TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“Send your grain across the seas, and in time, profits will flow back to you.”
(Ecclesiastes 11:1, NLT)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria

God has a system that is based on the principle of sowing and reaping. In other words, what you pour out to others will come back to you in increased measure. When you give generously, a generous harvest will return to you. When you help others succeed, you will find abundant success on your path, too.

Are you helping others succeed? Are you helping others get ahead? There are some people in your life who hold the keys for you to reach your full potential. These are people that God has placed in your life for you to help along. The higher they rise up, the higher you will rise up, too. When you give generously of your time, talents and resources, you are setting yourself up for greater success. People will come across your path that will help you grow and reach your full potential.

Do your part to step out and sow the seed. Be on the lookout for ways you can help others. As you give of yourself to help others grow, you’ll see increase in return. You’ll see success and live the abundant life He has prepared for you.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father in heaven, I open my whole heart You. I invite You to use me to be a blessing in the lives of others. Show me where to invest my time, talents and resources for Your glory. Thank You for the harvest that is coming back to me in Jesus’ name. Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen

The Ministry of Home Affairs has apologized to former LAP Green Zambia Chief Executive officer Hans Paulsen for wrongly naming him as a deportee.

Home Affairs Permanent Secretary Maxwell Nkole has apologized to Mr. Paulsen whom minister of home affairs Edgar Lungu says had been deported because he was found in possession of two work permits.

Mr. Nkole says in a statement released to ZNBC News that the former Zamtel employee and Pakistan national deported early this week is Hayee Adnan.

Mr. Adnan was employed as Zamtel Chief Financial Officer when the telecommunication company was run by Libya’s LAP-Green Networks.

Mr. Nkole says Mr. Adnan was found in possession of a Zambian employment permit and another one for Green Network in Sierra Leone.

On Thursday this week, home affairs minister Edgar Lungu told journalists at a media briefing that the immigration department had deported Mr. Paulsen after being found with two work permits.

Mr. Nkole has apologized for the mix-up in the names.

B1 releases the video for the song “Sikiriti” that features Debra

By Kapa187

By F.Chalabesa

So much has been said about the fight of corruption in Zambia, this has been part of every party’s manifesto. So then, what is corruption? Who is involved? Does the common man understand the terminology?

Corruption is defined as dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power, typically involving bribery. Bribery is to give or promise a person something to influence that person’s view or conduct. Studies have revealed three types of corruption:

1. Cultural
2. Psychological
3. System related

Most if not all African countries are corrupt, reason we are still called developing nations. The least corrupt is Botswana; I will not mention the most corrupt. As at 2007, corruption in Zambia was between 15 -20%, but I believe the figures has risen now. The type of corruption in Zambia is cultural and system related.

Cultural corruption is where the country has failed to follow the rule of law and system related is where the government is set to behave that way and people’s minds are tuned the same way.

So then, how does corruption affect the nation’s ability to develop? I will bring up the corrupt practices that are happening in Zambia which have led to no development.

Bribing people to win votes

So much has been said about this issue, people in almost every constituency are bribed before elections. We have heard of brown envelopes been distributed to cadres during campaigns, hard cash, food and drinks.These actions are aimed at buying a vote. This is taking advantage of the less privileged and denying them the right to vote freely.

Giving false information in order to win people’s support

During campaigns, aspiring leaders give false information to people. They promise them of things they fail to give them after elections. This has been the tradition in the Zambian politics, once voted for, the leaders become part of the rich while the poor Zambians remain cut off. The president will invite rich people to dine with him at state house while the poor who are the majority voters remain poor if not poorer. While the word ‘poor’ is used worldwide, it is more pronounced in the developing world.

Exerting undue influence on the voters including threats, physical injury or spiritual harm

We see this happening all the time among party supporters. There has been blood shed among cadres due to violence because they have been taught it has to be like that for them to get a cent. They have to fight for food and drink. These are necessities every person should be entitled to.

People become above the law

I will leave this to the readers; let’s ask ourselves about what we have seen with the verdicts that are passed in Zambia. Are we satisfied with them? Do we see justice? Do they create precedence?

Zambians themselves have also become corrupt, this is about every citizen who at one time got involved in any of the following scenarios:

• “Once I was so stranded, I needed to get a relative into college but for some reasons I could not follow the normal pathway. I got hold of one of the staff members and paid him money, within a short time my relative was accepted into college.” That money did not reach school office and so it did not go towards the development of the school and the nation at all.
• “I knew I had done something wrong, the police were on me. I had to do something so they would let me go, quickly I gave them some money and they let me go.” The money did not reach the police offices. This happens a lot of times with motorists who commit offences they get away with, such that we have ended up with cars that aren’t in road worthy conditions and unlicensed drivers putting the public at risk.
• “So called am dealu, that person works at the company; he takes out stuff and sells it to me at a reasonable price. I can talk to him for you.” The person being talked about is ripping the company apart, when the company collapses and shuts down, he will be jobless.

