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Patriotic Front President, Michael Sata, says his party will soon start holding provincial elections to choose delegates to the party’s general conference.
Mr. Sata says the PF will also hold ward and constituency elections countrywide to choose leaders for various party organs.
Mr. Sata also disclosed that Luapula province will be the first province to conduct provincial elections scheduled for next month.
He however did not disclose when the party will hold it’s general conference
And PF Spokesperson Given Lubinda has said that Kasama is a PF-UPND pact stronghold and they will certainly carry the day in the by election slated for October 15.
Mr Lubinda said in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today that the pact was very strong in Kasama and had majority following.
The Kasama Central seat fell vacant after the resignation of Savior Chishimba about two months ago.
Meanwhile Mr Lubinda has said that the PF-UPND pact will this Sunday select a candidate for next month’s Kasama Central by elections.
He expressed confidence that the candidate to be picked would lead the PF-UPND to victory.
Mr Lubinda also noted that the PF-UPND pact would ensure that no election malpractices take place in the Kasama Central by-elections.
He said to the effect, the PF-UPND pact would put as many of its anti-rigging officers to monitor the by-elections.
He said some of the PF-UPND anti rigging officers have since started training on how best to monitor next month’s elections adding that he was confident that the pact anti-rigging officers would do a commendable job.
Government has advised Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in the country to respect the new NGO law.
Chief Government spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha has said in an interview with ZANIS today that it is important for NGOs in the country to respect the law as it was passed by Parliament and assented by the President.
Recently, the NGO bill was passed by Parliament and Republican President Rupiah Banda assented to it making it law.
Lieutenant General Shikapwasha said that it was very unfortunate that NGOs want government to rescind its position on the already assented law by the President.
He said government does not want NGOs in the country to be operating in a hap harzardly manner.
Lieutenant General Shikapwasha who is also Information and Broadcasting Minister said the NGO law would also be of help in enhancing NGOs cooperation with the government.
He said the NGO law will help make NGOs accountable for funds that are put in their care for the poor in society.
President Rupiah Banda has directed the Ministry of Education to come up with legislation that will enforce adherence to required standards of the education sector.
President Banda also urged Zambians home and abroad to consider investing in the country using their gained professional skills if Zambia is to become a middle income nation by the year 2030.
President Banda issued the directive in Lusaka when he officiated at the first ever graduation ceremony of 201 students at the Zambia Open University (ZOU).
President Banda says such legislation framework enforced by the MoE should strive to see higher learning institutions become excellent.
Mr Banda says the piece of legislation would provide a platform for Zambians to be proud of as they excel in education.
During the same function, President Banda installed Professor Francis Yamba as the First Chancellor for the ZOU.
ZOU becomes the First private and indigenous university in the country. It has a total enrollment of 5064 students.
Mr Banda congratulated Prof. Yamba on his immense contribution towards uplifting the education standards in the country.
He said government welcomes initiatives coming from people adding that government stands ready to come in when citizens have shown willingness to contribute to their country.
Mr Banda expressed optimism that Zambian universities and colleges would now be able to produce large numbers of grandaunts provided the education policy directions are instituted by university and college authorities.
And speaking earlier, ZOU Vice Chancellor Professor Dickson Mwansa said the institution is faced with financial problems such as students failing to pay their education fees in full among other problems.
Prof. Mwansa further said the infrastructure was a problem as the institution is renting a building.
He appealed to government to assist scout for land for the construction of a new university.
First republican president Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, Senior Chief Mumena and Lusaka Province Minister Charles Shawa were some the people who witnessed the 2009 ZOU 1st graduation ceremony.
Government says the media has scored success in their operations although a lot still needs to be done for the industry to operate effectively.
Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Lt Gen Ronnie Shikapwasha said the media has done a lot in promoting democracy in the country.
Gen Shikapwasha said it is because of the media’s determination and contribution in reporting objectively on various issues that the nation has continued to enjoy peace.
Gen Shikapwasha who is also chief government spokesperson told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that the media has performed well in the past adding that it should continue working hard to achieve its intended goals.
He said the media industry in the country has been a beacon to other countries worldwide in the way it has performed its duties.
He said the nation has recorded over 40 radio stations and a number of private owned TV stations from 1996 to date a symbol he described as an achievement on both the part of media and government.
Yesterday Change Life Zambia Executive Director Fr Frank Bwalya said the media has failed to champion real issues that border on national development
He said there has been a lack of commitment and performance on the side of the media adding that their impact has been low and very minimal.
Fr Bwalya said this during a media consultative meeting organized by the Norwegian Church Aid in Lusaka.
He charged that the media needs a radical transformation to acquire a stature that would exert pressure and influence to produce desired results in the development of the nation.
However Fr Bwalya was quick to point out that the media has had some success but much remains to be done.
