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Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”
(Romans 12:2, NKJV)
TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria
Did you know that you life will move in the direction of your most dominant thoughts? If you’re constantly down on yourself thinking you’ll never get ahead, then you won’t. But if you’ll choose to believe that you are an overcomer, that you have victory up ahead, that God has good things in store for your future; then that’s what you’ll end up with.
That’s why it’s so important to make sure our thoughts are the same as God’s thoughts. Just like a computer, whatever you allow into your mind is what will come out in your attitude and actions. The more you meditate on God’s Word, the more you will transform your thinking to be like God’s thinking.
Choose today to focus on the Word of God and allow your mind to be renewed. As you focus on God’s thoughts, you will see your actions become more like Him and you will see His hand of blessing in every area of your life.
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Heavenly Father, I submit to you all that I am. I ask that you renew my mind by the Word of God so that my thoughts are Your thoughts. Transform me into Your image. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Power Dynamos beat Nkana 2-1 away in a heated Kitwe derby away at a packed Wusakile stadium this afternoon.
The game did not disappoint especially on the second period after an opening 45 minutes of hot and cold action before controversy boiled over in the last 45 minutes.
Power took the lead in the 11th minute against the run of play through Zambia junior international midfielder Mukuka Mulenga who tucked in the ball from close range after beating a poorly organized Nkana offside trap.
The goal came after Nkana had dominated the opening 10 minutes led by Maxwell Phiri, Mwila Kabwe and the ageless Douglas Chiwaya who put Power under the cosh.
Power could have added a second goal in the 39th minute through former Jomo Cosmos and Orlando Pirates striker Davies Mwape but his effort was tapped out by Kelvin Mulenga.
Nkana’s passing and movement was pleasing to the eye but they just lacked the cutting edge in the opening half to deflate Power.
That changed after the break after the arrival of Clement Mulenga in midfield for an ineffective Rabby Lwambula.
However, the dark cloud of controversy inside a tense Wusakile crept in after the hour mark that started with Nkana’s equalizer on 66 minute.
Referee Wisdom Chewe of Kabwe ignored calls to halt play when Mukuka was fouled just inside Nkana’s own half of the pitch as Whiteson Mbewe raced with the ball before passing it to Chiwaya who was lurking on the edge of the visitors box to blasted in a trademark long-range shot to beat Rabson Muchelenaga.
Power were stunned as the equalizer sent Nkana fans into a deafening roar that was cue to the rumble of theIchilata that reverberated around Wusakile.
The equalizer sparred on a Nkana onslaught as Power’s defence held out thanks to Billy Imoonda’s leadership at the back.
However, Nkana fans were brought back to Earth on 81 minutes when Power again took the lead against the run of play through a sweetly struck free kick from Joseph Sitali after Elson Mkandawire was brought down on the edge of the box.
Sitali whipped in the free kick that sailed around Nkana’s wall to dart and squeeze into the right angle of posts beating Mulenga’s outstretched hand.
Three minutes from time Nkana were awarded a disputed penalty when Renold Kampamba went down in a seemingly innocuous 50-50 ball outside the box before he rolled into the box only for Chewe to point to the spot.
The match was stopped for five minutes as Power players swarmed Chewe while Police rushed onto the pitch while some unidentified Nkana fans stormed the field accosting Power players before they situation was brought under control by the security personnel.
Chiwaya then stepped up to the take the disputed penalty but poetic justice was meted out when Muchelenganga parried the ball to leave Nkana fans and players stunned.
Meanwhile, the situation was tense after the match but no major incidences occurred and Power safely left Wusakile to Ndeke the happier side after winning part one ahead of the September return leg date in Week 25.
And Power supporters quietly left Wusakile for their own safety and at the Savage Yard at the city mains bus station, fans cheered and chanted while some hooted from their cars to celebrate the Arthur Davies first victory in five games.
On Saturday, May 15, the good City of Kitwe will finally get a wholesome feel of its first derby in six years when Nkana host Power Dynamos in Wusakile.
Two years ago, Nkana returned for the first time to the Super Division since they were demoted in 2004 after four violent and ugly seasons in Division 1 north.
Unorganized and uncertain Nkana stayed just one season in the top flight before making an undisputed return to Division 1 north.
This season, Nkana have come back with some color with only two defeats all so far, but are unbeaten at home.
Today, a Nkana will for once have a spring in their step and walking with more self-esteem as they take on archrival Power who rightfully defeated them in back-to-back league wins in 2008.
