Media personality and rapper K’Chinga Mr 260 unfolds his latest rap anthem tagged “Angels & Demons” alongside talented artiste and record producer Shinko Beats who also crafted the track.
Angels & Demons is a soul-touching record which serves as the lead single from K’Chinga‘s debut album “Broke Billionaire”.
Patriotic Front Secretary General, Davies Mwila has rejected the call for National Prayers to celebrate the so-called free and fair nature of the August 2021 General Elections.
Mwila has reminded the Church that promoting a notion that elections were free and fair was misplaced and untrue. Mr. Mwila said it would be folly for PF President Edgar Lungu to attend such prayers held under that guise.
He said the PF has put it on record that the last elections were characterized by widespread electoral malpractices especially in North-Western, Southern and Western Provinces. He said the elections were also characteried by abductions, murder, arson, injuries and loss of properties perpetrated by the UPND against Patriotic Front members.
He said the pre-election period witnessed unprecedented high levels of brutal violence perpetrated by the UPND against PF members. The Patriotic Front has therefore called upon the Church to help promote Justice against these crimes before they could sit to pray for a free and fair election.
The three mother bodies, CCZ, EFZ and ZCCB have called for National Prayers to celebrate the successful holding of Free and Fair Elections in Zambia. The prayers will be held on Sunday 19th September 2021 at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.
President Hakainde Hichilema has commended peace efforts by the leadership of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) aimed at restoring civilian rule to Guinea – Conakry.
This is in a wake of the unconstitutional takeover of power in that country by military armed forces which took place on 5th September 2021.
The President has emphasized the new dawn administration’s unreserved condemnation of the unconstitutional takeover of power in Guinea- Conakry and joins ECOWAS in their concerted and unanimous call for a total and brisk return to civilian rule in that country.
“As one of the architects of the African Union (AU) Charter on the unconstitutional takeover of power, Zambia does not support any form of unconstitutional change of government, and therefore reaffirms its support for a peaceful return to a democratic governance system in Guinea- Conakry,” the President stated.
The Head of State has further committed Zambia’s continued solidarity with regional, continental, and international bodies calling for the restoration of democracy and constitutional order in Guinea- Conakry.
This is according to a statement issued to the media in Lusaka yesterday by Special Assistant to the President and Presidential Spokesperson, Anthony Bwalya.
By Sishuwa Sishuwa
The last few days have seen mounting calls from many Zambians for President Hakainde Hichilema to dismiss senior civil servants appointed by his predecessor. Those behind these calls argue that such officials cannot be relied upon to implement the new president’s vision because they were either complicit in the worst excesses of the previous administration or are still loyal to former president Edgar Lungu.
It is easy to sympathise with these demands. Zambians generally agree that Lungu’s presidency was an unmitigated disaster, hence Hichilema’s landslide election victory last month. The reason for the temptation to remove the old administration’s appointees en masse and replace them with a new tranche of officials is clear. However, the case for a clear-out of Lungu’s networks in the executive and civil service is not clear-cut. While superficially appealing, a clear-out policy would present several dangers.
The first is practical. We know from successive Auditor General’s Office and Financial Intelligence Centre reports that large amounts of money were looted under Lungu’s rule. One of Zambia’s pressing issues is to get this money returned so that it can be spent on the many pressing issues that the country faces, but what we don’t know is where the stolen funds have gone – that is apart from the appointees and senior government officials from the Lungu era.
Unlike President Levy Mwanawasa who focused on prosecuting suspected plunderers on coming into office in 2002, Hichilema’s priority appears to be recovering stolen funds. His administration may yet press criminal charges, but with Zambia’s watchdog institutions lacking investigative capacity and its judiciary compromised, his approach for now seems to be centred on creating fast-track courts as a more effective way of getting back looted wealth. For this mission to be successful, it will require the cooperation of some of those who know where the bodies are buried, metaphorically speaking. Sacking them will not help.
