RUFF KID WINS BEFFTA AWARD 2012

Zambian rap artist Ruff Kid has become the 2nd artist from Zambia to be awarded with the prestigious BEFFTA Award. Ruff Kid was
nominated under the category for Best international Act at this year’s BEFFTA awards were other nominees in the same category
included Camp Mula, D’Banj, Cover Drive, Grace Galaxy and Zahara. It was later announced on the 27th of October during the award
ceremony that he was the winner of his category beating out stiff competition. Ruff Kid says: “This is all down to my fans and supporters, my management and I have been working tirelessly asking people to support and vote, and this is proof that every vote counts, and I am just grateful that people took the time to vote and support me, I am grateful to God for providing me with such an amazing opportunity and the BEFFTA Awards for recognising mywork. This one is a dedication to my country Zambia; I hope I have made you proud.”

The BEFFTA Awards whichstand for Black Entertainment Film Fashion Television and Arts Awards are in their fourth year and where
founded by Pauline Long, and aims at recognising the known and unknown within the black and ethnic minority communities in the UK and worldwide.

The prestigious awards were held in Golders Green London at the Hippodrum, were VIP guests included Sir Trevor McDonald OBE, who was awarded the Male Lifetime Achievement Award, DJ Abrantee of Choice FMs Afrobeats received the BEFFTA honorary Excellence Award. Also in attendance were, Lemar, Footballer Fabrice Muamba, Starboy Nathan and many more. The night was filled with glamour and inspirational individuals and great entertainment. With award winning comedian as host alongside BEFFTA founder Pauline Long the guests were kept entertained throughout the evening as the winners were unfolded.

This award is a benchmark for Ruff Kid as he has gained the recognition he deserves on an international scale for his hard work in the 10 years he has been in the music industry. With 2 national awards already under his belt, an international award is the perfect stepping stone to take Ruff Kid’s music to the next level. His presence in the UK has not gone unnoticed as he was later invited to attend the GAB Awards (Gathering of Africa’s Best) the very next day after receiving his BEFFTA Award. Ruff Kid attended as a special guest and performer at the GAB Awards held at the London Hilton hotel in Paddington, were Zambia was the theme of the awards.

With an extremely tight schedule ahead of him, the Effycom Productions signed artist promises not to disappoint his supporters as he works on new material and prepares to release two videos and a number of great collaborations, making his exit to the year 2012 an explosive one.

For more information and bookings contact management:

United Party for National Development (UPND) Leader Hikainde Hichilema has accused President Michael Sata of beginning the construction of his retirement home at a cost of K1.4 billion while he is a sitting president. According to the statement, this action is a violation of the republic constitution which only provides such privilege to a former head of state.

Below is the full statement

Press Statement
31st October, 2012

CONSTRUCTION OF FIFTH REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT’S HOUSE

Early this year, we alerted the nation that Mr. Sata had begun constructing his retirement home near state lodge illegally using government resources.

Government spokesperson Hon Kennedy Sakeni refuted our assertion and alleged that we were bitter and chocking with envy after the 2011 electoral defeat.

Lies have a very short life span and we have been vindicated.

Mr. Sata sent his uncle Hon Alexander Bwalya Chikwanda as a bearer of a message to Parliament to solicit for K1.4 billion for the construction of his house. Page 911 of the yellow book attest to this.

Our contention is that our laws do not provide for such type of expenditure. This is a clear violation of our statutes. Act number 21 of 1998, chapter 15 section 4a states as follows:

“assigned to a former President within a period of not more than two years from the date of ceasing to hold office, a furnished executive house built or bought in Zambia by the State at a place of the former President’s choice”.

Clearly, this is a benefit given to a former President not a sitting one. Is Mr. Sata a retired, sitting President? We are concerned that Mr. Sata has continued raping our constitution with impunity. If Mr. Sata had any sense of morality, he would have concentrated on paying retirees who have already worked for their money than paying himself a retirement prematurely.

We call on all Honourable Members of Parliament across political divide to do the honourable thing by stopping this reckless, proposed spending.

