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Secret lover was hubby’s boss

The Lusaka Boma court one was astounded when a woman narrated that she had an affair with her husband’s boss with whom she made love in the bush.

This was heard in a case in which Boniface Muzoka of Linda Township sued Bernard Chanda of the same residential area for compensation for committing adultery with his wife, Sofia Gondo.

Gondo told the court that she and Chanda started the illicit relationship in September 2009.

She said all was well until her husband Muzoka discovered that she and Chanda had an affair.

“Before my husband discovered I had a secret lover, all things were fine. Chanda used to take me out to have sex with him in the bush in Chilanga and sometimes near Blue Waters,” Gondo said.

Gondo told principle presiding magistrate Alfred Shilimbwa sitting with senior presiding magistrate Beatrice Nasilele, that in the same month of September her husband had asked her if she had an affair with Chanda but she denied there being such a relationship.

He said that in March this year Muzoka raised his suspicions again and threatened to seek a printout of her cell phone numbers to verify her communication with Chanda.

“I got scared when my husband told me that he would visit Zain Zambia with my sim to find out exactly what was happening between Chanda and I, so I told him that Chanda was my lover,” she said.

Gondo told the court that she then decided to terminate her affair with Chanda for the sake of her husband.

In his statement, Muzoka had demanded compensation from Chanda for committing adultery with Gondo.

He told the court that Chanda is his boss at work and he got the shock of his life when Chanda called Gondo early one morning in September.

Muzoka said Gondo failed to answer the phone in his presence so he answered it.

“I answered the phone but Chanda immediately cut the line. His cutting the phone left a lot of questions in my mind and I played on my wife’s mind and she revealed all things that I wanted to hear,” he said.
Muzoka said his wife told him where and when the two used to meet in his absence.

Chanda who had earlier denied having an affair with Gondo told the court that he started the affair with her after she failed to pay her debt.

“We sell eggs at the company where Gondo’s husband and I work, but she would come to ask for eggs on credit. I would give her and pay for them myself. When I first asked for sex with her she did not find any reason to refuse,” Chanda said.

Chanda told the court that the two have been meeting sexually until Muzoka discovered the affair. He said he has since terminated the relationship.

The court found Chanda guilty and ordered that he pays Muzoka K3 million in monthly installments of K150,000.
[ Sunday Mail ]

14 UPND cadres arrested

Police have arrested 14 United Party for National Development (UPND) cadres in the wake of a two-hour violent confrontation with Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) members on Friday night.

And chief government spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha has commended police for its vigilance against acts of violence by the UPND cadres.

Three police officers who were in a group of others sent as reinforcement to Mashitu in Mufumbwe were injured in the confrontation and one is admitted at Mufumbwe rural health centre.

Commissioner of Police Graphael Musamba confirmed the incident which was triggered in the heat of campaigns for the Mufumbwe parliamentary by-election.

Mr Musamba said four vehicles, including a Mufumbwe Police van, a district council Land Cruiser and a Hiace minibus had their windscreens shattered.

He said the 14 UPND cadres have been charged with various offences ranging from unlawful blocking of a road, malicious damage to property and assault.

Mr Musamba said among the arrested cadres is a UPND councillor.

MMD National Executive Committee (NEC) member Albert Chifita, who was caught up in the fracas, said police had to extricate Presidential Affairs Minister Ronald Mukuma, Southern Province Minister Daniel Munkombwe, Education Deputy Minister Akakandelwa Mwendoi and MMD deputy national secretary Chembe Nyangu from a horde of UPND cadres at Mashitu Basic School.

Mr Chifita said their vehicles had to be escorted by police for 5km in fear of an ambush by UPND cadres who were reportedly hiding in the bush.

He said police fired shots in the air and teargas canisters to disperse the two groups of opposing political party cadres.

North-Western Province police commanding officer Fabian Katiba’s vehicle was also stoned as he rushed into the area.

