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First Lady Dr Christine Kaseba being ushed by LAZ president James Banda on arrival at Radisson Blu Hotel for the LAZ programme for Anti-GBV Breakfast in Lusaka on Ocober 22,2013 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
FIRST Lady Dr Christine Kaseba has implored luminaries in the law profession to contribute to the fight against gender-based violence (GBV) by offering their services on pro-bono basis.Pro-bono is a Latin word which means done without charge or free legal services.
Dr Kaseba said GBV cases were on the increase and that all concerned parties must unite?to curb the vice.The First Lady said this during a Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) Anti-GBV breakfast meeting at Radisson Blu Hotel in Lusaka yesterday.
“We want to see the recognised law firms spare their time to offer their services in the fight against GBV on pro-bono basis,” Ms Kaseba said.
Dr Kaseba said there was need to rethink the strategies currently being used in the country to address GBV.She said it was time to adopt integrated approaches, including enhancing partnerships, inter-sectoral collaboration to enhance awareness, prevention, monitoring and managing GBV.
This, she said, should be done in line with one of the six targets in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Gender and Violence.
“Despite criminalising all forms of physical, emotional, psychological and financial abuse, we continue seeing a rise in GBV atrocities,” she said.
Ms Kaseba said the effects of GBV were not only felt by the people who experienced it but those who witnessed the vice, especially children.
She hailed LAZ for taking leadership in the discourse, adding that the country was looking up to such organisations to protect victims through the facilitation and strengthening of the judicial process.LAZ president James Banda said the legal fraternity was committed to the fight against GBV by offering legal services.
Livingstone Member of Parliament, Lawrence Evans has warned tour operators and Lodge owners against intimidating and mistreating local tourists.
Speaking to Radio Musiotunya ahead of the 49th Independence Day for Zambia which falls on Thursday 24th October 2013 this year, Mr. Evans said it has come to his attention that most local tourists who wish to visit the tourist Capital have been victims of racial assault by some lodge managers. He has cautioned those found wanting to desist from such kind of inhuman behavior or else face the wrath of the law.
Mr. Evans said government is in a hurry to promote domestic tourism and all investors who wish to invest in Zambia and the tourism sector should know that the people of Zambia have been liberated , know their rights and that any form of Racial attack on any Zambian Citizen is an insult to all peace loving Zambian. He said the government will soon set an example by deporting all Lodge or Hotel mangers in Livingstone who will find themselves on the wrong side of the law.
The Livingstone Parliamentarian has appealed to the residents of Livingstone to be peaceful and united as the country celebrates its 49th Independence.
Meanwhile Mr. Lawrence Evans has urged the people of Livingstone to brace themselves for massive development in the tourist capital.Mr. Evans said government is more than committed to transform Livingstone into a modern preferred tourist capital. He said that government has given Southern Water and Sewerage company SWSCO 65 Million kwacha to help in the quality delivery of the water system in the tourist capital.
Mr. Evans said SWSCO has since engaged a Chinese company to carry out the works in a more professional and transparent manner. He says SWSCO will construct a reservoir which will be supplying water to Maramba, Libuyu and Highland townships and will be in operational next year in March.
The Livingstone Member of parliament has assured the residents of Livingstone that once this is done the water blues in Livingstone will be a thing of the past.
Zone Fam will be releasing a new single and video on 24th October . 2013 has been a good year for them , their singles “Contolola” and “Translate” are on heavy rotation on most local radio stations . They look to continue this momentum with their latest single.
Finance Minister Alexander ChikwandaFinance Minister Alexander Chikwanda
GOVERNMENT yesterday signed two loan agreements with Saudi Arabia for the purchase of 50,000 tonnes of urea and modernisation of the University Teaching Hospital (UTH).
Under the first agreement, Saudi Arabia will give Government US$20 million to transform UTH into a modern hospital although the total cost of the project is US$40 million.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Minister of Finance Alexander Chikwanda said the US$20 million will be used to rehabilitate, extend and restructure UTH to enhance its capacity to provide specialised health care services to Zambians.
Mr Chikwanda also said the US$20 million loan Government will receive under the second agreement will be used to procure 50,000 tonnes of urea.
