Advertisement Banner
Saturday, September 13, 2025
Subscribe
Home Blog Page 5172

FAZ commended for ‘age detecting device’

editor
-
17

Zambia Voluntary Soccer Fans Association (ZAFOSOFA) has commended the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) for introducing a device that will detect the actual age of the players in the country.

ZAVOSOFA Patron Pastor Peter Makembo told ZANIS sports in an interview today that the move will help bring sanity to the football fraternity

Makembo said the move is brilliant because players will no longer cheat on their actual age.

He said age cheating has always been a set back because even over aged players at times play in the under 23 team adding that the practice denies vibrant young players an opportunity to exploit their talent for the nation.

Last week World soccer governing body FIFA introduced an age detecting machine to help reduce age-cheating among players during youth tournaments.

The MRI bone machine is able to scan and determine the real age of a person.

The machines will be used during the forth coming FIFA Under-17 World Cup tournament set for Nigeria this month.

FAZ President Kalusha Bwalya welcomed the introduction of the machine, which will be run as a pilot project for future events.

Kalusha said age cheating had been a major problem, especially in Africa and the coming of the age scanner will help develop the game.

The FAZ president further said that FAZ is committed to using the right age of players for national teams like the Under-17,20 and 19.

Makembo urged the players to be truthful and give correct information to their clubs.

ZANIS

Number of Zambians accessing ARVs increase

editor
-
75

Arvs

The United Nations says Zambia has recorded an increase in the number of people accessing Antiretroviral treatment from 53 percent in 2007 to 67 percent in 2008.

The UN further says the country has also recorded an increase in the number of people going for Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) from 1 percent in 2007 to 23 percent last year.

The UN goes on to say that the rate of Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission has increased from 39 percent in 2007 to 53 percent last year.

This is according to a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today by the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF),and the joint UN programmes on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

The UN said more than four million people in low and medium income countries were receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) by December last year, representing 36 percent increase.

The UN said the sub Saharan Africa has recorded progress in the number of people accessing the ARVs due to the drop in the prices of the drugs in recent years.

Meanwhile, the UN has said five million more people living with HIV still don’t have access to treatment and care, despite the increase in the number of VCT centres.

The UN further urged governments and cooperating partners to strengthen their efforts for all the infected in the world to access treatment.
.
The UN said the rate of women and children accessing ARVs last year improved, with approximately 45 percent of HIV/AIDS positive pregnant women receiving the drugs.

The UN further said 21 percent of pregnant women in low and middle income countries had HIV test last year, as compared to 15 percent in 2007.

The UN additionally said more children are now benefiting from pediatric antiretroviral therapy programmes, adding that the number of under 15 children receiving ART also rose from 198,000 in 2007 to 275,000 in 2008.

The release said AIDS has continued to be the leading cause of mortality among women of reproductive age.

The release added that the majority of people living with HIV/AIDS are still unaware of their status due to fear of discrimination, adding that this has resulted in higher risks of HIV infection.

ZANIS

Mpombo is running from responsibility- CEG

Guest Editor
-
24
Defence minister George Mpombo stresses a point to NWP permanent secretary Jeston Mulando when he paid courtesy call at his office
Former defence minister George Mpombo (r)

The Centre for Election and Governance (CEG) has charged that former defence Minster, George Mpombo has resorted to outbursts and use of bad language against the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) because he is trying to run way from collective responsibility which he is part of.

CEG Trustee Gershom Musonda said in a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today that Mr Mpombo’s attacks on the MMD amounts to failed politics of appeasement and an attempt to run way from responsibilities.

He said Mr Mpombo who was third in command from the President did nothing to improve the country’s democratic governance record despite him having such a huge influence on cabinet policies and decisions.

Mr Musonda said as the then defence Minister Mr. Mpombo contributed to most of government’s decisions made during his time.

He alleged that he also failed to improve the welfare of men in uniform adding that he left them with no accommodation and other basic allowances.

Mr. Musonda wondered how Mr. Mpombo now expects to have a change of scene in life and help society address local problems after retiring from a public position.

He urged him to step down and pave way for the young generation to get into government and the country to move forward and attain its vision of being a middle income nation by 2030.

