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Company invest 25 000 US dollars into cassava production

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Company invest 25 000 US dollars into cassava production

Three Roofs Investment with support from the United States Africa Development Foundation has invested 25 thousand US dollars in a Cassava value addition project in Luapula Province.

Company Board Chairperson Martin Chanda disclosed that Three Roofs Investment will put up a factory in Chief Chisunka’ chiefdon which will be producing hand sanitizer from ethanol which is a by-product of Cassava and Aloe Vera.

Mr. Chanda explained that the Company decided to settle for Luapula Province and in particular Chief Chisunka’s Chiefdom due to high levels of Cassava Production in the area.

Speaking during the training for 30 Cassava Farmers in Chief Chisunka’s area, Mr. Chanda indicated that the company will work closely with cassava farmers in Luapula Province who will be expected to be supplying the Cassava to the company.

Mr Chanda further revealed that Cassava experts will be engaged who will be teaching farmers new ways of growing Cassava so that they can increase their production.

“There will be high demand for ethanol from our side therefore we expect Farmers to be able to meet this demand by increasing their production,” says Mr, Chanda.

He pointed out that through the Company’s out-grower scheme, more Cassava Farmers will be brought on board and they will be supplied with the necessary materials to enable them grow their cassava without difficulties.

And Three Roofs Investment Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Annie Kapapula says she is confident that the project will succeed in Luapula Province as Cassava is one of the major crops which is grown in the area.

Mrs. Kapapula disclosed that the company wants to create a market niche and use Luapula Province as the hub for Cassava production and its related by-products.

“As an industry, we need to evolve if we are to remain contemporary and sustainable and that is the reason why we have embarked on this journey in Luapula Province,” notes Mrs Kapapula.

Mrs. Kapapula has since urged farmers in Luapula Province to embrace and support the Cassava project as it is meant not only to better their lives but also to improve the way they grow Cassava.

HH should blame Himself Over low Voter Registration Turnout in His Strongholds

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HH should blame Himself Over low Voter Registration Turnout in His Strongholds

By Marvin Chanda Mberi

The season of finding all possible excuses to validate the claim of alleged rigging is now in our midst. It is the anthem that we are used to and it has become synonymous every electoral year.

United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema has written an expansive yet substantively void of merit letter to the African Union (AU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to pen his lamentations against the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).

We too would like to pen our observations after intently perusing through the correspondence addressed to the two continental bodies. Firstly, Mr Hichilema faults the new voter’s register and links it to his alleged manipulation of the process.

Here Mr Hichilema willfully neglected to bring to the attention to the two regional bodies that the new voter’s register was as a result of audit anomaly regarding the ghost voters as per the voter’s register of 2016.

Clearly the 2016 voter’s register was virtually a “dead document” which was filed with bloated list of registered voters.

Mr Hichilema did not appreciate that the voter’s role with ghost voters was vulnerable and susceptible to manipulation thus undermined prospects of the free and fair elections.
Contrary to what was alleged by Mr Hichilema, the voter registration process was conducted in a very fair and transparent manner and all stakeholders were given an equal opportunity to offer their participation and lend their expertise to this important part of the democratic process.

We recall how the UPND and its allies deadly and stanchly criticized every move that ECZ made without proposing any viable alternative. We wonder why HH can write to African Union (AU) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) alleging inadequacies yet his letter makes no mention to specific breaches of instruments such as the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG), the Zambian Constitution, the electoral legislation among others.

This clearly gives us an irresistible conclusion that Mr Hichilema is only entrapping the international actors to notice him and make headlines for wrong reasons.

As regards Mr Hichilema’s lamentations that the new voter’s register has reduced numbers in the UPND strongholds while recording marginal increase in PF strongholds, HH has clearly missed the causal link between the two.

Mr Hichilema has ignored to tell the AU and SADC that the reduction in UPND strongholds was a result of contributory negligence by the UPND to mobilize their supporters to the nearest voter registration centers.

