Thursday, May 1, 2025
Subscribe
Home Blog Page 704

Mining sector still Zambia’s highest Forex earner-Kabuswe

Chief Editor
-
10
Mining sector still Zambia’s highest Forex earner-Kabuswe

Minister of Mines and Mineral Development, Paul Kabuswe, says it is an indisputable fact that the mining sector has continued to make significant contributions to Zambia’s economic growth.

Mr. Kabuswe says the mining sector has significantly contributed to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) as well as government revenue through taxes and loyalties.

Speaking when he officiated at the Chamber of Mines Mineral exploration Indaba in Lusaka yesterday, Mr. Kabuswe said that mining remains one of the key growth sectors of Zambia’s economy.

He noted that government remains resolute to ensure an enabling investment environment that continues to attract investment in the mining sector.

“It is important to note that government is committed to see the country’s copper production increase steadily and that we take advantage of the current high prices on the world metal markets and derive maximum revenues,” he said.

The Minister of Mines added that it is envisaged that copper production will increase to over three million tonnes per year as pronounced by the Minister of Finance in the 2022 budget speech.

Mr. Kabuswe explained that government will work in close collaboration with key private sector institutions to re-orient the sector and create a competitive and thriving mining industry.

He said government will adopt measures such as the development of a stable and consistent fiscal regime and enhance exploration activities as well as promoting efficient utilisation of technology in the mining activities.

“As government, we remain supportive of the commitment of the Chamber of Mines in a quest to attain the set production target of three million tonnes of copper in the next 10 years,” Mr. Kabuswe said.

He has since thanked the Chamber of Mines for its efforts to organise the indaba which will help fulfil government’s agenda for the mining industry in Zambia.

And Chamber of Mines president, Godwin Beene, praised the new dawn administration for mapping up a transformative path for the Zambian economy to improve copper production.

Dr. Beene said in a speech read for him by Chamber of Mines Chief Executive Officer, Sokwani Chilembo that the Chamber envisages to record an increase in the production of copper and other minerals from the current 800,000 tons per annum to three million tonnes per annum.

“We are seeing such insatiable demand for the red metal to the extent that it is being called the new oil, so there is need to adopt a pragmatic mining centred strategy to economic growth,” he said.

He said mining has been the catalyst for many of the world’s great industrial revolutions, hence exploration must be harnessed to find new mineral deposits dotted across the country.

Ndola Teaching Hospital records a sharp rise in baby deliveries

Chief Editor
-
9
Ndola Teaching Hospital records a sharp rise in baby deliveries

Ndola Teaching Hospital (NTH) has recorded a sharp increase in the daily numbers of babies being delivered at the institution.

NTH Senior Medical Superintendent, Joseph Musowoya disclosed that the Hospital’s daily baby deliveries now stands at 42 on average, attributing the trend to population growth.

ZANIS reports that Dr. Musowoya said this when he received a donation of K12 thousand from the Engineering Institution of Zambia (EIZ) Ndola chapter on behalf of the hospital.

Dr. Musowoya stated that donated funds will be used to rehabilitate broken and rusty beds in the labour ward.

“The beds are rusty because of the decontamination that takes places. We have more, that are in a broken state and this donation will help the hospital to work on them,” Dr. Musowoya said.

He commended the EIZ for the donation which he said will put a smile on the faces of mothers as they give life.

Meanwhile NTH Obstetrician Jane Mumba outlined that the hospital recorded 7,754 babies in 2021, with the institution recording not less than 657 deliveries in a month.

Dr Mumba said on average, the institution is able to conduct 450 to 500 vaginal deliveries and 150 to 200 Caesarean deliveries in a month.

Dr. Mumba said as a result of the increase of deliveries, the hospital’s demand for blood has also risen.

Dr. Mumba urged the community to donate blood as the demand is high due to the rise in health complications being recorded as mothers give birth.

She cited some health complications as prolonged labour, bleeding, hypertensive and trauma from prolonged labour.

And EIZ Ndola chapter Chairperson, Joseph Malisawa said the donation of the K12 thousand is a beginning of the solid partnership between the two institutions.

Mr. Malisawa who is also Ndola Chamber of Commerce vice president assured that EIZ will be readily available for any engineering challenges that the hospital might need.

Government reduces fees for teaching practicing license

Chief Editor
-
6
Government reduces fees for teaching practicing license

Government has with immediate effect reduced all practicing teaching certificate fees by 15%.

Minister of Education Douglas Siakalima says the development follows numerous submissions from teachers requesting that the prescribed fees for the issuance practicing be reviewed downwards.

Mr. Siakalima made this announcement in Lusaka this afternoon during a press briefing.

