between the Chinese managers and the local Zambian workers due to poor working conditions.
In 2010, eleven miners including one onlooker were shot and seriously wounded by Chinese manager at the Collum Coal Mine
Mines Minister Yamfwa Mukanga announced during a news briefing this morning that government has taken over the operations of the coal mine.
Mr. Mukanga said the mine has had a poor history of poor safety, health and environmental compliance which he attributed to the employment of unqualified personnel.
“Collum Coal Mine has failed to consistently provide employees with approved personal protective equipment (PPE’s),” he said.
Mr. Mukanga said the Ministry through the Mines Safety Department has been undertaking regular inspections to assist the mine remedy the persistent beaches adding that in some instances the entire mine has been closed before to allow the mine management to comply with directives but that there has no improvements.
“The Ministry gave a default notice to Collum Coal Mine on August 16 2012 and the company was given 60 days within which to remedy the anomalies cited in the default letter failure to which the licence would be cancelled. The 60 days expired on October 16 2012 without any response to the notice or remediation of all anomalies cited,” Mr. Mukanga stated.
The Mines Minister said Collum Mine failed to meet statutory obligations such as the declaration of mineral production and royalty to government.
Mr. Mukanga has since appealed to workers at the coal mine to remain calm assuring that there will be no disruption of normal operations.
Collum Coal Mining Industries Limited holds three small scale mining licences in Sinazongwe district of Southern province which were granted on 31 May 2002, July 5 2002 and May 7 2003 respectively.
Board Chairman Justice Timothy Kabalata (rtd) reads his speech while Anti-Corruption Commission Deputy Director Ireen Lamba listens during the media briefing at Court Yard hotel in Livingstone
THE Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) has cleared Justice minister Wynter Kabimba and his defence counterpart Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba. ACC said that they have found no evidence of corruption against justice minister Wynter Kabimba and his defence counterpart Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba, commonly known as GBM.
ACC had launched preliminary inquiries into corruption allegations against Justice Minister, Wynter Kabimba and his Defence counterpart, Geoffrey Mwamba following complaints received on the alleged conduct of the two Cabinet ministers.
Mr Kabimba, who is Patriotic Front (PF) Secretary-General, was alleged to have influenced the procurement tender process so that Trafigura would be awarded the tender to supply Zambia with petrol and diesel for one year.
Trafigura was awarded the supply deal at a cost of US$500 million for the one year period.
Mr Mwamba was accused of influencing ZESCO to award his company and others where he had interests, a one-year contract for the supply and delivery of wooden poles.
ZESCO intended to award a tender for the supply and delivery of nine, 10 and 12 metre-wooden poles on a year-running-contract basis to several bidders, among them Arizona Marketing and Distribution, which belongs to Mr Mwamba and two of his family members.
Arizona Marketing and Distribution’s bid price on the ZESCO poles contract was about K36.7 billion.
The company, according to the Patents and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA), was owned by Mr Mwamba, of Plot 10 Roan Road in Lusaka’s Kabulonga area.
Preliminary notification of the contract award for the tender, whose bids were closed and opened on June 8, 2012, indicated that the preliminary award had been issued pursuant to Part VI, Section 53 (1) and (2) of the Zambia Public Procurement Act No. 12 of 2008.
Meanwhile, Civil Society Organisations have expressed mixed feelings on the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC)’s resolve to clear Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba and his defence counterpart Geoffrey Mwamba of alleged
corruption charges.
Open Society Foundation executive director Sunday Chanda, in an interview today said the ACC had made the right decision owing to the fact that commission had no evidence to implicate the two ministers.
“We believe the ACC decision to clear the two ministers of corruption has been made in the interest of justice, they have no evidence connecting the two ministers to corruption and we take that as gospel truth,” he said.
Mr Chanda said the public must understand that the ACC was not liable to operate under public duress to make an in order to make informed decision.
Forum for Democratic Process (FODEP) executive director Mcdonald Chipenzi said the outcome of the investigations was expected as the ACC did not handle the matter professionally.
“We feel the ACC did not exhibit professional etiquette when carrying out the investigations involving the two cabinet ministers,” he said.
Mr Chipenzi said the exculpation of the two cabinet ministers would raise public concern about the country’s justice system.
Southern Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) information officer Obby Chibuluma said the organisation would only give their position on the matter once the ACC officially writes to the two ministers, informing them of their exoneration.
Meanwhile, ACC Deputy Director General Irene Lamba said the Commission operates independently and professionally without any intimidation or interference from politicians.