We do recall that while PF was mobilizing its supporters to registration centers using all possible means, the UPND did not take interest but opted to waste their time by gallivanting from one social media page to the other discrediting the process and incite public discontent against ECZ.

And all things being equal, the long adage which goes, “you reap what you sow” always comes to fruition.

The PF which invested it’s time to mobilize numbers in the strongholds has yielded marginal increase while the other camp has yielded a reduction.

It is also laughable that HH can approach AU and EU not to legitimatize the outcome of the August poll when the mandate of declaring a victor solely lies within the ambit of ECZ.

We urge Mr Hichilema to have confidence in the internal institutions as they are competent to address his grievances than maliciously undermining the integrity of Zambia’s democracy before regional bodies.

COPPERBELT DIV 1: Leaders Jumulo’s Lead Cut

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Jumulo FC’s lead at the top of the FAZ Copperbelt Division 1 table has been reduced to a point following a goalless draw against Miseshi Blue Stars in the midweek rescheduled match in Kitwe.

Leaders Jumulo were held by a determined Miseshi Stars in the delayed Week 2 Kitwe derby.

Coach Linos Makwaza’s Jumulo have 31 points, one ahead of closest rivals Mutondo Stars, from 14 matches played.

Second placed Mutondo reduced Jumulo’s lead to a point after thumping Mufulira Police ‘Muchindu” 3-1 at home in Kitwe.

Mutondo striker Johnny Katalayi scored twice and his strike partner Chisha Kampamba contributed a goal in the routing of Muchindu.

Elsewhere, Kalulushi Modern Stars’ two game winning run is over following a goalless draw against visiting Roan United in Kalulushi.

Third placed Kalulushi remain six points away from leaders Jumulo after increasing their tally slightly to 25 points from 14 matches played.

Ndola United have sneaked into fourth place after thumping Konkola Mine Police 2-0 away in Chililabombwe.

The win pushed Ndola to 24 points after playing 24 points.

FAZ Copperbelt Division 1 Week 2 (Rescheduled)

Young Power 2-3 Chingola Police

Mufulira Blackpool 0-0 Zambezi

Kalulushi Modern Stars 1-1 Roan United

Police Blue Eagles 0-1 Mufulira United

Young Nkana 0-2 Copperbelt Buffaloes

Miseshi Blue Stars 0-0 Jumulo

Konkola Mine Police 0-2 Ndola United

Mutondo Stars 3-1 Mufulira Police

Beer prices go up

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Beer prices go up

The retail price for beer will go up from today after Zambian Breweries, one the major producers of the commodity announced a sharp price hike last evening.

According to information sent out to beer distributors in Lusaka by Zambian Breweries, prices for all beer brands have been adjusted upwards from around 50% to 30%.

“Please be informed of a price change on the following SKU’s from tomorrow, 1st April 2021,” the notice read.

It’s popular Mosi and Castle Lager 340ml from has jumped from K215 per case to K235 per case.

The notice said Castle Lite 340ml has been adjusted from K250/Case to K255/Case for General Trade, and K265/Case for Key Accounts.

“CBL 340ml from K245/Case to K255/Case for General Trade, and K265/Case for Key Accounts. Budweiser 330ml from K290/Case to K325/Case,” it said.

The price of Stella Artois 330ml has moved from K290/Case to a whooping K325/Case while Flying Fish 330ml has gone up from K260/Case to K290/Case.

“Castle/Mosi/CBL/Castle Lite 500ml Cans from K245/Case to K260/Case. Mosi/Castle lager 340ml from K215/Case to K235/Case.”

This Year, you, the Poor should rule, Fred M’membe tells Socialist Candidates

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This Year, you, the Poor should rule, Fred M’membe tells Socialist Candidates

SOCIALIST Party president Fred M’membe told a presentation of parliamentary and local government candidates that it was the majority who should be ruling Zambia.

