First of all Mr. Kaingu knows very well what our rich manifesto has, So he should go through it page by page and compare to what the PF government is doing , then make a judgment.
Secondly, this person knows that MMD will never come to power hence their decision to have a marriage of convenience with the UPND. He should not forget that PF as a party beat them all, so where is their strength?
Thirdly, Mr. Kaingu should know that whatever promises that President Sata made were a collective agreement of which every member of PF should stand up and defend.
Lastly we are assuring people like people like Mr. Kaingu to watch and see our pace. The doubting Thomas’s will live to regret why they are not joining or are boarding the boat which is sailing very well at the moment especially with anticipated rains.
Mr. Kaingu should concentrate on building the image of his family and the MMD party especially now that it is being run by a Pastor, who has failed to look after his flock and instead he is busy singing the same song as his vice president of trying to frustrate government efforts. The Mps from MMD who have been appointed to ministerial positions are progressive leaders who need our encouragement so that they can continue doing the good works they are doing for our people. We know there a lot of frustrations in MMD so much that they will not stop at anything
Issued by Peter Kampamba
PF District Secretary Choma
May the Minister of Local Government and Housing intervene in the matter immediately? As a party we shall not take kindly any interference from anybody, as it is believed that some former Employees of the Council who feel are connected to the Local Government Commission are behind the schemes. Before this man came the council was limping almost grounding to a halt because of the corruption which was going in the council, people where getting wrong salaries, and allowances and these are the ones frustrating his efforts.
Here is a man who calls a spade a spade; you team up to destroy his efforts. Surely, we do understand that each one of us has some short comings, but credit should be given were it is due.
Signed:
PETER KAMPAMBA HAMWEEMBA BENARDIT KEBBY MBEWE
DISTRICT SECRETARY DISTRICT POLICTICAL SECRETARY DISTRICT VICE CHAIRMAN
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
Notice of Cessation of Refugee Status for Angolan Refugees
1. Since the end of the civil war in Angola in April 2002, over 180,000 Angolan refugees have voluntarily and safely returned to and reintegrated in their country of origin. Today, only some 23,000 Angolan refugees remain registered in Zambia.
2. In light of the fundamental changes that have taken place in Angola since the end of the civil war, it is considered that those Angolan refugees remaining in Zambia who were granted refugee status on account of the civil war in Angola and the war of independence that preceded it should now be able to reclaim the national protection of their country of origin. Taking into consideration the announcement and subsequent recommendations of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Government of the Republic of Zambia hereby declares, pursuant to Article 1C(5) and (6) of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, Article I(4)(e) of the 1969 Organization of African Unity Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa (conventions to which Zambia is party), that the refugee status of Angolan refugees in Zambia who fled Angola as a result of the armed conflicts between 1961 and 2002 will cease as of 30th June 2012.
3. The Government of the Republic of Zambia will work closely with UNHCR to give effect to the cessation of refugee status for Angolan refugees in keeping with the relevant principles and procedures of international refugee law. In this regard, the Government of the Republic of Zambia will collaborate closely with the Executive of the Republic of Angola, UNHCR and other relevant partners to proactively pursue all feasible measures to facilitate the voluntary repatriation of affected Angolan refugees to their home country in safety and dignity prior to the effective date of cessation of refugee status.
4. The status of Angolan refugees who would not have availed themselves for repatriation and continue to live in Zambia after 30th June, 2012, will be regulated under the immigration law.
Issued by:
Mr. Maxwell Nkole
Permanent Secretary
Ministry of Home Affairs
President of the Republic of Zambia
STATE HOUSE
LUSAKA
Dear Your Excellence,
Ref: CONCERN WITH TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT IN ZAMBIA.
Sir, without wasting much of your time we the tourism community in Livingstone, are so concerned and worried on how tourism has/is been handled in this country and particularly in Livingstone, tourism is a very lucrative business because of its multiplier effect; but us as tourism businesses in Livingstone we feel we have been let down by the Ministry of Tourism. Tourism is an important sector not only to Zambia but the world over and it needs seriousness in policy decision making so that the industry can make meaningful contribution to the economic development of the country.
