All Public Service Vehicles will from mid next month be expected to have a new colour code unique per province in line with a new law announced by government.
The Statutory Instrument No 39 of 2013 of the Road Transport Act of 2002 has been amended to include new colour schemes per province.
Transport, Communications, Works and Supply Minister Yamfwa Mukanga said the reflective colours per province will address concerns of pirate taxis or cars that are used for the conveyance of passengers on hire as taxis without being licensed.
Mr. Mukanga told a media briefing that the new regulation identifies a public service vehicle by its colour code, registration mark, identify and fleet number.
The Transport, Communications, Works and Supply Minister said public service vehicles on the Copperbelt will be painted in Copper, Central Province will have Yellow and Eastern Province will have Emerald Green while Luapula and Lusaka provinces will adopt Sky Blue and Orange respectively.
Northern Province will have Red, Northwestern will take up Silver, Muchinga will have Wispy/Lime Green while Southern Province will have purple-Amethyst and Western Province will have Light Brown.
He said specific changes in the regulation include the need for all passenger public services to have a reflective ribbon fixed which shall be ten centimeters in width, pasted from the front to the rear on the mid-section of both sides of the vehicles.
Mr. Mukanga said taxis will be further fitted with an illuminating lamp and display designated tax fleet code ion the side door.
He said operators who own a fleet of more than 30 vehicles may apply to the Director of the Road transport and Safety Agency for a grace period to implement the new regulation.
Mr. Mukanga said luxury coaches will be exempted from the above provisions of colour specification.
He said the new regulations take effect from August 15 2013.
Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Kennedy Sakeni has said that Chief Justice Lombe Chibesakunda is in office legally. In a statement released to the media today in reaction to calls for the Chief Justice to resign, Mr Sakeni singled out United Party for National Development (UPND) President Hakainde Hichilema and described him as bitter and frustrated at his stalled political fortunes.
Mr Sakeni said that the Government, under the leadership of President Michael Sata re-affirms its commitment to the rule of law and the principle of separation of powers among the various institutions of the State in deepening and preserving the country’s democracy.
Below is the full statement.
Republic of Zambia Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services
STATEMENT BY HON. KENNEDY SAKENI, MP, MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING SERVICES AND CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON ON CALLS BY UPND LEADER HAKAINDE HICHILEMA FOR ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE TO RESIGN IN 15 DAYS TIME.
Government wishes to dismiss calls by opposition UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema for acting Chief Justice Lombe Chibesakunda to resign as reported in some sections of the media.
The calls are unnecessary and unfounded.
Mr Hichilema’s outbursts are not new. They are a manifestation of his deepening frustration and bitterness at his stalled political fortunes.
He is advised to address his personal and party leadership inadequacies instead of venting his anger on people and institutions such as the Judiciary.
The Acting Chief Justice is in office legally.
There is nothing that warrants her to resign in 15 days time as demanded by Mr Hichilema.
The Government, under the leadership of His Excellency President Michael Chilufya Sata re-affirms its commitment to the rule of law and the principle of separation of powers among the various institutions of the State in deepening and preserving the country’s democracy.
Hon. Kennedy Sakeni, MP MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING SERVICES AND CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON
FILE: Evelyn Hone College Students running away from Zambia Police riot squad
An unidentified student from UNZA was last night shot by police during student demonstrations over meal allowances.
UNZA students last night took to the streets to demonstrate against delays in paying their full meal allowances.
And Eyewitnesses have confirmed to Power FM News that a male student who is in his third year was shot at by police who used live ammunition to quell the demonstrations.
The student sustained a fracture affecting both the tibia and the fibula.
The student was due to undergo surgery this morning at UTH.
The student movement has strongly condemned the Zambia Police Service for using live ammunition against unarmed students within campus grounds.
But Lusaka Police Chief Joyce Kasosa disputed the account of from the eyewitnesses and maintained that no one was shot during the UNZA operation last night.
