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The continued fluctuation of the Kwacha against major convertible currencies is been influenced by the high demand for supply of forex, a Financial Analyst Maambo Hamaundu has observed.
And yesterday’s trading saw the Kwacha closing five points stronger on the inter-bank at KR 5.275 to KR 5.295.
According to the Standard Chartered bank daily financial briefs the market had a fair balance of the trade on the sell and buy sides with dollar-Kwacha trading range.
Mr. Hamaundu says there has been a mismatch between the supply and demand of the dollar in the past months.
He said despite the country having recorded impressive copper prices on the London Metal Exchange (LME), the local currency has not been performing well.
He explained that copper has an effect on the country due to its nature of been a major export product, therefore when they are high copper prices the Kwacha is also expected to appreciate.
Mr. Hamaundu stated that the current situation means that despite the country getting enough dollars from copper exports the demand always outstrip supply.
He has further appealed to government to find a lasting solution to the problem which can only be achieved through the creation of more manufacturing industries in the country hence minimizing the levels of imports which also contributes to high demand for the dollar.
The Kwacha has continued to fluctuate in its performance trading in the range of K5000 and K5300 to one United States dollar (US$).
However, prices of copper on the international market have since last year enjoyed a fair and according to LME by Monday 14th January 2013 the commodity had gained by 0.6 per cent to trade at US $8,089 per metric tonnes.
Copperbelt Province Minister Mwenye Musenge has said that there is an urgent need to finding Street vendors alternative areas in a diplomatic way.
Mr Musenge said that the Street vending activities in the province has been taken for granted even by some people who are now trading from their vehicles.
He said this has resulted in overcrowding the streets even when some of the vendors can afford to rent a shop.
Mr Musenge wondered where these vendors accessed facilities such as toilets and dump sites for their convenience.
He said it was important that civic leaders enforce by laws so that such confusion does continue in their towns.
The provincial minister challenged the councillors to ensure that such activities are put to a stop by ensuring that even those trading in alcohol in the streets has the liquor trading licence.
The provincial minister made the remarks during a meeting for DCs, Town clerks, council secretaries and civic leaders on challenges and ways of how they can enhance development in their areas.
State House has issued a statement to the media saying that Foreign Affairs Minister Given Lubinda will not represent the country at next week’s 20th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia because he has taken his annual leave.
The statemenent further stated that Hon. Lubinda has been on leave since December 21, 2012 and another Minister has already taken his position as acting Foreign Affairs Minister.
“However, it should also be borne in mind that Hon. Lubinda is facing serious charges against the party, which will only be resolved at the forthcoming party Central Committee meeting,” concluded the statement.
The Central Committee of the Patriotic Front (PF) is this weekend expected to deliver judgment on the disciplinary case against Kabwata member of Parliament Given Lubinda among other party members.
A full central committee meeting is scheduled to sit on Sunday, January 20, to act on the report of the disciplinary committee which determined cases against Mr Lubinda, who is also Foreign Affairs minister, and others.
Mr Edgar Lungu, who is chairperson of the disciplinary committee, said according to a notice, a meeting of chairpersons will be held on Friday January 18, 2013 while the full central committee meeting is scheduled for Sunday.
The disciplinary committee which heard cases against Mr Lubinda and suspended Eastern Province chairman Lucas Phiri, among others, sat from January 4 to 6, 2013.
The committee then forwarded its recommendations to the PF central committee for action.
Mr Lubinda, Mr Phiri and other accused party members appeared before the committee.
Pressure has been mounting with party members calling for the expulsion of Mr Lubinda from the party, accusing him of working with opposition parties.
PF secretary general Wynter Kabimba gave Mr Lubinda a seven-day ultimatum to exculpate himself from allegations that he was leaking confidential information to the media and opposition parties.
And Mr Phiri was suspended from the party with five other officials for allegedly sowing seeds of division in PF.
Mr Phiri and other suspended officials were also accused of working with former Chipata Central MP Lameck Mangani to propagate division in the district.
Kampamba Chintu has advised fellow dropped players Salulani Phiri and Shadreck Malambo not to despair.
Chintu including youngsters Salulani and Malambo all failed to make the final 23-member 2013 Africa Cup team unveiled by Renard on January 8.
Chintu has since been retained as a team mentor at the 2013 Africa Cup in South Africa.
“I spoke to the guys before they left. You know we made the tip to Saudi Arabia together and they are the future of the national team,” Chintu said.
