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Lusaka province police commissioner Charity Katanga
Chilanga police have finally released a MUVI TV video camera they confiscated on allegations that a journalist from the institution used it to capture a brutalized suspect in the missing ivory case.
However the footage has since been erased before releasing the video camera.
The release of the video camera comes barely a day after MUVI TV legal representatives gave police a seven day ultimatum.
Meanwhile Human Rights Commission Director Enock Mulembe, has strongly condemned the detention on Thursday of two journalists Bruce Mwale from Muvi TV and Delphine Zulu from Times of Zambia for following up the country’s biggest ivory theft scandal.
Mr. Mulembe says journalists had the duty to inform the nation of developments in the ivory theft case and that police has no justification for stopping journalists from doing their duties.
And Mr. Mulembe has charged that police abrogated the law of the rights of suspects when they tortured a suspect allegedly involved in the ivory scam.
He says the Zambia police service is by law not allowed to torture a suspect regardless of the circumstances.
On Friday Lusaka district Police Commissioner Charity Katanga dared MUVI TV to report her to the Inspector General of police over the confiscated video camera.
Mrs. Katanga told MUVI TV news in a telephone interview, Friday, that the television station was not suppose to capture the suspect linked to the missing ivory scam.
Ivory worth about two billion Kwacha has since gone missing from the Zambia Wildlife Authority-ZAWA- storeroom and police have since apprehended two game scouts in connection with the alleged crime.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”
(1 John 1:9, ESV)
TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria
Do you need a fresh start today? Even as believers in Jesus, we all make mistakes and wrong choices. The Bible says that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. But the good news is that we don’t have to stay separated from God in our sin. God wants us to come to Him so He can forgive us, cleanse us and give us a fresh start.
No matter what happened yesterday, or even five minutes ago, God is waiting for you with open arms. Don’t let the enemy condemn you and lie to you today. God is not mad at you. He loves you and longs to restore everything in your life. Confess your sins to God and allow Him to cleanse you today. Choose to forgive others so that you can receive God’s forgiveness. Ask the Holy Spirit to keep you close so that you can live a life pleasing to Him. As you draw close to God, He will draw close to you and show you His great love and blessing all the days of your life!
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Heavenly Father, thank You for receiving me just as I am. Today I confess my sins to You and ask You to cleanse me. I choose to forgive others so that You can forgive me. Keep me close so that I can live a life that is pleasing to You in Jesus’ name. Amen.
— Joel & Victoria Osteen
The Movement for Multi Party Democracy (MMD) has accepted the resignation this week of Lunte Member of Parliament Felix Mutati as leader of the opposition in parliament.
Party president Dr. Nevers Mumba says the MMD has accepted the development after receiving the resignation letter from Mr. Mutati. Dr. Mumba said that it was Mr. Mutati’s view that there was divided support for him mostly among MMD parliamentarians.
Accordingly Mr. Mutati indicated that some MMD MPs were allegedly petitioning his removal and that since he did not receive full support he had to step down.
Meanwhile Dr. Mumba has charged that it is premature for people to insinuate that the MMD has lost the position of leader of the opposition in parliament when the speaker of the national assembly has not delivered a ruling on the matter.
On Wednesday, Chipili member of Parliament (MP) Davies Mwila asked Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini to nullify the appointment of Mr Mutati as leader of the opposition because the MMD no longer has the required numbers in the House.
But Dr Matibini reserved ruling on the matter, saying he would deliver his verdict after the July 5 parliamentary by-elections.
According to the parliamentary legislation, a party can only be recognised as an official opposition and appoint a leader of the opposition if it has a membership of at least one-third of 158 MPs. This translates to at least 53 seats.
The leader of the opposition is entitled to an office at Parliament and treated with the respect of a Cabinet minister.
In his point of order on Tuesday, Mr Mwila stated that Mr Mutati should not continue serving as leader of the opposition because the MMD seats have dropped from 54 to 51, which is below the minimum requirement.
