Thursday, April 3, 2025
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Zanaco Cut Down Forest Rangers

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Zanaco bounced back from their shock 1-0 home defeat against Nchanga Rangers last week to beat bottom placed Forest Rangers at Sunset stadium in Lusaka this afternoon.

The defending Super Division champions beat Forest 3-1 top move within six points of leaders Zesco United in their final of three delayed league fixtures.

Zanaco were 2-1 going into half time thanks to goals from Mathews Macha and Vanecious Mapande in the 17th and 32nd minutes respectively.

Forest got their consolation goal via Kameta Mutambo penalty four minutes after Mapande had scored Zanaco’s second following a handball by host side defender George Chilufya.

Mapande completed his brace when he headed in Zanaco’s third and final goal in the 47th minute.

Zanaco move from 6th to 4th on the table on 21 points to displace Power Dynamos who are now 5th.

[standings league_id=15 template=extend logo=false]

Do not politicise Justice Sakala’s refusal to greet Sata

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Edwin Lifwekelo (L)

Forum for Leadership Search (FLS) Executive Director Edwin Lifwekelo says a hand shake was not obligatory and a must for Chief Justice Ernest Sakala to have shaken hands with PF leader Michael Sata.

Commenting on the alleged refusal by Chief Justice Ernest Sakala to have shaken hands with the PF leader, Mr. Lifwekelo said every person by virtue of being a human had rights and Mr Justice Sakala had personal rights whether to shake hands with people or not because it was not compulsory.

In an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today, Mr Lifwekelo said Mr Sata should know that Mr Justice Sakala was obliged to accept his personal choice and his refusal to shake hands with him was a personal decision that should not be politicised.

In the same vein, Mr Lifwekelo advised LAZ to critically look into the conduct of lawyers before the law fraternity was taken into ridicule from right thinking members of the public.

And Committee of Citizens Executive director Gregory Chifire in a separate interview condemned Judge Kabaso Chanda for remarks he issued against Justice Sakala over his refusal to shake hands with Mr Sata.

Mr Cifire urged Judge Chanda to demonstrate respect on public matters instead of being used by selfish politicians. And Evangelical Youth Alliance President Moses Lungu said Mr Sata should know that Mr Justice Sakala was a respectable person in the country because of his high integrity and he should desist from dragging him into cheap politics.

Reverend Lungu said Mr Justice Sakala refusal to greet Mr. Sata was not an issue and had no direct link with the work and Office of the Chief Justice.
During the church funeral procession of the late retired Judge Peter Chitengi, Chief Justice Ernest Sakala is alleged to have snubbed greeting the opposition leader.

ZANIS

RB advises Zambian Students in Namibia

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President Banda with vice president George Kunda at Lusaka internati

President Rupiah Banda has urged Zambian students studying in Namibia not to engage in illicit behaviour but to concentrate on their studies in order to develop their country. Addressing the Zambia community living in Namibia at Safari Hotel in Windhoek on Thursday night, President Banda expressed disappointment to learn that some Zambia students in Namibia were misbehaving.

Mr. Banda said Zambia and Namibia have had friendly and warm relations since the latter’s struggle for independence, hence the need for the Zambian students in Namibia to help maintain the existing cordial relations between the two sister countries. He also told the students that their parents would be disappointed if they do not complete their education on account of bad behaviour, even after sacrificing their little income to ensure that (their children) they have a better future.

President said it was important for young people to acquire high standards of education because they have a huge task to develop their country and make Zambia better now and for the future generations. The President, however, was impressed to note that Zambians in the diaspora have started to invest back in their country and therefore, urged them to continue.

He said the Zambians in the Diaspora should be patriotic and proud of their country. Mr Banda also urged them to be good ambassadors wherever they are in spite of their political affiliation and ethnicity. “Don’t be intolerant of one another just because of different political affiliation and ethnicity. At the end of the day, we are one people with one country called Zambia ,” he said.

Speaking at the same function, Zambia ’s High Commissioner to Namibia Mavis Muyunda said Zambia was privileged to have a President who is an international diplomat, lobbyist and a strategist. Mrs. Muyunda said President Banda played a noble role when he worked as Zambia ’s United Nations Permanent Representative , Foreign Affairs Minister in the First Republic and in other portfolios where he worked tirelessly to ensure the wellbeing of humanity.

She also told President Banda that the Zambian Community in Namibia was very united and was hosted by a friendly and hospital country, Namibia , which greatly appreciates Zambia ’s contribution to its freedom.

