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HH , Saunders and GBM before leaving for MonguUnited Party for National Development (UPND) President Hakainde Hichilema and his vice Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba have left Lusaka for Mongu in Western Province to attend the Kuomboka Ceremony slated for tomorrow the 8th April, 2017.
Mr Hichilema on Monday the 3rd April, 2017, disclosed that he will attend the Kuomboka Traditional ceremony alongside his Vice President Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba.
The UPND leaders said they want to be among the thousands of people commemorating the traditional ceremony of the Lozi speaking people of Western Province where even some foreign dignitaries will be there to witness the memorable event.
Mr Hichilema also revealed that while in Western province is also expected to hold meetings with some chiefs to discuss various thorny issues in the country.
He also disclosed that will afterwards inspect some of the developmental projects in the education and health sectors which he has been implementing in his individual capacity.
“We are now going to the western province with my Vice President GBM to attend the Kuomboka ceremony” Hichilema said
President Edgar Lungu is expected to grace this year’s Kuomboka traditional ceremony of the Lozi people set for Saturday, 8th April according to Minister of Home Affairs Steven Kampyongo who disclosed the development when he called on Western Province Minister Nathaniel Mubukwanu in Mongu on 5th April, 2017 in the morning.
FILE: UPND National Chairperson Mutale Nalumango briefs visiting Commonwealth Deputy Secretary General-Political, Dr. Josephine Ojiambo as HH looks onUnited Party for National Development (UPND) National Chairperson Mutale Nalumango has said the UPND is ready to dialogue as it is more civil than violence.
In a statement unveiled to the media today the 7th April, 2017, Ms. Nalumango said UPND has noted the reasonable call by the Human Rights Commission on the need for dialogue among political parties especially between the UPND and the PF.
She said UPND have always called for continued dialogue among citizens and all organizations as that is the only way many challenges affecting Zambians can be addressed, adding that through dialogue even those who hold different views from the UPND some consensus can be reached and in turn achieve harmony, peace and unity in Zambia.
Ms. Nalumango was hasty to mention that the condition PF leadership is putting that they cannot dialogue until UPND recognize President Lungu as president of Zambia is just part of the problem with regard to the rule of law.
She explicated that the matter of recognition and legitimacy is still subject to the decisions in the courts of laws after the petition has been heard as provided by the constitution and other laws of the land and that should not hinder dialogue so that peace and unity can be maintained in Zambia.
“We are ready to dialogue as it is more civil than violence because this has been always our called for a continued dialogue among citizens and all organizations as that is the only way many challenges affecting Zambians can be addressed” Nalumango said
Mukula TreeDar es Salaam — Zambian authorities have seized about 200 Tanzanian trucks carrying logs from the DR Congo, according to the Tanzania Truck Owners Association (Tatoa) claims.
Tatoa chairperson Angelina Ngalula said more than 400 Tanzanian drivers and their turn boys are also allegedly held in Zambia.
Ms Ngalula told reporters in Dar es Salaam yesterday that the Zambian authorities believe the logs are from the Southern Africa country, and not from the DR Congo.
In February, Zambia banned the export of logs to curb deforestation.
However, Tatoa claims the logs were in transit to the Dar es Salaam Port from the DRC. Ms Ngalula claimed the drivers had all documents to prove that the logs were from the DRC.
The Tatoa official said more trucks were stranded in the DRC as drivers were afraid to cross the Zambian border.
“The truck drivers fulfilled all customs procedures and they were allowed to cross the DRC-Zambia border, but they were later arrested in Zambia,” said Ms Ngalula. Most of the trucks were seized at the Nakonde border, Ms Ngalula said.
Tatoa managing director Rahim Dossa said they had already notified the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation about it. But when reached for comment, the ministry’s spokesperson Mindi Kasiga said she wasn’t aware of the Tatoa letter.
She referred this reporter to the Tanzanian High Commissioner to Zambia. Efforts to contact the High Commissioner failed as the call was not answered. However, one official at the ministry, who preferred anonymity, confirmed the ministry had received Tatoa complaints.
