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The Department of Agriculture in Eastern Province has proposed for a complete overhaul of cooperatives registration to clean up the database.
The department in the region has also suggested the need to introduce a biometric system of capturing fingerprints in identifying farmers when collecting inputs in order to reduce pilferage.
Provincial Agricultural Coordinator (PACO) Bisa Bwalya says the complete overhaul of the cooperatives registration is the only way to get rid of alleged ghost farmers from the system.
ZANIS reports that Ms Bwalya explained that her department does not have means to verify genuine farmers who were supposed to benefit from agricultural inputs.
‘’There is need to do an overhaul registration in the province so that we clean up the system and get rid of alleged ghost workers. It is very unfortunate that there are reports of ghost farmers and cooperatives, a situation which does not please officers in the province,’’ Ms. Bwalya said.
The Provincial Agricultural Coordinator was reacting to concerns farmers in the district raised that some cooperatives have ghost farmers being used to obtain fertiliser at the expense of genuine names.
This was during the farmers’ interactive meeting with the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture held at St. Margret’s Secondary school in Chipangali.
Ms Bwalya also observed that a biometric system of capturing fingerprints once used to identify farmers when collecting inputs would reduce pilfering using ghost farmers.
Earlier, the farmers accused agricultural camp officers and camp agricultural chairpersons of conniving and registering cooperatives with names of individuals who did not exist.
In February this year, two agricultural officers acting together with four individuals in the district were arrested after being accused of stealing 139 x 50 kilogram bags of fertilizer meant for farmers under the FISP.
Chipangali district has 16, 460 registered farmers under the Farmer Input Support Programme, according to information at the District Agricultural Coordinator’s office.
Meanwhile, Ms Bwalya also said there was need for government to give authority to the treasury so that staff is beefed up in Chipangali district.
She said out of 31 agricultural camps, only 18 are manned by camp officers thereby forcing some officers to man two camps while other camps were being supervised by block extension officers.
Minister of Commerce Trade and Industry Chipoka Mulenga has called on the business community to take advantage of the conducive environment that the government has provided.
Mr. Chipoka said the government has put in place good policies that favor the growth of the private sector.
ZANIS reports that the Minister said this during a Zambia business forum held along the side lines of the Zambia Bilateral Ministerial meeting held in Luanda, Angola yesterday.
Mr. Chipoka has urged the two countries to work together to enhance the Zambia-Angola economic relations and foster long lasting partnerships between the two countries.
“Through events such as this , we are able to enhance trade and investment relations, facilitate exchange of ideas and opportunities that exist between our two countries “, he said.
Mr. Chipoka said Zambia and Angola share strong bilateral ties since time immemorial and that the relationship is constantly being broadened and deepened through active cooperation in the political, economic and social fields.
The minister said the warm and cordial relationship between the two countries is evidenced by the frequency of high-level interactions at both government and business.
“The governments of Zambia and Angola have held various Joint Permanent Commissions aimed at fostering trade and economic relations with the view of enhancing economic and trade relations between the two countries. In order to deepen the cooperation between the two countries, Zambia and Angola decided to sign a Bilateral Trade Agreement in 2016”, he said.
Mr. Chipoka commended the government of Angola and its people for organizing and hosting the Business Forum.
“The Business Forum has provided an opportunity to Zambian companies to establish joint venture partnerships, explore business linkages with the Angolan business community. This is in the spirit of implementing some commitments of our Bilateral Trade Agreement that seeks to enhance trade between our two neighboring countries”, he said.
He stated that Angola will continue to be an important partner to Zambia in terms of trade and general economic cooperation, especially that the two countries share geographical borders.
Angolan Minister of Industry and Commerce Victor Fernandez pledged to support the implementation of the bilateral trade agreement signed between the two countries.
He said there is a need to enhance trade exchange between the countries and maximize the benefits.
“Even if Angola and Zambia are neighbours, they do not engage in trade that much. There is great potential for the two countries to collaborate and enhance trade for the benefit of the two countries”, he added.
He called on the business communities in both countries to see how best they can invest in various sectors of the economy for the benefit of the two people.
And speaking on behalf of the business community, SEEDCO Managing Director Guntila Muleya commended the two governments for organizing the Business Forum and pledged to actualise the enhancement of commerce, trade and industry between the two countries.
Mr. Muleya stated that there are numerous business opportunities that exist between Zambia and Angola that need to be exploited in order to contribute to national and economic growth.
Mongu Central Law-maker Oliver Amutike has donated Two Hundred (200) blankets to Lewanika General Hospital worth 100,000 Thousand Kwacha.
Mr. Amutike said he was touched by the manner in which patients were sleeping when he passed through the hospital in January this year, hence making the donation of blankets to improve the situation at the biggest hospital.
The Law-maker said this when he handed over the blankets to the hospital management in Mongu yesterday.
And receiving the donation on behalf of the institution, Hospital Superintendent Samutumwa Njekwa hailed the Mongu Central MP for honouring the promise of assisting the institution with blankets.
