Sunzu scored the opening goal in Zambia’s 3 – 0 bashing of Sudan .

Zambia will be facing Ghana in the semi-finals . This will be the toughest match for the team in the competition so far .

Sunzu began his career with his brother Felix Sunzu at Afrisport FC and joined 1995 with him to the ex club of his father Konkola Blades. After a super performance in midfield at the 2007 U-20 World Cup, the 19 year old was invited for trials at English side Reading The Championship side was keen on securing him on longer deal but due to a work permit hitch, things did not materialize. He signed an loan contract for LB Châteauroux in September 2008 and turned after the season end on 30 June 2009 back to his club Zanaco FC. Sunzu currently plays for TP Mazembe of Democratic Republic of Congo and was sent off in their opening 2010 FIFA Club World Cup game.

International career

He made his debut against Botswana In a 2009 African Championship of Nations Qualifier. Sunzu helped the Zambia national under-20 football team to a 1–1 draw against Saudi Arabia with a goal. Sunzu presented his country at 2007 U-20 World Cup in Canada. He is included in the squad for the on-going AFCON.

BY KAPA187

National Housing Authority Chief Executive Officer, Elias Mpondela has resigned. National Housing Authority Chairman Mundia Muya announced that Mr Mpondela has left the institution to pursue other interests. Dr Muya said this in a statement issued to ZNBC news in Lusaka.

He said that although National Housing Authority regretted Mr Mponde’s resignation, the board appreciated the valuable contribution that he rendered to the institution.

Mr Mpondela was appointed Chief Executive Officer of National Housing Authority in August 2009.

Last month, workers at National Housing Authority (NHA) in Lusaka downed tools demanding, among other things, the dissolution of the board and removal of top management officials for allegedly “bringing problems” to the organisation.

According to NHA union branch chairperson, Oscar Mwananyanda, the main cause of the work-stoppage was to push management to pay the workers their commutation of leave days. This was to enable them attend to some of their children’s school requirements as the current education allowance was inadequate.

The workers were demanding that Mr Mpondela, human resources manager and director of finance, among other senior staff, be investigated for allegedly “bringing problems at the organisation”.

Mr Mwananyanda cited, among other problems, the alleged unnecessary trips abroad by senior management staff using company funds.

Their other complaint was that employees were being denied salary advances when faced with problems.The workers accused management of non-remittance of Pay-As-You-Earn to the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) as well as contributions to the National Pensions Scheme Authority (NAPSA) even after making deductions from workers salaries.

ZNBC

By Maurice Makalu

I thought I could share some important information from around Africa about the FORMER owner of Zamtel, in case some of you miss them. And just by the way, I would like to appeal to those who have been scared by some UK legal expert who said Zambia could pay as much as $3 billion in penalties to please chilax. He was just bluffing, probably because he wished he could make some money from Lap Green’s losing battle. You know lawyers and their marketing: threats and intimidation to the opponent!

If there are any who are indeed scared by that expert, it is simply because they have not read the sound legal arguments, facts and exhibits in the Sebastian Zulu report. So their ignorance is causing the fear and it is being exacerbated by politicians of doom and gloom. If not that then they are scared simply because they feel inferior to “UK people.” So it is “UK” that is scaring them.

Here is Lap Green for you….from around Africa.

1. UGANDA – 16 Dec 2011

“Uganda Telecom Ltd (UTL) will receive capital from the Libya Africa Investment Portfolio Green Network (LAP Green Network), which owns 69% of the telco, according to local news source The Observer. LAP Green Network’s new board chairman Wafik Shater said ‘We are currently looking at UTL’s critical funding need for the remainder of this year. After ascertaining the actual funds required, we will inject them into our operations here.’ UTL has suffered indirectly as a result of sanctions imposed on LAP Green Network by the UN during Libya’s civil war, worsening the telco’s already substantial debts.”

