President Michael Sata will tomorrow September 20 launch the Link Zambia 8000 project and commission the commencement of works for the upgrading of the Lusaka Leopards Hill Road project via Chiawa to Chirundu District.

This is according to a press statement made available to ZANIS by Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations, George Chellah.

Mr. Chellah said the road will also go over Chongwe River and connect to Feira right through to Luangwa Bridge.

He said on the other side, the road will provide a link to Kasisi, Chipembi, Chalimbana and Palabana among other areas.

Mr. Chellah stated that this important road link underlines the Patriotic Front (PF) Government’s desire and determination to develop the state of infrastructure in the country particularly roads as enshrined in the ruling party’s manifesto.

He said the launch of the project was part of a larger programme called LINK ZAMBIA PROJECT that will result in the construction of about 2, 290 kilometres of roads at an estimated cost of K7.9 trillion in the first phase of the project.

Mr. Chellah said the second phase will cover 3, 049 km of road network at an estimated cost of K11.25 trillion while the third phase will involve upgrading 2, 862 km of road with an estimated cost of K9 trillion.

He said all these projects are expected to be carried out over a five year period.

Mr. Chellah said the launch of the project signals the beginning of the revolution to modernize Zambia and subsequently convert it into a complete land linked country.

He said this also fulfils one of the promises made by President Sata to the nation during his address to Parliament last year that Government would embark on the construction of various roads which include the Lusaka-Leopards Hill Road project via Chiawa to Chirundu.

ZANIS

Zambia’s first former First Lady Mama Betty Kaunda has died.

Mrs. Kaunda, 84, died in the early hours of today in neighbouring Zimbabwean capital Harare where she is reported to have been visiting her daughter.

ZANIS reports that her son Panji confirmed the death in an interview in Mpika today.

Colonel Kaunda, who is also Transport, Works, Supply and Communications deputy Minister, described the death of her mother as a loss to both the family and the country as a whole.

He said Mama Betty Kaunda has been battling with diabetes for the last 60 years.

Col. Kaunda said the family has been robbed of a mother was its pillar in all circumstances.

He recalled that during the liberation struggle Mama Betty was always with the family as his father, Zambia’s first Republican President Dr. Kenneth Kaunda was most of the time in and out of prisons.

Col. Kaunda said Mama Betty’s death should be celebrated by every Zambian because of her contribution during the liberation struggle.

He said Mama Betty was a perfect model of a First Lady and should be remembered as a mother.

Mama Betty Kaunda has left behind 7 children and a number of grand and great grand children.

Dr. Kaunda and other family members have since left for Zimbabwe to collect the body of the late former First Lady.

Mama Betty Kaunda was born on November, 17, 1928 at Mpika to Kaweche Banda and Milika Sakala Banda.

She went to school at Mbereshi Girls and also did training at the Mindolo Ecumenical Foundation’s Women’s programme and worked as a teacher in Mufulira.

Kenneth Kaunda the first President of Zambia married married Betty Banda in 1946.Mama Betty, was Zambia’s first lady from October 1964 to November 1991

She preferred to contribute quietly, mostly behind the scenes, to greatly support her family and nation and had been matron of many organisations and projects. She was considered the mother of the nation.

United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema says he will respond to the demands by the women movement for him to retract and apologize to FDD leader Edith Nawakwi over his sexist statement when he returns from western province.

The Non Governmental Organization Coordinating Council (NGOCC) has demanded that UPND leaders Hakainde Hichilema retracts his recent statement and apologize to Ms. Nawakwi and the nation at large for his sexist attacks of the female gender.

But in a telephone interview with QFM news, Mr. Hichilema, who is currently in Western Province says he is currently not in a position to respond to the demands by the women movement but will be able to do so only when he returns.

Meanwhile, UPND deputy spokesperson Edwin Lifwekelo has apologized on behalf of the party, to the women movement over the remarks attributed to their former national youth chairman Joe Kalusa, who has threatened to organize party youths on the copperbelt to gang-rape FDD leader Edith Nawakwi.

