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ZAMTEL has introduced mobile internet to add to its growing product portfolio list.
The product provides an affordable access to all social media platforms as well as instant chat applications including Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo Messenger, Google Talk and MSN Messenger.
Zamtel chief commercial officer Amon Jere, said the company is in a hurry to make a positive mark on the telecommunication sector in Zambia by introducing a full cycle of communication solutions aimed at meeting customer needs.
“We are moving fast to ensure we provide a full cycle of communication solutions aimed at meeting customer needs,” Mr Jere said.
We would like our valued customers to enjoy browsing, explore and connect with family and friends using the most affordable mobile internet connection in Zambia he added.
Mr Jere said this in a statement released by communications manager Kennedy Mambwe in Lusaka yesterday.
And Mr Jere said the firm has also paired the launch of its mobile Internet with the introduction of an internet-enabled dual sim Hauwei G3511 for K150,000 with K5,000 airtime to use on net.
The internet-enabled dual simHauwei G3511 comes with expandable memory, FM radio and MP3 capability.
“When a customer purchases the Huawei G3511 for only K150,000, they get free Internet browsing for 30 days. Included in this offer is K5,000 for on-net calls,” he said.
Mr Jere said mobile internet charges will only apply after the promotion has ended.
Communication and Transport Minister Geoffrey Lungwangwa
GOVERNMENT says the growth and competitiveness of information and communication technology (ICT) will be dependant on creating a strong backbone by highly supporting the use of fibre optics.
Minister of Communications and Transport Geoffrey Lungwangwa said the introduction of fibre optics in Zambia is one measure that is aimed at easing the use of ICTs.
He was speaking at the Fibre Optics Association (FOA) seminar held at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka on Friday.
He said Government is in full support of the use of fibre optics and that it will make sure all parts of the country are interconnected.
“Government also aims at better connecting the nation to the rest of the world by keeping abreast of what is going on.
It is for this reason that the government went into an agreement with Zamtel and Zesco Limited to develop the backbone communication infrastructure by installing fibre optics in all districts,” he said.
He said the use of fibre optic networks makes it easy and cheaper to connect Zambia to other African countries and the rest of the world.
He said the use of ICTs has contributed favourably to the growth of gross domestic product adding to national output.
“These new technologies contribute significantly to our economic growth by lowering the cost at which we do business,” he said.
He said the use of ICTs should provide services to both urban and rural dwellers respectively.
“As Government, we are on the verge of rolling out e-government services which will of course ride on the network of the operators, therefore creating the traffic for the operators to roll out their services to rural areas,” he said.
Zambia Information Communication Technology (ZICTA) acting director general Susan Mulikita said the use of fibre optics is cost effective and a swift means of connecting communities which are far from business centers.
She said the use of fibre optics networks is beneficial not only to users but also to the economy.
“As ZICTA we are pleased that the ICT sector has continued to make significant contributions to the growth of the economy even during the recent recession,” he said.
Mr Mulikita, however, urged all stakeholders to speed up technological advancements required to make a positive impact on communication.
And ICT Resource Centre executive director Ernest Kamanga said the centre has trained 175 students, who are both technicians and design specialists. They will be the FOA certified technicians.
Mike Mulongoti sharing a light moment with president Rupiah Banda
By Daimone Siulapwa
LAST year in June, then ruling Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) chairman for elections, not for the first time, went on an attack against Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata, who he now seemingly wants to be President of this poor country called Zambia.
Mr Mulongoti said in a story carried out in the Zambia Daily Mail that it is hypocritical for Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata to claim that the ruling party is taking long to develop the country when he failed to deliver meaningful development to the country when he served as a Cabinet minister.
This statement came in the wake of Mr Sata saying the MMD had overstayed in Government and that it had run out of ideas on how to effectively run the affairs of the nation. Mr Sata had also said that President Rupiah Banda had introduced Zambians to poverty by allegedly failing to run the affairs of the nation.
