Join our community of SUBSCRIBERS and be part of the conversation.
To subscribe, simply enter your email address on our website or click the subscribe button below. Don't worry, we respect your privacy and won't spam your inbox. Your information is safe with us.
PRESIDENT Banda is today expected in Luapula Province to grace the Bwilile traditional ceremony of the Bwile people of Chiengi.
According to a programme released by the Luapula Province administration in Mansa yesterday, Mr Banda is expected to land at Mansa airport at 08:00 hours.
Luapula Province minister, Boniface Kawimbe, senior Government and MMD officials will welcome him.
Mr Banda will address the people of Mansa before departing for Chiengi.
Mr Banda is expected pay a courtesy call on Senior chief Puta and later grace the Bwilile ceremony.
The President will depart Chiengi airport at 16:00 hours and arrive at Mansa airport at 16:50 hours.
Mr Banda is tomorrow expected to leave for Chipata.
THE Copperbelt University (CBU) management is courting private construction companies to partner with them and enhance students’ accommodation under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) development progamme.
CBU public relations officer Grace Mikunga said the university was ready to partner with private construction companies to come up with business proposals that would benefit both parties.
“The university welcomes proposals for partnerships under PPP for the construction of students’ hostels to enhance accommodation at the Kitwe campus,” Ms Mikunga said.
And CBU management has spent K4 billion on the construction of two new students’ hostels at the campus.
Ms Mikunga said the construction of the school of business, office complex, lecture theatre, school of technology, the directorate of distance education and open learning had also been completed.
“CBU has so far completed construction of the new hostels at the campus at a cost of K4 billion and a separate project of the school of business, office complex, lecture theatre, school of technology and the directorate of distance education and open learning,” she said.
While the hostels’ project was funded by the Government and constructed by private companies, the university under its built-in environment programme used its own resources on other construction projects.
“The university through internally generated funds like fees and other sources managed to raise enough funds for the construction of the directorate of distance education and open learning,” said Ms Mikunga.
She said apart from the university construction team, other firms like Caisson of Kitwe, MSD and Lusaka’s Wah-Kong were engaged for the hostels project.
The construction project, which started in December 2008, has seen male hostels completed while the female hostels’ project, which started in 2009, was receiving finishing touches.
Ministry of Health spokesperson Kamoto Mbewe says the measles has so far claimed 110 lives from 6252 cases reported since the disease outbreak in the country.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today , Dr Mbewe revealed that Lusaka is the most hit district with 106 deaths recorded out of 4928 cases reported representing 78 percent .
Dr Mbewe said Lundazi district in Eastern Province was the most hit with 789 cases while three lives were lost due to the disease.
Kabwe in Central province recorded 30 cases with no death so far.
He further revea ed that Chibombo recoreded 132 cases with one death while Nyimba recoreded 58 cases, Katete 27and Chama 26 cases and that no death has been recorded in the three districts.
And Dr Mbewe explained that preliminary results indicates that all districts accross the country recorded a 90 percent measles immunisation programme stating that the outbreak is stabilising and has assured the people not to panic as the ministry is doing everything possible to arrest the problem.
He also called on all those who did not take their children for measles immunisatmion programme to do so as their is still room for the exercise.
Meanwhile. Dr Mbewe told ZANIS that the Ministry has sent health personnel to Everly Hone college to investigate the alleged out break of measles at the highest learning institution.
He said the officials are currently on cite taking results and assured the student that they should not pact over the alleged outbreak saying everything is being done.
He said the public would be informed on the development and outcome of the results.
The Patriotic Front, PF, has retained the Chifubu parliamentary seat.
Announcing the election results around 00:30 hours this morning, Returning Officer, Roy Kuseka, declared Susan Kawandami of the Patriotic Front as winner after she polled 6, 976 votes, beating MMD’s Frank Ng’ambi who polled 4, 539 votes.
Alliance for Democracy and Development, ADD’s Brian Banda emerged third after polling 412 votes, while UNIP’s Poko Mambwe trailed with 221 votes.
148 votes were rejected after 12, 296 out of 29, 000 registered voters cast their votes in the constituency’s 39 polling stations, representing about 42 percent of all the registered voters in Chifubu.
And Foundation for Democratic Process, FODEP, has said there was a lot of voter apathy in Chifubu.
FODEP Information Officer, McDonald Chipenzi, told QFM in a telephone interview from Chifubu that recording only 12, 296 out 29, 000 registered voters as having cast their vote is a big sign of voter apathy.
Opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) has ‘ cracked’ in Mwembeshi Constituency in Central Province on alleged tribal grounds.
