Act on Your Dream Today

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September 13, 2009

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TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“Write the vision [dream] and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.”
(Habakkuk 2:2, NKJV)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria

Have you ever known someone who had an exciting dream to do something great but did nothing to make it happen? It’s so important to act on the dreams that God has given you. You can take ownership of your dreams by planning and preparing for them. Remember, success is not accidental. Where do you see yourself in your career, finances or relationships? Put some action behind what you’re believing for. Maybe you don’t see how it can happen in the natural. The good news is you don’t have to have it all figured out. With your faith and obedience, God will work supernaturally in your situation to turn things around for good.

Believe in your dreams today. I encourage you to write down your short and long-range goals. Keep them in front of you so you will stay focused. When you make a move, God will direct your steps. He’ll make sure you come across the right people, at the right time. God will give you wisdom, insight and favor as you take steps to bring your dreams to pass.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

“Heavenly Father, thank You for the dreams You have given me. Today I will take steps toward seeing them come to pass. Help me to set goals and map out steps for victory so that I know where I’m going and how to accomplish my dreams. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”

Migration and Christian Living IV

Feature Lifestyle

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September 13, 2009

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The Examination

Last Sunday’s article sparked a lot of interesting comments and we thank the Lord that people are able to express themselves concerning how they felt about the article. Allow us to clarify the fact of going back home, in order to maintain fervency in our faith. This has very little to do with geographical relocation, even though it is part of the process, but has to do with the environment. If you noticed in the previous article, the phrase was ‘may be’ and not a command for anyone to go back but to make a personal decision after self examination.

We do not believe adults must do things just because they were told to but evaluate by themselves with other people’s advice (Proverbs 15:22). One can advise but ultimately the final choice must come from the person who has to make that choice. Every person’s will, must be respected just as God respects our choices. Otherwise we would all be zombies or robots. God loves us too much to treat us that way. The choice of going back rests solely in each one of us after we examine ourselves and if that decision will contribute to the well being of our faith, so be it no matter the cost. We have seen families who have made similar hard choices in order to preserve their family welfare because of family being important to them.

We do not expect anyone to foolishly pack their bags and head for home because we said it. Remember the Bereans from the last article. We need to ask ourselves the questions: Is this something for me? Will this benefit my faith? Let us not be side tracked. The issue is not about going “back” but the preservation and fervency of our faith.

The Bible encourages us to do self examination in 2 Corinthians 13:5. The thing about us human species is that we find it easier to examine and judge others than ourselves but here the Bible encourages us to turn the torch on ourselves like the Psalmist (Psalm 139:23-24). It is possible to lose our first love for the Lord (Revelation 2:4) and so we need to be honest with ourselves when it comes to faith, seeing that faith is something eternal.

If we really are serious about our faith, we must guard it jealously and so the need to make sure nothing snatches it away from us. We thank the Lord for His Grace that keeps us from falling, but we need to strive to enter in at the strait gate (Luke 13:24). Let Jesus find faith on earth when He comes (Luke 18:8).

Bishop Jeston & Rev. Charity Katebe

Larger Zambian Parliament Is Costly

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September 13, 2009

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Henry Kyambalesa

The National Constitutional Conference’s proposal to increase seats for Members of Parliament from 158 to 280 makes very sad reading, especially that it is coming at a time when tens of thousands of Grade 7 and Grade 9 students have continued to be spilled onto the streets every year, the healthcare system cannot meet the basic needs of the majority of citizens, the majority of Zambians have no access to clean water and electricity, a critical shortage of decent public housing has compelled so many of our fellow citizens to live in shanty townships nationwide, public infrastructure and services are still deficient, civil servants are still not adequately compensated for their services, crime and unemployment are still widespread, and, among many other socio-economic ills, taxes and interest rates are still very high.

It seems the huge allowances which members of the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) are receiving have intoxicated them so much that they have become incapable of thinking about the catalogue of socio-economic woes which cannot be addressed mainly due to the lack of financial and material resources.

Zambia cannot afford to implement the proposal they have recommended. There is really no wisdom in seeking to increase the number of constituencies when some of the existing constituencies cannot even generate enough tax revenue to meet the cost of maintaining their MPs.

