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PF Leader Michael Sata left OPPOSITION Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata has vowed he will contest the 2011 election and continue to vie for the presidency even if he loses next year’s polls.
Mr Sata said he did not mind how many times he lost and cited some presidents whom he claimed had lost up to nine times before being elected.
Speaking during a live programme, ‘Facce the Media’ on Radio Phoenix yesterday, Mr Sata said there were no limits on how many times someone could contest elections.
Mr Sata said there were several other presidents in other countries such as Senegal and the United States of America who made more than several attempts but still managed to become president.
Mr Sata dared Government to even call for an impromptu general election today because the PF was ready.
He said Zambians were not interested about who would be the 2011 presidential candidates between the PF and the United Party for National Development (UPND) Pact but the concern was from the ruling MMD.
He said the PF and the UPND were different parties working together based on a common understanding and should not be mistaken to be one political party.
Mr Sata said the UPND and the PF had different constitutions and manifestos that did not have many contradictions in them.
“The PF and the UPND have different doctrines but we have agreed to work together. We are working well with Mr Hakainde Hichilema,” he said.
He said Zambians were not interested about who would be the 2011 presidential candidates between the PF and the United Party for National Development (UPND) Pact but the concern was from the ruling MMD.
However, Mr Sata came under attack from some callers who accused him of having attempted to promote his wife to higher position at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) when he was health minister.
A caller Mr Kaunda said Mr Sata tried to promote his wife but the attempts failed because of some interventions.
Mr Sata, however, denied the allegations and claimed that his wife was too qualified and that there were other doctors at UTH such as Dr Tackson Lambart who were equally adequate.
Another caller Chishimba Kabwe said although Mr Sata was hard working, some people were skeptical of him that he would not relinquish power looking at how he had dominated the PF presidency.
And UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma said there was nothing wrong with Mr Sata stating that he would run for the 2011 elections.
He said all pact members were free to declare intentions to contest elections and at any level.
“For now there is no presidential pact. The candidate is unknown,” he said.
Mr Kakoma, however, said the pact was working at modalities on how the selection process for the candidates at presidential, parliamentary and local Government would be done.
[ Times of Zambia ]
United Party for National Development (UPND) has declared the Mufumbwe election as free and fair.
But MMD has said its decision to petition the Mufumbwe elections had sent shivers to opposition parties as that would expose their wrong doings.
Speaking during a Press briefing in Lusaka yesterday, UPND vice-president Richard Kapita said the petition by the ruling party would undermine the office of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).
He said ECZ conducted the polls in a free and fair manner and argued that the violence should be separated from the election outcome.
MMD Spokesperson Dora Siliya has said the MMD did not believe in violence because it was a democratic party but believes that the best way of airing complaints was through petitioning in the courts of law.
“As a party we have made up our mind to petition the Mufumbwe elections so that we establish the truth.
We know that our decision has sent shivers because our opponents are worried of the outcome,” he said.
[ Times of Zambia ]
FLASHBACK:New Revolution Party leader Cozmo Mumba kneels before vice president George Kunda
The National Revolution Party NRP president Cosmo Mumba has demanded to know the condition of vice president George Kunda who is receiving treatment in South Africa.
Mr Mumba said the fact that the vice president has been using tax payer’s money to receive treatment in South Africa, Zambians deserved to know his condition.
He said as a national leader, Zambians deserved to know the condition of their vice president and how their tax payers money was being utilized on his treatment.
Mr Mumba said it is saddening that government has decided to hide the condition of the vice president when it is tax payers’ money being spent on his medical bills.
He added that President Rupiah Banda should relieve the Vice President of his duties on medical grounds if necessary. He said political life was very demanding and that one needed to be in good health for them to discharge their duties effectively.
The vice president left the country for South Africa on Wednesday 21st April 2010.
United Party for National Development (UPND) Spokesperson has alleged that the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) government diverted the May salary for civil servants to Mufumbwe and Milanzi by-election.
