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Roy Mwaba (left)-It will be a close contest between MMD and PF
UNIVERSITY of Zambia (UNZA) lecturer has said the analysis by the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) that this year’s elections will be tightly contested by the Patriotic Front (PF) and the MMD is flawed because indicators on the ground are that the ruling party is headed for victory.
Mr Phineas Bbaala, a lecturer in the School of Political and Administrative Studies, said in Lusaka yesterday that the demise of the pact between the PF and the UPND had weakened the opposition parties.
“The PF was much stronger when they were in a pact. The PF is weaker now that they are alone. It is political naivety for anyone to think that the three-day riots in Mongu can sway the voting pattern of the Western Province. These riots were not in the entire province.
Most of the individuals that we are reading speaking from Western Province that PF has made inroads are individuals who cannot be trusted politically. These are people that have been jumping from one political party to another,” he said.
Mr Bbaala said the ZCTU analysis was also flawed because it only focused on by-elections won by the PF without taking into consideration those won by the MMD and the UPND.
He said going by the results of the recent by- elections, both parliamentary and local government, the MMD is set to win this year’s elections with ease.
Mr Bbaala said in the by-elections like in Mporokoso and Chifubu where the MMD had lost, indications were such that the ruling party was making serious inroads into the PF stronghold.
“The UPND and PF are likely to share votes in the opposition strongholds and MMD looks set to continue fishing from their ponds as indicated in the local government by-elections and even in the parliamentary by-elections.
When one takes a broader picture of the outlook of the by-elections, it is clear that the MMD is set to win this year’s elections,” he said.
Mr Bbaala also said the recent empowerment decision by the MMD on the Copperbelt was likely to advantage the ruling party during the polls.
“Definitely the decision by the Government to empower the people on the Copperbelt will benefit the MMD. This is testimony by what we see on television and what we are reading,” he said.
Over the weekend, Zambia Congress of Trade Unions secretary general Roy Mwaba said the analysis from ZCTU’s research committee revealed that it would be a close contest between the PF and MMD.
Roan United have taken the lead of the Faz Super Division table for at least 24 hours after beating Power Dynamos 2-1 away at Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe on Sunday in a Week 5 match.
The win also meant that Paul Mulenga’s side maintained a three-year league unbeaten run against Power who last defeated the Luanshya side in the first half of 2008.
Ndola drifter Graven Chitalu scored his fourth goal of the season with his new club Roan when he opened scores in the 25th minute.
Power new signing Lottie Phiri, who in 2004 captained the Zambia Under-20 team in a 2-1 loss to Amajita South Africa at the same venue, equalized 11 minutes later.
Former Forest Rangers and Zambia schools international forward Lyson Sikaonga made sure of the three points with his second goal of the season with eight minutes remaining on the clock.
Roan have now beaten Power in three straight league games at home and away since last season.
The 2009 season saw Roan and Power draw home and away and also shared the points in their previous meeting in a Week 27 meeting in Luanshya in 2008.
However, Power can trace back their last win against Roan to May 31, 2008 in a Week 11 game when they won 1-0 in Kitwe thanks to a goal from controversial striker Francis Kombe.
Meanwhile, Power fans staged a mini stake-out for new coach Beston Chambeshi on the back of two successive defeats after losing by a similar margin to Konkola Blades away on Friday.
HOME Affairs Minister Mkhondo Lungu has urged people not to politicise the death of a police detainee, Kabayo Kabayo, 16, because he died from natural causes.
Mr Lungu said prison authorities acted promptly when Kabayo fell sick, while medical personnel at Mumbwa Hospital tried their best to save the boy’s life, but he unfortunately died.
Speaking in an interview yesterday, Mr Lungu condemned politicians and The Post for casting aspersions at the State that they killed Kabayo who was in police custody at the time that he fell sick.
Mr Lungu said Kabayo, who was diagnosed with a bacteria infection, was initially treated at Mumbwa hospital and discharged after a successful treatment.
He said the boy was re-admitted a few days later but unfortunately died.
“No one takes pleasure when a life is lost, because it’s our duty to preserve human life. Doctors at Mumbwa Hospital did their best to treat the young man.
It’s not true that the boy was killed. People die whether in prison or outside prison,” Mr Lungu said.
He urged politicians to desist from seeking political mileage over the loss of life because death is a sad and painful thing.
