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The Press Association of Zambia (PAZA) has called on government to desist from issuing threatening statements to the independent media in the country.
Reacting to government threats to revoke the license of Sky FM radio station in Monze for allegedly reporting threats by Chief Mwanachingwala to burn the sugar cane plantations belonging to Zambia Sugar Company in Mazabuka, PAZA vice president Amos Chanda said such threats are an affront to media freedom in the country.
Mr. Chanda said the threats have an effect of intimidating journalists working for the independent media. He challenged government to tell the nation the offence the radio station committed that can cost it its operating license.
Mr Chanda said the government should stop questioning the radio station, but rather divert its questions to the Chief who threatened to burn the sugar cane plantations.
Former Defence Minister George Mpombo says MMD Chairman Michael Mabenga has no right to stop either him or former Finance Minister Ng’andu Magande from contesting the MMD presidency.
In a telephone interview with QFM, Mr. Mpombo said it is not possible for Mr. Mabenga to be a hindrance to interested people who want to challenge President Rupiah Banda at the MMD convention.
Mr. Mpombo said Mr. Mabenga’s statement that both him and Mr. Magande are not eligible to stand for the MMD presidency because they are not in good standing with the party is not valid.
He accused Mr. Mabenga of taking the matter personal, doubting his utterances as to whether they have the endorsement of other party officials.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mpombo has vowed to fight his way in the party. He reiterated that he will go ahead and challenge President Banda at the convention because the party manifesto allows him to do so.
MMD National Chairman Michael Mabenga was recently quoted as saying that Mr. 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.
Mr. Mabenga said the constitution only allowed members in good standing with the ruling party to contest any position.
He said Mr. Mpombo and Mr. Magande, who have also gone public about their intentions 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.
22 miners were seriously injured in an underground mine accident at the Chinese Coal Mine (CCM) in Sinazongwe in Southern Province on Sunday.
And an unsuspecting Chinese Officer escaped lynching by an angry mob as he was assisting the injured miners access medical attention at Maamba
Hospital.
Quick action from Maamba Hospital staff saved the mob from further lynching the Chinese national. The Hospital staff had a difficult task to contain the mob which earlier accused the mining company of failing to follow safety measures which has continued to cause accidents at the mine.
Both CCM spokesperson and Sinazongwe District Commissioner Oliver Pelete confirmed the development to ZANIS and said they would give a full detailed account of the incident that occured yesterday in the afternoon.
A check by ZANIS at Maamba Hospital found that all the 22 injured miners were admitted except one Chinese national who sustained a broken nose and
was rushed to Lusaka by management.
One of the injured miners Musho Simala, 26 ,disclosed from his hospital bed to ZANIS that the air bag that supplies Oxygen underground burst up
causing the air pressure in the tunnel where the unsuspecting miners were.
He said air pressure resulted in the miners collapsing and hitting themselves against the rocks and pillars underground. The CCM has been having several accidents resulting from poor safety measures, in 2009 the mine was closed after recording several deaths that included a Chinese national and for failing to follow safety measures.
The Road Development Agency (RDA) says most of the works on the roads have not been completed because of inadequate resource allocation to the agency. RDA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Erasmus Chilundika said this when he appeared before the Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC) today.
Mr. Chilundika told the committee that the agency faces problems with funding saying the allocation towards the construction of roads and bridges in the country required more money which he said has hindered the agency from completing the works on most roads.
He said even the National Roads Fund Agency (NRFA) most of the times failed to fund the construction of roads if the money required was huge. He said some roads and bridges that were not in the RDA work plan were worked on due to the public outcry and called for supplementary funding. He however said that the agency would ensure that roads that have remained uncompleted for sometime were worked on before the end of next year.
He disclosed that the Choma-Namwala road will be completed by the end of this year while the Kasama- Luwingu road would be worked on as well. During the same sitting, Works and Supply Permanent Secretary Watson Ng’ambi said his ministry is committed to ensuring that the agency worked on all the roads in the country where contractors abandoned work before finishing.
He said contractors who have failed to do quality work on the roads would be reported to the NCC to ensure that they are disciplined and that money paid to them would be recovered.
Earlier, Nkana Member of Parliament Mwenya Musenge who is the member of PAC said RDA only carried out road rehabilitation and construction where there was a by election leaving major roads such as the Kasama-Luwingu road which had remained uncompleted for over 10 years.
Mr. Musenge said the agency was not prudent in utilising public resources allocated to them saying it was untrue that the agency had no funds to work on the roads.
But PAC Chairperson Emmanuel Hachipuka urged Mr. Musenge and the committee to leave the by elections out of the deliberations. The chairperson also urged RDA to cooperate with the officers from the Auditor General whenever they visited them to verify reports and said they should ensure that all irregularities were corrected to avoid appearing several times before the PAC.
Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary said his offices will always be open to receive the officers from the Auditor General adding that they would ensure that measures were taken to correct the errors.
The Presidential Challenger plane before President Banda left for Namibia at Lusaka international airport
President Rupiah Banda was last night expected to join football fans to watch a crunch group G World Cup match between South American giants Brazil and African heavyweights, Ivory Coast. Special assistant to the president for Press and public relations, Dickson Jere said this in a media release in Lusaka yesterday.
