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The Zambia Cooperatives Federation (ZCF) has observed that the Zambian government has continued to subsidize maize exports within the SADC region.
ZCF Director General James Chirwa says the country has been exporting maize at a loss despite the country having to incur high production costs.
Mr. Chirwa notes that with last year’s maize floor price of maize pegged at K65,000, FRA was spending about US$ 260 per tonne of maize.
He adds that FRA has however been selling the maize to other countries within the region at a cost of not more than US $170 per tonne.
Mr. Chirwa has since reminded the government that Zambia is not that rich to be exporting maize at a loss and has since called on the government to work towards reducing the prices of the farming inputs.
Mr. Chirwa notes that this will help the country begin to sell the maize profitably.
Last week, the FRA announced that it had signed a contract with a Zimbabwean company to export 300, 000 metric tones of maize at a price of US$ 42.2 million.
FORMER Minister of Energy and Water Development Kenneth Konga’s multi-billion Kwacha hotel under construction near Kamwala in Lusaka, which Police have seized
A NEW hotel has been set up in Lusaka at a cost of K4.5 billion. The 40-room Diamondacres Hotel has been built by former Energy and Water Development minister Kenneth Konga, who said during the launch at the weekend that the facility would add value to Zambia’s economy through the creation of jobs.
The hotel, on Dedan Kemathi Road overlooking the Kafue Road Fly-over Bridge, has created 25 direct jobs.
Mr Konga, who is Chavuma Member of Parliament, said the hotel was going to help the country provide hospitality services to tourists and accommodate business persons from other countries.
He said the aim of building the hotel was to contribute to the creation of jobs for Zambians and to offer good services to the public.
“We spent about K4.5 billion to put up this hotel and so far it has created 25 direct jobs for Zambians and we are hoping we can create 10 more jobs to make it 35.
“People who will be coming to Zambia from different parts of the world are welcome and can lodge with us because this is a top-class hotel with quality services for all,” he said.
He said out of the 40 rooms, 36 were executive, two single and two double rooms while the hotel included other facilities like a conference room, a bar and a restaurant.
Mr Konga called for more investment in the hospitality industry if Zambia was to attract more tourists and business travellers.
In another development, a Livingstone-based catering firm, Calabash has introduced sunset dinners on the banks of Zambezi River around Victoria Falls site to enable tourists and other guests to have dinner while viewing the falls.
The dinners, which would be mounted on plain grounds around Victoria Falls on the banks of Zambezi River, would have fully fledged catering services of international repute inside the falls area.
Speaking during the launch of the first ever sunset dinner at Victoria Falls in Livingstone, Livingstone Tourism Association chairperson Kingsley Lilamono said the innovation would benefit the tourism sector.
Calabash company director Christopher Tett said the National Heritage Conservation Commission had allowed the firm to conduct sunset dinners around Victoria Falls, a heritage site.
Mr Tett, who is also Bushtracks managing director, said sunset dinners were an exciting and incredible project in his 15 years of stay in Zambia.
In December last year police warned and cautioned Mr.Konga over the multi-billion Kwacha hotel.Police at the time also seized 55 sewing machines, 14 boxes containing pieces for tables, 22 boxes containing pieces for stands, eight motor bikes, 80 bicycles and 135 boxes each containing 50 small winding radios.
However,Mr Kongas lawyer Sakwiba Sikota said his client was being questioned over a Hummer vehicle that was bought for him by Parliament.
“It’s sad that police are pursuing him over a vehicle bought by Parliament and it’s up to you to decide whether it is a witch-hunt or not,” he said.
Its not clear when Mr.Konga was cleared of the corruption charges.
File:A youth in business -cashing in on Tujilijili (brandy or gin packed in small sachets)
SOME Zambians resident in the border town of Nakonde have continued consuming the banned highly-intoxicating spirits known as “tujilijili” except this time around, they cross into neighbouring Tanzania to take their drink and then stagger back onto the Zambian side in drunken stupour.
The residents are capitalising on the fact that the Statutory Instrument signed by Local Government Minister, Nkandu Luo did not affect Tunduma, which is part of Tanzania.
Recently, Professor Luo signed a Statutory Instrument banning the production, distribution, sale and consumption of the spirits in Zambia.
