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Eastern Province Minister Hon Makebi Zulu accused United Party Of National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema of benefiting about US$ 14 million from the sale of Lower Zambezi National Park.
Speaking at a PF interactive forum on Sunday in Lusaka, Hon Zulu said HH has been quiet on the happening at Lower Zambezi because he is the one who sold it and kept the money in the offshore accounts in the Bahamas.
He challenged the UPND to come out in the open and tell the Zambians the role HH played in the privatization of Lower Zambezi and how much he benefited.
Hon Zulu said Mr Hichilema was exposed by the Paradise Paper to have been a Director of a Bermuda company known as AfNat Resources Limited which bought mining licenses at Zambezi Resource Limited.
He expained that Mr Hichilema’s AfNat Resources was incorporated in 2005 and explored for nickel and other metals in Zambia and other African countries.
And Hon Zulu says it is sad that corruption fight has been politicized by certain people.
He noted with sadness that some disgruntled political players had the guts of politicizing the issue of the mysterious 48 houses by accusing innocent Senior government officials when they have nothing to do with those houses.
He has called on Zambians not to downplay the fight against corruption by not following the right channels in reporting corrupt acts to the appropriate institutions mandated to tackle the vice.
Hon Zulu, who is also PF Deputy Chairman for Legal Affairs, said while corruption existed in all walks of life, it is slowly losing its meaning on account of several stakeholders accusing government leaders of perpetrating the vice without proof.
The Minister further said government does not interfere with the operation of Anti- Corruption Commission (ACC) hence it allowed the commission to do its work on the mysterious 48 houses.
REPUBLICAN President His Excellency Dr Edgar Lungu
President Edgar Lungu says the abuse of Social Media by some Zambians if left unchecked might plunge the nation into chaos.
The President has asked the church to counsel Zambians not to abuse Social Media.
He has further called on the police and Zambia Information and Technology Authority -ZICTA to ensure that social media abusers are brought to book.
Meanwhile, President Lungu has emphasized that Monday is not a public holiday, contrary to Social Media reports.
And the President has counseled Zambian politicians to develop the culture of accepting election results as is the case in other African countries.
President Lungu says prolonged unjustifiable disputes over election results derail economic development.
Commenting on the just ended general elections in Botswana after his early morning jog at State Lodge today, President Lungu said Zambians must learn from other countries where elections are held peacefully, and politicians concede defeat.
He regretted that Zambia is compromising its record as one of the pioneers of peaceful elections.
And President Lungu reiterated his call for the immediate lifting of economic sanctions on Zimbabwe.
He said the move will enable Zimbabwe to rekindle its economic status.
First Lady, Esther Lungu is on Sunday expected to arrive in Accra, Ghana to attend the sixth edition of Merck Africa Asia Luminary Conference.
Mrs. Lungu will be among 20 other African First Ladies, Ministers of Health and various stakeholders.
Ms. Chilembe said Mrs. Lungu has been instrumental in fighting stigma on infertility, helping and empowering vulnerable women and Girls both in rural and urban areas of Zambia.
She said Mrs. Lungu who will attend the two day conference will be of great inspiration to the Conference organizers as she has done a lot of work under the Esther Lungu foundation.
Mrs. Lungu is expected to be received by a Zambian Delegation, First Lady of Ghana, Rabecca Akufo-Addo who is host of the First Ladies, and Merck Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Rasha Kelej.
During the Inauguration session on Tuesday, 29th of October, a High–Level Ministerial Panel will be conducted where the Ministers of Health, Information, Gender, Education and Science will share solutions and activities to help in Building Healthcare Capacity.
Merck Foundation will also mark its 2nd Anniversary, while winners of ‘Merck More Than a Mother’ Media Recognition, Fashion and Film Awards of Ghana will be announced.
This is contained in a statement released to the media by Acting Zambia’s High Commission to Ghana Phyllis Chilembe.
FILE: Finance Minister Dr BWALYA NG’ANDU addressing investors from North America, South America, Europe, Middle-East and Asia, at an Investors Forum held at the Hay Adams Hotel in Washington DC, USA
Finance Minister Bwalya Ng’andu has called on Zambians to be vigilant in curbing the country’s low tax compliancy levels to promote fiscal fitness.
