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Mpombo, Magande ineligible for MMD presidency, says Mabenga

THE MMD has said Kafulafuta Member of Parliament George Mpombo and his Chilanga counterpart Ng’andu Magande are ineligible to contest the presidency at the national convention because of their poor relations with the party leadership.

MMD national chairperson Michael Mabenga said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that the constitution only allowed members in good standing with the ruling party to contest any position.

Mr Mabenga was commenting on Mr Mpombo who re-stated on Thursday last week that he was preparing to challenge President Rupiah Banda.

But Mr Mabenga said Mr Mpombo and Mr Magande, who has also gone public about his intention to run for the party presidency, were not enjoying any constitutional powers that could guarantee their candidature after de-campaigning their own party on many instances.

Mr Mabenga said all the provinces had picked Mr Banda as the sole candidate even if other members were allowed to apply for the position.

The ruling party’s electoral commission that would be set up before the convention would be given guidelines to follow, and top among them was that a member interested to contest any position should have good relations with the party leadership.

Mr Mabenga described as unfortunate the continued announcements by the two leaders that they would stand at the convention when they know that eligibility was premised on their conduct in the run-up to the convention.

Mr Mpombo told the TIMES in an interview that his intention to challenge President Banda was alive and was sure of victory because many members had declared so.

Mr Mabenga, however, dismissed the statement as wishful thinking, particularly in view of the continued rise in popularity of President Banda.

He said it was difficult to understand the intentions of the two MPs who had spoken ill of the party they wanted to lead.
[Times of Zambia ]

RB’s re-appointment of Namulambe, a “smoke screen”

Gabriel Namulambe

United Party for National Development (UPND) has described as a “smoke screen,” the decision by republican President, Rupiah Banda, to re-appoint expelled science and technology deputy minister, Gabriel Namulambe into government.

And the party has urged the newly appointed mines deputy minister, to be cautious because the MMD have not changed their perception about the fact that he is their enemy and that is why he is being kept closer.

Mazabuka central Member of Parliament, Garry Nkombo said Mr Namulambe has been trapped by the ruling party to allow him to make a decision of his own.
Mr Nkombo has also challenged President Banda to reveal when he reconciled with mr Namulambe because everyone knows that the two have been at logger headas for a long time.

He indicated that the two leaders have differed on principle and it is suprising that mr Namulambe could just be brought back like that.

Mr Nkombo said that mr Namulambe was unceremoniously fired and the nation demands to know how the president decided to bring him back, despite the fact that hehas the appointing and disappointing powers.
[ QFM ]

LDDM disappointed with flood victims’ refusal to return home

The Lusaka District Disaster Management, LDDM, is disappointed with people at the Independence Stadium resettlement camp who have refused to go back to their homes even after the July 1, 2010 deadline.

Lusaka District Commissioner, Christah Kalulu said it is disappointing that people still want to continue staying at the camp site even when they are fully aware of the terms under which they were temporarily relocated to the area.

Ms. Kalulu who is also LDDM chairperson said the management and its cooperating partners have assessed the flood areas and that most areas that were submerged are now dry.

She said some people have since moved back to their homes.

Ms. Kalulu disclosed that the Lusaka City Council has continued the assessment of the situation in areas that get flooded during the rainy season.

She said upon conclusion of the assessment, government and its cooperating partners would then make a decision on the way forward.

Ms. Kalulu noted that the people have to work with government and other cooperating partners to reach an amicable conclusion over their situation.

But President Rupiah Banda early this year promised the people at independence stadium that cabinet would sit to find a lasting solution to their plight.

Meanwhile, Lusaka Mayor Robert Chikwelete said there is need to find a permanent land for the people at independence stadium to avoid the recurrence of relocations during the rainy season.

He said Misisi compound in Lusaka should be given to developers who can turn it into an industrial area because it is not conducive for habitation.

And Lusaka City Council Assistant Public Relations Manager Mulunda Habeenzu said it is not safe for the people at independence stadium to be taken back to their submerged homes in Misisi and Chawama compounds even after the water dries up.
[ QFM ]

RB comes underfire over Dr. musonda’s shooting saga

President Rupiah Banda

National Revolution Party (NRP) Secretary General Kelly Walubita junior says it is wrong for the president to only react after pressure.
Mr Walubita noted that if public pressure was not applied, the former health deputy Minister was going to go scot free.