“They boys didn’t take it very badly they appreciated they made the last 26.
“They fought hard and trained very well but in the end if it is not Gods plan there is nothing you can do about it.”
Red Arrows midfielder Malambo and Zanaco defender Salulani were drafted into Herve Renard’s provisional 26-member team in December after impressing in a 2-1 away friendly loss against Saudi Arabia on December 5 in Dammam.
“For them to be in the last 26 so it means the coach saw something in them,” Chintu said.
“So they just need to work very hard. If they are focused and have tasted the senior part of the national team is now up to them to have that hunger.”
Kitwe United life member Peter Mashambe has died at the age of 86.
Club chairperson Martha Shonga who confirmed said Mashambe died on Tuesday at his residence in Kitwe.
He served as United chairman in the early 1960s.
“He passed on in the early hours of Tuesday morning,” Shonga said. Shonga told LT Sports on Wednesday that her club was saddened by the death of Mashambe.
“It’s very sad and very touching for us at Kitwe United,” Shonga said.
“He has had rich history here at Kitwe United and other Copperbelt teams,” she added.
Mashambe was a common feature at Garden Park whenever United were playing.
Linos Makwaza has been named head coach of FAZ Super Division side Konkola Mine Police.
Club chairman Gideon Mwenya said Makwaza has signed a two-year contract with Mine Police.
He bounces back into coaching after leaving Nkana late last season. “We have acquired the services of Linos Makwaza. He has signed a two-year contract,” Mwenya told LT Sports on Wedneday.
“Makwaza is a highly qualified coach who has coached at the highest level,” he added.
The ex-Zambia international replaces Masautso Mwale who has joined Nkana as club head coach.
Mwale was on Tuesday named coach of Nkana after clinching a two-year deal with the Wusakile outfit.
The Immigration Department have revealed that expatriates contracted at Kagem Mining Limited in Lufwanyama District on the Copperbelt have genuine Zambian work permits.
Immigration Department public relations manager Joseph Siame said in an interview that contrary to assertions, all the 50 expatriates at the mining firm had genuine Zambian work permits.
“Contrary to assertions, it has been revealed that there are no foreigners working without documents at Kagem Mine, all the 50 expatriates have genuine Zambian work permits,” he said.
Mr Siame also dispelled assertions that the Zambian workforce at the mine was overwhelmed by an influx of expatriates who were said to be in total control of the company’s accounts and security operations.
“Actually the number of expatriates at the mine is 50 against 600 which mean that there are about 550 Zambian workers at the mine,” he said.
Among the 50 foreign nationals working at Kagem are 41 Indians, four are Nepalese, four South Africans and one Frenchman.
Earlier in the week, Kagem Mining Limited board director Timothy Walamba warned management at the mine against employing foreigners at the expense of Zambians.
Mr Walamba was not happy that three quarters of the workers at the mine were foreigners who had taken up jobs that could be filled by Zambians.
Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication Permanent Secretary Muyenga Antanga
Government has warned the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) officers to desist from corrupt practices as doing so will result into instant dismissal.
The warning comes in the wake of numerous complaints from motorists and members of the public on alleged corrupt practices at RTSA.
Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication Permanent Secretary Muyenga Antanga also stressed the need for RTSA to have snap checks from midnight to 05:00 hours as most road accidents happened during that period.
“Corruption, tribalism and lack of ethics should come to an end. Government is serious about issues of corruption and people should desist from such vices.
“My visit is to make ensure that RTSA comes up with tips to send scare tactics to the motorists and should initiate a psychological impact, you need to make sure that motorists follow traffic rules,” he said when he toured RTSA offices in Lusaka yesterday.
Dr Antanga said RTSA should map out plans to come up with adequate officers who should work during the day and night to overcome accidents, which was in line with the Patriotic Front Government’s manifesto.
“My complaint is not that I am not feeling the impact of your agency. You need to coordinate with the police and Councils in coming up with techniques that will prevent accidents. The presence of RTSA vehicles on the road makes motorists respect rules on the road,” he said.
RTSA Chief Executive Officer, Zindaba Soko said the agency had set up strategies for Lusaka and had impounded so many vehicles for motorists who failed to comply with rules.
He said the organisation had come up with a lot of routes of which the Great East, Great North, the Southern part were among other roads where they carried out patrols and that their main target was to look at high risk vehicles.
And Kitwe Mayor Chileshe Bweupe has charged that the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) office in Kitwe is inefficient.
