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Hon Musukwa has warned that all those with mining licenses are not into operation risk their licenses canceled.
Tourism and Arts Minister Ronald Chitotela says mining cannot take place in the Lower Zambezi National Park because there is no report allowing such a process in the park.
Mr. Chitotela said Zambezi Resources of Australia has to date not made any application for the Kangaluwi copper mining project to take in the National park.
The Tourism Minister said there is no report by the Zambia Environmental Management Agency on mining in the National Park as the report granted by ZEMA allowing the company to operate for only three years expired in 2017.
Mr. Chitotela said there is, therefore, no need to protest by Zambians over the matter as there is currently no mining taking place in the area and does not see it happening.
He told a media briefing that the ZEMA report issued in 2014 allowed the company to operate only for three years after the appeal by the then Lands and Natural Resources Minister Harry Kalaba no longer exists.
Mr. Chitotela has challenged the company to go back to the people and submit a new report which will determine the way forward but doubted the possibility of having the permit granted by his Ministry to allow mining in the Lower Zambezi National park.
Speaking at the same media briefing, Mines and Minerals Development Minister Richard Musukwa confirmed that Mr. Kalaba overturned the decision of the ZEMA Board rejecting the application by the mining company to commence mining in the Lower Zambezi National park.
Mr. Musukwa clarified that the decision to overturn the Zambia Institute of Environmental Management (ZIEM) report of 2011 rejecting the opening of the proposed mining project in the Lower Zambezi was not done by cabinet as claimed by Mr. Kalaba but was anchored within his Authority as a Minister.
He said that this, however, was not wrong as it was within his mandate. Mr. Musukwa said Mr. Kalaba acted within the confines of the law as Minister, to reject the ZIEM report.
He stated that the then Minister used his ministerial authority adding that nothing was illegal with the decision reached by Mr Kalaba to overturn the ZIEM report.
Mr. Musukwa also said that the tourism factor in the Lower Zambezi National park outplays the mining aspect as the low-grade copper can only be mined for a period ranging from 5 to 7 years.
Meanwhile, Mr. Musukwa said contrary to reports in the media, the license issued to the company was not for mining but exploration and was issued in 2002 and not in 2014.
He, however, said that the government has a final position on the matter which will be communicated in a joint statement to be issued by the Ministries of Tourism and Mines in Parliament tomorrow.
Stardy construction, a company owned by Defence Permanent Secretary Stardy Mwale has swiftly moved back on site to finish the construction of a Maternity Annex at Kabushi Clinic in Ndola.
This was after area Member of Parliament Bowman Lusambo threatened to arrest and to terminate the contract awarded.
On Saturday, Acting Ndola District Health Director Dr Christopher Dube revealed to Journalists that the construction of the Maternity Annex at Kabushi Clinic which was supposed to take 18 months had dragged for over six years.
This prompted Mr Lusambo who toured the project to call for the arrest of the contractor and termination of the contract.
But Mwale on Sunday afternoon mobilized some youths from the area and engaged them to do some quick fixes to the building.
On Monday whilst on site, Mr Mwale took photos of the inside of the freshly painted building and declared that the Annex building was ready for hand over to the Ministry of Health.
Mr Mwale said in a phone in Interview on Hot FM Breakfast show this morning that the construction of the maternity annex has been completed awaiting commissioning by the Ministry of Health.He said Mr Mwale said following the weekend site visit, the project was at 95 percent complete.
Kabushi Clinic in Ndola
He explained that what was remaining was only the connection of water, stating that the building is ready for handover to the Ministry of Health.
“We couldn’t install the Borehole Pump because of fear of vandalism. We have the pump at the Clinic inside, we will only install the tank when we are about to hand over.”
Mr Mwale refuted claims that he was paid the entire K1.6 million for the project saying he is still awaiting the payment to be completed.
He has explained that contrary to assertions by Kabushi Member of Parliament Bowman Lusambo, he received the initial 25% payment after which another payment was made and yet to receive the last payment.
Mr Mwale who is also Defence Permanent Secretary has since apologized to President Lungu, the First Family and Kabushi residents for the delays.
“I wish to say I am sorry to President Lungu for putting his name into disrepute. I apologize to the First Lady and the First Family for the embarrassment that this issue has brought. I also apologise to the people of Kabushi for delaying the project,” Mr Mwale said.
Asked on why the project suffered a six-year delay, Mr Mwale said he could not disclose the “technicalities” of the project that contributed to the delays.
“That I can’t tell you. The only thing I can tell you is that there were some technicalities that affected the project,” he said.
“Yes I was awarded the contract in 2013. The awarding of the contract followed tender procedures. Even if I was a Provincial Chairman for the PF, I was an ordinary citizen and I didn’t use any influence in getting the tender. Infact I was the lowest bidder and I got it.”
Further asked to comment on threats by Mr Lusambo that the contractor be arrested, Mr Mwale said he cannot say about the threats because Mr Lusambo is his big brother.
“Hon. Lusambo is my Boss; he is my Minister so I cannot say anything about what he said.”
“How do you arrest the contractor for having completed the project? Law enforcement agencies are free to come and arrest me if I have failed to implement,” Mr Mwale said.
Information has emerged of how Defence Permanent Secretary Stardy Mwale made a US$2 million one off payment to purchase a farm from a white farmer in Mazabuka’s Chikankata area.
