Government has launched a consultative process which will lead to Zambia coming up with a position on whether to leave or remain a member of the International Criminal Court(ICC).

Minister of Justice Given Lubinda has said that 2 million Kwacha has been allocated to the process which will be conducted in 30 districts across the country.

Speaking during a media briefing in Lusaka today, Mr Lubinda said citizens will be required to make their submissions to a team from the Ministry of justice.

Lubinda said that President Edgar Lungu respected the constitution and that sovereign authority vests in the people of Zambia.

Lubinda has further appealed to the media to help sensitise people on the consultative process which starts next week Monday.

He said the consultative process will culminate in a report for cabinet to make a decision.

And Government has assured the nation that it will not influence the countrywide consultations on whether Zambia should leave the International Criminal Court or not.

Lubinda said that was the reason why Cabinet has not come up with a position on whether Zambia should leave the ICC or not.

Lubinda said that government does not want the consultations to be a partisan issue, but a process which reflects the wishes of the Zambian people.

Lubinda also said that the ruling Patriotic Front equally does not have a position on the matter and will not engage in any campaigns for or against Zambia’s membership of the ICC.

Asked whether government has reflected on the consequences of Zambia leaving the ICC, Mr. Lubinda told journalists that government does not want to get involved in discussing the matter, before adding that government desires that Zambian citizens discuss this matter on their own. Zambia became a member of the ICC in 2002.

The post Given Lubinda Says Government To ‘Waste’ K2 Million On ICC Consultation Process appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Government has secured loans totaling US$41 million for the construction of the University College of Science and Mathematics in Nalolo district, University College of Applied Arts and Commerce in Katete and the University College of Science and Technology in Kabompo.

Higher Education Minister Nkandu Luo has told Parliament in a ministerial statement that financing for the construction of the three university colleges has been sourced from the Arab bank for economic development in Africa who will provide a $4.5 million loan, OPEC who will provide a loan of $10 million, the Kuwait Fund who will provide a $13 million loan and Abu Dubai Fund who will provide a loan of $13.5 million.

Professor Luo says the loan agreements with the financiers have already been signed and will be disbursed once all the procurement processes have been completed.

She however, states that these loan amounts are not adequate to complete the construction of the three university colleges and equip them.

Professor Luo says in order to bridge the financing gap; the government of Saudi Arabia has also pledged funds towards the construction of the colleges.

She says the Saudi government has not indicated the actual amount of funds committed as they are awaiting the Environmental Impact Assessment report.

The post University Of Mathematics Set For Nalolo Base; 2 Other Colleges To Gobble Over $41 Million appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Sports Moses Mawere has urged Football Association of Zambia -FAZ- delegates to tomorrow’s Annual General Meeting to put national interest ahead of self by approving the new statutes.

He says this should be done for the benefit of football in the country.

Mawere says the FAZ councillors should realize that failure to adopt the changes in the FAZ draft constitution will cost the whole country if FIFA decides to ban Zambia.

FIFA has given FAZ March 31, 2017, as deadline to ensure the constitution is amended to conform to the FIFA requirements or face a ban from all CAF and FIFA organized competitions.

Some officials are de-campagning the constitution which will give FAZ a national character for the first time since organized football was introduced in the country.

The post Sports Minister Urges FAZ Council To Approve New Statutes appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The Zambia Road Agency says there is no fatalities recorded in this morning’s crash involving a Power Tools passenger bus and fuel tanker on the Lusaka-Kabwe Rd.

BELOW IS THE STATEMENT

NO FATALITIES RECORDED IN THE POWER TOOLS BUS, FUEL TANKER ACCIDENT

KABWE, 24 MARCH 2017 – No fatalities have been recorded in the road accident involving a Power Tools bus and a fuel tanker which happened today along the Great North road.
The accident happened at a place called Prospects around 11:40 hours.

The accident occurred after the driver of the fuel tanker ACV 8404 belonging to Mohab transporters heading south direction overtook several vehicles and misjudged the speed and distance of the oncoming Power Tools bus registration number ADD5736.

The drivers of the two vehicles, in trying to avoid a collision, decided to go off road culminating in the tanker overturning and catching fire with the bus having minor damages which resulted in two passengers and the driver sustaining minor injuries. The injured have since been rushed to Kabwe general hospital and are in a stable condition.

