During the 74th session of the UN general assembly almost all African Presidents were ignored at the time they presented their speeches as evidenced by the room full of empty seats, very few of which were occupied by their representatives. This pattern repeated itself every time an African president gave a speech. What message should Africans take from this?
Shepolopolo U17 won bronze on the final day of the inaugural COSAFA U17 Womens Cup in Mauritius.
Kaluba Kangwa’s side beat Botswana 3-0 in Port Louis on Sunday to make up for their 2-1 semifinal defeat to South Africa on Friday.
Precious Nsama gave Shepolopolo a 1-0 halftime lead with a 23rd minute goal.
But Shepolopolo could have gone two-up at the interval had Esther Banda’s 36th minute free kick not been disallowed.
Shelly Masumo extended Shepolopolo’s lead in the 63rd minute and Maweta Chilenga added the final goal in the 86th minute to seal Zambia’s third-best finish in Mauritius.
Former Presidential Spokesperson Amos Chanda has advised the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) youths to help mobilize the party by taking a leading role but ensuring a form of discipline is maintained that he said was lacking in the rank and file of the party generally.
Mr Chanda said that urged the youth to use social media for party mobilization, saying that social media platform offers opportunities for political mobilization, political education.
Mr Chanda however, decried the use of social media by the youths to smear the people they did not agree with.
“As party activists, you seem misguided to think that this platform is expressly for protest and smear against those we don’t agree with,” he said.
“No! It can’t be like this, the “voice note revolution” and text postings have become a norm, causing incredible internal bleeding within the party. How can this be leadership and mobilization?”
Mr Chanda said that youths can vent out frustrations internally but not in a manner that helps the opposition.
“The purpose of any party political formation is to acquire the power to preside over the affairs of state in line with our ideological propositions. The locus of this power lies in the state; if we have this power how can we tear one another in a manner that threatens this very power? This is somewhat reverse logic, which an intellectual outfit like yours cannot fall into,” he advised.
“If you are not getting explanations from Ministers, you have every right to complain to the Secretary General who is basically the main whip between party and Govt policy.”
He said such frustrations cannot be spewed online as the practice has been in recent months.
Mr. Chanda said insider voices carry greater credibility even when not true.
“I have seen with great surprise open rebukes against the President, SG, Ministers and other top leaders from within the rank and file of the party via social media; and oftentimes feeding into the menace of fake news which is damaging individuals and institutions,” said Mr. Chanda.
Red Arrows and Napsa Stars 100 percent start’s to the 2019/20 season are on the line today when they meet in a Lusaka derby at Woodlands Stadium.
Napsa and Arrows are tied on 9 points from three games played and sit second and third respectively behind Zesco United who were in continental action at home in Ndola on Saturday against Young Africans of Tanzania in the CAF Champions League and only return to domestic action later this week.
The top three trio is also the sole group still enjoying 100 percent starts this season and victory at Woodlands on Sunday afternoon guarantees top spot in Zesco’s absence.
“We are playing home and we will put maximum effort to get a positive result,” Napsa coach Mohammed Fathy said.
The match favours Arrows thanks to their potent fire-power led by veteran striker James Chamanga who scored in last weekend’s 2-1 home win over Power Dynamos and who has now netted two goals in the 2004 champions last two matches.
Captain and attacking midfielder Bruce Musakanya is back after missing the Power game due to 2020 CHAN qualifying duty with Chipolopolo away in eSwatini.
Musakanya and Chamanga will be an interesting test to Napsa’s backline that has yet to concede a goal this season.
Meanwhile, the onus is on Napsa to win this game because it does not get any easier for them with a Week Five away date against Zesco looming on October 5.
Lusaka Mayor, Miles Sampa, has called for the involvement of children in the Make Zambia Clean, Green and Healthy Campaign monthly cleaning activities.
Mr Sampa said children are the ones who mostly affected by waterborne diseases such as Cholera.
He was speaking during the monthly cleaning activities in Chazanga today.
“Children must be involved in the cleaning activities so that they are also aware of the importance of keeping the environment clean because they are the most hit when Cholera breaks out,” he said.
