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Active mobile subscriptions in Zambia increase from 19.1 million to 20.2 million in 2021

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Active mobile subscriptions in Zambia increase from 19.1 million to 20.2 million in 2021

The Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) has announced an increase in the number of active mobile subscriptions from 19.1 million in 2020 to 20.2 million in 2021 representing 5.8 percent increase.

In the 2021 ZICTA Annual Market Performance Report for the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Sector released by Manager Corporate Communications Hanford Chaaba, the authority says there is also increased access and utilisation of ICT services in the country.

Mr. Chaaba said the total number of active mobile and fixed internet subscriptions increased marginally by 1.3 percent to 10.4 million in 2021 from 10.3 million subscriptions in 2020.

Mr. Chaaba said ZICTA predicted that by 2023 mobile subscribers in Zambia will reach 21.2 million.

ZICTA also noted the increased volume of mobile money transactions from 746.5 million to 843.1 million transactions in 2021 representing an annual improvement of 11.7 percent.

“In particular, the report highlights an increase in the number of active mobile cellular subscriptions from 19.1 million subscriptions in 2020 to 20.2 million subscriptions in 2021 representing an increase of 5.8 percent. The total numbers of active mobile and fixed internet subscriptions increased marginally by 1.3 percent to 10.4 million in 2021 from 10.3 million subscriptions in 2020. A significant increase in the number of active mobile money subscriptions was also observed during the year, increasing from 8.6 million subscriptions in 2020 to 9.9 million in 2021. At the same time, the volume of mobile money transactions increased from 746.5 million to 843.1 million transactions in 2021 representing an annual improvement of 11.7 percent. During the same period, the value of mobile money transactions grew from ZMW 105.6 billion in 2020 to ZMW 169.4 billion in 2021 representing a growth rate of 60 percent,” Mr. Chaaba disclosed.

“Market Performance of the ICT Sector 2021 Press Release Market Performance of the ICT Sector March 2, 2022 Local Developments in the ICT Sector By the end of December 2021, there were a total of seventy three (73) valid licences in the ICT sector relative to seventy one (71) valid licences reported at the end of December, 2020. In addition, by the end of December 2021, the Authority had issued a total of forty nine (49) valid licenses to operators in the postal and courier services sector compared to thirty five (35) licences reported at the end of December, 2021,” he said.

“According to the ITU’s 2021 Global Cyber Security Index report, Zambia scored 68.88, a 25.28 point increase from the score of 43.6 recorded in 2018 which pushed the country’s global rank to 73 from 90. This improvement was attributed to the increase in legislations enabling cybersecurity that the country enacted during the year. The second phase of the SMART Zambia communication tower project progressed significantly during the review period. As at the end of December, 2021, a total of 823 communication towers had been constructed and on-air out of the projected 1009 towers. The completion of this project will increase geographical network coverage to at least 92 percent,” Mr. Chaaba said.

Mr. Chaaba said ZICTA is further expecting a positive outlook in the general uptake and use of ICT services as the number of active mobile network subscriptions is expected to increase.

“Outlook for the ICT Sector in 2022. Forecast in Uptake and Usage of ICT Services: The Authority forecasts a positive outlook in the general uptake and use of ICT services as the number of active mobile network subscriptions is expected to increase from 20.2 million reported at the end of 2021 to 20.9 million subscriptions at the end of 2022 and subsequently 21.2 million in 2023. In addition, the volume of domestic outgoing mobile voice call minutes is forecasted to increase from 24.4 billion minutes estimated for the end of 2021 to 26.2 billion projected for the year 2022 and could reach 28 billion minutes in 2023. 2. Benefits of Newly Assigned Spectrum: The Authority issued spectrum in the 800 MHz band to Airtel Networks Zambia Plc and MTN (Zambia) Ltd,” Mr. Chaaba added.

He concluded:”There are also plans underway to assign additional spectrum bands which are expected to enhance quality, capacity and diversity of services in the market. 3. Deployment of New Technologies and Additional Infrastructure: Operators are expected to continue deploying infrastructure aimed at increasing coverage and improving the quality of services. 4. Regulations and Guidelines Related to the Recently Enacted Laws: Following the enactment of the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act No. 2 of 2021 as well as the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act No. 4 of 2021, it is anticipated that a number of regulations and guidelines will be issued to facilitate the operationalization of these laws which will impact positively on regulation of the sector.”

