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Zambia opens first ever cell phone manufacturing company

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President Rupiah Banda talks to workers at the Mobile Telecommunications mobile telephone assembly plant in Lusaka
President Rupiah Banda talks to workers at the Mobile Telecommunications mobile telephone assembly plant in Lusaka

A US$10 million mobile phone manufacturing plant, known as M-mobile Telecommunications Zambia limited (M-Tech), has officially opened in Lusaka.

This is the first ever cellular phone manufacturing company to open in Zambia.

President Rupiah Banda officially launched the plant today and said the company would employ over 200 Zambians in various capacities.

President Banda said among the 200 Zambians that would be employed will be engineers, technicians and may others in various technical fields.

He was happy that the company would benefit Zambians through employment creation, technology transfer and human resources development among others.

He stressed that government would continue to create a conducive and competitive environment for the private sector to thrive in various sectors of the economy.

“Keeping Zambia competitive begins with keeping our economy growing. And our economy can only grow when a lot more Zambians invest in the domestic economy,” he said.

President Banda said Zambia was now boasting of home-grown corporations which he said were now among the largest in Africa.

The President said government was determined to continue facilitating actual production of mobile phones, adding that this would greatly help reduce the cost of communication in the country.

He further said this was aimed at adding value to the country’s economic development process, which was a significant step towards the realization of the vision 2030 of transforming Zambia into a middle income country.

He explained that the mobile phone manufacturing investment has come at a time when the country is facing the global financial meltdown that has put pressure on most of economies world wide.

Speaking earlier, M-Tech chairperson, Seedat Mohamed, said the M-Tech cell phone were a fully registered Zambian brand, which would grow to make the country proud.

Mr. Mohamed noted that the technology used in the cell phone manufacturing was of superior standard, adding that it meets all international requirements.

He said the phones have the best reception to all the three net works as they were fine tuned in Zambia.

Mr. Mohamed said the company will be producing about 1,000 phones per day which will cost about K200, 000 (US$36) each.

ZANIS/AH/WM/KSH/ENDS

Sata discontinues court action

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satacourt6Patriotic Front President, Michael Sata, has discontinued the Presidential election petition against President Rupiah Banda.

Mr. Sata says he has instructed his lawyers to discontinue the case to avoid suffering further humiliation.

He was speaking to Journalists shortly after the Supreme Court threw out an application for a vote recount.

Mr. Sata said he now wants to save time in order to concentrate on the party’s mass countrywide sensitisation programmes.

Deputy Chief Justice, Ireen Mambilima, on Wednesday morning dismissed the application for an order of recount on grounds that it was premature.

Justice Mambilima, sitting with four other Supreme Court Judges, said the application has been thrown out with costs.

She said the court has not been persuaded to depart from the Mazoka Versus Mwanawasa petition where it was stated then that what was contained in the affidavit was not evidence.

She said Mr. Sata will have to present evidence to prosecute his petition.

Justice Mambilima said Mr. Sata is at liberty to apply for an order of recount which the court can only grant once there is sufficient doubt cast on the accuracy of the results.

She also said it was common cause that trial in the petition has not started but that the petitioner was seeking an order of recount upfront, before presenting any evidence.

She said such a procedure has never been used in the trial of any election petition in the courts of law.

Mr. Sata’s lawyers had argued that alleged discrepancies or anomalies recorded in some polling stations brought the authenticity of the results into serious doubts.

Solicitor General, Dominic Sichinga, however said the petitioner did not say that he was present at all polling stations were alleged anomalies took place.

Justice Mambilima has meanwhile adjourned the presidential election petition to April 27th.

And one of Mr Sata’s lawyers, Bonaventure Mutale, told ZNBC news that he will seek audience with his client on the way forward after digesting the ruling.

PF cadres who have in the past thronged Supreme Court grounds, stayed away from Wednesday’s proceedings.

Only police and several MMD cadres were present on the court grounds.
[ZNBC]

Court rejects Chiluba’s application

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Former President Frederick Chiluba at the magistrate court
Former President Frederick Chiluba at the magistrate court

A LUSAKA magistrate’s court yesterday rejected an application by former Republican president Frederick Chiluba and two others requesting the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Chalwe M’chenga to testify as a defence witness.