Ms Lamba, who was flanked by ACC board chairperson Timothy Kabalata,was speaking in Livingstone today at Courtyard Hotel during a meeting between ACC board of commissioners and various stakeholders in the tourist capital.
Ms Lamba assured the public that the Commission was not subject to any authority under the ACC Act.
“Under the Act, we are mandated to carry our duties effectively, professionally and diligently without any nterference or intimidation.”
We will investigate even people that are perceived to be political giants as long as there are corrupt allegations and we have not received any intimidation to prevent us from doing our work effectively,” she said.
We hubble ourselves before you.You said if my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray I will hear from heaven and heal their land. Father God, today we want to pray for Zambia.Lord there is a general feeling of discontentment in the country.
Our Education system is leaves much to be desired and Zambians spend billions of Kwacha to send their children to Universities outside the country.Our health care system is pathetic with hospitals lacking basic drugs and facilities.Billions of Kwacha are spent every year sending the sick to hospitals outside the country.Lord its like the little we have is being taken from us.
Our Transport system is deplorable.We just lost 51 lives in one day due to our very bad and pathetic road network.Lord we don’t even have a functional railway system.Yet you have blessed us with a great location in South Central Africa.
Lord you continue to bless us with abundant natural resources and we have failed to utilise them.Instead foreign corporations are siphoning huge amounts of money meant for Zambia and Zambians.
Zambia’s sin
Oh Lord what has brought this on the land of Zambia but our sin.Lord we are nothing without you.We confess our sins.We confess just talking and not acting.We confess expecting someone else to solve our problems.We the learned confess for our passivity in not putting our knowledge to practise and solving the problems our country is faced with.Instead we sit by our computers and insult others for not doing more.
We confess our laziness,for not doing our jobs to the best of our ability. We confess the corruption that is evident in every sphere of our lives from the small man on the street to the leaders in high office.We confess our hypocrisy in condemming the few that are caught while our own hands are soiled.
[pullquote]Lord today we want to specifically confess calling President Sata and his team satanists among other names.We refuse to proclaim evil over our land.[/pullquote]
Lord today we want to specifically confess calling President Sata a satanist among other names.We refuse to proclaim evil over our land. We confess because we know that we wrestle not against flesh and blood but principalities rulers of this dark age.You created these people and allowed them to be in the positions they are in today.We confess Lord because we are nothing without you.
Prayer for our leaders
Instead Lord we bring the president and the government leaders before you today and ask you to protect them from evil influence.May the plans of evil men come to naught.Lord open our leaders eyes that they may see the path that you would have them walk in.Please give them divine wisdom that they may lead this country to greater heights.Purge their hearts from sin.Judgement is yours.Judge the wicked in our midst Lord. If our government leaders refuse to obey you please remove them from our midst and may righteous men take their places.
Heal our land oh Lord.Unite us Lord for we are One Zambia and One Nation.What shall it profit a man to gain the whole word yet lose his soul?
Barotseland
Lord the people who call their land Barotseland are greatly troubled and no longer want to be a part of Zambia.Their desire is so great that Lord this could lead to a civil war one day.Lord we cry before you to please bring peace to this situation.We come against any war.Please Lord raise up a leader , a general who can solve this problem before it gets out of hand.Raise one who can win this war without fighting.
Respecting all religions we choose to submit this pray in the name of Jesus Christ.
Heritage Party president Godfrey Miyanda and his counterpart from the UPND Hakainde Hichilema confer
PRESIDENT Michael Sata has exposed opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema’s financial and estate records valued at more than KR360million (K360 billion).
Prior to the 2011 general elections, Mr Hichilema’s declared assets, filed before the Chief Justice, were valued at only KR46 million but the opposition leader was still the richest at the time.
President Sata said at State House in Lusaka yesterday that the records would be submitted to the Commonwealth organisation, which Mr Hichilema had invited to Zambia to check on alleged human rights violations by the ruling party.
“I am glad that Mr Hichilema has invited the Commonwealth, we will show them this document,” said the President in reference to the dossier containing details of the wealth amassed by Mr Hichilema.
Preliminary investigations indicated that Mr Hichilema had ranches, which had made him to emerge as one of the leading suppliers of beef to Zambeef Plc in the country.
[pullquote]“I am glad that Mr Hichilema has invited the Commonwealth, we will show them this document,” said the President in reference to the dossier containing details of the wealth amassed by Mr Hichilema.[/pullquote]
The ranches had 90,000 cattle in Central and Southern Provinces valued at KR360 million.
