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Zesco United are hoping to clear the first hurdle this weekend in their quest to end a seven year absence from the CAF Champions League group stage.
The Ndola side and defending FAZ Super Division champions face Stade Malien of Mali on Saturday (kickoff: 20h00) in a last 16, first leg match in Bamako.
Zesco will later host Stade Malien on April 20 in the final leg that will decide who goes through to the group stage that kicks-off in June.
The side has fond memories of Bamako where their journey to a debut group stage appearance was engineered in 2009 under the late Fighton Simukonda.
Zesco drew 0-0 and won 2-1 at home against Djoliba to become the first Zambian club to play in the group stage of a continental competition.
“This is the third team we are playing in the Champions League this year but it is no excuse as we will go an extra mile,” Zesco goalkeeper and captain Jacob Banda said.
Zesco have some personnel absentees for the match with key players midfielder Cletus Chama and defender David Owino suspended.
Chama was sent off on March 20 in Zesco’s 2-0 away loss to Horoya in Guinea while Owino accrued his second caution in the competition.
And so Mathews Nkowani is likely to replace Chama while Kondwani Mtonga could stand in for Owino.
President Edgar Lungu pose photo with NGOCC at State House
President Edgar Lungu has met the board of the Non Governmental Coordinating Council (NGOCC) at State House in Lusaka today. The President and the NGOCC team discussed a wide range of issues.
The issues discussed included the challenges women face, gender equality, political violence, high cost of leaving and the amended constitution.
Below id the NGOCC Submission.
NGOCC GENDER SUBMISSIONS TO HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT EDGAR LUNGU, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA, 8TH APRIL 2016
YOUR EXCELLENCY,
We are grateful for according us this opportunity to discuss with you some of the issues affecting the majority of women who have remained, to a considerable extent, sidelined from participating in, and benefiting from the various national development processes over the years. Despite the fact that the number of women is higher than men (constituting 52% of the total population), women have, over the past years, continued to face obstacles in fully participating in various local and national development processes and programs, and in the political process.
It is evident that society, due to entrenched patriarchy, still has a bias towards the male gender which continues to disproportionately access various services and benefits. Efforts to change the status of women in Zambia have continued to be frustrated by a number of legal impediments and inadequate political will. The effects of discrimination against women are exacerbated in a society suffering from major problems such as shortage of resources, poverty, inequalities in wealth and a high prevalence of HIV and AIDS.
Brief About NGOCC
The Non-Governmental Organizations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) is a body registered under the Societies Act, of the Laws of Zambia. NGOCC was established by a few Zambian women NGOs in 1985, after the United Nations’ World Conference on women held in Nairobi Kenya. The establishment of NGOCC was born out of the realization that the process of empowering women needed concerted efforts. Hence, NGOCC was born to facilitate networking at national, regional, and international levels in issues of Gender and development. Within its 30 years of existence, NGOCC has become recognized as the focal point of the women’s movement in Zambia and has a current membership of 104 both NGOs and Community based Organizations countrywide.
Guided by our vision of “A society where women fully participate and benefit from social, cultural, economic, and political development” NGOCC uniquely stands on its mission “To champion gender equality and equity through coordinated institutional and capacity development support to members, advocacy, and linkages with local and international partners. Over the years, NGOCC has been involved in advocacy work towards the achievement of its vision and objectives.
SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WOMEN FACE
(A) Feminization of Poverty
The poverty rate for Zambia is over 60% with rural poverty at 78% and urban at 28%. Feminisation of poverty remains the broad characteristic of the Zambian poverty profile. Women’s poverty in peri-urban and rural areasis a major factor which contributes to their increased vulnerability to disease, lower food insecurity, lower levels of educational attainment and lower access to basic services.
(B) Maternal & Child Health
While recognizing the improvements in the maternal mortality rate, we realiase that the rate is still high at 591 out of 100, 000 live birthswhile the infant mortality rate is 70 per 1000 live births. Young women become mothers early with 35% of women giving birth before the age 18 putting them at high risk of maternal mortality.
(C) HIV & AIDS
In Zambia, of the more than 900, 000 people living with HIV, 57% are women. (LCM 2010). The incidence and prevalence of HIV and AIDS continues to affect women more than men. The prevalence rate for HIV and AIDS in Zambia is 14.3% and girls are being more infected than boys.
