The launch of the National Dialogue at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross took off with the conspicuous absence of the Patriotic Front.

And Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia Board Chairperson says that the absence of some key political players at the launch of the national dialogue underscores the urgent need for dialogue.

Bishop Paul Mususu, said the three church mother bodies have vowed to see to it that the National Dialogue process is concluded in the soonest possible time even when other concerned parties shun away from the process.

Speaking at the official Launch of the process at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka today, Bishop Mususu said that dialogue remains the civilised way of dealing with challenges affecting any given nation in this modern society.

The dialogue process has been attended by some members of the political alliance notably the UPND’s Hakainde Hichilema, Elias Chipimo (NAREP), Andyford Banda (PAC), Nevers Mumba (MMD) and Fresher Siwale among others and the Civil Society movement, traditional leaders who included Chieftainess Nkomesha and some diplomats accredited to Zambia.

And Bishop Mususu, said the National Dialogue process provides a platform where citizens can hold their national leaders accountable in national affairs.

He therefore stated that staying away from the process is running away from addressing challenges affecting the people of Zambia.

The Law Association of Zambia led by its president Eddie Mwitwa, and Transparency International Zambia Chapter Executive Director Wesley Chibamba were also present.

The ruling Patriotic Front Leadership and other opposition Party parties namely the Felix Mutai Faction are missing from the official Launch of the National Dialogue process that has attracted a sizeable crowd.

The post PF Shun Dialogue Launch appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The defamation case against Equity and Economic Party (EEP) president Chilufya Tayali by UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema is still active before the courts of law despite an indication that the two parties would resolve the matter outside court.

When the matter came up before Magistrate Felix Kaoma this morning, Tayali and his lawyers were not before court prompting the court to direct that the matter will proceed next time even in the absence of the accused.

Tayali has been dragged to court by Hichilema for a litany of allegedly defamatory postings on his facebook page.

According to the summons which were filed before court, Tayali is alleged to have unlawfully published defamatory statements concerning Hichilema with intent to injure his reputation.

Hichilema’s lawyer Laston Mwanabo informed the court that he did not know the whereabouts of both the accused and his lawyers Jonas Zimba and Osborne Ngoma as there was no communication.

Magistrate Kaoma adjourned the matter to March 31 for possible withdrawal.

“I will give them a benefit of doubt, but should they fail to avail themselves before my court in the next sitting the matter will proceed in the absence”, Kaoma said.

In the previous sitting, the matter could not proceed into trial because Hichilema’s lawyers Laston Mwanabo and Mulambo Haimbe asked for an adjournment to allow both parties explore an amicable resolutions to their differences.

Mwanabo indicated that he had received instructions to formalize the possible reconciliation.

And Tayali’s lawyers did not object to the application and stated that  it was their desire to reconcile the parties.

The post Hichilema Yet to Withdraw Defamation Case against Tayali appeared first on Zambia Reports.

UPND Kanyama Ward 10 councillor Brighton Bvilumba opted to remain silent when called upon to open his defence in the matter he is charged with theft of K56, 000.

Bvilumba was today scheduled to open his defence after he was found with a case to answer by the court in the last session.

He had told the court that he would give evidence on oath and call witnesses but when he appeared in court today he opted to remain silent.

The court then directed him to file written submissions for his defence.

In this case Bvilumba is alleged to have stolen K56, 000 that was supposed to be paid to 13 people engaged by the Lusaka City Council to distribute bills for ground rates arrears on behalf of the local authority.

The post UPND Councillor Opts to Remain Silent in K56, 000 Theft Case appeared first on Zambia Reports.

FULL STATEMENT

HH says The Mines can’t wait to have him as President because he has promised them thst he will revert to VAT and reduce it from 16% to 10 percent to allow mines make more profit.

One would have thought that as a leader of the biggest opposition political party Mr Hakainde Hichilema would be the first one to demand that the mines must pay a fair share of taxes for the benefit of Zambia and Zambians but alas the man has decided to defend the multi-national companies at the expense of his own country and country men and women.

How can a man who seeks the highest office in the land choose to be on the side of foreign capital instead of standing for his own country?

The mines have since 1890 being reaping of Zambia and the measures that the Patriotic Front Government have put up are meant to ensure that mines pay a fair share of taxes for the benefit of Zambia and Zambians. And we expect every well meaning Zambian to support these Government efforts and not work the foreign capitalists in reaping off their country.

