30 Oct 2015, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania — Tanzania’s President elect John Pombe Magufuli addresses members of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi Party (CCM) at the party’s sub-head office on Lumumba road in Dar es Salaam, October 30, 2015. Tanzania’s ruling party candidate, John Magufuli, was declared winner on Thursday of a presidential election, after the national electoral body dismissed opposition complaints about the process and a demand for a recount. The election has been the most hotly contested race in the more than half a century of rule by the Chama Cha Mapinduzi Party, which fielded Magufuli, 56, a minister for public works. REUTERS/Sadi Said — Image by © SADI SAID/Reuters/Corbis

Tanzania President Magufuli has banned all senior public officials from using fuel guzzling 4 x 4 cars and other luxury cars, ordering that all those cars in be seized and sold in a public auction and the money used to provide public goods and services.

The president further ordered that all ministers, chief justices, ambassadors and senior state officials must be supplied with a choice of Probox, Passo, Platz, Vitz , duet or any car that is less than 1400CC.

This move is likely to cause a lot of public anxiety in a country where Magufuli has become a national ‘sweetheart’ for his austerity measures and revolutionary ideas that seems to have eclipsed even opposition.

“This is a public service not a gravy train. Anybody who came here to make riches should quit and join the private sector. All ministers and senior statehouse officials are here to work not to seek obscene opulence. I don’t want to see them drive those big cars (4X4 guzzlers), if anyone insist please let them go buy their own cars, we (the government) shall fuel for them. To build this country like I promised during campaigns, we must make sacrifices and that includes sacrificing those unnecessary comforts for the small cars. I have ordered the police to impound any such big cars rode by state officials on the road & those officials be prosecuted. We are not here to rob the average Tanzanian but to make his life better. This is the reason I skipped the AU heads of state meeting in Addis and sent Mama Suluhu ( Dep President)” noted Magufuli shortly in down town Dar-Es-Salaam on a working trip.

A spot check by spectator news desk reveals that whereas other presidents traveled to the AU summit, Tanzania was represented by its deputy president Ms Suluhu Hassan.

It will be remembered that Magufuli has also banned use of presidential red carpets.

However this latest move is likely to ignite a hubbub in neighboring Kenya where even governors huge convoys and other senior state officials use huge fuel guzzling convoys.

Government has closed the University of Zambia (UNZA) Great East Road campus and the Copperbelt University (CBU) indefinately.

Higher education minister Michael Kaingu announced the closure of the country’s two highest learning institutions at a media briefing in Lusaka this afternoon.

Dr Kaingu noted that the situation at UNZA Great East Road Campus and CBU in Kitwe has deteriorated to levels posing a threat to life and property, adding that the criminal behavior by students and “known opposition activists” has forced Government to take decisive steps to restore law and order.

He stated that all students are expected to leave the two main campuses by midnight tonight.

Dr Kaingu said the only students exempted from the closure are those from the school of medicine Ridgeway and Ndola campuses, graduate schools, evening, distance and parallel programmes.

Dr Kaingu further warned that government will not tolerate rogue behaviour among university students.

Below is his full statement:

Good afternoon friends from the media

The situation at the University of Zambia Great East Road Campus and the Copperbelt University in Kitwe has deteriorated to levels posing a threat to life and property.

The criminal behaviour by students and known opposition activists has forced Government to take decisive steps to restore law and order.

Two opposition leaders were spotted distributing t-shirts and pamphlets at several higher learning institutions including the two universities in recent weeks. At Luanshya Trades Institute, known lecturers are actively distributing inflammatory literature and engaging in conduct inimical to the wellbeing of the academic life at the college. These and many other actions threatening law and order at higher learning institutions cannot be tolerated any longer.

As you may all be aware by now, there have been some disturbances at our two public universities, namely the Copper belt University and the University of Zambia purportedly emanating from delayed payment of meal allowances.

As a matter of background, you may wish to note that as a way of promoting access to university education, the Government provides support to vulnerable students in form of payment of the following:

Tuition and accommodation fees;Accommodation refunds for students not accommodated by the universities;Meal allowances;Book allowances; andProject allowances.Modes of Payment

Tuition and accommodation fees are paid to the universities at the beginning of every academic year while other allowances are paid directly to the students.
Meal allowances are paid to the students at the beginning of every term. Book allowances are paid to students at the beginning of every academic year. Project and accommodation refunds are paid to entitled students upon receipt of information from the universities.

