Join our community of SUBSCRIBERS and be part of the conversation.
To subscribe, simply enter your email address on our website or click the subscribe button below. Don't worry, we respect your privacy and won't spam your inbox. Your information is safe with us.
The Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) has urged Members of Parliament (MPs) not to abandon their constituencies once voted into office.
SACCORD Information Officer Michelo Mwango says it was unfortunate that some MPs forget or rarely visit their constituencies.
Ms. Mwango told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today, that MPs need to visit their constituencies in order to know how the people in that constituency are living.
The SACCORD Information Officer said some MPs make fake promises that they would be visiting their constituencies but once elected they are rarely seen in their constituencies.
She said making fake promises was betraying the electorate adding that people should ensure that they vote wisely.
She has called upon MPs to always remember that they are there to save the people and not for their personal gain.
The Auditor General (AG) Anna Chifungula has disclosed that her office has been receiving various requests from a broad spectrum of its stakeholders for it to carryout specific audits.
Ms Chifungula says though the Zambian constitution provides that the AG’s office shall not be directed in doing its work owing to the increased relevance of its work in the governance of the nation as well as in financial management, there has been various request for the office to carryout specific audits.
She said some of its stakeholder’s requesting for AG’s office for specific audits includes the Executive arm of Government, Investigative wings of Government such as the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC), cooperating partners and some sectors of society.
“Therefore the challenge we face is to strike a balance in meeting these requests and maintain our relevance and to ensuring that we are not effectively being directed, contrary to the constitution”, she said.
The Auditor General said her office was mindful of the essence of its existence and the criticality of maintaining its relevance in the accountability process of public resource management.
Ms Chifungula said it was for this reason that her office has been able to adjust its work plans and carry out some more work as demanded by the many of its stakeholders including specific requests from cooperating partners.
Ms Chifungula said this in Lusaka today during the signing ceremony of a project document regarding the short term institutional support to the office of the Auditor General by the Royal Danish Embassy.
The support, which is for the recruitment of 15 officers at the AG’s office for a period of six (6) months is for an amount of DK3.5million (slightly over K3 billion).
The Auditor General thanked the Danish Embassy for the financial support to meet most of the challenges her office was facing.
She said her office will endeavor to utilize the funds for the intended purpose as stipulated in the signed agreement and ensure that the office delivers to the sponsor’s and other stakeholder’s expectation just as it has always done.
She further said the office of the Auditor General continues to face challenges of resource and time constraints.
Ms. Chifungula said it has not been easy for her office to rise to the challenge of meeting the increased demand of service especially in the midst of the financial crisis and other resource limitations.
“My office still has a total number of 169 staff vacancies even o be able to meet all the planned activities. These vacancies could have been filled in within this year as the last phase of the restructuring exercise but could not because of inadequate funds”, she said.
And speaking earlier, Danish Ambassador to Zambia Thomas Schjerbeck pledged his country’s continued support to the office of the Auditor General.
Mr Schjerbeck said despite the financial crisis which is not yet over, his country will not hesitate to provide financial assistance that helps promote good governance and proper financial management in its partner countries.
The Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) has expressed sadness at the rampant name calling by candidates in the Kasama Central parliamentary by elections.
FODEP President Stanley Mhango told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that it is very unfortunate that the candidates in the Kasama Central-by election were concentrating on calling each other names.
Mr. Mhango said what the candidates need to understand and know is that politics of name calling were long gone.
He has since urged the candidates to concentrate on telling the electorate what they would do once voted into office.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mhango says FODEP is considering sponsoring a programme on one of the radio stations in Kasama in order to allow the candidates to sell and explain their manifestos to the people of Kasama.
He said giving the candidates a platform to explain their manifestos would allow more people in Kasama to know what each candidate has to offer.
Mr. Mhango expressed confidence that the move to afford a platform to all candidates would be in the interest of the people of Kasama.
