THEY WERE WELCOMED BACK AFTER LEAVING CAUSE POLITICS IS A GAME OF NUMBERS
….no individual is bigger than PF – Greyford Monde
Lusaka, Saturday, March 11, 2023 ( Smart Eagles)
Patriotic Front (PF) Presidential Candidate Greyford Monde has maintained that no individual is bigger than the party.
Hon Monde said not even the candidates vying for the party President position can claim to be bigger than the PF.
He has however cautioned against using divisive terms such as ‘True Green’ and ‘Hijackers’.
Hon Monde said the moment an individual joins the PF, he becomes a Green Regardless of where they came from.
He said the PF believes in numbers and accommodates everyone.
He states that it is the more reason some individuals who had left, some of whom are even contesting the PF President position were welcomed back into the party.
Speaking when he featured on Millennium TV yesterday, Hon Monde said it is either one is a member of PF or not.
“With or without some of the People on the Presidential list, the PF will not die. Even if the nine of us left, the PF will still be stronger. It is not about one individual. The PF is stronger than any individual,” Hon Monde said.
He is optimistic that once the process of selecting a new party leader is over, the PF will remain a strong party.
“PF is beyond a person. Those who will accept a leader are those who will vote in 2026. Anyone who thinks like that must be realistic. If I’m not chosen and I decide to leave the party, how will that kill the PF. So is the case to any candidate,” he said.
He said as opposed to demeaning other candidates in the intra party elections, unity must prevail.
“When they start reminding you about your past, just know they feel threatened. Even the founder member of the party Came from MMD. Even Hon GBM in 2006 he was contesting under the MMD in Kabwata. So Everyone is a true green the moment they decide to join. Green is green. Those who have moves from the BLUE MMD, immediately they join the PF they become a green. So no one should suggest that there are special people who are supposed to head the party. Does it mean that only those who were there during formation of the party should vie for positions.,” he said.
VEDANTA CHIEF AGARWAL MAKES ‘ZERO DEBT’ PLEDGE AFTER INVESTOR SELL-OFF.
(Financial Times)
Indian mining mogul Anil Agarwal has insisted his Vedanta group has ample funding options and that it aims to become a “zero debt company”, as scrutiny of highly leveraged Indian conglomerates grows following the Adani Group short-seller attack.
Bonds are currently junk-rated for Agarwal’s natural resources group, which is India’s biggest private miner and pitches itself as integral to India’s economic growth. It has been battling to cut its debt pile even as it expands into new business lines, including building an ambitious semiconductor facility in partnership with Apple supplier Foxconn.
“Everybody wants to finance us,” Agarwal told the Financial Times in an interview, citing Indian banks and “American funds”, which he declined to name. He said Vedanta was in talks with JPMorgan and other banks for a $1bn loan, with an interest rate of 8 to 10 per cent. Vedanta borrowed $400mn from Howard Marks’ Oaktree Capital Group in 2020.
Vedanta had “less than $13bn total debt” and becoming “a zero-debt company is not a distant dream, but a medium-term, achievable goal,” he said.
The comments by the former Mumbai scrap metal trader turned industrialist come at a bruising time for Vedanta Limited’s share price, which has tumbled 12 per cent in the past month. Yields on bonds maturing in 2026 for Vedanta Resources have spiked around 23 per cent in the past month. Agarwal shrugged off the bond market moves as being related to the “geopolitical situation”.
India’s capital markets have been rocked by short seller Hindenburg Research’s assault on billionaire tycoon Gautam Adani’s infrastructure conglomerate this year, triggering a stock market rout that had erased about $145bn in his group’s market value at its lowest point.
Agarwal dismissed concerns about paying upcoming debt maturities worth $900mn by June. He stressed his commodities businesses were “throwing off enough cash” and said he expected $9bn of profit across the group for the coming year, adding: “$1bn is peanuts for us.”
JPMorgan said in a recent research note that the current financial year would be “critical for Vedanta Resources” as it grappled with debt maturities and interest amounting to $4.1bn at the holding-company level.
“We have seen a recovery of the commodity cycle in recent months, which will improve Vedanta’s cash flows and profitability,” said Abhishek Jain, head of research with Arihant Capital. “But refinancing debt will be challenging in the current environment, and their financing costs will increase.”
Agarwal, who attempted to take his Mumbai-listed conglomerate private in 2020, has built up his oil-to-aluminium empire by snapping up distressed assets using debt, creating a host of subsidiaries. Moody’s in a recent research note called Vedanta’s resulting web of businesses a “complex structure” that has “long been a credit concern”.
Agarwal also insisted that merging his South African and Indian zinc mining assets was the “right thing to do”, less than two months after India’s government said it opposed the plan, delaying a deal that would have freed up $2bn in cash to Vedanta’s parent company through a special dividend.
Agarwal’s Vedanta Limited owns the majority 64.9 per cent stake in former state-owned Hindustan Zinc. He had planned to have Hindustan Zinc acquire South African operation THL Zinc from another Vedanta group entity, in a deal valuing the company at $2.9bn.
“We have a very large company with similar size resources in South Africa, and both are under two different managements,” Agarwal said. “Through consolidation, there is scope for significant improvement from a structure and business strategy perspective.”
He added: “It was natural to put this before the government to bring them together [in order] to run it efficiently and create the world’s largest zinc company.”
But the Indian government, which retains a 29.5 per cent stake in Hindustan Zinc, opposed the related party transaction and “urge[d] the company to explore other cashless methods of acquisition of these assets”. Credit analysts said the government had probably baulked at THL Zinc’s high price.
Agarwal said he would not move forward without the government’s approval and that discussions were continuing. “One thing is for sure: we will align with the government and then do it,” he said.
Pope Francis has acknowledged that he might resign if he gets too worn out to perform his duties.
The Pope, 86, warned of “a tiredness that causes him not see things properly” when asked by Italian media, what would cause him to leave
Because of a knee injury, he admitted that he felt “a little humiliated” to use a wheelchair.
‘I am old. I have less physical resistance, the knee [problem] was a physical humiliation, even if the recovery is going well now.’
Last month, the Pope said that papal resignations should happen in exceptional circumstances, and said quitting was not ‘on [his] agenda’.
Pope Francis has been head of the Catholic Church since March 2013, on Monday marking 10 years of his papacy.
In an interview with Italian Swiss television RSI, with extracts published in La Repubblica, La Stampa, and Corriere della Sera, he also said that the war in Ukraine had been driven by the interests of several empires.
He said the conflict was fuelled by ‘imperial interests, not just of the Russian empire, but of empires from elsewhere.’
He expressed a readiness to talk to Russian President Vladimir Putin to call for peace.
While the Pope has repeatedly called for an end to the war and denied being pro-Putin he has previously suggested the invasion of Ukraine was ‘perhaps in some way provoked’.
Asking himself in June last year whether this made him a supporter of Putin, he said: ‘No, I am not. It would be simplistic and wrong to say such a thing.’ He added: ‘I am simply opposed to reducing complexity to distinction between good and bad’.
The Pope denounced the injustice of war at the Christmas Eve mass last year from a wheelchair.
The congregation was there warned that the Pope was unable to stand for long periods of time due to pain in his knee.
The leader of the Catholic Church has for over a year suffered with pain in his right knee.
Despite last month saying quitting was not on the agenda, the Pope has progressively added to speculation that he would at some point stand down from his position should his health worsen.
He previously claimed to have signed a resignation letter in case of a deterioration of his health: ‘In practice, there is already a rule. I have already signed my renunciation.’
‘I signed it and said, “If I should become impaired for medical reasons or whatever, here is my resignation. Here you have it,”‘ he said, referring to Cardinal Bertone, to whom the letter was given.
In January, he gave a sermon on the ‘virtue of stepping aside at the right time’.
He said: ‘It is easy to become attached to roles and positions, to the need to be esteemed, recognised and rewarded.’
He continued: ‘It is good for us too to cultivate, like [Saint] John [the Baptist], the virtue of setting ourselves aside at the right moment, bearing witness that the point of reference of life is Jesus.
Kim Jong-un is joined by his daughter for a second public visit, this time to attend a military drill in North Korea.
The two were seen sitting close to one another on Thursday as the army practiced an attack on an unnamed South Korean base.
Kim Ju-ae, who is thought to be around 10 years old, abruptly entered the public eye in November and has since seen frequently by her father’s side.
There is currently speculation the dictator is setting the youngster up to be his successor.
The state denied Ju-ae existed for a while, but now she is often referred to as the ‘most beloved daughter’.
Both wore black matching overcoats for the exercise while Kim clutched a cigarette.
They were later pictured in arm chairs behind a large table while uniformed military figures watched over.
Kim told troops to be prepared at any time to ‘overwhelmingly respond to and contain’ the country’s enemies which he accused of making ‘frantic war preparation moves’, according to the Korean Central News Agency.
The state media organisation did not specify what types of weapons were used in Thursday’s exercise.
But some of the North’s newer short-range weapons, which would be used to target South Korea, includes multiple rocket launchers that experts say blur the boundaries between artillery and ballistic missile systems.
South Korea and the United States are currently preparing to kick off their biggest combined military training exercise in years.
They are working together to counter the growing threat of Kim’s nuclear arsenal, which he has aggressively expanded in recent years.
Kim changed North Korea’s nuclear warfare laws last year, when he made it legal for the country to authorise pre-emptive nuclear strikes where it may perceive its leadership as under threat.
On Thursday, he told his military they need do more simulated drills so they are ready to carry out their two main ‘strategic missions, that is first to deter war and second to take the initiative in war’.
Kim has ruled for 11 years now – and both his predecessors, his father and grandfather, ruled until they died.
Yo-yong, a top official at the Propaganda and Agitation Department, was even cropped out of footage of Jong-Un and his daughter at a recent football match.
Cheong Seong-chang of the Sejong Institute said Kim’s daughter suggests a ‘power struggle’ between the leader’s sister and the First Lady, Ri Sol-ju.
People with knowledge of the situation claim that Saudi Arabia is relying on the United States for security assurances and assistance with its civilian nuclear program in exchange for normalizing relations with Israel, setting up a crucial decision that could change the Middle East’s political landscape.
The conversations are ongoing, and it was unclear exactly how any agreement might be structured if it ever materializes.
Several members of Congress, who have urged the Biden administration to downgrade Washington’s ties with Riyadh, would undoubtedly be adamantly opposed to increasing security guarantees for Saudi Arabia.
Still, President Joe Biden has placed importance on normalizing ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel, as has Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, who believe better relations between the two nations could help increase security in the Middle East. Israel and Saudi Arabia have been cultivating unofficial ties for several years, though remain without official diplomatic relations.
“The better the relations between Israel and their Arab neighbors, the better for everybody,” Biden said Friday at the end of a speech about the economy.
Israel has already secured diplomatic agreements with other Arab nations, including Morocco, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. The Abraham Accords were a signature achievement of the Trump administration and Biden has vowed to build upon them, particularly as Iran’s nuclear program advances.
A spokesman for the US National Security Council declined to confirm Saudi Arabia was seeking security guarantees from the US, which were reported earlier by the Wall Street Journal.
Instead, John Kirby, the strategic communications coordinator at the NSC, pointed to accomplishments Biden secured when he visited Israel and Saudi Arabia over the summer.
“The President’s trip to the region accomplished a lot,” said Kirby, citing an agreement on contested Red Sea islands and a recent announcement by Oman it would allow Israeli overflights.
“We’re going to keep that diplomacy going,” he said.
The State Department did not reply to a request for comment. The Israeli Embassy in Washington had no comment.
The consequences of a US-brokered agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia could be widespread. It would throw into doubt the future of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, which has seen renewed violence in recent weeks under Israel’s right-wing government.
US officials also believe normalizing relations would provide heft to a regional counterweight against Iran, which has advanced its nuclear enrichment over the last year.
Last year, Biden promised Saudi Arabia would suffer “consequences” after the Saudi-led OPEC+ oil cartel unexpectedly announced it would cut production, though the Biden administration has no plans to take proactive steps to punish – let alone significantly reorient its posture toward – the oil-rich Middle East kingdom.
On Friday, Saudi Arabia and Iran announced that they had agreed to reestablish diplomatic ties after seven years of hostility, in a deal between regional archrivals that could have wide-ranging implications for the Middle East.
Riyadh and Tehran plan to reopen their embassies in an agreement mediated by China, a joint statement by Saudi Arabia and Iran said on Friday.
Kirby said Saudi officials had kept the White House informed on the talks as they progressed. But he downplayed Beijing’s role in brokering the agreement, saying the roadmap to reestablishing ties also included talks in Iraq and Oman.
Pamela abductors still alive and behind bars – ZCS
The Zambia Correctional Service (ZCS) would like to refute media reports published by News Diggers in their edition dated 10th March, 2023 purporting that one suspect in the abduction case of Pamela Chisumpa and 12 others has escaped from custody, one was shoot dead and that another fell and sustained a fractured backbone in their attempt to escape.
The Service would like to assure members of the public that all the suspected abductors are safe and still accounted for under our custody contrary to sensational reports from some sections of the media.
Further, members of the public are hereby informed that the Zambia Correctional service has robust strategies aimed at curbing escapes. The Service in line with its strategic objectives has a zero tolerance to escapes and has firm stance on escapes which include stern sanctions on officers who through complacency, negligence or otherwise contribute to security breach. A number of officers who have been found culpable have since been suspended from duty.
On the other hand, the Service has a policy of promotion of Officers who go an extra mile and who through personal commitment, dedication and courage successfully recapture any escapee particularly inmates who have been at large for a long time. This is not withstanding regular aggressive escape routines to recapture any inmate that may have escaped from lawful custody.
