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El Mukuka and Gaz Mawete once-again join forces and release the superb single ‘Te Ou’

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El Mukuka and Gaz Mawete once-again join forces and release the superb single ‘Te Ou’

Zambian DJ and Producer, El Mukuka once again joins forces with Congolese superstar Gaz Mawete on the brand-new single ‘Te Ou’ – out across all digital platforms today.

Following the success of ‘Bosana’ released in Mid-2021, El Mukuka collaborates again with Congolese singer Gaz Mawete, and this time on the original release ‘Te Ou’. Mukuka recalls how the reunion came about saying “After working on ‘Bosana’ in 2021 I became fascinated with Gaz’s voice and writing style and always knew we would work together again.

Towards the end of 2021 I started working on the instrumental for ‘Te Ou’ and as I began to think about vocals and who to approach in terms of vocalists and songwriters, my gut feeling told me to send the demo to Gaz first to see if he was keen. Thankfully he was and we quickly dove right into the project. One of the most interesting things about ‘Te Ou’ is the song structure. I think it’s rather atypical but works at the same time, which I love.” Mawete lyrically mixes his native Lingala language with French and explains what ‘Te Ou’ is about, saying “The song ‘Te Ou’ [translated to English, meaning “Where are you”) is a cry of alarm for my soul mate, who moves further and further away from me.”

A maestro in the Afro House genre along with his world class production skills, El Mukuka has always had a great intuition when it came to which artists he should work with. Gaz Mawete is certainly one of those talents and Mukuka has much respect for him. “Working with Gaz has really been such a smooth experience. He thoroughly understands his strengths as a singer and has a unique approach to songwriting, which I think generates really interesting results when mixed with electronic music. Lingala is also such a beautiful and musical language and when mixed with a bit of French it’s an explosion of colors!” mentions Mukuka. There’s seems to be a real musical connection between Mukuka and Mawete, who intriguingly have still not met in person.

Mawete elaborates saying “Working with El Mukuka is always a pleasure, there is a certain alchemy that binds us. It’s the second song we’ve made together, but we’ve never met and that’s the magic of the world we live in.”

‘El Mukuka – Te Ou (feat. Gaz Mawete)’ is out now across all digital platforms.

Listen HERE

Chinese national injured at Ruida mine in Kasempa

Chief Editor
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Chinese national injured at Ruida mine in Kasempa

A Chinese miner has been injured while working underground in a mine accident at Ruida mines in Kasempa district in North Western Province.

Provincial Deputy Commissioner of Police, Fred Mulenga confirmed the incident to ZANIS yesterday.

“One male Chinese national namely, Liangjun Cao aged 46 a supervisor at the same mine was hit by a rock underground on the chest, he was rushed to Mukinge Mission Hospital,” Mr. Mulenga said.

He added that the victim was later taken to Chinese a hospital in Kitwe where he is currently admitted and is in a stable condition.

Meanwhile, Kasempa Council Chairperson, Brian Kakonkanya disclosed that there is a need to critically look at safety at mines.

“We cannot continue losing lives at a mine which is in our community, if we continue losing lives that is going to affect productivity, it is going to affect everything and the community is going to be affected because that mine is actually serving a lot in the community,” Mr. Kakonkanya said.

He added that his office is going to engage the safety department to carry out an investigation so that the cause of the accident can be established.

“The investigation should be established whether the underground portion of the mine is secure enough to guarantee the safety of all the miners working underground,” Mr Kakonkanya added.

He disclosed that there is need to find a lasting remedy to the safety problems at Ruida mine, adding that one life lost is life too many to lose.

No Zambia killed in Ukraine- Russia war – Kakubo

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No Zambia killed in Ukraine- Russia war – Kakubo

Foreign Affairs Minister Stanley Kakubo says that all the 14 Students have exited Sumy as well as Ukraine.

Stating that 12 of the students are in Warsaw awaiting evacuation back to Zambia, Mr. Kakubo says 22 students have however opted to remain in Europe after safely exiting war-torn Ukraine.

During a briefing at his office, Mr. Kakubo noted that out of the three students in Kharkov, two of them have moved to a safer city and may opt to exit Ukraine at an opportune time.

He added that one student has safely evacuated out of Ukraine but has indicated that he will not be traveling back home.

“I wish to take this opportunity to thank the hardworking and dedicated team of government officials that have been working day and night to coordinate the evacuation plan,” he said.

The minister commended government officials for doing a remarkable job in ensuring the safe evacuation of Zambian students in Ukraine.

He paid gratitude to each and every member of the multi-sectoral team for the fighting spirit to evacuate the children.

