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A 26-year-old man is battling for his life in Maamba Hospital after a dog sliced his private parts while another 68-year-old man has been injured in an illegal coal mine in Sinazongwe district in Southern Province.
Belt Sinamba of Zubadenda village in Chief Sinazongwe’s area told ZANIS from his hospital bed that the dog grabbed him at night near Thomazine Fishing camp as he was going to his home.
The man, who is in grade nine at Nkandabbawe Basic School, said the strange dog charged at him and grabbed him from his private parts and threw him to the ground.
Mr Sinamba said he cried for help but there was no one to rescue him from the fierce dog which abandoned him after damage had been done.
In another incident a 68-year-old man has sustained four broken ribs as he was illegally digging coal at the Nkandabbawe mine area in a trench.
A medical officer on duty, who did not want to be named, said the earth from the trench fell on the old man who was in the company of his workers.
A check at the Maamba Hospital by ZANIS found that the man was in a critical condition as he was unable to talk.
Police officers block suspected MMD cadres from accessing the Lusaka magistrate court where they wanted to go and clash with their PF counterparts.
By Chanda Phiri (Ex-LT Microblogger)
It is amazing how the calls by the so called democratic masses to all
political party in Zambia to hold convention are intensifying. The ruling MMD earlier last year showed signs of not holding the convention and all sorts of mud was thrown at them. Now that the MMD has decided to hold the convention, after succumbing to public pressure, it looks like they are now treated as the most democratic party. How ridiculous!
The MMD, particularly its leadership, has even the audacity of calling on other political parties to hold a convention. They feel more holy. They feel more democratic. But really is the MMD democratic? Does the mere holding of a convention make a party democratic? How can those calling for convention sink so low as to think this public spectacle is democracy?[quote]
Anyway let me unpack the convention process of ALL political parties, in case some of you don’t know.
The Problem
First note that the president of any political party in Zambia is the most important person in that party and is above reproach.
The way a party runs the so called national convention is to first select people that will attend the convention.
Not just any Jim and Jack attends these political national conventions. The selection of these delegates is not a democratic process, but a corrupt process otherwise known as “bootlicking”. Seats at the conventions are limited and those who make it as delegates are those who are perceived to be aligned or have consistently boot licked the president and his cohorts of supporters.
So the delegates that get to attend these conventions are already hand picked by the incumbent party president’s machinery. Only Chief Bootlickers make the cut.So, the convention is just a mirage and a total public spectacle meant to just make a joke of real democracy. And this applies to ALL political parties in Zambia today.
So the election of party presidency is truly not democratic in all the political parties in Zambia today. The conventions are just an expensive way to endorse the incumbent president and I would bet my house with anyone that RB and Sata will emerge as leaders at their conventions, fraught with corruption.
Maybe and a big Maybe for that matter: the only truly democratically elected officials are those who hold other useless portfolios in the party.
I can’t end this rant of mine without therefore suggesting a truly democratic way of electing party presidents.
The Solution
First problem to fix is to make parties organised around a powerful committee, like a board and not around an incumbent powerful party president. The committee’s duty should be to fairly conduct the electoral process for the leader or the CEO of their party.
Once the committee is in place its mandate will be to conduct elections across the country in all constituencies and allow only those voter’s card carrying members of the public to vote in these elections. I repeat: These elections should be open to all members of the public as long as they have voters card, regardless of which party they belong to. The candidate who amasses the most votes
across all the constituencies should be the one to lead the party as president into a general election. Only after a tie which is most unlikely, should then corrupted party delegates be brought in to decide.
Yes, this process will be expensive. But who said democracy is cheap? If you think democracy is expensive, try dictatorship? Evidence abound on how dictatorship has impoverished the masses and robbed people of any dignity to live decent lives.
Well as long as this process I have outlined above is not followed, all parties in Zambia will remain corrupt, undemocratic and just built around an individual. We shall happily vote them in power only for them to turn around and rape us the way the MMD has done since it came into power.