Mr Chifita said the MMD was holding a meeting with headmen and some pastors when UPND cadres arrived at the scene saying that they, too, wanted to hold a meeting at the same venue.

UPND district co-ordinator Alex Ifwaha said his team went to have a meeting at the school because the police permitted them to have it there.

Mr Ifwaha, who was accompanied by Patriotic Front (PF) provincial chairperson Dennis Kanyakula, accused the MMD of blocking them from having meetings at schools.

He accused the police of not helping them, saying nine of their members have allegedly been assaulted and police have opened dockets but no arrests have been made.

Mr Katiba said the UPND must complain to higher authorities in the police if they feel their complaints are not being attended to.

Mr Katiba said the police are there to protect everyone and called for peaceful campaigns.

And Lieutenant General Shikapwasha, who is also Minister of Information and Broadcasting services, has called on police to be more vigilant against acts of violence from political cadres because the situation could degenerate if those attacked retaliate.

In an interview on the incident, Gen Shikapwasha urged Patriotic Front president Michael Sata and his United Party for National Development counterpart Hakainde Hichilema to restrain their cadres from violence.

He urged the opposition to keep the campaigns clean, saying this is the instruction the ruling party has given to its campaign teams in Mufumbwe and Milanzi.

Gen Shikapwasha urged the opposition to devise other campaign methods, not violence if they feel that they are losing ground.

He said he was informed that some people caught up in the fracas spent a night in the bush and only returned to safety in the early hours of yesterday.

He called on police to be more vigilant and deal with all perpetrators of violence irrespective of their political affiliation.

Meanwhile, Gen Shikapwasha has said that Government will allow the due process of the law to take its course in continued red card campaigns by Change Life Zambia executive director Frank Bwalya, who is appearing in court.

Fr Bwalya is indicted of conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace on March 12, 2010 during Youth Day celebrations in Kitwe.

A police officer is reported to have permitted Fr Bwalya to address his supporters near Freedom Park in Kitwe last Friday. Police are reported to have sanctioned the meeting, but later dispersed Fr Bwalya’s supporters because the officer in question did not consult his superiors.

He said Fr Bwalya’s campaign against Government is a futile political exercise.

Gen Shikapwasha said Fr Bwalya’s campaign agenda is baseless because issues of the Constitution were being dealt with by the National Constitutional Conference.

He said the former priest is also misinformed about issues of governance as Government is running the country well.
[Sunday Mail ]

Enjoy the Journey

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TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day”
(Proverbs 4:18, NIV)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria

Sometimes it’s easy to become so goal-oriented and so focused on our dreams that we overlook the simple things that we should be enjoying in our everyday life. But we have to remember that life is not really about the destination, it’s about how we live all along the way. It’s about the path we’re on that shines brighter and brighter.

In this life, there is no such thing as a finish line. Once you accomplish one dream, God will give you another. When you overcome one challenge, there will be another. There is always another mountain to climb. If we make the mistake of just living for the destination, we’ll look up one day and realize we’ve missed out on the biggest part of life because most of life is routine. Most of us get up every morning, go to work, come home, eat dinner, go to bed and do it again. There are very few mountaintops where you graduate from school, or you get married, or have a child, or go on vacation. The high times are few and far between. Don’t get stuck living for the mountaintops. Learn to enjoy the path you’re on. Learn to enjoy the people in your life. Learn to enjoy the simple blessings of walking in the path the Lord has prepared for you.

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father God, thank You for the gift of life. Thank You for the good plan You have for me today and for my future. Teach me to enjoy the journey of life, to embrace each day with joy and enthusiasm. Help me to see the blessings of every moment You have given me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Nkana’s win overshadows Nchanga’s rise

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While the day was all about Nchanga Rangers taking top spot for at least 24 hours, Nkana’s result at Wusakile stadium in Kitwe overshadows the Chingola sides’ rise to the top of the log.

Nkana today recorded their first emphatic win in the Faz Super Division when they beat visiting City of Lusaka 4-2 in Kitwe this afternoon to record their second league and successive top flight win of the season.