Mr. Kakubo further stated that Government is thankful to God for the safety of the Zambian nationals and for the safe journey out of harm’s way.

“Allow me to pay special tribute to our Honorary Consul Bartoz Brusikiewicz (Mr. Bart) without whom, this difficult assignment would have been even more challenging than it was,” he said.

He also encouraged nationals yet to leave Poland for Zambia to remain strong as the country is finalizing their return to Zambia.

The Foreign Affairs Minister thanked the Zambian people for all the prayers and support for carrying out the important national assignment successfully.

He during the brief disclosed that no Zambian has died in the war and encouraged 600 Zambians in Russia to register with Zambian Embassy in Moscow, for accountability sake.

Recently Russia declared war with Ukraine thereby unsettling Ukrainian and foreign nationals like Zambians who were resident there.

KCM liquidator Milingo Lungu suspended

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KCM liquidator Milingo Lungu suspended

Konkola Copper Mines KCM Provisional Liquidator Milingo Lungu has been suspended.

Mr. Milingo Lungu has been suspended by the Official Receiver Natasha Kalimukwa pending the outcome of an inquiry instituted pursuant to section 69 subsection One of the Corporate Insolvency Act Number 9 of 2017.

In a statement, Ms. Kalimukwa says Mr. Lungu has been notified of the suspension, which has been made following receipt of a complaint lodged by ZCCM Investment Holdings PLC relating to contract mismanagement, financial mismanagement, and asset mismanagement.

She further says Mr. Lungu’s suspension shall neither stop the liquidation process nor lead to a handover of the mining operations to Vendatta Limited.

In May 2019, ZCCM Investment Holdings PLC had asked the Lusaka High Court to grant them an order to appoint Milingo Lungu of Messrs Lungu Simwanza and Company as provisional liquidator of KCM and the order was signed and granted.

MP challenges ACC to close in on Mwambazi as more details of his shoddy deals emerge

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MP challenges ACC to close in on Mwambazi as more details of his shoddy deals emerge

The Anti Corruption Commission has been challenged to take an interest in the matter in which Parliamentary Accounts Committee Chairman Warren Mwambazi has been implicated in the face mask supply scandal at DMMU.

And further details have emerged showing that Mr. Mwambazi’s company was irregularly awarded several lucrative contracts under the PF administration.

And some Members of Parliament have resolved to push for the removal of Mr. Mwambazi from the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee.

The MP who opted to have his name withheld said the ACC should now move in and investigate Mr. Mwambazi’s shoddy deals now that Speaker Nellie Mutti has asked him to recuse himself from chairing PAC hearings when matters involving his company come up.

The Member of Parliament stated that Mr. Mwambazi is exhibiting arrogance by describing MPs questioning his integrity as “boys making noise.”

The MP said the Commission should launch investigations into Mr. Mwambazi’s business conduct if the Commission is serious about fighting corruption.

“There is a lot of evidence to show that the PAC Chairman is not as clean as he portrays himself during those hearings and the ACC has a duty to take an interest in this matter. What the Speaker did when she ruled yesterday confirms that there is something sinister in his (Mwambazi) business dealings,” he said.

The MP said the Commission should investigate how Mr. Mwambazi obtained lucrative contracts at the Kafulafuta Dam Project and feeder road construction contracts at the Ministry of Local Government.

He revealed that the Commission should also move in and investigate how Mr. Mwambazi is allegedly using a Ndola-based energy firm Kapekisa Oil Marketing Company to obtain favours from Energy Minister Peter Kapala.

“The ACC should question why Mwambazi is using Kapekisa, a company in which he has interest to obtain pecuniary advantage in oil tenders from the Ministry of Energy. The close relationship between Mr. Kapala and Mwambazi is questionable because prior to the elections, these two people didn’t even know each other but now they have formed a close bond such that Minister Kapala even appointed Mwambazi’s wife Mazuba into the Rural Electrification Board without any qualifications,” he said.


The Member of Parliament wondered why Kabushi Member of Parliament Bowman Lusambo’s wife has been arrested for concealing property suspected to have been proceeds of crime while Mr. Mwambazi is still driving a vehicle that belongs to Mr. Lusambo has not been interrogated.

“The ACC was so fast in closing in on Mrs. Lusambo that she obtained property that they suspect was illegally acquired by her husband but here you have Mwambazi who is still driving a vehicle ( Toyota GX Reg. BAE 5990) which he got from Mr. Lusambo and he hasn’t even been questioned by the Commission.”

The MP alleged that Mr. Mwambazi is trying to downplay the seriousness of the allegations leveled against him by refusing to state his position on the matter.

