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Zesco United are out of this years Orange Caf Confederations Cup.
This is despite beating Nigerian guests Warri Wolves 2-0 at Arthur Davies stadium in Kitwe today in the two sides Confederations cup first round return leg match that see the visitors Wolves advance 3-2 on aggregate.
Wolves earlier at home in Nigeria 3-0 on March 21.
Both of Zesco’s goals came after the break through striker Enock Sakala who gave Zesco the lead in 62nd minute and was again on target in the 79th minute.
Zesco’s exit means Zanaco are Zambia’s sole remaining team in Caf club competition this year and they face Asec Mimosa of Cote d’Ivoire in Abidjan this Sunday in a Caf Champions League first round return leg match a 17:30 Zambian time kickoff.
Zanaco lead 1-0 from the first leg played in Lusaka on March 20.
Opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) has described the ruling movement for multi party democracy MMD as a house that is falling apart.
Mapatizya Member of Parliament (MP) Ackson Sejani said Zambians could no longer afford to entrust national leadership in the hands of the MMD government anymore.
Mr Sejani said in an interview that the ruling party has failed Zambians and their time to go has has arrived.
He noted that the suspension of kafulafuta MP George mpombo is clear testimony t that the ruling MMD is undergoing serious disengagement.
Mr Sejan said the core values that united MMD has began to crumble and the party has begun to lose it direction.
The MP also observed that the UPND/PF Pact is forcefully moving in the Mufumbwe and Milanzi constituencies to scoop both seats in the by elections.
MMD Lusaka province chairman William Banda dancing during the party's card renewal programme in Lusaka
MMD Lusaka Province chairperson William Banda has called on the Government to take stern action on some Members of Parliament (MPs) and their councillors misapplying the constituency development funds (CDF).
Mr Banda said the Government released CDF for various constituency projects such as rehabilitation of roads and drainages, but charged that some MPs and councillors were misusing the money.
He said this in Lusaka on Thursday when he addressed party cadres in Mwembeshi Ward in Matero Constituency in Lusaka.
Mr Banda, who was accompanied by provincial and district MMD officials, said it was wrong for Patriotic Front president Michael Sata and United Party for National Development leader Hakainde Hichilema to attack the Government for poor drainages and roads when it released CDF for such projects.
“I therefore call on the Government to take serious action against MPs and councillors abusing CDF because these funds are meant for constituency development projects like roads and drainages,” he said.
He said Mr Sata and Mr Hichilema should not blame President Rupiah Banda for floods experienced in the capital city because his Government had done its best to disburse CDF to enable MPs and councillors work on drainages and roads.
The Government had also increased the CDF allocation from K400 million to K600 million per constituency this year.
Mr Banda said the Government had further distributed road machinery and it should, therefore, be the role of MPs and councillors to access the equipment for rehabilitation works.
He said Mr Sata was once Health minister and did little to improve the sector, but President Banda and his administration had put several measures to develop it.
MMD provincial women’s chairperson Jane Nyirongo urged women to form clubs and access funds from the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission and Ministry of Community Development and Social Services.
MOBILE Telecommunication Network (MTN) Zambia has launched three new products on the market aimed at improving mobile communication services.
The new products include MTN mobile email services, my choice top up and MTN One World, which is a roaming facility.
Speaking during the official launch at a colourful ceremony held at Kitwe’s Sherbourne Guesthouse where everyone in the audience walked away with an MTN fully connected cell-phone going with all the three new products, company marketing and segment manager Leonard Kawano said this was aimed at making communication become the centre of doing business.
The MTN mobile email product contains among other features a corporate e-mail coupled with personal information management that provided an easy to use, cost effective and continuously updated e-mail that could be accessed by the user whilst away from the office.
This provided great benefits to people who were frequently out in the field as they were able to receive corporate e-mails without needing to go back to their offices.
Mr Kawano said the My Choice package was another product with value added as it would allow MTN post paid customers to enjoy all the benefits of their post-paid contract while enjoying control over their spending.
The MTN One World was a portfolio of roaming services that were significantly simpler and easier to use that had been introduced on the market with favourable rates citing K4, 500 per minute for South-Africa, which was the cheapest so far.
NATIONAL team coach Herve Renard is said to be leaving Zambia when his contract expires next month to take up the Angola job.
According to sources in Angola, Renard is already in Luanda finalising negotiations with that country’s football federation.
The sources also said Renard will leave the Chipolopolo together with assistant trainer Patrice Beaumelle.
The Angola national team coaching job has been vacant since February when Portuguese born mentor Manuel Jose left after the team’s poor performance at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations which that country hosted.
