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GOVERNMENT says it will not entertain investors who will use the global economic crisis as an excuse for denying workers salary increments next year.
Speaking in Lufwanyama yesterday when he addressed Kagem Mine Limited management and employees, Labour and Social Services Minister Austin Liato said the mining sector has recovered from the effects of the global economic crisis and expects them to award salary increments to workers.
Mr Liato said government greatly cares for its citizens employed by foreign investors and would not allow investors to exploit them.
The Minister also urged workers not to engage in riots when airing their labour grievances to management but to instead use dialogue.
He further urged the workers to join the existing unions in the mining sector so that their labour concerns could be easily addressed.
Mr. Liato assured the workers that government was committed to ensuring that they were well treated by their employers and that they are given better conditions of service.
And speaking earlier, Mines and Minerals Development Minister Maxwell Mwale expressed happiness at the growth of production operations at Kagen Emerald Mining Limited in which government owns 25 percent shares.
Mr. Mwale said the company has grown from small scale production to large scale production.
He observed that the company would contribute significantly to the economic growth of the country. He urged the workers to support management so that the company becomes even more profitable and continues operations for them to be assured of job security and be able to support their families.
Mr. Mwale added that if the company is supported, it would grow and government will be able to raise revenue for developmental projects such as construction of schools, clinics and rehabilitation of roads.
And later after touring Grizzly Mining Limited, another gemstone mine, Mr Mwale commended the company for its corporate social responsibility programmes in Lufwanyama district.
He urged Grizzly management to continue supplementing government efforts in improving the livelihoods of the people.
The company has assisted the community by among other things, the construction of a school, clinic, rehabilitation of roads and construction of a bridge.
And speaking earlier Grizzly Mining Limited General Manager Carolyne Maphenduka said the company has this year invested over US$900 million in the implementation of strategies aimed at increasing production and improving the welfare of workers.
Ms. Maphenduka cited programmes such as purchasing of modern mining and mineral processing equipment, construction of dormitories for workers, construction of a modern workshop and fuel storage facilities among several others.
She urged others investors to emulate its corporate social responsibility programmes as government alone can not manage to address the various needs of its citizens.
She also appealed to government to continue supporting the gemstone sector so that it can contribute significantly to the economic growth of the country.
ZANIS
Millennium Challenge Cooperation (MCC) has announced that Zambia and other four Countries will continue the process of developing compacts with the Millennium Challenge Cooperation (MCC) for the year 2010.
This is contained in a statement released to ZANIS by First Secretary for Press at the Zambian Embassy in the United States of America Ben Kangwa.
According to the Statement, Zambia’s Ambassador to the United States of America Dr Inonge Mbikusita Lewanika is pleased with Zambia’s continuation of the process of developing compacts in the coming year.
Dr. Lewanika said with the announcement, the MCC continues to recognize the efforts that the Zambian government is making to invest in its people through good governance, fighting Corruption, facilitating business and commitment to free markets and Education.
The announcement was made at a press briefing by the MCC New Executive officer, Daniel Johannes.
Mr. Johannes said the board of directors which includes Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reviewed the progress of its partnerships with countries like Zambia and others is to reduce poverty.
He added that the board agreed that Zambia, Malawi, Jordan, Indonesia and the Philippines are eligible to continue the process of developing compacts in fiscal year in 2010.
From mid 2006 until December, 2008 , Zambia has participated in a two year long US$22.7 billion MMC threshold program that focused on facilitating business registration , countering corruption and improving border management to help Zambia meet the eligibility criteria.
Since its inception in 2004, MCC has approved compacts totaling over US$7 billion with 91 partner countries.
CHOMA has been plunged into a power blackout for three days now.
Residents have spent the past two nights in darkness following the unexplained disruption of electricity supply by ZESCO.
The situation has also affected water supply to residents as the Southern Water and Sewerage Company is unable to supply the commodity without electricity.