The ranches were divided as; four in Choma District, operating as H.H Farm and Blukes Farms whose property number was F/2295/A and had about 20,000 animals.
One ranch located in Namwala District, operating under the name of H.H Farms whose property number was L/2482/m and had about 16,000 animals.
Another farm in Kalomo District operating as H.H Farms B. Williams whose property number was F/821/A and had 35, 000 animals while three ranches in Kalola, Chibombo District, whose property numbers were F/1604/A, F/2270/A and F/9184 had 35, 000 animals.
Mr Hichilema had four bank accounts with the Zambia National Commercial Bank (ZNCB), with the ZIMCO account in liquidation bearing account number 0030410001474, based at Lusaka’s Business Center branch, having US$5,383.86.
However as at May 22, last year, the account had US$820,411.58. Mr Hichilema’s Agro Support Limited account number 030240000901 and based at the ZNCB Choma branch had a balance of KR45, 685 as at July 22, last year.
Another account named ZIMCO in liquidation whose number was 00304010001474 based at Lusaka Business Centre had a balance of KR9, 305 and a dormant account which had KR135, 000 domiciled at the Lusaka Business Center.
Mr Hichilema had shares in private companies which included, ALS Capital, a bureau de change based at Mukuba House in Lusaka, Beef Up Zambia Limited, a marketing company based at Longolongo Road in Lusaka.
He also had shares in Buluwe Properties Limited, an investment and property development firm based at Mukuba House in Lusaka.
Others were in Hillview Properties Limited, an investment and property development company also based at Mukuba House and in the Manda Hill Center, an investment and property development company based at Manda Hill Shopping Mall in Lusaka.
The opposition leader also had shares in Maybrooke Property Investment Limited, an investment and property development business based at Anglo American building in Lusaka.
More Beef Limited, a beef marketing company based on Omelo Mumba Road in Lusaka’s Rhodespark Township and Quantum Assets Zambia Limited, an investment and property development business based on Independence Avenue in Lusaka.
He also had other shares in the prestigious Zambezi Sun International Hotels based in Livingstone, Pick ‘n’ Pay and Game Stores in Lusaka.
Other being Anglo-American Corporation and Delloitte and Touche, an accounting firm based in Lusaka.
The opposition leader had three houses in South Africa, two in England, three in Lusaka’s Kabulonga area and office blocks in Choma District.
Mr Hichilema’s associates included prominent commercial farmer Costain Chilala of Mkushi, Boyd Hamusonde, a proprietor of B.H Diesel Motors who was also a Member of Parliament for Nangoma Constituency, who made regular donations to the party.
“In addition, UPND MPs are also required to contribute KR1, 000 every month for party activities. The UPND also received funds from the Liberal Party (LP) of Norway, which is under the leadership of Erick Ringes, a personal friend of Mr Hichilema. The value of the donations by LP is yet to be established,” the document stated.
UPND president Hakainde Hichilema waves at his supporters when he arrived for the Kabwata rally.
UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has vowed to fight violations of human rights and the breakdown of the rule of law allegedly being perpetrated by the Patriotic Front government with civility.
Mr. Hichilema said that he will use all the possible means both local and international to ensure a better Zambia for the people.
In an interview with Qfm NEWS, Mr. Hichilema maintained that there is nothing immoral about him and some leaders of the opposition seeking intervention from the Commonwealth on the alleged gross abuses of human rights and undemocratic tendencies by the PF government.
He said that going to the Commonwealth was the most civil way of handling the alleged injustices being committed by the government.
Mr. Hichilema said the Commonwealth will prove for themselves how intolerant the Patriotic Front government is.
He said that those condemning the move by opposition political leaders are enemies of the rule of law and that they have no respect for people’s rights.
CHADIZA District Education Board Secretary (DEBS) Ruth Moyo has bemoaned the high pupils dropping out of schools due to early marriages and cattle herding in the district.
This came to light when Chanjowe Basic School head teacher, Nathan Phiri presented the school report during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at the school in Chadiza over the weekend.
Ms Moyo said that a number of pupils drop out of school because their parents use them for financial gain in cattle heading and early marriages.
She said it was saddening that the school going pupils were denied access to education by forcing them into early marriages and herding of cattle in the district.
“It is saddening that instead of the pupils to be at school are being forced into early marriages and herding of cattle,”Ms Moyo said.