The magistrate also threw out another application by the defence to seek constitutional reference to the High Court following the rejection of the earlier application to determine whether the DPP was competent to testify as a defence witness.

This is in a case in which Dr Chiluba is jointly charged with former Access Financial Services (AFS) directors, Aaron Chungu and Faustin Kabwe for theft of public resources.

Ndola deputy high court registrar Jones Chinyama, in his ruling declared Mr M’chenga as an incompetent witness because it was improper for him to testify as a defence witness in the matter because he was the accuser.

Mr Chinyama who was sitting as a magistrate said all criminal cases were brought to court by the DPP in the interest of the country and that it was not in the public interest for him to testify on behalf of the defence.

“The DPP can not be allowed to address the court from the dock or testify as a defence witness in this matter as it is not in the interest of the public, the defence is at liberty to call other witnesses”, he said.
[Times of Zambia]

Independence Stadium to be ready by 2010, Minister

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Sports Youths and Child Development Minister Kenneth Chipungu told Parliament today that the estimated cost of the completion of the rehabilitation works at Lusaka’s Independence Stadium is K 240 billion Kwacha.

Chipungu explained that the rehabilitation works at the said stadium would be completed by the year 2010.

The Sports Minister was responding to Patriotic Front (PF) Kankoyo Member of Parliament (MP) Percy Chanda who wanted to know when rehabilitation works at Independence Stadium would be completed and the estimated cost.

Chipungu said the rehabilitation works at the the country’s biggest stadium were slow due to tender procedures.

He dispelled assertions that the slow process at which rehabilitation works were going at the stadia was due to poor planning.

He was quick to mention that an artificial turf has been laid also adding that work on the grand stand would soon commence once a constructor is identified.

The Sports Minister said details would soon be made known to the nation on the progress of the grand stand .

Chipungu who is also Rufunsa Member of Parliament has since called upon the corporating partners to come fourth and work closer in order to assist the government in completing rehabilitation works at the Independence Stadium.

He also mentioned that rehabilitation works at the Maramba Stadium in Livingstone would soon commence.

ZANIS/AJN/ENDS/M

The Other side of the Coin

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mingeli1The Zambian National Anthem- How accurate is it?

By Mingeli Palata

I still recall my first primary school days, the safari uniforms and shorts were the order of the day and each Monday we would go pa parade, meet the headmaster and hear all that we are doing wrong.

I shouldn’t also forget the ‘up, sideways, down’ and the ‘stand at ease, attention sir!!! Look I don’t know which school you went to but at the school my parents afforded, that was the way it was. But I believe there was also once a time in your life when you sung the national anthem every Monday if not every day or back in the good old days when its was only ZNBC or never and we would all wait for the National anthem to be played before TV opens at 17:00hrs just so we could watch ‘’Shira and Bozo’!

In all honesty I only got the words of the National Anthem correctly when I reached my grade 8 at Kamwala High School but for the ‘Zambia, praise to thee, all one, strong and free’. Dear friends its not that I still can’t get the pronunciation but I constantly question the truth in that statement. I don’t know about you.

Let’s take some time to think about that phraseology and just the whole composition of our national anthem. Among the most prominent words in the national anthem are ‘proud and free’. Where the meaning of the word freedom can be relative to the situation in which case we would be talking about 44 years of peace and independence, the mafia law has it that who-so-ever controls the money has the power and the two cannot do without the other.

More than 40% of our budget is funded by westerners, the fabric of our economic base is too young to be independent and we live in a country were we do not eat what we produce and produce what we do not eat- our industry and manufacturing wings are too weak and almost non-existent. Just imagine what would happen if the western world pulled out a Zimbabwe move on us! Proud and free?

How about Land of work and joy in unity? Year after year myriads that graduate from high schools and universities continue roaming the streets with no jobs- nothing. Graduating from UNZA is no longer a guarantee to a better life; you will need to know someone from somewhere who knows somebody that works at some place for you to get a job. So why would it be a land of work and joy in unity?

