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Fighton Simukonda named a modest squad to face Kano Pillars on Sunday in the two sides penultimate Caf African Champions League Group A match.
Simukonda’s team begins life without key attacking midfielder Jonas Sakuwaha who has scored three Champions League goals for Zesco but has since moved on to French Ligue 1 club Lorient.
In Sakuwaha’s place, Simukonda has recalled ex-Zambia Under-23 utility player George Phiri who has been out of the reckoning at Zesco for the last two seasons.
Douglas Msiska keeps his place in the absence of injured left-back William Chinyama while Chalwe Kabamba will take the place of Nyambe Mulenga who is out for the rest of the season due to a knee injury.
Defender Hihani Himoonde returns to the team from 2010 World Cup/Africa Cup qualifyuing duty with Zambia in
Meanwhile, Zesco left for Nigeria in the early hours of Thursday morning at 01:00.
Zesco and Pillars drew 1-1 in the first leg played at Konkola Stadium in Chililabombwe on July 18.
Pillars and Zesco lie in second and third place In Group A on seven and five points respectively.
Sudanese club Al Hilal top Group on seven points, level with Pillars who they beat to top spot in Group A on goal difference.
Goalkeepers: Jacob Banda, Chansa Kabwe.
Defenders: Kunda Mushota, Douglas Msiska, Chalwe Kabamba, Hichani Himoonde, George Phiri, Leonard Silungwe
FORMER first lady Maureen Mwanawasa has complained against Radio Phoenix for airing an interview in which she launched a scathing attack on the Times of Zambia.
Mrs Mwanawasa on Tuesday morning called the radio station to refute a story in the Times of Zambia in which she revealed her ambitions to stand for the presidency in 2016 after President Rupiah Banda had completed his second term.
However, before the telephone interview, which was recorded live, was even aired, she had a change of mind and phoned the station in an apparent attempt to block the broadcast.
Mrs Mwanawasa was allegedly angry that her attack on the Times of Zambia was aired live and when she attempted and failed to speak with the reporter who conducted the interview, she accused the radio station of playing with people’s emotions.
Radio Phoenix news editor Julius Sakala who confirmed the development to the Times of Zambia said Mrs Mwanawasa again called the radio station yesterday morning and demanded to speak with the reporter who handled her interview but failed.[quote]
He said when the station was asked to withdraw the interview, it was decided that the broadcast proceeds because she voluntarily phoned the station to give the story.
Mr Sakala said he was disappointed that Mrs Mwanawasa whose general standing in society was considered high could start harassing journalists and give an impression they were out to get her when in fact not.
In her Times of Zambia interview, she stated that she would support the candidature of Mr Banda in the 2011 polls because she respected MMD party etiquette and the rule of collective responsibility.
The former first lady however vehemently denied she ever made a statement about her willingness to join main-stream politics while in contradiction she stated she had a passion to lead Zambia.
Times of Zambia has however maintained that Mrs Mwanawasa did utter the words, which were published.
Watching the chipolopolo boys loose to Algeria on Sunday prompted me to voice my opinions about just what could be the bigger problem for not only the chipolopolo boys but Zambians at large. Please understand that I have come to these conclusions only after looking at a variety of areas and issues that concern Zambians at large. First let me stress the fact that these are my personal opinion and are in no way meant to look down on anyone, but that we can look inside us and bring out the best that there is in.
Let me start with Soccer for many years now Zambia has been a household name in African Soccer, and yet we’ve never won the Africa Cup nor have we qualified for the world cup. We have always relied on other teams to bail out. But watching Zambia play on Sunday made me release just why as Zambians we’ve never been able to break that grass ceiling. Take for example, Kenyans, Somalian, Nigerians, Ghanaians, these have all been successful in different areas be it running or soccer. Then I thought about Zambia could it be lack of talent not at all.
