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Zambia Must Stop Paying Glencore the $1.5 billion after firm pleads guilty to corruption-Mwamba

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Former Ambassador to Ethiopia, Emmanuel Mwamba has called on the Zambian authorities to cancel the Agreement ZCCM-IH immediately has with GLENCORE PLC.

In a demand letter written to the Minister of Mines, Hon. Paul Chanda Kabuswe and copied to the Attorney General, Mr. Mwamba who is also a presidential aspirant, said following recent developments where GLENCORE has been found guilty in the USA, Britain and Brazil, the Zambian Government had a legitimate and legal right to cancel or void the sale contract it had with GLENCORE.

Mr Mwamba said the Supreme Court in Zambia in May 2020, found GLENCORE guilty of tax evasion and fined it $13million. He said with these malpractices, the Zambian authorities must have sanctioned GLENCORE heavily and forced it to exit from MOPANI Copper Mines.

Mr Mwamba said as global authorities closed in on GLENCORE, it began to exit from its global operations but forced Agreements that retained the lucrative marketing rights and that GLENCORE acted with deceitfulness and the contract must therefore be deemed null and void.

Mr Mwamba said Zambia must stop paying the $1.5billion and must repossess its marketing rights that were unfairly given to GLENCORE.

He said as the USA authorities have done, Zambia must fine GLENCORE with heavy penalties for its criminal conduct while it operated in Zambia.

This week Glencore finally faced up to allegations that it embarked on foreign bribery and market manipulation schemes on a grand scale. According to reports from the US, Glencore International AG (Glencore) and Glencore Ltd, both part of a multinational commodity trading and mining firm headquartered in Switzerland, each pleaded guilty and agreed to pay over $1.1-billion to resolve the government’s investigations into violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and a commodity price manipulation scheme.

According to the BBC, the UK’s Serious Fraud Office said it had exposed “profit-driven bribery and corruption” across Glencore Energy UK’s oil operations in five African nations, adding that the firm will find how much it must pay in fines at a sentencing in June, although the firm previously set aside $1.5bn to cover the investigations it faced in the UK, US and Brazil.

Glencore’s chairman said “unacceptable practices” had taken place in relation to the bribery charges it pleaded guilty to at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

In the deal, ZCCM-IH will pay GLENCORE $1.5billion and the firm holds absolute and exclusive marketing rights to sale MOPANI Copper Mines production.

Below is the  full letter;

The Minister of Mines
Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development
New Government Complex Building, Nasser Road
12th & 14th Floor
P.O Box 31969
Kamwala
LUSAKA

Dear Sir,

ZCCM-IH, GLENCORE $1.5BILLION DEAL IS A VOID CONTRACT

In a special report on Zambia in the publication “War on Want”; ‘Extracting Minerals, Extracting Wealth, How Zambia Loses $3billion a Year” details were published on how Zambia loses revenue in billions of dollars from just three firms that were listed on the London Stock Exchange; GLENCORE, VEDANTA and Associated British Foods.

It was calculated that the amount of taxes avoided by the three companies alone in Zambia was around $3 billion a year.
Looking at the three companies, the report established that they engaged in extensive tax-avoidance schemes including the use of complex corporate structures and mispricing, transfer pricing and illegal tax evasion.

The companies also illegitimately benefited from unwarranted tax incentives where the Zambian Treasury loses over $1billion a year because of tax incentives agreed to by the government. These assertions have also been established as true by various reports of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).

Further, In May 2020, the Supreme Court of Zambia found GLENCORE guilty of engaging in business and tax malpractices. It fined Mopani Copper Mines $13 million! This was a case in which the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) had been battling with Mopani Copper Mines and its Swiss parent company Glencore since 2009.

The background was that the ZRA conducted an Audit of Mopani Copper Mines for the period 2006 – 2009, which revealed that the transactions between the company and its Swiss parent multinational, Glencore International AG (GIAG) violated the Arm’s Length Standards (ALS). An arm’s length transaction refers to a business deal or transaction in which a buyer and seller act independently without one party influencing the other. Therefore the latest revelation that Glencore Plc has been found guilty of bribery and market manipulation by USA, British and Brazilian authorities gives Zambia both a legitimate and legal right to void the $1.5 billion debt contract it signed with GLENCORE.

Authorities in the United States, Britain and Brazil announced that three of GLENCORE’s subsidiaries had pleaded guilty to crimes. GLENCORE has agreed to pay $1.5 billion in the United States and Brazil, with Glencore representatives also appearing in courts in the United States and Britain.

SELL OF MOPANI NOT ISOLATED

It should be noted that as global Authorities closed in on GLENCORE’s crimes and illegalities, it engaged in an abrupt exit from those markets. So the exit from Zambia was not a normal business transaction but a pre-emptive action to walk away with billions of dollars before their guilty and criminality were established.