He said as much as the arrest of Dr. Musonda is welcome, the action was not timely.

Mr Walubita pointed out that it is evident that President Banda was trying to shield the former Health deputy Minister.

He added that the president was supposed to take action within 24 hours of the crime.

President Rupiah Banda last week relieved Health Deputy Minister Solomon Musonda of his duties.

This decision comes after the President received a report from the Director of Public Prosecution recommending for the prosecution of Dr. Musonda following a shooting incident in his constituency
[ QFM ]

Completion of Imusho border post to boost trade

Government says works on the construction of Imusho border post in Western province once completed will help to boost trade between Zambia and Angola.

Home Affairs Deputy Minister Richard Taima said the works, being funded by government, are on course and progressing well.

He said government has mobilized about K650 million and additional funds which have been allocated towards the construction of Imusho border post including other infrastructure.

Mr Taima was speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka.

He said Imuhso border has been operating without offices adding that officers only issue border passes once in a week owing to lack of office space and accommodation for the immigration officers.

The deputy minister added that once the border post is completed the movement of goods and services between the two counties will be enhanced for the benefit of the people in the two countries.

Meanwhile, Mr. Taima has disclosed that government has embarked on the construction and rehabilitation of staff houses and upgrading of existing border posts throughout the country.
[ QFM ]

Power-cut devastates operations

THE long awaited ZESCO transformer from India has arrived in the country. Above, a mommoet truck carrying the machine destined for Lusaka’s Leopards Hills sub-station at Chirundu border post, Zambia Dec 2009

Electricity power supply that was abruptly disrupted in most parts of the country on Friday has been restored but the incident has left some organisations reeling with damaged equipment and unable to carry out their normal operations.

Among organisations affected by the power-cut are the mines, water supply companies and telecommunication institutions.

Most parts of the country were plunged into darkness when a circuit breaker at Kariba North Bank Power Station in Siavonga blew up. Kariba is Zambia’s second largest electricity power station after Kafue Gorge.
The incident happened around 10:30 hours but by 13:00 hours the power restoration process had started.

Zesco spokesperson Lucy Zimba said: “By 19:00 hours we had restored power in the entire country. What everyone must understand is that those are machines and anything can happen to them. What happened yesterday (Friday) was not man-made.”
She said Zesco is still assessing the cost implications of the incident.

Konkola Copper Mines Plc says its mining operations came to a standstill due to the power outage but engineers are now working re-activating the last of four pumps at the Konkola Deep Mine, shaft number one, to effectively manage a flooded portion of the mine.
KCM head of corporate affairs Rahul Kharkar said this in a statement issued in Ndola yesterday.

“About 110 miners were in the shaft cage at the time of the outage, and all of them were safely brought to the surface after power supply was stabilised one and a half hours later,” Mr Kharkar said.

He said emergency power was supplied to enable the mine to continue pumping out water.

“At Konkola Deep, shaft number three has started hoisting while at shaft number one, 41 pumps have been restarted. Our engineers are working on the last battery of four pumps to enable effective management of the flooded portion of the mine,” Mr Kharkar said
He said the Nchanga open pit, Nchanga underground mine and the concentrator are back on stream.

Mr Kharkar said the tailings leach plant is also expected to resume operations within the course of the day (yesterday).

“The Nkana refinery is back online and the Nchanga smelter is expected to start up later today (yesterday),” Mr Kharkar said.

He said KCM is assessing the full impact of the incident and that the results will be known in two days time.

China Non-Ferrous Metal Mining Corporation (CNMC) Luanshya Copper Mines (CLM) says it is still quantifying the losses the mining company incurred during the power-cut.

CLM public relations officer Sydney Chileya said this in an interview in Luanshya yesterday.

