Join our community of SUBSCRIBERS and be part of the conversation.
To subscribe, simply enter your email address on our website or click the subscribe button below. Don't worry, we respect your privacy and won't spam your inbox. Your information is safe with us.
Students at the Copperbelt University- CBU- in Kitwe on Wednesday boycotted classes protesting over a directive issued by the Acting Vice Chancellor Professor Naison Ngoma not to allow squatting in rooms at the campus.
Vice Chancellor Professor Naison Ngoma met with the Copperbelt University Student Union informing them about his decision.
In protest students at the institution gathered at the Monk square demanding for an address from Professor Ngoma.
Addressing the students, Professor Ngoma says the university wants to ensure that all students have decent accommodation.
He says plans are under way for the construction of more hostels within the university campus.
Professor Ngoma also disclosed that government through the public private partnership has already made funds available for the construction of new hostels at the university.
He however says, for now all students will continue staying at campus until the university finds alternative accommodation.
Lawyer, Mumba Kapumpa has withdrawn his legal services from Supreme Court Judge Philip Musonda in all matters related to the tribunal set up by President Michael Sata.
This is according to a statement issued by Mr Mumba Kapumpa advocates and issued to ZNBC on Wednesday evening.
President Michael Sata established a tribunal to probe the misconduct of Judge Philip Musonda and two other High court judges who have since filed in an injunction against the tribunal .
Judge Musonda who until now was being represented by Mr Mumba Kapumpa who was suspended pending the tribunal has since resumed work after he sought judicial a review.
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
The Southern African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) has advised Lusaka province commissioner of police Charity Katanga not to be too excited and take Lusaka as her home village.
SACCORD information officer Obby Chibuluma says it is very unfortunate that Ms. Katanga could openly declare that she has gone on a war path in relation to yesterday’s foiled UPND demostration.
Mr. Chibuluma says Ms. Katanga should not be emotional when doing her job but should sober up and follow the law.
He notes that the police should always be aware of the fact that there is a constitution governing the country and that human rights must always be respected.
Speaking in an interview with QFM, Mr. Chibuluma says Ms. Katanga’s behavior when stopping the UPND youths from going ahead with their planned demonstration showed that the police service is so excited and lacks professionalism.
He has since called on the Inspector General of Police Stella Libongani to take a responsibility of disciplining erring police OFFICERS
And the Human Rights Commission has condemned the move by the police yesterday morning to stop the United Party for National Development (UPND) youths from holding a peaceful demonstration to push for the stepping down of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Mutembo Nchito.
Commission’s Public relations manager Samuel Kansakha notes that the commission has since learnt that one of the UPND youths has been badly INJURED IN the fracas that the involved THE ZAMBIA Police.
Mr. Kansakha notes it was also wrong for the police to have attacked journalists who were merely doing their job.
He has since questioned why the police decided to use force on the youths who where unarmed.
Mr. Kasankha has told QFM news that the act by the police to stop the UPND youths from holding a peaceful demonstration is an impediment of their democratic right to express their views on governance issues.
Mr. Kasankha notes that citizens have a constitutional right to hold peaceful demonstrations and therefore the police should be seen to operate within the confines of the law.
Herve Renard is threatening to resign as Zambia coach if he is not paid his six months arrears.
Renard told French sports daily L’Equipe on Wednesday that he was not pleased to have gone half a year without pay with the 2012 African champions.
“I have not been paid for six months. After the Africa Cup, I took the decision to remain with the group, despite other big offers,” Renard said.
” I planned to go to the World Cup. That’s life, I’ve learnt my lesson.
“There is an incredible lack of respect and consideration. Enough is enough.
“If nothing is settled before the end of June, I am leaving.”
Renard returned for a second stint as Zambia coach in November last year after quitting in April 2010 to coach Angola on a two year deal that lasted just five months.
The Frenchman returned to replace his successor Dario Bonetti who was fired despite qualifying Zambia to the 2012 Africa Cup.
Zambia beat Zesco United 2-0 in two separate warm-up matches on Wednesday ahead of Saturday’s 2014 World Cup Group D qualifier against Ghana.
In the first match at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola, goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene scored from the spot-kick before striker Emmanuel Mayuka added the second.
