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Politics of insults deserve no place

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Issues that politicians need to address

By Daimone Siulapwa

Elias Chipimo Jr, a sober and well-respected lawyer announced the formation of a new political party a few months ago. And it has not been easy for him.

At this stage, it is difficult to tell whether his party, the National Revolutionary Party (NAREP), will go on to make an impact, be it in next year’s elections or subsequent ones.

But one thing is clear, he has brought with himself a new type of politics. A son of former diplomat and radical politician Elias Chipimo, it can only be assumed that he is not new to politics.

The only thing new is that he wants to have a different way of doing politics.

The Zambian political scene is littered with politics of insults. The one who insults the loudest is likely to have the headline.

Very few of our politicians address issues or policy when politicking. Instead, they will quickly resort to personalities. And these are the people we seem to regard as our leaders. But what is leadership, if you cannot even provide us with a policy direction when confronted with an opportunity. For me, politicians that attack each others personality instead of providing policy or discussing the issue are devoid of any idea to move this country forward.

I want to wake-up and hear a politician talk about how he is going to improve the housing situation in townships so that we do not have families moving to a site near the Independence Stadium because their house is flood.

The face of poverty...issues that need to be addressed

I want to hear how a particular politician is going to improve public education and health so that I do not have to pay a lot of money to take my child to a private school or hospital.

I want to hear how a politician is going to reduce tax but at the same time be able to raise enough to be able to provide the necessary services central to a functioning State.

For me, I am more interested in the HOW and not the WHAT. We all know what problems confront our country. What we are looking for rather are solutions. How are we going to solve them?

And if somebody is confident enough to say they are capable of providing leadership and solutions to these problems as long as they are elected and given the instruments of power, then I might as well know how they are going to sort the mess.

But no, our politicians do not want to discuss the how, instead, they are happy to insult each other. Well, no one is demanding that they be role models, but at least they should be above the average person. The way our politicians go about resolving their differences now is not different from the way an average person on the street, in fact, call boys resolve theirs – through insults and violence. Or else, how do explain the hiring of thugs in the name of cadres to disrupt election campaigns.

Cadres are simply taking a leaf from their leaders who, instead of telling voters how they are going to solve issues affecting them, they are busy attacking each other personally in the media.

With the amount of problems confronting this country, one wonders where these people get this luxury of time to insult each other at the expense of trying to move the country forward. And these are the people that talk about being in a hurry to develop the country.

Well, you do not develop the country through insults, they seem to be pre-occupied to leave us with as their legacy.

Sata’s inconsistent — Ronnie

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PF Leader Michael Sata (left)

The Government has said the U-turn by Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata on mining taxes is a clear sign that the opposition leader is inconsistent on various national matters.

Chief Government spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha said in Lusaka yesterday that the Government had been focused and consistent in everything it did in the mining industry for the benefit of the miners and the Zambian people.

When the Government in 2008 introduced the windfall tax, Mr Sata was against the idea saying the tax was to blame for the job losses and reduced investments in the country’s copper mining sector.

He said at the time that the tax regime had hiked tax rates in the sector by more than 50 per cent and increased mining costs.

Mr Sata on Friday told Reuters news agency that the Government should restore mining agreements with foreign investors which it cancelled and reinstate tax concessions, in a major u-turn from his previous position.

Mr Sata, previously a strong advocate of higher mine taxes, said the Government should reinstate development agreements it signed with the foreign investors to restore investor confidence and attract further investments.

Some foreign investors such as Canada’s First Quantum Minerals have threatened to take Zambia to court for suspending the development agreements, which waived payment of taxes by the foreign mines for periods of between five to 17 years.

Zambia’s mine taxes include a 15 per cent profit variable tax, 25 per cent corporate tax and a three per cent mineral royalty.

Mines Minister Maxwell Mwale said Mr Sata’s comments were aimed at wooing voters ahead of the 2011 presidential election.

“The PF leader has always advocated higher mining taxes but has now changed…,” Mr Mwale told Reuters.

Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane said in April that although the Government was talking to the mining firms on the development agreements, it expected them to accept the existing taxes, especially after Zambia scrapped a controversial 25 per cent windfall tax.

Foreign mining companies operating in Zambia include London-listed Vedanta Reources Plc, Equinox Minerals, Glencore International AG of Switzerland and Metorex of South Africa.

Lieutenant General Shikapwasha, who was responding to questions from journalists at Lusaka International Airport, said the Government had proved that its policies were better even if Mr Sata was known for constantly criticising them.

He said the mining sector was booming and the economy in general was growing.
[ Times of Zambia ]

MMD dares Mpombo, Magande

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MMD deputy national secretary Chembe Nyangu has challenged expelled Kafulafuta Member of Parliament (MP) George Mpombo and his Chilanga counterpart Ng’andu Magande to prove that they are popular by not challenging the decision to expel them from the ruling party.

And the Independent Churches of Zambia (ICOZ) has said the expulsion of Mr Mpombo and Mr Magande has been long overdue and has advised the former ministers against ‘hanging on’ to their seats through court injunctions.

My Nyangu said if the two outspoken MPs were as popular as they claimed they were, they should have just have resigned on their own since it was clear that they were no longer interested to be part of the ruling party.

On Saturday, MMD spokesperson Dora Siliya announced that party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in Lusaka unanimously resolved to expel Mr Mpombo and Mr Magande, who had recently been making incessant attacks on President Rupiah Banda and the MMD.

Mr Nyangu said the MMD was ready to meet Mr Mpombo and Mr Magande in the by-elections once the Speaker, who he said was informed about the expulsions, declares the two se

MMD Masaiti District chairperson Michael Katambo challenged Mr Mpombo and Mr Magande to now contest on the opposition political party tickets.

“Since people like Mpombo boasted of being ready to release political landmines and missiles on the MMD. We are now ready to face Mr Mpombo in the political battle field,” Mr Katambo said.

And the MMD Copperbelt Province said the expulsion of Mr Mpombo and Mr Magande was good riddance.

“The truth of the matter is that whether they go at it as independents or as members of the opposition the MMD is ready to finish them politically,” Mr Chilambwe, who is the provincial chairperson, said.

MMD chairperson of security Ronnie Shikapwasha said NEC had authority to expel the duo from the party.

Lieutenant General Shikapwasha said Mr Mpombo had been insulting the party and President Banda for a long time, adding that he had no self discipline.

He said several people had advised Mr Mpombo to desist from attacking the party but he refused to heed the advice.

ICOZ president David Masupa said yesterday in Lusaka that the expulsion of the former Defence minister was long over due because he had kept disparaging the party and its leadership.

Reverend Masupa said to prove his popularity, Mr Mpombo should not run to the courts of law to put an injunction restraining the party from expelling him.

“For Mr Magande we can just advise him to form his party so that he can sell his candidature to the Zambians,” he said.

But when contacted, Mr Mpombo, who said he had not received the expulsion letter, said he was ready to face the MMD in a by-election once the Kafulafuta seat was declared vacant by the Speaker of the National Assembly.

He said he would only make a decision after receiving his letter of expulsion.

“We are not going to listen to chaps like Masupa, I haven’t yet sat with my family to decide the way forward, after all I have every constitutional right which should not be interfered with,” he said.

Mr Mpombo said his popularity in Kafulafuta could not be questioned because there was evidence that the people of that area voted for him overwhelmingly.

Mr Magande said he had not received his letter of expulsion and, therfore, did not know the details of the offence he was alleged to have committed.

He told ZNBC News that he would comment after consulting with his constituents.

And MMD Lusaka provincial deputy chairperson Henry Mutiti has said the ruling party was ready for the by-election in Chilanga Constituency, and that his office was already overwhelmed with people seeking adoption as parliamentary candidates.
[ Times of Zambia ]

Zambia’s economy to grow by 6.6 p.c.

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THE Government has said the economy is expected to grow by 6.6 per cent this year, an upward revision from the earlier projection of five per cent. This has been attributed to the good performance of the various sectors of the economy.