“Government has identified agriculture as one of the key sectors to drive economic development and contribute to job creation. We are grateful to the Saudi Arabia Fund for their continued support in advancing Zambia’s development,” Mr Chikwanda said.
And The Saudi Fund for Development chairman and managing director Youset Albassaun said the signing of the two agreements shows the interest that Saudi Arabia has in supporting Zambia’s efforts to promote the well-being and prosperity of the people.
Mr Albassaun said the two agreements will also strengthen the bilateral cooperation between Zambia and Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, Alliance for Better Zambia (ABZ) President Fr. Frank Bwalya has hailed Members of Parliament for the unanimous support rendered to the motion to have Parliament approve any loan contraction by government.
Fr. Bwalya has told Qfm in an interview that Zambians have consistently spoken with one voice for Parliament to have oversight on government borrowing.
Fr. Bwalya notes that the Patriotic Front has been reckless in borrowing and that allowing them to continue borrowing at the rate they are doing would lead the country into a debt trap.
He adds that at the end of the day it is the people of Zambia who are going to pay back the money hence it is only right that their representatives in parliament approve government loans.
Fr. Bwalya states that the development is timely as failure to come up with such measures would have landed the country serious debt problems.
He says the move by Members of Parliament to support the Private Members Motion moved by MMD Chipangali Member of Parliament Vincent Mwale will help reduce unnecessary borrowing by government.
DEPUTY speaker of the National Assembly Mukondo Lungu yesterday ordered the minister of Information and Broadcasting Services to issue a ministerial statement as to why the Permanent Secretary (PS) in his ministry should appoint himself as chairman for the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA).
Mr Lungu has also ordered Transport, Works, Supply and Communications minister to issue a ministerial statement next week Tuesday on why the Road Development Agency (RDA) has continued to operate without a board but had a board chairman.
This follows the Point of Order raised by United Party for National Development (UPND) Monze Member of Parliament who wanted to know why Information and Broadcasting Services PS Emmanuel Mwamba had appointed himself the chairman of the board contrary to the laws of Zambia.
Mr Mwiimbu said it was an irregularity that Mr Mwamba should be the chairman of the IBA, when the board members are supposed to report to him as the controlling officer just like any other boards for public institutions.
“Mr Speaker no Permanent secretary chairs a board of parastatal, it an irregularity and the ministry of Justice is quiet about it, Is this Government in order to abrogate the laws, who will the board report to when the PS himself is the chair, Mr Speaker I need serious ruling,” Mr Mwiimbu said.
This promoted the deputy speaker to order the minister to issue the ministerial statement to clarify the matter raised by Monze MP.
Later Mr Mwiimbu rose on another point of order question Transport, Works Supply and Communications minister Yamfwa Mukanga why the RDA had no board but with a chairman only.
Earlier, Mr Mukanga told Parliament that the Zambia Railways Limited (ZRL) would need K18.6 million to replace the coaches that were burnt last week following a electrical fault.
Mr Mukanga also told Parliament that the coaches were not insured and that Government is working on measures to ensure that the locomotives were insured.
On Friday last week, the ZRL North bound train 602 with 9 coaches and two baggage vans caught fire twenty kilometres from Livingstone.
THE State has submitted that the action by Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) to press for the removal of acting Chief Justice Lombe Chibesakunda on grounds that her stay in office is illegal must be dismissed because it is irregular and an abuse of the court process.
This is in a matter in which Ms Chibesakunda and Attorney general Mumba Malila had been dragged to court by LAZ and wants the court to order that the re-appointment of Ms Justice Chibesakunda as Supreme Court Judge in May 2012 was illegal, null and void.
In an affidavit in support of summons to dismiss the action, deputy Chief State Advocate Joe Simachela in the office of the attorney general and in conduct of the matter urged the court not to entertain the action because LAZ commenced this matter by way of writ of summons contrary to the Laws of Zambia.
“That the commencement of this action by way of writ of summons by the plaintiff is irregular and an abuse of the process of the court,” said Mr Simachela.
Mr Simachela said according to the Law, matters of this nature were supposed to be taken to court by way of Judicial Review and not through the writ of summons as was done by the plaintiff which amounted to abuse of the court process.
