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The 2012 season could see a flurry of ex-Zambia stars gracing the Faz Super division should they impress in pre-season with their respective local suitors.
Zanaco has former international midfielders Ian Bakala and Clive Mwale are currently training with the five-time champions at Sunset stadium in Lusaka.
Bakala has returned home after a six year stint in Angola while Mwale has slipped back across the Zambezi after a decade long stay in Zimbabwe.
Their near neighbors Profund Warriors now newly named Napsa Stars have signed on striker Harry Milanzi whose career has taken him from Mexico to Angola and striker Nchimunya Mweetwa formerly of RoPS in Finland.
Napsa has also brought in Zambia second choice goalkeeper Kalililo Kakonje on a short-term deal after almost a year without serious competitive action since leaving Amazulu of South Africa in 2010.
Kakonje also had a brief stint at TP Mazembe.
Napsa in January also hired coaches Patrick Phiri and Peter Kaumba with the latter the formers assistant.
President Michael Sata Receiving the Commission of Inquiry report from the Chairman Dr Rodger Chongwe at State House
YOUR FUTILE ATTEMPT TO DISCREDIT THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE
MONGU RIOTS OF 14 JANUARY 2011
I had the privilege to sit through your paid for live interview on ZNBC Television last night and wish to bring forth my observations and question the logic in your arguments against the findings of the Roger Chongwe Commission of Inquiry over the issue of Barotseland. The points I wish to address are as follows:
1. Terms of Reference
Your claim that the Commission was not mandated to inquire into the matter of the Barotseland Agreement 1964 boggles the mind. Term of Reference no. 11 (TOR 11) required the Commission to “Ascertain the concerns of the people of Western Province and recommend mechanism for resolving them”.
[pullquote]It is not surprising, as has been proved over and over, that the most devastating scoundrels this country has produced are those who rise to political prominence[/pullquote]
Do we really need to translate the wording of this TOR into the Lenje language for you to grasp the fact that it is an open-ended assignment and has no limit as to what the Commission could come up with? What in your view are the major concerns of the people of Barotseland exhibited in the last twenty years that you have been involved in Zambian politics and what methods have you applied to determine them?
The fact that the Commission was confronted with the matter of the Barotseland Agreement was very clear from press reports of its sittings. The concerns of the people of Barotseland are varied but that of the abrogation of this independence treaty tops them all. The word ‘concerns’ embraces all issues under contention which need not be itemized. If, for example, the people had complained widely about the sandy terrain of the Province would not the Commission have recommended an environmentally based project to address the issue? In such a case your PF Government would have probably rejected this recommendation on account of its astronomical cost and not because the word ‘sand’ was not written in the TORs.
Quite clearly, your poor interpretation of the Commission’s TORs is most disappointing for a person of your professional background.
Further, your assertion that the Chairperson of the Commission determined the contents of the Report on account of his emotional attachment to the issue of former Barotse Detainees suggests that his fellow Commissioners were dummies with no minds of their own, which is very unfortunate for a man of your standing.
It is obvious that TOR 11 was written with ill-motive and your expectations from the same have not materialized. I challenge you to be man enough to tell the nation what you had hoped to achieve by this TOR.
2. The British Government and the Barotseland Agreement 1964
You claimed that if the Agreement is restored the British Government, having been part to it, would be compelled to perform some duties in respect to it. You were not magnanimous enough to pin point what the obligations of the British Government under the treaty are. However,this agreement was recently published by your government and if you care to read it you will find that the only point at which it makes reference to the Colonial Power is at paragraphs 1 and 4 of the preamble.
Paragraph 4 makes it very clear that Her Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom is being released from its power,rights and obligations relating to Barotseland which had subsisted up to the time of agreement and that fresh arrangements were being agreed to for the Government of Northern Rhodesia to take care of the issues relating to Barotseland when Northern Rhodesia becomes the Republic of Zambia. Paragraph 1 clearly states that the Colonial Power was signing the agreement to signify its acceptance and approval of the contents of the agreement.