In addition, the Service has initiated a whistle blower policy and rewards informers who avail information leading to successful recapture of escapees. In this regard we call upon members of public with information on escapees from many years back to report to the nearest Correctional Center and that a monetary reward of K 5000.00 (Five Thousand Kwacha) will be given to the informers and whistleblowers while protecting their identity.
With the foregoing, the Zambia Correctional Service would like to sound a strong warning to would be escapees, members of the public and individuals with the intention of aiding and or are harboring escapees that the long arm of the law will soon catch up with them.
In the same vein the Service is appealing to the media to be mindful when covering stories related to security as they have potential to jeopardize investigations that may be ongoing on and also cause unnecessary alarm. The Service appreciate concerns and support it continues to receive from the media and members of the public and would like to assure them of continued collaboration.
Further, the Zambia Correctional Service under the leadership of Commissioner General Mr. Fredrick Chilukutu wishes to assure members of the public that all inmates are in safe and secure custody.
Original Signed
Gillian Namungala Superintendent Public Relations Officer
ANALYSIS ON LUSAKA-NDOLA DUAL CARRIAGE WAY UNDER PPP MODEL
The term ‘public-private partnerships’ has taken on a very broad meaning. The key element, however, is the existence of a ‘partnership’ style approach to the provision of infrastructure as opposed to an arms-length ‘supplier’ relationship … a ‘public-private partnerships’ (P3s) involves a sharing of risk, responsibility and reward, and is undertaken in those circumstances when there is value for money benefit to the taxpayers.
WHY PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTINERSHIPS PPP
For economic growth and development, we need a lot of investments. Government could not provide enough funds for investments in public goods (infrastructures & services) Private Sector has a lot of capital for investments. If a system can be developed whereby private players can invest in public goods, they can help create investments, and also earn profits.
Thus, to develop infrastructures for development, the government needs to work out a system where private players can come in towards creation of public infrastructures which are traditionally provided by the government.
Let me define precisely the concept of Public Private Partnerships (PPP)
A Public Private Partnerships (PPP) is a partnership between the public sector and the private sector for the purpose of delivering a project or service traditionally provided by the public sector. It recognises that both sides have certain advantages and by allowing each to do what it does best, public services and infrastructure can be provided in the most efficient manner.
Therefore, PPP means an arrangement between government (or statutory entity or government owned entity) on one side and a private sector entity on the other, for the provision of
1. public assets and/or; and
2. related services for public benefit,
Now, through investments being made by and/or management undertaken by the private sector entity for a specified period of time, where
1. there is a substantial risk sharing with the private sector; and
2. the private sector receives performance linked payments that conform (or are benchmarked) to specified, pre-determined and measurable performance standards.
Therefore; A strong PPP allocates the Tasks, Obligations, and Risks among the public and private partners in an optimal way. In this context, PPP represent partnership in action with huge stakes for both the public sector and private sector agencies to succeed collectively. PPP is not about finance alone, but are also about improving the quality and efficiency of public services.
Concession
Let me briefly discuss a concession. In a more elaborated manner, a concession at most gives a concessionaire the long term right to use all utility assets conferred on the concessionaire, including responsibility for operations and some investment. Asset ownership remains with the authority and the authority is typically responsible for replacement of larger assets. Assets revert to the authority at the end of the concession period, including assets purchased by the concessionaire. In a concession the concessionaire typically obtains most of its revenues directly from the consumer and so it has a direct relationship with the consumer. A concession covers an entire infrastructure system (so may include the concessionaire taking over existing assets as well as building and operating new assets). The concessionaire will pay a concession fee to the authority which will usually be ring-fenced.
SOME COMMON PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS MODELS
What the private partners might do:
(i) Design-build-operate (DBO)
(ii) Design-build-own-operate-transfer (DBOOT)
(iii) Design-build-operate-maintain (DBOM)
(iv) Finance-design-build-operate-maintain (FDBOM)
BRIEF ANALYSIS OF LUSAKA-NDOLA DUAL CARRIAGE WAY
For an ordinary Zambian, definitely will agree that government has decided to use Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode of financing on the project because in a country like Zambia where unemployment is rampant, it is anticipated that PPP will generate jobs to spur social and economic growth.
Secondly, on political front, the erroneous financing model though will provide at least short term road infrastructure development as well as service delivery using private capital though not necessarily from private investments, it is necessary for citizens to be told that the choice for “private capital” is not as a result of fiscal debt left by the previous regime but a system of infrastructure development which is employed by various countries globally. PPP mode cannot rely on NAPSA or pension funds in a pure PPP scenario.
While the current state of the Lusaka to Ndola road remains a source of concern to all Zambians, indeed, the road is the backbone of our road network and critical in stimulating the much needed economic growth through increased trade within the country and the region at large. But again, one wonders why the government is now in a hurry to even use a wrong PPP model when they strongly critisised the development of the same road not long ago in opposition (are we going to eat roads).
However, the current scenario where Macro Ocean investment consortium to be represented by AVIC international project engineering company is planned to be engaged for the construction of the dual carriage way, leaves much to be desired. It seems government does not understand the concept of PPP and its accompanying Act properly because if one makes an analysis about pure PPP model, it’s evident that the private partner (AVIC) will not provide the capital required for investment especially in a scenario where the private partner owns the assets, sufficient enough to recover investment costs through user charges. Therefore:
1. Although in essence, the concession arrangement is that the private sector (concessionaire) AVIC is responsible for full delivery of the services including operation & maintenance, collection, management, construction and rehabilitation of the system, it has been understood so far that NAPSA will fund AVIC which is a private company to undertake the construction of the roads. This is not a pure PPP model;
2. The assets will be owned by the private company during the concession period and until after 25 years;
3. So far, the government seems not to have established standards to ensure that the concessionaire meet them; and
4. Because the concessionaire will collect tariffs from the users as determined in the concession contract for 22 to 25 years, it seems that the role of the government which in essence should shift from provider of service to regulator appears to be missing hence the public will suffer high toll fees and transport costs;
5. The public sector has not agreed or has no knowledge that it should purchase a minimum level of output produced by the facility
WAY FORWARD FOR LUSAKA NDOLA DUAL CARRIAGE WAY
Government should be advised not to be in a hurry just for gaining political expedient but to think of adopting the model of MANAGEMENT CONTRACT.
Management Contract:
1. It is the arrangement whereby the government contracts out operation & maintenance of public service (road, utility, hospital, port, water supply etc.);
2. The required infrastructure already created and the private parties provide working capital for daily maintenance;
3. The Government retains the assets, continue major capital investments and sets tariff;and
4. Private parties are responsible for management, and are paid for the costs of labour and operating costs and incentives.
POTENTIAL STRENGTHS OF MANAGEMENT CONTRACT:
a. Operational gains from private sector management;
b. Assets remain with the government and continue major investments; and
c. Contracts are easy to develop.
On the other hand, let government be advised by competent civils servants and not caders in order to ensure a viable and cost effective PPP mode is used for Lusaka-Ndola dual carriage way.
Given the enormity of the investment requirements and the limited availability of public resources for investment in physical infrastructure, it is imperative to explore avenues for increasing investment in infrastructure through a combination of public investment, Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) and occasionally, exclusive private investment wherever feasible. The use of PPP as an instrument of procurement for creation of infrastructure assets and delivery of public services has been recognised globally. Apart from bridging the deficit in financing of public projects, PPPs also brings new and cost effective technology for creation of infrastructure assets, managerial efficiency, competency for operation and maintenance of the created assets and the contractual accountability on the private party to ensure timely and quality infrastructure service to the end users.
CONCLUSION
1. There is need to develop a Model Concession Agreement for the road sector including Water Supplies, Power and various Services;
2. There is a need to work out a Viability Gap Funding Scheme/Guidelines for the road sector;
3. PPP activity in road sector is yet to make a meaningful impact in Zambia;
4. The absence of policy on Infrastructure or Service Delivery in Zambia has been one major hindrance to PPP implementation;
5. In view of the sparse population and difficult geographical setting, it may not be possible to take up many of the projects on PPP Mode. However, we need to explore avenues. Urban Sector projects, Power Sector, IT Sector for PPP Projects than start with the huge long road. A road is a public good. No exclusion should be entertained; and
6. Government should start with the formulation of new PPP Policy to kick-start the process.
POLICE ARREST A MAN WHO STOLE HIS LATE BROTHER’S IDENTITY TO GET EMPLOYMENT
By Correspondent Reporter POLICE in Mufulira on the Copperbelt have arrested Brighton Chanda who used his late brother’s identity to gain employment thereby denying his brother’s surving widow pension benefits from the National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA).
Last week struggling widow Musonda Kasonde 45, in narrated from her residence in Kitwe’s Kwacha township that she has been struggling with her four children since her husband Charles Chanda died in January of 2022 after NAPSA discovered that the NRC details she presented had similar details with another Charles Chanda who was still working in Mopani Copper Mines in Mufulira.
But Kasonde disclosed that her late husband was aware that his young brother whose real name is Brighton had used his NRC number to get a job in a company that was contracted in the mines some time back and had been pleading with him to change his NRC details but to no avail until he suddenly dropped dead last year.
“Apparently my husband did not want to take the matter to law enforcement officers because it was going to look bad with the family so he kept pleading and advising him to do the correct thing as it would bring problems in an event that one of them died but he kept dilly-dallying until my husband suddenly died,” she explained.
Kasonde said when Brighton decided to get his NRC, he told officers at the registration office that he was replacing his lost NRC with the same number but still used his late brother’s name.
“How this whole thing started is that a long time ago in ZCCM days, when a contractor won a contract in the mine, they will just call unemployed youths and employ them using NRCs, they called it icigumuna (mass employment). So that is how he came home, picked his brother’s NRC number and got employed, so when Mopani came, he was retained as chef at the mine mess on the same personal credentials, my husband used to tell him that he needed to drop his NRC and get his own but that he never heeded to that advice,” she narrated.
She said on the day that her husband died, his NRC temporarily went missing until her eldest daughter became so angry to attract the attention of other mourners when suddenly the NRC resurfaced from nowhere.
Kasonde said after her NAPSA ordeal, the matter was escalated to the Mopani Criminal Investigations department but the matter keeps going on and on amid collusion undertones.
“NAPSA have told us that the same names and details are appearing in two companies in their data base purporting to be the same person who has switched companies so they had difficulties.”
She said Brighton’s other surviving elder brother and relatives have tried but failed to have him own up.
Kasonde said an officer at NAPSA tried to plead with Brighton so that he quietly changes credentials but he rudely responded that “let the same dead guy change his credentials” and stopped picking her calls to date.
She said all the hopes were now on Solwezi based Peter Chishimba a close friend of the late Chanda who got the NRC on the same day as her late husband in 1990 to go to Mopani and NAPSA to testify.
This reporter called Brighton several times but his phone went unanswered as he had been doing to many others including his family members that had wanted him to own up.
This reporter escalated to Copperbelt Police Commissioner Peacewell Mweemba who immediately took interest in the matter but when officers went to Mopani Copper Mines, they drew a blank as they were informed that he was unwell.
But Brighton was picked up on Thursday night and is in police custody in Mufulira.
“The suspect was arrested last night. So the widow can go with his late husband’s NRC and death certificate to Mufulira and see the DCIO,” Mweemba confirmed.
United States Vice President Kamala Harris will visit Zambia in late March. This is part of an African tour that will take her to Ghana and Tanzania scheduled for 25 March to 3 April. She will become the 18th and most senior American official to visit Africa this year.
This visit will be the most high-profile as the US and Russia go pound-for-pound countering each other in Africa, as the war in Ukraine enters its second year.
Vice President Harris could set the stage for the eventual promised arrival of President Joe Biden, a vow he made at the US Africa Leaders Summit in Washington DC in December.
So far, first lady Jill Biden’s visits to Namibia and Kenya are regarded as the most high profile followed by that of US Secretary of Treasury Janet Yellen who was in Senegal, South Africa, and Zambia last month.
Edward Burrier, a senior advisor for private sector engagement at the US Institute of Peace, called the planned visits by American envoys to Africa “supercharged” because they were moving “beyond the typical secretary of state visits”.
Since January, by counting 17 including the first lady, the envoys have been to 11 African countries. Burrier in his analysis pointed out that visits to Africa show that the continent “will shape the future of the global economy”.
Although Africa has some of the world’s fastest-growing economies, democratic advancements sometimes stall because of insurgencies, corruption, and weak governance.
This issue is at the centre of US policy in Africa.
But it’s not easy, as the US faces traditional rivals China and lately Russia, which has managed to strengthen its relations that go as far back as the decolonisation of Africa in the periods between the 1960s and 80s. Any form of collaboration with Russia by African nations is seen by the US as a betrayal.
There’s not much travelling from Russian envoys with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the only high-level Putin diplomat to come to Africa. Still, Russia covers considerable ground in this dual of ideologies and policies.
Ann Garrison, from The Black Agenda Report, argued that “Africa doesn’t like to be pushed around”.
“African nations’ refusal to reinforce US foreign policy in the UN General Assembly is a case in point,” she said.
Fifteen African countries were among 32 UN member states that abstained from voting on a General Assembly resolution calling for Russia to pull out its troops from Ukraine last month.
Mali and Eritrea are the two African countries out of seven that voted in support of Russia from a continent contributing 54 members in the 193-member bloc.
Mali and Eritrea were not at the US Africa Leaders Summit. For Mali, it was because of its suspension from the AU for “unconstitutional change of governance” while Eritrea does not have diplomatic ties with the US. Since then, Mali has become closer to Russia and pushed France back.
The International Crisis Group (ICG) sees this decision by Mali as “avoiding the trap of isolation” by choosing Russia as its main military ally.
The Russia-Africa Leaders Summit at St Petersburg in July will provide an insight into how much Moscow has endeared itself with Africa.
Already, invites are being dispatched to African countries.
