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Tourism and Environment Minister Catherine Namugala has urged all major political parties to ensure that the current female parliamentarians return the seats in this year’s elections.
Ms. Namugala says the female parliamentarians who would be clocking five years in office need to be given a second chance as this will enable them to gain more experience and contribute meaningfully to the country’s national development.
Ms. Namugala, who is also Isoka East Member of Parliament, however, says it is encouraging to note that the number of female parliamentarians has continued to increase.
She added that women need to be encouraged to take up leadership roles for them to manage national affairs.
Ms. Namugala has been a parliamentarian for Isoka East for almost ten years now.
[ QFM ]
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has outlawed displaying of “no refund, no return” disclaimers.
The commission says the action is illegal and has warned that it will soon start clamping down on offenders.
Public Relations Director, Brian Lingela says the any business firm found displaying such disclaimers will be fined up to 10 percent of its annual turnover.
Mr Lingela said the move will be taken to enforce the law and also to protect consumers from traders who usually sell defective products.
[pullquote]Public Relations Director, Brian Lingela said that any business firm found displaying such disclaimers will be fined up to 10 percent of its annual turnover.[/pullquote]
He said this at a media briefing in Lusaka, yesterday.
Mr Lingela also said the commission will take action against traders who charge their customers more than the price indicated on a product or service.
He said the commission is currently investigating the airline industry for charging customers’ hidden costs when buying air tickets.
Electoral Commission of Zambia says it has strong misgivings over plans by some organisations to set up a parallel Voter tabulation centre.
Public Relations Manager, Cris Akufuna says this is because a parallel voter tabulation system has a potential to cause anarchy during the elections.
He told ZNBC news in an interview today that organisations that want to set up voter tabulation centres need to abide by the law.
Mr Akufuna said only the Electoral Commission has a mandate to announce election results in Zambia.
Under the parallel voter tabulation concept, some NGO’s place polling agents in all constituencies across the country and announce election results as they come in from their polling agents.
On Friday, the Committee of Citizens alleged that a United States of America-based election monitoring group had skillfully selected pro-opposition non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to implement the parallel vote tabulation system to ensure Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata is declared winner in this year’s elections.
Executive director Gregory Chifire said that National Democratic Institute (NDI) had selected pro-opposition NGOs to deploy monitors in polling stations so that they could announce and declare results and winners before the final results from the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) are known.
“The NGOs that have been selected are Caritas Zambia, Southern African Centre for constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD), Anti-Voter Apathy Project (AVAP), and the Press Freedom Committee of The Post.
“However, the lead monitor will be Caritas Zambia, formerly Catholic Centre for Justice and Peace (CCJP). They will use the CCJP structures in all the parishes and dioceses in Zambia,” Mr Chifire said.
President Banda talks to former Minister and Ambassador Kelly Walubita
President Rupiah Banda has been invited by a leading global news and information company, Thomson Reuters ,to speak at its first ever Africa Investment Summit to be held in South Africa.
President Banda is expected to join top politicians, Executives and investors to explore the opportunities and challenges facing investors in Africa.
The inaugural Africa Investment summit will be held from the 7 to 10 of March 2011.
Reuters Bureau Chief for Southern Africa Marius Bosch said that the foreign investors and many Reuters clients are increasingly interested in Zambia and its investments prospects.
This is contained in a statement released to ZNBC by Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Dickson Jere.
Mr Jere said delivering economic prosperity to all Zambians has been at the heart of President Banda ‘s policies and his government has worked successfully to build strong foundations for tomorrow Zambia.
He said great achievements have been made in improving economic stability and the country has drawn considerable international recognition, receiving its first sovereign rating from FITCH which rated Zambia at B plus.
Zambia’s economy expanded to almost 7 percent last year and it is predicted to be one of the world’s top ten fastest growing economies for 2011-2015 a sign that there are good times ahead for the Zambian economy.
And Vice President George Kunda has said that the Credit rating of B plus by the International community will enable the country attract investment.
Mr Kunda said that the development also showed the confidence the International community has, in the government’s robust economic policies.
He said that following the rating, Zambia will be able to float bonds for various infrastructure development projects in the country.
Mr Kunda was speaking in Parliament on Friday in response to Milanzi Member of Parliament Whiteson Banda who wanted to know what it means for Zambia to gain a credit rating of B plus.
