Respected academic and University of Zambia lecturer Dr. Sishuwa Sishuwa is demanding an apology from Zambia’s Ambassador to Ethopia Emmanuel Mwamba for insinuating that he was paid to write an article about Zambia which was published in the Mail & Guardian in South Africa recently.
Dr Sishuwa says he will reserve the right to sue Mr Mwamba if he does not apologise by close of business on Wednesday.
A consortium of Civil Society Organizations says allegations of rigging the 2021 General elections are baseless and mere propaganda.
Addressing journalists in Lusaka today, Coalition spokeperson Andrew Ntewewe said they have noted with dismay and utter disappointment a paid-for statement in the guardian and mail newspaper attributed to a Zambian, Shishuwa Shishuwa.
Mr. Ntewewe said the Coalition is gravely disappointed that a Zambian can choose to scandalise his own country by claiming that the 2021 elections will be rigged when in fact it is mere propaganda.
“As the international community may be aware, Zambia has held peaceful elections which have been credible, free and fair. Zambia has very strong democratic institutions that have ensured peace and stability over the years,” Mr.Ntewewe said.
“Over the years, Zambia’s elections have been held under the full glare of both local and international observers. Our Electoral system as a country is extremely transparent and allows for political party agents to monitor and observe the counting of ballots at the polling station,” he said.
Mr. Ntewewe adds that this process ensures that all participants in an election are able to participate in the electoral process from the grassroots upto the national totalling centre.
“The allegations are therefore unfounded and baseless. We warn Shishuwa, his co-conspirators and sponsors to stop the rot,” Mr.Ntewewe said.
“Such kind of wild and unfounded allegations have the potential to cause anarchy in our country,” he said.
Patriotic Front (PF) National Vice Chairperson for Mobilisation Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba has said that more UPND members are expected to join the ruling party.
Speaking in an interview, Mr. Mwamba said that more UPND members want to follow what former UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma has done by joining the ruling party and that the majority UPND members have not seen any reason to hold on to a party that has no proper direction.
Mr. Mwamba said that President Edgar Lungu means well for the country that is why more people are attracted to join the ruling party.
“Just wait, you will see alot of people coming to the winning team. This is the only team that has visionary leaders,” Mr.Mwamba said.
“UPND has no direction, they have nothing to offer to the people. Its own members are able to see that the party has no proper leaders, I even urge my dear brother Chishimba Kambwili to come to PF, if he is not careful he will remain alone because even his members are coming to PF,” he said.
And Mr. Mwamba said it is very disappointing that each time the country is going to elections, Mr. Hichilema always cries to the international community.
Mr Mwamba said that calls by Mr. Hichilema to have the international community come to participate in the verification of the 2021 voter register clearly show that he is a cry baby.
He said the country has credible institutions and people who are capable of handling credible elections.
“I really wonder what goes in my brother’s mind. Something is not right with him and elections claims are baseless, “
By Hakainde Hichilema
On 12 August 2021 Zambians will head to the polls to vote in general elections held once every five years
However, not everyone who is eligible to vote will be able to do so. Instead, thousands of Zambians, mostly hailing from provinces that voted for the opposition in the 2016 elections, will be denied that right unless urgent action is taken.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has recently published a brand new provisional voters’ register which will replace, rather than update, the pre-existing register. Its contents appear to validate many of the concerns that have been raised by both opposition and civil society actors in recent months.
Yet the ECZ says it does not intend to subject the new register to an independent audit, despite this being essential for establishing its integrity and ensuring credibility.
Having had five years between the 2016 and 2021 elections in which to establish a credible voters’ register, it is outrageous that just 37 days were allocated to the process at a difficult time of year when the rainy season was upon us and farmers were busy preparing their fields.
By way of comparison, the voter registration exercise conducted between the 2015 and 2016 elections lasted for six months and captured over one million voters during that time.
