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The Bank of Zambia (BOZ) has maintained the monetary policy rate at nine percent for the second time this year.
BOZ Governor Denny Kalyalya says the decision has been arrived at following a sharp decline in inflation over the past quarters and positive fiscal consolidation measures by Government.
Dr. Kalyalya notes that the drop in the country’s inflation rate is likely to continue to the projected single digit of between 6 to 8 percent target ranges by the end of 2023.
The BoZ Chief said this during the Monetary Policy Committee Announcement in Lusaka today.
Dr. Kalyalya also explained that the global economy has continued to be affected by the Russia-Ukraine Conflict and that this has dimmed prospects for robust economic growth.
He disclosed that the country’s domestic economic activities slowed down in the first quarter of the year and noted a slight recovery in April, 2022 but that it was minimal.
The Central Bank Governor said the enhanced fiscal consolidation by Government is expected to yield positive economic gains for the country but that this is dependent on the country resolving its debt crisis, with the support of the International Monetary Fund Extended Credit Facility.
Dr. Kalyalya said interest rates in the first quarter of 2022 remained broadly unchanged and that the commercial banks’ average nominal lending rate stood at 26 percent.
He said there was improved fiscal performance in the first quarter of 2022 on account of high revenue collections particularly from the mining sector.
Dr. Kalyalya also points out that the months of import cover reduced to 3.6 from 4.4 months at the end of March, 2022 and that this was as a result to an upward revision of projected imports for the year.
He said the Kwacha depreciated by 3.7 percent against the dollar on account of excess demand for foreign exchange, mainly for importation of petroleum products.
United National Independence Party , UNIP- President Trevor Mwamba has suspended Party Vice President Mike Kaira.
Bishop Mwamba says gross indiscipline will not be condoned as the party constitution clearly outlines the steps to be followed in dealing with erring members.
He says the suspension of Mr. Kaira is in accordance with the powers vested in him in the party constitution.
Bishop Mwamba told Journalists at a Media Briefing in Lusaka that he called for a Central Committee meeting on Saturday May 14, which unanimously endorsed the suspension of the Secretary General Mulenga Mwiche.
He said it was shocking that on Sunday the Vice President announced that he had suspended him as Party president and took over as Acting President of the party.
Bishop Mwamba said he has found immense opposition because of his decision to have the Zambia National Holding run by professionals and experts away from political interference.
He however said he is open to talks if the erring members decide or wish to in the spirit of reconciliation.
But when Contacted for a comment, Mr. Kaira referred all queries to Mr. Mwiche, the Secretary General whom Mr. Mwamba suspended.
Mr. Kaira said when he announced the suspension of Bishop Mwamba, he was merely communicating the decision of the Central Committee held on Saturday which decided to suspend Bishop Mwamba.
He said Bishop Mwamba had walked out of a meeting before it was concluded and members of the Central Committee reconvened and decided to suspend him.
And Speaking earlier during the Press briefing, Acting Secretary General Kenneth Kaira said the party is strong and urged the members not to allow confusion.
Meanwhile, UNIP National Women Chairperson Beauty Kabwe said the women folk in the party do not want confusion and are against looting of Party properties.
Innovation Africa Country Manager Pauline Phiri says her organisation has set up 11 solar water schemes worth US$660, 000 in Katete Town, of Eastern Province.
Ms Phiri reveals that each of the established water schemes estimated between US$50,000 and US$60,000, are now providing clean and safe piped water to villages in the area.
ZANIS reports that Ms Phiri said in an interview explained that her institution set up the water schemes in Katete to address challenges faced in accessing the essential commodity to ensure increased productive activities that would improve their livelihoods.
“The solar water schemes were mainly targeting to fight diarrhea diseases among children by providing clean and safe water, while for the mothers it was meant to reduce the amount of time they spent fetching water so that they can have ample time to venture into productive activities,” she said.
Ms Phiri also highlighted that Innovation Africa has also undertaken five solar lighting projects at two schools and three health facilities, with each project costing around US$10,000 and US$ 15,000.
She said the reason for providing solar lighting to schools and health facilities was because they had observed the various challenges that the two sectors were facing.
“Our vision is to help communities. We have health facilities with maternity wings but have no lighting, so women are forced to use candles, so we want them to have better lighting while giving life,’ she said.
The Innovation Africa country Manager said schools were also targeted as part of the organisation’s vision to help pupils study using clean energy lighting.
As for schools our vision is to help contribute towards better education services by providing lighting to enable learners to study at night as without this most of them would use candles or kerosene lamps for lighting,” she said.