Zambia, 140 other countries “reprimand” Russia for invading Ukraine

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Zambia, 140 other countries “reprimand” Russia for invading Ukraine

Zambia has voted along with other 140 nations to ‘reprimand’ Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

In the vote seen released by the UN, Zambia joined others in voting against Russia, in a departure from the country’s long-held Non-Aligned stance.

The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday voted to ‘reprimand’ Russia over its invasion of Ukraine and demanded that Moscow stop fighting and withdraw its military forces, an action that aims to diplomatically isolate Russia at the UN.

The resolution, supported by 141 of the assembly’s 193 members, ended a rare emergency session called by the U.N. Security Council and as Russia carried out its military operation against Ukraine.

The text of the resolution “deplores” Russia’s “aggression against Ukraine.”

Thirty-five members including China abstained and five countries including Russia, Syria, and Belarus voted against the resolution. While General Assembly resolutions are non-binding, they carry political weight.

Among the African and other world nations which abstained from condemning Russia to include South Africa, Senegal, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, Sudan, Mali, Mozambique, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, among others.

The last time Security Council convened an emergency session of the General Assembly was in 1982, according to U.N. website.

Speaker to rule on PAC chair’s alleged involvement in DMMU mask scandal

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Speaker to rule on PAC chair’s alleged involvement in DMMU mask scandal

Speaker of the National Assembly Nellie Mutti has reserved ruling on a point of order raised by Mufulira Member of Parliament Golden Mwila who wanted to know whether Bwana Mkubwa is in order to continue chairing the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) when his company Balaam Limited has been implicated in the irregular supply of facemasks to the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU).

On Monday, Mr. Mwambazi instructed DMMU National Coordinator Dr. Gabriel Pollen to get hold of his predecessor Chanda Kabwe by whatever means possible to explain to the Committee why companies affiliated to PF cadres received supply contracts for COVID-19 items.

In her briefing ruling on the point of order, Mrs. Mutti said she will have to conduct a thorough investigation of what is going on in the Public Accounts Committee and render a ruling on the matter.

Yesterday, information emerged that Chairman of the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee Warren Mwambazi’s company Balaam Ltd is one of the firms that supplied Face masks to the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Some senior officers from the Ministry of Health who opted to remain anonymous have revealed that Mr. Mwambazi’s company known as Balaam Limited was awarded three contracts by the Ministry of Health to supply DMMU with Covid-19 items valued at over K14 million.

“We are shocked that Hon. Mwambazi is now championing audits of the Covid-19 supply contracts when his own company Balaam Ltd received three contracts at over K14 million to supply Facemasks, PPPs, and Thermometers in very suspicious circumstances,” the sources said.

The sources added,” he used the same company to get another Covid-19 tender at ZESCO valued at over K700,000. We don’t understand why he is using PAC to embarrass his own friends who supplied to DMMU when he also did,” they said.

They accused Mr. Mwambazi of turning the PAC hearings into a tool for embarrassing officials from the previous administration.

“You know that Hon. Mwambazi was in PF until he was left out of the adoption process but before that, he used his friends in the party to get numerous contracts just like everyone else.”

They have since challenged Mr. Mwambazi to declare an interest when matters of DMMU and Covid-19 response are brought before the Committee hearings.

“He cannot continue chairing those meetings when he is clearly conflicted. PAC is a very important institution and we cannot have a Chairman who is compromised, the sources stated.

The tension in Ukraine cannot be the reason for the increase in fuel pump prices-Haabazoka

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The tension in Ukraine cannot be the reason for the increase in fuel pump prices-Haabazoka

ECONOMIST Lubinda Haabazoka says the tension in Ukraine cannot be the reason for the increase in fuel pump prices because the country has not yet seen unfavourable movements in fuel prices.

On Monday, the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) increased the pump prices of petroleum products by K2.12 per litre for petrol and K2.61 per litre for diesel, while the price for kerosene has remained unchanged.

