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No sacred cow over illegal plots – RB

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President Rupiah Banda with MMD Chilanga parliamentary candidate Keith Mukata
File: President Rupiah Banda with MMD Chilanga parliamentary candidate Keith Mukata

PRESIDENT Banda has said he will not shield any councillor or local authority engaging in illegal land allocations and other vices.

The President has also challenged those with information about any scandalous MMD-led local authorities to come forward and report them to relevant institutions.

The President, who was speaking in an exclusive interview with Zambia Daily Mail in Lusaka, said he will not tolerate any local authority that wants to take advantage of the people.

“Let them come forward and tell us the local authorities involved. We don’t just want local authorities to take advantage of the people we are supposed to serve. I will not shield anybody either in MMD or otherwise,” he said.

President Banda said no-one is above the law.

“It is not like when an MMD member steals, then they will be shielded. No-one will be shielded, a thief is a thief,” he said.

And MMD acting national secretary Chembe Nyangu welcomed the President’s statement saying there should be no sacred cows in the matter.

“Everyone must face the law whether in MMD or in opposition parties,” he said.

[pullquote]“It is not like when an MMD member steals, then they will be shielded. No-one will be shielded, a thief is a thief,” he said.[/pullquote]

Meanwhile, Mr Nyangu has demanded that investigations instituted at LCC following reports of illegal land allocation be handled expeditiously so that the culprits can face the law.

Mr Nyangu said almost a week ago, the MMD dared Patriotic Front (PF) spokesperson Given Lubinda and his colleagues at the suspended LCC to come out clean over the land scam.

“We note that Mr Lubinda has attempted to implement some cheap political spin over this enormous scandal at the LCC, which his party and their pact partner, the UPND, who jointly run the council, are deeply involved in,” he said.

Mr Nyangu described Mr Lubinda’s statement during his recent press briefing, that plots at Lilayi Housing Project were given to certain offices at the council because of the pressure exerted on them by the public, as cheap and insincere.

[pullquote]Mr Nyangu reiterated MMD’s call on Mr Lubinda to shed more light on how many plots he personally has since he became member of Parliament for Kabwata on the PF ticket in 2006.[/pullquote]

“It’s very clear that as one of the councillors at LCC charged with the responsibility to safeguard the interests of the people of Lusaka, Mr Lubinda has opted to tell his version of the story in the most irresponsible and illogical manner. Mr Lubinda is better off keeping quiet than always having something to say,” he said.

Mr Nyangu reiterated MMD’s call on Mr Lubinda to shed more light on how many plots he personally has since he became member of Parliament for Kabwata on the PF ticket in 2006.

“Can Mr Lubinda deny ever personally requesting the council to give him eight plots; can Mr Lubinda tell the public about the position he took during the full council meeting, which resolved to discipline two erring officials allegedly involved in fraudulent land allocations, and can he convincingly distance himself from the Lusaka land scam?” he said.

“As somebody who has been issuing unsubstantiated statements against our party and President Banda in particular where the fight against corruption is concerned, we expected him to furnish us with convincing reasons over the land scam at LCC but he has failed. This in itself is a serious indictment on the leadership of the LCC and Mr Lubinda in particular as African Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption president,” Mr Nyangu said

[Zambia Daily Mail]

ECZ Workers call off protests

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ECZ workers

Workers at the Electoral Commission of Zambia-ECZ- have called of their protests and resumed work.

This follows the resignation of Justice Florence Mumba as Chairperson of the Commission.

And workers representative Joseph Chilekwa has asked the Post Newspapers to stop misleading the public about the happenings at the commission.

Mr Chilekwa says the work stoppage was purely a labour matter and that no one was behind it.

On Thursday, Electoral Commission of Zambia-ECZ- Chairperson Justice Florence Mumba resigned from her position.

Justice Mumba’s resignation followed four days of ECZ workers’ protest against her leadership.

In resigning her position as Commission Chairperson, Justice Mumba said she has acted in the interest of maintaining harmony at ECZ House.

And President Rupiah Banda said he had reluctantly accepted the resignation of Justice Mumba as Chairperson of the ECZ.

In his letter to justice Mumba on Thursday acknowledging her resignation, president Banda thanked her for the work she did while at the electoral commission of Zambia.

[pullquote]And President Rupiah Banda said he had reluctantly accepted the resignation of Justice Mumba as Chairperson of the ECZ.[/pullquote]

The president specifically commended Justice Mumba for the manner in which she successfully superintended over the 2008 presidential election which came at short notice.

