Zambia Weekly 2014

Zambia Weekly
The essence of Zambian news
Week 18 │ 2 May 2014 │ Issue 185 │ Volume 5 │ w w w.zambia-week ly.com │ FREE
Opposition boycotts constitution indaba
The Southern African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) this week held its highly anticipated
constitution indaba – to reach some sort
of consensus on the derailed constitutionmaking process – but without many of the
major stakeholders.
First the opposition announced that it
would not attend the indaba, as it “does not
take into account the stage at which the
political parties have reached with regard
to the constitution making process” – referring to their attempt at setting up a meeting
with President Sata on the same. The opposition parties included 16 parties such as MMD,
UPND, NAREP, ADD, FDA, PDP and ABZ. Then the Grand Coalition on the Constitution, a
consortium of church mother bodies, civil society and other stakeholders, stated that it
too would not participate in the indaba “in the absence of the final draft constitution being released to the Zambian people”.
At the indaba, PF Secretary General and Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba finally outlined
the whereabouts of the final draft: “I cannot answer questions about when the draft constitution will be released. All I can answer is that cabinet will decide when the draft shall
be released. At the moment, I can confirm that the draft is with the Ministry of Justice after
the Technical Committee [drafting the constitution] concluded its work,” Kabimba stated
– assuring the indaba that government will not in any way doctor the draft. Initially the
Technical Committee was supposed to release its draft to President Sata and the general
public simultaneously.
Kabimba appointed the blame for delays in the constitution-making process squarely
with the Technical Committee: “We never asked them to start doing district, provincial
and national conventions [for public debate], but they went ahead and started doing
something contrary to what the terms of reference stipulated. The Technical Committee
went against the vision of the PF on the constitution, and this is the reason this process
has delayed,” he added – and explained that the Technical Committee had handed over a
report which is “disjointed and difficult to follow through”.
... on terms of reference
This is an extract of a statement from President Sata announcing the appointment of the Technical Committee,
as published by the Post on 17 November 2011:
“... ‘They are expected to refer to the Chona Constitutional Review Commission, Mvunga Constitutional Review Commission, the 1991 Constitution of Zambia, and the Mwanakatwe Constitutional Review Commission Report and Draft
Constitution.
10
things you should
know this week
1. More employment!
Government has created 377,470 jobs since
assuming power
Page 2
2. Opposition boycotts indaba
SACCORD held its highly anticipated constitution indaba – without most stakeholders
Page 1
3. Auditor General on parastatals
The latest Auditor General’s report on parastatals reveals the usual irregularities and
abuse of funds
Page 4
4. MMD’s NEC meeting illegal?
The opposition MMD party held a national
executive committee (NEC) meeting –
despite a court injunction to stop it
Page 6
5. Swine fever in Northwestern Prov.
Swine fever has broken out in Kasempa and
other parts of Northwestern Province
Page 7
6. A lot of relief food!
44 of Zambia’s 103 districts are receiving
relief food in 2014
Page 4
7. KK’s birthday programme
First President Kenneth Kaunda (KK) has
been on a whirlwind tour to celebrate his
90th birthday on 28 April
Page 3
8. RB in Tanzania
The Technical Committee will also review the Mung’omba Constitutional Review Report and Draft Constitution as well as
the Zaloumis Electoral Reform Technical Committee Report and the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) Report and
Draft Constitution,’ President Sata said.
Former President Rupiah Banda (RB) has
been allowed to travel to Tanzania
Page 3
He emphasised that the Technical Committee shall review the Mung’omba Draft Constitution and use it as the basis upon
to develop the new constitution.
9. General Kanene gets 18 years
The Head of State said the Technical Committee is also expected to consult widely and take into account the submissions
forwarded. ‘They are expected to consult local and international experts on constitutional law and practice, the members
of the public at all provincial centres and incorporate in the new national constitution the views of the people as resolved
in the provincial constitutional conventions.’
The committee is furthermore expected to consult and take into account the submissions of sector groups.
The Technical Committee shall draft the national constitution based on its findings from the review process and best
international constitutional practices and provisions of international conventions on human rights,’ President Sata said...”
Musician Clifford Dimba, known as General
Kanene, has been sentenced to 18 years’s jail
for defiling an under-age girl
Page 8
10. ... in Liwewe’s own word
Zambia Weekly brings an extract of one of
late Dennis Liwewe’s greatest broadcasts
Page 9
2 │ News
Editor’s note
More employment!
Something surreal is happening: Stakeholders have begun debating the draft
constitution even before it has been
released! First it was the chiefs, announcing that they did not like the clause which
limited their power over land. Last week
it was the doctors (the Medical Association) and this week it was the mothers
(the Planned Parenthood Association),
both objecting to the definition of life
beginning at conception. Government
has finally removed all doubts about the
whereabouts of the final draft (see page
1), explaining that it is hiding in the Justice Ministry, awaiting cabinet approval of
its release to the general public. I would
therefore like to know which document all
these stakeholders are debating. As far as
I can see there is only one “public” version,
the one leaked by the Zambian Watchdog,
but government has cast doubts on its veracity. It is all rather suspicious, especially
considering that most of the stakeholders
are rejecting the final draft constitution.
