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File: PJ Corporation Chairman Ravi Kant Jaipuria and President Rupiah Banda sipping canned Pepsi during the laying of the foundation stone for a Pespi bottling plant in Lusaka
Varun Beverage Company is seeking a court order to quash government’s decision to revoke its five year tax deferment.
The beverage company has contended that the revocation is in defiance of the rule of natural justice as the firm was not afforded an opportunity to be heard.
Varun Beverages, the manufacturers of Pepsi have also stated that the verdict is tainted with procedural impropriety.
The Company says it was not given a chance to make submissions before the Zambia Revenue Authority -ZRA- Commission of Inquiry which recommended the revocation of the tax deferment.
Varun Beverages has argued that it had legitimate expectation to continue to enjoy the tax relief following its investment of US$44 197 000
The Company notes that section 56 of the ZRA Act empowers a company with an investment over US$500 000 to enjoy tax exemption.
This is according to an application for judicial review filed in the Lusaka High Court.
Varun beverage was given a five year tax deferment by the previous regime in 2010 which has now been revoked by the Patriotic Front Government.
Andrew Kamanga not contesting for the FAZ presidency
LUSAKA Dynamos owner Hanif Adams and former Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) vice-president Emmanuel Munaile are in respective consultations with various soccer administrators on challenging Kalusha Bwalya for the association’s presidency.
Adams said in an interview yesterday that some clubs have asked him to contest the presidency at the March 31 elective annual general meeting in Kitwe.
This would be the second time that Adams seeks election as FAZ president. His first attempt was in 2008 when he finished third to Kalusha and Teddy Mulonga.
Adams says the clubs want him to lead the association because of his vast experience in football administration.
He declined to name the clubs backing him but said some also want him to contest the vice-presidency.
Adams said, however, that he will make a decision on the matter this monthend. “I had forgotten about seeking election in FAZ but the calls by the clubs have changed things. However, I have not yet made up my mind because I am still consulting,” Adams said.
And Former Kabwe Warriors Chairperson, Andrew Kamanga has withdrawn his candidature for the Football Association of Zambia-FAZ-top job. Kamanga’s decision comes following what he has termed as provocative statements from Sports Minister, Chishimba Kambwili ahead of the elective AGM.
He said that he was disappointed with the Minister’s remarks. Kamanga adds that he will continue to serve football in other areas especially grassroots football and talent identification.
Below is Andrew Kamanga’s full statement
Response to Sports Minister Chishimba Kambwili’s Press Comments against Andrew Kamanga
As a law-abiding citizen and recognising the Minister’s position of authority and my respect for the office he occupies, it is with much reluctance that I have to respond to the media statements attributed to Sports Minister Honourable Chishimba Kambwili in which he attacks me unfairly.
I have in the last few days attempted to meet Honourable Kambwili to express my unhappiness at his remarks but been unsuccessful, leaving me with no option but to use the same medium he used to attack me.
First, I have to say I find it shocking that Honourable Kambwili chose to attack me for no good reason and to suggest that I habour feelings of jealousy against FAZ president Kalusha Bwalya is, highly unfair, and quite ludicrous.
It is within the Minister’s rights to give praise where it is due as he did in lauding the achievements of the national soccer team in winning the Africa Cup, but to suggest that myself and others who have exercised our democratic right to vie for the FAZ presidency and other positions are driven by malice or jealousy or other ill-feelings is most unfair and unfortunate.
The Minister asserts that I should have been the first person to congratulate Kalusha. It is quite obvious that Honourable Kambwili was not aware that I did offer my heartfelt congratulations to the National Team, the FAZ Executive and the Government for the AFCON win in widely quoted press.
I watched every game in several public places and cheered every goal and victory.
Having said this, I do wish to make certain observations. The first one is that the AFCON win is for all Zambians and while those in FAZ office have the right to claim credit because the triumph has happened on their watch, this is the result of a lot of hard work by a lot people within and outside the FAZ, who have laboured for years to bring this about.
So to suggest the victory is the work of one man or a few individuals is to be narrow-minded and to lack the sense of gratitude and humility befitting of this historic occasion.
Anyone who knows of my relationship with Kalusha knows that I have nothing personal against him as an individual.