It is obvious that the Barotseland Agreement 1964 is part and parcel of the instruments making up the declaration of independence of Northern Rhodesia, inclusive of Barotseland, from British Rule. It is also the foundation upon which the Unitary of Zambia rests and this point is made very clear by paragraph 3 of the preamble. Therefore,under international law, it would be illegal for the British to poke their noses in the affairs of Barotseland, save at the invitation of the Zambian Government which the British are be at liberty to turn down. On the other hand, the unilateral termination of the Agreementby the Zambian Government has nullified all that it stood for,technically setting Barotseland free to determine its affairs and deal with any government within the world.
Your assertions about British obligations under the Agreement are clearly illogical and are either a deliberate attempt to mislead the nation or a failure on your part to correctly interpret a straight treaty.
3. Prominent Lozis and the Abrogation of Agreement.
You appear to find solace in the fact that some leading politicians from Barotseland connived with KK to abrogate the Agreement. You have said that this fact alone makes the call for its restoration unjustified even though, surprisingly, you refer to the acts of the named people as ‘abrogation’.
Is it your position that if today’s prominent Zambian politicians connived with a foreign power to undermine Zambia’s sovereignty then it would not be right for future generations of Zambians to correct the damage? Why is your government reversing the sale of Zamtel and Zanaco when these transactions were conducted by prominent Zambians?
4. PF Manifesto and Barotseland.
The majority of voters in this country do not base their decisions on written party manifestos but on what the contesting politicians verbally proclaim on election campaign platforms. The poor reading culture of Zambians transcends all strata of society including the elite. For this reason even leading politicians forget what is contained in their beautifully written manifestos, which they do not read, and instead create mini verbal manifestos based on their assessment of what their audience wants to hear. Accordingly, every utterance a politician makes to woo voters is part of his social contract with the electorate once elected.
In conclusion I want to point out that the Patriotic Front’s current attempts to escape culpability over its pre-election undertakings regarding the Barotseland Agreement 1964 is haste and poorly conducted. It only serves to underscore the duplicity and unreliable nature of Zambian politicians. It is not surprising, as has been proved over and over, that the most devastating scoundrels this country has produced are those who rise to political prominence. You, Mr. Kabimba, your Party and the Government of the day need to clean up your act in this respect.
I hope you will be courageous enough to react to these matters publicly, as you did in your paid for interview.
PF Secretary General and spokesperson Wynter Kabimba
Patriotic Front Secretary General Wynter Kabimba has described the Rodger Chongwe Commission of Inquiry into the Mongu riots as the worst of all Commissions of Inquiry.
Speaking on both ZNBC Radio and Television last evening during a paid for programme with Frank Mutubila monitored by QFM, Mr Kabimba accused the Rodger Chongwe Commission of Inquiry of drifting from the terms of reference in its recommendations.
Mr Kabimba says the PF has leant a lesson from the Rodger Chongwe Commission of inquiry.
He pointed out that poverty and underdevelopment cannot be used as a basis for restoration of the Barotseland Agreement, stating that poverty is not only prevalent in Western province but in most parts of the country.
He says the PF will take development to all parts of the country including Western province which is considered to be the least developed province through decentralization as articulated in the party manifesto.
Mr Kabimba added that the Lozi people are in the minority in Western province compared to the other tribes in the province put together for them to demand secession.
He also warned that people should not dare the PF Government by stating that they will go ahead and secede whether President Michael Sata likes it or not.
He says such statements are treasonable.
Mr Kabimba says the PF is open to dialogue with stakeholders on the issue of the Barotseland agreement and does not want to make the same mistake the MMD Government made of shedding innocent blood.
Mr. Kabimba argued that it is not only through the restoration of the Barotseland agreement that western province will be develop.
He urged Zambians to ensure that the PF government is made accountable on the promises it has made in the manifesto.
PF Secretary General and spokesperson Wynter Kabimba
The patriotic front (PF) party has said that failure by the Ministers to articulate the party manifesto does not mean that the party in government has failed to deliver development.