Despite the ECZ having had four years to prepare for this short registration period, it was plagued with numerous teething problems that resulted in lengthy queues and some people even being turned away and told to come back the next day. Given the economic turmoil facing the country and the rising cost of living, many of our citizens do not have such time to spare.
Concerns over the short registration period and the risk of disenfranchisement were raised by both opposition and civil society groups ahead of the process but were dismissed with promises that the ECZ was targeting nine million voters, a significant increase on the pre-existing register of 6.7m. In the end, they reached just over seven million, despite the fact that almost two million Zambians have turned 18 since the 2016 polls.
Concerns were also raised during the process over reports that the exercise was skewed towards registering a higher number of voters in provinces that voted in favour of the incumbent Patriotic Front (PF) in the 2016 elections, as well as allegations that in these regions people were being bussed in to register at all hours.
These were readily dismissed as politicking. Yet now we have seen the resulting provisional register, our concerns and worst fears have been validated.
In ‘perceived PF strongholds’ that voted for President Edgar Lungu during the 2016 elections thousands of new voters have been registered.
Eastern Province, where the President hails from, now has an additional 120,324 voters; Muchinga an extra 52,311; Luapula 51,763 and Northern 43,634. Meanwhile, in areas that voted for the opposition, we have seen significant decreases despite continued population growth.
My home of Southern Province now has 31,978 fewer voters, Western Province has 51,772 fewer voters and North-Western has 16,123 fewer voters. It is hard to look at these figures and conclude that the registration exercise was balanced and impartial.
Leading election analysts are equally concerned, both at home and internationally. Comparing the 2016 and 2021 voters’ registers, Sishuwa Sishuwa of the University of Zambia described the elections as “a scam” having previously warned that the creation of a new voters’ roll was part of a deliberate strategy by President Lungu to stay in power.
Nicole Beardsworth of the University of Warwick has warned that the situation could undermine the election’s credibility. Commenting on the new roll via Twitter she has stated: “There are concerns that the ruling party might want to selectively disenfranchise citizens in parts of the country that historically vote for the opposition. The only way that the electoral commission can allay these fears is through an independent audit.”
Following their publication, we are calling for redress. To allay these concerns and save the credibility of Zambia’s 2021 election there must be an independent audit of the new register, as well as an urgent extension to the registration exercise, particularly in areas that now have thousands of fewer voters than in 2016 with no clear explanation as to why.
This is not simply a matter of self-interest. If these elections are going to have credibility, if people are going to trust in the process and have confidence in the outcome, then we cannot enter them on such an uneven footing. This is something that is important for all Zambians and our standing as a democratic and peace-loving nation, as had been recognised by the various civil society groups speaking out on the matter including the Church.
This is not just about an electoral battle between government and opposition, or a question of one ideology versus another. This is about standing up for the fundamental democratic rights and freedoms of Zambians not just on 12 August, but for years to come.
We need a free and fair vote for Zambia in 2021 more than ever.
It is the only way to repeal recent anti-democratic legislation such as the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Bill; put an end to the continued abuse of the colonial-era Public Order Act; and prevent the return to arbitrary arrests, media clampdowns and human rights violations. It is the path to repairing our economy after a decade of mismanagement.
That is why we are calling on Zambia’s friends in the region and beyond to add their voices to those pushing for remedial action and an independent audit before it is too late.
Source: The AfricaReport
Minister of Local Government Charles Banda says government will continue supporting and creating an enabling environment for local authorities for them to implement the Local Economic Development ( LED), programmes so as to enable them to develop their own business plans through the provision of relevant policy and legislation.
Dr Banda said that the strategies are supposed to be formulated within the overall objectives of the developmental objectives of the country as enshrined in the Seventh National Development plan.
He said Local authorities must be committed to ensuring that the implementation of the LED initiative is supported by using existing policy legislations.
Dr Banda said this this during the Launch of the Local Economic Development fair and Local Authorities in Lusaka today.