Dr. Njekwa said Government alone cannot manage to offer holistic support to health institutions , adding that there was a need for stakeholders to join hands with government in the provision of quality health care to the citizens.
“The grants which we get as a hospital are not enough to enable us provide all the services to our patients. Donations like this will go a long way in enhancing health care delivery “said Dr. Njekwa.
Dr. Njekwa said the donation by Mr Amutike was a first of its kind in the 7 years he has been operating at the hospital and urged the MP to continue rendering support to the health facility.
“I have never seen this kind of donation in the last 7 years I have been at this hospital”, Dr. Njekwa stated.
And speaking at the same occasion, Constituency Development Fund (CDF) Chairman for Mongu Central Mupo Sikuniso urged the hospital management to take advantage of the CDF to solicit funds to deal with minor projects.
“We are very excited with the donation of the blankets at this institution. I urge you to also take advantage of CDF to attend to minor projects such as repairing leaking roofs, that is why the funds are there”. Mr. Sikuniso told management.
Lewanika General Hospital is one of the oldest health institutions in Zambia named after a Lozi King, Lewanika.
The hospital has been facing numerous challenges ranging from dilapidated state of infrastructure to lack of adequate hospital linen.
By Mwizenge S. Tembo, Ph. D Emeritus Professor of Sociology
In the Tumbuka Bantu language, zanga is a verb which translates or means “come”. Tumbuka speakers conjugate this verb and use it in so many ways to convey different meanings among the speakers. For example, by adding the word “kuno”, the verb “zanga” can be conjugated to say, for example, “zanga kuno” translating as “come here”.
In the Tumbuka Bantu language, kwiza is another verb which translates or means “to come”. Tumbuka speakers conjugate this verb and used in so many ways to convey different meanings among the Tumbuka speakers. For example, by adding the sounds or phonemes “n” and “h” the verb “kwiza” can be conjugated to say, for example, “nkhwiza namacero” translating as “I am coming tomorrow”.
“zenge” is a conjugation of the verb “zanga” such that “Vizenge”, “Mwizenge”, “Yizenge” have slightly different meanings but also share one common theme but also share many meanings at the same time. This is true for all languages in that one word can have multiple meanings some of the meanings being deeper. “zenge” is a conjugation of “zanga” and to a certain extent “kwiza” such that “Vizenge” translates as “they will come”, “Mwizenge” translates as “you can come”, and “Yizenge” translates as “it will come”.
The prefix “Vi” in Tumbuka means “too many” “too much”. The prefix “Vi” in “Vizenge” means too many bad things are coming your way to hurt, assault, or disturb your life. The name implies that you will be ready, have strengthened, or steeled yourself to face these big or many big troubles, challenges, evils that life might throw at the baby, child, you or the adult who bears the name.
The prefix “Mwi” in Tumbuka means “many people” “all people”. The prefix “Mwi” may also be derived from the Tumbuka noun “chimwemwe” which translates as “smile”. The pronoun or name “Mwizenge” translates as “you can come” “you are all welcome”. This name expresses the expectation that the baby, the child, or adult who has the name will welcome or embrace everybody in their future life. Since I chose my name “Mwizenge” as an adult, I wanted my name to reflect that I will warmly welcome everybody in my life as people come along.
The prefix “Yi” in Tumbuka means “it”. The pronoun or name “Yizenge” translates as “it can come” “it can come I am ready to face it.” The “it” in traditional Tumbuka culture according to the research I conducted might be “hunger”, “famine”, and especially “death”. The parents who gave this name to their baby, child, or even an adult who chooses this name for themselves might be daring or acknowledging that death or any of life’s deadly problems to happen or will happen. Tumbuka language speakers conjugate the verb “zanga” such that some of its many uses are transformed into pronouns or names which people use. In my research, I found this complex linguistic practice in the creation and use of traditional names to be also common among the Tonga people of the Southern Province of Zambia. This practice may also exist among the 72 tribes of Zambia in the way they choose and use their traditional names.
Our traditional Zambian/African names as forms of identity often reflected soulful, spiritual, and much deeper philosophical meanings. The traditional naming customs also had their own important functions. Many traditional names also served as historical oral archives of family genealogy. This is why I have enjoyed the research fieldwork into Zambian traditional names so much over the last forty years.
In my book: “Zambian Traditional Names” I discuss why Zambians choose particular traditional names for their babies, children, and why adults might choose a particular name for themselves, relatives, or other people. This book is now available in all Book World Bookstores all over Zambia. Another more important book “Encyclopedia of Zambian Names” is available at Pensulo Publishers, bookstores in Zambia, and on Amazon.
Vice President Mutale Nalumango has urged Zambians to celebrate Easter in line with Christian values.
Mrs Nalumango says people should move away from the notion of celebrating the festivities with ungodly behavior.
ZANIS reports that speaking in an interview with journalists shortly after attending the Easter Conference at Oasis of Blessings Assembly in Lusaka yesterday, the Vice President explained that Easter is meant to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
She therefore said everything that contradicts the ways of Christianity is not in line with the holiday.
