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What ordinary Zambians are experiencing at Clinics/Hospitals
Lack of consumables
I took accident victim’s to Kanyama clinic yesterday.Found good hearted dedicated health workers with nothing to work with, no gloves,no cotton wool,no books for records, no nothing at all.
Three questions kept ringing in my head:
1. How do they(nurses and doctors) attend to ER patients without any protection?
2.does government understand the danger these people (nurses and doctors) are exposed to?
3. Are we going to pretend forever that all is well and speak lies on media to please?
Lack of medicines
The shortage of medicine in government hospitals and clinics is an urgent matter. It’s about people’s lives!
The past one month has seen my father move from Matero Level One Hospital to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) and the only medicine he has been given is a prescription.
The last three days I spent with the big man at UTH he was prescribed almost ten types of medicines and nothing was found within the walls of UTH, syringes and panado inclusive.
Yes we have dedicated staff at these institutions but the shortage of medicines is a serious matter because other patients might not be as fortunate as my father whose children can manage to go to a drug store and buy medicine whose prices are going up on a daily basis.
Chipolopolo Zambia will finally know their 2022 COSAFA Cup fate on June 14 when the draws are made in this years’ host city Durban.
The 2022 COSAFA Cup draws are finally on after they were postponed on May 31.
Twelve teams will go into the draws minus record six-time champions Zimbabwe who are still serving a FIFA ban from all international competitions.
But should Zimbabwe be reinstated at least fortnight before the competition, the record champions would be added to the tournament
Zambia and defending champions South Africa have five COSAFA Cup titles each.
And Durban is going to host this year’s edition of the Southern African regional tournament from July 5-17.
The venue was also the place of Zambia’s last COSAFA Cup triumph in 2019 under Aggrey Chiyangi before their failure to defend the title in spectacular fashion in 2021 at Nelson Mandela Bay when they made an unprecedented group stage exit.
And the 2022 COSAFA Cup will also give Chipolopolo coach Aljosa Asanovic a test bed for his domestic side ahead of the 2023 CHAN first round qualifier against Mozambique.
The Algeria 2023 CHAN qualifiers first legs will be played during the weekend of July 22-24 and the return legs during the weekend of August 26-28.
President Hakainde Hichilema says his administration is working on modalities that will address the bottlenecks affecting the growth of business in the country.
And President Hichilema has called on investors to create sound relationships with Zambians, describing it as the only best insurance policy investors can ever have in Zambia.
Mr. Hichilema says government remains committed to attracting meaningful investment in order to better the lives of citizens.
He says streamlining the business licenses acquisition is one of the ways his administration wants to do business.
And while emphasising the need for value addition on Zambian produced products, Mr. Hichilema said the business community should not segregate itself from the population.
Mr. Hichilema said instead, the two should be intertwined, with vested interest in each other for sustainable development.
Mr. Hichilema said during the United Party for National Development (UPND) fundraising Gala dinner at Protea Hotel in Ndola, that investors should work closely with local people to stimulate development.
He said Zambia can only develop when businesses are up and running thus his administration is working hard to provide an environment that will support business growth.
Meanwhile, President Hichilema has assured that as a party in government, the UPND will not use public funds for any party activities.
“Secretary General, treasurer general and colleagues in the party. There will be no carding with public money for party use. I am protecting you from going to jail 20 years from now. It means I love you,” he said.
Mr. Hichilema said the UPND will be the first political party to create a distinction between the usage of public and political party funds.
He said the UPND survived for 23 years in the opposition without funding from government and that there should be no room for usage of public funds for any party functions.
Police in Kitwe have arrested and detained a 38 year old man of Kakolo Farming Block for allegedly impregnating his 15-year old daughter.
Police Deputy Public Relations Officer Danny Mwale this is a case in which the suspect is alleged to have been sexually abusing his biological daughters aged between 12 and 15.
