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Barry Chibale 36, who allegedly beat up his wife Rutendo Bobo and chopped off part of her nose and upper lip during the fight on Sunday appealed in court for plea yesterday.
Chibale appeared before principal resident magistrate Justin Banda and pleaded not guilty to two counts of unlawful wounding contrary to section 232 (a) of the penal code chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia
Bobo and her friend Harriet Mutale were allegedly assaulted by Chibale on July 18 this year in Kabwe after picking a quarrel with his wife.
Chibale’s wife who is still admitted at Kabwe Mine hospital told ZANIS from her hospital bed that Chibale used a broken beer bottle to cause wounds on her and her friend.
Part of her nose and upper lip were sliced off during the fight that occurred at one of the bars in Kabwe.
The couple had just divorced and had differences over the sharing of household property.
The court granted Chibale bail in the sum of K5 Million with two working sureties.
Magistrate Banda said Chibale would remain in custody until the bail requirements were met.
Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) has assured farmers in Mkushi that it will seriously champion their grievances on matters related to crop marketing and security.
Speaking during the tour of Mkushi farm block, ZNFU President Jarvis Zimba said that farmers in the district have persistently brought out issues of crop marketing and security.
He said that his tour of the farm block was essentially a response towards mitigating concerns raised by farmers and incorporate their contributions in addressing the problem.
Mr. Zimba observed that the farmer’s quest for favorable marketing policies was cardinal to ensuring the growth of agriculture as a viable commercial activity.
He said the ZNFU national secretariat was committed to incorporating views from farmers during dialogue with the central government.
Mr. Zimba said that farmers played a critical role in the national economy and that agriculture products added a significant dimension to wealth generated from within the country as well as from the exports.
He said that Mkushi had become one of the leading agricultural districts in the country with consistent bumper harvest of maize, soya beans, tobacco and wheat standing out as major crop products.
Mr. Zimba however said he was saddened to learn that in the farm block had been experiencing crop thefts, a situation which could have negative impact on the gross produce from the farms.
He said that amongst the efforts aimed at addressing crop theft, the ZNFU would soon donate vehicles to Lubuto Police Post located in the farm block to help boost police patrols in the area.
In a related interview, Central Province Police Commanding (CO) Simon Mphande acknowledged the frequency occurrence of crop thefts in the farm block areas.
Mr. Mphande said that crop thefts had for long posed great worry to the district police command, and that lack of transport logistics in farm blocks was a major hindrance for prompt response towards reported crimes as well as routine patrol exercises.
More than 35 commercial farmers in Mkushi District are located in Mkushi farm block area, encompassing the chiefdoms of Chitina, Shaibila and Mulungwe.
National AIDS Council (NAC) Board Chairperson Joshua Banda
National AIDS Council (NAC) Board Chairperson Joshua Banda says Zambia has made remarkable progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria.
Bishop Banda said the country has so far achieved 100 percent HIV blood screening and has also managed to put about 70 percent of the people who require treatment on Anti Retro Viral (ARVS) drugs.
Bishop Banda said this in Kasama today when he addressed the 7th AMICAALL- Zambia General Assemble being held alongside the 47th Local Government Association of Zambia (LGAZ) Annual General conference under the theme “Local Government – A responsive approach to accelerating MDGs attainment through decentralization”.
Progress has also been made in the reduction of the risk of HIV transmission from mother to child from 30 percent to 10 percent while the number of people willing to know their HIV status has increased from 16 percent to 43 percent.
The NAC chairperson also revealed that the country has registered a TB cure rate of 80 percent and a reduction in the default rate.
Bishop Banda has since appealed to civic leaders to be part of the intensified efforts towards meeting the set targets by 2015 by using their comparative advantage to harness resources for the attainment of other MDGs.
He said local government has a critical role in the attainment of MDG targets as it plays a catalytical role in linking central government to communities dealing with health, political and social economic challenges caused by HIV/AIDs.
Bishop Banda said NAC has resolved to intensify HIV/AIDS interventions at local level for the next framework circle 2011-2015 which was in tandem with the MDG target date.
