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File:Street vendors selling their wares outside Shoprite Suppermarket
Inflation in Zambia fell to 8.1 percent in November from 8.7 percent in October due mainly to a reduction in fuel prices introduced by new President Michael Sata, its statistics agency said on Thursday.
A poll of 10 analysts surveyed by Reuters this week said inflation in Africa’s biggest copper producer should average 9 percent in 2011, before slowing to an average of 7.9 percent in 2012.
Chibamba Kanyama, a member of the Economic Association of Zambia, said inflation was likely to remain stable in the next few months despite an expected increase in consumption in the final month of the year.
“End-year festive demand will have a slight impact but food prices will remain stable owing to a reduction in maize prices,” Kanyama said.
Sata’s administration, which came to power at the end of September, unveiled an expansive pro-poor budget earlier this month, although there was no relaxation in monetary policy that has largely kept a lid on prices for the several year.
The Central Statistics Offices also said Zambia recorded a trade surplus of 187.5 billion Zambian kwacha ($37 million) in October, from 1,179 billion in September. ($1 = 5,105 Zambian kwacha)
Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (R) meets with former Zambian President Kenneth David Kaunda in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 24, 2011. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)
Kenneth David Kaunda, Zambia’s first president, arrived at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People to meet with Vice President Xi Jinping Thursday.
“I come on an important mission from my president,” Kaunda said to Xi, who hailed the 87-year-old politician as a “founder of friendship” between China and Zambia.
“You came to China despite the long journey as a messenger of friendship, for which I have great admiration,” Xi told Kaunda, who is visiting China as a special envoy of Zambian’s new President Michael Chilufya Sata, who assumed the presidency on Sept. 23 this year.
“Zambia and its new government will continue to promote friendship and cooperation with China,” said Kaunda, who led Zambia’s independence campaign and ruled the African state from 1964 to 1991.
The friendship between Zambia and China has endured the test of time, Kaunda said, recalling his meetings with late Chinese leaders Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai in the 1960s and 1970s.
During those meetings, China agreed to fund and build the 1,800 km-long Zambia-Tanzania railway. Mao’s “Third World” theory, referring to developing countries seeking national independence, also debuted during a 1974 meeting with Kaunda.
“The China-Zambia friendship, established by leaders from an older generation, is all-weather in nature. The railway is a historical milestone for our friendship,” Xi said.
Xi highlighted the mutual support demonstrated by both countries on issues concerning core interests, as well as sound coordination in international affairs and fruitful cooperation in various fields.
China cherishes its friendship with Zambia and will work with the country’s new government to deepen substantial cooperation, Xi said.
Kaunda said he appreciated China’s past support for Zambia in its drive for independence and reminded Xi about Africa’s efforts to help China regain its seat in the UN in 1971.
“Assistance from China and fruitful cooperation have fueled the development of Zambia’s economy and society,” Kaunda said at the end of their hour-long meeting.
The Royal Dutch Airlines KLM will begin operating direct services to Zambia effective May next year.
In a statement made available to MUVI TV news, states that the decision has been prompted by Zambia’s rapidly growing economy and the expanding demand for passenger services to and from the country.
Lusaka becomes KLM’s 72nd international destination.
The route will be serviced using a state-of-the-art Airbus A330-200 aircraft.
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines was founded in 1919, making it the world’s oldest airline operating under its original name.
As the Controversy continues on the prospective reversal of the Zamtel transaction, it has now emerged that the transaction was the second best placed telecommunication deal on the African continent.
In its continued spirited defence of the transaction, the former governing political party, MMD, claims it did a decent job on the Zamtel deal to Lap Green of Libya.
Felix Mutati, Former Commerce and Trade Minister, whose Ministry oversaw the tendering processes has accused the PF government of distortion of facts.
Mr. Mutati says the current government is only focusing on the net and not gross proceeds of the transaction after debt and pensioners were paid.
He said unlike in the past where pensioners were left languishing, the Zamtel deal ensured that former workers were paid their dues on time.
Mr. Mutati says the deal is a model of the best privatization in the country because it followed what is provided for by the law.
Situmbeko Musokotwane, Finance Minister in the previous alleged corrupt administration equally added his voice with an observation that the transaction was in the interest of revamping the broke Zamtel at the time of deal.