He said the death of Kabayo was purely a natural calamity and the people of Zambia should not condon deceit from people who want to seize any opportunity to tarnish the image of Government.
“We need to be calm and cautious of what we say. Politics aside, individuals can fall ill anytime, anywhere,” Mr Lungu said.
He said Kabayo was arrested alongside other rioters in Mongu last February to maintain law and order.
The Minister said the arrests were meant to protect lives and property, and that had police not acted they would have been accused of neglecting their responsibility.
Police in Mansa , Luapula Province , today, conducted a clean up execise in the area in a bid to recover looted goods following recent riots in the area.
ZANIS reports armed Police conducted a door to door search of looted goods especially Namwandwe village where it is alleged most of the looted goods had been taken.
The police recovered verious goods including matresses, cement, cooking oil, bicycles, iron sheets, cushions and Meali meal, among others.
A team of invistigators from the Zambia police led by Deputy Commissioner Doctor Ausionsio Mbewe was this afternoon on the ground to verify the true owners of the recovered goods.
Riots recently broke out in Mansa after residents of Senama and Kapesha areas in the provincial capital staged a riots following a rumours that local businessmen have engaged killers who are abducting children for body parts to use in boosting their businesses.
Business properties that were looted and burnt belong to four business people AMICO investment belonging to Ibrahim Sanaullar, Nana belonging to John Kambafwile, ICM investment owned by Ireen Chilongo and Country Grocery run by Papi Muzungu.
The rioters also burnt down houses and vehicles belonging to the businessmen.
Another businessman a money lender named Wilbroad Chishimba was burnt to death yesterday, his was also house destroyed and four vehicles set on fire.
Luapula Province Minister has called for beefing up of police personnel in Mansa so that people’s life and property can be secured at all costs.
Police spokesperson Ndandula Siamana said 220 rioters have since been arrested.
She has meanwhile advised the travelling publicto carry with the official identity documents on the way to Mansa as police have mounted three check points into Mansa.
Meanwhile, Mr Lungu urged the people of Mansa to restrain themselves from riotous behaviour which has disrupted business and resulted in loss of property.
He said that the Mansa fracas which was instigated by rumours that entrepreneurs were involved in ritual killing to enhance their business fortunes, could affect economic activities in the district if perpetuated.
Mr Lungu said it is in the local people’s interest for shops and other business houses to resume normal operations.
“If business people fear to operate in Mansa, it is the people of Mansa who stand to lose,” Mr Lungu said.
He urged the Zambians to always seek dialogue on any issues of concern as opposed to taking the law into their own hands.
Mr Lungu also called on Zambians to observe a peaceful and incident-free Easter.
“Police can’t maintain peace and order by themselves. We need to cooperate with them. Let us not look at police as enemies, let’s treat them as friendly forces because they are there to protect us,” Mr Lungu said.
Chikondi Foundation President Bishop John Mambo says it is disappointing with sections of the church body for its indifference to the rising cases of violence in the country.
Speaking to ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today, Bishop Mambo said he is saddened by the Church’s failure to play an active role in addressing the rising levels of violence.
He said he is saddened for the church has been relatively silent on the riotous situation that rocked Mansa district of Luapula Province.
The clergyman charged that the church has become compromised because its leaders have become more self centered above society’s interests.
Bishop Mambo said church leaders in Mansa should have gone out of their way to pray and preach the word for God to the citizenry in Mansa and ensure that they do not take the law in their own hands over suspension of ritual killings and murders.
“What has happened in Mansa is very sad especially that the country has been declared a Christian nation. But one tends to ask where the church was when all of this was happening.
“ We have compromised ourselves as a church. We are busy blaming government at every stage but we are to blame, what is our role in the governance of the country. We are definitely not doing much,” he observed.
Bishop Mambo noted that church leaders are busy preaching prosperity gospel for themselves at the expense of the ordinary citizens.
He said the church should have played a central role in preaching the word of God and assuring the people there that God was more powerful than witchcraft.
“Why fear witchcraft when the bible tells us that in his name we can touch the most deadly snake or drink the most poisonous drink but still stand”, he wondered.
The Clergyman said the church has shifted from true biblical teaching of loving one’s neigbour to concentrate more on competing amongst themselves.
