Posts in category: Uncategorized

By ROGERS KALERO

THE Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development Safety Department must carry out a serious forensic audit at JCHX Chambishi Mine to establish whether the company has been following the mine safety regulations following the number of accidents which have resulted in fatalities in the last three months,’ Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) General Secretary George Mumba has said.

Surgeons have performed the world’s first transplant of an entire human eye, an extraordinary addition to a face transplant—although it’s far too soon to know if the man will ever see through his new left eye.

By GRACE CHAILE

MURDER suspect Nalukui Akafekwa made a confession statement to the Police that he killed 10-year-old Chikondi Banda by hitting him on the back of the head with a stone.

By NATION REPORTER

THE Democratic Christian (DCP) Party has joined the calls for Speaker of the National Assembly Nelly Mutti to resign on moral grounds for abrogating the constitution.

THERE are signs that farmers in some parts of the country should brace themselves for another harrowing season in which they are not likely to get some of the agricultural inputs in time.

This is not being fair to the farmers who had hoped that the difficulties associated with the procurement of fertiliser in the last farming season had been ironed out.

At least, that is what the nation was made to believe, that the delivery of fertiliser this time around “would be like a walk in the park.”

What is clear now is that the nation has obviously been taken for a ride, that the delivery of fertiliser will be another nightmare for farmers.

What is even more unacceptable is that Government is solely responsible for the mess pertaining in the agriculture sector.

Government has taken the role of identifying and picking companies that should procure and distribute fertiliser as opposed to leaving the field open to competitors and letting the best and most competitive bidder win the contracts.

The tendering process for fertiliser this year has been a scam in which tenders were floated publicly and cancelled abruptly without convicincing reasons.

The only explanation was that the government wanted only “friendly” companies to be involved in the bidding process even when they did not have the capacity to deliver.

The politicisation of the tendering process has again taken centre-stage with the so-called successful bidders struggling to cope.

Early this week, Chama North Member of Parliament Yotam Mtayachalo disclosed that farmers in Eastern Province had been marooned in their repective districts waiting to collect their fertiliser.

The farmers are being made to lose valuable time camping at the fertiliser depots to wait for the commodity.

Government was expected to have learnt valuable lessons  from the chaotic manner in which the fertiliser distribution programme was done.

The nation is again experiencing some companies contracted to supply fertiliser failing to meet the deadlines as contained in their contracts.

The Ministry of Agriculture has for the 2023/2024 farming season awarded eight companies contracts to supply, deliver and distribute Urea fertiliser on the Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Muchinga, North-Western, Western, Northern and Southern provinces.

The eight included Bestmead, Agrizam, Agrotrade, Kovenant, Greenfield Commodities, Portland Commodities ETG Input Zambia and Alpha Cpmmodities after back and forth cancellation of tenders.

But as of this week, after the lapse of the  October 31 dealine for delivery and distribution, Agrizam is for example yet to meet its contractual obligations, a repeat of what had transpired last farming season.

And like history repeating itself, Government last farming season, had ordered Agrizam Investment Limited to quicken the process of delivering fertiliser in full by November 30, 2022 as stipulated in the supply contract after the company had failed to meet the dealine.

Will the Ministry of Agriculture go through the process again and send reminders?  It appears as though experience is not the best teacher in this instance and that is unacceptable.

Farmers deserve better service delivery.

By VITA BANDA

LUKASHYA Member of Parliament, George Chisanga, says Patriotic Front (PF) MPs have agreed not to recognise Mafinga Member of Parliament Robert Chabinga as Leader of Opposition in Parliament.

By MICHAEL MIYOBA

CHIPOLOPOLO striker Lameck Banda scored a crucial equalizer as Lecce came from behind to secure a 2-2 draw against Italian giants’ AC Millan in the 12th round of the Italian Serial A at Stadio Ettore Giardiniero, in Lecce Italy.

The stalemate was a big blow to AC Millans title hopes as they maintained third position with 23 points.

Milan had commanded play as Olivier Giroud and Tijjani Reijnders got their names on the scoresheet to give them a two-goal lead inside 40 minutes.

However, Lecce scored twice in quick succession to shock the Italian giants who had to finish the game with ten men after Giroud was handed a red card in the dying minutes of the game.