Lastly I call upon all Zambians to really see what a joke these current
conventions are and demand for a party with truly democratically elected leadership.
Not what is being imposed on us by the corrupt delegates in all parties
Let the debate begin. Let the search for a truly democratic party begin. Let the search for a truly elected democratic president begin. Aren’t you tired of all these self styled dictators imposed on as as democratically elected leaders?
Sylvia Professional Catering managing director Mrs Sylvia Banda
The Wallace Centre at Winrock International and the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) in the United States of America (USA) have invited Sylvia Professional Catering to speak as part of a panel for the study involving 24 locally-owned food businesses worldwide.
The study would draw on detailed analyses of 12 US and 12 international community food enterprises (CFEs), which include food-related producers, processors, grocers, restaurants, training programmes and other businesses
Sylvia Group of Companies executive chairperson, Hector Banda said in Lusaka that the meeting would take place at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in the US on January 28.
He said CFEs involved firms poised for sustainable growth and competitiveness both locally and globally.
The study is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Kellogg Foundation, and features Sylva Professional Catering Services as a case study of a successful and cutting edge community food enterprise.
Mr Banda and managing director, Sylvia Banda have been invited to make a presentation on their business in Zambia.
The case studies show how community food enterprises have transformed factors that once stymied their performance and profitability from smaller scale, modest ambition, limited local ownership, and high social standards into powerful competitive advantages in comparison with multi-national food businesses.
“We have identified several critical ways CFEs provide invaluable tools for economic development and anti-poverty efforts worldwide,” says Michael Shuman, lead author of the study.
Wallace Centre at Winrock International supports entrepreneurs and communities as they build a new food system that is healthier for people, the environment and the economy.
The centre builds and strengthens links in the emerging chain of businesses and civic efforts focused on making healthy, green, fair and affordable food.
BALLE is North America’s fastest growing network of socially responsible businesses, composed of more than 80 community networks that represent more than 21,000 independent business members across the US and Canada.
Founded in 2001, BALLE works to foster vibrant communities, a healthy natural environment and prosperity for all.
The Tourism Council of Zambia has commended government for funding the tarring of the 104 kilometre Chipata-Mfuwe road.
Tourism Council of Zambia Chairperson Marc O’Donnell told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka that the council was happy that government has invested in infrastructure development in the country.
Mr. O’Donnell said infrastructure development was one way of attracting both local and foreign tourists and investors in the country.
He said the tarring of the Chipata-Mfuwe road would enhance the tourism sector in the country, which faced a number of setbacks because of poor road infrastructure.
Mr. O’Donnell said the council was happy that government was determined to implement measures that would improve the tourism sector.
He explained that Mfuwe has potential for tourism because of its proximity to the South Luangwa National Park, which is well known for its walking safaris.
He added that the other national parks namely North Luangwa, Luambe, and Lukusuzi National Parks would also benefit from the tarring of this road.
Mr. O’Donnell said the upgrading of the road would significantly help improve the lives of people through easy transportation of people, goods, and services.
Sable Construction Company has been engaged to tar the road, which started on December 18th 2009 at an estimated cost of K290 billion. The project is expected to be completed by April this year.
CHIEFS in Mambwe district have advised the Patriotic Front leader, Michael Sata, to swallow his pride and apologise for comparing them and their subjects to animals.
The chiefs have also advised Mr Sata to apologise to President Banda.
Chief Jumbe said the Chipata-Mfuwe road which Mr Sata is referring to as being favored at the expense of other roads has been an issue since independence.
The chief said in an interview yesterday that it is unfortunate for someone who is aspiring to be a leader of the nation to utter such retrogressive remarks.
“Mr Sata should humble himself and swallow the words because traditional rulers who reside here where the road will be constructed are upset with him for comparing them to animals, it is unacceptable,” Chief Jumbe said.
He said the tarring of the Chipata-Mfuwe road which President Banda commissioned was an issue even in President Mwanawasa’s Government.
The traditional leader said what the incumbent President is doing is fulfilling President Levy Mwanawasa’s promise of giving the people of Mambwe a good road.
