Monday, May 19, 2025
Home Blog Page 5551

FAZ hands Warriors Coke Cup semifinal passage

16

Faz has handed Kabwe Warriors their passage to the semifinal of this years Coca Cola Cup.

This is after awarding Warriors the win from their abandoned quarterfinal match against Green Buffaloes played on August 24 at Independence stadium in Lusaka.

Warriors will now face Nkana this weekend at Nkoloma stadium in Lusaka for a place in the finals to be announced later.

The other semifinal match will see Zesco United take on Nkwazi in a 12:30 kickoff in what is expected to be a Coca Cola Cup doubleheader at Nkoloma.

The match against Buffaloes was abandoned at half time after the first assistant referee was hit by an object from the spectator stands as the match officials were heading back to the dressing room.

The referee then decided the situation was not safe for them to officiate and teams play the final 45 minutes with Warriors enjoying a 1-0 lead from the opening half

Buffaloes meanwhile have disclosed that they will appeal the decision that might force another delay in Warriors and Nkana penultimate stage match-up.

Warriors are the Coca Cola Cup defending champions after beating Forest Rangers 2-0 in last years final.

Musicians jam for Chipolopolo

28

A group of Zambian Musicians will stage a live musical show, Friday to celebrate the country’s qualification to the 2008 African Cup of Nations.

The artists say the concert is intended to sustain the celebration mood in the country, after the Chipolopolo boys’ victory against the Bafana Bafana.

Moses Sakala who spoke on behalf of his colleagues told ZNBC news, that the concert will be staged at Lusaka’s Smugglers Inn from 19:00 hours till dawn.

Sakala said Zambia’s renowned artists, Mozegeta, Danny, Amayenge, Uncle REX will join efforts with several other musicians during the show.

He also said there is need for all Zambians to help the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ), mobilize support for the Chipolopolo Boys ahead of the Africa Cup to be held in GHANA.

Zambia, Sunday qualified to the 2008 Ghana Africa Cup of Nations after beating the highly rated Bafana Bafana 3-1 in Cape Town.

FAZ Premier League Week 25 Round-up

3

Leaders Zesco stretched their lead from six to seven points at the top of the Faz Premier League table when they beat visiting Nchanga Rangers 1-0 at the Trade Fair Grounds in Ndola this afternoon in their scheduled week 25 match.

A lone goal from Zambia international Enoch Sakala in the 80th minute sealed Zesco’s win to push them from 50 to 53 points.

Meanwhile, Buffaloes surrender their second place to Kabwe Warriors to exchange positions on the log on 45 and 45 points respectively.

Warriors leapt from third to second after a 1-0 home win over 4th from bottom National Assembly courtesy of a goal from Henry Banda in the 63rd minute.

Buffaloes lost their footing after playing out to a six-goal thriller with relegation threatened Forest Rangers at Independence stadium in Lusaka.

Noel Mwandila, Ezekiel Lungu and Dears Kakunta were all on target for Buffaloes.

Zambia Under-23 striker Christopher Musonda scored a brace for Forest and Chomba Sikazwe added a third for the troubled Ndola club.

And at Woodlands stadium, Wesley Mondo began his tenure as new Zanaco coach with a 2-0 win over his old club City of Lusaka thanks to a brace from Winston Kalengo in the 4th and 69th minutes of the match.

Zanaco are 4th on 39 points after today’s win.

Lusaka Dynamos poor form continued as hopes of finishing second for the first time ever are now looking very bleak after suffering an embarrassing 1-0 away defeat to bottom placed Nakambala Leopards.

Ken Mwaba there scored the all-important goal to give Leopards the three points in the 3rd minute.

Konkola Blades too lost to lower opposition when they went down 1-0 at home to Zamtel when Nasha Kaya struck with a 1st minute goal.

Power Dynamos were the biggest winners on the day after recording a 4-0 away win to Roan United.

