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Patriotic Front President Michael Sata has described the decision by Lusaka High Court Judge Philip Musonda to order the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) to return second Republican President Fredrick Chiluba’s forfeited properties as a temporal.
Speaking with Qfm, Mr. Sata says Zambians know the salary of a republican President and wonders where Dr. Chiluba got the money to acquire his property.
He says the former President accumulated so much wealth in his two terms of office adding that Zambians are not blind to see what is happening adding that they will act using the power of the ballot.
The PF leader has however congratulated Dr. Chiluba for the court’s decision and that it will not be right for people to question Judge Musonda’s order as he is just following the law.
Judge Philip Musonda has ordered the ACC to surrender seized properties to a company registered in Panama called Tedworth Properties Inc which Dr. Chiluba used to acquire the said properties in Lusaka.
The properties are Horizon House on Leopards Hill Road, Chibote House and Alberg Court Longacres all in Lusaka respectively.
Over 1,300 small scale farmers in Mukonchi area of Kapiri Mposhi district in Central Province have been swindled of their money in a fertiliser deal by a named local agriculture company.
Chang’ondo Ward Councillor, Elizabeth Nachinsambwe confirmed to ZANIS today that the farmers were conned after paying K90, 000 each to the named firm, Samanita Agriculture Services, as down payment to supply them with fertiliser and seed for this farming season.
Ms. Nachinsambwe said upon paying the money the farmers in her ward were each promised to be given four bags of fertiliser and seed within one week in the deal which did not materialise.
The Councillor said according to the deal, Samanita Agriculture Services was to recover the money it would have spent on procuring the fertiliser from farmers after they harvested.
She said the named Director of the company kept promising the farmers with fertiliser saying his company had pressed an order for the supply of the commodity with a named reputable fertiliser company.
However, Ms. Nachinsambwe said the named reputable fertiliser company refuted having any dealings with Samanita Agriculture Services and its Director and that it has cleared all orders on fertiliser adding that it had none for sale at the moment.
She said the dealer had failed to deliver fertiliser and seed as agreed upon their payment of the initial money of K90, 000 each.
The famers were claiming refund of their money with interest saying the time for applying fertiliser and planting seed had elapsed.
The farmers have since reported the matter to Police.
And Police have since arrested Mr. Namangolwa and charged him with obtaining money by false pretences contrary to section 309 of the Penal Code Cap. 87 of the Laws of Zambia.
Local Police confirmed to ZANIS that Mr. Namangolwa who was arrested yesterday is in police custody and will appear in court soon.
Government has been advised to re channel K50 million meant for the construction of a market at Kayambi Mission to building dormitories at the newly upgraded Kayambi High School in Mungwi District in Northern Province.
Kayambi Mission Parish Priest Gevas Nonde advanced the advice to Mungwi District Commissioner Lazarus Kalima when he paid a courtesy call on him today saying that construction of the market was not a felt need for the local people.
ZANIS reports that Father (Fr.) Nonde acknowledged that Government and the church needed to work together to foster development adding that though the church had welcomed the construction of the market in the area, it was not the people’s priority need.
He further said the construction of Kayambi market was not a felt need for Kayambi mission.
” The major priority need for the people of Kayambi is the Nseluka/kayambi road which has been in a deplorable state” said Fr. Nonde.
” If you want to construct the market at Kayambi you can go ahead but I can assure you it will be a white elephant”. Fr. Nonde added.
The Clergyman said failure by the Kayambi community to raise required construction materials for the project was a clear indication that it had never been a priority.
He however said people had overwhelmingly responded to moulding bricks for the construction of dormitories at Kayambi high school but wondered why they had failed to do the same for the market.
Fr. Nonde also expressed disappointment that the improvement of Nseluka/Kayambi Road had taken long without being attended to yet politicians have used it as a campaign issue.
He revealed that many people have died while being transported to referal hospitals due to the poor state of the road.
Fr. Nonde further said pregnant mothers have always been severely affected by the poor state of the road.
Tanzania Zambia Railways (TAZARA) will this year in November receive six locomotives and 90 copper wagons through a soft loan it obtained from China.
And TAZARA has ordered 1000 metric tonnes of special cement to manufacture rail sleepers to replace old ones along the TAZARA rail line.
In an interview with ZANIS in Kapiri Mposhi in Central Province yesterday, TAZARA Regional Manager, Masiliso Sinonge said once received the locomotives will improve the operations of the rail company boosting its haulage capacity of cargo.
