Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda has maintained that the new mining tax regime is final.

Speaking when he commissioned the ZRA Mokambo Border housing project in Mufulira this afternoon, Chikwanda says the new mineral royalty based tax regime has intrinsic value of simplicity.

Chikwanda says government is committed to maintaining the employment levels in the mining sector and ensure that copper export volumes do not decline and not least for all mines to stay afloat.

He stresses that government will discuss policy issues with mining companies pertaining to the new tax, while operational issues relating to taxation will remain an exclusive preserve of a specialized entity with an inescapable imperative of good governance.

Chikwanda adds that various mining companies have in good faith argued that the existing laws do not provide enough or adequate mechanisms and incentives for large outlays of capital investment.

He says it is in this regard that government will give critical scrutiny to existing statues with a view to reinforcing or strengthening the incentives in order to enlist new investment which is a compelling need for mine development and innovations.

And speaking earlier, Zambia Revenue Authority Commissioner General Berlin Msiska said Mokambo Border has been experiencing an increase in traffic following the commencement of rehabilitation works on the pedicle road.

Msiska says the border clears an average of one thousand one hundred vehicles into the Democratic Republic of Congo and two thousand six hundred in and out of Luapula province per month.

He notes that with the workforce of over 1,509 ZRA has realized the importance of accommodating members of staff operating from far flung border posts.

The post New Mining Regime Final, says Chikwanda appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Employees at North West Television in Solwezi has complained of poor working conditions at the local private station with journalists going two months without pay.

Sources who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution have complained that workers at an otherwise profit making media institution are starving with salaries paid irregularly. Currently, the employees have not received their two months pay although the company continues to carry out its operations 24/7.

The says the matter had been brought to the attention of government through the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and the Ministry of Labour to help rectify the situation.

According to the source, the station fails to attract quality journalists and if it did, they do not last as they are poached by other well paying institution.

“Our pay as of now is even below the minimum wage despite adverts playing, the Ministry of Labour should intervene because we are not progressing, our wages are too low,” the source added.

“Sometimes they do pay but not in full and this is a challenge to sum of us, you can’t do anything with a 600 or 500 amount even when you are given” the source stated.

The local TV station which is based in solwezi is run by local businessman Chilwiji Kaumba. The television station has seen a good number of journalists quit due to poor conditions of service.

Zambia generally pays journalists with most private media institutions including Muvi TV and The Post treating its employees to sometimes slave conditions of service.

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It will be in PF’s favour to appoint Mr. Emmanuel Mwamba as Minister of Information. Mr. Mwamba took on the online media head on. He became the main source of news, every story published about PF online, the people checked with him for authenticity. He became online media’s source of news. In my view he disarmed them wonderfully. (No wonder they are fighting his appointment as Minister of info) Most importantly he made H.E Mr. Edgar Lungu visible online. He helped young people like the PF President. Him & other team members managed the campaigns remarkably well.

PF will be facing another election tougher than the Presidential by-election in Just 18 months being mindful that they face a very formidable challenger in the name of UPND & HH. PF need him to be active in this government more than ever. For me sending him in foreign service will be an error that will coast PF in future elections soon. It’s early for PF to dismantle the winning team. Mr. Mwamba has a gift, PF should harness it to the fullest. My Opinion!

Jackson Silavwe

The post Letter: PF Stronger With Mwamba as Information Minister Minister appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Marketeers at Kitwe’s Chisokone Market have called on government to get rid of organisations masquerading as Market Associations in the district.

An Association called National Traders and Marketeers Association is said to have usurping the powers of the local authority.

The marketeers have complained that market associations have always worked to their disadvantage as most of them are only interested in revenue collection.

“We have a huge pending bill to Zesco which is yet to be paid but this association has been collecting money from us yet there is no improvement” a marketeer said.

“This association is claiming to have gotten orders from PF officials but we don’t know how true that is, the council must intervene quickly to sort out this issue” he said.

Another marketeer has complained of poor sanitary conditions at Chisokone Market.

The marketeer said the market is in a deplorable state and if left unchecked there could be an outbreak of chorela.

