The Media Liaison Committee says it has received with shock the statement from Minister of Information and Broadcast Services, Dora Siliya that the Zambian Government has instructed its entire machinery not to do business with a Zambian private media institution, Prime Television and that those that already had contracts with the institution must terminate these contracts.

Committee Chairperson Enock Ngoma says this action by the Government is not only illegal but also immoral.

Mr Ngoma says the move is illegal as it goes against the spirit of fair competition, consumer protection, and public procurement regulations.

“Why should the Government disadvantage a local business by instructing other customers not to buy or deal with a private company? This is immoral since Prime TV is a local Zambian company that offers a public service to Zambians as an employer mainly in the in the media industry and a tax payer to the treasury through the various taxes collected by the Zambia Revenue Authority”, he said.

Mr Ngoma has reminded the Zambian Government, in case they are not aware, that the Government business and finance that they want to deny Prime TV are derived from the very taxes collected from Zambians who include Prime TV and its staff, and users of Prime TV media services.

“Prime TV as a Zambian company duly registered and in compliance with PACRA under Companies Act and IBA under the Independence Broadcasting Authority Act, is a tax payer and employer of many Zambian citizens. Prime TV is also a provider of vital information, news, education and entertainment through its various media platforms to millions of Zambians who too are voters, tax payers, tax that is enjoyed by the same government that is trying to deny business to this media institution”, Mr Ngoma added.

He said Prime TV as a Zambia company is not expected to be denied business opportunities by the very Zambian Government that daily collects taxes from it.

Mr Ngoma said the Committee is aware that this is not the first time that the Zambian Government is using its financial muscle from tax payers’ money to kill a private Zambian media by denying the business access to its services.

“In the past, the MMD Government stifled the growth of local media by secretly instructing government wings and departments not to advertise or grant interviews to the private media. This was done to The Post, The Monitor, Radio Phoenix, and Breeze FM among others and Honourable Siliya was again in Government. It is therefore not surprising that she has picked up from where she left at the time to bring confusion to the media”, he added.

Mr Ngoma says it is also depressing to realise that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services has got seasoned media practitioners who should have advised against the decision to sideline Prime TV.

He said Ms Siliya herself is a seasoned broadcaster while the Permanent Secretary Mr Amos Malupenga is a renowned journalist and former Managing Editor at the country’s largest independent newspaper that time, The Post. Naturally, one would not expect such hostility from these two media personalities.

“Studies have shown that African governments are in the habit of using government resources to disadvantage private media and private companies that are providing services to the opposition parties, CSOs or citizens deemed critical of the government”, he added.

Mr Ngoma has further reminded the PF Government that there is a difference between taxpayer’s money and PF money saying the party and its cadres are free to tell their own private companies and businesses not to advertise in Prime TV if they deem it not to be to their benefit.

He said the PF cannot use tax payers’ money collected through the government machinery and government departments to harm the business interests of Prime TV or disadvantage it from fair competition as a private company.

Mr Ngoma has appealed to the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Commerce and Trade and the Ministry of Justice, among others, that understand good governance and business environments to advise their colleagues on the illegality of this action and how it kills local businesses in Zambia who are the very sources of job creation and taxes that our heavily indebted government dearly needs.

“This government action also contributes to Zambia being downgraded into junk status among investors and those seeking to set up businesses as it sends a negative message that a group of individuals abuse tax payers’ money to kill local businesses. It is also hypocritical that the same government can claim to support local entrepreneurs when in fact not”, he said.

Mr Ngoma said to operate a media company in Zambia has become a thankless and non-profitable job as the government is always going all out to overtax the news print and broadcast equipment.

He has since called on government to rescind its decision on Prime TV and stop blackmailing independent media with taxpayer’s money.

Mr Ngoma said Prime TV is equally a tax payer that should not be segregated. If they have any regard for media freedom, let them cancel this despotic decision and has emphasised on on the need to always engage in dialogue before taking drastic measures.

The AgriTech Expo Zambia 2020 which was scheduled to take place from 2-4 April 2020 at the GART Research Center in Chisamba has been postponed to a later date.

Deputy Managing Director of DLG International and Project Lead of AgriTech Expo Zambia, Lars Huf says the event has been postponed in view of the Coronavirus which has become a global pandemic.

Dr Huf stated that the safety and wellbeing of all the stakeholders is of paramount importance hence the postponement of the event.

He said they have been monitoring the situation closely stating that when they received an official communication from the Ministry of Health to postpone the event, the organizers took the necessary steps.

Dr Huf noted that the Coronavirus outbreak is now a global pandemic according to the World Health Organization (WHO) which has alerted all countries to take urgent precautionary actions.