Francis Kombe scored a hat-trick with goals in the 10th, 55th and 68th minutes while Simon Bwalya added a fourth with ten minutes remaining on the clock.

Red Arrows and Young Arrows played out to a scoreless draw at Nkoloma.

TABLE

Zambia floats Inonge Mbikusita-Lewanika for the position of Chairperson of the

11

The Zambian government has nominated its   Ambassador to the United States of America Inonge  Mbikusita-Lewanika as its   candidate for the position of Chairperson of the Africa Union Commission in view of  the election that will take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in January next year at the  AU Summit of Heads of State and Government.

Chief Government Spokesperson Mike Mulongoti  confirmed this in a statement released
to ZANIS in Lusaka today.

Mr. Mulongoti pointed out that Dr. Mbikusita-Lewanika  has been associated with
Organisation of African Unity (OAU) which is the fore-runner of the African Union
(AU).

Mr. Mulongoti, who is also Information and Broadcasting Services Minister further
said Dr. Mbikusita-Lewanika participated in the drafting of the Charter of the
African Child and chaired several OAU workshops on gender mainstreaming.

He said Dr. Mbikusita-Lewanika also competently served as a member of  the African
Women Committee on Peace and Development.

Mr. Mulongoti urged all Zambians and well wishers on the African continent and
internationally to support and actively participate in campaigning for the
candidature of Dr. Mbikusita-Lewanika.

Dr. Mbikusita-Lewanika holds a PhD in Early Childhood and Education-teacher Educator
and has a Masters Degree in Education and Psychology.

Galagata, Tanzania’s Dyle to clash on Oct 28

1

October 28 has been set for the bout between Zambia’s Francis ‘Galagata’ Zulu and his Tanzanian opponent Eddie Dyle at the National Sports Development Centre.

Amagents Boxing Promotions International Consultant Vernon Mwaanga Junior confirmed the clash at a press briefing in Lusaka today.

Mwaanga said K80 million is required for the fight and he appealed to the corporate
world to assist materially and financially noting that boxing is going through a
re-birth in the country.

Speaking at the same occasion, Promoter of Galagata, Rico Ricardo said there is need
to take the sport to another level.

And Boxer Francis ‘Galagata’ Zulu, who has intensified training ahead of the
encounter, declared that he was ready for the fight and appealed to his fans to
support him during the fight and beyond.

Galagata was recently dethroned by Joseph Chingangu as National heavyweight Champion.

MP cry foul over ZESCO’s bid to hike tariffs

2

An oppsitioin Parliamentarian in Mufulira district on the Copperbelt Province has appealed to the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) not to accept ZESCO’s bid to hike electricity tariffs by over 60 percent.

PF Kamuchanga Member of Parliament (MP) says the decision was not only far fetched
but one that lacked merit.

Ms. Masiye said this in an interview with ZANIS in Mufulira yesterday in reaction to
sentiments by the power Utility firm which has applied to the ERB to adjust retail
tariffs for power.

The MP noted that instead of increasing electricity tariffs, ZESCO should instead
intensify its efforts in recovering its enormous debt owed to it by some
uncompromising energy consumers.

She added that ZESCO should alternatively reduce on its power exports to
neighbouring countries if at all it was becoming extremely expensive for the power
firm to
meet local electricity demands.

Ms. Masiye added that the majority of Zambians were too poor to afford the
unreasonable and unrealistic tariff hikes being proposed by ZESCO.

She suggested that if ZESCO was having problems internally, the firm should instead
embark on a restructuring exercise other than spilling over its problems to
innocent consumers.

Ms. Masiye noted that customers were already overwhelmed by persistent load shedding
adding that customers had already consumed too much of ZESCO’s seemingly
inefficiency to warrant a tariff increment.

ZESCO Limited is quoted as saying the depreciation of the local currency by 53.6
percent between the year 2000 to 2004 and then the appreciation of Kwacha by 24.7
percent had negatively affected the firm as this had eroded the value of
electricity.

