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UPND president Hakainde Hichilema
The United Party for national Development UPND has described as disgusting and shameful the unremorseful attitude by Movement for Muilty Party for Democracy (MMD) National Secretary Katele Kalumba after his conviction by the Magistrate courts last week.
Party President Hakainde Hichilema who could not hide his displeasure said that the attitude that followed the chanting of the MMD Slogan after his slogan means a lot.
Mr Hichilema said this at a news conference organized by the Press freedom committee of the Post.
” it is so hurting that a person who has amassed public wealth instead of being remorseful to the Zambians should go ahead to chant MMD slogans outside the courts as if to tell the Zambians that the MMD would rescue him,” Mr Hichilema said.
He charged that Zambians were tired and watching what is going on stressing that Dr Kalumba and his co-convicts should not further attempt to ridicule the Zambians.
The UPND leader also advised Zambians to avoid another mistake to vote into office a Government that harbored thieves in its key financial positions.
And UPND President says that the UPN/PF pact is a serious business.
Mr. Hichilema who was responding to a concern on how the two parties would merge what he termed as brilliant ideas into one manifesto with that of the PF and that the parties have differences but that their common interests was to save the Zambians.
He likened the pact to a family of members of different characters said that the party is currently holding successful meetings under the umbrella of a joint national council to try and work out a way to merge the ideas of the parties into one manifesto.
[ QFM ]
Former Republican President Dr Fredrick Chiluba
Former President Frederick Chiluba says he cannot celebrate the conviction of MMD national secretary Katele Kalumba and three others because they are his friends.
And Dr Chiluba has questioned why former Ministry of Health permanent secretary Simon Miti chartered a faulty plane when he (Dr Chiluba) was evacuated to South Africa for treatment.
Dr Chiluba said he is saddened about the conviction of Dr Kalumba and others because they were his right-hand officials during his tenure of office.
He said it is immoral for some people, who include Kafulafuta member of Parliament George Mpombo and Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata, to mock him over the matter by asking him to celebrate the conviction of Dr Kalumba.
Dr Chiluba said this in an interview with journalists after attending a church service at the Bible Gospel Church in Africa (BIGOCA) in Matero yesterday.
He said contrary to the insinuations, he is not happy or celebrating over the conviction of Dr Kalumba and others because they are his comrades.
“Whether Mr Mpombo or other people commented or not over this matter, I cannot be happy, neither can I smile or dance over the conviction because those were my friends.
“They were not my key advisors but were my comrades and right-hand men and we worked together,” he said.
Dr Chiluba, however, said as a democrat, he is not in the habit of interfering with the work of the courts of law.
[pullquote]“Whether Mr Mpombo or other people commented or not over this matter, I cannot be happy, neither can I smile or dance over the conviction because those were my friends.”[/pullquote]
He said he cannot argue the case because of security reasons.
“Dr Kalumba and others are my friends and we worked together but now that they have been found in this situation, I do not want to argue the case for security reasons,” he said.
Last week, Mr Sata challenged Dr Chiluba to celebrate the conviction of Dr Kalumba just as he celebrated his acquittal.
Dr Kalumba, who is former Minister of Finance, and three others were last week jailed five years with hard labour for corrupt practices.
Those jailed are former Ministry of Finance permanent secretary Stella Chibanda and former defunct Access Financial Services Limited directors Faustin Kabwe and Aaron Chungu.
Dr Kalumba and the three others have, however, been released from prison after the Lusaka Magistrates’ Court granted them K500 million bail each in their own recognisance.
Meanwhile, Dr Chiluba has questioned why Dr Miti chartered a faulty plane when he was evacuated to South Africa for treatment.
Dr Chiluba asked the question during a church service when he gave a testimony of his life and heart problem.
He alleged that Dr Miti hired a plane used for pest control.
He said the plane, which Dr Miti claimed was a medical airbus, had no toilet or bed.
Dr Chiluba said he does not understand the logic by Dr Miti to have hired an old plane for an emergency, adding that the flight took four hours as opposed to the usual two hours from Lusaka to South Africa.
“Thank God that my wife and I are still alive…it does not make sense to hire an old plane for a person whose heart is running at 12 percent instead of the normal 70-100 percent.
