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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.
Kitwe City Council (KCC) was yesterday applying for a search warrant to conduct raids in various markets in the city where illegal sale of alcohol has continued undercover.
KCC acting public relations manager Dorothy Sampa confirmed that council officers were by yesterday at the Magistrate Court applying for the warrant.
The KCC few weeks ago banned the sale of alcohol in markets in the city but traders have defied the order to stop the illegal practice.
The council has also confiscated an assortment of lagers, spirits, ciders and Chibuku Shake Shake from traders at Chisokone, Bulangililo and Riverside market during the past week and on Wednesday.
Ms Sampa said in an interview yesterday that the Council would continue conducting random checks in markets to ensure that traders operated within the law.
She said some traders were locking their business premises during Council inspections and that it was not easy for the local authority to confiscate all alcohol illegally being sold in markets.
“That is why we want to obtain the search warrant so that we can also forcefully enter into premises suspected to be stocking alcohol. As I am speaking to you, we have council officers at the court who are making the necessary arrangements,” she said.
Ms Sampa the KCC was taking measures which were not expected as traders were advised to sale all alcohol in stock so that confiscation of the commodities could be avoided.
She said the KCC was doing everything possible to ensure that a confrontation between the local authority and the traders was avoided.
She said traders who will be apprehended by the KCC police would appear in court for abrogating the law and the KCC order for traders to stop selling alcohol in markets.
Some traders from Chisokone have vowed to continue with the illegal sale of alcohol at market places because they depended on the business to fend for their families.
“We are going to play hide and seek with the Council but for how long because some of us depend on this business of selling alcohol to feed our families and send children to school,” said Kelvin Mumbuna, a trader at Riverside market.
A Chisokone trader, Peter Changala, said it was not possible for KCC to complete stop the sale of alcohol in markets and hoped that an alternative place would be found from where to sale the alcohol.
Six Lusaka Patriotic Front (PF) cadres have been convicted by the Lusaka magistrate’s after finding them guilty of illegal allocation of land.
This is in a case in which Shadreck Mumba, 27, Phillip Mwanza, 21, Richard Phiri, 24, Ackim Mwanza, 26, Clement Kamwandi, 30, and Clive Mweemba, 27, all of Lusaka’s Kanyama Township were facing one count of criminal trespass.
Particulars allege that the accused on October 16, 2012 jointly and whilst acting together with other persons unlawfully did enter upon the premises of Zama Mkwamadzi with intent to destroying his property.
The accused persons had pleaded not guilty and the prosecutor Sheria Miselo called over five witnesses to testify against the accused persons with the last being the complainant but before the Magistrate, Emmie Masoja Mbewe could deliver ruling yesterday, the accused changed their plea to guilty.
The cadres also refunded the complainant in the matter Mr Mkwamadzi his K3.8 million which he spent to pay officers from the Ministry of Lands to help him retrieve his documents relating to his plot.
When asked what they wanted to do with the plot, they said they wanted to demarcate it and share the plots amongst themselves in order to build their own houses.
Magistrate Mbewe then convicted the six on their own admission of guilt and brushed their mitigation of complaining about the pathetic conditions in prisons saying since they were claiming to be ruling party cadres, they should go and campaign inside so that the conditions could be improved.
She told the accused persons that they knew well that the plot they intended to allocate to others was not theirs and that it had already been occupied but went ahead and started destroying property in a bid to scare away the owners.
And Mr Mkwamadzi in his testimony testified that on the material day, he was woken up by noise from the cadres who were beating up his two nephews outside and when he checked, he found a group who asked him to vacate the plot and when he resisted they started stoning him. He managed to rush to Kanyama police post where he reported the matter and police managed to apprehend the six upon arrival at the scene.
Judgment has since been reserved to January 29 this year while the cadres have been remanded in custody.
Nigeria captain Joseph Yobo says he hoping to keep his three-match competitive unbeaten run against Zambia since 2001 intact.