President Banda wished Justice Mumba well in her future endeavors.

This is according to a statement released to ZNBC News by the President’s Special Assistant for Press and Public relations Dickson Jere.

Meanwhile, the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) has said that it will soon determine the course of action to take once it concludes studying reports of alleged corruption at the Electoral Commission of Zambia.

ACC Public Relations Officer Wezzy Chomba said this at a media briefing in Lusaka on today

ZNBC

The Week in Pictures

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1.

Some youths wait outside the National Milling Corporation premises to be hired for part time jobs

2.

Some workers at the Electoral Commission of Zambia brave the rainy weather in Lusaka to stage a work boycott against chairperson Florence Mumba

3.

Some of the people attending the Teen Vision conference in Kitwe

4.

President Banda talks to youths after opening the Teen Vision Conference in Kitwe

5.

Aggrieved Mongu residents who marched to the Provincial administration offices to register their disapproval of treatment of their relatives who were arrested after the January 14 riots in Mongu

6.

Some of the Mongu residents who marched to the Provincial administration offices to register their disapproval of treatment of their relatives who were arrested after the January 14 riots in Mongu

7.

Livestock and fisheries Minister Bradford Machila checking on quality of maize for FRA at ATZ plant in Kafue

8.

Kafue Area MP Bradford Machila with DC Winford Ngoma and ATZ GM Isaac Ngoma inspecting machinery in processing plant

9.

FRA casuals packaging maize in FRA bags earmarked for export

10.

Anti Voter Apathy (AVAP) executive director Bonnie Tembo(L) talking to Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) Lee Habasonda during a meeting under the New Constitution review

11.

Allasane Ouattara's prime minister Guillaume Soro during a press conference in Lusaka

12.

Allasane Ouattara's prime minister Guillaume Soro before addressing a press conference in Lusaka

13.

Pride Club Grand Prize winner Bhagat Kuldipak shows-off the keys to his new Toyota Vitz he won from a Kenya Airways competition at Hotel Intercontinental in Lusaka. On his right in the Airlines’ Country Manager Rose Kiseli while Information Deputy Minister Angela Cifire Looks on.

14.

Boxing champion Esther Phiri talking to a MUVI TV crew

15.

National Milling managing director Peter Cottan receiving the Colombian Boxer Lely Luz Florez and her Coach Josedela Cruz when they arrived at Lusaka International Airport.

16.

National Milling managing director Peter Cottan after he received the Colombian Boxer Lely Luz Florez and her Coach Josedela Cruz at Lusaka International Airport.

17.

The Colombian Boxer Lely Luz Florez when she arrived at Lusaka International Airport.

18.

US based boxer Hasting Bwalya

19.

US based boxer Hasting Bwalya after training at Lusaka Independence Stadium,he is in the Country to fight with a Zimbabwe's Silas Mandeya on Saturday

Mongu Residents march to PS’s office

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By Lusakatimes

Scores of Mongu residents yesterday marched to the Provincial Administration demanding for permission to visit and have bail granted for their relatives who were charged with riotous behavior following the January 14 riots.

This was after a Mongu Subordinate court yesterday denied bail to a group of more than 60 men of Mongu district, who were arrested during the riot.

A representative of the aggrieved residents Moses Litula said there were in pain because they have relatives and children who have been in police custody for about 3 weeks now without them know their welfare. He said it has been difficult to even provide food for their loved ones as prisons officers would not give them a chance to do so.

“ We are very sad because we have children, husbands and very close relatives who are in prison since 14th January and we have not been able to know anything about them.” Litula said.

He said since the law has taken its course by charging them with riotous behavior which is a bailable case, parents and relatives should be allowed to visit them while they await trial.He said it would be even better to grant them bail so that those who are in school and those in employment can continue to do their duties.

And responding to the request Western Province Deputy Permanent Secretary Mwangala Liomba said issues of the court where autonomous hence he does not have the power to comment on it.

On the 14 of January this year, Police in Mongu arrested more than 100 people who were rioting after government canceled a meeting aimed at discussing the restoration of the 1964 Baroste Agreement (BA).

Zambia’s forgotten Space Program

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On Oct. 30, 1964, TIME magazine reported on the celebration of the independence of Zambia (formerly Northern Rhodesia), with its new president, Kenneth Kaunda.

But as the jubilant crowds celebrated, one man complained that the festivities were interfering with his “space program.” Edward Makuka Nkoloso informed the TIME reporter that his Zambian “astronauts” would beat both the US and the Soviet Union in the space race — by going to the moon, and then to Mars.

