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By Brave Kachusha Mushikita – Zambian Economy and Mining Expert
It was 2003 Mwanawasa’s MMD was in power, and panicking after the withdraw of Anglo American Corporation from KCM.
They were really looking out for anybody who would invest in mining, especially copper mining. In comes Australian treasure hunters with a couple of millions AU$ calling themselves Zambezi Resources Ltd.
They applied for an exploration license and it was granted, an area of 240sq km in the Zambezi Game Park. They registered a subsidiary called Mwembeshi Resources Ltd prospecting Kangaluwi Copper Project consisting of Kangaluwi, Chisawa, Kalulu and Imboo prospects.
In 2008 after the death of LPM, Rupiah Banda takes over and this project gains even more steam even if the environment impact assessment was full of holes.
In 2011 after Sata takes over the project is rejected by ZEMA and it goes quiet.
In January 2014 Harry Kalaba then Minister of Land, Natural Resources and Envitonmrntal Protection, overturned ZEMA’s ruling and promptly issued Mwembeshi/Zambezi with its mining permit, ML15547. He claimed that the mine would eventually create employment for ordinary Zambians in the area.
It should be noted that Sata died on 28 October 2014, so when HK was issuing this permit the cobra was at the helm.
Its 2019, Zambezi Resources Ltd is now called Trek Meta; they have since sold the Kangaluwi Copper Project to a company called Grand Resources after the frustrations of nearly 5 years after being granted a mining license.
The address shows that Grand Resources is Dubai based. Its CEO is Marinko Vidovic with a registered address in Australia. The project was bought for just AU$1.1m but all the debt was absorbed (estimated at AU$12m). Grand Resources took the matter to court to resolve the dispute, which I am told they have won.
When ZRL applied for the mining license the inflated in the thrir feasibility study. They reported it would cost them $494m to develop the mine and it would have a LOM of 25 years producing a total of 3Mt of copper at 28%.
This is 840ktpa of contained copper in the concentrate. This would have simply made this mine the biggest copper mine in Africa and one of the biggest in the World.
Zambia currently produces about 800Ktpa and it is the second largest producer in Africa. This mine would have doubled Zambia’s production. Is this what HK looked at when he overturned the decision of ZEMA?
After they got the license the truth finally came out; the ore was copper oxide and not copper sulphide, it was low grade ore at only 0.7% and running as an Open Pit it had a stripping ration of ore to waste of 3.3. The life of mining was only 5 years at cathode production rate of only 7379t, requiring capex of $44m to develop.
The picture is completely different; production rate of 840ktpa of copper in concentrate would have brought in revenue of about $4.8bn/yr at copper price of $6000/t but the picture of 7379 cathode will only bring in about $45m/yr.
If you closely look at the total opex of running an oxide of this size, this mine would just be break even, at best making a profit of $1m/yr. I am no financial expert but only a full will put in $44m and make a profit just $1m/yr. After 5 years you still be owing $38m.
The Kangaluwi site is about 19km from the Zambezi River and at about 800m above the valley floor, so whatever rubbish coming from the mine will be draining into the Zambezi and polluting the Zambezi downstream into Mozambique.
The question is with all this against this project why did Harry Kalaba issue a mining permit? Without a mining permit these guys would not have gone to court. That guy needs to come and explain. Why as a political head did he interfere in the work of ZEMA.
The civil servants who signed and approved the relevant documentation at the time need to explain why they did that when the environmental report did not recommend. The minister of mines at the time need to explain why he signed on that mining permit. The two useless permanent secretaries, with masters and doctorates falling out of their pockets, why did they allow the politicians to over rule them?
The PF are in govt, they did not star this issue but they messed up by issuing the mining permit but overturning the experts, now it’s time they listened to the experts and cancelled that permit. Is 7ktpa worth disturbing the hippos, elephants, the vegetation and mighty Zambezi itself? Is it really the copper you are after or it’s the elephants, hippos, rhinos and the other good stuff God has blessed us with?