President Sata has released another round of employment figures (see table), which differs significantly from those of the Central Statistical Office. Last month a confidential - but
leaked - document from the office showed that government created 61,755 formal jobs
from January 2012 to September 2013.
Mall opens in Ndola
Kafubu Mall in Ndola has opened its doors
to 34 shops led by Shoprite. The mall,
which is located opposite Ndola Golf Club,
will help decongest town centre, much to
the relief of Ndola’s 394,518 inhabitants.
The mall is owned by the Workers Compensation Fund similar to NAPSA’s Levy
Junction Mall in Lusaka.
Filling station closed in Kitwe
The Energy Regulation Board (ERB) has
shut down Kobil Filling Station in the heavy
industrial area in Kitwe because “it does
not have proper safety standards: The
emergency button is not working, the fire
extinguisher is not valid, the pressure is
empty...” ERB Northern Region Technologist
for Fossil Fuels Hastings Chilomo told the
Daily Mail – describing most filling stations
in Kitwe as “eyesores”.
Jackals terrorise Serenje
Jackals are spreading rabies in Serenje
District, Central Province, with five people
attacked and infected in the last three
months. Serenje District Commissioner
Charles Mwelwa called on the Zambia Wildlife Authority to control the jackals.
18 head of cattle killed by lightning
Lightning has killed 18 head of cattle in
a kraal in Nchenga in Nakonde District,
reported the Post. The cattle belonged to
Blessings Mwaba, a teacher at Wupukwe
Primary School.
.
Jobs created since September 2011 - as announced by government:
Feb-13 Mar-13 Aug-13 Nov-13 Feb-14 Mar-14 Apr-14
Extra jobs as announced by govt
50,000 195,744 316,089 354,508 356,966 600,000* 377,470
Sector
Government (central, local & parastatal)
44,278
private sector
24,098
ZDA pledged investments
5,510
In new districts
5,858
Tourism & Arts
116,000 218,344 218,344 218,344
218,663
Agriculture, forestry & fishery
3,153
6,241
3,153
Electricity, gas & water
27,369 28,618 28,618
25,530**
Road Development Agency
13,468
Education
10,099 10,099 10,099
10,099
Construction
15,091 15,091
16,175
Transport & communications
2,725
2,725
14,549
Community, social & personal
4,998
4,136
4,998
4,998
Health
3,030
3,030
3,640
Finance & banking
9,477 10,991
5,481
74,487
Service
55,885 65,829
Other
3,088
37,197
3,088
3,088
*
Announced by Vice-President Guy Scott, whereas the other figures came from President Sata
**
Not announced, but calculated to make up for the shortfall in announced figures
Will Chibesakunda retire next month?
The two-year contract of acting Chief Justice Lombe Chibesakunda expires next month
– with the opposition eagerly waiting to see whether or not President Sata will extend it.
The opposition believes her stay is unconstitutional due to her age beyond the official
retirement age, but that government is using Chibesakunda to control the judiciary.
High Court judges transferred
Five High Court judges, namely Dominic Sichinga, Annessie Bobo, Mubanga Kondolo,
Jane Kabuka and Flavia Chishimba, all appointed before the PF assumed power, have
been transferred from Lusaka to smaller towns, reported the Zambian Watchdog.
3 │ Ex-presidents
KK’s birthday programme
First President Kenneth Kaunda (KK) has
been on a whirlwind tour to celebrate
his 90th birthday on 28 April, complete
with numerous cakes, gifts, speeches and
grand words:
There were parties, mostly at his house
at State Lodge, but also at the Chinese
Embassy. The Mahtani Group of Companies flew in Finance Bank Chairman Rajan
Mahtani’s mother, Mohini, from the UK for
their party. She turned 90 earlier this year.
There was a special church service at the
Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka –
beamed live on national television. And
dinners, one hosted by his UNIP party,
and another official one at Government
House, led by Vice-President Guy Scott,
who called him an “icon in politics”.
President Sata issued a special birthday
statement: “We are proud, as a nation,
that even at the age of 90, when you
should be enjoying your retirement and
Installation of Zambia’s first President Kenneth Kaunda by Queen resting, you continue to advocate for
democracy, peace, equality and prosperElizabeth of the United Kingdom on 24 October 1964
ity for all. You are a true symbol of these
beliefs, not only for our great country Zambia, but Africa and the rest of the world. As
Zambians, we really count ourselves blessed that our founding father is still with us, 50
years after independence, to see the fruits of his sacrifice, selflessness and patriotism”.
KK received gifts from the US and Russian Embassies – with Russian President Vladimir
Putin (in absentia) wishing KK good health. He was joined by other world leaders, including German President Joachim Gauck, who hailed KK for “establishing a long tradition of
democratic transfer of power”.
Indo-Zambia Bank, founded by KK in 1984, also brought a gift, and its MD Shankardas
Gupta extolled KK for being a “shining example” on how to “use power to serve people”.
KK also graced several sports events, including a special football match with players from
KK 11 and the 1994 and 1996 squads, and the 21st commemoration of the plane crash in
Gabon (see page 9). He even had a scrabble tournament named in his honour.