Speaking in an interview with QFM, PF secretary general Wynter Kabimba those especially the opposition claiming that the PF government has not delivered in the past four months are not being realistic.
Mr. Kabimba noted that what the PF has done is that it has been reviewing and re-planning some government programmes in order to re-align them with the party manifesto.
He noted that soon most developmental programmes in line the PF Government’s manifesto will soon take off.
Mr. Kabimba said that he is optimistic that his party will deliver to the expectations of the Zambians during the tenure of its office.
Last week Mr Kabimba dispatched 200 copies of the party manifesto to all the district commissioners in Southern Province. Mr Kabimba said that he hoped that reading the manifesto in detail will clear the air about re-alignment of districts in Southern Province
“We are receiving divergent views from the people of Southern Province because probably they have no access to the PF manifesto. Before I came here (to the studio), I dispatched 200 copies of the PF manifesto so that people can understand how the PF government is tackling the development of the whole country, not just some parts,” Mr Kabimba said.
He said when more people read the PF manifesto, they will understand that the government is doing things in good faith. “We have clearly stated in our manifesto that we want to devolve power below the district up to village level. It’s all there in our manifesto,” Mr Kabimba said.
[pullquote]“We are receiving divergent views from the people of Southern Province because probably they have no access to the PF manifesto. Before I came here (to the studio), I dispatched 200 copies of the PF manifesto so that people can understand how the PF government is tackling the development of the whole country, not just some parts,” Mr Kabimba said.[/pullquote]
He said even when the PF was in the opposition, it had two chairpersons for Northern Province, one overseeing Muchinga and similarly, Siavonga had two district chairmen, with one in charge of Chirundu.
Mr Kabimba, who is an authority on local government, said the PF realised in its early days of opposition that to develop the country economically, decisions that directly affect people must be made by the people themselves.
“One of the impediments in developing the country economically is the issue of making decisions from Lusaka,” he said.
Mr Kabimba said people in villages know better than the people in central government what they need most.
The PF stalwart said President Sata is passionate about the devolution of power and the issue was ‘seriously and clearly addressed’ in the party manifesto.
Mr Kabimba said re-alignment of districts will shorten distances between the power centres in the districts and the people.
“We want to give confidence to the people that the decisions that they will make will be respected by the central government. The job of the government is not to tell people that you need a bridge. It is to finance the bridge,” he said.
Mr Kabimba said the re-alignment of some districts will enhance access to decision-making centres.
“During our time in the opposition, our consultation was done through our manifesto. For five weeks, there was a pull of our manifesto in The Post. We marked our social programme and we believe it was on the basis of that, that people voted for the PF,” Mr Kabimba said.
He said the re-alignment of districts is not an afterthought but something on which wide consultations were done.
“We have four core sectors in the following order of priority: education, health, agriculture and local government, and we are following just that,” Mr Kabimba said.
FORMER President Rupiah Banda is expressing the views of the MMD when he attacks the public media, his spokesperson Mikatazo Wakumelo says.
Mr Wakumelo said this in an interview yesterday when contacted to state whether the former head of State will apologise for accusing the public media of becoming a mouthpiece of the ruling Patriotic Front.
Mr Banda attacked the media during the MMD card renewal exercise last Saturday.
“I have always told you people that when there are party matters, refer the queries to the party. It was a party function so I have no comment because party matters have nothing to do with the office of the fourth president,” Mr Wakumelo said.
Mr Wakumelo wondered why he was being asked about issues that were purely MMD matters.
“I don’t know what you are up to. Ask the people in that institution (MMD),” he said.
But MMD national secretary Richard Kachingwe said the party cannot answer for the former head of State.
However, Major Kachingwe said the MMD shares the feelings of its leader.
“But if he feels the way he feels (that public media organisations have become mouthpieces of the government), then he’s right and that’s the way we are feeling,” Maj Kachingwe said.
He denied ever calling any of the public media houses to instruct them what to write.
“I have been MMD national secretary. I never called the Daily Mail to instruct them to spike a story or to tell you what to write but you want to pretend that we were giving you instructions,” he said.
