Tuesday, March 18, 2025
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Innovations key to job creation-Mutati

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Minister of Technology and Science, Felix Mutati has urged Zambians to take advantage of the 22 million kwacha budgetary allocation meant for innovators and inventors.

Mr Mutati says the funds are meant to advance innovations in the country.

He said Zambia stands a chance to become an innovation hub for the entire Southern African region.

The minister was speaking at the commemoration of World Intellectual Property Day in Lusaka yesterday.

Mr Mutati stated that innovations can provide job creation and increase revenue for the country.

And the Minister said there is need to create supportive infrastructure to ensure that intellectual property is protected.

Mr Mutati added that local innovators have the capacity to compete at the global stage.

“Last year, we sent five people through National Technology Business Centre (NTBC) to go and participate at a global forum in Finland and I think those kind of things give the right exposure to the innovators that they are global and not local. You will be surprised with the capacity that our innovators have got. They are creating amazing innovations,” he said

Minister of Technology and Science, Felix Mutati
Minister of Technology and Science, Felix Mutati

Speaking at the same event, Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Chipoka Mulenga said government has created an enabling environment for innovators to thrive.

Mr Mulenga said it is important that the innovations are registered under the Patents and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA) in order to legitimately own their creations.

He also called on innovators to make the most of the unprecedented levels of funding that government has allocated to inventors.

Mr Mulenga urged the private sector to take the lead in coming up with innovations.

“You are the private sector. You are the people who best know how we can improve our economy from one level onto the next. As the Government through the Ministry of Technology and Science, and the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, we are open to listen to you. Bring your ideas, bring your innovations, let us see how we can support them because legislation sits with us, innovation sits with you,” he said.

And PACRA Acting Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Wilson Banda said the Agency will continue to work aggressively towards protecting intellectual property rights to encourage innovation and creativity.

Zambia yesterday joins the rest of the world in commemorating World Intellectual Property day under the theme: IP and Youth innovating for a better future.

Rampant selling of land to investors displacing villagers

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Shibuyunji District Commissioner, Alfred Shaputu says the government halted the selling of land in Kawena forest as well as other villages in the district.

Mr Shaputu states that Government is concerned with the displacement of over five thousand people in Kawena forest due to rampant sales of land to investors.

He said since his appointment as District Commissioner, his office has received countless reports of people being illegally displaced from their land leaving them without anywhere to go.

The District Commissioner was saying this after having a meeting with Kawena forest residents.

He met with them to discuss the way forward after they have been displaced.

Meanwhile, Senior Headman Kailindi of Shakumbila chiefdom in Kawena forest has appealed to the government to intervene.

He says the number of people being displaced is growing they have nowhere to go.

Renowned Anglican Priest and politician Fr. Richard Scott Luonde has died

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Renowned Anglican Priest and politician Fr. Richard Scott Luonde has died after an illness at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka.

His son Scott Luonde has confirmed to Radio Icengelo News that Fr. Luonde died on Tuesday morning.

He was 62.

Fr. Luonde last month complained of severe pain in his right leg.

“He died just before 12:00 hours this morning at UTH (University Teaching Hospital) in Lusaka. He was born in 1958; he was supposed to turn 63 in November,” Scott said.

Funeral gathering and burial is scheduled to be held in Chingola on the Copperbelt.

“Now we are just busy making funeral arrangements. Most definitely the funeral is going to be in Chingola. We are just making plans to transport the body to the Copperbelt. If possible the body may be moved to the Copperbelt tomorrow (Wednesday) or Thursday,” Scott said.

Fr. Luonde, who lost a wife last year, has left behind five children among them three males and two females.

Prior to his admission to the UTH, Fr. Luonde had sought medical attention at Nchanga North Hospital in Chingola and St.Theresa Catholic Hospital.