Rather than increase the number of MPs, we should actually have been considering the prospect of reducing the number and restricting their functions to legislative matters. Parliament would still be representative and able to function effectively as the legislative organ of our national government with only 72 elected MPs, for example, so that 1 MP could be elected from each of the existing 72 districts.

If we cannot reduce the number of MPs, we need to continue to have a Parliament with 158 members.[quote]

And MPs should not be involved in the implementation of development projects; this should be the function of government ministries and local authorities. Besides, the provinces are already saturated with such portfolios as District Commissioners, Provincial Ministers and Provincial Permanent Secretaries, all of which are supposed to complement the executive branch of the government in the implementation of development projects. To reiterate, we need to restrict the role of Parliament to legislative functions — that is, law-making.

Our country’s meager tax revenues will not be sufficient to maintain such a large Parliament and the highly bloated Cabinet. And we cannot continue to borrow until we push the country back into the debt trap. Besides, donor countries, too, are not likely to continue extending a helping hand while we continue to misuse our meager resources.

There is a need for NCC members and the government to realize that donor countries, like Zambia, do not have unlimited resources. They have to make do with scarce resources by going through public expenditures line by line, program by program, agency by agency, department by department, and ministry by ministry in order to eliminate unnecessary application of public funds.

We need to start doing the same in order to wean our country from its current addiction to loans, its over-dependence on donor funding, as well as attain economic independence and sustained socio-economic development mostly with our own local resources.

Zambia: A Judiciary Scorned

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September 13, 2009

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lusaka_high_court

By Chilekwa M. Mumba

When one attempts to give a personal assessment on the Judiciary world-over, one has to exercise restraint as well as political correctness in the choice of words. The Judiciary is considered “sacred” even more so amongst commonwealth countries, when compared to the other arms of government and often finds itself sheltered from sharp criticism, even when warranted. It therefore requires quite a mound of blunders for the distinguished members of the Judiciary to find themselves in the hail-storm of verbal assault our Zambian Judiciary today finds itself in.

The year 2009 has brought us a rare spectacle of “A Judiciary Scorned”. The “Big Guns” in General Ronnie Shikapwasha have come out in defense of our Judiciary; and President Rupiah Banda has finally put to use the insidious lip-service usually attained as a “side skill” from spending one too many decades in Zambian politics. The President has stealthily managed to defend the dubious decisions of our Judiciary by stressing that Zambia has an independent Judiciary, which looks good verbatim, but actually has grave effects as seen by the contempt in which most Zambians now hold the Judiciary.

Now to put my two ngwee in, the Zambian Judiciary has no doubt made decisions this year which has made it highly questionable. The flak it has received from most Zambian quarters is certainly well deserved. The Judiciary needs to stop hiding in this protective veil advanced by politicians, as it is very detrimental to the basic and important role it plays in society. It is all well and good for the Judiciary to be respected, but this respect should be earned and not demanded.[quote]

There seems to be quite a lot of dysfunctional versions of justice which are currently being meted out by our distinguished members of the judicial system. I do not just refer to the cases with “political labels”, but across the board. We hear of cases where juveniles receive long sentences not commensurate with the crime committed. Without making specific reference to any one current pending case in court, as LT and this author may be held in contempt (though I simply cannot resist the twisted but true saying that “sometimes laws cause crimes”…I digress), the Judiciary has been muddled with self-chastising through the conflicting judgments at the different court levels as its hierarchy demands. The Dora Siliya case being the foremost we have seen.

In conclusion, lest our distinguished LT bloggers attack me for criticizing our esteemed Judiciary, it is important that we appreciate that the Judiciary works under a lot of political pressure. It is a fact that the notion of the existence of separation of powers amongst the three branches of government in Zambia is at best minimal, and at worst imaginary. Nonetheless, the Judiciary should perform a self-evaluation on the decisions made thus far into this year to appreciate why the respect for this “sacred” institution is fast waning. The effects of a scorned judiciary have far-reaching and negative consequences on the reputation of any self-respecting nation. Even worse is the internal societal impact which emanates from having an institution such as the Judiciary [charged with dispensing justice], demeaning its noble calling with dubious and controversial decisions. This unwanted stain of scorn should be removed from the fabric of our nation. In the language of the courts, I rest my case.