“The late President said the road will be constructed and that is what I can remember. It is very unfortunate that Mr Sata can go as far as calling us animals when there are chiefs here who have been crying for this road,” he said.
Chief Jumbe said the road being constructed is not for President Banda but for the people who live there.
He said it is important for the opposition leaders to give credit where it is due and not to criticise unnecessarily.
“The opposition leaders are there for checks and balances and not to issue baseless attacks where one is doing a commendable job,” Chief Jumbe said.
He said a good road is key to national development and that the construction of the road will help boost economic activities in Mambwe.
And Chief Mukanya described Mr Sata’s remarks as retrogressive to national development.
He said Mr Sata should know that thousands of people reside in Mambwe and not just animals.
The chief said the subjects will be scared of Mr Sata because his remarks are a clear indication that he does not regard them as people.
“We doubt if Mr Sata can remember us if he happens to be President of this nation because he does not respect people,” Chief Mukanya said.
He said the best thing the PF leader should do is to apologise.
“I wonder if Mr Sata knows this place where we live and what we go through just to reach our chiefdoms,” Chief Mukanya said.
But Mr Sata said he will only apologise when the Katete-Chadiza road is commissioned.
Mr Sata said many of the roads in Eastern province have not been worked on for many years and that it is only cardinal that Government shared the money equitably to benefit other roads.
“I am willing to apologise when they commission the Katete – Chadiza road because it connects many parts of the province and people living there want to see the road in a good state,” he said.
Mr Sata said in an interview yesterday that the people living along the Katete-Chadiza road have been complaining about the poor state of the road.
Apart from the chiefs, the MMD in Eastern Province has demanded an apology from Mr Sata for saying that President Banda has favoured the construction of the Chipata-Mfuwe road which leads to a game park where animals live at the expense of equal development of all provinces.
Last month, I suggested that President Rupiah Banda and Vice President George Kunda should seriously consider the prospect of creating a statutory and autonomous agency to be accountable to the Parliamentary Committee on Health, Community Development and Social Welfare, and which should assume the functions of the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) and those of the Public Welfare Assistance Scheme (PWAS).
I made the suggestion in response to the donation of various relief items worth US$100,000 to DMMU by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in December 2009. The donation included blankets, tents, shovels, wheelbarrows, water containers, sanitary towels, and other essential items.
The main reason for the suggestion was to forestall the potential for DMMU and PWAS to be abused by the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) or future ruling political parties to achieve partisan objectives.
Less than a month from the day I made the suggestion, there are already rumors and suspicions that the recent donation of “baby blankets” by President Banda to Lamba chiefs that is reported in The Post newspaper of January 4, 2010 in an article entitled “Lamba Chiefs Reject Banda’s ‘Baby Blankets’” consisted of blankets donated to DMMU earlier by USAID.
Such rumors and suspicions may, of course, be unfounded, but there is still a need for the authorities to create an autonomous agency which should assume the functions of DMMU (which is vested in the Office of the Vice-President) and PWAS (which is administered through the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, and which includes the Social Cash Transfer Scheme). The creation of such an agency is actually in the best interest of MMD leaders as it will save them from rumors and suspicions that their donations to chiefs and needy members of Zambian society are public resources and/or relief supplies donated by foreign countries or humanitarian organizations.
Since Vice President Kunda has already announced the beginning of the MMD campaigns for the 2011 general elections, any monetary or material donation that will henceforth be made by the government to any community through DMMU or PWAS is likely to be conceived of as an attempt to “buy” votes. The need for President Banda and Vice president Kunda to promptly create the suggested agency cannot, therefore, be overemphasized.
Donor countries and humanitarian organizations also need to be aware of the potential for selective distribution of donated relief supplies to chiefs and needy local communities by the ruling political party with the intention of gaining political leverage. They need to encourage the government to create a statutory and autonomous government agency that would distribute donated relief supplies without any political meddling or manipulation by government officials.
India’s Vice President Mohammad Ansari arrives in Zambia tomorrow, the 5th of January 2010 for a three day visit to Zambia.