“You don’t celebrate Easter in contravention of God’s plan. People think the celebration is to go drink, to go do all the wrong things you can think of including womanizing. That is not celebrating Easter that is actually bringing down the Lord. You want him to remain forever on the cross. This is time to rejoice, to see the love of God,” Mrs Nalumango said.
And this morning the Vice President gave a sermon at the church as one of the speakers at the Easter conference. Mrs Nalumango encouraged believers to endeavour to have an encounter with Jesus.
She added that the resurrection of Jesus was the beginning of mankind’s redemption.
Meanwhile, the spouse to Mrs Nalumango Max Nalumango who is also the Founder of Oasis of Blessings Assembly urged the congregants to emulate Jesus by having a forgiving heart.
CAR DIARY: “SHE’S NOT JUST MY CHILD, SHE’S A ZAMBIA ARMY CHILD”
…The girl who melted soldiers’ hearts – and the captain who couldn’t leave her behind!
“It’s a beautiful feeling, I’m in love,” says Captain Mwila Chansa.
In A flat in Lusaka, a little girl makes unsteady steps, her radiant face, shrill baby calls and yellow floral dress lighting up the room. Watching her every move is the girl’s adoptive mother, Zambia Army captain Mwila Chansa.
She is a doting mother and is all bubbly as she talks about the little girl. She thinks one day she will become president of her country.
The little girl’s story does not begin in Zambia, surrounded by love, care and hope; a place where her future is guaranteed. The little girl’s story starts in a corner of Central African Republic (CAR), far, far away in a desolate, war-worn place called Birao, near the border with Sudan and Chad.
According to the United Nations, 41 per cent of children under five in CAR are chronically malnourished, and one-third of school-age children do not attend school, while between 6,000 and 10,000 children have been recruited by armed groups during the long-drawn civil war.
That is the world the little girl was born into. The little girl was born to a polygamous man with four or five wives and about 10 children, and a mother who did not live to see or hold her in her arms – she died just after the little girl was born, on November 5, 2020.
The little girl’s mother was carrying twins in her womb, but after her first baby was born, the woman had lost so much blood and had no more strength to bring forth her second child or to live.
In a place like Birao, with no proper health facilities, such deaths can only be deemed inevitable.
Birao, in Vakaga Prefecture (province), is where the Zambian peacekeeping mission to CAR is headquartered. Now in its seventh year of deployment, the mission has been one of the most successful in the war-torn country. It is also the only contingent in the history of the UN that has a special women-only team called Female Engagement Team or FET, a critical component in a deeply Islamic society.
One day when the FET was engaging the local women, teaching them how to garden, they noticed one woman with a tiny baby on her back that could not be consoled. She cried incessantly.
The little girl, who was only six weeks old, was listless as a result of acute severe malnutrition.
“Why don’t you breastfeed your baby,” one of the soldiers asked the woman, assuming her to be the mother.
The woman, who was the little girl’s aunt, only answered in tears.
It was then that the soldiers learnt about the little girl’s heart-rending story.
The troops swung into action, donating whatever food they could get hold of for the baby and her family.
But even after that little gesture, they were haunted by the little girl’s pitiful image when they retreated to their barracks.
One morning, after hearing about the little girl, nursing officer Caroline Chimwala decided to visit the baby.
When she arrived at the poor homestead, she watched with teary eyes and a lump in her throat as a woman fed a light cassava porridge with nothing else but salt to the tinny infant. The woman had improvised a feeding bottle by putting the porridge in a plastic bag and then making a small hole to go into the infant’s mouth.
“I was touched. They say soldiers don’t cry, nurses don’t cry – that day I shed a tear,” she says.
But the scene also aroused Capt. Chimwala’s motherly instincts, and she decided to take the baby as her own, although she knew the risk involved. With acute malnutrition, there was no guarantee the baby would live.
“She didn’t have many days to live,” says the captain, who is an experienced midwife.
She was haunted by the thought of how the community would react if the little girl died in her care, but she decided to give her another chance at life.
For the next few weeks, she became a dedicated mother, attending to the baby from the level one hospital at the army base.
The hospital is only meant to cater for military personnel, but the captain and the medical team had to improvise a pediatrics wing for the little girl who was brought to the facility each morning till evening.
Some nights, Capt. Chimwala would sleep with the little girl at the medical facility.
It did not take long for the bond to grow. The little girl now became a familiar face in the Zambian camp, and was a darling of the troops who clamoured to give her affection.
When the little girl was born, she was named Ousna Nassaldine, but one of the soldiers decided to call her “Thabo”, a Lozi name which means joy.
Within three weeks, Thabo had picked and she lived up to her name.
KISSED BY A PRINCESS
One Sunday afternoon in March last year, a few days after she arrived in Birao to begin her mission as legal officer, Capt. Chansa was introduced to Thabo and immediately fell in love with her.