“The upward adjustment in prices is inevitable to ensure the sustained supply of fuel to the Zambian market in the short to medium term. Notably, there has been a steady rise in international prices of petrol and diesel recorded throughout the month of January into February 2022. This has had a major impact on local fuel prices, with the price of both imported products rising above the US $100 per barrel mark,” said ERB chairperson Reynolds Bowa. “As has been reported, the supply disruptions being experienced on account of the ongoing geopolitical tension between Russia and Ukraine have had an immediate adverse impact on oil prices. Further, compounding this was the continued depreciation of the kwacha against the United States dollar, between the last price adjustment in January 2022 to mid-February 2022.”

But Dr Haabazoka says there is a reason why oil prices were being adjusted every three months and not the 30-day review period introduced by the Energy Regulation Board.

He argued that the Russia-Ukraine conflict could not be the reason for ERB to raise the pump prices of petroleum products.
“I think that Ukraine for now cannot be the reason for the increase in fuel because we have not yet seen any unfavourable movement in oil prices. I think that there is reason why oil prices were being adjusted every after three months. One of the functions of government in an economy is to perform the stabilisation function. Meaning government should stabilise the economy. Meaning energy is one of the most important input not just in production, but also in the input of households,” Dr Haabazoka said.

He has since predicted a continued rise in the prices of goods and services due to the 30-day review period of fuel pump prices.

Dr Haabazoka explained that the policy would cause uncertainty in business thereby causing businesses to overprice goods and services in fear of making loses.

“So for there to be certainty or predictability, fuel prices are supposed to be stable for a long period of time. [There are] mechanisms that government can use without subsidising oil and keep fuel prices stable for longer periods. What is happening now is that fuel prices are going up, down-up-down. So businessmen because they need stable prices of goods, are going to overprice the goods. They are going to overprice their goods and services so that any movement in the prices of fuel is cushioned and they don’t make loses,” he warned.

“The challenge with that is that even when fuel prices go down, they will never adjust their prices downwards. And in an event that fuel prices again go up, they will increase the prices of goods and services because that is the nature of business. The nature of business is to make profit. Because of uncertainty, because they do not know what the prices of fuel would be tomorrow, there is going to be a risk. Uncertainty creates those risks. So in order to manage that risk, give both monetary and non-monetary risk management methods to manage the risks. That comes with a cost that is going to be passed on to the consumer.”

Dr Haabazoka said it was clear that the new daw administration wants to do everything different from what PF did but that they should realise that “this is not about PF”.

“We know that you want to do things differently from the way the previous regime did things. There are mechanisms that I cannot mention because I am now a consultant. But there are mechanisms that we can employ to make sure that without the government having to get out money from the coffers, we are able to ensure fuel pump price stability for a long time,” said Dr Haabazoka.

School feeding programme to reduce absenteeism

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School feeding programme to reduce absenteeism

National Action for Quality Education in Zambia (NAQEZ) and the Zambia National Education Coalition (ZANEC) say the school feeding programme will reduce the absenteeism rate and dropouts in schools.

ZANEC Executive Director George Habasunga said the school feeding programme will complement the free education programme to encourage more pupils to attend classes.

Mr Habasunga said studies show that the leading burrier for many children to access education is lack of finances, poverty and hunger.

He said many children, despite the government providing free education, do not go to school because they are hungry.

In an interview in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Habasunga added that due to missing school, they tend to lag behind in their academics then end up dropping out of school.

“The coming of the schools feeding programme, a lot of children will benefit from the free education because they will be going to school,” he added.

Meanwhile, NAQEZ Executive Director Aaron Chansa noted that schools that carry out the school feeding programme have continued to record good academic performances.

Mr Chansa cited that the Botswana government spends a significant fund to feed learners in all schools and has contributed to the country’s good academic performance.

He called on the government to walk the talk in ensuring that the school feeding programme is rolled out in all public schools country wide.

Yesterday during the Africa Day of School Feeding celebrations, Ministry of Education Permanent Secretary, Noriana Muneku said government wants the school feeding programme to be implemented in all learning institutions in the country, after recognizing that the school meals programme is critical in addressing nutritional and educational needs of pupils, especially in rural areas.

Ms Muneku disclosed that the Ministry is currently implementing the feeding programme in 70 districts, reaching about 1.9 million learners.

Man Gets 12 months in Jail for Stealing a Radio Cassette

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Man Gets 12 months in Jail for Stealing a Radio Cassette

Itezhi-Tezhi Magistrate, Mugala Chalwe has sentenced a 25 year old man of Itezhi Tezhi to 12 months imprisonment for stealing a radio cassette.

