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2011 MTN/FAZ Super Division Champions Power Dynamos Captain Joseph Sitali has said the Arthur Davies outfit deserved to win the league title this season.
Striker Luka Lungu on Saturday scored a solitary goal in the 43th minute as Power Dynamos beat Zanaco 1-0 in Lusaka last Saturday at Sunset Stadium to wrap up the 2011 Super Division title with one round of matches remaining before the league ends.
Speaking to LT Sports by tin Kitwe, Sitali said hard work and prayers in the Power camp helped the team to win their first league title in 11 years.
The midfielder described the 2011 campaign as competitive and paid tribute to teams that give his side a good run for their money among them Red Arrows, Zanaco, Nkana and Green Buffaloes.
“The 2011 league was tough, many teams played well like Red Arrows, Zanaco and even Nkana played well we salute.” he said.
And some Copperbelt based Power Dynamos supporters have paid tribute to the Copperbelt Energy Corporation Sponsored side for winning the Super Division title.
Lombe Chipupu of Kitwe said by telephone that Power deserved to one the league adding that the team has performed well this season.
And Steven Kapalu of Chibuluma urged his team to work hard as they prepare to take part in the 2012 Orange African champions League.
The Football Association of Zambia in conjunction with league sponsors MTN will stage a championship coronation ceremony at Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe on November 12 after their last Week 30 league game against Nkwazi.
Herve Renard has said midfielder Felix Katongo will be Zambia’s star player at next year’s Africa Cup.
Renard said after Wednesday’s final training in Lusaka that he was confident Katongo, who has suffered from a dip in form, will be fit enough for the tournament.
“Felix is not finished and he will be one of the best players for the Africa Cup of Nations,” Renard said.
Katongo has struggled for fitness after leaving Al Ittihad at the height of the upheavals in Libya at the start of this year.
The midfielder is currently at Green Buffaloes since the second half of the season after spending the first half of the 2011 campaign club searching abroad.
Meanwhile, Zambia depart for Johannesburg at 07:00 on Thursday for a three day training camp there en route to Nigeria for Tuesdays friendly to be played in Kaduna.
File: Workers from the Food Reserve Agency packing maize at a shed in Choma
Zambia exported more than 496,000 tonnes of maize to its neighbours from September last year to October this year after a bumper harvest left it with a surplus of 1.6 million tonnes, the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) said on today.
The maize exports went to Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Botswana, Burundi and Namibia, the FRA said in a statement.
The agency said over 496,000 tonnes valued at 427 billion kwacha ($86 million) sold on the export market and that about 300,000 tonnes valued at 250 billion kwacha sold on the local market.
Total maize stocks held by the FRA by October 2011 amounted to over 1.9 million tonnes, including about 300,000 tonnes in carryover stock from the previous season, it said.
The FRA planned to sell slightly over 1 million tonnes of maize as soon as possible and use the proceeds to pay back loans the agency obtained from commercial banks, it said.
Zambia’s maize production in the 2010/2011 season was projected to rise to over 3 million tonnes from the 2.8 million tonnes produced last year, a crop forecast showed in May
Stophila Sunzu and Jacob Mulenga have pulled out of Zambia’s November 15 friendly against Nigeria.
And TP Mazembe defender Emmanuel Mbola will not be part of the traveling party after all as his four-month FIFA ban also extends to friendly games.
Zambia coach Herve Renard said after Wednesday morning training at Independence Stadium in Lusaka that Sunzu sustained his injury at TP Mazembe’s training camp in Belgium.
“Stophila got injured while in camp in Belgium with TP Mazembe. He broke his arm,” Renard said.
“(Green Buffaloes defender) Dennis Banda will replace him will join us for the camp in Johannesburg.”
And Mulenga said he had pulled out of the friendy because of had an appointment with his doctor but was not injured.
Meanwhile, Christopher Katongo of Chinese side Henan Jienye joined camp on Wednesday and was in training with the rest of his team mates at Independence Stadium.
The team leaves for Johannesburg on Thursday where they will setup a three-day training camp before heading to Kaduna on Sunday.
