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Administration of parole and correctional supervision is necessary – Mwamba

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Parliamentary Committee on National Security and Foreign affairs says stakeholder engagement on administration of parole and correctional supervision is necessary in on-going efforts to decongest correctional facilities in the country.

The Committee’s chairperson Sibongile Mwamba says through engagement with various stakeholders, it is important to assess whether appropriate actions have been taken by relevant ministries to enhance parole and rehabilitation operations in Zambia.

She was speaking when her committee held a stakeholder engagement meeting on the parole and correctional supervision system in Mwinilunga district yesterday.

“The objective is to stimulate and hear views on what can be done best in administration of the parole,” she said.

The Committee is receiving submissions from stakeholders on how the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security have implemented recommendations of the auditor general’s performance report on parole activities, rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners.

And District Correctional facility officer in charge Senior Superintendent Amos Musonda expressed happiness with the engagement saying it shows how much government cares for inmates.

“This will give stakeholders an understanding of how parole is done,” he said.

Mr Musonda said the engagement will equally help the community appreciate issues on the provisions of parole and clear out on any qualifications for parole by an inmate.

Meanwhile, District Commissioner Harrison Kamuna called for decentralisation of parole board to district level adding that this is because inmates considered for parole are recommended by officers who have a better understanding of how an individual inmate has reformed.

In 2014 the auditor general, undertook a performance audit on parole activities, rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners in Zambia and made various recommendations among them amendment of the Prisons Act which resulted into community sentencing, offender management, parole and renaming of the Zambia Prisons Service to Zambia Correctional Service.

52 year old man commits suicide in Chongwe

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A 52 year old man of Chikonkoto village of Senior Chieftainess Nkomeshya Mukamambo the second’s chiefdom in Chongwe district has committed suicide following death threats from a man he was owing money.

Police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga who confirmed the incident in a statement said police in Chongwe received a report on 7th April from Gilbert Chitambala that his elder brother Gift Chitambala was found dead at the named village around 13:15 hours.

M Hamoonga disclosed that facts of the case are that the late Mr. Chitambala is said to have been owing Alex Kampamba of Chongwe who had been threatening to kill him because of the credit.

The body of the deceased was picked and deposited into Chongwe general hospital mortuary awaiting a postmortem.

But what is there to score about a Government recruiting civil servants?

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By Sean Tembo – PeP President

1. There has been much pomp and fare about current recruitment efforts for 11,000 medical personnel and 30,000 teachers, earmarked for the 2022 fiscal year. The new dawn administration has sought to portray this intended recruitment as a major score on their part. But what is there to score about a Government recruiting civil servants? Between 2016 and 2021, the size of the civil service grew by approximately 160,000, which translates to an average annual increase of 32,000. So if the previous regime was employing an average of 32,000 civil servants per annum and the new regime intends to employ 41,000 (11,000 + 30,000), what’s the major difference here, which an entire Republican President should be citing as a major accomplishment of his administration?

2. It is also worth noting that the new dawn administration’s intended recruitment of 41,000 civil servants is unlikely to be an annual event for each of the next 5 years that they will be in power, but rather it appears to be a once-off event. I very much doubt that in the 2023 fiscal year, the new dawn intends to recruit another set of 11,000 health workers and 30,000 teachers. So if we are to look at the expansion of the civil service cumulatively, we need to compare the 160,000 cumulative number under the previous regime against the 41,000 cumulative number under the new dawn. So far, the new dawn is behind by 119,000 (160,000-41,000), that is even assuming that they will indeed see through their current efforts to recruit 11,000 health workers and 30,000 teachers.

3. Truth be told, we do not know how many civil servants the new dawn administration will employ in their 5 year period in office from 2021 to 2026. So far there is nothing to celebrate about their intended recruitment of 41,000 civil servants for the 2022 fiscal year. If we are to objectively ascertain whether the new dawn outperformed the previous regime in terms of civil servants recruitment, the best time to do that would be in 2026. At that time, if the new dawn continue to employ an average of 41,000 civil servants per annum, they would have recruited approximately 205,000 (41,000 x 5 years) which we could then say is higher than the 160,000 achieved by the previous regime in the past 5 years.

