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File:Mongu residents listening to the proceeding to the Barotse National Council in Limulunga Royal Village
A senior citizen in Mongu district Evans Musialela has charged that both government and the Barotse Royal Establishment have failed to amicably resolve issues surrounding the Barotseland Agreement of 1964 hence the need to involve a third party which is the international community.
He was reacting to a statement issued by Justice Minister Sebastian Zulu which appealed to the people of Western Province to stop agitating for the secession of the province from Zambia.The statement also said that the Barotseland Agreement is a sensitive issue will bring a lot of implications in terms of boundaries.
Musialela said the people of Western province are not seceding but reverting to the original state of being Barotseland.
“We are not seceding but simply reverting to our original state before we signed the Barotseland agreement in 1964” said Musialele.
Speaking in an interview today Musialele noted that there was no need for the two authorities to dialogue on the Barotseland Agreement 1964 because its sensitivity vanished when it was abrogated by successive Zambian governments since 1969.
Mr. Musialela said the people of Western Province are no longer interested in being part of Zambia saying government has failed to provide leadership on the matter.
He further said the people of Western Province will dialogue with the Zambian government at the right time with their terms and conditions of independence and under an independent arbitration.
“We resolved that we have a dispute with the Zambian government since we declared a dispute with the Zambian government we have failed to resolve this matter therefore we need someone to stand in between us” he said.
FORMER Minister of Finance and National Planning Ng’andu Magande
Former Finance Minister Ng’andu Magande has advised the Zambian government to instill confidence on the challenges facing the economy.
Mr. Magande said that there was need for the Zambian government to assure the Zambian business community that the economy will be brought under control.
In recent weeks, stakeholders have expressed concern on the performance of the country’s economy particularly citing the depreciation of the Kwacha.
Some stakeholders allege what they term as inconsistent policies of the patriotic front as reasons of the negative performance of the Patriotic Front.
But Mr. Magande said that uncertainty will be created among the local and international investors as a result of lack of long term assurance from the government top leadership
And Former Communications and Transport deputy minister Alfred Ndhlovu said that the Patriotic Front government has a challenge to create two million jobs if the economy is to employ.
Mr. Ndhlovu said that he may have the solution on how the country’s economy can be built but stated that he can not give any advice to the PF government because it does not show the willingness to learn from the opposition.
And when asked if he would take up an offered position in the PF government, Mr. Ndhlovu said that he would first consult with his family friends and his party, the opposition movement for multi-party democracy (MMD).
He stated that he does not see appointments in the PF government as a gain because people relieved off their duties are disadvantaged due to the unavailability of jobs in the country.
In an interview with QFM, Mr. Ndhlovu says the people of Zambia must learn to differentiate between mere campaign promises and genuine developmental promises made by their leaders.
GOVERNMENT has revised the selection process in the award of various foreign scholarships to ensure transparency and that every Zambian has an equal opportunity to access education.
Education, Science and Vocational Training Minister, John Phiri said in Lusaka yesterday that the Government had changed the selection process to give equal opportunities to all Zambians.
“We have not received any formal complaint, but we have changed the selection process to give an opportunity to everyone,” he said.
He said the current process would ensure that all applicants were interviewed by a broad-based panel chaired by Deputy Minister Novelyn Wilombe.
“There is a broad range of people who sit on the interview panel and some not from the Ministry of Education,” he said.
Some people who had applied for foreign scholarships had been complaining that the scheme only seemed to benefit those with “connections” with senior Government officials.[pullquote]We just discovered that only some ministers’ children and relatives of former ministers in the MMD were the ones benefiting.[/pullquote]
The minister said so far, the Government had completed the process of awarding scholarships from Russia and that the awarding of Chinese scholarships would follow soon.
A teacher in the Ministry of Education who sought anonymity for fear of victimisation complained to the Times of Zambia last weekend that for the past six years, he had attempted to access the scholarships but had failed.
“I am qualified, with a first degree for that matter from the University of Zambia. I have been applying for these scholarships and I have even attended interviews but never picked.
“We just discovered that only some ministers’ children and relatives of former ministers in the MMD were the ones benefiting.
“We only hope that President Michael Sata and the new Government will deal with this matter because some of us have no connections and only depend on our inherent right of being citizens of Zambia,” he said.