Dr. Ng’andu said at the Livingstone Chamber of Commerce and Industry organized post-budget discussion last evening that tax compliance should be every citizen’s concern and responsibility.
He said a lot of people who ought to pay tax are not doing so and many others are paying less than they should.
Dr. Ng’andu noted that even as the government is working to close-up gaps in revenue collection, the situation calls for every citizen’s vigilance because tax evasion has a ripple effect on the economy.
And Dr. Ng’andu said his ministry is also working to resolve the wastage and abuse of financial resources in the public sector.
He observed that management of the public service wage bill, for instance, is being looked at with the intention of riding it off ghost workers and enhance the procurement function to include out-comes as opposed to the process alone.
Dr. Ng’andu said the various measures being undertaken by Government are meant to improve revenue collection in the country and stimulate the economy.
Meanwhile, the Minister also observed the need to diversify to other sources of energy to mitigate the current electricity deficit the country is facing due to climate change.
He also noted the need for the country to promote and open up more tourist destinations.
Dr. Ng’andu said the low water levels experienced this year at the country’s number one tourism product, the Victoria Falls should be a reminder to explore and promote new sites.
And speaking at the same event, Livingstone Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Namakau Sianga said the chamber is confident that the Ministry of Finance will continue to adopt robust economic policies anchored on stakeholder active and inclusive participation.
Ms. Sianga reaffirmed her chamber’s commitment to working with the government to foster development.
She also pledged the private sector’s commitment to compliance in support of measures to be effected to kindle the economy.
Green Party President Peter Sinkamba says no mining will take place in the Lower Zambezi National Park regardless the High Court decision on account that the environmental impact assessment authorization granted by Harry Kalaba in January 2014 is no longer legally valid and therefore cannot be used as the basis to commence mining in the park.
Reacting to last week decision by Lusaka High Court to throw out a petition by concerned citizens, the Green Party leader says all environmental impact assessment authorizations have a time limit in which operations should commence from date of grant of such permission. He says that failure to commence operations within three years renders the authorization invalid on grounds of lapse of time.
“We in the environmental sector respect time. In this case, authorization was granted by Honorable Harry Kalaba in January 2014. This is October 2019 which is more than 5 years from the time the authorization was granted.
“Now, Regulation 30 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, Statutory Instrument No. 28 of 1997 provides that if, following the preparation of a project brief or environmental impact assessment, an authorization licence, permit or permission has been issued but no land preparation or construction work has started within 3 years, then the developer must re-register with the authorizing agency any intention to develop. The 3 year statutory period lapsed for Zambezi Resources in January 2017,” Mr. Sinkamba said.
“So, by virtue of Regulation 30, Zambezi Resources, or whatever name the company is now called, should go back to the Director of Mines Safety at the Ministry of Mines to re-submit its intention to mine in Lower Zambezi National Park. This application must be accompanied with a current environmental impact assessment report for review by the Mines Safety Department. Thereafter, the resubmitted EIA report will once again be forward to the Zambia Environmental Management Authority for further review and decision.
“If both Mines Safety Department and Zambia Environmental approve the re-submitted environmental impact assessment report, only then can mining commence. If either or both authorities reject the report, then no mining will take place. So this is the first level of checkmate. Also, both MSD and ZEMA have a second chance to redeem themselves as credible institutions worth entrusting to responsibly manage the national heritage,” Mr. Sinkamba added.
Meanwhile, Mr. Sinkamba has said that the Green Party will petition the Constitutional Court on the constitutionality of mining in ecologically sensitive areas such as the Lower Zambezi National Park.
“Whilst Zambezi Resources will be busy resubmitting its environmental impact assessment reports to MSD and ZEMA in line with Regulation 30 of SI 28 of 1997, we the Greens will also petition the constitutionality of mining in ecologically sensitive areas such as the Lower Zambezi National Park.
“Article 255 of the Constitution of Zambia Amendment 2016 provides principles of environmental and natural resources management and development. In particular, sub-Article 255(d) imposes a duty on all of us to ensure that the conservation and protection of ecologically sensitive areas, habitats, species and other environment shall be done in a sustainable manner.
