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The Week in Pictures
Kamanga Salutes Fifa Ruling On No-Confidence Vote
Interim Faz president Andrew Kamanga said Fifa’s green light for Faz councilors to put a no-confidence vote as an agenda item at next March’s general council meeting as an endorsement of a vote of no confidence in Kalusha Bwalya.
Kamanga said this at a press briefing just 24 hours after arriving from Zurich where the interim, Kalusha executive and government met Fifa to find a solution to the current Faz impasse.
Fifa had prior to the tripartite meeting on Monday said that if any part was aggregated with the Kalusha Bwalya administration, they should do so at the next Faz congress in 2012.
However, Fifa continue to recognize Kalusha as the legitimate head at Football House.
“FIFA itself has passed a vote of no confidence in Bwalya’s executive,” Kamanga said.
“And they have simply asked us to finish it off.”
He said the interim committee’s job now was to start the final push to next March’s general meeting.
“FIFA recognized us because when the FIFA president came into the meeting, he acknowledged that there were problems with FAZ and its members,” Kamanga said.
“So our job is easy, we will closely monitor the Kalusha executive and we will start campaigning.”
From Mufumbwe to Mporokoso: Why Zambia Needs More, and not Fewer, By-Elections
By Elias Munshya wa Munshya Just this year Zambia has had several by-elections. Some came as a result of death of incumbents while some were necessitated by expulsions or resignations. In a few months’ time, another by-election will take place in Mporokoso, after the resignation of its MP, Maynard Misapa.
Several NGOs, some politicians, and a good number of candid citizens have condemned the number of by-elections that Zambia conducts each year. By-elections are condemned as expensive and in some cases as unnecessary. Most recently a prominent Zambian political party said the money used for by-elections, which runs in billions of kwacha, could be well used for other developmental projects. However, I wish to argue in this article that Zambia needs more by-elections as they have more benefits for our growing democracy.
First, by elections are needed as they help the nation get to know interior parts of the country. Much of our media in Zambia is mostly based in Lusaka and the Copperbelt. As such, the focus of all these newspapers, radio and television stations are undoubtedly Lusaka, the Copperbelt and surrounding areas. The only time at which other rural areas receive some amount of national publicity is when there is a by-election in those rural areas. Bring a by-election and suddenly we get to know about the needs of the people of far flung areas such as Mufumbwe, Luena, Kanchibiya and Mporokoso.
Second, by-elections help further the tenets of democracy in between the general elections. A Zambia which goes to polls only after five years would be a politically boring country. There would be no political creativity and political rising stars would be thwarted. For example, the UPND rose to political prominence as a result of by-elections during Chiluba’s second term. I will leave it up to other commentators to debate why from 1996 to 2001 so many MPs from Southern Province died. This death of mostly MMD parliamentarians led to the rise of Anderson Mazoka and his UPND as they swept each seat that the MMD dead incumbent left. While the causes of these deaths or the morality of these deaths is beyond this article, it suffices to mention that the UPND could not have discovered its genius without those particular by-elections. In terms of political science, the UPND should go into history as the party that has gained more seats in parliament through deaths of incumbents than any other party. It is quite ironic that the UPND’s rise under Hakainde Hichilema is also connected to winning by-elections especially in Northwestern Province necessitated by the deaths of MMD incumbents. These deaths include that of Ben Tetamashimba (Solwezi Central) and Misheck Bonshe (Mufumbwe).
Third, by-elections promote the spirit of national unity and bring about the feeling of national solidarity. Suddenly during a by-election, it is not just Lusaka or the Copperbelt that matters. As in the Luena by-election, all sorts of politicians converged on Mongu. These politicians from all walks of life and from all corners of the country travelled to show solidarity to their party and their candidates. This solidarity is basically non-existent during the general elections as most politicians get busy with their own constituencies.
Fourth, by-elections are good for the local economies. Politics is big business in Zambia. By average, apart from the billions that the Electoral Commission spends on the elections, political parties also pour in billions of kwacha. It may not be a lasting investment for a particular constituency, but at least for that particular moment, the elections provide the cash and several business opportunities. Bars sell more beers, restaurants cook more meals, and lodges fill up their beds. Even in if such a boom does not last long, it nevertheless brings temporary smiles on a few faces.