The teacher appealed to the Government to put in place a transparent mechanism through which the scholarships could be awarded to deserving Zambians.
MOPANI Copper Mines spent US$844 million on suppliers in 2011 and the bulk of the contracts went to local vendors in Kitwe and Mufulira towns, which host the mining giant’s operations in Zambia.
Chief executive officer (CEO) Danny Callow said this on Monday in a statement.
Announcing the launch of a new system, which would evolve the way in which the company interacts with its internal customers and external suppliers, Mr Callow said Mopani wanted to provide suppliers with a level playing field and equal competitive advantage.
He said that of the vendors engaged last year, 61% were in first tier which covered Kitwe and Mufulira, 8% comprised all vendors on the Copperbelt, 13% from the rest of Zambia and 18% were foreign vendors.
He said Mopani planned to improve the vendor strategy that was implemented at the beginning of 2011 which aimed at identifying and classifying vendors by geographic areas in order to be able to identify the value and volumes of trade in each particular locality.
He said the new system, which had been running since the beginning of March 2012, has given a new dimension to the way of doing business with Mopani, making it even more user friendly.
“I’m very delighted that we have managed to implement this system that will see all vendors competing at the same level and given equal opportunities to do business with us,” Mr Callow said.
“We are confident that through this system, we will be able to help small businesses grow by giving them equal opportunities with established ones. This will go a long way in creating employment opportunities for the community,” he said.
The new system had been implemented primarily to enhance security in order to curtail any possible fraudulent activities in the evaluation and awarding of supply tenders to the vendors.
Mr Callow said the system gave vendors the opportunity to tender electronically and that minimised the chances of collusion between the buyers and the vendors on one hand, and provided the suppliers with equal competitive advantage on the other.
Mopani, in conjunction with the Kitwe Chamber of Commerce and Industry, recently conducted workshops where over 200 vendors from the Copperbelt as well as Lusaka received training on how to use the new system.
Mopani was also introducing “Internet Cafés” at the Corporate Office in Kitwe and at Mufulira General Offices to give access to vendors that did not have access to the internet, the CEO said.
The new system’s marketing director Meryl Malcomess said this was the first time in over 30 years that a company was undertaking such an extensive sensitisation of external system users and showed the level of commitment to ensuring that the end users benefitted significantly from the system.
The Kitwe Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) welcomed Mopani’s new initiative, saying it would level the playing field and its members would derive a lot of benefits from the new system.
“We commend Mopani for taking the leading role in improving the business environment which will ultimately result in the improvement of the Copperbelt region in the area of employment creation and general standard of living,” KCCI president Raj Karamchand said.
He said Mopani was dedicated to enhancing and developing local Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and the newly-implemented system was a step in that direction.
[Times of Zambia]
File:President Rupiah Banda arriving for a MMD Provincial Conference
THE MMD Die Hard youth wing has threatened to take legal action against former president Rupiah Banda and the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to compel them to explain how about K1 trillion the party raised during last year’s campaigns was spent.
Last month, an MMD insider told the Sunday Times of Zambia that the former ruling party leadership had allegedly failed to account for K1 trillion the party raised prior to the September 20, 2011 elections.
MMD Die Hard youth wing national coordinator, Bowman Lusambo said in Lusaka yesterday that it was shocking that the former ruling party was failing to raise K3 billion to hold a national convention when it had raised a lot of money during last year’s campaigns.
“We are taking legal action against former party president Rupiah Banda because we want to know how the money was spent. There must be something really wrong in the way finances were handled.
“How can the party be failing to raise K3 billion when we raised so much money during the campaigns, where has the money gone?
“As a youth wing we want the party treasury which is now being managed by Mr Mwansa Mbulakulima to be audited,” he said.
Mr Lusambo said it was shocking that the MMD was failing to hold the convention because of lack of resources and yet the party raised a lot of money prior to last year’s elections.
The insider who revealed some allegations of financial irregularities last month claimed that the MMD leadership had failed to account for K1 trillion the party raised for the campaigns, and that members wanted to konw how the money was used.
“I am a NEC member and I know that we managed to raise K1 trillion. That is not small money, but we don’t know where the money is,” the insider said.
Kabwe Warriors and Mufulira Wanderers both recorded successive league wins over the Easter weekend in their respective Division 1 South and North matches.