“The processing plant, which includes the concentrator, flotation and milling sections, was shut down because of the power failure. We have very sensitive equipment there, so we isolated it so that it is not damaged when power was restored,” Mr Chileya said

He, however, said the company was able to mine copper during the power outage but that it could not process the ore because the processing plant was shut.

“Our technical people are still quantifying the man hours lost and in monetary terms but I can say that the losses we incurred were quite high,” Mr Chileya said.

Mr Chileya said CLM continued some of its mining activities because 28 shafts at Baluba Mine are connected to Copperbelt Energy Corporation standby generator.

In Ndola, a power surge yesterday damaged electric panels at the Kafubu Water and Sewerage Company’s (KWSC) Itawa water works, disrupting supply to some parts of the city.

KWSC public relations officer Margaret Zulu said in an interview in Ndola yesterday that the power surge also damaged six computers at the company.

“We lost electric panels at the Itawa water works and this means that we can’t pump water.”
She said KWSC is still assessing the extent of the damage on the electric panels.

Ms Zulu said the affected areas are town centre, Kansenshi, Northrise and Chifubu.

The power surge also damaged computers at Zamtel offices at the company’s headquarters in Ndola.
Zamtel public relations manager Rose Mwanza said in an interview in Ndola yesterday that the extent of the damage has not been ascertained yet.

“Some computers at Zamtel blew up on the fifth, sixth and seventh floors. I just hope the damage is not worse than that,” Ms Mwanza said.

In Lusaka, Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company public relations manager Simon Mwale said the power-cut adversely affected water supply to most parts of the city.

He said that it took over an hour for the reservoirs to fill up again and for the water to be pumped to customers.

[ Zambia Daily Mail ]

Mpombo, Magande under fire

George Mpombo

The MMD in Eastern and Copperbelt provinces, and some civil society organisations have castigated Kafulafuta member of Parliament (MP) George Mpombo and his Chilanga constituency counterpart Ng’andu Magande for allegedly holding on to the party to secure their stay in the National Assembly.

And some youths have condemned some opposition political parties and other civil society organisations for their continued unjustified attacks on President Banda and his administration over matters that are purely for the courts or police to deal with.

Eastern Province MMD chairman Kennedy Zulu, commenting on the duo’s constant attacks on President Banda, urged them to quit the party and test their popularity in a by-election.

Mr Zulu said the incessant attacks the duo is making against President Banda, including calling for the removal of MMD from power, send a clear message that they are no longer members of the MMD.

“I don’t know why they are holding on to MMD because their persistent attacks against the party and President Banda have shown that they are no longer MMD. They are behaving like a man who insults his wife during the day, but wants to embrace her in the night,” Mr Zulu said.

Mr Zulu said if the two are as popular as they claim they are, they should emulate president Charles Milupi, who relinquished his Luena seat when he formed ADD.

He said any credible political party cannot adopt Mr Mpombo as parliamentary candidate because he has proved to suffer from indecision by suddenly quitting his Cabinet portfolio, but clings to a political party he insults relentlessly.

He wondered if Mr Magande was serious about intentions to contest for the MMD presidency at the party convention when he is calling for the removal of the party from Government.

He said the MMD in Eastern Province is behind President Banda because he has demonstrated qualities of a mature, responsible and dedicated leader.

Meanwhile, the MMD in Masaiti has called on Mr Mpombo to stop telling people that he initiated the construction of Masangano High School in Kafulafuta.

District chairman Michael Katambo said in Ndola yesterday that Mr Mpombo has failed the people in the area and should not claim that he initiated the construction of the high school.

“The construction of Masangano High School is under Government programmes and should not be seen to have been initiated by Mr Mpombo,” he said.

Mr Katambo said Masaiti district was behind President Banda and will not support Mr Mpombo at the MMD national convention.

And Copperbelt youth vice-secretary Benson Tembo has warned Change Life Zambia director Frank Bwalya against distributing and selling red cards in Chifubu constituency because doing so could cause disturbances.
Fr Bwalya refused to comment on the matter.

And Forum for Leadership Search executive director Edwin Lifwekelo said in a statement yesterday that it is unjustifiable to condemn President Banda, who has demonstrated political will and maturity by ensuring that the courts of law and the police operate independently.

