Government has declared tomorrow, Wednesday, October 17, as day of national mourning in honour of the late former Cabinet minister in the Mwanawasa administration Stephen Manjata who died on Sunday October 14, 2012 at Lusaka Trust Hospital after an illness.
Acting Secretary to the Cabinet Roland Msiska announced yesterday in a statement that acting President Alexander Chikwanda declared the day of national mourning for Mr Manjata, 67, who would be buried tomorrow in Kaoma district after a Requiem Service at kaoma Evangelical Church in Zambia (ECZ), Mahilo 1 Church.
Body viewing for Lusaka mourners would be held today at 08.00 hours at Ideal Funeral Parlour while the national mourning period would run from 06.00 hours to 18.00 hours on the day of burial. Funeral gathering in Lusaka was being held at Farm No 2, New Kasama on Mukuyu Road off Leopards Hill Road.
Mr Manjata was born on March 5, 1945 and was promoted to the position of Cabinet minister on March 24, 2005, after serving as Deputy Minister in the ministry of Energy and Water Development from January 11, 2002 to 2005.
He also served as deputy minister in the ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services and ministry of Environment and natural Resources under the Chiluba administration in 1992 and 2001 respectively.
Last year he resigned from the MMD to join the PF. Annoucing his resignation from MMD in 2011 , Manjata, who was also the immediate past MMD parliamentarian for Luampa Constituency in Kaoma, said that he left the ruling party at the time because of frustrations.
“I have left MMD,” Manjata said. “I have joined PF because it is a very progressive party. Everyone is joining PF, why shouldn’t I?”
He leaves behind a wife, 17 children and more than 30 grandchildren.
Copperbelt University (CBU) students yesterday took to the street and blocked flow of traffic on Jambo-Drive where they placed stones and lit other objects like logs and tyres in protest against delayed meal allowances.
The protest which started around 17:30 hours caused commotion along Jambo-Drive where unsuspecting motorists driving to either to town or Riverside residential area had sort alternative routes.
A check along the road found scores of students gathered at the entrance of CBU premises where police in full riot gear and led by Riverside officer-in-charge George Zulul kept them at bay.
Copperbelt University Students Union (COBUSU) vice-president Gideon Mzamba and CBU public relations officer Grace Mikunga both confirmed the students’ protest which they attributed to delayed meal allowances.
The irate students who earlier around 16:00 hours had assembled at the famous mock-square for a general meeting where they resolved to take to the street only dispersed around 18:40 when police fired warning shots in the air.
Mr Mzamba said in an interview that the students at the general meeting unanimously resolved to protest against the delayed meal allowances.
“The students protest is over delayed meal allowance, which they were supposed to get last Friday but has been delayed,” Mr Mzamba said.
CBU Students Protesting
He said even pleas by the bursaries committee that meal allowance would be paid by today could not stop the students from protest as they this was one of the usual talks.
“We now fear that if the promise will not be fulfilled by tomorrow (today) the situation may get out of hand,” he said.
And Ms Mikunga who appealed doe calm said it was unfortunate that the students had resorted to taking the route of blocking traffic, which she feared to led to loss of private property.
She said there was no need for students to protest when they had been promised that they would start getting the meal allowances by today.
A senior government official in Northern Province has praised Barclays Bank Zambia for taking a leading role in providing capacity building to Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (SMEs) in the area.
Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary, Georgina Kasapatu, says improved financial literacy is vital in creating mutual business cooperation between commercial banks and their clients.
Mrs Kasapatu observed that empowering SME’s with information on how to manage
their businesses will result in growth of the business sector in Northern and Muchinga Provinces.
Mrs Kasapatu was speaking in Kasama over the weekend during a Business Financial Literacy and Business Planning workshop for SME’s organized by Barclays Bank Zambia.
She said the training toolkit that included materials on Accounting and Finance, Human Resource Management, Marketing and Sales and Business Planning will greatly enhance the efficiency of SMEs in the provinces.
