Join our community of SUBSCRIBERS and be part of the conversation.
To subscribe, simply enter your email address on our website or click the subscribe button below. Don't worry, we respect your privacy and won't spam your inbox. Your information is safe with us.
The Examinations Council of Zambia has clarified that candidates progressing to Grades 8 and 10 are not required to verify Statements of Results with the ECZ before enrolment.
ECZ Public Relations Specialist Ronald Tembo says it is not true that verification of the statements of results is mandatory for all grades including those progressing to grades 8 and 10.
Mr Tembo said that the mandatory verification of Electronic Statements of Results once printed by respective candidates only applies to those individuals seeking for placement at a College or University and those seeking for employment.
He said would-be employers are also advised to verify results for any job applicant in their organisation.
“However, the schools that wish to verify the authenticity of the results from such candidates can do so from the ECZ e-Statement platform at no cost using the Candidate’s Examination Number”, he added.
Mr Tembo announced that the Electronic Statements of Results for the 2019 Grades 7 and 9 Internal Examinations will be available to the public on or before 14th January 2020.
“In our pursuit for excellence, the ECZ will endeavor to be consultative as it continues to implement various ICT innovations to enhance operational efficiency and also to meet the expectations of the general public”, said Mr Tembo.
The United Nations World Food Programme has welcomed a contribution of $2 million from the Government of Sweden to help meet the food and nutrition needs of people affected by the drought in Zambia.
The funds will enable WFP to procure and deliver 1,435 Metric Tonnes of pulses to almost 400,000 vulnerable people to cover their food and nutrition needs for one month.
The new contribution, confirmed in November 2019, comes following the drought in the last farming season that contributed to significant crop failure, leaving 24 percent of the population (2.3 million people) severely food insecure.
WFP is supporting the Government to respond to the needs by delivering Government-supplied maize meal, as well as procuring and delivering pulses to ensure a nutrition-sensitive food basket. WFP will work closely with partners to monitor food distributions to ensure that resources are channelled to those most in need.
About 1.1 million people are expected to receive WFP’s support, while the needs of the remaining 1.2 million will be assisted by the Government and other partners.
‘’The generous support from the Government of Sweden enables the most drought-affected people to add protein to their diet, through the addition of pulses in the emergency food basket,’’ said Jennifer Bitonde, WFP Country Representative in Zambia.
The Government of Sweden is one of the largest donors to WFP’s development programmes in Zambia.
In 2018, Sweden confirmed a 4-year (2018-2022) US$5.7 million contribution towards promoting the production and consumption of nutritious food.
“Together, we have helped communities to access nutritious food, while building the resilience of smallholder farmers to future climate-related shocks,’’ said Ms. Bitonde.
Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) Commissioner General Kingsley Chanda flanked by Commissioner Domestic Taxis Moses Shuko (l) and Commissioner Customs Sydney Chibbabbuka speaking to journalists during the press conference
The Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has exonerated President Edgar Lungu from allegations that he is involved in the smuggling of MUKULA logs.
ZRA Commissioner General Kingsley Chanda said that ZRA has no evidence to link President Lungu or his daughter Tasila to the allegations of smuggling of Mukula logs.
Mr Chanda was responding to a question from a journalist during a briefing in Lusaka today on ZRA’s performance last year.
He, however, confirmed that the Zambian government has been exporting the Mukula logs confiscated from some suspected smugglers.
Mr. Chanda said despite the ban on the export of Mukula logs, the government decided to export the impounded logs to earn the country revenue, adding that it was government’s view that the impounded logs would have been wasted had they not been exported.
Meanwhile, the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has announced that it surpassed its revenue target of K51.8 billion for the fiscal year 1st January 2019 to 31st December 2019 by K1.1 billion.
Speaking during the end of year review for 2019 in Lusaka, ZRA Commissioner General Kingsley Chanda said during the year, the Authority collected K63.8 billion in gross revenue while the refunds stood at K10.9 billion resulting in a net collection of K52.9 billion.
