Posts in category: Uncategorized

By ROGERS KALERO

THE  Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) General Secretary Changala Siame has said the mining sector, has under the watch of Mines and Mineral Development Minister Paul Kabuswe, plunged into the depth of darkness, littered with illegal mining, licensing irregularities, plummeting copper production and never ending environmental degradation.

Mr Siame said the EFF condemns the mismanagement of the mining sector because it has ushered in a dark era of economic decline, saying the mining sector should be a beacon of prosperity and stability, not a vortex of turmoil that suffocates the hopes and dreams of our people.

He said in an interview in Kitwe yesterday that from the time the UPND took over the government, Copper production has plummeted from 800,000 metric tonnes in 2021 to 700,000 metric tonnes in 2022.

Mr Siame said, apart from the mining sector plunging into the depth of darkness, there was nothing significant which was happening in other sectors which Zambians can point to, other than, the worsening poverty and hunger in communities.

Mr Siame said, the unresolved issues surrounding Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) and Mopani Copper Mines (KCM) have only served to compound the struggles faced by individuals and businesses on the Copperbelt where the two mining  companies have been contributing significantly to the economy of the province

He said the decline in economic activity has torn through crucial aspects of the society, shaking the Chisokone market in Kitwe to its core, saying the absence of a vibrant mining sector has fuelled a cycle of non-payment, escalating levels of poverty, and limited economic opportunities that continue to suffocate the communities

He said it was difficult to believe that Vedanta Resources Plc which almost run down the giant KCM will come and recapitalise the mine and be able to motivate the miners through proper remuneration and better conditions of service.

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By GRACE CHAILE

THE Court of Appeal has upheld the acquittal of former Ministry of Health head of procurement Wilson Lungu of corruption allegations in connection with the Honeybee drugs scandal.

The appellant court in its judgement said the Economic and Financial Crimes Division-High Court had no jurisdiction to reverse the acquittal of Mr Lungu.

This is according to a judgement rendered by a three-judge panel of Mr Chalwe Mchenga, Mr Kelvin Muzenga and Ms Yvonne Chambe.

Justice Muzenga, who delivered the decision of the court said the High Court fell in grave error when it exercised jurisdiction that it did not have as jurisdiction is granted by law and cannot be acquired.

“The learned court below preoccupied itself with the propriety of the appellant’s acquittal and ended up bequeathing itself jurisdiction which it lacked. 

Whether the acquittal is irregular, improper, uncalled for or null and void is not an issue in which the High Court exercising powers of review may declare or pronounce itself on,” he said.

The court held that if the State were dissatisfied with Mr Lungu’s acquittal, they should have appealed.

“Having allowed the appeal, we accordingly set aside the ruling of the court below. The appellant’s acquittal remains undisturbed and as things stand, he cannot be prosecuted for the offence for which he was acquitted,” he said.

Brief facts to the matter are that Mr Lungu was jointly charged with five others with one count of willful failure to follow applicable law or procedure guidelines contrary to Section 34(2) (b) of the Anti-Corruption Act in the awarding of the US$17 million contract to Honeybee Pharmacy for the supply and delivery of 22, 500 Health Centre Kits.

On January 19, 2021, Lusaka lawyer, Joseph Chirwa filed a criminal complaint against Mr Lungu, former Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya and others in the Lusaka Magistrate Court. However, the complaint was withdrawn the same day. Following the withdrawal of the complaint, the accused were acquitted.

The State contested the acquittal contending that it was irregular considering the manner in which it was entered and the case was referred to the High Court.

The High Court found that the order of acquittal was a nullity as no plea was taken and consequently no criminal proceedings had been instituted.

Mr Lungu appealed against the decision in the Court of Appeal and argued that the High Court had no jurisdiction to review the proceedings under Cause No. 2SPD/027/2021 notwithstanding the fact that there was an order of acquittal in those proceedings.

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By MICHAEL MIYOBA

GREEN Buffaloes Women’s Football Club snatched their first win at the ongoing 2023 CAF Women’s Champions| COSAFA qualifiers after edging Ntopwa FC of Malawi 1-0 in a Group A fixture played at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Durban, South Africa.

A first half goal from striker Maweta Chilenga gifted the Nyanta girls the victory as they seek to defend the regional title to qualify for the CAF Women’s Champions League.

Buffaloes. who started the regional tournament with a 1-1 stalemate against Namibian champions Double Action had dominated the match from the first whistle and created numerous chances.

The Zambian champions however struggled to convert the chances into goals as they settled for a narrow 1-0 win over the Malawian champions.

Buffaloes first attempt on goal came in the seventh minute when Agnes Phiri tried her luck with an attempt which went wide.