The Agency wish to urge all motorists to follow speed limits, exercise maximum patience and caution on the road to avoid such accidents.

Issued by:
Frederick Mubanga
Head – Public Relations

The post No Fatalities In Power Tool Bus, Fuel Tanker Crash appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Disgraced Chingola thief Richard Kazala is currently dishing out millions of kwacha to FAZ coucillors who are arring in Lusaka to attend tomorrow’s Annual General Meeting at which a new constitution is expected to be enacted.

Kazala, who is suspended for stealing K150, 000 from ticket sales, has instructed Councillors to reject the draft constitution because in his wisdom FAZ had no funds to implement its recommendations.

The former lawmaker who was suspended alongside committee member Blackwell Siwale has issue for expulsion also expected to come up for discussion tomorrow.

Kazala and his team have coined the slogan Save KS and reject statutes ahead of the AGM. The former sports deputy minister has also funded the impeachment of FAZ president Andrew Kamanga.

“There is serious cash flying around. These people mean business and they are not sleeping. Right now they are diverting people from lodges so that they can strategize,” a source tells Zambia Reports.

“For example, councillors from Northern Province are being diverted from going to Ndeke Hotel to Heroes Lodge near Mandevu. This corruption by Mr Kazala should be stopped.”

Zambia risks being banned from all international engagements in football if councillors fail to pass the constitution tomorrow as being advocated by Kazala.

The post Kazala Dishing Out Millions To Attract FIFA Ban appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The FAZ council will converge in Lusaka this morning with the adoption of the new constitution top on the agenda.

Another issue expected to be tabled is the suspension of FAZ vice-president Richard Kazala and committee member Blackwell Siwale.

FIFA had issued a directive for FAZ to revise its statutes to conform to international standards. Chief in the revision was the composition of the FAZ council and Electoral College.

The revised draft constitution to be tabled for approval today has since tackled all the issues raised by FIFA and proposed a new look executive which will give management of football a national character.

Article 21 provides for the recognition of lower league teams by stating, “The Council is composed of 130 delegates and 90 votes…”

Subsequent parts of Article 21 distribute the voting allocation to all members of FAZ members with division 2 and 3 teams now represented by respective regions and are allocated 40 out of the total 90 votes available in the new Electoral College.

As well as Super Divisions teams, Division One teams will have 20 votes while the remaining 10 will be shared among the women’s league, referees, coaches, higher education, schools, futsal and beach soccer and the association representing players.

Article 32 has increased the number of elected executive committee members to 13 from the current 9. Only three positions – president, vice-president & female member – will be contested at national level with the other 10 decided at regional level giving the FAZ ExCO a national character as each province will elect one official to sit on the board.

For the first time, the FAZ executive will be represented by individuals outside the line of rail. History shows that majority of ExCo members have been drawn from Lusaka and Copperbelt when the country has 10 provinces.

All aspiring committee members will need a minimum of five years as FAZ members at club level to qualify for election. FAZ has since increased the number of judicial bodies to four and are distributed as Disciplinary, Ethics, Arbitration and Appeals Committee.

There are also attempts to impeach FAZ president Andrew Kamanga but the motion does not have strong ground to warrant debate. It’s the suspension and possible expulsion of Kazala and Siwale that may also be topical.

The post FAZ Council Meets To Adopt Constitution As Councillors Show Eager To Give Football New Look appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Police may arrest suspended FAZ vice-president Richard Kazala and his accomplice Blackwell Siwale for theft of public funds if the FAZ Council fails to discipline the erring officials at today’s Annual General Meeting set for Government Complex.

And President Edgar Lungu has issued stern warning to his political advisor Kaizer Zulu, who Kazala and Siwale have been claiming has their back after they were suspended for stealing K150, 000.

State House sources tell Zambia Reports that the Zambia Police was reluctant to arrest the two officials in the initial stages because they were assured that the matter was football related and could be disposed of by the FAZ Council.

However, there are reports that Kazala and Siwale have heavily bribed councillors to survive expulsion at today’s AGM.

