A recently installed solar milling plant in Kasama

The opposition UPND has challenged the PF government to clearly state where it has started offloading mealie meal on the market in Kasama district at a price of K45 per 25kg bag.

President Edgar Lungu recently announced that the Government in collaboration with Zambia Cooperative Federation (ZCF) are milling and selling a 25 Kg bag of mealie meal at K 45 in Solwezi and Kasama, thanks to the newly acquired and installed solar milling plants.

But UPND vice-president for administration Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba says he and the residents of Kasama are not aware of any solar milling plant that has been commissioned in the area.

Mwamba notes that the current Food Reserve Agency floor price is K75 per 50kg bag of maize and wonders where ZCF is sourcing cheap maize to produce mealie meal for sell at such a low price.

“It is a known fact that the Food Reserve Agency has set a floor price of K75 a 50 kg bag of maize. It is also common knowledge that maize prices from farmers and commodity brokers are within the FRA price or even higher,” Mwamba said in a statement posted on his Facebook page.

“It then leaves one to wonder, the source of the maize that ZCF are supposedly milling and selling at this price. It also makes you wonder whether, there has been policy shift that Government has decided not to inform the nation.

“The question is where has ZCF sourced cheap maize? Are they buying below the market price or taking advantage of the small scale farmers, whom they are supposed to assist to increase their current production levels?” he asked.

The former Kasama Central parliamentarian has accused the PF government of lying to the people in a bid to score political points especially with a by-election looming in the area.

“This pronouncement has been made to hoodwink people, particularly in Kasama, because they wish to increase or enhance their chances as PF in case of a parliamentary by-election. However, this is not sustainable over a long period, especially in a broke economy such as ours.

“The people of Kasama and Zambia have seen through your lies and know to what extent you would go to just cling to power and the total disregard for the use of tax payers money,” Mwamba stated.

Meanwhile, UPND Lukashya Constituency youth secretary, Kellyson Sampa, has charged that his party has no idea whatsoever as to where President Lungu is claiming the ZCF is selling Mealie meal at K45 in Kasama.

Another UPND member, Elizabeth Goma, told Radio Mano News that reports that ZCF had started selling mealie meal in Kasama at K45 per 25kg bag are misleading.

By a Student in Russia

I would like to thank you for standing firm in your beliefs to give correct information to the Zambian people even at the time when everyone is praising failure so that they can be employed.

I trust you to convey this to HE Edgar C. Lungu, president of the Republic of Zambia, to the ministry of Education (specifically deputy minister-Chairperson of Bursaries Committee), the minister of finance and national planning, secretary to Bursaries Committee and to all authorities it may concern.

Zambian students in Russia have not received their top up allowances. The Bursaries Committee was supposed to pay students at the beginning of the academic year, it has, however, been 2 months now.

At the beginning of every academic year, students are required to pay for visa extension, medical policy and accommodation. While failure to pay for the latter leads to eviction from hostels, the former are offenses that lead to expulsion and deportation.

“These months have been hard for us. We have exhausted all our sources of income. We are starving, and we cannot borrow anymore- our Zimbabwean creditors are waiting for us to settle our debts. We have no money for bus fares anymore. It is affecting our performance in the university. The situation is bad.”

When student representatives contacted the secretary to the Bursaries Committee, she said that the BC has not been funded and she has no idea as to when the funds will be made available.

I have no idea who is sitting on the funding. However, I plead to HE Edgar C. Lungu, president of Zambia to look into the welfare of foreign students. Whether funding is coming from the ministry of finance or education, I appeal to the president to help us. I ask you to show us love as your children, as children of Zambia who are suffering abroad trying to acquire an education that they could not probably get in our motherland. I, sadly, remind you that most scholarship students abroad are coming from poor families and they completely depend on the top up allowances for their survival.

I would like to stress that if students do not pay for their hostels, they will be evicted from hostels. If they do not renew their visas, they will be deported. If they are discovered that they do not have medical policies, they will be deported. If they do not have money for their bus fares, they will be missing classes and that will lead to expulsion. If they starve,…while I do not know what happens to them.

Thank you.

By Zambian student in Russia

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission says investigations into suspected mealie meal price fixing by the Millers Association of Zambia will be concluded next week.

CCPC Public Relations Manager Hanford Chaaba told Hot FM News that all the data collected from the millers is now under review for possible results.

A team of investigators from CCPC last week conducted a raid at four major milling companies in Lusaka for suspected price fixing of mealie meal and flour prices.

President Edgar Lungu in a recent exclusive interview with Hot FM labelled the milling companies as a cartel bent on arm-twisting the government.

Lungu arrives in Ndola. Photo – State House

Munali constituency aspiring MP Niza Phiri says President Edgar Lungu’s threats to Millers is not the solution to the hike in mealie meal price.