ZESCO in its latest bid to hike tariffs is also contending that it has become
increasingly expensive to maintain and procure imported spares and equipment.

PF scoops mayoral polls in Mufulira

71

 The opposition Patriotic Front (PF) in Mufulira districton the Copperbelt Province have scooped both the position of Mayor and Deputy Mayor in civic polls held yesterday.

PF Kamuchanga ward Councillor Stanley Kaluba was re-elected as Mayor after polling
18 votes against his MMD rival Mwamba Mulenga from David Lunda ward who polled 10
votes.

This now means that Councillor Kaluba will continue as mayor for the second term
running having served the Municipal Council as mayor for the civic year 2006/07.

And the position of Deputy Mayor was scooped by PF Mulungushi ward Councillor Tomson Ngulube who won the seat with 16 votes against Joseph Mueya of the MMD who managed to capture 10 votes.

Returning Officer fo rthe elections who is also Mufulira Town Clerk  Charles
Mwandila declared the polls free and fair and confered the two Councillors in their
respective positions.

Mr. Mwandila told the Councillors that they shall be installed in due course after
his office received instructions from the ministry of local government and housing.

And speaking when he addressed Councillors on his latest victory, Mayor
Kaluba thanked them for their support and called them to work even much harder as
the council  begins the 2007/08 civic year which started on September 1.

Deputy Mayor- Elect Tomson Ngulube in his address noted that development
will only come to Mufulira if both the ruling and opposition Councillors worked
together.

ZESCO owes Valley Tongas people-Sikota

10

By Tovin Ngombe:-

United Liberal Party (ULP) president Sakwiba Sikota has said the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) should have been paying a percentage of money to the Valley Tongas for the sacrifice they made when constructing of Lake Kariba.

The ULP leader who was in Sinazongwe to welcome members from UPND that had resigned last month told the gathering that Zambia owes them a debt and it should be paid.
Mr Sikota said the mines were able to tap power on the Copperbelt and the modern buildings in Lusaka because of the sacrifice that Sinazongwe people made to leave their fertile land and migrate to the dry land where rainfall was erratic.

“All the high buildings in Lusaka such as the five star hotels will not have been constructed without the sacrifice that the valley Tongas made. Zambia owes you a very big debt and it should be paid,” Mr Sikota said.

He said ZESCO would have alleviated the suffering of the people in the district it it was paying even a one or two percent of money to the trust.

Mr Sikota the bottom road should have been constructed if ZESCO had established the trust to help the people living in abject poverty.

He noted that most people were not having access to the electricity generated from Lake Kariba as their pylons passes on ‘people’s heads.’

The ULP president said he would ensure that there was fairness and justice in the distribution of public resource once his party comes to power.

When parliament resumes seating after Mr. Sikota said he would move a motion to ensure that places that were near the electricity power stations should be paying a small amount of ZESCO bill until the corporation stops taping power from those places.

He named areas to be exempted from high ZESCO bills such as Livingstone, Sinazongwe, and other areas that have electricity power stations.

“I am going to move a motion, places such as Kabwe, Sinazongwe, Livingstone, and those in Kalambo falls should be paying less money because they are the owners of the resources that ZESCO was exploiting,” Mr Sikota said.
On political scenario Mr Sikota explained that what occurred in Sinazongwe where people resigned own their own to join his party was a decision made out of principle.

He pointed out that the scenario has also encouraged other districts such Mazabuka , Siavonga, Itezhi tezhi, Choma, and Namwala where people have left UPND to Join ULP.

“The fire has gone beyond Southern, and Lusaka, the next fire will be heard soon on the Copperbelt,” Mr Sikota said.
Speaking at the same function ULP Acting Provincial Chairperson who led the people that resigned from UPND to join ULP said the majority of Sinazongwe people were now under ULP.
Mr Sitwiinda who was the Sinazongwe Constituency Chairperson said the entire UPND executive resigned because the party has lost direction.