The government of Zambia has given a waiver to China’s Jinchaun Group to take over Chibuluma copper mine without putting up a mandatory offer which would have seen the new owner buy off shares held by the Zambian Government and other minority shareholders.
Chibuluma mine is owned by South African-based and JSE-listed Metorex Limited, which is in the final stages of being taken over by the Jinchuan Group. In a statement jointly signed by the two parties, they said the Zambian Government had unconditionally and irrevocably consented to the completion of the scheme of the arrangement.
The statement said the Ministry of Finance and National Planning had also waived its rights to require Metorex to acquire its special share interest in the Metorex business over Chibuluma Mine, in which government holds a 15% stake through the ZCCM-IH.
“As a result of having obtained the mandatory offer waiver, Metorex is able to formally approach the Zambian Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to obtain an exemption from any obligation to make a mandatory offer to minority shareholders of Chibuluma in accordance with the SEC regulations,” the statement said.
Exemption from the SEC from making a mandatory offer and securing consent from the People’s Republic of China are the only two steps left before the deal is concluded. With regard to the Chinese government consent, last month Jinchuan Group reported that progress had been made towards getting approvals and consents from the relevant authorities.
“Application documentation has been formally accepted by the relevant authorities, and Jinchuan advises that it believes the process is progressing well, and anticipates receiving the relevant approvals and consents in due course,” Metorex said.
[Mining review.com]
Copper mining operations in Zambia’s Copperbelt have been halted Wednesday after a fault at a main power substation.
Zambia is struggling to restore power to some mines in the country, its energy minister said on Wednesday, after a power outage in Africa’s biggest copper producer hit the capital and the Copperbelt.
“It affected the mines, and we are still trying to restore power supply to some mines,” Cyprian Chitundu, managing director for state power company Zesco Ltd, told Reuters.Chitundu said the fault was at its Leopards Hill sub-station.
“When that problem occurred we lost Copperbelt and Lusaka. It was quite an impact, but we will be able to make an assessment once we start getting feedback from the mines.”[pullquote]Zesco sent smses at 09 00hrs that there would be no lights from 9- 16hrs but power had already gone at 0620hrs today[/pullquote]
Electricity supply in Zambia is expected to remain tight for the next four years, casting a shadow over the power-intensive mining sector in Zambia.
Mining companies with major operations on the Copperbelt include London-listed Vedanta Resources PLC (VED.LN), Glencore International AG (GLEN.LN),Canada’s First Quantum Minerals and Barrick Gold and China Nonferrous Metals Co.
A Chingola resident complained that there was no power from 10 00hrs to 16 00hrs on Tuesday and today power was gone as early as 0620hrs.
[Reuters/Dow jones]
File: Coal Mine workers picking coal without protective clothes at Shaft One at the chinese collum mine
HUMAN Rights Watch has insisted that its report documenting various labour abuses by Chinese-run mines operating in Zambia is accurate and it has since reiterated that the Chinese government and management of the four mines highlighted in the report should take appropriate measures based on the findings of the report.
Reacting to a statement from the Chinese Embassy disputing the findings of the 122-page report, author (of the report) titled ‘You’ll be fired if you refuse: Labour abuses in Zambia’s Chinese State-owned copper mines’, Mathew Wells said the findings of abusive health and safety standards, long hours, and anti-union activities came directly from interviews with 95 miners in the Chinese-run companies as well as union and Government officials.
“Rather than dismiss the abuses described by their Zambian employees, the Chinese-run companies and the Chinese embassy should ensure that their investment in Zambia meets its potential by listening to the workers’ complaints and following Zambia’s labour laws.
The massive strikes in October should likewise send a signal that the miners at the Chinese-run companies are tired of having their rights abused,” he said.
Recently, more than 2,000 workers from Non-Ferrous China Africa (NFCA), one of the firms mentioned in the report, downed their tools and were subsequently sacked but later re-instated following the Government’s intervention.
The workers were pushing for improved conditions of service.