The Lusaka Museum hosted a special photographic exhibition, and the National Heritage
Conservation Commission rehabilitated KK’s old Land Rover.
And there were various charitable projects launched in his honour, including Give a Guitar
Project as part of the 90 Minutes Helping Hand initiative. Sudanese Ambassador to Zambia Mohamed Isa Edam took time off to paint Chipata Open Community School in Lusaka
as a way of celebrating KK’s birthday.
RB in Tanzania
Former President Rupiah Banda (RB) has left for Tanzania for the 50th anniversary of the
union between the Republic of Tanganyika and the People’s Republic of Zanzibar. He
expressed gratitude to President Sata for allowing him to travel, for the second time, after
travelling to South Africa in October 2013. RB’s passport was confiscated in connection with
his arrest for corruption in early 2013, and government was initially reluctant to release it for
official business abroad. His two court cases are ongoing.
RB sues M’membe
Former President Rupiah Banda (RB) has sued Post Editor-in-Chief Fred M’membe for writing
19 defamatory and contemptuous editorials meant to influence the outcome of RB’s court
cases for corruption.
Quotes
“
If it weren’t for the Technical Committee
moving away from the terms of reference
that the PF government gave them, this
administration would have produced a
new constitution within 90 days!
PF Secretary General and Justice Minister Wynter Kambimba
blaming the Technical Committee drafting the new constitution for having caused its delay (Lusaka Times 1).
Having looked at the evidence on record
we are of the view that we proceed to
arrest Hon. G B Mwamba for the offences
of abuse of authority of office contrary to
the Anti-Corruption Act and disobedience
of statutory duty contrary to section 126
of chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia for
the breach of section 6 of the Ministerial
and parliamentary Code of Conduct chapter 16 of the Laws of Zambia because he
did not declare interest in the tender.
Letter from S.M. Tembo, Assistant Director (Legal), on behalf
of Inspector General of Police Stella Libongani, to the Director
of Public Prosecutions, dated on 17 April, leaked to the
Zambian watchdog. The police are apparently ready to arrest
former Defence Minister Geoffrey Mwamba.
The levels of political intolerance in the
country have reached unprecedented
levels such that if not checked they can
plunge the country into anarchy. The failure to investigate and/or prosecute some
known perpetrators of political violence
has led many citizens to fall victims of
political violence. Zambians now believe
that the police are not according its citizens equal protection of the law.
Recently elected president of the Law Association of Zambia
George Chisanga making one of his first public announcements (Daily Nation 26).
Secretary to the Treasury Mr Fredson
Yamba misled the nation when he said
the international investor community
has shown positive response to the
Zambian issuance of the Sovereign Bond.
The people who have taken up the bond
issue are not investors, but managers of
hedge funds or speculators, who are like
our local Kaloba traders. Their interest is
to lend out money at exorbitant interest
rate; they do not care how the money is
used. Kaloba dealers are not interested in
seeing a proper business plan. Mr. Yamba
says the economy is heading out of turbulence because of the positive response;
the response is not an indicator of an
improving economy; the response only
confirms that there are a lot of shylocks
in Europe willing to lend out money to a
desperate government anywhere in the
world.
Opposition ULP party president and prominent lawyer
Sakwiba Sikota (the Zambian Voice 26).
4 │ News
Figures:
Auditor General on parastatals
The latest Auditor General’s report on parastatals has revealed
the usual irregularities and abuse of funds. Over 30 institutions
had their 2012 accounts combed, revealing irregularities such as
non-remittance of statutory contributions (K595.2 million – up
from K417.8 million in 2011), unsupported payments (K493.7
million – up from K26.1 million in 2011) along with poor management of contracts, poor financial performance, poor infrastructure
management, poor administration of loans and advances, poor
management of pension funds, and questionable investments. A
total of 21 institutions failed to produce audited financial statements for 2012.
44 districts in need of relief food!
Deputy Minister in the Office of the Vice-President Davies Mwango
has told the Daily Mail that the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit will soon complete delivering relief food to areas in 44
districts assessed to be hit by hunger in 2014 - despite reports
of yet another maize bumper harvest. Zambia has 103 districts
including 29 created by President Sata.
No more lost samples at UTH!
Parastatals highlighted included the National Airport Corporation
Limited (NACL), which irregularly doubled the contract sum for
phase one of the construction of the international airport in Ndola
awarded to Yangts Jiang Enterprise Limited of China to K66.6 million. In addition, NACL’s board of directors visited several countries
for purposes of benchmarking – spending K861,778 – but no
report has been produced to prove that the travelling benefitted
NACL.
Government has commissioned
an electronic laboratory at the
University Teaching Hospital
(UTH) in Lusaka in an effort to
improve efficiency. The system
allows health personnel to enter patient data on a network of
computers backed by a server
which communicates with the
electronic laboratory carrying
out tests. “Late release and, at times, misplacement of laboratory
results are among the most noticeable aspects of failure in the
delivery of quality service at UTH,” noted Health Minister Joseph
Kasonde. The new data exchange system has been implemented
with the financial support of the US Center for Disease Control and
Prevention through the Association of Public Health Laboratories.