Maj Kachingwe said the MMD never issued instructions to public media houses, just like the PF is not dictating to the media at present.
“Even now Government is not issuing instructions but you want to please the powers that be, to rid yourselves of the wrongs you committed against the then opposition party (PF),” he said.
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon with Speaker of the National Assembly Dr Patrick Matibini (left) makes a speech at the Parliament in Lusaka
Leader of opposition in Parliament Felix Mutati has said that the opposition will not support any legislation that may be tabled for endorsement to legalise homosexuality. Mr Mutati said in an interview that the country must be allowed to be guided by biblical principles and the existing law against homosexuality.
He has challenged Government to categorically state its position on the matter.
“Our position is very clear, we will go by what is currently in the Constitution. Anything below that will be abrogating values. Zambia is a Christian nation and Christianity is against homosexuality, so any position to change the status quo will be a tough one,” Mr Mutati said.
Meanwhile, some church mother bodies in the country have condemned suggestions by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon that there should be no discrimination of people based on their sexual orientation.
The church mother bodies have stressed that the message from the UN chief is inappropriate to Zambia and several other African countries because homosexuality is illegal.
Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) executive director Pukuta Mwanza has charged that Mr Ban’s “diplomatic” message on homosexuals enjoying their human rights is aimed at persuading countries where the practice is illegal to legalise it.
[pullquote]“We expected a message of hope on various challenges of poverty, diseases and increasing international trade but now the visit by Mr Ban was diluted by his message of gay human rights which is not appropriate to Zambia because our laws do not allow homosexuality,” Reverend Mwanza said.[/pullquote]
Reverend Mwanza said in an interview yesterday that EFZ is disappointed that Mr Ban is attempting to champion practices that are contrary to biblical values in a Christian nation.
He reiterated that homosexuality is also against Zambian traditional and cultural values.
“We expected a message of hope on various challenges of poverty, diseases and increasing international trade but now the visit by Mr Ban was diluted by his message of gay human rights which is not appropriate to Zambia because our laws do not allow homosexuality,” Reverend Mwanza said.
Reverend Mwanza urged Government to continue working towards reducing donor dependency saying some donor funds are being offered to the country with “strings attached”.
He commended the media for reporting on the matter and that Zambians must debate this thoroughly and objectively.
“I advise Zambians to wake up and work hard so that we can reduce on donor dependence so that we are not given donor funds with inappropriate conditions that are contrary to our religious and traditional values,” Reverend Mwanza said.
Independent Churches of Zambia (ICOZ) president David Masupa said the Christian church in Zambia will remain intolerant to any messages for homosexuality. Reverend Masupa said Government must take a strong stance against such calls and ensure it is not influenced to legalise homosexuality.
He said in an interview that various interest groups must however be allowed to debate the matter as this will effectively reflect Zambia’s position on homosexuality. Kingdom of Yahwah spokesperson Daniel Nyendwa has accused the UN of advocating homosexuality in Zambia.
Mr Nyendwa said the country and its leadership should not accept calls to change “natural laws”.
Students at the University of Zambia Great East road campus on Monday morning staged a protest demanding improved sanitation and water supply at the institution.
The students blocked the Great East Road with stones and logs to show displeasure at the lack of water at the institution.
The students complained that the institution has has no water since Friday last week, and that nothing has been done to correct the situation.
The students also complained that they have been experiencing water problems since last year and yet nothing has been done to improve the situation.
Armed police led by Lusaka Province Deputy Commanding Officer Bonnie Kapeso rushed to the main campus to calm the situation.
The students have since boycotted classes until the water situation normalizes.
And UNZA Union President Vincent Chaile says 14 billion Kwacha is needed to improve water reticulation at the institution.
Mr Chaile says students are disappointed that nothing is being done to improve water supply at the institution and fear an out break of water born diseases.
But UNZA vice chancellor professor Steven Simukanga has assured the students that the water supply will be normalized by Monday afternoon.
