Advertisement Banner
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
Subscribe
Advertisement Banner
Home Blog Page 5086

Zesco starts transformer installation in Lusaka

editor
-
2

ZESCO yesterday started installation works of the US$3.2 million Leopards Hill sub-station transformer that was gutted last year, company director of customer services Joe Chiyassa said.

Mr Chiyassa said in a statement in Lusaka that commissioning of the transformer would result in the reduction of load-shedding currently experienced by customers in Lusaka by 50 per cent.

“Zesco has commenced installation works. The installation works, testing and commissioning period is four weeks effective Monday January 11, 2010,” Mr Chiyassa said.

He said the transformer, that was procured to replace the one which was gutted, arrived on the site on January 8.

The transformer arrived in the country through the Chirundu One-Stop border on December 21 last year. However, its transportation to Leopards Hill suffered a setback when the truck transporting it broke down in Chirundu.

[Times of Zambia]

China injects $39m into TAZARA operations

editor
-
8
Communication and Transport Minister Geoffrey Lungwangwa

THE Chinese government has given the financially crippled Tanzania-Zambia Railways Authority (TAZARA) US$39 million interest-free loan to revive its operations, Communication and Transport Minister Geoffrey Lungwangwa has said. Professor Lungwangwa said part of the funds, apart from reviving operations, would be for the procurement of six new locomotive engines, four wagons and the repairing of 120 wagons.

In an interview in Lusaka yesterday, Prof Lungwangwa explained that the decision to fund TAZARA was arrived at during a meeting which was held in China last month at which Zambia and Tanzania signed the 14th protocol with the Chinese government to provide US$39 million interest-free loan.

Prof Lungwangwa said the funds would also be used to repair the railway line and the purchase of new equipment for the workshop aimed at bringing about efficiency in the company’s operations. “I can confirm that the Chinese government has provided us with US$39 million loan and we will not pay any interest. This is good news for us and we will work towards improving the operations of the company,” he said.

The minister said since the country’s economy was growing, it would require a reliable railway line to match with the increased production of copper and agricultural activities in various parts of Zambia. He paid tribute to the Chinese Government for the support to Zambia’s various development programmes and TAZARA in particular and that the loan would help the company operate effectively.
He said a team of experts from China would soon be dispatched to work with the TAZARA management to evaluate its viability and to carry out a comprehensive study on how it could link other countries through the railway network.

Prof Lungwangwa reiterated his Government’s commitment to contributing to the development of the country through infrastructure development, among others. Last month Zambia, Tanzania and the Chinese governments met in China to discuss the possible funding of TAZARA.

Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Li Qiangmin said he was confident the negotiating teams would reach a conclusion and reiterated his government’s commitment to supporting Zambian programmes aimed at contributing to the economy. Mr Li said the financing of TAZARA was a clear testimony of the good bilateral relations that his country and Zambia have enjoyed over the years, which have continued to grow.

President Rupiah Banda and his Tanzanian counterpart Jakaya Kikwete had earlier appealed to creditors to cancel TAZARA debts to rescue the railway firm from collapse. The two leaders further called on the board of directors to expedite the process of concessioning management and operations of the railway company to a competent railway enterprise from China.

The railway line, built in the early 1970s through the assistance of the People’s Republic of China, is seen as the icon of friendship between the three partner States, China, Tanzania and Zambia. The railway also facilitated the opening of trade links between Tanzania and other landlocked neighbouring countries.

[Times of Zambia]

PAZA should be ashamed-Mulongoti

editor
-
45
Works and Supply Minister, Mike Mulongoti
Works and Supply Minister, Mike Mulongoti

MORE people have condemned the Press Association of Zambia (PAZA) for receiving money from the Press Freedom Committee of The Post Newspapers, saying the association had compromised itself at the expense of providing impartial leadership to institutions it represents.

MMD spokesperson Mike Mulongoti said that the PAZA leadership should be ashamed to be receiving money from one media institution. Mr Mulongoti said there was no justification for them to receive money from the Press Freedom Committee of the Post, an organisation linked to The Post Newspapers because even if they claimed to be a non-governmental organisation, there was no way they could receive money from anywhere.

He said the MMD would wait for a comprehensive statement from PAZA because there was no way leaders could be receiving money from selected media institutions.