President Lungu this week threatened to impose price controls and reposses Milling Plants in a bide to force Millers to reduce the price of the country’s staple food, mealie meal.

Tanzania’s Magufuli has been sworn in as president

Tanzania’s new President John Magufuli was sworn into office Thursday along with the east African nation’s first female vice-president to huge cheers from crowds.

Magufuli’s win in the October 25 poll with over 58 percent of votes cemented the long-running Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party’s firm grip on power.

Vice-President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who comes from Zanzibar, was also sworn in at a stadium in the economic capital Dar es Salaam, an AFP reporter at the ceremony said.

Elections were largely peaceful, but the opposition said the vote was rigged and also claimed victory, while semi-autonomous Zanzibar — which also voted for its own president — annulled polls over irregularities.

Outgoing President Jakaya Kikwete has said he is “so happy” to be leaving his job after a decade in power, having stepped aside after serving his two-term limit.

Magufuli, a 56-year old former chemistry teacher, ran on an anti-corruption platform, securing a convincing victory over his closest rival, ex prime minister Edward Lowassa who won 40 percent.

Those at the ceremony included African Union chairman, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, as well as regional leaders including Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta, Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni and Rwanda’s Paul Kagame.

Other neighbouring leaders included Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique and Zambia’s Edgar Lungu. South Africa’s Jacob Zuma was also present.

On Zanzibar, opposition supporters on the Indian Ocean archipelago said they were “unhappy” that the mainland had pressed ahead with the swearing in ceremony.

Zanzibar’s electoral commission ruled last week that the October 25 vote on the islands — where the 500,000 registered voters also cast ballots for Tanzania’s national president — must be carried out again, citing “violations” of electoral law.

The annulment came after a key candidate, Seif Sharif Hamad of the opposition Civic United Front (CUF), declared himself the winner before the results were officially announced.

Homemade bombs exploded in Zanzibar town over the weekend. No one was wounded, but the explosions sparked concern on the islands, whose economy is dependent on foreign tourists.

AFP

The Electoral Commission of Zambia-ECZ-has endorsed the fifty per cent plus one electoral threshold for a winning presidential candidate.

Making a submission before the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs chaired by Choma Central MP Cornerlius Mweetwa, ECZ Director Priscilla Isaac said the provision is good although it will be difficult to attain.

Ms Isaac, however, said the system has its own merits and demerits.

She also told the committee that it is unrealistic to conclude a presidential petition within 14 days. The commission has since proposed that 30 days would be more realistic.

Ms Isaac also supported the concept of having the election date prescribed in the constitution as it enhances planning.

She however said for the 2016 tripartite elections the second week of August may not be the ideal date as it has adverse implications on the voters register – ZNBC

Inonge Wina

Vice President Inonge Wina has unveiled an initiative to support women entrepreneurs in Zambia.

Speaking in London at the Legatum Institute, an international think tank, Vice President Wina said together with NGOs and the private sector, the Government of President Edgar Lungu will deliver a programme to provide healthy hygienic and integrated trading conditions for the one million women ‘street marketeers’ in Zambia.

The Rt. Hon. Baroness Chalker PC, a former FCO Minister for Overseas Development in both Margaret Thatcher and John Major’s government, and now Chairman of Africa Matters Limited, moderated the event, ‘Women as Drivers of Growth’.

Vice President Wina, who serves also as the first Minister of National Planning, told an audience that included policy-makers, journalists and many key members of the Zambian diaspora, that a number of important policies to support women were already being delivered in Zambia: these included a Women’s Bank and a campaign to end early marriages. She said that engaging chiefs in her country was seen as crucial, for “they are the custodians of our African cultures”.

The Vice President also said that, showing a remarkable enterprise spirit, one million women in her country sell vegetables, fruit and hand-made baskets from street stalls. The stalls, set up along busy roads, are unhygienic, unsafe and isolated from the commercial landscape. Henceforth, she said, “the initiative will provide these women with water and sanitation facilities so that they can form cooperatives and access markets and support”. One bank, she said, has already proposed to promote financial literacy among the women marketeers.

The Legatum Institute, an educational charity that published its annual global Prosperity Index last Monday, held an international African Summit in May in Dar es Salaam. The two-day summit focused on the role of women entrepreneurs in increasing prosperity in Africa.

Sian Hansen, Executive Director of the Legatum Institute, said today: “The Legatum Institute is delighted to host the Vice President of Zambia whose support for her country’s women is completely in tune with our findings at the Institute: unlocking female potential is key not only for the labour force and the economy but for a country’s social and political flourishing.”

