Patriotic Front (PF) Secretary General Davies Chama has directed PF Western Province chairperson Charles Mututwa to immediately suspend two party members who are part of a group that has sued the Litungu in an effort to dethrone him.

Mwila says this is to avoid unwarranted suspicion of malicious propaganda that the party is supporting the action of trying to impeach the Litunga.

He says the PF respects traditional leaders and establishments, and has a policy not to meddle in issues of chieftainship.

Mwila says President Edgar Lungu and the PF as a whole values the role that traditional leaders play in nation building and development and hence cannot allow its members to be part of maneuvers that undermine the policy on relations with traditional establishments.

He further states that the party is studying the implications of the conduct of the two members for purposes of considering further disciplinary action against them.

The post PF Suspends Western Province Officials Suing Litunga appeared first on Zambia Reports.

There have been concerns raised over the hosting of the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Zambia with many complaining about the poor publicity of the tournament.

FAZ has in the last week tried a little harder to up the tempo. The arrival of the mascot named Nkwazi [the Eagle] which was launched on Sunday has added an interesting effect.

But are Zambians feeling the hype?

JAMES MUTUNGU CHIWALA of NDOLA where one of the two groups will be based shared his views on social media.

Who is the Marketing Manager for FAZ? I think they need a proactive person who should be on the ground to get feedback on the current preparation of CAF under 20 games.

Just this morning, I was chatting to a group of street vendors trading along chisokone avenue in Ndola. These boys literally mentioned that publicity of CAF under 20 games has been extremely disappointing. They claimed that using traditional channels of advertising alone such as ZNBC TV or public newspapers is not enough because few people actually tune to ZNBC TV nowadays and majority of soccer fans in compounds can’t afford to consistently buy a newspaper at k10. They shared various ideas that could have helped whoever is in charge of publicising these games to reach the masses in the streets and compounds. I won’t go into details but these guys are really in touch with reality on the ground despite having no formal academic qualifications in marketing.

Suffice to say that what’s needed is a mix of advertising and promotional activities such as advertisements in the electronic and print media plus other direct marketing approaches to reach the masses who have no access to newspapers or television sets.

I’m aware that sub committees were formed but not sure if Zambia Institute of Marketing(ZIM) or Zambia Public Relations Association (ZAPRA) were approached to nominate members to sit on some of these committees who could have provided professional and expert advice regarding the aggressive promotion and marketing of the games.

The post Letter: How Is The Under-20 Vibe In Your Area? appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Fred M’membe’s wife Mutinta has appeared in court for her contempt of court case for tearing a search warrant.

And M’membe and his wife have taken the continued camping at their residence of state police to the Lusaka High Court asking the institution order the police to vacate their residence.

Mutinta appeared before Magistrate Ireen Washimanga for mention.

On February 15 Mutinta had an altercation with police that had gone to search the M’membe residence with the wife of the media guru tearing the warrant in protest of the alleged high handedness by the police.

The case has been adjourned to February 22 for taking plea.

On Saturday the police were at it again by attempting to canter away a printing press housed in the car park that is used to print the Mast Newspaper.

And the M’membes has applied for an injunction in the Lusaka High Court to restrain police from carrying away their printing press and also vacate the premises.

M’membe is currently being hunted for by the police with an arrest warrant issued on February 14, 2017.

He is reportedly out of the country in the United States on unknown business.

The post M’membe Goes To Court To Chase Police From His Residence appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba throat case is still alive before the Magistrate Court with the matter adjourned to 30th May, 2017.

GBM crossed swords with President Edgar Lungu in the heat of election campaigns when he was arrested for having said that he will go for the Head of State’s throat.

The case has been dragging on in the court from the pre-election season and has yet to make notable progress.

GBM is appearing in various courts across the country on various charges that he alleges are politically motivated.

He is also facing another case of unlawful drilling in Lusaka while in Kitwe and Luanshya he is appearing routinely on different matters.

Addressing journalists after making an appearance GBM said that no situation was permanent.

The post GBM Throat Case Still Alive appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The Confederation of African has given Zambia the all clear on the readiness to host the Under-20 Total Africa Cup of Nations.

