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Economic Front (EF) president, Wynter Kabimba, has warned UPND that the ending will be worse than the former ruling Patriotic Front (PF), who overlooked the issue of caderism when in power and urged them to tame their cadres.
Mr. Kabimba was reacting to a video circulating where a UPND youth, Brian Mulenga, was threatening to deal with individuals like Mr. Raphael Nakacinda for allegedly insulting the head of state. In the video, the cadre is heard challenging the police to act failure to which cadres would deal with Mr. Nakacinda.
Mr Kabimba said the ending was going to be bad for the UPND if they left this cancer to grow as it would be the end of them.
“My advice to the President and the UPND, in general, is that they should not entertain caderism in the country because it will be the end of the UPND because Zambians have stated that they do not entertain hooliganism,” he said.
Mr. Kabimba said that the ACC and Police were acting as sadists hell-bent on causing misery on people that were perceived enemies of the ruling party.
The UPND youths have lately has been making a case that the opposition is out to disrespect and embarrass President Hakainde Hichilema.
Yesterday, UPND Lusaka Province youth chairperson Mr. Anderson Banda called on the opposition members to have constructive criticism and not bring the name of the head of State into ridicule.
Mr. Banda said the opposition shouldn’t take the calmness and tolerance by the UPND youths as a source of weakness but they are doing so to respect the rule of law.
Mr Banda said the mandate has been left in the hands of the law enforcement agencies but if they dare the law enforcers, the UPND Youths will have no option but to respond in a way which they would understand.
He has called upon the opposition members like Mr. Raphael Nakachinda, Mr. Bowman Lusambo, and others to practice mature politics because UPND Government has created a conducive environment to accommodate everyone in the political arena unlike before under their regime.
Speaking when he featured on Prime TV breakfast show dubbed “WAKE UP ZAMBIA”, Mr. Banda said politics of character assassination and propaganda will not make PF relevant to the people of Zambia who suffered beyond measures. Mr Banda said it is unfortunate that Nakachinda and Lusambo are seeking public attention hence going as far as insulting and mocking the Head of state who is busy working on the economy which was plundered by the previous regime.
Patriots for Economic Progress (PEP) President Sean Tembo has asked the Constitutional Court to stop the Electoral Commission of Zambia from getting fresh nomination fees from candidates from for the Kabwata Parliamentary seat.
Mr. Tembo says those who already paid the 15 thousand Kwacha should NOT be made to pay again.
He says doing so will disadvantage small political parties.
Mr.Tembo has argued that the decision by ECZ to demand for fresh payment is irrational and unfair.
This is according to a petition filed in the constitutional court were Mr Tembo has sued the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).
Yesterday the ECZ called for fresh nomination for the election which will be held in February 3, 2022 in Kabwata.
The date for the by-election was pushed forward after the UPP Candidate withdrew from the race and resigned from his party.
By Mwizenge S. Tembo, Ph. D, Emeritus Professor of Sociology
President Kenneth Kaunda was young. Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe was young. Munukayumbwa Sipalo was young. Peter Matoka was young. Julia Chikamoneka was young. Chibesa Kankasa was young. Mutumba Mainga Bull was young. Chieftainess Nkomesha was young. All the chiefs in Zambia were young. The hills, the forest, and the trees in Zambia were young. Cairo Road in Lusaka was young. The Zambezi River, the Luangwa River, and the Kafue River were young. My parents were young. My three brothers and six sisters were young. My uncles and my aunts were young. All my friends were young. Zambia was young. University of Zambia was young. I was young.
My father was a teacher at Kasonjola Primary School in Chief Mkanda’s area north of rural Eastern Province of Zambia along the Chipata Lundazi road. We were living in a small five room teacher’s brick house built in all rural primary schools just after Zambia’s independence from British colonialism in 1964 at the beginning of sleeping Zambia’s more than twenty-five years of spectacular leap in development and social change.
This is what we always did as a family after supper. This one August evening we sat in our tiny living room on wooden chairs around the dining room table chatting for hours. The younger siblings would already be sleeping having slumped over on the floor in the dark. Something totally unexpected and unusual happened that night.
