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Former Republican Vice President George Kunda has died. Both hospital and highly placed sources in have confirmed Mr Kunda’s death to QFM News.
The former vice president who had been admitted to the University Teaching Hospital for unknown illness died at around 16:00 hours at the UTH.
Mr Kunda born on February 26,1956 in Luanshya was introduced to politics by late republican president Levy Mwanawasa who had nominated him to parliament and subsequently appointed him Justice Minister and Attorney General.
A Lawyer by profession, Mr Kunda was the vice president in which capacity he served between 2008 and 2011.
Following the MMD’s Loss in last year’s elections, Mr Kunda who was until his death Muchinga Member of Parliament turned to be a staunch critic of the PF Government accusing the PF of harassing MMD members.
United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema has demanded the reinstatement of the 6 journalists at Times of Zambia whose average age is 32 years old.
Mr Hichilema said that the recent retirement of some journalists at the Times of Zambia in national interest is an affront on media freedom and democracy in the country.
Mr. Hichilema has accused the Patriotic Front government of engineering the early retirement of the journalists at the Times of Zambia. He said that the retirement of the six journalists at the Times of Zambia is a demonstration that the current government has no respect for media freedom.
He said that in a country like Zambia, the media should be allowed to operate freely without fear of retribution.
On Friday, Times of Zambia Management retired Six Senior journalists whose names are Abel Mboozi, Bob Sianjalike, Obet Simwanza, Patson Phiri, Richard Mulonga and Whitney Mulobela for unknown reasons. The journalists received the letters of retirement despite not having attained the retirement age.
Meanwhile, Mr Hichilema has threatened to alert the international community on how the PF Government is allegedly mistreating opposition political party leaders.
Mr. Hichilema said that he was shocked by the Zambia Police’s failure to arrest suspected Patriotic Front cadres that attacked him at the funeral of the late Princes Nakatindi Wina.
He said that the police have failed to take any action because they know that instructions to have him attacked could have come from the high office.
Franciar is a Zambian Pop and R&B artist. She rose to fame in late 2010 with her hit record “Umutokofyompo”. She is one of the top artists to come out of Zambia that is able to Rap, Sing and Act.
Born Francisca Magaret Msisha on January 11,1992 in Kabwe, Zambia. Franciar started singing at an early stage of her life at her local church in Lusaka.
EDUCATION
Did her primary education at Harry Mwaanga Elementray School, her Middle School at Pamodzi Girls High School in Mufulira. Later graduated from high School in 2008 from Matero Girls High School. She then went to NIPA College in 2010 and began her first year Business Administration.
CAREER
She sung in the chior with her sister Rose and each time she sung, the crowd always had something to say about her sweet voice. In her early teens she competed in local talent shows and beauty pageants and won many of the events by impressing her audience with her natural singing and dancing abilities. Teaming up with her long time friend and producer J.O.B, Franciar started recording underground music as her sisters stood in as her manager. She finally got a recording deal when her sister took her demo to Ben Blazer who immediately signed her onto his label under Blazer Studios. She then started rising in the music industry gaining momentum with her hit record “Umutokofyompo”.
While enjoying her rise to in the music industry, Franciar continued to pursue her higher education and used this opportunity to write and record more records which have recently been released.
During her silent streak, Franciar did voluntary work as a facilitator for Youth Alive Zambia and worked with various artists who include her producer/fellow artist J.O.B. on his song “Puunkuutopwa”, her brother Flexville Marley on his hit song “Tonight” and is currently working with Bobby East on one of his records. She also had the opportunity of working with one of Zambia’s top hip hop group “Zone Fam” on their record “walking on the Moon“.She then featured Zone Fam’s group members J Rox and Verbal Assassin on her record “Dymandi”.
Franciar ,who is considered or called the “Boss Lady or Madame Officer” at Blazer Studio’s is the only female on the label hence the name. She has featured on a number of other songs in a compilation that is called “Blazer compilation” and it features all the artists signed to the label. Franciar featured on yet another top Zambian artist Petersen Zaggaze’s record which was called “Till the Morning” and “Kokondodo” which was done by Dj Cosmo and who is one of Zambia’s top radio DJ’s.