However, Mike Mulongoti was not impressed at all with the statement by Mr Sata and went on to say the PF leader should stop boasting that he can effectively run the affairs of the nation when the opposition leader made a lot of mistakes when he served in Government.
“The MMD is trying to correct the many mistakes that Mr Sata made when he was in Government…why is he distancing himself from the wrongs that he made?” he asked before adding that the people of Zambia cannot continue to be cheated by Mr Sata that he will develop the nation within 90 days if he is ushered into office as president when he has allegedly failed to deliver improved service delivery in some PF-controlled councils.
“Zambians have seen for themselves how the PF-controlled councils have failed to provide improved social amenities to the people, but Mr Sata is again politicking that he can deliver development to the people of Zambia.
“People should not be cheated by this type of cheap politics because they are coming from politicians who failed to deliver when they were in power and just a reminder, the 90 days they promised the people has passed but we have not seen any development in the PF-controlled councils,” he said.
“Mr Sata should not be trusted because he failed to deliver because of his inability to set the right priority for national development when he was in Government. We are advising all well-meaning Zambians not to waste their votes by voting for the opposition. The only candidate we have to support is President Banda who has demonstrated remarkable leadership from the time he became President of this nation to date.”
That is Mike Mulongoti for you speaking less than a year ago today. How times change! No, how human beings change within a short time is more appropriate perhaps.
In September 2008, while campaigning in the Presidential elections, the then Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services and Chief Government spokesperson threatened to sort out The Post newspaper after the elections.
At a public rally at Solwezi Showgrounds, Mulongoti – in an apparent reference to The Post – said after the MMD wins the presidential election on October 30, they would ask Vice-President Rupiah Banda to go out of the country for a while so that on his return, Vice-President Banda would find all the problems sorted out.
“That is why some newspapers have gone on a field day writing what they are writing about,” Mulongoti said. “I will say to him, ‘when we win elections, just leave the country for a while and you will find that we will have sorted all these problems’.”
This meeting was also attended by former Works and supply minister Ludwig Sondashi, who apparently, is also supporting the PF leader in this year’s elections. Not to be left out of the party, Sondashi advised Rupiah Banda to ignore what some newspapers were writing about him.
“My brother Rupiah Banda, don’t listen to what is being written in some newspapers because it is what they used to do even for your predecessor. They used to write bad things about him but what they are today writing about the late president Levy Mwanawasa, it is as if he was an angel, Vice-President Banda will make a great leader,” Sondashi said before threatening to beat up anybody who would mention Patriotic Front president Michael Sata’s name in his presence.
That is Sondashi for you, who today is also busy campaigning for Mr Sata.
Anyhow, back to Mike Mulongoti, who also served as MMD spokesperson at some stage. It would interest readers to know that it is not only The Post that Mike Mulongoti threatened, but even the Church.
Sometime last year, then acting MMD spokesperson Mike Mulongoti was quoted in the Zambia Daily Mail as saying church leaders should stop attacking Government ministers otherwise the ruling party might be forced to hit back at them.
“It cannot be fair for bishops to be attacking ministers. They cannot go on calling ministers names when we have the capacity to fight back as politicians,” Mr Mulongoti said.
Looking back and forth, it is difficult to fathom that this is the same Mike Mulongoti we are hearing in the media today attacking President Banda and the public media while embracing Michael Sata.
Perhaps the only logical conclusion one can draw is that Mike Mulongoti’s change in his views has everything to do with the change in his personal fortunes.
Having championed together with the late Ben Tetamashimba the adoption of Rupiah Banda to be the MMD candidate in the 2008 presidential elections, Mr Mulongoti expected the President to return the favour.
And that favour, it now seems was his support for him to be MMD vice-president and in the process put himself in pole position to succeed him as President. But as it turned out, RB had other ideas and Mr Mulongoti was duly blocked from fulfilling his ambitions. With that, he was shown the door and encouraged to use it and close it afterwards.