‘’Tell the nation that Fr Luonde Richard Scott has not been well for almost a month now. The right leg has been giving me hell; the pain I’ve been experiencing is unbearable. But I know my God I serve who is the Lord and God of our beautiful Zambia will always be there and has been there for me,’’ Fr. Luonde told The Mast in March, 2022.

Father Luonde was once an official in the Rainbow Party, Socialist Party and the National Democratic Party.

He regularly commented on good governance matters and current affairs.

In 2016, Fr. Luonde announced that he had joined politics and was an aspiring candidate for Nchanga Constituency in Chingola on the Rainbow Party ticket.

Fr. Luonde immediately declared that he had joined politics not to eat but to serve the poor people in society.

Earlier in 2015, Fr. Luonde had lost a lawsuit against the Anglican Church over the termination of his employment.

Then IRC chairperson Jones Chinyama sitting in Ndola with judges Joseph Bwalya and William Siame, dismissed the lawsuit on grounds that Fr Luonde’s dismissal was not done in bad faith in view of the poor relationship that existed between him and the congregants at the time.

Mr Justice Chinyama also said the church’s decision to terminate Fr Luonde’s contract was lawful as it was done under the conditions of service applicable to the contract.

Fr Luonde had sued the Anglican Church and Fr Albert Chama as first and second respondents, respectively, over the termination of his employment.

Kabwe district alarmed with rise in private schools

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The Ministry of Education in Kabwe has bemoaned a serious rise in unauthorized private schools in the District.

Speaking during a recent meeting, held at the Zambia Railways Boardroom, Namwinga Mpoha said her department is concerned with the increase in private schools especially that they are unauthorized.

She told ZANIS in an interview that so far, her office is aware of more than eight domestic schools that are operating in various compounds without any formal authorization from the Ministry of Education.

“Well, our department has noted with sadness that some individuals disguising themselves as teachers have opened up illegal learning structures in various compounds and most of these are not even conducive learning environments for the children,” She complained.

Mrs Mpoha added that the said schools do not have adequate learning materials and basic facilities that can be deemed fit for academic operationalization.

“According to the reports so far, these schools lack acceptable educational standards and they do not even have a glimpse of our school curricula, so it makes it difficult to understand their reason for existence if not to dupe the unsuspecting public,” She added.

She therefore, appealed to the office of the District Commissioner to intervene and put a stop to the practice by closing down the existing illegal schools.

And Kabwe District Administrative Officer, Peter Ndala, who chaired the meeting said it was disappointing to hear that some people have started operating illegal schools when the government is pushing for a prudent education agenda in the country.

Dr. Ndala said his office, through the District Commissioner, would do a spot check with the officers from the department of Education in order to ascertain the claims.

“I am at pains to learn that some people have taken to operating illegal education facilities at a time when the government has made it clear that they want integrity in the way and manner the education sector is run. I will definitely inform DC on this development and we shall arrange for an immediate spot check in order to curb the vice,” he stated.

He said he will notify the District Commissioner on the matter and that the office will make every effort to ensure that such illegal activities are halted immediately.

He further warned those in the practice of illegal academic operations to stop or else, they will be prosecuted once they are found wanting.

“I also wish to warn those in the practice of operating illegal schools to stop and adhere to government regulation and procedure or else, the law will visit them,” he warned.

Dr. Ndala, finally thanked the Department of Education for bringing such information to light saying this is important in ensuring that the lives of the children who are being subjected to such illegal activities are secured.

Nakachinda is a genius – here is why

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By Chimwemwe Mwanza

Contaminate the economic and social discourse with raw sewer and create enough of a stink that causes all manner of distractions and diversions. It’s a political stratagem that the former ruling Patriotic Front (PF) successfully adopted and deployed over the years with maximum potency. This helped the party to maintain its stranglehold on power.

Scapegoating ridiculous poverty levels to a decades-old state-sanctioned privatisation program, the PF also exploited an ethnic polarised society much to their benefit. Their strategy – casting blame on their chief political opponent – whom they successfully projected to voters as the architect of their misery endured. The inference therein: HH privatised state-owned assets to enrich himself, try giving him levers of power, he will mortgage the country too, was another scaremongering pitch.