PERSONAL LIFE
Franciar is the last born daughter coming from a family of 8 children with 4 brothers and 4 sisters and she is considered the baby of the family. Franciar’s father passed away when she was only 1 year old so she was raised by her mother and siblings. Her music career was inspired by the support from her family and friends not forgetting her late father who loved singing. Even as a Artist, Franciar still takes pride and time and goes back to her local church and sings there on special occassions because it will always be home for her
THE MUSIC
She is very talented and can make songs ranging from uptempo hiphop , to mellow RnB tracks.
Lusaka Province Minister Colonel Gerry Chanda has has been attributed the high HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in Zambia to prostitution.
Colonel Chanda has said that government is spending colossal sums of money on Anti-Retroviral Drugs- ARVs-, which can be avoided if an exercise to arrest prostitutes is embarked upon in the country.
Colonel Chanda has issued a seven day ultimatum to the Zambia police high command to ensure that prostitution is reduced in the streets especially in Lusaka province.
In May 2008 Government had announced that the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in the country had decreased by 1.3 per cent between 2001 and 2007.
The then Minister of Health, Brain Chituwo said HIV/AIDS prevalence rate had reduced from 15.6 per cent to 14.3 per cent over a period of six years.
PF Secretary General and spokesperson Wynter Kabimba
Patriotic Front Secretary General Wynter Kabimba says the MMD should not view the investigation of its members for corruption as harassment.
Reacting to the decision by the MMD not to join in celebrating Africa Freedom day on 25th May citing harassment of its members by alleged PF cadres, Mr Kabimba says the ruling party will respect the decision by the opposition Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) to shun the Africa freedom day celebrations.
The former ruling MMD has deliberately set 25th May, 2012 as the date for its provincial conventions, stating that there is nothing to celebrate about when its youths are being harassed by alleged PF cadres.
Mr. Kabimba says no one will force the MMD to join in the celebrations but that they should realize that Africa freedom day is not about the Patriotic Front but for Africa as a continent.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with QFM, Mr. Kabimba wonders what harassment the MMD is talking about when it was a worse experience for the PF in opposition under the MMD rule.
File:Chinese AVIC International at the construction site at the Mongu - Kalabo road
Works on the Mongu-Kalabo road will resume when the water levels in the plain subsides.
Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Zhou Yuxiao said the road is in a low-lying area which makes it very difficult to do construction works.
Mr Yuxiao said in an interview that the Chinese government is eager to see the road constructed as it will open up the western part of Zambia to trade and other economic activity.
“I am as anxious as everyone to see the road constructed but this is a special road which requires attention. The construction of the road can only resume once the water levels have completely subsided. Only then can the contractor move back on site,” he said.
He said the contractor should be given time to ensure a good quality road is constructed.
Mr Yuxiao said the PF Government has requested for the construction of various roads and airports in the country and initial studies for the construction of airports are underway.
He said a technical group has been constituted to make recommendations on the request.
“The new government has made requests for China to engage in the construction of roads and airports. The Chinese government responded very quickly by sending a technical group last month to do its initial studies on the matter,” he said.
He said the Chinese government will continue to work closely with Zambia to enhance development.
A Kalabo resident talked to today said there isn’t a lot of water this year and is hopeful road works will resume promptly.
The K1.25 trillion Mongu-Kalabo road project hang in a balance last year when the PF Government decided to review the project to ascertain whether it was the best way of connecting the two districts.
The Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication at the time said if such large amounts of money were to be spent on one project, Government wanted to ensure that the road could stand the test of time and will not need constant repairs.
In 1966 the Government of the Zambia decided to construct a road that would connect the country to the neighbouring countries of Congo DR and Angola
but it was only in 2002 that a contract between Government and Consolidated Contractors Company of Kuwait was signed to construct the 74 kilometre bituminous road between Mongu and Kalabo at a contact sum of US$39.7 million,
However during the 2003/2004 rainy season, high floods were experienced, which caused some sections of the embankment and a number of culverts on the 34 kilometre stretch of the flood plains to be washed away.This led to the Kuwaiti contractor, Consolidated Contracting Company, which had finished the phase of the project at US$25 million, to abandon the project.
File:Road Development Agency managers inspect the Mongu Kalabo road
In 2010 AVIS International Holding Corporation, a Chinese was firm awarded a contract to upgrade Mongu-Kalabo Road at a cost of K1.25 trillion
On average the cost of building a tarred road in the rest of the country is K5 billion per kilometre. The Mongu-Kalabo road, because of the complicated terrain, will cost K60 billion per kilometre.
