Posts in category: Uncategorized

By NATION REPORTER 

STATE House should openly respond to the expose’ that some of its staff are involved in the raging and infamous Gold and cash scandal that has so far seen the arrest and detention of five foreign nationals and four Zambians, including Shadreck Kasanda, George Mpombo has said.

As the gold and cash scandal has continued to rage, Makebi Zulu Advocates, a law firm representing Mr Kasanda has disclosed that some State House personnel are in fact deeply involved in the indignity yet the law enforcement agencies have not moved to arrest them.

And now, Kasanda’s Attorneys are demanding the withdrawal of the charges against him (Kasanda) and his immediate release or the State would have to face the temerity of the name and shame should the law firm decide to take legal action.  

Dr Mpombo, the former Minister of Defence says it was interesting that Mr Kasanda, who was currently in detention is daring the State to free him and failure to which, he would he would have no option but to make a full disclosure of the State House officials who participated in the scandal.

He said President Hakainde Hichilema had so far challenged himself that whoever would be found to have been involved in the gold and cash scandal at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, including State House staff, the law would have to take its full course.

He said there had been attempts to exonerate State House but the revelations by Makebi Zulu Advocates had exposed the cover up that no State House official was not involved in the matter.

Dr Mpombo said that the head of State should therefore upon return from South Africa tell Zambians the truth rather than skirting around the scandal in which his own staff were involved.

“I feel the powers that be need to clear the air because if they decide to keep quiet, a very bad picture will be sent. Now that it has come out that in fact some State House officials are involved in the scandal, the authorities cannot continue to maintain the silence with the hope that the matter will die away. Zambians have every reason to demand the truth from State House,” Dr Mpombo said.

Makebi Zulu Advocates, the legal firm representing Kasanda has written to the Attorney General, demanding that its client be released as failure to do so would result in their client giving full disclosure of the involvement of a State House official.

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By NATION REPORTER 

ACTIONAID Zambia says poverty levels will increase in Zambia due to the conditions placed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF)  

Speaking during the launch of the IMF analysis on austerity and fiscal policy program in the country in Lusaka yesterday, ActionAid consultant and researcher Ignitius Masilokwa said focusing on macroeconomic benchmarks had not helped in improving pro-poor outcomes, which has affected the growth of the country’s economy.

He said that while the IMF set targets for measuring results in relations to macroeconomic stability, the same could not be done for employment, poverty reduction and inequality.

Mr Masilokowa said it was clear from the foregoing that, IMF policies were not as pro-poor as perceived nor do they promote sustainable growth.

Meanwhile ActionAid Zambia interim country director Andrew Chikowore has said in pursuit of an equitable and stable development, government should resist austerity measures placed by the IMF.

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By ROGERS KALERO

KITWE Mayor Mpasa Mwaya yesterday afternoon walked out on Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development Charles Milupi during the tour of Chibuluma road after telling him that his government was exhibiting the worst form of disorganization in running the country’s affairs.

Ms Mwaya was not impressed that Mr Milupi was in her city to unveil the contractor for the Chibuluma Road without the courtesy of informing or inviting her to be part of the event as the most senior civic leader of Kitwe.

When Ms Mwaya was informed that Mr Milupi was inspecting roads in Kitwe, the Mayor decided to follow the Infrastructure Minister to find out why she had been ignored but was instead told by the government Minister her presence was not needed.

It was at this point that Mayor Mwaya decided walked out on Mr Milupi after the Minister told her that he had the right to choose which office or district he would visit and would not deliver development to, if he do wished

The Minister’s response came after Ms Mwaya bemoaned lack of engagement to her office yet the council was troubled in responding to residents’ cries, mending potholes, doing dust suppression in Chibuluma road and calming them 

Ms Mwaya, who was not informed about the Minister’s tour and was only told later by Town Clerk Patrick Kambita and decided to meet the Mr Milupi and expressed concern why her office was not informed about the Minister’s tour

Ms Mwaya asked if it was because she was from the opposition Patriotic Front (PF) that was why each time the Minister was in the district never passes through her office

But, in response, the Mr Milupi said he had the right to choose which office or district he would visit and would not deliver development if he do wished.

The response from the Minister annoyed the Kitwe Mayor who walked out on Mr Milupi but only after telling him that his government was exhibiting the worst ‘Chipante Pante’ kind of government compared to how the PF was running the country.

But, when contacted for a comment, Mr Milupi said the Chibuluma road was not a council project, but a government project and so there was no need to report to the Mayor

Mr Milupi said the new dawn government was working and the people of the Copperbelt were happy that the their government was working hard to deliver on its campaign promises

“I am surprised that the Kitwe Mayor came out the way she came out on Camera, but that is her prerogative and she can say what she wants to say. The new dawn is here to work and deliver on its campaign promises. We will not be distracted,’’ Mr Milupi said

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By NATION REPORTER 

THE Zambia Police has cancelled the Patriotic Front (PF) mass rally which should have been held tomorrow, a day after Home Affairs and Internal Security Minister Jack Mwiimbu ordered   that the mass political gathering should go ahead.