He said this is evident in the case of former deputy minister of health Dr Solomon Musonda, who has been arrested and charged for causing grievous harm with intent to maim, disfigure or disable.

Mr Lifwekelo has also said that Mr Mpombo and Mr Magande have lost touch with reality.

Mr Lifwekelo said Mr Magande should rejoin the United Party for National Development (UPND) and that Mr Mpombo has become a liability to the MMD.

“Both are not adding value to the country. Even as councillors, Magande and Mpombo cannot win,” he said.
And Evangelical Youth Alliance International executive director Reverend Moses Lungu has said political parties and the civil society must respect those in leadership and the laws of the land.

Rev. Lungu said it is always important for people to be patient when dealing with legal issues.

Gallant Youths of Zambia have challenged the Catholic leadership in Zambia to clear itself from any connections with the opposition PF.

Gallant Youths of Zambia national co-ordinator Mr Henry Mulenga says as youths they would always look up to the church but recent events point to the church taking political sides.

[ Zambia Daily Mail ]

Hubby caught in act with maid

After 10 years in marriage, a woman has asked the Lusaka Boma Local Court to grant her divorce because her husband has been having sex with their maid.

This was heard in a case in which Ruth Banda, 38, of Lusaka’s Woodlands township sued her husband Benjamin Mwansa, 46, of the same township for divorce.

Banda told the court that problems in their marriage started in 2008 when her husband started insulting her in the presence of their children and maid.

Banda said Mwansa referred to her as a useless woman and that he started returning home late. She said Mwansa told her not to question where he had been or why he was returning home late.

Banda also said Mwansa started refusing to eat her food and he stopped making love to her, saying he had found a very active woman who cooked what he liked.

“Every time I asked him why he refused to eat the food I prepared and make love with me, the answer was ‘I have found a very energetic young woman who makes me more happy than you do’,” Banda told the court.

She said she no longer receives the love she used to get from Mwansa but that he was fond of their maid.
Banda said she tried to have the matter resolved with elders, but so far nothing has been done because Mwansa pretends to love her in the presence of his relatives.

She told the court that a “few days ago” she found her husband “in the act” with their maid, a single woman who occupies their servant’s quarter.

“I could not believe it because I regarded the maid as my own sister whom I trusted very much. Even now I have no words but to seek divorce before I get depressed in this house,” Banda said.

In defence, Mwansa told the court that he had nothing to say because he was waiting to be divorced.

He said, however, that he has no problem with Banda apart from her being too lazy to cook and do other house chores.

Mwansa said since Banda wants to have the marriage dissolved, he had no choice but to go by her wish, especially that another woman at the village is waiting to be picked by him next month (July).

Senior presiding magistrate Elipher Mwewa rejected the appeal for divorce and ordered that Mwansa and Banda reconcile.

The court also ordered that Mwansa ends his relationship with the maid and with the woman he intends to bring from the village.

Magistrate Mwewa said there is a tendency by some men to divorce their wives without justification and advised Mwansa to ask the church or elders to help resolve their marital problems.
[ Zambia Daily Mail ]

Your Story Ends in Victory

6

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed”
(Psalm 139:16, NLT)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria

Did you know that all of your days have already been written? God has already recorded every part of your life from the beginning to the end. He knows every disappointment, every loss and every challenge. The good news is that even though you’ve had some challenges, even though you’ve faced some setbacks, your story ends in victory. Your final chapter concludes with you fulfilling your God-given destiny and experiencing His eternal restoration.

Any time we face a disappointment in life or go through a loss, we have to remember there’s another chapter in front of us. We can’t stop on that page, we have to keep moving forward. Instead of focusing on what didn’t work out, wondering why we went through a marriage that didn’t last, or why we didn’t get that position we worked so hard for, focus on the future. Let go of the past and press forward because your story ends in victory, and God will restore everything that has been stolen from you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, thank You for setting me up for victory. Thank You for holding me in the palm of Your hand. I choose to release the questions and disappointments in the past so that I can be ready to receive the victory You have prepared for me! In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Hastings Bwalya Beats Matt Ellis

6

Hastings Bwalya made it four wins out of four on Saturday night after beating American Matt Ellis in their non-title welterweight fight at Niagara Falls, New York.