Concerned UPND cadres in the area told ZANIS in an interview today, that one of the country’s main opposition parties has cracked in the area after two senior officials Ekrol Mungo and Abel Makala (who are both Tongas) , UPND District Chairman and Constituency Chairman respectively had allegedly in recent times been de-campaigning area MP Edward Kasoko .
They went on to say that they would be forced to take the law in their own hands unless the two leaders , Mr. Mungo and Mr. Makala respectively step down and leave the constituency peacefully.
“ Having given them ( Mr Mungo an d Mr Makala )the chairmanship for our party does not mean we are short of people eligible to lead us in Mwembeshi. If they feel they are bulls in Sala land, they are overrating themselves,” the party cadres said.
Efforts to get the two leaders for a comment proved futile by press time as their phones where out of coverage. So was the area MP Mr. Kasoko, the party Secretary general Witson Chibwe, and the party leader Hakainde Hichilema were also unreachable as the duo were reported away in Luena constituency.
However the concerned cadres who asked not to be named, told ZANIS that the duo ( Mr. Mungo and Mr. Makala) have already started campaigning on tribal lines saying they wanted the political life in the area to be led by Tongas.
They duo are alleged to have started campaigning for two named prominent Lusaka businessmen for the two constituencies in readiness for the 2011 elections. This is despite a recent circular from the UPND secretariat barring campaigns until further notice.
However the cadres have warned that if the two named leaders wanted to take the UPND as a family club, they should not have wasted our time by involving the local Sala speaking people.
“ We would like to make it clear that we have only two constituencies for Salas, Kaonde Ilas and the Tonga Ilas respectfully and their children. Mr Mungo and his colleague do not belong to either of the group. They must step down, immediately,” the cadres demanded.
“ It is surprising us that nearly the entire number of headmen posts have been taken over by the Tonga instead of us the Salas. They just want to ensure that the Tongas are elected as MPs in Nangoma and Mwembeshi constituencies,” they said.
The duo , according to the party membership, had openly declared during a recent political rally led Mr. Hakainde in Shibuyunji that Southern Province and parts of Central Province was for Tongas. “ This was during the rally and surprisingly Mr. Hakainde did not intervene,” said the concerned members .
The cadres also told ZANIS that it was quite shocking to them when the two leaders forcefully presented a bull to Mr Hakainde during the recent rally in Shibuyunji pretending it was bought by them when in fact it was not so. The duo are alleged to have exhibited disrespect for the party leadership in the area.
The development has Traditional leaders in the area who are reported to be have already advanced their discussions to find the way forward concerning the security and the way forward for the party.
Here are the league standings after Wednesdays rescheduled Week 14 game played in Ndola including all the collated results from the Farmers Day holiday fixtures.
KCM Super Division
Week 14
04/08/2010
Forest Rangers 1(Peter Banda 73″)-National Assembly 1(Morgan Hanjeema 34″)
With less than 25 days to go before the transfer window closes, fallen striker Collins Mbesuma has yet to find a club.
According to Kickoff.com, his South African agents ProSport International have not received any queries for the Zambia striker.
“We are looking for a club for Mbesuma but at this stage there has not been any interest,” Francesco Ferreri of ProSport International told Kickoff.com.
Ferreri told Kickoff.com that they were still very optimistic that Mbesuma will find a club and in the meantime the player was keeping fit with a personal trainer while a search for a new club was on.
“We are not giving up on him which is why he is still under guidance in the gym, working out with a personal trainer. He has to be ready when we get him the right team for his services,” Ferreri said.
Mbesuma was fired from Moroka Swallows two weeks ago for indiscipline after coming late for pre-season training just as he was about to start a second season at the Johannesburg team.
Finance deputy minister Mulenga Kapwepwe greets finance minister Situmbeko Musokotwane
Government says efforts in social service delivery and infrastructure development in health, education, roads and other sectors are being frustrated by Zambian nationals through misapplication of scarce resources.
Finance and National Planning Deputy Minister Chileshe said as such, corporate failure and auditing change was a critical area that needed to be addressed if enormous public and private sector resources were to be used efficiently for set objectives
Ms Kapwepwe charged that the Integrated Financial Management and Information System (IFMIS) would be used as a tool to strengthen the quality of decision making and monitoring on utilization of funds for development in the public sector.
She said this yesterday when she officially opened the 2010 Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants (ZICA) Annual Business Conference at Zambezi Sun Hotel in Livingstone under the theme: Change and Paradigm Shift for the Accountancy Profession.