Ex-Kitwe United and Under-23 international winger William Chinse scored  a brace for Nkana while team mates Maxwell Phiri and veteran striker Douglas Chiwaya got a goal each.

Defender Vincent Mangamu and Evans Musonda each got the goal’s for City on their first visit to the Copperbelt this season.

Meanwhile, overnight leaders Nchanga Rangers were 3-1 winners at home over hitherto unbeaten though winless Nkwazi at Nchanga stadium in Chingola.

Nchanga shift to 10 points, one more than Power Dynamos who face Green Buffaloes away on Sunday at Edwin Imboela stadium in Lusaka.

Nchanga’s two Aubrey’s: Funga and Chalamanda were on the score sheet with a goal each while Chileshe Kangwa chipped in with one of his own.

Defending Super Division champions Zanaco visit to Nkoloma stadium ended in a 1-1 draw away to Red Arrows with Dube Phiri scoring for the hosts while Ignatius Lwipa got one for the away side.

Faz Super Division week 6

17/04/2010

Nchanga Rangers 3- Nkwazi 1

Nkana 4-City of Lusaka 2

National Assembly 0-Zesco United 0

Red Arrows 1-Zanaco 1

Forest Rangers 0-Roan United 0

Kabwe Warriors 2-Konkola Blades 0

Lusaka Dynamos 2-Choma Eagles 0

18/04/2010

Green Buffaloes-Power Dynamos

BADEA Express interest in Financing KNB Expansion project

The Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa BADEA director general Adbelaziz khelef has expressed interest of giving out 68 million United States dollars to finance the Kariba North Bank (KNB) expansion project.

Mr. Khelef who conducted a tour of the KNB station in siavonga told journalists that he is confident that the growth of Zambia’s energy sector is able to meet the growing demands of the ever expanding economy.

He said that energy is a prerequisite of national development and it is important that it is kept in shape to meet the ever rising demands of a growing economy.

He also reveals that his bank has decided to give priority to the energy sector because that is what the government is giving its ultimate attention to.

Meanwhile, Zambia Electricity Supply Company ZESCO operations manager, Masiye Mwale said a total of USD420 is needed to completely furnish the KNB with two more generators which would result in the production of 1080 mw of power.

Mr. Mwale noted that currently the total KNB production out put is 720mw because only two of the already four installed generators are working.

He said that it is expected that the third generator would start working next week and will be able to meet the current demand in the country.

Mr. Mwale said that USD313 million has already been secured from the China Exim Bank but USD107 million is still being negotiated for with the Development Bank of Southern Africa.

And KNB Acting Project Manager, Ezekiel kasaro said it is crucial that KNB creates more corridors of transferring power from the station to other areas because the two available lines are not sufficient.

Mr. Kasaro has, therefore, called on BADEA to consider fulfilling its pledge to provide a loan of USD68 million that is being requested for.
[ QFM ]

Who will be CHAN team assistant coach ?

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With George Lwandamina almost certain to take over as Zambia’s coach for the 2011 Orange CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers, who will be his assistant?

Zambia will face South Africa in the first round qualifiers of the CHAN tournament exclusively for home-based national team players next month after enjoying a preliminary stage bye.

Sources have revealed that while Lwandamina is a clear frontrunner, the search for a suitable assistant is also being given serious consideration.

While they are reports that Lwandamina will be free to choose his own assistant, Faz is said to also have the option to pick a competent assistant for the former coach Herve Renard’s assistant trainer.

One of the possible names being considered is Power Dynamos assistant trainer Beston Chambeshi who was a longtime number two of Patrick Phiri at Nkana from 1998 to 2004 and is currently number two to Fordson Kabole at Arthur Davies.

The sources said Chambeshi’s experience and good rapport with head coaches he has worked under could be a great factor in the former international finally getting a crack at seating on the senior team bench.

Other names that the souces could be considered are former City of Lusaka coach Hector Chilombo and  Keegan Mumba of Choma Eagles.

