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Development Aid from People to People (DAPP) Zambia Managing Director, Rene Schultz has died.
Mr. Schulz, 60, of Northrise in Ndola died in a road traffic accident at Mafwasa area along Great North Road in Kapiri Mposhi last night.
Central Province Commissioner of Police Dr. Solomon Jere confirmed to ZANIS today that the accident happened around 20:30 hours when Mr. Shultz who was heading to Lusaka tried to overtake a truck.
Dr. Jere said upon seeing an on-coming vehicle, Mr. Shultz withdrew from overtaking the truck but ended up crashing into the truck’s trailer.
He said Mr. Shultz who was alone in the vehicle died on the spot and that his vehicle Toyota Land cruiser Prado registration number ABT 9905 was extensively damaged in an accident.
The body of Mr. Shultz is lying in Kapiri Mposhi District Hospital.
The government has resurrected Dr Kenneth Kaunda’s 1971 Zambianisation program that aims to put locals in management positions.
The Zambianisation Committee is lead by Deputy Minister of Labour Rayford Mbulu, who this morning visited Airtel, the biggest telecommunications company in the country, to inquire on the number of expatriates it has employed.
Mr Mbulu told the Airtel Managing Director Fayaz King that the Patriotic Front Government wanted to see Zambians in “decent employment” adding that it was going to focus on citizen’s empowerment and was not going to accept cheap expatriate labour.
“We are only going to accept expatriates with very rare skills that cannot be locally obtained,” Mr. Mbulu said. “Even then, they should be understudies to transfer those rare skills to locals so that those people can quickly handover to locals. That skills transfer will build capacity and will make Zambians excel.”
He then asked Airtel to submit how many employees it had, what skills existed at the company that were not locally possessed, the number of expatriates and the expected length of stay and at what point they were going to hand over their positions to Zambians.
In response, King disclosed that Airtel currently employed 393 locals with just four expatriate managers.
Mr King said Zambia was among the top four important investments in Africa which called for the best skills locally and across the continent.
He said it was the policy of Airtel to let its African operations run by Africans but not necessarily Zambians.
Mr King disclosed that a couple of Zambians were working in other parts of Africa and that it was important that the country also accepted staff from those countries.
He also disclosed that the biggest challenge the telecom had was staff retention as rival companies tended to poach skilled labour after the company trained them and sent them abroad for work experience.
“When our staff comes back from training or from working in our international operations, they attract a premium and the opposition gets them,” he said. “We are trying to fill all available positions with locals, that is in line with our policies. Our brand is unique and requires a lot of training, they are no short cuts. Unfortunately, after that training, we begin to compete with the international job market. In some instances, where you pay an engineer US$3000, they are offered US$12, 000 which makes it difficult to retain them.”
File:Western Province Permanent Secretary Seth Muleya walking at the damaged bridge in Kalabo during his familiarization tour in Kalabo
Government has assured the people of Western Province that the Patriotic Front (PF) government will ensure that the province receives its fair share of national development.
Government has commissioned the long awaited K 2 billion Mayukwakwa Bailey Bridge across Luena River in Kaoma district that was washed away during flash floods caused by last season’s rains.
Western Province Minister Nathaniel Mubukwanu said the Government will ensure that the province benefit from its pro poor policies which are aimed at bettering the welfare of Zambians.
ZANIS reports that Mr. Mubukwanu who is also PF Mongu Central Member of Parliament was speaking in Mongu yesterday during commissioning of the Mayukwakwa Bailey Bridge constructed by a combined team of Zambia Army and Zambia National Service.
He explained that developmental challenges in the province are not insurmountable saying the PF government is currently implementing programmes that will have a direct impact on enhancing the social and economic status of the people.
Mr. Mubukwanu further explained that the 2012 National Budget is testimony of Government’s resolve to tackle poverty in the country and making Zambia a better place for all regardless of their status.
And Mr Mubukwanu said the construction of a bailey bridge on the Mayukwayukwa U4 road brings to an end perennial cutting off of the area from the rest of the province during rainy season.
He said the bridge will also ease transportation of people and agricultural produce to the market and access to social services in the district.
Mr. Mubukwanu has since directed Kaoma District Commissioner to ensure that the bridge is secured at all times by inhibiting vehicles with load exceeding 15 tonnes from using the facility.
