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President Edgar Lungu has bemoaned the rising cases of sexual and gender based violence among communities in the country.
President Lungu says more sensitization should be carried out so that women are enlightened of their rights.
The Head of State revealed that he is often saddened to hear that cases involving gender based violence are withdrawn without the law taking its full course.
President Lungu stressed that the Police should refrain from reconciling victims of gender based violence with perpetrators, adding that the law should be allowed to take its full course.
The President said this in Kasama when he graced the launch of Natwampane programme dubbed “together to stop sexual and gender based violence.”
And Minister of Gender Elizabeth Phiri says cases of early marriages have become common among communities.
Mrs Phiri said the launch of Natwampane program will help address the vice in the province.
She disclosed that the European Union has donated 23 vehicles to 23 districts in Northern and Luapula Provinces to be used in the sensitization programmes.
Meanwhile, European Union Ambassador to Zambia Jacek Jankowski says the trend of child marriages and gender based violence is not only common in Zambia but the western world as well.
Mr Jankowski said there is urgent need for stakeholders to ensure that they change the mindset of people towards ending the vice.
Earlier, the EU Ambassador called on Provincial Minister Bwalya Chungu to help strengthen the approach used towards eliminating the high cases of sexual gender based violence.
The Copperbelt Energy Corporation has reiterated that it is critical that a lasting solution is found to the Bulk Supply Agreement with ZESCO ahead of its expiry so as to avoid any challenges to the Copperbelt and the economy at large.
In a statement, CEC says the goal remains that there should be continued seamless supply of power to all consumers on the Copperbelt Province.
The statement was issued Tuesday afternoon in reaction to a story published by Lusaka Times following an interview with CEC Managing Director Owen Silavwe in which he raised concern that the company could cease operations by March 2020 if the Bulk Supply Agreement with ZESCO is not renewed.
This was after investigations by Lusaka Times found that there is pressure from some high ranking government officials to force ZESCO not to renew the agreement with CEC, a situation which could effectively force CEC to close its operations.
But in a statement issued by CEC Public Relations Adviser Muntanga Sibalwa, the company said the Agreement between CEC and ZESCO underpins the supply of power to the entire Copperbelt Province customer base including mining and non-mining customers.
Below is the full statement from CEC
CEC CLARIFIES MEDIA REPORTS
The Copperbelt Energy Corporation Plc (CEC) wishes to correct the misinformation and inaccuracies pertaining to the expiry and renewal of its bulk power contract, its continued existence/operation post the Bulk Supply Agreement (BSA), load management program with mining companies and the position of the Company in Zambia’s electricity supply industry as carried in some media reports, arising from a recent engagement with the media.
Bulk Supply Agreement
The factual position, as was stated during the said media engagement with local media on 27 November 2019, is that the BSA between CEC and ZESCO Limited (ZESCO) underpins the supply of power to the entire Copperbelt Province customer base including mining and non-mining customers; making it critical for the parties to find a lasting solution ahead of its expiry so as to avoid any challenges to the Copperbelt and the economy at large. The goal being the continued seamless supply of power to all consumers on the Copperbelt Province.
Power supply to the mines and load management program
Currently, all the mines in the Copperbelt and North-Western provinces, supplied by CEC and ZESCO respectively, are exempt from the load management program purely for economic reasons, in view of the industry’s critical role as the anchor of other industries in the country, its role as the key foreign exchange earner and the second largest employer after the Government. The decision to continue meeting the mines’ full power requirements is carefully determined through a consultative and coordinated process involving the Ministry of Energy, ZESCO and CEC. Should a stage be reached where the mines would be required to participate in load management programs, CEC explained its willingness to tap into its existing contracts within the region to source power and supplement local supply sources so as to mitigate any potential effect that the power supply gap may have on mining operations.
CEC’s position in the Zambian energy sector
CEC owns and operates power infrastructure and assets worth more than USD500 million covering the Copperbelt Province, including transmission infrastructure linking into the Democratic Republic of Congo, which assets the Company deploys for the economic benefit of the country. CEC will continue to use its assets and capabilities to create value for all its stakeholders and shareholders, by providing value-adding electricity solutions to its primary markets and participating in national programs aimed at developing the sector and achieving an appropriate energy mix for the country. Being the country’s oldest and second-largest power utility, the Company derives value from its asset base, its relationships with generators and consumers as well as its positioning and as a power supplier of choice to its key customer base.
