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One of the miners who was shot at the Chinese Collum Coal Mine in Sinazongwe district by a Chinese national
he state has entered a nolle prosequi in a case in which two Chinese nationals of Collum Coal Mine in Sinazongwe shot 13
workers.
The nolle prosequi was entered due to lack of witnesses in the case.
Appearing before Livingstone High Court Judge Ernest Mukalamutiyo was Xiao Lui 48 and Wu Jiuhua 46, who were alleged of having shot and wounded shot 13 mine workers.
The duo are managers at the Collum Coal Mine.
Facts of the matter are that on 15th October, 2010 in Sinazongwe, the two, while acting together and with intent to maim, caused grievous bodily harm to Wisbone Simutondo, Abin Sianembo, Boston Munakazela,Ward Sianene, Wallen Muntanga, Simon Simweete and Briton Sianfundu.
Others that were allegedly shot at are Rubean Siakalumbwe, Vilason Mwanamusiya, Mandinda Siamubotu, Alfred Sinuka and Bowas Shamupwaya all from Sinazongwe.
This is contrary to section 224 (A) of the penal code Cap 87 of the laws of
Zambia.
However, the state entered into a nolle prosqui when the case came up for
continued trial in the Livingstone High Court today due to lack of witnesses.
The Zambia National Marketeers Credit Association (ZANAMACA) has warned politicians against using youths as tools of violence.
And ZANAMACA has called on youths to unite and resist temptations and falling prey to violent political activities.
Commenting on the alleged clashes between MMD and Patriotic Front cadres that rocked the Kamwala market over the running of market, ZANAMACA President Frank Mupila said young people are vulnerable to the activities of politicians who are using them as tools for violence in politics.
Mr. Mupila told ZANIS in Lusaka in an interview today that there is need for top leadership in younpolitical parties to unite the young people and engage them into dialogue as opposed to fighting.
Mr. Mupila further said there is need for the adult society to give direction to young people so that they stay away from acts of violence and contribute to the development of the nation.
“The reason why youths are always fighting and causing violence is because they are vulnerable to the activities of politicians who are using them in politics. There is need to give direction to the young people so that they stay away from acts of violence,” he said.
He added that party cadres from the ruling MMD and opposition should embrace each other in order to develop the nation.
He, however, disclosed that his organization has set up a number of sensitization programs and workshops with the young people in an effort to educate them on the country’s development agenda.
He appealed to youths to stay away from acts of violence and to reject selfish politicians who are in the habit of using them when approached.
The ZANAMACA chief regretted that there was a growing tendency of every politician in this country of approaching young people in retrogressive ideas at the expense of poverty, unemployment and HIV/AIDS.
The Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) has introduced new drivers’ licenses which have additional security features.
RTSA Director Fredrick Mwalusaka said these security features can only be seen under ultraviolent light.
Mr. Mwalusaka told ZANIS in Lusaka today that the new drivers’ licence can be widely accepted as an identity because of the holders’ details and security features.
He has since assured the general public that the new drivers’ licences will not be easy to forge.
He further said RTSA is now able to print bout 5,000 drivers’ licenses in a day and refuted claims by some sections of the media that the agency has failed to manage the issuance of the new drivers’ license.
Mr. Mwalusaka noted that the interruption in the issuance of new licences was caused by a disruption that occurred when upgrading the Zambia Transport Information System (ZAMTIS).
He said this only affected the first time applicants, adding that this has since been resolved.
He disclosed that the agency has so far printed 28,000 new drivers’ licenses which will be ready for dispatch by Thursday next week to the respective stations.
Mr. Mwalusaka said people that had applied for the new cards can begin to collect them next week Friday.
He has also pointed out that the Road Transport and Safety Agency has since procured an industrial printer in order to improve efficiency.
This comes under the program which was launched on 19th November last year by Deputy Minister of Communication and Transport Mubika Mubika which was meant to improve security on features on the drivers’ licence.
In 2001 government, through the Ministry of Communication and Transport, signed a contract with a South African company, First Technologies Limited, to improve the quality and efficiency of printing drivers’ license cards.
And commenting on the Carbon Tax levies, Mr. Mwalusaka said RTSA is still collecting carbon tax on behalf of the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA).
He however expressed disappointed on the failure by some motorists to pay the tax.
