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President Michael Sata has said that corrupt practices have negatively affected the operations of councils in the country. Mr Sata said that corrupt practices are manifested in the allocation of plots, collection of revenues through pilferage and issuance of licenses and permits.
ZNBC’s Effie Mphande reports that this is contained in the President’s statement read for him by Vice President Guy Scott. This was at the official opening of the 56th Annual Conference of the Local Government Association of Zambia- in Livingstone on today.
President SATA also observed that over the past years, local government has NOT delivered to peoples’ expectations. He has explained that politicking by the previous administration in PF run councils had worsened the situation.
Mr Sata also says government is committed to the implementation of the national decentralization policy which will guarantee the participation of all citizens in decision making.
The President also says government is committed to increasing budgetary allocation to local authorities. Earlier, Local Government and Housing Minister Nkandu Luo warned councillors and staff involved in illegal allocation of Land that they will have their councils suspended.
Professor Luo explained that illegal allocation of land has resulted in some structures being built on sewer and water lines. She has urged councils across the country to develop service charters which will enable them provide quality services to the people.
And United Nations Resident Coordinator Kanni Wignaraja called for the implementation of policies and laws which are responsive to enhanced service delivery. And Local Government Association of Zambia President Daniel Chisenga says lack of funds has hampered service delivery by councils.
The Council of Churches in Zambia and the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions have appealed for more consultation on the revised Minimum wage.
Council of Churches President, Moses Mwale says the government should give employers time to prepare for the drastic increases in their budget resulting from the revised minimum wage.
Reverend Mwale said in a statement to ZNBC news that although the council supports governments intentions to put more money in peoples pockets,the manner in which the minimum wage is being implemented could have the opposite effect.
And The Zambia Congress of Trade Unions has called for dialogue between the Ministry of Labour and the Zambia Federation of Employers over the minimum wage.
ZCTU Secretary General Roy Mwaba says the union is concerned over the current stand-off between Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda and the Zambia Federation of Employers over the increased minimum wage.
Mr Mwaba says there is need for social partners to seriously discuss the issue so that the matter is resolved in national interest.
But Labour minister Fackson Shamenda says the revived minimum wage is non negotiable.
ZNBC
All street vendors in Lusaka including those on Lumumba road and Freedom way are expected to leave the streets in Seven days.
Lusaka Province Minister Gerry Chanda says he is working with the Ministry of Local government to clear the streets of Lusaka of vendors.
He says a survey carried out in Lusaka has revealed that there are about 5-thousand empty spaces in various markets in the city which the vendors can occupy.
Colonel Chanda has told ZNBC news that the new directive is not negotiable and government will not hesitate to act against those that will defy the order.
At the weekend Lusaka Mayor Daniel Chisenga has announced that the council will on Monday open a Desk for vendors at the civic centre for registration.
Mr Chisenga says no vendor will be allowed on the streets after Sunday next week.
MrVezzy: First off, I like my stage name spelled right, most people spell it with double E, when its actually double Z. And there is no space between the Mr and the Vezzy. So its one word MrVezzy. Ok, now that we have that out of the way. MrVezzy is simply the reincarnation of the artist formerly known as L.Ve. You may have heard L.Ve’s story, Vezzy has a new story to tell.
KAPA187: You were previously known as L.Ve , why did you decide to change your alias
MrVezzy: After being away from music for a while, returning, I feel like a new artist. There are new things I’m discovering about myself as well. Essentially, although I am one and the same person my whole approach is different. Secondly, as L.Ve I would sometimes be called L.Vezzy. Adding the Mr for me is also a way of recognizing that I am grown and I want my music to reflect that.
KAPA187:For those who are not familiar with your music ,describe your sound in 5 words.
MrVezzy: Timeless, Relevant, Conscious, Real and Heartfelt
KAPA187:How has the zambian music industry changed from when you first came on the scene until now.
MrVezzy: There’s a lot more artists now and fewer people fully supporting the music. Last time I was around artists used to host sell out shows which they headlined. Nowadays no one goes to shows anymore. Everyone wants to see musicians at free venues. No one wants to buy the music, so artists have just resorted to doing singles which they release to the internet. I talk about some of these issues in my song everyday nima lota, which was released as the chipolopolo were going to the Africa cup tournament.