This follows the High Court’s decision to nullify the Chama North and Livingstone seats as well as the declaration of the Muchinga seat vacant after the death of former Vice-President George Kunda.
The MMD is contesting the Muchinga and Chama North parliamentary by-elections set for July 5 but not the Livingstone seat.
Zesco United ended their three match winless run after beating Indeni 1-0 away in their Ndola derby on Saturday in this week 15 game.
Wedson Nyirenda’s side had collected just two points from their last three Faz Super Division games since defeating National Assembly 2-1 away on May 27.
A 44th minute goal scored by Kangwa Chileshe handed Zesco the three points to see them return to the top of the table for at least 24 hours.
Zesco are level on 32 points with Zanaco who could reclaim top spot with a home win on Saturday against Nkana in Lusaka.
Elsewhere, defending Super Division champions Power Dynamos stayed third after a scrappy 1-0 home win over Red arrows at Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe.
Arrows stay fourth on 24 points despite the loss while Power shift to 28 points.
And at Dola Hill in Ndola, Napsa Stars suffered their first away loss on the Copperbelt since returning to the Super Division this season.
A Zebron Njobvu brace sent Napsa down to a 2-1 loss in Ndola.
Harry Milanzi scored Napsa’s consolation goal although his side stays fifth despite the defeat as the league takes a three week recess before resuming on July 14.
MTN/FAZ Super Division Week 15
23/06/2012
Konkola Mine Police 1-National Assembly 2
Green Buffaloes 2-Konkola Blades 0
Nchanga Rangers 0-Green Eagles 1
Nakambala Leopards 1-Roan United 1
Power Dynamos 1-Red Arrows 0
Forest Rangers 2-Napsa Stars 1
Indeni 0-Zesco United 0
Police in Kabwe have warned and cautioned Mkushi South MMD Member of Parliament Sidney Chisanga for allegedly defaming President Michael Sata.
Central Province Police Commissioner, Solomon Jere has confirmed that Mr Chisanga was warned and cautioned on Thursday.
Dr Jere has explained that Mr. Chisanga is alleged to have defamed President Sata during a public meeting he held at Ching’ombe in Luano valley in his constituency early this week.
He says Mr. Chisanga was accompanied by his lawyer during the interrogations.
Livingstone General Hospital Superintendent Namani Moonze has asked government to consider overhauling the entire laundry department at the health institution.
Dr. Moonze says the equipment in the laundry department is obsolete and needs urgent attention.
He was speaking shortly before Vice President Guy Scott undertook a tour of Livingstone General Hospital.
Dr. Moonze also says the generator, which supplies electricity to the theatre and maternity need to be replaced.
He says the kitchen also needs an overhaul and that there is need to improve diagnostic equipment.
And speaking to journalists shortly after the tour of the hospital, Dr. Scott says infrastructure has been deprived of maintenance over the years.
He has explained that many parts of the country face similar problems of having dilapidated infrastructure.
Earlier, Vice President also visited the delivery room where he was born from.
Meanwhile, Dr. Scott has commissioned the construction of self- contained plastic tank toilets in Maramba township.
He says government will scrutinise the plastic tank toilets with a possibility of extending the project to other parts of the country, which have similar sanitation problems.
And Enviro Systems and Solutions Africa Representative Garry Mckenna says his firm has donated twenty units of toilets which are being installed in Maramba.
Mr. Mckenna says the toilets do not use water and chemicals.
Vice President GUY SCOTT says if Zambia is not careful Zimbabwe will benefit more from the joint hosting of the United Nations World Tourism Conference.
Dr. Scott says this is because Zambia has dilapidated infrastructure, which needs to be fixed.
He says there is need to invest in infrastructure development if Zambia is to benefit fully from the joint hosting of the United Nations World Tourism Conference.
The Vice President says government will also have to address issues affecting the tourism industry such as visa charges.