Issued by CEC Corporate Communication For further information, contact: Muntanga Sibalwa
Zambia Police has sternly warned the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) to remove the ‘Police’ tag from their regalia as such maneuvers have the potential to cause anarchy.
This follows Pictures making rounds on social media of UPND cadres wearing reflectors and military attires labeled ‘UPND POLICE.’
Police spokesperson Ester Katongo has told media that if UPND wants to operate in such a manner then they should register as a security company.
“This type of attire shall not be allowed. We only know of one State Police. If the UPND wants to have this name in the security sphere, then they should register it as a security company.”
She added that such behavior only contributes to anarchy.
“Allowing such groupings calling themselves Police contributes to violence because the untrained characters putting on such regalia just like any military-related attire, become violent in their conduct and we would not want to create such an environment.” Mrs. Katongo stated.
She has since urged political parties to regulate the type of regalia they provide to their cadres.
“Political parties should, therefore, regulate the type of attire they wish to provide to their cadres. Such attire in the picture shall not be tolerated.” She said.
A man counts out Zambian kwacha 50 denomination banknotes in this arranged photograph in Lusaka, Zambia, on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2015. Zambian Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda is seeking to restore confidence in the economy to help reverse the world’s worst currency performance, record borrowing costs and sliding growth. Photographer: Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg
This week, ZANACO released the 2019 Economic Review Report. Of much interest to me is a graph that depicts the performance of the Kwacha each time there was (adverse) sentiment about the country. In April/May, 2019, Bloomberg published a story, ‘Zambia pulling a Mozambique style hidden debt’. The exchange rate moved from K9.5/US$ to K10.3/US$. Shortly afterwards, after much market pushing (which saw the Eurobond performance break a new threshold), the Minister of Finance at the time, Margaret Mwanakatwe, released a statement of debt management. The market read this as positive news and the Kwacha appreciated to K9.8/US$.
Then came the China-buying-ZESCO story by Africa Confidential in September 2018. The Kwacha immediately traded at K12.5/US$, causing much panic in government. Government did not anticipate the story and failed to effectively dismiss it. The impact was felt for the entire month of September 2018. However, between October 2018 and April 2020, the country did not experience significant adverse news and the market was happy to experience some relative stability in the exchange rate, the Kwacha trading on an average K11.9.
In April-May this year, the International Monetary Fund, whose projections are closely followed by watchers and investors in Zambian securities and the Eurobond, cut the growth forecast to 2.2 percent for 2019. This was against government’s own projections of 3.8 percent of GDP. This, plus debt and weather concerns, caused some panic trading, the Kwacha trading at K14/US$. To reverse the free-fall of the Kwacha, Government made a very quick (verbal) reaction by announcing austerity measures. The Kwacha gained by trading at K12.4/US$. This was only negatively affected by the downgrading of Zambia’s sovereign rating (plus general excess demand of the Kwacha) when the Kwacha again depreciated to K13.1, the rate it traded at between July and October 2019.
What has suddenly happened? I would say the first part of the current depreciation was induced by a variety of factors: debt servicing, importation of energy, seasonal imports and speculative behavior. However, the most recent depreciation, which has seen the Kwacha break the psychological barrier of K15/US$ is induced by sentiment. Three things have happened within a week.
First, the market has been waiting for some very important news from Cabinet which, I understand, has not come. Early last week, I received an email from one of the investors based in the USA who probably got wrong communication about the much anticipated cabinet meeting on debt, ‘Chibamba, have you heard anything about yesterday’s cabinet meeting? When we were in Lusaka there was a lot of talk that they would present the cancellation/delay of pipeline projects.’ In other words, investors, uncertain about Zambia’s debt sustainability challenges, follow every piece of news about Zambia very keenly and when they don’t get it, they interpret it as ‘problematic situation.’
Second, the United States Ambassador to Zambia Daniel Foote made two critical statements in his recent press briefing that signalled a big problem. He said, ‘However, like the lack of public information made available on Zambia’s debt acquired over the past few years, the government has chosen not to share this vital data with its citizens…’ By implication, Mr. Foote was saying the debt position declared by government is not true. I presuppose this was interpreted adversely by investors. The last line of the same press statement read, ‘I hope the government of Zambia commits to improve its decaying relationship with the United States…’. Was it not just a few weeks ago the Minister of Finance Bwalya Ng’andu was assured by the US Treasury that the latter would support a deal with the IMF? What is this now?