Dr. Musokotwe, who is MMD national chairperson for economic affairs, claims there is nothing irregular about the Zamtel transaction.
However, a six member Technical Committee tasked to investigate the sale of Zamtel to Lap Green of Libya has described the whole process and sale as an economic sabotage.
The Technical Committee claims Lap Green fail short of the qualifications that were shortlisted by Zambia Development Agency-ZDA.
Technical Committee Chairperson, Dimple Ranchhod says a lot of information pertaining to the sale of the telecommunication company has been destroyed.
She says her committee has also found that there was a suspense account established to settle the legal fees for Zamtel which was also allegedly paid George Kunda and company for the services which were not provided.
The Committee consisting of six experts in the field of law, procurement, accounts, communications and Valuation has cast down suggestions by some stakeholders that it had a predetermined out as outrageous.
The committee has further questioned why Government acquired twenty-five percent shares when it injected 184 Million US Dollars of the total 257 Million Dollars as the numbers do not tally.
Zambia held its first full day of training on Thursday after arriving in India early on Wednesday morning.
Herve Renard’s team is in India on a 7 day training camp where they will play two warm-up games on Saturday and Tuesday.
Team manager Stan Kaseko said from Goa that the team was in good health.
“We started from there on Tuesday and arrived in Goa on Wednesday at 05:00 in the morning,” Kaseko said.
He said the team got down to the business of training late on Wednesday after resting.
Kaseko said the team of Thursday held a full days training on Thursday and the routine will continue on Friday.
On Saturday, Zambia will play Goa-select in an 11:30 Zambian time kickoff before taking on India on Tuesday at the same venue.
Meanwhile the team traveled to India without Konkola Blades midfielder Thomas Nyirenda who suffered an injury two weeks ago while preparing for the Nigeria friendly.
Nyirenda was replaced by defender Oswald Kalamba of DR Congo club Lupopo.
Zambia will face South Africa in a friendly game away on January 7.
Faz vice president Boniface Mwamelo said the friendly game was tentatively set to be played in Port Elizabeth.
The friendly is one of three pre-Africa Cup warm-up games lined up for Zambia.
The others are against Angola and Botswana whose dates are yet to be confirmed.
“We want to play both those games with the full team because it will not make any sense to play them with players who will not be going for the Africa Cup,” Mwamelo said.
He also revealed that the December 11 date against Angola was not confirmed.
“Angola want us to play them in Luanda but it will be difficult if it means travelling there. And we are still trying to see if we can fly Botswana into South Africa to play them when we go into camp there.”
Zambia will set up training camp in South Africa after Christmas to prepare for their 2012 Africa Cup outing in January.
File:President Sata talks to Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Zhou Yuxiao
By E. Munshya wa Munshya
That the Patriotic Front’s foreign policy is a disaster is there for all to see. It started at the inauguration of President Michael Sata when he refused to invite his Malawian counterpart but instead invited Wa Mutharika’s tumultuous predecessor Bakili Muluzi. This lack of clear foreign policy guidelines has spilled over into several diplomatic agencies of our republic. Zambia abstained from the UNESCO vote that admitted Palestine into full membership and additionally, it voted against a UN General Assembly motion condemning Iran for its role in planning an assignation of the Saudi diplomatic personnel.
Closer to home, the new government has picked up quarrels with the Malawian authorities to the extent of allowing a Malawian opposition radio station to operate on Zambian soil. With regard to Angola, the entire nation, and SADC region, and diplomatic corps was shocked when President Sata apologized to Angola for the “MMD government’s support for rebel leader Jonas Savimbi during the 1990s”.
The irony of this apology is that President Sata himself was actually the de-facto number three during this MMD government he was condemning. Since his inauguration only 2 regional leaders have been to Zambia and he has not even dared to travel to visit with his counterparts. Zambia a beacon of regional peace has been reduced to a grouchy neighour.
Nothing further demonstrates the Patriotic Front’s foreign policy catastrophe than what happened just this week. On a day that he sent President Kenneth Kaunda on a mission to China, President Sata refused to fund President Rupiah Banda’s trip to the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo for an observer mission.
In the same diplomatic hullabulla of fixing what is not broken, Sata not only sent Kaunda to Angola to mend relations that were not broken, he has now sent Kaunda to China to mend relations with China that have never been broken. His lunch with 150 Chinese investors at State House was more than enough for him to apologize for his anti-Chinese stance during his campaigns. Kaunda’s trip to China is unnecessary. Given that it is necessary, I wish to argue that equally necessary is how we handle our neighbors like Malawi and Congo DR.
