PATRIOTIC Front (PF) president Michael Sata has been summoned to appear before the Bemba Royal Council to exculpate himself of derogatory remarks attributed to him in the media against Paramount Chief Chitimukulu.

The council that convened last Friday resolved that Mr Sata should appear before it on December 29.
The council has also summoned Chief Chimbuka.

The chief’s advisors, popularly known as Ba Shilubemba, observed with dismay the alleged continuous attacks on the Chitimukulu by the PF leader.

The chief’s spokesperson Bwalya Chiti confirmed that Mr Sata has been summoned by the council.
And referring to an article in a daily tabloid during their meeting, the Ba Shilubemba were concerned about utterances attributed to Chief Chimbuka towards the Chitimukulu.

They said the utterances were demeaning and damaging to the Bemba Royal Establishment.
Meanwhile, the Chitimukulu says he supports the decision of the council to summon Mr Sata to iron out perceived differences amicably.
[ZNBC]

One of Zambia’s most famous singers has revealed how she was badly beaten by her husband. She now hopes to lift the lid on the country’s ingrained acceptance of domestic violence.

“My husband will kill me,” giggles Saboi Imboela nervously. “But, yes, he once beat me up so badly I reported him to the police.”

The 32-year old is one of Zambia’s top vocalists. Her husband is a popular actor, Owas Ray Mwape. This is the first time she has spoken publicly about the beating she received at his hands, and she wriggles uncomfortably at the memory.

The majority of women enjoy a beating, because they are made to believe it is part of our tradition

“It was the police who begged me not to take it further,” she recalls, revealing some of the engrained attitudes she is now taking on.

“They told me: ‘We know how you women are. We’ll lock him up and in a minute or two, you’ll change your mind and want him released.'”

Her doctor also dissuaded her from reporting the assault, as did some of her friends.

Campaigners believe more than half of Zambian women have suffered domestic abuse but cases rarely come to light because of the stigma attached to speaking out.

Young women are taught by their elders to accept punishment from their husbands when they are disobedient. Even cooking a bad meal warrants a smack.

Many women fear divorce would leave them in penury.”That’s how you grow up in Africa,” explains Mr Mwape.

“To be a man, you need to discipline a woman, give her a slap or two. You know, in our culture, it’s OK because that’s how we feel we love our women.”

It is a message driven home at boys’ initiation ceremonies – chastisement is a sign of affection and a woman never achieves the status of an adult. Like a child she needs to be “trained” to behave well.

In some parts of the country tradition allows a man to beat his wife if he survives a crocodile attack.

In others, a wife’s infidelity is revealed when her newborn baby coughs. She must take the consequences.

“Tradition is used as a cover for domestic violence,” complains Johnson Tembo.

As chairman of the Men’s Network, he tries to persuade his peers to alter their behaviour.

But he believes women’s attitudes need to change too.

“Some women are foolish enough to think that if they are not beaten by their husbands, they’re not loved,” he says.

ZANIS

THREE major economic stakeholders have expressed satisfaction at the manner the Zambian economy has fared this year and predicted that the country would record more positive economic performance in 2010.

The Zambia Chamber of Commercie and Industry (ZACCI), the Economics Association of Zambia (EAZ) and the Zambia Chamber of Small and Medium Business Association (ZCSMBA) were optimistic the Zambian economy will attain the projected gross domestic product (GDP) of more than six per cent.

ZACCI vice-president North Eddie Kapungulya said yesterday his organisation was happy that as a nation, Zambia had managed to weather last year’s devastating effects of the global economic downturn.

Mr Kapungulya said the macro-economic key performance indicators showed that exchange rates had been stable so far. He said inflation was going down and the GDP may attain the projected revised rate of more than six per cent.

He said the price of copper and other base metals were going up and that the price of fuel had been stable generally. Such incentives may stimulate the economic activities next year.

“We are happy that as a nation, we weathered through the devastating effects of last year’s global economic downturn,” he said.

He said if maintained and the inflation reduced to a single digit, it would set a stage for next year’s improved economic activities.

Mr Kapungulya advised the private sector in the country to look forward to improved economic activities and diversify to enter into export markets.
Indigenous Zambians should venture into mining and attract direct foreign investment (DFI).

He also said the private sector should partner with small Zambian companies to ably compete with foreign companies.

Mr Kapungulya said Zambians should also take advantage of the value-addition to raw materials such as copper for it to be exported as a finished product instead of exporting products in a raw form.

He said value-addition in agro process should also be considered so that they could export mealie meal instead of maize or cooking oil instead of groundnuts.

