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Opposition Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) vice president for Political Affairs Michael Kaingu has said that the formation of a parallel party structure by expelled National Secretary Major Richard Kachingwe is a laughable matter.
Major Kachingwe yesterday announced the formulation of a parallel party structure aimed at removing party president Nevers Mumba from the party.
Mr. Kaingu has advised Major Kachingwe to just state that he has formed a separate political party instead of hiding in the name of MMD.
Speaking in an interview with QFM, Mr. Kaingu said that it is also a relief it Major Kachingwe has moved out of the party because the party will now operate smoothly without any interference.
He however stated that the party will not allow Major Kachingwe to use the name of the party.
Zambia Railways Limited will create 10 000 jobs during its reconstruction stage in the next three years. Zambia Railways Managing Director Clive Chirwa said that the railway company needs about one billion US Dollars to fully recapitalize the company.
Professor Chirwa said that the reconstruction stage will involve replacing of the railway line, training of experts and buying of new locomotives.
He has told ZNBC News in an interview that the recruitment exercise is expected to start in the next two weeks.
Professor Chirwa said that Zambia Railways has already received 120 Million US Dollars for the reconstruction of the railway company.
He said that the reconstruction of the company will mark the revival of the railway system in the country.
Ex-Zambia defender Peter Chitila has slammed Chipolopolo’s performance in Monday’s 1-1 draw with Ethiopia at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations South Africa.
Chitila, who featured at the 1998 Africa Cup in Burkina Faso, charged that Zambia performed below par in their Group C tie against Ethiopia played at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.
The former Power Dynamos and Red Arrows defender, however, was remained hopeful that Zambia can up their game as they try to defend the AFCON title.
“Watching Zambia draw with Ethiopia 10 man 1-1 very below par performance by our Zambian team,” Chitila noted.
“Ethiopia looked comfortable on the ball and made more passes despite 10 man Ethiopia team. Does this Zambian coach have more ideas of modern soccer? I seriously doubt it,” he posted on his face book page.
“There was lack of movement in the Zambian team but I hope for the best,” Chitila added.
Zambia’s next game is on Friday against Nigeria who were last night held to a 1-1 draw by Burkina
Kalulushi Member of Parliament and Deputy Minister of Labour, Rayford Mbulu, suspects his former girlfriend is gifted with a spirit of insults.
Mr Mbulu, who yesterday appeared before Lusaka magistrate, Alice Walusiku, told the court that he wondered why Salome Mulenga brought herself back after she heard of his rise and recent achievements in the political arena soon after leaving the trade union leadership.
Mr Mbulo, who summoned Ms Mulenga for use of insulting language Contrary to Section 179 of the Penal Code Cap 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
Particulars of the offence are that on May 14, 2012, while in Lusaka, Ms Mulenga conducted herself in a manner likely to provoke Mr Mbulu as to cause him to breach the public peace.
Mr Mbulo in his testimony said he was surprised to note that Ms Mulenga, the former girlfriend, accused him of infecting her with HIV/AIDS despite having an intermittent relationship with her and further threatening his life.
He told the court that in 2009 he met Ms Mulenga in Siavonga when he went to carry out strategic planning for the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions.
He said the two had an intermittent relationship from 2009 to 2011.
[pullquote]Tempers flared during cross examination when Mr Sikota asked Mr Mbulu if for sure he was not HIV positive, adding that the same issue was discussed at Cabinet Office when Ms Mulenga reported the matter to the minister.[/pullquote]
Mr Mbulu said last year after the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), he lost his phone and during that period he decided to use his wife’s hand set.
He said during the time he used his wife’s phone and SIM card he received massages from Ms Mulenga threatening him.
Mr Mbulu further produced his wife’s Samsung phone as part of evidence where he printed out two text messages as evidence to the threats he received from Ms Mulenga.
“Tell your hubby to switch on his phone, I don’t want to follow him to his work place,” stated one of the text messages on March 11, 2012.
Another text massage read, “Tell your hubby that since he does not want to face me in a polite way, he will face me in a rough way and University Teaching Hospital is waiting for casualties” sent on January 24, 2012.
He further told the court that it was such threats that forced him to report the matter to the police.
Mr Mbulu explained that Ms Mulenga further forced her way into his office and started insulting him and kicking furniture.