TB Joshua Met By President Elect John Magufuli At The Airport

Despite his presidential welcome and high-profile arrival in Tanzania this week, Nigerian Pastor T.B. Joshua was notably absent at Thursday’s inauguration of the new Tanzanian President Dr John Pombe Magufuli.

Local media was awash with the news of Joshua’s first visit to the East African nation with expectations that the Nigerian cleric may play some role in the ceremony which saw eight African states converge on Tanzania’s capital city of Dar es Salaam.

However, it was later revealed that the pastor actually spent time at the house of Magufuli’s political rival and opposition leader Edward Lowassa.

Magufuli Tweet About TB Joshua

A picture of the duo holding hands outside of the former Prime Minister’s house was posted to social media several hours after the inauguration had concluded where the topic of Joshua’s absence was hotly debated.

“Been since morning trying to solve this #TBJoshua puzzle… no success so far”, wrote Evarist Chahali, a Tanzanian social media activist on Twitter. “Did he decide not to turn up for the inauguration or was he asked not to after photos emerged showing him with Lowassa?”

Lowassa took to his verified Twitter account to acknowledge Joshua’s presence and thank him for bringing ‘God’s guidance’.

Lowassa Tweet About TB Joshua

“I appreciate the great honour the servant of God, T.B. Joshua, gave to me by coming to my home to discuss the affairs of the nation and pray with my family,” he wrote in Swahili.

It was the first public statement the CHADEMA presidential candidate had made on social media since his rival was declared the winner of the hotly contested elections.

Lowassa’s wife Regina similarly broke her silence on social media by tweeting about Joshua’s visit to their home. “I am very grateful for the presence of T.B. Joshua, God’s servant, in my house,” she wrote. “We have received comfort and God’s blessings.”

On Wednesday 4th November 2015, Joshua held a long meeting with prominent UKAWA leaders, the coalition of opposition parties that tried to topple the ruling CCM party from power.

His prolonged meetings with Lowassa and his colleagues have given credence to the notion that Joshua’s main intention for visiting Tanzania was to bring a message of reconciliation and peace in the wake of the disputed elections.

“If TB Joshua was in it for the publicity, he would have sat in the limelight with the likes of Magufuli, Mugabe, Zuma, Kenyatta and the rest of them at today’s ceremony,” wrote one commentator on a Tanzanian blog.  “But he’s not a materially-minded pastor; I know his main concern is peace and stability for our nation.”

Both Lowassa and Tanzania’s new President Magufuli are friends of the Nigerian ‘Prophet’, having visited him in Nigeria several years ago.

Ihechukwu Njoku – freelance

ActionAid Zambia has expressed sadness at the challenges experienced by pupils an teachers during the on-going Grade 9 examinations particularly for practical subjects such as ICT and science subjects that require equipment.

The organisation says it is particularly disheartening to note that the schools that are affected the most are government schools and the worst hit are in rural areas where access to education, retention and progression are already a challenge for many children.

Some pupils around the country were forced to wait as late as 03:00 hours for their turn to sit for the exams due to shortage of computers and load shedding. The development led Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini to order general education minister John Phiri to issue a ministerial statement over the issue.

In a media statement, the organisation says it is unacceptable that children spent the whole day and whole night in many schools waiting to undertake the examinations in various parts of the country.

“Like other many other districts in the country, Sesheke has experienced the horrors of the examinations,” lamented ActionAid Zambia Programme Coordinator for Sesheke, David Mwanamambo.

Information obtained by Mwanamambo in Sesheke indicates that primary school children at Maonde School have not sat for their ICT exams as the school only has one computer with no printer and no electricity.

“49 children were scheduled to undertake the exam at the school. Katongo Primary school had 30 pupils writing ICT exams.

“The exam started on the November 2 and ended at 02 hours on November 3. The school has only 3 computers and the solar power being used was not sufficient.

“The pupils could also not print their work due to lack of a printer.”

Mwanamambo revealed that Mangamu primary school, also in Sesheke, 65 pupils undertook the exam that started at 08hrs on 2nd November with a number of challenges namely power, inadequate computers and printers. The exam finally finished at 12 hours on 3rd November.

ActionAid Zambia Programme Coordinator for Nakonde reports that the district experienced challenges not only in conducting the ICT examinations, but the integrated science exams as many schools had to improvise equipment and purchase chemicals for the exams.

“Many schools in the district have no power and could not conduct the examinations. Musesengoma and Wulongo schools had no power and so children from these schools had to use the boardroom at one of the dry ports in Nakonde which is several kilometres away,” he reported.

According to information gathered by the ActionAid team in the district, Nakonde district received K250, 000.00 to procure ICT equipment for all primary schools with some schools receiving grants of as low as K2, 000.00.