Mr. Bweupe has attributed the high number of accidents recorded in the district last year to the inefficiency of the RTSA district office.
ZANIS reports that the Kitwe mayor said in Kitwe yesterday after launching the Kitwe district tree planting exercise.
He said RTSA officers were not frequently monitoring traffic to prevent accidents.
Mr Bweupe said Kitwe district recorded 2098 accidents in 2012 which he said could have been prevented if the RTSA office in the district was efficient. He said 100 of those accidents were fatalities.
The mayor further accused RTSA head office of getting officers from Kitwe to go and mount road blocks in Lusaka leaving the Kitwe district unattended to.
He however said he has written a letter to RTSA head office to complain over the engagement of the district officers to work from Lusaka.
Meanwhile Mr Bweupe has assured residents of Kitwe and Motorists that the council will engage the Road Development Agency to patch up the pot holes on the Kitwe –Ndola Dual Carriage Way and the Kitwe –Chingola high way.
He said the pot holes that have developed on the two roads were dangerous as they could cause preventable accidents.
The country has of late recorded an increase in the number of road traffic accidents.
Retailers in Kasama are still selling mealie meal above the K50000, KR50 agreed upon by Government and Millers. Kasama milling 25kg bag of breakfast is selling at K65000, KR65 while roller meal is selling at K46000, KR 46
Government has made provision for households in rural areas of Northern Province where millers have failed to reduce the price of mealie-meal by directing the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to sell each household 5 50kg of maize per month.
Northern Province minister Gerry Chanda said the programme would however, be closely monitored to make sure it was not abused.
Colonel Chanda who was locked in a meeting with millers and FRA officials for most of the morning however, told members of the Press afterwards that KR50 threshold for mealie-meal would be enforced in Kasama with the assistance of the municipal council on Saturday.
“In Kasama we don’t seem to have complied with the directive and have shown disregard and it is with in mind that I had a meeting with stakeholders,” he said.
All retailers have since been advised to make sure prices are adjusted in line with Government policy of making the country’s staple food more affordable.
“From my meeting this morning it became clear that there are challenges to compliance. Local millers have indicated and advanced valid reasons why they facing challenges in reducing prices for areas like Northern Province.
“For instance in Kasama the supply of electricity is not consistent and millers have had situations where machinery is affected and fail to meet overheads,” Col Chanda said.
The Northern-based millers made a request to meet the President Michael Sata so they could have an opportunity to talk with the Head of State over their various problems with compliance.
Their argument was that in lieu of compliance challenges, if a unilateral pricing mechanism is imposed, they would have to close shop or scale down on their workforce.
Col Chanda said before the meeting, he was ready to move and enforce the directive but as a compromise, Kasama-based retailers would be given until Saturday to comply.
Retail prices remain at an average of KR60 across the provincial centre.
Meanwhile, the price of mealie meal is still skyrocketing in Mwense District in Luapula Province as it is going at K61 500 per 25 kilogram for breakfast while Roller meal at K59 000 the same quantity.
District Commissioner DC Victor Kasuba confirmed in an interview yesterday that all out lets in the area had not reduced the price of the staple food dedespite Government’s interventions.
Mr Kasuba said he was not happy with the move because in Nchelenge District the prices of mealie meal was reduced to K50 000 breakfast and Roller was costing at K49 000.
The District Commissioner said Mwense was nearer to Mansa than Nchelenge were all the retailers were ordering their commodities from the millers.
He said he was going to engage all the retailers in the district to find out as to why they had not reduced prices of the staple food in conformity with Government’s directives.
‘’I can confirm with you that price of meali meal in my district is still going up. For example a 25 kilograme of AGP breakfast is going at K61 500 while Roller of the same kilogrammes is costing K59 000,but I will not late the situation to continue.
‘’You know I am surprised you can find that in Nchelenge the prices are not as expensive as they are here. And I can say that I am very worried in the next few days we can find that a 25 kilogramme is costing at K70 000.I tell you I am not happy and I will soon move in and arrest the situation,’’ he said.
Mr Kasuba said that he felt that residents were extremely exploited and as the Government representative he was not going the situation to continue.
He observed that some people in the district were too poor to raise such amount of money to buy meali meal hence if the situation was not curbed majority of them would be suffering.
Mr Kasuba said he had since informed his counterpart in Mansa Ms Mary Kauseni to engage the millers in talks to find the lasting solution to the skyrocketing of the staple food prices.
Recently the country had seen the increase of price of meali meal the situation that had prompted President Micheal Sata to direct the reduction of the price of the staple food in all the parts of the country.