The judiciary paid 17 ghost workers salaries amounting to
K275,291 in 2012. The workers had either died, retired or were
unknown to supervisors.
Siliya sick again
Zambia Railways have apparently lost 1,510 of their 5,685 wagons
following government’s repossession of the railway in September 2012 after cancelling a concession agreement with Railway
Systems of Zambia. The report also revealed that Zambia Railways
handed over 83 coaches to Railway Systems of Zambia, but only 24
were handed back.
The director general at the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA)
received $60,000 additional donor-funded salary from May 2011 to
October 2013 without paying PAYE tax. The salary was supposed
to be donor-funded, but ZDA received no donor funds during the
audited period.
The National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) was owed K1.3
billion by 2,441 institutions as at December 2012.
The University of Zambia (UNZA) spent K540.7 million, equivalent
to 81% of its expenditure, on staff costs in 2012 – and therefore recorded a deficit of K223.9 million. UNZA’s biggest source of income
was government grants (K228.6 million) followed by tuition and
other student fees (K156.0 million).
This week’s picture
Former Transport and Communications Minister Dora Siliya (MMD)
this week had her corruption case adjourned as she is unwell. Her
lawyer told chief resident magistrate Joshua Banda in Lusaka that
doctors had prescribed three days of bed rest. Siliya stands accused
of abuse of authority of office for having cancelled a tender for the
installation of the Zambia Air Traffic Management Surveillance Radar
System (ZATM-RADAR) duly awarded to Thales Air System of France
in 2008, and for instead having accepted an offer from Selex Sistemi
Integrati of Italy for the free repair of the radar head at the international airport in Lusaka. As a result, government lost K1.94 million.
In January 2012, bad health, apparently related to a leg condition,
prevented Siliya from being interviewed by government agencies’
joint anti-corruption team over her role in the radar tender.
Huawei appeals digital TV tender
A consortium of companies has appealed against the Ministry of
Information and Broadcasting’s decision to re-award the tender for
a digital TV broadcasting system to Star Software. In September
2013, the ministry cancelled the tender, upon the recommendation of the Zambia Public Procurement Authority, but Star Software appealed, and was re-awarded the tender in March 2014. The
so-called 3Hz Alliance Consortium comprises Huawei International
Private Limited, HBC Solutions Inc. trading as Harris Broadcast, and
Harmonic International AG. 3Hz argued that it had submitted the
lowest bid and was ranked as the preferred bidder – and that their
disqualification on a technicality would cost Zambia K7.1 million. It
further pledged a reduction of 15-30 days from the submitted 237
days for the project implementation time: “This reduction must be
very important for the government to meet highly tight deadlines.
Zambia missed the regional deadline for digital migration, and is
likely to miss the 2015 global deadline,” it stated.
Woman commits suicide at Victoria Falls?
A minibus submerged in a drain along Chandwe Musonda Road in Lusaka after heavy rains
flooded large parts of Lusaka (image: the Post/Collins Phiri)
.
Carol Kanyembo, a 23-year-old student of Dambwa North Extension in Livingstone, has perhaps committed suicide by jumping
off the Victoria Falls. Reportedly she had sent text messages to her
close friends a few days beforehand saying that she would take
her own life because she was a disappointment to her parents.
She had just dropped out of the second college abroad. Police told
the media that Kanyembo was last spotted at the falls on 25 April.
However, a body has not been found, and the police therefore appealed to residents to be on the lookout for Kanyembo.
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6 │ T h i s w e e k ’s c o n t r o v e r s y
MMD’s NEC meeting illegal?
The opposition MMD party has held a national executive committee (NEC) meeting – despite a court injunction to stop it – adding fuel to the power struggle
in the former ruling party.
The party’s president Nevers Mumba and his supporters gathered to elect national secretary Muhabi
Lungu, unanimously and unopposed, as no one else
had applied. There were 37 of the 62 NEC members
present, with 9 of 10 provinces represented (see box). The anti-Mumba faction, led by the
party’s two vice-presidents, Michael Kaingu and Brian Chituwo, boycotted the meeting,
claiming that their security was at risk.
Instead they called for an extraordinary convention, alleging that the party’s current
executives had failed and therefore needed to be re-elected – and backed their call with
petitions from six provinces (Central, Luapula, Muchinga, Northwestern, Western and
a conditional one from Eastern). However, according to Mumba only the petition from
Western Province was genuine.
MMD treasurer Mwansa Mbulakulama accused the anti-Mumba faction of each having
received K50,000 from President Sata to destabilise the MMD. They replied by threatening
to sue him.
The anti-Mumba faction did go to court – but to get an injunction to stop acting national
secretary Chembe Nyangu from convening the NEC meeting. High Court Judge Eddie
Sikazwe delivered his ruling on Sunday 27 April, on the morning of the meeting, but
Mumba denied any knowledge of it:
“I have not seen that document. My colleagues have not seen that document. If my
deputy national secretary [Chembe Nyangu] has that document, he is probably the only
one who has that document,” he told the Daily Mail.
