Hours after unleashing a litany of allegations of corruption against President Edgar Lungu, Roan MP Chishimba Kambwili came into contact with the Head of State at Parliament today.
Whatever the exchanges, it can only be assumed the two exchanged some pleasantries .
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Zambia has continued posting impressive results with the Women National Team qualifying to the semi finals of the Cosafa Castle Cup in Bulawayo Zimbabwe.
The 7-1 goal fest against a hapless Madagascar saw Zambia grab a semi final place ahead of host nation Zimbabwe who drew 3-all with Malawi.
A Mercy Zulu brace with solo goals for Grace Chanda, Player of the Match Barbara Banda, Rachael Nachula, Noria Sosala and Sharon Chileshe while Farafaniaina scored the consolation goal for Madagascar.
Zambia beat Malawi 6-3 in their opening match and drew 1-all with Zimbabwe in the second match.
Only top two in the three groups qualify to the semi finals while another slot will be available for the best second placed side.
Zambia are the holders of the U-20, U-17 Cosafa crowns while the senior men national team were runners up at the regional championship.
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A video of a police officer and a well known Patriotic Front cadre Munir Zulu has gone viral after the latter was stopped for committing a traffic offence.
Below we share the video that police spokesperson Esther Katongo has acknowledged as representative of what happened.
The post VIDEO: Cop, PF Cadre In Punch-For-Punch Street Fight appeared first on Zambia Reports.
The recent round of by-elections that saw the Patriotic Front win nine out of 12 by-elections has got social commentator MacDonald Chipenzi reflecting on the cancer of tribal voting in Zambia.
Chipenzi notes that the two leading political parties the PF and UPND have held firm to their strongholds.
BELOW IS THE FULL STATEMENT:
LESSONS FROM THE JUST ENDED BY-ELECTIONS
The just ended four district Council Chairpersons and 9 wards by-elections are the second set of by-elections since the 2016 General Elections and display the same voting patterns as was exhibited during the 2016 General Elections. The first set of by-elections being the Masaiti District Council Chairperson plus other ward by-elections held around April this year.
In both sets, the ruling PF seemed to have won the majority seats, congratulations, and followed by opposition UPND in far distant second. Other parties such as the FDD, MMD (Mutati), PeP, RRP, NRP, and ZDDM etal have been reduced to mere paper political parties who have resigned from participating in any election for various reasons. For FDD, since 2016 general elections, it has remained only active in the media like other new formed political parties.
But what lessons can the two political parties still holding high our electoral democracy learn from the sets of by-elections so far held? What about the Zambian general citizenry?
Indeed, these by-elections still point to the deeply reinforced regional voting in the country. This can be evidenced by the fact that the ruling party is failing to grab seats from the opposition UPND’s region while the UPND is also failing to grab seats from the PF regions. The two electoral positions are well defined and cemented. This is dangerously dangerous for the promotion of national unity and electoral democracy.
It points to the fact that, if nothing happens and done from now up to 2021, the voting patterns will remain the same. This will entail that the two political parties will not waste time campaigning in regions, save for Lusaka and somewhat Copperbelt, where they are not popular as it would be regarded as a waste of time and resources.
The two parties are also likely to pump in their resources in regions where they are popular and likely to get more votes and seats as evidenced during the just ended by-elections. UPND president only campaigned in Itezhi-Tezhi as his first outing after the Mukobeko-Chimbokaila Correctional Facilities fiasco where he spent 127 days while President Edgar Lungu never set foot or visited Itezhi-Tezhi, a UPND stronghold, but sent his Vice-President, Inonge Wina and Central Province Permanent Secretary, Chanda Kabwe to lead the campaigns.
But even with the sending of the carrier of Presidential Marketeers Empowerment Fund and the head of the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) to Itezhi-Tezhi, the ruling party lost the seat while UPND despite the spirited fight in Chilanga over a ward seat, it still failed to win. The party attributed its loss in Chilanga to eruption of electoral violence .