Fifth, by-elections bring the ruling party and indeed a sitting president closer to the people. By-elections also provide the opportunity to test the sitting president. If we had no by-elections, the only time a sitting president would be tested is at a general election. Five years is too long. At least with randomly occurring by-elections the president is forced out of the presidential helicopter to interact with real people in various constituencies. Such interactions usually result in some tangible government help. One example is Kabwe. It is no doubt that the creation of Mulungushi University was expedited during the Kabwe Central and Bwacha constituency by-elections. Equally during the Mufumbwe by-election the president and the government ministers were forced to camp in Mwinilunga and interact personally with the ordinary folks on the ground. Undoubtedly, the ECZ spends a lot of money on these by-elections. And truly some of them are unnecessary. But still the benefits that these by-elections have for our democracy, for our economy and for the political development of our country far outweigh any disadvantages. As such, Zambia should have more and not fewer by-elections. For now, the next buzz is taking place in Mporokoso. We could also meet in Mufumbwe again if the Supreme Court agrees with Judge Philip Musonda.
The Zambian Marriage
By Martin Mwango
Zambian anthropology defines marriage as a union between a man and woman. Marriage is the first gift that God gave to human beings, the creator blessed it and gave us the power to be pro creators on earth. Hence, Marriage has accompanied the human story from the very Genesis. Each culture defines marriage life differently.
In the Zambian culture we have some marriage values that we cannot do without. There are values and beliefs that have been there for generations and these are rituals that prepare one for a good and long lasting marriage. Here are some of the traditions of our lovely Zambian culture, though I’m not here to discuss them more profoundly but just to give a brief hint of them. The process that leads to marriage consists of the following steps
1) Insalamu when two young people fall in love, the man takes the first step and takes the Insalamu (token) which shows the commitment he has towards a woman he intends to marry. The two families then accept and acknowledge the intention of their children.
2)Nkobekela is the period that goes from the time that the insalamu is accepted by the woman’s side up to marriage or wedding day. During this time the two partners get to know each other and their families better.
3) Amatebeto The woman’s family responds to the man’s side with amatebeto. It’s a ritual practice for social and union between the two families.The womans family prepares a feast for the mans family.
Before the wedding day, the elders organizes themselves to teach both the man and a woman traditional values on how to abide in their new marriage life.
In Zambia today we are slowly losing these traditions and in the end we shall forfeit our identity just because of the so called world globalization. Our marriages should not be influenced by any other cultures.Besides Westerners have their own way of interpreting marriage life.
Nowadays, there are lot of divorces in Zambia which was something very rare many years ago. Are we easily disregarding the traditional values we are taught in exchange for the frivolous western values. Do our women deserve divorce? Perhaps its the women who nowadays want to wear the pants in the home.When we stand up for gender and change of some cultural practices we have to be careful.For example, when people stood up in Zambia to fight for liberty of dressing, what has come out of this liberty? We have lost our dressing code and our identity. Zambian men and women, we need to go back to our roots and pick up our identity and have respect in our marriages.
Let’s not just rush to make a change without putting into consideration the effects it will give us tomorrow.
Touch not marriage, otherwise our families will soon become like that of westerners where marriage has become like a contract. God created man and a woman and he consecrated them for marriage life and our culture as taught us how to interpret marriage life.
RB donates K5m to Kabompo couple with triplets
President Rupiah Banda has donated assorted items and K5 million cash to a Kabompo couple that recently appealed for assistance in raising their triplets.
President Banda’s Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations Dickson Jere said in statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today that President Banda was sympathetic with the couple after reading about their plight in the press on 19th December, 2010.
The President has since appealed to well wishers to assist vulnerable people during this Christmas period.
He said people should show love to others during this festive season especially that the period was a time for giving.
In June last year, Emelda Chikamba of Chikamba Village in Kabompo district of Northwestern Province gave birth to triplets.
Since then, she and her husband have been facing challenges in looking after their children.
The Chikamba family already has five other children.
Shoprite Checkers, Pick ‘n’ Pay, Pep Stores and Zambia Sugar have so far responded towards helping the couple with assorted items.
ZANIS
Consumer Protection law hailed
The Zambia Consumer Association (ZACA) has commended Government for coming up with a law meant to protect consumers against exploitation by business people.
ZACA Executive Director Samuel Simutunda said the Consumer Protection Act of 2008, which was enacted into law in April 2009, would significantly help in curbing the sale of substandard and counterfeit products to consumers in the country.
Mr. Simutunda said this would therefore bring sanity to commerce.
He has since urged consumers to take advantage of the statute and use it to seek redress if aggrieved during this festive period.
He told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that most business people had for a long time now taken advantage of the absence of a law that gave consumers an impetus to take to task traders that duped them through the sale of counterfeit products, especially during festive periods.