Media reports in East Africa say South Sudan, a country that was against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is one of the first to get its invite to the summit.
In his address to the AU in February, President Vladimir Putin vowed that this year’s Russia-African Summit would allow setting “new goals for expanding cooperation between the Russian Federation and its African partners in a wide range of areas, such as addressing topical issues on the regional and international agenda”.
Joe Biden and Kamala HarrisUS Vice President elect Kamala Harris with her grandfather in Lusaka in the early 60sKamala HarrisKamala Harris, back row at left, in an undated family photo. Next to her, from left, are her grandmother Rajam Gopalan, grandfather P.V. Gopalan and sister, Maya Harris. With them are Maya’s daughter, Meena, left, and Harris’ cousin Sharada Balachandran Orihuela.(Courtesy of Sharada Balachandran Orihuela)
University of Zambia UNZA students on Tuesday staged a protest at Parliament over poor sanitation at the higher learning institution.
The students, who marched to Parliament buildings to seek audience with Munali Member of Parliament, Mike Mposha, complained that poor sanitation at the institution had become health hazard.
University of Zambia Students Union (UNZASU), vice president Evelyn Mkandawire said the students were tired of promises that nothing but fake.
“We are tired of not seeing change and yet they are saying that they are working on things. We are the youths who stayed hours on end queues and voted because we believed in the change that the Government promised.
“We as the University of Zambia, the highest learning institution in Zambia where His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia is our patron, cannot be neglected to such an extent,” Ms Mkandawire said.
She said President Hakainde Hichilema should create a platform to interact with the students so that he could appreciate the challenges that they were facing.
“We cry to God, we don’t have toilets, there is no water in the ablution blocks and we use the toilets at East Park Mall. We are tired of suffering from fungal infections and Urinary Tract Infections, these things will affect us in future,” the students chanted.
They called on Government to complete the construct of hostels at the institution, which has taken over 10 years.
Meanwhile, Mr Mposha who is Minister of Water Development and Sanitation, assured the students that the sanitation situation would be addressed.
“I was told that you are marching here and I immediately established communication with your colleagues and immediately I said I was coming here to talk to you, I have also called the Minister of Education who is actually on his way. So what we are asking is that let us have a proper meeting in the campus,” Mr Mposha said.
Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Gary Nkombo pleaded with the students to return to the campus where they would be addressed.
Allow me to reintroduce myself just in a nutshell LADIES AND GENTS ;
HELLO ALL!
My full names are Watson Pachara Mapinda born on 23 August 1992 . I am 30 years old , turning 31 in August this year. I was born to a large Shona family in Chisamba which was part of Chibombo district in Central Province of Zambiā before the creation of new districts.
My Parents are full time Zambians whose citizenhood were acquired through birth.
I am the 7th born in a polygamy family consisting of 4 wives. My mother is the first wife , known in a polygamy setup as Amai Guru , a honorary title given to first wives.
A headcount conducted during our last family meeting indicates that we’re 54 family members currently living in Zambiā. The counting starts from my father down to his existing last grandchild.
I did my primary education at Nalufwi Primary School in Chisamba between1999 and 2005 before moving to Lusaka for my Secondary Education at Matero Boys Secondary School.
I am a Diploma holder in Business Management , a diploma holder in Consultancy and a Certificate in General Agriculture.
I worked at The Zambiā Revenue Authority (ZRA) as a cleaner for 9 months before joining a construction company as a site clark. I then worked for a Telecommunications company called LIQUID TELECOMS.
After my contract with LIQUID TELECOMS ended in 2019 , it was at this point that I assembled the little monies I had including what I sourced from my small hustles and bought my farm in Nangoma Constituency of Mumbwa district . It wasn’t easy for me to pull through because at the time my financial resources were limited.
I planted Maize and Soya beans for start. The harvest was fair however , and it enabled me buy a second hand old tractor.
In 2020 I moved to South Africa for greener pastures. I left my farm under the care of an assistant. I made a lot of money while in South Africa which I heavily invested in Agriculture back home.
I was always thinking of investment because I knew I won’t be young forever. I was always thinking of Entrepreneurship because I knew I won’t be an employee forever. With that in mind , I made sure that all the monies realized through farming and employment were not wasted but invested.
My agribusiness rapidly grew so I had to diversify it through numerous aspects. I added Poultry , cattle ranching , and goat Farming to the list of my farm projects. I started beef processing which saw the birth of a subsidiary I named MAPINDA BEEF MARKET. Apart from that , I also ventured into TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS.
Today the farm is highly modernised and boasts of different types of usable technologies.
In January this year , the farm exported 4.8 metric tons of edible watermelons to South Africa. It is also one the privileged farms that supply cattle ZAMBEEF.
WATSON MAPINDA – CEO OF MAPINDA FARMS , MAPINDA BEEF MARKET AND PACHARA LOGISTICS.
Donald Trump is releasing more than 150 letters from giants of world history such as Richard Nixon, Kim Jong Un and Oprah Winfrey, the former US president and his publisher said Thursday.
The “Letters to Trump” collection captures “incredible, and oftentimes private” correspondence between Trump and foreign leaders, media personalities, athletes and captains of industry.
“What do presidents, royals, celebrities, and business titans have in common? They all love Donald Trump,” Winning Team Publishing founder Sergio Gor said in a statement to AFP.
“Long before entering politics, Donald Trump lived an extraordinary life. No book highlights his iconic relationships like ‘Letters to Trump,’ and we are thrilled to be able to share it with our readers.”
Due for release next month, the book spans four decades of correspondence, revealing that Winfrey told the now-76-year-old Republican leader back in 2000: “Too bad we’re not running for office. What a team!”
The TV mogul had written to Trump — who is running to be the next president — after he sent her an excerpt from his book “The America We Deserve,” in which he said she would be his ideal vice president.
Winfrey, 69, reportedly tells Trump his comments made her “a little weepy,” according to US politics website Axios.
“It’s one thing to try and live a life of integrity — still another to have people like yourself notice,” she reportedly gushes.
– ‘Incredible letters’ –
Each letter is accompanied by commentary from Trump, who writes that he considers Winfrey “amazing,” according to Axios, but complains that “she never spoke to me again” once he announced his bid for the White House in 2015.
Many of the missives, hand-picked by the billionaire, come from fellow titans of pop culture at a time when he cut a more glamorous, less divisive figure as a property magnate and reality TV star in Manhattan.
Michael Jackson, Clint Eastwood and Shaquille O’Neal all loom large in the 320-page hardback, as does Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, who died in September last year.
Other letters come from past presidents Nixon, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama, and there is never-before-seen correspondence with China’s President Xi Jinping and North Korea’s Kim.
Trump’s exchanges with Kim famously prompted the ex-president to tell a rally in one of his more eccentric moments that he and the authoritarian leader “fell in love.”
Kim’s messages were among a cache of confidential government papers found in Trump’s Florida mansion last year that he is accused of misappropriating from the White House, sparking an FBI raid and an ongoing criminal investigation.
“Letters from Trump” — retailing at a whopping $99, or $399 for a signed copy — comes out on April 25.
Trump took to his microblogging platform Truth Social Thursday to tout the collection as “the most incredible letters that I have received over many years.”
Last year Winning Team Publishing, co-founded by Trump’s eldest son Donald Trump Jr, released the Republican firebrand’s coffee-table photo book, “Our Journey Together,” which chalked some $20 million in sales. AFP
XI JINPING BEGINS HISTORIC THIRD TERM AS CHINA’S PRESIDENT
China’s leader Xi Jinping has secured a historic third term as president from the country’s rubber-stamp parliament.
It follows a consolidation of power that has made Mr Xi, 69, China’s most dominant leader in generations.
In the Chinese system of governance, the functions of the president are largely ceremonial.
Mr Xi’s power comes from him being General Secretary of the Communist Party and Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC).
He was handed both posts at a party congress last October.
Confirmation of his third term as president had been widely expected. The naming of a new premier and various ministers in the coming days is considered more important.
The new appointees are mostly expected to be Xi Jinping loyalists. This includes Li Qiang, who is tipped to serve as Mr Xi’s number two.
On Friday, Mr Xi has also gained another term as the chairman of the CMC of the People’s Republic of China. There are two CMCs in the country – one is a party organisation while another is a state institution – but their make-up is usually the same.
Ties between Beijing and Washington remain testy, recently highlighted by allegations China had been spying on the US with balloons.
“Whether a strengthened Xi and increasing centralisation is sufficient to overcome these problems—or perhaps make them worse—is unknown and perhaps not knowable at present,” Ian Chong, a political scientist at the National University Singapore, told the BBC.
“In a sense, Xi is betting that centralisation under the party with him at the helm is a solution to these disparate issues,” he said.
The so-called Two Sessions of the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) this week is closely watched as it provides a glimpse into China’s direction in the coming years.
Since Mao Zedong, leaders in China had been limited to two terms in office. When Mr Xi had this restriction changed in 2018, it transformed him into a figure with a reach not seen since Chairman Mao.
Also on Friday, the national legislature appointed Han Zheng, a 68-year-old former Politburo Standing Committee member, as vice president.
The importance of the position varies since its functions are not fully defined. However, the last vice president, Wang Qishan, fronted Mr Xi’s anti-corruption campaign, Chong said.
Chances are that Mr Han will follow Mr Xi’s direction closely and enforce the president’s policies as necessary, he added.
ACQUITTED POLICE OFFICER RECALLS DAYS AS TAXI DRIVER AFTER DISMISSAL BY PF REGIME, THANKS HH’S GOVERNMENT FOR REINSTATEMENT
Sydney Musefwe served as Officer in Charge at Mwinilunga Police Station in 2020 before he was arrested and detained at a Police station. He was once a boss.
“I was arrested and detained at Mwinilunga Police Station where I was Officer in charge on 6 th May 2020 and I was charged for destroying evidence and Theft by public servant. After spending a night in custody I was given a police bond then we appeared before the magistrate court and denied the charges,” he explained.
As per procedure in the Zambia Police Service when one is under arrest, Mr. Musefwe was placed on interdiction and on half pay. He then left Mwinilunga and returned to his home town in Kitwe on the Copperbelt province.
He recalled stories circulating within the police service and community of him having K3.5 million, 3 houses in Parklands, Toyota Hilux twin cab and a fully equipped gym.
“It was very difficult for me to accept what was happening to me and was asking myself a lot of questions but couldn’t find the answers. During these trying moments some colleagues, friends distanced themselves from me and started avoiding me, while others among them my intake mates,some work mates ,relatives gave me all the support and encouragement, others connected me to men of God who gave me the spiritual support” Sydeny narrated.
In order to provide for his family as well as travel to Mwinilunga and Solwezi for his court case, he had to find a way to supplement whatever he was receiving from friends who stood by him.
“To enable me feed my family, meet transport to Mwinilunga then Solwezi plus lodging costs and legal fees I had to find a way of supplementing what I was getting in form of assistance from my intake mates, relatives, friends and workmates so I became a taxi driver as got used to shouting abaleya KMB” he said.
After some time, the Magistrate Court acquitted him of any wrongdoing. He has since been reinstated in the Zambia Police Service waiting for deployment.
“I thank God that after two years and some months I was acquitted of all the charges and thanks very much to James and Doris Legal Practitioners and Mr Mazyopa, a very powerful legal team” he said. From the ordeal, Sydney has picked out life lessons such as the need to always prepare for any eventuality in life.
“A lot of lessons learned from this situation.Dont let your rank, position, rank make you too comfortable, don’t look down on people in society because you never know who will come to your aid. Always prepare yourself for any eventualities” he said.
Lusambo never paid Tax for transactions on his properties
A Tax inspector at the Zambia Revenue Authority has told the Economic and Financial Crimes Court that Lusambo never paid taxes for all the transactions on his properties, for 17 years since he obtained a tax payers identification number (TPIN).
This is in a matter where Lusambo is facing 10 corruption-related charges among them one count of corrupt acquisition of public property, five counts of possessing property suspected to be proceeds of crime, three counts of tax evasion and one count of conspiracy to defraud.
He is jointly charged with his wife Nancy Manase for possessing four houses in Silverest Gardens, Chongwe which were suspected to be procceds of crime.
Enoch Ngonga told magistrate Faidess Hamaundu that Lusambo has never submitted tax returns
“Bowman Lusambo was registered as a tax payer on March 31, 2006. From this period, the documents are showing that no taxes have been paid from March 6, 2006 to March 6, 2023,” said Ngonga.
Anna Kabanda a chief registrar at Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources submitted a list of land title for Lusambo’s four properties in Ndola, and the other four in Lusaka’s Silverest gardens registered under his wife’s name.
Stanley Chenda an assistant inspector at Patents and Companies Registration Agency PACRA said Lusambo is a shareholder and director in Chichele FM limited, Chichele Investments limited and Mpongwe General Dealers.
He said according to the ePACRA system Lusambo incorporated for companies Chichele FM limited, Chichele Investments limited, Mpongwe General Dealers and Frontier Management Services Limited.
According to the details on the ePACRA system indicate that Mpongwe General dealers was incorporated on October 6, 2020 and directors and shareholders are Lusambo with 9, 000 ordinary shares, Nancy with 3, 000 ordinary shares, Chimuka Mweene Lumina with 1,500 ordinary shares, and Eddy Kakula with 1,500 ordinary shares.
He said Chichele Fm Limited was incorporated on November 26, 2020 and the shareholders and directors are Nancy with 2,500 ordinary shares, Eddy Kakula with 2, 500 ordinary shares, Lusambo with 1,000 ordinary shares and the secretary was Collins Changwe.
“Frontier Management Services limited was incorporated on January 31, 2017 and the shareholders and directors were Eddie Sinyangwe with 6, 000 shares, Musapila Sinyangwe with 3, 000 ordinary shares and the secretary was Patience Manase with 6,000 ordinary shares,” said Chenda.
