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FILE: Mpezeni being welcomed in style by some bemba women while chief chewe in white jacket looks on at the airstrip in chinsala
PARAMOUNT Chief Mpezeni of the Ngoni speaking people in Eastern Province has invited President Michael Sata to grace this year’s Nc’wala traditional ceremony which will take place on 23rd February at Mtenguleni village in Chipata District.
Eastern Province Permanent Secretary Emmanuel Mwamba told the media in Chipata yesterday that the Paramount had also invited South African President Jacob Zuma and King Goodwill Zwelithini of the Zulu people in South Africa.
Mr Mwamba said the paramount chief has already requested his office to facilitate the invitations to the dignitaries.
He said his office would forward the request of the paramount chief to the ministry of foreign affairs to in order to facilitate the invitations to President Zuma and King Zwelithini.
“We shall forward the request to the ministry of foreign affairs in order to facilitate the invitations of President Zuma and King Zwelithini,”he said.
He appealed to the provincial local government office and chiefs affairs to be coordinating with the Ngoni Royal Establishment on the preparations of the ceremony.
Mr Mwamba also said the exhuming of King Zwangendaba remains in Nakonde District would take time.
He said the exhuming of the remains would take a process because some historians believed that the late king died at Mapupo in Tanzania while others claim that he died in Chief Nawaitwika area in Nakonde District of Muchinga Province.
THE opposition MMD and UPND should stop blaming the Patriotic Front (PF) for their self-inflicted political problems, director for Media and Publicity, Chanda Mfula has said.
Mr Mfula said it was not the responsibility of the ruling PF to organise and manage opposition parties.
The opposition MMD had of late accused the PF of masterminding confusion that had rocked it and leading to the resignation of Members of Parliament and provincial leaders.
“Therefore the two parties should realise that they are political competitors to the PF despite the fact that they have so far offered very poor competition,” Mr Mfula said.
Mr Mfula attributed the poor performance by the two opposition parties to having concentrated on copying strategies and tactics that the PF had employed during the time it was in the opposition.
Mr Mfula said the MMD and UPND had failed to appreciate changes in the politics obtaining in the country.
He said the PF had continued to grow because it had based its strategies on differentiation through offering Zambians new leadership than usual rhetoric.
“In contrast, the MMD and the UPND have chosen to be market followers by copying what the market leader PF is doing. The PF wishes to further assure that the nation that multiparty democracy in the country does not depend on the existence of the MMD and UPND,” he said.
He said though it was highly likely that the two political parties would go into oblivion, the country would not revert to a one-party system because there were other parties that would continue playing a role in the multiparty political setup of the country.
He said the ruling party had kept its sights on improving service delivery, inclusive national development and strengthening the democratic governance of the country.
“Therefore, the spate of by-elections in the country is the opposition’s own making due to internal leadership failure and cannot be blamed on the PF,” he said.
Deported Lundazi Catholic Parish Priest Fr Viateur Banyangandora yesterday returned to Zambia after staying four months in his native country Rwanda.
Zambian Immigration Department deported Fr Banyangandora for allegedly inciting the community to rise against the Zambian Government.
In August last year, Home Affairs Minister Edgar Lungu confirmed the deportation Fr Banyangandora who was deported after the sermon he gave in church Sunday in which was perceived to be inciting people to rise against the Government.
Fr Banyangandora 40, who was a holder of Employment Permit No 008955, issued on November 27, 2006 when he entered the country was found to be a danger to the country’s peace and order.
The Catholic Priest is back to serve the Zambian people after his deportation order to Rwanda was revoked by the Zambian Government.
Chipata Catholic Diocese Bishop George Lungu who was at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport confirmed the arrival of Fr Banyangandora.
Bishop Lungu said the priest arrived at the airport at 12:00 hours from Rwanda.
“Let me confirm that my son in the name of Fr Banyangandora is with me right up now and I will not give him platform to speak until at an appropriate time to be given to him, “he said.
Bishop Lungu said he was happy to see Fr Banyangandora back in Chipata Diocese after reversing the deportation order.
Fr Banyangandora joined the Association of Zambian Diocesan Catholic Clergy (ADZACC) as a Catholic seminarian refugee.