Mr Musonda has meanwhile disagreed with the assumption that President Banda should fit into the legacy of the late President Levy Mwanawasa saying every person is unique and different from others.

He said it is therefore important for President Banda to be given support and be left to be independent with his leadership style.
ZANIS

Zesco Succumb To A Power Outage

sports
-
0

Power Dynamos swept visting Zesco United off the park to win 4-1 at their temporal home of Nkana Stadium in Kitwe this afternoon.

Fordson Kabole side took 3-0 halftime lead over the defending league champions Zesco to hand the visitors from Ndola their first league defeat of the season.

Power took the lead in the 7th minute through Luka Lungu before fellow midfielder Joseph Sitali struck twice in the 19th and 40th minutes.

Zesco midfielder Maybin Mwaba had a penalty saved in the 59th minute before Kennedy Mudenda stretched Powers lead eight minutes later to 4-0.

Mwaba made no mistake with Zesco’s second penalty handed by Lusaka referee Wellington Kaoma in the 74th minute.

The defeat is a big psychological blow for Fighton Simukonda’s side who were hoping to cut leaders Zanaco’s lead to one point with an win away at Power that never came on Wednesday.

[standings league_id=1 template=extend logo=false]

K30 million scam unearthed in Kalomo

editor
-
5

A scam has been unearthed where a local contractor has allegedly withdrawn K30 million public funds from a named local bank.

Revealing this during a civil meeting in Kalomo, inside sources at the Kalomo District Education Office called for an immediate investigation into the scam.
The sources told ZANIS that the alleged contractor engaged to construct four learning institutions in the district, has withdrawn the money without commencing works on the concerned schools.
They said the named contractor, who is supposed to work on the construction of infrastructure at the new Zimba , Kamukeza, Simwami and Sialumba basic schools has never visited the sites. It is alleged that the contractor had the help of the district’s education office to withdraw the said amount.
They accused the contractor of flouting the stipulated school infrastructure development tender procedures allocated to the department.
However, the District Education Board Secretary, Stephen Hamilema when contacted for a comment, expressed ignorance over the matter.

And in another development, teachers at Nazilongo basic school in Kalomo have called for the human rights and women’s groups to investigate the marrying off of two grade six girl pupils aged 12 and 13 respectively.

The source told ZANIS in Kalomo that the two named girls did not report for the second term school opening as they were married in the nearby villages.

“It is sad that the country is battling for the advancement of girl children but some parents could allow such a situation to occur, as a teacher who endeavours to sees to it that children achieve an educational standard and later make decisive options in life, am greatly shocked by the attitude by such parents who condone such practices,” one of the teachers lamented.

The local Nazilongo community in separate interviews confirmed the incidents to ZANIS urging authorities to properly investigate the matter.

ZANIS

Toddler drowns in a well

Guest Editor
-
10

A two-year-old toddler has drowned after falling into a well in Senama area of Mansa district.

Confirming the incident which happened at about 15:00 hours yesterday, Luapula Division Police Commanding Officer Auxencio Mbewe identified the toddler as Eunice Kunda.

The toddler was wandering alone in the yard before she tripped and fell into the well.
The mother to the child was reportedly at work when the incident happened.

Mr. Mbewe said the villagers’ efforts to retrieve the baby from the dug-out well failed.
He however said the Mansa Municipal council Fire Brigade retrieved the body which is currently lying in Mansa General Hospital Mortuary awaiting postmortem.

ZANIS

Number of Buffaloes found dead rises to 35

editor
-
12

The number of Buffaloes found dead in the Kafue National Park in lake Itezhi-tezhi under mysterious circumstances has risen to 35.

The thirty five buffaloes were found dead and floating in lake Itezhi-tezhi in the Kafue national park in Itezhi-tezhi district on Monday.

According to Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA), police, and Itezhi-tezhi district agriculture coordinator Frank Lubasi who represented the Acting Itezhi-tezhi district commissioner who is out on official duties, the 35 buffaloes died at Musa top area in Lake Itezhi-tezhi on Monday.

Mr. Lubasi said that the 35 five buffaloes mostly young ones were found floating near the edge of lake Itezhi-tezhi.

‘We have found 35 buffaloes dead in top Musa area in the lake. We have not yet established the real cause of the massive deaths of the buffaloes but the most likely cause is stampede” he said.