“Many schools ended the exams in the early hours of 3rd November 2015.

“In Nalolo District of the Western Province, pupils at Sianda Primary school finished their examinations at midnight on 2nd November 2015. The school only has 1 computer while 4 were personal computers provided by the teachers at the school.

“At Lubosi Primary School, only 8 pupils had sat for examinations by midnight of 2nd November 2015 due to load shedding and due to the fact that the school only has one computer and borrowed another from a teacher at the school.

“The remaining 26 pupils continued the exams on the 3rd of November with the school managing to borrow 2 more computers.

“From these incidences, it is clear that many schools do not have equipment to undertake these subjects and therefore ActionAid questions the logic of examining children in subjects they have not been taught due to lack of equipment.”

ActionAid calls on government to cancel examinations in schools that experienced adverse challenges where children wrote the examinations under duress.

“The Ministry of Education must immediately source equipment and support these schools to re-administer the examinations. It is unfair that some children wrote these examinations late at night or in the early hours of the morning when they were exhausted and hungry.”

ActionAid notes that frequently policy changes such as changes made to the curriculum are made and implemented haphazardly often resulting in policy reversals and policy inconsistency.

ActionAid further calls on the government to immediately consider the implications of the revised curriculum in light of these challenges.

“While the intention of having a curriculum that covers practical skills is a good one, it is pointless if such policy changes are not resourced. Government needs to urgently allocate funds for procurement of equipment for practical subjects and that schools have these by the start of the school calendar to facilitate learning for students and as such avoid another disaster in 2016.”

ActionAid notes that it is not practical and logical to make computer subjects compulsory and examinable without having in place the necessary infrastructure and logistics.

The Examinations Council of Zambia (ECZ) Executive Director, Michael Chilala has come under pressure and may face the chop after the institution charged with the responsibility to administer examinations in Zambian public schools did not proactively and timely take actions or sound the warning to various stakeholders to avert the problems that mired the first ever compulsory ICT exams at grade nine (9) level, reports the Zambia Business Times.

Though the initiative and idea is long overdue and the right one, members of the public and social media commentators have cried out to the leadership at the ministry for the lack of preparedness and the chaotic manner in which the examinations were conducted with reports of students completing the ICT exams at odd hours while others were reported to have been done either the following day or even suspended.

However, it has come out that the ECZ had earlier during the year on Tuesday, 29th September 2015 officially launched the Grade 9 Assessment Schemes under the revised National Curriculum and the Guidelines for the Management and Administration of Examinations in Zambia. The launch took place at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka and was graced by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of General Education.

It is however not clear what measures the ECZ took afterwards but the institution have rushed to issue an apology to the Zambian public as they are the implementing agency for the Ministry of General Education. The Vision of ECZ is to be a leading examining board in providing accurate and timely assessment and certification systems reflective of the competencies of learners and the education system in Zambia. Their mission statement states that The Examinations Council of Zambia will be a leading examining board in providing an effective and efficient system for setting and conducting assessments of comparable international standards.

In Zambia, the issue of accountability remains a challenge as the responsible managers, institutions or organs of government are culturally hesitant to resign on moral grounds or to relieve the erring staff. This however is different when it comes to the private sector, were such matters are rarely tolerated or buried until accountability is established.

ZBT

Zambia Revenue Authority-ZRA – officers this morning stormed  Post Newspaper Offices on Lusaka’s Bwinjimfumu Road, demanding payment of over six  million Kwacha tax arrears.

The ZRA officers who were accompanied by Zambia Police officers restricted journalists’ access to the premises as they went round offices for about two hours.

Some Post Newspaper employees trooped out of their offices to watch the unfolding operation by the joint team of tax collectors and police officers.

And ZRA Public Relations Manager Mumbuna Kufekisa  told journalists that ZRA served the Post Newspaper with a notice and that the firm has responded accordingly.

Mr Kufekisa  however, explained that the Post Newspapers has been given Ten days to reconcile it’s tax accounts with those of ZRA.

Meanwhile, Mr Kufekisa   said the Post Newspaper is NOT being singled out as many other firms have been pursued over tax arrears.

And Post Newspaper General Manager in Charge of Finance,  Rowena Zulu claimed that there was a scheme to cook up figures against the newspaper.

Ms. Zulu said the Post Newspaper has paid ZRA over 40 million Kwacha over the last Eleven months, adding that the Value Added Tax account is up to date.

In September last year, a similar raid was conducted by a joint team of police and ZRA officers at the Post Newspaper over tax liabilities – ZNBC

President Lungu cuts a ribbon during the Ground breaking ceremony for the New Cathedral and Interdenominational Thanks Giving Church Service at woodlands Forest Reserve in Lusaka on Sunday, October 25,2015 -Pictures by Thomas Nsama

US based Zambian Academician Henry Kyambalesa says if President Edgar Lungu really loves God he should have established the State Church “House of Prayer for All Nations Tabernacle” using his personal resources.