KAPA187:You had alot of success with songs like “No sweat no Sweet” . What made you take a break from the industry.
MrVezzy: I wanted to build a career separate from music as well. My parents sweated to send me to school, I had to show that I acknowledged and appreciated that sacrifice. So I decided to focus on work. It is not impossible to combine the two, but I wanted to give my all at the job so music took a back seat. However I always knew I would get back to it. And I have now.
KAPA187:Tell us about your new song “Nthawi Ya June “
MrVezzy: Nthawi Ya June is a song that just happened. At the studio I found that KB, my producer had made a beat, intended for a certain concept we had. But when I heard the beat in creating the melody it led us to “Yama paka ma loving, ika fika nthawi ya june. Everything just started to flow so we continued and finished off the song within a few minutes. Ruff Kid was also in the studio, and contributed to some of the lyrics. The next day, KB mixed and mastered it and that’s that.
KAPA187:You did a remix to that song with am impressive line up including Joe Chibangu ,Exile JK. how did that come about.
MrVezzy: Some of the people that heard and liked the original expressed that they would like a more club ready version of the song. I meet these guys from time to time. And in the back of my mind I had always planned to get joe on a song. We already did a song together on my first album by the way. Exile lives a block away from where I live so that was easy to hook up. Basically I just rang the guys up after KB had cooked up the new beat. I knew I wanted joe on the chorus, so he came in first. Ozzy and Exile were next. Then JK did his part. Interesting also is that we had Mainza in the studio, he started to do something then had to dash off to some meeting. We never finished recording his verse, so it remained on the cutting floor. Petersen came with Flexville and big up to the young man because he more than held his own.
KAPA187:Are you currently working on an album .
MrVezzy: Yes. Expect the album out in August. Just finalizing selection of songs to include or leave out.
KAPA187:Apart from music what other talents do you have.
MrVezzy: I am a Tonga bull… Hahaha. That’s a little joke for me and my friends only tho.
KAPA187:Is there anything your fans will be surprised to know about you.
MrVezzy: “We don’t like surprises,” I heard them say.. So no, nothing there.
KAPA187:What words of advise do you have for upcoming zambian artists.
MrVezzy: Keep doing your thing. And when you have a buzz going capitalize on it. Strike while iron is hot, nothing is permanent. I’ve seen some artists with great potential, come up and then quickly fade again. Don’t ever get comfortable, there’s always someone looking to take your spot. So if you are not moving forward, others will just snatch that spot from you.
KAPA187:In 10 years i will be….
MrVezzy: Retired on a farm somewhere.
THE MUSIC
Nthawi Ya June
Nthawi Ya June (remix) ft JK ,Exile ,Joe Chibangu ,General Ozzy ,Petersen ,Flex Ville
The opposition MMD in Lusaka province has joined calls for the party leadership to rescind its decision to expel the nine (9) Members of Parliament serving in the Patriotic Front (PF) government.
The party says expelling the nine MPs is not a solution to the issue at hand but that the leadership should instead engage President Michael Sata to dialogue over the appointments.
MMD Lusaka province Information and Publicity Secretary Austin Bota told ZANIS in Lusaka last evening that the party in the province is concerned with the threats of expulsions by party president Nevers Mumba.
Mr. Bota said the expulsions will affect the party in terms of numbers in parliament as there is no guarantee that the MMD will retain all the nine seats in an event that there are by-elections.
“It is not possible that our party will win all the nine seats if we go for by-elections, we lost Chongwe and recently Chama North, it will be another minus from our numbers in parliament,” said Mr. Bota.
He appealed to party president Nevers Mumba to use the process of consultation with the government as a means of harmonising the issue of MMD Members of Parliament being appointed to serve as deputy ministers in the government.
MMD president Nevers Mumba on Friday announced at a press briefing that his Members of Parliament serving in government should resign from their positions or risk being expelled from the party.
But the MMD Lusaka Province Information and Publicity secretary pleaded that the party president should seek dialogue over the matter as the party stands to lose if the nine Members of Parliament are expelled.
