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FAZ ponders AFCON 2015 bid

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FAZ general secretary George Kasengele (c) and Sport in Action president Clement Chileshe (r) presenting soccer balls to Chinyunyu sports Academy secretary Jimmy Mwanza (l

THE Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has said it is considering bidding to host the prestigious Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) soccer tournament in 2015.

FAZ general secretary, George Kasengele said at a Press briefing at Football House in Lusaka yesterday that following the decision of the executive committee that met on October 29, 2010, it was agreed that Zambia should look at the possibility of hosting the 2015 AFCON games or if the bid fell through, still consider bidding to host the 2017 edition.

Kasengele said the FAZ executive committee also took into consideration the scores made by Republican President Rupiah Banda’s Government to finish the construction of the Ndola Stadium, and the two other stadia in Lusaka and Livingstone earmarked for construction.

He said the idea to bid for AFCON came through Bicon Zambia Limited, a construction company, which wrote to the Ministries of Works and Supply and the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development through the company managing consultant, Renatus Mushinge.

Kasengele said the association was confident the Government would support the bid following a proposal by Bicon for Government to consider bidding for the AFCON tournament; and that FAZ as custodians of football thought they should in consultation with the Government, push in the bid with CAF for 2015.

“This follows the decision of the executive committee on 29th October, pertaining to the fact that we have to look into the possibility of hosting the 2015 AFCON tournament.

We are enthusiastic on what the Government is doing on the building of sports infrastructure starting with the Ndola Stadium and the other two in Lusaka and Livingstone that are earmarked for construction, as FAZ we felt that it will be ideal for Zambia to host the 2015 Africa Cup,” he said.

The FAZ chief executive officer said examples were many of countries that had successfully hosted CAF and FIFA tournament like Angola who hosted this year’s tournament, Ghana hosted the 2008 edition and recently held 2010 World Cup in South Africa and it gave FAZ the impetus that Zambia could also bid to host the 2015 edition or if the bid flopped they could still propose to bid for the 2017 edition.

He said the response was positive, but that it was a matter for Cabinet approval, but that as custodians of the game, FAZ thought they should start the process of looking into the possibilities to be among the countries aspiring to host the continental soccer showpiece and that consultations with major stakeholders would continue.

“It is high time we considered to bid for the Africa Cup considering the good strides taken by the Government on sport infrastructure and the fact that the national team is currently progressing well. In four and a half years when the 2015 Africa Cup will be played, the current team will be at their prime to participate and usually teams that host the Africa Cup win, so we look forward to that day.

‘We think as FAZ it is important to attempt to host the Africa Cup after we were banned in 1988 when we failed to host that year’s competition. It is a major undertaking because it involves a lot of stakeholders who include the Government through the ministries of Sport, Works and Supply, Tourism, the aviation and telecommunication industry through the Communication and Transport ministry,” Kasengele said.

He said a bid committee would soon be put in place and as FAZ they felt it important to inform the nation of the intention, and that being an affiliate of CAF, FAZ felt they should consider biding to host the tournament.

He said it did not matter who was in office at the time, the idea was to push in the bid.

[Times of Zambia]

ZCC bans ‘no return, no refund’ displays

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THE Zambia Competition Commission (ZCC) has said the new Competition and Consumer Protection Act (CCPC) makes it a punishable offence to display disclaimers such as ‘No Return, No Refund’ in trading places.

The CCPC Act No .24 of 2010, which is yet to be operational, prohibits such disclaimers which consumers have complained about.

[pullquote]“Zambia is one of the countries that have a lot of defective products on its market and it has been unfair for traders to deny consumers refunds or exchange even for defective products,” she said.[/pullquote]

ZCC public relations officer, Vaida Bunda said Section 48 (1) of the Act states that “an owner or occupier of a shop or other trading premises shall not cause to be displayed any sign or notice that purports to disclaim any liability or deny any right that a consumer has under the Act or any other written law.”