He also challenged the PAZA leadership to call for the annual general meeting because it was illegal and against their constitution for them to be in office for about four years without elections. Forum for Leadership Search (FLS) has advised PAZA not to be compromised by The Post at the expense of providing impartial leadership to the institutions it represents.[quote]

FLS executive director Edwin Lifwekelo said in a statement yesterday that allegations by the Committee of Citizens that some media institutions were on The Post Newspaper pay-roll had a chilling effect on the integrity of media institutions and investigations should be instituted.

“The forum prays that the allegations that PAZA leadership were on The Post Newspaper payroll are not true because they have a serious bearing on the integrity of the PAZA leadership and other media institutions,” he said. Mr Lifwekelo urged the PAZA leadership to renew its mandate if it was true they did not have legitimacy from their membership as alleged by Committee of Citizens executive director Gregory Chifire.

He said it was only fair that the PAZA membership gave the leadership an opportunity to renew its mandate.
He said the FLS appreciated the dialogue between the Government and media institutions and hoped that all stakeholders treated the issue with urgency.

He said an enforceable definition of what constitutes legitimate news publication be applied as it would place values that would stress the importance of public service, impartial reporting and balance of opinion.

The forum also condemned the unproductive attacks on Vice-President George Kunda because they did not add value to the spirit of dialogue in Zambia since he was being unfairly targeted for political expediency.

PAZA vice-president Amos Chanda said those alleging that the PAZA leadership was receiving money should provide evidence for the police to move in. Mr Chanda said PAZA had only signed a memorandum of understanding with the Press Freedom Committee of The Post Newspapers based on mutual co-operation on media and freedom of expression.

[Times of Zambia]

M-Mobile to produce double SIM phones

editor
-
10

President Rupiah Banda talks to workers at the Mobile Telecommunications mobile telephone assembly plant in Lusaka

M-MOBILE Telecommunication Company, Zambia’s first mobile phone manufacturing plant, will start producing phones with capacity to accommodate double SIM cards starting next month, chairperson Mohammed Seedat has said.

The company, which was launched last year, produced 20,000 handsets and exported about 10,000 of the phones to Zimbabwe while the rest were supplied on the local market. Mr Seedat said the components used to manufacture double SIM phones were still on their way to Zambia, adding that the firm would come up with new phones by next month.

He said the new phones would be supplied to the domestic market as well as export markets like South Africa and Mozambique. “The materials to produce phones with double SIM cards delayed to arrive in the country especially during the festive season.

“The components should be arriving any time from now and we should start producing them next month,” he said in an interview in Lusaka. President Rupiah Banda launched the country’s first mobile phone manufacturing plant with assurance that the Government was working towards reducing the international gateway licensing fees to the regional average to reduce the cost of doing business in the communication sector.

President Banda was happy to note that the US$10 million project, wholly-owned by Zambians, would employ more than 200 local people in different jobs. The demand for mobile phones in Zambia in the last few years has grown, as demand for mobile phone services, particularly among low-income customers, has gone up.

[Times of Zambia]

President Banda is still a member of UNIP-Sata

editor
-
101

Patriotic Front President Michael Sata has said that as far as he is concerned. President Rupiah Banda is still a member of United National Indepencdece Party (UNIP). Mr Michael Sata said that the First Republican President Kenneth Kaunda’s support for President Rupiah Banda shows that he is still regarded as a UNIP member.

Mr Sata also noted that Dr. Kaunda has seen that the UNIP current president, his Son Tilenji Kaunda, is too weak to handle politics and that is why he is clinging on to Mr. Rupiah Banda.

Mr. Sata further said that Mr. Banda has never made his resignation from the UNIP public, and that as far as he was concerned, President Banda is a UNIP member.

He said that it is not surprising that the Dr Kaunda and R Banda even went to Luanshya on a Presidential assignment together saying that their friendship is political.

Mr. Sata wondered what purpose the presence of Dr Kaunda in Luanshya was going to serve.

He said that Mr. Banda has gone to the MMD to destroy the party because as far as he is concerned he is still a UNIP member.

Mr. Sata saod that the only true member of the MMD is the Acting party spokesperson Mike Mulongoti.

He said that there are a few people in the ruling party who are genuine members, adding that the MMD is headed for extinction.

