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ZESCO in Kafue says residents in the district owe the utility company a staggering K13 billion in unsettled electricity bills.
ZESCO Area Manager Jacob Mukonka disclosed this today during a District Development Coordinating Committee (DDCC) meeting held at Kafue District Council chaired by Kafue District Commissioner Winford Ngoma.
Mr. Mukonka said the huge bill was mostly by domestic consumers who have accrued bills over time. He however said the company has no problems with the local industries as most of them were up to date.
Mr. Mukonka explained that this was why households in the district have from time to time experienced disconnections without prior notices. He said the company was in dire need of funds if it has to support and sustain its operations.
Mr. Mukonka appealed to the district commissioner and other stakeholders in the district to sensitize their workers and communities on the importance of paying for electricity. He said whilst the company realizes the problems the district was going through economically, it is important that they also know that ZESCO has to survive.
Mr. Mukonka also explained to the DDCC that the continued load shedding in the district was not only affecting Kafue district. He said the programme of load shedding was a national one.
Zambia Air Force ( ZAF) Brig General Montah Chileshe has warned officers against involvement in political activities as the country builds up to the 2011 Presidential and general elections.
Brig General Chileshe said there is need for the military personnel to avoid politicking or getting involved in partisan politics at all costs.
Brig Gen Chileshe noted that the role of military personnel is to serve the government of the day hence the need to maintain a non partisan stance as demanded by the national constitution and oath of allegiance.
He was speaking at the ZAF Headquarters Officers’ annual Ball held at Chamber valley officers Mess last night.
Brig Gen Chileshe also called for discipline and integrity among military personnel in the prevailing global economic crisis.
Meanwhile Twin Palm ZAF Brig Gen Daniel Banda has urged officers to be alert and guard against vices of sabotage, pilferage, theft and damage of property.
Brig Gen Daniel Banda was speaking in Lusaka last night at the ZAF Twin Palm 2009 officer’s annual ball at Twine Palm Officers’ Mess.
Brig gen Banda further urged the officers to continue being disciplined noting that their commitment and hard work shown throughout the year should continue.
He said discipline and integrity among military personnel was cardinal and further urged them to desist from extravagance lives with the prevailing global economic crisis.
He also thanked the ZAF Ladies Club for their continued support in uplifting the welfare of ZAF personnel and communities through building of hospitals and schools in their bases.
President Rupiah Banda has asked the Zambia-China Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone (ZCCZ) team to quickly start working on phase one of the economic zone in Lusaka.
Speaking at State House today when he met the ZCCZ team, President Banda said he would like to see tangible progress on the project by next year.
“We are happy to receive you here. To us this is an important occasion. I want to see progress on the ground by next year,” he said.
He expressed happiness that the ZCCZ team has not taken long to design the outlook of the economic zone.
And Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Situmbeko Musokotwane, assured the ZCCZ team of government’s support for the Regulator Plan of the ZCCZ Lusaka Subzone.
Meanwhile, Chinese Ambassador to Zambia, Li Qiangmin, said Zambia would be one of the first countries where China would establish an economic zone following the China-Africa economic summit that was held a few years ago.
And ZCCZ President, Tao Xinghu, expressed gratitude that the Zambian government has fully supported the Lusaka-subzone development project.
Mr. Xinghu said his team has carefully studied the project, whose phase one of construction will commence next year.
The Lusaka subzone will have industries, residential areas, hospitals, schools, hotels and other social amenities.
The development of this zone is expected to step up efforts for Zambia to become a middle income country by 2030.
The Immigration Department says it has issued 6, 605 employment permits to foreign immigrants this year.
Chief Immigration Officer, Anderson Phiri disclosed in Lusaka today that the department has also issued 652 entry permits and 746 self employment permits as of October this year.
He said the figure is high compared to 3,052 employment permits, 874 entry permit and 512 self employment permit issued last year.
Mr. Phiri said the department has also collected K628.5 billion for government revenue from immigration and other related activities.
He said the department has continued to play a crucial role in the development of the country by promoting trade and tourism in the country.