He also called on the candidates to utilize the opportunity to explain why the people of Kasama should vote for them.
The Kasama Central seat fell vacant after the resignation of Saviour Chishimba.
Government says there is no need for players in the construction industry to resort to the importation of cement from other countries.
Works and Supply Minister Mike Mulongoti says the Zambian cement manufacturing companies have the ability to produce and supply the local market and export the surplus.
Mulongoti was speaking in Lusaka last night when he officiated at the re-launch of new Mphamvu brand, a commodity manufactured by Lafarge Cement Zambia.
Mr. Mulongoti observed that the country has in the last two to three years experienced shortages of cement on the local market adding that any disruption in the supply of cement negatively impacts the construction industry and ultimately impacts the economy.
The Minister expressed happiness that the shortages of cement have now ceased and the commodity is now procured easily.
Mr. Mulongoti reiterated government’s commitment to working hand in hand with Lafarge in the promotion of the construction industry.
He said government is happy that Lafarge had continued to re-invest in Zambia to enhance economic development and ensure that its products compete favourably on the international market.
President Rupiah Banda on November 14, 2008 commissioned the US$120 million new state of the art plant in Chilanga.
And speaking earlier, Lafarge Commercial Director Bwembya Chikwanda disclosed that the company has managed to double its production from 600,000 metric tonnes (MT) to 1, 200 million metric tonnes annually.
Mr. Chikwanda said the increase in production is meant to satisfy the construction sector.
He praised the Zambia Bureau of Standards for setting a common standard that compels cement manufacturing companies to comply and conform to international standards in terms of mixture, packaging and quality.
Police in Nchelenge District of Luapula Province are holding a 70 year old disabled man for allegedly defiling his 13 year old grand daughter.
Luapula Province Deputy Police Commanding Officer, Muwesa Wakwinji confirmed the development to ZANIS.
Mr. Wakwinji said the elderly man identified as Zachariah Mwape of Ndayi Village in Chief Mununga’s area of Chienge District is alleged to have defiled his named grand daughter of the same village around 10:00 hours yesterday.The accused has deformed legs and moves using his hands.
The Provincial Deputy Police Chief said the accused lured his grand daughter into his house after lying to her that he wanted to give her K 1,000 to buy a pencil.
He said Mwape was caught in the act by neighbors who became suspicious when the two locked themselves in the house.
Mr. Wakwinji warned elderly men against engaging themselves in criminal activities such as child defilement.
He said the law is not selective and that the Police will enforce it to the fullest regardless of the age of those committing defilement cases.
Mr. Wakwinji expressed disappointment that elderly people who are supposed to be the custodians of Zambia’s cultural norms and values are involving themselves in illicit activities.
Mwape has been remanded at Nchelenge Police Station and will appear in court soon.
President Rupiah Banda has urged the American business community to consider investing in Zambia because the country is endowed with abundant natural resources and is politically stable.
President Banda said foreign investors have often succeeded in Zambia especially that the country has no history of civil war or any skirmishes since independence.
He said the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has been growing at an average of 5.1 per cent annually since the early 2000.
Mr. Banda said this when he addressed several business executives at Loews Regency Hotel in New York today.
He said investment opportunities were abundant in Zambia especially in the agriculture, mining, tourism, manufacturing and energy sector.
The President told the business community in the United States that Zambia has tracts of arable land coupled with abundant water resources.
Zambia boasts of containing 40 per cent of fresh water in the Southern African region.
President Banda therefore urged the business executives to take advantage of this resource and invest in agriculture and hydropower production because water was available in abundance all year round.
“Quality land, minerals and water resources are abundant in Zambia,” he said.
Mr. Banda further said Zambia has attractive investment policies through the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) Act of 2006.
These incentives include tax exemption and concessions to companies which invest in the country’s priority areas, while government has reduced the cost of doing business significantly.
He added that investors had legal protection especially that Zambia has an independent judiciary.