He said that the international community is also impressed with the way government is fighting corruption
Zesco United this afternoon collected the first silverware for 2011 when they beat Nkana 3-0 in the Samuel ‘Zoom’ Ndhlovu Charity Shield final played at Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe.
The defeat was a crushing blow to Nkana who reached the final by default after their semifinal opponents Nchanga Rangers pulled out of the match due to a two-week pre-season training camp in South Africa that they began last Thursday.
Meanwhile, Zesco took a 2-0 lead into halftime during the first 45 minutes that Nkana played all the good football but were blunt in attack despite being urged on by a partisan crowd at a two-thirds packed Arthur Davies this afternoon.
Kangwa Chileshe whipped in the first goal in the 40th minute from close range before Alfred Luputa gave Zesco a comfortable lead dead on 45 minutes in similar fashion.
Ian Kafusha came close midway through the second half to getting a goal for Nkana but his tame header bounced off the crown of his head and out of play.
Zesco made sure of the win with the third goal through 73rd minute substitute Innocent Mwaba who rifled in a shoot from the half circle outside Nkana’s penalty area.
For Nkana, they were consoled when they walked away with medals before their committee members made a mad rush for the remainders on offer that were handed out by Faz president Kalusha Bwalya.
The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has condemned the conduct of the police officers in the Mazabuka incident that occurred on Tuesday this week.
The Human Rights Committee of the law association of Zambia says that reported use of teargas canister in a public place where patrons were watching a soccer match on television is reckless, unjustifiable, and clearly criminal.
Governor of the Committee Bob Mwelwa Musenga says that the continued use of live ammunition on unarmed members of the public is a sad development.
Mr. Musenga has since called on the political leadership to condemn the continued loss of lives at the hands of the police service whose constitutional mandate is to protect lives of the people.
He says the right to life is the cornerstone of the bill of rights and the violation of this right with impunity is at the variance with the Association’s position as a democratic state that respects the rule of law.
Mr. Musenga has since reminded the police that they are not above the law and are equally subject to the same laws as other citizens.
He regret that two more lives were lost at the hands of the police barely 24 hours after the issuance of a statement by the minister of home affairs in parliament.
He has further urged government to immediately take corrective measures and ensure that the police operate within the law so as to restore the confidence of the public and international community.
Former Lusaka Catholic Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo has castigated Catholic priests practicing partisan politics.
Archbishop Milingo says the move is not only wrong but also has potential to divide the whole nation.
The Archbishop said the Catholic Church is a universal church adding that all Catholics should embrace politicians from various political parties.
Archbishop Milingo said on Friday in Lusaka that clergymen and women should play the role of mediators among politicians to promote peace and unity.
Meanwhile Archbishop Milingo has cautioned Zambians against engaging themselves in vices that may jeopardize the peace and security of the nation ahead of this year’s tripartite elections.
He said Zambians should desist from any forms of violence if the country is to continue enjoying peace and freedom.
[ ZNBC ]
Thirty one out of the 42 people that were feared dead after their boat capsized on Lake Mweru in Luapula Province are alive.
Police Spokesperson Ndandula Siamana confirmed this to ZNBC news in Lusaka Friday evening.
Ms. Siamana said some of the survivors were found on top of the capsized boat, while the rest managed to swim into neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo because it is nearer than the Zambian side.
Meanwhile, three bodies have been retrieved from Lake Mweru following the accident.
Ms. Siamana said that eight people are, however, missing and believed to be trapped underneath the capsized boat.
Forty two people were fishing on the lake, when the boat capsized.
United Party for National Development UPND national youth chairman Joe Kalusa says there is no reason why the UPND/PF pact should crumble because of him.
Mr. Kalusa says PF leader Michael Sata’s demands that he apologizes over his attacks on him for the benefit of the PACT holds no water.
He says individual demands that the PF leader is making are unfortunate especially that the UPND/PF pact was created by Zambians with the vision of hope.
Mr. Kalusa says the PF president should come out in the open and declare the real reasons why his does not seem to be interested in the PACT.
He added that it is unfair and wrong to use him as a scapegoat to pull out of the PACT by the PF as it was created for the benefit of the many Zambians.