Mr Simachela said where matters exclusively involved the enforcement or interpretation of Statutory and Constitutional duties, they fell within the realm of public law and must be challenged or enforced by an application for Judicial Review.
LAZ was seeking an issuance of orders whose effect was prohibitive and mandatory in nature because the plaintiff’s claims lie in the realm of public law which was applied if the defendant failed to abide by the Statutory and Constitutional duties and provisions.
In their Statement of claim, the plaintiffs wants a declaration that the President of Zambia may exercise the powers contained in Article 98 (1) (b) of the Constitution of the Republic of Zambia, and the Constitution of Zambia Act Chapter 1 of the Laws of Zambia, only once with respect to any one Judge of the High Court or Supreme.
The plaintiff also wanted an order that the President may not appoint a person who has attained and exceeded the age of 65 years to the office of a Judge of the High Court, Supreme Court, Deputy Chief Justice or Chief Justice.
LAZ further wants an order that Ms Justice Chibesakunda having attained and exceeded the age of 65, does not qualify to hold the substantive office of Chief Justice of Zambia.
LAZ which is represented by eight law firms want another declaration that the Constitution may not be used to re-appoint a Judge of the High Court or Supreme Court to a position other than the position that the said judge was ratified for upon first appointment.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has set January 7th 2014 as date to host the Vubwi and Zambezi West Parliamentary by-elections and one local government by-election.
In statement to Qfm, ECZ spokesperson Cris Akufuna says the commission has also set December 10th this year as date for filing in of nominations by aspiring candidates wanting to take part in the by-elections.
He says media personnel and registered Nongovernmental organizations wanting to monitor the by-elections are to apply for accreditation from the ECZ from Saturday 30th November this year to Friday the 3rd of January 2014.
The Vubwi and Zambezi parliamentary seats fell vacant by nullification by the Supreme while the local government by-election of Ipumbu ward of Mpongwe District, Copperbelt Province fell vacant following the death of the area councilor Levy Chibomba.
Zambia Railways workers in action during the commencement of the truck rehabilitation programme in Livingstone
Zambia Railways has commenced with the rehabilitation of its rail network in the country with the funds it was given from the Euro Bond that the Zambian government acquired early this year.
Early this year government gave Zambia Railways USD 120 million from the Euro Sovereign Bond for recapitalization purposes of which 80 percent will be spent on track infrastructure and the remainder is earmarked to be utilized on locomotive and wagon repairs and procurement of re-railing equipment.
At the function to signal the commencement of the rail track rehabilitation project in Kapiri Mposhi today, Transport and Communications Permanent Secretary, Charity Ngoma said government is committed to improving the railway system in Zambia to reduce road maintenance costs as a result of heavy cargo hauling on the roads.
Mrs Ngoma noted that Zambia Railways has the potential to significantly contribute to lowering the cost of doing business by providing an alternative transport system of cargo in the country.
Mrs Ngoma has also challenged management of Zambia Railways to ensure that the company became self reliant.
“Zambia Railways should become self reliant and I’m glad to note that this company is able to meet its operational costs and does not every month beg for funding from my office,” Mrs Ngoma said.
She urged the company to grow both its freight and passenger business assuring them that government will do all it can to provide capital to the rail company.
And Zambia Railways Northern Region Rolling Stock Manager, Webster Ntambo said the train speed will improve from the current 20 Km per hour to 80 Km per hour once the rehabilitation of the rail track is completed.
The project will cover rehabilitation of the rail track from Livingstone to Ndola.
Mr Ntambo said the rehabilitation works will also result in the reduction in the wear and tear on rolling stock, greatly reduce associated costs of maintenance and increase the market share with a consequent reduction in the freight burden on the road network currently being witnessed.
Zambia Railways workers in action during the commencement of the truck rehabilitation programme in Livingstone
He commended government for recapitalizing the Zambia Railways and assured that the company will insist on high quality workmanship from the contractor in order to get expected works and value for money.
“The Zambian government should be commended for the efforts it has made to recapitalize Zambia Railways from its own resources… as management we shall make sure that this gesture is appreciated by spending these resources perfectly on intended projects,” Mr Ntambo said.
Meanwhile, the Railways Workers Union of Zambia has hailed the PF government’s revocation of the Concession Agreement and subsequent repossession of the company from Railway Systems of Zambia.