This was an unusual boast, to say the least. At the time, Zambia’s population numbered 3.6 million, with barely 1500 African-born high school graduates and less than 100 college graduates. Nkoloso himself was a grade-school science teacher, and self-appointed director of the country’s (unofficial) National Academy of Science, Space Research and Philosophy.

But he had big dreams, namely, using a catapult-inspired “firing system” to send a 10×6 aluminum and copper rocket holding ten Zambians and a 17-year-old African girl (and her cat) to Mars. He figured he could get them to the moon by 1965. All he needed was $700 million from UNESCO to fund the project.

In a newspaper editorial, Nkoloso claimed to have studied Mars for some time from telescopes at his “secret headquarters” outside Lusaka, and announced that the planet was populated by primitive natives. (He graciously added that his missionaries would not force the native Martians to convert to Christianity.) In fact, he said, he could have achieved the conquest of Mars a mere few days after Zambia’s independence had UNESCO come through with the funding. Oh, he also called for the detention of Russian and American spies trying to steal his “space secrets” — and his cats.
It’s hard not to like Nkoloso, based on what little we know of him today. Here’s a grade school science teacher setting up his own national space program with a small group of trainees who had to roll downhill in a 44-gallon oil drum as part of Nkoloso’s plan to simulate the sensation of rushing through space. Zero gravity? He simulated that by having them swing from the end of a long rope, cutting the rope when they reached the highest point so they went into freefall. He also taught them how to walk on their hands, “the only way humans could walk on the moon.”

Naive? Ignorant? Sure. Especially in light of his less than dedicated volunteers: “They won’t concentrate on space flight; there’s too much love-making when they should be studying the moon,” he complained. Indeed, the much-touted girl astronaut, Matha, became pregnant and her parents brought her back to their village.

Nkoloso’s astronauts never got to Mars. Or the moon. Or even out of Lusaka. The Zambian government carefully distanced itself from his project. Even today, the US is the only country to have successfully landed a spacecraft on Mars, and has yet to spearhead a manned mission to the red planet. But while Nkoloso may have been a bit crazy, he had clearly zeroed in on the future: space travel was going to be a big deal. And he wanted Zambia to be a part of it.

We’re going to Mars!

WITH A SPACEGIRL, TWO CATS AND A MISSIONARY

by Edward Makuka Nkoloso

I see the Zambia of the future as a space age Zambia,more advanced than Russia or America.In fact in my academy of scientists our thinking is six or seven years ahead of both powers.
It is unlucky for Lusaka that I did not have a chance to run for mayor.If I had been elected the capital city of Zambia would have be4en another Paris if not New York.

If I had been mayor matero kamwala and chilenje suburbs would quicklyb have been filled with flats and skyscrapers.Old houses would have vanished.
But never mind we will have our Paris yet.If I had had my way Zambia would have been born with the blast of the academys rocket being launched into space.But the Independence celebrations committee said that would terrify the guests and possibly the whole population.I think they were worried about the dust and noise.
Crew ready
Its a great pity,all is ready at our secret headquaters in a valley about seven miles from Lusaka.The rocket could havev been launched from indepence stadium and Zambia would have conquered Mars only a few days after Independence.Yes thats where we plan to go – Mars.
We have been studying the planet through telescopes at our headquaters and are now certain Mars is populated by primitive natives.Our rocket crew is ready.
Specially trained space girl Matha Mwamba two cats(also specially trained) and a missionary will be launched in our first rocket.
But I have warned the missionary he must not force christianity on the people in Mars if they do not want it.
One other difficulty has been holding us up.UNESCO has not replied to our request for £7,000,000 and we need that money for our rocket programme.Then we can lead world science.
I feel the Zambian government should help now if we are to become controllers of the Seventh Heaven Interstellar space.The government must pass strong bills to deal with the satanic plots of our enemies.
I have known for a long time that Russian spies are operating in Zambia.Yes and American spies are all over town too.They are all trying to capture Matha and the cats.They want our space secrets.
These people must be dealt with immediately after independence if I am to keep my space lead.Dtention without trial for all spies is what we need.
Otherwise I am happy with the Government but it must encourage youngsters to join the academy.
At the moment they have knocked down my academy building in matero.That is not good.I hope they build modern flats in its place to provide more offices for us.
The capital of the new scientfic Zambia must look beautiful.People from afar must not see a slum as the capital of the worlds greatest scientific state.
Zambians are inferior to no men in science technology.My space plan will surely be carried out.