President Rupiah Banda says he will not rest until every Zambian has easy access to low-cost healthcare.
Speaking on World Malaria Day, President Banda says he would use the day of commemoration to highlight the work still to be done to reach Zambia’s own healthcare targets.
Mr. Banda said the global community is working towards a target of zero malaria deaths by 2015.
“My vision is for a Zambia where all people have equal and universal access to healthcare. We have made great in-roads to achieving this – most recently, by opening nine new mobile hospitals to help us reach outlying areas , ” President Banda said.
He added that his government is working hard to secure more investment to extend the reach of our anti-malaria programme.
Mr Banda noted that it is also important that we educate everybody on the measures they can take to reduce risk. On World Malaria Day.
“I appealed to every Zambian to be vigilant in protecting themselves, and to support one another, so that we can look forward to tomorrow’s Zambia free of this disease.” said Mr Banda.
This is contained in statement released to Zanis by special assistant to the President for Press and public Relations in lusaka today.
World Malaria Day brings together governments, businesses, donors and patients to raise awareness of the progress made in reaching this target and to call on all countries to work together to eradicate the deadly disease.
The 2010 World Malaria Report showed a 50 per cent reduction in cases of malaria in 11 African countries.
Zambia has been a pioneer in identifying new measures to prevent and treat the disease.
Under President Banda, the Southern African country has undergone mass distribution of free insecticide treated mosquito nets, indoor residual spraying of houses and investment in diagnosis and treatment has seen malaria deaths decline by more than two thirds since 2000.
Last week, Director of Public Health and Research Dr. Victor Mukonka spoke publicly about the strong political will, leadership and increased funding to malaria programmes which has resulted in the 66 per cent decline in malaria incidence.
Zambia is now well ahead of the Abuja Declaration and the World Health Organisation’s global ‘Roll Back Malaria’ target.
TWO illegal miners died yesterday after being buried alive at Nchanga Open Pit Mine in Chingola while digging for Copper ore at the dumpsites.
And police on the Copperbelt have launched a manhunt for two gunmen who allegedly shot dead a man and got away with more than K1 million on the Kitwe- Kalulushi road.
Copperbelt Police commanding officer Martin Malama confirmed the incidents in an interview in Kitwe yesterday.
Dr Malama said the two illegal miners who were in a group of friends met their fate between 01:00 hours and 02:50 hours at 60 metres bench level.
He said their colleagues managed to retrieve the bodies and left them on the surface where the mine police found them.
“I can confirm that two miners were buried alive at Nchanga Open Pit mine in Chingola while digging for copper ore. They were in the company of their friends who retrieved their bodies and left them on the surface,” Dr Malama said.
He named the deceased as Justine Silwamba of house number 3 Robert Chipekwe Road in Chiwempala and William Katongo of Makulu Road of the same residence in Chingola.
Dr Malama said their colleagues have informed their relatives and that the bodies are at Nchanga North Hospital Mortuary.
And Dr Malama said two gunmen wearing masks on Friday shot dead a driver delivering bulk beer for Kankoyo Breweries in Kalulushi.
He said the incident happened around 18:00 hours between Kalulushi and Kitwe road and named the deceased as John Mutambo 55, of Kantashi Township in Mufulira.
Dr Malama said the gunmen shot Mr Mutambo in the neck while driving his vehicle, a Fuso Fighter Canter, and got away with more than K1 million.
Mr Mutambo was with a lorry boy who jumped out of the vehicle and ran to safety.
Meanwhile, WALLEN SIMWAKA reports that a cash-in-transit attempted heist on Thursday evening left motorists and pedestrians frozen with terror when three armed robbers masked in black Ninja tunics failed to accomplish their mission of stealing from a businessman of Asian origin on Independence Avenue in Kamwala.
The robbers had closely and inconspicuously trailed their target along Independence Avenue and as they approached the traffic lights at the Burma Road junction, they swiftly jumped out of a Corolla car they were in and briskly walked to the car the businessman was in just ahead of them.
The robbers tried to open the doors of the businessman’s car but they were locked. The businessman sensed danger and he sped off, ignoring the traffic red light. The bandits armed with a pistol and AK47 assault rifles then started shooting in the air prompting motorists and their passengers to cower in their vehicles while pedestrians scampered
The bandits jumped back into their car and sped after the businessman.