“Chichele Investments Limited was incorporated on September 25, 2020 and the directors and shareholders are Chimuka Mweene Lumina with 1, 500 ordinary shares, Nancy Manase with 3, 000 ordinary shares, Eddy Kakula with 1, 500 shares, Bowman Lusambo had 9, 000 ordinary shares and the secretary was Victor Hollard.”
ECL WILL BE COMING OUT TO VISIT OUR HOMES – GREYFORD MONDE
…says some people are agitated with ECL’s public appearance because they have failed to deliver on their promises
Lusaka, Thursday, March 9, 2023 ( Smart Eagles)
PF presidential candidate Hon Greyford Monde has wondered why some people are agitated whenever former president Edgar Lungu speaks or makes an appearance.
Hon Monde said the movements and statements that the former Head of State makes are not political as some suggest.
He said the former President is a free citizens and he has the right to movement, expression, among other fundamental human rights.
This comes after president Lungu’s pictures went viral where he was checking the price of mealie meal in Shoprite.
“The last time the public heard a word from President Edgar Lungu, a man that I respect too much, there are very few people who would have immediately said well I think I am taking a back seat, can we get someone else to run on this position,” he said.
“Are we saying that the president should not go to Shoprite? So if you ask the people who think he has gone into politics, those people are not sincere, they are not being sincere with themselves because they failed to provide the service the promised the people. President Lungu would have been very happy to buy cheap mealie meal as promised, that it will be K50.”
Hon Monde clarified that despite former president Lungu being a national asset, he has a family he needs to take care of.
He further wondered why people are attempting to dictate the former president’s association, movement and speech.
“So he goes in Shoprite he tries to buy, he is captured, the pictures and then people are saying no he is doing politics. Must he not even know the price of mealie meal? Now that he is a state property? We know that when you go to see him he has got headaches on making sure that he attends to his family members in the village. Some of them need fertilizer which was promised at K250, some of them want mealie meal, so he wants to go and check what the price is. He is not in prison; he is a citizen of this country,” he said.
“He has got the freedom to move, associate and interact. He comes out anywhere and gives a statement and people are hurt. Two days ago he was at a church (BIGOCA) and he is given opportunity, the only thing he said is ‘today my devotion was shared to me by another Bishop and he told me read Luke Chapter 15:11-13.’ And he tells a story of a prodigal son.”
He said Social Media went buzzing after he finished reading the scripture with people saying he cannot do that.
“So they want to determine what he must say, they want to determine where he must go, they want to determine who he must associate with. He is state property but that does not restrict him from going to funerals, that does not restrict him from going to churches…Do you know why this is the subject now? It’s a subject because there is someone who has failed to deliver what they promised. For example, you found mealie at K120, you take the mealie meal to K220, K280, as we saw it in my village in Shangombo,” he said.
“Now, supposing the price of mealie meal was at K50 as promised and President Edgar Lungu goes there, looks at that bag, would that not have been positive? But do you know why he is getting attacked now? It’s because someone has failed to do their job. They would not be worried if they had done their job. He will be coming out, that I can assure you. He is not caged; the former president will be coming out to visit our homes.”
The recent events surrounding the Sacko Mine in Mkushi District have sparked concerns of high-level corruption in Zambia. Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba, the former Zambian High Commissioner to South Africa, has called on the Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the matter.
In a letter addressed to the Director General of the Anti-Corruption Commission, Amb. Mwamba highlighted the events leading up to the recent protest by youths in Mkushi. He said, “Recently, we saw news reports and social-media videos of a public protest by youths in Mkushi alleging that a local Copper/Manganese Mine called Sacko Mine was unfairly taken over by officials from UPND in Lusaka and from State House.”
The protest was centered around allegations of interference by State House Special Assistant to the President for Politics, Mr. Levy Ngoma. One of the protestors also claimed to have discovered that the mine was allegedly owned by the First Lady, Mrs. Mutinta Hichilema, and her nephew.
After the protest, there were drastic actions taken by the Police and State House. “Mr. Mubita Nawa, one of the close UPND officials, was fetched from Solwezi by the Police and taken to Mkushi. Police released an official statement where they stated that Mr. Mubita Nawa and another couple, Mr and Mrs. Isaac and Hope Kanguya of Makeni in Lusaka, were arrested on allegations that they had lied to Government officials that State House had issued instructions to let Mkushi UPND youths take-over the Sacko Mine. The trio was also accused of fanning protests that saw guards at Sacko Mine beaten and assaulted,” said Amb. Mwamba.
These events occurred between 1st February 2023 and 28th February 2023. On 28th February, 2023, President Hakainde Hichilema terminated the contract of Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development Permanent Secretary, Mr. Mooya Lumamba. Lumamba was only recently appointed as Permanent Secretary on September 7, 2022, after his predecessor Dr. Sakwiba Musiwa was equally fired.
“These dismissals may have to do with illegal activities occurring at both Muombe Mine in Chembe District and Sacko Mine in Mkushi,” said Amb. Mwamba. “The details of this confession can be found on this Facebook link for Hot FM,” he added.
During a recent interview on the “Red Hot Breakfast Show” on Hot FM Radio, UPND National Youth Chairperson, Mr. Gilbert Liswaniso, confessed that a Chinese national who owns Sacko Mine in Mkushi District offered him and others shareholding. The mine is now registered as Ndalumba Minerals Limited.
“A quick perusal and search of Patents and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA) documents show that indeed Mr. Liswaniso of NRC No. 123068/18/1 holds 1,800 shares. Lusaka UPND Provincial Chairperson, Mr. Obvious Summertone Mwaliteta of NRC 475567/11/1 also owns 1,800 shares,” said Amb. Mwamba.
However, the majority shareholder of ordinary shares amounting to 16,800 shares is Mr. Nixon Chibawe of NRC 810861/11/1, who is the nephew of the First Lady, Mrs. Mutinta Hichilema. “According to Mr. Liswaniso, he said these shares were given without solicitation. He didn’t explain the circumstances under which Mr. Nixon Chibawe, the nephew to First Lady, Mrs. Mutinta Hichilema, became one of the majority.
Meanwhile, United Party for National Development (UPND) National Youth Executive Member Francis Mwamba Kope has called on Zambians to respect the First Lady, Mutinta Hichilema, after she was accused of owning the Mkushi Sacko Mine. In an interview with Pan African Radio, Kope expressed his disappointment that the First Lady’s name had been dragged into discussions about the mine, and accused those making the accusations of acting out of malice.
“People can go to length and validate whatever they want to say but how do you validate information? You simply go to PACRA or Ministry of Mines and see whose names are there. It was pure malice. It was so sad. How do you bring the name of the First Lady to such a matter? Even mentioning her…I don’t want to mention her name on this particular programme. However, whoever was sponsored to speak…It was so fake, it was pure malice, it was an assault, an attack on those that mean well to the country and processes that have been laid down to do whatever we have to do,” Kope said.
Kope also addressed the recent protests by youths who felt they had been left out of the ownership of the mine, stating that he believed they were “hired guns” and had been influenced by outside parties. He emphasized that the ownership of the mine was a matter for the relevant authorities, and urged those who wished to own a company to follow the appropriate procedures.
” Yes, there could be someone influencing them. I think you can reason with me that it is a PACRA document and there is no mining licence that has been given at that particular mine. We wish that the best applicant takes that particular mine. If these guys are the best applicants, let them take the mine but obviously there are institutions mandated to give such documentations. When people complain, we need to listen but we need to have an understanding…if there are limited places say in broadcasting licenses and four people apply, those who didn’t apply can’t start crying that ‘why haven’t you given us a license and given it to that one?’ You need to a player and show that you have equipment,” Kope explained.
Kope’s comments are likely to be welcomed by those who have called for a more respectful and constructive debate about the ownership of the mine, and are seen as an important step towards resolving the issue. His call for Zambians to respect the First Family has also been noted by many, who have called for an end to the malicious accusations and personal attacks that have characterized much of the public debate in recent weeks.
“We need to respect leaders. We need to respect the first family. Never drag the first family in such discussions,” Kope warned.
MWIIMBU VISITS FUNERAL HOUSE OF A LADY WHO WAS MURDERED IN A LODGE IN NDOLA
Home Affairs and Internal Security Minister Jack Mwiimbu this afternoon visited the funeral house of the alleged murdered Choolwe Sichiyanda in Singonya area of Monze District.
The Mother to Choolwe pleaded with the Minister to see to it that the perpetrator does not go unpunished as the murdered Choolwe was the breadwinner in the family.
According to Zambia Police Service Choolwe Sichiyanda was allegedly killed by Justin Musonda around 04:00 hours in Ndola at alodege after she ended the relationship with him.
Copperbelt Police Commanding officer Peacewell Mweemba says the suspect has been warned and cautioned by the police and that a statement has been recorded.
He says Musonda confessed to have met Choolwe Sichiyanda in 2021 in Monze district and the deceased became his girlfriend.
“From that time he took responsibility for her basic needs and the two agreed to get married which would have made the deceased a second wife.
After some time Musonda discovered that the deceased wanted to marry someone else and that marriage arrangements had advanced.
On Sunday March 5,2023 he managed to convince her to come through to the Copperbelt Province so as to meet for the last time.
Musonda sent the deceased transport money and the accused who was in Chililabomwe then,went to the supermarket and bought a knife with the intent of using it to kill Sichiyanda as he did not want anyone to marry her, “He explained.
Mr Mweemba said on Sunday the duo became intimate but things changed around 05:30 hours as the man woke up and picked the knife and stabbed the deceased with 19 deep cuts all over her body with protruding intestines.
He said the body of the deceased is still at Ndola Central mortuary awaiting postmortem
Alpha and United Capital Fertiliser claims prove last year’s lessons have been missed
By John Phiri
Apart from being pre-tender arm-twisting to secure forthcoming 2023/24 fertiliser supply contracts, the grandstanding displayed by Alpha Commodities and United Capital Fertiliser over their self-proclaimed fertiliser distribution prowess , has also confirmed that they harbour no contrition regarding the impending poor grain harvest in Zambia, caused by last year’s haphazard farming inputs handling.
This awkward chest-thumping by the two firms also appears to be calculated to deflect the country’s attention from effecting a thorough post mortem of the 2021/22 and 2022/23 government tenders for procurement, delivery and distribution of fertiliser for the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP).
Which review should not gloss over the effect on the market of such matters as the single sourcing of Alpha Commodities for the $50 million tender, that gave this firm, said to be run by an ally of President Hakainde Hichilema, and husband of Information Minister Chushi Kasanda.
The review should also include critical issues such as whether delayed procurement of fertiliser in 2022/23 tender, which resulted in very late delivery of inputs, and the mad dash to complete the programme could have created conditions that allowed delivery of some sub-standard fertiliser.
For example, in parliament on Tuesday, Chilubi Constituency member Mulenga Fube asked whether the Ministry of Agriculture was aware that United Capital Fertiliser Company and the Export Group Trading (ETG) supplied sub-standard D Compound and Urea fertilisers to farmers in Samfya, Lunga, Lubansenshi and Chilubi areas.
In response to the question, Acting Minister of Agriculture confirmed the two firms supplied fertilisers to the districts in question, and that the Zambia Agricultural Institute(ZARI) had certified the fertilisers as having conformed to all local standards.
He also said ETG was a respectable firm that had operated in Zambia for 10 years, and whereas United Capital Fertilisers was recently established in Zambia and had “state of the art” equipment to manufacture fertiliser.
But running operations in Zambia for 10 years, for ETG, and installing state of the art equipment, in the case of UCF, do not in themselves guarantee the firms should not be investigated if farmers in these areas have complained about having received sub-standard fertilisers.
The Acting Minister of Agriculture did make a valid point when he stated that crop failure was not a matter that could be attributed solely to poor quality feriliser applied, since there were factors such as the four named areas falling in the very high rainfall regions of Zambia.
However, in the absence of an actual study to ascertain the specific factors responsible for crop failure in these areas, it is impossible for the Acting Minister of Agriculture to rule out specifically the quality of fertiliser, as complained of by farmers who received and applied it to their crops.
Surprisingly, other questions from opposition members of parliament were disallowed because they were “speculative as they were not informed by specific findings of a study”.
But The House seemed oblivious to the fact that the response by Acting Minister of Agriculture, which also did not quote a specific study ruling out sub-standard fertiliser from the factors that have caused this crop failure, was equally speculative. Among these questions was one from Stephen Kampyongo (Shiwang’andu) who asked whether a team was dispatched to ascertain the specific reasons for crop failure, before ruling out quality of fertiliser, and Hon. Mulenga Fube (Chilubi) who asked whether the fertiliser labeled “Lico” failed to interact with the acidic soils of these high rainfall acidic soils of these districts.
These are serious matters which the government and the whole country should focus on in the review of the two fertiliser tenders, before embarking on the new tender.
But last Saturday, United Capital Fertiliser (UCF) was crowing about having 52,250 tonnes of D Compound and 30,000 tonnes of Urea fertilisers already available in the country.
Chairman of UCF Chance Kabaghe also said his company plans to produce 200,000 tonnes of D compound locally, a claim meant more to continue to sway public opinion and provide government evaluators with prior justification for a guaranteed positive outcome in the forthcoming tender.
Remember, in last season’s tender UFC failed to make the initial cut of the six best evaluated bidders, which was later cancelled by a clever government instigated “violation”.
To improve its chances, UCF introduced the element of the future benefit of local production of fertiliser.
A strong lobby and well-timed launch of this local manufacturing operation followed, at which Vice President Mutale Nalumango nearly jumped with excitement, even when many already knew it was predominantly a ruse to secure UCF a contract to import fertiliser.