Yobo told LT sports at The Super Eagles base at Ingwenyama Lodge in White River after the official Group C pre-match briefing on Thursday morning that the pressure was on Zambia to win and stay in the competition.
“Yeah hopefully an unbeaten run is always very good if you don’t lose a game,” Yobo said.
“If we don’t win tomorrow we still have Ethiopia to be to qualify which is still good.
“If they (Zambia) lose tomorrow they are in trouble.”
Yobo earned his first cap against Zambia in 2001 in a 1-1 draw at Nchanga Stadium in Chingola in a 2002 Africa Cup Group One qualifier.
“It is not just about me,” Yobo said.
“No team is coming to play for a draw everybody is coming here for the three points.
“Nigeria wants to win this game to gain confidence and progress.”
Herve Renard backs misfiring Christopher Katongo and declares his captain as the fittest player in his team.
The Zambia captain has come under fire from the Zambian public after being at the centre of wasted chances and failing to complement Collins Mbesuma in attack in the teams’ poor performance in the 1-1 against Ethiopia in their opening Group C game on January 21 at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.
“Christopher Katongo is one of the fittest players in the team,” Renard said.
“He is never injured. If he is not efficient it means the team was not always competitive.”
Katongo, who is expected to lead Zambia’s attack against Nigeria on Friday, was substituted in the 84th minute against Ethiopia and replaced by midfielder Mukuka Mulenga.
“He is a leader and his behavior is fantastic he will show the world and I have no doubt about it,” Renard added.
Director of Public Prosecution Mutembo Nchito has sought the High Court’s Order that eight people recently arrested in Mongu for seditious practices, should stand trial in Mumbwa.
Mr Nchito has contended that it may not be conducive to conduct trial in MONGU due to security reasons.
Mr Nchito says he has been informed by the police that the environment in Mongu after the arrest of the accused poses security concerns.
But defence Lawyers Sakwiba Sikota has contended that the application is misconceived on grounds that the accused are not appearing before any Court Subordinate to the High Court.
Mr Sikota says this implies that there is no order on which jurisdiction the trial of the accused must be carried out.
This is in a matter where Christopher Muyendekwa and Seven others are arrested and charged with Seditious Practice contrary to the Laws of Zambia.
Mr Muyendekwa’s co-accused are Malamo Mubiana, Mulima Mubiana, Nalumino Mufwendo and Augustine Chingumba.
Others are Charles Mubita Silumesii, Kaiko Kaiko and Mubina Muyunda.
The Patriotic Front (PF) candidate for the Mpongwe by elections, Gabriel Namulambe, has expressed confidence that he would scoop the seat come February 28th.
Mr Namulambe says he is assured of total support in Mpongwe Constituency, adding that he would be contesting on a party that is popular.
He told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that the PF has a live manifesto while other political parties’ manifestos are dead.
Mr Namulambe said the PF’s motive is to take development to the people of Mpongwe.
“People of Mpongwe should realize that the PF means business in these elections,” he said.
Mr Namulambe has since appealed to all political players to have issue-based campaigns prior to the by elections.
He has called on people of Mpongwe to rally behind him in the upcoming by elections just like they did in the 2011 General Elections.
Yesterday, the PF Central Committee adopted MrNamulambe for the Mpongwe by elections and Lawrence Evans for the Livingstone by elections.
THE newly adopted Patriotic Front (PF) candidate for next month’s Livingstone Parliament by-election Lawrence Evans has pledged to focus on the upgrading infrastructure in the Tourist Capital to promote development.
Mr Evans, aged 46 and a director at Ngombe Breweries, said he would work with the Government to upgrade infrastructure in the city to induce development once elected as Area Member of Parliament (MP).
Speaking in an interview in Livingstone today, Mr Evans noted that most infrastructures in Livingstone were built in the colonial days and hence they should be upgraded to make them match the current demands of the economy.
“I want to focus on developing Livingstone once I am elected as Area MP. The people of Livingstone would like to see development because the city has for a long time lagged behind in terms of development,” he said.
