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Chief Litunga (right) with the Voice Presodent Goerge Kunda
The Baroste Royal Establishment -BRE- says the Barotseland is part of ZAMBIA because the Baroste agreement of 1964 does not provide for separation of the area from the rest of the country.
The BRE has,therefore, condemned in the strongest terms some people in the Western Province who are calling for separation of the Barotseland from the rest of the country.
The Litunga of the Lozi people said this through his representative Senior Chief Inyambo Yeta at State House, when he presented a report of the Lozi National Council meeting held in Mongu recently.
He said the Baroste agreement of 1964 is very clear in outlining its objectives which are to promote peace and national unity.
Senior Chief Yeta said this when he led a 14 member delegation of Indunas at a meeting with President Rupiah Banda at state House.
He said the BRE has never advocated for violence in calling for recognition of the agreement but discussion.
He, however, said there are some sections of people in Western Province who think the agreement calls for separation of the area from the rest of the country.
And President RUPIAH BANDA said government will receive the report and will consider it with the seriousness it deserves.
The President said he was happy to receive the Litunga’s delegation at State House.
He noted that the mission which the delegation has undertaken is welcome as is aimed at helping in uniting the nation.
[ ZNBC ]
MMD Cadres
The vacant Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) vice presidency has attracted interest from a number of senior party members.
Following yesterday’s announcement by Works and Supply Minister Mike Mulongoti that he will contest the vice presidency, party Legal committee chairperson Bwalya Chiti is said to be the latest member to show interest.
Sources told QFM that Mr. Chiti has also expressed interest in vying for the ruling party’s vice presidency.
Others said to be interested for vacant position since the party’s last convention in 2006 are MMD committee member Walisiku Lisulo, and foreign affairs minister who is also party deputy national chairman Kabinga Pande.
The MMD has set April 5th to 7th as the dates for the national convention.
Meanwhile MMD in Lusaka Central constituency have challenged party chairman for elections Mike Mulongoti to tell the nation what he has done for the MMD for him to contest the vacant position of party vice president.
Constituency chairman Chilekwa Munkonge says as much as the party constitution allows MMD members to contest for various positions of their choice, the vice presidential position requires someone who has contributed to the welfare of the general membership of the party.
Mr. Munkonge added that his constituency has resolved to rally behind Republican Vice President George Kunda for the party vice presidency ahead of the forthcoming convention slated for Kabwe in April.
He says Mr. Kunda has is the suitable candidate for the position as he has contributed to the welfare of the party and the general membership.
And Mr. Munkonge has further said that the majority of the MMD members have endorsed the candidature of Mr. Kunda as a preferred candidate at the convention daring Mr. Mulongoti to go ahead with his ambitions if he is able to withstand the pressure.
The Citizen Forum says it suspects that government has secret dealings with the mine owners as evidenced by government’s refusal to reintroduce the windfall tax despite the continued rise in the price of copper on the international.
The price of copper on the international market has hit the unprecedented $10,000 level per tonne.
Citizens Forum Executive Secretary Simon Kabanda says it does not make sense for government to continue insisting that it will not reintroduce the windfall tax when the price copper price on the international market has continued to rise.
Mr. Kabanda noted that the Zambians need to benefit from the proceeds of copper adding that whatever government was trying to hide about its deals with the mine owners will be uncovered one day.
And Mr. Kabanda has urged government to take legal action against Mopani Copper Mines for flouting the law on remittance of tax to the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA).
Mr. Kabanda says reports that Mopani Copper Mines’ tax remittances have been inconsistent with the production output are disappointing.
He says it is not in order for the mining company to try to evade tax when it is already enjoying tax rebates on its profits.
[ QFM ]
First Lady Thandiwe Banda listening to Airtel Zambia managing director Fayaz King during her familiarisation tour of the Airtel Zambia building.
First Lady Thandiwe Banda has praised Airtel Zambia for the massive investments it is making in Zambia, which are helping the country develop its information, communication technology sector.
Ms. Banda said the company’s expansion programme would enable customers to communicate effectively and contribute to the growth of the Zambian economy.
She said this in Lusaka yesterday during a familiarisation tour of Airtel operations at the company’s head office.
Ms. Banda, who was impressed with the company’s state-of-the-art equipment said she was encouraged by the expansion programme that Airtel Zambia had embarked on across the country.
The first lady also commended the company’s commitment to the uplifting of standards in the education sector in Zambia by adopting some needy schools in rural areas.