Midfielder Joana Benaya’s tried her luck with a shot which hit the crossbar in the 18th minute.

Four minutes before the half hour mark, Chilenga broke the deadlock after benefitting from Agness Phiri’s assist.

Buffaloes could have doubled their advantage in the 28th minute when Salome Phiri came close from close range but sent her effort wide.

In the second half, Buffaloes coach Carol Kanyemba brought in Lubasi Pumulo and Bwalya Namute Chileshe for Maweta Chilenga and Agnes Phiri while Salome Phiri and Maylan Mulenga paved way for Siomala Mapepa and Comfort Selemani.

Despite having dominated ball possession, Buffaloes continued to misfire to settle for a 1-0 win which propelled them to four points, on par with Double Action who stunned Lesotho Defence Force 1-0 in a lunchtime kickoff.

Buffaloes will now face Lesotho Defence Force in their final group fixture while Ntopwa FC will take on Double Action in the last group game.

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royalties 

CHIEF Simamba of Siavonga has bemoaned the fact that traditional leaders cannot always negotiate favourable terms for their chiefdoms when it comes to mineral royalties with mining companies conducting operations in their areas.

The traditional leader has suggested that once constitutional reforms begin, Government should consider adding a clause that compels mining investors in rural areas to pay royalties to local chiefdoms, instead of leaving it to negotiations.

Chief Simamba said traditional leaders in many cases have no choice but to accept what the mining companies are ready to offer, because the constitution does not compel them to give to the chiefdoms.

He said in many cases, chiefs find it difficult to convince investors to plough back the profits from their operations, leaving chiefdoms poor despite producing resources that are enriching the investors.

Chief Simamba said the challenge is that there is no law that empowers the chiefs to get royalties from the companies, making it difficult to negotiate with investors on behalf of the people.

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By SANFROSSA MBERI

IT is with sad reading that we see pump prices being hiked in the midst of various challenges affecting the public, the Bus and Taxi Owners Association of Zambia (BTOAZ) in Chingola has said.

BTOAZ Chingola district chairman Nedy Munyenyembe said fuel price was the determining factor to the shelf price of many essential house hold commodities among others mealie meal, cooking oil and sugar.

Mr Munyenyembe said Zambia, being a consuming country was mainly dependant on imports of almost all daily needs which were transported by road to all parts of the country.

“The increase of fuel prices, and indeed the monthly price review of fuel is a negative factor to planning and budgeting not only for business houses, but also for households. With the unstable pump prices, it entails unstable prices of goods and services hence, inconveniencing the budgeting pattern of already suffocating families,” Mr Munyenyembe said.

Mr Munyenyembe said the association had a lot of pending issues that had not been addressed ranging from piracy, undesignated loading points, high taxes and RTSA rates as well as high cost of spare parts.

He said the cost of doing business in the transport sector has become very challenging and unpredictable, a trend that has seen many of their colleagues run out of business.

He added that the association’s desire was to see the government through the Ministry of Energy and Energy Regulation Board find a lasting solution to stabilise the pump prices.

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By ROGERS KALERO

ZAMBIANS must make sure that the UPND is ejected from government in the 2026 elections because its mediocre leadership has no heart for the majority poverty-stricken Zambians and will stop at nothing to serve the interests of imperialists while Zambians continue to wallow in poverty and hunger,”  Munalula Moola has said.

Mr Moola, the Patriotic Front (PF) Copperbelt Spokesperson, said the decision by the UPND government to abolish the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) because of its failure to manage the programme was a clear indication of mediocre leadership and also lack of concern for vulnerable, but viable farmers.

In an interview in Kitwe yesterday, Mr Moola said the decision to abolish the FISP by the New Dawn administration had clearly shown that unlike the PF, the Hakainde Hichilema government was not a pro-poor government and does not care about the majority poverty stricken Zambians.

“It appears that this government just wakes up and makes a decision without thinking about it. The issue of abolishing FISP goes to show that unlike the PF, the UPND is not a pro-poor government and does not care about the majority poverty stricken Zambians. This is why Zambians must ensure that the UPND is ejected in the 2026 elections,” Mr Moola said.

Mr Moola said in the two years of the UPND in government , the majority poverty stricken Zambians have nothing to celebrate about their decision to replace the Patriotic Front (PF) with the UPND because poverty and hunger has continued to worsen with the price of mealie meal sky-rocketing.

Mr Moola said apart from the worsening poverty and hunger, the UPND has continued to exhibit arrogance, dictatorial tendencies and lack of regard for the majority stricken Zambians who are now regretting their decision to replace the PF and Edgar Chagwa Lungu (ECL) with the UPND and President Hakainde Hichilema. 

He said, under the UPND government, Zambians have seen the country being given to multinational companies which were being supported by the Western  countries. 