However, President Lungu and several other ministers made numerous “working” visits on the Copperbelt, Muchinga, Luapula and Northern commissioning projects, suspiciously so, aimed at soliciting votes from those regions ahead of the by-elections.
Perhaps the coming of Chishimba Kambwili-Mwenya Musenge political pair on the political scene would help awake the two political parties that seemingly comfortably cocooned in their winnable zones or regions than exploring new electoral frontiers. This main dilute this comfort and force them penetrate other regions to enable them survive the 50% +1 come 2021 presidential election.
Therefore, instead of commissioning another Commission of Inquiry on Voting Patterns after the 2021 elections, political parties must dismantle the current regional electoral outlook otherwise, the electoral future is not promising any good news. The electoral dynamics and future for anyone to occupy Plot One will largely depend on who wins Lusaka and Copperbelt urban districts either smartly or either by hook or crook, in addition to their regional electoral strengths.
Failure to dismantling the current electoral outlook, I see another Choma Declaration of June 1972 aimed at bringing unity in this country which was deeply divided on regional lines, being eminently possible once again during our time.
The post Chipenzi Gives Insight Into Tribal Voting Pattern appeared first on Zambia Reports.
Zambia
H.E. Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu
President
General Assembly Seventy-first session: Opening of the General Debate 71 United Nations, New York
President Edgar Lungu is in New York for the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly joining other global leaders.
The general debate of the 72nd General Assembly will open on Tuesday, 19 September 2017, with a focus on the theme, ‘Focusing on People: Striving for Peace and a Decent Life for All on a Sustainable Planet’
President Lungu will hold side meetings with other world leaders.
The Head of State will get his chance to address the assembly on Tuesday.
President Lungu will on Tuesday evening be among world leaders at a reception to be hosted United States President Donald Trump.
He will also attend an African Union meeting on Wednesday as part of the continental engagements.
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Namwala Member of Parliament Moono Lubezhi will learn of her fate in the case of violence against FDD candidate Charity Kabongomana during campaigns for the 2016 general elections.
The Namwala Magistrate Court has set September 25 as the date for judgment in the matter that has dragged on for over one year.
Lubezhi and seven others are charged with four counts namely malicious damage to property, grievous bodily harm and two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm contrary to the penal code chapter 87 the laws of Zambia.
The legislator and her co-accused allegedly assaulted Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) Parliamentary candidate for 2016 general elections for Namwala Constituency Charity Kabongomana.
Other charges include assaulting FDD candidate for District Council chairperson Prince Sikagoma and Manfred Sichikoloma, and causing damage to charity Kabongomana‘s Land Rover Discovery registration number ALT 776 during campaigns in the 2016 general elections in Namwala.
Namwala was one of the areas that recorded high levels of violence in the election period.
The post Courts Judgment Date in Namwala MP Violence Case appeared first on Zambia Reports.
Government has financed K10 million for the partial rehabilitation of Parliament Motel notoriously referred to as the “slaughter house”.
The rehabilitation will include replacement of aging infrastructure, fixtures, and fittings at Parliament Motel in Lusaka.
This came to light when the Minister of Finance Felix Mutati briefed the speaker of the National Assembly Dr. Patrick Matibini on the measures taken by the treasury to ensure that members of parliament who do not have residencies in Lusaka has conducive lodging facilities during parliamentary and other related business.
Dr. Matibini and Mutati conducted a joint inspection of the facilities last Thursday; the day before the official opening of the second session of 12th National Assembly by President Edgar Chagwa Lungu.
An initial joint inspection of the facilities by the speaker and the minister was conducted in June, 2017.
Speaking after the tour of the motel last Thursday, Dr. Matibini noted the tremendous progress made in rehabilitating the facilities “over a short period of time,” and added that, “time has come to relook at the situation and begin fashioning long-term improvements with the ultimate goal of rebuilding.”
Meanwhile, Mutati has stated that the release of K10 million for the rehabilitation project at parliament motel is in line with the policy of the government and the vision of President Edgar Lungu to ensure the provision of a conducive working environment for the discharge of public services.