“Government through my office received a recommendation from the teaching council of zambia (TCZ) council board on the need to review the teacher practicing certificate (license) fees for all categories of teachers in zambia, pursuant to section 18 (a) of the teaching profession act no. 5 of 2013,” he said.

The minister urged that the reduction should now facilitate easy renewal of teacher practicing certificates or licenses for the next cycle from 2022 to 2024.

He further stated that the teaching council of Zambia will work out modalities for implementing the reduced fees.

Mr. Siakalima also indicated that he is reliably informed that the last cycle for practicing certificate (license) renewal expired on 31st December, 2021.

“With this reduction, I expect all teachers now to renew their licenses without delay. School administrators need to collaborate and corporate with the TCZ by ensuring that all teachers are both registered and licensed,” he emphasised.

The Minister however stated that the reduction of fees is only for practicing licenses while registration fees remain unchanged for all categories of teachers.

“It is my ministry’s trust that TCZ will rise to the occasion to add value to the delivery of quality teaching and learning as it ensures that teachers are professional, competent and well behaved,” he said.

Mr. Siakalima observed that it is also the ministry’s expectation that teachers shall participate in continuing professional development (CPD) programs seriously as it is a prerequisite for practicing license renewal.

“In fact, through CPD, teachers will keep up-skilling themselves in a less costly manner,” he noted.

And the minister commended TCZ for developing the electronic certificates known as e-certificates for registration and licensing noting that the move is the fastest, safest and most efficient way of running business this time around.

When President Hichilema ‘weeps’ over an empty treasury: Don’t weep for him, weep for yourselves and for your children.

Chief Editor
-
8
When President Hichilema ‘weeps’ over an empty treasury: Don’t weep for him, weep for yourselves and for your children.

Edward Chisanga,

At His crucifixion, “A large number of people followed Him, including women who mourned and wailed for Him.” Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.”

When President Hichilema arrived at the Zambian political scene, he literally wept for Zambians, “We have inherited an empty treasury,” in reference to the shambles and wreckage of the economy left by Patriotic Front (FP)leaders. I’m not simply being unfairly prejudiced against PF leaders. If I were, I would be speaking without figures. But, in all my economic analysis, I have avoided yelling without figures. Figures are power. No wonder they say that they don’t lie.

Every time the Head of State makes statements about this subject, I perhaps weep more because I follow whatever he says and tries to interpret them with figures. It is one thing to listen to statements of a devasted economy, and quite another to actually follow it in figures. The President makes us aware that our economy is unwell. There are several ways to show this. One way is to understand the (i) The state and impact of eroding growth of GDP per capita and GDP; the other is the (ii) extent and impact of debt and, (as this is well covered by experts and the Head of State, it is not part of my coverage here): as well as the (iii) The state and impact of falling economic fundamentals such as manufacturing value added, as well as inward flow of foreign direct investment in the economy. There’re other economic indicators of course but are not under my coverage.

The state and impact of tottering growth of GDP per capita

My research findings revealed that prior to PF rule, that is before 2011, Zambia’s per capita GDP grew handsomely, from 2000 to reach perhaps its highest peak in history of 7.1% shown in Figure 1 below, under the rule of the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) which had come into power in 1991. But, during PF’s rule, from 2011, GDP per capita growth began to totter and shrink and went perhaps to its highest downfall of minus 6% in 2020. Those who follow economic growth will know that often, diminishing growth of GDP leads to that of GDP per capita. It means that what we see in Figure 1 below is a similar trend that happened to Zambia GDP growth. In other words, just as GDP per capita has been eroding lamentably, so has GDP.

With this positive growth trajectory and trend fashioned by MMD leaders, any optimist would hardly be wrong to form a conjecture that if they had ruled the next ten years, perhaps growth would have continued and translated into some stronger purchasing power for Zambians and consequent reduction of poverty even if, marginally only. An equally important point is that the size of Zambia’s GDP per capita income is simply too low in terms of buying power. It is worse when, as alluded to earlier, growth of this per capita is diminishing. This in turn affects demand for goods and services which is likely to be low. The state of GDP per capita affects us all. When growth continues over the years, it is likely to lead to increased purchasing power. When not, the purchasing power is reduced.

The state and impact of tottering economic fundamentals

Economic fundaments such as manufacturing value added play an important role in driving the economy. In particular, for many years, successive government leaders have been trying to lead a value-added economy robust enough to rely on exports of manufactured goods. The UPND government emphasizes an economy led by export value addition. But export value addition is founded on robust manufacturing value added in the GDP. When this is decrepit, and in fact falling, chances are that export value addition will not occur.