But the PF has accused Inspector General of Police Graphael Musamba of attempting to frustrate the former ruling party of holding its mass rally despite the Minister, Mr Mwiimbu having ordered that the political gathering should go ahead.

Rae Hamoonga, the Zambia Police spokesperson announced last evening that the PF political gathering in Matero’s Zingalume area would not go ahead despite Mr Mwiimbu having allowed the opposition party to proceed.

The former ruling party has expressed displeasure that Mr Musamba, whose decision to reject a notification by the PF to hold its political gathering had been overturned by Mr Mwiimbu had enganged another gear in efforts to derail the party mass rally.

PF information and publicity chairperson, Raphael Nakacinda said Mr Musamba was suggesting that the mass political gathering be postponed to the end of September, a proposal that was outside the Public Order Act (POA).

Mr Nakacinda said after the appeal to the Home Affairs Minister was successful, the PF had decided to give a notice to the police so that they could provide additional security but that Mr Musamba was unwilling to adhere to the decision of Mr Mwiimbu.

“The IG (Musamba) seems to be suggesting some security concerns that he could not articulate himself and giving the proposals that are totally outside the Public Order Act,” Mr Nakacinda said. 

He said as far as the PF was concerned, the party was proceeding with the mass rally tomorrow and any suggestion to the contrary by Mr Musamba should be within the confines of the law of a seven days’ notice.

Mr Nakacinda said the meeting with the Inspector General of Police lasted for close to two hours to iron out issues that were not within the law which the police chief was suggesting.

He said the police were not supposed to get involved in political discourse their job was just to maintain law and order.

Mr Nakacinda said by trying to stop the PF mass rally the police were trying to suggest that the UPND were the only ones who had the right to have public gatherings because they have been trotting all over  the country without the police saying anything.

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A “rock star” doctor who tested tens of thousands of people for COVID-19 in the pandemic’s early months in a badly-stricken California desert community has pleaded guilty to misbranding cosmetic drugs, authorities said Thursday.

All the fun of the Oktoberfest, without the hangover: Germans are swapping traditional beer for non-alcoholic brews, driven by health concerns and the increasing quality of booze-free options.

By RUTH  ZULU

A CONSORTIUM of civil society organisations championing the revamping of the mining industry has petitioned President Hakainde Hichilema over the sluggish progress made in revamping Konkola Copper Mine (KCM) and Mopani Copper Mine. 

The consortium is also requesting the Head of State to address the operational challenges at Kansenseli gold mine. 

A consortium member, Mr Samuel Banda, who is also Advocates for National Development and Democracy Executive Director, says this is in the interest of creating job and business opportunities for the local people. 

“Fellow citizens, as a consortium that has been advocating for the resumption of the mining sector, we have petitioned President Hakainde Hichilema to unlock the mining sector, but particularly Konkola Copper Mines and Mopani Copper Mine. 

“We have also requested our Republican President in our petition to address the operational challenges at Kansenseli Gold Mine. We must make it clear that in our petition, we have requested the President to unlock KCM in the interest of creating employment and business opportunities for our people. 

“The government must also ensure that KCM pays off the debts it owes suppliers and contractors. As you may be aware, that both KCM and Mopani  owes some contracted suppliers around US$200 million and these two giant mines can only clear off these debts when they begin to operate at optimum level,” he said.

And Zambians for Unity Peace and Development President Ronnie Jere says the consortium has resorted to petitioning the Head of State after seeing that all engagements with the Minister of Mines have proved futile.

Mr. Jere is confident that President Hichilema will resolve this matter.

“We have decided to do that because we have tried other avenues of engaging the Minister of Mines but our engagements have not received any positive results. We have resorted to engage His Excellency because we know that he will help us to resolve these issues based on his previous experience in sorting out issues such as this,” he says.

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Middle-aged adults with three or more unhealthy traits, including slightly high waist circumference, blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose have heart attacks and strokes two years earlier than their peers, according to research presented at ESC Congress 2023.

Researchers urge governments to raise the legal age to purchase cigarettes to 22 years or higher as study finds it becomes less addictive and easier to quit as people get older. The research is presented at ESC Congress 2023.

PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has commended Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) for laying critical platforms for African regional blocks to discuss matters meant to enhance cooperation and development. He says the development models pursued by individual BRICS economies to emerge as ‘Emerging Developing Economies’ are valuable lessons that are worth reviewing. The Head […]