Police sources have warned that if the FAZ council fails to deal with the matter, law enforcement agents will move in and arrest for criminal prosecution.

“The police have already done preliminary investigations but there were assurances that this was a football matter which will be dealt with at the council. If the reports we are getting are true, we will be left with no option but to move in and help the football people clean their house,” the source said. “The only way you can reconcile with someone who has deprived the public is by making them pay back what is not due to them.”

The sources say police preliminary investigations have shown that public funds were stolen by the named officials.

“This is a matter of public interest but because FAZ had instituted its own internal disciplinary procedures, police did not want to duplicate those investigations. If those investigations and disciplinary procedure does not yield anything, we will be left with no choice but to move in,” the source added.

The police source says command expects councillors to do the right thing and safe guard the integrity of football.

“If they fail to clean their own house, we will help them clean it. We respect their internal procedure and have waited knowing they are mature to make right decisions, but if they fail they may need help and it is readily available,” the source explained.

And a senior official at State House says President Lungu has received a full briefing about the happenings at Football House including suggestions that Kazala and Siwale are backed by his political advisor Kaizer Zulu.

“The boss has warned KZ. He is not happy that his closest confidant is always on the wrong side of public discourse. It may just be a matter of time,” the source said.

Kazala and Siwale have allegedly been telling FAZ councillors they have the backing of State House and therefore can’t be expelled from football.

Last night Kazala and Siwale dished out money to councillors in the form of transport refunds, accommodation and general upkeep urging them to reject the adoption of the new FAZ constitution as per FIFA directive and push for what they claim is reconciliation if their motion to impeach FAZ president Andrew Kamanga flops.

In October last years, Kazala and Siwale infamously dipped their fingers in the till by under declaring a K1, 650, 000 that was paid in cash by State House for match tickets for the Zambia versus Nigeria match.

They declared K1, 500, 000 pocketing the difference prompting Kamanga to invoke constitutional provisions that gives him authority to institute disciplinary measures.

Both Kazala and Siwale have never denied pocketing the money.

The post Police May Arrest Kazala, Siwale For Theft; State House Cautions Kaizer Zulu Against Meddling In Football appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Lusaka Dynamos will host a four club tournament to prepare for the 2017 soccer season.

Napsa Stars, Green Buffaloes and Red Arrows will take part in the competition next week.

BELOW IS A STATEMENT FROM DYNAMOS CEO SIMATAA SIMATAA

PRESS RELEASE

25th March, 2017.

Lusaka Dynamos football club has organised a four club invitational tournament as preparations for the 2017 season intensify.

Dubbed as the ‘Lusaka Dynamos Four Club Invitational Tournament’, the competition will take place from Tuesday to Thursday next week at the Heroes Stadium.

Club’s Chief Executive Officer Simataa Simataa disclosed the tournament will feature super division sides Green Buffaloes, Napsa Stars, Red Arrows and the hosts.

“This tournament is very important because all participating clubs will have an opportunity to gauge themselves against some of their opponents once the league starts,” he said.

“It will provide an opportunity for the coaches to see some strengths and weakness of their respective teams before the league commences.”

Simataa said there will be two games each on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

He said though the tournament was currently not sponsored, business houses are free to get on board for sponsorship packages.

Entry will be free.

Fixtures

TUESDAY, March 28th

13:00 hours: LUSAKA DYNAMOS FC VS GREEN BUFFALOES

15:00 hours: NAPSA STARS VS RED ARROWS

WEDNESDAY, March 29th

13:00 hours: NAPSA STARS VS LUSAKA DYNAMOS

15:00 hours: RED ARROWS VS GREEN BUFFALOES

THURSDAY , March 30th

13:00 hours: GREEN BUFFALOES VS NAPSA STARS

15:00 hours: LUSAKA DYNAMOS VS RED ARROWS

For and on behalf of Lusaka Dynamos Football Club,

Simataa Simataa

The post Dynamos To Host Four Nations Tournament appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) Council has expelled hitherto vice president Richard Kazala and FAZ Executive Committee Member Blackwell Siwale following a voting process at the 2017 Annual General Meeting held at the New Government Complex on Saturday, March 25.

