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Former PF party general secretary Edward MumbiFormer Patriotic Front Secretary General Edward Mumbi has advised PF leader Michael Sata not to draw Second Republican President Frederick Chiluba into discussing the Barotseland agreement.
Mr. Mumbi says the statement attributed to Mr. Sata in a private newspaper of Tuesday in which he is urging Dr. Chiluba to state his position on the Barotseland agreement is misleading.
Mr Mumbi says it is unfair for Mr. Sata to say that he is going to honour the Barotseland agreement if voted in office, when he was against it when he served under Dr. Chiluba’s Government.
Mr. Mumbi has challenged Mr. Sata to tell the nation the truth on why he wrote a letter to Dr. Chiluba to pressure him to drop the recognition of the Chieftainency of the Litunga when he served under him as republican President.
President Rupiah Banda has warned Zambians against taking part in the planned meeting over the Barotse agreement in Mongu this Friday.
President Banda says the planned meeting by the group calling itself the Black Bulls will not take place.
Mr Banda has also warned of stern action against persons circulating flyers in Mongu, calling on people that are non Lozi speaking to leave Western province by Friday 14.
The President told journalists before departure for North Western province this morning that it is not fair that government should discuss in the press, issues surrounding its meetings with the Barotse Royal Establishment.
And the Cheke Cha Mbunda Cultural and Writers Association has commended Government for the manner it is handling issues surrounding the Barotse Agreement of Western Province.
Association Chairperson Ndandula Libingi said his association is happy that Government is handling the issues cautiously and is confident that the matter will be resolved amicably.
Mr Libingi however, advised Government to ensure that the matter is dealt in a way that will restore dignity and honour to all involved parties.
He said this at a Press Briefing in Lusaka today.
[pullquote]Meanwhile, the Association Chairperson has explained that the Barotse Agreement of 1964 does not call for cessation of Western Province as demanded by the advocates.[/pullquote]
Meanwhile, the Association Chairperson has explained that the Barotse Agreement of 1964 does not call for cessation of Western Province as demanded by the advocates.
Mr Libingi said the agreement which was the Barotse agreement goes beyond Western Province and extends to all the line of rail, including North Western, and Copperbelt Provinces.
He said it is in this vein that the agreement should therefore be understood in its right context as it also involves various stakeholders.
Mr Libingi further expressed sadness that some people are misinterpreting the agreement and issuing threats against other ethnic groupings in the country hence jeopardising their lives.
He has since called on Government to arrest such people and charge them with treason.
President Banda with MMD cadre James Lukuku before departure for North Western province yesterday at Lusaka City Airport.
President Rupiah Banda is today scheduled to open the MMD provincial conference in Solwezi.
This would be the fifth MMD provincial conference the President will be opening after successful conferences in the Copperbelt, Central, Western and Eastern provinces.
This is according to a statement released to ZNBC news by President BANDA’s special assistant for Press and Public Relations Dickson Jere.
And President Banda has called upon MMD members to continue exhibiting discipline, unity and resist any attempts to engage in violent conduct.
The provincial conferences will lead to the National Convention slated for this year ahead of the 2011 tripartite elections.
The President would be accompanied by MMD National Chairman, Michael Mabenga, Finance Minister, Situmbeko Musokotwane, Works and Supply Minister, Mike Mulongoti and other senior government officials.
Provincial Chairman Pinakin Peter Patel has said in an interview that all arrangements have been made for the conference which will be attended by two hundred delegates.
File:The royal boat called Nalikwanda is about to dock at Limulunga harbour
By Daimone Siulapwa
COMPLIMENTS of the new season to all….
ONE thing we have prided ourselves in as a nation is that we are a peaceful people. If anything, our biggest contribution to the world is not necessarily the copper, although it is the goose that lays the golden egg, but the peace we have given it.
Thanks to our founding fathers, who, right from the start, realized that without peace and unity, any efforts aimed at nation-building will be meaningless. Against that background, the independence party, particularly the United National Independence Party (UNIP) was made-up of characters from all the main tribes in the country. In fact, it was a deliberate move to always balance the Cabinet. Also, when it came to appointments at district and provincial levels, one did not necessarily have to belong to that area to be appointed to a certain position, say that of governor or provincial minister.
On top of all this, we prided in the motto, One Zambia, One Nation. With that backdrop as a nation, it is saddening that, there are some elements, who want to destroy all the gains that this country has made since attaining nation-hood, using the Barotse Agreement.
For those uninitiated, it was 47 years ago in London that the British Government, the Government of then Northern Rhodesia and the Litunga of Barotseland concluded an agreement regarding the position of Barotseland within the independent Northern Rhodesia. The agreement was signed at the Commonwealth Relations Office on May 18, 1964, a good six months before Zambia officially gained its independence.