On November 28 2011, Congo DR goes for its second national wide elections ever in its history. The international community is very concerned that Congo may relapse into yet another civil war. The opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi has proclaimed himself Head of State, and the incumbent is facing the biggest opposition yet of his presidency. That the Congo is a turbulent country is a no brainer. Zambia has shared the problems of the Congo in our long history as a country. We share the longest border with the Congo and most ethnic groups in Zambia do have their counterparts across the border. What happens in the Congo greatly affects Zambian security and peace. Zambia cannot afford to overlook the Congo.
Since a peaceful Congo is in our best interest as a nation, any Zambian leader should make it a priority to ensure that Zambia is able to live at peace with the Congo. As such, any effort at ensuring that the Congo has peace should be a foreign policy priority for any Zambian government, but at least not for President Michael Chilufya Sata.
President Jimmy Carter has extended an invitation to President Rupiah Banda to co-lead with him a mission to Congo during these elections. President Carter and many western powers are quite impressed with Zambia’s peaceful transition from the MMD government to the PF government and from President Banda to President Sata. It is in this vein that most western powers are looking at using the Zambian example as a model of democracy to other African countries. A peaceful handover of power from one leader to another is something that is rare in Africa and so President Banda should be commended for having peacefully handed over to Sata.
It is in this spirit that Banda has been recognized by Carter to travel with him to Congo and help the Congo through its elections. No American leader has taken African interests more zealously than Carter. He was here in Zambia in 1991 when we made our transition from the Kaunda dictatorship to democracy. He helped pacify a nation in transit. Carter helped Zambia in our time of need. He spoke and advised Chiluba at a critical time when Chiluba was about to assume power. His presence was also an encouragement to Kaunda who quickly relinquished power when it became apparent that he had been beaten by over sixty-percent.
That Banda has been invited by Carter to go to Congo is positively praiseworthy. But the way President Sata responded to this invitation leaves much to be desired. Importantly, Sata equally praised the gesture. He congratulated his predecessor for this appointment. In what could just be described as shocking, President Sata then added that even though Banda should be congratulated for this appointment, he (Sata) was not going to fund Banda for this private adventure. President Michael Chilufya Sata’s response leaves much to be desired. Here are the reasons why.
President Banda still remains a former Head of State who is entitled to security at taxpayer expense. President Sata cannot refuse to fund the security for a former Head of State. Indeed if Banda went to Congo and due to a security breach Banda gets hurt or is killed, it would not be good for the world to learn that our only other former Head of State went to the Congo without security.
President Sata is wrong to insinuate that Banda is taking a purely private visit to the Congo. It is either President Sata has paranoia or may be he has amnesia. How can a trip of peace to a troublesome neighbor be branded as a purely private visit? Indeed this would not be the first time that Banda is traveling out of the country. He recently went to Morningside Clinic for a medical check-up, and Sata funded that trip. If Sata funded the trip to Morningside Clinic, he surely can fund Banda’s trip to Congo, can’t he?
President Sata is wrong because his actions are dangerous to the security of our republic. To a large extent, Zambian security is closely intertwined with that of the Congo. Any initiative that helps to bring peace to the Congo should not be jeered but rather cheered. If the Congo is not peaceful it will be difficult if not impossible for Zambia to have peace. The fact that the Congo is having elections provides a chance for Zambia and other nations to play an initiative of peace. And as such, if that role comes through sending a former head of state to Congo, we must encourage that and not molest it. Doesn’t President Sata realize that if Congo relapsed into civil war, its insecurity will affect our own security? Doesn’t President Sata realize that if the Congo is unsafe, even the Chinese investment in Zambia may be at stake? It he could fund Kaunda’s trip to China couldn’t he also fund his predecessor’s trip to Congo. Surely, even if China pumped millions into Zambia if the Congolese “kadokos” decide to invade Zambia, even those Chinese millions will lose value. Peace is a prerequisite to economic growth.