According to the report, NFCA(a subsidiary of China Non-Ferrous Metals Mining Corporation CNMC), which is among other three Chinese mining companies cited in the report, Southern Weekend quoted the CNMC general manger Luo Tao in November last year saying as at that period, NFCA was China’s only overseas mine that was already producing regularly and at a profit.
It adds that Southern Weekend reported that NFCA had an annual profit of US$40 million and by 2008 had “recouped its 2003 investment.”
The other CNMC subsidiaries cited in the report are Sino Metals Leach Zambia (Sino Metals), Chambishi Copper Smelter (CCS) and China Luanshya Mine (CLM).
Mr Wells, who is Human Rights Watch Africa division researcher, added that the Chinese Embassy’s denial is also inconsistent with a letter received from China Non-Ferrous Metals Mining Corporation (CNMC), the parent company of the four copper mining operations in Zambia.
“CNMC said that it took our findings seriously and promised to conduct an in-depth investigation to ensure that abuses were stopped and that overall conditions were improved.
We hope that CNMC and the Chinese government fulfill that promise, so that the Zambia’s copper miners have their rights protected and receive the benefits of China’s impressive investment.”
A statement from the Chinese Embassy availed to the Times on November 4, 2011 dispelled the report regrettably describing its relevant contents as being not faithful to the truth as Chinese companies in question have always been closely following the local laws and regulations and have actively undertaken their social responsibilities.
The statement added that Chinese investors attached great importance to employees’ legal rights such as safety and salaries and have taken serious measures to ensure the protection of workers’ rights.
It stated further that Chinese companies in Zambia have for a long time been investing in Zambia on the basis of mutual benefits, creating a large amount of job opportunities, and making great contributions to Zambia’s social and economical development.
The report unveiled on November 3, 2011 details persistent abuses in the four mines mentioned, including poor health and safety conditions, regular 12 to 18-hour shifts involving arduous labour and anti-union activities, all in violation of local and international labour laws.
Human Rights Watch established in 1978 is a non-profit, independent, non-governmental human rights organisation renowned for its accurate fact-finding, impartial reporting, effective use of the media and targeted advocacy often in partnership with local human rights groups.
[Times of Zambia]
THE Kingsley Chanda Commission of Inquiry investigating corruption at the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) yesterday heard that the authority single-sourced a Chinese firm called Nuctech to supply and install the Nakonde border scanners at a cost of more than K130 billion (US$25.6 million).
Appearing before the commission that sat for the first time at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka yesterday, Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) director general Samuel Chibuye also said another firm, Bradwell Global Corporation was single-sourced to manage the system contrary to the law.
President Michael Sata formed the commission of inquiry to probe ZRA last month after he had stopped the institution from paying K4 billion to Bradwell Global Corporation that was engaged to manage the scanners at Nakonde border post in the Northern Province. Mr Chibuye said the former commissioner-general informed ZPPA in writing in 2008 that he had been directed by the Zambian Government to single-source on the basis that the scanners would be procured using a loan from China.
He said in the letter, ZRA said the instructions were that the Chinese government wanted Nuctech to supply the scanners, contrary to the requirements of the law that tender procedures must be followed even when a project was secured through a loan. Mr Chibuye told the commissioners that the Zambian Government then should have informed the Chinese government that the Zambian law requires that a firm engaged to supply and install goods worth that much should not be single-sourced.
Asked by Mr Chanda what he had done having realised the illegality as head of ZPPA, Mr Chibuye said his decision would have been shaped by the justification and it was clear that there were questions to be answered in the transaction. He said in his letter of April 15, 2009 the commissioner-general had sought a waiver of authority for the installation of four scanners but sought further authority for four other scanners and ZPPA does not know up-t-date how the other four were procured.
He, being new in his position, ZRA clearly knew that he would not understand that the earlier contract provided for four scanners and when they sought a letter, they stated that authority was being sought for eight scanners without explaining the contents of the old contract signed with Bradwell Global Corporation.
