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Young girls who dropping out of School to become mothers
Ngambela to the late Chief Musokotwane of the Tokaleya people in Kazungula District has lamented at the increasing cases of defilement and early pregnancies in the Chiefdom.
Ngambela Sydney Syakalima said most of the parents are forcing their children into marriages so that they benefit.He said most of the girls below the age of 18 are now mothers.
Ngambela Syakalima said in some cases girls as young as 14 are married off for the sake of cattle.He said when the Chief was alive a lot of things where done properly unlike after his demise about 3 years ago.
The Ngambela appealed to Government to quickly establish proper channels of communication with relevant authorities in the area to follow if one is to report the cases.
Ngambela Syakalima was speaking in an interview with Lusakatimes yesterday.Currently Mobile Network is difficult to access in the area as most of the time the phones display a network service message once a person is in that area.
A person wishing to make a phone call has to move long distances to access the network.
A man searching for cell phone network
But earlier this week, Kazungula District Commissioner, Albert Chifita told the State News Agencies, ZANIS that Government is committed to improve the life of a girl child.
Mr.Chifita said his office will not take lightly cases of early marriages and called for the punishment of parents engaging their children in the vice.
He said parents should be looking at educating their girl children as it is for long benefits.
Meanwhile the District Commissioner warned men who are found of sexually abusing young girls to avoid the vice or face the law.
He said Kazungula is famous for such offences.Under the Statute Defilement is classified as a felony and attracts the minimum sentence of 25 years imprisonment.
Farmers in chieftainess Kalaba’s area in Mansa have said they have suspended planting there maize seed because they fear the crop might be damaged by stray goats and pigs.
A 59-year-old farmer Astridah Chiputa said goats and pigs have become a nuisance to farming activities because the owners of the livestock are not willing to quarantine the animals.
Ms. Chiputa, who is a secretary to a nutrition group that benefited from a donation of fertilizer and maize seed by the first lady Thandiwe Banda, said the group is reluctant to start preparing the land and plant the crop because the pigs and goats may destroy it.
She said the owners of the livestock are refusing to quarantine the animals taking advantage of the absence of the chief who is not in the area.
“We are 16 in our group and each received two bags of fertilizer and maize so that we could feed the orphaned children, but we are scared to go ahead and plant the crop in our field just close to the village because of the stray pigs and goats,” Ms Chiputa said.
And a pastor with a local church also confirmed the fears of planting in the area due to the stray animals.
[pullquote]“We are 16 in our group and each received two bags of fertilizer and maize so that we could feed the orphaned children, but we are scared to go ahead and plant the crop in our field just close to the village because of the stray pigs and goats,” Ms Chiputa said[/pullquote]
Pastor for Lord’s Way Pentecostal Church Raphael Mumba told ZANIS in in Kalaba yesterday that despite the area receiving early rains he has not been able to plant his maize for fear of goats and pigs that might destroy the crop.
Pastor Mumba said goats and pigs are always let out of quarantine immediately after harvest of the previous crop, but they are returned to quarantine shortly after upon the instruction of the chief.
However, he said the owners of the goats and pigs have not cared to put their livestock back into quarantine taking advantage of the absence of chieftainess Kalaba, who is reportedly in Lusaka receiving medical attention.
“The goats and pigs have been on the loose for six months now. The chief is not around to address the problem, and when we complain to the owners they are not heeding our cry,” Pastor Mumba said.
He said the goats and pigs are also posing a health hazard to the local community as they are also drinking from the same water point on Lule River where people are drawing water for drinking.
“The problem of the pigs and goats is not just agriculture, but we are also facing a health hazard because these animals are drinking from the same river point where people draw their water,” he added.
Both Ms Chiputa and Pastor Mumba said if nothing is done to address the problem of the stray pigs and goats agriculture activities might be adversely affected and threaten food security in the area.
Police officers in charge after quelling riots in Garden township
By LusakaTimes
The Non Governmental Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) says it is concerned at increasing cases of residents rising against the police service.