But Mr Mwale says he managed to buy the farm using his personal resources because he is a rich man.
Highly placed sources at Ministry of Defence Headquarters have exclusively revealed that Mr Mwale early this year paid US$2 million cash to Mike Arnold, a White Australian farmer to buy part of his vast Simoonga Farm, about 10 KMs from the Mazabuka road to Chikankata mission.
The sources further revealed that the other half of the farm was purchased by millionaire businessman and owner of Inyatsi Construction Ltd Michelo Shakantu.
The sources also revealed that Mr Arnold was astounded that Mr Mwale who bought the bigger portion of the farm paid cash up front.
“The White Farmer has even relocated back to Australia. Before leaving, he kept telling people in and around Chikankata that the transaction was a jackpot for him and he couldn’t believe that a Zambian paid him that much money for a piece of land,” the sources revealed.
“When selling, the farm was split into two. So Shakantu purchased the farm house and other pieces of farm equipment while Mr Mwale got the bigger chunk of the farm land comprising Maize and Cotton fields, as we speak, Mr Mwale and Shakantu are now neighbors.”
And a senior Lusaka lawyer whose law firm provided transaction services over the deal whose identify has been withheld confirmed that Mr Mwale paid cash for the transaction.
“I was also shocked that my client went ahead to settle the purchase amount all in cash. US$ 2million dollars is not a small amount,” the lawyer said.
Meanwhile, the sources have also revealed how Mr Mwale has orchestrated unceremonious transfers of key officials from Ministry of Defence Headquarters in Lusaka to mostly remote areas.
“The last few months, the P.S has been singing off letters sending key staff from procurement and finance to rural areas. It appears he now wants to destroy all the evidence of massive corruption that has taken place since he became P.S,” the source said.
The sources said most officers at Defence Headquarters are living in fear as Mr Mwale is harassing and threatening those that appear to disregard some of his directives.
“For now, all procurements and all payments of suppliers has to be sanctioned by him. No body gets paid unless Stardy knows the supplier. If you appear to be challenging the status quo, he will write you a letter of transfer.”
The sources have since appealed to President Edgar Lungu to take an interest in the happenings the Ministry of Defence.
“There is no way a civil servant, a controlling officer can be moving around with US$ 2 million dollars purchasing farms. This goes to show that he has more money stacked somewhere. But the question is, where did he get all that type of money?”
The source added, “ most local people in Chikankata know that a prominent figure in government bought part of the farm but what they do not know is the details of transaction and who this prominent figure is.”
“You know there is road construction taking place on the Kafue-Mazabuka road but what is interesting is why the project did not involve the entire road from Kafue Turn Park to Monze where it connects to a better Livingstone road. However, the short stretch being done leads to Simoonga Farm which is now owned by Mr Mwale and Mr Shakantu.
The sources have since challenged Mr Mwale to deny the allegations saying they have all the evidence to prove the allegation.
“We challenge him to deny this. We are not doing this with malicious intent. We just want Zambians to know that there are some government officials who are moving around with that kind of money.”
“As we speak, Mr Mwale has started stocking his newly acquired farm with animals. He recently bought lots of cattle from Namwala.
When reached for a comment, Mr Mwale confirmed that he bought the farm from Mr Arnold but disputed the purchase amount.
“Yes I can confirm that I bought Simoonga Farms but not at US$2 million dollars. Nobody can pay all that money for such a dead farm. I can take you there and you see for yourself, it’s a dead farm,” Mr Mwale said on phone.
Pressed further on the purchase price, Mr Mwale said he could reveal the actual price but that it could be “around K600,000 or maybe K1 million or just under K1 million.”
He claimed that he was a very rich man who can buy any farm anywhere.
“If you know me very well, you will know that I am very rich. Infact I used to make more money before I joined government. I bought a brand new Mercedez Benz E-Class from Southern Cross, you can go there and check for yourself,” Mr Mwale claimed.
“When I was in Masaiti, I was one of the biggest farmers there. I had more than 1,000 cattle at my farm. I run Riso Zambia, one of the biggest office equipment suppliers in Zambia. I supply the Ministry of Education, Health and I also deal with the National Assembly. I am a very successful businessman and used to make a lot more money when I was outside government.”
Mr Mwale also charged that the scandals involving his businesses are the work of his enemies.
“These people are just malicious. They started with the Clinic, we are now sorting the issue of the clinic and they bring in Simoonga. It looks like these people just want to finish me off,” Mr Mwale protested.
Please Note:The credibility quotient for this article is this: If it deals with politics it’s a fact; if it is dramatized it’s fiction; if it is outrageously unbelievable, it’s a fact. While the names of the characters are true, the impact of the story as it unfolds involves my imagination, deductions, and surmise. I apologize for the use of the words “kaffir,” “white,” “black,” “ape,” “baboon.” I use them in an effort to explain events in their real perspective.
Flabbergasted by what had just occurred at the Pearly Gates, Robert Gabriel Mugabe, in reincarnation, stoutheartedly stepped into hell and was instantly drawn to the epicenter of the inferno, shimmering at Planck temperature. In the flames, he saw them, charred yet alive multitudes yelling and gnashing their teeth.
“I’m better off here,” he said to himself in retrospect.