Mrs. Muyunda assured the President that the Zambian Embassy in Windhoek and Zambians living in Namibia will always strive to project Zambia ’s image as a good investment destination not only in Africa but the world as a whole. Meanwhile, Chairperson for the Association of Zambians in Namibia (AZANA), Mr Moses Muyunda informed President Banda that his association is lending a helping hand to all Zambians in Namibia , regardless of their ethnicity or political affiliations.

Mr Muyunda, however, said while Zambians in Namibia were willing to contribute to Zambia ’s social and economic activities, it was quite difficult to obtain land in Zambia on which to settle down once they left their jobs in Namibia . He, however, expressed happiness to note that President Banda recently made a positive move by instructing the Ministry of Lands to hasten the process, though Zambians in Namibia were not alerted of the development.
Mr Muyunda has since requested the President to revisit the issue so that they could also be afforded an opportunity to obtain land in Zambia .
He also thanked President Banda for allowing those working outside Zambia to bring in the country ( Zambia ) one vehicle duty free after a two–year tour of duty, though he appealed for the number to be increased to two.

The AZANA chairperson further applauded the Zambian Government for improving the agriculture sector in the country and the bumper harvest of maize and other crops during the last agricultural season.He, however, said there is need to put logistics in place in the collection, storage and marketing to reduce wastage and also to ensure that farmers are not only paid on time but they are given the correct prices as a way of motivating them.

Evangelist fasts himself to death

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FASTING is regarded as a faith-enhancing act in the life of a Christian, but the residents of Katete District in Eastern Province are now beginning to question the true value of the practice after one of their own renowned evangelists died after fasting for 40 days and 40 nights.

Canaan Mwanza, 38, a well-known evangelist with the Charismatic Movement in Katete, agonisingly gave up his breath just days after completing his period of fasting.

His mother, Avaida Mwanza, was at pains to narrate the ordeal to this writer after the counsel of several friends, relatives and the general public – most of whom convinced her that she should not talk about the incident, saying it was an act of God.

But after much persuasion, and with the help of her husband, Godrick Mwanza, she was able to open up. And Canaan’s tale of his prayer and fasting-based life unfolds like this:

Some time in 2007, Canaan, a teacher in Mfuwe District, did what Christians call light fasting – abstaining from food and water from morning till 18:30 hours for 40 days as a way of strengthening his faith, much to the amusement of fellow believers and friends.

A known family prayer warrior, Canaan followed this act a year later with a total fasting for 28 days in some hills of Mfuwe area where, according to his mother, he encountered dangerous beasts which, however, did not harm him in any way.

The mother puts his safety during the Mfuwe fasting down to divine protection!
“He was there for 28 days, without eating and bathing. He met animals such as leopards and lions, which just stared at him, without harming him … As you may be aware, that area (Mfuwe) is a game reserve area,” she says.

Upon his return and subsequent recovery from the 28-day fast, he was said to have gone flat out praying for people with different ailments and those who were demon-possessed.

With that somewhat strengthened and renewed faith, Canaan decided to take yet another challenging step of faith in his quest for an enhanced spiritual life.

He decided to embark on a programme to travel by road to Nigeria, with intention to go and have a face-to-face meeting with global renowned tele-evangelist, Prophet TB Joshua, who is also said to have fasted for 40 days and 40 nights before establishing his ministry – the Synagogue Church of All Nations and Emmanuel TV station.

Though it took him a lot of time to reach Nigeria, Canaan never got the chance to meet the Man of God for he (TB Joshua) always had a long-winding queue of people from all over the world with appointments to meet him.

And Canaan was surely not among the thousands who had applied from around the world.

“We became worried as a family such that we resorted to prayer because we did not hear from him for over the three weeks while he had travelled to Nigeria,” the mother recalls.

Later, the Mwanzas got to hear from Canaan who assured them of his safety, and informed them that his mission to meet the Prophet of God had failed.

Canaan headed back home, but is said to have never regretted the fact that he never got to meet TB Joshua.

Instead, people who were close to him say he believed strongly that God had a purpose for not enabling him to meet the prophet.

On April 22, 2010, Canaan decided to go for yet another total fasting for 40 days and nights on Mphangwe Hills in Katete.

Initially, fellow believers accompanied him on his last prayer and fasting mission that would later lead to his death.

But confronted with the “cares of this life”, just after the first two days, his fellow believers backed-off, leaving the spiritual man to continue with the fast alone.

Canaan was determined to spend 40 days and 40 nights on the hills. During the period, he ate nothing, drank nothing, not even water, and never took a bath.

