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The Ministry of Energy and Water Development has signed a 650 million dollars project agreement with Lunzua Power Authority (LPA) to carry out the development of hydro-power projects in the country.
The project will involve the construction of a 93 Mega Watts Power plant at Kabwelume, a 151 Mega watts Power plant at Kundabwika and the construction of a 330 KV High voltage transmission line from the two power plants in Kasama.
Under the agreement, a 66 KV line will be constructed from Kundabwika and Kabwelume power plants to join the existing national grid at ZESCO’s Kawambwa Substation in Luapula Province.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Lusaka this morning, Energy Permanent Secretary Teddy Kasonso said the project is another milestone in government’s efforts to provide the much needed electric energy locally and in the Southern region.
Mr. Kasonso has also noted that the Kalungwishi river project is in the Northern part of the country which does not experience droughts will contribute to stabilizing the national grid.
He says the development will also unlock the potential for mining industries to be set up in the Northern parts of the country.
The project is expected to create about 1,000 employment opportunities at Construction stage.
And speaking earlier, Lunzua Power Authority chairperson Lloyd Chingambu said the project that will take 48 months to be completed is deemed to make a positive impact in Zambia’s social and economic sectors.
Professor Chingambu says the project is an initiative of Zambians adding that it is an indication that Zambians have the capacity to invest in huge projects if they are supported.
A University of Zambia (UNZA) political analyst, Phineas Bbaala has said the opposition Patriotic Front (PF) is waning in its popularity by constantly fighting President Rupiah Banda in the courts of law.
Mr Bbaala also said that such moves only show that the opposition party is not ready for the September 20, tripartite elections.
Speaking in an interview in Lusaka during the week Mr. Bhaala who is a lecturer in the school of political science and administration, said the PF was making desperate efforts to have the elections pushed to another date so that they could prepare adequately.
“As things stand right now, the PF is not ready for elections and want to cause confusion so that the date is pushed further ahead. ” Mr Bbaala said.
He said the PF was engulfed in internal problems and was trying by all means to divert the electorate from querying the thorny issues in the opposition and had resorted to schemes that would ensure their reputation was not affected.
Mr Bbaala said the schemes by the PF would only work against them in the outcome of elections and they were only laying grounds to cry foul on their anticipated loss.
“The PF was not ready for elections as evidenced by what they are doing now, trying to fight the president in the courts, this will not win them any votes and they are wasting a lot of time. They were asking the President to announce the date but it is clear that were not ready,” he said.
He said the poor adoption process by the PF had worsened the credibility of Mr Sata who he said should not take the electorate for granted.
He said that among the presidential candidates, only President Banda had engaged in serious campaigns and was showing the people what he was able to deliver if voted back into office.
He urged the voters to carefully scrutinize various party manifestos and not pay attention to political schemes such as the ones by the PF that aim to create confusion ahead of elections.
Mr Bbaala said another factor affecting the PF and other opposition parties’ campaigns, was that they were failing to tell the people what they would offer because all this had already been undertaken by President Banda’s government.
“From the start, I didn’t expect the opposition to engage in issue based campaigns because they have nothing to tell the people, all issues have been covered by President Banda and he has shown that he can do it and people believe in him than they would in the opposition’s promises, so it is going to be difficult for them to convince the electorate on real issues.” he added.
Former vice president Enock Kavindele dancing to Luvale music
Former vice president Enoch Kavindele has said that his support for President Rupiah Banda in next month’s polls is not blinded by the contract to construct the North Western Rail Line. Mr Kavindele said that his support is based on the fact that he understood the vision of President Banda in enhancing the economic development of the country and would do what was necessary to ensure that he retained the presidency.
The former vice president is on the campaign team of President Banda ahead of the elections next month but some political opponents have accused him of being compromised after being given a contract to construct the North Western Rail Line.
Mr Kavindele said he could not be compromised by anything and would not be derailed in his support for President Banda because he believed that the MMD candidate had a vision to develop the country than any other contestant.
“I cannot be compromised by anyone and my support and campaign for Rupiah Banda is based on the understanding that he has a vision to develop this country.
Mr Kavindele further said that the contracts that the people are talking about was given to him by late president Levy Mwanawasa.
“When the current Government tried to terminate the rail contract, I took it to court and won, so the contracts have nothing to do with my support for President Banda.” he said.
Mr Kavindele noted that President Banda had made significant achievements in the past three years that he had been in office and believed that Zambia could further achieve economic gains if he was given another opportunity to rule the country.