“The little old plane hired by Dr Miti was faulty because barely 30 minutes after departure, one engine blew off and everyone on the plane, including the pilots, started panicking but I was calm because I prayed to God,” Dr Chiluba said.
He said after the plane developed a fault, the nurse on board panicked and confessed that the plane was not a medical airbus.
“I wondered why the plane, which looked like a wheelbarrow was chartered for me but I think this was another attempt by the devil to weaken me. I thank God we arrived safely,” he said.
Dr Chiluba said he is not accusing anyone of attempting to take his life but was questioning the logic of hiring a ‘finished plane’ to evacuate him to South Africa.
He said he has experienced God’s love and goodness as He has seen him through his heart problem.
“It is now five years when the doctors told me I had a heart problem which is incurable and that I was going to die.
“My heart condition was deterioting everyday and I spent sleepless nights because I had to be in a sitting position because if I had to sleep on the bed, I would have died. But my wife and I prayed even without faith sometimes because we wanted God to hear and he did. That’s why I am still alive,” he said.
Dr Chiluba thanked the church and other members of the public who prayed for his healing.
[ Zambia Daily Mail ]
President Rupiah Banda has disclosed that United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema has now agreed to be vice-president of the UPND/ Patriotic Front Pact.
President Banda said he had information that Mr Hichilema had now agreed to be vice-president of the UPND/PF Pact, allowing the PF leader, Michael Sata to be the presidential candidate in the 2011 general elections.
Mr Banda said in a statement released by his special assistant for Press and public relations, Dickson Jere in Nice, France yesterday that this was contrary to what Mr Hichilema had promised the people of Southern Province.
He advised the UPND leader that the people of Southern Province had the right to choose a leader of their own choice.
He said Mr Hichilema could not, therefore, decide on behalf of the Southern Province and impose his political preference for a president on them.
He said there was nothing wrong with the statement attributed to Parliamentary Chief Whip, Vernon Mwaanga that some districts in Southern Province had resolved to support the ruling MMD.
President Banda said Mr Hichilema was not the spokesperson of the people of Southern Province and should not impose his political views on innocent people.
And President Banda said he was shocked to read comments attributed to Mr Hichilema that president Mwanawasa was a good leader.
He called on politicians to avoid using the name of the late president in order to gain political mileage.
Mr Banda said the late president had asked to work with Mr Hichilema and the UPND when he was alive but the opposition leader refused, saying president Mwanawasa was an incompetent leader.
“Mr Hichilema and his supporters called the late president all sorts of names and refused to work with him when he was alive,” he said.
He said Mr Hichilema abused the late president when he was alive by constantly attacking his performance and personality.
He said it was clear that Mr Hichilema had now become very desperate and power-hungry to the extent that he had forgotten what he used to say about late president Mwanawasa.
“It is, therefore, surprising that Mr Hichilema is now trying to exploit the name of the late president to advance his political career,” he said.
But speaking at the Newsmakers’ Forum yesterday, Mr Hichlema said President Banda was feeling terminally ill because he was worried about the pact, like Vice-President George Kunda himself.
‘‘We have said as a pact, we shall choose the president and his deputy at the right time and for now, that issue has never been discussed,’’ Mr Hichilema said.
He said he did not know the source of information, adding that President Banda’s aides should advise him correctly.
[ Times of Zambia ]
THE MMD and the United Liberal Party (ULP) are optimistic of emerging victorious in the Luena parliamentary by-election, which has arisen as a result of the resignation of area member of Parliament (MP) Charles Milupi.
Mr Milupi, who was Luena independent MP, resigned from his parliamentary seat after he formed the Alliance for Democracy and Development. He has since indicated that he will re-contest the parliamentary seat.
Speaking in separate interviews in Lusaka yesterday, MMD spokesperson Dora Siliya and ULP general secretary Langtone Sichone expressed confidence of winning the parliamentary seat.
Ms Siliya said the party had made serious inroads to win popularity in Western Province and as such victory was certain.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) is yet to set the election date.
“The people have seen how Mr Milupi abandoned them in the middle of the journey and we have been in touch with the grassroots. I am certain that we shall increase our numbers in Parliament by winning the Luena seat,” Ms Siliya.
Currently, Ms Siliya said the party had started consultations to select the best candidate for the parliamentary election.