This move was not unique as GLENCORE did the same in their other global operations. Glencore sold 20.5% stake in the South African chrome unit to Merafe Resources. GLENCORE also sold two zinc mines in Namibia and Burkina Faso for $400m to Trevali Mining Corporation, a Canadian listed company with ambitions to become a mid-tier zinc producer. The mines in question were Glencore’s 80% interest in Rosh Pinah, a zinc mine in Namibia, and its 90% stake in the Perkoa mine located in west Africa’s in Burkina Faso. Glencore has recently agreed to sell CSA copper mine in New South Wales, Australia, to Metals Acquisition (MAC).

VOID THE CONTRACT

A void contract is a formal agreement that is effectively illegitimate and unenforceable from the moment it is created. GLENCORE engaged in negotiations and final Agreement to dispose off its interest in MOPANI Copper Mines when it knew very well that it acted in a deceitful manner. Authorities at the time must have sanctioned GLENCORE for the malpractices listed above and forced it to surrender the MOPANI Copper Mine Assets. Therefore the Zambian government must declare the contract sale illegal and cancel the absolute marketing rights of Mopani’s copper that were granted to GLENCORE.

The Zambian Government must also stop paying any money to GLENCORE towards the sale price if $1.5billion. ZCCM-IH had agreed to take over Glencore’s majority stake in Mopani Copper Mines in a $1.5 billion deal funded by debt. GLENCORE’s subsidiary, Carlisa Investments Corp. (“Carlisa”), in which Glencore held 81.2% of the shares, had signed an agreement with ZCCM Investments Holding plc (“ZCCM”) to transfer its 90% interest in Mopani Copper Mines plc (“Mopani”) to ZCCM-IH, the owner of the remaining 10% interest in Mopani, for US$1, the Transaction Debt of $1.5billion and surrender of marketing rights of copper until the debt is liquidated.

We hold that the conduct of GLENCORE whilst invested in Zambia was criminal as shown above and authorities in Zambia must have revoked it’s mining licence and forced it to shut operations and punish it with heavy fines for these flagrant actions to disregard the law and for engaging in extensive tax avoidance schemes that have deprived Zambia resources required for it’s national development.

Emmanuel Mwamba
[email protected]
CC; THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

Parent ask for a boarding school for disabled children

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A 53 year old widow of Kashiwila area in Mufumbwe district has appealed to government to build a boarding school for children with special needs.

Idah Mutepuka, mother to 18 year old Geoffrey Kikunyi has lost hope to educate her son who is dumb and deaf as there is no special school within the area.

Ms Mutepuka told ZANIS that she cannot manage to take her son to a special place because the nearest is located about 8 kilometers from where they stay.

She expressed happiness that the government has set up special schools in selected areas but called for the construction of boarding schools which will allow parents who stay in hard to reach areas to take their children and still continue to do agriculture activities without worrying about the disabled children.

“Ok, I may want my son to start learning from this school, but daily movements from Kashiwila (8 Kilometers from the school), we cannot manage. I would wish that maybe the government could bring a boarding school for children like mine so that I could bring him and only be visiting once in a while,” she appealed.

She said that if a boarding school is provided, she may not even have to worry about Geoffrey’s feeding and basic needs as he will have to be enrolled.

Kyamwina primary school Special Education Teacher Edson Katoka appreciated Ms Mutepuka for her willingness to have Geoffrey enrolled at a school.

Mr Katoka noted that parents with such hearts are very few and should always be encouraged.

“A lot of parents with such children prefer keeping them home than exposing them to the world,” he said.

VEEP calls for global collaboration in disaster battle

Vice President Mutale Nalumango has informed the United Nations for Disaster Risk Reduction(UNDRR) that Africa and Zambia in particular is not immune to disasters, hence the need for all nations to collaborate in fighting world tragedies.

Ms Nalumango said Zambia experiences natural disasters such as floods and human to human conflicts, but that the country tries hard to reduce the effects of such occurrences.

Ms Nalumango was speaking during a bilateral meeting with UN Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction Mami Mizotori on the sidelines of the GP2022 global forum in Bali, Indonesia today.

Ms Nalumango further lamented that the country is also facing the threat of food insecurity due to high prices of fertilizer on the market, another battle the government of Zambia she said is trying to normalize.

She lauded the United Nations (UN) for the support it has continued to render towards the fight against the COVID-19-pandemic not only in Zambia but the world at large.

“As Zambia we get involved where any particular disaster occurs whether at home or abroad,” she stated.

And Ms Mizotori assured the Vice President that UNDRR will work and support UN member states including Zambia in issues of disasters

The UNDRR is the focal point for disaster risk reduction within the UN system.

It oversees the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 and convenes and organises the Global Platforms for Disaster Risk Reduction.

During the opening of the forum yesterday, UN Deputy Secretary General, Amina Mohammed, said UN member states have a unique opportunity to consider the best policy options to move from risk to resilience, and to take important steps to ensure the recovery from Covid-19.