[pullquote]”When the current Government tried to terminate the rail contract, I took it to court and won, so the contracts have nothing to do with my support for President Banda.” he said.[/pullquote]
Mr Kavindele has said that the opposition Patriotic Front (PF) was looking for an excuse for the imminent loss in next month’s polls by coming up with spurious accusations and unnecessary allegations about the electoral process.
He noted that because the opposition PF had realized that they had slim chances of winning the polls, they had resorted to unnecessary allegations and accusations in a bid to use them as an excuse once they lose the polls.
Dario Bonetti has warned that they will be facing a different type of Comoros in the return leg away next month.
Zambia travel to Comoros to play their hosts in their penultimate 2012 Africa Cup Group C qualifier whom they beat 4-0 in the first leg played at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka on September 5 last year in the two sides Group C opener.
“It will be a real game totally different from one year ago,” Bonetti said during a pre-training camp briefing in Lusaka on Monday.
“We have discovered that they have 11 or 12 players playing in France in important teams.”
Comoros collected their first-ever points in an Africa Cup qualifier in June when they finished 1-1 with strife-torn Libya at home.
Bonetti added that collecting the three points in Comoros would certainly see them book their place in next January’s Gabon/Equatorial Guinea final tournament.
Zambia lead Group C on 9 points after four gamers played, followed by Libya on 8 points.
Mozambique, who travel away to Libya next month, are third on 4 points while Comoros are rooted at the bottom of the table on 1 point
Things are not just going quite Mighty Mufulira Wanderers way in the last three weeks.
A week ago, promotion chasing Wanderers home game against archrivals Mufulira Blackpool at Shinde Stadium was abandoned in the 90th minute while tied at 1-1 after a controversial penalty decision in their favor.
Seven days earlier, Wanderers suffered their first league defeat of the season going down 2-1 away to Kabwe United.
Things got worse this past Sunday when they suffered their second league defeat of the season in another Mufulira derby this time against unfancied Mufulira Police.
Wanderers were beaten 1-0 by Mufulira Police.
The defeat see them tumble from top to third place on the Faz Division 1 North table after technically losing two successive matches while awaiting Faz verdict on their Week 21 abandoned game.
This weekend, Mighty host Nkwiza who held them to a 2-2 draw away in Kitwe.
John Chellah will do well to record a convincing win this weekend to keep Mighty’s promise of honoring late coach Harrison ‘Wawa’ Chongo with promotion.
Veteran Politician Vernon Mwaanga has sued Patriotic Front Vice President Guy Scott and the Post Newspaper for defamation.
This follows the alleged defamatory utterances on Mr Mwaanga by Dr Scott.
The utterances were carried in The Post Newspaper of 17th August 2011.
The Post Newspapers reported that Dr Scott told PF supporters in Katuba to be alert against possible malpractice by the MMD because Mr Mwaanga was sitting in Lusaka with plenty of computers playing games.
Mr Mwaanga has argued that the innuendo implies that he engages in criminal practices of vote rigging.
He has lamented that The Post has before covered election petitions of 1996 and 2001 with no allegations linking him to rigging of elections.
Mr Mwaanga has sought an injunction to restrain the Post Newspaper from publishing libelous materials on him.
Mr Mwaanga has also demanded an unqualified withdrawal of the defamatory statement in the Post Newspaper.
He has demanded that the apology should be broadcast on ZNBC on both radio and Television for a week twice daily at the defendants cost.
Mr Mwaanga has also demanded that the same should be published on the front page of the Zambia Daily Mail and The Post Newspaper once.
The Zambia police says it has not received any formal request to investigate FODEP president Dr Alex Ngoma for being in possession of a ballot paper at the Universal Printing Company in Durban South Africa.
Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde says the police are ready to investigate the matter if formally requested by the Electoral Commission of Zambia-ECZ.
Mr Kabonde was speaking in an interview with ZNBC News in Lusaka on Monday.
Dr Ngoma was found in possession of a ballot paper in the printing plant even after the printers had announced that no one was allowed to take away any ballot paper.
The incident led to the expulsion of Dr Ngoma from the observer team by the Electoral Commission of Zambia.
The decision was however reversed with, ECZ Public Relations Manager Cris Akufuna announcing that investigations had shown that there was no ill intent on the part of Dr Ngoma to get the ballot paper.
Universal Printing Group Managing Director Mr Bharat Mehta addressing political parties and other stakeholders in Durban South Africa before the start of printing of ballot papers for the 2011 tripartite elections
The 5.5 million presidential ballots have been printed, and Universal Print Group projects manager Vik Vaid has told journalists that printing of the ballots which started on Tuesday August 16, 2011 was completed on Monday at 10:00hrs
Mr Vaid has also said thirty seven National Assembly constituency ballot papers have been printed so far.