Mr Kapungulya said there was need for banks to lower the lending rates so that capital could cheaply be available and that the medium for long financing should be made readily available. The Bank of Zambia (BOZ) should ensure that the gains made in terms of macro-economic fundamental were sustained.

The EAZ said Zambia would record more positive economic performance by the end of 2009 than earlier anticipated and paid tribute to Government for mitigating the effects of the global economic crisis.

Association president Mwilola Imakando said in an interview yesterday that the national economy was showing resilience and would perform better than earlier anticipated.

Dr Imakando said the country would register a higher GDP growth rate than anticipated while there were signs that the inflation rate would continue coming down.

“It looks like the economy will end stronger than was anticipated. From our point of view we are headed for a better economy than was anticipated,” he said.

He attributed the splendid economic performance to Government’s adherence to sound policies, which helped to reduce the impact of the global economic crisis on the local economy.

“All the achievements were recorded amid the effects of the global credit crunch,” Dr Imakando said.

He said other contributing factors to the bright economic outlook were the impressive performance by the mines, which at one time recorded a slump, and the construction industry where massive resources had been invested.

Dr Imakando was happy that the tourism sector had also started posting growth and would greatly contribute to the national aggregate growth.

ZCSMBA executive secretary Maxwell Sichula described 2009 as having been a year of challenges but noted that all the economic institutions remained strong despite the negative effects.

Mr Sichula said it was impressive to note that no Zambian financial institution was closed down as a result of the effects of global economic crunch while key industries continued operating.

He said the small and medium scale entrepreneurs who were the most affected by the effects had weathered the storm mainly due to the quick recovery recorded as a result of the measures the Government had put in place.

[Times of Zambia]

The Zambia Centre for Inter-Party Dialogue (ZCID) has advised politicians in the country to stop using unpalatable language against Republican President Rupiah Banda.

ZCID spokesperson Langtone Sichone says it is unfortunate that some politicians in the country were using bad language against the Head of State.

Mr. Sichone told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that this disrespectful and must be discouraged by all well meaning citizens.

He said there was need for politicians to understand that Mr. Banda is the Head of State who deserves to be spoken to in respectable manner.

The ZCID spokesperson wondered how politicians using unpalatable language against President Banda would feel if people used the same language against them when they were in President Banda’s position.

Mr. Sichone said the use of bad language to express displeasure is not the solution to the many challenges the country was facing.

He added that politicians should instead offer lasting solutions to some of the problems being experienced in the country.

He said ZCID has for long time now been advising politicians against the use of unpalatable language against the Head of State.

Mr. Sichone said it was unfortunate that despite ZCID’s advice to politicians against the use of bad language against the Head of State, some politicians have continued with the trend.

Meanwhile, Mr. Sichone has also expressed disappointment at tribal politics being practised by some politicians in the country.

Mr. Sichone expressed worry that if continued, tribal politics have the potential to divide the people and the nation.

ZANIS

President Rupiah Banda has warned his ministers of severe consequences if they engage themselves in vices likely to cause anarchy in the country through tribalism.

President Banda said that tribal remarks are the worst thing ministers can engage themselves in. He urged ministers who are also politicians to exhibit good conduct  when in public domain.

“Ministers who as also politicians should look after themselves and desist from engaging themselves in multi–racial, multi-lingo, multi-religious because these vices are the worst thing politicians can do or else they will face the consequences,” President Banda said.

The President Banda said this on his arrival at City Airport from Kalabo District in Western province where he had gone on a 3-day working visit.

The ZAF plane MA-60 carrying the President touched down at the Lusaka City Airport at 16-30 hours Zambian time.

But Science, Technology and Vocational Training Minister Gabriel Namulambe has warned that he will not be intimidated by anyone because he is neither a coward nor a lightweight in politics.

Mr. Namulambe, who is also Mpongwe Member of Parliament, is quoted in the media as having said the Lamba people in Lufwanyama district in Central province feel that the late president Levy Mwanawasa’s legacy was allegedly not keenly followed by government.

President Banda was accompanied to Kalabo by Finance and national Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane, Tourism, Environment and natural Resources Minister Catherine Namugala, Works and Supply Minister Mike Mulongoti, State House Chief of Protocol Bob Samakayi and other senior government officials.

Defense Minister and Acting Vice President Dr. Kalombo Mwansa, cabinet ministers and their deputies, former Zambian Ambassador to Mozambique George Chulumanda, former Home Affairs Deputy Minister Grace Njapawu, Secretary to the Cabinet Joshua Kanganja, Defense chiefs, senior government officials, newly appointed MMD Lusaka Province Chairman William Banda, senior MMD NEC party officials and patriotic Zambians were on hand to receive the Head of State.

ZANIS