The visit of India’s Vice President will be part of his three nations tour, which includes Malawi and Botswana, in the context of India’s commitment to maintain close and friendly relations with countries in Africa.
During his visit to Zambia, Mr. Ansari will call on President Rupiah Banda and also hold discussions with his Zambian counterpart, Vice President George Kunda on bilateral, international and issues of mutual interest.
This is according to a statement made available to ZANIS by High Commission of India in Lusaka today.
The Indian Vice President will also pay a courtesy call on Zambia’s First Republican President Dr. Kenneth Kaunda and meet the Minister of Foreign Affairs and other Cabinet Ministers.
Mr. Ansari will be accompanied by his wife Salma Ansari , who is scheduled to visit Mother Theresa’s Home in Lusaka and also expected to interact with members of Lusaka Indian Ladies Association (LILA).
He will also be accompanied by India’s Minister of State for Labour and Employment Harish Rawat, three Members of Parliament and other senior government officials, 15 member media delegation and a 16 member business delegation.
Zambia’s Vice President George Kunda will host an official dinner in honor Mr. Ansari tomorrow night at Intercontinental Hotel.
Meanwhile, Mr. Ansari, together with his delegation will visit Victoria Falls in Livingstone and is also interact with members of the Indian community in Zambia at a luncheon on January 7, which will be hosted by Indian High Commissioner to Zambia, Ashok Kumar.
Mr. Ansari’s visit would be the first high level visit to Zambia from India in 20 years from the last two visits undertaken by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1986 and President R. Venkataraman in 1989.
[ZANIS]
India's Vice President Mohammad Hamid AnsariInking of a pact to enhance funding of a hydropower project and ways to strengthen trade ties with the African countries will be the highlights of the week-long visit of Vice President Hamid Ansari to tri-nation tour of Zambia, Botswana and Malawi starting tomorrow.
Besides the bilateral issues, a joint programme of action on promoting trade relations with the African region, which is being finalised with the African Union Commission is also expected to figure predominantly in the talks between Ansari and his counterparts in these countries.
Briefing the reporters on the Vice President’s visit, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs Vivek Katju said “an agreement for a Line of Credit (LoC) of USD 50 million for the Itezhi Tezhi Hydropower Project in Zambia is expected to be signed in the capital Lusaka”.
LET’S SHARE IDEAS…Zambia Congress of Trade Unions secretary general Roy Mwaba (left) talks to his deputy Alfred Mudenda before a media briefing in Lusaka.
2.
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda (right) and Minister of Works and Supply ,Mike Mulongoti could not hide their joy during the commissioning of Chipata -Mfuwe road project in Chipata
3.
Information and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary Ngosa Chisupa is taken on a tour of Zambia News and Information Services offices by Director Gilbert Maimbo at mass media complex in Lusaka
4.
President Rupiah Banda ( in white shirt) tours Chipata Trades Training Institute (CTTI) after commissioning the first phase of the construction of infrastructure at the institute in Chipata
5.
Lusaka was gripped by panic when the National Airports Corporation (NAC) and the security wings carried out a routine mock air crash to assess its emergency evacuation preparedness. Above, NAC personnel attend to those purported to have been injured in the drill
6.
MMD National Chairman Michael Mabenga addresses journalists at the party secretariat in Lusaka
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MMD National Chairman Michael Mabenga (left) is flanked by party national organization secretary Isaac Muntanga at a press briefing in Lusaka
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President Rupiah Banda flagging off the works of the tarring of Chipata/Mfuwe road in Chipata
9.
Sable Construction Company earth moving machines lined up before President Rupiah Banda officially flagged off the works of the tarring of the Chipata/Mfuwe road in Chipata
10.
Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Ronnie Shikapwasha shakes hands wit Heritage Party leader Brigadier General Godfrey Miyanda at the the commemoration of the 18th anniversary of the declaration of Zambia as a Christian Nation at the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka recently.
11.