Most of the constituencies with completed National Assembly ballot papers are in Central, Copperbelt and Eastern provinces.
MR. Vaid has named some of the completed constituencies as Chama South, Keembe , Mumbwa, Lufwanyama, Kafulafuta, Kankoyo, Nkana and Mpongwe.
And Mr Vaid has dismissed assertions that ballot papers could have been printed earlier than Tuesday which was the scheduled date.
He says it is not possible that the company could have printed earlier than scheduled because they only received data on the presidential nominations after the nominations were done.
The Patriotic Front-PF says it is fully aware that its party constitution needs improvements.
PF Vice President Guy Scott has explained that his party adopted the UNIP model when the party was registered.
Dr. Scott has told ZNBC that the PF will change its constitution at the next General Conference.
And Dr. Scott says suspected MMD cadres who were dressed in party regalia torn down PF posters in Lusaka Central this morning.
He however says campaigns are going on well.
Meanwhile, More than 40 Patriotic Front Cadres that were involved in a road traffic accident in Mwinilunga have been discharged from Solwezi General Hospital.
North-Western Province Permanent Secretary, Fabian Mumba says the government has accommodated some of the cadres in Solwezi to facilitate medical review.
Mr. Mumba says the twenty-five cadres were discharged on Saturday, while 15 were discharged on Friday.
He told ZNBC News that government will also facilitated the movement of some cadres to other districts such as Kaleni, Mufumbwe and the Copper belt.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mumba says the four bodies are still in the mortuary awaiting postmortem while; one body has been transported to Kitwe for burial.
54 PF carders were on Thursday afternoon involved in a road accident killing 5 people and injuring 20 others.
The FUSO fighter light truck registration number ALB 1037 over turned at a junction 110 km from Mwinilunga.
The accident occurred when the driver was trying to avoid an on coming vehicle on the gravel road.
Council Police were over the weekend stoned by irate Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) and Patriotic Front (PF) cadres after they attempted to remove campaign materials that the two political parties have fixed in public places.
The MMD and PF have pasted posters and hoisted party Chitenge material flags at bus stations and markets.
Kapiri Mposhi District Electoral Officer, Venture Kafula confirmed that the Officers failed to remove the materials from the bus stop and the main market because they were accosted by party cadres.
It is against the electoral code of conduct to carry out campaigns in public places such as markets.
“Public places are for all people we do not want to politicize these places all political parties that have displayed campaign materials within these facilities should help us by removing them because this is against the law,” Mr. Kafula said.
Mr. Kafula warned that the move by political parties to go ahead to campaign and fixing posters and flags in public places is a source of conflict and should be condemned.
He says it is essential for all political parties participating in the elections to abide by the electoral code of conduct as they conduct their campaigns.
Mr. Kafula who is also Kapiri Mposhi District Council Secretary ordered all political parties to desist from conducting campaigns in designated public places in the district.
The Contententious campaign posters on defacing the public infrastructure at Kafue Roundabout
He says the MMD and PF should remove of campaign materials posters and party Chitenge material flags fixed in market premises, bus stations and other public places.
Meanwhile, the District Conflict Management Committee has summoned all political parties participating in the September 20 elections to appear before it to resolve the issue.
The Conflict Management Committee is, through mediation, mandated to prevent and manage electoral conflicts with the view of achieving peaceful elections.
The MMD, PF, United Party for National Development (UPND) and United National Independence Party (UNIP) have fielded candidates for the parliamentary seat and local government positions in Kapiri Mposhi.
This movie brought together James Bond and Indiana Jones and made them alien fighting cowboys . If that is not a good recipe for a summer blockbuster , i don’t know what is.
The movie starts when a stranger(Daniel Craig) with no memory of his past stumbles into the hard desert town of Absolution in 1870’s New mexico. The only hint to his history is a mysterious shackle that encircles one wrist. What he discovers is that the people of Absolution don’t welcome strangers, and nobody makes a move on its streets unless ordered to do so by the iron-fisted Colonel Dolarhyde (Harrison Ford) of coarse except for his unruly son . It’s a town that lives in fear. But Absolution is about to experience fear it can scarcely comprehend as the desolate city is attacked by marauders from the sky. Screaming down with breathtaking velocity and blinding lights to abduct the helpless one by one, these monsters challenge everything the residents have ever known. Now, the stranger they rejected is their only hope for salvation. He teams up with the colonel ,whose son has been taken , to go after the monsters.