We have so much talent. I then figured out that it has much to do with our up bringing and background. Our culture has much to do with why we can’t excel in many competitive areas. First the Algerians were just more superior than Zambia was, second, the Zambian players relied so much on the referee to bail them out, and one would think that we learned a lesson from Dilamba in the Morocco game. Back to my point the kind of superiority exhibited by the Algerians was so obvious that Algeria was the better candidate to qualify to the 2010 FIFA world cup. I would rather see us been embarrassed by Algeria in the qualifying game that to have Spain or Brazil humiliate us on cable network.
Defeated... National soccer team players on their arrival from Algeria at Lusaka international airport
Just what is the Problem?
First of all Zambia lacked the physical fitness necessary to compete at that level. The physical condition was not there at all. Second individual players just lacked the positive attitude necessary to perform, and I believe this is the problem facing most Zambian, not just football players but majority of Zambians who grow up getting handouts from their parents or uncles and whoever the guardian maybe. I believe that the difference between those who are successful and the ones that are not is the attitude.
Majority of Zambians lack that positive attitude to want to excel rather we settle for names that do not warranty anything. We need to start believing in our individual efforts and abilities to propel others to succeed. Learn to take advantage of individual opportunities that come our way. Ever wondered why Zambian players fail to break into major leagues such as the Italian, Spanish or premier leagues, its this one simple reason.
Those teams look for players that will exhibit uniqueness in their abilities and show a high soccer IQ. Zambian did not exhibit that on Sunday and so the reasons for that lose. Algerian players showed individual brilliance that they taunted the Zambian players with the style of play. The fact is our players didn’t not show up at all costing us the game, not that Algeria was a hard nut to crack; we just didn’t have the tools to do the job.
Our players should stop being cry babies and focus on doing the job right. I feel saddened that this is a problem that majority of Zambians suffer from we have been used to being casual in our approach to issues even when we stand to individually profit from the efforts. This problem unfortunately extends across the board be it in our careers, politics, and our personal lives, we always look for somebody else to take a lead. Take for example graduates from our local universities the cry is they can’t fins jobs.
Why not become innovative and become an employer. Michael Dell started his computer company in a college dormitory. Firefox one of the most popular internet browsers was started by two students one from Stanford University and a friend from Australia who are now billionaires. Face book was started by a group of friends who after a part wanted a way to share their pictures with family and friends and so the popular face book was born, the list goes on.
In conclusion I want to leave any Zambian teenager out there with this challenge that you can only become who you make yourself to be. Life is about taking risks and having a positive attitude to propel you to high heights. If settling for the minimum is your goal, then your life has been a success. Waiting for somebody else to lead the way is one step too late. God has blessed our country with so much talent which we have not utilized to the full potential. I pray that somebody out there will hear my message and help put mother Zambia on the world stage for the first. Awaken oh Mother Zambian.
An 18 year old man of Chief Mumena in Solwezi District in North Western Province died on the spot at Lumwana mine after an excavator cut him into two parts.
The incident happened last night around 22:25 hours, when the excavator was loading soil material on a dump truck.
North Western Police Commanding Officer Fabian Katiba confirmed the accident and identified the deceased as Ceaser Coatzee whose father is from South Africa and the mother is Zambian.
Mr. Katiba said the deceased was employed by WBHO Company as a casual worker and was loading the soil material at an area where his company is constructing a dam.
The Police Chief said after the deceased was cut into two parts by the excavator the upper part of the body was loaded into the dump truck together with the soil material leaving the lower part laying on the ground without the notice of the operator.
Mr. Katiba said the operator later saw the lower body part on the ground and alerted others who conducted a search for the upper body part.
He said the workers together with the help of the police had to offload the soil material from the truck where they found the upper part of the body in the soil.
This is the first accident that has been recorded at Lumwana mine since it started its operations.
Mr Katiba said the Police have since launched investigations into the matter to establish the cause of the accident.
President Rupiah Banda today lead thousands of mourners from all parts of the country in North Western Province for the burial of late Minister of Local Government and Housing Benny Tetamashimba at their family grave yard at Mutanda in Solwezi district.
Addressing the mourners, President Banda who was gripped with grief and sorrow said as Minister of Local Government and Housing, the late Tetamashimba went round the country to ensure that the local government was organized to meet the challenges of delivering good services to the people.
