Join our community of SUBSCRIBERS and be part of the conversation.
To subscribe, simply enter your email address on our website or click the subscribe button below. Don't worry, we respect your privacy and won't spam your inbox. Your information is safe with us.
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.
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
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.
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 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.
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.
Cabinet has said that the ban which was imposed by the government on the harvesting, trading, and exportation of Mukula timber logs remains in force.
Government-issued a ban in October last year.
Chief Government Spokesperson, Chushi Kasanda said that Cabinet is of the view that the citizens need to fully benefit from the natural resource and that Mukula is one such important natural resource to Zambians.
Ms Kasanda says Cabinet has also resolved that during the period of the ban, relevant government institutions will take stock of all the Mukula logs that is lying around the country and be placed in secure places.
Ms Kasanda said the decision was made during the 3rd Cabinet Meeting called by President Hakainde Hichilema, to discuss legislative and other general policy issues.
And Ms Kasansa, who is also Information and Media Minister, said Cabinet further resolved that in the medium to long-term, value-addition should be a step to take on all timber species.
She said government shall facilitate establishment of timber processing industries countrywide as a way to create the much-needed employment and wealth especially for the rural communities and the youth.
Meanwhile, Ms Kasanda said that Cabinet has approved the signing of the Bilateral Agreement between the Zambia and Botswana aimed at creating the Kazungula Bridge Authority.
She said the Authority will be mandated with the responsibility to operate, manage and maintain the Bridge and One-Stop Border Infrastructure on behalf of the two Governments, in line with international standards and best practice.
Ms Kasanda said Cabinet agreed that the two governments should come with the necessary legal framework to facilitate smooth operation of the Authority.
And during the meeting, Cabinet also approved in principle, three legislative matters.
Ms Kasanda said cabinet approved the introduction of a Bill in Parliament to operationalise the National School of Government, the Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training (Repeal and Replacement) Bill, 2022 and the Work Based Learning ill, 2022.
She also stated that Cabinet considered and approved the appointment of a nine Member Lusaka Solid Waste Management Utility Board.
Information and Media Minister Chushi Kasanda has unveiled the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) Board following the appointment of members on Friday, 18th February, 2022.
Members of the IBA Board include Chikosola Chuula, Victoria Sombo Mupwaya, Oliver Kanene and Elizabeth Mweene Chanda.
Others are Mumbuna Kufekisa, Bishop Benson Banda, Professor Jameson Mbale, Susan Ndumingu and Makasa Lazarous Luomde.
Speaking during the unveiling ceremony in Lusaka today, Ms. Kasanda urged Board members to exercise highest levels of impartiality and professionalism in carrying out their responsibilities which are well outlined in the IBA Act without fear of favor.
She further reminded the Board to ensure that all its decisions and actions are supported by the law to avoid subjecting the Authority to ridicule and embarrassment.
“I wish to assure you that Government will allow you to enjoy the independence that is guaranteed in Section 6 of the IBA Act of 2022 whish states ‘except otherwise provided in this Act, the Authority shall not subject to the direction of any other person or authority,” she said.
Ms. Kasanda noted that the issuance of radio and television licenses is one of the key functions of the Board as mandated by the IBA Act adding that Zambians expect the Board to perform this duty in a fair and transparent manner.
She also advised the Board to give due regard to the need to discourage monopolies in the industry in accordance with the Competition and Fair Trading Act.
“Government is also demanding efficiency from the Board in running the affairs of the Authority especially in the issuance of radio and television licenses.
The board needs to dispose of cases that are brought to its attention quickly in order to change the perception that the IBA takes too long to deal with matters that are presented before it,” she said.
She encouraged Board members to familiarize themselves with the law that governs the operation as well as other procedures of the IBA.
And IBA Board member Victoria Sombo assured Government that the new board will ensure transparency and fairness in its operations.
