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 PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema is expected to travel to Doha, in Qatar to participate at the fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5) scheduled to take place from March 5 to 9. President Hichilema will join other LDC Heads of State and Government at the meeting which will be convened to, among other […]

By NATION REPORTER

IT is not true that the by-elections under the UPND have been violence free because        Zambians have been subjected to unprecedented levels of hooliganism under President Hakainde Hichilema’s rule, the Socialist Party has charged.

Frank Bwalya, the Socialist Party spokesperson has said his party has been the victim of thuggery, violence and hooliganism at the hands of the UPND and that President Hichilema should stop bragging that he had ended cadreism.

Mr Bwalya said it was clear dishonesty for President Hichilema to claim that by-election under his government have been violence free the Socailist Party had been a victim of the UPND homicidal violence.

Mr Bwalya said President Hichilema should not mistake the observation of the progress made in upholding national values and principles as a forum for politicking and gaining undue political mileage but should use the day to preach and propagate issues that affected Zambians.

He said Zambians were aware of the chaos and mayhem the UPND cadres caused in the Luangwa and Lukashya among other places where the country had by-elections.

Mr Bwalya said the UPND had always been a violent party that was why its cadres had continued causing terror in bus stations and markets even after its leadership had declared the end of cadreim in public places.

He said it was high time President Hichilema started talking like a national leader rather than a party president.

“There are more important things that are affecting the national values and principles that President Hichilema would have talked about than attacking political opponents in his address. Zambia has experienced unprecedented political violence under President Hichilema than at any other time. The President should therefore stop bragging of having ended cadreism because we as a Socilaist Party have been the victims of the barbarism hooliganism and political violence,” Mr Bwalya said.

Meanwhile, Mr Bwalya has said the fight against corruption under the UPND was not genuine as it was only targeting perceived political opponents.

He said the mantra of; “you are on your own” was coined to encourage methodical plundering and looting by the UPND leadership and not to fight against the vice.

Mr Bwalya said there was too much corruption that was going on in the UPND while the leadership was playing to the gallery about the fight against the vice.

He said had there been genuine fight against corruption, many of UPND members would have been arrested and arraigned before the courts of law.

EMERALD Mining Associations have accused Mines and Mineral Development Minister Paul Kabuswe of appealed to President Hakainde Hichilema to dismiss him because he (Kabuswe) has messed up the ministry of Mines.

The Emerald Mining Association says following the calls for the dismissal of two Permanent Secretaries from the Ministry within 18 months, it had become clear that the controlling officers were but sacrificed at the political altar.

Emerald Production Watch of Zambia (EPWOZ) president Musa Kafimbwa and his Emerald and Semi-Precious Stones Mining Association of Zambia (ESMAZ) counterpart Victor Kalesha said Mr Kabuswe should be fired or moved to another ministry because he had failed to deliver.

When contacted for a comment, Mr Kabuswe said in a text message: “Sorry, I cannot talk right now.” When further contacted, Mr Kabuswe claimed he had been a victim of malice from the day he was appointed.

But in an interview, the two emerald mining union leaders said President Hichilema should consider dismissing Mr Kabuswe and replace him with a corrupt-free individual because according to them, the minister was corrupt and had failed to run the Ministry.

Mr Kafimbwa, the EPWOZ president said President Hichilema should consider reshuffling his cabinet and identify and appoint individuals who would not engage in corruption but align themselves with his vision of the head of State.

And Mr Kalesha, the ESMAZ president said it was becoming increasingly worrying how Permanent Secretaries were being fired at the Ministry of Mines because it was contributing to poor performance of the mining sector.

Mr Kalesha also said the high turnover of controlling officers at the Ministry of Mines was contributing to institutional memory loss.

By NATION REPORTER

THE just signed US$577 million deal for the construction of the Ndola-Lusaka dual carriageway through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) 25 years concession agreement shall end up to be one of the biggest corruption scandals in the President Hakainde Hichilema administration, Emmanuel Mwamba has said.

Mr Mwamba has described the US$577 million road construction deal which the government says shall be done through the Public, Private Partnership as a scam which he believes shall end up as nothing but another corruption scandal.

Mr Mwamba, Zambia’s former Ambassador to Ethiopia says the PPP was a partnership between the public sector and the private sector, forged for the purpose of delivering a project or a service traditionally provided by the public sector.

Mr Mwamba has questioned the financing of the Lusaka-Ndola dual carriageway which has seen an investment of US$300 from National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA), an investment of US$100 million from the Workers Compensation Fund Control Board (WCFCB) and an investment of US$200 million from Stanbic Bank Zambia Limited

Mr Mwamba said NAPSA and WCFCB were public institutions which meant the project was a publicly funded project while the private sector was only sourcing $200 from the US$577 million cost of the works.

He said NAPSA was formed through an Act of Parliament to provide income security against the risk arising from retirement, death and invalidity with a focus on adequacy of benefits while the WCFCB was a social security scheme responsible for compensating workers in respect of accidents suffered and diseases contracted during the course of their duty.

Mr Mwamba said the purpose of entering into a PPP project was to free Government resources and provide for other urgent social needs but use the opportunity to access private-sector financing to build public infrastructure.