Today, Mr Mulongoti is championing the opposition cause.
Whichever way one looks at it, this is a direct insult on the intelligence of the Zambian people. Today, one is busy supporting the policies and leadership of the MMD, then at noon, he is busy putting across the case for change. One wonders what he will be doing in the evening and late at night!
Agreed, we all sympathized with his suspension from the MMD for merely exercising his democratic right to contest the position of vice-president which was vacant and still remains so. By announcing his intention for the position, which would have pitted him against republican Vice President George Kunda, we all thought it was a right move in promoting and enhancing internal party democracy.
But his conduct since being fired leaves much to be desired. Certainly, Mr Mulongoti, during his time in government, seemed not to have seen anything wrong with the MMD policies to warrant the change in government that he is championing now.
For a country like Zambia seemingly in a hurry to develop, these are the politicians who should be discarded with altogether.
THE MMD will soon meet the Catholic Church to resolve contentious issues which have brought unnecessary tension between the ruling party and the church, national secretary Richard Kachingwe said in Lusaka yesterday.
Major Kachingwe said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that the current standoff between the ruling party and the Catholic Church is uncalled for and should be resolved amicably.
“The Catholic Church is entitled to its own opinion and we should not quarrel with them in the newspapers. It is important that as the ruling party, we engage them in dialogue.
“We are ready and willing to iron out whatever problems between us as long as the church is willing to listen to our grievances,” Maj Kachingwe said.
He said the MMD has resolved to dialogue with the Catholic Church to end the impasse so that both parties can concentrate on fostering economic development.
Maj Kachingwe said all party members have been advised to desist from commenting on matters concerning the Catholic Church until all issues are resolved.
He said the Catholic Church, like any other church, is Government’s partner in national development, hence the need for dialogue whenever differences bordering on national issues arise.
Maj Kachingwe said the MMD respects the opinion of the Catholic Church and its positive views on national development.
“It does not make sense to engage the Catholic Church in verbal war when most of the party members congregate in the same church.
“We want to leave the church out of politics so that they can concentrate on their charity work. We do not want to argue with them, especially in the media,” Maj Kachingwe said.
He said MMD members should stop talking about the Catholic Church because this will aggravate the situation.
Maj Kachingwe said the Catholic Church should also be ready to hear the MMD government’s grievances over priests like Father Frank Bwalya who have continued to attack and discredit government.
He said it is not the wish of the MMD to continue responding to insults and attacks from Fr. Bwalya and other priests.
Maj Kachingwe said individual Catholic priests should not use their positions to attack government but seek audience with it if they feel aggrieved.
He said the MMD does not want to fight the Catholic Church in the media over issues which can be resolved at a round table.
Maj Kachingwe said the MMD is not happy that Caritas Zambia, a Catholic non-governmental organisation,is allegedly engaged in active politics and it is incumbent upon the church to ensure that Caritas stops partisan activities.
Last week, Zambia Episcopal Conference president George Lungu released a pastoral letter addressed to all Catholic Parishes in Zambia, to be read out to parishioners on June 5.
In the letter, Reverend Lungu said among other issueson which the Catholic Church will remain non-partisan is politics.
He also said the church does not promote gay rights because homosexuality and lesbianism are seriously wrong and sinful acts which should not be tolerated. Rev. Lungu also called for peace, forgiveness and reconciliation.
Four people have been convicted and sent to jail in connection with the Mansa riots.
Police spokesperson, Ndandula Siamana has said in Lusaka that of the 220 suspects arrested, 107 have appeared in court.
Ms. Siamana explained that the four people, who have been convicted, have been incarcerated for various jail sentences.
Those convicted are Frank Mukupa aged 57, Charles Kabangu aged 27, Jackson Kabo aged 32 and Vincent Mulenga aged 26, all of Mansa district.
Meanwhile, in Lusaka, a Rwandese national and his son were yesterday found dead in their shop in Chazanga area.