Once upon a time, the share of Zambia’s manufacturing value added in GDP had reached its highest peak of about 36%r in 1992, during President Kaunda’s rule shown in Figure 2 below. It is not only 1992 but a whole range of years seen in the Figure when robust share was witnessed. The sad news is that these glorious years were swept to doom suddenly when the share of manufacturing value added in GDP slumped to 8% in 2020 or began to fall in previous years. Clearly, creating value addition will be a major challenge, given this devastatingly low performance of manufacturing in the economy. Related to this, dilapidated manufacturing contributes little or nothing to the overall economy. That is partly why President Hichilema was welcomed into leadership with an empty treasury.

Finally, export value addition is a product of foreign direct investment (FDI) when it is available. In Zambia it has been largely absent for many years. More seriously, as Figure 3 below shows, it has been eroding – from its highest peak of about 9% in 2008 to about 1% in 2020. To acquire export value addition, Zambia needs to magnificently attract productive FDI that has a multiplier effect of technology, skilled labor and skills transfer. In the last two decades, there has been no robust inward FDI into Zambia to propel the economy.

That certainly contributed to the empty treasury over the years. So, for the Zambian economy to recover and generate prosperity, many holes created by many years of devasting economic downturn will have to be filled. Economic recovery will not come simply by a rise in GDP or GDP per capita growth of one, two, three, four of five years. The past negative growths would have to be filled as a basis for embarking on actual growth and trajectory of recovery. That is why, When President Hichilema ‘weeps’ over an empty treasury: Don’t weep for him, weep for yourselves and for your children.

I’m personally ready to take up the task of presidency in PF-Kambwili

Chief Editor
-
35
I’m personally ready to take up the task of presidency in PF-Kambwili

Former National Democratic Congress Leader, now opposition Patriotic Front (PF) member Chishimba Kambwili has disclosed his intention to contest the PF presidency at the forthcoming party convention.

And Kambwili says the loss of the PF in the 2021 general election was a great political revolution by the country against the PF and Edgar Lungu.

Kambwili said he was personally ready to take up the task of presidency, saying he has been a member of the opposition PF and had labored to build his name politically.

“Personally, I am more than ready to take up the role of presidency of the PF but I want to say I will not go outside of the realms of PF to discuss the coming convention of PF because I feel this is an internal matter, I am only a senior member of the PF, I am not a policy maker and not a member of the Central Committee,” he said

Mr. Kambwili said he contributed to the PF votes during the past general elections, dismissing as baseless allegations by some party members that he had contributed to the downfall of the opposition party.

“If the PF won the election, today could there be such allegations, check the results of the areas where I campaigned and see the results of the areas that I did not campaign in and also were the areas where I went physically held rallies physically and those places I did not visit and that will give you the answer, I have contributed to the numbers of the PF both during the 2016 and 2021 general election,” he said.

He alleged that some shallow minded people whom he termed as new entrants and likened to visitors in the PF, wanted to discredit him using deceit.

“Where there is competition some people who are shallow minded want to discredit others using deceit when they know for sure that my campaign during the 2016 election was a booster to the PF victory, so someone who wants to stand as the PF today, who hasn’t even worked for the PF who joined yesterday would come and bring boys to make those allegations, I feel very sorry for them,” he stated.

ZANIS reports that Mr Kambwili attributed the loss of the PF during the 2021 general elections to a great political revolution of the country against the PF.

“What happened in the last election was purely a political revolution, and when there is a political revolution in the country, you can even get a stone and make it stand against a very popular person and the stone will still win the election because the people are against the political party just like it happened in 1964 and it also happened when president Michael Sata won and also to the PF in the recent election,” he indicated.

Mr. Kambwili said despite his campaign, people were set on the revolution and that his contribution to the PF would be best judged from his contribution in the 2016 PF victory in which his campaign was a booster.

He said this when he answered questions from journalists during a press briefing held at his residence in Luanshya today.

Pope Francis appoints Rev. Fr. Raphael Mweempwa as the new Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Monze

Chief Editor
-
4
Pope Francis appoints Rev. Fr. Raphael Mweempwa as the new Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Monze

Pope Francis has appointed Rev. Fr. Raphael Mweempwa as the new Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Monze.

Fr. Mweempwa’s appointment comes after the death of Bishop Moses Hamungole in January, 2021, who was incharge of Monze Diocese.

Vatican Ambassador to Zambia Archbishop Gianfranco Gallone and Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) President Archbishop Ignatius Chama have confirmed Fr. Mweempwa’s appointment separately.

“Your Lordship, I wish to communicate to you that His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed Rev. Fr. Raphael Mweempwa, Formator and Lecturer at St. Dominic’s Major Seminary in Lusaka, as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Monze,” Archbishop Gallone revealed in a communication to Catholic Bishops in Zambia.

