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President Sata greets children on arrival at Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport in Ndola enroute for the Independence day celebrations in Kitwe
President Sata has thanked opposition political parties for participating in yesterday’s Independence Day celebrations.
President Sata expressed gratitude to the political parties for their show of maturity and patriotism by attending the celebrations throughout the country.
The President observed that it was impressive that the majority of opposition political parties in the country were demonstrating seriousness and genuine desire for national unity.
“This is how it should be and we hope that those few members within the opposition that attempted to undermine such an important national event will equally come to their senses and quit playing unnecessary cat and mouse politics and fermenting tension at the expense of serving the people loyally,” President Sata said.
President Sata also thanked UPND supporters who ignored unpatriotic calls from their leadership to shun this year’s Independence Day celebrations.
“I am glad that the celebrations went well countrywide,” he said.
Issued by:
GEORGE CHELLAH
SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT
PRESS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) has observed that the four months that the people of Petauke Central, Malambo and Mulobezi constituencies have not had representatives is evidence enough to show how slow the justice system of Zambia is.
Executive Director, MacDonald Chipenzi told QFM News that the people from the three constituencies are suffering and no one seems to care about their well-being which is depriving them of their full participation in national development.
Mr. Chipenzi noted that no one is speaking on their behalf regarding issues that are affecting them and this is making them to be left behind in terms of development.
He stated that there is need for the country to transform the country’s judicial system to ensure that justice is propped up.
Livingstone Majorettes in action at Villa Grounds yesterday during independence celebrations
Yesterday was Zambia’s Independence Day–a day when we celebrate self-governing and freedom from foreign-rule. So, far it is evident that our freedom has cost us a lot as a country. Though we have traditionally proclaimed ourselves independent we remain dependent in many ways. As a citizen of this beloved country I would like to share my thoughts on this forty-ninth anniversary. In my view, there is little or nothing to celebrate about. Here is why;
Endless Elections/Fighting
Yesterday, someone asked me if we have transparent elections in Zambia. My response was that yes we do because we have a somewhat working system of being able to follow through from the time a ballot is cast to the time it is counted. However, the process leading up to the election is not free and fair as often there is vote buying, threatening voters, fighting and evening killing. Forty-nine years after becoming part of the free world, you would think that as a country our focus will shift from having meaningless elections to ensuring that we have a strong constitution. If we were independent as a country, we should by now have a working electoral code of conduct. Why is it taking us almost 50 years to know how to manage elections? I was once told by MMD cadres at Kamwala market that, “ndise tezo pasa vilonda ku mufumbwe.” Is this something to celebrate about?
Failing Economy
Our economy has the potential and capacity to grow. In fact, it has been growing considering a GDP of about 7.3% recording last year. The world’s fastest growing economy, China, has a GDP of 7.8%. Our neighbour south, Botswana, has a GDP of 6.1% and yet it is the best managed economy in Africa. Why are we unable to grow our economy over the years despite that we continue registering a substantial growth rate? Where are we getting it wrong? I believe that in order for us to see real results in terms of economic growth we need to have economic managers to do this. This means that we need to manage our spending as well as our borrowing. Jobs will have to be created so that the spending power among the citizenry will grow. Social services will have to be expanded to reach everyone including those in rural areas. When our economy is managed like that of Botswana maybe we shall have something to celebrate out.
Grandpa Leaders
Personally, I think as a country this is where we have gotten it wrong for decades. We continue to believe in Grandpa-like style of leadership. Zambia, like many other African countries continues to elect politicians who are in their 60’s and 70s. The average age for an African leader is 63. The average age for an African citizen is 19. Look at the huge generational gap. The Zambian President is 76 years old and has been in politics since 1963–when UPND opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema was only a year old and United States President Barack Obama was only two years old.
Evidently, the bully-like style of governing continues to envelop Zambia. Sata’s madala leaders such as Guy Scott, Daniel Munkombwe and Alex Chikwanda have completely run out of ideas. They continue to introduce retrogressive policies. In order to be fully independent, Zambia will need to elect energetic leaders who shall stand up for the country. Leaders who shall take center-stage in working for the poor. Leaders who shall hold our beacon high up to the whole world. Leaders who shall let freedom ring and allow people to express themselves whether or not they agree with them. That is the kind of independence I would like to celebrate. But do you think, we can get this from the current crop of Grandpas?