The city father said adults in most cases leave children at home and where they start involving themselves in an unhygienic practices such as drinking unsafe water.
Mr Sampa also observed that involving children in issues of hygiene is the only sure way of sustaining the cleanliness of the city because they are the future leaders.
“We have to target children because if we teach them now they also teach others in future,” he observed.
Meanwhile, Mpulungu Ward 23 Councillor, Christopher Shakafuswa, has taken a swipe at school authorities in his ward for not taking part in monthly cleaning activities.
Mr Shakafuswa, who is also Lusaka Deputy Mayor said he communicated to all Headteachers in his ward through the Zonal Headteacher for schools to be participating in monthly cleaning activities but to no avail.
He sounded the last warning to school authorities that if nothing changes, he will be forced to report Headteachers to the District Education Board Secretary (DEBS) for disciplinary action.
“This is the last warning I’m giving to Headteachers and if nothing happens then I will have no choice but to report them to DEBS office because this is a government programme,” he warned.
Mr Shakafuswa also reminded Community Based Enterprises (CBEs) to up their game in waste collection.
He disclosed that he had received reports from residents that CBEs in the area are not doing enough to collect waste.
“Reports indicate that you are not doing enough to collect waste, you disappear and only reappear when its time to collect money,” he said.
Mr Shakafuswa explained that CBEs in the ward were engaged because they demonstrated capacity prior to their engagement.
He warned that their contracts would be terminated and the service be advertised to the general public if they do not improve.
“If you don’t improve Council through the Director of Public Health will terminate contracts and readvertise the service to the general public,” he warned.
Yesterday’s cleaning activities also involved door – to – door sensitisation on solid waste management.
A Lifetime of Favor
Let this truth sink down into your spirit today: God’s favor is not for a season; it’s for a lifetime. How do we obtain God’s favor? Proverbs 3 tells us that when we honor His Word, when we obey His commands and walk in mercy and truth, that’s how we find favor in God’s sight. When we do our part, God will do His part. Today, if you are believing God for something, maybe a turnaround in a relationship, career or your health, stand firm that God’s Word is true. When you put Him first place in your life, when you follow His commands, He promises to pour out His favor on you. When those thoughts try to tell you, “It’s not going to happen. It’s too good to be true,” turn it around and say, “Father, I want to thank You for Your favor on my life, on my children, on my career, on my future. I am Your child, and I know it’s not temporary. It’s not seasonal. It doesn’t come and go. Thank You, God, for a lifetime of favor!”
“Father, thank You for Your goodness and faithfulness in my life. I choose to honor You in all I do. I choose to acknowledge Your ways. Thank You for pouring at Your favor and blessing on me as I boldly follow Your commands in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
UPND president Hakainde Hichilema has said that he is astounded that instead of President Edgar Lungu discussing matters that affect Zambians economically at the UN General Assembly, he was busy talking about issues that are concocted by his stooges.
reacting to allegations about support for Homosexuals, Mr Hichilema accused ‘christians’ for Lungu and PF media director Sunday Chanda of having concocted the homosexual issue as part of their propaganda against him.
Hichilema said for President Lungu, who was at the UN General Assembly, “to echo the concoction here, it’s a dry joke. That’s being too cheap.”
He said it was crooks who were driving all those crazy things and urged Zambians not to fall prey to such.
“I do not support same sex relationships. I have never done it and will not do it. I do not agree with same sex relationships,” Hichilema said. “This is a falsehood. It’s ‘Christians’ for Lungu working with Chanda that created the story.”
Hichilema said the falsehood should be ignored as the nation had so many important matters to attend to.
“We want to address the falsehoods that are going on with regard to the issue of same-sex marriage or relationships. PF is at it again, telling lies, complete lies with no grain of truth that I ever, anywhere in the world, in this country, this region, on our continent or elsewhere had a meeting where we discussed same sex marriages. Nowhere, never. Not even a question would have arisen in my many meetings here or abroad that this matter has arisen in the manner the PF expect it,” Hichilema said.