Currently Zambia and Zimbabwe are working on co-hosting the 2013 UNWTO General Assembly to our investigations Zimbabwe has moved miles away and all structures are in place with full involvement of the private sector and yet in Zambia the private sector is not fully engaged at all despite been used in the bidding process and we now feel left out.
The ministry of tourism never want to have meetings with the private sector and they always view the private sector like competitors and not partners which is regrettable; tourism is anchored on the private sector and if we the private sector are not fully involved we wonder how tourism will develop in Zambia.
We recall the previous government allocating some money about 8billion kwacha for the Livingstone and Northern Province tourism development up to now we in tourism in Livingstone have not heard anything that has happened with this money.
Before Tourism and Hospitality Act was in effect it was rejected by the tourism community and returned to parliament to date we do not know what is going on with this Act and yet the ministry continue collecting license fees without sensitizing the people
Tourism has been poorly marketed why should our neigbours be doing well than us and yet we have the same tourism attractions may be even better.
Mr. President we feel the problem is with the Director of Tourism Justina Wake she has lived her useful life at the Ministry of Tourism and the ministry needs new people to drive this industry forward. As tour operators in Livingstone we feel Justina has over stayed at the Department, she has run out of ideas and become a liability to the tourism industry. She is running the department like her personal business she is not serious; for her its business as usual always travelling. Unless Justina is moved tourism will never make any meaningful contribution to the economic development of this beautiful country. Shifting the department from one ministry to the other will not solve anything as long as she is there.
Mr. President if tourism is to make a contribution as provided for in the PF manifesto the director of tourism should be retired with immediate effect or transferred to other ministry, just like you have done with some other officers we are crying as the tourism community in Livingstone please Mr. President take action and help us.
If the UNWTO General Assembly is to be a success we need to move together as tourism industry private and public sectors and this can only happen if this Director can be moved please Sir help us. We anxiously waiting for your prompt action Mr. President
Yours in National and tourism Interest
Tour Operators
LIVINGSTONE.
Cc: Hon. Given Lubinda – Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism
Cc: The Chairperson – Parliamentary Committee on Tourism
Cc: Hon. Minister – Southern Province
Cc: Permanent Secretary – Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism
Cc: Secretary to the Cabinet
Putting aside the secession controversies generated by the BNC resolutions, the gathering itself and the position it purports to hold in the governance and representation of the people of Western Province have crystallized two governance challenges that Zambia, as a democracy, faces: parallel leadership structures and tribal integration.
a. Parallel Leadership Structures
The BNC was a gathering of around 2,000 chiefs and indunas or headmen. These considered themselves as representing Western Province ahead of 17 MPs and around 146 ward councilors who were elected by 188,519 people out of 394,660 registered voters there. The chiefs felt so representative that they even asked the elected MPs (and Minister) to resign.
Recently, Chief Nkole of Kapiri Mposhi was reported to have ordered the Kapiri Mposhi District Council not to displace his subjects from their farmlands in his chiefdom, denying ever giving HIS land to the state. The chief warned the Council to stop interfering into land issues in his chiefdom and not to undertake any land development works in the area without his permission. The chief said, “I have never signed anywhere that I have given land to the state so do not displace my people from their farms on this land because those are their permanent farms given to them with permits.”
The question is: Who governs and represents the people, traditional leaders or elected officials?
Obviously the answer is both. Zambia therefore must draw clear boundaries between the two. Nyerere in Tanzania opted to ban chiefs altogether to avoid tribalism, farm land squabbles and such. We have decided to retain them. Let us define their role very clearly and sensitise and contientise them so that they do not overstep their boundaries and start unnecessary frictions with elected leadership. It is anti-democracy to place inherited leadership ahead of elected leadership for by its very nature, inheritance is undemocratic. It perpetuates hegemony and marginalization and knows nothing about equality and human rights for all.
In the modern era, when we speak of “self-determination,” like the BNC is seeking, it does not mean being ruled by a local instead of a foreigner, instead it means being ruled by an elected official. Election, regular popular election, not nationality, defines self-determination (democracy). The Arab Spring is a good example, where rulers ‘for life’ are being shown the exit door. Chief rulership is not self-determination.