This level of self aggrandizement is unacceptable especially that houses for the second, third and fourth former Republican Presidents are not completed. If this reckless expenditure is not stopped in Parliament, UPND shall explore other democratic options available.

Hakainde Hichilema
PRESIDENT

Zambian Breweries Plc in partnership with the National Arts Council has launched the K1 billion Mosi Lager Zambian Music Awards aimed at recognising excellence in the Zambian music industry.

The first awards show slated for February 22 2013 will see the best of Zambian music talent awarded after public nominations which opens on December 14 2012.

Some of the Zambian Music Awards (ZAMA) categories include Afro beat, Zed beats, Kalindula, Dance hall, Rhythm and Blues, Praise and Worship, Jazz and Rhumba, Song of the Year and Produce of the Year.

Music fans will be given a chance to vote for their favourite artistes by sending an SMS to 6767 or by voting online at www.zambianmusicawards.com

The Mosi Lager Zambian Music awards were launched in Lusaka last evening at a glittering event at Intercontinental Hotel attended by some of the country’s finest musicians.

At the event, National Arts Council of Zambia Director Victor Makashi paid tribute to Zambian Breweries Plc for partnering with the council in launching the awards which are the first single discipline awards.

Mr. Makashi observed that the newly launched awards will lessen the pressure on the Ngoma awards which are multi discipline awards as most Musicians will go for the Mosi Lager Zambian music awards.

He also advised musicians to take their music seriously and refrain from using unpalatable lyrics in their songs.

The NAC Director warned the musicians that unpalatable language in their music will only win them airplay in bars and minibuses.
Mr. Makashi further commended government for creating a Ministry responsible for the development of the arts sector in the country.

And Zambian Breweries Plc Managing Director Anele Malumo said Zambian Breweries continues to make a difference through beer by investing in communities.

Mr. Malumo also appealed to all musicians countrywide to be the social and cultural conscious of the Zambian society and be role models of the youth through responsible lifestyles.

Officiating at the event, Arts and Tourism Deputy Minister Keith Mukata said arts and culture if nurtured well has the potential to create millions of jobs especially for the young people.

Mr. Mukata implored musicians to use their talents well and not fall prey to vices such as drugs and alcohol abuse because of fame.

He also advised all the parties that will be involved in the Mosi Lager Zambian Music awards to ensure transparency and accountability throughout the process.

The Zambia Congress of Trade Unions has strongly condemned government for u-turning on the application of the controversial Pubic Order Act.

But Chief Government Spokesman Kennedy Sakeni has maintained that the Public Order Act is relevant as it helps to maintain public sanity.

ZCTU General Secretary Roy Mwaba said it is disappointing that the PF government is now in support of an archaic law which they condemned whilst in opposition.

Mr. Mwaba said the Public Order Act is a colonial piece of legislated that should be done away with.

“We are worried as the Labour movement that one of the bad laws you condemned when you were in government was the Public Order Act, we are concerned that you are now embracing this law. I think this is one issue that you need to relook at.”

“The Public Order Act is archaic, undemocratic and today it is the opposition being prevented from meeting and tomorrow it will be the labour movement,” Mr. Mwaba said.

The ZCTU General Secretary was speaking in Lusaka today during the opening of a three day workshop organised by the Labour Media Project which was officiated by Information and Broadcasting Minister Kennedy Sakeni.

But Mr Sakeni defended the application of the Public Order Act adding that the law is critical to maintain public peace and order.

[pullquote]“Freedoms must have limitations, if you give absolute freedoms, people will start walking around naked and there would be no pornography, sodomy and all that.”[/pullquote]

“People want absolute freedom, there is no absolute freedom anywhere, you can’t just allow people to be assembling anyone as they wish, that will bring anarchy,” Mr. Sakeni said.

“Freedoms must have limitations, if you give absolute freedoms, people will start walking around naked and there would be no pornography, sodomy and all that.”

And Mr Sakeni has said that the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill will be dealt with within the next two sittings of parliament.

The minister called on the media in the country to effectively highlight labour issues in order to raise awareness among the workers and other stakeholder

Vice president Guy Scott says the PF government is open for all the people to join including the tribes considered to be smaller ethnic groups in North Western province.Dr Scott said this today that people should stop complaining that they are not represented in the PF government administration because they are considered to belong to the minority ethnic groups.