Charles Kakoma told Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) on Wednesday that he had information that civil servants would get their salary on 15th May because government diverted for by-elections.
Mr. Kakoma said the situation has resulted into starvation among civil servants.
He said despite diverting their money to Mufumbwe by-election, the MMD lost the seat that it previously held to the UPND/PF pact.
However, Works and Supply Minister Mike Mulongoti said the civil servants salaries have been delayed because the accountants failed to do their job on time adding that it was not true that they would get their salaries on 15th May.
The sweeping changes and departures at Zesco United seem have brought breathe of freash air to the club as the former Super Division champions won their third successive league victory.
Changes to the club management and bench a fortnight ago on the bench have seen Zesco enjoy a new breathe of new life with three out of three wins
And after 1-0 wins over Green Buffaloes and Lusaka Dynamos, Zesco this afternoon stepped up another gear to defeat visiting Choma Eagles 3-1 at the Trade Fair Grounds in Ndola.
Clifford Chipalo put Zesco ahead in the 7th minutes before Enock Sakala made it 2-0 on the half hour mark to score his four goal of the season.
Choma’s got on the score sheet in predictable fashion through Aubrey Zulu who scored his third goal of the season for the Southern Provinces’ sole representatives in the Super Division.
John Chingangu completed Zesco’s rout of Choma to move from 7th to third, level on 13 points with second placed Nkana who beat them to the number two spot on goal difference.
The win also means Zesco remain unbeaten from seven league games played this season with leaders Nchanga Rangers who have played a game more also undefeated in the Super Division in 2010 and are on 15 points.
Energy and Water Development Minster Kenneth Konga
President RUPIAH BANDA has constituted a committee of ministers to look at the restructuring of ZESCO.
Energy Minister KENNETH KONGA disclosed this at a media breakfast organised by the Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ZACCI) in Lusaka today.
Mr KONGA said the committee is currently sitting and consulting all stakeholders on the restructuring of ZESCO.
He said Government has also commissioned a study to look at the most effective and cheapest option of importing crude into the country.
Mr KONGA said some of the options include modernising Indeni refinery, constructing a new refinery or using the TAZAMA pipeline.
And Speaking at the same function, Communications and Transport minister GEOFFREY LUNGWANGWA announced that government is conducting feasibility studies on the construction of new rail lines.
Professor LUNGWANGWA said government intends to construct a rail line from Kafue to Zimbabwe and another from Solwezi through Kasempa to Namibia’s Walvis Bay.
He said government intends to construct another rail line from Chipata in the Eastern province to Serenje in Central province.
Professor LUNGWANGWA said government will soon advertise for tenders for the construction of the rail lines.
Maamba Collieries (MCL) Chief Executive Officer has said NAVA Bharat ventures (NBV) will revive the operations of the company which had been grounded for many years and contribute to the development of the country.
MCL Chief Executive Officer Dipesh Dipu said in his first address to the miners at the company’s offices in Maamba Township that a thermal plant for generating power using coal would be built in less than three years.
Mr. Dipu said the Power project would be producing 300 mega watts of power and more associated local business would be supported.
“We need to look beyond the horizon and see the lives of people of our country being lit up by coal we produce and power we generate,” Mr Dipu said.
He told the miners that the power project would be the first of its kind in Zambia and a lot of people were expected to be visiting MCL.
Mr. Dipu disclosed that a new Coal Processing Plant (CPP) would be built to replace the old plant and the Rope Way will be worked on to improve the transportation of coal to Masuku.
“Mamba is going to change, we have to work hard to ensure that we are part of the history and benefit from the wealth we are going to create,” Mr Dipu said.
The MCl Chief Executive Officer said the new CPP would be environmentally friendly as less effluent would be discharged in the streams.
Mr. Dipu noted that the new CPP would be using less water and will have the mechanism to recycle the water which will be even safe for drinking.