The source told The Citizen that the government has since written to the Tanzanian embassy in Lusaka.
Ambassador Yang Youming wife talks to First Lady Esther Lungu at State House on Tuesday, April 4th 2017
Rainbow Party Secretary General Wynter Kabimba has written to the Chinese Embassy in Zambia raising objection over its recent donation of K200,000 cash to the Esther Lungu Foundation.
Mr Kabimba wants the Chinese Embassy to withdraw the donation saying the act of donating such an astronomical amount of money to the spouse of the President amounts to corruption.
He said it is wrong and against diplomatic convention practice for the Chinese Ambassador’s wife to donate K200,000 to First Lady Esther Lungu.
In a letter addressed to Ambassador Yang Youming, Kabimba described the donation as improper, unethical and corrupt.
“On Tuesday 04th April, 2017, during the ZNBC main news at 19:00 hours, I saw a clip in which your spouse was presenting a cheque in excess of K200,000 as a donation to the First Lady, Mrs Esther Lungu’s foundation on behalf of the embassy. The said donation, according to your spouse was the first of the annual installments to the foundation. Whereas Zambian laws do not prohibit such donations as per se, a donation coming from a foreign embassy and/or government to a personal charity led by a First Lady is not only wrong, improper and unethical, but wholly outside the purview of the normal diplomatic conversions and practices,” Mr. Kabimba wrote.
He also wondered what criteria was used to pick First Lady Esther’s foundation as the recipient.
“Our position as the Rainbow Party is that the act undertaken by the embassy through your wife is tantamount to corruption. As you are very well aware, Mrs Lungu is and has been a principal and active campaigner of the Patriotic Front, a role which has a thin line with her purported foundation. In this vein, we view the donation as Rainbow Party as nothing but the financing of PF as a political party by your government through this foundation which is not accountable to any established board of trustees or subject to any rules and regulations,” wrote Mr. Kabimba.
“This is, therefore, political interference by your government in the domestic affairs of another sovereign state. In this regard, we demand that you furnish us with the criteria you used to make the donation in question to Mrs Lungu’s foundation out of the many existing old charities in the country. We also demand that the donation be withdrawn immediately. Yours faithfully, Wynter Kabimba.”
And appearing on Hot FM Hot Seat radio programme, Mr Kabimba said there are many deserving charities such as SOS and Cheshire Homes who can have received that donation.
“If the Chinese really cared for this country, they could have donated that money to resolving the situation at UNZA, maybe build UNZA library which is collapsing,” he said.
Mr Kabimba demanded that the Chinese Embassy discloses the source of that K200,000.
“Was the money from Chinese Government or the Chinese business community in Zambia? I want them to tell us the sources.
They money was handed over by the Ambassador’s wife. There is everything wrong. Mrs Xi Jinping can never receive money in that manner. It is never allowed in other countries by international conventions. We shall not allow any foreign company or mission to come and interfere in the internal affairs of this country by financing one political party against the other. We won’t allow this mischievousness. We shall unearth the truth about this matter,” he said.
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Catherine Phiri says she’s optimistic she can reclaim her WBC title.
Catherine relinquished her hold on WBC World female bantamweight title following a split points defeat to Mexican Mariana Trejo in Mexico City on April 2.
“It was a hard fight because she used her exp[experience and prepared well,” Catherine said.
“She is a tough boxer. Nevertheless, I will not give up, I will reclaim the title.
“I know i failed to fulfil the promise to the fans by not successfully defending the belt.
“I will bounce back and make amends for it.”
The defeat is Catherine’s second of her 13 fight career since losing to Christina McMahon two fights ago in May, 2015 in Lusaka on points.
Secretary General Stephen KatukaUnited Party for National Development (UPND) Secretary General Steven Katuka has said his party has suffered both physical and emotional abuse at the hands of the Patriotic Front (PF) leadership under President Edgar Lungu.
Katuka, who bemoaned what he termed as abuse to the opposition by the PF led Government, explained that violence has become more pronounced in the last six years of the PF leadership than other successful Zambian Governments.