(D) Gender Based Violence
Zambia is an example of having enacted a comprehensive legislation aimed at combating and ending gender based violence at all levels. The Anti Gender Based Violence Act of 2011 provides for a number of progressive interventions that requires holistic approaches and the broad participation of citizens. We note the need to adequately resource the Zambia Police with logistical support, materials and human resource capacities to handle cases of GBV – this, by and large still remains a challenge. The role of traditional and community leaders is also a progressive step to ensure that GBV is fought right within the communities. The NGOCC network members, amid resource constraints, and working with other stakeholders, have continued to provide the needed community support and sensitization in this regard – leading to high numbers of reported cases generally.
YOUR EXCELLENCY,
As an organization concerned with contributing to a society where women participate and benefit fully from national development endeavors, we additionally have the following concerns:
(E) Constitution Making Process
Regarding the amended Constitution, as an organization we were opposed to the route the Government took to amend the constitution, because Zambia has never had a people driven constitution since Independence (1964), whereas the underlying principle of a constitution is that it is given by the people to the government, and not the other way round. After a thorough analysis of the final Draft Constitution, there are a number of positive provisions that we feel would have advanced the status of women, especially a system of proportional representation system to increase the proportion of women in parliament, and provincial assemblies to increase women’s participation in a more decentralized form of government.
In addition, we are opposed to the holding of the National Referendum together with the general elections on 11th August 2016. Holding the two important national processes together has the potential to create confusion amongst the voters. It would be appropriate to hold the National Referendum separately from the general elections. The National Referendum, like the constitution itself, must be above and separate from party politics. We are concerned that while there is agreement that a National Referendum must be held, there is little that is being done in preparation, such as civic education of the citizenry on the content of the Bill of Rights, and putting in placea legal framework and budgetary provision to enable the Referendum process. Instead political players seem preoccupied with the politicking that comes with the General Election.
(F) promoting gender equality in decision making
The women’s movement commends Your Excellency for your commitment towards the appointment of women in decision making, such as your appointment of the first woman Vice President, and your appointment of the second successive women as Chief Justice. We also commend your political party’s pronouncement to reserve a 40 percent quota for the adoption of women at Parliamentary and Local Government levels. However, we note that this quota should be 50 percent according to Zambia’s commitments under the 2008 SADC Gender Protocol. We further commend your declaring that you will adopt a woman as your running mate in the August 11 elections.
Currently there are only 13% women at parliamentary level, 23% at cabinet level and 6% at local government level. A number of reasons have been advanced for the low level participation of women in politics; however, one of the reasons has generally been the decision by political parties not to adopt women as candidates for elections.
As an organization, we have been instrumental and party to the formulation of the Gender Equity and Equality Act. We are glad that this Act has come to effect as it seeks to domesticate the various international and regional instruments and has the provisions for the establishment of a Gender Equality Commission. We also take cognizance of your directive to a Ministerial Committee to work on operationalizing this very important institution.As an organization we envisage a professional Commission and hope that men and women appointed to run this institution will have the needed skill and integrity. Working with the Ministry of Gender, NGOCC is available to make some propositions for your further consideration as you make the said appointments.
(G) Political violence
As a women’s movement, we are concerned with the high levels of political violence in the country that seem to be escalating. Political violence is one of the reasons why women stayed away from politics, and the present situation is worse than ever before. Women feel unsafe to participate in politics with the high incidences of political violence. The wearing of military regalia by party cadres is not only intimidating and frightening, but also contravenes the provisions of the Public Order Act.
(H) High Cost of Living
The women’s movement is also concerned with the high cost of living and especially with the recent price hike and shortage of mealie-meal in the country.According to the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflections (JCTR), Basic Needs Basket, the cost of a monthly food basket for a family of six is about K4, 300, which is beyond the reach of most families and is indicative of the prevalence of poverty and malnutrition. The high price of fuel and the shortage and electricity have served to worsen the problems women face in household financing and management.
YOUR EXCELLENCY,
In conclusion, the women’s movement demands the following:
1. Quick transition to prudent economic management and fiscal discipline to stabilize the economy and eliminate the looming economic shut-down and deaths from hunger.
2. Hold a Referendum separate from the General Election to ensure the approval and subsequent enactment of the expanded Bill of Rights, which is critical to the wellbeing of women, youths, people with disability, the elderly and the poor, and which outlaws discrimination and introduces Social, Economic and Cultural Rights.