My father emerged from the bedroom carrying a paraffin hurricane lamp which he had just lit because we were trying to save the paraffin. We often only lit the paraffin lamp if we really thought it was necessary. Some nights we ate dinner outside and chatted in the bright beautiful moon light. My father placed the flickering orange light hurricane lamp in the middle of the table.
“Mwizenge,” my father said sitting down. “After tomorrow we are travelling to Kitwe to the Copperbelt to visit your uncles, aunts, and cousins.”
My eyes popped out as I grinned from ear to ear. The darkness in the room was suddenly bright. I was frozen and speechless with shock.
“Mwanyithu muluta ku walale ku Kitwe na awisemwe, (you our friend are going to Kitwe and line of rail with your father)” my mother added fuel to my excitement and imagination as she
must have seen my wide grin and popping twinkling eyes of sheer rare joyful moment.
“Your mother will help you tomorrow wash the clothes you will be taking with you,” my father said as we all dispersed to go to bed in our rooms.
That night was torture as I could not sleep from sheer excitement and imagination. When I was young living in the village, I had heard so much about Lusaka, Broken Hill (Kabwe), and Kitwe in the then Northern Rhodesia from my uncles who had gone there to work. Some uncles had gone far away to Salisbury (Harare) in Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), Johannesburg and Cape town in South Africa. They had exciting experiences and stories but also warned of the dangers of matsotsi or crooks, conmen, and criminals in the cities. There were too many cars, road car accidents, and it was dangerous, the delicious new European or (white man) town foods, and then there was the romance of the train. As I finally drifted to sleep, I wished the journey was right there and then. I did not want to endure one more whole day of torture waiting for this greatest trip of my young life.
On the day of departure, my father rode his bicycle carrying the one large suitcase which had our two blankets and some clothes. I was wearing shorts but barefoot which was common for boys and children my age in rural areas. My father was wearing his normal attire of shoes, pair of trousers, long-sleeved shirt, and a jacket.
I rode my mother’s bicycle. We arrived at the Molozi bus station at about 1600 hours and promptly rode a lift to Fort Jameson (Chipata) as it was late in the day and the United Bus Company (UBZ) from Lundazi to Chipata had already passed. Molozi was notorious because it had the steepest chikwela or slope on the gravel road on the Chipata Lundazi road. It was so steep that during the rain season we could hear from 5 miles or 8 Kms away at Kasonjola, trucks and buses painfully moaning up the hill. Many a vehicle simply broke down trying to climb the Molozi Hill.
We arrived in Chipata at Kapata Bus Station at 18:00 hours and reported at a guest house that charged each one of us six pence or six ngwee for the night. We laid down on the cement floor using half of the blanket to lie on and folding the other half as cover. We would be buying the ticket and boarding the Lusaka bus early in the morning.
Molozi steepest slope: The Molozi Steepest slope on the Chipata Lundazi to day fifty-eight years later.
Leaders Red Arrows have thumped Kansanshi Dynamos 5-0 away in Solwezi to open a five point lead at the summit of the FAZ Super Division.
The win moved Arrows to 36 points, five clear off second placed Green Buffaloes, who will only be in action on Sunday against Nkwazi.
Coach Chisi Mbewe’s Airmen took a 3-0 lead into the break thanks to goals scored by Joseph Phiri, Ricky Banda and Tresor Tshibwabwa.
Arrows waited for the 77th minute to score their fourth goal of the day through Alidor Kayembe and Kebson Kamanga wrapped the scoring spree with an 85th minute goal.
Kansanshi drop one place down to number 14 as they stay on 20 points from 19 matches played.
In Kitwe, Nkana stayed third on the table at least for 24 hours after forcing a 1-1 home draw against Zanaco at Nkana Stadium in Wusakile, Kitwe.
After a goalless first half, Bob Chansa put Nkana in front with Zanaco captain Moses Phiri leveling from a penalty after defender Kondwani Chiboni handled in the box.
Nkana have moved to 30 points, five points above Zanaco.
Konkola Blades moved closer to leaving the bottom position following a 2-0 home win over fellow strugglers Lusaka Dynamos.
Striker Tapson Kaseba, who rejoined Konkola this week, and Owen Tembo were the scorers at Konkola Stadium.
Konkola have 15 points, just one behind Lusaka Dynamos, who are placed second from the bottom of the table.
