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Faz says a good number of foreign based players may miss Zambia’s friendly against South Korea set for August 15 in Seoul.
Association Communications Officer Erick Mwanza expressed doubt over the availability of most members of the Africa Cup winning squad in the away friendly.
“Take note of the peculiarity of this date that a good number of the stars that went to the nations cup may not be available,” Mwanza said.
He stated that majority of the players likely to miss the Korea friendly are those from DR Congo giants TP Mazembe and the South African league.
“We may not have all the players from TP Mazembe, we may not have all the players from the PSL,” Mwanza added.
He however indicated that all Europe and China based players will be available for the game.
“But since we control our league we can suspend it to allow our players to move and play in Seoul. We will have the whole contigent from Europe and China.”
Lunte Memberof Parliament Felix Mutati making a comment during the UN Economic Social andCouncil (ECOSOC) High-Level Session discussion at UN headquarters in New York on 6 July, 2012. Others are his fellow MPs belonging to the Inter-ParliamentaryUnion. PHOTO | CHIBAULA D. SILWAMBA | GRZ
A nine-member group of legislators from donor and aid-recipient nations have called for the involvement of Members of Parliament in the procurement and assessment of the impact of development assistance.
This is contained in a media release made available by First Secretary for Press and Public Relations Permanent Mission of the Republic of Zambia to the United Nations, Mr CHIBAULA SILWAMBA.
The members of parliament, under the auspices of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) – a global organization of Parliaments – made the call during their meeting with donor Governments and other interest groups at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
“Globally members of parliament felt they were increasingly left out in the procurement of development assistance in the monitoring and implementation,” said Zambia’s Lunte MMD member of parliament Felix Mutati.
Mr Mutati was one of the nine members of parliament selected globally to make contributions to the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) meeting under the theme: “The future of development assistance and role of parliamentarians”.
He said parliamentarians in donor and recipient countries want to be part of the process to ensure accountability and transparency in the use of development assistance.
The Lunte parliamentarian said in most countries there was no legal framework for MPs to make assessments of the impact of development assistance. He explained that the parliamentarians called for the enactment of legislation providing for their role in the procurement and assessment of aid.
“We are hoping that part of the resolutions of this particular forum will be a paragraph that will emphasise the involvement of MPs in the procurement, monitoring and assessment of the impact of development assistance” the Zambian parliamentarian said.
Mr Mutati – a former commerce and trade minister – called for enhancement of trade instead of donor aid, which he said had so many conditions and had turned into “a blame game” between donors and recipients.
“We should work towards abandoning aid to a more predictable environment which is dependency on national resources,” Mr Mutati said.
He observed that South-South Cooperation among developing nations was proving to be more efficient than the traditional South-North cooperation. “Donors have to wake up because sooner or later they will be overtaken by South-South Cooperation,” said Mr Mutati.
Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) was established in 1889 and is the focal point for world-wide parliamentary dialogue and works for peace and co-operation among peoples and for the firm establishment of representative democracy.
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), a founding UN Charter body established in 1946, discusses and makes policy recommendations on the world’s economic, social and environmental challenges. ECOSOC’s biggest gathering is the month-long Substantive Session divided into 5 segments ? High-level, Coordination, Operational Activities, Humanitarian Affairs and General ? held every July either in New York or Geneva, and covers global issues and technical, administrative questions, with a focus on pressing development challenges such as employment, education, health.
The ECOSOC High-level segment regularly attracts policy-makers from the top ranks of Government, parliamentarians, academics and others.
Finance and National Planning Deputy Minister Honourable Miles Sampa, MP, represented the Zambian Government at the ECOSOC High-Level segment’s Annual Ministerial Review (AMR) and biennial Development Cooperation Forum (DCF).
Zambia is the immediate-past former president of ECOSOC.
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The Open Society Foundation has welcomed the announcement of the long awaited for minimum wages by government.
Foundation Executive Director Sunday Chanda told Qfm news in an interview that the PF government needs to be commended for the courageous move taken to empower the poor Zambians.
Mr. Chanda however urged government to strengthen enforcement of the signed statutory instruments to ensure that companies comply.
He says even though upward adjustment of the minimum wages does not tally with the current food basket, the step taken by government is a milestone to implementing its campaign promises to the Zambians.