He was speaking when he featured on a special programme on Radio Mosi-o-tunya in Livingstone last evening.
And Dr. Scott says there is nothing controversial about President Michael Sata inviting NAREP President Elias Chipimo Junior and FDD President Edith Nawakwi to Rio, Brazil.
And speaking on the same programme, Chongwe PF Member of Parliament Sylvia Masebo said Zambia’s joint hosting of the UN World Tourism Conference will put the country on the map and create employment.
And Dr. Scott has appealed to Patriotic Front-PF party members to embrace new members who are joining the party.
Dr. Scott who is also PF party Vice President explained that there are many people who are joining the ruling party and that it is important for members to embrace them and develop Zambia together.
He was speaking when he addressed PF party members shortly after he arrived in the tourist capital Livingstone on Friday.
Dr. Scott says it is evident that the PF party is growing in Southern Province following the large crowd, which even followed him to his room.
The Vice President has also urged members to be tolerant and welcome those who had left the party.
He said members should not waste time on petty jealous and that they should work together in fixing the country.
Dr. Scott is in Livingstone to see how the tourism sector is doing and to drum up support for the PF candidate Joseph Akafumba in the Livingstone Central Parliamentary by-election slated for 5th July, 2012.
The Vice President is accompanied by his wife Charlotte and Chongwe PF Member of Parliament Sylvia Masebo.
Community Development, Mother and Child Health Deputy Minister Jean Kapata (l) arrives at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka with Florence Mampa who has been evacuated to University Teaching Hospital for medical attention
FLORENCE Mampa, the 24-year-old from Samfya who had enlarged breasts, has undergone what doctors are describing a successful plastic surgery at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH).
Ms Mampa underwent a five-hour surgery from 09:00 hours to 14:00 hours on Thursday.
UTH managing director Luckson Kasonka revealed this in an interview yesterday in Lusaka.
He said two general surgeons and one plastic surgeon conducted the surgery to remove 16.25 kilogrammes of breast material.
Dr Kasonka explained that 8.1kg of flesh was removed from the left breast and 8.15kg from the right side.
He said Ms Mampa’s breasts have been down-sized to normal levels.
Dr Kasonka said there was no excessive bleeding during the operation, adding the tumour was not cancerous.
He said Ms Mampa, who was under anesthesia during operation, was resuscitated using assisted ventilation in the intensive care unit (ICU).
“She was removed from ICU around midnight and this morning [yesterday], she was moved to the premium ward [high cost]. She is in high spirits and responding well to treatment,” Dr Kasonka said.
He said doctors will observe Ms Mampa for some time before she is discharged.
Dr Kasonka said so far the wounds are not showing any signs of infection and that doctors are optimistic recovery will be successful.
On Sunday, Dr Kasonka said a scan conducted on Ms Mampa last week revealed that the breasts are not cancerous.
Recently, Government evacuated her from Samfya to Lusaka for a series of tests at the UTH.
Deputy Minister of Community Development, Mother and Child Health Jean Kapata flew to Samfya to ensure that Ms Mampa was evacuated as quickly as possible.
Meanwood Property Development Limited facilitated the evacuation.
Edith Nawakwi, a graduate of Economics of Energy and Development from the University of London Imperial College,
FORUM for Democracy and Development president Edith Nawakwi says she does not regret accepting President Sata’s invitation to travel with him to Brazil because her knowledge base has grown through interaction with delegates.
Ms Nawakwi, a graduate of economics of energy and development from the University of London Imperial College, thanked President Sata for the opportunity to travel with him to the Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development.
“We need to step out of our political cocoons and see what others are doing. If I didn’t come here, I would not have known which way the world is going in terms of sustainable development,” she said.
She said she would continue to play her part in seeing to it that sustainable development is enhanced in Zambia.
“I will criticise when that is due but we need a pool of knowledge to take the country forward. We can all contribute to national development in various ways,” she said.