“You have a guy who is abusing his privileges as PAC Chairman to malign his colleagues from the previous administration when he is a full beneficiary of the same PF system that rewarded its cadres. He shouldn’t be allowed to use PAC to scandalize his friends.”

He added, “everybody knows that Mwambazi was sponsored by Hon. Lusambo to win the Bwana Mkubwa seat, so if the ACC is after Bowman as a genuine fight against corruption, they should also go for Mwambazi because he is a beneficiary of Bowman’s perceived corruption.”

And some Members of Parliament have resolved to proceed to have Mr. Mwambazi removed from the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee.

The MPs stated that the way Mr. Mwambazi has responded to the face mask scandal has the potential of undermining public confidence in the work of the Committee.

Actionaid Zambia Expectations For The State Of The Nation Address On National Values And Principles

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Actionaid Zambia Expectations For The State Of The Nation Address On National Values And Principles

By Nalucha Nganga Ziba ActionAid Country Director

ActionAid Zambia eagerly awaits the details of President Hakainde Hichilema’s 2022 State of the Nation Address (SONA) this Friday (11th March 2022). The state of the Nation Address provides an opportunity for the President to articulate the plans and progress made thus far in the application of national values and principles by the UPND Government. As an organization that focuses on social justice and ending poverty, we look forward to the President presenting policy direction in terms of an agenda that is responsive to the challenges faced by the Zambian people in general, Women and Youth in Particular. Further, we are expectant that the president will provide his government’s clear roadmap in addressing the following:

1. Women Empowerment

President Hichilema during his first address to Parliament on the Official opening of the 1st Session of the National Assembly made a commitment that his government would place a premium on empowering women by enhanced livelihood programs, he further indicated that his government would prioritize women empowerment as a strategy for overcoming poverty, marginalization, and other social ills. As an organization, we believe that decisive policy reforms are key in the Political Social and Economic empowerment of women. ActionAid Zambia expects that the President will use the SONA as an opportunity to announce the setting up of the Gender Equality and Equity Commission as established by the Gender Equity and Equality Act No. 22 of 2015 in part III Article 6 which is in line with Article 231 of the Constitution that seeks to promote gender mainstreaming. We also expect the President to move the department of Gender from the Office of the Vice President to the Office of the President and appoint a Minister responsible for Gender under the Office of the President. ActionAid also notes the low levels of women participation and presence in Government Structures, as an organization, we would like to see the President addressing practical steps that promote the inclusion of women in governance structures during the SONA.

2. Civic Participation and State Accountability.

The President of Zambia in his Inaugural speech and first address to Parliament indicated his commitment to fighting corruption and putting a lid on illicit financial flaws. The fight against corruption, which has robbed off Public Resources requires bold legislative and policy reforms aimed at strengthening the autonomy and independence of the law enforcement agencies that are tasked with the responsibility of fighting corruption and financial related crimes. We therefore Expect the President to set the tone in terms of development of the Anti-corruption Strategy accompanied by the much-needed amendments in the Anti-Corruption Act, Drug Enforcement Act as well as the Financial Intelligence Centre Act, the amendments should provide for the security of tenure for the officers at these institutions and provide prosecution powers to ACC among others.
ActionAid Zambia has identified bases erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) as one of the main avenues that the nation loses vital resources. The government through the Ministry of Finance and National Development Planning have prioritized domestic resources mobilization (DRM) to provide for the exorbitant debt servicing costs and the overall expansionary budget for the 2022 annual year. In this quest to upscale DRM, it must be mentioned that aggressive tax planning strategies also involve Multinational Corporations (MNCs) taking advantage of unbalanced Double Taxation Agreements (DTAs) that Zambia has signed with other countries with the aim of exploiting gaps to shift profits and avoid paying of taxes. We expect the Presidential address to outline how reforms will be implemented to restructure the Double Taxation Agreements (DTAs) through expediting the development of a homegrown National Policy on Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreements to protect the revenue base. We also expect the President to recognize the need to not only increase tax revenue to the targeted 20 percent of GDP for 2022, but also ensure that these taxes are collected in a progressive and gender sensitive manner, thus upholding the national principle of equality.

3. Education sector

The 2022 budgetary pronouncements in the education sector indicated progressive changes with significant proposals for free education, recruitment of teachers, the construction of secondary schools and upscaling of the Constituency Development fund to include school bursaries. In line with the national value of promoting equality there is need for The President to outline how the recruitment of teachers will be conducted in a transparent manner and how the utilization of the Constituency Development Fund, particularly for school bursaries will be equitable for youths in rural areas. We also expect the President to provide policy direction on provision of school infrastructure inconsideration of the limitations that the free education policy has placed on demand and access to education.