He noted that the appointment of opposition members of parliament by President Michael Sata to serve as deputy ministers is backed by the constitution and that it is not new.
“The MMD has done this before starting with President Levy Mwanawasa, then President Rupiah Banda, him it was even at the level of a Cabinet Minister with Mkhondo Lungu, so it is not new”, said Mr. Banda.
However, MMD president Nevers Mumba has said that there are no conflicting statements from his party regarding the warning he gave to nine MPs serving as Deputy Ministers. Dr Mumba said that party members issuing conflicting views on the matter do not have the blessing of the party, as only the party National Secretary or Spokesperson has the authority to speak on behalf of the party.
His comments come in the wake of conflicting statements from some sections of the MMD on the nine MPs.
The party in Eastern province has supported the decision to expel the MPs, while in Lusaka party members have called on the leadership to rescind its decision to expel the nine Members of Parliament serving in the Patriotic Front government.
The Patriotic Front is in the process of registering a Non-Governmental Organization which will be responsible for establishing vocational skills training centers in the country.
PF Secretary General Wynter Kabimba says the training centers will be established in each province by the end of this year. Mr Kabimba adds that the programme will continue up to 2013 with the establishment of centers in each district.
This is aimed at tackling unemployment in the country. He was speaking at a party consultative meeting in Chipata, Eastern Province on Sunday.
And PF has come out in full support of President Michael Sata’s reorganization of ministries. PF Secretary General Wynter Kabimba said that the Ministry of Tourism and Arts is a response to the increasing need for the country to benefit from a growing demand for the arts and tourism. He is confident that many young and talented people will benefit from the Tourism and arts.
The PF Secretary General said the President’s move is in line with the party’s ability to align its plans, policies and decisions to the ever-changing global situations.
[pullquote]The PF Secretary General said the President’s move is in line with the party’s ability to align its plans, policies and decisions to the ever-changing global situations.[/pullquote]
He said the nation was aware that the declining fortunes of the United Party for National Development (UPND) were as a result of the party’s failure to adapt to the changing environment by adopting better strategies and actions in imaging itself with the people.
He said the PF was a visionary party that had foreseen the huge economic benefits that would result from a well-managed and coordinated arts sector and the promotion of indigenous works of art, which should excel internationally.
“Anybody with some elementary knowledge about planning will be aware that a good plan is not static but should be adaptable enough to respond to the changes in the context and environment in which it is set.
“Of course we do not expect the UPND to understand this given their structural failure to adapt as a political party,” he said.
And Mr Kabimba has warned of expulsion provincial and district party officials who are in the habit of suspending party members without consulting. Speaking when he addressed party officials from all the nine districts of Eastern Province in Chipata this afternoon, Mr. Kabimba said he will not tolerate a situation where a few members of some committees agree to suspend individuals without the blessings of the entire party organs in districts and provinces.
The PF Secretary General said decisions to suspend members should be done collectively by all members of the district and provincial committees. He advised the party officials to follow laid down procedures when dealing with disciplinary issues.
And Mr. Kabimba has advised party officials to apply reformatory measures on erring members saying suspensions should be the last resort. He stated that it would be unfair to suspend old members of the party on small issues in order to give positions to new members.
Mr. Kabimba noted that some members of the party in Eastern Province want to give positions to new members and deny the people who worked hard for the PF when it was in the opposition. “There are people that worked hard for the party who should be respected because they are the ones that led to the PF’s victory in the 2011election,” he said.
The PF Secretary General also observed that party membership has remained low due to disunity in the Eastern Province. He advised party leaders to desist from unnecessary bickering and gossip, saying this leads to disunity and stated that they should lead by example.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kabimba has advised party officials in the province to ensure that all party members abide by the rules and regulations of the party saying they should not be selective in applying disciplinary measures.
“The rules apply to all members and as such no one should be seen to be above others,” he said. He cautioned the members against defying decisions by the Central Committee as it is the prime organ of the party stating that all members should follow its decisions.
He stated that the Central Committee will not allow a situation where party provincial or district leaders defy its decisions.