“We would like to further commit our collective commitment and resolve to be able to deliver to the people of Zambia, a transparent and an IBA board that is able to further give a contribution that is required in the broadcasting sector,” she said.
A UNIVERSITY of Zambia researcher has been appointed to the editorial advisory board of the Journal of African History (JAH); a prestigious peer-reviewed academic journal published by Cambridge University Press in the United Kingdom.
Dr Sishuwa Sishuwa, a lecturer in the Department of History, becomes the first Zambian academic to be appointed to the coveted role.
Established in 1960, the Journal of African History publishes articles and book reviews ranging widely over the African past, from ancient times to the present, and covering social, economic, political, cultural, and intellectual history.
In choosing Dr Sishuwa, the editorial board praised the “excellence of [his] research”.
Being on the board entails agreeing to read and review the articles to be published in the JAH, attending editorial board meetings, offering advice to editors on new ideas, soliciting articles, and identifying reviewers, among other duties.
The term of office for editorial board members is five years.
Dr Sishuwa obtained his doctorate in History from the University of Oxford where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar.
His PhD thesis was a biographical study of long-time politician and, from 2011-14, president Michael Sata, which provides an instructive analysis of the non-institutional factors that have shaped Zambia’s political and economic development since independence.
He was then appointed to a lectureship position at the University of Zambia in 2015.
Dr Sishuwa’s scholarly work focuses on the political history of post-colonial Zambia and locates current political developments in a historical context, showing that the roots of contemporary democratic politics in Africa lie in the early post-colonial and even late-colonial periods.
He has published widely on nationalism, identity politics, democracy, civil society, elections, political leadership, and historical biography.
Dr Sishuwa’s current research examines the often-surprising pillars of democratic resilience in Zambia through a close and historically informed analysis of the country’s 2021 general election.
His research has had noticeable impact beyond academia.
In addition to being regularly consulted by policy makers, donors and non-governmental organisations in Zambia, Kenya, and South Africa, Dr Sishuwa has also shaped public debates through a steady stream of highly regarded writings and interviews on Zambian politics in the print, online and broadcast media, including international news channels such as eNCA, the BBC, CNN, and Al Jazeera.
Shepolopolo Zambia are going to camp in Europe for a month ahead of the 2022 Women’s AFCON campaign in July while Chipolopolo are set to face Bafana-Bafana South Africa next month in a friendly in France.
Shepolopolo has just qualified for their second successive WAFCON after eliminating Namibia on away goals rule after their final round tie ended 1-1 on aggregate following a draw by the same score line on February 22 away in Johannesburg.
The 2022 WAFCON will be held in Morocco from July 2-23.
“We have three months in which to prepare the team and it remains our conviction that if we are going to have any success at the tournament,” FAZ President Andrew Kamanga said when he received Shepolopolo on Wednesday at KK International Airport in Lusaka from South Africa.
“We need to prepare the team adequately which we have always done in the past.
“Already we are looking to camp the team in Europe for one month so that we are able to compete and not going there to make up the numbers. Our target this time is to finish in the top four and hopefully, we can go to the World Cup.”
Shepolopolo has made two group stage exits in as many tournament appearances.
Meanwhile, FAZ has disclosed the date of March’s friendly against South Africa while negotiations for a second friendly against a yet to be named opponent during next month’s FIFA Window are still ongoing.
“Already in March, we have a FIFA window and we have arranged two friendlies. We are playing South Africa in France on the 25th and the second game on the 29th,” Kamanga said.
“This is where we need that level of support and help. We cannot do it on our own. We always invest in friendlies and the result could be better if we had more additional support.”
New Chipolopolo coach Aljosa Asanovic is using the friendlies as warm-up ahead of June’s Cote d’Ivoire 2023 AFCON qualifier.
Mines minister Paul Kabuswe has announced the immediate 30-day suspension of the issuance of mining licenses which he said has been marred by corruption by officers at his Ministry.
