LUSAKA, 5thJuly, 2013—We wish to dismiss the story that appeared in the Zambia Daily Mail edition of today, Friday, 5th July, 2013, under the headline “RB plots against Nevers Mumba” with the contempt it deserves.
To begin with, we would like to place on record our admiration for the professionalism that nearly all journalists at the Daily Mail continue to exhibit in their pursuit of fair and balanced reporting.
There is no fairness, however, in the story that has alleged that His Excellency Rupiah Bwezani Banda, the Fourth President of the Republic of Zambia, is working with Solwezi member of Parliament Lucky Mulusa to replace opposition Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) president Nevers Mumba.
While the story alleges that there is “an elaborate plan to oust” Dr Mumba, there is no demonstration of how that plan is to be carried out and how much Mr Banda is involved.
Mr Banda should, therefore, not be drawn into a matter that is entirely an MMD’s or, as MMD deputy national secretary Chembe Nyangu has stated, the work of those “outside the party”.
The former president has been in retirement since he voluntarily relinquished the MMD presidency early last year and, although he is constitutionally eligible to run for the republican presidency again, has decided to devote his time to challenges at continental level.
In an effort to give credence to the Daily Mail story, the anonymous author even goes further to say an effort was made to phone the former president whose phone “went unanswered” and that his aides “did not pick up calls”.
We wish to state that at no time yesterday was President Banda or any of his assistants called by the Daily Mail regarding any story.
Our humble advice is that if there are any journalists at the Daily Mail who would like to justify their appointments, there are better ways of doing that than by thriving on concoctions that do not add value to the journalism profession.
We also take this opportunity to state that President Banda is a firm believer in constitutionalism, which is why he agrees with MMD deputy national secretary Mr Chembe Nyangu’s statement that a party convention is the best platform for replacing political party leaders
Zambia has regrouped in Lusaka to prepare for the COSAFA Cup that gets underway on Saturday.
The 20-member home based squad entered camp on Friday at the FAZ Technical Centre in Lusaka.
Herve Renard’s team will shift camp to Kitwe next week on Wednesday ahead of their opener- a quarterfinal clash against Mozambique at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe.
Zambia are targeting fourth COSAFA Cup title.
The team won the inaugural tournament in 1997.
Team:
Goalkeepers: Daniel Munyau (Red Arrows), Davy Kaumbwa (Green Buffaloes)
Defenders: Jimmy Chisenga, Bronson Chama (Both Red Arrows), Chris Munthali (Nkana), Kabaso Chongo (Konkola Mine Police), Kondwani Mtonga (Zesco United), Fackson Kapumbu (Zanaco)
Midfielders: Sydney Kalume (Nkana), Micheck Chaila (Konkola Blades), Shadreck Malambo, Bruce Musakanya (Both Red Arrows),Julius Situmbeko, Mukuka Mulenga (Both Power Dynamos)
Forwards: Stanely Nshimbi (Red Arrows), Brian Chewe (Konkola Blades), Alex Ngonga, Bornwell Mwape (Both Nchanga Rangers), Moses Phiri (Zanaco)
ZICTA has instituted criminal proceedings against at all the three mobile phone service providers namely Airtel, MTN Zambia and ZAMTEL for failure to meet minimum standards of quality of service.
ZICTA has resolved to take remedial measures relating to enforcement of quality of service in order to protect public interest in pursuant of the information and Communication Technologies Act No. 15 of 2009.
The deteriorating levels of Quality of Service has made communication difficult and resulted in increased public outcry and negative impact on ease of doing business in Zambia.
Under the published Quality of Service Guidelines, ZICTA has an option to invoke either administrative or criminal sanctions arising from the failure to adhere to the set parameters relating to quality of service.
In line with the foregoing, the Board of the Authority, on June 27, 2013 authorized Management’s decision to prosecute all the three mobile service providers for offering poor quality of service to the public.