I am son of a former miner, I grew up in mining town, I have worked in the mines all my life. I know all the benefits mining can bring to a community, especially a community trying to develop. But this mining project is not worth destroying Zambia’s and Southern Africa ‘s life line, the Zambezi. Look at what we have done to the Kafue.
Just stop PF, it’s in your hands. The courts will just pronounce on the fact of law, and the fact is that Grand Resources have a valid mining permit.
Minister of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Jean Kapata
The government has cautioned Zambians against selling land to foreigners.
Lands Minister Jean Kapata says Zambians should think of their children before selling land to foreigners.
Ms. Kapata says currently the law does not allow the government to stop individuals from selling land to whoever they want.
She told ZNBC News that it is sad that people have taken advantage of this to sell land to foreign nationals without considering the implications of their decisions.
The Minister has expressed sadness that the government is being accused of giving out land to foreigners when it is the individuals who are doing so.
Ms. Kapata said the new land policy will only allow foreigners to own land for investments.
She said the policy also provides for investors to surrender the land to the government in a case where they decide to close their business.
Higher Education Brian Mushimba says institutions of Higher learning must shape their education system around Technological innovations if students are to be relevant in the modern era.
Dr. Mushimba says Zambia’s extractive sector requires graduands to be up to date with skills and technology to handle various equipment.
The Higher Education Minister was speaking during the Cavendish University of Zambia’s 12th Graduation Ceremony in Lusaka today.
Dr. Mushimba said to reduce over-dependency on imports and have a vibrant manufacturing sector, the labor force must be equipped with knowledge that will produce eagerness to apply new technologies.
And the Cavendish University of Zambia Chancellor and fourth President Rupiah Banda said the onus for the country to realize its developmental goals in the long term is on the younger generation of professionals that will put their training to good use.
And Cavendish University of Zambia Vice Chancellor Kalombo Mwansa said graduands must use their acquired knowledge in various fields to engage in activities that will spur economic development.
President Edgar Chagwa Lungu addresses Cabinet at State House on Monday, 21st October, 2019
President Edgar Lungu is disturbed by the continued abuse of social media by some unscrupulous individuals and institutions.
Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Isaac Chipampe says the deliberate abuse of social media is tailored to divert people’s attention from various developmental works the government is undertaking.
Mr. Chipampe says President Lungu is concerned with the prevailing situation which if not well handled can trigger conflicts.
Appearing on ZNBC’s “Morning Live Program”, Mr. Chipampe said it is now an order of the day to paint government black on social media which puts the country in bad standing on the international scene.
He said Zambians should know that in the era of social media, the world has been connected and that the international community and investors would deem the country not fit for their investment when a bad thing is written about it.
Mr. Chipampe has however called on Zambians to develop the culture of patriotism and positively use the power of social media to market the country’s investment potentials.
And Mr. Chipampe said President Lungu is concerned with the pictures circulating on social media of ZNBC Sports Reporter Chiko Mukoka who was attacked by unknown people on Wednesday.
He said Zambians need to start treating mental health challenges like any other condition and not shun or ridicule affected individuals.
Mr. Chipampe has since called on ZNBC management to help Chiko get medical help.
And when asked about President Lungu and opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) leader Chishimba Kambwili’s interaction yesterday at the freedom statue, Mr. Chipampe said the gesture is good for the country’s unity.
He noted that Mr. Kambwili’s turn up at the event was important as it put aside political differences.
Mr. Chipampe could however not go into details on what the two discussed but said President Lungu advised Mr. Kambwili on the procedure to follow especially that he is a former cabinet minister.
Nigerian legend Augustine Jay Jay Okocha believes the German Bundesliga offers the best long-term opportunities for young players.
Okocha said this during a Bundesliga media meeting in Dortmund that was facilitated in conjunction with its international broadcast partner Startimes, that the German top-flight beats French Ligue 1 in terms of permanent prospects for junior talent.
The 1994 AFCON winner first stop in Europe was Germany where he spent seven years after arriving there from Nigeria in 1990 that included a four-year stint at Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt from 1992-1996.
“I will say that in France, I also had an impression they liked giving young players opportunities back then. I don’t know about now but I also had the impression that everybody is for sell. I have the impression that they just develop players to sell and not to keep or win titles,” Okocha said.
