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The National Union of Public and Private Educators of Zambia has supported plans by the Lusaka Province administration to demolish structures built on land belonging to Munali Secondary School.
NUPPEZ General Secretary Nelson Mwale said in an interview that it is unfortunate that some people have started encroaching on land belonging to the Ministry of Education reserved for school expansion and other infrastructure.
Mr Mwale said the action by Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo is commendable and should be extended to all schools whose land has been encroached by developers.
He also appealed to government to utilize reverse school land to construct new classroom blocks or build Teachers houses.
Mr Mwale said the union is engaging government on the need to construct houses for teachers as is currently the case with Defense and Security wings but wondered where the houses will be built with the land encroached.
“We are dismayed that the public can keep on encroaching the land belonging to Munali Secondary school with impunity. This is disappointing”, he said.
Mr Mwale has urged Law Enforcement Agencies to ensure that those found wanting are brought to book and land repossessed to ensure that it benefits the schools.
The Lusaka Fast Track Court for traffic offences has convicted 1,782 drivers for violating traffic rules and regulations during the month of October 2019.
As means of imposing stiffer punishment to road users disregarding traffic rules and regulations with impunity, which in most cases result into loss of live through road traffic accidents, the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA), has enhanced its traffic law enforcement to ensure that most traffic offences are prosecuted through the courts.
For the month of October – with spiralling rate of accidents across the country, the RTSA secured 1, 782 convictions in the Lusaka Fast Track Court for Traffic offences involving various traffic relates offences such as the use of un-roadworthy vehicles, unlicensed drivers, dangerous driving and contravening Statutory Instrument No.76 regulation which restrict the movement of Public Service Vehicles (PSV) at night.
Other offences were, expired certificate of fitness, expired driving licence, expired road tax, use of hand held mobile phone while driving, use of unregistered motor vehicle and plying for hire ( pirating).
In a statement, RTSA Public Relations Manager Mukela Mangolwa said from the offences recorded and convictions secured, dangerous driving and use of mobile phones while driving remains a major challenge on the Zambian roads.
Mr Mangolwa said the RTSA is on high alert to bring to book all road users violating the law with impunity through its sustainable traffic law enforcement patrols countrywide in order to ensure total compliance among motorists and safeguard the safety for all road users.
He said the RTSA is seeking the cooperation of all road users and the public in general in eliminating risky behaviour that results in road injuries, fatalities and loss of property.
Transport and Communications Minister Mutotwe Kafwaya has condemned the beating of Sydney Mbewe, the National Secretary for the Bus and Taxi Drivers Association by PF cadres at Lumumba Bus Station yesterday.
Mr Kafwaya says it is disgusting that Mr Mbewe could be met with such violent reactions from cadres for attempting to bring sanity in the running of bus stations.
He said attempts by Mr Mbewe yesterday to register bus drivers engaged in Chilimba to formalize their payments with Banks and mobile money services has blessings from government and should be respected by everyone.
Mr Kafwaya has noted the need to end violence in Zambia as it is detrimental to the development of the nation.
He said violence has no place in a civilized society and will not be condoned in the ruling party.
Mr Mbewe was yesterday beaten by Patriotic front cadres at Lumumba Bus station where had gone to register members who are willing to digitize the Chilimba to avoid abuse of the resources by cadres.
He lamented that cadres where collecting the money from bus drivers by force claiming they are being sent by the ruling party.
Mr Mbewe narrated that in his attempt to engage bus drivers, he was met with violent reactions from about 15 cadres who beat him with planks until he fainted.
Meanwhile, Lusaka Province PF Youth Chairperson Daniel Kalembe has advised Mr Mbewe who claims to know some of the attackers to submit the names to the Party for appropriate action to be taken.
Mr Kalembe has warned of appropriate action against erring members saying violence will not be condoned by the party.
He said no Zambian regardless of political affiliation deserves to be beaten like that.
The Opposition MMD has requested Members in holding on to the party vehicles to surrender them.
MMD spokesperson Dr. Cephas Mukuka said the exercise will go on for 5 days from yesterday and failure to surrender the vehicles shall be reported as stolen to the police.
Dr. Mukuka said those in Lusaka must bring the vehicles to the Party Secretariat in Kabulonga while those outside Lusaka should hand them over to our Provincial Chairpersons.
He said this important exercise closes on the 17th of November 2019, at 18 hours.
Dr. Mukuka said the vehicles Toyota Hilux belongs to the party and should not be in the custody of individuals.
He regretted that the vehicles which should be used for party activities have again been shared leaving the party without any vehicles for its activities.