Hunger
With 60% of its population living in extreme poverty this means Zambia has 8.4 million people, who go to bed hungry every day. This would be a combined population of Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka and North-western provinces all starving on a daily basis. Is this really the independence we need to sing about? To me, Zambia has never really been independent. We are far from being independent as long as we still have people dying of hunger.
For us to feel independent, we need the freedom to choose what jobs to do, the freedom to speak what’s on our mind, the freedom to go wherever we want, the freedom to belong to any religious group we want, the freedom to belong to any political party we want, the freedom to speak Luchazi, Ila, Soli, Tumbuka, Mambwe without being intimidated and the freedom to participant in the governance of this country even when we are not Bemba. That’s the freedom we yearn for. That’s the freedom my great grandfather fought for.
Meanwhile, as usual, for me it’s that time of the year when I celebrate my birthday with family and friends. As everyone celebrates the misery of our country feel free to join me in raising your glasses and say “happy birthday Wesley!” if you find “happy birthday, Zambia!” not exciting.
At independence, I never thought I would be around when Zambia would be 49. This was too distant to an unknown future. I am thrilled and blessed and feel very lucky.
Our currency was so powerful that I remember my father and I going to Chipata at the market. For one shilling which was 12 pence we could buy two cups of tea with milk and 6 large buns. For another penny you could have jam or margarine on all the buns.
My brother in-law was in his twenties and he and my sister were newly minted teachers in rural Chipata. He could get a catalog and order suits from UK using the Zambian pound through the post office. The clothes arrived in rural Chipata in the mail in about 2 weeks. At that time since the Zambian pound was so valuable, you could literally walk with the cash note in any Bank in London and conduct any transactions.
Add your own personal brief verse at the bottom of the attached poem and pass it along. Will the last person please send this to President Sata and the Zambian Media.
Best wishes on this glorious day.
By Mwizenge S. Tembo
On this Zambia’s Independence Day
If you are at Jimbe Bridge
north of Mwinilunga
Kiss the source of the Zambezi
For me
If you are in Mongu
At Lyembai Hotel
East some broiled Litapi (fish)
With delicious nshima
In front of the beautiful bay
For Me
If you are in Chililabombwe
The old Bancroft
Kiss the pulsating muscles
Of the miners for me
If you are in Mpulungu
Swim in the beautiful Lake Tanganyika
For me
If you are in Livingstone
See the Gorgeous Victoria Falls
For me but not too close to the edge
Be careful on the Knife Edge Bridge
If you are in Sinazongwe, Gwembe
And Siavonga
Eat some fresh Kapenta with nshima
And Zambezi bream
For me
If you are in the Luangwa
Game Park tell all the
Majestic wild animals
I send my greetings
If you are in Iteshi Teshi
Kiss all the babies
For me
If you are at Nyimba Bus Stop
Eat some of those sweet
Blazer sugar canes
Two dozen different bananas
For Me
If you are in Lusaka, Shang’ombo
Kasumbalesa, Tunduma, Nchelenge
Fall down to your knees
Kiss the sweet ground you stand on
That is Zambia
Dziko la Mkaka ndi Uci
(The country of Honey and Milk)
Zambia and Konkola Mine Police defender Chongo Kabaso has been linked with a move to TP Mazembe.
Kabaso is said to be on the verge of joining the DR Congo side.
The 21-year-old left-back is expected to sign a three-year contract at the Lubumbashi outfit.
However Mine Police could neither confirm nor deny the reports linking Kabaso to Mazembe.
“I can’t confirm,” club chairman Gideon Mwenya said on Thursday.
Kabaso featured in Zambia’s October 15 friendly against Brazil in China.
He was a member of the COSAFA Senior Challenge Cup winning Zambia squad in July and scored a goal in the final match against Zimbabwe in Ndola.
Mazembe have more than five Zambian players in their books.
Finance Minister Alexander ChikwandaFinance Minister Alexander Chikwanda
Government has suspended the 10-per cent duty which was slapped on the export of unprocessed copper and several other minerals in raw forms for one year.
Finance minister Alexander Chikwanda suspended the tax which had caused an outcry among the mining houses in the country which complained of limited treatment facilities locally.