And Katuka said the demands for the deregistration of UPND are ill-intended and misplaced, adding that the UPND has been at pain more than any other political party in Zambia as most of its members have died at the hands of police service and the PF cadres while others are languishing in prisons across the country.
Mr Katuka has since urged and warned what he termed briefcase Political parties in Zambia to cease being front runners of the PF’s evil scheme of taking Zambia to the one party state, affirming that the PF’s scheme to take back Zambia into one party state will not spare them as opposition political parties in the country, unless they have not intentions of being in Government at some point.
“The briefcase political parties in Zambia should not be used by the PF to champion their evil agenda of taking Zambia back to one party state,” Katuka said
Meanwhile, Zambia Direct Democracy Movement (ZDDM) President Edwin Sakala on behalf of 16 political parties insists that UPND should be deregistered because of that has engulfed the country for some time now.
Sakala further stated that the reason for other opposition political parties in Zambia to demand for deregistration of the UPND is because six months after elections the entire UPND leadership has failed to recognize President Lungu as a dully elected president of Zambia in the 2016 general elections.
“UPND should just be deregistered to curb violence in Zambia and because they have failed to recognize the president six months down the line” Sakala said
But National Restoration Party (NAREP) Lusaka province information and publicity secretary Richard Malilwe has distanced the Elias Chipimo led Party from the group that wants UPND deregistered.
Malilwe said there is nothing wrong with what the UPND has done to deserve deregistration.
Maliwe noted that deregistering the UPND would mean going to the costly exercise of by-elections and currently Zambia has no money to undergo such an expensive exercise.
“The UPND has done nothing wrong and deregistering UPND will be costly to the country” Malilwe said
Rural Electrification Authority (REA) Corporate Affairs Manager Justine Mukosa has said works on Kasanjiku Mini Hydro Power Station in Chief Ntambu’s area in Mwinilunga District in Northern Province will resume in May.
Speaking at a media briefing Thursday, Mukosa explained that the Hydro Power project went on recess in November last year as a result of heavy rains.
He said the authority will commence the construction on the water canal, the dam, power house, multi-facility building, and other support structures like staff houses.
Mukosa also disclosed that K 40.6 Million has been set aside for the project this year with a total cost of US$ 8.7 Dollars for the completion of the project by 2018.
“We are resuming our project in may which went on recess owing to heavy rains this year ” Mukosa said
All is set for the UK Easter Bonanza, to be graced by International Mega – stars Jordan Katembula popularly known as ‘JK’ and ‘Wile’.
In an interview with Lusaka Times, Big 4 Rocks Events coordinator & founder, Chela Katwishi disclosed that JK and Wile are geared up and promising funs a magical and spectacular show to be held both in London on Sunday 16th April at the Royal Regency Banquet Hall and Manchester on Friday 14th April at the Indulge Banquet Hall.
Katwishi said that Big 4 Rocks decided to put up a show, not only in London but Manchester too because they would like to bring professional entertainment to the hardworking UK – based Zambian community and friends of Zambia at their door – steps.
He said that JK & Wile are expected to jet into the UK from Zambia on or just before 11th April in readiness for the two shows saying that fans should come early to avoid disappointment.
Katwishi also disclosed that Big 4 Rocks, comprising Businessman & former Valentinos DJ Eddie Musonda; Businessman & former professional footballer Stan Sikwese and Broadcast Journalist Chela Katwishi, will continue to embark on supporting charities and the under – privileged children in Zambia.
He said that the shows will be curtain – raised by new upstart Blessed Hildah, while award winning DJ Blair will handle the decks.
Katwishi thanked BIG 4 Rocks clients for their continued unwavering support and emphasized that 2017 is a year of abundant blessings not only for Big 4 Rocks but for their clients too.
The bus donated to promotion side Real Nakonde by President Edgar Lungu.
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has donated a 62-seater Higer Bus to promoted MTN-FAZ Super league side, Real Nakonde.
The President has since called for more efforts among clubs to help tap talent from various sport disciplines across the country.