In Division 1 South, Warriors stayed second for another week and unbeaten after defeating Nampundwe 1-0 away on Saturday.
Siloni Jere scored the games lone goal in the 52nd minute to see Warriors collect six points from two games played in Division 1 South since their demotion last season.
Still in Division 1 South, City of Lusaka also won for a second successive week with a 1-0 away win over Lusaka City Council.
Kafue Celtic maintained their lead in the southern zone after a 2-0 home win over Young Green Eagles.
And in Division 1 North, Kellies “Paymaster” Mwaba’s Mighty Mufulira Wanderers beat newcomers Kansanshi Dynamos 1-0 at Shinde Stadium in Mufulira to go top of the table on six points from two games played so far in the new season.
FAZ Division One Week Two Results
08/04/2012
North
Mufulira Wanderers 1- Kansanshi Dynamos 0
Bresmar United 1-Mufulira Blackpool 1
Chambishi 2-Police Blue Eagles 1
Mumbwa Medix 1-Kalulushi Modern Stars 0
Prison Leopards 1-Young Forest 1
Kitwe United 1-Ndola United 1
Kalewa 2-Mining Rangers 0
Nkwiza 1-Lime Hotspurs 0
07/04/2012
Zesco Luapula 0 Chindwin Sentries 2
South
08/04/2012
Lusaka City Council 0-City of Lusaka 1
Kascol Rangers 0-Chilenje Youth Academy 0
Freedom Rangers 3-Kalomo Jetters 0
Lusaka Tigers 0-Luena Buffaloes 1
07/04/2012
Zesco Shockers 0-Nkwazi 1
Young Stars 2-Riflemen 1
Livingstone Pirates 0-Paramilitary 1
Nampundwe 0-Kabwe Warriors 1
Kafue Celtic 2-Young Green Eagles 0
SOUTH African High Commissioner to Zambia Moses Chikane
SOUTH African High Commissioner to Zambia Moses Chikane yesterday announced in a interview with Zambia Daily Mail that South African government plans to build a modern city in Zambia to commemorate African National Congress Party (ANC)’s 100 years of existence which falls on April 27.
Mr Chikane said South Africa owes her freedom to Zambia and other countries on the continent but added that the contribution Zambia made towards the liberation of South Africa is insurmountable.
He said it is for the reason that his government has decided at her 100 years of existence to build a city to celebrate and remember the role Zambia played in South Africa.
“The role that Zambia played in South Africa’s liberation is huge and we want to honour her (Zambia) by building a city somewhere in the outskirts,” Mr Chikane said.
However, the South African envoy could not give specific details such as when and the cost of the project. He said if the Zambian government is agreeable, his country would prefer naming the city after Dr Kenneth Kaunda, Zambia’s first President fondly known as KK or the founding father of the nation.
“We have had our political emancipation but now we need our economic emancipation and to commemorate our freedom we want to do something big in Zambia such as building the city we have already mentioned,” Mr Chikane said, adding that “We can’t say how much that will cost just yet.”
Evans Kangwa and Reyold Kampamba this afternoon inspired Nkana to their first Faz Super division win of the season.
Nkana beat Konkola Blades 3-0 at Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe to move from 13th to 5th place on the table after three games played.
The win comes just two days after Green Buffaloes beat Nkana 3-1 at the same venue in a Week 2 game on Saturday.
Charles Shamukomba gave Nkana a 1-0 lead into the break, Kangwa made it 2-0 in the 73rd minute before Kampamba wrapped up the three points with the third four minutes before fulltime.
Meanwhile, the lead at the top of the table has changed hands after Zesco United beat Buffaloes 2-0 at the Trade Fair Grounds in Ndola.
John Chingandu was on target in the 27th minute while his halftime replacement Kangwa Chileshe added the second goal in the 83rd minute.
And Buffaloes were reduced to 10 men in the 77 minute after Steven Kabamba for a second booking.
Zesco replaced Red Arrows at the top of the table after the latter lost their first league game of the season to visiting Zanaco who beat them 1-0 at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka.
Lewis Macha’s 5th minute goal relegated Arrows from first to second place on the table.
And at Edwin Emboela Stadium, Napsa Stars recorded their first win of the season after two successive defeats when they beat Nakambala Leopards 2-0.
