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Energy Minister Christopher Yaluma says his ministry is this week likely to conclude talks with the two preferred oil companies, Gunvor and Trafigura regarding a two- year contract for the supply of oil and refined fuel.
Mr. Yaluma says technocrats at his ministry are still FINALIZING talks and will produce a final report as soon as they conclude.
Mr. Yaluma says he will only be able to answer to questions being raised with regards the two contracts once the entire negotiation process is completed.
He says he will wait for the team to conclude the talks because he does not want to interfere or influence any part of the process which he says is highly transparent.
The energy minister was speaking to QFM in an interview.
FILE: Students from the Copperbelt University protesting against management
The students Union at the Copperbelt University CBU has welcomed plans to transform the current bursary scheme in institutions of higher education into loans.
COBUSU President Thompson Luzendi has told ZNBC News that this will benefit all students, unlike in the past when only those doing degree courses were considered for bursary.
Previously students pursuing diploma courses left out of the scheme.
But some students feel it is not a good idea because it will restrict those that may wish to work outside the country.
Mundia Sililo wants government to clearly state how the loan facility will work for students who graduate but don’t get employment immediately.
And Education Deputy Minister David Mabumba says the government is consulting with stakeholders to transform the bursary scheme into a loan facility.
Mr. Mabumba says beneficiaries of the loan will either work for it or pay back after completing their studies.
Shadia Zaher released a video for the song “We like to party” which features Yung majik
Produced by Taz for LB Records ,Video by MT Productionz
It is an energetic party song made specifically for the dance floor .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuQjkwWv62A&list=UU3OyWCtbVYaRFQKxDPLcamw&index=1&feature=plcp By Kapa187
By Kelvin Kachingwe
International economist and author Dambisa Moyo’s new book Winner Takes All: China’s Race for Resources and What It Means for the World, has debuted at number 13 on the New York Times Best Seller list for Non-Fiction books.
Dambisa is also the author of Dead Aid: Why Aid is Not Working and How There is a Better Way For Africa and How The West was Lost: Fifty Years of Economic Folly – And the Stark Choices that Lie Ahead.
On the New York Times Best Seller list, Dambisa, who is older sister of singer and author Marsha and daughter of Indo- Zambia Bank chairperson Orlean and academician Steven Moyo, is only bettered by the likes of The Amateur, by Edward Klein, a journalist who argues that President Obama is a callow and unable to lead which is on number one and Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson, a biography of the recently deceased entrepreneur.
Others are It Worked for Me (Colin Powell and Tony Kolz), which deals with the rules for effective leadership from the four-start general and former US Secretary of State and Killing Lincoln (Billy O’Reilly), about the events surrounding the assassination of former US President Abraham Lincoln and I Hate Everyone…Starting with Me, which are reflections by the comedian Joan Rivers.
However, Dambisa’s new book examines the commodity dynamics that the world will face over the next several decades, particularly the implications of China’s rush for resources across all regions of the world. With the scale of China’s resource campaign for hard commodities (metals and minerals) and soft commodities (timber and food) being one of the largest in history, Dambisa presents her research of the financial and geopolitical implications of this in a world of diminishing resources and argues that we are in the middle of unprecedented times.
Dambisa, who was born and raised in Lusaka, and holds a Doctorate 9Ph) in Economics from Oxford University, was in 2009 honoured by the World Economic Forum as one of its Young Global Leaders.
In 2010, TIME Magazine named her as one of the world’s 100 most influential people while in September 2009; she was featured in Oprah Winfrey’s power list of 20 remarkable visionaries.
In 2010, she was a participant at the Bilderberg Conference while last year, she spoke at annual Observance ceremony marking Commonwealth Day in Westminster Abbey.
She spoke on “Women as Agents of Change” in the presence of Queen Elizabeth II, British Prime Minister David Cameroon and 2,000 guests. At the same time, The Daily Beast also selected her as one of the “150 Extra-ordinary Women Who Shake The World along with Hilary Clinton, Madeleine Albright and others.
[Daily Mail]
THE Technical Committee drafting the Zambian Constitution has assured that it will deliver a more modern Constitution than any other Constitution on the African continent.