Chadiza District was one of the districts in the country with high illiteracy levels.
Speaking earlier, school senior teacher Kenny Lungu said that 24 girls and seven boys dropped out of school between January and December 2012 due to early marriages and cattle herding.
Mr Lungu appealed to parents to cooperate with teachers in disciplinary issues in order to have good results at the school.
He also appealed to the community to help the DEBS office in providing upfront materials for construction of additional classroom blocks and staff houses at the school because the school had only eight classroom blocks, 23 teachers and 11 staff houses.
Meanwhile, School Parents Teachers Association ( PTA) Chairperson Chedai Phiri said that KR 50,000 had been given to the school under Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to construct a 1X 3 classroom block
He advised the parents who refused to pay school fees for their children to cooperate with the school administration in paying the money.
He said that some parents have refused to pay K 65 per school term fee.
The clergy in Ndola have expressed mixed feelings over calls by some NGO’s to have former Republican President Rupiah Banda’s immunity lifted.
Pastor Raymond Bwalya of Christ Ministry International Church in Kabushi has said that there was no need of removing the former President’s immunity as it would serve no purpose.
Pastor Bwalya said the late second Republican President Dr Fredrick Chiluba had his immunity removed and the courts later acquitted him of his cases.
He noted that the case of Dr Chiluba was not only time consuming but also costly.
The clergyman has since advised government to use such money for developmental projects and not on Mr Banda’s immunity removal.
“You saw how much money and time was wasted on Dr Chiluba, its better government uses that time and money to develop the country, there are areas that need serious development in this country, people need water, food and many other services not Mr Banda’s immunity removal no,” he said.
And Pastor Chapuswike Chibelushi of Tag argan area said removing Mr Banda’s immunity was a welcome move as it would clear his name.
“People should understand that removing his immunity will assist him to clear his name, right now people are pointing fingers at him but once he goes to court he will either be convicted or acquitted, so it is an opportunity for him to clear his name, it’s a very welcome move,” he said.
Pastor Chibelushi said Members of Parliament (MPs) should listen to calls by the people and the NGO’s at large.
He said MPs are in parliament to represent people and that they should advance peoples wishes and not their personal views.
He said it will be good even for opposition MMD MPs to vote for the removal of Mr Banda’s immunity as it would show that the MMD as a party has nothing to hide.
Some NGO’s have been calling on Members of Parliament ahead of today’s re-opening of parliament to move a motion to have Mr Banda’s immunity removed.
A Company contracted by Zesco to do works at its Lunzuwa hydroelectric power station in Mpulungu district has allegedly relocated to Angola leaving more than 60 ex-workers stranded.
Zesco awarded the initial contract to Bneec Zambia who in turn sub-contracted Transley Zambia to construct staff houses at Lunzuwa hydroelectric power station in Mpulungu District.
The contractor then recruited a group of 60 men from the district to work on the housing units but relocated to Angola after executing the contract without paying the labourers their last paycheques.
A representative of the group said they were engaged as casual workers by Transley Zambia to build staff houses at Lunzuwa where works to upgrade the 66Kv to a 330kv line have begun.
The affected workers have called on Government to help them get their dues which vary between KR2400 and KR1400 per worker.
The cadre of workers include bricklayers, carpenters and artisans.
Northern Province permanent secretary Hlobota Nkunika said he would comment at a later stage after getting details on the issue.
Government pondering on registering late President Frederick Chiluba’s landmark London judgment which found the former head of state quilty of looting national coffers.
Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba has told Parliament that it has taken government too long to register the judgment because of the demise of Dr. Chiluba.
In response to a question raised by UPND Kabompo West Member of Parliament, Ambrose Lufuma who wanted to know whether the Government had any plans of enforcing the London High Court judgment involving Dr. Chiluba and others.
He restated that the Patriotic Front is too allergic to corruption hence the reason to pursue the matter in the coming months. He has, however, said that the process will be time consuming because several stakeholders will have to be consulted.
Mr Kabimba said Government was still reviewing the matter and would inform the House at an appropriate time.
“The issue of the London judgment is a matter of great importance and we agree with the apprehension on this issue, we are actively pursuing it and we will not speculate on the timeframe,” Mr Kabimba said.
Others accused in the matter, were Xavier Chungu, Stella Chibanda,Attan Shansonga, Aaron Chungu, Faustin Kabwe, Ireen Kabwe and Francis Kaunda, who were accused of embezzling US$46million.