Their expulsion was not immediate as it came after their suspension was confirmed via a simple majority voting process in which 257 out of 278 votes were in favour of the suspension.

The expulsion vote was passed by 264 votes out of 284.

Kazala and Siwale have been on suspension since October 2016 when they dipped their fingers into public coffers.

The duo under declared proceeds from ticket sales by K150, 000.

The post FAZ Council Expels Kazala and Siwale appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) Council has unanimously adopted a new constitution at this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at the New Government Complex on Saturday, March 25.

The FAZ Council passed the legislation by 309 votes from 320.

A minimum of 240 votes were required for the new constitution to be passed. The new constitution becomes effective immediately after the 2017 annual general meeting

The FAZ Council, cognizant of FIFA’s directive that FAZ would be suspended if a new constitution was not adopted by March 31, agreed to the text in the new constitution in a yes or no vote by show of hands.

The new constitution has restructured the composition of the FAZ executive which will now be drawn from all 10 provinces.

According to the new constitution, the Super Division will have 20 teams. The composition of the FAZ council will now have 130 delegates 90 of whom form the Electoral College.

The post FAZ Adopts New Constitution appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Football Association of Zambia president Andrew Ndanga Kamanga may not know it. But he has provided a text book case of “when God says yes, nobody can say no.”

Admittedly this sounds a lot like the hogwash that some con Pentecostal evangelists churn out every other day.

But the Kamanga story has been one for text book lessons in years to come. The more emotional would term it a legendary feat. Kamanga has repeatedly preached the gospel of transparency and accountability, but the crowd more used to the culture of thieving have dismissed him as a dreamer.

Kamanga has often, even a little too monotonously chanted the transparency card but few have been listening.

So drunk was everyone with a certain legend that even when there was massive plunder of football resources [in fact national resources] nobody cared hence Kamanga’s gospel of transparency seemed something out of space.

Kamanga’s ascendancy to power was a victory to transparency and 12 months later the business magnate’s against all odds tale is still updating itself.

It is a tale that should give any believer in success that no barrier is insurmountable to achieve success. It is a template that should be used in years to come that no matter how much evil seems to triumph, the truth will always prevail.

The matter of the constitution has always been an inevitable outcome but the brethren went to town scandalizing Kamanga as if he had been the initiator of the process. In the end the councillors saw the light and passed the constitution seven years after it had been initiated.

Kamanga had tried hard to win over his vice president Richard Kazala and committee member Blackwell Siwale. Kamanga humbled himself on numerous occasions and followed Kazala to his Chingola base where he enjoys a cult like status, but they just refused to work with him. They portrayed him as an inferior human; a minority FAZ president so they chanted.

So ungrateful were Kazala and Siwale that even when Kamanga gave his deputy the right to be in charge of the first international match at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium when Zambia played Guinea at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, the Chingola based football administrator still went out of his way to fight the FAZ president.

Kamanga, in his calm personality extended several olive branches to Kazala. Alas, the former sports minister thought money can buy anything, and anyone. Siwale was made delegation leader to the Zambian versus Guinea match, but sill saw it fit as the man the triggered the pontoon gate scandal, not that it was worthy any praise.

These are people Kamanga spent the last 12 years pampering that they could see the light that he is the man in charge of the game, but they opted to fight him pledging their loyalty to outside forces whose common denominator was thieving.

The duo could not stand the fact that it is possible to serve the game without personally benefiting at the expense of the greater good. They were permanently wedded to stealing. But the councillors saw beyond their schemes. FAZ councillors saw beyond the money they were splashing even on the eve of the Annual General Meeting.

Once the councillors had their eyes open that the reality of the schemes that had been going on in the background to oust Kamanga were but a vehicle to assume power for self-aggrandizement, there could only have been one outcome. For 12 months, Kamanga has barely slept. They have held him hostage as if to suggest he owes the presidency to them and their dirty money.

Yet, FAZ councillors had the last voice. These are men who showns you can buy a few souls, but our country still has gallant leaders who believe in the values and morals of life. We congratulate all the FAZ councillors for working extremely hard to stop the catastrophe a few individuals wanted to plunge our football in. We salute Kamanga’s team for a job well done.