4. However, if on the other hand the new dawn administration only hires 41,000 civil servants in this 2022 fiscal year and then decide to effect an employment freeze thereafter, it means that by 2026 their cumulative total number of civil servants hired will only be 41,000 which will be far less than the 160,000 hired by the previous administration. So, right now it is premature for Bally to be over the moon celebrating the planned recruitment of 41,000 civil servants. There is nothing monumental or worth celebrating there. Unless if one is really short of victories to celebrate. This appears to be the case with Bally.

5. Perhaps if Bally achieved real success such as constructing the planned Livingstone – Ndola dual carriageway, then he would have something tangible to celebrate about. I personally find it embarrassing when a Republican President keeps on boasting about performing routine activities of Government such as employing civil servants or releasing money to buy drugs in hospitals. Those are the routine activities of Government sir. No need for boastful celebrations about such trifles. Only small-minded people celebrate trifles.

6. For Zambia to develop to its rightful level, we need a big-minded President with big dreams for this nation. A President who will only engage in boastful celebrations when he/she achieves significant milestones for the nation, such as flagging off an electric car assembly plant, or reducing the cost of living by half in one year, or launching our own satellite into space for cheaper and faster internet, or paying off half of our national debt in a year, or reducing the cost of borrowing from financial institutions to single digit, or constructing a dual-carriage way from Livingstone to Solwezi, or having the first indigenous Zambian dollar billionaire etcetera. Those are the kinds of successes which a big-minded Republican President is supposed to celebrate. Not routine activities like employing civil servants or the treasury releasing money for procurement of medicines. For the benefit of this nation, perhaps Bally should stop being small-minded and try to be big-minded.

Chipolopolo To Know 2023 AFCON Qualifiers Opponents Next Week

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Chipolopolo will know their 2023 AFCON group stage qualifiers opponents next week when the Cote d’Ivoire tournament draws are made on April 19.

CAF on Friday also announced that the draws for the 2023 CHAN qualifiers and 2022 Women’s AFCON tournament will follow a week later.

The 2023 AFCON qualifiers will be played over three windows starting May 30-June 14 with match-day one and two fixtures.

Qualifying matches will resume with another two rounds of fixtures from September 19-27.

The final group matches will be played next year window during the week of March 20-28, 2023.

Zambia will be battling to end an eight-year absence after missing the last three AFCON’s since taking part in the 2015 Equatorial Guinea tournament.

Meanwhile, CAF will hold the draws for Women’s AFCON tournament on April 25 as Shepolopolo head to their second successive tournament.

Shepolopolo will grace the tournament Morocco is hosting the 2022 Women’s AFCON from July 2-23.

And the draws for the 2023 CHAN qualifiers will be held on April 28.

Algeria will host the CHAN tournament and it will be the first time the AFCON for home-based players will be staged in North Africa.

First Quantum Minerals Trident cheer proposed taxation

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First Quantum Minerals Trident Mine General Manager, Sean Egner has expressed confidence that the sector will flourish following the proposed mining taxation system by the government.

Mr Egner said government has shown the desire to grow the mining sector by stabilizing and providing a conducive mining environment.

Mr Egner said this during a press briefing in Kalumbila that the Company has continued to keep their nickel enterprise project ready as they are hopeful of an opportunity to start mining.

Mr Egner said Zambia has an opportunity to showcase to the world its mining investment potential.

He said the mining tax regime in terms of mineral royalties under the new dawn government has made significant improvement which adds up to Zambia being the most favourable mining investment.

“The stability of the tax regime is one of the things the mining company and those intending to come and invest have always wanted and comfortable with,” Mr Egner said

He observed that with an increase in the price of copper on the international market, it is an opportunity for the mining companies to increase production.

Fuel price increase to have spiral effect – Chisanga

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Social Economist Kelvin Chisanga says the hike in bus fares will result in a price increase in commodities in the country.

Mr Chisanga says as a result of fuel pump price increases most services in the country will see an upward rise.