She appealed to the company management to allow information technology students to visit their premises as part of their study programmes.
“I also applaud your commitment to sponsoring traditional ceremonies in our country. We appreciate your efforts in giving back to the community through your corporate social responsibility activities,” Ms Banda said.
Airtel Zambia managing director Fayaz King said since the company started operations three months ago, it had invested K250 billion in the telecommunication industry.
Mr King said Airtel Zambia had rolled out 146 new sites across the country in the last three months and it would put up 300 new sites before the end of June this year.
“The aim of Airtel is to make telecommunication in the country cheaper and make our brand the most loved in Zambia.
“As Airtel we believe that telecommunication should not be a luxury but a necessity for the people,” Mr King said.
LUSAKA lawyer Rodger Chongwe has continued attacking the Zambian Government because he has failed to secure US$7 million which he was awarded by the United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) following a shooting incident in Kabwe in 1997.
In an interview in Lusaka yesterday, former Patriotic Front PF secretary general Edward Mumbi said Dr Chongwe wrote the Government last month asking for S7 million claiming that there was interest that had accumulated since the ruling was passed.
“I want Dr Chongwe to deny what I am saying. He is asking for money from the Government as compensation but as a lawyer, he knows that the ruling cannot be enforced in Zambia,” Mr Mumbi said.
He challenged Dr Chongwe to state how elections were rigged, especially that he was minister of Justice and Government advisor.
Mr Mumbi said Dr Chongwe should not continue making empty allegations that the Government had been rigging elections but should explain the formula he was using when he was in Government.
He said the ruling by the UNHRC was not enforceable in Zambia because it had not been registered in line with the law.
He said Dr Chongwe did not exhaust all the local channels before taking the matter to the UN body.
Mr Mumbi said Dr Chongwe had now become bitter because he campaigned for President Rupiah Banda during the 2008 presidential elections hoping to be rewarded with the release of his dues.
He said the Government had rejected the appeal, which was consistent with the position taken by late president Levy Mwanawasa, who said the ruling was not enforceable in Zambia.
He said because of anger, Dr Chongwe had continued to criticise President Banda as a tactic to force the Government to invite him but was surprised that was not happening.
“It is a fact and public knowledge that he campaigned for President Banda because our late president Levy Mwanawasa, one of Zambia’s eminent lawyers, wrote to Dr Chongwe informing him there was no law that provided or supported the registration of such a foreign judgment in Zambia.
“Dr Chongwe, being a former Legal Affairs minister and chief adviser to the Government, should tell Zambians how he advised the Government he served in preparing the rigging of elections,” Mr Mumbi said.
The African Boxing Union has stripped Kennedy Kanyanta of his Africa bantamweight title.
ABU president Houcine Houchi told LT sports on Wednesday that Kanyanta failed to defend his crown in May last year.
This is after the Mufulira-based boxer opted instead to fight for the International boxing Organization intercontinental super flyweight weight title against Zolile Mbiyti of South Africa late last year.
“Mr K.Kanyanta didn’t defend the ABU title since May 2010; however he instead fought for another title. That’s why the ABU stripped him for the title ABU title in order to give a chance for boxers who are willing to fight for it,” Houcine said.
Kanyanta on January 29 beat Mbiyti via a fourth round knockout for the vacant IBO crown on the undercard of the Esther Phiri- Lely Luz Florez WIBA/IBO light welterweight title fight.
Meanwhile, Boxing South Africa is expected to slap a long term ban on Mbiyti after the boxer failed to get official clearance to fight two weeks ago.
Cabinet has approved a 2-million U.S dollars budget to finance the hosting of the 2011 Africa Growth Opportunity Act-AGOA forum in Zambia.
Commerce Minister Felix Mutati says the funds will be used to finance various activities in line with the forum.
Mr. Mutati said the forum is expected to be attended by over 300-U.S based companies.
An additional 3-thousand delegates will also be drawn from Africa.
Mr. Mutati said a ministerial Committee has already been established to look into logistics ahead of the forum, which is slated for June this year.
The AGOA meeting will address among other things extending Zambia’s market access into the U.S.
Mr. Mutati told ZNBC Business News , Wednesday that while market access has been opened into Europe, it has been difficult for Africa to access the US market.
He said the forum will create business linkages between the U.S and other countries.
[ ZNBC ]
MMD Chairperson for Elections Mike Mulongoti has declared his candidature for the MMD Vice-Presidency at the forth-coming party national convention.