Yes, it was the day football won. Maybe Kamanga may just be that special one the Zambian game has been waiting for. It’s now back to football; the game has won and its about time to develop it.

The post Opinion: Special Salute To FAZ Councillors; Money Can Buy A Few Souls, But Not Everything Or Everyone appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The 2017 Junior African Champions Zambia have suffered a heavy defeat against South Korea at the on-going Four Nation’s International Tournament in Korea.

The Koreans beat the Chipolopolo boys by 4 goals to 1 to inflict a defeat for Coach Bestone Chambeshi for the first time in couple of matches played.

Edward Chilufya was Zambia’s only scorer who found the back of the net in the 33rd minute after Korea went ahead in the 29th minute.

However the junior chipolopolo allowed the Koreans to dominate the match after the interval.

South Korea now has two wins out of two having silenced Honduras by 3 goals to 2 while Zambia has won one match and lost one.

The loss is good for Zambia considering that the upcoming World cup from the 20th of May to 11th June will not be an easy Tournament.

Coach Chambeshi has picked up vital lessons in order to have a good outing.

The post Zambia Under-20 Suffer 4-1 Loss To South Korea At Adidas 4-Nations Tourney appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Dr Guy Scott’s role in the Patriotic Front power struggles in the aftermath of the death President Michael Sata remains hazy.

Author Anthony Mukwita has put through a version in his Against All Odds biography on President Lungu that paints DR Scott as a villain in the power struggle contest.

In his review of Mukwita’s book, political commentator Sunday Chanda re-enforces that view about Dr Scott.

BELOW IS THE BOOK REVIEW:

DR GUY SCOTT’S “DARK SIDE” REVEALED IN ANTHONY MUKWITA BOOK –
BOOK REVIEW BY SUNDAY CHANDA
I have known Anthony Mukwita for a lot of things in Zambian media starting from being an innovative journalist that could push the envelope and create some of the sauciest newspaper headlines to being an academic and a consummate diplomat.

Today, however, I feel he has redefined himself to perhaps being one of the bravest novelists and documentarists Zambia has had in recent history.
I base my opinion on his depiction of former vice President Guy Scott in the thrilling political book “Against all Odds-President Edgar Chagwa Lungu’s Rough Journey to State House.”

In this book, the author exposes the man we know today as Guy Scott in a shade previously unknown. A political villain of sorts.
Mukwita cleverly shows the immensely divisive role, Dr Scott played in the 2015 Presidential election following President Michael Chilufya Sata’s death on 28th October 2014 and his open contempt for Edgar Lungu esq.

The author doesn’t miss out the messy and hasty plan to grab power from a hapless Edgar Lungu who was then the rightful and legal acting President of Zambia.
I note with interest, the dimension by the author emphasizing that Acting President Edgar Lungu was holding onto the instruments of power from the Scott camp.

Maybe the author should have probed further whether the “forceful” transfer of power the next morning after President Sata death was above board or not. Maybe in his revised edition, Mukwita would answer some ‘mystery’ questions: did the Attorney General at the time Musa Mwenye and former Vice President Guy Scott abrogate the law as per Article 36 of the 1996 Constitution?

Did the Constitution at the time permit for the acting President to cease performing the functions of President without being informed by the Speaker of the substantive President’s return?
Was there any provision in the law providing for the handing over of power by the acting President to anyone else apart from either the substantive President or indeed an elected President?

This was crucial to dissect because when late President Michael Sata left the country for the United Kingdom, the nation was informed that he was going for a routine medical check.
Clearly under that law, President Sata left the country under the then Article 39 (1) of the Constitution of the Republic of Zambia which deals with Discharge of functions of President during absence, illness etc.

Under this provision, the Acting President could only hand over the instruments of power upon the return of the President, or upon the election of a substantive President.
It did not provide for anywhere that the instruments of power shall be handled to another Acting President.

The question which this great book should ask is what happened to the law on that particular morning? Was it breached?
Lungu wakes up to the fact that not everyone in the PF is his friend in a section the author calls ‘The Candidate and the frenemies’ and alas Scott leads the pack of the ‘United Hates of Edgar Chagwa Lungu.’