RTSA has entered into an agreement with the Zambia Transport and Information Services to improve the tax collection system which will help them collect road tax and carbon tax.
Construction of the K11.5 billion Lumwana general hospital in Solwezi district has reached an advanced stage.
The hospital, which is situated in Manyama area, will have a female, male and children wards, which will each have a capacity of 32 beds.
It will also have a mortuary, an operating theatre, a maternity wing, an Out Patient Department and 14 staff houses.
Once completed, the hospital will help decongest Solwezi general hospital.
A check at the site by Solwezi District Commissioner Frobisher Fulayi revealed that almost 90 percent of the works have already been done.
Jizan Construction Company site manager Wan He however complained to the District Commissioner that theft of building materials and vandalism by the local people has hampered the completion of the works.
Mr. Wan said the other factor that delayed the completion of the hospital was the distance where building sand and stones were sourced from.
He however, expressed hope that the project will be completed and handed over to government by July this year.
Speaking after touring the site, Mr. Fulayi expressed happiness at the quality of work and the rate at which the works were progressing.
Mr. Fulayi was however, disappointed with the behavior of the local people, who he said were frustrating government efforts by stealing building materials for the project which is meant to benefit them.
The District Commissioner refuted reports by some sections of society that Lumwana general hospital was being funded by the mine.
He said the project was fully funded by government.
Shoprite Zambia deputy general manager Charles Bota looks at employees after they refused to return to work behind the manda Hill store
The Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has strongly condemned the decision by Shoprite management to dismiss all workers who have been on strike in the last four days.
ZCTU Director of Public Relations and International Affairs Martin Chembe in a statement released to QFM today says the trade union demands the immediate and unconditional reinstatement of all the fired workers.
Mr Chembe says it is immoral for Shoprite management to fire workers when government through the ministry of Labour and Social Security is meeting the management and the union to try and find a solution to the situation.
He says ZCTU is aware that Shoprite management and the National Union of Commercial and Industrial Workers (NUCIW) are currently holding meetings with the ministry of Labour in an effort to resolve the situation.
He adds that the action by Shoprite management clearly shows that it is has little regard for workers’ welfare and the efforts being made by government to find a lasting solution.
Mr Chembe further says that it also shows that management does not respect labour laws governing industrial relations and has since urged government to act quickly and decisive on the issue.
He states that the labour movement will not allow foreign investors to focus on profit maximization without paying any attention to the welfare of workers, adding that workers should not be used as tools for production.
Mr Chembe has since appealed to dismissed Shoprite workers to remain calm as the union deals with the situation.
ZAMBIA has continued to record trade surplus valued at over K2.1 trillion for the first two months this year. CSO acting director of census and statistics John Kalumbi said the country’s trade surplus has been on an upswing side over the last 14 months.
Mr Kalumbi said the country recorded a trade surplus of K648.4 billion in February with the highest value of over K1.4 trillion in January this year. This means that the country exported more than it imported in value terms.
He said this at a press briefing in Lusaka on yesterday. Mr Kalumbi said products in February were from intermediate goods category mainly comprising copper cathodes and sections of refined copper and copper blister which accounted for 86.8 percent.
Other exports were from raw materials, consumer goods and capital goods categories which collectively accounted for 13.2 percent of total exports for February 2011.
And CSO says it expects to finalise the country’s 2010 gross domestic product (GDP) figures by next month.
Preliminary results released by CSO earlier showed that Zambia’s economy could have grown by 7.1 percent in 2010, driven by increased output in mining and quarrying, transport and communications, construction and agriculture. Other sectors include forestry and fishing, and wholesale and retail trade.
Mr Kalumbi said the department is currently collecting data for last year before coming up with the official figure.
“We are just winding up mopping up data, hopefully by May the country should be informed of the final results,” he said.
In the 2011 budget speech, Finance Minister and National Planning SitumbekoMusokotwane forecast economic growth of 6.6 percent in 2010 and 6.4 percent in 2011.
We are glad to anounce to the public that last week we received a very Big cheque from a wealthy Patriotic Front (PF) supporter to help us improve our struggling web site which of late has faced a huge onlaught of traffic from the increasing number of people that come to it.
We thought we owe it to our vistors to tell them the change in direction and how we are going to use the money, in the name of transparancy of course.