Therefore, for its part of the review of the last fertiliser tender, what UCF should be telling the nation is what quantity of the fertiliser it supplied was manufactured at its “state of the art” plant in Lusaka, and how much was imported.
Even in last week’s report, Kabaghe is not stating how much of this 52,250 D compound and 30,000 Urea fertilisers his company is currently holding have been manufactured by UCF in Zambia.
Instead he jumped to the bombastic claim of his company planning to produce 200,000 tonnes of D compound fertiliser. The question is how long would it take for his plant to produce this amount? Till the next millenium?
Kabaghe should spare the nation his stupendous claims and instead give accurate information on how much fertiliser his company is currently able to produce, per day, or month or year. Everyone knows that this so-called local production is simply the crutch he is currently using to lobby for contracts to import fertiliser.
Then on Monday, Alpha Commodities, run by the putative ‘Fertiliser Guru in Zambia’, announced it had set a record by commencing fertiliser delivery and distribution to Southern PRovince using a model that will make the commodity available “and affordable” to farmers throughout the year under FISP.
According to Alpha’s Ndeleki Miyanda, what they have started in Southern Province can be replicated in other provinces. Will model be imposed on all other suppliers or Alpha is set to take over more provinces?
But after reading the whole story, it was still unclear what record Alpha Commodities has broken, apart from being the first company favoured by the United Party for National Development (UPND) handing out the first single-sourced fertiliser supply contract to the tune of $50 million in 2021.
The model Miyanda is touting is simply the outworking of the advantages accruing to Alpha Commodities, kick-started by that $50million single-sourced contract which was paid for upfront, compounded by its guaranteed position as the only permanent fertiliser supplier, for the duration the UPND are in government.
Alpha Commodities, it also appears, has now been installed as the only company that can be allowed to supply deliver and distribute fertiliser to Southern Province. Is it not surprising that they are already delivering fertiliser in Sourthern Province even before the tender is advertised.
How does Alpha Commodities know that after the tender is evaluated, it will be picked to service Southern Province?
In case it has already been forgotten, last farming’s fertiliser procurement, delivery and distribution cannot be characterised to have been a success. President Hichilema has already conceded it was not, because it actually ended with some beneficiaries not having received inputs.
It started with a claim that it would be the most efficient ever seen, after “cleaning up the system”. But the opposite has been true. After kicking off with the promise of being concluded before the on-set of the rains, targets were then consecutively missed, and deadlines kept creeping into the following months, creeping all the way up to the end of November.
Thankfully, the rains were late in many regions, but even with this, confusion relating to eligibility criteria, and replacing old with new cooperatives, have compromised farming schedules for thousands of small scale farmers.
No amount of boasting or lobbying by Alpha Commodities and UCF can change the fact that this programme was mishandled last season.
There are also lessons to be learnt about the negative impact of politics and cronyism on this programme, which has resulted in the Ministry of Agriculture announcing that low grain yields are expected this season.
Flooding has just compounded the government-instigated factors responsible for poor farm production this season.
And the tragedy is that these self inflicted problems had one simple cure then, and it is the same today – just open up the fertiliser tender to fair competition by all who have interest, and have built capacity to procure, deliver and distribute, and are able to offer competitive prices based on international market conditions and Zambian realities.
The infamous Lusaka-Ndola dual carriageway deal has raised public discontent and uproar; and following the ongoing public hullabaloo, Minister of Infrastructure, Hon Charles Milupi was compelled to issue a Ministerial Statement in Parliament. Unfortunately the minister’s statement has infact raised more questions than answers.
As stakeholders, we have decided to seek answers from the minister over this sham deal;
1. In every Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreement there are two sides, the public being government and the private partner being MESSRS MACRO OCEAN INVESTMENT CONSORTIUM which includes NAPSA and WORKERS COMPENSATION FUND CONTROL BOARD (WCFCB) among others. NAPSA and Workers Compensation Fund Control Board are quasi government institutions. In case of a dispute between the government and the concessionaire, for instance, if the concessionaire fails to deliver the project on time or according to the agreed upon specifications, there will arise a serious conflict because if government is aggrieved, it cannot seek legal redress in courts because government cannot sue itself since NAPSA and WCFCB are part and parcel of government. So can the minister tell the nation how government intends to guarantee the interests of the public and that of NAPSA and WCFCB in case the concessionaire fails to deliver the project according to the agreed timeframe and specifications?
2. In clause 10 of the Ministerial Statement, the minister states that the contract was awarded at “AN EXORBITANT PRICE of US$1.250 billion and this is in comparison with the contract sum of US$ 649,976,167.00.” Can the minister confirm that the reduction in the cost is due to the fact that the scope of works has changed/reduced and not because of price adjustment? Is it not true that prices of materials and all logistics required to build the road have actually increased? Can the minister avail to the Zambian people the Bill of Quantities (BoQ) for both the initial contract and the new one so we can compare and contrast the scope and cost of the works to be done. It is important that this information is availed to the public because as it is, we are not comparing like for like? We are comparing apples and oranges. If the scope of works is not the same then it is totally illogical and malicious for the minister to compare the two amounts.
Further, the minister is insinuating that there was corruption in the awarding of the initial contract; in-fact, he is insinuating that the initial cost/price was highly inflated, the question therefore that needs an honest answer is, if indeed the initial price was exaggerated, why has the government awarded the contract to the same contractor (who is part of the Consortium) if the contractor indeed exaggerated the initial cost? Does that make sense?
3. The minister in clause 42 of his statement states and I quote “besides that, NAPSA are not the only ones LIKELY to be approached for POSSIBLE investment in the project. They are just PART OF THE POSSIBLE funders.” According to the ministers statement, NAPSA has not yet committed to funding this project. In the absence of a conclusive financing arrangement, what criteria was used to pick the concessionaire and how then did government proceed to sign the contract with the concessionaire before conclusion of the funding agreements with NAPSA and others? What is going to happen if NAPSA decides to abandon financing the project? Has government been lying when it says that it has signed the deal with NAPSA?
4. As per clause 49 of the minister’s statement, we are guided by the total revenue over the concession period by the government share of total gross revenues of US$ 432 million, and using an average of 10% (as stated in clause 48 i.e range of 1.5% to 15%), the concessionaire will collect a total amount of US$ 4.321 Billion. After deductions of envisioned accrual to government (US$ 1.172 Billion), Repayment of loans to the financiers of approximately US$ 1.000 Billion(including interest) and future maintenance costs of approximately US$ 300 million, the gross revenue accrued to the concessionaire will be colossal total of US$ 1.849 Billion representing 289% of the investment. Looking at the insane profits that the concessionaire will rake in, does this deal surely make any financial sense to the public? Why can’t NAPSA just pay the concessionaire for the works and then recoup its money and take in profit by taking over toll fees for the period of the concession than paying for the project and allowing the concessionaire collect the toll fees for the next 22 years? This way all the estimated 1.8 Billion profit will go to the public coffers and be used for other developmental projects.
5. In clause 35, the minister emphasizes that the deal is ‘’good” because according to him, there was no requirement for a sovereign guarantee. Ba minister, how could there be need for a sovereign guarantee when the money being used is public money, money for pensioners?
Looking at the above, this deal does not make any financial sense and must be withdrawn and redone.
Issued by;
Antonio Mourinho Mwanza
Media Director
Patriotic Front
Kenya’s Agriculture Cabinet Secretary (CS) Mithika Linturi revealed a deal between Kenya and Zambia that could see the cost of maize floor in that country drop.
Linturi, who was hosted by Zambian counterpart Reuben Mtolo in Lusaka on Monday, March 6, announced that the two countries would ink a deal allowing Kenyan farmers to grow maize in Zambia.
“I am happy the Zambian government has agreed to offer Kenyan farmers land for large-scale farming in Zambia. Kenyan farmers will in turn be required to export their yields back to Kenya in order to boost our food supply and security,” he stated.
The CS welcomed the commitment from Mtolo, maintaining that the partnership between the Kenyan and Zambian governments would lead to the realisation of food and nutrition security locally.
Linturi further explained that the new memorandum of understanding would lead to the reduction of the cost of maize and its products in the country.
“Based on the projections he shared with us, the farmers will be able to achieve the objective of bringing down the cost of unga because clearly, they got it right and there is something to learn from them.
“We will be able to work out a price at which they will be able to sell maize to the country at of course a much lower price than we are currently getting from the traders,” he reiterated.
Zambian farmers would also benefit from the deal as their government agreed to supply Kenya with their surplus maize in the short term.
Meanwhile, he warned the farmers in the country who caused an artificial shortage in the country by holding onto their produce with the hope of getting better rates.
He advised them to release the maize, stating that once the product from Zambia is harvested, they would be forced to sell it at throw-away prices.
Linturi expressed confidence that the six-month duty-free importation window would see the country meet its local demand for maize.
Currently, a 2-kg packet of maize flour retails between Ksh185-250. During his campaigns, President William Ruto vowed to lower the cost to Ksh70 once he assumed office.
In Ballycountry, it is 10 hours, August 24, 2021! Soon, the Kwacha will appreciate from K21 to K10 to the US dollar at 14 hours, when the best economist and the most intelligent President will be sworn in. In Zambia, however, it is March 7, 2023, and like koswe, President HH is busy smelling for “dollars” abroad while the Kwacha is at 21 to $1, and counting.
Despite winning the annual global lying contest, he finally said the truth so loudly, “black mamba interest” under which international debt is contracted sniffle poor nations from getting out of debt. Which economist didn’t know that? Only a foster child of the IMF/World Bank was made to believe that his predecessor’s refusal to sign off to the evil IMF deal was due to incompetence! Now the once celebrated “economist” has to helplessly watch as the Kwacha falls into disarray.
I called President Hichilema very ignorant when he boasted that the Kwacha was the best performing currency against the U.S dollar in the world. He wrongly attributed it to his leadership, yet every economist knew that the U.S dollar was at its weakest due to the Pandemic, the Ukraine War, the cooling Chinese economy and other global factors that led and are still leading to fears of a global recession. Moreover, the price of copper was at its highest. Currently, copper prices are low and the global economy is uncertain. HH has nothing to do with how the Kwacha performs–another reason he cannot do anything to arrest its depreciation. He can only hope for the best!
The artificial rapid appreciation of the Kwacha was chiefly due to HH’s love affair with the IMF/World Bank–they saw him as a fool who would dance to whatever he was told by those capitalist vultures. But this love affair has already led to some headaches–like Lungu, HH has refused to follow Bretton Woods’ recommendations on restructuring the Chinese debt. Why? Because like his predecessors, the negative economic effects on Zambians will lead to political instability of untold magnitude capable of ending his political career before 2026. So how will he negotiate the economic territory in which he thrashed himself?
The Kwacha becomes the victim. Just as the Kwacha gained after the IMF long awaited deal came through (foolishly at a lower rate of less than K15 to $1), the same vultures have to withhold their dollars–weakening the Kwacha under the premise that the strong Kwacha harms investors. But Zambia has to pay its bills, pushing the Kwacha even further down. Another reason Zambian financial institutions have to fund capital projects like the roads–the debt limit cannot be lifted without restructuring the national debt. So harsh times are coming!
The Bretton Woods institutions and China have one goal–making maximum profits. HH’s endless “koswe” trips won’t stop the Kwacha’s free fall as long as copper prices are low, the Chinese and US economies are uncertain, the war in Ukraine continues and chiefly Zambia’s debt is not restructured. To be fair, HH cannot be blamed–these factors are beyond his reach. He doesn’t control the US or Chinese economy, the war in Ukraine or copper prices. Sadly, just as HH unfairly blamed Lungu when the Kwacha hit 20 and counting to a dollar, his opponents will blame him. Because he took credit for its appreciation, he and his cronies must equally take responsibility for the Kwacha’s depreciation–unfair as it is.
Is it not time we understood the answer to the stabilization of the Kwacha? We need to move from a consumption to a production economy. The engine of Zambia’s economic growth is ourselves. Sadly we are the most ignored. Farming, for example, is profitable–so why not invest heavily in farming? It is foolish to even argue about how many bags of fertilizers each peasant farmer should get–if fertilizers were made cheaper and readily available and agriculture moved beyond maize to include flowers, horticulture, poultry, and animal husbandry, Zambia would be in the better position to compete on the world market. If local companies were empowered to build roads and other big capital projects, our economy would become stable. Sadly, we only reward foreign investors! No wonder President HH and Mr. Musokotwane can defend giving the Chinese company 700 million dollar-loan to build and manage our road for 25 years–knowing too well that the lifetime of Zambian roads are between 10 to 15 years!
In Ballycountry, economists are only qualified to work with foreign investors!
Twenty two Heads of State are expected to attend the Summit for Democracy slated for March 29 to 30th 2023 which will be co- hosted by Zambia, Costa Rica, Netherlands and Republic of Korea.
Ministry of Justice Permanent Secretary for Legal, Mwenya Bwalya says invitations have been sent to twenty-one countries including neighboring countries such as Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Botswana and the Republic of Tanzania.
Ms Bwalya said other stakeholders are expected to participate include Civil Society Organizations, Academia and parliamentarians from Zambia and the invited countries and is expecting to draw about 400 participants in total.
“So for purposes of the African leaders, we have sent out twenty one invitations to twenty one Heads of States so including Zambia, we will have twenty two participating. Aside from the Heads of State from Africa we are going to have other non-state actors participating as well,” she said.
Ms. Bwalya stated that Zambia has been given the opportunity to host and spearhead the African Region because of its good history of democratic governance and history of peaceful handover of power.
She said the co-hosts have equally been selected as a result of the leadership they showed in the year of action when the initiative was first rolled out.
“The March 2023 summit for Democracy is the second one that is being held and the reason for this is because of the strong foundation that Zambia has with respect to democratic governance and as a result of that, we were given an opportunity to co-host with other countries,” she said.