“By rescheduling the exhibition we are confident that we can deliver AgriTech Expo Zambia to our international standard and maximize business opportunities to all parties,” he said.

He added that the new dates for the exhibition will be announced soon.

AgriTech Expo Zambia is the business-to-business buying platform for agricultural professionals, from small-scale farmers to commercial enterprises, to engage and conduct business with some of the world’s leading suppliers to the agricultural industry.

The goal of the expo is establishing a marketplace for regional and international industry professionals, young Agripreneurs and farmers of all scales, to come together in one location to conduct exclusive agribusiness transactions while being educated on the latest global industry trends to advance into the next generation of food production.

AgriTech Expo presents the gateway to industry innovations with the leading outdoor exhibition in the region for the Agri-community.

While DLG Agriculture offers international expertise in setting up trade fairs and providing project management and consultancy services.

Commonwealth Lawyers Association has expressed concern over the suspension of Lawyer John Sangwa from appearing before any Zambian Court.

In a statement, the Association says it is concerned that Mr Sangwa has been prevented from practicing in all courts of law by the direction of the Judicial authorities before a complaint that they have filed against him has been considered by his professional body, the Law Association of Zambia.

It said the judiciary, which should uphold a right of due process, has not permitted due process in this case to run its course.

“In view of the concerns expressed, the CLA encourages all concerned to uphold due process and the Rule of Law in all circumstances,” it said.

It said the Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers adopted by the Eighth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, Havana, Cuba, 27 August to 7 September 1990 states that governments shall ensure that lawyers are able to perform all of their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference; and shall not suffer, or be threatened with, prosecution or administrative, economic or other sanctions for any action taken in accordance with recognized professional duties, standards and ethics.”

It further stresses that the Basic Principles states that “No court or administrative authority before whom the right to counsel is recognized shall refuse to recognize the right of a lawyer to appear before it for his or her client unless that lawyer has been disqualified in accordance with national law and practice and in conformity with these principles.”

The Catholic Church has announced the indefinite closure of all Major Seminaries due to the coronavirus.

Those closed are Emmaus Spirituality Centre, St. Augustine’s Major Seminary and St. Dominic’s Major Seminary.

Bishop Justine Mulenga, the Director of Serminaries in a memo circulated to the affected seminaries emphasised on the need to heed to this directive and make all necessary arrangements for the departure of all students.

Bishop Mulenga said the completion of the second semester will resume as soon as the outbreak is contained.

He acknowledged that is a very sad development but expressed hope that this outbreak will be contained in the nearest time possible.

The Zambian government yesterday the Zambian government announced the closure of all schools, colleges and universities in view of the outbreak of the Coronavirus disease although the country has not recorded any case.

Minister of Heath Chitalu Chilufya told Journalists at a briefing in Lusaka today, that Zambia has not recorded any case of Coronavirus, but will put measures to prevent the disease.

Dr Chilufya stated that government has heightened its preparedness and surveillance against the pandemic by instituting screening at all entry border points and by suspending all public gatherings.

The Minister who was franked by the Minister of Higher education and General Education stated that all schools, colleges and universities will be closed effect from Friday, March 20, 2020.

He stressed that the public will be notified when the schools will be opened in line with the evolvement of the outbreak.

He added that government has directed all its missions abroad to review visa applications to would-be travelers in high risk countries.

Dr Chilufya has also advised Zambians planning to travel to countries with high numbers of the disease to consider rescheduling their plans.

He said the country has also involved airlines to ensure all passengers on flights to Zambia are screened, while buses from neighbouring countries will dock at the dry port which has been set up along Kafue road.

Meanwhile, Minister of General Education David Mabumba has praised President Edgar Lungu for allowing schools to close so that all pupils and students could return home to avoid crowded places that could necessitate the spread of coronavirus.

Mr Mabumba said the decision to close schools is a difficult one, but has to be made to protect children from the deadly disease.

And Higher Education Minister Brian Mushimba disclosed that government will release the grants for higher learning institutions for the month of March before the universities close this Friday.

Dr Mushimba regretted that the grant which would have been released between 6 and 10 march delayed, but assured that it will be released before the universities close this Friday as a result of the Coronavirus threat.

He has disclosed that grants for colleges and other TEVET institutions were released last week and have been received and assured that any outstanding balance will also be settled

Lack of mention of Genetically Modified Organisms in the recently approved Food and Nutrition Bill is a source of concern for Zambia, as the country continues to witness the influx foods containing GMOs, says the Civil Society Scaling up Nutrition Alliance.

