Friendly not possible

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THE Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) says it is impossible for the Zambia national team to engage in an international friendly match to prepare for this month’s back to back Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Lesotho.

Zambia will host Lesotho on March 23 at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola before traveling for the reverse fixture which will be played in South Africa on March 26.

FAZ President Andrew Kamanga said the Chipolopolo would have had an international friendly match before facing Lesotho but there is no window which would make it impossible to have the players before the requisite FIFA sanctioned period.

Kamanga however noted that the country stand to benefit from the quality of foreign based players when the international window opens.

He said the technical bench led by Avram Grant has been doing a lot of work in the background that gives the association confidence that the Chipolopolo will turn out good during the crucial assignments. Kamanga hinted that the Chipolopolo will enter camp after the ABSA Cup quarter finals clashes scheduled for next weekend.

“The ABSA Cup draws were conducted last week cementing a 16-year relationship. We have exciting fixtures lined bigger prizes announced by the sponsor. We cannot thank ABSA Bank enough alongside other partners like SuperSport for their continued support to the game. The ABSA Cup will culminate into the Chipolopolo camp ahead of our back-to-back engagements against Lesotho,” Kamanga Said.

Meanwhile, Kamanga has urged FAZ Provincial Leaders to understand their roles to fully benefit from decentralization. “Under the current FAZ structure, power has been taken right to the provinces and without a proper understanding of their role, it will be very difficult for the provincial leadership to fully benefit from decentralization,” Kamanga said. “You cannot be crying about selection of national team players when you have an opportunity to participate through your representatives. At least all the 10 provinces have FIFA trained youth friendly coaches that are tasked with the responsibility of helping identify and recommend talent to our various national teams.  We expect that this opportunity will be better utilized going forward,” he said.

Kamanga said it is understandable that football leadership in some circles is still understood to only reside in Lusaka when football administration has been taken right in the provinces following the decentralization of the game.

“We cannot talk about football development without taking on board the provincial bodies,” Kamanga said.

Mundubile bedevils people wishing death for Judge Muma

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By NATION REPORTER

IT is evil and less than human for any Zambian to maliciously scandalize and demonise Mongu High Court Judge Wilfred Muma by insinuating that he had attempted to commit suicide by throwing himself into the Zambezi River, the Patriotic Front (PF) has said.

Mundubile bedevils people wishing death for Judge Muma

Brain Mundubile, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament has since called on Zambians to respect judges, as the Judiciary was ‘The Third Estate’ in the governance of the country. Mr. Mundubile, a PF Presidential Candidate, said as a result of false speculations that Mongu High Court Judge, Wifred Muma had attempted to commit suicide, his family had been heavily stigmatized while those wishing the Judge the worst were smiling with glee.

 He said even before Judge Muma had been confirmed dead, some Zambians through some rogue online publications had already started celebrating, an indication that there was something amiss about the whole suicide farce.

“As a people, we have to think deeply around this because it has raised a lot of suspicion because there are people that were very sure that Judge Muma would be found dead somewhere. They started celebrating with nihilistic malice his death before he was confirmed dead. Even As I speak, they are not happy that Judge Muma is alive and they have continued demonizing him on their rogue media platforms,” Mr Mundubile,” said.

Mr. Mundubile said some sections of society were sure of Judge Muma had committed suicide and went to town making ugly jokes about him.

Recently, Mongu High Court Judge Wilfred Muma is alleged to have been rescued from the Zambezi River after what police described as attempted suicide.

“As a legal practitioner, I feel duty bound to comment on stories surrounding Judge Muma. This whole matter should have been handled better starting with investigations. We are not dealing with an ordinary person but a Judge of the High Court,” Mr Mundubile said.

Mr. Mundubile said Judge Muma was an individual, who on behalf of the State could have convicted a number of dangerous criminals making the State duty bound to give him protection at all times.

“If at all the allegations against this individual who at the same time is a judge, there is a way that such matters can be handled so that should he be found innocent. He should be able to assume his position and discharge his functions with diligence and respect from those appearing before him,” Mr Mundubile said.

Mr. Mundubile said from the way that the matter had been handled, it was clear Judge Muma had already been judged and found guilty.

“It is as if those that are handling his matter believe that he would not go back to the bench and practice law. We are at a time when we have to respect the Judiciary of Zambia,” he said.

Mr. Mundubile called on stakeholders to respect judges because of the distinguished role     they play in upholding Zambia’s Constitutional Democracy.

“We were surprised to wake up to the news that Judge Muma had committed suicide. The source of that information was very strange especially to us that are close to him. We wondered where that source of information was coming from. To date, we don’t know where that source of information came from. That has raised a lot of suspicion,” he said.

Mr. Mundubile added that, this was a scheme to intimidate Judges to erode their independence and impartiality in the discharge of their functions.

“We expect that government will take it up seriously to institute investigations and explain to Zambians why there was falsehood that has continued to torment Judge Muma and his family. If at all the investigative wings would get to the bottom of this to know why some people would want to harm Judge Muma,” he said.

Promotion of LGBTQ an abomination, say Council of Bishops

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THE Bishops Council of Zambia (BCZ) says it is an abomination to be having demonstrations to promote Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) rights in a Christion nation.

And the Pentecostal Assemblies of God (PAOGZ) General Secretary, Reverend Brian Bwalya has condemned the protest match that took place on Saturday in which a gay agenda was revealed.

BCZ general secretary, Abel Kaela said it was unacceptable for The Sistah Sistah Foundation Zambia to stage a protest that promotes LGBT a week after the president addressed the nation on national values and principles.

He said the LGBT was not only against Christian values but also against the constitution of Zambia.

“What happened is tantamount to provoking God on purpose with impunity, provoking God will attract calamity upon this land,” he said.

Bishop Kaela said it was disturbing to see videos of the protesters being escorted by the police, the people who are charged with the responsibility to enforce the law.

He said there were powerful people who were behind advancing such evil schemes that were pushing the people who protested power to do so. Bishop Kaela said this country has always been spared from natural disasters that affect the region because of upholding Christian values but if God turns his back on Zambia because of the filthiness people were promoting. “According to the scriptures LGBT dirty and unacceptable and those who support it will fall into the wrath of God,” said Bishop Kaela.

He has challenged the government to take action against the organizers of the protest including the police officers who were giving them protection.

Bishop Kaela said this must be stopped before it gets out of hand and the government must exonerate itself by taking action against the people who were pushing this agenda forward. 

And Pentecostal Assemblies of God (PAOGZ) General Secretary, Reverend Brian Bwalya has condemned the protest match that took place on Saturday in which a gay agenda was revealed.

Bishop Bwalya stated that it was highly deceitful for the organizers to purport that the march was about a different cause but allow it be hijacked by gay activists and elements.

Bishop Bwalya said the organisers had a duty to ensure that the purpose of the march was not lost of hijacked as disclosed by the parameters of the Police Permit. He also expressed shock that the match was supervised and policed by the Zambia Police officers who allowed it to descend into illegalities. Reverend Bwalya wondered why the Police did not stop the march after it descended into misconduct and vulgar language being sung and the display of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Queer (LGBTQ) material.

Minimally invasive mitral valve repair reduces hospitalizations and deaths

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In patients with heart failure and a poorly functioning heart valve, a minimally invasive procedure using a clip to repair the valve was safe, cut the rate of hospitalizations for heart failure by 47% and reduced deaths from any cause by almost 30% after five years of follow-up, according to a study presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session Together With the World Congress of Cardiology.