Kyambalesa who is an author  is the Interim President of the Agenda for Change (AfC) Party says President Lungu should have even set up the Church before he became Head of State.

Below is what Kyambalesa’s views on the Church President Lungu says government should construct:

The establishment of the “House of Prayer for All Nations Tabernacle” by President Edgar Lungu using taxpayers’ money is not an indication that he loves and appreciates God. We all love and appreciate God, but it would not be acceptable for us to openly ‘steal’ the people’s resources for use in demonstrating how much we love and appreciate Him.

If he loves and appreciates God more than anyone else, he should have established the Tabernacle using his personal resources before his ascendance to the presidency or after his term or terms of office as Republican president.

Religious establishments are essentially non-governmental institutions and, therefore, I do not believe the President has the constitutional right or mandate to create any such institutions at taxpayer expense.

And the name of the Tabernacle implies that countries (or ‘Nations’) worldwide will be congregating in Zambia for prayers. Is that one of the President’s intentions for establishing the Tabernacle?

Separation of Religion and the State:

Freedom of worship, as well as the choice of one’s religion, is one of the basic individual rights which every government leader in Zambia needs to formally recognize and safeguard. How­ev­er, there is an apparent need for our beloved country to introduce laws designed to keep religion out of political and public affairs, laws which should ban religious activities and programs which have the poten­tial to indoctri­nate credulous members of society.

Obviously, this does not imply that religious denomina­tions in Zambia should not freely advocate their values, beliefs, and causes as interest groups. In a truly democratic society, any and all societal groups should have a right to seek to be heard in govern­mental decision-making, and to articulate their demands on the government and society’s other groups and institutions.

The rationale for pieces of legislation designed to keep religion out of politics, educa­tion, and other public spheres of society that wholly or partly fall under the auspices of the govern­ment is to forestall the potential disruption of public order and socioeco­nomic activities by cliques of fanatics from any of our beloved countr­y’s religious denomina­tions.

Such legislation is particular­ly critical for our country, where efforts by the govern­ment to break the bondage of the majority of citizens to misery, want, and destitution is likely to be thwarted partly by violent clashes among religious sects.

We could, therefore, do well to pick a leaf from a 1947 United States Supreme Court dicta, which expand­ed the scope of the First Amend­ment clause pertaining to “The Establish­ment of Religion” to include the doctrine of “Separation of Church and State.”

According to the dictates of the doctrine, a local or the Federal govern­ment cannot do any of the follow­ing, which are cited in a book by J. M. Burns and J. W. Peltason:

(a) Set up a church, pass laws that aid one religion, aid all religions, or prefer one religion over another;

(b) Force or influence a person to go or not to go to church, or force him or her to profess a belief or a disbelief in any religion;

(c) Levy taxes to support any religious activities or institu­tions, whatever form they may adopt to teach or practice religion; or

(d) Openly or secretly partic­ipate in the affairs of any religious organizations or groups and vice versa.

And, to reiterate, we need to consider prohibit­ing the formation of religious-based political par­ties. Also, we need to prohibit reli­gious groups from making contemptuous remarks about the beliefs and/or practices of other religious denominations. If not prevented, there is no doubt that alterca­tions among our country’s religious groups concerning the truth­fulness of their different faiths will eventually trigger very serious con­flicts in the country.

In all, I am confident that religious institutions in Zambia will conti­nue to provide the moral and spiritual direction to our nation in an era that has been high-jacked by unprece­dent­ed violence and moral decay, and to articulate the people’s demands on the government for a more democratic, more peaceful, more prosperous, and more egalitarian socie­ty.

Zambia Should Be a “Secular State”:

What Zambia needs, therefore, is a secular state that genuinely recognizes and safeguards each and every individual’s freedom of worship and the freedom to choose one’s religion. At the same time, we should actively DISCOURAGE or PROSCRIBE the following in a deliberate effort to forestall the potential disruption of public order and socioeconomic activities by cliques of fanatics from any of our country’s religious denominations:

(a) The use of public funds by a local or the national government to set up a Church, Mosque, a Synagogue, or any other house of worship, and/or to provide any form of support to any given religious group, institution or activity;
(b) Official participation by government leaders in the affairs of any given religious group or institution, or official participation by any given religious leader or group in political or governmental affairs;
(c) The use of a religious platform by any individual or group of individuals to form a political party;
(d) The use of a religious platform by any individual to seek a leadership position in any of the three branches of government – that is, the legislature, the judiciary or the executive;
(e) Inclusion of denominational religious subjects in the curricula of schools funded by the government, except studies relating to world religions without delving into the content of their sacred books;
(f) Subjection of candidates for election or appointment to public office to a religious test expressly or otherwise requiring them to declare their religious affiliations;
(g) Desecration of any religious symbols or objects by any member or members of Zambian society;
(h) Religious sermons or statements by any individual or group of individuals belonging to any given religious grouping or denomination which are contemptuous to, or are designed to slight, other religious groupings or denominations; and
(i) Conducting of religious sermons or ceremonies involving ten or more people in non-religious public arenas without a police permit, or conducting such activities on public modes of transportation that are not chartered by groups involved.