NGOCC executive director Engwase Mwale said today in a statement that there was need for the police command to fully introspect and find a lasting solution to the problem, saying in all cases where there was violence, the women and children suffered the most.[pullquote]If the police want to take the law in their own hands, what shall stop the residents from doing the same? Unless there is mutual trust between the residents and the police, we risk losing lives in such uncalled for uprisings of residents against the law enforcers[/pullquote]
“ In the number of incidences that have occurred in Ng’ombe, Misisi and Garden compounds, among others, there have been allegations that suspects had died in police custody. This is where the police command needs to institute investigations to find out what could have caused the deaths of the suspects.
Without finding the causes of the deaths and thereby putting in place measures to avoid any more loss of lives, such incidences will continue,” she said.
Ms. Mwale said the police service should at all times avoid beating suspects as it was a violation of human rights.
“If the police want to take the law in their own hands, what shall stop the residents from doing the same? Unless there is mutual trust between the residents and the police, we risk losing lives in such uncalled for uprisings of residents against the law enforcers,” she said.
Ms. Mwale also express concern at reports of sexual abuse on female suspects in police cells.
“NGOCC is also concerned with the increasing cases of sexual abuse of female suspects by the police as it is not only a violation of human rights but also exposes women to life threatening diseases. We therefore expect that the police command will get into action to redress the situation and seriously work on instilling citizens’ confidence in the police command,” said Ms Mwale.
Meanwhile police in Lusaka have arrested 14 people in connection with the damage to property caused during the riot by Garden compound residents who fought running battles with the police in protest against the death of a suspect who died in police custody.
Police spokesperson Ndandula Siamana told journalists today that 14 residents had so far been arrested in connection with the violence and that two more wanted suspects were still on the run.
Ms. Siamana said the arrested suspects would be charged with Arson.
She said one of the police officers who tried to control the angry residents was badly wounded in the process and that the residents would therefore also be charged with assault.
Former president Frederick Chiluba’s press aide Emmanuel Mwamba’s case failed to take off at 10:00 hours today in the morning because the state was not ready with the prosecution.
According to sources close to the investigation, state prosecutors told the court that they were not ready to start the prosecution in the case in which Mr. Mwamba stands charged with contempt of court and asked the court to grant them more time to prepare.
The prosecution however informed Mr. Mwamba’s lawyers and the court that they would be in a position to commence prosecution in the matter this
afternoon at 15:00 hours.
Mr. Mwamba was arrested yesterday and detained at Woodlands police station in Lusaka on a charge of contempt of court.
This is a case in which High Court Judge Gregory Phiri ordered a thorough investigation into the identity of the author and publisher of contemptuous and scandalous articles published on Zambian Watchdog which was said to have bordered on an ongoing court case involving murder suspect Mathew Mohan.
Mr. Mwamba remained in detention at Woodlands Police station from about 11:00 to 15:00 hours yesterday.
When he arrived at court, Mr. Mwamba was whisked to the judges chambers were his matter was reviewed in camera.
Mr. Mwamba’s lawyer John Sangwa and other legal practitioners attended the ‘hearing’ and later announced that the accused would appear in
court.
A source close to the investigation told LusakaTimes that Mr. Mwamba’s application for bail fell through yesterday as it was already late in the afternoon, causing Mr. Mwamba to spend a night in prison.
One of the miners who was shot at the Chinese Collum Coal Mine in Sinazongwe district by a Chinese national
Management of Collum Coal Mine and all the 13 workers who were shot at have agreed that the two Chinese senior officers who fired at them should not be prosecuted.
And the mine management has agreed to compensate victims of the shooting between K20 and K45 million and has also increased the minimum basic monthly salary for its workers from the statutory required K286,000 to K450,000 following the Government’s directive to management to improve the working conditions at the mine.
According to the compensation agreement obtained by the Times of Zambia, management of Collum Coal Mine and the victims of the shooting had a meeting on November 10 which was also attended by the labour commissioner where the two parties settled the matter by agreeing compensation and that the two directors who opened fire should be exempted from prosecution.
“All the 13 injured agreed that Xiao Lishan and Wu Jinhua be exempt from prosecution.
“After verification, there are 13 people who were injured. Among these, one person was severely injured and he will be paid K45 million including five years school fees anywhere within Maamba area.