Martin Tembo and a Mike Silawuve penalty in the 27th and 77th minutes respectively gave Napsa their first three points of the season.
Results
09/04/2012
Konkola-Mine Police 1 -Roan United 1
Nkana 3-Konkola Blades 0
National Assembly 1-Forest Rangers 2
Zesco United 2-Green Buffaloes 0
Red Arrows 0-Zanaco 1
Napsa Stars 2-Nakambala Leopards 0
10/04/2012
Green Eagles-Indeni
Postponed
Nchanga Rangers-Power Dynamos
MINISTER of Justice Sebastian Zulu has said that Government will not waste money to conduct a referendum on issues surrounding Western Province as this will be an exercise in futility especially that most Zambians have rejected calls for secession.
The minister was reacting to calls by Nkoya Royal Council chairperson Edwin Nkomesha who called on Government to conduct a referendum for Western Province that will be used to end the controversies surrounding the Barotseland Agreement of 1964.
In an interview in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Zulu advised the Lozi-speaking people against agitating for secession of Western Province from the rest of Zambia but allow Government to restore the Barotseland Agreement through the devolution of power.
Mr Zulu said the people of Western Province should understand the implications of the contents of the Barotseland Agreement.
He said the boundaries of Barotseland go beyond some of Zambia’s borders and wondered how possible it will be for the people of Western Province to claim the land in some neighbouring countries.
Mr Zulu said the issue of the Barotseland Agreement is a sensitive matter which needs to be handled carefully by the parties involved as failure to do so may result into anarchy.
“The issue of the Barotseland Agreement is a very sensitive matter and people should not be calling for the referendum because that will be a very futile exercise. In countries such as Sudan and Russia where a referendum was held, this resulted in loss of lives.
“We just have to ensure that Zambia remains the way it is as a unitary state rather than calling for secession of Western Province from the rest of the country,” he said.
Mr Zulu said while the people of Western Province have a good cause as regards the issue of the Barotseland, there is nowhere in the Agreement where secession is mentioned.
He urged the people of Western Province to ensure that there is dialogue on the matter to rectify the mistakes that could have been made at the time the Agreement was signed.
Mr Zulu said emotions should not take centre stage in finding an amicable solution to the problem.
The minister also said Government is aware of the underdevelopment in Western Province and that it is putting in place measures aimed at addressing various challenges faced by people in the area.
“We are aware that the people of Western Province want development and this is what this Government is doing to ensure that development is taken to the area.
“We want the people of Western Province to work closely with Government so that meaningful economic development can be taken to the region,” he said.
A decade after his heroic defeat of the monstrous Kraken, Perseus-the demigod son of Zeus-is attempting to live a quieter life as a village fisherman and the sole parent to his 10-year old son, Helius. Meanwhile, a struggle for supremacy rages between the gods and the Titans. Dangerously weakened by humanity’s lack of devotion, the gods are losing control of the imprisoned Titans and their ferocious leader, Kronos, father of the long-ruling brothers Zeus, Hades and Poseidon. Perseus cannot ignore his true calling when Hades, along with Zeus’ godly son, Ares (Edgar Ramírez), switch loyalty and make a deal with Kronos to capture Zeus. The Titans’ strength grows stronger as Zeus’ remaining godly powers are siphoned
PROS
Very good action scenes
The special effects are excellent, and I also appreciated the fact that they are used in order to be auxiliaries of the narrative, and not as apparatus arbitrary exhibitions which interrupt the story’s flow.
There were interesting characters and creatures.
CONS
Story line is predictable.
The acting could have been better.
FAVORITE QUOTES
Zeus: Being half human makes you stronger than a god.
Andromeda: We humans hope when there is no hope. We believe when believing is idiotic. Inspite of evertyhing, we prevail.
Hades: Your sweating like a human. Next will be tears.
CONCLUSION
Wrath of the titans is an entertaining movie …. but it does not have that special something that would make it a great movie. It seems to be leading towards something but the ending battle is rather underwhelming . If you watched the previous movie “Clash of the titans” , this one is not much better , just a continuation of the story. Maybe they will get it right the third time around.
The United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema has charged that the patriotic front has no proper plan of managing the economy.