The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) has since congratulated the bishop-elect and wished him God’s continued blessing as well as every success as he takes up the new appointment.

“The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) President, Most Rev. Ignatius Chama, has conveyed his hearty congratulations to the bishop-elect and wished him God’s continued blessing as well as every success as he takes up the new appointment,” announced the ZCCB Communications Office.

The bishop-elect, Fr. Mweempwa, a Diocesan priest of the Diocese of Monze, was until this appointment serving at St. Dominic’s Major Seminary in Lusaka as Formator and Lecturer.

He is a Professor of Canon Law.

Fr. Mweempwa was born on 30th March 1974.

He did his Primary education at St. Mary’s Primary School and completed his Secondary education in 1993 at Canisius Secondary School in Monze.

In 1994 he was accepted at Emmaus Spirituality Centre in Lusaka to begin his seminary formation.

In 1996 proceeded to study philosophy at St. Augustine’s Major Seminary in Mpima, Kabwe and in 1998, he proceeded to St. Dominic’s Major seminary in Lusaka for his pastoral and Theological studies where he graduated with a degree in Theology in 2002.

In 2002 he continued his studies at Lumko Institute, in South Africa, obtaining a Certificate in Pastoral Ministry and another in Catechesis and then in Zambia for a Certificate in Psychological Counseling (2005-2006).

He was ordained priest on 29th June 2002.

From 2007 to 2010 he obtained a Licentiate in Canon Law at the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome and, in 2016, he attended some courses at the Apostolic Signatura and the Roman Rota. On June 29, 2002 he was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Monze.

He holds a Master’s Degree in Canon Law from the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome, Italy.

Fr. Mweempwa has worked in various pastoral assignments in the Diocese of Monze.

He has held the following positions: Parish Vicar (2002-2004) and Parish Priest (2004-2007) of St. Mary’s Parish in Choma; Member of the Diocesan Catechetical Commission (2006-2007); Parish priest of Our Lady of the Wayside in Manungu, in the same Diocese (2010-2012); Diocesan Chancellor (2011-2012); Member of the Council for Economic Affairs (2011-2019); Vocational Director, Coordinator of the Formation Team of the Diocese of Monze (2012-2016); Member of the Presbyterial Council and of the Catechetical Commission (2013-2019); Coordinator of the Translation Team of the Diocese (2015-2019).

Since 2019 he has been Professor of Canon Law and Formator at the St. Dominic Major Theological Seminary in Lusaka.

People Opposed to Mining in the Lower Zambezi Must Move On, the Courts have already decided

Chief Editor
-
12
People Opposed to Mining in the Lower Zambezi Must Move On, the Courts have already decided

Mwembeshi Resources Limited corporate affairs manager Oliver Shalala says people opposed to his company’s plan to start mining in the Lower Zambezi National Park must move on after the court decision to okay the project.

Mr. Shalala said that it was surprising that some non-governmental organizations, who are against mining in the Lower Zambezi National Park, have taken a militant stance on the matter.

He said instead of continuing to oppose mining in the Lower Zambezi, NGO’s must advocate for safe mining and good corporate social responsibility programmes from Mwembeshi Resources.

Featuring on Radio Phoenix’s Let the People Talk on Friday, Mr. Shalala said Zambia needs more mining companies to meet targets of increased copper production in the next ten years.

He predicted that not even the Kafue National Park in districts like Mumbwa will be spared from mining owing to mining exploration that has already commenced.

“We need development in different sectors. The Government has set a target that in five years we should have 2, 000,000 metric of copper produced, in ten years 3,000,000. Right now we are pushing 860, 000 metric tonnes of copper mostly from FQM – the biggest producer, Mopani and the others but the numbers are not good so we cannot rump production from the current mines alone without opening new ones. I actually foresee a copper mine opening up in Kafue National Park because there has been exploration there and they actually found very good grades of copper so it is possible one day we will see a copper mine open in Mumbwa in the Kafue National Park,” Mr. Shalala said.

He said Mwembeshi Resources was committed to cooperate with stakeholders at mines in the Lower Zambezi.

“We are a growing company, we are a Zambian company and we avoid being arrogant about how we go about things. We want to have good will, we want to work with everyone. Actually we have an olive branch towards those who are opposed to the mine to have time to sit down with us because the problem has been with the militant approach where you say no mining. So when you go no mining in the Lower Zambezi and then the court decides to say no, mining goes on. What do you do?”

