Agriculture Minister Emmanuel Chenda has said that government has exhausted the K300 billion budgetary allocation for the crop marketing exercise. Mr. Chenda said that this is because the Food Reserve Agency-FRA has bought maize beyond the budgeted funds.
The Minister was speaking in an interview with ZNBC news in Lusaka on yesterday. He explained that government has authorized the FRA to borrow money for buying maize from farmers.
Mr. Chenda said that he was hopeful that all the farmers will be paid by the end of next month. He said that government was doing everything possible to ensure that it does not carry forward arrears into next year.
Meanwhile, Vice President Guy Scot has said that Government is determined to make Zambia the food basket for the Southern African region.
Dr. Scott said that the agriculture sector has the potential to significantly contribute to the country’s Gross Domestic Product-GDP.
He says that is why more investment is been channeled to the sector to establish more livestock disease control centers and revamping state ranches.
The Vice President was speaking on Tuesday during the 63rd Session of the Executive Committee of the African-Asian Rural Development Organisation-AARDO in Lusaka.
Dr Scot says this in a speech read for him by Deputy Minister in the Vice President’s Office Harry Kalaba.
And Youth and Sports Minister Chishimba Kambwili says in a speech ready for him by his Deputy Nathaniel Mubukwanu that Zambia is proud to host the AARDO regional office.
And AARDO President Ambassador Ahmed Kheir says his organisation considers tackling rural poverty as a priority.
Clearing and forwarding agents at Victoria Falls and Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) port office in Livingstone have continued with their strike action and are calling for the resignation of ZRA assistant Commissioner, Moses Mfune.
A check by ZANIS at the port office found clearing agents outside the offices.
The clearing agents are accusing the assistant commissioner of massively increasing the evaluation charge.
An agent, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that they will not go back to work until Mr Mufune resigns from his position.
He said the assistant commissioner is accusing the agents of fraud by having two invoices.
The agent wondered why ZRA in Nakonde border was charging less than in Livingstone when the goods being cleared were the same.
“How can a Toyota corolla in Nakonde be charged at K8 million while here it is K12 million? That’s not fair on the part of our clients, “he said.”
And at the Victoria Falls border post, clearing agents were found not working with imports not entering the country.
When contacted for a comment, Mr Mfune said Government had been losing a lot of revenue through fraudulent activities of the clearing agents, saying about K 16 billion had been lost from January 2012 to date.
Mr Mfune said it was very difficult to know the bases of the protest and that the clearing agents had been forging their entries and that the ZRA system had proved the forgery.
“Government is losing K16,574,012,688.56 through the devaluing of the goods that they are clearing at the ZRA port office,” he said.
The Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) in Kaoma district has appealed to all the Lozi speaking people to maintain peace and order in Western province.
Induna Francis Noyo, who was accompanied by Induna Angulu, made the appeal on behalf of the Ngambela (prime minister), Clement Sinyinda, when he officially opened the 16thanniversary celebrations of His Royal Highness, Senior Chief Amukena II (the second) of Kaoma district held at his Naliele palace grounds over the weekend.
Mr Sinyinda said Western Province is endowed with rich soils that could improve the living standards of the people in all the districts if fully harnessed.
And speaking earlier, Senior chief Amukena the second, acting Imangabwa (prime minister) Namushi Nyambe of Naliele palace appealed to the Barotse Royal Establishment to construct a rural health centre at the palace.
Senior chief Amukena the second complained that many mothers and children were finding it difficult to access medical services due to long distances.
He was speaking through Acting Imangabwa Namushi Nyambe.
Senior Chief Amukena said since the Naliele palace was established in 1937 in Kaoma district it has not seen much development, adding that up to now the palace has not yet been electrified.
He complained that he and his subjects were sharing contaminated water with domestic animals from shallow wells since the only borehole at the palace broke down in 1967 and has not been repaired.
The three days anniversary ceremony was attended by Kaoma District Commissioner, Joster Manjolo, Heads of government Departments and parastatal organizations and several other Indunas among others.
Minister of Finance and National Planning Alexander Chikwanda
Finance Minister, Alexander Chikwanda today moved a motion in Parliament to constitute the Public Accounts Committee for the Second Session of the Eleventh National Assembly.