[QFM News Zambia]

Zambia Prepare For Tunisia

sports
-
49
Angola 2010 AFCON
Angola 2010 AFCON

Zambia and Tunisia clash on Wednesday in match day one in Group d at the Africa Cup in Lubango.

Zambia arrived on Sunday in Angola and transited by air to Lubango in the south where they will play two games before shifting to the port city of Benguela on January 21.

Herve Renard has boldly stated that this is the Africa Cup that will end Zambia’s 14-year quarterfinal draught.

How the draught will be ended against a foes whom Zambia have failed to beat since 1995 and memories are still fresh of their first round 4-1 bashing in Egypt four years ago.

This tournament will be crucial for captain Chris Katongo whose form has been poor of late.

Focus will also fall on another veteran of sorts in James Chamanga who has been a consistent scorer over the last three months for Zambia with 7 goals since November to date for Zambia.

Focus will also fall on winger Clifford Mulenga who returns to the fold after a year away on self-imposed exile.

Mulenga has been a consistent scorer for his struggling side Mpumalanga Black Aces on 5 goals and should he replicate that form with Zambia he could be one of the team’s key players this time around.

In Zambia’s upcoming Group D fixtures, Renard’s side will face Cameroon on the 17th at the same venue before moving to Benguela to take on Gabon in their final game four days later.

Essar Group May Buy Stake in Zambian Refinery, Mint Reports

editor
-
27

By Rakteem Katakey

India’s Essar Group may buy a majority stake in a Zambian state-owned refinery and is competing with Sasol Ltd. for the purchase, the Mint newspaper reported, citing persons it didn’t identify.

Zambia may take a decision on selling a stake in the 1 million metric ton-a-year Indeni refinery by March, according to the report. Essar plans to supply fuels from the plant to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi and East Angola, the newspaper said.

Manish Kedia, a spokesman for the Essar Group, declined to comment when reached by telephone today.

To contact the reporter on this story: Rakteem Katakey in New Delhi at [email protected]

[Bloomberg]

Tunisia must fall Renard

Entertainment Editor
-
56

ZAMBIA coach Herve Renard says his players have come of age and will perform well at the African Nations Cup finals in Angola.

Renard said his belief in the ability of his players has not diminished despite the rocky road that saw the team score only two goals on their way to Angola.

“Maybe others have lost hope in the team but I have always believed in my squad for a long time and I have set targets for myself,” Renard said at the conclusion of the team’s training camp in Johannesburg on Saturday.

He said his team is becoming more efficient in front of goal as seen in friendly matches against Mozambique, Nigeria and South Korea.

Zambia edged Mozambique 1-0 through Collins Mbesuma’s goal, held Nigeria to a barren draw before humiliating South Korea 4-2 with Felix Katongo, Rainford Kalaba, James Chamanga and Noah Chivuta hitting the target.

The Frenchman reiterated that his modest target is to reach the quarter-finals after which he will take each stage as it comes.

He said the opening game against Tunisia on Wednesday is very important because it will give him some direction.

“The game against Tunisia must be won and then the rest are a matter of philosophy,” Renard said.

He could not state whether Zambia have the capacity to beat Tunisia but he said his boys must overcome the Carthage Eagles to have any realistic chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals.

“Tunisia are just like Egypt and I know their coach (Faouzi Benzarti) very well. He is a good coach but we will see what happens,” Renard said.

He acknowledged that Cameroon are very strong and that Zambia will have to give the match their best shot.

Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Kalusha Bwalya said going by the performance during friendly games, there is reason to believe that the outing will be fairly good.

“Again,” Kalusha said, “it was a Zambia well-co-ordinated. They were very good in-between the lines. Goals were well-executed and had the match well in control.

“It was a final preparatory match well worth the camping in South Africa,” Kalusha said of the match against South Korea on Saturday.

Skipper Christopher Katongo said the Chipolopolo were going to Angola to compete and not to participate.

Katongo, who plays his trade for German second division side Arminia Bielefeld, said the Zambians know what they want to achieve.

Portugal-based midfielder Rainford Kalaba urged Zambians to believe in the national team.

“It is high time people believed in us. We were eliminated in the first round twice in 2006 and 2008 and we learnt lessons. We now want to go a step,” Kalaba said.

Goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene said he is looking forward to keeping a clean sheet at the tournament.

Netherlands-based striker Jacob Mulenga said Zambia is not intimidated facing four-time champions Cameroon, 2004 kings Tunisia and Gabon.

Mulenga, who has scored five goals at Dutch side FC Utrecht, said with self-belief and determination, the three teams are beatable.

The Zambian team arrived in Angola yesterday and will face Tunisia on Wednesday.
Zambia Daily Mail

PAZA will not fight with people of Mr Chifire’s calibre

editor
-
7

The Press Association of Zambia has refused to be drawn into a fight with
committee of citizen’s executive director Gregory Chifire.

Yesterday Mr. Chifire accused the PAZA executive committee members of holding
office illegally and that they have sold the media association to the post
Newspaper. Mr Chifire said it was surprising that PAZA had allowed its
leadership to continue leading the association illegally as its mandate expired
in 2006 when, according to the PAZA constitution, new membership should have
been elected.

Mr Chifire went on to say that the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by
the Press Association of Zambia (PAZA) and the Press Freedom of The Post where
PAZA receives a monthly grant of K10 million has compromised the independence,
integrity and morality of the association, Committee of Citizens executive
director Gregory Chifire has said.

Mr Chifire said the position PAZA had taken to agree on the terms of The Post
where it had accepted a K10 million monthly grant contradicted the very purpose
of its existence and that the existence of this servile working relationship
made it difficult for the general public to respect the views and activities of
PAZA as it had become an official appendage of The Post.

“PAZA’s recent vicious attacks on the Republican vice-president, senior
Government officials and their fellow journalists using similar, if not
identical, derogatory language with The Post is saddening. We wish to warn PAZA
membership countrywide that its leadership has rented PAZA to The Post and urge
them to restore any credibility left of PAZA by taking immediate action,” he
said.

But PAZA vice president Amos Chanda in response said people like Chifire are
bitter because the media and government have reached consensus on the regulation[quote]
of the media issue.

He says PAZA does not want to be drawn in to antagonist with people of Mr
Chifire caliber.

Mr Chanda says Zambians are aware that Mr Chifire survives on peddling lies to
government and now that the media and government have reached consensus on self
regulation, mr chifire is not happy.

Mr Chanda said it was not true that the association received a monthly grant of
K10 million, adding that PAZA received an amount which varied from time to time
depending on their requirements.

He said the MoU with the Press Freedom Committee of The Post was in mutual
cooperation for the promotion and defence of media freedom and development.
Mr Chanda said the money was meant for the procurement of materials and
acquisition of the venue for joint activities whenever need arose and challenged
Mr Chifire to prove such allegations.

“First, we have no agreement with The Post newspapers but we have a memorandum
of understanding with the Press Freedom Committee of The Post for mutual
cooperation, defence of media freedom and development. We challenge Mr Chifire
to prove his allegations on the money he is alleging that we have received,” Mr
Chanda said.

On being in office illegally, Chanda said his executive has already announced to
its members that the Annual General Meeting to elect new leaders will be held
next November.

He said Mr Chifire was judging the association by his low standards and wanted
to comment on everything that crossed his mind. Mr Chanda said while it was true
that the association’s mandate expired in 2007 and not in 2006 as claimed by Mr
Chifire, the PAZA board was mandated to discharge functions of the association
until the annual general meeting (AGM) is held.

He said because of that, PAZA was not in office illegally. PAZA needed a total
of K100 million to hold the AGM which was slated for November 2010.

[QFM news / Times of Zambia]

East chiefs blast Kalala over his divisive remarks

editor
-
34
Paramoun Chief Mpezeni (second from right) and senior Chief Nzamane (r)

EASTERN Province chiefs have castigated former State House special assistant for policy implementation Jack Kalala for insinuating that President Rupiah Banda was pressurised by traditional leaders from the area to purge the late president Levy Mwanawasa’s tribesmen from his administration.

The chiefs said in an interview in Chipata yesterday that accusations by Mr Kalala were likely to divide the nation and bring the name of the traditioinal chiefs into disrepute. Paramount Chief Mpezeni, Chief Madzimawe, Chief Msoro and Chief Zumwanda said they were dismayed and disturbed by the statement by Mr Kalala which they said was a total lie and misleading.