A survey in Tunduma showed that the spirits were being sold to Zambians in huge quantities and many youths were trekking into Tunduma to consume the “killer drink” while others opted to spend nights on the Tanzanian side enjoying their drink.
Zambian youths, working as porters and vendors of low-valued goods such as slippers and screw drivers, are using the Zambian Kwacha and Tanzanian Shilling to trek into Tunduma to buy “tujilijili” from makeshift stalls.
The Zambian Government banned the highly-intoxicating spirits because they were packaged in small plastic sachets, which made them open for abuse by youths, including school-going children.
A youth, who served as a guide, said he was forced to work from Tunduma because he could not find employment in Zambia, where he left school in grade seven.
The youth was looking for 3,000 Shillings to buy food, but he ended up buying “tujilijili” being sold on the streets.
Speaking in Swahili, a woman who trades in mobile phone talk time and groceries said some of her customers for the spirits included Zambians, especially those resident in Nakonde and those who travelled to the port of Dar-es-Salaam.
Tunduma is a walking distance from Nakonde and it is only the border entry infrastructure that separates the two.
File: Father Frank Bwalya addressing a PF rally during the run up to the 2011 elections
Change Life Zambia Executive Director, Father Frank Bwalya, has urged the Patriotic Front (PF) Government not to mutilate any of the progress clauses in the draft constitution that may not be in its favour as a political party in power.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Kitwe today, Fr Bwalya, who strongly advocated for the constitutional review, said the newly released draft is good and takes the long standing demands for a democratic constitution that represents a true spirit of multi-partism.
Fr Bwalya hoped that the PF government will not throw out the critical clauses such as the 50 per cent plus one for a winning presidential candidate and the one stating that the vice president should be a running mate to the president among other contentious ones as the MMD did in the past drafts.
He said his organization and the entire Zambian people are looking forward to the PF party to honour its promise that it was not going to betray the people like the MMD did.
Fr Bwalya observed that if enacted in its draft form, the constitution would be a perfect document that would stand the test of time.
Last week the technical committee working on a new national constitution released its first draft and the public have been given 40 days to analyze it and make submissions in reaction.
Meanwhile Fr Bwalya said his organization will continue fighting for the former Zamtel workers who were prematurely laid off at the unscrupulous sale of the telecommunications company to Lap-Green Telecommunications of Libya.
He said his organization will soon make a follow up on the progress from government and the Zamtel management to see how far the process of re-engaging the workers has gone.
He added that ‘Get Involved Zambia’ was still committed to helping and speaking for the less privileged in society.
And the Civil Society Constitution Coalition, comprising 19 organisations, is satisfied with the contents of the draft constitution.
The coalition is happy that the draft has provided for economic, social and cultural rights for the first time.
Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflections Director, Leonard Chiti who spoke on behalf of the coalition, says the various progressive clauses will help develop and strengthen the country’s democracy if implemented.
Mr. Chiti has told journalists at a media briefing that the coalition feels clauses such as article 75 (1) which provides for the 50 plus one per cent votes for a winning presidential candidate and article 107 (1) providing for a presidential running mate are progressive.
He says the coalition is also happy with the provisions which have been made for Presidential petitions and the transition period before the assumption of office for the elected President.
And Mr Chiti has urged government to immediately appoint a referendum commission so that arrangements for holding of the referendum can start.
James Chamanga scored his first hat trick of the season on Sunday to inspire his Chinese club Dalian Shide to their second win of the 2012 campaign.
The Zambian striker was on target in the 9th, 24th and 87th minutes in Shide’s 4-1 home win over 10th placed Tianjin Teda.
He as substituted just after completing his hat-trick with three minutes left to be played.
Shide are fourth from bottom in 13th place with 9 points from as many games played.
Meanwhile, his fellow China-based striker Christopher Katongo had a dry day despite his teams Henan Jianye 2-2 home draw against fourth placed Beijing Guoan.
Henan are 11th after the draw in a match Katongo played the full 90 minutes with 10 points from nine matches played.
And both Chamanga and Katongo are level on four goals each, three goals less than Romanian striker Cristian Danalache of second placed Jiangsu Shuntian.