Unfortunately, lies have short legs and can barely sustain the weight of truth. Whilst unsustainable, it’s arguable that dividends of such gutter politics largely helped to keep the former ruling party in power but only for a period. And now in opposition, a wounded PF – still smarting from a humiliating defeat is even more cunning and dangerous. Enter Raphael Nakachinda – he of the binoculars fame has become the biggest thorn in the UPND flesh.

Thanks to this brand of politics, Nakachinda and the PF now own and direct Zambia’s socio-economic narrative with the UPND barely managing to keep its head above choppy waters. While true that the PF’s decade-old reign in power drove the economy to ground, HH as the incumbent owns this mess and it’s now his alone to fix. Tellingly, his honeymoon with the youth and unemployed masses that catapulted him to state house is fading fast. This much he acknowledged during his briefing. ‘While we understand your frustration, these things take time to fix,’ he assured.

The question remains though. Has he got the mettle to grasp and fix Zambia’s malaise?

The answer depends on one’s affiliation, yet Nakachinda and the opposition is brutally dismissive of the notion that the Zambian voter is better off now than he was prior to last year’s Presidential polls. Is he correct? On evidence, from the briefing on Monday, the opposition is proficiently succeeding in their quest to project the President as a bitter, vindictive, and petty politician that hasn’t a clue on how to steer the country out of the current economic morass.

Yet HH holds a different view. Validating his performance using economic jargons of tangibles and intangibles, one could tell the difficulty he faces in selling his successes thus far to the grassroot. Nonetheless, he has already embarked on a chest beating victory lap. But not so fast Mr President. Tamuna maniya mulimo boss, alimwi kwamba masimpe tamuna talika. The journey ahead is still tough and rough, nchito yeve yikalipo bwana.

The challenges ahead will require nothing but political tolerance, magnanimity, the courage to dispence with the corrupt and granting autonomy to prosecutorial institutions now ensconced at community house. But does the President have the courage of mind to align with these goals?

While his briefing was punctuated by repeated calls for unity, his demeanor, and consistent threats to dissent betrayed his sincerity. The fact that he devoted a portion of his briefing discussing Nakachinda – speaking derisively of the PF’s Information and Publicity strongman is telling of not only the President’s failings but the effectiveness of the PF’s stratagem. And just how Nakachinda has managed to ensnare him in this skullduggery boggles the mind.

Should he be wasting time unleashing cops on a hapless but loquacious politician? It’s his call but he needs to be reminded that history has a way of sanitising and cleansing rogues. And the poser for the UPND is that it’s becoming a gift that keeps giving – a danger to itself. HH ought to be reminding himself that he was the target of hate speech serving in the opposition trenches, therefore, click baiting by the opposition was bound to intensify now that he has assumed power.

Trouble is the ruling party is constantly falling in Nakachinda’s gameplan – which is to consistently provoke the establishment so his widely publicised incarcerations can grab the attention of both local and international media. The ultimate endgame is for Nakachinda to emerge as a political martyr of sorts. As the adage goes, a stint in jail often serves to embolden a jail bird – and truth is jail is now synonymous with the PF strongman.

At this stage, it’s easy to sence HH’s growing sence of paranoia. For argument’s sake, how does one reconcile the fact that the politician who barely eight months ago rode the wave of social media can now begin to demonise the very platforms that propelled him to statehouse? Isn’t the moniker Bally a creation of social media platforms which he is now demonising?

In the eyes of the opposition, HH seems like a leader who is both on a warpath and a mission to annihilate non-UPND sympathysers. And the sooner he develops a thick skin to criticism, the better. Luckily for him, he still has the sympathy and goodwill of many Zambians to change course. However, goodwill also has an expiry date.