“I am aware that a lot of people have spoken about it, many of our members have talked about it in many ways but I made a decision this morning that I will address this matter. What my colleagues in the party, outside the party, around the globe…network of friends, business colleagues around the world none of HH involvement whatsoever in what PF have said. So take it as one of those useless things that PF have been up to. Instead of giving citizens who are hungry food, they are feeding them with falsehood of this nature.”
Hichilema recalled that lies were concocted against president Michael Sata.
“The PF generated this story themselves but attributed it to respected international media organisation, in particular AFP and AP. We took liberty through our network to contact these two organisations to ask them if they have authored any story like that. I want to thank AFP and AP; they were quick in responding and confirming that they have not authored any story like that. They have not carried it on their print media, on their electronic media or anywhere, it does not exist., ” he said.
Hichilema said it had now become fashionable to talk about him and warned against fake Facebook accounts attributed to him. He clarified that he only had one Facebook account and anything else was fake.
“ For the record, I have one Facebook account, it has a blue tick, a blue mark, that’s the authentic one, anything else I do not know.”
Hichilema said he had reported the matter to police on several occasions but they were not acting.
He said he would not blame the police because protecting him and other citizens was not in the interest of PF.
“Yet they are supposed to protect all citizens when a crime is committed. This is actually a crime to create this kind of falsehood, putting fear in the minds of people with this falsehood. I want to categorically state my position; I do not support same sex marriage, I do not support same sex relationships, I have never done that, and I will never do that. It’s part of my personal value system in my genetic material, in my psyche, my philosophical way of thinking. I do not agree with same sex relationships. I do not agree that God was wrong to create Man and Woman, Male and Female,” Hichilema said.
“I am not one of those who are shy to say it because anyone who wants to be a friend of HH must know what HH stands for on certain issues. This is one of the issues that I am not in support of this. I do not want to ridicule anybody but people are entitled to their opinion over matters.”
He added that what was being purported against him was cheap propaganda invented by people who were diseased.
Zesco United and Zanaco on Saturday won their respective continental final leg matches on Saturday to advance.
At Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola, Zesco beat Young Africans of Tanzania 2-1 to qualify to the CAF Champions League group stage.
Jesse Were put Zesco ahead in the 24th minute but Young Africans equalized in the 30th minute through Sadney Urikhob to go 1-1 into half time of a tightly contested match.
Zesco won by some fortune in the 78th minute when Abdul Aziz Hassan turned the ball into his own net after failing to clear Quadri Kola ‘s cross.
Young Africans suffered another setback when Lamine Moro was sent off in the 88th minute after receiving his second yellow card.
Zesco advance to the group stage 3-2 on aggregate.
Zesco’ s qualification is also historical after becoming the first Zambian club to make five succcessive group stage appearances in continental football and the only one to play in four group rounds of the CAF Champions League.
And at National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka, Zanaco completed a double over Bolton City YC of Mauritius following a 3-0 home win to advance to the pre-group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup.
Goals by Emmanuel Okutu in the 25th minute, Guily Manziba in the 56th and Damiano Kola in the 84th minute sealed a 5-1 aggregate win over the continental debutants from Mauritius.
Zanaco now await losers from this month’s CAF Champions League pregroup in the last 32 for a place in the league stage of the second tier competition.
Meanwhile, Green Eagles are in action on Sunday away in Angola against Premiero de Agosto of Luanda.
Eagles must overturn a 2-1 first leg loss at home to join Zesco in the CAF Champions League group stage.
Finance Minister Bwalya Ng’andu has said that it was inevitable to withdraw the sales tax Bill 2019 as various Stakeholders were opposed to it.
Dr. Ng’andu is however confident that the country will raise tangible revenues from the current value-added tax-VAT regime once the challenges associated with it are addressed.
Dr. Ng’andu also reiterated that the increase in budgetary allocation towards dismantling debts will improve the circulation of money thereby inducing the country’s economic development, adding that there is need to clean the payroll system to avoid possible expenditure on ghost workers.
The minister was speaking last evening during the post 2020 budget dinner.