4. Constituency Development Fund

This year’s budget has also provided for the increase of the allocation to the Constituency Development Fund, the increase in the allocation is an indication of Government’s commitment towards local and rural development. However, the CDF Act in its current form, is major impediment in the participation of citizens in the utilization of the fund as it leaves the monopoly to decide the composition of the CDF committee to Members of Parliament. The CDF Act lacks guidance on the participation of youth and women in the CDF committee hence limiting their space, voice and participation. We therefore expect the President to provide direction in terms of the amendment of the CDF Act to include provisions that compel Youth and Women to be part of the Committee and increase the scope of citizen participation in the planning and utilization of the fund.

5. Debt Management

Over the past decade, the Zambian economy became much more reliant on domestic and external financing at the expense of developing robust domestic resource mobilization mechanisms. The budget deficit which fuelled the governments need to borrow, grew from 3.3 percent of GDP in 2010 to 14.4 percent of GPD in 2020. To improve upon any system, AAZ believes that there must be a strong and cohesive legal framework. Against the backdrop of legislation such as the Public Procurement Act (2020) and the Planning and Budgeting Act (2020), AAZ expects the President to direct the Minister of Finance to present a bill for the amendment of the Loans and Guarantees (Authorization) Act that has proven to be outdated, inadequate and not aligned to the

6. Constitution.

Following the National Principal of good governance and integrity, AAZ expects the President to demonstrate how the nation will depart from the continuous debt contraction seen in the 2022 budget and work to reduce the debt stock in a more accountable and transparent way. The IMF Staff Level Agreement is yet to be disclosed to the Zambian People. This opacity speaks volumes of the government’s stance on transparency and undermines their efforts to ensure prudent debt management.
JCTR has reported that the Cost of living is now at K9,305 in Lusaka, this is despite the minimum wage being about 80% lesser than this amount, there is need now more than ever to restructure the economy and set the country on the pathway of economic recovery. Ultimately, as an organization, we expect the President to provide a clear economic implementation strategy that demonstrates the importance of the government’s commitment to the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan.

7. Strengthen Resilient Livelihoods and Secure Climate Justice

Zambia is a recipient of multiple streams of climate finances from bilateral and multilateral institutions. These funds are administered by the government and are targeted to specific landscapes and tackle a list of climate-related challenges. The government has at the same time accrued large sums of concessional loans as part of the agreements in accessing some of these finances. The loans are the responsibility of the Zambian people to repay which adds to the country’s current debt burden. We expect the President to address matters regarding the accumulation of climate debt and in turn layout a plan of how this debt will be dismantled and how the country will avoid accumulating more debt even as the country pulls out all stops to address the climate crisis.

Zambia was appointed as the African Group of Negotiators Chairperson to spearhead the climate negotiations of the African Continent at the Conference of the Parties (COP) slated to take place in Egypt this year. To ensure that Zambia is adequately prepared and well represented at this negotiation, we expect the President to emphasize the importance of state bodies, departments and state enterprises to integrate women and youth in the negotiation processes owning to the fact that they are the most affected by the climate crisis and are often excluded and misrepresented. Further, we expect a debilitate policy to get youths to be trained as Climate negotiators moving forward.

We expect that the President’s address will renew the government’s commitments to address climate change through a positive policy landscape and by using new and innovative economic models that are befitting to our local context and are accessible by women through gender-responsive services and economic empowerment initiatives. We hope the President will take a deliberate stance of framing the climate change crisis in Zambia as a moral and ethical matter that affects the most marginalized members of our society and are affected by power dynamics that have the potential of driving injustices.

We expect the President in his address will reaffirm the climate change crisis in Zambia as a national emergency that needs strengthened multisector engagement and support in the form of technical and financial support. This must be followed by a clarion call to big polluters in Zambia to take responsibility and make realistic commitments to reduce their emissions and embrace alternatives that support renewable energy, agroecology practices and principles of a circular economy. The President is further expected to show his government’s commitment towards climate change fight by announcing the tabling of the Climate Bill before Parliament.

8. Agriculture

An estimated 60% of Zambia’s population is dependent on subsistence farming. Zambia’s agriculture sector is guided by several policies including strategies. For example, the second agricultural policy (SNAP) whose vision is to develop an efficient, compressive and sustainable agriculture sector which assures food and nutrition security. The National Agriculture Investment Plan 2013-2018 (NAIP 1) focused and placed emphasis on Access to Markets and Services Development. This has since been reviewed and NAIP II is currently being drafted. The Ministry of Agriculture Strategic plan (MoASP) currently under implementation emphasizes the need to enhance access to improved inputs to farmers in order to boost agricultural production. Running concurrently, is the National Extension Service Strategy (NESS) which aims, among other things, to proactively improve voluntary behaviour in the form of the adoption of externally developed, tested or proven technology or management practice in the agricultural sector.