District commissioner Laiven Apuleni ,however, told ZANIS in Choma today that a major fault at Munzuma substation along Kafue gorge national grid has caused the power black out to Choma town.
Mr Apuleni said ZESCO experts from Lusaka who had arrived in the district yesterday were working round the clock to rectify the fault.
Several residents have been hit by a water shortage with most of them resorting to hand pumps and shallow wells to fetch the commodity.
Most residents have expressed worry that some perishables like food stuffs in their refrigerators may go bad if ZESCO does not restore power supply by today.
The blackout has also severely affected business undertakings.
President Rupiah Banda has warned that he will not hesitate to sack all ministers and those trying to frustrate his Government.
President Banda said he had tried his best to keep stability in the Government and the Movement for Multi Party Democracy since the death of his predecessor Dr. Levy Mwanawasa.
The President said he was human and that if people pushed him beyond a certain point he would not hesitate but deal with all those that were frustrating his works.
The president said the Zambian economy was currently doing very well with Foreign Reserves currently standing at US$1.8 billion an amount which has never been recorded before.
He noted that at one time Zambia’s foreign reserves stood at US$1.3 billion but now the reserves have gone up.
Mr. Banda who was speaking at celebrations to mark the Silver Jubilee of the Zambia National Marketeers Association in Kitwe today, said as the Economy continues to register growth, money would start getting into the pockets of an average Zambian.
The President said all those that were calling for Change or die Zambia at a time when the economy was growing and jobs being created were confused persons.[quote]
And President Banda has said no well balanced person can give out over K1.2 billion to an individual
He charged that he was not a mad person who can just give out Government resources at will.
The said a lot of people were not happy with his style of leadership because they had found out that he was not an easy person to work with.
The President further said there was need for Zambians to remain calm and not listen to eccentric people who wanted to put the country on of Fire.
The President cautioned Zambians against involving themselves in acts that may bring chaos in the Country as no one was going to take care of their Children if they started killing each other.
The President also disputed media reports that he had spent over K1 billion in Western Province saying it was not possible for him to have spent such colossal sums of money in two days.
“They are no shops in Liuwa were could I have spent all this money, this is insane, “said President Banda.
The Ministry of Agriculture in Kafue District has launched investigations into reports of rotten maize seed that was delivered to a cooperative in Kafue’s Lukolongo area.
Kafue District Agriculture Coordinator John Hikanyemu told ZANIS in an interview today that his office has dispatched a team of experts to verify the reports.
He said the outcome of the investigation would determine the course of action the Ministry will take as to whether farmers should go ahead and plant the seed or not.
Mr. Hikanyemu who could not disclose the number of bags involved but confirmed that the cooperative involved was only one, said if the seeds were delivered rotten; the blame should be on the supplier.
He has meanwhile described the inputs distribution exercise in the district as going on smoothly.
He said so far 95% of the inputs have been distributed to cooperatives throughout the district by selected transporters and would come to a close anytime soon.
Mr. Hikanyemu said it was good that farmers had started receiving seed and D compound fertilizer.
He disclosed that this year’s number of beneficiaries was 10,640 compared to last year’s 3,240.
Mr. Hikanyemu stated that the increase in the number of farmer’s participation also saw an increase in the number of inputs from 25,920 to 42,560 bags of fertilizer.
He, however, noted that the slow pace of loading the trucks by the warehouse manager was a source of worry to many farmers in the district.
Mr. Hikanyemu said Omnia Zambia has only one manager who is loading and verifying both D and Urea fertilizer.
He said this has made transporters take long to load before distributing to sheds. He said there was need for Omnia Zambia to work out modalities to ensure loading is much faster.
Meanwhile Mr. Hikanyemu has dispelled rumors that fertilizer bags being delivered to Chipapa farm were under weights.
He said this was not true and that his office has not received any such complaints from farmer in the area.