[pullquote]“The people have seen how Mr Milupi abandoned them in the middle of the journey and we have been in touch with the grassroots. I am certain that we shall increase our numbers in Parliament by winning the Luena seat,” Ms Siliya.[/pullquote]
She said the party was talking to various organs of the MMD in Luena Constituency and it would not be long before a preferred candidate was chosen.
“The people of Western Province have been true MMD supporters and so they will give us a chance by voting for our preferred candidate in Luena. Mr Milupi has abandoned them and this time around they will want a party to represent them and we are the people’s choice,” Ms Siliya said.
Mr Sichone said the party was making preparations to contest in the election after the provincial administration informed the national leadership that the ULP was popular in the province.
He said the provincial leadership in Western Province had indicated that the ULP stood a better chance of winning the by-election.
As such, he said the party would be conducting preliminary consultations to come up with the best candidate.
“The people at the grassroots level are urging the party to contest. They have given us insights about the constituency and I think that this offers the ULP an opportunity to contest and win the election. There is no doubt that the ULP is capable of carrying the day,” Mr Sichone said.
The National Restoration Party (NAREP) said it would tomorrow issue a statement on whether to take part in the by-election or not.
NAREP president, Elias Chipimo Jr said when the party was launched, there was an indication that they would channel their resources towards the 2011 elections but there was a change of stance.
As such, he said the party would issue a statement tomorrow.
[ Times of Zambia ]
Chieftainess Kalaba of Mansa district in Luapula Province has fled her palace for fear of being bewitched by her subjects. And several teachers at Lupende basic school in the same chiefdom have also threatened to flee the school due to what they called incessant nightmares caused by wizards.
This came to light on Sunday when Luapula Province minister Dr Boniface Kawimbe and Mansa District Commissioner Major Chibwe Nsakasha visited the rural school.
Major Nsakasha confirmed to ZANIS that it is true chieftainess Kalaba had fled the palace due to concerns of witchcraft. The DC said the traditional ruler is living in Senama compound and she intends to move to Mano near Chipili in Mwense district.
Villagers interviewed said chieftainess Kalaba had decided not to return to her palace after fleeing because every time she attempted to do so, she fell seriously ill.
Meanwhile, teachers at Lupende Basic were found to have packed their household goods in readiness to leave the school.
Parents Teachers Association Chairperson Royd Kasapo said teachers feared for their lives due to alleged witchcraft in which both unmarried and married female teachers were sexually abused while in their sleep.
Mr Kasapo said male teachers whose wives were allegedly being used by wizards equally claimed to have been bewitched, a condition that has made them incapable of consummating their marriage responsibilities.
[pullquote]The deputy head teacher Afya Mwaba narrated to Dr Kawimbe how on several occasions she experienced nightmares where she was being abused. [/pullquote]
He disclosed that the PTA, headmen and the chieftainess had decided to bring a witch finder on March 1 this year who named five old men, including a retired headmaster at the school to be in possession of charms that enabled them to abuse women in their sleep.
The PTA chairperson said the retired headmaster, a named old man and other wizards were exorcised of their charms and have since bolted from Lupende.
The deputy head teacher Afya Mwaba narrated to Dr Kawimbe how on several occasions she experienced nightmares where she was being abused.
Ms Mwaba said the relatives of the wizards have declared to continue tormenting the teachers publicly telling them that what they were experiencing in the night will continue because the charms they have were a family inheritance.
Luapula Province Minister appealed to the headmen and parents in the community to help resolve the problems teachers are facing.
Dr Kawimbe said Government has very few teachers and if the seven teachers at Lupende abandoned the school, it will be closed and the community will continue to remain backwards.
Bank of Zambia (BOZ) Head of Public Relations Kanguya Mayondi says indicators show that there is steady growth in the Zambian economy.
Mr. Mayondi told ZANIS in an interview in Kitwe today that the Zambian economy was certainly growing though it may not grow at the rate that is anticipated.
He attributed the economic crisis prevailing in the Eurozone as one of the factors that have contributed to the slow pace at which the economy is growing.
Mr. Mayondi explained that many European countries are spending money trying to bail out Greece resulting into reduced foreign direct investment inflows into developing countries such as Zambia.
He however said the country is expected to attain a 6.8% growth in the economy by the end of the year.
Mr. Mayondi expressed delight that the inflation rate in Zambia is at 9.1% compared to other African countries whose rate stood at about 12%.