Corruption brings up dishonesty in a nation and this mostly is in financial matters. For every nation to survive, it needs money. A good financial status is a pillar for any nation. The government is funded by the tax payers, grants, aids and borrowings from other nations. It’s the same money that goes round the country that keeps the nation going i.e. from the government to the people and back to the government through taxes. In any money matters, honesty is required and it is important that whoever is dealing with money is honest with each and every transaction especially if it belongs to a big group of people. This is because once there is a leak somewhere in the cycle, then an imbalance occurs and this can be a source of problems for everybody. Good management of finances in the country leads to a balance in every situation. Fairness in the distribution of funds leads to equality among citizens and positive thinking towards development.

How does dishonesty in financial matters affect development?

The gap between the rich and the poor lengthens; this is because the rich develop an affinity for money. They tend to forget about the poor, unfortunately and mostly these rich people are the ones responsible for running the country’s economy. Less or no consideration of the poor is done when deciding on the country’s economy i.e. budget, prices etc. If they can afford it then that’s it. These people will shun the services in the country; they will send their children to private schools, or to schools abroad. They will seek medical advice outside the country and they will do their shopping (clothes) from outside the country. With the above behaviour little or no attention will be paid to improve the services they will never access or to improve the working conditions of workers in these areas.[pullquote]Do we need an expert to come in and think for us? [/pullquote]
The affected workers who get meagre salaries will usually come up with ideas to make ends meet. To start with, they know for sure that their wages won’t see them through the month. Having to work with that in mind will affect their attitude, I am sure we have all come across grumpy ones in their areas of work or people that do not want to do their work properly. Some workers will engage in unlawful dealings to try and get money to see them through the month.

Examples will be leakages before exams, illegal transport, illegal trading etc. In the end another citizen suffers, because they will end up paying for services that should be freely accessible to all. Some practices by these frustrated workers can be disastrous especially if they are health personnel.

Some workers have to go through the frustrations of having to work knowing they will have nothing to offer their customers, medical personnel with no drugs or equipment will have no morale at all.

In the hope of getting money some citizens will try and make imitations for sale (goonga), pirating, street vending, others will be involved in prostitution and theft. In all these activities it will be innocent citizens that will suffer as the rich will never buy imitations or pirated CDs, they have tight security and no one will steal from them. They have expensive cars and they will never be driven by a driver without a drivers’ licence and they own bore holes with reserve tanks at their residence.

Dishonesty in financial matters has also created imbalances in the country’s economic status. I read the paper and what I see is ‘Zambia has been hit by a critical shortage of workers in a certain sector’ and then later another heading will say ‘Zambia’s unemployment levels are rising’. Isn’t there something the nation can do to marry the two? Do we need an expert to come in and think for us? Another heading will read ‘Lack of oxygen or water in hospitals leads to……………..’ another heading will say billions of kwacha were stolen by one person’ confusing! If such amounts of money could leave the government account unnoticed until later, honestly Zambia should be capable of supplying hospitals with water and oxygen and other government institutions with necessities.

AT A time when it has become a common thing for some Zambian marriages not to last six months or even a month, Zambia’s first President Kenneth Kaunda has just given hope to the younger generation – a marriage can go beyond a Diamond Jubilee.

This came to light yesterday when the charismatic Kaunda and his wife Betty have celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary, with a call on Zambians to build “strong families” to help develop the country.

The 88-year-old former head of state said this yesterday during a private anniversary ceremony at his residence in Lusaka’s State Lodge area.

Dr Kaunda sang whilst playing his guitar. The ceremony was attended by some of his children, grandchildren and great grand children. He has 10 children, 30 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

He said it is important for Zambians to embrace love as one of the greatest teachings of God.

Dr Kaunda said he is grateful that his wife is patient and showed rare understanding of his long absences from home during the liberation struggle.

“This I have to tell young people that you cannot build Zambia with separations. You should build Zambia with strong families that will help to build one Zambia one nation,” he said.

He said the couple has always resolved their differences privately, saying differences are inevitable in marriage but must be resolved amicably.

And Mrs Kaunda said alcohol abuse is responsible for indiscipline and the erosion of family values.

She said it is unfortunate that some parents devote their time to alcohol at the expense of teaching their children the necessary values and appealed to government to intervene.

Mrs Kaunda said the rampant cases of gender-based violence are sad and wondered why women should be subjected to disrespect instead of being treated well as mothers.

She also urged youths wishing to get married to ensure that they know each other’s backgrounds and embrace respect for their families.

Mrs Kaunda said she has continued to respect and treat Dr Kaunda in the same manner she did from the time they got married.

“I love him and I still take care of him. I suffered a stroke but my brain is still working,” she said.

Mrs Kaunda, who once sold charcoal to support her children, also encouraged women to work hard to fight poverty.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

Chief Government Spokesperson Kennedy Sakeni has said that UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema will soon be politically isolated following the interest shown by a number of UPND Members of Parliament to work with the PF Government.

