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Former Zambia National Soccer team midfielder Kenneth ‘Bubble’ Malitoli is new coach for Livingstone Pirates football club.
Malitoli, who inspired the Chipolopolo boys to the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Tunisia, was unveiled as Pirates Coach at Maramba Stadium yesterday.
Malitoli’s coaching job comes after about five months coach vacancy on the Pirates technical bench.Malitoli becomes the most high profile coach that the division one south side has had in decades.
The honor- starved Pirates is still in search of its first taste of Super Division football with their only major highlight coming in 2005 when they reached the Mosi Cup semifinals under then coach Richard Kasune.
Kenneth Malitoli coached Kalulushi Modern Stars last year, before joining the Livingstone City Council sponsored Pirates.
Meanwhile Malitoli was this afternoon expected to watch the training match between Livingstone Pirates and a Livingstone select side from which he was expected to assemble a stronger Pirates Side.
Though terms of his contract are still not clear but the former NKana Coach says he is ready to take the Southern Province based team to higher heights.
File: Sebastian Kopulande talks to Indian high commissioner
Speech by Mr. Sebastian Kopulande, Chief Executive Officer, ZambianInternational Trade and Investment Centre at the US-Africa Business Executives Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, February 14, 2011
Today, we the people of Africa have come to Las Vegas, Nevada at this epoch-making US-Africa Business Executives Convention, not to live up to our past reputation of empty hats begging for external fill-up while offering apologies and apportioning blame for our poverty. This time around, we have come from all corners of our continent and the Diaspora to seek partnerships based on the principles of mutuality and complementarity.
We are here determined to change the course of our development path; to give and to receive. In my tradition, we call this the spirit of “Insaka”, premised on the longstanding African values of sharing; each party bringing to the table the best they can offer and receiving the best they can get. There are no winners; and neither are there losers. All the parties benefit from each other in a relationship of mutual respect and interdependency. America is often referred to as the land of opportunity and the land of big ideas. And there is probably no better evidence of that than our host city; Las Vegas, Nevada. Look at the buildings around us, including our own Bally’s hotel, and you cannot help but witness the “Big Idea” mentality. In fact, when one thinks of America, the mind conjures a country larger in size than the continent of Africa. And yet the truth is that Africa—at 30 million square kilometres in area—is larger in size than China, the US, Western Europe, India, Argentina, the Scandinavian countries; and, the British Isles COMBINED! Without a doubt, the United States is a very big country. But America, though the most powerful country in the world, is only about three-tenths the size of Africa. And Zambia, my home country, is slightly larger than the State of Texas, the second largest state in America.
I dwell on this important point to emphasis the power of big ideas. Americans think big and have, as a result, done very big things; including being the host country to many of the technological innovations that have accelerated human progress. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy set a goal to land a man on the moon by the end of that decade and return him safely to earth. On July 20, 1969, Apollo11 accomplished that goal. This lofty goal was accomplished through an unparalleled combination of skills, resources and project management effort. But it all started with an idea; a very big idea. The time has come now, and is perhaps long overdue, for yet another very big idea: to end Africa’s “pariah status” and usher in a new era of Partnership, Progress and Prosperity for the world’s second largest continent. The key issue is that Africa has long positioned itself as a beggar or receiver of aid. Indeed, to many in the world, Africa remains a “basket case”. Political independence came to many African countries in four waves starting in the 1950’s and ending in 1994. In the early 1990s, a wave of political liberalization swept the continent to usher in a new era of democratic governance. Despite these developments, African countries have struggled to translate their newfound political freedoms into economic growth and improved welfare. Numerous international efforts to integrate Africa into the mainstream of international trade have come to nothing and the continent still remains on the periphery of global economic advancement. Explanations offered for this paradox include, among other things, delayed democratization, restrictive domestic policies and structural imbalances in the international trade regime. The more recent complement to the political liberalization of the 1990s, inmany African countries, has been economic liberalization through the elimination of trade restrictions, capital controls and other distortions and impediments to entrepreneurship and commerce. As a result of all these developments, many African countries stand more ready now than ever before, to take their seat at the table of international opportunity and to make a real and lasting contribution to global economic growth and welfare.