The Government had initially in the 2010-2012 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) projected that the economy would grow by five per cent. According to the 2011-2012 Green Paper released by Secretary to the Treasury Likolo

Secretary to the Treasury Likolo Ndalamei leaves the magistrates court complex in Lusaka.

yesterday in Lusaka, the revision of the growth target was on account of better than expected performance in several sectors of the economy during the first half of 2010.

“The agriculture sector recorded the largest maize harvest in history of approximately 2.7 million tones compared with the 1.8 million in the previous season.

“With this bumper harvest, growth in the agriculture sector is now projected at 7.7 per cent, which is 5.7 percentage points higher than the initial forecast,” he said.

Mr Ndalamei said a recovery was expected in the tourism sector following indications that spill-over effects from the 2010 World Cup were better than expected.

He said increased demand for the international travel is expected to contribute to the growth of the sector.

He said copper out put in the first half of 2010 increased by 10.2 per cent to 363,682 tonnes compared to the first half of 2009 when a total of 330,125 tonnes was produced.

He said this was attributable to the resumption of production at the Luanshya Copper Mines as well as an increase in production at several other mining companies.

“With production expected to increase during the third quarter of 2010 total production is now projected at 740,000 metric tonnes, eight per cent higher than the 696, 900 metric tonnes produced when the average price was US$4,034,” he said.

On inflation, Mr Ndalamei said the annual inflation rate declined to 8.4 per cent in July 2010 from the 14 per cent in July 2009.

“Weaker copper prices and the strengthening of the US dollar against the Euro during the first half of 2010 affected the exchange rate of the Kwacha against major currencies. This led to a 8.5 per cent depreciation of the Kwacha against the US dollar from K4,687.89 in December 2009 to K5,122.89 at the end of June 2010,” he said.

The secretary to the treasury said the macroeconomic framework for 2011-2013 will focus on maintaining macroeconomic stability and building on the gains achieved during the last MTEF.

He said the transport and communication sector is also expected to continue expanding with the recent privatisation of Zamtel and the liberalisation of the international gateway and the imminent launch of the 3G services in the country.

“The implementation of economic diversification, policy and structural reforms over the last MTEF period is also expected to unlock further growth over the period,” he said.

On the fiscal policy outlook Mr Ndalamei said government will adopt an expansionary fiscal policy stance in order to accelerate investment in infrastructure and social sectors.

He said the expansionary stance will be within sustainable and acceptable fiscal limits so as to ensure that macroeconomic stability is not threatened.

On the external outlook the secretary to the treasury said although a full global recovery is expected during the current MTEF there continues to remain uncertainty from turbulent financial markets and a general lack of investor confidence.

He said Government was committed to accelerate private sector investment so as to achieve increased and diversified growth.

Government would, therefore, continue to create a vibrant and enabling environment for both domestic and foreign investment.

On aid policy and management strategy, he said it is expected that the country should reduce on dependence over time.

He said the Government in collaboration with cooperating partners is in the process of developing a new Joint Assistance Strategy for Zambia within the framework of the Paris declaration to succeed the one developed for the FNDP.

He said external borrowing will increase significantly during this MTEF period in order to finance economic infrastructure that is urgently needed across the country.

“The Government expects to contract approximately US$2 billion to support the financing of various infrastructure projects during this MTEF period,” he said.

Development assistance from cooperating partners has been particularly unpredictable over the last two years.

The weaknesses in financial management in the health and road sectors led to the suspension of aid assistance to these sectors and general Budget support.

Mr Ndalamei said however that having achieved economic stability government’s focus over the medium term would be to embark on a bold and ambitious investment and diversification strategy.

And Government has implored ministries, provinces and other spending agencies to measure every Kwacha against the guiding principle of “value for money” in both budget preparation and execution.

[Times of Zambia]

DEC arrests Shakafuswa for money laundering

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Katuba Member of Parliament Jonas Shakafuswa

THE Anti-Money Laundering Investigations Unit of the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has arrested Katuba Member of Parliament Jonas Shakafuswa’s brother, Charles for money laundering activities involving more than K200 million.