Labor minister Fackson Shamenda this morning announced the revised minimum wages which is pegged at K1, 132,400 in most categories of workers.
This follows the signing and issuing of statutory instruments No. 45 of 2012 for domestic workers, 46 of 2012 for general workers and 47 of 2012 for shop workers to effect these changes and the amendment of statutory instruments order 2011 No. 1 of 2011, order 2011 No. 2 of 2011 and order 2011 No. 3 of 2011.
Republican President Michael Sata has said that government has no plans to curtail the powers of the paramount Chief Litunga of western Province.
Mr. Sata said that there are some opposition leaders in the country spreading rumors that government is working on a piece of legislation that will reduce the powers of The Litunga.
The head of state has indicated that the Litunga is no exception from the other o paramount chiefs in the country and that the government will not waste its time coming up with legislation to target an individual traditional leader.
Mr. Sata has since urged government officials and the newly appointed deputy minister of education Patrick Ngoma in particular to ensure that they explain government policies to the people of Zambia.
The President was speaking at statehouse this morning when he swore in Mr. Ngoma as deputy minister in the ministry of Education.
And Mr. Sata has urged Mr. Ngoma to work with his colleagues in the ministry of education in trying to improve the quality of education especially in the rural areas.
The President has observed the need for the government to also improve access to education in the country adding that government also plans to abolish the basic education system in the country.
Meanwhile, first lady Dr. Christine Kaseba- Sata has donated a Higer Luxury bus to St. Monica’s secondary school of eastern Province.
Handing over the bus at statehouse on behalf of the first lady, President Sata said Dr. Kaseba will also identify other schools in the country that are in need for transport facilities.
Information Broadcasting and Tourism Minister Fackson Shamenda (r)
Government has finally announced the revised minimum wages and conditions of employment acts for various categories of workers following the amendment of statutory instruments order 2011 No. 1 of 2011, order 2011 No. 2 of 2011 and order 2011 No. 3 of 2011.
Labor and Social Securities Minister Fackson Shamenda said at a media briefing in Lusaka this morning that this is in fulfillment of the Patriotic Front government’s promises of putting more money in people’s pockets.
The revision implies that wages for various categories have been revised upwards with domestic workers’ wages increased from K250 000 to K522, 400 with transport allowance inclusive.
Shop workers’ revised minimum wage is pegged at K1, 132, 400 with transport, lunch and housing allowances inclusive and that the wages will increase according to the grades of employees while the minimum wage of the highest grade in this category will be getting K2, 372, 519.
In the general workers’ category which includes receptionist and clerks among others, the minimum wage for category one workers is K1, 132, 400 while that of category five has been pegged at K2, 101, 039.
Mr. Shamenda said under this order, the lowest worker will be getting K1, 132,400.
He has since signed and issued statutory instruments No. 45 of 2012 for domestic workers, 46 of 2012 for general workers and 47 of 2012 for shop workers to effect these changes.
He says the changes are with effect from July 4th 2012 when the instruments were gazetted.
The minister said the statutory instruments cover vulnerable groups of employees who are not represented by unions.
Mr. Shamenda has further warned compliance to the amended statutory instruments is not optional and that defaulting companies risk facing the wrath of the law if found wanting.
He says the ministry will therefore intensify countrywide labor inspections to ensure total compliance.
The minister has further called on the media in the country to expose any companies that will not comply with the law adding that government will not condone victimization of workers.
President Sata’s son Gerald with a friend merry-making on an elephant in Livingstone
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President Sata with his spokesperson George Chellah (r) and Chief Mukuni (l) when he arrived in Livingstone for political campaigns
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President with his spokesperson George Chellah (r) and Chief Mukuni (l) when he arrived in Livingstone for political campaigns.
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President Sata dishing out prizes at the Trade Fair in Ndola
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A mother and her children languishing in the open after they were evicted because their retired father was chased out of their house because of non payment of house rentals in Kitwe
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Families for retirees who were evicted from their homes because of non payment of house rentals in Kitwe
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Legendary Soccer comentator Deniss Liwewe captured chatting with youths at the trade fair in Ndola.