At the same function Economics Association of Zambia (EAZ) past president Isaac Ngoma described the 2020 national budget as inspiring.
And Consumer Unity and Trust Society Coordinator Chenai Mukumba praised government for heeding calls to withdraw the sale tax Bill.
Yesterday, Finance Minister Bwalya Ng’andu announced that Zambia will not replace its Value Added Tax (VAT) with a non-refundable General Sales Tax.
Dr. Ng’andu said this when he presented a 106 billion kwacha budget, translating into 32.4 percent of the Gross Domestic Product.
He said government would limit Zambia’s fiscal deficit to 5.5% of GDP in 2020 from 6.5% this year.
Dr Ngandu explained that Government has decided to maintain the Value Added Tax, but that there is need to address the compliance and administrative challenges.
Dr Ngandu however said government would limit VAT claims on electricity by mining companies to 80% from 100%.
As a strategy to stimulate economic activity in the country, Dr. Ng’andu has increased allocation towards dismantling of domestic arrears to K2.3 billion in 2020 from K437 million in 2019.
He said that government will reduce borrowing from the domestic market to 1 .1 percent from 1.4 percent of the GDP.
Dr. Ng’andu has also projected to reduce the fiscal deficit to 5.5 percent from 6.5 percent of the GDP demonstrating government’s commitment to restore fiscal health and stabilize the economy.
He said government would also remove a tax on capital equipment and machinery for mines, and reduce the capital allowance claimed by mining companies for capital expenditure to 20% from 25%.
“To ensure debt is maintained within sustainable levels, the government would slow down debt accumulation, postpone or cancel some undisbursed loans and cease issuance of government guarantees,” Dr Ng’andu said.
He said government is targeting gross domestic product growth of at least 3% next year from an estimated 2% this year, after a drought affected crop production and electricity generation at hydropower plants.
And Dr. Ng’andu proposed to spend K44.1billion on General Public Services with K33.7 billion and K2.3billion going towards debt obligations and dismantling of arrears respectively.
He has maintained the budgetary allocation to education sector at K13.3billion.
Dr. Ng’andu also increased the budgetary allocation for the health sector from K8.1 billion in 2019 to K9.4billion in 2020.
He also proposed to increase the allocation towards the social cash transfer project to K1billion next year from K699.5 million in 2019.
President Edgar Lungu has urged the defence and special forces in the country to embrace patriotism, unity and love.
President Lungu says the country is in dire need of patriotic citizens who will uphold peace, love and unity.
He says government is keen on seeing a well trained and equipped defense force that will uphold professionalism, discipline and loyalty.
President Lungu says this can only be attainable if officers possess a well-balanced body of knowledge in matters of defense and security.
The head of state said this during the closing ceremony for the 2019 advanced special forces training in Mbala.
President Lungu noted that government is determined to equip the defense force with skills that will enable them to contribute effectively and efficiently to their operations.
And President Lungu has promoted the group commander Augustine Chirwa from the rank of colonel to a brigadier general.
He also assured the defense force that Government is committed to ensuring that all necessary resources are provided for their welfare and general operations.
And Zambia Army Commander William Sikazwe has pledged the army’s support and loyalty to the presidency and upholding the constitution in protecting the country.
Lt. General Sikazwe also assured President Lungu and his government that the defense force will remain professional in the execution of duties.
He also noted that the advanced Special Forces training brought together all Special Forces in one place to synchronize and harmonize capacities.
Meanwhile Special Forces Group Commander Augustine Chirwa said his team is always ready to undertake any task presented before it without fear.
Brigadier General Chirwa assured the President that the Special Forces will continue to be brave in their execution of duty to protect the country.
President Lungu also presented awards to five best performing divers.
Earlier, President Lungu was accorded a presidential salute and carried out an inspection of the parade.
A quarter guard was also mounted for President Lungu upon arrival at ZAF Samora Machel airbase.
China Jiangxi Corporation has donated K1 million to the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) towards humanitarian support.
This came to light during the symbolic handover of the cheque to the Republican Vice President Mrs Inonge Wina, at her Office today.