3. Implement the resolutions of the recently held indaba with political party leaders in order to avoid incidences of political violence; implement of the provisions of the Public Order Act which precludes the wearing of military style uniforms by party cadres. The Head of State should return Zambia to its reputation as a peaceful country by ensuring free and fair elections.
4. Quick appointment and operationalization of the Gender Equity and Equality Commission, which we envisage to be a professional body comprising women and men of integrity to ensure that gender discrimination is eliminated from Zambian society.
5. As Head of State,encourage political parties to adopt a quota of 50 percent women amongst candidates for political office, and to adopt clear workable procedures to ensure this result. and the Constitutional provision for enacting a Political parties act;
6. Spearhead the enactment of the Political Parties Act as provided by the amended Republican Constitution that ensures a quota of 50 percent women representation in the political process.
7. Retable in parliament the following constitutional amendments to:
(i) Introduce Proportional Representation into the electoral system, as in the original Draft Constitution, in order to increase women’s participation in politics
(ii) Introduce Provincial Assemblies, as in the original Draft Constitution, in order to include women and men at grassroots level to participate in the affairs affecting their lives.
8. Whilst we appreciate the accelerated efforts and your personal involvement and commitment through the HeForShe Campaign, we call upon your Excellency to take a keen interest into what is happening and support other locally initiated campaigns such as the Good Husband Campaign, I Care About Her Campaign, among others. It is our expectation Sir, that the much awaited Gender Based Violence Fund and shelters, as provided for in the Act, will soon be operationalized and made accessible to support the many survivors of violence, who mostly are women and girls.
I thank you.
Yours In-the-Service of the nation, for/NGOCC
Sara Hlupekile Longwe CHAIRPERSON
President Edgar Lungu speaks to NGOCC member of board of trustee Dorothy Hamwele (c) and NGOCC chairperson Sarah Longwe at State HousePresident Edgar Lungu speaks to NGOCC member of board of trustee Dorothy Hamwele (c) and NGOCC chairperson Sarah Longwe at State House
Zanaco are seeking to enhance their chances of reaching the group stages of the 2016 CAF Confederation Cup as they face Tunisia’s Stade Gabesien in the second round.
The Bankers on Saturday host Stade Gabesien in a second round, first leg match at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka.
Zanaco are hoping to record a positive result at home ahead of the return leg scheduled for April 19 in Tunisia.
Coach Mumamba Numba is praying that the winning start in the FAZ Super Division will motivate Zanaco when they clash against Stade Gabesien.
The 2015 Super Division runners-up beat Nchanga Rangers 2-0 away on Sunday in a Week 3 fixture to make a 100 percent start to their domestic campaign.
“I think the win gives us a good starting point and it is a motivation for the upcoming game in the Confederation Cup,” Numba said.
“We are now focusing on facing the Tunisia club and we really have to work hard.”
Zanaco advanced to the second round of the Confederation Cup after a 5-2 aggregate win over Harare City of Zimbabwe in March.
The Lusaka club enjoyed a preliminary round bye from this year’s Confederation Cup.
MONGU Central Member of Parliament Nathaniel Mubukwanu has described the completion of the Mongu/Kalabo road as a huge achievement for the Patriotic Front (PF).
Mr Mubukwanu who is also Southern Province Minister said the Mongu/Kalabo road was one of the difficult projects that the PF government had undertaken and the news of completion has brought excitement to the people of Mongu .
He said previous governments tried to work on the project but did not yield any positive results as they had failed but the PF government has delivered.
“That is good news, this has exonerated the commitment of the PF government and this will go down in history as one of the most difficult projects,” he said.
He said since the project has now been completed they would soon look at the long term project of connecting the road to border so that Zambia could easily trade with Angola.
He has since appealed to the RDA to immediately work on putting up the toll gates on the new constructed road so that it could easily generate income.
“We need this concept of toll gates on this road so that it would be able to generate income for road incase of any maintenance works,” he said.
This Mongu-Kalabo road project was about 34 Kilometres stretch with 26 bridges was done by Avic International, at a cost of about US $286.9 million dollars.
Before the construction of the road Kalabo residents traveling to Mongu were using canoes and spent long hours on the water.
On Thursday RDA Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs Loyce Saili announced the successful completion of the project.
Former AGRICULTURE and Livestock Minister Wylbur Simuusa
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu’s re-election will largely depend on the popularity and credibility of the parliamentary candidates the Patriotic Front (PF) will adopt for the 11th August a general election, Wilber Simuusa has said.