Some of these safeguards would, of course, need Parliament to prescribe the nature or kinds of punishment that would be meted out to convicted violators.

With the foregoing kinds of safeguards, a government does not need to place any restrictions on the construction of Churches, Mosques, Synagogues, Temples, or any other houses of worship, or have restraints on the expansion of any religious denomination.

If we fail to enact pieces of legislation designed to protect government institutions and the political arena from the influences of religion, we could actually be sowing the seeds of deadly religion-based conflicts.

The Nature of a “Secular State”:

In the ensuing paragraphs, I wish to briefly discuss the nature of what is referred to as a “secular state,” much of which I have excerpted and adapted from Wikipedia.

Essentially, a “secular state” is a nation-state or a country that purports to be officially neutral in matters of religion, supporting neither religion nor irreligion. It also claims to treat all its citizens equally regardless of the nature of their religious beliefs, and it does not have an official religion.

In other words, the term “secular state” refers to a nation-state or a country that honors individuals’ freedom of worship, prevents religion from interfering with governmental decision-making, and excludes it from the realms of governance and/or the exercise of political power.

And laws in such a nation-state or country protect each and every individual (including religious minorities) from discrimination on the basis of one’s religious affiliation.

Basically, a “secular state” is not an atheistic nation-state or country that officially denies the existence of God. In some “secular states” (such as Thailand and Turkey), there can be a dominant religion, while in others (such as India and Lebanon), there can be great religious diversity.

Some “secular states” may even have de facto official religions (such as Indonesia and Peru), where some government officials have to belong to certain religious denominations even though the country and its government does not officially support any religious denomination.

The author, Mr. Henry Kyambalesa, is a Zambian academician currently living in the City and County of Denver in the State of Colorado, USA. He is the Interim President of the Agenda for Change (AfC) Party.

Operation Young Vote (OYV) has stepped up its campaign urging Zambians to register as Voters as the exercise comes to an end on November 11, 2015.

OYV has launched a campaign dubbed  “Lembetsani Ma Voti – Be on Point”. The NGO says it will use every platform available to ensure that every Zambian especially those eligible to vote to register as voters.

Below is a statement issued by it’s executive director to Zambian Eye:

The coming to an end of the Mobile Voter Registration on Wednesday the 11th November, 2015 should prompt all stakeholders in the Electoral Process and the citizens as a whole to engage in high gear.

Information tailored to encourage and motivate citizens to find meaning in leaving their day to day schedules that bring them and their families something to eat to go and register as voters. This will help many of the eligible voters that have not yet visited the Mobile Registration Centres within constituencies to do so and register as voter.

OYV will use every platform available to ensure that every Zambian especially those eligible to vote to register as voters.

Among our innovative strategies of engaging members of the public and citizens is that of getting on the buses both intercity and intra-city (within the city – local bus routes). This we call “Lembetsani Ma Voti – Be on Point” on the Bus awareness, sensitization and education.

We are aware that a lot Zambians are most times traveling either between cities or within a city and most of them are mainly eligible voters hence the need to find a strategy to target them. This strategy is great and works well with the provision by the Electoral Commission of Zambia that says that a person can register from anywhere (any Registration Centre within the country) as long as they indicate where they would vote from.

It is our appeal that all stakeholders in the Electoral Process and the citizens we encounter in our different strategies in our bid to have as many eligible Zambians as possible to register as voters to become ambassadors of Lembetsani Ma Voti – Be on Point Campaign. To the Bus Drivers and Conductors we appeal to you to take this message with gladness and enthusiasm as speak about it always as you meet many people as you carry them on your buses from one point to the next.

The support of the Bus Drivers and Conductors and the traveling public in this endeavor cannot be overemphasized. We would like to thank you for coming and supporting this programme. It is our programme as a nation. Many thanks also for couloring your buses with the Lembetsani Ma Voti – Be on Point Campaign Bumper Stickers. To the Media thank you for your support. Without you information would be difficult to move.

