Zanaco on Tuesday night prepared for Saturdays clash against Orlando Pirates with a training session under floodlights.
Pirates host Zanaco on Saturday night in a CAF Champions League first round return leg match at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.
Tuesdays night session was the only one scheduled by Zanaco before heading to Johannesburg on Thursday morning.
“We just wanted the players to get an idea since our game is in the evening. Our games here are played during the day,” Mumba said.
Zanaco trained for two hours at Nkoloma from 18:00 to 20:00 hours.
The team hold their final training session on Wednesday afternoon at Sunset Stadium.
Zanaco currently trail Pirates after losing 1-0 in the first leg meeting on March 16 at Nkoloma and need to beat their hosts 2-0 this weekend to advance to the second round of the Champions League.
Sebastian Zulu-when power of politics claimed another intellectual
Justice Minister Sebastian Saizi Zulu had hoped for a good day. It had taken this most distinguished State Counsel and advocate of the Supreme Court of Zambia months to compile the report. He was a stickler, he always had been. Even in real life he spiced his lingua with legal anecdotes. When the president gave him the assignment, he knew it was one for the national archives and an additional bragging right.
As he compiled the report, words like “contributory negligence,” “demurrer,” “escrow,” flickered at the base of his medulla oblongata.
“We’ve nailed it,” he told his team after months of rewrites.
April 10, 2012 was presentation day. Dressed in his best suit of dark gray, he picked up his report, bound in the national color of green, and left for State House on Independence Avenue. When he stepped into the room scores of politicians were already present. They saw in him a little swagger, of satisfaction, perhaps.
FILE: President Sata receiving the commission of inquiry report into the cancellation of radar contracts
Moments later, the president stepped in. Silence fell in obeisance. He too was dressed in a gray suit and a tie the color of a fire engine. He surveyed the room as if taking roll call. When his eyes met those of his Justice Minister, there was a smile only from the latter.
After the president had taken care of other matters he called upon the honorable minister. It was his moment to shine. He gathered himself and walked over to the president in measured steps and handed over the report. Aficionados rolled their cameras, clicked and flashed.
“This report is very useless, very complicated,” the president suddenly said. “We wasted our money.”
“No!” the minister exclaimed.
The boisterous laughter from the crowd ripped through his ego and left him wounded. The crudeness of the president had reversed his gains. For a brief moment he was appalled by the turn of events. He stared at the president as if saying “how dare you! It is not my fault that you didn’t go to school.” Actually, he was going to tell him precisely that, but his sapience prevailed. With drooping shoulders, he recoiled to his spot, his swagger blasted as if by dynamite.[pullquote]
He stared at the president as if saying “how dare you! It is not my fault that you didn’t go to school.
[/pullquote]The power of politics had claimed an intellectual. This is a common motif. Zambian politics have always prevailed over the power of thought and turned intellectuals into ivory-towers. A politician with little or no education is mightier than an intellectual with roof-level degrees. He can humiliate him; frustrate him; turn him into a pauper; throw him into the gallows; drive him out of the country; or lead him to his demise.
Ivory -tower intellectuals in government
That’s the barrier to our advancement. It is not the lack of economic power, but too much political power invested in an individual called the president. Although, to his credit, president Sata has appointed learned people to cabinet positions—Professor Luo Nkandu, Professor Nevelyn Willombe, Dr. Effron Lungu, Dr. John T.N. Phiri, Dr. Joseph Kasonde, Dr. Patrick Chikusu, Dr. Joseph Katema—he has failed to turn them into an integral feature of the country’s political landscape. They are all ivory-tower intellectuals who have failed to have a decisive impact in reshaping conventional wisdom and setting a course of advancement for us.All the afore-mentioned have chosen to wear their political hat. They have assumed the idiosyncrasies of a politician, and sit in the back seat of a bus taking us to nowhere.