What we have come to say to the world from Las Vegas at this convention,therefore, is that Africa’s moment has come. We have come to this conference with a hunger, not for food or hand-outs, but with a passion to make a difference for ourselves and for our partners in trade and investment. Simply put, we are MAD. M-A-D as in “Make a Difference”; and we are focused on the goal of taking the opportunities that lie buried in the minds, hopes and dreams of the peoples of Africa and translating them into a lasting prosperity that will benefit not only Africans but the entire world because of the intimate connectedness, interdependency or globalisation, of today’s world.
The practical steps that will make this happen include:
a) Enhancing the financial, managerial and technological capacity of African SMEs and enabling them to meeting the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Standards in order to increase their ability to access the US market;
b) Building value-addition capacity in African economies catapult them from continued exports of primary agricultural products and commodities to finished goods and services;
c) Investment in infrastructure to boost value chains and, hence, stimulate productivity and competitiveness;
d) Better engagement of civil society to incorporate the grassroots, including rural women, the disabled and other marginalized groups. Indeed, I am pleased to note that civil society is represented by several of the delegates here to give voice to these vulnerable groups.We believe that the goal to change Africa’s fortunes for the better is not a zero-sum game in which Africa gains at the expense of others. Rather we believe that it is a win-win proposition in which all nations—especially those whichengage Africa directly and constructively as the US has sought to do more and more intently for several years now—will benefit.
Examples of America’s constructive engagement include:
• the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) which was signed by President Bill Clinton in 2000 and extended to 2015 by President GeorgeW. Bush when he signed the AGOA Acceleration Act in 2004;
• the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), a foreign aid agency created by President Bush which has brought a very innovative approach to the fightagainst global poverty;
• the President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a commitmentcreated by President Bush to fight the global HIV/AIDS pandemic which is, arguably, “the largest health intervention ever initiated by one country toaddress a disease”.
One good turn deserves another and we in Africa recognize and appreciate these interventions and wish to respond with the goodwill, tenacity and industry that they represent. Hence, we come here today to offer opportunity to America for an engagement than will benefit both players. Today, we come to America so we canstart the process of re-engagement. We come with SMEs seeking joint venture partnerships, seeking markets to sell their products and looking for technology toimprove their productivity and service delivery. We bring our natural resources and invite you, America, to invest in our economies for our shared future. We are, in short, in search of long-lasting relationships for better, no room for worse, for with Africa’s opportunities in manufacturing, housing development, mining, energy, tourism, agriculture, you name it, and America’s immense resource powerand technological genius, there can be no space for bad moments. We seek a business marriage and so, HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY.
Simple examples of the win-win outcomes we envisage from our response andfrom the overall betterment of Africa that will result include the following:
1. Emigration – with improvements in welfare and economic opportunity at home Africans will have a stronger incentive to stay at home which will reduce population pressure on the wealthy, but land-poor, regions of the world. This is not to suggest in any way that the emigration of Africans is, in itself, a bad thing. But many Africans in the Diaspora will confirm that given the choice, they would prefer to live in their home countries. As the popular saying goes, “East or West, home is best”;
2. Climate Change – trade, investment and related knowledge transfers in agriculture, energy and other sectors will result in beneficial changes in land and forest-use which will, in the medium to long-term, reduce net global emissions. This will only be sustainable, however, if ordinary Africans are empowered by allowing them the voice and economic opportunity they need to give them a sense of common destiny and shared ownership;
3. Defence and Security – in this day and age, a very real and present danger for many countries is the threat of terrorism. It is widely acknowledged and understood by thinkers and policy makers alike that the despair, desperation and discontentment that can result from poverty create an easy pool of candidates for terrorist recruitment. At the domestic level, unemployment andpoverty fuel crime and civil disturbances that present unnecessary barriers to local economic development and to international trade and cooperation.