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Village Headmen, Vitumba mfumu performs a ritual at the Ntongo traditional ceremony in Mufumbwe over the weekend.
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American students from Seattle University participate in dances at the Lwiindi traditional ceremony in Monze at the weekend. They are on attachment with the Mukanzubo cultural centre
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An American student from Seattle University participates in dances at the Lwiindi traditional ceremony in Monze at the weekend. He is on attachment with the Mukanzubo cultural centre
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An American student from Seattle University participates in dances at the Lwiindi traditional ceremony in Monze at the weekend. He is on attachment with the Mukanzubo cultural centre .
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An American student from Seattle University participates in dances at the Lwiindi traditional ceremony in Monze at the weekend. He is on attachment with the Mukanzubo cultural centre in the district
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Dancers entertain guests at the Lwiindi traditional ceremony in Monze
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Dancers entertain guests at the Ntongo traditional ceremony in Mufumbwe at the weekend
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Mukumbi cultural dancers entertain guests during the Ntongo tradtional ceremony in Mufumbwe at the weekend.
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An Iranian exhibitor bows towards Mecca and prays after conducting business at the Trade fair in Ndola.
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The Lusaka stadium being erected along the Great North road has shaped up. Here, the structure being worked on by Chinese contractors
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Zambia National Soccer team players in training at the Olympic Youth Development Centre in Lusaka in readiness for a friendly match against Malawi
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Zambia National Soccer team players in training at the Olympic Youth Development Centre in Lusaka
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Zambia National Soccer team players in training at the Olympic Youth Development Centre in Lusaka.
FILE: MMD Mufumbwe Member of Parliament Steven Masumba showing his diploma to the media
MMD Mufumbwe Member of Parliament Steven Masumba yesterday afternoon eluded MMD cadres who had gathered at the entrance of the parliament building to block him from entering parliament.
Mr. Masumba evaded the cadres who were led by MMD Die Hard Youth Coordinator, Bowman Lusambo by entering parliament premises before 13:00 hours and using a different entrance other than the main gate where the cadres had gathered.
And MMD Die Hard Youth Coordinator, Bowman Lusambo expressed disappointment that Mr. Masumba evaded them saying they wanted to block him from entering parliament.
He said the youths and the enter MMD are disappointed with the behavior of Mr. Masumba who is also Local Government Deputy Minister whom they have accused of letting the party down.
Mr. Lusambo told journalists in an interview at Parliament that the youths will not tolerate such behavior as exhibited by Mr. Masumba.
He also disclosed that the youths have also petitioned the National Secretary to have Mr. Masumba removed from the party adding the Secretariat has since promised to look into the matter.
ZANIS reports that the MMD Die Hard Youth Coordinator has also threatened to continue with such action and fish out all MMD MPs who are believed to be sale out.
He also challenged Mr. Masumba to resign from the party and contest the seat on the PF ticket to prove his popularity in Mufumbwe.
Mr. Lusambo alleged that Mr. Masumba has lost popularity in his constituency and that Chiefs and the entire membership in the North Western province and his constituency no longer want him.
But Mr. Masumba said he is only interested in bringing development to the people of Mufumbwe and the nation as a whole.
He said as Deputy Minister of Local Government, he wants to work with the government to deliver the many promises it made to the Zambian people.
“We as government are in a hurry to deliver on the many promises we made to the people of Zambian during the election campaigns. So we want to ensure that we work on those promises. I otherwise leave all this in the hands of God who will judge everything,” he said.
Mr. Masumba has since advised Mr. Lusambo not to be personal but concentrate on his work in the MMD.
He refused to be dragged into politicking over the issue raised by the MMD youths saying they should not attribute their loss in the local government by-elections in his constituency to him.
“People are generally interested in supporting a committed government that will fulfill its promises, so let the MMD not include me in their loss of popularity in my constituency,” he said.
Mr. Masumba has also advised the youths to stop being personal but instead support each other towards the development of the nation.
He has, however, promised to issue a statement if he ever decides to take any action like resigning from the MMD.
The placard carrying MMD cadres who arrived at parliament building at 13:00 hours were also supported by a few of their counterparts from the UPND who had come to escort newly elected Livingstone Central MP, Rev. Howard Sikwela to Parliament.