File:Professor Nkandu Luo talks with Elias Mpondela
Let me pick on “high flyer” Micro-Biologist and Immunologist Professor Nkandu Luo. On September 1, 2011, University of Zambia students gave her a thunderous welcome of “don’t kubeba,” in the hope that if she became their Member of Parliament, she would improve standards of living and education on their campus. Professor Luo left them with the following words: “We need to restructure the university, we need to change the way it is run. Once elected I will work hand-in-hand with the university council to devise ways of making money for this institution.” The pledge, as we now know, falls in the “money in your pockets in 90-days” category. [pullquote]That’s the barrier to our advancement. It is not the lack of economic power, but too much political power invested in an individual called the president.[/pullquote] How about Dr. John Phiri and his deputy Professor Nevelyn Willombe at the Ministry of Education? These two intellectuals have adopted the old rigid subject centered education system that churns out thousands of kaponyas and Grade 12s each year and dumps them on the street. They can’t seem to come up with a progressive system that builds on a student’s natural talents and interests. Yet they know how education reformers in successful economies have added various measures designed to ensure as many of their young people have at least a two-year college diploma.
Our education system lacks rigor because it does not reflect an upward social and economic mobility that meets 21st century standards. The non-vocational curriculum on Dr. Phiri’s desk is useless and he knows it. It is of no use to a generation faced with a fast changing world in which the common denominator in social and economic exchange is technology. As an intellectual Dr. Phiri ought to be fighting for a system that reduces the number of dropouts. Above all, he should be urging the president to invest massively in his ministry, perhaps in more than any other wing of government.
Maybe he is trying, who knows? We will never know because the Sata cabinet is not in the business of developing and promoting ideas. There is no minister who has presented a “visioning” coherent and excitable exercise to the public; one that should lead to the advancement of the Zambian people. Not one of these intellectuals has presented new and important ideas and brought them to public attention. Why? It is because they are not sure what to expect from their boss.
A country devoid of ideas can not succeed
The president treats intellectuals as people detached from the everyday concerns of the poor. He believes that he alone is the champion of the common folk. He therefore thinks he does not need an intellectual to tell him what to do. It is the same reason he ridicules and discredits his opponents rather than address their concerns. Like some of his predecessors, he has kept intellectuals in total subjection and rendered them inept and wasted. For years, they have been unable to participate successfully in the handling of complex and dynamic circumstances facing our nation. In failing to bring them to the fold, he has created a big gap between the academic and political worlds.
A LandRover finding its way through the flooded Njashishi Road in Kanyama Compound in Lusaka
Our economy is still on life support; our rural dwellers are still “primitive;” and our ingenuity and talent remains untapped. Instead of addressing these teething issues, our intellectuals are hurtled in institutions of higher learning where they teach students what to think and not how to think. Students are often subjected to arcane theoretical and methodological assignments and not shown how to make stuff—kilns for brick-making in rural Zambia, radios, television sets; automobiles, food processors, or sewing machines.[pullquote]
our intellectuals are hurtled in institutions of higher learning where they teach students what to think and not how to think.
[/pullquote]Relying on his populism and demagoguery, the president thinks he can fix the country. He’s joking. He cannot succeed in a country devoid of ideas. He won’t succeed if he can’t provide clear roadmaps for action. He will lamentably fail if he can’t mobilize political and bureaucratic coalitions. At the end of his reign he will exit the same way, or perhaps worse than his predecessors. And for us as a people, it will be another era wasted.
The foremost role of a president is to think, think, and think. In the case of our president, he must apply out-of-the box thinking. He should be thinking about how to make a difference; how to improve the economy. He cannot fix the economy by depending on the Chinese and other foreign investors. He can’t build a unified and well informed country by spending much of his time inside State House and on trips abroad without getting immersed in the concrete day-to-day demands of the people.
Think Tank
Fine, the president may not be a deep thinker. He may lack intellectual curiosity. But if he is truly dedicated to taking us out of the doldrums, he has enough help around him. There is a good crop of Zambian intellectuals capable of shaping public opinion and generating a “new thinking” attitude that could change the way we live and conduct ourselves. I dare mention but a few; Professor Francis Tembo, Professor Dickson Mwansa, Professor Vernon Chinene, Professor Chifumbe Chintu, Professor Stephen Simukanga, Professor Enala Mwase, Professor Clive Chirwa, Professor Anne Sikwibele, Professor Michelo Hansungule, Professor Muna Ndulo, Professor Kelly Chibale, and many other Zambian professors and PhD holders. These people reached the highest level of academia for one reason—to provide intellectual leadership. Why can’t they be given a chance?