Retired veteran politician Vernon Mwaanga has cautioned politicians and Zambians against abusing their freedom of speech.
Dr. Mwaanga has told a local radio station QFM that some comments coming from some individuals targeted at the head of state are disturbing.
Dr.Mwaanga said that Zambians are breathing fresh air due to the freedom of expression that has been restored to them, which, however, must not be abused.
Dr. Mwaanga said that the head of state is a respected figure in any country and that no one should use unpalatable language against him and advised politicians to respect president Hakainde Hichilema, adding that those who disagree with his style of leadership must do so respectfully.
Dr. Mwaanga stated that those abusing their freedom of expression are jeopardizing the freedom of others who have more sensible things to say regarding the direction in which the country should go.
UPND Lusaka Provincial youth chair Mr Anderson Banda
Meanwhile, UPND Lusaka Province youth chairperson Mr. Anderson Banda has called on the opposition members to have constructive criticism and not bring the name of the head of State into ridicule.
Mr Banda said the opposition shouldn’t take the calmness and tolerance by the UPND youths as a source of weakness but they are doing so to respect the rule of law.
Mr Banda said the mandate has been left in the hands of the law enforcement agencies but if they dare the law enforcers, the UPND Youths will have no option but to respond in a way which they would understand.
He has called upon the opposition members like Mr Raphael Nakachinda, Mr Bowman Lusambo and others to practice mature politics because UPND Government has created a conducive environment to accommodate everyone in the political arena unlike before under their regime.
Mr Banda said politics of character assassination and propaganda will not make PF relevant to the people of Zambia who suffered beyond measures.
Mr Banda said it is unfortunate that Nakachinda and Lusambo are seeking public attention hence going as far as insulting and mocking the Head of state who is busy working on the economy which was plundered by the previous regime.
Mr Banda was speaking this when he was featured on a Prime TV breakfast show dubbed “WAKE UP ZAMBIA”.
Energy expert Johnstone Chikwanda has said that the further six months extension of the suspension of customs and excise duty on the importation of petroleum products will see the government lose about K3 billion in revenue.
Finance minister Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane has authorized customs duty for petrol, diesel, kerosene, and liquefied petroleum gas imported into Zambia to remain suspended until 30 June 2022.
Mr. Chikwanda, however, said that the decision by the government to continue with the policy of waiving tax on imported fuel which was initially implemented last year by the previous regime in an attempt to avoid a fuel price hike simply means that the government is trying to be sensitive and cognizant to the needs of the consumers and retailers.
Mr. Chikwanda explained that the development gives relief to the consumers and oil importers because fuel prices will not go up any time soon and the importers do not need extra money to pay for the taxes.
Mr. Chikwanda has noted the need for government to seriously engage with stakeholders and the public before it can actually reinstate the taxes.
This week Dr. Musokotwane extended the suspension of customs and excise duty on petroleum products. In Statutory Instrument No.2 of 2022, dated 11th January 2022, the excise duty on petroleum and diesel remains suspended until 30th June 2022.
To prevent fuel increase, the previous government suspended the collection of these taxes(customs duty, excise duty, and VAT) by the Zambia Revenue Authority.
The government has assured that no administrator in local authorities will lose their employment on assumption that they were operatives of the former ruling patriotic front government.
Local Government and Rural Development Minister Garry Nkombo says government understands the administrators feared to lose their employment just like some did for not heeding wrong directives by the former government officials.
Mr. Nkombo has revealed that his ministry has received a lot of reports to the effect that some senior council officers should be dismissed or transferred because they worked with the PF but adds the UPND will not take the route of retribution.
Speaking at the Institute of Local Government Administrators Of Zambia –ILGAZ- Annual Admission Dinner last night, Mr. Nkombo also said government is confident that local authorities will effectively manage the expanded and broadened constituency development fund.
Mr. Nkombo said a number of stakeholders have doubted the capacity of councils to deliver on the subject but he optimistic they will if they procure quality goods and services, deliver goods and services on time and ensure they are procured at the right prices.
And ILGAZ president Ernest Mwansa said in 2019, the institute established a research unit which is meant to spearhead research activities to support evidence based policy making.
Mr. Mwansa said using this research unit, the institute intends to provide research based solutions to challenges faced by cities and towns.