The Finance Minister presented to the Speaker of National Assembly nine names of Members of Parliament who he believes will dedicatedly discharge their duties as Public Accounts Committee Members.
Mr Chikwanda nominated Chipangali MP, Vincent Mwale, Chitambo MP, Malama Mushili, Luena MP, Mulumemui Imenda and Bangueulu MP, Matafwali Chifita.
Others nominated include Chembe MP, Mwansa Mbula Kulima, Kamfinsa MP, Moses Chishimba, Bweengwa MP, Highvie Hamududu, Bangweulu MP, Matafwali Chifita, Lubasenshi MP, Patrick Mucheleka and Mwembeshi MP, Milambo Austin.
Mr Chikwanda said the constituting of the public accounts committee is in line with the Patriotic Front Government commitment during the First Session of the National Assembly that it will not condone abuse of public resources and corruption in the country.
He stated that the PF Government remains committed to improving the lives of many Zambians in the country, adding that Government will ensure that Public Funds are accounted to the satisfaction of all Zambians.
Mr Chikwanda thanked the previous Public Accounts Committee for their dedicated service in ensuring that there is prudent accountability of Public resources.
He also said Government has embarked on capacity building and orientation programmes at top management levels of the public service, especially among controlling officers.
And the Finance Minister further revealed that Government has embarked on various reforms aimed at enhancing efficiency in the collection of Non-Tax Revenue, reduction in abuse and misappropriation of public funds.
Mr Chikwanda also revealed that Government has approved Policy changes in the management of imprest, adding that this is aimed at eliminating abuse of imprest by public officers.
PRESIDENT Michael Sata will not spare anyone, including high ranking officials in his Government, if they engage in corruption. This is according to a press statement made available to the media and signed by Chief Government Spokesperson, Kennedy Sakeni.
In the statement Mr Sakeni further warned that civil servants in particular should take note that they would not be spared if they engaged in corrupt activities or acted as conduits of corruption simply because some of their collaborators could be high ranking officials.
Below is the full Statement
PRESS STATEMENT
GOVERNMENT would like to remind all national leaders and public servants that His Excellency Mr Michael Chilufya Sata’s call for a spirited fight against corruption is not limited to the former regime and the dirt it engaged in.
This administration has undertaken to fight corruption whenever and wherever it is found. Therefore, the President will not spare anyone found acting corruptly or entertaining corrupt instructions. Civil Servants in particular should take note that they will not be spared if they engage in corrupt activities or act as conduits of corruption simply because some of their collaborators may be high ranking officials.
Make no mistake; no civil servant is obliged to carry out instructions that amount to corruption. If a minister or indeed anybody senior in Government requests a junior officer to do something unlawful, they should not do it.
If they decide to participate in the corruption they will only have themselves to blame when they are fired and later on prosecuted.
On the Roads Development Agency (RDA), the President has decided to take the unprecedented decision to assume direct oversight over the RDA because there are unscrupulous people who have been trying to use his name to acquire Government contracts at the expense of delivering quality services to our people.[pullquote] Make no mistake; no civil servant is obliged to carry out instructions that amount to corruption. If a minister or indeed anybody senior in Government requests a junior officer to do something unlawful, they should not do it.[/pullquote]
In taking oversight over RDA, the President wants all the procedures and processes meant to protect public resources and deliver sound infrastructure development to our people to be fully observed. The President wishes to assure the public that in doing so he is within his full legal rights and privileges as Head of State and will work to respect the mandate that our people have given him.
The impression created by opposition UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema on this matter is deliberately misleading and opportunistic. If Mr. Hichilema was a beneficiary of the RDA in the manner it was supervised and operated previously, then hard luck to him. Mr. Hichilema should be the last person to school Government on good corporate governance; knowing fully well the ethical eyebrows raised by the manner in which he handled the privatisation of various parastatals.
Unlike him, President Sata’s record in public service is spotless and at no point has he ever extracted personal benefits at the expense of the general citizenry when mandated to preside over a specific national programme.
Issued By: Hon. Kennedy Sakeni Minister of Information and Broadcasting and Chief Government Spokesperson
Keagan Mumba says there will be no excuses for the Zambia Under-20 to lose to Mali on Friday.
