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The Patriotic Front says once it is voted into power it will solve the fuel crisis within the first 90 days of its rule.
Patriotic Front Leader Micheal Sata says the Party will carry out explorations around the country to excavate fuel.
Mr. Sata said it is saddening that even after government proved that some areas like Northwestern Province have oil deposits, it is reluctant to carry out serious explorations. He said the country is endowed with natural resources that government can utilize to improve the lives of Zambians.
Mr Sata said he does not understand why government is adamant about surveying the amount of oil reserves that it has.
He was speaking at a news conference organized by the Press Freedom Committee of The Post in Lusaka last evening.
Meanwhile, commotion broke at the conference when a guest asked if Mr. Sata was fit to stand as President in the 2011 elections during a question and answer session.
The man was almost manhandled by the PF cadres and was rescued by the security personnel at the Hotel.
[Q FM]
UNITED Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema
UNITED Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema yesterday declared himself the most suitable candidate for the 2011 presidential election on account of his younger age and modern leadership posture.
The UPND and Patriotic Front (PF), headed by Michael Sata, are running a pact which is yet to elect a candidate to lead the alliance into next year’s presidential election.
PF vice-president Guy Scott said, however, that there was nothing wrong with Mr Hichilema declaring himself the right candidate because the members of the joint committee of the pact would still have to decide who would be the candidate.
Addressing supporters on arrival from the United States of America (USA) at Lusaka International Airport yesterday, Mr Hichilema said many developed and developing countries had shifted from the practice of voting for old leaders and because of that, he wanted to lead Zambia starting next year.
He cited the example of Tanzania, Russia, United Kingdom and the USA, which had voted into office young and intelligent leaders aged between 40 and 50 years.
Mr Hichilema said Russian President Dmitry Medvedev was 45 years old, while Tanzania’s Jakaya Kikwete was 50 and US President Barack Obama was only 48.
Newly-inaugurated British Prime Minister David Cameron, born on October 9, 1966, was 44 years old and Mr Hichilema, at 48, argued that he was the best candidate to take over Government next year.
Mr Hichilema said Zambia should join this category of leadership next year by electing him into office.
“The world knows what type of leadership this country needs and surely you the people of Zambia cannot see? I hope Zambians can make the right choices next year,” Mr Hichilema told the cheering crowd.
He said he had travelled to the US at the invitation of the government of that country to learn about international security, which was important to Zambia.
He was in the US for 18 days and arrived aboard a South African Airways flight at 12:30 hours.
Asked about the failure by the pact to launch at the end of March as announced at the beginning of the year, Mr Hichilema said by-elections in some constituencies around the country had kept the political parties busy.
[pullquote]But Dr Scott said even Mr Sata could declare himself as the most suitable candidate and urged people not to see anything wrong with that declaration.[/pullquote]
He said the launch would still go ahead and had not been cancelled, although that would now depend on the Luena parliamentary by-election that resulted from the resignation of Charles Milupi, who formed the Alliance for Democracy and Development.
But Dr Scott said even Mr Sata could declare himself as the most suitable candidate and urged people not to see anything wrong with that declaration.
He said there was nothing that would stop any of the two leaders to make such statements because they knew that the joint technical committee in the pact and other stakeholders would eventually decide who would be the candidate.
Meanwhile, Mr Hichilema condemned Mr Milupi for causing the by-election and blamed him for resources that would be spent on the poll.
He said Mr Milupi should have waited for 2011 in line with the advice he was given before he launched his party.
On calls for political parties to have a ceiling in terms of how much they should spend on any election, Mr Hichilema said Mr Milupi should have raised the matter in the National Constitutional Conference.
The UPND was not shaken by plans by the MMD to petition the Mufumbwe parliamentary by-election results because about 300 witnesses would be lined up and some would testify that they were given suits by the Government.
Mr Hichilema also welcomed the demotion of former Home Affairs minister Lameck Mangani and the appointment of former chairperson of committees at Parliament Mkhondo Lungu to take over the position.
FINANCE and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane says that although the Patriotic Front (PF) publicly opposes government’s revised policy on taxes in the mines sector, the opposition party is on record stating it prefers the current policy.