Payments to Students at the Copperbelt University

The Copperbelt University students were paid book and term one meal allowances on 10th June 2015 (at beginning of term one); term 2 allowances were paid on 9th November 2015 while project and accommodation refunds were paid on 18th January 2016. Part of the term 3 meal allowances were paid yesterday on 2nd February 2016. The allowance paid was K1, 317.50 per student. This is meal allowance for 59 days out of the 97 days for term 3.

Payments to students at the University of Zambia

The University of Zambia students were paid book and term one meal allowances on 18th November 2015 (at beginning of term one), while part of the term 2 meal allowances were paid yesterday on 2nd February 2016. The allowance paid was K1,192.50 per student. This is meal allowance for 53 days out of the 90 days for term 2.

On Friday 29th January 2016, students at the University of Zambia protested against delayed term 2 meal allowances for the 2015/2016 academic year. On Monday 1st February 2016, students at the Copperbelt University also protested against delayed term 3 meal allowances for the 2015/2016 academic year.

It is important to note that so far all allowances have been paid. The only allowance that was delayed was the meal allowance.

Despite assurances that students would be paid the meal allowance as soon as the Ministry of Finance releases funds for that purpose, students chose to take to the streets to disturb the general public and destroy property.

The delayed allowances were paid yesterday but the students have chosen to continue with their violent protests.

I am extremely saddened to note that students who are supposed to be vulnerable and are receiving this government support as a privilege have chosen to behave like thugs.

Due to the lack of a conducive environment for learning at the two public universities, it has been decided that the two universities close indefinitely. All students are expected to leave the two main campuses, namely CBU and UNZA by midnight tonight.

Regrettably, the disturbances at the two universities have been driven by known opposition elements seeking to extract perceived political gain out of the ongoing chaos.

A real and eminent danger to life and property now exists at the two universities and surrounding areas and, therefore, government has decided to act to prevent possible loss of life. Police will take necessary steps to restore law and order.

At CBU, the nation may wish to know that ten of the offenders arrested on campus who appeared in court yesterday are in fact not students but opposition activists. We question the involvement of these people in protests for students’ meal allowances.

The only students exempted from this closure are those from the school of medicine Ridgeway and Ndola campuses, graduate schools, evening, distance and parallel programmes.

Lastly, I wish to reiterate that Government will not tolerate rogue behaviour among university students. The nation looks up to university students as future leaders and it is unacceptable to see them behave like criminals.

I thank you.

A consortium of youth organizations and student unions have passed a vote of no confidence in the Patriotic Front (PF) government and have vowed to de-campaign the ruling party ahead of the August 11 general elections.

This follows government’s decision to close the University of Zambia (UNZA) and Copperbelt University indefinitely due to the problems that have rocked the two highest learning institutions in recent times.

When announcing the closures at a media briefing in Lusaka yesterday, higher education minister Micheal Kaingu blamed the student unrest at the two public universities on opposition politicians.

But in a statement issued to Zambian Eye by the Zambian Youth Movement spokesperson Niza Phiri has laid the blame for the problems at the two institutions squarely on the shoulders of government and has vowed to punish them during this year’s elections.

“Without fear or favour, we promise to vigorously and relentlessly campaign Against the current poisonous Patriotic Front government, in our individual capacities, as well as collectively because it has brought nothing but misery to the average Zambian man,” Phiri charged.

“They have managed to take this country a century backwards, a free falling currency, thousands of job losses, unacceptable commodity price hikes, and a lazy fare attitude towards the education sector.

“We thereby unanimously and collectively, pass a vote of no confidence in the patriotic front government and do hence forth launch the ‘PF must go’ campaign where we, the Zambian youth will not spare any Zambian corner to rid ourselves of what has become the cancer that has crippled Zambia. Come 11th August, students and ordinary youth will give the pf a vote of thanks for the misery they have consistently served the Zambian people.”

The World Health Organization voiced concern on Wednesday over the reported sexual transmission of the Zika virus in Texas amid worries that such infections could make battling it even tougher. There is no vaccine or treatment for Zika.

