Advertisement Banner
Tuesday, September 23, 2025
Subscribe
Home Blog Page 5342

Zambia’s first Mobile Base station to be comissioned during the N’cwala ceremony

editor
-
26

zainZain Zambia today announced it had purchased the first ever Mobile ‘base-station’ in Zambia, and will be publicly commissioning it during this weekend’s N’cwala Ceremony in Chipata.

Essentially, this is a full-scale base-station, mounted on a heavy-duty truck chassis, which is able to provide voice and data service to customers wherever in Zambia it is needed. It has its own self- contained power supply and operations room. It can relay a mobile call from the middle of nowhere, via a Satellite Dish mounted on its roof, where the Global Positioning System (GPS), locks onto a satellite in space, and beams the call back down to Zain’s state-of-the-art operations centre in Lusaka, from where the call will be delivered to the called party. All this happens in a less than a few seconds.

Zain claims to have the largest network by far in Zambia, and now it goes truly ‘mobile’ with this high-tech base station in which it invested USD 400,000.

“It’s about the customer; with this mobile base-station, and heavy-duty truck, we can go to any remote area in Zambia, and provide relief coverage, or to a large function like football matches, ceremonies, or anywhere that large crowds might be, and if they are a Zain customer we’ll now be able to ensure they can always make calls, or send text messages without fear of congestion” said Zain Zambia Managing Director, Mr. David Holliday.

With the largest network in Zambia, which we are still expanding every day, we are committed to providing network coverage everywhere to our customers, and this a really helpful way to provide ‘on-demand’ coverage, he added.

We are now also able to play our part in the event of disasters, and help the Zambian government and other agencies with this new technology, to get to the affected area, and within minutes, establish critical communications links.

Zambia’s CHAN Judgement Day Arrives

sports
-
58

Zambia have just a game to save their stay in the CHAN tournament when they travel to Bouake on Saturday to face Tanzania in the two sides final Group A match in an 18:00 Zambian time kickoff.

Herve Renard’s side showed their familiar tournament temperament of faltering after a flying start following their 0-0 result against Senegal on Wednesday in the two teams penultimate Group A match.

However, Zambia remain top of Group A on 4 points, tied with Senegal though they usurp the West Africans on goal difference.

Tanzania are third and a point behind the duo while hosts Cote d’Ivoire are bottom on zero points.

Zambia should be relieved against Tanzania they will be able to play some old-school football after their style lost its thin gloss against Senegal, who unlike Renard’s side, subscribe to virtues of the modern game as we know it.

But although Renard confessed Zambia technical deficiency was exposed against Senegal, he surely has ambitions on a CHAN semifinal spot when they face Tanzania.

Little change is expected in terms of Zambia’s starting line-up with  the only probable switch seeing Elijah Tana starting ahead of Francis Kasonde whom he replaced just after the break against Senegal.

Meanwhile, Zambia are not new to Tanzania coach Marcio Maixmo who enjoys an edge over the former after defeating them 1-0 in a friendly match played in Dar-es-Salaam on November 21, 2007.

And Renard has three Zambia players in the current CHAN team from that match  namely midfielder Kennedy Mudenda, goalkeeper Mike Poto and defender George Chilufya from Nchanga Rangers.

And in the second Group A match, Senegal face winless Cote d’Ivoire who are out of contention in a simultaneous kickoff that will be played in Abidjan.

Draws for both Zambia and Senegal will be enough to see them both through to the March 4 semifinals to be played in Abidjan and Bouake.
2008 CHARITY SHIELD SEMIFINALS

28/02/2009

Nkoloma Stadium, Lusaka

Zesco United- Red Arrows

Trade Fair Grounds, Ndola

Power Dynamos – Lusaka Dynamos

Pictures of the week

editor
-
137

1.

Paramount chief Mpezeni on his way to Laweni in Mtenguleni in Chipata where he will stay in seclusion up to Saturday when his people will celebrate the N'cwala traditional ceremony
Paramount chief Mpezeni on his way to Laweni in Mtenguleni in Chipata where he will stay in seclusion up to Saturday when his people will celebrate the N'cwala traditional ceremony

2.

PARAMOUNT Chief Chitimukulu being helped to alight from a plane in Kasama after he was discharged from the University Teaching Hospital
PARAMOUNT Chief Chitimukulu being helped to alight from a plane in Kasama after he was discharged from the University Teaching Hospital

3.

President Rupiah Banda welcomes former Ghanaian president John Kufuor at Lusaka International airport.
President Rupiah Banda welcomes former Ghanaian president John Kufuor at Lusaka International airport.

4.