Ms. Bwalya added that the Summit will provide Zambia with an opportunity to showcase the strides it has made enhancing its democratic principles as well as showcase its ability to resolve disputes and respect the rights and freedoms of all citizens.
She has assured that preparations for the event have reached an advanced stage and that the venue and other logistics to hold the 400 participants have been settled.
“We have sent out invitations to the Heads of State as I had earlier mentioned, we have also ensured that we have sent out invitations to the panel moderators as well as panel discussants, we have drawn up letters for the various participants as we are looking at 400 participants and so we have secured the venue and the Ministry of Information is working on publicity materials and various ways of showcasing the event,” she explained.
The Summit which will be held under the theme” Free, Fair and Transparent elections as a foundation for democratic governance” is the second to be held, while the first one was hosted virtually by United States (US) President, Joe Biden in 2021.
STOP DECEIVING US ABOUT DEMOCRACY, FOCUS ON ENDING THE WAR IN UKRAINE
The United States will hold its so-called Democracy Conference in Zambia at the end of this month. But what for?
What can the United States, a country that that has initiated so many coups in Africa and other parts of the world, killed so many of our leaders and helped rig elections in many countries, teach us about democracy and elections? Its own elections are being disputed!
This is a shameful conference to hold in Zambia, a country that for a long time was the liberation centre of our region. Today, Zambia is being turned into a centre of neocolonialism with a puppet government, a lackey of imperialism.
We have been cheated, fooled, for a long time with rhetoric about democracy and freedom. It must come to an end. The American rhetoric about democracy should be dismissed with derision.
Let them leave us alone and focus on ending the conflict they provoked and are fuelling in Ukraine.
And clearly, whatever they say, whatever they do, Ukraine is heading for military defeat and will never be the same. The contortions that will be needed to explain Ukraine’s impending defeat will be something to behold.
If anything, this conflict has actually helped to bring Russia much closer to China. It has also helped expose the hypocrisy of the United States and the West.
Cynical and confected outrage in the West about Russia’s violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty conveniently ignores its own, more devastating crimes in Vietnam, Grenada, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and Syria. There is no mention of the West’s acceptance of Turkey’s annexation of northern Cyprus and support for Israel’s effective annexation of the West Bank and the Golan Heights, as well as its brutal blockade of Gaza. The West is not defending any moral or legal principles in Ukraine. Rather, it is opportunistically exploiting a tragic situation, which it helped to provoke for its own interests.
But events do not take place in a timeless vacuum. Historical context is always needed to make sense of them. Anyone who understands how the United States moved NATO relentlessly eastward towards the Russian border after the collapse of the USSR, despite assurances to the contrary, will not be surprised that Russia responded.
Those who are also aware that the United States has manipulated Ukrainian domestic politics since it promoted regime change in 2014 to antagonise Russia, will not be surprised that those who claim to defend freedom are being questioned by an increasingly cynical public suspicious of their own governments’ motives. Anti-war rallies have just begun in Europe and are likely to spread around the world.
SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER STEALS $1MILLION TO FUND LAVISH LIFESTYLE.
A social media influencer pleaded guilty Monday to using identities she stole to obtain more than $1 million in pandemic relief to help fund a lavish lifestyle, prosecutors said.
Danielle Miller, 32, assumed identities through the online Massachusetts driver’s license portal and other methods and displayed some of the cache from her scheme on social media, according to the U.S. attorney’s office for Massachusetts. Victims also came from Wisconsin and Arizona, a criminal complaint filed in the case noted.
Federal officials say hers is one of the more egregious cases of fraud that emerged from government efforts to recharge the economy in the wake of the pandemic, which locked down communities and businesses starting in 2020.
In all, Miller obtained $1.5 million through fraud, most of it related to pandemic relief efforts, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.
Authorities said in the complaint that, in September 2020, she used counterfeit ID to buy $2,390 worth of private jet airfare from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to the Los Angeles area.
There, she spent $5,500 at Petit Ermitage, a luxury hotel in West Hollywood, and posed for a photo in front of a Rolls-Royce at the Beverly Hills Hotel, according to the complaint. She posted an image of her with the car on Instagram with the words “She’s back.”
The next month, she used a pilfered identity to rent a Honda Civic, which was “abandoned” in Miami, it said. Inside was a document from the Florida unemployment department in her real name, the charging document said.
Miller pleaded guilty Monday to three counts of wire fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft, according to the U.S. attorney’s office. She is free on $100,000 bond and living in the New York City area, according to court documents.
A still-active Instagram account belonging to Miller shows her in photos posted last year wearing an ankle monitor.
Her attorney, Mitchell C. Elman, said Miller has accepted responsibility for her role in the offenses as charged.
Federal investigators started looking into Miller in early 2021, after an Abington, Massachusetts, woman discovered her identity was stolen; someone applied for a lease in her name, according to the criminal complaint.
Authorities then discovered $102,400 in Small Business Administration loan funds had been deposited in a bank account in the victim’s name, unbeknownst to her, the complaint said.
Authorities zeroed in on Miller by linking the network used to access the victim’s information on the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles site to a Miami high-rise, according to court documents.
“Unhealthy diets are a leading cause of death and disease globally, and excessive sodium intake is one of the main culprits,” the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared.
A first-of-its-kind WHO global report on sodium intake reduction shows that the world is off-track to achieve its global target of reducing sodium intake by 30 per cent, by 2025.
“This report shows that most countries are yet to adopt any mandatory sodium reduction policies, leaving their people at risk of heart attack, stroke, and other health problems,” he said.
To reverse this trend, the global healthy agency is issuing a call to all countries to implement plans for sodium reduction, and to manufacturers to set ambitious sodium reduction targets in their products.
Top risk factor
A source of flavour, as well as armed conflict over millennia, sodium-rich salt is now being over-consumed across the world to the detriment of health overall.
Sodium, an essential nutrient, increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and premature death when eaten in excess.
The global average intake is estimated to be 10.8 grams per day, more than double the WHO recommendation of less than 5 grams, or one teaspoon, daily. The main source of sodium is table salt (sodium chloride), but it is also contained in other condiments such as sodium glutamate.
Eating too much makes it the top risk factor for diet and nutrition-related deaths. More evidence is emerging documenting links between high sodium intake and increased risk of other health conditions such as gastric cancer, obesity, osteoporosis, and kidney disease.
Dearth of policy solutions Only nine countries – Brazil, Chile, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Spain, and Uruguay – currently have a comprehensive package of recommended policies to reduce sodium intake. The WHO report shows that only 5 per cent of the world’s population is protected by mandatory sodium reduction policies and 73 per cent of WHO’s 194 Member States lack the ability to fully implement such policies.
Saving lives through introducing cost-effective sodium reduction policies is an important component of action to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development target of reducing deaths from noncommunicable diseases, WHO said.
‘Best buy’ approaches
A comprehensive approach to sodium reduction includes adopting mandatory policies and WHO’s four “best buy” interventions related with sodium, which greatly contribute to preventing noncommunicable diseases.
These include reformulating foods to contain less salt and establishing public food procurement policies to limit salt or sodium rich foods in such institutions such as hospitals, schools, and workplaces.
In addition, WHO recommends front-of-package labelling that helps consumers select products lower in sodium and public and media awareness-raising campaigns.
Sodium ‘score card’
However, mandatory sodium reduction policies are more effective, as they achieve broader coverage and safeguard against short-term commercial interests, while providing a level playing field for food manufacturers, WHO said. As part of the report, WHO developed a sodium country score card for Member States based on the type and number of sodium reduction policies they have in place.
WHO efforts also include partnering with Resolve to Save Lives, a not-for-profit organization working with countries to prevent 100 million deaths from cardiovascular disease over 30 years.
‘World needs action’ Former top US health official, Tom Frieden, President and CEO of the group, said countries must work urgently to implement ambitious, mandatory, government-led policies to meet the global target of reducing salt consumption by 2025.
Such innovations as low sodium salt alongside other proven measures are among a set of tools governments can use, he said. To help raise awareness, Resolve to Save Lives recently published a global nutrition database for packaged foods, which includes data for 25 countries.
“The world needs action, and now, or many more people will experience disabling or deadly, but preventable, heart attacks and strokes,” he said. UN Health News
EVEN THE GREAT MICHAEL SATA HIMSELF SERVED MMD BEFORE PF
….and I don’t think the late President would agree with these retrogressive sentiments – Greyford Monde
Lusaka, Thursday, March 9, 2023 ( Smart Eagles)
As he continues to preach unity in the opposition Patriotic Front, presidential candidate Hon Greyford Monde has fumed following sentiments by some “founder members” against those that once served under the MMD.
Hon Monde questioned the reasoning of the senior members who are introducing the logic of the greens, the hijackers and the MMD.
He said denouncing those that once served under MMD is same as spitting on the grave of late President Michael Sata who also served under the MMD before forming the PF in 2001.
And the potential PF president assured members of the public that there could be waves coming but “I can tell you that we are going to manage this.”
He said the party membership will win the battle at the end of the day.
“It’s a pity that while we are trying to build, we have heard of recent circulations in terms of social media statements. In fact, I saw one of the tabloids I think has also quoted some of those things in terms of no this one has said this and that,” he said.
“It was expected somehow. You know, when you are a big family, they say even in my tribe that in a stomach of a woman, in a womb of a woman there will come different children. And so some of them, we cannot all think the same way. But I will tell you that as an organization, it is very clear that you cannot have everybody having to have joined a political party at the same time.”
Hon Monde said you cannot have everybody having to have joined the party when it was formed in 2001.
“2001 is how many years ago? 21 years ago. So 21 years ago, there are voters who could have been voting now at 18 years and they have been voting for now four years. They were not born in 2001 or maybe that is when they were born,” he said.
“So when you say only those that were there at inception, what are you saying to those of those people who are 21 years, 22 years, because even somebody who was born in 1996 would only be five years at that time. And who joins a political party at five years? Those who were born in 1990 were only 11 years in 2001, who joins a party at 11 years?”
He explained what it takes for a political party to grow.
“You go out to look for members to join you so that the party grows. So for me as an aspirant, when I win, I want every member to come. In fact, at this convention, I am going to ask every member who is a delegate and many of them, 90% of them were not even there at the creation of the PF… even me I joined the party along the way,” he said.
“And so for us to grow the numbers, I want everyone on board. I do not support terms like true green, frontrunner, hijackers, the MMD or the UPND as it were. I think if President Sata was here he would have disagreed to a larger extent with some of these sentiments. Anyone championing a cause to reject other members who joined the PF, which itself had the majority members coming from MMD including President Michael Sata… so to stay that today would be spitting at the grave of Michael Sata.”
Hon Monde further asked for calmness and unity to come from everybody in the party.
“Even those that have said these sentiments or those that are championing these they must stop because our work here is so much. We have a lot of things to do, we have a lot of problems to sort out, the country is not in good shape, that should be our concentration,” he said.
Panga showdown looms in PF as Kambwili vows it’s him or noone else
THE country might be in for some chaos and panga violence, characteristic of the PF as the fight for the former ruling party’s leadership hightens.
While former president Edgar Lungu is having dark corner meetings and plotting his comeback as PF leader, Chishimba Kambwili has vowed that he will not allow anyone besides himself to become party president.
Kambwili who as opposition National Democratic Congress president declared on national television in 2019 that it would take a combination of lunacy and madness for him to return to The PF, says he will not allow ‘newcomers’ like Brian Mundubile or Dr Chitalu Chilufya to hijack the party.
In a leaked audio conversation with former UPND vice-president Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba aka GBM shared on Kalemba yesterday, the duo who insist are PF founder members agreed not allow MMD hijackers go ahead of them.
Kambwili branded Mundubile and Dr Chitalu’s push for the PF presidency as rubbish saying there was no way he would kneel before them and call them, “your excellency”.
“So, us who suffered for the party from day one have no wisdom, only them (Mundubile and Dr Chitalu) have wisdom?”, Kambwili was heard saying.
“What special skills do they have that we don’t have for them to come and say only they can lead the party after enriching themselves using our sweat,” Kambwili wondered.
As for GBM, he said he would accept Kambwili, himself or Miles Sampa as PF presidents because he was very the duo would not forget him if the ascended to the Republican presidency.
Besides Kambwili, Sampa and GBM, five others including Mundubile, Dr Chitalu, Mutotwe Kafwaya and Greyford Monde are eying the party’s presidency.
However, after learning of Lungu’s desire of coming back, Monde said he would gladly leave way for the sixth republican president if he made his intentions official.
Although Lungu is yet to publicly address the matter, his close associates have told Kalemba that the former president is convinced that he is the only one who can give President Hakainde Hichilema formidable competition in the 2026 general election.
Lungu is now working out modalities of how he could return as PF president.
WE SHOULD NOT SACRIFICE OUR NATIONAL VALUES AND PRINCIPLES
Amb. Emmanuel Mwamba wrote;
I have noted a statement from the USA Embassy in Zambia.
We have to be firm as a country.
We should not allow foreign values and pervesion masquerading as human rights to be forced on Zambia.
It is imperative that foreigners that wish to cooperate with us as development partners must respect our national values and principles, and must help us promote and foster our laws, norms, values, culture and traditions.
Even as Zambia is being identified and fronted as a poster boy of Africa by the West and will be rewarded with official high-level visits from such countries and will host international conferences promoting Democracy, it must never come at the expense or expedient of sacrificing the soul of the nation.
Yes, Zambia will fight Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (S&GBV). But like other programmes such as Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (S&RHR) and Comprehensive Sexuality Education( CSE), these programmes must never be used to integrate the Agenda of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,Trans and Queer (LGBTQ)+.
This remains offensive to our laws, norms, traditional, religious and cultural values.