“Moneni ifimenshi ifi nafisankana sewer line tabaleposako namano ba council, nombline fye twala lwala cholera ngaba fileka, tulefwaya befiwamyeko” (you have seen the dirty water here and it has mixed with the sewer lines and the council is just watching, very soon we may have an outbreak of cholera if this is left unchecked),” the marketeer complained.

Chisokone Market is one of the biggest in the country but has been a victim
of various dubious Associations with the previous one called Zanama run by former MMD carder Elvis Nkandu.

The post Kitwe Marketeers Demand Dissolution of “Association” appeared first on Zambia Reports.

President Edgar Lungu has eased some nerves with more appointments in the diplomatic services with former press aide to late Second Republican President Frederick Chiluba, Emmanuel Mwamba heading to Malaysia as ambassador.

Mwamba was head of the media and publicity team of President Lungu during the campaigns for the January, 20 elections.

Lungu has also appointed former Commissioner of Police Brenda Munthemba as ambassador designate to Kenya where Mumbi Phiri was stationed.

The shakeup of the government structure has caused anxiety among the hopefuls especially who are headed out as the new order is ushered in.

Here is the list of newest appointees:

Humphrey Chibanda: Ambassador-Designate to France (Chief of State Protocol, Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Emmanuel Mwamba: Ambassador-Designate to Malaysia (former Information Permanent Secretary)

Dr. Solomon Jere: High Commissioner-Designate to Nigeria (former Deputy Inspector-General of Police)

Brenda Muntemba-Sichilemba: High Commissioner-Designate to Kenya (former Commissioner of Police)

The post Emmanuel Mwamba, Muntemba & Jere Sent into Diplomatic Service appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Former Zambia Railways Managing Director Professor Clive Chirwa has resurfaced near the power base as he was part of the Engineering Institute of Zambia delegation that met President Edgar Lungu at the Chichele Presidential Lodge.

Professor Chirwa, who is in court over corruption charges during his short lived stay at the helm of the Zambia Railways, has been a pariah but seems to be plotting a rebound after the emergency of a new Head of State.

He had emerged as the natural choice to head Zambia Railways given his credentials in crashworthiness and his term as consultant for the European Union but fell out soon after taking over the railway position in Zambia.

In picture (Courtesy of Salim Henry State House photographer).

From Left to Right: George Sitali,Professor.Stephen Simukanga,President Edgar Chagwa Lungu,Bernard Chiwala and Professor Clive Chirwa at Chichele Presidential Lodge in Mfuwe on Thursday,February 5,2015. The Engineering Institution of Zambia (E.I.Z.) presented a National Transformation Strategy to indutrialise Zambia

The post Prof Chirwa Rebounding after Corruption Dent appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The opposition United Party for National Development has opened its arms to Members of Parliament expelled by the Movement for Multi Party Democracy.

UPND secretary Winstone Chibwe said that the UPND will open its doors to the parliamentarians who will be thrown out to bolster their numbers.

Several MPs from both the ruling Patriotic Front and opposition MMD are facing expulsion for supporting other parties during the January, 20 presidential elections.

So far six MMD MPs have been expelled from their party for supporting the UPND in the presidential election. Chibwe said that the UPND was an inclusive party that will not close their door to the expelled MPs.

“If there are those who are expelled by their parties we will welcome them especially those that will be expelled for supporting us in the elections,” he said.

“Some of them stood with our president Hakainde Hichilema during the campaigns. They are free to join us and we will be here for them.”

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With the hotly contested January 20, 2015 presidential by-election now behind us it is very clear that all the 11 candidates and political parties that participated are now setting their eyes on the scheduled 2016 tripartite elections. From the look of things we just may have more than this number next year.

With Edgar Lungu of the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) emerging winner by a rather slim margin of 27, 757 votes over Hakainde Hichilema of the United Party for National Development (UPND) the last election also saw Edith Nawakwi’s Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) get the third slot with the former ruling party the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) led by Nevers Mumba sliding into fourth position, a very serious tumble from second position in 2011.