Nkana have this time around assembled a formidable side of new and old players led by veteran Douglas Chiwaya who has unashamedly treaded on both sides of the Kitwe-Ndola Dual Carriageway for the last decade.
Moreover, Nkana’s current disposition will mean for the first time since 2004, Kitwe will truly be divided into red and yellow.
While there has been very little semblance of derby day approaching all week, Saturday will be an exception when one walks the streets of Kitwe on the morning of May 15, with vuvuzela’s and chanting very evident.
Even the savage yard, Kitwe’s main bus station will be divided into red and yellow.
However, the battle lines there will be hard to distinguish but each bus will show its allegiance in the mayhem of commerce as the transporters go about the business of making hay from their payload.
Talking about commerce, Nkana have thrown away notions of economics coming into this match.
Nkana have decided to take the risk of playing a major money spinner at their Wusakile home ground.
“Pa Chilata” as the iconic venue is known by Nkana’s friend and foe, is porous and how much the club will make from its 5000 seater venue will be interesting to know.
Nkana refused to entertain the thought of the match being played at a more secure 15 000 seater venue home ground of their rival Power stating common sense was to play at their official home ground and nowhere else.
Nkana may not be wrong in their wish to play in Wusakile.
The odds in this match favor them.
Power will be without four key players with prominently missing being their influential duo of attackers in Kennedy Mudenda and Luka Lungu due to CHAN commitments.
Also missing will be goalkeeper Rabson Muchelenganga and defender Daudi Musekwa.
The onus will be on their fading striker Elson Mkandawire and new-boy from DR Congo Xavier Tshiboko and Zimbabwean midfielder Trevor Nkomo to give Power some semblance of tangible decency.
Simon Bwalya too is available and one hopes it will click to him that it is derby day and not Lusaka Dynamos versus City of Lusaka at Queensmead.
Meanwhile, Nkana will greatly miss the services of their Buchi import from Kitwe United in midfield hard man Joseph Kamalondo due to injury.
Striker Rabson Lwambula will also be missing due to CHAN duties but Chiwala will be there to offer some wisdom and inspiration in a match Nkana have more to gain than to lose.
University of Zambia students Union (UNZASU) has commended University of Zambia (UNZA) management for rescinding its decision to effect the 25 percent increment across board on tuition fees.
UNZASU Information and Publicity Secretary Mutinta Lunda said in a press statement that students would continue to pay the same amount they paid in their first year until they graduate.
Ms Lunda thanked UNZA Management for creating unit with the students to ensure that peace and stability continued at the institution.
“This is a positive step towards better UNZA. UNZASU is pleased with Management for bringing stakeholders to the table to better the lives of students,” Ms Lunda said.
She said the difficulties that the institution was facing require the concerted effort of all stakeholders to restore UNZA to its rightful place in offering better education, research, and public service.
FLASHBACK: Former First Lady Maureen Mwanawasa waits to renew her MMD membership card in Lusaka
FORMER First Lady Maureen Mwanawasa has accused government of failure to investigate fully late President Levy Mwanawasas’ death after he collapsed at an international meeting in Egypt in 2008.
Mrs. Mwanawasa has also charged that the MMD government was at the time in a hurry to hold elections in its bid to hang onto power without due consideration of the passing of her husband.
She made the allegations on a British Broadcasting Corporation Network Africa monitored in Lusaka yesterday.
But Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) president Stanley Mhango in an interview advised Mrs. Mwanawasa to complain to the investigative wings of government if she strongly felt that there was foul play in the death of her husband.
Mr Mhango, who is also chairperson of the Justice for Widows and Orphans Project, said that the former First Lady should consider bringing up the matter with Government rather than going to the media.
He said rushing to the media over such sensitive matters can lead to unnecessary confusion in the country.
Mrs Mwanawasa said it was difficult for her to ask government to institute investigations especially about what happened in the last 30 minutes before President Mwanawasa collapsed and was evacuated to hospital.
And on her allegations that the MMD Government rushed into campaigns for the elections to replace her late husband, Mr Mhango said the polls had to be held within a period of 90 days in accordance with the country’s constitution.
“In as much as we were mourning the late President, Government had to continue running and elections had to be held. We saw what happened in Nigeria recently where the President was sworn-in immediately after the death of his predecessor and about two days before the late President was buried.
“She should know that she is not the only one who lost the husband but that all Zambians are still mourning their beloved President,” he said.
And Mrs. Mwanawasa also revealed that her aspirations were to lead Zambia one day
Mrs. Mwanawasa told the BBC that she had her chance as First Lady and she does not want to become one again.
