Police in Lusaka are said to be keeping a close eye on new UPND member William Banda on suspicion that he might be scheming to spearhead future demonstrations.

Police suspect that William Banda who was associated with violence during the reign of the former ruling MMD could have a hand in the demonstrations.

Sources have disclosed police also suspect that William Banda was part of the UPND members that organized the youths to demonstrate on Wednesday.

The sources have further revealed that a team of police officers has been constituted to closely monitor the maneuvers of the former MMD Lusaka province chairman who is now a UPND member.

And when reached for a comment, Mr. Banda denied any involvement in the planned future demonstrations by the UPND.

He told QFM in an interview that he was shocked that police visited his residence on Wednesday suspecting that he could be ferrying cadres to the UPND secretariat in readiness for the demonstration.

He wondered how he could be part of the demonstrations when he was attending a court session at the time of the demonstrations.

Mr Banda said some Police officers even went to court just to check on him without asking him any questions.

The Zambia Police were not available for immediate reaction.

[QFM]

President Michael Sata has said that amending the law to allow dual citizenship has its consequences. Mr Sata said that if the law is changed, there will be more Zambians and jobs will be taken away by other nationalities living in the country.

The President was responding to a question from a Zambian living in England during a dinner hosted for him at the Zambian High Commissioner’s residence. Mr Sata has advised Zambians living abroad to return home and compete for jobs with their compatriots.

The President also said that he has a duty to protect the majority of Zambians especially poor citizens.

Agriculture Minister Emmanuel Chenda has urged Zambians in the Diaspora to acquire land which he said is readily available for economic development. Mr Chenda said that about one hundred thousand hectares of land is ready for investors.

ZNBC

As we continue to promote Poetry in Zambia ; here are this weeks poems ,enjoy.

this Saturday we are having our regular poetry shows .
BitterSweet Poetry- The Warmth Within Saturday 7th June
Time: 19:00-21:00
Venue: Mulungushi Conference Center side Room 4
Cover: K30000/head but if you bring someone along K20000/head.
When its cold outside… Come experience the warmth within.

IN2 THA NIGHT by ‘Chifwanti Zulu

The fine day slowly n soulfully creeps
Right into the night as the sun sleeps
The sweet air weeps in fear of darkness
Only to be consoled by the fair grace
Poured out by the moon in form of soft light
The stars carefully peep out of the night
Glittering gloriously as precious stones
No such brightness has the sky ever known
Into the glorious night, I solemnly stare
Calmly, I breathe the sweet night air
This ambience commands a great sense of awe
Leaving on my face a most beautiful glow
With such excitement, my eyes twinkle
My inmost soul bathes in this magnificent sprinkle
That gracefully falls from the heavens so bright
And I’m forever lost into the night.

The Demon Lives by Temani Chipego Lungu

Something is missing in me;
I feel it each time I breathe;
All I know to do is bleed;
I wonder how I feel a beat;
From a heart that does not exist;
Appa-rent-ly;
It’s not you, it’s me;
I mean there is nothing really you did?
You JUST abused me;
I said NO!
Do not touch me;
And you said Chi-pe-go;
Please do not worry;
It will not hurt one bit;
But hurt is all you did;
How are you? you have the nerve to ask me;
I say alive, though with that dead heart that beats;
I mean to say empty;
But I don’t for, how dare you be so naive;
I mean;
Did you not see;
The tear forming on my left eyes eyelid;
As you effortlessly, clawed that knife over my thin skin;
You took from me my being;
I tried to fight you, I was weak;
I sat in silence, I cannot win;
I think to shed a tear, I will not blink;
And all who watched did nothing;
Ridiculed me, uplifted you and said do not worry about him!

So please leave me alone;
You do not want to meet the demon;
That you birthed;
Onto this earth;
It is a curse;
And it makes me feel worse;
At the fact that my demon has your face;
If you do not get it by now, I am with rage;
For anger will not contain;
The hurt, the hate, the pain;
Let it rain;
For the demon has mastered its cage;
Proud label around its neck marking ‘cannot be tamed’
He knows no love, please do not attempt to befriend;
For where were you when it mattered most;
Before I crossed the end;
I wailed ‘save me’ before Chipego gets lost;
You watched him use me, take me, break me, abuse me and now I should comprehend?