Lifwekelo says the remarks attributed to Kalusa are unfortunate.

Speaking to QFM, Lifwekelo says Kalusa himself should also take responsibility and apologize for his utterances.

QFM

The State has urged the Court to uphold the suspension of three judges who were suspended for suspected impropriety saying the Head of State has unquestionable powers to suspend a judge without consulting the Judicial Complaints Authority.

A full bench of the Supreme Court Judges yesterday heard and concluded the long awaited tribunal case involving the suspension of the three judges.

One of the respondents’ lawyers Milner Katolo asked the court to stay the appeal case proceedings until the appeal case involving JCN Holdings Limited, Post Newspapers Limited and Mutembo Nchito in which they were ordered to pay back K14 billion owed to the Development Bank of Zambia (DBZ) was concluded claiming, there was nexus (connection) between the two cases.

This is in a matter in which Attorney General Mumba Malila, has appealed against the Lusaka High Court‘s decision to grant Supreme Court Judge Philip Musonda and two High Court judges Charles Kajimanga and Nigel Mutuna a stay over their suspension and setting up of a tribunal to probe their alleged misconduct by President Michael Sata.

Acting Chief Justice Lombe Chibesakunda led the panel of judges which included, acting Deputy Chief Justice Florence Mumba, Supreme Court judges, Marvin Mwanamwambwa, Hilda Chibomba, Muyinda Wanki, Gregory Phiri and Elizabeth Muyovwe.

When the matter came up for hearing yesterday, Mr Malila and Solicitor General, Musa Mwenye urged the court to uphold their appeal against Lusaka High Court Judge Fulgeance Chisanga’s ruling because the learned Judge misdirected herself when she granted Dr Justice Musonda, Justices Kajimanga and Mutuna, a stay over their suspension.

Mr Malila and Mwenye said the Judicial Code of Conduct cited by the judge could not be used to dilute the Presidential powers vested in him under the Constitution.

They said if Judge Chisanga had directed her mind to the fact that President Sata was executing his powers as vested in him by the Republican Constitution when he suspended the Judges, she would have come to an inescapable conclusion that there was no prima facie for further consideration.

The two said if Judge Chisanga had applied serious weight to the fact that the President had applied public policy documents in suspending the judges, she would have known that the same could not be diluted with the Judicial Code of Conduct which was an ordinary Act enacted by Parliament.

He said allowing for the diluting of Constitution provisions by subsequent enactment of ordinary statutory in Parliament set a dangerous precedent which threatened the principle of Constitutionalism.

“The effect of allowing such law to amend the provisions of the Constitution is a very dangerous precedent. The public policy requires that the principles of Constitutionalism be jealously guarded and not lightly amended by an ordinary Act of parliament,” Mr Malila said.

He said if Judge Chisanga had critically analysised the issue, she would have come to an inescapable conclusion that Judges Musonda, Kajimanga and Mutuna failed to establish a prima facie to warrant them a stay against their suspension.

Mr Malila said Mr Sata was not expected to abide by the Judicial Code of Conduct provisions which were the subsidiary of Article 98 (3) of the Zambian Constitution and such the appeal by the state should be allowed to hold.

But respondent lawyers urged the court to dismiss the appeal with costs saying Judge Chisanga was terror firm (on firm ground) when she granted their clients a stay against their suspension.

Lawyer Abyudi Shonga urged the court to dismiss the appeal case on grounds that the appellants (State) had raised four new grounds in their appeal case which they did not raise before the High Court and the same could not be raised at appeal stage.

Mr Shonga said the State failed to attack all the arguments which were brought before the High Court by the judges.

Earlier the respondent lawyers among them Eric Silwamba, Milner Katolo, Paul Katupisha and Sakwiba Sikota raised three preliminary issues on which they urged the court not to entertain the appeal by the state.

Mr Katolo urged the court to stay the State’s appeal until the appeal case involving JCN Holdings Limited, Post Newspapers Limited and Mutembo Nchito and DBZ was concluded because its judgment would have an implication on the tribunal case.