Northmead Assembly of God Church Bishop Joshua Banda
The National AIDS Council of Zambia (NAC) has urged youths to reflect on their lives as Zambia joins the rest of the world in commemorating the World Population Day which falls tomorrow.
NAC Chairman Joshua Banda says his organisation is concerned about the behaviour of youths towards issues that hinge on reproduction.
Bishop Banda says it is saddening that young people, who are in the reproductive age group, are engaging themselves in illicit behaviour such as excessive beer drinking, drug abuse, prostitution and lack of respect for elders.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS ahead of World Population Day, Bishop Banda, who is also Northmead Assembly of God Overseer, said the HIV prevalence rate is high among young people aged between 15 and 49 years.
He said efforts to make Zambia an HIV/AIDS free nation were being frustrated by the reproductive age group who he described as the future leaders and the mirror of the nation.
“As we celebrate World Population Day tomorrow, youths should reflect on their lives and make strong decisions because society looks up to them. Instead, what we see is the opposite among this reproductive age group, drinking and prostitution is the order of the day,” Bishop Banda said.
The 2012 theme is:“Universal access to reproductive health services”.
He, however, commended Government efforts in the provision of free Anti-retroviral drugs to all affected people.
And Bishop Banda has appealed to the Zambian youths to consider their Congolese counterparts as their own brothers and sisters.
Commenting on the recent killing of a Zambian truck driver who was burnt to death in neighbouring Democratic Republic Congo, the Clergyman regretted the incident and said it is un-acceptable to allow young people to take the law into their own hands.
Bishop Banda said what is obtaining now if left unchecked will culminate in an ‘explosion’ thereby affecting the bilateral relations the two peoples and countries have enjoyed for a long time now.
Patriotic Front (PF) Secretary General Wynter Kabimba has admitted that it was not realistic that jobs or the constitution can be delivered in 90 days.
Speaking during a ZNBC Radio programme themed ‘Has PF Delivered on Campaign Promises, Nine Months in Government – What’s the Way Forward?’, Mr Kabimba, however said that the PF government is determined to create employment.
Mr Kabimba said the PF was determined to tackle all challenges including the high unemployment levels and appealed for patience among the citizens.
He said it was too early to criticise PF’s performance saying with time, the “fruits” of voting for President Sata’s led administration would start to trickle down to the masses.
Mr Kabimba said the PF’s victory was a revolution for Zambians from the corrupt MMD regime which he accused of running national affairs to satisfy personal needs after abandoning interests of citizens.
He said it would be unfair for Zambians to judge the performance of the PF Government in its nine months because it took over poorly-handled national affairs.
Mr. Kabimba also maintained that the fight against corruption is not selective but targeted at everyone regardless of political affiliation.
He pointed out that the PF wants to rid the country of corruption at all levels of society.
And Mr Kabimba said that the opposition political parties must feel free o engage the ruling party on local issues and not embarrass themselves by going to foreign dignitaries accredited to Zambia.
Mr. Kabimba said that diplomats are not accredited to Zambia to come and run the affairs of the country, but their countries interests.
He said that when the PF was in opposition it never approached donors on local issues but did so on issues with an international dimension such as elections.
Meanwhile, the he Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock will in the next two years employ about 4 000 trained personnel to fill vacancies in the ministry.
Agriculture and Livestock Deputy Minister Rodgers Mwewa said that 1 000 staff will be recruited this year while 3 000 will be employed next year.
Mr. Mwewa said that the move absorb all trained staff in the agriculture sector. The Deputy Minister was speaking yesterday after touring NRDC.
Meanwhile Mr. Mwewa is concerned at the poor sanitary situation of students’ hostels at the – NRDC- in Lusaka.
FIRST Lady Dr. Christine Kaseba-Sata has told a London conference that there is urgent need for effective private-public and donor partnerships in the delivery of family planning services among the disempowered groups in poor countries.
This is according to First Secretary for press at the Zambian High commissioner in London Amos Chanda in a statement released to the media.
Dr Kaseba said this when she delivered a keynote address to the Marie Stopes-organised pre-conference discussion on the theme: “Making Money Work for Family Planning” at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecology in London, United Kingdom.