Mr Mwale narrated the incidents are suspected to have occurred on unknown dates and time in 2021 and June 10, 2022 at 15:00 hours at Kakolo Farming Block along the Kitwe – Ndola Dual Carriage way in Kitwe.
He said Police received a tip-off from members of the community that the two girls were allegedly being sexually abused by their father.
Mr. Mwale said it was reported that the suspect used to forcibly have canal knowledge with the girls in their house at night when everyone including his wife were sleeping.
Police have not named the suspect.
“Police in Kitwe are holding a 38 year old man for the offence of Incest.This is a case in which the suspect is alleged to have been sexually abusing his biological daughters aged between 12 and 15.This is suspected to have occurred on unknown dates and time in 2021 and June 10, 2022 at 15:00 hours at Kakolo Farming Block along the Kitwe – Ndola Dual Carriage way in Kitwe.Police moved in after receiving a tip-off from members of the community that the two girls were allegedly being sexually abused by their father,” Mr. Mwale said.
“Police instituted investigations and managed to retrieve the two girls.After medical examination, It was discovered that the older one was pregnant. It is alleged that their father used to forcibly have canal knowledge with the girls in their house at night when everyone including his wife were sleeping.”
Mr. Mwale continued:”Their father would sneak in their room and have canal knowledge with both of them on different occasions. The suspect was arrested and is currently detained in Police custody.”
President Hakainde Hichilema has called for increased investment in the agricultural sector that will make Zambia not only food secure, but also meet the continental and the global food basket.
ZANIS reports that President Hichilema says there is a looming global food shortage, adding that the world will soon be looking to Africa for food.
Mr. Hichilema said this during the ‘meet and greet the President’ fundraising Galla dinner at Protea Hotel in Ndola, noting that Zambia is well positioned to produce the needed food.
He said apart from having abundance of land and human resource, Zambia has good agronomic conditions such as fertile soils and water resources that should fully be utilised, to enhance food security on the African continent and beyond.
Mr. Hichilema explained that there is a yearning market for food across the globe and that Zambian farmers will do the country justice by enhancing productivity to maximise revenue generation.
President Hichilema further emphasised that value addition on agricultural produce is key if meaningful economic benefits are to be realised.
And the Head of State has implored Minister of Water Development and Sanitation Mike Mposha, to expedite the issuance of water licenses to farmers, for increased irrigation farming.
He added that there is no single water drop that should go to waste but should instead be utilised, to enhance agricultural produce and that those applying for water licenses at all levels should be given without any delays.
Meanwhile, UPND Secretary General Batuke Imenda has called on ministers and the business community to solidify links that will culminate into reopening of industries in Ndola, and the Copperbelt in general.
The government has reaffirmed its resolve to end all forms of child labour by strengthening social protection programmes in the country.
Acting Minister of Labour and Social Security Peter Kapala said to this effect, government working with key stakeholders has made progress in reforming many social security programmes, allowing for partial withdrawal of pension by workers.
Mr. Kapala explained that government has also realised that a strengthened social protection system is important for workers, as it helps them to invest and create wealth for themselves, hence providing for their families.
He observed that many children engage in forms of child labour, due to poverty as their parents cannot effectively provide for them.
“Research has shown that poverty is the number one risk for child labour as most families are unable to provide the necessary support to their children to attend school, as result children become contributors towards family income, by engaging in economic activities which hinder their development,” he said.
Mr. Kapala said this in a speech read for him by Ministry of Labour Acting Permanent Secretary Zachariah Luhanga during the 2022 commemoration of the World Day against Child Labour in Lusaka yesterday.
International Labour Organization (ILO) Country Director George Okutho has hailed Zambia for strives that have been recorded towards ending child labour in the country.
Mr. Okutho explained that Zambia has so far proved to be on the right track, in addressing issues that affect and violate the rights of children.
He cited the provision of free education policy from grade 1 to 12 as one of the most effective ways of upholding and protecting the rights of children.
He said this is because universally it is believed that children that have access to education have a potential to break the cycle of poverty and can make significant contributions to the economic development of the country.