One Zambia, One Nation, well coined and very much echoed in our National Anthem. But is it? Just the voting trend in the last election answers that question better than you and me. Accept it or not, tribalism has become pronounced in our country. What a sad state of affairs! Just how united are we? Yes just how united are when we have other tribes not voting for the other tribe even if the devil himself was the other choice.

Freedoms fight? It’s true that I am such a big fun of Dr. Kaunda (To the extent that I have procured a few safari suits for myself ) but I doubt that what the freedom fighters were fighting for has been attained. Our fathers shed their blood so as to see a better Zambia, in which all the children would go to good schools, have good hospitals and would have food on their tables but alas, the situation today is far from what had been hoped for. 44 years the line, more than 60% of our population is poor while the few rich continue to feed on lobsters and send their children to the UK for studies. Its just like that book ‘animal farm’, it’s a good read, get yourself a copy!

Obviously the National Anthem is not accurate to the Zambian situation but the point I am trying to note is that the national anthem is the Zambian dream and we should all strive towards making it a possibility.

Poor state of Mpulungu/Kasama road worries residents

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Mpulungu District residents in Northern Province have appealed to government to rehabilitate the dilapidated Mpulungu/Kasama road.

Fred Chunda , who spoke on behalf of the residents, said some stretches of the road have become impassible.

Mr. Chunda lamented that the state of the road promoted road traffic accidents which have claimed many lives and destroyed property.

He told ZANIS in Mpulungu today that traveling between the two districts has become precarious as many motorists are shunning the road.

Mr. Chunda complained that the road has not been maintained since it was constructed over 30 years ago.

And a motorist, Kingford Mulenga said the repair of the road would promote economic activities as it would ease the movement of goods and services.

CHADIZA PREACHER CHARGED WITH INDECENT ASSAULT

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Four girls on Friday lask week testified before a Chadiza Magistrate Court how a 52 year old man who used to teach them baptism classes allegedly took turns in sexually molesting them.

This is in a case in which Lyson Mvula, a brick layer of Kamwala Compound in Chadiza is charged with four counts of indecent assault on females contrary to section 137 of the penal code chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

Testifying before Magistrate Billy Milanzi last Friday, the girls said in December last year, Mvula was their baptism teacher and that after releasing the other children, he would tell the four of them to stay after class.

The girls, three of them aged 9 years and one aged 10 years all said that Mvula always locked the door of his house which he turned into a baptism classroom.

The girls alleged that while inside the house, Mvula used to force the young girls to fondle his manhood, after which he would take turns in having sex with them.

Mvula would then give the children some fritters and fruits and threaten them that if they ever revealed what he was doing to them, they would die mysteriously.

But when put on his defense, Mvula denied ever having taught any baptism class saying as the overseer of St. Peter grouping in the Catholic Church, he only taught baptism classes in 2007 when he failed to find volunteers to do so.

Evelyn Banda, mother of one of the children told the court that her daughter revealed what Mvula had been doing to them in February this year.

She said upon probing further, it was discovered that other girls had also been sexually abused and that the matter was reported to the police after attempts by Mvula to settle the matter without police involvement failed.

The prosecution led by Charles Sututu charged Mvula with indecent assault on the four children.