4. Democratization – Global stability and international cooperation depend on democratic governance as a platform for economic liberalization and its attendant benefits. As we have witnessed in many countries, however,democracy is only stable where people have a real stake in the economy—through property ownership and sustainable livelihoods—and where their rights, assets and incomes are protected by the rule of law. In short, therefore, what we are saying is, if Africa—the world’s second largest continent—wins, the whole world wins! This is, indeed, Africa’s Moment. We are determined to seize the opportunity and forever change our continent’s fortunes, and those of the world we share with our brothers and sisters everywhere. Yes, Africa is the future. China knows this. India knows that. America MUSTknow this.I wish you all an informative and fruitful conference and, once again, a very happy Valentine’s Day! Thank you.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Ronnie Shikapwasha has called on the media in the country to be objective in their reporting as the country heads for this year’s tripartite elections.
Lt General Shikapwasha says the media plays a very important role in promoting free and fair elections and that they should ensure that people are presented with factual information.
Gen Shikapwasha added that the media should provide information on aspiring candidates for Zambians to make informed decisions.
He has further called on politicians in the country to allow Journalists to operate freely without intimidation as they are the eyes of the people.
The Minister has also urged the media practitioners to carry out investigative journalism to bring out various electoral malpractices in this year’s polls.
[ QFM ]
Government says the reintroduction of the windfall tax would impact negatively on mining explorations as this would discourage investors from investing in mineral exploration.
Mines and Minerals Development minister Maxwell Mwale has told QFM news in an interview that exploration of mineral deposits is key to keeping the mining industry vibrant because discovery of new minerals will contribute to the sector’s growth.
Mr. Mwale added that there is also need to allow the mines to recover the cost of investments before certain taxes can be introduced.
And the Minister has noted that reports that the Country is not benefiting from the Mines are not true because the Mining firms have been remitting mineral royalties.
Mr. Mwale has clarified that the 3 percent mineral royalty tax is paid at gross production and not on the profits as some quarters of society have been claiming.
There have been increasing calls for government to consider reintroducing the windfall tax on copper following the rise in prices of the commodity at the international market.
[ QFM ]
Zambia’s weak manufacturing industry has contributed to the growth of China’s economic development which is now the second largest economy in the world.
Like many developing countries, Zambia is a market for many Chinese products which in most cases are cheap.
Aside from developing the manufacturing industry, analysts have attributed the overtaking of Japan’s economy by China to devaluation of its currency which the USA has complained about.
Consumer Unit and Trust Society (CUTS) International Zambia Executive Board Chairperson, Love Mutesa, has however advised Zambians to stop unwarranted attacks on the Chinese but learn from them.
[ MUVI ]
Dr. Mbewe has disclosed that one person has died of Cholera in Lusaka’s Chipata Compound while 14 cholera cases are under treatment.
He says the affected areas include Lusaka’s Matero Compound, Sinamalima area in Sinazongwe district in Southern Province and Nsumba village in Northern Province.
Dr. Mbewe disclosed that the Ministry has continued with its programme of disinfecting the toilets and testing water collecting points in Cholera prone areas.
He has maintained that people should observe highest standards of cleanliness.
[ MUVI ]
Patrick Phiri is expected to make his first trip back home next month with his Tanzanian club side Simba.
According to Tanzania newspaper Daily News, Simba will be in Zambia for a two-week training camp.
Simba will be using the fortnight stay in Zambia to prepare for their Caf Champions League first round first leg clash away to defending champions TP Mazembe.
Club chairman Ismail Aden Rage said Simba will set-up base in Kitwe and are expected to play amongst other local side division 1 north side Kitwe United.
Other training games are yet to be confirmed.
Simba are currently top of the Tanzanian mainland league as Phiri chases back-to-back titles after winning his second at the helm of the Dar-es-Salaam club last season.
His side leads the table on 34 points, two more than second positioned Azam and third placed Young Africans after 16 games played.
Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Ronnie Shikapwasha says it will be the worst disaster for government to impose statutory media regulation.
Lieutenant General Shikapwasha says government wants the media to come up with a credible self regulatory mechanism that will answer to the needs of the Zambian people.
He says there is need for the media to come up with a self regulatory mechanism that would provide for a body that will be able to censure erring media houses and whose decisions should be respected by all media organizations.