The agreement was signed by Dr Kenneth Kaunda, who was the then Prime Minister for Northern Rhodesia, Sir Mwanawina Lewanika II, who was the Litunga of the Barotseland and Duncan Sandys M.P Secretary for Commonwealth Relations and for the Colonies, signifying the approval of Her Majesty, the queen of the United Kingdom.
The agreement, in part reads: “Where as it is the wish of the government of Northern Rhodesia and of the Litunga of Barotseland, his council and the chiefs and people of Barotseland that Northern Rhodesia should proceed to independence as one country and that all its peoples should be one nation”.
For the sake of understanding the underlying issues, the reader may wish to know that Northern Rhodesia was at first administered under Charter by the British South Africa Company and formed by it in 1911 by amalgamating North-Western Rhodesia and North-Eastern Rhodesia. Although it had features of a charter colony, the territory’s treaties and charter gave it protectorate status. Then in 1924, Northern Rhodesia was administered by the United Kingdom government, as an official British protectorate.
On the other hand, Barotseland was a region in the western part of Northern Rhodesia, which was ruled by the Litunga.
In pre-colonial times, it is said that Barotseland included some neighbouring parts of what are now the North-Western, Central and Southern provinces as well as Caprivi in North-Western Namibia and parts of South-Eastern Angola beyond the Cuando or Mashi River for those who know their geography.
Exactly 47 years down the line on May 18, a group calling itself Barotse Freedom Movement (BFM) is demanding for either restoration or secession from the rest of Zambia.
Interestingly, but certainly disappointing and retrogressive, some politicians want to use this for simple political gain by supporting these demands or indeed pretending to be sympathetic to them.
On other hand, progressive minds like Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD) Charles Milupi are being targeted for abuse by those seemingly sympathetic to the BFM.
The motivating factors for restoration or secession of Barotseland from Zambia are certainly clearly not known, but suffice to say that the under-development in the Western province has something to do with it. While this may be true as statistics do actually indicate that the Western is Zambia’s least developed of the nine provinces, it is equally a fact that poverty is widespread in all the nine provinces, including the Copperbelt, which for many years has been the lifeblood for this country.
What is dangerous though is that 46 years after independence, there could be some sections of society talking sectional politics. These are no different from Dr Hendrik F. Verwoerd, the architect of apartheid, the official 1948 Afrikaner policy in South Africa of racial separation based on colour and ethnicity. The only difference between advocates of restoration or secession of Barotseland and the minority Afrikaner government in South Africa is that, our brothers and sisters in the Western province want to separate us based on ethnicity, so to speak. Otherwise, we are one people, thanks in large measure also to the many inter-tribe marriages between our various tribes. Look at it this way, you are Bemba, your wife is Tonga but her mother is lozi, while your mother is Soli and your tow sister are married one to a Lozi and the other to a Kaonde… It would be interesting to see what tribes would constitute of the Republic of Barotseland.
Mistakenly, advocates of restoration or secession of Barotseland think by so doing, they are proving that they are nationalists, far from it. True nationalists are people like Dr Kenneth Kaunda, Sikota Wina, Kwame Nkhrumah, Nelson Mandela and many others who have fought for the unity of the African peoples, for they realize that we are one.
Talking tribal or indeed sectional politics at a time when the world is working at destroying the so-called national borders, is certainly retrogressive. And politicians in the mould of Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata, whose appetite for cheap political mileage is frightening, have no place in our politics if they are going to talk sectional politics.
Mr Sata may fool some people sometimes, but he will not fool all of us all the time. During Levy Mwanawasa’s anti-corruption drive, the PF leader came out in the open to say the corruption fight was targeted at Bemba’s or the people from the Northern province. While this may have earned him votes in the Northern part of the country, it nonetheless exposed Sata for who he was, a shameless tribalist.
On the other hand, we do not expect the BFM to resort to violence, for that no longer has a place in our society. Agreed, we may have resorted to violence in some instances during our struggle for independence, but these were isolated cases. By and large, our independence was achieved with little violence, notwithstanding the Cha Cha Cha campaign, which in all intents and purposes was not close to the Mau Mau in Kenya.
As for the leadership of country, Zambia, we expect them to be firm but fair as they deal with the BFM. With the Litunga firmly in support of the status quo, that of One Zambia, One Nation, we expect the ill-advised members of the BFM to seek dialogue over violence and not to be used by some selfish individuals who do not have the love of the country at heart.
For now, it is STILL… One Zambia, One Nation. Aluta Continua.
These are the results of the 2010 online survey conducted by LusakaTimes to give awards to respective categories decided by website visitors from across the globe. Nominees were based on the top three and winners topped the list.