Earlier, Mugabe, deified by many as a Moses who freed his people from White minority rule, arrived at the Pearly Gates confident he had lived a life worthy of interminable recompense. On earth, congregants at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, where he worshiped, were still praying for God’s benevolence. “We bring Comrade Robert Mugabe forward to you Lord,” Father Richard Musukua beseeched. “We’re asking God if there is anything that he did wrong in his life he be forgiven. May the Lord grant him His mercy.”
Once a catholic zealot who played a major role in the church’s preservation, Mugabe was certain he had punched himself a ticket to heaven. It was said that Father Jerome O’Hea, a Jesuit, had something to do with his preparedness for heaven. The father nurtured the young Mugabe at Kutama Mission. On his way to the Pearly Gates, Mugabe had hoped he would meet the priest and use him to vouch for him, for it was him who in 1970, described Mugabe as having “an exceptional heart.”
It was a busy day at the Pearly Gates. Statistics on earth showed that 151,600 people died each day. There were twelve gates made of gold panes decked in pearls, all supporting the jasper wall that bordered heaven. The Bible says the gates of pearl will always be open: they will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there” (Rev 21.22-25). “Nothing unclean will enter it (heaven), nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Rev 21.26-27).
Outside the gates, lines were long. Mugabe was No. 121. He had walked in at No. 147,001, but usher Margaret Thatcher recognized him as the former president of Zimbabwe and moved him to his current position. At Gate 1, St. Peter, the gatekeeper of heaven, was overwhelmed. Heavenly keys suspended from his belt, he stood in his booth going through the Lamb’s book, sorting out sinners from the righteous. Lately, he had sought the assistance of St. Patrick of Ireland, St. Thomas of Aquinas, St. Francis of Assisi, Pope St. John II, and some non-saints lucky enough to serve him.
At 2 o’clock the name Robert Gabriel Mugabe blared through the speakers. “Again, will Robert Gabriel Mugabe, a Zezuru from Mashonaland, please proceed to Gate 4!” The nasal monologue sounded familiar. It was exotic, a fossil non-productive British-Irish-Afrikaans accent found in many white Rhodesians. Mugabe headed for the gate, all the while smiling and nodding a hello at any black person in sight. As soon as he got to Gate 4, a modicum of discontentment found its way to his heart. He paused and incredulously scrutinized the man before him, and felt blood feel his face.
“Robert of Kutama, the black Hitler is here!” the man at the gate exclaimed, eyeing him malevolently. It was Alexander (Ian) Douglas Smith. Mugabe was awed to fathom what had befallen him.
Smith was ferocious: “The Marxist terrorist and murderer who claimed to have beaten Christ at resurrection is finally dead. Robert of Kutama, you are not welcome here. Marxists, communists, and terrorists shall not enter the kingdom of God. And you are three in one.”
Mugabe recognized Smith by his glass eye and half-frozen features. He shook his head, rubbed his eyes, and pinched himself. The last time he saw Smith, he had grown a white beard, which now looked saintly flowing. Earlier, when Mugabe heard his name over the speakers, Smith’s voice had whizzed through his mind like a bullet headed for a target, but had ruled him out.
Mugabe finally spoke: “Is it really you Ian Douglas Smith, the butcher from Salisbury who ravaged my land? What in heaven are you doing here, you the deluded Rhodesian King Canute?”
Smith ignored him: “I told you, you kaffirs were not ready to rule Rhodesia, not in a thousand years. I was right, wasn’t I, Robert of Kutama? Where’s Rhodesia now, eh?”
“Ian Douglas Smith,” Mugabe called. “There was never a Rhodesia in the first place. The landlocked country between the Limpopo and the Zambezi was, and will always be Zimbabwe. It was, in all its magnificence, given to blacks by God, in the same way he gave you England. Now that I am here, I’ll ask God why he allowed you, of all the people, to rule over us.” Anger surged inside him. He raised his voice. “I’ll look in God’s eyes and ask Him if he really loves black people. If he does, I will say, why did you allow a handful of whites to cold-bloodedly strip our human dignity, our sense of destiny, and inflict grotesque ordeals on us in the land you allotted us? Then I’ll say, God, I thought heaven was for the virtuous.”
“I’m virtuous,” Smith responded. “Unlike you, I was a devoted Christian. I strove to turn Rhodesia into God’s own country in accordance with the will of the almighty Creator. I championed Christian civilization against your Marxism. I worked hard to preserve justice and civilization because I knew that’s what you blacks in Rhodesia badly needed. In 1964, when I became Prime Minister, you people hadn’t attained to the realization of any objective existence. You were still as primitive as hell, barbarians.”
The words that were always cocked on the tip of Mugabe’s tongue come out machine-gun fast. “You bloody idiot!” he exploded. “How dare you! You egomaniacal white supremacist. You used the legislative process to deny us the education we rightly deserved with your laborer, hewer of wood, and drawer of water nonsense. You totally ignored our existence, and denied us our human potential. Day and night, you drilled in the impression that we were of a subhuman species. In your callous motive to weaken us and hold us to perpetual degradation, you compared us to apes and baboons. What love thy neighbor was Jesus talking about? Where is he? I would like to ask him.”
Smith spoke with a grin of a leprechaun. “I see you have brought your fiery temper here. That was your ruin. That arrogant and rotten attitude turned you into a selfish, narcissistic despot and a murderer, a killer of the worst kind. You stand before me as one of the worst human rights abusers in the world.”
