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Zambia National Education Coalition (ZANEC) has commended Ministry of Education for its planned transfer of all primary schools in Zambia to the Local Authorities.
In an interview with Ama FM Radio, Mr. Kabika Kakunta said the move will contribute positively to the education sector in Zambia.
Mr. Kakunta who also echoed similar sentiments with the National Action for Quality Education (NAQEZ) Executive Director Aaron Chansa suggesting that almost all Local Authorities in Zambia are overwhelmed with huge administrative and financial constraints.
And he, however, said Government’s planned devolution includes the transfer of the Ministry of Education Schools to city councils.
“I would like to recommend this process of devolution and primary schools be transferred to local councils because the local councils are the ones dealing with land issues, therefore it will be easy for schools to own land”
“The only worrying thing is about labour and how ready is our local government to handle the exercise since they already have their own challenges and also how adequate is the human resources Kakunta said.
Government recently announced that it may grant City Councils exclusive rights to manage Educational facilities across the country.
Defending champions Zanaco begins their title defence with a Week One match against town mates Red Arrows as the 2017 FAZ Super Division campaign begins on Saturday.
The Bankers won the 2016 title with 81 points, nine better than runners up Zesco United.
Zanaco and Arrows clash in the 15h00 kick off Lusaka derby at National Heroes Stadium hoping to make a bright start.
Earlier at Heroes Stadium, City of Lusaka will play Green Eagles in a lunchtime kickoff before Zanaco takes on coach Honour Janza’s Arrows.
In Kitwe, bruised Nkana hosts Nakambala Leopards in the two sides league opener at Nkana Stadium with Kalampa seeking to bounce back from Sunday’s 2-0 Charity Shield final defeat to Zesco United.
“It is important that we win the first game of the season. We are challenging for the league this season,” Nkana coach Zeddy Saileti said.
Elsewhere, debutants Real Nakonde and Buildcon face-off at New Nakonde Stadium on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Heroes Stadium will host another double-header on Sunday when Green Buffaloes and Mufulira Wanderers clash at 13h00 hours before Lusaka Dynamos play Power Dynamos at 15h00.
WEEK ONE FIXTURE
SATURDAY 8TH APRIL, 2017
13:00 City of Lusaka Vs Green Eagles (Heroes Stadium)
15:00 ZANACO Vs Red Arrows (Heroes Stadium)
15:00 NAPSA Stars Vs Nchanga Rangers (Edwin Imboela Stadium)
15:00 Nkana Vs Nakambala Leopards (Nkana Stadium)
15:00 Kabwe Warriors Vs Nkwazi (Godfrey Chitalu)
15:00 Real Nakonde Vs Buildcon (New Stadium Nakonde)
15:00 Lumwana Radiants Vs Forest Rangers (Lumwana Stadium)
SUNDAY 9th APRIL, 2017
13:00 Green Buffaloes Vs Mufulira Wanderers (Heroes Stadium)
15:00 Lusaka Dynamos Vs Power Dynamos (Heroes Stadium)
United Party for National Development (UPND) spokesperson Charles Kakoma has said that it was possible for the courts to overturn the 2016 presidential election results.
Reacting to Rainbow party leader Wynter Kabimba’s comments that UPND is chasing wind by hoping for the courts will overturn the 2016 presidential elections and declare Hakainde Hichilema as dully elected head of State, Mr Kakoma said that UPND are seeking justice in Court.
“This may not happen in Zambia but it has happened elsewhere, we have gone to court because we are seeking justice,” Mr Kakoma said.
Mr Kakoma claimed that even Jesus Christ is aware that the UPND won the election.
During a Hot FM radio programme dubbed The Hot Seat, Mr Kabimba said that UPND was chasing the wind by believing that the courts of law will declare its president Hakainde Hichilema as head of State.
Mr Kabimba, a lawyer and former Minister of Justice and Patriotic Front secretary-general, said that what the UPND ought to do instead is to make a bold political decision and accept that President Lungu is head of State.
Mr Kabimba said the UPND must forget about using the courts of law to mobilise itself because it is chasing the wind.
“UPND will make history if they are going to get the decision of the courts that Edgar Chagwa Lungu is not President and HH is the President. They will make history and Christ will thank them,” he said.
The Rainbow party leader said political parties that have succeeded like the PF did in 2011 have had to make very difficult decisions after taking into account the political situation in the country.
“This will be the first time in my over 30 years of practising law and over 50 years of reading history, especially about Africa, that you are going to find an election nullified or annulled in the courts of law,” he said.