This is a matter in which Kendrick Maanzula (25) of Basanga area in Chief Musungwa’s chiefdom in Itezhi Tezhi district in Southern Province was charged with burglary and theft contrary to the penal code cap 87 of the laws of Zambia.

Particulars of the case were that on January 10, 2022, in the Itezhi-Tezhi district of Southern Province, Maanzula broke into the dwelling house of Alfred Katota and stole a radio cassette.

When the matter came up for plea before court, Maanzula said he understood the charge and admitted it.

According to facts , the complainant ,Alfred Katota on 21 February ,2022 at 21:00 hours was in Itezhi tezhi town when he received a phone call that his radio cassette valued at K1,400 had been stolen .

Katota went back to Basanga where he conducted a search and when he could not find his radio cassette he reported the matter to Itezhi Tezhi Police station who instituted investigation that led to the recovery of the radio cassette from Maanzula’s house.

Police later charged and arrested Maanzula for the subject offence.

State prosecution team argued that Maanzula had no justification for breaking into Katota’s house and stealing the radio cassette and that Maanzula had intention of permanently depriving the owner of the radio cassette.

In mitigation Maanzula asked for leniency stating that he was married with two children and looking after 10 siblings and blind grandmother.

In imposing a sentence, magistrate Chalwe said the court took note that he was a first offender and readily admitted the charge without wasting court’s time.

Magistrate Chalwe however said the offence he committed was a serious one, especially that it was done at night around 20:00 hours.

Magistrate Chalwe then imposed a 12 months’ imprisonment.

She further informed Maanzula that he had a right to appeal to higher court if he was not satisfied with the sentence.

Dynamics of Zambia’s Petroleum Prices – Are Monthly Reviews A Problem?

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Dynamics of Zambia’s Petroleum Prices – Are Monthly Reviews A Problem?

By Wakumelo Mataa

Post the August 2021 elections, the government embarked on sectoral economic reforms aimed at rebuilding the economy. Key reforms in the energy sector involved the removal of some fuel subsidies, placing of INDENI refinery on care and maintenance, and much more recently, the introduction of monthly reviews for setting pump prices of fuel whose pros and cons have been up for debate, especially when the resulting adjustment is upwards. The overarching question is, are these monthly reviews inherently problematic? In our view, monthly reviews are neither the problem nor the solution but are necessary to get us close to an efficient energy market. Although Zambia has relied on anchored expectations to model gas prices in the past, nothing empirically stops us from trying out unmoored expectations – something which the monthly reviews get us close to. It may take some time for us to get used to this and yet, that’s the efficient thing to do.

A market is economically efficient if it fully internalizes new innovations which affect supply and/or demand. In fact, the ‘first-best’ choice is given by a free market – without intervention. However, owing to the significance of energy prices for inflation outcomes and the political dynamics surrounding the sector, implementing a free-market equilibrium in the energy sector is evidently far-fetched. Sometimes, politically sensible decisions dictate market intervention to keep prices artificially low which, unfortunately, but often, is at odds with basic economic efficiency principles.

As often in economics, we have a ‘second-best’ choice to fall back on. In this case, this is where the government intervenes to set the price but does so at a frequency that is underpinned by the frequency of shocks in the market. For a petroleum importing economy like Zambia, energy prices are expected to be pro-cyclical to exchange rate volatility overtime. The frequency of these exchange rate cycles (which depend mainly on the strength of the Kwacha) can be as high as daily. This alone, requires a high frequency of price reviews for the energy market to efficiently internalize new information from the FOREX market.

On the flipside, the downside implication of monthly reviews has to do with increasing uncertainty not only in the energy market but in other markets which rely on energy as an input into production. This is bad for business and may negatively impact on production plans. However, one of the biggest challenges facing Zambia’s energy sector which also further necessitates high frequency price reviews is inadequate storage infrastructure. Most of our provincial depots are exclusively utilized as operational depots leaving us with no room to procure adequate strategic petroleum reserves. This makes us vulnerable to all shocks whether aggregate or idiosyncratic to the energy sector even when such shocks could be temporal. This also applies at individual level, consumers without the ability to buy in bulk will likely be more vulnerable even to temporary shocks.