“As the Greens, we do not think that mining in Lower Zambezi National Park, which an ecologically sensitive area which hosts sensitive habitats, species and other environmental resources. We think that there is a better way to manage such areas other than through mining. So we want the Constitutional Court to pronounce itself on this grave matter before mining commences. In short, we will obtain an injunction to restrain mining in game parks, including Lower Zambezi National Park until the Constitutional Court decides our petition. This is the Green Party checkmate on the matter. We are in Concourt as early as next week,” Mr. Sinkamba added.
“For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.”
(2 Corinthians 1:20, NKJV)
Yes and Amen
Have you thought about the fact that God has already said “yes” to His promises in your life? You don’t have to beg God to be good to you. You don’t have to plead with Him to help you. God wants to help you. He wants to pour out His abundant blessing on your life. The Scripture says His promises are “yes and amen.” “Amen” means “so be it.”
In other words, it’s a done deal. All you have to do is make sure you are living up to your end of the bargain. God’s love is unconditional, but we have to obey His commands in order to see His promises come to pass.
For example, Malachi 3:10 says that we have to bring our tithe to Him in order to see the windows of heaven open. It says in Deuteronomy 5 that we are to honor our parents in order to live a long life. The good news is that when we surrender our hearts to Him, He empowers us to fulfill every one of His commands. He equips us for every good work because He wants to see us live a blessed life. That’s why His promises are “yes and amen”!
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You for Your goodness and faithfulness in my life. I believe that You have a good plan to pour out Your blessing and favor on me. Give me strength to obey Your commands and honor You all the days of my life in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
The World Wide Fund for Nature Zambia has urged government to cancel the mining license issued to the investors in the Lower Zambezi National Park.
WWF Zambia Country Director Nachilala Nkombo said in a statement that government should halt any attempts by the developer to move onsite in Lower Zambezi National Park.
Ms. Nkombo said government should also constitute a task force that will revisit key findings of the independent evaluation report on Kangaluwi mine.
Ms. Nkombo said WWF Zambia is deeply disappointed by the High Court ruling that allows Zambezi Resources Limited to proceed with establishment of an open pit mining operation at the proposed Kangaluwi site in the Lower Zambezi National Park.
She said the Zambian Government must take immediate action to safeguard Lower Zambezi National Park, a key natural asset.
She said the Lower Zambezi National Park is one of four national parks that generate up to 96% of Zambia’s non-consumptive wildlife tourism revenues.
“Although the mine is expected to cover about 980 km2, which is about 25% of the park, it is estimated that more than 50% of the national park will be lost (the entire northern part of the park).”
“This means that the primary reasons for which the park was initially established will be lost forever.”
“The Lower Zambezi National Park was established in 1983 to Conserve biodiversity, including iconic and rare wildlife, forest, and fresh water species, that also ensure ecosystem function.”
She added, “The Park was also created to protect the Rufunsa, Chakwenga and Chongwe River watersheds and conserve ecosystem services that also serve as a buffer to climate change impacts and provide for scientific knowledge advancement, public education, and tourism development.”
“WWF Zambia is therefore gravely concerned about the far-reaching economic, social, and environmental consequences that an open cast mine will have on the Lower Zambezi ecosystem.”
Ms Nkombo says the action by the High Court negates Zambia’s progress as a country on SDG Goal 15 which aims to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.
She said proceeding with the proposed course of action in Lower Zambezi will rob current and future generations of Zambians of their rich natural resource heritage.
“WWF Zambia therefore cautions that awarding this mining license in an ecologically sensitive national park such as Lower Zambezi may set a dangerous precedent for large-scale investments in high biodiversity areas,” he said.
“National parks contribute to sustenance of Zambia’s ecological processes, provision of ecosystem services, tourism economy, and cultural values, and there is risk they will increasingly be targeted for conflicting uses that erode the unique values that make them key natural capital assets; thereby disregarding the natural inheritance of the Zambian people.”
She said WWF Zambia is not in support of this High Court judgement and observes that the appeal dismissal is based on a technicality, rather than a hearing of the substantive case.