DEPUTY Speaker of the National Assembly Mutale Nalumnago (l) listening to Gracia Machel during a meeting in Lusaka
DEPUTY Speaker of the National Assembly Mutale Nalumnago (l) listening to Gracia Machel during a meeting in Lusaka

5.

VICE president George Kunda bidding farewell the Gracia Machel at Pamodzi hotel
VICE president George Kunda bidding farewell the Gracia Machel at Pamodzi hotel

6.

PAMODZI hotel front office lady Rachal Nangogo welcome vice president George Kunda to the hotel in Lusaka.
PAMODZI hotel front office lady Rachal Nangogo welcome vice president George Kunda to the hotel in Lusaka.

7.

MMD cadres blocked Independence avenue and nationalist road traffic lights causing a traffic jam during the morning prime time
MMD cadres blocked Independence avenue and nationalist road traffic lights causing a traffic jam during the morning prime time

8.

MMD cadres walking to State House along Independence avenue
MMD cadres walking to State House along Independence avenue

9.

MMD women queue up outside State House yards
MMD women queue up outside State House yards

10.

MMD cadres storming the State House outside the car park
MMD cadres storming the State House outside the car park

11.

MMD women jostling for a chance to gain entry into State House
MMD women jostling for a chance to gain entry into State House

12.

MMD cadres forcing their way into State House yards
MMD cadres forcing their way into State House yards

13.

MMD member William Banda and an identified security man arguing
MMD member William Banda and an identified security man arguing

14.

I will sack you... President banda addressing MMD cadres at State House
I will sack you... President banda addressing MMD cadres at State House

15.

EMPTY bottles of mineral water dumped in the State House car park by the MMD cadres
EMPTY bottles of mineral water dumped in the State House car park by the MMD cadres

I’m not bitter – Shakafuswa

editor
-
95

Former Science and Technology deputy minister, Jonas Shakafuswa, says he is not bitter with the decision by President, Rupiah Banda, to relieve him of his duties.

Mr. Shakafuswa who is also Katuba Member of parliament has also thanked President Banda for having accorded him a chance to serve in his administration.

He told ZNBC news in an interview that he is ready to apologize if he had wronged the President during the course of his duties.

Mr. Shakafuswa said he has always protected and spoke in support of President Banda’s leadership.

He said he will now spend more time with his family and the electorate.

Yesterday, President Banda relieved Mr. Shakafuswa and Energy deputy minister, Lameck Chibombamilimo, of their duties.
Two former Deputy Ministers showed up in parliament on Thursday afternoon just hours after they were relieved of their duties by President, Rupiah Banda.

The two, Lameck Chibombamilimo, who was Energy Deputy Minister and his counter part, Jonas Shakafuswa, at Science and Technology were spotted sitting on the back bench.

As the parliamentary proceedings progressed, some opposition MPs sparingly passed comments alluding to their dismissal.

Others approached the two Mps to console them.

Outstanding was Luapula MP, Peter Machungwa, who consoled Mr. Shakafuswa and Mr. Chibombamilimo prior to making his contribution to the motion on the floor.

Dr. Machungwa advised the duo to accept their dismissal saying such was part of politics.
[ZNBC]

MMD accused of helping members with business favors

editor
-
73
AN MMD cadre shades off the sunlight and following proceedings at State House
AN MMD cadre shades off the sunlight while following proceedings at State House

The MMD has distanced it self from party members engaged in business transactions with government ministries using the name of the party.

Meanwhile the Police Service has received correspondence from the opposition PF regarding payments made to MMD members at the Ministry of Home Affairs.

MMD National Secretary, Katele Kalumba, has directed the party’s treasury to study the allegations and subsequently submit a detailed report to his office.

Dr. Kalumba said in a statement on Thursday that the report will then be submitted to the acting party president for action.

He said the MMD does not use its influence to help party members or supporters to gain advantage in their business transactions.

Dr. Kalumba said persons who support the MMD do so because they share the party’s ideological positions on good governance, economic empowerment of citizens, poverty reduction and the fight against corruption.

MMD deputy national Secretary, Jeff Kaande, is reported to have written to Home Affairs Permanent Secretary, Susan Sikaneta, asking her to pay over K1 billion to seven food suppliers who had pledged financial support to the ruling party.

ZNBC

Stormy Season Ahead For Copperbelt Sport

sports
-
18

The sun is setting on the Copperbelt as a sporting powerhouse.

While, affluent Zesco United and Power Dynamos will continue to fly the flag on the Copperbelt for the foreseeable future, things are really looking bleak for their struggling provincial rivals.