Mr Chibuye also said the board of directors for ZPPA stands technically dissolved following the change of Government because the provisions were that the board should be composed of ministers responsible for finance, works and supply, commerce, secretary to the Cabinet, attorney general, Bank of Zambia governor, a permanent secretary at the ministry of finance and two individuals from the private sector.
And in her submission ZPPA acting director of inspections and standards Gloria Ngoma said open tender system for huge amounts exceeding 30 billion could only be single in a state of emergency, when national security is affected and when the goods are of specialised nature.
She also disclosed that advance payments were not encouraged unless the contractor provides guarantees for the payment. Vanguard Investigations Limited managing director James Kasamanda submitted that all security covert private security firms had been stopped systematically from tracking operations at ZRA because of alleged increased corruption.
Captain Kasamanda said grand corruption takes place at the lower management level where individuals were paid to engage in illegality. He said at the time his firm worked with ZRA, it was discovered that firms that owed ZRA huge amounts of money were being erased from the computer after paying some officials about K15 million each.
President Sata last month dissolved the board of directors of ZRA and appointed the commission of inquiry to probe irregularities at ZRA. The members that sat included Sangayakula Sanga, Peggy Mulongoti, Martin Lukwesa, Agness Musunga and Fredrick Chishala. The sittings continue today.
PARLIAMENT heard yesterday that the Patriotic Front (PF) in its campaigns in the run up to the September 20, 2011 did not promise to secede Western Province from the rest of Zambia but advocated the restoration of the Barotseland Agreement.
In his maiden speech to the House, Western Province Minister Nathaniel Mubukwanu told the House that the PF promised to restore the Barotseland Agreement so that justice could be accorded to it that was why a commission of inquiry has been set up.
“In our campaign promises, we didn’t promise secession of Western Province; as PF, we are alive to our election campaigns to the Zambian people which include the Barotseland Agreement which the MMD government mishandled,” Mr Mubukwanu said.
The minister said the PF has since delivered on some of its promises it made over Western Province such as the release of the prisoners arrested during the Mongu riots; a commission of inquiry had too been set up in that regard and action was also being taken to fight corruption. “Up to now people of Mongu are still waiting for former Vice-President George Kunda who justified the shooting of a defenseless person to go there and demonstrate how a person could be carrying a burning tire,” Mr Mubukwanu noted.
He said the high poverty levels obtaining in Western Province and lack of development in general warranted the calls to have the Barotseland Agreement restored. “Poverty levels in Western Province have deteriorated and let me state here that politics of marginalization also caused calls for the restoration of the Barotseland agreement of 1964.
“People of Western want equal distribution resources; Western Province is the only of the nine that does not have a girls high school,” Mr Mubukwanu told Parliament. He appealed to the civil society and donors to join hands with the PF Government to transform Western Province for better.
And his Lusaka Province counterpart Miles Sampa has defended the Cabinet appointments President Michael Sata has made, stressing that there is a balance in tribe. Making his maiden speech to the House, Mr Sampa said that President Sata has appointed ministers almost from all the nine provinces, contrary to assertions that his Cabinet was tribal.
“Has appointed Mr Wilbur Simuusa from Southern, Ms Inonge Wina and Mr Given Lubinda from Western, Justice Minister Sebastian Zulu is from Eastern. Others are Vice-President Dr Guy Scott from North-Western and Defence Minister Geoffrey Mwamba from Northern,” Mr Sampa said. Mr Sampa also expressed sadness at the way he was hounded out of employment from Finance Bank by the MMD government without notice although he sued and won for wrongful dismissal.
Lunte Member of Parliament (MP) Felix Mutati (MMD) in his debate said the opposition in the House would accord the ruling party space to govern but stressed that the opposition would not compromise its role to providing proper checks and balances for the good of Zambians.
“As opposition, we shall give Government space to govern on three key principles in that we work with them in accordance with the aspirations of Zambians to ensure we remain as their beacon of hope; We shall remain and reserve our allegiance to providing checks and balances to ensure that governance does not meander.