Personalities
1. Man of the Year
The Nominees are: Michael Sata, Felix Mutati, Medardo Joseph Cardinal Mazombwe And the Award goes to: Medardo Joseph Cardinal Mazombwe
2. Woman of the Year
The Nominees are: Dora Siliya, Thandiwe Banda, Esther Phiri And the Award goes to: Thandiwe Banda
3. Most controversial Zambian in 2010
The Nominees are: Michael Sata , William Banda, Father Frank Bwalya And the Award goes to: William Banda
4. Most disappointing Personality of the Year
The Nominees are: Kalusha Bwalya, Godfrey Mwamba, Rupiah Banda And the Award goes to: Godfrey Bwalya Mwamba
5. Most disappointing Political Party
The Nominees are: MMD, UPND-PACT, NAREP And the Award goes to: MMD
6. Sportsperson of the Year
The Nominees are: Esther Phiri, Jacob Mulenga, Emmanuele Mbola And the Award goes to: Jacob Mulenga
7. Sports Administrator of the year
The Nominees are: Kalusha Bwalya,Anthony Mwamba, Emmanule Munaile And the Award goes to: Anthony Mwamba
Institutions
8. Best Government Ministry
The Nominees are: Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Ministry of Education And the Award goes to: Ministry of Education
9. Worst Government Ministry
The Nominees are: Ministry of Works and Supply, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Home Affairs And the Award goes to: Ministry of Health
10. Well managed Government Parastatal
The Nominees are: ZESCO, ZRA , NAPSA And the Award goes to: ZESCO
11. Badly managed Government Parastatal
The Nominees are: Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia, Zambia State Insurance, National Housing Authority And the Award goes to:Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia
12. Well managed Public Institution
The Nominees are: Patents and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA), Bank of Zambia, Zambia Information Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) And the Award goes to: Patents and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA)
13. The most passive Opposition Politician of the year
The Nominees are: General Godfrey Miyanda, Ben Mwila, Tilyenji Kaunda And the Award goes to: General Godfrey Miyanda
14. Commercial bank of the year in Zambia
The Nominees are: Standard Chartered Bank, ZANACO, Stanbic Bank And the Award goes to: ZANACO
15. Best Private Company of the year
The Nominees are: Farmers House PLC, Zambeef Products Plc, MTN Zambia And the Award goes to: Farmers House PLC
16. Zambian Sports Team of the year
The Nominees are: ZESCO United Footbal Club, Nchanga Rangers Footbal Club, Under 20 National Team And the Award goes to: Under 20 National team
17. Picture of the year ( click on URL/LINK to view Picture)
18. Best Zambian Website (*LT not included for ethical reasons)
The Nominees are: www.postzambia.com, www.zambia.co.zm, www.zamnet.zm And the Award goes to: www.postzambia.com
19. Most hated LT Blogger
The Nominees are: Senior Citizen, Kalos2121, Lady Gaga And the Award goes to: Senior Citizen
20. Best LT Columns Contributor
The Nominees are: Henry Kyambalesa, Elias Munshya wa Munshya , Patrick Hatontola And the Award goes to: Elias Munshya wa Munshya
21. Most Missed LT blogger
The Nominees are: Ba Moze, Baby C, Ghost Dog And the Award goes to: Ghost Dog
22. Most appreciated and respected LT Blogger
The Nominees are: Nine Chale, Mr Capitalist, Senior Citizen And the Award goes to: Nine Chale
23. Best Quote on LT
The Nominees are:
“PACT is DEAD”
“Statistics are like bikinis, what they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital”
“We are not interested in the same old speeches every year when all you do is change the dates on the same old speeches,” Joyce Chabala, wife of the late Efford Chabale at 2010 Gabon Disaster Memorial
And the Award goes to:“We are not interested in the same old speeches every year when all you do is change the dates on the same old speeches,” Joyce Chabala, wife of the late Efford Chabale at 2010 Gabon Disaster Memorial
24. Best Joke told on LT
The Nominees are:
By Yaba
A Licensed Counselor was conducting a group therapy session with four young mothers and their small children….
“You all have obsessions,” he observed. To the first mother, he said, “You are obsessed with eating. You’ve even named your daughter Candy.” He turned to the second Mom. “Your obsession is with money. Again, it manifests itself in your child’s name, Penny.” He turns to the third Mom. “Your obsession is alcohol. This too manifests itself in your child’s name, Brandy.” At this point, the fourth mother gets up, takes her little boy by the hand and whispers, “Come on, Dick, we’re leaving.”
By Pa Zed:
“Picture 14. Ba Simataa, is that a face towel hanging from the pocket? (jacket). Teti mwashitako a descent handkerchief? Mwalitusebanya ku Zurich uku mwaile!!
By Nkalanda Gring gring: elo..who is this?
Kasengele: bena kalu, this is K
Kalu: ah K nauchinja fone number?