Earlier, the District Commissioner Frederick Lubasi commended the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) for contracting the defence force to work on the bridge.
Mr. Lubasi said the bridge plays an important role in the district’s social and economic development and also connects Mayukwayukwa Refugee Camp to the rest of the province.
[ZANIS]
Company Chief HR Officer Eve Banda flanked by Corporate Communications Manager Kennedy Mambwe
Zamtel, Zambia’s only total communications solutions provider has today opened a customer service outlet at the new Levy Business Park.
Unveiling the outlet this morning, company Chief Human Resources and Administration Officer Eve Banda said the company spent $120, 000 on the centre.
“The Zamtel outlet at this multi-million dollar facility is strategic to both the business and customers as it is uniquely housing a desk dedicated to SME and Corporate/Enterprise customers for on-the-spot business solutions.
A unique feature about Zamtel is our focus towards providing a unified customer service excellence across all touch points in the country” said Ms. Banda.
Earlier in the year, Zamtel embarked on a journey to improve its ability to deliver accessibility and affordability to customers through renovated world-class service points.
The Levy Business Park outlet becomes the latest on the list of revamped customer centres after Manda Hill, Cairo Road, Crossroads Shopping Mall, Lumumba Road, and Livingstone’s Falls Park Mall.
“Refurbishment works have also started at the Ridgeway customer centre in Lusaka and next we are moving to Chipata and Kitwe. Purposefully, the Zamtel outlets are steeped in innovation as true one stop shop Centres where customers can pay bills, buy sim packs, scratch cards, latest handsets, and browse the internet set up for their business and personal pleasure’, she said.
The company has invested in state of the art technology and friendly staff to ensure the customers gets the best service.
FIRST Lady Christine Kaseba has said it is devastating and unbelievable to hear of some people burying huge sums of money in the ground while many Zambians wallow in poverty.
The first lady said there were a lot of people struggling for meals and paying school fees and yet others were buried their money instead of assisting those in need and to help alleviate poverty in the country.
Speaking when she received a donation of 1,000 assorted blankets from former MMD deputy health minister Chilufya Kazenene at State House yesterday, Dr Kaseba said there were many wealth people in society, who did not bother to spare part of their wealth to make a difference in the lives of those who were destitute. “Please stop burying money and donate to those who struggle to find food and to pay school fees etc,” she said.
She commended Mr Kazenene and his family for thinking about the needy in society even after having left public office, saying leadership was not only about being a minister or government official but playing a role in society and making a difference. The first lady said the gesture demonstrated the Christian expectation of giving to the poor.
“I urge all those who are privileged in one way or another to think of that little girl struggling to raise school fees for her education, to think about that old lady who is not sure where the next meal will come from to feed her orphaned grandchildren and many others who are in a state of deprivation through no fault of their making at all,” Dr Kaseba said.
Dr Kaseba said the culture of community services was a way of giving back to society and should be encouraged so that people’s lives could be touched and hope restored to the helpless and poor. She pledged to use her skills to support community health needs especially for women and children who bore the biggest brunt in shouldering the various social – economic challenges.
And Mr Kazenene said his family found it helpful to donate to the office of the First Lady because they were sure that as a ‘mother’ of the nation, she needed such donations. Mr Kazenene said the president and his family needed support from the private sector if they were to deliver to the nation and called on other people to ensure that they supported the first family in order for it to deliver.
[Times of Zambia]
POLICE in Luanshya have now settled for a charge of defilement for the four Chinese nationals involved in alleged sexual abuse of nine girls.
Copperbelt deputy police chief, Milner Muyambango said on Monday that the four had already appeared in court charged with defilement. He said the number of girls who were allegedly defiled had reduced to seven from the initial nine because police had no evidence that two of them were sexually abused.
The four Chinese would appear in court again on December 1.
Meanwhile, the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) and Zambia National Women’s Lobby Group have condemned the alleged defilement of seven children by some Chinese nationals on the Copperbelt.
The two organisations have called on law enforcement agencies to investigate the matter so that the perpetrators could be punished. YWCA Copperbelt regional coordinator, Jurita Mutale said it was saddening that such acts were happening at a time when Zambia was commemorating the 16 days of gender activism.
Ms Mutale said yesterday that the law should take its course against the suspects
if investigations proved that they defiled the minors. She appealed to the Government and other interest groups to work together in combating crimes against children.