There is no justifiable reason why President Sata should refuse to fund Banda. There is no justifiable reason why Sata should refuse to provide security to Banda while in Congo. There is no justifiable reason why Sata should even have mentioned that gobbledygook about not funding Banda or members of Banda’s entourage. If Banda goes to the Congo and after the elections it emerges that Kabila has lost, no one can play a better role in convincing Kabila to relinquish power than a fellow African who has the experience of losing an election. Besides, Banda’s mission to the Congo is not a selfish enterprise on his own; it would lead to Zambia gaining a higher profile on the international scene.
May be Chilufya needs reminding that leading Zambia is not just about what you do in Lusaka for the people of Lusaka. It includes small efforts that you do for the weak and turbulent nations like the Congo. This is because, if Katanga or indeed Congo DR catches fire, that fire can easily spread to Nkwazi House or for the moment to Omelo Mumba Road since Chilufya has refused to move to Nkwazi House because it is too filthy. But for now, whether Nkwazi House is filthy or not, our sister nation is calling for our help and it will be folly for us to say no.
Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD) president Charles Milupi
ALLIANCE for Democracy and Development (ADD) president Charles Milupi?has called for investigations to establish who was involved in?awarding the K80 billion contract to local politician, Ben Mwila, which?Government has now terminated.
Mr Milupi said if it was established that non-professionals were?involved in the process, Zambians should be informed about the?necessary steps to be taken in order to redress this.?He also urged politicians running businesses to keep away from?engaging is such ventures.?
Minister of Transport, Communications, Works and Supply Yamfwa Mukanga?announced on Tuesday that the Government had terminated the contract?awarded by the previous administration to Mr Mwila’s company, Wade?Adams Piling, for non-performance.?
Mr Mwila’s firm received an advance payment of K11.5 billion but only?11 per cent of the work was done after more than 10 months after moving on?site.
The contract was signed on December 3, 2010.?Mr Milupi said the PF administration had every right to recover the?money where irregularities were noticed instead of letting the money?be abused.
He said the Landless Corner-Mumbwa Road was very important for the?people of Western, North-western and Northern parts of the country.?
Mr Milupi said government should not use patronage to award tenders?and that politics should be divorced from professional works such as?tenders.?
The ADD leader said professionals should be allowed to adjudicate on?matters about contracts so as to ensure quality works and that the?Government should not be blamed for taking corrective measures on such?matters.?
He said should the investigations reveal that there were underhand?methods employed in awarding the Mumbwa-Landless corner road contract,?those responsible should be made to account for their actions.?
Mr Milupi said value for money, specifications and timely delivery of?jobs should not be compromised because Zambians were in a hurry to?develop.?
Mr Mukanga had said on Tuesday that Government was “very serious?about correcting all irregular transactions” and would therefore not?allow Mr Mwila’s company, Wade Adams Piling to do any more work on?the 65 Kilometre stretch.?Road Development Agency (RDA) Head of Public Relations, Loyce Saili,?also confirmed the termination of the contract in a separate interview?and that efforts were underway to recover the money.
The contract awarded to Mr Mwila, who is National Democratic Focus?president, provided for the upgrading of the gravel road to bituminous?standards but nothing had been done so far apart from grading.?
The contract was divided into two, with China Hainan being awarded the?upgrading of K50 kilometrEs of the stretch on the Mumbwa side. China?Hainan has performed to expectations with 40 kilometres so far tarred.
THE Lusaka City Council (LCC) has dragged Bread of Life Church International to court in connection with the local authority’s findings at the Blessing Centre where a congregant died on Saturday after a ceiling fell on him during a Church service.
LCC public relations officer Henry Kapata said in Lusaka yesterday that the council had sued Bread of Life Church International for failure to obtain a partial certificate of occupation and a fire certificate. Mr Kapata said the summons was served on the Church on Tuesday this week.“The Lusaka City Council has sued Bread of Life Church International. They will appear in court on December 20, 2011.
The summons was delivered to them yesterday,” he said.On Monday, LCC sent a team of public health and building inspectors to the multi-billion Kwacha Blessing Centre currently under construction in Emmasdale residential area following the death of Arton Nyirenda.
Mr Nyirenda died on his way to the University Teaching Hospital after sustaining fatal facial injuries caused by a falling ceiling board during a special dedication service at the centre last Sunday. The incident was caused by a strong thunderstorm that lasted between 10 and 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, Bread of Life Church International presiding bishop Joe Imakando led hundreds of mourners in Kitwe to pay their last respects to Elder Nyirenda.