Dr Musokotwane has said that it is surprising and contradictory for the PF to give an impression in public that it opposes Government’s mining tax regime and yet this is what the party wanted.
Dr Musokotwane said this in Lusaka yesterday during a recording of ‘Culture Remodelling’, a television programme under the theme ‘Health Check on the Zambian Economy’.
He said that in 2008 the PF president Michael Sata wrote a letter to then Finance Minister Ng’andu Magande stating that the PF opposed the windfall taxes that Government had introduced.
Dr Musokotwane said that it was surprising and contradictory of the PF and its ally, the United Party for National Development (UPND), to now oppose Government’s decision to review the mine tax regime accordingly.
“The UPND/PF is amazing and surprising to condemn Government for removing windfall tax when there is evidence that Mr Sata had written a letter to my predecessor [Ng’andu Magande] opposing the decision.
It is strange that these people are on one hand making political pronouncements before people when it suits them and on the other they quietly support Government,” he said.
[pullquote]In the letter dated March 19, 2008 to Mr Magande, who was then minister of Finance, Mr Sata expressed concern at the introduction of the windfall tax, saying that this could stifle growth in the sector and cause job losses.[/pullquote]
Dr Musokotwane cautioned Zambians against taking such leaders seriously as they are showing inconsistence on matters affecting the nation.
He said the current taxation system is aimed at attracting more investment into the country and that it is in tandem with the global taxation methods applied in several mining countries across the globe.
Dr Musokotwane said that Government still collects windfall taxes from profit made by the mining firms in the country. In 2008 Government scrapped windfall taxes on revenue for mining companies following reduced copper prices on the world market.
In the letter dated March 19, 2008 to Mr Magande, who was then minister of Finance, Mr Sata expressed concern at the introduction of the windfall tax, saying that this could stifle growth in the sector and cause job losses.
Dr Musokotwane said it is, therefore, shocking that the same opposition party is now attacking Government for scrapping the windfall tax on revenue in the mining industry.
Meanwhile, Dr Musokotwane has said that Zambia’s economy is experiencing an unprecedented growth, which will soon have positive trickle-down effects to the country’s population.
He said Zambia’s economy has remained good and that global financial experts have cited the country as one that has emerged from the global financial crisis virtually unscathed.
He said the expansion of the economy is evidenced by the growth in the mining and construction industries, as well as in the recently announced all time bumper maize harvest.
“We are very confident that our economy will continue to expand,” said Dr Musokotwane.
Dr Musokotwane said the mining industry is this year expected to record higher production because of the newly opened Luanshya, Lumwana and Munali nickel mines.
He also said that the change in the national budget cycle effected last year has accelerated infrastructure development and other capital projects.
Welterweight boxer Hasting Bwalya has said that he was a bit rusty in his non-title win over American Ashantie Hendrickson in New York on Friday evening.
Bwalya beat Hendrickson on unanimous points decision in their six-round bout at The Capitale on the undercard to the heavyweight fight between Shannon Briggs and Rafael Pedro that the former won over the latter via a first round knockout.
“I was looking for a technical knockout,” Bwalya told the Times of Zambia in a post-fight interview on Friday.
“But it was my fight in six months, I am feeling rusty.”
Bwalya went the distance for the first time since he turned pro in October last year after stopping his last two opponents via knockouts within three rounds.
Bwalya’s scorecard against Hendrickson read 59-55, 58-56, 58-56, to push his record to 3-0.
His next fight will be on June 19 in Niagara Falls against a yet to be named opponent in another non-title fight.
The Committee of Citizens (CC) has condemned the Road Development Agency (RDA) for allegedly misapplying over K1 trillion.
The recent Auditor Generals audit report on RDA has revealed that the agency misappropriated about US$250 million (K1.4 trillion) which was released for various road works in the country.
Committee Executive Director Gregory Chifire says the development will have a negative impact on the country’s attainment of most development targets.
Mr. Chifire told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that this is because a good road network acts as an engine in fostering national development.
He said this is why there is need for people charged with the responsibility of administering public funds meant for national development to always strive at being transparent and accountable in their duties.