“WWF Zambia is committed to engage in dialogue and processes that explore lawful and legitimate avenues to withdraw the Kangaluwi mining license,” Ms Nkombo said.
“In this regard, WWF Zambia lauds civil society efforts to ensure this matter is heard before the Supreme Court; including presentation of key risks associated with the proposed mine.”
PRESIDENT Edgar Chagwa Lungu (second from left) visits detainees in cells at Kabwata Police in Lusaka on Saturday,October 26,2019.
President Edgar Lungu says police brutality against suspects should come to an end in Zambia.
President Lungu says the Zambia Police Service should be carrying out their duties professionally without torturing or beating up suspects to get to the truth of a matter.
The President says any suspect should be treated as an innocent person until the courts of law finds him or her guilty or acquit them.
He says the role of Police Officers is to apprehend, investigate and handover the suspects to the courts for the due process of the law to take its course.
The Head of State says the police should find better means of investigating matters to get to the conclusion of the issues as opposed to torturing the suspects in order for them to confess.
He says the police should begin to adjust to the changing world where torture or ill treatment of suspects is no longer in existence.
The President was speaking after he toured Kabwata police cells where some female suspects complained of torture by the police at the station.
One of the female suspects whose name cannot be disclosed for security reasons told the President that some named police officers tortured her and her friends and grabbed phones from them so that she cannot be in contact with her relatives.
When asked by the president whether she can identify the police officers who tortured her, the suspect responded in affirmative saying she knows them facially.
The President assured the alleged tortured female suspects that the Minister of Justice who is also Kabwata Member of Parliament and was with the President at the time, will investigate the matter to ensure the officers are cautioned against torturing suspects.
The President said people regardless of their status and circumstances should be treated with dignity because the law says everyone is innocent until proven guilty by the courts.
And Business came to a standstill as President Lungu toured Lusaka’s Kabwata and Mtendere areas.
People of different age groups in the two localities were elated and lined up to catch the glimpse of President Lungu.
President Lungu was in Kabwata and Mtendere to inspect the adherence to the “Keep Zambian Clean Campaign.
On the other hand President Lungu toured the road projects in some sections of Lusaka enroute to Mtendere.
The President participated in the collection of garbage in Mtendere where they sale Charcoal near the main market.
He warned those encroaching areas where roads projects are being carried out to like Kamloops road in Kalingalinga to vacate.
President Lungu also called on Zambians to take the” Keep Zambia Clean Campaign “seriously.
In April last year, President Lungu re-launched the campaign aimed at invoking awareness among Zambians to keep public and private environments clean as one of the means to guard against diseases.
President Edgar Lungu is saddened by the death of several people and those who were left injured yesterday after a truck lost control and plunged into a bar located at Lusaka’s Buseko market.
According to a statement released to the media by State House, the President deeply regrets the loss of lives and reiterated his call to the Road Transport and Safety Agency to intensify patrols to avert such accidents.
The President wished the bereaved families God ‘s comfort and strength as they mourn their beloved. The President also wishes the injured a quick recovery.
“On behalf of Government, the people of Zambia and indeed on my own behalf, l wish the bereaved families God‘s comfort and strength as they mourn their beloved. I also wish a quick recovery to the injured. There is the need for motorists to be cautious to avoid accidents,” the President said.
According to the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU), the accident happened last night when a truck belonging to BHL driven by Elias Chikwenda aged 34 years of Kabwe lost control due to excessive speed as he was trying to avoid a truck that was reversing into Lumumba road at Puma filling near Buseko market.
The driver, later on, went to hit into a parked Corolla, Zesco Pole and finally into a Tavern where the deceased was watching a football match which is about 30 meters away from the road, killing 12 people.
DMMU working with the Provincial Administration assured the bereaved families that the government will take care of all funeral logistics, which include food and coffins among other requirements, to ease the burden on the affected families.
DMMU National Coordinator Chanda Kabwe said that he was deeply saddened by the loss because life is too precious to be lost in such a manner.