Fr Bwalya has since urged the media to reform in order to score meaningful development.
Patriotic Front Spokesperson Given Lubinda has said that Kasama is a PF-UPND pact stronghold and they will certainly carry the day in the by election slated for October 15.
Mr Lubinda said in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today that the pact was very strong in Kasama and had the majority of followers.
The Kasama Central seat fell vacant after the resignation of Savior Chishimba about two months ago.
Meanwhile Mr Lubinda has said the PF-UPND pact will this Sunday select a candidate for next month’s Kasama Central by elections.
He expressed confidence that the candidate to be picked would lead the PF-UPND to victory.
Mr Lubinda also noted that the PF-UPND pact would ensure that no election malpractices take place in the by-elections.
He said to this effect, the PF-UPND pact would put as many of its anti-rigging officers to monitor the by-elections.
He said some of the PF-UPND anti rigging officers have since started training on how best to monitor next month’s elections adding that he was confident they would do a commendable job.
Fighton Simukonda named a modest squad to face Kano Pillars on Sunday in the two sides penultimate Caf African Champions League Group A match.
Simukonda’s team begins life without key attacking midfielder Jonas Sakuwaha who has scored three Champions League goals for Zesco but has since moved on to French Ligue 1 club Lorient.
In Sakuwaha’s place, Simukonda has recalled ex-Zambia Under-23 utility player George Phiri who has been out of the reckoning at Zesco for the last two seasons.
Douglas Msiska keeps his place in the absence of injured left-back William Chinyama while Chalwe Kabamba will take the place of Nyambe Mulenga who is out for the rest of the season due to a knee injury.
Defender Hihani Himoonde returns to the team from 2010 World Cup/Africa Cup qualifyuing duty with Zambia in
Meanwhile, Zesco left for Nigeria in the early hours of Thursday morning at 01:00.
Zesco and Pillars drew 1-1 in the first leg played at Konkola Stadium in Chililabombwe on July 18.
Pillars and Zesco lie in second and third place In Group A on seven and five points respectively.
Sudanese club Al Hilal top Group on seven points, level with Pillars who they beat to top spot in Group A on goal difference.
Goalkeepers: Jacob Banda, Chansa Kabwe.
Defenders: Kunda Mushota, Douglas Msiska, Chalwe Kabamba, Hichani Himoonde, George Phiri, Leonard Silungwe
FORMER first lady Maureen Mwanawasa has complained against Radio Phoenix for airing an interview in which she launched a scathing attack on the Times of Zambia.
Mrs Mwanawasa on Tuesday morning called the radio station to refute a story in the Times of Zambia in which she revealed her ambitions to stand for the presidency in 2016 after President Rupiah Banda had completed his second term.
However, before the telephone interview, which was recorded live, was even aired, she had a change of mind and phoned the station in an apparent attempt to block the broadcast.
Mrs Mwanawasa was allegedly angry that her attack on the Times of Zambia was aired live and when she attempted and failed to speak with the reporter who conducted the interview, she accused the radio station of playing with people’s emotions.
Radio Phoenix news editor Julius Sakala who confirmed the development to the Times of Zambia said Mrs Mwanawasa again called the radio station yesterday morning and demanded to speak with the reporter who handled her interview but failed.[quote]
He said when the station was asked to withdraw the interview, it was decided that the broadcast proceeds because she voluntarily phoned the station to give the story.
Mr Sakala said he was disappointed that Mrs Mwanawasa whose general standing in society was considered high could start harassing journalists and give an impression they were out to get her when in fact not.
In her Times of Zambia interview, she stated that she would support the candidature of Mr Banda in the 2011 polls because she respected MMD party etiquette and the rule of collective responsibility.
The former first lady however vehemently denied she ever made a statement about her willingness to join main-stream politics while in contradiction she stated she had a passion to lead Zambia.
Times of Zambia has however maintained that Mrs Mwanawasa did utter the words, which were published.
Watching the chipolopolo boys loose to Algeria on Sunday prompted me to voice my opinions about just what could be the bigger problem for not only the chipolopolo boys but Zambians at large. Please understand that I have come to these conclusions only after looking at a variety of areas and issues that concern Zambians at large. First let me stress the fact that these are my personal opinion and are in no way meant to look down on anyone, but that we can look inside us and bring out the best that there is in.
Let me start with Soccer for many years now Zambia has been a household name in African Soccer, and yet we’ve never won the Africa Cup nor have we qualified for the world cup. We have always relied on other teams to bail out. But watching Zambia play on Sunday made me release just why as Zambians we’ve never been able to break that grass ceiling. Take for example, Kenyans, Somalian, Nigerians, Ghanaians, these have all been successful in different areas be it running or soccer. Then I thought about Zambia could it be lack of talent not at all.