The Authority, on July 4, 2013, instituted criminal proceedings against the mobile service providers on two counts of failure to meet minimum standards of quantity of service as specified and published by the Authority contrary to Section 67 of the ICT Act and one count of failure to comply with a provision of the Quality of Service Guidelines issued by the Authority contrary to Section 79(1) of the ICT Act respectively.
This is according to a statement issued by ZICTA Public Relations Manager Ngabo Nankonde.
1.Workers making mortar for laying tiles on shop corridors along Mosi-Oa-Tunya road in Livingstone ahead of the UNWTO general conference.
2.Tourists viewing the Victoria Falls at the Knife Bridge
3.Tour guides at the Knife Bridge on the Zambia Zimbabwe border
4.Taxi drvers wait for clients at a parkng lot in Victoria Falls Town
5.Some Livingstone residents make their way past one of the buildings being renovated ahead of the hosting of the UNWTO general conference
6.A worker fixing tiles on shop corridors along Mosi-Oa-Tunya road ahead of the UNWTO general conference in Livingstone
7.Curios and other artistic works on sale at the Knife Bridge in Livingstone
8.Motorists make their way along Mosi-Oa-Tunya road, the man highway in Livingstone. The stretch has been renovated ahead of the UNWTO general conference in August 2013
9.One of the hospitality and toursm business firms in Victoria Falls Town
10.One of the posters introducing visitors to Zimbabwe from the Zambian side.
11.A tourst bunjee jumps at the Knife Bridge
12.A tourist about to bunjee jump at the Knife Bridge
13.A taxi crossing the Knife Bridge at the Zambia Zimbabwe border
14.A taxi crossing the Knife Bridge at the Zambia Zimbabwe border.
15.A street vendor who trades on juces waits for customers at her selling point in Livingstone
16.A road paving machine makes its way along Mosi-Oa-Tunya road in Livingstone. Some roads in the city have been mended ahead of the UNWTO general conference
17.A raiinbow emerges at the boling point, one of the deepest point on the Victoria Falls
18.A motorist makes his way along the Zambia Zimbabwe road near the knfe bridge
19.A motorist drives along the main road in Victora Falls Town where works are progressing for the hosting of the UNWTO general conference
20.A monkey captured along the Zambian stretch leading to Victoria Falls Town. Monkeys are among the common wild animals along the Zambezi river
21.A couple make their way along the Zambia stretch leading to Victoria Falls town in Zimbabwe. This is at the point where mist from the Falls drizzles to the road side
22.A construction worker paving the road leading to Victoria Falls town
23.A Chinese lodge owner with his Zambia workers making preparatory works for the hosting of the UNWTO general conference in Livingstone
24.A Chinese lodge owner coaching his Zambia workers who are making preparatory works for the hosting of the UNWTO general conference in Livingstone
25.A Chinese architect takes measurements at the ste where a modern intercity bus terminus is being erected at of the UNWTO general conference in Livingstone
26.A Chinese architect takes measurements at the ste where a modern intercity bus terminus is being erected at of the UNWTO general conference in Livingstone.
Minister of Tourism and Arts Sylvia Masebo has called on Mozambican investors to consider investing in Zambia’s various tourism sites dotted around the country.
Ms. Masebo said Zambia has investment sites in the Northern circuit such as the Kasaba Bay which is one of the last sites that the then late Mozambican President Samora Machel visited during his meeting with Zambia’s first President Kenneth Kaunda.
She said Zambia and Mozambique should setup a technical team to review and make adjustments to the 2010 tourism cooperation agreement which has various cooperation and mutual interest in tourism.
This is contained in a press statement released to the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in Lusaka by Ministry of Tourism and Arts Regional Tourism Development Coordinator, Twaambo Muzyamba.
Mrs. Masebo was speaking when she met her Mozambican counterpart, Carvalho Muaria in Maputo yesterday.The meeting was called to discuss among many other issues, joint marketing, development of cross border tourism and harmonisation of classification and standardisation.Others are exchange of information and facilitation of tour operators among other areas of mutual interest.