Another key intervention revolves around enhancing efficiency in procurement processes. Over the past, about 40% of petroleum products consumed in Zambia were produced by INDENI Petroleum Refinery Limited, with the remaining 60% imported by road. The recent placing of INDENI on care and maintenance meant that nearly all petroleum procurements are now moving by road which is not only the most expensive means of transporting petroleum products, but also significantly reduces the lifespan of our roads.

In our view, these are the real factors that we should focus on to keep petroleum prices in check. We should prioritize capital investment towards infrastructure to ensure that; much of our petroleum imports are transported through TAZAMA and feedstock is efficiently refined at INDENI, and we have enough storage capacity for strategic reserves. Efforts to strengthen and stabilize the Kwacha should also take prominence. These factors matter more for stability of energy prices than the frequency of price reviews.

The Author is a Public Finance Management Researcher at the Centre for Trade Policy and Development (CTPD), a not–for–profit, membership-based trade policy and development think tank. The organization was established in 1999 and existed as the civil society trade network (CSTNZ), until 2009 when it was rebranded as the Centre for Trade Policy and Development (CTPD).

Zambia May not Achieve the African Union Target of Halving Poverty and Ending Hunger by 2025

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Zambia May not Achieve the African Union Target of Halving Poverty and Ending Hunger by 2025

A Consortium of Civil Society Organisations has warned that Zambia is off-target and may not achieve the African Union target of halving poverty, ending hunger, and reducing child stunting to 10 percent and underweight to 5 percent by 2025.

The Netherlands Development Organization (SNV), Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition Alliance, and Civil Society for Poverty Reduction have further said that Zambia is also off-track in achieving the Nutrition 4 growth targets which pledge to drive greater action towards ending malnutrition and helping to ensure everyone, everywhere can reach their full potential.

Speaking at a joint media briefing, CSO-SUN Country Coordinator Mathews Mhuru bemoaned Zambia’s slow pace towards reducing malnutrition at only 1 percent on an annual basis.

Mr. Mhuru says all the documents that support nutrition have expired among them the National Food and Nutrition Commission Strategic Plan and the first 1,000 most critical days programme.

He has since urged the new dawn government to lead actions to tackle nutrition as a matter of urgency which should include demonstrating a commitment to nutrition through action and financial commitment.

Meanwhile, Mr Mhuru has charged that the increase in fuel pump prices will affect the delivery of President Hakainde Hichilema campaign promise of ensuring that citizens have three meals a day.

And SNV Nutrition Programs Manager, Tendai Gunda is saddened that currently in Zambia, one out of three children is stunted.

Ms Gunda states that as an act of commitment, the government should establish a high-level governance structure of the Special Committee of Permanent Secretaries to coordinate actions on nutrition under the management of the Vice President as required by the National Food and Nutrition Security Act. She has further challenged the government to present to the nation, the actions to be taken to ensure Zambians have three decent meals daily, starting now

Minister of Lands bemoans long queues for Title Deeds at his Office

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Minister of Lands bemoans long queues for Title Deeds at his Office

Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Elijah Muchima is concerned with long and meandering queues of people at the ministry seeking mostly title deeds.

Mr. Muchima said there is a need to find a suitable and digital payment system that would see reduced queues at the Ministry of Lands in Lusaka.

The Ministry of Lands currently has only two offices in the country which issues title deeds.

One office is located in Lusaka and another in Ndola on the Copperbelt.

When Investrust Managing Director Mr. Simangolwa Shakalima paid a courtesy-call on the Minister, Mr. Muchima said the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources collect revenue throughout the year hence the need for an efficient payment system.

Mr. Muchima has since called on Investrust Bank Plc to develop financial products and incentives targeted at Zambians and civil servants.

The Minister further implored the bank to integrate the Ministry services to the Bank so that the queues at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources could come to end.

The Ministry was committed to digitizing the processes and payment platform and appreciated the relationship with the bank.

He stated that Zambian Banks stood a better chance to service the citizens but were rigid hence the reason why micro finance institutions were performing better.

Mr. Muchima urged the Zambian bank to be competitive and develop products that would alleviate poverty among civil servants.