The only thing he would ask from those who would visit him was for them to go and re-charge his mobile phone, which he was using to communicate with family and friends.

“What a strong faith!” many people admired him.

Like Jesus Christ, the pillar of the Christian faith, who fasted for 40 days and 40 nights before embarking on his earthly ministry, Canaan also finished his fasting, though with varied results from those of Christ.

While Jesus Christ went on to establish a ministry whose faith still saves and gives life to those who call on His name even today – over 2,000 years after his death – Canaan never got to establish any ministry.

Two days before he finished his fast, the people who went to visit him (the sister and brother-in-law) reported to have found him too weak to do anything. But defiantly, he refused to break his fast, determined to finish the 40 days.

He told them that although his body was weak, his spirit was stronger than ever. And so, they left him to finish despite their worry.

Afterwards, the father accompanied by his fellow charismatic friends, went to get him down from the hills, as he was too weak to come down on his own.

When they reached home, Canaan’s mother put him on a light diet of porridge to help him regain his strength gradually.

But five days later, the man started hallucinating. Suggestions that he be taken to the hospital were shot down by some of his fellow believers who said the hallucinations were a sign that he was seeing God and having conversation with the Creator.

Convinced, the family left Canaan to recuperate from home, away from the healthcare workers who are trained to preserve lives!

But one Friday afternoon, which Ms Mwanza reckons she will live to remember, her son died right before her eyes.

“When I went to his room to give him some food, I just saw him stretch up and that was it. I thought he was sleeping but when I called his name three times and without response, I touched him and realised that he had died,” she sobbed.

The death of Canaan has been received with mixed feelings in Katete with many people blaming the family for not taking him to the hospital.

But on the other side, Canaan’s family is convinced that his death came at an appointed time, which was foretold.

“We found a piece of cloth in his room written ‘Friday’ (the day he died) and we don’t know where it came from … It is all from God and must be treated as such,” the family believes.

A large, framed and captioned portrait of the smiling Canaan Mwanza still hangs just above the door in the Mwanzas’ house as a remembrance to their hero of faith, whose death is now causing some to begin questioning the true value of prayer and fasting.
[Times of Zambia]

Presidential trips critics malicious, says Machungwa

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LUAPULA Member of Parliament (PF) Peter Machungwa has said people criticising president Rupiah Banda’s trips abroad are malicious and want to mislead the public.

Dr Machungwa said in an interview yesterday that the presidential State visits had brought benefits to the country because a lot of investors were attracted to Zambia.

Commenting on President Banda’s recent trip to Namibia, Dr Machungwa said yesterday the head of State was a number one public relations manager of the country and should be allowed to visit other countries.

He said even heads of State from developed countries also visited other nations to strengthen bilateral relations as well as create networks for economic development.

Dr Machungwa said it was sad that some opposition political leaders were in the forefront criticising the president when they understood how the Government system operates.

Dr Machungwa said Zambia needed to benefit from the goodwill of other countries for her to develop and reduce poverty.

Commenting on the aid freeze, Dr Machungwa said it was a pity that the opposition political leaders wanted donors to withdraw funding as a way of discrediting the Government.

Dr Machungwa told Zambians to be wary of political statements that are meant to gain political mileage such as expelling the Chinese investors when the world had accepted the Asian country because it was the biggest investor in the world.

The Ba Ushi Cultural Traditional and Development Association on the Copperbelt which echoed similar sentiments however appealed to President Banda to use his diplomatic experience to facilitate twinning of some towns in Zambia with the French and Chinese.

Association president Stephen Chitwa said in a statement yesterday that doing so would enhance development .

[Times of Zambia]

Don’t blackmail us, Banda tells donors

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PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda yesterday said co-operating partners should not blackmail the Government by withholding donor support as a way of resolving challenges faced in various sectors of the economy.

The president said he would not allow diplomats who present credentials to him to continue holding Government to ransom using threats to withhold funding because Zambia was a sovereign State.

On arrival yesterday at the Lusaka International Airport from Namibia where he had gone for a State visit, the president said donors themselves choose areas they would like to fund and the Government never forced them.

The president said donors did not have the right to interfere in the internal affairs of the country and urged Zambians to stop rejoicing in their conduct.

President Banda said Government was grateful for the assistance it received from foreign donors but they needed to understand their limits and respect Zambians.

“Do not rejoice in things like that. We should not allow donors to feel that they can interfere in the internal affairs. This is a free country. This is a sovereign country,” President Banda said.