He pointed out that the decentralization of HIV services will lead to their integration and mainstreaming in Local Government programmes
Bishop Banda added that decentralization will help communities be part of the problem identification and solving process as opposed to importation of solution which tend to alienate the people.
He noted that collaboration with influential community actors such as traditional and faith based leaders will lead to enhancement and synergies of programmes and achievement of long term sustainable development results.
Meanwhile, Bishop Banda says there were no plans to make HIV testing compulsory besides the routine testing being done when women go for antenatal clinic.
Responding to a question by one of the delegates who wanted to know whether NAC had plans to make HIV testing compulsory, Bishop Banda said NAC was of the view that voluntary counseling was more empowering.
He said individuals should be concerned with saving their lives by willingly knowing their HIV status.
Bishop Banda also said NAC has prioritised the maximization of male circumcision as there was documentary proof that it is quite effective in the fight
PRESIDENT Banda says the PF-UPND pact should remain intact so that the MMD defeats it in its united form. President Banda said this in response to journalists who asked for his comment in Lusaka yesterday.
“I told you before, if the pact were in MMD I will answer you but the pact are outside the MMD; it’s up to them to sort out the problem,” he said.
Mr Banda said the MMD has been winning despite the pact being together.
“They have always been fighting us. So for me, as president of MMD, I am working on the belief that they will continue together. I don’t want to presume that they will crack; that is up to them. If they do crack, okay. But we always campaign assuming that they are together,” he said.
President Banda said the MMD stands a good chance of scooping both Luena and Chifubu parliamentary by-elections.
“Of course we have to work hard; you know how elections are like. Until you win, you haven’t won,” he said.
“I am going to Luena first. It will be very tight the next 10 days but I am going to both Luena and Chifubu,” Mr Banda said.
He urged all political parties to condemn election violence.
He said there are just a few people who want to use violence as a means to win elections.
“I think the majority of Zambian people want peace. Our democracy is so important, it is more important than any individual political party or any leader. So I believe that the Zambian people will rally behind peace.
“Reading what you have been reporting in the papers, it looks like the majority of stakeholders in this country have condemned violence. The churches, newspapers, politicians, everyone has condemned violence. So those who think violence will take them anywhere are mistaken,” he said.
Mr Banda said what the Zambian people want is to have peaceful elections because it’s their chance to give a fresh mandate to their leaders.
“The message is that violence does not pay. When you have an election, that is the time and chance to make the changes that you wish,” he said.
And commenting on the concerns raised by the Catholic Church on the National Constitutional Conference, Mr Banda said as a leader, he will try to get everybody together and see if they can agree on something which is good for the country.
“I have just seen it this morning; you know this is a very important body of people. We have just read what they have said and understand it. But sometimes you (the press) may also misunderstand what they are trying to say,” he said.
MTN Zambia has agreed with Zamtel to reduce interconnectivity charges by 50 percent after Government issues a Statutory Instrument.
And the firm has donated K86 million towards the Likumbi Lya Mize traditional ceremony slated for September 1 to 4.
Company managing director, Farhad Khan, said the reduction in interconnectivity fees will be effected after the SI is issued.
Mr Khan said the firm has also engaged in discussions with other operators on the reduction of interconnectivity charges.
He was speaking in an interview in Lusaka yesterday.
Mr Khan said there is need to reduce interconnectivity charges that different networks charge each other for cross networks.
The current cross networks call charges are very high, thus reducing efficiency in service delivery.
The company reaffirmed its commitement to ensuring that every subscriber has access to cheap mobile communication but the vision is being hindered by high cost of interconnectivity charges.
Last month, Zain Zambia reduced international call tariffs by 40 percent while MTN reduced by 40 percent after Government’s decision to allow mobile service providers to manage their own international gateway.
The new Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) has provisions that require interconnectivity fees to be cost-reflective and transparent.
MTN wrote to ZICTA and ZCC to look into interconnectivity charges within Zambia which it says are too high due to higher interconnectivity charges.