Faz Super Division Week 6 Fixtures

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Here are the fixtures and standings of this weekends Super Division Week 6 matches.

Faz Super Division Week 6

17/04/2010

Nchanga Rangers- Nkwazi

Nkana -City of Lusaka

National Assembly-Zesco United

Red Arrows-Zanaco

Forest Rangers-Roan United

Kabwe Warriors-Konkola Blades

Lusaka Dynamos-Choma Eagles

18/04/2010

Green Buffaloes-Power Dynamos

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

Jailed PF MP will not lose parliamentary seat, Parliamentary Chief Researcher

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PF Roan Member of Parliament Chishimba Kambwili (L)

Parliamentary chief researcher and Press liaison officer Chikomeni Banda said according to the constitution, the jailed Patriotic Front (PF) Roan member of Parliament Chishimba KambwiliMr Kambwili will not lose his seat after his conviction because he has only been jailed for 15 days.

“According to the constitution, it doesn’t affect his status as member of Parliament because he will only go to jail for 15 days, so he will not lose his seat because of that,” Mr Banda said.

Mr Kambwili was yesterday sent to jail for 15 days for conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.

Ndola Chief Resident Magistrate Kelvin Limbani jailed Kambwili but acquitted his three co-accused.

Mr Limbani, who sat as Magistrate in the Luanshya Magistrates Court , also fined Kambwili K10, 000 after convicting him.

This is in a case in which Kambwili, 44, Patrick Maipambe, 50, a peasant farmer, Charles Mulenga, 45, a peasant farmer and Christopher Mutale, 47, a peasant farmer were charged with conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.

Passing judgment, Mr Limbani said his findings are that Kambwili’s behaviour at the Luanshya Civic Centre on the material day would have resulted in a breach of peace.

“It was provocative and agitating to the demonstrators whom he (Kambwili) was fully aware were protesting against the statement he made on the Lunda and Luvale people,” Mr Limbani said.

Particulars of the offence are that Kambwili, Maipambe, Mulenga and Mutale in Luanshya, jointly and whilst acting together, did conduct themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace at the Luanshya Civic Centre by raising a PF symbol at members of the Lunda-Luvale Cultural Association who were demonstrating against his tribal remarks.
He said the State had established a prima facie case against Kambwili.

Mr Limbani said he had no doubt that Kambwili committed the offence as alleged by the State.

“I have no doubt that the accused number one committed the alleged offence, that being conduct likely to cause a breach of peace, contrary to section 178 (f) of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia and I shall, accordingly, convict him,” Mr Limbani said.

He, however, acquitted Maipambe, Mulenga and Mutale because he did not find the evidence against the three exhaustive.

Passing sentence, Mr Limbani said Kambwili’s action deserves punishment so that he can reform and be deterred from committing a similar offence in future.
He also said Kambwili should be punished so that others can learn from him.

Mr Limbani, however, said he has taken into consideration what Kambwili said in mitigation and that he would be lenient.

He said citizens should behave in an orderly manner, especially during demonstrations.

“It is every citizen’s wish to have a peaceful environment, I sentence you to 15 days simple imprisonment with a fine of K10,000,” Mr Limbani said.
In mitigation, Kambwili said it was not his intention to disrupt a peaceful demonstration because he was merely passing at the Civic Centre on the material day.

“I was just preventing the abuse of buses bought by the Parents Teachers’ Association. However, your honour, in view of the decision by the court, I can say that I am very remorseful, I regret my action and I plead for leniency,” Kambwili said.

Earlier, Mr Limbani said it is the position of the law that peace should be maintained and that any attempt to breach it is an offence.

“It is the duty of the police to prevent anything that is likely to cause a breach of peace. The police can act in any situation when they believe that there will be a breach of peace and their powers and duties are directed not to their interests, but to the safety of the public,” Mr Limbani said.

Some PF cadres and sympathisers gathered outside the court to catch a glimpse of Kambwili as police took him into custody.