Mr. Sinonge said the six new engines will greatly complement the current 11 that the company already operates.
He said TAZARA needs 24 locomotives for it to work efficiently and to meet the demand for haulage of cargo and passengers to and from Dar- Es-
Salaam.
Currently, Mr. Sinonge said TAZARA is facing challenges in hauling cargo which mostly comprise mining products such as copper and manganese to the port of Dar Es Salaam because it does not have enough trains.
He disclosed that the company is losing out on revenue from the huge demand of rail transport in the region.
Mr. Sinonge further said TAZARA has potential to haul over five million metric tonnes of cargo annually but is currently only managing to transport less than two percent.
He said last year the rail company only managed to transport about 460 000 metric tonnes of cargo.
“TAZARA plays a major economic role to Zambia, we are looking at ways to improve the capacity of TAZARA through restocking both its locomotives and wagons and repairing old ones so that we harness the growing demand of rail transport in Zambia mostly by the mining sector,” Mr. Sinonge said.
He said TAZARA will maintain and replace damaged sleepers along the rail line which links Zambia to the sea port at Dar- Es- Salaam in Tanzania.
We plan to work on the rail line by replacing rail sleepers with new ones so that it accommodates the anticipated increased loads and usage of the line.
Meanwhile, TAZARA has entered into partnership with Railway Systems of Zambia (RSZ) to jointly ferry cargo on its rail to Dar -Es -Salaam in order to meet increased demand by Zambian mines for rail transport.
In the partnership, RSZ will be engaged to assist in ferrying the cargo by TAZARA because of the shortage in the number of locomotives at TAZARA to transport cargo.
“We have overwhelming demand but we don’t have enough trains to haul all or most of the copper and manganese to Dar- Es-Salaam, so we have entered into partnership with RSZ for them to supplement on the number of locomotives for the same business on our rail line,” Mr. Sinonge said.
Mr. Sinonge said the partnership aims at profiting from the increased demand of rail transport in the mining sector.
Zambia’s Ambassador to Belgium, Netherlands and the European Union, Dr. Inonge Mbikusita-Lewanika is in Utrecht, Netherlands to spearhead Zambia’s performance at this year’s Vakantiebeurs tourism exhibition.
The exhibition is the biggest annual Dutch tourism and travel exhibition which attracts more than 160, 000 tourism consumers, Trade and Industry and travel journalists over a one-week period.
Dr. Mbikusita-Lewanika is gracing the event on top of a Zambia Tourism Board (ZTB) delegation which has exhibited at the Vakantiebeurs for the last 10 years under unbroken sponsorship of the Dutch Centre for the Promotion of imports from developing countries (CBI), an agency of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
This is according to a statement made available to ZANIS by First Secretary for Press at the Zambian mission in Brussels Samuel Ngoma.
The Statement explained that it was at this exhibition that European tour operators learnt about Zambia’s massive tourist attractions adding that Zambia has since grown in the Dutch market since the inception of the CBI sponsorship.
He said the number of Dutch Outbound Tour Operators with tour programmes to Zambia has grown from less than 10 to over 30 in the past three years.
The Statement further noted that Zambia’s tourism has been a constant feature in an annual travel documentary on the Dutch National Television.
Tourism stakeholders from the private sector participating in the exhibition include Mukambi Safari Lodge, United Touring Company and Leopard Lodge who were all buoyed by Ambassador’s Mbikusita-Lewanika’s encouraging presence at the world Dutch exhibition.
And ZTB Spokesperson at the exhibition, Ms. Doris Kofi announced that after a decade, the Dutch sponsorship would be the last one this year and it was now up to Zambia to brace for self-sponsorship and continued participation at the exhibition in 2012 and beyond.
LAP Green Limited, the owner of Zamtel, is likely to connect over 6,000 households to broadband internet in Lusaka under the Next Generation Network (NGN) after the rollout plan for the town is completed next week.
The firm has so far invested US$23 million to roll out the NGN exchanges in the country and is expected to complete phase one of the roll-out plan in Lusaka next week.
A visit to the NGN exchanges showed they have been switched from analogue to digital.
In a continued quest to upgrade and modernise fixed line infrastructure across the country, Zamtel has embarked on phase one of decommissioning of all old analogue land line exchanges and replacing them with the NGN exchanges (Digital).
This change from analogue to digital exchanges will enable customers to get the benefits of additional features on their land lines such as fast and affordable broadband internet, audio and video conferencing as well as missed call notification, among other services.
Corporate communications senior manager Kennedy Mambwe said the NGN roll-out plan is advancing well and almost complete in Lusaka.
