University of Zambia Lecturers and Researchers Union have stuck to their guns not to release examination results until government gives a clear roadmap on payment of their outstanding allowances.

The country’s highest learning institution is on recess after the end of the academic year, and is scheduled to re-open next month but uncertainty surrounds that possibility following a standoff between lecturers, management and government.

Among the demands is payment of outstanding allowances, gratuity and also benefits for retired employees.

UNZALARU president Euston Chiputa said that the lecturers will not release the results which are a prerequisite for moving into the next academic year if there is no clarity on their grievances.

Chiputa said that they had been open to dialogue with no tangible solution reached so far.

The instability at UNZA culminated into the resignation of four top officials including Vice Chancellor Professor Stephen Simukanga.

Another crisis in the tertiary education sector is currently unresolved at the Copperbelt University which was closed indefinitely with lecturers demanding that Vice Chancellor Naison Ngoma be shown the exit door.

With the standoff having dragged on Minister of Education Michael Kaingu closed the institution indefinitely.

The post UNZA Lecturers Threaten to With-hold Results appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have signed a bilateral trade agreement that will allow both countries to import goods from each other duty free.

The trade agreement will however, only be functional after the two countries finalize the two signed addendums of lists of goods each of them will be importing from each other as per agreement.

Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Margerate Mwanakatwe who signed on behalf of Zambia has disclosed that the Zambian and Congolese governments have also agreed that goods listed on the two addendums will be subject to review as more goods will be added to the lists.

Mwanakatwe says the signed trade agreement also covers provisions that would enable Zambia and the DRC to adopt measures to deal with unfair trade and curbing of smuggling.

She notes that this is in addition to facilitating the exchange of information between border authorities from both countries and the establishment of common border infrastructure such as banks and trade centers.

Mwanakatwe states that the trade agreement further makes provisions for both countries to take among other necessary measures the protection of national security interests and public health.

She says the agreement thus offers great scope and opportunity for both the DRC and Zambia to also maximize production in value added products.

And DRC Minister of Trade Nefertiti Ngudianza who signed on behalf of her country is confident that such elimination of trade barriers as Zambia and Congo have done will lead to single development of both countries.

Ngudianza says for fact that Zambia has become the first country the DRC has signed such an agreement with, it is a sign that both countries now need to liberalize the commercial chain.

She states that in spite of the two countries currently sharing the same resources, it is noteworthy underling that there is still the possibility of both of them taking comparative advantage of each other.

Ngudianza says the private sector of both Zambia and the DRC is in this case expected to take advantage of the opportunities that various industries will offer as facilitated by the trade agreement. The Congolese Minister spoke through an interpreter.

The post Zambia, DRC Strike Trade Deal appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The Media Institute of Southern AFRICA (MISA) Zambia has demanded that the defamation of the President Law should be abolished because it is archaic and discriminatory.

MISA has instead recommended that the Zambia Law Development Commission should come up with a different law that would only allow for a fine once one is found guilty of defaming the president and not a custodial sentence which is currently the case.

Making submissions to the Zambia Law Development Commission on review of the penal Code Act in relation to issues bordering on freedom of expression and freedom of the press today, MISA National Director Austin Kayanda has also demanded for the removal of clauses relating to prohibited publications, Sedious Practices,defamation and the public order Act from the constitution.

He says the clauses are old and archaic and do not apply to the country.

Kayanda says MISA and its partners will continue putting Government under pressure until it succumbs to the demands of the people.

And Legal Practitioner Daniel Libati has submitted that section 67 of the penal code Act which relates to publication of false news with Intent to cause fear and alarm to the public should be removed.

Libati says they have proposed that this act be removed because it is an hindrance to press Freedom.

He cited the recent judgment of the High Court by Judge Isaac Chali involving Daily Nation Editor Richard Sakala and Macdonald Chipenzi which determined that it was not constitutional as an example.

The post MISA Wants Defamation of President Law Abolished appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Zambia’s ruling Patriotic Front candidate Anthony Kasandwe has scooped the Bangweulu by-election relegating opposition UPND to third place after Edith Nawakwi’s Forum for Democracy and Development finished in distant second.

