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The ruling Movement for Multi party Democracy (MMD) national chairperson, Michael Mabenge has described the ruling MMD’s loss in the Chilanga parliamentary by-election as shocking.
And Mr. Mabenga said there is need to investigate the cause of the party’s loss in the Chilanga by-election.
Mr. Mabenga who is also Lands Deputy Minister said that there is need to search deeply into what really brought about the party’s loss in the just ended elections.
He said there is a lot of work that was invested in preparing for the MMD’s candidate, Keith Mukata and the loss is surprising.
The Deputy Minister said that everything needed, was put in place for the MMD to secure back its seat and the loss is therefore something that should be taken with a lot of seriousness.
Mr. Mabenga also indicated that it is almost unacceptable and difficult to understand how the MMD could have just lost the seat, considering all the preparations that were made ahead of the Chilanga by-elections.
He also said that the MMD’s recorded win in the just ended by-elections shows that President Banda is not a liar contrary to some of the remarks that his critics have been making.
[ QFM ]
Zain has announced plans to outsource call centre and back office services.
Bharti Airtel which owns and operates the Zain brand in 16 AFRICAN countries says it will soon conclude the deal with IBM Tech Mahindra and Spanco which will run the customer services for Bharti Airtel.
A statement issued by the firm says the deal will allow its 40 million mobile customers to enjoy world class customer services.
The statements says IBM Tech Mahindra and Spanco will introduce quality best practices based on their experiences of working with international organisations in the telecommunications, banking, finance, insurance and retail sectors.
The firm says this will also lead to the development of the nascent African Business Process Outsourcing sector which promises to deliver economic growth to many countries across the continent.
Vice- President George Kunda has said Zambia appreciates the investments made by Huawei technologies company in Zambia.
Mr Kunda said the establishment of the the Chinese company in 2001 has not only created job opportunities but also brought latest technology which has enriched the lives of many Zambians.
speaking today after a conducted tour of Huawei technology’s exhibition hall and other sections of the company, Mr Kunda said he was impressed with the high quality telecom products offered to zambia and other countries.
He said the the country was looking forward to more investment from the company because it has become a key partner in the economic development of the zambia.
Mr Kunda also expressed happiness with Huawei technology’s ambitious capacity building programmes, especially for the young members of staff to improve their technical competence.
” The young ones hold the future of any country. We appreciate the training given to members of staff, including those in zambia,” he said.
Huawei is a leading global provider of commercial telecom and is currently serving 45 of the world’s 50 telecom operators.
As of December 2009, the company employed over 95,000 employs, 27,000 of whom are based outside China.
Huawei has over 36 local subcontractors in zambia and created over 2000 jobs directly or indirectly.
SOME people in Kawambwa District have urged the Electoral Commission of Zambia to consider increasing the number of days for the issuance of Green National Registration Cards (NRCs).
Speaking to the ZANIS publicity team in Sub-Chief Kabanda’s area at the weekend, some people complained that they did not obtain NRCs during the first round of the mobile issuance of the cards.
One of the complainants identified as Nelson Mumba said, the extra two days given for the issuance NRCs in the area were not enough because many people were not captured during the first 90 days.
Mr. Mumba of Kafwimba Village appealed to the ECZ to consider increasing the number of days to four or more, if many people were to be issued with NRCs and register as voters.
And another Villager, Crusade Chama of Tea Estate also appealed to the ECZ to increase the number of days to at least one week.
Mr. Chama said the Tea Estate area was densely populated, adding that many youths did not obtain NRCs in the initial exercise.
He proposed the continuation of the mobile issuance of NRCs up to mid next year, in order for many people to register as voters.
And Idah Kaunda of Kabonde Village in Sub-Chief Kabanda’s area said the NRCs that were issued to people in the area were not good as they had very small faces that took time to identify.
Mrs. Kaunda said the one who was taking photographs did not do a good job as the images were too small for easy identification.
And Acting District Registrar, Lazarous Phiri said the number of days at each centre will depend on the turnout of the people in a particular area.
President Rupiah Banda is elated that the MMD has retained the Mpulungu Parliamentary seat and it has given his party a gate way to the Northern Province.
Mr Banda, however said its sad that the MMD has lost the Chilanga Parliamentary by-election to the UPND.
Mr Banda has congratulated the UPND for scooping the seat.
Meanwhile, the President said he does not regret the expulsion of former Chilanga MP Ng’andu Magande from the MMD, as the party still has many MPs.