Stakeholders happy with plans to abolish the death penalty

Stakeholders have welcomed the idea by government to actualize the abolishment of the death penalty by law in Zambia.

This is rising from President Hakainde Hichilema’s speech on the eve of Africa Freedom Day national address where he stated that government will work with parliament to run through the process to transition away from the death penalty and focus on the preservation and rehabilitation of life and delivering justice for all.

Human Rights Commission Chairperson, Mudford Mwandenga said that the resolution is a landmark step towards enhancing the promotion and protection of the right to life.

Mr. Mwandenga explained that the death penalty constitutes the ultimate and irreversible gross violation of human rights which should never be practised anywhere in the world, especially in the 21st century.

Contained in a statement to media, Mr. Mwandenga noted that by abolishing the death penalty both in practice and law, Zambia will join the increasing global movement in which, a total of 108 countries have abolished the death penalty for all crimes.

He therefore noted that the current administration is within the range of the universally accepted best practices on abolishing the death penalty.

“The gesture by the President is an affirmation of Zambia’s transition from retributive to restorative justice and a demonstration of the reason behind the constitutional change in the name of the institution that is mandated to manage the welfare and rehabilitation of inmates,” Mr. Mwandenga stated.

Prisons Care & Counselling Association (PRISCCA) Executive Director, Godfrey Malembeka told ZANIS that the death penalty should be supported by Members of Parliament, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Church mother bodies, traditional leaders and all well- meaning Zambians.

Dr. Malembeka said that efforts have been made in the past to outlaw death penalty but unfortunately these have not been successful.

He explained that maintaining the death penalty serves very little purpose as he believes that it is not an effective deterrent to crimes that attract death penalty.

“The solution may lie in rehabilitating offenders while delivering justice and maintaining life imprisonment,” Dr. Malembeka noted.

Meanwhile, some church mother bodies have pledged to rally behind government in advocating for the abolishment of death penalty.

Independent Churches of Zambia Board Chairperson, David Masupa said that Zambia being a Christian nation, the move stands at variance with the Christian values and beliefs under the dispensation of grace and forgiveness.

Bishop Masupa referred to the Bible when Christ faced the death penalty but asked God to forgive his executioners, interpreting the abolishment of the death penalty.

The Bishop supported the life imprisonment penalty which he said serves as a lesson for people to regret and stop their wrong deeds.

Zambia has had a moratorium on the death penalty since 1997 when the last executions took place.

Chibwe Honoured to Get Chipolopolo Recall

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Goalkeeper Mwenya Chibwe says he is humbled to have been handed a Chipolopolo call-up despite being clubless since January.

The South African-born goalkeeper, who was released by Baroka FC in January, received a surprise call-up for June’s 2023 AFCON qualifiers against Cote d’Ivoire and Comoros.

“For me, I can say God is great. I wasn’t really that active but a call-up means my hard work has been noticed,” Chibwe said.

Chibwe could not sign with a new club after he was released by Baroka following the late issuing of his release papers by the South African club.

“And God is always there for me. I feel it is an opportunity to grab because since I am here I will most probably get offers and I know there will be,” Chibwe said.

“So I am totally honoured and happy to be here and I really appreciate it.”

Chibwe, whose father is Zambian, was the first player naturalized to feature for Chipolopolo.

He added that he was excited to see defender Frankie Musonda of Scottish Championship club Raith Rovers also follow in his footsteps.

“The decision that I took was final and I love it and I am enjoying it so if there are more like me and Frankie and them just follow your heart,” Chibwe said.

“I was even talking to Frankie and he was telling me he can’t wait to play at home to make the fans happy.”

Chibwe and Frankies travelled with Chipolopolo on Thursday from Lusaka to Ghana where Chipolopolo has set up a week-long training camp in Accra ahead of their match against Cote d’Ivoire on June 3.

Chipolopolo will leave Accra for Abidjan on June 1.

Praise singers are misleading the New Dawn governmen-Chungu

Former government chief whip in the Patriotic Front (PF) regime Steve Chungu has said praise singers are misleading the New Dawn government by claiming that all was well under its administration.

Mr. Chungu, the immediate past Luanshya Member of Parliament, said it was a fallacy to claim that things have improved in the first nine months of the UPND in government.

He said the cost of living has continued to rise owing to unstable fuel prices and high prices of essential commodities.

Mr. Chungu said the high cost of living has negatively affected the livelihood of all citizens including supporters of the New Dawn Government.

He said the people of Zambia should rise and demand improved living conditions they deserve.

“Even these so-called praise singers, they will be beneficiaries of what we are saying today. At some point we heard praise singers saying even if the government increases fuel to K500 per litre they were going to buy. How? Is his grandfather, grandmother or uncle going to afford fuel at K500 per litre? And some of these praise singers are dependants being kept in homes by others and they are misleading everyone that it is Okay because the PF was thrown out. Yes the people decided to boot out the PF out of government because of the wrong things they felt the PF was doing,” Mr. Chungu said.