The PF polled 9,512 with the FDD candidate managing 1,803 votes while Hakainde Hichilema’s man collected 1, 335 votes to finish in third place in Thursday’s by-election.

Meanwhile, newly appointed UPND vice-president Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba is celebrating a ward victory recorded by his new party.

“I am now confirming that Bululu Ward in the Kasama Central Constituency had been taken by the UPND candidate Mr Mutale Kabwe. Our candidate got 781 whereas the PF candidate got 587,” Mwamba, who is re-contesting the by-election in three months to defend his seat, said.

“Collegues this is just but a dress rehearsal for the main event to be announced soon by the ECZ.
(Kadyonko). UPND has entered PF’s bedroom and it is time to separate the Men from the Boys. We await the contender and he surely ought to come prepared because they will be humiliated beyond recognition.”

Mwamba said said he was not afraid to be arrested if there was any such rumours.

“Let me also refer to the threats that have been made on the pending arrests to the opposition members. I strongly remind those making these threats that they are missing a point. In any democratic dispensation like ours, and during elections its expected that there will be victors and the vanquished.

“What has happened in Bululu ward in my constituency is the beginning of the real game. Just accept that you have been defeated straight and fair. The violence is actually perpetrated by their cadres who travelled from as far as Lusaka. I will not be intimidated by those threats. This is it. From hereon, its Go Go Forward with UPND and HH. Northern power here we come. 2016 is in our sights.”

The post PF Whitewashes 3rd Placed UPND in Bangweulu; GBM Celebrates Kasama Ward Triumph appeared first on Zambia Reports.

THE Lusaka High Court has dismissed a case in which some residents of Kabwata constituency sued the Lusaka City Council over the disposal of a piece of land on Yotum Muleya Road.

LCC won the case in which the residents took the council to court over the disposal of Stand number Lus/20435 Yotum Muleya Road, which houses basketball and tennis courts.

This is in a case, in which Kabwata resident Clement Tembo sued the LCC together with Wua Feng Construction Company over the disposal of the said piece of land.

Tembo contested that residents of Kabwata needed to participate in the disposal of the property and obtained an injunction in the High Court against construction on the piece of land.

In its ruling on Wednesday, the Lusaka High Court observed that the LCC followed procedure in disposing of the said piece of land and dismissed the case with costs.

Stand number Lus/20435 is earmarked for development of a multi-purpose sports arena, incorporating tennis and basketball courts, a shopping mall and entertainment zones.

Source: Daily Mail

The post Court Rules Against Kabwata Residents in LCC Land Scam appeared first on Zambia Reports.

PRESIDENT Lungu is concerned that some opposition political parties are plotting violence ahead of the 2016 general elections.

The Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation reports that the President said he has received reports that some opposition parties are bent on creating lawlessness in the country.

He said that the scheme was to start with yesterday’s Bangweulu Parliamentary by-election and some ward elections in Kasama and Isoka in the run-up to next year’s polls.

President Lungu has regretted that Forum for Democracy and Development president Edith Nawakwi encouraged voters in Bangweulu to seize government property which she claimed was carrying rigged ballots.

The head of State says Nawakwi’s statement led to some polling stations opening late.
The President said this yesterday through his special assistant for press and public relations, Amos Chanda.

President Lungu added that he is aware that a senior member of the UPND is sponsoring violence, which has resulted in seven PF supporters being attacked.

The President also disclosed that there is a scheme to paint the ruling PF as a violent party by dressing criminals in Patriotic Front (PF) regalia at Lusaka’s Soweto market to attack innocent marketeers.

He has warned that he will not spare anyone, regardless of their position, in his efforts to maintain law and order.

The post President Lungu Uncovers Opposition Plot to Fan Violence appeared first on Zambia Reports.

POLICE in Kasama have formally arrested opposition UPND Vice President for Administration Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba. Popularly known as GBM, the former parliamentarian, is not new to violence.

