Join our community of SUBSCRIBERS and be part of the conversation.
To subscribe, simply enter your email address on our website or click the subscribe button below. Don't worry, we respect your privacy and won't spam your inbox. Your information is safe with us.
Over 200 angry farmers who were allegedly swindled of over K1 billion worth of maize by Cooperative Credit Scheme in Serenje district in Central Province have asked to meet President Rupiah Banda at State house.
Some of the affected farmers in a walk in interview with ZANIS in Serenje yesterday said they have been prompted to seek President Banda’s intervention because it had taken long for their issue to be resolved.
The farmers appealed to the President to quickly come to their aid to enable them start paying to
the Farmer Input Support Programme for 2011/2012 farming season and to help address their desperate situation.
They further explained that they have been suffering and their fields have not been worked on because of non payment of their working capital adding that their children have also not been able to go to school.
They described President Banda as a father of all people regardless of their political affiliations hence the need for him to intervene in the matter.
Cooperative Credit late year bought maize from 284 farmers and the total amount involved was K1, 352,876,230.00.
“Our wish is to come to State House so that we can be assisted through your office as the President of the nation. We are starving and our fields have not been worked on because our working capital has not been paid to us. Our children have not been admitted into their respective schools as there is no money to pay for them. ”
Northmead Assembly of God Church Bishop Joshua Banda
Northmead Assembly of God Church Bishop Joshua Banda has observed that it is essential for Zambians to take steps aimed at preventing all forms of violence and come up with constructive ways of resolving conflict.
Speaking at a Press briefing to mark the closure of a workshop on Peace Building Initiatives co-hosted with Patriots Worldwide in Lusaka yesterday, Bishop Banda said this is important especially that the country will be going to the polls later this year.
ZANIS reports that Bishop Banda said the greatest mark of a maturing democracy was through the country’s ability to conduct competitive free and fair elections in a peaceful and enabling environment.
He has further urged youths not to waste their energy on violent partisan activities but focus their creative energy in national defence and development.
And presenting resolutions of the workshop,United Party for National Development (UPND) National Youth Coordinator Brian Hapunda said participants have resolved that as the country heads towards tripartite elections, no alcoholic beverages should be sold in voting areas as it is a source of conflict.
Mr. Hapunda said it was not in the interest of young people to be used as objects of political violence but to be viewed as essential people to national development.
He also added that youth have resolved not to allow any political party to run an office or operate in markets and bus stations as this has for a long time now been the source of violence that Zambia has witnessed in the recent past.
He further said the sale of alcohol should be restricted to designated areas adding that any political party which will be found distributing alcoholic beverages should be taken to task.
Mr. Hapunda has urged the youth to get involved in meaningful developmental issues that will add value to their lives.
The one-day workshop attracted youths from political parties, the Church, Non Governmental Organisations among others.
Preparations for the reconvened AGM of 2011 have progressed extremely well. Members and affiliates have continued to confirm their attendance of the AGM which will be successfully executed at the Mulungushi University on Saturday 30 April.
Guidance on who chairs the FAZ AGM is well categorized and what happens at the Annual General Meeting. The chairmanship of the meeting as per FAZ constitution is the FAZ President and that is well clarified both by FAZ and various FIFA correspondences.
Further the AGM will follow the full agenda as circulated under FIFA guidance.
Added to that, we are under no illusion to subject ourselves to scrutiny regarding the delegates list. We won’t go through again.
Going into the AGM, Football House would like to remind the general football community that a significant number of Member Associations and Member Clubs have already received their 2011 Annual General Meeting documents either at the Mubende Country Lodge in Luanshya or from the FAZ Secretariat at Football House. These clubs have signed for the documents and a record is kept by the Secretariat. This serves to remind all Member Associations and Member Clubs that have received and signed for their 2011 Annual General Meeting documents to ensure that they take these documents to the reconvened meeting in Kabwe. No extra AGM documents will be available and only those Member Associations and Member Clubs that have not received their documents will get them at this month-end’s reconvened AGM.
Further FAZ wishes to commend the membership of their wonderful support and commitment to serving the game and ensuring that we continue on our path of development and success.