Ms. Siamana says Police suspect the two could have suffocated to death because a brazier was also found in the shop.
[ MUVI ]
The quartet of high profile ex-Zambia internationals coaching in the Faz Division 1 had mixed fortunes in their respective week 11 matches played over the weekend.
In Division 1 South, Kenneth “Bubble” Malitoli’s side Livingstone Pirates beat Profund Warriors coached by fellow ex-international Evans Sakala 2-0 in Livingstone.
Profund are 14th in the 18-team Division 1 South league on 10 points from as many games played.
Pirates meanwhile are 4th on the table on 18 points, two behind leaders Luena Buffaloes who lost 2-1 away to Paramilitary coached by ex-Zambia defender Happy Sichikolo.
This was Sichikolo’s first match in charge since he was appointed last week to coach the Lilayi-based team.
And in Division 1 North, Fredrick Kashimoto’s Mufulira Police FC drew 1-1 away to Kitwe United in their mid-table clash.
Mufulira Police are 9th on the table on 12 points, eight less than leaders Indeni.
FAZ Division One
22/05/2011
Week 11
North
Chambishi 0-Luanshya United 1
Kabwe United 0-Mufulira Blackpool 2
Mufulira Wanderers 0-Mining Rangers 0
Kitwe United 1-Mufulira Police 1
Zesco Luapula 0-Ndola United 0
Indeni 1- Nkwiza 0
Lusaka Dynamos 0-Prison Leopards 3
Chindwin Sentries 2-kalulushi Modern Stars 0
Bresmer United 2-Konkola Mine Police 1
[standings league_id=19 template=extend logo=false]
South
Big Roma 1-Lusaka Tigers 1
Riflemen 0-Kalomo Jetters 0
Livingstone Pirates 2-Profund Warriors 0
National Assembly 1-Nampundwe 0
Paramilitary 2-Luena Buffaloes 1
Senanga Leopards 2- Freedom Rangers 3
Petauke United 0-Lusaka City Council 0
City of Lusaka 2-Mazabuka United 1
Young Green Eagles 1-Kafue Celtic 0
FLASHBACK: President Banda and his son Temwani (l) interacts with pupils of the American international school in Lusaka
President Rupiah Banda has directed the Ministry of Education to monitor private schools to ensure they provide quality education.
President Banda said parents pay huge sums of money for their children’s school fees and that the quality of education provided should be of high standard.
He was speaking when he officially opened Horizon Primary and High school in Lusaka on Monday.
Mr. Banda has also urged parents to take keen interest in the learning process of their children.
He explains that parents should know their children’s strengths and weaknesses.
President Banda says the move helps in the formation of character of their children.
And President Banda says Government will continue investing heavily in the country’s education sector.
He says this is because education is a pre-requisite to addressing economic challenges.
Earlier, Turkish Ambassador Ahmet Arba said the opening of the school will contribute to the needs of Zambians.
And Horizon Educational Trust PTA Chairman Leslie Mbula has asked the Turkish Governmet to send more Science, Mathematics and ICT teachers to Zambia.
Mr. Mbula says this is because Science, Mathematic and ICT are key to the development of Zambia.
And Turkish University Chancellor Serif Ali Tkalan says his country decided to open a school in Zambia because of the country’s peaceful environment.
Meanwhile, Horizon Educational Trust has awarded First Lady Thandiwe Banda with an honorary certificate.
President Banda received the certificate on behalf of the first Lady.
Mbita Chitala has charged that the 20 year rule of the Movement for Multi party democracy MMD government is this year coming to an end.
Dr. Chitala, one of the brains behind the formation of the MMD says that it is clear that the MMD has no chance of returning power after the 2011 elections.
He says that the democratic tendencies in the MMD have been done away with because of the leadership being provided by party president Rupiah Banda.
Dr. Chitala has noted with regret that the MMD has adopted the UNIP strategy that is not tolerant in the way its leading the country.