Technical Committee Chairperson Justice Annel Silungwe said yesterday during a ZNBC live phone in programme that his committee would not fail but ensure the best and acceptable document was finalised especially that there was no interference from any quarter on the process.
Justice Silungwe said the Zambian Constitution would surpass the Kenyan Constitution of 2010 which was currently considered the most modern Constitution after the Namibian and South African Constitutions considered to be good.
“The final document would be a step higher than the Kenyan Constitution of 2010 which is currently regarded as a modern document in Africa.
“The technical committee is doing its best to give the best constitution that Zambians could ever expect,” Justice Silungwe said.
He was convinced that the technical committee would achieve what the people of Zambia expected it to do.
He said the technical committee had engaged eminent constitutional lawyers and experts in the likes of prominent Lusaka lawyer John Sangwa, constitutional expert Proffessor Michelo Hansungule from Pretoria University in South Africa, and another constitutional expert from South Africa Professor Chalskerson.
Others engaged are Dr Chaloka Beyani, former Zambian Chief Justice Mathew Ngulube, Justice Frederick Chomba, Proffessor Melvin Mbao, Eness Chiyenge and Gladys Mutukwa.
He said the technical committee was mandated in the terms of reference to engage local and international experts on Constitutional law.
Justice Silungwe appealed to all Zambians to do their best as well by ensuring that they made written comments to the technical committee as the committee would rely on comments from the public.
“No one should feel intimidated because all comments are important and will be taken seriously including those from people living abroad.
“So we urge people to debate the clauses and provisions in the draft document and then make submissions,” he said.
Committee spokesperson Simon Kabanda said all formal and informal comments would be taken into account including those appearing as letters to the editor in the print media.
He said the committee was also receiving comments from its facebook page and the comments box at Government complex in Lusaka.
Mr Kabanda however, said the technical committee would begin studying the comments by end of July.
He said the final document would be subjected to a national referendum while the technical committee’s scope of work would end with the production of the final document.
He said the referendum committee would be responsible for the Constitution there after.
The technical committee recently extended the consultation period for 50 days from the initial 40 days.
[Times of Zambia]
EDITOR’S NOTE
Please take time to read the DRAFT constitution and provide feedback to the Technical Committee. The technical committee has gone to great lengths to produce a simplified version that is even easier to read. Even great is the fact that they have audio versions of the constitution for those of us who are too lazy to read, but would rather load the document on a smart phone, MP3 player or burn it on a CD and listen to it while we drive around. Below are the various links you can download the Documents from
MAIN SITE: http://zambianconstitution.org AUDIO or MP3 VERSION: http://zambianconstitution.org/draft-constitution-audio-version.html
Please Provide Feedback on either their site, Forum or Facebook page and below are the links
SITE CONTACT US: http://zambianconstitution.org/contact-us.html FORUM PAGE: http://zambianconstitution.org/forum/index.html FACEBOOK PAGE: http://www.facebook.com/zambianconstitution
If you are still old school, you are catered for as well . Use Physical Address Below
The Secretary
Technical Committee on Drafting the Zambian Constitution,
Government Complex Conference Centre
P. O Box 50106
Lusaka
Lusaka
10101
Zambia
Movement For Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) Chairperson for elections Gabriel Namulambe has said that party members conducting campaigns for the positions of vice-president are “hitting the wrong target” because the election for the two posts will be exclusive to members of the NEC.
Lately some MMD youths and women on the Copperbelt, Western and Central provinces have been endorsing support Austin Liato for the post of party vice-president.
Mr Namulambe said the NEC will elect the two vice-presidents for the party through a secret ballot. The election date will be announced after the 15th of July, the deadline for receiving applications.
The other vacant NEC chairperson positions are for health, legal, arts, culture and sport. Also vacant are positions for national youth secretary, national youth treasurer and one trustee.
“We are conducting these elections in accordance to the requirements of our constitution. And the only organ mandated is the NEC,” Mr Namulambe said. He said so far no one has applied to contest for any position.
Mr Namulambe said that rules to guide the entire process will be put in place to ensure that everything goes according to plans. “When all interested members have applied, all members of the NEC will elect the best candidates for the two positions (vice-presidents),” he said.
MMD Lunte member of Parliament Felix Mutati resigned as leader of the opposition in Parliament because fellow party MPs had allegedly started collecting signatures to petition his removal from the position.