The second point relates to averting potential chaos. The removal of almost all senior officials at the same time could effectively paralyse the operations of the state. However skilled new appointees might be, it would take time for them to settle in and master their briefs. Moreover, the incumbents in these positions are employees, mostly with contracts. Dismissing them at would cost the treasury a significant sum, which Zambia can ill afford. A better approach would be to either transfer the officials to different roles within the civil service or let their contracts, many of which may be set to expire soon, run down.
The third point is perhaps the most important: political party loyalty should not determine somebody’s job. I am painfully aware that under Lungu’s rule, hundreds of Zambians lost their jobs for alleged association with the then opposition United Party for National Development (UPND). The worst-affected were Zambians from Southern, Western and Northwestern provinces – a factor that might explain why voters from these areas emphatically rejected Lungu and the Patriotic Front (PF). If the UPND were to remove people from their jobs for suspected links to the political opposition, they would be no different from the PF on this score.
It is worth noting that many of those demanding the removal of PF appointees are UPND supporters who expected to be rewarded following Hichilema’s victory. They believe it is their turn to eat and that they deserve political jobs because of their loyalty. This is completely the wrong approach. The expectation of rewards based on political affiliation is one reason why Lungu’s presidency was so disastrous, and his removal is a great positive outcome for all Zambians. We must not repeat the same mistakes.
In this debate, I believe that the basic questions we must answer are: Are the people appointed by Lungu able to do their job? Are they competent, experienced, and qualified professionals? If they are, and they have not been involved in blatant criminal activities, then there is no reason to fire them. Sacking people based on their perceived political affiliation has unfortunately been commonplace in Zambia. Readers will recall that Michael Sata and the PF did the same in 2011 on replacing Rupiah Banda and the Movement for Multiparty Democracy. Are we going to do this every time there is a change of government? Who will want to work for government knowing that their employment is only secure as along as their perceived political party of choice is in power?
It is heartening to see so many Zambians engaging in the democratic process and holding Hichilema and his new administration to account. In a sense, this renewed interest in governance issues demonstrates that people are tired of the incompetence, venality, and waste that characterised Lungu’s time in office, and they want change. At the same time, it is important to bear in mind that Hichilema has been in office for less than a month. He cannot be expected to work miracles in that time.
What Hichilema does need to do, however, is to clearly communicate his approach and explain his decisions. Otherwise rumours and accusations will start to fly. In my view, the growing irritation against the continued presence of Lungu’s appointees in government has little to do with disapproval of Hichilema’s decisions by his supporters; it has much to do with the lack of clear knowledge and understanding about what is going on, why the president is taking his time, or the motivations behind some of his decisions. To avoid alienating himself from his support base and to help manage public expectations, it is important that Hichilema develops an effective public communication strategy.
The Zambia United Local Authorities Workers Union (ZULAWU) has called on the Ministry of Local Government to address the plight of delayed payments of salaries and improved conditions of service for council employees across the country.
Speaking during the ZULAWU Executive Council meeting at Mika hotel , ZULAWU Acting President Margarate Jere noted with concern that Council workers have not been receiving their salaries on time, a situation which is deemed unfit for the welfare of the workers.
Ms Jere highlighted the need to draw a road map that puts Council workers on a centralised payroll system with a fixed pay day.
“The removal of political party cadres from markets and bus stations has enabled us to be so determined to collect revenues accordingly,” she said
She added that a 10% or 15% of revenue collected from the Toll gate fees should be allocated to the Council as it will be a source of income generation for the Council workers to also help them to pay outstanding dues of Council retirees.
Meanwhile, Local Government Minister Garry Nkombo has assured Council workers of government’s commitment to implementing the decentralisation policy, as there can never be meaningful development without job creation, decent work, and industrial harmony.
He noted that government is aware of the human resource committees that are being established in all the local authorities in line with the service commissions Act No.10 of 2016 which states the devolution of power to handle staff matters by the lower organs in the local authorities under the decentralisation policy.