Zambia Under-20 and Mali clash in a must-win 2013 African Youth Championship final leg qualifier in Bamako.
Mumba said prior to departure on Tuesday that the Under-20 team had received a lot of support for them not to fail in their quest to qualify for next March finals in Algeria.
“I have never seen any junior team receiving such massive support from Faz,” Mumba said.
“They have really supported us and they even brought senior national team coaches to assist. For sure we will have no excuse if we lose this time around.”
Herve Renard and his assistant Patrice Beaumelle will be part of the Zambia Under-20 bench in Bamako.
Zambia and Mali are tied at 2-2 from the first leg game played n September 22 at Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe.
Uganda Cranes’ preparations for the Nations Cup qualifier against Zambia suffered a set-back after Sudan pulled out of a friendly scheduled for this weekend in Kampala.
Unconfirmed reports indicate the Sudanese have instead opted for a friendly against a West African country.
Cranes coordinator Crispus Muyinda confirmed the development to SuperSport.com. “It is true the friendly is off but I have not yet got all the details.”
This once again leaves Cranes to face Zambia in the Nations Cup qualifier on October 13 without playing any international friendly.
This is not the first time Cranes’ scheduled friendlies are called off at the 11th hour this year. A friendly against Egypt was aborted in the run-up to Angola and one away to Malawi fell through before Uganda travelled to Zambia for the first leg.
But Cranes coach Bobby believes this will not affect the team’s preparations. “I don’t think it will,” he said, “We’ll just continue working with these guys and keep on improving.
“We’ll have another game against local opposition, probably the under 23s, before the Zambia game and see how it goes. We should have it probably Saturday or Sunday.”
The Cranes continue training at the Namboole side pitch ahead of the crucial game next weekend.
They will have to score two without reply against the African champions to qualify for the 2013 Nations Cup in South Africa.
File:Some flooded houses and yards during the start of the rainy season in Lusaka
Government has appealed to residents of flood prone areas of Lusaka district to relocate before the onset of the rains.
Deputy Minister in the Office of the Vice President, Harry Kalaba, made the appeal in Lusaka today during the ‘Wash your hands with soap’ sensitization programme.
Mr Kalaba observed that unplanned settlements are one of the major factors that have hindered government in the delivery of social services to the residents of Lusaka.
He said this has led to residents building houses in quarries that flood during the rainy season and tenants are the most affected.
The Deputy Minister observed that if this campaign is promoted it will drastically reduce the cholera epidemic which affects many compounds in the city.
Mr Kalaba further called on the residents of Lusaka to improve on sanitation, hygienic habits and behavioural change.
Mr Kalaba said government will endeavour to promote good health services to the people through education of the dangers of indiscriminate disposal of waste and garbage.
Over 75 fuel tankers which were scheduled to enter Zambia this morning from the port of Dar-es-salaam through Tunduma on the border with Nakonde are marooned on the Tanzanian side.
This is because business has come to a standstill at Nakonde border in Muchinga Province following a protest by customs clearing agents .
The agents are protesting to press for the removal of assistant commissioner for the Zambia Revenue Authority-ZRA Mundia Sibote for alleged inefficiency and frustrating the process of collecting revenue.
Meanwhile, police in full riot gear have been deployed at the Nakonde customs yard.
The customs agents have also cited the alleged increase in the duty values for vehicle clearance, among other operational issues
Both Nakonde District Commissioner James Singoyi and Zambia Freight and Forwarders Association (ZAFFA) national chairman Emmanuel Mutale have confirmed the development in separate interviews with the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in Chinsali today.
Mr. Singoyi said in a telephone interview that he has since summoned representatives of the clearing agents to his office to discuss how best the matter can be resolved.
And ZAFFA national chairman Emmanuel Mutale said it is unfortunate that his members have decided to protest without informing the national office.
Mr. Mutale told ZANIS in an interview that he was informed by one of the agents at the border this morning about the protests adding that his office is still waiting for a briefing from the district chairman in Nakonde, a Mr. Mbulo.
Mr. Mutale advised his members to find a better way of sorting out issues other than resorting to protests which affect the smooth collection of revenue by the ZRA.