Finance Minister Bwalya Ng’andu and the Zambian delegation in Washington DC during a meeting with the World Bank Group Vice President for the African Region, Dr Hafez Ghanem
World Bank Group Country Manager, Sahr Kpundeh, says public procurement is a vital component for a country, which links public needs with the private sector.
ZANIS reports that Mr Kpundeh adds that public procurement, is a powerful driver for development, adding that it provides goods and services to meet the country’s needs.
He noted that public procurement further strengthens social development and the local economy and can also boost investment in the country.
He stated that making up between 10 and 12 percent of the country’s GDP, transparent and accountable public procurement systems have the power to catalyse private sector development by opening up business opportunities, as well as improving the business and investment environment.
The World Bank Group Country Manager, said this in Lusaka today during a consultative workshop with the private sector, on enhancing the capacity of local contractors in procurement, with focus on the energy sector projects.
He observed that procurement is a vital part of any project, be it infrastructure, capacity building, privatization or energy sector reforms, irrespective of the source of financing.
And Mr. Kpundeh noted that since the World Bank is a development institution and not a commercial bank, it has a moral and legal responsibility to ensure that resources provided by the institution are used in accordance with the objectives of the loan or credit agreement.
Rainbow Newspaper Editor Derrick Sinjela has been released from prison after 327 days in detention.
Sinjela was sentenced to 18 months in prison for contempt of court last December.
To celebrate his 63rd birthday, President Edgar Lungu pardoned Sinjela and three other convicts yesterday.
Sinjela’s family who had been waiting around Chimbokaila Correctional Facility in Lusaka since Tuesday morning only saw him walk free around 17:30 Hours.
Sinjela appeared from behind the massive green prison gate clad a red MISA t-shirt spotting a thick black and grey beard.
Upon release, Sinjela was quickly whisked away in a waiting vehicle to avoid the waiting cameras at the instigation prison officials who did not want photos to be taken.
Sinjela’s wife was on hand to welcome her husband back to freedom.
Former Mines Minister Maxwell Mwale was released from the same facility on Tuesday also on Presidential pardon.
Konkola Copper Mines has backtracked on its directive to workers not to engage in political activities and the ban on the use of cell phones in selected mine areas.
According to a staff memo issued late on Monday, KCM Vice President for Human Capital Management Beatrice Mutamba said the order to ban workers from participating in political activities has been withdrawn.
“Management wishes to advise all employees that the above policy (KCM-P104-Employee Participation in Political Activities, as well as the restriction of cell phone use in selected operational areas, have been withdrawn with immediate effect,” the memo read.
“Management shall advise employees accordingly in due course.”
The decision to withdraw the policy follows National Democratic Congress President Chishimba Kambwili threats to take legal action against KCM liquidator Milingo Lungu for threatening KCM employees in active politics with dismissal.
Dr. Kambwili has urged Mr. Lungu not to use KCM to fight political battles for his paymasters adding that civil servants are not allowed to take part in politics.
The NDC leader wondered why Mr. Lungu who is only the liquidator for KCM could now start trading on political lines.
Dr. Kambwili added that KCM currently has about 20 PF serving councilors as employees and hoped that they too would be asked to either resign their jobs or councillorship.
He has urged the KCM liquidator to be careful as NDC was watching him.
University of Zambia Lecturer Sishuwa Sishuwa has described the state of infrastructure at UNZA as an eyesore.
Mr Sishuwa said both the Great East Road and Ridgeway campus have suffered many years of neglect.
In a series of Tweets, Mr Sishuwa said UNZA today looks like a fossil.
“Each time l enter University of Zambia, l can’t help noticing the contempt with which our present rulers regard what should be an institution that takes pride of place in our hearts. UNZA today looks like a fossil or bombing survivor: forlorn, abandoned, dilapidated, an eyesore.”
He added, “Like Zambia today, our main university is a dream in ruins. UNZA has a rich history. I hope that, one day, we will get a national leadership that will complete building this site of making critical knowledge, rebuild and restore it onto its right place and status in the country.”
“We have a long way to go to get to a better future, but we must go there! Most importantly, the provision of mass and quality education has to be a central feature of our imagined better future. We have work to do, lots of work, if we are to change who we are today.”
Mr Sishuwa charged that Zambians are not serious.
“How can we embark on building new universities when we can’t maintain existing ones? We expend an astonishing amount of effort and energy on trivial issues, ignoring major and pressing questions of national importance: education, health, housing and transport.”
He said, “The whole place is a mess. Many buildings that form the University of Zambia, both at Great East Road and Ridgeway campuses, look to be on the verge of collapse while some are engulfed by raw sewage from the institution’s long broken and effectively dysfunctional toilet system.”
“We all must do what we can to, in the end, rebel against the pitiful state of our sub-human existence.”