Lap Green took over UTL in July 2007. So, by the time of UN sanctions in March 2011, UTL under Lap Green management was ALREADY in WORSENING substantial debts. In March 2011 UTL’s network was disconnected from MTN Uganda over $8.27 million in disputed interconnection fees. Service has resumed but the matter is still in court. In September Airtel Uganda threatened to follow suit, over a further $4.2 million in payments.

So when you hear anybody say Lap Green Uganda is a success story, know they are just lying. Pray for them to show some love for mother Zambia.

2. RWANDA – April 2011

“Rwanda is looking for suitors for national carrier Rwandatel after the government stripped Libya’s LAP Green Networks operating license last month (March 2011). The Rwandan government stripped LAP Green Networks of the license for failing to meet key performance targets in terms of investment, network roll-out, coverage and quality of service. Although Rwandatel acquired its operating license in 2007, it only started mobile operations in December 2008.”

UN Sanctions were imposed on Libya on March 29,2011, so they were not the cause for Lap Green’s failure to pay. As at January 2012, a Rwandan court ordered that Rwandatel be liquidated. Lap Green is joining the line of chancers to take over Rwandatel.

3. NIGER – June 2011:

“Niger’s government has canceled an agreement for LAP Green Network of Libya to buy 51 percent of state-owned telecommunications companies Sonitel and Sahel Com, said Salifou Labo Bouche, communications minister. We are currently looking for another buyer,” the minister said on national television yesterday. The decision comes after the government “waited in vain” for a payment from the Libyan company, he said.”

The agreement was signed in Jan 2011, so for 6 months, Lap Green couldn’t pay. We can’t even use the excuse of a civil war because in Jan 2011, Libya was peacefully under Gadhaffi. Only Tunisia was in flames.

4. ZAMBIA – January 2012

So if Lap Green is such a calamity in other countries, how did it manage to succeed so quickly in Zambia? Several reasons:

(a) Zamtel had the best infrastructure amongst all of Lap Green’s acquisitions in Africa.

This is really the main reason. This is shown by the fact that when ZDA announced the privatisation of Zamtel in mid 2010, it said Lap green would invest $127 million over three years following privatisation. Mr. Hans Poulsen, then CEO, was quoted as saying, “The investment will mainly go into restructuring the company; acquiring new technology, building a 3G network, extending network coverage and at the same time re-launch the brand.”

However, in January 2012, newly appointed Chairman of LAP Green, Wafik Alshater, said, “Zamtel is now a Zambian success story. SinceLAP Green’s acquisition, the telecommunications company has attracted over 400,000 new customers and grown its market share from 3% to 11%. Lap Green has committed itself to investing US$129 million (ZK670 billion) in Zamtel over two years so as to create a truly competitive and world class telecommunications company.”

This means by January 2012, that $129 million investment was yet to be done. So the success from 2010 to date was on already existing Zamtel infrastructure.

(b) This best infrastructure was given to them on a silver platter.

In addition to receiving the gift of $64.25 million (money for 25% shares) from government to fund its first year operations, government settled its telephone bills which at acquisition amounted to $7 million and at the time of the Zulu report, only $100,000 was outstanding. So in just over a year, government gave Lap Green $71 million free of charge. On top of that, it cancelled tax liabilities amounting to $100 million. Furthermore, Lap Green did not pay the $257 million in full. Instead $64 million of that was to be paid as equity capital over three years.

So who on earth can fail to succeed when there is free money coming from all over?

(c) Zamtel only needed to retrench, not to “desperately” recapitalise, to become profitable. So whoever would have had the guts to fire its employees would have succeeded.

As at March 2010, Zamtel revenue was K385 billion, its staff costs were K253 billion. This was 65% of revenues compared to industry average of 25%. The loss at the same date was K104.8 billion.

