The Jesuits Center for Theological Reflection (JCTR) has urged government to put in place measures to counter the looming food insecurity resulting from the current farming season.
The Jesuits Center for Theological Reflection (JCTR) has urged government to put in place measures to counter the looming food insecurity resulting from the current farming season.
JCTRR Director says the army worms which recently invaded fields in most parts of the country, will negatively affect the agricultural production for the 2012/2013 farming season.
Father Chiti says it is therefore important for government to adequately prepare for the anticipated food insecurity.
The Clergyman has also noted with sadness that the development will affect Zambia%u2019s efforts in alleviating poverty.
And Father Chiti has urged the government to approach the corruption crusade with urgency adding that the fight will be meaningless if public resources are not recovered.
He says Zambians expect convictions of those found wanting of corrupt practices and that public resources recovered should be channeled to other needy sectors.
Father Chiti was speaking in an interview with Qfm News.
Government is saddened by the high number of road traffic accidents in the country.
Chief Government Spokesperson Kennedy Sakeni says government notes with grave concern the continued high number of road traffic accidents occurring in the country.
Mr Sakeni who is also Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, said according to Police Report, 1,000 lives were lost due to traffic accidents between 1st January and 28th December, 2012,
In a press statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today Mr Sakeni said Zambia has an average of three deaths as a result of traffic accidents on a daily basis, the statistic which he described highly unfortunate and unbearable.
“Government notes with grave concern the continued high number of road traffic accidents in the country. Can you imagine that 1,000 people died this year from January to December? This is an average of three deaths per day, a statistic which is highly unfortunate and unbearable,” Mr Sakeni lamented.
He said government reiterates its call to road traffic authorities to intensify road patrols and sensitize the public on importance of road safety especially during the festive season which is widely celebrated by people annually.
Mr Sakeni said the festive season should be a time of joy and happiness and not sadness and sorrow.
He called on motorists and the public at large to observe traffic rules and regulations at all times so that they do not endanger their lives and those of other people.
“Motorists and the public at large are called upon to observe traffic rules and regulations at all times so that they do not endanger their lives and those of other people. The festive season should be a time of joy and happiness and not sadness and sorrow,” he said.
About 12 people died country-wide from 111 accidents, which occurred during the Christmas holiday in Zambia.
Zambia Police Service Spokesperson Elizabeth Kanjela confirmed in a statement to ZANIS last week.
And Ms Kanjela said police recorded a total number of 64 assault cases of which 56 are coming from Lusaka province while Southern, Luapula, Muchinga and Northern provinces recorded no incidents.
She said this year’s Christmas holiday recorded an increase in the number of road traffic accidents as compared to 2011, which recorded 96 accidents and 10 murder cases.
Prior to Christmas holiday, President Michael Sata encouraged Zambians to use the Christmas festival to promote reconciliation and love.
Mr Sata has urged Zambians to use the festive period to show love, compassion and care to one another and families to get-together.
Zambians from all walks of life tomorrow celebrates New Year, 2013.
File:President Sata talks to Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Zhou Yuxiao
Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Zhou Yuxiao says the newly launched rebased Zambian currency will make business easy for Chinese investors working in Zambia due to its similarity to their currency Yuan.
The Chinese Ambassador noted that the Chinese people will have no difficulties understanding the rebased Zambian currency because the new notes and coins have less zeros which used to confuse them.
Mr Yuxiao disclosed that the Chinese government through the Bank of China based in Zambia has made enough sensitization to Chinese nationals living in Zambia by using the Chinese language especially for those that do not understand English.
He noted that the Bank has also printed the adverts in the daily papers for Chinese nationals who are unable to access the Bank of China which is in Lusaka so that that they are not caught unaware.
He added that the embassy will further post the new rebased currency on the website as part of the sensitization campaigns.
The Ambassador noted that the rebasing of the currency is a good thing for the economy and investors who have pumped their monies into the country.
He said the Chinese investors are confident of the good economic policies of Zambia adding that even the rebasing of the currency is not a new thing to them as they are always kept aware by government.