He studied at Mpima Major Seminary in Kabwe before proceeding to St Mary’s Major Seminary in Lusaka for his theological studies. He was ordained Catholic Priest serving in Chipata Diocese in 2004.
MMD president Nevers Mumba has been summoned to appear before a combined team of Government Joint Investigative Wings at the former Taskforce offices on corruption in Lusaka on Tuesday.
Joint Government Investigative Wings public relations officer Namukolo Kasumpa said Dr Mumba would appear before the investigative wings at their offices in Woodlands around 10:00 hours.
Ms Kasumpa said Dr Mumba’s summon was in connection with continued investigations on alleged gross financial irregularities at the Zambian High Commission in Canada, which was under his supervision.
“We expect Dr Mumba to appear here tomorrow around 10:00 hours in the morning. This is in connection with continued investigations on alleged abuse of funds whilst in Canada,” she said in an interview today.
Meanwhile, four MMD cadres today enjoyed a brief moment of freedom when the Lusaka magistrate court discharged them of assault charges against expelled MMD national secretary Richard Kachingwe and two others.
MMD Die Hard Coordinator Bowman Lusambo, Chiwele Maimisa, Scorpion Kadobi and MMD Lusaka province youth leader Watson Mtonga were later re-arrested and taken to Ridgeway police post within the magistrate complex where they were slapped with similar charges of assault.
Senior resident magistrate Mwaka Mikalile who earlier discharged the four of assault occasioning bodily harm charges informed them that the withdrawal of the offence was not an acquittal as they were bound to be re-arrested.
[pullquote]“We expect Dr Mumba to appear here tomorrow around 10:00 hours in the morning. This is inconnection with continued investigations on alleged abuse of funds whilst in Canada,” she said in an interview today.[/pullquote]
This was after State prosecutor Michael Nyendwa made an application before court to withdraw charges against Lusambo, Kadobi, Maimisa and Mtonga who were initially separately charged but facing similar charges.
Mr Nyendwa said that the withdrawal of the charges were meant to enable the state consolidate the two similar offence that were earlier slapped on Lusambo, Kadobi, Maimisa and Mtonga separately.
Magistrate Mikalila granted the application but police re-arrested the four and charged them with three counts of assault.
Lusambo, 35, of house number 8240 Chamba Valley, Kadobi 44 of house number 89 Lusaka West and Maimisa, 44, of house number 10 Chilenje South and Mtonga 42 of Mtendere Township later in the afternoon appeared before Chief resident Magistrate Joshua Banda to take fresh plea.
They denied all the charges Magistrate Banda granted each of the accused KR15, 000 (K15 million) bail in their own recognizance, two working sureties each from well-established institutions in a like sum and in their own recognizance.
By press time, the four were still detained as they were finalizing their bail formalities.
It is alleged in this matter that on December 1, 2012, Lusambo, Kadobi, Maimisa and Mtonga jointly and whilst acting together with other unknown people assaulted Major Kachingwe, publicity secretary Tobias Kafumukache and former MMD sympathizer Gregory Chifire, occasioning them actual bodily harm.
Lusambo, Kadobi, Maimisa and Mtonga would on January 30 2013 appear for mention while trial would commence on February 13 2013.
Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Communication, Transport, Works and Supply Kapembwa Simbao
Movement for Multiparty Democracy interim National Secretary Kapembwa Simbao has called on all members of the former ruling party to support party president Nevers Mumba.
Mr. Simbao said it was saddening to see some frustrated members of the party causing confusion in the MMD.
He said some members were behaving that way due to their frustration after they lost during the party’s provincial convention which was held last year.
Speaking yesterday on the “The Assignment” programme on MUVU Television last night and monitored by ZANIS in Lusaka, Mr. Simbao said Dr. Nevers Mumba was voted for genuinely by party supporters.
He wondered why some members were now calling for the resignation of the party president.
Mr. Simbao said the former ruling party was going to rise to the challenge and be able to win people’s support because it means well when it talks about putting its house in order.
He said MMD will be rejuvenated to the surprise of those who were wishing the party to go in oblivion after losing to the ruling Patriotic Front Party during the 2011 general elections.
He stated that this was time for the former ruling party to work extremely hard and win people’s hearts before the 2016 general and tripartite elections.
And Mr. Simbao said this was time for the young generation to take over political leadership and help develop Zambia.