Mr. Banda described the late Tetamashimba as a fearless warrior who did not hesitate to take on many political challenges.
He said Mr. Tetamashimba was reliable honest person who was quick to admit where he was wrong and firm where he believed he was right.
The President said he admired late Tetamashimba for his courage to speak out on many issues without fear or favor and championed the cause of the entire province and the nation as a whole.
He said Mr. Tetamashimba was a man whom many people had difficulties in understanding as many people considered him as controversial while others found him difficult to predict.
Mr. Banda told the mourners that the late Tetamashimba approached him to stand as Republican President after the death of the third Republican President Levy Mwanawasa and did so with conviction and commitment to the campaign that followed and MMD emerged victorious.[quote]
The President told the people of Solwezi Central that they had lost a great champion of their interest and concerns and urged them to carry on with the programs their leaders had started.
And speaking at the same burial site, family spokesperson Nathan Mulonga paid tribute to government for giving the late minister a befitting burial and taking care of him during his sickness.
Mr. Mulonga said as a family they have lost a gallant leader of the family and nation adding that Tetamashimba was honest, unique, sincere who unified them.
Meanwhile, there was drama at the burial site when an insane person from Copperbelt dashed inside and sat in front of United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema and demanded some money.
Security officers has a tough time removing him as he held to a pole of the tent and he was only removed after Copperbelt Permanent Secretary Villey Lombanya talked to him and give him a K30, 000.
The funeral was also attended by second Republican President Fredrick Chiluba and his wife Regina, UPND President Hakainde Hichilema, Government Ministers and several senior Government officials.
The Common Market for Eastern and Southern (COMESA ) has convened in Lusaka for the 7th Administrative meeting of the COMESA Court of Justice.
The COMESA Administrative meeting convenes regularly to address the challenges the court is facing over the years since its establishment.
COMESA Court of Justice President Nzamba Kitonga says the meeting will enable the COMESA court of Justice to formulate polices to guide the court registry on how challenges can be mitigated and strengthened.
Mr. Kitonga was speaking at the official opening of the Seventh Administrative meeting of the COMESA Court of Justice at COMESA Secretariat in Lusaka today.
Mr. Kitongo stressed that Court has not been conducting sessions to dispose off pending cases on time due to financial constrains the region is faced with.
He further said the major challenge the Court has is the non implementation of approved activities in the annual work programme due to lack of funding.
He disclosed that the Court detected about 40 cases including preliminary applications still pending trial.
Mr. Kitongo also noted that since the establishment of the Court 10 years ago, the court has no physical infrastructure adding that the location of the seating of the Court has remained on the table.
He said expressed concern on the Courts’ continued lack of fixed premises adding the development has negatively impacted on the operations of the Court.
The COMESA Court of Justice President said the Court has since embarked on a set of reform programmes embodied in its strategic plan.
He said this is aimed at strengthening its judicial system so that the court can be able to operate efficiently and prepare for the challenges that lie ahead.
He explained that the meeting would have an opportunity to consider the 2010 Court budget along side the framework programme.
The 3-Day COMESA 7th Administrative Meeting of the Court of Justice, which started today, ends on September 12, 2009.
A typical police Station in Lusaka with some vehicles parked for security reasons
The Zambia Police Service (ZP) has appealed to people who still have their vehicles parked at Police stations around the country to remove the vehicles from the premises.
Police spokesperson Bonny Kapeso told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that since the inception of the programme the response from the general public has not been impressive.
Mr. Kapeso said the police have now embarked on a programme to locate car owners who have not made efforts to collect their vehicles.
He said police will not charge any money to car owners when they appear to claim their vehicles at police stations.
Mr. Kapeso said the removal of the cars involved in road traffic accidents and those just parked at the stations will help bring sanity in police stations around the country.
He said many police stations in the country do not look clean because of the cars that are ever packed in the premises.
A few moths ago, the Zambia Police Service called on members of the general public whose cars were parked at police stations around the country to find alternative places where they can park their vehicles .