He told the workers who have gone for more than five months without getting a salary that the company was working on a modality to find out how much they were owed so that they would be paid.
Mr. Dipu assured them that they would be paid their April salary before the end of this Friday.
On social responsibility, Mr Dipu explained that he would ensure that the profit the company will be making was ploughed back to the community in various sectors.
“Mamba is going to change, we have to work hard to ensure that we are part of the history and benefit from the wealth we are going to create,” Mr Dipu said.
Two weeks ago MCL was privatized to NAVA Bharat ventures which now owns 65 percent shares while government will have 35 percent.
MCL has been having serious operational problems as a result of having out dated equipment, liabilities, and lack of capital to revamp its operations.
NAVA Bharat Ventures’ taking over the operation of the mine has cheered the miners who have been facing financial problems to address basic needs for their families.
The travel of Lance Mate’s family to Russia has finally been facilitated for them to help forensics identify the body of the deceased.
Last month, MUVI Television aired a video footage showing the body of Mate who was a Zambian student being fished out of a lake.
The Zambian, who had been missing for six months and discovered during the Easter holiday, has since been identified as Lance Mate.
He is alleged to have been killed in racial crimes in that country.
But the Russian Ambassador to Zambia, Boris Malakhov has since distanced his country from allegations of escalating racial violence claiming that most of the cases involving neo-racists in his country have been dealt with.
Mate’s father Mushambila Mate has confirmed the trip to Russia of Mate’s brother and sister.
He said the trip has been arranged by the Zambian government.
Mr. Mushambila has, however, repeated his concerns over lack of assistance from the Russian government.
And Acting Chief Government Spokesperson Dora Siliya also confirmed the development to journalists in Lusaka today.
Ms Siliya said government is doing everything possible to make sure that the family of Mate could finally identify his body.
Meanwhile, Kanyama Compound Residents in Lusaka have been gathering at the Mate family house to mourn their neighbor’s son.
A check by MUVI TV News found a number of neighbors gathered outside Mate’s family house.
One of the mourners Jennipher Mwanza complained that there was no food to feed the mourners.
Mrs. Mwanza complained that government had not come to the aid of the Mate family despite them having meager finances to host a prolonged funeral.
[ Muvi TV ]
“The RUINS“ University of Zambia student residence
PRESS STATEMENT by UNZASU
UNZASU wishes to distance itself from the newly introduced payment policy as well as the newly increased tuition fees on returning students’. To this effect we are calling on Government to have the aforementioned withdrawn with immediate effect. On 23 rd April, 2010 management released a memo notifying the students’ populace on the new payment structure which demanded that the 50% two installments payment schedule had been nullified and that a 75% initial installment had been enforced in the first semester and full payment of tuition fees (100%) would be introduced for the second semester.
In addition management has revised the tuition fees by 25% for returning students’ in all categories; Art, science and Medicine based programmes. The new increment has also come at a time when most of our students’ have left the institution and are not aware of the new changes. With the introduction of the on-line system of registration last academic year the majority of students’ will not be able to meet these highly commercial fees as the 2010/2011 Academic year begins on 13th June this year. Our rejection of these policies is based on the following premises;
1. The historical attachment which this institution has with society and the underlying principal on which it was built as the major public university in our nation will be highly defeated by the introduction of these highly commercial fees. Given that the majority of the Zambian population is underprivileged higher education will be highly restricted to a minority few who can afford. This will only strengthen the existing elite strata where only 2% of Zambians have had access to quality university education since independence.
2. The increment is not in line with the social economic dictates in the country. 44% of enrolment at the University of Zambia is self sponsored students and majority of who are civil servants and solely depend on their meager salary to meet the cost of the tuition fees with the exception of accommodation, other non tuition fees and daily expenses. While we acknowledge the 15% increment in the average K1, 200,000 which civil servants get, it does not correlate with the 25% increment imposed by UNZA management. Of the 56% of students sponsored by Government, 75% are fully sponsored and the rest are on partial sponsorship respectively. The latter of this number mostly come from civil service homes where the same difficulties are faced.