Mrs. Masebo urged officers from both countries to setup a technical team that will review the agreement so that it can be signed during the forthcoming 20th session of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) general assembly to be co-hosted by Zambia and Zimbabwe in August, 2013.
She has since extended an invitation to her Mozambican counterpart, Carvalho Muaria to attend the forthcoming second Zambia International Investment Forum (ZIIF) which will be held in Zambia’s tourist capital, Livingstone on 21st and 22nd August, 2013.
Mrs. Masebo was accompanied to the meeting by Zambia High Commissioner to Mozambique, Japhen Mwakalombe and other senior embassy staff.
The opposition MMD says it will continue with its campaigns in the Kafulafuta parliamentary by-election despite its candidate Evelyn Mwanawasa withdrawing from the race on health grounds.
MMD Deputy National Secretary Chembe Nyangu said since the name is already on the ballot paper, the party will continue with its campaigns.
According to the Electoral law, Ms Mwanawasa’s name will remain on the ballot paper for election despite her withdrawal from the race.
Mr.Nyangu said the party will continue campaigning so that it not seen to be losing ground in Kafulafuta.
He added that the former ruling party has no plans of forming alliance with any political party but will concentrate on preparing for the 2016 general elections.
Mr. Nyangu has since appealed to party members in Kafulafuta to continue mobilizing the party and ensure that the confidence people have in the party is not lost.
Elina Nyirenda(UNIP) Parliamentary candidate for Chipata central seat.Profession:Researcher
UNIP parliamentary candidate Elina Nyirenda has prioritized her campaigns by urging electorate of Chipata Central Constituency to vote her as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the empowerment of women and youths who were the key to national development.
In an interview in Chipata yesterday during her continued campaigns for the July 25th 2013 polls,Ms Nyirenda said being an MP was not just about getting a seat in parliament but making a difference once and contributing positively towards the livelihood of those being represented.
The 20 year –old researcher said Chipata Central was a constituency that needed an MP who would focus on empowering the women and the youths.
“An MP that will think of educating the youths with skills that will give them business ideas and earn them an income since there are no jobs being provided for the youths,” she said.
Ms Nyirenda said the women of Chipata Central have also been let down by the previous MPs.She explained that according to UNIP’s policy for women was to see to it that women attain economic empowerment as they were the pillars of homes.
“It will, therefore, be my obligation as MP to introduce income generating initiatives that will help economically empower women and also to strengthen some of the initiatives already existing,”she said.
She said it was unacceptable for women to be allowed to work in the unhealthy environments they work in various markets where they were forced to share one toilet.
She cited markets like Kapata and Magazine which she said had piles and piles of uncollected garbage.
Ms Nyirenda said she was contesting the Chipata Central by-elections because she wanted a change from the electorate.
Others contesting the Chipata Central seat are Patriotic Front(PF)’s Lameck Mangani, MMD’s Reuben Mtolo Phiri, National Restoration Party(NAREP)’s Kazembe Daka and Penlope Nkunika an independent candidate.
By Press time, Vice President Dr Gu Scot was expected in Chipata for as series of political rallies in drumming up support for Mr Mangani.
Father Bwalya is absolutely right, Zambians should start arming themselves against PF terrorists, but not with guns, spears, knobkerries, and machetes; as he seems to suggest. An eye for an eye will be catastrophic. We already have too many a beloved lost to disease and accidents. Besides, President Michael Sata is at an overwhelming advantage. All of us, proponents of democracy, should arm ourselves with courage, intelligence, alertness, tact, and strategy. We need to chart a non-violent course of action to stop President Sata’s violent party and save him a ticket to the ACJ at The Hague. Like other leaders who get drunk with power he, and those who support the unruly PF cadres, may not fully understand the consequences of their atrocities.