We have already started putting this money to work. There are actually a number of things that we have started fixing in the background. First of all, with this funding, we have re-designed the site for clear typography and visual clarity for the text of the stories we post. The current fonts are just too small and crumped for a lot of people and we expect to launch the site next weekend. With this funding from a wealthy PF supporter, we have managed to hire an expensive Tech Guru who has managed to fix our facebook page which has been an eyesore for many years. Thanks to this funding we have been able to fix our act on the face book page and the fan page as well. We shall now be able to consistently publish to facebook (www.facebook.com/lusakatimes) as we have been doing on our twitter site (www.twitter.com/lusakatimes/). With this PF funding, we have asked our tech guru to make sure that even comments that take place from twitter and facebook are imported into the conversations taking place on Lusakatimes so that all convesations are captured there. And our new motto concerning any News event will be “If it has Not been on LT, it has not been discussed”.
We shall also use this PF funding to introduce more categories and features because we have managed to secure a server with 10 times the capacity than we had before. Am sure some of you have noticed that we moved our server to Europe. So expect more services as soon as next week.
Obviously, let us not cheat ourselves or be naive about this. Two things are definite in life. First, everyone has an agenda: things are always given with strings attached. Secondly, everything is for sale as long as the price is right, have we sold our soul? Be the judge. The Funding from PF is too good to be true and so we have accepted their agenda and we want to advise our readers that this is what we shall offer PF in return for their hefty funding we have received.
First, staring from tomorrow all adverts will be removed as the funding covers for this cost and we don’t need ad revenue anymore. Instead they will be replaced with PF campaign material for elections 2011. Site will run campaigns for all 150 MPs with effect from tomorrow. Additionally, we shall introduce an editorials section where we shall write editorials in support of PF. No comments will be allowed on the editorials lest we offend our new masters. Editorials will not feature MMD President Rupiah Banda or UPND president HH , even for negative coverage because even bad publicity is publicity.
We shall also introduce a ‘letters to the editor section’ and ensure that all letters to the editors are in support of PF. Only letters to the editor critising President Rupiah Banda UPND President Haikainde Hachilema stand a chance of being considered for publication. Comments on letters to the editor will not be allowed as well.
All comments will be moderated to root out any anti PF comments. We need this funding and we can not afford to risk losing it.
We shall also not cover UPND president Hakainde Hachilema or Rupiah Banda and his government proganda from ZNBC, ZANIS, TIMES and ZAMBIA Daily Mail in the headline section. The only big headlines we shall run featuring HH or RB will be those discrediting or attacking the two.
That is the new world order people. Lastly, Oh, what is today’s date?
The Supreme Court has given Mufumbwe Member of Parliament, Eliot Kamondo seven days in which to file in a record of appeal.
This is in case in which Mr kamondo has appealed against the nullification of his election as MP.
Judge Muyinda made the order after passing a consent judgement to allow Mr. Kamondo’s lawyers file in the record of appeal outside court time.
He made the order on March 28th 2011 meaning that the record of appeal must be filed in by April 5th 2011.
However, one of Mr. Kamondo’s lawyers, Mwansa Mumba has indicated that the record is ready and will be filed in by tomorrow.
Mr. Kamondo, who appealed against a high court judgment, that nullified his election as Member of Parliament in December last year, was by law expected to file in the record of appeal within sixty days after lodging in his appeal to the Supreme court.
Following his non compliance to the stipulated time frame, Mr. Kamondo’s lawyers applied that they be allowed to file in the record out of court time.
[ MUVI ]
Home affairs Minister Mkondo Lungu
Home Affairs Minister Mkhondo Lungu has called for an immediate stop to the riotous behaviour among political rivals following yesterday’s clash between some suspected cadres belonging to the Patriotic Front (PF) and MMD in Lusaka.
The minister said it was dangerous to get involved in fights during an election year because the situation could easily degenerate into widespread violence.
Police yesterday quelled what could have led to a full-scale riot when some youths hurled stones and other missiles at one another in the city centre area, Kamwala and Villa Elizabetha near the Zambia Revenue Authority.
Inspector General of Police, Francis Kabonde said the patrol team had managed to prevent the situation from escalating by sealing off the trouble spots to disperse the riotous groups.
No injuries were recorded.Confusion started around 16:00 hours in Kamwala when the youth, who could not be properly identified, stoned people around the area and proceeded to the town centre where they met resistance from police officers.