He said they opted to join ULP leadership because he had the vision for the late Anderson Mazoka.
Sitwiinda said most of the ward councillors under UPND in the district where for ULP as they failed to declare their interest for fear of having by-elections and to allow them to bite the ‘cake’ in the meantime.
/TN/END

Fans mob Christopher Katongo

96

Christopher Katongo, the man who ‘destroyed’ South Africa and shocked their coach, Brazillian Carlos Parreira with a hat-trick was mobbed by fans as he arrived into the country.

There was confusion as he disembarked from a plane, Monday night at Lusaka International Airport, and police had to step in, and form a condon around him, to keep fans at bay.

Soccer fans who had camped at Lusaka International airport to welcome the national soccer team crossed the security point in bid to touch or catch a glimpse of Katongo.

But quick action by the security saved the situation.

Katongo was whisked away by police but journalists and soccer fans pursued him relentlessly.

This forced police to shelter him, in the safety of a police post.

Speaking to ZNBC, Katongo described Zambia’s Victory against South Africa as a very important one, for the Country.

He said the victory was a gift for Zambia and the team was glad to have lifted the national flag higher.

Katongo said the team was confident of success and is looking forward to the African cup of nations but has urged Zambians to support the players, coaches and FAZ.

The national skipper who scored a hat-trick won R10,000 as player of the match.

Delegation leader, Hensel Chitembeya praised the team for its successful outing in South Africa.

Katongo arrived with six other local players.

Meanwhile, national team coach Patrick Phiri is in Germany to attend a refresher course. His contract with FAZ as national team coach expires in December this year.

Economic Zones coming

16

Commerce Minister, Felix Mutati says there is an urgent need to speed up the process of setting up the two multi-facility economic zones.

One will be in Chambeshi and the other in Lusaka
as agreed by the governments of Zambia and China.

And Mr. Mutati said it is important to include
Zambian experts in the management structure from the
initial stage of setting up the economic zones so that
there is quick transfer of skills to Zambians.

He was speaking in Xiamen, when he met the management of China Nonferrous Mining Company CNMC which will spearhead the establishment of the multi-facility economic zone in Chambeshi.

The Minister said the government will identify
qualified engineers, accountants, economists and other
local professionals who will work with the Chinese.

The President of CNMC, Luo Tao agreed with Mr. Mutati
on the need to include Zambians in its management
structure in Zambia.

The Chambeshi multi-facility economic zone will be the
first of its kind in Africa to be set up by China.

And CNMC President said his company has already agreed with a Chinese firm that will set up a factory to manufacture malaria and HIV/AIDS drugs in Zambia.

Mr. Luo said many Chinese companies are interested in investing in Zambia because of the country’s conducive investment policies.

Government starts debt-management initiatives

40

Zambia has started to reduce short-dated Treasury Bills and is issuing long-term instruments as it strives to cut its huge domestic debt, Finance Minister Ng’andu Magande said on Friday.

Magande said in a statement that the 8,9 trillion Zambian kwacha  domestic debt would be reduced by eliminating outstanding debt that had built up over a number of years.

He added that the government would maintain its debt loads at sustainable levels by “observing a strict reduction strategy for domestic borrowing and curtailing the accumulation of new debt while clearing existing arrears in a phased approach”.

Zambia has this year received $77,1-million (about R558,2-billion) in new loans after multilateral lenders and western donors cancelled the bulk of the country’s debt in 2006 as part of a global plan to reduce debts owed by some of the world’s poorest nations.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB) and Western donors provided Zambia with massive debt relief last year.

Zambia’s strategy for managing debt is to regularly allocate funds in the budget to the reduction of outstanding debt through the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), a government economic management strategy for the 2007/09 period.

“In the case of government securities, the strategy in the medium-term is to manage domestic debt through prudent cost and risk management rather than reduce it,” Magande said.