Addressing the media this morning, Mr. Kabuswe said that the suspension of the issuance of mining licenses is to allow for the cleaning up of the system and establish the exact point of corruption.
Mr. Kabuswe said that the Ministry has been dealing with alleged abuse of the mining rights administration of the mining cadastra department leading to serious damage to the reputation of the department and Ministry.
He indicated that the Ministry inherited a rotten system which has led to the perpetuation of corrupt practices and will use the suspension period as well reforms to correct the situation for the benefit of both local and foreign investors.
He revealed that the Ministry will in the next one month undertake an extensive audit on mining rights, undertake a work-study on the processes at the department as well as undertake internal reorientation training for members if staff.
“Due to the technical nature of this assignment, the work will be undertaken by a cross function internal team of officers with high integrity and competence from internal audit, Mines development, Mines safety, and mining cadastre”, he said.
The Mines Minister has since revealed that any mining license Issued during the period of the suspension shall be null and void and added that his office will not tolerate gangsterism in the industry which leads to lawlessness.
The mining sector has witnessed a rise in the number of illegal activities needing quick reforms and solutions to allow genuine investors and artisans to participate in the sector. UPND cadres at the Black Mountain Handover ceremony
Meanwhile, daily nation reported that Hakainde Hichilema should scrutinize the list of cooperatives that are supposed to benefit from the black mountain because it was fake and engineered by some ministers.
The Emerald and Semi-Precious Stones Association of Zambia (ESMAZ) has accused ministers of creating cooperatives to share in the black mountain, through which they could also benefit.
ESMAZ General Secretary, Shadreck Mwape made the allegations in an exclusive interview with the Daily Nation in Kitwe.
He said, during the handover of the black mountain by the Mines Minister Paul Kabuswe last week, his association demanded to know how many cooperatives were there and their names, but no convincing answer was given.
This, he said, has led his association to conclude that the cooperatives were fake and came from Lusaka so that they could benefit from the Nkana Slug dump popularly known as the ‘Black Mountain”.
Mr Mwape, however, said some aggrieved UPND cadres told him that some of the cooperatives which had come at the black mountain had come with a named minister from Lusaka so that he could use them to benefit from the Black Mountain
He said his association was not happy with the way the whole thing was handled and so decided to issue a statement in the media to express its displeasure on the matter
“Yes, we went to the Black Mountain, hoping that we can also benefit from President Hakainde Hichilema’s gesture, but we were not happy with the way things were being done. We were dribbled. We asked about how many cooperatives will benefit and their names, but we could not be told.
“We later came to know that we could not be told the number and the names of the Cooperatives because most of them were fake cooperatives and belonged to some ministers. This is likely to cause confusion at the Black Mountain because even some UPND youths are not happy,’’ Mr Mwape said
Mr Mwape said ESMAZ was deeply disappointed in the manner the Black Mountain was being divided or shared among the youths, warning that a good gesture from the republican President can be messed up by greediness and selfish by few selfish individuals
“What the government or Ministry of Mines is forgetting is that the parents of youths are custodian of this change of ushering in the UPND into government. Mufulira UPND youth district & constituencies executives witnessing the official handover of the black mountain in kitwe by Hon Paul Kabuswe mines minister & Elisha Matambo copperbelty minister..
Last week, Mines Minister Paul Kabuswe handed over the 30 per cent shares in the Black Mountain to Women and Youths, which hand over left many questions than answers in terms of operations and payment modalities
The Mines Minister said his ministry would work tirelessly to ensure that President Hakainde Hichilema’s goal to promote sanity in the mining sector was achieved
He also said anyone that would raise any confusion to bring disturbance with the operations would be dealt with, saying the approach has been holistic so he did not expect gangsterism to be part of these operations.
And Mr Matambo said he was happy the government had fulfilled its promise to empower the Zambians on the Copperbelt with the slug dump aimed at providing employment and food security at household level.