Meanwhile, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources Director of Finance Mrs. Phales Phiri has said her concern is the queues at the Bank and later at the cashier office to make payment and collect a government receipt.

She proposed to the bank to develop a mobile banking platform to assist decongest the Bank that was housed at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.

She was happy to note that the Ministry enjoyed a cordial relationship with the Bank adding that deposits done through Investrust Bank Plc were clear and easy for her office to reconcile.

And the Investrust Bank Managing Director, Mr. Simangolwa Shakalima said that the Bank was ready to work with the Ministry to digitize and help to reduce the queues at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.

Investrust Bank Plc was unique as it was the only bank that had remained 100percent locally owned and had enjoyed support from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.

The Bank had a branch at Mulungushi house which was meant to service the Ministry in its effort to collect revenue and this has been successful.

Mr. Shakalima stated that his visit was meant to explore other avenues where the Bank and the Ministry could work together.

According to a media statement from the Ministry of Lands Public Relations Unit, one of the projects the bank would like to partner with the Ministry was the National Land titling project which the Ministry was implementing.

“At Investrust Bank Plc (IBP), we are deliberate and intentional about strategic partnerships that help to accelerate the economic growth of our nation. We are committed to working with organisations and other partners that share our passion to serve,” Investrust said in a statement released after the engagement.

“We are happy to have engaged with the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Elijah Muchima and his team earlier today. We discussed possible business avenues where we can collaborate and work together,” the bank added.

Electoral Commission of Zambia meets President Hichilema at State House, Promises Reforms

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Electoral Commission of Zambia meets President Hichilema at State House, Promises Reforms

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) says it will undertake a number of processes as part of electoral reforms between now and 2026.

The ECZ Chairperson, Esau Chuulu said the Electoral body intends to explore modalities for electronic voting and capture the diaspora vote in the 2026 general elections.

Justice Chuulu said the Commission intends to roll out continuous voter registration across the country in order to capture more eligible voters.

He said the Commission needs to be decentralised because it only has presence in Lusaka and not the rest of the country.

Justice Chuulu was speaking at State House when he held a meeting with President Hakainde Hichilema at State House in Lusaka.

Justice Chuulu was accompanied by some ECZ Commissioners and Chief Electoral Officer, Kryticous Nshindano.

Justice Chuulu told President Hichilema that the commission wants to be financially independent in discharging its work.

The ECZ Chairperson said the commission intends to initiate the delimitation exercise within the next five years.

Justice Chuulu also said ECZ intends to hold a referendum for the enhanced bill of rights.

He congratulated President Hichilema for winning the August 12, 2021 Presidential elections.

And President Hichilema praised the ECZ for conducting and managing the August 12 polls very well despite facing numerous challenges.

“I want to thank you, the commission for managing the elections without fear or favour” said President Hichilema.

President Hichilema said the environment leading to, during and after the Presidential and general elections was toxic and made it difficult for the electoral body to discharge its work.

“The political environment was quite toxic…but election day was special in that it did not raise its ugly head,” said President Hichilema.

The President said ECZ and its contractors and stakeholders worked well to ensure that the vote and voice of Zambians were held.

President Hichilema said the completion of the transitional process cemented the country’s democratic process.

Mr Hichilema said the processes mentioned by the ECZ were a very useful subject and thanked the Electoral body for finding time to update him of its intentions for the next five years.

President Hichilema was accompanied in the meeting by Justice Minister Mulambo Haimbe, Home Affairs and internal Security, Minister Jack Mwimbu and several State House aides.

The Murder Charge Slapped on Mumbi Phiri is too Harsh

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The Murder Charge Slapped on Mumbi Phiri is too Harsh

By Saboi Imboela, President- NDC

As National Democratic Congress, NDC, we are appalled by the murder charge that was slapped on former PF Deputy Secretary General hon. Mumbi Phiri.

From the videos that were circulating, maybe the police decided that she could have known something about the crime and concealed it or never reported. We can not really say. But one thing we are sure about is that hon. Mumbi Phiri’s charge of murder is too harsh. Whether she was there or not at the crime scene, it is highly unlikely that she is the one who pulled the trigger to kill David Banda. And I am sure that this is one fact that the police have already established.