He also said it will be good and beneficial to the Zambian people, if the inflation rate reduced further.
“Comparatively with other African countries, Zambia stands out in terms of the inflation rate which is at 9.1% when others are at 12%.But we would want it to be lower than this “Mr. Mayondi said.
He urged Government to strive to attain stability of the economy so as to attract more Foreign Direct Investment (FDIs).
FLASHBACK: Zambia Army soldiers bound for a peacekeeping mission in Sudan during the pre-departure formalities at Arakan Baracks in Lusaka
The United Nations (UN) has posthumously honoured two Zambian peacekeepers that died last year while serving in the UN missions in Timoreste and Sudan respectively. The two Zambia Police Officers, Inspector Francis Banda and Sergeant Morton Kamata Muyuni have been honoured with the Dag Hammarskjold medals.
This is according to the press statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka on Sunday by first Secretary for Press and the Zambian Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, Moses Walubita.
Inspector Banda died on October 9, 2009 while serving with the United Nations Mission in Timoreste (UNMIT) while Sergeant Muyuni died on February 20, 2009, while serving with the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS).
They were among 112 peacekeepers that died while serving with the United Nations and honoured during the the eighth annual International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, which is observed May 29.
However, commemorative activities at the United Nations Headquarters in New York , United States of America , and many other United Nations offices around the world took place on Friday, since May 29 falls on Saturday.
Zambia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Lazarous Kapambwe, received the Dag Hammarskjold medals on behalf of the recipients yesterday.
And United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, said this year’s commemoration was a sombre one. Mr. Moon said the past 14 months have been especially deadly for United Nations peacekeeping.
“Ambushes in Darfur, terrorism in Kabul and a plane crash in Haiti. These were among the tragedies that struck peacekeeping last year, killing 121 people,” he said.
He said as the United Nations honoured such moving displays of courage and dedication, it also paid tribute to over 122,000 military, police and civilian personnel who serve with distinction in its operations across the world.
Meanwhile, President of the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Dr. Ali Abdussalam Treki, said in his message that UN peacekeepers have stabilised situations, maintained peace and rekindled the hope of millions of conflict afflicted people around the world.
“This important work and achievements come with great sacrifice. 2010 has been a particularly tragic year for UN peacekeepers and the UN family as a whole. The devastating earthquake in Haiti also claimed the lives of 96 peacekeepers, the largest ever loss of UN staff in the history of the Organisation,” he added.
President Rupiah Banda has urged politicians in the country to desist from using the late President Levy Mwanawasa’s name to gain political mileage.
President Banda said he was shocked that opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) leader, Hakainde Hichilema, was now saying the late Dr. Mwanawasa was a good leader when his party used to call him all sorts of names.
In a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today by Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations, Dickson Jere, Mr. Banda said Mr. Hichilema and his supporters refused to work with the late President saying he was an incompetent leader.
He said it was shocking that Mr. Hichilema, who abused the late Dr. Mwanawasa when he was alive by constantly attacking his performance and personality, was now saying the late president was a good leader.
“It was therefore surprising that Mr. Hichilema was now trying to exploit the name of the late President to advance his political career,” he said.
[pullquote]He said he had information that Mr. Hichilema has agreed to serve as vice president of the UPND/PF pact, under Michael Sata, who will be presidential candidate for 2011 elections.[/pullquote]
President Banda alleged that Mr. Hichilema has become desperate and power hungry to an extent where he has forgotten what he used to say about the late President.
He said he had information that Mr. Hichilema has agreed to serve as vice president of the UPND/PF pact, under Michael Sata, who will be presidential candidate for 2011 elections.
He said this was contrary to what he (Hichilema) promised the people of Southern Province. President Banda has since advised Mr. Hichilema that the people of Southern Province had the right to choose a leader of their choice.
“Mr. Hichilema cannot, therefore, decide on behalf of Southern Province and impose his political preference for president on them,” he said.
Mr. Banda has meanwhile, said there was nothing wrong with the statement attributed to Parliamentary Chief Whip, Vernon Mwaanga, that some districts in Southern Province have resolved to support the ruling MMD.
The Africa- France summit opens Monday in France’s southern city of Nice with over 40 African heads of state and government expected to attend the High -profile gathering.