Chief Mpezeni said he was saddened that Mr Kalala was not telling the truth about the position of the chiefs in Eastern Province.
He said Mr Kalala should not try to divide the 72 tribes with his cheap political statements because President Banda was the president of all the people of Zambia.

“President Banda is the president of all the 72 tribes of Zambia and whatever this man (Kalala) said is not true and we have never talked about it as chiefs of the province,” Chief Mpezeni said. He said Mr Kalala should not pretend to speak on behalf of the chiefs of Eastern Province because he has no part to play in their affairs.

Paramount Chief Mpezeni, who expressed disappointment, said as chiefs, they would not allow such nonsense from Mr Kalala to continue because it was likely to divide the nation. He said people like Mr Kalala, should learn to talk about development rather than portraying a bad picture of traditional leaders or those in leadership.[quote]

Chief Msoro of the Kunda people in Mambwe District described Mr Kalala’s statement as total fabrication and full of lies. He said it was unfortunate that Mr Kalala was peddling lies and advised people in the nation to treat Mr Kalala’s statement as baseless because it was lacking the truth.Chief Madzimawe who is also House of Chiefs chairperson, challenged Mr Kalala to disclose the venue where the meeting took place including the names of chiefs who attended such a gathering.

He said the chiefs were disturbed by such a statement from Mr Kalala which had the potential to incite confusion and divisions in the country. “That is wishful thinking by Mr Kalala and let him disclose where that meeting took place and include names of the chiefs who attended that meeting and at what time,” Chief Madzimawe said.

He said Mr Kalala should not drag the name of the Chiefs into his cheap politicking because the chiefs had never held such a meeting with President Banda. Chief Madzimawe said if Mr Kalala had run out of ideas, he should not bring his empty political rhetoric to accuse the chiefs because the traditional leaders were not cheap but expensive who should not be dragged into the political arena.

“And let me repeat. Let Mr Kalala disclose who was in attendance and the venue where that meeting took place and when telling the nation he should be speaking the truth as a human being,” he said.

Chief Zumwanda of the Chewa people of Lundazi district expressed disappointment with what Mr Kalala said in the private media.
He advised Mr Kalala to retract the statement because what was reflected in the Post Newspaper was not a correct picture.
“I don’t remember when we met President Banda and started talking about what Mr Kalala has claimed,” Chief Zumwanda said.
In yesterday’s Post newspaper, Mr Kalala was quoted as having said that, traditional leaders from Eastern Province instructed President Rupiah Banda to purge the late Levy Mwanawasa’s tribesmen from his administration.

Mr Kalala who challenged President Banda to deny his revelations said former Science and Technology minister Gabriel Namulambe’s initial statement over the late Mwanawasa’s legacy was deeper than meets the eye.

[Times of Zambia]

KCM purges 34 for riotous behaviour

editor
-
8

THIRTY-four employees at Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) have been fired for their involvement in the recent riots at Nchanga Mine in Chingola where property worth millions of Kwacha was destroyed. KCM spokesperson Rahul Karkar, who confirmed the development in an interview in Kitwe said, 47 miners were charged by management and 34 of them were found wanting.

Mr Karkar said the 34 were dismissed after their case reached the last stage of the hearing process and it was proved that they were guilty of the charges slapped on them. He said the action follows the disciplinary hearing process instituted by management for the charged employees.

He said the remaining 13 employees were reinstated by management and had since resumed work. Mr Karkar said there was overwhelming evidence indicating that the dismissed employees were involved in the riot which left a trail of destruction hence the decision to fire them.

“47 employees were charged for being involved in the riot that took place at Nchanga Mine and management has since discharged 34 while 13 have been reinstated,” Mr Karkar said. National Union of Miners and Allied Workers (NUMAW) president Mundia Sikufele said the union has engaged KCM management with the view of having the fired members pardoned.

Mr Sikufele said the unions had included the plight of the dismissed employees as part of their agenda for the on-going negotiations for improved salaries and conditions of service. “The fate of the dismissed miners will only be determined when we conclude the collective bargaining process because we have included that as part of the on-going negotiations with management,” he said.