Mr Banda said donors were at liberty to select areas they would like to help Zambia in but the help must not be accompanied by attempts to interfere with the governance of the country.

“They themselves chose to come and help in the road sector, in the health sector. We are very grateful for what they have helped us with but they should not interfere,” he said.

Mr Banda arrived around 13:00 hours and was welcomed by Vice-President George Kunda, Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Peter Daka, Energy Minister Kenneth Konga, Works and Supply Minister Mike Mulongoti and Lusaka Province Minister Charles Shawa.

Also present were service chiefs, Government and other officials.
The president was accompanied to Namibia by Government Chief Whip Vernon Mwaanga and First Lady Thandiwe Banda.

[Times of Zambia]

Namibian rights group claim false — RB

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PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has said claims by Namibia’s National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) that about 20 Namibian freedom fighters died while he was Foreign Affairs minister in the first Republic are false.

The president said he was ready to step down if he participated in the death of the freedom fighters because his conscience would not have been clear to lead a country with such a background.

Mr Banda said the NGO was merely working to impress colonial masters and bringing the name of the government of Namibia into ridicule.

NSHR executive director Phil ya Nongoloh, alleged in The Post of yesterday that President Banda should help the organisation establish the fate of freedom fighters who disappeared without a trace on the Zambian soil.

“There is no such a thing and the allegations are totally false. These are the people who are working for the people who colonised us. They are always trying to bring up these matters,” Mr Banda said.

The NGO listed about 20 Namibian freedom fighters that allegedly disappeared when Mr Banda was Foreign Affairs minister during the UNIP era.

President Banda said the only crime SWAPO, the ruling Namibian party, committed in their mind was that the liberation party successfully fought for the freedom of Namibia.

The Namibian freedom fighters were said to have supported a peaceful change called the Détente Affair in southern Africa and fled to Zambia where they were killed.

Nangoloh claims that the Détente Affair also led to the expulsion of the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) from the bases in south-western Zambia.

NSHR is a national private, independent, non-profit making and non-partisan human rights monitoring and advocacy organisation.

It was formed in 1989 by a group of concerned citizens and it envisages a world free of human right violations.

And

[Times of Zambia]

Chief Justice was not obliged to greet Sata — Daka

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Minister of Agriculture Peter Daka

MMD chairperson for Communications and Transport Peter Daka has said it was not obligatory and a must for Chief Justice Ernest Sakala to have shaken hands with Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata.

Mr Daka who is also Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister said every person by virtue of being a human had rights and Mr Justice Sakala had personal rights whether to shake hands with people or not because it was not compulsory.

In an interview yesterday, Mr Daka said Mr Sata should know that Mr Justice Sakala was obliged to accept his personal choice and his refusal to shake hands with him was a personal decision that should not be politicised.

“Chief Justice Sakala has personal rights whether he should greet people or not because it depends on what he wants based on his individual capacity and why should Mr Sata politicise the whole issue.

“He should stop making politics whenever he goes for funerals and should have respect for everybody,” Mr Daka said.

Mr Sata should know that Mr Justice Sakala was a respectable person in the country because of his high integrity and he should desist from dragging him into cheap politics.

He said it was time Mr Sata thought of retiring from active politics instead of attacking high ranked officials for no apparent reasons and always wanting to gain political mileage whenever he went for a funeral.

And former Patriotic Front (PF) secretary general Edward Mumbi has accused the PF/UPND Pact of conspiring with The Post to instill fear in judges and neutralise the independence of the Judiciary.

Mr Mumbi said in a statement yesterday that it was immoral to attack people who could not defend themselves.

He was also commenting on the story that the chief justice refused to shake hands with Mr Sata.

He said objective people could read through a conspiracy by the pact and The Post to discredit the chief justice because his refusal to greet anyone was not newsworthy.

“People will soon see discredited people who will be used to discredit the judiciary. These criticisms are merely serving selfish political ends for leaders in the PF/UPND Pact,” he said.

He said the PF/UPND Pact was planning to disturb the Judiciary as Zambia approaches elections because there was a plan to defame people and engage in violence, which would attract litigation.

President Banda said to justify the conspiracy, The Post had even gone to an extent of publishing a picture of former president Frederick Chiluba shaking hands with Mr Justice Sakala, which had nothing to do with the case at hand.

He said when former Kasama MP Saviour Chishimba petitioned Mr Sata’s presidential candidature, Mr Justice Sakala was still the chief justice and the courts allowed him to contest.