Mr. Hikanyemu said it was common to receive such complaints every year adding that no such rumors have always been found to be true.
He explained that the problem of under weights normally originates from the source of packaging the fertilizer.
The Zambia National Pensioners Association (ZANAPA) in Livingstone and Kazungula districts, has bemoaned the delay in the amendment of the Pensions Act Number 35 of 1996.
ZANAPA Secretary for the two districts, Patrick Namakando says the amendment process which was initiated in 2004 has not yet been completed.
Mr. Namakando told ZANIS in an interview in Livingstone today that the situation has denied pensioners the right to receive monthly dues.
He explained that pensioners had no legal platform to demand for an increase in their monthly pay and as such were heavily dependent on parliamentarians to look into their plight and finalize the amendment of the Act to alleviate their suffering.
Mr. Namakando said there was urgent need to establish an effective framework that would cater for the needs of pensioners and other senior citizens as was the case in other SADC countries.
He said pensioners had served their country with diligence and contributed immensely to the social, economic and political development of the nation adding that ignoring their plight was discriminatory.
Mr. Namakando said the worst affected pensioners were those that retired before 2002 as their monthly pay was still pegged at between K60, 000 and K150, 000 and could hardly meet their basic and social needs.
The Japanese government has given Zambia a grant of K15.4 billion for the procurement of medical equipment for the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka.
Minister of Finance and National Planning, Situmbeko Musokotwane and Japanese Ambassador to Zambia, Hideto Mitamura signed the grant agreement in Lusaka today.
Dr. Musokotwane said the grant, which will be managed by the Japanese International Cooperation Aid (JICA), will be used for the intended purpose of assisting UTH procure medical equipment.
“I want to put it on record here that this grant money comes from the Japanese taxpayers and therefore the government will ensure that it is put to its intended purpose,” he said.
He expressed gratitude to the Japanese government for the grant, adding that Zambia has received a lot of assistance from that government.
And Mr. Mitamura said the equipment to be provided to the UTH include among others, anesthesia machines, suction machines, sonograms and patient surveillance monitors.
He noted that although indicators show that child and maternal health have improved since the late 1990s in Zambia, the health situations in the country was still unsatisfactory.[quote]
He said his government has contributed significantly towards the improvement of the health sectors in various African countries.
“The economic and human burden of poor health in any nation impacts negatively on the progress of any economy,” he said.
Mr. Mitamura said the equipment would help Zambian medical personnel to apply their skills effectively, adding that this will translate into improved health services for Zambian people.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mitamura has urged government to seriously and conclusively pursue the matter of public funds embezzlement at the Ministry of Health.
“The embassy urges the Zambia government to get to the bottom of this matter and take necessary measures to improve financial management system so that foreign assistance will reach effectively to the people who need it,” he said.
South African President Jacob Zuma shows a Doctorate degree after being conferred with a Doctorate by the University of Zambia
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Jacob Zuma lays a wreath on South African freedom fighters who died and were buried in Zambia. This was at the Leopards Hills cemetery in Lusaka
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Jacob Zuma and his wife Nompumelelo lay wreaths on South African freedom fighters who died and were buried in Zambia. This was at the Leopards Hills cemetery in Lusaka
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President Banda about to decorate his South African counterpart Jacob Zuma with a medal during a State banquet in Lusaka
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Mrs Nompumelelo Zuma and Thandiwe Banda interact with children at Kabwata orphanage in Lusaka
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Mrs Angela Miyanda (r) with First Ladies Thandiwe Banda and Nompumelelo Zuma at Kabwata orphanage
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First republican president Kenneth Kaunda plays a guitar during the State banquet hosted for President Jacob Zuma
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First Lady Thandiwe Banda and Mrs Nompumelelo Zuma dance during the State Banquet hosted for President Jacob Zuma
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The Green Labels bands plays music at a State banquet which was hosted by President Rupiah Banda in honour of South Africa President Jacob Zuma
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Some of the Hippos near the Island of Chete.