A witness at the scene said the incident happened around 17:45 hours.
“I was on a bus going home. As we approached the traffic lights three men all dressed in black and masked jumped out of the Corolla and ran to the car which was being driven by an Asian man. He immediately took off meandering through many other stationary cars and bandits sped after him as they shot in the air,” she said.
Police have confirmed the attempted cash heist and have launched a manhunt for the criminals.
Lusaka Police commanding officer Mhlakeni Zulu said the businessman owns a shop in Kamwala trading area and that the robbers must have suspected that he had the daily takings with him.
Meanwhile, CHRISTINE CHISHA reports that a three year old girl and a woman believed to be in her 30s died on the spot while four other passengers sustained injuries when the motor vehicle they were travelling in careered off the road on the Zimba-Livingstone road.
Police service spokesperson Ndandula Siamana said the incident happened around 12:00 hours.
She said the accident happened when Ajay Kurma, 38, lost control of the vehicle he was driving.
Ms Ndandula said those seriously injured and admitted to Shasik Private Hospital in Livingstone are Dipak Grove, 26, Garima Kurma, 37, and Divyani Kurma, 7.
The dead have been identified as Raj Kurma and Ruhn Kurma.
Meanwhile, police have appealed to members of the public travelling to Mansa to carry National Registration Cards (NRCs) with them as police have mounted check points at three entry points into Mansa.
First Republican President Kenneth Kaunda is shown copies of the book ‘The Future Has Arrived’ by author Grieve Sibale at the book launch in Lusaka
Former President, Dr Kenneth Kaunda has implored writers and other artistes to effectively capture and reflect Zambia’s rich culture and history through their works.
Dr Kaunda said there is need to explore ways of improving skills in creative writing for authors to fully capture Zambia’s rich culture.
He said this in Lusaka yesterday when he officiated at the launch of a book titled ‘The Future Has Arrived’ authored by Grieve Sibale.
“The few published writers, printers and publishers of literary works that we have in this country have complained of low readership levels for books of a general interest such as novels. We know that many in Zambia read textbooks for the purpose of passing examinations,” Dr Kaunda said.
He said this has discouraged local publishers.
Dr Kaunda said publishers have also complained that imported books are usually cheaper because they are brought in tax-free but locally produced ones are generally more expensive because of raw material attracts import duty.
“The publisher Tupelo Honey Industries has helped us publish Grieve’s works, but all of us must work to improve the situation. We need active involvement of writers as individuals and associations,” he said.
Dr Kaunda urged all stakeholders in book production to engage in effective dialogue with Government to find lasting solutions to the challenges the industry faces.
He said this entails initiating a workable and effective Book development policy with Government.
Dr Kaunda also said while Zambia’s population has been growing, the country has not witnessed a corresponding increase in the number of bookshops.
Dr Kaunda expressed concern at the number of mushrooming bars and taverns while there is hardly any increase in the number of libraries being built.
He, however, urged Zambian authors not to relent in writing.
“Let us continue to write good books and explore the possibility of marketing them through the internet as other writers elsewhere are doing. The 21st century has many exciting and challenging business opportunities which we must grab with both hands if we are to succeed in this highly competitive environment,” Dr Kaunda said.
He described the book as impressive, saying it has appropriately infused traditional adages from across the country.
And Mr Sibale said the book, his fifth, is based on his personal reflections and vision of a better Zambia.
“…He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen…”
(Matthew 28:6, NLT
TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria
We have a reason to celebrate today because we serve a God who is alive and filled with resurrection power! Not only did He resurrect Jesus from the dead, but He wants to extend His resurrection power into every single area of your life, today!
Maybe you have a dream to get out of debt, pay off your house or be free from that burden of lack; but it looks like it’s impossible. Business is slow. The economy is down. You’ve gone as far as your education allows. But God is saying, “I’m not limited by those things. I’ve got resurrection power. I can give you one break that will thrust you to a new level. I can open up doors that no man can shut. I can bring talent out of you that you didn’t know you had. I can cause people, for no reason, to go out of their way to want to be good to you.”
Your part is to keep believing today knowing that He wants to bring you into supernatural increase. Remember, He is risen, He is alive, and He is faithful to His Word. Trust Him today and let His resurrection power work in your life!