DEC public relations manager John Nyawali said Mr Shakafuswa, 49, of New John Laing Township in Lusaka, was arrested together with his two nephews, Farai Mhende, 23, of Emmasdale residential area in Lusaka and Victor Banda, 33, from Libala in the capital city.

Mr Nyawali said Mr Shakafuswa, acting together with his younger brother Ephraim Shakafuswa and their two nephews swindled Sunburn Trading and Enterprises of Hungary out of K201 million by purporting to have secured land in Livingstone, which they wanted to lease to the company.

Mr Nyawali said in a statement released in Lusaka yesterday that a manhunt has been launched for Ephraim who is currently on the run.

“The Shakafuswa brothers claimed that they had secured land near the Victoria Falls from Zesco Limited for Sunburn Traders to construct some recreation facilities.

“The money was transferred to the Shakafuswa brothers and their two nephews through electronic money transfer using an identified commercial bank and an international money transfer organisation,” he said.

Mr Nyawali said the trio have been released on police bond and will appear in court soon.

[Times of Zambia]

Three Points More Important Than Goals-Dario, Katongo

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Zambia coach Dario Bonetti and team captain Chris Katongo were united today in saying that the three points for the team were more important than the score line after the sides emphatic win over Comoros in the two teams 2012 Africa Cup Group C qualifying match at Nkoloma stadium in Lusaka.

Zambia routed Comoros 4-0 to top Group C on three points two more than Mozambique and Libya who drew 0-0 in Maputo today on match day one in their pool.

The match was delayed for 24 hours due to the late arrival of the four match officials from Eritrea who incurred flight connection problems in transit to Zambia from Asmara on Friday.

“I don’t think so it was just important to win and respect the opponent,” Bonetti said in a post-match interview at Nkoloma stadium in Lusaka on Sunday.

“And today we won and we were had the better game than our opponents. There was a difference in quality between the team.It was important win and easy.”

Meanwhile, Katongo said the team was delighted with the good start in the qualifiers as the race to reach the Gabon/Equatorial Guinea tournament in 24 months begins to gather momentum after the good result against Comoros in Group C.

“The three points was the most important thing,” Katongo said at Nkoloma.

“This the first game of the qualifiers and so when you get three point it is more important than the goals. Yes, of course, three-four-nil is OK but three points is important to the Zambian people.”

Meanwhile, Zambia took a 3-0 lead into the break of their convincing performance in Lusaka through goals from Rainford Kalaba, Fwayo Tembo and James Chamanga in the 6th, 22nd and 27th minutes respectively.

72nd minute substitute Emmanuel Mayuka who came on for Fwayo completed Zambia’s good day at the office with the fourth goal in the 87th minute.

Dario and his side travel to Tripoli next month to face second placed Libya during the weekend of October 9-10.

‘Sata was already exposed before Chiluba became a politician’

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The Patriotic Front (PF) says Party president, Michael Sata, was already a politician when Second Republican President, Frederick Chiluba, was still a bus conductor.

Party Spokesperson, Given Lubinda, told QFM in a telephone interview that Mr Sata was already Branch Chairman for UNIP when Dr Chiluba was a bus conductor.

Mr Lubinda was reacting to Lusaka Province MMD Chairman, William Banda, who was quoted in the press saying people like Mr Sata should stop insulting Dr Chiluba and instead thank him for exposing them to the world.

Mr Lubinda explained that the PF leader was Governor of Lusaka when Dr Chiluba was nowhere near the helms of power.

Mr Lubinda saidMr Banda must be out of his mind to insinuate that Dr Chiluba is the one who exposed Mr Sata to the world.

He said it is everyone’s knowledge that Mr William Banda is still a legal deportee to Malawi who owes his stay in Zambia to late President Levy Mwanawasa.

He added that Mr Banda owes his freedom of movement to President Rupiah Banda.
[ QFM ]

Healing Words

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TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing”
(Proverbs 12:18, NIV)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria

The Bible tells us that life and death are in the power of our words. We can use our words to build people up and encourage them, or we can just as easily bring destruction with our words.