And MTN said the donation of the K86 million to Likumbi Lya Mize cultural association is part of the firm’s corporate responsibility to support the community.
Mr Khan said the firm has to date invested K400 million in numerous cultural activities across the country.
And association chairperson Gideon Kaumba said the association is scouting for K150 million to host the event.
Mr Kaumba said so far the association has raised slightly above K100 million.
MTN is the main sponsor of the ceremony this year and will hold a fundraising dinner dance this week Friday at Intercontinental Hotel.
ZAMBIA Revenue Authority (ZRA) Commissioner General Chriticles Mwansa told the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday that he does not condone violence and disturbances at the place of work.
Mr Mwansa said that is why he got concerned when it was reported to him that two senior ZRA officers had engaged in a fight within ZRA premises.
This is in a case in which dismissed ZRA assistant commissioner George Siame is facing one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm contrary to section 248 of the Penal Code Cap 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
It is alleged that on November 30 last year, Siame assaulted ZRA director of human resources Roselyn Kaeli at Revenue House in Lusaka.
“I rushed to Victoria Hospital from my home during lunch time to check on the condition of Ms Kaeli. I went to the hospital in my capacity as ZRA chief executive officer after receiving information about the fight,” Mwansa said.
He told magistrate William Banda that he found Ms Kaeli’s face swollen and took pictures of her as part of evidence.
Mwansa said he was not bothered to check on Siame because he was reported not to be in danger.
He said he has much interest in the matter because it involves two senior officers at ZRA.
He said it was the first time a fight involving senior management officers had been reported in the institution.
Mwansa told the court that Siame was given an opportunity to exculpate himself against the charge.
And during cross-examination, Mwansa said as chairperson of the ZRA appeals committee, he had not been biased towards Ms Kaeli in handling the matter.
Mwansa said he signed Siame’s dismissal letter to confirm management’s decision that he had been relieved of his duties.
FLASHBACK: A female youth member of the UPND tries to give flowers to Hichilema at Lusaka international airport
THE United Party for National Development (UPND) on the Copperbelt has accused its pact partners, the Patriotic Front (PF) of behaving like it was more superior than UPND.
Copperbelt UPND provincial chairperson has also said the PF has blown the emergency Kitwe meeting recently chaired by party’s vice-president Richard Kapita, out of proportion.
Mr Matambo said yesterday the UPND in the province was disappointed with the behaviour by the PF and urged their pact partners to respect the UPND as it was equally strong on the Copperbelt.
Mr Matambo was disappointed with Nkana Member of Parliament (MP) Mwenya Musenge for thinking the PF was more superior than the UPND on the Copperbelt and demanded that the PF should respect his party because they needed them in the pact.
Mr Matambo was reacting to Mr Musenge’s condemnation of the meeting held at Kitwe Little Theatre on Friday last week where it was alleged that the UPND had resolved to back President Rupiah Banda if its party president Hakainde Hichilema was not picked as the pact’s presidential candidate.
“The PF should realise the meeting was purely a UPND meeting. PF has been having its own meetings without UPND members attending and we have not been complaining. We now wonder why they should be jittery whenever we hold our meetings,” Mr Matambo said.
[pullquote]“The PF should realise the meeting was purely a UPND meeting. PF has been having its own meetings without UPND members attending and we have not been complaining. We now wonder why they should be jittery whenever we hold our meetings,” Mr Matambo said.[/pullquote]
He said people and Zambians in general, should know that the UPND and the PF were two different political parties with each one working hard to reorganise itself.
“Mr Musenge should not think it is only the PF which is strong on the Copperbelt. He should realise that the UPND is not a dead party on the Copperbelt, we are equally strong and we demand the respect from PF because we need each other in the pact,” he said.
He said it was, infact, Mr Musenge who was in the forefront of hindering the progress of the pact in the province as he never wanted to organise meetings aimed at promoting common ground for the two parties.
ADD president Charles Milupi said the pact was formed as a result of the realisation by Mr Hichilema that his party had lost popularity and could not win any election.
