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

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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.”

Lending rates among commercial banks operating in Zambia have remained high

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Lending rates among commercial banks operating in Zambia have remained high

Social Economist and Marketer Kelvin Chisanga says the Bank of Zambia‘s recent decision to maintain the monetary policy rate at 9% was inevitable.

The Bank of Zambia recently kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged on expectations that inflation will continue slowing and to support a fragile economic recovery.

When announcing the decision, BOZ Governor Denny Kalyalya told a media briefing in Lusaka that the monetary policy committee held the rate at 9%.

Speaking to Lusaka Times, Mr. Chisanga said raising the policy rate would have suffocated the credit market for businesses and lowered it.

He, however, stated that BOZ’s decision will come with a cost to the private sector owing to high lending rates in the commercial banks sector.

“Fiscal energies, inflation developments made BOZ to stay course policy rate at 9.0%! The performance of interbank encircled to the policy rate with this positive change coupled with inflation movements which have both edged to this directional route. Zambia’s apex bank has maintained its course in the policy rate at 9.0% considering the patterns and implications that we are all seeing from inflation development, as the inflation has given a positive shape following a number of other key factors such as improvement in fiscal policy. Raising the Policy rate would have meant that the bank would have suffocated the credit market for businesses and lowering it would mean that it would be taking a different twist against bringing down the inflation towards the target range,” Mr. Chisanga observed.

“The policy decision however arises with no big surprise at all more especially at this point, as I predicted on the same through various local media, on the back of concerns raised by observing many macroeconomic factors placing it to stay the course on the November rate where it has been after hiking it by a 50 basis points in late 2021.It is imperative to state that headline inflation has continued to linger just slightly above the upper band of the medium-term target of 6 – 8% with expectations to see it hovering around the target horizon, it is also well recognizant to further state that the policy rate has shown some relatively positive signs of making “heavy marks” on the economic front with a very little impact counteracting against the growth seen in both population and economic growth,” he said.

Mr. Chisanga acknowledged that lending rates among commercial banks operating in the country have remained high.

“It is well rewarding to say that average lending rates of commercial banks still remain high at more than pegged interest rate percentage, a situation that has twisted out a number of stories right into a blame-game among many stakeholders. In the private sector’s eyes, banks are just seen profiteering from their customers by smacking a serious toll on interest rates for bankable services and solutions such as loans, overdrafts, guarantee, etc. As the case may be, the banks always cry foul to stipulate on the blame that lending rates are high due to the policy rate band coupled with the risk factors associated with, especially going by lending out liquidity to the private sector,” he said.

Mr. Chisanga maintained that primary and secondary sectors of the economy must improve to improve the outlook of the local economy.

“And to this end, we need primary and secondary sectors of the economy to give edge to this path of growth otherwise we have seen tertiary services performing very well though we can’t grow the local economy with this trend, so we need primary activities such as manufacturing thereby driving diversifications of export. As the policy measures take this direction, the decision of the MPC, though seem to be quite justifiable and fairly reasonable, will still come through with a cost to the private sector which has always remained a high card on the lending rates with the commercial banks in the country,” he said.

Government will start evacuating Zambians, residents in Ukraine

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Government will start evacuating Zambians, residents in Ukraine

The government will start evacuating Zambians, residents in Ukraine, in the advent of the war, which has broken out in that country.

President Hakainde Hichilema has said that the country has already started preparations for the safe removal of the 141 known Zambians in Ukraine.

The President has said this through Foreign Affairs Minister, Stenley Kakubo.

Speaking during a media briefing in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Kakubo has assured that the Zambians, most of who are students, will return home safely.

Mr Kakubo has also said Zambia will maintain its position on the matter, through its support to the diplomatic peace efforts, being undertaken by the international community.

Below is the full statement

PRESS STATEMENT BY HON. STANLEY K. KAKUBO, M.P,
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA ON THE EVACUATION OF ZAMBIANS FROM THE REPUBLIC OF UKRAINE

I would like to inform the nation that in view of the unfortunate turn of events in the Republic of Ukraine, in the last 24 hours, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia has made a decision to evacuate our citizens from that country.

The Government had earlier indicated that it would continue to monitor the situation in Ukraine closely and that the Zambian Embassy in Moscow has been in constant touch with our nationals regarding the unfolding events.