The Ambassador further hailed the good investment policies by the Patriotic Front government and assured that his country hopes to continue increasing investments in Zambia.
Mr Yuxiao noted that Zambia being a peaceful country coupled with its sound economic policies, investors will always abide by the changes such as the kwacha rebasing.
He disclosed that his countrymen and women have invested in excess of US$2 billion in various sectors of the economy.
The Chinese Ambassador was among the dignitaries that attended the official unveiling of the new notes and coins at the Government Complex in Lusaka this morning.
The new currency will be in circulation starting tomorrow and will circulate alongside the old currency up to 30th June 2013.
Finance Minister Alexander ChikwandaFinance Minister Alexander Chikwanda
The new Zambian currency, Kwacha and Ngwee, has been launched with a call on the business community to keep the prices of goods and services unchanged.
Minister of Finance Alexander Chikwanda unveiled the new currency at a colourful ceremony held in Lusaka at the new Government Complex yesterday.
The new currency comprises of six notes with features such as the African Fish Eagle, coat of arms, freedom statue, trees and animals while there are four coins minted with a coat of arms, a bird and animals representing the abundant wildlife and tourism potential of the country.
The new currency becomes legal tender on 1st January 2013 and will circulate side by side with the old currency for six months to allow the public to completely switch to the new currency.
In his key note address, the Finance Minister observed that the steps taken by the Bank of Zambia to prepare the country for the currency change will proceed with minimal or preferably no hitches.
Mr Chikwanda noted that the rebasing of the kwacha was aimed at addressing the inflationary spirals which over the years caused the currency to depreciate to intolerable levels which were not cost neutral in terms of the economy.
The Minister further stated that decision to rebase was premised on government’s conviction to restore the intrinsic value of the currency as a medium of exchange by bringing normalcy to the numeration of the local currency.
He said it is an internationally accepted practice to rebase a currency during the periods of low and stable inflation stating that in the last five years, inflation has generally taken a downward trend in Zambia.
The Finance Minister dispelled assertions and misconceptions by some circles of society that the rebasing was a gimmick by the new government to nab unscrupulous members of society adding that it will instead lead to greater confidence in the currency and also simplify book keeping, accounting records and facilitate easier business transactions.
Mr Chikwanda however noted that the rebasing of the currency will neither cause revaluation nor devaluation of the kwacha meaning that prices of goods and services will not change and encouraged the general public to accept the new notes and coins.
And Bank of Zambia (BOZ) Governor Michael Gondwe announced that following the launch of the new family of notes and coins, the Bank of Zambia has made available the currency in all commercial banks and agencies throughout the country.
Dr Gondwe assured the public that sufficient security features have been embedded into the new high value K100 notes to make them sufficiently different from the current K100.
He noted that the BOZ team discovered during sensitization campaigns that many people were of the view that the introduction of the new high value K100 note would be confused with the current K100 note.
The launch was attended by senior government officials, diplomats accredited to Zambia, officials from both the notes printing company, G&D of German and South African mining company and CEOs of Banks and Public and Private Institutions.
Lusaka Province Commissioner of Police, Joyce Kasosa
Two male teenagers are behind the brutal killing and defacing of a taxi driver, Matthews Chipili, who was dumped at a plot in Lusaka’s Roma Township a week ago, Police have confirmed.
The two Lusaka youngsters are aged 14 and 16, Lusaka Province police commissioner Joyce Kasosa said.
The two youngsters will appear in court on Monday after police closed the investigations. They face a possible charge of murder and aggravated robbery.
“We have concluded investigations in the killing of Matthews Chipili. We have apprehended two teenagers aged 16 and 14 who confessed to the killing and they took us to the site of the killing and explained how they performed the killing and stole his vehicle and that they wanted to enjoy life from the robbery. The two will appear in court on Monday, next week,” Ms Kasosa said.
The murder trial involving the two juveniles is widely expected to stir public interest and have a packed courtroom though entry would be restricted to close relatives as it would be a juvenile hearing.
Their motive, Ms Kasosa said, was merely to steal the late Mr Chipilii’s vehicle and ‘enjoy’ proceeds of the heinous act, of Thursday last week.