Nonsense, said Nyangu, stating that he had informed Mumba of the injunction before the
meeting. Nyangu also appeared – briefly – at the meeting, but quickly left: “Who am I to
defy the law? (...) so I have even left the meeting, because I respect the law. I don’t want
to be arrested,” he told the Post – and said that he was ready to quit, because he was “sick
and tired of this”. According to Nyangu, Mumba had told him that he would not acknowledge the injunction, as he did not know a judge who works on Sundays.
So the meeting went ahead, according to the MMD upon consultations with its lawyers,
who deemed that it could do so because no document had been physically served. Not
so, retorted the anti-Mumba faction, who, led by Kaingu and Chituwo, commenced contempt proceedings against Nevers Mumba for ignoring the injunction.
They were in turn charged with gross indiscipline: The NEC resolved to give Kaingu and
Chituwo, along with MMD spokeswoman Dora Siliya, former Solwezi MP Lucky Mulusa
and National Youth Secretary Tobias Kafumukache, 10 days to explain why disciplinary
action should not be taken against them for destabilising the MMD.
The media reported that cadres supporting the anti-Mumba faction thereafter blocked
Muhabi Lungu from entering the MMD secretariat, but this was denied by Lungu, who
explained that he simply left the secretariat after being told that four bus loads of not very
friendly MMD cadres were on their way to the secretariat.
MMD National Chairman Kabinga Pande said he would study the six petitions to assess
their “authenticity, legality and validity”.
ZCTU threatens to strike
The Zambia Congress of Trade Unions
(ZCTU) has threatened that its members
may go on strike if salary negotiations for
civil servants are further delayed. ZCTU
president Leonard Hikaumba accused government of trying to achieve an impromptu
wage freeze. In October 2013, government
reportedly ditched its planned two-year
wage freeze – after ZCTU threatened with
nationwide demonstrations. Government
also commenced the negotiations for
collective agreements for 2014 – but this
process has now stalled, according to ZCTU.
The wage freeze was proposed by Finance
Minister Alexander Chikwanda after government awarded civil servants salary increases
of up to 200%. Zambian civil servants are
currently the highest paid in the region, with
a minimum basic salary of K3,000. As a result
government will spend 52.5% of its revenue
in 2014 on public wages.
Money released for civil servants
Government has released K242 million for
civil servants’ salaries in April (K135 million);
Zambia’s diplomats’ personal emoluments
(K31 million); compensations and awards
paid by the Justice Ministry (K30 million);
and pension contributions to NAPSA (K25
million) and the Public Service Pensions
Fund (K21 million).
Everyone to be paid K3,000?
Government has apparently announced that
all employees (in the mining sector) must
be paid a minimum of K3,000: “Pursuant to
the provisions of the Industrial and Labour
Relations Act, the honourable Minister of
Labour and Social Security has directed the
Labour Commissioner to return the Collective Agreement to the parties whose lowest
gross pay is below K3,000 as obtaining in
government. (...) You are therefore required
to renegotiate the earlier positions, and if
challenged submit the reasons why your
current position of lowest gross pay cannot
be improved,” read a letter from the Labour
Ministry to “named companies”, according to
the Post. As the companies were unnamed,
it was unclear which sectors of the economy
the directive applied to, but the Post only
mentioned the mining sector in its article.
New NAPSA chairman
!
Present at the NEC meeting
Edgar Keembe (vice national chairman), Mwansa Mbulakulima (national treasurer), Winnie Zaloumis (vicenational treasurer), Joyce Musenge (chairlady international relations), Bradford Machila (chairman legal affairs),
Eustarkio Kazonga (chairman agriculture), Geoffrey Lungwangwa (chairman education), Elizabeth Chitika
Molobeka (chairlady art, culture and sport), Kenneth Konga (chairman energy), Howard Kunda (chairman youth
and child development), Matthews Jere (national youth treasurer), Suresh Desai (trustee), Maggie Musonda
(trustee), Agness Chisala (chairlady Luapula), Albert Chimwemwe (chairman Luapula), Malama Kapolyo (acting
chairman Luapula), Sydney Chisanga (acting chairman Central), Edith Nkoma Mataka (chairlady Copperbelt), Joseph Zulu (acting chairman Copperbelt), Martha Mulenga (chairlady Eastern), Alexander Miti (chairman Eastern),
Esther Malisawa (acting chairlady Lusaka), Watson Mtonga (acting chairman Lusaka), Christine Chileshe (chairlady
Northern), Stephen Mukuka (chairman Northern), Dorothy Dewe (acting chairlady Muchinga), Frank Bowa (acting
chairman Muchinga), Mary Ngoma (chairlady Southern), Oliver Pelete (chairman Southern) and some nominated
members (the Post).
Government has appointed Teddy Mulonga,
former Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet
under the MMD, as chairman of the board
of the National Pensions Scheme Authority
(NAPSA) with effect from 1 April. His predecessor, Joseph Chikolwa, was relieved, as
he is also CEO of Zambia National Building
Society.
New State Counsel
Lawyer Mumba Kapumpa has been conferred with the status of State Counsel by
President Sata.
7 │ Agriculture
Maize export allowed once again
Agriculture Minister Wylbur Simuusa has
signed a Statutory Instrument to allow
export of maize – to make room for the
2013/14 harvest. Private export of maize
and bran was suspended in October 2013
to ensure availability in Zambia.