TP Mazembe boss Moses Katumbi says Stopilla Sunzu status has been resolved and he is not a free agent.
Sunzu’s status has been the subject of debate over the last three weeks after a standoff between Mazembe and his representatives.
“As for Sunzu, even now, we are ready to listen to offers from any club in Europe. The only problem is that his managers have been confusing the boy by lying to him that his contract with Mazembe has expired and yet it is still valid until 2015,” Katumbi said.
Sunzu last Thursday returned from England where he was courted by Reading and Sunderland after reports that his three-year deal with Mazembe dating back to 2010 had expired.
“It is for this reason that we had a meeting with him on Saturday in the presence of his fiancée and his father and went through the contract with everybody again and after that, everyone present, including the player himself, agreed that he still had a valid contract. Infact, we even paid him his latest salary after the meeting,” Katumbi said.
“The agents must learn to respect African clubs because we invest a lot in these players. You can’t just come to Africa and want to get players for free.”
Police in Solwezi have arrested a Tanzanian national who went on rampage stabbing three people and killing one in Kyawama compound.
North Western Province Police Commissioner, Eugene Sibote, and the uncle of the deceased confirmed the arrest of Jonas Juma, 26, of Kyawama compound.
Mr Sibote said Juma stabbed Frank Mwelwa, 22, in the right ribs with a knife and the victim died on the way to the hospital.
He said the assailant also stabbed and inflicted serious wounds on three other people on the same fateful night.
He named the three that were wounded as Johnson Kachelewa, 22, who suffered a deep wound on the left thigh, Chushi Kunda, 19, who was stabbed in the left should and Sylvester Mwale, who was wounded in the right shoulder.
Mr Sibote said the Tanzanian national is in custody facing a charge of murder.
And Mr Sibote said police officers have also been deployed in Kyawama to monitor the situation after some unruly youths angered by the killing of Mwelwa were reported to be planning to take vengeance against Tanzanian nationals in Kyawama.
“The person who caused the unfortunate death is in our custody. What we are saying is that there is no need for anyone to extend the vengeance to other people just because they are foreign nationals,” Mr Sibote said.
He warned that anyone who will try to cause any confusion will be treated as a criminal and the law will not spare that person as police are aware that some irresponsible people want to create confusion in order to commit crimes by stealing or looting.
And Solwezi District Commissioner, Crispin Likando, visited the funeral house of the diseased and counselled the bereaved family.
Mr Likando urged the bereaved family and the people in Kyawama to mourn the deceased in a peaceful and respectful manner.
He said there is no need to resort to violence against other Tanzanian nationals in the district as the crime was committed by one person that police have arrested.
Meanwhile, the uncle of the 22-year-old-man, who died of a knife wound after being stabbed by a Tanzanian national in Solwezi, is not happy with law enforcement agencies that allowed the killer, who is a prohibited immigrant to roam freely instead of being in prison.
Mr Rhodes Kachelewa, who narrated the circumstances in which his nephew, Frank, died after being stabbed, showed ZANIS documentation that included a police report and a notice of prohibited immigrant to leave Zambia issued to the Tanzanian.
On January 25, 2013, Zambia police issued a police report addressed to immigration authorities to assist a Tanzanian national, Jonas Juma, in anyway.
This is after Juma, 26, reported being attacked by three unknown people who robbed him of his passport and other personal property worth KR 2,300.
And on February 1, 2013, the Immigration Office in Solwezi issued a notice of prohibited immigrant to Juma and ordered him to leave the country within 14 days.
However, instead of detaining Juma in prison as required by law, the immigration authorities let him scot free.
Mr Kachelewa, said he partially blames the law enforcement authorities in Solwezi for the death of his nephew because they had every reason to detain Juma in prison but left him to move freely.
He is demanding to know why the immigration authorities allowed Juma to live outside prison while awaiting his deportation as a Prohibited Immigrant (PI).
And when asked to comment on the matter, North Western Province Police Commissioner, Eugene Sibote, said the practice is that prohibited immigrants are supposed to be in prison.
Mr Sibote said the fact that the PI was out of prison can be explained by the immigration authorities.
“If he had no legal status to stay in the country and was declared PI he was supposed to be arrested and taken to prison. The fact that he was out, the immigration office must explain why they let him to roam free,” he said.
Efforts to get a comment from immigration office in Solwezi proved futile as the newly appointed Regional Immigration Officer was reported to be travelling from Lusaka.