The fact that one of the new kids on the block Eric Chanda of the 4th Revolution Party (4R) managed a sixth position may mean that if he plays his cards right he may raise his fortunes in 2016, but getting into State House is out of the question. Chanda out played old guards like Brig. Gen. Godfrey Miyanda of the Heritage Party (HP), Dan Pule of the Christian Democratic Party (CDP) and Ludwig Sondashi of the Forum for Democratic Alternatives (FDA).

It may be in the best interest of some and if not all of these old guards not to have their faces on the presidential ballot paper in 2016. The sooner they realise that even next year the presidential race will still be a tight contest between PF and UPND the better. This realisation will actually give them enough time to decide who to endorse between the two. As for the former ruling party, the MMD I am not too sure whether there will be much left of it by the time the tripartite polls are called in 2016. Chances for Mumba’s MMD to bounce back into office are forever growing thinner but will contest for the sake of it.

It is worth noting that prior to the problems that rocked Mumba’s MMD there was still a very slim chance that the former ruling party could carry the day or indeed even manage a third place. The ruling PF on the other hand had its own share of huge problems following the demise of President Michael Sata which were somewhat resolved perhaps leading to their victory. Only Hichilema’s UPND got into the last election with no visible wrangles, in effect standing out as the most solid party out of the big three with representation to talk about in the National Assembly and putting up a spirited countrywide campaign that no other party matched. So as things stand it may be acknowledged that after the January 20, 2015 election Lungu’s PF and Hichilema’s UPND are still the top contenders for the 2016 polls.

Wynter Kabimba’s Rainbow Party (RP) recently registered and made up mainly of disenchanted members of the PF and believed to be still harvesting from the ruling party definitely has its eyes set on the 2016 elections. Between now and the next polls there may be other individuals who may wish to exercise their democratic rights by forming their own political parties. Unless otherwise, it is almost certain that in 2016 we may see more than 11 candidates on the presidential ballot paper unless ofcourse the known time wasters see the need to back either Lungu’s PF or Hichilema’s UPND.

Mind you 2016 is not too far away, it just next year and its coming!

The post More Presidential Candidates in 2016? appeared first on Zambia Reports.

President Lungu being welcomed by newly appointed PF chairperson for Elections Mpakata Musonda in Chichele in the South Luangwa soon after arriving from Zimbabwe. Looking on is Samuel Mukupa in blue Member of the Central Committee and Davis Chama PF Secretary General. Picture by Dr. Edgar Ngoma.

Republican President Edgar Lungu has returned from his second international calling on African Union chairperson Robert Mugabe.

President Lungu who is on a seven day holiday has loaded it with work and squeezed in a day trip into Harare where he was met at the airport by that country’s Vice President Emmerson Mnangwagwa.

The Head of State has since returned to Mfuwe where he is holed up at the Chichele Presidential Lodge zeroing in on his cabinet.

So far he has made few appointments with hopefuls baying their breath as he has kept most people guessing on who will be retained or shown the door.

President Lungu is also expected to make a trip to neighbouring Angola within his working holiday.

The post Lungu Returns from Zimbabwe Visit appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The Supreme Court has upheld that High Court judgment that Chipangali Movement for Multi Party Democracy Member of Parliament Vincent Mwale is the duly elected legislator thwarting ruling Patriotic Front candidate Lucas’Phiri’s bid to challenge the former’s victory.

Acting Deputy Chief Justice Marvin Mwanamwambwa struck down six of the seven grounds of appeal advanced by Phiri in his appeal.

Phiri had lost his challenge in the High Court where Fulgence Chisanga threw out his bid but the PF member took the matter to the Supreme Court.

Mwale expressed delight at the outcome of the court process and said it was time to get down to work.

Phiri lost to Mwale in the September, 2011 general elections.

The post Supreme Court Upholds Vincent Mwale’s Election appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Popular musician Wesley Chibambo has yet to disentangle himself from violent threats made against following derogatory comments he made toward Tonga people of Southern Province during the January 20 elections.