Union Trustee, John Nkole noted that the decision has stabilize the company adding that barely one year after the move the company has seen serious investment and has given employment to many youths who previously had no hope of finding employment.
The rail rehabilitation project will provide over 1,000 jobs within its course of implementation.
Zambia Railways workers in action during the commencement of the truck rehabilitation programme in Livingstone
Opposition MMD leader Nevers Mumba was among other opposition leaders that attended the funeral of the late former Defence Minister Ben Mwila in Lusaka
MMD President Nevers Mumba has disclosed that his party will participate in this year’s Independence celebrations.
Dr Mumba said the party’s participation in the national event is one way of showing appreciation to the gallant men and women who sacrificed for the attainment of the country’s independence.
According to a statement released to ZANIS today, Dr Mumba said the MMD is dedicated to the commitment towards consolidating national identity as one people through promotion of common heritage.
He said his party will continue participating in national events such as Independence Day, Heroes Day, Thanks giving prayers and Africa Freedom Day celebrations with a strong understanding that those events transcend political battles.
Dr Mumba noted that when his party was in government it extended invitations to the opposition to participate in national events because it believes that it is wrong to shun such national events.
He further said his party’s aggressive battle stand in the political arena will not stop it from upholding principles of civility and that patriotism should be promoted by all political players.
FILE: President Sata with Chief Luchembe (r), Chief Mukwikile (second from right) , Finance minister Alexander Chikwanda and Chief Munkonge at State House after a closed door meeting with Chiefs from Muchinga Province
UPND Leader Hakainde Hichilema has revealed that President Micheal Sata has hiked his salary by 27% and not 10%, as earlier claimed by State House.
Mr Hichilema claimed that Mr. Sata’s salary has been increased by 17% higher than the figure given to the public.
Mr. Hichilema explained that the 27% in monetary terms translates to K87, 406, adding that this amount cannot be a slight adjustment as falsely stated by Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda.
He noted that this adjustment translates to a pay rise of K7, 284 per month and is far much beyond many civil servants basic pay.
The UPND leader added that the argument that President Sata is the lowest paid in the region and therefore needed an adjustment is another lie that needs public disapproval because the president gets a higher salary than Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and Malawian President Joyce Banda.
Mr. Hichilema has since demanded that President Sata rejects the 27% salary increment awarded to him.
He has challenged Mr. Sata to lead by example as a leader and forgo his salary rather than saying that he will only forgo when opposition MPs do so.
This is contained in a letter addressed to President Sata by Mr. Hichilema dated 21stOctober 2013.
The state has returned Rainford Kalaba, stopilla Sunzu and Nathan Sinkala’s passports bringing to an end the five-day ordeal.
Home Affairs minister Edgar Lungu said the trio has been found with no case to answer.
This is after immigration authorities could not find sufficient evidence that the three illeagally crossed the border back into DR Congo on October 12.
“If our officers had wanted they could have gone to DRC to verify but there was no evidence to warrant that action,” said Home Affairs spokesperson Moses Suwali.
“Arising from that report, the minister this morning ordered the release of the players’ passports and that they return to their club and continue enjoying their careers.”
Kalaba, Sunzu and Sinkala allegedly left Zambia after a failed attempt to secure their release by FAZ for Chipolopolo’s October 15 friendly against Brazil in Beijing.
FILE: President Sata shakes hands with MMD president Dr Nevers Mumba.(Courtesy State House media)
MMD President Nevers Mumba has appealed to President Michael Sata to consider pardoning Barotseland secessionists facing treason charges for championing the separation of western province from the rest of Zambia.
Dr Mumba says pardoning the activists will act as a means of creating an enabling environment for dialogue and unity in the country.
Dr. Mumba told Q fm in an interview that the solution to Barotseland issue does not lie in the way the Patriotic Front government has handled the matter.
He adds that the problems in Western province are a creation of the Patriotic Front after failing to fulfill its promise on the Barotseland agreement.
Dr. Mumba says if the PF government was willing to talk and consult on the issue of the Barotseland it would not have escalated to the current situation.
And Dr. Mumba says Zambians should decide themselves whether or not to attend national events such as independence celebrations and that no one should dictate to them.