Kaoma Magistrate Bornface Mwala yesterday convicted a 41-year-old intelligence officer in Kaoma district of Western province for rape contrary to section 132 of the penal code CAP 87 of the laws of Zambia.
Magistrate Mwala convicted Gilbert Banda 41, of Chisambo village of chief Chanje in Chipata district and committed him to the high court for sentencing.
Particulars of the offence were that on September 26, 2012, Banda did rape Laetitia Mukakuranga 34, a Rwandese and a pre-school teacher refugee at Mayukwayukwa refugee camp.
Magistrate Mwala said that the court had no option but to convict him accordingly as the evidence from witnesses was overwhelming.
He said rape cases were on the increase in the country and the district as a whole and he will be failing in his duties if failed to convict the accused.
Magistrate Mwala said Banda being an intelligence officer from the high office of the President was suppose to conduct himself in a reasonable manner other than engaging in sexual offences whilst on duty on someone who is a refugee.
And state prosecutor, Mutwamo Nyambe told the court that Banda was the first offender but that the offence committed was serious considering that the victim was a refugee.
And Banda’s Counsel Abraham Mwansa applied for a bail pending appeal and also requested the court to be lenient on him as his client was of fixed abode and civil servant whose work place is known.
Mr Mwansa said his client would abide by all the regulations that the court will impose on him.
But the state prosecutor said that they needed time to study the application made by the defence so that they could reply later.
And the matter has since been adjourned to January 28, 2013 for state’s reply, meanwhile Banda is remanded in Kaoma state prison.
Chief Government Spokesperson Kennedy Sakeni has said government has not yet decided on whether the final draft constitution will have to go to a referendum or not.
A referendum is a vote by the whole of an electorate on a specific question or issues put to it by a government or similar body.
Mr. Sakeni, who is also Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, said government will have to wait for deliberations on the draft constitution to be concluded before making a decision on the matter.
He said commenting on the constitution making process before it is concluded would be pre-emptive and unfair hence government will wait until the final draft constitution is in place.
He told ZANIS in Mansa at the ongoing Luapula province constitution convention today that the rate at which deliberations were going was impressive.
Mr. Sakeni emphasised the need for all stakeholders to fully participate in such important events of national interest.
And Chairperson for Luapula Province Royal Foundation, Chief Chisunka, said the presence of traditional leaders at the convention was significant because they were the custodians of people’s interests at the grass root level.
Chief Chisunka said chiefs were also in control of how land was managed hence their duty was to ensure that this resource land and their subjects were not abused by investors.
A suspected gassing accident at Kansanshi Mine in Solwezi has left one miner dead leaving four others nursing injuries in hospital, mine authorities have confirmed.
The accident occurred yesterday morning but Kansanshi Mine public relations manager, Godfrey Msiska provided vague details on the actual course of the accident at one of the country’s largest Copper mines.
Mr Msiska said in his statement that the victim died while receiving treatment.
Mr Msiska however was quick to mention that relevant government authorities had been informed of the accident.
“Management of Kansanshi Mining plc regrets to inform the public of a suspected gassing accident that occurred at its processing plant on the morning of today (yesterday). Unfortunately, one of the accident victims passed away whilst receiving treatment,” Mr Msiska said.
The accident involved five employees of the mine. The affected employees were immediately taken to Kansanshi mine hospital in Solwezi for treatment.
Three of the accident victims were under observation at the mine hospital and were said to be out of danger.
An evacuation to a medical facility in Ndola was underway for one of the victims receiving treatment at the same hospital.
Mr Msiska said a full investigation had been launched by Kansanshi Mine, a subsidiary of First Quantum Minerals, and other relevant authorities.
A 4 years old boy died on the spot after he was hit by a motor vehicle in Lusaka.
Police Spokesperson Elizabeth Kanjela confirmed the incident in the statement in Lusaka , yesterday.
The accident occurred on January 15, 2013 around 17:00 hours along Access road New Kanyama Compound, she said.
She disclosed that the vehicle involved a Toyota Ipsum registration number ABX 9317 which was being driven by Joseph Silwamba aged 44 of unknown house number Garden Compound.
The victim as Levy Kabonde aged 4 of house number 06/05 New Kanyama Compound sustained fatal head injuries and died on the spot. she said.
She revealed that the accident happened as the pedestrian was trying to cross the road when he was hit by the oncoming motor vehicle.
