The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has awarded Universal Print Group Limited of Durban, South Africa a tender to print ballot paper booklets and nomination forms for the 2011
tripartite elections.

ECZ Public Relations Manager Cris Akufuna said the tender was awarded to Universal Print Group after fulfilling all the tender requirements.

He said the award of the tender follows invitations by the commission of sealed bids from interested bidders through open tender procedures for the supply and delivery of ballot paper and nomination forms in April this year.

Mr. Akufuna said the tender was advertised in the print media for four weeks.

“This follows the invitation by the commission of sealed bids from interested bidders through open tender procedures for the supply and delivery of ballot paper and nomination forms on 27th March, 2011 which closed on 29th April 2011. The tender was advertised through the
print media for a period of four weeks” he said.

He disclosed that eight companies responded to the invitation and were evaluated in accordance with the laid down procedures.

He added that three companies qualified for technical evaluation and were examined in accordance with the technical specifications that were provided with specific references to bidding document.

Mr. Akufuna said in a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today.

He said two companies qualified for analysis of their past performance records and site inspection was done on 6th and 7th June 2011.

He further said that the commission also inspected machinery and production technology and the security and surveillance technology at the premises and surroundings.

“Apart from inspecting machinery and production technology in place the commission also considered the security and surveillance technology at the premises and surroundings. In addition the commission needed to ascertain the binding, finishing, sorting,packaging, audit trail and related technologies at the printing facilities”

“And Universal Print of the republic of South Africa satisfied all these requirements and the commission has therefore awarded the tender to the company” he said.

Universal Print of South Africa was also contracted to print the 2006 General elections and the 2008 Presidential elections.

ZANIS

Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane has described the classification of Zambia to the lower Middle Income status country by the World Bank as a clear manifestation that government’s economic policies are materializing.

Speaking to Journalists in Lusaka this morning, Dr. Musokotwane said this classification means a reduction in donor Aid to Zambia and increased foreign investment.

Dr. Musokotwane says Zambia will now be able to access non concession loans adding that previously the country had been constrained by concession financing which is limited.

The minister has further explained that the country now lies in the range of 1,600 to 3,975 dollars per capita income adding that the target for government is to reach up to over 1,200 dollars per capita income which is for a high income status country.

And Dr. Musokotwane has said the economic reform process has not been easy for government and that this achievement is as a result of political will towards driving the country to economic prosperity.

On whether Zambia’s classification translates into poverty reduction in the country, the minister says the effects on the average household will slowly manifest adding that even in the High Income status countries, problems of the effect are there.

QFM

Patrick Mwanawasa has responded to former vice president Enoch Kavindele’s advice for him to learn to respect elders by describing him as A finished old politician who should be the last person to give him advice.

Patrick said that he respects Mr. Kavindele as former vice president and successful businessman but advised him to save himself from being embarrassed.

Reacting to advice given to him by Mr. Kavindele that he is too young to engage himself in a confrontation with republican President Rupiah Banda, the late president Levy Mwanawasa’s eldest son observes that Zambia is a democratic nation stating that he will talk to any person in whichever way that pleases him.

Patrick, who recently defected from the ruling MMD to the opposition Patriotic Front, says Mr. Kavindele should realize that the political dispensation in the country is changing.

He says the last elderly leader to be given a mandate to run the country will be PF leader Michael Sata, who he says should also serve only five years and leave office for the young generation.

[QFM]

                                          C.R.I.$.I.$

The zambian rap industry has been on the rise. Everybody knows somebody who is a “rapper”.  Of Coarse they are not all good , but there are those that stand out.

Many are breaking barriers. the first barrier that needed to be broken was rapping in English. some people still have a problem when someone makes a song entirely in english , they say ” why cant you rap in your mother tounge?” or ” he is trying to sound american”.  I credit Crisis for breaking that barrier. Since he come onto the scene with his hit song “One day” featuring JK , he has been rapping in english , he faced opposition but he has continued and is now ,in my opinion the most successful rapper in Zambia.

He is also the most consistent zambain rapper. There are many “one hit wonders”  but C.R.I.$.I.$ definetly is not one of them. He has released 3 albums. And they all show his growth as an artist , both lyrically and production wise.

The reason why i say he is the most succesful zambian rapper is because of his many achievments such as:

• He has sold 15 000+ CD’s  in Zambia
• In 2004 he had the third position in a rap battle in South Africa that aired live SABC.
• In 2005 he signed deal with U.K.management, Clavel Inc,.
• Also in 2005 he was First Zambian to perform at the Channel-O Video Music Awards performing his song “One day”.
• Again in 2005 ,his album Officer in Charge was released. First hip-hop record, produced and released in Zambia by a Zambian artist.
• In 2006 he won a Brath Award. Best Zambian Hip-Hop artist.
• In 2008 he released ‘Designer’ his first U.K. debut.
• In 2007 he appeared on a Mixtape by DJ Green Lantern, Myspace Monster Mash & DJ Ames, called US-UK Takeover also featuring Craig David & Lil’ Wayne
• In 2009 he released is critically accliamed third album Mr. Swagger
• In 2011 he won a BEFFTA award for Best International act.