“Despite the prevalence rate of child labour increasing globally, we are happy to note that Zambia has shown positive steps to end vices of child labour, one of them being the free education policy from grade 1 to 12”, he said.
The Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has called for global responses to effectively eliminate child labour.
ZCTU Trustee Tisa Chiponda said there is need for the government and other stakeholders to strengthen all systems aimed at protecting the violation of rights of children in the country, in order to create a conducive environment for children.
“With child labour crossing international borders and occurring in all sections of society, a concerted approach by multiple partners at all levels is needed to effectively tackle the problem of child labour”, said Ms. Chiponda.
Earlier Zambia Federation of Employers (ZFE) vice president for midlands Kennedy Njamba expressed concern with statistic indicating that about 78 percent of the total population of children in Zambia do not have access to education.
Mr. Njamba noted that this is why there is need for all stakeholders to collaborate and scale up efforts to end all forms child labour that affect and prevent children from accessing education services.
This year’s World Day against Child Labour was commemorated under theme” increasing social protection to end child labour”.
Copperbelt based Human Rights and Good Governance activist Gershom Nombuyo Phiri is concerned that relevant authorities are not providing fresh updates regarding the reported abduction of a young lady called Pamela Chisupa over 50 days ago.
Pamela was reportedly whisked away in a vehicle by unknown people while operating at a mobile money booth in Lusaka.
Mr. Phiri, the former Copperbelt University Students Union Council Secretary, said the story of Pamela should not die naturally because it involves human life which must be protected by the state.
He warned that if the case of Pamela’s alleged abduction dies it will be a victory for the people behind the scourge of abducting people.
He demanded that justice prevails in the case which has already been reported to the Police.
Mr. Phiri added that there is a need for President Hakainde Hichilema to directly intervene in the issue and ensure that justice prevails.
He said the state through its machinery must be seen protecting human life at all cost.
“As a human rights and good governance activist I am very much disappointed in the failure by the state to update the nation on the whereabouts of Pamela Chisupa and this is against the background that the President takes an oath to protect life and citizens. It is unfortunate that people are on the reacting side than being proactive and it speaks volume that a young lady from a poor family can go missing just like that and people are forgetting about the story. I am sure the abductors are now motivated to keep on doing more harm, knowing that the state seems to be weak on such an important issue. Everyone should be worried because the abductors I am sure are now happy because they have been given more time because justice delayed is justice denied,” Mr. Phiri said.
He continued:”I mean the state should have proved to be more concerned about the whereabouts of Pamela. If she can go missing like this and everyone is quiet including the state it speaks volumes. It is an abrogation of the constitution; therefore I want to advise the president to come out strongly on this issue. As head of state he has not taken the issue very seriously the way he has made pronouncements about corruption. Cautioning investigative wings. But he has not said any word to one of his citizens who is missing to my knowledge.”
“The Right to Life is a Constitutional right Legally Guaranteed by the constitution and President Hakainde Hichilema has taken an Oath to protect our lives. Until today the issue of the young lady Pamela who was abducted has no Public update from the Police. This sets a very bad and dangerous precedent especially that we are coming from a background where there was once a systematic killing of people in parts of Lusaka where their body parts were found missing, till now the public has no proper update. We also had a systematic gassing of citizens until now the people behind gassing are not known,” Mr. Phiri said.
Mr. Phiri added:“I have not a slightest doubt that the Police IG must work hard like that of the late Wazakaza Nguni. Under the current UPND administration even those who were practicing extortions and beating people in Kulima Tower, Inter City and ku Soweto who are not a moving target are free despite cases being reported during elections and even before elections. This national peace and morality which Zambia is enjoying was not a coincidence but it is as a result of a strong leadership of our early leaders.”
Mutondo Stars have secured promotion to the FAZ/Eden National First Division after winning their group win a 100 percent run at the ongoing playoffs in Lusaka.