File:President Michael Sata in ceremonial ZAF Uniform at KK international airport before he flew into Livingstone to commission ZAF Officers.Picture by Eddie Mwanaleza Presidential photographer
The Pyromaniac-arsonist of democracy
Are we so blind we can’t see the telltale signs of dictatorship? How can we be so gullible as to allow this to happen right before our eyes? Do we not care for our country? How can we not see that we are fast getting back to the Kaunda days—to something worse? If there is a president capable of engulfing the country into an inferno, we have him at State House. Call KK a demi-god, FTJ a thief, Mwanawasa a cabbage, and Banda a fraud, if you like; it is proper to call Sata a pyromaniac—an arsonist of democracy. He, alone, is responsible for the violent climate we find ourselves in.
President Sata’s tolerance for violence can be attributed to who is as a person; boorish, intimidating, terrorizing, impolite, indecorous, and unlettered. Throughout his political career, he has shown that respect for fellow humans means nothing to him. He applies incendiary and confrontational rhetoric as a tool of suppression and as a way to foment violence. It is not surprising that today he is presiding over the most violent ruling party in the history of our nation.
As president, he is using violence for six major motives:
as an intimidation apparatus;
as a demonstration of toughness;
as defense of his acquired power;
as a device for dominance;
as a concealment of his fractured past;
and as a desire for eternal rule.
It is the president’s harsh rhetoric that is inflaming violent attitudes in the PF cadres, especially those inclined to behave violently in life. Let me say this, the PF hooligans who attacked and poured Chibuku (opaque beer) on Father Frank Bwalya in a failed effort to silence him, and those who stormed Bible Gospel Outreach Church of Africa in Matero and attacked members of religious and civil society organizations are some of the most dangerous criminals in our land. They are terrorists. They have a heart and eyes of a murderer. Let’s be clear here: If a PF district leader arms bloodthirsty thugs with butcher knives, pangas, machetes, and stones, and sets them on unarmed people, his intention is to commit murder. How else can such ruthless people use such lethal implements?
Refer to them as terrorists not militia
Please do not refer to PF terrorists as members of a “militia.” You are giving them a feel of self-importance. They are bands of unstructured and loose-knitted robotic thugs who are performing heinous crimes under orders from their district leaders with the blessing of the president. We call such people “terrorists,” and those who breed them “terrorist leaders.”
A “militia,” is a fighting force that comprises citizens of a nation that can be called to war as supplementary. In Zambia, the National Service is a militia. A militia is meant to protect a community, its territory, and laws. However, the term was tainted by Adolf Hitler and that’s perhaps why Father Bwalya and other leaders of the opposition are giving it a negative connotation to qualify the violent conduct of the president and his PF terrorists.
At the height of his reign, Adolf Hitler controlled his party’s 500,000 strong “Brown shirts” militia that used brutal violence in city streets. They were personally loyal to him and used intimidation and fear to enforce his will. His lieutenants at national, district, and branch levels unleashed the Brown Shirts on those with opposing views. They were beaten, many maimed, and some died.
Copying Hitlers Brown shirts
After WWII, Hitler’s type of militia was adopted by dictators in East Europe, the Arab world, Asia, and South America. In Africa, totalitarian dictators such as Gaddafi (Libya), Mobutu (Zaire), Sekou Toure (Guinea), Charles Taylor (Liberia), Jean-Bedel Bokassa (Central African Republic), and Kamuzu Banda (Malawi) created their own “Brown Shirts” and committed unnecessary atrocities, and forced countless into exile. Although not to a large extent, our very own KK also created the “UNIP Youth League” led by people like William “Tekere” Banda, who beat up opponents like Simon Kapwepwe.
Sata is doing the exact same thing. He is unleashing his “Brown Shirts” on his opponents to enforce a code of silence. He feels no remorse for people who attempt to check or challenge his power. The more the opposition is harassed and hounded the better. It is a tactic dictators use to bring the entire country under their whim. Surrounded by some of the most violent people, Sata is quickly becoming despotic and vain. Today, the man who assumed power on the ladder of free speech and a democratic vote has become entrenched and impregnable, a clear indication that he craves for sole and absolute power.
