Following threats by information minister Chishimba Kambwili, ZNBC workers’ union leader Martin Maseka has been served with suspension for advocating a petition to remove Director General Richards Mwanza.

Maseka says the corporation’s management has abused its authority by illegally suspending him and has vowed to fight on until their demands are met.

He has questioned why management delivered a letter of suspension to his house in the middle of the night.

Maseka laughed at the manoeuvre, describing it as vague. “I want to confirm that yes, I have been served with a suspension letter. It was absurd to learn about this because it was vague and procedure was not followed because it does not state the offence I have committed for me to be suspended from duty by a Mr Evans Nachilobe, the Radio One manager,” he said.

“Let me make it also very clear that when I am quoted to have responded to The Post newspaper article dated 29th July 2015, I was speaking in my capacity as general secretary for and on behalf of the union and not on behalf of Radio One or the corporation, ZNBC. So I am wondering how the Radio One manager, Mr Nachilobe, can suspend me or suspend a union official. This is total abuse of authority, it is very unprocedural and incorrect for him to suspend me for exercising my rights as provided for in the industrial and labour relations Act Cap 269 subsection 5 (a), (c) and (e) of the Laws of Zambia.”

He said suspending him from work constituted a violation of the recognition of agreement between ZNBC and ZUBID (Union of Broadcasters and other Information Disseminators secretary).

“This is because when I gave the union’s position on the threats to have all my members fired, I was literally speaking and doing so in my capacity as general secretary of ZUBID as provided for also in our ZUBID constitution that among other functions I shall be the chief executive and spokesperson of the union,” Maseka said.

“So I am very flabbergasted to be suspended for standing and protecting the interests of my members, whom I have sworn to defend. I know that ZNBC director general Mr Richard Mwanza decided to mislead information minister Chishimba Kambwili by falsely reporting to him that my members were protesting when it was not the case.”

Maseka said he would challenged his suspension in court.

The post On Kambwili’s Orders, ZNBC Suspend Unionist appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The Zambia Bureau of Standards has announced that it has inspected and audited the production process of cement at the Dangote Cement plant and certified product as compliant with the specified Zambian standards.

Bureau of Standards Director Manuel Mutale says the product is in conformity to the criteria and related rules adopted from the European standard EN 197-1.

Mutale says the standard of the product meets compliance levels with the European market and other countries that have adopted the EN 197-1 standard.

Mutale is also pleased that Dangote, like all other cement manufacturers in Zambia, has brought on the market a good quality product that is complying with the Zambian standards.

“We are pleased to have worked with Dangote Cement to see the successful launch of their product. ZABS will continue monitoring this and all other cement products to ensure continued adherence to Zambian standards,” he says.

Mutale has further assured the public that products inspected and certified by the institution are safe for use.

The commissioning of the 1.5 million MTPA Dangote Cement (Zambia) Plant and 30 megawatts coal-fired power plant took place today in Masaiti District, Ndola.

The post Dangote Cement Meets Zambian Standards appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Police in Lusaka are holding three Copperbelt University students for being involved in a peaceful demonstration in Kitwe town centre to demand for the reopening of the Copperbelt University.

The incident happened when the students gathered in Kitwe town centre displaying placards expressing their feelings on the closure of the Copperbelt University.

The students, who chanted various slogans demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dr Michael Kaingu on moral grounds for allegedly failing to run the Ministry, had no permit to conduct their protest.

Humphrey Mwenya, the COBUSU President who led the other students, said the students where disappointed that government was giving a deaf ear to their concerns.

Mwenya said the students were tired and have since lunched a campaign to demand the reopening of the University and called on all Civil Society Organisation and the youths in the Province to help pressure government to reopen the institution.

“We are disappointed with Dr Michael Kaingu, he must open the University He is not helping us; it’s now a month gone no classes for us, what type of youths does he want us to be,” Mwenya asked.

Police in full riot gear dispersed the students apprehending three who failed to escape but no tear gas canisters were fired as police came in peacefully without the students noticing anything.

The post Police Arrest 3 CBU Students for Demo appeared first on Zambia Reports.