Mr. Hichilema says that the country%u2019s economy has continued to record poor growth because of lack of proper management by the government.
Mr. Hichilema cited the continued depreciation of the kwacha as one major example to the poor growth the country has continued to experience.
He says that had the governemnt had proper plans for the economy, the local currency would not have experiencing shocks.
He says that it is important for the PF to put in place measures that will ensure that the level of the economy does not further go down.
He says that a lot challenges might arise as a result of the poor management of the economy.
The opposition Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) has called on opposition parliamentarians to be alert and provide necessary checks and balances to the ruling patriotic front government.
MMD Deputy National Secretary Chembe Nyangu sid that it would be wrong for opposition parliamentarians to relax amid so many blunders by the Patriotic Front.
Recently, MMD Solwezi central Member of Parliament Lucky Mulusa said the relaxed attitude by Felix Mutati as leader of the opposition in parliament is suppressing progressive debates meant to assist the government.
Mr. Nyangu said that the party will first have to study the matter for it to be handled appropriately.
He however told QFM that if the reports are true, it would be incorrect for Mr. Mutati, as leader of the opposition, to be relaxed because the opposition has a huge task to play in parliament.
FORMER MMD national secretary Katele Kalumba has vowed to remain in the party and continue speaking out on the wrongs in it and has asked party acting president Michael Mabenga to stop intimidating members with divergent views.
Speaking in an interview yesterday, Dr Kalumba said he was at liberty to speak on the wrongs in the MMD and that no member of the party would stop him from exercising his democratic right to do so in the former ruling party.
He said he would not be cowed by people like Mr Mabenga, adding that there was need for MMD leaders to be upright and speak out if the party was to remain relevant on the political scene.
Of late, Dr Kalumba has been issuing statements on the alleged poor leadership style in the former ruling party, remarks that have not gone down well with the top leadership.
But party chairperson, Mr Mabenga, now acting president, has repeatedly defended the MMD style of leadership.
“First, I want to make it clear that I don’t renew my card from Mr Mabenga’s office, I am not a national executive committee (NEC) member. I have a branch.
“I only belong to a branch and so I don’t owe Mabenga any explanation for any statements that I make. I dare him to go ahead with anything that he wants to do to me if he is a real chairman of the party,” Dr Kalumba said.
Dr Kalumba, who served as national secretary, said he scarified a lot for the MMD and therefore, he would not allow any member to intimidate him.
He said as chief executive officer of the MMD, there were times when he used his personal money to run the party’s affairs and as such, he would not accept to be intimidated by any individual, including Mr Mabenga.
“I was national secretary of the MMD and I sacrificed my personal money and so I will continue to speak without fear or favour.
“I ran that secretariat using my money and I will not accept to be intimidated by anybody,” Dr Kalumba said.
He said those who were now holding senior positions in the MMD were not around when the party was being founded.
Dr Kalumba said even at the time of forming the MMD, he made numerous sacrifices as well as contributions to ensure that the party became stronger.
He said the MMD then was strengthened because of his efforts and those of others and not the current crop of leaders.
“I am a founder member of the party and I don’t want to be intimidated by anybody,” Dr Kalumba said.
Power Dynamos were shamed in Lubumbashi today where hosts and four-time African champion TP Mazembe crushed them 6-0 to boot Fordson Kabole’s side of the Caf Champions League.
Mazembe advance to the second round 7-1 on aggregate and hand Zambian champions one of their worst ever defeats in African club competition.
However, most of Power’s misery was inflicted in the first half in which the first four goals were score by two of the three Zambian players who had started the match for the four-time African champions from DR Congo.
Zambia midfielder Rainford Kalaba put Mazembe ahead in the 10th minute and 11 minutes later Tresor Mputu made it 2-0 from a seemingly offside position.
Kalaba’s compatriot and striker Given Singuluma scored two quick fire-goals in the 42nd and 44th minutes as Mazembe outplayed their guest from just across the border.
Singuluma and Kalaba including defender Stophilla Sunzu started the match.
Mputu completed his hat trick in the 67th and 77th minutes to see Mazembe book their big second round date against El Merreikh of Sudan in a fortnights time.
El Merreikh beat FC Platinum of Zimbabwe 3-0 on Saturday in Omdurman to advance 5-2 on aggregate.