We call on the President during His address on 11th March 2022 to give guidance on the policy and strategy framework being revised to ensure farmers have access to improved services as well as access to indigenous seeds which are critical given the impact of climate change on the farmer. Furthermore, a policy direction on recruitment of extension service workers will be highly appreciated as it will enhance production among the smallholder farmers particularly the women who are the majority players in the agriculture sector, despite the returns in investment being negligible. AAZ calls on the Head of state to clearly demonstrate commitment in improving access to market for the smallholder farmers through accelerated infrastructure development in rural areas especially roads.

9. FISP programme

The agricultural sector has suffered as a result of mismanagement of public funds under the Farmer Input Support Program (FISP) programme. During the SONA, it is our hope that President will demonstrate that there are systems being implemented to mitigate the mismanagement and allegations of corruption that have marred the FISP program over the years in particular procurement of FISP service providers. There is need for transparency and accountability in the management of the FISP program. As an institution, we believe that FISAP is a social safety net for the poor. Therefore, in terms of budgetary allocation we have observed that FISP program takes up a large share of the Ministry of Agriculture budget thereby limiting agriculture potential for diversification and growth. Further, as a long-term solution government to recapitalize the Nitrogen chemical of Zambia (NCZ) to manage the production and supplying of the required fertilizers in order to stimulate employment and growth of the sector.

10. Youth Expectations

Zambia is a country of young people, with the majority population under the age of 35 years old making up 80% of the overall population. Statistics indicate that the population of the youth (15-35 years old) in Zambia is 4.8 million, which is 36.7 percent of the population according to UNPF the population of the youth (15-35 years old) in Zambia is 4.8 million, which makes it 36.7 percent of the population. The estimated median age is 17.6 years (2020), which is one of the lowest in the region and globally. This entails that Youth makeup the largest age block in the country. Notwithstanding this, there is an exclusion of young people’s participation in Social Economic and civic participation. The Zambian Parliament only has 5% youth representation, with no Youth serving in Cabinet or Boards appointed by the President through his ministers, this indicates that the promotion of youth participation remains at a pronouncement level without deliberate efforts to actualize this as evidenced with the zero representation of young people in the new dawn administration. Despite the statements made by the President previously signalling his belief in Youth Leadership, the appointments made by the President conflict with his earlier pronouncement. No youth has been appointed to serve in Cabinet or any board in government. We therefor Call on the President to address the deliberate policy measures and actions that his government will put in place aimed at promoting youth participation at all levels, the President should also provide a timeframe that details when the National Youth Policy will be ready, as it is a key document that will give strategic guidance to the government and stakeholders on governments plans for the young people who are the majority of the population he is presiding over.

11. Youth and Business environment

ActionAid Zambia has always called for necessary structural reforms in the economy to create enabling environments for the sustainable growth of small and youth-led businesses. Following the Establishment of the Ministry of Small-Scale Enterprise that is aimed at promoting small scale businesses which are mostly run by youth and women, the Ministry has not shared any strategies nor plans to detail how it will solve the many challenges that are faced by small and medium enterprise (SMEs) business. We therefore expect the President to highlight the key policy framework under this Ministry that will be designed to create a favourable environment for youth led SMEs to flourish as well as provide favourable markets, quotas and an environment for youth owned and led start-up businesses. The Policies should be cantered around providing for the reduced cost of production and running of business for youth-led businesses such as subsidizing or placing exemptions taxes on youth led businesses. We are convinced this type of a fresh approach is essential in unlocking the full potential of SME’s. Further, we expect the President to call for bold reforms of banking services specifically the financial institutions to begin providing financing for start-ups as an alternative for employment and wealth creation among the youths.

Around health challenges for youth, there is lack of comprehensive sexuality education among adolescents and youths, which has seen the rise in STIs, teen pregnancies and unsafe sexual practices. We expect the president to enforce deliberate measures which should include the Removal of tax on sanitary towels and government support on access to affordable sanitary towels and support to local production of sanitary towels including reusable alternatives. We also expect the President to announce the full-scale implementation of Comprehensive Sexual Education in Schools.

12. Conclusion

We expect an announcement that the President will release clear, firmly structured processes for each deliverable, clear responsibilities for members of the Cabinet, and timelines to achieve precise implementation milestones to focus on meeting the above goals. We believe that the SONA provides an opportunity to send a clear signal that the government is beginning to implement the structural reforms urgently needed to attract investment and build our economy.
As an institution, we have high expectations in the President’s address will provide a clear policy direction and road map on some of the major issues that the nation is faced with.