He says that the MMD should not be confident that they will win this year s election in an easy way.
He recalls that the failure for the country to have a new constitution marked a vote of no confidence for the MMD.
Dr. Chitala, a former Libyan ambassador to Zambia, has further stated that the Patriotic Front would be a better government that the current one.
The former ambassador vowed to continue campaigning for the opposition Patriotic Front because he has studied their manifesto and agrees with what the opposition party stands for.
He said there is nothing sinister about him supporting the PF as he is only seeking to see a better Zambia just like the many suffering Zambians.
File:Lusaka economist Chibamba Kanyama talking to young people during a youth conference in Lusaka
The Government’s economic policies of attracting new investment as well as enabling re-investment among existing companies are the reasons Zambia’s economy is set to continue expanding, an economist has said.
Chibamba Kanyama said as a result of these policies, more investors would want to come into the country, while those in existence would re-invest to expand their organisations.
Speaking in an interview in Lusaka, Mr Kanyama said the current regime was attracting high levels of investment because the Government has taken a pro-active stance of marketing the country away from the traditional Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) origination from countries in Europe to emerging nations that were experiencing astronomical growth patterns, mainly India and China.
“There has been a fine balance between attracting new investment and enabling re-investment among existing companies.
Unlike in previous years when concessions and focus by Government were towards those investing for the first time, the current Government has given equal or even deeper attention to existing investors.
This has worked very well for Government because it costs more money to attract a new investor than it does enabling an existing investor to re-invest and expand.
Whereas new investors may seek tax relief for a period up to five years, existing companies that bring in new capital will not have this tax relief,” Mr Kanyama said.
Mr Kanyama, who is also Zambia Breweries Corporate Affairs director, said that his firm had injected more than US $75 million in the past three years, saying it was much higher than what some new investors might have brought into the country.
He said that the $75 million investment would immediately result in high Government revenue in the medium to long term.“It also means, therefore, that the bird in hand is better than the one in the bush.
What this Government has done is to give a stronglistening ear to the needs of local investors and in the process enabling them to grow in the long term; this is the best strategy ofsustaining economic growth,” Mr Kanyama said.
Mr Kanyama said that there has been times that Government has taken a gamble by providing for trade-related tax relief to existing companies in the hope of recouping it in the long term. Such a measure, he said takes a highly focused and pragmatic Government to achieve.
In the case of Zambian Breweries, he said the firm had urged the Government to look broadly at the fiscal factors.
He said that traditionally, governments only want to get as much revenue from a company as possible without focusing on the bigger picture.
“Fortunately, and in a win-win approach, the Government now appears to have struck a fine balance between maximisation of revenue, while at the same time understanding our model to broaden the tax base through the value chain.
In other words, whereas we seek to pay more taxes each year, we feel the real gain for Government is to enable a company like ZB, and others following the same model, to expand,” Mr Kanyama said.He said in the brewery industry for instance, owing to Government’s policies, a number of associated companies are beingborn, such as barley farms.
He said from the creation of such associated companies, Government would still be able to earn revenue.“This should also allay accusations that multinationals want to pay as little tax as possible.
On the contrary, multinationals seek long term economic stability and growth through value-chain expansion,” Mr Kanyama said.
Mr Kanyama, therefore, urged the Government to remain focused on the path it has taken as the country’s future remains brighter for economic growth, wealth for households through employment and further attraction of new investment.
Labour deputy minister Simon Kachimba (c) talks to two Chinese employers who have accommodated their employees in the same rooms with livestock in Chongola.
2.
A lady waits for her turn to start driving lessons at an illegal driving yard along Independence avenue in Lusaka
3.
Tanzanian long distance buses before taking off at Intercity bus station in Lusaka
4.
Trinity Chanshi (23) and Morgan Kanjolo (26) of Zanaco are caught ball watching as Konkola Blades striker Ephraim Banda prepares to shoot at goal to record his team’s first goal during the game played at Sunset stadium in Lusaka
5.