Honourable Kambwili’s statements are no doubt coloured by the events of 2010 when I and others took issue with Kalusha’s executive on a number of corporate governance issues.
The substance of these issues was provided by the decision of four executive members of the FAZ to leave the association to express their own disquiet over the same issues.
For the record, I wish to state that the issues we raised against the current FAZ Executive in 2010 which led to the formation of the Interim Committee and subsequently the National Football League were as follows: –
1) Lack of transparency in sponsorship deals – Super Sport, Nike, MTN, international friendlies, international player transfers, etc 2) General lack of accountability in managing affairs of the association 3) Failure to follow due process with regard to the FAZ Constitution 4) Failure to observe good corporate governance 5) The need to restructure the league to allow for sponsorship at lower levels as a way of reducing the cost of running football by clubs. 6) Perceived lack of fair play
These sentiments were backed by more than two-thirds of the FAZ membership who attended a meeting at the Intercontinental hotel in Lusaka to express their own unhappiness at these issues.
These issues have not disappeared simply because Zambia are now the African champions. Until they are addressed, they will continue to create disharmony in the FAZ family long after the euphoria of winning the Africa Cup has dissipated.
It is an open secret that I was always going to contest the position of FAZ President at the forthcoming AGM. We have put together a formidable team of quality administrators who are capable of meeting the future challenges of Zambian Football especially the running of the local league from Super League to Provincial Leagues at different Divisions.
This is something I and my team feel very passionately about, but we realise that to achieve the success we crave, we would need the goodwill of the Minister of Sport. Having read his statement about me, it would be wishful thinking and folly on my part to imagine we could ever count on him for this support.
Honourable Kambwili has clearly taken sides as we go to the elections. With this in my mind, I am sure the Minister will be happy to learn that I am no longer interested in running for FAZ Presidency.
I will however be praying for harmony and progress so that we can build on the success we have achieved so far.
A strong local league will always guarantee success at national level. It remains my hope and prayer that those who will be elected at the next FAZ AGM will take that path to develop our football.
I encourage all our supporters to lend their support to other candidates who have put their names forward for various positions to serve in FAZ. I will continue to serve football in other areas especially grassroots football and talent identification.
Medical Stars chairman Alex Mambwe has said he will be contesting for the position of Faz executive committee member at next month’s elective Faz annual general meeting.
Mambwe said he felt it was time to do away with petitions and let the vote do the talking as a way of protesting against the Kalusha Bwalya led executive whom he has battled against for the last five years.
“I’m also offering myself as one of the candidates and declaring my interest and stand as a committee member,” Mambwe said.
“We will campaign. There is nothing like quarreling here but going there to work for this country in terms of football.
“The honeymoon is over. For those members who feel they can continue let them show the members that they can work let them not hide behind the Africa Cup success because it will be very unfortunate.”
Mambwe who had raised petitions against Kalusha Bwalya in 2009 and 2010 said he was ready to accept defeat should he lose at the FAZ AGM.
“This is the right thing to do unlike raising petitions. Petitions are not ok from experience but this will be a litmus test for those who are serving in Faz,” Mambwe said.
Mambwe joins fellow football firebrand Keith Mwewa in standing for the Faz executive committee positions while Henschel Chitembeya is vying for the Faz vice president position.
Meanwhile, Kabwe Warriors president Andrew Kamanga has said he will not be challenging Kalusha for the Faz presidency.
El Merreikh captain and Zambia international Jonas Sakuwaha shakes hands with Zesco captain before the match kick off
Zesco United ended their two-match series visit to Sudan with another defeat.
Wedson Nyirenda’s team lost 1-0 to defending Sudan league champions El Merreikh in an international club friendly match in Omdurman this evening.
Cote d’Ivoire striker Marcel Adiko scored the games lone goal in the 28th minute thanks to a cross from captain and Zambia international Jonas Sakuwaha.
Zesco struggled for most of the first half against El Merreikh but were an improved side after half time but could not find their way past Sudan international goalkeeper Salim Akram.
The loss comes just two days after suffering a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Al Hilal on Tuesday.
Zesco fly back to Zambia this evening and are due to land in Lusaka on Friday morning at 10:00 Hours.