“Those who are partially injured are six and these will be given K35 million each while the other six who are not severely injured will be paid K20 million each. When Collum Coal mines industries Limited pays the compensation, the officers from Ministry of Labour and Social Security and relevant witnesses should be in attendance,” reads part of the agreement.
The move was part of the process aimed at improving the working conditions at the mine where 13 workers were recently injured when they were shot at during a protest to press management for improved conditions.
The two parties agreed that 50 percent of the total compensation to the injured would be paid today while the remaining half would be settled on December 1 this year.
Those to be compensated include Vincent Chenjela who would be paid K45 million while Simon Simweete, Wissborn Simutomba, Beston Munakazela, Boaz Siapwaya, Madinda Siamubotu and William Muntanga would each get K35 million.
The rest of the victims to be paid K20 million each were Japhet Siakalumbwe, Sianaini Ward, Brighton Siamfuno, Alfred Senuka, Vincent Wmanamusiya and Abin Siambeeba.
Southern province minister Elijah Muchima said Collum Coal mine management was heeding government’s directive to improve the working conditions at the mine.
Addressing the workers at the mine, Mr Muchima said government was happy that management of the mine was taking the necessary steps to improve the working conditions at the mine.
Mr Muchima said mine management had also introduced food and housing allowances and also transport allowance for workers who were staying more than three kilometers from the mine.
Mr Muchima directed management of the mine to employ a human resources manager and a Zambian interpreter to facilitate communications between the Chinese and their Zambian employees.
“Management of this mine has to be sincere and should do what they have written down as a roadmap to improving the working conditions and environment here, failure to which they will annoy us,” Mr Muchima said.
Collum Coal mines industries director Xu Jian Ling assured the Government that management would do everything possible within the Zambian law to improve the conditions at the mine.
Recently, 13 workers at the coal mine were shot at, a situation which drew condemnation from President Rupiah Banda and a cross-section of society.
President Banda, however, advised that it would be wrong for those condemning the shooting to single out a particular grouping as that might create phobia against them.
“I don’t like what happened there and the law is definitely taking its course,” he said.
Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane has urged opposition parties and others to desist from scaring away investors saying Zambia needs investments from any country.
Speaking during the Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) PLC post Initial Public Offering (IPO) meeting in Lusaka yesterday, Dr Musokotwane said Zambia needed investment from any country and asked some opposition leaders to respect the investors.
KCM would be listed on the London Stock Exchange through a holding company called Konkola Resources PLC.
“Some of our friends are saying Chinese infesters instead of investors. China is a communist State but the best Mercedes Benz comes from China.
“Why did China open up its markets, because they know when you open up you create opportunities,” Dr Musokotwane said.
There was need for a stronger foundation in the mining sector saying in the past, Government did not put up a firm foundation in the sector resulting in the near collapse of mining activities.
In the same way that the Government has allowed investment in the mobile communication sector, it would allow mining activities to take a similar route.
“I am happy that the mining sector is joining this phenomenon in the mobile communication,” Dr Musokotwane said.
[pullquote]“Zambia was listed as a most improved economy and globally as number one for starting a business. Capital flight is from London into Zambia and we are not only stable but will continue to increase our stability,” Mr Mutati said.[/pullquote]
He said investors in the mining sector could make themselves relevant to the Zambian communities by paying appropriate taxes, respecting the country’s laws as well as becoming socially responsible.
“The best way to protect the investment is to become relevant to the Zambian people,” Dr Musokotwane said.
The listing of the mining firm on the London Stock Exchange would result in the marketing of Zambia to the outside world an easy undertaking.
Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Felix Mutati said by listing on the London Stock Exchange, KCM was showing the world that Zambia was back in the reckoning.
In the month of November, Zambia was globally listed by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as a top performer.
“Zambia was listed as a most improved economy and globally as number one for starting a business. Capital flight is from London into Zambia and we are not only stable but will continue to increase our stability,” Mr Mutati said.
Government’s role would be to ensure that they created confidence, trust and stability in the minds of the investors by ensuring that a favourable investment climate prevailed.
He said he was happy that from January this year to date, 12,000 new businesses had been registered mainly transforming from the informal sector to the formal.