The football community has exhibited great responsibility, leadership and unity in this period during which we have continued to witness attacks on our football from individuals that have no regard for the game. The football community is fully aware of these individuals’ failed machinations, their illegitimacy and redundancy and futile attempts to mislead the football community and nation. For a long time, they attempted to thrive on propaganda of lies, deceit and manipulation. But by their ‘works’ – their words and deeds – they are known and have been roundly rejected.
To an individual who has taken to propagating lies and shamelessly exhibit her ignorance of football and its administration, the Association shall waste no time to respond to her and any such persons or groups of individuals she may speak for or represent.
Faz has said it will not organize any formal ceremony to mark the 18th anniversary of the Gabon air crash tomorrow.
In a statement, Faz said Football House will not take part in any official ceremonies tomorrow but will do so every five years begining in 2013.
“The Football Association of Zambia President Kalusha Bwalya will be at the Heroes Acre at the Independence Stadium burial site on Thursday 28th April at 11:00hours to lay a wreath in his personal capacity,” the statement said.
“The President will be accompanied by members of the Executive Committee as well as other stakeholders.
“As stated in communiqués and addresses marking remembrances of the 16th and 17th anniversaries, FAZ has already initiated and set into motion preparations to mark this momentous date of our football calendar every fifth year.
“Over the coming months, the Association will expand its consultation with the families and stakeholders in leading and preparing for the 20th anniversary celebratory remembrance, the 25th anniversary and others following in that five-year cycle with activities that will not only remember but continue to honour the memories of our gallant heroes.
“Details of events to characterize these commemorations will be communicated over time.”
Zesco United shocked Nkana 2-1 this afternoon in a Super Division Week 5 game played at the Trade Fair Grounds in Ndola.
The win comes after Zesco’s scoreless draw against Al Ahly of Egypt on Saturday in the Caf Champions League second round first leg played at the same venue.
Zesco took the first half lead of the game thanks to goals from midfielder Portipher Zulu who scored via a free kick and striker Jackson Mwanza.
Nkana replied after the break through teenage prodigy Raynold Kampamba.
Drug Enforcement Commission spokesperson John Nyawali tlking to journalists outside the commission's offices in Lusaka
A Zambian national has been arrested by Malawi Police for trafficking in 150 kilogrammes of cannabis.
Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) Public Relations Manager John Nyawali disclosed to ZANIS in a statement that an identified businessman
of Chifwiti Village in Lundazi district of Eastern Province was arrested by Mzimba Police after he was found with 150 kilogrammes of cannabis.
Mr Nyawali said the arrested Businessman becomes a fourth Zambian national arrested in Malawi in a space of two weeks for trafficking in cannabis.
He said the other two have already started serving their jail terms after being sentenced to varying jail terms of eight and 10 years with hard labour.
Meanwhile, Mr. Nyawali has disclosed that 113 people were arrested countrywide in the last seven days for trafficking in different quantities of cannabis with a total weight of 4.5 tonnes.
He stated the among the arrested was a grade 12 pupil of Kasama High School in Northern Province.
Others arrested in connection with controlled drugs and precursor chemicals was a 65- year -old British national working as a volunteer at one of the community based organisation in Chipata.
He was found with Diphenhydramine, a class two controlled drug.
“Also arrested was a 39 year old businessman of Chilenje in Lusaka who was arrested from the light industrial area in Kitwe after he was found with Ephedrine which he was trying to sell,” Mr. Nyawali added.
The DEC Public Relations Manager explained that the suspects are detained in custody and will appear in court soon.
The Forum for Leadership Search (FLS) has alleged that former Works and Supply Minister Mike Mulongoti and former Zambian Ambassador to Libya Mbita Chitala have joined the Patriot Front (PF) and would soon officially announce their move to the PF.
FLS Executive Director, Edwin Lifwekelo accused the two former MMD officials of having been opposition PF cadres for a long time now.
Mr. Lifwekelo who is also Former PF Secretary General described Dr. Chitala and Mr. Mulongoti’s move to the PF as a mockery to democracy after a mouthful of unpalatable words against the party’s leader Michael Sata.