Mr Simuusa, who is Nchanga PF member of Parliament, said the parliamentary candidates would be the ‘‘running mates’’ to President Lungu and if the ruling party was going to make a mistake of adopting candidates that were unpopular, there was a danger that the Head of State would find it difficult to win the presidency.
He said while President Lungu had remained popular and likeable by many Zambians, it would be the popularity and credibility of the candidates that would be adopted that would make the PF win the general elections in the first count of the vote.
Mr Simuusa said in an interview yesterday that there was need for close scrutiny of the parliamentary candidates because the electorate had become enlightened and new the kind of people they wanted to represent them in Parliament.
He said serving MPs who had remained loyal to the party and had performed well in their constituencies should be given preference because they were on the ground and would easily retain their seats with majority votes.
Mr Simuusa said there was a general perception in the ruling party that the PF had been infiltrated by outsiders who were positioning themselves to be considered for adoption at the expense of loyal members who had worked hard for the party for a long time.
Mr Simuusa said some of the serving MPs had misunderstood a statement by PF deputy secretary general Mumbi Phiri that unpopular candidates would not be re-adopted and should therefore be assured that their constituencies would not be given to people from outside the ruling party.
“I would in fact state that the candidates the PF will adopt will be running mates to President Lungu because they are the people who will make it possible for the Head of State to get re-elected. If we are going to have candidates that are unpopular, there is a danger that the President will have difficulties in getting re-elected.
‘‘We also have to deal with the general perception that the PF has been infiltrated by outsiders some of whom had been hostile to the leadership of the party. The perceived outsiders are positioning themselves to get adopted and are eyeing the constituencies of faithful and loyal serving MPs who have grip on their seats,” Mr Simuusa said.
Mr Simuusa said the PF had remained the most popular political party and that the adoption process had attracted a lot of aspiring candidates.
He said in his constituency, eight people including himself had applied to contest the seat on the PF ticket and cautioned that care would have to be taken in the selection of candidates if victory was guaranteed.
He said people were keen on knowing who would be adopted and that those who had immensely contributed to the growth of the PF should not be abandoned.
A South African consortium of companies, Edgy Nicollo Group, has shown interest in partnering with the Lusaka City Council in a pilot project to provide free wi-fi services to residents of
Lusaka.
Zambian High Commissioner to South Africa, Emmanuel Mwamba last week led a delegation of eight members from Edgy Nicollo Group, among them William Makgatho, the Technical Director and Gugulethu Gwamanda, the Project Director.
The delegation held talks with officials from the Ministry of Local Government and Housing, led by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Amos Malupenga and Lusaka City Council officials led by the Town Clerk, Mr. Alex Mwansa, on their expression of interest to provide the service.
The Council will identify a service provider to help with the technical aspect of the project and once implemented, the Wi-Fi project will help the council brand its image, improve service provision and also enhance interaction with members of the public on the various services offered and on different issues affecting the community.
Mr. Malupenga said government appreciates initiatives such as the one being offered by Nicollo Group and hoped that it helps in creating an enabling environment for Councils to effectively and efficiently provide services to the general public.
“As government, these are the kind of projects we encourage because they keep councils in direct contact with people in the communities,” Mr. Malupenga said.
Mr. Mwamba said he bought into the idea when he was approached by officials from Edgy Nicollo Group; especially on the aspect that the consortium has so far partnered with three cities in South Africa, among them Ekurhuleni Municipality who already have a sister-to-sister understanding with the Lusaka City Council.
“I was particularly excited when I was approached by Edgy Nicollo Group and when they informed me that they have an understanding with the Lusaka City Council on a sister to sister basis and basing on what I have seen with what they have done with Ekurhuleni Municipality where service provision has been made so easy through the use of Wi-Fi; I decided to set up this appointment,” Mr. Mwamba said.
And Mr. Mwansa said he was impressed with the free Wi-Fi service project offer by Edgy Nicollo Group because of the wonderful benefits that it was promising and it will bring to the general public, especially the youth.
The Town Clerk said the free Wi-Fi service will also help the general public to electronically pay for various services provided by the local authority such as property rates, ground rent, business permits, fire certificates, marriage certificates, building plans, firearms, liquor and health permits e.g., restaurant operating licenses; among others.
The Council will identify hotspot zones such as parks and community centres across the city for Wi-Fi services to enable members of the public to interact with the council for efficient and effective public service delivery.