Weird as that might sound, the Zambian astronaut made international headlines with his ingenious invention, attracting interviews from Times magazine and Discovery Channel

But there was only one problem, Mr. Nkoloso needed US$700 million from UNESCO to fund the project and that was about 46 years ago.

His idea had to die a natural death, leaving Zambians and other followers of his invention with so many unanswered questions.

In fact one of the concerned citizens wrote the Ministry of Science and Technology.

He wanted to find out the outcome of the 1964 space flight program and if the project had received any funding from well wishers.

The Director
Ministry of Technology
Lusaka
Zambia

Dear Sir,

Could you inform me of the outcome of Zambia’s space flight program of the 1960s.

An official news report of November 3 1964 stated:

America and Russia may lose the race to the moon, according to Edward Mukaka Nkoloso, Director-General of the Zambia National Academy of Space Research.
His ten Zambian astronauts and a seventeen-year-old African girl are poised for the countdown. He said: “I’ll have my first Zambian astronaut on the moon by 1965. My spacemen are ready, but we’re having a few difficulties…we are using my own firing system, derived from the catapult.”

Mr. Nkoloso continued: “To really get going we need about seven hundred million pounds. It sounds a lot of money, but imagine the prestige value it would earn for Zambia. But I’ve had trouble with my space-men and space-women. They won’t concentrate on space-flight; there’s too much love-making when they should be studying the moon. Matha Mwamba, the seventeen-year-old girl who had been chosen to be the first coloured woman on Mars, has also to feed her ten cats, who will be her companions on the long space flight… I’m getting them acclimatised to space-travel by placing them in my space-capsule every day. It’s a 40-gallon oil drum in which they sit, and I then roll them down a hill. This gives them the feeling of rushing through space. I also make them swing from the end of a long rope. When they reach the highest point, I cut the rope – this produces a feeling of free fall.”

I assume that the request for seven hundred million pounds was made by Z.N.A.S.R. to the United Nations. Please inform me whether Zambia received the grant and whether significant progress in space flight resulted.
Yours sincerely,

Government’s response was precise:

REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA
MINISTRY OF POWER, TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS


P.O. Box 50065
Lusaka

11th July, 1988

Mr B. Stett,
…………..

Dear Sir,

I refer to your letter dated 24th May, 1988 in connection with outcome of Zambia’s space programme.

I wish to inform you that the matter under discussion was never seriously taken up by the Zambian Government and as such no official backing was rendered to Mr. Mukaka Nkoloso’s efforts. The programme therefore died a natural death.

Yours faithfully,
E. N. Kamuyuw

Assistant Secretary
for/ Permanent Secretary
Ministry of Power, Transport And Communications

[Discovery News,TIME.com,Tripod]

Over 400 Kalabo girl pupils miss exams over pregnancies

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Over Four hundred [400] female Grade Seven pupils did not write their final examinations in Kalabo district in Luapula Western Province last year.

Education Standards Officer [ESO] General Inspector Keith Inambao who disclosed this during the first stakeholders meeting on Gender in Development held in the Council chamber in Kalabo yesterday described the situation as very serious.

He called for serious interventions into the matter for the betterment of the girl child’s future.

Inspector Inambao said that the affected pupils did not write their final examinations due to pregnancies and the practice of compelling them into early marriages.

He said that in the year 2009 more than five hundred [500] Grade Seven pupils did not write their final examinations because of pregnancies and early marriages.

He said that Kalabo was the most hit district in Western Province if not in the entire country due to the same problems.

Inspector Inambao noted that efforts to report such cases to Police failed because parents of the affected pupils protected their children saying they were grown up.

The Education Standards Officer further said this was bringing the passing rate of grade seven pupils down in Kalabo district.

He added that the parents of the affected pupils merely focused on the short term benefit of dowry at the expense of their children’s future.
[ ZANIS ]

Midweek Scorecard

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By Lusakatimes Sports

Striker Enock Sakala will not feature for Zesco United in their Orange Caf Champions League opener on Saturday to be played in Kitwe despite his returned home from his trial spell in China.

Sakala made an unexpected return home on Tuesday just two weeks into a month long trial at an unnamed Chinese club.

Club secretary Justin Mumba said Sakala was not in the coaches plans his time around and will miss Zesco’s Champions League match against Liga Muculmana of Mozambique.

Meanwhile, Muculmana arrived today ahead of their preliminary round, first leg match to be played at Arthur Davies Stadium.