Peter Berg produces and directs Battleship, an epic-scaled action-adventure that unfolds across the seas, in the skies and over land as our planet fights for survival against a superior force. Inspired by Hasbro’s classic naval combat game, Battleship stars Taylor Kitsch as Lt. Alex Hopper, a Naval officer assigned to the USS John Paul Jones; Brooklyn Decker as Sam Shane, a physical therapist and Hopper’s fiancée; Alexander Skarsgård as Hopper’s older brother, Stone, Commanding Officer of the USS Sampson; Rihanna as Petty Officer Raikes, Hopper’s crewmate and a weapons specialist on the USS John Paul Jones; and international superstar Liam Neeson as Hopper and Stone’s superior (and Sam’s father), Admiral Shane
PROS
Great cast ,all the performances were on point. I initaily thourght rihanna would be used as mere eye-candy but she ended up having a pretty good role.
Excellent story in which you will genuinely not know what will happen next which makes for an exciting movie .
Great action scenes
CONS
It takes some time for the plot to begin
FAVORITE QUOTES
Alex Hopper: you gonna die, I’m gonna die, we all gonna die. just not today…
Petty Officer Raikes: My dad said they’d come. He said we ain’t alone. He said one day we’d find them. Or they’d find us.
CONCLUSION
I went into this movie with low expectations ,but am happy to say i was blown away by this movie . The best parts of the movie were the unpredictability and the intense action scenes. It is a good summer movie for a saturday afternoon.
Zambia’s Mampi is competing in this years Big brother Africa. The “Queen Diva” from Lusaka was inspired to enter Big Brother by her fans. Mampi describes herself as a diva who is spontaneous, unpredictable and sexy, and likes people who are friendly, funny and free-spirited. She is a no-nonsense drama-lover who loves commotion, flirting and dancing.
MMD Lusaka Central losing Parliamentary candidate Muhabi Lungu has endorsed the candidature of former Zambia’s envoy to Canada Nevers Mumba as party president ahead of the extra ordinary convention on May 25th.
Mr. Lungu said as a concerned member of the former ruling party, he has put forward a five tire criterion to be used as a basis for which the party should elect its eligible candidate.
He said that Dr. Mumba has shown uncompromising courageousness of dangerous and difficulties that befall him in his career and has the capacity to appeal to the three key demographic groups on the party’s electoral map which are youth, Christian coalition and regional demographics.
He adds that of the seven aspiring candidates that have expressed interest in the MMD top job, Dr. Mumba is the most suited for the job as he meets most of the criterions of leading the party.
Mr. Lungu adds that it is imperative that the former ruling party elects a leader with the robustness to face difficulties and be brave enough to confront the aggressor.
He says immediately the MMD has a substantive president; he will become the main competitor and an automatic target for the governing Patriotic Front.
Trial in former Education Minister Dora Siliya’s abuse of authority of office case today failed to take off at the Lusaka magistrate court after her lawyers Sakwiba Sikota and Sunday Nkonde failed to show up.
Director of Public Prosecutions Mutembo Nchito, leading the prosecution team of six state prosecutors earlier asked the court to stand down the matter for thirty minutes to wait for the defence team but to no avail.
Mr Nchito informed the court that the State was ready for trial.
Meanwhile, Ms Siliya has retained Messrs Eric Silwamba and Company as party of her defence team.
Lawyer Lubinda Linyama of Eric Silwamba and Company told the court that both Mr. Sikota and Mr. Nkonde failed to show up owing to other engagements.
He asked the court to adjourn the matter to May 23rd 2012 for commencement of trial.
Principal Resident Magistrate Joshua Banda has since adjourned the matter to May 23rd, 28th, 29th and 31st respectively for commencement of trial and continued trial.
Ms. Siliya is alleged to have directed the cancellation of a duly awarded tender for the supply, delivery, installation and commissioning of the Zambia Air Traffic Management surveillance Radar system to Thales Air System SA during the time she served as Transport and communications Minister.
She is also said to have accepted a free offer from Selex Systemi Integrati for the repair of a Radar head at the Lusaka International Airport without following procedure.
A 36-year-old woman of Isoka district in Muchinga Province is battling for her life in the district hospital after suffering serious burns after her husband allegedly poured hot water on her following a domestic dispute.