Mr. Kabwe has since urged all road users to ensure they follow road traffic regulations and observe speed limits to prevent such accidents. “Whilst we acknowledge the fact that accidents are human, we can always do our part to avoid making them obviously awaited for”.
He has further commended the Police, Road Traffic and Safety Agency and the Fire Brigade for their quick response.
Mr.Kabwe has furthermore wished the eight injured, among them three females, a quick recovery, adding that the government will ensure they are well taken care of to avoid further loss of life.
And Mr. Kabwe has disclosed that Minister in the Office of the Vice President, Olipah Phiri, Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo and a team from DMMU will in due course visit the funeral houses to console the bereaved.
Power Dynamos’ bad start to the 2019/20 season continued when they suffered a famous 2-0 away defeat to Kabwe Youth Soccer Academy at President Stadium in Kabwe.
The result handed promoted KYSA their first league win of the season and debut victory over the toothless six-time champions from Kitwe after a loss away and home draw in their first-ever meeting during the 2018 campaign.
Moro Amenu’s 13th minute goal put KYSA 1-0 into halftime and Daniel Chama added the second goal in the 78th minute.
KYSA leap from last to 16th, replacing Power who drop to second from bottom at number 17, on 5 and 4 points from seven and six games played respectively.
Zanaco and Green Eagles hope to make significant headway on Sunday in their respective 2019/20 CAF Confederation Cup pregroup stage, first leg ties.
In Malabo, Zanaco make their debut trip to Equatorial Guinea to face Cano SA.
It will be Zanaco’s second successive away start in continental action this season following their 2-1 second round win over Bolton CY of Mauritius last month en route to a 5-1 aggregate victory.
“I think it will be explosive tomorrow, Cano is not a small team but we are ready for the challenge, Zanaco captain Ziyo Tembo said.
Zanaco are at full strength with striker Moussa Souleymanou set for his first continental outing after injury ruled him out of the last round.
Cano SA, who were demoted from the CAF Champions League, come into the game on three match winless run with one draw and two defeats after record eight- time African champions Al Ahly beat them 2-0 in Malabo and 4-0 in Egypt to see them relegated to the second tier competition.
The last leg is set for November 3 in Lusaka to decide who goes through to the group stage draws ahead of the league round of matches in the CAF Confederation Cup that kick off in December.
Meanwhile in Lusaka, Green Eagles, who were relegated from the CAF Champions League, host Hassania Agadir of Morocco in their first leg match at National Heroes Stadium.
“It is like any other game in qualification, we need to play 180 minutes and we both dont know too much about each other,” Hassania coach Miguel Gamondi said.
“But we have come here with a huge expecations to have a good game.
“I watched the Eagles game against Orlando Pirates but I cannot predicat anything but we will see how the game will go.”
THE Zambian government system is broken and needs to be fixed in earnest, says Nevers Mumba. Speaking on Hot FM yesterday, Mumba the MMD president urged President Edgar Lungu and government to speak to the nation on various matter affecting the governance system than assume that people would know on their own.
Mumba, however, urged government not to speak to Zambians like they were talking to children as they address pertinent queries arising from the governance kerfuffle.
He warned that former President Kenneth Kaunda would not have lasted 27 years in power if he was not communicating to Zambians.
“The energy problem is a small problem that can be resolved once leadership makes a decision,” he said.
Mumba, the former Republican vice-president, recalled that under president Levy Mwanawasa, the government then was faced with the $7.2 billion unsustainable debt but it was solved because of the will and determination of the team of leaders at the time.
He said under Mwanawasa, the shackle of economic debt was broken because his team concentrated on it.
Mumba insisted that the PF had no option but to sit down and resolve the issue of the energy crisis like yesterday.
“This PF government needs to find a solution, Israel does not have the Victoria Falls, does not have the Chishimba Falls but they never have load shedding. It’s these things that frustrate me…. To depend on rain so that we can have electricity and we are going to depend on rain then we should preserve the water during the rainy season so that in the dry season it does not run out, that’s our responsibility,” he said.
Mumba added that if Zambia was not going to provide power because the water levels had gone down then government, without excuses, must find a temporary solution.
He noted that the temporary solution would cost the government a lot of money but insisted that they had no choice but to do it so that the industry can continue to thrive and business to run.