The Palancas Negras were eliminated from the Africa Cup in the quarter-finals after losing 1-0 to losing finalists Ghana.
The source said while Renard earns about US$19,000 a month in Zambia, Angola has dangled an irresistible US$100,000.
On Wednesday, Renard was seen checking in at Lusaka International Airport but he said he was heading to Johannesburg.
His agent in France Gael Mahe admitted that Renard is in Angola but could not give details.
“Yes he (Renard) is in Angola but for now, I can’t give you any details,” Mahe said.
But Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) communications officer Erick Mwanza said Renard is still Zambia coach.
Mwanza said FAZ is aware that the Frenchman is out of the country but not looking for employment.
“Yes Renard is out of the country but I spoke to him and he told me that he is not going anywhere. Anyway let’s wait and see,” Mwanza insisted.
Renard attracted the attention of many African teams after guiding the Chipolopolo to the quarter-finals of the continental championship.
Zambia were rated one of the best performing teams in Angola after the team’s fine display of skill.
The departure of Renard and Beaumelle is once again likely to cause a crisis with only a month before Zambia take on South Africa in the Championship of African Nations qualifiers.
Renard joined Zambia in 2008 in May on a two-year contract.
GOVERNMENT says Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata’s claim of a plot to eliminate him is a figment of his imagination caused by political fatigue.
Minister of Home Affairs Lameck Mangani said government has no intentions of eliminating Mr Sata.
He has since advised Mr Sata to report the threats on his life to police so that they could investigate the matter.
Mr Mangani was reacting to Mr Sata’s claims that those in government are trying to eliminate him because he is a threat to their hold on power.
“Mr Sata is a political comedian who is suffering from political fatigue. I feel sorry for him because he looks tired these days. If he looks tired now, how is he going to cope with the hard times coming in the run-up to the 2011 general elections?” Mr Mangani asked.
He said Mr Sata does not have the stamina to campaign for the 2011 general elections. Mr Mangani said Mr Sata is psychologically defeated and as a result fears his own shadow.
“No-one is after Mr Sata’s life because he is not a factor. We know that he cannot win an election…he just fears his own shadow. If Mr Sata collapses today because of fatigue, we will still take him to the hospital because no-one is interested in having him dead,” he said.
Mr Mangani advised Mr Sata to use this Easter period to reflect on his political career.
[pullquote]“No-one is after Mr Sata’s life because he is not a factor. We know that he cannot win an election…he just fears his own shadow. If Mr Sata collapses today because of fatigue, we will still take him to the hospital because no-one is interested in having him dead,” he said.[/pullquote]
“He should seriously reflect on whether he should continue with his political career or retire,” he said.
And Mr Mangani said government would not relent in its efforts to find out whether or not Mr Sata was imprisoned for criminal activities.
“If this is a way of diverting government’s attention from the 1960 case, it will not work. Despite Mr Sata’s claims, we will intensify investigations so that the truth comes out,” he said.
“The man is tired. His claims just show that he has run out of ideas, that is why he is hallucinating. If his life is under any threat, he should report the matter to the police. But I know that he is just speculating and this is typical of him.
“Hard times are coming, so we need hard men. If he shows signs of tiredness now, he will not reach 2011.
We wouldn’t want anything to happen to Mr Sata because he is one of the political comedians we love,” Mr Mangani said.
Zesco United are staring an early continental club exit when they meet Warri Wolves of Nigeria on Saturday at Arthur Davies stadium in Kitwe.
Zesco trail Wolves 3-0 from the two sides Caf Confederations Cup first round, first leg match played on March 21 in Warri.
Fighton Simukonda’s side need to score at least four goals without reply to overturn that result to continue with their Confederations Cup campaign.
Zesco, who were on a preliminary round bye, have never failed to advance in their last three African club cup campaigns since making their debut in the 2007 edition of the same competition.
An early exit will be a big blow to Zesco that will come just a season after making history when they became the first Zambian club to reach the lucrative stage of the Caf Champions League.
Meanwhile, Wolves coach Lawrence Akpokona is looking to exorcize ghosts from his last meeting with a Zambian opponent last year in the same competition when he was coach of Ocean Boys.
Ocean Boys were eliminated from the Confederations Cup by Red Arrows who had beaten the Nigerian club 2-0 in Lusaka but lost away by the same margin to finish 2-2 on aggregate.
Arrows advanced via post-match penalties that finished 3-2 in Nigeria.
Akpokona is hoping this will not be another case of De ja Vu should Zesco get three goals and force another penalty shootout decider.
