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We continue to take a look at our players who are representing us very well at the on-going AFCON. Here is a look at the career of Issac Chansa
From 2004 to 2007, Chansa played for South African giants Orlando Pirates and joined Swedish team Helsingborgs IF for the 2007/2008 season to team up with former Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter. In late 2006, while still playing for Pirates, Chansa was banned by the PSL for three months (nine suspended) after he was found guilty of assaulting an assistant referee during Pirates’ clash against Jomo Cosmos. After the end of his contract in Sweden with Helsingborgs IF returned on 1 February 2010 to his former club Orlando Pirates.
International career
He was part of the Zambian 2006 African Nations Cup team, who finished third in group C in the first round of competition, thus failing to secure qualification for the quarter-finals. He is part of the 2012 AFCON squad .
The Federation for Free Trade Unions (FFTUZ) says the poor working culture being experienced in the country should be blamed on the MMD government.
FFTUZ National Executive Director Lyson Mando has accused the MMD government of being biased towards investors at the expense of Zambian workers.
Mr. Mando says the manipulation of the industrial and labour relations Act by the MMD regime was a deliberate move to weaken the trade unions, leaving them voiceless.
In an interview with QFM, Mr. Mando says most Zambian employees are now de-motivated because of poor conditions of services they are subjected to.
He has since observed the need for employers to realize that they can only maximize their profits if they properly look after their workers, who he says most of whom are just working for the sake of working.
Commerce minister Bob Sichinga has maintained that the MMD government printed illegal notes prior to the elections.
Mr. Sichinga says commercial banks have since withdrawn some of the notes from circulation.
But the MMD has refuted the allegations by Mr. Sichinga. MMD deputy secretary Chembe Nyangu earlier said that the MMD was a responsible party which could not make any transactions that had the potential to distort the economy which the party worked so hard to build.
However Mr. Sichinga said that his statement has nothing to do with the distortion of the country’s economy but that the actions by the MMD government to print fake notes is what has affected the Zambian currency.
Last week Mr. Sichinga accused the MMD government of printing fake notes from China which they used to distribute in the villages during campaigns.
Mr Sichinga said that the money was printed in China and was dished out to rural areas to woo voters.
Mr Sichinga went on to say that part of the bogus K3 trillion had initially been intercepted at Nakonde Border Post in Muchinga Province by ‘vigilant’members of the public.
The minister said that it is disappointing to learn how the MMD used the illegal currency to manipulate the people in the rural areas adding that the money was only captured when it entered the banking system.
Mr. Sichinga could however not comment further on the matter saying it was the responsibility of the central bank and ministry of finance to indicate the measures that have been put in place to completely withdraw such money from circulation.
A LUANSHYA magistrate has jailed a house wife for six months and fined her K270,000 for two counts of contempt of court and subornation of perjury for influencing two child witnesses to give false evidence in a trial involving four Chinese nationals accused of defiling and indecently assaulting two girls.
Hellen Kalunga, 42, of Roan Township was convicted of the offences before Mr Daniel Musonda on Thursday and sentenced on Friday last week.
She was sentenced to jail for three months simple imprisonment each on the two counts of surbonation of perjury and she was expected to serve six months because the sentences would run consecutively.
Kalunga was fined K270,000 for each of the two counts of contempt of court or in default six months imprisonment.
In the two counts, she was charged with contempt of court contrary to section 116 (1) F of the penal code chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.
Kalunga on December 19, last year in Luanshya, interfered with and influenced two child witnesses aged 14 and 12 in a judicial proceeding before they gave evidence.
In count three and four, Kalunga was charged with surbonation of perjury contrary to section 104 (7) of the penal code chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.
Kalunga on December 19 last year did aid, abet and counseled the two child witnesses to commit perjury.
The court said the prosecution called the child witnesses who testified that Kalunga counseled them on two occasions to give false evidence in court and told them to say the Chinese nationals appearing before a Luanshya magistrate were not the ones who allegedly defiled and indecently assaulted them.
The court said even a third witness, Rosta Chibuye testified that she heard Kalunga counsel the two witnesses and decided to report the matter to the police.