Mr Mutati said in his resignation letter to party president Nevers Mumba and copied to MMD national secretary Richard Kachingwe that in his view, the move embarked upon by fellow MPs was disruptive and served to divide the former ruling party.
“As you are aware, over the past few months, a significant number of my fellow MMD members of Parliament have been going around collecting signatures with the view to petitioning the party to have me removed as leader of the opposition in Parliament,” reads a copy of the letter of resignation obtained by the Zambia Daily Mail.
On Friday, Mr Mutati resigned his position during an MMD national executive meeting held at Courtyard Hotel in Lusaka. Dr Mumba has since accepted Mr Mutati’s resignation as leader of the opposition in Parliament.
He said after looking at the reasons that Mr Mutati had given, he felt it was in order for him to accept the resignation. “I did on behalf of the NEC accept his resignation. The important fact is that honourable Mutati is one of our senior members of our party. He continues and pledged his commitment to the party is unwavering,” Dr Mumba said.
But Mr Mutati says in the letter of resignation that he believes that an effective leader of the opposition must first draw support from his own party before he can seek support from the other MPs in opposition in Parliament.
Mr Mutati says politics of insistence and polarisation should not have a place to ensure progress and unity in the party. “Being committed to the founding ideals of the MMD, I hold the view that politics of insistence and polarisation should have no place in the furtherance of progress, unity and the manifesto of the party,” he said.
Mr Mutati says his resignation should help the MMD members work together and concentrate on other important issues.
“I believe that by stepping down, we will work as a stronger team within the MMD focussing on core issues that an opposition party should be addressing itself to on behalf of the people of Zambia rather than being diverted to discussing self-serving politics,” he says.
He says he will remain grateful to MMD and other MPs in the House for the support and honour conferred on him to serve as leader of the opposition since the beginning of the 11th session of the National Assembly.
Mr Mutati says he will remain committed to the ideals which are aimed at uplifting and empowering millions of Zambians.
FILE: President Sata honoured PF Secretary General Wynter Kabimba for his professional legal advice regarding various bodies and local government authorities as well as his contribution towards the first Draft Constitution
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) secretary-general Wynter Kabimba has charged that MMD president Nevers Mumba has run out of political ideas for him to allege that President Sata has become a tourist. Mr Kabimba said yesterday in an interview that contrary to Dr Mumba’s insinuation, President Sata has only been attending important international meetings.
On Saturday, Dr Mumba alleged that President Sata has become a tourist for attending international meetings. “Dr Mumba should realise that President Sata has not made any maiden visit to be introduced as Zambia’s new head of State because he wants to tackle social and economic problems and save taxpayers’ money. My first reaction to Dr Mumba’s statement is that the man has run out of political ideas,” he said.
Mr Kabimba said there is a package for every new head of State to make maiden visits but President Sata has not done so because he is more concerned about saving costs.
He said President Sata wants to attend to social and economic challenges caused by the corrupt MMD administration under the presidency of Rupiah Banda. Mr Kabimba said the PF and Cabinet have a lot of problems to solve because of the culture of maladministration that the MMD left.
He said it was important for President Sata to go to Angola last month to attend the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of State and Government extra-ordinary summit where he met Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos.
Mr Kabimba said President Sata’s travel to England, like many other heads of State, was purely out of respect he has for Queen Elizabeth as head of the Commonwealth. “Does Dr Mumba need to be in the first class of civics for him to understand that the Queen is the head of Commonwealth and the President had to attend that important meeting?” he said.
Mr Kabimba said President Sata has gone to Rio de Janeiro because Zambia needs to be part of the discussion on global development. He said the Rio+20 Conference is an important meeting which needed the attendance of the head of State.
Mr Kabimba wondered whether Dr Mumba was alleging that all the over 100 heads of State who attended the Rio+20 meeting are tourists. He said Dr Mumba should realise that President Sata has not travelled at the high rate that former President Banda did. He said Mr Banda even attended meetings that only required the presence of permanent secretaries.
Mr Kabimba said the PF operates an open door administration and it has extended an olive branch to opposition parties willing to serve the well-being of Zambians. He said National Restoration Party president Elias Chipimo Jr and Forum for Development and Democracy president Edith Nawakwi were invited by the President because they have recognised that they need to work with the PF as the party in Government in contributing to economic development.