Ms Nawakwi and National Restoration Party President Elias Chipimo Junior are part of the presidential delegation but have been criticised by fellow opposition leaders for accepting the invitation.
And Ms Nawakwi says African countries, including Zambia, should be more innovative in sourcing financing for the implementation of the green economy to enhance living standards and sustainable development.
Ms Nawakwi says resources might not always be forthcoming from the West and Africa needs to fill the financing gaps.
“The West does not owe us a living. We have to be creative and find money to make the objectives of Rio+20 a reality. Some of the resources have to be sourced internally. We have to improve living standards by making the environment safer,” she said in an interview yesterday.
She said the West is facing its own financial problems and it would not be realistic for Africa to depend on it for aid.
Rio+20, attended by at least 138 heads of State and government and over 50,000 delegates, has been tasked to make the world a better place for all in the next 20 years.
“This is a big task which calls for more innovation. I am hoping the financing gaps will not force Africa to go back on its commitment to give its citizens a better future,” she said.
On her experiences at the Rio+20 conference, the former minister of energy said the conference was an eye-opener and an enriching experience.
“I have a lot to take away from this conference. The experiences are very fulfilling. I am particularly happy that Africa was more united at this conference and some of the continent’s issues have been taken on board in the outcome document.
“Rio+20 is about making the world better in the next 20 years and I believe that is possible,” she said.
Ms Nawakwi said the world has recognised the African voice on climate change and sustainable development and that although some issues are still pending, she is happy with the compromises.
“This is about compromise. We may not get everything we want at a conference attended by over 130 countries but a policy direction and the economic agenda for the next 20 years has been set. That gives us hope,” she said.
She called for greater participation of women and youths in development to make Rio+20 a success.
“Women make up a huge percentage of the informal sector, particularly in agriculture, which is the world’s largest employer, so their concerns have to be taken into account,” she said.
She said Zambia and other African countries have to sort out energy problems to ensure more efficient and environmentally friendly energy use.
“We have to explore alternative sources of energy like solar and others to enhance access to energy. Alternative sources are much cheaper than electricity,”she said.
And on the efforts of Brazil towards a green economy, Ms Nawakwi said Zambia has a lot to learn from the impact of the South American country on the world.
“When we were discussing oil from grass in Zambia, Brazil was already making ethanol from sugar cane. That is the technology we have to adopt to survive. Brazil is a great inspiration,”she said.
She said over the years, countries like Brazil and India have managed to pull some of their people out of extreme poverty to middle-income citizens by taking deliberate efforts towards sustainable development.
“Brazil is a major bread basket of South America because of its commitment to a green economy. The country has graduated to one of the most powerful economies in the world,” Ms Nawakwi said.
Bruce Mwape has been named as the new head coach of Roan United.
Mwape bounces back into coaching 17 days after being fired by Nchanga Rangers.
Roan sponsors China Luanshya Copper Mines spokersperson Sydney Chileya announced Mwape’s appointment on Friday afternoon.
“I can confirm that Mr. Bruce Mwape is the new head coach of Roan United Football Club. He takes over from Mr.
Chris Chibuye who was released last month. He was picked from 9 coaches who applied for the job,” Chileya revealed.
He said Mwape’s contract will last until the end of the season.
Chileya said Mwape has been tasked to move the Kafubu outfit out of the relegation zone.
Mwape begins life at Roan on Saturday when the Luanshya side face Nakambala Leopards away in Mazabuka in a Super Division Week 15 encounter.
Roan are second from the bottom of the Super Division table with 11 points after week 14 matches.
Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini has warned ministers against reporting late to the House after tea-break.
Dr Matibini said he is dismayed with the tendency as it is painting a bad picture of Government.
He said ministers should lead by example by reporting back to the House earlier than backbenchers, and not the other way round.
The Speaker made this ruling after a point of order raised by Mkushi South member of Parliament (MP) Sydney Chisanga (MMD).