The court found that the evidence of the two child witnesses called by the prosecution was reliable and that to a large measure was unchallenged.
“In my view, the account of the witness called by Kalunga did not convince me as probable nor did it raise any doubt in my mind. As a result, I find her guilty as charged,” said the court
Salma Dodia relesed her latest single “Sweet Darling” . “tonite we dance ,and celebrate our love cause we have come a long way and still cant get enough baby” , she sings . The song is a celebration of love and comes just in time for the valentines season. She mixes english and local language on this beautiful song.
Salma first got the spotlight when she was featured on JK’s hit song Kapiripiri .
Power Dynamos on Sunday beat DR Congo side St Eloi Lupopo 2-0 in an international club friendly played at Arthur Davies stadium in Kitwe.
The 2011 Faz Super Division champions were using the friendly as part of their Cafe Champions League preliminary round preparations ahead of next weekend match away to Japan Actual of Madagascar.
Midfielder Mukuka Mulenga put Power ahead in the 22nd minute to give the Kitwe giants a 1-0 lead into halftime.
Joseph Sitali made it 2-0 in the 72nd minute with a long range shot to give Power the win.
Power coach Fordson Kabole said he was pleased with his team’s performance.
“We are now ready for Japan Actual. You can see how we have performed against Lupopo. We will put up a good game. We will try our best,” Kabole said.
Lupopo Spanish born Coach Tony Ayala said: “I am disappointed with loss. No more comment.”
Mbala Member of Parliament and former provincial permanent secretary Mwalimu Simfukwe
The Provincial Taskforce on Corruption in Northern Province is set to arrest Mbala Member of Parliament and former provincial permanent secretary Mwalimu Simfukwe for stock theft.
Northern province Police Commissioner Mary Chikwanda has told QFM that the Taskforce is also expected to pounce and seize Mr Simfukwe’s cattle from his Mbala farm.
She says the Provincial Taskforce on Corruption in Northern Province has been investigating strong allegations that Mbala Member of Parliament and former Permanent Secretary, Mwalimu Simfukwe diverted cattle his office was purchasing for the re-stocking of Mbesuma Ranch, to his farm situated in Mbala District.
Ms Chikwanda who is also Chairperson of the Taskforce states that an analysis of procurement documents and store records has revealed that over 55 cattle worth over K100 million are missing from the State Ranch.
She explains that the records show that 103 cattle were bought between 23rd December 2009 and 23rd August 2010, of these, 97 were pregnant.
Ms Chikwanda says investigations have also revealed that a head count including the resulting births from the pregnant cattle would require that as at December 2010 the Ranch was supposed to have over 202 Cattle instead of the 104 manipulated records show.
She adds that investigations have also revealed that there are no records accounting for the missing calves that were born from the pregnant cattle and if there were deaths veterinary mortality records would be available for the missing calves.
Ms Chikwanda says as at 2010, Mbesuma Ranch had 104 Cattle instead of 202.
She says the Task-Force is currently interrogating former procurement officials, Mbesuma Ranch Manager, and are pursuing a veterinary doctor who was present during the purchase.
The Northern Province Taskforce on Corruption was formed by Northern Province Permanent Secretary, Emmanuel Mwamba.
It comprises of officers from the Zambia Police (ZP), the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
The Taskforce has seized assets, buildings, housing complex, motor vehicles and Trucks since it swung into operations last month. It is also pursuing Simfukwe for allegedly illegal award of dubious contracts worth over K3.5 Billion. A few suspects are appearing in court.
A Rabo bank executive had a tough time explaining the composition of the Zambia National Commercial Bank board to the Sebastian Zulu led Commission of Inquiry on the sale of the bank.
Appearing this morning before Commission of Inquiry, Kuijpers Arnold had difficulties in explaining whether the board’s composition tally with the shares that both the Zambian government and Rabo bank have in ZANACO.
Mr.Arnold has however described the privatization of ZANACO as successful.
He says ZANACO has also continued to add value to the country’s development process.
He says despite the bank having an international firm as it’s shareholder,ZANACO remains majority owned by Zambian shareholders.
Mr Arnold adds that the process of purchasing the 49 percent stake in ZANACO by Rabo bank was transparent.