“She was such an adorable child; it’s hard not to love her,” says the 33-year-old lawyer, who is also a princess from the Kaputa chiefdom.
And one day, in the small chapel where the troops met for prayers, an emotional exchange happened.
Capt. Chimwala, who had come to the end of her mission, handed over Thabo to Capt. Chansa.
“I was so emotional, I cried,” says Capt. Chimwala.
But she got an assuring promise from Capt. Chansa: “Madam, I’m going to bring this child home.”
It was a promise she would keep, against all odds.
Meanwhile there was uproar from the family and community when they heard Capt. Chimwala was leaving.
“The time I was leaving, the whole family rose up and came crying to the battalion commander saying ‘please we don’t want this woman to go’,” recalls Capt. Chimwala.
Let her go with the baby then, they demanded.
LEGAL BATTLE
The days and months that followed, Capt. Chansa found herself engaged in a legal battle she never prepared herself for – to become a mother.
She got support from her battalion commander at the time, Col. Paul Sapezo, who had his own personal attachment to Thabo.
“I got so attached to Thabo, I still consider her as my child,” says the colonel.
Capt. Chansa made several trips to the capital, Bangui, to plead with the courts to allow her to legally become Thabo’s mother, and she had only a small window before she could be allowed to travel with the baby to Zambia.
Capt. Chansa says she got a lot of support from her family to adopt the child. Her father, who is Chief Kaputa, was keen to have Thabo brought to Zambia.
The adoption process was very technical, and everything was in French, a language Capt. Chansa was unfamiliar with. And Capt. Chansa had to bear exorbitant fees.
“It was an uphill battle,” she says.
Adding to the complexity was the novelty of her case.
It was unheard of for blue helmets to adopt a child in a conflict zone where they served. There were many blind spots.
But it was a battle Capt. Chansa was determined to win.
“Leaving Thabo behind was not an option because we had created our own special bond,” she says.
She went to a court in Bangui armed with written consents from Thabo’s family, community leaders, including the sultan of Birao, as well local government officials.
Now she had to convince the courts that bringing the child to Zambia was in her best interest.
And in January, Capt. Chansa was granted the right to become Thabo’s legal mother by the magistrates’ and children’s court.
“It was such a relief, because I was very anxious; I wasn’t too sure if it was going to be granted,” she says.
But the legal battle was only the first hurdle; she now had to face the administrative hurdle of the bureaucratic United Nations and MINUSCA, as the UN mission in CAR is called.
One day she walked into the office of the chief legal officer of MINUSCA in Bangui – a judge from Morocco – to present her case. He was perplexed by the captain’s quest.
What the captain was attempting was unheard of in the mission, but he still commended her for showing compassion on a little girl and gave her the green light.
But Capt. Chansa also had to inform the UN headquarters in New York and seek special permission to allow the baby travel on a UN plane to Zambia. Although she was told to expect anything, the UN granted her permission.
Then she also had to write the Zambia Army Commander to seek permission to travel with Thabo back home.
She was anxious fearing she might get a negative response from the commander.
A week later, she received response from the commander in the affirmative.
“I was in so much disbelief. I did not expect it at all,” says Capt. Chansa.
After obtaining legal documents, finally Thabo’s name was included on the manifest.
“I think at that point, I realised this was meant to happen. God wanted this to happen,” says Capt. Chansa.
On March 8, Capt. Chansa flew back to Zambia with Thabo in her arms.
“I remember sitting with her on the aircraft and it was all like a dream,” she says.
Capt. Chimwala is happy that Thabo is now guaranteed of a better life.
“If you have been to Birao, you know that there is no future for any child growing there,” she says.
For Col. Sapezo, Thabo represents the humane side of the mission in CAR, and the confidence it inspires in the locals due to the Zambian troops’ good track record.
KEEPING FAMILY TIES
Twice a week, Capt. Chansa video-calls Thabo’s family in Birao, she does not want her to lose touch with her country.
“I believe that Thabo’s destiny is not in this country, I still feel that her destiny is for Central African Republic,” she says. “Her destiny lies in her country. Sometimes I even entertain the thought that one day she might end up being president.”
The captain now has new duties as she learns the ropes of motherhood and relishing the feeling of being called “mama”.
“It is a beautiful feeling. I’m in love,” she says.
She adds: “It’s a very unique feeling because I don’t have children, she is the first one.”
“She is not just my child, she is Zambia Army child,” says the captain.
Rotimi urged Zambians to support Cleo Ice Queen to help put her on the global music scene. Picture courtesy of Kudu Cresecent Entertainment
Lusaka has been stirring back to life in the last few months with a busy calendar of events in food, music, art, and sport. Two years on from the start of the pandemic, it seems everybody wants life to return to normal.
But normal seemed to be the furthest thing on stage at Ciela Resort last weekend when United States artists Bobby V and Rotimi wowed the crowd with their sing-along hits and commanding stage presence. Brought to the country through Kudu Crescent Entertainment, who already staged the successful Dru Hill concert earlier this year, the event also showcased local talent in Cleo Ice Queen, DJ Geshgroove, and VJeezy.