He said the PF government embraces all tribes in Zambia adding that all persons even from smaller ethnic groups can become vice president or minister under PF as long as those from these groups join and work hard to contribute to the growth and unity of the nation.Dr Scott said he comes from a very small ethnic group of only about 1,000 white Zambians but he was voted for by people from different tribes as MP and he was now vice president under the Patriotic Front government.

He said there was no difference in the way the PF treats its old and new members because it had no membership cards and card numbers for people to side line others based on when they joined the party.Dr Scott was speaking today at a campaign meeting in chief Chizera’s area when he introduced PF candidate Stephen Masumba in the Mufumbwe parliamentary by-election set for November 8.

And Dr Scott said government is this week expected to start working on two roads in Mufumbwe under the 8,000-link-Zambia road development project that was recently launched by President Michael Sata.

The Vice President described as nonsense the story that are circulating in Mufumbwe accusing PF government of withdrawing ZESCO poles that were meant for connecting Mufumbwe to National Hydropower Grid and taking them to Muchinga province.He said that the poles were withdrawn by ZESCO from Mufumbwe because the company wanted to use steel pylons which were durable to connect the district to the national grid.

He was responding to earlier concerns raised by chief Chizera’s representative that Mufumbwe had received the least funding for road projects in the whole country.The Chief Representative also complained over the continued use of thermal generators by ZESCO to supply electricity to Mufumbwe, Zambezi, Mwinilunga, Kabompo and Chavuma in the province.The Representative said the supply of thermal power was expensive and said ZESCO would do better to cut these costs by connecting the three districts to the national grid.

Meanwhile Dr Scott has since completed his three-day campaign trail for Mufumbwe parliamentary by-election and has flown back to Lusaka.

Vice President Guy Scott has cautioned Zambians against voting for leaders who have no capacity o develop their areas.

And Dr. Scott has urged the people of Mufumbwe to rally behind the Patriotic Front candidate in the November 8 parliamentary by-election Stephen Masumba.

Dr. Scott said the people of Zambia need proper representation at decision making levels especially in parliament.

He said it is worrying that some leaders have duped the electorate at the expense of fulfilling their selfish ambitions.

ZANIS reports that Dr. Scott made the remarks at a rally held at Wishimanga Basic School in Mufumbwe yesterday.

He described Mr. Masumba as a dedicated man who has propelled the PF to massive popularity not only in Mufumbwe district but North Western province as a whole.

And Dr. Scott has said Mr. Masumba is the best candidate who can bring meaningful development to the people of Mufumbwe.

The Vice President is in Mufumbwe to address a series of public rallies to drum up support for PF candidate Stephen Masumba.

Meanwhile, the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) has rated its chances of winning the November 8 parliamentary by-election in Mufumbwe as very high, through its candidate Stanford Mulusa.

MMD Campaign Manager in the by-election Newton Samakayi said the MMD is a lot more visible in Mufumbwe among women and youths than Patriotic Front (PF).

Mr Samakayi said the by-election is also a revolution by the people against PF candidate Stephen Masumba, who is former MMD MP for the same area.

He told journalists last night that there was a revolution in Mufumbwe because Masumba, the person they had voted for under MMD last year, decided to abandon them to join PF.

Mr Samakayi said the people in Mufumbwe would vote for the MMD candidate Mulusa to punish Masumba and show him that he does not own the people in the area.

He said MMD was also favoured to win the election because of its developmental record in the area while in power.

He said when the MMD was in government it opened up North Western province to major mining investments and improved the road network from Solwezi to Chavuma.

On the other hand, Mr Samakayi attacked the PF 90-days development promise as a ‘deception’ because it is yet to deliver even after one year had elapsed.

He said the people of Mufumbwe feel they would not benefit from the PF government, whose relationship with the people of North Western province is still not good.

He explained that during the MMD government, poles were brought and erected to supply hydroelectricity to Mufumbwe.

However, he lamented that when the PF took over government it uprooted the poles and took them to Muchinga province.

ZANIS