They say, you sow the seed;
And so you must reap;
No one gave a heartbeat to help me;
So I gave into insanity;
Now that the demon lives;
You want to save me?
Or is it him?
For what makes you think it is Chipego speaking?
I remember a day;
I remember him sitting;
And thinking why he felt like he was slipping;
As though some demon, was taking the best of him;
I have a little secret and I will let you know;
Chipego is still breathing, but not for long!

…THE END by Milan Sichinga

Today we’re going to play a game,
A game where when a sentence finishes you start with the same,
The same time remember to rhyme,
To rhyme in all the lines,
Lines that will classify this as the greatest poem ever,
Ever had a threesome? NEVER!
Never have and perhaps never will,
Will that make me less than a man, any less real?
Real men don’t need sexual exploits to be men,
Men are warriors, who stick up for their women in the end,
The end doesn’t necessarily have to be death,
Death is just another form of shock that takes away your breath,
Breathtaking bravery is what has won wars,
Wars are more than chaps banging boots on my doors,
Doors are open to anybody who can challenge me,
Me want somebody to be the best they can be,
Be honest with me and I’ll buy you a beer,
Beer unites us, makes us want to cheer,
Cheer for the success, the troubles, and the emotions that arrest our hearts,
Hearts are for the evil to take apart,
Apart from that hearts are there for men to break,
Break her heart no more for goodness sake,
For goodness sake don’t allow him to treat you like fool,
A fool who’s never been to school,
School I’ve come to realize is the pinnacle of African life,
Life means much more than husband and wife,
Wife of a preacher and so now she thinks she can preach,
Preach what? To whom? Sorry but there’s nothing that you can teach,
Teach yourself first before teaching others,
Others have more worries about their sisters and brothers,
Brothers are less trouble but sisters can get you killed,
Killed because the fear of death in you wasn’t so ably instilled,
Instilled some great principles in this here young lady,
Lady just threw them away like she was just crazy,
Crazy how far the rules to this poem have been followed,
Followed so much that now I feel hollowed,
Hollowed by the immensity of the words as they come,
Come with me and you’ll never ever feel dumb,
Dumb like a boy who repeats a grade three times,
Times are getting hard so I’m failing to find rhymes,
Rhymes I’ve already told you will make this poem great my friend,
Friend? In case you haven’t noticed this is the end…
(My Intellect’s Loud and Noisy-MILAN)

By Kapa187

Zambian fashion designer Kapasa Musonda will be lauching her label Mangishi-Love this  Saturday 9th June at Hotel Intercontinental. Guest performance by Dezert Roze!!! 

VIP tickets are K200 000 and regular tickets are K100 000.

Like her on facebook  for more information about the launch http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mangishi-Love/276281285744554

We recently had an interview with the fashion designer.

KAPA187:When did you first fall in love with fashion designing?

Kapasa Musonda: Id have to say 6th grade. I remember coming back home from school and sketching out a bunch of designs, I particularly remember sketching a dress inspired by my mothers palm trees. Man, I wish I still had that sketch book, they were all kinds of designs. Those were some of the happiest moments!

KAPA187:When did you get serious about fashion designing , and when you went to study it at college was your family supportive.

Kapasa Musonda:Id say just after writing my 12th grade exams, the period I was awaiting my results. I had designed my friends and I graduation outfits and that really was the beginning of my fashion journey. Sooner later I won a business plan competition which earned me a trip to the U.S and whilst there I won myself a fashion Scholarship. I guess I still feel like everything just fell I into place and I haven’t looked back since. My family were and are still very supportive and that has really helped me strive the extra mile and it’s been rewarding knowing they are proud of all my achievments and are my number one fans

KAPA187:What do you think is the biggest misconception about working in the fashion industry?