President Edgar Lungu has shed some light on the on-going constitution making process by saying the process is on course.

The constitution bill was published in the government gazette and will have to be screened in a thirty day window.

President Lungu was swearing in among other people Deputy Chief Justice Marvin Mwanamwambwa, Justice Minister Ngosa Simbyakula as State Counsel, Electoral Commission board members David Matongo and Geoffrey Simukoko with lawyer Mutemwa Mutemwa also conferred with the status of State Counsel.

He said that the constitution making process was still a priority to the people of Zambia.

Meanwhile, President Lungu has headed to the Copperbelt where he joined Nigerian Vice President in commissioning Dangote Group of Companies cement plant in Masaiti.

The post President Lungu says Constitution Process On Course appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The Road Development Agency (RDA) has disclosed that about 2, 400 kilometers of roads are being worked on across the country under the Link Zambia 8000 Road Project.

RDA Senior Manager Public Relations Loyce Saili says all the roads are at different levels.

Saili says about 150 kilometers of roads under the L400 Road Project have been done including the installation of street lighting.

Saili says the project is moving well as seen with the construction of drainages, expansion of roads such as Mumbwa, Burma and Chilimbulu roads.

Saili has also disclosed that the agency has identified 26 sites for the construction of toll plazas and that six are under construction now.

She says by next year the agency will able to cover all vehicles saying at the moment only heavy vehicles above 6.5 tones are paying at the points of entry.

The post 2,400 Link Zambia Roads on the Cards appeared first on Zambia Reports.

PATRIOTIC Front (PF) deputy secretary-general Mumbi Phiri says people “carelessly” criticising the leadership of President Lungu are sending wrong signals to the outside world.

Phiri says aid Zambians should be issued-based when criticising the President because that is what constructive politicians do.

She said the PF administration is open to constructive criticism in its quest to develop the country.

“The opposition will one day be in Government. What are they going to do if investors lose confidence to invest in the country because of careless talk?”

Phiri was reacting to Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) president Edith Nawakwi’s sentiments against President Lungu.

“I do not think in politics someone needs to be taught on how to run politics. It’s genetically in-born, and someone is born a leader and not taught. And if you do not have morals, do not take it on others. Besides, wisdom comes from God. You can have degrees, money and be educated, but if God has not given you the wisdom, you cannot rule,” Phiri said.

She advised Nawakwi to accept the fact that the country is being ruled by President Lungu.

“She had her time when she served in various portfolios as minister in the MMD government. She should also give chance to President Lungu to run the affairs of the country,” she said.

The post Nawakwi is Careless, says Mumbi Phiri appeared first on Zambia Reports.

ATLEAST 7,000 jobs, of which 1,000 will be direct, will be created after the Dangote Industries cement plant commissioned by President Lungu yesterday becomes fully operational.

And President Lungu has directed Masaiti District Council to reserve more land to create an industrial cluster with the opening of the cement-manufacturing plant.
Speaking at the commissioning of the US$420 million cement-manufacturing plant and a 30 megawatts coal-fired plant, President Lungu said the Dangote Group is the largest ever investment into Zambia by a Nigerian company with an investment outline which translates to over K2 billion.

“This investment is expected to create at least 1,000 direct and 6,000 indirect jobs for Zambians when fully operational. Besides employment creation, the project is already greatly benefiting the local people of Masaiti and the surrounding districts through the transfer of skills, technology and business linkages,” he said.

“In this regard, I hereby direct the Masaiti District Council to reserve land around Dangote cement plant for us to create related industrial clusters whose purpose will be to solely depend on this timely project.”

President Lungu is confident that management at the cement plant will flow with the Government’s intention to ensure Zambians feel part and parcel of the investment.

He noted that for years, Zambians have been subjected to high monopolistic pricing structure for cement but was glad that since Dangote came on the market, the prices of the product had been dropping.

“This implies that the cost of construction is now becoming more reasonable and affordable by the majority of our people. This is what it should be,” the President said.

He said the principles of the Patriotic Front (PF) Government are to achieve pro-poor inclusive growth aimed at creating real wealth and jobs for the people.