The 24-year-old Zambian boxer knocked out Ellis in the second round of their scheduled four-round bout.

Bwalya’s knock out win was his third from four professional fights since leaving the amateur ranks in October last year.

The fight at the Niagara Falls Conference Centre in New York State was on the undercard of the main bill between former heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman-Shannon Miller.

Rahman stopped Miller in the fourth round via another knockout in their scheduled 10-round non-title fight.

Rangers Rise After Beating Zanaco at Sunset

5

Nchanga Rangers dispatched Zanaco to their first home defeat of the season when they met this afternoon in a delayed Super Division Week 7 match played at Sunset stadium in Lusaka.

Rangers beat hosts Zanaco 1-0 who were hoping for a home win that would have seen them move within six points of leaders Zesco United who are on 27 points.

The visitors winning goal came in the 55tnh minute and was scored by ex-Under-20 defender Moses Mulambi.

Rangers win meanwhile sees the Chingola side rise from 4th to 3rd on 22 points, exchanging places with Power Dynamos.

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

MISA Zambia slaps William Banda

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia is horrified at the statement attributed to Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) Lusaka Province Chairperson William Banda, in which he is reported to have vowed to “fight” and “defeat” the Post newspaper

Mr Banda said he would fight the Post Newspaper for allegedly insulting President Rupiah Banda, Vice-President George Kunda, and a number of cabinet ministers.

MISA Zambia Chairperson Henry Kabwe said Banda’s statement is shocking because of its harsh tone, which he described as a Tantamount to a declaration of “All Out War” against The Post newspaper.

Mr Kabwe said the statement is an incitement to violence against The Post newspaper and its staff.

He appealed to MMD leadership to immediately check the excesses of Mr. William Banda who he described as ‘a senior cadre with a reputation of thuggish behaviour dating back to his days as Lusaka District Governor under the former ruling party, UNIP’.

Mr Kabwe also reminded Mr. William Banda that the days of UNIP’s style of vigilantism ended with the abolition of one party rule in 1990.

He urged Mr Banda to check his calendar again and realise that this is the year 2010 and not 1990, when UNIP was desperately fighting the tide of political change, and that Mr. Banda was in the forefront of defending UNIP,s desperate hold on power.

He said Zambia is now in the 21st Century and not the 20th Century, where Mr Banda cut his teeth in politics and was well schooled in using violence to crush political opponents, including the media.
[pullquote]He urged Mr Banda to check his calendar again and realise that this is the year 2010 and not 1990, when UNIP was desperately fighting the tide of political change, and that Mr. Banda was in the forefront of defending UNIP,s desperate hold on power.[/pullquote]

Mr Kabwe said such tactics are not acceptable in a multiparty democracy like Zambia is today, and has been for the last 20 years since former president Dr. Kenneth Kaunda abolished one-party rule.

Mr. Kabwe reiterated that President Rupiah Banda should counsel Banda and urge him to change his old fashioned ways, because they are tarnishing the image of the country as an oasis of peace, political tolerance, and freedom of the press.
[ QFM ]

Two family members die in an inferno

Fire

Another victim of an inferno that burnt a family of six members killing one on the spot in Sinazongwe district has died.

The sister to the victim Beauty Mabole confirmed the death of his brother Ferdinand Hamuguyu that he died on Thursday in the afternoon after he was referred to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) for specialist medication on Tuesday.
[pullquote]“I just saw fire in the night when I went to the sitting room I found my children being burnt, including my husband, I came back in the bedroom and I had no where to run to because the house has no windows.

I shouted for help from neighbours who came and started putting off the fire. It was too late my girl Ivenia Hamuguyu was already burnt to death,” Mrs Hamuguyu said.[/pullquote]
Ms Mabole said his son Martin Mabole who is 15 years old is still admitted to UTH were he was referred together with his late uncle Hamuguyu.

She said the wife to the late Hamuguyu together his four year old son was still admitted to Maamba Hospital while a two year old boy has been discharged.