Mr Milupi said in Lusaka yesterday in an interview that the weaknesses in the pact were long predicted because it was formed without consideration for the sticky issue of policy harmonisation, non-selfish agenda and balancing power among the leaders to secure the long term strength.
Mr Milupi said PF president Michael Sata and Mr Hichilema formed the pact without considering how they would relate policies that would guide education, health and agriculture.
He said before the formation of the pact, the two parties contradicted each other on windfall tax, the National Constitutional Conference but went ahead without much debate on these matters.
The two opposition political parties have offered separate candidates in a ward by-election in Chadiza in contravention of the ideals of the pact that provide that they would not compete against each other in future elections.
Parliament heard yesterday that the Zambia electricity supply corporation ZESCO raised 112 billion kwacha from the export of electricity to neighboring countries between 2007 and 2009.
Energy deputy Minister Imasiku Lubinda revealed that in 2007, ZESCO raised 22 billion kwacha alone, while in 2008, it racked 19 billion kwacha.
Mr. Lubinda also stated that last year, Zambia’s largest power utility company managed to raise 71 billion Kwacha.
He stated that five countries namely, Botswana, Namibia, Congo DR., Tanzania, Mozambique as the recipients of power from ZESCO.
He also said that the Zambia’s strategic position has made it possible for it to export power to other countries.
And Energy Minister Kenneth Konga has revealed that there is need for Zambia to invest in other energy areas.
Mr. Konga also told parliament that efforts are being made to ensure that Zambia is in track to explore other areas of energy.
He stated that if Zambia remains stagnant, then Zambia’s development in the energy sector will never be achieved.
[ QFM ]
Police in Mufumbwe have arrested Kajilo Muzungu , son of the losing Mufumbwe MMD parliamentary candidate Mulondwe Muzungu for three counts of manslaughter contrary to section 199,chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
On April 29th during the Mufumbwe by elections, Kajilo is alleged to have caused the death of the three people which consequently led to him being charged with the offence of causing death by dangerous driving.
According to a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today by Police Spokesperson Bonny Kapeso, Kajilo appeared before Mufumbwe magistrate’s court yesterday where he was granted K10 million bail in his own cognizance with two local working sureties in Mufumbwe.
Kajilo’s arrest comes in the wake of a warn and caution statement recorded from him and the subsequent reference of his docket to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) office as per requirement.
He will be committed to the High Court in Solwezi for proceedings in the matter.
[ QFM ]
Zambia have named former Juventus defender Dario Bonetti as coach to steer their bid to reach the next African Nations Cup finals for the 11th time in their last 12 attempts.
The Italian has signed a two-year deal and will take charge of the team for the first time in September when they start their qualifiers for the 2012 finals, Football Association of Zambia president Kalusha Bwalya told Reuters on Wednesday.
“We had a lot of applicants for the job but we think we have found the right guy. We want experience from the top level but also a youthful hunger,” he said.
The 48-year-old Bonetti, who also played for Roma and AC Milan and won two caps, has limited credentials having worked with brother Ivano at Dundee and coached several lower league Italian sides plus Dinamo,t Bucharest for three months last year.
Bonetti replaces Frenchman Herve Renard, who left the Zambia job to take over as Angola coach in April.
Zambia begin their Nations Cup campaign at home to the Comoros Islands in September and also face Mozambique and Libya in qualifying Group Three.
Commerce Minister Felix Mutati talks to journalists on the sale of Zamtel during a press briefing in Lusaka
Government has said that the sale of Zambia telecommunication company ZAMTEL is the highest ever achieved on the African continent.
Commerce Minister Felix Mutati told Parliament this afternoon that had Zamtel not been sold to Lap green networks of Libya, it was going to go bankrupt in October this year.
Mr. Mutati stated that that the consequences of bankrupt would have been too dear to contemplate.
He also claimed that the major business analyst world over have commended government for the successful sale of the telecommunication company.
He has also called on the Zambian people to mobilize resources to participate in the public listing of ZAMTEL, which has attracted public criticisms.