The public may wish to note that there are 141 known Zambians pursuing their studies in various cities across Ukraine and following the regrettable latest developments in that country, the Government has decided to take this course of action in order to ensure the safety of Zambians.

The exercise is being coordinated by the relevant Government machinery and we would like to assure the public, especially the students and their respective parents and guardians that every effort is being made to ensure the safe return of the students.
We would, therefore, like to call upon all members of the Zambian public, particularly the students and their parents and guardians, to remain calm as the Government implements the evacuation exercise.

Like every peace loving member of the international community, Zambia has been hopeful of a peaceful and diplomatic resolution of the situation in Ukraine.

The Government, therefore, maintains its strong commitment to ensuring that it safeguards the security of all its citizens, both at home and abroad.

I thank you.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
Lusaka
24th february, 2022

Public Order Act in its current form is inadequate and requires to be amended-Government

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Public Order Act in its current form is inadequate and requires to be amended-Government

The Ministry of Justice has acknowledged that the Public Order Act in its current form is inadequate and requires to be amended to ensure that power is given to citizens to exercise their rights as enshrined in the republican constitution.

Speaking during a stakeholder’s engagement meeting on Public Order Management and Legal Framework agenda in Lusaka today, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice Mwenya Bwalya says without free public discussion on social, economic and political issues as well as public education and enlightenment which are essential to proper functioning and execution of government, it is impossible to foster the strengthening of the rule of law.

Ms Bwalya said in an effort to uphold the rule of law, protect human rights and to ensure that public order is managed, the public order act will be reviewed.

She has since assured the new dawn administration’s commitment to give independence to the police in the enforcement of the act and to put in place mechanisms that will allow for the reform in the manner in which regulation of public assemblies and processions are managed.

And Governance, Elections Advocacy and Research Services -GEARS- Initiative, the organizers of the workshop through its Executive Director MacDonald Chipenzi hopes government will not remain silent on repealing this act as it needs serious attention.

Meanwhile, Civil Society Organizations Access to Information Coalition says it does not expect any further delay from government to enact the access to information bill into law.

The Coalition says government should do everything possible not to divert from its pledge of enacting the ATI law especially that it is among the reasons that Zambians entrusted them with power.

Coalition Chairperson Reverent Father Alex Muyebe says it expects the ATI law to be enacted into law by June this year failure to which it will mobilize and galvanize the masses to join in demanding government to deliver on its election promise campaign to enact the ATI law as a key tool in fighting corruption.

Fr. Muyebe told a media briefing in Lusaka this morning that the coalition will also sustain a robust advocacy to see the legislation of the ATI law in Zambia as it is demanded by the Zambian people in an event that the bill is not enacted into law.

And MISA Zambia National Director Austin Kayanda says civil society organizations in the coalition are hopeful that the bill will be enacted now that it is on the calls list at parliament.

Samu Looking Forward to His Debut KZN Derby on Friday

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Zambian striker Friday Samu is looking forward to his debut KZN derby this Friday when his new club Maritzburg United hosts Golden Arrows.

The KZN derby will be Samu’s third competitive match for Maritzburg since joining the South Africa PSL club in January from Green Buffaloes.

Twelfth placed Maritzburg and number 10 side Arrows have 18 and 22 points from 19 and 18 games played respectively.

Arrows won the KZN derby first leg fixture 2-1 at home last August in Durban.

Samu heads into the match after netting his first goal plus an assist for Maritzburg in their 2-1 home win over SuperSport United on February 15 that came a week after the latter beat them 1-0 to eliminate them from the Nedbank Cup on his debut.

“This is a very important game and we need the three points for us as a team,” Samu said in a pre-match interview.

“I am very excited but I know it will not be easy and I know it will require a lot of hard work. We will do our best and I will also do my best.

“But I need to push myself and improve every day in training because this league is very competitive.”

Samu admitted that with his first goal coming in his second match for Maritzburg, the burden of expectations are now high to meet the Zambian benchmark in the PSL set by Collins Mbesuma.

“Collins is a big name and has done a lot in South Africa. I will try and do my best-maybe more to achieve my goals,” Samu said.