In a statement in Lusaka yesterday, Ms Bunda said the commission had within the mandate of the current Act been unable to prevent traders from displaying such disclaimers even where the goods sold were of questionable quality as the law was reactive.

“Zambia is one of the countries that have a lot of defective products on its market and it has been unfair for traders to deny consumers refunds or exchange even for defective products,” she said.

The new law, she said, was more proactive and would make it easier for the commission to handle cases of defective products because traders would be expressly prohibited to display the disclaimers.

The CCPA also makes it a punishable offence to display such disclaimers. The Act states that the person who or an enterprise which contravenes subsection (1) was liable to pay the commission a fine not exceeding 10 per cent of that person’s or enterprise’s annual turnover.

[Times of Zambia]

Pact can’t work-Milupi

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Alliance for Democracy and Development Charles Milupi

OPPOSITION Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD) president Charles Milupi says the Patriotic Front (PF) and United Party for National Development (UPND) Pact cannot work because it is centered on two people seeking the presidency.

And PF vice president Guy Scott yesterday said he did not have any apology for the UPND over his remarks that UPND did not contribute to the PF campaign in the recent Mpulungu parliamentary by-election.

Mr Milupi said in an interview yesterday that he did not want to be associated with the PF/UPND Pact because it had no future for the country as it was centered on two people who want to get to State House.

Mr Milupi said he could only partner in a coalition that would discuss policies and programmes to improve people’s lives rather creating an alliance to escort people to State House.

The most important thing for opposition political parties was to develop policies that could improve people’s lives.

“In most cases, pacts are always retrogressive because they do not concentrate on developing policies to improve people’s lives, but they are always fighting over who should be the president.

“This is why I would rather go for a grand coalition, which discusses policies and not a pact where people fight for leadership,” Mr Milupi said.

Meanwhile, Dr Scott yesterday said he did not have any apology for the UPND over his remarks that UPND did not contribute to the PF campaign in the recent Mpulungu parliamentary by-election.

Dr Scott also said it would be wrong to make assumptions that the victory in Chilanga showed that the political tide had changed in favour of UPND.

He said to the contrary, the victory by UPND largely borrowed from the popularity of PF in Chilanga, which was half cosmopolitan and half rural with the Tonga influence.

He said the UPND should avoid being emotional and arguing with facts taken from the previous presidential and other elections.

Dr Scott wrote in Wednesday’s edition of The Post that UPND did not add value to the victory by PF in Mpulungu because it was not popular in the area, which attracted angry reactions from UPND national youth spokesperson Ronald Manenga.

Dr Scott said some individuals in the UPND were emotional and reacted without facts, which were in black and white.

Dr Scott said no malice was intended in his observations and would not argue if he were told that PF was not popular in an area like Kalomo where UPND was dominant.

It was wrong to draw conclusions that he was less committed to the ideals of the Pact having taken a central position in convincing other PF leaders to withdraw a candidate before the Chilanga by-election took place.

He said he would always support the Pact but would never shy away from facts about the popularity of the two partners.

Sata’s remarks on RB’s tenure cheap politics, says Ronnie

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Information minister Ronnie Shikapwasha

INFORMATION and Broadcasting Services Minister Ronnie Shikapwasha has said it is cheap politicking for Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata to allege that President Rupiah Banda’s two years in office have been a disaster.

Reacting to Mr Sata’s statement in yesterday’s Post newspaper, Lieutenant General Shikapwasha said the disaster was in the opposition leader’s eyes who could not see the landmark achievements President Banda had achieved in the two years he had been office.

“The disaster is with the PF-run councils which have plundered resources meant to improve the welfare of residents.

“The K10 billion was given to PF run Lusaka City Council (LCC) to work on drainage in Kanyama township ahead of the rainy season, nothing has been done and residents have not been told what the PF council has done with this money,” he said.

He said with the onset of the rains residents in Kanyama were bound to suffer when Government had availed resources for the council to work on the drainage system.