Government, he said, also wants to rehabilitate and upgrade the country’s infrastructure and ultimately restore the pride and dignity of Zambians.

Lungu said he considers the private sector as an engine for economic growth and development.

The post Dangote Creates 7,000 Jobs in Ndola appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Seven months before I was born, my father’s plane went down. Though my dad made a name for himself playing football for R.S.C. Anderlecht in Belgium, he grew up in Zambia, so he was proud to play for the Zambian national team.

In 1993, the team was scheduled to have a World Cup qualification match against Senegal. It was a long journey, and the team plane had to stop for refueling in Gabon. Shortly after takeoff, an engine fire caused the plane to crash, killing everyone on board.

My father should have been one of them. But he happened to be suffering from a knee injury at the time, and his manager at Anderlecht forbid him from traveling with the national team.

For some reason, knees have defined our family. Last spring, I was practicing with Chelsea’s first team, following in my father’s footsteps, when one of my teammates slid in to tackle me. The second I fell to the ground, I instantly knew what had happened, and I knew I would never get that moment back. I dislocated my knee, and tore my ACL, MCL, and PCL.

But things got even worse. A few days later, one of the trainers told me that I would have to go to central London to get some tests done.

The tests revealed that I had blood clots in my arteries. If the blood continued to not get through, my leg would have to be amputated. But you know what? It never phased me.

If I learned anything from my dad, it’s that sometimes a knee injury is a blessing in disguise. If he could gather the strength to return to the pitch after losing his friends, then I could overcome this.

When I was laying in the hospital bed after surgery, I thought about how much different my life would be if my dad had been on that plane. Without him, I wouldn’t have football. I think he taught my two brothers and me to kick a ball before he taught us how to walk.

That turned out to be a good thing, because in Europe, the professional teams start scouting from the crib. Seriously. In Africa, when you’re younger, you just play in parks with your friends.

There’s not really organized team trainings like in Europe. Someone from Anderlecht told my dad that he should bring us to train with the team. We were just babies. My dad thought it was a joke at first. But we went and tried out for their youth system.
I ended up getting picked up by the club when I was four years old, along with my older brother, who was a practically ancient six years old. My younger brother wasn’t even two at the time, but even he joined the club.

You might think that starting my career so young, I got sick of football at some point, or considered doing something else. It never even crossed my mind. From the age of four, I started my proper training, two sessions a week with Anderlecht. As a family though, we were playing every day really.

After school, before school, during holidays, just playing football in the park with my dad and my two brothers. Competing every day. There’s no doubt in my mind that growing up in that environment made me the player I am today.

First off, you can’t understate being raised by a professional football player. My dad knew the ins and outs of the game—how to train, how to rest, what to eat, what to drink—and taught us the fundamentals.

Constantly playing side by side with my brothers though, that was so important for me. I really respect both of their games immensely. I could never think about anything but football, growing up beside them.

If they had chosen different careers—firefighting or law or something—it wouldn’t have been the same. We would’ve come home and talked about different things. They make me think more about football. They made me train harder, because I knew they were doing the same.

We’ve always come as a package deal. When I was 15 years old, we were all playing for the Anderlecht youth system and for the Belgian national youth teams.
That’s around the time international clubs were starting to notice us. Eventually, Chelsea came to my parents in 2012, wanting to sign all three of us. When a club like Chelsea knocks on your door, you just have to say yes.

I probably should have been sad to leave Brussels, where I had lived all my life. Still, this was my dream, and getting signed by a club like Chelsea was what I had worked for since before I could remember. Plus, I was with my brothers.

We arrived right after Chelsea won the Champions League. We actually got signed right at the same time as Eden Hazard and his brother, and Kevin De Bruyne as well.

They put us all up in a hotel in central London, and I remember the six of us all sitting together at the dinner table—six Belgian players, all experiencing this new country and this new club at the same time.

Coming to Chelsea from Anderlecht was an indescribable experience. Anderlecht is the top club in Belgium and one of the top clubs in Europe, but you just can’t compare to Chelsea.