He disclosed that poisoning on the buffaloes has been ruled out because no other animal species have been found dead at the same place.

” Preliminary indications have ruled out poisoning of the animals because if they were poisoned, we could have found other animals species dead at the same area but it was only buffaloes that were found dead. Hippos and other animals like kudus and impalas found in the same area not affected,” said Mr. Lubasi.

“No other animal species have died, not even evidence of fish that has died at the same place. there also is no evidence of other animals recovery from any kind of poisoning for us suspect they were poisoned and even in cases were the water is poisoned the mass of lake itezhi-tezhi is too big to cause death of the animals’ he said.

He said that ZAWA suspects that the animals could have died due to stampede caused by lions that were chasing them.

“Buffaloes usually move in herds of about 1,000 with one leader, when they are disturbed they all run to the same direction thereby injuring them.” He said.

” We received the reports about the 35 buffaloes which were found floating on lake Itezhi-tezhi, but the reports reached late to the veterinary department to make an accurate autopsy,” Mr. Lubasi said.

“In a quest to verify the reports we went to top Musa with a team comprising the district veterinary officers, ZAWA officers and some Wide World Vet veterinary officers from the United Kingdom, we found a mass of the 35 buffaloes carcasses floating on the water” He said.

He said that ZAWA wildlife officers brought the veterinary officers from UK to try to establish the cause of the wild animals.Security has been tightened at top Musa area to prevent people from getting the carcasses.

ZAWA officers have been deployed to the area and have been manning the area 24 hour services.

ZANIS

Mansa District estimates K 2.6 billion revenue in 2010

editor
-
6

Mansa Municipal Council says it expects to raise over K2, 6 billion revenue in its 2010 budget.

And the Council is contemplating engaging the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) to help it collect taxes from small scale mining companies operating in the area.

Town Clerk Bwanga Kapumpa said the council will raise K 1 . 7 billion from rates on ratable properties and close to K700 million on trading licenses, permits and fire certificates.

The council also expects to collect over K140 million from parking and loading fees.

And the Council has said it would consider engaging the ZRA to assist it collect taxes from manganese mining firms operating in the district.

Mansa Town Clerk Bwanga Kapumpa said the firms engaged in mining activities in the district were not paying tax to the local authority n the area.

Mr. Kapumpa stated that the council could widen its tax base if the mining firms became organized and committed to paying taxes to the council.

He urged the mining companies to be organized and sincere about the profits they make from mining manganese.

Under its 2010 Recurrent Revenue Income budget the local authority has not included the increased mining activities in the area as its revenue base.

This came to light during the presentation of the council’s 2010 budget estimates to the District Development Coordinating Committee (DDCC) meeting yesterday.

The DDCC members advised the council to take advantage of the increased mining activities in the district to widen its revenue base.

ZANIS

My administration is in a hurry to fight poverty-RB

editor
-
17

President Rupiah Banda has said his administration is in a hurry to fight poverty in the country in rural communities through reducing and eliminating livestock stock diseases which have threatened thousands of animals in the Zambia.

Mr Banda said rural communities in Zambia depend heavily on livestock as a source of income and means of labor for their livelihood hence the need to fight livestock diseases in the country.

He said this during a visit to a research institute for animal vaccines and production of medicine for malaria and other tropical diseases.

President Banda said Zambian students studying science subjects in Cuba should be attached at Labiofam and ensure that they quickly grasp the technology of manufacturing vaccines and production of medicine before a formal planned training starts between Zambia and Cuba.

And earlier, Labiofam President Jorge Fraga Castro said the institute began producing pharmaceutical and biological commodities in order to improve the quality of animal health in that country.

Mr Castro said the company does not use chemical insecticide but biological methods which are environmentally friendly.

He said the institute has already signed an agreement with the Zambian government on starting malaria programmes in Zambia.

ZANIS

Shikapwasha accuses media houses of lying about the diplomats story

editor
-
78

shikapwasha

Chief government spokesperson, Ronnie Shikapwasha, has accused some media institutions of trying to disturb relations between the government and diplomats accredited to Zambia.

Lieutenant general Shikapwasha says investigations have revealed that its not true that some diplomats have stated that they are not happy with the Zambian government, as reported by some media houses.