The virus, spreading quickly across the Americas, is usually transmitted by mosquitoes, but Dallas County reported on Tuesday that the first known case contracted in the United States was a person infected after having sex with someone who had returned from Venezuela.

The WHO declared a global health emergency on Monday, citing a “strongly suspected” causal relationship between Zika infection in pregnancy and microcephaly, a condition marked by abnormally small head size that can cause permanent brain damage in new-borns.

Health ministers from across South America gathered in Uruguay’s capital, Montevideo, to discuss the public health emergency and how the region could coordinate its fight against the outbreak.

Sexual transmission could add a new dimension to the threat Zika poses, but WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl stressed that “almost a 100 percent of the cases” are transmitted by the bite of a mosquito.

“This reported case in the U.S. of course raises concerns,” Hartl said at the U.N. agency’s headquarters in Geneva. “This needs to be further investigated to understand the conditions and how often or likely sexual transmission is.”

But he said that for the WHO “the most important thing to do is to control people’s exposure to mosquitoes.”

The WHO estimates as many as 4 million people could become infected in the Americas.

Hartl called the Texas case only the second worldwide linked to sexual transmission, referring to media reports about a case of an American man who returned from Senegal in 2008 and is suspected of having infected his wife. The medical literature also has a case in which the virus was detected in semen.

“If you swap enough bodily fluid, most viruses can probably be sexually transmitted to some extent,” said Ben Neuman, a virologist at Britain’s University of Reading.

Florida Governor Rick Scott declared a public health emergency in four counties with travel-related cases of the Zika virus, and ordered state officials to increase mosquito control efforts in some of the south-eastern U.S. state’s most heavily populated locales including Miami and Tampa.

Scott directed state officials to pay special attention to mosquito spraying in residential areas.

In addition, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has urged pregnant women to consider delaying travel to locations with ongoing Zika transmissions, added Jamaica and Tonga to its travel alert.

Despite already being on the CDC’s travel alert, Mexico’s health ministry downplayed Zika’s threat to tourism on Wednesday, saying its 34 confirmed cases are far from tourist areas while conceding it was “inevitable” the virus would spread.

The WHO said at least 26 countries in the Americas have a Zika outbreak, and countries such as Ireland, Australia and Canada have reported cases of travelers testing positive for the virus after visiting an infected area.

Late on Tuesday, the Brazilian health ministry said the number suspected microcephaly cases that may be linked to the virus had increased to 4,074 as of Jan. 30, from 3,718 a week earlier.

Researchers have identified evidence of Zika infections in 17 of these cases, either in the baby or in the mother, but have not confirmed that Zika can cause microcephaly.

WARNING FOR EUROPE

The WHO warned member states in Europe on Wednesday that the risk of the virus spreading into the region increases with the onset of spring and summer.

“Now is the time for countries to prepare themselves to reduce the risk to their populations,” said the WHO’s Europe chief, Zsuzsanna Jakab. “Every European country in which Aedes mosquitoes are present can be at risk for the spread of Zika virus disease.”

The Pan American Health Organization, the WHO’s arm for the Americas, said it needed an estimated $8.5 million to help countries in the region respond to the Zika threat.

Brazilian Health Minister Marcelo Castro said U.S. experts will travel to Brazil next week to start work on the development of a Zika vaccine and come up with a timetable for the effort.

A number of drug developers and universities are attempting to produce a vaccine. Experts have said a vaccine is months or even years away.

Japan’s leading drugmaker Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd said it has created a team to investigate how it might help make a vaccine, a day after France’s Sanofi SA said it would launch a Zika vaccine program.

Pfizer Inc, Johnson and Johnson and Merck & Co Inc said they were evaluating their technologies or existing vaccines for their potential to combat Zika.

Indian biotechnology company Bharat Biotech said it was working on two possible vaccines.

The rising number of cases has stirred concern ahead of the Olympic Games in August in Rio de Janeiro when Brazil’s second largest city will host tens of thousands of athletes and tourists from around the world.

Reuters

President Lungu

President Edgar Lungu says the closure of the University of Zambia and the Copperbelt University is a good lesson for the students.