“We want to upgrade all infrastructure and make sure that every household can have broadband internet speed.
“We want to push internet penetration rates since they are significantly low and ensure that places with land line numbers starting with 22, 24, 25, 26, 28 and 29 numbers have access to the network,” he said.
Mr Mambwe said currently Woodlands, Ridgeway, Chinika, and Lusaka main areas can access the broadband technology.
He was speaking during a media tour of Zamtel in Lusaka yesterday.
Mr Mambwe said phase one will be completed in Lusaka by next week while the whole network will be finished by the end of February.
The firm has currently installed 96 sites in all the districts.
He said 450 sites will be installed in the next 30 months.
He said the new management is focusing on deploying significant investment in internet services.
On the Third Generation Network (3G), Mr Mambwe said the firm is currently deploying the 450 sites which will see the rural areas get connected to second generation (2G) while the urban areas will be connected to 3G.
He said part of the US$180 million investment will be used to roll out the 3G network.
Phase one migration is a build-up to a successful cutover pilot migration that was performed at the Woodlands exchange in Lusaka recently.
The phase started on December 17, 2010, lasting until January 20, 2011, and will see exchanges at Ridgeway, Chinika, Emmasdale and Lusaka Main overhauled and replaced with next generation technology.
Phase two of the project to install new and advanced NGN countrywide continues within the first quarter of 2011.
Zamtel plans to invest US$180 million in the next two years as part of the company’s restructuring programme.
Zambia began the year in similar fashion to the start of 2010 on the Fifa/Coca Cola World rankings.
The team began 2011 ranked in the 80’s brackets again after starting 2010 in 84th place.
This time around, Zambia have slumped to 81st dropping five places from 76 in December.
Zambia’s fall was not helped by their 4-0 loss to Kuwait in a friendly on New Years Eve in Cairo.
Meanwhile, Kuwait have since beating Zambia now lost two successive matches at the on-going Asian Cup in Qatar with defeats to Uzbekistan on Wednesday and China on Saturday losing 2-1 and 2-0 respectively.
Kalusha Bwalya will next month be going for not one, but two elective Caf positions at the 33rd Caf ordinary general assembly to be held in Sudan.
According to a press release from Caf, Kalusha will stand for both a Caf and Fifa executive position at the ordinary assembly to be held in Khartoum on February 23 towards the close of the 2011 CHAN finals.
For the Caf Southern zone executive committee position, Kalusha will be up against four other Cosafa zone candidates.
Topping the list is 2010 Fifa World Cup organizing committee CEO Danny Jordaan of South Africa.
Others are Adam Mthethwa of Swaziland, Namibian John Muinjo, and Angolan Justino Fernandes, all are all heads of their respective national Football Associations.
Football Association of Malawi president Walter Nyamilandu completes the list of candidates for the Caf executive committee position for the Cosafa zone.
The post is currently held by ex-SAFA president Molefi Oliphant who will not re-contest the post.
Meanwhile, Kalusha is also targeting one of the coveted two Caf zone Fifa executive committee position currently held by the Jacques Anouma from Cote D’Ivoire and the beleaguered Amos Adamu from Nigeria.
Kalusha will be up against both Anouma and Adamu including favorite for one of the positions Jordaan including two other candidates.
Mofamed Roauraoua from Algeria and Cosafa president Suketu Patel who trounced Kalusha for the Zone 6 top job by 7 votes to 2 in 2006.
Chishimba addressing the press during the announcement of his Presidential Candidature
United Progressive People’s Party-UPP Chairperson Saviour Chishimba has declared that he will contest the country’s presidency in this year’s tripartite elections.
Dr. Chishimba has affirmed his decision to run for plot one at a media briefing in Lusaka, Wednesday.
Dr. Chishimba says his party will shock the country by emerging victorious in the general elections.
He said UPP has been on the ground since it was launched almost a year ago.
Dr. Chishimba says his political party will soon launch a mass nation-wide campaign drive to ask for votes from the electorate.
And Dr. Chishimba says the UPP is geared for a national convention ahead of the tripartite elections.
He said the electoral process in his party will start with elections in all the country’s 72-districts, which will culminate into a national convention.
Meanwhile Dr. Chishimba has called on government to deal firmly, and without hesitation, with people agitating violence over the Barotseland Agreement of 1964.
He says government must use whatever is at its disposal, to quell any possible violence in Western Province.
Dr. Chishimba has told ZNBC News in an exclusive interview that there is need to sustain the culture of peace and tranquility in the country.