“That’s right,” Mugabe responded, his face contorted in contained fury. “Mugabe the kaffir is the scourge of God, Smith the white supremacist is the angel. Mugabe is the criminal and Smith the victim of the crime. Ian Smith is the builder, Robert Mugabe is the destroyer. Really God?” He sighed and looked Smith straight in the eye. “I should have made you pay when I had the opportunity.”
“You couldn’t because I did nothing wrong.”
“You’re crazy, you hear me?” Mugabe exclaimed, his voice crackling in a rasp. “You’re psychotic. You alone unleashed a bloody tide of slaughter on more than fifty thousand innocent black men, women and children not only in Zimbabwe, but also in Botswana, Mozambique, and Zambia. Actually, more than fifty thousand, a hundred thousand or more, we will never know because as is always the case, the racist world was on your side. The white media deliberately ignored your chilling, horrendous human rights record and focused on mine. What has not been told is that your legacy was one of infamy, awash in the blood of defenseless black fathers, mothers, and children. God should have intervened on our behalf and send brimstone and fire on you. Sadly, he didn’t.”
“I was fighting a war, that’s why,” Smith countered. “Killing in war is not a sin. God Himself encouraged battles to be fought. It was Him who ordered the ancient Israelites to possess the Promised Land. It was God who commanded King Saul to attack the Amalekites and destroy all that belonged to them. In the same way, I declared war on you to save white Rhodesians, in the same way George W. Bush declared war on Saddam Hussein. Just you know, Dwight Eisenhower, John Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, are all here. Believe it or not even Nixon is here. Surely, you don’t think Harry Truman is in hell for Hiroshima, or do you Robert of Kutama?”
“Let me understand one thing.” Mugabe was calm. “So, it’s God who allowed you to dismember black children?”
“Yes,” Smith replied in a heartbeat. “They were collateral damage. I was after you terrorists. You were using humans as shields. What did you expect me to do? Sit back and watch you ambush and murder white families?”
“Wait a minute,” Mugabe chipped in. “So, what you are saying is that it was okay for you to drop bombs on black children and innocent civilians, and not okay for us to fight for our land the best way we could?”
“That was murder,” Smith said. “It was a clear violation of the sixth commandment. You did it again in Matebeleland, you killed more than twenty thousand of your own people. That was genocide of the worst kind.”
“I stand guilty for my action in Matebeleland.” Mugabe nodded. “It is for this act, and many others during my time as president, that I am ready to go to hell.”
“You bet that one right,” Smith responded.
Mugabe continued with revulsion. “As for you, you’re a blight on humanity. You and your followers pushed hate, fueled bigotry, hid in your skin to commit crimes against humanity. How come God has not brought down his wrath upon your head?”
“Why don’t you ask him,” Smith rejoined. “Don’t forget I singly fought for your independence. I gave up Rhodesia because I was committed to a nonracial society. Had it not been for me, guided by the hand of God, there would be no Zimbabwe today, and you would still be a kaffir, all I know.”
“That’s what you made the world believe,” Mugabe responded. “The white supremacist you are, you can’t face the unendurable state of your vacuity. You’re a reminder of the pervasiveness of the racist attitudes in the white world. You all won’t accept that black Zimbabweans fought a good fight, that we cornered you like the unsteady, dangerous rat you were. The people you had relished in calling kaffirs, apes, baboons, ignoramuses, and children in the eyes of God, outsmarted you.”
“Only if I had listen to my people,” Smith said. His disillusionment was obvious.
“You had no choice.”
“I should have listened to them,” Smith continued. “Today, Rhodesia would be not only the breadbasket of Africa, but the envy of the entire world. I tell you, it’s been excruciating to watch you the manic, megalomania, Marxist kaffir from Kutama single-handedly reduce the jewel of Africa to an apocalyptic dystopia. Thank God, your own people kicked you out. Say what you may, you remain an emblematic pillage of all that is good.”
Mugabe’s mind swept back to his time on earth. “Sadly, what my people didn’t know was that Tony Blair destroyed Zimbabwe. He tried to bring me to heel, to make me give up the land over which black blood was spilled. Together with George W. Bush, they orchestrated a malicious economic covert warfare centered on the mental transformation of the people of Zimbabwe, and it worked. Their sanctions worked. Sanctions lent themselves to the brainwashing, and my people succumbed. Left with little choice, they embraced Blair and Bush.”
“There you go again with your paranoia and scapegoating,” Smith said.
“Listen you,” Mugabe spoke almost immediately. “I was smarter than you. I was fully aware of the Smith-Blair-Bush psychological warfare plotted on a scale immeasurable and more damaging than envisioned. I tried to caution my people, but it was so well executed by Blair and the western media. There was little I could do but to watch famine sweep through my country. If I had surrendered to Blair’s wish, my people would have remained displaced on their own land, and yet that’s what we fought against. You alone snatched 4,000 acres on which you treated my landless people like slaves.”
“Oh shut your flaming mouth,” Smith said.
“No, you shut your mouth and listen for once,” Mugabe retorted. “I had started off very well. When I delivered independence to my people, I was determined to prove you wrong. First, I wanted to bring the best in black Zimbabweans.”