He says the bank was awarded the 49 percent stake in ZANACO because it was willing to live to the expectations of the Zambian government.
President MICHAEL SATA has appointed EVANS CHIBILITI as Secretary to the Cabinet.
The appointment of Mr CHIBILITI who is substantively Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet, is subject to Parliament’s approval.
And President SATA has promoted Youth and Sports Permanent Secretary TEDDY MULONGA as the new Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet in charge of Administration.
This is according to a statement released to ZNBC news by State House Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations, GEORGE CHELLAH.
Government has engaged the anti corruption commission-ACC- to examine the authenticity of possible corruption cases at the citizens economic empowering commission-CEEC.
Commerce minister Bob Sichinga said there are some officers within CEEC that were engaged in dubious activities, when administering the empowerment fund.
Mr Sichinga also said government has engaged the auditor general to conduct a forensic audit on the CEEC fund.
The minister has also directed CEEC to stop receiving or processing new applications from people wishing to access the fund.
He was speaking at a media briefing today.
He also directed CEEC to institute measures to recover all existing loans due, without political interference.
President Michael Sata has with immediate re-aligned two districts in Southern Province in a bid to improve service delivery and public administration. In a memorandum to the Acting Secretary to the Cabinet Mr. Evans Chibiliti, President Sata directed that a Government Gazette Notice be issued to move the recently created Chirundu District from Southern Province to Lusaka and Itezhi Tezhi District to Central Province.
The President consequently directed that the Surveyor-General moves in quickly to align the boundaries of the two districts on the the new provinces to which they have been re-located. The re-alignment is part of the President’s robust programme to give practical expression to the decentralisation programme and eventual devolution of power to districts.
“In line with our Government policy guided by the Patriotic Front Manifesto, we consider local government as a central feature of the party’s broader aspiration of a well devolved power structure where decision-making processes are as close as possible to the people,”the President said.
The President takes a view that the Decentralisation Policy will only show results once practical steps are taken to properly position both geographical and administrative systems.
“It is a fact that a district such as Itezhi Tezhi is difficult to administer and pose huge logistical problems to be serviced because it is poorly located from the central adminstration point in Southern Province,”President Sata said.
“For instance, to efficiently access Itezhi Tezhi, people have to pass through Lusaka and Central provinces. It is for this reason that this Government sees an urgent need to discontinue this sad scenario which has denied our people the much needed development for many years now.”
Meanwhile, President Sata has appointed Mr. Evans Chibiliti as Secretary to the Cabinet subject to Parliament’s approval. And the Head of State has promoted Youth and Sports permanent secretary Mr. Teddy Mulonga as the new Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet in-charge of Administration.
And the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) has accused President Michael Sata of attempting to redraw the map of the country in an effort to gain political advantage.
UPND Chairman for elections Ackson Sejani says there is no way President Sata can decide to move Chirundu from Southern Province to Lusaka province without consultation from necessary stakeholders.
Mr. Sejani says the PF government should be careful with their maneuvers stating that if not stopped, they the potential bring about strife in the country.
He told a media briefing in Lusaka this morning that President Sata is only making such decisions to reward chiefs that supported him during elections with paramount Chief positions.
Mr. Sejani says the UPND will use every mean to ensure that the shifting of Chirundu to southern province is not done.
And Siavonga Member of Parliament Kennedy Hamudulu says the people of southern province will not accept any changes in the province.
Mr. Hamudulu says if the government saw it fit to make changes, it would have followed the right procedure of consultation instead of using the back door.
The Patriotic Front (PF) government is alleged to be in the process of moving Chirundu from being part of Southern province to Lusaka province.
The Help stars Emma Stone as Skeeter, Viola Davis as Aibileen and Octavia Spencer as Minny-three very different, extraordinary women in Mississippi during the 1960s, who build an unlikely friendship around a secret writing project that breaks societal rules and puts them all at risk. From their improbable alliance a remarkable sisterhood emerges, instilling all of them with the courage to transcend the lines that define them, and the realization that sometimes those lines are made to be crossed-even if it means bringing everyone in town face-to-face with the changing times.