Mr Chisanga wanted to know whether ministers are in order to report back late for parliamentary business after tea-break.
This was after ministers and other MPs were absent after the 16:15 hours to 16:30 hours tea-break.The Speaker said the point of order was timely as he has been observing the MPs for a long time now.Dr Matibini said it is not in order for him to wait for MPs after the break.He said it should be MPs to wait for the Speaker so that he can resume deliberations after tea-break.
“My ruling on this point of order is that ministers and indeed all MPs are not supposed to be outside the House when it is in session.They are not in order to do so and I’m not going to allow any member to be drinking tea when I am here seated listening to the deliberations,” he said.
Dr Matibini said the tendency to report back late not only by ministers but all MPs is against parliamentary proceedings.He said it is weakening the debate in the House, adding that the tendency should come to an end.
“I expect this tendency to come to an end now that I have sounded this warning,” he said.
Meanwhile, the House yesterday heard that Government needs about US$76 million to revamp the Mulobezi railway line.Deputy Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication Andrew Mwali said this in response to a question from Mulobezi MP Hastings Sililo.
This was during questions for oral answer.
Mr Sililo wanted to know the owners of the Mulobezi railway line and whether Government is aware the railway line is dangerous to the travelling public.Dr Mwali said Government owns the Mulobezi railway line and is supervised by Zambia Railways.
He said Government is aware of the deplorable state of the railway line and has since engaged Zambia Railways so that some wagons and passenger trains can be re-deployed back on that line.
Dr Mwali said Government is looking at public private partnership to rehabilitate the railway line.
Prominent lawyer Steve Malama was put to rest rest in his home town of Kitwe on the Copperbelt.
Lawyers, clergymen and friends traveled long distances to bid farewell to their colleague and mentor.
William Nyirenda state council says the law fraternity has been robbed of a great man who always put the interests of others first.
Acting President Alexander Chikwanda said he has learnt with shock the death of prominent lawyer, Steven Malama.
Mr Chikwanda said in a statement issued by Secretary to the Cabinet Evans Chibiliti that the nation had lost one of the finest legal minds.
He said Mr Malama was selfless and indefatigable in defence, promotion of justice and good governance in the country.
“On behalf of the government and the people of Zambia, I covey heartfelt condolences to the family on the late Steven Malama and the Law Association of Zambia on this sad and untimely loss,” he said.
Meanwhile, Information, Broadcasting and Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda said the death of Mr Malama has robbed the nation of an asset not only to the legal fraternity but the justice system as a whole.
Mr Shamenda said in a statement released yesterday that Mr Malama has left behind an indelible and impeccable legacy of patriotic and selfless service to the nation during his 44-year legal practice stretching as far back as 1968.
Mr Malama who died on Monday was buried today at Nkana East cemetery.
A valedictory service was conducted at the Kitwe High Court at 09:00 hours while the church service took place at Our Lady of
Africa Catholic church in Riverside.
Mr Malama, 71, died on Monday morning on a plane flying from Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to Ndola.
He had connected through Lubumbashi from India where he had travelled on a business trip and medical review.
File:Police camped outside the United Party for National Development secretariat after a fracas in which they beat party youths, injuring four critically who are admitted to the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka
Youths in the country have condemned the police for apprehending two journalists for following up on reports of over 25 tones of government trophies estimated at about K50 billion that went missing from the ZAWA storeroom.
Speaking from Kabwe, Youth Governance Alliance spokesperson Antonio Mwanza says the action by the police should be condemned in strongest terms as it poses a great danger to press freedom and human rights.
Mr. Mwanza has bemoaned the growing levels of un-professionalism in the police service stating that it is unacceptable for the police to torture and brutalize innocent journalists simply for trying to inform the public about the ivory thefts.
He has since charged that there is need for restructuring in the police service to instill, professionalism which he says is lacking at the moment.