She further urged participants to utilise the knowledge acquired from the training workshop to expand their business ventures.
And speaking at the same occasion, Barclays Bank Head of Local Business, Matildah Karimamusuma, said her bank was proud to be associated with the information sharing on business management with SMEs in Northern Province.
Meanwhile, a facilitator from Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Edwin Zulu, urged business men and women to put to good use the business management skills they had learnt from the training workshop.
Mr Zulu further urged the participants to operate their business ventures with a positive mindset into order to steer their businesses to prosperity.
The Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) in Sinazongwe district has called on government to seriously investigate the allegation of corruption against Maamba Hospital management.
Sinazongwe dsitrict FODEP Chairperson, David Wanda, said the recent protest that paralysed the operation of the hospital should be addressed.
Mr Wanda said this when he paid a courtesy call on Sinazongwe District Commissioner, Dodo Sindaza.
He said the protest that took place at the hospital is a wake-up call to government that not all is well at the only hospital in the district.
Mr Wanda pointed out that it is unfortunate that when President Michael Sata has declared zero tolerance to corruption, the health managers at the hospital are being accused of abuse of funds without being investigated.
“Investigative wings of government should come in to prove the allegations of abuse of public funds at Maamba hospital as there is no smoke without fire,” Mr Wanda said.
He noted that the hospital is also under-staffed, a situation that he said is contributing to the failure to offer better service to community.
The FODEP Chairperson observed that the hospital has been having no automatic switch for the generator for long time and K90 million is required to buy the damaged switch to save lives of people when there is power failure.
Mr Wanda also described the state of the general at the hospital as bad while the ceiling board of some buildings is falling off yet nothing is being done to address the situation when government has been sending funding to the hospital.
And the Sinazongwe District Commissioner said all the problems affecting Maamba hospital have been brought to the attention of the Provincial Medical Director who promised to address the situation.
Mr Dodo noted that government is interested to see that the welfare of the hospital operation is addressed.
Two weeks ago, Maamba hospital management offices were closed to save the institution from being damaged by the rioting community members over alleged abuse of government resource, unnecessary deaths at the hospital, and poor management.
File : Zambia Red Cross Society General Secretary Charles Mushitu (r) and public relations manager James Zulu (l) talk to journalists on the Haiti earthquake aid appeal in Lusaka
Zambia Red Cross Society (ZRCS) Acting Secretary General today told the Lusaka Magistrate Court that she had seen boreholes that were sunk in Choma and Sinazongwe for a Water and Sanitation project during an evaluation exercise that was conducted.
This is in a case in which the former Secretary General Charles Mushitu is jointly charged with former Finance Manager Sydney Chituta and is facing two counts of theft and money laundering involving K1.4 billion and for possessing an AK 47 assault rifle.
Mushitu and Chituta on dates unknown but between April 1, 2009 and September 30, 2009 in Lusaka, jointly and whilst acting together with others unknown being servants to Zambia Red Cross Society employed as Secretary General and Finance Manager, respectively, stole K1,417,467, 059.00, the property of the Society.
In the second count, the duo is charged with money laundering contrary to Section 7 of the prohibition and prevention of money laundering Act 74 of the Laws of Zambia.
Before Magistrate Mwaka Mikalile was Patricia Namuka 42, of Lusaka’s PHI area who is the witness in the matter told the court during cross examination that she does not know how the K1.4 billion was stolen and that she has not checked the account or the number of cheques that went into the account in her capacity as Secretary General at the society.
“As the evaluation team we found boreholes that were sunk in both Choma and Sinazongwe and there has not been any complaint from the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) over the boreholes,” she said.
Ms. Namuka also told the court that there has not been, up to date, an audit conducted on the account where the money in question was allegedly stolen.
She further told the court that she does not know how much money must have been stolen and how much money went into the project seeing that some boreholes were sunk in the two areas.