Police in full riot gear kept vigil as some PF cadres wept while others sang songs of solidarity.

[Zambia Daily mail]

Patriotic Front demo fails

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KITWE residents yesterday shunned the opposition Patriotic Front (PF) demonstration that was supposed to be held at Kaunda Square in protest against alleged attacks on their president Michael Sata by Government.

And MMD Copperbelt chairman Joseph Chilambwe commended Kitwe residents for staying away from the demonstration.

A Zambia Daily Mail crew that went to the scene found a handful of PF supporters clad in their party attire loitering around Kaunda Square.

They later joined Change Life Zambia executive director Father Frank Bwalya at the Kitwe magistrates court.

Copperbelt police commanding officer Antonneil Mutentwa said the PF cadres wanted to take advantage of Fr Bwalya’s court case to stage the demonstration.
“These people wanted to demonstrate using Fr Bwalya’s supporters after realising that people in Kitwe would not turn up for the demonstration.

“They started gathering but after realising that people were not interested in their activities, they dispersed and joined those who were supporting Fr Bwalya,” he said.

Mr Mutentwa said the police officers were ready to handle the situation had the PF cadres gone ahead with the illegal demonstration.

Over 215 police recruits from Kamfinsa Mobile Unit, who were in riot gear, were deployed to control the situation.

And Zambia National Marketeers Association president Elvis Nkandu disclosed that PF officials approached some of his members to take part in the demonstration.

Mr Nkandu said in an interview that the demonstration was a flop because Zambians are not interested in activities that cause confusion.

“PF officials approached some of our members so that they could take part in the demonstration but they refused. The PF must fight their own battles,” he said.

[Zambia Daily mail]

Mobilising Funds for Roads not a political ploy, RB

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President Banda pleads with the people of Milanzi to vote for the MMD candidate during a campaign trail

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda says the opposition is de-campaigning itself by castigating Government for mobilising funds to develop roads.

He trashed allegations by the opposition that his recent directive to the Ministry of Finance and National Planning to mobilise funds for roads development is a political ploy aimed at rigging elections.

“To me, those are non-issues and the opposition are just de-campaigning themselves,” Mr Banda said.

He said this yesterday at City Airport on arrival from Katete where he went to campaign for MMD candidate in the Milanzi Parliamentary by-election, Whiteson Banda.

Mr Banda said he could not give a directive for development programmes because it was impossible for him to foresee the by-elections in Milanzi and Mufumbwe Constituencies.

He said there is no way he could give directives for development programmes based on the by-elections, adding that he pities the opposition, which he said is panicking.

Mr Banda said the Ministry of Finance initiated one of the programmes included in his directive over a year ago.

“In fact, people should be happy with such projects. There are several programmes that are taking place countrywide in areas that are not undergoing by-elections,” he said.

Mr Banda said one of the roads extends beyond Mufumbwe and cited the Chipata-Lundazi and Kasama-Luwingu as some of the roads that are being rehabilitated.

And the President said he is confident that MMD will retain the Milanzi seat which fell vacant following the death of Reuben Banda of the ruling party.
He said his campaign trail in Milanzi was good for the MMD.

Mr Banda said people of Milanzi received him and his delegation well and that big crowds attended the MMD rallies.

He said the people appreciate MMD programmes relating to construction of new roads and schools.

Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Lieutenant-General Ronnie Shikapwasha and Secretary to the Cabinet Joshua Kanganja and the defence chiefs received Mr Banda at the airport.

How can the NCC and our Law makers be so wrong and backward.