Chibambo, popularly known as Dandy Crazy, got caught up in an online verbal exchange where he ended up referring to a contributor as being Tonga and with a brain of a chicken.

Chibambo however in a moment of emotional craze let himself get carried away saying; “I would rather be a chicken than be Tonga” invoking a backlash he is yet to disentangle himself from.

He has so far have had to cancel a show in Choma after word went round that he would be harmed if he dared make an appearance.

Zambia Association of Musicians chairperson Njoya Tembo says the association is trying to help Chibambo make amends for his act.

Tembo said that ZAM had talked to Chibambo over the need to tender a public apology to the people of Southern Province.

Chibambo is famed for his politically charged songs like the 2011 revolutionary hit ‘Donchi Kubeba’ that the Patriotic Front adopted as its theme song during the campaigns and also his Kolopa.com hit in the January, 20 campaigns sat well with the public enjoying massive airplay and became the victory anthem when the PF won the elections.

The post Dandy Crazy Still Facing Threats after Tribal Comments appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Newly appointed North-western Province Minister, Dawson Kafwaya, has made himself busy in ensuring that he inspects most of the developmental projects in his province.

The Solwezi Central UPND parliamentarian is not happy with the poor working attitude by some of the civil servants in the province.

Kafwaya has warned civil servants in the region that government will not relent to take disciplinary action against anyone frustrating the implementation of its developmental programs.

He said the civil servants’ responsibility is to interprete, supervise and implement government policies effectively and, therefore, public workers are expected to perform their duties diligently.

Kafwaya said civil servants must take it upon themselves to spearhead development in their respective districts through the identification of viable projects and push for their implementation.

He said government is in a hurry to deliver meaningful development to people, adding that it will not tolerate any casual attitude towards work from any civil servant.

Kafwaya said despite many operational challenges civil servants are faced with, non-performance should not be an excuse.

He further advised the public workers to desist from engaging themselves in active politics, saying their allegiance is to the government of the day.

Kafwaya said those who want to involve themselves in active politic must first resign from the public service.

The Provincial Minister was speaking in Mwinilunga District during a meeting with civil servants.

The post Kafwaya Goes on Round Tours in North Western Province appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The Africa Cup of Nations semi-final between Ghana and hosts Equatorial Guinea was described as a “war zone” after play was suspended for more than 30 minutes because of crowd trouble.

Players ducked bottles thrown from the stands, Ghana fans sought safety behind a goal, riot police used tear gas and a helicopter hovered over the stadium.
“It’s now like a war zone,” the Ghana Football Association (GFA) tweeted, claiming “barbaric acts of vandalism” while its president told the BBC it was lucky no-one was killed.

When play resumed, Ghana sealed a 3-0 win to reach Sunday’s final, where they will play Ivory Coast, who beat DR Congo 3-1 on Wednesday.

GFA president Kwesi Nyantakyi blamed Equatorial Guinea supporters for “unprovoked violent attacks” inside the stadium.

“We are lucky that we haven’t lost any lives, though people have sustained various degrees of injuries arising from objects thrown at them,” he told BBC World Service.

Trouble flared at half-time between Ghana and Equatorial Guinea.

Ghana players had to be protected by riot police using plastic shields as they left the field, already 2-0 up in the tie.

The second half was then halted eight minutes from time when Ghana supporters sought sanctuary on the field after coming under attack.

Confederation of African Football (Caf) officials had used the public address system to threaten to call off the game if the crowd did not stop pelting Ghana’s players.

Nyantakyi called security at the match “a flop” but said he expected “more decency” from fans.

“I don’t think this is a fair commentary of Africa,” he said.

“This has been a very successful tournament and this isolated incident of violence will leave a slur on the reputation of African football.

“A high profile game of this nature should have attracted policemen, intelligence officers and military.

“I couldn’t have counted 50 policemen at the stadium. The rest were from Angola, who were not familiar with the terrain, so they didn’t know how to handle the situation.

“So the Ghanaian fans were left at the mercy of these violent fans.”
BBC World Service reporter Piers Edwards was with the visiting supporters as they left the stadium and said some were taken to hospital.