Mr. Mulongoti, who is also Works and Supply Minister told Journalists, Wednesday that he has decided to contest the position of party Vice-Presidency because of his vast experience.
He said he has done a lot for the party and feels now is the right time for him to serve the MMD at a different level.
Mr. Mulongoti also urged party members, especially young people, to aspire for various party positions and defend the principle of democracy in the party.
He also said he will ensure that he campaigns with dignity and appealed to all party members aspiring for various positions to do same.
Mr. Mulongoti said all party members vying for positions in the party should be given chance to contest without intimidation.
[ ZNBC ]
The Patriotic Front (PF) has expressed disappointment with the United Party for National Development (UPND) for stating that it will not back the PF in the Mporokoso parliamentary by-election.
PF secretary general Wynter Kabimba says it is disappointing that the UPND has decided to make such a decision.
Mr. Kabimba was , however, quick to state that the UPND, just like any other institution has a right to make any political decision.
He says the PF will not force their pact partners to support them in the 3rd March parliamentary by- elections.
Mr. Kabimba has since reiterated his call to the UNPD not to take issues concerning the PACT to the media.
He says the UPND as partners in the PACT should learn to address matters through established channels rather than through the media.
UPND national youth chairperson Joe Kalusa is quoted in today’s Times of Zambia as saying that his party will not support the PF in the Mporokoso by-election because it is clear that there is no longer a pact between the two parties.
However, UPND spokesperson Chales Kakoma has dismissed reports that the party has resolved not to support the PF in the Mporokoso by elections.
But UPND national youth chairman Joe Kalusa has maintained that UPND youths will not back the PF in Mporokoso.
He says the PF has been working as a single party, and does not see the reason to support them in the Mporokoso by elections.
Speaking in an interview with QFM, Mr. Kalusa has challenged the UPND top leadership to give the reason why they should support the PF.
File:A woman rejoices after receiving books from Luangeni Member of Parliament Angela Cifire in eastern province(theres hope for Zambias reading culture after all!)
By Gerald Nkisu Katayi
Christmas time is visitation time! Zambians living abroad take time to visit with families back home. This author was not an exception. After many visits and sight seeing, I decided to grab a book at the Lusaka City Library. It was somehow scary to walk directly to the library; Katondo Street where the library is located was occupied by illegal money changers. I was thinking; if I walked through this road to the library, bystanders will think, I am a “dealer.” Or what will bypasses think I was doing in the notorious Katondo Street?
I amassed some strength, took a deep breathe and walked past the illegal money changers, ignoring their winks and their “talking eyes” to the Library entrance. Just as I entered, I could not believe what I saw. The Library was in a deplorable state; the chairs were broken, the paint on the walls was pealing off, instead of it being a place to house a collection of books, magazines etc, the whole inside looked like an archive, a place where public records or other historical documents are kept. Only one reader was inside, reading a news paper, I think.
I moved from shelf to shelf, all the books that I saw were old, pages falling away just as I touched the books.It was as though the books had been eaten by termites. The books were torn, dilapidated, and “over read.” The books just looked finished. I began to wonder what useful information can be obtained from the materials in the library. The materials are outdated. Can anyone benefit by doing a research using these 20 plus years old books that are stacked here and his or her work be relevant? I went to the front desk for some inquiry. I asked the two ladies I found there how frequent they receive new consignments of books or any other reading materials? The answer was, “just at random, books just come in.” My second question was, when did you last get your delivery? No one could remember, probably before they were even employed.
Zambia is a developing country.We are talking of eradicating illiteracy among the citizenry, how can this be possible when places they are supposed to get information is not updated? The reading culture is being killed when in other countries it is being nurtured.
What has gone wrong with todays’ leaders? What do the Librarian and other mangers? They are paid every month for doing what? What is their daily routine? Any check lists? Do they submit reports to their superiors on matters of the library? And do these superiors visit the library for a spot-check?
Lusaka City Library is now a museum. The City Council, politicians, even embassies should come in and help the situation at the library. For the Zambians abroad, this is time to work together and get some books donated from different universities, churches, schools and printing companies. Ways and means of shipping these reading materials to Zambia must be revisited as well; this way, the library will receive new life and our country men and women will benefit from the knowledge they will acquire.
For the illegal money changers, let the government find a lasting solution to this problem. The police post is few meters away from where these criminals change their money. Why are they being entertained? Let the entrance to the library, the door to knowledge be clear, so that those who seek may find understanding.