K: Ndimundoti abena Great! fone taileleka ukulila. Mufwile mwabwela pa lusaka
Kalu: ahaaa is everything ok?..what now
K: abena king cobra baingilamo mu wrangle nabo and I cant argue with this man..you know him well also
Kalu: Abena K not ukubaposako amano abena sata..Ba vice president ba kunda na ba RB has assured me ati all will be fine. Blatter nao ebele ati FIFA wont act so we are safe mudala.
K: That’s great news bena Kalu
Kalu: I almost forgot. Tell the nation on Monday that we are planning to host the world cup also apart from AFCON Cup. That will distract them. Let me know how the response goes.
K: Great idea! I will call the press conference on monday then.
Kalu: Great job K
And the Award goes to:Nkalanda
25. LT blogger with best analytical skills
The Nominees are: Mr Capitalist, De Ja Vu, Smooth Criminal And the Award goes to:Mr Capitalist
Webmaster’s choice Award
26. Best story teller on Lusakatimes
The award goes to Digga.
Here are two stories by Digga that kept bloggers and LT staff alike mesmerized
1st story
You know.. the thing that annoys me even more is that on the other hand , that con of a mine Lumwana has just announced $198 million dollars in Operating Profit of the 9 months to December 2009!!!!.. and paid ZERO, ZILCH , NADA , “0? in taxes because they 1) offset huge Capital Allowance credit that will run for several more years 2) other tax concession.. I spent 5 days on the mine this January, and I tell you I wanted to cry.. There is no brick a mortar structure at all. all Offices, house etc are either Prefabricated structures imported from South Africa or 20 foot or 40 foot containers converted to offices..
and I mean the whole mine including the prefabricated houses under the so call Lumwana housing scheme that they are mortgaging to staff. There is NO TARRED ROAD in the whole of the mine and mine town ship area (with the prefabs) I mean no a metre of BITUMEN / Molasses TAR.. ITS ALL GRAVEL and mud like a farm. There is no SMELTER only a SIEMENS CONCENTRATOR. In the plant area the grinds the ore from the BALL MILL into Concentrate .. thats the plant – thats it..
Then from the Concentrator, the COPPER CONCENTRATE ( POWDER) is loaded into 100 waiting ZALAWI Trucks mostly for Export straight tot the USA.. Apparently because of the Uranium content, KCM or MOPANI are is not buying the Lumwana concentrate, only Chambishi Mines (Chinese) is buying some… I was so angry .. and like that was not enough I went to the General Offices (where MD admin are) and almost collapsed when I saw a big black sculpture at the entrace that had both hands of a person clasped together in a THANKYOU and in the middle of it read “””Lumwana mine officially opened in Nov 09 by his Excellency Rupiah Banda President of Zambia”””” Nalefwaya uku pena.. and right next to it was a normal Plackard that had Mwanawasa’s Official Opening.. I mean what ???? I almost threw up.. and when the guys on the mine told me the mine expansion plans I wanted to cry..
They really have none apart from a Uranium processing facility.. none.. They have no plan to set up a SMELTER.. There’s none in the next 7 years at least- forget a refinery and so have no plan to produce Copper bars .. Cathodes they call it for export or sale to Manufacturing companies like ZAMEFA in Zambia that make wires etc.. I so so annoyed I tell you.. We’ve been hoodwinked and we let them.. I will not even talk about the CHINGOLA to SOLWEZI road that bent my TYRE RIMS.. THIS IS NOT AN INVESTOR: WE dont need this.. In this day and age WE ARE EXPORTING CONCENTRATE.. and at that concentrator they separate the diamonds, Gold from the copper.. and the metals are flown out by plane to buyers..
I’m not racist or xenophobic at all but you will not find a ZAMBIAN in a Management position whether its for Lumwana or the several CONTRACTOR Firms (Camp Management Firms, Construction & Civils) and there are many many non citizens doing simple jobs (like tyre mending, equipment supervisor) we used to do for many years in our rich Copper mining history.. Apparently they say the Zambia’s Mining Labour Market (all miners in Zambia) dont have the Acumen, required experience and skills to manage of supervise operational tasks in a “20th Century Mine”.. How or why did Mangani (Home affairs) issued all those work permits for jobs that can be
done by Locals? Zambians we need to wake up!!!.. We can Own and run the these mines. We have the skills and experience.. We NEED TO BE SERIOUS!!!!!
2nd Story
( Digga’s initial comments to a story on a robbery)
#2 Slumdog shalaz…. ma ma ma ma … my brotha not ZP police mwana… I’ve enough respect for C5.. believe me.. I’ve witnessed 1st hand their wrath and modus operandi.. We were all diving for cover in our offices opposite Fire station across Evelyn hone… trust me.. you’ll hear soon that bandits have been gunned down..