During the official opening of parliament last Friday, President lungu reiterated government’s commitment to implement the decent work agenda and finalize the occupational safety and health policy; and the social protection bill, to provide a conducive environment for workers to fully exploit their potential in work places without worrying about occupational accidents.
Parliament motel was commissioned in 1967 but has undergone negligible maintenance over the decades resulting in inadequacy and deterioration of boarding and lodging facilities such as rooms, the kitchen, and the dinning.
The speaker was accompanied on the tour of Parliament Motel by acting Clerk of the National Assembly, Cecilia Nsenduluka Mbewe, while Mr. Mutati was accompanied by accountant general Dr. Dick Chellah Sichembe.
The post Government Secures K10 Million To Upgrade “Slaughter House” appeared first on Zambia Reports.
Since I haven’t spoken about the K1million fire tenders, and I have done the preparation of government tenders before, all I can say is the the selection of the winner of the tenders is not heavily based on the price.
In tendering, the bidder prepares two proposals, the first – called a Technical proposal – details the specifications of the bid, the company details, financial health, audit reports etc. This is the proposal which is then looked at first. The best two or three bidders with the highest scores here are the only ones whose Financial Proposals are now opened. So from the list of about 20 companies, forget all those prices you saw, the losers’ prices wont be seen until publishing time. For technical proposals, local companies always get preferential treatment over foreign companies in the scoring system.
So when the best technical proposals have been picked, we now look at the 2 to 3 financials.
For the financial proposals, usually, the terms are explained whether the lowest financial bidder from among those top 3 technical winners would win, but that’s rare to avoid bidders making ridiculously low bids simply to win but then to compromise the whole process. Otherwise the best price would always win. So sometimes scores are made for the financial proposal and then added to the technical proposal and then the best total score wins. The rule of the thumb is technical proposal 70-80% of the total score and financial proposal 30-20% of the total score.
However, if the best scorer is also one with issues in procurement or has poor history with the owner of the bid, this can be passed on to the next best tender.
As for this price, I have no idea how much fire tenders are and I can spend time castigating government over the price but I am not qualified to do so. Suffice to say, as many are saying, on the internet, these are costing something like US $550,000. Now add accessories, customisation works, shipping, landing costs, costs on trucks from the border to here since you can’t just drive them and risk damaging them, then training of local staff, and then profit, and maybe after-service. Will the total reach USD1million? Kaya!!!
Me I don’t know teacher. Are we together class?
Oliver Shalala [Facebook]
The post Citizen’s View: Answer The $1 Million Question; The Case Of 42 Fire Trucks appeared first on Zambia Reports.
Why do we kill local investments yet worshiping foreign businesses? It is absurd. Uncle T of Kabwata is suddenly in the news being threatened following his innovation of the Chi Cup that young people and the old inclusive from a cross section of society have embraced with easy.
The reckless and unwarranted statements from state institutions is scaring away potential customers from this huge investment built from his personal sweat.The negative publicity from institutions such as the Zambia Bureau of Standards -ZABS- is uninspiring for a law abiding citizens who has been settling his taxes. Where were these institutions when Uncle T was applying for licences? Whose interest are these institutions representing?
Uncle T needs to be celebrated having taken advantage of the local market to sell the most sought after product on the local market. Uncle T, as a law abiding citizen took the samples of his cocktail to the University Teaching Hospital -UTH- for critical analysis and he was subsequently, granted the licence unless l am proved otherwise that those who did so are alien to development.
I must mention that with or without the cocktail from Uncle T people will always die so stop blackmailing the man for being innovative and just join in the fun.This tendency of frustrating local investments in whatever field should come to end considering that the man is creating employment to the many young people in the country. We have already forgotten his humble contribution to the City market fire victims of about K 40, 000 from his procceeds. Uncle T deserves better, as an indigenous investor unlike the current negative publicity he drowning in.
We should enchanceforth stop this awing and admiring people only when they invest in foreign countries rather than their country of birth. Uncle T is a legend and deserves our support in his humble contribution to the economic development of mother Zambia.