“We don’t use live arms when controlling the situation at least in Lusaka. We have a policy not to go to such situations with live ammunition. These reports are false and our records show that there were no casualties from last night’s operation,” she said.
UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has warned that he will personally picket the office of the Chief Justice if Lombe Chibesakunda does not resign her position within 15 days.
Mr Hichilema told a media briefing in Lusaka that Justice Chibesakunda does not qualify to hold the position of Acting Chief Justice.
He said the UPND will hold demonstrations at the Supreme Court to force Justice Chibesakunda to resign.
Mr Hichilema accused Justice Chibesakunda of allegedly failing to run the affairs of the judiciary.
He said the Acting Chief Justice has been harassing judiciary workers who are perceived to be sympathisers of the opposition.
Mr Hichilema said a number of workers in the judiciary viewed to be anti PF have been transferred to other stations.
He said Justice Chibesakunda should step down because even the parliamentary select committee refused to approve her name because she does not qualify.
CAIRO, EGYPT – JULY 03: Officers of the Egyptian Republican Guard celebrate at the gates of the Republican Guard headquarters in the suburb of Nasr City after a broadcast by the head of the Egyptian military confirming that they will temporarily be taking over from the country’s first democratically elected president Mohammed Morsi on July 3, 2013 in Cairo, Egypt. As unrest spreads throughout the country, at least 23 people were killed in Cairo on Tuesday and over 200 others were injured. It has been reported that the military has taken over the state television. (Photo by Ed Giles/Getty Images)
After days of mass demonstrations, Egypt’s military finally ousted Mohamed Morsy, the country’s first democratically elected president, in the country’s second revolution in two years.
Morsy, a Western-educated Islamist aligned with the Muslim Brotherhood movement, had rejected an ultimatum delivered by the military to resolve the crisis within 48 hours, creating a stand-off with the military, the most powerful institution in the country.
In a televised speech to the nation, Egypt’s top military officer, Gen. Abdel-Fatah El-Sisi, said Morsy “did not achieve the goals of the people” during his single year in office.
Egyptian reaction
The news has been met with jubilation and fireworks in Tahrir Square in central Cairo, where hundreds of thousands had turned out in recent days demanding Morsy leave office. Their complaints ranged from concerns about the Muslim Brotherhood’s Islamic agenda being brought to bear on the nation’s laws, to frustration with his government’s failure to address high unemployment, crime and living costs.
Sinking economy
Mr Morsi became Egypt’s first Islamist president on 30 June 2012, after winning an election considered free and fair following the 2011 revolution that toppled Hosni Mubarak.However his term in office was marred by constant political unrest and a sinking economy.The mass protests at the weekend that led to the army’s intervention were called by the Tamarod (Rebel) movement, in response to worsening social and economic conditions.But there has been a growing sense of discontent since last November, when Mr Morsi issued a controversial constitutional declaration granting himself extensive powers.His moves to entrench Islamic laws and concentrate power in the hands of the Muslim Brotherhood also alienated liberals and secularists.
Mulondwe Muzungu
The United Party for National Development (UPND) says it is sad that the Patriotic Front government cannot accept the wrongs they are doing.
UPND Chairperson for International Relations Mulondwe Muzungu has told QFM that even if the PF continue denying the wrongs they are committing, Zambian people are taking note of them.
Mr. Muzungu says it is clear that everything the PF is doing is being done for their own interest and not the poor Zambians who voted them.
He adds that it is sad that the PF has turned out to be a disappointment to the people’s expectations reneging on their campaign promises.
Mr. Muzungu reminds the PF not to forget that 2016 is just around the corner and that the same people that voted them into power can vote them out.
Acting Chief Justice Lombe Chibesakunda with her Deputy, Florence Mumba,
The Law Association of Zambia says it is wrong for Acting Chief Justice Lombe Chibesakunda to continue holding her position when she no longer qualifies to hold the highest judicial office.