Mr Banda was speaking to journalists at Lusaka’s City Airport shortly before he left for Eastern Province.
The President has flown to Chipata to commission newly constructed houses for police officers.
And President Banda said lack of accommodation is a cross-cutting problem.
The President pledged government’s commitment to address the shortage of housing in the country.
He said he is happy that efforts to end the accommodation crisis among police officers are bearing fruits.
Mr Banda is accompanied by first Lady Thandiwe, Home Affairs Minister Mkhondo Lungu and other senior government officials.
[ ZNBC ]
The Ruling MMD has retained the Mpulungu parliamentary seat in yesterday’s tightly contested by-elections.
Returning officer Charles Nyirongo declared the MMD candidate Given Mung’omba as the duly elected Member of Parliament for Mpulungu at about 11:20 hours after polling 5,003 votes.
PF’s Freedom Sikazwe came second with 4,419 votes and in a distant third place was National Restoration Party’s Alex Mwazya who polled 331 votes.
UNIP’s Germanico Simusokwe came fourth with 112 votes while Alliance for Democracy and Development candidate Chilowela Sinyangwe came last with a paltry 62 votes.
The Mpulungu seat fell vacant following the death of former Member of Parliament Lameck Chibombamilimo.
And SACCORD information officer Obby Chibuluma has described the elections as free and fair despite most voters not knowing how to vote.
He told QFM from Mpulungu that the outcome of the elections reflects the will of the people of Mpulungu.
Mr Chibuluma has since called for increased voter education.
Mr Chibuluma says as a result of some people not knowing how to vote, electoral officers were made to assist people who couldn’t read by showing them were to mark.
He has since called on the Electoral Commission of Zambia to engage various stakeholders in ensuring that there is adequate voter registration ahead of the 2011 elections.
Mr Chibuluma has further commended the Patriotic Front for conducting themselves in peaceful manner even after knowing that there candidate was losing.
And the ruling MMD has scooped the Lwingishi Ward local government by-election in Mansa District.
MMD candidate Kaole Kasuba polled 1,170 votes, beating his two rivals the PF candidate Maggie Makasa who got 864 votes and UNIP candidate Josephine Kunda who had 42 votes.
The returning officer Christopher Mumba declared Kasuba as the duly elected winner around 23.30 last night, following the by-election held yesterday.
Mr. Mumba described the polls as free and fair as there were no complaints brought to his office by any political party so far.
He told ZANIS that the turn out in the Lwingishi by-election was impressive, as people were queuing to vote as early as 05.00 hours at most of the polling stations.
He said over 2000 voters in Lwingishi turned out, compared to 700 who turned up in Myulu Ward.
Mr. Mumba said it was the hope of all the stakeholders that the people in the Lwingishi and the other wards in Mansa would turnout in large numbers to exercise their right to vote in the 2011 general elections.
The Lwingishi Ward local government seat fell vacant after MMD Councillor David Kambikiya resigned on personal grounds.
It becomes the third local government seat that the MMD has won in a roll this year through by-elections.
Mid this year, the MMD emerged winner in Myulu Ward in Mansa District and Lufubu Ward of Kawambwa District, where similar elections were conducted.
MMD cadres brandish the party symbol in Chilanga constituency
Three MMD polling agents and a headman of Masongoti village in Chilanga were yesterday beaten by suspected United Party for National Development (UPND) cadres at Chowa polling station during voting in the Chilanga parliamentary by-elections.
Headman Geoffrey Sikakumbi, who sustained a swollen leg and was unable to walk, narrated in an interview at Chilanga police station yesterday that some suspected UPND cadres seized him and started harassing him after he had cast his vote.
Mr Sikakumbi, 52, who is MMD chairman in the area, said the suspected cadres abducted him around 08:00 hours near Fresh Farm and questioned him on who allegedly paid him to vote.
He said he was on his way to visit his wife who is in hospital when the incident happened.
Mr Sikakumbi said because he did not give them the answers they wanted, he was beaten and later abandoned near Chilanga police station.
“They abducted me in a Pajero and wanted me to tell them who paid me to vote but when I gave them answers which according to them were unsatisfactory, they started beating me and later abandoned me near Chilanga police station,” Mr Sikakumbi said.
MMD information and publicity secretary Isaac Mulenga said in an interview that three polling agents and an MMD cadre were beaten by suspected UPND cadres at Chowa polling station.