Meanwhile, somebody free Nakachinda so he can keep zooming in on the UPND’s excesses.

About the Author: Mwanza enjoys reading Political History and Philosophy. The only thing he supports is Kabwe Warriors and Liverpool. For feedback, email [email protected]

US Africa Command to open office in Zambia

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The United States (US) government has announced that the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) will open an Office of Security Cooperation at the U.S. Embassy in Zambia, aimed at strengthening the foundation of the U.S.- Zambia shared security interests.

The new Office of Security Cooperation will enhance military to military relations and expand areas of cooperation in force management, modernization, and professional military education for the Zambian security forces.

This announcement was made by the AFRICOM Deputy Director for Strategy, Engagement, and Programs Peter Bailey, when he met with President Hakainde Hichilema during his visit to Zambia.

Brig. Gen Bailey commended President Hichilema and his new dawn administration for its steadfast commitment to regional peace and stability and reiterated that the U.S. government looks forward to building on its strong bilateral ties with Zambia to enhance security cooperation

He also praised the Zambian Defence Force for its professionalism and contributions to United Nations peacekeeping missions.

He is later expected to meet with the Minister of Defense, Ambrose Lufuma, and represent AFRICOM at the official opening ceremony for the start of pre-deployment training for the eighth Zambia Battalion (ZAMBATT VIII).

The U.S. government has since the year 2014 invested over 136 million kwacha ($8 million) in assistance for seven iterations of pre-deployment training for Zambian Battalions deployed to the United Nations Multidimensional Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).

This is contained in a press statement by the US embassy made available to the media in Lusaka today.

Mine Unions excited with news to revamp KCM, Mopani mines

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Mine Unions on the Copperbelt have been elated by President Hakainde Hichilema’s announcement on the ongoing government efforts to revamp the mining company.

The Mine Unions feel revamping the two mining companies will help create more employment and boost economic activities on the Copperbelt.

Speaking in an interview in Kitwe today, National Union of Miners and Allied Workers (NUMAW) National Treasurer Saul Simujika said the announcement by the President brings relief to the unions and the workers because it assures them that the future of the two mines is still bright.

“We are very happy with the announcement by the head of state as a union because we were not sure if the mines would be operating tomorrow, especially KCM, its future was becoming bleak, we hope the pronouncement will be expedited so that we bring back KCM on truck and Mopani as we feel that there should be capital injection so that the two companies can move forward,” Mr. Simujika said.

And Mine Union of Zambia President Joseph Chewe said the union welcomes President Hichilema’s pronouncement to revamp Mopani Copper Mine and Konkola Copper Mines as that will unlock the potential to produce more copper and create more jobs.

Mr Chewe commended the President for prioritizing the revamping of the two mines adding that has been the union’s call for a long time.

“The commitment by the Head of State to revamp the two mines is encouraging, we have always said let’s resolve the issues around Mopani and KCM, what we want are jobs and the President has shown commitment in revamping the two mining companies,” Mr. Chewe said.

And the Association of Mine Suppliers and Contractors has also welcomed the President’s pronouncement as such will remove panic among suppliers because they did not know the future of the two mines hence they did not know whether to continue supplying to the mining companies or not fearing that the mines may be closed and they lose out their money.

Mr. Mwaba said the two mines are currently operating on a hand to mouth basis which is disadvantageous to the supplies and contractors whose businesses lie mainly on the two mines.

“We however still have one issue which is that when the two mines get a lease of live by way of investment or re-capitalization we must see Zambians benefiting significantly by the law of the local content being effected and if the status quo remains, nothing will change, huge investments will be announced but Zambians will still not be benefiting,” Mr. Mwaba said.

He however said the President did not state if the government will resolve the issues around the two mines by way of re-capitalizing or offer them to investors which he said should have been stated.

President Hichilema announced yesterday during a press briefing at State House that government is making efforts to revamp KCM and Mopani Copper Mines.