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Animals of Chete and Sekula Islands
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Eastern Province Minister Isaac Banda inspects Ominia shedsfor the farmer input support programme,.Omnia regional manager Misheck Mushinda (checkered shirt) and Chipata district commissioner , Moses Nyirenda
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The first train carrying ballast stones for the completion of the Chipata/Mchinji railway project arrived in Chipata today to the excitement of residents that gathered to witness the laying of the stones on the railway track.
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From left: Eastern Province Minister, Isaac Banda, Zambia’s Deputy High Commissioner to Malawi, Paul Katema, Chipata/Mchinji railway project contractor, Ziaudin Daya and Malawi’s Central, East Africa Railways ( CEARs) Regional Manager, Lexon Kalanje, witness the arrival of the first train to Chipata near Chuni Village, six kilometers from Mwami border.
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Eastern Province Minister, Isaac Banda, emphasizing a point to Chipata/Mchinji railway project engineer, Ernest Silwamba ( l ) and Zambia’s Deputy High Commissioner to Malawi, Paul Katema ( r ) as they waited for the arrival of the first train to Chipata. Looking on are Eastern Province Deputy Permanent Secretary ( second left) and his regional PS, Eularia Syamujaye
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Eastern Province Minister, Isaac Banda (in suit) and Chipata/Mchinji railway project engineer, Ernest Silwamba, on the locomotive engine that brought ballast stone to Chipata from Malawi.
Faz has tentative plans to camp the national team in Spain ahead of the Africa Cup tournament in Angola next month but is it really necessary?
Twice, Zambia have camped in Europe ahead of their Africa Cup outing but with no tangible results coming out of their excursions in both France and Spain ahead of the 2006 and 2008 tournaments.
I believe these exotic European training camps are all just a matter of prestige and a mare PR stunt to put a gloss over a modest side.
Zambia will be based in the south-western Angolan town of Lubango that is well high up and over 10 000 feet sea level in weather conditions that certainly do not match-up to those in Faz’s preferred training camp destination on Iberian Peninsula over the holiday season.
A training camp in northern Namibia will be appropriate enough for Zambia that has similar geographical and weather pattern to Lubango due to its close proximity to the Angolan town.
The northern Namibian town of Oshakati has a sporting venue and is also serviced by scheduled flights from the airport it shares with near-by Ondangwa.
The remote town’s location is ideal enough to also give the team the privacy it needs and to avoid any social distractions.
Meanwhile, Group B sides Togo and Cote d’Ivoire who will be based in the oil enclave of Cabinda on the Atlantic coast, have also decided to camp on the continent.
Cote d’Ivoire will be in steamy Dar es Salaam in Tanzania while Togo will be in humid Pointe Nior in Congo-Brazzaville.
DUNAMIS Centre senior Pastor Dan Pule has been swindled out of US$62,000 in a scam in which conmen sold him fake gold pieces.
And three suspects have since been arrested with thousands of fake gold stones and are currently in custody.
Police spokesperson, Bonnie Kapeso, who confirmed the development and displayed the fake gold, said Dr Pule had since reported the matter to the police.
Mr Kapeso said the fake stones that Dr Pule bought were put in a safe but when he organised other pastors to pray with him for the stones, the safe exploded.
He said when the safe exploded, pastors scampered in fear after they saw things that appeared like witchcraft ornaments on top of the fake stones.
Mr Kapeso said the conmen were using an American GMC Suburban motor vehicle, registration number ABJ 3635 to hoodwink the would-be customers into thinking that they were genuine businesspersons.
Dr Pule, who was at Lusaka Central police station at the time, refused to narrate his ordeal to the media.
Mr Kapeso said the same conmen also attempted to sell more fake stones to two foreign nationals but the transaction could not take place.
He said one of the suspects was in court facing a charge of theft of K1.3 billion.