So all somebody needed to do was to fire the excess 40% staff costs. This would have translated into cost savings of K154 billion (40% of revenue). The $71 million that was given to Lap Green could then have been channeled into retrenchment packages. Zamtel would have instantly become profitable, like it did under Lap Green, and the other creditors it had would have been settled, including the cancelled $100 million tax liabilities.

5. ZAMTEL: BEST PRIVATISATION DEAL IN AFRICA???!!!

Given the above, what did those politicians and “experts” mean when they told us to celebrate and be proud, saying, “Zamtel was the best telecoms privatization deal in Africa?”

They meant that out of 10, some got zeros, ones and twos; we were the only one with a three: the best among the worst.

6. LIBYA – 27 January 2012

Libya is undecided on the future of its African investments. Mohammed Abdul Aziz, Libya’s deputy foreign minister, admitted on Thursday that the National Transitional Council (NTC) does not yet know the exact extent of Libyan investments on the continent.

Earlier this month, Mustafa Abdul Jalil, the chairman of the NTC, said: “There may be investments that would be better for the Libyan people for them to be closed”. Abdul Jalil added, however, that Libya would increase its investments in Sudan, particularly in agriculture and property. “Reason and justice require us to direct agricultural investments close to Libya instead of the Far East or Central Asia,” he said.

7. CONCLUSION

Now you know. There is nothing to miss about Lap Green. Let us just calculate their change from whatever they spent, give them back and remain with OUR Zamtel. But also, let us not rush to mass re-employee in the name of “creating jobs.” That would be foolish!

Last night Chipolopolo made Zambia proud by convincingly beating Sudan, 3 goals to 0 ,and qualifying to the semi-finals for the first time in 16 years .

The  goals came from Sunzu in the 15th minute , Katongo in the 64th through a penalty, and Chamanga , coming in as a substitute for Mayuka ,in the 86th minute.

Here is a look at Chamanga’s career.

CAREER

Chamanga made his international debut on 26 February, 2005 against Botswana and five months later he scored his first international goal in the COSAFA Cup semifinal against South Africa. His goal against Bafana Bafana earned him his first move abroad as the then South African Premier Soccer League side Bush Bucks signed him in 2005. After Bush Bucks were relegated in 2006 he signed with Supersport United where he was the club’s top goalscorer for the 06/07 season.

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 netted Zambia’s opener against Sudan (2008 African Nations Cup) in the Chipolopolo’s 3-0 win. Chamanga also scored Zambia’s first goal at the 2006 African Nations Cup against Tunisia.

He scored a record-breaking five goals for Swallows in a 6-2 league win against Platinum Stars on December 9, 2007. This included a hat-trick between the 20th and the 24th minute.

In April 2008, Chamanga moved to Chinese Super League club Dalian Shide, after he scored 14 goals in ABSA Premier League for Moroka Swallows in the previous season.

BY KAPA187

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“They saw the works of the Lord, his wonderful deeds in the deep”
(Psalm 107:24, NIV)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria
The scripture says is Psalm 107:23, “They that go down to the sea and do business in deep waters, they will see the wonders of God.” Friend, you and I were created to do business in deep waters. In other words, we’re not supposed to have little dreams or little plans. We are supposed to have big dreams. We are supposed to go out into the deep things God has for us.

But understand, when you’re out there in the deep waters, you can’t touch the ground. You can’t see the shoreline, and at times, it can get a little rocky. You may not always see how things are going to work out. But, the scripture tells us that deep calls to deep. In other words, God is the one who has called you to the deep waters. He is with you, and He knows there are deep things on the inside of you. Remember, in deep waters, you are not alone. God is with you, and He’s causing those deep things inside of you to come forth.

If you feel like you are out in the deep today, if you feel like you are overwhelmed, remember, you are in the right place and God is with you. You will see His wonderful deeds in the deep, and you will fulfill the plan He has in store for you.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father in heaven, I surrender every area of my life to You. I hunger for every single thing You have in store for me. I choose to trust You out in the deep waters knowing that You have good things in store for me in Jesus’ name. Amen.
— Joel & Victoria Osteen

GOVERNMENT must help bring down the cost of printing to encourage more Zambians to write books that could even be used in the school curriculum, veteran politician Vernon Mwaanga has said.