Through Statutory Instrument (SI) number 89 of 2014, Mr Chikwanda suspended the export duty on a catalogue of mineral ores and concentrates from October 4 2013 to September 30 2014.
The government last year introduced the duty, which was aimed at curbing the export of unprocessed minerals.
“The export duty on the goods listed in the schedule is suspended to free. The regulations shall cease to have effect on September 30 2014,” partly reads the SI which was published in the Government Gazette dated October 4 2013.
According to the SI the affected items include ores, concentrates and other substances containing copper, iron, nickel, cobalt, aluminum, lead zinc, tin, chromium, tungsten, uranium, silver and several others.
The lifting of the duty by the government would enable the mining firms which have surplus stocks of unprocessed copper and other minerals to release them for processing outside the country.
Several mining companies, particularly First Quantum Minerals (FQM)’s Kansanshi mine in Solwezi, have complained against the duty.
Last month, the largest copper producing mine in the country said it was being choked by stockpiles of unprocessed concentrates due to inadequate treatment facilities in the country.
The firm had stockpiled about 75,000 tonnes of unprocessed copper concentrate worth around $133 million, which it could not export due to the 10 per cent levy on unprocessed mineral exports.
Kansanshi sends its concentrates for treatment to Konkola Copper Mines (KCM)’s Nchanga Smelter and the Chinese-owned Chambishi Copper Smelter.
Early this week Mines, Energy and Water Development Deputy Minister Richard Musukwa, said Lubambe Copper Mines and Konoco Copper Mine in Chililabombwe had also formally lodged in complaints on the high cost of exporting raw copper due to the levy.
He said the two firms wrote to Government proposing that the levy on unprocessed mineral exports should be waived because local smelters are not able to process some forms of copper concentrates.
While affecting the revenue collection, the move by the government to lift the duty comes as a huge relief to country’s mine houses which, like others elsewhere, have been grappling with the effects of the low copper prices on the international market.
Some Zambian mining companies have been in talks with the government seeking tax waivers and incentives, to help offset the drop in prices of copper.
CHIEF Madzimawe inspects checks a collapsed culvert along the Madzimawe road which was recently put by a contractor. The chief has complained on shoddy works on the road.
Chief Madzimawe of the Ngoni people in Chipatahas expressed disappoint following the shoddy works done by a contractor on the Madzimawe road.
The traditional leader said people that certified the completion of the works on the road should be brought to book because tax payers’ money went to waste.
Chief Madzimawe was speaking when he inspected a collapsed culvert along the road in his chiefdom yesterday.
The traditional leader said now that the rainy season was near, it would be difficult for people to use the road because of the collapsed culvert.
He said he had reported the matter to relevant authorities but nothing has been done so far.
Chief Madzimawe called on government to send officers to inspect the road and find out if the contractor was given a certificate of completion after working on the road.
“I am not happy at all because such issues are supposed to be addressed by our representatives but when they travel to Lusaka, they do not talk about issues that affect their people in parliament,” he said.
The chief who said the contractor has allegedly been given another contract to work on other roads in Chipata wondered why he was given another contract after he allegedly failed to do a good job on the Madzimawe road.
“How do you give another contract to a contractor who failed to perform? A contractor should have references of past works to be awarded other contracts,’’ he said.
He said government should be checking the past performances of the contractors before awarding them with new contracts.
Chief Madzimawe said there are so many chiefdoms in the country who needed similar development but wondered how they will be development in their areas if government will always be working in his chiefdom alone by telling contractors to re-do the works because of not performing to expectations.
“Now people will be saying that the Madzimawe road has been done and there is no need for people to complain about it. But here is a contractor who comes to do a shoddy job and goes away with tax payers’ money,” he complained.
CHIEF Madzimawe inspects checks a collapsed culvert along the Madzimawe road which was recently put by a contractor. The chief has complained on shoddy works on the road.
United People’s Jubilee Party (UPJ) President Danny Pule has reminded President Sata to rule the country based on 10 biblical commandments as promised.
Speaking when he officially unveiled his political party at a media briefing Thursday, Dr. Pule urged President Sata to also clearly state his stance on the fight against corruption.
“He promised to govern using the Ten Commandments, I challenge to examine his conscious and see whether he is going by the Ten Commandments,” Dr Pule said.