Mr Kabimba said the UPND needs to distinguish between a legal problem and a political problem.
FILE: From (right) Zambia Railways Director Rolling Stock Webster Mtambo, Transport and Communications Minister Kapembwa Simbao and his deputy James Kapyanga during the tour of Zambia Railways workshop in Kabwe
THE Parliamentary Committee on Communications, Transport, Works and Supply has called for recapitalization of the Zambia Railways Limited to cushion the pressure on the country’s road infrastructure.
Committee chairperson Douglas Siakalima said although there were a number of competing needs in the country, the railway company needed adequate injection of capital to make it viable and operate effectively.
He was speaking in an interview soon after the six member committee inspected the operations at the Zambia Railways in Kabwe on Thursday to appreciate the progress made by the firm.
Mr Syakalima who is also Chirundu Member of Parliament noted that the company was doing a tremendous work by rehabilitating some of the old locomotives but could do even better if the company was given more money.
“I know that there are competing needs in the country, but I think it is important to recapitalize huge investment like this one; we should not just let it go like this,” he said.
“We also think that if Zambia Railways was helped in terms of recapitalization, we will know that we will offload the pressure on our roads so that many of the goods are transported using railway which will make the lifespan of our roads longer.
Mr Syakalima noted that effective railway transport in Zambia could also help to reduce the current high road traffic accidents in the country as well as loss of goods on transit.
Msanzala Member of Parliament Peter Daka who is one of the committee members said it was a myth to suggest that US $120 million Eurobond which was given to the railway company had been misused.
Mr Daka who is also former Transport Minister and communications Minister said there had been a lot of work including the reconditioning of engines for the trains that should be appreciated and supported by every Zambian.
“I have seen what is going on where the generators and the engines are being put together and there is serious work that is going on and if Zambia Railways is given more money, it can do better than the expectations that are outside,” he said.
He said the management at the company had put in so much to resuscitate the company and parliamentarians would support every effort that was being made.
Earlier, company chief executive officer Christopher Musonda told the parliamentarians that the company had moved about 634,500 tonnes of cargo in the past one year and generated K173 million.
Mr Musonda however noted that the reduction of imports and exports as well as operational constraints in neighbouring countries had limited the income generation.
HH and GBM gestures during the UPND news conferencePATRIOTIC Front Kantanshi Member of Parliament Anthony Mumba has warned that the continued refusal by UPND leadership to recognize President Edgar Lungu as head of state will take the opposition political party into oblivion.
“They might just lose the focus and become irrelevant in the next five years; so they need to take introspective and check what they believe before they go into oblivion,” Mr Mumba said.
He said in an interview that it was irrelevant for UPND president Hakainde Hichilema and his leaders to continue living in denial when every Zambian including the UPND supporters had accepted that President Lungu was the head of state.
Mr Hichilema and his vice Geoffrey Mwamba as well as senior leaders have refused to recognize the election of Mr Lungu on claims that the last year’s elections were rigged.
But Mr Mumba noted that the continued refusal to accept that Mr Lungu was the current president of Zambia had a potential to disturb the peace that the country was enjoying and derail the economic path.
“The Zambian people have spoken and I think the role of the opposition is to provide checks and balances to the ruling party so that we have development for every Zambian,” he said.
“But the stance taken by UPND that they will not recognize the president I think they are just wasting time because everyone has already recognized and the president; I think they should up their game otherwise they will be rendered irrelevant.”
He noted that the opposition political party had been associated with violence and antagonism since last year when it lost the general elections and urged the leadership to resume the role of the opposition party.
The parliamentarians however haled President Lungu for exercising exceptional restrain even when some of the claims by the opposition party bordered on criminality.
Mr Mumba said it was also a myth and misconception for the UPND to suggest that the opposition political party was getting stronger on the Copperbelt.
He warned that becoming a member of parliament had become competitive and opposition parliamentarians would be wasting their time to fulfil their campaign promises because of the current antagonism.
President Edgar Lungu(l) chats with Copperbelt Minister Bowman Lusambo(r) at City Airport in yesterday before departure for Mongu to attend the Kuomboka Ceremony ,7-04-2017. Picture by Ennie Kishiki/Zanis. Zambia Direct Democracy Movement (ZDDM) Vice President Charles Kafumbo says the ZDDM is imploring President Edgar Chagwa Lungu to host an inter-party dialogue to tackle political violence.