Innovation Africa has set up a total of 52 projects both in solar lighting and solar water schemes in the Eastern and Southern parts of the country.
Meanwhile, the provision of a solar water scheme in Robert Village in Katiula Ward of the district cheered Agness Phiri a resident of the village.
Ms Phiri said that before the arrival of Innovation Africa in her area, she used to walk a stretch of one hour to the nearest water source and another hour back.
“We used to walk one hour to the dambo were we used to draw water and more than one hour back. But now things have changed, it’s just minutes to the tap. The availability of clean and safe water has changed our lives,” she said.
A population of 500 people covering the two villages of Robert and Manzele are benefiting from the solar water scheme, with women saying the availability of water has improved personal hygiene in the villages.
And Katiula Ward Councilor Francis Banda said water has not only been made available to humans alone but also livestock have been catered for.
“We have 1,500 cows just in this village, and these have also been catered for by the provision of a water trough where livestock not just from this village but also from other areas can drink water from,” he said.
Mr Banda said another major benefit that his people have experienced is that of the reduction of distance to the nearest water point.
Meanwhile, Mwandafisi Health Post in Charge Arnold Halumba said the installation of the solar water scheme in Robert and Manzele, the two villages have seen a reduction in the number of diarrhoeal cases.
The Parliamentary Committee on Legal, Human Rights and Good Governance targets a zero political violence in the 2026 general elections.
Committee Chairperson, Clement Andeleki says the next elections should be 100 percent violent free.
Dr. Andeleki said President Hakainde Hichilema has done his best to re-unit the country and that sanity has been restored.
He said the Head of State is eager to see that the peaceful environment is being sustained, hence the need to ensure the increasing trend of political violence that had characterised the previous elections, especially in 2021 is completely curtailed.
Dr. Andeleki who is also Katombola Member of Parliament said when his team called on Copperbelt Province Minister ,Elisha Matambo in Ndola today.
He said to this effect, his committee has started getting submissions and recommendations from various stakeholders, including Non-Governmental Organisations(NGOs) on how to end political violence.
Dr. Andeleki further said during the tour of three provinces namely Lusaka, Copperbelt and North Western, members of the general public will also have an opportunity to voice on what laws should be reformed and amended.
“We are literally trying to hear from the people of Zambia themselves what laws need to be changed, what laws need to be repealed, what laws need to be amended,” he said.
He stressed that the extra-judicial killings and detention of citizens by the police prior to the 2021 general election is something that should not be repeated.
And Mr. Matambo said Copperbelt witnessed a lot of suppression and violation of human rights and that people were not free to express themselves.
Mr. Matambo adds that as such, many residents felt Copperbelt was a different place from Zambia because of political violence and non-respect for citizens.
He recounted how President Hichilema, as an opposition leader by then was denied entry in the province several times.
Mr. Matambo stated that, despite the tense divisions that rocked the province, the new dawn administration has restored the sanity that many longed for.
“If you talk about human rights, this province was number one. People’s houses were brought down, vehicles were burnt and some people were forced to belong to certain religious institutions, ” he said.
The government says the 30,000 teachers that are being recruited by the new administration are expected to start working by July 2022.
Minister of Education, Douglas Siakalima said money to pay the teachers once they are recruited is readily available.
Mr. Siakalima said the education sector in Zambia has a deficit of 115,000 teachers.
He said the committees have taken long time to complete the recruitment process because the ministry had underestimated the process in which the exercise was supposed to be completed.
Mr. Siakalima was speaking when he met the District Human Resource Management Committee (DHRMC) in Chipata yesterday.
He said the committees took a long time to finish as evidenced everywhere because they were only given six days, when the whole recruitment process had a lot of things to do.
“This is why I’m trying to more than thank them because the work was too huge. I think they became overwhelmed and that might delay my roadmap but if the provinces can catch up then we will still have the same roadmap,’’ Mr. Siakalima said.
Mr. Siakalima said government spent six months planning for the teacher recruitment exercise because the system was broken by the previous regime.
Mr. Siakalima further said there is a current deficit of teachers in schools because of the free education policy that the government has implemented.
“There are about 60,000 teachers who are unemployed while the government is only employing 30,000.The other 30,000 has been left while the country has a deficit of 115,000 teachers,” he said.
Mr. Siakalima said the real terms on the deficit of 115,000 teachers means there not enough teachers in the country.
“Now, what was going to happen in the next 30 years is that we were going to have a real deficit of teachers, we were to start importing teachers abroad because parents are not sending their children to colleges of education,” he said.