President Sata must embrace them. He must use them to bridge the gap between ideas and action. He must create out of such intellectual giants an unencumbered and most authoritative think tank that can propel Zambia to prosperity; one that will be in the business of buying and selling ideas around the country. The names of such people must be known to us. We must have access to them. They must be in the media often, presenting their findings and offering constructive ideas. They must announce launchings, exhibitions and discoveries and celebrate breakthroughs.
The think tank must be an autonomous, non-partisan and non-profit broad-range institution created to address urgent national issues. Supported by all wings of government, the organization must operate mainly in the areas of economics, health, and technology and offer research and analysis. Its location should be the University of Zambia where an innovation lab should be built as a symbol of change. It is here that various institutions of higher learning will translate theoretical concepts in the arts and sciences into novel applications; and it will be here that the country’s outstanding individuals, with no education, but with projects of direct benefit to our country, will be invited to showcase their talents.
[pullquote]Gone are the days when presidents shaped public policy and opinion. Think tanks are doing it for them[/pullquote]
The think tank should also serve as an umbrella for a compendium of other think tanks run by independent professionals and accomplished researchers and scientists who will conduct research in areas of political strategy, economics, technology, and others. Its organization should serve as a source of funding that encourages, promotes and agitates for the scientific research and technological innovation by talented individuals, companies, and other universities and higher education institutions around the country. It should offer repayable loans to support industrial research or experiment projects.
Gone are the days when presidents shaped public policy and opinion. Think tanks are doing it for them. That’s how they are succeeding. They are using think tanks as a stepping stone to their success. Ronald Reagan did just that. First World countries and those of South America have been successful because their leaders have created a constructive relationship with intellectuals. They use intellectuals as agents of change and harbingers of ideas. [pullquote]In as far as he is concerned Zambia is doing pretty well.he does not know how bad things are for us. He sees a slight drop in inflation as tremendous progress.[/pullquote] You can take a horse to the river, but you can’t force it to drink, so the cliché goes. As is always the case, our president will lend a deaf ear. It is not within his interest to accord Zambian intellectuals a pivotal role in the transformation of our country. He will not entertain such ideas because his reign is as good as it gets. In as far as he is concerned Zambia is doing pretty well. He does not want intellectuals to claim credit. But the candid truth is that because he does not know how to apply the procedures and standards of economics and science to politics, he does not know how bad things are for us. He sees a slight drop in inflation as tremendous progress.
Countrymen, it is time to see our intellectuals not as ivory towers, but as pillars of advancement. We must make use of their knowledge and critical thinking while they are still alive. For decades, our politicians have mistreated and scared them away. These outstanding individuals who sit in small cubicles called offices with a zero balance in their bank account, due to poor pay, love what they do. They are visionaries in the real sense of the word. They are a treasure. If we are to change our country, we should allow them to influence the ranking of our priorities and shape the future of our country.
Kapa187:How did you get the name M.foreal
M.foreal:How that name came up?Most Aussies couldn’t say My name(Mwenya Mwanasabamba) so they used to call me M, and so when I met new people and they asked my name I’d say M…then they would ask for real?i would answer yep,M for real and that’s how it started
Kapa187:When did you start making music
M.foreal:I started music when I was still in high school with a friend Drex (Former HoneFm hipHopToRockYour block host) then I left Zambia 12 years ago.Being in a new place and not knowing what’s goin on I sort of quit doin music til about 2002 when I made my first track called Money Jones which you can download from my reverbnation page http://www.reverbnation.com/mforeal?profile_view_source=header_icon_nav
Kapa187:What made want to take up music seriously?