He said the net collection of K52.9 billion translates to 17.6% of the projected GDP estimate for 2019 compared to the targeted 17.3%.
The ZRA boss stated that this outstanding performance is despite the unfavourable economic environment especially during the second half of the year.
“This outturn is attributable to higher than programmed revenue collections under indirect and trade taxes which posted surpluses of K264.8 million and K906.3 million, respectively. However, we had significant poor yields in mineral royalty and excise taxes largely due to prolonged shutdowns at major smelting facilities leading to lower production for the former and the delayed implementation of the telecommunications transaction monitoring system and the digital tax stamps for the latter. Further, the draught that resulted in serious load shedding negatively affected industrial production and consequently tax revenue collections,” he added.
“The growth in revenue for the year to date period compared to the same period in 2018 stands at 9.3% compared to the targeted growth rate of 7.0% revenue projected for the same period. Please note that this performance relates to revenues collected by ZRA only and does not include the performance of non-tax revenues collected by other government agencies.”
Mr. Chanda further stated that during the year, ZRA paid out K10.5 billion in VAT refunds while a further K400 million was refunded towards direct taxes and duty drawback.
He indicated that the bulk of the vat refunds 78%, was paid to the mining sector.
“You may recall that in 2018 ZRA refunded K9.4 billion. The current refunds, therefore, representing 16.1% growth. Going forward, the government through ZRA will allocate more resources to dismantle outstanding vat refunds and minimize accumulation of refunds,” he further added.
“ZRA will ensure that current refunds in 2020 are honoured while a plan will be agreed with the ministry of finance on dealing with refund arrears without distorting the input/output performance of vat in 2020. Paying refund arrears using current collections distorts the actual performance of the tax. For example, of the k10.5 billion refunded in 2019 only k2.8 billion related to transactions in 2019. The balance was 2013-2018 refund claims.”
The Zambezi River Authority has allocated 11 billion cubic meters of water to ZESCO for power generation for this year compared to 17 billion cubic meters in 2019.
ZESCO Managing Director Victor Mundende says the water allocation is subject to review depending with the availability of water that will flow into Zambezi River.
Addressing the media on a familiarisation tour of the Kariba North Bank Power station in Siavonga, Mr. Mundende is optimistic that the allocated water to the utility company will be used to generate power.
And Mr. Mundende said the poor rainfall pattern has seen a reduction of water levels in Kariba from about 13 meters to a meter for power generation.
He said the two new turbines which were installed by Sino hydro have managed to generate electricity regardless of the reduced water levels in the Kariba dam.
Mr. Mundende said only one out of the Four old turbines at Kariba dam is operating using the low water levels.
He said the water utility company’s goal is to ensure it invests in other sources of energy to mitigate the power crisis resulting from low water levels at Kariba.
The Ministry of Labour has requested the University of Zambia Lecturers and Researchers Union (UNZALARU) to show cause as to why their Certificate of registration must not be canceled for violating the Industrial and Labour Relations Act.
This follows unpalatable language by UNZALARU General Secretary, Kelvin Mambwe on Zambian citizens for voting for the ruling Patriotic Front (PF).
Labour Permanent Secretary Chanda Kaziya says it is disappointing that Dr. Mambwe’s statement is Not in line with section 3 of the industrial and Labour relations Act Chapter 269 and was outside the objectives of the Union, adding that the statement is insulting and politically inclined and that the comments have potential to cause anarchy in the country.
Mr. Kaziya says Dr. Mambwe’s sentiments are uncalled for and do not denote the principals of industrial relations and workers’ representation.
He told ZNBC News in an interview that the Ministry of Labour will not hesitate to invoke the law in canceling certificates of registration for Trade Unions that are not abiding by the labor laws.
Mr. Kaziya has since warned all trade unions that are contemplating to engage in activities outside their realm of trade unionism.