Mr. Siakalima disclosed that Khwame Nkruluma University in Kabwe did an analysis which indicated that from time the government was not employing teachers, there has been drop in enrollment.
“So we were going to face a real deficit but now with the 30,000, everybody wants to go for teaching. There is excitement now and if the President didn’t do this 30 years from now we were going to have a total deficit of teachers ,’’he said .
Meanwhile, Mr. Siakalima said his office has information on some teachers that went to campaign for a named political party during the 2021 general elections.
He further said the new dawn administration is cleaning the ministry because of the politics that had engulfed the education sector in the last ten years
“When these teachers came back from campaigning and the head teachers wanted to discipline them, they said they were connected. Am touching all the teachers no one is connected to anyone anymore. You are connected to the work and to your pupil,” he said.
Earlier, Chipata District Human Resource Management Committee Chairman, Thomas Bwalya informed Mr. Siakalima that the shortlisting of names for teachers in the district was completed on Monday.
Colonel (Retired) Bwalya said the district received a total of 618 applications with some names found to be appearing twice.
“Sir, I would like to inform you that from the 618 applications, the numbers dropped to 599 out of which the 203 slots was given to the district. In the middle of the selection process, we had to categorise them and open envelopes and at times you find that one envelope had two application letters for two different people,” he indicated.
Government has started the process of empowering some Kachasu brewers in Lusaka’s Garden Compound for them to venture into other business opportunities.
Lusaka District Commissioner Rosa Zulu has also donated 50 kilogramme bags of assorted dry foods to 42-year-old Kelina Lungu whose Kachasu was confiscated during an operation a few weeks ago.
The assorted dry foods which include beans, Kapenta and rice are meant to be starter bags for her business.
Mrs. Zulu urged the Kachasu brewers to work together and form co-operatives so that they can benefit from the various government empowerment programmes.
She affirmed that government will provide skills training among other programs to those that will show interest in improving their livelihoods.
Mrs Zulu explained that government is aware of the many challenges communities are facing and that it is doing everything possible to ensure that citizens are empowered with businesses that add value to their lives and the country.
Another Kachasu brewer, Memory Phiri has welcomed the move by government to provide empowerment.
Ms Phiri said once empowered she is ready to stop her business of Kachasu.
Kalulushi Modern Stars players have saluted the sponsorship deal their FAZ Copperbelt Division One side has secured from Kalulushi Municipal Council.
Modern Stars and Council on Saturday signed a memorandum of understanding that will see the local authority pump into the club a grant worth K1,000, 000 in the first year.
The initial grant will go toward players welfare and rehabilitation of Independence Stadium, the home of Modern Stars.
Club Captain Misheck Mweetwa said the sponsorship will motivate players to win promotion to the National Division One and later to the Super Division.
“We are very happy to receive this sponsorship.We have suffered for a long time. I came here in June, 2018,” Mweetwa said.
Mweetwa said players faced many challenges at Modern Stars owing to lack of sponsorship.
“Salaries were not coming. We used to beg money for survival,” he said.
“As long as we have sponsorship we can do it. We will do better than we have been doing without sponsors.The main reason council has come in they want us to go to Division One and Super Division. We know we can do it. We just have to work together,” Mweetwa said.
ZCCM used to sponsor Kalulushi before privatisation.
Swedish and Finnish Embassies in Lusaka on Tuesday flew the Rainbow flag, a symbol of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBTQI) movement on their premises.
Tuesday, May 17th is International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia and aims to coordinate international events that raise awareness of LGBT rights violations and stimulate interest in LGBT rights work worldwide.
In a Facebook post, the two Embassies stated that they flew the Rainbow Flag in support and commitment to LGBTQI rights.
“LGBTQI rights are human rights, always and everywhere,” the caption read.
But former Zambia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union Emmanuel Mwamba has demanded answers from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation over the matter.
Mr Mwamba charged that Zambia has not recognised LGBTQI rights and the practice of homosexuality remains a criminal offence in Zambia.
“This issue raises serious traditional, cultural and religious concerns and the Zambian people have constantly rejected this matter every time it has come up for both debate or policy consideration. It is therefore surprising that these embassies chose to fly these flags at their premises without due regard to the law and cultural sensitivity of Zambians and Zambia on the matter,” he stated.
He said Under Article 20 of the Vienna Convention, the Mission is only allowed to fly the flag and emblem of their country on their premises and on the vehicle.
Mr Mwamba said the Article is very clear when it states that, “the mission and its head shall have the right to use the flag and emblem of the sending State onthe premises of the mission, including the residence of the Head of the Mission, and on his means of transport”.