He advised people buying things like gold to seek expert advice before they lost huge sums of money.
MMD chairperson for elections Mike Mulongoti has advised members of the ruling party aspiring for positions in the national executive committee to lobby for support in a decent manner.
Mr Mulongoti, who is MMD acting spokesperson, said although the ruling party’s constitution allows members to campaign ahead of the convention, this must be done in a decent manner.
He said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that those vying for positions should not use corrupt means to woo voters at the convention.
This follows the announcement by MMD deputy national secretary Jeff Kaande that the national executive committee will next month set dates for the ruling party’s convention.
Some MMD officials on the Copperbelt are alleged to have started campaigning to challenge President Banda at the convention.
Mr Mulongoti said contestants should not buy delegates to vote for them at the convention.
“You know Zambia is a big place, so you can’t stop people from campaigning. They are free to do so, but my appeal is for the campaigns to be done in a transparent and decent manner,” Mr Mulongoti said.
He said the party has a huge task to ensure resources for the convention are raised to conduct a successful convention.
Mr Mulongoti advised MMD members to be patient and remain united as the party goes to the convention.
He urged MMD members to desist from issuing unwarranted statements on the convention.
THE institution of chief is one, which has been there since time immemorial and commands respect by the greater majority of our people.
The evolution of chiefdoms is celebrated in traditional ceremonies to symbolise the country’s rich cultural diversity as a people and act as a constant reminder of the importance of tradition and culture.
To be a chief in Zambia, a traditional electoral college sits to elect a new chief at the passing of one. When the traditional establishment has accepted that new chief, the name is submitted to the Republican president through the Ministry of Local Government for presidential consent and approval. This process is called recognition.
Without recognition, the new chief is only a traditional figurehead devoid of all the trappings of pomp and authority, which nowadays include a 4×4 motor vehicle, monthly allowances, and representation in the district council and the House of Chiefs in Lusaka.
In recent times, we have read with sadness negative comments and utterances from Chief Bright Nalubamba of the Ila people in Southern Province attacking the Head of State. Chief Nalubamba’s record of issuing unpalatable and humiliating remarks against sitting presidents in the country is not new to those who follow media reports.
Going through a catalogue of his comments makes one wonder whether he is a politician or a traditional leader. Surely much as we can agree that he has the right to freedom of speech and indeed opinion, his utterances are dangerous and misleading to not only his subjects in Namwala but also the nation and indeed a disgrace to the position of chieftainship in our land.
Of late, Chief Nalubamba has taken a solid political position to support the United Party for National Development/Patriotic Front (UPND/PF) Pact while publicly denouncing and demeaning the leadership of President Rupiah Banda.
History has it that this same traditional leader lost parliamentary elections twice in Namwala Constituency while serving as chief in Mbeza.
He has now taken it upon himself to be the self appointed epitome of judgment of all heads of State starting from the first Republican president Kenneth Kaunda right through to the current president.
When it has been materially convenient Chief Nalubamba would praise a head of State and posture that presidency with a lot of accolades, and once he fails to have his material needs met, he fires all manner of invectives.
Zambians may recall that in June 1988, Chief Nalubamba complained of being neglected by the UNIP government, which he accused of not providing for his subjects with boreholes and of ignoring his request to turn his house into a palace.
A few years down the line, in October 1990, the same traditional leader while in a delegation of 15 other chiefs from the Southern Province pledged total support to Dr Kaunda.
When second Republican president Frederick Chiluba came into power, he became the darling of Chief Nalubamba, but shortly after Dr Chiluba left office, the Ila chief started calling him names. He even suggested to his successor the late president Levy Mwanawasa to defer Dr Chiluba’s benefits. (The Post April 2003).
Earlier in March, 2002, Chief Nalubamba was in the media again saying Zambians won’t be exposed to Chiluba’s ‘rubbish’.