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father God, thank You for Your resurrection power at work in my life. Today, I give You my broken dreams, disappointments, failures and setbacks and trust that You will breathe Your life into me. I trust that You have a good plan for my future and are leading me into total victory! In Jesus’ Name.Amen.
SOME opposition members of Parliament (MPs) and councillors in Lusaka have come under attack from residents and members of their party for failing to provide leadership that could steer development in their respective constituencies.
The residents have demanded that the MPs for Munali, Lusaka Central, Kabwata, Chawama and Mandevu constituencies and the councillors should not seek re-election in this year’s polls because there is nothing to show for their term of office.
“Despite some of the MPs and civic leaders claiming they would change Lusaka in 90 days after the 2006 elections, five years down the line nothing has been done,” said Famous Bwalya of Lusaka Central constituency.
He said Lusaka Central MP Guy Scott has done nothing to improve the constituency and that he has allegedly never visited some residential areas like Northmead.
Mr Bwalya said the poor state of the drainage at Northmead market is just one example that proves that the MP has not bothered to work with the residents.
He said a good MP is one who visits every area under his constituency at least twice in a year.
“Parliament does not sit everyday. They go on recess. We know that Parliamentary Committees are there but he can pass through and sit with the people for 30 minutes and listen to them,” he said.
[pullquote]“Parliament does not sit everyday. They go on recess. We know that Parliamentary Committees are there but he can pass through and sit with the people for 30 minutes and listen to them,” he said.[/pullquote]
Mr Bwalya said in this year’s elections he will not support Dr Scott or any of the councillors who are in the limelight for sharing plots and not enhancing development of the city.
Mrs Acquilline Kalunga of Luangwa township, also in Lusaka Central Constituency, said she has never seen Dr Scott in the residential area.
She urged women and youths not to vote for an opposition MP because they do not care for the people.
“From the debates in Parliament I can tell that opposition MPs have never appreciated the development projects undertaken by the government that mean well for the Zambian people.
“Does being an opposition MP mean never appreciating good things done by Government, such as rejecting the constitution and mobile hospitals?” Mrs Kalunga asked.
Mandevu township resident Ruth Moyo said she is not going to sit and see things go wrong without doing anything.
“My vote will speak for me. I want to see meaningful development come to Mandevu. Having an MP who is just vocal on attacking Government has not helped the people of Mandevu at all. Politics is about talking and working for the people,” she said. The Mandevu MP is Mrs Jean Kapata.
Mrs Elizabeth Nachalwe of Chawama said their MP, SampaBredt, has failed them and should not stand because she will not get their vote.
[pullquote]“My vote will speak for me. I want to see meaningful development come to Mandevu. Having an MP who is just vocal on attacking Government has not helped the people of Mandevu at all. Politics is about talking and working for the people,” she said.[/pullquote]
Mrs Nachalwe said she has never heard Reverend Violet Sampa-Bredt raise her voice in Parliament to express the needs of the people of Chawama in terms of infrastructure development, health services or road rehabilitation.
“We have seen for ourselves that areas where MPs are from the MMD there is development because the MPs speak for the people.
“One example is Chongwe where we have seen a number of schools being built and they have a big district hospital now because their MP does not just speak but pushes and looks for donors to finance different projects,” she said.
[pullquote]“One example is Chongwe where we have seen a number of schools being built and they have a big district hospital now because their MP does not just speak but pushes and looks for donors to finance different projects,” she said.[/pullquote]
Mrs Nachalwe, who is a PF member, said Government waits for an MP to present the needs of the people in his area before they can work together.
She said MPs should also source for funds from donors.
Kaunda Square Stage One businessman Patrick Bwalya, who lives in Ng’ombe township, said he treks between two constituencies – Munali and Mandevu – but has not seen the two MPs or even their councillors. The Munali MP is Mumbi Phiri.
Mr Bwalya said the problem is that people intending to be MPs do not even understand their role and end up promising people wrong things.
He said there is a communication breakdown between MPs and councillors and they do not work together despite most of them belonging to the same political party.
[pullquote]He said there is a communication breakdown between MPs and councillors and they do not work together despite most of them belonging to the same political party.[/pullquote]
Mr Bwalya said he had been living in Kaunda Square since 1983 and has not seen councillors working with MPs.
Mr Watson Mtonga of Mtendere township said the opposition MPs will leave no legacy to talk home about in the five years they have served.