“The disaster has been with Mr Sata who has failed to democratise and keep his party together as evidenced by squabbles and uncertainty surrounding the doomed so-called PF-UPND Pact,” he said.

He said Mr Sata should be the last person to accuse President Banda’s administration of having been a disaster as he has done nothing for all the time he has spent in politics.

Gen Shikapwasha said contrary to Mr Sata’s baseless accusations, President Banda has scored major successes during his two years in office, which have been acknowledged nationally and internationally.

“Inflation is at single digit, roads, schools, health centres and other social and economic infrastructure are being constructed and rehabilitated countrywide,” he said.

Gen Shikapwasha said the mines, which had closed down, have since reopened including Luanshya and Munali Nickel mines with thousands of jobs recovered and new ones created.

“What disaster does Mr Sata see in 12,500 new teachers Government has trained, 87 new schools and 12 new district hospitals which have been built and commissioned countrywide during the two years of President Banda’s leadership?

“what disaster does Mr Sata see in the bumper harvest Zambia has produced this year as a result of the good agricultural policies Government has put in place?,” gen Shikapwasha asked.

[Times of Zambia]

Pact should quickly harmonise manifestos – HH

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UPND president Hakainde Hichilema

United Party for National Development (UPND)president Hakainde Hichilema has observed that there is need for the UPND/PF pact to quickly harmonize its manifestos.

Mr. Hichilema said that the PACT should heed to the people’s calls to ensure that they quickly prepare for the 2011 elections.

Featuring on the Public’s Last Say on QFM last evening, Mr. Hichilema however maintained that the issue of the presidency is not a priority at the moment.

He also noted that pact partners have a responsibility to commence on the campaigns if it is to emerge victorious in the 2011 elections.

And Mr. Hichilema said that he is not surprised about the 2010 Global Human Development report released in New York which named Zambia among three African countries with a lower human development index.

He said this demonstrates that the MMD has been telling lies about scoring improvements.

He has stated that it is plain to see that the MMD has not done so much in developing the most critical sectors of the economy.

QFM

Sata denies discussing homesexual rights with donors

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Patriotic Front (PF) President Michael Sata has said that there are more important issues he discusses with donors than homosexual rights.

Mr. Sata has since advised non-governmental organizations (NGOs) accusing him of holding gay-right talks with donors to talk of more practical issues currently affecting the country.

He told QFM that those accusing him of promoting homosexuality should come out in the open with evidence and not just talking on assumptions.

Mr. Sata accused Second Republican President Frederick Chiluba of inciting some NGOs to twist his meetings with donors.

He added that donors should be respected because they are more important than President Rupiah Banda and his government.

QFM

RB happy with road devepments

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President Rupiah Banda (l)
President Rupiah Banda (l)

President Rupiah Banda says he is happy that government has once more successfully delivered a good road for the people of Southern Province.

Since 2008, President Banda’s administration has managed to upgrade and pave close to four hundred and fifty kilometres of roads across the country.

Among the road projects which have been launched are the Mutanda – Chavuma, Chipata – Mfuwe and Choma – Chitongo roads.

Others are Kasama – Luwingu, Senanga – Sesheke, Luansobe – Mpongwe and Chipata – Lundazi roads.

Infrastructure development is key on President Banda’s government agenda.

On Friday Mr.Banda is expected to commission the Zimba-Livingstone road.

The road has been undergoing a major upgrade and resurfacing in the last one year.

According to a statement released to ZNBC by Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations, Dickson Jere, President Banda will leave for Livingstone Friday morning.

The road is an important trade link between Zambia and other countries in the Southern African region.

The first thirty kilometre stretch was completed in October last year, at a cost of one hundred and twenty-one billion kwacha.

President Banda will commission the remaining stretch of the forty two Kilometre road financed by the European Union and resurfaced by a Chinese firm at a cost of thirty-five million Euros.
[ ZANIS ]

Supreme Court acquits Chiengi man for defilement

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A Chiengi man has walked to freedom after the Supreme Court quashed his fifteen year sentence for defilement.