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NCC Delegates Deliberating

By Chanda Phiri-ex microblogger

Watching the first British prime ministerial debate on BBC world on DSTV, I was left with one question in my mind. How can our National Constitution Conference (NCC) delegates get it so wrong and appear archaic and backward in the way they have shredded the Mung’omba draft Constitution?  How in the world has Zambia spent so much money to allow a small  group of people to produce an archaic document and claim that it will stand the test of time?  It is really amazing to see what a rotten system can do to even the best minds.
There are a lot of vital clauses that the NCC has shredded and I will reserve them for a future blog by others more capable  than me, but today, I have an issue on one of them and let me upack it. To begin with let me quote a story on Lusakatimes on Saturday, January 16, 2010 titled “NCC rejects articles aimed at making MPs vulnerable to recall

“THE National Constitutional Conference (NCC) has rejected articles in the Mung’omba draft Constitution which would subject members of the National Assembly to a recall when they are not performing to the expectations of their electorate.The conference voted unanimously to have Article 188 and Article 189 deleted as they could promote anarchy in the country….”

Please note that this was a unanimous decision and all political parties are guilty of this crime except perhaps the Patriotic Front which is not taking part in this public spectacle.

This is what the the people whose forefathers gave us the kind of constitution the NCC want to perpetuate had to say in a live Debate when asked how they intended to re-establish the credibility of MPs in the eyes of the electorate, after all the scandals.

… I want to do three things to change the system. First of all, I want to give the right of recall to constituents. If your MP is misbehaving and is guilty of corrupt practices and parliament doesn’t act, you should have the right to recall that MP. The second thing we’ve got to do is give people the right to petition parliament so that your issues can be raised in parliament and that’s what we propose to do. Thirdly, and this is quite fundamental, and I don’t think David will support us on that, but I hope Nick will, we’ve got to reform the House of Commons and the House of Lords. We need a new House of Commons, a new House of Lords. We will have a referendum to elect members of parliament with more than 50% of the vote, and to have a House of Lords that is elected rather than hereditary or unaccountable. These are the changes we need…”- Gordon Brown, British Prime Minster

“Listen, none of this will make any difference if we allow this rotten system in Westminster to carry on where MPs have jobs for life, where they basically only need to get 20, 30% of your votes in their areas, then no questions asked, they don’t even need to bother until the next time there’s an election. There is a direct correlation between the hundreds of Labour and Conservative MPs who have got these safe seats, these jobs for life, and the levels of abuse in expenses.”-Nick Clegg leader of the Liberal Democrats

These are touch words uttered by people who have realised how flawed the system they have dumped on their former colonies has caught up with them. I say this because our constitution despite many changes still at the core reflect the traits of the one we inherited. People fail to realise that the colonial system was meant to disadvantage the locals and our politicians are using the same instruments to disadvantage anybody who does not sing their songs. In Britain one would argue that their system was meant to disadvantage those who were not in the elite circle. ( I know I will be attacked on this one, I swear, but sorry I have issues with Monarchs)

Thanks to the Zambian public for being way far ahead of their British Counterparts. They picked up on this problem long time ago and made sure that the Mung’omba draft Constitution had measures to curb such abuses.

What is upsetting is for the NCC to eat our hard earned taxes and shred what the people wanted and give us an archaic document. How can they be so wrong in this age of abundant knowledge and common sense. I bet most of these law markers have employees in one form or another. Are they telling us that if any of them gave their employee a five year contract and that employee stopped performing, would they continue to pay his or her wages? This is really common sense stuff and why can’t they see it?

[pullquote]MPs, the President included, are employed by the people. And if they are not performing, the people have the right to fire them even before the contract expires. What is evil and anarchy about that?[/pullquote]

MPs, the President included, are employed by the people. And if they are not performing, the people have the right to fire them even before the contract expires. What is evil and anarchy about that?

I have seen the economic indicators of our economy and they are good. But lets not mistake them for our good governance because they are nothing to do with the greatness of our leaders. They are all to do with China’s GDP that has kept our copper prices high. China’s GDP is 60% construction and I smell another housing bubble in the works and if that happens, God forbid, the copper price will nose dive and there will be no growth to talk about for Zambia. All the Infesters, oh sorry Investors will flee and all we shall be left with is our people.

