President Sata making a point during the opening of parliament
President Michael Sata, President has retired Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications Permanent Secretary Major. Francis Kamanga.
This is according to a press release made available to the media by State House.
The President thanked Maj. Kamanga for the services he rendered to the nation during his tenure of office.
“This is to confirm that, with immediate effect, I have decided to retire you as Permanent Secretary in public interest,”
read the excerpt from President Sata’s letter to Maj. Kamanga dated October 1, 2012.
Maj. Kamanga was appointed by President Michael Sata last year in November. During the swearing in ceremony Mr Sata told Maj Kamanga to put an end to the corruption at the road development agency.
He told Maj Kamanga to go country wide to monitor road construction projects and not leave to RDA.
Maj Sata also directed Maj Kamanga to upgrade all aerodromes in the country.
The Bank of Zambia(BoZ) has called on microfinance institutions to expand their lending to the productive sectors of the economy and alter the concentration of their loans away from personal to business loans.
Speaking at the launch of a new microfinance institution called Microfinance Zambia in Lusaka today, BoZ Deputy Governor of Operations Dr. Bwalya N’gandu, said the microfinance institutions sector makes up the largest non-bank financial institutions subsector with asset holdings of K1, 172.2 billion as at June this year.
Dr. N’gandu explained that this represents 45.5% of overall assets of non-banking financial institutions, but that the bulk of these assets are in form of payroll based personal loans which are largely for consumption purposes.
He noted that in the banking sector, consumption related lending currently stands at 30% of the total lending, but that this is not the case in micro finance institutions where the figure stands at 90% of the subsector’s total lending.
Dr. N’gandu disclosed that the bank of Zambia will soon announce changes to the minimum capital requirements for microfinance institutions.
He explained that this is because microfinance institutions have made very little contribution to economic growth due to low capital base of the institutions.
Meanwhile, Microfinance Zambia has pledged its commitment to continue working with all stakeholders in promoting financial inclusion with the hope that this will lead to increased economic activity and wealth creation in the country.
Microfinance Zambia Chairman Dr. Rajan Mahtani said the company will ensure its systems, processes, products and services are structured around the key elements that promote economic growth.
And speaking at the same function, Microfinance Zambia chief executive officer M’kwinda Sakala said the company aims at equipping clients with meaningful capital for productive ventures.
Defence lawyers for UPND president Hakainde Hichilema have applied that his indictment be quashed in a matter where he is charged with publication of false information.
The lawyers contend that Mr Hichilema has been charged under a law which contravenes the constitution.
Defence Lawyer Sakwiba Sikota has submitted that the penal code in question is archaic and was used by the colonial regime to oppress the people of Northern Rhodesia.
Mr. Sikota says section 67 of the penal code was enacted in 1938 and last amended in 1958.
Mr. Hichilema is said to have alleged that the Patriotic Front had sent some youths to be trained as militias in Sudan
Another defense lawyer Jack Mwiimbu has told Lusaka chief resident magistrate Joshua Banda that Director of Public Prosecutions Mutembo Nchito abused his discretion by writing to the Inspector General of Police that Mr. Hichilema retracts his claims against the Government.
Mr Mwimbu has submitted that by his conduct, the DPP had consequently waived his right to prosecute Mr Hichilema’s case.
Meanwhile, the defence lawyers have also applied to take Mr Hichilema’s case to the High Court for determination of the constitutionality of the charge.
Lusaka Chief Resident Magistrate Banda has reserved ruling to Thursday this week.
As the 2012 comes to a close here are some of the blockbuster movies that you have to watch
Taken 2 (5 October)
In Istanbul, retired CIA operative Bryan Mills and his wife are taken hostage by the father of a kidnapper Mills killed while rescuing his daughter
Django Unchained (25 December)
With the help of his mentor, a slave-turned-bounty hunter sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal Mississippi plantation owner.
James bond 007 : sky fall (9 november)
Bond’s loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her.
twilight breaking dawn 2 (16 November)
After the birth of Renesmee, the Cullens gather other vampire clans in order to protect the child from a false allegation that puts the family in front of the Volturi.
killing them softly (30 november)
Jackie Cogan is a professional enforcer who investigates a heist that went down during a mob-protected poker game.
Farmers in Mansa district have protested over the non-payment of their maize sold to the Food Reserve Agency-FRA.