Mr Mulenga named the three polling agents as Agness Phiri, Benson Banda and Cornelius Chanda.
He named the MMD cadre as Jarous Shawa.
Mr Mulenga said Mr Banda and Mr Chanda were replaced with George Mambwe and Nephat Mwanza.
He described the situation as unfortunate, especially that such incidents were recorded on polling day.
Meanwhile, voting in the Chilanga by-election started on a steady pace despite the isolated instances of violence.
[pullquote]“They abducted me in a Pajero and wanted me to tell them who paid me to vote but when I gave them answers which according to them were unsatisfactory, they started beating me and later abandoned me near Chilanga police station,” Mr Sikakumbi said.[/pullquote]
A check at some polling stations found that hundreds of people had cast their vote.
At Munda Wanga polling station, 320 out of the registered 1,900 had cast their vote by 10:00 hours while at Masamba Basic School 200 out of the 1,200 registered voters had cast their vote.
At Mount Makulu Basic School, one of the three streams had registered 103 out of 420 registered voters at 12:00 hours while at Kalundu Basic School over 100 people had registered at one of the four streams around 09:00 hours.
Chilanga has 20 polling stations with 26,618 registered voters.
In Chilanga, four candidates were contesting the seat and the UPND has scooped the seat.
Those were Keith Mukata of the MMD, Cosmas Moono of the United Party for National Development (UPND), Henry Silumesi for UNIP and Valerie Bwalya for NAREP.
In Mpulungu, police have arrested two people for alleged double voter registration and forging a polling agent’s affidavit.
Northern Province police commanding officer Mukuka Chewe confirmed the arrest of Robert Sikazwe and George Mazimba in Mpulungu yesterday.
“Mr Sikazwe had papers sworn in the name of George Mazimba and yet he wanted to come as a polling agent. He used an affidavit as an agent when he was not sworn in at Munsende polling station,” Mr Chewe said.
On Mr Mazimba, Mr Chewe said the suspect allegedly registered as a voter at Munsende polling station and also attempted to vote at Muzabwela polling station when he was confronted by some party cadres.
He said police will look at the electoral code of conduct and slap the two suspects with the appropriate charges.
“By tomorrow (today) they should be charged and appear in court,” Mr Chewe said.
He was, however, happy with the peaceful conduct of the people of Mpulungu during the campaigns and described it as mature.
Anti-Voter Apathy Project (AVAP) executive director Bonnie Tembo also confirmed taking the two suspects to the police.
Meanwhile, polling stations in the outskirts of Mpulungu township yesterday morning recorded a low voter turnout as compared to those in the township.
The polling station at Makola Basic School in Chibulula ward opened on time at 06:00 hours but there was no voter present.
At Mankonga polling station, only one person had voted by 06:09 hours
At township polling stations, however, there were long queues of voters at Muzabwela, Mpulungu Basic School and Niamukulolo Basic School.
Election monitors described as disappointing the low turnout of voters in the Mpulungu parliamentary by-election.
Southern African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) information officer Obby Chibuluma said in an interview in Mpulungu yesterday that the reasons given by most people is that they are farmers and that they had gone to cultivate their fields.
Mr Chibuluma hoped, however, that the turnout would improve as the day progressed.
He was also concerned that a number of voters, especially in the rural areas, did not have information on the candidates who are contesting the seat and had to rely on the presiding officers.
He called for more voter education in Mpulungu.
Mr Chibuluma also said many people were discouraged from voting because the polling stations are far from their homes.
And Mr Tembo was happy with the voter turnout in Mpulungu township but that the number of voters who cast their votes in the outlying areas was low because many of them are farmers and were busy cultivating their fields.
Patriotic Front (PF) secretary general Wytner Kabimba has apologised to the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) and the judiciary for his remarks that the bench has been compromised.
According to a statement issued yesterday by judiciary public relations officer Terry Musonda, Mr Kabimba unreservedly apologised in a letter addressed to the LAZ honorary secretary.
Mr Kabimba, who is a lawyer was quoted as having said that every institution in the country had been compromised by the MMD including the judiciary.
[pullquote]“I would like to state that I have during the period of my legal practice enjoyed an amiable relationship with the bench at both personal and official levels. I still cherish this relationship not only as an individual but as a professional as well,” reads Mr Kabimba’s letter in part.[/pullquote]
Mr Musonda said that Mr Kabimba had tendered an unreserved apology letter to both the Zambian bench and the Law Association of Zambia concerning the remarks.