He said the department is therefore prepared for effective operations owing to this development which will also help in easy the movement of people in the region and across international frontiers.
Mr. Phiri has since called for logistics that will allow them to effectively carry out their mandate adding that inadequate land and water transport has made it difficult for the department to conducts patrols along the borders which are poorly manned.
Mr. Phiri said the country has 42 land border posts along the 4,915.4 Kilometer border line with eight neighboring countries but has Skeleton staffs manning this stretch.
He said effective management of migration services is key in contributing to an ideal and enabling business environment which is conducive for foreign direct investment.
Vice President George Kunda has disclosed that Zambia is liable to compensate Lusaka Lawyer Dr. Rodger Chongwe.
And Mr. Kunda has said that there are no provisions to register Dr. Chongwe’s case in the Zambian courts contrary to claims by the Law Association of Zambia.
Mr. Kunda says Dr. Chongwe’s case is being ably handled by the office of the Attorney-General in accordance with the constitutional provisions and the United Nations Convention on Human Rights under which Dr. Chongwe ‘s claim was lodged.
He says Solicitor-General and Acting Attorney-General Abyudi Shonga made the necessary negotiations as a Constitutional Office Holder representing government to arrive at the compensation.
The Vice President was speaking during a press briefing at his office in Lusaka today.
Mr. Kunda stated that Zambia being a member of the United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) was found Zambia liable to pay Dr. Chongwe the sum of US$6.7 million as compensation.
He stressed that as Vice President and Minister of Justice and on the instruction of President Banda, he met Dr. Chongwe and referred him to the Attorney-General where the matter was dealt with in full.
“I can confirm that in 1997 Dr Chongwe was short by police and medical evidence is there. Zambia was found liable to the party of UNHRC which Zambia is a member of. As government we are merely executing the legal issue or court ruling.
There are many serious cases before the Office of the Attorney General to pay and not just that of Dr. Chongwe which is even less. This matter was dealt with in accordance with the law and there was no impropriety in the way it was dealt with. The whole process was left to the AG to negotiate a reasonable sum of compensation,” Mr. Kunda said.
And has Mr. Kunda described as malicious and politically motivated, allegations by the Law Association of Zambia that the Director of Public Prosecutions, Chalwe Muchenga was being controlled by the Executive.
He said the allegation was merely aimed at casting aspersions on the integrity of the person holding the office of the DPP.
The Vice President said there was no way the executive could meddle into the constitutional mandate of the DPP.
Mr. Kunda said he is proud to be a member of LAZ but was not happy with manner some of its members inclined to the opposition are influencing LAZ President to do wrong things.
“I’m proud to belong to LAZ. I love my president Mr. Lungu except I am not happy in the manner LAZ is operating because there are people using it as a legal Body influencing Mr. Lungu to do wrong things and abusing the Body,” he lamented.
He said LAZ should be a professional, independent and reputable legal body but regretted that its President Steven Lungu is surrounded by a few Patriotic Front (PF) individuals who are tarnishing the name of the association.
Mr. Kunda further accused Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata of working with LAZ to undermine government.
The Vice President challenged LAZ to come to his Office and help find best ways of amending some of the archaic laws than concentrating on politically motivated legal matters.
He dismissed calls by both LAZ and some sectors of the society for the resignation of Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Chalwe Mchenga.
The Vice President maintained that the DPP has not done anything wrong adding that many legal practitioners were not consulted on the issue of having Mr. Mchenga dismissed.
He said Mr. Mchenga is a well qualified lawyer who enjoys security of tenure.
The Vice President said government shall only accept constructive criticisms and that any departure from that amounts to under-mining government of the day.
Zambia are heading to Angola and straight into two storms brewing on separate fronts but slowly converging.
The disturbing speculation that Herve Renard’s job including that of his assistants and support staff could be on the line and that the Frenchman might be sent on forced leave for the in entire duration of the Africa Cup is frightening.
Four coaches have been said to have been identified to take up the task.
If that is true, then one will only have to question the logic of such planned action allegedly hatched by the Faz technical committee.
I can only see Babel ensuring from that quartet working together at such short notice and is a recipe that will only brew unnecessary tension.