Dr Mumba accused Mr Sata of travelling with people who were not important.
And the Judicial Allied Workers Union of Zambia (JAWUZ) says Dr Mumba should not politicise the appointment of Supreme Court judges Lombe Chibesakunda and Florence Mumba as acting Chief Justice and acting Deputy Chief Justice, respectively.
JAWUZ president Peter Mwale said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that Dr Mumba should instead support the appointment of Mrs Justice Chibesakunda and Mrs Justice Mumba.
He was commenting on Dr Mumba’s statement that the appointment of the two judges is meant to frustrate the MMD. “People should be objective because these appointments are one of the best we have ever had in the Judiciary. The appointment of judges should not be made to serve the MMD or any other individuals but Zambians,” Mr Mwale said.
He said the Judiciary should not be dragged into partisan politics because it is an institution meant to serve all citizens. “People wanted Justice Ernest Sakala to go and he has gone. We all have been given the new Chief Justice and new Deputy Chief Justice and some people are still politicking. What is this nonsense?” he charged.
Mr Mwale said judicial workers are happy with the appointments and will be meeting Mrs Justice Chibesakunda today to raise their concerns. He said the experience of justices Chibesakunda and Mumba is well-documented as Supreme Court judges.
On Saturday, Dr Mumba alleged that the appointment of justices Chibesakunda and Mumba is meant to weaken the MMD. But Government spokesperson Fackson Shamenda said the Patriotic Front administration is eager to have an independent Judiciary without invisible hands, voices or instructions.
Power Dynamos teenager midfielder Mulenga Mukuka says he is excited to be called to the senior national team for the second time.
Mukuka is in the 26-man squad coach Herve Renard has called for the away 6 July friendly against Malawi.
The junior international said it is not easy to be selected to the national team.
“I am happy to be called to the national team. I am still young and it is important that I play in the senior team,” Mukuka said.
He promised to perform accordingly once given a chance to play.
“I have to continue working hard and this is an indication that I am progressing,” Mukuka added.
Meanwhile Power coach Beston says Mukuka and Joseph Sitali are expected to recover from their respective injuries in the next six days.
Chambeshi confirmed that Mukuka has a foot injury while Sitali is carrying a knee injury.
Sitali played in Power’s 1-nill win over Red Arrows on Saturday while Mukuka watched the match from the stands.
Foreign Affairs and Tourism Minister Given Lubinda (left), Lands, Water and Enviromental Protection Minister Wylbur Simuusa, Zambia?s Permanent Representative to the UN Dr Mwaba Kasese-Bota (middle) listening to an investor Glenn Camp about cheaper housing project. This was in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Thursday June 21, 2012. GRZ Photo I CHIBAULA SILWAMBA
Government has invited American investors that make machines for building low-priced, environmentally-friendly and fire resistant houses to visit Zambia and explore business opportunities.
This is contained in a media release made available to the press by First Secretary for Press Permanent Mission of the Republic of Zambia to the United Nations. Mr Chibaula Silwamba.
This was during a meeting that Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Given Lubinda, his counterpart in the Ministry of Land, Water and Environmental Protection Wylbur Simuusa, Zambia’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Dr Mwaba Kasese-Bota and lands permanent secretary Daisy Ng’ambi held with Enviro Board Corporation and South South News officials.
Enviro Board Corporation co-chairman Glenn Camp said the technology use agricultural materials like rice straw, wheat straw, elephant grass, sugar cane and sisal to make about 200, 000 building panels per year.
“The machine is none toxic, very environmentally friendly and green technology. One machine can make about 6, 000 homes per year. You can build one home per day with a small crew of people,” Mr Camp said. “To build a 50-square-meter house, it’s about US$ 9000 (about K46.5 million). The rooms are very energy efficient such that when it is hot outside, it’s cool inside and vice versa.”
According to Mr Camp, the machine cost about US$5 million (about K25 billion) but “it pays for itself within nine months”.
He explained that foreign financing could be found to kick start the project.
“If you were to finance it through the US Export and Import Bank, they only require a 15 per cent down payment, so only US$ 750, 000 and they can finance over a 10-year period. So the total cost can be less than US$2 million that is the down payment, setting up a building, getting some people trained, buying a truck, fork lifter, a few essentials,” he said.