He noted that by so doing all developmental plans embarked upon by government will be achieved and consequently better the lives of the citizens in the country.
Mr. Chifire charged that if properly utilized K1 trillion is a lot of money that can go a long way in enhancing the country’s development agenda.
He has since urged government to strengthen the investigations concerning the matter and ensure that the people involved are brought to book.
Mr. Chifire said government should ensure that it comes up with strict measures that will also work as deterrents to would be offenders.
He expressed happiness that government has dissolved the RDA and the National Road Fund Agency boards.
He explained that the decision taken confirms government’s strong stance on corruption and that this will also help in instilling donor confidence in the road sector.
Mr. Chifire has since appealed to people in the public service to be honest and transparent in the manner they utilize public resources if the country is to meet the 2015 targeted Millennium Development Goals especially on poverty reduction and economic growth.
The 2009 Auditor General’s report has queried RDA for delaying the commencement of the road works when government had released money for such projects and also the awarding of a contract to a firm that was allegedly suspended from participating in government contracts.
“I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak His praises”
(Psalm 34:1, NLT)
TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria
When you wake up in the morning, do you expect the goodness of God in your life? Do you set the tone of the day for success, favor and blessing?
It doesn’t matter what happened yesterday, last week, last month or last year; today is a new day. This moment, you have the power to make a change in your life. Things may be bad all around you. People may be negative, complaining and discouraged, but don’t let that spirit rub off on you. Instead, choose to bless the Lord at all times. Let His praise continually be in your mouth. Remember, the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn shining brighter and brighter until the full day.
Stay determined to set the tone for each new day by speaking words of faith over your future. As you do, you’ll enlarge your vision and make room for God to do amazing things in every area of your life!
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father in heaven, I choose to bless You at all times. I choose to set the tone to receive Your favor, grace and mercy. Thank You for Your faithfulness to me at all times. I choose to constantly speak Your praises! In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
President Rupiah banda with United Liberal Party leader Sakwiba Sikota after Mr Sakwiba was bestowed with the status of a State Counsel at State House
The United Liberal Party (ULP) has called on government to reconsider its decision to stop subsidizing fuel.
ULP President Sakwiba Sikota said that government’s move to stop subsidizing fuel has a possibility of affecting the cost of doing business in the country.
Mr. Sikota noted that removing subsidies is also likely to affect prices of most goods and services and performance of the economy which has shown some signs of recovering.
He said tourism, manufacturing, and agriculture sectors are some of the industries that would be affected with adjustment in fuel prices resulting from government’s decision to withdraw subsidies.
He pointed out that in the agriculture sector, it would mean that the cost of transportation of both farming inputs and produce will change while in the manufacturing sector production costs will be adjusted upwards.
Mr. Sikota said the withdrawal will also negatively affect economic activities resulting from reduced business owing to high prices of acquiring and transporting of raw materials in and outside the country.
He stated that Zambia will most likely fail to compete favourably in regional trade through the Common Market for Eastern and Southern (COMESA) customs union because of the high costs that will come with exporting of finished goods and other products to other countries in the region.
The ULP leader said that he agrees that government needs to channel resources to other equally important sectors in the economy for development projects.
But he said that the government could look for funds from other sources other than stopping to subsidies fuel.
He also told government to explain how it intends to utilize the Strategic Reserve Fund (SRF) for fuel since it will not be used to help mitigate the high cost of fuel in the country.
He added that The SRF was established to pile up stocks of fuel so that in times of shortages, fuel could be offloaded on the market to stabilize prices and also in times such as today when fuel costs increase rapidly, fuel stocks could be released at a lower cost.
“The ULP is proposing a gradual review of the subsidies on fuel so that it can also include finding cheap alternative sources of fuel,” Mr Sikota said
Mr. Sikota said a gradual withdraw of fuel subsidies will also give enough time to all sectors of the economy to effectively adjust their expenditure on fuel without incurring major losses.
[ QFM ]
THE MMD says its lawyers have established overwhelming evidence of electoral malpractice in the Mufumbwe parliamentary by-election and that the party is going ahead with its petition.