It’s not true that people in Shangombo have rejected Hearses

Rural News

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September 12, 2009

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Shangombo District Commissioner (DC) Misheck Kabayo has disputed allegations that people in the district have rejected the hearses that was recently bought by the Ministry of Local Government.

Mr Kabayo said the statement that was aired on channel Africa by some opposition politicians that people of Shangombo have rejected the hearses was untrue.

He explained that people in the district were misinformed by some politicians about the usage of the hearses hence they instead preferred an ambulance because they did not have the right information about the matter.

Mr Kabayo further said it came to light during a community meeting that people had distorted information about the usage of the hearses hence the reason they were demanding for an ambulance instead of the hearse.

The DC said the local people have since appreciated government for the purchase of the hearses saying it will go a long way in helping them during funerals because most people use scotch carts and sleighs to carry their loved ones.

Mr Kabayo further assured the people of Shangombo that an ambulance will soon be sent to the district.

ZANIS

Man Kills baby over fish

Rural News

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September 12, 2009

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Police in Nchelenge District of Luapula Province have arrested a 24 yr old man for killing his one year, six month old niece in a rage after running out of relish on his plate.

The man, identified as Mike Mukalayi of Mukwakwa area, about 30 kilometers from Nchelenge Boma killed the infant around 14:00 hrs yesterday.

Confirming the incident to ZANIS, Luapula Province Police Chief, Auxencio Mbewe said Mukalayi was having lunch with his family and when he ran out of fish that he was eating with nshima, he demanded for more but he was informed that it had finished.

Mr Mbewe said upon hearing that the relish had finished Mukalayi went on a rampage and beat up his mother.

He said in the fracas Mukalayi picked up a log and smashed the head of the baby resulting in the infant sustaining a deep cut leading to the death.

Mr Mbewe said the accused has been remanded at Nchelenge Police Station and will appear in court on Monday.
He said the body of the baby is lying in St Paul’s Mission Hospital Mortuary awaiting postmortem.

ZANIS

Katele Kalumba sues DEC, AG, Barclays

General News

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September 12, 2009

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MMD National secretary Katele Kalumba has taken the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), commissioner, the Attorney General and Barclays Bank to court for placing a seizure order on his Barclays account.

In his affidavit filed in the Lusaka High Court on September 9 this year by his lawyer, Clavel Sianondo from Malambo and Company, Dr Kalumba states that the decision taken by DEC to seize his account was irrational and without justifiable reasons.

Dr Kalumba of Lake View House, Natende in Chiengi District also indicates that DEC’s decision was illegal, wrong at law and contrary to natural justice.

He is now seeking an order of certiorari from the High Court to quash a decision made by DEC on July 12, 2002 when it was decided that account number 1054382 belonging to the applicant held by the third respondent be seized.

He was also praying for an order of mandamus directing DEC and Barclays to restore the applicant’s account by removing the notice of seizure.

Dr Katele is also demanding a declaration that the decision by DEC was invalid and void and of no effect and that all necessary and consequential directions be given to other respondents.

He prays: “That all proceedings on the said decision be stayed until after the hearing of the motion or further order.”

[Times of Zambia]

Parliamentary seats increased to 240

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September 12, 2009

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THE National Constitutional Conference (NCC) has approved an increase in the number of Parliamentary seats from the current 150 to 240.

The NCC has also approved the proposal contained in the Mung’omba Draft Constitution to introduce a new type of elected representative in the National Assembly where 30 members of Parliament (MPs) will be elected under Proportional Representation (PR) through an Act of Parliament.

The Committee also adopted Article 159(1), which, once enacted in the new Constitution, will allow the 200 MPs to be directly elected on the basis of the simple majority under the First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) segment of the mixed member representation system provided for by the Constitution and as may be provided by or under an act of Parliament.