That is why it is paramount that we invest in our people and the first step is a right constitution that will create fairness, equality and liberate our people to compete on the world stage. The World is flat and the world market is open to all and it is only the well prepared and motivated people who will take advantage. Zambians can compete with anybody anywhere in the world given an equal platform and it is incumbent upon our politicians to ensure that they deliver this for Zambians. True freedom and fairness. These two can unlock the potential of our entrepreneurs.

There are small countries like Israel that don’t have resources and yet what they have archived by just investing in people is extra ordinary. A must read book for our leaders, if they ever read, is a book by Dan Senor and Saul Singer, called Start-Up Nation: The Story of Israel’s Economic Miracle.

In conclusion, our valuable resource is our land and our people. We need to educate them, we need to free them from petty people holding our generation down because they want to protect their mediocre standards. Our children will no longer just compete with our next door Kasai neighbours in the north and Zimbabweans in the South. They shall be competing against the world!

PF to hold convention in November

The Patriotic Front (PF) has announced that it will hold its long awaited National Conference in November this year.
PF Secretary General Winter Kabimba said the party would start electing leaders at constituency level next month.

He said this was in line with the party’s democratic tenets of ensuring that party leaders are elected to ensure that transparency prevailed.

Mr Kabimba explained that the party would then move on to hold elections for leaders at district level in June this year.

He said the provincial leadership would be elected in July after which the party will start organizing itself for the national conference in November during which the party’s top leadership including the president will be elected.

The PF Secretary General said those agitating that the Patriotic Front should show how democratic it is by holding its national conference should now be contented because the party is on course to holding its convention.

Some political parties allegedly led by the ruling MMD and some civil society organizations have labeled the Patriotic Front as an undemocratic party for not holding its national conference since its formation in 2001.
[ QFM ]

Sub-Saharan Africa is the most religious place on Earth

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Researchers say they’ve found the most religious place on Earth — between the southern border of the Sahara Desert and the tip of South Africa.

Religion is “very important” to more than three-quarters of the population in 17 of 19 sub-Saharan nations, according to a new survey.

In contrast, in the United States, the world’s most religious industrialized nation, 57 percent of people say religion is very important.

“On a continent-wide basis, sub-Saharan Africa comes out as the most religious place on Earth,” said Luis Lugo, director of the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, which released the study Thursday.

According to the survey, 98 percent of respondents in Senegal say religion is very important, following by 93 percent in Mali. The lowest percentage was reported in Botswana, 69 percent, which is still a healthy majority.

“That begins to paint a picture of how religious sub-Saharan Africans are,” Lugo said.

The study is part of the Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures Project. More than 25,000 sub-Saharan Africans responded in face-to-face interviews in more than 60 languages.

While the study confirms that Africans are, indeed, morally conservative and religiously pious, researchers explored a variety of topics, including religious tolerance, polygamy, the role of women in society, and political and economic satisfaction.

Islam and Christianity dominate as the most popular religions in the region — a stark reversal from a century ago when Muslims and Christians were outnumbered by followers of traditional indigenous religions.

But for the past 100 years, indigenous spirituality has been diluted as missionaries carried Islam and Christianity throughout the African continent.

The study reports that the number of Christians in sub-Saharan Africa grew faster than the number of Muslims, from 7 million in 1900 to 470 million in 2010. One in five of the world’s Christians lives in sub-Saharan Africa.

While a majority of African Muslims are from the northern region of the continent, nearly 234 million live below the Sahara Desert.

Indigenous African beliefs have not disappeared, but are often incorporated into Islam and Christianity, the report found. A number of sub-Saharan Africans believe in witchcraft, evil spirits, reincarnation and other elements of African spirituality. More than half of the people surveyed in Tanzania, Mali, Senegal and South Africa believe that sacrifices to ancestors or spirits can protect them from harm.

Mary Dhavale, a native of Tanzania who now lives in Atlanta, describes herself as a “righteous child of Jehovah God” and drives two hours every Sunday to worship at a Pentecostal church. She also said her grandfather was a traditional healer.

“You may call him a witch doctor, but he did good things for the people,” Dhavale said.