He said bickering in MMD will not help the party.
He has since called on all supporters of the ruling party to work as a team in order to consolidate the party ahead of future assignments.
Meanwhile, Mr. Simbao said his party was going to take contest the Mpongwe and Livingstone by-elections which have arisen following the resignations of respective Members of Parliament from their parties.
He said MMD would be delighted with whichever opposition party will win the two vacant parliamentary seats.
He said the opposition was there to provide checks and balances to the ruling party.
Mr. Simbao said Zambian politicians should emulate the democracy which was existing in America which has reached an advanced stage in the manner it handles its national affairs.
Meanwhile, interim MMD National Secretary Kapembwa Simbao dismissed reports that the entire MMD district executive in Northern Province had passed a vote of no confidence in Dr. Mumba.
Mr. Simbao alleged that some people organised six district chairpersons from Northern province and forced them to read the statement they presented with a view to make it look like the entire district executive in that province had passed a vote of no confidence in the leadership of the party president.
He said the rest of the members in the province have called the secretariat to dispute the statement they heard in the media saying they were not part of it.
Emmanuel Mayuka’s arrival at Zambia’s camp in Johannesburg has been overshadowed with the dropping of goalkeeper Kalililo Kakonje.
Kakonje has been dropped by Herve Renard just days before the Frenchman names his final 23-member team for the 2013 Africa Cup.
The Zambia number two goalkeeper has been replaced by Red Arrows goalkeeper Daniel Munyau.
Munyau has already joined the team and trained with the team on Monday.
The Arrows goalkeeper was earlier omitted from the 26-member provisional team in December even after playing the 90 minutes in Zambia’s 1-0 away loss to Tanzania on December 22.
Meanwhile, Mayuka landed in Johannesburg on Monday morning to complete the roll of call-ups.
Both Mayuka and Munyau will be available for selection on Tuesdays in Zambia’s friendly against Morocco at Rand Stadium.
Zambia will be looking for a reversal of fortunes after three successive friendly defeats at the hands of Angola, Tanzania and Saudi Arabia.
Zambia’s last win came on November 14 in a the 2012 Nelson Mandela Challenge against South Africa at Soccer City in Johannesburg that Renard’s side won 1-0.
The Millers Association of Zambia who met President Sata today in a closed meeting, to discuss measures to stabilise the price of mealie meal, have agreed to reduce the price of Mealie Meal. In a statement made available to the media by State House, the millers have agreed to reduce the prices as follows:
During the meeting at State House this morning, President Sata advised the millers to guard against exploitation of the poor people who they rely upon for their industry to thrive.
The President said it was not the intention of the Government to introduce price controls but that the state had a duty to protect the masses against manipulative practices by unscrupulous businessmen.
President Sata, who encouraged millers to open sales depots in townships to minimize the high prices charged to consumers by some traders, reiterated the Government’s support for measures that encourage responsible business conduct by both millers and traders.
The Head of State further emphasized the need for millers and the Government to work together as partners in national development and reaffirmed his support to the growth of the industry by reducing the cost of doing business.
The PF Government has undertaken to continue to dialogue with millers to ensure affordable mealie meal prices and food security for the majority of Zambians who rely on it as staple food.
A resident in Sinazongwe district in Siapukwe area question the Indogo Jonah coal mine owners over the environment impact the mine would create during a public hearing
UPND Sinazongwe Member of Parliament Richwell Siamunene has described as mere speculation assertions that he intends to ditch the opposition party for the ruling Patriotic Front.
Mr Siamunene interview with QFM News today said assertions by PF Southern province Political Secretary Brian Hapunda that he could follow former Livingstone Member of Parliament Howard Sikwela in ditching the UPND have no truth in them.
He said that he will remain Sinazongwe Member of Parliament under the UPND until 2016.
He added that people should not confuse his liberal style of politics were interacts with both PF and MMD members as an indication that he intends to cross the floor.
Mr Siamunene said that he has never thought of ever joining the Patriotic Front.
He further revealed that the disciplinary charges he was slapped with by the UPND have since been resolved and that he remains a committed member of the opposition party.
Mr Siamunene said that his interest in engaging with Ministers and Permanent Secretaries is merely to advance the interests of the people of Sinazongwe and nothing more.