“My next aspiration is not to become a First Lady because if I aspire to become a First Lady, I must find a President to get married to. I am not interested in that. My aspiration is to lead this country one day,” she said.
Mrs Mwanawasa said she was a hard working First Lady, a development which made Zambians to believe that there were two Presidents in State House.
“I was very hard working to the extent that I don’t even have to say it myself. But if you ask Zambians, they believed they had two Presidents in State House,” she said.
When asked if she was also running the country, Mrs Mwanawasa said she was not part of management of the country’s affairs but that her late husband was lucky to have a supportive wife.
Mrs. Mwanawasa said also that it has not been easy for her to live without her husband although she has virtues which the late President Mwanawasa gave her while he was still alive.
She said the late President gave her room to be herself, courageous and hard working and that she has support from her family and friends who are there for her.
Mrs Mwanawasa said although it has been difficult, the inspiration her husband gave her has helped to make her family move on.
She complained that she gets paid 50 percent of what a President earns, about US$1,000 (over K5 million) per month from Government but that it was not enough to pay her children’s school fees.
Mrs Mwanawasa said she pays about US$2,000 per term for her child in school while her other child in London requires about 10,000 pounds per year for tuition alone.
She said since she is educated and has decided to go back to law practice and start working.
Luena Independent Member of Parliament, Charles Milupi
LUENA member of Parliament Charles Milupi has resigned his parliamentary seat to take up the leadership of Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD) party which he officially launched in Lusaka yesterday.
Mr Milupi who was an independent member of the National Assembly said he will re-contest the Luena seat on an ADD ticket.
He said he has written to the Speaker of the National Assembly Amusaa Mwanamwambwa to notify him of his resignation from Parliament.
“I hereby announce my resignation as MP, as being a member of ADD has changed my status in Parliament from being an independent member,” Mr Milupi said.
He said his party will also contest the 2011 general elections in a bid to form government.
Mr Milupi said unlike other political parties, the ADD has been founded around a desire to eradicate poverty.
He said it is a paradox that a country endowed with much wealth should have some of its people living on US$1 a day.
Mr Milupi said if an ADD government was elected, it will grow the budget by ensuring that all sectors contribute to the economy.
He said an ADD government will have zero-tolerance to corruption and abuse of public resources.
Mr Milupi pledged that his government will bring back the lost dignity of a Zambian worker and retirees.
He said his party will ensure that jobs are reserved for Zambians, with expatriates only coming in to provide labour which Zambians cannot do.
Mr Milupi said education will be looked at as an investment and not a cost to allow everyone to have access to good quality learning.
He said every province will have a well equipped specialised clinic so that all Zambians can have equal access to health.
Mr Milupi said the ADD will focus on issues and will not be party to politics of insults which have become the order of the day.
He said ADD will put in place a properly functioning civil service which will be founded on principles of adherence to rules.
Earlier, Douglas Shing’andu, who was interim president, said the party was formed in September last year with a vision to bring development to the people of Zambia.
He said the party has been looking for a leader and that after a long search decided that Mr Milupi was the best person to lead the party.
ADD vice president Mathias Mphande said Zambians must embrace the new party claiming that it is the last chance to change their lives for the better.
He said the party will not dwell on power but will focus on empowering the people.
United Party for National Development (UPND) Namwala member of Parliament Robby Chizyuka says his party president Hakainde Hichilema is scared of holding a convention because he knows that he will be voted out of office.
Major Chizyuka said Mr Hichilema can never make the UPND win the 2011 elections hence his clinging on to power as party president.
He noted that the UPND is being lead by a leader who cannot cross any bridge because he is unpopular.
He said it is very sad that the party leadership has decided not to hold the convention ahead of the 2011 elections because five years have elapsed.
Maj. Chizyuka accused Mr Hichilema of adopting Mr Sata’s tactics.
“It is unfortunate that HH has adopted king cobra’s undemocratic manners by refusing to hold a convention,” Maj. Chizyuka said.
He said it is the tradition of UPND to hold elections every five years and that defying the party’s constitution will set a bad precedence.
He said UPND is not a personal kantemba (kiosk) because it was founded by people who respected the tradition of holding conventions.
Maj. Chizyuka said Zambia should be wary of leaders like Mr Hichilema and Mr Sata because they have the ability to change the constitution to suit their interests.
PF secretary general Wynter Kabimba recently announced that the party convention has been set for October this year.