Ex-Rwanda based striker Joseph Bwalya is on the verge of joining Super Division side Nkana.
Bwalya who played for APR while in the East African nation has been training at Nkana for almost a month now.
The former Kabwe Warriors and Kitwe United striker has been outstanding for Nkana in their last three preseason matches.
Bwalya has played against DR Congo side St. Eloi Lupopo, Kitwe United and in Wednesday’s 4-4 draw with Kalulushi Modern Stars where he scored a brace.
However, Nkana Chairman Patrick Njobvu has indicated that Bwalya is yet to put pen to paper.
Meanwhile Nchanga Rangers have recalled midfielders Obbrey Funga and Dan Chama from a loan spell at Zanaco.
Rangers coach Bruce Mwape who confirmed said the recalling of the duo has been prompted by the departure of winger Floyd Phiri who has joined Power Dynamos and midfieder Cletus Chota who is expected to move to Zanaco.
Former information and broadcasting minister in the MMD government Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha and former permanent secretary in the same ministry Sam Phiri will settle the legal fees incurred by ZNBC from the Chanda Chimba stand up for Zambia documentary.
Government spokesperson Fackson Shamenda has disclosed this at a media briefing that SBN legal firm is demanding about 427 million Kwacha for having defended ZNBC in the law suits filed against it.
Mr. Shamenda says it is for this reason that on October 14, 2011 management at ZNBC wrote to the permanent secretary requesting for funds to foot the bill.This was against the background that the previous minister General Shikapwasha and his permanent secretary Dr. Phiri had promised that government would take full responsibility of the costs.
Mr. Shamenda noted that this prompted the new government to seek a legal opinion on the matter especially that the decision by General Shikapwasha was contrary to section 31 of the public finance Act number 15 of 2004 which also provides for a surcharge of officers who breach the financial regulation.
Mr. Shamenda said Attorney General Mumba Malila has since directed that General Shikapwasha and Dr. Phiri are surcharged for the legal cost which currently stand K 900 million and are most likely to go up.
The minister said that the PF government will not in any way spend tax payers’ money on any irresponsible decisions that could have been made against the will of the Zambian people.
This is in a matter in which the Michael chilufya Sata and Transparency International Zambia sued ZNBC for libel after it aired stand up for Zambia programme in which the producer Chanda Chimba constantly defamed all those that had different opinions about the then MMD government.
An Australian-based resources company called Blackthorn Resources caught investors’ attention in Australia when it announced that it had doscovered high grade copper from its Mumba project exploration. The Company reported that it had intersected the best copper intersections recorded to date at the Company’s 100% held Mumbwa Project.
Included in this intersection were the high grade lengths of; 17 metres at 14.88% copper from 211 metres; 10 metres at 10.06% copper from 265 metres; and 10 metres at 9.11% copper from 283 metres.
Blackthorn is exploring the area for Iron Oxide Copper-Gold style of mineralisation.
Drilling is ongoing at the project, with the phase five program to include 19 holes for around 9700 metres, and will wrap up in about a months’ time – with assays to follow thereafter.
By the close, Blackthorn’s shares had added $0.315 or 44% on the day to $1.025, with more than five million shares changing hands.
Zambia National Soccer Team Captain Christopher Katongo has called on soccer fans to respect Chipolopolo Boys coach Herve Renard’s decision to expel Clifford Mulenga from the team.
Katongo said the coach has every right to punish a player who is indiscipline so as to instill discipline in the team.
The national team Captain stated that there is no need for Zambians to be upset with Renard as he did not come up with the decision to send Mulenga home alone.
“The decision was arrived at by the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) officials and the national team,” Katongo said.
Katongo disclosed that it was the agreements of the entire team to exhibit discipline at the tournament adding that there is no need to blame the coach.
“We were actually speaking in our local language as a team that we should exhibit a high level of discipline at the tournament so that other teams could emulate us. Renard could not hear what we were saying,” he said.
Katongo said he was surprised that some of the players decided to do the opposite of what they discussed earlier.
And when asked what he could have done by one of the callers from Mansa if he were in Renard’s shoes, Katongo said he is a Christian and would have forgiven Mulenga.