The requiem service started at Bread of Life Church Central where scriptures were read and body viewing was done before proceeding to Kitwe-Chingola Road Cemetery for burial.
File : President Sata arrives for the thanks giving mass at Ignatius
PRESIDENT Sata says he has found investors to take over operations of Mazabuka’s Munali Nickel Mine, which was recently put under care and maintenance for the second time.
The move is aimed at saving a number of jobs that are at risk of being lost at the mine.
Mr Sata announced this when he addressed a campaign rally in Magoye yesterday to drum up support for Patriotic Front (PF) candidate Eugene Munyama in the November 28 parliamentary by-election.
At the peak of the global financial crisis in 2009 the mine was put under care and maintenance and only resumed production in March 2010.
But just a few days ago the mine stopped production due to insolvency.
The President told scores of Magoye residents who attended the rally that they should vote as they wish and that he will not force them to vote for Mr Munyama. He, however said should Mr Munyama win he would appoint him Southern Province Minister.
“If you people here still trust Hakainde Hichilema (UPND president), it is not my problem. It is your problem. It is up to you to reject him (Mr Munyama), the choice is yours. You have had your own UPND MPs for 10 years but you have seen what they have done for you. Southern Province is one of the richest and if we work together as one, the sky is the limit,” Mr Sata said.
Mr Sata instructed Southern Province permanent secretary In’utu Suba to advertise for feasibility studies for the Magoye, Mazabuka-Nampundwe Mine and the Mazabuka-Itezhi Tezhi roads.
He said UPND MPs have no solution to the animal diseases that have continued to ravage the province.
Mr Sata said if elected, Mr Munyama will find it easy to access funds for development from Government.
The President cautioned Mr Munyama against neglecting the people once elected MP.
[pullquote]“When I was in MMD government, the late Ronald Penza picked him (Mr Hichilema) to sell parastatals. We gave him Luanshya Mine to sell but we have never seen the money. We gave him Lima Bank to sell but he got a house for Lima Bank and that is the one he lives in. We gave him to sell Kagem Mine but we don’t know how much he sold it. We gave him to sell Intercontinental Hotel in Livingstone but today he is the chairman of Sun Hotel (the former Intercontinental Hotel).[/pullquote]
“When you go to Parliament don’t just go to drink tea and beer. Speak for the silent majority. Some people go to Parliament and forget where they come from. I am talking from experience because I was MP for 20 years and I know problems of MPs,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Sata has questioned Mr Hichilema’s source of wealth after the latter chaired the Zambia Privatisation Agency, which was responsible for selling Government companies and institutions.
However, Mr Hichilema could not be reached for comment on his mobile by press time.
“When I was in MMD government, the late Ronald Penza picked him (Mr Hichilema) to sell parastatals. We gave him Luanshya Mine to sell but we have never seen the money. We gave him Lima Bank to sell but he got a house for Lima Bank and that is the one he lives in. We gave him to sell Kagem Mine but we don’t know how much he sold it. We gave him to sell Intercontinental Hotel in Livingstone but today he is the chairman of Sun Hotel (the former Intercontinental Hotel).
“Today Mr Hichilema has more than 75,000 animals in Southern Province. Where did he get those animals?” Mr Sata wondered.
Mr Sata said Mr Hichilema has no track record of political experience and that he assumed the UPND’s leadership using money.
The President reiterated that in 2009 Mr Hichilema formed the pact with the PF in the hope that he would lead the alliance in the event that Mr Sata died. “After seeing that I did not die in 2010 he left,” he said.
Mr Sata said shortly before the September 20 tripartite elections, the UPND leader started peddling lies that he had died. Mr Sata also dismissed Mr Hichilema’s claims that he (Mr Sata) is tribalist.
He said he is determined to address problems of all Zambians regardless of their tribe because hunger does not choose tribe.
Mr Sata also said he has appointed a number of people from other tribes to key decision-making positions.
To demonstrate this, Mr Sata announced that he has appointed former minister in the UNIP government Frederick Hapunda as a diplomat.
Speaking at the same rally Minister of Information, Broadcasting and Tourism Given Lubinda said Mr Hichilema hijacked the UPND and that he has been peddling lies because it has become difficult for him to lead the opposition political party.
The PF local leadership commended Mr Sata for choosing Mazabuka as his first place to visit outside Lusaka after winning the September 20 tripartite elections.