Gender and Child development deputy minister Esther Banda who is on tour of Muchinga province to check on the performance of women clubs, took time to visit the woman who is a victim of Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the hospital.
Ms Banda who was accompanied by the District Administrative officer Alex Sinkala, Heads of government departments and PF women provincial Chairlady Charity Chifuna, among others was shocked and disappointed that the woman despite being in a serious pain is protecting her husband who inflicted the injuries on her.
Contrary to the police medical report that indicates that the woman was assaulted by her husband, the named woman told the Minister and her entourage that she fell from a table onto a boiling pot.
The woman later told the Minister that she was ready to disclose what really happened if she can be allowed to meet her alone in the office.
Hospital authorities quickly arranged for a closed door meeting where she again told Ms Banda that she had nothing new to tell her apart from her earlier testimony that she fell from the table onto a boiling pot.
Briefing the press outside the hospital ward, Ms Banda said the battle against GBV will only be won if affected people came out in the open to tell the public how they have been abused or injured.
Ms Banda said concealing information on GBV, defilement and incest cases happening in many homes is the biggest challenge being faced in many rural parts of the country.
She has since appealed to members of the public to be proactive in the fight against GBV, defilement and incest cases in their communities and ensure that such cases are reported to the law enforcement agencies for action.
She has also appealed to the police in the area to fully investigate the matter.
Meanwhile, a middle aged man from Mungwi district has been admitted to the male surgical ward of Isoka district hospital in Muchinga Province after losing his manhood in bizarre circumstances after allegedly having sex with a married woman.
The identified man of Makasa village in Mungwi district who had gone to Chief Chibale in Chama district to harvest timber is alleged to have had sex with a married woman and there after lost his manhood.
Hospital authorities are trying to preserve what has remained from the man’s private parts to enable him pass urine.
THE Bank of Zambia (BoZ) has urged commercial banks to report any suspicious transactions that will occur during the rebasing period to avoid cases where some individuals will take advantage of the situation to clean up cash that has been hidden.
BoZ rebasing project manager Morris Mulomba said any suspicious transaction should be reported to the central bank so that they are investigated.
“If people want to take advantage of rebasing so that they can try to clean up their money which has been hidden for some time, as long as commercial banks are alert which is normally there because they don’t want to affect their reputation because of one client, that information will come out and appropriate measures will be taken,” he said.
Mr Mulomba said this in Siavonga on Saturday during a discussion with commercial banks dubbed Kwacha Rebasing, Opportunities and Costs.
He said Kwacha rebasing is a national exercise that must be given the importance it deserves.
He said the success of the currency rebasing exercise will largely depend on the commitment and collaboration of all key stakeholders and the public.
Mr Mulomba said the rebasing of the Kwacha will lead to the replacement of all notes and coins currently in circulation by a new family of notes and coins.
The exercise will also involve a wider review of the currency and enhancing security features of the Kwacha notes.
He said during the transition period of six months, the old and rebased currency will circulate simultaneously.
He said through the transition period, prices of goods and services, other payment commitments, exchange rates and taxes will have to be adjusted to conform to the rebased currency.
Mr Mulomba said Government is rebasing the Kwacha to address costs associated with an accumulative loss the currency has suffered because of high inflation.
He said the rebased Kwacha will facilitate business transactions, simplify the arithmetic calculations, understanding, use and management of the currency.
“Rebasing leads to greater confidence in the currency. When there are many zeros, people lose confidence in the local currency,” he said.
He said the rebased Kwacha will provide opportunities for introduction of other technologies such as vending machines and car parking meters.
Mr Mulomba said the re-introduction of coins that last longer in circulation will result into savings on costs associated with printing of paper notes.
He said there are costs associated with rebasing that includes information collection, analysis, designing of banknotes, printing and minting of banknotes and coins, cash exchange programme and public sensitisation.
Other costs associated with currency rebasing include re-calibration of certain equipment such as automated teller machines, banknote counting machines and accounting software.
Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Peter Mwaba
Government has warned members of the public against beating nurses and health workers in health centers.
Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Peter Mwaba said government will not condone any of such actions from members of public.
Dr Mwaba called called upon members of the public to support health workers around the country.