And FAZ president Andrew Kamanga said that the CAF team was in the country for the tournament laying to rest rumours that South Africa had been put on standby to host the U-20 Africa Cup.

CAF Total Under-20 Organizing Committee chairperson Amadou Diakite said that continental body had skipped the final inspection on account of being satisfied with the facilities.

Addressing a media briefing at Radisson Blu in Lusaka today, Diakite said that CAF was scheduled to have four rounds of inspection but will forego the fourth inspection as they were satisfied.

He said that the two stadia to be used were of international standard.
“We have had three inspections and we were supposed to do the fourth but because of what we have found we will not do the fourth,” he said.
“This shows the confidence we have in FAZ and the local organizing committee.”

The FAZ president urged the locals to swamp the stadia even when Zambia was not playing.

He appealed to the fans to come in droves and ensure that they enhance Zambia’s reputation of hosting major tournaments.

Teams will start trooping in on Wednesday with Cameroun expected after midnight while Egypt will jet in at 12:15 tomorrow.

Zambia is in Group A alongside Egypt, Guinea and Mali while Group B has Senegal, South Africa, Sudan and Cameroun.

The tournament kicks off on Sunday with Zambia playing Guinea at Heroes Stadium.

Tickets for the match will be K10, K20 for open wing while K200 for the VIP.

(SOURCE: Bolazambia)

The post CAF Satisfied With Zambia U-20 Preps…Cameroun Lead Arrivals appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The Patriotic Front says that President Edgar Lungu will meet any opposition leader except the UPND’s Hakainde Hichilema.

PF deputy spokesperson said that the UPND leader had made it impossible for President Edgar Lungu to meet him as he had refused to recognize his authority.

The PF and UPND have a very hostile relationship with the call for dialogue between them falling on deaf ears.

“How do you expect him to go and meet someone as Republican President who does not recognize him? He has refused to recognize him and has gone to court challenging the election results,” Bwalya said.

He said that Hichilema will only be given audience if he humbles himself and acknowledges the decision of the Zambian people to have elected President Lungu.

The post Pres. Lungu Ready To Meet Opposition, But Not Hichilema appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Former Information Permanent Secretary Dr Sam Phiri has staged a devil’s advocate stance by saying that hosting the Under-20 Africa Cup is a useless undertaking for the country.

Dr Phiri, currently a lecturer at the University of Zambia reckons the event is not worth throwing national resources on.

BELOW IS HISFULL POSTING:

SHOULD ZAMBIA BE HOSTING THE UNDER-20 SOCCER TOURNEY?

I think not…and here is why:

Some 6 months ago, Brazil through the regional Govt of Rio de Janeiro hosted the Olympics. Millions of public funds were spent on that extravaganza…

Today…

1. The GIANT Maracana Stadium is derelict, deserted, abandoned…with seats stripped for lack of maintenance;

2. A public university in Rio remains closed…no funds from Govt to fund its operations;

3. No medicines in public hospitals in Rio – no money from State govt;

4. Rio Govt can’t pay its workers, etc, etc…

IN SHORT…

The Rio State Govt is BROKE after staging that useless extravaganza.

WAS IT WORTH IT?

From the above lessons, PERHAPS we should be asking ourselves whether Zambia should be spending PUBLIC funds hosting a useless tournament in which SCANTLY dressed men spend 90 minutes chasing a PLASTIC ball filled-up with pumped-in air.

BY THE WAY, HOW MUCH IS ZAMBIA WASTING ON THIS EXERCISE?

Is it worth it?

The post Zambia Wasting National Resources Hosting Under-20 Tourney, Says Prof Phiri appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Parliament will resume sitting today after having adjourned sine die last year.

Ten government bills are expected to be presented during this run that will last over five weeks.

On the table will be bills like the constitution amendment bill and the constituency development bill among others.

In line with new parliamentary reforms President Edgar Lungu is expected to address parliament next month to set the tone for his developmental agenda.

The post Parliament Resumes Sitting Today appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The junior indomitable lions of Cameroun became the first foreign team to jet in the country ahead of the Total Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations that commences on Sunday.

