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Electoral Commission of Zambia ( ECZ ) has extended the mobile Voter Registration exercise for a period of 72 days.
The Commission says it continue with the exercise from the 19th September up to the 30th November, 2010.
The ECZ explained that the exercise has been extended in order to meet the targeted number of 2.5 million new applicants in the voters register.
This is contained in a press release made available to Zanis by ECZ Public Relations Manager Chris Akufuna in Lusaka today.
Mr Akufuna said that the commission has also observed that most people did not have the Green National Registration card which is a pre-requisite for one to qualify to register as a voter.
He noted that during the extended period of registration of Voters , the Commission will work with the department of the National D.N.R to ensure that more people are issued with NRCs to enable them register as voters.
Mongu Diocese Bishop Paul Duffy (right) Church-state tensions have escalated over a U.S.-born bishop’s statement that the people of his diocese felt it was an appropriate time to change the government.
Members of the government’s Movement for Multiparty Democracy has threatened to “physically harm” the bishop if he does not apologize for his remarks, while the Zambian bishops’ conference and individual priests have defended the prelate.
Bishop Paul Duffy of Mongu said Sept.3 that the general feeling of the people he interacted with in his diocese was that Zambian President Rupiah Banda’s government should be voted out of office next year because it has failed to improve their living conditions.
“Here in Western province, people think it is time for change,” Bishop Duffy told a reporter from the Post, the country’s leading daily tabloid.
Government spokesman Ronnie Shikapwasha accused the bishop of “being used by opposition political parties” to campaign against “a popularly elected government,” and others asked him to apologize.
On Sept 13, senior Movement for Multiparty Democracy officials, referring to themselves as the “MMD crack squad,” threatened to travel to Mongu to “physically harm” Bishop Duffy.
Bishop Duffy, 78, said he owed no one any apology over the statement because he was merely voicing the people’s feelings.
“Why should I apologize? Moreover, I have received a lot of solidarity messages over my statement,” said Bishop Duffy, who was born in Norwood, Mass., and has worked in Zambia for 26 years.
On Sept. 13, Bishop George Lungu of Chipata, president of the Zambian bishops’ conference, said the president deserved to know the truth about the state of the nation through listening to credible people like bishops who are in constant touch with the people.
“I deeply sympathize with my brother bishop with regard to reactions which his statement has elicited … but as bishops and shepherds of the people, our prophetic voice is motivated by our divine obligation and wish to see (the) government do better and succeed,” he said.
“This has nothing to do with any perceived dislike or preferences for any particular sitting president or government,” Bishop Lungu added. “The collective voice of bishops, speaking on behalf of the Catholic Church in Zambia, is always clear … when we speak as bishops, our message is distinct.”
Oblate Father Godfrey Mpundu, the order’s treasurer general, said the government was using the “so-called ‘crack squad'” to wage violent attacks on people with divergent views and those who wanted to promote the common good in the nation by criticizing the wrongs of the movement.
He urged the police to take seriously the threats on the bishop’s life, and he called on Catholics in the Mongu Diocese to be on alert and ensure that Bishop Duffy is protected from disgruntled political cadres.
Meanwhile, Caritas Zambia condemned the ruling party’s threats on Bishop Duffy’s life and expressed shock at the police’s lack of action on the perpetrators of such criminal acts.
“Caritas Zambia will not sit and watch ruling party officials insult Bishop Duffy, who works tirelessly to uplift the lives of people in the diocese,” said a Sept. 17 Caritas statement. “Every person has the right to expression, which should be respected as contained in the laws of Zambia.”
Milimo Mwiba, the head of Caritas Zambia’s justice and peace unit, said the threats demonstrate “the growing intolerance to divergent views as we approach the 2011 general elections.”
“It is a fact that Western province still remains one of the poorest provinces in Zambia. Yes, people are tired, and someone has to stand up for them; this is what the bishop has been doing and will continue to do,” Mwiba said of Bishop Duffy, who heads the board of Caritas Zambia.