Copperbelt based good governance activist Peter Mulenga has implored the Government through the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development to provide clear policy direction on the suspended operations at mineral dump sites commonly known as Black Mountains.
Mines and Minerals Development Minister Paul Kabuswe last September announced the suspension of operations at mineral dump sites mostly run by small-scale miners in Kitwe, Luanshya, Chingola and Mufulira.
When making the announcement, Mr. Kabuswe told journalists in Lusaka that he had suspended operations at slug dumps in order to restore sanity and ensure that more people benefit from the operations.
Four months after suspending the operations at the dump site, Mr. Kabuswe has not publicly updated the nation on this issue.
Commenting on the development, Mr. Mulenga, who is also a business executive, said the Government needs to deal with the issue of the black mountains urgently.
He said as the Government contemplates on the issue it must realise the need to come up with a strategy in a bid to turn the slag dumps on the Copperbelt into more viable operations that will benefit more people.
Mr. Mulenga warned that the Ministry of Mines should ensure that mineral dump sites are not hiked by rich people and foreigners.
“The issue of the black mountain has been quiet, we need the Government to give a clear direction. The Government needs to deal with the issue of the black mountain now otherwise it will come to bite them,” he said.
“Zambia, like many other developing countries, is grappling with high youth unemployment levels. Due to the growing challenge of youth unemployment, in my personal opinion the Government should formulate and come up with a strategy in my view that will turn the slag dump both in Kitwe and Luanshya into a revenue and tax generator,” he said.
“In line with this, the Government should implement a number of initiatives such as youth empowerment fund and skills development for youth entrepreneurs. No big shots should be included. There is also evidence that some of the big business shots in the country got their wealth through the black mountain,” Mr. Mulenga said.
He said mineral dump sites should benefit vulnerable and jobless youths.
“Some of the big businesses would not therefore want to let go of this opportunity thereby disadvantaged youths. Therefore, the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Development should ensure that big businessmen/Chinese do not hijack the Black Mountain project.”
“Needless to say, the Government has no business babysitting big shots or rather making the already rich richer at the expense of many jobless youths. This is why Government should make sure the Slag dumb benefit the right people and these are jobless youths. This will certainly ensure that more of them benefit, thereby contributing to poverty reduction,” Mr. Mulenga said.
Mr. Mulenga further advised potential beneficiaries of operations at Black Mountains to be more responsible and disciplined to ensure that they grow and contribute to the development of the country.
“It is therefore hoped that while the Government is working to empower youths they will also rise to the occasion and use the opportunities given to them. And youths need to be more responsible and disciplined to ensure that they grow and contribute to the development of the country as a whole,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, Copperbelt based youth activist Chanda Katema has urged Mines Minister Paul Kabuswe to clearly explain how he will ensure that small-scale mining at copper slug dumps benefits many people.
Mr. Katema said the Mines Minister should also explain what kind of operations have been suspended because some slug dumps like in Kitwe are largely owned by foreign investors.
He added that there is a need to detach politics from the operations of Black Mountains by youths.
The government has released K667 million to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) for outstanding payments to farmers under the 2020/2021 marketing season.
Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane said that all outstanding payments to farmers for the 2020/2021 season have now been cleared.
Dr. Musokotwane said that today’s action by the Treasury is significant because it represents a policy shift of the UPND Government to prioritize the agriculture sector as it presents the country with the best opportunity to attain growth, especially since the majority of people are dependent on the sector.
Dr. Musokotwane said that the sector has a relatively short gestation period with low capital requirements that are necessary to address poverty and vulnerability, adding that the sector has for a long time faced a number of impediments to the realization of its full potential, and these include, the historical delayed payments for grains supplied to the Food Reserve Agency, which impact on the productivity of a subsequent farming season.
Below is the full statement
FARMERS DUES CLEARED
We have released K667 million to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) for outstanding payments to farmers under the 2020/2021 marketing season.
Considering the K960 million released to FRA on 3rd January, and the K667 million released today, all outstanding payments to farmers for the period under review have now been cleared. FRA is expected to start paying next week and clear everyone.