The old Kitwe giant that was revived in 2020 will head into the 2022/2023 season a tier away from the FAZ Super League where they have not been seen for over 25 years.
Mutondo on Sunday beat Blue Arrows 1-0 thanks to a Richard Mwila goal to see them finish top of the Group B playoffs on maximum 12 points and a whooping nine points ahead of second placed Aguila who were in action late on Sunday.
Zeddy Saileti’s side started off their push for Division 1 promotion on June 9 with a 6-0 bashing of Mansa Wanderers.
Mutondo followed that up the next day by beating Aguila 2-0 and then on Saturday stopped Real Nakonde 1-0.
Saileti’s team will be joined in Division One by Riflemen who finished top of Group A with 10 points, seven points ahead of second placed Katete Rangers who were still in action by press-time.
Northern province Deputy Permanent Secretary Lewis Mwape has encouraged people who have been engaged to conduct the Living Conditions Monitoring Survey, to ensure they collect accurate information.
Mr. Mwape explained that gathering accurate data will help government in policy formulation and interventions, which will help to uplift the living standards of the general populace.
ZANIS reports that the Deputy Permanent Secretary added that to the contrary, false information will misguide the government, in its quest to come up with policy interventions, stating that wrong data will also be a de-service to the people.
Mr. Mwape has since advised data collectors to present genuine information that is supporting what is on the ground.
He also noted that accurate information from the survey is a good instrument that will also provide the latest data to be used in the implementation of the Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP).
“If we are to deal with interventions that can bring down the issue of poverty, we need to have information that speaks to that, if you give us data that fabricates the poverty levels it means you’re doing a de-service to our country.” He said.
The Deputy Permanent Secretary was speaking in Kasama at the training workshop for enumerators who will conduct the 2022 Living Conditions Monitoring Survey.
And Zambia Statistics Agency (ZAMSTATS) Provincial Field Coordinator Lubinda Mukata assured the Deputy Permanent Secretary that the team is up to the task and will ensure high-quality output.
Mr. Mukata said the information that will be collected will also be used for planning purposes by different users including government, cooperating partners, students, private sector and individuals.
He indicated that the training emphasizes on the need for quality data.
The Ministry of Agriculture is implementing a Market-Oriented Rice Development Project (MOREDEP) with technical support from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in five agriculture camps in Mongu district, Western province.
The Market Oriented Rice Development Project is focusing on rice production using new techniques of good agriculture practices from growing up to harvesting of the crop.
This has been disclosed by the Ministry of Agriculture authorizes in an interview with ZANIS in Mongu.
Agriculture authorities say the idea of the project is to teach farmers how to produce quality marketable rice, the advantages of selling polished compared to unpolished rice, how to pack the crop and also access market information.
MOREDEP is also teaching farmers to have business plans for rice, as well as undertake simple businesses before the planting and after the harvesting season of the crop, in order to see if the business objective is being actualized.
Authorities say MOREDEP has targeted 240 rice farmers in the five agriculture camps of Mongu district, namely Kaande, Malengwa, Katongo, Mukengo and Namushakende and has empowered each one of them with a 10 kilogram bag of rice seed, line markers and ropes.
The three year MOREDEP that started in 2021 in Mongu, is expected to end in 2024 and the production for the last farming season has not yet been determined, adding that farmers are still at the harvesting stage of the rice grain.
Meanwhile, two MOREDEP farmers, Ronald Siyuni and Kalimba Muzaza of Namushakende and Kaande agriculture camps have praised government and its cooperating partner JICA for coming up with the rice initiative.
The duo said the project looks promising, adding that this year, they are going to harvest more than what was anticipated.
And Mr. Siyuni revealed that MOREDEP has also promised to give the farmers rice weeding machines.
He however appealed to the project team to dig canals from the rice fields that are not being used due to flooding, in order to maximise on production.