Furthermore, putting four egos together for such a high pressure assignment can only breed more rifts.
So should the four fail at the Africa Cup will they blame Renard’s legacy for their failure?
Any changes should be made after returning from Angola to limit the potential of a potentially messy its-not-me-but-him blame factor.
Meanwhile, there has been silence over the recent report of alleged match fixing regarding Zambia’s 1-0 home loss to Egypt on October 10 in Chililabombwe.
The eerie swirl of silence after the story broke allegedly given to an Algeria publication by captain Christopher Katongo ( that the player denied ever giving) only serves to put the team under more scrutiny.
If no one in higher authority refuses to call for an inquiry into the allegation then where are we going with our football?
Zambia's representative in Big Brother Revolution Paloma (second from right0 with other housemates at Chrismar Hotel in Lusaka last week
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Big Brother Revolution housemates Quinn (South Africa) and Jennifer (Mozambique) at the Chrismar Hotel in Lusaka last week. The two were on tour of Zambia at the invitation of Paloma, the Zambian housemate
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2-First Lady Thandiwe Banda receiving a gift from Huawei Zambia managing director Dajiang xin when she visited the company in Lusaka
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HOME Affairs Minister Lameck Mangani being welcomed by Lusaka City Council Mayor Robert Chikwelete and National Archives of Zambia (NAZ) acting director Chileshe Musukuma during opening of NAZ new exhibition building in Lusaka
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Zambia Under-20 National soccer team on arrival from the COSAFA championship, which they scooped in South Africa.
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Zambia Under-20 National soccer team on arrival from the COSAFA championship, which they scooped in South Africa.
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Vice President George Kunda receives a donation of various items from American Ambassador to Zambia Donald Booth at Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit in Lusaka Dec 17th.
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Vice President George Kunda, American Ambassador to Zambia Donald Booth and Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Brian Chituwo inspect a truckload of various items donated by USAID at the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit in Lusaka Dec 17th.
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The Inter-Religious and International Federation for World Peace recently conducted a one-day conference which was graced by former Lusaka Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo. Above, Milingo shakes hands with former Secretary to the Cabinet Skecthley Sacika at Church of God Cathedral of Praise in Lusaka.
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Traders without stands conduct business from parking lots at the new Soweto market in Lusaka.
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President Rupiah Banda pictured on arrival at South Downs Airport in Kalulushi weekend of December 13
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Uncollected garbage piling in Lusaka but cholera may just break out with the onset of the rainy season.
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road safety -Lusaka residents carrying placards during the road safety week
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Some traders with offer letters to conduct business in the new Soweto market in Lusaka
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New Soweto market committee member Eddie Shanambe explains some disputes that have marred allocation of shops at the new market in Lusaka, December 13, 2009
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Eastern Province Minister, Isaac Banda (left) with Chipata District Commissioner, Moses Nyirenda(Right) trying to appreciate the dancer during the International Human Rights at Pine View Guest House in Chipata, Zambia on Dec 17th
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First Lady Thandiwe Banda talking to wife of Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Zeng hongyan after touring Huazhan Company in Makeni. Looking on is Mrs Ireen Kunda.
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Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande receives credentials from new Africa Development Bank Country Representative Freddie Kwesiga at Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Lusaka recently
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road safety Week- Lusaka residents carrying placards during the road safety week.
The Chipata Municipal Council in Eastern Province yesterday closed Zain Centre offices for about five hours for contravening the Environment Protection and Pollution Control Act.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS, acting Chipata Town Clerk, Andrew Zulu, said that the Zain centre had breached the law by disposing of refuse within their premises, and practiced open air burning of refuse, which was against the Local Government Act Cap 281.
Mr Zulu said that the office had also breached the law by obstructing an authorized public health officer by not being co-operative to him during his duty.
He said that his office would ensure that the centre puts up necessary disposal facility and clean the refuse and ash from the burning point.
“As the council, we moved in this morning to close the offices because the mobile phone service provider has breached the law which is under the Environmental Protection and Pollution Control Act and the Local Government Act Cap 281,” Mr Zulu said.