The distance between Mongu, the provincial capital of Western Province, and Kalabo is a paltry 74 kilometres which in comparison makes distance from Lusaka to Kabwe or Mazabuka longer than the one between Kalabo and Mongu. However it is the district having the shortest distance to Mongu, in Zambia’s Western Province.
The people of Mongu and Kalabo have since time immemorial depended on water transport, mostly canoes and banana boats because what is currently called a road is nothing but a stretch of sand dunes.
The Mongu-Kalabo road will link the two towns to neighbouring Angola and this would open up trade between Zambia and Angola.
THE Zambia Police says it has no intention of arresting MMD presidential aspirant Nevers Mumba and denying him a chance to contest the MMD presidency.
Police spokesperson Elizabeth Kanjela said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that Dr Mumba is not being investigated by the police for him to claim that the law enforcement wing intends to arrest him and put his political career in jeopardy.
Dr Mumba told party members in Mumbwa that the police want to arrest and lock him up without police bond until the May 25 MMD provincial conferences are concluded.
“We are actually not investigating Dr Mumba at all and the concerns he has raised are not true. If the police are to arrest Dr Mumba, like any other Zambian, we need to investigate him and we would not deny him police bond,” Ms Kanjela said.
She said the police have no plans to arrest Dr Mumba because he is not being investigated for any offence.
Ms Kanjela said Dr Mumba should continue with his normal life because he is a Zambian who enjoys constitutional rights.
She said Dr Mumba can raise his concerns if the police are investigating but the law enforcement agency is not probing the former diplomat at the moment.
THE ZAMBIA Development Agency (ZDA) and an international corporation of Angola on Friday signed a US$2.5 billion memorandum of understanding (MoU) which will see the construction of a petroleum pipeline to run from Lobito in Angola to Lusaka.?
The corporation, Basali Ba Liseli Resources Limited (BBLR) and ZDA, confirmed that the project that would see a reduction in the pump prices of petroleum products, would commence early next year and be completed in 2016.?
According to the MoU, the project would apart from helping to reduce fuel prices in Zambia, also create about 6, 000 jobs in both countries.?
The project would be called Angola-Zambia Refined Petroleum Multi-Product (AZOP) would cover 1, 400kilometres from the Port City of Lobito, to Lusaka in Zambia.?AZOP Pipeline system would not involve middlemen but designed to deliver finished products including petrol, low sulphur diesel, Jet fuel and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) for Zambia, and Katanga Province in Congo DR.?
Speaking in Lusaka during the signing ceremony, BBLR executive director Wamulume Kalabo said the AZOP Pipeline would be conducted through a Build Operate and Own, Transfer (BOOT) basis under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiatives.?
He said BBLR was currently evaluating bids received from shortlisted first-class pipeline design and engineering companies who responded to requests for proposals and a technical committee would be appointed by end of this month.?
Mr Kalabo said the project would provide logistical efficiencies in the delivery of petroleum, ready for end user consumption by drastically reducing on middlemen and other logistical requirements?through directly connecting the Government buying agencies in Zambia and other agencies to the producer.?
“We have no doubt the AZOP Pipeline system will reduce the relative pump pricing in Zambia and the regional target market, while further enhancing the quality of life by agitating for migration from the use of charcoal to the use of LPG, in most domestic homes,” he said.
?He said BBLR would work with competent authorities in Angola and Zambia with the core objective of constructing a refined petroleum multi-product pipeline to produce a minimum of 200,000 barrels per day of which Zambia would be benefitting 80,000 barrels per day.
He said in that regard, BBLR was in advanced negotiations with the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) with a view of anchoring the financing for the AZOP project.?
He said BBLR had received letters of expressions of interest from various financing institutions, potential technical partners and equity partners that would provide resources with BBLR on AZOP.?And Ministry of Commerce Trade and Industry Permanent Secretary Stephen Mwansa said the Government would fully support the project to materialise and create jobs for citizens.
?Mr Mwansa said the Government was working towards creating a robust economy and the coming of AZOP would help improve the economy through provision of easily accessed petroleum in the nation.?
He said energy was an important sector as it was a lifeline to driving the national economy and that the Government was confident the project would be completed as planned.?
ZDA acting director Glyne Michelo said the project was in tandem with ZDA’s mandate of fostering economic development and growth which was to promote and facilitate investments.?
He said Zambia had a high degree of investment security because of unparalleled political stability that was strife-free without ethnic divisions and a democratic rule that respected diversity of constitutionality.?