Today’s action by the Treasury is significant because it represents a policy shift of the UPND Government to piroritise the agriculture sector. The sector presents us the best opportunity for attaining growth; especially that the majority of our people, about 80 percent, are dependent on it. Agriculture has a relatively short gestation period with low capital requirements (especially among small scale farmers), both issues which are necessary in addressing poverty and vulnerability in Zambia.
The sector has for a long time faced a number of impediments to the realisation of its full potential, such as the historical delayed payments for grains supplied to the Food Reserve Agency. The situation negatively impacts on the productivity of a subsequent farming season. Gladly, the matter has effectively been concluded this month so that our farmers could focus on their fields instead of chasing payments.
We urge the competent authority in-charge to ensure that a transparent payment system is deployed so that our farmers get paid without delay.
Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane, MP MINISTER OF FINANCE AND NATIONAL PLANNING
Social Economist and Marketer Kelvin Chisanga has attributed the depreciation of the Kwacha noted this week to the tight supply of the US Dollars on the local market amid the negative influence of the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to ABSA Bank daily indicative rates, the Kwacha was on Friday buying the US Dollar at 16.9709 and selling at 17.2963.
The local currency opened the week trading between 16.7479 and 17.0690 against the US Dollar.
The Kwacha last made a huge appreciation on 10th December, 2021 when trading between 15.9056 and 16.2105 against the US Dollar.
Commenting on the performance of the local currency, Mr. Chisanga further noted that the industrial recess during the Christmas and New Year holidays has also negatively affected the performance of the Kwacha.
“The performance of Kwacha this week has continued to be on a terrible side of trade and commerce, as it is trading southward. It seems that it has a mild overheating effect impacting almost every day, this is thereby making some nominal losses on an account of tight supply of US Dollars on the local market amidst some lingering negative influence of the Covid-19 pandemic,” Mr. Chisanga observed in a written statement.
“Zambia as a nation, we are coming from industrial break where the economic wheels were slow responding to the market and the month of December has two things that take place thus industrial break and it’s basically an entertainment month, so what we are seeing is the situation where we have high demands now for supply for essential goods and services as we start this particular financial year, then on the other hand, we have some goods that were not fully cleared from third and four quarter of 2021 purchases. So there is a tight supply of US Dollars on the local market (though BOZ has been offloading US Dollars on the market to cushion supply pressure) as the import demand drive is relatively acting up and strongly driving it this way for the local fundamentals on both supply and demands factors,” he started.
Mr. Chisanga said he is looking forward to observing monetary policy direction the Bank of Zambia will announce in the coming weeks.
“So, what we are seeing is that, this effect is clearly showing up in the loss of Kwacha by some small margins (nominal figures say 20 – 50ngwee) almost every day but our consolation should provide that we can see it being offset by an anticipated case of government securities thus through the bonds and treasury which are basically coming up in this first quarter to help salvo some inflationary effects which could perhaps be firmly generating from the exchange rate fundamentals, the moment we let loose FX market (foreign exchange) then we are creating a big problem of inflation which will eventually may make the central bank to come up and hike the policy rate next month in order to fight back this effect quicker but we believe strongly that complex of cases in the economy can also fight this naturally if we play our cards nicely.”
Mr. Chisanga concluded:” The major heavy-lifters in this case for Zambia will be the government bonds and treasury bills during this particular quarter coupled with the copper tax receipts. On the downside risk, we may see a supply-constraint factor for seasonal demands of goods, works and services which may likely to take up this downward route for the Kwacha, though we will keep closely monitoring on the development of inflation, as we strongly believe that there are also some cooling effects since the Zambian economy has many moving parts to interact with, in few weeks’ time we will be having the next set of monetary policy direction by the apex bank (Bank of Zambia).”
The Zambia Police Service has formally charged and arrested PF Member of the Central Committee Raphael Nakacinda for the offenses of Proposing violence and Defamation of the President.
Police Spokesperson Rae Hamoonga said that this is in relation to the utterances he made during his campaign trail in Chilenje’s Mapoloto area between 6th to 12th January, 2022.
Mr. Hamoonga said that in the message of the alleged offenses contained in the recording which went viral on various social media, Mr. Nakacinda stated that President Hakainde Hichilema and his foreign friends are planning to evict residents of Mapoloto to build a shopping mall.
Mr. Hamoonga said that in the same recording the accused is alleged to have used vulgar language against the President and that s Mr. Nakacinda has since been released on police bond and will appear in court soon.