The donation is meant to cushion the food insecurity resulting from low yields due to the prolonged dry spell experienced in some parts if the country.
In receiving the donation,Mrs Wina said the gesture of generosity and selflessness portrayed by China Jiangxi bears testimony of the excellent relations and cooperation between the two countries.
She assured the company that the donated funds will be prudently used for the benefit of the needy in the communities.
Mrs Wina further directed the DMMU National Coordinator Mr Chanda Chanda Kabwe to comply and submit a report on the usage of the funds in order to demonstrate transparency and accountability to the people of Zambia, in whose name the donation has come.
And China Jiangxi Cooperation President, Mr Xu Guojian said the company was deeply concerned with the plight of the local people hence expressed their corporate social responsibility by making the donation.
He disclosed that the donation will reach a target of approximately 7,000 people for three months. He further urged other Chinese companies to emulate them and supplement government effort in mitigating the situation.
DMMU conducted a Vulnerability and Needs Assessment which revealed that a total of 390,000 households will require relief assistance during the lean period between October 2019 and March 2020. DMMU has since distrUnited 45,400 metric tonnes of relief to affected districts.
Shepolopolo has made huge strides on the quarterly FIFA Women’s Charts released yesterday.
Bruce Mwape’s side was not only the biggest mover from the CAF zone but the entire FIFA Women’s charts after jumping nine places on the latest rankings released on September 27.
Shepolopolo leapt nine places from 119 to 110.
This follows their successes in the third quarter of 2019 that saw them finish runners-up at the 2019 COSAFA Cup in August and eliminate Zimbabwe from the 2020 Olympic qualifiers in the same period.
With that Olympic result, also saw Zimbabwe tumble nine places from 102 to 111.
Shepolopolo , though, are 12th in Africa where Nigeria are the continents highest ranked side at number 36, while Cameroon (46), Ghana(50), South Africa (55), Cote d’Ivoire (69), Equatorial Guinea (72), Morocco (82) ,Mali (83) ,Algeria (85), Senegal (87) and Congo -Brazzaville (105) complete the top eleven.
World Champions USA are number one, followed by Germany, Netherlands, and France while Sweden and England are tied at fifth.
Canada, Australia, North Korea and Japan round-up the top ten Women’s footballing nations while Brazil are outside at number 11.
And the move is a also massive boost for Shepolopolo and somewhat a consolation after the disappointment of their botched trip to the Morocco 2019 All- Africa Games football tournament in August following a logistical muddle.
However, Shepolopolo are still fourteen places off their highest benchmark set on the charts at number 96 in 2017 and 2009.
The year’s final ranking will be released in the final quarter on December 13.
Meanwhile, Shepolopolo are back in competitive action this coming week when they hosts Botswana on October 2 at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka and away on October 6 in Gaborone in an Olympic Games third round qualifier.
They are two more stages to go to decide Africa’s one –and-half representatives in Tokyo next summer.
Zambia’s Ambassador to Germany Anthony Mukwita has invited Bayerische Motoren Werke or Bavarian Motor Works in English, BMW, the German car manufacturer, to set up a plant in Zambia to manufacture electric components for their cars. Ambassador Mukwita said Zambia has abundant copper and cobalt resources that are key in the manufacture of electric car components.
According to a statement released to the media by Kellys Kaunda, the First Secretary – Press and Public Relations of the Zambian Embassy in Berlin, Mr. Mukwita made the remarks at the BMW Headquarters in Munich where the Zambian flag was flying next to that of Germany, the company and the State of Bavaria to mark the official visit of the Zambian envoy. He spoke during a working lunch with the company’s top officials who included Christian Bahoo who is in charge of Government and External Affairs for the Middle East and North Africa, Kai Zobelein in charge of Steering Governmental and External Affairs and Sustainability Communications and Brigitte Kleinbeck in charge of Raw Material Management, Energy, Fasterners, Plastics, Chemical Products and Process Materials.