Late last year, KCM employees at Nchanga Mine went on rampage and destroyed property worth millions of Kwacha. The riots were sparked by protests against prolonged salary negotiations between the unions and management.

[Times of Zambia]

PF-UPND Pact is unstoppable and people driven-HH

editor
-
156
UPND president Hakainde Hichilema

United Party for National Development President Hakainde Hichilema has maintained that the UPND-PF is people-driven and unstoppable.

Yesterday Namwala Member of Parliament Robbie Chizyuka warned that Zambia risks degenerating into a totalitarian dictatorship should the Patriotic Front (PF) and United Party for National Development (UPND) pact form government in 2011.

Mr Hichilema explains that maneuvers by the ruling party and its sympathies to weaken the pact will not work because the pact is about Zambians and not Mr. Sata and himself.

He explains that the UPNDPF pact was formed on high reasoning and principles of offering the Zambian people a government which will address and respond to the fight against corruption, promotion of good governance and equality before the law.[quote]

He says Chizyuka is on the payroll of government to weaken the pact but that won work saying Zambians are resolved to vote out the ruling mmd in 2011.

Mr Hichilema says MMD government failed to maintain schools, health infrastructure, roads and other critical sectors of the economy which would help the country attain the millennium development goals (MDGs.

He says Zambia are suffering because the president rupiah banda and his cabinet doesn’t understand how to development the country.

[QFM News Zambia]

Zambia Copper re-lists on JSE with Mowana mine under its portfolio

editor
-
5

After securing a valuable asset in Mowana Mine outside Francistown, Zambia Copper Investments (ZCI) is poised to re-list on the JSE next week, subject to shareholder approval.

In a circular to ordinary shareholders, the company also wants to propose a name change to ZCI Limited.

The JSE listing requirements demanded that the company should have assets to remain listed, but by then it had disposed of its 28.4% share in Konkola to Vedanta for US$213.15 million.

“Pursuant to the disposal, the company was reclassified as a cash shell with effect from 10 April 2008 and in terms of the provisions of the Listings Requirements, permitted a six-month period to enter into an agreement to acquire a viable asset (on or before 10 October 2008), failing which the JSE would suspend the shares from trading for a period of three months following the said lapse,” the company said in the circular.

ZCI will tomorrow (Monday) seek shareholder approval that will clear the grass for re-listing on January 15.
Its shares had been suspended early last year as it sought to find new assets when it landed a lucrative investment on African Copper (82%), which owns Mowana mine.
It beat other suitor–Natasa Mining– in a fierce bidding war.

Meanwhile, African Copper said late last year that it has been advised that an Independent Competent Persons Report (CPR) on Mowana Mine and Thakadu Project in Botswana has been prepared by Read Swatman & Voigt (RSV) on behalf of ZCI.

The CPR was produced in accordance with Section 12 of the JSE Listing Requirements in connection with the preparation of a circular to ordinary shareholders of ZCI dated 17 December 2009 for a meeting of ZCI’s shareholders.

The meeting is being held to, among other things, approve and ratify the subscription by ZCI for 676,570,500 new ordinary shares in the capital of ACU (representing approximately 82% of the outstanding ordinary shares of ACU) which completed on 21 May 2009, the US$31,129,100 term loan facility granted by ZCI to ACU’s wholly-owned subsidiary Messina Copper (Botswana) (Proprietary) Limited pursuant to a term loan facility agreement dated 18 June 2009, and the assignment to ZCI of certain outstanding debt of ACU by certain creditors of ACU, all as previously announced by ACU.

After recapitalisation from ZCI, African Copper is fast tracking production at Mowana mine at time when prices for metals are picking up.
The company executives told Sunday Standard last year it was planning to build a township along the Francistown-Maun highway as it moved to production.

According to the plan, African Copper would initially concentrate on the extraction of ore in the southern tip of the pit, which has an estimated 1.5 percent of copper against the pit average of 0.71 percent.

According to the current estimates, the open pit of the mine, which is 20 percent of the ore, is expected to be mined in a space of seven years while the remaining part could be between 20–to-30 years. Further, there is another proven reserve some 2 kilometers north of the pit while some investigations are ongoing relating to the southern side of the pit, which is also thought to be having some copper.