Winner over both legs will face either CAPS united of Zimbabwe or Moroka Swallows of South Africa in the second round at the end of this month.
Nigerian Warri Wolves players on arrival at Lusaka international airport
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A woman who was bitten by vicious dogs in Kabwe recuperating in Kabwe recently.
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President Banda with incoming Canadian High Commissioner to Zambia Robert Orr at State House
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Zambia's envoys in the Orange CAF champions league Zanaco players before departure for Ivory Coast to face ASEC Mimosas.
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Zambia Revenue Autority Commisioner general Criticals Mwansa and Access Bank managing director Mukwangi Chibesakunda signing agreements on electronic tax payments during the tax payer awards ceremony in Lusaka.
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Zambia Army Commander Isaac Chisuzi presents an award to Racheal Nachula during the army annual sports awards at Arakan Baracks in Lusaka
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Zambia Army Commander Isaac Chisuzi presents an award to national soccer team player Dennis Banda during the army annual sports awards at Arakan Baracks in Lusaka
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President Banda receives letters of credence from incoming French Ambassador Oliver Richard at State House.
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President Rupiah Banda clears off a fly after receiving credentials from diplomats at State House yesterday.
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I get your point...State House Chief of Staff Austin Sichinga (c) seem to be saying to President Banda (l) and incoming French Ambassador to Zambia Oliver Richard at State House
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Apostle Ingombe Ananyatele in charge of Limulunga-Katonga Area giving the Bed sheets to Hospital Committee Chairperson Silumelume Mubukwano with Lewanika General Hospital Acting Director Doctor Sam Miti
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from L-R Lewanika General Hospital Acting Director Doctor Sam Miti, Apostle Ingombe Ananyatele and Hospital Advisor Committee Chairperson Silumelume Mubukwano pose for the photography during the Donation of assorted goods to Children’s ward
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Foreign Affairs minister Kabinga Pande and Egyptian Ambassador to Zambia Salah Sadek make a toast after receiving computers from the Egyptian government
The Holy Week is a powerful moment in the life of the Christian church. Each year this week becomes a reminder of the life, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Beginning on Palm Sunday, the Church all over the world reenacts the pain of Jesus’ Holy Passion leading up to his death on Good Friday and his subsequent resurrection on Easter Sunday. Indeed Easter is a powerful event that we should use to commemorate and remind ourselves of the supreme sacrifice of our Lord who died for our sins.
There are many things that the Lord Jesus said and did during the Holy Week. It is during this Holy Week that he taught about the ten virgins; taught about the ten talents; and commended the poor widow. It was also during the Holy Week that he spoke about the signs of the End of the Age and his Second Coming. Additionally, it was still during the Holy Week that he taught the disciples about the Holy Spirit that he was going to send to them after he has gone back to the Father. Love as a symbol of the believers’ unity was also taught during this Holy Week. He told his disciples to love one another, since it is only through their love for one another that the world would know that they are Christians. That message of love still rings true for the world and the Church today. It was on Holy Thursday that he, taking the usual ceremonial symbolisms of the Passover Meal, instituted the Lord’s Supper—the Eucharist.
On Good Friday, Jesus having been arrested earlier was now facing a criminal trial. The first trial was held by the High Priests—Annas and Caiaphas. After that trial with the High Priests Jesus was then taken to Pontius Pilate the Governor of the Roman Province of Palestine at that time. As a Roman Governor, all judicial power lay with Pilate, and the case of Christ (which had to do with a death sentence) could only be presided over by him. It is to Pilate that Jesus said one of the most profound statements about the relationship between Christianity and politics. When Pilate asked him whether he was a King, Jesus replies, “My Kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place” (John 8:36). I wish to critically evaluate this statement in the context of current Church-State relationship in Zambia which has ironically declared itself to be a Christian Nation.
First, Jesus clearly recognizes the reality of at least two kingdoms. The first kingdom is the kingdom of this world, while the second one is the one he says to be “from another place.” From his answer we could infer that while Pilate’s question was about whether Jesus was a king of the Jews—a kingdom of this world—Jesus was quick to mention that yes he was a king, but not a king of this world.
Secondly, Jesus shows the difference between these two kingdoms. The kingdom of the world is preserved and created by fights and war. But the kingdom “from another place” does not operate like that. Its way is not a way of violence. Indeed if Jesus’ kingdom had been of the world, his supporters from all over Jerusalem, and Galilee, and Samaria could have fought for him. They could have mobilized their spears and swords. But he being a radically different king did not need to have his supporters to fight since his kingdom was radically different.