A Non violent Strategy of preserving Zambia’s democracy
The question is; how do we stop him from turning our country into a fragile state? How do we prevent a return to the Kaunda days? Is it possible to block Sata from becoming a tyrant without bloodshed? Yes, it is, and yes, we can. With nerve, personal sacrifice, good strategy, and organization skills, we can slow down his momentum and confine him to the presidential two-term mandate. We can, only if we devise a unitary non-violent strategy that shows ways of preserving democracy and impairing any dictatorial structures that may emerge out of Sata’s bag of tricks.
There are many ways to slow him down, or like they say, many ways to skin a cat.
A communique denouncing Sata’s tolerance to violence
First, all opposition parties, in concert with religious leaders, human rights groups, student organizations, and democratic institutions must convene a meeting and produce a communique strongly denouncing President Sata for condoning violence and down-playing the magnitude and destructive extent of his actions. Opposition leaders must inform the president that they are aware that he is using violence to intimidate the populace into acquiescence. They must remind him that political violence is the root cause of genocide; and that he must learn from all those leaders who, in the past, have engaged in genocidal activities; they are either in prison or have perished. In the same vein they must caution him that his tactics of opposition disintegration could lead to more violence, even war.
Walk for Peace in Lusaka and Copperbelt
Second, the opposition must go after his weaknesses. Let me emphasize; President Sata is not immortal. He did not fall from the sky. He is one of us. The difference is that he is our leader. We must respect him, but not fear or worship him. We must also be very careful because we all know him to be unpredictable and volatile. We either have a genius or a fraud on our hands. It has been the opinion of many people, including Fred Mmembe, that he is the latter. What is undisputed though is that Sata supports violence; that he is full of empty promises; he’s nepotistic; and he’s a divider. These are his weaknesses.
Adept progressives and outspoken opponents, such as Hakainde Hichilema, Nevers Mumba, Father Frank Bwalya, Elias Chipimo Jr, Edith Nawakwi, Muhabi Lungu, Mike Mulongoti, George Mpombo, and all those who know him must aggravate these weak points. They must bury their differences and work together. They must communicate ideas, news, and any resistance maneuvers. They must organize a walk for peace in Lusaka and the Copperbelt under the theme “Peace for All.” Using the appeal theme “If you are for peace join us,” they should call upon all peace-loving Zambians to join in the march.
Use of technology,social media to expose PF terrorists
In the event PF terrorists launch an attack, use cell-phones and cameras to take pictures, print them and ask those attacked (victims) and the public to identify their attackers. Let victims open dockets at the nearest police station. Have the attackers arrested NOT as PF cadres, but in their personal capacities. Take them to court and give it good press coverage. If the police refuse to act, encourage the victims to sue their attackers in civil courts, and provide them with good lawyers. Under pressure the attackers are likely to reveal their commanders. If they name a PF District Chairman, sue him in his individual capacity and label, him or her, a dangerous criminal, and send him to jail or make him pay dearly.
Resistance by the public
By staging peaceful marches, you are placing resistance of authoritarian rule directly in hands of the public—mainly the poor. The poor are the powerful. All the PF terrorists running around hacking people are doing so not because they love Sata, but because they are expecting rewards. Start targeting them and woo them to your side. How? Sata has already given the opposition an arsenal, that of removal of subsidies. Don’t lose sight of this crucial misstep. Adopt a noncooperation stance and openly counter PF leaders’ utterances on the matter and convince the poor that removal of subsidies will kill them. Release hundreds of your members to simply whisper “UNIP ya bwela” to their neighbors. Keep telling them PF is Sata’s UNIP.