The acting Town Clerk stated that the office has also paid a penalty fee of K450,000 for doing what may be dangerous and offensive to human life.
Mr Zulu has since urged officers at Zain offices to always co-operate with public health officers to allow them be educated on health matters as it was the primary area of their service delivery.
The mobile phone service privider has been given 14 days to put things in order, failure to which it would attract legal proceedings.
And Mr Zulu has since urged residents in the district to ensure that they put up disposal facilities and clean the refuse to keep chipata clean.
Efforts to get a comment from Zain management proved futile.
MMD Chairperson for Finance and Economics Ng’andu Magande has said the MMD is still a strong party and the recent losses in the by-elections should not make people lose faith in the party.
Mr Magande said in an interview yesterday the MMD was still strong on the ground and that problems the party was experiencing could be resolved internally.
He said although MMD members were saying the party was currently facing serious problems, he personally felt the issues could easily be sorted out from within the party.
Mr Magande, who is Chilanga member of Parliament, said the MMD was a movement, which should not lose steam just because one or two people were not interested in it.
The former minister of Finance said he was a strong member of the MMD who was extremely comfortable in the ruling party where he had been for a long time and would not join any other party.
“I personally feel the problems our party is facing now are minor and should not derail the MMD. It is something we can sort out as a party.
“The MMD is still strong because even the recent loss in Solwezi Central was just a minor setback which should not portray that the party is finished.
“I have been talking to the people of Solwezi and they have told me that despite losing the Solwezi Central seat, the MMD still remains a strong party on the ground and they still want it,” he said.
Mr Magande said it was wrong for people to think he was a rebel whenever he said something perceived to be contrary to the party.
Mr Magande said the formation of new political parties in the country was not a solution to the problems being faced by the people of Zambia.
He said there were already more than 30 political parties in Zambia and did not think the formation of any more political parties would solve the problems the people of Zambia were facing.
The solution to the country’s problems was not about how many political parties should be there but how focused to national development the leaders were.
DEPUTY Minister in the office of the Vice-President Gastone Sichilima has called for the immediate resignation of Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) president Stephen Lungu.
Mr Sichilima said yesterday at a Press briefing that Mr Lungu should immediately resign because he was allegedly running the association like a political party.
He said Mr Lungu had allegedly failed to run the affairs of LAZ and was playing to the gallery of some media houses and had turned the association into a political party.
Mr Sichilima said LAZ was supposed to be a professional body that provided means for lawyers to effectively participate in legal matters.
He said as a professional body, the public and the Government relied on LAZ for legal advice. He urged other lawyers to come out in the open and condemn Mr Lungu for his careless statements.
He said by demanding the resignation of Director of Public Prosecution Chalwe Mchenga, LAZ was not protecting one of its members even when it was consulted when the DPP was appointed.
“He should immediately resign as LAZ president because he has no agenda to run the association,” he said.
Mr Lungu said he could not comment because he did not know in what context Mr Sichilima was calling for his resignation.
“I will not comment because I do not know in what context he is saying that and if he is a LAZ member,” he said.
THE Lusaka High Court has dismissed Lusaka lawyer Kelvin Hang’andu’s petition over the decision by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to withdraw an appeal involving former Republican president Frederick Chiluba.
High Court Judge Gregory Phiri said in his ruling that Mr Hang’andu’s petition was improperly taken to court and that its cause was speculative in nature, form and bore an unclear cause of action.
Mr Justice Phiri said the petitioner’s interest was too remote to sustain a challenge under Article 28 of the Constitution of Zambia.
Mr Hang’andu had petitioned the High Court over DPP Chalwe Mchenga’s withdrawal of the notice of appeal filed by dissolved Taskforce prosecutor, Mutembo Nchito against the acquittal of Dr Chiluba.
He said although the DPP had the authority to stop the appeal against Dr Chiluba’s acquittal, he should have consulted the attorney general before doing so.
“As regards the petitioner’s claim that this petition discloses a cause of action, in my view of my finding, the petition’s interest is too remote to sustain a challenge under Article 28, it will be purely academic to exhaustively discuss this claim and that it is improperly before this court and must be dismissed,” he said.