Third, the Mukula tree story has had significant traction international over the past two days and I am not sure how government is dealing with it. It is on this cue I make my conclusion on the way forward: One area government is wanting is how to react to adverse sentiment. I did share with Mrs Margaret Mwanakatwe at the time she was Finance Minister that the Eurobond factor implies a change of strategy on how we pacify the jittery market. One solution would be to engage reputable international advisors who are perceived to be credible by investors to be the third-party communicators on behalf of government. I also suggested she needed to go to the market with authentic data as much as she could, particularly on debt. She heeded the advice by constantly releasing data from October 2018 till she was fired. The strategy somewhat worked.
Another approach now is for government to engage a very strategic, emotionally balanced communicator. I have in mind the Zambian Ambassador to the African Union, Emmanuel Mwamba. He has one advantage: he engages in debates very strategically and does good research when reacting to issues. I am not sure where to position him but maybe at Cabinet Office in equivalent position. He is the nearest in government I can think of capable of engaging diverse external stakeholders in a ‘seek-to-learn-and clarify’ manner.
When government is daily facing adverse sentiment, you need a very level-headed communicator for external stakeholders. The individual should have enough authority to help government put its house in order because you cannot sell what you do not have. Effective communications start with a reality check: Is there something that needs fixing so that adverse sentiment does not have breeding ground?
The African Milling New Maize Plant situated along Buyantanshi road in Lusaka
The African Milling Limited has announced a reduction in the price of mealie-meal by 20 Kwacha, with immediate effect.
African Milling Sales and Marketing Manager Jomo Matululu says the company has reduced the wholesale price of a 25 Kilogramme bag of Breakfast mealie meal from 150 Kwacha to 130 Kwacha.
Mr. Matululu says a 25 Kilogramme bag of African Milling breakfast mealie meal is expected to be selling on the market for 136 Kwacha.
He said the company is putting modalities in place to also reduce the price of roller meal.
He said the reduction of the price of mealie meal is in line with the assurance that the company made to President Edgar Lungu when he commissioned the newly Milling Plant.
Mr. Matululu stated that the reduction is also as a result of the tripartite agreement signed between the milling company, grain traders and the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).
No one knew who I was. I was a 21-year-old boy in 1981 studying to become an Artisan in our National Mining Company in Kitwe. Then Reinhard Bonnke came to Zambia.
Thirty-six years later I have served as Leader of Victory Ministries International and as the first member of the Clergy to serve as Republican Vice President of Zambia.
Thirty-six years later, Zambia has become the first and only nation in Africa to be declared a Christian Nation.
In early 1981, it was noised that a German Evangelist by the name of Reinhard Bonnke would Visit Zambia and was going to have a series of meetings in all the major cities of Zambia. He would start in my city, Kitwe. Within weeks, a ten thousand seater tent was erected and stood out as a new phenomenon in our city. At the time, I served as youth leader at the Maranatha Assembly of God Church under a Canadian Missionary Gary Skinner. For some reason, Pastor Skinner asked me to interpret for Pastor Bonnke in his first sermon at Church before the crusade opened later that evening.
I met Reinhard for the first time in my life in 1981 in the pulpit. He started to preach what I considered a basic message of salvation. In the middle of his preaching, he stopped and looked at me and made the following statement, “Eh, you are made out of the same stuff that I am made out of.” This singular statement changed my life forever. He asked me to continue to interpret for him the whole two weeks of the crusade. My heart was bonded to him and his message changed both my life and my city forever.
Never in the history of my nation had we ever seen an evangelist of such passion and anointing. He ignited a wave of revival which has never stopped to date. At his coming in 1981, it was said that Christianity constituted 45% of the population. Today, Christianity stands at 96% of the population and Zambia has become the only country on the continent to be constitutionally declared a Christian nation.
Reinhard Bonnke started this movement. He is a household name in Zambia. He focused his faith on Zambia for several years. CFAN sowed a human seed into the soil of Zambia when one of Pastor Bonnke’s closest crusade organizers was killed in Chililabombwe in an accident which burnt down a CFAN truck. Reinhard himself flew back to Zambia and retrieved the body. He called this loss, a seed sown in Zambia which would germinate and grow into full salvation of the nation. Reinhard wept.