Cameroun arrived in the country at 01:00 hours to signal a step up in the highly anticipated tournament.

The junior lions are in Group B alongside South Africa, Senegal and Sudan.

And Vice President Inonge Wina will this morning touch base with the Zambia Under-20 at Barclays Sports Complex.

Wina will be delivering word from President Edgar Lungu on the weighty expectations on the team as they host the tournament.

Zambia is in Group A alongside Guinea, Mali and Egypt.

Top four teams at the tournament will make it to the FIFA World Cup in South Korea.

Zambia has only been to the world cup twice in 1999 and 2007.

Tickets are being sold at Shoprite outlets through compu-ticket and Post offices with the pricing been K10, K20 for opening wing while K200 is the charge for grand stand.

……………

The post Cameroon Arrive For Under-20 Tournament appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Former FODEP chief executive officer McDonald Chipenzi has announced plans to register what is expected to be a fearless Civil Society Organization that will hold government to task on democracy and integrity of elections.

BELOW IS CHIPENZI’S WRITE UP ANNOUNCING THE PLAN

It is my pleasure to announce to the nation that soon and very soon a new NGO to advocate for the defense and protection of democracy and electoral integrity is to be born.

We cannot all sit and watch democracy and electoral integrity, achieved through hard work, being raped in broad daylight as if all citizens have been intoxicated with marijuana.

We need media freedom, we need rule of law, we need integrity in public office by fighting corruption vehemently, we need constitutionalism, we need to build public confidence in our institutions such as parliament, judiciary, Zambia Police, ACC and Auditor General’s office and also Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ)

We shall fight and conquer democracy and electoral manipulators and inefficient service delivery. We will not support mayors parade themselves in opulent offices when places are being flooded and fail to tour and find solutions.

Courage, transparency and accountability will be our driving force. We shall uncover where others cover.

Watch this space!!! Zambia here we come!!

Good morning

The post Chipenzi Set To Launch Fearless CSO appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Acting Luanshya District Commissioner Kasemuka Mwalo stunned officials from her office and Luanshya Copper Mines after she rejected a desktop computer donated to her office by the Mining company.

Mrs Mwalo had requested LCM for 2 computers for her office because the one she was using was borrowed from the department of water affairs.

But Copperbelt Permanent Secretary Ellias Kamanga has expressed ignorance over the lack of a computer at Luanshya Distcrit Administration.

“I am not aware that they have no computer, that is news to me and more over they have not requested for one. You only seek for donations when central government fails to buy or delays to buy”.

But sources from the district office revealed that Mrs Mwalo was expecting the mine to buy a new desk top computer for her office and a laptop for her personal use.

“The madam was expecting a desktop computer for the office and a laptop for her personal use, so when Mr. Chileya (Luanshya Copper Mines PRO) brought one desktop and a printer, she was really furious but we were all shocked because there was no need for fuming.” Said the source.

The source further disclosed that Mrs Mwalo later took back the computer the following day and demanded to see the Company Chief Executive Officer but she told that he was not available. She later demanded to see the deputy CEO but she was told he was in a meeting at Mulyashi site.

“It was very sad, the madam spent almost 3 hours at the LCM reception and whilst there she was yelling and screeming telling people that her office was too big to be given a second hand computer. Even the police officer and other officials from her office who accompanied her were shocked and they begged her to just return to the office and make an appointment properly but she refused.” Said the source.

After realizing that no one was attending to her, Mrs Mwalo later instructed officials who had accompanied her to pick the computer and take it back to the office.

During a closed door meeting with Mines Minister Christopher Yaluma, LCM management complained to the minister that it was difficult for the Mine to implement certain community projects because Government officials in most cases were diverting donations to their own personal projects.

In 2015, the then mayor Goldon Siwale requested the Luanshya Mine to help with machinery to clear historical waste in the district but the front end loader and tipper truck were later found working at his plot in Kamirenda area.

In the same year, an MP requested for crushed stones for a brick wall project for a school in his constituency but only half the tonnage went to the school, the other half went to his small holding project.