He has also condemned people circulating flyers in Western Province asking non-Lozi speaking people to leave the area by Friday, January 14.
And on Tuesday President Rupiah Banda warned Zambians against taking part in the planned meeting over the Barotseland Agreement in Mongu this Friday.
President Banda said the planned meeting by the group calling itself the Black Bulls will not take place.
And CARITAS Zambia Executive Director Sam Mulafulafu says there is no justification for people to be violent over the Barotseland Agreement of 1964.
Mr. Mulafulafu has strongly condemned persons that are agitating violence over the agreement.
He says it is unfortunate that non-Lozi speaking people are now being asked to leave the area by Friday January 14th.
Mr. Mulafulafu was speaking in an interview with ZNBC News in Lusaka on Wednesday.
File:The RUINS-University of Zambia student residence
Government says it remains committed to improving infrastructure in higher learning institutions in the country.
Education Deputy Minister Borniface Kawimbe says it is government’s duty to look into the welfare of students.
He was speaking after a conducted tour of the newly constructed hostel at the University of Zambia Great East Road campus on Wednesday.
Dr. Kawimbe has expressed gratitude to the Canadian government and Barclays Bank for contributing towards the completion of the students hostels.
Meanwhile, UNZA Registrar, Alfred Ng’andu has assured students that the new hostels will be occupied this semester.
This is contrary to reports that students will not occupy the new hostels this semester because UNZA management had not finished paying the contractor.
And Zhang Jian whose company Huajiang Investments was responsible for constructing the new hostels, confirmed that all logistics have been put in place for students to occupy the new hostels.
Kasama Central Patriotic Front Member of Parliament Geoffrey Mwamba has been reported to Police by his sister-in-law for allegedly threatening violence.
Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba popularly known as GBM
Doreen Sefuke who is married to Mr. Mwamba’s young brother reported the MP to Emmasdale police station around 11:40 hours today.
Mrs. Sefuke says she has reported the Parliamentarian, popularly known as GBM, to police for physical harassment and threatening violence, when she attempted to follow up on the 11. 5 million kwacha debt owed by Mr. Mwamba’s Company.
She says Mr. Mwamba in the full view of some police officers at Manda Hill Police station on Tuesday physically harassed her and threatened to beat her up at the police station.
Mrs Sefuke says she had gone to report Mr Mwamba after he threatened to beat her for asking for the money which was due to her, when he followed her and continued with his threats.
She said she is suing Mr. Mwamba not because of the money but on principle of violence against women.
But when contacted for a comment, Mr. Mwamba denied the allegations leveled against him by Mrs. Sefuke.
Mr. Mwamba accused Mrs. Sefuke of being a hired MMD member who is out to tarnish his political image.
Mr. Mwamba says Mrs. Sefuke should have channeled any complaint against him to his young brother, other than going to speak to him directly.
Mr. Mwamba also challenged Mrs. Sefuke to proceed with legal action.
The Lusaka Magistrates Court recently discontinued a case of wife battery against Mr Mwamba after he reconciled with his wife.
Mr Mwamba had been charged with battering his wife Chama.
President Rupiah Banda on arrival at the breaking ground ceremony of the new Lusaka Stadium
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President Banda being decorated by Chinese Embassy staffer when he arrived at ground breaking ceremony of the new Lusaka Stadium
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President Rupiah Banda with Vice Premier of the People's Republic of China Hui Liangyu during the ground breaking ceremony of the new Lusaka Stadium at the Independence Stadium site
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Lusaka mayor Daniel Chisenga with Science and technology Deputy minister Given Mungomba at the ground breaking ceremony of the Lusaka Stadium
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The artistic image of the Lusaka Stadium which will be constructed by the Chinese government.
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Drug Enforcement Commission public relation manager John Nyawali with part of the 32kg contingent of marijuana confiscated from a Malawian national who was to deliver to Chibolya Compound
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Drug Enforcement Commission public relation manager John Nyawali passing in front of two cars which carried 32kg contingent of marijuana confiscated from a Malawian national who was about to deliver to Chibolya Compound
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Zambia Under 23 first goal scorer Kangwa Chileshe after he was substituted during the Africa games qualifying match at Nkoloma Stadium
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Zimbabwe Coachs celebrating after the final whistle where Zambia Under 23 lost 3-2 during the All Africa games qualifying match at Nkoloma Stadium on Saturday.