Zambia is losing about K9.6 billion annually in value added tax (VAT) refunds to exporters and manufacturers.

This has prompted Government to abolish VAT to replace it with a non-refundable sales tax to be effected in April 2019.

The new measure will benefit the consumers as well as strike a balance not to stifle production.

Currently, the country’s manufacturing base is too low to sustain the huge chunk of VAT refunds.

The 2019 budget tax reforms are meant to ensure Zambians benefit more from their resources, rather than continue accumulating debt while shareholders of mining houses are getting richer, it is appropriate that the debate should be extended to illicit financial flows which mines are alleged to be among the major culprits.

By all accounts, the mining sector should have been a saviour of the country’s economy. But, the reality is that whether the price of resources increase or decrease, the people do not benefit. Many Zambians, including the president, Edgar Chagwa Lungu, echo this view.

The entire mining sector is structured in such a way that mining companies always take the lion share of profits, leaving behind poor communities and massive environmental damage that mostly affects water and soil quality. Evidence abounds of polluted streams and rivers in the Copperbelt, all polluted by various mining activities.

Today, the prices of copper and cobalt, the minerals in which Zambia has the largest stake, have risen at an unprecedented high rate of USD7,000 and USD$80,000 per tonne respectively. This increase in price of these two minerals is a great opportunity for the economy of Zambia.

The question that needs to asked is why is Mr Hakainde Sammy Hichilema defending mines instead of Zambia and Zambians?

The post Why is HH Defending Mines Instead of Zambians- Antonio Mwanza appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Just this past December, Zambia’s main opposition party, the United Party for National Development (UPND), celebrated its 20th birthday. However, according to rare new documents obtained by Zambia Reports and shared for the first time publicly below, the foundation of the party itself is mired in controversy, fraud, and deception.

Many observers and historians have taken it for granted that when UPND was founded in 1998, it was founded by the late party president Anderson Mazoka, a prominent businessman who nearly defeated President Levy Mwanawasa in the 2001 elections. In fact, the myth of Mazoka’s foundation of the party, his supposed vision united the membership, and the immense weight of his legacy has been played up and practically canonized by the current party leadership. The only problem? It appears to be based on a lie.

How to Steal a Political Party:

According to documents recently obtained, the United Party for National Development (UPND) was not founded by Mazoka.

According to these documents founders state that the party was established on a broad and all-inclusive spectrum, but over the years narrowed its focus and strength to one province.

An invitation for Mazoka was offered by a group of its founders who met at the Lusaka Showgrounds on December 7, 1998.

The first UPND chairman Justin Mweene, secretary Greyson Ndhlovu and trustee Patrick Banda, signed the minutes of the first meeting that resolved to invite Mazoka as president.

A letter dated December 8, 1998 signed by Justine Mweene officially extended an invitation to Mazoka to assume the party presidency.

“The Executive Committee of the United Party for National Development held it’s first meeting on Monday the 7th December 1998, at Secretariat, Show Ground. It was resolved that we write and invite you to lead the party as it’s Presidency,” Mweene’s letter reads.

Mazoka was also advised to respond to the correspondence and invitation in the quickest possible time.

A month later, Mazoka had not responded prompting a follow request from within the committee.

And that follow up letter by committee member Greyson Ndhlovu was written to Mweene, the chairperson of the Executive Committee, requesting Mazoka’s response.

“We write to request the Committee Chairman for submission of a reply as reference above for the confirmation of the resolutions passed at our meeting and consider the same for endorsement of Mr A. Mazoka’s adoption as party president.

“We therefore request you sir, to furnish this Committee with the relevant information within 7 days from date of receipt of this letter,” Ndhlovu’s letter of January 14 to Mweene reads.

That correspondence, according to one of the UPND founders Maxwell Lufungulwa, did not get any feed back from Mazoka who later, albeit deviously, sprung up as the founder of the party.

The first meeting that mooted the UPND structure included Mweene, Ndhlovu, Patrick Mweene (Co-secretary), Lufungulwa, Patrick Banda (trustee), Andrew Nshamba, Mathias K. Mwanai, Lawrence Muyunda (Security).