He picked up several objects that ended up on the pitch, including a jagged piece of broken mirror, half a plate and a rock.

Play finally resumed after many fans had left the stadium, with both teams seeing out the final three minutes.

——————————–

BBC World Service reporter Nick Cavell in Malabo:

“The trouble began before half-time, with fans angry at some refereeing decisions. Bottles were thrown onto the pitch and the Ghana players were forced to leave the pitch at half-time under a tunnel made of riot shields. The bottle throwing continued after the break.

“Soon after the third goal went in, a section of Ghana fans pushed through a gate and made it onto the running track behind the goal. With them so close to the pitch, the match was stopped. Equatorial Guinea players pleaded with fans to stop throwing objects but to no avail.

“A police helicopter tried to intimidate fans by flying just 20 or 30 metres above their heads. Then police moved in with tear gas and batons to move the fans away. The press box emptied, too, as the tear gas spread.

“The Ghana fans were eventually guided to an empty area of the stadium and the match restarted for a token few minutes.”

——————————–

The Confederation of African Football (Caf) refused to take questions on the crowd trouble after the match.

“I didn’t know what was happening,” said bemused Ghana coach Avram Grant, the former Portsmouth, Chelsea and West Ham manager. “I saw something on the pitch, some incident or violence.

“I can’t say I wasn’t concerned, I care about the security of my players, it’s very important to me.”
——————————–

“The Ghana fans had Equatorial Guinea fans pelting them with bottles and stones. I saw a couple of seats thrown and then the riot police stepped in.

“The Equatorial Guinea fans, regardless if they were responsible, suffered, too. Tear gas was used. It got to our commentary position and we had to abandon our broadcast.

“You could see fans hanging off the stadium walls as they tried to get to safety. All in all, nobody comes out of this in any good shape at all.”
——————————–
Equatorial Guinea coach Esteban Becker added: “I am sad about the way the fans acted out there.”

Emilio Nsue, captain of Equatorial Guinea, said he was proud of the team for reaching the semi-finals but wanted to apologise for the crowd trouble.

“Regarding the public and the way they acted, I’ve never experienced that,” he said. “I’d like to say sorry. It was something we’ve never experienced before.”

BBC Sport

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Lusaka Water & Sewerage Co has not supplied Chirundu residents with piped water for the past two weeks now. The last time they supplied it was brown dirty water. Chirundu is very hot life is had without this precious commodity.

People are forced to travel to the crocodile infested zambezi river to fetch for the commodity. This puts lives in danger as an out break is looming. Plz LWSC do something before lives are lost.

KH

The post Letter: No Tap Water in Chirundu appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The opposition Movement for Multiparty and Democracy (MMD) top leadership in Lusaka says it has resolved to go to the convention as soon as possible.

In a statement, MMD Lusaka District secretary Reuben Mambwe has called on the former party Chairman Kabinga Pande and the former party national secretary Muhabi Lungu to convene an urgent National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting which should only be attended by the original NEC members and not those dubiously appointed NEC members.

Mambwe has also advised party President Nevers Mumba not to take MMD as his personal party by appointing NEC Members at will citing that MMD is a big party founded on democratic principles and a strong constitution.

He notes that Dr. Mumba has no constitutional powers to start expelling senior members of the party noting that even Mwansa Mbulakulima who hereferred to as a bogus unconstitutionally appointed national secretary has no powers to suspend or expel members.

Mambwe says with the current distorted leadership of Dr. Mumba, come 2016, the MMD will not have even a councilor or a member of parliament.

He further states that as a party in Lusaka district, they have disowned Dr. Mumba and his unconstitutional constituted NEC.

The post Pressure Mounts for Nevers Mumba to Leave MMD appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Christian Democratic Party (CDP) President Daniel Pule says he is impressed with the appointments President Edgar Lungu has made so far and has advised him to avoid negative criticisms.

Dr. Pule notes that the path taken by President Lungu is an impressive one saying he deserves to be encouraged.