ZNBC’s Hannock Kasama reports from Kabwe that the court found no corroborative evidence to link the appellant, George Chipaso to the case.

Chipaso was alleged to have defiled a girl under sixteen years in Chiengi district in 2006.

In a related development, the Supreme Court has acquitted a Nakonde man convicted and jailed for indecently assaulting a young girl in 2008.

The Supreme Court said there was no evidence against the appellant, Michael John and quashed the sixteen year sentence slapped by the High Court.

The Judgment was delivered by Supreme Court Judge, Hilda Chibomba during the Supreme Court sessions in Kabwe.
[ ZANIS ]

Hastings Bwalya Back in Action

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Hastings Bwalya returns to the ring on Saturday evening after five months out of the square circle.

The Las Vegas based welterweight will fight in his fifth exhibition bout since turning pro in October last year.

Bwalya will travel to Tunica Mississippi to face American journeyman Anthony Bowman in a four-round contest at the Fitzgerald Casino and Hotel.

The 38-year-old Bowman recording coming into his first with the former Africa amateur welterweight champion stands at nine wins and 38 defeats and two draws from a career spurning over nine years.

Bwalya is undefeated in his last four fights with three knockouts and one unanimous decision.

He has recently been sparring with a fellow Las Vegas native and former world welterweight champion Zeb Judah ahead of the latter’s fight with Lucas Martin Matthysse for the vacant WBO and North American Boxing Organization title  in New York this Saturday.

Zain’s newly-introduced 3G routers welcomed

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SOME information communication technology (ICT) stakeholders have commended Zain Zambia for introducing third generation (3G) routers on the market saying the speed is amazing.

A router is an electronic device that interconnects two or more computer networks, and selectively interchanges packets of data between them.

Each data packet contains address information that a router can use to determine if the source and destination are on the same network, or if the data packet must be transferred from one network to another.

An internet user Chilufya Musosha said the 3G network is fast and deserves to be on the market.

“I have tested it and the speed is crazy! I am not sure if there is an internet service provider who can offer individual users such speeds for such a charge in Zambia.

“If any user has any auto down-loader programme such as anti-virus and windows updates, they will be shocked at how quickly they exhaust bandwidth but the router gives a breath of fresh air!” he said.

Mr Musosha, who is also an e-Brain member, said this on the e-brain group discussion in Lusaka yesterday.

Another member, Paul Muwowo, said Zain has introduced a 3G wireless router on the market which is going at K855,000 with bundles that range from 1 gigabyte (Gb) at K125,000 to 10Gb at K745,000.

Mr Musosha said the router has four ports and a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) fixed at 10 clients.

“With this cost and if the speeds are really as they say at a minimum of 512 Kilo-bits per second, this could help internet access in rural areas because 1.5 gigabyte of data via VSAT is K1,000,000,” he said.

Another user Lee Muzala perceives a huge boom and a greater improvement in terms of access in rural areas and in urban areas.

Mr Muzala, however, said most ISPs rates are still way too high.

“Just the cost of having a wireless installation done at your home or office, will knock you back approximately K5million (costs of equipment and setup), which some ISPs will claim the equipment is theirs,” he said.

He said with the 3G rates of 1 Gb and 10 Gb by Zain, he hopes to see an improvement on the part of ISPs including Microlink, Zamnet, iConnect/Africonnect and others.

He said costs of bandwidth, service, coverage and setup fees should also be reduced by ISPs.

Another user, Richard Mwanza, who is also Zambia Information Communication Technology Authority deputy chief executive officer, said the network is great though in some parts of the country such as Mongu the speeds are still very poor.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

GBM’s wife disappoints NGOCC

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Kasama central Member of Parliament Geoffrey Mwamba and the his wife, Chama

THE Non-Governmental Co-ordinating Council (NGOCC) says it is disappointed with Patriotic Front (PF) Kasama Central member of Parliament Geoffrey Mwamba’s wife, Chama, who has withdrawn her assault case against her husband.