Law Association of Zambia president James Banda Phiri has told Qfm news in an interview that his association is on record opposing Justice Chibesakunda’s continued occupancy of the Chief Justice’s office.
Mr. Banda adds that Justice Chibesakunda does not show concern over the many wrongs that have been going on in the judiciary from the time that she took up her position.
He notes that the general public will lose confidence in the judiciary, especially that Justice Chibesakunda is also related to people in the executive which makes it worse for her to execute her duties professionally.
Swala-Zambia Limited has announced a reserve of US$23 million for hydrocarbon oil exploration works in Southern, Northern and Eastern provinces of Zambia.
Swala-Zambia Limited board Chairman Charles Milupi said the company last week applied to the Ministry of Mines, Energy and Natural Resources for the exploration works and hoped that the bids will be considered expeditiously.
Mr. Milupi said the bids were for the permits known as block 31 for Lake Tanganyika, block 42 for oil exploration in Luangwa basin while block 44 is for Kariba basin exploration respectively.
He disclosed this development at a press briefing in Lusaka today.
Mr. Milupi also said Swala-Zambia Limited has set aside huge amounts money for training of manpower and for the entrepreneurship for exploration activities.
And speaking at the same briefing, Company Chief Operating Officer Davies Sikatali said the company was also expected to employee over 500 people during the exploration period.
Mr. Sikatali further revealed that over 2,500 employees were expected to be employed when the company kick starts full oil exploration in areas where oil products will be discovered.
He said Swala-Zambia Limited will complement government efforts in job creation and improving the economy of the country.
Fourth Republican President Rupiah Banda, has urged leaders to emulate Nelson Mandela’s reconciliatory and loving spirit if the world is to become a better place to live in.
The retired head of State has observed that the former South African president’s positive attitude after his release from prison in 1990 forestalled what could have become a crusade of vengeance against his jailers when he became that country’s first black president in 1994.
Speaking in an interview with Bloomberg News for a yet-to-be-published article, President Banda says the anti-apartheid icon, who spent 27 years in jail, was an embodiment of the qualities that any leader needed to help create a harmonious society.
He says in spite of all the suffering that Mr Mandela and his African National Congress colleagues had endured at the hands of the apartheid regime, he never allowed the bitterness of the past to cloud his judgment when he became South African president.
President Banda recalls that the 94-year-old Mr Mandela, who is in critical condition in a South African hospital, inspired many young politicians with his enduring and principled stand against apartheid at a time when he could have chosen fleeting comfort over hardship.
President Banda was then senior governor of the city of Lusaka when Mr Mandela visited the Zambian capital on 27th February, 1990 and was the first Zambian government official to shake hands with him as he alighted from a Zambia Airways plane to mark his first visit outside South Africa in 27 years.
It was also under Governor Banda’s watch that the Lusaka city council honoured Mr Mandela with the status of free man of the city, upon making Zambia his first foreign country of choice, 16 days after leaving Victor Verster prison.
President Banda is one of several retired and serving African presidents whom Bloomberg News writer Franz Wild has interviewed for the upcoming article.
FIRST Quantum Minerals (FQM) Copper Mine in Solwezi
FIRST Quantum Minerals Limited (FQM) says it expects to employ 2,000 people once it starts production at Kalumbila mine by the year 2015.
FQM Public Relations manager Godfrey Msiska says a further 500 more are expected to be employed with mining giant once the smelter is opened at Kansanshi mine in Solwezi by the year 2015.
Mr. Msiska said once Kalumbila mine goes into production, by 2015, the Copper mine is expected to increase output arising from the expansions at Kansanshi mine.
ZANIS reports that the FQM Public Relations manager said this in an interview at the just ended Zambia International Trade Fair (ZITF) whose theme was “Value Addition through Global Partnership” in Ndola.
“FQM is expected to ramp up its copper production to 700,000 mtpa by 2015 with the completion of Sentinel Mine and increased output arising from expansions at Kansanshi Mine” Mr. Msiska said.