The BEFFTA award was a very big achivement he was up against other well know artists such as Sade (UK), Fally Ipupa (DR Congo), 2 Face (Nigeria), Ali Kiba (Tanzania) and M.I. (Nigeria).  He went on to dedicate the award to the people who told him to stop rapping in english.

He is currently working on a number of projects , he recently worked with US rapper Lil’Flip .A snippet of their collaboration, as well as other songs, can be heard on his facebook page.

Some of his stand out songs include “Fire Inside” featuring Linx and CamStar.

It is a very nice track , the beat and lyrics are on point . Great video

Another nice track is “Make the crowd go” featuring JK

It is a laid back track , JK assists with the hook and also does a bridge. He raps “…they thought i was a diamond imitation , research tells me they all thought with limitation.” , addressing the people who underestimated him.

Look out for more of him in the near future.

BY KAPA187

TWO Zambian women have been arrested in Sao Paulo, Brazil, for drug trafficking.
Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) spokesperson, John Nyawali said in a statement yesterday that Catherine Shapati, 54, and Audrey Namutowe, 28, both residents of Lusaka were arrested at Sao Paulo International Airport for trafficking in different quantities of cocaine.

Ms Namutowe was found with about 10 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in several handbags which were put in her suit case while Ms Shapati was found with an undisclosed quantity of cocaine hidden in the backpacks of her suitcase.
The two were arrested in separate incidents by the Brazilian federal police as they were about to board South African Airways flights to Johannesburg.

Ms Shapati and Ms Namutowe are being held at a women’s prison in Sao Paulo awaiting trial.
“The commission would like to warn members of the public especially women that there is a vicious and ruthless drug cartel operating in the Southern African Development Community region and is attempting to set up base in Zambia to recruit more drug couriers,” Mr Nyawali said

[Times of Zambia]

MMD chairperson for commerce, trade and industry Felix Mutati has said he is focused on helping the ruling party become stronger because it has demonstrated its vision to improve the living standards of the Zambian people.

He said the MMD Government would continue taking development to all the parts of the country.

Mr Mutati said the Government would ensure more job opportunities were created for the citizens so that they contribute to the growth of the economy.

He dispelled reports that he intended to defect to the opposition Patriotic Front (PF).

He said he could not defect to PF because the MMD Government had continued to score tremendous successes in making Zambia a better country than it was some years ago.

“Let’s deal with serious national issues. I am a focused MMD member holding very senior positions and now I am in Mpika carrying out Government work. So why should some people force me to defect?” Mr Mutati asked.

THE Evangelical Youth Alliance International says it is inhumane for former minister of Works and Supply Mike Mulongoti to call a clergyman of Chief Government spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha’s calibre as a reverend of Satan.

The organisation’s president, Moses Lungu, said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday it is disappointing for Mr Mulongoti, who is a son of a reverend, to demean an ordained minister such as Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha.

Mr Mulongoti was recently quoted in the media as having referred to Gen Shikapwasha, who is also Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, as a reverend of Satan.

“Mr Mulongoti, being a son of late reverend Isaiah Mulongoti, should set a good example to the young generation that the language he used to describe Gen Shikapwasha is unpalatable,” Reverend Lungu said.

He said it is disappointing that such language can come from a former Cabinet minister.

Rev Lungu said Mr Mulongoti should not resort to insulting Cabinet ministers and the MMD because he has fallen out of favour with the ruling party.

He said Mr Mulongoti is frustrated because he did not expect to leave Government soon.

Rev Lungu also said it is not right for the former Cabinet minister to complain about the operations of the public media when he allegedly abused it when he was minister of Information and Broadcasting Services.

He said the public media has been fair in its coverage, but it is people such as Mr Mulongoti who want to mislead the nation that it is biased.

Rev Lungu said the public media has the mandate to provide the public with information that will help to maintain peace and stability in the country.

He said some sections of the media have created an impression that President Banda’s administration is not delivering on its development agenda, which is not true.

He said it is the mandate of the public media to properly inform the public on the developmental projects Government is undertaking.

Rev Lungu also said it is not fair for the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) to accuse the public media of being biased.

He said LAZ should rise above pettiness when commenting on media coverage and give fair guidance on such matters.

[Zambia Daily Mail]