Under Article 159, 30 MPs would be adopted on the basis of the PR segment of the mixed member representation from a list of candidates submitted to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) by each political party contesting the elections as provided by the Constitution and by, or under, an Act of Parliament.

When supporting Article 159, some Commissioners said the adoption of the PR in the new Constitution would improve the representative nature of Parliament and increase the number of youths, women and disabled people elected to Parliament.

The Committee approved that the PR be set at 30 seats of the number of constituency-based seats elected through the FPTP system.

The Committee created a Parliament consisting of 251 members, out of whom 200 members are to be elected on FPTP system, 30 members to be elected through the PR while a maximum of 10 members are to be nominated by the Republican President.

The NCC Commissioners, who supported the adoption of all clauses under Article 159, said that the adoption of the Article would ensure a mixed-member Parliament that will make the National Assembly more inclusive by targeting the PR seats at women, youths and persons with disabilities.

Vice-President George Kunda, who supported the clauses, said the adoption of Article 159 will play a pivotal role in Zambia’s democratic system as it will ensure that people in the country have full representation in Parliament.

Chief Mumena, who also supported the adoption of Article 159, called for affirmative action in coming up with a 50-50 representation in Parliament.

And Anti-Voter Apathy executive director Bonny Tembo supported the adoption of Article 159, saying the adoption of all the clauses under Article 159 will embrace all the people in the country.

“Democracy is not static but dynamic and I feel that Article 159 should be adopted to ensure that we come up with an inclusive Parliament, and this will help us to promote development in the country as there will be equal representation,” he said.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

MMD national chairperson Michael Mabenga warns Mpombo

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September 12, 2009

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THE MMD has warned Kafulafuta Member of Parliament (MP) George Mpombo of stern action if he continues issuing malicious statements against President Rupiah Banda and the party.

MMD national chairperson Michael Mabenga said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday it was unfortunate for a person like Mr Mpombo who was a party member and former Cabinet minister to continue attacking his party and the same Cabinet he once served.

Mr Mpombo was quoted as having said in yesterday’s Post newspaper that if President Banda continued to surround himself with political “nincompoops”, the MMD would suffer heavier defeats in 2011 elections than UNIP suffered in 1991.

But Mr Mabenga said in reaction that Mr Mpombo’s remarks were an insult to the party and its leadership, especially that he also served in the same Cabinet formed by the party.[quote]

“I have since confronted Mr Mpombo over his continued attacks on the party. I had a talk with him today (yesterday) and asked him why he has continued saying these kinds of insults against the party.

“He told me that he would not do it again but I reminded him that the damage has already been made and if continues like that we shall be forced to do what we would not want to do to him,” Mr Mabenga said.

He said President Banda and the entire MMD leadership were morally upright people who deserved respect from every Zambian, including Mr Mpombo.

Mr Mabenga said it was unacceptable for a person who served as a full Cabinet minister to call people he had worked with in Cabinet as nincompoops.

He said Mr Mpombo did not have any right to insult the MMD and the Cabinet because he had resigned from the Government.

“Every person in Zambia, including Cabinet ministers has seen the change the MMD has brought to the country. We see no reason why Mr Mpombo can fail to see and appreciate this change,” he said.

Mr Mabenga said when Mr Mpombo served under the late president Mwanawasa’s Cabinet and partly under Mr Banda’s administration, he never called anyone a nincompoop.

He said if the MMD were nincompoops, why did Mr Mpombo decide to stay quiet when he was in Cabinet but only insulted the party and its leadership when he had resigned.

[Times of Zambia]

Shangombo villagers swindled over swine flu

Rural News

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September 12, 2009

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Some unscrupulous businessmen have invaded Shangombo deceiving villagers to sell their animals at cheep prices telling them that government will soon slaughter livestock due to the swine and bird flu (H1N1))in the country.

The businessmen have been going round Shangombo villages deceiving people to sell their domestic animals at cheaper prices for fear that government would kill them due to the presence of the flu.

Speaking in an interview , Shangombo District Block Extension Agriculture Station Officer, Joseph Chipoya confirmed that villagers were being deceived by unscrupulous businessmen who wanted to buy their domestic animals at cheaper prices.