“I want to re-affirm government’s commitment to the implementation of the decentralisation policy as it is the only policy tool to attain national development through the creation of decent jobs,” he said
Mr Nkombo assured Council workers of a highly disciplined workforce in the service that will enable the government to deliver and account for both locally generated funds and those received from the central government through Local Government equalisation fund.
He has since urged Labour Unions to remain committed in servicing both the government of the day and members whom they are mandated to represent, and to remain objective for the purposes of achieving the expectations their members.
Mr Nkombo urged them to uphold the principle of dialogue in coming up with a win-win outcome.
And Local Government Service Commission Chairman Amos Musonda highlighted that as a commission they will ensure that they study the UPND manifesto and disseminate information to the 16 Local Authorities as chief advisors.
Mr Musonda also said 70 percent of the disciplinary actions and dismissals that the Commission has undertaken is for pilfering of the council resources.
He has since urged the union to educate their members on the need to guard the revenue they generate for the benefit of the people they serve.
The Executive Council meeting was held under Theme ‘Implementing the Decentralised Policy, for the Achievement of National Development through Job Creation, Decent Work and Industrial Harmony in the New Dawn’
The Ministry of Information and Media has urged media stakeholders to work with the government in its effort to enhance freedom of information.
Former Ministry of Information and Media Permanent Secretary, Amos Malupenga advised media stakeholders to partner with the government of the day to ensure that a conducive media environment is created.
Mr Malupenga who officiated at Media Round Table discussion organised by PANOS Southern African Institute at Elementos Hotel in Lusaka yessterday, observed that a conducive media environment can only be achieved through a strong identity of the fourth state in the country.
The former PS noted that the adhering to the journalism code of ethics by all media practitioners is one way to enhance freedom of expression and access to information in Zambia.
‘’Strict observation of the Journalism code of ethics in the media fraternity will help to avoid acrimony and confusion in the process of informing the public and exercise the freedom of expression and press,’’ Mr Malupenga explained.
He further stated that the government of the day will work to ensure an enabling environment for media practitioners is created and urged media stakeholders to collaborate if this goal is to be achieved.
And Zambia Media Institute Association Vice President Jubliel Zulu called on the government to consider the enactment of the wage bill for the Journalism Professional that can regulate the wage scale for media practitioners in Zambia.
‘’We hope to see that the new government works to push for the enactment of the minimum wage bill for Journalists because the economic constraints are not conducive for the media profession,’’ she explained.
President Hakainde Hichilema has with immediate effect terminated the services of Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) National Coordinator Chanda Kabwe and Ministry of Information and Media, Permanent Secretary Amos Malupenga.
Addressing a media briefing at State House this evening, Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations, Anthony Bwalya who announced wholesale terminations at Permanent Secretary, Diplomatic and Service Commissioner level also announced Zambia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Emmanuel Mwamba among those whose job have been terminated.
Mr Bwalya further announced that Public Service Management Division (PSMD) Permanent Secretary, Borniface Chimbwali, Ministry of Local Government and Housing Permanent Secretary Matthew Ngulube have had their contracts terminated.
Others are Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Permanent Secretary, Chanda Kaziya, Ministry of Works and Supply Permanent Secretary Lennox Kalonde and Ministry of Agriculture Permanent Secretary Songowayo Zyambo and Ministry of Mines and Mineral Development Permanent Secretary Barnaby Mulenga.
Others fired at Permanent Secretary level are Permanent Secretary, Parliamentary Business Department under the Office of the Vice President Juliana Shoko, Ministry of Transport and Communication Permanent Secretary Misheck Lungu, Ministry of Gender Permanent Secretary Sastone Silomba and Ministry of Home Affairs Permanent Secretary Masiye Banda.
Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Administration Emmanuel Ngulube’s services have also been terminated.