Dr Banda said government is committed to ensuring that Local Authorities receive support to implement local economic development strategies through various initiatives to enhance value chains and mobilization of resources and expertise through business plan development.
“The Objective is to increase the capacity of the Local Authorities to foster local economic Development in their localities through the formulation and implementation strategies aimed at locally driven Local Development,’’ he noted .
He said government values the partnership and support that exists between the Local government Association of Zambia (LGAZ) and the Common wealth Local Government Forum (CLGF) as well as the European union (EU), which he said has seen the development and implementation of various local economic development programs.
Dr Banda said in 2016 a pilot phase programme was implemented which focused on improving service delivery and increased community participation in economic Development.
He further said that the programme also targeted to establish Multi stakeholder that would enable local authorities to work together to address and identify weakness within their local economies .
“Government embarked on the second phase of rollout from 2019 to 2021 with support from cooperating partners which will eventually lead to a full rollout of the programme to all the other local authorities in the Country ,’’ Dr Banda noted .
He noted that the second phase involves a project to enhance Local government capacity for development in the eleven local authorities which are being supported to develop local economic development strategies formulated during the pilot phase .
Dr Banda named the eleven councils as Chongwe, Kafue, Rufunsa, Kasama, and Luposohi.
Others include Mporokoso, Mpulungu, Luwingu, Ndola, Luanshya and Masaiti.
And LGAZ President who is also Chingola Mayor Titus Tembo said the association is confident that the implantation of the local economic development strategies will contribute to job creation, economic growth and a reduction in poverty.
“it is our resolve to continue strengthening the capacities of local authorities so that they effectively utilize their economic potential ,’’ Mr Tembo stated .
Chipolopolo striker Patson Daka is looking forward to the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in the wake of Zambia’s flopped 2021 AFCON campaign.
Daka, the RB Salzburg striker, on Monday night scored a brace as Zambia finished the Africa Cup qualifying campaign with a win in the Group H match played in Harare.
He said beating Zimbabwe is vital as Zambia switches focus to the World Cup qualifiers.
‘I think from the word goal we have been looking forward to the World Cup qualifiers and today’s (Monday) game was also part of the start of the process,’ Daka told Zambian journalists in Harare.
‘We made sure that today’s game is going to give us direction going forward to the World Cup qualifiers.’
Chipolopolo are in Group B alongside Mauritania, Equatorial Guinea and Tunisia.
‘We know that we have a lot of things that we have to work on and the coach is the best person to bring those things up. We just have to work together as a team and to follow the coach instructions,’ Daka said.
Winner from Group B will join the nine other respective group winners in the final knockout stage in November 2021 to decide Africa’s five representatives in Qatar.
A 16-member consortium of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) has resolved to join the global target of reducing the GreenHouse Gas emissions and limit temperature rise to 1.5 Degrees Celsius in accordance with the United Nations Framework Conversion on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The resolution was made during a two-day meeting led by the Zambia Climate Change Network (ZCCN) in partnership with ActionAid Zambia (AAZ), SNV and Caritas Zambia held at Lusaka’s Cresta Golf View Hotel.
The meeting which was aimed at reviewing the Zambian Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement applauded government for developing national policies and NDCs to address climate change.
It was however noted that Zambia was not implementing actions prioritised in the NDCs for various reasons including-lack of local research in climate change matters, poor funding in the key sectors of Agriculture, Forests and Land use (AFOLU) as well as Energy with less attention given to the Water sector.
The meeting also identified poor implementation of the legal frameworks and inadequate guidelines as other contributors to the slow progress made in meeting its NDCs targets 5 years after the signing of the Paris Agreement.
This is according to a statement issued to ZANIS in Lusaka this afternoon by the Chairperson for the Civil Society Organisations Monica Chundama.
“The NDCs are a critical contribution to the attainment of the Paris Agreement in addition to securing the lives of Zambian citizens, especially the livelihoods of vulnerable communities. There is need to ensure NDCs are properly targeted for efficient and effective implementation at country level,” she stated.