Mr Evans cited Libuyu Bridge in Livingstone as one such infrastructure which was aging and unreliable because it had never been upgraded since it was built in the colonial days.
“The Libuyu Bridge was built in Colonial days and whenever the river floods, the people of Libuyu are cut off and I would like to work on this Bridge once elected as Area MP,” he said.
Mr Evans said he would support the infrastructure drive in the Tourist Capital to improve the face of the city ahead of the August 2013 United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) General Assembly.
He said the current upgrading of 40 kilometres selected township roads in Livingstone as well as the planned construction of a town centre ultramodern market and an intercity bus terminus would promote development in the city.
On fighting youth unemployment in Livingstone, Mr Evans said there was need to come up with training centres where unemployed young people could acquire some skills.
He noted that some youths had no skills and hence it was important that they were trained in skills such as catering, carpentry and mechanics among others to enable them exploit various opportunities in the Tourist Capital.
The Livingstone Parliamentary by-election fell vacant after Howard Sikwela resigned from United Party for National Development (UPND) and as Area MP.
MMD National Youth Secretary Tobias Kafumukache addresses journalists at the party secretariat in Lusaka
MMD Youth National Secretary has warned members that are masquerading as MMD members to desist from doing so.
MMD Youth National Secretary, Tobias Kafumukache, has disclosed that some former MMD members have been masquerading as if they still belong to the former ruling party.
Mr Kafumukache says such unwarranted behaviour has led to the expulsion of some former party members who had been on suspension awaiting their cases being heard.
Mr Kafumukache has also warned youths across the country not to allow themselves to be used by selfish and disgruntled politicians.
He was speaking at a press briefing in Lusaka today.
Mr Kafumukache said the youths should instead use their energy and strength for the upcoming Mpongwe and Livingstone by elections.
The youth secretary also disclosed that he respects the MMD leadership led by Nevers Mumba and Kapembwa Simbao.
He stated that this is so because the duo was duly elected by the convention segmented in provinces.
The United Party for National Development(UPND) has vowed to go ahead with a public rally scheduled for Sunday in Lusaka’s Kabwata area.
This is despite police refusing to issue a permit for the event.
UPND Deputy Spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa says the party will go ahead with the rally because the police have not given any reasonable justification for refusing to give them a permit.
But Inspector General of police Stella Libongani says police has already given enough grounds on why they did not give the permit to the UPND.
She says she supports the stance taken by Lusaka division Commissioner Joyce Kasosa on the denial of the permit to the UPND.
Meanwhile the UPND has given the Zambia police service a forty eight hour ultimatum in which to apologize for allegedly brandishing it to the general public as a violent party failure to which it will seek legal redress.
The UPND deputy spokesperson says the party will proceed with legal redress if the apology is not received from the police within two days.
But Inspector General of police Stella Libongani says she will only react to the ultimatum after it has been served to her by the UPND.
And the Ministry of Home Affairs has said that, in view of Police in Lusaka denying the UPND notice to hold its planned rally in Kabwata on grounds that the opposition political party cannot be trusted to hold a violent-free rally, UPND should go by what police have advised.
In a statement to the media, Home Affairs spoeksperson said that the Ministry is aware that the Lusaka Division Police Commissioner Ms Joyce Kasosa has invited the UPND for dialogue over this development and as Home Affairs, they encourage this move.
” We therefore encourage the UPND to respond positively and dialogue with police and come up with an amicable solution,” the statement said.
“If UPND go ahead with their planned rally with or without Police approval in kabwata this Sunday, they will be breaking the law as they will be conducting themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace.”
” After being informed not to go ahead, they will have themselves to blame for the consequences of their acts and they should not claim that they were not forewarned, ”
” We therefore implore UPND to dialogue with police unlike taking a confrontational approach towards the issue as police are not willing to be at variance with UPND but instead promote a spirit of dialogue as stakeholders, ” concluded the statement
The Chipolopolo Soccer Fans Association has expressed worry over the possibility of Zambia playmaker Chisamba Lungu being left out in tomorrow’s encounter against Nigeria due to an injury.