3. The new payment policy and increased fees are not in line with Government national goals such as Education for All, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Vision 2030 which envisage an educated population as the driving force in uplifting Zambia from its poverty mire. Currently the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) has adopted the degree clause for all constitutional office bearers. Given that, should this only be a preserve for those who can afford or the elite?
4. We are also aware that the increased fees did not pass through the standard procedure of University Senate and Council approval before implementation. We are reliably informed that this was a Government directive to shift the burden of their failure or lack of intent to adequately fund this institution on the already oppressed, marginalized, underprivileged poor Zambians. This clearly demonstrates;
i. The misplacement of Government priority on education.
ii. The failure to recognize that Universities in this time and era promote economic growth as well as a tangible productive human resource.
It can be noted therefore that society has created a hierarchy of oppression which stems from the apex of authority and trickles down to the common Zambian. We need to realize that it is high time Government became accountable to the people and promoted the good of all. The neglect of investment toward university education is a draw back on this nation, which is in dire need of professionals. Therefore any policy which does not promote access of all to education should not be promoted.
The Human Rights Commission has called on the Inspector-General of Police to ensure that the police investigate all cases of violence in Mufumbwe and prosecute all the instigators.
Human Rights Commission Chairperson Pixie Yangailo in a statement that the Inspector General should ensure that the Zambia Police is well prepared to provide security during all elections so that people are comfortable to attend polling stations and cast their votes.
She said this should particularly be a priority during the 2011 general elections.
Mrs. Yangailo said the commission is concerned about the culture of violence during elections that seems to be taking root in Zambia.
She noted that violence in the electoral process is an affront to the fundamental right of the people to freely choose their representatives, and also a serious threat to the right to life, freedom of expression, and freedom of assembly.
Mrs Yangailo said political violence threatens the tenets of a democratic society.
She stated that what transpired during the recent by-election in Mufumbwe should be condemned by all well-meaning Zambians.
The Chairperson said the culture of violence that is being witnessed is threatening the peace and stability that the country has enjoyed since independence and sowing seeds of instability in the nation.
Mrs. Yangailo called on government and political parties to demonstrate leadership and ensure that unruly elements are not give room to destroy the good name of the country and allow the country’s political process to degenerate to levels seen in other countries.
[ QM ]
Zambia on Tuesday played their first training match since coming into camp but lost 2-1 to zanaco at Sunset stadiun in Lusaka.
And it was George Lwandamina’s side took the lead against Zanaco through Power Dynamos midfielders Luka Lungu.
Zanaco rallied to win courtesy of goals from Allen Mukuka and Mathews Macha in the 53rd and 85th minutes respectively.
ZESCO UNITED FACE CHOMA EAGLES
Zesco United host Choma Eagles on Wednesday in a rescheduled Super Division Week 2 math at the Trade Fair Grounds in Ndola.
A win for undefeated Zesco will see them move into joint second place on the table within two points of Nchanga Rangers who ae also unbeaten in the league this season.
Zesco have played six games and are on 10 points in 7th position with two matches in hand coming into their midweek clash against 12 placed Choma who are two points behiond their hosts.
Minister of Education Dora Siliya speaking during the AfriConnect/VVoB ICDL Media Breakfast
The government has implored the private and education sectors in the nation to work together to reduce the digital divide between the rich and the poor and between rural communities and urban communities by way of improving ICT skills of the citizens. Speaking yesterday at Intercontinental Hotel in Lusaka during the AfriConnect/VVoB ICDL Media Breakfast, the Minister of Education, Hon Dora Siliya MP, stressed than development will only be accelerated by the mainstreaming of ICT skills across the whole citizenry. Ms Siliya called on private sector players and education institutions to provide ICT literacy training that is relevant to the development of Zambia and she singled out the International Computer Driving Licence (ICDL) as a tool that can help move Zambia forward by way of improving ICT skills.She also recognised the importance of ICTs in enabling development.