“If you don’t support local, you won’t be able to see somebody like Cleo on the world stage. We’re here because we were supported by our own where we come from,” said Rotimi at a press briefing before the show.
And so, VJeezy warmed up the steadily growing crowd with a mix of club bangers and dancefloor fillers. VJeezy, in recent years, has become a staple on the entertainment scene with his sets at private events as well as big entertainment venues. This was his second set with Kudu Crescent, having opened at the Dru Hill concert and he did not disappoint.
Cleo Ice Queen has become very comfortable in her skin and her stage presence continues to show signs of readiness for the international stage. Her ability on the night to have the crowd sing along back-to-back to her songs was good for Zambian music – that local can identify with local.
“You have to keep your head down and not let the criticism and praise get to your head,” was her statement earlier, when asked how she keeps grounded even with a new record deal with industry heavyweights Def Jam Records.
Cleo Ice Queen rocked the stage with her hit songs. Photo courtesy of Kudu Crescent Entertainment
By the time DJ Geshgroove was playing his set, the crowd had swelled to a completely packed VVIP section – everyone there eager to see the main attraction. The veteran DJ worked the crowd in typical fashion with a blend of classics and new hits to set the stage for Bobby V.
The “Anonymous” hit maker didn’t waste time raising the roof with his energetic entrance, flirtation with the crowd – especially the women, who he handed out roses to – vocal range and all-round command of the stage. We were seeing an experienced artist who knew his way around a crowd, incorporating “Zambia” throughout his set and delivering one of the best international performances in Zambia in recent times.
Even as the crowd sang along to Bobby V, everybody knew there was more and this is where Kudu Crescent got it right for the night. Blending a well-known artist like Bobby V with new school, fresh talent in Rotimi, it showed how music is timeless but also current.
Bobby V teased the crowd with roses during his set. Photo courtesy of Kudu Crescent Entertainment
Rotimi’s afro-infused music certainly got the crowd dancing along. While he’s still honing and perfecting his stage presence, the Power star delivered a set that his loyal fans sang along to and for those unfamiliar with his music, this was a good opportunity to Shazam or dance to the rising star.
On a night where Lusaka stirred back to life with multiple events in the capital, Ciela Resort felt like a return to life as we knew it. People dancing, having a good time and enjoying stage performances that they have been starved of for two straight years of the pandemic.
Bobby V and Rotimi are the third international act brought in by Kudu Crescent following Dru Hill earlier this year.
Red Arrows on Saturday restored their eight-point lead at the summit of the 2021/2022 FAZ Super League table after beating newcomers Kafue Celtic 1-0 away at Edwin Emboela Stadium in Lusaka.
The result sees Arrows rise to 63 points with three games left to play after restoring their healthy margin over second placed and defending champions Zesco United who play on Sunday away at Power Dynamos in Kitwe.
Ricky Banda scored the game s goal in the 15th minute to go level on goals with ex-Green Buffaloes striker Friday Samu who has been leading the log since the start of the season.
Meanwhile, Green Eagles stay third but joined Zesco on 55 points following a 2-0 home win over relegation battling Konkola Blades at home in Choma.
Emmanuel Mukosha and Amity Shamende scored the vital goals for Eagles in the 19th and 44th minutes respectively.
The results also sees Blades drop to bottom of the table while Celtic also slide a position and are just above them at number 17 after Lusaka Dynamos jumped over both of them to move three places up to 16th following a 2-0 home win over 15th placed Indeni.
Fanwell Mapulanga put Dynamos ahead in the 39th minute and Lemisa Moussa scored the final goal in the 55th minute.
Indeni stay put at number 15 level on points with Dynamos.
FAZ SUPER LEAGUE
WEEK 31
16/04/2022
Kafue Celtic 0-Red Arrows 1
Prison Leopards 2-Green Buffaloes 0
Nkwazi 0-Chambishi 1
Lusaka Dynamos 2-Indeni 0
Green Eagles 2-Konkola Blades 0
17/04/2022
Forest Rangers-Nkana
Zanaco-Kabwe Warriors
Buildcon-Kansanshi Dynamos
Power Dynamos-Zesco United
On 3rd September 2021, Nelly Butete Kashumba Mutti was unanimously elected as Speaker of the Zambian Parliament, the first woman to hold the role. After her approbation ceremony, she was celebrated by many, loudly so by President Hakainde Hichilema who described her election as a huge achievement. The women’s movement was overjoyed and said her election was “a clear indication that Zambians have accepted women to lead in any position.”
Fast forward, eight months into her Speakership, Speaker Mutti has already demonstrated that her stay in the Speaker’s Chair poses a serious threat to Zambia’s democracy and the much cherished doctrine of Separation of Powers.
Granted, Speaker Mutti was a nominee of President Hakainde Hichilema and the UPND, a party to which she holds membership but conversion and practice dictates that one severs all ties with the nominating party the moment one is sworn in as Speaker, something that Speaker Mutti is failing to do.