“But here in Germany, they give you that impression that they want you, they want to keep you and they want to achieve something with you; and for me that’s the difference.”
The last couple of seasons have seen junior imports starting to make an impression in the Bundesliga, supplementing the leagues already successful junior development programme that began after German’s 2002 FIFA World Cup flop.
19-year-old England striker Jadon Sancho of Borussia Dortmund has become the Bundesliga’s poster boy since leaving Manchester City in 2017, patiently rising from the Dortmund youth side to the first team last season.
Also joining him across from the English Channel is his ex-City club mate and Welsh junior international striker Rabbi Matondo who is enjoying game time at Schalke 04.
The 19-year-old Liverpool-born striker is also eligible to play for DR Congo.
1998 FIFA World Cup winning defender Lillian Thuram’s son, Marcus, joined Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach this season from Ligue 1 side Guingamp and the 22-year-old French striker has so far scored three goals in eight games.
Meanwhile, straight out of Africa is 25-year-old Togo striker Ihlas Bebou who joined ambitious Hoffenheim this term after making his Bundesliga debut two seasons ago with Hannover.
Bebou has steadily natured his craft through from the German amateur ranks and up through to the 2.Bundesliga since 2013 and is showing great potential as the future face of African football in the Bundesliga.
The Human Rights Commission has commended President Edgar Lungu for pardoning 283 inmates from the various Correctional Facilities across the country on the eve of Zambia’s 55th Independence Anniversary Celebrations.
Commission spokesperson Mwelwa Muleya says the pardoning of 245 male and 38 female inmates by President Lungu in exercise of his Prerogative of Mercy Powers under Article 97 of the Constitution of Zambia is significant towards restoring the dignity, rights and freedoms of the affected individuals.
Mr Muleya said the pardoning of inmates is also necessary towards decongesting Correctional Facilities which are usually overcrowded between 250% and 300%, a situation that contributed to the violation of a wide range of human rights violations.
He said it is a momentous occasion for the pardoned individuals to join their families and the rest of Zambians in celebrating Zambia’s 55th Independence Anniversary Celebrations under the theme “Our Freedoms, Our Country and Our Responsibility”.
Mr Muleya said the Commission is commending the President’s exercise of mercy against the background of the unfavourable human rights situation in detention and correctional facilities which the Commission has consistently been bringing to the attention of the various legal and justice sector players in Zambia.
Further, Mr Muleya has thanked Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo and the Minister of Justice Given Lubinda for their steadfast leadership and understanding on matters relating to promoting and protecting the rights of inmates.
He said the Commission is particularly encouraged that its support to the Government to improve the rights of inmates has on many occasions been appreciated by the Government through taking of practical steps towards redressing the situation, including pardoning some of the recommended inmates based on various human rights considerations.
However, Mr Muleya said the Commission is saddened by the death of an inmate it had recommended for pardoning on account of ill-health and old age, a day before the announcement of his pardoning.
“The Commission commiserates with his family on the tragic loss. Nonetheless, the Commission is hugely grateful that the President had done what was humanely possible by exercising his constitutional powers of mercy and compassion on individuals convicted by the courts”, he added.
He has congratulated all those who were pardoned and appealed to them not to betray the President’s Prerogative of Mercy by backsliding into old behaviour that had caused them to be in conflict with the law and society at large.
Mr Muleya said their pardoning should be an opportunity for the released inmates to understand and appreciate the fact that despite offending society, society at large through the President has forgiven them. Therefore, the released inmates should give back their best to society by living a life consistent with this year’s Independence Anniversary theme, “Our Freedoms, Our Country and Our Responsibility”.
The Unspoilt Lower Zambezi National Park- however new mine coming soon
By EAZ President, Dr. Lubinda Haabazoka
The news that mining has been given a go ahead by the courts in a project that has been disputed since 2012 has worried me the past few days.
I have had the privilege of visiting the lower Zambezi and I tell you there is not a place beautiful in Zambia than that place.