Ms. Chundama added “We want to see the NDCs mainstreamed into countries sectoral and national development strategies.”
She indicated that the Zambia Climate Change Network implored CSOs and government to collaborate in Climate Compatible Development efforts such as information sharing and advocacy among stakeholders, capacity building at local level in the planning and review of national policies such as the NDCs in an effort to cushion the effects of climate change.
Health Minister Jonas Chanda has disclosed that the Global Fund has released 22 million United States Dollars for the fast track procurement of equipment and supplies for frontline health workers in the fight against COVID-19.
Dr Chanda said health workers have to be adequately equipped to sustain the fight against the pandemic.
“It is equally important that our front line health workforce remains adequately equipped to sustain the response. In this regard, $22,000,000 (Twenty-two million US Dollars) has been made available through the Global Fund for the fast track procurement of response commodities, including diagnostic kits, personal protective equipment, oxygen kits and medical supplies. And as has been announced before, government with support from UNICEF and Cooperating partners will be constructing a $1 million US Dollar Oxygen Plant on the Copperbelt province to be located at Kitwe Teaching Hospital,” he said.
And Dr Chanda said his ministry will soon hold bilateral meetings with the private sector to explore additional options for the acquisition of the COVID-19 vaccine.
“As we continue to make headway with the introduction of the COVID-19 vaccination programme, the Zambian government under the able leadership of His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu through the Ministry of Health has scheduled a number of bilateral meetings with private and non-state actors to explore other options for vaccine acquisition to contribute to our vaccine basket which will comprise only those vaccines which meet the safety and efficacy criteria, as well as be logistically feasible in terms of the Cold Chain,” he said.
The minister also announced the continued reduction in the number of COVID-19 admissions at health centres.
“We continue to see an encouraging trend in the reduction in the number of case admissions to our COVID-19 isolation facilities, with only 92 in-patients today from the highs of over 500 at the peak of the second wave in January 2021. However, the number of our critically ill patients remains stable,” he added.
He however warned that the public should not be relaxed despite the recent gains made.
“Our test positivity has been below 5% for almost two weeks. According to the World Health Organisation recommendation, a test positivity below 5% is a good indicator that community transmission is being brought under control. However, this is not to say that we must let down our guard. On the contrary, now more than ever, with the imminent threat of a third wave upon us with the coming cold season, we must do all we can to sustain our efforts, particularly our community interventions to ensure that we avert a worst-case scenario,” Dr Chanda said.
Meanwhile two people have died from Muchinga Province from COVID-19 in the last 24 hours.
“There were two new deaths recorded from Muchinga province in the last 24 hours”, he said.
The cumulative number of COVID-19 related deaths recorded remains at 1,202 classified as 669 COVID deaths and 533 COVID-19 associated deaths.
Dr Chanda said a combined 55 discharges were recorded from both the COVID-19 isolation facilities and home management, bringing the cumulative number of recoveries to 84,519 (96%).
He said at present the country has 2,478 active COVID-19 cases, of whom 2,386 (96%) are under community management and 92 (4%) are admitted to COVID-19 isolation facilities.
Among those admitted, 76 (83%) are on Oxygen therapy and 15 (16%) are in critical condition
Dr Chanda further disclosed that 187 new cases out of 6,356 tests conducted in the last 24 hours.
The cumulative number of confirmed cases recorded to date is 88,199.
“The new cases broken down by province are as follows: 42 Lusaka, 32 Muchinga, 23 Copperbelt, 18 Luapula, 17 Southern, 14 Western, 13 North-western, 12 Eastern, 11 Northern, and 5 Central. The province with the highest positivity rate was Muchinga (11%) while Lusaka and Southern had the lowest positivity (2%),” he said.
And the Minister announced that Zambia will tomorrow March 31, 2021 host Southern Africa Regional Collaborating Centre (RCC) of the Africa CDC with Vice President Inonge Wina expected to officiate at the launch.
