THE ruling Patriotic Front (PF) says the victory in the two Parliamentary by-elections held this week is a clear indication that the Zambian people have started appreciating the policies of the PF administration.

The PF has also challenged the MMD/UPND pact to explain how they won the Chongwe parliamentary seat in the September Presidential and General elections following the heavy defeat they suffered in Monday’s by-election.

Commenting on the PF’s victory in Chongwe and Nakonde, party chairperson for local government and housing, Given Lubinda, said the triumph was a testimony that Zambians appreciated policies of the new Government.

He said in an interview yesterday that the two Parliamentary seats previously held by the MMD party were easily scooped by the PF due to the confidence that the electorates had in President Michael Sata’s leadership.

The victory by the PF in the two by-elections brings the total number of elected members of Parliament to 62. The PF also has an additional eight nominated MPs.

Mr Lubinda, who is Information, Broadcasting and Tourism minister, said Chongwe and Nakonde residents wanted to benefit from various development policies the PF Government was implementing, hence they decided to elect PF MPs.

“As PF, the victory in these two constituencies which were held by MMD is a clear indication that the ruling party is now growing from strength to strength.

“This victory means PF is on the move and Zambians are appreciating policies that this new Government is putting in place, hence people in those constituencies, this time, around decided to vote for PF,” he said.

The Chongwe parliamentary seat was scooped by Sylvia Masebo while the Nakonde seat went to PF’s Abel Sichula.

The Magoye seat was scooped by the UPND candidate Oliver Mulomba.

Mr Lubinda said Zambians elected the PF Government because they knew President Sata was a capable leader to transform and uplift their livelihood after suffering for many years.

“Zambians are happy with the 2012 National Budget because it aims to put more money into their pockets. This is why they also decided to elect new PF MPs to take development to their areas,” he said.

And in a separate interview, PF national chairperson Inonge Wina said the MMD should learn a lesson that the use of underhand methods to win elections was bad for a democracy and should refrain from such actions.

[Times of Zambia]

The commission of inquiry into the Mongu riots of January 14, this year on Thursday morning took former vice president George Kunda to task over what role the former government played in the riots.

The commission wanted Mr. Kunda to explain why the former government allowed the police to use live ammunition.

However, Mr. Kunda opted to submit before the Roger Chongwe commission a statement he presented to parliament on February, 25 on the Mongu riots.

The former vice president then refused to respond to other questions referring to the statement he issued in parliament.

At some point tempers rose as Mr. Kunda accused some commissioners of having taken a position on the matter.

Former home affairs minister Mkondo Lungu says the action taken in Mongu which led to the shooting of two people and over one hundred arrested was taken as a result of the reports received from the security wings.

[ZNBC]

Four Chinese nationals arrested in Luanshya last week and charged with defiling Zambian girls, have been denied bail.

Magistrate Chitundu Kalungu says the accused are free to apply for bail at the High Court pending trial set on December 5.

A defence lawyer from Nkana Chambers applied for bail on behalf his clients submitted that the accused persons are of fixed abode and granting them bail will not in any way prejudice the prosecution.

The lawyer says in the bail application that his clients are willing to abide by all the conditions which the court has put in place.

Last week nine under-age girls alleged that they were sexually abused by the four Chinese in exchange for money.

The accused appeared in court on Monday this week, charged with defilement.

Copperbelt Deputy Police Commissioner Milner Muyambango says the number of girls who were allegedly defiled has reduced to seven from the initial nine.

Mr. Muyambango has explained that the police have no evidence that the other two girls were sexually abused.

[ZNBC]

Sympathizers of former Labour Minister Austin Liato brutally descended on journalists at the Lusaka Magistrate Court on Thursday.

The assailants who were in the company of suspected MMD cadres led the onslaught on journalist after Mr Liato appeared for plea.

Meanwhile Mr. Liato has pleaded not guilty to the charge of receiving stolen property.

This is after Mr Liato took plea before Chief Resident Magistrate Joshua Banda.

Particulars of the offense are that Mr Liato between September, 1 and November, 24 allegedly received 2.1 billion Kwacha knowing it was feloniously obtained.

He has however been granted 50 Million Kwacha cash bail with two working sureties in their own recognisance.

Mr Liato has also been ordered to surrender his passport to the court as part of the bail conditions.

Magistrate Banda granted Mr Liato bail following an applications by defence lawyer, Nelly Mutti.

Ms Mutti contended that Mr Liato’s charge was bailable and that he was of fixed abode.

Mr Liato is remanded in custody until he fulfills the bail conditions.

[ZNBC]

For the movie, Warrior, Tom Hardy had to get into the shape of his life to play the character of Mixed martial arts fighter Tommy.