Meanwhile, defence lawyer Sakwiba Sikota wondered why Mr Mbulu maintained that their relationship was intermittent when Ms Mulenga was pregnant and subsequently had two miscarriages as a result of the sexual relationship between them.
Mr Sikota wondered why Mr Mbulu produced a phone which was not his at the time of the incidents, adding that the appropriate person to produce such evidence should have been the wife if at all she complained anywhere.
In Response Mr Mbulu told the court that he produced the phone as evidence because at the time he was in custody of his wife’s phone because he lost his mobile phone.
Tempers flared during cross examination when Mr Sikota asked Mr Mbulu if for sure he was not HIV positive, adding that the same issue was discussed at Cabinet Office when Ms Mulenga reported the matter to the minister.
In cushioning the incident Public Prosecutor, Zacks Yume, that Mr Sikota withdraws the statement as that was surmount to interference into the plaintiffs private life.
However, Magistrate Walusiku adjourned the matter and instructed that the said mobile phone be temporary released for use by Mr Mbulu as he was scheduled to travel out of the country on national issues at 14:00 hours yesterday.
The matter has since adjourned to February 25, for continued cross examination.
The Non Governmental Organisation Coordinating Council (NGOCC) says the Zambian constitution, currently under consultation, will only stand the taste of time once it is people driven.
NGOCC Board Chairperson, Beatrice Grillo, says her organisation is concerned that lack of participation by the Executive to the constitution making process may be an exposé to lack the support of the general populace.
Ms Grillo said her organisation is further concerned with the lack of commitment and assurance of the national referendum process by the Executive
She told ZANIS in a statement in Lusaka yesterday that it is the legal and moral duty of the Executive to ensure that it subjects the current national constitution to a national referendum.
Ms Grillo noted that government has not demonstrated its commitment to the process of appointing a Referendum Commission which she said is the preparatory process for the country to have a lasting constitution.
She has since called on all citizens to raise their voices to call for an immediate setting up of the Referendum Commission in order to facilitate for the holding of a national referendum.
An unidentified peasant farmer going to sell his merchandise in Ndola, Copperbelt, Zambia
Ndola City Council has received K2.2 billion for service delivery through drainage clearance and street lighting in the city.
Ndola City Council Public Relations Manager Roy Kuseka said this in a Press Statement made available to ZANIS in Ndola yesterday.
Mr Kuseka explained that government released a total of K2.2 billion through the Ministry of Local Government and Housing adding that K1 billion has gone towards rehabilitation and installation of street lighting infrastructure in the city while K1.2 is for drainage clearance and engagement of labour.
The Public Relations Manager further revealed that the completion period for the exercise is 90 days and that the council has since commenced works in the constituencies where drains prone to flooding have been identified.
Mr Kuseka explained that in the central business district, some roads such as President Avenue have been lit except in sections that require pole replacements while works are ongoing in some roads.
He said the exercise will not only end with streets in town but that roads in Lubuto and Chifubu are also top on the agenda.
He said other roads earmarked for attention are Arusha, Vitanda, Shinde, Kabelenga and Lowenthal roads.
Meanwhile Mr Kuseka confirmed that the K69 billion National Roads Fund Agency funded 20.9 km rehabilitation programme in Ndola has commenced following the handover formalities that were done by Ministry of Local Government and Housing, the project consultants, Bicon Limited and the contractor Copperfields Mining Limited.
He added that the contractor has commenced detail design works and mobilization.
Roads covered under this project include Mwasumina, Chikola Crescent and Ndeke North Boundary in Bwana Mkubwa constituency while Kabushi constituency roads include Dola Hill, Chilubi and Kaloko.
In Chifubu constituency the roads that will be worked on are Kanu, Chilyamitondo and Luapula.
The rest are Ndola Central constituency’s Ndibu, Mitengo, Mwata Kazembe, Fitente , Chinika and Shinde.
Copperbelt University (CBU) Dean of Students, Allan Ilunga, has bemoaned the ignorance about the availability of the government bursary scheme among school leavers.
Mr Ilunga observed that vulnerable school leavers, especially those in rural areas, could not access tertiary education from the university because they were not aware of the availability of the bursary scheme.