I must admit that most animals prefer the Zimbabwean side because of human encroachment on the Zambian side.
Poaching is also rampant amongst us Zambians. Indiscriminate cutting down of tree is also a big problem.
The Republican President decreed that he wants to see tourism the second contributor to GDP. This is achievable and as the Economics Association of Zambia, we are working hand in hand with the government through the ministry of tourism to ensure this is realised..
In order for us to achieve that, we need to have a different approach towards tourism management as well as management of our natural wonders and parks.
Mining in lower Zambezi will have the following negative effects:
Mining will pollute the surrounding environment and since animals are sensitive, they will run to Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Our generation will be seeing lions in other countries or at zoos which we don’t have.
Mining will create unplanned settlements in the lower Zambezi National Park as the mine will attract all sorts of people that will come to benefit from mining activities. Even if the mine builds planned settlements for its employees, these settlements will need maids, gardeners, tailors, mechanics, Electricians, etc these people will come and build these unplanned settlements and removing them from there will be a political issue just like any other unplanned settlement in Zambia. In fact politicians will protect them therefore destroying the park completely.
The mine after attracting shanty compounds will be unable to provide electricity and even energy for cooking. There comes in charcoal burning. The first 10 years the mine will be operational, there will be no trees left!!!
This mine won’t be profitable in its first 10 years just like other mines have done in Zambia. But the damage that will be made in the 10 years to the environment will be enormous.
Increased animal human conflicts
Agriculture activities will start in the park making it difficult for ZAWA to operate
Zambia will have no right to talk about climate change. The world operates like a cartel. Once you approve mining in a National park, no green funds will flow into the country and tourists will never come. We shall be “blacklisted” by tourists because of these actions. The blacklisting won’t be formal but in the minds of tourists. The same way customers companies running racist adverts.
The verdict is that we need to all come together and stop these people from mining. The economic and environmental benefits of keeping a National park outweigh those of mining. Just the other week the mines were laying off employees.
Kabwe is an example of what happens after mining activities. We have found it difficult to revive vegetation there. Chingola is an example of the negative effects of mining due to pollution as fishermen and farmers can no longer produce.
Farmer Langsu Mumbelunga in his polluted field near the Mushishima stream, Zambia. Photograph: John Vidal for the Observer
We are now talking about the Kafue and Zambezi rivers. These two rivers meet in the Zambezi National Park.
This doesn’t even need a court decision. It needs an administrative decision.
ZEMA did not approve the mine. Then Minister Hon Harry Kalaba is said to have overruled them. The current minister can reverse the decision in the interest of the nation.
The government should start giving all parks under private management to avoid future companies seeking to mine in the parks.
We are already cutting down trees at the source of the Zambezi, and now we are moving to the parks. What kind of people are we???
File:First Republican president Kenneth Kaunda waves at attending the independence day march past in Lusaka
Excerpts from my book Chapter 16: Mwizenge S. Tembo, Satisfying Zambian Hunger for Culture: Social Change in the Global World, Bloomington, IN: Xlibris Corporation, 2012, pp. 385. USA $17.95, K224.00
By Mwizenge S. Tembo, Ph. D.
Professor of Sociology
Introduction
This chapter will explore how Zambia as a nation changed from several parties that existed just after independence in 1964, with UNIP being the most dominant, to the one-party state from 1973 to 1991, and to probably the most peaceful multiparty system in Africa that has existed from 1991 to the present day. The chapter will use the political economy approach in that it will explore how the politics and political leaders of the time, whether in UNIP or the opposition, influenced the economic decisions, and how these decisions affected the social lives of Zambians including both the positive and negative. The chapter will infuse some personal anecdotes so that the reader will have a feel for what it was like to be a Zambian living through some of the best and perhaps some of the most difficult and challenging periods in the country since independence on October 24, 1964. It will conclude with an overall commentary on how this political history, including the negative or ugly parts of it, is the foundation of Zambian politics today.