[Sunday Standard]

HH ought to be ashamed of himself for inciting tribal divisions-Mulongoti

editor
-
41
Mike Mulongoti

MOVEMENT for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) spokesman Mike Mulongoti has condemned United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema for allegedly attempting to promote tribal politics and divide the nation.

Reacting to media reports that quoted Mr Hichilema as saying that President Banda has caused the Lamba people a deep injury by firing Mr Gabriel Namulambe as Minister of Science and Technology, Mr Mulongoti said the UPND leader ought to be ashamed of himself for inciting tribal divisions.

Mr Mulongoti said he was not surprised by Mr Hichilema’s utterances because he was not an elected leader. He charged that Mr Hichilema allegedly hounded certain people out of the UPND on tribal grounds for him to ascend to the presidency.

He said there was no injury on the Lamba people as Mr Hichilema was suggesting and wondered why the UPND leader allegedly wanted to incite them against Government.

Mr Mulongoti urged the UPND leader not to isolate Lambas because there were a lot of non-Lambas in that remote community on the Copperbelt Province.

“That hunger he is talking about is just a figment of his imagination. There’s really nothing.

He is not even ashamed to make such remarks. For him it’s normal,” Mr Mulongoti said.

He urged political leaders to offer constructive criticism instead of making tribal sentiments that cannot benefit the people.

Mr Hichilema was quoted as saying that the firing of Mr Namulambe injured the Lambas and that the appointment of Gladys Lundwe, another Lamba, as a cabinet minister would not calm them down.

[ Zambia Daily Mail ]

Senior Chief Nsefu’s Royal family condemns Sata

editor
-
20

SENIOR Chief Nsefu’s royal family has threatened to reject Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata and his political allies during the 2011 election campaigns if he does not apologise for allegedly likening people living in the Mfuwe-Mambwe area to animals.

In a statement issued yesterday, a member of the royal family and elder brother of the senior chief, Moffat Mbewe, said if Mr Sata does not want to apologise to the Kunda and Malambo people, he should at least show respect to their chiefs.

“If Mr Sata and the pact (alliance with the United Party for National Development) are so proud to apologise, we are not going to ask them to do so, but humbly ask them to respect all our chiefs in Eastern Province,” the statement reads in part.

Mr Mbewe reminded Mr Sata that the people of Malambo Valley have their children, relatives and friends across Zambia who read his statement and might be assessing what kind of alternative leadership he is offering.

He said although the people in the Malambo valley live with animals, they were human beings just like other people of Zambia.

“If they insist that we are animals, then let the Pact cut us off their campaign trail for 2011 because animals don’t vote,” part of the statement reads.

Mr Mbewe urged Mr Sata and his UPND counterpart, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, to tone down their anger against President Banda’s leadership because Zambians are tired of the everyday condemnations of the President.

“To the President Mr Rupiah Banda, please note that you have our total support in whatever developmental activities your government has embarked on,” Mr Mbewe said.

They urged the President to ignore Mr Sata’s criticism of the Chipata-Mfuwe Road because the people of Eastern Province are proud of the project.

Mr Mbewe said the Chipata-Mfuwe Road will not only benefit the people of the valley, but the business community in Chipata such as lodge owners, tourists and farmers among others.

He said the Mfuwe Airport, which has an international status, is also connected to the Chipata-Mfuwe Road which Mr Sata is allegedly trivialising.

Mr Mbewe said the development of the road in question will stimulate economic activities in the province as more tourists will drive to the area which is more adventurous and affordable than flying.

The road also passes through 12 chiefdoms in the province.

“Mr Sata must know that the road in question is the heart-beat of development in the valley as it is part of the road circuit from Lusaka to Nabwalya and Mpika; including Chitulika Village through South and North Luangwa National Parks,” he said.

Mr Sata is alleged to have accused President Banda of favouring the rehabilitation of the Chipata-Mfuwe Road, which leads to a game park where animals live at the expense of equal development of all provinces.

Pressure has been mounting on the PF president from the people in the province, including Paramount Chief Mpezeni, to apologise as they feel that he likened them to animals.

However, Mr Sata clarified that he did not liken the people to animals, but wanted Government to give priority to other roads in the province and not the road in question, which leads to a game park where animals live.

1...5,0855,0865,087...5,653Page 5,086 of 5,653

Company

Trending

Categories

© Lusaka Times