GBM has been previously charged and taken to court for domestic violence as well as wiping his own employees when they fall short of his set standards.

According to Radio Mano, police have charged Mwamba with the offence of assault for attacking cadres with his hooligans during ward by-elections held in Bululu Ward in Kasama which the UPND won. Mwamba was due to appear in court today.

The post GBM Arrested for Assault appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The Copperbelt University which was closed indefinitely on July 8 as a result of a strike by lecturers will reopen on August 17, 2015.

Education Minister Michael Kaingu told a media briefing in Kitwe today that students are expected to be at the campus by 16th August.

Kaingu, however; said Vice Chancellor Naison Ngoma will continue being on leave.

The reopening of the Copperbelt University follows the decision by striking CBU lecturers to end their two months boycott.

They were demanding the removal of CBU vice-chancellor Naison Ngoma.

The decision by the lecturers to end their boycott is a culmination of a two-day meeting with the Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early
Education Michael Kaingu and his Labour and Social Security counterpart, Fackson Shamenda.

The post CBU Re-opens Aug 17 appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Opposition Rainbow Party Leader, Wynter Kabimba says his party’s victory in the Kapililonga ward by-election in Isoka district of Muchinga province shows that the party is formidable and ready to compete with other political parties.

Kabimba says he is happy that the party he formed barely seven ago has managed to scoop its first local government seat.

And Kabimba says he confident that his party’s political strategy is bearing fruit seven months after the Rainbow party was formed as evidenced by its victory in the Kapililonga ward election.

Kabimba says his party is geared for the 2016 tripartite elections.

And Rainbow Party Spokesperson Goodson Banda has told a media briefing that the party’s first attempt victory in the Kapililonga Ward by-election spells the beginning of the people’s time to start governing themselves.

He says people of Kapililonga triumphed by uniting to reclaim the local government seat by voting for their own candidate who stood on the Rainbow Party ticket.

Banda says the victory has therefore demonstrated that Rainbow Party is about the people and people represent themselves.

Meanwhile, United Party for National Development (UPND)deputy spokesperson, Edwin Lifwekelo says the appointment of former Kasama Central MP Geoffrey Mwamba as UPND vice president has paid off as evidenced by the party’s victory in the Bululu ward by-election in Kasama central.

Lufwekelo says the UPND is headed for victory in the forthcoming general election in 2016 considering the rate at which it is growing.

The post Kabimba Goes to Town with Isoka Ward Win appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Dear Editor
Please find space in you widely followed news source for my comparison.

Football Leagues – Politics+
1. Super league – State President
2. Division 1- Member of Parliament
3. Division 2- Ward Councillor

Facts

-So PF are represented in all leagues. UPND now are competing with the likes of Rainbow and FDD in Division 2.

-The UPND best team played PF under 12 team in ward by election.

– The Rainbow Party best team played PF under 12 in the ward by election

-In the past Parliamentary by election in Bangweulu FDD beat all the opposition parties

– Wins at Division 2 by UPND and Rainbow are good for Democracy despite being done against an Under 12 team.

– People of Kasama have taught us that it doesn’t matter which part of Zambia a leader of a party comes from they vote for the party. A lesson other people from a give province should learn.

When you win against an Under 12, you celebrate due to the fact that you are used to losing.

Joe Mwansa Lombe Kaluba

The post Letter: Rainbow & UPND Ward Victories Good for Democracy appeared first on Zambia Reports.

This article was authored by respected Zambian lawyer Sakwiba Sikota and first posted on his facebook page. Sakwiba is also opposition United Liberal Party president.

I am a big fan of Arsenal Football Club and their manager Arsene Wenger. I was therefore very disappointed when he childishly refused to show the common courtesy of shaking Jose Mourinho after Arsenal’s Community Shield Cup win last Sunday.

Even in our political arena we saw Emmanuel Mwamba go across and greet opposition leaders Edith Nawakwi, Nevers Mumba. Emmanuel Mwamba even extended his hand to Hakainde Hichilema in an attempt to greet the UPND leader who is seen to be the greatest threat to the Patriotic Front to which Mwamba belongs.