Dr. Pule said the glaring revelations of corruption by Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba and Vice President Guy Scott of rampant corruption in the PF government require his action.
“The ACC should forthwith commence investigations into this revelation by Mr Kabimba, we need to get to the bottom of this issue,” he said.
Dr. Pule who alo served as Deputy Finance Minister in the MMD administration has also described the PF government’s rate of borrowing as un sustainable.
“This government is borrowing in an unsustainable fashion. We are building up huge foreign debt stock very fast and this is worrying,” he said.
Meanwhile, the UPJ President has disclosed that he will contest the 2016 general elections and will not change the name of the party as suggested by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Dr. Pule said the registrar of societies had earlier agreed to register the party but only changed due to political interference.
Dr Pule also clarified that this was the first time he was launching a Political Party and that he was never the founding member of the Party for Unity Democracy and Development (PUDD) and Zambia Democratic Congress Party (ZADECO).
“PUDD was formed by other people who were afraid to step out, I was merely standing in for these people, but when I realised that the Party was taking a different direction I left the Party.
“With ZADECO I was approached to take over the after the death of Dean Mungomba, it went under after we formed an alliance with the Republican Party and later decided to back Levy Mwanawasa for Presidency,” he said.
FORMER President Kenneth Kaunda has called on Zambians to support President Sata in his quest to develop the country.
Speaking in Kitwe yesterday during an Independence Day investiture ceremony at Kitwe Playing Fields, Dr Kaunda described President Sata as a “very junior” wise man.
“You are a wonderful young man. You are my junior. A very wise junior,” Dr Kaunda said.
Dr Kaunda said President Sata has managed to change the face of the country in the two years the Patriotic Front (PF) government has been in office.
He is happy that Government is taking development to all parts of the country.
Dr Kaunda said President Sata managed to put Zambia on the world map when Zambia co-hosted the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) general assembly with Zimbabwe in August this year.
“My Governor, you put Zambia on the world map when you hosted the United Nations World Tourism Organisation general assembly together with your brother President Robert Mugabe,” he said.
And Dr Kaunda urged Zambians to continue living in peace.
Dr Kaunda said meaningful development cannot be achieved without peace.
“Where there is peace, development takes place. I was happy when President Sata embraced Robert Mugabe during the UNWTO general assembly after Mr Mugabe took on the western nations.
“The officials from western countries started storming out of the assembly but what does Sata do, he goes and embraces President Mugabe. I was very happy,” Dr Kaunda said.
He took a swipe at some people who are criticising Government, saying President Sata’s administration has demonstrated commitment to improving the welfare of Zambians.
“What are these people saying about President Sata? We have beautiful roads, schools, clinics and hospitals. What are you talking about?” he said.
Dr Kaunda also said the creation of new districts across the country is a good development.
He thanked Kitwe residents for turning up in large numbers for the independence celebrations.
Government has dismissed allegations by United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema that salaries for the executive were increased by 27 percent.
Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba has maintained that recently announced new salaries for the executive were only increased by 10 percent and not 27 percent.
Mr. Yamba has told Qfm in an interview that if there any people who are not convinced that the salaries were not increased by this percent they are free to check the Statutory Instrument (SI) that the Minister of Finance Alexander Chikwanda signed on the said increment.
He says the SI on increased salaries for the executive can be accessed at the Government Printers in Lusaka.
File picture:President Sata shakes hands with MMD president Dr Nevers Mumba
MMD President Nevers Mumba has dismissed assertions that he has of late taken a soft stance towards President Michael Sata.
Dr Mumba said he still does not agree with the leadership style of President Sata.
Dr Mumba was recently photographed shaking hands and chatting with President Sata inside the Cathedral of the Holy Cross during an Independence thanksgiving church service.
The MMD leader has also publicly stated that the country’s opposition party will attend all state functions such as Independence Day and Africa Freedom Day.
[pullquote]By shunning such a day, we are allowing the PF to hijack a day of national symbol[/pullquote]
He was speaking Thursday morning when he featured on a live Hot Seat radio programme on Hot FM.
“This perception that if Nevers Mumba greets Mr Sata then he is crossing over to the PF is total fabrication. These are the politics of the old which we must change as Zambia enters the year of the Jubilee,” Dr Mumba said.