Meanwhile, Mr. Nakacinda has said that the UPND should just get used to the truth because he will not stop talking.
Speaking after his release and spending the night in detention before he was charged and arrested on alleged defamation of the President and proposing violence during one of his campaign trail in Kabwata, Mr Nakacinda said that has also donated a book to President Hakainde Hichilema titled ‘insoselo namapinda’, which has a collection of bemba proverbs and idioms.
“This book Nindoneta kuli ba President. I will deliver it tomorrow or Monday so that he learns how the Bemba language is spoken,” Hon Nakacinda said.
Mr Nakacinda said Government’s defence towards issues raised should not be harassing citizens, adding that the defence the UPND Government should put up is to lower prices of commodities such a fuel and that President Hichilema’s defence lies in ensuring that the fertiliser scandals are investigated and those involved are brought to book and free education is fulfilled,” he said.
Mr Nakacinda also said that the UPND will not win the Kabwata seat even if they were to change their candidate from a Zimbabwean to a Tanzanian, because the people of Kabwata are speaking for the Zambian people in protest of the increase in fuel, increase in mealie meal prices and many other atrocities the UPND has committed in five months.
President Hakainde Hichilema has fired Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) Director-General Musonda Simwayi.
President Hichilema has since appointed Mary Chirwa as new Director-General of the DEC.
He says Ms. Chirwa brings a wealth of experience to the institution in areas of financial analysis and investigation.
President Hichilema has wished Ms Chirwa God’s blessings in her new role.
This is contained in a statement released to the media by Presidential Spokesperson Anthony Bwalya.
The Electoral Commision of Zambia(ECZ) has allowed the Harry Kalaba led DP to participate in the forthcoming Kabwata bye-elections.
In a letter addressed to the Party Secretary General as per records at Registrar of Society (Precious Ntambu).The ECZ which earlier in the week hosted the DP officials and the two former leaders of DP Judith Kabemba and Justine Nkonge .
“The commission reviewed documentation in the matter were the DP were unable to file their nominations due to the attempt to field two candidates.Please be advised that the commission in its constitutional mandate and would not interfere in intra-party disputes”, read part of the letter.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia has set Thursday, 3rd February, 2022 as the new date for holding the Kabwata constituency parliamentary by-election in Lusaka.
And the commission has set Wednesday, 19th January, 2022 as the date of the nominations for the by-election.
The Kabwata parliamentary by-election was initially scheduled to take place on 20th January, 2022 but was canceled following the withdrawal from the race of united progressive people (UPP) candidate, Libanda Francis, who invoked the provisions of Article 52(6) of the republican constitution.
ECZ corporate affairs manager Patricia Luhanga has announced in a statement that the campaign period for the election will commence on Wednesday, 19th January, 2022 after 15:00 hours and will end at 18:00 hours on Wednesday, 2nd February, 2022.
Ms Luhanga has since advised all stakeholders and participating political parties and candidates to observe the ministry of health guidelines and procedures on the prevention of covid-19.
the election in kabwata constituency has been necessitated following the death of united party for national development (upnd) member of parliament, levy mkandawire on thursday, 18th november, 2021.
Compliments of the season, good people. I hope you are well and starting 2022 on a good note and keeping safe amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. As I begin this year with my first article, I refer to an article by Edwin M. Hatembo Junior that appeared in October on the 30th of 2013 titled, ‘Why Zambia needs Toll Roads.’ The article appeared in Lusaka Times before introducing the tolling system in Zambia. The article’s author perfectly and concisely outlined the need for toll roads in Zambia, the advantages and disadvantages which were outweighed by advantages, by the way, reasons for paying tolls, the benefits, and what tolls fees are used for.
As a refresher, I begin off by simply stating what a toll road is for the sake of clarity. A toll road, also known as a turnpike or tollway, is a public or private road (almost always a controlled-access highway in the present day) for which a fee (or toll) is assessed for passage. It is a form of road pricing typically implemented to help recoup the costs of road construction and maintenance. In Zambia, 26 toll roads and 37 toll sites are listed.