PRO’S
There is never a dull moment in the movie , starting from the first scene, where Jake Longergan (Daniel Craig) is in the desert , you will be hooked.
Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig had good on-screen chemistry.
Good visual effects and CGI , the aliens looked realistic.
CON’S
It was a bit too easy for Jake(Daniel Craig) to rescue the people that were taken.
I did not understand why there was a dog following them for the whole movie.
FAVORITE QUOTE
Jake Lonergan: Demons took your gold. When you get to Hell, you can ask for it back.
Colonel Dolarhyde: I want that man! You give him to me now, or I’m gonna take him!
Emmett Taggart: Is there demons?
RATING
4 out of 5
CONCLUSION
The best thing about this movie was Daniel Craig , his acting was splendid to watch. It is a very enjoyable and unpredictable movie , you will genuinely not now whats going to happen next. It is a must-see-movie.
Suspected Patriotic Front (PF) cadres attacked Movement for Multi party Democracy (MMD) aspiring Nalolo constituency area member of parliament Catherine Akayombokwa’s husband Lloyd.
Police Spokesperson Ngangula Siamana was not reachable for comment by press time to comment on the matter but Mr. Akayombokwa confirmed.
He said he was traumatized and on his way to Makeni Police Post to report the ordeal.
ZANIS reports Mr Akayombokwa confirming the development in a telephone interview, this evening.
He said the suspected PF cadres started throwing stones at him using catapults as he approached
Bama road.
He explained that a number of motorists were stoned in the process by the unruly
youths believed to be PF supporters.
“ Despite pleading with the cadres they continued throwing stones at my vehicle as it was clad with MMD posters of
President Banda and my wife’s portrait, “ he said.
He added that that the alleged cadres blocked the road using stones.
Mr Akayombokwa has described the behavior of the suspected PF cadres as barbaric. He has since called on political parties to refrain from engaging in campaigns of violence.
Mr Akayombokwa stated that if violence continues the country may be plunged in flames hence the need to up hold the peace.
Rupiah Banda With Northern Province MMD Candidates
President Rupiah Banda has appealed to all September 20 elections aspirants to be truthful in their campaigns and to avoid undermining and mudslinging each other.
ZANIS reports from Luanshya that the President Banda said, yesterday, that although Zambia is a democratic country, politicians from their respective political parties should endeavor to tell the Zambian people the truth about what they will do for them if elected into office.
“ Politicians, especially presidential candidates should be circumspect in the way the talk about others, “ he said.
President Banda, who was accompanied by the first Lady Thandiwe and other senior government and ruling MMD officials, was speaking today when he addressed thousands of Luanshya residents at the Rados Cinema Hall.
He said it was not right for presidential candidates and other politicians to peddle on lies about other politicians and to overstate issues during their campaigns.
He urged politicians to substantiate the allegations they make about other people.
The President said politicians should consider what could be sustained by the Zambian economy when making promises to Zambians other than talking about impossible issues.
“All politicians should come and stand before Zambians and give reasons why you should vote for them and stop undermining others.
“ As MMD we promised to fix roads, build more schools, hospitals and we have done that,” he said.
He reiterated his policy of empowering Zambians with houses through selling housing units to sitting tenants and allowing them to acquire loans to build their won houses.
President Banda said his Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) will ensure that infrastructure is developed to a level that would trigger huge external and internal investment.
He explained that his government had already laid a strong foundation in developing road infrastructure on which economic prosperity can depend on.
Mr. Banda said government has improved the health, education and other sectors that were vital to the economic development of Zambia.
“Every President would want change by having more schooling opportunities for children, more medical attention and having infrastructure reconstructed for investment to flourish in the economy of the country,” he said.
The President further implored Zambians to uphold the peace which Zambia has enjoyed since independence.
He reiterated that sustainable development can only take place in a peaceful and safe environment.
“External investment should flow into a country where there is peace, in a country where workers are hard working and are responsible,” he said.
The President, who is on a campaign trail in some selected districts of the Copperbelt province, further asked Zambians to work together and love one another to foster development in the country.
“My dream for Zambia is that we must express our political feelings without hating each other,” he said.
And Mine Workers Union of Zambia (MUZ) Chairman, Stanslous Mwinde, extolled President Banda for listening to cries of the people of Luanshya when the Luanshya Copper Mine (CLM) was closed in 2008.
Mr. Mwinde said at the same meeting that the current owner of the CLM was a good choice made to take over the mine.
He said in a vote of thanks that workers that had lost their jobs were now happy because they have gotten back their jobs.