“The Southern Africa RCC has been instrumental in supporting countries in capacity building for public health security and strengthening disease surveillance and evidence-based emergency response. The RCC will be officially launched tomorrow 31st March 2021, by Her Honour the Vice President, Mrs. Inonge Mutukwa Wina, MP under the theme “Ensuring effective preparedness and response to current public health threats in the context of COVID-19 and beyond” at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre,” he disclosed.
Other noted dignitaries to be in attendance include the Africa CDC Director, Dr. John Nkengasong, Dr Moussa Mahamat Chairperson of the African Union Commission and Her Excellency Amira El Fadil, Acting Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, African Union Commission.
The launch will be broadcast virtually in line with the COVID-19 public health guidelines
Two Ndola woman have been sentenced to two and half years simple imprisonment for assault and indecent assault of 17 year old female juvenile.
This is in a case in which Jacqueline Nanyinza, 27 and her friend Catherine Mpamba, 28, of Chipulukusu Township are charged with two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and indecent assault of a juvenile.
Particulars of the offence are that Nanyinza and Mpamba, who are both hairdressers, are alleged to have jointly and willfully and indecently assaulted a female juvenile after they discovered that she was allegedly having an intimate relationship with Nanyinza’s husband.
The two women are also alleged to have inserted a metal bar into the victim’s private part while scorning her over the allegations they both denied.
During trial, the 17 year old girl told the court that no one inserted a metal bar in her private parts.
When the matter came up for judgement, Ndola Principal Resident Magistrate Obbister Musukwa said the state had proved beyond reasonable doubt the case of assault while it failed to prove the case of indecent assault.
Magistrate Musukwa then convicted duo accordingly.
In mitigation through their defence Lawyer Kenneth Tembo, the duo said they were remorseful of their actions and that they are first offenders.
“The convicts are still youthful of 27 and 28 respectively. The convicts further have children of 1 year 6 months and 9 months respectively. Sending them to the harsh conditions of prison will make the children suffer or subject their children to prison as if they were convicts. As you sentence them, they ask for the court to consider the time they spent in prison,” Tembo said.
But Magistrate Musukwa said the duo could have first reflected on the consequences of their deeds before they acted as there are better ways of resolving issues than resorting to violence on mere allegation.
Magistrate Musukwa said the duo could have confronted the aggressor then attacking the teenager saying the duo deserve a custodial sentence.
“As regards to count one of assault, the prosecution has proved its case and I convict you accordingly. It is also not in dispute that you picked the teenager from her home and lured her that you were going to give her wings. To the second accused, I do not believe that you were just cooking for more than 8 hours when the teenager was in your house. You were an accomplice,” charged magistrate Musukwa
“In count two the prosecution has failed to prove its case and I accordingly acquit you in this count,” he said.
“I have taken note of your mitigation, but you could have reflected before you acted. So I will give you a custodial sentence. I will send you to prison for 2 and a half years simple imprisonment if you are not happy you have a right to appeal,” Magistrate Musukwa said.
Magistrate Musukwa said giving a custodial sentence will deter others from committing similar offences.
Power Dynamos enhanced their continental qualifying aspirations on Tuesday when they leapt into third position on the FAZ Super Division log following an away win over Napsa Stars at Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka.
Perry Mutapa’s side beat Napsa 2-0 to jump from fifth to third where they now sit on 34 points, two points behind second placed Zanaco and are six points adrift of leaders Zesco United with thirteen games left before the top four CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup slots are decided.
The contest was settled inside the first quarter of the first half and the result also curtailed Napsa’s crawl away from the relegation battle that they must exit in their remaining fourteen matches.
Midfielder Godfrey Ngwenya opened scores in the 2nd minute to quietly net his fourth goal of the 2020/2021 season.
Striker Kennedy Musonda added the second goal in the 12th minute to record his second in as many games since March 20 when he led Power to a 1-0 home win over Prison Leopards.