He added, “It is not provided for that they should fly emblems or flags for their chosen causes or campaigns. Under the 1961 Vienna Convention guiding Diplomatic Relations, Diplomats are mandated to respect the law of the receiving State and it is a serious breach of the Convention to break the law of the host country.”
“Similarly their premises, although enjoying immunities and privileges, must not be used for other purposes other than the approved and agreed purposes as guided by the Convention and host country.”
Article 41 of the Vienna Convention provides that;
(1.) “Without prejudice to their privileges and immunities, it is the duty of all persons enjoying such privileges and immunities to respect the laws and regulations of the receiving State. They also have a
duty not to interfere in the internal affairs of that State.”
And
(3) “The premises of the mission must not be used in any manner incompatible with the functions of the mission as laid down in the present Convention or by other rules of general international law or by any special agreements in force between the sending and the receiving State.”
He said it is imperative that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation resolves this blatant disrespect of Zambian laws and the culture of its people and the utter disregard by these Embassies for the Convention regulating Diplomatic Relations between Zambia and their States.
I have seen this script before. While we were chasing the wind, they stole the mines. When Zambians were being shown a tantalising movie about the ZAMTROP, designer suits, shoes from croc leather, and jet skiis, the biggest scams in oil, maize and mine deals were being done.
In 2003, while they were chasing Frederick -Jacob Titus Chiluba for alleged theft, they were engaged in some of the biggest frauds of the land. Konkola Copper Mines, valued at $650million was being sold to a little-known Indian mining firm for $25million. The theft was so sophisticated that the World Bank pledged $20million in development finance to support the orchestrated transaction!
At the time there was State House linked scandals, an oil scam involving Trans Sahara Trading oil imports which were guaranteed by ABSA and ZANACO where $100million was lost. There was also the scam involving the importation of maize worth $7.5million by alleged friends of the President while Zambia had a bumper harvest.
NEW MINING AGREEMENTS
President Hichilema poses with staff at Royal Zambezi Lodge after he attended a meeting organized by the Brenthurst Foundation.
Similarly, Zambians may take interest in the recent Mining Agreements being signed especially the new one between Zambia and First Quantum Mine. On 1st April 2022, President Hakainde Hichilema was at the Royal Zambezi Lodge in Lower Zambezi attending a “secret” meeting in which the extremely high-level guests were not disclosed and were kept out of the public’s eye. This meeting was so secretive that it was NOT reported by both ZNBC, or the President’s social-media pages.
If it were not for the excited staff at the Lodge who took a group memorabilia photo, we wouldn’t know anything about it or the secret presence of the President in Lower Zambezi. The Lodge is owned by First Quantum Minerals, who also own Royal Zambian Airlines. What are the details of this new mining agreement especially in relation to taxes? If you have nothing to hide, publish the Mining Agreements.
We may take interest in what will happen to Mopani Copper Mines and Konkola Copper Mines especially in the absence of a transparent process detailing how government is handling these national strategic assets.
Because the commodities; copper, lithium and cobalt present the immediate future of the world electric motor vehicle industry, there is heightened commercial and global interest about them. The global electric vehicle market was valued at $163.01 billion in 2020, and is projected to reach $823.75 billion by 2030.
ZESCO/CEC BULK SUPPLIER AGREEMENT
Zambians may also take interest in the recent signed Bulk Supply Agreement (BSA) between ZESCO Limited and the Copperbelt Energy Corporation. How much will it cost for ZESCO to supply power to CEC? What’s the duration of this Agreement? We remember that CEC was a subject of a UK state-owned development finance institution, the Commonwealth Development Corporation (CDC) Group’s plans to acquire the Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) for US$450million.
CDC expressed interest to acquire controlling shares of the utility. CEC is majority owned by Zambian Energy Corporation (“Ireland”) Limited (“ZECI”) which holds 52% shareholding whilst the balance of 48% is held by various institutional and retail investors. The bid failed because CEC couldn’t obtain a new Bulk Supplier Agreement with ZESCO. But now this has been done and on 1st April 2022 ZESCO and CEC jointly announced the completion of successful negotiations.
Shortly after the ZESCO and CEC Agreement, the UK’s Minister for Africa, Vicky Ford visited Zambia from 5th to 7th April 2022. She stated that she was in Zambia to continue building the “modern partnerships” between the United Kingdom and Zambia. If you have nothing to hide, publish the new Bulk Supplier Agreement between ZESCO and CEC.