From Independence in 1964 to 1973
Independence Day 24 October 1964 was a day of celebration all over the new country of Zambia. At last the winds of change that were blowing all over Africa had finally arrived in Zambia. I was in Standard 3 or Grade 4 at Tamanda Boys Boarding Upper School exactly on the remote border with Malawi about 35 miles north along the Chipata-Lundazi Road. The entire school held celebrations on the football ground. Our teachers sent us to the bush to cut some leaves that we tied around our waists with fiber. The teachers had managed to collect a few drums from the surrounding villages and established more than six dancing stations on the football field. Each station had a different dance such as Mganda Tumbuka Dance, Nyau Chewa Dance, or Ngoma Ngoni Dance. Some of the stations even had women’s dances such as Chimtali and Chitelele although we did not have any girls at the school. During the entire morning, there was a loud deen of singing, drumming, and thumping of feet as all the students switched and rotated from one station to the next taking part in the different dances.
The immediate symbols of the new nation were not immediately visible to people like us who were living in the most remote parts of the country until several days later when a government Land Rover arrived the school. It had the old British Colonial number plate of N.R.G. (Northern Rhodesia Government) erased or rubbed off although still visible and replaced with G. R. Z. (Government of the Republic of Zambia). There was a new national anthem and a new flag. The feeling of national triumph, pride, and extreme euphoria prevailed throughout the entire country. Borrowing from and contradicting the European belief during colonialism in the 1880s that they were bringing light and civilization to Africa as a dark continent with ignorant people, the Kwacha and Ngwee, which was the inspirational cry and slogan during the worst days of colonial oppression, would be used as the names of the new Zambian currency instead of the British pounds, shillings, and pence.
“Kwacha” is a Nyanja word which means “dawn” and “Ngwee” means bright light as when the sun rises. During the mass political rallies while organizing the fight for independence, the political leaders would shout several times: “Kwacha!!!!!” The large crowds would respond in unison “Ngwee!!!!”raising their fists. In fact this represented to Zambians that British colonialism had brought darkness and suffering to the people. The struggle against colonialism would remove oppression and darkness and political independence and would bring light to all the citizens; hence “Kwacha” and “Ngwee” or “Dawn” and “bright light”.
The euphoria, widespread optimism, or the good feelings that engulfed Zambia and the entire continent of Africa were the popular expectations that independence or self-rule would bring a better standard of living, access to good jobs through expansion of industry, manufacturing, and improvement of agriculture, good pay, building of schools for education, hospitals, building roads, providing housing, maintaining freedom of movement and expression in a non-tribal and non-racial society. Many of the benefits had been uttered by the freedom fighters during the struggle as they addressed mass rallies. “UNIP leaders in their public utterances promised people, under the philosophy of humanism, more jobs, free education, free medical services, the removal of the colour bar in all social places, an egg a day for everyone, a glass of milk per day and a pair of shoes for everybody”[i].
Many of these expectations would be fulfilled immediately as Zambia in 1964 had a population of 3.5 million[ii] with 900 million pounds[iii] in foreign reserves. The country needed the urgent development of massive infrastructure in virtually all phases of the economy. What President Kaunda, the top leadership, and the Zambian people would discover is that the British colonialists had left them with almost nothing to run the newly independent country. Zambia had only 100 Zambians with university degrees, about 1500 Zambians with Form V or Grade 12 school certificates, and only 6000 with junior or two years secondary education[iv]. There was a critical shortage of manpower which could also be called a crisis for a country that had an urgent need to achieve high levels of development. The British colonial administration did not leave a reliable police force, an army or an air force. Zambia needed educated, trained, and qualified people in all areas.
The new government quickly implemented a series of national development plans. The first one was the Emergency Development Plan that lasted from 1 January to 31 December 1964. The second one was the Transitional Development Plan which lasted from1 January 1965 to 30 June 1966. The third one was the First National Development Plan that lasted from 1 July 1966 to 30 June 1970[v]. The objective of all these plans was to develop the country as soon as possible and especially to train qualified Zambian manpower. How did all these plans affect the ordinary Zambian?