Mr Chipoya said the villagers blocked him at one time from collecting data in the field because they thought he was a government worker who had gone to kill their animals.

And Shangombo District Commissioner Misheck Kabayo has said that he would instruct police and relevant authorities to investigate the matter because there was no such information on the ground from government.

Mr Kabayo noted that the businessmen are just up to exploiting the villagers.

He has since warned villagers to be careful with such people because they would end up losing their animals.

The unscrupulous businessmen are taking advantage of the villagers’ ignorance on the swine flu situation in the country and deceiving villagers that government will fine them K50, 000 per animal found with the flu.

ZANIS

Govt. releases K50 billion for Mwense schools

Rural News

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September 11, 2009

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Government has released K50 billion towards the completion of Lukwesa high school and the construction of a girls technical high school in Mwense district.

District Education Board Secretary (DEBS) Smith Bweupe said yesterday during a special District Development Coordinating Committee (DDCC) meeting that government had given Mwense K50 billion for education infrastructure development.

Mr Bweupe said K23 billion is meant for the completion of remaining works at Lukwesa high school while K25 billion is for the construction of Luapula girls technical high school at Musonda falls.

He said the remaining K2 billion is meant for on-going construction works on classes and teachers’ houses at Sun Shine, Sichema, Kangomba, Mulwani and Chikubi basic schools.

He also said other basic schools like Kanyemba, Nsakaluba, Kabundafyela, Kawama and Kabila have each received K9 million out of the earmarked K180 million for extension of classroom blocks.

ZANIS

Fish traders demonstrate over confiscation of fresh fish

Rural News

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September 11, 2009

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Scores of Itezhi-tezhi fish traders besieged the District Commissioner’s office to protest against the arrest of their colleagues and the confiscation of their 500 Kgs of fresh fish yesterday.

The fish traders who included former Itezhi-tezhi district administrator in the Chiluba regime Fleming Nabuzoka and other UPND officials, thronged the district commissioner’s office around 10:00 hours today, chanting anti-ZAWA slogans and demanding to have their fish back.

“Yesterday we were on the boat on lake Itezhi-tezhi when we saw a Zambia Wild Life Authority (ZAWA) engine boat following us. We were stopped and told that we were under arrest because we were carrying fridges and ice on the boat. Later, more than 500kgs of fresh fish belonging to many fish mongers was confiscated ” the group’s spokesperson Armstrong Chisala said.

Chisala said after confiscating the fish, the ZAWA workers took it to Musa Gate and later to their headquarters in Ngoma.

“All the fish was taken to Ngoma together with our two colleagues who were arrested. These people have bad manners. Then they take our fish to Ngoma where they select the big fat breams for their pots, leaving the thin ones. This is very bad, because we spent a lot of money to buy that fish” he said.

Former Itezhi-tezhi UPND Youth Chairperson, Mukubulo Chilufya who was among the protesters said ZAWA’s action was tantamount to economic sabotage.

‘We want to register our sincere disgust at ZAWA regarding the confiscation of our fish. What they are doing is tantamount to economic sabotage. We spent colossal sums of money to buy our fish and now the ZAWA workers want to take advantage of our being unarmed to grab our fish and share it with their relatives” he said.

Former District Administrator Fleming Nabuzoka who was among complainants and negotiators for the release of the confiscated fish told the unruly fish mongers to exercise patience as the District Commissioner’s office and ZAWA were addressing the situation.

“Fishing is our mine here in Itezhi-tezhi. Just like our friends in North-Western Province have Lumwana Mine, our mine here is the lake and Kafue river. Fish is our only means of survival,” he said.

But when District Forestry Officer Chanda Besa, who represented the Acting District Commissioner, called ZAWA to clarify the matter, the officers who declined to be named said they arrested two fish mongers and confiscated the fish because it was against the law to trade and transport anything in the national park.

“According to Zambia wildlife Act, it is against the law to carry out trading and transportation of any goods in the national park. The fish was confiscated and two fishermen arrested for contravening this Act” the officers said.