The meeting also resolved that upon acceptance of the party leadership, Mazoka was charged with the responsibility of appointing the National Executive Committee.

The documents reveal that the structure of the UPND was also decided and established through provincial district constituencies and ward organs.

Although the founding executive committee gave express guidelines to Mazoka as to the structure, its founders were not in the picture when the opposition party picked up.

Why This Matters Now?

After failing to win the past five presidential elections, current UPND President Hakainde Hichilema appears to be seeking yet another chance (possibly his last chance?) to seize power. He will likely become the party’s candidate for the sixth time in a row despite – amazingly – never having been elected with the express approval of the party’s general membership by standard party convention procedure.

Since being imposed on the general membership in 2006 following the death of Mazoka, Hichilema has driven the opposition party as the author and finisher of its being.
Early stalwarts who tagged along Mazoka in the likes of Dr John Mulwila, Sakwiba Sikota, Patrick Chisanga and Bob Sichinga, among others have all jumped shipped. They were either forced out or opted to seek other avenues that presented better democratic participation.

Their biggest crime – seeking to assume leadership of the party. The only criteria they did not meet was they were not from the same region as Mazoka.

Calls for a convention within and outside UPND, which should ordinarily be held every five years, are often met with bitter resistance. Anyone who emerges to challenge Hichilema is unceremoniously shown the exit door.

Hichilema was not the presumptive leader after Anderson Mazoka. The likes of Sakwiba and Chisanga were frustrated out of contesting the poll; therefore, could not assume party leadership.

But it seems the UPND is wedded to its way of deceptive operation. Like Mazoka, Hichilema were not the torch bearers of what the opposition political party should have looked like.

In 1998, Mazoka was invited to steer the ship. He did not acknowledge the invitation but went behind the founders of the party to take total control and changed the course of operation.

Since its founding, the UPND has taken the character of a provincial party leaning largely towards Southern Province where both of its leaders hail.

Mazoka and Hichilema are both from Southern Province and from the early days of the party engineered its vision and direction with the latter forming the backbone of its backroom financial backers between 1999 and 2006 when he was installed as flag bearer.

With the 2021 elections fast approaching Hichilema and his leadership are not entertaining any calls for a convention meaning the opposition candidate would be seeking national office for the sixth time without official approval from his party.

Instead Hichilema has focused on forming a 10 party opposition alliance where he is expected to impose himself as leader to challenge President Edgar Lungu.

But given this troubled history of deception and rejection of democratic consensus, will HH be able to earn anyone’s trust this last time?

We shall see.

[Editor’s note: We are proud to launch our new “EXPOSÉS” channel on Zambia Reports, which will feature deeper investigative reporting and document leaks from our news team. If you have leaks, story ideas, or tips, please get in touch with us at editor@zambiareports.com.]

The post EXPOSÉ: Foundation of UPND Based on a Fraud – Documents Reveal How Anderson Mazoka Stole the Party from Original Founders appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Zesco United restored some wounded Zambian pride with a master class performance that saw them defeat South African glamour side Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 at the FNB Stadium to reach the Group Stage of the CAF Confederation Cup.

Goals from Anthony Akumu and Jesse Were sealed off a popular victory that took the aggregate score to 5-2 after a 3-1 first leg win.

George Lwandamina’s side were in electric form as they silenced the South Africans on their own turn.

Nkana will be in action on Sunday in Ivory Coast against San Pedro who they defeated 3-0 in the first leg.

The post ZESCO STORM CAF CONFEDERATION GROUP STAGE appeared first on Zambia Reports.

PRESS RELEASE

(For Immediate Release)

ARRIVAL OF BALLOT PAPERS FOR SESHEKE PARLIAMENTARY AND (7) SEVEN WARD BY-ELECTIONS

The Electoral Commission of Zambia would like to inform all Political Parties, stakeholders and members of the public that ballot papers for the February 12, 2019 Sesheke Parliamentary and Seven (7) Ward By-Elections will arrive in Lusaka from Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Monday 21st January, 2019. The flight details are as follows:

Airline Emirates

Flight EK0713

Time 14.40 hours

Date Monday 21st January, 2019

Further, the Commission wishes to invite participating Political Parties in the said by-elections to witness the arrival of the ballot papers at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport. Verification of the ballot papers with participating Political Parties will take place on Tuesday 22nd January, 2019 at the Electoral Commission of Zambia offices.