I came for a holiday in December 2021, and it was lovely to see what Zambia has done in terms of toll plazas, and the road maintenance is evident on most roads. Since then, we have moved from toll drums and small booths to more enormous structures that I hope will improve with time.
A friend of mine from South Africa, upon seeing the toll plazas in Zambia, remarked by saying, “Wow, these toll plazas look like the very first ones we had in South Africa.” It now gives me hope that the plazas will, with time, become better, and we should not relax and be content with their current state. It is also amazing to think that when tolling was introduced in Zambia, people resisted confirming many things in terms of Zambians being exposed to what is done in other countries like South Africa.
HAZARDS NEAR PLAZAS
Along the T1 Road, I passed through a small toll plaza called Kebby Musokotwane Toll Station from Southern province. The toll plaza is tiny, and the approaches road is small with only 2-ways on either side. What struck me most was that, after you pass it, you are met by villagers trading next to it. It is an excellent entrepreneurial spirit, and people should be commended. However, this is the T1 road, and it presents a hazard. As the mini-markets grow near the highway, it becomes busy, which is a hazard. People start constructing unsightly structures, and people cross the highway willy-nilly, and then we start having fatalities. People should have a sense of responsibility and care as they approach a highway.
Kebby Musokotwane Toll Station
If this is not achieved, we will have villages and trading posts near busy highways near toll plazas. My thinking is to widen the approach or the depart sides of the plaza and barricade the sides so that people do not trade there. If that is left unchecked, I fear that we will have an unsightly fully-fledged market there.
A safe distance from the toll plaza, a modern structure for trading with ablution facilities could be erected. This will create a clean and safe environment for the traders. We are creating jobs…simple. We will have traders, maintenance cleaners, sweepers, fee-paying toilet attendants, etc. We solve a lot of problems, such as travelers having a relief station for food and answering the call of nature for themselves. It’s the simple things in life, I always say.
TOLL ROAD SIGNAGES
The signage in Zambia also leaves much to be desired. As I observed, along the toll roads in South Province, the kilometers are also not indicated. It would be nice to have those as one travels as it gives one a sense of distance. As you approached Mazabuka on small white reflective concrete pillars, I saw those distances indicated and this, for people with eye problems like myself presents a challenge.
Daniel Munkombwe Toll located between Choma after Harmony and Batoka
The Mazabuka road only has those little signages because it is being worked on which by the way is a nice road. The signage could be better placed as big boards instead of ‘MBK 12 km.’ The writing of MBK is also not wise as this road is used by not only locals who may know or not know what MBK is but also by international travelers. It is always good to put proper signage and not work on assumptions that people know. It just makes things easier. The reasoning may be to save costs and not have people carry the small concrete signages, but I believe better signage could be adopted and standardized across Zambia as we are now being tolled.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, Zambia needs to better arrange the toll roads in terms of how the roads are made to avoid a situation where people trade near them and create unsightly structures. We do not want a problem where toll gates look like Mumbwa roads and pose people hazards. Let us not wait for a disaster to act. We have all the time in the world to correct this situation before it gets out of hand.
The Anti-Corruption Commission has said that it is utterly disappointed with the behaviour of Lumezi lawmaker Munir Zulu who after being given an opportunity to officially lodge his complaints against the commission, stormed out of ACC offices in the company of his lawyers without courtesy.
According to a statement released to the media by ACC Spokesperson Queen Chibwe, the Commission said that they had summoned Mr.Zulu for him to avail information and substantiate his allegations that he has publicly made in the recent past which border on bringing the reputation of the Commission into disrepute.
Ms. Chibwe said that Mr. Zulu was given an opportunity by the Commission to provide specific information of his allegations made in some sections of the media that he has bribed ACC officers before, with a view to enabling the Commission to institute investigations into the allegations.
Ms. Chibwe said that the Commission is saddened by sentiments uttered by Mr. Zulu alleging that the institution wants to arrest him and inject him with a foreign substance in order to eliminate him.
Mrs. Chibwe said that these allegations are baseless and unfounded and the Commission is concerned with Mr. Zulu’s continuous media attacks on the integrity and professional conduct of the officers and the institution on allegations which he has failed to substantiate.
“It is unfortunate that Mr. Zulu has continued to rush to media houses to seek attention and discredit hard working officers and the reputation of the Commission, ‘ the statement concluded