Below is the statement from the USA Embassy
USA Embassy Condemns Government for charging and arresting four LGBTQ Activists
■…Regrettably, rather than protect and defend those who stepped forward and spoke out calling for safety from physical and emotional harm, Zambian authorities instead chose to punish those they did not agree with. Let us refocus on the core issue at hand: ending sexual and gender-based violence against all people….
On International Women’s Day, the United States Embassy stands in solidarity with women across Zambia and the world in insisting on equal opportunities, rights, and protections under the law and in action.
Despite progress in many spheres, over the past year, Zambia has seen a notable increase in reported cases of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).
Women and girls are overwhelmingly the victims of such violence and the effects can have life-long impacts.
As in prior years, women – and male allies – came forward this weekend to peacefully exercise their constitutionally-guaranteed rights of expression and assembly. Not everyone may have agreed with their language or the symbols which a small number of them carried; this is often the case in civil rights struggles led by people from diverse, marginalized communities.
Regrettably, rather than protect and defend those who stepped forward and spoke out calling for safety from physical and emotional harm, Zambian authorities instead chose to punish those they did not agree with. Let us refocus on the core issue at hand: ending sexual and gender-based violence against all people.
The United States stands with women everywhere in demanding bodily safety and security from physical and emotional harm for all people.
We call on Zambia’s leaders to take action against sexual and gender-based violence; to focus resources on preventing SGBV and holding perpetrators accountable; and to ensure all people realize the full and equal freedoms, rights, and protections they are guaranteed under the law.
Compensate me for the hypertension I had after gun was pointed at me, Tayali asks State
Minister of Transport and Logistics Frank Tayali is seeking compensation from the State over the hypertension he suffered when a police officer attempted to shoot at him in 2020 whilst accompanying President Hakainde Hichilema to police force headquarters for questioning.
Tayali wants the Lusaka High Court to award him damages for the aggravated assault he was subjected to by the officer who pointed a gun to his head for inquiring why the Head of State’s entourage was blocked on their way to the police.
In his statement of claim the UPND Ndola central member of parliament, said that he was wrongfully assaulted by a trigger-happy police officer on December 23,2020 at the cenotaph in the vicinity of cabinet office.
Tayali stated whilst the Head of State’s entourage was en-route to the police headquarters, police officers blocked their convoy at Cabinet Office.
He stated that he stepped out of his vehicle whilst waving his hands to find out why the police had blocked all roads leading to Force headquarters but to his surprise, the excited officer pointed an An AK-48 riffle to his head whilst threatening his his life, thereby instilling fear in him.
He stated that as a result of the assault, he suffered from hypertension, whicn was aggravated by the actions of the police officer.
” The Plaintiff was placed in a state of fear because of violence, which was compounded prior to incidents of police brutality and extra-judicial killings,” Tayali stated.
He lamented that he was subjected to a near-death experience which has since left him traumatized and distressed.
The plaintiff stated that he experienced a near-death experience, which was traumatic and caused him great distress.
Tayali through his lawyers Messrs ZS Legal Practitioners wants the State to award him damages for aggravated assault and an order compelling the Attorney General to award him interests on the sums found due at the current lending bank rate.
UPND HAS NOT ONLY SOLD OUR MINERAL RIGHTS BUT OUR BIRTH RIGHT – MOURINHO
… says they have gone ahead and sold Zambia’s national and cultural values, and the very soul of the nation
Lusaka, Wednesday, March 8, 2023 ( Smart Eagles)
UPND government has sold our national values, says PF Media Director Antonio Mourinho Mwanza following Sistah Sistah protests.
Speaking when he featured on UNZA Radio yesterday, Mr Mwanza slammed the government of “angels” for letting “perverts” protest for the recognition of the abominable “rights” in a Christian Nation.
He wondered why the police even accorded the said protesters permit, escort and protection.
“First of all, this government has not only sold our mineral rights and our birth rights. They have gone ahead and sold our national values, our cultural values, and they have sold the soul of this country. I can’t believe that barely weeks after the President addressed the nation on the values and principles of this country, he could allow a situation where a group of perverts would take over our streets with police permission and police escort, take over our streets and start hailing out insults and doing all sorts of despicable things and the President and his government allowed that, it’s unbelievable,” he said.
“First of all, let me very categorical. It must be made very clear that the police, the Zambia Police gave permission to those protesters. The police provided escort and protection to those who were protesting. You can see that this was endorsed and this was given a go ahead by the highest authority. It was given authority by the highest authority. If it was not given authority, how come the police gave them authority? How come the police gave them protection if it didn’t come from that level?”
Mr Mwanza revealed that he UPND belongs to the liberal democrats.
“…they belong to an institution run by the liberal democrats. This institution, one of the core values of this institution is to advocate the said rights and UPND is a member of that institution. This issue was brought into Parliament by our late gallant soldier, Tutwa Ngulube (MHSRIP), he challenged ba Jack Mwimbu over the membership of the UPND to this liberal institution,” he said.
“So UPND as a political party belongs to an institution that tolerates, embraces and promotes g@y rights. UPND as a political party is pro gray right party, this must be put in black and white. This was the reason why the first thing they did was to remove the ministry of religious affairs and national values because it works against their values and belief in lesbian and gay rights. So they had to scrap it off.”
And Mr Mwanza said the UPND government does not love anything to do with the church.
He reminded Zambians how the UPND while in government used to “run away” from national prayers.
“And if you look at the UPND even when they were in UPND, nkhani ya church sibaikonda. Every time we asked ba UPND kubwela kumapemphelo pa 18 October benzothaba. Even just recently, on 18 October, President Sammy Hichilema anathaba kumapemphelo. First it was Lusaka July…and remember what the UPND did to Dr Brian Sampa when he went to protest abominable rights. The police moved in,” he said.
“These that were protesting for these rights, instead of the police arresting them, they escorted them. Instead of arresting them, they were protecting them. And they have released a statement. Ba Chushi, sometimes niku nkhala chabe, mwankhala chabe kunyumba, nga mulibe vochita, just sit, munawina kudala there is no loss. She says government doesn’t promote such rights. Give us a break, if you don’t promote them, why did police arrest Dr Sampa over his protest.”
LEAKED AUDIO OF PF OFFICIALS DEMONIZING MEMBERS DISGUSTS MIKE MANDA
…as he slams Dr Kambwili over the alleged negative sentiments against party members who came from MMD prior to joining PF
Mufulira, Wednesday, March 8, 2023 ( Smart Eagles )
Former PF Copperbelt Provincial Vice Chairperson Mike Manda has castigated Dr Chishimba Kambwili over his alleged retrogressive sentiments towards party members who once served under MMD.
In a leaked audio which has been taking rounds on different media platforms, Hon Kambwili is purportedly heard demonizing those said members.
But Mr Manda said it is shocking and very disappointing that senior members of the party can come out like that.
“And truly, I can safely say that the rebranding that we are praying for is finally coming because people in the structures and people in Zambia will judge the caliber of leaders that aspire to take the responsibility of the President in our party,” he said.
“I want to mention it to them the two leaders that it is no more an idea that they should label their colleagues to be MMD. Everyone who has joined PF is PF and that must be known to them. We have not heard any word against those that had left PF. Some of you went to UPND, some of you joined NDC, we are aware of those things.”
He said Dr Kambwili should have exhibited wisdom in the way he conducted himself.
Mr Manda reminded the senior member of the party of how he was welcomed back in the party after he had left for UPND.
“Truth be told, we welcomed you when you came back to PF and you joined the party and we supported the idea because in politics, numbers matter a lot. It is totally dissappopinting that Mr Kambwili has totally forgotten what led to the PF losing power. It is this kind of leadership that he is exhibiting today,” he said.
“And I feel for him because today he should have used a lot of wisdom in trying to convince people that he is a changed person, he is a changed leader, he should have exhibited a lot of wisdom. But we are lucky as PF because God has exposed this kind of leadership, God has exposed the true picture of some of these leaders we have in our party.”
He said the party needs a sober leader.
“I now agree that indeed, some of these leaders must take leave and allow people to choose leaders who will propel the good agenda to govern the party well. I also want to share my opinion to them of the kind of leadership that we need in PF. Number 1; we need a sober leader, one who has so much respect for everyone regardless of the positon. 2; we need to a leader who is going to attract noble things from the general membership, noble things from the Zambian people because aspiring to become a leader in PF is as good as aspiring to be a leader in this country,” he said.
“Because PF is a big political party, a former ruling party and the largest opposition party as we speak today. Three; we must have a leader who should match or even go beyond what is being exhibited in the ruling government today.”
Mr President, you’ve betrayed people by embracing hypocrisy – Sumaili
By Fanny Kalonda
FORMER religious affairs minister Godfridah Sumaili has written an open letter to President Hakainde Hichilema on the gay rights protest held over the weekend.
In the letter, Reverend Sumaili said the President has betrayed the people by embracing hypocrisy instead of truth.
She said homosexuality is illegal in Zambia and wondered how the “activists of the pervasive, abominable and illegal homosexuality” could be covered and protected by State Police an institution of good governance.
“It is with a heavy heart and great disappointment that I write this letter to you publicly. Sir it is the people of Zambia who gave you a rare opportunity to rule over them. Respect and honour them. They are your boss and you are a servant. The people of Zambia decided that Zambia as a Christian nation should be founded on the values and principles of Christianity which are aligned and in concert with the national values and principles enshrined in the supreme law of the land, the constitution,” she said.
Rev Sumaili said Zambians are demanding answers from government.
“Mr President you are the custodian of the Constitution of Zambia. You swore publicly to respect and protect the laws of the land. You committed to rule with the fear of God and rule of law,” reads the letter in part. “What have you done Mr President? You have betrayed the people of Zambia by embracing hypocrisy instead of truth. Homosexuality is illegal in Zambia. How can the activists of the pervasive, abominable and illegal homosexuality be covered and protected by State Police an institution of good governance?”
Rev Sumaili said Zambia has a rich culture which needs to be respected and protected.
“Sir what has happened in our Christian nation is sinful and shameful. The people of Zambia are demanding answers from your government. Mr President, Zambia has a rich culture which needs to be respected and protected,” she said. “Our children, grandchildren and future generation deserve a peaceful, prosperous and Christian nation.”
On Saturday, protesters convened by Sistah Sistah Foundation Zambia gathered for a march-past to “raise awareness on violence against women and girls’ sexual and gender based violence”.
But police in Lusaka summoned the organisers of the protest to ascertain why the event was turned into a forum for championing homosexuality when the convenors applied for a permit to hold a march-past within Lusaka district to raise awareness against women and girls’ sexual and gender based violence.
WHOEVER IS DECEIVING FORMER PRESIDENT LUNGU SHOULD STOP
“There seem to be a growing belief amongst PF supporters that former president Lungu could bounce back to power.
Please stop propping up Mr Lungu and allow him to rest. He did what was humanly possible in his capacity for this country and the people of Zambia retired him.
The situation may seem dire right now, but Mr Lungu bequeathed us this broken down country. He handed over this country to the friends who destroyed the very fabric of our democracy.
His cadres and his friends ransacked this country. They created a system that alienated most Zambians and made them feel like third class citizens.
Mr Lungu grabbed bursaries from vulnerable but viable students. Do you recall 3 student’s commitment suicide because they were denied bursaries?
Is that what Mr Lungu and his supporters want to bring back? Does he intend to also bring back those panga wagging cadres? To come and create the terror that we saw previously?
Yes, Mr Lungu has a democratic right to aspire for public office, but he should remember that the Zambians gave him an opportunity and he used it to enrich himself at the expense of the vast majority.
He should remember that during his tenure, retirees went unpaid for countless years while he frivolously pursued a gluttonous lifestyle.
Is that what Mr Lungu want to bring back? Does he want the lawlessness that he himself confessed happened during his time to come back?
To what end? What is the motivation? Does Mr Lungu realize his actions made us be where we are today? It’s easy to blame the current administration, but failure to plan is planning to fail. Mr Lungu failed to plan for this country.
Him and his colleagues borrowed carelessly and then mismanaged those resources. The damage he caused to this country is irreversible. We are here today because of him.
If Mr Lungu love this country, let him stay away from politics and public life. Let him retire in peace and enjoy his newly found wealth.
If Mr Lungu thinks he is popular, let him test the people of Zambia. He will be badly embarrassed and disgraced. Those propping him up will disappear in no time.
Please Mr Lungu, give the people of Zambia a chance to recover and heal from your 7 years misrule.
We have challenges, yes we all agree. The new administration has a lot of work to address these problems and they are doing their best. The results might not be immediate but surely this country will be far much better by the end of the first term of the current president.
We have so far achieved basic macroeconomic stability. We have achieved the rule of law and respect for human rights and liberties. There is order in markets, bus stations, and all councils.
We have free education, increased bursaries, student meal allowances, pensioners are being paid their monies and there is predictable pay day for all public workers now.
Once the debt Mr Lungu and his colleagues entangled us with is restructured, this country will be on speed recovery. I must confess it won’t be overnight but, by 2026, we will have the positive signs of recovery.
For the sake of a better Zambia, for the sake of a peaceful Zambia, for the sake of a prosperous Zambia, please Mr Lungu, stay away from politics.”
As the country continues witnessing numerous “strange” deals under the New Dawn Administration, the opposition Patriotic Front has labeled the Ndola-Lusaka Dual Carriage Way deal as a daylight robbery.
PF Media Director Mr Antonio Mourinho Mwanza has struggled to understand the kind of deal the government of “angels” is striking that provides for the contractor to get toll fees for the next 25 years.
Mr Mwanza said this is because the deal is getting the funding from NAPSA.
He said this when he featured on UNZA radio today.