The Speaker is the Presiding Officer of the Legislative Assembly and as such she must act with both authority and impartiality, in Speaker Mutti’s case, she is only exercising authority without impartiality.
The Speaker’s role in the House is to maintain order, put questions after debate and conduct divisions. In maintaining order the Speaker interprets and applies the Standing Orders and practice of the House by making rulings and decisions, in Speaker Mutti’s case, she wants to misinterpret Standing Orders, make irrational rulings and cause divisions.
The other key role of the Speaker is that of the mouthpiece for the House which involves conveying Messages, Announcements and Addresses from the House to thePresident. The Speaker is also charged with upholding the rights and privileges of Members and of the House, in Speaker Mutti’s case, she wants to strip members of their rights and privileges even denying them salaries and allowances entitled to them.
If we were in sports, the Speaker is a Referee or an Umpire but in the case of Speaker Mutti, she wants to be a Referee, an Umpire as well as a player.
The latest case in which she ruled on December 7, 2021 that nine Members of Parliament whose election victories were nullified by the High Court should not be attending Parliament business speaks to her failure to respect constitutionalism.
Speaker Mutti, as a Lawyer of many years should have knownthat it has never been the duty of the Speaker to interpret the Constitution. That function remains the preserve of the Judges serving in our Courts of Law.
The issue of the Speaker attempting to usurp powers from the Judiciary to interpret the constitution was well dealt with in the case of Chishimba Kambwili v Attorney General 2019/CCZ/009 in which the Constitutional Court ruled that the then Speaker, Dr. Patrick Matibini did not have the powers to interpret or resolve constitutional problems or matters that were before the Constitutional Court.
The ruling was delivered on February 18, 2020. Now this is a landmark ruling that even a young student in constitutional law is expected to be conversant with.
The actions by Speaker Mutti clearly contravened Article 72(2) h), 73(4) of the Constitution of Zambia and also the Articles 72(h) and 72(4) read together with the 73(4) which make it clear that a parliamentary seat can only be made vacant or dissolved by a court ruling and that a Member of Parliament should continue as an MP pending the determination of the election petition by the courts.
The Nine PF MPs did well to quickly seek judicial interpretation of Speaker Mutti’s ruling when she sent them away from the House.
In a judgement of March 22nd 2022 delivered by Justice Palan Mulonda, the Constitutional Court ruled that Speaker Mutti should not have sent the nine MPs away because they appealed against the High Court’s decision to nullify their election victories and by the operation of the law means that they retained their seats in Parliament until the determination of the appeal by the Constitutional Court.
“We hold that a member of parliament whose election has been nullified by the High Court and appeals to this court, by operation of the law retains the seat in parliament pending the determination of the appeal,” Justice Mulonda read.
Speaker Mutti was therefore careless in her ruling and one can easily deduce that her decision was driven by political interests from the Executive.
Now since she appears relentless in her pursuit to mutilate the constitution and entrench a culture of intolerance and intimidation in Parliament, she refused to acknowledge theruling and maintained that the MPs should join the other 30 MPs who were suspended for 30 days for disrespecting the House in November after they converged at the speaker’s Mace, thereby supposedly disrupting the business of the House.
With everything she has done and caused to be done in the short period she has presided over the affairs of the House, there is a very strong reason to raise concerns over her suitability for the role of Speaker. Her questionable rulings, her strange interpretations of Standing Orders and her general demeanour towards the members on her Right confirms that she could be a woman on a dangerous mission.
Now that Parliament is on recess, deeper reflections on the damage that her continued stay in that office could cause to our democracy must be had. We should even start exploring the possibility of instituting impeachment proceedings against Speaker Mutti. Impeachment motion against the Speaker is fully provided for in Article 83 of the Republican Constitution for violating the constitution.
I am of a strong view that the Speaker must at all times make her rulings based on sound constitutionalism and not allow herself to be used by any invisible hands. The role she plays in the governable system of our nation is very critical and she should not be used as a pawn for revenge politics.
On the other hand, I am beginning to feel that maybe the nation and especially the women’s movement celebrated way too early Speaker Mutti’s election. May the real Nelly please stand up…before she loses her seat?
Charles Mundia is a Political Scientist based in Lusaka
A 30-year-old woman of Mkushi District in Central Province has been stabbed to death by her 16 years old boyfriend over the use of a condom.
Central Province Police Commanding Officer, Donald Mwandila, has confirmed the development in an interview with ZANIS in Kabwe and identified the deceased as Tina Solo of Lobone village in Chief Kaundula’s Chiefdom.
The police chief said the incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday, April 16th ,2022, around 03: 40 hours at Itala market in Mkushi.
Mr Mwandila said the brief facts of the matter are that the suspect proposed love to the deceased at one of the bars in Itala and they then agreed to go to the deceased’s home.
He said on their way home, the woman asked the suspect if he had a condom which the juvenile did not have at the time and then a quarrel ensued wherein the process the suspect got a knife and stabbed the deceased in the chest and she died instantly.