Those terminated at provincial level are Western Province Permanent Secretary Danny Bukali, Copperbelt Permanent Secretary Bright Nundwe, Southern Province Permanent Secretary Joyce Nsamba, Luapula Province Permanent Secretary Charles Mushota.
North Western Province Permanent Secretary Willis Mangimela, Central Province Permanent Secretary Bernard Chomba and Northern Province Permanent Secretary Royd Chakaba round off the list of provincial Permanent Secretaries whose services have been terminated.
At Service Commissioner level, Local Government Service Commission Chairman Amos Musonda, Civil Service Commission Chairman Dickson Chasaya and Vice Chairperson Hilliary Chipango have been dropped.
Eastern Province Deputy Permanent Secretary Japhet Lombe has also been fired.
At diplomatic level, those that have been dropped are Ambassador to Germany Anthony Mukwita, Ambassador to Switzerland Martha Mwitumwa, Ambassador to Belgium Nkandu Munalula and High Commissioner to the United Kingdom Paul Mihova.
Others include Ambassador to China Winnie Chibesakunda, High Commissioner to India Judith Kapijimpanga, High Commissioner to Tanzania Benson Chali and Ambassador to Zimbabwe Emmanuel Chenda.
Consul general to Guangzhou China, Daniel Chisenga, Ambassador to Brazil Alfreda Kansembe, Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ibrahim Mumba and Deputy High Commissioner to Botswana Goodwell Lungu have been recalled.
Mr Bwalya said the move has been made in keeping with the promises of delivering servant-based leadership that focuses on optimizing value for citizens, in the manner that government ministries function.
“President Hichilema explains that the terminations of some government officials has also been necessitated in order to entrench a new culture of accountability in the way that government works at Permanent Secretary level, and at senior government level,” he said.
Meanwhile Mr Bwalya said the termination of services at diplomatic level is in line with government’s resolve to promote economic diplomacy.
“The President says this is in order to foster a new culture of economic diplomacy underpinned by meritocracy, and to optimize the value derived from Zambia’s various diplomatic relationships around the world,” Mr Bwalya said,
Zanaco and Red Arrows hope to march on in their respective continental campaigns this Saturday.
In the CAF Champions League, Zanaco host Akonangui of Equatorial Guinea in a preliminary round , final leg match at National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka.
Zanaco head into the match with a 2-0 first leg victory they collected last Sunday away in Equatorial Guinea.
But Zanaco coach Kelvin Kaindu is not taking their comfortable away win for granted.
“We won away but that does not mean that we should be reactant in the second leg.
The job is not done yet. We need to remain focused and finish the job here by winning,” Kaindu said.
A draw will suffice to see Zanaco sail through to next month’s pre-group stage knockout round.
In the CAF Confederation Cup, Arrows are in Eswatini to play Young Buffaloes in Manzini this Saturday.
Arrows have a 2-1 first leg lead and also know a draw on the road is good enough to see them advance to the second round of the CAF Confederation Cup where a tough tie against Angolan side CD Primeiro De Agosto awaits that will see the latter travel for the first leg match.
Meanwhile on Sunday, Kabwe Warriors hosts CFFA of Madagascar in their CAF Confederation Cup final leg fixture at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
That tie is up for grabs with Warriors and CFFA level at 0-0.
Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Technical Services Kennedy Malama has indicated that Zambia as of today recorded a total of 3, 636 deaths since COVID-19 was detected in the country. Dr. Malama has noted that COVID-19 has been a topical issue in Zambia since the country detected the first case in March 2020.
The Permanent Secretary said government with support from various stakeholders have put up a good fight against the pandemic though on the negative side lives have been lost. Dr. Malama said this in Lusaka today when he received a donation of various COVID-19 equipment from the Global Association of the Zambian Healthcare Professionals (GAZHP) at the Ministry of Health.
He noted that the commodities that have been donated and those yet to come, are in line with the Country’s National COVID-19 Multi- sectoral Covid Contingency Preparedness and Response Plan.