At independence in 1964 Zambia’s first president naively thought that Zambia had entered a new era of post-tribal politics. Kaunda had managed to convince the Litunga to have Barotseland proceed to independence with the rest of Zambia as one nation. He had also managed to bring the churches together to form the UCZ which he inaugurated barely four months into power. His United National Independence Party was the principal brand of unity. The national motto was quickly hoisted to be “One Zambia One Nation.” For Kaunda, he had achieved his dream; a united Zambia had been formed.
However, just three years into power, Kaunda realised that the Zambian tribes were not as united as he had thought. The first post independence UNIP convention saw a very bitter tribal fight. The Bemba—Tonga pact had at the UNIP convention bitterly defeated the Lozi—Nyanja alliance. Kapwepwe was elected UNIP’s vice-President to the consternation of Kaunda and Kamanga an easterner had been defeated In fact, it was during this time, that some UNIP members started doubting Kaunda’s loyalty to the Bemba tribe since he had Malawian parentage. Kaunda knew very well that he needed to do something more to overcome this new era of tribalism that had started to engulf the nation.
To overcome this, Kaunda retraced and reemphasized his loyalty as a Bemba subject of Chief Nkula in Chinsali. He also made a point to try and persuade Kapwepwe to step aside since two Bembas could not possibly hold two top positions in both UNIP and the government. Kapwepwe reluctantly obliged and Kaunda quickly brought in Mainza Chona, a Southerner to replace Kapwepwe. But this deeply displeased Kapwepwe and several other Bemba hegemonists, who latter proceeded to found the UPP, a party mainly popular in Luapula and Copperbelt provinces.
[pullquote]I do not just see how a president can manage to appoint all the 73 tribes to Cabinet and Foreign Service all at once. Additionally, accusations that Banda has appointed more people on tribal grounds do not stand to empirical scrutiny. We said this slightest to Chiluba who actually appointed more Luapulans to cabinet and parastatals than any other president has done for his tribe. As such, accusations that Banda is tribalistic may actually be a reflection of our own tribalism.[/pullquote]
To cure the issue of tribalism Kaunda started what he called Tribal Balancing. In this new arrangement he made sure that the provinces were well represented in government. It was so intentional that you could actually predict who would be in Cabinet and who would not. However, the position of Prime Minister was almost exclusively reserved for Barotseland. Out of six Premiers, from 1973—1991, four were Lozis and the other two were Tonga. This was KK’s tribal balancing at its best. It was mostly dictated by province more than it was dictated by specific tribes.
When Chiluba came into power, the intentional and deliberate tribal balancing was effectively overruled. Chiluba would appoint people on “merit.” However, it still remains to be answered why under Chiluba almost all parastatal chiefs had akin names—Chungu, Musenge, Musonda, Mwansa, e.t.c. From just this it may be clear that appointment on merit may have meant tribal merit as well. But even if this is the reality with Chiluba, he was never accused of playing tribal politics. I guess if it were a Lenje doing the same thing, some vocal quarters could have condemned the practice. This assumption among some Zambians that only non-Bemba speaking peoples are more capable of tribalism is erroneous. Comparing all the past presidents on tribal appointments Chiluba appointed more people in his cabinet and parastatal companies that were Bemba more than any other president, and yet the tribalistic label has not stuck with Chiluba. As such, we as Zambians should seriously address this predisposition.
However, when leaving power in 2001 Chiluba wanted to have a minority tribe to take over. This honour obviously fell on Mwanawasa—of both Lamba and Lenje heritage. Even without objective evidence, Mwanawasa was quickly accused of appointing a family tree in his cabinet. But once objectively assessed you will see that Mwanawasa’s cabinet was more tribally balanced than Chiluba’s at any given time. Mwanawasa also brought in some tribal diversity in parastatal companies. However, when he appointed Sisala as ZESCO Managing Director, more tribalistic accusations were levelled against him. This again plays to my thesis that several Zambians believe, erroneously, that only non-Bembas are more capable of tribalism. Mwanawasa tried to please the Bembas by appointing them to the Vice-Presidency. He only revolted when he lost the Bemba vote in 2006.