The moment to get on the Buses and begin our Lembetsani Ma Voti – Be on Point is now. Shall each member of OYV get to their designated route, jump on the bus and do what we know best.

Thank you, safe trips and God bless us all

Guess Nyirenda (Mr.)
Executive Director

Hakainde Hichilema

Opposition UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has charged that Eurobond money shouldn’t be used for consumption.

Hichilema says revelation by PF this week that the Eurobond money will be used to finance the 2016 budget is absurd.

Read full statement below:

This week the PF have once again shown their lack of understanding in managing the economy, revealing how the latest Eurobond will be used to finance the 2016 budget. This is absurd, what the PF is telling us is that henceforth we will borrow to finance consumption.

As we have stated before such loans are only sustainable if and when they are invested wisely and not merely used to cover general expenditures. In fact, these funds must be invested into areas that will deliver returns if Government is going to be able to meet repayment obligations, which have now spiraled to take up 7.1 billion kwacha of the 2016 national budget. This is 2.8 billion kwacha more than our healthcare budget! PF must and should invest the Eurobond in productive sectors. A productive sector is a sector that has capacity to grow and pay taxes to Government. This is what is logical.

We say that if we can eliminate waste at the heart of Government then there really is no need to use this money to cover recurrent expenditures like the ones that are going to be for the newly created Ministries. If we can reduce the size of Government, limit the heavy Presidential travel schedule and minimise or completely do away with by elections then a great deal of money can be saved. One by elections costs us a minimum K10 million kwacha that can supply water to over 2.5 million people. So just one by-election denies 2.5 million people clean drinking water.

The savings from this wonton wasteful expenditure is the money that we in the UPND would use to then re-invest in education and healthcare and other critical social services. At this time, as a nation, we need to be investing in strategic areas that will create jobs, such as programmes that provide business start-ups with access to finance, or training of community healthcare workers. Such initiatives will both create jobs and deliver an additional return for us, through improved service delivery or economic growth. Why can’t PF reorganize Development Bank of Zambia and make it the conduit of industrial development. An amount of US$1.25 billion is a lot of money by any standards.

Regrettably this is not the first point on which the 2016 national budget has come under criticism. Analysts, both local and international, have already expressed concern that targets such as to halve the budget deficit in 2016 are unattainable and lack credibility. Barely a month has passed from the day Hon Alexander Chikwanda read the speech in parliament where he announced that his Government was targeting single digit inflation; we have hit double digits at 14.4%. In addressing the current economic challenges it is of fundamental importance that our plans have credibility or we will not be able to win back confidence.

Without confidence it will only become more and more expensive for us to borrow, and investors will more and more take their money elsewhere. Remember, Government has a responsibility to us, the citizens, to spend the money it has borrowed on our behalf wisely and with great care!

Hakainde Hichilema

UPND President

“Together we can”

Mulenga Sata

Miles Sampa

State House Deputy Minister Mulenga Sata is alleged to have given out K100,000 to some Youths operating from Lusaka’s Town Centre so that they could storm Farmers House and attack his cousin Miles Sampa for some unknown reason.

Miles Sampa is the ruling party – Patriotic Front Member of Parliament for Matero constituency in Lusaka. Last week, he quit from government as Commerce Deputy Minister.

According to the source, the Youths however got the money and disagreed amongst themselves over the order to attack Sampa.

“As soon as they got the money they started making calls to alert known individuals. The youths argued that Sampa had done nothing wrong and stated they were tired of being abused by Mulenga for his selfish reasons and dumps them after achieving his motives,” the source told Zambian Eye.

Mulenga is alleged to have issued the orders after he learnt that Sampa had paid rent for office space in the Farmers House Building.

Mulenga is a Councillor in Bauleni, however he remains estranged to the residents of Bauleni as he rarely visits the compound unlike his cousin who is ever in Matero executing his civic duties.

“The failed move is exemplary of how much the Lusaka youths loves Miles Sampa. They regard Sampa as one of their own,” said the source.

Last week Sampa quit as Deputy Minister but said he will remain PF and support President Lungu.

There are reports however that Sampa is being pushed by senior officials in PF who feel sidelined by President Lungu to form a breakaway party ahead of the 2016 elections.

Mulenga Sata could not be reached for a comment.

The Post Newspapers has applied for a stay of execution restraining the Zambia Revenue Authority -ZRA- from closing their paper over nonpayment of Tax.

ZRA Corporate Communications Manager, Mumbuna Kufekisa says the lawyers for the Post Newspapers delivered the court notices on Friday.

Mr. Kufekisa confirmed to ZNBC News on Sunday that the hearing has been set for Monday at 15:30Hours.