Police in Namwala District have arrested a civic leader and charged him for theft by agent contrary to CAP 87 Section 276 and 272 of the laws of Zambia.
Namwala District Commissioner Wilson Siaduka confirmed the arrest of councilor Daniel Moono of Moobola ward in Chief Muchila’s area to ZANIS today.
Mr Siaduka said the Civic leader is alleged to have collected about K1.5million last year from Villagers in his area after convincing them he was arranging for the drilling of a borehole in the area.
The District Commissioner explained that after he failed to bring a drilling rig to the area the suspect bolted and went into hiding since last year.
Mr. Siaduka further said the suspect was apprehended by a vigilant neighborhood watch group who later handed him over to the police on Monday.
Mr Siaduka said the suspect who is in police custody would appear in court soon.
Lusaka City Council Public Relations Officer Henry Kapata has said the program of painting the shops in one colour is still on going.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today, Mr. Kapata said the Council was still negotiating with the Business Community on the colour that would be acceptable to both the public and the shop owners.
He said coming up with one colour has been difficult because some Business Communities have been suggesting colours that the others do not want.
Mr. Kapata said the program was likely to be delayed if shop owners failed to agree on the colour.
Mr. Kapata said the public should not be worried as the program would be implemented as soon as negotiations were over.
The Old Soweto Market Development Committee has accused cadres from Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) of being the cause of the current problems the market is facing.
Health Coordinator at the market Dickens Chileshe says having good sanitation at the market has proven to be a challenge since the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) cadres took over the market about five months ago.
In an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today, Mr. Chileshe disclosed that all development programmes that were underway before the cadres’ invasion have stalled.
He said stakeholders involved in improving the sanitation situation were willing to come on board but could not do so because of the confusion in the running of the affairs of the market.
Mr. Chileshe named the farmers who bring their produce to the market, traders, Lusaka City Council and some companies such as Trade Kings and Northern Breweries whose plants are in the same premises as some of the stakeholders.
He the farmers were willing to contribute to the expenses of garbage collection but because of the management crisis at the market, they have since shunned the move.
Mr. Chileshe said his committee had written to Trade Kings and Northern Breweries asking them to come on board but that they have not responded.
He alleged that revenue collected at the market was not being properly accounted for by the cadres creating difficulties in service delivery at the market.
He further said since the cadres had not renewed the contract with LCC Waste Management Unit, garbage has not been collected for the past four months.
Mr. Chileshe has since appealed to the ruling party to intervene so that markets are kept Free from any necessary confusing brought by a few selfish individuals
President Rupiah Banda has been elected Deputy Chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Organ of Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.
President Banda, who was elected in his absentia, and his Mozambican counterpart, Armando Guebuza, who was also elected as the chairperson of the Organ, will run the affairs of the organ for the next one year.
This was announced last night in a communiqué during the closure of the 29th ordinary session of the SADC heads of state and government at the African Union (AU) village in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The summit also congratulated President Banda and his South African and Malawian counterparts, Jacob Zuma and Bingu wa Mutharika respectively for winning the elections in their respective countries.
In his speech during the official opening of the summit, on September 7, 2009 (Monday) Mr. Banda, said given the given the prevailing peace and political stability underpinned by good governance and the right economic policy environment, SADC could perform to its full potential.
Mr. Banda, who is also outgoing member of the SADC troika, noted that a lot had been achieved in the region since the body was established as the Southern African Coordinating Committee (SADCC) in the early 1980s.
The 29th ordinary SADC summit also renewed the appointment of Dr. Thomaz Salamao as Executive Secretary and Joao Chaholo as his Deputy for Regional integration.
Earlier during the opening session, Dr. Salamao reported that the region had been negatively affected by the global economic crisis and that the new SADC headquarters had been completed and secretariat staff had since moved to the new building in Botswana.
The summit also noted the speech by outgoing SADC chairperson, President Jacob Zuma, who highlighted several positive developments in the socioeconomic and political areas of the region during his country’s tenure of office.
In his report, Mr. Zuma pointed out the challenges facing the region, including the impact of the climate change, global financial and economic crisis, and urged member states to continue the joint efforts in addressing the issues.