M.foreal:I have always done music behind the scene,performed here and there then 2011 I featured in Chawa.C song Stuck on You
who then convinced me to do an album,then I started working on it, though it was at snail pace due to my work which keeps me busy.Two months ago I met an old woman who heard my song and asked me if I had an album I said no and was like do it before you get to my age and regret for not doing it,so am now more focused and releasing my album on June 30.The title for the album is Breaking News(Am Here)
Kapa187:For those who have not heard your music , describe your stlye/sound in 2 words.
M.foreal: Romantic ballads! Think of Cool J I need love,that’s my typa jam
Kapa187:Do you have a main theme to your music or do you cover various topics
M.foreal: Mainly am talking about love but there are some tracks talking about things I’ve been through,though my next album will have a lot of political and controversial issues
Kapa187:Tell us about your song “Gone over you”What was the inspiration behind it ,how did it come about.
M.foreal: I had just met my girlfriend When i heard the beat which already had the chorus so I bought it and and wrote that track coz I was Gone over her so yeah she was my inspiration for that.
Kapa187:Which 3 zambian artists would you most want to work with and why
M.foreal: Judy I just think she’s an amazing artist.I would also like to work with Jay Rox he’s got some talent,love his stuff,and the third one is Uncle Rex,I’m a big jazz fan and play his cd a lot in my car so would be great to work with him.
Kapa187:Apart from music what other activities do you take part in ?
M.foreal:Am also into photography, so if am not doing music am out and about taking pictures. I have a little home photo studio
Kapa187:What makes you stand out from other artists?
M.foreal:I tell a story and switch my flow depending on the type of story am telling so my flow is different on each and every track.
Kapa187:Is there anything your fans will be surprised to know about you.
M.foreal: I opened for the legendary Daddy Zemus,probably one of his last 3 performances before he died…so im not a newbie
Andrew Banda and Sakwiba Sikota leave Woodlands police station after signing a police bond
Former Republican President Rupiah Banda’s son, Andrew has been found with a case to answer in a matter in which he is charged with corruption.
Chief resident magistrate Joshua Banda in his ruling yesterday said he had read all the testimonies by the nine witnesses called by the prosecution and found that the accused was facing a typical case which needed him to answer to the charges leveled against him.
Magistrate Banda said he had carefully read the testimonies of the State witnesses and the submissions from both parties and that in his view, he considered that this was a typical case where Andrew should answer to the allegations of corruptly soliciting and agreeing to receive two percent of all payments made to Italian businessman Antonello Locci.
“I accordingly invoke section 207 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) and place the accused person on his defence,” Mr Banda said in his ruling.
This is in a case in which Andrew, being a public officer as First Secretary at the Zambian Embassy in Italy and later Deputy High Commissioner to India, solicited and agreed to receive gratification from Mr Locci amounting to two per cent of all monies paid to Frattelli Locci SRI by RDA.
And Andrew, 52, now a farmer of Chasimpa farm in Chipata is charged with one count of soliciting two per cent gratification amounting to K171 million on all payments made by RDA on current and future road construction projects contrary to Section 28(1) paragraph A (i) of the Anti-Corruption Act No.38 of 2010.
The Magistrate said if at the close of the evidence in support of the charge appeared to the court that a case was not made out against the accused sufficiently to require him to find a prima facie case against Andrew, the court would have dismissed the case and acquitted him forthwith.
Mr Banda said in this instance, the court found sufficient evidence which required it to explain the substance of the charge to the accused and shall inform him that he had the right to give evidence on his own behalf and that he could call witnesses if he so wished.
And after the Court explained his rights, Andrew through his lawyers from Milner Katolo and Associates told the court that their client would give sworn evidence and asked for time to prepare themselves.
Defence lawyer Paul Katupisha informed the court that Andrew would call nine witnesses to assist him to defend his matter.
FILE: Deputy Minister in the VEEP Office Harry Kalaba (in Green top) and Lusaka District Commissioner Ashell Kapengele (in Blue suit) checks on the Njashishi and Chiparamba Roads of Kanyama Compound in Lusaka
Government will compensate those whose property was burnt after investigating the cause of the fire at Chifundo Market in Mandevu Township, Deputy Minister in the office of the Vice President Harry Kalaba has said.