Ms Kapwepwe also stated that the launch of audit committees in government in the recent past was meant to improve corporate governance structures in the public sector.
“The launch of audit committees in government in the recent past is premised on improving the corporate governance structures in the public sector to match best practice measures in leading private sector entities,” she said.
She said for the country to develop, a complete shift in how people managed resources including time, attitude towards work and enthusiasm to act as agents of value-adding change at all levels was needed.
And Ms Kapwepwe revealed that government had made enormous strides in attracting Foreign Direct Investments with over US$ 1.3 billion being recorded in the first quarter of 2010 unlike last year when only US$ 195 million was recorded during the same period.
She urged commercial banks to reduce their lending rates as doing so would enable the private and household sectors respectively, borrow and participate in sustainable economic development.
“By failing to reduce lending rates, commercial banks are making it difficult for the private sector and household sector to borrow and participate in sustainable economic development,” she said.
Ms Kapwepwe further said government welcomed any interventions in the education system by the private sector aimed at making high quality education available to disadvantaged children.
She said education was a key factor in any meaningful change and emphasized the need for young people to be guided into seeking education that would help them compete on the international labour market.
Kabwe magistrate today jailed Barry Chibale 36, for 21 months imprisonment with hard labour after he pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding contrary to section 232 (a) chapter 87 of the penal code of the laws of Zambia.
As the Principal Resident Magistrate Joushua Banda pronounced the verdict, Chibale broke down and wept uncontrollably, as he was led to the cells. Chibale is a government driver at Nkrumah University in Kabwe.
Facts before the court were that, in the first count, on 18th July this year Chibale of house number 91 Chowa compound, unlawfully wounded his wife Rutendo Bobo 28 during a marital wrangle and sliced off part of her nose using a castle broken bottle.
In the second count on the same date, Chibale unlawfully wounded Harriet Mutale 28 of house number 45 New Chirwa railways compound in Kabwe.
Passing judgement in respect of the first count, Principal Resident Magistrate Banda said the offence committed by Chibale was a serious one.
Magistrate Banda said though Chibale showed remorse and was a first offender, his action was unforgivable. In mitigation earlier, Chibale’s lawyer, Mwiinga Cheelo, pleaded with the court to exercise leniency on him since he showed remorse and regretted the action he took.
Mr. Cheelo said Chibale had learnt a lesson and would desist from being violent and using force to resolve matrimonial issues.
The court set August 16 and 20 for continued trial in respect of the second count in which Chibale unlawfully wounded Harriet Mutale contrary to section 232 (a) of the laws of Zambia.
And Yong Women Christian Association (YWCA) in Kabwe commended the outcome of the case saying people should believe in justice if they were to learn how to respect the law.
YWCA central province officer Juliet Kawanda said this should be a learning process for would be offenders.
She said people should not take the law into their own hands and they should learn that gender was real.
Indian farmers may soon be looking to Zambia for sugar with the southern African nation seeking India’s cooperation and investment in agricultural production.
In a meeting between a visiting Zambian business delegation and the Maharashtra Rural Development Minister Jayant Patil in Mumbai Wednesday, it was decided that a delegation of Indian commercial farmers will be visiting Zambia in December.
‘A group of Indian commercial farmers, mostly specialized in sugar production, is expected in Zambia in December to explore prospects of investing in Nansanga farm block in the central province, which the government has set aside for agricultural purposes,’ said an official of the Zambian High Commission here.
The Zambian delegation was led by Deputy Finance and National Planning Minister David Phiri and Deputy Commerce Minister, Lwipa Puma. The 15-member group arrived in India two weeks ago, and has spent the majority of its time meeting Indian officials and businessmen in Mumbai, the country’s business capital.
The delegation was ‘especially keen to learn about India’s successful experience from private-public partnership from agriculture to tourism’, the official said.
They visited and met with officials of Tata Group and Essar. While Tata group already has substantial investments in Zambia, Essar group, which has interests in steel, energy, power and minerals, has expressed interest in infrastructure development in the African country.
‘A total of 35 company chief executives, who had one-on-one discussions with our ministers, showed enthusiasm in visiting Zambia as soon as possible to identify projects in which they can invest,’ said the high commission official.
Among the Indian companies, Premium Hotels and Palaces have shown interest in building conference and hotel facilities near Zambia’s main tourist attraction, the Victoria Falls.
Indian companies have made investments amounting to $3 billion in Zambia, with Vedanta Resources alone making an investment of $1.6 billion in Zambia’s largest Konkola copper mines.
The Committee of Citizens has urged losing candidates in the Chifubu and Luena parliamentary and local government by elections to graciously accept the outcomes of the elections.
