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The patriotic front secretary general Wynter Kabimba says that he is patiently waiting for the next cause of action the ECZ will take on the allegations of corruption against Universal Print Group.
Mr. Kabimba says that the ECZ should this time show Zambians that is it not comprised.
Mr. Kabimba in an interview says that the ECZ should come out in the open and deny the corruption allegations leveled against the company printing Zambia%u2019s ballot papers.
He says that failure by the ECZ to state its clear position on the corruption allegations will undermine the confidence Zambians will have on the poll day.
Mr. Kabimba has further observed that if such matters are not handled with the seriousness it deserves, it has the potential to bring civil strife.
The secretary general of the patriotic front has further stated that the party has revealed enough evidence and questions the silence on the party of the ECZ.
And Mr. Kabimba says that it is the MMD has lost political value in the political arena as was the case in the previous years.
Mr. Kabimba has described the MMD as fragmented in terms of being intact and membership.
Forum for Leadership Search Executive Director Edwin Lifwekelo says New Horizon Printing Press limited ‘s honesty that it cannot print this year’s tripartite elections’ ballot papers is commendable.
ZANIS reports Mr. Lifwekelo saying in an interview in Lusaka , today, that its gratifying for New Horizon Printing Press to set the records straight that It can not print the ballot papers for the national polls slated for next month.
“ Calls by opposition political parties for New Horizon Printing Press to print the ballot papers should now come to its conclusive end as the firm has stated its position that it has no security printing equipment to print the ballot papers, “ he said.
New Horizon Printing Press says it has no capacity to print the 2011 ballot papers.The Lusaka based New Horizon Printing Press Managing Director Shawky Hemeidan said during a press briefing that his firm has no security printing equipment for printing ballot papers.
He further stated that New Horizon Printing Press does not have the technology and the know how to print the 2011 ballot papers.
Mr. Hemeidan revealed that New Horizon Printing Press intends to invest 5.7 million dollars in procuring security printing equipment that will be used to print the 2016 ballot papers.
Mr. Lifwekelo further explained that those who were calling for Government Printers and New Horizon Printing Press to print the ballot papers for the September 20th presidential election were insincere.
He said the opposition political parties, particularly the PF know that no printing firm was able to print the ballot papers for this years tripartite elections.
Mr. Lifwekelo stressed that opposition political parties are jittery hence for them demanding for the ballot papers to be printed locally.
He wondered why the opposition political parties were changing goals posts even deep down there hearts knew that no local printing press can print the ballot papers.
However Mr. Lifwekelo explained that the opposition political parties know that they will lose this years elections hence they want to use the issue of printing ballot papers locally as a fall back when the lose the elections.
He said the fear by the opposition to lose this years general elections is what made the opposition to demand for the ballot papers to be printed locally.
Mr. Lifwekelo said his organization is happy that records have been put straight over the printing of the ballot papers in Zambia.
Lusaka Province Permanent Secretary Daniel Bowasi says government recognizes the importance of ensuring that young people are brought up with the right morals and values.
Mr. Bowasi said government through the ministry of community development and social services has in this vain embarked on a number of programs aimed at supporting the development of the child especially the under privileged.
“ Programs such as child protection, foster care, educational support and juvenile welfare are some of the programs the ministry has embarked, “ he said.
The Permanent Secretary was speaking in speech at the graduation ceremony of about 143 children at the University Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) church in Lusaka today.
He further urged the young people to welcome and receive the counsel l they receive from elders so that they can in future become professional and contribute to the development of the nation.
And speaking earlier Vacation Bible School coordinator Joyce Kunda said the vacation bible school was aimed at empowering young people into becoming responsible citizens in future.
The vacation bible school was held for a fortnight under the theme “the amazing book” and was aimed at emulating the charity works of our lord jests Christ of helping the under privileged in society.
Earlier this week, the Seventh Day Adventist church Vacation Bible School donated various item worth millions of kwacha to the Matero after Care Center.
Thousands of people braved the August sun to gather at Changanamayi grounds in Kitwe’s Kwacha compound to listen to President Rupiah Banda campaign rally.
The crowd drawn from all parts of Kitwe , also known as the Hub of the Copperbelt, most of whom were clad in the traditional MMD blue regalia attires, sang political songs in praise of President Banda’s somewhat splendid leadership.
The President too responded positively to the huge crowds desire to listen to him as he later reminiscence what his government has done in the now three years of being in office.
He outlined future social and economic plans for Zambia.