The only problem is the EXTRA JUDICIAL kiiling that they do.. but ZP I’ve enough respect.. especially after Mateyo and the late Wazakaza N’guni… The way ZP CID(C5 & flying squad ) Operate.. it’s a scipt out of a movie.. As we speak.. probably a dragnet has been set up u to Kapiri.. they operate with Intelligence.. They are patient. they even wait for months till their moment.. my guess is those crimminals are trying to leave town with their heist cause they know the’ve been circled. I’ve have little faith in GRZ but massive respect for POLICE force when it matters when things are serious.. no judges, no warning shots.. THEY gun down and parade your body for all to see.. PICS in newspapers and then throw ur carcass at back to C5 Nissan Hardbody van, with excited guys waving AK’s weaving through traffic to General Hospital mortuary.. Then the disappear.. They wear masks in operation.
The story
7# Nine Chale 2007 October.. Nali pa job pa LSK.. aka celo fye around 8:30… people even crossing the road walking past Fire station from the Traffic lights at that Evelyn hone T-junction.. There was a lot of traffic as usual in the morning RED.. The traffic lights hit Red.. 20 seconds later.. a few screams, a car then raved.. two shouts after that.. then the AK47 rang 4 warning shots.. Our office is upstairs and along the road so everyone then turned to see what was happening.. You know.. from no where up 5 cars coming from all directions cut the road, with armed police -some in ZP gear acrobatically jumping out of moving vehicles.. moving into a cordon..
A car blocked by traffic then bashed the car in front.. 3 Armed bandits jumped out.. stopped the car going down Makishi road to Nothmead…At that same moment our very own anti robbery squad rang I think up 7 warning shots.. and took aim at the car.. while the C5 units prepared for the chase.. Other units that were on foot unassuming jumping into the back of speeding Nissan hard body in chase.. But I’ll tell you after the 2nd AK shot the whole office dived for cover.. there are guns and there are gun shots. but that of the AKmilitary assault rifle is deadly, deafening-a scary thing.. All this happend in a space of two minutes and seven cars chased down makishi.. 15-20 minutes later.. The C5 boys were standing on top of a convoy of 3 hard white hardbodys lights fully beamed, sweepng the road like presidential motorcade back up the road to same traffic lights then truned left headed for UTH.. much to the stunned somewhat muted applause of the passers and people standing around and others that had come to listen to the action that happend 20 minutes earlier.
kabovas whistled as three piled bodys lay at the back of the not in a hurry C5 bad *** team.. lights full beam. hazards on… was crazy.. we told that story for days… So those bandits trying to speed away in the car they highjacked had their tires shot just before Northmed total filling station and careered off the road.. They got out and tried to run.. but were taken out swifty shot in the back , buttocks by sniper guys in the on rushing hard body..
off course people watching at the scene split.. Ephraim Mateyo was on news then explaining the operation and that for months they tracked the gang who were headed to kamwala to rob Finance Bank.. Tabangala pa Zed ba anti robbery and armed special forces. A career of armed robberies does not pay in Zambia.. At least you wont live long enough.. Uke pushe that gang that terrorised the Copperbelt 3 year ago. Those chaps were killed in a major operation..Inspector General Ephraim Mateyo even warned before the operation began.. people thought he was joking.. the amazing thing is a week later a group of wanted chaps actually truned themselves in saying they would rather go to jail and not be killed by the C5 knowing thats what would happen.. though there are new criminals back on the belt I see kabwe now as well. but the current IG is uninspiring.. just arrests Chansa Kabwela
C5 … so called .. Is the special anti robbery/terrorist squad unit in the Criminal Investigations Dept of the Zambia police.. the name comes from the numberering of their Office door at Zambia police HQ.. They are in room C5..
27. Government Minister easily reachable and close to the people
The award goes to Hon Dora Siliya because she keeps her facebook page upto date and interacts with online Zambians and responds to comments and e-mails
Chief government spokesperson Lt Gen Ronnie Shikapwasha
CHIEF Government spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha says Government has been vindicated by the revelation that Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata was part of a 1992 committee of eight ministers which concluded that the Barotse Agreement was stale and illegal.
Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha said in an interview on January 10 that the people of Zambia should now know that Mr Sata is not a reliable person.
Gen. Shikapwasha said when Mr Sata was in authority, he did not even want to consider the restoration of the agreement which he is now advocating.
He said Mr Sata should be honest enough to tell Zambians that he is just looking for votes.
Former PF secretary general Edward Mumbi said at a press briefing on Sunday that on October 22, 1992, the committee of ministers met a delegation led by the Ngambela and members of the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) to discuss the agreement.
“Mr Sata has been telling people that he can solve the problems of those calling for the restoration of the Barotse Agreement. We have always told Zambians that Mr Sata is not to be trusted. As Government, we have been vindicated because Mr Sata has continued telling falsehoods,” he said.