Don’t give up on Black Friday
Don’t give up on “Black Friday.” The Matero attack has exposed the PF as a violent party. Believe me the incident has rebounded against the president and is causing dissention. There are high-ranking peace-loving PF members who hate to be associated with any form of violence. They are beginning to squirm. Most of all, the Matero attack has fomented anger and support among the public. You can be rest assured you have a few changed hearts.
Music
Another effective method is music. Petersen and Pilato have provided “Bufi,” the ideal song for reaching the poor. Identify some of the best rappers and singers in the country and make them compose lyrics that tell the empty promises of the incumbent and use them as rallying anthems piped through loudspeakers. Also, play them in cars, mini buses, bars, and restaurants.
There other ways. But it must be known that rattling King Cobra is not an easy task. It will require a major transformation from a constellation of parties and groups to a unified force. To a man of Sata’s clout, press releases, radio interviews, and inner-party protests are impotent gestures. You need a much bigger and stronger wave to sweep him away.
GOVERNMENT will not condone the laying-off of workers by companies experiencing operational difficulties, Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda has warned.
Mr Shamenda said companies operating in Zambia should not rush to retrench workers but find alternative means of addressing teething problems.
Mr Shamenda said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that Government was concerned with recent developments, where some companies were opting to reduce the workforce as a solution to addressing various operational challenges.
Mr Shamenda was commenting following reports that Nokia Siemens Networks under Airtel, was planning to reduce its labour, without forwarding communication to the Ministry of Labour over such intentions.
“Government is trying to create employment for its people and we will not condone any company that opts to retrench workers, whenever they are experiencing problems. In this case it will not be correct for Nokia Networks to start considering reducing its labour.
“I have said it before and I will repeat, my doors are open, we can sit together and discuss any problems that they are facing, so that we avoid retrenchments. Companies should stop entertaining the idea of labour-cuts. We are not going to accept unnecessary job losses, we should be talking about job creation,” he said.
Concerned Nokia Siemens employees revealed that, management had decided laying-off workers after its decision to relocate operations to India.
The affected workers appealed to Government to intervene in the matter.
“We write to the Government on the pending retrenchments at Nokia Siemens Networks (Airtel). We wish to express our displeasure and concern on happenings at Nokia Siemens and earnestly appeal to the Government to intervene and stop pending retrenchments,” read the letter of complaint.
The workers speaking on condition of anonymity said once the relocation of operations to India was fulfilled, local jobs would be replaced in that country.
The workers said the decision to set up a hub in India was unjustified as this could be done in Zambia and that the hub could be set up in Africa to handle all Airtel operations around the continent.
“It should also be noted that Airtel has outsourced many of its functions to not less than five sub-companies which has resulted in some cases casualisation, diminishing of conditions of service and reduced quality of employment. The trend has to be monitored and checked since a Zambian worker is at the mercy of these companies,” the workers said.
A civil society organisation has noted with disappointment the statement attributed to Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba as having said that Members of Parliament should seek police clearance whenever they wanted to visit their constituencies.
Operation Young Vote Executive Director Guess Nyirenda said the organisation is appalled with the statement if it is true as Zambia is a democratic state.
Mr Nyirenda said the statement is misguiding and reflects wrong character for Mr Kabimba who holds an influential position not only of Justice Minister but also a Secretary General for the ruling Patriotic Front.
He told ZANIS today that the position of Secretary General is supposed to be an icon and a beacon of political maturity and co-existence in a democratic dispensation like Zambia.
He noted that Zambia is a democratic country, which should be governed on the strong principles of democracy.
Mr Nyirenda further advised the police and other institutions of governance in the country to desist from being used in political attacks.
Last week, some section of the media carried a story saying Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba said parliamentarians should seek permission from police to hold meetings with their electorates in their constituencies.
Mr Kabimba who was then, acting Home Affairs Minister said the move was a safety measure aimed at protecting the MPs.
Information and Broadcasting Deputy Minister, Mwansa Kapeya (c)
Government has advised media houses to exercise the highest level of ethical and professional standard in their reporting.