ZANIS reports from Kitwe, today, that President Banda told the mammoth rally that there was every reason for the people of Zambia to vote for him and all the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) candidates in the local government and parliamentary positions.
He explained that the reason why Zambians should vote for him and the MMD is that he has lived to fulfill all the promises he made in 2008 and fulfilled them accordingly.
“Our duty as leaders is to listen carefully to what the people are saying. In 2008 when I came here I promised you that I will be a president who will bring security, stability, peace and development. Since 2008, a lot of development has taken place and today we are a middle income country,” he said amid cheers from thousands of people who chanted slogans in support with his administration.
President Banda, who is in the Copperbelt for a series of activities including political rallies, said in the education sector, a lot of infrastructure development has taken place.
He explained that among this infrastructure is the construction of kamfinsa, Lufwanyama, Mpongwe, Masaiti and Masangano high schools which will significantly help improve enrollment levels and quality of educations to children of the school going age in the Copperbelt province.
He reminded the people of Kitwe that since 2008, his government prevented five mines from closing completely thereby serving thousands of jobs which would have otherwise sent thousands of families into poverty.
President Banda named the mines as Luanshya, konkola North, Konkola Deep, and Nkana while Mopani Copper Mine has expanded during the same period.
“To us Zambians, the word mine means jobs and prosperity,” he said adding that mining was a mainstay of the people of the Copperbelt province which has contributed largely to the economic stability of Zambia.
The President said the health sector has also benefitted a lot as government built health posts, clinics, hospitals and expanded and rehabilitated existing ones in the province just like in any other part of the country.
He said more people were now owner of homes in the Copperbelt and other provinces of Zambia.
President Banda said his government will continue empowering Zambians with homes noting that his government still has piles of petitions from sitting tenants asking him to help facilitate the sale of such houses to them.
He added that 2,000 kilometers of feeder roads have been worked on in the province.
President Banda however noted that despite all this visible development whose spillover effects are felt among Zambians, much more needs to be done.
He said his government was aiming at changing the current economic status quo by providing hospitals, schools, roads and other social amenities which will trigger massive economic development in the country.
“The change I want is to enable Zambians grow more food so that other countries can be getting it from here. I also want change where we will build universities in every province of this country where people in all fields will be trained,” he said.
The President reiterated that his biggest ambition was to make Zambia attractive even to those Zambians professionals that have sought greener economic pastures elsewhere to return and offer their services to the local people.
He said in the last few years, industrialization has increased thereby consuming a lot of energy and fuel.
Mr. Banda said despite this increase in industries, his government has continued to provide fuel without any shortage and standardized fuel prices countrywide.
“We want development in every part of this country. That is why we are doing roads for Zambians to conduct their businesses smoothly,” he said.
And President Banda has expressed sadness that the Kitwe City Council, which was dominated by opposition Patriotic Front Councillors in the last five years.
He said it is saddening that the PF led council has failed to provide vital services to residents of the city.
He said during the last five years, social services deteriorated in Kitwe especially in the area of sanitation.
“ Avoidable diseases such as cholera and typhoid have been experienced here because of the council’s failure to provide good health and hygienic services, “ said the President.
The President therefore urged the people of Kitwe not to vote for the opposition political parties because they have failed them.
He said politics was a serious profession because it is about bettering people’s lives and their welfare.
And the same rally, former Vice President Enoch Kavindele asked the people of the Copperbelt province to appreciate what President Banda’s government has done in the last few years in order to serve jobs and make their lives betters.
Mr. Kavindele said President Banda was a respectful, honesty and focused person who has the interests of Zambians at heart.
He said if President Banda will be allowed to lead Zambia again in the next five years, the country will be changed for the better.
Meanwhile, Zambia National Marketers Association (ZANAMA) Chairman General, Elvis Nkandu said the fixing of township roads in Kitwe and elsewhere will ease the transportation of goods by traders.
Mr. Nkandu said this will in turn improve the economic statuses of marketers in the country.
After the rally, scores of MMD supporters went round the Kitwe City honking and singing solidarity songs while branding their party symbol to residents who in turn waved back in support.
President Banda will tomorrow attend a Church Service at St. Maximillian Catholic Church in Luanshya, address miners and later in the day address a rally in Roan township.
The Railway Workers Union of Zambia (RWUZ) has called on government to help curb scrap metal dealers from cutting parts of locomotives that have been reserved for rehabilitation.
RWUZ president Gravel Musonda said it was unfortunate that instead of cutting metal from scraps outside the workshop yard, most of the metal dealers had lately invaded unmanned RSZ machinery that could be rehabilitated and put back on to the track.