Mr. Simutunda also appealed to business firms to uphold highest levels of professionalism and refrain from selling substandard and counterfeit products to consumers.
He warned erring traders that they risked being prosecuted for flouting laws which Government had put in place to protect consumers.
Mr. Simutunda prodded business firms to sell consumer products that reflected the value for their money.
He also urged consumers not to get too excited and spend their monies unwisely during the festive period.
He noted that consumers have a lot of responsibilities to take care of after the festive period.
ZANIS
New banks enhances Stanbic Bank services
Stanbic Bank Zambia has said the increased number of banks on the market was helping the financial institution to provide quality services to its clientele.
And Stanbic Bank Zambia has described the year 2010 as successful for the bank and attributed this to the support the Zambian media has continued to render to the financial institution over the years.
Head of Marketing and Public Relations Kamiza Chikula said with the coming of new banks on board the bank was forced to devise strategies aimed at improving quality service in the banking sector.
Mr. Chikula said competition was healthy as it brought out the very best of banks but noted that an increase in banks also posed a challenge.
In an interview with ZANIS during a cocktail organised for the media, the Head of Marketing and Public Relations described 2010 as a success business year for the bank.
He stated that the current economic environment in the country was very conducive to do business, a development he also attributed to increased banks on the market.
Mr. Chikula said the bank opened new branches in Chipata and Livingstone (Eastern Province and Southern Province respectively) this year and had intentions of opening two more in Choma and Kabwe, (Southern Province and Central Province respectively).
Meanwhile, Mr Chikula has described the year 2010 as successful for the bank and has attributed this to the support the Zambian media has continued to render to the financial institution over the years.
The Stanbic Bank Head of Marketing and Public Relations said the media had continued to play a pivotal role in spearheading most of the successes his bank had achieved through effective coverage of its products.
Mr Chikula pledged his bank’s continued support to foster national development through its involvement sectors such as agriculture, health among many others.
The Stanbic Head of Marketing and Public Relations was speaking last night during a media cocktail organised by Stanbic Bank.
In the same vein, he hoped the relationship between the media and his institution would remain cemented in the coming years for sustained economic development.
Mr Chikula further prodded the media to continue partnering with Stanbic Bank in bringing about social and economic development in the nation.
ZANIS
Zambia, China ties boosts economic development
Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Li Qiangmin has said the bilateral relations that exist between Zambia and China have impacted greatly on the economic development of the two countries.
Mr. Li observed that bilateral trade this year realised 100% increase compared with the same period of last year adding that the bilateral trade volume from January to August this year climbed up to US$ 1.688 billion.
ZANIS reports that he said in Lusaka last evening during a media conference that with a growing balance in favour of Zambia, the country could be ranked as China’s third largest trade partner within the sub sahara region.
And Mr. Li noted that as of November this year, 13 enterprises settled down in the Zambia-China Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone (ZCCZ) realising US$ 780million and a turnover of US$ 770 million in 2009.
He pointed out that if the turnover reaches US$ 1.4 billion this year, it will bring US$ 40 million revenue to the Zambian government, thereby creating 4000 jobs for local people.
Mr. Li noted that currently, more than 300 Chinese companies operated in Zambia, a development which he said had increased the total value of Chinese investment in Zambia from US$ 500 million in 2006 to 1.26 billion in 2009.
He further explained that Chinese invested enterprises at the moment account for 60% of Zambia’s infrastructure construction market, 50% of the construction materials market, 20% mining projects and 10% of the agriculture and service market creating at least 20,000 jobs for Zambians.
Mr. Li also pointed out that interactions in culture, education, health and military have been more frequent and closer between the two countries.
He noted that Zambia and China signed the implementation plan of China-Zambia Culture Cooperation Agreement from 2010-2012 in July this year and that all cooperation projects under the agreement were progressing well and as scheduled.
Meanwhile, Mr. Li noted that China and Zambia will next year enjoy a wider range of cooperation and face new historic opportunities.
He said the two countries will continue promoting more robust bilateral relations, enhance mutual political trust, upgrade the level of effective cooperation in economic and trade among others.
Mr. Li also said China and Zambia will make great contribution to peace, stability and prosperity not only for the two countries but the whole Africa and the world at large.
ZANIS
Liquor traders warned over under age patrons
Government has warned that it would not hesitate to withdraw liquor trading licences from liquor traders found flouting the law.
Lusaka Province Liquor Licencing Board Chairperson, Stephen Bwalya, said Government is concerned with the behaviour of some traders that were in the habit of admitting underage patrons to their premises.