On mining, Mr. Banda said Zambia was a second largest producer of copper in the world, adding that it still had huge copper deposits dotted around the country.
Other minerals in Zambia are precious stones such as emerald, silver and gold.
On tourism, the President said 33 per cent of land in Zambia was dedicated to game parks and other game management areas, noting that the hospitality industry also still has huge investment potential.
And Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Felix Mutati said at the same function that government was working towards regional and international investment in order to expand the market for various products.
He said Zambia had already started working on the North –to-South corridor that would promote regional integration in the Southern African region.
And African Rainbow Minerals Executive Chairman, Patrice Motsepe, who was among business executives in the audience testified that Zambia’s investment climate was very attractive.
Mr. Motsepe, who is a South African, said his company was finalizing plans to invest between US$300 million and US$500 million in the country.
And Mitsubishi International Corporation General Manager for Corporation Communications, Tracy Austin said her company had collaborated with Zambia in terms of doing business for many years.
President Banda is in New York attending the 64th General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) but has seized the opportunity to hold bilateral and business meetings.
Earlier in the day, President Banda held bilateral talks with Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Deputy Vice President for Policy and International Relations, Sherri Kraham at UN building.
Meanwhile, First Lady Thandiwe Banda today attended a Global Health Council meeting on Maternal Health and Malaria held at Millennium Plaza hotel in New York.
At this meeting, Nancy Brinker, who is the founding chair for the Susan G. Komen for Cure, urged Ministers of Health in the world to fearlessly address the growing crisis of cancer.
Ms. Brinker said Ministers of Health should integrate cancer screening and treatment under existing health programmes in developing countries.
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) president Michael Sata is not scared of being taken on legally or otherwise by former president Fredrick Chiluba because he has more damaging information on the former head of State.
Reacting to Dr Chiluba who at the weekend said he had decided to take on the opposition leader politically and legally because of his incessant insults, Mr Sata said that Dr Chiluba would fail because he has more damaging information about him.
But Dr Chiluba maintained he would crush Mr Sata who he claimed had lost popularity including in Northern Province where many members were leaving the PF to rejoin the MMD.
Some of the information about Dr Chiluba, Mr Sata claimed, was only availed to him during his reconciliation meeting with late president Levy Mwanawasa on May 14 2008.
“Chiluba will fail to take me on because Levy Mwanawasa left me enough ammunition when we met on May 14. Levy gave me information, which I did not know about this man and I will not let down the legacy of Levy. I have more damaging information on Chiluba and if he wants to take me on, let him attempt and I will finish him,” Mr Sata said.
He said he had not insulted Dr Chiluba apart from claiming he should state where he got the US$ 8.5 million that was in the Zamtrop account and whether Zambia benefited from the $20 million arms deals.
Mr Sata said it was a known fact that Zambia paid $20 million in the arms deal but still the nation had not benefited from the deal.
“All I am asking from him is to tell us where he got the money and whether the gun deals in which we lost $20 million has benefited Zambia. We paid the money but where are the arms or at least an air gun but there is nothing up to this day. This is not insulting Dr Chiluba,” Mr Sata said.
The PF leader challenged Dr Chiluba who was not rich when the MMD came into power to state where he got the money from.
He said he was ready to show Zambians the sources of his finances and similarly challenged Dr Chiluba to do the same.
Mr Sata said he was not scared of the relationship between Dr Chiluba and the MMD saying the former president had for sometime been looking for an alliance with numerous political parties including the PF.
He said when Dr Chiluba realised he could not control Dr Mwanawasa, he spearheaded the formation of the Party for Unity Development and Development (PUDD) and wanted the party to merge with the PF.[quote]
“I refused and he came and said he wanted to support the PF but he has seen that he cannot achieve what he wants and now he has gone to the MMD but I am ready for him,” Mr Sata said.
Through his spokesperson Emmanuel Mwamba, Dr Chiluba yesterday said he was ready to crush Mr Sata whom he described as a joker.