Zambia’s Inflation continues trending down, now at 14.2 from 15.1

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Zambia’s Inflation continues trending down, now at 14.2 from 15.1

The country’s annual inflation for February 2022 has reduced to 14.2 percent from 15.1 percent recorded in January, 2022.
Zambia Statistics Agency (ZAMSTATS-Interim Statistician-General Mulenga Musepa says the slowdown in annual inflation was mainly attributed to the easing in prices of some food and non-food items.

And Mr Musepa said that Zambia recorded a trade surplus of K6.5 billion in January 2022 compared to a surplus of k6.8 billion in December 2021, representing a 4.7 percent decrease.

He explained that exports mainly comprising domestically produced goods, decreased by 6.0 percent to K16.7 billion in January 2022 from K17.7 billion in December 2021.

Mr Musepa said that this was mainly on account of a 30.8, 3.4 and 19.8 percent decrease in export earnings from consumer goods, intermediate goods, and capital goods, respectively.

He also noted a decrease in imports by 6.9 percent to K10.2 billion in January 2022 from K10.9 billion in December 2021 mainly as a result of 18.2 and 23.5 percent decrease in import bills of capital goods and consumer goods, respectively.

Further, Mr. Musepa said that the total trade for the month of January 2022 was K26.8 billion while that of 2021 for the same month was K25.7 billion, representing a 4.5 percent increase.

570 bales of Salaula intercepted by ZRA

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570 bales of Salaula intercepted by ZRA

The Zambia Revenue Authority has intercepted a truck laden with 570 Bales of used clothing (salaula) on the northern route worth about K700,000.

This consignment is a case of outright smuggling that contravenes Section 132 and 149 of the Customs and Excise Act of the Laws of Zambia.

Facts are that the suspects forged customs documents purporting they have been issued by the Revenue Authority when in fact not.

Upon being intercepted, the drivers presented the fake documents but with the advancements in the use of technology by ZRA through the use of the newly introduced Customs Validation System, the officers can check and verify all documents on-site.

The newly introduced feature on the ZRA systems has already started paying dividends as it is expected to help clamp down on all forged documents.

ZRA Spokesman Topsy Sikalinda said, “has ZRA not intercepted this consignment, the Zambian people would have lost about K347,000 in taxes.”

“Smuggling is a big threat to the economic growth of any sector; it creates price distortions, unfair competition and robes the country of much-needed revenue. It is theft or robbery as it deprives the Zambian citizen of much-needed development,” Mr Sikalinda said.

“When we call you smugglers, we are being polite, you are thieves who are robbing the citizenry of the need for medication in hospitals and other social amenities. The Government of the Republic of Zambia announced various initiatives such as free education, increased Community Development Fund at the local level and many other positive initiatives that require tax revenue to be actualized.”

“The Authority wishes to advise everybody in the entire business chain of importing and exporting goods to take full responsibility and ensure that their business partners are genuine and doing the right thing. To all smugglers, the Authority is on top of the game and we are coming after you.”

Mongu Mayor, Western Water CEO Perish in Mkushi Road Accident

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Mongu Mayor, Western Water CEO Perish in Mkushi Road Accident

Mongu Mayor Nyambe Matakala and Western Water and Sanitation Company acting managing director Leah Banda have perished in a fatal road accident in Mkushi, Central Province.

According to the official statement from Zambia Police, the accident which claimed Matakala, 37 and Banda, 42 happened this morning around 05:30, three kilometers east of Mkushi.

The statement said Banda was driving an unregistered Nissan Caravan from Nakonde heading to Kapiri Mposhi and was with Matakala when their car collided with a copper-laden Howo Sino Truck with a Tanzanian registration number T759 DEN coming from Kasumbalesa.

The driver of the Howo Sino Truck fled the accident scene.

“The accident happened when the driver of the (Howo Sinotruk) was improperly overtaking (an unidentified) vehicle and collided head on with the Nissan Caravan, killing the driver and her passenger who sustained fatal body injuries,” according to the statement.

“The two bodies have been deposited to Mkushi District hospital mortuary while the Nissan caravan is extensively damaged.”

Western Water and Sanitation Company acting managing director Leah Banda
Western Water and Sanitation Company acting managing director Leah Banda

Yesterday, Former Transport Minister Brian Mushimba said that he was saddened by the recent spike in road accidents across Zambia.