Genetically modified crops unavoidable?
The Cotton Board of Zambia has encouraged government to embrace modern biotechnology – with precautions – to avoid being overtaken by events in neighbouring
countries. The board’s secretary, Dafulin Kaonga, suggested a two-pronged approach: He
pointed out that there is a need to improve the local capacity in biotechnology. “Once the
human resource base and infrastructure is adequate, the country will be able to develop
its own genetically modified crops,” Kaonga stated. However, he also urged government to
Swine fever in Northwestern Province pioneer other technologies such as varietal resistance and integrated pest management
to secure profitable yields even without genetically modified (GM) cotton. Kaonga worried
Swine fever has
that GM cotton may enter Zambia, no matter what, from neighbouring countries.
broken out in
Kasempa and other
parts of Northwest- Zambia has in effect had a GM ban since 2002. Back then – in the face of a food shortern Province, killing age – late President Mwanawasa rejected a shipment which partly contained GM maize
resistant to the herbicide Roundup. Government was concerned that the maize could
43 pigs belongpollute the country’s seed stock and thereby hurt its export markets. However, the Cotton
ing to 11 farmers,
Development Trust is apparently in the process of applying for permission to undertake
reported the Daily
Mail. Since November 2012, the highly
research on genetically modified cotton in Zambia.
infectious disease has affected Lusaka and
South Africa was the first African country to commercialise GM cotton, maize and soya in
Southern Provinces, with government
temporarily banning all movements of pigs the 1998, followed by Egypt and Burkina Faso. Other countries such as Kenya, Tanzania,
and pork products in Lusaka Province in an Uganda and Malawi are at varying stages on the road to commercialisation of GM crops.
In 2013, GM crops were planted on 175 million hectares globally, with GM cotton compriseffort to contain the outbreak.
ing the majority.
Borders on lookout for goat plague
The Food Agriculture Organisation (FAO)
has pumped $493,000 into the expansion
of Zambia’s livestock surveillance systems
mainly targeting Peste des Petits Ruminants
(goat plague) in border districts, reported
the Daily Mail. Goat plague is an acute
infectious disease of small ruminants such
as goats and sheep. It is prevalent in border
districts due to goats being traded and
moved a lot in these areas.
.
!
GM cotton
Genetically modified cotton was developed to reduce the heavy reliance on pesticides. The bacterium Bacillus
thuringiensis (Bt) naturally produces a chemical harmful only to some insects, and harmless to other forms of life.
The gene coding for Bt toxin has been inserted into cotton, causing cotton to produce this natural insecticide in
its tissues. Cotton has also been genetically modified for resistance to glyphosate (Roundup), an inexpensive and
highly effective, broad-spectrum herbicide. The aim is first and foremost increased yields, but proponents believe
genetically modified crops resistant to drought, pests and diseases will lead Africa to a prosperous future. Opponents point out that countries with the longest history of GM crops such as the USA only used less insecticide in
the beginning, until pests and weeds started to develop resistance. There are also reports of GM organisms crosspollinating native and non-GM plants, and inconclusive evidence on health risks associated with eating GM crops.
8 │ Crime and deaths
General Kanene gets 18 years
Musician Clifford Dimba, known
as General Kanene, has been sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment
for defiling a girl under the age of
16 in Lusaka in 2012. The girl was
13 or 14 years old, depending on
reports. High Court Judge Chalwe
Muchenga upheld the conviction
of Dimba by a subordinate court,
explaining that the sentencing
was meant to deter would-be
offenders. The subordinate court rejected Dimba’s defence that
the girl had challenged him to have sex with her in an attempt to
become his dancing queen. The judge said Dimba, 27, had taken
advantage of the naivety of a child.
... One reader of the Post pointed out that General Kanene, in his
song Chimudala Iwe, denounces defilers: “People like you are not
even supposed to be released, because you are totally, totally, an
embarrassment”.
17 years for indecent assault
Lazarus Nkhosi, a 26-year-old man of Chililabombwe, has been
sentenced to 17 years’ imprisonment for indecently assaulting a
17-year-old girl. The girl testified that she had met Nkhosi and his
friends when walking home from a funeral at night. Nkhosi had
apparently proposed love to her, but she turned down his advances, after which he and his friends had tried to rape her. A passerby
had heard her screams and alerted the police – who found Nkhosi
on top of the girl.
25 years for defilement
Marvin Mwewa of Mukuba Natwange Township in Kitwe has been
sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment for defiling a 4-year-old girl.
Mwewa, 31, told the court that he did not penetrate the girl, but
simply urinated on her, reported the Times of Zambia.
One-stop GBV centre launched
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the
UK Department for International Development (DFID) are putting
money into one-stop centres for victims of gender-based violence
(GBV) across the country. Having just launched Zambia’s eighth
centre at a health clinic in N’gombe Compound, Lusaka, the two
agencies pledged another $10.2 million, which, with the support
of the Health Ministry, will double the number of one-stop centres
from 8 to 16. The new centre is administered by World Vision
through the STOP GBV Survivor Support project. One-stop centres
are meant to ensure prompt and comprehensive services to GBV
victims offering medical, legal and psychosocial support.