He accused their MP, Mrs Phiri, of being arrogant and that she does not listen to the concerns of the people.
Mr Mtonga said a number of concerns, such as the poor state of roads, have not been attended to in Munali, especially in Mtendere and Kalikiliki.
He urged Zambians to vote wisely in this year’s elections.
Mazabuka Central member of Parliament Garry Nkombo
THE United Party for National Development (UPND) has charged that it would be politically tragic for Zambians to vote and usher into State House the Patriotic Front (PF) because the opposition party has exhibited strange and odious social and moral traits.
The UPND says openly supporting homosexuality to win a political vote is not only a spiritual sin but a moral and political abomination.
Mazabuka Central member of Parliament Garry Nkombo said PF president Michael Sata should never be allowed to get anywhere near the presidency because the man needs political and spiritual cleansing.
Mr Nkombo said in an interview in Mazabuka that Mr Sata should embark on a programme of cleansing himself before he can ask Zambians to vote for him.
He said homosexuality is an abomination that any morally upright political leader should abhor and condemn.
“It is an abomination and Mr Sata should cleanse himself before he can ask Zambians to vote for him. Mr Sata has openly said he supports homosexuality and all Zambians heard him. He has not even denied it,” Mr Nkombo said.
He said the PF has been comprehensively inconsistent in a lot of national matters adding that it was one of the reasons that led to the collapse of the PF-UPND Pact.
[pullquote]The scenario is that we are going to share votes in this election year. People know what is good for them and what is not. If ever one expected defections, they should have happened when President Banda was here,” Mr Nkombo said.[/pullquote]
Mr Nkombo said the UPND knew from the start that the PF was not sincere in the alliance and that the party had been scheming to ambush its partner with the dissolution of the pact.
He said that the PF was shocked that the UPND was wide awake when the death of the alliance was announced.
And Mr Nkombo has said the PF and a named daily tabloid have formed a pact that is working at scandalising other political leaders.
Mr Nkombo said it is clear that the PF and the tabloid are pursuing an agenda that is against the majority of the Zambians.
He said the tabloid has been channeling propaganda for the PF and that it has worked hard to rebrand Mr Sata but with little success.
Mr Nkombo said the newspaper and the PF have been lying about defections in Southern and Western Provinces but that Zambians have seen through the propaganda.
“It is clear that Zambians have seen through the lies being propagated by the PF and the newspaper. The defections are all stage managed. The scenario is that we are going to share votes in this election year. People know what is good for them and what is not. If ever one expected defections, they should have happened when President Banda was here,” Mr Nkombo said.
And Southern Province MMD chairman Edgar Keembe has said the PF has been faking defections because the opposition political party has realised that it cannot win any election.
Mr Keembe said in a separate interview that the people of Southern Province can never vote for Mr Sata and the PF.
He said it is not politically possible for the PF to suddenly become the most popular party in Southern Province when barely two years ago the party was at the tail end in the last election.
[pullquote]The truth is that although the MMD has not mustered complete support in Southern Province, it is illogical to assume that the PF could suddenly be the most popular party in the province.[/pullquote]
He said while the MMD has not mustered complete support of Southern Province, it is utopia for the PF to cruise past the ruling party and the UPND.
Mr Keembe said the PF popularity has hugely been damaged by the propaganda one newspaper has been churning since 2008.
“The most publicised defections are fake and stage-managed. The truth is that although the MMD has not mustered complete support in Southern Province, it is illogical to assume that the PF could suddenly be the most popular party in the province. The PF is giving the said defectors money and the same people come to tell us that they are being bought to defect. There is a lot of goodwill from the people and change in the province is coming,” Mr Keembe said.
Chief Government Spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha has urged the church to intercede for President Rupiah Banda as he leads the nation to more prosperity.
Chief Government Spokesperson Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha
Lieutenant General Shikapwasha says President Banda needs God’s guidance in his concerted efforts of emancipating Zambian people, economically.
He said President Banda’s administration remains committed to working with the church as a valuable partner in the development of the nation.
Lt Gen Shikapwasha, , who is also Information and Broadcasting Services Minister, further said as the country heads towards the Presidential and general elections, the church has a divine role to pray for peace, love and unity among the Zambian people.
The Minister was speaking when he officially opened the 12th Annual Iron Men Conference organized by the Living Waters Church International in Lusaka yesterday.