We have so much talent. I then figured out that it has much to do with our up bringing and background. Our culture has much to do with why we can’t excel in many competitive areas. First the Algerians were just more superior than Zambia was, second, the Zambian players relied so much on the referee to bail them out, and one would think that we learned a lesson from Dilamba in the Morocco game. Back to my point the kind of superiority exhibited by the Algerians was so obvious that Algeria was the better candidate to qualify to the 2010 FIFA world cup. I would rather see us been embarrassed by Algeria in the qualifying game that to have Spain or Brazil humiliate us on cable network.
Defeated... National soccer team players on their arrival from Algeria at Lusaka international airport
Just what is the Problem?
First of all Zambia lacked the physical fitness necessary to compete at that level. The physical condition was not there at all. Second individual players just lacked the positive attitude necessary to perform, and I believe this is the problem facing most Zambian, not just football players but majority of Zambians who grow up getting handouts from their parents or uncles and whoever the guardian maybe. I believe that the difference between those who are successful and the ones that are not is the attitude.
Majority of Zambians lack that positive attitude to want to excel rather we settle for names that do not warranty anything. We need to start believing in our individual efforts and abilities to propel others to succeed. Learn to take advantage of individual opportunities that come our way. Ever wondered why Zambian players fail to break into major leagues such as the Italian, Spanish or premier leagues, its this one simple reason.
Those teams look for players that will exhibit uniqueness in their abilities and show a high soccer IQ. Zambian did not exhibit that on Sunday and so the reasons for that lose. Algerian players showed individual brilliance that they taunted the Zambian players with the style of play. The fact is our players didn’t not show up at all costing us the game, not that Algeria was a hard nut to crack; we just didn’t have the tools to do the job.
Our players should stop being cry babies and focus on doing the job right. I feel saddened that this is a problem that majority of Zambians suffer from we have been used to being casual in our approach to issues even when we stand to individually profit from the efforts. This problem unfortunately extends across the board be it in our careers, politics, and our personal lives, we always look for somebody else to take a lead. Take for example graduates from our local universities the cry is they can’t fins jobs.
Why not become innovative and become an employer. Michael Dell started his computer company in a college dormitory. Firefox one of the most popular internet browsers was started by two students one from Stanford University and a friend from Australia who are now billionaires. Face book was started by a group of friends who after a part wanted a way to share their pictures with family and friends and so the popular face book was born, the list goes on.
In conclusion I want to leave any Zambian teenager out there with this challenge that you can only become who you make yourself to be. Life is about taking risks and having a positive attitude to propel you to high heights. If settling for the minimum is your goal, then your life has been a success. Waiting for somebody else to lead the way is one step too late. God has blessed our country with so much talent which we have not utilized to the full potential. I pray that somebody out there will hear my message and help put mother Zambia on the world stage for the first. Awaken oh Mother Zambian.
An 18 year old man of Chief Mumena in Solwezi District in North Western Province died on the spot at Lumwana mine after an excavator cut him into two parts.
The incident happened last night around 22:25 hours, when the excavator was loading soil material on a dump truck.
North Western Police Commanding Officer Fabian Katiba confirmed the accident and identified the deceased as Ceaser Coatzee whose father is from South Africa and the mother is Zambian.
Mr. Katiba said the deceased was employed by WBHO Company as a casual worker and was loading the soil material at an area where his company is constructing a dam.
The Police Chief said after the deceased was cut into two parts by the excavator the upper part of the body was loaded into the dump truck together with the soil material leaving the lower part laying on the ground without the notice of the operator.
Mr. Katiba said the operator later saw the lower body part on the ground and alerted others who conducted a search for the upper body part.
He said the workers together with the help of the police had to offload the soil material from the truck where they found the upper part of the body in the soil.
This is the first accident that has been recorded at Lumwana mine since it started its operations.
Mr Katiba said the Police have since launched investigations into the matter to establish the cause of the accident.
President Rupiah Banda today lead thousands of mourners from all parts of the country in North Western Province for the burial of late Minister of Local Government and Housing Benny Tetamashimba at their family grave yard at Mutanda in Solwezi district.
Addressing the mourners, President Banda who was gripped with grief and sorrow said as Minister of Local Government and Housing, the late Tetamashimba went round the country to ensure that the local government was organized to meet the challenges of delivering good services to the people.
Mr. Banda described the late Tetamashimba as a fearless warrior who did not hesitate to take on many political challenges.
He said Mr. Tetamashimba was reliable honest person who was quick to admit where he was wrong and firm where he believed he was right.
The President said he admired late Tetamashimba for his courage to speak out on many issues without fear or favor and championed the cause of the entire province and the nation as a whole.
He said Mr. Tetamashimba was a man whom many people had difficulties in understanding as many people considered him as controversial while others found him difficult to predict.
