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THE Zambia Law Development Commission (ZLDC) says it has started reviewing the Intestate Succession Act number five of 1989 to make it more responsive in addressing the high cases of property grabbing in the country.
ZLDC director Annette Nhekairo said the organisation has decided to review the law because in its current form, it is not up to speed with modern administration of estates for people who die without leaving a will.
Ms Nhekairo said this in Lusaka yesterday when she appeared before the House of Chiefs to explain the challenges the current Act is facing in addressing property grabbing cases, as well as the urgent need to review the current Intestate Succession Act.
She said current statistics indicate that over 78 percent of widows and orphans continue to suffer injustices countrywide because of archaic laws such as the Intestate Succession Act.
“Research has shown that there is apparent resistance to the provisions of this Act. This is further evidenced by the high number of reported cases of property grabbing at police stations across the country and at legal advice desks.
“As we may be aware, the mandate of the ZLDC is to develop the law to meet the changing needs of society. In accordance with its objectives and functions under the Zambia Law Development Act, Chapter 32 of the Laws of Zambia, the commission is required to undertake research and make special recommendations on the need to revise the Act,” Ms Nhekairo said.
She said the current Intestate Succession Act does not adequately protect the interests of the widows and orphans, especially on matters relating to customary land.
Ms Nhekairo said the Act poses challenges in administering the Act as it is applied according to customs and traditional norms prevailing in a particular area, which vary in a country of 73 tribes and 286 chiefs.
She said the Act also greatly disadvantages widows and orphans with regard to their rightful inheritance shares from the estates of their husbands and fathers.
Ms Nhekairo also said the police should be empowered to arrest people violating the law, while the judiciary should be mandated to prosecute such cases to deter intending perpetrators of the vice.
She said the Law Development Commission has documented cases of injustices against widows and orphans to show the extent of the problem in the country.
Labour and Social Security Deputy Minister Simon Kachimba
DEPUTY Minister of Labour and Social Security Simon Kachimba yesterday rebuked a Chingola-based foreign investor for allowing his workers to share sleeping space with goats.
The workers sleep in a garage which the investor also uses to keep goats.
Mr Kachimba said when he inspected Wang-Kong Company Limited that it is inhuman for the firm to allow its workers to sleep in a garage that also houses goats.
“I am giving you up to Monday to move these people out of the garage. Give them money so that they can go and rent good houses in the townships,” Mr Kachimba said.
He said Government appreciates the contribution investors are making to economic growth, but it is important for them to respect human rights.
He also said it is unbelievable that the investor is paying his workers a monthly salary of less than K350,000.
The visibly annoyed Mr Kachimba urged management to move the workers from the garage and give them better salaries to secure alternative accommodation.
“Let us have respect for workers, without workers there can be no production. Government recognises the role workers play in national development. It is important for our partners, investors, to do the same by giving them good conditions of service,” Mr Kachimba said.
He said Government supports progressive investors who are adding value to the economy.
[pullquote]“I am giving you up to Monday to move these people out of the garage. Give them money so that they can go and rent good houses in the townships,” Mr Kachimba said.[/pullquote]
Mr Kachimba also toured the National Pensions Scheme Authority (NAPSA) housing complex in Kalulushi.
He called on Zambians to ignore disgruntled politicians who are criticising the developmental projects Government and its partners are undertaking.
Mr Kachimba said it is unfortunate that some people have politicised the developmental projects NAPSA is undertaking countrywide.
He said President Banda and his administration will not be derailed from implementing viable projects which are positively impacting on the lives of Zambians.
He is happy that the Kalulushi NAPSA housing project is progressing well, but advised the contractor, Yangts Jiang Enterprises, to provide workers with protective clothing.
He also advised the workers against stealing protective clothing from the company.
The Zambia Centre for Interparty Dialogue (ZCID) has appealed to cooperating partners not to provide financial support to some Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) for conducting election monitoring.
ZCID has bemoaned the partisan manner in which some CSOs are going about performing their role.
This was agreed upon by political parties that are members of the ZCID at an inter party dialogue summit held in Lusaka on Thursday.
ZCID spokesperson Njekwa Anamela says cooperating partners should not provide CSOs with support for conducting election monitoring as this may be misunderstood and lead to acrimony.
Mr. Anamela, who is also United National Independence Party (UNIP) vice president, has, however, implored cooperating partners to support the ZCID in enabling the institution assist political parties in deploying polling agents.
[ QFM ]
Hope for Human Rights has asked Government to treat the Lusaka central Prison as a disaster and quickly move in to provide a solution.