And Zambia Women’s Lobby Group national coordinator for the men and boys’ network, Nelson Banda called on law enforcement agencies to make sure the suspects were punished for the offences. Mr Banda said it was unacceptable for anyone to take advantage of children and violate their rights.
He said whether the children had consented to the sexual acts or not, it was not right for anyone to abuse them. Mr Banda, who thanked the police for moving in quickly, said it was criminal for the suspects to sexually abuse children in exchange for money.
Last weekend, police on the Copperbelt detained four Chinese nationals in Luanshya for allegedly defiling seven girls aged between 13 and 15 years. The suspects were alleged to have been giving the children money in exchange for sex.
THE Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) is exploring ways through which it could tax the K2.1 billion investigative wings say they discovered at former Labour Minister, Austin Liato’s farm, last week.
ZRA Commissioner-General, Berlin Msiska, said in a statement yesterday that taxation did not consider whether income was from a legitimate source, such as a business, or not, but focused on the fact that
income had been received by a person.
Mr. Msiska said that ZRA was, in this regard, interested in the various cases being investigated by the security wings such as “the case where money to the sum of K2.1 billion was discovered by investigative authorities.”
Mr Msiska said what was material was the fact that the income had been paid to, given or accrued to the person. He said this also applied to income that was, in any way, disposed of in accordance with a person’s order or in a person’s favour.
“We are mindful that tax avoidance and tax evasion culminate in several hindrances. Tax equity is not attained and invariably complying taxpayers have to pay taxes for those who are non-compliant. The Government is also deprived of the much needed resources that are required for developmental programmes,” he said.
Mr Msiska said ZRA would therefore work, at all times, within its mandate, with the security wings of the Government to ensure accountability regarding the payment of the correct taxes.
And Police say we have warned and cautioned him over K2.1bn. “We have enough reasons to arrest him, we will but for now we have warned and cautioned Mr Liato,” said Elizabeth Kanjela, police assistant commissioner after Austin Liato ended a more than 48 hour hide and seek game and handed himself to authorities. Mr Liato will remain in state custody until he appears in court.
Mr Liato arrived at the former task force offices at 15:00 hours yesterday in a white Land Cruiser VX registration No. ABX 5232 (tinted glasses) driven by his younger brother Steven with others who include former Western Province deputy minister Joseph Mulyata. He was dressed in a short sleeved blue and white shirt and looked calm. It was business as usual.
About 17:00 hours, he was driven in a police Nissan Hard Body van to his other house in Kalundu – not the location of the K2.1 billion – where another search was conducted from 17:40 hours up to 19:40 hours.
Mr Liato was then driven to Woodlands police station where he must have spent the night according to detention orders.
When asked to comment and Mr Liato said “I have no comment” in the presence of his lawyers from Mutemwa Chamber and Nelly Mutti from Lukona Chambers, both up-market firms of high repute and cost.
Investigators did not say what the “procedural” check found at his Kalundu house. Ms Kanjela from police, however, said – in addition to what the Inspector-General Martin Malama said – “police will continue with their investigations.”
Earlier, police questioned a woman from Kaoma, believed to be Mr Liato’s acquaintance but they did not explain the relationship. The woman arrived at the former task force offices around 09:00 hours and left four hours later.
She could have communicated frequently with the ‘K2 billion man’ from the time the money was discovered but police are not speaking.
Former permanent secretary Peter Mumba was also questioned by a combined team of law enforcement officers. Mr Mumba arrived at 11:00 hours and left at 12:40 hours for ‘talks’.
He said he had been requested to come to the former task force offices by law enforcement officers and was happy with the manner the discussions were held.
PARLIAMENT has unanimously ratified the appointment of Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Chalwe Mchenga as High Court Judge.
Other appointees ratified for the same position are solicitor-general Mubanga Kondolo, his predecessor Dominic Sichinga, and Mrs Nicola Ann Sharpe-Phiri.
Mr Mchenga has been the victim of severe public criticism from the time he refused to appeal the acquittal of former President Frederick Chiluba in 2009, but recently President Sata said he does not support character assassination of individuals who cannot defend themselves like the DPP.
The Parliamentary Select Committee appointed to scrutinise the quartet’s appointment unanimously recommended Mr Mchenga after establishing that allegations of compromise levelled against him were not based on substantial evidence but public opinion.