In the second practise match, a goal each from winger Jonas Sakuwaha and striker James Chamanga saw Chipolopolo emerge 2-0 winners over the current Faz Super Division leaders from Ndola.
After the matches, coach Herve Renard declared Zambia ready for Ghana.
Renard said the Chipolopolo Boys have to be at their best to beat the Black Stars.
“We need to put up a good game to win.Ghana is one of the best teams in Africa” he said.
Ghana is expected to arrive in the country on Thursday after winding up their South Africa training camp.
The Black Stars who lead Group D with 3 points are scheduled to camp at Moba Hotel in Kitwe and train from Arthur Davies Stadium.
The opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) has said that it is ready for war with the Police. Special advisor to the UPND leader Douglas Siakalima said that the party will be ready to face the police following their declaration war as a result of today’s foiled upnd demonstration.
Mr. Siakalima said that what happened today is just the beginning of things to come stating that soon the party will hold mass demonstrations.
Speaking to journalists at the party secretariat shortly after the clashes with the Police, Mr. Siakalima said the conducted exhibited by the police was unprofessional.
He said that instead of arresting erring people, the police officers are busy harassing innocent citizens, a situation he described as unfortunate.
Mr. Siakalima said that the use of the police to silence citizens with concerns will not work. He said that Zambia is not a Police state for Police to be used to intimidate citizens with genuine concerns.
And Southern African Center for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) has counseled UPND youths over its foiled demonstration to push for removal of Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Mutembo Nchito.
In an interview with Qfm news, SACCORD information officer Obby Chibuluma said the UPND should have instead used other avenues to express themselves as opposed to resorting to demonstrating.
Mr. Chibuluma explained that the opposition party youths should have produced tangible evidence to substantiate their calls for the removal of the DDP rather than protest in the absence of evidence.
[pullquote]Mr. Chibuluma explained that the opposition party youths should have produced tangible evidence to substantiate their calls for the removal of the DDP rather than protest in the absence of evidence.[/pullquote]
He said Zambians should be committed to engaging in dialogue on issues of national interest before taking to the streets.
Police today broke up a demonstration by UPND youths and arrested a number of them after they defied an order not to go ahead with the demonstration.
Vice President Guy Scott has assured the nation that no Zambian will go hungry.
Dr Scott says government has already instructed the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit to carry out countrywide assessment to ascertain how many vulnerable households are in dire need of relief food.
He says 200 tonnes of maize will be distributed to four thousand people in Serenje District in few weeks.
Dr Scott says the distribution of Food is a normal routine and should not be politicized.
He says the distribution of relief food will help clear old maize stocks so that the new crop can be stored in the depots.
Dr Scott said this in Serenje Central province on Wednesday.
University Teaching Hospital (UTH) Managing Director Lackson Kasonka has said that he is elated at the remarkable progress former Energy and Water Development Minister Kenneth Konga who is admitted to the institution is making.
Dr Kasonka said Mr Konga was making impressive recovery and was responding “exceptionally well” to treatment.
He said Mr Konga’s blood pressure was brought to manageable levels and that he was undergoing physiotherapy treatment to address the numbness on his limbs, explaining that limbs often became numb when the blood pressure overtook one’s body.
He, however, said he was not in a position to state when the former Minister was likely to be discharged.
Mr Konga collapsed last week on Wednesday during interrogations with the joint investigative wings of Government. He was initially admitted to St John’s Medical Hospital before being transferred to UTH where he has been since.
The law enforcement agencies, early this year, seized the MMD Chavuma West parliamentarian’s luxurious Hummer motor vehicle which he said he acquired using money that Members of Parliament (MPs) got from National Assembly as car loans.
Mr Konga was also warned and cautioned over a multi-billion Kwacha Hotel situated near Kamwala, a semi-detached flat in Kabulonga and mining equipment in Makeni, property that has all been given back to him.
FILE: President Sata visits Robiana Muteka at the University Teaching hospital
University Teaching Hospital (UTH) Managing Director Lackson Kasonka has disclosed that the recent operation which resulted in the removal of a 14.5 kg tumour from the back of 24-year-old Robiana Muteka has not cured his problem.