He opted not to be a spectator but a participant in the affairs of this country therefore he deserves a page in our annuals of history. Leave the guy to do his business.This kind of mindset of trying to pull your fellow Zambia is very bad who is earning genuine money.
Mabvuto Phiri [Facebook]
The post Citizen’s View: Uncle T and His Chi Cupu; Why Kill A Local Investor? appeared first on Zambia Reports.
Please hide my identity. Referees not getting paid. My favourite FAZ president Andrew Kamanga has only paid refs twice this season. Under the previous administration, refs got paid the whole amount due to them by the home teams.
The Idea of FAZ paying refs was rejected by all officiators anticipating problems which are happening now. Most refs proposed that FAZ gives money to teams who would intern pay refs.
My question is when is FAZ gona pay refs? If so are they going to foot out the full bill? Its a pity that referees who are victims are those who officiate lower division teams.
Refs close to FAZ [officials] handle Super Division teams where they get paid instantly and can never voice out cause they would want to consolidate their positions.
I love Kamanga and I feel he is the right person to be in office right now. If we give Andrew the full term of 3 years in office he can take us far, but he should improve on paying refs. Me I belonging to team Kamanga.
MC
The post Letter: FAZ Struggling To Pay Referees Handling Lower League Matches appeared first on Zambia Reports.
Patriotic Front Media Director Sunday Chanda has been once again caught pants down with an alarmist statement that could potentially fan violence. Chanda not for the first time has attributed ordinary incidences of violence to politics and gone to town with it but has had to fall back on it. Credit to him for having tendered in an apology. In the heat of the political campaigns Chanda had claimed that UPND cadres had killed a PF sympathizer in Chilanga but it has turned out no one died.
“We would like to dispel reports published in some quarters of the media purporting that a member of the Patriotic Front assaulted during the just ended by-election campaigns in Kalundu area in Chilanga has died, “ she said in the statement,” said the police in a statement.
Chanda has since issued an apology reproduced below:
Below is the statement:
RETRACTION STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Yesterday, 17th September 2017, my Office received information from the Party Provincial Officials to the effect that a PF member who was attacked in Chilanga during the by-election campaigns had passed on. Upon receiving this information, we had it verified with two other Provincial Officials who confirmed the reports.
It has come to our attention that the Provincial Officials information was not accurate. The victim is still hospitalised in University Teaching Hospital and remains in our prayers. We apologise for the inconvenience this may have caused on the vIssued by: Sunday Chanda PF Media Directorictim and the bereaved family.
Further, we wish to advise our officials to verify information with the Provincial Party Chairperson before transmitting any such information to the Party Secretariat. Lastly, we continue to call for investigations into the violence to ensure the perpetrators of this violence are brought to book.
Issued by: Sunday Chanda PF Media Director
The post Sunday Chanda Retracts Awkward Statement appeared first on Zambia Reports.
The second round of by-elections have flown past with a less than convincing result to help the opposition United Party for National Development’s claim for popularity. Do they not say that numbers do not lie? Out of a count of 12 by elections that were held on September 14 across the country the ruling PF harvested nine out of 12.
This is not to take anything away from the other parties that lined to compete as per their democratic right but for the kind of political noise that has become customary of the UPND, they should do more than screen robbery.
The country is partly where it is in terms of political tension as a result of the UPND crying at every turn of being robbed of victory. But then would even minute as the by-elections have been be indicative or supportive of their theory that they were robbed of victory? The simple spray of by-election results indicate that while the PF may not be at the peak of their popularity they still retain some semblance of national support.
Just in case one missed it here is the outcome of the last round of local government elections the UPND won Itezhi Tezhi, Libonda Ward in Kalabo district as well as Mpindi Kakonja in Zambezi.
The ruling party has scooped, Mabinga in Chama South, Chililalila in Kabwe, Chitwi in Luanshya, Luansobe in Mufulira, Luntomfwe in Kaputa and Chimanja.
The PF also made its presence felt in Lunte, Kanchibiya and Lavushimanda.
So then where is the evidence that the UPND is more popular than the PF. If the UPND want to claim popularity they must back it up with empirical evidence otherwise they will remain branded as cry-babies or sore losers.