As a Nation, we have a redemptive history with Reinhard and CFAN. Zambia is a Christian nation because of his investment of faith.
He took me up as his own son. He believed in me before I even knew myself. He sent me to Bible college at Christ for the Nations Institute in Dallas Texas and paid for it. Upon graduation, he mentored me and purchased the equipment I needed to launch an evangelistic ministry in my nation. While he carried the banner of Africa shall be Saved, I have carried the banner of Zambia shall be Saved to date. He was present in my life until he returned to the one who called him to Africa in the early hours of December 7th 2019.
In 1995 after he was guest at our Victory International conference in Lusaka, he said to me, Nevers, I am not coming back to Zambia after this. I asked him why, and he said because you are here and able to handle it. “You don’t need me” he said. He however mentored me from afar. He supported me both in prayer and finance for 36 years. In 1997, I was faced with a huge decision concerning joining the political process. I had two authorities to contact, one was Mrs Gordon Lindsay, President of Christ for the Nations in Dallas, Texas and Reinhard Bonnke, President of Christ for All Nations in Frankfurt, Germany. I asked for their counsel concerning my desire to join politics. It took Reinhard three months to answer but when he did, he was very clear that he had heard from the Lord for me to take my faith into the political process like Joseph of the Bible. He gave me his blessing to go into politics. Mrs Lindsay’s letter came much latter with the same response. Soon after that, I became Vice President of Zambia and now President of the former ruling Party, the Movement for Multiparty Democracy, preparing to run for President in 2021.
If Reinhard had not come to Zambia, maybe there would have been no Christian nation. If he had not come, there would have not been a Nevers Mumba who became the first Evangelist to become Vice President. Because he came, Zambia is, and I am.
Pastor Bonnke invited me to what he considered life changing events. He invited me to the 2000 Millenium Crusade in Lagos where he addressed his largest single crowd of 1.6 million people. I shed tears of joy at the sight of such a harvest of souls. He invited me to Orlando Florida to celebrate his fifty years of ministry in Africa and asked me to speak at the event when Pat Robertson could not travel for health reasons. He invited me for his last african crusade in 2017 in Nigeria but I could not travel in the last minute for political reasons. This was his way of mentoring me to the end.
My last emotional interaction with Reinhard was last year in April (2018) after he heard that I had been thrown in jail for political reasons. After my release he sent me a note not to give up. He also sent what has now become the last financial gift to “help” me after my jail experience. What touched me is that the gift came from his personal account. What type of love is this? God gave me the best mentor and the best spiritual father. He loved and cared till the end. I later found out that when he sent me his last gift, his health had started to fail him.
I am sure my story can be told by many Africans across this continent who have been impacted by this “African Apostle.”
79 million souls later, he now rests in the arms of the one who commissioned him to Africa. This legacy is unparalleled.
Just like Jesus stood up for Stephen when he showed up in heaven, I believe the Lord Jesus and the heavenly host have given a standing ovation as Reinhard makes his grand entry into heaven. Until we meet again. So long.
President Edgar Lungu has arrived in Kasama District, the Provincial capital of Northern Province for a two days official visit.
The plane carrying the Head of State touched down Kasama airport at 09:35 local time.
He was received by Northern Province Minister Bwalya Chungu, Minister of Local Government Charles Banda, Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Christopher Yaluma, and senior government and party officials.
And addressing Kasama residents who turned up to welcome him, President Edgar Lungu said the defeat suffered by the ruling party in the IIambo ward seat in Lupososhi District was disheartening.
President Lungu said the party is currently receiving reports, to establish what could have led to the loss.
President Lungu, however, urged party members to remain united despite the humiliating defeat, saying it was not the right time to point fingers at one another, but instead forge ahead and think of workable solutions that will unify the party.
Meanwhile, Provincial Minister Bwalya Chungu thanked the President for sparing time, to visit the province once again.
While in the region, the President is expected to Commission the newly constructed Civic Centre in a Kasama.
The Head of State is also expected to go to Mporokoso District where he will Commission a house built for a retired Reverend who is also a senior citizen.
The President will also be conferred with the status of freeman of Kasama, and later hold public meetings in both Kasama and Mporokoso districts.
Earlier, President Edgar Lungu said that there is a growing demand for infrastructure across the country.