As is characteristic of him, Chief Nalubamba praised Dr Mwanawasa who he said was an excellent legal practitioner and a good listener to the opposition.
As time went by, the chief launched his missile attacks at Dr Mwanawasa, in stories such as one where he called for the arrest of Dr Chiluba and Chief Justice Matthew Ngulube saying Levy’s Government risked being brought down if it failed to meet Zambians’ demands. (The Post Newspaper July 2004).
Later, Chief Nalubamba said Mwanawasa’s Government was dormant starting from State House to the district, saying Government structures had failed to alleviate the suffering among Zambians.
Yet the country knows too well that it was during the late president Mwanawasa’s rule, which Nalubamba called dormant that this country achieved enormous economic strides and brought the inflation rate to a single digit.
As if that was not all, this traditional leader was quoted as saying he doubted President Mwanawasa’s capacity to implement what he promised Zambians.
On Wednesday, August 17, 2005, Chief Nalubamba was again quoted in the media saying, Levy’s stance on new constitution spells disaster for the nation.
His inconsistencies have continued. He has been calling President Rupiah Banda names showing no respect for the presidency and a man he had earlier sworn he would abdicate his throne if he was not elected in the October 30, 2008 presidential elections. He has even resorted to attacking Mr Banda’s Cabinet ministers.
Chief Nalubamba has been on this public podium purportedly on behalf of all the traditional rulers in Southern Province.
On August 7, 2009, Chief Nalubamba said chiefs in the province regretted having supported Mr Banda in the 2008 presidential election, a position which was later denied by 15 chiefs from Gwembe valley.
Representing the group, Chief Sinazongwe said the statement reflected Chief Nalubamba’s personal opinion and advised him to resolve his differences with the Head of State if he had any.
Chief Macha of the Tonga people in Choma District who restated his unflinching support called upon the Government to come up with a deliberate policy to train chiefs in leadership, diplomacy and a code of conduct to avoid such embarrassing situations.
In the Sunday Post of August 9, 2009, Chief Nalubamba charged that he had no respect for presidents like Mr Banda who sang praises for people like former president Chiluba. Later, he even went to the extent of calling Mr Banda a liar in one of the private daily newspapers.
As MMD national chairperson Michael Mabenga pointed out, it is disappointing that a senior chief could be issuing derogatory remarks against a popularly elected president.
Mr Mabenga noted in an interview with ZNBC news that such an attitude has a consequence of undermining integrity of traditional leaders and called on traditional rulers to desist from meddling in politics to preserve the respect accorded to them.
With such behaviour, a question of law is then raised. One further wonders what really should be the relationship between a traditional leader whose subjects may number between 10 to 20,000 people in some cases and a head of State who is elected by the whole country.
With respect to recognition of a chief, should a chief who has been recognised by the presidency, be discourteous to the president of the country which is responsible for his recognition. At which point would the recognising authority, the national president, withdraw the recognition of a defiant chief.
From his daily negative comments on the Republican president and other former heads of State, Chief Nalubamba is planting seeds of destruction for the nation, and teaching children not only in his chiefdom but the country as a whole not to respect heads of state. By his actions, and utterances, one wonders how young Zambians will judge us adults.
The colonial government, which in fact formed these chiefdoms, did not hesitate to de-register a truant chief or one who goes against outlined requirements. For example in Kabwe, Chief Chipepo, renowned for elephant poaching in the 1940s, was removed from Native Authority office in 1948.
Martin Siwale of Nakonde in Northern Province said it was clear Chief Nalubamba has no respect for any head of State, past or future and it is an open secret that the traditional leader has no regard for the chief justice.
“If Chief Nalubamba has no respect for President Banda, how does he expect his subjects or society to respect him. It is evident that this chief has shown total disregard for the Judiciary and the chief justice with regard to the decision of the Judiciary to acquit the former president Frederick Chiluba.