Moving the motion for the House to adopt the Committee’s report yesterday, chairperson Jack Mwiimbu said: “The Committee is thus unanimous in its resolution that in the absence of substantial evidence to prove the allegations against the nominee (Mr Mchenga), he was unfairly judged and that in the interest of natural rules of justice and human rights, the Committee will not hold allegations against the nominee.
“The Committee, therefore, after due and thorough evaluation of written and oral evidence presented to it by the witnesses and the interviews with the nominees, is of the view that all the four nominees are qualified and competent to serve as Puisne Judges.”
He said all witnesses that were invited to help in the scrutiny of the nominees unreservedly supported Mr Kondolo, Mr Sichinga and Mrs Phiri but Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) and the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) opposed the appointment of Mr Mchenga on grounds that he was compromised by the executive when he refused to appeal Dr Chiluba’s acquittal.
LAZ, through its honorary secretary Paulman Chungu, based this stance on the fact that Mr Mchenga refused to respond to it when the association wrote to him asking for his explanation on the matter; and that some ministers in the Rupiah Banda administration publicly declared that government would not appeal against the judgment.
“Thus, when the nominee did not respond to LAZ’s letter, the latter was compelled to believe that the nominee may have been compromised,” the committee’s report reads in part.
Mr Mwiimbu said the Committee observed that witnesses who did not support Mr Mchenga’s appointment based their decisions on public perception without any substantial evidence to prove the allegation.
He said further, when Mr Mchenga appeared before the Select Committee he executed himself well in his explanation to exculpate himself from the allegation that he had been compromised in the Chiluba case.
“The Committee further observes that the nominee was forthright in his answers to the questions posed to him. The Committee is satisfied that Mr Mchenga, State Counsel, acted within confines of the law.
“Further, unless where the exercise of the DPP’s powers involves public policy, in which case the DPP has to consult the Attorney General, the Committee observes that in accordance with Article 56(7) of the Constitution of Zambia, Chapter 1 of the Laws of Zambia, the exercise of the DPP’s powers is not subject to the direction or control of any person or authority, and this includes public opinion,” Mr Mwiimbu, who is also Monze Central MP (UPND), said.
Contributing to debate, Roan MP Chishimba Kambwili (PF) urged the newly-appointed judges to help in speeding up dispensation of justice, saying it is unfair for inmates awaiting trial to spend many years in prison.
And Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini curtailed Minister of Justice Sebastian Zulu’s debate when he attempted to delve into details of the Chiluba case instead of concentrating on the motion on the floor of the House.
Meanwhile, Parliament yesterday heard that over K10 billion was spent on the printing of ballot papers for the September 20 tripartite elections in Durban, South Africa.
Deputy Minister in the Vice President’s Office Edgar Lungu told the House that apart from that expense, K1.2 billion was spent on the up-keep of representatives of different political parties and organisations that witnessed printing of the ballots while K225 million was spent on airlifting the ballots from South Africa to Zambia.
Mr Lungu was responding to a question posed by Chilubi MP Obious Chisala (PF).
And Vice President Guy Scott said printing ballot papers locally is the only way to reduce such huge costs incurred when the exercise is done outside the country.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
Chibo joins forces with Dandy Krazy to make a video for the song “Kamba Naine” . It is an energetic song that will surely get you on your feet dancing. Dandy Krazy assists on the chorus and bridge of the song with his unmistakable voice.
This music video will be good for both artists as it will open both of them up to new fan bases , and help them to spread their music world wide.
Fordson Kabole has complained that someone has stolen his thunder at Power Dynamos this season.
Last month Lusaka Times Sports carried a story quoting sources on the status of who was duly the secret to Power success in the 2011 season.
On Tuesday, Fordson Kabole revealed all.
We had reported that Kabole and not Beston Chambeshi has been in charge since April but the report was dismissed as mare uninformed speculation.
However, Kabole who rarely gives long interviews confirmed that he was the architect of Power’s success this season.
“This team has been coached by me since April. OK, you know what happened at the beginning of the season there were some sort of riots so that when we decided that now I take over coach,” the soft spoken Kabole said.
At that point, Chambeshi had collect just 8 points from six games in charge at the start of the season.
“Though I do not go on the bench I sent the young man (Beston) on the bench. There is no change in anything. In training I am the one who has been coaching the team since April,” the media shy coach said.