MINISTRY OF JUSTICE AND LUCRATIVE CONSENT JUDGEMENTS
You may not know! The Ministry of Justice has become the biggest hub of suspected corruption and probably the new cost centre against government domestic revenue as numerous and strange out-of-court settlements are being made, compensating huge sums of money to individuals and entities. If you have nothing to hide, publish the Consent Judgements and out-of-court settlements being made since September 2021 so that Zambians can understand what they are paying for.
While we are preoccupied with trivialities, side-shows and diversions, some things of critical national interest are being perpetrated under the radar. Under Ministry of Justice, Agro Fuel, owned by a well-known close business associates of President Hakainde Hichilema, has been paid in excess of $26million. This payments relates to a court dispute on the cancellation of the concession and expulsion of Agrofuel from Mpulungu Harbour in 2005. The Concessioning of Mpulungu Harbour Corporation was done in the year 2000 to Agro Fuel Zambia for a period of 25 years.
In 2005, Government cancelled the Concession citing exploitation, breach of the Agreement and general poor performance. Remember, under the privatisation programme, state-owned enterprises and public utilities that government had reservations to privatize, were encouraged to enter into public-private-partnership concessions. Hence the concessions of; Zambia Railways to Railways Systems of Zambia and Mpulungu Harbour to Agrofuel.
According to the Zambia Development Agency 75% of the PPPs that were entered into by the government of Zambia prior to the promulgation of the PPP Act of 2009 were all cancelled. These include: the Kasumbalesa Border Post, Mpulungu Harbour and Railways Systems of Zambia with an exception of the 65 year concession of the Luburma Market (popularly known as Kamwala Market). The cancelations were all attributed to failure to fulfil pledged investments, failure to disclose incomes and general poor performance.
Since the enactment of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Act of 2009, there has not been a single successful PPP transaction entered into between the Government of Zambia and any private sector entity under the PPP Act of 2009. The Act has defined the types of PPPs to be implemented in Zambia and are; Concession, Build Operate and Transfer (BOT), Build Own and Operate (BOO), and Supply Operate and Transfer (SOT). It is for this reason that the naive optimism being displayed by the Minister of Infrastructure, Hon. Charles Milupi over PPPs believing that the private sector will deliver infrastructure development, is amusing to watch.
And while our attention is focused elsewhere, matters of interest are brewing at ZESCO, Department of National Parks and Wildlife and in the Mining Sector.
BRENTHURST FOUNDATION, GREG MILLS AND STATE HOUSE
Of worry is the role of Brenthurst Foundation and its Executive Director, Dr. Greg Mills and his influence on President Hakainde Hichilema. Dr. Gregory John Barrington Mills popularly known as Greg Mills, heads the Brenthurst Foundation, based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Brenthurst Foundation was established in 2005 by the Oppenheimers ( of the fame of Multibillion dollar corporation; Debeers and Anglo-American Corporation) to strengthen “African economic performance”.
Since President Hakainde Hichilema’s election, Mills has been a constant feature at State House. President Hichilema even travelled to South Africa to launch Greg Mills’ book; “EXPENSIVE POVERTY; Why Aid Fails and How It Can Work”.
Information has emerged that a team of private advisors and private media outfit are on a private payroll at State House and BRENTHURST Foundation is being named as one of the organisations funding this. State House and the Presidency are sacred institutions, and a seat of power in Zambia but appear to have been defiled by the presence of these private activities. Kindly publish the details of the role of Brenthurst Foundation at State House and these private activities.
All biggest heists have a diversion, and therefore don’t fall prey.
Zambia Police has revealed that it recorded 540 cases of child defilement from 6,915 cases of Gender Based Violence reported countrywide in the first quarter of 2022.
Police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga said Lusaka Province recorded the highest number of child defilement cases with 145 cases followed by Eastern Province with 92 cases.
Mr. Hamoonga said GBV cases recorded in the first three months of 2022 have risen by 2,661 cases compared to the records for the first quarter of 2021.
“During the first quarter of 2022, 6,915 cases of Gender Based Violence were reported Countrywide compared to 4,254 recorded in the first quarter of 2021 showing an increase of 2,661 cases translating to a 62.5%.From the total number of 6,915 reports recorded 4,740 were Criminal cases while 2,175 were non-criminal cases translating to 68.5% and 31.5% respectively. The First quarter of 2022 Gender Victim Disaggregated Data indicates that 1,769 child victims were abused countrywide representing 25.6% of which 1,284 were girls representing 72.6% while 485 were boys representing 27.4% while ,4,058 women and 1,088 men were abused representing 58.7% and 15.7% respectively. Gender vulnerability, a total number of 5,342 were females representing 77.3% while 1,573 were males representing 77.3% and 22.7%,” Mr. Hamoonga said.