When contacted for comment, Mr Sata refused to say anything on the matter, insisting that he should have been contacted earlier.
Mr Mumbi said at the press briefing that Mr Sata’s committee arrived at the conclusion that the Kaunda government’s appointment of the Litunga as member of the Central Committee was among the events which affected the Barotseland Agreement.
Mr Mumbi said the committee observed that the Chiluba government had been in power barely 12 months and the agreement referred to was signed in 1964 and abrogated in 1969 through a constitutional amendment.
The committee of ministers noted that since 1964, a lot of events had taken place in Zambia.
It further observed that the 1969 referendum, which took away property rights and was fully supported by all Zambians including the people of Western Province, was one of the events which gave Dr Kaunda’s government authority to abrogate the 1964 agreement.
The committee also observed that the replacement of the 1964 constitution and the subsequent appointment of the Litunga tended to affect the status of the Barotseland Agreement of 1964.
Mr Mumbi said Mr Sata’s committee slowed down Government’s attention to the agreement and finally put it to rest with another letter dated August 18, 1993.
“It is Government’s position that we cannot negotiate this agreement on the following grounds: Our further inquiries show that no judicial process was commenced by the royal establishment or any other party aggrieved by the proposed amendments in reasonable time. It is our position that the demand is stale, as it has been overtaken by events and is no longer legal,” the letter reads in part.
Mr Mumbi, who displayed both letters, also challenged Mr Sata to explain to Zambians why he asked then President Chiluba to drop the recognition of the Litunga in 1996.
Government has warned people distributing leaflets inciting Lozis to rise against other tribes for refusing to support calls for secession that they will be cited for treason.
Police in Mongu have stepped up investigations to establish the authors of leaflets containing seditious material encouraging Lozis to rise against other tribes.
The situation in Mongu has escalated in the last few days, with one of the pro-secession groups threatening to expel all non-Lozi-speaking people from Western Province by January 14, for refusing to support their cause.
Inspector-General of Police Francis Kabonde has warned that those perpetrating violence in the province will be arrested and charged accordingly.
Western Province police commanding officer Peacewell Mweemba said the police have intensified investigations to identify the authors of the fliers which are being dropped in all the districts of Western Province.
The BRE has advised people in Western Province not to listen to people who want to cause disunity using the Barotseland Agreement.
Induna Ngambela Litiya said on ZNBC TV that calls to divide the country should not be entertained. He said the talks on the agreement are progressing well with Government.
He said in an interview on January 9 that the police have refused to give the groups a permit to hold their meeting in Limulunga.
A group calling itself Linyungandambo has also threatened the King of the Lozi, the Litunga.
The threats to expel non-Lozi-speaking people and attack the Limulunga palace, the royal home of the Litunga, are contained in leaflets the Linyungandambo has been circulating in Mongu.
But the Mbunda Traditional Association has vowed to defend its people and the Litunga from the insurgence advocated by the Linyungandambo.
On Friday, the BRE distanced itself from the group’s activities and condemned the people calling for Western Province to secede.
Linyungandambo is a group working with the Barotse Freedom Movement and the Movement for Restoration of Barotseland Agreement to agitate for the secession of Western Province.
“This serves to warn the following: Mbundas, Maluvales and other tribes that they should start preparing to leave Barotseland by January 14th 2011, when we shall secede from Zambia,” one of the fliers says.
Cheke Cha Mbunda Cultural and Writers Association spokesperson Maxwell Kalukango condemned the threats by the Linyungandambo to attack the Mbundas and other tribes.
The Lusaka City Council (LCC) has maintained that it has completely done away with reserved parking in the central business area of Lusaka.
LCC Assistant Public Relations Manager, Mulunda Habeenzu said the reserved parking was inconveniencing motorists as they could not find parking slots in town.
He said the local authority was currently compiling records to establish who still owed arrears from previous arrangements on reserved parking.
“People have in the past been denied parking space by those who own these spaces. There were forced to park in pavements because the spaces were reserved for people who in most cases even when they were not coming will have there slots reserved” he said.
Mr. Habeenzu told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka that the previous reserved parking was abused by people as they illegally allocated themselves slots while some did not pay for them.
In a related development, Mr Habeenzu explained that the Council would honor the agreements with organisations that have paid in advance up to February adding that it would however not renew these agreements once expired.
Mr. Habeenzu advised organisations and individuals who were affected by the move to write to the Council through the Town Clerk who would counsel them appropriately.
He also disclosed that the Council would send more car park attendants to ensure that they maximised on the revenue collection from motorists parking their vehicles.
The Lusaka City Council (LCC) in December last year announced that it was doing away with the reserved parking effective January 1, 2011.
This move angered people who have business and offices in town while most motorists expressed happiness that the move would enable them park their cars with ease.