President Edgar Lungu explained that his tours countrywide have revealed that there is an urgent need to accelerate the infrastructure development in the country.
The Head of State said this today shortly before departure for Northern Province for a two day working visit.
President Lungu cited road infrastructure as one of the sectors that need quick attention as it plays a pivotal role in the economic development of the country.
“Northern Province just like any other province is my constitutency. Throughout out my tours across the country, it has come to my attention that there is need to accelerate infrastructure development such as road network people always demand for improved roads which is key to the economy,” he said.
President Lungu who is accompanied to Northern Province by Patriotic Front National Chairperson Samuel Mukupa, his Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations Isaac Chipampe and former UPND Vice President Geoffrey Mwamba.
The Head of State was seen off by several Cabinet Ministers who included Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya, Minister of Transport and Communications Mutotwe Kafwaya and Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo.
Stevo released the video for his single “Certified” featuring Dope G, Kantu and Ben Zee.
“Certified is track 21 from SAVED album, a hip hop genre oriented record & it talks about Stevo being accepted as the New official face of Zambian Hiphop in the Ghetto, Streets and Cities at Large.”
Since the year 2014, Zambia has lost an estimated $500 million in Mukula revenue as a result of illegal underdeclaration of exports by the Zambian side.
Over the same period, another estimated $38 million has been paid and received in bribes by top government officials in this country, with new information now placing the presidency, a member of the first family, top government Ministers and a member of the traditional leadership now implicated.
And the primary reason the Patriotic Front (PF) political establishment, through it’s Media Director Sunday Chanda and and it’s defacto Spokesperson Emmanuel Mwamba, vehemently defended the Mukula Cartel is simply that the party is a beneficiary.
We have always spoken on the record, and repeatedly raised the alarm to the effect that Zambia is now firmly under the spell of political state capture. The political party Zambians elected into office serve and protect their interests, as well as acting for and on their behalf in the best national interest, has finally gone rogue. The Patriotic Front (PF) political establishment has facilitated the hostile and criminal takeover of government and all of its key institutions to ensure that economic gains are disproportionately, illegally and illegally diverted away from citizens and into the pockets of the presidency, top PF government officials, the party and their profit seeking private associates.
From the patterns of grand corruption thus far investigated and published, we now know that corruption under the PF administration is not perpetrated by individuals but rather sponsored by the party and the state. This is why it is and has been difficult for the PF establishment and government to act decisively against the corruption activities involving top party and government officials, as well as the party itself.
In February 2017, armed with information that there were several thousands of cubic meters of Mukula bound for export but lay in the hands of private permit holders, greed got the better of the PF administration. They panicked and put an illegal blockade on all Mukula exports. According to correspondence we have looked at by the Zambia Association of Timber and Forestry Based Industries, the 2017 ban, just like the 2012 ban, was instituted illegally, against the prescriptions of Article 64 of the Forestry Act No. 4 of 2015. The ban was never supported by a statutory instrument. They seized this timber and proceeded to illegally selling it to willing buyers, using ZAFFICO as a conduit. Only now are we learning of the gross underdeclaration and misrepresentation of revenues which arose from this illegal seizure and selling of the private property of Zambian companies, with a greater proportion of the arising revenue going into the pockets of individuals and never onto the books of ZAFFICO.
I personally know Two (2) legitimate local timber processing companies that collapsed, losing several thousands of US dollars in investment capital, inventory, idle machinery, incomes, livelihoods, lost jobs; thanks to this illegal, savage and heavy-handed wielding of power by corrupt PF operatives. In the end, it was corrupt government politicians who ended up dubiously benefitting from the efforts and private investments of hardworking Zambians. The value of the seized consignment alone exceeded $20 million and yet this was just a drop in the ocean.
Realizing how much money there was to be made, the PF government used Jean Kapata to cause ZAFFICO to be selectively issuing “special permits” to top government officials ONLY for the illegal harvest and export of Mukula trees. But even when the purported ban was in place, these corrupt government sponsored operatives were cutting down and exporting Mukula under the guise that the trees originated from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Of course, this was all a facade.
But the plunder of Mukula trees at the hands of PF operatives and government officials is just one area where the country is being raped and deprived of the much needed revenue to invest into our various social and economic sectors.