Mathews Mhuru, the Organisation Country Coordinator says it is regrettable that the Bill makes no mention of GMOs whose health risks remain unknown to the majority Zambian citizens.

Mr Mhuru was speaking yesterday when he and CSO-SUN partners Hivos Southern Africa made a submission to the Parliamentary Committee on Health, Community Development and Social Services on the National Food and Nutrition Bill passed by Cabinet on 17th February 2020.

He recommended that the Bill should create another function to be added to the National Food and Nutrition Commission to promote equitable nutrition access and service for vulnerable groups such as children living with disability and those without family care.

Mr Mhuru told the Committee that children living with disability and those without family care should be included in the Bill as vulnerable groups because they face challenges in accessing foods that are responsive to their nutritional needs.

And Hivos Southern Africa Manager for Sustainable Diets William Chilufya reiterated the need to place the National Food and Nutrition Commission to the Vice President’s office which will give the Commission more strength, authority and coordinating powers.

Mr Chilufya further recommended that the Executive Director of the National Food and Nutrition Commission should have a background in nutrition because of the multi-sector nature and complexity of the nutrition issues they are required to deal with at the Commission.

Mr Chilufya told the Committee chaired by Lukulu East UPND MP Dr Christopher Kalila that nutrition has not received adequate attention under the Ministry of Health as evidenced by the lack of a substantive Director at the Commission in the last three years an indication of lack of prioritisation of nutrition issues in the country.

He said nutrition is a multi sectoral problem that needs to be addressed with a multi sector approach and that moving the NFNC to the vice president’s office would be a progressive move.

Green Party leader says he believes that lawyer John Sangwa’s banishment by the judiciary that at the moment is either speculation or a plan by the judiciary.

Mr Sinkamba has since advised Mr. Sangwa to appear before any of the courts and then if he is chased away by the attendant court, then that will be proof enough that he has been banished.

“If that happens, that will be an impeachable offence for judge who chases away Mr. Sangwa, and the person who authored the letter directing all courts not to attend to him,” Mr Sinkamba said.

He said an act of chasing away Sangwa will be in breach Article 122(1) of the Constitution of Zambia Amendment 2016 which provides that “in the exercise of the judicial authority, the Judiciary shall be subject only to this Constitution and the law and not be subject to the control or direction of a person or an authority.”

“A judge or magistrate who allows himself or herself to be under the direction of any other person, demonstrates incompetence and can be removed from the bench for such conduct.”

The government has announced that the late former Cabinet Minister under the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) government Kalombo Mwansa will be put to rest on Thursday, March 19th, 2020.

The late Prof Mwansa 65, died on Sunday, March 2020.

Prof Mwansa served as a Cabinet Minister under the leadership of former Presidents Levey Mwanawasa and Rupiah Banda as Minister of home affairs, mines and Mineral development, foreign affairs and defense between 2002 and 20211.

The official funeral program will commence with a requiem church service at the cathedral of the holy cross at 10:00 hours and thereafter, proceed for burial at farm number 3208, leopards hill road, Mikango, in Chongwe.

President Edgar Lungu has also declared Thursday, March 19th, 2020, a day of National mourning in honor of the numerous contributions he made to the country as an academician, expert in criminal law, public administrator and politician.

During the period of national mourning from 06:00 to 18:00 hours, all flags will fly at half-mast while, entertainment programs on both radio and television should be canceled or postponed.

This is contained in a statement issued to ZANIS in Lusaka today, by Secretary to the Cabinet Simon Miti.

Northwestern province Zambia National Union of Teachers (ZNUT) has welcomed the announcement made by government to close all schools in the country to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.

ZNUT provincial coordinator, James Musolokoto said the coronavirus is a worldwide problem and Zambians need to continue putting up measures to reduce the chances of contracting and spreading the disease.

Mr. Musolokoto told ZANIS in a telephone interview in Solwezi today that government initiative to close schools is a good move as it will reduce the chances of children contracting the highly infectious disease.

He, however, appealed to the school management and teachers to take advantage of the time left with the pupils to sensitize them about the disease and how they can prevent it even when they are at home.

Mr Musolokoto urged all schools both private and public to adhere to the announcement as it is for the good of the nation at large.

Meanwhile, Mr Musolokoto appealed to pupils especially those in examination classes not to abandon their books but take advantage of the time to adequately prepare for the end of year examinations.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the rapidly spreading coronavirus outbreak a pandemic, acknowledging what has seemed clear for some time the virus will likely spread to all countries on the globe.

Europe has become the new epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic as cases in China slow and the deadly coronavirus runs through Italy and nearby countries, WHO officials have said.