Dr. Pule says President Lungu needs the full support of the opposition and that he will always be there to give him counsel if he asks for it.

He says he will be readily available to help President Lungu if he asks for any help.

He has also encouraged President Lungu not to waste any time in addressing the high cost of living in the country.

Dr. Pule is hopeful that President Lungu will ensure that the high mealie meal prices are reduced so that people can have decent meals every day.

The post Dr Pule Speaks for President Lungu appeared first on Zambia Reports.

Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan may be fit to feature after responding quickly to medical treatment to a hip injury.

The striker was hurt in a collision with Guinea goalkeeper Naby Yattara in the quarter-finals and was only on the bench for his side’s semi-final.

Ivory Coast will again be without midfielder Cheick Tiote, who has not recovered from an ankle injury.

The Elephants will be hoping for another strong performance from midfielder Yaya Toure.

The ‘dream’ final between the West African neighbours has been overshadowed by the crowd violence that marred Ghana’s semi-final victory over Equatorial Guinea.

Ghana’s 3-0 win was interrupted for 30 minutes when, towards the end of the match, fans of the Black Stars massed on the field behind for their own safety as home fans supporters threw missiles.

Police battled to restore order using batons and tear gas, while a helicopter also hovered low over the heads of the home fans in the stands.

As a result of the trouble, increased security measures have been ordered for the final in Bata.

“We have asked for extra police and security to be put in place,” the Confederation of African Football’s media director Junior Binyam said.

“We want to have a bigger police presence and more guarantees about the safety of spectators.”

As for the match itself, it is a repeat of the 1992 final which Ivory Coast won 11-10 on penalties to give them what remains their only Nations Cup title, despite two appearances in the final since.

The Elephants lost both of those finals on penalties, with the matches having ended goalless, beaten by Egypt in 2006 and by Zambia in 2012.

With the firepower of Africa’s most expensive player Wilfried Bony and the tournament’s standout player Gervinho in their side, it would be a surprise if the Ivorians failed to score this time around.

“It has been a long time since we have had a final between Ghana and Ivory Coast and we want to write our history too. This is our chance and we hope to take it,” Gervinho said.

“We are very motivated. From the beginning of this competition, we said we have six games to play – we have played five and there is one remaining.”

Midfielder Yaya Toure has extra incentive to come out on top on Sunday having been part of the losing teams in 2006 and 2012.

And coach Herve Renard expects the Manchester City man, who scored a superb goal in the 3-1 win over DR Congo in the quarter-final, to make a big impact.

“I’m sure Yaya will play a decisive game. He will arrive in time. You saw he scored a fantastic goal in the semi-final and that was not by chance.

“When you are fantastic player, these key important games are for you. I’m sure Yaya will play a very good final.”

Ghana are also aiming to end a disappointing recent record in the tournament and finally secure a fifth title that has eluded them for 33 years.

The Black Stars are in their first final since 1982, when they beat Libya on penalties, and have grown steadily stronger throughout the tournament.

However, many rate them as underdogs to lift the trophy – despite the form of midfielder Andew Ayew, the potential return of captain Gyan and the galvanising effect coach Avram Grant has had on the team.

Grant, who took over the reins only in November, said: “We came from a long way, no-one gave us a chance before the tournament but we concentrated on what we were doing.

“I think this group of players has shown a lot of motivation and they’ll show it in the final.

“Every game we have played better and better, so I hope we continue like this. I know we’re playing against a very good team with very good players but we’ve also seen that we can do our job.

“It’s not new for us – we came from the group of living, not the group of death. They said Algeria was better than us because they’re ranked first in Africa, Senegal is better than us because many of their players are in the Premier League and so on.

“This group of players have showed they know how to fight and play football and all Ghanaians can be proud of this team.”

Ivory Coast have reached their third Afcon final in the last six editions. They lost the 2006 and 2012 finals on penalties, whilst their only Afcon triumph – in 1992 against Ghana – came via a shootout.

Ghana have reached their ninth Afcon final, more than any other team. They have won four tournaments and finish runners-up four times.