“In managing the risks, the government is restructuring the domestic debt by reducing short-dated instruments, such as 90-day, 180-day, 270-day Treasury Bills and increasing long-dated instruments such as 7-year, 10-year and 15-year bonds,” he added.

Commercial bank officials say the government has stopped issuing 28-day Treasury Bills.

The concessionary loans from the AfDB and World Bank have terms of repayment of 40 years after a 10-year grace period and a commitment fee of 0.05 percent per annum, Magande said.

The loans received this year will help fund road rehabilitation and maintenance, poverty reduction programmes and improvement of water supply and sanitation.

Zambia’s external debt stood at $957,4-million at the end of 2006. A total $562,4-million of that amount was owed to multilateral creditors, while $395-million was owed to bilateral creditors.

Africa welcomes Chinese investors, Mutati

22

It is time for Chinese investors to go to Africa, a growing market where they can get promising profits, a senior official from Zambia said Saturday.

Newly emerging economic powers of Asia such as China should consider Africa as a profitable investment destination, or they would feel regretted if they do not seize the opportunity, said Felix Mutati, minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry of Zambia, at the International Investment Forum held in the coastal city of Xiamen, southeast China’s Fujian Province.

Many African countries, sharing characteristics of an emerging market, are becoming more democratic and open, while trying to improve their administrative frameworks, the minister said.

Africa needs massive infrastructural projects, particularly roads, power plants, airports, and new mines to meet the demand of industrial development over the past decades, he explained.

“We would like Chinese people to build up factories in Zambia instead of simply selling commodities, so that we can develop ourselves,” said Geoffrey Mwamba, executive chairman of G.B.M Group of Companies from Zambia, who came to China to seek business partners on shipping and cement production.

“There are some Chinese investors in Mozambique, but we want more to help us develop industries like agriculture, fishing, mining, construction, manufacturing, transportation and tourism,” said Martinho Assane Muatxiwa, director of Tourism of Inhambane Province of Mozambique.

Promising that Africa boasts highly rewarding opportunities due to massive demand for ordinary consumer goods and bit-ticket items like houses and cars, Mutati encouraged Chinese and other world-class prospective investors to explore numerous opportunities which remain untapped in Africa to realize mutual economic benefits.

Direct investment by Chinese firms in Africa surged to 480 million U.S. dollars in the first half of this year, and the overall investment from China totaled 11.7 billion U.S. dollars by the end of 2006, official statistics show.

Chinese government has launched fund of 1 billion U.S. dollars to finance trade and investment by Chinese companies in Africa, in a fresh effort to facilitate Sino-African business relations.

Investment from China to Africa is expected to reach 2 billion U.S. dollars in 2007, according to Donald Kaberuka, president of the African Development Bank.

The forum was held on the sideline of the 11th China International Fair for Investment and Trade, an annual event held in this coastal city.

Zambia U-23 draws Senegal in 2008 Olympic qualifier

128

The Zambia Under-23 national soccer team and Senegal ground out a 1-1 draw in a 2008 Olympic Games qualifier at Lusaka’s Nkoloma Stadium Saturday afternoon.

Zambia went down in the 44th minute when goalkeeper Kalililo Kakonje failed to communicate with defender Eugenie Shamakamba and the indecision allowed Senegal’s Dauda Mbow to guide the ball into an empty net.

Zambia missed several chances early, allowing Senegal to settle down and dictate the match until they scored.

After scoring, the Senegalese team slowed down by feigning injuries but they awoke to reality when Zambia’s Stopphira Sunzu, who replaced Simon Bwalya, forced the ball into the net after it slipped through goalkeeper Ba’s fingers on 69 minutes.

Zambian striker Signs Chibambo could have scored the winner for Zambia but his powerful drive was parried for a corner 10 minutes to full time.

After the match, Senegal assistant coach Joseph Koto blamed the referee in officiating.