Dr. Malama stated that the equipment will be used on a number of pillars including infection prevention and control in healthcare facilities to some extent in the communities but also more critically in case management.
“These commodities will go a long way to protect lives and ensure that the outcomes in our health care facilities are good,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary further indicated that the Global Association of the Zambian Healthcare Professionals has since become a strategic institution to government and particularly the Ministry of Health.
“These are rare occasions when Zambians in the diaspora have come together to mobilize resources, thinking of home, thinking of Zambia and it’s people where they come from so that these materials can come and contribute to the COVID-19 response,” Dr. Malama stated.
He thanked the Association for the donation and for allowing government to give guidance looking at the various key pillars of the COVID-19 response.
“These commodities have to go to designated places and I’m happy that we have already agreed on the provinces which have been prioritised and facilities and will make sure that we follow that agreed distribution,” Dr. Malama said.
Meanwhile, Global Association for the Zambian Healthcare Professionals Representative Melissa Kapulu said as a grouping of Zambian Healthcare Professionals in the diaspora, are aware of the third wave of the COVID-19 in Zambia.
Dr. Kapulu said in response to the third wave of the pandemic in the country, the Association set up a task force in order to provide support towards the fight.
Among the items donated today included facemasks, hand sanitisers, gloves as well oxygen and lab equipment.
The Global Alliance of Healthcare Professionals is a registered Association in the United States of America and was founded to mobilize and organise direct resources by the Zambia healthcare in the diaspora to help with comprehensive healthcare delivery in the country.
ABSA bank PLC has effected a 21 percent increment to all its workers in order to cushion the challenges employers have been facing due to the tough economy.
ABSA bank PLC Managing Director, Mizinga Melu disclosed that the bank with the Zambia Financial and Allied Workers Union (ZAFIAWU) and the Bankers Union of Zambia (BUZ) have agreed to give all members of staff K2,500 increment per month with effect from April 1, 2021
Ms Melu noted that the bank will also give employees an exceptional discretion, one off payment of K12, 500 in addition to the 21 percent increment.
“Our employees will all walk away with a discretionary management payment of K12, 500, in addition to the 21 percent that we are giving them that amounts to K2, 500increment across the board with effect from the first of April,” she said.
Ms Melu stated that the bank will also enhance the conditions of service for ATM custodians as well as the card acquiring merchants by giving them additional allowances.
She also expressed happiness that the board has approved and signed a new early retirement scheme that allows members of staff who would like to retire early to do so.
“Despite the challenges we may be facing, our people need to be taken care of, that’s why we have continued to have negotiations to grow the bank to a bank of choice in the country,” she added.
She expressed happiness that the bank together with ZAFIAWU and BUZ has managed to effect strides that will better the members of staff.
Ms Melu said this during the signing ceremony of the 2021 collective bargaining agreement with ZAFIAWU and BUZ held in Lusaka today.
She also mentioned that the bank did not lay off any employees during the name-changing transition process of the bank, but instead, created more employment.
Speaking at the same event, ZAFIAW Secretary-General Chingati Msiska expressed happiness that the collective agreement was signed and actualized.
Mr Msiska said the union will adopt the government’s goals to enhance productivity by meeting all workers’ aspirations.
“Many times, we look at the good and the benefit the members are going to achieve as they remain your worker. The Union would like to see this institution do better and prosper, provided that the interest and rights of members are safeguarded,” he added.
Meanwhile, BUZ Deputy Secretary General Mwape Chanda expressed gratitude to ABSA management and ZUFIAU for agreeing to move forward and work together for the betterment of employees which will in turn make them more productive and improve the economy of the country.
Minister of Agriculture Mutolo Phiri has revealed that the government has dispatched 1.2 million empty grain bags for the purchase of maize under the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).
The Minister of Agriculture was responding to a question by Chinsali Member of Parliament Kalalwe Mukosa during question for oral answer standing order number 76.