“If I was in Renard ‘s shoes, I was going to forgive Mulenga because God also forgives our sins daily but I being the Captain of the team I led by example and exhibited some discipline both inside and outside the pitch,” Katongo said.
He was speaking in Lusaka yesterday during an interview at the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) .
[pullquote]“We were actually speaking in our local language as a team that we should exhibit a high level of discipline at the tournament so that other teams could emulate us. Renard could not hear what we were saying,” he said.[/pullquote]
Meanwhile, Katongo has commended Zambians for their support to the national team during and after the AFCON tournament.
Katongo said Zambians should maintain the same spirit they showed the team adding that they are known to be a peaceful and loving nation.
He has further called on Zambians to support the team for the next three to four years so that it goes to the world cup.
And speaking at the same program, Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) communications officer Eric Mwanza disclosed that trophy will be taken round the whole provincial centres across the country so that people could have a feel of the trophy.
Mwanza said team captain Katongo together with other FAZ officials will take the trophy to all the provincial centres.
The Zambia Centre for Inter Party Dialogue (ZCID) has advised opposition members of parliament (MPs) to find amicable means of airing their grievances other than resolving to boycotts.
ZCID Acting Executive Directive Horrace Chilando who was commenting on the decision by opposition MMD and UPND MPs to walk out of parliament yesterday said such a move was retrogressive as it might cost the country.
He explained that past experience have seen that some important bills and laws have still been passed in the National Assembly even after some MPs walk out of the house.
He advised the MPs to follow procedures when handling issues that they could be dissatisfied with during the sittings in parliament.
Mr. Chilando said this in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today.
He has however stated that the decision the opposition MPs took was within their democratic rights as they wanted to express how they felt about certain issues.
“What the Members of Parliament did yesterday is however within their democratic rights as they wanted to show the public that they are not happy with certain decisions in the house” he said.
Mr. Chilando has further advised the MPs not to shun the United Nations (UN) Secretary General’s addressed to the house when he comes to Zambia tomorrow.
He said the MPs should instead use this opportunity to address certain issues of concerns to the country.
He also appealed to all MPs to be level headed and put the country as top agenda before any other thing.
Mr. Chilando stated that MPs should ensure that they make decisions that will benefit the majority of Zambians who voted them into office.
Opposition MMD and UPND MPs yesterday walked out of parliament after accusing government of constitutional breaches.
This was after the MPs were not satisfied with the decision speaker Patrick Matibini made in the two points of order raised by UPND MPs.
President Michael Sata has said he will be reluctant to recommend to Cabinet the restoration of the Barotseland Agreement of 1964.
President Michael Sata said this is because restoring the Barotseland agreement would also cause the other native authorities in the country to rise up and demand for secession a situation that would likely destabilize the country.
The president has also wondered why the Commission of inquiry into the Mongu riots has not indicated the benefits of restoring the Barotseland agreement.
President Sata was speaking at State house when the commission of inquiry constituted to investigate the Mongu riots of last year presented its report.The President has also announced the dissolution of the local government service commission board.
Earlier commission chairperson Roger Chongwe recommended that the constitution amendment of 1969 which nullifies the legitimacy of the Barotseland Agreement be repealed.
Dr. Chongwe in his submissions to the President recommended that after the constitution amendment has been repealed, the government should then consider restoring the Barotseland agreement of 1964.
Dr. Chongwe also noted that the Mongu riots were caused by the failure by Zambia police to issue a permit to the people of western province who waited to have a peaceful meeting.He also observed that the abrogation of the Barotseland agreement has led to agitation among the Lozi speaking people because of high poverty levels.
He further disclosed that the investigations also revealed that the police were very unprofessional in the manner in which they handled the riots and has since called on the government to consider investing in the non-lethal riot equipment.
Dr. Chongwe also observed that the former Vice president George Kunda lied to parliament when justified the use of live ammunition by police during the riots and has since called for the prosecution of Mr. Kunda in line with parliamentary regulations.He further recommended that the people of western province be compensated by government for any loss all damage that they could have suffered.