While there is a general principle never to read too much into by-election results the PF can for now delight in their recent posting of impressive results and credit to them they have not rubbed it in on their opponents.
The post OPINION: Numbers Indicate PF Still Stronger than UPND appeared first on Zambia Reports.
Local government minister Vincent Mwale says the purchase of 42 fire trucks at $1 million each was above board.
The procurement has raised controversy in various circles prompting a ministerial statement delivered by Mwale today.
Mwale attempted to put to rest speculations that the acquisition of 42 fire tenders at a total cost of $42 million was exorbitant.
He clarified that the cost was attached to quality specified by Zambian Fire experts as well as procurement officers.
Mwale explained that the procurement process was one that had no flaws and Grandview who won the bid were the lowest bidders that addressed the specific concerns raised by experts.
“Some bids were low but they were offering tanks made of plastic… its value for money we were looking s well as durability…,” said Mwale.
BELOW IS THE FULL MINISTERIAL STATEMENT ON GOVERNMENT’S PROCUREMENT OF 42 FIRE TRUCKS DELIVERED TO PARLIAMENT ON 19TH SEPTEMBER 2017
Mr. Speaker,
Mr. Speaker Sir, thank you for this opportunity you have given me to shade light on concerns raised by some members of the public following an event on 13th September 2017 at which Her Honour the Vice President of the Republic of Zambia Mrs. Inonge K. Wina officiated to handover the 42 fire trucks to Local Authorities the Government has procure through my Ministry.
Mr. Speaker, I am prompted to make this statement following concerns from some members of the public that the price of US $1 million dollars per fire truck is too exorbitant.
It should be noted, Mr Speaker, that this debate is not new.
When this procurement was concluded towards the end of 2015, a similar debate ensued and was stirred by opposition FDD President Ms Edith Nawakwi who claimed that the PF Government had pocketed US $30 million out of the award of this US $42 million contract for the supply of the 42 fire trucks.
My predecessor in the Ministry then rose to the challenge to clarify the matter and put the record straight. As it could be clearly seen, Ms Nawakwi’s statement was not substantiated by any facts and the matter was rested.
Mr Speaker, before I proceed to discuss the issue of pricing of the fire tenders, allow me to give a brief historical background to this matter.
On the 4th of May 2012, the late President Michael Chilufya Sata officiated at the commemoration of the International Fire Fighters’ Day in Lusaka and bemoaned, among others, the lack of investment in the fire and rescue services.
At this same function, Mr Speaker, President Sata directed my Ministry to decentralise the provision of fire and rescue services to protect the valuable lives of our people and infrastructure in the various parts of the Country.
After this Presidential directive, a United Kingdom based company known as Albion Export Services Limited submitted an unsolicitated bid to supply 63 fire trucks at the cost of US $54.8 million which they later revised in 2015 to US $66 million.
Further, Albion Export Services requested that their company be single-sourced to supply the fire trucks with an upfront payment of hundred percent but to deliver the fire trucks over a period of two years.
The Ministry then wrote to the Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) requesting authority to direct bid Albion Export Services. On 22nd July 2015, ZPPA responded to our letter and rejected the request to direct bid Albion Export Services but advised the Ministry to use a competitive method to procure the fire trucks.
Consequently, in September 2015, my Ministry proceeded to advertise the tender for the supply of the 42 fire trucks.
At the close of the tender in October 2015, sixteen (16) bidders responded.
After evaluation of the 16 bidders, Grandview International was the best evaluated bidder with a bid sum of US $42 million after meeting the required criteria as stated in the solicitation document.
The list outlining the 16 bidders with the respective amounts has been attached to this statement for consideration.
Mr Speaker,
Soon after Grandview International were notified of the award, four companies, namely Albion Export Services Limited whose bid price was US $49.5 million, Savenda Management Services, DL NAFFCO (Z) Ltd and Albert Ziegler appealed to ZPPA against the decision to award Grandview International.