Koto said the referee denied them a penalty before gifting Zambia a goal from a foul.

However, he said he was happy because his charges had achieved a mission of snatching a point from Zambia.

“We are very happy with the result because our aim was to get a point. Now we have to win all the remaining matches. We did not come with our nine professionals but we will ensure they play when Zambia comes to Dakar,” he said.

Zambia have seven points going into the last round while Senegal only have two points. Other group members, Cote d’Ivoire and Mali were expected to play later Saturday.

But there was drama as Senegal coach Soulemane Camara played mad and caused a stir when he refused to leave the stadium after being sent off.

Camara disputed Zambia’s equaliser and walked onto the field to order his players to abandon the match played before a capacity Nkoloma Stadium.

Referee Lambart Eyene of Cameroon gave Camara marching orders but the slender coach refused to leave the pitch and instead ordered his boys to boycott the match. They disobeyed him.

Match commissioner Walter Nyamilandu of Malawi and other officials struggled for 10 minutes to force Camara out of the pitch but he opted to walk to the VIP stand where he met resistance from alert Football Association Zambia (FAZ) head of administration Julio Chiluba.

After a physical tussle which Chiluba did not seem winning, Nyamilandu ordered that the charged coach sits in the VIP stand. But while the match was delayed for 10 minutes, the referee only added five minutes at the end.

Camara’s dispute was based on what he adjudged an infringement on goalkeeper Mamadou Ba thereby allowing Sunzu to stab home the equaliser in a goalmouth melee in the 69th minute.

National Team News: Kampamba replaces Tana

16

Zambia National soccer team coach, Patrick Phiri has drafted South Africa based defender, Chintu Kampamba into the squad to replace the injured Elijah Tana.

Tana has not recovered fully since sustaining an injury in a match against Congo Brazzaville in June.

Phiri has dropped Moroka Swallows striker, Songwe Chalwe to create room for Kampamba of Free State Stars to seal the gap left by Tana.

Phiri told ZNBC Sports reporter, Kelvin Kasama in Cape Town that German based midfielder, Andrew Sinkala is part of the team.

Zambia takes on South Africa, in Cape Town, Sunday in the final phase of the 2008 Africa cup of Nations to be hosted by Ghana.

The Chipolopolo Boys have to win by at least two goals to qualify to the continental soccer showpiece.

Meanwhile, the Zambia under 23 side draw 1-1 with Senegal yesterday in an Olympic qualifier match.

23 year old woman attempts to sell 2 year old son,

7

A 23 year old woman of Kabanga village in Samfya has confessed that she was tempted to sell her two-year-old son at K 3 million to a businessman because of poverty.

Both the village headwoman Kabanga and the woman, Marjorie Nkandu, confirmed the
incident to ZANIS today.

Marjorie, 23 said she resolved to sell her two-year-old son because she was failing
to provide for the boy and the other two  siblings after divorcing with her husband
early this year.

She said after divorce, she was not receiving any support from her family and she
feared that she would starve to death  hence the reason to sell her youngest child.

Marjorie said she got courage and approached a named businessman to inquire if he
was interested in buying a child after drinking illicit beer she had brewed.

However, Marjorie’s attempt to sell the child is said to have failed after the
businessman refused to accept the offer and reported Marjorie to her relatives about
what she was intending to do.

Headwoman Kabanga said the case of Marjorie Nkandu trying to sell the child was
reported to her four days ago and had since held a meeting to resolve the confusion
that had arisen between the family of Marjorie and her former husband.

The headwoman said the matter was also reported to police, but later withdrawn after
the family of the businessman and that of Marjorie agreed to settle the matter
outside the court.

She also said the father to the three children has also withdrawn custody of the
children from Marjorie for trying to sell their youngest son for cash.

Meanwhile Marjorie told ZANIS that she regrets having attempted to sell her child
and has since vowed that she will never drink alcohol and has since abandoned
brewing illicit beer.