“We are one nation and one people. Let the church continue to preach the message of love and brotherhood among the people of this wonderful and great nation,” he said.
He noted that peace is a seed that is deeply embedded in the heart of every Zambian and hence the need for the church to preach peace for that seed to grow.
Lt Gen Shikapwasha, who himself is a clergyman, said the onus is on the church to ensure that it prays unceasingly in order for the country to abate any pre or post election violence.
And speaking on the occasion, Lt Gen Shikapwasha said the Iron Men Conference is an important initiative as it seeks to equip men with various skills and capacities necessary in overcoming the various challenges of life.
The Minister said homes, the church and society need men of salient attributes that are able to conquer the giant challenges of life.
“ Like the name ‘Iron Men” suggests, I believe the conference seeks to mould men into iron characters of faith so that no matter the storm, you will remain rooted in our Lord Jesus Christ”, he said.
He commended Living Waters Church International for coming up with such a programme saying government appreciates initiatives like Iron Men Fellowship which impact positively on the spiritual, social and economic wellbeing of citizens.
And Presiding Bishop of Living Waters Church International Blessington Malenga said the aim of the fellowship is to mentor and equip men with life skills that will enable them to rise above the various storms of life and assert their role in the home, church and society.
Dr Malenga, also stated that the church has committed itself to pray for peace ahead of the tripartite elections.
He said the church will also pray for social, economic and spiritual revival in the country
Kansanshi Mines PLC, in Solwezi district of the Northwestern Province, has refuted accusations by sections of society in the area that it is mistreating its workers.
But Anti Voter Apathy Project ( AVAP ) Executive Director Bonnie Tembo confirmed the reported abuse of Zambian miners saying in most instances, the unfortunate miners working at the gold section of the mine especially, are abused before knocking off.
Speaking to ZANIS in a telephone interview, today, Mr Msiska said that the reports of workers’ abuse at the country’s biggest mine were untrue.
He said Kansanshi Mine PLC is a renowned international mining company that is determined to maintain international standards of mine operations, one of them being looking after workers’ welfare.
” We are very responsible as Kansanshi Mines. Yes we mine gold. And we are proud to say that we are up to date with paying Tax to the national treasury, but we do not abuse our workers,” Mr Msiska said.
However, Mr Tembo said that it is true that Zambian mine workers at Kansanshi Mine were being abused by management at the Solwezi based mine.
The AVAP Executive Diriector told ZANIS in a walk in interview in Lusaka , today, that he came back from Solwezi where his organisation held a voters exercise meeting.
He said some of the participants during the same meeting had complained that either themselves or their relatives and friends working at the mine were abused by Kansanshi Mine PLC management.
Mr Tembo said local mine workers in the country will continue to expirience labour at the hands of new mine owners as long as government continues detouching itself from owning some of the mines in the country.
Pointing to concerns being expressed by local stakeholders alleging that the mining industry has not benefited ordinary Zambian citizens, Mr Tembo emphasized that as long as there is no government ownership of the mines, ordinary Zambians should not expect to benefit from the current mining activities in the country.
Zesco United failed to make good of home advantage today when they were held to a scoreless draw by six-time African club champions Al Ahly a the Trade Fair Grounds in Ndola.
The end of the road could be near for Zesco in this year’s Caf champions League unless they can cause a historic upset in Cairo in a fortnight’s time in the second round, return leg where no Zambia club has ever won a Caf club cup match.
The first half was a see-saw affair with very little in terms of major goal action.
There was an antithesis in terms of tactics with the diminutive Zesco players preferring the long and high balls while Al Ahly, despite their imposing stature, kept the ball on the floor.
Zesco were reduced to 10 men in the 75th minute after exhausting their substitutes when striker Alfred Luputa limped off just minutes after the team lost defender Billy Mwanza also due to injury and was replaced by Rogers Kamwandi.
However, Zesco did have chances despite their numerical deficiencies on the pitch when Clifford Chipalo and Kamwandi missed in quick succession in the 82 minute with acres of space that would have seen the take a vital goal away to Cairo.
Zesco kept up the pressure with striker Jackson Mwanza’s point-blank range header saved by Mahmoud Aboul-Saoud in the 87th minute before Portipher Zulu shot went marginally high two minutes later.