Mr Mwaanga said the cost of printing books in the country is high and many Zambians are discouraged from writing.

He made the appeal in Lusaka on Friday night when he officiated at the launch of book entitled ‘The Diary of a Zambian Saint’.

The book is written by a 19-year-old boy, Darrell Phiri, of Kitwe.

“We also need to change our reading culture, we have very few Zambian writers but receive little support because many Zambians have no culture of reading,” Mr Mwaanga said.

Mr Mwaanga said while the levels of education are going up, the reading culture has continued going down.

He said a study conducted by UNESCO revealed that for every newspaper copy bought in the past 9 to 10 people used to read it, but currently only 5 to 6 people read the copy.

Mr Mwaanga said the research does not speak well of the reading culture of the country. He hoped the book written by Darrell will inspire more youths to write books that could be used in schools in literature, music and drama lessons.

And author of the book Darrel urged youths to explore their energies to discovering their skill and talent. He said this would enable them to apply to the maximum their potential and resist pressure from parents to pursue careers they do not want.

And Lusaka business Rossi Gaudenzio urged government to re-establish libraries that have gone into oblivion as it will inspire youths to go and borrow books.

Dr Gaudensia urged writers to include more details about Zambia in their writing to help market Zambia in the tourism sector.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

INSPECTOR-General of Police Martin Malama says he has nothing but respect would for former President Rupiah Banda who described him as ‘silly’ for issuing an international arrest warrant for his (Mr Banda’s) son, Henry.

Dr Malama, a devout Christian said his cultural, traditional and Christian values do not allow him to answer back to elders, even if they insult him.

“I have great faith in our traditional and cultural values. Above all, Zambia is a Christian nation. So, I chose to remain silent,” Dr Malama said adding, “I note that Mr Banda is the same age with my own father.”

Dr Malama was reacting to Mr Banda’s angry outburst regarding the arrest warrant issued against Henry.
The former President on Wednesday described police action to issue an arrest warrant for Henry as “silly.” The fugitive was recently spotted in Kenya.
The former President said he would address all matters relating to his sons during a press briefing planned for next week.

But the question about the whereabouts of Henry, who the police are pursuing and have issued an international arrest warrant over alleged criminal activities, prompted Mr Banda to respond, saying it was “silly” for the investigative wings to embark on such a move.

“He is silly whoever issued it. He (Dr Malama) the head of police, is supposed to be protecting Zambians instead of inciting people,” Mr Banda said.

Mr Banda earlier said he was saddened by people who were trying to create an impression that Henry was a criminal.

On Tuesday, Dr Malama appealed for cooperation from 190 Interpol member states to help in tracking Henry down.

Dr Malama said the police had notified Interpol about allegations against Henry.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

President Michael Sata has delegated Youth and Sports minister Chishimba Kambwili to represent him at the closing ceremony of the Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon.

President Sata was invited by his Gabonese counterpart to attend the closing ceremony and final of the Africa Cup of Nations, which will take place in Libreville on February 12, 2012.

“Since I will not be availbale for this engagement, I have instructed the Honourable Minister for Youth and Sports to represent me at this important event,” President Sata said.

And the Head of State has sent his best wishes and luck to the Zambia National Soccer Team in this evening’s quarter-final match with Sudan in Bata in mainlaind Equatorial Guinea.

“So far so good and as President of the Republic of Zambia as well as Patron of the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ), I wish to encourage the nation to rally behind our Chipolopolo boys even as they aim to lift the 2012 Orange Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy,” the President says.

“Our boys have worked very hard to reach this stage and we can only wish them luck and victory. If our team reaches the finals, I pledge to fully support and facilitate the entry of the Zambian soccer fans into Libreville.”