Legendary football clubs Roan United, Nkana and Mufulira Wanderers are motherless and futures unknown after the mining concerns that have sponsored them over the decades finally closed their cheque books  for  monthly handout that have helped sustain the clubs over the years.

The current global recession is a major factor and that has also seen perennial strugglers Chambishi FC also without a bankroller for this season and the immediate future.

However, football is not the only sport in a serious state of crisis.

Rugby, the second biggest attraction after football on the Copperbelt,  is also facing an uncertain future.

Last Saturday, the Zambia Rugby football Union held its annual general meeting in Lusaka at which five out of the 12 affiliated clubs failed to attend.

Konkola, Roan, Ndola Wanderers, Mufulira and Chambishi rugby clubs all failed to travel for the AGM.

However, only Konkola from no-man’s land in Chililabombwe sent their RSVP citing a bereavement at the club.

The rest, however, did not give a valid reason for staying away.

Roan, like their football club relations from Luanshya have lost sponsorship, so too have Mufulira and Chambishi while community funded Ndola Wanderers is also  limping and last season struggled to fulfill its league fixtures.

Moreover, legendary Diggers too have been hit by the economic bug after their life-long sponsorship deal with a major Kitwe-based mining company was also ended this year.

Diggers influence as rugby giants especially after losing their five-year grip on the crown ended last year will be interesting to see this season.

Powerhouse Lusaka on the other hand who wrestled the championship away from Diggers are in rude health and have set the bar in terms of corporate sponsorship in sport and are looking undisputed survival kings in the challenges awaiting in 2009.

Siliya’s tribunal starts sittings on 2nd March

editor
-
77

Chief Justice, Ernest Sakala, has constituted a four member tribunal to probe alleged abuse of office and corruption against Transport and Communications Minister, Dora Siliya.

The tribunal to be chaired by Justice, Dennis Chirwa, from the Supreme Court, starts sittings on March, 2 at the Supreme Court.

Other members of the tribunal are Justice, Peter Chitengi from the Supreme Court and Justice Hamaundu from the High Court.

Deputy Director of the subordinate courts, Maka Phiri, will be the secretary.

This is contained in a statement issued to ZNBC news by Registrar and Director of court operations, Mwamba Chanda.

The proceedings of the tribunal will be open to the public.

The setting up of the tribunal follows a petition to the Chief Justice by former Transport and Communications Minister, William Harrington.

He had petitioned to investigate Ms. Siliya for allegedly breaching the parliamentary and ministerial code of conduct Act.

Civil society organisations also presented a petition to the Chief Justice over the manner in which Ms. Siliya engaged RP Capital Partners of Cayman Island to value Zamtel assets.
/ZNBC/NEWS

Probe Team for Zambian Airways saga set up

editor
-
50

Three law enforcement agencies have constituted a team to investigate alleged financial irregularities in dealings involving Zambian Airways.

The three are the Zambia Police Service, Drug Enforcement Commission and the Anti Corruption Commission.

Acting Inspector General of Police, Francis Kabonde, says a probe into the operations of the airline follows official representations from the Forum for Leadership Search, members of the public and political parties.

Mr. Kabonde was speaking at a joint media briefing in Lusaka on Thursday.

He also disclosed that the opposition Patriotic Front has officially made representations to his office regarding the payments made to food suppliers by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

He also said investigations into the leakage of government confidential documents to the press are progressing well.
/ZNBC/NEWS

Singogo jailed again

editor
-
50

Former Zambia Air Force Commander, Christopher Singogo, has again been jailed for five years with hard labour for abuse of authority of office by the Lusaka magistrate court.

Lieutenant General Singogo was early this year sentenced to six years imprisonment with hard labour on two counts of charges of theft by public servant and abuse of authority of office.

He however appealed against the sentence and is currently on bail.

In another case, general Singogo has been convicted for giving Nassim Cleaning Services a contract for cleaning services at the Zambia Air Force.

General Singogo was one of the directors of Nassim Cleaning Services.

Magistrate, Aridah Chuulu, sent general Singogo to prison on Thursday after hearing submissions from both the prosecution and defence teams.

The Magistrate said while it is difficult to punish a person of his status, general Singogo should have known the consequences of his actions.

In mitigation, defence lawyers urged the court to consider the service that the former air commander rendered to the nation.

They also said the defence team will appeal against both the conviction and sentence.

Magande wanted to cancel Zambian Airways debt, RB

editor
-
238

President Rupiah Banda said  he has documents proving that former finance Minister, Ng’andu Magande, was going to allow Mr. Mmembe and his colleagues to get away with the debt.

He said the Post Newspaper had opted for the candidature of Mr. Magande during the October 30, 2008 presidential election so that he could cancel the loan.

