Join our community of SUBSCRIBERS and be part of the conversation.
To subscribe, simply enter your email address on our website or click the subscribe button below. Don't worry, we respect your privacy and won't spam your inbox. Your information is safe with us.
The Patriotic Front has pledged to ensure that Zambians benefit from the rich mineral resources the country is endowed with.
PF representative Bob Sichinga has said that the PF in government will not allow a situation where the country’s mineral resource does not benefit the Zambian people.
Mr. Sichinga said that PF will relook at the taxation system for mining companies in order to ensure that mining companies pay according to the profits being made.
He further added that the Michael Sata led PF government party will ensure that the national budget is also re-aligned.
Mr. Sichinga was speaking on a live MUVI TV discussion programme monitored by QFM last evening.
And speaking on the same programme, UPND aspiring parliamentary candidate for Katuba Jonas Shakafuswa said the UPND will ensure that more emphasis is placed on health delivery in the country.
Mr. Shakafuswa noted that there is a lot of wastage of resources by the government which has resulted in other sectors being affected.
GOVERNMENT has released K3.2 billion to Kawambwa District in Luapula in a bid to overhaul the water system and improve piped water supply and sanitation.
Luapula Province Permanent Secretary, Stephen Bwalya disclosed the development in Kawambwa yesterday when he officiated at this year’s Chishinga Malaila traditional ceremony for Senior Chief Mushota.
Mr Bwalya said the Government was aware about the critical water shortages that residents of Kawambwa had been facing for a long time. He said the whole water reticulation system would be revamped.
Mr Bwalya said Luapula Water and Sewerage Company (LWASCO) had notified his office of its inability to improve the water reticulation system in Kawambwa.
In a related development, Mr Bwalya said people in some parts of Kawambwa District were still facing poor communication services despite Airtel and MTN mobile phone services putting up masts in the area.
He attributed the problems of poor mobile phone services to congestion because most people had acquired cell phones.
Mr Bwalya said it was the duty of the Government to ensure that people were able to communicate without facing problems.
He also the rural electrification programme was still on and that the Government was making efforts to connect rural areas with electricity.
He assured the Chishinga people that all the problems will be addressed under the leadership of President Rupiah Banda.
And Kawambwa District Commissioner Geshom Tanga thanked the Government for addressing concerns of the residents.
He said that he was happy about the numerous development projects that the Government had done for Kawambwa.
Meanwhile, some residents of Kawambwa have expressed happiness over Government’s decision to end the water crisis in the district.
Peter Chota said it was encouraging to see how the MMD Government was tackling important issues affecting the people in the area. He said he was happy that the district would now have piped water.
Another resident, Chibwe Mupeta said she was happy that the Government had gone to the rescue of the residents by addressing water shortages.
Father Frank Bwalya places one his red ribbons on former MMD chairperson for Lands Judith Kapijimpanga when she defected to the opposition PF
POLICE on the Copperbelt have summoned Get Involved Zambia director, Frank Bwalya for questioning concerning his recent political activities.
Copperbelt police chief, Martin Malama confirmed the summoning of Father Bwalyae but could not state exactly why he had been summoned. He said Fr Bwalya was expected to present himself to the Copperbelt divisional headquarters at 10:30 hours today.
Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde last Friday warned politicians and members of the public against circulating information that could endanger national security.
According to ZNBC news monitored in Ndola, Mr Kabonde told a Press briefing in Lusaka that the police would deal firmly with anyone found spreading rumours that could incite violence.
He dismissed allegations by Kanyama Patriotic Front candidate Gerry Chanda that the ruling MMD had invited soldiers from Zimbabwe for reinforcements ahead of the September 20, 2011 tripartite elections.
And MMD and Patriotic Front (PF) cadres have been detained at Ndola Central police station over a case of threatening violence which occurred on Saturday night at Mixed Doubles Bar and Restaurant in the city centre.