He stated that the public are however welcome to criticize the health workers where there are shortcomings adding that these will be cardinal in the country’s quest to attain the Millennium Development Goals.
Dr Mwaba said this at the combined graduation ceremony of 140 nurses from Solwezi, Mukinge, and Kaleni Nursing Schools in Solwezi yesterday.
He said government has taken measures to address some of the public complaints such as shortage of health personnel and drugs in health centers.
The Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary has meanwhile called for change of attitude among health personnel in the country.
He said the public has been looking at the professionals with negative perception but has since challenged them to start serving the public with honour to remove this perception.
Dr Mwaba reminded the health workers that their professional is a unique profession which calls for humility and dedication.
And North Western Province Medical Officer George Liabwa has commended government for improving infrastructure and teaching tools at the various nursing schools. Dr Liabwa however asked government to increase recruitments of health personnel in the province to mitigate the shortage which stands at about 50 percent
And a graduating nurse, Joy Yowela has commended government for its policies which she says are motivating to health personnel.
Barrick Lumwana Mining Company has joined several Copperbelt mining companies that have welcomed the reintroduction of the ZCCM sports festival which will now be called Mining and Allied Industries Sports Festival.
The festival which will encompass various sporting disciplines is expected to start late this year and will be an annual event not only for mining companies but will include other firms.
Lumwana Mining Company Acting Managing Director Wayne Schiller said his company is ready to partner with government in developing sports through the sports festival which is set to be reintroduced.
Wayne Schiller expressed gratitude that his firm has been considered by government as a partner in developing sports in Zambia.
He told Sports Minister Chishimba Kambwili and his delegation who called on him and Lumwana management that the company would like to be associated with various sports in Zambia.
He said his company has been supporting minor sports in North Western Province through the company’s community health welfare which he said has been doing so well.
He however could not disclose how much the company will pump into the sports festival and the team it intends to sponsor.
Schiller was also agreeable to the proposal by Sports Minister Chishimba Kambwili who asked the mine to also contribute towards the salaries of the national team coaches.
Mr Kambwili held a meeting with Lumwana management over the sponsorship of local teams and the funding of the hosting of the Zone 6 games which Zambia is privileged to host in December this year.
The Minister explained that government has noticed that sports have been dwindling from the time ZCCM was privatized due to lack of sponsorship.
He observed that mining companies have a duty to sponsor sports in the country as part of ploughing back into the community where they operate.
He noted that government alone cannot manage to pay the US$100,000 for coaches and the K113 billion for hosting of the 2012 Zone 6 games.
He however vowed that the Patriotic Front will not fail to host any tournament like the previous governments which he said failed to host the Africa Cup of Nations in 1980s and the All Africa an Games in 2008.
All the Mining Companies on the Copperbelt have been approached over the sports festival, sponsoring of local clubs and the funds for the coaches and Zone 6 games.
Minister of Finance and National Planning Alexander Chikwanda
The US$ 355 million Millennium Challenge Account (MCC) supported Lusaka Water Supply, Sanitation and Drainage (LWSSD) project will come to fruition this week.
Once completed, over one million people are expected to benefit from this ambitious project through the provision of clean and safe water supply, adequate sanitation and improved drainages in targeted areas.
Finance and National Planning Minister, Alexander Chikwanda and MCC top officials will put to pen the US $ 355 million worth of investment in the water sector in Lusaka this week.
Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company (LWSC) Managing Director George Ndongwe said MCC has supported the government with funds to develop Investment Master Plans in water and sanitation for Lusaka Province.
The Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) reports that Mr Ndongwe disclosed this to Journalists in Lusaka today after touring a water reservoir in the outskirts of Kalingalinga compound.
He explained that in the last 20 years, there has been no investment of this magnitude in the water supply, sanitation and drainage sector in Lusaka Province whose population has been growing rapidly.
Mr Ndongwe further explained that the investment package covers water supply, sanitation and drainage projects for the City of Lusaka which will include the peri-urban areas.
The LWSC Chief Executive Officer noted the object of the proposed project is to increase incomes through improved health and sanitation in the province.
He stated that the project will provide short, medium and long term investment programmes for the next 25 years and contribute to employment opportunities for the youths in implemented areas.