“We were in Church at the Cathedral, a place of healing and we only spoke for a few minutes. The President asked how I was doing, he asked about my wife and I equally asked him how he was. Nothing more, nothing less.”
Dr Mumba said he joined politics to change the perception that politics is a dirty game and only to be practiced by dirty people.
“When July 4th comes around in the US, everybody from the Republicans and the Democrats removes their party colours and they all rally for the nation. This is the spirit we need to cultivate as nation as we enter the year of the Jubilee.”
“Am not looking for a job from Mr Sata, I was serving in Canada as a civil servant when he became Head of State and I never bothered to negotiate for a job then and I don’t want a job from him today, these are mere lies and they should be dismissed. I came back from Canada and fought hard to become President of the MMD because I wanted to fix things in this country.”
“Independence Day is not for Mr Sata, this is not the day for the PF. This is the day we pay homage to the Kapwepwes, the Kaunda, the Nkumbulas and the Chikamonekas and all the gallant men and women who fought for this great nation. By shunning such a day, we are allowing the PF to hijack a day of national symbol,” Dr Mumba said.
Dr Mumba added, “As the MMD, we want to bring about a new breed of politics in this nation. We will not allow Mr Sata and the PF to take away all that we have achieved as a nation. We will continue reclaiming our liberties and our freedoms.”
President Sata greets children on arrival at the Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport in Ndola enroute for the Independence day celebrations in Kitwe
President Michael Sata this morning led dignitaries, service chiefs and senior government officials in laying wreaths at the Freedom Statue in Lusaka in honour of the heroes that died during the country’s struggle for independence.
President Sata who arrived at the freedom statue at 08: 54 hours was received by First Republican President Kenneth Kaunda, Vice President Guy Scott and his wife Charlotte Scott and Chief Justice Lombe Chibesakunda and other senior government officials.
The President who was greeted to a 21-gun salute by the Zambia Army proceeded to lay wreaths as part of the commemoration to mark this year’s 49th independence celebrations.
Mr Sata who laid wreaths together with Dr Kenneth Kaunda was followed by Defence chiefs and Diplomats accredited to Zambia who also laid their wreaths at the Freedom Statue.
And President Sata later proceeded to Embassy Park to lay wreaths at the Mausolium for late President Levy Mwanawasa and the late former president Fredrick Chiluba’s tomb as part of honoring the late leaders for their contributions to the country.
After laying wreaths on the memorial sites of the late presidents, President Sata proceeded to greet the family members of the late presidents who went to witness the occasion.
And speaking in an interview, Dr Chiluba’s widow Regina Chiluba thanked President Sata for considering honoring the late President for the services he rendered to the country.
Mrs Chiluba said the family feels comforted and highly appreciates President Sata’s kind gesture.
The President is today expected in Kitwe for the commemoration of Independence celebrations.
This is the first time that a Head of State has observed the country’s independence anniversary outside the capital city.
Meanwhile vice president Guy Scott is gracing the independence anniversary at the Lusaka show grounds.
File:Zambians in Atlanta during the 45th Independence day celebrations
I am a concerned Zambian living in Pretoria South Africa. The independence celebrations at our mission in Pretoria has been characterised by segregation and greed by the Embassy Officials.
Unlike in the past when we could assemble at the mission and join all Zambia to celebrate our hard earned independence, it is very unfortunate that the new administration at the mission has this year introduced invitation cards based on who you know.
This act of unpatriotic Zambianship is taking us back to those days of “Wako niko” and should be condemned in its strongest terms.
Zambians should not be divided on a special day like October 24, just because of selfish motives driven by nepotism.
October 24, is for Zambians from all walks of life regardless of tribe, status or colour.
I would like to wish every Zambian across the globe, the very best on this day in the calendar of our country.
The Zambia Police Service has put in place stringent measures to ensure that law and order prevails during the Independence Day celebrations.
Zambia Police Public Relations Officer Charity Chanda says police have also deployed both uniformed and non-uniformed officers to police all areas.
Mrs. Chanda said in a statement that those wishing to carry placards should ensure that the messages they are carrying are in line with the celebration.
Mrs. Chanda also advised members of the public to use venues of independence celebrations for intended purposes and has urged motorists to observe traffic rules.
She has also warned that police will not tolerate any incidence of violence or conduct that would cause confusion or discontent to members of the public.