He said FQM is the largest Copper producer in Africa and it has boosted the Zambian enterprise by spending more than US$ 1 billion through the supply of contracts to Zambian companies in sourcing goods and services from local suppliers and constructors.
He said FQM was optimistic that the 500 job earmarked for downsizing at the under- construction Sentinel mine can be saved.
He also revealed that FQM has acquired Inmet, a Canadian based mining company that produces Copper and Zinc.
Mr. Msiska highlighted that the mining company successfully completed the offer of 92.74 percent of Inmet shares tendered.
“As FQM we want to say that shareholders who tendered their shares between March 12 and April 1, 2013 and elected the cash alternative will receive $36.00 in cash and 1.6484 common shares,” he said.
He said Inmet has three wholly-owned mining operations in Cayeli (Turkey), Pyliasami (Finland) and Las Cruces (Spain).
Retired Supreme Court Judge Phillip Musonda has made an application in the Lusaka High Court for leave to apply for judicial review to refrain the Judge Chikopa Tribunal from proceeding to investigate him for alleged professional misconduct.
Judge Musonda’s defense lawyers say their client cannot appear before the tribunal because he has resigned from judicial service. Judge Musonda also wants the Lusaka High Court to stay any preliminary decisions made by the tribunal against him
Musonda resigned as Supreme Court judge when he was about to be probed by the Judge LovemoreChikopa Tribunal for alleged professional misconduct.
He was to be investigated together with two High Court judges, Nigel Mutuna and Charles Kajimanga concerning the same.
Dr Justice Musonda has challenged the decision of the tribunal to proceed with the hearing against him saying there was no need for such as he has ceased from being a judicial officer.
He wants the court to quash the decision of the tribunal saying there was no way it could proceed because he had stopped serving in the judiciary by way of resignation under the law.
He also wants the court to order that the tribunal should not proceed to hear or make any directives or determinations against him following his resignation as a Supreme Court Judge.
Dr Justice Musonda wants that all formal proceedings to the tribunal scheduled to commence on July 15, 2013 and any preliminary decisions made by the tribunal to be stayed until after the hearing of his motion for summons or until further order.
He stated in his in ex-parte application for leave to apply for Judicial Review that the decision by the tribunal to proceed hearings against him is illegal as he had exercised his Constitutional right to resign which resignation has been accepted by his appointing authority.
He said “the applicant has ceased being a judicial officer within the meaning of section 2 of the Judicial Code of Conduct Act number 13 of 1999. The objective of the inquiry under Article 98 (5) has been achieved by the resignation and the jurisdiction of the tribunal overridden.”
Dr Justice Musonda said the decision of the tribunal was illegal in terms of Article 14 of the Constitution because it was tantamount to forced labour by assuming him to be a serving judge when he had already effectively resigned.
He charged that the decision of the tribunal is ultra-vires as he was no longer a sitting judge and that its sitting after his resignation would be illegal in terms of Article 23 of the Constitution.
He said the decision of the Tribunal to proceed against him also amounted to discrimination because in two other similar cases, proceedings of the tribunal were terminated after the two individuals had resigned.
He said the proceedings would be illegal and contrary to Article 18 of the Constitution as it violated his fundamental right to a fair trial in the light of an order for stay of proceedings granted to High Court judges Nigel Mutuna and Charles Kajimanga who were jointly charged with him and had a joint defence.
Dr Justice Musonda said if the tribunal went ahead against him alone, he would be deprived of the benefit of Judge Kajimanga’s evidence.
He further said the Tribunal was acting in excess of jurisdiction by insisting to proceed against him by inviting unknown persons to come and testify against him on matters that were outside the knowledge of such persons as the allocation of cases was an internal matter within the judicially.
He said it was unreasonable for the tribunal to proceed and determine a matter that has already been determined by his resignation.
He said the same would be unreasonable and disrespectful of the Supreme Court ruling as it would ignore its wise and timely advice for it not to proceed with the hearings because there were Constitutional issues involved in the matter.