Hardy used an unorthadox training method to bulk up fast. his trainer said “Throughout the day you need to send constant signals to your body, so that it adapts in the direction you point it in. It’s better to do 10 press ups every hour than 100 in a single burst. If you do things often enough, your body adapts for the task you set it, and you evolve.”

These exercises four times a day – when you wake up, at lunchtime, when you get home from work/school and before bed. It should only take about 20 minutes, but don’t rush. Use light weights and move slowly through the exercises, concentrating on perfect form. Start by doing it in the morning and evening, and then gradually add the other sessions in. If you want to pile on muscle as soon as possible, you’re going to have to get used to working out little but often. “Remember,there are no shortcuts.”

THE WORKOUT

The circuit

Perform these 3 exercises back-to-back

sets of 10 reps, then 7 reps, then 5 reps, then 3 reps, each with no recovery time between each movement

Press-ups

• Perform the first set with your hands shoulder-width apart.
• For the next set, do it with your forefingers and thumbs forming a ‘diamond’ shape below your chest.
• For the third set, have your hands wider than shoulder-width apart.
• And for the final set, ball your fists and rest on your knuckles.

 

Shoulder flies

• Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, holding a  dumb bell in each hand, palms forward.
• Raise your arms through 180 degrees, maintaining your palm position, until your fists meet above your head.
• Lower to the start position.
• To increase difficulty, up the weight or stand on one leg

 

Dips

• Sit on the ground, legs straight in front of you, and grab the seat of a chair with your hands behind you (fingers pointing towards your body).
• Keep your back straight and push down on the chair to raise your backside off the floor until your arms are extended.
• Lower yourself until you are almost touching the floor. That’s one rep

 

The Bridge

• Gain back flexibility, a powerful neck and massive core strength. Only move on to the next level when you are confident of your strength, or you risk a neck injury.
• Stage 1
• 
  
• Lie on a mat, with your feet on the ground, knees bent.
• Lift your hips off the mat.
• As you do this bring your hands to your ears, palms on the floor, fingers pointing to your feet.
• Do 10 reps, then 7 reps (counting 1 at the top), then 5 reps (counting to 3 at the top), then 3 reps (counting to 5 at the top).

 

 

Stage 2

• Push to the extended position from stage 1.
• Press through your hands, lift your shoulders off and allow your head to tilt back so the top of it rests on the floor.
• Push from your heels onto your toes.
• ALL your weight should go through your toes and hands, NOT your head.
• Follow the rep count as before.

Stage 3

• As your flexibility increases, rest 90% of your body-weight on your hands, and allow your head to carry 10%.
• Slowly increase this session by session until you can carry more weight on your head than your hands.
• Rep count as before. Warning: do not rush or you risk damaging your neck.

Stage 4

• When you are able to carry all your bodyweight through your head, raise into the bridge position without using your hands for support.
•  Keep them close to the side of your head in case they are needed for stability, and perform the same set/ rep count as before

Stage 5

To be performed ONLY when stage 4 is easy.

• Assume the extended bridge from stage 3, holding a light barbell across your chest, or a 2kg dumbbell in each hand. Perform 5 bench-press movements (or 5 chest flies with the dumb-bells).
• As it gets easier, increase the weight

Abdominal workout

This develops core strength and the size and power of your abs from the top to the bottom. Again, start with stage one and increase the difficulty as you get stronger.

Stage 1

• Lie on a mat, with your legs together, hands clasped behind your head.
• Lift your head and shoulders and hold.
• Then, tighten your abs and lift your legs.
• Lower to the start position.
• Do sets of 10 reps, then 7, then 5, then 3

Stage 2

• Perform the movement from stage 1, then, at the top of the position, bend your knees and pull them in to touch your elbows.
• Then straighten your legs and lower back to the starting position, flat on the mat. Do set/reps as before.

 

Stage 3

• Perform the movement from stage 1, then, at the top, pull your knees in to touch your elbows – but, don’t bend your legs.
• Much harder, right? Move your legs back to the start, then lower everything back to the mat. Do sets/reps as before.

Stage 4

• Take an 8kg kettlebell and push the tip of your left shoe through the handle.
• Wrap your right foot around to hold it in place, then perform the movement from stage 1 with the kettlebell weighing your legs down. Do sets/reps as before.

BY KAPA187

 

Community Development, Mother and Child Heath deputy minister Jean Kapata has said women parliamentarians will lobby Government to make all cases of violence and defilement against women and girls non bailable.

Ms Kapata said the women Parliamentarians would table a private member’s bill in parliament to compel Government to make all cases of violence against women and girls to be non bailable.

Ms Kapata was speaking when she and other officials from her ministry donated assorted cleaning items to Kalingalinga Health Centre and also cleaned Female wards at the Health Center to commemorate 16 days of gender activism. “People that engage in cases such as defilement with young girls are a menace to the public and should not be allowed back in the community but locked up,” she said.