He added that he will continue to engage with Ministers and Permanent Secretary to bring to their attention the needs of the people of his constituency.
MMD national chairperson for women affairs Catherine Namugala
Suspended MMD National Chairperson for Women Catherine Namugala has charged that the former ruling party will collapse in the next three months should Dr Nevers Mumba remain at the helm of the party.
And Ms Namugala says the MMD National Executive Committee will be held responsible for the death of the party for supporting Dr Mumba’s purported illegal occupancy of the party presidency.
She says he does not recognize Dr Mumba as MMD president because his name does not reflect as the party president at the Registrar of Societies owning to his membership of the Reform Party whose presidency he has never relinquished.
Ms Namugala adds that she will never leave the MMD for another party, vowing to fight within the former ruling party.
She people who should leave the MMD are people that hold positions in other parties, in reference to Dr Mumba.
Ms Namugala who is also Mafinga member of parliament has further stated that she will not recognize her expulsion from the party should Dr Mumba decide to do so, stating that Dr Mumba is not the president of MMD for him to order her expulsion.
And Ms Namugala says serious members of MMD should not breakaway to form another political party.
She says there is need to fight within and save the party from imminent collapse.
Ms Namugala was speaking last evening on ZNBC TV’s Sunday Interview.
Zambia’s President Michael Sata has wondered why Zambia has no national airline when it has qualified people in strategic positions to help establish and run such modes of transport.
The President said this at State House today when he swore in Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication Permanent Secretary Julius Shawa.
Mr Sata also expressed great concern over the transport system in the country. Mr. Sata said the current transport system in the country was not as reliable as it was when Zambia just got independence.
He said there was therefore need to improve the transport system in order to ease movements of goods and people.
Meanwhile, President Sata has directed relevant authorities to ensure that the rebasing of Kwacha is properly done by the end of this year.
[pullquote]President Sata said he does not want to see the country experience any food riots as was the case in one of the previous regimes.[/pullquote]
He noted that although the Kwacha has already been rebased, there was need to have the process completed successfully.
Mr. Sata regretted that the Kwacha has continued to have less value as compared to other foreign currencies.
On the other hand, the President has urged ministers to serve and protect the people who voted for them.
Mr. Sata said this in reference to the increase in mealie meal prices that the nation has experienced in the recent past.
President Sata said he does not want to see the country experience any food riots as was the case in one of the previous regimes.
President said that he will ensure that Mealie meal prices stabilize to avert food riots in the country.
President Sata said that he will not allow millers to overcharge on Mealie meal when government has sold them maize at a subsidized price of K60,000.
The President has since held a closed door meeting with the millers at State House immediately to find a way forward on the issue of mealie meal prices.
NAREP President Elias Chipimo has charged that the ruling PF is now scared of its own shadows after failing to deliver on its campaign promises.
Mr. Chipimo observed that the PF administration is now becoming extra sensitive to criticism because of its failure to perform according to people’s expectations.
“When you have a government that has not performed, when you have Mealie meal prices at historical high, clearly fear will set in. The Bible explains it this way, the guilty flee even when no one is pursuing them,” Mr. Chipimo explained.
He said, “This administration is now running scared of its own shadows but the question is, who created those shadows?”
Mr. Chipimo was speaking in Lusaka Monday morning during a NAREP organised media breakfast meeting at Protea Cairo Road.
[pullquote]“When you have a government that has not performed, when you have Mealie meal prices at historical high, clearly fear will set in. The Bible explains it this way, the guilty flee even when no one is pursuing them,” Mr. Chipimo explained.[/pullquote]
“We want to advise the PF government that preventing opposition rallies is not the solution, this administration should focus on delivering on its promises made to the Zambian people.”
The NAREP leader said preventing opposition rallies is an infringement on the fundamental rights of citizens to assemble peacefully.
“This is an affront to our people democratic and constitutional rights and this does not only affect politicians,” he said.
Mr. Chipimo said NAREP is looking forward to a positive conclusion of the court challenge instituted by the Law Association of Zambia on the Public Order Act.
“We hope that the courts will rule on the side of justice and that the opposition is free to hold rallies without any hindrances.”
And Mr. Chipimo says NAREP has declared 2013 as the year of action which will see the party intensify its campaign activities.