Mr Kalusa says Mr. Sata should not look at the individual behaviour but look at the broader picture of the Zambian population that wants regime change.
[ QFM ]
Chikondi Foundation president Bishop John Mambo has charged that the killing of two people by police in Mazabuka this week is a clear indication that the nation has become a police state.
Bishop Mambo has noted that the Zambia police have seen it fit to use live ammunition against civilians whenever people decide to protest.
He says from the time of the protest in Western Province over the Barotseland agreement were lives were lost, police have gone on the loose in shooting at people.
Bishop Mambo called on the government to ensure that sanity is brought to the police service.
He says turning of the country into a police state is worrying because it has long term consequences.
Bishop Mambo noted that Zambia has a lot to learn from what is taking place in North Africa.
[ QFM ]
THE MMD has congratulated the Patriotic Front (PF) for winning the Mporokoso parliamentary by-election held on March 3.
And the MMD has won four, including Mutaba ward in Masaiti, out of the seven local government ward by-elections held simultaneously with the Mporokoso parliamentary by-election. The PF got two ward seats while UPND won one.
PF parliamentary candidate Maynard Misapa polled 2,844 votes against MMD’s Dominic Musonda, who got 2,217.
Congratulating the PF, President Banda told journalists in Kasumbalesa on March 4 that the election result is not a reflection that the ruling party is losing ground in Mporokoso, JERRY MUNTHALI reports.
“I congratulate very much the PF for winning that election, we think we gave it the best we could but that is the democracy we are talking about. We must go to elections to win or lose. When you lose, you must congratulate the other and wait for the next round,” he said.
He said it is sad that the MMD lost the seat but that the result does not mean that the ruling party is becoming unpopular in the district.
Mr Banda rated his chances of winning the presidential elections in Mporokoso as very high.
“Even in Mporokoso itself, I rate my chances very high. I think that in the elections, whose date I shall keep secret from you but it is very soon, we will re-organise ourselves,” he said.
“But that is politics, it is like boxing. If they hit you and you fall, you get up and start creating fear in the other person and you keep going. You can win the fight even if you had fallen earlier.”
[pullquote]In a Ward by elections on the Copperbelt, the MMD Gilbert Kaindu got 477 votes, UPND’s John Tuseko got 293 votes and PF’s West Phiri got only 80 votes.[/pullquote]
On the Copperbelt Mutaba ward by-election in Masaiti, the MMD says it has shamed Kafulafuta member of Parliament George Mpombo, who de-campaigned the ruling party in the run-up to the by-election, reports KANGWA MULENGA.
Provincial vice chairman Frank N’gambi said in an interview in Ndola on March 4 that winning the Mutaba ward by-election is testimony of the popularity the ruling party is gaining on the Copperbelt, contrary to claims by Mr Mpombo that the MMD is finished.
The MMD fielded Gilbert Kaindu, who polled 477 votes, beating other candidates, John Tuseko of the United Party for National Development, who got 293 and Patriotic Front’s West Phiri trailed with only 80 votes.
“As MMD on the Copperbelt, the victory in Mutaba ward is good news for George Mpombo, who spent sleepless nights de-campaigning the ruling party. We have shamed him,” Mr N’gambi said.
He assured President Banda that the party will continue to work hard ahead of this year’s general elections.
Mr Ng’ambi commended all party structures in the province for the good job done during the campaigns.
MMD Ndola district chairman Victor Konie said the victory is a warning to the opposition that the ruling party has regained its popularity on the Copperbelt. Mr Konie said the ruling party on the Copperbelt will not relent in mobilising the party ahead of the general elections this year.
“We will not spend our energies responding to insults from the opposition but to organise the party to ensure that President Banda and the MMD win this year’s general elections. We have demonstrated this in the Mutaba ward by-election,” Mr Konie said.
In the Mporokoso poll, National Restoration Party candidate Joyce Mukandocame a distant third with 435 votes while UNIP’s Anthony Nkonde only managed a paltry 71 votes.
Announcing the results at Bulangililo Community Hall at 08:50 hours yesterday, returning officer Felix Mukuka declared Mr Misapa the winner of the by-election.
This was after ballot boxes from Nkantanga and Sunkutu polling stations were air-lifted by a Zambia Air Force helicopter around 08:00 hours.