Those detained are Alex Mubanga, who is commonly known as Shimpundu pa Nkoloko, 53, an MMD member of house number 1091, Lubuto Township in Ndola, and a 27-year-old PF member, George Mutale of house number 8, Bwana Mkubwa.
Dr Malama confirmed the detention of the two political party cadres to help the police with investigations in a matter of threatening violence.
“I can confirm that an MMD cadre called Mubanga, popularly known as Shimpundu pa Nkoloko and Mutale, a PF cadre are both detained in police custody at Ndola Central police station to help us with investigations in a case of threatening violence which occurred at Mixed Doubles on Saturday night,” he said.
In a related incident, a PF cadre, Nonde Dickson Pende, aged 47, of Kamuchanga Township in Mufulira was detained in police custody for threatening violence. Dr Malama said in both incidents, machetes were confiscated andt the three would soon appear in court soon.
[Times of Zambia]
literary born on the battle field ,Conan quickly develops innate warrior skills that his father teaches him to control. When his village is attacked, an evil tyrant, Zym(Stephen Lang) claims a piece of a necrotic mask that will bring his dead sorceress wife back and enable him to rule the world. Conan’s father possessed this piece and is killed in the process. Years later Conan grows to become a fierce warrior and crosses continents to find the tyrant and avenge his fathers death, while the tyrant searches for a pure blood, the only descendant who can bring the mask to life.
PROS
Jason Momoa did a good job portraying the barbarian .
The battle scenes were epic and gory , fans of action movies will love this.
Morgan Freeman was a good choice to do the narration in the beginning of the movie.
CONS
The plot was too predictable there were no surprises.
The acting in this movie can be described as wooden
some of the characters were not properly developed and seemed unnecessary, like the thief Ela-Shan (Said Taghmaoui) .
FAVORITE QUOTE Conan – I live ,I love , I slay , am content
RATING
3 out of 5
CONCLUSION
I would not go as far as to say that this movie was a disappointment , but it was quite underwhelming. It was jam packed with fierce extravagant action sequences with heads, limbs being dismembered by swords and axes , but it lacks a good story. The best acting and character development through the movie was by Marique(Rose McGowan) .It was interesting to watch her try to please her father ,Zym(Stephen lang) as they try to resurrect the spirit of her dead mother. Marique tells Zym that she will soon be a more powerful sorceress then her mother was. Zym dismisses her and that sub-plot ends there……. that was lazyness on the part of the writers , as that could have added a twist to the overall plot of the movie.
It is a good saturday- afternoon- movie but it will not live long in the memory.
'Onani nsomba mu Kariba' - a Sinazongwe fisherman with his children on Lake Kariba
By Dr. Charles Ngoma
One good thing that one can have in life, is optimism. It is optimism that helped our fathers to fight colonialism and expect to be able to wrest power from the United Kingdom and set on a path to self determination and universal sufferage. By midnight, 23rd October 1964, Zambians were poised to face the future with joyous optimism that the country would be better off being ruled by its own native peoples and of their choice. The promises of free education, free health care and ‘an egg a day for breakfast’ elevated the spirits of our people. I was young then but I can well remember with what enthusiasm independence from Britain was greeted in 1964. From that day onwards, as school children, we looked forward to independence day more than to Christmas. We were all one Zambia and one nation. Our football fields hosted various celebrations on each successive independence day and we were treated to buns, biscuits and soft drinks to quench our thirst in the seering heat of the October sun. We watched traditional dances, military bands and several different competitions with football being the climax of the events in the late afternoon. It was always a joy to celebrate independence!
Shortly after independence, there was something else to look forward to, the public ownership of the means of production. The state took over the mines, the super stores, the public transport system and many other areas of economic activity. Private nursing homes were outlawed and we all went to the state or Church owned hospitals and schools. Things were looking good. We sung ‘Dziko la Zambia ndilapamwamba (the land of Zambia is rich)’ ‘Onani nsomba mu Kariba… kopa mumigodi…(look at the fish in Kariba… copper in the mines)’ Inspite of the attacks from a vastly superior military force from the south, we were proud of our military men and women in uniform. Our own crop of pop stars sung ‘tiyeni tiyamike masoja athu; Smith walephera kulowa mu Zambia (let us extol our soldiers; Smith has failed to enter Zambia) and that in spite of the fact that the Selous scouts were walking into Zambia at will!