ZANIS reports Mr. Musonda, who was with general secretary Elias Mwila, saying this in an interview in Kabwe, today.
He accused the RSZ board of permitting the scrap metal dealers to cut into pieces even machinery that could easily be repaired if money was available.
Among the machinery affected include coaches which could also be rehabilitated and used as commuter trains in Lusaka and other bigger towns of the country to reduce on the passenger congestion on the roads.
“The board should use initiative of ensuring that there is recapitalization of the company so that spare parts are bought to repair these locomotives and coaches. This way, the company will have a longer span not in this case where everything will end up sold,’ he said.
He explained that the union point of view was that some of the locomotive engines and coaches should be reserved for the future generation to see.
Mr Musonda said the union was wondering as to where the money raised from the scrap metal was going because it was supposed to be spent on repairing the locomotives so that in case RSZ pulled out, the nation would remain with its own machinery.
“Almost all the coaches and the locomotives that were kept for rehabilitation have been cut and sold. Who is eating the money? This is sabotage and something should be done immediately to spare the few remaining ones,’ he said.
Meanwhile Mr. Musonda expressed concern at the rate the railway line reserve was being taken up by people building residential houses.
He said according to the railway line regulations, nobody should build a residential house 50 m on both sides of the line.
He said the union was however concerned that in case of rail accident and spillage of dangerous chemicals occurred, lives of people living near the line could be lost or be affected negatively.
Mr. Musonda called on the board to ensure this was stopped before lives were lost.
Efforts to get a comment from ZRL managing Director Knox Karima failed as he was reported to be in a management meeting.
New Horizon Printing Press says it has no capacity to print the 2011 ballot papers.
ZANIS reports that the Lusaka based New Horizon Printing Press Managing Director Shawky Hemeidan said during a press briefing that his firm has no security printing equipment for printing ballot papers.
He further stated that New Horizon Printing Press does not have the technology and the know how to print the 2011 ballot papers.
Mr. Hemeidan revealed that New Horizon Printing Press intends to invest 5.7 million dollars in procuring security printing equipment that will be used to print the 2016 ballot papers.
He told journalists that his firm did not participate in the tendering of printing the 2011 ballot papers because the company had no capacity to print the ballot papers.
And Mr. Hemeidan says New Horizon Printing Press is the biggest print press in Zambia surpassing government printers.
Meanwhile , Mr. Hemeidan has thanked the general public for having faith in the company by suggesting that the company prints the 2011 ballot papers.
The development somewhat pacifies the growing calls and concerns in sections of society who are calling on the Electoral Commission of Zambia ( ECZ ) cancel the contract with the Universal Printing Group (UPG ) of South Africa due to alleged corruption.
The ECZ has however remained adamant to this call and has gone ahead with the contract. It has also for reasons of transparency dispatched an observer team to Durban , South Africa on a fact finding mission concerning the operations of the company.
FIRST Republican President Dr Kenneth Kaunda who was admitted to a Namibian hospital has been discharged.
Ministry of Health spokesperson Reuben Kamoto Mbewe who confirmed the development in Lusaka yesterday, said Dr Kaunda was discharged following the good progress he had continued to make.
Dr Mbewe said Dr Kaunda was discharged around 12:00 hours yesterday as he had continued to make good progress.
Asked when Dr Kaunda is expected back in the country, Dr Mbewe said that was up to his family to decide as the First Republican president had gone to Namibia on holiday when he fell ill.
On Monday, Government dispatched a team of medical experts to that country to assess the condition of Dr Kaunda.
The electoral commission of Zambia says ballot papers for the elections will be ready by the 10th of September.
ECZ director Pricilla Isaacs disclosed this at a one day media heads workshop in Lusaka.
Ms. Isaac says the printing of presidential ballot papers which commenced on Tuesday this week is expected to be completed by this weekend.
She has also attributed delay in sending data for parliamentary and local government candidates to the printers in South Africa to the proof reading of data before it is sent to the printers.
Ms. Isaac however says that following concerns raised by the printing company in south Africa on the delay by the ECZ to release data, proof reading for local government candidates is being done to catch up with the five provinces for parliamentary candidates whose date has been sent to the printers.
And Ms Isaac says counting of ballots in this year%u2019s election will be done at the stream level in order to speed up the counting process.
She also disclosed that the ECZ has bought satellite phones to easy communication challenges faced by its officers during the elections in remote areas.