The post Luanshya DC Rejects Second Hand Computer From CLM, U-turns & Collects PC appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Senegal’s Under-20 men soccer team has arrived in Ndola for the Africa Cup.

The West Africans are in Group B and will be stationed in the friendly city.

FAZ media has announced the arrival of the two teams.

They become the second team to arrive in the country with Cameroon making a wee hour journey.

Zambia’s is hosting Africa’s second biggest soccer event, the first for the country that is known to be a powerhouse in the region and beyond.

The post Senegal Under-20 Jet In appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Zambians in South Africa are being cautioned to take necessary measures to stay away from hot spots in the renewed xenophobic attacks.

BELOW IS THE FULL STATEMENT

PRETORIA – 21ST FEBRUARY, 2017 – THE High Commission of Zambia in South Africa would like to advise Zambians living in South Africa to exercise caution in the wake of attacks on foreign nationals and their properties that have been reported in some parts of the country.

There have been reports in recent weeks of an outbreak of violent attacks in some parts of South Africa against foreign nationals, particularly fellow Africans from various countries.

The reports show that the pattern so far shows that homes, shops, vehicles and other property owned by foreigners were being targeted.

Although Zambians have yet not been directly affected, we have however received numerous calls of our people expressing anxiety and fear for their safety.

We would, therefore wish to advise that Zambians in South Africa pay close attention to their personal security at all times and monitor the media for information about possible risk areas.

According to media reports, violence broke out in Pretoria West on 18th February, 2017 when community members looted and set ablaze homes and vehicles belonging to foreigners.

A week earlier, at least 10 houses suspected to belong to foreign nationals were set alight in Rosettenville, south of Johannesburg.

A march has been scheduled for 24th February, 2017 in Pretoria which organisers are reported to say would see South Africans from across the capital city participate and march from Marabastad to the Home Affairs Department offices in the central business district.

The Mission has seriously engaged various stakeholders, including relevant South African Government wings and departments to ensure the safety of all Zambian citizens in South Africa.

Zambians who travel to or reside in South Africa are urged to register with the Zambian High Commission to make it easier for the Mission to contact them in case of emergency.

Online registration is available via www.zambiapretoria.net. Zambians without internet access may enroll directly with the Zambian Mission in Pretoria.

The Mission is located at 570, Ziervogel Street (Off Hamilton Street), Arcadia, Pretoria, South Africa; telephone (+27) (012) 326-1847/97; fax (+27) (012) 326-2140.

In the event of an after-hours emergency, you may wish to contact:

+27 (0) 73 557 8328

+27 (0) 84 637 0900

+27 (0) 71 970 4988

+27 (0) 81 002 7548

We wish to further advise that Zambians living in South Africa should note that matters relating to their legal and resident status are being handled through established formal channels between Zambia and South Africa.

Issued by:

Nicky Shabolyo
Press Secretary
ZAMBIAN HIGH COMMISSION IN SOUTH AFRICA
Cell: +27 (0) 810027548
Email: press@zambiapretoria.net or nshabolyo@gmail.com

The post SA Mission Cautions Zambians On Renewed Xenophobic Attacks appeared first on Zambia Reports.

A Kabwata constituency voter has written an open letter to area Member of Parliament Given Lubinda to remember his people and not be consumed with the luxury of his office.

Kabwata constituency has not be spared by the heavy rain that has hit the country leaving various areas flooded.

BELOW IS AN OPEN LETTER TO LUBINDA

22.02.17
23:00hrs
Dear Given Lubinda,

I’m still waiting for a response to my tweet. I get it, you’ve got Parliament and the Ministry of Justice, your family, maybe the gym every wednesday, you’re a busy man. At the end of the day maybe all you wanna do is read a good James Hardley Chase, or listen to some country music, (you strike me as a country music guy) so twitter would be the last thing on your mind.

But you see Mr. Lubinda, a few weeks after elections, you responded to a tweet in which I queried the people of Kabwata Constituency for having voted for you again. I didn’t ‘@’ mention you in that tweet Sir, but somehow it popped up on your radar and you responded.