In a letter dated 7th April, 2017, Kafumbo says President Lungu’s predecessors Dr. Kenneth Kaunda and late Fredrick Jacob Titus Chiluba held intra-party meetings to address issues in the political scene that were cardinal.
As ZDDM we ask President Edgar Chagwa Lungu to host an inter-party dialogue to tackle political violence” Kafumbo said
Meanwhile, Patriotic Front (PF) Deputy Secretary General Mumbi Phiri has said the ruling PF have not time for dialogues with the opposition UPND because they are charlatans and are the ones championing violence across the country.
She said PF recently buried a young man who was stabbed by the suspected UPND cadres and PF will not associate itself with such a brutal political party that is taking peoples’ lives.
“We are not interested to dialogue with the UPND because they are violent and they killed our member in Kanyama” Ms. Phiri said
On 3rd April, 2017, a youth identified as Stephen Kalipa, aged 20 years, was believed to have been stabbed with a knife by an unknown person suspected to have been among UPND cadres after the police sealed off Twashuka grounds in Lusaka’s Kanyama Township.
Zambia National Education Coalition (ZANEC) Chairperson Kabika Kakunta has commended Ministry of Education for its planned transfer of all primary schools in Zambia to local.
Government recently announced that it may grant City Councils exclusive rights to manage Educational facilities across the country.
In an interview with Ama FM Radio, Mr. Kakunta said the move is a good one because it will contribute positively to the education sector in Zambia.
However, Mr. Kakunta who also echoed similar sentiments with the National Action for Quality Education (NAQEZ) Executive Director Aaron Chansa suggesting that almost all Local Authorities in Zambia are overwhelmed with huge administrative and financial constraints and may not be able to manage.
Mr. Kakunta was swift to appreciate that Government’s planned devolution deal through Ministry of Education to transfer Primary Schools to city councils was aimed at empowering all Primary Schools in Zambia.
“I would like to recommend this process of devolution and primary schools be transferred to local councils reasons being that the local councils are the ones dealing with land issues, therefore it will be easy for schools to own land”
“The only worrying thing concerned as a labour movement is how ready is our local government to handle the exercise looking that they already have their own challenges and also how adequate is the human resources Kakunta said
Information and Broadcasting Minister Kampamba Mulenga
Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Kampamba Mulenga has said that the lawlessness being perpetrated by the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) has vindicated Government’s position on the need to maintain the Public Order Act.
Speaking yesterday in an interview, Ms Mulenga, who is also the Chief Government Spokesperson, said that the Public Order Act (POA) is an essential piece of legislation that helps in maintaining law and order.
The chief government spokesperson also said that the POA will be amended at an appropriate time and that it should be progressive if Zambia is to maintain the cherished peace.
She said Government will not enact laws with potential to put the country on fire but will always act in national interest to ensure that it remains a safe place for all citizens.
“Those that are pushing for the amendment or repealing of the Public Order Act so that they can cause anarchy in the country should reflect on their positions. We don’t want lawlessness that can make our country ungovernable,” Ms Mulenga said.
Ms Mulenga said Government will cautiously handle constitutional provisions that border on law and order to avoid allowing individuals with selfish and evil motives to plunge the country into chaos.
Ms Mulenga, who is Kalulushi member of Parliament (MP), called for patriotism from all Zambians on matters of national interest and denounce acts that threaten national security.
She said President Lungu has demonstrated his commitment to peace and that his administration will at an appropriate time consider any progressive constitutional amendment proposal.
Ms Mulenga advised opposition politicians to put national interest first and respect the will of the people.
Today the 7th April, 2017, Zambia Police Public relations Officer Esther Mwaata Katongo has revealed that police have arrested a 22 years old woman of Lusaka’s mandevu township identified as Natasha Kalesa for allegedly pouring hot cooking oil on her husband’s face.
Ms. Katongo stated that according to the victim who has been identified as Samson Tonga aged 32 also of Mandevu Township, his wife Natasha Kalesa poured hot cooking oil on him after a marital dispute.
The Police Spokesperson Esther Mwaata Katongo said this happened today 07th April, 2017 at about 13 30 hours and the suspect is currently in Police custody and is likely to be charged with Assault Causing Grievious Bodily Harm.
“We have arrested a 22 years old woman of Lusaka’s mandevu township identified as Natasha Kalesa for allegedly pouring hot cooking oil on her husband’s face” Ms. Katongo said
People’s Party president Mike Mulongoti has said the deployment of 600 police officers at the Kuomboka ceremony of the Lozi speaking people has created an impression that the traditional ceremony was war Zone.