“During the period under review, Victim Support unit counselled a total number of 5,724 or 82.8% of which 4,053 or 70.8% counselled were under criminal cases while 1,671 or 29.2% were counselled under the non-criminal offences. Out of the 4,053 criminal cases reported, 2,579 or 63.6% were victims comprising of 384 or 14.9% men, 1,456 or 56.5% `women, 150 or 5.8% boys and 589 or 22.8% girls. 1,474 or 36.4% were offenders in which 231 or 15.7%were men, 792 or 53.7% women, 94 or 6.4% boys and 357or 24.2% girls.Under non –criminal offences a total number of 1,671 were counselled in which 918 or 55% were women, 367 or 22% were men and 193 or 11.5% were boys and girls respectively.Under Physical Abuse, a total number of 2,641 cases were recorded translating to 55.7% compared to 2,403 cases recorded in 2021 showing an increase by 238 cases or 9.9% increase,” he said.
Mr Hamoonga added that Lusaka Province recorded the highest GBV cases with 1,108 translating to 23.4% of the total cases followed by Copperbelt Province with 662 cases.
“1,071 Economic Abuse cases were recorded translating to 22.6% compared to 932 recorded in 2021 showing increase by 139 cases or 14.9% increase. 764 Sexual Abuses cases were recorded translating to 16.1% compared to 713 cases recorded in 2021showing an increase by 51 cases or 7.2% while 259 were Emotional Abuse cases translating to 5.5% compared to 201 cases recorded in 2021 showing an increase by 58 cases or 28.9%.Lusaka Province recorded the highest GBV cases with 1,108 translating to 23.4%, followed by Copperbelt Province with 662 cases translating to 13.9% while Tazara Division recorded the lowest GBV cases with 44 cases translating to 0.9% and Statistics from the rest of the Provinces were as follows; Central Province had 611 cases translating to 12.9%, Eastern Province 532 translating to 11.2%, Western Province 511 cases translating to 10.8%, North-Western Province 41 cases translating to 8.7%, Southern Province 311 cases translating to 6.6%, Mchinga Province 263 cases translating to 5.5%, Northern Province 141cases translating to 3%, Airport Division 90 cases translating to 1.9% and Luapula Province 56 cases translating to 1.2%,” Mr. Hamoonga said.
He said from 6,915 GBV cases 19 were murder cases in the period under review.
“During this period under review, 764 Sexual offenses were recorded representing 16.1% of the cases reported compared to 713 cases reported in 2021 showing an increase by 51 cases translating to 7.2%. Out of these 764 cases, 567 victims were girls translating to 74.2%, 184 victims were women translating to 24.1%, 10 victims were boys translating to 1.3%, whilst 03 victims were men translating to 0.4%. 540 cases of Child defilement were recorded translating to 70.7% Lusaka Province recorded the highest number of child defilement cases with 145 cases translating to 26.9% followed by Eastern Province with 92 cases translating to 17 %, Southern Province had 89 cases translating to 16.5%, Central Province 60 translating to 11.1%, Copperbelt and North-Western Provinces recorded 45 cases each translating to 8.3%, Northern and Western province recorded 22 cases each representing 4.1% while Mchinga Province recorded 15 translating to 2.8%, Luapula Province recorded 05 representing 0.9%, Airport and Tazara Division didn’t record any cases,” Mr. Hamoonga stated.
He concluded:”Under Sexual Offences; 106 rape cases were recorded while 20 cases of attempted rape were recorded during the period under review. 49 cases of indecent Assault were recorded of which 31 victims were women, 15 girls one man and two were boys also 20 cases of incest were recorded in which four victims were girls and 16 were women.Under Physical Abuse,we recorded 2,641 cases translating to 55.7%, 460 victims were men translating to 17.4%, 1,925 cases were women translating to 72.9% ,112 were girls translating to 4.2%, 144 were boys translating to 5.5% compared to 2,403 cases recorded in 2021 first Quarter showing an increase by 238 cases translating to 9.9% increase. Out of 2,641 Physical Abuse cases reported 2,305 were Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm representing 87.3%, 1,878 were women translating to 81.5% while 427 were men translating to 18.5%.”
Ndola Mayor, Jones Kalyati has encouraged residents of Ndola to apply for the Constituency Developed Funds (CDF) as there is a low turnout of applicants applying for projects in various constituencies.
In an interview with the media, Mr Kalyati said the residents of Ndola should visit their parliamentary committee offices and get more information on how to access Constituency Development funds.