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By BUUMBA CHIMBULU

ZAMBIA has been elected Chair of the Communications Regulators’ Association of Southern African (CRASA) Economic Regulation Committee.

The country will be represented by the Zambia Information and Community Technology Authority (ZICTA).

This development took place in Lusaka recently at the just ended Committee Meeting, says Hanford Chaaba, ZICTA Manager Corporate Communications in a statement yesterday.

Mr Chaaba said these elections were a clear mark of confidence the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has on Zambia’s ICT and Postal regulator, ZICTA. 

He said as chair and vice chair of the Economic Regulation Committee and Consumer Committee respectively, Zambia would be in position to influence regional ICT and postal development for the next five years.

“The election of Zambia (through ZICTA) to chair the Economic Regulations Committee of the Southern African Development Community regional Association of Postal and ICT regulators comes barely a month after Zambia was elected Vice Chair of Association’s Consumer Committee.

“This means ZICTA will chair the CRASA Economic Regulation Committee, and Vice Chair the CRASA Consumer Committee for the next five years,” Mr Chaaba said.

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By BUUMBA CHIMBULU  

THE Lusaka Multi Facility Economic Zone (LS-MFEZ) has announced the conclusion of a K38 million LED light bulb manufacturing plant facility to be hosted in the area by Techmasters Zambia Limited.

According to the LS-MFEZ Corporate Affairs Manager Alice Schultz, the project was expected to create about 500 direct and indirect jobs over three years.

Ms Schultz said the project was also expected to manufacture 1,170,000 energy saving LED light bulbs for both local and export distribution.

“LSMFEZ has concluded an investment with Techmasters Zambia Limited who intend to set up an energy saver LED light bulb manufacturing facility within the LS MFEZLS MFEZ is set up to diversify the Zambian Economy, create jobs and wealth for the Country.

“The investment will contribute to the LS MFEZ growing investment portfolio currently at a total of US$1.5 billion, accounting for 101 approved companies and above 30,000 jobs,” she said in a statement.

LS-MFEZ, she said, would continue to make our Country the hub for manufacturing, taking advantage of its convenient position in SADC and surrounded by eight neighbouring Countries. 

Ms Schultz pointed out that the growing industrialisation and electrification rate in Africa created a unique opportunity for Techmasters to expand its initial investment and cover the market deficit. 

She announced that the LSMFEZ had plans to accommodate hardware stores and other commercial as well as residential developments which would require LED lighting. 

According to her, this provided a ready market for Techmasters. 

“For the next 24months the LS MFEZ wishes to focus on operationalization of all investors allocated land within the industrial area, development of its residential area and operationalization of its CBD and Eco-Green Park. All this will aid the influx of residents and operationalize the town in creation. 

“We take this opportunity to encourage Zambians to explore these opportunities and take up their space within the LS MFEZ before land in its various quotas is fully exhausted,” she said.

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From the early stages of cell mutations starting in puberty to their manifestations as breast cancer in later years, the entire process has remained shrouded in mystery.

By GRACE CHAILE

FORMER President Edgar Lungu’s son, Daliso Lungu, has asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Court (EFCC) to set aside the proceedings in which the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is seeking an order for the forfeiture of his 48 motor vehicles valued at K23 million and real estate properties to the State.

This is a matter in which the DPP, Mr Gilbert Phiri, filed a notice of motion for a non-conviction forefeiture to the State of the properties belonging to Mr Daliso Lungu and his company, Saloid Traders Limited, allegedly believed to have been acquired through proceeds of crime.

But Daliso’s lawyer, Isaac Simbeye of Messrs. Malisa and Partners Legal Practitioners has filed an affidavit in support of summons to set aside originating process for irregularity and to expunge paragraphs of the affidavit for noncompliance with mandatory rules of Court.

Mr Simbeye contended that the “originating notice of motion” filed into court by the DPP substantially suffered from the prescribed originating notice of motion both in form and substance.

He noted that the purported document notice of motion’ does not have the words “Republic of Zambia” nor “Originating Notice of Motion” among other irregularities.

“That the present application is launched seeking an order that the entire process commenced by the DPP be set aside for irregularity and that the cited paragraphs of the affidavit and the uncertified exhibits be expunged for violating mandatory rules of court guiding the preparation of affidavits,” he submitted.

Mr Simbeye contended that should the court find that the document completely departs from the prescribed form, it lacked jurisdiction due to wrong mode of commencement. 

He said in the alternative, should the court find that the non-compliance with the prescribed form from originating notice of motion on the part of the DPP was a mere irregularity, then it should be ordered that it is set aside for irregularity.

Hearing of the application is set for October 25, 2023.

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