“The models of PPP are known but this particular one is strange, But in this case, the government has found the money through pension funds and will supplement it with a loan from a private bank,” Mr Mwamba said.

Mr Mwamba said another well-known model was where the private sector would find the investment to finance, build, and operate the project but government or the public partner would then retain ownership of the asset after expiry of the lease or concession period.

“In fact, this is what is provided for in the Public-Private Partnership (Amendment) Act No 22 of 2020,” he said.

He said under this project government would pay for the design, hire a contractor to build the infrastructure and then hand it over to a private partner to collect tolls or user fees for 25 years which makes it a scam.

And United Prosperous and Peaceful Zambia president Charles Chanda said it was disturbing that all the monies for the Lusaka-Ndola Dual Carriage Wproject were sourced from within.

“So what is the role of the private entity? Who is going to be in charge of the Toll Gates? Is it NAPSA, WCFCB or Stanbic bank? This deal is a scam and the blind are busy clapping,” Mr Chanda wondered.

“For several decades, we have tried to create electronics that mimic biology. Now we let biology create the electronics for us,” said professor Magnus Berggren at the Laboratory for Organic Electronics, LOE, at Linköping University, Sweden.

Technology has become the backbone of fleet management business in Africa. Data and telematics are key to understanding and making changes in fleets. By utilizing fleet-specific data, management can make decisions that will help their fleet succeed. We see that top fleet companies like Afrirent Fleet Management in South Africa have stood out in the region because of its  IOT (Internet Of Things) reliant operating policy.

Over the past years, the company has incorporated tech systems which include Afritracker, Fuel Management System and FleetDomain to increase efficiency in service delivery.

A quick look into Afrirent’s IOT systems, the Afritracker software offers efficient Tracking, Monitoring and Recovery of fleet assets. The Fuel Management System is automated on each vehicle and preauthorises every transaction before it takes place then captures all transaction details electronically. FleetDomain software helps manage, monitor and control fleet with real-time data; Improve operational efficiency, and gain better insight to make quick and informed decisions. FleetDomain automatically gathers data from 3rd party suppliers, providing your fleet managers with insight and enabling them to effectively manage vehicles and drivers.

“Afrirent Fleet Management’s cornerstones have always been investment in technology, relationships and extraordinary customer service. We are extremely proud of continuously building on our value driven, world-class fleet management and fleet telematics offering” said Senzo Tsabedze, Afrirent C.E

“Our fleet management software and maintenance system is packed with features and add-ons designed to simplify and streamline fleet management. Manage vehicles, drivers, equipment, fuel, repairs, rentals, finance, compliance, and a lot more” he added

Engagement with the community and a belief these forums helped the user were linked to an increase in anxiety, depression, and erectile dysfunction, the study found.

LUSAKA Magistrate Sandford Ngobola has warned former Defence Minister, Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba never to miss court or he will revoke his bail and send him to prison.

This was after the defence lawyer Bonaventure Mutale made an application to have the matter adjourned on grounds that Mwamba was unwell and had been hospitalised.

Mr Mutale submitted that Mwamba was a long term patient of high blood pressure and was admitted at Medlands Hospital in Lusaka.

“From the record it was evident that the accused during trial was once hospitalised and is currently bedridden, and is seeing the doctor at Medlands Hospital, the doctor has advised he should be on five days bed rest,” he submitted.

However, magistrate Ngobola in his ruling warned the accused person and his lawyers not to continue with such applications of adjournments.

“I’m warning the defence and also the accused, if this continues I will revoke his bail and remand him in custody,” he said.

In this matter, Mwamba pleaded not guilty to eight counts of conflict of interest, one count of money laundering and 15 counts of being in possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime.

In response to the defence’s application, the state expressed disappointment saying they hoped that the matter could progress.

“It’s a disappointment to hear this, we hoped that this matter could progress. We have been shown the sick note and indicate that the accused person is unwell, however we haven’t made any follow up but will rely on the documents presented, at the next sitting, the defence team should adequately prepare for the defence,” the state said.

When the matter came up for commencement of Defense on Monday, Mwamba through his Lawyers asked the Economic and Financial crimes court to give him time to scrutinize the exhibits before the court as he commences his defense.

Magistrate Ngobola has given Mwamba a benefit of doubt and adjourned the matter to March 16, 2023.

It is alleged in count one that Mwamba on unknown date but between December 27, 2012 and

March, 31 2013 in Lusaka, being a public officer, namely, Minister of Defence, did fail to disclose interest in writing, relating to Contract No. MPC 111-12 for the supply and delivery of General Purpose Shelter Tents for Zambia Army, valued at US$ 1,220,000.00, a transaction that concerns the Ministry of Defence, a public body.

It is alleged in count two that Mwamba on unknown date but between January 1, 2013, and July 30, 2013, in Lusaka, being a public officer, namely, Minister of Defence, did fail to disclose interest in writing, relating to Contract No. MPC 024-2013 for the supply and delivery of Military Uniforms for Zambia Army, valued at US$1,208,575.00, a transaction that concerns the Ministry of Defence, a public body.

Shedding excess pounds is challenging, but it is only half the weight loss journey. After reaching a goal weight, patients must commit to healthy eating and other lifestyle changes that will keep off the pounds.

Two cases of bird flu in Cambodia, in a girl and her father, were not spread from one to the other.