Anderlecht has a few players who are very good, but at Chelsea, every player on the team is very, very good, wherever you look. The preparation is at such a different level, because you get to be among those world-class players day-in and day-out, training with them and constantly learning from them.

That first time I got to train with the first team, back when Roberto Di Matteo was the manager, I was in awe, really. I was wide-eyed and just looking around. I couldn’t believe where I was. I was doing sprints with Juan Mata, who had just won a World Cup with Spain, and I was kicking around the ball with Florent Malouda, who had played in the World Cup Final with France.

You would think being world-class players, these guys have world-class egos to go along, but nothing could be further from the truth. Even though we never knew Eden in Belgium—he was a little older than us, and left for France when he was young—he still invites us over to have dinner with his family, and to play video games and stuff. Also, as you would expect, John Terry is really the heart of the team.

He’s such an example for the young guys, the way he works. Just the way he communicates with the young players is so humble. When I got injured, he was one of the main guys who was always checking up on me to see how I was doing.

When I went down last spring, I was playing for Chelsea’s Under-21 team and hoping to play first team football the next season. I was preparing to make the leap. Then with one tackle, everything changed. I could no longer focus on my future, and only on the long rehab process.

But it never scared me, even when they told me that they might have to amputate my leg. It’s stupid, I know, but I always knew that I was going to come back. I knew it was all on me.

I had to put every ounce of energy into getting better, and not waste anything on doubt. I’d worked so hard to get to that level that I wasn’t going to let the injury define me. I was going to define it.

Now that I’m almost through with the process and only about a month away from rejoining the team, I realize how lucky I am. Not only because I was about a centimeter away from losing my leg, but the injury really was a blessing in disguise.

When you work so hard in rehab, you appreciate the game so much more. This beautiful game is all I’ve ever known, and it was taken away from me in a flash.

Over the past 16 months, I had to gain so much mental strength, just being without football and working my way back. At this level, the difference between a world-class player and an average one is that mental 1%. I’ve never been more ready to play. Now every moment back on the pitch feels like a gift.

Source: The Player Tribune

The post Charles Musonda’s Second-Born Son, Tika, Gives Moving Account of Dark Patch in His Football Career appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Opposition United Party for National Development vice president Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba and Patriotic Front deputy secretary general Mumbi Phiri have taken their feud to their ‘bedrooms’ with each accusing the other of being on drugs.

Phiri crossed Mwamba’s path when she suggested that he had grown cold feet and will not re-contest his Kasama Central seat on the UPND ticket forcing the former defence minister to say the former was on drugs.

An irate Mwamba said he could prove it in a court of law while Phiri hit back saying GBM had failed to manage his children who indulged in drugs.

“Ask him where his first born is? What does he do? Why don’t we see him in public? It is him who knows that drugs story and it is public knowledge,” Phiri said.

“Me I am a well respected woman and not like him who even beats his wife.”

Mwamba had cast doubt on whether he will re-contest his seat given the marginal UPND presence in the area.

The post GBM, Mumbi Phiri Trade Drugs Accusation appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Police will drag two Evelyn Hone College students to court after they were caught up in the riot that rocked the institution over load shedding and poor sanitation.

The duo has been accused of having spearheaded the demonstration and have remained in custody while others were released.

Police spokesperson Charity Chanda said the duo will be appearing in court on a charge of proposing violence.

She said that the move was meant to send warning signals to students against vandalizing public property or encouraging riotous behavi

The post Police Arrest 2 Evelyn Hone Students appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Dora Siliya has kept on taking pot shots at the Hakainde Hichilema and his new found partner Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba.

Siliya satirically labelled the duo the two rich men and poked fun at their inability to stand in a gesture of respect when President Edgar Lungu was called up to give his speech during the installation of Paramount Chief Chitimukulu.

Below is her full posting:

The curious case of two ‘rich men’.

“You cannot stop an idea whose time has come”, Victor Hugo.

The above quote sprang at me as I observed the proceedings of the coronation of the 38th Chitimukulu, Kanyata Manga in Luwingu recently. Many dignitaries were in attendance including his grace Archbishop Ignatius Chama and leaders of various opposition parties. Here is what struck me though.