“The increment that has been triggered in the fuel prices underplays a number of sectors in the economy and no one can be spared from it, ” he said.

He said the move by the government to hold cost-reflective pricing in fuel is one that can work well.

Mr Chisanga has added that there is a need for the country to find ways in which they can acquire warehouses where fuel can be refined and stored.

“The review of fuel price on a monthly base is not sustainable, ” he said.

He has also called for public-private partnerships (PPP) to incentivize in terms of securing fuel storages across the country.

The Road Transport and Safety Agency has approved the request by bus operators to increase bus fares pursuant to the Road Traffic Act No.11 of 2002.

THE Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) has approved the request by bus operators to increase bus fares by K5 for Inter-Mine routes on the Copperbelt as well as Lusaka’s peri-urban and K2 on local routes for both provinces.

Meanwhile, intercity routes have been increased by fifteen percent. In a statement, Monday, RTSA Head of Public Relations Fredrick Mubanga said the new bus fares were effective April 5, 2022.

Zambia Railways Limited Workers’ Union call off Go Slow Strike

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The Zambia Railways Limited Workers’ Union says it has with an immediate effect called off the sit-in protest that paralyzed the locomotive company’s operations across the country.

ZRLWU Union president, Nathan Zulu explains that the decision was arrived at after a fruitful meeting between the union leaders, management and the Central Province Provincial Administration.

Mr Zulu said the meeting resolved that the aggrieved workers must go back to work with immediate effect to pave way for negotiations. He said the union has heeded the advice and will resume the negotiations at the earliest possible time.

Meanwhile, ZRL Acting Director, Fred Mwila, said an impasse during salaries negotiations for ZRL unionized workers led to a sit-in by the affected workers has been settled.

Mr Mwila, however, said it was resolved that thereafter it was resolved workers resume work after discussions in Kabwe.

And central Province Permanent Secretary (PS), Milner Mwanakampwe, has thanked the two parties for coming together and resolving the impasse.

Mr Mwanakampwe said going forward the two parties should work together to avoid work stoppages. He said the government expects that all workers who were on a sit-in protest will follow the instructions of their leaders and resume work.

Circular Preventing Elected officials from taking over staff matters in Councils Welcomed

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The Society of Local Authorities Chief Executive (SOLACE) has commended Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Garry Nkombo for issuing a circular to all Town Clerks and Council Secretaries on how to handle staff matters in Local Authorities following recent trends in some councils in which some elected officials have harassed Principal and Chief Officers.

SOLACE president George Mulenga told the media that the Organization is happy with the policy directive as it will enable councils and elected officials to stick to their roles.

Mr Mulenga said the guidance will not only bring stability in councils but harmonize the work relationship between the elected officials as policymakers and the appointed Officials as implementers and advisors but will help them improve service delivery to the public.

Mr Mulenga warned that if elected Officials continue to frustrate the Human Resource in the Councils, the intended district developments will not be achieved.

He has since appealed to all Town Clerks and Council Chairpersons Countrywide to be loyal to government and create an atmosphere of trustworthiness in order to put the fights to an end.

Earlier, SOLACE Vice President, who is also Council Secretary for Pemba Town Council, Gibson Mweemba, disclosed that there has been an unfolding trend of elected officials taking the responsibility of handling staff matters outside the provisions of the law in which elected officials had coined a term of ‘surrendering’ Officers to the Local Government Commission.

According to secular issued, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Garry Nkombo has indicated that the government’s desire to see stability and harmony in Local Authorities as this will provide a receipt for productivity and desired development and further urged appointed officials to conduct themselves in an ethical and professional manner.

President Hichilema Commissions Rice and Maize Milling Plant in Mongu

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President Hakainde Hichilema has commissioned a multi-million kwacha state of the art rice and maize milling plant in Mongu district, Western Province.

Mr Hichilema says it is his biggest desire to see more Zambian entrepreneurs being supported to set up companies as it is the only way the economy can be transformed.

He has also directed the minister of agriculture Mtolo Phiri to ensure that local businesses have easy access to local markets as a way of promoting local products.