The Farmers who stormed ZANIS offices in Mansa this morning are demanding to be paid their dues saying they have suffered enough in the process of selling the maize.
The farmers have also demanded to be given back their maize if FRA has failed to pay them adding that it is better to sale the commodity to briefcase businessmen.
Some of the farmers displayed notices from schools sending away their children for nonpayment of school fees .
Speaking on behalf of the farmers, Chanda Macha said the farmers in Mansa district will not rest until they are paid their money
Mr Macha says it is worrying that even when the Minister of Agriculture and Live stock Emmanuel Chenda last week flagged off the 2012/2013 distribution of farming inputs there is no indication as to where they will find the money to pay for this coming farming season.
Meanwhile Mansa District Commissioner Mirriam Kauseni has assured the farmers that Government through FRA will intensify the payment of farmers this week.
Mrs Kauseni however disclosed that FRA has so far bought over 450, 000 x 50 kg bags of maize from farmers in Mansa district this marketing season against a target of 600,000 x 50kg bags.
The farmers in this area come from Malamba, Chimese, Mwanguni and Kashimba satellite deport
Meanwhile Irate farmers in Mpulungu have given government up to Wednesday this week to be paid their money for maize supplied to the Food Reserve Agency-FRA.
The farmers who stormed the office of the district commissioners office have warned that they will lock up the offices of the DC and the Agriculture Co-ordinator if the FRA fails to pay them their dues by Wednesday.
The farmers stormed the DCs offices today, demanding her intervention over the payments for their maize lamenting that they had gone through untold suffering.
Group spokespersons Patrick Sikasote and Eva Naulapwa said they supplied their maize to FRA on 3rd August, 2012, but have not been paid their money despite being promised to be paid within of supply.
They explained that the farmers borrowed money to enable them transport the maize to the satellite depots.
‘We have incurred huge costs in travelling from our areas to the township because of the promisory notes from FRA. There is also the costs in food and lodging here as we wait for the money which is not forthcoming,’’ lamented Ms Naupalwa.
Most of the farmers complained that they had lost household property like TVs, beds and mattresses, sofas among others to the people they borrowed money from due to the elapsed period of paying back.
The farmers, mostly from Chtimbwa, Vyamba, Chinakila, Kopeka and Mpulungu wondered how they were going to buy fertilizer and other agro – inputs in time if they could not be paid their money now when the rain season was just around the corner.
But when reached for comment today, both district commissioner Juliana Chuzu and District agriculture coordinator Kennedy Sinkamba said the information they had was that the money would be paid within two weeks.
Mr. Sinkamba added that from the 1,300 farmers who supplied maize to FRA, only 130 were paid on 22 August, 2012.
He said the department of agriculture was equally worried by the delay because it was defeating the concept of food security at the household level as farmers were forced to sell their reserves to survive.
File:drunk …..A man showcases rare dancing skills with a beer on his groin
Police in Kasama have picked up the body of a 60 year- old man of Musenga Village in Senior Chief Mwamba’s area.
Northern Province Deputy Police Commissioner Luckson Sakala has confirmed picking up the body of Basa Chanda who is believed to have collapsed after he was suspected to have taken kachasu.
Mr Sakala explained that the deceased Besa Chanda was staying alone and on the material date was seen taking the illicit beer before he died.
And police are appealing to relatives of the late Besa Chanda who is believed to have originated from Chimango village of chief Chipalo in Luwingu District to come and collect the body.
Mr Sakala has called on any person who knows the deceased to contact the police for burial arrangement as the body is lying in Kasama general hospital mortuary.
[ZANIS]
Central Province permanent secretary Anne Mwitwa, cautioning a chines supervisor working against mistreating Zambian workers
Central Province Permanent Secretary Anna Mwitwa has warned Chinese investors in the habit of violating the laws of the land to desist from the act and ensure that they treat the Zambian people working with them as fellow human beings.
Ms. Mwitwa said government will not take kindly to investors who ill-treat and victimize indigenous Zambians for no apparent reasons.
She said this when she toured Itezhi-tezhi High School to check on the progress of the construction works going on there.
The Permanent Secretary was, however, disturbed when she heard that a Chinese national, only identified as Mr. Owang, assaulted a Zambian casual worker on Wednesday, this week.
She condemned the act, saying she had noted with sadness the suffering that the Zambian people are going through under the hands of some foreign investors.