On the political front, Mr. Zuma urged SADC member states to collectively tackle the challenges in Lesotho, Madagascar and Zimbabwe.
The summit also received a report from outgoing chairperson of the organ of Politics, Defence and Security, His Majesty King Mswati III of the Kingdom of Swaziland.
The report stated that the region was peaceful and stable.
However, King Mswati’s report observed that there were some security and political challenges in a few parts of the region, especially the Kingdom of Lesotho, Madagascar and Zimbabwe, which he said were being effectively addressed.
In the same vain, the summit noted the progress made in the implementation of the Global Political Agreement and called on the international community to remove all sanctions on Zimbabwe.
On Madagascar, the summit noted the progress made in an effort to restore constitutional order in that country, and commended former Mozambican President, Joachim Chissano, who is facilitating the reinstitution of democratic leadership in that country for the progress made so far.
The Heads of State and Government, also expressed concern at the attempts to undermine the agreements signed in Maputo by Malagasy political movements on August 9, 2009, and reiterated their decision on the suspension of Madagascar from SADC until the restoration of constitutional order in that country.
However, the summit also reiterated its support to the current political dialogue in Madagascar, and urged all political stakeholders in that country to fully implement the Maputo agreements.
The SADC ordinary summit also supported Malawi’s candidature to be the next African Union, AU, chairperson.
The SADC leaders also noted the report of former Botswana President, Sir Ketumire Masire, and commended him for his efforts in the post electoral political dialogue in Lesotho, and urged all the Basotho stakeholders to the dialogue to continue engaging in the process.
The summit noted the consolidation and political stability in the region, with particular emphasis on the free and fair manner in which the peoples of Angola, Malawi, Swaziland, South Africa and Zambia exercised their franchise during the elections last year and this year in the presidential, parliamentary, provincial and local government.
The summit also appreciated that Botswana, Mozambique and Namibia were now set to hold their elections during the last quarter of this year and wished them well during and after the polls.
The progress report made towards the achievement of the 50 per cent representation of women in political and decision making positions at all levels in line with the 2005 decision was also considered by SADC members who further urged those countries still to hold elections to ensure the gender parity goal, and congratulated Malawi for appointing a female vice president after elections in May this year.
The Heads of State and Government also noted progress made in the implementation of the SADC Free Trade Area (FTA) and in the preparations for the negotiations of SADC Customs Union, and urged the Ministerial Task Force on Regional Economic Integration to ensure that outstanding issues are effectively addressed.
The Task Force on Regional Economic Integration will meet in a Strategic Forum before the end of this year to further examine the regional economic integration agenda.
The prevailing food security situation in the region was also reviewed and it was reported that the SADC region estimated cereal surpluses in Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique and South Africa, although access to food and malnutrition at household level remains a challenge.
The summit approved and signed the Memorandum of Understanding on regional cooperation and integration among the COMESA, East African Community (EAU) and SADC.
The Agreement and amendment of the Treaty of the SADC Deputy Executive Secretaries was also approved and signed together with the Protocol on Politics, Defence and Security, Cooperation and consequential amendments to the Treaty.
The declaration of Regional Cooperation in Competition and Consumer Laws and Policies, and the Amendment of the Protocol on Development of Tourism in the SADC region was also approved and signed.
President Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of Congo is the new chairperson for SADC and is deputized by his Namibian counterpart, Hifikepunye Pohamba.
THE Government has extended the replacement of old passports for Zambians within and outside the country to December 31 this year, Home Affairs Minister, Lameck Mangani has said.
Mr Mangani said in a statement in Lusaka yesterday that all Zambian nationals from within and outside the country would be able to use their old passports until December 31.
He said the Government had taken note of the challenges in the issuance of the passports, particularly among nationals in Diaspora.
“This problem has also been brought to the attention of the republican president in the course of his international duties. The main problem has been the long process from the time an application is filed at a Zambian mission abroad to the time it actually reaches the passport office.
“Despite the long process, however, most forms are submitted with major errors making it virtually impossible for the passport office to issue passports accordingly,” he said.