The PF leader recently won another case in the courts and he praised the courts for their independence but because of his inconsistency he had now changed.

And a Lusaka lawyer Christopher Mundia said the encounter between Mr Justice Sakala and Mr Sata did not warrant political insinuations because the two were traditional cousins.

“I have known the current chief justice for many years having worked with him closely in the national group and do not believe that he intended to offend Mr Sata but purely a light moment between the two cousins as Bembas and Ngonis have always joked at many funerals,” he said.

Mr Mundia said to use the encounter to embarrass the chief justice was unfortunate because political hatred brewing in the country could later explode to unimaginable magnitude.

Although the incident happened at a funeral, the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) should do everything possible to defend the Judiciary.

He said the chief justice did not mean to offend Mr Sata but it was just a light moment between the two traditional cousins.

‘Teachers accomodation, not the main priority’

Education Minister Dora Siliya

Education Minister, Dora Siliya has said it is wishful thinking for teachers to think that government will provide their accommodation needs at the expense of attaining universal primary education by 2015.

Ms Siliya said government realizes that accommodating the over 80,000 institutional teachers is currently a problem but that its priority at the moment is to make access to education much easier for every child in the country in line with the Millennium Development Goals MDGs.

She said government is addressing the infrastructural needs in the education sector but that this year’s focus is on addressing schools infrastructure needs rather than the teacher’s accommodation problems.

She added that her Ministry is building about 1,000 houses this year alone but that this is still not sufficient to meet the accommodation needs of the teachers.

Ms Siliya has, however, challenged the banking sector to come to the aid of government by making available loans to teachers to enable them build houses.

She said this will also be an opportunity for the private sector to make more profit considering the fact that government has provided the private sector with a very conducive environment to operate.
[ QFM

Sakala owes Zambians an explaination, SACCORD

The Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolutions of Disputes, SACCORD, has demanded for an explanation from Chief Justice Ernest Sakala for his conduct towards Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata who he refused to shake hands with.

SACCORD Information Officer, Obby Chibuluma said the Chief Justice owes Zambians an explanation on the matter in which he refused to greet Sata.

He said it is raises concern to see the man who is the returning officer in the presidential elections showing personal grudges against some political leaders in the country.

Mr Chibuluma said Mr. Sakala as the father of justice should embrace every citizen in the country regardless of their political affiliation.

He expressed disappointment that the Chief Justice could happily shake hands with people facing corruption charges in the courts of law,and yet refuse to shake hands with innocent people such as Mr. Sata.

Meanwhile, Mr. Chibuluma has called on the PF youths not to rush into demanding for the resignation of the Chief Justice.

He said the Chief Justice should first be given a chance to explain the motive behind his refusal to shake hands with the PF leader.
[ QFM ]

Nkana Show Confidence in Josmar and Schemer

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Nkana have decided that they will not hire a new coach to take the place of Benjamin “Kawilo” Chilongo who suddenly quit this week.

Club officials have stated that Fedelis “Josmar” Chungu and Fred “Schemer” Siame will be in joint charge of the team.

However, Chungu and Siame will maintain their first and second assistant titles.

Chilongo, how joined Nkana this season, is said to have quit due to internal pressures at Nkana with reliable sources claiming he failed to cope with pressure from Nkana’s hard-to-please fans with some allegedly harassing him with phone calls.

He leaves Nkana in 7th place on the Faz Super Division in their first season back in the top flight since being promoted his year.

TP Mazembe Beat Rangers

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TP Mazembe claimed their first win on their week-long training camp tour of Zambia on Thursday when they beat Nchanga Rangers in Chingola in an international club friendly played at Nchanga stadium.

The DR Congo giants beat Rangers 1-0 courtesy of a goal from their Zambia international striker Given Singuluma.

TP drew 1-1 with Zesco United and Power Dynamos in their previous games.

They face Power again tomorrow at Arthur Davies in Kitwe.

Masaiti wants Patrick Mwanawasa for MP

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FLASHBACK: Patrick Mwanawasa and his cousin Jonas Shakafuswa arrive for the Chakwela Makumbi traditional ceremony

THE MMD in Masaiti District has resolved to float late president Levy Mwanawasa’s son Patrick as parliamentary candidate for Kafulufuta constituency in the 2011 general elections.

Area MMD chairperson Michael Katambo said since current MP George Mpombo had lost popularity, the party decided to float Patrick as parliamentary candidate for the 2011 elections.

He said in an interview yesterday that the decision was arrived at after several meetings at grass root level where the proposal to float Patrick was supported by the majority.