During a protest over delayed December Salaries, Dr. Mambwe said that if an election was to be called today, either those that are enjoying with government or idiots would vote for the PF
“As long as the University of Zambia is not properly funded, this institution will be ungovernable. And it will be a bad reflection on the government of these guys calling themselves leaders when they can’t lead at all. And if an election was to be called today, there are two categories of people that would vote for them; either those that are enjoying with them or idiots,” Dr. Mambwe said.
“It’s as simple as that. No normal person would support this nonsense. It’s not only UNZA which is struggling today we have council workers, but there is also ZNBC, there are National Museum workers who have not been paid for eight months and they want us to be the next category of people who are not being paid. We are not going to allow that. And we have told them.”
Dr Mambwe wondered why President Edgar Lungu’s salary cut had not resolved the problem of payment delays at UNZA.
“Government is a culprit. We have a government of the Patriotic Front (PF) which is not doing its role. We thought by cutting his salary, we were going to get our salaries early because, in an ideal situation, the reasons why the President decided to cut his salary and that of his colleagues was to ensure that there are sufficient funds. So we should be able to see those funds come to the University of Zambia on time,” he said.
He said the government had shifted its attention to Bill 10, “a self-preservation document and a scam to many Zambians”.
“They are focusing on Bill 10 because the interest is themselves. It’s about self-preservation. They are not concerned with your welfare. And that is the reason why they come up with some salary increment and behind the back, they get one per cent through the so-called National Insurance. It’s a useless and actually a scam. And it’s unfortunate that you employees are not actually rising up to this nonsense. Come together so that we rise against this incompetent national leadership, incompetence of leadership at different levels of the nation,” Dr Mambwe said.
“My appeal to the membership is that this solidarity that we are showing should continue. We are calling upon our members to be united so that we get what is owed to us. It’s not just about the salaries, it is about gratuities, pensions. We are eight years behind. And the guys (you know the guys that I am talking about) will soon be getting their mid-term gratuities in full without any problems on top of those Surfs which they are driving. Right now a bag of mealie-meal is costing [about] K200 and our members cannot afford to buy one especially that they have not been paid. And your fuel is costing close to US $2 [per liter], increased electricity tariffs, we are in trouble,” said Dr Mambwe.
The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) has dispelled social media reports alleging that the Agency allowed Dangote cement to be sold on the market after allegedly failing to meet the required standardized tests.
ZCSA Communications Officer, Caroline Kalombe said that the Agency conducts inspections at Dangote Industries Zambia Ltd bi-annually, but that it did not conduct any inspections in December 2019 or collect any samples for testing as purported on social media.
Ms. Kalombe disclosed to ZNBC News in a statement that from the last inspection and tests that were conducted on site in August 2019, the Agency did not find evidence of substandard cement produced at the plant.
She further added that samples were then collected and sent to a laboratory in South Africa in the same month for full testing as per procedure and the results were within the required standard.
Ms. Kalombe said the Agency is mandated to ensure public health and safety and therefore, would not put the lives of Zambians at risk by allowing an unsafe product on the market.
Napsa Stars coach Mohammed Fathi says every top five team this season has gone through the same slump they are going through after losing back-to-back league games.
Napsa last Saturday lost 1-0 at home in Lusaka to fourth placed Nkana to suffer back-to-back defeats a week after losing by the same margin at Power Dynamos in Kitwe.
But Napsa still stay second tied on 31 points with leaders Zesco United who are also going through the motions after sustaining two league defeats in their last three league fixtures.
However, Green Eagles who started the season with a draw and loss are now third and a point behind Napsa .
Nkana too are on 30 after picking up steam in their last nine games following a four-match dry spell that ended in mid-October.
“I think a lack of concentration in the last five minutes cost us the game. But every team in this league, especially the ones in the top four, they have also passed through this period. Nkana started the league from naught and picked up, Zesco also has the same issue, Napsa also has the same, even Green Eagles also went through the same period,”Fathi said.