On the allegations of financial mismanagement, Dr Chiluba said he would not respond to Mr Sata but challenged the opposition leader to state where he got the money from for the campaigns during the 2006 and 2008 elections.
“Let him state where he got the millions of dollars that he used during the 2006 and 2008 election. I challenge him to disclose the source of the funds,” Dr Chiluba said.
He said the charges by Mr Sata were an indication the opposition leader was scared of Dr Chiluba’s alliance with the Government as that meant that his popularity was quickly fading away. –
Dr Chiluba also said that Mr Sata had lost popularity in Northern Province as many from the PF were leaving to rejoin the MMD after the former president threw his support behind President Rupiah Banda.
“Mr Sata has misused his own boat and we are working hard to pull people to the MMD. Many are rolling back to the MMD from his party because of his insults,” Dr Chiluba said.
Dr Chiluba said from now onwards, he would be ready to take on Mr Sata both politically and legally.
The shadow of the October 10 game against Egypt is looming large over the Zambia national team as Herve Renard tries very hard to keep the media focused on his teams Cosafa Cup build-up.
News of Collins Mbesuma’s return including that of one Isaac Chansa to the fold ahead of the home game against Egypt have dominated the news in the last three days of training camp for the teams Cosafa Cup outing.
Renard has emphasized this period was for Cosafa Cup preparations but the Egypt game is looking more newsworthy than the build-up to the October 25 quarterfinal match against Namibia away at Rufaro Stadium in Harare.
And when asked about the programme for the Egypt game, Renard finally said it will be a regular low profile affair with no friendly planned before hosting the African champions at Konkola Stadium in Chililabombwe.
“It is not possible (To have a friendly) because we don’t have enough time for one,” Renard said.
“We can only make a training game while in camp.”
Meanwhile, Mbesuma is expected to steal the show with his return.
Mbesuma has said he is delighted to be back in the team adding that he is aware that does not guarantee a place in the final 18 but is looking forward to the challenge of fighting to make the cut.
However, Mbesuma’s comments are shocking especially after being written off by his once worshipping fans who vilified him and wrote him off for the penalty miss before his subsequent revolving door substitution in that 1-0 win over Rwanda on June 6 at Konkola.
Mbesuma must first make sure he must match the talk with real hunger for a return to playing for Zambia as another episode in his long-running love-hate relationship with his fans is yet again about to unwind.
Western Province Permanent Secretary Ikanuke Noyoo says Ethiopia’s booming leather industry must be emulated.
In a telephone interview with ZANIS from Ethiopia, Noyoo said the Western Province had great potential in producing leather and leather products.
He said the enormous cattle population the province had was sufficient to propel a booming leather and leather products industry.
Mr Noyoo said opportunities of establishing leather tanneries must be explored so as to ensure finished leather products locally.
The PS is leading a Zambian delegation that would explore the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on possibilities of developing the leather industry in Zambia.
The delegation includes the Western Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry, some officials from the Zambia Development Agency and Ministry of Commerce.
The death toll into the Kariba inferno has risen to three following the death of a 35 year old man who died on Tuesday.
Kabwe Mfula who sustained forty five to fifty percent burns died on Tuesday at the University Teaching Hospital where he was rushed on Sunday from Siavonga District Hospital.
Both police in Siavonga and relatives to the deceased confirmed the death of Mfula who was employed by Sinohydro in an interview with Zambia News and Information Services this morning.
Beatrice Sampa a cousin to the deceased disclosed that their relative died early hours of Tuesday morning.
Sampa added that the body of their relative was transported back to Siavonga were burial is expected to take place.
She said Mfula is survived by a pregnant wife and three children.
Meanwhile police in the area have stated that the bodies of the deceased fire victims will only be buried after a postmortem is conducted in Lusaka.