“Let us continue participating in the administration of this country. It is our country. It is our Zambia. This country belongs to all of us regardless of our political affiliation. Let us participate so that the government starts doing it right. Doing things on our behalf and they are in those offices to provide services to us Zambians. Goods and services that would be affordable to every household to every Zambian. Every household is entitled to full meals but now what is happening is something very sad. Even those that are praise singers come out and say it the way you feel it. Not just how you say it. The way you feel it deep down. When you go home you are told you have to buy 5 litres of cooking oil at K300 before you were using K140, before you were paying 14 per litre of fuel now you are paying K26 for a litre of fuel. It affects you, it affects me. It affects your mother, it affects your brother, your grandfather and grandmother so let’s all have one word that the government is going to listen to,” he said.

Mr. Chungu advocated the re-introduction of subsidies on fuel as a way of bringing down the cost of living.

“All countries are now subsidizing fuel. Why don’t we do that? Why should we choose to subsidise copper production at the expense of taxing the Zambian heavily. The already heavily taxed Zambian is being meant to pay more for the management of this country. This country is not broke, let’s not be cheated. Had it been broke, they could not have paid the civil servants when they came into office in August, in September, in October, in November, in December 2021. They are still paying salaries without getting support from the outside world,” he said.

Mr. Chungu continued:”We had 14 Billion nkongole (debt) and now we have shot up to beyond 20 Billion just in the last eight months. So Zambians let us stand up and make sure that we hear that we want to live in a better country. We will support the government of the day but let them do the right thing and they should not ask for more time. They said when they come in at 10:00 hours, 14:00 hours things will change so what more time do they need? We will not give them more time. We want to see them work for us. It is our country we have the rights.”

Mizinga Melu , ABSA managing director awarded Most influential African Woman banker of the year

Absa Bank Zambia PLC Managing Director Mizinga Melu has been recognized as the Most Influential African Women Banker of the Year (Rest of Africa) at the Africa Bank 4.0 Awards.

Mrs Melu was awarded through a voting system in which members across the African banking fraternity gave the highest number of votes for Mizinga Melu in her respective category. The Africa Bank 4.0 award
ceremony took place on Thursday, 26 May 2022 at the Movenpick Hotel & Residences in Nairobi, Kenya.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Mrs Melu said, “I am very honoured to receive this award on behalf of myself and Absa Bank. It means a lot to me that the work that I have been doing with my team has been seen and recognised by my peers in the African banking fraternity, and my hope is that we have more Zambian winners receiving this award in the not too distant future.”
“Standing before you now, I am living evidence of the change that has started to take root in the financial services sector. However, much work remains to be done in achieving greater gender inclusivity in the financial services sector from both a management and clientele perspective. But by working together and making the necessary changes at both institutional and sector levels, I believe that a more inclusive financial sector is a reality that can be realised within my lifetime”, Mrs Melu said.
The Africa Bank 4.0 Awards took place on the back of the 8th African Bank 4.0 Summit – CEO Exclusive, a premium event drawing policy makers and higher authorities from Africa’s banking and fintech sectors for five days of workshops and forums to discuss the way forward for progressing Africa during these uncertain times by advancing digital inclusion on the continent.
Together with senior officials from the financial services sector, the summit also drew ministerial officials from relevant government bodies as well as regulators who participated in charting Africa’s digital banking future.
Alongside receiving her award, Mrs Melu also delivered remarks on setting the scene for gender inclusion in Africa as well as participated in a Women Voices CEO panel discussion alongside other distinguished female personalities in the African financial services sector during the 8th African Bank 4.0 Summit.
Mrs Melu was nominated for the Most Influential African Women Banker of the Year (Rest of Africa) alongside Nasim Devji – Group Managing Director, Diamond Trust Bank, Rebecca Mbithi – Chief Executive Officer, Family Bank Kenya and Yemisi Edun – Managing Director & CEO, First City Monument Bank.
The 8th African Bank Summit 4.0 and Africa Bank 4.0 Awards hosted between 23 -27 May were organised by BII World, a specialist provider of educational, research and consulting solutions to corporate and governmental organizations, and powered by Network International, a provider of technology-enabled payments solutions to merchants and financial solutions in the Middle East and Africa.
(Source: Mwebantu)

 

RDA, RTSA embark on road safety management campaign in Muchinga

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The Road Development Agency (RDA), in partnership with the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA), has embarked on a road safety management sensitisation campaign along the Chinsali-Nakonde road, which is currently undergoing rehabilitation.

RDA Regional Human Capital and Administration Officer for Muchinga, Patricia Musukwa, said the road safety management campaign is aimed at empowering residents living around the project area with knowledge on road safety and the importance of safeguarding road furniture.

Ms. Musukwa added that the campaign being done through road shows by Circus Zambia will cover 210 kilometres from Chinsali junction to the border town of Nakonde district along the Great North Road.