[pullquote]We sung ‘Dziko la Zambia ndilapamwamba (the land of Zambia is rich)’ ‘Onani nsomba mu Kariba… kopa mumigodi…(look at the fish in Kariba… copper in the mines)[/pullquote]
20 years after independence, discontentment began to set in. Few of our people decided to take up arms to overthrow the government and bring in a new system, but they did not succeed because the majority of the Zambian people were happy with the status quo. I do not understand how we all generally appeared so happy and content with the diminishing returns from our investment in UNIP in general and Dr Kaunda in particular. There may have been the fear of the invisible force of the secret intelligence unit. There were rumours of people disappearing, but I have no personal knowledge of anyone. The only trouble spot was the University of Zambia. Every now and then students got into cock-fights with the State. The State would close the institution, send the students packing and while everyone was away, round up the student leaders and read the riot act to them. When UNZA reopened, everything was quiet and back to normal.
In general, there was optimism among the public that things would get better. We genuinely loved Dr Kaunda and whether forced to or not, we lined up the streets to have a glimpse of the man or even perhaps shake his hand. There was that aura of authority about him that just endeared him to us. Dr Kaunda is charming and however you look at the man, he has a way of having his own way without you feeling he has wronged you.
Late 1980’s, the Emperor was found to have no clothes and the optimism of over two decades temporarily melted away and Zambians opened their eyes to reality. It was not entirely Dr Kaunda’s fault, but we had austerity programs thrust upon us from the financial oligarchs that it was clear to survive we needed to ditch the captain. That we did in 1991. A former Trade Unionist standing at less than 5 feet brought a new optimism into the country. Indeed, there was so much goodwill world wide that we could expect things to get better, and get better they did but not after much more suffering of the people.
The last 20 years have seen lives getting better for Zambians in many ways. Notwithstanding the high death rate and child mortality, the population has continued to grow at one of the highest rates in the world. For the first time, Zambia has a growing economy at about 6%, inflation in single digits and numerous jobs are and have been created over the last 10 years. There is money everywhere, going by the infrastructure developments taking place in the cities. The only difference this time round is that there is a dearth of optimism among the people. This is what happens in a capitalist economy. The rich get richer while the poor get poorer. The only way that Zambians can begin to benefit from the economic boom, is the creation of a welfare state.
I am one totally against feeding lazy and good for nothing people, but for Zambia the time has come to tax the ‘haves’ in order to provide for the ‘haves not.’ This welfare state may take many forms but in general, it must provide for the vulnerable in our society. I cannot accept that we have $2.5 billion in surplus and yet thousands of street children are sleeping on rough and dusty pavements and going hungry night after night. The Zambian people have never violently risen up in arms to overthrow their rulers, but have borne with fortitude and dignity all the austerity measures that were thrust upon them, barring a few riots here and there. The Zambian worker has been called all sorts of names as being lazy and sometimes corrupt, but our workers still trawl to their desks on empty stomachs, our teachers still teach in dilapidated classrooms, our nurses still serve their patients in hospitals without drugs and facilities and our police officers still fight crime with very limited resources. Most Zambians take home a pay package that can hardly take them through the month and they come to the end of the salary before the month ends.