General Shikapwasha says government is not bent on imposing statutory media regulation as perceived in some quarters.
Speaking when he featured on QFM’s the Public’s Last Say last evening Lieutenant General Shikapwasha says to the contrary government wants the media to have a credible self regulatory mechanism that will provide for checks and balances and comfort for all Zambians.
Forty seven thousand and eighty-six grade twelve pupils have obtained full school certificates representing a pass rate of about 59.6 percent.
This is out of seventy-nine thousand and thirty candidates who sat for the grade twelve examination last year.
Education Permanent Secretary James Mulungushi says of those who obtained full school certificates twenty-eight thousand five hundred and sixty-six are boys and eighteen thousand five hundred and twenty are girls.
Dr. Mulungushi announced at a media briefing that over thirty thousand candidates have obtained the General Certificate of Education-GCE.
He explained that 59.6 percent of pupils obtained full certificates in 2010 compared to 60.6 percent in 2009.
Dr. Mulungushi also said two hundred and forty-three candidates were involved in examination malpractice in 2010 compared to 89 in 2009.
Director of Public Prosecutions, Chalwe Mchenga has rejected requests to arrest and prosecute Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata for having allegedly masterminded the abduction of former PF member Samson Zulu.
Mr Mchenga says arresting and prosecuting Mr Sata now would raise serious credibility problems to any prosecution because the PF leader has been around since June 2009 when Mr Zulu was abducted.
He said he would NOT endorse the arrest of Mr Sata now.
This is contained in a letter to Mr Zulu signed by Mr Mchenga.
The DPP has however, authorized the arrest and prosecution of some of Mr Zulu’s abductors who were NOT apprehended because they were on the run.
But Mr Zulu questioned why police have NOT arrested Mr. Sata when his abductors were arrested and charged.
He said the law should not be selective but prosecute any person who is found wanting.
Information has emerged indicating that a private meeting was held early this month at which some prominent people attempted to intervene and resolve the leadership crisis in the Patriotic Front-UPND pact.
The meeting held on February 7th at LUSAKA’s Acardes Protea Hotel was attended by Post Newspaper Managing Editor Amos Malupenga, Lawyer Mutembo Nchito and Former Task Force on Corruption Executive Chairman, Mark Chona.
UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema and his party’s Chairperson for International Relations, Professor Clive Chirwa also attended the meeting which started around 17:00 hours and ended after 22:00 hours.
According to insiders, Professor Chirwa was used to convene the meeting with a view to resolve the leadership crisis in the UPND/PF Pact.
The meeting was also to apportion parliamentary seats and cabinet positions in the shadow PF-UPND government.
But when contacted over the matter, Mr. Hichilema said the meeting was called to resolve the alleged non press coverage of his party by the Post Newspaper.
Mr. Hichilema however, admitted that attempts were made to discuss the PF UPND Pact leadership.
He said he objected to discussing the Pact affairs because the PF was NOT represented at the meeting.
Mr. Hichilema said although some people felt his stance was unreasonable, he refused to be lectured on political issues of the Pact.
He wondered why details of this particular meeting had been leaked when he has been holding many meetings over the PACT with people from all walks of life.
Mr. Hichilema maintained that there will be no sharing of positions before UPND and PF agrees on a national program for the people of ZAMBIA.
Efforts to get a comment from Mr. Nchito failed as his phone went unanswered while Post Managing Editor Amos Malupenga asked to be called after sometime because he was in a meeting.
Mr. Malupenga earlier referred the queries to the sources of the information about the meeting.
By LusakaTimes
Former Finance minister Ng’andu Magande has warned that Zambia risks falling back into the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) bracket if the government does not reduce on its rate of borrowing.
Mr. Magande said he was worried with the fact that most of the borrowings that government had been signing was meant for projects which had no direct loan repayment benefits.
He said government needed to borrow with the view to putting the money in productive investments so that it accumulates finances needed for servicing the loans.
“From what I understand, we are borrowing for roads, and the roads really don’t have a kind of direct repayment benefit. It is the people that use the roads that make the money like the mining companies.