And it is no surprise that the party has come to the aid of it’s thieving proxies in government. The PF itself is on the record and has been cited for receiving tens of millions of dollars in bribes in exchange for the award of public contracts. This is in the Financial Intelligence Center report for the period ended 2018.
The PF also unequivocally and shamelessly defended the fraudsters in $42 million the Fire Tender scam, just as they defended the $35 million Maizegate scammers. The PF also came to the defense of those at the heart of the £3.5 million social cash transfer scandal, defended the criminals who spent up to $11 million on ambulances that never arrived, the thieves that stole $400,000 worth of test kits at MoH, as well as those who procured $4 million of expired drugs – again at MoH.
It is also the PF who have systematically shielded public sector payroll fraudsters who have racked in close to $800 million since 2012 in ghost worker salary payments.
We also know, that the 20% local contracts allocation is a scheme to divert public resources to the PF political party establishment as these contracts are issued to companies owners by Ministers and other party operatives, despite their repeated and shambolic record of never delivering on public works.
This is the legacy of the PF – a legacy of theft and plunder.
No single individual within the PF can fix this rot. The rot sits at the heart of the party and one certain way of averting the impending catastrophe connected to this filth is to vote the PF out of power.
The Office of the Vice President through Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) has given 8,960 bags of mealie meal to Chasefu District in Eastern Province
Army Commander Lieutenant General William Sikazwe says smuggling of maize and mealie meal should be aggressively addressed in order to ensure food security in the country.
General Sikazwe says neighboring countries can be allowed to buy from Zambia but only through proper channels so that Zambians are NOT disadvantaged.
The Commander was speaking in Chipata today when he paid a courtesy call on the Provincial Administration where he was met by Assistant Secretary Royd Tembo.
And the Army Commander has advised Eastern regional Commander Brigadier General John Ng’andwe to facilitate for meetings with his Mozambican and Malawian counterparts in order to seek solutions to various issues of concern along the two borders.
And Mr Tembo has congratulated the Army Commander on his appointment to the highest office in the army, describing it as well deserved.
He added that the province looks forward to further engagements with the army under his command.
The Army Commander is in Chipata on a two-day familiarisation visit.
Avic International employees working on the US$ 23 million upgrade project of Lumumba Road
Ten sub-contractors have expressed concern with AVIC International, saying the contractor is allegedly abrogating the 20 percent sub-contracting policy.
The sub-contractors say AVIC has not done an evaluation of scopes of works for upgrading of selected Lusaka urban roads since April 2018.
In a letter addressed to Infrastructure and Housing Minister Vincent Mwale, the sub-contractors said AVIC international is allegedly set to go on recess on Friday 13th December 2019 without signing any contract agreement.
They said their appointment letters expire on December 31st, 2019, after which they will be invalid.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mwale said investigations are underway to ascertain if AVIC International is adhering to the 20 percent sub-contracting policy.
Mr. Mwale said he has received the petition from local contractors, adding that if the complaint from the contractors is found to be true, appropriate measures will be taken on AVIC International in line with the government’s guild lines.
But AVIC International has dismissed reports of the company going on recess, adding that they are waiting for guidance from Road Development Agency before any decision can be reached.
President Edgar Lungu has warned that no perpetrator of corruption will be allowed to roam free, but will face the full wrath of the law, regardless of their standing in society.
The head of state notes that those who engage in corrupt practices deny mothers, fathers, and children in the rural areas and in society access to basic services such as healthcare, education and proper sanitation.
He has observed that this is because few selfish individuals pocket funds meant for the provision of public services but assured that the government will not condone that.
Speaking yesterday during the commemoration of the international anti-corruption day under the theme “united against corruption” President Lungu vowed to punish all erring officers and to recover all stolen funds.
“It is heartbreaking to see the levels of abuse and embezzlement of public resources which continue to be revealed in the auditor-general’s report, and other related reports. Colossal sums of money are reportedly lost by institutions every year because some public officers have taken it upon themselves to milk public resources for their own selfish benefit” the head of state observed.
He has further emphasized that the fight against corruption will not be politicized but told law enforcement to do their job independently without any interference.
President Lungu reiterated the government’s resolve to do what is necessary for the attainment of a corruption-free country adding that Zambia is on a path to economic prosperity and we will not allow corrupt elements to derail the country from this path of development.