“If he has no respect for the president who is the chief executive officer of this country, and has no respect for the chief justice, it follows that he has no respect for the National Assembly which makes the laws which the Judiciary interpret in the courts of law. I pity the subjects of Mbeza in Namwala where this chief regards himself as the only most important person next to God in heaven,” Mr Siwale said.
This is the same man who in December 2004 urged politicians to stop trading insults.
Chief Nalubamba is on record saying it was unacceptable for president Mwanawasa, Dean Mung’omba and Mr Michael Sata to continue insulting each other adding that he took strong exception to Mr Sata’s remarks.
“I do not like leaders who insult the governed from whom they derive their power to govern. The Tonga proverb that states…’Lemeka kana akalo kakulemeke sums it all,” Chief Nalubamba said at that time.
But from the happenings in Mbeza and indeed from his utterances, the traditional leader has not practised what he preaches.
Firstly, he has been in conflict with his own subjects for constructively advising him over the Mbeza Irrigation project even though he himself advised Mr Banda to embrace criticism in September last year.
He said then that great and wise men and women world-over learnt their greatest lessons from mistakes they make or have made in their human endeavor.
While he has continued enjoying his position as chief even after insulting authorities who recognise his chieftainship, he himself exercised his powers arbitrarily by unlawfully stripping and expelling five headmen in his chiefdom in February 2003 for allegedly rejecting the Mbeza Irrigation project. More than 6, 855 people of Mbeza voted against his irrigation project.
The growing insults against the presidency have become a concern of different groups and individuals.
“The Ministry of Local Government and Housing should also wake up. It is not fair to leave the president of the Republic of Zambia to defend himself from wanton uncalled-for attacks from a wayward chief who is subject to his recognition. If the ministry does not take action on such a self centred politician, who is leading his subjects and even Zambians by bad example, then let the Republican president take action by deregistering this man who has embarrassed his fellow chiefs, to save the decency of the institution of chief in the country,” says Kenneth Shimbilo of Chibombo District.
Chief Mumena of Solwezi in North-Western Province said Mr Banda should be respected as Zambians had given him the mandate to govern the affairs of the nation.
Chief Mumena said those in leadership should provide guidance to their flock.
He said it was not right for people to degrade the office of the Head of State by name-calling and wondered how other people from outside the country could respect the president if the Zambians themselves were not.
Similarly, Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo said Mr Banda deserved respect and those who have ganged up to insult President Banda should not be respected in society. (Zambia Daily Mail November 30).
While it is evident that Chief Nalubamba is championing his personal cause by calling Mr Banda names, over the acquittal of Dr Chiluba, well meaning chiefs from the Luapula Royal Foundation (LRF) have pointed out that it is immoral to do so.
The spokesperson for the LRF who called on the people of Luapula to stand solidly behind President Banda said political manipulators should refrain from telling lies.
Chief Nalubamba should be cautious of his public utterances which if not halted could create anarchy and national unrest.
He too should know that as a traditional leader, he should promote peace and development instead of opposing the same government, which is working for the betterment of his people. Those he is supporting today should also be wary that they too would at a later day be his spitting platform. He cannot be trusted.
The Mine Workers Union of Zambia (MUZ) and the National Union for Miners and Allied Workers (NUMAW) have declared a dispute with Konkola Coppers Mines (KCM) after the Mining Company offered a three percent salary increment to unionized workers.
Speaking at a joint Press briefing held at Katilungu House in Kitwe today MUZ President Rayford Mbulu said the two Mine Unions have failed to agree with KCM hence have decided to declare a dispute.
Mr. Mbulu said the Unions were looking for a twenty five percent salary increment following a boom in the price of Copper and other Metals but KCM has insisted on three percent which they described as a mockery.
He said the Unions were extremely worried with the rate at which the negotiations were going and expressed dismay that KCM could offer a three percent salary increment at a time when business was booming.
Mr. Mbula added that it was unfortunate that the Company which was just recovering from the industrial unrest could refuse to offer its workers a reasonable pay rise.