Ms Kasosa said this at a media breakfast organised by the Zambia Police at Southern Sun Hotel in Lusaka yesterday.
Mr Chipili’s body was discovered by passersby who alerted police. The killing shocked the public more so that it left Mr Chipili’s family traumatised.
The teenagers informed police during investigations that they intended to the sell the stolen vehicle and use the money during the festive season.
The late Mr Chipili, who died at the age of 20, was discovered with his facial skin peeled off, his throat cut-open and left eye and tongue gouged out as the two juvenile assailants went away with his car, which had since been recovered by police.
Ms Kasosa dispelled assertions that the murder was in any way linked to the murder of late National Institute Public Administration (NIPA) Ruth Mbandu who was slain in a similar manner in July this year.
Police thanked the media for being patient, while investigations were conducted as releasing piece-meal information was going to have jeopardised the probe.
Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police Stella Libongani said a total of 9,612 gender-based violence (GBV) had so far been recorded this year.
Ms Libongani also said 1,000 people had lost their lives in road traffic accidents, recorded in various parts of the country.
Ms Libongani said 1,650 accident victims had survived with grave injuries while 2,000 survived with minor ones.
FODEP executive director McDonald Chipenzi has challenged Patriotic Front (PF) youths on the Copperbelt to state which party they are linking him to.
Reacting to calls by Copperbelt youth chairperson Menyani Zulu for him to resign and publicly mention a political party he allegedly belonged to, Mr Chipenzi said he could comment on the assertions only if those accusing him mentioned the party they were saying he supported.
“I thought that they are the first ones who are supposed to mention the party they are alleging that I belong to.
“The best they can do is say, ‘This man belongs to this party,’ that’s when I can only respond to their allegations,” Mr Chipenzi said.
Mr Chipenzi attributed Mr Zulu’s accusations against him to his continued condemnation of Government receiving defecting opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) resulting in by elections.
He vowed to continue condemning defections of MPs regardless of which political party they belonged and were defecting to as by elections were a huge cost to the nation because resources meant for developmental purposes were being channeled to such elections.
“As FODEP, we will not stop condemning defections by Members of Parliament because they are a huge drain on the national treasury. By elections are a drain on national resources,” he said.
Mr Chipenzi , however, said his organization welcomed divergent views, especially that it championed democracy and thus it would be failing in its duties if it demonized those that were freely expressing their views as doing so (divergent views) was one of the tenets of democracy.
“They (PF Copperbelt youths) are just expressing their democratic right. Let them continue to speak and we shall not demonise them for expressing their opinion. We must encourage this kind of talk in a democracy,” he said.
Mr Chipenzi observed that such criticism was one way of providing checks on and balances on FODEP it being a public institution, adding also that it was indication that his organization had not done a good job in sensitizing the public that FODEP was not restricted to talking about elections only.
He said his FODEP would remain being objective and urged the people to put politics aside when talking about developmental issues.
Last week Mr Zulu challenged Mr Chipenzi to step down and come out in the open by declaring a political party he belonged to as he was allegedly siding with the opposition in his statements, a move he said had turned FODEP into a sham and an embarrassment to its donors
THE Zambia police service has instituted investigations into Congolese rhumba musician Koffi Olomide alleged assault of a freelance journalist on Friday.
Police spokesperson Elizabeth Kajenla confirmed in Lusaka yesterday that police were on the ground to investigate the matter before they could make a move.
Olomide is alleged to have assaulted photojournalist Jean Ndayisenga commonly known as Mandela for allegedly kicking him in the face as he tried to take photographs of the musician after a live performance at Pamodzi hotel.
Ndayisenga reported Koffi for assault at Kabwata police station but the case has been transferred to Lusaka Central police.
But Ms Kanjela yesterday said in an interview that police has started probing the matter.
Koffi arrived in the country on Wednesday for two performances in Lusaka before moving to Kitwe for another show at Moba hotel today.
President Michael Sata has released 59 female prisoners countrywide as part of this year’s New Year celebrations.