Information and Broadcasting Deputy Minister Mwansa Kapeya said media house should avoid exaggerating issues out of context but stick to journalism tenets of truthfulness, accuracy, fairness and balance in their reporting.
In a statement to ZANIS Mr Kapeya said exaggerating issues out of context is not only unprofessional but also unacceptable.
He explained that the advice stems from the headline in today’s Daily Nation Newspaper that reads ”Sata has resigned?”, saying the story did not warrant such a sensational headline.
Mr Kapeya stated that the headline was meant to misinform, mislead and alarm the nation as it was totally unconnected to the body of the story.
He observed that such misleading, alarming, and unsubstantiated headlines have become common in the named tabloid, saying it is an apparent ploy to attract unsuspecting members of the public to buy the paper.
The Deputy Minister charged that the action is unprofessional and tantamount to obtaining money by false pretence.
Mr Kapeya called on media bodies like the Press Association of Zambia (PAZA) and Media Institute for Eastern and Southern Africa (MISA) to intensify their campaigns for professionalism in the media, adding that government will remain committed to providing a conducive environment for a free independent media to flourish in the country.
The Zambia National Teachers Union (ZNUT) has threatened to take strike action if government does not honour this year’s collective agreement for improved conditions of service for its members.
ZNUT President Henry Kapenda expressed concern that some conditions of service which should have been effected in June this year were still pending and this raised concerns on whether salary increments would take effect by September this year.
“Come September, if ZNUT members do not get their salary increments, we will call for a nationwide strike,” he said.
Mr Kapenda said this today during the ZNUT 10th Quadrennial Conference at New Fairmount hotel in Livingstone.
He further said ZNUT members had the right to belong to social or political calls of their choices but the union does not subscribe to any political or social dispensation.
“Having said that, where things are wrong we shall condemn especially if we are not listened to and consulted, like the recent issue of removal of allowances for deserving teachers,” he said.
Mr Kapenda highlighted some of the threats ZNUT was facing as inconsistent statements from government on issues of national interest, lack of consultation on policy matters and delays to assent to the Education Bill among others.
However, Education Minister John Phiri who officially opened the conference, advised ZNUT to desist from taking any strike action as pupils and not government officials would suffer.
Dr Phiri said it was imperative for all teachers to focus on the well-being of pupils as government was aware of the challenges facing the education sector but remained committed to enhance the welfare of teachers.
“I know there is a lack of visible appreciation for teachers, schools are falling apart, teachers’ accommodation has not been a priority over the years but the PF government remains committed to enhancing the welfare of teachers,” he said.
He said the PF government was determined to move away from the disorder and mediocrity left by the MMD government during its tenure in office.
Dr Phiri said it was shameful for the nation to have a record of 345, 000 children enrolled in grade one, 200, 000 dropping out of school by grade nine and only 30, 000 getting tertiary education.
He however, stated that measures such as recruitment of 1000 early childhood education teachers, upgrading of basic schools to secondary school level and building of provincial universities among others were aimed at restoring sanity in the education sector.
Earlier, Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) President Leonard Hikaumba noted that the country faced a serious shortage of teachers which adversely affected the teacher-pupil ratio.
“It is common to find overcrowded classrooms being managed by a single teacher and this reduces the level of giving individual attention to pupils,” he said.
Mr Hikaumba reiterated that proper remuneration was an effective way of motivating teachers and called on government to prioritize paying allowances due to deserving teachers.
He also appealed to government to escalate opportunities for higher training for teachers in order for them to meet current demands of the teaching profession.
The ZNUT 10th National Quadrennial Conference of delegates is being held under the theme: “Promoting high quality education through a highly motivated professional teacher” and has representatives from Zambia, Botswana, Swaziland, South Africa, Norway and Ghana.
Former Petauke member of Parliament Dora Siliya may face a graft probe following pronouncements by the Supreme Court that her 2011 poll was marred by “massive corruption” and “illegalities”, Home Affairs minister Edgar Lungu has said.