Dr Kaseba emphasized that family planning was critical particularly for women and youths who are the more disadvantaged groups when it comes to choices over reproductive rights.
She said: “It is smart economics to invest in women. I want to call upon all the donors to Zambia’s health sector and the Third World in general to let the money work for family planning, increase dialogue between and among the donors, public and private sectors in order to save lives.”
She said donors supporting the health sector in Zambia were working very well with the government and thanked Marie Stopes particularly for expanding family health services in both rural and urban areas of the country.
His Excellency, Lt. Colonel Bizwayo Nkunika, the Zambia’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, who accompanied the First Lady along with Minister of Community Development, Mother and Child Health Dr. Joseph Katema, said the mission is pleased with the resounding applause given to the First Lady by the audience at the college where she did her post graduate studies in medicine years back.
Lt. Col Nkunika said the First Lady will again speak as a panelist at the London Summit on Family Planning on July 11, 2012 at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre at the joint invitation of the British government and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Health ministers from Tanzania and Uganda were among the panelists that spoke alongside Dr Kaseba. British Minister for International Development Andrew Mitchell will be the guest of honour at the two-day summit that has attracted ministers and dignitaries from various countries.
Newly appointed Tourism and Arts Minister Sylvia Masebo has pledged to make Zambia a preferred tourist destination across the continent.
Ms. Masebo says Zambia has numerous tourism attractions which need to be marketed to the outside world for the country to maximize gains in forex.
The Minister has also charged that she will endeavor to change the perception of tourism to encourage more local tourists.
Ms. Masebo says Zambians must begin to appreciate the tourist attractions and natural resources the country is endowed with and take up the challenge of promoting the tourism industry.
She has since further urged the media in the country to take an active role in promoting tourism locally and internationally to ensure that the country maximizes benefits from the industry.
United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema has said that the party is shocked by the signing of the statutory instrument number 33 that seeks to stop dollar transactions in the country.
Mr Hichilema said that the statutory instrument is illegal as it quotes from a piece of legislation that does not exist in the statute books.
Mr. Hichilema since demanded that Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda suspends that statutory instrument number 33 of 2012 within the next 7 days, failure to which the party will seek the courts for interpretation on the legality of the instrument.
And Mr Hichilema has said that former Republican President Rupiah Banda was right to send a letter of apology on behalf of Zambians to former US president George Bush.
[pullquote]Mr. Hichilema said that what Mr. Rupiah Banda did was right because the nation can no longer continue to allow being embarrassed.[/pullquote]
Mr. Hichilema has since stated that he will write to President Michael Sata to advise him on how his conduct should be when meeting foreign delegates.
Mr. Hichilema said that what Mr. Banda did was right because the nation can no longer continue to allow being embarrassed.
Speaking at a press briefing at the UPND secretariat this morning, Mr. Hichilema said it is time the head of state changed his attitude.
The Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) has called for reforms in the country’s electoral system to create a system that will give confidence to the people.
FODEP Programmes Manager, Hope Mubanga, observes that the current electoral laws are retrogressive adding that there is need for the country to have a system which will inspire confidence among the people.
She said stakeholders should take advantage of the on-going constitution making process to formulate laws that will see change in the electoral system.
Ms. Mubanga said this in an interview with ZANIS in reaction to calls by the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) and the opposition Movement for Multi Party Democracy (MMD) who have hinted their intentions to petition results of the just ended by elections citing electoral malpractices.
The by-elections which the MMD and the PF wants to petition were necessitated after the seats were nullified by the High Court this year on allegations of electoral malpractices.
But the FODEP official said political parties should look at the interest of the majority Zambians first before they can decide to go ahead and petition the results of the by-elections.
Ms. Mubanga said the people have spoken through another vote and it would be unnecessary for the parties to go and petition the results.
She also urged the parties to observe the electoral laws to ensure that there is no repeat of such incidents.
Ms. Mubanga has, meanwhile, disclosed that FODEP which also monitored the recent by-elections will issue a compressive statement tomorrow on the outcome of the by-elections.
The MMD, which lost to the PF in the Chama North parliamentary by-election, has indicated that it will petition the results while the ruling PF will also petition the Livingstone seat which was scooped by opposition UPND.