“ICTs, both directly and as an enabler for other sectors of the economy, are a space to share ideas and experiences, and to inspire dialogue on new and innovative ways which can create opportunities for countries like Zambia”, Ms Silya said. [pullquote]“Computer skills are more important than ever, required for nearly half of all jobs now compared to less than a third in 1997”[/pullquote]
However, Hon Siliya reiterated that it was almost impossible to enjoy the benefits of ICts without use of ICts in education and indeed ICT education itself to improve skills.
“Computer skills are more important than ever, required for nearly half of all jobs now compared to less than a third in 1997” she added. “People looking for new jobs should be aware that computer skills are necessary in today’s modern workplace. In an increasingly technological work environment, employees need to develop IT skills to be able to work successfully within a business as many key functions are based around computer use. For people in work there are two key clusters of skills that are rising in importance.One of those, broadly, is IT skills.”
The minister also took time to thank partners who are working with the Ministry of Education to improve ICT infrastructure and ICT skills within the education sector and indeed the entire economy. She thanked the Flemish Association for Development Cooperation and Technical Assistance (VVoB) for sponsoring ICT Education projects in the education sector and especially colleges of education. She also thanked AfriConnect for helping schools with connectivity and for developing eLearning platforms that make it possible for schools to access locally produced education content online and indeed via local computer connectivity.
Speaking earlier, the ICDL Country Manager, Mr Shalala Oliver Sepiso called upon the banks that were invited to the event to adopt ICDL as the defacto computer competence certification and to demand it before employing people into the financial sector. He cited Zimbabwe where the financial sector has set ICDL as an industry standard for computer literacy and competence. Mr Shalala further mentioned that Zambia now has 28 registered training and testing centres prominent among them being UNZA, ZCAS, Mpelembe Secondary School, New Horizons, ICT Resource Centre and many others.
“ICDL is no longer an option. The only option is how to do ICDL,” Mr Shalala concluded.
Meanwhile, Dr Astridah Scholten, the Programme Manager for VVoB thanked the Minister on behalf of the Zambian government for the relationship between the Belgium organisation and the Zambian institutions of learning through the Ministry of Education. The the ICT provides economic opportunities to both urban and rural populations.
“At the request of the Zambian Ministry of education, the VVoB multi-year programme is focusing on the improvement of the quality of the teacher training,” she said. “In Zambia, only one child out of three makes it to the higher grades of primary school because primary education is free and because of the population growth, the pressure on the quality of education increases.”
He informed the meeting hat VVoB was sponsoring all colleges of education in Zambia to be ICDL Centres by June 2010.
Mr Mark Bennet, the Managing Director of AfriConnect stressed the importance of private sector investment in the education and social sector through infrastructure and training in ICT. He reported that AfriConnect through the iSchool project was helping schools to connect to the Internet and through ICDL was helping the nation to improve the levels of It skills. He called upon the banks t]invited to the event to take up the challenge of setting their own training and testing centres.
The event was attended by senior government officials, institutions of learning such as NISTCOL, Fairview, ZASTI; banks including Stanbic, Access, FNB, Barclays, Bank of Zambia and other keys institutions such as ZRA.
Africonnect is the in-country partner of the ICDL Foundation and so it is the coordinator of the ICDL certification in the country. With 28 centres currently offering the ICDL in the country, Africonnect is working with the Ministry to make ICDL affordable to schools and other institutions of learning. Kabulonga Boys High School of Lusaka recently became the first government school to offer ICDL and the University of Zambia will soon offer this certification to students at UNZA. Meanwhile the Ministry of Education is the first Ministry to offer ICDL to its staff as part of continuous professional development programme.
The Private Sector Development Association (PSDA) has predicted that the proposed increase in electricity tariffs by ZESCO will have negative effects on the cost of production and consequently the cost of doing business in the country.