“We embrace what President Sata said that Zambians deserve better and are entitled to a better life,” Mr Mutati who is also leader of the opposition in the House stressed. Mr Mutati welcomed the decision by the Government to consider floating 35 per cent shares in the public media on the stock exchange, stressing that such was a good governance idea which the opposition embraced.
Meanwhile, Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini sent away Labour, Sports, Youth and Gender Minister Fackson Shamenda for improper dressing. Mr Shamenda entered the chamber without a necktie warranting a point of order from Kalomo MP Request Muntanga (UPND) as to whether he was in order to dress without a necktie.
Dr Matibini ruled that he was not in order and asked him to get dressed properly. The minister later came back wearing a neck-tie.
8 Roan United players and their families have been left homeless after an inferno swept through their semidetached quarters.
The fire reportedly occurred at 03:00 early on Tuesday morning destroying property worth millions of Kwacha but no live were lost.
Preliminary investigations have revealed that the fire was caused by an electrical fault.
Meanwhile all the affected players are currently in temporal accommodation at a Luanshya guest house while Roan United’s sponsors Luanshya Copper Mines prepare to repair the players’ homes.
File: Lusaka business man and Finance Chairman with lawyer Mumba Kapumpa at Magistrate Court.
Finance bank Zambia major shareholder, Rajani Mahtani and finance bank Zambia limited have been sued for fraudulently opening 2 bank accounts in the names of Flame promotions limited.
According to two statements of claim filed in the Lusaka high court by flame promotions and procurement limited, Dr. Mahtani utilized the said accounts in concealing his insider borrowing from finance bank.
Flame Promotions claim that the scheme to set up the two accounts amounts to breach of banking and finical services act cap 387 of the laws of Zambia.
The plaintiff further claims that finance bank has been negligent in not preventing Dr. Mahtani from fraudulently utilizing flames promotions and procurement limited’s name to operate a bank account for his own use.
They add that Mahtani is attempting to enrich himself by refusing to own up to being the beneficiary of the money drawn on the accounts in question as finance bank is attempting to claim the funds from flame promotions.
Flame promotions and procurement limited is asking the court to declare that the two accounts set up by finance bank and Dr. Mahtani as a breach of banking and financial services act.
The company further claims that finance bank is responsible for all payments drawn from the accounts using instruments purportedly signed by Zulfikar Patel a client of finance bank.
But Dr. Mahtani has instructed his lawyer John Sangwa to counterclaim 100 million dollars for defamation of character from frame promotions and procurement limited over it’s claims filed in court.
He has since denied the allegations saying they are construed and part of an orchestrated agenda of people, who have failed to honor their debts.
The Civil Servants and Allied Workers Union of Zambia has asked government to reintroduce the windfall tax and reduce the tax burden on other sectors.
Union president Davy Chiyobe says government should bring back the windfall or the mineral royalty tax for the country to benefit from the increased copper prices on the international market.
Mr. Chiyobe told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today ahead of Friday’s presentation of the 2012 national budget that the country needs to benefit from the copper sales which he says is the number one income earner by introducing the taxes.
He noted that Zambia has not benefited much from the copper mining industry adding that this has resulted in government charging the ordinary Zambians with high taxes.
Mr. Chiyobe said there is need for government to find resources to finance programmes like infrastructure development and improved conditions of service for public service workers.
He has since requested government to also reduce the pay as you earn-PAYE tax and also increase tax income threshold from one million to one point five million Kwacha.
Mr. Chiyobe explained that the PAYE which stands at 35 percent is too much and suggested that it be reduced to about 25 percent.
He has meanwhile asked government to set a date for the commencement of negotiations for improved conditions of services for public service workers.
The Civil Servants Union President said the current collective bargain ends by December 31, and that there is growing pressure especially from the general membership who want to see new negotiations commence.
He has since advised government to come out in the open and state their position regarding next year’s conditions of service for public service workers.
Herve Renard has named his final 20-member team that will face Nigeria in a friendly on November 15 away in Kaduna.
The team will only have three home-based players with another six from the South African PSL.
Green Buffaloes midfielder Felix Katongo plus defenders Thomas Nyirenda and Nyambe Mulenga from Zesco United respectively is the home-based trio in the team.