Police will take the bodies of the two Kariba North Bank fire victims to Lusaka tomorrow (Thursday) for postmortem.
Zambian High Commissioner to South Africa Leslie Mbula says he is impressed with discipline that the Zambian Defence Forces have made during peace-keeping operations in Africa and world wide.
And Mr. Mbula has congratulated lieutenant Colonel Andrew Siame of the Zambia Army for winning the overall Best Battalion Commander Awards at the just ended South Africa Development Community (SADC) peace keeping exercise.
Mr. Mbulo said the winning of an award by Lt Col Siame is an indication that Zambian Defence Forces have made themselves famous through hard work.
He noted that this is why the Zambian Defence Forces should continue to be an example in Africa and the SADC region as a whole.
“I appeal to our defence forces to continue to be the light and good example to the defence forces in Africa in general and the SADC region in particular,” he said.
The peace-keeping exercise code under the theme” Exercise Golfinho” which took place in the Northern Cape South Africa from 1 to 22 September 2009 was attended by SADC countries and about 7,000 personal drawn from the military, police, and civilians participated.
The High Commissioner explained that the purpose of the exercise was to prepare elements of the SADC stand by Force for multidimensional peace support operations in line with African Unity standby Force Roadmap to be fully operational by 2010.
Mr. Mbula pointed out that Zambia was represented by the Zambia Army, Zambia Air Force, Zambia Police Service and civilian personal from various Zambian Ministries.
He disclosed that the third Battalion award which Lt Siame won was contested by South Africa, Swaziland, Malawi, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
Mr. further added that Defence Permanent Secretary Dr. Nickolous Kwendakwema, Zambia Army commander, Lt Gen Isaac Chisuzi and defence adviser at the Zambian high commissioner Manuel Chipewa attended the decommissioning of the brigade.
This is contained in a press statement signed by second secretary for press at the Zambian Embassy Philip Chirwa and made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today.
Agriculture and Cooperative Minister Dr Brian Chitubo has commended ZAMBEEF for its commitment in the production of winter Maize, wheat, and other agriculture products.
Speaking during when he toured the ZAMBEEF farm in Sinazongwe district today Dr Chitubo said there was no need for government to be importing maize when there were commercial farmers that were producing plenty of it.
Dr. Chitubo said it was recommendable that such investment was taking place in Zambia and that government would provide an enabling environment for Agriculture to improve to root out hunger in the country.
He noted that government would be able to approach ZAMBEEF to buy maize if a deficit of the country’s staple food was spotted.
Dr. Chitubo together with the Veterinary and Fisheries Minister Bradford Machila, North Western Minister Joseph Mulyata, and former Bank of Zambia Governor Jacob Mwanza who is also the board Chairperson for ZAMBEEF toured ZAMBEEF Sinazongwe farm.
ZAMBEEF farm Manager for Sinazongwe Charles Mudenda said 700 hectors of winter maize have been planted and 700 tones is expected to be harvested.
He said the company has also planted 1200 hectors of wheat and about 7200 tones of wheat would be harvested.
Chief Sinazongwe of the Tonga people said ZAMBEEF was a serious investor in the district and it had ensured that all the land in the farm was ploughed.
The chief urged ZAMBEEF Directors that included Karl Irwin and Francis Brogan to ensure that some maize remained in the district for sale to caution the impact of maize shortage.
He said ZAMBEEF should open more outlets for the sale of maize mealie-meal to the local communities.
ZAMBEEF Director Karl Irwin said poor state of the bridges on the Maamba/Batooka road was affecting the operation of the Company.
He said the two temporal bridges along the road could only allow a vehicle carrying 25 tones of load to pass through.
Sinazongwe District Commissioner (DC) Oliver Pelete said the Road Development Agency (RDA) has already been informed about the problem to ensure that they work of the temporal bridges.
Heads of government departments and the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) party officials accompanied the Ministers.