Ms. Mwitwa said instead of assaulting workers, foreign investors should concentrate on their work and appreciate the enabling environment created by government by upholding peace and tranquility with their Zambian employees.
She added that the Chinese investors should realize that they cannot invest in the country without the full support of all Zambians, hence the need for them to desist from abusing their opportunity of investing in the country.
She further bemoaned the shoddy works done at the school by the previous contractor, saying she was reliably informed that the contract was earlier awarded to a Zambian contractor who did not deliver according to people’s expectations.
The Permanent Secretary said it was unfortunate that Zambian contractors were the ones in the habit of doing shoddy works when they should be the pioneers of quality works in the country.
And earlier, a Chinese national who declined to give his identity told the Permanent Secretary that he assaulted the Zambian worker because Zambian workers insult and steal a lot.
Mr. Owang, who struggled to communicate in English, said he did not regret his detention because some of the Zambian workers working with him were unruly and irresponsible that he could not resist the temptation of assaulting any one of them.
He, however, refuted allegations that he assaulted the victim due to delayed disbursement of wages because he is always on time to pay the workers as per requirement.
And Itezhi-tezhi Police Officer-In-Charge revealed that the worker only known as Paul had since withdrawn the case against Mr. Owang.
Chief Mungaila and his wife raising his shield of power that was handed to him by government
The case involving Chief Mungaila of the Ila speaking people in Namwala District was adjourned to a date to be confirmed somewhere in early November.
ZANIS reports that the Traditional leader who appeared for a hearing before the Police and Public Complaint Authority ( PPCA ) was told that his complaint against the police could not be heard due to none availability of the five named police officers whose names have been withhold for professional reasons.
The PPCA chairman James Mwanakatwe told the traditional leader and his indunas that in the absence of the named five police officers, the Authority had decided to hear his case in Lusaka at a suitable date somewhere in November, 2012 when the officers would be available.
He said upon informing the police officers in question, Chief Mungaila was going to be informed at a suitable date for a special hearing in Lusaka.
The chief’s Induna said the traditional ruler would be available for hearing in Lusaka on a date to be communicated to the royal establishment by the Authority.
Chief Mungaila had lodged in a complaint before the Authority against the said police officers’ conduct in their execution of a warrant of arrest.
This is in a case of Jane Mungaila-Mpiko versus John Chaande and the Attorney General.
Facts are that on 7TH February , 2012, upon arriving at his farm in Namwala, the said police officers whilst being heavily armed proceeded to forcefully enter his palace by breaking and shattering doors.
[pullquote]“ The Police officers then bundled me in a vehicle and drove off without explaining to my relatives where I was being taken to and the offense that I had committed.[/pullquote]
The chief said after the police officers had entered his palace, they then forced their entry into his matrimonial bedroom and apprehended him in front of his wife, children and relatives.
“ The Police officers then bundled me in a vehicle and drove off without explaining to my relatives where I was being taken to and the offense that I had committed.
“Whilst in the house, the officers caused damage to a number of my properties and confiscated two cell phones from my children,” he said.
Chief Mungaila added that his relatives and lawyers later learnt from his subjects that he was being driven to Lusaka after they trailed the vehicle.
He said it was at this juncture that his subjects suggested and agreed with the police officers to take him to the High Court Police Station.
It was after the High court Judge granted the stay of execution, that Chief Mungaila was released at About 17:00 hours.
He said his complaint emanates from the conduct of the five named police officers saying he was demeaned and treated like a criminal as his Indunas and Returners where not allowed to accompany him.
He also complained that the police officers did not even give him a chance to change his sleeping gown.
He said he considered that the conduct by the named police officers was highly unprofessional, unjust and a clear disregard of the authority and standing of a Traditional leader as a national leader and member of the House of Chiefs.
The traditional leader denied that he was neither a fugitive nor a criminal to be treated in such a manner adding that at no time did he conduct himself in a manner suggesting that he was not willing to comply with the police officers’ directives or orders.
“The forceful entry into the house and subsequent damage of property occasioned by the same police was not only unfair and unnecessary but constitutes a serious misconduct on their part,” he said.
[pullquote]“The officers’ act by publicly demeaning and embarrassing me was highly provocative and possible sources of violence save, for the timely intervention of traditional advisers and elders who restrained my subjects from retaliating and taking the law into their own hands.[/pullquote]
He said in addition to this, the police officers were accompanied by the plaintiffs’ ( Jane Mungaila- Mpiko) lawyer Martin Nalishuwa.