The nine previous meetings between these teams in this competition have produced one draw – a goalless stalemate in the 1992 final, which was won 11-10 on penalties by The Elephants.

Ivory Coast have the best shot conversion rate in the tournament (22%). Ghana’s 20% is the third highest.

Serge Aurier has attempted (36) and completed (16) more dribbles at this tournament than any other player.

Wilfried Bony (two goals and three assists) and Andre Ayew (three goals and two assists) have been involved in the most goals in this tournament.

Bony has conceded the most fouls in the tournament (24). He has also won the joint-second most (18).

Newly-signed Manchester City striker Bony has scored two headed goals in Afcon 2015, no one else has recorded more than one.

Both these teams scored three goals in their quarter and semi-final wins; Ghana have not scored 3+ goals in three consecutive Afcon games since 1965.

The Elephants have kept one clean sheet in their last seven Afcon matches
Ivory Coast have won 25 corners and conceded 25 corners in the tournament; Ghana have won 26 (more than any other team), but have conceded just 13

Ghana have faced just six shots on target in this tournament, the fewest of any team; Ivory Coast have faced 17.

Source: BBC Sports

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Many people are asking what His Excellency Edgar Chagwa Lungu’s program is in the Mfuwe jaunt.

A lot of weird and whacky things occur soon after elections. I remember in 2001 after the elections then when the results being released and announced suggested a fairly comfortable win for Anderson Kambela Mazoka. The Late Anderson MAZOKA was then staying at his farm “Ku Malende” which was a fair distance from Lusaka city centre.

Inspite of the logistical difficulties of getting to Ku Malende a size able crowd of people were thronging the Mazoka residence. Along the side of Leopards Hill Road where the farm house is located, cars were parked running back kilometers from the gate.

Large crowds of people were thronging the gates and it looked more congested than the crowds that would gather at Woodlands Stadium on match day during the heydays of City Yamoto. I remember how we would eagerly crowd by the entrance gates pushing and shoving to get in anticipating our team to win. Quite often we would lose after a series of near misses but being loyal fans when we would trudge out of the stadium we would not be crestfallen but instead be talking about the near misses and what could have been. The most common word spoken was “sembe..” meaning, “If only…”

The crowds at Ku Malende after the 2001 elections reminded me of the excited fans of City Yamoto. Ku Malende had high walls topped off with razor wire and an electric fence of high voltage.

As we saw the crowds amassing outside Ku Malende with curriculum vitaes in hand or stuffed in their back pockets, we realised the desperation of the crowds to breakthrough to present their CVs to Mr. Mazoka would overwhelm us and maybe lead to some tragedy. We started having visions of people trying to scale the walls and many being electrocuted by the electric fence atop of the wall with their CVs in hand turned into burning bits of paper.

We therefore had no choice but to open the gates to Ku Malende to avoid a National Tragedy. Once we opened the gates there was a stampede with everyone running towards the main residence with their CVs rolled up looking like batons in the hands of relay runners only that these relay runners were not interested in passing on the baton but were intent to be the first past the finish line and only prepared to pass the “baton” to Anderson Mazoka.

Going past State House last week before President Lungu left for Mfuwe I saw similar crowds that reminded me of Woodlands Stadium and those days outside Ku Malende just after the 2001 elections. It did not surprise me that President Lungu’s handlers decided to get him as far from the maddening crowd as they could.
If people were prepared to risk electrocution at Ku Malende the high State House walls were unlikely to stop a dash to present the rolled up CV batons.

I do not know if the Mfuwe diversion will work. The peace and quiet the President wants to have to finish up the restructuring of his cabinet and other senior government appointments maybe rudely interrupted by those who are not prepared to say, “Sembe ni na pasta Ba President CV Yanga, sembe ndine Ambassador or Chairman wa Board manje. Sembe……. If only…..”

Quite a number are resolved not to ever say, “Sembe” and are right now trekking towards Mfuwe with the same resolve as those who were prepared to scale the electric fence at Malende. There are those that are prepared to cross the crocodile infested Luangwa River and risk the venomous snake bites from vipers hidden in the thick grass.