Konkola Blades striker Ephraim Banda shoots the ball past Zanaco goal keeper Allan Chibwe (left) during the game played at Sunset stadium in Lusaka
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Police try to control irate soccer fans after Zanaco lost the game to Konkola Blades at Sunset stadium in Lusaka
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Police try to control irate soccer fans after Zanaco lost the game to Konkola Blades at Sunset stadium in Lusaka
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Police try to control rowdy soccer fans after Zanaco lost the game to Konkola Blades at Sunset stadium in Lusaka
9.
Zesco’s Nicholas Zulu (center) tries to go past his Zanaco markers Morgan Kanjolo (left) and Ziyo Zyambo during last weeks game played at Sunset Stadium in Lusaka
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Zesco’s Winston Kalengo (right) tries to beat his Zanaco marker Morgan Kanjolo during last weeks game played at Sunset Stadium in Lusaka .
11.
Zesco’s Winston Kalengo (center) fights for the ball against Zanaco’s Morgan Kanjolo (left) as Charles Singwa looks on during last weeks game played at Sunset Stadium in Lusaka
12.
President Banda admires copper at the opening of a new mine in Kitwe
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President Hefikepunye Pohamba speaking during the opening of the SADC Extraordinary Summit at the Safari Hotel in Windhoek, Namibia .
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President Banda with President Zimbabwean Preisdent Robert Mugabe at the opening of the SADC Extraordinary Summit in at Safari Hotel in Windhoek, Namibia
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President Banda and Tanzanian President Kikwete sing the SADC anthem at the opening of the SADC Extraordinary Summit at Safari Hotel in Windhoek, Namibia.
16.
Conrad Rautenbach leaves a cloud of dust in his Ford N after going round a bend during the spectator stage of the Zambia International Motor Rally which raved off in Lusaka
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Conrad Rautenbach powers his Ford N along the dusty route during the spectator stage of the Zambia International Motor Rally which raved off in Lusaka .
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Team Madison driver Muna Singh negotiates his way at a corner in his Subaru during the spectator stage of the Zambia International Motor Rally which raved off in Lusaka
19.
Team Madison driver Muna Singh shows his mettle during the spectator stage of the Zambia International Motor Rally which raved off in Lusaka
20.
Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde (right) compares notes with United Nations Development Programme Country Director Viola Morgan (left) as Commissioner of Police Raphael Musamba looks on at the launch of a training programme for police officers in Lusaka
21.
Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde (right) shakes hands with United Nations Development Programme Country Director Viola Morgan (left) at the launch of a training programme for police officers in Lusaka
22.
Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde (left) listens to Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Auxensio Daka at the launch of a training programme for police officers in Lusaka
23.
Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde (left) talks to Liberal Progressive Party Secretary General Langtone Sichone at the launch of a training programme for police officers in Lusaka
King Imwiko Lubosi (II) sitting on his thrown in the Kuta (Traditional Court) in Limulunga royal village in Mongu
THE MMD has described Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata’s failure on Saturday to pay a courtesy on the Lozi King, the Litunga, in Western Province where he was holding campaign meetings as lack of respect for chiefs in the country.
Mr Sata, who held campaign meetings in Mongu on Saturday, angered the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) because of his failure to pay a courtesy call on the Litunga.
Several Mongu residents also expressed disappointment with Mr Sata’s behaviour to recognise the Litunga.
MMD spokesperson Dora Siliya said Mr Sata’s failure to respect significant role chiefs played signified that he would even forget about the traditional rulers if he came into power because he does not care for them.
In an interview yesterday, Ms Siliya said MMD was not surprised with Mr Sata’s actions to disrespect the Litunga and that such behaviour revealed he was a misplaced leader who should not be accorded national responsibilities.
She said chiefs played a critical role in promoting unity and peace in the country and that it was for this reason President Rupiah Banda and his MMD Government had continued to work closely with all traditional leaders.