Asked how he would feel if the 2011 coach of the year award was handed to Chambeshi on face value, Kabole said: “If you say he is the coach of the year it is up to you.
“If I sit on the bench what he is going to do? I have kept him on the bench.
“He is a senior coach to whom is he going to offer assistance because am a senior coach and he is a senior coach so how does a senior coach assist another senior coach?”
This weekend, Power face Konkola Blades in the final of the Barclays Cup at Arthur Davies Stadium seeking a league and Cup double.
Meanwhile, Kabole insists that he has no hard feelings against Chambeshi under the circumstances.
However, between Tuesdays revealations and Saturdays final, the plot simmers before boiling on December 3 when the divided house of Yellow and Red troop into Arthur Davies.
File : A police officers ushers Former spy chief Xavier Chungu after he was jailed for forgery. However, Mr Chungu did not go to jail because he has served the nine months sentence from the time of arrest (File Picture)
Former intelligence Chief, Xavier Chungu has asked the Lusaka magistrate court to discharge him and withdraw 168 counts of theft and abuse of authority slapped on him.
Mr. Chungu through his lawyer, Martin Musaluke made an application noting that he has been attending court for more than three years without taking plea.
He says his client’s continued appearing in court for mere mentions has brought him injustice and is in contravention of the provisions of article 18 sub-article 1 of the constitution of Zambia which provides that anyone charged with a criminal offense must be accorded a fair trial within a reasonable time.
Mr. Musaluke says spending three years without taking plea is surely not reasonable.
He says if the state is not ready to prosecute Mr. Chungu the magistrate court has powers under the criminal procedure code to discharge him.
Mr. Musaluke says this will not be an acquittal but that once the state is ready for trial they can re arrest him.
But state prosecutor James Mataliro has objected to the application charging that the state is ready to proceed with trial but that the case had stood following an application filed in the high court by Mr. Chungu and others questioning the mandate and legality of the taskforce on corruption.
He has since asked the court to dismiss the application charging that it lacks merit.
But Lusaka chief resident magistrate Joshua Banda has reserved ruling on the application to December 14 2011.
Austin Liato, the man behind the two billion Kwacha cash unearthed at his farm in Mwembeshi, has finally reported to the police to answer questions over the matter.
The former labour minister appeared in public for the first time since the 2 billion kwacha story broke on Friday last week.
Police and other investigative wings have been waiting for Mr Liato to appear before them to answer queries over the money .
Mr. Liato appeared before the interrogators at the former Task Force on Corruption premises in Lusaka at 15:00 hours on Tuesday.
Mr. Liato kept police officers waiting from 10 hours until 15:00 hours when he showed up.
He was welcomed at the former Task Force on Corruption premises by his lawyer Nelly Muti .
Mr. Liato was accompanied by his relatives and former defense Deputy Minister Joseph Mulyata.
Mr. Liato who looked calm and collected was interrogated for over two hours.
When asked for a comment on the two point one billion kwacha found at his farmer, Mr. LIATO remained
mute.
And fresh reports are saying that Mr Austin Liato has been detained by police at Lusaka’s Woodlands police station.
Police service spokesperson, Elizabeth Kanjela, confirmed that Mr. Liato is yet to be charged. Ms. Kanjela further disclosed that investigations are still on going.
Lawyers representing Mr. Liato have declined to comment on the matter, saying it is too early.
Mr. Liato was detained at exactly 20:00 hrs, after a conducted search by lay enforcement agencies at his Kalundu residence for close to three hours.
Dario Bonetti says it is unfair for Faz of blaming him for Zambia’s slump.
Bonetti told LT Sports today that Faz was trying to destroy his image.
Last week, Faz communications officer Erick Mwanza said Herve Renard was correct in saying that the teams fitness levels were not at competitive enough for the 2012 Africa Cup tournament.
“It’s very clear that Faz’s attack on me to try to put me in a negative image,” Bonetti said.
“The Faz strategy is very poor and ridicule.
“The old and new government know all the people know the truth. I still have the Zambia people to heart.”
Bonetti won 8, drew 3 and lost 4 matches in charge during his one-year and four months reign.
“They (Faz) talk only for the sake of talking,” the Italian said.
“In football the results are important. The results during my period has been better my year in charge.”