Responding to Mr Simuusa’s query on whether they could engage with the Zambian private sector to implement the project, Mr Camp said that the opportunity extend to the private sector.
“The Government can come in if necessary, in some cases for sovereign guarantee,” he said, adding that financiers usually ask for a sovereign guarantee from the Government to the private sector.
South South News president Ambassador Francis Lorenzo, who linked the Zambian officials and Enviro Board Corporation, said a check at Export and Import Bank of the US in Washington showed that Zambia has credit opening, which could enable it undertake this project.
Ambassador Dr Kasese-Bota said it would be good for Enviro Board Corporation to travel to Zambia and demonstrate how beneficial the project would be.
Mr Lubinda said: “It’s a project which the Government would have interest in it and if as Government, we don’t want to handle it ourselves, we can give sovereign guarantee to the private sector.”
The minister said the National Housing Authority (NHA) could be a beneficiary.
“Therefore, include Zambia on your August tour of Africa. We could arrange your meetings with our housing authority, ministries that have relevance to this and the private sector,” Mr Lubinda said. “The private sector and public sector can go for it together.”
According to Mr Camp, similar houses would be built in Rwanda, Kenya, and about 1, 000 in Zimbabwe and 30, 000 in Southern Sudan.
Zambia’s housing stock deficit currently stands at between 2 million and 3 million, according to the Ministry of Local Government and Housing.
An international engineering expert has dismissed as “untruthful” requests by the Zambian government for help with western technology. Head of Bolton Automotive and Aerospace engineering research group, Professor Clive Chirwa said president Sata’s speech to the United Nations in Brazil was not truthful.
Professor Chirwa said countless times, he tried to share with the Zambian government the technology he designed and researched but there was no positive response.
Professor Chirwa said he wrote several letters to president Sata with intentions to motivate and persuade the government to use his technology but never got any feedback.
He was speaking from England today on Zambia Blog Talk Radio broadcast from north America
Professor Clive Chirwa said government was shot turning by calling for Western technology on one hand then refusing to use what was given to it on the other.
President Sata this week said Africa will never develop using hand-outs but only through technology transfer from developed and some developing countries.
Sata said Africa does not need aid, in the absence of technology transfer which is known to spur development.
“You can keep your money, just give us technology because that is what we need to sustain ourselves. No country has ever developed by begging. That is not sustainable. Africa has been begging for a long time and it is time to make a real difference through technology transfer,” he told an applauding audience of delegates at the Rio+20 world conference on climate change and sustainable development
He said global technology transfer would help a great deal in making the world a better place to live in.
Vice President Guy Scott has clarified the recent tours that President Michael Sata has under taken. Dr. Scott has since described as unfortunate reports in some sections of the media alleging that President has become a tourist.
Speaking in an interview with journalists in Livingstone today, Dr. Scott said all the trips that the President has gone to are important to the country’s development agenda.
He explained that no country can develop without the interacting with others. He said this is why President Sata’s trips are justified and important if Zambia is to record progress in its national development.
The Vice President further cited the Queens Jubilee, the RIO Brazil 2012, as some of the vital meetings that are key to the current and future development of the country.
Dr. Scott wondered why some opposition leaders think that President Sata’s foreign trips are just mere visits that do not add value to the country’s development.
He added that President Sata as a head of state has the right to travel for the betterment of the country.
Opposition MMD’s President Nevers Mumba is quoted in today’s edition of the Post newspapers saying President Sata has become a tourist following the numbers of trips that he has undertaken.
And Dr Scott has said that government has no intentions of injuring tour operators by enforcing the ban of the use of foreign currency in trading. Dr. Scott said that government was alive to the fact that the tourism is an export industry, which deals with foreign tourists who need to be safeguarded.
The Vice President however said that government will collectively discuss the concerns being raised by tour operators before coming up with a position for the sector.
He was reacting to concerns raised by Livingstone Tourism Association in Livingstone on Saturday night. Tour Operators in Livingstone have asked government to allow them to continue operating Customer Foreign Currency dollar accounts.