Speaking to journalists last evening at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, shortly before departure for the Vatican where he is expected to meet Pope Francis, President Lungu said he had warned the students, but that some forces of evil are playing on their minds.

He says it is important for people to listen to their leaders, stating that the failure by the students to listen is what has led to the closure of the two higher learning institutions.

And President Lungu says Zambia has a lot to learn from people of higher moral authority.

He says the Pope has moral authority and is highly positioned, thus there is a lot to learn from him.

President Lungu is expected to arrive in Italy this afternoon for a two day official, where he will meet Pope Francis at the Vatican tomorrow.

He is also expected to travel to France at the invitation of French President Francoise Hollande – QFM

Miles Sampa

Government has deregistered the Democratic Front-DF- party following recommendations from the Registrar of Societies to have its certificate of registration withdrawn.

Home Affairs Minister, Davis Mwila says the decision has been arrived at to safeguard peace, welfare and good order in the country and between the two parties claiming ownership.

Mr. Mwila told the Media in Lusaka  that the report that dealt with the dispute on the party’s ownership has revealed that Davies Chanda is the rightful owner of the party.

He said government has deregistered DF party because there was an element of negligence and carelessness in the manner the certificate of registration was kept by Mr. Chanda and his party.

Mr. Mwila said his office has written to the DF General Secretary on the matter.

The Minister said he has deregistered DF party in line with provisions of the law which empowers the Minister to act in the interest of peace, welfare or good order.

He however said the aggrieved parties can appeal to the Minister or indeed take the matter to court – ZNBC

The Electoral Commission of Zambia has revised presidential nomination fees from K20, 000 to K75, 000.

Announcing the revised fees at a stakeholders meeting this afternoon, ECZ Chairperson Justice Esau Chulu said parliamentary candidates will now be required to pay K10, 000 from K500 while councilors in urban areas will now pay K2, 000.

And Justice Chulu has disclosed that the commission has also revised the nomination timetable for the 2016 general elections to accommodate petitions that may arise during nominations.

Meanwhile, Justice Chulu has further disclosed that the commission will only be able to conduct the 14 day mobile voter registration if it is funded by government.

Davies Chama

Patriotic Front (PF) secretary general Davis Chama was this afternoon booed by stakeholders that had gathered  at the Mulungushi International Conference Center for a stakeholders meeting organized by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) for interjecting UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema during the deliberations.

This was when the opposition leader raised a concern with the commission chairperson’s remarks regarding the nomination fees for the presidential, parliamentary and local government elections, a move that prompted the PF party boss to react amidst booing from the stakeholders with some telling him to “shut up”.

It had to take ECZ public relations manager Chris Akufuna to calm the situation down.

Meanwhile, ECZ chairperson Justice Esau Chulu  has announced that the nomination fees for a presidential candidate has been pegged at K75 000. While those standing as parliamentary candidates will pay a sum of K10,000, along with the position of a mayor.

“Section 21 and 23 of the electoral Act No.12 of 2016 refer to the nomination fees that the candidate’s to the office of the president and the national Assembly is expected to pay. The nomination fees are determined by the electoral commission of Zambia. Currently presidential candidates pay ten thousand kwacha (K10,000) parliamentary candidates pay five hundred kwacha (K500) and local governmental candidates pay between fifty kwacha and one hundred kwacha (K100),” he noted

Justice Chulu explained that the total cost incurred by the commission per presidential candidate is k288, 860, adding that if there are ten presidential candidates like during the 2011 tripartite elections, the commission would spend k2, 888,600 on presidential election

He indicated that in view of the change in nomination fees, a candidate is required to make a 50% non-refundable down payment for them to be included in the nomination calendar.

And during the meeting, stakeholders raised concerns about some proposals that the electoral commission had made in line with submissions that the parties represented tabled before them.

Among the concerns raised was the issue of the grade 12 certificate which indicates that for person intending to stand should have a minimum of a grade 12 certificate, a matter that was unclear to many due to the use of “minimum” and further required clarification from the ministry of education on what a minimum grade 12 certificate states under the ministry of education.

About 22 political were represented at the stakeholder’s meeting.