The justice system should not be used to settle real or perceived enemies. We all know that most PF officials have a very bad relationship with the UPND, having been at the helm of the PF leadership when certain injustices were done to a number of PF leaders, including president HH

But this is not time for sweet revenge by the UPND, but rather show that they are bigger and better than some of their oppressors that could have been behind their persecutions.

We do not want to see a vindictive government, and that is currently what the UPND is proving to be. Injustice, just like violence, begets more of the same, and there always has to be a time and leaders that come in power that bring that to a stop, regardless of how the system had failed them in the past when they wanted it to work for them.

Zambia is bigger than all of us and it is our desire to see a free, fair and just Zambia, where the rule of law will be upheld no matter who the suspect is.

So far, the continued instruction by the head of state to stop cadrerism has worked very well to significantly reduce cardrerism and one only wonders what what would have happened if that was not the case.

It is our hope that the head of state will also make it clear to the police to follow the law to the book and not be influenced by anyone, no matter the temptation. We are also always sure that the justice system is something we can continue to rely on as politicians. But sadly, the fact that murder is unbailable, hon Phiri will face Injustice no matter the outcome at the courts as she will continue to spend her nights in prison.

We call on President HH to continue emphasising professionalism and the rule of law no matter how political a case may be. And we have trust and confidence in our police and justice system that justice will prevail in this particular case after all this time we waited to find out what really happened in Kaoma.

President Hichilema to address the nation on National Values and Principles

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President Hichilema to address the nation on National Values and Principles

President Hakainde Hichilema will this Friday March 11, 2022 address the nation on the application of National Values and Principles in Parliament.

National Assembly Clerk, Roy Ngulube stated that the Head of State will address Parliament on the application of National Values and Principles on Friday, March 11, 2022 at 09:00 hours at Parliament building in accordance with Article 9, Clause 2 and Article 86 clause 2 of the Constitution of the Republic of Zambia.

Mr. Ngulube has since urged members of the public and various stakeholders to follow the address by the President on various media platforms on the said date and time.

“Members of Parliament and invited guests are expected to be seated by 08:30 hours. Stakeholders and members of the public are encouraged to follow the address on parliament Radio and Television, the National Assembly Facebook and various media bodies,” stated Mr Ngulube.

This is according to a press release made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today issued and signed by the Clerk of the National Assembly, Roy Ngulube.

Government will not impose restrictions on freedom of expression-Kasanda

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Government will not impose restrictions on freedom of expression-Kasanda

The government says it will not impose any unnecessary restrictions and violations on the right to freedom of expression.

Minister of Information and Media, Chushi Kasonde said the new dawn government values freedom of expression as it is an important human right that is essential for our society to be democratic.

The minister said this during the stakeholder’s round table on freedom of expression organized by the bloggers of Zambia with support from the GIZ Enact program.

Ms. Kasanda states that freedom of expression enables the free exchange of ideas, opinions, and information and allows members of society to form their own opinions on issues of public importance.

“As we strive to promote, protect and guarantee this right, we have also seen some individuals and groups of individuals overstepping the boundaries and abusing the rights of others under the guise of freedom of expression “, she said.

The minister explained that government has a duty to protect citizens against hate speech but will do so within the accepted norms and standards as prescribed by regional and international norms.

She said government supports citizens who speak out peacefully for themselves and for others and where journalists are reporting truthfully, fairly and objectively on various issues of public discourse.

And responding to a question by Chairperson for the Media Liason Committee, Enock Ngoma as to why government seems to control news content published in public media institutions especially ZNBC, Ms Kasanda explained that government will not meddle in the content by the public media as it wants the media to enjoy the freedom to expression.

With regards to the enactment of the Access to information Bill, the minister stated that the process has already begun with stakeholder consultations being carried on.

The minister also revealed that the Zambia News and Information services (ZANIS) will be given a 24 hour television studio in order to carry out its mandate of informing the public by the end of the year.

She said the public media help in informing the citizens on the various policy pronouncements made by government in order for the citizens to be informed.

Meanwhile Bloggers of Zambia Founder, Richard Mulonga notes that freedom of expression is the cornerstone of democracy.

Mr Mulonga said citizens must exercise the right in a morally acceptable way and not cause harm to other people.