However, under Banda the issue of tribalism has taken on a new shape all together. In the past it was sufficient that provinces should be represented in the Cabinet. As such, Eastern Province would not normally complain if a Chewa, Tumbuka, Ngoni, or Kunda is appointed to Cabinet. However, with the utterances of Paramount Chief Mpezeni, there is a demand in some quarters that tribal balancing should not just be provincial balancing but rather should be about tribes. As such, His Majesty the Mpezeni is complaining that among the five cabinet ministers from Eastern Province in this current cabinet none of them are Ngonis. Without Ngonis in Cabinet, Mpezeni feels left out of national development. This intra—provincial tribal conflict is the greatest danger to Zambia’s future development. Similarly in Luapula Province, there were complaints that the MMD had started to sideline Southern Luapulans (mostly Ushis) in preference of the Northern Luapulans (Lundas, Bwiles, etc). Northern Province is even more dynamic, Hon GB Mwamba recently said while campaigning that Northern Province belonged to Bembas, ignoring its multi-ethnicity.
One Zambia One Nation will only work, if the provinces stop intra-province tribalism and begin to look at themselves as one people. Otherwise, if we continued on this path, we may just end up being one Zambia and no Nation. I do not just see how a president can manage to appoint all the 73 tribes to Cabinet and Foreign Service all at once. Additionally, accusations that Banda has appointed more people on tribal grounds do not stand to empirical scrutiny. We said this slightest to Chiluba who actually appointed more Luapulans to cabinet and parastatals than any other president has done for his tribe. As such, accusations that Banda is tribalistic may actually be a reflection of our own tribalism.
Some athletes recuperate after intensive training at the National Youth Development Centre in Lusaka.
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Some young karatekas follow proceedings at the National Youth Development Centre in Lusaka.
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Some Athletes prepare for a race at the new National Youth Development Centre in Lusaka.
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President Rupiah Banda greets staff members at the Nigerian Embassy when he went to sign the book of condolences on the death of President Umaru Yar'Aradua
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President Banda is mobbed by Lusaka residents before he opened the National Youth Development Centre
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President Banda is mobbed by Lusaka residents before he opened the National Youth Development Centre in Lusaka.
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President Banda about to cut a ribbon to officially open the National Youth Development Centre in Lusaka.
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Nigerian High Commissioner to Zambia Folake Marcus Bello is sandwiched by Defence minister Kalombo Mwansa (r) and foreign Affairs deputy minister Fashion Phiri (l) at the Nigerian embassy in Lusaka
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National Soccer team assistant coach Lucky Msiska captured at Football House in Lusaka shortly after he arrived from Belgium where he was based until his appointment
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Lyambai Institute of Development Director Kusiyo Mbikusita Lewanika with Zambia Agri-business Technical Assistance Centre Director Likando Mukumbuta after a signing on development ceremony in Mongu
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Health minister Kapembwa Simbao captured in the VIP lounge before departure at Lusaka international airport
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Konkola Copper mine shaft four in Chililabombwe Township
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Chililabombwe-Kasumbalesa Road near the border with Congo DR
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Chililabombwe Township houses near Konkola Copper Mine the mine area
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Chililabombwe Town Centre
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Moses Siame and his young brother Rossel Siame making making trays out of reeds at Chililabombwe mine market
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Crocodiles at the Zongwe farming Enterprise in Siansowa area in Sinazongwe district.2
The Patriotic Front (PF) has said the Movement for Multiparty Democracy’s (MMD) decision to send over 2,500 youths to Luapula ahead of the developmental conference to has vindicated the party’s concern that the meeting is not genuine.
PF spokesperson, Given Lubinda has observed that MMD Lusaka province Chairman William Banda’s decision to send MMD cadres to Mansa is proof that the conference that would be graced by former President Fredrick Chiluba, is not being held in good faith.
Mr.Lubinda said in an interview that it is evident that the MMD government wants to give Dr Chiluba a platform to campaign for president Banda for the 2011 presidential elections.
Mr. Banda this morning told journalists at a press briefing at the party’s provincial headquarters that he has already sent 350 youths to Luapula province after receiving information that the PF has sent about 200 of its youths to the province with intent to disrupt the meetings.
Mr.Banda accused PF of being at centre of perpetuating political violence that is currently taking root in the country.
He said the PF does not want to see the developmental meeting in Mansa to go on as planned.
[ QFM ]
Copperbelt Permanent Secretary Villie Lombanya with KCM and Government Officials and the students who received the KCM scholarships
Konkola Copper Mines plc (KCM) has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with top Indian universities, opening the way for some of Zambia’s future engineers, metallurgists and medical doctors to train in that country.
The memoranda were signed last week during a visit to India by two KCM officials; Ernest Makasa, the Principal of the KCM Trusts Schools and Gowri Shenbagaraman, the company’s facilitator for learning and development.
The universities are Manipal University in Manipal, PSG College of Technology in Coimbatore and VIT University in Vellore.
The first beneficiaries of the arrangement will be the 18 students who were recently awarded scholarships by KCM to take up courses in engineering, medicine and commerce.