PROS
Very talented cast
Great story line
Gives a good depiction of the racism that took place. In one scene the maid is not allowed to use the inside bathroom in the main house ,she is told to use the one outside inspite of the fact that there was a heavy rain storm.
FAVORITE QUOTE
Aibileen: No one had ever asked me, what it felt like to be me. Once I told the truth about that, I felt free.
Aibileen: God says we need to love our enemies. It’s hard to do, but it can start by telling the truth.
CONCLUSION
The Help is a very touching movie based in Mississippi during the civil rights movement . The maids use the book as a way of getting their voices header about how they are often mistreated and disrespected. The movie takes things in both the black maids perspective as well as the white peoples perspective. So it does not feel like a one sided story
The movie has been nominated for 3 Academy awards ; Best picture , Best Actress ,Best supporting Actress
Octavia Spencer (Minnie) has said “I think this movie transcends the time period that it’s portraying. If this project makes us go into our daily lives and makes us view those who facilitate our lives — whether it’s your personal assistant, your gardener, your cleaning lady, whoever — if you aren’t treating them with a level of respect, then, hopefully, after seeing this movie, you will understand the importance of that.”
FIRST Lady Christine Kaseba (taking pictures) with Zambia’s Ambassador to Belgium, the European Union and Luxembourg Inonge Mbikusita-Lewanika on her tour of Vaassen, in the Netherlands on Saturday. - Picture by THOMAS NSAMA.
FIRST Lady Christine Kaseba has said Zambia’s ease of doing business index has been improving after the last general elections because of the peaceful environment and the renewed anti-corruption drive.
Speaking in an interview with local journalists , Dr Kaseba said Zambia is a suitable destination for foreign investment because it has a friendly and suitable environment for business.
She said the peaceful political transition and the renewed vigour to fight corruption by the Patriotic Front (PF) government has improved the country’s ease of doing business.
“We are peace-loving and friendly, and we are also open to foreign investment. If you are looking for a place for investment, Zambia is the place,” Dr Kaseba said.
The First Lady is in the Netherlands on invitation from the mayor of Epe for a familiarisation tour to a typical Dutch municipality. She said Zambia has rich natural tourist attractions which include waterfalls and wildlife.
She said the country was ready to receive tourists but the only missing link was an aggressive marketing campaign. Dr Kaseba has braved the worst winter in the Netherlands in 56 years, as she pursues her tour.
“We have beautiful waterfalls in almost each province. Some of our waterfalls are bigger than the Niagara. ” she said.“In terms of animals, we have all the big five in large numbers. We are also a sanctuary of beautiful birds.”
She said tourists to Zambia have the opportunity to go on hunting safaris or get hunting trophies.
Dr Kaseba said the Dutch people could take advantage of their Royal Dutch Airline KLM, which will be flying into Lusaka, to sample Zambia’s tourism potential, which she said is second to none in the region.
“I wish I could take a part of Zambia and bring it here. I bet you to visit Zambia, you will not want to come back, or you will want to be a regular visitor,” she told a local journalist.
And Dr Kaseba said she was impressed with the Dutch municipalities’ social care programme which integrates physically and mentally challenged individuals into the socio-economic mainstream.
She said there is need for both able-bodied persons and physically-challenged persons to change their mindset towards disability, to help the latter to contribute to economic development.
Dr Kaseba said the Dutch social care system could be adapted to the Zambian situation.
Dr Kaseba told journalists that developed countries also have something to learn from the economic plans of least developed countries.
“You also have something to learn from our democracy. We recently had peaceful elections and the transition was smooth,” she said.
She said the fact that some economies in African countries were growing while the developed world was in a recession meant that the latter could also learn something from Africa about economic management.
TRANSPARENCY International Zambia (TIZ) president Reuben Lifuka has alleged that the Zambia Railways concession was awarded in dubious circumstances and has proposed that the Patriotic Front government should consider cancelling the deal.
Mr Lifuka said it will not help to pretend that all is well with the Zambia Railways concession and the matter should be resolved.
“The PF government should seriously consider cancelling this concession and finding other ways of commercialising the railway sector,” Mr Lifuka said in statement released yesterday.