And the commission of inquiry on the Zambia national building Society (ZNBS) also submitted its report to President Sata and indicated that the institution has been running at a loss , adding since inception it has only managed to give 15,000 mortgages against the 2 million deficit of housing units currently being faced.Commission chairperson Mwila Lumbwe noted that the ZNBS also did not qualify under the financial regulation Act to run as a building society because of its capital inadequacy.
And the salaries commission in its submissions noted that cost of running government has continued to be high a situation that has caused problems in the remuneration system.Commission Chairman Professor Muyunda Mwanalushi also recommended that the special retirement package which allows some retired constitution office bearers to continue getting their salaries once they are out of office be reviewed.
Kate Beckinsale, star of the first two films, returns in her lead role as the vampire warrioress Selene, who escapes imprisonment to find herself in a world where humans have discovered the existence of both Vampire and Lycan clans, and are conducting an all-out war to eradicate both immortal species.
PROS
Good action scenes
CONS
Very lose story line
Pure lighting
some of the characters were unnecessary
unsatisfactory ending
FAVORITE QUOTE
Selene: I was with him one day, and when I awoke it was 12 years later.
Selene: My heart’s not cold, it’s broken.
CONCLUSION
Very disappointing movie . Having watched the last installment of the Underworld series , “Rise of the lycans” , i was expecting this latest one to be on the same level of greatness , but i was sadly mistaken. This movie is all action and the story line was paper thin .
Some Lusaka residents captured inside Spar Store shopping
Zambia’s inflation slowed to its lowest rate in at least 10 years this month, to 6.0 percent year-on-year from 6.4 percent in January mainly due to food costs, the Central Statistics Office said on Thursday.
Zambia’s inflation has been on a declining trend and February’s rate marks the lowest since at least January 2002, according to all the available data on the CSO website.
“The reduction is mainly attributed to reductions in food and non-alcoholic beverages,” the CSO said in a statement.
Food has the heaviest weighting in the inflation basket and a bumper maize crop has led to lower prices of the staple in the southern Africa country.
An analyst said it will be a challenge to keep inflation at current rates.
“Higher electricity price will push the cost for services up and labour unions are already demanding higher wages,” David Punabantu, an analyst at the Economics Association of Zambia.
A Reuters poll on Wednesday showed Zambia’s inflation could rise over the next month but stay in single digits and average 7.2 percent this year.
The CSO also said Zambia’s trade account recorded a surplus of 269.3 billion kwacha ($51.39 million) in January compared with a 475.9 billion kwacha surplus in December 2011.
Mobile Telecommunication Company (MTN) says it has acquired over 170, 000 mobile money customers and 340 agents since the mobile money service was launched as a pilot project in July last year.
MTN Chief Executive Officer Abdul Ismail said the feat resulted in the Central Bank giving the mobile telecommunication company a full operating license in January this year for offering the service to the Zambia people.
Mr. Ismail was speaking in Lusaka last night during the official launch of the MTN Mobile Money Service, a strategic partnership between MTN and Banc ABC that offers both MTN subscribers and Banc ABC customers the opportunity to load and withdraw money from their mobile phones using Banc ABC branch network and other MTN agents.
He said the launch of the service will allow MTN subscribers to open a mobile money account at any of Banc ABC’s 19 branches and 10 mobile banks. Subscribers will upon registration be able to load and store electronic money on their mobile phones and use their mobile number as an account number.
“We are happy to have this joint partnership with Banc ABC whose role will be to assist in agent liquidity and providing cash in and cash out services for our customers. This essentially means that customers will now have a wider range of access points for Mobile Money transactions because Banc ABC’s wide foot print”, the MTN CEO said.
He said with the wide mobile coverage of MTN in Zambia, the MTN and Banc ABC partnership will ensure that the MTN Mobile Money product is available even in the remotest parts of the country, a development which he said is in line with the Bank of Zambia’s (BoZ) objective of enhancing financial inclusion through a secure, convenient and reliable mobile money account.
“With mobile money on their phones, people won’t have to carry a wallet and a mobile phone at the same time. The mobile phone now becomes their wallet and the significance of this is that there is a reduced risk element because it will no longer be necessary for people to carry cash around”, Mr. Ismail said.
He expressed optimism that the service would provide significant opportunities for the bank as they would benefit from the unbanked customers who would now subscribe to the MTN mobile money service.