Mr. Besa cautioned the fish mongers against contravening the laws of the national park.

ZANIS

RB launches the Millennium Challenge Account-Zambia

Economy

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September 11, 2009

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Government has launched the Millennium Challenge Account-Zambia (MCAZ), which is a grant programme in which the American government, through the United States’ Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), provides resources to developing countries for their economic growth.

Speaking at the launch of the MCAZ at State House today, President Rupiah Banda urged Zambian from both the public and private sector to wholeheartedly support the programme, which aims at boosting investment and growth in Zambia.

President Banda said the MCAZ and its programmes was a step ahead towards Zambia’s vision of becoming a middle income country by 2030.

“”For Zambia to meet the target of agreeing our compact by April 2011, the work of the MCA-Zambia must receive the active cooperation and support of everybody, both within and outside government,” he said.

He pledged that government would provide necessary support to ensure that the MCAZ succeeds.

He further urged the people that were working on the projects to be funded by the MCAZ to remain focused when implementing the programmes that would be selected for funding.

President Banda implored the MCAZ team and other stakeholders to exercise the highest standards of accountability and management of funds while government would do its parts of upholding and improving the tenets of good governance.

Zambia became eligible to for the MCC compact assistance in December 2008 after the MCC noticed the country’s progress on corruption control indicators.

The President called for Zambians to help government maintain these required standards for the country to remain eligible and also to build on the progress regarding the fight against corruption.

Mr. Banda has also reiterated his government’s commitment to fighting corruption.

“My government remains steadfastly committed to fighting corruption in all its manifestations,” he said.

And United States of America Ambassador to Zambia, Donald Booth said once the compact in implemented and well managed, it will meaningfully help alleviate poverty in Zambia.

Mr. Booth stressed that Zambia should maintain and even improve on the fight against corruption for her to remain eligible for the compact, adding that this is one of the standards that should always be there.

Meanwhile, MCAZ National Coordinator, Robert Liebenthal disclosed that his team would work hard to ensure that all necessary programmes that would lead to Zambia accessing the funding were well designed, established and successful.

Mr. Liebenthal said the MCAZ was still thinking about the kinds of projects to be proposed to the MCC to enable Zambia sign the contract by April 2011.

“To achieve this, detailed project feasibility and design work must be completed and appraised by MCC by December 2010. to assist in this process, MCC can provide project preparation financing,” he said.

And Finance and National Planning Deputy Minister Chileshe Kapwepwe urged cooperating partners to continue supporting Zambia’s poverty alleviation programmes.

Ms. Kapwepwe paid tribute to the US government and the MCC for supporting the threshold programmed in which Zambia received US$22.7 million to help enhance the fight against corruption and improve effectiveness in government operations among other things.

The MCC was established in 2004 by the US government to fulfill its pledge made at the 2002 UN Conference on Financing for Development, which was known as Monterrey Consensus.

This was aimed at providing greater resources to countries taking great responsibility for their own development.

ZANIS

CBU students should not have resorted to riotous behaviour

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September 11, 2009

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The Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU)says the Copperbelt University (CBU) Students should have found a proper channel of airing their grievances than resorting to riotous behavior.

The entire COBUSU leadership has been expelled for allegedly being in breach of students’ rules and regulations that led to disturbances that rocked the institution between April 18 and August 12, 2009.

ZCTU President Leonard Hikaumba said in an interview in Lusaka today that the riotous behaviour by the CBU students led to a lot of property getting damaged.

Mr Hikaumba said if the students had followed the proper channel of airing their grievances than resorting to riotous behaviour, no property would have been damaged and that the entire COBUSU leadership could not have been expelled.

He also pointed out that riotous behaviour also leads to innocent people getting injured in the process.

The ZCTU President said the CBU students should have directed all their grievances to the appropriate authorities so that a solution to their problems was found.

Meanwhile, Mr. Hikaunba has noted that it was very unfortunate that the entire Copperbelt University Students Union (COBUSU) has been expelled.

He however, said expelling the entire COBUSU was not the best solution in trying to address the problems that the students were facing at the institution.

ZANIS