[pullquote]I cannot accept that we have $2.5 billion in surplus and yet thousands of street children are sleeping on rough and dusty pavements and going hungry night after night.[/pullquote]
Usually it is people who enter public office who are praised as serving the country, but this is not the case at all. So far, it looks like many enter public service to enrich themselves and to set themselves above the law and above every one else. Members of Parliament are the only employees who determine their own remuneration without regard to production and efficiency. Then there is the ‘do you know who I am’ syndrome that they want to use to get away with murder! The politicians who travel out of the country and bring in personal goods without paying duty must be named and shamed by our hard working Customs officers. It is the ordinary Zambian worker who is serving the country and it is this worker who must be praised. When he comes to retirement he must be allowed to spend the rest of his life on a decent pension and live his life in pride and dignity. Many are forced to scrounge and depend on their offspring to provide for them. For God’s sake, these men and women built our country, taught our leaders and is this the way to reward them? Meanwhile, politicians are given a hefty gratuity and at retirement some are provided with all the creature comforts they need, though some were even responsible for bringing us to this pretty pass!
‘Tukaba bwino kuntanshi’ so the saying goes. We have been and we still are a very optimistic people. Many a foreign visitor to Zambia has testified about the warmth and smiles of Zambians. Zambians are not grumpy and ill tempered and we should not be made to change simply because someone wants us to wake up one morning and be angry people that we are not. As we go to the polls in just a few weeks time, let the people who want to lead us cultivate but not abuse the optimism of Zambians by fulfilling their promises, serving diligently and in national interest. Do not take the optimism for granted. It is time that Zambians were rewarded for what they have endured all these years and receive a good return from their investment deposited in 1964.
I can only reiterate the words spoken to Abraham Lincoln after the civil war, ‘these men served the nation and now the nation must serve them.’
File:Chipata slums residents protesting against illegal land allocation in Lusaka. This was at the MMD Lusaka district offices
The ruling Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) has warned that it will not defend any of its cadres found in the illegal allocation of plots.
MMD national secretary Richard Kachingwe says the MMD is a party of laws noting that it would never defend any culprits even if they are party cadres.
Recently, MMD Kanyama aspiring parliamentary candidate Yohane Mwanza stated on Muvi TV’s meet your MP programme, that MMD cadres have the right to allocate land because officers at the ministry of land are not doing their job.
Major Kachingwe says land in the country is under the Republican president and only administered by the commissioner of lands stating that no one has the authority to allocate land.
He said in an interview that party cadres are mere ordinary citizens who also have to follow the rightful procedures in acquiring a land.
MMD youths have denounced violence and have called on their colleagues in other parties to do the same. MMD Lusaka province youth chairperson, Chris Chalwe has also urged young people not to engage in violence during and after the 2011 elections.
Mr Chalwe said that MMD youths will not be protected by the law when found wanting despite belonging to the ruling party. He was speaking in a walk in interview in Lusaka yesterday.
And the Provincial Youths of the Central Committee of the United Party for National Development-UPND in central Province has urged all political parties taking part in this year’s elections to desist from engaging in Violent.
Provincial Youth chairman Milner Mwanakampwe said that elections will come and go, but Zambians will still have to live together.
Mr Mwanakampwe said that the UPND has no room for violence because Party president Hakainde Hichilema has encouraged all party members to preach a message of goodwill and carry out peaceful campaigns.
He has advised youths not to be used as tolls of violence by selfish politicians.
And the National Council of Catholic Women has demanded for the setup of fast-track courts to expeditiously deal with perpetrators of election violence.
Council Chairperson, Mary Mwale said that the current judicial setup is tedious to immediately adjudicate over cases of elections violence.
Mrs Mwale has called on the Zambia Police to adopt a zero tolerance approach towards perpetrators of violence regardless of their political affiliation. She was speaking in Lusaka yesterday during the catholic women’s annual general meeting attended by national leaders from ten dioceses.
Meanwhile, Police on the Copperbelt have detained three people belonging to different political parties for threatening violence.
The police have also confiscated machetes also known as pangas from the detained men in Ndola and Chingola.
Copperbelt Police Commanding Officer Martin Malama has confirmed to ZNBC News in Kitwe that two men were arrested on Saturday night in Ndola at a bar where they allegedly threatened violence using machetes.