It was one of the most exciting periods to be a citizen of the young country of Zambia living in the city as well as in the rural areas. As a Grade Six student at Tamanda Boys Boarding Upper School in a remote region of the Eastern province, the entire class was asked to participate in a national essay writing competition. The topic was: “What I Want the Government to do in the First Four Year National Development Plan from 1966 to 1970”. Instructions from our teachers were that the government wanted ideas from all citizens. I wrote my five page nicely handwritten essay and handed it to the teacher who posted it back to the Ministry of Education in Lusaka. I never heard who won the competition.
A few months later when I was in Grade Seven, the teachers told us there was a national campaign to build the University of Zambia. Each one of us was to donate one shilling which was ten ngwee to go toward the construction. After the donation we were all given a “University of Zambia” button to wear. That same year, the entire school received short wave radios which were used for teaching English and other subjects. Our English teacher, Mr. Lyson Mtonga (later to be my brother-in-law), brought the school radio to our classroom during the English period on designated days and times when there was a radio lesson. When the radio program started, we all listened attentively and as the instructor from the Radio Zambia in the Capital City of Lusaka asked us to repeat after him or her in the formulation of English sentences and pronunciation of English words and sentences we did so. All the individual words were then used in a sentence. Two of the sentences I still remember are: “Tim is ill give him a pill.” And “These teachers eat green beans”.
The Ministry of Education wanted to expand primary education so that every Zambian child would have access to 7 years of primary education[vi]. There were also development plans to accelerate and expand secondary education. As I lived in the remote part of Eastern Province, I noticed as a child what seemed like overnight, there were hundreds of bright new structures of primary schools all over the area. The government provided teachers, built teachers’ housing, provided desks, and installed the concrete foundation and metal structures supporting the iron roofs of all primary schools. All the local village Parent Teachers Associations (PTA) at each school were to organize the public self-help molding of bricks to build the walls around the structures. These projects provided a tremendous number of new jobs for bricklayers and builders in the rural areas.
My two older sisters had just completed their Standard Six at Kanyanga Catholic Boarding School. The demand for primary school teachers all over the country was so urgent that the government instituted a teacher training crash program. My two sisters, 17 and 19 years old, went to Minga Teacher Training College near Petauke for one year of teacher training. As soon as they completed their training they were assigned a school to teach. Their 2 husbands also attended a similar program. When I was attending From I (Grade 8) at Chizongwe Secondary School in 1967, many companies in Lusaka and the Copperbelt sent their recruiters to our school to interview the Form V school graduates to urgently occupy top paying jobs in many companies including Zambia Railways. It was one of the most exciting periods in Zambia’s history for all Zambians. We felt that opportunities for a better life were wide open and that the sky was the limit.
Minister Malanji Represents President Lungu at the Inaugural Russia-Africa Summit. 23rd October, 2019 – – – – – Foreign Affairs Minister, Hon. Joseph Malanji will represent His Excellency, President Edgar Chagwa Lungu at the inaugural Russia-Africa Summit.
Zambia and Russia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to waive visa requirements for diplomatic passport holders.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Malanji who signed on behalf of the Zambian Government said the move comes after completion of internal requirements and procedures by the two governments on mutual abolition of visas for holders of diplomatic passports.
The Minister said the development cooperation between Zambia and Ruusia was growing and that waving visa requirement was one step that would increase exchange programmes between the two countries.
And Mr. Malanji said Government decision to engange Russia on possibilities of setting up a Nuclear Technological Centre that would in the long run result into the establishment of a Nuclear power plant was a clear response to the effects of climate change that has affected the rain pattern and in turn impacted negatively the generation of electricity.
The Minister further said embracing Nuclear technology had a lot of advantages that included having radiation facilities for the treatment of cancer and the preservation of Agricultural produce.
Mr Malanji was speaking on the sidelines of the just ended inaugural Russia Africa Summit that was held in Russia’s Tourist Capital Sochi. The Minister has since left Russia for Azerbaijan where he will represent President Lungu at the 18th Non –Aligned Movement Head of States and Government Summit.
And Zambia Atomic Agency Director General Dr. Roland Msiska says Zambia on average makes losses amounting to 30 percent on Agricultural produce per year due to lack of adequate technology to properly store and preserve agricultural products..