This is according to an Order of Release signed by the Head of State dated December 28, 2012. President Sata signed the order in exercise of the powers vested in him by Article 59 (d) of the Constitution of Zambia.
Out of the 59 female prisoners, 43 are inmates with children, 12 are aged [above 60 years] and four (4) are expectant mothers.
The rationale behind the President’s decision is to decongest the extremely crowded prison facilities countrywide as well as reintegrate prisoners into society. In fact, this move has also resulted in the freeing of about 50 children who are below the age of three whose mothers were serving various sentences.
President Sata has counselled the released inmates to show exemplary behaviour and prove to the society that indeed they have reformed.
As calls to have Kabwata Member of Parliament Given Lubinda from the ruling Patriotic Front intensify, PF Lusaka Province chairman Geoffrey Chuumbwe says the Central Committee will soon meet to decide the fate of Mr. Lubinda.
Speaking in an interview , Mr. Chuumbwe said the petition by Kabwata Constituency officials has already been submitted to the party secretary general Wynter Kabimba for further scrutiny.
Mr. Chuumbwe said the Central Committee will soon make a ruling based on the recommendations by the Secretary General.
He has since called on members to remain calm and allow the central committee to have the final say on the matter.
PF Kabwata officials have accused Mr. Lubinda of being disloyal to the party and retarding development among other things.
Yesterday PF cadres from seven constituencies in Lusaka marched to State House demanding the speedy expulsion of Mr. Lubinda but they were blocked by police.
Police have apprehended a 20 year old woman of Muselepete area in Kasempa for allegedly causing the death of her two year old son.
Police Spokesperson Elizabeth Kanjela said the incident occurred on Christmas eve when the suspect, identified as Maureen Kamanga, allegedly abandoned her son in an open house and went to Kilembelo Night Club with her boyfriend and later spent the night at the boyfriend’s house.
She said when the suspect went back home the following morning, she found her son lying dead at the neighbour’s house.
She said it was believed that the child was carried away by water due to heavy rains and the body of the deceased boy is lying in Mukinge mission hospital mortuary.
A 34 year old woman of Lusaka’s Kalingalinga compound was last night shot dead by suspected criminals.
Police Spokesperson Elizabeth Kanjela said the incident occurred around 22:45 hours in Kalingalinga compound at a Mr. Castro Chabala’s shop.
Ms. Kanjela said the criminals, who were armed with a pistol, attacked Mr. Chabala in his shop and robbed him of K3 million cash and talk time for all networks worth K2.5 million.
She explained that when the deceased, identified as Jane Chiona who was selling in a makeshift shop next to Mr. Chabala’s shop went to see what was happening at the neighbour’s shop, the criminals shot her in the chest killing her instantly.
Ms. Kanjela said the body of the deceased is lying in the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) mortuary awaiting post-mortem.
The Police Spokesperson further disclosed that no arrests have been made so far but said investigations into the matter have continued.
Kapiri-Mposhi based Fifa referee Jani Sikazwe says he is humbled by his appointment to officiate at the 2013 Africa Cup by Caf.
Sikazwe heads to South Africa next month to officiate at his second Nations Cup in 12 months after making his debut at this year’s tournament in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.
Sikazwe told Radio Icengelo Sports that he was not the best ref in the country despite being the only local match official picked for next year’s AFCON.
“I am the only one going that side (South Africa ) but it doesn’t mean I am the best, there is only one spot for Zambia,” he said.
The Kapiri teacher stated that he picked lessons from the 2012 AFCON and promised to raise his performance at the 2013 edition.
“Expect the best from me. I now know all the corners of the Africa Cup as compared to the last one. This time I have got new ideas I just have to go there and do it,” Sikazwe added.
The Africa Cup runs from 19 January to February 10.
Suspected Patriotic Front (PF) cadres are allegedly invading on private land in Lusaka’s west and are terrorizing land owners.
The cadres have allegedly been grabbing titled land from unsuspecting land owners and demarcating plots for sale.
An affected land owner, Simeon Zyambo told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that the cadres have gone on rampage grabbing any piece of land they can lay their hands on.