The judge wondered what facts the petitioner intended to prove in order to attach liabilities to the attorney general when seven of his nine proposed witnesses, including the AG were from the respondent’s side.
He said, according to Mr Hang’andu’s list of witnesses filed before the court, only two proposed witnesses were from outside the respondent’s realm like reporters from The Post newspapers George Chellah and Kennedy Phiri from Muvi TV.
Mr Justice Phiri wondered how the AG, who had been sued, could be the petitioner’s key witness, saying this clearly showed that the petitioner’s cause was speculative in nature.
Solicitor General Abyudi Shonga had submitted that the petitioner had failed to exhibit any proof that he had locus in this matter and that he also failed to show that the petitioner’s rights had been personally affected.
Mr Shonga said the petitioner also failed to show any cause of action he was attempting to disclose and therefore the liability, which he hoped to be attached to the respondents, could neither be seen nor identified.
But Mr Hang’andu, in response to Mr Shonga’s submissions, had argued that he had interest in the criminal trial and that he had shown the discontinuance of the said appeal filed by State prosecutor affected him as a citizen of Zambia.
The petitioner had also contended that when the State or prosecutor filed a criminal prosecution, he had no liberty to discontinue it at his will for it was not only his concern but that of every citizen because crimes were an injury against public welfare.
Government has challenged the Zambia Competition Commission (ZCC) to be proactive in the control of the price of mealie meal in the country.
Commerce Trade and industry Deputy Minister Lwipa Puma says there is need to protect the rights of consumers by ensuring that all key players in the economy are satisfied.
Dr. Puma says his Ministry is aware that the liberalization of the economy has made it difficult for the government to control the prices of some major commodities in the country.
Dr. Puma was speaking in Lusaka today during his familiarization tour of the Zambia Competition Commission.
He urged the ZCC to speak out on issues that affect quality control and fair trade to protect the rights of the consumer.
Dr. Puma said quality control has remained a major challenge in the enhancement of fair trade and the creation of an understanding between traders and consumers.
And ZCC Acting Executive Director Chilufya Sampa said this year, the commission reviewed its position in relation to government developmental policies and plans.
Mr. Sampa said the Commission plans to review licenses and a number of application forms in order to reduce the cost of doing business in the country.
He also revealed that the commission has in this year alone dealt with over 100 cases of complaints from consumers which were successful due to ZCC’s high monitoring survey.
The Zambia Competition Commission was formed in 1997 under an act of parliament to prevent and restrict business practices that promote unfair trading in order to protect the consumer.
USAID has donated various relief items worth US$100,000 to the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) to help vulnerable Zambians.
Receiving the donation, Vice President George Kunda noted that the donation will be of great use in addressing the impact of disaster and other eventualities that affect human settlement in some parts of the country.
Mr. Kunda commended USAID for the role it is playing in promoting bilateral cooperation between Zambia and the United States of America (USA) adding that it is in this context that the donation this morning finds meaning and strength.
The Vice President further applauded USAID for the choice of donation as it includes blankets, tents, shovels, wheelbarrows, water containers and sanitary towels among others.
He stated that the government of the Republic of Zambia is pleased with this demonstration of friendship and support from the USA.
Mr Kunda also expressed sincere gratitude to the people and government of USA for this expression of compassion to the well being of Zambians.
And United States Ambassador to Zambia Donald Booth said the donation was made by American people through USAID’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance to save lives, alleviate human suffering and reduce social and economic impact of humanitarian emergencies.
Mr. Booth observed that responding to disasters and humanitarian needs is necessary to reduce on the impact of these disasters.
He noted that it pays to invest more in early warning systems to minimize risk both to the people in need and to those delivering assistance.
Mr. Booth said the U.S. government will continue to help Zambia achieve self-sufficiency in disaster management by empowering individuals at government, community and local levels to identify, prevent, mitigate and respond to future crises.
He stated that the U.S. government will also help Zambians tailor programs to address specific hazards that their communities face.