General Christon Tembo’s Funeral in Pictures

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Pallbearers carry the casket for late Gen. Tembo
Pallbearers carry the casket for late Gen. Tembo
Late Christon Tembo's niece Zindaba Nyirenda (c) mourns as his widow Nellie (l) confers FDD president Edith Nawakwi during requiem mass in Lusaka
Late Christon Tembo's niece Zindaba Nyirenda (c) mourns as his widow Nellie (l) confers FDD president Edith Nawakwi during requiem mass in Lusaka
SQUEEZE SQUEEZE...There was not enopugh space on the bench forcing Regina Chiluba (c)to squeeze herself between Maureen Mwanawasa (r) and Dr Chiluba (l) during late Christon Tembo's funeral in Lusaka
SQUEEZE SQUEEZE...There was not enopugh space on the bench forcing Regina Chiluba (c)to squeeze herself between Maureen Mwanawasa (r) and Dr Chiluba (l) during late Christon Tembo's funeral in Lusaka
Bemba traditional counsins teasing their counterparts from the eastern province during Gen. Tembo's funeral
Bemba traditional counsins teasing their counterparts from the eastern province during Gen. Tembo's funeral
Brig. Gen Miyanda (holding glasses) is annoyed at LT photographer for taking his picture with other former vice presidents and his wife Angela
Brig. Gen Miyanda (holding glasses) is annoyed at LT photographer for taking his picture with other former vice presidents and his wife Angela
Chief Justice Ernest Sakala, Second republican president Frederick Chiluba, his wife Regina Chiluba and Maureen Mwanawasa (r) during the late Christon Tembo's funeral mass in Lusaka
Chief Justice Ernest Sakala, Second republican president Frederick Chiluba, his wife Regina Chiluba and Maureen Mwanawasa (r) during the late Christon Tembo's funeral mass in Lusaka
Dr Kenneth Kaunda body-viewing Gen. Tembo
Dr Kenneth Kaunda body-viewing Gen. Tembo
Frederick Chiluba (l), his wife Regina (c) and Maureen Mwanawasa during Gen Tembo's funeral
Frederick Chiluba (l), his wife Regina (c) and Maureen Mwanawasa during Gen Tembo's funeral
Patrotic Front leader Michael Sata (r) and former vice president Enoch Kavindele during Gen Tembo's funeral mass
Patrotic Front leader Michael Sata (r) and former vice president Enoch Kavindele during Gen Tembo's funeral mass
Patrotic Front leader teasing MMD women singers after Gen. Tembo's funeral mass in Lusaka
Patrotic Front leader teasing MMD women singers after Gen. Tembo's funeral mass in Lusaka
President Rupiah Banda body-viewing late Gen. Tembo
President Rupiah Banda body-viewing late Gen. Tembo

Zambia’s Catholic Church distances itself from partisan politics

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The Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) has dismissed claims that the Catholic Church is conniving with some opposition political parties with the sole purpose of attacking government.

ZEC Secretary Paul Samasumo says the Catholic Church is non-partisan and it has no political affiliation.

Father Samasumo stressed that the church does not belong to any opposition political party but that it only contributes to issues concerning the nation just like any other organization which is non-partisan.

Fr. Samasumo was speaking in interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today.

Fr. Samasumo, however, vowed that the Church is going to continue giving advice to give checks and balances on government if it sees that things are not straight.

The clergy maintained that the church speaks on behalf the voiceless people in society.

Fr. Samasumo said the Church is concerned with the well-being of affairs of this country adding that it is not going to ignore important issues unfolding in the country.

He pointed out that pastoral letters that were published in the media dwelt on important issues affecting the nation and economic well-being affecting the citizens.

ZANIS/WM/AM/ZANIS

Dr. Sondashi advised not to form party

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ANTI-VOTER Apathy Project Director Bonnie Tembo has implored Dr. Ludwig Sondashi not consider forming another political parties.

Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Kasama today Mr. Tembo said there too many political parties which are not working for the improvement of people’s living standards in the nation.

He stated going to consult the people who are already flooded with too many political parties is unfair and costly for the nation.

He advised Dr. Sondashi to go to any progressive Political party already in place so as to add value to Zambian political parties than a duplication of parties.

The AVAP Executive Director also advised Political Parties to join other existing and viable Political parties in order to reduce the number of parties which are in place.

Mr. Tembo further advised Political Parties to form conflict resolution mechanisms to avoid unnecessary by-elections which are an expense and drain on the national economy.

Former Works and Supply Minister last week resigned from the ruling MMD party citing among other reasons corruption in the party and undemocratic tendencies prevailing in the party.

Dr. Sondashi had also announced his intention to undertake a country wide consultation on the formation of a new party.

Meanwhile, Mr. Tembo reiterated his call on Government to simplify the guideline of the Citizens Empowerment Funds (CEEF) for the ordinary Zambian to access the funds.

He observed that very few people have been able to access the funds because of the conditions and guide lines that are in favour of the few elite in society.

Mr. Tembo stated that there are no coordinators in districts to help and undertake the processing of forms which he said was a hindrance.