“Police in Mkushi received a report of murder today around 05:55 hours which happened the same day around 03:40 hours at Itala Market in Mkushi District. The matter was reported by Mainess Chikwete aged 42 of unmarked house number in Itala compound of Mkushi, a farmer Lobone village in Chief Kaundula to the effect that her cousin, Tina Solo aged 30 of the same village was stabbed to death,” Mr Mwandila said.
He said the body of the deceased has been deposited in Mkushi District Hospital Mortuary waiting for postmodern, and burial.
Mr Mwandila said the 16-year-old minor, who is the suspect in the matter, of an unmarked house in Itala compound in Mkushi has been arrested and is remanded in police custody.
United Party for National Development (UPND) losing candidate in the Chimwemwe Parliamentary election Bornwell Matanda has lamented the Constitutional Court’s decision to uphold the election of Patriotic Front (PF)’s Allen Banda as Member of Parliament.
The Constitutional Court this week dismissed the Ndola High Court ruling made on 22nd November, 2021, that the election of Mr. Banda was null and void due to what it termed as non compliance to the provision of the Electoral Process Act.
The Ndola High Court’s ruling to nullify Mr. Banda’s election came as a result of the Electoral Commissioner of Zambia (ECZ) failure to have sufficient Gen-20 forms to distribute to all polling agents.
But the Constitutional Court dismissed the High Court judgment and declared Mr. Banda as the duly elected Chimwemwe Member of Parliament.
In an interview, Mr. Matanda said he was disappointed with the Constitutional Court’s verdict and repeated that he had been robbed of victory.
Mr. Matanda said the Chimwemwe Parliamentary election results were manipulated and were not a true reflection of the people’s will.
He charged that Mr. Banda should not even celebrate the court victory because the election in Chimwemwe Constituency was a sham.
“I am disappointed with the judgment. I am disappointed with the judgment because numbers do not lie. Numbers don’t lie. I was cheated and I won the case at High Court because of numbers, the figures. My figures were manipulated. That election was stolen from me so somebody should not celebrate. In fact they should feel ashamed. ECZ (Electoral Commission of Zambia) did not do their job. ECZ disadvantaged me. It is like you are playing soccer then the referee joins the other team – helping them to score. That is what happened in Chimwemwe Constituency,” Mr. Matanda said.
He said the people of Chimwemwe Constituency were denied a chance to choose a candidate of their choice.
“So I am a very sad person. Justice was denied. The people of Chimwemwe were robbed of their free will to choose a candidate of their choice. There was a lot of manipulation and violence during elections but I didn’t even use those flaws to petition the election, I used numbers, the figures. Even now those numbers have not been changed. So I am not happy with the outcome of the Constitutional Court,” Mr. Matanda said.
Mr. Matanda added that he still loves the people of Chimwemwe Constituency despite losing the election in court.
“The election has been stolen but what I can say to the people of Chimwemwe Constituency is that they are still in my heart. I love the people of Chimwemwe and I am sure at the right time I am going to interact with them. I can just wish them well and tell them to make sure that they hold the current MP accountable so that they realise what they have been looking for all the time. But this is not how an election should be conducted. We should not allow things like that all the time. It was a shame,” Mr. Matanda said.
Mr. Banda polled 17,688 votes against his closest rival Mr. Matanda who got 15,650 votes.
Golden Party of Zambia (GPZ) President Jackson Silavwe has charged that the New Dawn Government’s economics are making life hard for majority Zambians.
Mr. Silavwe has urged the New Dawn administration to initiate economic policies that favour local people and not punish them.
He noted that Zambia’s economy has been extremely unstable due to unstable fuel prices, unstable exchange rate, high cost of living, high cost of doing business, inadequate local economic response compounded by a very driven foreign economy.
Mr. Silavwe said Zambians need economic interventions that increase their income, reduce poverty, provide jobs, afford mealie meal and transport, start high quality businesses and make them own their economy.
“New dawn economics makes life hard for the majority of Zambians. Our people’s ownership of the economy can no longer be a cliché to win votes every general election; it must become an achievable reality matched with actionable economic strategies. In the recent months, Zambia’s economy has been extremely unstable due, unstable fuel prices, unstable exchange rate, high cost of living, high cost of doing business, inadequate local economic response compounded by a very driven foreign economy,” Mr. Silavwe said.
“Zambians need economic interventions that increase their income, reduce poverty, provide jobs, afford mealie meals and transport, start high quality businesses and make them their own economy. As of 2019, the unemployment rate in Zambia was at 22.6% (ILO). Despite the Government having sung the song of ‘economic diversification’ little has been done in realizing this very important economic game changer,” he stated.
Mr. Silavwe has called for the maximum exploitation of economic sectors such as agriculture, mining and tourism in the best interest of Zambians.
He observed that agriculture in Zambia remains largely unexploited with only 15% of its potential arable land under cultivation.