The commerce minister restated that the sale of ZAMTEL was not only done to bring in a new lease of Life to the Company but also reposition its role on the information technology communication.
The Zambia government sold 75 percent shares of telecommunication firm Zamtel to a Libyan telecommunications network, Lap Green for $257 million.
Lap Green has agreed to pay a total consideration of $257 million for the 75 percent equity in Zamtel whose 100 percent equity stands at $343 million.
[pullquote]He has also called on the Zambian people to mobilize resources to participate in the public listing of ZAMTEL, which has attracted public criticisms.[/pullquote]
In addition to the $257 million, Lap Green will provide $62 million in additional funding to finance part of the company’s network expansion programme and taking over government guarantees, relating to a further $75 million in vendor financing, covering Zamtel’s existing network expansion projects.
And Mr. Mutati has expressed confidence that the Zambian business environment will become more conducive after the liberalization of the international gateway.
Minister of health, Kapembwa Simbao has challenged Philips healthcare senior director JJ van Dongen, to thoroughly clarify his accessions that government and Phillips have entered into a 25 million Euro project which is to fund among other things, the installation and maintenance of diagnostic imaging equipment including mobile X-ray, fluoroscopy, ultrasound scanners, operating theatres and dental treatment systems.
Mr. Simbao further charged that government has no idea of any deals between the Republican president, Rupiah Banda and Philips that could have resulted in favoring the company and signing the alleged 25m Euro deal which has lately brought the reputation of his ministry into disrepute.
Responding to kafulafuta member of parliament, George Mpombo’s questioning of government’s decision to award Philips a 25 million euro contract to cover the upgrade and maintenance of equipment in 71 government hospitals nationwide, Mr. Simbao maintained that there is no such deal that the ministry has struck with the said company.
Mr. Simbao reiterated that the only agreement that government has entered into with Philips is a 5 year, 9.7 million euro project to maintain health equipment throughout the country.
956,000 euros, as the first installment for the 5 year project which was signed in February this year, has already been made through a payment that was done on 1st June 2010.
These payments are to be done every six months for the next 5 years.
Meanwhile, Mr. Simbao has called on the media to help exonerate all those who might be innocently implicated in this matter if the issue of this project is not properly handled.
He said that a lot of people might be dragged in the mud for nothing and if the matter is not properly clarified soon enough, Zambians will lose trust and begin to believe the few accessions that are currently going around about a deal that is non existent.
Central Province Permanent Secretary Denny Lumbama has called on all parents in the province to take the Child Health Week and Measles Campaign very seriously and ensure that their children are vaccinated against measles and other serious diseases.
Mr. Lumbama said parents should take advantage of this week because government has prioritized the health of every child by establishing health facilities and trained personnel to provide free and quality care to both the newly –born and growing children in the country.
He was speaking this morning during the launch of the Child Health Week and Measles Campaign held at Makululu’s Kalungu Market in Kabwe.
The Permanent Secretary said because Child Health Week was intended for all parents that had children less than five years, all parents with children in this respect should ensure that their children are vaccinated according to the schedule on their child health clinic cards.
He said Child Health Week was a deliberate and supplementary exercise that was expected to capture not only children in the remotest parts of the country through outreach activities.
He therefore urged parents to take the week seriously because the campaign would not only benefit their children but even them because they would be able to get more information from health workers about nutrition, family planning and the general well-being of their children.
Mr. Lumbama said in this Health Week, Measles vaccination was more pronounced because there were a lot of measles outbreaks that were being reported from different parts of the country in the last few weeks and most of the children affected were those aged between 9 months and 4 years old.
He said Kabwe District has not been left out but has also reported a few cases of Measles and in order to curtail such a serious epidemic, government through the Ministry of Health has taken advantage of the Child health Week Exercise to fulfill its obligation of protecting other children from contracting the disease.
He further advised parents to follow instructions from health workers and avoid contact with children suspected to be suffering from measles whenever they head of an outbreak saying Measles among the five major diseases that killed and lowered the children’s’ immunity in the world.