Police are yesterday reported to have detained two journalists from Muvi TV and the Times of Zambia for following up the country’s biggest ivory theft story.
‘There is absolutely no way I am going back there. I don’t have anyone left there, all my family members are here and others died right here in Zambia. I have been living happily here, why should I be forced to go back to a country that we fled war from in my current state?”
These are the words from 66-year-old Nyalumela Kashekele, an Angolan refugee at the Mayukwayukwa refugee settlement in Kaoma district in the Western Province of Zambia.
For Kashekele, who was born in 1946, going back to Angola is the last thing on her mind. She has no good memories of Angola, save alone for the little time she got to spend with her two children who were slain during the war.
“I don’t know what happened to any of my relatives. I don’t even remember correctly what happened to my children. All I know is that they were killed in cold blood,” says the aging Kashekele.
She is not the only one. There is also Chitondo Kasoka, another Angolan refugee from Moxico province. He might hold the ‘title’ of being one of the oldest refugees at the settlement after arriving soon after it was opened in 1966, but he, too, is devastated and unsure of the security situation in his native Angola.
“We ran away because of war and if they make us go back there now, what will become of us? I have been living here since I was 25 years old and all my parents have died here, there is no one in Angola that I know,” says Chitondo, who engages in farming at the settlement.
One-hundred-year-old Erculano Salugardo shares the same view.With him, all that the Zambian Government should do is allow those that have stayed at the settlement for a long time to stay and get integrated among Zambians.
“As you can see, I am very old and I don’t even have anyone to take care of me once I go back there. But for those that are still young and energetic, they can go if they so wish and engage in some income-generating activities such as farming,” he says.
For him, Zambia and particularly the Mayukwayukwa refugee settlement are home.
The settlement is the oldest in Africa and was established in 1966 to host Angolan refugees fleeing from the liberation war in that country. It is located about 105 kilometres north -west of Kaoma town and 197 kilometres from Mongu.
Its refugee population (as at April 30th) is now 9, 705. The majority (estimated to be 84 per cent) are Angolans with Burundians, Congolese and Rwandans sharing the other percentage.
Most of the new arrivals, estimated at 20 refugees per month at the settlement, are coming from the Democratic Republic of Congo, in the South Kivu Province.
The death of rebel leader Jonas Savimbi in April 2002 brought an end to the war leading to the signing of the tripartite agreement on November 28, 2002 in Luanda, Angola. This development opened the doors for the repatriation of Angolan refugees.
File:UNHCR staff member and Angolan refugees on board ZAF aircraft return home after many years in exile.(March 1, 2012 from Mongu Airport)
To this effect, a total of 14,695 Angolan refugees have since been repatriated between 2003 and 2011. This organised voluntary repatriation exercise, which is since set to expire at the end of this month, is still on, and more are being encouraged to return home, but under a lot of difficulties, most of them just like Kashekele, Salurgado and Chitondo do not want to be repatriated.
Mwaba Mumba, a Ministry of Home Affairs refugee officer at the settlement, also confirms that the repatriation exercise has not been well received among the refugees.
“Some of the reasons are that they don’t have families in Angola. Other reasons are that they have been in Zambia since 1966, so the idea of going back to Angola and re-integrating is not so appealing. Others were born here in the settlement and they regard this place as home, they don’t know anything about Angola and Portuguese,” says Mumba.
She says it has been difficult for her office as well as that of UNHCR to convince the refugees to voluntarily repatriate to their native land saying “almost half of them here don’t want to go back and the others that are willing to go are doing so out of fear that they will be arrested if they continued to stay after June 30th.”
But in putting the record straight, an official from the Ministry of Home Affairs disputes such assertions and says there will not be any arrests but that those that will choose to remain after the deadline “will only have to satisfy the immigration requirements.”
It is in this vein that UNHCR in collaboration with both the Zambian and the Angolan governments has continued to promote repatriation as the most favourable durable solution and as of end of December 2011, a total of 1,165 Angolan refugees returned.