They are making the money themselves and taking it away because we do not have toll gates,” said Mr. Magande. He said the financial space left as a result of the US$7 billion debt cancellation in 2005 should not encourage government to borrow for no productive ventures.
“ In the shortest possible time we will end up being in the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) bracket. Already we are saying that the debt for Zambia is already US$4 billion, now imagine that we just had debt forgiveness of about US$7 billion by the international community only a few years.”
“I would have no quarrel if we were borrowing money for construction of a dam for irrigation or borrowing the money for purposes of lending it to the farmers so that we grow crops and export and earn money,” he
said.
Mr. Magande cited the US$200 million loan from Exim Bank of China for the Mongu – Kalabo road as one which will need to be serviced by other productive government investments.
“We might have this beautiful Mongu – Kalabo road worth US$200 million but if nothing is being moved or produced on that road, then the money to pay back that loan has to come from elsewhere, and where is the government going to get the money?” he wondered.
United Party for National development(UPND) chairperson on Foreign Policy Prof Clive Chirwa during press briefing in Lusaka.
By Elias Munshya wa Munshya
Zambia has produced no engineer with more impeccable engineering credentials than Professor Clive E. Mulubwa Chirwa’s. From jet engine engineering to car aerodynamics, Professor Chirwa’s engineering credentials are among the best in the whole world. But the dear professor should quickly realise that being successful at mechanical engineering is quite different from doing political engineering. Nothing demonstrates Professor Chirwa’s misunderstanding of politics than the proposal he has made about the way forward for the so called UPND/PF pact. According to this “Chirwa Plan”, the Pact can easily resolve its “presidency” impasse by having Michael Sata become the Pact’s presidential candidate while Hakainde Hichilema should accept the position of Vice-President. Once the Pact forms government the two parties should then divide the spoils of cabinet on a 6 to 4 ratio with the PF having a majority of cabinet portfolios. It is my argument that the Chirwa Plan cannot work for several reasons.
The Chirwa plan ignores simple constitutional provisions. In Zambia’s constitutional character, the power of State subsists in the office and person of the President of the Republic. As Chief Executive Officer of both the government and the State, it is the sole prerogative of the President to both appoint and disappoint ministers subject to the provisions of the law. In so doing, the president cannot be bound by parliament or by his own party or by a pact or indeed by a coalition of parties as the case may be. Once elected and sworn into office, the president is expected to act according to his best judgment and wisdom.[pullquote]It is rather surprising that to ensure compliance the Chirwa Plan expects the two leaders to sign a document detailing the terms of this political coalition. This document signing should be witnessed by the church and other non-governmental organizations. I would be very anxious to find out what legal effect such an agreement will have. Will it be a contract or a treaty? Just from the Barotseland Agreement of 1964, Zambia has a clear precedence of not adhering to such contracts or agreements[/pullquote].
Additionally, in our republican political system, the presidency does not derive its power from political parties as represented in a parliament, but rather directly from the electorate. As such, a coalition on the lines of the British parliamentary system, as an example, is constitutionally untenable in Zambia. When the British, the Canadians, or South Africans go to elections they vote for a parliament and it is from parliament where the Head of Government is chosen from. In the case of Zambia, it is the direct universal suffrage that elects a president. It is, therefore, difficult in Zambia to form a parliamentary ruling coalition of parties because a president cannot constitutionally be bound by such a coalition in exercising his prerogative to choose his government and other officers of the State. In Zambia, parliament or parties in parliament do not determine who or how the president should serve the nation.
It is rather surprising that to ensure compliance the Chirwa Plan expects the two leaders to sign a document detailing the terms of this political coalition. This document signing should be witnessed by the church and other non-governmental organizations. I would be very anxious to find out what legal effect such an agreement will have. Will it be a contract or a treaty? Just from the Barotseland Agreement of 1964, Zambia has a clear precedence of not adhering to such contracts or agreements. Besides, Zambians do not expect their president to choose his cabinet from a gathering of church leaders and NGO’s. We are not a kangaroo nation. We choose the president and we expect him to exercise his wisdom and prerogative. We would not want a president whose presidential prerogatives are determined not by national interests but by the interests of Kabulonga based NGOs. Zambia is bigger than Kabulonga.