“You remain, the train leaves the station you remain behind, you can’t stop the train to jump on board and continue with the conversation but we still feel there is a need for a number of NGOs to be engaged with us to find out what are the plans? How are you going to design the mine? How can you mitigate this and that? What is the replenishing plan of the pits after you are done? Will there be investment in terms of game scouts to improve security in the game park and so on and so forth. That should have been more of the conversation now,” Mr. Shalala said.

Last year the PF Government approved the proposal for the Kangaluwi Open Pit Mining Project in Lower Zambezi National Park almost 20 years since an Australian-based company, Zambezi Resources Limited was granted an exploration license delayed by ZEMA’s initial rejection of the proposal, government overriding the agency and subsequent court cases which ended with the project still going ahead.

“We are a profit oriented entity and are not by nature going to improve the capacity of those who engage against us. So if we are sitting down with the local people and we are discussing corporate social responsibility programming we need people on the ground to also have the capacity to negotiate how they want things to be. Otherwise it will be top down from us going down; the NGOs should have been on the ground right now coming up with empowerment programmes, helping things to do with appraisals, research and planning so that they can affect the design and the implementation of the mine and even better also do monitoring and evaluation of how the mining goes as opposed to this militant stance,” Mr. Shalala added.

Mwembeshi Resources Limited corporate affairs manager Oliver Shalala
Mwembeshi Resources Limited corporate affairs manager Oliver Shalala

This week,the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) reaffirmed its position that there is no violation of any provisions of the constitution in the approval for mining in the Lower Zambezi National Park.

ZEMA submitted to the Constitutional Court that mining activities can sustainably be conducted in the Lower Zambezi National Park in line with conditions of approval as the anticipated risks can be sufficiently mitigated.

This is a matter in which environmentalist Robert Chimambo has petitioned the ConCourt to order Government to withdraw the approval for mining in the Lower Zambezi National Park by the developer, Mwembeshi Resources Limited, as it breaches the constitution.

Mr. Chimambo, who has cited the Attorney General and the ZEMA as respondents in the petition, wants the court to order them to withdraw the approval of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) dated May 7, 2021 for being in violation of the constitution.

He seeks an order that freedom of environmental information is a constitutional right.

The petitioner claimed that ZEMA approved EIS for proposed large scale mining in the said area for Mwembeshi Resources Limited without public hearings being conducted.

But ZEMA has responded that approved EIS was approved by the Minister responsible for environmental protection under section 115 of the Environmental Management Act(EMA) and it issued decision letter ZEMA /INS/101/04/1 stipulating conditions of the said approval on February 3, 2014.

“The plans referred to under article 253(1)(i) are assessed by way of a strategic environmental assessment(SEA) in accordance with section 23 of the Act and the project was not SEA. The policies, plans or programmes under Article 255(I) are assessed by way of a SEA in accordance with section 23 of the Ac and the project was not a subject of a SEA,” it stated.

UPND calls for calm among its members

Chief Editor
-
6
UPND calls for calm among its members

Southern province United Party for National Development (UPND) spokesperson Neta Halwabala has advised UPND party members to be patient with the government and embrace those joining the party genuinely.

Mr Halwabala has, however, warned those joining the party from other parties to be sincere and not join the party with suspicious intent.

He said people joining the party from other parties should join the party genuinely and not with hidden motives or else they will not be welcome to group the UPND.

And Halwabala said UPND members should be patient with the government because better things are coming soon.

He said government under the leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema is trying to fix the economy for a better Zambia.

Mr Halwabala said this today in an interview with the Zambia News and Information Services in Chikankata district in Southern province.

Bruised Nkana Await Kansanshi Dynamos

sports
-
0

Nkana seek redemption this Saturday when they host Kansanshi Dynamos just seven days after their bruising Copperbelt derby loss to defending FAZ Super League champions Zesco United.

Nkana head into their Kansanshi date at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe a week after suffering a 2-1 away loss to Zesco in the big Copperbelt derby at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.

“The boys know the importance of our next game. What is important is how they recover from the loss,” Nkana assistant coach George Chilufya said.

Nkana’s loss saw them tumble from number four to sixth on the log and stuck on 36 points and also saw the gap with leaders Red Arrows widen to ten points with 10 matches to go heading into this weekend’s Week 25 dates.

“If you check on the table and how many points they are between us and the top four, we are not far from our target,”Chilufya said.

But Nkana face a tricky test against a Kansanshi side that is enjoying some good form under new coach Boyd Mulwanda who has won all his three games in charge since the Solwezi club poached him from Buildcon at the end of January.

One of those victories for 12th placed Kansanshi was a 2-0 home win over defending champions Zesco United in a match striker Jesse Were scored a brace against his ex-employers.