Two (2) representatives from each participating political party are expected to witness the arrival of the ballot papers at the airport.

Margaret Chimanse

PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER

for/ CHIEF ELECTORAL OFFICER

ELECTORAL COMMISION OF ZAMBIA

The post Ballot Papers for Sesheke By-Elections Arrive on Monday appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) election crisis deepened early on Sunday when the Constitutional Court confirmed the win of Felix Tshisekedi, rejecting claims of fraud, and runner-up Martin Fayulu promptly declared himself the country’s “only legitimate president”.

Fayulu’s supporters have alleged an extraordinary backroom deal by outgoing President Joseph Kabila to rig the vote in favour of the opposition after the ruling party’s candidate did so poorly that a Plan B was needed. Neither side has acknowledged the accusations.

The court, however, said Fayulu offered no proof to back his assertions that he had won easily based on leaked data attributed to the electoral commission.

‘Constitutional coup d’etat’

Fayulu urged Congolese to take to the streets to peacefully protest what he called a “constitutional coup d’etat,” accusing the court of validating false results. “It’s no secret … that you have elected me president,” he said.

“I consider myself the only legitimate president of the Democratic Republic of Congo. I call on the Congolese people not to recognise someone who would take on that role illegitimately, nor to obey the orders coming from him,” he said.

Neither Congolese nor the international community should recognise Tshisekedi, nor obey him, Fayulu added.

Tshisekedi said early on Sunday that the Constitutional Court’s decision confirming him as the winner of the presidential election was a victory for the entire country.

“It is Congo that won,” said Tshisekedi, speaking to his supporters after the court decision.

“It is not the victory of one camp against another. I am engaged in a campaign to reconcile all Congolese. … The Congo that we are going to form will not be a Congo of division, hatred or tribalism. It will be a reconciled Congo, a strong Congo that will be focused on development, peace and security.”

The largely untested Tshisekedi, son of the late, charismatic opposition leader Etienne, is set to be inaugurated on Tuesday. His supporters who had gathered outside the court cheered.

“It’s a shame that Mr Fayulu wants to stay isolated,” Tshisekedi’s spokesman, Vidiye Tshimanga, told The Associated Press. He said the two men once had been part of an opposition coalition demanding that Kabila step down.

The new president will need everyone for the reconstruction of the country, Tshimanga said, as the Congolese people have “suffered a lot in recent years”.

Pierre Englebert, professor of international relations at Pomona College, told Al Jazeera that the decision of the court is not “surprising”.

“The court is widely understood as being populated with judges loyal to the president,” he said.

The court’s declaration came shortly after the African Union in an unprecedented move asked DR Congo to delay announcing the final election results, citing “serious doubts” about the vote.

It planned to send a high-level delegation on Monday to find a way out of the crisis, fearing unrest spilling across borders of the vast Central African nation.

Congo’s government replied it was up to the courts.

The court turned away Fayulu’s request for a recount in the December 30 vote.

Government spokesman Lambert Mende quickly acknowledged the court’s decision, congratulating Tshisekedi as Congo’s fifth president.

“When you think about it, the brilliance of the arrangement that they have is now they have the supporters of the president, of Kabila himself, and the supporters of Tshisekedi being in favor of the decision, and therefore we spread the opposition,” said Englebert.

Fears of unrest

The country of 80 million people, rich in the minerals key to smartphones around the world, is moving close to achieving its first peaceful, democratic transfer of power since independence in 1960.

But observers have warned that the court’s upholding of the official results could lead to further unrest.

“I don’t know what the priest will say [in Sunday mass], and I don’t know what’s going to come out of this, but I could imagine that there could be significant protests. Even if they wanted to be peaceful, the regime has a strong repressive capacity, and it could easily slip into a violent outcome,” Englebert said.

At least 34 people have been killed since provisional results were released on Jan. 10, the United Nations has said.

The court could have ordered a recount or ordered a new election.

It called unfounded a challenge filed by another candidate, Theodore Ngoy, that objected to the electoral commission’s last-minute decision to bar some 1 million voters from the election over a deadly Ebola virus outbreak.

The court said Tshisekedi won with more than 7 million votes, or 38 percent, and Fayulu received 34 percent. However, leaked data published by some media outlets, attributed to the electoral commission and representing 86 percent of the votes, show that Fayulu won 59 percent while Tshisekedi received 19 percent.