The two-day meeting of the leaders of Africa and France will focus on issues such as Africa’s place in world governance, re-enforcing peace and security together as well as Climate and development.
Running parallel to the summit will be five workshops on business environment, the financing of companies in Africa, vocational training, the social and environmental responsibility of business, and the sources of energy of the future.
The five workshops will be attended at ministerial level of the various countries that are participating at the Nice Africa France summit 2010.
The Nice Summit will also assume its traditional mission of dialogue between France and its African partners in preparation for upcoming international meetings, such as the United Nations Millennium Development Goals summit in September, Africa-European Union summit in November, Climate Change Conference in Cancun, Mexico, early December.
The summit will also create a platform for France, which has supported the interest of Africa at the global stage, to discuss with African countries and raise the issue of reform of the UN security council.
The summit dubbed Nice Africa- France summit 2010 has also attracted the participation of representatives from the African Union (AU), United Nations (UN) and the European Commission.
President Banda is already in Nice to attend the conference of African leaders and France to be held at the ultra modern Nice Acropolis Convention Centre in the Heart of the the resort city.
It is the first Africa- France summit organised by the host President Nicolas Sarkozy since coming to power in 2007. His predecessor Jacques Chirac held the bi- yearly summits aimed at pushing to a new heights the economic and political ties between France and the African continent.
President Banda’s delegation include the Minister of Foreign Affairs Kabinga Pande, Minister of Energy and Water Development Kenneth Konga, Deputy Minister of Finance and National Planning Chileshe Kapwepwe, deputy minister of Works and Supply Christopher Kalila and Southern Province Minister Daniel Munkombwe.
President Banda will be among other African leaders who include South African President Jacob Zuma, Egyptian President Mohamed Hosni Moubarak, Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika, President of Liberia Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Swaziland’s King Mswati III and Tanzania’s Jakaya Kikwete.
Vernon Mwaanga poses for a picture with ministry of foreign Affairs permanent secretary Tens Kapoma in Lusaka recently
MMD Parliamentary Chief Whip Vernon Mwaanga has said that politics is a practical subject that requires leaders to respond to realities on the ground if they are to remain relevant.
Reacting to United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema’s ascertion that a pact between the MMD and the UPND is imposible, Mr Mwaanga said the opposition party leader will learn the realities with more experience.
“My 50 years in the politics of our country have shown me that politics is a practical subject and leaders must respond to realities on the ground if they are to remain relevant.
“I am deeply conscious that I have had a different political experience from HH (Hichilema), who is relatively new in the politics of Zambia and Southern Province. He will learn with age and more experience, being the intelligent person he is and who enjoys my utmost respect,” Mr Mwaanga said in a statement released yesterday.
He said that in a modern society, leaders have to listen to all views and it does not matter whether they agree with them or not.
[pullquote]
“I am deeply conscious that I have had a different political experience from HH (Hichilema), who is relatively new in the politics of Zambia and Southern Province. He will learn with age and more experience, being the intelligent person he is and who enjoys my utmost respect,” Mr Mwaanga said in a statement released yesterday.[/pullquote]
Last week Mr Mwaanga said that UPND members in 11 districts in Southern Province want their party to get into an alliance with the MMD. Mr Hichilema was quoted in yesterday’s edition of The Post as saying that was overstepping his limits.
But Mr Mwaaga has said that at no time did he suggest that he represents all the people of Southern Province because no-one does.
“I based my comments on the discussions I have had with a number of southerners who volunteered their views to me and expressed personal preferences about the kind of electoral alliance they would like to see in 2011.
“It was their view, that an MMD-UPND alliance was more natural because of the similarities in the policies of the two parties,” he said.
Mr Mwaanga said it was also their view that such an alliance would be more reassuring to investors in that it would point in the direction of protecting the growth and economic gains made by the MMD government under both presidents Levy Mwanawasa and Banda.
“They by and large recognised that although the two parties still have political differences on such issues as the Mufumbwe by-election events and violence in general, there was room to bridge these differences in the interest of putting Zambia first by doing what is right for our country as a whole,” he said.
Mr Mwaanga said that it is important to lay a solid foundation for future generations of Zambians.
“I may not be there personally but I owe it to future generations of Zambians to help lay a solid foundation for their future and that of generations yet unborn. It is part of my patriotic duty and I will not shy away in performing it for the sake of our common future and values we share as Zambians.