 

President Hichilema re-assures Zambian youths

Chief Editor
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President Hichilema re-assures Zambian youths

President Hakainde Hichilema has assured the youths in Zambia that the government is committed to providing substantial spaces of full youth participation in the country’s socio and economic, as well as leadership endeavours.

President Hichilema noted that young people voted for change in the August 2021 elections which the government is determined to deliver to them.

The Head of State said this in Lusaka today in a speech delivered for him by Vice President Mutale Nalumango during the 2022 Youth Indaba held under the theme “increasing youth participation in all levels of national development” ahead of this year’s youth day celebrations.

He explained that the new dawn government will deliver all promises made to the youths.

President Hichilema further revealed that the government will revise the existing National Youth Policy of 2015 and its implementation plan so that it reflects the country’s socio-economic transformation agenda of having a prosperous Zambia with equal opportunities across ethnic, religious and gender considerations in a free democratic society.

The Head of State said this is consistent with the drive of attaining Zambia’s Vision 2030 agenda and leaving no one behind.

He also revealed that the government is in the process of developing a National Youth Development Strategy that will provide further guidance towards youth empowerment.

President Hichilema explained that the strategy will ensure integrated and coordinated mechanisms, a comprehensive programme strategy, inclusive processes and promote bottom-up youth empowerment programmes among other youth empowerment programmes.

“Government, with support from United Nations Agencies, both bilateral and multilateral companies, civil society organisations and the private sector will be placing youth volunteers and interns in strategic sectors of the economy to enhance service delivery especially to the youth,” he said.

The Head of State added that the strategy is expected to create over two million job opportunities to the youths of Zambia over the foreseeable future.

The President has since urged the youth to aggressively seek out and explore the many opportunities that the government is putting in place for them.

And Mr. Hichilema has urged citizens to observe and enforce the national values and principals and make Zambia a better place.

Tomorrow, the President will deliver a speech on the progress the government has made in implementing national values and principals in Parliament.

Speaking at the same event, United Nations Resident Coordinator, Coumba Mar Gadio, reaffirmed the UN’s support to the government in advancing its national priority of enhancing youth participation that creates a transformational impact for in-country Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) acceleration.

Ms. Mar Gadio noted that the UN has mobilized millions of Kwacha to support the government to operationalise and implement its youth development strategy roadmap.

And Minister of Youth, Sport and Art, Elvis Nkandu revealed that the Indaba has attracted over 700 youths drawn from all the 156 parliamentary constituencies in Zambia.

Mr. Nkandu said youths play a vital role in the development of any nation.

He said his ministry will continue to offer empowerment programmes to uplift the lives of young people in the country.

Mr. Nkandu further disclosed that his ministry has made tremendous improvement in persuading youths to pay back the loans obtained for various initiatives and has so far recovered K20 million.

JICA fund project to integrate former refugees

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JICA fund project to integrate former refugees

Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has commenced implementation of a project dubbed ‘HOPE’ at a cost of 46.6 million Japanese Yen (about K78 million) meant to promote local integration of former refugees in Mayukwayukwa and Meheba refugee settlements.

JICA Team Leader for Donor Coordination, Sachio Yamamoto said the development of the resettlement areas and the local integration of former refugees is steadily progressing with the support of the international community.

Mr Yamamoto said it is against this background that HOPE was launched by the department of resettlement in the office of the Vice President (DOR) in 2020 with the aim of developing an improved approach to accelerate local integration.

He disclosed that the HOPE project is being implemented with the technical and financial support from JICA.

Mr Yamamoto who was accompanied by North-Western Province Principal Land Resettlement Officer, Paul Chisanga, was speaking when he paid a courtesy call on Kalumbila District Commissioner, Brenda Sankisa today.

He explained that the HOPE project’s goal is to develop the improved approach of the local integration.

“HOPE intends to promote the local integration of former refugees in Mayukwayukwa and Meheba resettlement schemes by developing an approach for resident-oriented resettlement planning, an approach for improving livelihood that encompasses inclusive market-oriented agriculture with better household management and enhanced information sharing and coordination among government and donor agencies for resource mobilisation,” Mr Yamamoto said.

He also seized the opportunity to share his concerns over the local integration area.

“People in the local integration area are still living like refugees in the local integration…we also want those former refugees who are yet to move to the new area to do so, so as to achieve the spirit of local integration,” Mr Yamamoto said.