When we use our words to bring healing, the Bible says that we are wise. Choose to be wise today and choose healing words. Look for the best in others and build them up. Choose healing words over gossip; choose words of freedom and peace over anger and judgment. Let your words encourage the people in your life by speaking strength, hope and victory.

Remember, words are seeds. When you use your words to bring healing, you’ll reap a harvest of health, strength and life in return. As you are faithful with your words, God will increase your influence. He will increase His favor and blessing upon you and lead you in the good life He has prepared for you.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father in heaven, today I choose to be wise and bring healing to others with my words. I ask for an increase of Your power and ability in my life so that I can live to honor You in all I do. In  Jesus’ Name. Amen.

[ Joel Osteen]

Man forgives adulterous wife

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A 44-year-old man of Lusaka’s Luangwa township forgave his wife who knelt before him and asked for forgiveness from him for having had a sexual binge with another man.

Josephine Zulu, 34, knelt before her husband at the Lusaka boma local court and asked for forgiveness.
“Please forgive me, I know that I have sinned against you and God…I promise to tell you in future if any man approaches me for love. I am ashamed of myself for the embarrassment I have caused you,” she said.

Zulu told the husband that she could not afford to lose the 17 years of marriage over a few minutes sexual satisfaction she had with another man.
This was in a case of adultery involving Aiwell Phiri, 44, of Luangwa township and Sam Singwa, 30, of Chipata township.

Phiri sued Singwa for compensation, alleging that he committed adultery with his wife.
Zulu told the court that Singwa had for a long time been proposing love to her, which one day led to him inviting her for a drink.

“I went to meet him at a bar not knowing that my children were drinking from there. After he bought me some drinks, he booked a room where we made love after which he gave me K150,000,” Zulu said.

She said as they were dressing up, her children appeared and started calling her a prostitute.
She described the scene as humiliating, especially that her own children caught her committing adultery.
Zulu said she had learnt her lesson and vowed never to accept any man’s proposal.

Earlier, Phiri told the court that he has been married to Zulu for 16 years and loves her so much that he cannot imagine life without her.

He said he did not know anything concerning his wife’s affair with Singwa until the day she was caught.
“I was home in the evening when I heard some noise from outside and when I went to check, I found a mob of people with my wife and Singwa at the centre…they were calling them prostitutes,” he said.

Phiri told the court that he spends a lot of money to make his wife look beautiful for himself and not Singwa.

But Singwa told the court that he was enticed by Zulu when the two met at the bar.
“I did not know that this woman is married. She told me that she is not married and begged me to have sex with her. She is the one the booked the room in which we had sex,” he said.

He said it is clear that Zulu loves him so much that she cast a spell on him to lose his mind over her.
“I am sorry for my actions. I was drunk and did not know what I was doing, I only realised after I had finished having sex with her…besides, the sex was not nice,” he said.

Senior presiding magistrate Regina Mumba, in passing judgment, said it was evident that Zulu and Sangwa had been having an affair for a long time.
Magistrate Mumba advised Singwa to desist from sleeping with married women.

She told Zulu that she was an embarrassment to the women as nature does not allow them to behave in such a manner.
The court order Singwa to compensate Phiri K15 million in monthly installments of K200,000.
[ Sunday Mail ]

Milingo slams Duffy

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Mongu Diocese Bishop Paul Duffy and Western province Minister Richard Mwapela cutting the ribbon during the official handover of the painting of the Mongu Central Prison

ARCHBISHOP Emmanuel Milingo has lashed out at Mongu Catholic diocese Bishop Paul Duffy for reportedly calling for change of Government.

Archbishop Milingo said during a healing prayer meeting at Chawama Family Worship Centre in Lusaka that it was wrong for Bishop Duffy to incite people of Western Province to turn against Government.
Bishop Duffy was quoted in the media last week as saying the people of Western Province want a change of Government.

Archbishop Milingo, who is heading the United Church of Africa and championing the movement of married priests, said every church leader who calls for regime change is not chosen by God.
He said Zambians were happy with President Banda’s Government and there was no need for leaders to call for change of Government.