Months after that, I used two of your handles and it’s 2017 and I’m still waiting for a response.
Yes, you’re busy, I understand. I’m just a legal assistant and I’m learning that life does get busy, I mean, we’re all just learning to adult here, right?

And you probably won’t have the time to read this ’til the end if I lengthen it anymore, so if you ever see this Sir, I still really just wanna know, are there any plans in your 5 year plan for Kabwata Constituency, to Tar Nkunda road?

Yours faithfully,
Sleep-less in Chilenje.
(Because I’m thinking of how I will go over the pools of water on Nkunda road in the morning)

Source: Edwina Mazunda (Facebook)

The post Kabwata Resident: Given Lubinda, Where Art Thou? We Are Swimming To Work! appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Heavy rains have caused serious flooding in some part of Lusaka with the poor drainage system largely to blame.

The country has experienced unprecedented rainfall but the poor drainage system is not helping matters.

Roads and houses around the upmarket Mass Media area are submerged and in some cases impassable. The same applies to the country’s elite shopping destination – Arcades.

So far, authorities are yet to announce any measures for the affected areas.

The post Floods Hit Lusaka appeared first on Zambia Reports.

FIRST Quantum Minerals (FQM) has spent more than US$3.5 million in engineering and maintenance works at the Solwezi-Chingola road.

FQM head of government affairs John Gladston said the mining firm had worked on 128km of the 168km road, carrying out pothole and shoulder repairs, and reconstruction of certain sections and even surfacing of some of the unsealed base courses constructed by the contractors.

“FQM decided that urgent action needed to be taken, as the road is the lifeblood of the company, and indeed the country.

Gladston was speaking following President Lungu’s visit to North Western Province last week during which he inspected construction works on the Solwezi-Chingola Road

“ All its consumable goods and finished copper is transported on the same road. And we have completed temporal rehabilitation of the Chingola-Solwezi road, much to the delight of all motorists, as it has made the road passable during the rainy season,” he said.

The mining company thanked President Edger Chagwa Lungu for taking the time to inspect the Solwezi-Chingola road.
Mr Gladston said good road infrastructure played an important role in attracting foreign direct investment, not just in North-Western Province, but in the nation generally.

He said that the road had deteriorated to such a state that North-Western Province faced being cut-off from the rest of the country during the rainy season, potentially bringing copper exports to a standstill.

“We rely on the road not only for supply but also to move our copper concentrate to the smelter on the Copperbelt,

“Any work stoppage due to the bad state of the road would have crippled operations at the mine will suffer, and we would not have suffered alone, the Zambian economy would suffer as a whole, as well,” said Gladston.

The mining company deployed 85 staff and contractors, including road engineers and labour, along with equipment to complete remedial work on the road which carries 60 percent of the nation’s mineral wealth to market. “The work done by First Quantum served to stabilize this road which was previously in a deplorable state and presented a real and present danger to the mining sector and to those Zambians whose livelihoods depend on it,

“The works we undertook on the road has kept business flowing in Zambia’s new Copperbelt, much to the benefit of the Zambian economy,” Mr Gladston said.

Gladston said FQM had recognised the transport sector as an important component of the economy and a common tool used for development, with a clear relationship between the quantity and quality of transport infrastructure and the level of economic development.

Source: Daily Nation

The post FQM Spends US $3.5 Million On Solwezi-Chingola Road appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Electoral expert MacDonald Chipenzi says the Commission of Inquiry on Voting Patterns and Electoral Violence has outlived its legal mandate and must be disbanded.

Chipenzi says the law stipulates that such an inquiry can only last 120 days. He charges that anything beyond the requisite mandate will be illegal.

BELOW IS THE STATEMENT

PRESS STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FEBRUARY 23, 2017
President Edgar Lungu must, with immediate effect, disband the Commission of Inquiry on Voting Patterns and Electoral Violence because its mandate has expired.

According to the Statutory Instrument No. 72 of 2016 that birthed the Commission of Inquiry late last year, its lifespan was for 120 days which have since expired.

It was expected within these 120 days to complete its work and handover the report to the President.