Mr Hichilema said he will personally ensure that products such as rice that was being produced by Country Millers find their way into the chain stores such as ShopRite.

“Am directing the minister of agriculture to ensure that the rice that is being produced by country millers is sold in Shoprite. If it means legislation I will do it to make local businesses have easy markets”, Mr Hichilema said.

In terms of boosting trades, Mr. Hichilema stated that he was in talks with his counterpart from Angola Joao Lourenco to open up markets in Angola through the Sikongo- border and Jimbe via the Mwinilunga district in the North-western province.

Mr Hichilema announced that President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo will also be in the country soon to sign up a number of memoranda of understanding (MOUs) which include enhancing trade between the two countries.

And Country Millers proprietor, Mukumbuta Mukumbuta said the milling plant has a production capacity of 50 tons daily.

Mr. Mukumbuta thanked Musika Development Initiatives Zambia Limited for providing technical support towards the setting-up of the maize and rice milling plant which said would create more jobs and markets for local rice farmers.

And Musika Board Chairman, Chance Kabaghe said the organisation contributed about K1.9 million towards the procurement of the machinery for the plant.

Mr Kabaghe was targeting to link about 1, 600 small scale rice farmers in eight districts in the province who would be able to supply raw rice to the company.

He noted that agriculture remained a key strategic measure for economic transformation for the country.

“ We have been singing the same song that let us be invest in agriculture as it is the only way for economic transformation for Zambia”, Mr. Kabaghe stated.

Mr Kabaghe expressed hope that more Zambians would emulate Country Millers in ensuring that similar initiatives were implemented in parts of the country.

“We have rice farmers in Samfya, Isoka and other parts of the country where such initiatives can be set up to promote easy access to markets and income generation”, he added.


Earlier, President Hakainde Hichilema arrived in Mongu to grace this year’s Kuomboka traditional Ceremony of the Lozi people scheduled for today Saturday, 9 April 2022.

The Zambia Airforce plane carrying President Hichilema and his entourage touched down at Mongu Airport at 17 :24 hrs.

Accompanying the Head of State includes Minister of Finance, Situmbeko Musokotwane, Minister of Tourism and Arts, Rodney Sikumba and other senior government officials.

Provincial Minister, Akapelwa Mbangweta, District Commissioners, senior government and party officials received the Republican President and his entourage.

The 2022 Kuomboka traditional ceremony becomes the second traditional ceremony President Hichilema has officiated on after he officiated at the N’cwala traditional ceremony of Ngoni speaking people.

It is the new dawn government’s desire to utilise major traditional ceremonies as tools to unite the nation irrespective of ethnic and political inclinations.

And speaking after his arrival, President Hichilema urged the people of Western Province to ensure that they market the traditional ceremony by embracing all who are coming for the event.

“Marketing of the ceremony as a tourist attraction will help bring about economic benefits to people in the area, “ he said

Government announces resumption of the issuance of timber export permits

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The government has announced the resumption of the issuance of timber export permits banned by the previous Patriotic Front in 2027.

Minister of Green Economy and Environment Collins Nzovu says the recommencement of issuance of the timber export permits follows the remarkable progress made in the audit process which was instituted a few months ago.

Mr Nzovu noted that the process was done on the operations of the forestry department as well as the printing and delivery of timber export permit accountable documents by the Ministry of Finance and National Planning.

He expressed optimism the use of timber export permit accountable documents will improve accountability and eliminate the risk of fraud in the management of timber exports.

“As advised earlier, the process leading to the issuance of new timber concessions before the end of April after the audit of forestry stocks is completed, “said Mr. Nzovu.

He has since advised partners in the timber industry that the harvesting, processing and trading of mukula timber will remain suspended until all the required procedures and guidelines are finalized.

This is contained in a statement issued to ZANIS in Lusaka today by the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment.

The previous Patriotic Front regime affected the suspension of export of wood or logs of any Timber Tree Species.

The then Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Jean Kapata said the suspension includes logs of the famous Mukula Tree.

She has explained that the move is in accordance with Statutory Instrument number 94 of 2015.