He urged Zambians to analyze carefully and vote for a leader who can deliver development to the people in next year’s general elections.
“Do not vote anyhow in next year’s elections. You should vote for leaders that can deliver development,” Archbishop Milingo said.

And speaking earlier, Right Reverend Bishop Isaac Chabwera of Chawama Family Worship Centre, said Zambians have once again been presented with an opportunity to vote for a Government of their choice which will deliver development from 2011 and beyond.

He said this is a time for people to seriously reflect on the events of the last few years and to critically evaluate Government’s performance in all sectors.

“We need to look at the government which is in power and what it has so far done for the Zambian people. This, of course is a time to take stock of how things have been done taking into account the success that government has scored,” he said.

Reverend Chabwera said it was not right for people to call for change of government for the sake of change.
He said people must be realistic in arriving at such a conclusion, saying that it is a dangerous statement to simply incite the electorate to vote for change.

“The Bishops Council of Zambia has observed that, in fact, the government has so far done extremely well in infrastructure development, in agriculture, in poverty reduction programmes and gender main streaming. The truth is that President Rupiah Banda and his Government have done a lot in a very short time. So far, the research we have done in Western Province shows that most people do not want change of government,” Reverend Chabwera said.

In reference to Bishop Duffy’s statement in the media, Reverend Chabwera said no responsible church leader can issue alarming statements.

“We are the voice of the voiceless but not in a negative way. We need to be on the positive side as we make statements. As Bishops Council of Zambia we, therefore, condemn the recent development in Western Province,” he said.

Meanwhile, Archbishop Milingo has called on people living with HIV/AIDS to pray hard for God to heal their affliction.

He said they should not despair because there was nothing impossible with God.
“Prayer can heal anything. And once you have been healed, stop. Do not go back to activities that made you contract HIV/AIDS,” he said.
[ Sunday Mail ]

Magande, Mpombo Expelled From The MMD

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Kafulafuta Member of Parliament George Mpombo

As anticipated the MMD National Executive Committee (NEC) has expelled from the party its members of parliament for Chilanga and Kafulafuta constituencies following a NEC meeting held at state house yesterday.

The two members of Parliament are former Finance Minister, Ng’andu Magande for Chilanga and his counterpart George Mpombo for Kafulafuta constituency.

MMD Spokesperson, Dora Siliya announced the expulsion and withdraw of support from the two members of parliament.

She said the decision was reached at after the two members of parliament failed to show remorse over their actions of bringing the party into ridicule and disrepute.

Mrs Siliya said the matter has since been communicated to the Speaker of the national assembly.
The two members of parliament did not attend the state house NEC meeting.

Meanwhile, when contacted for a comment Kafulafuta Member of Parliament, George Mpombo described the decision as excessively irrational and emotionally taken.

He said he is game for a fair bare knuckle fight.

Mr Mpombo noted that there are so many things involved in political life.

Asked whether he would challenge the decision taken by the MMD NEC in court, Mr Mpombo said he would comment after receiving the letter of expulsion.

The former Defense Minister has recently been critical of government and President, Rupiah Banda since he stepped down as Minister.

Efforts to get a comment from Mr Magande failed as his mobile phone was switched off.
[Muvi TV ]

Rupiah heads for Rwanda today

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President Rupiah Banda will today leave for Rwanda to attend a one-day Heads of State and Government summit, which will discuss progress on the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

President Banda would join other African leaders on Sunday at a meeting in Kigali organised by Rwandan President, Paul Kagame, to review progress made by African countries in implementing MDGs.

The leaders would share their country experiences ahead of the 65th session of the United Nations General Assembly to be held this month in New York whose theme will be on MDGs.

After the summit, President Banda will join other African Heads of State and Government on Monday at an inauguration ceremony of President Kagame, who was recently reelected as President of the Republic of Rwanda.

President Banda has been invited to attend the inauguration in his capacity as Zambian President as well as Chairman of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region.

Since Zambia became a signatory to the Millennium Declaration, the country has put in place a number of development frameworks to support the realization of MDGs.