She said the campaign seeks to cover 40 communities with the hope of reaching about 45,000 people.

Ms. Musukwa disclosed that the campaign is being done along the African Bank funded road rehabilitation project for both lot one and two due to the works that come with a lot of other activities.

She told ZANIS in an interview that the aim of the awareness campaign among other road safety packages to be conducted during the road project is to reduce the number of deaths caused by road accidents, especially along the stretch being rehabilitated.

Ms. Musukwa further said in line with the campaign, first accident respondents from various government sections have also been trained in three districts which the rehabilitation road project covers.

She named the departments where these first accident respondents are coming from as the Zambia Police traffic department, Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) hospital ambulance crew and officers from the fire department under the councils in Chinsali, Isoka and Nakonde districts.

“The officers have been trained on how to handle accident victims with different injuries,” said Ms. Musukwa.

She added that RDA has also donated machinery to councils in the three districts for use during accidents.

She explained that the equipment will be used to open up vehicles that may be crushed, including rescuing accident victims that may be strapped.

“Fire officers under the three councils in the province have equally been trained on how to operate the same machinery to be used in rescuing people who are strapped as opposed to using axes among other tools,” she said.

And one of the residents in Kafwimbi area, Idah Mulenga, has thanked RDA and its cooperating partners for the embarking on a campaign.

Ms. Mulenga said the programme is a welcome move as it has come at the right time.

She said more lives will be safeguarded now that the residents have been imparted with road safety management knowledge.

“This information that we have received today will go a long way and we will also share with our children and friends in the community who are not here,” said Ms. Mulenga.

She further said the areas along the stretch being rehabilitated and expanded have been experiencing a many accidents, which have consequently led to loss of lives and permanent body deformities among others.

Ms. Mulenga has since urged other residents in the affected areas to follow road safety rules and also safeguard road furniture.

The road safety management campaign being conducted through drama, question and essay competition on road safety and protection of road furniture is targeting schools and communities.

Freedom fighters cite corruption as cause of poverty

Freedom fighters in Luapula province have attributed the lack of tangible development in the region to corruption.

Luapula Province Freedom Fighters Secretary, Johnson Mulenga, observes that there is very little which has been done in Luapula in terms of development due to some selfish leaders who just concentrated on enriching themselves at the expense of the poor people.

Speaking during the commemoration of this year’s Africa Freedom day in Mansa, Mr Mulenga said some political leaders who originate from Luapula have the habit of neglecting the area and just focus on enriching themselves.

He said it is saddening that the province has continued to lag behind in terms of development when it has had leaders who served in very high portfolios in the country.

“The leaders we are having nowadays are those who are just concerned with amassing wealth for themselves as opposed to serving the people who put them in those offices,” said Mr. Mulenga.

He observed that it would have been difficult to attain the freedom which the country is enjoying today if those who fought for independence had selfish motives.

Mr. Mulenga further said the fight against corruption requires concerted efforts as it is a cancer which affects the poor most.

He observed that the poor continue to remain impoverished while the rich get richer because of corruption.

“Corruption is very bad because the money which is supposed to benefit the public ends up in the pockets of a few individuals and this should not be allowed to continue at all,” he revealed.

Mr. Mulenga explained that freedom fighters are saddened whenever they hear that public resources are being mismanaged.

He pointed out that provinces such as Luapula should not continue to lag behind in terms of development because they have a lot of natural resources which are supposed to be used to develop the area.

And Rosemary Mambwe, another freedom fighter, said the government should come up with a better way of taking care of those people who fought for freedom.

Mrs. Mambwe revealed that most freedom fighters feel neglected because there is nothing much being done to take care of their welfare.

“Most of us are today living in extreme poverty despite our contribution to ensure that Zambia got its freedom and this is very unfair,” says Mrs. Mambwe.

She said the government should come up with a better plan on how to support all the freedom fighters in the country and not just a few of them.

She noted that freedom fighters acted collectively when they were fighting for independence.

Meanwhile, Luapula Province Minister Derricky Chilundika, who led the Provincial Joint Operations Committee (PJOC) in laying of wreaths at the cenotaph in Mansa, said the government has put in place measures aimed at ensuring that local people benefit from natural resources such as Mukula timber in the province.

Mr. Chilundika explained that all the natural resources in the province should benefit the local people hence the government has come up with deliberate measures to ensure that this is achieved.

“We want our people to benefit from the manganese which we have here in Luapula and that is why we have said that priority when it comes to giving licenses, should be given to our people and if they want they can partner with investors,” he said.

Mr. Chilundika has since urged people in Luapula to take advantage of the initiatives aimed at ensuring that they benefit from the natural resources.

This year’s Africa Freedom Day was celebrated under the theme: Leveraging our natural resources to boost food security.

Government enjoys bilateral relations with Russia-Kasanda

Ministry of Information and Media, Chushi Kasanda says the Government values the long-standing relations between Zambia and Russia.