However, this will also be Mulwanda’s first big away test after beating lightweights Indeni 1-0 away in Ndola on his debut on February 4.

FAZ SUPER LEAGUE
WEEK 25 FIXTURES

26/02/2022

Power Dynamos-Nkwazi

Kafue Celtic-Lusaka Dynamos

Nkana-Kansanshi Dynamos

Green Buffaloes-Zesco United

Green Eagles-Chambishi

Prison Leopards-Kabwe Warriors

Konkola Blades-Indeni

27/02/2022

Forest Rangers-Red Arrows

POSTPONED

Buildcon-Zanaco

Ndola council to go digital in service delivery

Chief Editor
-
7
Ndola council to go digital in service delivery

Ndola City Council (NCC) has disclosed that it is considering various possibilities of digitizing payment methods in order to strengthen its capacity to efficiently deliver services.

Ndola City Council Town Clerk Cosmas Chalusa said the local authority was embracing technology in order to strengthen its capacity to expedite service delivery.

This came to light when the local authority held discussions with some entities on how to

successfully digitize revenue collection in order to improve collections, serve on time and subsequently improve service delivery.

Mr. Chalusa said when Kazang Zambia made a presentation to the council management on digitizing payments for selected services.

Mr. Chalusa said digitizing various aspects of the council payment modes would help officers work more efficiently, serve the residents on time and contain pilferage of resources.

“There is a need for Council workers to improve efficiency because the increase in the Constituency Development Funds (CDF) means that decentralisation is now in full effect.

The increase in CDF means that councils will oversee more projects, a situation which calls for the councils to find ways of working more efficiently in order to ensure that all projects are completed on time and completed properly,” he said.

He added that councils needed to prove that they have the capacity to oversee the increased CDF because some sections of society had expressed doubt in the capacity of officers in local authorities to manage the increased Fund.

Mr. Chalusa said digitizing some of the components of the council will enable officers have time to do more work.

And the Ndola City Council Director of Finance Mildred Nyambe urged council employees to embrace technology.

Ms. Nyambe said technology made it easier to track resources adding that the proposal by Kazang was a welcome move as it focussed on Council revenue collections in bus stations, markets, and car parks, areas that used cash transactions.

Meanwhile, Kazang Zambia National Sales Manager Bradley Chingobe said the merchants’ payments system the company is proposing will enable bus drivers, market traders and motorists pay using mobile money through the Kazang machine.

Mr. Chingobe said the system will also help the council monitor revenue collectors’ performance.

This is according to a statement issued to ZANIS in Ndola today by NCC Public Relations Manager Rebecca Mushota.

Former Zambia Railways workers get their dues

Chief Editor
-
10
Former Zambia Railways workers get their dues

The Ministry of Justice has cleared off the principal amount due to all former Zambia Railways Limited workers amounting to K19.4 million.

Minister of Justice, Mulambo Haimbe revealed during a press briefing in Lusaka today that government no longer owes the former Zambia Railways workers anything.

Mr. Haimbe said the payment of the terminal benefits and the interest accrued to former Zambia Railways workers is in line with government’s commitment to clear payments or benefits for all former workers.

He stated that the delay in paying terminal benefits to people who have contributed to the development of the country subjects them to unnecessary and avoidable poverty.

“This also leads to paying of unnecessary interests instead of directing such resources to other important areas,” he added.

Mr. Haimbe said government will continue paying former government employees their benefits whenever resources are available.

“The ‘new dawn’ government has allocated more funds to clear former government employees whose dues are still outstanding,” he explained.

He has since called on all former employees to remain patient as government works out modalities to clear outstanding arrears.

Mumbi Phiri formally arrested and charged with murder

Chief Editor
-
23
Mumbi Phiri formally arrested and charged with murder

Former Patriotic Front (PF) Deputy Secretary-General Mumbi Phiri has been formally arrested and charged with murder of Lawrence Banda.

Mrs Phiri has been jointly charged with former President Edgar Lungu’s barber Shebby Chilekwa for the murder of Lawrence Banda, a UPND member.

And Mrs. PHIRI has appeared before Kaoma Magistrate Court.

Mrs. PHIRI arrived at the Kaoma Magistrates Court at 10:00 hours.

The two accused appeared before Kaoma Magistrate Besting Hamaseke for explanation of the charge.
Allegations before the court are that on October 6, 2019 Mrs PHIRI 52 of Waterfalls area in Chongwe and Shebby Chilekwa 34, a businessman of Chilanga whilst acting together murdered Lawrence Banda in Kaoma District.

Magistrate Hamaseke told the accused persons that they had been charged according to section 200 of the Penal code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

Both Mrs. Phiri and Chilekwa did agree before Magistrate Hamaseke that they understood the charge read before them.