Dr. Malama has named the two men arrested in Ndola as fifty-three-year-old Alex Bwalya, a businessman and George Mutale, twenty-seven.
The man arrested in Chingola is Dickson Pende, forty-seven.
Dr. Malama says the three will appear in court soon, and he has warned that the police will arrest any person threatening or perpetrating violence.
Opposition New Generation Party President, Humphrey Siulapwa has continued his incessant attacks on the Post Newspapers. In his usual style, Mr Siulapwa is this time, claiming that the privately-owned media institution is endangering national security by being critical of the Rupiah Banda led government.
Speaking in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Siulapwa also said the Post Newspapers has proved to be a problem for the current government’s reign.Mr. Siulapwa said that media institutions should not side with particular political parties before, during and after elections. He has advised media institutions to help promote peace as the country heads to the polls.
Mr Siulapwa has meanwhile downplayed his assertions of acts of intimidation on the media. Mr. Siulapwa said his party supports self regulations of the media in the country.
He has however called on the media to be more responsible in their reporting..
But Post Newspapers Managing Editor, Amos Malupenga has declined to respond to Mr Siulapwa saying doing so would be degrading.
But Mr Malupenga has said assured the Post Newspapers’ responsibility in its reporting.
He has explained that this is why the media institution is part of calls for self-regulation.
Zesco United beat Nkana 3-2 away in Kitwe on Sunday amidst ugly scenes from home fans in this big Copperbelt derby played at Nkana Stadium in a Faz Super Division Week 20 game.
The defending league champions came back twice to stun Nkana in Wusakile to also win bragging rights in this battle to enter the top five.
Nkana took the lead in the 27th minute through Evans Kangwa who thumped in a thunderous shot.
However, Zesco hit back twice before the break in a period of four minutes to take a 2-1 lead into halftime.
Winstone Kalengo leveled on 34 minutes before Alfred Luputa stretched Zesco’s lead seven minutes before the break.
Simmering tensions boiled over in the second half but not before Nkana equalized through Lameck Mwale in the 53rd minute.
Fifa referee Jan Sikazwe of Kapiri Mposhi was forced to stop play three times as Nkana and Zesco fans clashed in the stands.
Zesco held their cool to seal the three points on the 63rd minute in the midst of mayhem through Maybin Mwaba.
The Ndola side rise from 7th to 4th on the table on 32 points to move within five points of leaders Power Dynamos and second placed Red Arrows.
And Striker Jacob Mulenga will miss Zambia’s trip to Comoros to play their 2012 Africa Cup Group C qualifier on September 4.
According to Faz, Mulenga will miss the game after suffering another injury on Saturday while in action with his Dutch club FC Utrecht.
Mulenga suffered a hamstring injury in the 77th minute just four minutes after scoring Utrecht’s third goal in their 3-1 home win over Roda JC.
Faz say they are awaiting an official medical report on the extent of Mulenga’s injury from Utrecht on Monday.
Mulenga was expected to make a return to the Zambia fold for the first time in nine months after recovering from a long-term injury.
Electoral Commission of Zambia -ECZ- has encouraged all political parties participating in the September, 20 tripartite elections to appear on public forums.
Commission Director PRISCILAH ISAAC says this will give the electorate an opportunity to participate and contribute to the electoral process.
Mrs ISAAC said that appearing on public forums will also allow political parties to sell their manifestos to the electorate.
Mrs ISAAC however says the commission can NOT force any political party to allow its members to appear on any public forum .
Mrs ISAAC was speaking to ZNBC News in a telephone interview.
Yesterday, PF Vice President Dr GUY SCOTT urged all the PF candidates NOT to appear on ZNBC’s race to manda hill, saying the programming is biased.
And Foundation for Democratic Process -FODEP- says it is unfortunate that some political parties have decided to shun the political debates.
FODEP Vice President Mirriam Chonya says it is imperative that the candidate appear for the public forum so that they can sale their manifestos.