Absent in the book in my view are the reasons for Scott’s immense dislike for Edgar Lungu whose reluctant ambition to go to State House are to use Mukwita’s lucid description ‘monkey-wrenched’ at each turn with apparent glee by Scott and friends.
This starts from Scott insisting that the broke ruling party must hold a convention for Lungu to contest against nine other internal ‘enemies’ even as opposition maestro HH stocked up on political canons and dug holes around the PF.

Edgar Lungu was standing on quick sand but Scott kept hitting at him including firing him from the position of General Secretary President Sata stripped of Wynter Kabimba and bestowed onto him (Lungu.)
The author also shows Scott’s immense hatred for Lungu when the estranged vice President also writes the Chief Justice to stop Lungu from filing in papers as the candidate of the ruling PF.
As you read Mukwita’s page turner, you wonder when Scott is going ease the heat on Edgar Lungu who has now gained a huge national following but alas Scott like a restless ghost keeps stealing Lungu’s sunshine right to the very end of the election relentlessly according to the book.

At the end of the book, you ask yourself some questions?
Why did Scott get out of his way to stop Lungu from being the PF president and indeed president of Zambia?
Would Scott have gone to similar breaths and lengths to stop Wynter Kabimba if he had been the one acting President?
Was Scott’s resentment exclusively for the man of the people from Chawama and Chimwemwe—Edgar Lungu?
In great pieces of literature I have read and reviewed during my university days, there often is a villain and a protagonist to keep the story running.

Author Anthony Mukwita passes this literature test by show-casing Scott as the arch-villain.
You must be familiar with villains such as Shere Khan from The Jungle Book stories by Rudyard Kipling? If you are, you will recall that Shere Khan’s sole purpose in life was to lure the innocent boy Mowgli and eat him up.
Or perhaps you recall O’Brien from ‘1984’ the dystopian novella by the celebrated George Orwell.
O’Brien is a cynical and intelligent villain perhaps remembered more for the quote: “One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship.”

It is all about the villain and the protagonists in the examples I have given above as much as it is in Against all Odds (The Good Guys and the Bad Guys) which sometimes I think should have been the battle between Edgar Lungu and Guy Scott.
Anyhow, Mukwita makes my day, as a reader who followed the events leading to President Lungu’s election closely, so therefore I believe I speak for many readers when I say the “evil dude hit parade of literature” could not be complete in Against all Odds-President Edgar Lungu’s Rough Journey to State House if the author neglected to show the deeply divisive role Scott played and his immense hatred for Lungu.

Read the book and you will learn a lot on how to tell a story and create a plot within a plot if you are an aspiring writer.
If you are a historian, here is a piece of history set in modern Zambian times waiting to be peer reviewed.
At the end of the book, I ask again, “why did Scott play super villain against Edgar Lungu?”
Perhaps, the author Mukwita will tell us more about that in another book.

For now, I close the end page with a sigh of relief that the protagonist, the man fired and re-hired Edgar Lungu gets sworn in as President of Zambia against all odds on 25th January 2015 and proceeds to clinch his first full five year term in 2016. The stone that Scott had refused becomes the head corner stone.
I also observe that Mukwita doesn’t lose sight of the positive role Scott played in getting PF into office with his friend President Sata, before he turned rogue that is. This is commendable.
Against all Odds is a captivating book I would not hesitate to endorse while Mukwita tells the story like no other author can in my view.

ABOUT THE REVIEWER:
Sunday Chanda has a law degree University of Lusaka and has written broadly locally and internationally on various socio politico economic and legal issues. He has worked as Programme Development Manager, Centre for Leadership Development, University of Pretoria; Programme Development Manager, Afrika Leadership Development Institute, Pretoria, South Africa (a multi-university initiative); He also holds a Certificate in Asset Based Community Development from St. Francis Xavier University, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Mr Chanda is a local pundit who at the time of review was pursuing a Master of Science in Project Management with University of Lusaka.

BOOK DETAILS
Publisher: Partridge
Author: Anthony Mukwita
Pages: 175
Formats: Hard cover, Soft Cover and e-books
Available: Bookworld Zambia, Amazon and Exclusive Books South Africa
Language: English
Genre: Political, biographical and thriller

The post Guy Scott’s Role in PF Succession Brought in the Spotlight appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The debate on whether Zambia should ditch the International Criminal Court (ICC) or not has taken centre stage after President Edgar Lungu opened up the possibility albeit after consultation. Political activist MacDonald Chipenzi reckons the country should not even consider the matter and has put through his case.