Mr. Bwalya, who is also Lusaka Province Permanent Secretary, said Government had put in place punitive measures to deal with traders that flouted the laws.
He sounded the warning in Lusaka today during the Provincial Liquor Licensing Board fourth quarter meeting for the year 2010.
He said this in a speech read on his behalf by Lusaka Province Liquor Licensing Board Member, Andrew Mukutu.
Mr. Bwalya further urged liquor traders to observe the stipulated opening and closing hours in order to avoid breaching the law.
He said the Board had learnt that some traders were operating without licences and in unsanitary conditions.
And speaking earlier, Lusaka Province Liquor Traders Association Chairperson Nelson Sapi expressed happiness with the level of compliance by his members.
Mr. Sapi said the association was also happy with the involvement of the local people in the hospitality and liquor business.
He said more people have gone into liquor trading, adding that this was evident by the number of liquor outlets in the province.
The Lusaka Province Liquor Licensing Board has since considered 725 liquor licence applications.
ZANIS
No more Traditional Birth Attendants training, Ministry of Health
The Ministry of Health has indicated that it has no intentions of training Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) both in rural and urban areas of the country.
Ministry spokesperson Kamoto Mbewe said the idea of training TBAs was not good because certain situations which expectant mothers faced required the attention of qualified medical personnel.
Dr. Mbewe told ZANIS in Lusaka today that conditions such as excessive bleeding must be attended to by qualified medical personnel.
He charged that TBAs contributed to high levels of maternal mortality rate in the country hence the need for expectant mothers to deliver from health centres.
He emphasised that the Ministry of Health was carrying out massive sensitisation campaigns to women on dangers of delivering from home.
Dr. Mbewe explained that these campaigns were being done through safe motherhood action groups.
He said the role of TBAs has shifted to holding workshops with expectant mothers and educating them on benefits of delivering from health centres where all their complications could be handled by qualified medical personnel.
Dr. Mbewe said it was therefore imperative for all expectant mothers to deliver from health centres for their safety and their babies.
He called on all expectant mothers attending workshops with the TBAs to adhere to what they learn and regard the material as important material.
ZANIS
Soccer fans body condemns FAZ official for storming into ZNBC newsroom
A soccer fans body has condemned the harassment of Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) sports journalists by Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) Communications Officer Erick Mwanza.
The Zambia Voluntary Soccer Fans Association (ZAVOSOFA) described Mwanza’s behaviour as uncalled for and an embarrassment to the country’s football governing body.
ZAVOSOFA president Peter Makembo urged the public to condemn in the strongest terms possible acts of intimidation and harassment on journalists by people running football affairs in the country.
Makembo said Mwanza should know better channels to apply if he is aggrieved than resorting to harassing journalists.
The ZAVOSOFA chief stressed that it was saddening to note that a person of Mwanza’s calibre who hailed from the media fraternity himself would behave in the manner he did.
Makembo urged Mwanza to apologise unreservedly to ZNBC and the media industry as a whole for his attacks on journalists or face the consequences.
He told ZANIS Sports in an interview in Lusaka today that people that have issues with journalists should not take the law into their own hands but follow established channels to air their concerns.
FAZ Communications Officer Erick Mwanza on Monday night stormed ZNBC newsroom, demanding a retraction of a story aired on the evening main news and charged at some of the members of staff he found in the newsroom.
ZNBC management has since given Mwanza a 48- hour ultimatum to apologise or they would take legal action against him.
Meanwhile, Makembo has welcomed FIFA’s directive to FAZ to call for early elections during the meeting between FIFA, FAZ, FAZ faction and government officials in Zurich, Switzerland that was held to find solutions to the current impasse at football house.
He said FIFA’s ruling was an indication that the World Soccer Governing body acknowledged the grievances of the FAZ faction led by Aaron Kamanga and Simataa Simataa.
ZANIS
Milenge Boarding School project to complete next year
Construction works on the multi billion Kwacha worth Boarding school in Milenge district in Luapula Province is expected to be completed next year.
The construction of the boarding high school in Milenge district has been funded at a total cost of over 25 billion kwacha by Government.
Milenge District Commissioner Rosemary Malutu told ZANIS in an interview in Milenge that the contractor is expected to hand over the facility to Government after the rainy season.
Ms. Malutu said once completed the boarding high school will help add value to the education sector in the district as well provide quality education to pupils.
She said since the district got its district status 13 years ago, it has been working hard to ensure that it attracts the much needed development adding that the school will go a long way in the development of the district.