Mr Kalaba said methods of protecting markets should be revised and caretakers must be responsible in order to avoid recurrences of such situations.
He described the scenario as sad and that Government would critically examine the situation to get a clear picture on how the fire exactly started.
“It is very unfortunate to have such a fiasco. It took a passenger from a bus to call emergency responders while caretakers were not around to make an emergency call. There should be a caretaker with the fire brigade number,” he said.
He said markets should engage serious caretakers with a sober mind who would have a contact list consisting of numbers of the Fire Brigade, the Lusaka City Council, Area Member of Parliament (MP) and police among others.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Community Development Mother and Child Health who is Mandevu Constituency Member of Parliament Jean Kapata appealed to the Committee of Chifundo Market to verify the list of the genuine victims who would be assisted.
“People affected should benefit to lessen costs. We do not want a situation where people who were renting shops sometime back to receive funds when they are no longer operating from the market,” she said.
She said only those that were genuinely affected by the inferno would be compensated so that they were adequately provided for.
Delegates from various governmental and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) will today converge at Mulungushi International Conference Centre (MICC) in Lusaka for three days to discuss the draft Constitution.
The sector groups convention will comprise professionals and experts, invested to discuss and analyze the different articles in the first draft constitution.
The objective of the sector groups’ convention is to provide a platform for stakeholders in order for them to provide their professional views on the proposals made in the First Draft Constitution.
The delegates would be assigned into various sector groups comprising professionals and experts who would discuss and analyse different articles in the first draft Constitution compiled by the Technical Committee on Drafting the Zambian Constitution.
The proposals drawn from these sector groups would feed into the National Convention scheduled for April 10 to April 17, 2013.
A total of 10 sector groups have been drawn and these would discuss among others citizenship, civil and political rights, and economic, social and cultural rights.
Others include representation of people, public finance and accountability, good governance and traditional leadership.
Former President Rupiah Banda is this morning returning to the courtroom as his corruption trial commences.
Mr. Banda will appear before Chief Resident Magistrate Joshua Banda in a matter in which the former President is alleged to have been involved in an oil deal with Nigeria.
The state prosecutors led by DPP Mutembo Nchito will attempt to prove that Mr. Banda and his son Henry personally benefitted from the oil at the expense of the nation.
Mr. Banda is accused of stealing about $11 million through an oil contract with the Nigerian government and having that money routed to his son’s account.
He is also accused of using some of those funds for his failed re-election campaign.
Mr. Banda is represented by his lawyers, Sakwiba Sikota of Central Chambers, Prof Patrick Mvunga of Mvunga and Company, Erick Silwamba of Silwamba and company and Irene Kunda of George Kunda and Company.
Meanwhile, Transparency International Zambia says Mr. Banda’s upcoming trial sets an important precedent for Zambian government officials.
Mr. Lungu said he expects the court proceedings to be fair.
He said the Rupiah Banda trial is important in the fight against corruption as it projects that no one is above the rule of law in Zambia.
Mr. Lungu said it is only fair that leaders are held to account for all their actions as well as their omissions that they could have undertaken while holding public office.
“This trial is a very important trial because it projects that in terms of the rule of law, no one is above the rule of law in our country and that even himself, [President] Sata, if he perhaps ends up misconducting himself, the same thing might be able to apply to him. And we feel as Zambians that it’s only fair that our leaders are supposed to, at one time or another, be held to account for all their actions as well as their omissions that they could have undertaken while holding public office,” said Mr. Lungu.
But Mr. Lungu says the current administration is not above suspicion, either.
“We’d like Zambians to remain calm and let the due process of the law take its course,” said Mr. Lungu. “And we’d also like to send a caution to the current PF regime in Zambia that the same law that is being able to be used to apply to the former head of state might end up catching up with them if at all their conduct might not be above our board.”
Nkana coach Masauso Mwale says the secret to the Kitwe teams flying start early in the 2013 season is down to three key points.