“We want to uphold the legacy of late president Mwanawasa by floating his son as Kafulafuta MP and because he is a committed member of the party,” Mr Katambo said.

When contacted Mr Mpombo said he did not care, as it was too early for the party to endorse anyone for next year’s elections.

And Patrick said he was interested in Kafulafuta constituency but would only comment if the MMD national executive committee (NEC) or ordinary residents of the area raised the matter.

“I won’t say much until higher authorities say so. I hold the people of Kafulafuta closely and dearly to my heart,” he said.

Mr Katambo said Mr Mpombo had lost favour in the constituency hence the need to replace him with somebody people would accept.

He urged Mr Mpombo to stop telling the people that he single handedly influenced the construction of schools and health institution in the area because the projects were part of government’s nation wide plans to deliver services to the people.

Mr Mpombo held a meeting in Kafulafuta constituency last weekend where he alleged that he had single handedly initiated the development in the area.

[pullquote]And Patrick said he was interested in Kafulafuta constituency but would only comment if the MMD national executive committee (NEC) or ordinary residents of the area raised the matter.[/pullquote]

“How can he claim to have single handedly influenced the development, it is not true, those are part of government projects being taken countrywide,” Mr Katambo said.

The Government was constructing a high school at Masangano area and upgrading Sankute clinic into a district hospital.

Mr Katambo said the district had also resolved not to vote for Mr Mpombo for any position at the next convention.

But Mr Mpombo said he was the one who initiated the projects by lobbying the Government.

He said he had a meeting in the constituency to explain to the electorate the reason why he resigned as Defence minister and that he was still MMD.

“I had a meeting to explain certain things to the electorate, I told them that l am still MMD and nobody is going to push me. And believe me I did not speak anything ill against president Banda during the meeting,” Mr Mpombo said.

He said he was still popular in the area and he was sure of retaining the seat if he contested.

And the MMD has started holding elections at various party structures as a build up to the national convention that takes place soon after the provincial executive committees.

MMD chairperson for elections Mike Mulongoti said he had directed that all elections for executive committees should take place by 15 July 2010 in all the constituencies that have not held them.

These would be followed by district after which provincial elections that would be addressed by President Rupiah Banda would be held.

He said in a media release in Lusaka yesterday that the elections must be held by next month in a memorandum addressed to all provincial and district chairpersons.

“This serves to inform you that party elections for all the executive committees should be held by 15 July 2010 in all the constituencies that have not held them to date,” Mr Mulongoti said.

The provincial executives have already declared President Banda the sole presidential candidate while other interested members are still allowed to contest the position.

[Times of Zambia]

Malaysian bank opens doors in Zambia

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A NEW commercial bank has opened its doors on the Zambian market with a base rate of 19 per cent for the local currency, the Kwacha while nine per cent is for the United States dollar loans.

The bank has pledged to offer credit facilities for working capital, term loans for new projects, expansion and diversification of existing projects, and export finance.

The International Commercial Bank (ICB) of Malaysia would launch its first user-friendly account, the Sungapo account, where depositors would not require any minimum balance but only a small amount for opening accounts.

The bank is offering export-import finance, motor vehicle loans, project finance, letters of credit, bank guarantees and customised credit facilities to the small and medium-scale enterprises.

According to a media release by the bank’s board chairperson Bornwell Chiyabi, the bank also has a current account product for small and medium scale entrepreneurs while the other one is for non-governmental organisations, churches and other non-profit institutions.

ICB offices are situated at the corner of Great North Road and Washama Road in Villa Elizabetha, near ZRA.

ICB chief executive officer Madhava Murthy said the new products would be launched soon.

[Times of Zambia]

Read and understand draft constitution – NCC chairman

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National Constitutional Conference chairperson Chifumu Banda (L) and spokesperson Mwangala Zaloumis, during the launch of the draft constitution in LUsaka.

National Constitutional Conference (NCC) chairman Chifumu Banda has urged Zambians to read and understand the draft constitution without getting too personal.

Mr. Banda says that the public should use the 40 days period to make comments and contribute to the making of Zambia’s constitution.

He added that it is important that Zambians should be sober and that whatever comments and contributions will be made will be taken on board.

Speaking on ‘Public’s Last Say’ last evening, Mr. Banda stated that the anger from the people will not make a change and that the only way that the country will move forward with the constitution is by making contributions.

And Mr. Banda has defended the draft constitution saying that nothing much has changed from the Mungomba draft constitution.
[ QFM]