Maamba Hospital Superintendent Dr Chimika Phiri disclosed that the condition of Purity Hamuguyu and her four year old son Ivan Hamuguyu is stable.

Dr. Phiri said the four year old boy sustained 25 percent burns and he was responding well to medication.
He said the condition of the Late Hamuguyu who sustained 75 percent burns was severe and it resulted to his referring to UTH for specialist treatment.

On Tuesday around 01 hours the entire family for the late Hamuguyu was burnt and a seven year old girl Ivenia Hamuguyu died on the spot as a result of suffocation.

Ms Hamuguye who is also still admitted to Maamba Hospital said she does not know the cause of the fire.

“I just saw fire in the night when I went to the sitting room I found my children being burnt, including my husband, I came back in the bedroom and I had no where to run to because the house has no windows.

I shouted for help from neighbours who came and started putting off the fire. It was too late my girl Ivenia Hamuguyu was already burnt to death,” Mrs Hamuguyu said.

However, Maamba Police retrieved a container of petrol from the house which was suspected to be the cause of the fire.

Global fund freezing worry Sikota

https://i0.wp.com/www.lusakatimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/RB_and_Sakwiba.jpg?resize=314%2C257
United Liberal Party leader Sakwiba Sikota (right) President Rupiah banda.

United Liberal Party (ULP) president Sakwiba Sikota has expressed concern over the decision by the Global Fund to transfer disbursements of funds for life saving interventions directly to procurement agents following the Fund’s suspension of grants to the Ministry of Health.

Mr Sikota said he doubts if the new Principal Recipient, the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) can handle the Ministry’s 2019s responsibilities.

Mr Sikota said he also doubts if there is any Non Governmental Organization that has the capacity to handle issues in the realm of treatment.

He noted that there is no NGO that is better placed than government to handle the issue of people’s health in the country.

Mr Sikota bemoaned that the suspension of funding to the Ministry of Health is saddening because the ordinary Zambians would suffer the repercussions.

Mr Sikota , however,said he is hopeful that government will next month when parliament resumes its sittings make a comprehensive statement on the matter.
[ QFM ]

RB implores Namulambe, Mangani to Ignore detractors

President Rupiah Banda

President Banda has advised newly appointed Deputy Minister of Mines and Minerals Development Gabriel Namulambe and his Science and Technology counterpart Lameck Mangani to ignore people who are advising them to reject the appointments.

The President said Mr Namulambe and Mr Mangani should not listen to detractors but should focus on the bigger responsibility of serving Zambians.

Mr Banda said this at State House yesterday when he swore-in Mr Namulambe and Mr Mangani.

“Honourable Mangani and Honourable Namulambe, I say welcome back. I am sincerely happy that you have accepted the appointments I have made despite the fact that you are taking up appointments lower than that of Cabinet minister,” he said.

President Banda said Mr Mangani and Mr Namulambe are his colleagues and they have to continue working together as Government to address bigger challenges which affect all Zambians.

Mr Banda said he is convinced that even when Mr Mangani and Mr Namulambe accepted to be appointed Deputy Ministers, they considered the fact that they were going back into Government to serve and help to address various problems facing the country.

“I am also sure that there are many people who came to you and said do not accept. I think you should let those people stay where they are,” he said.

Mr Banda said since he dropped the two from Cabinet, he has never received any adverse reports about their reactions.
[pullquote]“I am also sure that there are many people who came to you and said do not accept. I think you should let those people stay where they are,” he said.[/pullquote]
“And for this, I congratulate you. All the best and may God guide your work as you serve the people of Zambia,” he said.

And when swearing-in Pumulo Mundale as chief analyst for legal affairs at State House, President Banda said he is happy to welcome Ms Mundale to the family of State House staff and Government.

Mr Banda said he is sure that Ms Mundale will add value to the work being done at State House, particularly in the legal department.

President Banda said he is confident that Ms Mundale has the capacity to execute her duties diligently.
Mr Banda said it is particularly pleasing to him to have found a professional woman to work at State House.

“We are doing everything possible to ensure that there is a balance between men and women serving both here and in Government,” he said.

[ Zambia Daily Mail ]