“Who are the majority in this country? They say democracy is majority rule. If it’s the poor who are the majority, why don’t they rule? This year, you, the poor should rule,” he said.
Dr M’membe was speaking at Kingfisher Garden Court in Lusaka at the unveiling ceremony for 34 parliamentary and three local government candidates.

He asked them, “Was Jesus rich or poor? Were his disciples rich or poor? When choosing a chief, do they choose the rich or the wise?

“Does having money amount to being wise? Is leadership about money?”

Dr M’membe said that, for the most part, those who ruled lived well but those who were governed suffered, adding the poor had not ruled Zambia since independence.

“They use you like a ladder when climbing onto a wall and when they are at the top they drop the ladder,” he said.

And he warned what would happen if the poor did not take control in the August elections this year. “If you, poor people, don’t rule, poverty will not end,” he said.
“This year, for the first time in our history, we will have a Parliament dominated by the poor. We will have a Parliament where the poor have a direct voice, where the poor are speaking for themselves, where the poor are representing themselves.”

Dr M’membe said the wealthy and their political parties had made themselves rich by exploiting the poor.

“You have been represented by the rich for too long. But what have they done for you? They have enriched themselves. What you can’t do for yourselves, nobody will do for you. You have sent abakankala to represent you, but they have not represented you. This time, go and represent yourself.”

Dr M’membe told the candidates that no other political party would adopt them.

“How many of you have K2,000 or K5,000 to pay for adoption? These other political parties you see all have owners,” he said.

“These political parties you have voted for are owned by the rich, you have just been used.

“But your party, the Socialist Party, is for the poor. You can’t be adopted in the political parties owned by the rich.”

Dr M’membe told the candidates to go out and educate people who were used to voting for people with money, to vote for themselves this time instead.

A leader with National Character Cannot be Crying Foul over One Province

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A leader with National Character Cannot be Crying Foul over One Province

Patriotic Front (PF) National Chairperson Hon Samuel Ngonga Mukupa has said that only a tribalist can be claiming to win in one province.

Reacting UPND President Hakainde Hichilema’s sentiments that the International community should come to verify the 2021 voter register in order to ascertain why Southern Province has few voters is typical tribalism, Mr Mukupa said that a leader with a national character cannot be crying foul over one province, adding that such a person is not good for the country.

Hon Mr Mukupa said that if Mr Hichilema became a Republican President he can divide the Zambian people.

“Why should someone vying for a higher position in the country start talking about votes in a certain region. As far as am concerned a leader need to have a national character. Even when you win an election you need to get votes across the country,” he said.

Mr Mukupa reminded the UPND leader that why Southern Province has recorded few voters this year it is because others have shifted and others have died.

“People have been migrating and that tells you that you cannot have the same voter like it was in 2016,” Hon Mukupa says.

“And moreover we had ghost voters and now the register has been cleaned that is why you see some provinces having few eligible voters,”.

Meanwhile, Hon Mukupa said that the sentiments by Mr Hichilema show that he has conceded defeat, adding that Mr Hichilema already knows that he has lost the August 12 general elections.

“All what is saying clearly shows that he has already accepted that he has lost the elections and nothing else,” he says.

Slow pace of voter verification in Livingstone worries stakeholders

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Slow pace of voter verification in Livingstone worries stakeholders

A civil society organisation in Livingstone, has expressed concern over the slow pace at which voters are physically verifying their details in the ongoing voter verification exercise.

Project Support Learners Zambia (PSLZ), Livingstone District Coordinator, Nyambe Mutete says if the situation is not addressed, some registered voters will not be able to participate in the August 12 General Election, if they fail to have their details corrected during the five-days voter verification exercise.

In a statement availed to media in Livingstone yesterday, Mr Mutete called upon all registered voters to make use of the short period given by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) and turn up in numbers to verify their personal details and have errors corrected before closure of the exercise on Friday this week.

“We also expect all political leaders to help by ferrying their members to designated centres to verify their details in the same manner they did during the voter registration exercise,” he said.