LUSAKA High Court judge Gertrude Chawatama has sentenced to death five PF cadres after finding them guilty of murdering a UPND cadre Grayzer

Matapa in February 2015.

And judge Chawatama says people should live in harmony regardless of political differences.

Before judge Chawatama was Mwewa Yapanshi, 24 of unknown address, Billy Semani Kansenya, 25, Moses Lungu, 31, Maxson Phiri, 39, and Albert Mainsa, 31, all of Mtendere East, who were charged with murder contrary to the Laws of Zambia.

Allegations were that Yapanshi, Kansenya, Lungu, Phiri and Mainsa on February 23, 2015 jointly and whilst acting together murdered Matapa, but they pleaded not guilty.

Delivering judgment yesterday, judge Chawatama said sentencing the five to death should send a warning that political violence should be avoided and that people should live in harmony regardless of their political differences.

She said the accused formed together a common purpose to beat up Matapa and that the prosecution had proved the case beyond any reasonable doubt.

“I sentence you to death by hanging until pronounced dead. May the Lord have mercy on your souls,” said Judge Chawatama as family members, who were in the courtroom, broke down.

And Matapa’s elder brother, Douglas, said justice had prevailed although his family had suffered a lot.

Douglas said the family was pleased that justice had been delivered accordingly.

“When you kill someone, you should also expect to go in a similar way. We are very happy justice has taken its course, so let them feel it the way we felt after Grayzer died,” said Douglas, who was accompanied by Matapa’s widow, Memory, and children among other relatives.

The Post Newspaper

Bearly 24 hours after closure of Zambia’s two biggest public Universities following riots, Students at NIPA have rioted.

The Students at NIPA rioted Thursday evening destroying the hostel.

NIPA students rioted following management’s decision to increase tuition and accommodation fees by 15 percent

Traffic flow was affected as motorists were forced to divert away from roads near NIPA campus.

Riot police fired tear gas canisters the situation that almost forced Students the neighbouring Evelyn Hone to join.

Seven Students have since been apprehended.

Members who attending the briefing

Former Commerce Minister under President Sata, Bob Robert Schinga has ditched the ruling PF to rejoin the UPND.

Schinga who served as one of Anderson Mazoka’s Vice presidents announced his decision at a media briefing held at Chainama Hotel in Lusaka.

He said he has decided to leave the PF because he does not agree with the way the party is managed by President Edgar Lungu. He cited violence and intolerance as some of the vices that has characterised the leadership of PF.

Schinga who was Sata’s brother in marriage joined the PF in 2011.

But PF Secretary General Davies Chama charged that Schinga was not a factor. He said Schinga stopped being active after he lost the bide to succeed Sata.

Chama said as far as the PF was concerned Schinga left PF long time ago. He explained that the PF won the January 2015 elections without Schinga’s involvement.

The PF SG wondered how Schinga would go to the party he accused of being tribal. He asked Schinga to take Bana Noono take with him to the UPND.

Nevers Mumba

Confusions have rocked the opposition MMD, Members of Parliament have now demanded that the party holds convention in April to elect new leaders ahead of the August general election.

A group of MMD parliamentarians who convened today, Friday announced the decision in a statement.

The Parliamentarians argue that their call for a convention is in line with the provisions of the party constitution.

They have rejected a National Executive Committee resolution that deferred the convention to 2017.

But MMD Deputy National Secretary Winnie Zaloumis has maintained that the NEC resolution is binding.

The NEC meeting held last week on Saturday resolved to support PF in this year’s election and gave party president Nevers Mumba the mandate to discuss the modalities with President Edgar Lungu.

A group of MMD Parliamentarians led by Felix Mutati supported UPND’s Hakainde Hichilema in the January 2015 presidential election.

President Edgar Lungu confer with Pope Francis today, January 5, 2016 at Vatican. The Zambian leader who is on a state visit to the Vatican had 25 minutes with the Pope. Picture by Salim Henry

President Edgar Lungu  has held talks with Pope Francis  at the Vatican.

The meeting which lasted over 20 minutes was held in Pope Francis  private library.

ZNBC’s Mwila Nsofu reports from the Vatican that accompanying the President is First Lady Esther,  Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba, PF Deputy Secretary General Mumbi Phiri and other senior government officials.