The Bank of Zambia (BOZ ) has advised the general public to only deal with licensed micro financing institutions to avoid being exploited and falling victim to fraudsters
Bank of Zambia Non-Banks Financial Institutions Supervision (NBFIS) department officer Moonga Mizinga said the central bank has adequate mechanisms in place to regulate the micro-finance institutions and protect customers from being exploited.
Mr Mizinga said it was for this reason that members of the public must only borrow from institutions licensed by Bank of Zambia because they operate under set procedure and could be held liable if they are exploiting clients.
He was speaking in Mansa during a financial education meeting held at Mansa Hotel yesterday.
Mr Mizinga also urged Mansa residents to report any unlicensed institution that is lending money to the general public or asking people to deposit money with it.
He said the central bank issues licenses to all non-bank financial institutions after assessing their viability, and all institutions that have its mandate are required to display an original or copy of the license issued by Bank of Zambia.
Mr Mizinga also disclosed that all individual money lenders who have financial capital of above K25 million are supposed to register with the central bank, adding that those who have lend out at that threshold but have not obtained a license are illegally carrying out their business.
Meanwhile acting senior inspector for NBFIS department Sylvester Mutale also cautioned members of the public not to be enticed to give out their money as down payments to any financial institutions that promise to be lending loans.
He said there have been cases in the country in which people have been swindled by financial institutions that have disappeared after collecting a lot of money from members of the public on the pretext that it would issue them with loans.
It also came to light during the one day financial education meeting that an unlicensed micro-financing institution is reported to be going round collecting money from traders with a view of giving them loans.
The participants said the named financial institution is asking for 15 percent down payment for a loan of K100,000.00 which the traders have to repay in installments of K15,000.00 within seven days.
In response, Mr. Mizinga said he does not remember any financial institution by the name of Montice being registered by the central bank and promised that the department was to do its home work and investigate the matter.
The Bank of Zambia team comprising Non-Bank Financial Institution Supervisory Department employees is on a tour of Luapula province conducting financial education meetings targeted at people in the formal and informal sector.
The team held its first meeting in Mansa and will hold similar meetings in three other districts which include Kawambwa, Nchelenge and Samfya.
Zambia national team will set up training camp in Italy starting on October 2.
The week-long training camp will be held in Bologna that will be used by the team to prepare for their 2012 Africa Cup Group C qualifier against Libya to be played in Tripoli during the weekend of October 8-10.
Coach Dario Bonetti is back in Italy organizing for the training camp after overseeing Zambia’s 1-0 win over Yemen in a friendly game last Saturday.
The team is due to leave Lusaka on October 2 with home-based players while the foreign based players will join the team on the 4th in Bologna.
Zambia currently lead Group C on three points, while Libya and Mozambqiue are on one points following their scoreless draw ain Maputo on September 5 on the same day Bonetti’s team beat bottom placed Comoros 4-0 in Lusaka.
Friendly International
18/09/2010
Sanaa
Yemen 0- Zambia 1(Rainford Kalaba ?”)
CAF Confederation Cup
Group B
17/09/2010
Sfax
CS Sfaxien 2( Ibrahima Toure 26″, Uche Agba 61″)- Zanaco 1(Henry Banda 43″)
Former State House Press Aide Richard Sakala is seeking a court order to have his OMEGA Television Station re-opened.
Mr Sakala has argued that the closure of OMEGA TV was illegal, unconstitutional and a severe derogation from the principles of good governance and democracy.
He claimed that he was not given an opportunity to defend the closure of his TV Station in 2002.
This is according to a petition filed in the Lusaka High Court.
Mr Sakala has claimed that government concealed the reasons for closing his TV Station.
He is claiming compensation for the loss incurred due to the closure of OMEGA TV.
Second Republican President Frederick Chiluba has described as liars, people claiming that President Rupiah Banda is enjoying achievements of past leaders.
Dr Chiluba says President Banda has drawn the attention of critics because of his hard work.