Presidential Affairs Minister Freedom Sikazwe handed over the bus at State House yesterday, which was bought at a cost of K2 million, much to the delight of the club.
Sikazwe said the donation of the bus was a clear fulfilment of President Lungu’s promise to the club recently when he visited Nakonde that he was going to aid the team with transport.
“The procurement of this bus is an appreciation from the President over the excellent performance of this football club and has fulfilled his promise of buying a bus,” he said.
Sikazwe said President Lungu was impressed with the performance of the team and challenged other football clubs to work hard to lift the profile of the country’s sport.
He said President Lungu wants to see more clubs enhancing the talent identification scheme of tapping talents from the remotest parts of the country.
Patriotic Front Nakonde member of Parliament Yizukanji Siwanzi hailed the President for his generosity by fulfilling his promise of empowering the club.
Siwanzi appealed to the corporate world to help with sponsorship of the club which currently has no support from any organisation.
Technical team director Ernest Kabaghe said the donation was a huge motivation as it would enable the team to cover long distances for games.
POLICE have gunned down two criminals in an exchange of fire in Lusaka’s Makeni area after thwarting a planned robbery.
The incident happened around 13:00 hours yesterday as police ambushed the robbers who were about to stage a heist.
Police spokesperson Esther Katongo said earlier, police received intelligence reports that criminals were about to stage a robbery in Makeni area.
The thieves had laid an ambush for an Indian who was going towards that site from Makeni.
Police officers rushed to the area and found a white Toyota Corolla, whose number plate was covered with mud and two men on board.
Ms Katongo said upon seeing the police, the driver of the Corolla sped off heading towards Kanyama Township leaving two companions behind who had stepped out of the vehicle.
“The thieves exchanged fire with police and they were shot. They were pronounced dead upon arrival at the University Teaching Hospitals,” Ms Katongo said.
An AK 47 rifle was recovered with seven rounds of ammunition.
The deceased had not yet been identified and police are hunting for the other two run-away suspects.
President Edgar Lungu with Government Printer Mr Charles Zimba duringthe tour of Government Printers in Lusaka on wednesday 22-03-2017- Picture by Eddie Mwanaleza/StatehousePRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has directed National Development Planning Minister Lucky Mulusa to immediately implement the performance management system to add impetus to the performance of the public service workers towards economic growth.
President Lungu noted that the performance system would also reduce the unnecessary dismissals of civil servants, among other benefits.
The President also tasked Vice-President Inonge Wina and Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe to set up an inter-ministerial council to coordinate investment inflow into the country.
Mr Mulusa said President Lungu wanted to the performance management system to be effected to monitor the performance of civil servants and expose those with a ‘lazy’ work attitude.
“The President wants this system to be effected as soon as possible to monitor the performance of civil servants. It will also be linked to rewards and sanctions unlike at the moment, it’s difficult to know who is working hard or not,” he said.
Mr Mulusa, who was in the company of his Permanent Secretary Chola Chabala, was speaking to journalists at State House yesterday after presenting a quarterly report on the ministry to Mr Lungu.
He said the ministry was making project appraisals to ensure funding was allocated for the completion of projects, and his ministry would roll out a project to install one milling plant in each of the 10 provinces.
The facilities would be set up in districts with huge maize production in addition to already existing solar powered milling plants by the Zambia Cooperative Federation.
Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda said the facilities would help to reduce the cost of mealie meal production and lead to low cost of the commodity in the market.
Ms Mwanakatwe said President Lungu had tasked Ms Wina and herself to set up an inter-ministerial council to coordinate trade and investment inflows.
She told journalists after presenting her ministry’s report to Mr Lungu that all huge investments would be coordinated through relevant ministries.
Mr Lungu directed Ms Mwanakatwe to ensure Zambians take part in growing the economy and set up economic zones in border posts such as Kasumbalesa in additional to incorporating trade missions abroad to woo investors.
Finance Minister Felix Mutati was directed to come up with more reforms that would increase collection of domestic revenue.