Mr Lungu said history is “replete” with examples of former parliamentarians that have faced a graft probe based on court pronouncements after a petition.
“Many Zambians will recall that in early 2000 an MMD member of parliament for Mulobezi Mr Michael Mabenga lost not only a parliamentary seat but a ministerial post due to electoral malpractices and he was probed thereafter…that case is not different from the Siliya one,” Mr Lungu said.
Mr Lungu added: “the ball is in the court of the Director General of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and they must take the Supreme Court’s corruption pronouncements seriously and make their own investigation and see whether they have a case to take to the DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions)…the court pronouncement was not a mere announcement, it was a serious ruling.”
On June 28, the Supreme Court nullified Ms Siliya’s 2011 election citing “widespread” corruption allegations following a petition by PF losing candidate Leonard Banda.
Supreme Court judge Elizabeth Muyovwe in delivering the ruling said Ms Siliya engaged in “illegal” practices that affected poll results in her favour.
Mr Lungu’s statement on whether the ACC may or may not probe Ms Siliya comes on the back of MMD vice-president Michael Kaingu suggesting that Ms Siliya will recontest the seat.
Ms Siliya has not officially stated whether she will recontest the seat, neither has ACC stated whether they will open a docket for a possible Siliya probe.
GOVERNMENT has approved the sale of 49 per cent shares in Indeni Oil Refinery in Ndola, Mines, Energy and Water Development Minister, Christopher Yaluma has told Parliament.
The Government is in the same vein, looking for US$410 million for putting up a new refinery.
Mr Yaluma said this in Parliament in Lusaka yesterday when he issued a ministerial statement on the removal of subsidies on fuel.
“Cabinet approved the letting go of 49 per cent shares in Indeni to a private investor. The reason being to boost funding and find means of building a new refinery urgently,” he said.
He said the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) was already interacting with possible partners and that while this process was going-on Government was equally looking for the $410 million for the new plant.
On the removal of subsidies on fuel, the Minister said as a result of maintaining subsidies, Government’s capacity to collect the Strategic Reserve Fund was being compromised and resulted in the lack of progress in the construction of petroleum infrastructure around the country.
Mr Yaluma said a total of K2.4 billion was used to sustain the fuel subsidy from 2009 to 2013.
He said Government had a programme to construct provincial fuel storage depots as well as rehabilitation of the national storage facilities in Ndola and the Bitumen unit at the Indeni plant.
He said under the first phase of the programme, the Lusaka and Mpika storage depots as well as the rehabilitation of the Ndola fuel terminal were close to completion, while for the Solwezi project, the contractor would soon mobilise to the site.
The contractor would also mobilise to the Mongu site, in the course of this year, but this would be once the three-kilometer access road had been worked on to allow heavy duty vehicles carrying materials to reach the site.
Under the second phase of the programme, fuel depots would be constructed in the remaining provinces, namely Central, Eastern, Luapula, Northern and Southern Provinces.
Mr Yaluma said construction of fuel depots would reduce reliance on the Ndola fuel terminal, as well as improve efficiency in the distribution of fuel and that in the long run, the programme was expected to reduce logistical costs in the distribution of fuel and hence lead to lower fuel prices.
“Therefore, the removal of subsidies on fuel will ensure that the Strategic Reserves Fund has adequate resources to accelerate the completion of petroleum infrastructure development programme,” he said.
In addition to the removal of the five per cent import duty, Government had commenced the process of reflecting taxes on fuel in absolute values as opposed to the current system where taxes were reflected in percentage terms.
“This is also a way of mitigating the compounding effects of the increase in the price of fuel. This measure, however, requires an amendment to the law and will therefore be presented to this August House for consideration,” he said.
Additionally Cabinet had decided that there would be periodic fuel price reviews in line with economic fundamentals and reiterated that the removal of subsidies would in the long run be beneficial to all Zambians.