They are scheduled to take up their places at the respective universities in the next two months.
“KCM has identified top universities in India for the sponsored children based on certain criteria that included the institution’s years of existence, reputation, rating, and existing relationship with Vedanta (KCM’s parent company), courses on offer, pedigree of handling international students and infrastructure,” said Mr Makasa.
PSG College of Technology is a 60-year-old institute with a student population of 7 000 and a 750-strong faculty. It offers Engineering degrees in 14 disciplines and ranks among the top 10 Engineering colleges in India.
VIT University has a student population of 15 000 and is one of India’s fastest growing universities with many internationally accredited programmes on offer. The university has one of the best infrastructure facilities and around 800 foreign students on campus.
It offers undergraduate and post-graduate programmes. KCM-sponsored students admitted to the university will study Engineering in Mechanical, Electrical, Instrumentation and Metallurgy.
Manipal University is regarded as the pioneer in private medical education in India and its medical College in Manipal is now into its sixth decade. Located on the beautiful western coast, Manipal is India’s largest international university tow.
It offers educational, research and training programmes at undergraduate and post graduate levels in disciplines such as medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, nursing, life science regenerated medicine, arts and humanities.
The university has 16 000 students from 52 countries and is ranked seventh in India. About 3 000 practising doctors in the US and a quarter of those in Malaysia are alumni of Manipal. Three of the KCM-sponsored students will begin their five-year course at Manipal’s Manipal- Melaka Medical College. They will spend the second half of their training in Melaka, Malaysia.
Mr Makasa and Mr Shenbagaraman interacted with senior officials at the visited universities and also stayed on-campus to have a feel of the facilities.
KCM recently awarded 18 pupils from its Trust schools scholarships to undertake degree courses in India as part of its long-term strategy to develop the manpower the country needs to secure the future of the copper mining industry. Twelve of the pupils are girls.
A few months ago, KCM introduced the scholastic excellence awards programme that awards scholarships to the highest scoring grade eight and 10 pupils from the government schools in the district where the company has its operations.
The awards include cash support to the families of the winning pupils Twenty-four pupils have been awarded under the scheme.
MMD Lusaka Province Chairman William Banda
MMD Lusaka province chairman William has announced that he is sending 250 cadres to the national development conference in Luapula province which will be graced by second republican president Fredrick Chiluba in Mansa starting tomorrow.
This follows the earlier announcement by the Patriotic Front (PF) that it would send more than 200 youths from Lusaka and the Copperbelt to the conference.
Mr Banda announced this during a press briefing in Lusaka today that he would to ensure the republican president Rupiah Banda and second republican president Fredrick Chiluba were protected.
Mr Banda said the cadres who were expected to leave for Luapula this afternoon will further be reinforced by another batch of cadres expected to leave for Mansa this evening.
Former president Chiluba is tomorrow expected to grace the development conference in Mansa which will be attended by chiefs and Members of Parliament from Luapula province.
The conference is expected to discuss development in the province.
[ QFM ]
FLASHBACK: George Mpombo and his wife Naphs dancing on new year's eve during the Zambia Army annual ball at Arakan Barracks in Lusaka
By KENNEDY LIMWANYA
GEORGE Mpombo’s time as Zambia’s defence minister must have been an exciting and transformational curve for him as it must have taught him the ability to use military terminology to comment even on subjects he was grossly ignorant about.Mpombo now carries himself as a master commentator on nearly all issues fashioned against President Rupiah Banda’s personal integrity.
In attacking Mr Banda and his MMD government, Mpombo’s hate speech is now littered with such terms as political battalion, squadron, rockets, grenades, political shooting, kamikaze, foot soldiers, mercenaries, battlefront, and unleashing political missiles. Mpombo certainly wishes he were a military general.
Unfortunately, for him, it takes more than just memorising military terminology to become a Wisdom Lopa (Zambia Army Commander), Andrew Sakala (Zambia Air Force Commander) or Anthony Yeta (Zambia National Service Commandant); one has to be outright sane, of a stable mind, sober character and rational thought.
Mpombo’s obvious inadequacies notwithstanding, President Levy Mwanawasa kept him as defence minister although he apparently used that whole time to only study the English dictionary or memorise military jargon Being a self-appointed champion of anything opposed to President Banda, Mpombo has once again thrust himself into the news, this time accusing the head of State of being a tribal introvert.
It does seem that every morning Mpombo gets out of bed, the first thing he does is call newspapers, radio and television stations, asking them to ask him questions against President Banda so that he can spew out his misdirected talk.