He also said the implementation of the project has delayed due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 and expressed hope that government will extend the project.

“The project commenced two years ago but was affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. The HOPE project is meant to last four years from 2020-2024… There is need to agree with the government and DOR in Lusaka to consider extension of the project because one and a half years may not be enough to implement the project,” Mr Yamamoto said.

He also stated that the implementation of the project requires participation of stakeholders from government and other international agencies as the process of local integration is a very important one.

And Mr Chisanga said 53,000 hectares of land is available for the local integration of refugees in Meheba.

“The scheme is 68,000 hectares and 15,000 hectares has been left for refugees, while 53,000 hectares is available for local integration of former refugees and Zambians,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ms Sankisa said her office is ready to collaborate with partners looking at improving the livelihood of former refugees and the host community.

“My office is ready to work with you… a plan has to be put in place and priorities identified. The provision of basic necessities will help attract people to settle in the local integration area,” Sankisa said.

Congolese national sentenced to 6 months imprisonment for unlawful entry

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Congolese national sentenced to 6 months imprisonment for unlawful entry

Kapiri Mposhi Magistrates Court has sentenced a 19-year-old Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) national to six month imprisonment with labour for illegally entering and working in Zambia.

Kapiri Mposhi Magistrates Edward Banda Deni Tshiangala a wheelbarrow pusher of Ngandaishika village in Lubumbashi, DRC, was charged with an offence of unlawful presence in Zambia contrary to section 11 (3) and 56 (1) of the Immigration and Deportation act no 18 of 2010.

Tshiangala had no document legalizing him to be in Zambia and readily admitted the charge.

Facts before the Court are that Tshiangala entered into Zambia via Kasumbalesa on 16 February 2022 without a valid temporary resident permit or valid border pass.

According to the statement of facts on the said date Immigration Officers received information from members of the public that there were suspected immigrants along the Great North Road and acting on the information the officers to rushed to the area and apprehended the now convict.

In passing judgement Magistrate Banda advised Tshiangala to get a boarder pass and employment permit next time he decides to enter into the country and work from Zambia.

Magistrate Banda then slapped a six month jail sentence with hard labour after which Tshiangala will be eligible for deportation to his country of origin.

“You cannot just enter and work in Zambia at will and without a work permit from the immigration. You will serve six months imprisonment with hard labour and you will be deported by the immigration after serving the sentence,” Magistrate Banda said.

Asanovic Gives Chipolopolo a C-Plus After Friendly Loss

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Chipolopolo coach Aljosa Asanovic says his team could have done better in Wednesday’s 1-0 friendly defeat to the Copperbelt Select at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe.

The match came at the end of Asanovic’s first Chipolopolo training camp since his appointment in January that was held in Ndola with his home-based players.

“I didn’t see the energy, without energy how do you make a good training game? I told my boys before the start of the game if you are not 100 percent and if you are not concentrating on the duels on the balls, the opponents will punish you,” Asanovic said.

The Copperbelt Select enjoyed an upper-hand for most of the match and scored in the 61st minute through Indeni defender Moses Soko.

But Chipolopolo were denied an equalizer in stoppage time from their best chance in the second half when Derrick Bulaya’s header was kept out by goalkeeper Lawrence Mulenga.

“It is normal. We knew that the Copperbelt Select wanted to show their power and quality because they were playing the national team of Zambia. It is a normal reaction and it is very good and I am very happy with the reaction from the Copperbelt Select,” Asanovic said.

But Asanovic refused to state which players impressed him in the match.

Meanwhile, Chipolopolo will play their final friendly on March 16 against the Midlands Select side at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka.

Chilu Lemba shares a “Secret” with Chanda Mbao

Entertainment Editor
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Chilu Lemba shares a “Secret” with Chanda Mbao

Chilu Lemba collaborated with Chanda Mbao on the song “Secret“. The song is off Chilu Lemba’s album Timing. ‘Secret’ was produced by TK and Sebastian Dutch.

TCZ registers over 190,000 teachers countrywide

Chief Editor
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TCZ registers over 190,000 teachers countrywide

The Teaching Council of Zambia (TCZ) has cumulatively registered over 190, 000 teachers countrywide from 2016 when the council started registering educators.

TCZ Registrar, Ebby Mubanga told ZANIS today that the 190,000 registered teachers are saving in both government and private schools while others are still unemployed.

Dr. Mubanga noted that 110,000 teachers are employed in government schools while 30,000 are in private institutions and about 60,000 are yet to be employed.

He said the council keeps track of the number of teachers in the country for easy planning for all consumers of education.

Dr. Mubanga has however stated that there is a reduction in terms of practicing license compliance.