Botched abortion kills woman
Perpetual Mwala, a 34-year-old woman of Kitwe, had died after trying to abort a two-month pregnancy by inserting a sharp object in
her genitals. She bled to death at Kitwe Central Hospital, reported
the Daily Mail. Mwala was helped by an unnamed friend, who has
been arrested.
.
Italian tourist deported
Bosi Evandro, 49, has been deported to Italy after being convicted
of criminal trespass. He entered Zambia in March 2014 as an ordinary visitor – but was caught taking photos of the Zambia National
Service’s barracks in Makeni, reported the Daily Mail.
Deputy minister’s daughter in court
Angela Namulambe, the 26-year-old daughter of Deputy Minister
of Foreign Affairs Gabriel Namulambe, has appeared in court facing five counts of causing death by dangerous driving, including
her daughter and her younger sister. The accident happened on
the Kafue Road in Lusaka on New Year’s Eve in 2013.
Father flees after killing children in road accident
Two women, Charity Fumpa, 26, and Joyce Kanyungula, 17, have
died, while Fumpa’s three children and two relatives were injured,
in an accident on Kisasa-Masele Road in Solwezi. The father of the
children, Fordson Kangasa, who was driving the Toyota Spacio that
overturned, is on the run.
Police officer kills himself with AK47
A 26-year-old paramilitary police officer, Christopher Zimba has
killed himself with an AK47. Zimba, of the Kamfinsa Mobile Unit,
had recently been deployed to Nambuluma Police Checkpoint in
Chinsali. Here he shot himself through the head. It was unclear
whether or not he had committed suicide, reported ZANIS.
G4S offers reward
The security company G4S has offered a K500,000 reward for
information that will lead to the arrest and conviction of offenders
involved in a theft of cash in transit at Manda Hill Shopping Mall and
to the recovery of the rest of the stolen money. On 23 April G4S collected money for banking from different companies around Lusaka,
eventually reaching MultiChoice at Manda Hill, where the driver
sped away with the cash-in-transit vehicle. Three employees have
been arrested and part of the stolen money has been recovered.
Brothers kill mum
Ethel Ngondwe has been killed by her sons, Emmanuel Katongo,
21, and Ongani Katongo, 18, who also wounded their father, Emmanuel Katongo, by stabbing him in the neck. The family lived
in Mukuba-Natwange in Kitwe. After the father managed to flee,
the two brothers drove off with their mother’s body to dump it in
Chichele Forest on the Ndola-Kitwe Carriageway. They have since
been apprehended. The crime was committed after the brothers
returned from a drinking spree, either because one of them drove
one of the family’s cars into a tree or because the brothers wanted
to grab their parent’s wealth, depending on reports. The father is
stable in hospital.
Farmer jailed for trying to sell children
John Chiinga, a 46-year-old farmer in Kapiri Mposhi, has been jailed
for 14 years, together with his son and nephew, both 29 years old,
for attempting to sell four children to a church. Reverend Boston
Daniel of the Community Church in Kabwe explained that he had
been approached by the two younger men who wanted to sell
the children due to poverty. In court they all pleaded not guilty, reported the Times of Zambia. It was not clear who the children were.
2 children shot by mistake
Allan Ngwenya, 52, has accidentally shot his 14-year-old daughter and nephew, both of them in the thigh, at a funeral house in
Mwandama Village in Mumbwa. Ngwenya had apparently fired his
pistol in the air, after which he put it in his pocket – without securing it, reported the Times of Zambia. He will be charged with two
counts of unlawful wounding. The children have been admitted to
Mumbwa District Hospital.
9 │ Sports
... in Liwewe’s own word
Last week Zambia said farewell to its iconic football commentator Dennis Liwewe. This
week, Professor of Sociology Mwizenge Tembo published an extract of Liwewe’s broadcast of one of the most important football matches in Zambia: On 23 October 1964 – the
day before Zambia gained its independence – the outgoing Brits faced the incoming
Zambians (Lusaka Times):
“
“... Good afternoon to my fellow 2 million Northern Rhodesians, who in exactly 12 hours are to break
away the shackles of colonialism and oppression to become citizens of the free, great and independent nation of Zambia. I am broadcasting from Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka on a bright sunny hot
October afternoon. The Zambian side has fielded a team that has the least experience in playing
football, as for many years the players were involved in the struggle for freedom. The British Colonial team is fielding their
best, many of whom are seasoned veterans who have played in top English football clubs...
... Peter Matoka passes the ball to Arthur Wina; Arthur Wina, the brother to Sikota Wina, passes it to Dingiswayo Banda or
“Dingi” the half back. He is challenged and loses the ball to Godwin Hunter of the British Colonials. Hunter passes the ball
to Sir Edgar Williamson, who quickly picks up momentum. The British are on the attack...
... Five minutes before the end of the first half, and the score is still 0-0. Chambarlain will take the corner kick. Zambia has
packed everybody in the penalty box. The corner kick sails above the front of the goal. Sir Roy Welensky heads the ball into
Zambia’s penalty area in a dangerous situation. Commotion in front of Zambia’s goal area... away... Sipalo clears it away in
a dangerous situation... the referee has blown his whistle; it is half time. The score is 0-0...