Magistrate Hamaseke explained that the two could not say anything because they were merely before his court for explanations of the charge as the court awaits instructions from Director of Public Prosecutions(DPP).

The two will appear in court on March 10, 2022 for mention whilst they remain in custody.
Mrs. Phiri becomes the second accused person to be charged with murder of Mr Banda, the first being Shebby Chilekwa.

The late Lawrence Banda, was Shot dead in Kaoma in 2019 during the run up to Council Chairperson By-election.

Life Worth Living

Entertainment Editor
-
6
Life Worth Living

By Chijika Ngonga
The alarming reports in suicide cases in recent days have compelled me to write about the topic today.
I hope my story speaks to someone.
This may come as a shock to many because I have kept it a secret till now.
As many people know, I was involved in a bus accident in 2016 which resulted in me losing my right arm. At the time, I was going through a divorce. I had three very young children to raise, and I was trying very hard to find my feet and put my life together with a decor business.
These two events, being divorced and becoming an amputee, were more than unsettling. My emotions were all over the place. I felt as though I had been slapped in the face. Life seemed so unfair. I was vulnerable, hopeless, lost and – as far as I was concerned – “finished”. I mean, what else could knock me down more than a divorce and then an unexpected amputation, right?
My loving family and friends were always there, helping and caring for me. But even in the midst of this unconditional love and support, there were times I would dread nights because then I really felt alone. The humiliation of the divorce left me feeling like a failure. I was mocked and ridiculed, and even heard comments such as “alifilwa ichupo,” literally meaning “a failed marriage”.
And now I was suddenly differently abled. Mwe Lesa, sure.
I also heard of people that said:
“Iye nomba balemana nokuba elo ninshi nefyupo fyalipwa, bakabwekelefye pantu chabapwila” (now that she’s divorced and disabled, it’s all over for her).
My life had seemingly crashed. I asked God why He allowed me to live amid the humiliation. Why didn’t He just let me die, I would ask myself.
I entertained thoughts of suicide for some time. Guys, these ‘voices’ seem real. They will tell you why suicide is the best option.
To everyone else, I seemed okay. I was jovial. But inside, I was secretly harboring suicidal thoughts.
But even in those moments when I was alone and hearing those voices, I’m glad the Holy Spirit kept ministering to me, encouraging me to find purpose in all that was going on around me. It wasn’t easy. It never is. But I’m glad I didn’t give in to those destructive thoughts of suicide.
Guys, life happens to all of us. Life can never be rehearsed. What matters is how one responds to the difficult and challenging circumstances that every human being faces. You are not alone. Help is available if you seek it. Open up, speak to someone you trust, feed your mind with positive thoughts and affirmations. Be mindful of what goes into your subconscious. Read the Bible. The Good Book will encourage you and connect you to the One Who never fails and Who will see you through any challenge that you face.
The world needs you. Your family, where you are irreplaceable, needs you. Hang in there and look to God until in His own time He calls you home.
Before you act on suicidal thoughts, think of the grief your passing would cause, and the pain and heartbreak you would leave behind. Our lives are not our own. We have people looking up to us that we live for.??
Sometimes it’s good to help others in order to help oneself. For me, my trying moments gave birth to my establishing Samaritan Hope Givers – a charity that helps orphans and people with physical challenges – and to writing the award-winning “Soaring on a wing” book.
Through such ventures, I rediscovered my purpose. Beloved, life is worth living. Live it to the full.

Suicide is ungodly because it rejects God’s gift of life

Chief Editor
-
11
Suicide is ungodly because it rejects God’s gift of life

By Bishop Moses Simpungwe

The Bible mentions six specific people who committed suicide: Abimelech (Judges 9:54), Saul (1 Samuel 31:4), Saul’s armor-bearer (1 Samuel 31:4–6), Ahithophel (2 Samuel 17:23), Zimri (1 Kings 16:18), and Judas (Matthew 27:5). Five of these men were noted for their wickedness (the exception is Saul’s armor-bearer—nothing is said of his character). Some consider Samson’s death an instance of suicide, because he knew his actions would lead to his death (Judges 16:26–31), but Samson’s goal was to kill Philistines, not himself.

The Bible views suicide as equal to murder, which is what it is—self-murder. God is the only one who is to decide when and how a person should die. We should say with the psalmist, “My times are in your hands” (Psalm 31:15).

God is the giver of life. He gives, and He takes away (Job 1:21). Suicide, the taking of one’s own life, is ungodly because it rejects God’s gift of life. No man or woman should presume to take God’s authority upon themselves to end his or her own life.