Mr Banda made a stopover in South Africa on his way to Namibia for a State visit, where he was invited by his Namibian counterpart, Hifikepunye Pohamba.
‘‘President Banda will leave for Namibia via South Africa where he will stop-over for meetings and later in the evening join His Excellency, Mr Jacob Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa at a World Cup match between Ivory Coast and Brazil,’’ Mr Jere said after the president’s departure.
The president was accompanied to Namibia by First Lady, Thandiwe Banda, Foreign Affairs Minister, Kabinga Pande, parliamentary chief whip Vernon Mwaanga and other senior Government officials.
This is the first State visit President Banda is undertaking to Namibia since he became Zambia’s head of State in 2008.
Lawlessness...A Lusaka youth hangs on to a fast moving mini bus along Cha Cha Cha road in Lusaka
2.
Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata addressing a rally in Chilanga township
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MMD vice treasurer Mwansa Mbulakulima gives chitenge materials to former Patriotic Front members who defected to the ruling party on the Copperbelt.
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A Patriotic Front member raises the party symbol during the party's public rally in Chilanga township.
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Free advert...The best way to advertise a car in Lusaka is to do it yourself
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Some youths gaze at the Michael Sata and Hakainde Hichilema poster during a rally in Chilanga
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Some traditional birth attendants pose for a photograph in Chongwe.
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Some Patriotic Front cadres listen to speeches during a rally in Chilanga township, but doing so over cigarettes and Tujilijili (an ilicit alcoholic brew)
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Some MMD youths marching along Cha Cha Cha road in Lusaka.
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Seventh Day Adventist youths from the Pathfinders age participate in a marching competition at Munali High School in Lusaka.
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Expansion works at Manda Hill Shopping centre
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Construction works focusing on expansion have continued to progress at Manda Hill shopping centre in Lusaka
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Anzac Arms bar, one of Lusaka's oldest drinking places still serving more drinks along Lumumba road
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A police officer on patrol just before President Banda left for Namibia aboard the Challenger plane at Lusaka international airport.
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The Presidential Challenger plane before President Banda left for Namibia at Lusaka international airport
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A Nchanga Rangers striker tumbles down after facing ZANACO's Numba Mumamba's resistance during a FAZ-KCM rescheduled match at Sunset Stadium in Lusaka.
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Sport In Action president addresses Under-12 football players before they left for Tanzania to participate in a regional soccer tournament
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Sport In Action president addresses Under-12 football players before they left for Tanzania to participate in a regional soccer tournament.
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Some soccer fans, perched on the turf watching the game between ZANACO and Nchanga Rangers at Sunset Stadium in Lusaka.
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Officials from Sport In Action with Under-12 football players before they left for Tanzania to participate in a regional soccer tournament.
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Officials from Sport In Action pose for a photograph with Under-12 football players before they left for Tanzania to participate in a regional soccer tournament
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Nchager's goalkeeper goes for the ball during a FAZ-KCM rescheduled match at Sunset Stadium in Lusaka.
Defender Emmanuel Mbola has been drafted into the Zambia team to face Botswana away this Saturday in an international friendly.
Under-23 coach Lucky Msiska said after Monday morning training that Mbola is one of two high profile players he had called up for the away friendly to Botswana.
However, the other is South African- based defender Kampamba Chintu has been ruled out due to injury.
“I have brought in one or two senior players to provide experience. Chintu although as you can see he is injured so he is out,” Msiska said.
Meanwhile, Msiska has excused all the Zanaco players who include striker Makundika Sakala and defender Charles Siyingwa due to club commitments this weekend when they face Forest Rangers in a rescheduled Super Division fixture at Sunset stadium.
Msiska will also be without Kabwe Warriors defender Bronson Chama due to injury.
The Botswana friendly will mark Msiska’s first full game in charge of the team.
Zambia entered camp on Friday in Lusaka to prepare for the match against Botswana.
By Joe Fungu
It was Fathers Day yesterday. My wife and kids ‘forgot’ to wish me a happy Fathers Day.Not long ago there was such a fuss over mothers day.I was almost crucified for not buying my wife a present.I tried the line that – she’s not my mother but that almost landed me a black eye.It was not in my best interest to be a smart mouth on such a ‘glorious’ day.So why then is fathers day ignored by wife and kids alike.Is it that we are not good husbands/fathers? I decided to google how men of different cultures treat their wives when no one is looking and found this Husband of the year awards…..
Fears are growing for the safety of several Australian mining executives whose plane has gone missing while flying from Cameroon to DRC.
Nine passengers were on board, including one of Australia’s richest men – mining magnate Ken Talbot.
The group set off from the Cameroonian capital Yaounde on Saturday to visit iron ore projects in Yangadou, a remote area in Congo. Cameroon’s military is leading a ground and air search over dense forest.
The missing plane was chartered by the Australian mining company Sundance Resources.
The area they were visiting includes the Mbalam project which straddles Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Congo – where Sundance Resources is hoping to extract 35 million tonnes of iron ore a year.