Muculmana coach Arthur Semedo said he was confident of a positive away result against Zesco.
“We don’t have much knowledge about Zesco but we are confident of victory,” Semedo said.

Scorecard

International Friendly

26/01/2011

Nkoloma Stadium, Lusaka

Zambia u23 0- Sudan 0

Florez Arrives to Face Esther Phiri

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By Lusakatimes Sports

L-R- Esther Phiri's trainer Anthony Mwamba,Florez's trainer Josedela Cruz, Lely Luz Florez and Sponsor Peter Cottan at Lusaka International Airport

Lely Florez has arrived ahead of Saturday’s World title unification bout against Esther Phiri at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka.

The Colombian will face Esther for the WIBA belt and vacant IBO female light welterweight title.

Florez, a 16-4-0, said she was looking forward to a good fight against Esther, 11-2-2, who is unbeaten in her last 12 fights.

“My experience will be key in this fight,” Florez, who was flanked by her trainer Josedelo Zuniga, said at a press briefing at the Southern Sun Hotel in Lusaka upon arrival.

“Esther Phiri is a good boxer but we don’t think there will be a knockout but if there is it will be good for me.”

Florez added that she was expecting a good fight against Esther and is also looking to bounce back after losing her WBC belt in her last fight on September 10 away to Monica Acosta of Argentina.

Justice Mumba resigns as ECZ chairperson

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Electoral Commission of Zambia chairperson Florence Mumba
Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) chairperson Justice Florence Mumba has bowed to pressure and tendered her resignation.

This follows allegations of corruption activities labeled against her and two other commissioners by dismissed ECZ Director Dan Kalale.

According to sources, justice Mumba tendered in her resignation letter to Republican President Rupiah Banda this morning adding that President Banda has not yet indicated his stance on the move.

This is a dent in a distinguished career that saw her as a judge at The Hague and United Nations and she is currently Zambia’s Supreme Court judge.

Justice is alleged to have single-sourced and awarded a K1 billion contract to KPMG without following tender procedures.

And the dismissal of Mr. Kalale prompted workers at the commission to stage a protest vowing not to return to work until Justice Mumba was removed from her position.

Meanwhile, Caritas Zambia Executive Director Samuel Mulafulafu has described justice Mumba’s resignation as mark of integrity on her career.

Mr. Mulafulafu says the former ECZ chairperson must be commended for taking a brave decision.

And Change Life Zambia Executive Director Fr. Frank Bwalya says it is regreteable that justice Mumba who he describes as a woman of integrity has resigned.

Fr. Bwalya adds that it is unfortunate that justice Mumba will not continue with her good works at the Commission and blames her resignation on government.

QFM

LCC Suspension is Political – Lubinda

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Given Lubinda

Patriotic Front Spokesperson Given Lubinda has said that the 90-days suspension of Lusaka City Council by Government over alleged reports of illegal land allocation is political.

The Lusaka city Council has been suspended for alleged illegal allocation of land involving several plots in Lusaka.

Mr. Lubinda said plots at Lilayi Housing Project were given to certain offices at the council because of the pressure exerted on them by the public.

Mr. Lubinda was speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka on Thursday. He said there is no impropriety in the allocation of plots by the local authority.

Mr. Lubinda has however welcomed Government plans to institute investigations at the council following reports of illegal land allocation.

He also disclosed that the PF has engaged a lawyer to ascertain the legality of the suspension of the Council by Government.

Yesterday, Local Government and Housing Minister Brian Chituwo confirmed receiving a letter from the Patriotic Front, asking him to re-visit his decision to suspend Lusaka City Council.

Dr. Chituwo has maintained that all plots under the local authorities country wide which do not fulfill allocation criteria will be repossessed.

[ZNBC]

Zambezi Airlines offers sports deal

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Zambezi Airlines

The National Sports Council of Zambia has signed an agreement with Zambezi Airlines under which all affiliated associations are to receive up to 50 percent discounts on foreign trips.

Under the agreement, which runs for one year and is subject to renewal, all the 46 NSCZ affiliates can access the facility once they are cleared by the council.

And speaking at the signing ceremony NSCZ Chairperson Chifumu Banda warned that under performing associations risk being denied access to the incentive.

Banda says the council is fed up with affiliates who are fond of competing abroad yet fail to deliver medals.

Earlier Zambezi Airlines Chief Executive Officer Wilfred Amstel Veen says his firm is eager to contribute to the development of sports in Zambia.