He has however appealed to President Banda to lobby for the increase of salaries for workers at the mine.
Mr. Mwinde further asked President Banda to direct the district council to reduce the prices of residential plots in order to enable residents of Luanshya, especially miners and civil servants afford to build houses.
Earlier, President Banda attended a church service at St. Maximillian Catholic Church in Mikomfwa township where he urged the church to pray for peace and unity as Zambia prepares for elections next month.
“We cannot achieve any of our desires for ourselves, our children and our families if there is no peace,” he said.
PARAMOUNT Chief Mpweto of the Bwile people in the Democratic Republic Congo talks to sub-chief (Natende) Dr. Katele Kalumba during the ceremony
2.
Chief Ishindi of the Lunda people in Zambezi district making history by becoming the first sitting traditional leader to graduate from the University of Zambia (UNZA)
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Above, the chief (right) who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree, being congratulated by Ministry of Education Permanent Secretary Andrew Phiri as UNZA Deputy Vice Chancellor Wilson Mwenya (left) looks on in Lusaka
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Above, the chief, who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree, leaves the graduation square in Lusaka
5.
Above, the chief, who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree, being accompanied by his subjects and other former students after the graduation in Lusaka
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Campaign posters of various presidential and parliamentary candidates in the September 20 tripartite elections litter the Kafue roundabout fountain in Lusaka
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Campaign posters of various presidential and parliamentary candidates in the September 20 tripartite elections litter the Kafue roundabout fountain in Lusaka
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AVIC The construction of the Mongu-Kalabo road has started by Chinese AVIC International
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AVIC The construction of the Mongu-Kalabo road has started by Chinese AVIC International
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AVIC The construction of the Mongu-Kalabo road has started by Chinese AVIC International. The programme was delayed because of floods on the Barotse plains
11.
Nelson Mandela’s daughter Zinzi (r), Southern Province permanent secretary Gladys Kristafor (c) and Livingstone based clergy Bishop Janet Hart (r) arrives at Maramba Old People’s Home
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Nelson Mandela’s daughter Zinzi (l) meets a senior citizen when she visited the Maramba Old People’s Home on. With her is Southern Province permanent secretary Gladys Kristafor (c) and Livingstone based clergy Bishop Janet Hart (r)
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Kasama Arts Theathre entertaining people at MMD rally
14.
VJ arrives at Kasama airport
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Universal Printing Group Managing Director Mr Bharat Mehta addressing political parties and other stakeholders in Durban South Africa before the start of printing of ballot papers for the 2011 tripartite elections2
16.
Police Nkwazi women club singing at Police House handover ceremony
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Sub chief witness Mbesuma- Kasama road flag off
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Zambia National Soccer Team Coach Dario Bonetti watches the Zesco –Green Buffaloes rescheduled Week 10 match from the terraces at Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka
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Zambia National Soccer Team Coach Dario Bonetti buying some Bananas when he witnessed the Zesco – Green Buffaloes rescheduled Week 10 match which was played at Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka
20.
Zesco strikers haplessly watch as the ball zooms past the Green Buffaloes goal mouth without anyone making a touch much to the relief of their opponents during the rescheduled Week 10 match which was played at Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka
21.
Zesco’s Alfred Lupita (center) tries to beat his Green Buffaloes markers Joe Chungu (left) and Sanida Zulu in the rescheduled Week 10 match which was played at Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka
Zambia go into camp tomorrow to begin the first week of training camp ahead of next weekend 2012 Afica Cup Group C qualifier away to Comoros.
Dario Bonetti’s first week of training camp will be almost exclusively comprised of home-based players before the foreign call-ups start arriving next Monday.
Vanecious Mapande of Arab Contractors in Egypt is the only foreign-based player in the 21-man team that goes into camp at the Faz Technical Centre tomorrow.
The team will hold its first training session on Monday afternoon.
Goalkeepers:Jacob Banda (Zesco United), Racha Kola (Zanaco),Allan Chibwe (Zanaco)
Defenders: Mwelwa Sakala Cosmas Kabaza (Zanaco)(Zanaco), Jimmy Chisenga (Red Arrows), Richard Kasonde (Kabwe Warriors),
Midfielders: Henry Banda (Zanaco), Lewis Macha (Nchanga Rangers), Allan Mukuka (Green Buffaloes), Nyambe Mulenga (Zesco United), Thomas Nyirenda (Konkola Blades), Signs Chibambo (Nakambala Leopards), Kangwa Chileshe (Zesco United), Christopher Munthali (Power Dynamos), Kennedy Mudenda (Power Dynamos),