Mr Mushimba said almost daily, there is a loved one being lost on the punishing roads across the country.

“As someone who once was in charge of road safety in the country while I served as minister of transportation, I am at pains to make sense of these painful and unfortunate events,” Dr Mushimba said.

“I remember during my time, we recognized that we needed immediate interventions while we planned for medium and long term solutions (such as better roads, dual carriage highways between towns, public mass transit transportation systems, etc).”

Dr Mushimba said as part of the immediate interventions, he signed a raft of Statutory Instruments (SIs) totaling 13.

“I was subsequently nicknamed the “Minister of SIs” by the media at the time. I wore that nickname as a badge of honor,” he stated.

“We had researched data that those SIs were necessary to stem the trend on accidents and fatalities. We signed SI to move heavy cargo off roads onto the rail. We signed SI to ban high occupancy vehicles driving in the thick of the night on poorly lit or marked roads. We signed SI to install speed governors in high occupancy vehicles. We signed SI to streamline driver training and strict conditions for acquiring driver licenses. And many more.”

Dr Mushimba said in the first year, Zambia reduced accidents and fatalities by 13% adding that the trend of reducing accidents and fatalities continued while he served in the Ministry of transportation.

“If these SIs are still standing, can the listening government enforce them better please? If they are not standing anymore, can new ones be instituted to save lives on these roads please?”

“Can we get a plan and timelines shared on the transition to medium term and long term solutions (i.e. dual carriage highways, public mass transit systems)? We can wait on many other things for implementation by the new government but life is at stake here on these roads.”

Bishop Mambo defends HH’s visit to see the Pope

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Bishop Mambo defends HH’s visit to see the Pope

By Bishop John Mambo

I wish to express my profound regret on some of our Christian groups that have vehemently and hysterically condemned our Republican President for visiting Pope Francis in Rome.

I wish to state that our immediate past President visited the same Pope but never received such astonishing criticism like the current President is receiving and that’s in itself is amazing.

First and foremost, the Pope is a Head of State and President Hichilema, I imagine, as Head of State visited him on that bilateral and diplomatic level, and not as a member of a particular church or denomination.

But most importantly brothers and sisters, the most important responsibility for any leader is to unite and not to divide, to include and not to exclude, to advance equity and fairness and not inequality, to gather and not scatter and I verily believe this is the very description and the profound character of Jesus Christ; to embrace and not to reject, to love and dialogue with those that are different from us, then to pour scorn and judge.

Reaching out to Moslems, Hindus and Bahais do not make one any of those faiths, but it makes one considerate, loving and Christ-like. Just like going out to trade in Dubai which is a preoccupation of some of those criticizing the President, does not make one a Moslem

From my standpoint, we must treat the body of Christ as being supreme and above religious or doctrinal affiliation. Christian is anchored on peace, love and harmony. Any message outside these three principles must be treated as not being from God, His Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

We must therefore emulate Christ by advancing the language of love than hatred because Jesus focused on reaching out to all even the gentiles.

Let’s give President Hakainde Hichilema a chance to unite a country that was once divided to it’s core. Those that condemn him for visiting the Pope must reach out to their consciences and decide if it’s not being done out of hate and anger, something the Christian faith preaches against.

Chanda Mbao Strikes Again !

Entertainment Editor
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Chanda Mbao Strikes Again !

If there’s one thing he’s known for, Chanda Mbao has created an excellent reputation for stellar visuals for his music. With the brand new fresh release, we get some cinematic scenes shot in the vineyards of Cape Town by Zambian director Fanwell. With a sensual and sultry musical backdrop, the visuals strike a similar tone with a beautiful leading lady (played by Happiness Hadebe) and Chanda enjoying some intimate time in an epic villa.

The song, ‘OK’ which was produced by Magician and AmoBeatz is a single from his 2021 EP, ‘Silk Sheets & Whipped Cream.’ Mbao says that he had been planning a video for the song for a long time but COVID-19 unfortunately forced his team to have to postpone the project. He notes, however, that many fans quote the song as one of their favorites so he couldn’t let them down and, as soon as he had the opportunity, he had to fulfill the promise he made to them that he would get it done.