University of Zambia Deputy Vice Chancellor Wilson Mwenya (center) and Registrar Alvert Nga’ndu (left) listen to University of Zambia Students Union president Duncan Nyirongo at the launch of the online registration system in Lusaka
12.
Vice-President George Kunda accompanied by senior Government officials inspects the stalled Chipundu clinic project in Chitambo constituency.
13.
ZAMBIA Congress of Trade Unions secretary general Roy Mwaba addresses journalists while his deputy Alfred Mudenda listens during a media briefing in Lusaka
Nigeria have said the planned friendly match against Zambia this week will be an informal kick-about.
“The match will be an international friendly as such but just a training match between the two teams,” an insider from the Nigerian camp in Durban said, clearly planning for a light-contact encounter against Zambia to avoid injuries before the tournament.
The game is planned for either Wednesday or Thursday with Johannesburg the likely venue when Nigeria leave their Durban training camp en route to Angola.
Meanwhile, insiders say Zambia’s technical bench is also wary of injuries especially with the prospect of two friendly matches against South Korea on Saturday and the other looming against Nigeria.
The team has been injury-free since the full squad gathered in Johannesburg on Boxing Day.
Zambia departs for Angola on Sunday morning.
Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) Lusaka Province Chairman William Banda has warned the opposition to desist from unwarranted attacks and insults on President Rupiah Banda.
Mr. Banda said it is sad that despite the president not responding to their insults politicians from the opposition political parties have continued to insult the republican president.
He said president Banda and the party will not respond to the insults as the president is concentrating on implementing national programs that are aimed at improving the lives of the many Zambians including those in the opposition.
Mr. Banda made the remarks in Lusaka today when he addressed MMD party members in Chawama compound on the need to start reorganizing the party at the grass root level in readiness for the 2011 general elections.
He said there is need for party members at the grassroots to concentrate on building the party if the MMD is to win the general elections.
Meanwhile Mr. Banda has called on all MMD branches in Lusaka province to start organizing meetings aimed at looking at various challenges the party is facing at the grassroots in an effort to strengthening the party.
Mr. Banda also disclosed at the same gathering that he will this month unveil the official program for the province that will guide all party members on how to operate in their duties in the quest to bring coordination among party members.
He said this will also help reduce division among members within the party as every one will know exactly what is expected from them before the general elections.
And speaking at the same gathering Lusaka Province District Chairman, Paul Chihade instructed Chawama Constituency Executive Committee to rename one of the branches out of the 28 branches in Chawama compound which is named after Patriotic Front President Michael Sata.
Mr. Chihande noted that Mr. Sata is not a member of the MMD adding that there is no way a branch could be named after him.
“The branch was named after the PF leader when he was MMD National Secretary and now that he is not our member you have to rename the branch.” Mr. Chihade instructed.
The Dilapidated state of major roads in Kitwe and Ndola will be a thing of the past, starting this year.
This is after the Japanese government observed that the implementation of the Project for Improvement and Maintenance of Ndola and Kitwe City Roads will significantly contribute to the social and economic development of the country.
Japanese Ambassador to Zambia Hideto Mitamura made the pronouncements this afternoon when he paid a courtesy call on the provincial Minister Mr Mwansa Mbulakulima at the Provincial Administration Office.
Mr Mitamura explained that the improvement of the roads in the two towns will enhance the quality of life for the people of Zambia and strengthen the mutual trust and goodwill that exists between the people of Zambia and Japan.
And speaking earlier, Mr Mbulakulima said Copperbelt Province had embarked on a diversification programmed aimed at ensuring that mining did not remain as the only industry in the province.
He said the province had embarked on wooing more investors in the manufacturing, tourism and agriculture sectors and therefore needed a good road network.
He said investors could only be willing to invest in the country if basic facilities such as good road network, good and efficient communication systems, good security etc, were available and in good condition.
The Japanese and Zambian governments in August 2009 signed an agreement for the implementation of the grant aid project for the improvement and maintenance of Ndola and Kitwe City roads at a cost of $27million.