The former President says Mr Banda is following up on the aspirations for a better country, as contained in the MMD manifesto.
Dr Chiluba was speaking to ZNBC news in Lusaka Monday.
He said that President Banda has worked extra hard in his two years in office as President.
He has urged the media and the Ministry of information to help publicise the achievements made by the MMD government.
The Electoral Commission Of Zambia (ECZ) has been advised to consider extending the just ended voter registration exercise.
ECZ had set June 21st, 2010 as the date for the commencement of the Continuous voter registration exercise.
Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) Information Officer Macdonald Chipenzi has told MUVI TV News that the organisation’s assessment indicates that very few people have registered due to low publicity.
Mr Chipenzi has cited North-Western Province as having ranked low in the number of registered voters.
He attributes this to the high number of Jehovah’s Witnesses who do not vote due to their religious beliefs.
Mr Chipenzi says affording more time for eligible voters to register would help the ECZ capture the two point five million voters it had earlier targeted in the 90 day exercise.
Sources within ECZ have revealed that the the institution has failed capture the targeted number of new voters and it is consulting with government to have an extension of the exercise.
“The RUINS“ UNZA - University of Zambia student residence
Over 30 students at the University Of Zambia have been deregistered for alleged non payment of the remaining balances of their school fees.
According to highly placed sources the students have since been evicted from their rooms by the dean of students Affairs.
Apparently the University of Zambia Students Union (UNZASU) offered to pay the students fees through the student’s hardship loans that were being awarded.
And management at the institution is said to have vowed not to reverse the decision, while UNZASU is pursuing frantic efforts through the University Council to engage management over the matter.
The affected students are said to be in panic situation as they do not know whether their issue will be resolved before commencement of examinations.
When contacted for comment University of Zambia students Union President, Timothy Lumba declined to discuss the matter saying it would jeopardize negotiations going on over the matter.
The affected students who have chosen to remain unanimous are appealing to Government, the University Council, UNZA management and other stakeholders to have a human heart and listen to their plea.
They said If the issue is not resolved by Wednesday, 22nd September, 2010, they will on Thursday 23th September, 2010 seek an audience with the Republican President.
[MUVI TV ]
South African Ambassador to Zambia Moses Chikane with Tourism minister Catherine Namugala
More than 14 South African investors have shown interest in investing in agriculture, tourism, mining and manufacturing of hospital equipment in Zambia, South African High Commissioner to Zambia Moses Chikane has disclosed.
Mr Chikane said a group of South African investors were last week in Zambia and visited several areas including the Copperbelt Province on a fact finding mission and that most of them after a tour indicated their interest in investing in Zambia.
Speaking in an interview in Kapiri Mposhi at the weekend, Mr Chikane said he is confident that the investors would soon be back to conclude discussions with the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) on areas of their interest.
“I can confirm that a team of investors from South Africa were last week in Zambia to explore investment opportunities and after their tour of duty they showed interest in coming back to undertake their projects, ”he said.
He said his office has of late been flooded with queries most of them seeking information on investment opportunity in Zambia and paid tribute to the Zambian Government on it’s good policies on foreign investment.
He said most investors were keen to partner with local people and that it was his hope that Zambians would be ready to join hands with them.
He cited the visit by South African President Jacob Zuma recently, which attracted a lot of interest among the investors from his country.
Mr Chikane described the relations which the two countries have continued to enjoy as good and that as a representative of his country, he would continue to strengthen the ties for the benefit of the two people.
The envoy also urged the Zambian media to take keen interest and highlight issues of economic importance for the benefit of the countries.
Opposition Patriotic Front (PF) Luapula Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Machungwa has cautioned Zambians calling for change of Government to be careful because they may be calling for a change that will be retrogressive.
Dr Machungwa said the MMD Government had set the stage for progressive change in the lives of people through its policies in agriculture and other sectors of the economy.