Fayulu, a lawmaker and businessman who is outspoken about cleaning up Congo’s sprawling corruption, is widely seen as posing more of a threat to Kabila, his allies and the vast wealth they have amassed.

All of the election results, not just the presidential ones, had been widely questioned after Kabila’s ruling coalition won a majority in legislative and provincial votes while its presidential candidate finished a distant third.

Congo’s election had been meant to take place in late 2016, and many Congolese worried that Kabila, in power since 2001, was seeking a way to stay in office. Barred from serving three consecutive terms, Kabila already has hinted he might run again in 2023.

After Tshisekedi was announced as the surprise winner in provisional results on Jan. 10, some Congolese weary of turmoil appeared to decide that replacing Kabila with an opposition figure was enough, despite questions about the vote.

Reflecting the yearning for stability, 33 Congolese non-governmental groups and civil society movements on Thursday called on people to comply with whatever the court rules to “preserve the peace.”

With that perhaps in mind, Tshisekedi’s party sharply rejected the AU’s attempted intervention.

The continental body’s stance is “the work of some mining lobbies seeking to destabilise the Democratic Republic of Congo in order to perpetuate the looting of this country,” the party’s secretary-general, Jean-Marc Kabund, said in a statement.

Ahead of the court’s ruling, hundreds of Tshisekedi’s supporters were in the streets of the capital, Kinshasa, waving tree branches and banners reading “Congo for the Congolese.”

(Source: Aljazeera)

The post Congo Elections Crisis Deepens as Constitutional Court Declares Tshisekedi Winner, but Fayulu Calls for Protests appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Statement at the Media Briefing by the Young African Leaders Initiative

20th January 2019

We at the Young African Leaders Initiative are saddened and disappointed by continuing impasse between the 3 Church mother bodies and the Zambia Center for Inter-party Dialogue regarding the Dialogue Process.

We are not surprised that the process has collapsed. This was bound to happen because of lack of clarity on the nature of the Dialogue and the overall objective of this process.

We have noted the confusion that has surrounded the dialogue process with great dismay.

Initially, the debate surrounded who was to lead and facilitate the Dialogue. When the matter had been settled by agreement that the Church should lead and ZCID should facilitate, suddenly other peripheral issues emerged.

The key reason for the breakdown of the dialogue process has been the lack of cooperation, communication and harmony between the two Facilitators, namely the church and ZCID.

This lack of cooperation has caused serious problems in identifying and defining what the overall objective and agenda of the Dialogue is suppose to be.

Basic questions such as the nature, composition and the longevity of the Process have not been adequately addressed.

Our view as Young African Leaders Initiative, is that the biggest problem with this dialogue is the complete misunderstanding of what the process of dialogue is supposed to be about. Dialogue basically means engaging with a view to resolving a pending matter.

However, we note that this engagement has been mistaken for an elaborate and expansive process to deal with a “crisis” and would, by some accounts, take two or more years to complete!

What are people going to be talking about for 3years?

The Dialogue being espoused here, is the process which would generally happen in a country which has come from a war or a situation of internal civil unrest.

Zambia is not and has not been at war. We do not have a crisis! The institutions of governance are intact and performing reasonably well.

We have our challenges but the church should not create an impression that there is a crisis or civil unrest that requires resolution.

There is no breakdown of the rule of law.

Going by the resolutions of the Siavonga meeting which brought together the Secretaries General of our political parties, the key thematic areas that require dialogue are; Constitution reform, the Public order Act, Electoral reforms and Promotion of civility in politics.

If one takes a closer look at these key thematic areas, ones quickly realises that they are legislative in nature.

There in lies yet another and bigger hurdle for this dialogue. The constitution of Zambia which is the supreme law of the land has given the legislative powers to make and amend laws to Parliament. This is the only body mandated by the Republican Constitution to make laws. There is no short cut. Zambia is a representative democracy with Members of Parliament elected by the people and given the responsibility to exercise legislative power on behalf of the people! The proposed national dialogue would not have had the power or mandate to pass resolutions which would have been binding on the government and or parliament, contrary to what some had mistakenly envisaged in their insistence on shaping the agenda for the dialogue.