Mr. Banda told the mourners that the late Tetamashimba approached him to stand as Republican President after the death of the third Republican President Levy Mwanawasa and did so with conviction and commitment to the campaign that followed and MMD emerged victorious.[quote]
The President told the people of Solwezi Central that they had lost a great champion of their interest and concerns and urged them to carry on with the programs their leaders had started.
And speaking at the same burial site, family spokesperson Nathan Mulonga paid tribute to government for giving the late minister a befitting burial and taking care of him during his sickness.
Mr. Mulonga said as a family they have lost a gallant leader of the family and nation adding that Tetamashimba was honest, unique, sincere who unified them.
Meanwhile, there was drama at the burial site when an insane person from Copperbelt dashed inside and sat in front of United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema and demanded some money.
Security officers has a tough time removing him as he held to a pole of the tent and he was only removed after Copperbelt Permanent Secretary Villey Lombanya talked to him and give him a K30, 000.
The funeral was also attended by second Republican President Fredrick Chiluba and his wife Regina, UPND President Hakainde Hichilema, Government Ministers and several senior Government officials.
The Common Market for Eastern and Southern (COMESA ) has convened in Lusaka for the 7th Administrative meeting of the COMESA Court of Justice.
The COMESA Administrative meeting convenes regularly to address the challenges the court is facing over the years since its establishment.
COMESA Court of Justice President Nzamba Kitonga says the meeting will enable the COMESA court of Justice to formulate polices to guide the court registry on how challenges can be mitigated and strengthened.
Mr. Kitonga was speaking at the official opening of the Seventh Administrative meeting of the COMESA Court of Justice at COMESA Secretariat in Lusaka today.
Mr. Kitongo stressed that Court has not been conducting sessions to dispose off pending cases on time due to financial constrains the region is faced with.
He further said the major challenge the Court has is the non implementation of approved activities in the annual work programme due to lack of funding.
He disclosed that the Court detected about 40 cases including preliminary applications still pending trial.
Mr. Kitongo also noted that since the establishment of the Court 10 years ago, the court has no physical infrastructure adding that the location of the seating of the Court has remained on the table.
He said expressed concern on the Courts’ continued lack of fixed premises adding the development has negatively impacted on the operations of the Court.
The COMESA Court of Justice President said the Court has since embarked on a set of reform programmes embodied in its strategic plan.
He said this is aimed at strengthening its judicial system so that the court can be able to operate efficiently and prepare for the challenges that lie ahead.
He explained that the meeting would have an opportunity to consider the 2010 Court budget along side the framework programme.
The 3-Day COMESA 7th Administrative Meeting of the Court of Justice, which started today, ends on September 12, 2009.
A typical police Station in Lusaka with some vehicles parked for security reasons
The Zambia Police Service (ZP) has appealed to people who still have their vehicles parked at Police stations around the country to remove the vehicles from the premises.
Police spokesperson Bonny Kapeso told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that since the inception of the programme the response from the general public has not been impressive.
Mr. Kapeso said the police have now embarked on a programme to locate car owners who have not made efforts to collect their vehicles.
He said police will not charge any money to car owners when they appear to claim their vehicles at police stations.
Mr. Kapeso said the removal of the cars involved in road traffic accidents and those just parked at the stations will help bring sanity in police stations around the country.
He said many police stations in the country do not look clean because of the cars that are ever packed in the premises.
A few moths ago, the Zambia Police Service called on members of the general public whose cars were parked at police stations around the country to find alternative places where they can park their vehicles .
Police in Namwala District have arrested a civic leader and charged him for theft by agent contrary to CAP 87 Section 276 and 272 of the laws of Zambia.
Namwala District Commissioner Wilson Siaduka confirmed the arrest of councilor Daniel Moono of Moobola ward in Chief Muchila’s area to ZANIS today.
Mr Siaduka said the Civic leader is alleged to have collected about K1.5million last year from Villagers in his area after convincing them he was arranging for the drilling of a borehole in the area.
The District Commissioner explained that after he failed to bring a drilling rig to the area the suspect bolted and went into hiding since last year.
Mr. Siaduka further said the suspect was apprehended by a vigilant neighborhood watch group who later handed him over to the police on Monday.
Mr Siaduka said the suspect who is in police custody would appear in court soon.
Lusaka City Council Public Relations Officer Henry Kapata has said the program of painting the shops in one colour is still on going.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today, Mr. Kapata said the Council was still negotiating with the Business Community on the colour that would be acceptable to both the public and the shop owners.
He said coming up with one colour has been difficult because some Business Communities have been suggesting colours that the others do not want.
Mr. Kapata said the program was likely to be delayed if shop owners failed to agree on the colour.
Mr. Kapata said the public should not be worried as the program would be implemented as soon as negotiations were over.