Livingstone Tourism Association Chairman Kingsley Lilamono said that tourism is an industry that invoices and receives in foreign currency and government’s move to ban use of foreign currency transactions would be difficult for the sector.
Meanwhile, Dr. Scott has said that the PF-government is enjoying good relations with the church. Dr Scott said that both the Church and government have a common cause, which is to develop the country.
He said that the church and government both want to see progress for the country. The Vice President was speaking to journalist in Livingstone shortly after attending a Church service at Maramba Catholic parish. Early Dr Scott met Church elders from the Hillcrest Seventh Day Adventist Church.
The closed door meeting which started at 07:30 lasted for 30 minutes.
Senior Chief Shakumbila of the Sala people of Mumbwa has advised his subjects not to sell their cotton for any amount below K1,600.
Speaking to ZANIS in Mumbwa today, Senior Chief Shakumbila said farmers will regret if they sell their cotton at the price ginners were offering because the crop was too expensive to produce.
He warned that he would not tolerate any buyer in his Chiefdom who will exploit his subjects by offering low prices.
The Senior Chief was reacting to some farmers who have started selling the cotton to brief case buyers, saying they are desperate for money.
He said farmers should not panic but wait until the parties involved in the cotton prices conclude the matter.
Some named ginners are alleged to be buying cotton at K1, 600 per Kg in Shibuyunji, Kabulwebulwe and Shakumbila areas and promise them to pay the difference if the price happens to be above K1, 600.
Last month, farmers in Mumbwa vowed not to sell their cotton if the price remains at K1,600.
The Case for an Unrecognized Global Soccer Platform
I must first of all forgive that portion of the readership who assume I am a soccer fan. Please don’t stop reading because some of you are several times guilty of seeking marital advise from an individual who has never been in a viable till-death-do-us-part relationship. I am not a soccer fan for the simple reason that I never place any monetary bets on whom I think will win a game. And I have not purchased that counterfeit Manchester United tee- shirt with the “Made in China” tag on the back of the neck bit. For the most part, I am a unbiased soccer sympathizer, giving my till-death-do-us-part support – sorry sympathy to the winning team. This stance (above all) leaves me with a mind open enough to learn from the mistakes of the losing team. I am therefore more than reasonably qualified to give an objective anatomic dissection of this well beloved past-time that has kept many a good man (and increasing number of women) from admission to the psychiatric wing of hospitals or contemplating open and very treasonable revolt against duly elected governments.
The prototype for the discussion that follows is Tout Puissant Mazembe, better known as TP Mazembe (tout puissant be the French equivalent for almighty). I have only scorn and ridicule for those who think this is the latest model of a heavy duty road resurfacing vehicle, but given the track record of TP Mazembe, they might as well be an all leveling beast of a machine. TP Mazembe is a Congolese soccer club that was formed in 1939 by a bunch of Benedictine Monks in what was then called Elisabethville, today nominated Lubumbashi. If you have ever wondered who or what “Bolingo” celebrated (in practically every Congolese rhumba classic) is, Lubumbashi is the place to go and look for this timeless legend. There is a theory amongst both Rhumba fans and sympathizers that the success of a Congolese musical composition is directly proportional to the number of times this name is evoked in the song. My counting becomes rather erratic after three Mosis due to the temporarily higher levels of wisdom associated with imbibing that much alcohol.
The purpose that the team was formed back then was to capture part of the population that exhibited a rather short attention span for religious matters and to thus increase the pool of potential candidates to the priesthood. I will leave the fine details of what thereafter followed to the curious reader to seek out, but below is a summary of what I consider to be more than compelling, edge –of-your-seat, shut-up-and-bring-me-some-more-popcorns-and-another-Mosi aspects of the soccer team TP Mazembe. Oh, and I have not utilized a national team for my prototype because national teams are merely derivatives of soccer clubs and as such draw their strength (or weaknesses) directly from how strong the players are at club level.
TP Mazembe was the first club from this neck of the woods (Africa for those on their 6th bottle of Mosi) to reach the finals and come runner-up in the 2010 FIFA Club World Cup (CAF). They reached the top of this mountain by first walloping all the North African, West African and which-ever African club giants and are the only club to have won the African FIFA Club Champions in two consecutive years (2010 and 2011). They then went and beat the best club champions from the rest of the world, and were only stopped short of glory by the Italian soccer jagaurnaut Federazione di Calcio Internazionale Milano S.p.A. (better known as Inter Milan to unbelievers).