“Yes, I can confirm to you that customs clearing agents at Nakonde border have staged a protest but we are yet to receive a full report on the matter,” said Mr. Mutale.
And one of the agents who declined to be named for fear of victimization said work at the border has literally come to a standstill.
The agent said about 75 fuel tankers which were about to cross into Zambia have been turned back and they are currently parked at Tunduma border.
He added that newly imported vehicles are also not being allowed to enter Zambia from Tunduma border.
Efforts to get a comment from ZRA assistant commissioner Mr Sibote failed by press time.
Yesterday, customs clearing agents in Kazungula also protested to press for the removal of the assistant commissioner Moses Mfune for allegedly hiking tariffs for vehicle clearance.
Leader of the opposition UPND Hakainde Hichilema has described Zambia’s issuance of a USD 750 million Eurobond as the country’s biggest financial scam.
And NAREP President Elias Chipimo has challenged the Ministry of Finance to disclose how much was paid to the book runners, lead arrangers and transaction advisers for the sovereign bond.
Mr. Hichilema said Zambians are being made to celebrate the acquisition of a sovereign debt which he said will eventually cost the nation.
He said Zambia may only benefit around USD 450 million from the reported USD 750 million when transaction fees and amortization are considered.
Mr. Hichilema was speaking this morning when he featured on Radio Phoenix’s Let the People Talk radio programme on the topic, “the role of the opposition in a democracy.”
“This is the biggest financial scam that Zambia has ever seen. The PF is celebrating Kaloba because they have a huge appetite for reckless borrowing,” Mr. Hichilema said.
Mr. Hichilema said Zambians should realize that the country has the potential to realize over USD 700 million from mining revenue if a properly structured tax regime for the mines were in place.
“With simply a windfall tax in place and the revised mineral loyalty tax, this country could have raised close to a billion dollar from mines but this government is failing to think in those lines because it does not have capacity,” he said.
And NAREP President Elias Chipimo wants the Ministry of Finance to disclose the full details of the Eurobond transaction.
Mr. Chipimo who called for prudent use of the funds said Zambians deserved to know the real cost of acquiring the sovereign debt.
“They have to tell us how much was paid to the lead arrangers and the book runners including all the technical people that helped with this process,” Mr. Chipimo said.
“It’s a call for transparency, we want this government to give us the true cost of this debt so that Zambians could follow through. The late Mwanawasa worked so hard to reduce a huge external debt from around USD 7 billion to almost negligible levels and we should guard against sliding back into that position,” Mr. Chipimo said.
File picture: 2010 PF cadres block Ridgeway road by sleeping on the tarmac outside the Drug Enforcement Commission offices
Here is my school of thoughts of Zambian politics in general.As we all know that success is not built on resentments, aggrieved feelings caused by a sense of having been badly treated and fear of unknown but, is built on moral courage, tact, enthusiasm and passionate interest including the eagerness of delivering on what the masses would want to see, and diplomacy.
I very much aware that, I’ll receive serious criticism from both the ruling and opposition party bloggers on this great site where neutral persons would wish to air their views.
Aggression is the focus of poor politics and aggression in the first instance is armed attack which violates a political opponent’s rights and in the most critical instance, is an armed attack which violates human rights of people to live in security and freedom.
Both the ruling and opposition parties have decided to turn the Zambian people as victims of political circumstances recently.Hence justice and state rights has been seriously violated. The minimally just societies have been seriously affected with selfish political characters from the ruling and opposition parties.
How politicians have affected ordinary Zambians
The first thing that is affecting the neutral Zambians is their recognition in this nation due to political parties assuming ‘the above the law ‘supremacy and not allowing the citizen a peaceful life style.
Second, is that people’s moral and legal rights have ceased due to a lost political sovereignty caused by an undistinguishable line between the ruling and opposition parties.Currently I do not know who is in the opposition, shame.
Third, is the national integrity has seriously been violated left,right and center hence making it very difficult for the Zambian people to distinguish between fools and normal politicians.