With UNHCR assisting the returnees with transportation, documentation and some essential basic commodities for their travel, the Angolan government provided them with an integration package upon arrival in the area of origin. But what remains to be seen is whether the recent repatriation exercise will yield fruit bearing in mind the number of refugees who are defiant to returning.
Government on the other hand has already pledged to support the repatriation process and continually urges the refugees to take advantage of the repatriation exercise to return to their country.
“We would like to take this opportunity to again reassure our Angolan relatives that there is sustainable peace in Angola and therefore safe for them to return home and contribute to the development of the great country,” said Western Province minister John Kufuna when he accompanied UNHCR executive committee chairperson Jan Knutsson during his recent visit to the settlement ahead of the World Refugee Day, which fell on June 20 under the theme, One Refugee Without Hope is too Many: Working Towards a new Life.
But even his words were not enough to convince Daniel Mukumbi, a fourth-year seminary student and brother at the Mongu Diocese who is also unyielding, saying “we feel neglected by both the Zambian government and UNHCR”.
Apparently, with just a few days remaining before the Angolan refugees reach the D-day, when about 23, 000 Angolans’ status will cease, the Zambian Government has also kept the integration cards close to its chest.
However, in any refugee situation, it is a known fact that even when conditions in the country of origin have improved warranting return, there are a few refugees who may opt to make the host country their permanent home for various reasons.
In view of these improved conditions in the countries which once generated refugees and UNHCR stating that cessation comes into force this year on 30 June for Angolans and same date next year for Rwandans, it is still not known what will happen to those that are still defiant to returning home.
ZAMBEEF Products PLC has recorded an increase of 43% in revenue representing K652 billion in the last six months.
The company said the growth in revenue posted excludes the provision of Zamanita’s tax liability, adding that the business performed well with significant improvement in gross margins up from 31.5% in 2011 to 35% in 2012.
Zambeef Product chairperson Jacob Mwanza said the company recorded a reduction in the cost to income ratio from 25.7% in 2011 to 25% in 2012 leading to the operating profit increasing by 150% in Zambian Kwacha terms and 131% in United States dollar term.
Dr Mwanza said revenue increased by 43% to K652 billion excluding the provisions of Zamanita’s tax liability due to the key challenges encountered by Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA).
Speaking in Lusaka when he announced the interim result for six month period ended March 31, 2012 in Lusaka, Dr Mwanza said during the period under review, ZRA imposed a tax liability on Zamanita Limited with respect to the importation of oil in the previous financial year.
In a speech read for him by Board director Irene Muyenga, Dr Mwanza explained that in 2010, ZRA undertook an audit of Zamanita and advised of an incorrect tariff code being used for importation of palm oil.
Dr Mwanza said following subsequent discussions with ZRA, an assessment of K56.5 billion was issued by the ZRA in 2010.
In light of the assessment, Zamanita made an appeal to the ZRA which resulted in the assessment set aside as incorrect and in December 2010, ZRA Commissioner General issued a full and final settlement of K8.7 billion which was paid and Zamanita considered the matter closed.
“However, in January 2012, the ZRA issued a notice overturning the full and final settlement decision of the Commissioner General and issued in its place an assessment of K54.6 billion which is the original assessment plus accrued interest and VAT less the settlement paid to ZRA,” Dr Mwansa said.
He said Zambeef had been in on-going discussions with the ZRA to reach an appropriate settlement and has since referred the matter to the revenue appeals tribunals.
Dr Mwanza said the acquisition and integration of Mpongwe Farms into Zambeef’s operations had gone well.
Speaking at the same function, Zambeef Products chief executive officer Francis Grogan said the cropping section of the company had contributed 15% of the revenue and 19% of gross profitability.
Mr Grogan said 15,946 hectares was planted for summer crops with the majority of the land dedicated to soya beans and harvested over 35,000 tonnes of soya beans.