Revert to Old System of Reviewing Fuel Prices

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Revert to Old System of Reviewing Fuel Prices

The Kasama Chamber of Commerce has urged the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) to revert to the old system of reviewing the prices of fuel in the country on a quarterly basis as opposed to a monthly review.

District Chamber of Commerce Secretary, David Chanda says this will ensure stability in the pricing of the commodity.

Mr Chanda noted that the monthly reviewing of fuel prices has proved to be a failed move adding that the monthly adjustment is detrimental to the economic growth.

He said this is affecting both the business community and household planning of how they will spend for the particular month.

“we urge the ERB to rescind its decision of reviewing fuel prices on a monthly basis because this is affecting the running of business in the country as people are failing to plan,” said Mr Chanda.

And Former Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) Northern Province Coordinator, Felix Chiwela said the seemingly unstable fuel prices will have a negative impact on the cost of doing business in the country.

Mr Chiwela said ERB should find a lasting solution to the unstable prices of the commodity to ensure the smooth running of the economy.

“With the current situation, it is now difficult to plan because we don’t know what tomorrow will bring,” he said.

He noted that if not well handled, the current situation could cripple the country’s economy.

“As long as the inflation continues to go up, it means prices of commodities will also rise hence affecting the economic growth,” added Mr Chiwela.

PF can die if it does not abandon the old habits-Emmanuel Mwamba

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PF can die if it does not abandon the old habits-Emmanuel Mwamba

Patriotic Front (PF) Presidential hopeful and former Zambia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia Emmanuel Mwamba has warned that the PF can die if it does not abandon the old habits that made it lose the 2021 General Election.

Mr. Mwamba said the PF should move away from slogans of rebranding and focus on practical steps of reviving the party he described as a sleeping giant.

He said the PF is in dire need of new leadership, new energies, and new thinking to regain the lost confidence among Zambians.

Speaking on Radio Phoenix’s Let the People Talk Programme on Tuesday, Mr. Mwamba said the PF cannot afford internal squabbles, especially since it is in a weaker state as an opposition party.

“As a presidential candidate my path is very clear, the party needs to integrate new people. The party needs to abandon some of the policies that made it unpopular. The party needs to accept the mistakes that were made in the past and begin this charm offensive to the Zambians where you assure them that yes we made mistakes but yes we have repented on these matters but here is a party that is contributing to the democratic path of this country,” Mr. Mwamba said.

He admitted that rebuilding then PF won’t be easy.

“The opposition should not die, the PF should not die. So we have an emphatic approach to the Patriotic Front, I think that we need a lot of energy to rebuild a party that has just lost an election, we know what happened to UNIP, and we know what happened to MMD. Recognizing those challenges and recognizing just the apathy that greets a party that has lost because the people would tell you the PF is dead, PF has no future, PF did so many things against us why are you even trying to speak to us about it. So here is a broken relationship a party has with Zambians so when you recognize that there is a broken relationship you embark on a path to then build that relationship and it is not easy to win back the trust of Zambians,” Mr. Mwamba said.

“It is not easy to tell them that the mistakes that we made are walking away from those mistakes, to tell them that in a democratic dispensation like Zambia you need an opposition party, a strong opposition party and the PF is in that space. It has about 50 Members of Parliament. It has structures countrywide that really haven’t even left; it has a path of ideology to the poor people and to workers. It has a very solid foundation despite its economic loss. So there is something very big there that can be revived. It is like a sleeping giant but it can die if we do certain things, if we are casual about the PF. If we adopt the bad habits that made us lose elections and we carry them into this current dispensation then the party will die,” he said.

Mr. Mwamba is promising to offer unique leadership if elected PF party President.

“Recognising the difficulties and challenges of internal squabbling that can actually destroy the political party, we cannot afford internal squabbles, especially that we are in the opposition because we are now in a weaker state than we were in a ruling party. You know icikalika abantu pa musumba bwali now that ubwali tapali what will you do? It is the values of the party and ideologies of the party that should keep you together,” he said.

“We have come, people like I, we have come and said we can do politics differently, we can recognise the demographics that vote; we can speak to their issues. You have seen that have not dwelt on discussing the internal party issues of the Patriotic Front because for me I think a leadership that is required is a leadership that speaks to national issues, that promotes discourse that builds this country, that deviates and abandons those old habits of insults,” Mr. Mwamba said.

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