And speaking when he paid a courtesy call on Chief Hanjalika, Mr Sata also instructed Minister of Agriculture Emmanuel Chenda to buy tractors, which will be given to traditional rulers to lease them out to farmers.
File: People in Kasama celebrating the election results
THE ruling Patriotic Front (PF) has told the European Union (EU that it will not swallow everything that comes from Brussels but will first sieve and determine if at all it is for the benefit of the Zambian people.
The PF delegation has also taken a swipe at The Economist and other Western pollsters that predicted electoral victory for the MMD even when the situation on the ground was contrary to what was being projected.
The PF delegation has in meetings with EU stakeholders constantly declared that the new leaders of Zambia would not want to repeat the mistakes of the MMD administration, which by all accounts rested easy in the knowledge that the economy was on the path to recovery when the progress was not felt by many.
According to a statement released by first secretary for Press at the Zambian mission in Brussels, Samuel Ngoma, the PF trio of Deputy Minister in the vice-president’s office Edgar Lungu, Secretary-General Wynter Kabimba and director of foreign relations Longa Chibesakunda said impressive economic indicators would only be meaningful if they trickled down to ordinary Zambians.
The delegation is in Brussels as guests of Germany’s Freidrich Ebert Stiftung Foundation and has had meetings with the managing director of Africa in the European Commission’s external affairs services, Nick Westcott, EuropeAid and European Progressive Socialists.
Asked by Mr Westcott what the PF’s stand on China and Zimbabwe was, Mr Lungu said Zambia would maintain good relations with Beijing but had asked Chinese companies in Zambia to respect the country’s labour laws and the welfare of workers.
On Zimbabwe, Mr Lungu said Zambia’s stand was in line with the Southern African Development Community although the PF was of the view that Zimbabweans could take a cue from the peaceful transition which took place in Zambia.
The meetings with various EU institutions ended in Brussels on Tuesday
ATTORNEY-GENERAL Mumba Malila has submitted to the Lusaka High Court that more than 80 MMD motor vehicles were seized because they were bought using public funds.
He said the seizure of the motor vehicles in question was legally justified and supported by the Zambian Constitution because they were procured using public funds.
Mr Malila was responding to a petition by MMD national secretary Richard Kachingwe, who had challenged police seizure of 101 vehicles.
He said the vehicles in the custody of the police and those that were about to be seized were all bought using public funds.
He stated that police had instituted investigations to find out the alleged use of public funds or the acquisition by the MMD of more than 175 motor vehicles, among others.
Mr Malila said the Zambia Police Service had so far taken custody of 84 motor vehicles for investigations and the MMD was not the only one claiming ownership of the seized vehicles.
Apart from the MMD, a named company and some individuals from whom the vehicles were recovered were also claiming ownership of the vehicles.??Mr Malila said the true ownership of the motor vehicles was yet to be established, adding that the MMD would be expected to prove that it was the owner of the vehicles as claimed by Major Kachingwe.
He further stated that investigations carried out so far had revealed that the vehicles in question were imported, cleared and registered under unclear circumstances.??He said there was reason for the investigators to suspect that duty was not paid on the vehicles.
Mr Malila said it was necessary and legally justified for the Zambia Police Service to continue keeping the vehicles until the on-going investigations were concluded.
The attorney general said the vehicles were not in danger of being vandalised.
He further said it was not clear who the petitioner was between Maj Kachingwe and the MMD.
“The State is not aware of the petitioner’s claim that MMD members’ homes are being subjected to illegal searches.
The petitioner will be put to strict test to prove that allegation,” he said.??Maj Kachingwe had petitioned the attorney general claiming that the MMD’s 101 vehicles had been indiscriminately targeted by Patriotic Front members and the Zambia Police Service.
He alleged that the money used for the procurement of the vehicles in question was from private resources and donations to the party.
He accused the police of having objected to the release the vehicles, and further alleged that the residences and offices of MMD members and officials had been subjected to illegal search contrary to Article 17 of the Constitution.
Lusaka High Court Judge Annie Sitali set February 20, 2012 as the date for commencement of trial in the matter.
[Times of Zambia]
THE Government has terminated the K80 billion road contract awarded to local politician, Ben Mwila, for the construction of the Landless Corner-Mumbwa Road.