Recently the Police command announced that 600 Police officers were deployed to police this weekend’s Kuomboka ceremony in Western Province.
President Edgar Lungu is expected to grace the traditional ceremony where also the United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema and his Vice Geoffrey Mwamba and foreign dignitaries are likely to be there as well.
Mulongoti suggested the Police should have instead only deployed few Police officers because this is not the first time the celebration was being practiced in Zambia and no violence has been recorded since its inception.
“The Police are just creating an impression that the traditional ceremony was at war Zone which has never happened in the history of Zambia” Mulongoti said
Solar ModulesRural Electrification Authority (REA) Corporate Affairs Manager Justine Mukosa has said its ongoing Sustainable Solar Marketing package Programme (SSMP) is likely to be completed by July this year.
The project which is being implemented under Trans Africa Supply Service (TASS was rolled out in 2016 and is aimed at promoting a radical shift towards a diversified culture in energy resource utilization in Zambia.
In an exclusive interview with the Business Mail newspapers Journalist Samuel Mbewe yesterday, Mr. Mukosa who indicated that the estimated cost allocated to complete the projects is K845 000.00, disclosed that the authority has since secured adequate funds to complete the project as planned.
“The estimated cost allocated to complete these projects is K 845 000.00 “SSMP project is expected to be completed in July 2017,” said Mukosa.
Mr. Mukosa noted that according to the project’s blueprint, the authority will install Solar panels in at least 28 schools and in 96 houses for staffs, three chiefs’ palaces, one local court, seven rural health Centres (RHCs) and 12 Human Rights Commission (HRC)’s staff houses in three Districts, namely Ikelengi District of North Western Province, Chama District of Muchinga Province and Lundazi District of Eastern Province.
“We will install Solar panels in at least 28 schools and in 96 houses for staffs, three chiefs’ palaces, one local court, seven rural health Centres (RHCs) and 12 Human Rights Commission (HRC)’s staff houses in three Districts” Mukosa said
This comes at a time when Zambia is grappling with efforts to come up with measures that may improve access to electricity to the rural populace which REA believes it is currently low.
President Edgar Lungu(l) speaks to Vice President Inonge Wina(r) at City Airport in Lusaka yesterday before departure for Mongu to attend the Kuomboka Ceremony ,7-04-2017. Picture by EnnieKishiki/Zanis.
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu says he is ready to work with opposition leaders on matters that are of national interest to the nation and of developmental value with the opposition provided they do not dwell on non-objective political agendas.
President Lungu said his doors remain open for dialogue with people who recognise that he is President as has been declared by the Electoral Commission of Zambia and the Courts of law.
The head of state was speaking at City Airport before his departure to Mongu to attend the Kuomboka ceremony; “What is it I am going to discuss with them if they say I am not President….. I have no difficulties with the opposition but they should bring issues which are objective and national in character,” he said.
“If they are crying foul that they are robbed of the victory, it’s was not for me to decide, ECZ announced the winner and the courts of law made a ruling. I am only willing to meet anybody but there should be on a national agenda.”
He emphasised that if UPND wanted to politick they should wait till 2021 because he had not time to politick.
And on the murder of the ZAF soldier in police custody President Lungu who is the commander in chief of armed forces said investigations have been completed and a report has been handed over to him.
The ZAF Officer Mark Choongwa, 34, a flight sergeant died in police custody at Woodlands police station after he was allegedly brutally beaten by other inmates. The death of the soldier raised public outcry prompting President Lungu to order for a joint inquiry in the matter between the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Home Affairs.
However, President Lungu that he had done his part to order for thorough investigations, arrests had been effected and since he was not a prosecutor, we should let the law takes its course.
President Edgar Lungu(l) chats with Patriotic Front Media Director Sunday Chanda(r) at City Airport in Lusaka yesterday before departure for Mongu to attend the Kuomboka Ceremony ,7-04-2017. Picture by EnnieKishiki/Zanis.President Edgar Lungu(l) chats with Copperbelt Minister Bowman Lusambo(r) at City Airport in yesterday before departure for Mongu to attend the Kuomboka Ceremony ,7-04-2017. Picture by Ennie Kishiki/Zanis.President Edgar Lungu(l) chats with Copperbelt Minister Bowman Lusambo(r) at City Airport in yesterday before departure for Mongu to attend the Kuomboka Ceremony ,7-04-2017. Picture by Ennie Kishiki/Zanis.President Edgar Lungu(l) speaks to Vice President Inonge Wina(r) at City Airport in Lusaka yesterday before departure for Mongu to attend the Kuomboka Ceremony ,7-04-2017. Picture by Ennie Kishiki/Zanis.President Lungu arrives a flower from Agness Nkhata on arrival in Mongu for Kuomboka ceremony -Picture by THOMAS NSAMAFirst Lady Esther Lungu greets Mongu residents on arrival in Mongu for Kuomboka Ceremony -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
The public consultative process on Zambia’s membership to the International Criminal Court-ICC- is expected to come to an end on Friday, in readiness for the National symposium set for April 11th and 12th in Lusaka.