“Agricultural sector represents only 2.9% of the country’s GDP and employs 50% of the workforce (World Bank). Even so, agriculture in Zambia remains largely unexploited with only 15% of its potential arable land under cultivation. Maximum exploitation of the agriculture sector would bring the Country FOREX, jobs, enough affordable food for household level consumption and arrest the high cost of living for our people. At the same time, when we are advocating for an improved agriculture sector, it is vital for the Country to also produce farming inputs locally to provide skilled jobs in the sector,” Mr. Silavwe said.
He added that the mining industry needs urgent policy reforms that would benefit Zambians.
Mr. Silavwe said Zambians have the capacity to run the mines but lack the support of the local political leadership.
“Industrial sector is estimated to account for 34.9% of GDP and 11% of employment. Major industries in Zambia include copper mining, and processing, construction, beverages, food, textiles; chemicals remain largely in foreign hands. Local industrialisation of these sectors would result in massive employment opportunities and a stable local economy. Mining industry needs urgent policy reforms that would benefit Zambians and make them priority in the running of these firms and collection of representative taxes. GPZ strongly believes that Zambians do have the capacity to run the mines but lack the support of the local political leadership,” he said.
Mr. Silavwe emphasised that Zambians alone hold the key to economic transformation of the nation.
“Tourism remains largely under-utilised although it has massive potential to bring in more revenue for the country aside from job opportunities for our people. At the Golden Party of Zambia (GPZ) we believe in Zambians that they alone hold the key to the economic transformation of our Nation. We urge the new dawn Government to initiate economic policies that favour our people and not punish them,” he concluded.
Central Province Minister, Credo Nanjuwa, has commended the church for its contribution to the country’s social and economic growth.
Mr Nanjuwa says the government is aware of the many projects and programmes supported by the church, especially in the health, education and agriculture sectors.
Mr Nanjuwa said this in a speech read on his behalf by Kabwe District Commissioner (DC), Lennox Shimwambwa, during the official opening of the Feast of the Passover Celebrations at the Mark of Excellence Christian Centre in Kabwe last evening.
The minister said the New Dawn Government under the leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema recognizes the role the church plays in shaping the moral fiber of the nation.
“The government remains cognizant and appreciative of the various interventions that the church in general continues to make to better the lives of the Zambian people,” Mr Nanjuwa stated.
He urged the congregants to collectively build the national values and principles and promote national unity, good morals, patriotism and love.
He also urged the church to inculcate a mindset that values hard work and despises corruption as a path to self-reliance.
Meanwhile, Flaming Fire Ministries Founder, His Royal Highness, Billy Lubansa, declared that the powers of the devil worshippers will not work on the Zambian soil.
Lubansa said Zambia is a land of grace and was destined to new dimensions of greatness.
Roan Constituency Member of Parliament, Joel Chibuye says the upscaled constituency development fund (CDF) to K25. 7 million will help him attend to the main challenges in his constituency.
And Mr.Chibuye says he will ensure that Luanshya Youth Resource Centre whose initial works started in 2015 is completed using CDF funds in the fourth quarter of 2022.
He says the Luanshya Youth Resource Centre once complete, will enable a lot of young people not only in Roan Constituency but the whole country to acquire entrepreneurial skills.
ZANIS reports that Mr. Chibuye added that he will also ensure the CDF funds are used to address the various social-economic challenges the area has been grappling with for many years.
Mr. Chibuye has since commended the government for increasing the CDF and ensuring that people are given the powers to decide on which projects should the funds be spent on.
“I’m glad that we have the youth resource center whose works have stalled. With the increase in CDF funds I’m determined as MP to ensure that it is completed,” Mr. Chibuye says.
He further said there are so many youths roaming the streets of the once vibrant mining town whom he said should be recruited at the centre.
Mr. Chibuye says by recruiting and equipping many young people with skills, the country will be reducing the levels of delinquency on the streets.
Construction of the Luanshya Youth Resource Centre commenced in 2015 and the government injected K 10.5 million in the project with a view to impact skills in young people.
Works had stalled at 75 percent completion due to non-availability of funds.
Shepolopolo U17’s 2022 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup hopes are hanging on a thread after Friday’s third round qualifying loss at home to Cameroon.
Cameroon beat Shepolopolo 2-0 in a third round, first leg fixture at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka.
Mana Lamine and Camilla Daha struck in the 48th and 67th minute respectively.
The final leg is set for April 30 in Yaoundé.
Zambia’s only women’s FIFA tournament appearance was at the 2014 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica by members of the current senior Shepolopolo team.
RED ARROWS VISIT CELTIC
Red Arrows have an opportunity to restore their eight- point lead today when they visit third from bottom Kafue Celtic at Edwin Emboela Stadium in Lusaka.
Arrows are five points ahead of defending champions Zesco United who only play on Sunday away in Kitwe against fifth placed Power Dynamos.
Three games will remain to be played after this weekend’s Week 31 fixtures as 2004 champions Arrows chase their second league title.