He told ZANIS in a statement in Lusaka today that the two former Parliamentarians were political vultures adding that what was more disturbing for Dr. Chitala was that he allegedly announced his move shortly after declaring that he had gone to the Copperbelt to re-organise the MMD.
Mr. Lifwekelo accused the former Ambassador to Libya as a betrayer and a deceiver whose political career was fading.
“This is not the first time Chitala is being accused of gross betrayal. He was at one time accused of betraying his close friend late Dean Mung’omba. He was again accused of betraying late President Levy Mwanawasa while serving as Ambassador to Libya. He was fired by Dr. Mwanawasa for gross indiscipline,” he said.
Mr. Lifwekelo attributed said Dr Chitala’s purported move to Mr. Sata’s effort to resuscitate his political career.
“The idea is to create an impression that MMD is crumbling. Unfortunately Mbita and Mulongoti are just political vultures who cannot organise anything,” he said.
A thirty year old man of Nsombo village in chief Chabula’s area of Luwingu district in the Northern Province was on Tuesday brutally murdered by an instant justice mob.
Justine Kabaso, 30, of Nsombo village was murdered by an irate mob after he assaulted his deaf uncle and broke his arm over food.
The incident happened when Kabaso arrived home from his day’s drinking spree and demanded Nshima from his deaf uncle Leo Bwalya, 60.
Mr Bwalya gestured that there was no food and this infuriated Kabaso who descended on his uncle and beat him untill he broke his left arm.
This annoyed on-lookers who reported the matter to the police officer manning the Nsombo High School being constructed in the area.
The police officer rushed to the scene and apprehended Kabaso.
But when word further went round that Kabaso had beaten and broken his uncle’s arm over Nshima, a mob carrying, machetes, spears, and sticks approached the police officer and demanded for his immediate release to teach him a lesson.
They over powered the police Officer and took Kabaso to an unknown place where upon arrival, the mob first dug a grave in his full view around 12 00 hours Zambian time, and killed a snake that would accompany him in the grave.
They later descended on their victim and beat him up until he died.
Kabaso’s body is in Luwingu District Hospital Morturay, while his uncle is nursing his broken arm at Nsombo rural health center 73 Kilometres away, south of the Boma.
First Republican President Kenneth Kaunda with author Grieve Sibale during the launch of the book ‘The Future Has Arrived’ in Lusaka
2.
South African born Jazz singer Jonathan Butler when he arrived in Zambia
3.
South African born jazz singer Jonathan Butler and daughter Jodi
4.
Sentries escort President Banda after a rally in Mazabuka.
5.
Sentries escort President Banda after a rally in Mazabuka during the week
6.
President Banda poses for the photograph with his diplomats
7.
Part of President Banda's new campaign strategy of using a mobile video unit
8.
Nurses receiving medical equipment and medicine at Chainda clinic
9.
Community Development and Social Services Deputy Minister Friday Malwa interacts with children during an Easter children’s party organized for the vulnerable children by friends and staff of Chrismar Hotel in Lusaka
10.
Community Development and Social Services Deputy Minister Friday Malwa interacts with children during an Easter children’s party organized for the vulnerable children by friends and staff of Chrismar Hotel in Lusaka
11.
Gabagge is piling at Luburma market because the Lusaka City Council is failing to collect the dirt., Here, some traders dumping dirt near the market.
12.
Traders conducting business at an illegal market near the Independence stadium in Lusaka have refused to relocate to a designated place in spite of repeated attempts by the Lusaka City Council to clear the site. Here, the traders, have even expanded the market, conduct business as usual
13.
Traders conducting business at an illegal market near the Independence stadium in Lusaka
14.
Traders conducting business at an illegal market near the Independence stadium in Lusaka
15.
Evans Musonda of Red Arrows pursues Isaac Namakobe of Lime Hotspurs during the FAZ-MTN league football match played at Nkoloma stadium in Lusaka
16.
Lime Hotspurs’ Monga Chilitiba stops Jimmy Chisenga’s shot during the FAZ-MTN league football match played at Nkoloma stadium in Lusaka
Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata says there is need for leaders to learn from the fate of Former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo by accepting the election outcome.
Mr Sata said that there is need for sincerity and the respect for the rule of law.