Dr Sishuwa said UNZA does not qualify to be called a university.
“It’s discretionary to continue calling the institution a university and miraculous that there is anything left to see at all. How sad to see what our main public university, which at one time was one of the leading higher education institutions in the region, has been reduced to.”
He also charged that the East Park in which UNZA entered into a long term lease agreement with private developers to construct a shopping mall on university land is a scam.
“The EastPark project is, simply put, a scam, one that demonstrates the frightening mediocrity of our leadership, both at university and national levels, and a unique kind of poverty: the poverty of vision.” UNZA
Transparency International Zambia says Defence Permanent Secretary Stardy Mwale must resign for allegedly involving himself in corruption.
TIZ Executive Director Wesley Chibamba said it is improper for Mr Mwale as a serving public official to continue rendering for public contracts using his company.
Mr Chibamba said reevaluations that Mr Mwale’s company was awarded a contract to build a Maternity Annex at Kabushi Clinic but failed to complete the works are saddening.
He was speaking on Tuesday when he featured on Frank on Hot, a radio programme hosted by veteran broadcaster Frank Mutubila.
“That issue makes very sad reading. It is sad that people in these privileged offices can abuse their authority and award themselves tenders, that shouldn’t be happening because they are using peculiarly advantage and the law is clear on that,” Mr Chibamba.
He added, “In other jurisdictions, if you are a public official, you are not supposed to participate in public tenders for that very reason because you exert a certain level of influence over tender evaluation committees because if they see your company tendering for the contract, they will be thinking there will be repercussions if they don’t award it to you. Nigeria is one example, they have stopped public officers from tenders for public tenders but here in Zambia you find that a Permanent Secretary somewhere has a company and that the corruption and resource drain happens.”
Meanwhile, Financial Analyst Blessings Kafwanka has called for the dismissal of Mr Mwale.
Mr Kafwanka has also commended Kabushi Member of parliament Bowman Lusambo for exposing the contractor that failed to deliver the maternity annex at Kabushi hospital.
“The contractor was compelled to move on site at titanic speed to complete the works. From the video circulating, you can easily tell from the freshly painted walls, paint buckets and droppings, the wheel burrows and other building tools still in the rooms that the works where done in a hurry,” Mr Kafwanka said.
“With the challenges the country is facing, we cannot allow selfish politicians to enrich themselves at the expense of the poor. We need proper accountability.”
He added, “This explains why the Auditor General’s report makes revelations every year about undelivered materials and other glaring irregularities but the relevant authorities are always reluctant to act.”
“How many other companies owned by politically exposed individuals have failed to deliver?”
He stated, “In the same manner government dismissed 12 Accountants from various Ministries after the release of the 2017 Auditor General’s report; action must also be taken in this matter. We must not be selective in dispensing justice. When the 12 accountants were fired, the auditor general reported a 98% decrease in misappropriation of funds in 2018.”
He said dismissing Mr Mwale is the only way government can demonstrate its commitment towards promoting fiscal discipline in the way public resources are utilized.
“His firm together with other suppliers who fail to deliver materials after being paid in full must be blacklisted and legal action taken to recover tax payers’ money.”
“We cannot afford to allow this to pass at the expense of the poor Zambian women who have been deprived of a Maternity health facility in Kabushi.”
Zambia Under-23’s Olympic dream is looking bleak following a wrecking fall in Cairo on Tuesday evening.
Beston Chambeshi’s side suffered its biggest defeat of their three-year project when Nigeria rallied from one-down to crush them 3-1 in their penultimate Group C match at Salam Stadium.
A cool finish from Paston Daka put Zambia ahead in the 12th minute barely hours after landing from his base in Austria to join the cause at the 2019 U23 AFCON Egypt is hosting from November 8-22.
But Nigeria leveled four minutes later when Orji Okonkwo turned in the ball from an Ibrahim Sunusi corner.
Zambia goalkeeper Mangani Banda then could only watch as Kelechi Nwakali put Nigeria ahead in with a seemingly tame free kick in the 65th minutes .
Mangani was the villain yet again when Taiwo Awoniyi punished him for an ambitious surge outside his box giving him no time to recover.
Zambia are bottom of Group B with 1 point after drawing 0-0 with South Africa on November 9.
They must now beat third placed Cote d’Ivoire who have 3 points on November 15 and also hope that South Africa beat Nigeria for them to stand a chance of reaching the semifinals.
South Africa, who beat Cote d’Ivoire 1-0 in the early kickoff, lead Group B on 4 points, one ahead of Nigeria and The Junior Elephants heading into Friday’s final Group B fixtures.