“Usually the period doesn’t take long and we should start returning to our winning ways in the next game.”
Kelvin Mubanga’s 85th minute goal also ended Napsa’s unbeaten home run this season.
“We are still in the top four but we have already qualified to the ABSA Cup, so it is a loss but not bad on the log,”Fathi said.
Next for Napsa is an interesting home Lusaka derby clash against stealthily improving Green Buffaloes who are ninth on 24 points.
Zanaco return to action this Wednesday barely 48 hours after Mumamba Numba was sacked.
The seven-time champions visit Kabwe Warriors in a rescheduled 2019/20 FAZ Super Division Week 7 match at Godfrey ‘Ucar’ Chitalu Stadium in Kabwe.
Zanaco head to Kabwe fighting to snap out of a nine competitive game winless run that cost Numba his job.
Furthermore, Numba had failed to record a single league win since September 27 when they beat last placed Kabwe Youth Soccer Academy 2-0 at home in Lusaka.
Zanaco are now slumped in the top four of the relegation zone at number 15 on 13 points from twelve games played with four matches in hand heading into Wednesdays Midlands derby against Warriors.
The match will mark the assistant coach Robin Munsaka and goalkeeper trainer Kalunga Mpunga’s first test.
The match critically comes after Sunday’s 3-1 away loss at Lusaka Dynamos in Lusaka in what was Numba’s final game in charge after five years at the helm.
But hosts Warriors are currently on a rebound with three straight victories and sit at number eight with 24 points, nine behind leaders Zesco United.
Warriors also had a great opportunity to watch Zanaco’s fall at the hands of Dynamos last Sunday at Nkoloma Stadium after playing in the late kickoff of Sunday’s doubleheader there where they beat struggling Red Arrows 1-0.
The pressure remains on Zanaco to get a result at ‘Ucar’ before Sunday’s CAF Confederation Cup Group B home game this Sunday against bottom placed ESAE of Benin.
ESAE also preyed on Zanaco’s competitive form and got a 0-0 result in Porto Novo a week ago to snatch their only point in Group B and there is no saying how beneficial another loss will be a psychological boost for the West Africans.
The First lady, Mrs Esther Lungu attends class during the ongoing residential session at UNZA main Campus. Mrs. Lungu is a third year student pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education under the Institute of Distance Education (IDE).
FAZ National Division One side Chambishi have fired Coach Charles Bwale after a string of unconvincing results.
Club spokesperson Chali Katongo said Bwale has been dismissed together with his assistants Siren Phiri and Christian Mpoyi.
Chambishi at the weekended posted their ninth draw of the season when forcing a 1-1 home draw against Kafue Celtic.
It is the second time in less than twelve months that ex-Zambia Under-20 coach Bwale has been shown the door after Green Buffaloes sacked him last March after he won just one out of his opening six games of the 2019 FAZ Super Division transitional season.
“We have parted ways with our head coach Charles Bwale and his two assistants Siren Phiri and Christian Mpoyi,” Katongo announced on Tuesday morning.
The club hired Bwale at the start of the current 2019/20 season.
Chambishi are seventh on the table with 24 points from 16 matches played.
“We have not been doing too well in the last eight matches. We agreed that by the end of ten games we were supposed to be in the top three,” Katongo said.
Chambishi have since appointed Dennis Njapau has interim coach.
“We have brought in an interim coach by the name of Dennis Njapau. Njapau is not new to the Chambishi community. We hope to win the remaining matches,” Katongo said.
This is the third time Njapau “Easy Man” is coaching Chambishi.
“As the executive we want to see Chambishi come in the Super Division,” he said.
Nairobi-based financial services provider Octagon Africa has completed the purchase of a 49 per cent shareholding in Alexander Forbes Financial Services Zambia.