“It is not about me. It is not about any individual leader. It is about our future, our people and our country now and always.”
Senior Chief Puta of the Bwile people of Chienge District in Luapula,in action during last year's Bwilile Ceremony at his palace.
SENIOR Chief Puta of the Bwile people has said there is a plot by some senior MMD officials to harm the party’s national secretary Katele Kalumba.
The traditional leader charged yesterday that a clique of anti-Rupiah Banda MMD officials has ganged up and mooted a plan to sideline Dr Kalumba from participating in the forthcoming MMD party convention.
Chief Puta has also appealed to the people of Luapula to remain calm over Dr Kalumba’s five-year jail sentence by a Lusaka Magistrate’s Court for alleged corrupt practices.
Chief Puta said in a statement yesterday that although many hearts are aggrieved by the judgement, they should remain calm and wait for the due process of the courts following the appeal.
Dr Kalumba and three others were on Friday released from prison after the Magistrate Court granted them each K500 million bail in their own recognisance.
[pullquote]He said last month he received a message from a named deputy minister who confirmed that there was a plot in the MMD by some people to ensure that Dr Kalumba is blocked from being available for the 2011 MMD convention because they are afraid of him politically.[/pullquote]
Chief Puta alleged that some people were keen to see the downfall of Dr Kalumba by politicising his conviction and that they were the same people working against President Banda.
He alleged that the plan was to extinguish all the strong supporters surrounding President Banda so that he remains exposed and weakened.
He said last month he received a message from a named deputy minister who confirmed that there was a plot in the MMD by some people to ensure that Dr Kalumba is blocked from being available for the 2011 MMD convention because they are afraid of him politically.
“The plot started in 2005 before President Banda ascended to the presidency, the plotters had a meeting in Lusaka, even as late as Tuesday last week, they had a meeting in Kabulonga, we are aware about that,” Chief Puta said.
The chief said as a family, they have resolved to support the leadership of President Banda and that they will not change their position now.
Meanwhile MMD Lusaka Province chairperson William Banda has said that it is wrong to politicise Dr Kalumba’s conviction.
And last week, Evangelical Youth Alliance International president Moses Lungu advised the opposition Patriotic Front to respect Dr Kalumba and desist from making wrong impressions about him.
He said Dr Kalumba has demonstrated under difficult circumstances that he is a leader and has the spirit of uniting the country.
Dr Kalumba filed a notice of appeal against his conviction and sentence.
The other three released on bail are former Ministry of Finance permanent secretary Stella Chibanda and defunct Access Financial Services Limited directors Faustin Kabwe and Aaron Chungu.
The nine Professional Teachers Union of Zambia (PTUZ)Executive Committees have appealed to the government through the Ministry of Education to investigate and to stop the illegal double deductions teachers have continued to suffer for a long time now.
A team of Executive Committees’ representatives which stormed QFM studios last evening said government must move in quickly to intervene in the matter.
Team leader Victor Muyumba said a lot of teachers have continued to lose their money through these deductions.
He said government should allow teachers to belong to unions of their choice by expediting the signing of the recognition agreement with the national executive committees of the PTUZ.
Mr Muyumba said teachers’ rights to belong to a union of their choice are being violated by the delay in the signing of the recognition agreement by the government.
( QFM ]
“…you have stayed long enough at this mountain”
(Duet 1:6, NIV)
TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria
Let me ask you, do you go out each day knowing that favor is already in your future? Or have you gotten stuck in a rut staring at a mountain of disappointment, setbacks or difficulty?
That’s what happened to the people of Israel. They were headed toward their promised land. They had big goals and big dreams, but along the way they hit some setbacks and had some disappointments. They got so discouraged that they gave up on their dreams and just settled where they were. One day God said to them, “You have dwelt long enough on this mountain.” He was saying, “It’s time to move past this and embrace the blessing in your future.”
I believe God is saying that to each one of us today. You’ve been where you are long enough. God is saying, “This is a new day. Get your fire back. Where you are is not where you’re supposed to stay.” If you’ll be determined to move past your mountain, He will lead you and empower you to live in favor and blessing in every area of your life!