Wi-Fi is a term for types of wireless local area networks (WLAN) and is widely used in businesses, agencies, schools, and homes as an alternative to a wired LAN.
Wi-Fi is the name of a popular wireless networking technology that uses radio waves to provide wireless high-speed Internet and network connections.
Michael Chilala Examinations Council of Zambia Director
THE Examinations Council of Zambia (ECZ) says it has recorded numerous cases of candidates aspiring for political office being found with forged Grade 12 school certificates.
This follows, among other key requirements by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), that aspiring candidates for the August 11 general elections must have a full grade 12 certificate inclusive of English.
The institution had since been reporting such cases of forgery to police after identifying owners of the documents.
Scores of people aspiring to contest the August 11 general elections are verifying their grade 12 certificates at the ECZ in Lusaka.
ECZ director Michael Chilala said yesterday that officers were identifying numerous cases of forged certificates from some people during the verification exercise at the service centre in Lusaka.
Dr Chilala said in an interview at his office that the institution was, however, reporting such cases to the police for onward prosecution of the culprits.
“We have been able to identify some forged documents like grade 12 certificates at our service centre during the verification process and such cases are reported to police,” Dr Chilala said.
He said once such cases of forgery were taken to the courts of law, the institution would only be called upon as a witness.
A check at the ECZ service centre yesterday around mid-morning found scores of people busy verifying their grade 12 certificates.
Meanwhile, Dr Chilala has clarified that ECZ did not determine people who should stand on which political party following the verification exercise of the grade 12 certificates.
He said the institution was only engaged by the Electoral Commission of Zambia to help in the verification of the certificates since it was mandated by law to issue such documents.
Dr Chilala was, however, happy that the verification exercise was going on smoothly with overwhelming response from members of the public.
Some parliamentarians have been helping their members in verifying the certificates, thereby making the process running smoothly.
ECZ will soon also launch its 2016-2020 strategic plan which has already been approved by the council.
Dr Chilala said the document would, among other key areas, provide access for people to conduct online verification of certificates.
This will in turn reduce congestion at the ECZ service centre in Lusaka as people will verify documents through an online system.
On decentralisation of ECZ service centres, Dr Chilala said the institution would soon open a centre in Kitwe to cater for Northern, Luapula and North-Western provinces.
Chief Government Spokesman Chishimba Kambwili
THE Government has unearthed a scandal involving milling companies that are taking mealie-meal straight to Kasumbalesa border in Chililabombwe and stocking the commodity in their warehouses.
The mealie meal is later smuggled into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) were it is fetching around US$14 (K140.00) per bag.
This has caused the shortage of mealie meal in major towns around the Copperbelt.
Chief Government spokesperson Chishimba Kambwili said the shortage of mealie meal in towns such as Chililabombwe, Chingola, Kitwe and others, was a result of milling companies opting to deliver the commodity to Kasumbalesa where almost all of them had warehouses.
Mr Kambwili who yesterday together with officers from the Zambia National service (ZNS) conducted an undercover mission around Kasumbalesa from 01:30 hours to 04:30 hours, was dismayed at the high levels of smuggling.
Mr Kambwili who is also Information and Broadcasting Services Minister had difficulties to comprehend when he found almost all the milling companies had warehouses fully stocked with mealie-meal within the border post premises.
As if that was not enough, the border post premises was also characterised by a number of other private warehouses, which were equally fully stocked with mealie meal.
“I think going forward, we have to either regulate the amount of mealie meal going to Kasumbalesa border or completely ban the export of the commodity,” Mr Kambwili said.
Meanwhile a Taskforce comprising officials from the ministries of Home Affairs and Agriculture has been formed to establish the owners of several trucks impounded on suspicion of being used to smuggle mealie meal and maize bags.
Recently, a number of trucks laden with mealie meal en route to neighbouring countries were impounded, a situation that led to the Government to impose a ban on exports to facilitate a physical verification of maize quantities in the country.
Police deputy spokesperson Rae Hamoonga said in an interview yesterday that the aim of the Taskforce was to establish the owners of the trucks and verify if they had valid maize and mealie meal export permits.
Mr Hamoonga said police officers were alert and would ensure that they arrest anyone found wanting during the maize and mealie meal export ban period.
He said the owners of the trucks who would not be found with genuine maize export permits would face the law.