He has since called on teachers countrywide to register, adding that failure to register with the TCZ is punishable by law.

He said matters of registration and licensing are issues of the law and should be followed by every teacher.

Dr. Mubanga said teachers are law abiding citizens who should not be policed to do the right thing.

He further said TCZ is there to ensure that the education system is well regulated and accountable to the public.

UNZA Law School in disarray as Dean and Assistant Dean quit over results scandal

Chief Editor
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UNZA Law School in disarray as Dean and Assistant Dean quit over results scandal

The University of Zambia Law School has been throw into disarray after the School leadership resigned and refused to work with the Vice Chancellor Luka Mumba.

The Acting UNZA School of Law Dean, Dr. Lungowe Matakala and Assistant Dean for undergraduate, Mr. James Kayula resigned with immediate effect on 9th March 2022 in protest against Mr. Mumba’s alleged mismanagement of the University and his attempt to doctor the School’s results.

Following the resignations, the processing of results for Law School has been paralyzed as there is no one to process the results.

Without results being published, students cannot register and cannot start classes.

The substantive Dean Prof Chuma Himonga is on leave.

Some Lecturers who spoke on condition of anonymity said law students should not expect their results anytime soon.

The Lecturers also stated that staff morale is very low because of the manner in which Mr. Mumba is mismanaging the School.

“If the students want the School to return to sanity, let them petition the Minister of Education and President Hichilema to urgently remove the VC,” they said.

Dr. Lungowe Matakala’s resignation email
Dr. Lungowe Matakala’s resignation email
Mr. James Kayula

Speaker asks Mwambazi to stop chairing PAC sittings on DMMU audits

Chief Editor
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Speaker asks Mwambazi to stop chairing PAC sittings on DMMU audits

Speaker of the National Assembly Nelly Mutti has asked Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee Warren Mwambazi to recuse himself from presiding over PAC meetings, if he has interest in one of his companies that has been summoned by the committee.

This follows the ongoing sittings by PAC to consider the report on the Audit Report on the utilization of COVID 19 funds from July 2020 to October 2021 by the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit-DMMU.

Ms Nelly Mutti made a ruling in the National Assembly on Wednesday in line with the Parliamentary and Ministerial code of conduct, Chapter 16 of the laws of Zambia and standing orders that provides guidance on the subject of a member having pecuniary interest in the matter before the House.

The Speaker also explained that she made a ruling after investigation of the matter from a point of order that was raised by Mufulira Member of Parliament Golden Mwila.

Mr. Mwila wanted to know if Mr. Mwambazi was in order to continue chairing meetings of the Public Accounts Committee when he was allegedly linked to one of the companies summoned by PAC.

However, Ms Nelly Mutti said that section five of the Act provides that a member shall not speak in the National Assembly or the Committee in which he has interest to the Assembly or Committee.

The Speaker explained that standing order number 155 of the National Assembly of Zambia, augments this statutory provision on the requirement for the member to disclose pecuniary interest.

She has guided that Mr. Mwambazi can continue to participate as an ordinary member of parliament during the consideration of the Auditor Generals ‘queries on the procurement of COVID 19 materials.

Lusaka Times last week exclusively revealed that Mr. Mwambazi’s Balaam Limited is one of the companies that supplied Covid-19 items to the DMMU.

Zambia Medical Association to get over 300 houses for medical doctors

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Zambia Medical Association to get over 300 houses for medical doctors

The Zambia Medical Association (ZMA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Collins Mutual Limited, a housing developer, to construct houses for medical doctors.

Collins Mutual Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Conrad Gomani, said the housing units will be offered to ZMA members and other government workers under a rent-to-own facility.

Mr. Gomani said at the signing ceremony of the MoU that Collins Mutual Limited will build 40,000 housing units at a cost of US$1.9 billion across the country in 10 years. He revealed that out of the 40,000 housing units, over 300 houses will be offered to ZMA.

He explained that the construction of the first batch of houses will commence by the end of March 2022 in Chipata, Lusaka and Choma and thereafter, the project will be rolled out to the rest of the country. Mr. Gomani further said the housing project will take 10 years to complete.

He said the ZMA members will occupy the houses as tenants and their monthly rentals will be going towards ownership of the units over an agreed period of time.

He said his company is committed to collaborate with other stakeholders in improving the living conditions of ZMA members and other workers in the country who are largely spending a lot of money on rentals.

And ZMA Vice President, Patricia Shinondo, said the most important thing in life is to look into the welfare of members through housing units, a thing she said motivates every human being.

Dr. Shinondo said the rent to own facility is a powerful initiative that Collins Mutual has come up with.

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