Speaking in an interview in Lusaka yesterday, Dr Machungwa pointed out the increase in the number of farmers accessing the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) and the uniform fuel price as some of the progressive changes that the MMD Government had made towards achieving economic recovery.
He said, while the MMD Government had outlined its programmes and policies, which were now bearing desirable fruits, some opposition political parties were failing to articulate national issues effectively, but were thriving on petty politics of insults, tribalism and hatred.
[pullquote]“The country has a lot of challenges that needed to be addressed effectively and so it is imperative that we support Government policies that aim at achieving economic recovery, instead of wasting time on petty politics,” he said.[/pullquote]
Dr Machungwa said, despite some challenges facing the country, the MMD had policies and programmes that were set to achieve economic recovery, but some opposition members have nothing to offer apart from insults.
He said the Government was trying its best to improve people’s lives and should be supported to achieve economic recovery, instead of wasting time on petty politics of insults, name-calling and hatred.
“The country has a lot of challenges that needed to be addressed effectively and so it is imperative that we support Government policies that aim at achieving economic recovery, instead of wasting time on petty politics,” he said.
And Copperbelt MMD provincial youth chairperson Evans Chibanda has said there is no alternative to the ruling MMD because opposition political parties aspiring to take over Government had no programmes.
Mr Chibanda said while the MMD was outlining its successes and challenges, some opposition political parties were just convenient forums for idle people to make noise.
[ Times of Zambia ]
BRITISH High Commission consular officer Karen Michelle Van Boxtel
BRITISH High Commission consular officer Karen Michelle Van Boxtel, who is accused of assaulting her husband Carl Frieslaar, has refuted reports suggesting that she had fled the country for fear of appearing before the court.
Ms Van Boxtel said yesterday in an interview that she had never left the country, contrary to claims by her husband that she had run away with her children.
She said in the presence of her lawyer Chifumu Banda that it was malicious for her husband to claim that she had left the country when she had been within.
“It is very malicious for my husband to claim that I had left the country. He is saying that to influence the police because I cannot leave Zambia because this is my country,” she said.
She said Mr Frieslaar had been emotionally and physically abusive from the time she filed for divorce in August and had paid a private investigator to trail her.
“He knows that he cannot have me anymore, so he is bitter and wants to frame me because even my surety has not left the country,” he said.
She claimed that even the private investigator James Kasamanda had allegedly been lying on her movements because he wanted to please Mr Frieslaar who had paid him money.
On the three children, Ms Van Boxtel said she was living with them because the eldest was seven years old, while the youngest was three and that the court had granted her custody of the children.
But Mr Frieslaar said he was not bitter with his wife and that he welcomed her intentions to file for divorce because he could no longer live with her.
He said he was ready for the divorce and that he wanted to be with his children adding that his wife had defied a court order that asked her not to have custody of the children.
Ms Van Boxtel in the company of two other persons was alleged to have assaulted her husband a month ago and the matter had since been reported to the police.
But Lusaka police commanding officer Greenwell Ng’uni has said that Ms Van Boxtel and Mr Frieslaar had both reported assault cases to the police and that dockets had been taken to the Director of Public Prosecutions for further instructions.
Former vice president Enoch Kavindele talking to journalists in Lusaka
THE MMD is ready to embrace former Republican vice-president Enoch Kavindele provided he follows the right channels, party deputy-national secretary Chembe Nyangu has said.
And Mr Kavindele said his decision to run for the number two party position at the MMD convention was aimed at assisting the ruling party realign itself as a formidable force ahead of the 2011 general elections.
Mr Nyangu said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that Mr Kavindele should have just followed the right channels to talk to the party hierarchy about his decision to come back to the party instead of rushing to the media to announce his decision.
“There is, however, no problem, we welcome him back following the amnesty that the ruling party has extended to our former members and those intending to join our party,” Mr Nyangu said.
Mr Kavindele in an interview earlier reiterated his decision to contest for the vice-presidency in the MMD.
The position has been vacant after late president Levy Mwanawasa froze its election.