And speaking at the same occasion, PF Eastern Province Chairperson Lucas Phiri said the number of PF civic leaders in the province has increased due to hard work by the party.
He noted that according to records, the number of councillors has increased from four to eleven after the recent local government by-elections in Chadiza, Petauke, Vubwi and Lundazi districts.
Choma Central UPND Member of Parliament Cornelius Mweetwa says the country is experiencing difficulties because the head of state, President Michael Sata has an attitude of not wanting to work with the opposition.
Mweetwa, who is also UPND deputy spokesperson, says remarks made by the head of state during the campaigns for the recently held by elections in Livingstone that he can never listen to any opposition parliamentarian in the province, is unfortunate.
Speaking to QFM, Mweetwa says any head of state must understand that the democratic mandate of the opposition is to provide credible checks and balances.
He says it is sad that president Sata has decided to not to work with UPND parliamentarians adding that by so doing, he is disadvantaging but the people they represent.
Mweetwa states that it is government’s responsibility to initiate policies but notes that it needs to be realized that the same policies require the support of the opposition.
Governance activist Bonny Tembo has said that the move by the opposition MMD to call back its members of parliament serving in the PF government is welcome as it will strengthen democracy.
Mr. Tembo, who is former Anti Voter Apathy Project (AVAP) executive director, said that constitutionally, any member of parliament can be appointed to serve as a minister but noted that politically, it undermines the opposition.
Mr. Tembo told QFM that it is difficult for the appointed MPs from the opposition to serve two masters without friction.
He noted that the MMD had set precedence when opposition MPs were appointed as ministers during the reign of late Patrick Mwanawasa, of which the affected opposition parties then, the UNIP and Heritage party took it as a ploy for the MMD to weaken the opposition.
Mr. Tembo stated that the MMD now in opposition has known the evil of appointing opposition MPs and have realized that the party is increasingly losing numbers in parliament.
Mr. Tembo said that the ruling patriotic front has a lot of backbencher members of parliament who can replace the MMD ministers.
However, Pezzy Kudakwashe reports that intentions, by MMD, to expel party MPs serving in the PF government, in deputy minister positions, are bad and retard the growth of democracy.
Zambia Rainbow Coalition President, Cleophas Phiri, said Dr Mumba’s move risked weakening and dividing the country’s largest opposition political party.
Mr Phiri also pointed out that, although MMD was the largest political movement in Zambia, it currently does not have the financial capability to handle nine unnecessary by-elections adding that Dr Mumba’s expulsion intention, was a waste of the tax-payers money.
Mr Phiri was responding to a question on whether Dr Mumba was in line to threaten nine MPs with expulsion, for serving under the Patriotic Front government. He was speaking on Zambia Blog Talk Radio.
Mr Cleophas Phiri said while it made sense that Dr Mumba was trying to assert his authority on the party, he may be going at it the wrong way.
“Dr Mumba needs to understand the chemistry on which the MMD was formed, yes, MPs need to be loyal to the party but it is important to co-exist for the good of the nation”, said Mr Phiri.
He said appointing opposition MPs to serve in government was not new to Zambia adding that Mwanawasa was the first to appoint MPs outside the ruling party.
Mr Phiri said Dr Mumba was brought into the MMD under similar circumstances when late President Mwanawasa appointed him vice president while he was president of opposition National Citiizens Coalition.
Striker Paul Chibambo scored a brace on Sunday as Faz Division One North league leaders Lime Hotspurs beat Kitwe United at Garden Park Stadium in Kitwe.
Chibambo was on the score sheet in the 30th and 59th minutes to help Lime increase their tally to 38 points.
Parading experienced players, among them ex-internationals Clive Hachilensa and Willy Chinyama plus former Power Dynamos and Nchanga Rangers defender Mwape Chongo, Lime dominated the match from the first minute with Chibambo regularly terrorising the Levy “Successor” Makungu led Kitwe backline.
The Buchi Boys had a chance to equalise after 57 minutes but veteran striker Chisala Mwandama failed to tap in an inviting cross from left wing.