Works Minister, Yamfwa Mukanga disclosed this in an interview in Lusaka yesterday, saying that Government was “very serious about correcting all irregular transactions” and would, therefore, not allow Mr Mwila’s company, Wade Adams Piling to do any more work on the 65-kilometre stretch.
Road Development Agency (RDA) head of public relations, Loyce Saili, also confirmed the termination of the contract in a separate interview.
An on-the-spot check revealed that Mr Mwila’s firm had since demobilised, only leaving a female guard, Beatrice Shamasowa, on site.
The contract was signed on December 3, 2010 and Mr Mwila’s firm was advanced K11.5 billion with a performance bond of about K8 billion.
Ms Saili said RDA had since instituted procedures to recover the money paid to Mr Mwila.
“Yes I can confirm that apart from the K11.5 billion, RDA also provided K8 billion as performance bond for insurance. We have written both the bank and the insurance which guaranteed the money and the company seeking a quick recovery of the whole amount of money,” Ms Saili said.
The contract awarded to Mr Mwila, who is National Democratic Focus president, provided for the upgrading of the gravel road to bituminous standards.
Wade Adams has only done 11 per cent of the work, which forced the Government, through RDA, to terminate the contract.
The contract was divided into two, with China Hainan being awarded the upgrading of K50 kilometres of the stretch on the Mumbwa side.
China Hainan has performed to expectations with 40 kilometres so far tarred.
The minister disclosed that the Government had been undertaking a comprehensive review of all road contracts and had discovered that Mr Mwila’s company did not have equipment although he had indicated in the bid documents that his firm was well-equipped to handle the project.
Mr Mukanga said the Government hoped to recover money from all suspicious contracts and embark on proper road maintenance for the benefit of the growth of the Zambian economy.
He said the review of the contracts involved, among other benchmarks, checking what specifications the contractors were given and whether these had been met.
He said the Government could still terminate a contract for underperformance even if it was awarded with all the correct procedures having been followed.
Mr Mukanga further disclosed that there were some contractors who initially promised to work within the amounts they had quoted but had later on submitted fresh proposals seeking additional funding in order to complete the same works.
He said credible contractors lost out at bidding stage because some shoddy and dubious contractors under-valued their bids so that they were competitive and could win the tenders.
“This amount to cheating, corruption is dangerous for a struggling economy like Zambia and public resources must be protected.
‘’The Government is very serious about correcting all the irregular transactions committed by the previous administration without due regard for order.
“The people of Zambia voted for the Patriotic Front to help restore order and stem abuse of public resources,” Mr Mukanga said.
The minister said contractors who had met specifications would not be stopped from completing their work and the Government did not want to victimise companies that wanted to work in accordance with procedures.
The Landless Corner-Mumbwa Road connects Mumbwa District to the Great North Road and serves as the main arterial road in the local, national and regional transportation network for motorists who want to avoid passing through Lusaka to transit to the western and northern parts of the country.
But when reached for a comment, Mr Mwila said his company performed “very well” and challenged the Times of Zambia crew to accompany him to Landless Corner to demonstrate the progress so far made.
Only five pieces of road construction equipment were seen at the offices that were being used before the firm demobilised.
The guard, Ms Shamasowa said she had not been paid her October salary and hoped management could clear her dues to enable her look after her family.
Recently, Vice-President Guy Scott said the on-going road construction projects would be reviewed as part of the new Government’s roadmap to track down the levels of corruption and promote transparency in the governance of the country.
Dr Scott said the Patriotic Front administration wanted all the matters in relation to road contracts dealt with so that in cases where irregularities were detected, the law should take its course.
The vice-president assured that contracts would not be cancelled wherever corruption was not detected
Born 6th July 1987,firstborn in a family of seven girls. Her’s has always been a musical family,her father was a rhythm guitarist and her mother a soloist in a gospel band back in the 80’s.
With school consuming all her time (she has a degree in Linguistics and Literature and is currently pursuing a second degree in Law), music was left on the back burner until 2010,when she was encouraged by her uncle, the legendary Lukundo “Superman” Siwale, co C.E.O and founder of So’ Good Entertainment, to take part in a Zambian tv competition dubbed The Ultimate Slinger a show aimed at producing Zambia’s next mainstream musical sensation though she had to drop out of the competition for personal reasons,the fire was lit and burned strongly It was this that led her to begin recording at So Good Entertainment, under the mentorship of Chifumbe “Buttah” Sikazwe and Grant Mutema, who produced her first tracks, “Feel So Good” and “That Woman”
Kapa187: Your new song “my kinda cute” is like a breath of fresh air to the zambian music scene , but before we get into that , where did it all begin .What was the defining moment when you said this is what i want to do with my life.
