Opposition Patriotic Front (PF) Eastern Province Chairperson this morning openly attacked reporters from the public media for what he termed as biased reporting.

Mr. Phiri scolded Journalists from Zambia News and Information services (ZANIS) and Times of Zambia who went to cover embattled Chipata Central Member of Parliament Lameck Mangani at a press briefing at Pine View guest house.

Mr. Phiri claimed the public media were not fair in their reporting and charged that they misrepresented facts.

Mr. Phiri threatened to chase away the ZANIS crew that was present saying the organization was misusing government resources by writing false stories in their news coverage.

He also warned that the PF will not allow the public media to cover the party rally that will be held in Chipata district tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Chipata Central MP Lameck Mangani acknowledged that the MMD had developed some sectors of the economy.

Mr. Managani cited some of the developments such as the opening of mines and the improved employment levels.

He stated that President Banda had also managed to maintain peace and economic stability in the country.

And the Former Deputy Minister has reiterated that his resignation from the ruling MMD is not because of personal hatred towards President Rupiah Banda.

Mr Mangani said that he was sensitive to what has been obtaining on the ground and decided to respond to the needs of his supporters who advised him to follow the wind of change.

But MMD Chipata District Chairperson Sinoya Mwale said that it was sad that the Former Deputy Minister of Works and Supply decided to resign from the ruling party just because the opposition PF seemed to attract more members and not because they had something better to offer the people of Zambia.

Mr. Mwale stated that Mr. Mangani had proved to the people of Chipata that he is not a genuine politician because he wants to follow what he calls a wind of change which had nothing better to offer.

He stated that Mr. Mangani and others who think the opposition PF will win the tripartite elections are being cheated because MMD is still strong on the ground.

ZANIS

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.