Ms Kasanda says since 1964, Zambia and Russia have maintained mutual beneficial relations which are highly valued by the Zambian government.

Speaking when Russian Ambassador to Zambia, Azim Yarakhmedov paid a courtesy call on her at her office in Lusaka, Ms Kasanda said the agreements are critical to Zambia’s economic transformation agenda and the further consolidation of the bilateral relations it shares with Russia.

She said the Zambian government under the new Administration remains committed to the full implementation of agreements signed with Russia in various sectors including energy, health, education and Science and technology among others.

“As a regional economic hub, the Zambian government wishes to explore new areas of cooperation with the Russian government that will serve as a key drivers of economic growth and development for the two countries,” She said.

She said Russia’s utmost importance to the Zambian government is its foreign policy focus and economic diplomacy which feeds into economic transformation agenda for Zambia.

Ms Kasanda further explained that in the media sector, government is focusing on three key areas namely editorial independence, media self-regulation and public access to information among others.

She said government believes that a free and independent media is cardinal in the development of the country, hence its commitment to change the narrative in the media sector so that it can truly and freely set its own agenda.

The Minister added that as a strong advocate of global peace, the Zambian government continues to encourage diplomatic dialogue between Russia and Ukraine which will result in diplomatic resolution of the conflict.

And Russian Ambassador to Zambia, Azim Yarakhmedov said Russia and Zambia enjoys cordial relations since time immemorial in all sectors of the economy among others.

Mr Yarakhmedov explained that his Embassy saw it fit to pay a courtesy call on the Minister of Information and Media, Chushi Kasanda, who is also Chief government Spokesperson in order to discuss matters of cooperation.

He also said that there is need to create a link between Russian and Zambian media in a quest to foster and enhance mutual understanding between the two countries as the media plays a critical role in sensitising the public.

“I wish to state that Russia has strong relations with Zambia spanning many years ago where Russia does a lot of activities in the area of energy, health, education and science and technology among others,” he said

Criminals ransack water supply installations worth over K500, 000 at Kafubu Water

Criminals have ransacked water supply installations worth over K500, 000 belonging to Kafubu Water and Sanitation Company in Ndola’s Minsundu area.

Kafubu Water Public Relations Manager Misheck Moyo has confirmed that the unscrupulous people vandalised four of the ten water boreholes which the utility uses to supply water to the northern part of Ndola City.

Mr. Moyo said Kafubu Water has lost half a million kwacha through these thefts and vandalism of the water boreholes in Minsundu.

He said the case has been reported to police although no arrests have been made.

Mr. Moyo said the vandalism has negatively affected water supply in Ndeke Twapia, Pamodzi and Lubuto Townships among other areas.

He said Kafubu Water was aware of consumer’s complaints regarding fewer hours of supply in the Ndeke Twapia, Pamodzi and Lubuto Townships among other areas.

Mr. Moyo pleaded with Ndola residents to assist Kafubu Water in reporting these vandals to police.

“Kafubu Water and Sanitation Company is fully aware of the water challenges people are facing in Ndeke, Twapia, Pamodzi and Lubuto areas. These challenges have been caused basically due to vandalism on infrastructure. Want to report that to the nation that four of our boreholes at Minsundu Plant which supply water to these areas have been vandalised and we have lost machinery worthy over half a million kwacha,” Mr. Moyo said.

“Four of the ten water boreholes have been vandalized by unknown criminals. The matter has been reported to police. The boreholes in question supply water to the Northern part of Ndola that includes: Twapia, Pamodzi and Lubuto. We have lost half a million kwacha through these thefts. Residents should assist us in reporting these vandals to police. The process to replace vandalized materials at a great cost has started. Our engineers will start repairing the said boreholes tomorrow (Thursday),” Mr. Moyo said.

He continued:”We are in the process of replacing these materials and I want to assure residents in these areas that this problem is going to be rectified in a couple of days. These problems will be rectified. We are working with state police to ensure that the culprits who have vandalised our materials, equipment and boreholes in Minsundu are brought to book. We are further appealing to members of the public to be vigilant and report all suspected vandals who are tempering with our infrastructure to the nearest police. Police are making sure that these criminals who have vandalised our boreholes are brought to book.”

Kafubu Water services people in Ndola, Luanshya and Masaiti Towns.

Meanwhile, Mulonga Water has also bemoaned the vandalism of water infrastructure in Chingola and Mufulira.

Mulonga Water Public Relations Manager Bright Mtonga said levels of vandalism and thefts are on the rise in Chingola and Mufulira despite heightened sensitization against the scourge.