The record 11-time league champions are on maximum six points from two games played so far in the FAZ Super Division under their new coach Masauso Mwale who was appointed this year from Konkola Mine Police.
Mwale described Nkana as refurbished and that he hoped the Kitwe side will build on their current form to mount a serious challenge for the title for the first time since 2001.
“Hard work, oneness and good understanding; the players are working hard they know what they want,” Mwale said.
“It’s a new Nkana, I will call it a refurnished team.
“I have told the boys that each and every game is very important.
“And again if you want to challenge for the title you need to have the consistency.
“So we need to develop that consistency in our team to achieve our targets.”
Meanwhile, Nkana’s early form will be tested this weekend when they host their old archrivals and current Super Division leaders Kalulushi Modern Stars in a local derby in Wusakile.
Both Kalulushi and Nkana are tied on six points and separated only on goal difference in first and third place respectively.
Zambia Police spokesperson Elizabeth Kanjela
17 people were killed in Road Traffic Accidents countrywide during the Easter holiday.
Police Spokesperson Elizabeth Kanjela said a total number of 203 road traffic accidents were recorded over the Easter holiday.
Lusaka was the hardest hit with 111 Road Traffic Accidents recorded where four people died.
Northern Province had the least number of accidents with only two recorded with no deaths.
And Ms. Kanjela said there was an increase in both the number of accidents and lives lost this year compared to last Easter Holiday when 112 accidents recorded with four lives lost.
She said the increase of accidents could be attributed to the increase in the number of vehicles on the road compared to last year.
“Also the fact that being holiday unlike any other days people turn to have time to drive around and also want to visit different places as they are not in offices,” she said.
She said, “Drinking and driving is another contributing factor as many people turn to drink too much.”
And in other cases, Ms. Kanjela said ten murder cases of murder of which two involved spouses were recorded.
She said the other five cases involved people that are related or friends while the other three cases were committed by unknown people and investigations are on.
Ms. Kanjela said two cases of defilement were reported and including one rape case during the Easter weekend.
She said close to 100 assault cases where reported country wide of which most of them are by known people.
“Once more we would want to urge people to try and dialogue by all means whenever there is a misunderstanding unlike resorting to physical violence,” she said.
Commercial sex workers in Serenje have continued pressing Serenje District Commissioner, Charles Mwelwa, demanding empowerment funds so that they engage in income generation activities.
A team which was led by Marxian Musonda, 18, Sharon Mwanza 18 and Petronella kunda, 31, stormed Mr Mwelwa’s office over the weekend demanding funds, including the Youth Empowerment Fund, to venture into viable business like other clubs do.
They said there is no justification for government to empower only ex-prisoners who are getting KR1000 from the Department Social Welfare to start their business of their choice, saying sex workers have also been condemned by society and should not be segregated if they want to access government funds as Zambians.
They suggested that government should also extend to them the system that they have used to empower ex-prisoners so that they venture into clean business and stop patronizing bars.
“It is not an easy thing to access money from youth empowerment fund because it has a process of filling in forms, but all we need is to have money which is ready to start business and sustain our children since some of us are double orphans and HIV-AIDS can be reduced on the streets,” they said.
And Mr Mwelwa advised the sex workers that everything has a channel to follow hence the need for them not to lose hope but follow procedure and keep on praying to almighty God until they are answered.
Mr Mwelwa, however, promised to get back to them after consulting other relevant authorities.
Meanwhile, District Social Welfare Officer, Joyce Mukuka, has called on the Sex Workers Association of Zambia in Lusaka to hear to the cry of Serenje sex workers since they have come in open and help them with financial assistance.
And district AIDS Coordinator, Margret Mwamba, thanked the sex workers for their courage and coming in the open to seek assistance from the District Commissioner, saying most of them they feel shy.
Rev Mwamba also called on well-wishers and other organizations to assist the girls so that they could also start a new life instead of keeping on spreading HIV and AIDS to innocent people.
Communications, Transport, Works and Supply Minister Christopher Yaluma
THE Government has said that it is still looking for a reliable strategic partner before establishing the national airline.