Smith laughed with mock sanctimoniousness. “That was wishful thinking.”
“No, it was not,” Mugabe said. “You saw it for yourself. Within the shortest period of my presidency, we had the highest literacy in Africa. We were doing so well, Margret Thatcher sang the praises of me. Also, the World Bank was full of praises for our improvements in health and education. In fact, your queen was so impressed she knighted me.”
“Big mistake,” Smith said.
“That’s what you said. I was driving you nuts, wasn’t I, Ian Canute. It bothered you that black Zimbabweans were on their way to prove you wrong. Blair and Bush applied sanctions to dismantle my efforts. You used western media to besmirch my character, to destroy the black man who was fighting white supremacy. On the day I was removed, Tony Blair, whose interest and focus was on the five percent white settlers in Zimbabwe, claimed victory. And when I died, you up here and Blair down there, felt the same way you did when you sat on the fence gladly keeping count of Zimbabweans dying due to sanctions. For each death, you cheered and toasted in the eyes of God. If what you did on earth is deserving of a heaven, I’ll keep my hell. And as I burn, I’ll be glad black Zimbabweans will never be called kaffirs on their God-given land. I’m out of here.”
Dr. Field C. Ruwe is a US-based Zambian multicultural scholar practitioner and author. He holds a Doctor of Education degree from Northeastern University, Boston Massachusetts, U.S. He is the author of “Intellectual Scum.”
President Edgar Lungu (left) chairs the Cabinet Meeting at State House
President Edgar Lungu called for the 20th Cabinet Meeting on Monday, 4th November, 2019 to mainly discuss policy matters aimed at addressing the electricity challenges the country is currently going through and ensure the continued development of the country. The following were the decisions made by Cabinet:
1. National Energy Policy, 2019.
Cabinet, approved the Revised National Energy Policy, 2019 in order to guide the development and management of the energy sector. The Revised National Energy Policy 2019 builds on previous Policies of 1994 and 2008 and is anchored on the Seventh National Development Plan and Vision 2030.
The Government decided to revise the 2008 Policy with a view to comprehensively address the challenges currently being experienced in the energy sector. The Revised Policy aims at facilitating open access regimes, cost reflective tariff in the pricing of energy services in order to promote investment, encourage the multiplicity of players in the energy market and promote alternative sources of energy such as geo-thermal, solar, wind and other technologies such as nuclear energy.
2. The Energy Regulation Bill 2019
Cabinet also approved for publication and introduction in Parliament, “The Energy Regulation Bill, 2019,” during the current sitting.
The objects of this Bill are to, continue the existence of the Energy Regulation Board and provide for the licensing of enterprises in the energy sector and repeal and replace the Energy Regulation Act, 1995.
Cabinet is of the view that the Energy Regulation Act, Cap. 436, is inadequate in dealing with various issues related to the licensing of enterprises in the energy sector during this period, hence the need to introduce a new legislation. The new legislation is in line with the approved Revised Energy Policy 2019 in addressing the energy problems the country is currently going through.
3. The Electricity Bill, 2019.
During the same Meeting, Cabinet approved the publication and introduction in Parliament of “The Electricity Bill, 2019.” The objects of this Bill include among others, to regulate the generation, transmission, distribution and supply of electricity so as to enhance the security and reliability of the supply of electricity; provide for the sale and purchase of electricity within and outside Zambia through power purchase and power supply agreements; provide the roles and responsibilities of various players in the electricity sector including providing for a Multi-year Tariff Framework.
Cabinet expressed the need to urgently address the current electricity challenges the country is going through due to the effects of climate change that have led to reduced water levels for electricity generation, thereby leading to reduced economic activity with increased electricity rationing through load shedding. Cabinet emphasised that with serious implementation of the 2019 National Energy Policy, the Energy Regulation Act and the Electricity Act, the situation with regard to electricity generation and supply to industries and Zambians in general, should change in the shortest possible time.
4. National Off-Grid Solar Mini-Grid Project.
Cabinet also approved the implementation of the National Off-Grid Solar Mini-Grid Project as an alternative to the reduced hdro-power generation due to lower water levels.
The National Off-Grid Solar Mini-Grid Project will facilitate increased access to electricity by the rural population in Zambia; contribute to improved productivity and quality of life and contribute to improved social service delivery. Cabinet is already looking at implementation of alternative sources of electricity generation as an immediate answer to the electricity shortages the country is faced with as a result of climate change.
5. The National Strategy on Financial Education II, 2019-2024.
In winding up debate for the day, Cabinet also approved the National Strategy on Financial Education (NSFE) II, 2019-2024 in order to strengthen financial education in Zambia and develop a competitive and resilient inclusive financial sector in line with the National Financial Sector Development Policy (NFSDP) and National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS) 2017.
The development of the National Strategy on Financial Education II, which builds on the first Strategy, is essential with the primary goal of having a financially educated Zambian population by 2030.
The Strategy aims at improving knowledge, understanding, skills, motivation and confidence to help the Zambians secure positive financial outcomes for themselves and their families which will contribute to reduced poverty levels and stimulate economic growth. The Strategy will also contribute to the development of a stable, resilient and inclusive financial sector that contributes to economic growth and broad-based wealth creation.