Mr. Sata told QFM news that leaders should learn to accept the outcome of elections adding that elections should be used as an examination for political leadership and not to manipulate the electorate.
The PF leader added that politicians in Zambia should in this year’s elections respect the rule of law and allow the people of Zambia to choose leaders of their choice.
He added that the MMD party has on two occasions stolen the PF votes during elections and that he had to calm his supporters for the sake of peace.
Mr. Sata wondered for how long the Zambian people will continue to accept repression before they lose their patience noting that they have suffered for so long.
Government has taken over the former Mwange Refugee camp in Mporokoso district of Northern Province and has turned it into a Child and Youth Training and Settlement Scheme.
ZANIS reports that Sport, Youth and Child Development Deputy Minister Brian Sikazwe disclosed that the scheme has three thousand hectares of land on which youth that are willing to venture into agriculture for income generation purposes will be settled.
Mr. Sikazwe stated during the official opening of the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development quarterly review meeting in Kabwe today that 50 youths have already been settled at the scheme.
He appealed to officials in the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development to come up with workable strategies that will see Mwange Child and Youth Training and Settlement Scheme become the flagship for government.
The deputy minister stated that there should be no room for failure at the settlement scheme and has since appealed to the Permanent Secretary Teddy Mulonga to immediately set a team that should develop a concept paper for soliciting resources for the development of the Mwange scheme from cooperating partners.
He said this was important because resources coming from the Central treasury this year were not enough for the development of the scheme.
70 People yesterday appeared for mention before a Samfya Magistrates court in Luapula Province following riots that recently occurred in Mansa district.
Appearing before Mansa Principal Resident Magistrate John Mbuzi were the 70 suspects out of over 200 who have since been arrested,facing charges of riotous behaviour contrary
to section 67 of the laws of Zambia.
ZANIS reports that the court cases being conducted in Samfya commenced yesterday in the afternoon amidst a heavily guarded courtroom.
The matter was adjourned to next month on the 11th when it comes up for plea.
More suspects are expected to be prosecuted in relation to disturbances that recently marred Mansa, causing loss of lives and severe damage to property.
The ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) on the Copperbelt has asked the Catholic Church to discipline Father Frank Bwalya for using the name of the church to insult President Rupiah Banda.
And the party has warned people who want to take advantage of this year being an election year to insult the Head of State at will, to desist from the act.
Provincial Information and Publicity Secretary Yotam Mutayachalo said the party will not sit idle and watch father Bwalya continue insulting President Banda.
Mr. Mutayachalo said what the catholic priest is doing is unacceptable and calls for the Bishops of the church to take disciplinary measures against him.
He said the party expects the church to act on the continuous insults by father Bwalya if they do not support his behavior which has also brought the name of the church into disrepute.
ZANIS reports that Mr. Mutayachalo reacting to father Bwalya’s sentiments during his rally held in Ndola yesterday.
He urged the catholic bishops to ensure that priests do not use the name of the church to insult others.
He said the priest should refrain from insulting the Republican President as doing so was provocative to the party members who are ready to take him on.
And provincial women’s chairperson Lizzy Bwalya advised Fr. Bwalya to repent and return to priesthood so that he concentrates on praying for the nation as it prepares for the tripartite elections.
Ms. Bwalya wondered why the catholic priest was the only person who has not seen the development that the MMD and President Banda have achieved.
MMD Kitwe district Chairperson George Lungu said the party is saddened by the insults from father Bwalya on President Banda because the party does not understand why a priest can have so much hate for the President.
Mr. Lungu said President Banda is the sitting Head of State and that father Bwalya should have respect for the office regardless of who is there.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mutayachalo has advised PF leader Michel Sata to familiarize himself with the electoral process so that he does not mislead people with results in this year’s election.
He said Mr. Sata should verify population figures with the Central Statistical Office and also know the number of registered voters in various areas.
MINISTER of Works and Supply Gabriel Namulambe says Government will not recommend the use of Government Printers to print this year’s ballot papers because the department lacks the necessary equipment and security.
Mr Namulambe instead advised the Government printing department to prepare for the 2016 by-elections by upgrading the machinery and planning for the printing of ballot papers for some by-elections that may occur after the 2011 tripartite elections.