Ms Kanjela said the driver has since been arrested and charged with causing death by dangerous driving contrary to section 161 of the Road Traffic Act No. 11 of 2002.
The body of the deceased is lying in the University Teaching Hospital Mortuary awaiting post-mortem.
And Ms Kanjela has further disclosed in the same statement that another 17 year old boy died on the spot after being hit by a Motor Vehicle.
She said the accident occurred on January 15, 2013 around 21:00 hours along Great North Road at 22 miles in Lusaka Province.
Involved was Ngenda Sikwibele aged 24 of Matero Township who was driving a Toyota Carib registration no. ABM 7262.
The Police spokesperson said that the accident happened when the driver lost control of the vehicle hence he hit the said pedestrian.
The driver has since been arrested and charged with causing death by dangerous driving contrary to section 161 of the Road Traffic Act No. 11 of 2002.
He will appear in court soon. The body of the deceased is in U.T.H Mortuary awaiting post-mortem.
Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) says it will decide whether the printing of ballot papers for the forthcoming Mpongwe and Livingstone by-elections slated for February 28, 2013 will be printed locally or abroad, after the nominations day.
Commission Public Relations Manager Cris Akufuna says the Commission is not in the position to announce where the printing of ballot papers will be done until after the nomination period is over.
He, however, disclosed that the printing of ballot papers would be transparent and that it will involve all stake holders involved.
Mr. Akufuna disclosed to ZANIS in a telephone interview in Lusaka yesterday.
The ECZ Spokesperson earlier announced in a press statement to ZANIS that the day for filing in nominations for the two seats is January 31, 2013 including in 25 local by-elections across the country.
The Mpongwe parliamentary seat fell vacant after the resignation of former MMD Member of Parliament (MP) Gabriel Namulambe who has now joined the PF while the Livingstone seat fell vacant after Howard Sikwela resigned from the United Party for National Development, (UPND).
In history, Zambia has been printing ballot papers from South Africa but Republican President Michael Sata soon after coming to power announced that the venture is costly for the nation.
The Head of State said his administration would consider printing the ballot papers using the Zambia Printing Company which is capable of doing the job since it has adequate equipment
FILE: UPND president Hakainde Hichilema arrives at the Lusaka magistrate court where he was given a K30 million bail
Zambia police have continued their pursuit for opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema to institute an arrest. Mr Hichilema is wanted for allegedly issuing disparaging remarks against President Michael Sata during his tour at Lusaka’s Kalikiliki market.
Police spokesperson Elizabeth Kanjela could neither deny nor confirm whether Mr Hichilema was facing arrest.
“I am still waiting for a full report. So at the moment I cannot give you a comment,” Ms Kanjela said.
But police sources said some officers yesterday visited Mr Hichilema’s residence in Lusaka’s Kabulonga area to effect, an arrest but he was not available.
On Tuesday, officers approached Mr Hichilema who was appearing in a courtroom to serve him with the callout but their attempt was stopped.
Mr Hichilema’s lawyers protested against Police presence in the courtroom to issue the callout, which raised an exchange of words between the parties.
Mr Hichilema was at the time appearing for charges of conveying false news.
Meanwhile, the Lusaka magistrate’s court has officially temporarily halted the criminal proceedings against opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema following an order granted to him by the Supreme Court.
In the criminal matters Hichilema is facing one count of publication of false news with intent to cause fear and alarm to the public.
When the matter came up for continued trial yesterday before chief resident magistrate Joshua Banda, defense lawyers applied to have the matter stayed in view of the order by the Supreme Court which stated that their client’s criminal proceedings be stayed.
“I now halt the criminal matters against the accused person following the order by the Supreme Court to do so pending further determination by the higher court,” said the chief resident magistrate.
Supreme Court judge, Munyinda Wanki during the week directed that the criminal proceedings against Hachilema be stayed pending determination of the Constitutional issues currently before the High Court.
Judge Wanki has since set January 24 this year as the date for hearing of the application on behalf of Mr Hichilema to set aside judgment.
Through his lawyers, Hichilema had applied before Chief Resident Magistrate Joshua Banda for Constitutional reference of the indictment for the determination of the Constitutionality of the said provision of the penal code but magistrate Banda refused the application.
Hichilema on January 11, 2013 however appealed to the High Court asking it to stay the criminal proceedings against him but the High Court declined the application without stating reasons.
Hichilema further decided to take his matter to the Supreme Court where he now had been granted an injunction.
The matter was adjourned to February 15, 2013 for continued trial.