This follows an announcement on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange News Service (SENS) by Alexander Forbes Group Holdings to review its strategic business and operating model in March this year.
The refocused strategy has seen the South African-based retirement services provider exit countries such as Uganda and Zambia.
It has also disposed of some of its businesses such as property and casualty unit in South Africa.
Alexander Forbes Emerging Markets Chief Executive Officer Bonga Mokoena described Octagon Africa as “the best fit for our business” and projected a seamless transition.
“As a result of our new strategy of offering a centralized advice-led solution platform in Africa, we have decided to exit some in-country operations, including Zambia,” said Mr Mokoena.
“We are glad that Octagon Africa is the best fit for our business, and we are confident of a seamless transition and our clients can be assured of excellent service as always.”
Octagon Africa Group Chief Executive Fred Waswa welcomed the buyout, terming it historic.
“Octagon Africa is delighted to mark such a historic moment in our business by buying out Alexander Forbes business in Zambia and also being the official service provider for their clients in this market. We take pride in excellent service delivery and offering innovative solutions that meet our clients’ needs,” said Waswa.
Besides providing financial services, Octagon also runs training programs for retirement benefits schemes.
Mr. Waswa said the investment is the culmination of a collaboration with the Johannesburg-listed firm, which started with the Kenyan company opening its representative office in Lusaka last February.
“We have had a team there (Lusaka) familiarising our Zambia team with our company culture while creating a new learning platform that will guide the formulation of future products for our various markets,” he said.
Mr Waswa, however, declined to disclose the value of the deal, saying they had signed a non-disclosure agreement on the investment amount.
“We believe the deal gives Octagon new space to serve the over 40,000 members in Zambia,” he said.
Alexander Forbes Emerging Markets chief executive Bonga Mokoena said their decision to dispose of the business was based on their board’s decision to concentrate on an advice-led solution platform.
“We decided to exit some in-country operations including Zambia where Octagon Africa is the best fit for our business and are confident that our clients are assured of excellent service as always,” he said.
Octagon has been operational for the past 12 years serving 200 corporate clients in Kenya, Uganda and Zambia.
Octagon Africa, which is majority-owned by Mr Waswa with 70 employees at its Kenya, Uganda and Zambia businesses, recently introduced a mass-market mobile phone-based retirement savings product dubbed Mobikeza for the Kenyan market.
The Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) and Bus and Taxi Owners Association of Zambia (BTOAZ) have resolved to increase bus fares. The increase follows a consultative meeting held today in Lusaka were bus operators requested to vary their current Road Service Licences (RSL) by making adjustments to bus fares as stipulated under the Road Traffic Act No. 11 of 2002.
The desired increase has been effected after approval by all concerned stakeholders including the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
According to the statement released to the media by RTSA’s head of public relations Fredrick Mubanga, the move is in line with the conditions under which the Road Service Licences (RSL) are granted.
According to subsection 12 (d) of Section 108 of the Road Traffic Act No. 11 of 2002 underscores that a person applying for a road service licence, and a holder of such a licence applying for its variation, shall submit to the Director the rate of fares of the proposed services.
Therefore, following the said meeting, bus fares have been increased effective 7th January 2020 as follows:
(i) All long distance (Intercity) routes by 13 per cent;
(ii) Inter mine Copperbelt routes by K2.00;
(iii) Copperbelt local routes by K1.00;
(iv) Lusaka local routes by K2.00; and
(v) Lusaka Peri–Urban routes by K2.00.
The decision was arrived at following the increase in the fuel pump prices by the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) on 27th December 2019.
In December, the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) increased the fuel pump price by K1.64 per litre after what they described as wide consultations. ERB said that the decision to hike fuel prices was arrived at after wide and intense consultations from stakeholders.
ERB Executive Director Langiwe Lungu said that the authority through its board made a decision to increase the pump prices for fuel with the cost of petrol.
Ms. Lungu said the ERB board looked at both local and international factors that surround the procurement of fuel.