Zesco United Back in Action as Arrows Title Shadow Grows

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Zesco United coach Mumamba Numba says they are not giving up yet on the prospect of retaining their FAZ Super League title as leaders Red Arrows grip tightens with five games left to play.

The defending champions are currently second and seven points behind Arrows who are aiming for their first league title since 2004.

Zesco have been playing catch-up all season and for the first time in years have note even tasted top spot at any time this season.

They are in action this Saturday when they host one of three teams to have led the log, Buildcon, at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.

The match against fifth placed Buildcon comes less than three days after Zesco played another Ndola derby at the same venue against Forest Rangers whom they beat 1-0.

“I think we need to consolidate our position on the log and run away from the team following us so the games that are coming ahead of us are very crucial and important,” Numba said.

Zesco are three points ahead of perennial contenders Green Eagles who frustrated them on March 24 away in Choma where they finished 0-0.

“We have always emphasized to the players that need we have to fight very hard because every team wants to beat us,” Numba said.

“So for us to beat these teams we have to be at our best. I think we still have a bit of hope. Five games are enough and all we need is to win our games.
“We should not look at Red Arrows but win our games.”
Meanwhile, Arrows also have a huge derby test on the same afternoon when they host Zanaco at Nkoloma Stadium.

Two more wins should they beat Zanaco would be enough for them to end the contest.

FAZ SUPER LEAGUE
WEEK 30
09/04/2022

Konkola Blades-Kafue Celtic
Kabwe Warriors-Nkwazi
Zesco United-Buildcon
Kansanshi Dynamos-Forest
Rangers
Chambishi-Lusaka Dynamos
13h00:Green Buffaloes-Green
Eagles
15h00:Red Arrows-Zanaco
10/04/2022
13h00:Indeni-Power Dynamos
15h00:Nkana-Prison Leopards

The Zambia-IMF-China Conundrum, HH should break bread with President Xi

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By Hon. Bowman Chilosha Lusambo

In opposition, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema on numerous occasions boasted that he had capabilities of clinching debt restructuring within weeks of becoming Head of State. He claimed, his finance and economics credentials were so strong that he would easily manage to put all the creditors in one room and get them to agree to restructure our debt. Mr Hichilema sang that song too many times that it even became believable.

Now with almost 10 months in office, President Hichilema doesn’t even know whether he is going or coming over the debt issue. Debt is a subject that he has been avoiding for some time now because not only has he failed to convince the creditors even after getting the IMF on his side but because actually foreign debt has increased by 4% under his watch.

We should have Vicky Ford, the UK Minister for Africa to thank who revealed during the Hot FM Breakfast Show that the G20 Global Debt Restructuring Framework through which Zambia is hoping to benefit is moving slowly because of one creditor. We have it on good authority that the creditor Madam Ford spoke about is China and there are no surprises there.

Since assuming office, President Hichilema has naively chosen to play isolationist politics with China. It is baffling that a man who claims to fully understand how the global finance architecture operates could undertake such a suicidal mission to ignore China when that country holds two thirds of our foreign debt stock.

Now China is not coming to the table, without it, the IMF and other multilaterals won’t manage to achieve anything and President Hichilema now has an egg on his face. The man who told us that he is such a respected negotiator now has to rely on Minister Ford and the UK government to plead with China on our behalf to get some commitments on debt restructuring.

It is clear that the man went into State House to be remote controlled by western capitalists and he is now beginning to realise that real power has shifted and now rests with the East. If President Hichilema wasn’t that gullible, he would have taken the presidential challenger and embarked on a trip to China to lobby support from Beijing for us to move forward over the debt quagmire. In his gullibility, his first international trip was to New York and Washington to pander to the interests of his backers who are now stuck with him and can’t move forward without China.

Our advice to President Hichilema, take a trip to Beijing now and go and engage President Xi Jinping. The boy from Kapiri you appointed as your Foreign Affairs Minister is misleading you over the role of China in Zambia’s economy. You sent him to China a few weeks ago and he came back with nothing.