He says this why Zambezi Airlines has decided to offer the package to the national Sports Council of Zambia.
[ZNBC]

Pepsi Vs Coke

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File: PJ Corporation Chairman Ravi Kant Jaipuria and President Rupiah Banda sipping canned Pepsi during the laying of the foundation stone for a Pespi bottling plant in Lusaka

By Wesley Ngwenya

Sitting at a table in a restaurant on Cairo Road, in downtown Lusaka, I eagerly wait for my drink. I haven’t had this drink for more than three years. I wonder if I still remember the taste of it. In fact, for the first time, I am quite excited ordering this drink. The drink comes in a 350mls bottle. I waste no time and take a long sip of the contents of the bottle. I put the bottle down simultaneously burping and feeling embarrassed. “This Pepsi is really going down”, I thought.
I have never really been a big fun of Pepsi. In the United States, where Pepsi competes neck-to-neck with Coca-cola, I would only order or drink Pepsi when Coca-cola was not available. I am not sure I will continue drinking Pepsi in place of Coke but, at the moment, you get more for your money than you get for Coke. The Pepsi 350mls bottles are going at K2,200 while the Coke 300mls are going at K2,500 retail price.
Pepsi came to Zambia about six months ago under the franchise of Varun Beverages a subsidiary of RJ Corporation of India. The company is expected to invest about $30 million in the next six years here in Zambia. The company has invested in a multi-million dollar massive plant on Mungwi Road in the same neighborhood of the rival distributors of Coca-cola Zambian Breweries.

Pepsi has also invested hugely in advertising its products. Huge outdoor billboards, although not quite innovative, have been placed all over Lusaka. The company has also done well with how they display their products in major supermarkets and restaurants.

It will be interesting to know, from Pepsi, if this investment is beginning to pay off or not. This may be too early to determine, though, considering that they have been in existence for only six months. However, from the look of things Zambians seem to be determined to taste the new drink in town. Whether this is out of curiosity, the price or the quantity it is not clear but it sure seems to be working for Pepsi.
Meanwhile, the rival Coca-cola seems not to be responding. Is it because Pepsi’s presence in town is not really affecting their sales? Are they locked up in the boardroom mapping up a strategy how they can respond to the new rival in town? Besides, Pepsi hired some of the middle managers at Coca-cola.

If Coca-cola does not respond soon, Pepsi is bound to take the market share from it. The Zambian consumers are price sensitive and Pepsi’s pricing strategy seems to be working really well. In addition to Pepsi Cola, the company has introduced on the market its Mirinda Orange drink as well as the 7 Up to compete with Fanta and Sprite respectively. Personally, it was my first time to taste the Mirinda Orange drink and I am not sure I will be buying Fanta anytime soon. It is indeed a good product which will give Fanta a good fight. Will Pepsi introduce more products, on the market, in the next few years? Are we going to see Mountain Dew or Sierra Mist?

The challenge that both companies will have to face, on the local market, is to sell themselves as local companies. Coca-cola has alienated itself from the Zambian market through its SABmiller franchise. It is viewed as South African and most of its top managers are South Africans. Already, there is talk about Pepsi’s hiring people from India to be managers at its plant here in Zambia.

Both companies have an obligation to invest in the communities that they are working in. Mungwi Road needs major repairs. Although both of these companies are the major users of this deplorable road, there has been no initiative to repair the road. What are the companies doing about protecting the environment? Are they using Zambian suppliers? Are they paying the Zambian workers a living wage? These are fundamental questions that need to be asked as time goes by.

Meanwhile, as consumers, we shall sit back and relax and watch how the fight plays out here in Zambia between Coca-cola and Pepsi. It is perhaps, noteworthy to say that in the United States Pepsi has never beat Coca-cola in its sales on the beverage. Will Pepsi break that record in Zambia?

First Quantum’s Kansanshi mine to pay $374m tax by June

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First Quantum Menerals
First Quantum Menerals

FIRST-QUANTUM Minerals (FQM) has said it has on average been paying US$1.5 million per day in taxes and justified Government’s removal of the windfall tax.

FQM says calls from some quarters for the re-introduction of windfall tax were not justifiable because the current tax arrangement was suitable and ensured growth in the mining sector.

FQM resident director Kwalela Lamaswala said in Lusaka that the mining company has since 2007 paid $1 billion (about K5 trillion) in taxes to Government from its production of copper at Kansanshi Mine in North-Western Province.

Mr Lamaswala said in addition, the company is expected to pay a further $374 million in tax before June 2011 this year.