“I want to assist the MMD, the party has had problems of late and hence my decision to contest for the position of the vice-president at the forthcoming party convention,” Mr Kavindele said.
The former vice-president was quoted in yesterday’s Post edition saying the MMD organisation had suffered as a result of not having a vice-president to support the president and so he intended to contest for the position at the convention to avail the required support.
Mr Kavindele said his decision was in response to calls by party members that he gets involved in the organisation of the party ahead of next year’s general elections.
Bank of Zambia (BOZ) Director of operations for Northern region Morris Mulomba says the central bank has taken keen interest in the Northern province because of its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product GDP.
Mr. Mulomba said Kanshashi and Lumwana mines have contributed significantly to the countries GDP saying the impact of the two mines is visible through the economic activities being experienced in areas of their operations.
He said this during the interactive cocktail party with business houses organized by bank of Zambia held at Chabanga lodge in Solwezi over the weekend.
Speaking at the same function , Northern Western province deputy permanent secretary Nkolola Hazemba urged Financial institutions to consider investing in people through loan schemes so as to enable them to reinvest in the province.
He said banks must come up with low interest loans which people can easily access if they are to benefit from banking services.
Mr. Hazemba has since appealed to financial institutions to consider opening branches in other districts in the provinces so as to bring the financial services closer to the people.
Olympic Youth Development centre consultant Clement Chileshe (l) and sports ambassador Samuel Matete at the sports centre in Lusaka.
Former 400 metre hurdles world champion Samuel Matete has said that the current Zambia Amateur Athletics Association (ZAAA) administration has not done much to tap talent country wide.
Addressing a meeting in Livingstone today, Matete says it was saddening to note that the ZAAA Leadership under the renowned sports administrator Elias Mpondela seemingly concentrates its activities in Lusaka.
He said that in his time the ZAAA leadership was very effective and that’s how he managed to reach at the top of his career.
Matete said that ventures like the intercompany relay are a good development by the current administration but money raised should be channeled to the Talent Identification Programs (TIP) which are meant to tap talent around the country.
He said that it is sad that most mining investors in the Copper belt do not invest in sports infrastructure and that in his days the mines had good sports infrastructure which helped most of the people of the Copperbelt to be good Athletes .
Matete also mentioned that it is very important to develop different sport in Zambia before talking about sports infrastructure develop because this will prompt stake holders like government and private sector to see for themselves that sports has developed for them to invest.
He said that sports has changed peoples lives and that it has proved to be a unification factor in the world. Becomes it bring people from different back grounds.
Matete also said that sports plays a part in tourism development when a particular nation is known for its excellence in a particular sport people will visit that nation and also visit` tourist attractions to bring in foreign exchange.
And speaking at the same function Southern Province Sports Coordinator Gibson Muyaule said that the province has been number one in athletics in its nine year reign .
He added that ZAAA should be very effective in all Provinces for Zambia to produce a lot of sports men who wil in turn participate in international completions.
Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) says the vacant Mpulungu parliamentary and local government by- elections will be held on 28th October 2010.
The additional Chilanga constituency and Kaumbwe ward by – elections in Chilanga and Petauke district, respectively, will also take place on the same date.
This is contained in press release made available to ZANIS by ECZ Public relations Manager Chris Akufuna in Lusaka today.
Mr Akufuna explained that all the requirements applying to the Mpulungu parliamentary and local government by –elections will also apply to the Chilanga Constituency and Kaumbwe ward by-elections.
He has advised voters in the affected areas to seek additional information from the office of the director at the ECZ or the district electoral officers , Town clerks , council secretaries in the respective districts.
The Mpulungu seat fell vacant after the untimely death the area Member of parliament Lameck Chibombamillimo who died in India after an illness last month.
On the other hand, the Chilanga seat fell vacant following the expulsion of the area Member of Parliament Ngandu Magande by the MMD. Also expelled is out spoken Kafulafuta MP George Mpombo.