But the state opposed to the objection saying the judges commenced the judicial review proceedings when they knew that the JCN Holdings Limited, Post Newspapers Limited and Mutembo Nchito case was already before court.

Mr Mwenya and Malila argued that there was no connection between the tribunal case and JCN Holdings Limited, Post Newspapers Limited and Mutembo Nchito to which the Supreme Court judges agreed.

Judge Chibesakunda who later announced the conclusion of the hearing gave the state 10 days to respond to some heads of argument which were filed before court yesterday while judgment date would be communicated later.

[Times of Zambia]

Mwandi MP Michael Kaingu has been elected MMD Vice President for Politics.

And Mumbwa MP Dr. Brian Chituwo went through unopposed as Vice President for Administration.

This is according to results of the elections conducted today during a NEC meeting held at the MMD Secretariat in Lusaka.

Dr. Kaingu amassed 26 votes while his closest rival Muhabi Lungu got 11 and Lucky Mulusa was in distant third with 3 votes.

Kabinga Pande is the new National Chairman while Brad ford Machila was elected Chairman Legal.

Dr Cannissus Banda took the portfolio of Chairman for health while Faustina Sinyangwe was elected Chairperson for labour and Elizabeth Chitika scooped the position of Chairperson for Arts.

Newton Samakayo was elected Chairperson for local government.

And the MMD will on Thursday unveil what they are calling a rebranded MMD with a new slogan, the hour has come for new hope at a ceremony to be held in Lusaka.

Government has castigated United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema over his remarks that the successful issuance of a US$750 million Eurobond should not excite the country as it is just a loan.

Finance Deputy Minister Miles Sampa says there is need for Mr. Hichilema to understand the benefits of this maiden record-breaking Eurobond because it will go a long way to assist in the development of infrastructure in the country.

Mr. Sampa advised the UPND leader to instead google on the internet so that he could see the economic benefits which lie ahead from the utilization of such a bond.

He said it is unfortunate that there are some people such as Mr. Hichilema who are not pleased whenever Zambia records a success in any area of the country’s economy.

The Finance deputy minister explained that the UPND leader had no knowledge of how a government ministry is run and stated that he should at least listen to the likes of FDD leader Edith Nawakwi and former Finance Minister Ngandu Magande who are economists.

He further wondered if Mr. Hichilema has the interest of the Zambian people at heart for him to make such statements.

He said government was committed to improving the state of infrastructure across the country and to ensure the livelihood of Zambians is uplifted.

Mr. Sampa who is also Matero Member of Parliament lamented that the country’s infrastructure had been stagnant for some time now adding that it is for this reason that the new Patriotic Front (PF) government is working tirelessly to bring a positive change towards the infrastructure sector.

He noted that government was focusing on how it could deliver a bright future for Zambia and does not want to hear from people who may want to distract it from doing so.

Meanwhile, an economist Professor Oliver Saasa has said the country’s economic policies are so far headed on the right track as could be spotted from the interest rate which stands at a low point of nine percent which he said has not been the case in the past.

Professor Saasa urged government to ensure it utilizes the funds into income generating activities if it is to yield benefits for the country.

Last Thursday Zambia successfully issued its inaugural 10-year bond on Wall Street the international market which is the world’s topmost financial hub to the tune of US$ 750 million.

ZANIS

Forget the dodgy leotards and endless gurning; Olympic weightlifting is a very serious sport. The current world-record holder for the clean and jerk, Iran’s Hossein Rezazadeh, owns that coveted title because he lifted a ground-shaking 263.5kg.

These guys are very strong, and almost unrivalled in their power-to-weight ratio. “In this sport, speed is just as important as strength,” says Team GB’s head weight lifting coach Tamas Feher. And even if you’re not interested in entering the 2016 Olympics, this type of training is one of the fastest ways to achieve a strong, muscular physique. “An Olympic lifter’s body is a powerful one, and certainly looks it too,” says Feher.