He adds that President Michael Sata should not wait for national events to show that he is willing to work with the opposition, stating that there is need real interaction between the Patriotic Front and The opposition.
UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has urged Zambians boycott Independence Day celebrations saying there is nothing to celebrate when the majority Zambians are suffering.
United Party for National Development (UPND) President, Hakainde Hichilema says the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) should update the nation on how far they have gone in investigating Cabinet ministers purported corrupt Ministers as revealed by Vice President Dr. Guy Scott and Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba.
In a letter addressed to ACC Director General, obtained by QFM News today, Mr. Hichilema says in the last few months, Dr. Scott and Mr. Kabimba have placed themselves on record in the media indicating there are corrupt elements in the ruling PF party.
He says the ACC should tell the nation whether they have started investigating the alleged corrupt cabinet ministers.
Mr. Hichilema hopes that the remarks by President Sata last year,that his Ministers should be investigated without his knowledge and approval are not acting as a hindrance in this matter.
Home Affairs Minister Edgar Lungu has intervened in the matter in which the TP Mazembe trio of Rainford Kalaba, Stophilla Sunzu and Nathan Sinkala have had their passports withheld by the Immigration Department for leaving the country without Immigration clearance.
The trio who reportedly sneaked out of the country without immigration clearance when their services were required in Zambia’s recent friendly game against 2014 world cup hosts Brazil in China have been frequenting the Immigration regional office in Ndola from last week for questioning.
But Mr Lungu has directed that the trio be given back their passports and allowed to return back to their base in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Mr Lungu however, warned that there will be no sacred cows in the application of the laws of the land.
He says government will take issue with TP Mazembe Zambian representative Andre Mtine.
The Home Affairs Minister says exit and entry by any Zambian requires immigration clearance and that no one is above the law.
He says the law will deal with anyone breaking the law whether one is a football superstar or not.
Mr Lungu has since advised the managers of the players both in Zambia and DRC to take responsibility and guide them properly instead of taking advantage of their lack of knowledge of immigration procedures.
TP Mazembe claims the players were injured at the time they were summoned for the Brazil friendly but the players disappeared when they were told to fly to China to be assessed by team Doctor Joseph Kabungo.
Mr Lungu was speaking on The Arena programme on ZNBC’s TV 2 this morning monitored by QFM News.
The Lusaka Stock Exchange has announced that two companies are expected to list shares on the local stock market in the last quarter of 2013.
LUSE Chief Executive Officer Brian Tembo told a media briefing in Lusaka Tuesday morning that one of the companies is from the property sector and another from the insurance industry.
And Mr. Tembo has disclosed that trading of shares on LUSE reduced by 96 percent during the previous quarter compared to the corresponding quarter in 2012.
He said market capitalization was up by 22.88 percent at K56.11 billion compared to the same period in 2012 which was K 46 billion.
Mr Tembo said the LuSE All Share Index (LASI) was up by 29 percent closing the quarter at 4,796.89 points compared to 3,709.09 points in the corresponding quarter in 2012.
“In terms of equity, we are expecting two listing, one from the property market and the other from the insurance market. We are happy that government has given incentives to companies in the property sector that list on the exchange,” Mr Tembo said.
At the same briefing, Securities and Exchange Commission Secretary and Chief Executive Officer Wala Chabala has expressed concern over the proceeds of the K2.5 Billion bond that was issued by the International Finance Corporation earlier in the year.
Dr. Chabala said the proceeds of the bond have not been invested in businesses as is the mission and objective of the IFC.
“Some concerns have been raised in some quarters, the proceeds have not been invested in the businesses as you may know, the IFC invests in SME businesses in countries where it operates as a way of stimulating private sector, now in this case, the proceeds of the bond issuance has gone into a different business and not the SME sector,” Dr Chabala said.
He added, “There are obviously a number of dynamics at work in that some investors would be happy to invest in securities issued by a triple A rated institution but other investors are keen that the proceeds of the issuance be applied as per objectives and mission of IFC.”
Dr Chabala added that the other dimension is that there was more overwhelming appetite for the IFC security from external investors and that IFC had to play a balancing act to be able to include local investors.