Thirdly, Jesus’ statement seems to be more descriptive than it is disparaging. As such, he is not saying that the kingdom of the world is fundamentally evil or bad. He is simply mentioning that the kingdom of this world is not the only kingdom there is. Consequently, he is equally not forbidding people or believers’ participation in politics, but rather pointing out clearly that our participation in politics is done with an awareness of the existence of a kingdom “from another place.”
What then does all this mean to Zambia a Christian nation? It means that the Church should clearly distinguish between the Kingdom of God, and national politics. This is not to mean that the church leaders or indeed Christians should not participate in politics, but rather that Zambian Christians’ participation in politics should be predicated by the reality of the kingdom from “another place.” Therefore, Christians do not participate in politics the way the world does. But rather they participate in politics with an awareness of faithfulness to God’s Kingdom that should make Christians serve people better. To the Zambian Christian, therefore, they do not need to use violence for personal political ends—that is what the world does. The Christian in Zambia should use kingdom strategies for political participation. If the church participated in national politics without recourse to Jesus’ “other kingdom”, she may lose her prophetic edge in leading people to Jesus Christ—which is the primary goal and raison d’etre of the Church.
THE Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has suspended Lusaka lawyer Mundia Sikatana from practising law and closed his law firm for his alleged misconduct as a legal practitioner contrary to the association’s regulations.
LAZ president confirmed in an interview the suspension of Mr Sikatana in Lusaka yesterday, saying the association had also closed the former minister’s law film.
“Mr Sikatana has been suspended from the association until the Legal Practitioners Committee (LPC) decides on the next step. His suspension has to do with his conduct as a lawyer,” Mr Lungu said.
Mr Lungu said Mr Sikatana was suspended with another lawyer only identified as Mr Imenda during the recent LPC meeting.
THE ruling MMD has given former Minister of Defence George Mpombo 10 days in which to submit an exculpatory letter to the office of the national secretary in accordance with its Disciplinary Regulations of 1993.
In a letter dated March 29, 2010, which overrides an earlier one, MMD national secretary Katele Kalumba said the party has found Mr Mpombo liable for disciplinary action.
Dr Kalumba also said in pursuance of regulation three of the party’s Disciplinary Regulations of 1993, Mr Mpombo has been slapped with four charges.
“In accordance with regulation 9(2) of the MMD Disciplinary Regulations of 1993, you are hereby requested to submit to the undersigned your written exculpatory statement within 10 days from the date of receipt of this letter.
“I shall thereupon cause the constitution of the National Executive Committee (NEC) disciplinary committee to adjudicate over your matter as per regulation of the Disciplinary Regulations of 1993,” the letter, dated March 29, 2010, reads.
According to the letter to Mr Mpombo, who is Kafulafuta member of Parliament, the former Minister of Defence has in the first count been charged with contravention of the provisions of the party’s constitution, regulations, rules and orders or decisions, contrary to regulation 7(a) of the 1993 Disciplinary Regulations.
This charge has been effected in that since February last year, Mr Mpombo allegedly conducted himself in a manner that is prejudicial and inimical to the aspirations of the party by engaging himself in the issuance of contemptuous and disparaging media statements against the party and Republican President Banda, senior party officials and the MMD in general.
In the second count, Mr Mpombo has been charged with alleged conduct likely to bring the name of the party into contempt, ridicule or disrepute contrary to regulation 7(a) of the 1993 Disciplinary Regulations.
“You have since February 2009 publicly connived and or supported some known opposition political parties, selective media and NGOs to tarnish the image of the party, and further that you have recently been involved in and or publicly supported the Red Card Campaign, and which campaign is likely not only to embarrass the ruling party, but also to create anarchy in the country,” he said.
The third charge against Mr Mpombo, Dr Kalumba says, was necessitated by his alleged disobedience to orders, directives or instructions of any party organ or officials duly authorised to do so, contrary to regulation 7(f) of the 1993 Disciplinary Regulations.
Dr Kalumba said the charge was effected because Mr Mpombo allegedly disregarded the orders, directives and instructions of various organs and officials of the party like the Kafulafuta Constituency and Masaiti district committees.
Mr Mpombo is also alleged to have disobeyed orders, instructions or directives of the Copperbelt provincial committee, the party national chairman and the national secretary to desist from making disparaging remarks against President Banda, senior officials and the party in general.
In the fourth count, Mr Mpombo has been charged with insubordination to senior organs or officials, contrary to regulation 7(g) of the 1993 Disciplinary Regulations.
Under the fourth charge, Mr Mpombo is alleged to have since February last year, insubordinated himself to senior party organs and officials by consistently and arrogantly rejecting their orders, directives and instructions to stop making disparaging remarks against President Banda, senior party officials and the party in general, with a view to weakening it and agitating for the downfall of the ruling party.