And Mr Misapa said shortly after being declared winner that he expected to win the by-election because he was the most popular candidate.
But MMD acting national secretary Chembe Nyangu said although the ruling party had been negatively affected by the loss, the development was a temporary setback.
Anti-Voter Apathy Project executive director Bonny Tembo said it was worrying that only 5,567 people out of the 12,000 registered voters in the district took part in the election.
Mr Tembo said apart from the rains that disrupted the voting, many people could not manage to cast their ballots mainly because of the long distances they had to cover to reach polling stations which are far apart.
He, however, said the elections were conducted in a free and peaceful atmosphere.
The Mporokoso parliamentary seat fell vacant after Mr Misapa resigned from the MMD to join the PF.
This was after President Banda dropped him from the position of Deputy Minister of Sport, Youth and Child Development.
Vice President George Kunda has called on police officers to observe human rights. Mr. Kunda said government will not encourage any criminal conduct among police officers.
He said government is currently investigating what caused the shooting in Mazabuka on Thursday. He said if police officers involved in the shooting incidence will be guilty, the law will take course.
The Vice President also appealed to the people of Mazabuka to desist from any acts of violence saying Zambia is a peaceful nation.
Mr. Kunda also told parliament this morning that government regretted the death and the use of live ammunition by police officers.
The Vice President was responding to Kabwata MP Given Lubinda who wanted to know whether the apology given earlier by Home Affairs Minister Mkhondo Lubgu was encouraging police officers to use live ammunition.
Meanwhile, calm has returned to Mazabuka town after two days of riots in the area. Police spokesperson Ndandula Siamana told ZNBC news that by Friday mid morning there had been no violence reported in the town.
She also said over 100 police officers have been sent to Mazabuka and are keeping vigil to ensure peace returns to the area.
On Thursday two people died in Mazabuka after being shot by police during riots that had rocked the town in the last two days.
The riots followed the death of two people in a stampede ignited after police tear gassed a named bar where people were watching the game between Chelsea and Manchester United.
The residents were stoning cars passing through the town. Mazabuka General Hospital was damaged forcing health workers to flee the hospital leaving patients unattended to.
And government on Thursday strongly condemned the use of live bullets by the police officers.
Home Affairs Minister Mkhondo Lungu said government regretted that Police in Mazabuka had continued with their unprofessional conduct.
Mr Lungu apologised on behalf of the government to the nation and the bereaved families. The Home Affairs Minister ordered the police command to institute investigations and ensure that those involved are held accountable and punished accordingly.
Government has directed advertising agents and companies to withdraw and formalize all adverts containing copyrighted music without the authority from rights holders by 3rd April, 2011.
Information and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary Sam Phiri has requested all advertising agents and companies to obtain clearance in advance from the Zambia Music Copyright Protection Society-ZAMCOPS.
Dr PHIRI says it is an offence under the amended Copyright and Performance Rights Act number 25 of 2010 to synchronise copyrighted music and visual works in advertisements which contain protected music.
The Permanent Secretary has warned of prosecution against institutions that will fail to abide by the law after 3rd April, as they will be infringing on the rights of artists.
Dr PHIRI said cinemas, Radio stations, television stations and cell phone companies should request for clearance letters from ZAMCOPS before using advertisements which contain protected music.
This is contained in a press statement issued and signed by Dr PHIRI in Lusaka today.
Dr PHIRI said government is determined to bring back sanity into the industry that has been rocked by blatant exploitation of artists.
He said professionals in the artistic industry need to be respected and rewarded adequately.
Dr PHIRI said government will closely work with ZAMCOPS and other relevant institutions to ensure that artists occupy a central role in society.
Parliament has ratified the appointment of Justice IRENE MAMBILIMA to serve as Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of ZAMBIA-ECZ.
And the house has also ratified the appointment of ALFRED KAWEZA and DAVIES MWANZA to serve as commissioners of the commission of investigations.
The three received overwhelming support from all parliamentarians in the house.
In moving the motion, Parliamentary Select Committee Chairperson EILEEN IMBWAE recommended that the three were qualified and suitable to serve in the positions they have been nominated to, by the President.
Ms IMBWAE said all the nominees have been cleared by all security agencies and that she is confident that they will carry out their duties professionally.