Mr Michelo said the obligation of ZDA in facilitating BBLR/AZOP would among other goals provide relevant information necessary to enable it to determine and evaluate feasibility of the project.?
Six vicious dogs in Lusaka mauled a police officer to death, while his colleague is battling for his life in the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) after the bloody attack.
The dogs pounced on Constable Msimuko and his colleague only identified as Nyasulu around 02:00 hours yesterday at House Number 152 in Zani Muone area, as they were trying to open the gate.
Six German shepherd dogs mauled Mr Msimuko to death and severely injured Mr Nyasulu, aged 39 in a grisly attack as the two were on their way to visit their friend.
Police Service spokesperson Elizabeth Kanjela confirmed the death of Constable Msimuko of Balmoral Police Station.
“This incident happened on April 15, 2012 around 02:00 hours at house 152 in Zani Muone. Msimuko and his friend Nyasulu aged 39 years went to visit their friend Jabica Paul.
“While trying to open the gate, the dogs pounced on the two men killing one and causing serious injuries to Nyasulu,” she said.
The body of the police officer is in the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) Mortuary, while Nyasulu is being treated in the same institution.
In Kabwe, Police have arrested a 58-year-old man for defiling his 15-year-old stepdaughter.?Ms Kanjela named the suspect as Harrison Banda, who forced himself on the helpless girl at Goma Farm on Friday last week.
Police in Kabwe have also arrested a 24-year-old woman for being found in possession of fake United States (US) dollars.?The woman, identified as Yvonnie Sikazwe of Kansenshi, Ndola was picked up at the weekend, while her husband, Tom, is allegedly on the run.
“It is believed that the two have been working together with Charles Daliso Buula who is already in police custody,” Ms Kanjela said.
Police recovered US $500,000 fake dollars, equipment and chemicals used to make the same money.
A cyclist, identified as Elias Phiri, died on the spot after being hit by a motor vehicle on Saturday around 19:00 hours along Great North Road near Marple-hurst in Kabwe.
The Toyota Corolla driven by Godfrey Mwandila aged 48 of Bwacha Township and hit Mr Phiri, who was cycling from East to West.
In a related development in Lusaka two pedestrians died on the spot after being hit by motor vehicles in two separate road traffic accidents.
The first accident occurred on Saturday around 13:00 hours along Mimosa Road near Mr Sikota Wina’s residence when a Regius registration number ABT 4707 driven by Maria Kafwalimani hit a pedestrian only identified as Ng’ambi aged 47 of Linda Township who died on the spot.
The other accident happened when a Mitsubishi Canter, driven by Nevers Mwalombwe of Mapoloto area, Chilenje hit into a pedestrian aged 10 in Mount Makulu. She sustained injuries and died on the spot.
Former Works and Supply Minister Mike Mulongoti has called on law enforcement agencies to move in and ensure that erring officers cited in the Commission of inquiry on the Energy regulation board (ERB) are brought to book.
Mr. Mulongoti has told Qfm in an interview that investigative wings must swing into action and carryout a probe and not wait for instructions from politicians.
He said it is unfortunate that government lost about K2 trillion through illegal contracts awarded to suspected companies for the procurement of petroleum products.
The former minister explains that Zambia has adequate legislation capable of ensuring that public resources are recovered.
Recently, the Commission of Inquiry constituted to investigate the operations of the Energy Regulation Board and the procurement of crude oil revealed that from 2007 to 2011 the country lost about K2 trillion through acts of malpractices in the procurement system.
Commission chairperson Wynter Kabimba said the alleged corruption in the oil procurement system involved officials from the Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) the Ministry of Energy and the ERB.
FORMER republican vice president Enoch Kavindele has joined other MMD presidential aspirants in denouncing corruption allegations involving some of the former ruling party’s top leaders.
And MMD Chisamba member of Parliament Moses Muteteka has vowed to eliminate all individuals perceived to be corrupt from the opposition party if voted as party president.
In an interview yesterday, Mr Kavindele agreed with party presidential candidates Felix Mutati and Nevers Mumba that there is need for the corruption tag to be removed from the MMD.
“That (corruption in MMD) is a very serious issue that we need to address,” Mr Kavindele said.
He, however, said he is ready to share his vision on the anti-graft drive in the MMD with the public this week.
On Thursday Dr Mumba feared that the MMD may die if delegates to the party’s May 25 controversial provincial polls are influenced by money as they vote for the its new leader.