But Musonda is tied on four goals with Ngwenya.
Meanwhile, Napsa stay put at number 13, on 24 points just two points more than Young Green Eagles who sit at the top section of the bottom four relegation zone.
The defeat comes five days before Napsa resumes their CAF Confederation Cup Group B campaign on April 3 when they host Coton Sport of Cameroon in a match-day-three fixture at Heroes Stadium in Lusaka.
President Edgar Lungu has verified his Grade 12 Certificate at Examination Council of Zambia (ECZ).
The Head of State said he was happy with the record-keeping by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).
President Lungu has since urged all aspiring candidates to verify their Grade 12 Certificates with the ECZ.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) guided that all aspiring candidates will be required to have their grade twelve certificates or equivalent as validated by the Examinations Council of Zambia or the Zambia Qualifications Authority.
ECZ further stated that qualifications from tertiary institutions such as trade certificates, diplomas, or university degrees are not equivalent to a grade twelve certificate and will not be separately accepted without a grade twelve certificate.
ECZ further indicated that aspiring candidates should ensure they obtain supporting letters from institutions validating their certificates which should be presented together with the nomination papers and verified certificates on the Nomination day.
Speaking when President Lungu visited Examinations Council of Zambia (ECZ) today, Examinations Council of Zambia Director Michael Chilala confirmed that the Head of State has a valid document verified by his institution.
Dr. Chilala said the decision by President Lungu to personally visit ECZ at Longacres in Lusaka is a sign of humility as others would have simply sent the documents through other means.
He said several ECZ Service Centres have been opened across the country to offer all Council Services such as Verification of results, Replacement of lost/damaged certificates, Equating of foreign qualifications to the local standard, Accumulation of GCE Certificates and Combination of G9 Results among other services
ECZ HAS OPENED SERVICE CENTRES IN PROVINCIAL TOWNS
You can access verification services and other services from the following Service Centres:
Lusaka, Kitwe, Mpika, Kasama, Mongu, Chipata, Livingstone, Solwezi and Mansa.
Note: All Council Services can be accessed from these Service Centres. Therefore, individuals are advised not to travel to Lusaka to access services.
Locations:
LUSAKA SERVICE CENTRE
Plot 10934, Msuzi Road
P.O. Box 50432
Woodlands,
Lusaka
Contact No.: +260 211 264091
CHIPATA SERVICE CENTRE
Provincial Resource Centre (PRC)
Hillside High School Premises
Along Umodzi Highway,
Chipata
Contact No.:+260 974 815 551
+260 764 273 290
MONGU SERVICE CENTRE
House No. 43A
Independence Avenue
P.O. Box 910202, Mongu
Contact No.: +260 973 597 776, +260 960 597 776, +260 953 597 779
LIVINGSTONE SERVICE CENTRE
District Education Board Secretary (DEBS)
Next to the High Court of Zambia
Along Akapelwa Street
Livingstone
Contact No.: +260 963 707 007, +260 777 077 618
KITWE SERVICE CENTRE
Plot No. 6508, Four C Road, o Jambo Drive,
Riverside
P.O. Box 21075,
Kitwe
Contact No.: +260 955 491615, +260 961 491615
MPIKA SERVICE CENTRE
Farmers Training Centre (FTC)
Along Mpika Chinsali Road
P.O. Box 450271,
Mpika
Contact No.: +260 950 222 445, +260 960 428486,
+260 976 699 058
KASAMA SERVICE CENTRE
Ituna Secondary School
Opposite Kasama Radio Station
Along Kasama-Mungwi Road
Kasama
Contact No.: +260 794 692 393, +260 973 166 942
SOLWEZI SERVICE CENTRE
Provincial Education Office
Off Independence Avenue, along Mushindamo Street,
Solwezi
Contact: +26 0954 701 933,
+260 962 159 433,
+260 973 573 301
MANSA SERVICE CENTRE
Provincial Resource Centre
Mutende Day Secondary School
Along Mansa-Samfya Road
Mansa,
Contacts: +260 776 315 727, +260 950 578 910
All the best my dear friend Charles Kakoma
We have been notified of the departure of our former party spokesperson Hon. Charles Kakoma who has today exercised his democratic right to join the PF.