Dhavale’s grandfather attended Catholic services for most of his life, even as he concocted herbal drinks and crafted charms to ward off evil spirits or expose petty crimes in the neighborhood.

“If your child is sick or if your car is spoiled, people would go to my grandfather and find out who did it,” Dhavale said.

Such syncretism of religions is not uncommon in Africa.

Sulayman Nyang, a professor at Howard University’s African Studies Department, said by honoring traditional religious practices, sub-Saharan Africans are able to maintain their African identity and strengthen ethnic unity.

However, Nyang said indigenous religions are not practiced in a pure form because Africans want to maintain their “dignity” and “want to be accepted into the new world of modernity.”

According to the Pew survey, most sub-Saharan African Muslims are Sunni. Within Christianity, Catholicism dominates in Guinea Bissau, Rwanda and Cameroon, while Liberia, South Africa, Zambia, Kenya, Nigeria, and Botswana are predominantly Protestant.

Pentecostalism is rapidly spreading and deeply influential across the region, and also across Christian denominations.

“Casting out of the devil or evil spirits, high degree of apocalyptic expectations, the health-and-wealth `prosperity gospel’ is the new Christian phenomenon of the Pentecostalism in sub-Saharan Africa,” Lugo said.

The study suggests that the degree of concern about religious conflict is often interwoven with concerns about ethnic conflict. In Rwanda, for example, tensions between Hutu and Tutsi tribes erupted in the 1994 genocide. Nigeria continues to be wracked by Muslim-Christian violence.

The 19 countries represented in the survey comprise 75 percent of the population of sub-Saharan Africa. The countries are: Botswana, Cameroon, Chad, Djibouti, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

[Christianity Today]

The Week in Pictures

96

1.

Traditional dancers locally called visuzyo performing a dance in Katete

2.

A lone policeman struggles to control a crowd that wanted to catch a glimpse of President Banda in Milanzi before a public rally

3.

A Nyau dancer with a bucket on his head going to entertain guests at a traditional dance arena in Milanzi

4.

A photographer climbs a pick-up vehicle in an attempt to get exclusive shots in Milanzi

5.

A woman drinking water from a dirty bucket, raising matters regarding the availability of clean and adequate water for the population in Milanzi

6.

A woman waves at President Banda's chopper after it took off for Chipata from Milanzi after a series of rallies for the April 29 parliamentary by-election

7.

An unidentified woman breastfeeding her baby in MIlanzi

8.

MMD Milanzi constituency by-elections candidate Whiteson Banda raises his hand after President Banda introduced him to the potential voters in Milanzi

9.

MMD national secretary Katele Kalumba dancing at a public meeting in Milanzi

10.

Nyau dancers going to put up a performance in Milanzi

11.

President Banda's chopper about to take after he addressed a rally in Milanzi

12.

President Banda pleads with the people of Milanzi to vote for the MMD candidate during a campaign trail

13.

Some people of Milanzi wait for politicians to address them at a public meeting

14.

Some youths in Milanzi brave the sun to listen to President Banda at a public rally

15.

The face of poverty...A boy is photographed at a public meeting with rugged clothes in Katete

Chinese investment has helped to woo other investors- Dr Musokotwane

File picture for Finance minister Situmbeko Musokotwane

Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane says Chinese Investment in the country has helped the country attract other investors from bigger economies.
Dr. Musokotwane said most investors have decided to take an interest to invest in Zambia because of the Chinese investment.

He urged politicians to avoid politicizing Chinese investment because it is helping the country in bringing in more investment into the country.

Dr Musokotwane said in an interview that Zambians should concentrate more on the benefits that come with Chinese investment other than the negatives.

He said China has continued to be the major financial lender to bigger economies adding that Zambia should be grateful for being part of the development.

The minister said Chinese investment has contributed to the growth of the Zambian economy which is highly commendable.

Dr Musokotwane added that what is even better is that China has shown interest in investing in many sectors of the Zambian economy.
[ QFM ]