Committee Executive Director Gregory Chifire says this is because the elections were held in a peaceful and transparent manner, adding that issues of mal-practices were almost nonexistent.
Mr Chifire told ZANIS in a telephone interview that there is no need for any political party to cry foul after the results have been announced because the playing field was leveled.
He further stressed that the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) made every effort to ensure that the electoral code of conduct was respected by all the participating political parties in the two constituencies.
Mr Chifire has since dismissed accusations by a named opposition political party leader that the ruling MMD were collecting national registration cards and voter cards details from some electorates in Chifubu, saying the allegations were baseless.
“We have been here in Chifubu monitoring how all the political parties are conducting their campaigns and I can tell you that none of our monitors have witnessed any incident of that nature. I can safely say that those accusations are unfounded”, he stated.
And Mr Chifire says it is regrettable that some politicians can take advantage of the poverty that people are facing in the country to use them to commit criminal acts.
The Committee Executive Director was referring to an incident that happened in Ndola where some people were hired to block Vice President George Kunda’s motorcade.
Mr Chifire said it was appalling to note that there are some leaders that were so selfish as to hire innocent people to do acts that were detrimental to the development of the country’s young democracy.
He has however praised Republican President Rupiah Banda for ordering the police on the Copperbelt to release the ten PF cadres saying the President showed that he truly was a matured and tolerant leader.
Lusaka City Council Public Relations Manager Chanda Makanta says the council still facing challenges of removing call boys at Inter City Bus Terminus.
Ms. Makanta says it has not been smooth sailing for the council to remove all the call boys t the country’s largest bus terminus citing personal economic hardships as being the major cause for their continued stay at the station.
She told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that as local authority they would want the call boys removed from the station as they cause a lot of disorder to the passengers.
Ms Makanta has since appealed the Zambia Police Service to come on board and assist the council to remove the call boys from the station.
She however explained that the call boys do not only do things that concern the council but the state Police as well.
Ms Makanta added that the presence of the call boys at the station is a nuisance adding that it can not be condoned any more.
She appealed to the members of the public to be patient and bear with the council as they are doing everything within their means to remove the boys from the station.
National Revolutionary Party President Dr Cosmo Mumba has saluted President Rupiah Banda for pardoning 10 Patriotic Front members who blocked Vice President George Kunda’s motorcade in Ndola on Sunday this week.
And Dr Mumba has also hailed President Banda for preaching peace during the just ended Chifubu and Luena parliamentary by – elections campaigns.
Speaking to ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today, Dr Mumba said tribute should be given to President Banda for his humility to pardon some PF members saying the stance shows that Mr. Banda is a true leader who deserves to be commended.
The opposition leader also lamented that the President should be praised for preaching peace during the Chifubu and Luena parliamentary by elections campaigns adding that the gesture is welcome as it shows that the Mr. Banda has no hatred to any one including those from the opposition.
He said violence should be condemned in the strongest terms by all Zambians saying the people of the two constituencies should also be praised for the manner they conducted themselves during the campaigns.
He said this was good for the Zambia’s growing democracy and has since called on all political parties in the country to emulate the Chifubu and Luena residents in future elections.
Meanwhile Dr Mumba has called on Police at Kanyama Police Post to investigate and arrest some bandits who attacked and robbed National Revolutionary Party vice Chairman Chris Phiri last night.
Dr Mumba told ZANIS that unknown people last night broke into the house of Mr Phiri and injured the latter’s wife, niece before stealing goods worth millions of kwacha.
He has since called on police in Kanyama to intensify foot night patrols so that the lives of the residents in the area are protected.
THE Bank of Zambia(BoZ) says a stronger Kwacha will help offset the inflationary impact of a 26 percent rise in electricity prices which have been effected this month.
“The appreciation of the Kwacha has already started and that should help to moderate the impact of the higher power tariffs,” BoZ deputy governor Denny Kalyalya said last week.
Dr Kalyalya said Zambia can still achieve its target of 8.0 percent inflation by year-end despite higher power prices.
He said the Kwacha should strengthen due to rising metal prices and planned maize exports after a bumper harvest.
“The maize harvest is just being offloaded onto the market now so to (some) extent that will also moderate some of the pressure coming from the hike in electricity tariffs.”
Zambia allowed farmers and traders to export its maize surplus of 1.1 million tonnes mainly in southern Africa after it produced 2.7 million tonnes of maize in the 2009/2010 season.
Dr Kalyalya told Reuters after the Central Statistical Office released data showing Zambia’s inflation accelerated to 8.4 percent year-on-year in July compared with 7.8 percent in June.