“Copperbelt was an engine of development in the country therefore the need for government to continue investing in its people and the mining sector. My office would ensure close monitoring of the works to see to it that sanity and safety of the operators prevails to avoid calamities,’’ he said.
The Livingstone High Court has awarded Veronica Mukuni and four others K500, 000 each as damages for false imprisonment and malicious prosecution.
This is in a matter in which the five were facing two counts of abduction with intent to confine, contrary to the laws of Zambia.
Her Majesty Veronica Mukuni was jointly charged with businessman, Fines Malambo, Ackson Sijani, Vincent Lilanda and Javen Simooloka for allegedly abducting Pheluna and Milton Hatembo.
However, the state entered a nolle prosequi after several adjournments in the matter.
The Five later sued the State demanding K2 million each as compensation for false imprisonment and Malicious prosecution.
In a consent order dated 14th February 2022, the Livingstone High Court has also ordered the State to pay K400, 000 legal costs to the plaintiff advocates.
The Hantembo’s claimed that they had gone into hiding following threats on their lives.
The Anti Corruption Commission has been formally requested to investigate how Judicial Complaints Commission Chairperson Vincent Malambo, S.C acquired five houses in Silverest Gardens in Chongwe.
In a letter to the Commission delivered today, Chomba Chiti, a resident of Woodlands in Lusaka contends that Mr. Malambo should be placed under investigation for the irregular manner in which the five houses were acquired.
Mr. Chiti says Mr. Malambo was engaged by the Zambian government to provide legal services in a matter in which Henan Guoji, the developers of Silverest Gardens had sued the government and the Zambia Development Agency.
He said this was after a dispute arose between the National Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research, the owners of the land and the Chinese developer.
According to Mr. Chiti, Mr. Malambo did not receive any payment for legal services but ended up receiving five houses in Silverest after he entered Consent Judgement.
Mr. Chiti said the actions of Mr. Malambo in this matter raise serious ethical and procedural issues adding that it is highly unethical for a Lawyer to convert legal fees into the property.
Mr. Chiti stressed that as Chairman of the Judicial Complaints Commission, Mr. Malambo is expected to be a man of high integrity and beyond reproach hence the need for the Commission to seriously investigate how he ended up acquiring five houses from his client without receiving any legal fees for legal services rendered.
“It is against this background that I now formally report Mr Malambo to the commision for Corruption and I truest that you will launch an investigation into this matter urgently due to its importance and the fact that Mr. Malambo is a close associate of President Hakainde Hichilema and currently occupies a very strategic position in the Judiciary, ” Mr Chiti said.
President Hakainde Hichilema swore in Mr. Malambo as Chairperson of the Judicial Complaints Commission on December 21st 2021 after Parliamentary ratification.
The National Consortium of Persons with Disabilities says the New Dawn Government must utilize the opportunity to leave a strong legacy echoed in pro-disability inclusion in governance.
Zambia ratified the United Nation Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in May, 2008 with the commitment to translate it into the domestic statutes.
Furthermore, Zambia enacted the Persons with Disabilities Act No. 06 of 2012.
Consortium vice-Chairperson Dr. Frankson Musukwa said the international protocols Zambia has signed and the Persons with Disabilities Act No. 06 of 2012 have failed to deliver the persons with disabilities at required level as can be witnessed with continued exclusion of persons with disabilities in decision making processes.
Dr. Musukwa, who is also Executive Director at Zambia Deaf Youth and Women, said the UPND Government should facilitate the creation of a favourable environment to ensure the political, economic, social and cultural inclusion of persons with disabilities by engaging them in all policy, legal matters and decision making related directly to them.
“Unfortunately, the enactment of the Persons with Disabilities Act No. 06 of 2012 has failed to deliver the persons with disabilities at required level as can be witnessed with continued exclusion of persons with disabilities in decision making processes and legal reform consultation process in the country. The commitment by the administration of President Hakainde Hichilema during the election campaign to promote inclusion of persons with disabilities has not yielded any desirable results six (6) months after ascending to power,” Dr. Musukwa said.
