Former Finance Minister, Ng’andu Magande has called on President Michael Sata to constitute a commission of enquiry into the Zambia Railways Concession Agreement of 2003.

Magande who signed the agreement on behalf of government, says he is ready to give information regarding the concession, once called upon.

He says as a former custodian of government property, he is obliged to put the record straight.

Mr. Magande has told ZNBC news that it is important for government and the public to know and understand issues surrounding the concession agreement.

And Railway Systems of Zambia Chief Executive Officer, Benjamin Even has said his organization is committed to discussing and clarifying the various issues over the concession agreement.

Mr. Even has told ZNBC in a statement that his organisation will respect the process to be determined by the government.

On Wednesday, President Michael Sata directed newly appointed Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba to revisit the Railway System Concession agreement.

ZNBC

Chiko Wise released a video for the song “Shintwala” that features Afunika 

Bobby Jay released a video for the song “Vene Bakamba”(Ma Fans) .

By Kapa187

President Michael Sata has dared Railway Systems of Zambia to go ahead and serve him with writs of summon.

On Wednesday, President Sata directed Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba to use all legal means at his disposal to return Zambia Railways to the rightful owners the Zambians.

President Sata says he is aware of the threats and is patiently waiting for the writs of summons.

And President Sata has instructed Justice Minister Winter Kabimba to ensure that problems being faced by prisons in the country are addressed.

He notes that it is difficult for justice to prevail when the Justice department is operating in a deplorable condition.

President Sata says there is need to ensure that citizens do not fear the law but instead need to be protected by the law.

He was speaking at Statehouse this morning when he bestowed Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba with the honor of State Counsel.

And speaking when he received letters of credence from three foreign envoys accredited to Zambia, President Sata cautioned diplomats in the country not to interfere with the country’s internal politics.

President Sata has also advised diplomats to change their habit of visiting him at Statehouse without following the right procedure of going through the ministry of foreign affairs.

The three envoys that presented their letters of credence are Somalia’s Mohamed Hassan Daware, Sifamu In-umoru Momoh of Nigeria and German’s Bernd Finke.

And speaking when he presented his credentials, Germany Ambassador to Zambia, Bernd Finke disclosed that a group of German businessmen is in the next few months expected in the country to explore more investment opportunities.

QFM

HER WAY AROUND (Script off; DRUGS, ALCOHOL AND BAD HEALTH) by Alastair Wallace

She stood in front of me

She understood my wants and needs

She took my arms and knees

She mistook my food for feed

Indeed She saw me, I touched her and her neck twist

She gave a sigh, a breath I failed to resist

The sweat on her curves is something no man could miss

She started to say words that made me be… Be!

Betrayed by her bodily fluids

Sipped them drop by drop until I felt stupid

A feeling I enjoyed feeling until it got me ruined

I emptied her body while she emptied my soul… slow

Agony is finding your life completely obliterated at the bottom of a bottle

But I love her

She taught me the social life

She gave me the night lights

She showed me that courage is a shot of scotch

Beer or whiskey, bear with me if the times right… But I love her

Even after she throws me away and calls me a Has-Been

With a headache and she whispers “grab an aspirin”

Two days of my life wasted on a night

Two days she took away from my life

I Guess Alcohol Has Its Way Around

I have been around

WE NEED SOME SOUL SEARCHING… THE TIME IS NOW!

THE SILENT TRUTH by Lee Stewart

You prefer that silent I stay,

The truth you cant handle or obey,

Though happy to live a life of slavery,

Life is too political.

Where now is there sanctuary,

Without obstacle.

By the truth down you feel dragged,

Its easier to believe the lie the trap,

Lazy minds fight me yet wont fight back,

The noose they live by.

You too might as well make a pact,

So yourself can self apply.

To the world torture chamber,

Increasing hardship and the danger,

Will you rest your head in a manger,

When your homeless too.

Would you happily sleep with a stranger,

There’s believing in the government for you.

And when your religions come to fail,

For you believe the material world has the right to sail,

Its ship of slaves who work tooth and nail,

Do their cries too upset?

For when you try to silence out my wail,

I too am subject.

Bills need paying so does the tax,

You know what I’m saying yet ignore the facts,

To continue your miserable life that lacks,

Value and equality.

Here comes the law with unworthy maths,

You’re now sold property.

Live aye for a time you will,

Wanting more from life yet stand still,

Sit and wait to be killed,

While others die.

What a fine world you’ve all helped to build,

Sick am I?

Disgusted too would serve fit,

How can you say life is what you make it,

Blindly letting go of all that’s sacred,

Do slaves have a choice?

Surely God didn’t give us the world for them to rape it,

What have I but my voice.

My word my chance to rise,

To speak the truth that ignites,

A volume to which you close your eyes,

The worlds made me sick.

At all the suffering pain and lies,

How are you well in a world that’s toxic.

Ignorance is bliss oh is it now,

You’re stronger yes so deeper you plough,

Without a care or even how,

Today came to be.

To your masters I will not bow,

God walk with me.

I’ll spin a tale a record new,

Of the truth a classic which to,

The spirit of the earth can sing for you,

Of hope and faith.

From the heart where love gives us our due,

A new road I’ll pave.

I’ll go with God and you your sins,

My own world I’ll walk into the heavens,

Continuing to believe love can make a difference,

While you fools take chase.

After gold and sex with serpents,

A sad disgrace.

For each and all I’ll say a prayer,

To the slain and to the slayer,

The innocent the lost and self betrayer,

When God does come.

May evil be vanquished and from its deepest layer,

Gods will be done.