A handshake is generally seen as a sign of peace and declaration that one does not bear ill will against the person to whom the hand is extended. It also historically was seen as a sign that the person extending his hand did not have any hidden weapon.
This is the reason that hand shaking is a ritual found all over the world and across all cultures. In fact it is a sign of being cultured, a mark of respect, decorum and good sportsmanship.

Royalty do not generally shake hands with commoners and will at best extend a limp hand that lesser beings are expected to bow down to and kiss. It is for this reason that a handshake is seen as an expression that the two shakers consider themselves to be equals.

Some politicians have contributed to the handshake debate. American President George Washington must have considered himself royalty because he is reputed to have decided that shaking hands was for lower class citizens and he therefore only bowed when greeting people in public!

In sports we have seen many famous none handshakes like the Wayne Bridge snub of John Terry after Terry had been a little bit too familiar with Wayne’s partner. There was also Luis Saurez’s childish snub of Patrice Evra soon after coming from and eight match ban for racially abusing Evra. John Terry was also going to be at the centre of another handshake snub following his race row with Anton Ferdinand which resulted in the traditional pre match handshakes between Queens Park Rangers and Chelsea being cancelled.

Politicians, unlike footballers, have on the whole, with very few exceptions, shown greater maturity and sportsmanship than those who should carry the title of being sportsmen.

Of course there have been exceptions like when David Cameron was humiliated by French President Nicolas Sarkozy swerving away the English Prime Minister’s extended hand.
There are however many examples of politicians showing that they can be magnanimous and cultured by not engaging in handshake snubs. Famous political handshakes include Adolf Hitler and Neville Chamberlain clasping hands on September 23, 1938.

Harry Truman, Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin shook hands on July 25, 1945. Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin showed that they deserved the Nobel Peace Prize as they shook hands on March 26, 1979. Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat shook hands on September 13, 1993.

In 1972, President Richard Nixon made a handshake that shook the world by grasping Chairman Mao’s hand. U.S President Barack Obama grasped the hand of Cuban leader Raul Castro at Nelson Mandela’s memorial service. No one expected the two “great enemies” could ever shake hands.

In another unexpected symbolic act in 2014, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II shook hands with Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, who had previously been a member of the IRA. Imagine royalty actually shaking hands with a commoner! A commoner previously regarded as a particularly nasty one at that! Remember the Queen’s cousin, Lord Mountbatten was killed by the IRA.

If these historically hostile people were able to put aside their seemingly irreconcilable differences and pump hands instead of fists, what is to stop Zambian politicians from being propelled towards reconciliation. If that were to happen more often it would bring alive the Late Louis Armstrong’s enduring classic, “What a Wonderful World” where he sings,

“I see friends shaking hands,
Saying “How do you do?”
They are really saying,
“I love you.””

Are Zambian politicians going to be bigger than life and more like Chamberlain, Truman Churchill and Stalin, Sadat and Begin, Rabin and Arafat, the Queen and McGuinness, Obama and Castro? Or are they going to be as infantile and crass as Suarez, Terry, Sarkozy or Wenger?

After Wenger started with a win in the Community Shield it appears his snub of Jose Mourinho had its consequences as Arsenal were beaten at home by West Ham in a game which they should, at least on paper, won comfortably hands down.

Zambians should learn from what happened to Wenger and the next time they want to snub a handshake remember the karma of the handshake.

The post Opinion: The Karma of The Hand Shake appeared first on Zambia Reports.

A concerned Lusaka resident has bemoaned haphazardness in manner the timetable for load shedding is now being followed by ZESCO.

The resident who sought anonymity is wondering whether ZESCO has changed the timetable it announced for load shedding.

He is also concerned that the hours that some townships are being load shed seem to be more than that of other townships.

The concerned Lusaka resident says Ng’ombe Township for example is one such township ZESCO is load shedding more hours than other residential areas.