And Science Technology and Vocational Training Permanent Secretary Chriticles Mwansa said the construction of the boarding High school will complement the intended construction of a Trades institute in the district next year.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mwansa has appealed to Government departments and ministries to work together in fostering national development.
He said ministries should partner in spearheading development as they all work for one common vision of developing the nation.
ZANIS
FODEP gets funds for voter sensitisation
The Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) has received an undisclosed substantial amount of money from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to enable it continue conducting sensitisation programmes on voter registration in eight districts across the country.
FODEP Information Officer McDonald Chipenzi named the districts FODEP was scheduled to conduct its sensitisation programmes as Sinazongwe, Kazungula, Choma, Siavonga, Kabompo, Chavuma, Mwinilunga and Kasempa.
Mr. Chipenzi told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that the Foundation would ensure many people were sensitised to register as voters in preparation for the 2011 general elections.
Mr. Chipenzi however, declined to mention how much money UNDP had given FODEP to carry out the sensitisation programmes in the named districts.
In a related development, the FODEP Information Officer has appealed to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to ensure that voter educators that have been removed in some parts of the country were redeployed.
Mr. Chipenzi noted that the development had resulted in a low voter registration turn out especially in some rural parts of the country.
He pointed out that this had also led to many people to be de-motivated as there was no one to educate them on the need to register as voters.
Mr. Chipenzi said a lot of people were willing to register as voters as long as they were properly educated and sensitised on the process.
He also urged school going children that have reached the age of sixteen to ensure that they obtained National Registration Cards (NRCs) by taking advantage of the school holidays.
Mr. Chipenzi further said this was very important as it was their right to do so and that the move enabled them to participate in national activities.
ZANIS
ECZ to publicise revised electoral code of conduct soon
The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has disclosed that it will soon publicise the revised electoral code of conduct.
ECZ Public Relations Manager, Cris Akufuna, said the revised code of conduct would be made public after all logistics concerning the document are put in place.
Mr. Akufuna told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that the document was being worked on before it is gazetted, adding that it would thereafter be published in the media for the people to read.
Mr. Akufuna said the ECZ was working round the clock to have the document finalised as soon as possible.
The ECZ Public Relations Manager said the revised code of conduct was agreed by all stakeholders at a workshop held at Livingstone New Fair recently.
He said the stakeholders included the Church, Civil Societies, Political parties and other concerned interest groups.
[pullquote] Other recommendations include the announcing of the winner of the elections within 48 hours.[/pullquote]
Among the recommendations in the revised code of conduct is the barring of traditional leaders from exerting undue pressure on their subjects to support a particular political party or candidate.
The stakeholders also agreed that political parties shall sensitise their members and ensure total observance of the provisions of the electoral code of Conduct.
It was further agreed that the ECZ shall submit a report of breach of the code of conduct to the Zambia Police, the Anti-Corruption Commission and Drug Enforcement Commission for possible prosecution for those found wanting.
Stakeholders also came up with the provision that campaigns shall commence on nomination day and end two days before elections take place.
Other recommendations include the announcing of the winner of the elections within 48 hours.
Further recommendations among others made were that political parties, the church and civil society organisations should be able to carry out voter education in the country and that the Electoral body would ensure smooth handover of power to the winner of the elections after voting.
ZANIS
Can Nchanga Rangers Really Shine In Confed Cup?
10 years after they last played in Caf club cup competition, Nchanga Rangers return to savor some African football.
Rangers will be Zambia’s sole representatives in the Orange Caf Confederation Cup.
It is 10 years since the Chingola club last took part in Caf club competition and that was in 2000 when they reached the quarterfinals of the defunct Caf Cup.
However, they find a football landscape that is hungrier more ambitious despite the lack of incentives to play in the preliminary three rounds of the Confederation Cup.
There is a conventional wisdom that Zanaco and Zesco have set a template for any local team to qualify to the lucrative group stages of either the Confederation or the Orange Caf Champions League.
This follows the two team’s feats in the last two edition of the Caf club tournament.
Zesco are in the Champions League where they will face Caf club debutants Liga Muculmana of Mozambique who were promoted in 2007 and three years later were crowned champions.
The Maputo side will visit Ndola to play Zesco on January 29 in a preliminary round first leg match.
Meanwhile, Rangers will be tested later rather than sooner after their preliminary round opponents Bulawayo Highlanders withdrew from this year competition due to financial constraints.
Rangers qualify to the first round with a walkover win where they will face Dr Congo giants Lupopo in March with an away first round, first leg match.
Bruce Mwape work starts now with his fairly modest squad of players to shame the skeptics.