We therefore challenge government not to abdicate its responsibility of making and amending laws through the constitutionally established parliamentary process.

The dialogue under the joint auspices of the church and ZCID, would only be consultative, for the purpose of engaging citizens in discussing the proposals regarding the government’s proposed legislative agenda with regard to ironing out the wrinkles in our Constitution as has been pointed out by many of our fellow citizens and for the government o seek the views of citizens with regard to the proposed amendments to some key governance legislation. It is our strongly-held view that the proposed dialogue was never intended to be an abdication by the government, of its duty to propose and present legislation to our elected parliament for its consideration and enactment as provided in our Constitution.

We remind our fellow citizens that it was the government which offered to subject its proposed amendments to key governance legislation to focused public scrutiny through the proposed dialogue, to give all stakeholders an opportunity of offer their views. It has since become clear that some sections of our community, saw this dialogue as an opportunity to seize the legislative agenda from the elected government by bringing up their own agenda which would probably have had the effect of wide-reaching the important legislative and reform agenda.

We at YALI, reject any such attempt to distract our focus from the important business of constitutional, legislative and other reforms which should be the sole focus of any national dialogue.

Having observed that the proposed national dialogue is unlikely to take place in the form we had envisaged, now make an urgent call on the Minister of Justice to expeditiously publish and table the Constitution amendment bill as was initially intended by the government.

The government should then quickly start the consultative processes on electoral and other reforms which must include amendment of the Public Order Act to ensure a level playing field for all our political parties.

We demand that these pieces of legislation be tabled in Parliament before the end of this year, 2019.

Finally, we encourage the Head of State to hold meetings with all our various political parties. These meetings should be held in the confines of State House to ensure an orderly atmosphere, so that the perceived differences between and among our political actors, should be narrowed or eliminated altogether

We call on the Church to continue with its Biblical duty of praying for mother Zambia. Let them pray for love and unity so that as a people, we can continue to live in peace with one another as we have done these past 54 years.

As for ZCID, your mandate is clear; continue to provide a platform for political parties to exchange ideas but most importantly, exert yourselves even further to promote civility in politics.

As Civil Society Organisations we look forward to the publishing of these bills so that we can engage the government in debating the content as citizens.

Andrew Ntewewe

President

Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI)

The post YALI Slams Church, ZCID on Lack of Cooperation on Dialogue appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The Saudi Arabia goat export project is still on the cards with Fisheries and Livestock Minister Kampamba Chewe a meeting will be held on Wednesday 23^rd January, 2019 to determine the price and modalities for the export of goats to Saudi Arabia.

Speaking when addressing farmers at Chati in Kalulushi, Kampamba said the government is determined to commercialize goat farming by supporting farmers graduate from small holder to commercial.

The Zambian government and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia entered into an agreement for the export of one million goats annually to Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile Copperbelt Province Permanent Secretary Bright Nundwe said the recent handover of 4,090 livestock valued at 1.9 Million Kwacha to Kalulushi district will help develop the livestock sector on the Copperbelt.

The post Saudi Goat Export Project Still On appeared first on Zambia Reports.

20TH JANUARY, 2019 -Three juveniles have died in a mine accident which happened at Fipe area at Shinkole village in Senior Chief Mwewa’s area. The three juveniles are Felix Kalembe aged 11 years of Shinkole Village Chief Mwewa,  a grade two pupil at Chamalawa  primary school , Stainslous Kope aged 15 years of Chamalawa village , and and Kelvin Kope  aged 13 all pupils at Chamalawa primary school. One person identified as Saviour Kope aged 11 who was in the company of the deceased escaped unhurt.

This occurred on 19th January, 2019 at 14:00 hours at Shinkole village in Senior Chief Mwewa as the victims were mining Manganese mineral at the mine.

The bodies were retrieved by members of the public at 16th hours the same day and are in Samfya District Hospital mortuary.

ESTHER MWAATA KATONGO

ZAMBIA POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER

The post Three Samfya Juveniles Die in Mining Accident appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The Centre for Trade Policy and Development (CTPD) has observed that the recent standoff in Zimbabwe and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will negatively affect the trade relations among countries in the Southern African region.

CTPD Head of Programmes, Brian Mwiinga has since called on regional trading blocs to help in resolving the situation so that the trade is not disturbed further.