ZPPA heard the appeals within two weeks and rendered its decision thereafter dismissing the appeals for lack of merit. ZPPA also informed the Ministry to proceed with its award to Grandview International.
Mr Speaker,
Some companies also made an appeal to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) against the decision to award the contract to Grandview International.
The Anti-Corruption Commission also dismissed the appeal and gave the Ministry clearance to proceed with the procurement process.
Mr Speaker,
The cost of these fire trucks has now become a subject of debate by some quarters in our society. Comparisons of various fire-fighting trucks of different specifications and costs have been made.
Mr Speaker,
I have noted with interest that all those observing that our fire trucks are over-priced are only quoting the lower priced bids thereby creating an impression that Grandview International quoted the highest and yet, while responding to the same specifications, Albion Export Services from the United Kingdom quoted US $49.5 million, which was US $7.5 million higher than Grandview International.
Mr Speaker,
The fire trucks we have procured are no standard trucks. They are custom-made, specifically to respond to the challenges that our fire men and women have been facing over the years in terms of the terrain and other operational areas.
In fact, the specifications were developed by the users, who are the fire fighters. The fire trucks were manufactured in Spain based on these specifications.
Mr Speaker,
The fire fighters informed the Procurement Team that some of the challenges often encountered in firefighting were the narrow roads that were difficult to access particularly in unplanned settlements.
To respond to this challenge, the new fire trucks are equipped with monitors which allow the fire operators to fight fires from a distance of up to 70 meters irrespective of obstructions along the way.
They not only offer added maneuverability in places which are difficult to navigate but also have increased storage capacity for water and special foam.
The fire trucks have storage capacity of 7000 litres for water and 1000 litres for foam. On the contrary, the older fire trucks being utilized had no provision for foam and only had a capacity of 5000 litres for water.
In addition, the fire trucks have improved extraction equipment to for recue services.
Mr Speaker,
In addition to better capacity, the new fire trucks have stainless steel tanks as opposed to the polythene tanks that the old ones have.
The durability of the trucks is further enhanced by reinforced chassis and high ground clearance from the raised chassis.
These are just highlights of the broad technical and non-technical specifications that informed the procurement process. I have attached the exhaustive list of specifications for consideration.
Mr Speaker,
Based on these detailed specifications, procurement experts and firefighters involved in the procurement process believe that the bidder was best suited to give us the value for money as compared the other bidders that were not selected. This was arrived at after an elaborate scrutiny of all bids.
Mr. Speaker,
The fire-fighting and rescue equipment are an integral part of economic development that would safeguard the economic gains made so far in all-the sectors of our economy.
Fire outbreaks have become a common phenomenon in almost all districts in the country for varied reasons.
However, the response to such fire outbreaks has in the past been hampered by lack of proper and adequate fire-fighting equipment. This is why Government, through my Ministry, has acquired this state of the art fire-fighting and rescue equipment for all the major districts across the Country especially those with higher population density and increased economic activity.
Mr Speaker,
I thank you.
The post Fire Trucks Deal Above Board – Minister Mwale appeared first on Zambia Reports.
Please Zambia Reports, hide my identity. I’m the concerned worker at Amatheon Agri Zambia Mumbwa area. We are being tortured not to be with our wives and families. I think the govt should intervene in this. We are told that we are going to be fired when wife come to visit you. Also, we [are] being denied off days to go and visit our families. Sure is this how we are going to leave in our own country? Them there (sic) coming with there (sic) own families and enjoying. Please help us to publish this
PJ
The post Letter: Workers Missing Their Wives Cry “It’s Torture” appeared first on Zambia Reports.
Minnows Lumwana Radiants gave Zesco United a rude awakening with a 3-0 bashing three days before the Ndola giants face South Africa’s SuperSport United in the quarterfinal of the CAF Confederation Cup second leg.
In a delayed Week 28 match played at 18:00 hours at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium Zesco were second rate as Chisenga Lukwembe hit the back of the net in the 45th minute.
Lumwana Radiants struck again in the 73rd minute before Eddie Sinyangwe completed the rout in the 90th minute to pile doubts on the credentials of Zlatko Krmpotic whom fans have been quietly calling for his head.