1. When the New Dawn administration was ushered into office in August 2021, the Zambian economy had some weaknesses and threats as well as opportunities and strengths. Let us delve into alternative decisions that could have been made and how those compare with the economic decisions that were actually made by the New Dawn administration in the past 9 months.
2. In terms of weaknesses and threats the key one is too much borrowing by the previous regime. As at August 2021, Zambia’s domestic debt ( treasury bills, government bonds etcetera) was around K80 billion ($4.5 billion). Our foreign debt ( Eurobond etcetera) was about $13 billion and our domestic arrears (owed to suppliers and contractors of various goods and services to Government) was about K30 billion ($1.5 billion). So in total, the country owed about $19 billion, which excludes Government guarantees to parastatals such as ZESCO. So perhaps, we could just round it up to $20 billion.
3. In terms of strengths and opportunities, there are several. Firstly the New Dawn Government benefited from a Special Drawing Rights (SDR) allocation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Because of the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the world economy, the IMF decided to give grants to almost all countries across the world, as a way of improving liquidity and spurring world economic growth. Zambia was allocated 937,600,000 SDR which translates to about $1.3 billion at an exchange rate of 1SDR = $1.387. This money was a free gift from the IMF, and it was reflected in the Bank of Zambia (BOZ) account on 24th August 2021; the same day that President Hakainde Hichilema was inaugurated at Heroes Stadium. Consequently, this gift from the IMF increased Zambia’s foreign reserves from about $1.6 billion to about $2.9 billion. For the record, this is the highest amount of foreign reserves that Zambia has ever had since March 2009. Also for the record, when the MMD were voted out of office in 2011, they left about $2.5 billion in foreign reserves at the Bank of Zambia. So to put it into context, the UPND administration inherited more foreign reserves ($2.9 billion) from the PF, than the PF administration inherited from the MMD ($2.5 billion).
4. The second key opportunity that existed at the time the New Dawn took office in August 2021, which actually still exists until now, is the high copper prices of up to $13,000 per metric tonne. The last known study in the mining sector established that Zambian open pit mines were able to make a net profit when copper prices were above $2,500 per metric tonne, and underground mines when the price was above $2,950 per metric tonne. This means that when copper prices reach as high as $13,000, the mines make supernormal profits. The Zambian people have a right to benefit from those supernormal profits. Late Former President Levy Mwanawasa responded to the high copper prices that existed around 2006 by introducing a windfall tax. This ensured that Zambia as a country benefited from the high copper prices. To the contrary, the New Dawn administration decided to give a de facto tax holiday to the mines. Their argument is that such a de facto tax holiday will encourage mining companies to invest more in the sector in future. One would have thought that the high copper prices on the world market would be an incentive enough to any prospective mine investor. A Sean Tembo administration would have fully taxed the mines. We could easily raise as much as $4 billion more per annum in tax revenue from the mines, at current copper prices. This money can fund our national budget without the need for an IMF loan.
5. The third key opportunity that existed at the time that the New Dawn assumed office in August 2021, which has perhaps diminished by now, is international goodwill. President Hakainde Hichilema came with all the right credentials, at least on paper. Based on the apparent success that he had scored running his personal businesses, the international community expected that he would extend his business acumen to turning around the Zambian economy. However, goodwill being an intangible asset, it is difficult to acquire but very easy to lose. In my opinion, President Hakainde Hichilema lost the goodwill when he gave that interview to CNN, a day after he was sworn into office, where he recklessly said that the previous administration was hiding debt, and that the economic damage was bigger than he expected. Immediately, international bond yield rates for Zambia dropped significantly by more than 100 basis points. After realizing the damage that had been done, President Hichilema told his spokesperson Anthony Bwalya to issue a statement the following day to assure international bond holders that Zambia will still uphold its financial obligations. But the damage had already been done. The international markets hardly responded to Anthony Bwalya’s assurances. Suffice to mention that the President subsequently failed to prove that there was any hidden debt. A list of creditors that was subsequently published by the Ministry of Finance indicated that the debt disclosures made by the previous regime were infact accurate. Therefore, President Hakainde Hichilema unnecessarily alarmed the international business community, much to the detriment of our country.