And Mr. Kufekisa has assured the public that the Zambia Revenue Authority operates independently, without political interference or any form of bias at any level – ZNBC

He says all taxpayers should comply with the Tax Laws and pay their taxes on time to avoid penalties, attracting interest, enforcement action and prosecution.

State House says The Post Newspaper are trying to seek sympathy from the people by accusing the Head of State of having directed Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) to raid the media organisation.

ZRA on Friday raided the Post Newspaper for none remittance of tax.

The Newspaper in its editorial accused President Lungu of having ordered ZRA to clampdown on the media house.

“There is no doubt, Edgar is using the Zambia Revenue Authority and other state law enforcement agencies to try and fix The Post and if possible, close it. And they are talking about it. They don’t hide their intentions and hatred for The Post.

Edgar has openly declared war against The Post and has reminded the nation that he is the Head of State and this newspaper stands no chance in a contest with him.

The Post is not in a contest with Edgar. The Post has been there much longer than Edgar has been in politics; it was established long before anyone could dream of Edgar to be councillor, a member of parliament or let alone a president of the Republic. What contest can there be between The Post and Edgar? The Post is simply fulfilling its duty of holding accountable those who wield or aspire to wield political, economy and other power over the lives of ordinary people. And holding the powerful accountable is not a choice for The Post but a duty. If by carrying out its duty in the most efficient, effective and orderly manner, The Post should be crucified, then it is ready to carry its cross to Calvary. But Edgar and his minions should know that wherever there is a crucifixion, there will always be a resurrection, ” reads some parts of the Post editorial comment.

But President Edgar Lungu’s Spokesperson Amos Chanda said State House was not surprised by the Post Newspaper’s allegations which he said were aimed at seeking sympathy.

Chanda explained that State House had nothing to do with the operations carried by ZRA at the Post.

Flashback: one of Sampa’s campaign posters

Miles Sampa says he resigned from the government to experience the poverty and suffering that ordinary people are currently going through, reports The Post newspaper.

Speaking to parishioners at St Mary’s Mother of The Redeemer Parish in Matero yesterday, the Matero PF member of parliament said the life of a deputy minister was too luxurious and in stark contrast to the lives of the people who elected them into government.

“To be deputy minister is very nice. You get two drivers, a big house, house servants and having lunch in places like Hotel Intercontinental and you have a nice big car with a flag. But I was not getting satisfaction from that because I realised that the people of Matero were not living like that,” he said.

Sampa, who resigned as commerce deputy minister late last month, said his position prevented him from spending enough time with the people that elected him and to listen to their problems.

“I resigned because I want to feel the poverty and suffering with you. I want to come to your houses and eat with you. It’s not enough to just speak; you have to go down there and be with the poor people,” he said.

Sampa donated K15,000 to the parish.

And parish priest Father Emmanuel Mumba said the current hard social and economic conditions in the country should not prevent Christians from being generous.

“The more generous we are, the more God blesses us. No act of generosity goes unnoticed. Don’t wait for tomorrow to help,” said Fr Mumba.

File: RB with Lungu during campaigns

Munali Aspiring Member of Parliament in the 2016 elections Niza Phiri says President Edgar Lungu should stop following former president Rupiah Banda’s legacy because he may lose elections just like him did in 2011.

Banda lost elections after serving for two and half years.

Here is what Phiri said:

There is no amount of politics that can hide the fact that we are facing a serious economic debacle as a country. What makes it worse however, is how the head of state is responding to challenges we face as a country.firstly The president seems to have shut his ears to sound advice the way RB did. And it cost him an election. It is evident from his appointments that the head of state is determined to push ahead with his wishes despite a divergent public perception. It is clear that many Zambians do not support the appointment of Dora Siliya and Bishop Chomba as Minister and permanent Secretary respectively , to the most sensitive ministry this year. But the head of state is determined to push forward anyway.

Secondly, the president seems to be more concerned about politics, than he is about development, he seems to be doing more party work than government work. The PF government seem to be in full throttle campaign mode at the expense of governments responsibility.
Further, the president seems to have sidelined original founder pf members, like Miles Sampa, who supposedly carried with them, the vision of the patriotic front and has chosen to surround himself with a lot of individuals zambians have rejected. It is the same way RB Chose to do away with mwanawasas MMD, and he faced the consequences.

Today, every single person in zambia is complaining about commodity prices, but the head of state hasn’t taken any decisive action or given a roadmap on how the government intends to arrest the situation. There are problems every where you look, but all we hear is politicking.

As a former Secretary General of the copperbelt institutions team, it sadens me to note, what has become of a party we struggled so hard to put in power under the leadership of The late Michael Sata. We hope the head of state takes some time to listen to us the ordinary citizens, because we have suffered alot. He is doing the same exact things that cost RB an election, and if he does not change course, the same fate awaits him