Mr. Zyambo, who resides in Livingstone where he is working, said four weeks ago, some cadres invaded his farm plot and told his worker that they had come to take over the titled land.
He said the cadres have since started digging foundations on his plot and have also marked some roads.
He said he reported the matter to Kanyama Police Post and also spoke to Lusaka District Commissioner who gave him one ward official from Kanyama to go and ascertain which people were involved in the scam.
Mr. Zyambo said it was established that it was PF cadres from Ward ten in Kanyama that were selling titled land in Lusaka west.
He stated that upon establishing that the cadres belonged to the ruling party, he went to the PF secretariat but was referred to the party’s Lusaka district office where some district officials intervened in the situation.
He said the situation became quiet for a while and he returned to Livingstone.
But to Mr. Zyambo’s surprise, he received a call from his neighbour telling him that the cadres were back on the farm and were removing roofing sheets from his servant quarters.
He said his worker was not around as he had fled for fear of losing his life at the hands of cadres.
Mr. Zyambo said he immediately phoned Kanyama Police who rushed to the scene but found that cadres had finished removing the roofing sheets and ran away and dropped some of the roofing sheets on the way upon seeing the police.
He said the police managed to retrieve 16 roofing sheets which are currently at Kanyama Police Post.
Mr. Zyambo explained that he travelled from Livingstone to Lusaka on Thursday only to receive a report that the cadres had now razed down his house completely.
He appealed to the PF leadership to stop the cadres from terrorizing citizens in the country saying they were tarnishing the image of the ruling party.
And PF Lusaka Province Chairperson Geoffrey Chuumbwe warned that the ruling party will not shield anyone involved in criminal activities.
Mr. Chuumbwe cautioned cadres against engaging in criminal acts.
He called on PF members who may be involved in such illegal acts to stop forthwith adding that the party will not hesitate to hand over to the police anyone found breaking the law.
He also advised victims of land grabbing to report to his office so that necessary measures can be taken to address the situation.
Government will swiftly act towards the realisation of the Freedom of Information bill.
And government has expressed confidence that Zambia will implement the digital migration before the regional and international deadlines.
Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Kennedy Sakeni, who is also Chief Government Spokesperson, said tremendous progress has already been made towards actualising the Freedom of Information bill.
Mr. Sakeni disclosed that the Attorney General has finished studying the proposed Access to Information bill and that the bill will now be submitted to Cabinet and to members of the public before it is finally submitted to parliament for enactment.
He was speaking at an interactive media cocktail that was organised by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services in Lusaka last night.
Mr. Sakeni said government, under the leadership of President Michael Sata, has decontrolled and deregulated the media so that they operate freely and professionally in carrying out their mandate of informing, educating and entertaining the public.
He said the controls that characterized the media under the previous regime were now a thing of the past.
And on digital migration, Mr. Sakeni said his ministry was confident of migrating in line with both the regional and international deadlines.
A total of K25 billion has been set aside in the 2013 national budget for the implementation of digital migration.
Meanwhile, Mr. Sakeni said considerable progress also has being made towards the establishment of provincial television studios in order to give the rural masses a voice in the governance and development of the country.
He commended the provincial television committee chaired by former Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) Director General Duncan Mbazima for the speed and seriousness it has employed in implementing the provincial television projects.
Mr. Sakeni noted with happiness that the committee has already visited all the ten provinces of the country to identify land and other facilities for the construction of the television studios.
An initial K22 billion was set aside in the 2013 national budget for the construction of provincial television studios which is set to commence next year.
Mr. Sakeni stressed that under the Patriotic Front (PF) government, press freedom was non-negotiable and non-reversible adding that government will not stop the media from reporting the truth.
He also assured the nation that government remains unflinchingly committed to transforming the country into a prosperous and better place to live in.
He said the landmark successes the country has scored in sports and other sectors were testimony of more and better things to come under the leadership of President Sata.
Speaking earlier, Information and Broadcasting Permanent Secretary Amos Malupenga urged the media to work closely with government in promoting a professional media fraternity in the country.
Mr. Malupenga also stressed that his ministry has scored major milestones in the development of the media industry in the country.