The President said this when he addressed thousands of MMD cadres who matched to State House on Thursday in a show of solidarity with his leadership.

Mr. Banda also said he will not be compelled to act against the media by questionable persons at the Post Newspaper.

He said the Post which has been attacking him will only be closed by the huge debt owed to various public institutions.

Mr  Banda has demanded that Zambian Airways settles the 29 million US dollars debt it owes various public institutions.

Mr. Banda says the money could help build a number of schools and hospitals to serve the people.

The President says he was not there when Post Newspaper Editor, Fred M’membe, and his colleagues borrowed money to invest in the closed Airline.

/ZNBC/NEWS

Rupiah Banda sacks two Deputy ministers

editor
-
333

w_shakasPresident Rupiah Banda has with immediate effect fired Science and Technology Deputy Minister, Jonas Shakafuswa and Energy Deputy Minister, Lameck Chibombamilimo.

Mr. Banda announced the dismissal of the two when he addressed thousands of MMD cadres who matched to State House on Thursday to show solidarity with his leadership.

The President also said he would also dismiss MMD MPs who are not loyal to the party and face them in their constituencies during by-elections.

Mr. Banda warned that he will take action against all government and MMD leaders speaking ill of his administration.

He said he is aware that there are some bad eggs within government and the MMD whom he will be getting rid of.

The President said as republican President and Acting MMD president he will not tolerate indiscipline.

Earlier, MMD Lusaka Province Acting Chairperson, Cleophas Chimembe said his members will not sit idle while President Banda is being insulted.

Mr. Chimembe said personal attacks on the president will not derail the MMD’s commitment to fulfilling promises made during the last election campaign.

Zambia went to the polls on 30th October,2008 in a presidential election following the death of President Levy Mwanawasa.

Chitimbwa clinic run by unqualified personnel

editor
-
30

Chief Chitimbwa of the Lungu people of Mpulungu has bemoaned the shortage of medical staff at Chitimbwa rural health centre in his area.

In a message sent through his retainer, Sam Chipeta, chief Chitimbwa lamented that people’s lives are being lost in his chiefdom due to lack of qualified health personnel at the clinic.

He said the problem has been compounded after the only trained medical officer at the centre was sent for further training by the Ministry of Health, leaving the centre to be run by unqualified people.

Chief Chitimbwa revealed that recently, a pregnant woman in her 20s, died on the way to nearby Vyamba rural health centre for medical attention, saying she would have been attended to at Chitimbwa if there was a trained officer.

He said people in his area are finding difficulties in accessing health services, even the ambulance at the district cannot respond to emergencies from his chiefdom because the road leading to Chitimbwa area is impassable.

Chief Chitimbwa said he has made several appeals to district health officials to send medical officers but he has been told that Mpulungu district is currently experiencing a critical shortage of medical staff.

Chief Chitimbwa appealed to the Ministry of Health to urgently look into the matter by sending medics to the district before more lives are lost.

Meanwhile chief Chitimbwa has commended government for allocating billions of kwacha in this year’s budget for the rehabilitation of the Mbala/Kasaba bay road, which passes through his chiefdom.

He said the road, once completed, will not only help unlock the tourism potential in Kasaba bay and Nsumbu national park area, but also improve the agricultural potential in Chitimbwa farming bloc and ease transport towards accessing health care for the local people.

ZANIS/ENDS/EK/EB

Finance minister explains Kwacha depreciation

editor
-
55

situmbeko2MINISTER of Finance and National Planning Situmbeko Musokotwane has attributed the cumulative depreciation of the Kwacha by 73 per cent since June last year to short-term and fundamental factors like political uncertainty and re-emergence of pricing of local goods and services in dollars.

The local currency has depreciated by about 17.1 per cent since January this year.

Dr Musokotwane told Parliament in a ministerial statement yesterday that the depreciation of the local currency did not mean that it had performed poorly as it competed favourably with other currencies like the British pound and the South African rand.

“Against the sterling pound for example, the Kwacha had depreciated by only 11 per cent since the end of June 2008. Against the South African rand, the Kwacha depreciation was only 26 per cent,” he said.

The minister said the two international currencies could have been about the same price they fetched against the Kwacha if measured by February last year.

He said Zambian importers often needed other foreign currencies apart of the United States dollar.
Dr Musokotwane said a lot had to do with the foreign currency individual traders wanted to deal with.

Commodity imports and exports that are invoiced in the dollar, like petroleum, attracted higher amounts of Kwacha equivalents which may not be the same for goods purchased in pounds and rand.