Recently, Government cancelled concessions and agreements on the operation and maintenance of Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) scanners at border posts and others related to operations of border points at Kasumbalesa and five other borders.
He said TIZ is aware that the railway concession has not proceeded as envisaged and “the company is now nothing but a cash cow for some people”.
Mr Lifuka challenged the Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication to release the reports of the inspector of railways on the performance of the railway concession.
Mr Lifuka said his organisation welcomes the measures taken after the release of the ZRA commission report and prodded Government to thoroughly investigate the issues raised in the report and take legal or administrative action against all erring officers and public leaders.
He expressed disappointment that the Kasumbalesa concession was primarily an unsolicited bid for a project of high national security and importance.
“We find no justification why Government did not proceed to open up the tender to promote transparency in this particular transaction. The manner in which this bid was handled raises more questions than answers,” Mr Lifuka said.
He said it was worrying that Government gave the concessionaire a 14-year lease for 100 hectares of land at Kasumbalesa border and it is shocking that title deeds were issued to the concessionaire, in total contravention of the concession agreement.
Mr Lifuka said it is interesting that the border concession involved primarily one company which was using different names, as reported by the ZRA Commission of Inquiry.
The ZRA commission report revealed that the company used the name Baran for the dry ports and Kasumbalesa bids, and used Zambia (IP) Border Crossing Company Limited during the signing of the contract with Government for the Kasumbalesa concessions.
The company assumed another name – Zambia Kasumbalasa Venture Company during the commencement of operations.
The report says the company was called Zambia (IP) Border Crossing Company when bidding for the five borders but changed the name to Five Border Post Company at the time of signing the contract.
The name changed again to Five Border Post Group, after it took over the construction of Nakonde border post.
Mr Lifuka wondered why the people behind the projects found it necessary to keep changing names and why Government allowed itself to deal with a group of people who were not consistent.
Mr Lifuka advised President Sata to authorise the Minister of Finance to immediately make the ZRA Commission of Inquiry report public, in the same way he did for the Zamtel report.
“The Zambian people deserve to know the full contents of this report. There should be no sacred cows in this process,” he said.
Mr Lifuka said Government should not renege on its decision to cancel all border concessions and warned the PF government to guard against possible corrupt maneuvers by some unscrupulous individuals.
“TIZ is following this case keenly and we will not hesitate to expose and condemn any public officials who will support any unscrupulous activities which impact negatively on the lives of ordinary people,” Mr Lifuka said.
He called on Government to set in motion a process of overhauling the public procurement system, saying it is time loyal and dedicated men and women are given the responsibility of public procurement.
File: Education Minister John Phiri (r). On the left is deputy Minister David Mahumba.
THE Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Vocational Training has warned of stern action against basic and secondary schools that are still demanding Grade 9 examination fees from pupils.
Permanent secretary Mirriam Choonya, in an interview yesterday, said the ministry has received reports that some schools are still collecting money from pupils even after the minister issued a directive to abolish the fees.
“We have received reports of schools that are still charging examination fees and that is not right, as Government did scrap the fees,” Ms Choonya said.
Ms Choonya said it is important for all officers in the ministry, charged with the responsibility of running schools to comply with the minister’s directive as it was an official policy directive.
She said Government decided to scrap grade nine examination fees to ensure a smooth progression from grade seven to grade 10. Therefore, there is no need for schools to be given official notification to stop collecting examination fees.
Ms Choonya called on members of the public, especially parents, to report cases of pupils being charged grade nine examination fees, so that the ministry can take necessary action.
She said the Ministry of Education attaches great importance to free and quality education for all Zambians and anyone creating obstacles will be dealt with accordingly.
Ms Choonya said the ministry has a duty to provide education for all and will make sure all barriers to free and quality education are removed.
She also said due to its commitment to providing quality education, the Ministry of Education is in the process of reviewing the education curriculum and upgrading all learning institutions, to provide quality and affordable education for all citizens.
She said Government is also aware that quality education is the primary vehicle by which marginalised children can bring themselves out of poverty and attain economic and social dependence.
Ms Choonya pledged the ministry’s commitment to endeavour to remove all barriers that limit access and progression in education.