She, however, said that her role in this particular matter was only to sign a document called ‘cash forecast’ adding that her involvement in the matter was very minimal as she found that the project was already running.
Ms. Namuka explained to the court that a cash forecast is a document used to solicit for funds from the their offices in Johannesburg, South Africa and that she was not in a position to know if the request was honoured as she has no documents in her office in the matter.
When asked if she was aware that the IFRC and the Zambia Red Cross Society had reconciled the figures (K1.4 billion) and that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed after reconciling, she said she was not aware.
According to the defence team the purpose of the MoU was for the settlement of an outstanding amount of K488, 450,870 million from the Water and Sanitation project in Choma and Sinazongwe.
Ms. Namuka admitted that the IFRC has not demanded for the money in question and also admitted that representatives from both the IFRC and ZRCS had met in South Africa for one week to iron out the issues concerning the project.
President Sata with his entourage arrive in South Korea
President Michael Sata has arrived in Seoul, South Korea to begin a four-day working visit.
The President, who is accompanied by the First Lady Dr Christine Kaseba, arrived at Incheon International Airport about 17.35 hours local time (10.35 hours Zambian time) aboard a Korean Airlines commercial plane.
The President was received by the Chief of Protocol for the South Korean government Bae Jae Hyun, Commerce Trade and Industry Minister Bob Sichinga, and Honorary Consul for the South Korean government in Zambia Robinson Zulu.
ZANIS reports that President Sata was accompanied from Japan by Foreign Affairs Minister Given Lubinda, Agriculture and Livestock Minister Emmanuel Chenda, Tourism Minister Sylvia Masebo, Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations George Chellah and Zambia’s Ambassador to Japan, Mwelwa Chibesakunda.
While in Seoul, a tight schedule awaits President Sata as he will attend and give his key note inaugural speech to the Third Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation Forum, and address participants to the high profile Zambia/Korea business forum which has been organised by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
President Sata is the only African Head of State invited to address the prestigious Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation forum which will be attended by about 30 countries represented by their ministers.
The President will also hold high level bilateral talks with his Korean counter-part Lee Myung-Bak and Prime Minister Kim Hwang-Sik at the Blue House, the State House of Korea.
President Sata will also hold separate meetings with key executives of major Korean companies including Samsung electronics before proceeding to attend a dinner and luncheon hosted in his honour.
Meanwhile, the First Lady Dr Christine will visit the Seoul National University hospital, and Baihan Labtech which manufactures medical equipment.
Zambia’s songbird Maureen Lupo Lilanda has expressed happiness that African music is being appreciated in most developed nations such as in the United States of America.
In an interview with ZANIS, Maureen said it was important for Zambians to realise that they have all it takes to put Zambia on the world map if only they set their minds and priorities right.
She encouraged African artists to continue working hard in order to achieve their dreams.
Maureen explained that she has learnt a lot from the just ended Interfusion Music Summit such as how to integrate with artists of different cultures.
She called on Zambian artists to seriously start looking at how to compose music that traces back their roots.
Maureen recounted how she was received with overwhelming support when she stepped on stage and performed the Zambian traditional musical way.
She noted that she never expected the massive support which was accorded to her during the performance at Palm Springs Civic centre in California United States of America.
The female musical sensation expressed confidence that Zambia is on track in its marketing of the arts industry adding that everything is possible to make the best out of the industry.
The interfusion Music Summit which was held from October 4 to 7 at Palm Springs in California USA attracted a number of artists from around the globe.
Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) president Edith Nawakwi says she is not aware that President Michael Sata has intentions of appointing her to the position of Republican Vice President.
Ms Nawakwi said she has met the President on several occasions but at no time did he mention giving her a job in the Patriotic Front (PF) Government.
She said when she featured on the Sunday Interview on the Zambia National Broadcasting Services (ZNBC) Television that it is surprising that such an important office can be given to a citizen in the press.