“If we are to print ballot papers, let us focus our energies on 2016 because we have to ensure that security is tightened and all the necessary machinery is bought and installed,” he said.
Mr Namulambe said this during a familiarisation tour of the government printing department yesterday.
“After this tour, I don’t think it would be wise for us to recommend that ballot papers be printed here, unless the Electoral Commission of Zambia insists. I would instead suggest that we focus our energies towards addressing the concerns raised by stakeholders and modernise the equipment here,” he said.
Mr Namulambe also called for intensive capacity building to acquaint staff with the use of modern machinery and ballot printing,” he said.
The ministry would recommend that some of the government printing employees are part of the group of printers for this year’s ballot papers so that they are aware of the required standards.
And speaking during the tour, Government Printers captain Joseph Simbeye told the minister that the printing department was at the moment unable to print ballot papers in colour until one of the new machines is installed with the right software.
Capt Simbeye said most of the machinery and equipment was in place but the location would require some refurbishment before the ballot papers are printed.
And Mr Namulambe said he was impressed with reconstruction works undertaken by Shanghai Construction of China at the new government complex buildings.
During a tour of the building, Mr Namulambe said the construction firm was working at good speed and the complete structures were neatly done.
“It is impressive that you have done this much despite all the difficulties. I am sure that even our stadiums will be complete in record time,” he said.
And Shanghai Construction Company chief quantity surveyor Wu Zheng Rong said the government complex wing would be completed five months ahead of schedule.
Mr Wu said the firm was able to achieve such quality works by combining Chinese and Zambian specifications.
FIVE non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have filed a complaint to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) against Mopani Copper Mines, a subsidiary of Glencore, the world’s largest commodity trader, over allegations that its Zambian mine may not be paying enough tax on its profits.
The NGOs– the Centre for Trade Policy and Development (CTPD), in Zambia; Sherpa, a Paris-based NGO; Berne Declaration, a Swiss-based NGO; Mining Watch Canada; and L’EntraideMissionaire, also based in Canada–believe the operations of Mopani Copper Mines, in which Glencore has a 73 percent stake, may be at odds with OECD guidelines for multinational companies.
Recently, Glencore, which buys and sells metals, sugar, wheat and oil, announced plans for its flotation on the London stock exchange, initially valued at US$60 billion.
The complaint has been made to the OECD’s Swiss and Canadian national contact points, based on the findings of an audit report last year by accountants Grant Thornton and consulting firm Econ Pöyry into Mopani.
The audit was commissioned by the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA).
The report, which was leaked, allegedly identified a series of “problems” in Mopani’s figures related to costs and revenues.
The leaked report first emerged in February but Swiss-based Glencore refuted the allegations.
In a statement to Christian Aid, a partner of CTPD, it said: “We refute the conclusions of this draft report and we question the reasons for the manner in which it was leaked. This draft report contains factual errors and inaccuracies. It is based on broad and flawed statistical analysis and assumptions.” It repeated its comments when approached by the Guardian last week.
But Savior Mwambwa, executive director of CTPD, wrote: “For me, the leaked report lends some support to Zambian civil society organisations’ claims that mining companies are depriving us of social and economic benefits which are rightly ours, through tax evasion and avoidance.”
In a post on the Poverty Matters blog, he said he hoped the complaint would “prompt the Zambian government to do a financial audit of all mining companies so that ZRA can update its assessments of the tax they owe. Donor countries such as the UK – which gave Zambia almost £50 million in aid last year – should support our government in such an exercise”.
David McNair, economic adviser at Christian Aid, said: “We hope that this complaint to the OECD will highlight the huge difficulties developing countries face in determining whether multinational companies are paying the correct amount of tax – and the urgent need for new accounting rules to help deter multinationals from artificially shifting their profits out of those countries.
It is currently all too easy for companies to use financial secrecy to book their profits where they pay less tax. This is a massive problem for developing countries, which currently lose more to tax dodging by multinationals than they receive in aid.”
Christian Aid is campaigning for more financial transparency around the world and greater support for developing countries in challenging tax arrangements.
It is also a member of the End Tax Haven Secrecy campaign, urging G20 to put the issue on the agenda of its meeting in November.