“In the water supply and sanitation business, customers and water utilities are inseparable so we need to work together. People should not sugar court that vandalism is as a result of water pipes being on bare land. There is no justification for stealing. As Mulonga in our quest to improve water supply we put up a plan to erect a new water treatment plant, procure new water pipes and improve the welfare of our staff.We have been explaining to people the badness of vandalism.The first step to ending vandalism is ensuring that as an individual you take part in efforts to prevent the scourge. Even if we bury pipes 100 meters deep if people do not change their mindset that will not stop thefts. Let all the people in Chingola resolve and say no to vandalism. Citizens should work with Mulonga to end vandalism,” Mr. Mtonga.

Zambia needs increased research on herbal medicines

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Mufulira Mayor Tanaeli Kamanga says Zambia needs increased research on herbal medicines to develop locally produced food supplements and medicines. that can be used to manage and treat various ailments.

Mr. Kamanga says lack of research in herbal medicine has made the country to continue importing food supplements and herbal medicines from resources that are locally available.

Speaking during a workshop for diabetes patients in Mufulira, the Mayor observed that he is concerned that various imported food supplements and herbal medicines often sold at high prices that are beyond the reach of many Zambians.

“Zambia is blessed with many of these plants and herbs that are used to make these supplements and herbal medicines, they just put them in a capsule and they are expensive,” Mr. Kamanga said.

Mr. Kamanga urged Zambians not to shun authentic herbal medicines like Aloe Vera which he said have been proven to be high in nutrients, but instead increase research on how such plants can be exploited for maximum benefit.

And Diabetes Association of Zambia Mufulira Coordinator, Gilbert Mukuka said the workshop was a trainer of trainers workshop to equip diabetic patients with knowledge on how they can exploit natural foods and plants to manage the disease while also continuing on hospital treatment.

Dr. Mukuka said the increase in the number of people living with diabetes is slowly putting a strain on health facilities.

This strain will be reduced if patients know how to better manage the disease using herbal supplements, he added.

Zambia Judges and the Magistrates Work at the Mercy of the Executive Arm

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By Isaac Mwanza

No one should necessarily blame President Hakainde Hichilema or the UPND for the manner in which our judges and judicial officers are subjected to work at the mercy of the Executive led by the President. Judges and judicial officers in Zambia constitutionally work and have been placed at the mercy of the Executive arm of Government led by the President and this has always remained one of my points at every Constitutional review that we must change the system.

Quiet fair, Judges are appointed by the President and ratified by Parliament. But these Judges are recommended to the Executive President for appointment by a Commission (Judicial Service) that is part of Executive. The Judicial Service Commission itself does not only work under the Executive arm but is also appointed by the President.

This is the Commission that is used to deal with judges or magistrates around whom the Executive would like to deal with. The Executive had been and continues to toss judges and magistrates around like a bottle-top because the law allows the Executive to do so. Nothing has changed at all. Everything has remained the same as it was in all previous regimes.

We have yet again another Commission (Judicial Complaints) which works under the Executive arm and is responsible for disciplining Judges and judicial officers. This part-of the executive Commission is appointed by the President and recommends to the President to remove any judge or judicial officer.

These Commissions used to appoint and discipline judges will usually have people who have never been judges or magistrates themselves. Some are practising lawyers who usually have audience before the very judges and Magistrates they would later be tasked to discipline. What do you expect of such Commissions? Can people who have lost cases before some judges or Magistrates be expected to be impartial when disciplining these men and women in wigs?

So when we talk to separation of powers in this country, we talk about a concept and not reality until a time when the Courts will begin freeing these Commissions from being under the Executive arm of government to become truly free and independent.

Magistrates and judges did not choose politics but they find themselves dealing with political powers or being labelled political in one way or another. This is sad for our judiciary. Again, I say this is not the problem created by this current regime, it is a problem of having the majority decide what must be in the Constitution and not listening to minority voices.

The truth remains the same that judges and magistrates, like the so called independent Commissions, are at the mercy of the Executive arm of government in Zambia. Amending the constitution is not the lasting solution because it will create further lacunas or procedures. The judges themselves have been given some constitutional authority to ensure that the Constitution is interpreted in the manner that promote our national values, which includes constitutionalism and good governance.

HRC hails HH’s decision on death penalty

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The Human Rights Commission has welcomed the decision by President Hakainde Hichilema to abolish the death penalty.

Human Rights Commission Chairperson Mudford Mwandenga says, it is the expectation of the Commission that the progressive Presidential pronouncement on abolishing the death penalty will be followed with tangible action on legal reforms.

He says the Commission is aware that the death penalty is permissible under Article 12 of the Constitution, Chapter 1 of the laws of Zambia, in the execution of a sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence under the law in force in Zambia of which a person has been convicted.

Mr Mwandenga said the policy pronouncement by the President can be actualized through the amendment of penal laws such as the Penal Code Act and the Criminal Procedure Code Act Chapter 88 of the laws of Zambia.

On the eve of Africa Day President HICHILEMA announced that the government has taken the decision to abolish the death penalty.