And Labour and Social Security Minister Austin Liato said since the coming of Vedanta Resources to Zambia, KCM had made tremendous investment in new mining projects such as the Konkola Deep Project, the new smelter, new concentrator and the refinery among others.
Such developments, he said, have had an impact not only on the Copperbelt towns but the entire nation.
“Today, KCM has provided employment to 20,000 or more workers representing 9,600 direct employment and 11,000 indirectly through contractors. I would therefore like to encourage the good development taking place in the mining sector,” Mr Liato said.
Ruling Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) sympathizer, Edward Mumbi has given change life Zambian CLZ Executive Director, Father Frank Bwalya a seven days ultimatum in which to apologize for what has been termed as libelous statements against him or risk legal action.
In a letter sent to Father Bwalya, by his legal advisors, AKM practitioners and signed by Mr. Keith Mukata, and made available to qfm Mr. Mumbi has demanded for an apology which must be inserted in the print and electronic media with payment of damages in the sum of k3.7billion kwacha.
Mr. Mumbi said failure to abide by the demands as laid down will result in serious legal action claiming that father Bwalya’s statement was false and uncalled-for.
Featuring on Monday Nite Live program on QFM, Father Bwalya stated that Edward is not Mr. Mumbi’s first name but Kangwa.
He later dared Mr. Mumbi to sue him and called on Zambians not to believe Mr. Mumbi because of his unknown identity.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mumbi has challenged all those willing to engage in political debates to be truthful about the statement they make.
He said that this is the only way Zambia would record some form of decency in its politics.
[ QFM ]
The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC ) says it will not investigate Former President Dr. Frederick CHILUBA’s money laundering activities because it would contravene the laws of Zambia.
DEC Public Relations Manager John Nyawali said article 18 of the constitution of Zambia does not allow prosecuting an individual for an act which did not constitute an offence at the time it was alleged to have been committed.
Mr Nyawali in a statement to ZNBC in Lusaka Wednesday said Dr CHILUBA allegedly committed money laundering activities before the Prohibition and Prevention of money laundering law was enacted.
His remarks follows a letter written by the Patriotic Front (PF) demanding that the DEC investigate Dr. Chiluba’s money laundering activities.
Mr. Nyawali also said some of the alleged activities which constitute offences for money laundering were investigated and prosecuted by the then Task Force on Corruption for which Dr. Chilubawas acquitted.
[ ZNBC ]
Faz has said it will take stern action against petitioner Simataa Simataa for spear heading the drive for the parallel emergency council meeting (ECM) scheduled for November 26 in Lusaka.
Faz communications officer Erick Mwanza told ZNBC Radio that general secretary George Kasengele had already written to Simataa to sanction him over the push for the November 26 ECM.
Mwanza said all affiliates should ignore any notices of the parallel ECM that will be held next Friday at Intercontinental hotel in Lusaka.
“We will mention in particular Mr. Simataa Simataa’s purported meeting,” Mwanza told ZNBC Radio monitored in Lusaka today.
“Faz has not given him any permission to go ahead with any other meeting and the members of the association are advised to disregard any such notices and flyers being circulated by Mr. Simataa Simataa.
“The general secretary has since written to him to sanction him and the disciplinary committee will take the necessary action whether he appears before the disciplinary committee or does not.”
Mwanza accused Simataa of bringing the game into disrepute by championing the November 26 ECM.
“And it is important for members of the public to disassociate themselves with somebody who is bent on constitutional anarchy and fermenting trouble in football,” the Faz communication officer said.
Chongwe member of parliament Sylvia Masebo has warned that the government risks running to a huge loss if no serious measures were taken to protect the already purchased grain from rains.
Speaking in parliament, Ms Masebo said her constituency was faced with challenges in maize storage and the grain was already going to waste in some depots.
“There are still many challenges being faced in Chongwe, I went round some depots and discovered that some grain is already affected by weevils,” she said[pullquote].Ms Masebo also wondered how the Ministry of Agriculture would manage to sell off the excess produce when the global selling price was way lower than the local purchase price.She said it would be unreasonable for the ministry to subsidise the price for foreign countries purchasing the commodity at the expense of the local millers.[/pullquote]
Ms Masebo also wondered how the Ministry of Agriculture would manage to sell off the excess produce when the global selling price was way lower than the local purchase price.She said it would be unreasonable for the ministry to subsidise the price for foreign countries purchasing the commodity at the expense of
the local millers.