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Heavenly Father, I give to You every area of my heart. I give You my questions, my disappointments, my doubts and fears. I choose to trade my sorrow for Your joy. I choose to press past my mountains so I can embrace the promises You have in store for me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Nkana bounced back from a three-match winless run to beat visiting Kabwe Warriors by a convincing 2-0 victory at Wusakile in Kitwe on Saturday.
Warriors were poor and disjointed throughout that left even Nkana fans exasperated about their sworn enemies failure to live up to the old traditional rivalry of days gone by.
Happy Sichikolo’s side fell behind as early as the 6th minute after Maxwell Phiri headed in a free kick.
Warriors’ most tangible effort in the game came in the 23rd minute when former Konkola Blades and Kitwe United striker Joseph Bwalya tested Kennedy Kalale with a rasping shot from the edge of the box that came off the woodwork.
On the half hour mark, Nkana went two-nil up with another header this from man-of-the-match Rabby Lwambula who gave Warriors’ defence a torrid time.
Lwambula’s stellar shows’ major highlight came in the 34th minute with a cheeky back heel pass to team mate Victor Mwansa that was parried by the visitors’ goalkeeper Felix Kalowa.
Meanwhile, Sichikolo did not hide his frustration after the second goal with Warriors betraying performance when he turned his back from proceedings to kick the poor inanimate and innocent garden chair in the technical area.
The former City coach and Zambia international has now won just two games including a draw and a loss in the month of May.
Elsewhere, leaders Zesco United remain unbeaten after a 2-0 away win in their Ndola derby at Dola Hill against Forest Rangers.
Jackson Mwanza and John Chingangu were, unbelievebly, on target in quick succession in the 19th and 21th minutes respectively.
Zesco enjoy a five point lead on 24 points as the season draws towards the halfway mark in the next three matches.
A local economist has welcomed Government’s call on farmers and other traders to consider exporting maize if they did not find market locally. Chibamba Kanyama observed that the opening of the market for maize export by Government was the best decision that could be made this time around.
Mr. Kanyama told ZANIS in Lusaka on Saturday that since Zambia still has maize stocks from last year’s harvest that could last up to the end of 2010, it was only fair to allow maize farmers and other traders to export their crop.
He was commenting on the decision by Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Peter Daka, to allow farmers to export their surplus maize. Mr. Kanyama pointed out that allowing farmers to export their maize would enable commercial farmers to recover what they spent to produce the crop.
“The only appropriate measure is for Government to lift the ban on export to allow for a fair price for the commercial farmers so that they can recoup their cost and make reasonable returns,” he said.
He explained that the K65, 000 which was set by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) as the maize floor price for the 2010 marketing season was not cost efficient to the commercial farmers. Mr. Kanyama said selling a 50 kilogramme bag of maize at K65, 000 would only be profitable to small scale farmers that received farming inputs from the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP), which were heavily subsidised by Government.
“The only farmers that can sell at that price is the subsidized farmers and peasant farmers because they do not compute capital cost, they do not compute labour cost and also they do not compute energy cost,” he said. Mr. Kanyama added that to small scale farmers and peasant farmers, the K65, 000 per 50 kg bag of maize was a break even price.
He however feared that setting a floor price which is not cost efficient to commercial farmers could disturb maize production in the future. “So to small scale farmers, K65,000 is a breakeven price but for the commercial farmer, that is where we have a problem because they can easily switch to alternative crops and this has the potential of dampening the production in 2011,” he explained.
On Vice President George Kunda’s assurance to farmers that Government will buy all their excess maize, Mr. Kanyama said the FRA should now embark on educating farmers about this position because they might not be patient enough to wait for the agency.
He said the Food Reserve Agency should be given enough money to buy the maize on cash basis to deliver farmers from the temptation of selling their crops to ‘cash but exploitative’ buyers. “The only way to minimise exploitation of farmers is for FRA to go flat-out to buy the crop within 90 days,” he said.
Meanwhile, FRA Acting Spokesperson, Phillip Kabwe disclosed to ZANIS in Lusaka today that the agency has since started purchasing maize from farmers in Kabompo district in North Western Province. The crop marketing season was opened on 1st May 2010 following President Rupiah Banda’s directive to open the season early.
This year, Zambia has recorded the highest maize production in the history of the country at 2.79 million metric tonnes, against the national consumption of about 1.3 million metric tonnes per annum. This year’s bumper harvest represents 48 per cent increase in production compared to last year’s.