He bemoaned the exclusion of persons with disability on recently reconstituted boards of various statutory bodies.
“We have continued to see with apprehension appointment of board members to various statutory bodies to the exclusion of persons with disabilities by line Ministers even where issues have direct effect on persons with disabilities. We challenge the two senior government officials to tell the nation the truth on what has transpired to 64 CVs as exclusion and injustice has continued to be perpetuated by the government. Let’s take a sampling with recently appointed board members for Statutory bodies that include, Water Utility companies, ZESCO board, NAPSA Board, IBA Board, ZNBC Board and RDA Board among others no persons with disabilities is sitting on those board so far which is sufficient substantiation of exclusion from the New Dawn administration,” Dr. Musukwa said.
He said the commitment by the UPND during the election campaign to promote inclusion of persons with disabilities has not yielded any desirable results six (6) months after ascending to power.
“Moreover we wish to register our disenchantment with the Honourable Minister of Community Development and Social Service who is empowered under the Persons with Disabilities Act no. 06 of 2012 Section 13 to appoint a functional and competent board has but regrettably she has continued to give a silent voice on the urgent need to appoint the board for Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities (ZAPD) which is key to good corporate governance and enhanced service delivery to persons with disabilities. Since October, 2019 ZAPD has been operating without board members to ensure corporate good governance,” he said.
Dr. Musukwa said participation in decision making is a cornerstone and fundamental human right for all including persons with disabilities.
“Participation in decision making is a cornerstone and fundamental human right for all, including persons with disabilities. Active participation in decision making at the personal, familial, and communal levels gives hope to persons with disabilities that they can be productive members of society, and can consider themselves as a valued part of society, compelling their social inclusion in mainstream society. The commitment of the 2030 Agenda to ‘leave no one behind’ underpins the importance of the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the good governance and decision making process: The agenda and five out of 17 SDGs reference disability and persons with disabilities. SDG 16 addresses governance, inclusion, participation and rights.”
Dr. Musukwa added:”It links directly with the above articles of the UN CRPD, especially target 16.3 on equal access to justice for all, and target 16.7 on inclusive, participatory decision-making at all levels. The New Dawn administration has an opportunity to either leave a strong legacy echoed in pro disability inclusion government or a bad until now as disability inclusive and participatory decision making process is concerned in 21st century.”
Government has reaffirmed its commitment to restructure, reposition and redefine the role that trade plays in the development equation of the country.
Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry Permanent Secretary Chawe Chuulu observed that this is in recognition that trade plays in reducing poverty and inequality that most countries are faced with.
Mrs. Chuulu notes that this is why there is need for concerted efforts in redesigning policies targeted at addressing these issues.
ZANIS reports that Mrs Chuulu aws speaking in a speech read for her by Director Foreign Trade in MCTI Bessie Chilemu during a two days media seminar in Lusaka today.
Mrs Chuulu explained that her Ministry has plans to establish a clear and coherent trade facilitation approach which will enhance trade for both small and large traders.
She said the objective of trade facilitation is to reposition the country to gain competitiveness in the domestic, regional and international markets through various interventions.
She cited the upgrading of the Chirundu, Mwami and Nakonde One Stop Border Posts (OSBP), addressing the low uptake and implementation of Coordinated Border Management (CBM) principles, inadequate legal framework on trade facilitation and lack of equipment at three border posts among others.
The PS however, stated that without proper information dissemination all the expected outcome will not be achieved hence the need for the media to be proactive when it comes to reporting on trade and integration matters.
She said it is for this reason that the media seminar will enhance the relationship between the journalists who write on trade and integration and sources of information on the need to highlight the changes that are taking place in trade and development spaces.
Mrs Chuulu has since urged the participating journalists to strengthen their reporting and make follow-ups on various trade facilitation and regional integration subjects for the benefit of the general populace.