Mr Mutete also appealed to the church to provide spiritual guidance, unity and love ahead of the August 12 General Election and to emphasize the importance of co-existence especially among politicians.

And when contacted for a comment, Livingstone District Voter Education and Publicity Coordinator, Melvin Mukela said publicity on the voter verification exercise was already underway and the central business district and surrounding areas were already covered.

Mr. Mukela who is also Livingstone City Council Public Relations Manager said, publicity was now being done in the outskirts and rural parts of the district.

He said the challenge was most people in the low density areas feigned ignorance and liked complaining about lack of information even when they had been sensitized.

Mr. Mukela however, said the slow pace of voter verification in some areas was partly as a result of people having verified their details online.

He said the response from registered voters in the rural areas was encouraging and advised those in the urban areas of Livingstone to have their details verified physically, even if they had already done the process online.

“As we sensitise the residents, we are encouraging every registered voter to ensure they do the physical verification since there is a slight chance, they may have minor errors which they missed while using the online verification platform,” he said.

The physical voter verification exercise started on Monday March 29, and is expected to end on Friday, April 2, 2021.

President Lungu lends support to ‘Back to School Initiative’

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President Lungu lends support to ‘Back to School Initiative’

President Edgar Lungu says government remains resolute to supporting the education sector as it is key to social and economic development of any given country.

President Lungu said the re-entry policy that the government introduced was necessitated by the high value that government places on education.

The Head of State urged the general citizenry to consider upgrading their qualifications so that they contribute to the social and economic development of the country.

President Lungu made the remarks at state house yesterday when a delegation from Munali Direct Empowerment a local non-governmental organisation, paid a courtesy call on him.

The Head of State observed that some youths are not coming forward to improve their qualifications under the General Certificate of Education (G.C.E) due to pride and inferiority complex.

“We place high value on education and that is why we have introduced a number of pieces of registration so that we increase the number of educated people in the country. Most youths do not have good grades but are not coming forward to get their results improved due to pride, a thing which should stop. Grade Twelve Certificate has now become important in the area of political office. Your coming is timely and will fully support you,” the President underscored.

President Lungu projected that there will be a lot of people with Grade Twelve results by the year 2026 owing to the strategies the government has put in place.

And Munali Direct Empowerment representative Patrick Samuyimbila explained that the Back to school G.C.E initiative programme that the institution has embarked on has received support.

Mr Samuyimbila noted that launched last year, the NGO has already registered over 9,000 students and 200 teachers countrywide are teaching for free.

He recollected that lack of space for holding the lessons was the major challenge his organisation was faced with.

“As Munali Direct Empowerment, we realized that a lot of learners or people are not going back to school due to financial challenges, hence coming up with an initiative called Back to school G.C.E that has received maximum support from the students who want to return to school and re-write their exams and over 10,000 students are writing this year and all we need is government’s support,” he noted.

And Chisenga Mwiinga, one of the beneficiaries of the programme observed that the initiative which is dubbed Presidential Education Empowerment is timely and tailored at enhancing education in the country.

It’s disturbing and irrational for HH to write to AU and SADC about the Voter’s Register in Zambia

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It’s disturbing and irrational for HH to write to AU and SADC about the Voter’s Register in Zambia

The government has said that it is disturbing and irrational to learn from reports in some section of the media that the Opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) has written to the African Union and Southern African Development Community (SADC) to intervene in an internal process of preparing a voters register.

Acting Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Hon. Stephen Kampyongo said the preparation of the Voter register which Mr Hakainde Hichilema is complaining about, is a process that the Electoral Commission of Zambia has been undertaking without leaving anyone behind.

Hon. Kampyongo said the UPND ought to know the limitations of international stakeholders in how far they can go in expressing themselves on local matters like registration of voters.

“It is apparent that the UPND has already smelled another election loss and has now started preparing grounds to justify their loss, once pronounced after the August 12 Presidential and General Elections,” he said.