Kapasa Musonda:That it’s easy and as long as you have a good fashion sense then you can work in the fashion industry. You really need to have some form of fashion related training depending on what u want to specialize in. Once your in the fashion industry you learn there is a lot involved, everything is a process and there is a specific expectation to every job you take, you really can’t wing anything unless you are working for yourself ofcourse but even that requires acquired knowledge and experience.

KAPA187: Describe the general process you go through to design and realize a piece of clothing.

Kapasa Musonda:Well first I look for my inspiration and decide where I want to go with the collection. Inspiration can be anything, photographs, fabric, color pallettes, flowers, a destinatin…anything that gets your creative juices flowing. Then I sketch it out and it’s off to the fabric store. I then start to make the first samples, bringing the sketch to life. Usually I use my dress form at this point and this always helps in acquiring the perfect fit, there after I fit the drape onto a model. If it is a good fit, I will transfer that to paper and make the pattern and make all the necesary calculations and adjust accordingly. The pattern is cut onto sample fabric and sewn together. The sample is fitted on the model again and if it is not a perfect fit it’s back to adjusting the pattern but if it fits perfectly then the pattern can be cut onto the final fabric and sewn. The rest is styling and final touches. That’s the general process, it requires you to be a perfectionist, which I fortunately/unfortunately am, because you really need to pay close attention to detail!

KAPA187:Who are some of your favorite designers and why?

Kapasa Musonda:Coco Chanel period! Her originality, strength and work ethic are qualities I try to work by and have helped build and mould my fashion career. To think she built her empire from nothing and long after her death it lives on. She did what had not been done before, she gave women a new life through her pieces, she set fashion trends that have inspired designers like myself all over the world. She made fashion her life and I can truly relate to that. Coco Chanel once said…”To be irreplaceable, one must be different” a quote I live by everyday.

KAPA187:Fashion is always changing , nothing stays in for too long. How do you keep your pieces original and fresh?

Kapasa Musonda:Well I’m an artist first so I’m always letting my artistic imagination run wild and that keeps me inspired. No matter what the inspiration I see to it that my piece embody modernity, sophistication and uniquness. At this point I know my customer, what he or she likes and wants to feel like so I am able to keep my pieces original and fresh. I also am a sucker for setting trends and to do that, uv got to be original!

KAPA187: What one piece of advice would you give to someone wanting to start a career in fashion?

Kapasa Musonda:Go for it, don’t give yourself the slightest chance to think twice about it because you will regret it. Once your on your fashion journey, be open minded, trust your creative instincts, think outside the box, learn and learn some more, listen, experience cultures and be inspired. I could go on, but most of all be you and stay true to yourself because it will help you discover who you are as a designer and what you want to say with and thru your pieces.

KAPA187: Describe how it felt the first time you saw one of your designs on the runway.

Kapasa Musonda:It was sureal, to see what began as a wish come to life was just so emotional. I remember feeling so accomplished in that moment as though time had stopped in just that very moment. Only four years prior I had this vision, this dream, this belief, this hope and standing there at the other end of the runway it was flashin right before my eyes , A simple but exhilarating experience!

KAPA187: You have worked in California but what do you think of the fashion industry back in Zambia?

Kapasa Musonda:  I learnt and experienced a lot in a place that has one of the beat fashion industrys in the world and that gave me the insight and confidence I needed to achieve the next big thing in my life which brings me here! I am back in my homeland, Zambia and am working towards a label launch which I’m super excited about. I think the fashion industry here is getting some much needed attention. I feel people are beginning to recognize local talent and are actually supporting it! Truth be told, the industry can only grow and get better if designers like myself develop it, create opportunies for others and introduce new methods of doing things and produce garments of international quality and standards. I hope I can lead by example, i plan to!

KAPA187: I think it is safe to say that you are living your dream , where do you see yourself in the next 10 years.

Kapasa Musonda:Thanks, I am certainly happy with where I have reached thus far in my career but I still feel there is a lot lot more I want to experience, try and achieve. Ten years from now I see my label, Mangishi-love…ML being an established brand both locally and internationaly. Ten years from now I feel I would have structred a solid platform for upcoming fashion designers and fashion students who are trying to find their way into the fashion industry through internship programmes and training facilities.

