THE mining sector in Zambia has failed to contribute effectively to the economical development of the nation, Alliance for Democracy and Development [ADD] president Charles Milupi has charged.

Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, Milupi said out of 2.7 billion US$ dollars the mining sector produced last year only 77 million US$ dollars representing 2 percent was contributed to the national treasurery a situation he said Zambia would continue to sink if the windfall tax was not reintroduced by those in government.

He said the failure by the current government to continue with the change late president Levy Mwanawasa introduced in the mining sector of windfall tax has affected the growth of the economy in relation to revenue collection from the mining sector.

Milupi said it was wrong for President Rupiah Banda’s government to repeal the windfall tax law which allowed Zambia to raise money from its minerals, adding that the removal has created unnecessary pressure on the back of government.

He said it was wrong and saddening despite people talking and crying for the removal government had stubbornly used numbers in parliament to force for the removal of the windfall tax.

“For 2010 alone Zambia has lost an opportunity based on the projected production of copper based on the projected copper prices which is about 7500 US$ dollars per tonne. As a country we have lost an opportunity to earn over 600 million US$ dollar from copper, this money is more than all the monies donors can bring in, both local and external loans Zambia borrows for its management in various sectors of the economy. The removal of the windfall tax was done in a careless manner by the MMD government by the use of numbers in parliament, despite knowing that no investor would lose out in any form,” said Milupi.

He regretted that President Banda’s government had failed completely to understand that issues of windfall tax were not meant to disadvantage foreign investors but promote economical development and equal sharing of the national resources among all players.Milupi said the issue of attracting investors by removing the windfall tax would not help the country but keep on putting more pressure on the government’s overdependence on donor community for its sustenance.

Government says there is nothing sinister and unusual about removing the GRZ number plates from the vehicles government procured for the Times of Zambia and Zambia Daily Mail.

And government has handed over 5 vehicles to the Zambia Daily-mail and 5 other vehicles to Times of Zambia.

ZANIS report Information and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary Sam Phiri saying this in a statement, today.

Dr Phiri explained that the ten vehicles bore the GRZ number plates because they were bought by government.

He said the GRZ number plates were removed after the registration and documentation of the named vehicles was completed.

He said the vehicles in question bore the GRZ number plates for accountability purposes since their purchase.

Meanwhile, Dr Sam handover the 5 fives vehicles to the Zambia Daily-mail and another 5 to Times of Zambia.

He said the donation is aimed at enhancing the day to day operations of the two state media in their quest to serve the people better.

Dr Sam noted that despite the advent of the internet traditional media such as the news paper remains important and a viable means of disseminating news and information.

He said the donation of the vehicles by government is a clear indication that government remains resolved to continue investing in the development and growth of the media industry for a well informed society.

Meanwhile Dr Sam has revealed that government intends to replace 63 analogue transmitters with digital transmitters by 2015 in line with the global digital migration.

He stressed that the development will enhance the provision of quality radio and television broadcasting services by the national broadcaster.

ZANIS

Former Vice President Enock Kavindele has urged the business community against voting for PF to protect their businesses. Mr Kavindele says this is because the opposition party’s constitution advocates for nationalization of the economy which he said will negatively affect the economy.

Mr Kavindele has urged the people in Mansa to take advantage of the enabling environment that the government has put in place to grow their businesses. The former Vice President said this last night when he addressed the business community at Mansa hotel. He noted that the PF would destroy the private sector should Zambians mistakenly vote for it into power.

“ ( I therefore ) urge the business community to vote for president Rupiah Banda if they are to continue doing their business in a peaceful environment, “ he said.

Mr Kavindele said he feels ashamed to see what President Banda has done to develop the country in the three years that he has been in office which he and other MMD founder members failed to do at the time they were in government.

The former Vice President who himself is a renowned businessman told the business community that the late former second Republican president Dr Fredrick Chiluba worked hard to ensure the freedom of doing business that the country is enjoying today is achieved.

He said the country should not magnify Dr Chiluba’s mistakes because the second Republican president did a lot to promote the free market economy for which he deserves praise.

[pullquote]Mr Kavindele said he feels ashamed to see what President Banda has done to develop the country in the three years that he has been in office which he and other MMD founder members failed to do at the time they were in government.[/pullquote]

He told the people to take politics seriously by scrutinizing leaders they choose indicating that the refugees that are in Zambia today are not here for out of their choice, but it is because of the way they do their politics in their countries.

And speaking earlier MMD National Secretary Major Richard Kachingwe said the best way to put money in people pockets is to give them an enabling for making money.

He cited the building of Schools which is creating employment for the people and the fertilizer Support pregame which makes farmers produce more as ways in which government is putting money in people’s pockets.

Meanwhile Mr Kavindele has said that Luapula province has a lot of potential for doing deferent types of businesses which if used can help the country move forward.

Mr Kavindele cited the vast water bodies in the province as one area in which one can venture to produce power.

He said government is committed to ensure that people are empowered through their own initiated business ideas.

He said when the MMD government policy is that the state should not take an active role in doing business but support the participation of the private sector in growing the economy.

He said therefore people need to grow the economy through venturing into different types of businesses.

Mr Kavindele observed that the coming up with the Citizen Economical Empowerment Commission (CEEC) is one such commitment by the government to ensure that Zambians grow their business even up to the international standards.

He urged the business community in Mansa to apply for funds under the CEEC so that they can grow their business and help government create employment to the people of Zambia.