He added that his passionate appeal was that all parents that had children aged between 9 months and 4 years old were taken to nearest health posts for vaccination against measles because that was the only sure way to mitigate the scourge.
Mr. Lumbama finally expressed gratitude at the reports reaching his office that a good number of husbands were spotted accompanying their wives to the vaccination centers and encouraged other men to be in the fore-front of fighting Measles by emulating their counterparts.
And Kabwe District Medical Officer Doctor Abel Kabalo has called for continued partnership between government and cooperating partners.
Dr. Kabalo said the Ministry of Health was especially grateful to Mirage Media for organizing this Health Week which has captured more than 200 children in the district.
He said the health of every child was very to the development of the country hence the need for other cooperating partners to come aboard and support important programmes that centered on the health of children such Child Health Week.
He said Child Health Week was not the concern of the Ministry of Health alone because children’s health affected everyone and as such, programmes bordering on children and other health issues needed conceited efforts.
Dr. Kabalo therefore appealed to NGO’s and other stakeholders to support the Ministry of Health in any means possible in order to enhance the children’s health as well as mitigate issues that affected them.
Nkana this afternoon snatched a late equalizer against Nchanga Rangers to gain their first point in two games.
A late goal from ex-Under-17 and Afrisports midfielder Mwila Kabwe earned Nkana a much needed point and some respite for caretaker coaches Fedelis “Josimar” Chungu and Fred “Schemer” Siame after two successive Faz Super Division defeats.
However, it might be too late to save the duo with either Kenneth “Bubble” Malitoli or Alfred Lupiya expected to be named as new coach before Friday although the duo is expected to remain as assistants.
Nkana move one place up the table from 11th to 10th place on 19 points from 16 games following their great escape act at their volatile home in Wusakile against Nchanga who opened scores through Floyd Phiri in the 24th minute.
Nchanga stay put in fourth place on 26 points from 16 games, five less than leaders Zesco United who are on 31 points with a game in hand after playing 15 matches.
And Zesco remain unbeaten in the league this season and remain at the top of the Super Division table after a 0-0 draw away to Choma Eagles in Maamba today.
Zesco enjoy a three point lead over second placed Green Buffaloes who exchanged places with Power Dynamos after a 2-0 away win over troubled City of Lusaka at Woodlands stadium in Lusaka.
Buffaloes collected the three points courtesy of goals from Kennedy Chola and Edward Museba in the 18th and 57th minutes respectively.
Power on the other hand drew 1-1 away at Konkola Blades after coming from 1-0 to share the points.
Felix Sunzu Jnr put Blades ahead in the 24th minute before Luka Lungu equalized five minutes before halftime.
Zambian student Emelio Mbozi at Kingston Maurward College has had an award created especially for himA ZAMBIAN student at Kingston Maurward College has received an accolade created especially for him, in recognition of his hard work and dedication.
Emelio Mbozi was presented with “The Principal’s Award for Dedication to Learning and Self Improvement” at the college’s annual prize-giving ceremony.
The 32-year-old has just completed a two-year National Diploma in Agriculture at the land-based Dorset campus and has returned home to Zambia for the first time since starting his studies.
“We have a range of prizes for our best students every year, but there wasn’t one that applied to Emelio under the current categories,” said Tim Stephens, head of agriculture, countryside and food at the college.
“But we felt his special qualities should be recognised so we created an award for him, and Novartis Animal Health kindly sponsored it.”
Emelio, who works as a government regional veterinary assistant in his home country, said at the ceremony he was looking forward to seeing his family again and hopes now to be promoted to livestock officer.
He travels between farms in southern Zambia administering vaccinations to cattle.
“I feel very honoured to get this award,” he said. “When I first arrived in the UK I thought it cold and the food strange.
“But I will miss Dorset and the friends I made here.”
Mr Stephens said: “Emelio impressed us because he came to an obviously very alien country to study in a foreign language, and took it all in his stride.
“He has been an inspiration to us and his fellow students.”
More than 115 further education students received awards at this year’s prize-giving ceremony.