Mwiinga disclosed that many countries in the African region depend on each other for different goods and services adding that, any disturbance in one of them has a direct impact on intra-trade.

He added that this is why there is need the for the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) to press governments in the two countries to quickly resolve their differences.

Zimbabwe has in the past days recorded unrest following government’s decision to increase fuel pump prices by about 150 percent.

Meanwhile, in DRC electoral commission last Thursday declared opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi the winner of the December 30 vote with 38.57 percent of the tally against chief rival Martin Fayulu’s 34.8 percent, an election that has been disputed and is being challenged in the courts of law.

The post Impasse in Zimbabwe, DRC to affect Trade. appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The spectre of suspending councillors is spreading fast on the Copperbelt with another councillor suspended in Chililabombwe for alleged gross misconduct.

Kafue Ward councillor Jane Mutwale has been handed a six months suspension by a full council meeting for gross misconduct.

Town Clerk Cosmas Chalusa said Mutwale had been suspended for conducting herself in a manner that does not befit a public officer’s status.

Chalusa said the decision to suspend the civic leader was arrived at during special council meetings held on the 13th and 17th December, 2018 respectively under minute number SC/1015/12/18 (8).

“The councillor’s suspension was in accordance with Councillor’s standing order number 46 and regulations number five of the statutory instrument 140 of 1995 which guides the conduct of the Councillors,” he stated.

Chalusa said the Civic leader has since been barred from engaging in any civic leadership activities until the end of her suspension.

He said Chililabombwe Mayor Christabel Mulala will be in charge of Kafue ward during the Councillor’s suspension.

The post Chililabombwe Councillor Suspended for Gross Misconduct appeared first on Zambia Reports.

A 17 year old boy of Kasama who was found in possession of 4.5 kilograms of marijuana has escaped custodial sentence after the Magistrate Court recommended counselling by the Drug Enforcement Commission.

When taking plea in the Kasama Magistrate Court, the Juvenile pleaded guilty to trafficking in marijuana after the charge was read to him.

Facts before the court were that on 27th December 2018, the juvenile did traffic in psychotropic substances namely marijuana contrary to Section 6 Chapter 96 of the Laws of Zambia.

And in mitigation, the juvenile pleaded with the court not to impose a custodial sentence on him saying he was remorseful and had learnt his lesson from his behaviour.

In his ruling, Resident Magistrate Samson Mumba said he took into account the mitigation submitted and ruled that the juvenile be reporting to the DEC officers for counselling for a period of three months.

The post Kasama Juvenile Marijuana Convict Escapes Custodial Sentence appeared first on Zambia Reports.

NDC consultant Chishimba Kambwili will campaign for the opposition UPND in the forthcoming Sesheke Constituency parliamentary by election scheduled for next month.

The UPND is fielding Romeo Kangombe in the February 12th polls.

Kambwili has disclosed that he will campaign for the UPND together with his vice president Joseph Akafumba.

The NDC is not fielding a candidate in the Sesheke parliamentary race.

Four candidates are vying for the Sesheke parliamentary seat with the ruling Patriotic Front fieldeding Dean Masule while the opposition UPND will go with Kang’ombe.

Others are Lifuti Muhau representing the People’s Alliance for Change (PAC) and United Prosperous and Peaceful Zambia (UPPZ) is fielding Victor Kalimukwa.

The By-election in Sesheke has been necessitated by the death of the late Member of Parliament, Frank Kufakwandi on Monday 12th November, 2018.

The post Kambwili to campaign for UPND in Sesheke appeared first on Zambia Reports.

President Edgar Lungu’s daughter Tasila continues to endear herself to the people of Kuku Compound with a Police Post being the latest addition in the community she is noticeably transforming.

The Nkoloma Ward One councillor who has won kudos for pioneering a state of the art sports facility in the densely populated township has added a police post.

Tasila has immersed herself in the daily struggles of the Kuku Community where she continues to champion various developmental projects.

Below is her Full Post:

The work to complete our police post at Kuku Ground has been relentless. I am grateful to the construction team for their commitment, professionalism and hard work. With everyone pulling together, well-wishers, donors and the community we are confident on delivering this hard fought for project to our people.

Again, it is with great humility that I wish to thank all involved.

Tasila Lungu

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Fugitive contempt convict Gregory Chifire’s case has left the law enforcement agencies in a quandary with the question of who pursues him far from settled.