FILE: The Zambian team celebrates winning the Zambia Rugby 7s international tournament
The Zambia Rugby Men’s team has been offered a lifeline to compete at the next summer Tokyo 2020 Olympics, after being invited to participate in this weekend’s Africa Men’s Sevens tournament in South Africa.
Winners of the 2019 Africa Sevens Championship slated for November 8 to 11, 2019 in Johannesburg, South Africa, will qualify to next year’s Olympic games.
The 2019 edition of the Africa Men’s Sevens, will see Zambia join 13 other African countries, to lock horns at Bosman Stadium in Brakpan to be crowned 2019 African Rugby Champion.
Zambia which goes into the tournament as the 5th ranked nation will have to beat 13 other African countries to fancy chances of lighting up Rugby games at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
According to a press statement issued to ZANIS in Lusaka Yesterday by ZRU Public Relations and Communications Manger Cecilia Tresha, the union has since called 12 players into camp to prepare for this weekend’s Africa Men’s Sevens.
The players include Israel Kalumba, Lawrence Kaushiku, Laston Mukosa, Sheleni Michelo, Chisanga Nkoma, Edward Mumba, Elisha Bwalya, Patson Kasonde, Langani Siziba, Mike Masabo, Roger Mukupa and Martin Chisanga
The team leaves Zambia for South Africa tomorrow, Wednesday 6th November and returns home on Monday, November 11, 2019.
The World Bank says it will soon release US$100 million for the implementation of a climate resilience project that will uplift over 1 million people in three provinces in the northern part of the country.
World Bank Zambia Country Manager Sahr Kpundeh says the Breton Wood financial institution will give Zambia the funds to implement a five-year Transforming Landscapes for Resilience and Development (TRALARD) project.
Dr Kpundeh said the project was approved in May, 2019 and that unforeseen delays prevented it from taking off to help mitigate climate change effects.
He, however, added that delays that were preventing the release of the funds have since been cleared, to enable rolling out of the project in 16 districts located in Luapula, Muchinga and Northern provinces.
Dr Kpundeh pointed out that the TRALARD project is an upgrade of the recently concluded 6 year US$25 million Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience (PPCR).
The World Bank Country Manager heaped praises on the PPCR as being a global model for climate change adaptation and mitigation.
And Dr Kpundeh noted that the World Bank is also keen to support Zambia’s climate action due to the success of the PPCR.
The TRALARD project is an upgrade of the Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience (PPCR) and is expected to deepen and diversify livelihoods, increase agriculture and agro-forestry productivity and help government mainstream climate change in economically vulnerable sectors.
PS- Chola Chabala – National Designated Authority – National Consultative Stakeholders meeting on Nat. Climate Change Fund
The government says it has received several requests from the public and private sector on how to access Green Climate Funds (GCF) finances to implement climate Resilient development projects.
Ministry of National Development Planning Permanent Secretary Chola Chabala acknowledged that stakeholders are facing challenges in accessing resources for climate change projects.
Mr Chabala said his ministry intends to promote private sector participation in climate change interventions and build capacity among the stakeholders, to understand the processes and procedures of accessing funds from GCF.
The Permanent Secretary said this in a speech read on his behalf by the ministry’s Development Planning Director Mulele Mulele, during a National Designated Authority (NDA) stakeholders meeting on accessing GCF funds.
The GCF is the largest international fund providing aid to developing countries for climate change programming and mainstreaming.
Mr Chabala noted that government treats climate change as a serious development challenge and will continue to initiate strategic measures to minimise damage to economic and social systems by climate change effects.
He pointed out that climate change adaptation and mitigation measures, require huge finances, assuring that his ministry will embark on enhancing dissemination of information on modalities of accessing the GCF.
Mr Chola said government will further endeavour to scale up climate change projects and ensure that Zambia continues to benefit from the over US$100 billion funds being contributed by developed countries towards the climate change interventions.
The Permanent Secretary explained that those wishing to access GCF funds need to develop and align project proposals to the Seventh National Development Plan.
Mr Chola said project proposals must address the five pillars of the 7NDP as they espouse to promote climate change adaptation and mitigation measures.
Last year in April 2018, Zambia secured over US$80 million grant financing from the GCF as funding for two energy and agriculture projects with over US$280 million.
Green Party President Peter Sinkamba has said that the late Republican President Levy Mwanawasa had nothing to do with the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) on the approval process for the construction of the Zambezi Sun Hotel and the Royal Zambezi because the two hotels were constructed and opened before he was elected as President of Zambia. Mr. Sinkamba said the two hotels were opened in 2001 before the elections were held and approval and construction were done in the late 1990s when Mwanawasa was neither in Government or had anything to do with ZEMA.
“You will recall that the late Mwanawasa was Vice President from 2001 to 2004 when he resigned from the Chiluba Government. He went to practice law from 1994 up to 27 December, 2001 when he won elections. Between 1994 and 2001, he had nothing to do with the Chiluba Government and ZEMA. Specifically, he had nothing to do with the approval and construction of neither the Zambezi Sun Hotel nor the Royal Zambezi.
“This being the case, it is immoral for Honorable Harry Kalaba to tell a lie and accuse a dead person premised on falsehoods. It is wrong to make political gains by falsely accusing a dead person who is not there to defend himself or herself. More so, it is immoral to dent or malign the character of a former Head of State by spreading falsehoods.