Kitwe’s failure convert chances has confirmed the club’s technical bench’s opposition to the recent sale of striker Fregon Kaunda to Nkana.
Division 1 North Results
Bresmar United 1- Kansanshi Dynamos 1
Mufulira Wanderers 2- Police Blue Eagles 0
Mumbwa Medics 0- Mufulira Blackpool 0
Chambishi 0- Young Forest 0
Zesco Luapula 1- Kalulushi Modern Stars 2
Prison Leopards 0- Ndola United 2
Kalewa 1- Chindwin 1
Kitwe United 0- Lime Hotspurs 2
Nkwiza 2- Mining Rangers 1
KAMPALA, Sunday – Zambia’s Mohammed Essa has won the Shell Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally with a resounding three minutes one second lead after dominating the three-day race from start to finish.
The win gives Essa a 55-point lead in the FIA African Rally Championship (ARC) race having increased his season tally to 89 points against Rwandan Giancarlo Davite’s 34 points.
Davite Rwandese leapfrogged to second position in the African contest by finishing fourth in the Pearl that ended with two local drivers driver Jas Mangat and Ronald Sebuguzi finishing second and third.
With three rallies left before the African season ends, Essa remains on firm ground for possible coronation as continental champion if he manages another good run at next month’s Kobil Rally of Tanzania in Dar-es-Salaam.
The 23-year-old Essa, who was co-driven by his Zimbabwean partner Greg Stead in a Madison/Puma Engery Subaru Impreza N12B, arrives in Lusaka on Monday aboard a Kenya Airways day flight.
THE Synangogue Church of all Nations (SCOAN) under Nigerian Prophet T.B Joshua in Partnership with Christ the King Ministry international Church yesterday donated 12 pockets of cement and K1 million to a Ndola family in whose house a motorist plunged.
Last month, a Bank of Zambia (BoZ) employee, Beiton Kunda, who was in the company of a woman, lost control of his Mercedez-Benz and plunged into a house belonging to a retiree Amos Mwaba on Kwacha road.
Mr Kunda, who died days later, was driving on Kalewa Road when his vehicle swirled over a furrow and knocked down a mango tree before lodging into the house around 03:00 hours.
King Ministry International senior pastor Charles Mumba and other members of his church presented the donation at Mr. Mwaba’s resident .
“We are here to feel part of you and to do the work of God because the Bible says if we love God, we are to do his work,” he said.
Mr. Mumba said the accident should not move Mr. Mwaba and his family away from God but rather bring them closer to Him because He was feeling the pain they were feeling.
The Mirror, a motivational book written by Prophet T. B Joshua and a DVD titled “Discover Your Purpose” were also part of the donation from SCOAN.
Mr. Mwaba said he was “short for words” because of the gesture and thanked SCOAN and Christ the King Ministry International for giving a helping hand.
“I am an admirer of T.B Joshua, I want to thank his ministry for helping us, he should continue with the good work and may God bless,” he said.
SCOAN in partnership with Christ the King Ministry international is engaged in community work in Nkwazi where they donate clothing, foodstuffs, they pay for school fees for the orphaned children and they have 150 people as monthly beneficiaries.
Railway Systems of Zambia -RSZ-says Zambia roads will continue being damaged by heavy duty trucks because it is currently more expensive for businesses to move cargo on rail than road.
Rail Systems of Zambia spokesperson, Charles Phiri says moving cargo on rail is more expensive than on road because rail operators have to pay fuel levy which is not used for rail maintenance.
He has told ZNBC news that government should consider refunding the fuel levy to railway systems of Zambia so that the money is used in maintaining railway infrastructure.
Mr Phiri also suggested that the government creates an infrastructure fund which will be used for the benefit of all forms of surface transport modes.
Meanwhile Mr Phiri says RSZ is losing up to two million dollars every year in running the passenger rail service.
He has explained that noted that the concession of the passenger service ended in 2010 and that currently RSZ is running the passenger line on government extensions.
First Republican President Dr Kenneth Kaunda has called for a United African Union if the spirit of Pan-Africanism which the organisation has stood for over the years is to be kept alive. Dr Kaunda says the new generation of leaders on the continent should be united to advance the AU’s interests.