Ms Chonya says the media is the only platform which offers political parties an opportunity to sell their candidates to the electorate.
Ms Chonya was speaking in an interview with ZNBC News in Lusaka on Sunday.
And Ms Chonya has appealed to all political parties to restrain their cadres from Violence.
Ms Chonya says it is wrong for Zambians to agitate violence.
Munali Patriotic Front aspiring candidate Nkandu Luo
Munali Patriotic Front aspiring candidate Nkandu Luo has stated that she will ensure that she addresses challenges that student at the three learning institutions, the University of Zambia, (UNZA), the National Resources Development College (NRDC) and the Chainama College of health sciences, face once elected into office.
Professor Luo says with her experience as an academician, she is fully aware of the challenges that students at the learning institutions face adding that she will ensure she encompasses her experience to improve the conditions.
In an interview with QFM, Professor Luo noted that it should be fully understood that education is not only about buildings but for one to receive quality education, there is need to ensure that human resource at the institutions is adequate.
Professor Luo says she will ensure that she also addresses complaints of UNZA students of prolonged programs without proper justification.
Heritage Party president Godfrey Miyanda has urged his critics NOT to discourage him from pursuing his dream of becoming Zambia’s president.
Brigadier General Miyanda says despite his unpopularity in past elections, his love for Zambia and respect for law gives him the strength to go on in a competitive political atmosphere.
He says he is well qualified to be president of the country and urged those undermining his ambitions to remember that politics is a dynamic game.
General Miyanda was speaking in Lusaka on Saturday when he made an appearance at the Press Freedom Committee Forum.
He was answering questions as to why he has continued to race for higher office despite his poor performance.
AND the Heritage party president has called on people not to discourage others vying for higher office as they have every right to do so.
MMD National Youth chairman Moses Muteteka says the party will not protect any youth that will engage in violent activities.
Mr Muteteka says it is irresponsible for youths from any political party to engage violence which can disturb the peace and unity the country has enjoyed over the years.
He told ZNBC on Saturday that the MMD leadership will not tolerate anyone engaging in violence because the party has been preaching peace for some time now.
Mr Muteteka has advised parties against using youths as tools in their quest to attain political mileage.
And Mr Muteteka has called for the suspension of distribution and sale of alcohol sachets popularly known as tujilijili.
He says most of the people involved in violent activities are youths who are under the influence of alcohol.
The opposition Patriotic Front has barred its parliamentary candidates from appearing on ZNBC’s Race to Manda Hill programme.
Dr Scott says the PF feels that the programme will not have any impact because it is aired very late with few people watching it.
He has also cited alleged biasness by the presenters as one of the reasons.
Dr Scott says aspiring candidates will only appear on other programmes on other television stations.
He was speaking in an interview soon after addressing a rally in Kabwata on Saturday.
And Patriotic Front leader, Michael Sate, has urged his candidates in Southern province to serve the people diligently once voted into office.
Addressing a public rally in Livingstone’s Villa grounds on Saturday, Mr. Sata urged the aspiring candidates to speak for the masses and improve the welfare of civil servants.
He says people have lost faith in the role of MPs and that it is the duty of those who are going to be elected to restore the trust by addressing people’s needs.
The PF leader also said that Zambia can only be a better place if all Zambians work together as a united team with one goal of developing the country.
Among those who were present at the meeting included, Judith kapijipanga, Susan Sikata, Willie Nsanda and Livingstone candidate Joseph Akafumba.
Power Dynamos are the new leaders of the Faz Super Division.
This is after they beat Roan United 3-0 away at Kafubu Stadium in Luanshya on Saturday .
Lottie Phiri scored his 11th goal of the season in the 2nd minute before Felix Nyaende added two more goals in the 35th and 45th minutes.
Power are level on 39 points with former leaders Red Arrows who lost 1-0 away to Lime Hotspurs in Ndola where Lameck Kafwaya scored the winning goal 35 minutes into the first half.