Dr Kasonka said Robiana had been kept at UTH even after removal of the tumour because doctors wanted to monitor him as his case was peculiar and special and that the tumour was unpredictable.
He said Robiana had been undergoing weekly repeated blood tests and X-ray scans, among other tests and that the findings were that the tumour, which he described as neurofibromatosis, had continued to grow.
“It has migrated into the lungs. There is a growth of the same tumour in the lungs. What started as a non-cancerous tumour is rather cancerous,” he said.
He said one of Robiana’s lungs had literally been covered by the tumour thus rendering it “virtually useless” and that if he had to be operated on, the affected lung had to be removed.
Dr Kasonka said there were a number of things that needed to be considered before the 24-year-old Livingstone based Robiana could undergo another operation.
He said given the unpredictable nature of his disease, a similar thing would have occurred at any other health institution after the initial operation.
He said by and large, Robiana had been complaining of body pains.
Robiana was evacuated to the UTH in March this year from Livingstone following President Michael Sata’s directive to enable the youth access specialist treatment.
And Government has evacuated 24 year old Florence Mampa whose breasts have grown out of proportion from Samfya to Lusaka where she will undergo a series of tests at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH).
Community Development, Mother and Child Health Deputy Minister Jean Kapata who this morning flew to Samfya to get the patient and her mother said the patient will straightaway be admitted to UTH where doctors will start assessing her condition.
ZANIS reports that Ms. Kapata told journalists upon arrival from Samfya at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport that UTH Managing Director Dr. Lackson Kasonka has already organized a team of medical experts who will attend to the patient.
The Deputy Minister thanked Meanwood Investments Proprietor Robinson Zulu for chartering a plane to evacuate the patient from Samfya to Lusaka.
She urged the corporate world to partner with the Ministry of Community Development in helping people that are afflicted with different diseases especially in rural areas.
Ms. Kapata expressed optimism that Ms. Mampa’s case will be a success story just like that of Robiana Muteka where doctors at UTH managed to remove a 14.7 Kg tumor from his back.
And mother of the patient, Vivian Mampa thanked Government for the support and assistance it has given to her daughter in a bid to find a solution for her predicament.
Mrs. Mampa said with the care that Government is showing on the health and general wellbeing of its citizens, few people will be dying even from complicated cases.
Government has suspended disbursement of the Constituency Development Fund(CDF) to councils.
Chipata Mayor Goodson Thole confirmed in Chipata that ministry of Local Government and Housing has indicated that it would not release the money until an audit for previous has been carried out.
Mr Thole said that he was aware that some councilors and ward development committees have raised concerns with the dealy in the disbursement of the funds saying it would affect the developmental projects.
“The money of CDF will not be release now until the audit report,” he said.
And acting Chipata Municipal Council town clerk Caroline Mphande said the council had embarked on a land audit exercise.
Mrs Mphande said that the council was carrying out a land audit for plots issued from 2009 in various parts of the district.
She said plot owners were being asked for among other things offer letters and receipts for the payments of the plots.
Mrs Mphande said this was because the council had faced various challenges to issue land to people that wanted plots when most land had been not been developed.
Chief Singani of the Tonga people of Choma district has banned traditional witchdoctors from operating in his chiefdom.
The chief says he has taken the decision because the witchdoctors are causing unnecessary instability in the chiefdom.
In an interview with ZANIS in Choma yesterday, chief Singani said witchdoctors have been wreaking havoc in his chiefdom by ‘stealing’ people ‘s money in exchange for fake medicinal solutions.
He said it is sad that this is happening at the time the government is striving hard to improve health delivery in rural areas.
Chief Singani regretted that people have continued believing in the power of traditional healing practices despite efforts by government and its cooperating partners in ensuring that quality health care is accessed by everyone regardless of the place they live.
“As a chief I am banning witchdoctors in my chiefdom because it makes you avoid seeking medical attention from established health facilities such as clinics,” he said.
He also called on spiritual prophets to desist from discouraging people from taking Antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) after praying for them.
Chief Singani observed that if this vice is not addressed, the number of people on treatment will drastically reduced, thereby defeating government’s efforts towards universal access to treatment and care for HIV and AIDS.
He has called upon his subjects to take advantage of health facilities closer to them and seek medical health as opposed to suffering loss of property and money to witchdoctors.