Media reports especially on an online publication have suggested that President Sata wants to drop Vice President Guy Scott and replace him with the FDD leader.
Ms Nawakwi, however, dispelled the reports saying some people in the country were in the habit of trading rumours as a way of keeping themselves entertained.
She said there is a perception in the country that when one is in the opposition, they must do everything possible to demonstrate that those that are in Government are their enemies.
The FDD president said she does not subscribe to such kind of thinking saying it is the same line of thinking that has robbed the nation of the cost utilisation of ideas.
She said it is time that people changed the perception that when an opposition leader is seen with members of the ruling Government, then they were trying to defect.
And Ms Nawakwi said her party was still intact, and that suggestions that the party’s fortunes had dwindled under her leadership were only a perception.
She claimed that her party was still very strong despite only having one representative in parliament.
Opposition MMD national treasurer Mwansa Mbulakulima has described the 2013 nation budget as an elitist budget.
Mr. Mbulakulima who is also MMD Chembe Member of Parliament says there is nothing tangible in the budget for the poor people of Zambia.
He says it is unfortunate that the PF have completely shifted from addressing the challenges affecting the poor Zambians as promised prior to forming government.
Mr. Mbulakulima says the adjustments that have been made in the 2013 budget such as the removal of duty on carbonated drinks, mineral water, tax, and removal of interest rates on bank savings are all favoring people in the urban areas.
Meanwhile, Southern Province Patriotic Front Political Secretary Brian Hapunda says the PF in the province has received the national budget wholeheartedly describing it as a pro-poor budget which gives hope to the majority poor in the country.
In a statement released to Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in Lusaka, Mr Hapunda said his party in Southern province is convinced that the 2013 national budget under the PF government is a progressive and pro-poor budget that gives hope to many poor Zambians.
Mr Hapunda said his party in the province is happy to note that the government has prioritised the Agriculture, Education and Social Security sectors as some of the areas the government wants to improve in the 2013 national budget which has seen a favourable increase in funding to the sectors.
The Provincial Political Secretary says it is this approach by the government which gives his party hope and confidence that the 2013 national budget will uplift the living standard of the majority poor people.
Mr Hapunda also said the attentiveness and non passing of running comments by the opposition members of parliament during the presentation of the national budget in the house by the Finance Minister on Friday is a clear testimony that the budget is sober, progressive and well calculated to address many challenges faced by the majority poor Zambians.
Orlando Pirates coach Roger De Sa says Zambian striker Collins Mbesuma is making headway in improving his fitness levels.
De Sa was impressed by Mbesuma’s mobility on Friday during a friendly match that saw Pirates clinching a 2-0 win over Platinum Stars.
Mbesuma scored one of the goals while winger Daine Klate got the other.
“I am happy that a number of players got a run around because this was the aim of the match,” De Sa told KickOff.com.
“One cannot read too much into the result because this was not a League match. Still I am happy that Mbesuma is improving his fitness.
“I have never doubted Mbesuma’s scoring abilities. We are working on improving his fitness and he is making progress. He is showing a lot of commitment and has been doing a lot of work after training,” says De Sa.
“Happy Jele also played and this shows he has made progress in recovering from his injury. However, he is not completely ready for
competitive action but there is an improvement.”
The former Bidvest Wits coach says he is now focusing on making sure Pirates achieve a positive result when the play Black Leopards in the first round of the Telkom Knockout Cup next weekend.
Forest Rangers coach Weston Mumba says his team was unlucky to record a 1-1 draw against Nkana in Saturday’s Faz Super Division match at Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe.
Forest captain and central defender Musonda Mambwe scored a first half own goal before his team mate Owen Kaposa came off the substitute bench to equalise five minutes to full time.
In a post-match interview, Mumba said Nkana did not deserve to collect a point from the Week 28 fixture because they didn’t work for after benefitting from an own-goal scored by Mambwe.