He noted with sadness that there are some constituencies that have only 9 applicants under the bursary category and only two have qualified, hence encouraging more people to apply, especially those in need.
“In this year’s CDF we have different categories to accommodate the people in communities.
We have 60 per cent for development, 20 per cent for bursaries and 20 per cent for empowerment mainly for the youths and women,” he mentioned.
Mr Kalyati has called on people mostly women and youths to choose one category and apply so that they benefit from the funds.
He said he does not want a situation that will result in funds being sent back to the central government because the people have not accessed the funds.
“In the past, we have had a situation where funds have been sent back because they were not used by the community members, “he said.
And some Ndola residents had recently called on the government to sensitize them on how to apply for funds under (CDF).
Mercy Mwamba a resident in Ndola said she has heard of the government empowering women and youths but does not know how to access those funds.
She said the government through civic leaders should move into communities and educate the people on how to access these funds.
The government has encouraged young people who are in the music and arts industry to take part in the formulation of the art policy meant to support the industry.
Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts, Elvis Nkandu says the policy once formulated and implemented will help to address some of the challenges that the industry faces.
He said this when he toured the Odini Art Centre in Chelston, today in Lusaka, accompanied by the Special Assistant to the President for Politics, Levy Ngoma and the Permanent Secretary, Kangwa Chileshe.
Mr. Nkandu observed that the industry has a lot of potentials to help young people have a source of income and thrive through creative arts once it is harnessed.
“We are ready to support the art industry and very soon we will disburse the money to support the art and music industry as a way of empowering young people who are involved in music and art.
“We encouraged all arts to come up with ideas of how art can be improved in Zambia. We are also going to ensure that we support visits to various countries such as Nigeria in order to exchange ideas and learn more,’’ he said.
And Special Assistant to the President for Politics, Levy Ngoma said the government stands ready to improve all sectors of the economy including art and music.
He noted that it is important that artists are supported because the creative arts industry is one of the sectors that play a role in the economic growth of the country.
“We want all arts to thrive and grow for the development of our economy because it is the desire of the government to see young people thrive and support themselves through various means,’’ said Mr. Ngoma.
Meanwhile Odini Art Centre, Moses Sakala appealed to the government to help in the rehabilitation of the art center which is meant for a multipurpose studio and an art school.
He indicated that once the center is rehabilitated, it will help in the preservation of the Zambian heritage and culture.
“It is important that we uphold our values and principles through music and arts which speak of unity and peace.
Once the center is fully rehabilitated and furnished we hope to see our culture and heritage preserved for the benefit of the young people,’’ said Mr.Sakala.
A 15-year-old mentally challenged juvenile who was allegedly defiled by a 31-year-old man of Chikaza Munyama chiefdom in Itezhi Tezhi district in Southern Province in March of this year has failed to testify before the Itezhi Tezhi Magistrates’ Court.
When the case was called back for a continued trial before Magistrate Mugala Chalwe, the victim was called to the stand to testify about how Gift Kainde allegedly defiled her.
However, in the witness stand, the court noticed that the victim was unable to speak and appeared to be extremely shy and despite numerous attempts to persuade her to testify, she refused.
Magistrates Mugala Chalwe stated that this could be because victims are sometimes afraid to confront their assailants.
Instead, the court requested that she be given more time to try again later.
As a result, the prosecution decided to call the two parents first to testify
The first witness was the mother, Maureen Chipali, 24, of Shinyambo village, who testified that on the material day, around 22:00 hours, there was a musical function at a Mr. Kasale’s bar.
She stated that she was tipped off to go see who his daughter was with, and when she arrived at the function, she saw the accused with his trousers pulled down to his knees and his arms around her daughter.
She claimed that when he confronted him, he became enraged and almost beat her, at which point she grabbed her daughter and took her home.
She testified that when they arrived at home, her daughter informed her that she had sex with Kainde and then she contacted the neighborhood watch.
Kainde was apprehended by the neighborhood watch and taken to the Chief’s palace, where he was later relayed to the Itezhi Tezhi police station.
At the police station the police issued a medical report form which she took Itezhi Tezhi District Hospital.
Mr. Milan Tentabunga, aged 42 of the same village in Chikaza Munyama Chiefdom, the victim’s father, testified that his daughter was born with a mental illness on March 18, 2007.
On 11 March 2022, he was informed by his wife that someone had carnal knowledge of his daughter and that the assailant had been apprehended and was at the chief’s palace.
He told the court that after being informed, he went to the location where he found the assailant, who was later driven to Itezhi Tezhi police station.