After conceding two goals in the first half, Lecce were almost back into game immediately when Strefezza got in behind Theo Hernandez and rolled a pass across the face of goal where Banda was waiting, the Zambian was however denied by Maignan who made a ridiculous reaction save.

Lecce launched their comeback through Nicola Sansone who bundled the ball into the back of the net after benefiting from a corner that was poorly defended.

Three minutes later Banda punished AC Millan with a well-executed strike after benefiting from a quick counter attack before curling the ball far right with his left foot.

In the dying minutes of added time, Lecce thought they had scored what seemed to be the winner through Roberto Piccoli who stunned AC Millan with a long-range goal with his right foot.

The goal was however rejected after VAR reviewed that Piccoli committed a foul before unleashing sublime strike.

Despite Lecce having been denied what would have been a perfect winner, Banda will feel rejuvenated as he is set to join the Chipolopolo squad that will host Congo Brazzaville in the first 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier slated for November 17 at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.

By LUCY PHIRI

LUSAKA Magistrate Chrispin Hampungani has found a 28-year-old judiciary employee, Precious Nkunika and four others with a case to answer in a matter they are accused of stealing and harbouring of a child contrary to the laws of Zambia.

…as Nkwazi fly to second after overcoming Forest Rangers 

By MICHAEL MIYOBA

RED Arrows reclaimed top spot on the MTN Zambia Super League table after humiliating Green Buffaloes 4-1 in an electric military derby played at Sunset Stadium in Lusaka.

A brace from Ricky Banda and goals apiece from veteran James Chamanga and Alasan Diara in the week-12 fixture propelled the Airmen to 22 points on the log where they dislodged Kabwe Warriors.

Banda broke the deadlock 18 minutes after kick off before Diara doubled the lead six minutes after the half hour mark in the first stanza as Red Arrows enjoyed a 2-0 lead at half time.

The Airmen continued to dominate the game in the second half and almost snatched their third but were unfortunate as Sadam Phiri hit the cross bar in the early stages of the game.

Chamanga made things worse for Buffaloes when he grabbed Red Arrows third goal a minute after the hour mark. 

Speedy winger Golden Mashata came close to pulling one goal back for Buffaloes with an exciting bicycle kick which went over the bar in the 68th minute.

Banda completed his brace with a goal in the 82nd minute as the Airmen run riot. In the last minute of regulation time, Mwenya Edward scored Arrows fifth goal but his celebrations were cut short as the goal was ruled out for offside.

In the third minute of added time, Buffaloes were able to get their consolation goal through Chandwila Joseph.

In the second fixture of the double header, a sensational lone strike from captain Charles Zulu gifted Zanaco FC the victory as they edged Kansanshi Dynamos 1-0.

The win pushed Zanaco to fifth on the Super League table with 18 points while Kansanshi maintained 13th position with 12 points.

Meanwhile, Ndola giants Zesco United moved to second on the log after beating Mutondo Stars 2-1 in a tightly contested match at Arthur Davies Stadium in Kitwe.

Two second half goals from Lazarus Kambole and Enock Sakala guaranteed the win for the visitors.

High Flying Nkwazi FC flew to third on the log after coming from behind to beat Forest Rangers 2-1 at Dola Hill Stadium in Ndola.

Peter Mwangeni cancelled out Moyela Libamba’s eighth minute goal for Forest Rangers before Mathews Mashiliko scored the win for Nkwazi to move to 22 points on par with Arrows and Zesco who have healthier goal differences. 

At Godfrey Chitalu Stadium in Kabwe, Green Eagles handed “Magnificent” Kabwe Warriors their second consecutive loss coming out 1-0 winners thanks to Fred Michael’s first half goal.

FC Muza and Konkola Blades shared the points after a goalless draw at Nakambala Stadium in Mazabuka.

Today’s Super League action will see 13-time league champions Nkana and Power Dynamos facing off in the much-anticipated Kitwe derby at Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka while “Mighty” Mufulira Wanderers will host Napsa Stars at Shinde Stadium.

By LUCY PHIRI

A UNIVERSITY of Zambia student has appeared in court for allegedly trafficking in 3.8 kilograms of cannabis without lawful authority.