When calling upon his Excellency, President Edgar Lungu to speak, the MC requested all to be upstanding. And all did stand including Edith Nawakwi of the FDD, Nevers Mumba of the MMD and various Diplomats. But what I really found curious was that GBM, the newly appointed VP of the UPND, remained seated while his wife, Chama stood up. Mr Hakainde did not bother standing up either. My curiosity peaked. Does that mean experienced politicians like Nawakwi and former Republican Vice President Nevers Mumba, in the eyes of GBM and HH, are lesser opposition leaders than the two ‘rich men’?

The expected behaviour of any gentleman is that he will stand up whenever his lady does so, especially in public. It seemed almost funny seeing Ba GBM seated while Madam observed the traditional etiquette of such gatherings. Secondly, I recalled the simple teaching, do unto others as you would have them do unto you. I wondered how HH can be so oblivious, if not as a Christian, of this simple political etiquette, observed by the poor and ordinary he wishes to lead. I wish to reiterate that it is common sense and not wealth that makes good leaders.

In our democracy, it is possible for anyone to become President of Zambia. But the citizens, the poor and ordinary, expect humility from leaders especially before they get into Statehouse. As a people, we hate boastfulness.

And so I watched the curious case of the two ‘rich men’ defy common decency at a very public gathering of the poor and ordinary they wish to lead. My conclusion was that they totally missed the very basic tenet of democracy, which is accepting the leadership in office until it is your turn. That does not mean you agree with them but one can disagree without any demeaning public display, much more so at that level of leadership. Secondly, in a democracy, one must accept that the power to chose a President lies with the poor and ordinary, the very people GBM and HH were revealing their intolerance and disrespect to. Democratic politics, especially at Presidential level must be done with a certain decency to each other. If not, then the whole purpose of multiple party politics is lost.

In his book, The Wisdom of Crowds, James Surowiecki explores the idea that large groups of people are smarter than an elite few, no matter how brilliant the elite may think they are. The idea is very similar to Proverbs 11:4, “where there is no counsel, the People fall; but in the multitude of Counsellors there is safety.”

The ideas of democracy are here to stay. We would all do well as Politicians never to forget that unity, peace and respect for one another is the least Zambians expect.

Former German Chancellor, Willy Brandt put it well too when he said….”claims to absolutes threaten Man.” None of us is good enough until the people; the poor and ordinary, say so.

The post Opinion: A Curious Case of the “Two Rich Men” appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Chongwe Member of Parliament Sylvia Masebo has pleaded not guilty to two counts of corruption.

Masebo who is a ruling Patriotic Front lawmaker thanks to a court action is alleged to have illegally cancelled hunting licences and unilaterally fired senior directors at the Zambia Wildlife Authority.

Magistrate Ireen Mushimanga has set up August, 20th and September, 14, 15 and 18 as trial dates.

The Chongwe lawmaker was escorted to court by scores of United Party for National Development cadres.

Masebo has jumped in bed with the UPND whose leader Hakainde Hichilema he campaigned for in the January, 20 presidential election.

The post Masebo Pleads Not Guilty appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The remains of the four miners have been laid to rest with issues about safety taking centre stage.

Mines Minister Christopher Yaluma led hundreds of Kitwe residents in the send off that took place at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe.

Yaluma urged the miners to be more proactive in bringing to the fore safety risks or alerts.

Meanwhile, Mopani Copper Mines has offered to employ at least one family member from each of the bereaved families to help ease the financial loss caused by the deaths.

The post 4 Miners Put to Rest appeared first on Zambia Reports.

MISA Zambia chairperson Hellen Mwale is shocked by the suspension of ZNBC union leader Martin Maseka.

MISA has demands the reinstatement of Maseka saying, “he was speaking on behalf of the workers. It is important that the worker’s demands are treated with the seriousness and sobriety they deserve as opposed to suspensions and dismissals which will only worsen the situation.

“For journalists to adequately perform their duty, it is important that good working conditions are created in order to prevent their independence from being brought into conflict or compromise.”