Ndola Teaching Hospital doctors operating on a patient
Following the governments decision to cut salaries for highly paid government officials,parastatal executives and non unionized public workers, there has been growing anxiety in the medical profession considering doctors are non unionized workers.
Some doctors have threatened to down tools if their salaries are cut.
On the 27th December, President Edgar Lungu announced a reduction of his salary and that of his cabinet between a range of 15 and 20 percent; a move that came barely 24 hours after the Energy Regulation Board announced a hike in both electrify tariffs and fuel prices.
The President has also directed the Secretary to Cabinet Dr. Simon Miti to cascade the directive to all Non Unionised Public Officers of which category doctors belong.
The slashing of salaries of highly paid officers in both the government and the parastatal sector is aimed at cushioning the impact on citizens arising from the increase of fuel prices and electricity tariffs announced yesterday by the ERB.
Doctors argue that they do not fall in the highly paid categories but middle or lower brackets.
The PF government has found itself cash strapped as Zambia’s external debt has continued to climb with the government continuing to spend on building programs despite warnings from the International Monetary Fund and ratings companies that the burden is becoming excessive.
Zambia’s debt exceeded 75 percent of gross domestic product last year, from around 62 percent in 2017, an analyst at Moody said in a statement.
Confusion is brewing at the Lusaka Provincial Administration which has seen two senior officers occupying one position after Provincial Permanent Secretary Elias Kamanga caused fraudulent transfers.
Peter Chilambwe and Ng’ambi Infwa both Assistant Secretaries are now working in the same office after the Public Service Management Division reversed the transfers that were initiated by Mr Kamanga.
Sources at PSMD have revealed that in November last year, Mr Kamanga transferred Mr Chilambwe from Lusaka to Ndola and replaced him with Mr Ng’ambi.
However, procedure in the transfers was not followed which led to PSMD Permanent Secretary Boniface Chimbwali reversing the transfers late in November.
“By this time both Peter and Ng’ambi had settled in their new positions and in the case of Ng’ambi, P.S Kamanga immediately paid him his Conveyance Allowance. So when Mr Chimbwali got hold of the information, he summoned Mr Kamanga to his office but he kept dodging him,” the sources explained.
The sources revealed that when the anomaly was detected and as guarded by PSMD, Ndola immediately effected the reveal but Lusaka has been reluctant to obey the instruction from Me Chimbwali.
They added, “What we have is a situation where P.S Kamanga is causing a lot of confusion at Lusaka Provincial office. Even when Mr Chimbwali wrote to him instructing him to reverse the transfers, he opted to ignore the letter and now we have two officers for one position at Lusaka whole Copperbelt is not manned.
They added that the fraudulent transfers that Mr Kamanga has been issuing are meant to punish officers seen to be close to Provincial Minister Bowman Lusambo.
“The truth is that Mr. Kamanga and the Minister do not see eye to eye. This started when they worked together in Ndola and it has continued even here in Lusaka but it is now causing confusion as junior officers are getting intimidated and frustrated by Mr Kamanga for being close to the Minister,” they said.
The sources wondered why Mr Kamanga has been allowed to show insolence and insubordination to the office of the Provincial Minister in so many cases.
They added that even Mr Kamanga’s performance assessment since assuming his position as Lusaka P.S has been below par.
“We know that he has scored poorly on the Performance Based Contract scoring grade. Since President Edgar Lungu insists that contract renewals will be based on performance, we challenge him to show cause why Mr. Kamanga’s contact should be renewed.
They added, “Mr Kamanga has failed to get a hold of his office. He is usually absent from his office and has failed to support adequately the office of the Minister, so there is total confusion at the office,” they said.
When contacted to comment on the accusations, Mr Kamanga said he does not discuss terms of his contract with third parties.
On transfers, he referred all questions to PSMD saying they are the appropriate authority to discuss matters affecting civil servants.