If you haven’t heard the ‘Silk Sheets & Whipped Cream’ project, it can be streamed and downloaded here: http://bit.ly/SilkSheets

Enjoy the wonderful video from Chanda Mbao, which he says is the first of many in 2022 now that the world seems to be opening up and going back to normal!

South African rapper, Riky Rick has died at the age of 34, his family confirmed this in an official statement

Entertainment Editor
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South African rapper, Riky Rick has died at the age of 34, his family confirmed this in an official statement

South African rapper, Riky Rick has died at the age of 34, his family confirmed this in an official statement on Wednesday.

Real name Rikhado Muziwendlovu Makhado, Riky passed away on Wednesday in Johannesburg.
“Son, husband, father, brother and uncle, Riky ‘Ricky’ Makhado (34) sadly passed away in the early hours of Wednesday morning (23rd February) in Johannesburg,” the family said.
“Riky’s nurturing and developing of young musical talent is well documented and will forever be remembered,” the statement continues.
A few hours before his death, Riky tweeted: “I’ll return a stronger man. This land is still my home.”
It is not clear the cause of death. However, according to sources, the singer allegedly hunged himself with a rope after suffering from severe depression.
In a 2020 interview, Riky said that he suffered from “chronic depression” and found himself on a “destructive path” after the death of his father.
The Makhado family have requested privacy during this period.
The Sama-nominated rapper rose to fame in 2015 following the release of his single Nafukwa in 2014. His debut studio album Family Values was certified platinum by RiSA.
He founded the hip-hop festival Cotton Fest in 2019, which was set to return on 19 and 20 March.
On social media, several tributes keep pouring in for the rapper who was the founder and owner of the record label Cotton Club Records. He leaves behind his wife, two children, mother, and five siblings.

About Looting from State Coffers:Exaggerated amounts awarded to the plaintiffs

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About Looting from State Coffers:Exaggerated amounts awarded to the plaintiffs

By Sean Tembo – PeP President

1. In the last ex curia settlement which is in the public domain, the State agreed to pay K500,000 to the parents of Vespers Shimuzhila for the wrongful death of their 24-year-old daughter. Vespers was a University of Zambia student who died due to suffocation when the Zambia Police tear-gassed the student hostels in an effort to quell a student protest at UNZA. Clearly, Vespers had a full bright life ahead of her and the State determined that that life was worth K500,000. No legal fees were reimbursed to Vespers family in the consent judgment with the State.

2. Fast forward to this day, the State enters into another ex-curia settlement with Mukuni’s wife, Action Sejani + 3 others. This is for their wrongful detention by the Zambia Police service, a couple of days in police cells. The State decides that those couple of days in police cells are worth a whooping K500,000 to each of the plaintiffs, which totals K2,500,000. In addition to that amount, the State further agrees to reimburse K400,000 in legal fees per plaintiff. This means that each plaintiff will walk away with K900,000 for a few days in police detention.

3. We are not against the idea of the State compensating those who might have been injured by the actions of its agents, no. That is perfectly fine. But we oppose the exaggerated amounts awarded to the plaintiffs in this out-of-court settlement. How can the amount the State pays for wrongful death be lower than the amount paid for wrongful detention?

President Hakainde Hichilema with Vice President Mutale Nalumango having a light moment with Senior Chief Mukuni at State House
President Hakainde Hichilema with Vice President Mutale Nalumango having a light moment with Senior Chief Mukuni at State House

4. We are especially concerned because it is a well-documented fact that Mukuni is a business partner and close ally of President Hakainde Hichilema. Ackson Sejani is a senior Government official and Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission. Therefore, the plaintiffs in this case are either Government officials or closely connected to Government. To us, these actions amount to pilferage of national resources through frivolous claims by individuals who are connected to Government. Besides, Mukuni’s wife, Ackson Sejani + the 3 others were NOT acquitted of their charges. The DPP merely entered a nolle proseque, meaning that their charges can be reinstated at any time. So why was the Attorney General’s Chambers in a hurry to reach an exaggerated out-of-court statement with plaintiffs who had not been acquitted by the State? Especially given the fact that senior officials of the AGs chambers are relations of Mukuni?