There was confusion as people scampered in different directions for safety, while shops closed prematurely and motor vehicles took both lanes of Freedom Way to leave town.
Police patrol vehicles helped defuse the confusion when they deployed in potential trouble spots where the rowdy youth had attempted to fan more confusion.
MMD acting national secretary Chembe Nyangu accused the PF of having started the riot while callers to 5FM Radio accused the MMD youths of being behind the confusion.
Mr. Nyangu said the MMD youths in Lusaka were at Capital Hotel holding a meeting and were being addressed by provincial chairperson William Banda at the time the riot erupted.
PF chairperson for local government Given Lubinda declined to comment on the matter.
[ Times of Zambia ]
About 174 people in Chief Mumena’s area in Solwezi district are spending nights in the cold after their houses collapsed owing to the heavy rains experienced in the last few days.
Chief Mumena, who confirmed the development to ZANIS in Solwezi yesterday, said 29 houses from five villages have collapsed in Konkwa area of his chiefdom.
He, however, said no life was lost during the collapsing of houses.
The chief said a few tents have been organized where families are now spending nights although they are not enough to cater for all the affected people.
The traditional ruler has since appealed to relevant authorities to provide more tents to accommodate all affected families.
He explained that the affected area was water logged because of the rock formation which makes it difficult for water to easily sink after rains.
Chief Mumena said the underground water has been contaminated as most pit latrines have collapsed, a situation he described as a health hazard.
The traditional leader expressed worry that the rains were threatening food security in his area adding that the maize in the fields has since started rotting.
Chief Mumena has since instructed villagers to shift to a safer place to avoid the same situation reoccurring in next year’s rain season.
He appealed to the District Disaster Management and Mitigation Committee to scale up disaster management responsive programmes to help people come up with structures that would withstand the rains.
CHIEF Government spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha says Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata’s calls to dissolve parliament and early elections are baseless.
Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha said in Lusaka on March 31 that Mr Sata should be the last person to challenge President Banda to dissolve parliament and call for early elections because the opposition leader has failed and betrayed the Zambian people by refusing to back the Constitution of Zambia Amandament Bill.
“President Banda is the only one who can set the date for elections. There is no need for all those processes Mr Sata is dreaming about,” he said.
Gen. Shikapwasha said the President is mandated to make decisions on governance issues and he would do just that.
“Mr Sata is dreaming and his dreams will not take him anywhere as he has failed to provide for the Zambian people. His plans to rule this nation are finished, no wonder he has started daydreaming,” he said.
He said Mr Sata should not blame President Banda because he (Mr Sata) has betrayed and failed the people. Gen. Shikapwasha said the Constitution is a national issue that needs input from all political parties and stakeholders.
He said Mr Sata has continued to display his bad leadership which is reflected in the behaviour of his members of Parliament in Parliament March 29’s voting on the Constitution Bill.
Gen. Shikapwasha said the loss on the Constitution of Zambia Bill is not a failure of the MMD government but a betrayal of Zambians.
Gen. Shikapwasha said Mr Sata has no powers or right to instruct President Banda to dissolve parliament and call for early elections.
He said the President has powers to make decisions at an appropriate time.
Gen. Shikapwasha said the failure by Mr Sata to provide good leadership cannot force President Banda to dissolve parliament
THE MMD has advised former Kafue United Party for National Development (UPND) member of Parliament (MP) Bob Sichinga to desist from demonising the economic policies of Government.
MMD spokesperson Dora Siliya said Mr Sichinga should refrain from attacking Government economic policies but should instead appreciate the economic gains the country has achieved under the leadership of President Banda.
Ms Siliya was reacting to a story in March 31 issue of The Post in which Mr Sichinga was quoted as saying Zambians have a right to remove the MMD Government from power because of its poor economic policies which he said have failed to improve living standards.
Ms Siliya said Zambia’s economy has continued to perform well and the international community is speaking highly of the country because of the prudent management of national resources by Government.
Ms Siliya, who is also Minister of Education, said Mr Sichinga should stop politicising economic policies being introduced by Government to advance his hidden political agenda.
“It is clear that Mr Sichinga, in his attempt to become an MP again, is prepared to say anything to Zambians to win political mileage. It now seems like this man is living in cyber space because he is failing to see what this Government is doing for its people.