“Before end of June Kansanshi will contribute $347 million in taxes to Government and that is about $1.5 million in taxes pay day and this is not like in the pre-privatisation-era where Government was subsidising ZCCM to a tune of $1 million per day,” he said.

He said that the windfall tax was a discriminating tax and not helpful to mining companies that were already contributing to Government coffers and reinvesting in operations and expansions.

Mining firms pay variable profit tax at 15 per cent, mineral royalties at three per cent in addition to the corporate tax of 30 per cent.

Mr Lamaswala said that mining in Zambia had evolved to great profitability from the huge losses under the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM) and that the new mines should be supported and not strained.

He said when Kansanshi Mine was being established in 2005, Government gave it a six-year relief from taxes until it reached profitability levels within 18 months and started paying tax in 2007.

Mr Lamasala said Kansanshi, which is one of Africa’s biggest mines, endured the lowest ever copper prices during its start up and when the copper prices started rising, it was able to break even and started posting profits and begun to pay taxes.

He said from the profits, 40 per cent of the figures went into re-investment which includes upgrading and expansion, with one being the extra production of 220,000 tonnes of copper per year at the mine.

And FQM president Clive Newall said windfall tax did not only affect the large-scale mines but also smaller ones, as it brought limitation to expansions and reinvestment.

He said FQM had been in Zambia since 1996 and has been contributing to the growth of the Zambian economy.

[Times of Zambia]

Meeting with RB fruitful, Ivorian Premier

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Newly appointed Prime Minister of Ivory Coast, Guillaume Soro has described his consultative talks with President Rupiah Banda on Tuesday, as fruitful.

And Mr Soro has suggested a military operation as the only possible option to compel Mr Gbagbo to relinquish power following failed dialogue.

Mr. Soro said he was in the country to brief Mr. Banda on the situation in Ivory Coast.

He said his visit was important especially that the country had played a key role in the liberation of many countries on the continent and had also helped to enhance democracy in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region and Africa as a whole.

Mr. Soro was speaking at a Press Conference at Lusaka’s Pamodzi Hotel yesterday.

He commended President Banda for his wide understanding of African affairs including the situation in Ivory Coast.

Without giving details of his meeting with Mr. Banda, Mr. Soro, who was flanked by Ivorian Minister for Planning and Development Toikessue Mabri, said his government was happy with President Banda’s advice on the matter.

He said it was gratifying to note that the Zambian President considered the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as the best suited regional body to effectively deal with the crisis in Ivory Coast.

“We have been assured by the Zambian President that Zambia will closely follow the events in Cote D’Ivoire and that he will follow the decision of the African Union as one of the priorities,” said Mr. Soro.

President Banda is the current Chairperson of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region and the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security.

Meanwhile, Mr. Soro, who also served in the embattled Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo’s government, in the same capacity, has appealed to other African leaders to support the democratic process in that country.

He said like in many other countries, the people of Ivory Coast are thirsty for a democratically elected government and wanted to equally enjoy the peace and freedoms their brothers and sisters were enjoying in these countries.

Mr. Soro said it was regrettable that some African leaders in North Africa and the SADC region did not seem to support the idea of forcing Mr. Gbagbo to step down and give way power to Mr. Alassane Ouattara who the international community had recognised as the legitimately elected leader of Ivory Coast.

He said Ivorians would not allow Mr. Gbagbo to continue clinging onto power because since the confusion erupted about 300 civilians have died while 30,000 others have fled the country for safety.

Mr. Soro said President Ouattara’s government would not relent until Mr. Gbagbo accepts defeat and relinquish power to the democratically elected government.

“We are not prepared to see any more innocent civilians die and our people run to other countries because of one person. We will use all possible means including a targeted military operation to force this dictator to give up power,” he stressed.

He said as the situation stands in that country, a military operation targeted at Mr. Gbagbo and his soldiers was the only possible option considering that attempts to initiate dialogue between the two parties have failed.

And Mr. Soro has appealed to the African Union not to recognise Mr. Gbagbo’s delegation to the forthcoming summit in Ethiopia.

He said the delegation was illegal because it was not representing the legitimate government of Ivory Coast.

Mr. Soro said Mr. Ouattara’s government would assemble a delegation to represent the country.

“AU should chase the delegation for Mr. Gbagbo and should not entertain them. We have our own delegation that will be travelling to Addis Ababa,” appealed Mr. Soro.

Alassane Ouattara, the internationally recognised winner of last year’s Presidential elections is locked in a power struggle with Laurent Gbagbo, who has ruled the world top cocoa grower for 10 years.