5. Given the clear conflict of interest between Mukuni’s wife + 4 others and the AGs Chambers, the state should have avoided reaching any out-of-court settlement. They should have allowed the matter to go to trial so that the court makes its independent pronouncement on both the verdict and the amount of compensation if any. Had the amount of K500,000 + K400,000 legal fees per plaintiff come from the court, we would not have complained. But since it came from conflicted and compromised AGs chambers and the plaintiffs, that is why we are complaining.

6. Every well-meaning citizen should be concerned with this apparent looting of national resources. This is not a political issue. It is an accountability issue. It is not about Sean Tembo making noise. It is about the UPND administration demonstrating that they are prudently utilizing taxpayers’ money. That they are not illegally sharing taxpayers money among themselves and their sympathizers through frivolous consent judgments reached between a compromised and conflicted Attorney General’s Chambers and UPND sympathizers.

Maurice Jangulo is too close to key leaders in UPND government to be Investigated-Fred M’membe

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Maurice Jangulo is too close to key leaders in UPND government to be Investigated-Fred M’membe

Socialist Party President Fred M’membe has reiterated his challenge to the United Party for National Development(UPND) government to explain why it single-sourced Maurice Jangulo’s Alpha Commodities to supply 37,000 tonnes of fertilizers at $1,407 per tonne while the general market price is $1,000 per tonne – stealing an additional $15.059 million from the Zambian people in in what he described as super-profits.

In a post on Facebook, Dr M’membe said that Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) was given to supply 13,000 tonnes of fertilisers at $1,000 per tonne and on top of this Jangulo had no stocks of fertilizers and started going around trying to source the commodity from his competitors whom he had discredited in an audit he had initiated and influenced.

“We challenge this government to explain why Jangulo was allowed to control, direct, manipulate and falsify a fertiliser audit under its supervision and control. This is pure corruption that this government and the state agencies – ACC, DEC and the police – under its control have failed to deal with. Why?

“Our simple and only explanation is that Jangulo is too close to the key leaders of this government to be touched. He is their partner – he works and eats with them. Clearly, this government’s fight against corruption has gone down the drain,” the statement concluded.

Oil Marketing Companies expects Fuel Pump Price to rise at the next review

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Oil Marketing Companies expects Fuel Pump Price to rise at the next review

Oil Marketing Companies Association of Zambia (OMCAZ) has that that it is projecting at least a 2 percent upward adjustment in fuel pump prices at the impending review following the rise in crude oil prices on the international market to $97 per barrel.

The OMCs also cited the slight decline in the strength of the kwacha against major convertible currencies in addition to the Russian-Ukraine tensions that have negatively affected the price of crude oil on the international market.

OMCs Association President Dr. Kafula Mubanga has since suggested that government considers re-introducing fuel subsidies to reduce prices of diesel and petrol on the market, encourage private investments into fuel pipelines including between Mozambique and Zambia in order to cut down on the cost of transportation by almost 60 percent.

Dr. Mubanga has disclosed that OMCs have already secured over $25 million to invest in the creation of a pipeline between Mozambique and Zambia to lower the cost of transportation but also calls on government to consider the option of regional agreements to start accessing finished petroleum products directly from India.

And Energy Expert Boniface Zulu says the increase in crude oil on the international market is likely to affect Zambia. Commenting on crude oil price that is likely to hit $100 per barrel by the end of this week according to experts, Mr. Zulu says it is high time Zambia starts embracing electric mobility so as to cushion the over dependency on fuel.

Government Just received the recommendations on Bigamy-Justice Minister

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Government Just received the recommendations on Bigamy-Justice Minister

The government has said that recommendations by the Zambia Law Development Commission to harmonise provisions of the law on bigamy, does not entail that government wants to decriminalise the offence.

Justice Minister, Mulambo Haimbe said that stakeholders recommended the removal of the offence of bigamy in Section 166 of the Penal Code but maintain the same in Section 38 of the Marriage Act.

Mr. Haimbe said that the recommendations have been calculated to avoid duplicity of offence in the country’s statutes, further saying that the recommendations are not final as they will be subjected to further debates in the National Assembly

Mr. Haimbe said this in a ministerial statement in Parliament yesterday and clarified that the Technical Committee that has availed recommendations for the harmonisation of Zambia’s Statutes is not new as it was constituted in 2011 under the Movement for Multi-party Democracy-MMD.