These include the Poverty Reduction and Strategy Paper, the Transitional National Development Plan, the Vision 2030 and the Fifth National Development Plan, which are aimed at accelerating the attainment of MDG targets by 2015.
[ QFM ]

Zambia- Comoros Postponed

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Football fans pondering their next move after the Zambia-Comoros Islands match was put off at Nkoloma stadium.

CAF has rescheduled for 24 hours the Zambia versus Comoros 2012 African Cup of Nations Group C qualifying match from Saturday to Sunday after the delayed arrival of the match officials for the qualifier to be played at Nkoloma stadium in Lusaka.

Match commissioner Wellington Nyatanga of Zimbabwe said in a press briefing at Football House in Lusaka today that the three Eritrean match officials are stuck in transit in the United Arab Emirates en route to Zambia.

“The match will not be played today (Saturday), therefore we are trying to appeal to FAZ to make sure this game is postponed for today and with the hope that game is played tomorrow.  We have had information that referees will be arriving tonight (Saturday),” Nyatanga said.

Nyatanga said CAF had put three South African match officials on standby for the game that will be played at 15:00 on Sunday at Nkoloma.

“If not we have agreed with FAZ that they put referees on standby, with agreement with CAF, from South Africa they are on standby now they will be arriving on SAA Air Link at 8 O’clock tomorrow and FAZ are trying to organize their tickets,” Nyatanga said.

“So yes, it is an extra cost, I sympathize with FAZ but however we have no choice but we have designated officially qualified referees and that is the current situation.

“The referees have spoken to FAZ president where they are stuck in Dubai. They are expected tonight at 11 O’clock on KQ (Kenya Airways).”

Musokotwane castigates Magande

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FINANCE Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane

Minister of Finance and National Planning Situmbeko Musokotwane has lashed out at Chilanga member of Parliament Ng’andu Magande for alleging that Zambia’s economy began to decline after he left office.

Mr Magande, who is the immediate past Minister of Finance and National Planning, said the economy performed well under his leadership but that now it is weakening after he left office.

He said this during a Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) television programme ‘Frank Talk’ on Wednesday.

Mr Magande alleged that public service workers are now getting their salaries late and that the Kwacha has constantly been depreciating against major foreign currencies.

Mr Magande alleged that interest rates have continued to be adjusted upwards.
But Dr Musokotwane dismissed Mr Magande’s claims and described them as misleading.

He advised Mr Magande to stop issuing misleading perceptions on the performance of the economy.
“Well, that statement by Mr Magande is not true but of course such statements depend on who is issuing them, and that is if the person was properly trained as an economist.

“If Mr Magande says he is an economist and he is talking like this, then it makes me feel sad because I would have expected such statements from someone from the streets and not a properly trained economist,” Dr Musokotwane said.

He challenged Mr Magande to categorise the programmes he successfully spearheaded during the period he served as Minister of Finance and National Planning.
[pullquote]“If Mr Magande says he is an economist and he is talking like this, then it makes me feel sad because I would have expected such statements from someone from the streets and not a properly trained economist,” Dr Musokotwane said.[/pullquote]
Dr Musokotwane said during Mr Magande’s tenure, the interest rates were high and the Kwacha was equally depreciating.

He said financial institutions are slowly responding to Government’s call to reduce interest rates.

Dr Musotwane challenged Mr Magande to produce evidence to show that the economy is now performing badly.

He said the country’s trade balance of payment is performing better now than when Mr Magande was in office.
Dr Musokotwane said even the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, which is at six percent, is poised to grow further.

“Growth in the economy is important and so when he talks about interest rates, quite rightly they are a little bit higher, but I do not think they were any lower when Mr Magande served as minister.

“The trade balance of payment is performing much better than when he was minister. I didn’t expect him to make those remarks. I’m not saying this because I’m the minister now but any properly trained economist anywhere in the world would not make that statement of the economy going backwards,” he said.

Dr Musokotwane said even independent observers have acknowledged that the Zambian economy is continuously recording growth.