Organisation Executive director Smart Chanda says Hope for human rights is saddened by the revelations by the prison authorities that they are forced to come up with a sleeping timetable for the inmates at Lusaka central prison-Chimbokaila.
A group of prisoners is allowed to sleep and later exchange with the other group due to inadequate space.
He says the international human rights law dictates that all persons deprived of their liberty shall be treated with humanity and respect.
[ MUVI ]
President Rupiah Banda has praised Zambian farmers for recording another historic bumper harvest.
The President is impressed with the unprecedented three point two metric tonnes of maize, which represents a surplus of over one million tonnes.
President Banda says his government has worked hard to introduce effective agricultural policies which have contributed to steady growth and stable food prices in the country.
Mr Banda was reacting to the announcement by Agriculture Minister Dr Eustarckio Kazonga that Zambia has recorded another bumper harvest.
This is according to a statement released to ZNBC News by Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Dickson Jere.
The President says his Government is in the process of working with the Food Reserve Agency, traders and farmers to identify the best ways to store and transport the huge harvest.
Mr Banda says his primary concern is to ensure the produce reaches the people who will most benefit from the harvest.
At the start of this year’s agricultural season, President Banda pledged increased budgetary allocation to the sector and a provision of 37 billion kwacha to build dams for irrigation and water supply to livestock.
The Economic Association of Zambia yesterday praised President Banda’s government for putting in place sound agricultural policies that have helped the country record another maize bumper harvest.
Last year Zambia produced another record bumper harvest of 2 point 8 million metric tonnes.
Choma District Education Board Secretary Annah Masilani has paid tribute to GLASCO Foundation of Canada for supplementing government efforts in increasing access to education in the district and the nation as a whole.
Ms. Masilani says shortening walking distances to school and increasing access to education for all is one of the major priorities of government which has built schools all over the country.
She said this yesterday during the hand over ceremony of a teacher’s house built under the donation of GLASCO Foundation of Canada at Katumbi Community School in Chief Macha ‘s area.
Mrs. Masilani pointed out that education has become a right and that every child is required to reach basic education from grade 1-9 by 2015, a target government is trying to achieve under the Millennium Development Goals (MDG).
She disclosed that her ministry is working with other partners in the district such as ADRA Zambia and GLASCO Foundation to ensure that it reaches its target before 2015 .
Mrs. Masilani revealed that her office is currently processing papers to try to gazette the community school so that it is upgraded from a community level to a basic learning institution in order for grade seven examinations to be conducted at the same facility.
She added that her office has already identified the school for farther help in form of grants to enable the institution procure chalk, books and pupils’ requisite.
Currently the school is running up to grade four and aims to reach grade seven as soon as it is upgraded to a basic level.
The DEBS assured the community of Katumbi that her office will send teachers since the school is slowly growing and will absored the increasing number of pupils due to good infrastructure which has been made possible by GLASCO Foundation in partnership with government.
She reminded the community to look after the newly built infrastructure with good care.
“I want to thank the donors for the job well done especially in the provision of solar panels for this will retain teachers in rural areas and as our wish is to make rural schools conducive to teachers,” she said.
And speaking at the same function GLASCO Foundation Chairman Colin B. Glasco said his organization will remain committed to improve the welfare of the under privileged in society.
He said he is overwhelmed with the response his organization has received from the local community.
President Rupiah Banda talks to President Jacob Zuma of South Africa, President Jose Eduardo dos Santos of Angola and President Ipukefinye Pohamba of Namibia
President Banda was this morning among SADC heads of State and Government who attended the opening session of the on-going SADC extraordinary summit in Windhoek, Namibia.
The meeting is the first SADC summated devoted to regional economic development.
Other leaders who attended the summit include Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe, Amando Guebuza of Mozambique, Joseph Kabila of DRC, Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, Ian Karma of Botswana and host Hefikepunye Pohamba.
And speaking during the opening ceremony of the extraordinary summit, Southern African Development Community (SADC) chairperson Hefikepunye Pohamba called on SADC member countries to take an active role in global economic affairs.
Mr. Pohamba said this is important because it would be easy for the region to chart a clear course of the global economy with certainty.
ZANIS reports that the Namibian President said SADC cannot afford to be a passive bystander in the process of global economic transformation.
He said there was need for SADC member countries to actively help shape the global economic landscape and create better conditions for the citizens.
“We share a common vision for a region that is more closely integrated in line with our commitments as set out in the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP), the Strategic Indicative Plan for the Organ (SIPO) and the various protocol s that our Regional organization has adopted over the years in order to pursue our integration agenda more effectively,” he said.