The rise in inflation was largely due to price increases for non-food products such as clothing, household fuel and lighting, transport and communication.
“Of the total 8.4 percent annual inflation in July 2010, food products accounted for 2.0 percentage points and non-food products accounted for 6.4 percentage points,” said John Kalumbi, CSO acting director.
Despite the huge harvest of maize, Zambia’s staple food, and the anticipated appreciation of the Kwacha, some analysts said inflation was unlikely to come in on target this year.
[REUTERS]
President Rupiah Banda introduces MMD Luena candidate Mwangala Maopu at the rally in Limulunga
PRESIDENT Banda has ordered police in Ndola to immediately release nine Patriotic Front (PF) supporters who allegedly blocked Vice-President George Kunda’s motorcade on Monday.
And Mr Banda has advised Zambians to be vigilant and to reject the spirit of hatred that is trying to permeate society.
Mr Banda said this in Ndola yesterday when he addressed a mammoth rally at the Chifubu Central grounds.
“I have decided to release them. Police will release them and give them their vehicles. I want those people released now, not tonight, I want police to take the necessary steps to release them,” Mr Banda said.
Mr Banda said he does not encourage thuggery but that he realizes that those who were arrested were just hired.
“I have asked the head of police here to release them,” Mr Banda said.
He said police had arrested 11 people who blocked the road but that two of the suspects ran away.
“But I thought of these young people, they are young people who have families and children to look after but because of our ambition as politicians, we go and hire their vehicles and they end up committing crimes against the State and the Vice-President,” Mr Banda said
Mr Banda said he was angry when he heard that suspected Patriotic Front (PF) cadres had blocked Mr Kunda’s motorcade and also damaged cars, including the beating up of MMD Chifubu parliamentary candidate Frank Ng’ambi’s daughter, Lukundo.
“I was angry. I am a human being and I wanted to take harsh action but I told myself that I don’t want to be the one to lead this country into problems,” Mr Banda said.
Mr Banda also said he made Darius Mukuka, the man who was convicted for insulting him, a better human after releasing him from prison.
“I am sure he felt bad, he wrote a letter to me that he was so grateful that I released him. He told me that he suffered in prison and his family also suffered. At least I achieved something, I made one bad human being become a good one, ,” Mr Banda said.
Mr Banda said some opposition leaders including Mapatizya member of Parliament Ackson Sejani have been insulting him like a child but that he has taken all the insults because he is head of State.
Mr Banda said PF president Michael Sata will never be President because he has failed on three attempts to ascend to power despite him enjoying support from people in some parts of the of the country.
“You can never be President unless you are meant to be” Mr Banda said. And Mr Banda has advised Zambians to be vigilant and to reject the spirit of hatred that is trying to permeate society.
[pullquote]“I am saying this to Mr Sata and my son Hakainde, it[hate] will not take you anywhere,” Mr Banda said.[/pullquote]
“Our duty as Zambians is to be vigilant, to reject this evil spirit that is trying to permeate our society,” Mr Banda said
He said Zambians must not allow anybody to teach them to hate. The President wondered why grown ups like Mr Sata and his United Party for National Development (UPND) counterpart, Hakainde Hichilema hate him without reason.
“I am saying this to Mr Sata and my son Hakainde, it[hate] will not take you anywhere,” Mr Banda said.
He advised the people of Chifubu not to be misled that the opposition will develop their constituency because no one individual has money in his or her pocket to develop the area.
Mr Banda urged the people of Chifubu to vote for Mr Ng’ambi in today’s parliamentary by-elections because he is the most suitable candidate.
Meanwhile, more than 200 cadres from the PF-UPND pact yesterday defected from the two parties to the ruling MMD during a rally held at Chifubu ground.
President Banda welcomed the defectors and said their defection is proof that people have confidence in the MMD and its leadership.
Leading the PF defectors, former Chifubu constituency chairman, Ben Mwansa said the MMD is a focused party as opposed to the pact which is faced with various problems.
And UPND Chifubu ward chairman Pethius Chibanga said there is no need to waste time being the opposition political party.
He called on the people in Chifubu constituency to vote for Mr Ng’ambi as he is the only credible candidate to foster development in the area. And Copperbelt Minister Mwansa Mbulakulima said victory is certain in today’s polls.
Mr Mbulakulima said Mr Nga’mbi will provide the missing link for the people in the constituency.
And Chifubu constituency deputy campaign manager Joe Malanji said people should shun the opposition because there is nothing tangible they will offer to the people of Zambia.