“The fight against corruption begins with me, it begins with you. We should all reject corruption, hate it with a passion and report all suspicious acts to law enforcement agencies. We should not just complain and do nothing about it. We should all take action, the time is now”. He said
President Lungu during the swearing in ceremony of Deputy Auditor General in the office of the Auditor General, Francis Mbewe and Public Policy Specialist –Policy Analysis and Co-ordination Division at State House
President Edgar Lungu says there is a need to restore sanity in the utilization of public resources in the country.
The Head of State expressed concern at the huge financial resources that are either being misapplied or misappropriated in the public sector.
The President said this during the swearing-in ceremony of Deputy Auditor General in the office of the Auditor General, Francis Mbewe and Public Policy Specialist –Policy Analysis and Co-ordination Division at State House yesterday.
President Lungu urged newly appointed Deputy Auditor-General Francis Mbewe to apply his audit skills and resolve the numerous audit queries that constantly appear in the Auditor General’s report.
“I am concerned that huge financial resources are either being misapplied or misappropriated in the public sector. We need to restore sanity in the utilization of public resources and your office is key in finding a lasting solution to the matter.
He explained that the Mr Mbewe’s appointment is on merit, and expressed confidence that his promotion will effectively contribute to the financial and public supervision of the public service.
And the Head of State urged Public Policy Specialist Kambaila Munkoni to understand the global trends happening in this competitive world, in order to ensure that the best practices are adapted at local level for the benefit of the Zambian people.
President Lungu however, called on both newly appointed officers to take their work seriously and deliver according to the expectations of the Zambian people.
And speaking to journalists after the ceremony, Deputy Auditor General Francis Mbewe pledged his support to the Auditor General, promising to work as a team, in order to reduce on audit queries.
Mr Mbewe also explained that his office will warrant the enforcement of the Public Finance of 2018, to ensure a reduction in the audit queries.
He also stated that his office will further strive to improve the audit coverage of local authorities from the current 40 percent to a 100 percent coverage of councils as they offer service delivery to the people.
He added that there will be a heightened audit of money as well as performance audit to ensure that government programs impact citizens.
“We will also continue collaborating with other oversight institutions such as the Anti-Corruption Commission, Drug Enforcement Commission among others to ensure discipline in the expenditure of the public service.
Coach Beston Chambeshi says he is open to new job offers after resigning as Nkana coach on Sunday.
This was Chambeshi’s third stint as Nkana coach and it lasted two and a half years.
Nkana have since promoted Manfred Chabinga to the role of acting head coach.
‘Time had come for us to separate. Time comes in football when you look back at your performance and say I have worked let me now rest,’ Chambeshi said.
‘Nkana is my team but I said let me rest so that others can take over. For me to say let me rest it was not an easy decision to make. Nkana has made me reach where I am as a coach and player,’ he said on Monday in Kitwe.
Chambeshi has been linked with a move to several clubs among them Tanzanian side Simba Sports.
‘Football is round and it can take you anywhere. For now am resting but my eyes are also open. I will wait for another door to open, you know I love coaching and I still have the energy to coach,’ he said.
The 2018 season was the hallmark of Chambeshi’s third Wusakile reign as he guided Nkana to winning the Barclays Cup after finishing second in the FAZ Super Division campaign.
And Chambishi refused to rule out the possibility of returning to Nkana in future.
‘That’s why we have advisers. Football can take you anywhere but you have to consult when offers come,’ he said with laughter.
The ex-Power Dynamos and Lumwana Radiants coach also called for unity at Nkana Stadium.
Kalampa are fourth in the FAZ Super Division with 21 points from 11 matches played.
‘I am encouraging players, the coaches, supporters and the executive to unite and work together. Our team (Nkana) is a people’s team so there is no need to point fingers at anyone,’ he added.
President Edgar Lungu is tomorrow expected in Kasama for a two-day official visit.
The President who will arrive in Kasama in the morning is expected to commission the new civic centre in Kasama which was recently constructed.
President Lungu is also expected to go to Mporokoso district where he will commission a house that was built for a retired Reverend who is also a senior citizen.
Northern Province Minister Bwalya Chungu has confirmed the development to ZANIS in Kasama today.
Mr. Chungu said during his visit to the Province, the President is expected to also be conferred with the status of free man of Kasama.
He added that the President will during his visit to the Province also hold public meetings in Kasama and Mporokoso.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Minister has indicated that over 90 percent of the farming inputs have been distributed to all parts of the province.