The Chinsali lawmaker asked the government if it is aware that a lot of maize from farmers is going to waste at the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) depots in Chinsali Constituency and other depots countrywide due to a shortage of grain bags, and what urgent measures are being put to avert the loss of maize.
The Agriculture minister explained that government is fully aware of the shortage and that his ministry had engaged the Ministry of Finance to procure more grain bags to distribute to the farmers as well as mobilize funds to pay the farmers who have been supplying maize to the Food Reserve Agency.
Mr. Phiri noted that the Food Reserve Agency has since dispatched grain bags to all satellite depots across the country.
He added that the Agency will continue to buy maize up to 800,000 metric tonnes rather than the indicated target of 500,000 metric tonnes.
The Agriculture minister noted that the current price of K150 per 50-kilogram bag of maize will continue to be implemented.
He has encouraged farmers to continue taking their maize for sell to the FRA as they are still buying the commodity.
Meanwhile, the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has procured an additional of 262,000 empty grain bags from the suppliers, and part of the consignment has been dispatched to Muchinga Province.
FRA Public Relations Coordinator John Chipandwe assured farmers in various satellite deports of Muchinga Province that the agency has dispatched 90 thousand empty grain bags and that more will be dispatched.
Mr Chipandwe said the Agency is aware of the erratic supply of empty grain bags in some satellite deports around the country and working hard to resolve the situation.
He told ZANIS in Lusaka today that the demand for empty grain bags has been as a result of the maize bumper harvest and pegged floor price which attracted farmers to sell their produce to the Agency.
“The Agency is aware of the situation of empty grain bags which is as a result of the bumper harvest and the attractive price being offered by FRA implying that most farmers have opted to sale to the Agency and also the fact that the Agency has continued to buy maize beyond its planned target which is a good thing as the move will guarantee national food security,” he noted.
Mr Chipandwe further assured the farmers not to panic as the Agency will deliver the empty grain bags on a daily basis.
“As the Agency continues receiving more empty grain bags from suppliers, it will continue dispatching to the Province for onward distribution to depots,” he said.
The Agency received reports of shortages of empty grain bags from some satellite depots across the country.
Patson Daka says his first competitive start for Leicester City in Thursday’s home draw against Serie A giants Napoli has energised him despite the anticlimax of his disallowed goal.
Leicester drew 2-2 with Napoli in the two sides UEFA Europa League Group C opener.
It was the Chipolopolo strikers’ first start for his new club since joining the English club in the summer from Austrian champions RB Salzburg on a four-year deal.
Patson was denied a goal in the 59th minute after VAR adjudged that the Chipolopolo striker had scored it from an offside position.
“It was a positive thing for me. It is just unfortunate that it didn’t count but it also gives me a lot of confidence going forward because I know where the goal is,” Patson told LCFC TV.
Patson was later substituted in the 71st minute.
Meanwhile in Scotland, Patson’s Chipolopolo strike partner Fashion Sakala was on the losing side when Glasgow Rangers succumbed to a 2-0 home loss to French giants Olympique Lyon in their UEFA Europe League Group A clash at Ibrox.
Fashion came on in the 76th minute with Rangers already trailing 2-0.
Leicester and Rangers return to continental action on September 30 with away dates in Poland to play Legia Warsaw and at Czech side Sparta Prague respectively.
The alleged owner of the infamous 48 houses has reappeared from his self-imposed exile. Charles Loyana, a former Accountant at the Ministry of Finance has returned to the country. Loyana, who is a nephew to the Minister of Finance, Situmbeko Musokotwane, says he wants his property and his job at the Ministry back.
Loyana had fled to Tanzania fearing for his arrest and his life. Loyana is among the three people who have sued the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over the 48 houses in Lusaka’s Chalala area.
He recently submitted to the Court that he as Charles Loyana, a senior accountant at the Ministry of Finance, remains qualified to own property in Zambia using funding from any legal sources of his choice.