Mr. Pohamba said today’s summit which has been devoted to the economic development of the region should be seen in the context of leaders’ recognition of the need for active participation in the global economy.
The SADC chair noted that over the years, substantial resources have been spent while many meetings on economic issues have also been held.
Mr. Pohamba noted that as the region looks at the efforts it has made in the last thirty years and to the future, there was need for leaders to remain focused on the fact that whatever they do, the aim at achieving the ultimate goal of improving the living conditions of citizens in the SADC region.
He noted that millions of people in the region have continued to live in abject poverty and suffer from hunger, preventable diseases, lack of access to quality education, health care and other basic amenities.
He said in order to address such challenges and other developmental gaps, there was need for leaders to take actionable decisions at the on-going summit.
“The challenges we face are manifold and indeed, formidable. But, they must be met, so that we may truly translate the vision of our founding fathers into material well-being of our people,” said President Pohamba.
He cited lack of adequate resources from the region and ineffective implementation of decisions taken by the regional body as some of the persistence challenges.
Mr. Pohamba said it was critical that the decisions taken by the leaders in SADC are seriously and effectively implemented for the region to move forward.
He called on SADC leaders to mobilize domestic resources and marshal the necessary political will in order to give concrete meaning to the regional integration agenda.
President Pohamba noted that while foreign funding by development partners has been generous and welcome, dependence on it alone could constrain development efforts.
Meanwhile, Mr. Pohamba has announced that in June this year, a tripartite summit to be attended by Heads of State and Government of SADC, COMESA and the Eastern African Community which will focus on the finalization of the process of establishing the envisaged tripartite free trade area will be held in South Africa.
He said the meeting will also look at the harmonization of trade arrangements among the three Regional Economic Communities, free movement of goods and people, joint implementation of intra-regional infrastructure programmes as well as institutional arrangements on the basis on which the three regional bodies would foster cooperation.
Mr. Pohamba stressed that the establishment of the envisaged Tripartite Free Trade Area was critical towards revitalizing the economies of Southern, Eastern and Central Africa besides being a crucial building block towards achieving the African Economic Community as outlined in the Abuja Treaty.
Meanwhile, President Banda is this afternoon expected to present reports to the closed door session of the Heads of State and Government on on-going mediation efforts in Zimbabwe and Madagascar.
President Banda is the chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation of SADC.
The Faz Super Division enters Week 9 with a couple of intriguing clashes taking place on Saturday.
Leaders Nakambala Leopards take on Red Arrows in Mazabuka knowing they will remain top whatever the outcome of their home match this weekend against their visitors from Lusaka.
Nakambala are on 19 points, four more than 3rd placed Arrows with the latter targeting to join Nkana as the second team to win in Mazabuka this season.
At Sunset Stadium in Lusaka, second placed Zanaco host Konkola Blades.
Zanaco, who like Arrows are on 15 points, come into this match on a big high after an important 2-1 home win over their rivals from the Copperbelt Zesco United.
More of the same is expected from Zanaco including another red hot display from their DR Congo winger and early candidate for 2011 player of the year Fabrice Mbimba.
And in Chingola, 4th placed Nchanga Rangers will be looking for their first league win over guests Green Buffaloes in six years.
Rangers can trace their last league win over Buffaloes to March 18, 2005 when they beat the latter 2-0 at the same venue.
FAZ Super Division Week 9
21/05/2011
Forest Rangers-Power Dynamos
Green Eagles-Nkana
Nakambala Leopards-Red Arrows
Nkwazi-Kalewa
Nchanga Rangers-Green Buffaloes
Zanaco-Konkola Blades
Kabwe Warriors-Roan United
Former Minister of Works and Supply Mike Mulongoti
Expelled former ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy MMD chairman for elections Mike Mulongoti has challenged Republican President Rupiah Banda to prove that he is legally ruling the country.
Mr. Mulongoti has said that President Banda should clear the air on whether he is qualified to rule the country or not.
Yesterday, MMD founder member and former Zambian ambassador to Malawi and Botswana Milton Phiri charged that President Rupiah Banda has been leading the country illegally.
Mr. Phiri said President Banda breached the Republican constitution by contesting the 2008 elections when he was not eligible.
Mr. Mulongoti has however distanced himself that he is behind the allegations brought forward by the former ambassador.
He wonders why his name keeps coming up each time certain allegations are made.
He says he is not a guardian to Mr. Phiri, and has no business in the allegations that were made by the former Zambian envoy.