“We want our message of hope to reach all parts of this country. It is a challenge but we are committed to ensuring that we have a minimum of 750,000 active members by the end of this year. These are active members working for the party,” he said.
File:An unidentified man ponders his next move to repair his Datson car in Chipata district, Zambia
Dear Editor,
I wish to complain through this public media which allows even the poor and suppressed to be heard.The payments for road tax and fitness should be decentralized to the all the districts.
Life for us who live in certain districts are disadvantaged in many ways. I stay in Kaputa and I have to drive to Kasama for fitness and road tax. And often you are told that the system is down or the station manager is out and no one can attend to us. Often one has to spend several days in Kasama just to get the service. Its costly and not conducive for most of us who reside in far off districts.
I believe this could be the same for most of the Zambian Law abiding citizens. Let RTSA decentralize or indeed use the police who are in all districts to issue such documents. Otherwise, we are risking a lot in just abiding by the laws of the land. Insurance firms should also use agents in the districts if they can open offices.
Please can the government help the Zambian Citizens in this regard.RTSA should also look at their establishment and probably employ more staff to meet the demand and offer better service to the public. The computers and Information Technology systems should also be reviewed to avoid the often system failures experienced. Capacity building could be an answer to some of these challenges currently in Kasama.
Some of us who had paid road tax on manual discs are not able to pay because the system does not have our details.
Help. RTSA hear our cry. We have suffered for too long.Owning a vehicle in other districts should not be a curse.
By Disturbed hungry – stranded Kaputa Resident in Kasama
File:An unidentified woman and her daughter selling vegetables and other foodstuffs at Kapapa market in Chipata, Zambia
The Consumer Unit Trust Society International (CUTS) Zambia says a price rise in commodities is expected following the rebasing of the kwacha.
CUTS programme officer Tommy Singongi said this is because most business houses have incurred extra costs following the changing of their systems.
Mr. Singongi however stated that what will be illegal is the manipulation of prices by the retailers.
Speaking to QFM, Mr. Singongi said it is important to ensure that all retailers and business communities display tallying prices, both in the old and new currency.
He further stated that the Bank of Zambia should not relax, but should vigourously continue sensitizing the public on the rebasing of the currency to avoid consumers being manipulated.
Mr. Singongi added that the Central bank should also not limit itself to the six months of sensitization but should continue with the sensitization programme even after June, when the old currency will be phased out completely.
Commissioner of Prisons Percy Chato is today expected to appear before a Kabwe Magistrate court over the poor state of the lavatories at Mukobeko Prison college where over 600 students are sharing the facilities.
According to prison officers sources, Mr Chato has been summoned to court as the head of the Prisons service but it is not clear if the matter would be held in an open court or chambers.
The summoning of Mr Chato follows the move by the Central provincial Health team to obtain an order from the court to institute the closure of the college as a per requirement last week.
But the court has since summoned the commissioner of prison to respond to concerns after which the court would rule whether to grant the order to close the college or not.
Last week sources narrated that the college which trains prison warders was given a notice of closure on December10, 2012 of which the toilets facilities were expected to be improved .
The notice was later extended to a later date but as at last week nothing had been improved forcing the health team to seek court order as per procedure to have the institution be closed.
Warders talked to said the decision taken by the health has been long overdue and that the only way to serve the institute of outbreaks is to have it closed to give the command time to resolve the problem.
“I have been made to believe that training under such the condition with poor sanitation that could be part of the training yet it is not, “one warder talked to.
Zambia’s Fourth President Rupiah Bwezani Bands has been invited to be among several high-profile dignitaries who will attend tomorrow’s inauguration ceremony of newly-elected President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama.
President Mahama, a communications expert, historian, writer and former vice-president,will be sworn in as the fourth President of Ghana’s Fourth Republic at the Independence Square in Accra.
He ascended to the high office of President following the death of the incumbent President John Evans Atta Mills on Tuesday, July 24, 2012 in Accra and was re-elected in last month’s elections on a National Democratic Congress (NDC) ticket, polling 5,574,761 votes against his close contender, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who had 5,248,898 votes.
Former President Banda said that he was honoured to be considered worthy of being invited to attend the inauguration ceremony of the leader of one of Africa’s shining examples of democratic governance.