He noted with regret that the status quo of the power deficit was crippling the country economically.
Asked if he was in favour of importing power when the government was broke, Mumba said, “They have no option, they have to import it. It will cost a lot but they have to do it, they have to find a way to resolve this because that’s what leadership is about. A problem comes, you have to solve it.”
He added that with the gravity of the energy crisis, Zambians were not going to listen to any excuses.
Mumba said the PF had taken too long to resolve the power deficit issue.
“They have really taken long, they are assuming Zambians are a very understanding people but I think it’s a wrong assumption. If I were there, I would have given this process not longer that 60 days to really deal with it. It was going to be costly to find immediate solutions but if you let this thing continue the way it’s continuing, there will be very little productivity in this country. People cannot work because there is not energy to do so and therefore the economy will ground to a halt,” Mumba feared.
He further said money had to be invested so that citizens could work and help the economy to move.
Mumba said a leader should not allow load shedding to continue without any sign of ending it.
“What I would have done if I were in government, if I know that this crisis would take three months, almost every week or month I would address the Zambia people and tell them the progress we are making and ensuring that the Zambian people work with us until we achieve what we need to achieve. I would not keep them ignorant, this it too big an issue not to be told about as a people of Zambia,” he said.
Mumba added that governance was about taking information to the governed and not allow them to speculate in bars, nightclubs to formulate their own personal policies and philosophies.
He noted that if there was no information coming from the governors to explain what people were facing then there was a risk that whatever was being discussed in beer halls would start to progress against the government.
Mumba said the government’s failure to talk to the people could fuel instability.
“I don’t think Kenneth Kaunda would have lasted 27 years if he never spoke to the people. Kenneth Kaunda had difficult times but I would remember that when things were really bad, in 1986 when there were riots and mealie-meal prices shot up and I thought this is it, KK is out, people were angry; breaking everything and looting but what amazed me is that in the middle of that confusion, pain and anger there was an announcement of ZNBC that tomorrow at 10:00 AM His Excellency Dr Kenneth David Kaunda shall address the nation. With anger in our hearts, we went to listen…when KK is speaking the whole Kitwe would be quiet and he went, fellow countrymen and then he breaks it down, bringing the Zambians into the pain, difficulties and challenges of life and invited them to work with his government to achieve what they were all looking for,” Mumba said.
He further said Dr Kaunda was a good communicator.
Mumba, a Pastor, counseled President Lungu and the PF that problems would always be there but there was a need to address the nation.
“You can keep your marriage longer if you talk to your wife. The reason we have these marriage problems is because as husbands we just think that our wives should understand…women thrive on information and if you don’t give it to them, you are going to have hell in your own house but the moment you start to explain things to them, everything changes. Even if you don’t have money when you talk to them everything changes.”
Mumba added that not talking to Zambians makes them feel disrespected and that should be avoided at all costs.
He said how they talked to the citizens also mattered.
He advised the government to avoid talking to Zambians like they do not think or reason.
He further said while he agreed that climate change had affected the entire world, the voters did not care about the water levels but wanted food on the table, affordable mealie-meal because leaders got into government not to explain problems but solve them.
File:UPND MP’s seats unoccupied in Parliament this morning
By Hon. Dr Jonas Chanda
During the debate in Parliament on the budget allocations to the Electoral Commission of Zambia, I reminded the main opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) to stop the POLITICS of WHINING and COMPLAINTS and learn to be a responsible opposition party that can DIALOGUE with the government on key national issues and alternative solutions.
Instead of UPND always attacking ECZ and complaining about the ELECTORAL PROCESS, BYE ELECTIONS, ELECTORAL VIOLENCE, short duration of ELECTORAL PETITIONS in court, and lack of DELIMITATION of constituencies, they should realize that solutions to these challenges lie in the same processes and bills they are castigating and boycotting.
Rather than coming to DIALOGUE with government and other stakeholders to address the challenges they raise, UPND has chosen to politic and hypocritically castigated and boycotted the NATIONAL DIALOGUE process, ELECTORAL REFORMS AMENDMENT BILL (2019), PUBLIC ORDER BILL (2019), and submissions to the CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT BILL (2019).