6. The fourth key opportunity that existed at the time the New Dawn administration was taking office in August 2021 is that as at that time, the previous administration had only defaulted on two debt payment obligations. One for about $43 million and another for about $56 million, both totaling about $99 million. Given the fact that the New Dawn had just benefited from the $1.3 billion SDR gift from the IMF, they should have cleared this $99 million overdue debt obligation, so that Zambia is no longer in default. However, they did not do that. Instead, they continued to default on subsequent loan repayments, with the total overdue amount now rising to more than $300 million, compared to the $99 million which they inherited from the previous regime. Meanwhile barely 3 months from today, on 22nd September 2022, the country will be required to pay the $750 million Eurobond, as it will mature. The ideal situation would have been to refinance about half of this amount and pay off the other half. But the New Dawn administration has since lost the goodwill that they had with the international community, therefore any attempts to refinance are unlikely to succeed. Even the IMF appear to have lost faith in the current administration. Although for obvious diplomatic reasons, they cannot say it out loud.
7. Apparently, all the above are issues which we consistently and continuously advised the New Dawn administration on, but to no avail. If properly taxed, the mines have the potential to generate enough tax revenue to pay off all our debts within the next 5 years. But instead, our debts are accumulating, we have continued to default carelessly and the mines continue to go scot-free without paying an appropriate amount of tax. Indeed, you do not require to be an extremely brilliant person to successfully run Zambia’s economy, clear the debts and reduce the cost of living. You just need to be a man of integrity who will put the interests of the nation above personal interests.
President Hakainde Hichilema says his administration is working towards ensuring that the country remains a habitable happy place where everyone feels safe, at peace and of economic value.
President Hichilema notes that, days of residents being tear gassed or living in perpetual fear are gone, saying those days are gone, noting that his regime stands ready to ensure that peace is restored and maintained across the country.
Mr. Hichilema recalled that the time he spent in incarceration gave him an opportunity to see the status of prisons in the country and realised the need to make prisons habitable, as well as reform those in incarceration, to make them better citizens in society.
The Head of State added that each person serving a sentence, regardless of one’s crime, is entitled to a mattress and a blanket.
Mr. Hichilema noted that he also realised the need to restore law and order in the country, saying some of the people he interacted with whilst in the correctional facility were wrongly incarcerated.
The President said the new administration is God’s tool sent to serve the people of Zambia.
And Life Gospel Church International overseer Joseph Kazhila has appealed to the people of Zambia to give chance to the new administration under the UPND, for development to take place.
Bishop Kazhila said the citizenry made its choice when they swore in the new administration, adding that it is now time for everyone to give them support, as they thrive to rebuild and unite the country.
Bishop Kazhila was speaking in Chingola today when President Hakainde Hichilema graced the church’s 27 year anniversary.
The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) says some players left out of the final 23-member Shepolopolo Zambia squad for next month’s 2022 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) in Morocco do not meet tournament regulations.
There is public outcry on the dropping of Spain based star striker Rachael Kundananji from the squad coach Bruce Mwape named on Saturday.
SD Eibar forward Kundananji was initially named in the 31-member provisional squad released last month.
Striker Rachael Nachula and Hellen Mubanga are the other notable absentees from Mwape’s final Africa Cup squad.
FAZ General Secretary Adrian Kashala said besides failing to meet competition rules other players left out are ill or their form is questionable.
“We wish to take note of the flurry of comments that have flooded our office in the aftermath of the unveiling of the final squad heading to Morocco next week for an international camp preceding the AWCON tournament,” said Kashala.
“Some players will not make the squad based on various reasons among them illness, form and some aspects of tournament regulations that do not make it open-ended for participation and some of the reasons are a preserve of the tournament organizers. We are also conscious of the fact that we are not at liberty to debate certain procedural aspects involving private individuals or players,” he said.