Mr. Mulongoti adds that President Rupiah Banda should take a leaf from US president Barrack Obama who produced his birth certificate following questions on whether he was born in the United States or not.
Mr. Mulongoti said this in an interview with QFM this Morning.
Ryan Leslie has recently become one of my favorite RnB singers/producers. I wasn’t really a fan of his until I listed to his second album “Transition”. That is what I can consider a perfect album. All the songs are written, produced, arranged and engineered by Mr. Leslie himself. The album is said to be inspired by a lady whom he met during a rehearsal for a show at New York’s S.O.B nightclub.
The album that got me
Transition review
Stand out track: Something that I like
If you have never listened Ryan Leslie I would suggest you listen to “something that I like”. Leslie shows some diversity in this song, by both rapping and singing. That’s not say he is the best rapper, but merely tells listeners not to put him in a box. It has a smooth mid tempo beat and a funky baseline. Pasha t comes in with the third verse adding that extra something to the song.
What really stands out on this album is his production and arrangement, as the album to flow nicely from track to track. “You’re not my girl” is radio friendly and was made for the dance floor with its 80’s synths and harps.
His lyrics may seem simple and straight to the point, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. In “All my love“, lyrics like “I want to give u all my love/ even if I don’t have all your trust” are simple but so effective.
The bonus track could have been left off the album as “I choose you”, while somewhat mediocre, is a perfect way to end the album.
Brief history of the man
At the age of 14, Leslie got a perfect score on his SAT’s. He applied to prestigious universities such as Stanford, Yale and Harvard. He was accepted to Harvard where he graduated at the age of 19 with a degree in Political science and macroeconomics. During his stay at Harvard he devoted a lot of time to creating and developing music. He spent many hours perfecting his craft.
Sometime after his graduation, as he continued working on his music, he got a 30 day internship with a producer named Younglord. Within a week a produced a song that would be performed by Beyonce, called “Keep giving your love to me”. Sean “Diddy” Combs was impressed with his production and offered him a management contract.
He was later offered the chance to have his own imprint under Universal music group. It is called Next Selection and his first artist was Cassie. Leslie wrote and produced Cassies break out record “Me & u”.
Leslie plays a number of instruments and produces all of his own song. Here is a video of the making of one of his hits “Addiction”
Making of Addiction
What’s he doing now?
Leslie has worked with and produced hits for a number of artists such as Fabolous, Lloyd Banks, Britney spears, Mary j Blige, and numerous others.
He is currently working on his third album tentatively titled les is more. The lead single for the project is “Glory”. He raps about how he is underrated but is determined to “…spill my guts so I could get my glory”
Glory Video
Other notable songs that may appear on the album are, “beautiful lie” and “Joan of arc”
Early this year Leslie performed “beautiful lie” in Paris.
The National Restoration Party (NAREP) has predicted an increase in corruption if the MMD government is voted back into power in this year’s elections.
NAREP president Elias Chipimo Junior told QFM that the MMD government has completely failed to curb graft which has led to increased levels of poverty in Zambia.
Mr. Chipimo has also condemned the move by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) to drop money laundering charges against former Western Province Permanent secretary Ikanuke Nooyo.
He has described government’s commitment to fighting corruption in the country as a non starter.
The DEC dropped charges of laundering amounting to K46 million, through unretired imprest against Mr. Nooyo adding that the money has been recovered from his gratuity.
The NAREP president says it is unfortunate that government is letting loose those who pay back resources obtained through corrupt practices without prosecution.
He explains that the gesture shown by the commission clearly demonstrates how selective the law is being applied in the country.
Mr. Chipimo has further said once voted into power, his government will ensure that corruption in all systems of governance is eradicated and perpetrators will be brought to book
CENTRAL Province Minister Ackimson Banda has urged Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde to intensify the hunt for fugitive Mailoni brothers who have continued killing people in Luano Valley in Mkushi district.
Mr Banda said in an interview in Kabwe yesterday it is saddening that even after police officers were deployed in the area to hunt the serial killers after they murdered their first victims in December last year, they have to date not been captured.
“The IG should come out and let us know what is happening in Luano Valley. Police were sent there, and it’s worrying that the Mailoni brothers are still at large,” Mr Banda said.
He was reacting to concerns of Chief Chembe of Luano Valley, who on Monday appealed to Government to dispatch a combined team of soldiers and game rangers from the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) to hunt down the marauding killers.
Mr Banda said Government is concerned about the plight of Chief Chembe and his people.
He said there are a number of technicalities that need to be considered, which include hearing the position of the police and the Central Provincial Joint Operations Committee on the security situation in Luano Valley before soldiers can be dispatched to the area.