The traditional leader also encouraged people of Simukanka area where the Glasco Foundation has improved health facilities to use family planning services to promote child-spacing and avoid unwanted pregnancies.
He called on Glasco Foundation to build more health centres in his chiefdom to improve health care for his subjects.
Lusaka province police commissioner Charity Katanga
Police in Lusaka this morning broke-up a demonstration by United Party for National Development youths, to press for the resignation of Director of Public Prosecutions Mutembo Nchito.
Police broke-up the demonstration just as the UPND youths tried to join into Addis Ababa Drive from their party headquarters situated on Lagos road in Rhodespark.
The police who fought running battles with the UPND youths managed to apprehend some of the protesting youths who have since been detained.
QFM staffer Alexander Musokotwane who went to cover the demonstration was also beaten up be Police officers despite having an identity card.
Traffic on Addis Ababa drive was temporarily interrupted as the Police tried to restore order.
The UPND had vowed to defy a ban by the provincial police command not to go ahead with the demonstration.
The UPND and other opposition political parties are calling for resignation of the DPP over the K14 billion debt owed by the defunct Zambian Airways to the Development Bank of Zambia in which he was one of the Directors.
And Lusaka province Police commissioner Charity Katanga who led the police operation said Police will not allow lawlessness to take place in the country.
Ms. Katanga has further dismissed claims that the decision by police to stop the UPND demonstration was politically motivated.
She said that the UPND was supposed to follow the correct procedure in airing out their views to the public.
Movement for Multi Party Democracy president Dr. Nevers Mumba
Newly elected Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) president,Nevers Mumba has clarified his political slogan of ‘Don’t Kutina’ as not provocative and confrontational towards the Patriotic Front (PF)government.Dr. Mumba explained that he came up with the slogan to strengthen and encourage MMD members to be strong following what he alleged as political retribution by PF members towards MMD members after losing power.
The MMD president was speaking on a live Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) Radio two phone-In-programme monitored by ZANIS in Lusaka.He said the ‘Don’t Kutina’ slogan that some sections of society feel was confrontational was Biblical and was calculated to inspire Zambians including intellectuals that he claimed were cowed into silence following the ascendance of the PF to power.
And Dr. Mumba has maintained that his stance on the plight of the poor and other downtrodden Zambians has not changed since the time he joined politics.
Dr. Mumba was responding to a caller who wanted to know why he has always been inconsistent in politics and his championing of elitist policies.But Dr. Mumba said he has always been an ardent advocate of the poor people by championing of pro poor policies during the time he served in government.
He further said it was for this reason that at one time he became the first ever serving Republican vice president to be conferred with an award for championing the cause of the disadvantaged people in society.
During his inauguration as the fourth MMD president last week, Dr.Mumba, declared a punch for punch politics with President Michael Sata and his administration.He emerged victorious after defeating his closest rival, former Commerce Minister and leader of opposition in Parliament, Felix Mutati to replace Rupiah Banda who resigned from active politics.Others that contested the party presidency are Kabinga Pande, Dr.Situmbeko Musokotwane, Enock Kavindele, Moses Muteteka and Kapembwa Simbao.
Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) Commissioner Joseph Jalasi says 74 by-elections have arisen out of last year’s September 20th general
elections.
Mr Jalasi said the by-elections are at a huge cost to government and petitioners.He said by-elections were an expensive exercise which had to be
avoided at all costs despite democracy being a costly undertaking.He said this in Livingstone during a pre-election briefing for political party representatives at the Civic Centre.
Mr. Jalasi further said Zambia had made a mark in the region as a haven of peace after a successful handover of power from former President Rupiah Banda to incumbent President Michael Sata.
He said Zambia would soon host an international team to share its experiences on holding peaceful and fair elections.Meanwhile, Mr. Jalasi advised political party representatives to desist from using the media to air their grievances as this had in the past contributed to destroying people’s political careers.
He urged them to consult ECZ and its representatives at district level for minor challenges instead of rushing to the media to seek relief.Mr. Jalasi maintained that ECZ was independent and called on political parties to hold peaceful nominations of candidates and to adopt responsible people that could handle the responsibilities that came with conducting civic duties at both parliamentary and local government levels.