He lamented that the bursary scheme ended up benefiting the rich who can afford the fees instead of the intended vulnerable.
Mr Ilunga urged civic leaders to sensitise the school leavers and poor leaders on the availability of the service so that vulnerable children can have a chance of attaining tertiary education with the help of government.
He was speaking in Kitwe today during a Copperbelt University Management interactive meeting with Copperbelt Minister, Mwenya Musenge, Copperbelt-based District Commissioners, Town Clerks and City Mayors.
And Copperbelt University Vice Chancellor, Naison Ngoma, said CBU was faced with various challenges that hinder its smooth operation.
Prof Ngoma cited insufficient infrastructure, water shortages and inadequate qualified staff among others as some of the major challenges faced by the institution.
And Prof Ngoma said there was need to decentralize the university activities and create schools in all the districts on the Copperbelt Province.
And Copperbelt Minister, Mwenya Musenge, said the Patriotic Front (PF) Government would support the education sector to accord youth an opportunity to access quality education.
Mr Musenge commended CBU for organizing the interactive meeting as it had enabled government to realize the challenges that the institution was facing.
He said his office will forward the problems highlighted by the University Management to the appropriate authority to ensure that they are addressed.
United Party for National Development (UPND) members in Southern Province have condemned the appointment of Patriotic Front Secretary General Wynter Kabimba to sit on the newly constituted Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) board.
They have instead appealed to the Minister of Tourism and Arts Sylvia Masebo and President Michael Sata to remove Mr Kabimba from the board to promote accountability, good governance as well as the free flow of information.
Speaking to ZANIS in a telephone interview last evening, UPND Provincial Information and Publicity Secretary Derrick Livune said the UPND members in the province find the decision of Tourism and Arts Minister to include Mr Kabimba on ZAWA board as misplaced.
Mr Livune who is also Katombola Member of Parliament said Mr Kabimba has many roles to play both in the party as well as in government adding that it should have been better if the Tourism Minister had considered including a PF cadre on the board who does not hold any position in government.
He charged that Ms Masebo who is also Chairperson for elections in the PF makes her junior both in the party and in government adding that it would be a big challenge for her to supervise Mr Kabimba by virtue of his positions in government and the ruling party.
Mr Livune stressed that Mr Kabimba will suffocate other board members because of the powers he has both in government and in the party hence making the board not to make progressive decisions.
Meanwhile, UPND party members in the province have expressed regrets over the suspension of Livingstone City Council by Local Government and Housing Minister.
Mr Livune said the UPND feels the decision of Hon Emerine Kabanshi, the Minister of Local Government and Housing to suspend the city council for 90 days may be misunderstood by people as to what she was trying to prove bearing in mind that there is a by election in the period of the suspension and that most of the suspended councillors are from the UPND.
He noted that the matter between the Councilors and the employees should be handled with care especially that there is a looming by election in Livingstone.
Mr Livune has therefore, appealed to the minister to reconsider lifting the suspension of the city council to allow the people of Livingstone continue receiving services normally from the civic authority.
He further charged that Ms Kabanshi should have considered other alternative means of resolving the impulse between the council and the affected employees.
Management at Arthur Davison Children’s Hospital (ADH) has disputed allegations that only one Doctor is assigned to cover the entire weekend on call.
ZANIS Ndola reports that ADH Executive Director Sam Phiri refuted the allegations which were published by an online publication.
Dr Sam Phiri who was speaking in an interview with ZANIS, said the hospital has adequate Doctors and that they are in a process of receiving three more Doctors in a few days time.
He said the picture published by the online publication showed patients and some mothers on floor-beds which is the case in the rain season.
He explained that during the rainy season the hospital has a lot of malaria and diarrhoea cases forcing the hospital to give patients floor-beds because they cannot turn them away.
He said the problem that the hospital has is lack of space as it caters for Copperbelt, North-Western, Luapula and Northern provinces.
He added that the hospital has already started talks for a possible expansion exercise and that the talks with the Ministry of Health have since reached advanced stage.
And Head of Clinical Care at the hospital Thomas Kapakala said it was sad that the online publication published falsehoods that were not confirmed.
Dr Kapakala said the hospital has two Doctors on-call on each and every day of the week.