And MMD chairman for legal affairs, Bwalya Chiti says the lawyers went through the evidence and are ready to file in the petition.
MMD national secretary, Katele Kalumba said in an interview yesterday that the MMD is determined to pursue the matter to its logical conclusion.
“Our lawyers have determined what we have and they are satisfied that we have a case to make,” Dr Kalumba said.
He said the party will not pursue the political option of conflict resolution to resolve the matter as some people have suggested.
Dr Kalumba said conflict resolution sounds attractive but that the nation should bear in mind that the rights of the people of Mufumbwe to choose a representative of their choice were violated.
“The people of Mufumbwe need to know that the representative who goes to parliament on their behalf reflects their wishes and that it is the person they voted for under conditions that are consistent with the law,” Dr Kalumba said.
[pullquote]In apparent reference to Ndola district vice information and publicity secretary, Alex Mubanga’s alleged statement that the MMD will unleash violence on Change Life Zambia executive director, Father Frank Bwalya, Dr Kalumba said he does not know what prompted Mr Mubanga to make the statement.[/pullquote]
He said the lawyers will petition the Mufumbwe parliamentary by-election results and dismissed assertions that the MMD has compromised its evidence because of statements by some party members suggesting the party allegedly took part in the violence.
In apparent reference to Ndola district vice information and publicity secretary, Alex Mubanga’s alleged statement that the MMD will unleash violence on Change Life Zambia executive director, Father Frank Bwalya, Dr Kalumba said he does not know what prompted Mr Mubanga to make the statement.
“I don’t think his statement has a bearing on the grounds of the petition in Mufumbwe…it is totally unrelated,” Dr Kalumba said.
He said individual MMD members might speculate about what happened in Mufumbwe but that this has no bearing on the evidence and the petition.
And Mr Chiti says lawyers went through the evidence and are ready to file in the petition.
Mr Chiti said he had meetings with the lawyers the party has appointed and that they will file the petition any time.
IG Francis Kabonde
Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) has called on President Banda to extend the action taken against Former Home affairs Minister Lameck Mangani to Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde.
SACCORD information officer Obby Chibuluma said that President Banda should be commended for taking action against Mr. Mangani.
He,however, says the President should state reasons for all the officials he dropped just as he has done with Mr. Mangani so that the public could know the People who are not capable of performing to expectations.
Mr Chibuluma said President Banda should similarly remove Mr Kabonde as Inspector General of police just as he has done to his former boss.
And Mr. Chibuluma has called on new Home affairs Minister Mkondo Lungu to uphold the expected high standards in the Ministry and ensure so the Zambia Police remains professional.
He noted that Mr. Lungu should use his experience to ensure that the Zambia police regain the confidence of Zambians which it has lost.
AND The National Revolution Party has welcomed President Rupiah Banda’s decision to remove former home affairs minister Lameck Mangani from cabinet.
Party Secretary General Kelly Walubita Junior said in an interview that President Banda did well to demote Mr. Mangani from the position of Home Affairs Minister to that of Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Science, Technology and Vocational Training.
He said the President’s action came at the right time when every Zambian was expecting his removal.
Meanwhile, Mr. Walubita has accused President Banda of appointing people to key positions on tribal lines.
He said the appointment of Lundazi UNIP Member of Parliament Mukondo Lungu to replace Mr. Mangani is one such example.
He said it is not right for the President to keep on appointing people from eastern province to lead the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Mr Walubita explains that the President could have appointed someone from another tribe to replace Mr. Mangani.
He has called the President to try to tribally balance his cabinet next time he makes appointments to key positions in government.
[ QFM ]
Elias Chipimo Jr., a candidate for president of the African nation of Zambia, will drop in at Sacramento City Hall on Friday afternoon to talk with Mayor Kevin Johnson.
Chipimo, 46, wants “to learn from the mayor how he ran a successful campaign as a young candidate,” mayoral spokesman Joaquin McPeek said.
Chipimo is on a three-day tour of California cities and is trying to establish a stronger connection between the state and Zambia, McPeek said.
Johnson plans to present Chipimo with a glass basketball labeled “Office of Mayor Kevin Johnson.”