Dr Musokotwane said the International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently praised the country for coming out ‘strong’ after the global economic crisis.
“So maybe he (Magande) must give us an example of what he understands by the economy growing backwards,” Dr Musokotwane said.
[ Zambia Daily Mail ]

Bonetti era begins

Entertainment Editor
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Zambia National Team Coach Dario Bonetti

ZAMBIA launch the campaign for the 2012 Gabon/Equatorial Guinea Africa Cup of Nations finals when they take on rank outsiders Comoros Islands at Lusaka’s Nkoloma Stadium today.

The Chipolopolo thoroughbreds are poised to open the hunt for the place at the Africa Cup finals on a positive note considering that Comoros are soccer under-weights with little traceable record since the birth of modern football.

While Zambia have been participating in this competition from the 1974, Comoros, sandwiched by Palestine and Somalia in FIFA ranking, only joined the race in 2008 when they were vying for the 2010 edition. Even that was a flop they would not want to remember following the 2-10 mauling at the hands of Madagascar.

Ranked 172 against Zambia’s 73 in the world, Comoros are certainly not up to mark for the journey to Gabon and may just fall on the wayside.

But football being what it is, anything is possible and the Islanders may just cause an upset and spoil new Chipolopolo trainer Dario Bonetti’s anticipated good start to his new job.

Bonetti, who replaced charismatic Herve Renard, is open to reality and has ruled out any possibility of underrating Comoros despite the feeble status they have been given in world football.

“There are no small teams in football anymore and we will play them (Comoros) like we are playing Brazil. We don’t know anything about Comoros but winning is a must because we want to have a good start to the Africa Cup qualifiers,” said the soft-spoken Italian.

While Zambia consist mostly of foreign-based players, Comoros have come with only local players and their technical advisor Jean Paul Rossignol is heaping his hope for a draw or a win on the fact that football is like a dice and results can go either way.
[pullquote]“There are no small teams in football anymore and we will play them (Comoros) like we are playing Brazil. We don’t know anything about Comoros but winning is a must because we want to have a good start to the Africa Cup qualifiers,” said the soft-spoken Italian.[/pullquote]

“We started football recently. We are a new nation in football and it will not be easy for us to beat Zambia which is a strong soccer nation,” Rossignol said on arrival at the Lusaka International Airport on Thursday.

In his analysis of Group C, Rossignol rated Zambia as the best team followed by Libya whose style of play he likened to that of Egypt, and then he put Mozambique in third and his own Comoros last.

Going by Rossignol’s ratings, one would think that the Islanders have already conceded defeat and they are here to merely fulfil the fixture.

However, Bonetti and his boys should be careful because Rossignol could just be employing mind games to force Zambia into becoming complacent believing that they are playing a frail team.

In fact, Rossignol’s views are in sharp contrast with his coach Manuel Amoros who believes Comoros are here to get three points.

“We are not intimidated playing big names like Zambia. We are coming to play football and if all goes well, we will get three points,” Amoros said.

But Amoros will surely need an above average strike force to penetrate the Zambian defence of Chintu Kampamba, Joseph Musonda, Stoppila Sunzu and Emmanuel Mbola who will be shielding goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene.

The Zambian defence should be wary of Mouigni Mohamed, Daoud Mzitrani and Nourdine Midtadi, who are likely to be deployed upfront to search for goals.

Zambia’s most entertaining football will be played in the midfield where Bonetti will field skipper Christopher Katongo, Rainford Kalaba, Isaac Chansa and Felix Katongo but they will meet opposition from Mohamed Mahamoud and Moindje Ali Moilim.

The Comoros defenders Djabir Issouf, Izzidine Mohamed Zainoudine and Kassim Abdallah will be the busiest men on the pitch as they will need to work overtime to contain thirsty Zambian strikers.

Switzerland-based striker Emmanuel Mayuka is likely to partner James Chamanga in a two-man pronged attack. Fwayo Tembo, who has been a regular at Swiss champions Basel is also a potential starter in this game Zambia are expected to have a deluge of goals.

It may be important to remember though that Comoros are not the worst ranked team Zambia have ever played. They have failed to beat Seychelles in Lusaka (2003) and lost to Djibouti last year.
[Zambia Daily Mail ]

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