Some people in Scripture felt deep despair in life. Solomon, in his pursuit of pleasure, reached the point where he “hated life” (Ecclesiastes 2:17). Elijah was fearful and depressed and yearned for death (1 Kings 19:4). Jonah was so angry at God that he wished to die (Jonah 4:8). Even the apostle Paul and his missionary companions at one point “were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself” (2 Corinthians 1:8).

However, none of these men committed suicide. Solomon learned to “fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Elijah was comforted by an angel, allowed to rest, and given a new commission. Jonah received admonition and rebuke from God. Paul learned that, although the pressure he faced was beyond his ability to endure, the Lord can bear all things: “This happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead” (2 Corinthians 1:9).

Therefore, I consider suicide as a sin. It is not the “greatest” sin—it is no worse than other evils, in terms of how God sees it, and it does not determine a person’s eternal destiny. However, suicide definitely has a deep and lasting impact on those left behind. The painful scars left by a suicide victim do not heal easily. May God grant His grace to each one who is facing trials today (Psalm 67:1). And may each of us take hope in the promise, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13). No matter the pressure or challenges you are facing,don’t kill yourself, nothing is permanent in this life.

If you are considering suicide, please seek help now. WhatsApp me on 0975254962 for counseling. I will be glad to help.(Got questions)
Shalom.

Zambia had a system that looked for good students wherever they they came from-Chiwala

Chief Editor
-
13
Zambia had a system that looked for good students wherever they they came from-Chiwala

Respected engineer Bernard Chiwala says Zambia has adequate resources that can be used to change its economic landscape and become a prosperous nation.

Eng. Chiwala, the former Road Development Agency (RDA) chief executive officer, named mineral resources, human resources and improved Agriculture as some of the things that can make Zambia a prosperous nation.

The board chairperson of the Lusaka Multipurpose Cooperative Society (LAMCS) said Zambia has more resources that can be utilized to pay back the current national debt.

The experienced engineer is currently promoting the growing of avocado for export in his capacity as board chairperson of the Lusaka Multipurpose Cooperative Society (LAMCS).

Eng. Chiwala further called for merit in the utilisation of national resources.

“The debt levels we have at the moment compared to the resources we have is nothing. Sir, (Franklyn Tembo) I do know for a fact that this country is a gold country. We have gold almost all over the place. Let’s have that gold as a national strategic asset and only give institutions like ZCCM to manage it so that we can get the most out of gold, out of it and raise money and also use it as a reserve in the Bank of Zambia. That we can do, see what Botswana has done with their diamonds. Diamond is a strategic asset in Botswana we must do likewise and manage it well. Put the best people there you can find,” Eng. Chiwala said in a recent interview with ZNBC TV.

“If Zambians are in Ontario, bring them back if they are the best. The whole issue of meritocracy is a missing ingredient. I will give you an example of one country which is a leading producer of avocado globally: Mexico. One crop per year Three Billion Dollars, how much is our debt? 14 Billion, say 15 Billion. 3 Billion Into 15 Billion. In under five years from one crop, if we work hard on one crop, I am not talking about macadamia, cashew nuts or walnuts which are also of a very high value. We can change the economic landscape and make this nation the envy of the nations. Zambia has everything, we can do it but what we need to put up at the forefront is meritocracy. Reward merit, have the best people in all the places. That is what is going to transform Zambia; I have learnt from Singapore, Singapore is a tiny country that is 1000 times smaller than Zambia but look at how they catapulted from backwardness and squalor. In 1964 their economy and Zambia you could not even compare. Today they have in excess of Three Hundred Billion Dollars in the reserves,” Eng. Chiwala said.

“Tiny country, you can finish going throughout the country in a few hours but what did they put at the centre? Meritocracy puts a high premium on educating their own people so that they have the best education and then bring them into the civil service, the public service and the best people. The likes of Prof. Clive Chirwa, put them in strategic institutions. Just the best and give them space to do their work and to do it well and reward them well. The benefits that will accrue to our country will be tremendous in a very short period of time,” he said.

Eng. Chiwala added:”I will speak for myself, without the scholarship I got from ZCCM in 1984; I would have been a village today chasing rabbits. I didn’t know anyone. I just got this after my grade 10, I got this letter that I have been given a scholarship. I didn’t have to know a PS (Permanent Secretary), I didn’t have to know a minister. We had a system in this country which we lost, that looked for good students wherever you are whether you are in Shang’ombo or you are in Chinsali. That is what we must bring back, meritocracy, meritocracy, and meritocracy.”

1...703704705...5,624Page 704 of 5,624

Company

Trending

Categories

© Lusaka Times