In this case, Gift Kainde aged 31 a farmer, is charged with defilement of idiots or imbeciles, which is a violation of Section 139 of the Penal Code Cap 87 of the Zambian laws.
Particulars of the offense allege that , on 11th March ,2022, in Itezhi Tezhi district of Southern Province , he had carnal knowledge of a named mentally ill juvenile , a girl he knew to be an imbecile or idiot.
Kainde was arrested without a warrant on 15th April 2022 after guardians to the victim reported him to Itezhi Tezhi Police station.
When the matter came up for plea before Itezhi Tezhi magistrate Mugala Chalwe last week, Kainde said he understood the charge and pleaded not guilty.
The matter has been adjourned to 23 May 2022 for continued trial.
Chingola District Chamber of Commerce and Industry has said the government must ensure that the next investor to run Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) prioritises the interest of local people.
Chamber President Freddie Musonda said the government should find an investor who will have the interest of Zambians when running KCM which has operations in Chingola, Chililabombwe and Nampundwe.
Mr. Musonda said the local community must be involved in the signing of license agreement with the investor in KCM especially on corporate social responsibility.
He said local contractors and suppliers equally want an investor who will be giving them jobs at KCM.
Mr. Musonda acknowledged that KCM needs urgent recapitalisation to return to full capacity as a copper mining firm.
He disclosed that currently mining infrastructure at KCM is rundown a situation he said was negatively affecting efficient copper production at the mine plants.
“Our interest when we hear what is going on that there must be a fresh investor to recapitalise the mines. We have seen the state of the mines now. Mine plants are run down, capacity for a plant to run efficiently is not there. The mine needs recapitalisation and this of course is an opportunity for us contractors and suppliers when there is a need on the plant. The problem for the management that is operating Konkola Copper Mines is that they need fresh capital for them to recapitalise the mines and also restore the capacity on the plant for them to produce copper,” Mr. Musonda said.
“So we are saying when the government makes a decision now on who should be the investor that is taking over the mines. We want as contractors, the community to be involved in the license agreement especially on the corporate social responsibility. As stakeholders we want to see that our interest is looked at. It must be enshrined in the license agreement on things we expect to see as stakeholders. We want to have a good share of jobs that are available to us. We want to see that this investor will be able to pay us on time for jobs done,” he said.
Mr. Musonda recalled that in the past KCM used to put local contractors and suppliers in problems by failing to pay them on time.
“We want to see that we eliminate the problem where contractors where left with overflow of arrears that accumulated from not being paid. We want that the situation that arose because contractors could not pay NAPS, ZRA on time. This problem was not coming from the contractors and suppliers, this was generated by KCM,” Mr. Musonda said.
Indian investor Vedanta Mineral Resource has reportedly expressed interest to return to KCM.
Vedanta which used to run Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), recently said that it is committed to investing a USD 1 billion towards capital mine development and other infrastructure to increase KCM’s integrated production.
In a letter addressed to Mines Minister Paul Kabuswe, the Group CEO, Sunil Duggal said further said upon return Vedanta shall implement a salary increase across the board.
In November, 2020, a Zambian court ordered a halt to liquidation proceedings for Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) to allow owners Vedanta and ZCCM-IH to proceed to arbitration, the provisional liquidator said in a statement.
Zambia made a good finish at a UEFA U16 Developmental tournament in Georgia while the senior Chipolopolo team kicks-off its 2023 AFCON Group H qualifiers camp.
=ZAMBIA U16 DEPART GEORGIA
The Zambia U16 are on their way back to Zambia after a week in Georgia where they took part in a three-nation UEFA U16 tournament there from May 11-16.
Zambia finished runner-up behind hosts Georgia on 4 and 5 points respectively.
Georgia clinched top sport after beating Azerbaijan 1-0 in the tournament’s final game on May 16.
Zambia lost 4-3 on post-match penalties to Georgia after a 1-1 draw on May 11 and later beat Azerbaijan 3-1 on May 134.
=CHIPOLOPOLO ENTER CAMP
Chipolopolo are checking into camp on Tuesday afternoon ahead of the start of the start of training on Wednesday in Lusaka.
The home-based call-ups under coach Aljosa Asanovic will be joined by the foreign-based call-ups as the oversea s players systematically conclude their respective league seasons over the next fortnight.
=FASHION EUROPA SHOW
Striker Fashion Sakala is in Spain with his club Glasgow Rangers ahead of Wednesdays 2021/2022 UEFA Europa League final date against Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt.
Rangers head into the final in Sevilla battling to make amends after failing to defend their Scottish Premiership title that they surrendered to arch foes Celtic with a game to spare.