The project is expected to cover a stretch of 12.73 kilometers in Ndola and 11.63 kilometers in Kitwe.
Opposition United National Independence Party (UNIP) Acting Secretary General Jemima Banda has taken a swipe at his Patriotic Front (PF ) counterpart Winter Kabimba’s attacks on first President Kenneth Kaunda.
Mr Banda said in a statement received by ZANIS, today, that the first republican President Dr. Kaunda has the right to advise politicians to practice clean politics in the country.
The UNIP Acting Secretary General said Mr. Kabimba should not be excited on the matter as the former head of state’s statement was not meant to injure anyone.
“Dr. Kaunda statement was rather constructive advice to anybody who cares to listen,” Mr. Banda added.
Meanwhile, Mr. Banda challenged Mr. Kabimba to just explain how he acquired properties in Independence Avenue, one on Njoka Road and Taverns which he turned into business Centre.
“Lusaka residents would like to know who shared Council properties during his reign as Town Clerk,” he said.
Copperbelt Minister Mwansa Mbulakulima dances to music with Lt Sombe Mutengo (left) to officially open the dance floor at 3 infantry Brigade annual ball held on New Year's day in Ndola.
2.
Wife of Lusaka Mayor Robert Chikwelete, Matilda, presents a hamper to Laura Sishimbi and her New Year baby at Kanyama clinic in Lusaka
3.
Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Ronnie Shikapwasha, accompanied by his wife Jane, lays a wreath on the grave of his mother Estelle who was buried side by side with his niece Lonika Mwambo in Chibombo
4.
LUAPULA Province Permanent Secretary Jazzman Chikwakwa, Mansa General Hospital Medical Superintendent, Dr. Francis Bwalya and Assistant Secretary Peter Chilambwe presenting gifts to Chilufya Juliet a mother of a new year baby.
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LUAPULA Province Permanent Secretary Jazzman Chikwakwa and Mansa General Hospital Medical Superintendent, Dr. Francis Bwalya admires a new year baby born to Chilufya Juliet.
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President Rupiah Banda admires the engraved words in the placard after he unveiled it during the commissioning of Chipata Trades Training Institute in Chipata recently.
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Presidential Affairs Minister Ronald Mukuma lays a wreath on the grave of Estelle Shikapwasha, the late mother of Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Ronnie Shikapwasha in Chibombo
8.
The gathering listening to the message on the launch of Namafulo Boarder Post in Sinazongwe district at the boarder with Zimbabwe
9.
In the middle is Sinazongwe district Commissioner Oliver Pelete who is also putting on a hurt after launching the Namafulo Boarder Post Project
35 teenagers were nabbed in Kafue district by a combined team of state and council police for patronizing bars and taverns during the festive period.
Both Kafue Police Officer In-Charge John Milambo and Kafue District Council Secretary Albert Hamayanda confirmed the arrest of the teenagers to ZANIS today.
Mr. Hamayanda said the operation which covered Kafue town, Zambia Compound, Shikoswe and Estates would be extended to all parts of the district.
He said the council has since revoked licenses to bar owners for allowing under aged children to patronize bars despite numerous warnings by the council.
Mr. Hamayanda said some of the teenagers who were arrested were between the age of 14 years and 16 years and have since been handed over to the Victim Support Unit (VSU) for counseling.
Mr.Hamayanda said that the council has deployed its officers to ensure that bar owners open their premises from 10hrs to 22:30hrs.
He also appealed to the parents to strictly guard their children because they are the future leaders.
Meanwhile Kafue District Council Chairman George Muleya has donated various assorted gifts worth K1 million to the four New Years’ Eve babies.
Mr. Muleya stated that the council is proud to associate itself with the newly born babies because they are the future leaders.
He pledged to work with the District hospital to uplift the lives of the people in the District.
And receiving the donation Kafue District Hospital Superintendent Dr. Abby Makukula expressed gratitude for the good gesture.
He said the donation has come at a right time when the hospital is facing many challenges.
He asked other well wishers to emulate the council by lifting up the burden of mothers.
ZANIS