The most relevant little known fact to (alleged) soccer fans is that whenever TP Mazembe walk on to the field of sporting conflict, at least half the players are from Zambia.
For those who do not believe or merely just doubt that Zambia won the 2011 Africa Cup of Nations with the help of the fallen heroes of the Gabon disaster, the history and statistics I have served above provide some rational scientific or plausible statistical alternative explanation.
Much more importantly, it provides more I-am-not-going-to-work-because- I-am-watching-football reason that we have already won the 2012 African Nations Cup and stand a more than better chance of qualifying to the Brazil World Cup come 2014. For those who still believe, I do not think our fallen heroes would mock us by starting us off on a journey they do not think we can finish.
Compared to the European, South American or Asian soccer platforms, Lubumbashi is just as far away as driving to work through Lusaka traffic if you take your flight from Ndola (or Lusaka). Instead of all our best players gaging ignorantly about wishing to play in the European leagues, the day has fully arrived that our children and younger brothers can unashamedly state their aspirations to play in the Southern and Central African soccer platform. Those who are still wondering what in money terms constitutes a viable, sustainable global soccer platform, bear in mind that TP Mazembe had at the last count annual revenue of 8 million Euros and climbing. And yes, they do have a Jose Mourihno – his name is Katumbi. Bear also in mind that Zambia in our march to victory in the Africa Cup of Nations 2011 beat teams with an excess of seasoned giants from the European leagues.
Zambian players already comprise at least half of the only African club to reach the finals of club world soccer championship so we might as well come to terms with the simple truth. The fact that this platform is unrecognized and practically unknown with only one showing at the FIFA Club World Cup makes us the underrated underdogs. Let us cherish our own brand and discipline of soccer. As much as it is futile to make coffee or tea with yesterday’s hot water, imitating soccer patterns that were valid yesterday will be our sporting downfall.
I therefore with these simple words not merely wish our sporting heroes a clear path to victory unencumbered by political and administrative bungling. The stronghold of this platform may be in Congo, but we have the advantage of better sport administration and a much more peaceful political climate in comparison. Do the maths and you will see that the victory is already ours whether we like it or not. The statistical science or numbers are on our side. The fallen heroes are on our side. We merely need to decide whether to keep this victory or give it to another less worthy.
President Michael Sata is deeply shocked and saddened over the death of former Kasama Catholic Archdiocese Apostolic Administrator Father Ignatius Mwebe who died on Thursday evening in a road traffic accident.
Father Mwebe was on his way from Lusaka when he got involved in a road traffic accident. He was 62 years old.
A Fuso Fighter truck hit on the side of Fr Mwebe’s Toyota Hilux 20 kilometres before Kasama on Mpika Road around 18:30 hours
A motorist helped rush the clergyman to Kasama General Hospital where medical staff tried in vain to resuscitate him.
The Head of State said the late Father Mwebe offered his whole life as a selfless servant of the poor and vulnerable in our society.
Mr Sata said Father Mwebe was a humble and devoted priest whose legacy of self-sacrificing service to the Catholic Church and the nation is incomparable.
The President said he remembers Father Mwebe who also once served as Secretary General of the Zambia Episcopal Conference, as an active advocate of gender issues, constitutional matters and social justice.
This was contained in a statement released by State House Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations, George Chellah.
President Sata said he feels indebted to underscore Father Mwebe’s solid commitment to matters of justice and good governance in the country.
Mr Sata has expressed his heartfelt condolences on behalf of the First Lady and the Zambian Government to all Catholic faithfuls and Father Mwebe’s family over this tragic loss.
Meanwhile, Acting President Alexander Chikwanda says the death of father Ignatius Mwebe is heart breaking.
Mr Chikwanda who is also Finance Minister says Father Mwebe served the church and the nation with passion, love and humility.
He has described father Mwebe as a peace and nation builder.
Mr Chikwanda says Father Mwebe was a relentless voice and advocate of social justice and well being of the humanity.
This is contained in a statement issued by Secretary to the Cabinet, Evans Chibiliti.
Father MWEBE died in a road traffic accident in Kasama on Thursday evening.