ZANIS

Trizzo , real name Mark Makungu is an upcoming Zambian artist. He works with eQualize Studios and his album Public Venom will be released this year and will feature production from DJ Pee Wee, Jay Rox, eraze, Ak, f1 Lazer, mas One.

KAPA187:  Welcome to the interview .How did you get started in music and how did you come up with the name trizzo?

TRIZZO: Well I started music when I noticed it was something I had in me,
that’s at the age of 12 years old. The name Trizzo came from the
Italian movies, that’s the Mafia movies I am actually a big fan, it
means a loaded nine millimetre pistol gun.

KAPA187: Interesting , so what can we expect from your album?

TRIZZO: This album will have dancing, singin along, snapping your fingers. it
has all genres mixed in it. From hardcore hiphop to kalindula
KAPA187:  Do you feel your album is good enough to be appreciated outside zambia?

TRIZZO: Yes i do. Infact most zambian music is at the moment, we have elevated
our selves to that level. big up to Jay roxa.
KAPA187: What differentiates you from other rappers?

TRIZZO: well that a simple one, what separates me is jus how versatile i am
once the mic is in my hand, you can say i am a full musician – I am a
pretty good dancer too 🙂

KAPA187:  You did a song with fakacino called uleke , explian the song , how did it come about.
TRIZZO: hahaha… hate to say this but we all been there, people being
unfaithful and all. so fakacino and i just decided to put what we have seen and
experienced on to paper. little did we know that it would b a hit. boss
major had to make it into a video…. “no mama didnt raise no fool”…
hahaha bet you all done said that before.
KAPA187:  Which artists have you worked with, and which ones would you like to
work with in the future.

TRIZZO: My boy, brother from another mother, hottest kid coming up Jay e, i have
done work with syqik, mas 1 – oh he a killer producer too, Fakacino
em, Biggai, shoot out to baja bantu and ABC.worked with enepal, Zone
fam in the building haha. I would like to work with crisis, and slap D
KAPA187:  What has been the greatest and the worst moments in your music career.

TRIZZO: Wow! The greatest moments in my career was doing road shows with
Airtel, which is very rare for an upcoming Artist in Zambia. The other
moment was during the Miss Southern Africa-Zambia 2010, you know
sharing the same stage with Exile, Maureen Lilanda and CQ.  My worst
moment was recording a twelve tracked album with a song that rocked
the clubs and never hit the shelves with any distribution company,
very sad.

KAPA187:  Describe your sound in 3 words

TRIZZO: boom boom pow. hahahaha

KAPA187:  If you were granted 3 wishes what would they be

TRIZZO:   wish my dad was around to see me now, MHSRIP – miss him
To become a musical ambassodor for zambia  that would be great
To hear my kids and their friends bumping my music – this means i did it,
made  classic music
KAPA187:  What 5 songs are most played on your ipod right now?

TRIZZO:

Roll out – Wiz Khalifa
Chopanda – Jay E
Lento -professor and speedy
Love my love –  Damaco
Hamba  nawe –  Manas

THE MUSIC

ULEKE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DphWUhh0beI

It is a very nice and catchy song . He did this song with Facacino

GA BOOM

“Been around the whole world and i never seen a girl like you” he sings on the chorus.

BY KAPA187

By M. Kapumpe

Patriotic Front (PF), as a party,  is today weaker than 2008 and 2006 in terms of numbers, issue based debates, money, leadership and morale. What is PF doing that it didn’t do in  the last two elections, and expect a different result?

To be fair am not saying it’s finished in terms of supporters but the Movement for Multi Party Democrary (MMD) presidential candidate Rupiah Banda has managed to gain supporters in Lusaka and Copperbelt PF strongholds. For example Lusaka Central and Ndola Central can’t be granted any more to PF.

While RB has gained support in PF strongholds, attempts by PF to gain in rural areas and provinces have proved futile. The reason is very simple for MMD supporters in rural areas, their needs are very simple things like roads, health, education and farming; of which RB has done excellently well.

I was once advised by a very high profile politician that: “Be careful, politics are like alcohol, you get drunk, so always think”.  Today if you go to Choma they are so sure that United Part For National Development (UPND) presidentail candidate Hakainde Hichilema (HH) is winning the elections this year; the same for PF, if you go to some parts of the Copperbelt.

[pullquote]The elections were lost for PF the day the PF-UPND PACT broke down.[/pullquote]

The people in Choma or same parts of the Copperbelt are not crazy to think that think their candidate can win, they are drunk with politics and when both parties are sober they will remember the reasons for the PF-UPND PACT.

Some MMD members are also drunk thinking they will win by over 70% just because RB has done well. Lets be real RB will win but it must take effort from everyone who believes that RB is the right person than hiding in offices and bars. I agree with PF Secretary General and spokesperson Wynter Kabimba, who said UPND is a spoiler in this election and it will spoil all chances for PF in Southern province and so will Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD) leader Charles Milupi in Western province.

The elections were lost for PF the day the PF-UPND PACT broke down.

We go to UPND, they won’t win. If there is one thing I like about UPND is that they are real with themselves; they know they can’t win the election. What they have decided is to burry PF by all means knowing that if Sata losses and retires they will become the largest opposition in the country. Unknowing the PF have complained about the long term plan for UPND to become the second biggest party by 2012. We hear questions like “Why is UPND attacking PF?”

RB won the election in first attempt with a very weak MMD and just three months of campaigning. It is folly to undermine him for something that he has been preparing for three years. The opposition has found itself in shock with the levels of material for campaigns that whatever material they have seem like a drop in the ocean. And now MMD is under RB’s control unlike three years ago