“We are not surprised with Mr Sata’s behaviour because he has always been like that.
He cannot be entrusted with leadership responsibilities and now Zambians know what type of a leader Mr Sata can be,” said Ms Siliya.
She said Zambians should not take Mr Sata as a serious leader because he had shown that he could do nothing to improve the welfare of traditional leaders if elected as president.
After receiving condemnation for not paying a courtesy call on the Litunga, Mr Sata yesterday went and paid a courtesy call on Mukwae Mbwanjikana but this infuriated the people even more.And the people of senanga have described Mr Sata as a leader full of rhetoric.
The people spoken to after Mr Sata’s rally in Senanga yesterday said they were shocked that Mr Sata had nothing to talk about apart from making wild allegations which he would not substantiate.
This was after Mr Sata had alleged that the MMD had allegedly registered foreigners from Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo as voters in this year’s elections.
The people were also surprised that Mr Sata could lie to the people of Senanga that President Banda had been in office for 20 years when in actual fact the president had only been in office for the past two years.
In his speech, Mr Sata claimed that President Banda had allegedly failed to develop Western Province in the past 20 years he had been in office.
At the same rally, former Sports minister William Harrington who is eyeing Senanga Constituency on the PF ticket was booed when he tried to claim that he was capable of developing the area if elected.
And a former UPND official Nabiwa Imikendu who recently defected to the PF complained to the people for not responding to the PF slogan at the rally.
Earlier, before the rally, taxi drivers queued at Moto Moto Villa where Mr Sata was having lunch to be given money for 20 litres of fuel meant to go round Senanga and transport people to the rally.
The Drug-Enforcement Commission (DEC) has arrested a 41-year-old businessperson of Maramba Township in Livingstone for trafficking in more than 300 kilogrammes of cannabis.
DEC public relations manager John Nyawali said Mubita Kekelwa was arrested from his house as he was preparing to transport the contraband to Namibia.
DEC has also arrested a 23-year-old businessperson named as Kenneth Zuzi of Malota Township in Livingstone for trafficking in cannabis.
Mr Nyawali said Mr Zuzi was found with more than 200 balls of loose cannabis which he was selling and he was a major supplier of cannabis in the township.
Meanwhile, 500 kilogrammes of cannabis was seized in the last seven days country-wide and 95 people arrested in connection with the psychotropic substance.
Among those arrested was a 33-year-old Tanzanian national who was found with 22 rolls of Malawian gold, a type of cannabis well-known for its high potency.
Mr. Nyawali said Juma Hussein Shaban was arrested from Chililabombwe town centre after being trailed from Kasumbalesa border on his way to Namibia from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Others arrested were a grade nine pupil of Sesheke High School, who was found with an undisclosed quantities of cannabis.
[ Times of Zambia ]
The MMD in Lusaka has dispelled allegations that party spokesperson Dora Siliya insulted Catholic bishops in Mpika recently when she toured development projects in the district.
MMD provincial information and publicity secretary Greenock Lupambo said in a statement that allegations that MsSiliya insulted the clergy in Mpika are not correct.
Mr Lupambo said on the contrary, Ms Siliya said good things about the Catholics and how they are working closely with the government of the day.
“It is however surprising to learn from some sections of the media that she used abusive language. The truth is that she never uttered any abusive language. What she did was just to comment on homosexuality, a subject which is ungodly and against the Zambian laws,” he said.
“Why is it that out of 600 clergymen in the Catholic church, only seven of them are busy decampaigning the MMD government. If they continue they will just bring the name of the Catholic Church into disrepute,” he said.
Mr. Lupambo said it has become apparent that the seven bishops are the only ones calling for change of Government, leaving everyone to wonder what makes them think that change is inevitable.
He has challenged the bishops calling for change of government to leave the pulpit and join the political arena.
Mr. Lupambo said the role of the clergy is to win back lost souls, not to call for change of government every Sunday.
[ Zambia Daily Mail ]