Ms. Masebo further urged the government to attach more seriousness to paying farmers on time to enable them get inputs for the next farming season.
Masebo disclosed that some farmers in her constituency who had supplied maize to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) had not yet received their payment.
Standard Chartered bank managing director Mizinga Melu at State House with First Lady Thandiwe Banda
By LusakaTimes
Standard Chartered Bank Zambia has said its on course to record its highest net profit growth in the 104 years of its existence in Zambia before the end of the year.
Speaking at a media briefing this morning, Standard Chartered Bank managing director Mizinga Melu said the bank’s net profit this year had risen to 116 percent.
“Our net profit has grown 116% translating to K93.2 billion, our balance sheet has grown 18 % which is K3,398 billion while our deposits have grown 10 % culminating into K2,664 billion.
She said the bank managed to record the increased profit despite the global economic recession that had affected Zambia and the rest of the continent.
And Ms. Melu announced a stable Kwacha projection at K4,470 level,with pivotal support.
Standard Chartered Bank’s medium to long term focus is that the Kwacha will extend its gain further with pivotal support at K4,470. The major factors to support the local currency include:
-buoyant Copper prices on the London Metal Exchange
-trade surplus in consecutive months so far this year
-favourable domestic economic environment
-low inflation rates
-capital inflows from offshore clients looking to buy government securities
Former president Frederick Chiluba’s spokesperson Emmanuel Mwamba has been arrested and charged with contempt of court.
Mwamba who handed himself over to the police in the company of his lawyer John Sangwa was by press time appearing in court.
This follows an order by High Court Judge Gregory Phiri’s who demanded for a thorough investigation meant to identify the author and publisher of contemptuous and scandalous articles commenting on murder suspect Mathew Mohan’s case that were published on Zambian Watchdog.
Earlier in the day, Mwamba was detained at Woodlands Police station after he was interrogated at Police headquarters.
At around 10:40 hours, nine uninformed police officers took Mwamba to Woodlands Police station where he was arrested and detained.
Mwamba’s lawyer had a bitter exchange of words with police officers when they forced him (Mwamba) to remove his shoes and enter a police
cell where he was to be detained.
Faz today announced changes to the Cosafa Youth Championship team technical bench that will see assistant coach Beston “Quicksilver” Chambeshi take charge of the team.
Chambeshi has been assistant trainer to Keagan Mumba who will instead lead the other Under-20 team to the less glamorous SADC Games in Swaziland next month.
Other changes will see Nkana secretary Stan Kaseko taking up the team manger role with the Cosafa team to replace Hastings Ndovi who has been dropped.
Under-17 team manager Daniel Jere will take up the same capacity under Mumba for the SADC Games team.
Meanwhile, Faz has excused all the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup call-ups from African club champions TP Mazembe of the DR Congo due to club commitments next month at the FIFA world Club Cup in the UAE.
The players excused are defenders Hichani Himonde and Emmanuel Mbola, midfielder Rainford Kalaba and striker Given Singuluma.
Zambia go into camp on Saturday under Dario Bonetti to prepare for next week’s trip to the Cecafa Cup that will be held in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania from November 27 to December 12.
Former President Frederick Chiluba and his wife Regina talk to reporters
The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) says it will not investigate Former President Dr. Frederick Chiluba’s money laundering activities because it would contravene the laws of Zambia.
DEC Public Relations Manager John Nyawali has said article 18 of the constitution of Zambia does not allow prosecuting an individual for an act which did not constitute an offence at the time it was alleged to have been committed.
Mr Nyawali in a statement to ZNBC in Lusaka today said Dr Chiluba allegedly committed money laundering activities before the Prohibition and Prevention of money laundering law was enacted.
His remarks follows a letter written by the Patriotic Front demanding that the DEC investigate Dr. Chiluba’s money laundering activities.
Mr. Nyawali also said some of the alleged activities which constitute offences for money laundering were investigated and prosecuted by the then Task Force on Corruption for which Dr. Chiluba was acquitted.