Communication, Transport, Works and Supply Minister Christopher Yaluma said the government was engaging various stakeholders in discussions to find suitable partner.
Mr Yaluma said that the government would have a larger equity in the airline so as to ensure its sustainability.
He said that the government was committed towards the re-establishment of the national airline and that the country still has the potential to run it profitably.
Addressing journalists in Lusaka, Mr. Yaluma noted that the government would put in place modalities that will not lead to the closure of the airline in future.
Mr Yaluma hailed plans by Zambians in the Diaspora to launch an airline saying it would contribute to easing air traffic in the county.
He said that the government encourages investments in different economic sectors from both local and foreign investment.
A few days ago a group of Zambian aviation professionals in the Diaspora in partnership with their locally based counterparts and some foreign investors announced that they would be launching Zambia’s first budget airline.
The Airlines is expected to be a low cost carrier, meant mainly for domestic travel and will be the first of its kind in Zambia.
Electoral Commission of Zambia(ECZ)spokesperson Cris Akufuna says the commission is following up the matter in which the Vice President Guy Scott allegedly conducted a political campaign rally in Lukulu West during the filing in of nominations of candidates for the by-election in the area.
Mr. Akufuna has explained that it would be an abrogation of the Electoral Conduct of Conduct if any political party in the country conducts a political campaign before the filing of nominations of candidates is done.
Speaking in an interview with Qfm news, Mr. Akufuna has noted that under the Electoral Law, political campaigns only commence at 15:00hours after all political parties have filed in nominations.
He has also reiterated the need for all participating political parties to conduct peaceful campaigns in Kapiri Mposhi and Lukulu West constituencies.
FILE: PRESIDENT Michael Sata (r) flashes the Patriotic Front symbol while singings the national anthem at the campaign rally. On his immediate left is former Provincial Minister in MMD government Daniel Munkombwe, former Member of Parliament Rev. Howard Sikwela and Candidate for PF Lawrence Evans at Villa grounds in Livingstone
President Michael Sata today swore in veteran politicians Daniel Mukombwe as Deputy Mininster for Southern Province. In a ceremony at State house,
the president also swore in Chilubi PF Member of Parliament Obius Chisala as Northern province Deputy Minister.
President Sata also swore in two Permanent Secretaries under cabinet office, Benard Kamphasa for Policy Analysis and Coordination Division and Ndashe Yumba for Management Development Division
And President Sata fumed following the delay to move the provincial capital of Southern province from Livingstone to Choma.
Mr Sata questioned why it has taken long to move the provincial capital when he issued the directive a long time ago.
The President hinted that politics of talking is long gone noting that it is time for delivering development.
The Head of State explained that Choma was more centrally located compared to Livingstone hence his decision to move the provincial capital.
Meanwhile, the President Sata has directed Deputy Ministers and Permanent Secretaries to undertake country-wide developmental tours of provinces and districts.
Mr Sata advised the deputy ministers and Permanent Secretaries to desist from sitting in offices but rather go in provinces and monitor government projects taking place there.
The Head of State wondered how Deputy Ministers and Permanent Secretaries can acquaint themselves with the challenges that civil servants face in executing government work if they do not tour the country-side.
The President explained that the only way government officials will enhance development in provinces and districts is by touring various government projects taking place.
President Sata made the directive when he swore-in two provincial deputy ministers and two permanent secretaries.
Mr Sata said Zambia is where it is today because of the district commissioners who frequently toured government projects.
Mr Sata said the only way development is going to be expedited throughout the country is when Deputy Ministers and PSs play an active role of monitoring government projects.
The President questioned why Deputy Minister and PS were getting tax payer’s money when they don’t tour provinces and districts.
President Sata cautioned Ministers and Permanent Secretaries to refrain calling chiefs but to visit them and get their concerns on matters of national development.
He said the only way that traditional leaders are going to appreciate governmnet services is when they visit them during the monitoring of projects.
Mr Sata implored Vice President Dr Guy Scott to encourage Deputy Ministers and Permanent Secretaries to tour districts.