Association Chairperson, Yotam Mwanza, said it is sad that Lungu, who came on the scene last year and has exhibited massive talent as a focal point of the team has to miss the crucial match.
Mwanza hoped for a speedy recovery for Lungu who is a volatile player as he is team mid fielder and also plays striker and an asset to the Chipolopolo stars.
He expressed confidence in Chipolopolo coach, Herve Renard, whom he said would come up with a suitable replacement as medical experts have ruled out Lungu’s participation in this Friday’s tournament.
Mwanza also predicted a 2-0 score in favour of Zambia, the defending champions, in tomorrow’s encounter against Nigeria.
He appealed to the Chipolopolo boys to apply themselves fully in tomorrow’s game and urged soccer fans to rally behind the team and offer the needed moral support.
Lungu suffered a bruised left bone in Chipolopolo’s 1-1 draw against Ethiopia on Monday and sat out training on Wednesday.
The Chipolopolo medical team advised the technical staff to rest Lungu following their assessment of the player.
Zambia will take on Nigeria tomorrow, marking their second game in the tournament.
FORMER Transport and Communications Minister, William Harrington has applied for the appointment of a tribunal to probe Tourism Minister Sylvia Masebo’s alleged abuse of office, as reported in the media, in the manner she dismissed the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) officials.
The application is in a letter addressed to the Chief Justice dated January 21, this year,.
Mr Harrington said he had nothing personal against Ms Masebo but that he supported Government’s stance against corruption and appealed to concerned parties to take advantage of the tribunal once set-up to offer their views on the matter other than issuing statements in the media.
Mr Harrington outlined the terms of reference as being, to investigate media allegations of interference and abuse of office by the Ms Masebo.
This was in the tender process where she allegedly ordered the withdrawal and non-publication of the list of successful bidders for hunting concession licences and cancellation of tender processes in breach of the Zambia Public Procurement Agency (ZPPA) Act of number 12 of 2008 as quoted in the Sunday Nation of January 6, this year.
The other allegation being the appointing of a committee to prepare her own bidding document in breach of the ZPPA Act, which was also published in the Sunday Nation of January 6, this year.
Mr Harrington also called for investigations into media allegations of abuse of office and breach of contracts and the Parliamentary and Ministerial Code of Conduct Act Part II Section 3 (c) on the part of Ms Masebo, when she dismissed senior ZAWA management officials being public officers from employment on allegations of corruption in the hunting concession licences tender process.
Mr Harrington quoted the Post Newspaper of January 3, this year, the Times of Zambia and the Post Newspaper of December 31, last year, respectively and the Times of Zambia of January 2, this year.
He called for investigations in media allegations of the breach of the ZAWA Act by the Minister when she issued a verbal instruction to ZAWA officers to hunt wildlife without issuing Special Licence and allegations of irregularities and corruption by ZAWA management in the handling of tender for hunting concession licences as quoted in the Times of Zambia of December 31, last year.
Mr Harrington also said Ms Masebo should be investigated on whether procedure was followed in the banning of hunting.
“Investigate media reports that the Minister is in breach of State security by failing and/or neglecting to report to Government security wings that foreign registered aircraft are violating Zambian airspace to uplift, out of Zambia some wildlife species or Government trophy as reported in the POST newspaper of January 3, 2013 and the Daily Nation of January 4, 2013,” Mr Harrington said.
He said the tribunal should also recommend to Government appropriate administrative action based on the findings of the investigations as provided under the Parliamentary and Ministerial Code of Conduct Act.
He attached photocopies of the newspaper articles.
“In making this application, I am aware of the requirement of your office to notify the Republican President and the Hon. Mr Speaker. I pray that you, Hon. Chief Justice, will give my application your favourable consideration in the public interest and I thank you in anticipation,” he said.