[ZANIS]

Party elections Before General Elections

editor
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File: Delegates to the MMD eastern province conference casting their votes for the new leadership.

By Daimone Siulapwa
We are only months away from the general elections, and obviously, all parties should be gearing up themselves in what looks to be closely contested elections.

It is interesting to note that many political parties and other stakeholders are talking of the need to have free and fair elections. This is important, for without a free and fair poll, we might as well adopt another system of governance rather than, democracy, which is about the will of the majority. Of course our democracy is still young, and it will take some time before it can be perfected. After all, even old democracies such that of the United States have their own flaws. Still, that should not stop us from working at perfecting our system.

And one way of doing that is to start by perfecting democracy within the political parties themselves. In other words, we are talking about internal democracy with our various political parties. We want those putting themselves up for national elections to first go through the mill of their respective political parties. We want to see the same level of competition within parties as would normally or is likely to happen in the 2011 general elections.

In that regard, we do not expect some positions to go unchallenged. While there is nothing wrong with the various organs of the party endorsing the incumbent, those who are of a different stand should be given the freedom to clearly state so. The Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) is having its provincial conferences, which will eventually lead up to the national convention. Indications show that the incumbent, Rupiah Banda is unlikely to be challenged, not so much because he has been accepted by all and sundry within the party as the torch bearer, but because they have made it almost look like a major sin to stand against him. The same goes for the position of vice president of the MMD. There are some sections that think just because George Kunda S.C, is the republican vice president, then it is only natural that he gets the party’s number two post. Those who have expressed an interest in the position, such as former party and republican vice president Enock Kavindele, are now being indirectly victimized by the lower organs of the party, This is in itself an affront to democracy. We expect these party elections to be competitive and democratic, just like the big one – the general elections. The same standards that we expect at the general election should be the ones to reflect at party elections. That said, it is good that the MMD, which is the ruling party, has decided to hold its convention, even with all the negative traits so far seen.

But then, question is how about the other parties? Particularly the major ones such as the Patriotic Front (PF), the United Party for National Development (UPND) and to some extent the United Liberal Party (ULP), Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) and United National Independence Party (UNIP).

For a moment, lets us discuss these parties.

The PF, since its formation in 2001, has participated in three major elections. Or rather, its leader Michael Sata has contested the republican presidency three times. And through-out that time, his name has been on the ballot without the official endorsement of the file and rank of the party through a convention. In the meantime, the various positions in the party have been filled and re-filled as Mr Sata has so desired.

How about the UPND? Well, they have had two conventions since being formed. Their current president Hakainde Hichilema succeeded founding president Anderson Mazoka just before the 2006 elections. He has thus contested for the republican presidency twice as UPND leader. Having done that twice, and having failed to capture the big one for the party, is it not just natural that he goes to the rank and file of the party, and seek a new mandate for the 2011 general elections? For true democrats, there are no prizes for guessing.

As for ULP and FDD, we shall not waste much time here other than to ask Sakwiba Sikota and Edith Nawakwi in that order whether they are really happy with the state of their respective parties.

On the other hand, one can sympathise with genuine UNIP members who are concerned at the fast rate their party has been losing its clout. We all know that the boycott of the 1996 elections by UNIP, which made it lose all parliamentary representation, was the beginning of the party’s downfall, but we did not expect it to reach these alarming levels. With representation throughout the country starting at section to ward level, we expect UNIP to be far much better than these upstart political parties, but it is not.

UNIP is a party needing a lot of reforms, and with the resources that it has, thanks to its many properties, we expect it to have re-organised itself by now. But we have a president Tilyenji Kaunda who thinks the party belongs to his father. And yet we all know that no one person is bigger than the organization. Nelson Mandela demonstrated this with the African National Congress (ANC). UNIP needs to divorce itself from the Kaunda shadow by choosing a new crop of leaders with new ideas and far away from the Kaundas when it comes to relations. With a party whose roots are founded on socialist policies, this is a party that can make an appeal to the urban youth with a more vibrant and charismatic leadership. The biggest gift that Dr Kenneth Kaunda can right now give to UNIP is to convince his son to give-up the leadership of the party by organizing a convention where a new leadership can be ushered into office with the mandate of reforming it. It is not late.

That said, one can only hope that by the time of the general elections, all those aspiring for national office would have sought fresh mandates from their respective parties in a democratic, free and fair manner.

Aluta Continua. The struggle continues!

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