Earlier the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Assistant Secretary General, Kipyego Cheluget has expressed concern on the low levels of reporting on trade and business related issues among the media in Zambia
Ambassador Cheluget explained that despite the topic being key in fostering economic development in the country, only a few journalists have taken interest to report on the subject thereby denying the public the right to information on trade facilitation and regional integration.
He stated that this is why there is a need for the media to take a paradigm shift and ensure that business and trade related stories are made to compete favourably with other sectors such as politics.
He added that to this effect, COMESA will continue to support and partner with media houses and individual journalists that have shown interest to consistently write on trade and region integration subjects.
The two days seminar has drawn participation of journalists from print, electronic and online media houses in Lusaka.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has officially handed over recovered proceeds of crime amounting to K65, 330,000 to the state through the Ministry of Finance and National Planning.
The Joint Investigative Team from the Anti-Corruption Commission, Zambia Police Service, Drug Enforcement Commission and Financial Intelligence Centre late last year concluded investigations involving Margaret Chisela Musonda, also called Faith Musonda in which she was found in possession of ZMW 65, 333, 046 and US$ 57, 900 which was discovered in a house in New Kasama.
ACC said at the time that the commission will not institute criminal proceedings against Ms. Musonda because Ms. Musonda has made a full disclosure of the monies in question and has willingly surrendered the same to the State.
Ms. Musonda was charged with Possession of Property Reasonably Suspected to be Proceeds of Crime contrary to Section 71 of the Forfeiture of Proceeds of Crimes Act No.19 of 2010.
Speaking during the handover ceremony in Lusaka on Wednesday morning, Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane said the recovered funds from corruption will be given to the Ministry of Education to be used as additional university bursaries in 2022.
Dr. Musokotwane said the funds will benefit additional 2,232 university students across the nation who were left out on government bursaries in December 2021 due to budget constraints.
The Minister of Finance applauded the joint investigative team recovering suspected illegally-obtained assets and money.
“As you may be aware, the Zambia police carried out an operation in Lusaka’s new Kasama area, on 17th September 2021, were they discovered trunks of cash amounting to k65, 330, 000. In addition, there was also a safe containing us$57,900. Both sums of money were suspected to have been stolen or unlawfully obtained. Ladies and gentlemen investigations into this matter were immediately commenced, and on 21st October 2021, the joint investigative team from the anti-corruption commission, Zambia police service, drug enforcement commission and the financial intelligence centre concluded investigations. The state, therefore, re-possessed these funds after charging the owner with possession of property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime,” Dr. Musokotwane said.
Dr. Musokotwane explained how the recovered funds will be utilized.
“Regarding the recovered assets in question today, I wish to confirm that the treasury has since officially received them. These funds will be utilised for a prudent and noble cause that fosters the common good of the people of Zambia, especially the youth. The youth are the anchor of this country’s future. The resolve and focus of this new dawn administration is to ensure that public funds are invested in areas that truly benefit society,” he said.
“To compensate for the abolished fees, grants from the government to public schools were significantly increased. These funds for school grants were already transmitted to all the schools before the first term of 2022 opened. This act, though incredibly costly on the part of the government, was in fulfillment of one of the most important commitments that the new dawn government made to the people of Zambia,” Dr. Musokotwane said.
He concluded: “Already, this act alone seems to have changed things for the better because some schools are reporting higher enrollment than before. Today we have high numbers of Zambian children from underprivileged households accessing free education. The benefits to the nation of this improved access to education on the quality of life, individuals’ livelihoods and economic development as a whole is incalculable. Zambian treasury fellow citizens you may also recall from the 2022 budget address, I made a commitment on behalf of the republican president, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, to tackle the challenges relating to the inadequacy of university bursaries for many of our bright young men and women across the nation. I am here today to do something about that challenge. In that regard, and after comprehensive analysis and wider consultations, your government has decided to use the funds that have been recovered from corruption to provide additional university bursaries in 2022.”