Meanwhile, Collins Mbesuma of Golden Arrows in South Africa has made the team together with Orlando Pirates playmaker Isaac Chansa in a team dominated by PSL-based players.
Also in the team is the five-man TP Mazembe group that includes key midfielder Rainford Kalaba.
The team will set up camp in Johannesburg starting on Thursday and depart for Nigeria on Sunday ahead of Tuesday friendly in the northern Nigerian city.
Goalkeepers: Kennedy Mweene (Free State Stars, South Africa), Kalililo Kakonje (TP Mazembe, DR Congo)
Defenders: Nyambe Mulenga (Zesco United), Davies Nkausu (Super Sport United, South Africa), Joseph Musonda (Golden Arrows, South Africa),Emmanuel Mbola, Stoppilla Sunzu, Francis Kasonde (All TP Mazembe, DR Congo)
Midfielders: Thomas Nyirenda (Konkola Blades), Rainford Kalaba (TP Mazembe, DR Congo), Isaac Chansa (Orlando Pirates, South Africa), William Njobvu (Hapoel Ironi Kiryat, Israel), Noah Chivuta (Free State Stars, South Africa), Felix Katongo (Green Buffaloes), Christopher Katongo (Henan Jienye, China)
Strikers: Emmanuel Mayuka (Young Boys, Switzerland), Collins Mbesuma (Golden Arrows, South Africa), Given Singuluma (TP Mazembe, DR Congo), James Chamanga (Dalian Shide, China), Jacob Mulenga (FC Utrecht, Holland)
Tanzanian long distance buses before taking off at Intercity bus station in Lusaka
Central Province Police Commissioner Solomon Jere has stated that long distance passenger buses crossing the Central Province will be required to have two drivers on board. Dr Jere said that all buses discovered to have one driver will be impounded. Dr Jere says the drivers will be thoroughly scrutinized to ascertain whether they have valid driver’s licenses.
Meanwhile, Dr Jere has given truck drivers a two week ultimatum to stop their transit into the province after 19:00 hours. Dr Jere said that the measures were aimed at alleviating road traffic accident related deaths.
He said that the influx of traffic during the night had contributed highly to road accidents because of poor lighting. Dr Jere said that Central Province accounts for the highest number of road accidents related death.
FLASHBACK National Restoration Party president Elias Chipimo talks to his party vice president Charles Maboshe (r) at a press briefing in Lusaka
THE National Restoration Party (NAREP) has observed that the announced Constitution-making roadmap by the Minister of Justice Sebastian Zulu beyond the 90 days will ensure that Zambians come up with a Constitution that will stand the test of time.
NAREP president Elias Chipimo Jr, however, said in Lusaka yesterday that the Government must come up with a clear roadmap that would guarantee a people’s Constitution. He said it would not be realistic to state that a people’s Constitution would be written within 90 days.
“We have always indicated that it was not realistic for the Government to say they would come up with a people driven Constitution within 90 days because it was not just feasible. So we are glad with the realisation that Constitution-making is not feasible within 90 days. “I am, however, restricted to comment because I have not yet seen the roadmap,” he said.
Mr Chipimo Jr said there was need for the Government to outline a detailed roadmap on the writing of a new Constitution. He said his party had some steps that it would recommend in the constitution making process to ensure that Zambians have a constitution that would stand the test of time.
On Friday, Justice Minister Sebastian Zulu outlined a roadmap to guide the Constitution-making process that would entail constituting a team of experts to carry out a comprehensive review of the recommendations by the Mvunga, Mwanakatwe and Mung’omba Constitution review commissions. The minister said this would be followed by a national referendum.
And a political activist Dante Saunders has welcomed the announced roadmap on the Constitution-making process by the Government. Mr Saunders said in Lusaka yesterday that Zambians had already spoken through the previous commissions and that the Government should now just proceed to put together a new Constitution. Mr Saunders who had been opposed to Parliament adopting the new Constitution said the current Parliament would be entrusted because the people’s views would be safeguarded.