Kashala said CAF/FIFA prescribes wide ranging procedures that players have to undergo prior to any tournament that FAZ wants to fully abide by.
He urged fans to support the team ahead of the Africa Cup.
“We also wish to inform the public that the Copper Queens are expected to play an international friendly with Morocco as part of preparations for the AWCON that will be staged in that country,” he said.
“We urge the public to give the team maximum support as they represent our motherland in Morocco which is also an opportunity to fight for World Cup qualification.”
Zambia will face Cameroon, Tunisia and Togo in Group B at the tournament beginning on July 2-23.
According to FAZ, the team is expected to leave for Morocco next week for an international camp where a number of friendlies have been lined-up.
Nayo Mvula is a singer-songwriter, and performing artist from Lusaka, Zambia. Nayo’s rich experience in both dance and performance, coupled with strong influences from genres that include Amapiano, Afro-Pop and Afro-Soul culminate to create an authentic music experience.
Nayo has had an astronomical start to his career with performances at both Kids Festival 2017 and Cocktail Festival 2018. During Zamfest 2018 , Nayo performed as a backup vocalist for ChemboMusic, and opened for Mafikizolo and other acts such as Caitlin DeVille, Patience Namadingo, and El Mukuka to name a few.
After a few years of honing his craft, Nayo is back on the music scene and is ready to make some serious waves. Coming in with a wealth of new experiences and growth gained during this time away, Nayo is getting vulnerable with his listeners and channeling this into his new music. Now tapping into genres such as Amapiano and house music, Nayo remains acoustically rooted in Afrocentric fusion with an aim to grow recognition both locally and internationally.
Nayo Mvula
Describing his latest single, he has this to say;
Nayo: “‘Mukswesu’ is all about family and going above and beyond for people we care about. ‘Mukwesu’ is a Tonga word from Zambia’s Tonga tribe that simply means “brother or sister.” Consider the song to be a chat with your older sibling; the song is about telling the people I love, even if I am not physically present, everything I do is for their benefit. Regardless of the physical or emotional distances that may exist between me and those I love. “Ndiyookuzwisyila Malundu – I will move mountains for you, Ndiyookulwanina – I will fight the world for you”.
I’d also like to acknowledge all the collaborators on this project. ‘Mukwesu’ was produced by Focus.Beats in Lusaka, Mixing and Mastering was done in New Zealand by Alinafe Kalengamaliro, the artwork was done by Dewi Phan in New Zealand, Copywriting was done by Sapwe Musowa in New Zealand, Photography was done by Crystal Photography in Lusaka, PR and Management by Mukuk? Musowa at Creative Pwele based in New Zealand.”
LT: How has been the response to ‘Mukwesu’ ? It feels like a track that is perfect to heat up the dance floors.
Nayo: “The response to Mukwesu has been overwhelmingly good, both within and outside of Zambia. I appreciate the support, and seeing people create their own stories and dance to my song makes me happy. Yes! this is a dance floor filler! it’s chill and energetic – it’s a vibe.”
LT: Your style of music has influences from Afro-pop, Afro-soul and Amapiano. What is it about those genres that drew you to develop your style of music?
Nayo: “Firstly, I’d like to acknowledge that ‘Mukwesu’ pays homage to South Africa’s Amapiano genre. Afro-pop, Afro-soul, and Amapiano led me to my style because they allowed me to convey an African story in an African way. As Africans, we love to move and groove, and genres like these always find a way to bring out the best in us, even if we don’t understand the language. Such genres represent a diverse range of cultures, and as an artist, I believe it is important to create and perform music that I love.”
LT: Hiphop is still the most popular genre of local music, but a number of artists are coming out with different sounds, like yourself. What is it about you that will separate you from the pack and make you a main stay on the Zambian music scene?
Nayo: “I’m here to stay. Every artist has their own audience. I am not scared to move outside of my comfort zone, I can be real and accomplish the things I love and stand for, being myself separates me from the pack.”