Human Resource selection committee warned against corrupt practices

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Luanshya District Commissioner Oncemore Ng’onomo has cautioned the district Human Resource selection committee in the teacher recruitment exercise in the district is void of corrupt practices.

Mr Ng’onomo said the law enforcers would not hesitate to deal with any member of the committee found engaging in corruption.

Mr Ng’onomo urged the selection team to pick candidates on merit and in line with the selection guidelines.

“As you undertake this exercise, you are a local team and you know many people and they may approach you to ask for favours and want to know the status of their applications, you should remain professional, choose candidates on merits and don’t expose the information that you are dealing with here to the street,” he cautioned.

He further called on the district selection committee to uphold professionalism in their course of duty and not succumb to pressure from outsiders.

He further called on the committee to ensure confidentiality and not allow information leakages in the selection exercise.

“I would urge you to be professional and avoid leaking information out to the public and late alone social media which will compromise the selection process,” Mr Ng’onomo stated.

He said the teacher recruitment exercise was a sensitive issue that bordered on the integrity of the government and should therefore be handled carefully.

And Committee Vice-chairperson Karen Mwamba pleaded to the committee members to exhibit professionalism and confidentiality in handling the screening exercise.

Mrs Mwaba said the team will operate as one to ensure that the selection process is done in a transparent and professional manner.

ZANIS reports that the district yesterday began the selection of successful candidates in the teacher recruitment exercise in the ongoing government recruitment exercise of 30,000 teachers across the country.

Nine provinces to have oxygen systems-Masebo

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Minister of Health, Sylvia Masebo says the government, with cooperating partners, has ordered oxygen systems to be set up in nine provinces across the country.

Ms Masebo said the supply of oxygen has been a major challenge in most health facilities across the country, especially during COVID-19 period hence plans to set some in the provinces.

She said this today when she commissioned a K1 million worth oxygen manifold system at Solwezi General Hospital supported by Kansanshi Mine PLC.

Ms Masebo thanked Kansanshi Mine for supplementing government efforts in the supply of oxygen for people to benefit from its investment.

“To you who will be using this facility, we urge you to use them properly to improve health care service delivery in terms of patient care,” she said.

Ms Masebo said beyond COVID-19, the oxygen will be needed for any other serious illness.

Kansanshi Public Relations Manager, Godfrey Msiska said the mining company decided to contribute to the cause due to the insufficient distribution of oxygen at the health facility.

“Our health programmes are aligned with the policies of the government and anything that government feels we need to do we have to do immediately,” Mr Msiska said.

He said the mining company contributed 70 percent of the total cost of the oxygen system while 30 percent came from government.

Mr Msiska said the mineral wealth that the mining company creates should contribute to national wealth through the health of the people.

And Provincial Minister Robert Lihefu thanked the mining company for being an all-weather partner with government in supplementing its efforts in improving service delivery in various sectors.

Mr Lihefu appealed to the mining company not to relent in supporting government but to do even more.

And World Health Organization Country Representative, Nathan Bakyaita has thanked the mining company for the support towards improving oxygen supply at the health facility.

Kansanshi mine also donated to government a bio-medical fridge for the Pfizer vaccine at the provincial health office valued at K152, 000.

Nakachinda slapped with two charges, remains detained in Solwezi

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Opposition PF Member of the Central Committee Raphael Nakachinda has been charged and arrested.

Mr. Nakacinda, 43, has been charged with two offences of defamation of the President Contrary to Section 69 of the Penal Code.

Police Spokesman Rae Hamoonga said Mr Nakacinda has also been slapped with expressing or showing hatred, ridicule or contempt Contrary to Section 70(1) of the Penal Code, Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

“The accused has since been remanded at Solwezi Correctional Facility and is to appear in court soon,” he said.

Yesterday police in Lusaka have apprehended Mr Nakacinda.

Mr Hamoonga said Mr. Nakacinda’s arrest follows a complaint from a member of the public, Bruce Kanema against him.