He stated that Forest came to Kitwe to complete a double over Nkana having beaten Kalampa 3-1 in the earlier meeting at Dolla Hill in Ndola.
“In today’s game my boys did not play according to my expectations. We scored our own goal but were too confident that we will still beat Nkana but that is football,” he said.
“Our next game is against Nakambala Leopards on Wednesday and for us it is a must win game,” Mumba added.
MMD leader Nevers Mumba (in blue hat) being mobbed at Chawama Market in Solwezi
Management at First Inn in Mufumbwe where MMD President Nevers Mumba is lodging is under pressure to evict the opposition leader under instructions from the PF campaign team in the area.
Dr. Mumba and his campaign team have been accommodated at First Inn since arriving in Mufumbwe on Tuesday but are now facing eviction after the PF instructed management at the Lodge to evict them.
Lodge management confirmed that the PF threatened to mobilize hundreds of youths to forcefully evict Dr. Mumba and his team.
The unruly PF youths were blocked from getting near the Lodge after the police were called in to rescue the situation.
MMD Youth National Secretary Tobias Kafumukache accused the PF of creating an artificial shortage of accommodation in Mufumbwe in order to frustrate the MMD campaign which has gained momentum.
“What is happening here is that they are so scared of Dr. Mumba’s presence in the area and they have started intimating our supporters. At this stage, violence is imminent and we want to the police to remain vigilant,” Mr. Kafumukache said.
“Here at First Inn, they told management to send us out, we went to Bert Mushala’s Eclipse Lodge within the same area and management there also told us that they have received instruction to not allow anyone who is not PF to book a room,” he said.
Mr. Kafumukache said the unruly PF youths who have been transported mostly from the Copperbelt are bent on causing confusion.
“We have resolved that we are not going to check out our President (Dr. Mumba) from First Inn, these are just attempts to frustrate our campaigns because they have realized that they are losing Mufumbwe,” Mr. Kafumukache said.
Chiefs and Traditional Affairs Minister Professor Nkandu Luo has described as baseless, news reports that she will soon quit politics to take up a lucrative job with the United Nations.
Professor Luo who is also Munali PF MP said in an interview that she has no intentions of resigning her from government adding that such reports are concocted lies.
“Let me state that President Michael Sata is the one who appointed me to serve in his government and naturally he will be the first to be informed if at all there are such things,” Prof Luo said.
“I will continue serving the people of Munali until the five year mandate given to me elapses.”
She added, “It is really sad that Zambia is now becoming a country that thrives on lies, we lie every day and it is becoming normal. This story about me leaving government is another lie.”
Professor Luo cautioned the public to dismiss such reports with the highest levels of contempt it deserves.
President Sata meets Michijiro Kikawa Hitachi Chairman
President Michael Sata is expected to arrive in Seoul, South Korea today 15th October 2012 to attend two separate high level meetings hosted by the Korean government.
President Sata will attend the third Korea-African Economic Co-operation (KOAFECO) Forum from 16th to 18th October at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, and also the Zambia-Korea business forum which will run on the sidelines of the co-operation forum.
The Korea-Africa Economic Co-operation forum is a brainchild of former Korean President Roh Moo-Lyin launched in 2006 and is held once every three years focusing discussions on global security, development cooperation, trade and investment.
In attendance at the KOAFECO forum which is co-hosted by the African Union (AU) will be some selected African Heads of States and Government.
President Sata who is currently on an official visit to Japan, is expected to arrive at Incheon International airport in Seoul at 10.15 hours Zambian time to start a four-day working visit.
President Sata will attend and give a key note inaugural address to the third Korea-Africa Economic Co-operation forum scheduled 17th October at the Seoul Grand Hyatt hotel, and thereafter address the Korea/Zambia business forum.
The President will start his working visit on Tuesday with a tour of the KT Olleh square housing various Information Technology companies with a view to woe some of them to consider transferring their technology to Zambia by setting up manufacturing plants and create job opportunities.