Some are undeterred at the prospect of being eaten by a pack of laughing hyenas or mauled by a pride of lions in Luangwa Game Park as they make their way to Mfuwe Presidential Lodge. Being gored by a herd of buffalo or trampled by stampeding elephants cannot stop the resolve of some to present their CVs. The elephants stampede would look like a leisure walk compared to the job seekers stampede.
Inspite of all this I can safely say that President Lungu’s retreat is meant at avoiding the stampede; epologolamu.

The post Avoiding the Mfuwe Stampede appeared first on Zambia Reports.

The following statement was circulated by Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda:

Mfuwe, Sunday, February 8, 2015 — His Excellency Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, President of the Republic of Zambia has directed Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) to propose policy and legislative reforms designed to make the wildlife industry work for the poor majority.

President Lungu issued the order when he received a special briefing from acting ZAWA Director-General Mr Kampamba Kombe on the status of the wildlife industry.

“I want to see this sector benefit the poor people who are always invariably the owners of the resource. If the sector, which is a collective endowment for all of us operates as a sector for only few by a few, then for me it can’t work. This is totally unacceptable. I am prepared to break-up by law, the existing cartels in the wildlife sector. I want you to immediately bring up proposals for legal and policy reforms that will make this sector work for the people,” the President said.

“I want rapid transformation of this industry because when God gave us these resources, He intended that this a common resource and there is no reason it can remain a preserve for a few.”

The Head of State said it was unacceptable that in the vast South Luangwa National Park, there were only two indigenously owned lodges and that the entire wildlife sector chain, participation from Zambians was at a bare minimum. The President later visited Chimfule Lodge and Mushroom Lodge to understand the challenges Zambian entrepreneurs were facing to make it in the wildlife and tourism sectors.

“Our people cannot as it were be perpetual spectators in the midst of plenty. This saddens me. The policy direction you need we shall give you and I must assure you that I am prepared to go a step further to bring legislation to break up these cartels in the sector. If the industry cannot reform itself to allow locals to participate it is the responsibility of government to facilitate equity in the sharing of national resources,” he said. “ We cannot have a tourism and wildlife industry owned by foreigners, operated by foreigners and for foreigners. We need change.”

The President is concerned that when the great majority of the people are excluded from the enjoyment of their God-given resource, the risk of resource-nationalism is ever so present and therefore Government intervention was inevitable to forestall disorder.

And the President has announced that his administration will pilot a visa waiver for one year for nationals from four countries: two Asian and two European to ascertain the effect on tourism arrivals. During the trio period, the government will undertake a cost-benefit analysis of the waiver with specific focus on the impact on security and other related matters.

On hunting concessions, the President encouraged the ZAWA boss to adhere to the law and ensure that no single group of people is allowed to dominate the hunting blocks. “When you are within the law you will always have our support and you therefore have to proceed as you professionally deem fit.

Mr Kombe thanked the President for retaining Hon. Jean Kapata as Tourism Minister because she has stabilised the operations of ZAWA and reduced negative publicity around the organisation to a bare minimum since she assumed office.

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Kitwe District Commissioner Elias Kamanga has found himself in an awkward position after accidently posting on facebook a government vehicle while at his farm in Kitwe.

The Prado Vehicle Registration Number GRZ 773 CH meant for government programs is now being used for personal farm activities as spotted in the picture above.

One of the Facebook fans who was not happy expressed dissatisfaction after seeing the government vehicle parked at the District Commissioner’s farm.
Dumisani Sr Roberts wrote “Isn’t that a government car you’re using @ (at) your farm, Zambians !”

Kamanga has not yet responded to the Facebook comment by one of the concerned residents who boldly wrote on his Facebook posts

The District Commissioner has been using the GRZ vehicle on his personal programs even in the night when government vehicles are supposed to be parked by 18:00hrs.

These activities seriously call for supervision on the increased abuse of office by some of the civil servants in government offices.

The post Kitwe DC Takes Government Vehicle on Private Errands appeared first on Zambia Reports.