Hanif Adams will not contest for any top position at next month’s elective FAZ annual general meeting.
The Lusaka Dynamos boss was expected file in his papers this week to challenge incumbent Boniface Mwamelo for the Faz vice presidency but that will not happen anymore leaving Henschel Chitembeya as the latter’s major challenger.
“I have decided not to stand to concentrate my time and energies on Lusaka Dynamos,” Adams said.
Dynamos have been in continued freefall since 2010 and have slumped in Faz Division 2 South following their demotion from Division 1 north last year just 12 months after their relegation from the Super Division.
Adams has decided to return to the helm of Dynamos this season after failing to find a buyer or partner for his 30 year old project.
Meanwhile, Faz has extended the nominations deadline from February 29 to March 4 due to the slow rate at which candidates are filing in their paperwork at Football House.
And there has been a swell of candidates wishing to stand as Faz executive committee members.
Violet Bwalya, Ziya shonga, Hayden Dingwall, Happie Happie Munkondya have joined Keith Mwewa and Alex Mambwe to challenge incumbents Marcha Chilemena, Lenny Nkhuwa, Keagan Chipango, Elijah “Shenko” Chileshe and James Mpooma.
Rix Mweemba is challenging incumbent Kelvin Mutafu for the treasurer position.
Vice President Guy Scott says the Patriotic Front-PF party will soon make Eastern Province their stronghold.
Dr. Scott says the opposition MMD will soon lose its grip particularly in the Eastern Province.
Dr. Scott who is also PF party Vice President has predicted that the PF will take over most of the parliamentary and local government seats through nullification and resignations.
He has said in an interview with ZNBC that with the recent victory in Msanzala the Patriotic Front’s eyes are now focused on Malambo where former Mines Minister Maxwell Mwale ‘s election as Member of Parliament was recently nullified by the High Court.
On 16th February, 2012 the Patriotic Front scooped the Msanzala parliamentary seat along with two local government seats in Petauke District in Eastern Province.
The Southern African Centre for the Constructive resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) has advised government to open dialogue with all stakeholders on the recognition of homosexual rights.
SACCORD Information Officer Obby Chibuluma has noted that the debate on homosexuality has been received with mixed feelings adding that the nation should be allowed to debate for resolutions to be made.
Speaking in an interview , Mr. Chibuluma says as an organization fighting for human rights, SACCORD suggesting for dialogue to be opened where both the negative and positive views can be heard.
During a meeting with former President Kenneth Kaunda, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon called for countries to recognize and respect homosexuality.
And commenting on Mr. Ban’s isit to Zambia, Mr. Chibuluma says the UN chief’s visit to Zambia will help remind the country of its obligations towards human rights.
Mr. Chibuluma says Zambia has committed itself through a number of international instruments to promote ant protect human rights and states it should ensure that every citizen enjoys their rights.
And A resident of Chadiza district in the Eastern province has received with mixed feelings United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki Moon’s call for Zambia to respect gay rights.
Misho Kamanga of Chadiza said the statement by the UN’s Chief Executive Officer were misleading because Zambia was a Christian nation that does not allow gayism and lesbianism.
Mr. Kamanga expressed disappointment at Mr. Ban for suggesting that the Zambia should recongise gay rights when he knew very well that Zambia is a Christian nation.
He advised government not to compromise Zambia’s cultural and Christian values just because of foreign aid from western countries.
During his three day state visit to Zambia, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon called on the Zambian government to respect the rights of
every individual including those that wanted to practice homosexuality.
Meanwhile, Hope for Human Rights has added its voice in opposing United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon’s appeal to the Zambian Government to recognize or decriminalize Homophobic practices in Zambia.
Hope for human Rights executive director Smart Chanda says as much as all people are born equal and are therefore supposed to freely enjoy different rights, it must be realized that practices which are against cultural beliefs cannot just be imposed on Zambians.
Mr. Chanda says there is need for Government to approach the issue of HOMOSEXUALITY with the seriousness it deserves and take a position on the matter.
He says it won’t help the country for Government to keep quiet when the matter has kept on coming up from time and against.