Zesco United drew 0-all in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup against SuperSport United with the two sides closing the contest this Saturday at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.
The post Lumwana Radiants Switch Off Zesco appeared first on Zambia Reports.
President Edgar Lungu has picked up the cause of young girls on the sidelines of the 72nd United Nations General Assembly.
And President Lungu has addressed the 72nd United Nations General Assembly will a call for reforms to the Security Council.
The Head of State who is named African Union Child Rights Ambassador bared his thoughts at a side conference hosted by UNICEF and the Canadian government.
He was jointly addressing the conference with Uganda President Yoweri Museveni and Malawi’s Peter Wa Mutharika.
President Lungu said that the target of ending child marriages by 2030 was achievable.
He said that the need to end child child marraiges by 2030 required commitment.
President Lungu said that children rarely made the top list of priorities but stressed that they were the most important component as they represented the future.
President Lungu joined 193 Heads of State across the world and delivered his speech on Tuesday.
He pressed Africa’s case before a global audience with the call for the reformation of the United Nations.
He singled out the United Nations Security Council that needed to be reformed in order to be more representative of the all countries.
The post Pres. Lungu Raises Key Concerns in UN Address appeared first on Zambia Reports.
FAZ general secretary Ponga Liwewe has admitted to awarding his firm, Mpila Zambia, a 
branding deal facilitated by the Confederations of African Football (CAF).
This follows recent revelations from a Facebook post that claimed Liwewe’s firm was responsible for branding and setting up match venue advertisements during Confederations of African Football (CAF) fixtures in Zambia.
Liwewe has told close associates he has had the deal to brand stadiums even before he became FAZ general secretary, a statement that does not correspond with the facts surrounding the deal.
Sources have disclosed that the branding deal which is done through a CAF agent known as Lagardere was previously handled by a spouse of a former FAZ executive committee member.
Following a change in the administration at Football House in March 2016, the branding deal floated to the association CEO by Lagardere.
It’s believed that the deal is worth between K250, 000 to K500, 000 with each match played involving either Zanaco or Zesco and their respective opponents in CAF games attracting an additional K10, 000 for field set up.
Zanaco have since been eliminated from the Champions League so Mpila Zambia will now only provide the services to Zesco United who are still in contention for honours in the Confederations Cup.
While the FAZ/Mpila Zambia deal is the latest potential financial and unethical scandal to rock local football, Lagardere is not new to controversy.
In January this year, CAF was forced to fend off reports by Egyptian press that the France-based sports firm was involved in inappropriate deals.
CAF stated that after evaluating the different offers submitted, and in strict compliance with the existing contractual clauses, agreed to renew the contract with Lagardère Sports for the 2017-2028 cycle. This was done in June 2015.
CAFONLINE reported in January that the contract with Lagardere guaranteed African football a substantial increase in revenues and substantial funding for the development of football on the continent.
CAF explained that the contract with Lagardère Sports did not contravene national or supranational legislation, as established by categorical legal opinions in this regard.
The post FAZ CEO Abandons Ethics; Awards His Firm CAF Branding Deal appeared first on Zambia Reports.
Does anyone remember the debate around the printing of ballot papers in the April 2016? Does this list not ring a bell? Note that the bids were quoted in United States dollars.
Renform 1,398,360, UniPrint 1,522,864, Fongda (AVIC) 1,956,057, Paarl media 2,125,891, Tall Security 2,875,689 and Al Ghurair 3,101,000
Renform did put up a challenge against the awarding of the tender to the most expensive supplier who turned out to be Dubai based company Al Ghurair.
With effect to the 42 fire tenders that have been expensively purchased at US$42 million against lower bids that went as low as US$36 million we need to be conscious of the system we are up against.
In truth the purchase is not going to be reversed and as in the case of the ballot papers a rival bidder is the one that has turned out to be loudest critic. Maybe we should reflect on this disposition.
Fifteen companies put up bids with United Kingdom based company that is at the head of the protests named Albion Export Services pushing a US$49 million bid.