Mr. Ismail further said the service creates a safe environment for the unbanked portion of the Zambian market to now be able to perform basic banking transactions while the banked market would now have access to transferring money from their bank account to mobile money account and perform instant business person transactions, instant once off payments and payments to family, friends and colleagues that are unbanked.
“it is our sincere hope that since we have exhibited capabilities of being a market leader in introducing great innovations in mobile telecommunications, we will continue to exceed the expectations of our customers and the general public”, he said.
Speaking earlier, Banc ABC Group Chief Executive Officer Douglas Munatsi said Banc ABC has invested a substantial amount of money to expand its business in Zambia in order to provide banking services to the unbanked customers especially in rural areas.
Mr. Munatsi said his bank was committed to extending its services to the public by engaging other corporate entities like MTN.
And Banc ABC Zambia Managing Director Dana Bota said the partnership between MTN and Banc ABC was in line with government’s initiative to take banking to all corners of the country.
Mr. Bota said MTN has a national wide character, adding that his bank will therefore be able to achieve government’s vision through the partnership with MTN.
The Zambia Voluntary Soccer Fans Association (ZAVOSOFA) has condemned Chipolopolo boys coach Herve Renard for banning national team midfielder Clifford Mulenga to play for Zambia. ZAVOSOFA Patron Peter Makembo said the decision by Renard was very unfair saying there proper channels for any coach to discipline his players.
ZANIS sports report Makembo saying this in an interview in Lusaka , yesterday. He said that Renard’s decision should be condemned by all soccer loving Zambians across the nation. He pointed out that what Renard needs to understand was that Mulenga has contributed to the country’s national football growth.
Makembo added that the Chipolopolo boys still need the services of Mulenga even when Renard was still trainer of Zambia. Zambia coach Herve Renard declared winger Clifford Mulenga will never play for Chipolopolo as long as he remains in charge of the 2012 African champions.
Mulenga was sent back from the Nations Cup just 24 hours after Zambia beat Equatorial Guinea 1-0 on January 29 to finish top of Group A to see both teams reach the quarterfinals of the tournament.
And FAZ Communication Manager, Erick Mwanza has disclosed that the FAZ executive committee will soon sit to look at cries from soccer fans to include South Africa based player, Clifford Mulenga into the team.
Renard recently vowed that as long as he remains coach of the now African champions, he will never accept to coach the South African based mid-fielder.
But the FAZ Spokesperson said the Executive Committee will look at the appeals various soccer fans have made for FAZ and Coach Renard to allow the midfielder play for the national team again.
Mwanza however stated that FAZ defends the decision taken by team coach to expel the player who was found misbehaving.
“FAZ backs Renard 100 percent for taking such a strong stance on the player. ” he said.
He explained that FAZ wants to instill discipline in the team and will not allow anyone to disturb the team.He said that discipline is important for a team especially for the new African champions.
He warned that FAZ and coaches will not compromise on discipline adding that no one single player in the team is indispensable.
Mwanza charged that Clifford who was found wanting with other players did not apologize to the coach although his colleagues asked for forgives and were taking back in the team.
He added that while Clifford may be called to the team the coach will have the final decision on who he may decide to call and use in any particular game.
Meanwhile, FAZ says it will start a countrywide tour of the Africa cup trophy starting on Saturday. And the decision has heartily been hailed by the soccer fraternity with Zambia Volunteer Soccer Fans Association (ZAVOSOFA ) saying the move is more than welcome.
Mr Mwanza disclosing the development at a media briefing yesterday. Mr Mwanza said FAZ is working with the Ministry of Sports, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism and the Ministry of
Information in the programme. He stated that the trophy will start with Livingstone the Tourist capital and will go in all the ten provinces.
In response, ZAVOSOFA patron Peter Makembo noted that the move was more than welcome because Zambia is not Lusaka but the entire ten provinces. He said since it is the cry of most Zambians to see the trophy with their naked eyes, the move by FAZ was commendable adding that the move has satisfied soccer fan’s demand.
” FAZ has heed to the calls from soccer fans to make the trophy to go around the country. For this I commend the footballing Association, ” he said.