“That story is not true, its not possible for one Doctor to be on-call for the entire weekend, we have two Doctors on-call on each and every day of the week, so that story is not true, am sure it is politically motivated,” he said.
Dr Kapakala said the current hospital establishment provided for 26 Doctors and the hospital has 14 Doctors and are expecting three more within the week.
A named online publication ran a story alleging that ADH was overflowing with patients, who were sleeping in corridors on mattresses, and the hospital had only allocated one doctor on call to cover the entire weekend, when President Sata and his ministers are busy in South Africa to watch football.
Lusaka magistrate Mwaka Mikalile has lashed out at Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) prosecutor, Silumesi Mushula for not being present in Court when the matter he is prosecuting involving former minister of Information, his former Permanent Secretary and a Journalist came up for plea.
This is in a matter in which Shikapwasha, Samson Phiri and Journalist Chanda Chimba III are facing charges of Abuse of Authority of Office, unlawful Printing and Publication and being in possession of property suspected of being proceeds of crime.
When the matter came up for plea yesterday, Mr Mushula was not present in Court and his colleagues from the police called other matters in order to allow Mr Mushula to come but to no avail until all the cases finished. The police prosecutor called the matter and the defence lawyers informed the Court that they could no longer wait and proposed that the matter be heard on Friday this week.
“It’s unfortunate that the State has decided to conduct themselves in an unprofessional manner when they were in court in the last sitting where I emphasised that they should always be punctual,” she said.
And Magistrate William Banda has ordered for an inquest in the matter in which UPND driver Isaac Zulu, 46, of Chongwe is facing one count of murder after being accused of murdering Patriotic Front (PF) cadre Menyani Zulu on November 8 last year.
The order was granted after defence lawyer Martha Mushipe applied for a preliminary inquiry in the matter going by the slow pace the State was moving to commit him to High Court for plea and trial.
Defence lawyer, Martha Mushipe, who filed in the application during a mention before Lusaka magistrate, Maxwell Mwale, told the court that it was important that an inquiry be carried out to ascertain the direction of the case at hand.
In response to the application, Public Prosecutor, Isaac Munenga, told the court that it was not possible for the prosecution team to carry out an inquiry, adding that the case record is in the hands of the Director of Public Prosecutions waiting for instructions to be sent to the magistrates’ court.
Mr Munenga said dragging the prosecution team into the inquiry will be unfair as the names of the witnesses were in the case record and the prosecution has no access to the document at this time.
Zulu 46, of Kalamazi farm in Chongwe, received solidarity from the UPND leader, Hakainde Hichilema, who came with his youth supports and members of parliament.
Zulu stands charged with Murder contrary to section 200 of the Penal Code Cap 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
Particulars of the offence are that Zulu, on November 8, 2012, while in Rufunsa, did murder Crispin Menyani Zulu.
Crispin Zulu died in Rufunsa during last year’s Rufunsa parliamentary by-election after he was stabbed by suspected UPND cadres and left behind a wife and a nine-day-old baby.
The matter was adjourned to Febuary 12 this year for commencement of the inquiry while Zulu will still be remanded in custody.
Zambia Police spokesperson Elizabeth Kanjela(courtesy Africa Review)
The Zambia Police has called for cooperation from members of the public in curbing crime.
Speaking to ZANIS in an interview today, Police Spokesperson Elizabeth Kanjela said Police are encouraging communities to form Neighbourhood Watch Committees as it is an effective way to reducing crime levels in communities.
Ms. Kanjela said several communities already have neighbourhood watch committees in place while other neighbourhoods are still in the process of forming them.
She said such committees are vital as Police alone cannot curb crime effectively without cooperation from all citizens.
Ms. Kanjela said it was unfortunate that despite sensitisation, members of the public have continued to take the law into their own hands by killing suspected criminals.
She said the Zambia Police have embarked on several community sensitisation programmes to educate the public on the right ways of curbing crime.
Ms. Kanjela explained that Police have also resorted to using drama as a sensitisation medium.
She disclosed that the drama group will soon be going to the Copperbelt and Southern Provinces to discourage instant mob justice through drama.
Ms. Kanjela warned that any individual who will be spotted as having been part of the mob executing instant justice on a suspected criminal will be apprehended and face the law.