The Government has, therefore, decided to further extend the issuance of the new passports but after the extension, the usage of the old ones will not be accepted.
Mr Mangani said his ministry, in conjunction with the Foreign Affairs Ministry, would undertake clinics in the most affected countries to address the issue expeditiously.
He named the missions to be considered as London, Washington, New York, Moscow, Beijing, Pretoria, Gaborone, Harare and Maputo.
The minister said later in an interview that the passport office was currently overwhelmed by the high turnout of applicants, hence the move to extend the period of accessing the documents.
Mr Mangani said the passport office had so far issued 110,000 new passports.
The original target figure was 450,000 old passports to be replaced but because of several new applicants, the number has been revised to one million.
“Although with inadequate staff, our office produces between 800 to 1,000 passports per day. We shall do everything possible to smoothen the operations of our passport offices,” he said.
President Rupiah Banda this morning left for Solwezi, in the North-western province to attend the burial of the late Local Government and Housing Minister Benny Tetamanshimba who died in Lusaka on September 5 at the University Teaching Hospital.
President Banda is accompanied by First Lady Thandiwe, Second Republican president Frederick Chiluba, Chief Government Spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha, Tourism Minister Catherine Namugala, Energy Minister Kenneth Konga and Lands Deputy Minister Michael Mabenga.
Others are Defence Minister Dr. Kalombo Mwansa, Works and Supply Minister Mike Mulongoti and Communications and Transport Minister Professor Geoffrey Lungwangwa and Senior State House staff.
Mr. Banda was seen off at the Lusaka City Airport by Vice President George Kunda, Service Chiefs, Lusaka Province Minister Charles Shawa, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Bradford Machila and Home Affairs Deputy Minister David Phiri.
Others are Diplomats, senior government and MMD party officials.
President Banda is scheduled to return to Lusaka today shortly after the burial.
Yesterday, he led several Zambians at a church service for the late Tetamanshimba before the body was flown to Solwezi where it lay in state in readiness for burial today.
The late Mr. Tetamanshimba, who was Solwezi Central MP and MMD Spokesperson will be burried at his father’s village along the Mutanda/Mwinilunga road in Senior Chief Mumena’s area.
The late Mr. Tetamanshimba was evacuated to South Africa on August 8, 2009 for specialist treatment before he returned on Tuesday 1st September 2009 and was immediately admitted to the University Teaching Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit until his death.
He leaves behind a wife, Ezzie, six children and two grand children.
A former Grade Seven pupil is reported to have been recruited as a teacher at Meza community school in Mazabuka where he is teaching 325 pupils, some as old as 20 years old but in grade three.
Mazabuka District Education Board Secretary, Darius Kaluba who visited the remote school situated in the hilly areas of Chief Hanjalika expressed shock at finding men with beards still in grade three.
He said under normal circumstances, most of the pupils at the school should have been either at secondary school or college.
Mr. Kaluba said the remoteness of the location of the school has contributed to the failure by the community to woo trained teachers.
He said the area has no roads and accommodation for teachers.
He said villagers had to break some shrubs to create a road for his Land Cruiser to pass.
” This grade seven teacher just went to the area to visit and felt obliged to teach the boys and girls since illiteracy levels had increased due to lack of a school. We commend the community for their interest in educating their children but as a government department responsible for running schools, we will ensure trained teachers are sent and new infrastructure built to uplift educational standards,” he said.
Mr. Kaluba told ZANIS in Mazabuka today, that it took him and his officers four hours to cover a distance of 25 kilometres from Namaila area to reach Meza community school.
He said his office will come to the rescue of the community by upgrading the school and ensuring that government takes over its operations.
He said trained teachers will be posted to the school to improve the learning standards.
Meanwhile, Government has posted 91 teachers to Mazabuka District in its bid to address the shortage of teachers in most basic schools.
Mr. Kaluba said the teacher ratio of 1 to 74 pupils is expected to improve following the posting of new teachers.
He said schools such as Meza would be considered once new infrastructure and other school requirements are put in place.