ZESCO has applied to the Energy Regulation Board to effect a 30 % tariff hike by July this year as a way of remaining cost effective and competitive in the region.
PSDA Chairperson Yusuf Dodia said this is because electricity is one of the key drivers in productive activities of various economic sectors in the country.
Mr. Dodia told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka that this is why a slight change in electricity tariffs means a rise in the cost of various products which in turn affects the cost of doing business.
He noted that the proposed 30 percent electricity tariff increase will also make it difficult for the country to attract more private sector investments hence retarding national development. He explained that all investors be it in the manufacturing, mining or tourism sectors want to invest in a country whose cost of production is fair in order for them to make a profit.
Mr. Dodia stated that with high electricity tariffs, it all economic activities in the country will be affected and consequently disadvantage investors.
He said government should, therefore, always strive at ensuring that the cost of production in key economic sectors remains fair as a way of attracting more investments.
Mr. Dodia pointed that there is need for Zambia as a member of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) to compete favorably with other countries in the region by balancing its trade through lowering the cost of production.
He, however, noted that with the just proposed tariff adjustment, the country may not be able to produce quality goods and export to other countries.
He further advised ZESCO to consider contracting loans to invest in infrastructure and improve its current supply and distribution of power if it is to be cost effective and attract investors in the energy sector.
[Q FM]
Bishop John Mambo has observed that the type of politics being practiced by politicians in the country has caused people with fresh minds to shun politics.
Bishop Mambo said the current political environment in the country is saturated with insults making it impossible for fresh minds to join politics. He said Zambian politicians have adopted a culture of insults as the best way to participate in politics.He said if this trend of politics of insults continues, Zambian politics will become meaningless.
Bishop Mambo told QFM in an interview that politicians should concentrate on issue-based politics if Zambia is to develop. He said that politicians should refrain from politics of insults if they are to succeed in governing the country.
He called on politicians to tone down their language in order to make the political environment in the country more conducive.
Bishop Mambo said that Zambia has a lot of knowledgeable citizens who would want to join politics, but are being scared away by the vulgar language being used on the political scene.
[Q FM]
EVANGELICAL Fellowship of Zambia executive director Paul Mususu (center holding a bible)
SOME church and civil society organisation have condemned donors and political parties that want to champion the exclusion of the Christian Nation clause in the Constitution opting for a secular state that will promote homosexuality and gay rights.
The Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia executive director Bishop Paul Mususu said it would be wrong for political parties and non governmental organisations to promote values that were alien to Zambian society for the sake of money.
Bishop Mususu was reacting to reports that some donors were funding some opposition political parties to support a secular State that would promote homosexuality.
“It is not proper for us to get rid of what we have cherished over the years. We shall be sinking so low if we allow things like homosexuality and pornography in the name of freedom of expression,” Bishop Mususu said.
He said Zambia should retain the Christian nation clause in the new constitution but it should not be included as a legal requirement.
[pullquote]“It is not proper for us to get rid of what we have cherished over the years. We shall be sinking so low if we allow things like homosexuality and pornography in the name of freedom of expression,” Bishop Mususu said.[/pullquote]
“We should maintain the clause in our preamble so that we do not exclude other religions,” he said.
He said it would be wrong for organisations to champion immorality just because donors are funding them.
“In fact, civil society organisations should promote our culture as a country and strengthen our values. We must not support wrong things just because we are getting a dollar or people are supporting our project,” he said.
And the Independent Churches of Zambia board Chairperson Reverend David Masupa said political parties that would receive the funds to promote the Secular state would be de-campaigning themselves.
“There is no way the opposition political parties will be using the secular clause to campaign. Christians are in the majority and they will just be de-campaigning themselves,” he said.
Rev Masupa said the National Constitutional Conference unanimously adopted the Christian nation clause and that it would be wrong for some organisation to reverse the decision.
He said it is commonplace for countries to adopt a religion in the constitution. He said Zambia is predominately a Christian nation.