Below is his presentation:

CONSULTATION TO WHETHER WITHDRAW ZAMBIA OR NOT FROM BEING MEMBER STATE OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT (ICC)

Finally, the day we have been waiting has come. The day when govt decides to make mock consultations on whether to remain or come out of the ICC.

The govt’s determination to withdraw from the ICC is now clearer than ever before. Though the govt has “claimed” neutrality in this matter, it is far from being true. Haste of conducting these consultation in only less than 1/3 of districts tells you that the devil is in the detail of a story.

This is so because reports are already emerging in other parts of country govt and ruling party officials urging people to unite and move away from the ICC.

Regardless, as earlier stated in one of my postings, the country does not need to move away from being a member party to the ICC because it is neither a suspect or suffered the wrath of the ICC’s prosecution before. It may be a potential client in the distant future if our leaders continue to misbehave but that does not warrant us to rush.

Now that govt is starting its consultations today in various selected districts with the aim of meeting the deadline set by the African Union at its last Heads of State Summit, i urge all Zambians to VOTE FOR REMAINING IN THE ICC AND REJECT THE DESIRE BY ANYONE TO LEAVE THE ICC.

Reasons being that ICC is our only shield against misbehaving leaders now and in future. Let us protect ourselves from being abused and our rights violated.
Say “NO” to withdraw from the ICC and “YES” to remaining member of the ICC. Reason: It is our only shield, guard against political leaders’ abusing citizens and violating our rights.

I URGE U ALL WELL-MEANING CITIZENS TO TURN UP IN LARGE NUMBERS AND MAKE IT CLEARER TO THOSE RUNNING AWAY FROM THEIR EVIL SHADOWS THAT ICC IS HEAR TO STAY IN ZAMBIA.

The post Chipenzi Labels Consultation on ICC Withdrawal a Mockery appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Veteran politician Sikota Wina has reportedly cancelled his attempted marriage to a 40-year-old beauty.

Sikota is 87.

The politician was once married to Princess Nakatindi who died under five years ago.

Sikota has wished his former fiancee named Elizabeth well.

He has also apologised to the lady’s family for wasting their time.

Sikota had made headway in the marriage preparation, but was greeted with ferocious condemnation when online media published the intended marriage.

The post Sikota Wina Cancels Attempted Marriage To “Sweet 40” Lady appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Opposition UPND top brass led by president Hakainde Hichilema and his deputy Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba will address a press briefing tomorrow at 9:30.

The duo are set to address various issues including their MPs’ continued boycott of Pres. Edgar Lungu’s presence at Parliament.

Hichilema and GBM will also call on the resignation of the Zambia Police command over the killing of the ZAF officer and an attempt by an inebriated cop to shoot UPND senior lawmaker Garry Nkombo.

The two will also tackle various issues including an announcement by justice minister Given Lubinda that Zambia is consulting the process of withdrawing its membership from the International Criminal Court.

BELOW IS THE NOTICE

Good evening friends

We hope you had a great day. We have sent the below media invite.

INVITATION FOR A PRESS BRIEFING

There will be a Press Briefing to be addressed by UPND President Hakainde Hichilema and Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba jointly with Presidents of other political leaders tomorrow Tuesday 28th March 2017.

It will be held at Chainama Hotel from 09:30 hours.

We thank you for your usual support and cooperation.

The post Hichilema, GBM Dates Press appeared first on Zambia Reports.

A Patriotic Front media platform has shown support for the widely condemned police officer captured in a video threatening to pull the trigger on Mazabuka member of parliament Garry Nkombo.

Nkombo was with his wife at a filling station where he was refueling his vehicle when the cop would could barely stand as he held a machine gun demanding to search the lawmaker’s vehicle.

A Facebook post published by the PF Media team suggests the officer was within his dutiful rights to search Nkombo’s vehicle.