Mr Mutati, who also presented a quarterly report to the President, told journalists that Mr Lungu’s desire was for the country to reduce on external borrowings, but enhance domestic revenue mobilisation.
Some of the Houses constructed for Police OfficersThe Parliamentary Committee on Local Government, Housing and Chiefs Affairs says Government has shown commitment towards alleviating the 1.5 million housing deficit in the Country.
Committee Chairman Maxwell Kabanda says the project in Ndola to build 8 thousand low, medium and high cost houses under Public Private Partnership- PPP is a milestone in the Country’s history.
Mr. Kabanda said this after paying a courtesy call on Copperbelt Minister Bowman Lusambo in Ndola.
The Law maker says a fortnight ago, Minister of Home Affairs Stephen Kampyongo handed over 200 housing units to officers at Mukobeko Recreation Facility.
The Committee Chairperson says the Head of State recently officiated at a ground breaking ceremony of 2000 housing units for ZNS houses.
The MMD Serenje Member of Parliament says such efforts are important in cutting on the housing deficit which might hit 3 Million if nothing is done by the year 2020.
Mr. Kabanda also says the Parliamentary Committee on Local Government, Housing and Chiefs Affairs has recommended that the contractor who built houses at Chindwin Baracks should rectify mistakes.
He says the committee has observed that the 60 thousand capacity water tank is leaking while some prefab houses have started falling apart especially kitchens.
Zambia’s home-based team goes into camp in Lusaka this Sunday.
Wedson Nyirenda has summoned 27 players for the three-day camp in Lusaka as he steps up preparations for their Kenya 2018 CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) first round qualifier against Swaziland coming up in July.
“We will be in camp starting from Sunday and the coach has added more players that he wants to look at,” Zambia team manager Chris Chibuye said.
The team includes a debut call-ups for Nkana goalkeeper Kelvin Malunga, Green Eagles striker Green Lwitika including the Lumwana Radiants midfielder duo of Hillary Bwalya and Eddie Sinyangwe.
Chibuye said all the Zesco United players have been excused from the get-together due to their 2017 CAF confederation Cup pre-group stage engagements against Enugu rangers away on April 9 and at home on April 15.
GOALKEEPERS: Allan Chibwe (Power Dynamos), Kelvin Malunga (Nkana), Racha Kola (Zanaco)
DEFENDERS: Billy Mutale (Power Dynamos), George Chilufya, Ziyo Tembo, Taonga Bwembya (all Zanaco), Given Sinyangwe, Donashano Malama (both Nkana), Mumbi Mweene, Adrian Chama (both Green Buffaloes), Isaac Siamujompa (Nchanga Rangers)
MIDFIELDERS:Fwayo Tembo, Kelvin Mubanga (both Power Dynamos), Richard Kasonde, Augustine Mulenga (both Zanaco), Clatous Chama (Lusaka Dynamos), Austin Banda (Napsa Stars), Eddie Sinyangwe, Hilary Bwalya (both Lumwana Radiants), Jacob Ngulube (Nkana)
STRIKERS: Ronald Kampamba (Nkana), Mwila Phiri (Green Eagles), Justin Shonga (Nkwazi), Green Lwitika (Green Eagles), Chitiya Mususu (Napsa Stars)
United Progressive People (UPP) leader Saviour Chishimba
The Lusaka High Court has granted an EXP PARTE Order of Interim Injunction to the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) stopping United Progressive People (UPP) leader Saviour Chishimba from issuing any statements concerning his corruption allegations leveled against the authority as the case is now in court.
Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) Cooperate and Communications manager Topsy Sikalinda has disclosed that the Lusaka High Court restrained Dr. Saviour Chishimba or his attorneys and employees from publishing or broadcasting or causing to be published or broadcast, malicious statements that can damage the good reputation of the plaintiff the Zambia revenue authority.
Sikalinda said the inter Partes hearing of the matter in court shall be heard and determined by the Lusaka High Court on the 18th day of April 2017 at 12:00 hours.
The defendant, Saviour Chishimba, was yesterday sued by the ZRA for malicious falsehoods regarding his revelations at the authority.