Below is the full statement

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION WELCOMES PRESIDENT HICHILEMA’S STATEMENT THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS WORKING TOWARDS ABOLISHING THE DEATH PENALTY BY LAW IN ZAMBIA

The Human Rights Commission welcomes the statement by Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, the President of the Republic of Zambia, that Government has taken a decision to abolish the death penalty.

The statement by the President delivered on the eve of Africa Freedom Day inter alia that the Government had resolved to abolish the death penalty and that it will work with the National Assembly to actualize that resolution is a landmark step towards enhancing the promotion and protection of the right to life. Death Penalty constitutes the ultimate and irreversible gross violation of human rights which should never be practiced anywhere in the world in the 21st century.

Zambia has had a moratorium on the death penalty since 1997 when the last executions took place. Zambia is therefore considered a de facto death penalty abolitionist country as it has not implemented the cruel and inhuman practice for more than 10 years which is the internationally recognised threshold for a country to be considered to have abolished the death penalty in practice. By abolishing the death penalty both in practice and law, Zambia will join the increasing global movement in which, a total of 108 countries have abolished the death penalty for all crimes.

Therefore, the President and his administration are within the ambit of the universally accepted best practices on abolishing the death penalty.
It is the expectation of the Commission that the progressive Presidential pronouncement on abolishing the death penalty will be followed with tangible action on legal reforms. In this regard the Commission is cognizant of the fact that the death penalty is permissible under Article 12 of the Constitution, Chapter 1 of the Laws of Zambia, in the execution of a sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence under the law in force in Zambia of which a person has been convicted. In this regard Section 24 of the Penal Code, Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia provides that the death sentence is one of the punishments that can be inflicted by a Court for certain offences.

Therefore, the policy pronouncement by the President can be actualized through the amendment of penal laws such as the Penal Code Act and indeed the Criminal Procedure Code Act Chapter 88 of the Laws of Zambia.

Finally, the Commission wishes to commend President Hichilema for pardoning 2,652 inmates and commuting 30 death row sentences to life imprisonment in accordance with powers bestowed on him by Article 97 of the Constitution.

The gesture by the President is an affirmation of Zambia’s transition from retributive to restorative justice and a demonstration of the reason behind the constitutional change in the name of the institution that is mandated to manage the welfare and rehabilitation of inmates from Zambia Prisons Service to Zambia Correctional Service and it is hoped that this will result in rehabilitating of inmates and preservation of lives of those that hitherto have been sentenced to death.

(Original Signed)
Mudford Z. Mwandenga
Chairperson
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

Government releases K1.8 million for 2017 AFCON volunteers

The government under the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts has secured K1.8 million as part payment to volunteers who worked during the 2017 under 20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals.

Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts, Elvis Nkandu disclosed that the funds are aimed at dismantling the over five million kwacha owed to Zambians, both from the private and public sector who worked when the country hosted the under 20 AFCON finals in 2017.

Nkandu explained that the K1.8 Million will be prioritized for private volunteers both in Lusaka and Copperbelt Provinces, while government workers will also receive their monies once the next funds are released.

Nkandu assured that government will meet its obligations of paying all those who provided services during the stated period, as he thanked them for their patience.

Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka, Nkandu bemoaned the delay to pay workers who volunteer especially in international and regional games, adding that it was heartbreaking to learn that some volunteers have even died before receiving their dues.

The Minister revealed that monies for international and regional games are always budgeted for hence guaranteed that going forward, his ministry will ensure to release the funds in time for the next events.

“Today I can announce that the volunteers who worked in 2017 for the under 20 AFCON finals will be paid by next week. We should remember that those people are volunteers, who contributed to a good tournament hence the need to be taken good care of,” Nkandu explained.

Meanwhile, Chipolopolo boys are off to Ghana for an international camp ahead of the June 3, 2022 first leg match against Ivory Coast in the group H AFCON qualifiers in Yamoussoukro of Ivory Coast, Nkandu said Zambians are expectant of the team to perform their best.

The Minister noted that government has provided the necessary requirements through the release of K41 million for both women and men’s teams as requested by the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ), while it has also cleared Scottish based Frank Musonda who has since travelled with the team.

Nkandu has left the onus on FAZ to ensure there is harmony within the Association and the fans to give the team the necessary support so that they bring positive results as they face Ivory Coast.

And Soccer analyst, Musonda Chibulu said most of the boys have shown great commitment and that setting up camp in Ghana is important as part of good preparation for the team.

He foresees a 50/50 result stating that Ivory Coast is a strong team which has an upper hand advantage of playing from home and a host of the 2023 AFCON finals but he knows Chipolopolo’s strength, hence they will use tactics to help them come out victorious.

But Chibulu explained that this being the first game, they should prepare Chipolopolo boys to give the game their all by playing with confidence as if it’s the finals.

He noted this will make Zambians proud of the boy’s efforts regardless of the outcome.

Zambia is in group H fighting for a spot to the 2023 AFCON finals against Ivory Coast, Comoros and Lesotho.