“In other words, when we consider the depreciation of the Kwacha against a hypothetical average exchange rate that reflects all our relevant trading currencies, it becomes clear that the Kwacha has not done so badly,” he said.

Dr Muskotwane said other than the re-emergence of dollarisation, fundamental factors like the change in investors’ sentiments resulting from the global financial crisis also contributed to the local currency’s depreciation.

He said the growth and terms of trade that led to reduced foreign exchange earnings equally affected the strength of Kwacha.

Other factors that have contributed to the Kwacha depreciation are the increased and bunched demand for foreign exchange rising from oil, maize and fertiliser import requirements, including some element of panic and speculation in the market linked to uncertainties about the supply of foreign exchange.

And Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Daniel Kalenga told the House that the Food Reserve Agency paid K305,500,080,000 for 402,786 metric tonnes of farm produce bought from farmers countrywide during the 2006/2007 farming season.

Deputy Minister of Energy and Water Development Lameck Chibombamilimo said mining companies, hotels, agriculture and banking sectors lost US$39,550,717 as a result of power outages last year.

Government did not however compensate such strategic industries for the loss.

Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Mutale Nalumango reserved a ruling on a point of order raised by Nkana member of Parliament Mwenya Musenge (PF) over the matter in which MMD deputy national secretary Jeff Kaande requested Government to pay party members for goods and services they supplied to Government institutions.

Mrs Nalumango said she, too, had read such reports in the press but needed time to study the matter before she could make a ruling.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

Registration of London High Court judgement stalls

editor
-
104

chiluba_courtTHE registration of the London High Court judgement against former President Chiluba and 21 others in the Lusaka High Court has stalled.

Attorney-General Mumba Malila said this in an interview in Lusaka yesterday.

“Unfortunately, that has stalled after the death of Judge Japhet Banda who was presiding over the matter,” Mr Malila said.

He said this was not under Government’s control and that there was nothing much that could be done.
Mr Malila said Government was still waiting for the Judge-in-charge to allocate the matter.

Two years ago, London High Court Judge, Peter Smith reduced damages against Dr Chiluba to US$57.4 million from the US$58.3 million he was earlier ordered to pay the Zambian government in connection with the Zamtrop and BK conspiracies and for the breach of fiduciary duty.

This is according to Judge Smith’s final judgement against each of the 21 defendants in the London civil case brought by the Attorney-General of Zambia.

“Upon handing down of judgement in this matter following the hearing on June 7, 8 and 11, 2007, it is ordered that there be final judgement against each of the defendants in the following sums being inclusive of interest and credits required to be given to the claimant (Government) in respect of recoveries made,” Judge Smith’s order read in part.

The Judge also ruled that a Mr Meer, a partner in a London law firm, Meer Care and Desai, the first defendant, pay US$11.135,665.61
Former Zambia Security Intelligence Services director-general Xavier Chungu was ordered to pay US$57,261,390.72 for conspiracy and another 56,442,027.90 for breach of fiduciary duty, among others.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

No-Rhythm Zambia Fail To Spark

sports
-
93

It was untidy though not unexpected. Zambia stuttered to a 0-0 draw against Senegal in their penultimate CHAN Group Group A game played in Abidjan this evening.

Senegal were superior throughout the first half and most of the second period winning all the aerial duels and also muscled Zambia off the ball with such ease.

Hosts Cote d’Ivoire, whom Zambia beat 3-0 on Sunday at the same venue in the tournaments opening game, will be kicking themselves after watching in envy how Senegal frustrated Herve Renard’s side.

Vito Badine and Mustapha Diallo both unsettled Zambia’s defence with good chances in the 10th and 18th minutes.

At the opposite end, defender Francis Kasonde headed down ball narrowly that bounced over the bar in Zambia’s first of only two chances of the first half.

Given Singuluma failed to spark and in a rare show of intent short wide from outside the box in the 42nd minute after a singular counter by Zambia.

Zambia survived conceding a goal two minutes after the hour mark when substitute Oumar Sow saw his powerful shot saved by Davy Kaumbwa.

However, there was later some marked improvement by Zambia in the final 20 minutes of the match but Senegal, who were later reduced to 10-men with 10 minutes remaining on the clock, choked Renard’s boys to submission.

Zambia must now beat Tanzania on Saturday in both sides final game in Bouake to keep their CHAN dreams of reach the March 4 semifinals.
Meanwhile, Tanzania eliminated hosts Cote d’Ivoire 1-0 in the second Group A match tonight in Abidjan to stay 3rd on 3 points, one less than Zambia and Senegal in first and second places respectively on 4 points.

1...5,3415,3425,343...5,666Page 5,342 of 5,666

Company

Trending

Categories

© Lusaka Times