Patriotic Front secretary general winter Kabimba has denied reports that there is division in the party following a letter written by some central committee members asking for party president Michael Sata to take rest from conducting campaigns.
PF secretary general Wynter Kabimba has described the reports as MMD propaganda aimed at decampaigning Mr. Sata.
Mr. Kabimba adds that Mr. Sata is in perfect health and that he is currently in Kabompo were he is conducting his campaigns.
He has questioned the quality of journalism being practiced at some public media institutions and has since challenged the authors of the reports allegations on the health of the PF leader to reveal their source of information.
Mr. Kabimba has told QFM that Mr. Sata welfare does not in any way concern the MMD and since advised ruling party to concentrate on their candidate Rupiah Banda.
Mr. Kabimba notes that his party has will not allow the MMD to derail his party’s focus on selling itself ahead of this year’s elections.
In yesterday’s edition of the Times Newspaper has carried a story alleging that the opposition PF has been rocked with divisions following the alleged ill-health of their party leader Michael Sata.
Construction of hostels to accommodate six hundred and forty students at the University of Zambia Great East Road campus is set to be completed in the next 18 months.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education Andrew Phiri says Government is satisfied with the work done so far on the seventy-two billion kwacha project.
Mr. Phiri has told ZNBC news in an interview that government has already paid the two contractors thirty-two billion kwacha.
The Permanent Secretary says government is determined to improve student accommodation at higher learning institutions.
He says government is currently negotiating with various developers to build ten thousand students’ hostels at UNZA under the public private partnership – PPP.
And UNZA Vice Chancellor Stephen Simukanga says over eight thousand students lack accommodation at the university.
And University of Zambia Student’s Union-UNZASU President Vincent has appealed to government to ensure the construction of the hostels is completed within the stipulated timeframe.
The University of Zambia currently has twelve thousand full time students and only three thousand five hundred are accommodated.
File: Zambia sugar Corporate affairs Manager Lovemore Sievu takes shareholders on a conducted tour of the sugar plant in Mazabuka
Zambia Sugar PLC Board Chairman Graham Clark says the substantial capital investment his company has injected in sugar operations in his company’s Nakambala Sugar estate have started bearing fruit.
Mr Clark said the company has in the past year seen both production and sales records exceeding previous records.
ZANIS Business reports in Lusaka, yesterday, that a record sugar production of 385 000 tons and a 23 percent rise in total sales for the company has increased revenue to K1, 232 billion.
The Company’s operations profit to K174 billion as compared to K908 billion and K159 billion respectively recorded last year.
Mr Clark has however stated that a significant increase in net finance costs reduced profit before tax to K47 billion from K66 billion in the previous year.
Zambia Sugar PLC Board Chairman said the taxation of K17 billion resulted in profit after tax decreasing from last year to K30 billion.
“The substantial increase in net finance costs, rising to K127 billion from last year’s K46 billion, impacted materially on profit for the year. The prior year figure was reduced by the recognition of exchange rate gains of K93 billion on US dollar denominated borrowings.
“This was not repeated in the current year and these borrowings were refinanced in local currency during 2010/11 to remove the risk of future exchange rate fluctuations.
“ Financing costs before accounting for currency exchange differences decreased year on year, from K139 billion to K121 billion,” he said.
He also stated that agricultural operations, including Nanga Farms, produced a record 1.97 million tons of cane in the 2010/2011 season, representing a 16 percent increased compared to the previous season.
He however said wet weather in the early and latter parts of the season affected cane harvesting operations, adding that as a result 900 hectares of cane land were carried over for processing in the 2010/2011 season.
“Combined with deliveries from Zambia Sugar’s supplying out growers, total cane throughput amounted to 3.1 million tons, representing a 19 percent increase compared to the previous year,” he said.
And the Zambia Sugar Board Chairman has disclosed that the company exported a record 233 000 tons of sugar to the European Union (EU) and regional markets combined compared to 175 000 tons that were exported to the same regions last year.
He also revealed that the sugar company has this year spent a total of K39 million on the refurbishment and overhaul of the factory plant and machinery to ensure the factory is kept in sound condition and is adequately protected against breakdown in a bid to ensure that the final product meets global quality standards.
Nkana visit ‘Brave’ Nchanga Rangers on Saturday looking to end a very frustrating winless streak against their opponents in this Copperbelt derby to be played at Nchanga Stadium in Chingola.
The Kitwe giants are basking in some glory of late perched in 5th place on 29 points and seven off the pace of leaders Red Arrows after 18 games played.