The quote from a Zambian piece of legislation states,

“Any Police Officer may stop any vessel, aircraft or vehicle in or upon which there shall be reason to suspect that anything stolen or unlawfully obtained may be found and also any person who maybe reasonably suspected of having in his possession or conveying in any manner anything stolen or unlawfullly obtained, and may seize any such thing.”

The post PF Media Shows Support For ‘Trigger-Drunk’ Cop appeared first on Zambia Reports.

President Edgar Lungu this morning sent the crowd that gathered to listen to him at the Market in Isoka into a joyous frenzy when he called out area Member of Parliament and Muchinga Province Minister Hon. Malozo Sichone to a question and answer session on the podium.

The President, who thanked the people of Isoka for their vote in the August 2016 General elections, asked Malozo Sichone to explain how far he had gone in ensuring that the promises that had been made to them pre-election period were being fulfilled.

“The first thing I am here to do is to thank you the people of ISOKA for voting for me and the Patriotic Front in one peace. Secondly I want to tell you that we will deliver all the things that we promised you when we came to ask for your vote, ” President Lungu said.

The Head of State told Hon. Sichone to explain to the people how far the construction of the feeder roads had gone.

He further wanted to know how far the construction of the markets including health posts and schools had reached stating that when he returned to the area, he expected all the projects to be completed failure to which he would relieve the Minister of his Ministerial duties to allow him focus on serving his constituents.

“The era of Am Busy that Ministers used to practice is long gone . If you are a Minister and can’t manage to juggle between your ministerial position and your parliamentary obligations to your constituency, then Kuya bebele .” The President said amidst outbursts of laughter from the crowd.

And Hon. Sichone explained that the works on the roads were underway and would soon be completed. He also stated that the delay in the completion of the Market project was due to the rains and promised that as soon as the rains finished, the market as well as the health posts would would be completed .

The President told the elated crowd and the Member of Parliament that he would come back to the era in a year and a half in which time , he expected the promised projects to have been completed without fail.

The post Pres. Lungu Puts Isoka MP On The Spot, “If You Don’t Deliver, Kuya Bebele” appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The United Party for National Development UPND cadres have beaten up and harassed two journalists. This happened this morning at UPND’s Secretariat in Lusaka Roadspark area.

The UPND President Hakainde Hichilema and his vice President for administration Godfrey Bwalya Mwamba were supposed to hold a press briefing at Chainama Hotel but the Police could not allow them to, obviously due to security reasons.

The Radio Phoenix staff narrated that upon arriving at the UPND Secretariat, the overzealous UPND cadres followed the two Journalists and asked them to leave saying they were ZNBC Journalists. Before they could even produce their IDs , the Cadres had already started beating and harassing them.

A female Journalist from Millennium Radio was harassed and they almost tore her clothes and a male Journalist from Radio Phoenix was beaten badly.

All this was happening in the Presence UPND leaders.

Meanwhile, police have sealed off Chainama Hotel which was supposed to host a UPND press briefing with leader Hakainde Hichilema and his deputy Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba as chief speakers.

The UPND had issued a notice that that they will a briefing to address wide ranging national issues but police sealed off the place.

Last week police also denied the UPND the right to hold a public rally in Kanyama at Twashuka grounds on account that Lusaka is currently not safe for public meetings.

Police are currently camped at the Chainama Hotel ensuring that UPND officials and supporters have no access to the premises.

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President Edgar Lungu has expressed disappointment at the extent to which the illegal mukula tree trade has increased.

President Lungu said this when he visited Nakonde border post where he came to first hand reality of the impounded commodity.

“Yesterday, I toured the Nakonde boarder. I was very disappointed with the continuing illegal Mukula tree trade,” he says, adding “I have warned everyone engaging in this illegal trade to stop immediately. I have also directed law enforcement agencies to be on high alert to ensure we curb this retrogressive practice. Let culprits be brought to book, irrespective of who they are!”

President Lungu has since directed Home Affairs minister Steven Kampyongo to ensure that all culprits are brought to book.

“I took time to meet with young people in the area. I listened to their impressive story and donated two Noah buses to the Youth Association for their project,” he says.

President Lungu spent three days in Northern Province where he also urged his ministers and MPs to revive development projects that had received no action.

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