He says government had a meeting recently with the diplomats accredited to Zambia during which those mentioned as having issued media statements attacking government denied having done so.

General Shikapwasha who is also Information Minister, was speaking in an interview with ZNBC news in Lusaka on Tuesday.

He however appealed to diplomats in Zambia to adhere to rules.

Meanwhile, General Shikapwasha has  said government will not extend the six month period for media bodies to come up with self regulation mechanism.

He said once the six month period elapses, government will introduce a media bill in parliament.

General Shikapwasha said the six months period was agreed upon by media bodies themselves.

He denied that government gave the six months period as an ultimatum.

And the Media bodies have maintained that they will not subscribe to the deadline given to them by government to come up with self regulation guidelines.

MISA Zambia says media bodies are still consulting widely over the matter.[quote]

MISA Chairperson, Henry Kabwe, says progress has so far been made in the on going consultations.

Mr. Kabwe says giving the media a deadline to formulate self regulation guidelines is against democratic principles.

And Press Association of Zambia -Vice Chairman, Amos Chanda, says the media will not work under threat.

He says already serious efforts are underway to find a way of putting in place self regulation guidelines.

Last Friday Parliamentary Chief Whip, Vernon Mwaanga, advised the media to adhere to the six months deadline given to them in which to come up with a set of regulations to guide the profession.

Mr. Mwaanga said if the media did not come up with self regulation mechanisms, parliament will support a bill which will be brought by government to regulate the press.

[ ZNBC]

Renard Calls-up Under-17 Starlet for Cosafa Cup

sports
-
5

Herve Renard has drafted former Zambia Under-17 midfielder and captain Jimmy Njovu into his Cosafa Cup squad.

The talented Njovu joined the team on Monday and was part of training at Independence Stadium in Lusaka where Zambia are camped and training from.

Renard said he had been tracking Njovu since he helped Arrows technical bench in April during their Caf Confederations Cup campaign.

Even though he doesn’t play very much for his club my target is to have young players for the Cosafa,” Renard said.

“My target is to use players like Jimmy for the future of Chipolopolo.”

Njovu was part of Aggrey Chiyangi’s Under-17 team during the 2009 Africa Under-17 Championship qualifiers.

Meanwhile, Danny Hangunyu has not yet arrived in camp as expected from his Angolan club Premiero Agosto.

Renard said he had no news as to why the winger had failed to arrive but that the bench was optimistic Hangunyu will be available for training camp.

Division 1 North & South Standings

sports
-
10

Here  are the Division 1 North and South standings after Week 26 games played 26-27/09/2009.

NORTH

[standings league_id=2 template=extend logo=false]

SOUTH

[standings league_id=3 template=extend logo=false]

MMD warns AVAP in Kasama Central

Guest Editor
-
40

The ruling MMD in Kasama District have castigated Anti Voter Apathy Project (AVAP) coordinator Kelly Kashiwa for alleging that the ruling party is involved in electoral malpractices ahead of the October 15 Kasama Central by-election.

MMD Kasama Central constituency Chairman Nathan Ilunga has described Mr. Kashiwa’s allegations as highly irresponsible and baseless.

Mr. Ilunga accused the AVAP provincial coordinator of being biased in his claims that the MMD was buying voters’ cards from electorates as he did not consult the ruling party over the matter.

He has challenged Mr. Kashiwa to come out in the open and declare his support for a named opposition political party, which he has allegedly aligned himself with.

Mr. Ilunga also charged that Mr. Kashiwa has failed to publicly condemn the alleged tribal remarks by PF aspiring candidate Geoffrey Mwamba, but has instead chosen to divert people’s attention by talking about what he termed irrelevant issues.

He advised AVAP to concentrate on its civic duties instead of taking a partisan approach to political issues that would undermine its credibility as an organization.

Mr. Ilunga warned Mr. Kashiwa to stop his unwarranted attacks on the MMD or risk being exposed over his double standards in the on-going campaigns for the Kasama Central by-election.

In a press statement issued yesterday, AVAP provincial coordinator Kelly Kashiwa alleged that the MMD was buying voters’ cards from people in Kasama Central constituency in order to disefranchise them.