She was reacting to a case where Matero residents beat and burnt to death a suspected criminal over the weekend.
Herve Renard has conceded defeat via a draw after Ethiopia outclassed the African champions to a 1-1 draw.
“I think the fault today is the fault of the coach,” Renard said.
“Because he didn’t prepare his team well at the start of the tournament. That means the responsibility is on me.”
Zambia’s results comes on the back of a five game winless run in the buildup to the tournament that saw them collect just two draws and three defeats.
“But I am sure we will play well in the next two games and see after that,” Renard said.
Renard meanwhile refused to single out a player for being outstanding but thanked Kennedy Mweene for saving Zambia from a potentially embarrassing defeat.
“I think today we have to thank our goalkeeper because without Kennedy it would have been a very, very bad result I think today we deserve what we got,” Renard said.
Expelled former MMD National Secretary Major Richard Kachingwe has announced the formation of a parallel MMD structure that aims to remove Dr. Nevers Mumba from the party.
And violence brought up today when youths from rival groups of the MMD clashed in Lusaka.
Major Kachingwe revealed that the parallel MMD structure has been formed by genuine MMD members interested in safeguarding the interests of the party from alleged imposters.
He told a media briefing that Dr. Mumba has brought a lot of confusion since he was elected as party president.
Major Kachingwe said disclosed that the new parallel MMD structure will operate from its new secretariat on Plot 124, Mambula Road off Bwinjimfumu Road in Rhodespark which he said is the legal office for the former ruling party.
He also challenged the party’s National Executive Committee to dissolve itself as it has allegedly failed to uphold the party’s constitution.
At the same, suspended MMD National Women’s Chairlady Catherine Namugala announced that the new parallel MMD will hold a national convention within 90 days to elect its new leadership.
Mrs. Namugala said all the positions in the MMD including that of the President and NEC members should be contested for at the convention.
She said the fight that genuine MMD members have embarked upon is a hard but noble one aimed at protecting the party and its constitution.
Some of the notable people present at the briefing were MMD founder member Bernard Mpundu, suspended MMD District Chairman William Nyirenda, former Ndola DC Joshua Mutisa and some district officials from Muchinga and Northern Provinces.
Former Chimbamilonga MMD MP Brian Sikazwe also attended the press briefing.
And confusion rocked the announcement of the new parallel MMD structure that rival youth groups clashed.
Some Nevers Mumba pro youths started throwing stones into the secretariat offices just when the news briefing was to start.
Running battles ensued leading to traffic jam on Bwinjimfumu road as youths exchange blows and threw stones at each other.
Later Police officers in riot gear arrived on the scene and calmed the situation after the Dr. Mumba led faction had run away and the press briefing resumed.
Police managed to apprehend two youths for their alleged involvement in the violence and took them to Lusaka Central Police for questioning.
Berand Mpundu with Nevers Mumba’s retirement cheque of 14 NgweeBernard Mpundu with Dr Mumba’s retirement chequeThe “Real MMD ” and not FAKEMary Tembo,suspended LSK District Chairlady
President Sata Shaking hands with Stopilla Sunzu when he visited the national Soccer Team
President Michael Sata has arrived in the country from South Africa where he had gone to attend the official opening of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.
The President arrived aboard a Presidential Challenge Jet at 16:00 hours at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport and was welcomed by Finance Minister, Alexander Chikwanda, Defence Minister Geoffrey Mwamba, Justice Minister, Wynter Kabimba and Home Affairs Minister, Edgar Lungu.
Others at hand to receive the President include Home Affairs Deputy Minister, Efron Lungu, Lusaka Mayor, Daniel Chisenga, defence and service Chiefs and other senior government officials.
The President left South Africa at 14:10 hours this afternoon and was seen off at Thabo Mbeki International Airport by Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Muyeba Chikonde and other senior members at the High Commission.
While in South Africa, Mr Sata also took time to visit the Zambian National Soccer Team at Protea Hotel in Nelspruit, where the team is camped.
Mr Sata, who was accompanied by wife Christine Kaseba, Sports Minister, Chishimba Kambwili and special assistant for press and Public Relations, George Chellah, urged the team to retain the trophy.
Zambia this afternoon faces Ethiopia in the opening Group C Match of the AFCON tournament.