Mr. Kampyongo said the process has been inclusive as Political parties; civil society organizations; and both national and international collaborating partners have been involved in the process from inception.

“Government believes that the preparation of the voters’ register has been conducted in an exceptionally transparent manner and that there are sufficient local grievance resolution avenues that anyone who has a problem with the process can use to be heard and be assisted,” he said.

The Minister has since appealed to Mr Hichilema to desist from exciting his party members unnecessarily and, instead, concentrate on mobilizing his supporters to verify their details in the voters’ register.

Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo and Mazabuka Central Member of Parliament Garry Nkombo inspecting NRCs issuance
FILE: Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo and Mazabuka Central Member of Parliament Garry Nkombo inspecting NRCs issuance

We anticipate more defections from UPND ahead of the August 12 polls-YALI

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We anticipate more defections from UPND ahead of the August 12 polls-YALI

Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI) has anticipated more defections from the United Party for National Development (UPND) ahead of the August 12 polls.

YALI president Andrew Ntewewe said in an interview yesterday that leaving UPND because of its dictatorial style of leadership and tribalism. This comes following the defection of the former UPND member Mr. Charles Kakoma who served as the party spokesperson for 14 years.

And Mr Ntewewe said the resignation of Mr Kakoma opens more wounds to Zambians.

“The resignation of their former spokesperson opens another wound in the eyes of the Zambian people. It opens another wound in a sense that this political party which is supposed to be an alternative to government is unable to offer credible checks and balances because of lack of its clear principles and values,” he said.

“Everyone who has left UPND has talked this issue of lack of intraparty democracy. Where everything revolves around one person. And that is HH. Where anything in this party can only go if it goes through the Alpha and Omega of the party who is HH. To us, that leaves too much to be desired. Talk about GBM, talk about Kakoma, you talk about Saboi Imboela, you talk about so many other who have left. All of them have one significant story; one, UPND is a tribal political party, it promotes regionalism, number two, UPND is a dictatorial political party, its decisions revolve around one individual.”

Mr Ntewewe also stated that there have been more divisions in the opposition party from the time it held its general Assembly which we slammed for not meeting the benchmarks of a democratic election.

He noted that the opposition party is structured in a way that everything revolves around the party’s “life president,” Mr Hakainde Hichilema.

The Initiative’s president said “We are very certain as the Young African Leadership Initiative that the resignation of Kakoma is not the last one. We are going to see so many more resigning from the UPND so that HH will remain alone. Because ultimately, in modern-day leadership, you cannot revolve all the powers around one individual.”

“If you look at how UPND has been structured, its campaign messages and everything else revolves around one man. Now that is not how you do modern-day politics. That is not what servanthood leadership is about. Servanthood leadership is about getting the collective wisdom of a collective group of individuals, of a collective group of citizens, who are able to provide effective leadership. Unfortunately, what UPND offers is only one person. What UPND offers is only Bally and that, unfortunately, is not servanthood leadership.”

UPND to ensure local industries are revived to create Employment once in power

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UPND to ensure local industries are revived to create Employment once in power

United Party for National Development (UPND) Secretary General Batuke Imenda says once elected into office the party will ensure that local industries are revived so as to create employment.

Mr Imenda observed that Zambians were suffering following the closure of local industries that were failing due to the bad economic management of the country by the out going PF government.

The Party Secretary General, who arrived to a thunderous welcome in Mumbwa, said time for change had come as Zambians had suffered for too long under the PF regime.

“UPND will ensure that we revive the cotton industry in Mumbwa. We shall not only allow cotton and maize to be just grown here and exported as raw material but it will be processed locally so as create employment for the locals, ” he said.

Mr Imenda has since urged party members to be united as the country goes to the polls if they are to help rebuild and restore dignity of the Zambian people.

Mr Imenda, who addressed party officials from all structures in Mumbwa district, observed that there was need for party members to remain united in the fight for economic liberation.

“Time for change has come to rebuild our country, and this can only be achieved through working together to get the PF government out, ” he said.