First Lady Thandiwe Banda has commended the Chinese government for its investment in Zambia. She urged Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Li Qiangmin to woo more investors from his country to Zambia in an effort to develop the country.
Mrs. Banda further commended the Chinese government for identifying Zambia as their preferred destination for investment. The First Lady said this in Lusaka today when she toured Huazhan Manufacturing Company, Huawei Tele-communications and Golden Bridge Hotel to familiarize herself with their operations.
The First Lady was accompanied Vice President George Kunda’s wife, Ireen, ministers’ spouses, Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Li Qiangmin’s wife Zeng Hongyan and senior members of staff from the Chinese Embassy.
She expressed gratitude at the level of investment the firms have injected into the Zambian economy and hoped that the lives of Zambian people would be accelerated to enjoy the benefit of the investments in the country.
“I’m impressed with the level of investment the Chinese government has injected into our economy. If we had more committed investors like Huazhan Company, Huawei Tele-communications and Golden Bridge Hotel, our people can begin to see a brighter side of life. You would not have come to invest in our economy if the investment climate was not conducive and please continue being a true partner of Zambia,” Mrs Banda said.
She further pointed out that China and Zambia both enjoy warm bilateral relations that have continued to flourish from the 1960s.[quote]
“Such investments we have seen today do contribute massively to the improvement of relations between the two countries. Real partnership demands that both parties benefit and please do carry a massage to other investors back in your country that in Southern Africa, Zambia is on the move into the right direction due to the friendly, supportive and genuine investment initiatives,” Mrs Banda said.
She assured that Zambia is on the right track to becoming a middle income country by the year 2030 as exhibited by the fast rate of development due to government’s political will and fiscal policies.
Meanwhile, Huawei Zambia Managing Director Dajiang Xin revealed that his firm has projected a US$30 billion profit this year compared to US$23 billion in 2008. Mr. Xin further said Huawei has created over 2,000 jobs for the local people and assured that Zambia stands to benefit greatly from China.
He said Huawei is geared to transform the corporate market in the country in a competitive manner but most importantly add value to the Zambian products.
And Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Li Qiangmin has disclosed that at least 200 companies from China will come in the country before the end of this year and over 100,000 jobs will be created in Zambia next year.
The Chinese Envoy commended President Rupiah Banda for his good administration and urged the two peoples from both countries to rally behind and support President Banda to finish his vision.
Mansa Municipal Council is expected to raise over K3.2 billion from ratable properties in the district annually starting next year.
This is due to the increased value and number of ratable properties from K8.4 billion in 1993 to K182 billion in 2009, according to the newly approved valuation roll captured for ratable properties in the district.
In an interview with ZANIS today, Town Clerk Bwanga Kapumpa, said the council’s new approved evaluation roll will take effect from January 1, 2010.
Mr Kapumpa said the five-year term roll, which will expire in 2015, has captured 3,242 new properties from 2008 from 660 captured in 1993 when the last evaluation roll was compiled.
The council had never revised the 1993 valuation roll which captured only 660 properties and managed to collect less than K130 million on rates annually.
Mr Kapumpa said to date the council has been applying the 1993 Valuation Roll which only captured 660 ratable properties, leading to a loss of revenue from rates on new properties which were not captured.
The Rating Act only allows the council to include and collect rates on new properties after the previous valuation roll is revised and approved by the rating tribunal.
“We applied to have our 2008 evaluation roll approved to include new ratable properties in accordance with the Rating Act and I am glad that the new valuation roll has been approved by the rating tribunal chaired by Dr Overs Banda, and it will take effect from January 1, 2010,” Mr. Kapumpa said.
And Mr Kapumpa has said because of the widened rate base, the council will recapture its loss of revenue suffered from the sale of its houses in 1996 by government.
He said the council suffered from loss of revenue when its housing units were sold to sitting tenants who had been paying rentals.
“Our council, just like others, suffered from the transfer of ownership or sale of housing units to sitting tenants but we are going to reverse that through collection of rates on these properties instead of rentals as we used to do,” Mr Kapumpa said.
He said the council had failed to efficiently provide local services in the district due to insufficient funds.