“Money for pensioners, that is the money they have gotten and given their Chinese friends to build a road from Ndola to Lusaka. And then these Chinese friends of theirs who a building a road using our own money from NAPSA are going to collect the toll fees for the next 25 years. In simple terms, it’s like mwayenda kumanga nyumba, mwatenga bricklayer, mwamulipila, nimangile nyumba, mwamupasa ndrama mwamupasa. Bricklayer asiliza kumanga nyumba then mwamuuza ati azankala landlord, azayamba kutenga ma rates for the next 25 years,” he said.
“It is daylight robbery, it shows of recklessness, the level of disregard for the Zambian people this government has to get money for pensioners, money for the Zambian people, give it to their Chinese friends to build a road and use the next 25 years for those Chinese friends to collect the toll fees. So tafa pabili. First of all, batenga ndalama zatu. Number two, tafa futi batenga ma toll fees yathu. We have never heard if such a crooked wicked deal in the history of this country. Why didn’t NAPSA for instance get that money, give it to ZRA to construct the Ndola Lusaka Dua Carriage Way?”
Mwanza said citizens would have gotten their money back had government engaged ZNS to build the road.
He however disclosed that PF is demanding for the cancellation of the deal.
“Because if NAPSA had given the money to ZNS, all the toll fees would have come back to us the people of Zambia through the collection of toll fees by the RDA and NRFA. Why should we get our own money, build our road and get the toll fees and give to the foreign company which built the road using our money? For us as the Patriotic Front we want to demand that this concession that government has signed should not go ahead,” he said.
“It’s a corrupt deal, it stinks of corruption, it doesn’t make any sense to the Zambian people, the Zambian people have been made to pay twice and this has never happened. And I am surprised that there are people who still want to justify this deal. Kulibe munthu wamene anatenga ndalama amanga nyumba, elo apasa bricklayer we akumangila nyumba malamulo ati no iwe manje bricklayer, uzankala 25 years ndiwe uzayamba kutenga ma rent.”
Meanwhile, Mr Mwanza warned the UPND officials that their days of perpetrating financial illegalities are numbered.
He tipped them that the investigative wings will be on them in 2026 seeking explanations as to what roles they played in the respective deal.
“This is the crime against the Zambian people. This is an abuse of authority and all those that involved in the abuse of authority towards this deal, all of them, should start counting their days, months. 2026 nipafupi maningi, they will start visiting DEC and ACC. They will start going to joint investigative teams to explain the roles that they played over this deal,” he said.
“Right now they feel comfortable. Right now they can do whatever they want. They can steal suggilite, they can steal manganese, they can steal our money through shady deals, but times are coming when they will be accountable. Where is the President on this? The President is quite. I have never seen a President who is quite on the issues that affect the Zambian people as this President. This is a President who said he will do things differently. But this President is doing the exact opposite of what he told the Zambian people.”
WE ARE NOT AGAINST THE NDOLA-LUSAKA DUAL CARRIAGE WAY PROJECT
…we are against the manner in which the New Dawn has decided to build this road – SP
Kitwe, Tuesday, March 7, 2023 ( Smart Eagles)
The Socialist Party (SP) has expressed displeasure with the manner in which the government of “angels” is handling the Lusaka-Ndola Dual Carriage Way.
Socialist Party Spokesperson Frank Bwalya wondered when he held a briefing in Kitwe today as to why a company with no resources would be given such a contract.
Mr Bwalya said the 25 years in which the contracted company is expected to be collecting the toll fees is too much.
He said this despite revealing that the party has no problem with the project in general.
“We wonder why a company with literally nothing would come to Zambia, say they will build a road for us and they will use our money, and after building the road for us after using our money, they are going to own that road, collect toll fees, in other words pay themselves for 25 years. There is a component of maintainance in that 25 years but that road will not be what it would have been 25 years before” he said.
“We wonder why this government has decided to take that route. As you all know by now, they are going to borrow over 80% of the money that is required from our money. And when we say from our money we are not strictly talking about tax payers’ money. We are talking about money that belongs to Zambian workers, held by NAPSA…as compensation fund and so on.”
He warned Zambians that this is how capitalists operate.
“They come with nothing, they only register a company, they use your money, money for all the workers, money that you sweated for, you suffered for, that is the money that they want to use. At the end of the day, after using that money in that manner, they are the ones who are going to go away smiling and laughing. They are the ones who are going to make a lot of money in terms of profits. And they are not doing that for themselves, they are doing that for their children,” he said.
“So 25 years, after that road is done, the person, the young man who is going to be born on that day when the road is commissioned, by the time this company stops collecting the toll fees, collecting the money, that person, ndishi umutoto walipona, alisunka, aliamfula kale, alyenda, alipwisha na grade seven na grade nine, Aliya naku university, alingila nenchito, abombako limbi na three years. We thought that we should put it that way so that some that may think this 25 year is a short period, can realise…”
As he reminded citizens that President Hakainde Hichilema was against middle men when he was in opposition, Bwalya tipped Zambians that there are now middle men in the said project.
“When that road is given back to us, depending on when the project will start, I think I will be 85. Zambia will require, perhaps 10 times or 20 times or even 50 times more, the money that will be spent to build that road, to rehabilitate it, or build it afresh,” he said.
“HH is a businessman and what they are going to do is capitalist. Although they are saying they are being methodical, it’s all about betraying our people. We are not against the project. We are against the manner in which the New Dawn has decided to build this road.”
SACKO MINE IS MINE, I WAS CHASED BY KELVIN SAMPA AND OTHER PF THUGS-SACKO
PROPRIETOR of Sacko Mines limited Sacko Bassi has stated that the Mine was unfairly grabbed from him.
PF National Youth Chairperson at the time Kelvin Sampa and others are accused of having used the system to deport Sacko,a foreign national from Mali, who was resident in Zambia and married to a Zambian woman.”
“They accused me that I had insulted the Head of State and that I was supporting the Opposition(UPND) at the time.”
It’s called Sacko Mine because of my name. I am Sacko Bassi”.
When deportation orders was issued, he applied for leave to commence judicial review proceedings in the Lusaka High Court, challenging the State’s decision to deport him from Zambia without justification.
In his affidavit, through his lawyers Mosha & Company Legal Practitioners, Sacko accused Kasama MP and PF National Youth Chairperson, Kelvin Sampa of being behind his deportation.
In his affidavit in support of ex-parte summons to apply for judicial review, Bassi, a Malian, contended that his removal and deportation from the country was illegal and unreasonable.
Bassi said that on November 30, 2019, he was apprehended by officers from the immigration department and detained at Lusaka Central Police Station.
He said from there, he was taken to the airport in the early hours of Sunday, December 1, 2019, and forced to leave the country.
He alleged that he does not know the reason for his deportation and accused his opponents who are interested in his businesses and property of orchestrating his deportation.
“That to-date, I do not know the reason for my removal save for my suspicion that it was orchestrated by certain persons interested in depriving me of my property and businesses,” Bassi said.
“That I have been gravely disadvantaged by being deprived of access to my family businesses and property.”
Bassi stated that he was entitled to be notified why he was being removed and to answer to any allegations against him if at all there were any.
He charged that the decision by Director General Immigration was both illegal and unreasonable and wished to be granted leave to commence judicial review.
He craved the indulgence of the court to grant him leave to commence judicial review proceedings against the state.
DIRECTOR of Public Prosecutions Gilbert Phiri says former KCM provisional liquidator Milingo Lungu cannot use contempt of court proceedings to challenge the revocation of his immunity from prosecution.
Phiri says though it is not disputed that Lungu’s amnesty was cancelled, the law is superior to any contract or agreement and any agreement in conflict with the law can be breached.
This is in a matter where Lungu has petitioned the State over his re-arrest by the Drug Enforcement Commission for purchasing a house in Ibex Hill suspected to be proceeds of crime, when he was exempted from prosecution.
Lungu asked the Court to commit Phiri to prison for contempt of court for declaring the immunity agreement granted to him by former DPP Lillian Siyunyi, a nullity.
How ever Phiri filed a notice of motion to raise preliminary issue on points of law to the petitioner’s application for an order of committal arguing that he is not answerable to contempt proceedings in his personal capacity for executing his mandate.
“This matter is a mere manifestation of the petitioner’s desire to undermine the course of justice and interfere with the DPP’s legitimate exercise of power in line with the National Prosecutions Authority Act,”said Phiri.
In an affidavit in opposition to the notice of motion Lungu argued that the DPP can be arraigned before court and cited for contempt in his personal capacity for wrongful conduct and interfering with Court proceedings.
He stated that no order for leave of the court is required to be obtained before applying to cite Phiri for contempt, neither is consent required from the Attorney General.
“The actions taken by the DPP are calculated to lower the authority of the court and defeat the ends of justice,” said Lungu.
When the matter came up this morning before Constitutional Court judge Matthew Chisunka allowed the parties to file records of motion out of time.
Chelsea legend Didier Drogba has called for better medical checks to protect footballers in his native Ivory Coast after the death of a player during a top-flight game.
Racing Club d’Abidjan (RCA) defender Moustapha Sylla, 21, collapsed during the match against SOL FC on Sunday and was pronounced dead on the way to hospital, according to his club.
Video of the incident shows Sylla stumbling before losing his balance and falling to the ground motionless near the centre-circle, prompting opposition players to call for medical assistance.
RCA president Logossina Cisse described Sylla as a “rising star that left too soon” while the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) led tributes on social media.
“In this moment of pain and emotion, FIF extends its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased, to the managers and players of RCA, as well as to the Ivorian football family,” FIF wrote on Facebook.
Patrice Motsepe, president of the Confederation of African Football, also expressed his shock at “the tragic passing of such a young life who showed promise on the football field”.
Sylla won the 2022 Malian title with Djoliba AC before joining RCA in September.
‘When will sports medicine arrive?’
Reacting to the death, former Ivory Coast captain Drogba demanded that players be offered more medical protection by footballing authorities.
“Condolences to Ivorian football,” wrote Drogba, who last year lost a bid to run football in Ivory Coast and whose international team-mate Cheick Tiote died following a cardiac arrest in China back in 2017.
“Three deaths of Ivorian professional league players in less than four years.
“Where are the compulsory medical visits for each professional player? The blood tests, the ECGs, the stress tests? When will sports medicine arrive?”
A death in South Africa
Meanwhile, football fans in South Africa are also mourning the passing of a top-flight player.
Richards Bay midfielder Siphamandla Mtolo collapsed during training on Tuesday.
The Premier Division side, who currently sit sixth in the table, have said they will release a further statement in due course.
China lashed out at the United States on Tuesday, with the foreign minister accusing Washington of stoking tensions between the two powers and warning of “conflict and confrontation.”
The world’s biggest economies have clashed in recent years over trade, human rights and other issues, but relations soured even further last month when the United States shot down a Chinese balloon it said was being used for surveillance — a claim strenuously denied by Beijing.
Beijing’s new Foreign Minister Qin Gang told a press conference on the sidelines of the ongoing National People’s Congress (NPC) there would be “catastrophic consequences” if the United States carried on in its current direction.
“If the United States does not hit the brakes but continues to speed down the wrong path, no amount of guardrails can prevent derailing, and there will surely be conflict and confrontation,” Qin told journalists.
“Who will bear the catastrophic consequences?”
The foreign minister called American competition with China “a reckless gamble, with the stakes being the fundamental interests of two peoples and even the future of humanity”.
It was “a zero-sum game of life and death,” he added.
– ‘Encirclement and suppression’ –
Qin’s comments came after President Xi Jinping slammed the United States for leading a “containment, encirclement and suppression of China”, while urging his country’s private sector to boost innovation and become more self-reliant.
China’s technology ambitions have been hit with a raft of restrictions by the United States and its Western allies, and Beijing has doubled down on the need to shift away from imports for sectors perceived as vital to national security, such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence.
Washington has in recent months tightened sanctions on Chinese chipmakers, citing national security concerns and the risk of the technology being used by China’s military.
In a rare direct criticism of the United States, Xi told industry leaders on Monday that “Western countries led by the United States have implemented all-round containment, encirclement and suppression of China, which has brought unprecedented severe challenges to our country’s development”.
Xi, who will be granted a third consecutive presidential term in the coming days at the highly choreographed NPC, said the past five years had been riddled with a new set of hurdles that threatened to weigh down China’s economic rise.
According to the state-run Xinhua news agency, Xi said China must “have the courage to fight as the country faces profound and complex changes in both the domestic and international landscape”, in the address to delegates at the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), which runs alongside the NPC.
The 69-year-old said private firms “should take the initiative to pursue high-quality development,” Xinhua reported late Monday.
Xi also vowed to bolster China’s manufacturing capacity and said the country should be able to fend for itself.
“I’ve always said there are two critical areas for China: one is to safeguard our rice bowl, and the other is to build up a strong manufacturing sector,” he said.
“As a great nation of 1.4 billion people, we must rely on ourselves… We can’t depend on international markets to save us.”
– ‘Not a threat’ –
In a wide-ranging press conference, former US ambassador Qin also dismissed warnings from Western countries that China may supply arms to Russia for its war in Ukraine, saying it would not accept “blame-shifting, sanctions, suppression and threats” targeting Beijing.
China last month released a position paper outlining its stance on the Ukraine conflict, portraying itself as a neutral party and urging the two sides to enter peace negotiations.
Beijing’s claim to neutrality has been questioned by the United States and other Ukrainian allies, with Russia and China describing their bilateral relationship as having “no limits” just weeks before the invasion.
Qin said China was “neither a creator of the crisis nor a party to it, and it has not provided weapons to any party”, adding peace talks should start “as soon as possible”.
Beijing’s relationship with Moscow is “not a threat to any country in the world,” he said.
Qin also reiterated the official line that China would “maintain the option of taking all necessary actions” to take Taiwan.
He warned against “underestimating the strong determination, firm will and powerful ability of the Chinese government and Chinese people to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.” AFP