He said it was this bond that made him and his royal establishment to suspect that the police officers deliberately disregarded their professional ethics with a view to embarrass him and his subjects.
He said the police officers’ conduct was not only an infringement of his human rights but also an affront and insult to his subjects’ longstanding customs and traditions.
“The officers’ act by publicly demeaning and embarrassing me was highly provocative and possible sources of violence save, for the timely intervention of traditional advisers and elders who restrained my subjects from retaliating and taking the law into their own hands.
He appealed to the Mwanakatwe led PPCA to take action against the erring officers for misconduct and un-professionalism in their execution of their duties.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has attributed the high levels of corruption in the country to bureaucracy and shoddy service delivery in both private and public institutions.
Anti-Corruption Commission Northern Province regional manager, Patrick Mutumba, said this in Nakonde during an awareness meeting on ACC.
Mr Mutumba said that there is too much shoddy service delivery and bureaucracy which the public has observed in some Government institutions such as the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA), Zambia Police Service (ZP), Department of Immigration and many others in the border town..
“Bureaucracy and shoddy service delivery are some of the major contributing factors to corrupt practices in the country, hence the need to critically have them checked ,” said Mutumba.
He said there is need to apply effective measures in collaboration with other Government security wings in order to fight bureaucracy and poor service delivery.
Mr Mutumba also commended Government for its continued support towards the empowering of anti-corruption activities in the area.
Mr Mutumba said if the PF Government continues putting more support to such programs, corrupt practices will soon be a thing of the past.
He has since appealed to the members of the public to join forces with Government security agencies in order to fight the vice in the area.
Speaking at the same meeting, the immigration department deputy general director, Denny Lungu, also said his office was working tirelessly to see to it that officers do not involve themselves in such activities.
Mr Lungu further assured that his office was also going to ensure that it collaborates with all its stakeholders in order to come up with lasting solutions to the problem.
File:President Sata talks to Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Zhou Yuxiao
CHINESE Ambassador to Zambia Zhou Yuxiao is confident President Sata will spur Zambia to prosperity which will in turn see a rise in jobs and significant reduction in poverty levels.
Mr Zhou said he drew his inspiration of a successful Zambia under President Sata from the numerous capital and labour- intensive development projects Government has embarked on since assuming office.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Mr Zhou also asked Zambians to keep the faith in the Patriotic Front (PF) leadership which he believes means well. He cautioned critics to be fair.
“This country is headed for prosperity and development,” the envoy of the world’s second largest economy said.
He said Government’s policy on infrastructure development and education, particularly in rural communities, is key to growing the economy and China stands ready to assist Government in any way it can.
Mr Zhou said Government’s policy of opening up rural areas will in the near future boost agricultural and other industrial activities on the outskirts.
“I was so excited and impressed personally to see the level of Government’s commitment to developing rural areas,” Mr Zhou said.
“For example, I found a new school and about 32 to 40 new housing units for teachers nearly completed in Western Province,” he said.
Mr Zhou said: “I also went to a nursing school in Senanga which is under construction. Such levels of development, especially in the education sector, are brilliant. The construction of modern infrastructure in rural areas will certainly motivate anyone to work from there.
The Chinese envoy also expressed concern that despite wanting to expedite the completion of the US$287 million 31km Mongu-Kalabo road, the project is the most expensive “short stretch” undertaking his country has ever embarked upon in Zambia.
“The stretch seats on a very sandy river bed, the area doesn’t have clay or gravel,” Mr Zhou lamented. “The area does not have recommended type of stone or rocks. We have to import rocks from Lusaka and lastly, the construction period is only three months in a year due to flooding.”
The 31-kilometre road will have 25 bridges, with the longest being 1.2km.
The Mongu-Kalabo road project has created about 500 jobs for local people.
Mr Zhou has also repeated his appeal to Zambian workers and Chinese expatriates to join hands and work as one family in expanding the economy.
“We need to work as brothers, cultural differences will always be there but we need to tolerate and embrace one another because we are one in essence,” Mr Zhou said.
He also said Government must be rightly applauded for releasing K278 billion to pay pensioners and for releasing K42 billion to resume Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia operations and various other projects the country may embark upon using the US$750 million Eurobond.