He said Mr. Nakacinda alleged to have defamed President Hakainde Hichilema in a video widely circulated on social media.

“This is in connection to a matter where we received a complaint from Bruce Kanema against him on allegations that he promoted hate speech against the Tonga speaking people and is further alleged to have defamed the Republican President in a video that has been widely circulated,” Mr Hamoonga said.

Now DPP responds, calls allegations false, asks HH to allow her to speak, Attorney General admits meeting Milingo

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The raging saga over Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Lilian Siyuni’s conduct over the Milingo Lungu case has deepened after she asked President Hakainde Hichilema to give her authority to clear the allegations being levelled against her.

In a letter submitted to the Judicial Complaints Commission on April 25th 2022, Ms Siyuni said the secrecy of oath she swore is constraining her from clearing the allegations.

“I have received a number of complaints all of which are false and I deny them. Your Commission has requested that I exculpate myself in the same false allegations. I have since sought clearance from the Head of State, His Excellency Mr Hakainde Hichilema, as I am constrained by the Oath of Secrecy I swore, only the President can waive it,” she wrote.

She added, “Take note that responses to your Commission will hinge on the information I received in my official capacity as Director of Public Prosecution. Further, I have been constrained to respond to all sentiments expressed by the Minister of Justice on different media platforms due to the same Oath of Secrecy.”

“In this regard, I shall only be able to file responses when I receive clearance from the President.”

President Hakainde Hichilema and Vice President Mutale Nalumango pose for the picture with the newly appointed Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha (2nr) and newly appointed Solicitor General Marshal Muchende (l) shortly after swearing in ceremony at State House
President Hakainde Hichilema and Vice President Mutale Nalumango pose for the picture with the newly appointed Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha (2nr) and newly appointed Solicitor General Marshal Muchende (l) shortly after swearing in ceremony at State House

Meanwhile, Attorney General Mulilo Dimus Kabesha has admitted that his team met former KCM Provisional Liquidator Milingo Lungu.

In a sworn affidavit in opposition filed in Court, Mr Kabesha confirmed that he met the former Konkola Copper Mines Provisional Liquidator.

He said this was, however, in matters relating to the civil case for purposes of the resignation as Provisional Liquidator of KCM.

“The Office of the Solicitor General did amicably engage the Petitioner (Milingo Lungu) for purposes of the Petitioner relinquishing his position as Provisional Liquidator of Konkola Copper Mines PLC (In Liquidation).”

“That the negotiations were premised on the civil matter on the affecting the Konkola Copper Mines PLC (in Liquidation) operations following the serious criminal allegations against that Petitioner and to avert the imminent catastrophe of the mine flooding and workers going for months-on-end without their salaries following the suspension of the Petitioner as Provisional Liquidator for Konkola Copper Mines PLC(in Liquidation) by the 4th Respondent sometimes on 9th March, 2022 as disposed of.”

Nakachinda faces another case in Namwala

Embattled Patriotic Front ( P.F ) Information and Publicity Chairperson Raphael Nakachinda is, barely 24 hours after his arrest and eventual transfer to Northwestern province on tribal charges, yet again facing similar charges in Namwala, Southern province.

This is after Namwala UPND youths reported Mr Nakachinda to Namwala Police allegedly for his derogatory statements against Republican President Hakainde Hichilema and the Tonga speaking people of Southern Province,recently at a named radio station in Lusaka .

The youths led by Joseph Chipindi and Namwala Central ward Council Young Shandavu reported the matter to Namwala Police at about 13 hours yesterday.

The Youths have since challenged Mr Nakachinda to travel to Namwala Police station were the matter has been reported.

Deputy Southern Province Police Commissioner Alfred Nawa has confirmed receiving the report from Namwala police over the matter

Embattled Mr Nakacinda was arrested in Lusaka and later transferred to Northwestern province a complaint against his tribal statements has been lodged.