Economic Association of Zambia (EAZ) President Noel Nkhoma has resigned from his position with immediate effect.
Mr Nkhoma announced his resignation today during a press briefing held at Blue Nile Lodge in Lusaka saying he had decided to resign from the association to pursue a private life.
He said the EAZ presidency is so demanding that after his reflection of recent past developments, and consultations with his family, he decided that it is time that he pursue a private life.
He stated that the decision to step down was purely on principal and that under no circumstances should it be considered as an admission of wrong doing or otherwise on matters involving his immediate past engagement as Executive Director of Finance Bank Zambia Limited.
Mr Nkhoma further disclosed that his ascendancy to the EAZ Presidency was not as a consequence of his employment with FBZ.
He further said that the presidency of the EAZ was a very serious undertaking and his involvement with the association for the past 10 years had been a rewarding and educative experience considering the achievements that the organisation scored.
Mr Nkhoma said, as per EAZ constitution, the Vice President Isaac Ngoma will assume the presidency adding that he was confident that Mr Ngoma together with the current Executive Board would perform to expectations of the Zambian people.
He thanked Government and cooperating partners and other stakeholders for the support rendered to him during hi tenure of office.
Government has released the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) for all the three constituencies in Solwezi district in North Western Province.
Solwezi Town Clerk Jim Zya confirmed receipt of the K665 million CDF funds for each constituency in an interview with ZANIS in Solwezi today.
Mr Zya said the money was released late last year and that the Council had received projects to be funded from all the CDF committees in the three constituencies.
He said the projects have since been evaluated and approved by the subcommittee of the District Development Coordinating Committee (DDCC).
Mr Zya identified some of the projects to be funded as rehabilitation of small bridges, teachers’ houses that had their roofs blown off, opening up of roads and foot paths.
The Town Clerk added that contractors would soon be moving to various sites and works were expected to commence soon.
President Rupiah Banda has predicted that Zambia would one day grab the African Cup title. Addressing soccer fans who turned up to have a glimpse of the President and the visiting Chinese Premier, President Banda predicted that the Africa Cup was coming to Zambia in-light of the earmarked construction of the modern stadia in the country.
Mr Banda observed that Zambia merely participated in the continental tournaments but failed to deliver and grab the Cup because both the people and the Chipolopolo Boys including many other players were not motivated owing to poor infrastructures in the country.
“Africa Cup title will be crowned to our country, be rest assured, he said. The happy-looking Banda told the fans to support Government in its programs of developing football including other sports disciplines in the country.
The president was speaking today when he laid a foundation stone at the location where the state of art Lusaka Independence Stadium is to be constructed with the help of the Chinese government at a cost of US$94 million with a capacity to hold 50 000 people.
Artist's Impression of the New Lusaka Independence Stadium
Officiating at the ground-breaking ceremony in Lusaka today which was also witnessed by visiting Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu President Banda said Government had initially desired to start constructing the Lusaka modern stadium using local resources but that it was unable due to inadequate funds.
ZANIS reports that the President noted that in the past, Zambia had difficulties to host international sporting tournaments because of poor infrastructure existing in the country but that once the project was completed, the country would equally be able to host international events like South Africa which hosted the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
He commended the Chinese Government for helping Zambia build three modern stadia in the country; in Ndola on the Copperbelt which is expected to be completed by June this year, the planned Lusaka stadium and the third in the tourist capital, Livingstone.
The President urged the Zambian people against vandalism of the infrastructure saying it was detrimental to national development and appealed for support to the Shanghai Construction Group, the contractor that had been assigned to build the Lusaka modern stadium. The construction works for the Lusaka stadium is expected to last 30 months.
Speaking earlier, visiting Chinese Premier Hui Liangyu disclosed that the construction of stadia in the country would make Zambia a shining example in Africa in terms of ‘modern and quality’ infrastructure works.
Mr. Banda reiterated that the assistance China had rendered to the Zambian Government had helped deepen bilateral co-operation as a symbol of friendship between the two countries.
He said China was proud to take part in Zambia’s socio-economic development which had continued to exist for the past 47 years of diplomatic ties.
At the same occasion, Zambia’s Sport, Youth and Child Development Minister Kenneth Chipungu said the construction of the stadia in Zambia once completed would mark a mile-stone in improving the sport especially football in the country.
Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu and President Rupiah Banda
Mr Chipungu said that the assistance Zambia was receiving from China had enabled Government to be committed in the area of sport and he echoed President Banda’s remarks that once the stadia was completed this would allow Zambia host continental games.
Vice President George Kunda, Zambia’s Ambassador to China Joyce Musenge, Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Li Qiangmin, some diplomats accredited to Zambia, Cabinet Ministers, their Deputies as well as Permanent Secretaries from various Government line Ministries including senior Government officials from China witnessed the ground breaking ceremony.