NGOCC executive director Engwase Mwale said in an interview in Lusaka on Tuesday that Mrs Mwamba’s decision is disappointing because the women movement expected the parliamentarian’s wife to lead as an example.

Mrs Mwale was commenting on the Lusaka Magistrates Court’s decision to stay the assault proceeding against Mr Mwamba and discharge the MP.

On Tuesday, chief resident magistrate Charles Kafunda stayed the assault proceedings against Mr Mwamba after Mrs Mwamba informed the court that she wanted the case to be withdrawn because her husband has apologised.

“As NGOCC, we are obviously very disappointed with the turn of events in Mrs Mwamba’s assault case. We expected Mrs Mwamba to lead as an example to punish men who abuse women,” she said.

Mrs Mwale said Mrs Mwamba’s decision is a drawback in the fight against gender-based violence (GBV), which the women’s movement has been spearheading for a long time.

She said NGOCC respects the court’s decision but that the move by Mrs Mwamba will give perpetrators who abuse women reasons to mistreat their spouses.

She said Mrs Mwamba should have gone ahead with trial because this is not the first time she was allegedly being assaulted by her spouse.

Mrs Mwale said this is more reason the women movement are pushing for the GBV legislation to deter violators of women rights.

She said once the Bill is in place, it will safeguard the livelihood of women who are at the centre-stage of abuse from their spouses.

Mrs Mwale urged all parliamentarians to support the GBV legislation because it is only through such legislations that women rights will be promoted.
She said GBV still remains a challenge which calls for every Zambian’s support.

Mrs Mwale said the women’s movement is advocating legislation on GBV because it is mindful that access to justice for women is important.

On Tuesday, Mr Kafunda stayed the assault proceeding against Mr Mwamba but warned the parliamentarian against abusing his wife because doing so will compel the court to recall the matter if she complains.

This is in a case in which Mr Mwamba, 51, businessman and politician of house number 10 Roan Road, Kabulonga, Lusaka was Charged with one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm contrary to Section 248 Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

Particulars of the offence are that Mr Mwamba, on September 5, 2010, in Lusaka, allegedly assaulted his wife, Chama.

Mr Kafunda said in his ruling that Mr Mwamba should not engage in physical and verbal abuses of his wife or engage in any acts of violence.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

3 donors pledge 240m euros for Great East Road

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European Union (EU) head of delegation to Zambia, Derek Fee

THREE international organisations will next year commit 240 million Euros for the rehabilitation of the Great East Road.

The Great East Road will be rehabilitated through funding from the European Union (EU), European Investment Bank (EIB) and the African Development Bank (ADB).

European Union (EU) head of delegation Derek Fee said this in an interview in Lusaka on Monday.

Dr Fee said the rehabilitation of the Great East Road will be part of the Road Sector Infrastructure Development Project (ROADSIP) to be funded by the international organisations under phase two project.

[pullquote]“We had a very productive meeting with Government and the Road Development Agency (RAD), where Government responded very well to some of the concerns we raised as a donor community and it also showed us the steps that it has taken to prevent officers from misapplying donor funds.[/pullquote]

He said once rehabilitated the road will help generate savings in vehicle operating costs and travel time as well as reduce the traffic accidents.

Dr Fee said EU cares about Zambia’s road sector and that it will continue supporting Government’s interventions aimed at improving the road sector in the country.

He said the Great East Road forms part of the regional Nacala Corridor which links Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique.

Dr Fee said the donor community has decided to resume funding to the country’s road sector because of the effective steps that Government has taken in punishing public officers who allegedly misapplied donor funds meant for the road sector.

“We had a very productive meeting with Government and the Road Development Agency (RAD), where Government responded very well to some of the concerns we raised as a donor community and it also showed us the steps that it has taken to prevent officers from misapplying donor funds.