ZANIS/AP/MKM/ENDS

All public transport operator’s vehicles must have sliding windows, RTSA

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The Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) has warned of stern action against public transport operators whose vehicles have no sliding windows.

RTSA spokesperson, Mukela Mangolwa said it was illegal for public transport operator’s vehicles not to have sliding windows.

Mr. Mangolwa told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that it was unfortunate that some public transport operators’ vehicles do not have sliding windows despite the health hazard and safety concerns.

The RSTA spokesperson called upon members of the public to report public transport vehicles without sliding windows to RTSA.

He said members of the public should get the registration number of such public transport vehicles and present such information to RTSA.

He explained that once such vehicles are reported to RTSA, the agency would not hesitate to make follow ups and bring erring operators to task.

ENDS/AJN/AM/ZANIS

Gen Tembo put to rest

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pallbearersforchristontemboThe late former Republican Vice President and Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) founder Member General Christon Tembo was today put to rest at his farm house in Makeni area.

Hundreds of people from all walks of life witnessed the burial of General Tembo who died last week on Friday, March 6, 2009 at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) after an illness.

Among those who attended General Tembo’s burial were Republican Vice President George Kunda, First President Kenneth Kaunda, Second President Frederick Chiluba, opposition Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) President Edith Nawakwi and All People’s Congress Party (ACP) President Ken Ng’ondo.

Others were former Republican Vice Presidents Dr Nevers Mumba, Enock Kavindele and General Godfrey Miyanda respectively, Defence Chiefs, Diplomatic Corps, Cabinet ministers and other senior government officials.

Vice President George Kunda, who represented government during the burial procession described the late General Christon Tembo as a gallant leader who was dedicated to upholding the lives of the people not only in the Zambian army but in the country as a whole.

Mr. Kunda said General Tembo was an honest person who contributed greatly to the development of the Zambian defence fraternity.

The Vice President further described the passing on of General Tembo as a sad development to Zambia saying that the nation has been robbed of a great warrior who played a paramount role in the development of the country particularly in the defence sector.

And Chifumu Banda, who represented the family of the late General Tembo, thanked government for role it had taken in supporting the late former Vice President during his tenure in government, sickness and after his death.

The former Vice President was given a 19 gun shot by a combined team of defence forces from the Zambia Army and the Zambia Air Force (ZAF) respectively.

Ruling MMD in Lusaka has described the late former republican Vice President, Christone Tembo as a true son of Zambia that contributed to the growth of democracy in the country.

MMD Lusaka Province spokesperson Henry Mutiti said the late Lieutenant General Tembo was a humble and a true patriot that fought for many under privileged Zambians during his service as Tourism and Natural resources Minister and vice president in the Chiluba administration.

He said the late General Tembo was a man of few words that helped in introducing young people into politics.

He said more young people were now getting into politics at an early age because of the influence General Tembo had when he was Vice President.

And Forum for Leadership Search Executive Director Edwin Lifwekelo described the late General Tembo as a selfless leader who contributed to the development of Zambia.

Mr. Lifwekelo said the late General Tembo will be remembered for the time he was imprisoned during the reign of Dr. Kaunda.

He said the late Tembo was a good example to young people who have political ambitions.

Former Zambia National Commercial Bank Managing Director Samuel Musonda described the late General Tembo as a gallant man that aimed at seeing the growth of democracy in Zambia.

Mr. Musonda said the late General Tembo will be remembered for the good public service he rendered to this nation.

He said General Tembo was a corrupt free person as he was never cited for any corrupt activity during the time he saved as Vice President in the Chiluba administration.

ZANIS/TK/MKM/ENDS

Zambia U17, Malawi U17 Clash in Mazabuka Friendly

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2009 Caf Africa Under-17 Championship finalists Malawi will visit Zambia this weekend to play a preparatory game against the Zambian counterparts at Nakambala Stadium in Mazabuka.
Faz announced today that the Zambia Under-17 will host their Malawian counterparts in one junior friendly international on Sunday at the homer of promoted Nakambala Leopards.

The Zambia team will go into camp tomorrow in Lusaka under coach Aggrey Chiyangi who will be assisted by Kenneth Malitoli and Christopher Kaunda.