Your programme

A study in the Canadian Journal of Applied Sport Science found that after eight weeks of Olympic lifting, participants increased their lean muscle mass by 4% and dropped 6% of their body fat. Our plan promises the same and more. Start with Week 1’s workout – created by strength coach Ian Mellis to condition your body for the demands of Olympic lifts. Then over the next three weeks follow the prescribed sessions, billing up to the main event.

Week 1 – 50% 1RM

Week 2 – 60% 1RM

Week 3 – 70% 1RM

Week 4 – 70-90% 1RM

Week 1: Strength and support

Perform this session 3 times, with a rest day between each. Do 5 sets of 5 reps of each exercise, resting 20sec between sets and 60sec between exercises. Aim to shift around 50% of your 1-rep max (1RM).

Kettlebell swings

This move strengthens your lower back – essential for heavy lifts. Stand with a kettlebell between your legs. Drive your hips forward to swing the weight up. Ben your knees as it swings back between your legs.

Dumbbell squat to curl

This builds the power you need to get that bar up to your chest. Squat until your thighs are parallel to the floor, then curl the dumbbells to shoulder height as you stand.

Squat jump

“Acceleration is key for lifting,” says Mellis. “Squat jumps improve power generation through the body.” Squat, then press up through your heels and toes, launching into the air. Land with your knees slightly bent.

Dumbbell push-press

This move will address any strength imbalances between your arms. Rest the weights on your shoulders, bend your knees, then explosively press the weights overhead.

Week 2: Beginner compound moves

You now need to prep your body for specific areas of the lifts. Follow the same plan as for Week 1 (5 sets of 5 reps each), but aim to use 60% of your 1RM.

Goblet squat

This is the foundation of a strong front squat. Grab one end of a dumbbell with both hands and hold it under your chin, palms facing up. Bend your hips and knees until your thighs are parallel to the floor. Then slowly rise back up.

Box jump

“This replicates the central move of the lifts,” says Mellis. Squat slightly in front of a secure box. Jump onto it, swinging your arms forward. Land with your knees bent. Perform continually for 1min, instead of the usual 5 reps.

Upright row

Stand holding a pair of dumbbells in front of your thighs. Raise the weights straight up, keeping your palms close to your body until they’re just below your chin. Pause, go up onto your toes then return to the start.

Military press

“This trains you for the press phase,” says Mellis. Grab a barbell with an overhand grip and hold it across your shoulders. Bend your knees and push the bar above your head, locking your arms.

Week 3: Advanced compound moves

Perfect these exercises before you attempt the main lifts. Again, do 5 sets of 5 reps for each move, this time using 70% 1RM.

Romanian dead lift

Bend to pick up the barbell with an overhand grip. Use your thighs to raise the bar and straighten your legs. Lower the weight down to just in front of your shins. Straighten up, pushing forward with your hips.

Weighted box jump

“It’s explosive strength that gets the bar off the floor,” says Mellis. Perform the move as per the instructions for Week 3, except this time hold a weight plate or dumbbell in each hand. If 70% 1RM is too much, go lighter.

Clean

This is where it all comes together. Bend to pick up the barbell. Keep your chest high and drive up through your heels. When it reaches hip-height, shrug your shoulders to pull the bar in front of your chest. Rest it above your collarbone.

Front squat

“Here’s where the power comes from to lift the bar over your head,” says Mellis. Rest a barbell on your shoulders. Sink into a deep squat, then push up to the start position. Tense your glutes throughout to achieve maximum output.

Week 4: The grand finale

Feeling the benefits of your training doesn’t require months of hard slog. With 3 lifting sessions each week you can pack on 6kg of lean muscle in just 8 weeks. For muscle building, perform 3 sets of 8 reps at 70% 1RM. For strength and power, aim for 2 sets of 2 reps at 80-90% 1RM.

The clean and jerk: step one

A
Squat down behind a barbell and grab it with a shoulder-width overhand grip. Keep your arms extended fully – this forces your upper-back muscles to pull the bar up.