In view of the aforesaid, the human rights theory on how society should be shaped is thinner, more inaccessible, and above all, more widely beneficial to rivalry doctrine on political legitimacy.[pullquote]national integrity has seriously been violated left,right and center hence making it very difficult for the Zambian people to distinguish between fools and normal politicians.[/pullquote].
It is thinner because, politicians focus only on the most elemental aspects of good personal gains, leaving everything above the baseline to disarray.
Human rights stand to benefit everyone but in Zambia people like GBM, HH, and other few characters overlook this aspect and violate us.
What form of politics is this were none of these fellows has respect for the Zambian communities?
Useless politics and the country is heading for doom should we fail to resolve this chaotic environment. The council of elders is seriously found wanting. Many of you might be thinking am crazy no am not but am referring to the so called House of chiefs to be the council of elders. These traditional leaders are actual doing nothing and are just busy posing as great thinkers of the nation when they are just seeing politicians taking our country backwards.
Therefore, if the chief cannot sit down the ruling and opposition parties and harmonize things, then let them not be receiving a salary for just moving
around in tax payers vehicles.
In fact they should be no minister looking after these chiefs because they are more matured and can simply decide on their own if they want
to contribute to the development of the nation.
Ruff Kid has been nominated at this year’s BEFFTA AWARDS UK under Best International Act where is nominated alongside Zahara, Camp Mulla, Cover Driver, D’banji and Grace Galazy .
Voting starts on the 7th October and end on Sunday 21st October.
Police in Lusaka have arrested a 32 year old man believed to be Musician Kay Figo’s brother in connection with a robbery at the business premises of Kay’s ex-lover, 60 year old Jon Van.
The two former love birds are entangled in a bitter feud with Kay suing Van for compensation for wasting her time after the Australian born business man allegedly failed to honour his marriage proposal.
Yesterday, Francis Kangwa, believed to be Kay’s brother was arrested by Chawama Police and was charged with theft by servant after he allegedly masterminded the robbery of iron bars valued at K33 million from Rock Pro Steel, the business premises owned by Mr. Van where Kangwa worked.
Police Spokesperson Elizabeth Kanjela confirmed the development in an interview this morning.
This afternoon, 26-year-old Kayula Bwalya, popularly known by her fans as Kay Figo will be back in court where she has dragged Mr. Van to give her a house and a car following irreconcilable differences that have led to their love affair coming to a crashing and bitter end.
Kay reportedly caused a stir last Friday at the Lusaka Boma Local Court when her compensation case came up.
The facts before the court are that because she lived with Mr. Van and now things have fallen apart, she must be paid for the time she put into the relationship.
The ruling PF is said to have mobilized hundreds of its youth cadres to beat up MMD Mwandi MP Michael Kaingu as he enters Parliament this afternoon.
But the MMD says over 2,000 of its cadres have offered to protect Mr. Mwandi from the PF cadres.
And Mr. Kaingu has appealed to Lusaka Province Police Commissioner Solomon Jere to send officers to protect him saying he is very vulnerable and cannot defend himself.
Intelligence reports show that the PF’s provincial leadership in Lusaka has mobilized the youths to go and block Mr. Kaingu’s entry into Parliament grounds and later beat him up.
The PF youths are apparently angered by Mr. Mwandi’s action in Parliament recently when he tore President Michael Sata’s speech.
The youths are planning to beat up the Parliamentarian as a way of showing displeasure over Mr. Kaingu’s behavior.
But the MMD says its youths in Lusaka will not sit idle and watch their Vice President being beaten up by the PF cadres.
MMD National Youth Secretary Tobias Kafumukache said the youths have mobilized themselves are gearing up to protect Mr. Kaingu at Parliament this afternoon.
He said over 2,000 of the MMD cadres will be in hand to protect Mr. Mwandi at Parliament.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kaingu said in Lusaka that he has asked Lusaka Police Chief Solomon Jere for protection.
He said he is vulnerable and cannot protect himself at his advanced age.
The Mwandi MP maintained that he does not regret tearing up the speech because he believes that the speech that people are saying President Sata delivered is not the one that he tore up.
“My body, my soul and my fresh was alive when I made that decision to tear up that speech and I don’t regret my actions. The integrity and decorum of the House needs to be protected,” Mr. Kaingu said.