Chifire was last year sentenced to six years imprisonment for scurrilous remarks against the Chief Justice Irene Mambilima and the judiciary in general.

Police sources have indicated that they cannot pursue the convict in the absence of a court order while the Zambia Correctional Services say that Chifire was never at any time in their custody so his case is not under the care.

The Zambian Correctional Services state that they have not received any warrant from the judiciary.

The judiciary say that it is the duty of the police to arrest wanted criminals.

Chifire drew the wrath of the judiciary following remarks that the judiciary corruptly handled the case involving Stanbic Bank Verses Savenda Case.

He was charged with four counts of contempt of court.

Chifire’s remarks were published on the Online Publication “Watch Dog ” on June 23, 2018 and was quoted as having said “Justice Mambilima is presiding over the most corrupt judiciary in the history of post independent Zambia “.

Chifire was also quoted as having said he had planned a demonstration because of his and other peoples’ misgivings on the judgement of   the Stanbic Bank Verses Savenda Case.

In the Savenda’s Case the Supreme Court and the Appeals Court reversed the Lusaka High Court’s Judgment which compelled Stanbic Bank to pay K192 million  Million in damages to Savenda Management Services Limited.

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Over 140 hectares of crop fields in Kitwe have been ravaged by fall armyworms.

District Agriculture Coordinator Dr Raphael Muyaule has named farm blocs across the Kafue River in Mufuchani area as the most hit.

Muyaule said government has been alert in responding to any disaster of such nature and stated that over 150 litres of pesticides to contain the armyworms has been delivered to affected farmers.

He was however said that the damage on the crops does not require replanting further urging farmers not to panic but consider buying extra pesticides from agro dealers.

Muyaule has praised farmers in the district for being alert and ensuring that the damage on their crops is not worsened but have been applying pesticides even before government came on board.

“So far we taking of about 143 hectares that have been affected and I am happy to report that by way of containing the infestation, government has delivered to Kitwe 150 litre of insecticide to Kitwe which is already being distributed, I would say no crop has been damaged would warrant replanting,” he stated.

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The Ministry of Local Government has approved the disbursement of K 1.6 million allocated to Solwezi Municipal Council as Constituency Development Funds.

Council Assistant Public Relations Officer Esther Chirwa said after identification and approval of projects by the local authority, a request was sent to the Ministry to seek permission to go ahead and disburse the funds to allow for commencement of works.

She has revealed that the money will go towards the completion of the market and storage at Zambia Market in Kimasala ward, the completion of 1×3 classroom block at Kakombe school in Kapijimpanga, completion of a clinic in Sandangombe ward, completion of a 1×2 classroom block at Kainamfumu school in Kapijimpanga Ward and the completion of an ablution block at Mushitala clinic in Kamalamba ward.

Chirwa said that the construction of a 1×3 classroom block at Kimakolwe school in Sandangombe ward, construction of a 1×3 classroom block at Kyafukuma school in Kamalamba ward, construction of an ablution block at Tumvwanganai school in tumvwanganai ward and drilling of a bole hole at Solwezi technical secondary school in Kamalamba ward will be among the projects the local authority will implement using the 2018 CDF allocation.

She has since urged all the local construction companies to submit their updated company profiles for possible short listing and invitation to tender.

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A pastor of Lusaka’s Kamwala South Reverend Godfrey Mulenga has sued a Chitambo businessman over a K 230, 000 debt owed to him.

Reverend Mulenga has sued Elias Kate for breach of contract for the money lent to Kate in his transport business.

Kate had borrowed the money to transport farm inputs and promised to pay back once government had paid him.

Reverend Mulenga now claims the principal amount, damages for breach of contract and an order that the defendant immediately surrenders the two heavy motor vehicle Trucks, a house and the two shops situated in Chitambo District.

According to a statement of claim, Rev Mulenga was approached by Kate that he wanted to borrow from him K 230, 000 in which he wanted to buy a heavy truck motor vehicle for business purposes after he had been awarded a contract for the transportation of farm inputs.

According to Mulenga, the money was to be paid by November in 2016.

Rev Mulenga says the defendant managed to buy the motor vehicle and conducted his business but has up to date failed to pay back the money except from giving excuses which are not clear .

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