He further said that the Mining Company had failed to invest in the rehabilitation and procurement of new equipment and wondered how the Zambian people were going to benefit from the company if it was offering peanuts to its employees.
Mr. Mbulu said MUZ was going to follow and comply with all the conditions attached to the declaration of a dispute in the Industrial Act.
He appealed to workers at KCM to remain calm and continue with there normal duties as the Union embarked on this process.
Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia Chapter has condemned the move by Confederation of African Football (CAF) to ban journalists from sharing the same hotels with the national teams during next month’s African Cup of Nations tournament in Angola
MISA Zambia Chapter Chairperson Henry Kabwe said the decision is meant to intimidate the journalism fraternity and is likely to make the work of journalists difficult as they will be separated from their sources.
Kabwe told ZANIS Sport in an interview in Lusaka today that the best way to resolve the impending crisis between the media and national team officials is to engage in dialogue.
He observed that most hotels in Angola are run by private individuals adding that anyone is at liberty to book wherever he wishes to be accommodated unless the hotel is full.
The MISA Chairperson noted that journalist have on many occasions been judged wrongly and therefore denied information which he said is a violation of the media’s freedom to access information.
Kabwe has since appealed to CAF to reconsider their decision saying the move will not only affect journalists but also societies who are the beneficiary of information from the media.
He called on soccer governing bodies not to resort to punish journalists involved in some scuffles before establishing the real cause of the problem.
Last month CAF resolved at a seminar held in Luanda that journalists should not be allowed to share the same hotels with the national teams during the Africa Cup of nations that kicks off next month.
The move is aimed at avoiding confrontations between journalists and national team officials as journalists will only be accorded time to interview coaches through the arrangements by media officers from various associations.
Lusaka Magistrate has today convicted a Lusaka resident for impersonating a Zambia Revenue Authority Officer and jailed him to 18 months imprisonment with hard labour.
Justice Arida Chulu today jailed Owen Sinyamuki 31, of 1094 Kuomboka-Chawama Compound in Lusaka on two counts of obtaining money by false pretences and one count of impersonating a public officer.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) arrested Sinyamuki on June 4, 2008 for allegedly impersonating a Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) officer and subsequently obtaining money by false pretences.
In the first count, Sinyamuki was arrested and charged with the offence of impersonating a public officer contrary to section 102(b) of the penal Code Chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.
It was alleged that on June, 3, 2008 in Lusaka, Sinyamuki did falsely present himself to be a person employed in the public service namely a Zambia Revenue Authority Officer, Deputy Direct Taxes Inspector.
In the second count, Sinyamuki was arrested and charged with the offence of obtaining money by false pretence contrary to section 309 of the penal, code Chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.
It was alleged that on June 3, 2008, with intent to defraud, Sinyamuki did obtain K350,000 money in cash from Muhammed Kayabwe by falsely pretending that he was a ZRA officer , when in fact not.
He is alleged to have impersonated himself as ZRA Deputy Direct Tax Inspector and solicited for five million Kwacha as inducement or reward for himself to waiver any tax obligations that Muhammed Kayabwe had with the ZRA.
In the third count Sinyamuki was arrested and charged with the offence of obtaining money by false pretence contrary to section 309 of the penal code Chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.
It was alleged that between May 1 and June 12, 2008 , in Lusaka with intent to defraud Sinyamuki did obtain K200, 000 money in cash from Sarah Nain by falsely pretending that he was a ZRA officer when in fact not.
He is alleged to have impersonated himself as ZRA Deputy direct Tax Inspector and solicited for K500, 000 to assist repair his car which had broken down on his way to inspect the business for Nain.
Magistrate Chulu jailed Sinyamuki fro six months with hard labour on each count and the sentence will run consecutively. This means that Sinyamuki will serve 18 months in prison with effect from 10th December, 2009.