“I would like to state that I have during the period of my legal practice enjoyed an amiable relationship with the bench at both personal and official levels. I still cherish this relationship not only as an individual but as a professional as well,” reads Mr Kabimba’s letter in part.
The apology letter further stated that the article in question seemed to have promoted the view that he (Mr Kabimba) was disrespectful to the judiciary as a legal practitioner.
Mr Musonda said the Judiciary of Zambia remained committed to its mission of providing effective and efficient administration of justice accessible to all people in Zambia.
[ Times of Zambia ]
A Nurse immunising a child
Chief Kathumba of Katete district in Eastern province has warned people in his area against shunning immunization of measles being conducted by the ministry of health.
Chief Kathumba expressed sadness over some apostolic church members who are refusing to have their children immunized against measles saying the situation had led to 14 deaths in his area.
He was speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Katete.
He noted that such people retard development adding that they should voluntarily leave his area because they were also deterring efforts by government to protect children from communicable diseases to avoid premature deaths.
Meanwhile, the traditional leader has commended government for constructing classroom blocks at three Basic schools in his area.
He named the three Basic schools as Gunda, Chimwalala and Chingaza.
Chief Kathumba expressed happiness that government had fulfilled its promise to construct classroom blocks at the named schools and that works were progressing well.
He stated that development of rural areas was dependent on an educated nation adding that the construction of the classroom blocks would enable children learn in an enabling environment.
The traditional leader has since warned parents who marry off their children of stern action against them.
He said the rural area development was dependent on children accessing quality education as it was key in social and economic progression.
File:His Royal Highness the Litunga of the Lozi people Lubosi Imwiko II with Vice President George Kunda
THE Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) has disowned and distanced itself from the two groups calling for the restoration of the 1964 Barotse Agreement (BA).
Induna Mubonda speaking on behalf of the royal establishment said the BRE recognises the Government of President Rupiah Banda.
Induna Mubonda in a telephone interview with the Times from Mongu yesterday said though they had heard of the movements of people calling for the restoration of the Barotse Agreement, the establishment was not in any way involved.
“The BRE doesn’t operate like that, we have heard about those movements just like you have heard but we are not in any way involved because we operate according to the law,” he said.
Movement for the Restoration of the Barotse Agreement (MOREBA) chairperson Mutugulu Wanga said in Lusaka yesterday that the movement has been formed to ensure that the 1964 Agreement is restored.
“There is no way an agreement can be brought to an end without consulting the other party and that is what the Zambian Government has done,” he said.
When told that the BRE had disowned his organisation, Mr Wanga said he would only comment extensively after consulting with the Kuta (the BRE Council).
Another group calling itself the Barotse Freedom Movement (BFM) in a statement claimed that they would not be deterred from fighting for the restoration of the Barotse Agreement.
“The BFM shall not halt or be deterred in its campaign to sensitise the Barotse masses to resist and reject the illegal hold and occupation of the Barotseland by Zambia; following the abrogation of the Barotseland Agreement of 1964. BFM will not be intimidated,” reads an unsigned statement in part.
On Saturday police dispersed an illegal rally organised by the same groups that are agitating for the restoration of the Barotse Agreement.
Western Province police chief Peacewell Mweemba however said peace had since been restored in Mongu.
Friendship in humans is complex and multi-dimension, making friendship hard to define but a number of qualities are often used to distinguish friendship. These include loyalty, companionship, commitment, affection, acceptance, intimacy, sympathy and concern for the others welfare (see Silk 2002). The definition of human friendship is also likely to vary by culture.
Very generally across mammals and birds friendship can be broadly defined as an affiliative bond between non-kin. These friendships are found both within and between sexes. The definition of friendship in baboons is much more specific. Baboon friendship is defined as an affiliative bond between an adult male and a non-cycling, pregnant or lactating adult female. These friendships are characterized by high rates of grooming and time spent in proximity to one another. Baboon friendship is seen in all well-known baboon taxa.
Male Groom Female Kasanka
Friendship in baboons has been studied for several decades. Different baboon species differ in the quality of their friendships and the reason for their formation however; these friendships have a common similarity. Baboon females primarily initiate and maintain friendships and they are the primary groomer. Male friends on the other hand groom their female friends much less often. Unexpected and fascinating is that my recent research on Kinda baboons shows that this rule does not hold true for Kindas.