Statement on the ZNBC Impasse

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia is shocked with the suspension of Zambia Union of Broadcasters and other Information Disseminators (ZUBID) General-Secretary, Martin Maseka.

We deem the suspension as a confirmation that the ZNBC board is not operating independently as is supposed to be the case.

This is further evidenced by the Information Minister’s threats to dismiss striking ZNBC workers which has proved our suspicions on the continued interference in the operations of public media in Zambia.

It is for this reason that we have been campaigning for ZNBC to be fully transformed into an effective and sustainable public service broadcaster that lives up to the mandate provided in the ZNBC (amendment) act number 20 of 2002, which we believe was a progressive law before the 2010 amendment.

This amendment returned the power to appoint the ZNBC board back to the minister and consequently means that the minister can direct or order the board to make certain decisions as shown by the minister’s remarks.

MISA demands for the re-instatement of the appointments committee in the ZNBC act.

We therefore demand that government should stay away from interfering in the operations of ZNBC and allow for its independent management. This is the only way the institution will live up to the tenets of a public service broadcaster.

Government should allow ZNBC to operate with the required autonomy even in the editorial mandate which should equitably cover all sectors of society without any impartiality and undue political, government or commercial influence.

MISA demands the reinstatement of Martin Maseka as he was speaking on behalf of the workers. It is important that the worker’s demands are treated with the seriousness and sobriety they deserve as opposed to suspensions and dismissals which will only worsen the situation.

For journalists to adequately perform their duty, it is important that good working conditions are created in order to prevent their independence from being brought into conflict or compromise.

Issued By:
Hellen Mwale-Chairperson-Zambia Chapter, Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA

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The Kitwe Magistrate Court has acquitted Former Kitwe Mayor Divo Katete on a defilement charge.

Principle Resident Magistrate Ikechukwu Iduma said in his judgment that the prosecution team failed to prove their case against the accused beyond any reasonable doubt.

Particulars of the offence are that Divo Katete, 41, a businessman of House Number 5, 16th Street Nkana East in Kitwe district of the Copperbelt Province on dates unknown but in the month of December 2012 allegedly had unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl below the age of 16 contrary to Section 138 sub-section 1 of the Penal Code chapter 87 as amended by Act Number 15 of 2005 and Act Number 2 of 2011 of the laws of Zambia.

Magistrate Iduma also contended that it was strange the alleged victim failed to confide in anyone in the two-years period after the alleged defilement.

“I find it strange that the juvenile failed to confide in anyone in the period of two years after the alleged defilement,” he said.

The post Ex-Kitwe Mayor, Divo Katete, Acquitted of Defilement Charges appeared first on Zambia Reports.

President Edgar Lungu says importing about 45, 000 metric tonnes of fish from China every year amounted to a national scandal.

The Head of State was speaking during his tour of Palabana Fisheries plant and wondered why despite the rich water resource, Zambians still imported fish.

President Lungu said the country had contracted a US$50 million dollars loan from the Africa Development Bank to reverse the situation.

He challenged Agriculture Minister Given Lubinda to ensure that the situation was reversed within two years.

President Lungu said it was unacceptable that Zambia that had the capacity to fend itself on the available fish stocks had to rely on fish imports.

Meanwhile, President Lungu has been invited by French President Francois Holland to visit that country later this year.

The post It’s A Scandal for Zambia to Import Fish from China, says President Lungu appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Sylvia Masebo has been all over the media playing victim over the two corruption charges she is facing in the Lusaka Magistrate Court.

Understandably it is not a good thing to see leaders that have fallen out of favour with the system make courts their new office where they make frequent appearances.

But then Masebo could not have been more right herself when she said “it is good that this case has come up because a lot of things will come out.” Is that not the whole essence of taking the matter to court for the honourable member of Chongwe Constituency to clear her name?

Any student of Zambian political history will not forget that Masebo has had a turbulent political history. Away from her current troubles, Masebo has not been faithful to any one political party at most times of her political career.

A cursory count traces her to MMD, ZRP, ZAP/RP merger, back to MMD and PF with anyone who reads the political signs not too far from the truth to know her next stop is either UPND or Rainbow Party.