Mr. Kashiwa further accused some teachers of campaigning for a particular aspiring candidate contesting the October 15 Kasama Central by-election.

ZANIS

Miners down tools and demand salary arrears

Guest Editor
-
6

Maamba Collieries (MCL) miners have downed tools demanding payment of their four months salary arrears.

Speaking during a meeting with the Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) representatives outside the MCL offices the workers who sought anonymity declared that they would only resume work once management has paid them their four months salary arrears.

The workers said the memo that management wrote to them indicated that the sales of coal has improved yet the company has failed to pay them their salary arrears and Oriental Quarries the contractor that was mining coal on behalf of MCL.

They charged that MCL Managing Director Stephen Mutambo has failed to address the pressing issues that were affecting workers.

The issues included the payment of two salary arrears within two weeks last month that management failed to honour, the firing of the company’s Human resource manager Mr Simwele for being insensitive to the workers plights.

Mr. Mutambo is alleged to have told the workers that Mr Simwale had given up his position when he in fact was still working from MCL’s Lusaka office.

The workers lamented that their families were starving a situation that made them ashamed to be called miners in the township.

They demanded that government should also constitute a team of ministers to look into the problems affecting MCL as was the case with other ailing mines in Luanshya and Albidon Nickel mine in Mazabuka.

The workers also wondered why the Zambia Consolidated Cooper Mine Investment Holding (ZCCM-IH) has pulled out when government gave them 100 percent shares to run the mine.

MUZ Secretary for Maamba condemned the ZCCM-IH decision to pull out from supporting the mine when they have invested a lot of money in the Company.

Maamba Union Chairperson Evans Moyo assured the workers that he would present their grievances to the MCL management.
MCL Head of industrial relations and Administration Jethro Sikalunda urged workers management time to look into their grievances.

ZANIS

President Banda investures Fidel Castro in Cuba

editor
-
28

President Rupiah Banda has investured former President of Cuba Fidel Castro with an award of the order of the Eagle of Zambia first division for his meritorious political, social, and economical services rendered to the people of Cuba and other countries in the world.

Speaking at the investure ceremony through his chief of staff at state house Austin Sichinga at the revolutionary palace in Havana last evening, President Banda said Castro’s selflessly dedicated his life to fight for liberation of oppressed people of his country and beyond.

He said Mr Castro who studied law in the 1940’s and admitted to the bar in 1950’s abandoned his profession and instead choose to save humanity by fighting injustice.

He said the former President of Cuban who is still the commander in chief initiated and endured an armed struggle for the emancipation of Cuba.

President Banda said Mr Castro was an inspiration to many people in political and economic management steer around the world by his boldness amidst many challenges.

Mr Banda noted that in spite of the economic blockade from the United States Mr. Castro remained undaunted but instead focused his energies to provide for his country with locally generated law material and resources.

He said they have been many attempts to crush Cuba and Mr. Castro in person but the latter did not bow to such pressures and he instead continued to help African countries materially and technologically.

President Banda said he is grateful for Mr. Castro’s services and struggle for freedom of his country and others in Africa like Algeria and Angola.

He then presented a colorful award to Raul Castro Ruiz who received the medal on behalf of Mr. Castro and in his reciprocal speech, President Raul Castro said through his representative that Cuba was profoundly humbled by President Banda’s recognition to Mr. Castro’s services.

He said President Banda’s gesture was an expression of the relationship that exists between Zambia and Cuba.

He further said that his country greatly appreciates Zambia’s resolve to pay homage to freedom fighters in Africa and Cuba.

Meanwhile, President Banda and President Raul Castro held talks at the revolutionary palace.

Earlier, President Banda toured a monument of Cuban internationally hero, Jose Marti who fought against injustices of the people of Cuba many years ago.

The President laid a wreath at the monument of the late Mr. Marti.

Other activities on Mr. Banda agenda in Cuba includes meeting with African diplomats accredited to Cuba and laying of wreaths at the Cuban international heroes.

The President who arrived in Cuba on Monday is accompanied by first lady Thandiwe Banda, foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande and senior government officials.

He is expected to leave Cuba on Thursday.

ZANIS

1...5,1715,1725,173...5,663Page 5,172 of 5,663

Company

Trending

Categories

© Lusaka Times