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Under 23 Coach Lucky Msiska during an interview after his lads went under against Zimbabwe at Nkoloma Stadium
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Service Chiefs waiting to see off President Banda to North Western Province at Lusaka City Airport.
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President Banda talking to Inspector general of Police Francis Kabonde before departure for North Western province at Lusaka City Airport
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Anti Corruption Commission(ACC) Cooperate affairs officer Wezi Chomba speaking during a press briefing .
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Bicycles are a major source of transport in Chipata. Here, a woman cycling along the township roads
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Bicycles are a major source of transport in Chipata. Here, a woman is being transported to her destination at the cost of K1000.
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A jukebox at a drinking spot at the Zambia Malawi border
The United Party for National Development UPND has disclosed that the Pact is not yet ready to announce its presidential candidate for the general elections.
UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma says the Pact leadership will only announce the presidential candidate after the two parties agree on a number of issues to avoid confusion in the future.
Mr. Kakoma said it would be premature to announce the PF/UPND pact candidate before agreeing on the power sharing mechanism and the social and economic agendas of the two parties once in government.
In an interview with QFM Mr. Kakoma said that even if they announce the Pact presidential candidate at the last minute, it will not be hard to sell the candidate because both of them are already known to the public.
Mr. Kakoma however says the Pact is ready for the general elections regardless of when president Rupiah Banda will announce the date of the elections.
He has called on the Pact supporters not to be worried over the Pact leadership.
File: Maize that has been purchased from farmers waiting to be transported to sheds by the Food Reserve Agency
Several interest groups have expressed happiness at Zambia’s latest raking as one of the world’s fastest-growing economies in the next five years and attributed the success to Government’s prudent and consistent policies that support long-term economic growth.
Chamber of Mines president Nathan Chishimba said the positive strides Zambia was making in the global economy were an indication that forward-looking policies that support long-term growth had a positive impact on the economy.
The January 6, 2011 edition of The Economist has graded Zambia as number nine on the list of 10 countries whose economies would peak between this year and 2015 because of rising Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and prudent economic management, among other factors.
Mr Chishimba said it was evident in Zambia policy emphasis had been on economic growth led by four sectors which included mining, manufacturing, agriculture and tourism.
He said all the sectors had seen considerable investments in the last few years, resulting in the growth of the economy.
“The positive strides Zambia is making in global rankings are a reflection that prudent, consistent and proactive policies that support long-term growth in the economy have a positive impact on the economy.
“It is also a reflection that Foreign Direct Investment is a necessary ingredient to accelerating expansion of the domestic economy,” Mr Chishimba said.
In a separate interview, Private Sector Development Association chairperson Yusuf Dodia said it was encouraging to get positive feedback on Zambia’s economic performance.Mr Dodia said it was important that the Zambian Government placed emphasis on diversifying the economy so that if copper prices on the international market fell, other sectors could lead the economy.
He said Zambia should also strengthen the processing industry so that the bumper harvest being recorded could have a major impact.
Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Geoffrey Sakulanda said prudent economic management and fiscal discipline should be credited for Zambia’s high standing in the world.
Mr Sakulanda said the Government’s reduced borrowing from commercial banks had worked well for the economy.
Global Commodity Market Institute country director Mwango Chisha said Zambia should maintain prudent economic management to attract more FDI.
Mr Chisha said good economic policies were responsible for attracting massive investment from countries such as Brazil.
Hotel and Catering Association of Zambia Copperbelt chairperson Kenneth Mulalami said it was encouraging that Zambia earned a positive ranking because it was good for the hotel sector.
MMD Spekesperson and Education Minister Dora Siliya
Education Minister Dora Siliya has directed school management countrywide to allow pupils who fail to pay school fees and for those who buy uniforms from outside schools to attend classes.
At a Press briefing in Lusaka yesterday, Ms Siliya said the ministry had received numerous complaints of pupils being sent away due to non-payment of user fees which in some schools are high.
She urged school managers and parents to use Parent Teachers Association (PTA) meetings as a platform for them to discuss such issues and agree on how much should be paid as user fees.
Ms Siliya said the Government had set guidelines on how schools should be managed and could not allow children to stay away from school for even an hour because it would be retrogressive.
She said confusion in some schools resulted from poor planning between the parents and teachers.
The minister said it was therefore important for teachers and parents to attend PTA meetings to avoid such grievances.
Ms Siliya said the ministry was aware of some schools championing their own agenda and were chasing away pupils who had bought uniforms from outside the learning institutions.
And Ms Siliya took a swipe at some non-governmental oganisations always criticising Government programmes.