“We would like you to come and set up shop in Zambia and manufacture those components whose role materials such as copper and cobalt are in abundance in Zambia” said the Zambian envoy. Ambassador Mukwita told BMW that Zambia offered the required investment climate that included a stable political climate as evidenced by the peace that has characterized the nation since her independence from Britain in 1964.
“In addition, Zambia is a country of laws that protect your investment”, Mr. Mukwita said adding, “and we are a nation of 365 days of sunshine”.
In his remarks, Mr. Zobelein said BMW was open to the possibility of doing business with countries in possession of materials the company needs. “But we are also concerned about the need for the respect of human rights especially as they pertain to child labor”, Mr. Zobelein pointed out adding, “our customers would like to make sure that our product does not carry materials from sources that are engaged in child labor”.
Mr. Zobelein and Mrs. Kleinbeck just returned from the Democratic Republic of Congo where they visited some mining operations. In response, Ambassador Mukwita assured the BMW officials that Zambian mining operations had an excellent record of human rights and no children are engaged in mining activities.
Mr. Bahoo told Ambassador Mukwita that BMW was also equally interested in the progress and processes regarding the recently launched African Free Trade Area under the auspices of the African Union, AU. For BMW, Mr. Bahoo said the Free Trade Area presented some business opportunities that could encourage further investment on the African Continent. Currently, BMW only has two plants in Africa – South Africa and Egypt out of 35 the company operates around the world.
The Zambian envoy indicated that significant progress has been made as the majority of African countries have signed the agreement including Zambia.
The BMW plant in Munich sits on a one-hundred-acre plot producing one thousand cars per day or one car per minute. 25% of the cars are sold in Germany, another 25% in Europe while the rest are exported to the US and the rest of the world.
Sometime last year, Dr. Albert Muchenga of the African Union made a presentation at Africa Verein, a German business association conference in Berlin attended by Ambassador Mukwita at which he called on copper producing countries to take advantage of the introduction of electric cars to gain more out of their natural resources.
The matter was again a subject of discussion at the recently held inaugural economic summit in Livingstone organized by the Economic Association of Zambia, EAZ, which was officially opened by President Edgar Lungu and attended by his Kenyan counterpart, Uhuru Kenyata and former Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete. Ambassador Mukwita attended at the invitation of the EAZ. At the summit, the Zambian government and its envoys abroad were challenged to play a part in persuading car manufacturers to look to Zambia for their electric car materials.
The visit to BMW was therefore part of the follow up on the conference resolutions that should position Zambia strategically as the world takes measures to mitigate the impact of climate change by gradually reducing heavy dependence on fossil fueled cars to electric vehicles.
The Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) will be holding an Open Day on Saturday 28th September, 2019 to showcase its operations and transformation agenda.
The RTSA Open Day which shall be held at Cosmopolitan Mall in Lusaka under the theme “Towards Service Excellence” will offer an opportunity to members of the public to interact with RTSA staff who will showcase excellent facilities in a peaceful environment but more importantly, the wide-range and quality road transport and safety services and programmes which are available within the Agency.
Since the inaugural RTSA Open Day in 2017, the event has become the beacon premier event to showcase road transport and safety management services and programmes to the general public in a bid to bridge the gap between the Agency and its stakeholders.
This year’s theme captures the essence of the role of RTSA in providing quality services to the general public in its continued efforts to explore various opportunities for high impact strategies to deliver a safe, efficient and inclusive road transport system that supports socioeconomic development.
Some of the road transport and safety services that the Agency shall be offering to the public to appreciate include; printing of driving licence cards, motor vehicle examinations and physical examinations, issuance of road tax, Driving Licence examinations, and road safety education and publicity among others.
Consequently, all RTSA service Centres country-wide shall remain open to the public on Saturday 28th September, 2019 to facilitate payment of road tax as the third quarter for the year 2019 comes to an end on 30th September.
Motorists and fleet owners are, therefore, advised to take advantage of this development to pay for their Motor Vehicle and Trailer Licences (Road Tax) to avoid panic which in most cases result in unnecessary queues and congestion at most RTSA Service Centres.
© Lusaka Times