Note that is the debate rages on that the Ministry had also specified the type of fire tenders and service equipment required on each fire lorry.
Eventually the tender was awarded to Grandview International Ltd to supply 42 fire tenders and safety equipment at an award sum of $42million.
But Albion Services disputed the award and appealed to the Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) with their objection thrown out.
Is this therefore a closed case? What then should the debate focus on? Does the Zambia Public Procurement Authority ever reverse a deal once it is closed? What can people with legitimate grounds to challenge the US$42 million fire tenders purchase? If the deal really stinks what then should the citizenry do? What about having a closer look at the loud mouths that are at the head of the protests? Are they merely championing this debate as a result of being beaten to the corrupt game of tenderpreneurship?
No matter how hard people may feel about this transaction it could appear that it is a done deal with no way back for the people that have implemented it. But then we should all be concerned about the concerns raised on the quality of the fire tenders that have been allegedly branded inferior.
So while we are still at it bickering about the tender process maybe we should do better to refer to the past on how nothing has ever been done with regards to protestations about allegedly corruptly awarded tenders.
The post OPINION: The Politics of Procurement-A Case of Fire Tenders appeared first on Zambia Reports.
In this country, thieves and crooks are revered as being smart and clever. In fact those that try to live within their means are regarded as dull. Nibatulo.
Corruption and abuse of authority has been accepted as a normal part of our political dispensation and public life.
This country has been reduced to a joke. Just look at these statistics:
79% of Zambians in rural areas and 65% in urban areas live below a dollar a day
53% of women give birth without the attendance of a qualified midwife
50% of our children are malnourished/stunted. Njala!
47% of Zambians have no access to clean water and sanitation.
Deserts such as Dubai, former war torn countries like Rwanda, natural resource limited countries like South Korea have all advanced and developed into strong economies due to transformational and patriotic leadership; leadership anchored on vision, commitment to country and selflessness.
Antonio Mwanza
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Leader of the Radical Revolutionary Party Vincent Chaile has emerged as a lone voice to support the purchase of 42 fire trucks at $1 million each.
Chaile, a former UNZASU president, says Grandview International was now a victim in the grand scheme of things.
“Our core Value as Radicals is to view things different from Ordinary, The Awarding of a $42 Million to Grandview International, a local company, has disapproved the theory and the public perception that only foreigners can be awarded big contracts.
“As a party we feel Grandview is being victimized because it is a Local company and has delivered to the specification of the contract. The only crime Grandview International has committed is to have competed with a Germany company which quoted for $48 Million,” he states.
THE FULL STATEMENT READS
RADICAL REVOLUTIONARY PARTY (RRP) PRESS STATEMENT
It has always been our party philosophy and principle to priotise local Zambians when awarding government contracts .It is a worldwide trend that it’s not the role of the government to do business, but to create an environment for doing business through policies which support the Flourishing of local businesses.
Our core Value as Radicals is to view things different from Ordinary, The Awarding of a $42 Million to Grandview International, a local company, has disapproved the theory and the public perception that only foreigners can be awarded big contracts. As a party we feel Grandview is being victimized because it is a Local company and has delivered to the specification of the contract. The only crime Grandview International has committed is to have competed with a Germany company which quoted for $48 Million.
Zambian companies should be inspired by Grandview international and should rise to the occasion and compete and fight against awarding of big contracts to foreign companies who are making millions of dollars through awarding of government contracts. For instance billions of Dollars are leaving this country daily from mines owned by foreigners and Zambians are quite, but are quick to point at local who is working hard trying to improve the lives of the Many Zambians.
As Radical Revolutionary Party (RRP) we are Happy that the $42 million has remained in our economy and has not gone to a foreign country. We should be inspired by Grandview international for rising to the Occasion.
We need more Zambian companies to build capacity to a Level where even Road contracts should be awarded to Zambian Companies.
The post Vincent Chaile Backs $1 Million Fire Truck Purchase; Grandview International Being Victimized appeared first on Zambia Reports.