He accused MMD members of money mongering, which he said has not helped the party, adding that money has destroyed the former ruling party and brought about hatred, lies, and forced members out of the party.
And Mr Muteteka said once voted as a party president, he will embark on a cleansing exercise to remove all corrupt people.
“I want to work with party members who are upright, God fearing and ready to sacrifice in being a better opposition party that will provide checks and balance to the government,” he said.
Mr Muteteka who is also Chisamba MP said whoever is corrupt will not have a room in the MMD once he is at the helm of the party.
He said MMD aspiring presidential candidates who are facing any corrupt charges or going to court for alledged corrupt charges to withdraw from the race .
Mr Muteteka said he had served in government for a long time and never has he been followed for any corrupt activity.
He said he does not want to be grouped or be associated with corrupt people.
Mr Muteteka said all individuals perceived to be corrupt should prepare themselves for exist if he wins because a new free corrupt MMD will be born.
He said the party will start on a new page with no grey spots and corrupt individuals will have no room.
Zesco United continued their domination of the Faz Super Division this season when they beat Konkola Blades 2-1 away at a packed Konkola Stadium in Chililabombwe.
The win was Zesco’s fourth successive league win that sees them to the table on 12 points from four matches played.
Zesco secured their win thanks to two headed goals from striker Jackson Mwanza scored in both halves of the game that saw the visitor’s record only their second away win at Konkola since they were promoted in 2004.
Mwanza’s first came in the 34th minute after heading in a free kick from midfielder Portipher Zulu.
Zulu was on hand again to supplied the second free kick in the 53rd minute for Mwanza in almost similar fashion.
Despite the goals, a full house Konkola continued to urge the home side on as the band played non-stop throughout the 90 minutes.
Meanwhile, Blades lone goal in a second half that they dominated Zesco came from Chileshe Kangwa who finished off a pass from Claude Bwalya who beat two defenders before setting up his team mate to score.
FILE: President Banda unveils the upgraded Chawama Clinic which is now a mini hospital
PREGNANT women in Lusaka’s Chawama Township are delivering on the floor due to inadequate beds in the maternity wing, a saddening development that has raised concern from area ward councillor Potipher Tembo.
Mr Tembo confirmed in an interview in Lusaka during the week that the situation at the clinic was despicable and that efforts were being made to construct a new maternity wing to provide a conducive environment for expectant mothers.
Mr Tembo said out of 40 pregnant women, only 12 delivered on the few beds that were available.
Mr Tembo expressed commitment to improving the situation at the clinic as funds were available to embark on the planned refurbishment.
“It has come as a great concern that our women deliver on the floor and that they only have one tap at the maternity ward. This is very dangerous for our mothers as they have to queue up and take turns to use the bathroom,” Mr Tembo said.
He said the lack of adequate cleaning facilities at the labour ward forced some women to clean up at their respective homes after delivery.
”It is very saddening that even the health workers themselves are at risk because they have to deliver someone, while on the floor, which is not conducive for them as they are not able to do their work professionally,” he added.
He said it was the mandate of the Government to see to it that health conditions at the clinic were improved.”These are the people that voted for us and as such, we have to provide for them. They have to see the value of their vote through such gestures of providing for their needs,” he said.
The project to construct the new maternity wing is expected to cost K760 million of which K350 million has been sourced from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and K410 million came from the Ministry of Health.The construction works, that have commenced, are expected to end this monthend.
Opposition movement for multi party for democracy MMD presidential aspirant Nevers Mumba has charged that it is pointless for the patriotic front to blame the previous regime on almost everything.
Dr. Mumba says that the MMD brought a lot of relief to the Zambian economy which even international ratings organization noticed. Dr. Mumba says that under the MMD regime, the economy performed to the best of expectations which is currently dwindling.
He says that the language being used by some members of the patriotic is slowly threatening the country’s economy. He added in an interview with QFM radio that Zambians can remember how stable the currency was.
He says that foreign investors are not encouraged because of the attitude the government is portraying to such matters.
Meanwhile, Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) president Edith Nawakwi has charged that the decentralization policy can only be implemented with new the republican constitution in place.
Ms. Nawakwi states that political pronouncements will not yield positive results with regards to implementing the decentralization policy.
The FDD president has therefore called on government to speed up the constitution making process and come up with provisions that will support decentralization.
She has also observed that government has not shown tangible commitment in fulfilling its campaign of ensuring decentralization apart from creating more districts.