What bitterness!In the latest episode, Mpombo, of all people, can accuse the president of being a tribalist when his own stay in Mwanawasa’s cabinet was because of nothing but nepotism and tribalism.Some people simply have no shame.
This is a typical case of giving a man an inch and he wants to take a yard; you give him a yard, he wants to take a mile.In the first place, Mpombo was given a position in Mwanawasa’s cabinet not because he deserved to be appointed minister; records are there to show his performance as Energy Minister when he comically made disjointed statements at the height of a fuel shortage in the country.
Mwanawasa momentarily tucked Mpombo away from the spotlight by appointing him Copperbelt Province Minister before he elevated to the position of defence minister.Did Mpombo deserve that position? Zambians can answer this question.His only qualification was being one of Mwanawasa’s Lamba lieutenants.
Period!When Mr Banda took over as President in 2008, he overlooked Mpombo’s lack of capacity as defence minister and maintained him in the same portfolio but without realizing that the man had higher ambitions. He wanted the vice-presidency!The case of giving a man an inch!
Today, Mpombo has set out to exploit Paramount Chief Mpezeni’s statement in which he said President Banda’s Cabinet had no Ngoni representatives.In the first place, Mpombo knows that it is practically impossible to balance a Cabinet with each of Zambia’s 73 tribes.
Currently, Zambians are talking about the need to reduce the size of Cabinet so as to cut on the costs of maintaining such office holders.What Mpombo has chosen to conveniently forget is that Paramount Chief Mpezeni’s statement has, in effect, vindicated President Banda as non-tribal in his appointments.
Mpombo ought to know that the President is both Chewa and Ngoni, and if his desire was to fill Cabinet with both Chewa and Ngoni ministers, he would easily have done that.But Mr Banda considers other tribes from other provinces as equal partners in the country’s development, which is why he would not limit his appointments to one region.
In fact, if President were to appoint a Ngoni as Cabinet minister, Mpombo and his like-thinking cynics would be the ones to cry the loudest that the Head of State was restricting his appointments to his tribesmen.
For argument’s sake, if a president were born from Tonga and Ila parents, should it follow that people from both tribes must earn Cabinet ministerial positions?It appears this is what Mpombo and his friends want, just as it was when he served in Cabinet with his fellow Lambas while the other side of Mwanawasa’s relatives—the Lenjes- were also heavily represented.
If Mpombo has not been overcome with amnesia, he still remembers that when he was Cabinet minister, he shared that comfort zone with fellow Lambas Gabriel Namulambe, Marina Nsingo and Mike Mulongoti while Ronnie Shikapwasha replaced fellow Lenje Lackson Mapushi as Home Affairs Minister.
These are bare facts and not an attack on Mwanawasa’s legacy which its defenders do not even understand.But again, if these Lenjes and Lambas who served in the Mwanawasa government as either Cabinet ministers or deputy ministers deserved those positions, it was Zambia to benefit and not Lenje or Lambaland.
And, who knows, maybe even Mpombo deserved his appointments that taught him military terminology which he now abuses to direct political artillery at enemy fire.
If Mpombo were to use reason as opposed to bitterness, he would discover that President Banda’s Cabinet only has two Chewa-speaking ministers namely Home Affairs Minister Lameck Mangani and Local Government and Housing Minister Eustarckio Kazonga.Education Minister Dora Siliya and her Agriculture and Cooperatives counterpart Peter Daka are Nsenga, while Mines Minister Maxwell Mwale is Kunda.
As if to demonstrate that the tribal element that Mpombo is preaching does not matter much in the Eastern Province, Mangani’s victory was in Chipata, which is predominantly Ngoni.As it is, despite being Chewa-speaking, Mangani represents the Ngoni-speaking people in Parliament and Cabinet.The tribalism that Mpombo wants to dwell on is just a manifestation of his own predilection for family-tree politics that have been phased out.
Without any facts on his fingers, Mpombo alleges that President Banda’s senior advisors at State House are from the Eastern Province.Surely, Mpombo can perform better than this.
Of all 16 senior staff at State House, only Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations, Dickson Jere, is Ngoni, and none of them is Chewa.None of the other special assistants— Dr Richard Chembe (economics), Dr Francis Chigunta (politics) and Joseph Jalasi (legal) —is either Ngoni or Chewa.
The Chief of Staff at State House, Dr Austin Sichinga, is Nyika from the Northern Province while the Chief of State Protocol, Mr Bobby Samakai, is Luvale.