Confusion has now ensued over the candidature of MMD’s Evelyn Mwanawasa in the July 25 2013 Kafulafuta parliamentary by election after the party insisted that she has not withdrawn from the race.
Former Lands Minister Gladys Nundwe who says she was the spokesperson for the Mwanawasa family issued a statement earlier today announcing that Ms. Mwanawasa had withdrawn her candidature on account of poor health.
But the MMD has insisted that Ms. Mwanawasa is still its candidate for the Kafulafuta seat and dismissed Ms. Nundwe’s statement describing it as political fraud.
MMD Deputy National Secretary Chembe Nyangu maintained that Ms. Mwanawasa has not officially communicated to the secretariat over such moves.
Mr. Nyangu said Ms. Mwanawasa was in the field campaigning as late as Wednesday morning after which she asked for leave to go to the hospital to have her health checked.
“She was in the field distributing her materials and her campaign team has been in touch with the secretariat and there is nothing of such sort happening in Kafulafuta.
“It is not true that she has withdrawn, we know some people have been bought by the PF to cause confusion in Kafulafuta because of the high caliber of our candidate there. PF is panicking and decides to pay Nundwe to issue false statements,” Mr Nyangu said.
“For us, Evelyn Mwanawasa is still our candidate, period!”
And MMD Die Hard Youth National Coordinator Bowman Lusambo described the statement from Ms. Nundwe as political fraud.
Mr Lusambo said the PF is using Ms. Nundwe to decampaign the MMD in Kafulafuta but vowed that scheme will not work.
“We know Gladys likes money too much and we also know that the PF is desperate. So they have hired her to cause confusion. We appeal to the ECZ to disregard statements from Ms. Nundwe because as they are not official,” Mr. Lusambo said.
But when contacted later, Ms. Nundwe maintained that she was speaking on behalf of the family and that Ms. Mwanawasa had opted out of the parliamentary race.
“Yes it is true she has withdrawn, we met as a family and we asked her to leave politics because it is harmful to her health. I cannot just wake up and dream that she has withdrawn, am not mad and I have not been bought by anyone,” she said.
She added, “Am very principle and am a person of high integrity and I cannot be bought. I was speaking on behalf of the family.”
Efforts to reach Ms. Mwanawasa proved fruitless as her mobile phone was not reachable.
Robust striker Bornwell Mwape has propelled Nchanga Rangers to a 2-0 win over troubled Konkola Blades in the midweek FAZ Super Division match at Nchanga Stadium in Chingola.
Mwape registered a first half brace with goals in the 7th and 20 minutes to help Nchanga recover from last weekend’s 2-0 loss to Nkwazi in Lusaka.
The striker is in the home based Zambia team thats enters camp on Thursday ahead of the COSAFA Cup which runs from 6-20 July.
The home side dominated play in both halves of this Week 14 match.
The win has pushed Nchanga to fourth on the league table on 23 points after a round of 14 matches.
Blades on the other hand drops into the bottom five and remain stuck on 16 points.
Meanwhile, the Super Division goes on a three week break to pave away for the COSAFA Cup Zambia 2013 which kicks off this Saturday.
Nkana have returned to the top of the Faz Super Division table after an expected win over Power Dynamos in their big Kitwe derby.
The 11-time champions beat their struggling archrivals 2-0 at Nkana Stadium in Wusakile to take a one-point lead at the summit of the table.
Festus Mbewe put Nkana ahead in the 5th minute before Kelvin Mubanga added the final goal in the 38th minute.
Power had a chance to reduce the deficit in the 76th minute via a penalty after Graven Chitalu was brought down in the box.
However, Maybin Chishimba elected to miss and shortly thereafter Nkana were also reduced to 10-men after defender Donashano Malama was sent off for a second bookable offence.
Nkana rise to 32 points, one more than Zesco United who finished scoreless away at Zanaco at Sunset Stadium in Lusaka.