The Chinese Premier later proceeded to visit Johnken Estate Limited, a Chinese-owned farm in Chisamba, Central Province.
The visiting Premier is expected to depart Zambia tomorrow after completing his scheduled business.
Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata has been exposed as being part of a committee of cabinet ministers that recommended that the demand for the Barotseland Agreement of 1964 was stale and no longer legal.
According to PF former Secretary General Edward Mumbi, the expose’ indicates that Mr. Sata is one of the eight cabinet ministers that were not agreeable to the restoration of the Barotseland Agreement.
Mr. Mumbi said in 1992, former President Dr Frederick Chiluba appointed a committee of eight cabinet Ministers including Mr Sata to discuss the Barotseland Agreement in 1992 who brought a report disfavouring the Barotse Agreement.
Mr. Mumbi, however, said the committee to which Mr. Sata was a part of misdirected Dr. Chiluba by recommending that the Agreement has been overtaken by events and needed no attention.
The former PF Secretary General produced two letters to Journalists in Lusaka yesterday as proof that contain the committee’s position, stating grounds why government could not negotiate the Agreement.
Mr. Mumbi noted that Mr. Sata is therefore not the right person to talk about the Agreement because the PF leader was part and parcel of the committee that killed the Agreement.
He said the PF leader should instead apologize to the Litunga and the people of Western Province in general for misleading Dr. Chiluba over the document.
And Mr. Mumbi has challenged Mr. Sata not to hoodwink the people of Western Province because he threatened to de-recognize the Litunga when he was Health Minister in 1996.
Mr. Mumbi told Journalists at a media briefing in Lusaka yesterday that Mr. Sata wrote a letter to then President Frederick Chiluba to have the Litunga’s Chieftainship recognition dropped.
Mr. Sata could not immediately be reached for comment as his mobile phone was off by press time.
But PF Spokesperson Given Lubinda told ZNBC that he could only comment on matters that have occurred after the birth of the party and not before.
[ ZNBC ]
Editors note: This article was wrongly published twice.We apologize for any inconvenience caused.
A-36-year-old man of Kanakantapa in Chongwe in Lusaka Province has committed suicide after his wife died following her electrocution.
A neighbour to the deceased couple Royce Chizuka confirmed the incident to ZANIS today and named the couple as Mwanje Banda and Chisoni Mumba.
Ms Chizuka said the woman died on the spot at a farm last night around 24 hours after she touched a naked live wire.
She said following his wife’s death, the man drank home pesticide and was rushed to Kanakantapa rural health centre where he died this morning around 10hours.
Meanwhile, Chongwe District Commissioner (DC) Japhen Mwakalombe has warned residents against engaging unqualified technicians to do electrical wiring of their houses and other infrastructure to avoid incidents of people being electrocuted.
The bodies of the couple are lying in Chongwe District mortuary awaiting postmortem and burial.
The couple has left behind four children, the eldest is 12 years and the youngest is four months.
Zesco United will play their opening Orange CAF Champions League match at Arthur Davies in Kitwe.
The Ndola side will host Liga Muculmana of Mozambique on January 29 at the home of Power Dynamos home ground.
Zesco say the match will be played at Arthur Davies because their Trade Fair home ground turf in Ndola has just been re-laid for the coming 2011 campaign and is not yet ready to stage any matches.
Zesco has since 2006 played some of their CAF club cup matches at Arthur Davies as their pitch could either not make the grade or was being re-laid in the off-season.
However, Zesco are expected to return to the Trade Fair Grounds in March should they advance to the first round in their two-way tie against Muculmana.
Meanwhile, Zesco returned from Mongu on Saturday where they held a one-week training camp in Western Province and are expected to also take part in an international club friendly tournament in Tanzania this coming weekend.
SCORECARD
2011 All Africa Games Preliminary Round 1st Leg Qualifiers
The ground breaking ceremony for the new US94 million Independence Stadium was held in Lusaka on Monday afternoon.
Chinese vice premier Hui Liangyu and Zambia president Rupiah Banda this afternoon oversaw the ceremony for the stadium project that will seat 50,000 spectators when completed.
President Banda said he was pleased that the new Independence Stadium project was finally taking off.
“The rehabilitation of Independence Stadium is a project that has been outstanding for a number of years now,” President Banda said.
“Soccer fans in Zambia will recall very well that in the recent past.
“ Zambia has had difficulties with venues for most international football matches because of the pending works on the Independence Stadium.”
And vice premier Hui said The Peoples Republic of China was pleased to partner with Zambia in sports infrastructure development starting with the Ndola Stadium, that is expected to be completed this June, and now Lusaka the project.
Construction of the new Independence Stadium is expected to begin at the end of the rainy season in April.