It will be illegal and against the dictates of the Statutory Instrument for the Commission of Inquiry and its commissioners to exist beyond the stipulated timeframe in the Instrument.

President Lungu is therefore challenged to tell the nation whether he has issued another Statutory Instrument to extend the life of the Commission of Inquiry and at what cost to the country.

On what basis would the Inquiry exist beyond its lifespan and how credible would its work be which would be done after the expiry of its mandated?

The credibility of the findings and the entire report would be rendered illegal, questionable and an academic exercise in the public court.

It is clear that the Inquiry has lamentably failed to attract enough witnesses as it is fact that people have resisted to be wooed to support a Commission of Inquiry bent at violating their constitutional right to vote, associate and the right to a secret of the vote.

It is, therefore, reasonable that the money being spent on the 15 commissioners who are currently gallivanting around the country and spending huge sums of taxpayers’ money on lodging in expensive hotels and fuel be channeled to needy areas such as uplifting the lives of persons with disability and also stocking hospitals and health centres with necessary drugs and essentials.

Further, President Lungu would better learn from his Malawian counterpart who only appointed a 3 member Commission of Inquiry on the maize-gate scandal involving Zambia and that country, gave it less days than ours to finish its work and submit its report which it has since done and the Malawian president has acted upon it based on its recommendations.

In our case, 15 member commission of inquiry which was given 120 days has failed to conclude its work on time. Where is efficiency and the prudence in the utilization of the country’s meagre financial resources?

McDonald Chipenzi
Electoral Expert

The post Chipenzi Wants Commission On Voting Pattern Disbanded appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Fred M’membe’s wife Mutinta Mazoka has pleaded not guilty to one count of contempt of court in the matter she allegedly tore a search warrant.

On 15th February, 2016 a group of law enforcement officers stormed the M’membe residence with a search warrant but met some resistance from Mutinta who allegedly tore the warrant.

Police officers bundled Mutinta away and detained her for 48 hours before taking her to court.

The law enforcement officers also attempted carry the printer from the M’membe residence that was allegedly used to print the Mast newspaper on account that it belonged to the Post Newspaper in liquidation.

Appearing before Magistrate Ireen Washimanga Mutinta pleaded not guilty.

The case has been adjourned to March 20 for mention and April 3 for commencement of trial.

M’membe is variance with the law following a longstanding tax dispute that has led to the closure of The Post Newspapers.

Liquidator Lewis Mosho has been compiling a list of all Post Newspapers properties but has received little cooperation from M’membe.

The post Mutinta M’membe Opens Defence in Contempt Case appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Rights activist Brebner Changala says President Edgar Lungu should act on his pronouncements that he will fire corrupt ministers.

Changala said that the statement had now become just another hollow pronouncement as no one had been shown the door for poor performance.

He said that the ministers would not take the Head of State seriously if he did not act on his pronouncements.

President Lungu has on more than one occasion warned that he would fire corrupt ministers but has yet to act on his word.

“Up to now he has not fired anyone even in the house if as a parent you keep telling a child that you will discipline them and you do nothing they will know that you are a coward,” Changala said.

In the aftermath of the August 11 2016 elections only the outspoken Chishimba Kambwili has been fired.

The post Changala Reminds Pres. Lungu To Fire Corrupt Ministers appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Opposition MMD faction leader Nevers Mumba has opened his defence in the Lusaka Magistrate Court over his unlawful entry of ZNBC charge and giving false information to a law enforcement officer.

The UPND aligned opposition leader told the court that the opposition party’s Hakainde Hichilema won the August 11, 2016 elections.

Mumba finally took the stand after repeated adjournments on the matter with the accused telling the court that the law enforcement officers waved him through the entrance of ZNBC and cordially interacted with journalists when he went to the newsroom to lodge a complaint.

He had gone to ZNBC to protest over a story that aired on September 8 2016 that said that the inauguration of President Edgar Lungu would go ahead despite his election being challenged in the Constitutional Court.

Mumba claimed that the UPND won the election and that is why he was aggrieved enough to go and protest at ZNBC.

The post UPND Won 2016 Polls, Nevers Tells Court appeared first on Zambia Reports.