Malawi are using the friendly match to prepare for their forthcoming particiaption in the Algeria 2009 Caf Africa U17 Championships that begins on March 19 in Algiers and are n Group B together with Burkina Faso, Niger and Zimbabwe.

 

 

Zambia Under-17:
Goalkeepers: Kennedy Mumba (K Stars), David Banda (Amakumbi Stars),Richard Musheke (Kalonga High School).

Defenders:Arthur Shiliya (Power Dynamos), Kennedy Lungu Nkwazi, Moses Mwainga (K Stars), Vincent Namanglowa (LCC), Emmanuel Masuwa (Chambishi), Masho Mulyambya (Mundabe Chiefs), Oyster Mwakambala (Young Buffaloes -Western), Nyambe Banda (Lusaka Youth Soccer Academy) and Benny Mwanza (Young Buffaloes).

Midfielders: Salaulani Phiri (Young Zanaco), Mukuka Mulenga (Hetro), Mathews Shonga (Chipata Police Bullets), Alex Ngonga (Mundane Chiefs), Musesha Phiri (Damiano Academy), Bruce Musakanya (Livingstone Pirates), William Chonya (Amakumbi Stars), Mwala Haapuka (Choma Cutters), Reuben Chansa (Afrisport ), Joseph Zimba (K Stars).

Strikers: Chansa Mulenga (Damiano Academy), Felix Nyainde (Hetro), Mwansa Mulaisho (Kalulushi Modern Stars), Abraham Masiye (Petauke United), Joel Njesa, Andrew Nzala (Both K Stars), William Simfukwe (Zesco Luapula) and Danny Mukupa (Kansenshi High School).

British Council donates to three Kabompo schools

Guest Editor
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The British Council has donated 4,500 British pounds to three schools in Kabompo district in North-Western province for an exchange programme for pupils and teachers between Zambia and the United Kingdom (U.K).

Kabompo District Commissioner, Rebecca Mukuka has since commended the British Council for the gesture.

Mrs. Mukuka said the three schools that will share the 4,500 British Pounds are Kabompo High School, Chikata and Pokola basic schools. The schools would receive 1,500 pounds each.

She said 25 pupils and some teachers from each of the three schools would be going to the United Kingdom to visit some schools which have been twined to their schools on an exchange basis every year.

Mrs. Mukuka said each school is expected to use the money to buy computers and digital cameras.

British Council Programme Officer, Ackim Banda said the three Kabompo schools were connected to Britain and Sierra Leone.

Mr. Banda said the exchange of pupils and teachers was meant to develop positive attitudes in young people about each other’s country and culture.

He said Zambians and Britons should have greater knowledge of each other’s country in order to develop skills that were necessary for successful intercultural dialogue.

Mr. Banda was accompanied by two head teachers from Sierra Leone, Brenda Davids of Annie Walsh Memorial school and Stephen Marrah of St. Michael primary school in Freetown.

He said there are 27 schools in Sierra Leone that were connected to schools in the U.K which were benefiting from he British Council.

Zambia Open Golf Championship Postponed

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The global economic crunch has hit the local golf scene with the announcement today by the Zambia Golf Union (ZGU) that this years Zambia Open Golf Championship has been has been postponed.

This is after the ZGU failed to raise the K1.8 billion prize money it has budgeted for this years event.

Zambia’s biggest sporting event that was scheduled to be held at Chainama Hills Golf Club in Lusaka from March 26-28 has now been postponed to the last weekend of July.

ZGU president Joe Malanji said his Union needed more time to meet their budgeted prize purse.

Tyronne Ferreira of South Africa is the defending champion of the Zambia Open he won at the same venue last year. 

“The Zambia Open has been postponed to the last week of July citing shortage of the K1.8 billion budget to successfully stage the event,” Malanji said.

He said the ZGU had written to the Sunshine Tour on whose calendar the Zambia Open has appeared for the last 10 years.

Malanji said he was optimistic the ZGU would meet their budget for this years Zambia Open over the next three months to keep it on the prestigious Sunshine Tour calendar.

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