Mpombo might also find it enlightening that two of President Banda’s senior private secretaries who handle his confidential correspondence— Rapson Chilufya and Differ Mulimba— were appointed by President Mwanawasa, and the current head of State has simply continued with them.It is only Mr Robinson Nkonde who was appointed by President Banda.
The difference between Zambia and other countries is that politicians in this country argue from a point of bitterness and deliberately gloss over key issues to the detriment of national development.
Zambians deserve better than this decadent political matter that does not even matter to thousands of Zambians yearning for politicians that inspire hope.That it is Paramount Chief Mpezeni of the Ngoni who is crying for a Cabinet minister should prove that President Banda puts country before tribe.
Government has acknowledged that high fuel prices will negatively affect the business sector.
Commerce, trade and industry Minister Felix Mutati however says Government cannot afford to subsidize fuel at the current economic rate.
Mr Mutati says much as Government realizes that subsidy is the only option it has to weigh the pros and cons of such a commitment.
He says that subsidies especially those related to fuel are expensive and that that cushioning the cost of fuel would mean holding the development of infrastructure such as the building of schools, roads and hospitals in the country.
He has since urged the business community to bear the costs of Government while the prices of fuel are still high on the world market.
The energy regulation board has increased the fuel pump prices by over 13 percent citing the increase in fuel prices on the international market.
Some members of the Patriotic Front (PF) and the United Party for National Development (UPND) have remained adamant that their respective leaders should lead the pact raising fears that the opposition alliance may fail to agree on one candidate.
Former Mulungushi Ward councillor and UPND youth activists Edwin Simusamba said PF leader Michael Sata should take a backstage as an advisor and allow UPND president Hakainde Hichilema to lead the pact.
“The major issue for the 2011 campaign will be about the economy, it will be about job creation and wealth creation, Mr Hichilema is best suited because he has demonstrated all these traits to the country,” he said.
But Masaiti losing PF parliamentary candidate Clifford Zulu said Mr Hichilema had everything to benefit by allowing Mr Sata to lead the pact because of the latter’s political experience.
“You can see that HH is not the same person of 2006, he has now learnt politics. You can see even how he looks at issues. All these it is because of his interaction with Mr Sata,” he said.
He said Mr Sata was best suited to be the pact’s presidential candidate because he was action oriented and politically experienced.
Mr Zulu said the PF leader’s political experience can be traced way back from the days for former president Kenneth Kaunda.
“Zambians know what he did as a governor, minister in the Chiluba (former president Frederick Chiluba) Government.
Mr Hichilema should allow him (Mr Sata) even to lead for one term so that we can make a Zambian Mandela,” he said.
Mr Sata had a vision for the country and hence he was best suited to be the pact’s candidate.
But the former UPND councillor Mr Simusamba said the world was now moving towards having a new generation of leaders.
“You have seen what has happened in the UK where they have elected David Cameron and what happened in the US where they voted for Barrack Obama.
[pullquote]On assertions that UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has no experience to lead the country, Mr. Kakoma said Mr. Hichilema cannot fail to lead the country because he has proved managerial experience both in public and private life.[/pullquote]
“The world is changing towards the new generation and therefore Mr Sata should remain as an advisor in the pact,” he said.
He said having Mr Sata as the pact presidential candidate would be taking the country 10 years backwards.
“As I have stated 2011 will be about the economy and HH is just the better candidate,” he said.
Meanwhile, United Party for National Development spokesperson Charles Kakoma says those arguing over who should be the PF/UPND pact’s presidential candidate are simply wasting their time.
Mr. Kakoma told Q fm in a telephone interview that currently there is no need for anyone to discuss the presidency of the pact because the matter will be dealt with at an appropriate time.
He says since the presidency of the pact has not yet been decided, people should not be concerned but should instead discuss issues that will help the pact scoop the presidency in 2011.
And Mr. Kakoma has described statements by people suggesting that PF leader Michael Sata is not fit to stand for the presidency because of his heart condition as unfortunate.
He says people should desist from making such defamatory statements and instead commit national leaders into prayers for God to give them good health.
Mr Kakoma says people should not concentrate on the negative side of national leaders’lives because that will not help the nation to develop.
On assertions that UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has no experience to lead the country, Mr. Kakoma said Mr. Hichilema cannot fail to lead the country because he has proved managerial experience both in public and private life.
He has since appealed for calm and called on the pact members to support whoever will be chosen as presidential candidate, stressing that the one who will not successful during the selection process will automatically be the deputy.