ECZ, despite facing challenges, has conducted elections for the past five (5) years which even saw two (2) peaceful power transitions from a sitting government to an opposition party – in 1991 when the opposition MMD defeated the ruling UNIP, and in 2011 when the then opposition PF defeated the ruling MMD. This is a very rare occurrence anywhere in Africa and hence the reason Zambia is internationally recognized as a beacon of democracy and peace.
I also called on UPND and other opposition parties to stop making CHEAP POLITICAL CAPITAL out of the fight against CORRUPTION and instead collaborate with investigative agencies like ACC, DEC and Zambia Police by providing whatever EVIDENCE they claim to have to. The case in point is that of the infamous 48 houses (now 51) where UPND had alleged it was PF corruption when in fact the key suspect is a senior civil servant at Ministry of Finance with links to UPND who is also a nephew to a former Minister of Finance and now a UPND Member of Parliament and Opposition Whip.
My message to the Zambian Youths who constitute the majority of the population is NOT to allow politicians to use them as TOOLS of VIOLENCE because NO POLITICIAN IS WORTH DYING FOR, NO POLITICIAN IS WORTH SHEDDING BLOOD FOR.
Reuters reports that Japanese renewable energy company Univergy Solar is to invest more than $200 million in two solar power projects in Zambia that will add 200 megawatts (MW) to the country’s national grid next year, the government said on Friday.
Zambia mainly relies on hydropower and has an electricity deficit of about 750 MW due to low water levels at generation plants after a severe drought hit power production.
Univergy Solar Company will develop and implement a 135 MW project in northern Zambia and another 65 MW project in Zambia’s copperbelt, Zambia’s embassy in Tokyo said in a statement.
The Japanese firm will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Zambian government next Tuesday to start work on the projects in the first quarter of 2020, it said.
The two projects were expected to be completed between six and eight months, it said.
“The solar power project will be implemented in collaboration with a Zambian company and is expected to create hundreds of jobs and business opportunities for local firms engaged to maintain the solar farms and generation plants,” the statement said.
Zambia is in talks with South African power utility Eskom to import 300 megawatts MW, Energy Minister Mathew Nkhuwa said in September, adding that retail prices could double once imports begin.
Zambia cut its economic growth forecast to around 2% for 2019, from an estimated 4%, due to the impact of the drought on its power supply and agricultural production.
Kenyan authorities are holding a Zambian woman who was arrested at the Kenya Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi with worked ivory.
Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) said Kabanje Liseli Mwananguku was arrested on Wednesday evening for wearing ivory bangle weighing 100 grams with an estimated 30,000 shillings (300 U.S. dollars).
“She was intercepted by Kenya Wildlife Service officers in collaboration with other airport authorities at Terminal 1A departures while on transit to Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania,”
KWS said in a statement issued in Nairobi.
The suspect was due to face a charge of being illegally in possession of wildlife trophy at the law courts.
Cases of foreign nationals being arrested with ivory trophies at the airport have become common in recent days posing a major concern to the government.
KWS said its putting in place strong measures across all entry and exit points, border checks and international airports to curb any illegal wildlife activities.
“Members of the public are therefore advised to report any person in possession of ivory trophies and other prohibited wildlife products to the nearest KWS offices or police station,” it said.
Meanwhile, KWS said Joseph Maina Irungu was fined 10,000 dollars or serve five years imprisonment in default for count one of illegally killing a wildlife species (zebra).
Irungu who appeared before at the Nyahururu law court was also fined 2,000 dollars or serve one-year imprisonment in default for the second count of illegally dealing in wildlife meat (zebra) and a further 10,000 dollars or serve a five-year jail term for the third count of illegal possession of wildlife trophy (zebra).
The second accused person, Stanley Chege, was given a cash bail of 20,000 dollars or a bond of a similar amount after he denied the charges.
According to the Wildlife Management Act 2013, any person who keeps or is found in possession of a wildlife trophy without permission, shall be liable upon conviction to a fine of not less than 10,000 dollars or imprisonment for a term of not less than five years or both.