The national symposium will also provide a platform for citizens to verify their submission.
And Minister of Justice Given Lubinda says the two million Kwacha disbursed for the exercise is justified.
Mr Lubinda says the cash was drawn from the contingency fund budgeted for under the 2017 National budget.
He said the public consultations were crucial because Zambia has to make a position by June during the African Union summit.
Zambia’s Multiple award winning radio station, HOT FM Limited has announced changes to its week day line up with the introduction of new hosts of the flag ship ‘Red Hot Breakfast show’ hosted Mondays to Fridays from 6am to 9am.
Announcing the changes today, HOT FM Chief Executive Officer Zachariah Chavula said the changes are effective Monday 10th April 2017 and have been necessitated by Management’s periodic review of the station’s content and programming as part of the brand re-fresh as the station believes in constantly re-inventing itslef to stay ahead of competition.
“We are a station which is constantly thinking ahead and always want to bring a fresh feeling to the air waves ,so the change of line up was inevitable and has come at the time that the station is repositioning itself for much bigger things that will add value to the listener,” said Mr. Zachariah Chavula.
And HOT FM Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder Oscar Chavula announced that the new Breakfast show Hosts, Kalumba Chikonde ‘K-smash’ and Patience Chisanga as the appropraite combination for the show which the Board and Management settled for and are confident that the duo will take the show to a whole new level and complement what Hope and Chi achieved over the last 8 years.
“HOT FM is happy to announce legendary K-smash and the amazing Patience as new Breakfast show hosts and appluad Hope and Chi for being game changers of morning radio in Zambia and hosting the show for 8 years. The format of the show will not change but will have a few new and exciting elements added for the listening pleasure,however, it will remain the voice of the people in the nation, “said Mr. Oscar Chavula.
He further urged listeners to embrace the change and support the new breakfast hosts as their combination is not new to Zambian radio and television adding that K-smash and Patience have a proven track record of professionalism and excellent delivery in broadcasting due to their talent, skills, passion, knowledge of the industry and vast expereince .
Hope and Flava who have been hosting the breakfast show since Febarury this year will move to evening radio on ‘Radio after 6’ week days from 18 to 21 hours while Gary Masano will host Sunday Chillz from 18 to 21 Hrs.
Patriotic Front (PF) Kantanshi Member of Parliament Anthony Mumba has warned that the continued refusal by UPND leadership to recognize President Edgar Lungu as head of state will take the opposition political party into oblivion.
“They might just lose the focus and become irrelevant in the next five years; so they need to take introspective and check what they believe before they go into oblivion,” Mr Mumba said.
He said in an interview that it was irrelevant for UPND president Hakainde Hichilema and his leaders to continue living in denial when every Zambian including the UPND supporters had accepted that President Lungu was the head of state.
Mr Hichilema and his vice Geoffrey Mwamba as well as senior leaders have refused to recognize the election of Mr Lungu on claims that the last year’s elections were rigged.
But Mr Mumba noted that the continued refusal to accept that Mr Lungu the current president of Zambia had a potential to disturb the peace that the country was enjoying and derail the economic path.
“The Zambianshave spoken and I think the role of the opposition is to provide checks and balances to the ruling party so that we have development for every Zambian,” he said.
“But the stance taken by UPND that they will not recognize the president I think they are just wasting time because everyone has already recognized and the president; I think they should up their game otherwise they will be rendered irrelevant.”
He noted that the opposition political party had been associated with violence and antagonism since last year when it lost the general elections and urged the leadership to resume the role of the opposition party.
The parliamentarians, however said President Lungu for exercising exceptional restrain even when some of the claims by the opposition party bordered on criminality.
Mr Mumba said it was also a myth and misconception for the UPND to suggest that the opposition political party was getting stronger on the Copperbelt.
He warned that becoming a member of parliament had become competitive and opposition parliamentarians would be wasting their time to fulfil their campaign promises because of the current antagonism