The Zambian Flag was hoisted high at the Vatican where President Lungu  was given a full Presidential salute by the Swiss guards.

The President is now holding talks with the Secretary of State Cardinal Petro Parolin at the Vatican.

President Lungu  is in Rome for a two day visit at the invitation of Secretary for Relations with state Archbishop Paul Gallagher.

Archbishop Gallagher visited Zambia last year – ZNBC

Iris Kaingu at a beach in Dubai

Iris Kaingu, the daughter to Minister of Higher Education Micheal Kaingu says her father was a leader chosen by God. She twitted this in her reaction to the closure of two government Universities – UNZA and CBU which has attracted condemnation on her father.

UPND President Hakainde Hichilema is in South Africa this week to address a number of forums, including members of the Zambian diaspora and business community in Johannesburg, investors at the 2016 Mining Indaba and the Graduate Business School at the University of Cape Town as part of their Distinguished Speakers Programme.

The focus of discussions will be on the strong economic potential in Zambia and Southern Africa more broadly, as well as how current challenges facing the region can be overcome. In particular the UPND leader will be explaining what action can and should be taken by Government to address major domestic risk areas that include those identified by the World Bank in its 2016 Zambia Economic Brief, namely a worsening power sector crisis, deterioration in confidence, and another low harvest. Mr Hichilema will attempt to explain how Zambia can bounce back with the right leadership.

As he has argued at home, Mr. Hichilema will reiterate that as a sovereign nation Zambia can also control how it plans and reacts to changes in the external environment, whether it relates to weather or commodity prices, and that Governments must give no excuses but devise ways and means of shoring the external factors which affect every country that has an economy that is structured like ours that exports one commodity.

He will continue to encourage business that his vision if elected President is to improve the business environment and reduce the costs for companies by cutting red tape and streamlining processes in order to boost economic activity, create jobs and reduce prices that have been sky rocketing as inflation reached more than 20% in December 2015 from 7.7% a year ago. Mr. Hichilema will also argue for the need to cut waste and boost efficiency at the heart of Government, in support of calls by the World Bank and others for Zambia to move ‘back onto a sustainable fiscal path’. Alongside this, the UPND leader will argue that Zambia cannot afford to continue to underinvest in education.

As interest mounts ahead of the upcoming elections on 11 August, Mr. Hichilema will also address concerns regarding the path towards elections. He will talk about the challenges opposition parties are facing which include application of the Public Order Act, access to public media and the accompanying censorship. He will also explain how the UPND and other opposition parties are actively working to engage the Electoral Commission of Zambia on these and various other issues such as transparency and finalisation of the electoral register. Mr. Hichilema is also scheduled to speak with a variety of international media and share his vision for Zambia once elected into office.

The opposition People’s Alliance for Change (PAC) has promised to form a government that will bring transparent budget management and accountability.

And PAC has will officially launch its manifesto in March 8, 2016 ahead of the polls slated for Aaugust 11, 2016.

Speaking at a press conference held at Protea Hotel in Lusaka today, February 8, 2016, PAC Vice Chairperson Patrick Chilufya Bowa said in order to improve efficiency the party has decided to bring about appropriate governance structures and systems that are directed at plugging the widespread government inefficiencies, corruption and thefts of public resources under the PF government.

“Expenditure accountability in the PF government has ground to a halt,” Bowa charged. “A government that will bring transparent budget management and accountability is as desirable as yesterday.”

Bowa said a PAC Government will bring best practice systems. He charged that credibility has been compromised to levels unimaginable.

“Taxpayers have become apprehensive through Auditor-Generals Reports that there money is going into deep individuals pockets,” he said. “PAC is taking up responsibility to ensure that the widespread loopholes in the expenditure system are patched-up firmly and expeditiously.”

He said Central government, local government and statutory corporations have seemingly taken to a culture of extravagance, waste and theft of external and internal taxpayers money. He observed that even though the problem at hand is huge and systemic having infected the whole government system, PAC will not relent in ensuring that Taxpayers resources are protected and reinveste in economically regenerating projects.

The PAC Vice Chair told a press conference that was also attended by Chairman of the Party Andy Banda and Secretary General Himba Malambo Miyoba that a PAC Government will ensure that relationships exist between planning, budgets and expenditure.