The top three finishers at the tournament qualify to the 2020 Olympic Games.
Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini has suspended Mazabuka Central Member of Parliament Garry Nkombo for ten days for disrespectful conduct towards first deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Catherine Namugala on Thursday September 19, 2019
Delivering his ruling, Dr. Matibini stated that he declined the recommendations of the committee to formally warn Mr. Nkombo bearing in mind the precedent set in the Chilangwa case where Geofrey Lungwangwa complained that he had disrespected a presiding officer.
Dr Matibini further said the committee recommendations do not set precedence saying the committee should have referred to the speakers ruling in the Chilangwa case because he declined their proposal and suspended him for seven days.
He said Mr. Nkombo openly disregarded the first deputy speaker’s guidance on his request to be reinstated on the list of members to debate and directly engaged her on the floor of the house.
Dr. Matibini adds that the opposition UPND MP further decided to disregard Ms. Namugala’s order to leave the house by going around the house instead of using the nearest exit point.
The Speaker said he will not tolerate gross indiscipline and misconduct from any member saying the decorum of the house must always be protected and preserved.
He told Mr. Nkombo that ordinarily his conduct would have attracted a more severe punishment, but he was lenient because he expressed remorse for his conduct.
Dr. Matibini informed Mr. Nkombo that during the suspension period he will not be paid his salary or allowance, will not have access to precincts of the National Assembly Motel adding that he should not conduct any business as a member of parliament.
The ruling came after a letter of complaint from government Chief Whip Brian Mundubile over the disrespectful conduct by Mr. Nkombo on the floor of the house.
The Drug Enforcement Commission DEC has summoned former special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda for money Laundering.
The Commission’s Public Relations Officer Theresa Katongo has confirmed the development in an interview.
Ms. Katongo says Mr. Chanda is expected to appear before the Commission’s money laundering offices on Wednesday at 9:00 hours.
In June this year, Mr. Chanda resigned from his position as special assistant to the president for press and public relations.
Nkana have appointed Joseph Musonda to their technical bench as a physical trainer.
Musonda, 42, had been club-less since last July when his contract as player coach at Nkana expired.
The club on Tuesday confirmed handing Musonda a two-year deal.
‘Legendary Joseph Musonda has returned to the technical bench as a physical trainer. He has since signed a two-year contract as he continues to build his coaching career,’ the club said in a brief statement.
Musonda has in the recent past showed his intent to continue playing despite his advanced age.
‘I am still playing; I still have the power to play for more years. You know age is just a number,’ Musonda said in a recent interview.
But now with this appointment his playing days appear over.
Zanaco will kick off their 2019/20 CAF Confederation Cup Group C away in DR Congo.
Zanaco were drawn in Group C with ESAE of Benin, DC Motema Pembe of DRC and the 2019/18 runners-up RS Berkane of Morocco.
Mumamba Numba’s side will be in Kinshasa on match-day-one on December 1 to face DCMP.
It will be Zanaco ‘s first trip to Kinshasa since 2002 in the tournaments predecessor the CAF Cup Winners Cup when AS Vita knocked them out in the second round on away goals rule.
Zanaco won the first leg 4-1 in Lusaka before succumbing to a 3-0 defeat.
Match-day-two will be another massive test against Berkane whom they will host on December 8.
Zanaco will end the year with a debut visit by a Zambian club to Benin on December 29 to face ESAE.
All three sides will be debut meetings for Zanaco.
The Kitwe City Council has been challenged to use prudently monies being collected from property rates to better township roads in different Communities.
The residents spoke during a public meeting organised by the African Centre for Social Justice (ACSJ) on the Main Valuation in Kamfinsa Constituency in Kitwe on the Copperbelt Province.
They said in most cases, the community has been left with poor infrastructure yet they continue to pay rates.
“We have been paying rates for years, yes others will say there is no consistency but whose fault is it? The Council are sitting on millions and they don’t seem bothered to improve collection efficiency, we need proper roads from the money we pay that is all,” Agness Mundwe stated.
Meanwhile, a senior citizen has proposed that government consider the elderly at least above 65 years from paying rates.He indicated that most elderly persons in the country are retirees and cannot afford to pay rates as per demand from the Kitwe City Council hence the demand.
“The Council is making a lot of money but those collecting are not honest, look at us retirees we are not working, my appeal is that everybody above 70 years and 65 for women they must not pay those rates, where are they going to get that money from?,” He questioned.
Meanwhile, Kitwe City Council Valuation Officer Nchimunya Mungalaba has encouraged all citizens with objection to the valuation roll to present their cases to the tribunal which will be sitting on 29th November, 2019.
She said rates are being proposed to be reduced further for different categories to ensure residents pay.