He says the fact that the Secretary General of the United Nations decided to raise the matter in the country when he indicated that no one should be discriminated on the basis of their sexual incrimination, Legislators must open up debate on the same and give it the seriousness it deserves.
Mr. Chanda says there is need as a nation to establish how prevalent the practice is and what is leading to the same.
He says it must be realized that wherever the practice has been legalized, there is a background or history to it and that Zambians must question themselves what the background is to this practice in the country.
He says this would only be possible if the Government takes an interest in the matter and puts up a mechanism to establish what really is happening on the ground.
President Michael Sata has made a mini reshuffle at deputy minister level.
President Sata reassigned Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports John Kafuna as Western province minister to replace Mr. Nathaniel Mubukwanu
who has since been transferred to the Ministry of Youth and Sports as Deputy Minister.
Deputy Minister of Youth and Sport Rayford Mbulu has been transferred to the Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and Labour in the same capacity.
President Sata expressed confidence that the transferred deputy ministers will satisfy the functions of their offices.
This is contained in a statement made available to ZANIS by President Sata’s Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations George
Chellah.
Meanwhile, President Sata has expressed sadness at the death of senior chief Kalimankonde of the Unga people of Samfya district in Luapula
province.
In his message of condolences to Northern Province minister, President Sata noted that the late chief has been a key instrument in promoting
development among the people of Samfya district.
The President conveyed his deepest sympathies to the royal family on behalf of the people of Zambia.
“Kindly convey on behalf of the People and Government of Zambia and indeed on my own behalf, heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the royal family and the people of Samfya district,” the President said in his message of condolence to Luapula province minister.
He said the death of chief Kalimankonde will be deeply felt by the people of Zambia.
The late senior chief Kalimankonde ascended to the throne on September 21, 1991.
File: Mini buses are operating out side the Kulima Tower station
Bus drivers in Lusaka this morning staged a protest demanding an explanation from the Zambia Police on why traffic police officers constantly impound their buses for various purported traffic offences.
A check by Qfm at Kulima tower bus station and around Kafue roundabout found buses abandoned and commuters stranded thereby causing a heavy traffic jam along Kafue road.
Dozens of police office in riot gear have been deployed to the area to restore order.
The bus drivers have complained that their buses are impounded by traffic police officers on flimsy grounds and are made to pay exorbitant penalties, a situation they described as having a negative effect on their business.
They have therefore appealed to the police command to address the matter adding that the police have been a hindrance in their efforts of meeting their daily targets.
And Police spokesperson Elizabeth Kanjela has confirmed the development to Qfm in an interview.Ms. Kanjela says the police will not allow anarchy on the roads as this has contributed largely to road traffic accidents.
She says those contravening traffic rules will face the law.
Jack and Jill is a comedy focusing on Jack Sadelstein (Adam Sandler), a successful advertising executive in Los Angeles with a beautiful wife and kids, who dreads one event each year: the Thanksgiving visit of his identical twin sister Jill (also Adam Sandler). Jill’s neediness and passive-aggressiveness is maddening to Jack, turning his normally tranquil life upside down. Katie Holmes plays Erin, Jack’s wife.
PROS
Al pacino was good in this movie ,playing an exaggerated version of himself.
Had some very funny moments.
CONS
Katie Holmes brought absolutely nothing to this movie , her character was irrelevant .
The first half of the movie just drags along in no particular direction.
Some of the humor was too childish.
FAVORITE QUOTE
Jill Sadelstein: What..what is this Internet thing!? [Jill whining] You know I don’t understand those things! I DON’T EVEN OWN A CALCULATOR!
Felipe: Just kidding!
CONCLUSION
As a fan of Adam Sandler movies I was expecting this movie to be funny. Unfortunately I was almost sleeping half way through it. The movie has a very slow start but once it finally gets started it is good family movie . It is more of a kids movie with resorting to physical humor and fart jokes . If you are not in the mood for a movie that makes you think too much , and just need a good laugh ,this is a good movie for you.