Reacting to Mr Hichilema’s accusations that the PF Government is dictatorial, intolerant and corrupt among other allegations, Mr Sakeni in a statement obtained by QFM News said that a number of UPND Members of Parliament are privately courting the Government with a view to working together with the PF to develop the country.

Mr Sakeni said that UPND Members of Parliament are fed up with Mr Hichilema’s pride, mischief and egocentricity and are very willing to work with the PF Government.

He added that it’s not a secret that many progressive UPND parliamentarians detest Mr Hichilema’s hegemonic leadership style and are looking for an alternative with a national character and appeal.

Mr Sakeni stated that it’s just a matter of time before Mr. Hichilema remains alone, adding that even his mentor former president Rupiah Banda once he realizes that he is alone, will also abandon him.

He furthers stated that that Mr Hichilema’s right to happiness was squandered the day President Michael Sata took oath of office, adding this is the same day which birthed and instantaneously magnified his bitterness, extreme dislike as well as his trademark tribalism.

He said that the UPND leader is getting shredded into pieces by tribalism and hatred.

Mr Sakeni said that Mr Hichilema should first cleanse himself of tribalism and hatred before projecting himself as a voice for the poor, and not launching what he described as fake campaigns and imaginary revolutions.

He added that Mr. Hichilema cannot stand on moral high ground on the issue of tribalism stating that one only has to look at the composition of his National Management Committee, business associates, legal team and other political associates.

The Chief Government Spokesperson has since assured Zambians that the PF Government will deliver on its promises to an extent that all its arm-chair critics will be left with no ammunition with which to unduly attack them as they have done.

Below is the Full Statement made available to the media

MEDIA RELEASE
24th August, 2012

MR. HAKAINDE Hichilema – the chief apostle of bitterness and tribalism- is quite a weird man, extremely weird that he does not mind to laugh at himself and his weaknesses even.

Of course, we are referring to his dwindling political fortunes, which he wants to blame on the PF administration by irresponsibly throwing around hollow claims of dictatorship, intolerance, intimidation, nepotism, corruption and other illogical accusations befitting an upstart politician of his kind.

These utterances from Mr. Hichilema are just an attempt to divert the citizens’ attention from the violence and other ills that his party is perpetrating through his special advisor Mr. William ‘Tekere’ Banda. Mr. Hichilema recruited Mr. Banda and other rogues knowing very well Mr. Banda’s track record and political terror.

Clearly, there are no other special skills Mr. Banda has which Mr. Hichilema could have been seeking in him except political violence, which will not take them far. Mr. Hichilema should apologise because he is responsible for Mr. Banda’s violence since he is the one who recruited him.

A responsible leader has a duty to scrutinise the credibility of people joining his ranks. Mr. Hichilema cannot be said to be responsible and an alternative because one only needs to look at the people that he is recruiting, who apart from William Banda includes convicts like Austin Liato and other political mercenaries like Mr. Edwin Lifwekelo and Mr. Edward Mumbi. Surely, with such recruitments does Mr. Hichilema have the moral right to discuss corruption?

Mr. Hichilema cannot stand on moral high ground on the issue of tribalism because one only has to look at the composition of his National Management Committee, business associates, legal team [just check the team of lawyers that accompanied him to Woodlands police station] and other political associates. This cannot be compared to the PF leadership and President Sata’s approach to national matters. Mr. Hichilema lacks a national character and appeal because of his tribalism and hatred.

No wonder even many of his Members of Parliament and other party officials are fed up of his pride, mischief and egocentricity and are very willing to work with the PF government. It’s not a secret that many of his more progressive parliamentarians detest his hegemonic leadership style and are looking for an alternative with a national character and appeal.

A number of UPND MPs are privately courting this Government with a view to working together with us to develop the country. It’s just a matter of time before Mr. Hichilema remains alone because even his mentor [Mr. Rupiah Bwezani Banda] once he realises that he is alone, will abandon him.

It’s very clear to every Zambian that Mr. Hichilema’s right to happiness was squandered the day His Excellency Mr. Michael Chilufya Sata took the oath of office. This is the same day which birthed and instantaneously magnified his bitterness, extreme dislike as well as his trademark – tribalism. We sincerely feel sorry for our brother because we can see him getting shredded into pieces by tribalism and hatred.

Before, he projects himself as a voice for the poor Mr. Hichilema must sanitise himself of tribalism and hatred, and not launching fake campaigns and imaginary revolutions. The PF Government wishes to assure all Zambians that it will deliver on its promises to an extent that all our arm-chair critics will be left with no ammunition with which to unduly attack us as they have done.

I urge all Zambians to remain resolute and continue believing in this Government so that we can, together develop this country. Always remember that this is your Government which you helped form when you cast that vote on September 20, 2011.

Issued by:
Hon. Kennedy Sakeni – Chief Government Spokesperson and Minister of Information and Broadcasting