Speaking as one of the panelists in Russian at a side event on the sildelines of the Russia Africa Summit dubbed “the Contribution of Nuclear Technologies in the Development of Africa “,Dr. Msiska said the losses incurred could have been avoided if Zambia had nuclear radiation facilities that would help preserve agriculture products especially for export.
Dr. Msiska further said it was difficult for Zambian mangoes to be exported out of the country even after value addition as they had a high fibre content that could be used reduced through the use of radiation facilities.
He further emphasized that Government was committed to embracing nuclear science and was contemplating adding nuclear science in the school curriculum.
Dr. Msiska further said nuclear science would further have a positive effect on the mining industry as value addition would be added to copper which would lead to the extraction of other minerals like cobalt.
And on the construction of the Nuclear Power plant, Dr. Msiska said it will take about 10 to 15 years for Zambia to come up with the power plant as a lot of mechanisms had to be put in place before this could be done.
This is according to a statement issued by Inutu Mwanza, First Secretary for Press at the Zambian Embassy in Ethiopia.
Power utility firm Zesco has announced that the Sesheke-Senanga 66kV transmission line has been isolated due to a system disturbance following a line fault.
Company Public Relations Manager Hazel Zulu says the incident happened around 15:29 hours yesterday following strong winds.
Mrs Zulu said this means that most parts of Western province are off supply until the problem is resolved.
She named Senanga, Mongu, Kalabo, Nalolo, Kaoma, Nkehema, Luampa and Sioma as the affected districts.
Mrs Zulu said a team of engineers moved in immediately to investigate further and commence repair works.
She said in a statement that Power restoration to the affected areas is expected today by 12:00hours.
Mrs Zulu on behalf of ZESCO has apologises to the affected customers for the inconvenience caused by this unforeseen event.
She however, said that all supply lines should be treated as live as power maybe restored before the stated time.
Zamalek joined Zesco United in Group A of the 2019/2020 CAF Champions League on Thursday after eliminating Generation Foot of Senegal in their controversial delayed final leg pregroup round fixture.
The five time African champions beat Genfoot 1-0 in Cairo on Thursday to qualify on away goals rule following a 2-2 aggregate result.
Generation Foot defender Djibril Diop deflected into his own net Mostafa Mohamed’s effort in the 19th minute to hand Zamalek a critical victory and passage to next month opening round of group stage matches.
The match has been delayed since September 29 after Generation Foot boycotted the last leg and returned to Senegal immediately after Zamalek switched venues from Cairo to Alexandria 24 hours before kick off citing security concerns.
CAF later ruled that the match be played in Cairo and bared all logistical costs for the visiting team.
Zamalek visit fellow five-time champions TP Mazembe on November 30 in their opening Group A game and will be in Ndola over Christmas on match day three to face Zesco on December 28.
It will be Zesco’s debut continental meeting against compatriots Nkana’s
perennial bogey team.
Zesco kicks off its Group A campaign on November 30 away in Luanda against nemesis Premiero de Agosto.
Former KK Eleven and Mighty Mufulira Wanderers star Abraham Nkole has hailed the role football played in uniting the country after Zambia’s Independence in 1964.
Nkole, a 1974 Africa Cup star, said after Independence there was no segregation in the Zambia National Team.
The retired goalkeeper also saluted the peace that has prevailed in Zambia in the last 55 years.
‘Let’s celebrate peacefully. We are all united as Zambians,’ Nkole said.
‘After Independence even in football there was no segregation. We formed one team. There was nothing like this one is Tonga or Lozi,’ he said.
The man nicknamed Gordon Banks currently lives in Mufulira.
Nkole has previously served as Mufulira Wanderers team manager.
He comes from a family that produced football stars Edward and Patrick.
President Lungu with veteran businessman Andrew Sardanis
President Edgar Lungu has honoured eight people for their distinguished service to the nation.
Among them is veteran businessman Andrew Sardanis who was awarded with the order of the Eagle of Zambia, third division.
Mr. Sardanis was praised for having formed companies that employed Zambians when racial discrimination was rife in the country.