For me, Hon. Kakoma was not only a senior UPND party official, but remains a good friend of mine dating back to our days as classmates at the University of Zambia.
I hold him in high esteem as a professional colleague and later as a politician whom I would like to sincerely thank for his immense contribution towards the growth of our party.
I particularly urge our party members and citizens in general to fully respect his decision to join the PF. His decision arises from his democratic right to choose who he should associate with at any given time.
We have repeatedly said opposition politics in Zambia now is like being a leper and a criminal. One has to pay the heavy price of being ostracized and shunned upon by those that do not want to encroach on the hospitality of the powers that be.
Being in opposition now means enduring brutality, suppression and basically an outcast in our own country.We are reminded of the tribulations and torment that the children of Israel went through during their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. It is not everyone who managed to cross over.
We consider the current situation to that of the biblical times for the children of Israel. We are on a turbulent journey with the suffering Zambian masses. We can see the promised land and request all our citizens to remain strong. It’s darkest before dawn.
‘Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.’ Ephesians 6:11
Let’s continue moving forward.
HH aka Bally
Facebook Post
National Arts Council, law enforcement agencies and creative industry leaders have launched an Anti-Piracy Campaign dubbed Partners Against Piracy (PAP), an initiative that directs resources in the fight against rampant content theft in Zambia.
The campaign, which is a collaborative initiative between government agencies, distributors, content creators and rights owners, seeks to educate and inform the public at large about the effects of piracy to the industry and the dangers of engaging in this behaviour as well as the real consequences of revenue losses by government, the local creative economy, business and foreign direct investment linked to copyright breach, due to piracy.
Speaking at the launch of the campaign, Minister of Tourism and Arts, Permanent Secretary Patrick Lungu said the ministry was saddened by the statistics of the high levels of piracy particularly of local creative content in Zambia.
“The knowledge industry is bleeding due to rampant piracy, which in its basic understanding is theft – plain and simple. Piracy does not just affect the artists, it affects their families, it affects local communities and businesses as well as our government’s ability to deliver on its mandate. With the coming of the digital era, piracy has become even more prevalent and seems to be accepted as normal behaviour for many people. This is unacceptable and we need to fight this with all the energy and resources at our disposal,” said Mr Lungu.
“The monetisation of the arts and related industries sector will encourage more creativity and innovation which are much needed in the current economic climate, which has seen the global economy shrink due to the ongoing pandemic.”
National Arts Council (NAC), Director Maanka Chipindi said piracy was a serious scourge that had implications on everyone.
“This is an important initiative at various levels because it’s timely and we have not talked about piracy for a long time. This initiative gives us an importunity to reflect people’s minds on the negative impact of piracy. In this campaign, we are showing to the public and everyone that an act of piracy is not a simple and innocent thing but a serious issue that has serious implications on everyone,” said Mr Chipindi.
Meanwhile, National Association for Media Arts (NAMA), President Mr Lottie Siame said: “We are excited to be part of the Partners Against Piracy (PAP) initiative as it enhances the collaboration between different segments of the industry to fight the scourge of piracy.”
“The creative industry has the potential to be a massive economic growth engine in Zambia, but this growth potential is threatened by piracy. The delivery of legal creative content is growing but it is unfortunate that this is being undermined by a surge in the sale of pirated movies, music and artistic work,” said Mr Siame.
The PAP campaign seeks to influence industry leaders to create a legal framework and reach a consensus on the best effective approach to counter piracy in Zambia.
Pirates are profiting from the hard work of talented creators, entertainment companies and industries, denying these industries benefits from their work while exposing consumers to dangerous malware.