“There is a Taskforce that has been formed comprising officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture. As it is now, the impounded trucks are being scrutinised to ascertain the owners and also establish the validity of the maize export permits. If they are found with stolen or fake permits they will face the law,” Mr Hamoonga said.
Mr Hamoonga said police would not take lightly people who willfully abrogated the law.
Meanwhile another truck carrying over 100 bags of mealie meal has been impounded in Ndola by alert members of the public.
And a milling company, Chimanga Changa, has blacklisted two retailers for selling mealie-meal above the stipulated price of K75.
Both Copperbelt Police Commissioner Charity Katanga and Copperbelt PF security wing chairperson Albert Kapakala confirmed the confiscation of the mealie meal destined for Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Ms Katanga said the Mitsubishi Canter registration number BCA 904 was found with 157 bags of mealie meal destined for Sakanya boarder en route to DRC.
Meanwhile Chimanga Changa spokesperson Ozwell Nyoni said the two retailers have been blacklisted from purchasing the commodity from Chimanga Changa after it was discovered that they were abrogating the company’s directive.
Mr Nyoni named the two retailers as AK Groceries of Twapia and Tusekelele of Old Mushili.
Wezi unveils the highly anticipated Fortress Media produced Music Video for her single off the current ‘Uhai’ project.
Nyimbo Zako means “Your own songs”. It is a song that carries the spirit of overcoming obstacles despite limitations in life. Everyone must have a dream. As distinct as each individual is to the next one, there can never be another you or me: our fingerprints can’t be duplicated and uniqueness is incomparable; our dreams belong to us. We may suffer but only the ones that don’t quit, win.
On her Facebook page she said this about the video:
“Here is the beautiful struggle of a young African staring Naomi Munenga ,Shelter Mhone and your truly in a short film for Nyimbo Zako. Enjoy!”
Avic International, the contractor on the 286.9 million US dollars project is this month expected to hand over the Multi Billion Kwacha project to Government.
The Mongu-Kalabo road is a 34 Kilometres stretch built in the Baroste plains with 26 bridges across it.
The main bridge measures over 1 thousand metres across the Zambezi River.
Road Development Agency-RDA- Director Communications and Corporate Affairs Loyce Saili who inspected the road yesterday said the agency is excited that the project has been completed within the contract period.
Ms Saili has appealed to road users to respect the speed limit and guard against vandalism of road signs.
And Avic International Site Manager Chen Yiju said over 3-thousand local people were employed during the 5 year period of the road works.
Meanwhile Resident Engineer from Rankin Engineering, Salah Gad described the road as an engineering marvel which Zambia must be proud of.
Construction of the Mongu- Kalabo started in August 2011.
GOVERNMENT has degazetted 2 147 hectares of Ichimpi Reserve Forest in Kalulushi District to offer 400 farm plots to squatters who had lived in that area for over 25 years ago.
Kalulushi District Commissioner Kenny Siachisumo announced the development at the meeting held in the area on Thursday.
Mr Siachisumo who led team of Government and council officials and accompanied by Kalulushi mayor Bishop Ben Mumba told squatters that President Edgar Lungu was aware of their plight, hence to sped up the process of degazetting the forest.
He said the Statutary Instrument (SI) of degazetting Ichimpi Reserve Forest was signed in 2007, but was a bit slow until President Edgar Lungu came to speed it up now.
“I am delighted today to announce to your that your President His Excellency Edgar Chagwa Lungu has decided to degazette 2 147 out of 7 812 hectares to give you as farm plots. This means 400 people will benefit farm plots and title deed will be issued to you,”he said.
Mr Siachisumo said the works of demarcation would be done by officials from the departments of Forest, Agriculture and Council.
The DC further directed officers assigned to carry out demarcation works to be deligent and complete the process within 21 days so that even title deeds would be issued to would-be beneficiries.
“I am directing my officers that they work within the stipulated time frame of 21 days and I am expecting anything from them, but the best that they suppose to do,” he said.
And Kalulushi mayor Bishop Ben Mumba told residents that the Patriotic Front was just fulfilling its campaign promises of offering them pieces of land and titles deeds as that was the thing they were crying for for many years.
He recalled that when he was campaigning in the area ahead of 2011 elections before he even knew that he would be a mayor, he promised them that if PF was voted into power squatters would be allocated farm plots and title deeds.
“Today we are saying that 400 people here will benefit from farm plots and title deeds and they be never called as squatter,”he said.
MMD ward councillor Evaristo Mwalilino commended the PF Government and President Edgar Lungu to facilitate the process of degazetting the forest that had issues for many years.