B
Drive upwards with your legs, lifting the bar. When it reaches thigh height, pull your shoulders back, bend your knees, rotate your wrists and catch the bar with your palms facing upwards.

Clean and jerk: step two

C
Now push back up through the balls of your feet to stand up straight with the bar resting across the top of your chest. Take a breath and get ready for the final phase of the lift.

D
Bend the knees then explode upwards, pressing the bar overhead. At the same time, put one leg forward and one back to aid the overhead press. Walk your feet together, champion.

The snatch: step one

A
Stand behind the bar with your feet just wider than shoulder-width apart, shins touching the bar. Drop down and grab the bar with a very wide overhand grip, arms completely straight. Get ready to explode up.

B
Keeping your chest high, your back straight and head up, push upwards through your heels to stand. Keep the bar as close to your legs as possible throughout the movement until it reaches your thighs.

The snatch: step two

C
Now, pull your shoulders back and bring the bar up fast, flipping it over onto your fingers. Swoop underneath the bar by dropping into an overhead squat position, as shown. Now for the final push.

D
Press up through your heels, until your legs are straight, keeping the bar locked-out over your head throughout. Congratulations: this technical move is a true test of your coordination and strength.

(Mensfitness)
By Kapa187

President Michael Sata has retired Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet Mr. Teddy Mulonga in national interest. This is contained in a press statement made available to the media by his Special Assiatant for press and public relations, George Chellah.

The Head of State thanked Mr. Mulonga for the services he rendered to the country during his tenure of office.

And President Sata has appointed Ambassador Peter Kasanda as deputy Secretary to the Cabinet. Prior to the appointment, Ambassador Kasanda was serving as Ministry of Foreign Affairs permanent secretary.

Ambassador Kasanda has been replaced by Margaret Miyoba who has been transferred from Luapula Province to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the same capacity.

The changes are with immediate effect.

CHIPATA Diocese Bishop George Lungu has said the Church will not rest until justice prevails over the deportation of Lundazi Catholic Parish Priest father Viateur Banyangadora.

Speaking during a homily to cerebrate the 75th Anniversary of Chipata Diocese held at St Anne Cathedral in Chipata yesterday, Bishop Lungu reiterated that the Church would not rest until the Government revokes the deportation of its clergy for the sake of unity.

The prelate who did not want to dwell much on the deportation of Fr Banyangadora alleging that the issue was “still hot” only reminded the Catholic faithful during the celebrations that the church would not rest until justice prevailed on the matter.

“I would like to inform you that the Church will not rest until justice prevails on the deportation of Fr Banyangadora for the sake of unity. I do not want to dwell much on this issue because it is still a “hot issue”, but I can assure you that the church will not rest until justice prevail on the matter,” he said.

Last month, a combined team of security wings apprehended Fr Banyangadora, 40, a priest of Rwandanese origin from his residence in connection with the sermon he delivered in church during a homily which was allegedly seen to have been in the spirit of inciting people to rise against the Government.

The clergyman was later transferred to Lusaka for further interrogations before being deported.

Home Affairs Minister Edgar Lungu announced few days later that Fr Banyangadora, who was a holder of employment Permit No 008955, was deported to Rwanda because he was found to be a danger to the peace and good order, contrary to Section 39(2) of the immigration and Deportation Act No 18 of 2010.

Bishop Lungu said the Government violated human and constitutional rights of their priest despite him being in possession of a Rwandanse passport.

Meanwhile, Bishop Lungu has said the Catholic Church is saddened with reports that some Catholic pupils in other mission schools were being mistreated.

“The Church is disturbed with some reports that some catholic pupils in other mission schools were being mistreated by school authorities. We hear that sometimes rosaries are confiscated from these pupils by school authorities without any proper explanation,” he said.

Bishop Lungu said the other mission school authorities should tolerate other religions in their mission schools just like the Catholic tolerated non-Catholic pupils learning in Catholic schools.

[Times of Zambia]