Last May and June I conducted a study on Kinda baboons in Kafue National Park, Zambia. I collected data on male-female grooming pairs and quantified how much time each sex groomed the other. The results were drastically different from other baboons. In these grooming pairs males groomed 70% of the time while females groomed the remaining 30%.
Data displayed by species
The graph displayed here shows the stark contrast between grooming time in Kinda baboons versus other baboons.
Male Rests With Female and White Infant
Why is this so? I am not sure yet, but have several hypotheses for why Kinda males seem to be so nice. My job now is to tease this apart. Keep checking back for updates.
Anna Weyher
Kasanka Baboon Project
References: Silk JB. 2002. Using the’F’-word in primatology. Behaviour 139(2-3):421-446.
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda is tomorrow expected in Eastern Province on a two days working visit.
During his visit, President Banda will lay wreaths on the grave of the late Dingiswayo Banda in Lundazi’s chief Kapichila’s area tomorrow.
According to the programme released by Eastern Province Permanent Secretary, Eularia Mwale, Mr. Banda will arrive in Lundazi at 11 hours and will proceed to Zinthonga village where he will lay wreaths.
Immediately after laying wreaths, he will fly to where he will commission a multi billion Kwacha police housing project at 14 hours at Chipata Central Police.
Government contracted Fair Face Construction Company to put up 92 housing units for police officers in Chipata.
On Wednesday, the President will inspect works on the K 279 billion Chipata/Mfuwe road project.
Last year in December, President Banda flagged off the three year contract of tarring the Chipata/Mfuwe road which is being done by Sable Transport and Construction Company.
Mr. Banda will fly back to Lusaka on Wednesday after the programme.
Meanwhile, President Rupiah Banda says even though the country has experienced some political violence recently, there is no need for opposition political parties to extend the violence to state functions especially independence day celebrations.
President Banda expressed disappointment with some political parties that did not attend this year’s independence event.
Mr. Banda noted that people should learn to be proud of their country’s independence and not to politicize state functions.
“As a country we agreed that we should be a democratic country and not to be enemies, it’s a shame to have political differences in a democratic country like Zambia.” He stressed.
The President was speaking during a luncheon hosted in honour of freedom fighters at State House this afternoon.
Other notable persons who attended the Luncheon included, former Vice President Enoch Kavindele, opposition Zambia Republican Party (ZRP) leader Ben Mwila, New Revolution Party (NRP) leader Cosmo Mumba among others.
Members of the diplomatic corps, cabinet ministers, defence chiefs and personnel, also attended the celebration.
The Luncheon was also characterized by dances from different dance groups with a guest group coming from Botswana.
Others were defence and security choir as well as Zambezi source cultural group from Mwinilunga.
Zambezi East Member of Parliament (MP) Sarah Sayifwanda says K1 billion has been set aside for the grading of major feeder roads in her constituency.
Ms. Sayifwanda said the funds are from the 2009 and 2010 Constituency Development Funds (CDF).
She said K500 million from 2009 CDF was already reserved while another K500 will be set-aside from this year’s CDF for the works.
Ms. Sayifwanda said a constructor to work on the roads has already been contracted and is only waiting for final authority from North Western Permanent secretary Dr. Eustern Mambwe for the works to commence.
She said she wants to work on all the major roads in her constituency as this has been the major cry for the people.
Ms. Sayifwanda said this in an interview with ZANIS in Zambezi after inspecting developmental projects in her constituency.
The MP who held several meeting with the electorate in her constituency was happy that a number of developmental works in infrastructure where taking place in her constituency.
She cited the construction of schools, teacher’s houses, and the improvement of communication towers among other developments in the area.
She said the grading of the roads will help connects Zambezi to other areas within the province and also neighboring countries.
The MP who is also Gender and Women in Development Minister has also commended President Rupiah Banda for finally ensuring that the Zambezi Kabompo road is completed.
She said this is the biggest development ever in the district and people are thankful to President Banda and his government for the gesture.
Northwestern Province PermanentSecretary Dr Eustern Mambwe has called on members of the public to be
vigilant and report any enumerator found abrogating the oath of secrecy during the ongoing national census.
Dr Mambwe said enumerators are under oath not to divulge any information collected during the exercise to unauthorized parties adding that anyone found wanting will be visited by the law.
He said this in Solwezi during a special live interview on Solwezi radio station.
Dr Mambwe said the information that enumerators would collect will be concealed and called on people not to be skeptical in giving out the necessary information.
He called on members of the public to cooperate with enumerators and not conceal any information as it is meant to benefit them.