Later in the day on Tuesday , President Sata, who will be accompanied by the First Lady Dr Christine Kaseba and senior government officials will be the guest of honour at the Korea/Zambia business seminar hosted by the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the prestigious Shilla hotel in Seoul.
President Sata will use the business forum which will be attended by influential Korean business houses including electronic giants Samsung and LG, as part of his continued campaign to sell Zambia as a safe investment destination in Southern Africa focusing on creating job opportunities especially for the unemployed youths.
The participation of private Korean companies in its economy has helped create jobs for millions of citizens and reduced the unemployment rate to below 4 per cent according to latest statistics.
The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry along with four other major Korean business associations will host a luncheon in honour of President Sata and his delegation soon after the seminar before the Head of State proceeds to have a high level meeting with the Executive Director of the world renowned Korean electronic engineering company, Samsung.
Later in the evening, President Sata and the First Lady are expected to attend an official dinner hosted by the Korean President Lee Myung Bak in honour of participants to the third Korea-Africa Economic Co-operation Forum at the Blue House, which is the State House of the Korean President.
On Wednesday, 17th October, President Sata will hold talks with Korean Prime Minister Kim Hwangsik on the sidelines of the third Korea-Africa Economic Co-operation Forum before attending the official opening ceremony at the Seoul Grand Hyatt hotel.
The President will also hold bilateral talks with his Korean counter-part at Cheong wa Dae at the Blue House soon after attending the opening ceremony of the forum before proceeding to attend a luncheon hosted by President Lee and the Korean First lady.
President Sata’s visit to Seoul will be punctuated by visits to some key historical attractions that make South Korea one of the most visited countries in the world. He will be taken on tour of the famous secret garden and thereafter to Samsung Electronics in Suwan region.
Before returning to Zambia on Thursday, the President will visit IS-Dongseo Terrace House Construction site to appreciate how Korea has resolved its housing deficit from which Zambia could learn some lessons that could help tackle her housing problem.
Meanwhile, a tight schedule also awaits the First Lady Dr Christine Kaseba during the working visit to South Korea on the sidelines of President Sata’s programme.
Dr Kaseba is on Tuesday scheduled to visit Baihan Labtech, a leading South Korean company that manufactures medical equipment and the Seoul National University hospital before finally attending a First Lady’s high level meeting and a luncheon.
The Patriotic Front in Mufumbwe district of North Western province have denounced violence and promised to restrain any attempt of violence that may be perpetrated by the opposition political parties participating in the forthcoming by elections.
Both PF candidate for the Mufumbwe seat Steven Masumba and Copperbelt PF Youth Secretary Chanda Kabwe have told ZANIS that their party will adhere to the electoral code of conduct and conduct their campaigns peacefully ahead of the pools.
And Mr Masumba said he has made adequate preparations to retain his seat following the many successful projects he and his PF party have implemented in the area.
Mr Masumba noted that since his election as Member of Parliament for Mufumbwe, he has worked on many developmental projects such as roads, schools and bore holes which he said was enough campaign for people to vote for his.
He also disclosed that his defection to the ruling party was in consultation with the traditional leaders in the area who wanted to work with the government of the day in order to bring development to their areas.
Meanwhile PF Copperbelt Province Youth Secretary who was also in Mufumbwe to drum support for the PF candidate said the PF camp will continue to conduct peaceful campaigns and called on opposition parties to emulate them.
He noted that the constituency cannot afford to witness another violent election after what happened in 2008 where lives were lost hence the need for participating parties to conduct their campaigns peacefully.
Contesting the by-election whose nominations took place on Thursday last week is PF’s Stephen Masumba, Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) candidate Stanford Mulusa, and Stephen Kamwendo of the United Independence Party (UNIP).
The Mufumbwe parliamentary by-election is scheduled to take place on Thursday, November 8, 2012.