Scarlet: 2010, i took part in a show called the ultimate slinger on tv2…i didn’t finish it,but when i left the show, i decided i would try recording for fun because my brother had just opened a studio….so i did…a song called “feel so good” that will be on the album….i loved it…and the rest as they say is history…
Kapa187: How did you decide on your particular sound , which i can describe as adult contemporary R&B / soul?
Scarlet: my sound is actually better described as adult contemporary soul, and afro jazz….i have steered away from rnb because i feel it restricts what i try to do….my producer, James “The King” Sakala, is earth and fire and i am wind and water..our music is very real..so we have come up with an eclectic combination of mainstream sound mixed with a lot of ethnic influences like flutes and bongo drums….i sing mostly in english…so we needed to find a way to keep our roots….
Kapa187: Name 1 local and 1 international artist that you really admire and say to yourself “one day i will reach that level”
Scarlet: locally…i love Maureen Lilanda’s grace….i don’t really think i’m looking at anybody and saying i wanna be that big you know….i wanna be the best i can be at what i do….BUT i wanna be unforgettable, like patti la belle and natalie cole and miriam makeba and all those great women who made magic on stage and in my headsets….that’s what i want, to be that girl from zambia that people will remember even if its only for one song….
Kapa187: Music is not an easy profession what challenges have you faced?
Scarlet: im just starting out,so i’ve struggled with identifying my sound….and of course, finances are a trip! so we work very hard….but i have a great team…my So’ Good Entertainment crew, my management, Jamiel Banda, my stylist Mwamba Nakazweh of Lily’s Pepelia….my family, my label execs, Lukundo Siwale and Chifumbe Sikazweh they make sure i have a buffer around me that ensures that i don’t get discouraged…and radio, wow! the djs have been so good to me…..so far so good….
Kapa187: Tell us about a moment in your career that you will never forget.
Scarlet: my first live band performance….with Ebony Soul….that was beautiful! that’s what i wanna do forever!
Kapa187: Do you have any hidden talents ?
Scarlet: wow,not hidden….i cook…i bake…and i’m really good with hair and make up,do those count????
Kapa187: Back to “My kinda love” it is a very good song , what was your inspiration for it ?
Scarlet: My Kinda Cute was a song i wrote as a collaborative effort with Victor “KRYTIC” Muligisa and Theophillus Holland Gausi….last year….so when i made this version i was just adding to it…we had to write about all the things we loved about our partners….so i was inspired by the guy i was dating at the time….
Kapa187: If you had to change something about you , what would it be.
Scarlet: i would stop doubting myself so much…and stop being so tolerant of everything….i think i also need to grow tougher skin…i cry easily… 🙂
Kapa187: Where can your fans get to listen to your music , and when will your album be out?
Scarlet: my music…so far we have been giving it out piece by piece mostly for radio airplay…but next month we will be on myspace, reverbnation, youtube and a couple other sites, we are also in the process of launching a full scarlet website so just watch this space…..
Kapa187: What do you hope to achieve in your career , what is your ultimate goal?
Scarlet: i want to be unforgettable…..and i also want to reach a level where i can be a voice for people who have something to say….im young, and i think young people go through a lot of things that are very relevant…i want to be able to speak out for good causes and have people listen and lend a hand….musically i really want to bring the magic of live music back…in a big way…so yeah,thats what im working on….
Kapa187: Any last words for your fans
Scarlet: thankyou thankyou thankyou….they give me so much love its ridiculous and i will keep doing this until they don’t want me to anymore….look out for my first album single “Me And My Music Man (Tino Farra)” dropping in December….i think people will be pleasantly surprised…..
THE MUSIC
MY KINDA CUTE
Whatever you are going through this song will put you in a good mood.
Live performance at Arabian nights
“I want to be unforgettable…if something I said or something I sang, changes a life or puts a smile on someone’s face, or causes them to shed a tear because of the beauty of its truth, then that’s good enough for me….I like the idea of spreading happiness… I just want to touch someone with my voice and my smile….”