Before she plays victim she should not accuse the PF of persecuting her for she was in essence PF in the true DNA of the PF. She jumped into the boat weeks before the 2011 elections when she had burnt all the political bridges in the MMD with the exit door her only realistic option.

Late President Michael Sata went some way to accommodate her until things began to fall apart at the Ministry of Tourism. She went out of her way to pick up fights on every imaginable front in her imagined, unsanctioned self styled reformist drive that had no presidential or cabinet blessings. Who would forget how she alarmingly went to town crying wolf that there were planes that flew into Zambia transporting game out of the country under the cover of darkness?

Nothing wrong if it was a whistle blowing ac,t but to have simply gone to town without running that information with security authorities hinted at Zambia’s air space being a free for all zone.

And she did not end there and also pushed her agenda to single handedly fire the Zambia Wildlife Authority management without having the move approved by the board. While the merits of the cancellation of the hunting licences is a subject of debate and court action, there could be no doubt that Masebo may not be the angel that she wants to pontificate each time she makes a court appearance. For now our advice will be that madam Masebo ties up her defence and let the law take its course.

Surely, the PF were magnanimous enough to accommodate her after years of having been out abusing late President Sata. Maybe she may have overdrawn on their tolerance and maybe time to face the music may have just come so she can now prepare for the potentially beckoning new title of corruption convict.

The post Opinion: Masebo’s Self Curved Path to Becoming A Potential Corruption Convict appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The people of Bangweulu will today go to the polls to vote for a new Member of Parliament following the death of incumbent Chifita Matafwali.

Seven parliamentary candidates have offered themselves for the vacant seat with the participants coming from the PF, UPND, FDD, NAREP, CDP and two independent candidates.

Campaigns in the area have been quietly going on with all the political parties claiming popularity in the march to poll day.

Matafwali was representing the ruling Patriotic Front and naturally the ruling party may have a slight edge ahead of the crowd with the added advantage that it is their stronghold.

The post Bangweulu Votes appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Volatile Zambian Voice Executive Director Chilufya Tayali says newly appointed United Party for National Development vice president for administration may ditch the opposition political party if he loses the Kasama Central seat by-election.

Mwamba, popularly known as GBM, was recently appointed UPND vice president consequently losing his seat.

GBM has announced that he will re-contest his seat in an area the UPND has yet to register a significant presence since their formation in 1998.

Tayali said GBM has a very emotional personality and may jump out of the UPND flock once he lost his seat.

He also said the police should be heavily mobilized as the election was likely to be violent.

“Knowing GBM and the fact that he may want to win at all costs the election may be violent so I would like to appeal to Inspector General Stella Libongani to ensure that there is heavy security,” he said.

There have been violent skirmishes in Kasama in the aftermath of the seat falling vacant but nothing yet to suggest it could spiral out of control.

The post GBM Will Ditch UPND If He Loses Kasama – Tayali appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Voting in Bangweulu constituency has replicated the recent trend of apathy in elections as constituents cast their ballots in the by-election.

And a consortium of Non Governmental Organizations has launched an anti voter apathy drive ahead of the 2016 general elections.

The Bangweulu seat fell vacant following the death of incumbent Chifita Matafwali with seven candidates lining up for election.

By midday the turnout had been less than half across polling stations with a dim possibility the trend could improve later in the day.

The participants are from the PF, FDD, UPND, NAREP, CDP and two independent candidates with results not expected until later in the evening.

Bangweulu has 51 polling stations with 41, 000 registered voters.

Meanwhile, four Non Governmental Organizations have launched a campaign dubbed “My Vote My Voice” that seeks to address the voter apathy problem.

The member organizations are the Zambia National Women’s Lobby Group, Operation Young Vote, Anti Voter Apathy Project and Young Women in Action.

According to the organizers, the programme will be officially launched next month and spread to the 10 provinces of the country.

Voter apathy has been a lingering problem with less 50% of elected voters turning up to exercise that duty in recent elections.

The post Bangweulu Records Low Voter Turn Out appeared first on Zambia Reports.