“Of course President Mwanawasa was not a saint. He made his own mistakes as President of Zambia. If one points at factual examples of mistakes, that is one thing. But to generate lies, and use the lies to dent the integrity of a dead person is inexcusable mischief which Honorable Kalaba needs to apologize about. If he is honorable enough, he has no option but apologize not only to the Mwanawasa family but the people of Zambia at large. An insult to the sitting president or former president is an insult to all of us the Zambian people.
“As an environmentalist I was personally involved in the environmental impact assessments for most large scale projects in Livingstone. The only large scale project involving the Mwanawasa government was the proposed construction of a five star hotel and golf course by Legacy Holdings in the Livingstone Game Park. This was in 2006. If allowed to proceed, the hotel and golf course would have occupied a significant portion of the game park including blocking the route for elephants when they migrate from Zimbabwe to Zambia and going to Botswana.
“Whilst Zambia Wildlife Authority and the local community, including the local chiefs were in support of the project , we the environmentalists objected. ZEMA conducted a public hearing of the EIA, and at the end of objected to the construction of the hotel and the golf course. President Mwanawasa never ever overruled ZEMA on the objection and that is how the idea of construction of the five star hotel and golf in Livingstone Game Park failed to materialize. If you want you can google this information and my name will pop up on the environmentalists that objected. Mwanawasa name will not appear anywhere either for or against the project. This is the factual position.
“Honorable Kalaba should therefore just admit he made a mistake on the Lower Zambezi Game Park saga and apologize to the nation than defend himself premised on falsehoods tainting the integrity of deceased persons. That is cheap, petty politics that we, who aspire for the highest office should never entertain,” Mr. Sinkamba said.
The first foreign-based Zambia Under-23 stars have joined camp in Egypt ahead of Saturday’s opening Group B game at the 2019 U23 AFCON.
Belgium-based midfielder Emanuel Banda and Edward Chilufya from Swedish club Djurgardens arrived in Cairo on Tuesday just 48 hours after the home-based players landed for the tournament Egypt is hosting from November 8-22.
Chilfuya, who missed all four qualifying match due to injury, said it is great to be back in the team.
“I am excited to have joined the team and it’s a great feeling finally be here and to find the team in high spirits and all looking forward to the first game against South Africa,” Chilufya said.
.”Our group is tough and we just have to work very hard.
“As for South Africa, they are a very familiar side to us and we have met them many times but overall we have to work hard.
“I won’t say much or promising anything personally but all I can says is I will do my best to ensure the team reaches its objectives at this tournament.”
Yet to join the team is the Russian-based duo of Kings Kangwa and Lameck Banda including striker Fashion Sakala of Belgium club KV Oostende.
Enock Mwepu and Patson Daka of Austrian champions RB Salzburg will only join the team after the South African match due to club commitments.
Zambia face South Africa in their opening Group B fixture on November 9 before taking on defending champions Nigeria on November 12,.
Beston Chambeshi’s side will face Cote d’Ivoire in their final Group B match on November 15.
Group A comprises of Ghana, Cameroon, and Mali and hosts Egypt.
REPUBLICAN President His Excellency Dr Edgar Lungu
President Edgar Lungu says civil servants and public officers who benefit from programmes meant for vulnerable citizens should not only removed from the payroll but arrested and prosecuted.
President Lungu directed that officials from Lusaka City Council who are implicated in the selling of earth moving equipment for Kanyama and Munali constituencies, to be arrested.
He expressed disappointment at the behaviour of the Council officials who are fond of authorising the sale of equipment meant for waste disposal for the two constituencies.
The President said the Members of Parliament for the two constituencies and the Ministers responsible for the council should take interest, the matter, in order to ensure that the culprits are prosecuted.
The Head of State wondered why the culprits are still on the loose after selling public equipment meant to serve the Zambian citizens.
The President also said that the law enforcement officers should move in and prosecute all civil servants and public officers who have been caught up in the payroll scandal and FISP meant for vulnerable farmers.
President Lungu said the 4,000 civil servants who have been earning salaries several times in a month should not only be removed from the payroll but also arrested and prosecuted.
The President said the selfish civil servants should be prosecuted for depriving the country and other citizens of the resources that could have been used to provide services.
Earlier, Minister Livestock and Fisheries Nkandu Luo and her Gender counterpart Elizabeth Phiri told the President that the earth moving equipment for the two constituencies have been sold by named council officers.
Professor Luo said Munali and Kanyama constituencies have had their equipment sold by the Lusaka City Council Officials who are still free and working.
And Ms Phiri revealed that she has gone as far as reporting the matter to the police, but added that more information will be given at a later date, as police are still handling the matter.
The two Ministers were complaining during a cluster meeting for reducing vulnerability and poverty at State House today.
The cluster was being chaired by Minister of Community Development and Social Services Kampamba Chewe.
Mrs Chewe said the cluster wants to introduce the cash plus concept in giving empowerment to vulnerable citizens.
She said her Ministry is coordinating all empowerment programmes from various ministries, in order to ensure that vulnerable citizens receive empowerment in a coordinated manner. She said implementation of social cash transfer has faced financial challenges which has led to beneficiaries not receiving their monies.
She disclosed that so far 632,000 people are on social cash transfer, which is likely to rise to 700,000 soon.She announced that the cluster has proposed that the Central Government to consider stopping the starting of some roads so that money can go to empowerment of people and reduction of poverty amongst vulnerable people in the country.