He was speaking in an interview with ZANIS on arrival on Saturday night at Bole International airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Dr Kaunda is in Addis Ababa at the invitation of the Forum for Former African heads of state and government, commonly known as the African forum.
Dr Kaunda says the AU needs to ensure unity and solidarity to make the organisation stronger. He was received at Bole international Airport by Foreign Affairs Minister Given Lubinda, Commerce, Trade and Industry Bob Sichinga, Zambia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia Francis Simenda and some senior government officials.
Dr Kaunda will on Sunday witness the Official opening of the 19th AU summit in Addis Ababa Ethiopia.
Meanwhile,the 19th African Union summit officially opened today in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with AU Chairperson Boni Yayi warning of the continental body’s looming split if leaders again fail to elect the AU Commission Chairperson.
QFM’s David Bweupe that President Michael Sata is being represented at the summit by Foreign Affairs Minister Given Lubinda who will cast the Zambian vote when elections are held later this evening.
Speaking during the official opening of the 19th AU Summit of heads of State and Government, AU Chairperson and Benin President Boni Yayi reminded his fellow leaders to be weary of the challenges facing the continent especially in the area of leadership.
Mr Yayi said African leaders have no right this time around to fail to elect the AU Commission Chairperson and the eight Commissioners. He stated that the African people will put to test the ability of their leaders to elect a new commission.
President Yayi warned that another failure to elect the AU Commission Chairperson will split the continental body and tarnish its image. He urged the leaders gathered in the Ethiopian capital to put aside their individual interests as they elect the new AU commission.
A 33 year – old man of Mutindya Village of chief Mwenechifungwe in Isoka district is nursing serious wounds at Thendele Rural Health Centre after being attacked
by a hungry hyena.
Sources close to the victim have identified the man as Kennedy Singongo who was attacked on Monday night. The source narrated to ZANIS that Singongo met his fate while rescuing his cattle in the kraal when he was ambushed and attacked by the hyena.
The sources further revealed that the hyena attacked Mr. Singongo by biting his right hand in which he had carried a weapon for defence. And health authorities have confirmed receiving the patient suspected to have been bitten by a hyena.
Hyenas are reportedly on a rampage attacking cattle and human beings in the area and the community have since called on the Zambia WildLife Authority (ZAWA) to rush to Mwenechifungwe’s area to assist in cropping the beasts.
And in another development, six teachers of Kapendamadji basic school have threatened to flee the school after experiencing a bizarre situation. Teachers who sort anonymity said that they are being bombarded with flying stones each time they want to enter a class room to teach.
They claimed that stones coming from invisible stone throwers come from every direction hitting the roofs forcing the teachers to abandon classes. Teachers suspect the act to be connected to witch craft.
The victims are now appealing to district education officials to transfer them or they will flee Kapendamaji basic school. The mysterious happening has been going on for over three weeks now.
Scrat’s nutty pursuit of the cursed acorn, which he’s been after since the dawn of time, has world-changing consequences – a continental cataclysm that triggers the greatest adventure of all for Manny, Diego and Sid. In the wake of these upheavals, Sid reunites with his cantankerous Granny, and the herd encounters a ragtag menagerie of seafaring pirates determined to stop them from returning home.
PROS
Excellent animation
Interesting new characters
CONS
Predictable story line
Childish humor
The addition of Drake and Nicki Minaj to the cast was just a ploy to get more young people to buy tickets for the movie ,as their characters were added nothing to the story
FAVORITE QUOTES
Manny: Oh, I know what you’ve got. The L word.
Sid: Yeah, leprosy.
Manny: No, its four letters, starts with L and ends with E.
Sid: Oh yeah, lice!
Manny: No!
Peaches: So tell me when exactly will I be allowed to hang out with boys?
Manny: When I’m dead, plus three days, just to make sure I’m dead.
CONCLUSION
Ice Age 4 is a nice feel good movie for the whole family ,the kids will enjoy it the most .The bad thing is the magic that made Ice Age 1 and 2 great has been lost . The 3 and 4 installments have been lackluster. Hopefully there will not be a part 5.