Mr. President, those boys and girls from the IMF will not save your already unpopular presidency, lessons in economic and political history are plenty of leaders who lost power after they went to bed with the IMF.
It should be stated in no uncertain terms that the only true friend we have in the global South is China. Mr President, it is time to cut your huge ego and go and break bread with President Xi.

FQM hands over title deed to 21 families

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First Quantum Minerals Limited (FQM) has given title deeds to 21 families who were displaced in 2009 during the construction of an access road to the mine located near the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

FQM Country office representative Godwin Benne said the families who were displaced from their farms were given alternative land by the mining company in 21 miles area along Mufulira/ Ndola road

Dr. Benne said the land is over 50 hectares enough for habitation and farming activities further disclosing that the mine has also built houses and secured the land by putting it on title.

And Copperbelt Province Minister Elisha Matamabo in a speech read for him by the Provincial Permanent Secretary Augustine Kasongo commended FQM management for pursuing its social-economic responsibility by providing land to the 21 families.

Mr. Matambo noted with delight that the mining Company has given title deeds to the families as a cooperative

And representing the 21 families, Cooperative chairman Crispin Lipopo expressed gratitude to FQM for honoring its commitment by giving them land and title deeds.

Mr. Lipopo said families were living in fear of being displaced again but that has been dispelled with handover of title deeds.

FRA begins community sale of white maize curb hunger in parts of Chinsali district

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The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has commenced community sales of white maize grains in Chinsali district in Muchinga.

The commencement of community sales follows reports of hunger in some parts of the district which had experienced delayed rains.

Flagging off the sales, Chinsali District Commissioner Samuel Muchemwa warned residents and traders against reselling the maize grains.

Mr Muchemwa warned that any one found reselling the maize bought from the FRA will face the law.

“Should you be found selling the maize with intent to make a profit instead of home consumption, you risk being arrested as the maize will be confiscated and returned to FRA,” the DC warned.

He said government is working towards improving the welfare of citizens by cautioning some challenges through community sales among other activities.

Mr Muchemwa also explained that the maize selling price of K200 per 50 kilogram bag pegged by FRA is fair and reasonable compared to the escalating prices of maize grains on the market which is costing between K300 to K380 per 50 kg bag.

He added that FRA is not even making any profit from this sale considering the cost at which this maize was bought at K150, cost of chemicals to preserve the maize grains and transportation costs of maize from satellite deports to the main holding shed.

He cited the high price of mealie meal and inconsistent supply of the commodities as some of the reasons the government through the Agency commenced the community sale of maize.

FRA has allocated 30 tonnes of white maize which is equivalent to 600 by 50kg bags of maize to Chinsali in the community sales exercise.

Mr Muchemwa said 600 households are therefore expected to benefit from the exercise.

He further clarified that only one person per month is allowed to purchase a bag per month.

And speaking on behalf of other beneficiaries, Jean Mulenga said the sale of maize by the FRA is timely as most produce will not be ready due to the delayed rains.

“We are facing serious hunger in our homes as a result of delayed rains and heavy rains in some instances which destroyed many crop fields affecting our harvest,” said Ms. Mulenga.

CIDRZ to construct state of the art scientific laboratory

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Health Minister Sylvia Masebo has commended Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Zambia (CIDRZ) for its continued commitment in supplementing governments efforts in the provision of quality healthcare services in the country.

Ms Masebo recounted tangible health research findings that have been conducted by the organization since 2001.

She noted that some major health reforms made in the country in the past years have been with the empirical research findings conducted by CIDRZ.

The Minister further took note of some among other programmes that the organization has set its footprints, to include HIV/AIDS prevention, Care and Treatment, and the Tuberculosis Prevention and Control programme.

ZANIS reports that the Minister was speaking last evening during the “CIDRZ at 20 years cocktail” held at Pamodzi hotel in Lusaka.

And CIDRZ Board Chairperson Bradforld Machila said in the last 20 years, the Organization has worked to ensure people have access to quality healthcare services.

Mr. Machila also announced the Organization will soon embark on the construction of a state of the art scientific laboratory which not only benefit scientific researchers but also enhance public healthcare services in the country.