And Dr Kalumba has said Mr Mpombo has been given a charge letter in specific matters and the disciplinary committee which will be formed will mete out sanctions against him should he be found wanting.
He said all the lower organs have been informed accordingly.
The letter containing the charges against Mr Mpombo is copied to President Banda and party national chairman Michael Mabenga.
Meanwhile, Dr Kalumba has said he has willingly accepted the resignation of North-Western Province MMD youth chairman Newton Malwa.
He said this in a statement issued in Lusaka yesterday.
Former Zain Zambia Marketing Director, Evans Muhanga has sued the company in the industrial relations court over his dismissal.
Mr. Muhanga is complaining that his dismissal was done in bad faith and is a mere smoke screen. In his written complaints filed in the Industrial relations court, Mr. Muhanga says his dismal has come 17 months before the expiry of his contract.
Mr. Muhanga is claiming among other things over One Hundred and Forty Two Thousand Euros for his 17 months salary. His claim in Euros including other allowances totals over Five Hundred Thousand Euros, while the Kwacha bill claim is over K74 Million.
Mr. Muhanga says he has suffered mental distress and anguish due to his dismissal.
The MMD has adopted Whiteson Banda, a Katete business executive as its candidate for the Milanzi parliamentary by-election slated for April 29.
National secretary Katele Kalumba said in an interview yesterday the national executive committee (NEC) that sat in Lusaka on Tuesday unanimously adopted Mr Banda to contest on the MMD ticket.
Dr Kalumba said the party was optimistic that the MMD would retain the seat which fell vacant after the death of area Member of Parliament Reuben Chisanga Banda. He said Milanzi Constituency was a former UNIP stronghold but the ruling party had taken over the whole area.
“We have won the seat two times under Rose Banda and the late Reuben Banda. UNIP got it with the late Chosani Njobvu. Currently the chances of UNIP winning the seat are very limited,” he said.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia has set April 8 for candidates to file in nominations and April 29 as the polling date.
UNIP has adopted a Lusaka businessperson, Musa Banda to contest on the party ticket. Other opposition political parties are yet to announce their candidates.
And Dr Kalumba yesterday unveiled the MMD candidate in the Milanzi by-election, Mr Banda to the electorate in Katete District.
Speaking shortly after introducing Mr Banda at a meeting held at Mphangwe Motel, Dr Kalumba said he was happy that all the people who had applied in order to be considered for adoption had pledged to rally behind Mr Banda.
[Times of Zambia]
Tony BlairFormer British prime minister Tony Blair on Thursday added his voice to calls for African development strategies to go beyond aid, saying a predictable and transparent business environment was critical to sustainable development.
Blair whose African Governance Initiative advises three African governments, said developing countries needed to do more to promote government accountability, battle graft and create a “one-stop shop” for frontier investors.
Blair’s comments echo proposals by Zambian economist Dambisa Moyo, who has called for a financial market-led approach to development.
“The problem with African countries is not just a matter of aid,” Blair told Reuters in an interview.
“The two absolutely critical things for any African country that wants to develop sustainably are that you put together the right business environment and that (investors) can come in on a transparent and open basis.”
Blair’s initiative operates in Rwanda and Sierra Leone and recently began work in Liberia, all of which are recovering from conflicts and present good opportunities for intrepid financiers, Blair said.
“You’ve got to put all the caveats in, but the natural potential of these three countries is enormous and the political leadership and determination is there,” he said.
“There are very few frontier markets that you go into where there isn’t a risk-reward balance, but if the investment pays off, it’s going to pay off in a very big way.”
Moyo, who wrote the book “Dead Aid,” has criticized aid flows, arguing instead for increased trade, foreign direct investment, and use of capital markets through bond issues.
African economies weathered the global economic slowdown relatively well.
The IMF recently forecast the continent’s growth for 2010 at 4.5 percent, although this presents a significant drop from the six percent growth rates enjoyed over the past decade.
Vatican Ambassador to Zambia NICOLA GIRASOLI has urged the clergy in the country not to involve themselvs in Politics.
Ambassador GIRASOLI says men involved directly in pastoral ministries should always act in a non partisan way.
Ambassodor GIRASSOLI who is the Pope’s representative in Zambia observed that the clergy who speak on behalf of the poor should not speak in their personnal view but according to God’s perception.
He said as christians they should be the defender and promoter of peace in the country.
In his Easter message GIRASSOLI urged christians to put aside their different views for the greater benefits of peace and reconciliation in the country