In this matter, Uziel Bashire, Zuberi Bigawa (both Tanzianians) and Loyana have sued ACC in the Lusaka High Court, seeking declaration that Loyana had and has the requisite power and authority by law in Zambia to purchase, possess and own property in his name for his own benefit or for the benefit of any other person.
They also want the court to order that Bashire, a Tanzanian but currently residing in Norway, has an interest in the properties bought by Loyana and was to be the ultimate beneficial owner of the properties bought, and such Loyana as purchaser of the properties should be granted possession of the said properties.
But in its defence, ACC argued that Loyana did not challenge the forfeiture proceedings that were instituted by the commission despite being served with the notice of intention to have the said properties forfeited to the State.
ACC added that Loyana in a statement to it dated May 16, 2018, told the commission that he owned only two properties, that is, one in Chilenje and the other in Chalala.
Meanwhile, ACC submitted that there was no record of either Bashire or Bigawa (both Tanzianians) being granted an investment permit to enable them to invest in Zambia.
However, in their reply to ACC’s defence, the three argued that there was no law in Zambia that proscribed a foreigner from funding a local person who qualifies to own property to purchase property or to fund any such investment to require them first to have an investment permit.
They argued that thus, ACC’s understanding of the requirements of an investment licence to justify its illegal seizure of the properties was out of context and remains unjustified at law.
The three further argued that neither does there exist any law in Zambia that proscribes a foreign national from having an interest in any investment or property owned by qualified persons under the law in Zambia.
They stated that what the law prevents was owning the property in the foreigner’s name if that foreigner does not meet or does not qualify to own land in his/her name as required by law.
“Further, a transaction regarding sale and purchase of property between private parties as was the case herein was and remains a private contract between the parties to the transaction and the defendant (ACC) was never a party to the transaction.
The third plaintiff (Loyana) remains qualified to own property in Zambia using funding from any legal sources of his choice and cannot be deprived of the said properties in the circumstances of this matter,” the three plaintiffs stated.
They maintained that ACC did not comply with the law in the process of seizing the said properties and would duly prove that at trial
Vice President Mutale Nalumango has confirmed that the debt swap for workers in the civil service has been suspended.
The Vice President said this in response to Chikankata Member of Parliament Jackline Sabao on government’s position on the debt swap during the Vice President’s question time in Parliament today.
Mrs Nalumango explained that the programme seemed to have been implemented late during the PF government without full engagements of the banking sector.
She said the debt swap will therefore be re-looked at and may be restructured to see how best it can work.
The Vice President stated that government holds the public service workers’ interests in high esteem and hence the need to find ways of supporting them.
Responding to Siavonga Member of Parliament who wanted to know the reason for suspending the appointments and promotions in the civil service as announced by the Secretary to the Cabinet, the Vice President explained that the move was necessitated because of the merging, dissolving and re-alignment of some ministries.
Mrs. Nalumango said there were implications that would have come if the suspensions were not timely effected.
“When you are making changes such as the dissolving of ministries, re-alignment and merging others, you can’t continue to employ or promote because the structure or establishment must firstly be clear and known as to who should be employed and what qualifications are necessary”, she added.
The Vice President noted that once all requirements are gazetted and put in place, employment, promotions in the civil service will resume.
Royal Leopards of Eswatini are expecting Zesco United to be attack minded in Saturday’s CAF Champions League match at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
Leopards have a 1-0 advantage from the first leg tie of the preliminary round played seven days ago.
Speaking on arrival at the Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe Airport in Ndola, Leopards Coach Edwin Matsebule said his side is expecting a different game from the first leg.
“This will be a new game together. They are a good team; they gave us a hard time at home,” Matsebule said.
“This will be a different game altogether. They will come at us especially that they are at home. We have made our secret plan and we know what to do exactly,” he said.
© Lusaka Times