The post Zesco Loadshedding Timetable appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president George Mpombo has resurfaced after taking a brief plunge by observing that Zambia’s current political climate is presently characterized by unnecessary antagonism.

Dr. Mpombo says such political brinkmanship is to the extent of where political opponents have stopped talking to each other.

He has taken note that people in the country are not sharing problems to each other and thereby failing to find a way forward to the problems.

Dr. Mpombo says such kind of attitude is on the other hand the most dangerous form of politics ever to be practiced in a Democratic country like Zambia.

He has explained that the current situation in the country is as bad as incubating a boil which can burst with severe consequences.

The PDP president says such political climate in the country is therefore a source of great concern for many well meaning Zambians.

He has since noted the need for the Patriotic Front government and opposition political parties to find time to jointly address the important issues that are being raised concerning governance of the country.

Dr. Mpombo has cautioned that if this is not done Zambia risks going into an uproar of political confusion, stagnation and turmoil.

He says this means that government and the opposition must start talking to each other in order to avoid such political turmoil in the nation.

The opposition leader is calling upon government to listen to the opposition while on the other hand urging the opposition to also begin to have a heart to accommodate the issues that are being raised.

The post Mpombo Resurfaces, says Political Climate Boiling appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Dear Zambia Reports,

I write as a concerned parent who has a child at St Pauls Secondary School in Kabwe rural. The school’ s fees have become too exorbitant for a common parent to manage.

The so called PTA committee dominated by Copperbelt parents has adopted a system of imposing fees on parents who are based on the Copperbelt. In the first term parents paid K2, 960, 2nd term K2,080 and we are required to pay K1,860 ,this in my view is theft of the highest kind.

There is a K600 PTA which comes every term and I feel the Ministry of Education must move in and curb this theft. This is a school and not a college and the fees are getting higher every padding term. Can we be protected.

Concerned Parent. (No name)

The post Letter: Kabwe’s St Pauls Sec School and Exorbitant Fees appeared first on Zambia Reports.

FAZ president Kalusha Bwalya has hired a discredited fellow known as Godfrey Chikumbi to play the role of a trojan horse aimed at presidential aspirant Andrew Kamanga in the run up to the 2016 AGM.

Chikumbi, according to records, is a failed football agent wannabe. He could barely answer any football question when a FIFA player agents test was thrust in his face.

Knowing that Chikumbi has nothing to lose and his reputation nothing but “rubbish” compared to the respectable image of businessman Kamanga, Kalusha wanted to identify someone that can throw stones.

Chikumbi is executing his duties and is being managed by FAZ employees Erick Mwanza and Nkweto Tembwe.

“The idea is provoke Kamanga so that he can respond to a non entity out there seeking attention. Whatever Chikumbi has been paid, he should know that its money belonging to Zambians, not those individuals,” the source says.

Chikumbi has since taken to social media where he is calling those challenging Kalusha’s third term as crooks. What Chikumbi does not mention is that his paymaster Kalusha is a self confessed crook who borrowed money from Mohammed Bin Hamman intended for the association but there is no such trace in the FAZ coffers.

According to the campaign strategy, Chikumbi will be supported by some selected journalists on FAZ payroll. There is also some administrators like Roan United’s Sydney Chileya who will join the parroting of Kalusha’s third term chorus.

Remember, it has so often times it has been repeatedly that campaigns for the March 2016 Football Association of Zambia elections have not yet started. But no matter what is being said, there a sense of hardnosed shuffling of campaign cards in the background.

The post Kalusha Sets A Trojan Horse Known as Chikumbi on Kamanga appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Agriculture Minister Given Lubinda has volleyed back accusations that he corruptly awarded a US$40 million fertilizer supply tender to Nyiombo Investments.

Lubinda who has come under attack by the restless Zambian Voice Director Chilufya Tayali said that it was not possible for a minister to be involved in the tender process as the Zambia Public Procurement Authority did not allow ministers to oversee the process.

He said that Tayali needed to do his research before going on a wild goose chase.