Sundance Resources said after it was reported that the plane had not landed on Saturday its efforts had been focussed on co-ordinating with the authorities in Cameroon, Congo and neighbouring Gabon.
[QFM]
Patriotic Front (PF) rebel members of Parliament have trashed allegations by party president Michael Sata that they are buying national registration cards (NRC) and voters’ cards to rig the 2011 general elections.
Spokesperson for the members of Parliament Peter Machungwa said in an interview yesterday that the allegations show that the PF leader is desperate and anticipating a crashing defeat.
[pullquote]“Buying voters’ cards is an illegal act and can land one in trouble. Mr Sata’s statements are allegations of a desperate man. I advise him to report to police if he has information on what he is alleging,” he said.[/pullquote]
Dr Machungwa said if Mr Sata’s allegations are worth consideration, he should report to the police.
“Buying voters’ cards is an illegal act and can land one in trouble. Mr Sata’s statements are allegations of a desperate man. I advise him to report to police if he has information on what he is alleging,” he said.
Dr Machungwa said the members of Parliament are not surprised and that it is typical of Mr Sata to make wild allegations.
Mr Sata accused the members of Parliament of buying NRCs and voters’ cards at a rally at Musamba Basic School grounds in Chilanga yesterday.
He alleged that the members of Parliament are buying NRCs and voters’ cards because they are scared of the PF-UPND pact.
Mr Sata alleged that the members of Parliament are getting people’s cards without them knowing where they are taking them.
“Our rebel MPs are on rampage buying voters cards and NRCs because they are scared of us. They are giving people new cards without the people knowing what they are doing with the old ones,” he said.
Mr Sata also told the crowd that he will reverse the privatisation of Zamtel, Chilanga Cement and Zambia Sugar if voted into office.
He also said there is need for Zambians to unite in national development.
The rally was organised to encourage people to participate in the continuous voters’ registration exercise.
Despite PF and the United Party for National Development (UPND) being in a pact, no senior members of UPND turned up for the rally.
And Mr Sata has insisted that he will reverse the partial privatisation of Zamtel despite the condemnation he received for saying that last week.
President Banda has said the privatisation is irreversible and unions representing workers at Zamtel said they are in support of the partial privatisation of the company.
The Foundation for democratic process FODEP has described as an infringement of the right to health, the decision by the global fund, to withhold its resource aid for the nation’s health sector.
And Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) government has been challenged to take the blame and swallow the bitter pill of the fact that it is a corrupt governing system.
FODEP executive director, Dr. Charity Musamba said that the corruption within the government and failure to take responsibility by putting a stop to the scourge has made Zambians suffer.
Dr. Musamba said it is not only the donor aid which is not accounted for in this country but also the little resources that is milked out of the Zambian civil service and government has to be accountable.
[ QFM ]
File picture for Finance minister Situmbeko Musokotwane
Finance and National Planning Minister, Situmbeko Musokotwane has challenged opposition leaders and civil society to stop misguiding Zambians that aid freeze to the health and road sectors was taking place for the first time in the country.
Dr Musokotwane yesterday said actions by cooperating partners to freeze aid had occurred during the first, second and third Republics and were not limited to Zambia but several other countries.
The minister said the Government had engaged the donor community positively on the need to restore the funding and help reactivate projects that had stalled.
Dr Musokotwane, in an interview in Lusaka, said some donors had frozen aid during the administrations of first Republican president Kenenth Kaunda, his successors Frederick Chiluba and late Levy Mwanawasa, and that the Rupiah Banda-led administration was experiencing it for the first time since it came into power.
The minister was commenting on calls by Patriotic Front president Michael Sata on donors to freeze aid.
“The good thing coming out of this is that we have already agreed on specific actions to be taken by the Government.
“The issue of accountability is important to donors just as it is to the Zambian people. We have done extremely well in that regard,” Dr Musokotwane said.
The minister said governments were not immune to corruption but that such incidents helped in strengthening financial controls which President Banda’s Government would achieve.
[pullquote]“We are not doing it for donors but for the people of Zambia. The donors have said they want to know what actions we will take on the findings of the Auditor General, so it is either we clarify or say what we will do,” he said.[/pullquote]
Dr Musokotwane said talks between the donors and the Government were meant to safeguard the interests of the Zambian people and he was positive that funding would roll out soon.
He said roads and other projects had stalled as a result of the aid freeze but he was happy with the response from the donor community.
The donors had provided premises within which the Government would act to stem further abuse of public resources.
The Government is compiling a roadmap that would contain strict measures to promote adherence to guidelines in the use of donor aid.
Dr Musokotwane said the Government would allow law-enforcement agencies to deal firmly with the perpetrators of financial abuse.
He said measures that needed immediate action such as the dissolution of the board of directors at the Road Development Agency had been taken.
Dr Musokotwane also said donors had demanded specific actions that the Government should take on the audit reports by the Auditor General, which officials were preparing.
“We are not doing it for donors but for the people of Zambia. The donors have said they want to know what actions we will take on the findings of the Auditor General, so it is either we clarify or say what we will do,” he said.
[ Times of Zambia ]
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 ]
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 ]
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 ]