KAPA187: Tell us a fun fact about yourself that not many people know.

Kapasa Musonda:Haha, let me think about that first. Well Im addicted to old school ragga, it’s the only music I will dance to anywhere (yes anywhere) as long as I hear it play, it’s almost like I loose myself in the music can’t quite describe it

KAPA187: which of your projects has given you the most satisfaction?

Kapasa Musonda:My debut fashion show in Los Angeles. Still remember all the bright lights, 10000 people witnessing my designs from the runway and the walk right after with the applaud, such a rewarding moment. When you design you don’t know what effect you will have on people thru your pieces. To see it fitting perfectly on a person and have people marvel at it, it’s a feeling I can’t quite explain. I just love to make people happy thru my clothing. Fashion design is my life and everyday I get to do it is such a treat for me. As much as that will always be a memorable show, I think my label launch this March will top that!

“Mangishi is a piece of wire twisted and spun into an artistic craft. To us it is like a piece of thread spun and sewn into a fabric creating a garment. Love is simply because we love what we do! We are hopeless creatives at heart who just want to make a statement thru our Clothing. We want you relate to our design aesthetic and discover your individual style within the brand that allows you to express who you are. Our pieces are one of a kind, they are made to enhance and blend in with your closet so that your favorites are never forgotten.”

Take a look at some of her designs

By Kapa187

The opposition Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) has joined in condemning the brutality of the police on the UPND cadres.

MMD Treasurer Mwansa Mbulakulima says the behavior exhibited by Lusaka province commissioner of police Charity Katanga only shows that she has turned herself into a PF cadre.

Mr. Mbulakulima has warned Ms. Katanga to be careful with how she conducts herself during operations stating that she might be currently pleasing her masters and making a name for herself but risks making history by being the first Zambian to stand before the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Speaking at a media briefing this morning, Mr. Mbulakulima says Ms Katanga, as a woman, should have been more systematic in handling the UPND youths who were trying to protest.

He says Ms Katanga, being a professional she is known to be, must have used the professional methods of crowd control instead of declaring war on the youths who are Zambian citizens.

Mr. Mbulakulima has since challenged the Lusaka province police commissioner to clearly state what she meant when she stated that what happened yesterday was just the beginning of things to come.

Meanwhile, MMD National Secretary Richard Kachingwe says people sowing the seed of division in the party are wasting their time.

Major Kachingwe says no top member of the party is intending to leave the party, contrary to some media reports.

He says reports that the party’s national executive committee is intending to expel its NEC member Felix Mutati, are misplaced.

Major Kachingwe adds that Mr. Mutati still remains the leader of the opposition in parliament.

And Major Kachingwe has announced that the party has given a general amnesty to all members who were either expelled or willingly left the party.

He has also appealed to silent members of the party such as former district commissioners and former ambassadors who had their contracts terminate with the coming of the PF into government to re-join the party.

QFM

The MMD has said it is not planning to expel Felix Mutati from the party following his alleged connections with the Patriotic Front (PF).The former ruling party says the story, which was carried in the Post Newspaper is a mere fabrication and simple imagination meant to cause confusion in the MMD.

Mr Mutati who is MMD chairman for Commerce and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament has been accused of persuading some of the party members to join the PF because of lack of confidence in the newly elected party president Nevers Mumba.MMD national secretary Richard Kachingwe said in a statement in Lusaka that it was untrue that its member and leader of the opposition in parliament was facing expulsion from the party.

“There have been numerous press reports to the effect that Felix Mutati is facing expulsion from the MMD. This is a blatant lie,” he said.Major Kachingwe said Mr Mutati was a member of the party who expressed his right in line with Article nine (9) D of the party’s constitution which says that a member has a right to elect, be elected or appointed to any position of authority within the party.

On Mutati’s position as leader of the opposition in parliament, Major Kachingwe said the party had no intention to change the status quo.Mr Mutati who is Member of Parliament (MP) for Lunte constituency was among six other contenders who lost the MMD party presidential bid to
Dr Mumba.