The government has also embarked on a multi-trillion Kwacha 8,000km road project that has potential of creating 24,000 jobs.
Relations between Zambia and China have remarkably improved since President Sata extended a hand of friendship when he assumed office after a rough pre-election start.
Mr Zhou said China will continue to co-oporate with Zambia in various development projects that include infrastructure development.
Zanaco restored a five point lead at the top of the Faz Super Division after beating Konkola Mine Police 1-0 away in Sunday’s delayed week 25 fixture at Konkola Stadium in Chililabombwe.
Striker Steven Phiri inked a solitary goal in the 34th minute after benefiting from a Lewis Macha’s cross.
Phiri scored against the run of play to help Zanaco increase their tally to 51 points.
Kennedy Mpoya had a chance to equalise for a determined Mine Police side but his 45th minute header missed the cross-bar by few inches.
Two minutes to full time, second half substitute Venecious Mapande forced Mine Police veteran keeper Evans “Nkalamu” Chewe to make a save from close range.
Zanaco have now completed a double over Mine Police following their 2-0 victory over the promoted side in the first round fixture in May.
MMD vice president for administration Brian Chituwo
MMD vice president for administration Brian Chituwo says the party leadership is trying to work towards changing the mindset of all its membership in order to make the party more vibrant.
Dr. Chituwo who was recently elected as MMD vice president for administration says there is need for the general membership to understand the importance of resource mobilisation.
Dr. Chituwo says currently the issue of resource mobilisation is slanted towards the top leadership.
He says this is despite the party having about 2 million members on record.
Dr. Chituwo has observed that the participation of all its membership in fundraising for the party will help the MMD have a strong resource base that would also enhance the various party activities.
And Dr. Chituwo has further told QFM news that as a way of strengthening the party ahead of the 2016 general elections; the MMD leadership will ensure that ideas on how to run the party originate from the grassroot.
He added that the MMD will also see to it that it has a strong presence in all the districts as a way of strengthening all the party organs in the country.
Dr. Chituwo has also vowed to promote discipline within the party adding that there is need for all the MMD members to work as a team for the good of the party.
Government hopes to conclude the clinical trials for the Sondashi Formula which is said to be effective for the treatment of the HIV/AIDS within two months.
Deputy Minister of health Patrick Chikusu says a formulation has already been extracted from the Sondashi formula which is being used in the clinical trials.
Dr. Chikusu says the ministry of health is working closely with the ministry in charge of science and technology in the research that is currently being done on the Sondashi formula.
Government has set aside about 800 million kwacha for clinical trails on the herbal remedy.
Home Affairs Minister Edgar Lungu welcomes President Michael Sata at the Airport
President Michael Sata has arrived back home from New York in the United States where he had gone to attend the 67th United Nation (UN) General Assembly.
The President arrived aboard a Fly Emirates plane that touched down at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport at about 14:50 hours.
He was accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Given Lubinda and his Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations George Chellah.
Mr. Sata was received upon arrival in the country by Acting President Alexander Chikwanda, Vice President Guy Scott, Patriotic Front Secretary General and Minister of Justice Wynter Kabimba, Defense Minister Geoffrey Mwamba and service chiefs.
Others were Home Affairs Minister Edgar Lungu, Gender Minister Inonge Wina, Lusaka Province Minister Colonel Gerry Chanda, Lusaka Mayor Daniel Chisenga, senior Government officials, PF Senior officials and hundreds of PF cadres.
The cadres flashed placards with congratulatory messages in honour of the President’s South to South award for which he was honoured in recognition of his contribution to the social, political and economic development of the country and also for Zambia’s attainment of the US$750 million Eurobond.
The cadres mobbed the President while dancing and singing songs of praise for his achievements from the time he became head of state as he went round to great them.
While in the USA, President Sata made his maiden speech to the UN General Assembly, made a statement on the peace building initiative and held private talks with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon.
The President also met more than 40 US business executives who he invited to invest in Zambia.
President Sata also attended high level meetings on various issues among them the rule of law.
Mr. Sata was also awarded with a 2012 South-South award for his contribution to the social, political and economic development of Zambia from the time he was a councillor in the 1980s to the time he became President last year.
First Lady Dr. Christine Kaseba, Foreign Affairs Minister Given Lubinda, Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Bob Sichinga, Tourism and Art Minister Sylvia Masebo, his Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations George Chellah and other top Government officials accompanied the President to New York.