“International bodies have assigned Zambia B+ ratings because of the prudent economic management of national resources. Government is building schools, hospitals and constructing roads in all parts of the country. Is this not development?” she asked.
She advised Mr Sichinga to desist from falsehoods and offer practical solutions to the economic challenges affecting the nation.
Ms Siliya said Zambia’s economy has been growing at a fast rate because it has been boosted by a record bumper harvest, a rebound in tourism, continued copper price increments and construction.
“This man claims to be an economist and we are surprised as Government that he is failing to offer practical solutions to the economic challenges affecting the country.
“What he should know is that macro-economic policy implementation has contributed to the strong economic performance of the country so far in 2010. As at the end of July 2010, the fiscal programme has been broadly in line with original plans,” she said.
Ms Siliya urged all well-meaning Zambians who have the interest of the nation at heart to dismiss Mr Sichinga’s allegations because they are baseless and unfounded and only meant to discredit Government.
A security man on guard at the ZESCO LTD Kafue Gorge power station
THE Energy Regulation Board has granted Zesco Limited regulatory consent to enter into a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Kariba North Bank Extension Power Corporation Limited (KNBEPC) to supply power to Zesco for a period of 20 years.
ERB communications officer Kwali Mfuni said in a statement on March 31 that the (ERB) had granted Zesco regulatory consent to enter into the PPA in line with its mandate under the Electricity Act, Cap 433 of the Laws of Zambia.
“Under the agreement, KNBEPC will supply power to Zesco at peak periods for a maximum of three and a half hours per day,” he said.
He said the project is being financed by the China Export Import Bank and the Development Bank of South Africa at a total cost of US$420million.
Ms Mfuni said with an expected generation capacity of 360MW, the KNBEPC power plant is the first major hydro power project in 35 years not only in Zambia, but also within the Southern African Development community (SADC).
She said KNBEPC, which is a private company and a subsidiary of Zesco, will design, finance, construct, own and operate the new Kariba North Bank Extension Power Plant.
“The development of this project is strategic in addressing the regional power shortage under the Southern African Power Tool,” she said.
Ms Mfuni said contact had been established with utilities in neighbouring countries as potential customers over the possibility of supplying them with peak power.
“The development of the 360MW power plant will contribute about 20 per cent additional capacity of the existing installed capacity in the country of about 1800 MW.
“This is significant, as it will greatly contribute to reducing the prevailing power shortage particularly at peak hours,” she said.
Ms Mfuni said the feasibility study of the KNBEPC project was conducted by Sino-Hydro at a cost of US$600,000, while construction started in 2008 and commercial operations are expected to start in 2013.
She said the power plant will generate an estimated 473GWH of energy per year.
Ms Mfuni said in view of the rising demand for power and current shortages in the SADC region in general and Zambia in particular, the ERB is aware of the project’s contribution to national development.
President Rupiah Banda has said legitimate expectations of people from their respective governments should not be taken for granted.
President Banda said the upheavals in Northern Africa only show that people’s expectations from their governments should not be taken for granted.
Mr. Banda said it is for this reason that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region should continue to consolidate democracy through the establishments of institutions that uphold the tenets of democracy.
“We must therefore continue at the SADC level to consolidate democracy through the establishment of institutions that uphold the tenets of good governance, respect for human rights and the rule of law,” he said.
He was speaking today when he officially opened a SADC Troika Summit on Defence and Security at the Zambezi Sun Hotel in Livingstone.
Mr. Banda, who is the current chairperson for the SADC Committee on Defence and Security, emphasized that the SADC region should therefore uphold the various international Laws and conventions under the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN).
President Banda has since called upon the SADC Troika summit to revive life mechanisms such as the SADC Electoral Advisory Council, the SADC Reference Group and the Panel of Elders, whose establishment was approved at a summit in Windhoek, Namibia in August 2010.
“You will agree with me that SADC has come of age and should be able to help bring about home grown solutions where there is governance or indeed electoral disputes,” he said.
He expressed confidence that participants to the Troika summit will arrive at conclusive solutions that benefit the SADC region.
Mozambique President Armando Guebuza, South African President Jacob Zuma, his Namibian colleague Hifikepunye Pohamba, SADC Executive Secretary Dr Tomaz Salomao and other senior government officials from other SADC countries attended the summit.