And Late Chief Bright Nalubamba of the Ila people of Namwala District in Southern province and Sylvester Chisembele a freedom fighter were awarded posthumously for their contribution to the Nation.
FIFA referee Janny Sikazwe was also honoured for his contribution to the promotion of football.
Mr. Sikazwe was awarded with the Presidents insignia of Meritorious achievement for putting the country on the world map when he featured as FIFA World Cup Referee.
Others who have been honoured are former Zambia’s ambassador to Ethiopia Susan Sikaneta and former secretary to the Cabinet Leslie Mbula among others.
The awards were presented by President Lungu during the investiture ceremony at state house yesterday afternoon.
Meanwhile several dignitaries are at state house for the investiture ceremony.
Among them is Vice President Inonge Wina, first President Kenneth Kaunda and Forum for Democracy and Development -FDD- President Edith Nawakwi.
Others are cabinet ministers and members of the diplomatic community.
Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo with President Lungu and Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa
President Edgar Lungu has called for the immediate lifting of the economic sanctions against Zimbabwe.
The President says the move will enable Zimbabwe to register social and economic development.
President Lungu says the continuous restrictive sanctions have been hindering Zimbabwe from making significant economic progress.
He says Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has made significant efforts to implement economic and political reforms.
President Lungu says it is against such a background that Zambia in solidarity with other countries in the -SADC- region and beyond has called for the immediate removal of the economic sanctions against Zimbabwe.
This is contained in a statement released to media in Lusaka yesterday by Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Isaac Chipampe.
As Zambians from all walks of life, rich and power, young and old, prisoner or free; collect their thoughts and gather to honour and celebrate the memory of the men and women who gave everything for a chance at political self determination – the betrayal of our collective independence dream is all too palpable today as Zambians continue to endure some of the worst political and economic atrocities at the hands of an elected black government – The Patriotic Front (PF).
Lest we forget, the generation of our parents and their parents fought for the expansion of the enjoyment and unhindered exercise of political, civic and economic rights for black Zambians, who had become an ethnic minority grouping in their own country as the colonial system deliberately sought to exclude them from freely expressing themselves, exclusion from gathering and mobilizing, exclusion from accessing the same standard of quality education and healthcare and other discriminatory practices.
Yet 55 years on, we have a brutal black government fronted by the PF, intent on the premeditated decimation of the independent dream by shrinking the democratic and civic space using tactics of institutional harassment and intimidation by arbitrarily bullying, threatening, arresting and incarcerating of political opponents and critics for purposes of silencing them.
This, the PF are achieving, through the heavy-handed, impartial application of the rule of law; as well as by usurping the legitimate authority of our public institutions through the issuance of direct threats and commands at our institutions of law and order and justice, effectively rendering them impotent and unfit to fulfill their legally assigned mandates.
The PF regime has also perpetuated the culture of delay in delivering substantive economic emancipation for the masses, where economic opportunities and choices are substantively available all. Today, because of the entrenched culture of corruption and state culture, the ruling PF elites have successfully managed to create a class society that offers segregated services in health and education, where only the wealthy have a claim and stake in it.
The rest of the 90% of the over 17 million Zambians have been beaten into accepting the scrapes of what the top 10% do not need.
The moral legitimacy to govern does not rest in getting the majority of the vote. It rests in the fulfillment of promises upon which the ascendance to power was premised.
If you build your power base on a bed of lies and deceit, then you no longer have the moral legitimacy to govern.
And the PF have had no regard to their numerous, failed campaign promises upon which Zambians pinned their hopes. Broken promises of more money in our pockets, lower taxes and fighting corruption still ring with a deafening echo. We also know about the broken promises of expanding learning opportunities for the youth and capital empowerment for our youths and women; with all these promises only landing into the pockets of PF supporters and their affiliate surrogates.
Zambia’s independence dream remains captured.
Zambia’s independence dream has been stolen.
May the year 2021 be a year of restoring what has been stolen from us over the 55 years of self-rule, and impose for ourselves a government that will be fully accountable for the promises it makes to the Zambian people.