Speaking on behalf of the squatters Bishop Moses Kawina said people in the area were extremely humble because they never expected that Ichimpi Forest Reserve would be degazetted.
The Ichimpi Reserve Forest has for many years been an issue and the case was once in court.
THE Patriotic Front(PF) has noted with regret that some of traditional leaders have decided to throw themselves into the political arena.
PF Member of Central Committee Charles Banda said yesterday that it was sad that traditional leaders wish to hold the political parties to ransom as to who they should adopt as Parliamentary and Local government candidates.
Mr Banda said some of the traditional leaders were fronting their children and grand children for adoption as candidates in the forthcoming general elections and declaring that if such adoptions were not adhered to, they would direct their subjects to vote otherwise.
“This attitude being exhibited by some of our traditional leaders is extremely regrettable and a danger to the existence of our political parties and their role to forward credible candidates to compete in the forthcoming coming high stake process of selecting good leaders for the development of our country,”he said.
Mr Banda who is PF National Chairperson for Mobilisation said PF would always discourage such kind of approach to politics and elections in the country.
He said all the traditional leaders should support the existing rules that politics be left to the politicians and their political parties while the continue offering guidance to the nation on matters of culture, custom and tradition.
He said the PF would always support the traditional leaders in their area of existence.
Meanwhile reports of corruption in the adoption process of candidates among some political parties have emerged in Eastern Province.
Caritas Chipata Governance Programmes Coordinator, John Mthaziko Zulu said in a statement that Caritas was saddened by reports suggesting daylight corruption taking place in the adoption process among competing candidates especially on the positions of Council Chairperson and Member of Parliament.
He said that information gathered by his organisation has revealed high levels of corruption, which have marred the primary elections at constituency and district levels.
Mr Zulu said that some aspiring candidates have corrupted electoral institutions of some political parties in order to give them massive votes.
Mr Zulu has criticized the illegal activities stating that corrupt people should not be allowed in Zambia’s governance system.
He has also called upon law enforcement agencies to get interested in the adoption processes of candidates in all political parties and arrest all those involved in corrupt activities
Rating agency Moody’s Investors Service yesterday published research that analysed Glencore’s planned investment in the Mopani copper mine in Zambia with key findings that the increased copper production will raise Zambian government revenues, contribute to fiscal consolidation and return public finances to a sustainable path.
Moody further projected that that Glencore’s planned investment will contribute to bringing Zambia’s real GDP growth to 5% or more in 2018, by adding up to 0.5% of GDP that year.
The credit rating agency also said that that the investment is credit positive for Zambia because it will help drive growth.
“Glencore’s decision to invest now, when Zambia’s economy faces challenges, sends a positive signal of investor confidence, ” the report said.
However, the rating Agency said that this update did not contain any credit rating action and that Zambia’s current B2 rating and Stable outlook remained unchanged.
On 30 March, Swiss commodity trading and mining company Glencore plc announced plans to invest more than $1.1 billion in the Mopani mine in Zambia (B2 stable) during 2016-18. The investment, which will help improve the mine’s operational efficiency and extend its life, is credit positive for the sovereign because it will help drive growth.
Glencore’s investment will reduce production costs and increase the efficiency and profitability of Mopani’s copper mine shafts, allowing them to raise production and take advantage of the potential for a gradual recovery in copper prices over the next three to five years.
We project that this will contribute to bringing Zambia’s real GDP growth to 5% or more in 2018, by adding up to 0.5% of GDP that year. Increased copper production will also raise government revenues, contribute to fiscal consolidation and return public finances to a sustainable path. Additionally, Glencore’s decision to invest now, when Zambia’s economy faces challenges, sends a positive signal of investor confidence.
The investment marks a positive turnaround for the mine and Zambia’s entire copper sector, which has been stagnating following a sharp decline in copper prices and severe electricity shortages since 2015. In 2014, before commodity prices began falling, the Mopani mine produced about 110,000 metric tons of copper, or about 15% of the sector’s output .
In September 2015, Glencore, which has a 75% stake in the Mopani mine, announced that it would suspend its operations in the mine for 18 months owing to a combination of low copper prices, electricity shortages and an unstable and unconducive tax regime. However, the mine’s operations were instead reduced by about half, to 46,933 metric tons from about 93,000 in 2015. The investment will allow the mine to return to its productive capacity in 2018.