In Gotham City, mentally-troubled comedian Arthur Fleck is disregarded and mistreated by society. He then embarks on a downward spiral of revolution and bloody crime. This path brings him face-to-face with his alter-ego: “The Joker”.
Pros
Excellent performance by Joaquin Phoenix , he brought the character of Arthur Fleck (Joker) to a whole new light. The character development was incredible to watch.
Fantastic, unpredictable story telling.
The sense of realism was a breath of fresh air amongst all the CGI heavy movies out.
The cinematography and the film score were superb.
Cons
The pace of the movie is abit slow at times.
Favorite quote
Arthur Fleck: “Murray, one small thing?”
Murray Franklin: “Yeah?”
Arthur Fleck: “When you bring me out, can you introduce me as Joker?”
Arthur Fleck: “The worst part of having a mental illness is people expect you to behave as if you don’t.”
Arthur Fleck: My mother always tells me to smile and put on a happy face. She told me I had a purpose: to bring laughter and joy to the world.
Conclusion
‘Joker‘ is NOT a superhero movie (leave the kids at home) , despite it being about one of the most recognizable supervillians. It can best be described as a Psychological thriller.
The movie is set in 1980’s Gotham City ,in the midst of building tensions between the rich and poor. Arthur Fleck (Joker) is a deeply troubled man struggling to earn a living as a clown. Things seem to go from bad to worse for him , eventually leading to his descent into “madness”. Phoenix had such a strong performance that you may be inclined to sympathize, and even justify his character’s heinous actions.
The movie tackles topics such as mental health , class divisions between rich and poor, gun violence. The movie may leave you feeling glum and dejected. But i guess that is the point. It is a realistic depiction of what happens when someone is seemingly pushed to the very edge of sanity.
Many film critics agree that Heath Ledger’s Oscar-winning performance from the 2008 movie ‘The Dark Knight‘ has been the best portrayal of The Joker , but after seeing this movie Joaquin Phoenix gives him a run for his money. His maniacal laugh , erratic mood swings, and dancing all contribute to his overall depiction of this unpredictable character.
Joker is a brutal, dark and compelling origin story of a man’s painful journey to self destruction.
Lusaka High Court Judge Sharon Newa has declared that Dr. Nevers Sekwila Mumba is the President of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD).
This was in the case in which Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) Acting National Secretary Winnie Zaloumis took Felix Mutati, Raphael Nakachinda, George Kangwa and Mwansa Mbulakulima to Court to find out who gave them authority to organise the MMD Convention of 2016.
Judge Newa in her Ruling this morning said that the MMD Constitution only mandates the National Executive Committee (NEC) to call for a Convention.
“According to the MMD Constitution, only the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Party can call for a Convention. Furthermore, the resources of organizing the NEC are supposed to be organized by the Party Treasurer”, Judge Newa said.
“The NEC that sat in 2016 voted unanimous to have the party convention in 2017 and not 2016. And the party treasurer Hon. Elizabeth Chitika didn’t even use one ngwee to organise the 2016 Convention”, Judge Newa.
Judge Newa then declared the 2016 MMD Convention illegal and the election of Felix Mutati as Party President null and void.
“After considering the testimony by both the plaintiffs and defendants, I hereby declare the 2016 MMD Convention null and Void. I further declare all the elections that took place there including the election of Felix Mutati as Party President as null and void. The MMD President is Dr. Nevers Sekwila Mumba,” Judge Newa.
Information and Broadcasting services Minister Dora Siliya has advised the media to leave politics to politicians.
Ms. Siliya says Journalists must concentrate on doing their job to the best of their capabilities.She says there is need for the media to jealously guard their profession with dignity and integrity and not allow politicians to polarize the profession.
Ms. Siliya says this will ensure the public have confidence in the country’s media.Ms. Siliya was speaking when the Media Institute of Southern Africa MISA – Zambia Chapter presented the 2019 State of the Media report to her in Lusaka today.
She also stated that journalists must have a professional body which will have standards of practice and which will ensure that journalists are not disrespected or harassed.
Meanwhile, Ms. Siliya said it is regrettable that the country has continued to record cases of violence against journalists as captured in the MISA report.
And MISA Zambia Director Austin Kayanda appealed to Government to ensure that Journalists are protected from all forms of harassment.
Mr. Kayanda said with the upcoming 2021 General elections, there is need to guarantee the safety of the media.
This is contained in a statement issued to ZNBC News by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services Press and Public Relations Unit.
[ZNBC]
Over 20 houses and churches have had their roofs blown off by heavy rains in Manyinga district.
The heavy downpour has also destroyed household property worth thousands of Kwacha and left one person injured.
And several shops along the Mwinilunga-Manyinga road in Kamyanda area also had their roofs blown off.
This came to light when Manyinga District Commissioner Queen Manela visited the affected families.
Ms. Manela expressed sadness with the increase of disasters in the district.
Just last week about three schools had their roof blown off by wind.
Ms. Manela promised to report the disaster to the provincial administration and provincial Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit -DMMU- for action.
She advised local people to construct permanent structures which could stand any weather condition.
Meanwhile, Headman Kaluyi has appealed to government through the DMMU to provide affected families with tents and household utensils as most of them were destroyed by heavy rains.