In the event that Zambians elected Michael Sata to the presidency, under the current constitution, Sata will have no obligation to honour the Chirwa Plan. The constitution will indeed be on the president’s side and the so called Chirwa plan can be dishonoured on the first day a president Sata takes office. The Chirwa plan would fail for lack of constitutional effect.
The Chirwa plan quite blatantly ignores the political significance of UPND and the rise in the popularity of Hakainde Hichilema. If by-elections are to be used as predictors of political patterns, it is clear that HH does have a solid shot at the presidency. HH has shown meteoric rise in his popularity since the last elections. He has managed to sweep nearly all of the by-elections in the critical province of Northwestern, and he is on the verge of breaking through in Western Province. The Chirwa plan does not take this important element into account.
By giving Sata the Pact’s presidency, the Chirwa plan ignores the significance of the Southern Province vote. Regardless of what many want to believe about Zambian politics, Southern Province still represents a significant voting bloc. This voting bloc is clearly faithful to HH and his UPND. However, this faithfulness to HH should not and cannot transfer to Michael Sata. If HH goes ahead and succumbs to Sata, Southern Province is very likely to break for the MMD and its candidate Rupiah Banda. The MMD is relishing this chance. They are just waiting for the Chirwa Plan to be implemented and VJ Mwaanga and several southern MMD sympathisers will swing into action to convince the people of Kalomo, Choma and Namwala that HH is a sell-out. HH is not dull and he understands very well where the ordinary folk in Mapatizya stand with regard to Michael Sata.
There is no doubt that many in the Pact have been anxious about its future and relevance. It has been my position that a Pact of independent political parties working together to remove a ruling party is good just for that purpose. However, it cannot be good for governing because the Zambian system cannot tolerate such coalitions. If the UPND and the PF were serious about uniting both before and after elections they should have disbanded their respective parties and gone to a convention to choose a presidential candidate.
But the PF and the UPND are no fools. They knew exactly what they wanted in the Pact. They knew exactly that while they showed a pretended appearance of unity, HH and Sata were not as united as we thought. But as for the Chirwa Plan it is as mythical as the myth that some continue to perpetuate about the existence or even relevance of the UPND and PF Pact.
The Government has said it it will not rescind its decision to abolish Academic Production Unit (APU) classes because it was done in good faith following the improved classroom infrastructure in the country.
Education Minister Dora Siliya said yesterday that APU classes were introduced because of a shortage of schools, and that since the situation had improved there was no reason for such classes to continue.
Ms Siliya, who was speaking when she paid a courtesy call on Central Province Minister Ackimson Banda in Kabwe yesterday, that the decision to abolish APU classes was done in the interest of pupils who should not be considered as inferior.
She said the Government believed in equal distribution of education facilities in line with the Government’s policies, and that it was ready to meet with unions, guardians and parents over the matter.
Early this week, the Secondary School Teachers Union of Zambia (SESTUZ) objected the Government’s decision to abolish APU classes.
SESTUZ deputy general secretary for administration and organisation, Emmanuel Zulu said it was premature to do away with APU classes given the existing inadequate infrastructure and over-enrolment in schools.
Meanwhile, Ms Siliya paid tribute to the central provincial administration for working hard and contributing to Zambia’s development through improved health, education facilities, as well increased productivity.
She said Central Province had continued being a shining example to other provinces because of various economic activities taking place in the area.
The provincial minister, Mr Banda reiterated the provincial administration’s commitment to ensuring that programmes such as the construction and rehabilitation of schools and teachers’ houses were carried out in line with the Government’s vision of improved infrastructure.
Mr Banda said currently, the exercise of phasing out schools built using mud was going on well, and was hopeful that once finances were made available, the exercise would be concluded.
[ Times of Zambia ]
Former Zambia National Soccer team midfielder Kenneth ‘Bubble’ Malitoli is new coach for Livingstone Pirates football club.