And at that by God not by man,

Not he who builds hope with sand,

Or he who foolishly casts his hand,

Over the world whole.

Should God the great creator command,

Please save my soul.

 “D” By Patrick Nakalonga

Drawn with no Duress, but simply by the Desire to Deliver, he Descended from heaven to be Delivered in a most Demeaning fashion. He was Dipped in water and the spirit came Down upon him in the form of a Dove as a sign that the battle to Defeat the Defeated and bridge the Divide had begun.

The Devil was Daring and Disrespectfully Diabolical in his plan to Dethrone his majesty. He Debuted his Deception by Divulging Data to the blinded Damsel called Eve. She Digested the forbidden Delicacy that Disqualified man from his Destiny. Drenched in sin and Dealt a swift punishment, man was Discarded from the Divine’s paradise but not Disowned by the one true Deity.

Like Daniel in the Den, man was thrown among the wild, but he Did not let us get Devoured. All this courtesy of a life that seemed Delectable when the woman was Duped by the Debonair Demon to Delve into knowledge unknown. Man became Dilettante as a result of his failure to be Demure and thus became Devoid of his Decorous unveiling and was now worthy of God’s Diatribe.

God wanted man to be Dextrorotatory so he Drew us close through the lamb that had nails Driven into the form he was Draped in. Through the sacrifice of his flesh, we were Delivered.

By Kapa187

MISA Zambia would like to dismiss claims by the Copperbelt Province Youth Secretary Kabwe Chanda alleging that the institution has abandoned its core role of promoting media freedom and has instead started operating as an appendage to political interests.

MISA Zambia would like to state from the onset that it does not align itself to any political party but focuses on promoting and championing freedom of expression, media freedom and access to information.

We believe that this criticism is meant to divert its attention from the recent sad developments around media freedom and freedoms of expression violations including the harassment of UNZA radio and Hone FM.

[pullquote]

We would like to put it on record that the PF Government is one of the beneficiaries of MISA Zambia platforms. Before the PF assumed office, the party was featured on MISA Zambia programmes when they could not access the public media

[/pullquote]Accusations of this nature, however are not new to MISA Zambia as such was the similar scenario under the MMD regime. Last year the late former Vice-President George Kunda accused MISA-Zambia of being biased and were accused of supporting PF.

We would like to put it on record that the PF Government is one of the beneficiaries of MISA Zambia platforms. Before the PF assumed office, the party was featured on MISA Zambia programmes when they could not access the public media.

Infact the PF director of media and publicity who is also a former MISA Zambia employee Chanda Mfula can attest to this.

The nation and the PF Government are free to check the MISA-Zambia website where media alerts indicate the various statements the institution has issued each time there are issues of harassments of journalists, the recent one being for UPND member William Banda where he beat up a scribe.

We would like to urge the government to fully implement media law reforms to provide for media freedom by fully implementing media law reforms and also repealing pieces of legislation that impede freedom of expression, media freedom and access to information which are critical cornerstones for good governance and an efficient democratic system.

MISA Zambia Chairperson
Nalumino Nalumino

THE Patriotic Front (PF) on the Copperbelt says it is disappointed that some media bodies have allegedly abandoned their role of promoting media freedom to champion political interests.

The party has called on donors to re-consider their financial support to such organisations, saying they are overstepping their bounds.

Provincial youth chairperson Kabwe Chanda says Zambians are concerned that the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia has remained mute on the assault of Muvi Televison cameraperson Lloyd Kapusa.

“Donors are funding a façade for a political establishment, which is fighting the PF government to achieve aims that have nothing to do with media freedom,” Mr Chanda said, “there is no doubt that in its current form and leadership, MISA Zambia lacks the necessary credibility to support meaningful media reforms in this country.”

But MISA vice-chairperson Nalumino Nalumino has dismissed the claims, saying the institution shall not play politics with anyone.

Mr Kapusa was assaulted by William Banda, the special advisor to the United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema.

Mr Kapusa, however, opted to settle the matter outside court after Mr Banda offered to pay him K30 million even though the case, which is now against the state, has not been withdrawn from court.

Mr Chanda said unlike in Mr Kapusa’s case, MISA was quick to condemn police when UPND cadres were tear-gassed in Lusaka.

“MISA Zambia’s anti-PF stance is very well documented. Prior to last year’s elections, this organisation chose to ignore the PF’s concerns about the abuse of the public media by the MMD, but when PF barred ZNBC from covering its national conference because of such concerns, MISA Zambia was quick to condemn the PF,” Mr Chanda said.

He said MISA Zambia has not publicly commented on the alleged defamatory documentaries by Chanda Chimba III against President Sata, and The Post managing editor Fred M’membe.

He said donors must reconsider funding MISA Zambia because they are not carrying out their mandate objectively.

Mr Chanda said donors such as Irish Aid must take interest in knowing how their funds are used at MISA Zambia and reconsider their partnership with the organisation.

“It is public knowledge that for a long time, several annual audit reports have revealed serious financial mismanagement in MISA Zambia. I challenge MISA Zambia to come out clean on these concerns,” he said.

But Mr Nalumino said in an interview yesterday that MISA had issued a statement on the assault of Mr Kapusa which was widely circulated and copied to the regional office.

He said it is not true that MISA has remained mute on the issue, saying it cannot comment further because the matter is in court.

On calls for donors to reconsider funding MISA, Mr Nalumino said the institution is accountable and transparent in its dealings and that donors are privy to the details of its expenditure.

“MISA is an organisation of integrity…We are accountable for the funding the organisation receives,” Mr Nalumino said.

[Zambia Daily Mail]