Mr Haimbe said the United Party for National Development (UPND) is merely trying to facilitate the implementation of recommendations to harmonise Zambia’s Statues to guard against duplicity in the application of laws.

Below is the full statement

Ministerial statement

Delivered by the honourable minister of justice on the repeal of the law relating to bigamy in the penal code, chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia
February, 2022

Madam Speaker,

Thank you for according me the privilege to issue a ministerial statement on the recommendation by Zambia law development commission to repeal the provision relating to bigamy under the penal code, chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia. This topic has garnered a lot of debate across the country and the discussions and comments on the matter have necessitated my ministerial statement as the penal code falls under the ministry of justice.
The crux of the matter is whether the law relating to bigamy will be proposed for repeal when the penal code is reviewed.

Madam Speaker,
From the onset, it should be noted that the Zambia law devel0pment commission is an independent corporate body established under the Zambia Law Development Commission act, chapter 32 of the Laws of Zambia.

The functions of the Zambia law development commisison under section 4 of the Zambia law development commission act, are to among others-

(a) recommend the revision and reform of the law in Zambia;
(b) recommend the codification of unwritten laws in Zambia;
(c) review and consider proposals for law reform referred to the commission by the minister or the members of the public;
(d) hold seminars and conferences on legal issues;
(e) translate any piece of legislation into local languages;
(f) encourage international co-operation in the peformance of its functions under the act; and
(g) do all such things incidental or conducive to the attainment of the functions of the commission.

Madam Speaker,
Pursuant to the commission’s functions, the government in 2011 appointed a technical committee led by honourable justice chalwe mchenga, in collaboration with the Zambia law development commission to review the penal code chapter 87 and the criminal procedure code, chapter 88 of the laws of Zambia. A report of the said committee has since been submitted to the ministry of justice. The report has highlighted on page 35 that a person may be charged under section 166 of the penal code for the same conduct and offence of bigamy similar to that provided under section 38 of the marriage act, chapter 50 of the laws of Zambia.

Madam Speaker,
Section 38 of the marriage act provides that-
Any person who-
(a) contracts a marriage under this act, being at the time married in accordance with african customary law to any person other than the person with whom such marriage is contracted;
(b) having contracted a marriage under this act, during the continuance of such marriage contracts a marriage in accordance with african customary law shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years.

Provided that this section shall not extend to any person who contracts a marriage during the life of a former husband or wife, if such husband or wife, at the time of the subsequent marriage, shall have been continually absent from such person for the space of seven years, and shall not have been heard of by such person as being alive within that time.

While section 166 of the penal code provides that- Any person who, having a husband or wife living, goes through a ceremony of marriage which is void by reason of its taking place during the life of such husband or wife, is guilty of a felony and is liable to imprisonment for five years:
Provided that this section shall not extend to any person whose marriage with such husband or wife has been declared void by a court of competent jurisdiction, nor to any person who contracts a marriage during the life of a former husband or wife, if such husband or wife, at the time of the subsequent marriage, shall have been continually absent from such person for the space of seven years, and shall not have been heard of by such person as being alive within that time.

Madam Speaker,
it is on this premise that the committee recommended on page 44 of the report that the offence of bigamy be repealed from the penal code to avoid duplicity of offences in the statute book as the statute book is read as one. Therefore, if the offence of bigamy was repealed under the penal code, it would still remain an offence under the marriage act. It will be seen therefore, that rather than the speculation among members of the public and stakeholders in general that the new dawn government has taken a position on polygamy in Zambia, all that has been done is a recommendation to clear up the stattute book. Even then appropriate committee will take views of all stakeholders in the event such an amendment comes before the house for consideration.

Madam Speaker,
The above notwithstanding, the repeal of the provision relating to bigamy under the penal code remains a recommendation and this is to avoid duplicity on the statute book.
The recommendation must be considered by the cabinet through the internal legislative processes before it is submitted to parliament for enactment.

Madam Speaker, ultimately, the decision lies with the Zambian people through its representatives in this august house on whether to repeal the offence of bigamy under the penal code if the amendment is made and once all the legislative processes are concluded and an amendment bill is tabled in the house.

Madam Speaker,
I thank you!

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