The minister said he is waiting for Mr Kabonde, through the office of the Central Province commanding officer, to update his office on the operations of the police assigned to patrol the valley.
He also echoed the concerns of Chief Chembe and Mkushi district commissioner Musonda Chunga, who said if the elusive serial killers are not arrested soon, the turnout at polling stations during this year’s elections might be negatively affected as the electorate are living in fear of the Mailoni brothers.
Mr Banda said Government is concerned people living in Luano Valley are now living in fear.
“If they are not arrested soon,it’s possible that the turnout during elections will be affected. This happened during the mobile voter registration because the people were fearing the Mailoni brothers,” Mr Banda said.
He appealed to people in the valley to co-operate with the police and give them information on the whereabouts of the brothers.
In their latest attack, the Mailoni brothers murdered Chief Chembe’s advisor, Christopher Nyama Champe of Shimpupula village, and headman Mbalakawe Chipokolo of Shitambeni village last Tuesday, bringing to 11 the number of their victims.
Last year, Government dispatched over 20 police officers to Luano Valley to beef up security and to arrest the murderers, but the villians have continued to elude the security dragnet.
The Mailoni brothers are said to be taking advantage of their good knowledge of the forest to evade the law enforcement officers.
One of their victims is former Zambia Flying Doctors Service chief pilot Dr Modesto Masumba.
[ Zambia Daily Mail ]
GOVERNMENT has unearthed a scam in which some top Patriotic Front (PF) officials in Chingola’s Mushishima area are allegedly trying to corruptly acquire ZCCM-IH houses following President Banda’s directive that outstanding balances on the units be written off.
This was brought to light when Chingola district commissioner Tobias Maliti addressed over 200 residents at Mushishima Basic School yesterday.
“Government has unearthed a scam in which some top PF officials in Kabungo ward wanted to take advantage of people in the settlement by buying the houses through corrupt means. Some of them started giving the houses to their daughters and other family members at the expense of the deserving sitting tenants,” Mr Maliti said.
He said some PF top officials are scrambling to buy the houses.
Mr Maliti said authorities have grabbed the house that PF Kabungo ward councillor Richard Katebe allocated himself and the property has been given to the sitting tenant
He said it is disappointing that individuals who have been criticising President Banda for empowering the vulnerable with housing are now trying to use corrupt means to acquire the houses.
“We are not saying PF members cannot benefit from the houses because they are also Zambians. What we are against is a situation where PF officials are taking advantage of their positions in certain areas to disadvantage other Zambians.
“These are the same people who condemned President Banda for empowering Zambians with houses, yet they are now in the forefront trying to benefit from the houses,” Mr Maliti said.
He said President Banda will continue implementing prudent policies to eradicate poverty in the communities.
He advised the PF not to politicise development programmes.
Mr Maliti warned that he will firmly deal with individuals who will use corrupt means to acquire houses in Mushishima.
But Mr Katebe said he has not benefited from the houses, and that he does not live in the area.
He said it is unfortunate that some people are trying to tarnish his image through accusations that he is trying to corruptly acquire houses.
Mr Katebe also said it is important for opposition political parties and Government to work together to develop the country.
[ Zambia Daily Mail ]
MMD Lusaka Province Chief Information and Publicity Secretary Greenock Lupambo has advised first Republican President Kenneth Kaunda son , Panji, to emulate his father’s peace stance.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS, yesterday, Mr Lupambo said there was need for Colonel Kaunda to emulate his father’s spirit of creating peace with all.
He said the MMD is saddened by Col. Kaunda’s continued attacks on the MMD party and government in general instead of building peace among Zambians like his father.
Mr Lumpambo said the MMD in general was grateful to Dr Kaunda for appreciating and recognizing the leadership of President Rupiah Banda.
He noted that the media statement attributed to Dr. Kaunda cannot go without comment adding that all statesmen and eminent people should always appreciate their national leaders such as President Banda.
“Dr. Kaunda is a peace loving leader, He abhors wars and he is a peace maker, “ he said.
Mr. Lupambo told ZANIS in Lusaka today that President Banda has managed to deliver development throughout the country due to the peace that is preached by the first Republican President since independence in 1964.
He observed that without peace and unity, no development would ever take place in the country.
“Therefore, we want as many peace loving citizens as possible to follow and emulate Dr. Kaunda’s resolve in maintaining peace and stability through allegiance to government of President Rupiah Banda,” noted Mr. Lupambo.
He said the peace from loving citizens is contributing alot in bringing about national development.