The campaign has attracted various organisation including Irdeto, ZAMCOPS, Patent and Company Registration Agency (PACRA), Zambia Police Service, journalists, film and music artists.
The Zambia Chamber of Mines, a body representing mining and allied industries in Zambia has elected Dr Godwin Beene as its new President.
Dr Beene takes over from Mr. Goodwell Mateyo, Company Secretary of Mopani Copper Mines who had successfully served the organisation for two years.
Dr Beene who is First Quantum Minerals Government Relations Specialist took over the mantle on 5th March 2021, after the Council of the Zambia Chamber of Mines elected him.
In accepting his appointment, Dr Beene presented his immediate priority as being close engagement with all stakeholders.
This engagement will aim at ensuring the mining sector becomes competitive again and attracts new investors while motivating expansion by existing investors who have boldly weathered local and international storms since 2000.
Dr Beene pointed to the perfect storm of Copper demand growing fundamentals driven by North American, Chinese and European governments’ resolve to stimulate their economies by ramping up green energy generation and rolling out supporting infrastructure that will accelerate the speed of uptake of electric vehicles.
“We need to maximize on this opportunity to change the fortunes of the industry from those of the last fifteen years that have seen production fluctuate below 1million tons per annum. Hard as it is to accept, Zambia must regard capital flows into less endowed and even into more operationally challenging jurisdictions as lost investment. As long as tax measures such as the non-deductibility of mineral royalty persist, even at 50 per cent deductibility as suggested by some, Zambian mining will remain uncompetitive and unable to afford the cost of capital. Half a unique impediment remains an impediment.”
The incoming Chamber President said that the Chamber of Mines will continue to play its role in highlighting to government and stakeholders impediments to growth in the sector, alerting the Ministry of Mines of the emerging opportunities and trends in the industry and fostering transparency under the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) umbrella.
“At an appropriate time, we hope that a national mining indaba with government could be held as the time for us to take the high road and gain acceleration is now.”
Dr Beene served as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Mines from 2009 to 2011.
This period saw improved relations with new and existing investors and significant inflows of investment in the sector which resulted in countrywide geological surveys and mineral exploration, including for oil and gas.
Consequently, ground-breaking of Kalumbila Mine, Lubambe Mine, the resumption of operations of Luanshya Copper Mines and development of the NFCA’s South Orebody took place. In the same period, development of Maamba Coal Power Plant and the recommissioning of Munali (Mabiza) Nickel Mine followed.
With a heightened level of interest in the sector, the Zambian chapter of the EITI was launched in 2009.
Dr Beene obtained an undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering at University of Wales, University College Swansea in the UK in 1981 and joined Nchanga Tailings Leach plant.
In 1984 he won a Beit Trust scholarship and returned to his alma mater where in 1988 he was awarded a PhD in Chemical Engineering.
He went on to hold several senior turnaround roles in the industry at Luanshya, Chingola and Kitwe.
He is credited as one of the influencers of change that saw birth of the modern Engineering Institution of Zambia and its Engineering Registration Board, having served as Secretary and President of the Professional Body.
Mr Mateyo, the outgoing President has since congratulated Dr Beene and echoed the unanimous confidence of the Chamber of Mines Council in his leadership as the industry comes to a most critical fork in the road of its development.
Immediate past UPND National Spokesman Charles Kakoma has ditched the opposition party to join the ruling PF.
Addressing a media briefing, Mr Kakoma said he has decided to move to the PF where he will be treated like an asset unlike the UPND which treated him like a liability.
Mr Kakoma said from now onwards, he will campaign for President Edgar Lungu to be re-elected President in August.
He said UPND President Hakainde Hichilema was a very bad man whose preoccupation is going to State House.
Mr Kakoma was recently drafted into the UPND National Management Committee and was one of the longest serving MPs for Zambezi West in North Western Province.
Mr. Kakoma was received by senior PF leaders among them Steven Kampyongo, Samuel Mukupa, Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba and Kennedy Kamba
© Lusaka Times