“There is no grain of truth in that. Under Zambia Public Procurement Authority the minister has no such authority. It is not possible there is absolutely no way,” Lubinda said.

Tayali has been on Lubinda’s case in the recent past promising to nail the agriculture minister by documenting a litany of corruption in the fertilizer supply process.

The post Tayali, Lubinda Exchange “Blows” over $40 Million Fertlizer Deal appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Islamic Supreme Council says people that have been screaming that the ruling party has failed the Zambian people should reflect why the Patriotic Front has continued sweeping its way through by-elections.

Chairperson Suzyo Zimba said critics may have been hitting hard at the PF but ordinary Zambians have been giving their verdict during by-elections as evidenced during the recently held Bangweulu election.

Zimba said the opposition should be more concerned about enhancing their chances of winning next year’s elections and not preoccupy themselves with fighting the ruling party.

“The PF has been putting its critics to shame by delivering on some of its campaign promises. While its critics have not seen any single thing that the PF has done the ordinary Zambians has continued giving the PF support as you see that they have been winning by-elections,” he said.

“You have to wonder why the critics still don’t want to see anything positive with the government.”

The post Islamic Council Urges PF Critics To Do Self Introspection appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Opposition Green Party President Peter Sinkamba says a broader mix of energy sources is what Zambia needs to meet its growing demand for power.

Sinkamba says the broader mix of energy sources he is proposing should however be of independent power producers.

He says this is especially that Zambia is increasingly attracting industrial investment whose pragmatic view is that government should provide the necessary requisites to match the investment requirements.

Sinkamba says the current reliance on hydro-electric generation will not meet the current and future power demand.

He states that his party therefore thinks that plan should be to invest heavily in solar, geothermal and wind power given Zambia’s potential.

Sinkamba says while the Patriotic Front government is prioritizing thermal power as an alternative, the Green Party thinks that renewable energy should be the alternative.

He has disclosed that once it forms government the Green Party plans to increase power production to 18,000 Megawatts in 10 years.

The post Sinkamba says Zambia to Generate 18,000MW More if He’s President appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) has commended the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) for heeding to its advice to have the remaining pending by elections held on the same date.

Fodep Executive Director MacDonald Chipenzi says it is encouraging to learn that there are still state institutions that listen to the concerns of the people.

Chipenzi says there is need to be prudent in the utilization of national resources, stating that one way of being cost effective is the decision taken by the ECZ to hold the by elections on the Solwezi West and Lubansenshi parliamentary by-elections on the same day.

He points out that it is now up to the people of the two constituencies to elect their representatives who will effectively represent in parliament.

Meanwhile, Chipenzi says FODEP is also happy that former Kasama Central Member of Parliament Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba has challenged the decision of the Speaker to declare his seat vacant.

Chipenzi says this is a test case for the country’s democracy and the doctrine of the separation of powers.

The post Fodep Happy with ECZ appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Chief Justice Irene Mambilima says there is need to revitalize the use of mediation as one of the means of reducing the backlog of cases and ensuring speedy dispensation of justice.

Justice Mambilima has noted that in the recent past, court annexed mediation has gone into slumber because the referral rate by the courts has not been as high as it should be.

Justice Mambilima also notes that the process has also been unpopular to most members of the bar who are one of the major stakeholders in the delivery of justice.

She says the perception by the legal fraternity that mediation is a process that reduces the high legal fees that would ideally be earned through litigation is not true because mediation results in high turnover of cases which means that lawyers can bill frequently.

Justice Mambilima has expressed confidence that the mediation settlement week will be a success because all the stakeholders in the justice delivery system have been brought on board.

Justice Mambilima adds that the judiciary is exploring possibilities of introducing mediation in the subordinate courts because currently mediation only applies to the high court and the industrial relations court.

Chairperson of the mediation court Justice Gertrude Chawatama says the Judges have so far referred 300 cases for settlement which demonstrates their ownership of the process.

The mediation settlement week will run from 10th August to 4th September.

The post Mambilima Advocates for Mediation Courts in Settling Disputes appeared first on Zambia Reports.