She said the Patriotic Front (PF) Government has intensified its progammes to empower women in income generating activities, agricultural input and financial literacy programmes. “It is believed that with this assistance women can be self sustaining and reduce on unnecessary conflict in a home over the usually limited resources thereby creating an environment of peace in a home,” he said

She said her ministry attaches great importance to the role that women and mothers play in creating a peaceful environment. Ms Kapata urged the community to ensure that violence against women and children was discouraged as it compromises their health and affect their potential to contribute more effectively in homes and the community.

She said the visit to Kalingalinga Health Centre was aimed at demonstrating solidarity for women and the importance of supporting good health in women as opposed to violence which in most cases compromised the health of women and children and hindered peace.

And the ministry permanent secretary Elwyne Chomba said to alleviate challenges that led to violence, there was need for both men and women to live in harmony and solve problems and obstacles in a peaceful and non-violent manner.

[Times of Zambia]

FINANCE Minister Alexander Chikwanda has reiterated that it would be unwise for the Patriotic Front (PF) Government to reintroduce the windfall tax when metal prices on the international market are unstable and visibly trending downwards.

And Parliament last evening approved the K48 billion allocated in this year’s Budget to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) with Kalomo Member of Parliament (MP) Request Muntanga (UPND) urging the House to increase the K2 billion reserved for by-elections.

Concluding the policy debate on the estimates of expenditure for 2012 in Parliament on Tuesday evening, Mr Chikwanda expressed disappointment that former MMD ministers that abolished the windfall tax were now championing its re-introduction.

He told the House that the PF Government was very responsible, dignified and had the full mandate of the people of Zambia and as such would not play to the gallery and act impulsively just because someone was advocating the re- introduction of windfall tax.

The minister said it was extremely important to understand that the measures he had announced in the 2012 Budget address would ensure that the Government got some revenues while the “cow that produces the milk” was left to survive. “It would, therefore, be unwise for the Government to introduce windfall tax when metal prices are unstable and are now visibly trending downwards.

“It is for this reason that I am disappointed by our colleagues who were in Government yesterday and abolished the windfall tax; but are now calling for its re-introduction. Are they really being genuine, constructive and patriotic?,” he wondered. He said the former MMD leaders were not being objective in their debates on windfall tax and were being unpatriotic because their debates were not bordering on stability of investment, ensuring workers security of tenure and facilitating sustainable mobilisation of resources.

“Mr Speaker, allow me to talk about our extremely limited fiscal space or the resource envelop. Against overwhelming legitimate demands by our people all over the country, a Budget of K27 trillion or US $5.5 billion is just a tiny drop in the ocean.

“In the developed countries, our National Budget cannot even cover the annual expenditures of single big universities. Our economy was left by the previous Government at an exceedingly low ebb. The shanty compounds in which the majority of our citizens in urban habitats live have inadequate necessities such as water, sanitation and electricity,” he stressed.

He told the House that Zambian villages in far flung areas had barely seen any development and were even condemned to perpetual neglect and abandonment with rural poverty at over 77%.

“In the midst of all this, the previous Government maintained a budget that was largely targeting consumption in the public service at the expense of poverty reduction and infrastructure development nationwide. This sums up the immensity of the challenge we face collectively as leaders,” he said.

Mr Chikwanda however, hailed the support the Budget received but regretted that most brilliant ideas could not be embodied in the 2012 estimates. The Government would, however, consider the ideas in subsequent fiscal years.

On concerns raised on PAYE, the minister noted that the figure of about 80,000 which he discussed in his speech related to workers who earn between K12 million and K24 million per year and would, therefore, not be liable to PAYE.

“This figure is also in addition to about 112,000 workers who are already not paying PAYE because they earn K12 million per year or less. This means that if you add 80, 000 employees to the already existing 112, 000 employees who are off the PAYE tax roll, then more than 192, 000 workers who are in formal employment will be off the PAYE tax roll,” he said.

He explained that the balance of 500,000 formal sector employees who are in higher income brackets would also benefit because they would actually not be subjected to PAYE for up to the first K24 million of their total annual earnings.

“The way the tax bands have been realigned will entail more benefit for tax payers. This is true empowerment and more money in the pocket of our citizens.

Mr Speaker, the explanation above has demonstrated how our tax package concessions will yield K1 trillion extra disposable income for all workers that earn taxable incomes,” he noted. The minister noted that he would see how he could address concerns on calls to increase Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

Mr Muntanga in supporting the Budget allocation for the ECZ told the House that the K2 billion reserved for possible by-elections was not enough owing to the more than 50 petitions before the courts of law which could result into a mini-general elections if nullifications occurred.
[Times of Zambia]