What was the purpose of that press conference, asks Fred M’membe

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Zambia’s Socialist Party President Fred M’membe has said that it is difficult to discern the purpose of that highly publicised press conference held by President Hakainde Hichilema yesterday at the Statehouse.

In a post on his Facebook page, Dr M’membe said that it is said that if one has nothing serious or important to say it’s better to shut up, adding that as Pythagoras once observed, we should strive to have something important to say before we open our mouths, and quoting Us president Abraham Lincoln said: “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.”

Dr M’membe was quick to that he was not suggesting we remain silent all the time, emphasised that it’s all too easy to speak thoughtlessly.

“I’m not suggesting we remain silent all the time. But it’s all too easy to speak thoughtlessly. That can make you look less intelligent than you are, and you will minimise the chances of it happening if you think carefully before you open your mouth.
The virtues of silence have long been recognised.

“The popular saying “speech is silver but silence is golden” may date back to ancient Egypt. It probably means that in some circumstances the less you say the better it is. Ecclesiastes teaches that there is “a time to be silent and a time to speak.” However, Ecclesiastes doesn’t give guidance as to which situations merit which response. Each situation becomes a judgment call, ” Dr M’membe wrote.

Dr M’membe further said that all what that press conference revealed is that there’s too much rivalry and anger in our politics – the disease of rivalry and vainglory.

“When that dominates our thoughts, we forget our fundamental duty as political leaders – to “do nothing from selfishness or conceit but in humility count others better than ourselves.” As political leaders, we must look not only to our own interests, but also to the interests of others, ” he concluded

No need of onion, potato imports, says Zambia National Farmers’ Union

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Stakeholders in the Onion and Potatoes value chain have resolved that the country does not need to import onions and potatoes as it has adequate stocks.

According to the Zambia National Farmers’ Union (ZNFU), the stakeholders met in Lusaka yesterday and agreed that there is no need for the country to import onions or frozen onion related products as the country has enough stocks for the market.

ZNFU president, Jervis Zimba explained that the participants agreed that the country has adequate stocks from carryovers and fresh stocks.

Mr. Zimba said to this effect, there will be no need for the country to import frozen chips, Potato Crisps, adding that importers of Potato Crisps shall be referred to the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry (MCTI) for further advice.

He explained that this is because stakeholders are only in support of measures that will lead to increased production of potatoes locally and value addition.

Mr. Zimba said the parties further agreed to be in constant consultation to avail updates on the commodity availability and measures to be taken.

The stakeholders who attended the meeting include, traders, processors and producers and the Zambia National Farmers’ Union (ZNFU).

This is according to a statement issued to ZANIS in Lusaka today, by ZNFU president Jervis Zimba.

Government to launch Public-Private Dialogue Forum

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The government will officially launch the Public-Private Dialogue (PPD) Forum tomorrow.

The dialogue aims at strengthening private sector engagement in Zambia’s economic development agenda and facilitate collaboration among relevant stakeholders to address critical sector specific constraints.

Acting Secretary to Cabinet, Patrick Kangwa says government recognises that private sector is the engine of economic growth and the best tool for job creation.

Mr. Kangwa said it is therefore crucial to understand better how government can effectively work together with the private sector to reach the country’s full potential.

He explained that the forum will be used as an opportunity to identify the market failure and develop strategies to address them.

Mr. Kangwa further added that the event is expected to bring together key stakeholders from the public and private sector and cooperating partners to engage in discussion in order to support enablers for sustainable growth in sectors that will yield developmental dividends for the country.

The dialogue will be held under the theme “Fostering Private Sector Growth and Economic Development.

Yesterday, during the press conference, President Hichilema said government considers the private sector as an engine for economic development, this is why government wants to hold the Public-Private Dialogue Forum for Development aimed at unlocking all challenges that impede the growth of the sector.

This is according to a statement availed to the media in Lusaka today, by Acting Secretary to Cabinet, Patrick Kangwa.