“We are satisfied with the steps that Government is taking and I can confirm that some of the conditions that we set as the donor community before resuming funding to Zambia’s road sector have been met,” he said.

Dr Fee said the EU is also pleased that Government has instituted policy guidelines to help manage and administer the road donor fund in a transparent and accountable manner.

He said EU will continue supporting Government in the periodic maintenance of roads to help arrest the deterioration of the road network in the country as well as help prolong its life span.

Dr Fee said the EU has identified the road sector as Zambia’s major factor in enhancing economic development and growth in the country and that it will continue supporting interventions aimed at improving the sector.

He said there is need to continuously maintain the road network in Zambia on a sustainable basis to help foster economic development in the country as well as enhance trade between Zambia and other countries in the region.

“We care about the road sector in Zambia and we will remain committed to supporting the Zambian Government in efforts aimed at improving the road sector because we want Zambians to be proud of the road sector,” Dr Fee said.

[Zambia Daily mail]

Zambia ranked among Top 10 in doing business

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Zambia ranks among the top 10 countries worldwide that have improved the ease of doing business for local firms in the past year according to the annual Doing Business Report for 2011 whose theme is ‘Making a Difference for Entrepreneurs’ released by World Bank and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) today.This was according to a press release made available to Lusakatimes by Ben Kangwa First Secretary (Press) at the Zambian Embassy in Washington DC.

The report says Zambia, Rwanda and Cape Verde were among the top 10 economies worldwide that have moved up for the past year. Rwanda moved up 12 places in the global rankings, while Cape Verde and Zambia rose 10 and eight spots, respectively. Ghana led the world in making it easier for businesses to obtain credit and Malawi led in improving contract enforcement.

Zambia, a top 10 performer eliminated its minimum capital requirement, computerized customs declarations and introduced an electronic case management system in courts

The report says for the third time in a row, Mauritius ranks highest in Sub Saharan Africa on the overall regulatory ease of doing business for local firms Globally. It ranks 20th among 183 economies.

The eighth yearly report tracks business reforms globally and observes that 27 economies in Sub Saharan Africa in the past year have implemented 49 regulatory reforms to improve their business environment.

During the release of the report, Janamitra Devan, the Vice President for Financial and Private Sector Development at the World Bank Group said many African economies made it easier to import and export, a trend driven in part by regional trade integration efforts.

He added that such developments were another reminder that regulatory cooperation between economies pays off. Mr. Janamitra Devan also said that about 30 percent of global trade facilitation reforms in the past year took place in Sub Saran Africa.

Fans Turned Away At Sunset Stadium

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Football fans thinking that the Super Division boycott was all just a soap opera being played out on the back pages where hit by reality at Sunset stadium today where Zanaco were scheduled to face Green Buffaloes.

The fans soon discovered that it was not a laughing matter when they found no teams warming up just before kickoff at the stadium.

Furthermore, no match officials turned up as the Referees Association of Zambia also threw its weight behind the call for Kalusha Bwalya to hold an emergency council meeting.

The no-show has left Faz in an embarrassing situation after Football House insisted in the buildup to this rescheduled Week 20 game that Zanaco and Buffaloes would defy the Super Division boycott and play today.

Govt mine revenue to rise

Entertainment Editor
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Secretary to the Treasury, Likolo Ndalamei says government share in profits from the mining sector is expected to rise in the next few years.

This follows the conclusion of negotiations with mining companies to move to the new mining tax regime.

Mr Ndalamei said although the windfall tax was lifted, government still earns a share of the profits that the mining companies make through variable profit tax.

He said this in Lusaka Wednesday during a press briefing with IMF Mission Chief for Zambia, George Tsibouris.

Mr Ndalamei said a wrong impression has been created that mining companies do not contribute taxes to the treasury.

He said Mining companies are currently paying mineral royalty, company tax and variable tax on super profits.

He also announced that the committee constituted to audit mining companies, will establish if they do pay income tax to the government.
[ ZNBC ]

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