LT: Who are some of the artists that inspire you, both locally and internationally?
Nayo: “Locally, artist like Wezi, I love her storytelling and was obsessed with her music when I first discovered her, she gave us something different that we could vibe to. I also love Abel Chungu Musuka because…We all know this, this man can sing and his music is just so beautiful. I also like artist like Pompi, Mag44, Bomb$hell Grenade, Sebastien Dutch and EL MUKUKA “
Internationally it’s Beyoncé and it’s not because we are both Virgos but I feel a deep connection with this woman, I have watched and listened to her from a very young age and it’s the way she carries herself and how serious she takes her music career, I hope to connect with people on a deeper, personal and professional level just like her one day. I also love artists like Tiwa Savage, Tamy Moyo, Boohle, Daliwonga and Sampa The Great, just to name a few.
LT: What have been the best and most challenging moments in your music career so far?
Nayo: “Best moments are being on stage and performing, the atmosphere there is a whole different me, the ability to represent a story that’s not my own, and seeing people vibe to it is one of the best moments ever, I feel like doing it everyday. And for challenges I haven’t faced any serious ones really, I think it’s because I had a lot of time preparing for this and I knew the challenges that I would eventually face so as they come I always find a way to work my way through them but of course the only big challenge that many independent artists face is lack of Financial support, because most of us want to do so many things and Music is expensive, it’ll be so great to have access to artist development grant.”
LT: Zambian music has been breaking international borders recently, what do you feel needs to be done more in order to have a permanent place in the international market?
Nayo: “I think for us to have a permanent place on an international table as a country, be it supporters, Industry professionals and artists, we must think and walk like those who are in the international music market, secondly before we take ourselves out there, let’s fix our houses and what I mean is, work on our brand and image, ask yourself if a professional from Sony music looks and listen to my music would they want to sign me or work with me?
And for Industry professionals, stop overlooking young upcoming artists or any Zambian artists, play their music on radio, give them honest reviews e.t.c because if we want to grow we must all do it together, if everyone plays their part right, I believe we will stay on that international seat for a long time.”
LT: You did a number of festivals early in your career , pre-covid, now that the world is opening up again and festivals are back in full swing, should your fans be expecting any festival performances anytime soon?
Nayo: “Yes definitely I am so excited and can’t wait to showcase a whole different me and reach new audiences, I am bolder, wiser and hungry for the stage.”
LT: What does the word “Success” mean to you? What do you feel you need to achieve in order to be considered a successful artist?
Nayo: “Success to me, means going to bed every night with a peaceful mind, knowing I walked in all those rooms like God sent me there and I owned it. As an artist, success lies in the truth of my expression and the courage to continue my work and knowing that my business and artistic goals have are met.”
LT: Apart from music, what else are you involved in?
Nayo: I’m a full time art lover but trying to get myself in more creative works like photography, film, Modeling and Digital marketing, I think I’m multi-ambitious, I believe you can do literally anything that you want in this world just put in the hard work, be interested and you’re good to go, so expect more!
Spain based striker Rachael Kundananji has been dropped from the final 23-member Shepolopolo Zambia squad coach Bruce Mwape named on Saturday for next month’s 2022 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) in Morocco.
SD Eibar forward Kundananji was initially named in the 31-member provisional squad released last month.
Striker Rachael Nachula and Hellen Mubanga are the other notable absentees from Mwape’s final Africa Cup squad.
Meanwhile, China-based striker Barbara Banda, who plays for Shanghai Shengli, has made the cut alongside Margaret Belemu, Grace Chanda (Kazakhstan) and the Turkey-based duo of Hazel Nali and Misozi Zulu.
Veteran striker Noria Sosala of Indeni Roses is also in the squad.
Zambia will face Cameroon, Tunisia and Togo in Group B at the tournament beginning on July 2-23.
According to FAZ, the team is expected to leave for Morocco next week for an international camp where a number of friendlies have been lined-up.