An economist has urged the Bank of Zambia to offload 25 million dollars on the Zambian market as a measure to cushion the continued depreciation of the local currency.
Mr. Chibamba Kanyama said offloading the dollars on the Zambian markets will help to stabilize the exchange rate which has seen the local currency continue to depreciate against major currencies.
He said the central bank has an obligation to ensure that the exchange rate is stable. Mr. Kanyama, however, attributes the instability of the Kwacha to international companies who are declaring their dividends abroad.
He said once they declare their dividends abroad, this result in the dollar becoming scarce in the country. He told QFM that most international companies especially the mines use this period between March and April to declare dividends abroad.
Mr. Kanyama added that most companies dealing in dollars are holding the currency in anticipation of the world cup which kicks up in next month in South Africa.
He said the companies are anticipating that most Zambians will go to the world cup making the dollar to be on high demand
FLASHBACK: RDA Director,Erasmus Chilunduka welcoming RB during the commissioning of Chipata -Mfuwe road project in Chipata.
Zambia’s Road Sector Cooperating Partners have welcomed Government’s decision to dissolve the Boards of the Road Development Agency and the National Road Fund Agency.
And the Cooperating Partners have commended the Auditor General for the comprehensive Audit of the Road Development Agency for the years 2006 to 2009.
In a statement released to QFM today, the Cooperating Partners namely the World Bank,the European Union, Denmark, Germany, Japan and the African Development Bank say they stand ready to support the Government in its endeavour to strengthen the institutions responsible for managing and providing oversight in the roads sector.
They say remedial measures arising from the Audit findings, together with a realistic, affordable and sustainable road sector investment programme (ROADSIP II), would pave the way for the resumption of new road works which are still withheld.
They have however made it clear that the pace of the remedial and policy actions will dictate the timing of their resumption of resources to the sector.
The Cooperating Partners note that the Audit confirms the concerns expressed in 2009 in relation to budget execution and control, resulting in a significant over-commitment.
They further state that the Audit also outlines serious issues in the management of resources, procurement, contract management, and the quality of works.
The Cooperating Partners add that they stand ready to assist with the strengthening of the Road Development Agency to enable it to address the issues highlighted in the audit report.
They advise that for a country with limited financial resources, with high levels of poverty, every effort should be made to use funds effectively so that investments result in quality and sustainable infrastructure, adding that transparent and efficient use of public and donor funds is essential to ensure value for money.
Yesterday, the Government announced it had dissolved the Roads Development Agency (RDA) board with immediate following the expiry of tenure of office.
Acting Works and Supply Minister Kenneth Konga said yesterday the ministry’s Permanent Secretary Watson N’gambi would handle all functions, which were performed by the RDA board.
Mr Konga, who is Energy and Water Development Minister said the dissolved board had served two terms.
The board was due for replacement according to the Public Roads Act which provided that a member of the board shall hold office for a period of three years from the date of appointment and shall be eligible for reappointment for one further term of three years.
He said under section six of the Public Roads Act number12 of the 2002, the minister of Works and Supply has powers to appoint part time members of RDA and to dissolve the board.
The minister said he was in the process of appointing a new board for RDA.
The Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) says the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) risks becoming a toothless body if no serious amendments are made to the electoral Act.
FODEP Executive director Charity Musamba said there is need for the country to strengthen the authority of ECZ because its strategic role in the electoral process is vital.
Dr Musamba stressed that FODEP shares the sentiments by the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) that the electoral act should be revised to ensure a professional and totally autonomous electoral body was instituted.
She also said there is urgent need to revise the appointing procedures of commissioners of the ECZ.
She noted that the commissioners should be appointed by an independent body with independent professionals including various people from sections of society to identify commissioners’ to sit on the ECZ board.
Dr Musamba added that there is need for Government to define and extend the role of the commission by enabling it to prosecute those practicing electoral malpractices.
She said it is clear that the country needs to take decisive measures if the operations of the commission are to be strengthened.
Dr Musamba has since called on all Zambians to demand for an independent autonomous and professional body to handle the electoral process in the country.
[QFM]