However Nkana have one big problem, have yet to beat Nchanga in over 9 years.
It is hard to believe that Nkana have not won against Nchanga since 2002 when they beat the Chingola side 1-0 in Kitwe.
Not even in 2009 when the two teams were in Division 1 North did Nkana manage to beat their hosts this weekend and could only conjure scoreless results both at home and away.
Nchanga are still favorites again and unlike Nkana are unbeaten since they returned from the two-week midseason break with two wins and as many draws but are still down in 11th place with 21 points.
Nkana on the other hand have claimed the scalps of Power Dynamos and Nakambala Leoaprds on their recent match into the top five.
Victory away at Nchanga this weekend will give the record 11-time champions a strong claim in the battle for a top two position with 10 games remaining at the end of this weekend’s fixtures.
Faz Super Division Week 19 Fixtures
20/08/2011
Forest Rangers-Zanaco
Green Buffaloes-Lime Hotspurs
Red Arrows-Roan United
Nchanga Rangers-Nkana
Nakambala Leopards- Kalewa
21/08/2011
Zesco United-Green Eagles
Power Dynamos-Konkola Blades
Postponed
Kabwe Warriors-Nkwazi
The Faz disciplinary committee will meet sit this week to rule on the abandoned Mufulira derby clash between Mufulira Wanderers and Mufulira Blackpool.
Faz communications officer Erick Mwanza said the disciplinary committee will sit on Saturday to decide on the final status of the match after receiving both teams and the match officials report on last Sundays incident.
Wanderers and Blackpool’s Faz Division 1 North Week 21 game was abandoned on Sunday at Shinde Stadium following a protest in extra time at the end of the 90 minutes of play with the two sides level at 1-1.
This is after Wanderers were awarded a second penalty by referee Chris Mauma who injured in the fracas that ensued after the disallowed penalty before the game was abandoned.
And in other news, the Zambia national team will undertake a tour of India in November as part of the team’s prospective 2012 Africa Cup final tournament preparations.
The United Party for National Development-UPND in Southern Province has called on the Electoral Commission of Zambia to nullify Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata’s application to contest the September 20 tripartite elections because he lied.
UPND presidential Spokesperson Winnerson Ng’uni has told ZNBC News in Livingstone that Mr Sata lied about his declaration of assets to Chief Justice Ernest Sakala last week.
Mr Ng’uni says there is no way Mr Sata can have only seven guns, a Toyota Cressida and shares in Standard Chartered Bank for the over 40 years he has been in political office both during UNIP and MMD.
He says if the declaration Mr Sata made is true, then he is incapable of running the nation if he were elected.
Mr Ng’uni says the alleged fake declaration of assets by Mr Sata has not come as a surprise since many Zambians know that the PF leader is god at telling lies.
He says this is why the UPND is appealing to Zambians not to vote for Mr Sata as he has no programme to develop the country.
But Southern Province PF Chairman Joseph Akafumba says Mr Sata’s alleged fake declaration of his assets cannot be the ground for disqualifying him from running in the presidential elections.
Mr Akafumba says there is nothing sinister about Mr Sata’s declaration of assets during the filing of presidential nominations.
He says Mr Sata’s declaration of his assets is a true reflection of what he has and is an indication that he did not steal any money from the public offices for him to accumulate wealth.
Mr Akafumba states that the PF leader cannot make false declaration of his assets just to impress some few individuals.
MMD Copperbelt taskforce chairperson Joel Malanji dances with party cadres during a public meeting in Ndola
President Rupiah Banda will on Saturday leave for the Copperbelt Province where he is expected to commission the rehabilitated urban roads in Kitwe.
The commissioning ceremony will be held in collaboration with Mopani Copper Mines, which has carried out the rehabilitation works on selected urban roads in Copperbelt towns.
The urban road works project are expected to compliment the works outlined in the road Development Agency – 2011 annual work plan.
While in Kitwe, President Banda is on Saturday expected to hold his first political rally in the copper province following his filing of nominations for next month’s tripartite elections.
The President who will be accompanied by senior MMD officials will also tour parts of Copperbelt rural, including Luanshya.
President Banda will be expected back in Lusaka after concluding his scheduled business on the Copperbelt.
This is contained in a statement made available to ZNBC News by Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Dickson Jere.
President Banda’s Government recently embarked on a programme to rehabilitate key urban roads in various districts in Lusaka Province, the Copperbelt and parts of Central Province.
The Copperbelt towns are Ndola, Kitwe, Mufulira, Chingola, Kalulushi, and Chililabombwe.