“The interrelationships shall act as surety for government policies and priorities to succeed. The Zambian PF Government is like a fat person who must lose weight. He needs to eat less and exercise more. To melt the fat, we are going to change the basic incentives that drive our governments machinery. We are going to turn bureaucratic institutions into entrepreneurial institutions,” charged Bowa.

Bowa said a PAC Government is ready to cut off obsolete initiatives as on who is willing to do more with less, as one who is eager to implant new innovations and systems that will create savings from plundering.

He promised that a PAC Government will give tax incentives across the board because it will be a fair, non-corrupt and transparent in all its undertakings. He said each and every New Employee who enters a Taxable Net will be entitled to tax rebates of 100% for month one and two; 80% month three and four; 60% month five and six; 40% month seven and eight; 20% month nine and ten; and 10% for month eleven and twelve.

“These Tax Rebates will also apply on corporate tax to local and foreign enterprises for the first five financial years and spread as follows; 100% year one; 80% year two; 60% year three; 40% year four; 20% year five,” he said.

“Taking stock of the fake and false promises of the PF during the 2011 Election Campaign that still remained outstanding even in the 2015 Presidential By-Election, PAC is not flinching from campaigning on a firm ground of Poverty Eradication, Economic Empowerment and Sustainable Employment. We shall achieve this real feat through the Rollout of Joint Credibility Common Leasehold Corporations based on the Common Leasehold Schemes Act No.39 of 1994,” said Bowa.

“We have strategically adopted this Act as a catalysing vehicle to deliver Sustainable Inclusive All Embracing Economic Development. Joint Credibility Common Leasehold formations is to become a key to going and staying into business by Micro and Small Business Entrepreneurs. The JCCC has been designed as a franchise operation. It is indeed a Raw Franchise Business Operation”

He said in its basic form, a JCCC is a body corporate Medium sized Enterprise subscribed by Unit Holders of parcels of land or other landed properties mandated to borrow money and outlend it to its Unit Holders for the improvement of their properties or businesses.

“The JCCC is an intermediary positioned to meet its subscribers financial, market, management, procurement economies of scale credibility by providing hedging benchmarks that help subscribers to manage their indebtness, business accounting, marketing and procurement risks. The JCCC receives wholesale credit for retailing to its Unit Holders. Every other person living around a JCCC is to be uplifted economically if they are prepared to work,” explained Bowa.

Bowa said the JCCC shall be the main thrust of a PAC Government Economic Diversification Policies into: Food and Agriculture, Transport, Travel, Hospitality, Sports, Wholesale, Retail, Water and Electricity Utility Services. We have designed an Urban-Rural Voluntary Industrial Retreat Programme which is premised on an Electronic Online Food and Agriculture Warehouse as the Axis of the Poverty Eradication and Empowerment and Employment deliverables.

He said a PAC Government will promote and support commercial, technical engineering and industrial training and ensure that every citizen connects their passion to a skill. He added that A PAC Government shall breakup tendering and contracting monopolies to ensure that there are equal opportunities for all to participate in the resource distribution of the country.

“A PAC Government will not be a lender but will instead introduce venture capital supports through the citizens Economic Empowerment Fund, the National pensions Fund and workers compensation Fund. On another platform, A PAC Government will issue performance and Bond guarantees for loan and lease financing to lenders without necessarily giving out direct loans. The main economic empowerment thrust of citizens of a PAC Government shall be Food and Agriculture and Sports Tourism,” he said.

Bowa added:

“A PAC Government shall ensure fair and equitable land appropriation and alleniation policies that will deter any individual, corporation or agency to own more than 999 hectares of land within the Republic of Zambia. PAC land policy thus will allow land alleniation as follows:
A. Up to 9 hectors-chiefs and headmen will grant GPS title to a Zambian applicant for 99 years
B. Up to 9 hectors-chief and local authority to grant GPS title to a Zambian applicant for 99 years and foreigner for renewable of 9 years
C. From 100 to 999 hectares local authority to process application to parliament for approval through the lands Tribunal whether local applicant (99 years) or foreigner applicant (9 years).
PAC Government will embrace Technologies initiatives and strategies: The world reached a point in 2001 where upon any individual, community and country can advance themselves technologically if they so wished without waiting for Uncle Foreign Investor. But we have held ourselves into the same spot without forward advancement due to the Knowing and Doing Gap (KDG). PAC Government will introduce serious refocusing on critical technologies:
Technologies in the realm of industrial competitiveness embracing- (1) Technologies that improve Zambia’s competitiveness in world market through new products from copper cathodes processing, agricultural production and food processing in addition to technologies that improve on the same through technologies that improve on the same through cost, quality and enhanced on foreign sources, that lower energy costs or improve energy costs or improve energy efficiency and technologies that enhance water resources utilization with inbuilt costs containments and technologies that have abilities to make strong contributions to health, human welfares and environment.
Technologies for enhancement of productivity, performance improvement and leverage-(i)Ability to cause revolutionary or evolutionary improvement over current product or processes in turn leading to economic benefits.(ii)Leveraging potential that government R&D investment stimulates private sector investment in commercialisation or likehood that success in technology will stimulate success in other technologies, products and markets.
Technologies that provide opportunities to lead markets and hold markets-(i) Ability to exert and sustain national or regional leadership in technologies that is of paramount importance to the economy.(ii)Ability to exert a major economic impact through that expansion of existing markets, creation of new industries, generation of capital and generation of capital and generation of economic empowerment and sustainable employment of citizens.
Student Loan Electronic Charge card Management System: A PAC Government will instantly introduce a STUDENT LOAN ELECTRONIC CHARGE CARD to mitigate the rampart failure of the current Bursary system being expanded into a student loan Revolving fund. The SLEC management system is unique as it will arrest all the shortcomings associated with timely disbursement of cash to students Bonding the graduates and recouping repayments and generally loan-skipping difficulties.
PAC Train to Sustain (T2S) For Opportunity: A PAC Government will introduce an enabler programme (T2S) for the opportunity (T2SFO) to enhance Vocational and Professional competency below Diploma attainment. A skill award arising from T2SFO will be a prerequisite for any prospective borrower seeking a Government guarantee. T2SFO will also mitigate the skills Gaps, Shortages, Efficiencies, Quality and Quantity that will arise from the mass formations of credibility corporations country wide.

Zambian delegation at Mining Indaba

Minister of Mines and Energy Resources, Christopher Yaluma is leading the Zambian delegation to the world’s biggest conference on Mining and Mining Investment whose main speakers includes Zambia’s leading opposition leader who is UPND Leader Hakainde Hichilema.

Other are Deputy Minister of Mines , Richard Musukwa, Deputy Minister of Finance, Christopher Mvunga and Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa Emmanuel Mwamba.
Mr. Mwamba confirmed that Zambia would present a strong and vibrant case that the country remains a suitable, strong, and stable investment climate and destination.

Mr. Mwamba said the Mining Indaba presents a perfect opportunity to market Zambia to the rest of the World.

He said that Hon. Yaluma and others have been placed in highly strategic panel discussions about policy, and business environment in Africa.

Dr. Kasolo will also speak about the opportunity for mining to diversify and invest in other sectors.

ZCCM-IH is one of the best examples of a mine investor that has diversified to an investment house and holding.

Mvunga is expected to discuss how governments in Africa have responded to the strong headwinds that have threatened economies in the region such as strengthened US $, drought facing Southern Africa, low commodity prices and weakening currencies.

The Mining Indaba is being held from 8th-11th February 2016 at the Capetown Convention Centre.

It has attracted speakers from all over the world that include Ministers of Mines, representatives from Mine Houses, IMF, World Bank, Africa Development Bank.

Zambia has its own Day where Minister of Mines Christopher Yaluma will lead a panel discussion with Mine Houses leading Chief Executive Officers.

MMD Youths have attacked their Secretariat in protest of the party’s decision to support the PF in the August 11 elections.

The Cadres arrived at the party’s Secretariat situated in Kabulonga aboard a bus on Monday and started smashing windows and stoning cars that were parked.

They went in the boardroom threw stones.

A quick response from Police prevented the cadres from further destroying of the properties. The riot police fired teargas canisters to disperse the irate cadres who are demanding that the party holds a convention to elect new leaders.