The Secretary-General is accompanied by Deputy Chairman for Elections Mr. Brian Ndumba, National Youth Chairman Gilbert Liswaniso and National Trustee Ms Patricia Nawa.

Mbola Is a Red Nkana

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Nkana have finally completed the prolonged signing of international defender Emmanuel Mbola.

Mbola, the former TP Mazembe left back, joins Nkana as free agent after being unattached for several months.

Kalampa have not revealed the duration of Mbola’s deal.

“The holiday is over now and it’s time for hard work and pushing the team to where it belongs. We have a big task ahead but it’s possible to achieve,” Mbola told club media after being unveiled.

Mbola has been training with the Kitwe side for some time now.

Meanwhile, the defender established his career in Kitwe at Mining Rangers around 2010.

Mbola has in the past played in Armenia, Portugal and Israel.

He represented Zambia at the Africa Cup in 2010 and 2013.

Chilanga records 513 COVID-19 cases since outbreak

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Chilanga records 513 COVID-19 cases since outbreak

Chilanga District has recorded 513 positive COVID-19 cases and three deaths since the outbreak of the pandemic.

Chilanga District Health Director Leah Namonje has disclosed that 5,651 tests have been conducted in the district and that 468 people have turned out positive among them five children in the first quarter of 2021.

Dr Namonje said that 301 children have been swabbed for COVID-19 from both government and private schools and five have since tested positive.

Dr. Namonje explained that the Ministry Of Health in the district is working in collaboration with the Ministry of Education when conducting rapid tests on pupils in schools and that the five pupils were first attended to at the nearest health facility before being sent home and would be re-tested after the 14 days quarantine.

The DHD disclosed this during a DDCC meeting which was held virtually.

She stated that contact tracing is proving difficult in the district as some clients give force information such as wrong contact numbers or addresses.

She noted that more sensitisation needs to be done in the areas of contact tracing and COVID-19 compliance as such can help save lives.

Dr. Namonje added that one of the pressing challenges being faced in health facilities in the district is inadequate COVID 19 supplies which she urged cooperating partners to supplement government efforts by helping in that area.

Chongwe DC warns Civil servants

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Chongwe DC warns Civil servants

Chongwe District Commissioner (DC) Robster Mwanza has cautioned civil servants in the area against involving themselves in political activities in this election’s year.

Mr. Mwanza stated that he will not tolerate any public service worker who will be involved in any political activities.

He said government workers are expected to exhibit high levels of professionalism at all times as guided by the code of conduct for public service workers.

Mr. Mwanza said this during an interview with ZANIS in Chongwe today.

Mr. Mwanza also implored youths in Chongwe to avoid being used as perpetrators for political violence during this year’s campaign for the general elections.

“I am encouraging every youth in the district to refuse to be used to cause violence by anyone this year. Instead, let young people should focus on activities which will help them to improve their livelihood such as education, sports, art and entrepreneurship,” Mr. Mwanza said.

Mr. Mwanza urged youths to be respectful to elders and leaders regardless of their political affiliation.

He further called on young people to use social media responsibly and not for character assassination.

Man dies in mine accident

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Man dies in mine accident

A miner has dead while another one has sustained serious injuries in a mine accident at Ruida mines in Kasempa district of the North-western.

North Western Province Commissioner of Police, Joel Njase confirmed the sad development which occurred on March 30, 2021 at around 22:00 hours.

Mr Njase identified the deceased as Davies Ngungu aged 25 years and the injured as Luckson Kolito both employees at Ruida mines in Jifumpa area.

He disclosed that a rock fell on the victims while working at the mine’s underground section.

Mr Njase added that the accident was reported by Morgan Kazemba, the human resource manager at Ruida mines.

“The body of the deceased Luckson Ngungu has been removed from the mine and deposited into Mukinge mission hospital mortuary awaiting for postmortem,” he said.

Mr Njase added that the injured person was admitted at Mukinge mission hospital.

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