AMERICAN Ambassador to Zambia Donald Booth says the American Government is proud to support the Zambian Government in the Health and Education sectors.
Ambassador Booth said the American Government has mostly supported the Zambian government in the health sector to fight against diseases.
He said this when his delegation paid a courtesy call on Kasama and Mpika District Commissioners in Kasama yesterday.
Mr Booth added that American Government has concentrated on supporting health sector to fight against HIV/AIDS which is a major concern to the Zambian people.
He commended the first Republican President Dr. Kenneth Kaunda who among others has played a major role in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Meanwhile, Kasama District Commissioner Lt.Col. Steven Chanda praised the American Government for the support rendered to the Zambian Government.
Lt. Col Chanda said the American Government through Africare in Kasama and other Districts has performed commendably to Zambian Communities to improve the health and education institutions.
The DC also said Kasama is mainly an Agricultural area as most people depend on small scale farming producing food crops which need intensification.
Col. Chanda added that the Province has embarked on Northern Tourism Circuit and has vast Tourism potential in water falls, art facts and other tourism aspects which are open to tourists from all parts of the world.
And Mpika District Commissioner John Chinyanta also hailed the American Government for funding Health Community programmes which have been spearheaded by traditional leaders on the sensitisation of HIV/AIDs issues.
Mr. Chinyanta noted that the district is endowed with a lot of natural resources which is untapped with plenty water which if fully utilized could improve the living standards of the people in the region.
He also said the district is the largest in the nation that has three farming blocks adding and if the natural resources were properly annexed the Province could be the grain belt on the nation.
Mr. Chinyanta pointed out that Mpika has Game reserves which could boost tourism potential and that youth training centers in place to develop the skills in different areas.
The DC noted that the continued support from the American Government would enable the nation attain the Millennium Developmental Goals (MDGs).
Patriotic Front Kasama Central aspiring candidate Geoffrey Mwamba
Patriotic Front Kasama Central aspiring candidate Geoffrey Mwamba has stuck to his tribal attacks on MMD candidate Burton Mugala ahead of the October 15 by-election.
Mr. Mwamba has maintained that only a Bemba should be elected as Member of Parliament in Kasama District.
He charged that Northern Province and Kasama in particular belonged to the Bemba people and that nobody from outside should dare contest elections in the District.
Mr. Mwamba said he would not retract his earlier statements where he urged the people of Kasama to vote for him because he was a Bemba.
He was speaking on a live programme on Radio Mano in Kasama today.
Mr. Mwamba charged that provincial minister John Chinyanta, his permanent secretary Mwalimu Simfukwe among others, are outsiders, who should not have been allowed to work in what he termed as Bemba-land.
He urged electorates in Kasama Central constituency not to waste their vote on MMD candidate Burton Mugala because he comes from Muyombe in Isoka District.[quote]
Mr. Mwamba further called on Kasama residents to be wary of people from other tribes who wanted to infiltrate the District with the intention of taking over their land.
PF members of Central Committee Fidelis Kapoka and Samuel Mukupa including PF Kasama Mayor Fidelis Chishoma, who were part of the radio programme, also strongly supported Mr. Mwamba’s alleged tribal remarks, saying Kasama is purely for Bembas and not anybody else.
Mr. Chishoma went further to accuse Mr. Mugala of being disabled and not fit to be an MP.
But MMD spokesperson Mike Mulongoti has condemned the alleged tribal sentiments by named opposition party contesting the Kasama Central by-election.
Mr. Mulongoti said it was morally wrong for the PF to engage in tribal campaigns ahead of the October 15 Kasama Central by-election.
He has called for issued based campaigns instead of politics of character assassination.
Others contesting the Kasama Central seat are Maggie Ng’ona of the All Peoples’ Congress party, UNIP’s Alexander Chansa and independent candidates Pastor Christy Ntalasha and Ayoub Amiar.
The seat fell vacant after the resignation of area MP Saviour Chishimba last month.