... Both teams are tired. It is 40 minutes into the second half, and the score is still 0-0. Here come the British Colonials again
launching an attack. Peter Matoka, Reuben Kamanga, Simon Kalulu, Simon Kapwepwe and Kenneth Kaunda are all in the
back field to repel the British attack. The dangerous left forward Alexander Chamberlain has the ball, as he is challenged
by John Mwanakatwe. It rolls out for a throw-in to British Colonials. The long throw-in lands in Zambia’s danger zone, as
the British are bombarding us with guns, tanks and the air force, and we Zambians have only bows and arrows. Striker Sir
Roy Welensky kicks the ball over the cross bar for a goal kick to Zambia. Goalkeeper Grey Zulu quickly takes the long goal
kick. The British defenders had moved to near centre field. It is a now a race between Kapwepwe and Kaunda, and the
experienced British full backs Braxton and Phillip Limestone... Kapwepwe is going... he is running with the ball on the left
flank towards the British goal, and Kenneth Kaunda is running on the right! The British defenders are left behind. Simon
Kapwepwe has only the goalkeeper Bradley Carpenter to beat. Kapwepwe passes the ball to Kaunda... it’s a G-O-A-L!!! Kenneth Kaunda, it’s a goal!!! 1-0! Kaunda is running around leaping in the air, pumping his fist, as Kapwepwe embraces him.
The team has mobbed Kaunda in a big pile of celebration [deafening noise from the crowd]...
... The referee has finally cleared the field. Two minutes to go in injury time of the greatest game ever for Zambia. The Zambians have packed everybody in defence. The referee is looking at his watch. He has blown his whistle. Zambia wins 1-0!”
One minute’s silence for Liwewe
Government allowed all MTN/FAZ week 6 Super League matches to go ahead – despite
Zambia observing a 3-day period of mourning – but all players were required to wear
black armbands and observe a minute of silence before kick-off.
Gabon plane crash victims commemorated
The 21st anniversary of the 1993 Gabon air
crash, which wiped out most of Zambia’s very
promising national football team (picture),
has been commemorated. Relatives of the
deceased reiterated calls for the release of the
official report on the plane crash. As always
government refused to cooperate: “We have
our own reasons for not circulating the report.
They [the relatives] have every reason to call
for the report, but the report will be made
available when everything is concluded,” stated
Minister of Youth and Sports Chishimba Kambwili. Zambia Sports Fans Association led the
commemoration, including a procession from Chaisa Compound to the burial site at Independence Stadium in Lusaka. Last year, the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) announced
that from then on official commemorations would be held every five years with the next
due in 2018. Government did therefore not participate – officially – but first President Kenneth Kaunda, Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda, FAZ vice-president Boniface Mwamelo
and other officials laid wreaths. The national football team was travelling to Dakar for a 1994
World Cup qualifier when its plane plunged into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Libreville
on 28 April 1993, killing all 30 on board.
Sports in brief
Nkana through to group stage
Nkana has qualified to the group stage of
the 2014 CAF Confederation Cup. The team
drew 0-0 in its first (home) leg and 1-1 in its
return (away) leg against Club Athletique
Bizertin of Tunisia, but qualified due to
its away goal. In fact, Nkana scored both
goals, including an own goal. Starting in
July, Nkana will meet eight-time African
champion Al Ahly of Egypt, 2012 Confederation Cup champion Etoile du Sahel of
Tunisia and Sewe Sport of Ivory Coast.
Zambia hosting mountain bike race
The inaugural FNB 1Zambia mountain bike
race is taking place on 1-3 May 2014. The
3-day race for teams of two covers 220 kilometres from Lilayi Lodge south of Lusaka
to Kiambi Lodge on the Zambezi River.
The Chipolopolo to meet Cape Verde
Zambia has been drawn against Cape
Verde, Niger and one more team in Group
F in the group stage qualifiers of the 2015
Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
The final team will be selected in the preliminaries between Malawi, Mozambique,
Sudan and Zimbabwe. Kalusha Bwalya,
president of the Football Association of
Zambia, told the Post that the Chipolopolo
should be “wary” of the group. The group
stage takes off in September.
Swimmers win 23 medals in Uganda
Zambia finished third at the Confederation of Aquatics Nations Association Zone
Three and Four Gala in Uganda, behind Kenya and South Africa, with its 33 swimmers
winning 2 gold, 6 silver and 15 bronze.
George Lungu back in football
The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ)
has lifted a one-year ban on Power Dynamos Vice-Chairman George Lungu, following the team’s efforts to curb hooliganism
and violence. Lungu was banned for allegedly inciting fans to beat up a referee.
Airtel Rising Stars off to Rwanda
Six Airtel Rising Stars (ARS) players (3 boys
and 3 girls) are representing Zambia at a
training camp in Rwanda conducted by
coaches from one of the giants of the English Premiership, Arsenal. The youths were
selected during the ARS national championship in Nigeria in 2013.
Zambia Weekly
Editor-in-chief: Camilla Hebo Buus
[email protected]
Mobile +260 977 461 877
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Kabili Branding
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Mobile +260 968 469 012 / 969 272 948

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