So even as we devolve power from the centre to the regions, we must not allow inherited power to interfere with elected power other than through the ballot. It is a recipe for disaster. There is a reason developed democratic countries have confined their chiefs and kings to ceremonial roles only. We too can make our traditional leaders ceremonial leaders; let us have constitutional chieftaincy. Let’s put ‘spanners’ in our governance and development processes all in the name of respecting tradition. Democracy and development are the ‘tradition’ of the future and chiefs must not interfere or be seen to interfere with their traditions of the past.
b. Tribal Integration
The wider Zambian population received calls for secession with trepidation because we have all grown up under One Zambia One Nation, thanks to KK’s one party state and its strong nationalism drive. We have lived and shared together as one people, as brothers and sisters of one family. This however, is slowly being threatened with the emergency of multiparty democracy, where some people see tribalism, a form of hate speech, as part of their freedom of expression and association. Tribalism is raising its ugly head to an extent where some politicians are using it as their strategy in seeking political office.
Furthermore, as the BNC showed, chiefs rule over tribes. Despite assertions that Lozi is the ligua-franca of western province, Nkoyas disassociated themselves from what they perceived as a “Lozi” move. They are now also organizing a Nkoya council. God knows which other tribes will organise theirs as well. Mbundas on the other hand attended and presented a long list of complaints of “Lozi” marginalisation of Mbundas, and appealed for Mbunda chiefs to be recognized as senior chiefs as well.
How do we uphold our One Zambia One Nation as a multiparty democracy? We need deliberate government driven and sponsored tribal integration.
This should go beyond tribal balancing in political appointments where it is really hard to have real balance. Rather it should involve having a “National Population (or Tribal) Integration Policy” whose objective should be to integrate the 73 tribes, by deepening our appreciation of the “Ubuntu” that makes us bantu-speaking peoples; the humanity that makes us human.
Among other things, the policy must encourage and facilitate for chiefs, especially paramount and senior chiefs, to attend traditional ceremonies of other chiefs. Having Paramount Chief Chiti Mukulu as guest of honour at the Kuomboka Ceremony, or chief Mukuni at Ukusefya Pang’wena, would go a very long way in bringing Bembas, Lozis and Tongas together. The policy must prescribe what I can describe as chiefs ‘diplomatic’ relations, where our chiefs can pay each other courtesy calls; the Litunga going on a kingdom visit to Paramount Chief Gawa-Undi just like Presidents go on state visits; with lots of media coverage. On these visits, they should exchange gifts as souvenirs to be displayed in palaces back home so as to be reminded of “my visit to Chief Mukuni of the Tonga people.” This will build a rich tradition of friendship and cultural exchange between tribes, which will cement national unity.
Almost every province now has a community radio station. Let these stations broadcast cultural programmes about Zambian tribes. How about “Imitundu Yesu (Our Tribes)” programme on Radio Ichengelo on the Copperbelt, to discuss cultures of different tribes; or “Your Lozi, Lunda, etc Neighbour” on Radio Lundazi in Eastern Province. These community radio stations can allocate just 30 minutes a week to each of the 7 major tribes, where people of these tribes from within the communities can share their cultures, music, etc and just speak their language on air. After all they are in Zambia; therefore, at home.
Whatever we have to do to integrate and make our One Zambia One Nation more one, let us do it. Let not the Ministry of Traditional Affairs be only about looking after chiefs, their salaries and livelihood, but also bringing our rich tribal diversity closer together. When we sing: “One land and one nation is our cry… All one, strong and free,” we must remember it is an eternal cry, perpetual work in progress.
ZAMBIANS across the country have described mobile telecommunications company AIRTEL’s operations and services as pathetic and expensive for nothing.
This revelation follows a Tumfweko survey conducted across the country on the company’s operations and its general assessment both on the ground and through its facebook official page.
The Zambian people are not happy with the way AIRTEL Zambia is operating especially with its service provision with regards to network congestion, no network every after 5 minutes overcharging i.e being expensive, poor customer Service care at their call center and lack of confidentiality as among other things.
AIRTEL is the only Network provider which charges for a service on missed calls. K100 for one to receive missed call notification message, a situation Zambians have described as ‘Day Time Robbing’. Zambians have called for an end to what they have described as pathetic services.
The Customer Call center has been and still blocking customer numbers who have queried positive complaints and criticism to never call the service customer center.
The main culprits at the call center have been identified as ladies who the Zambian people said and described as cheeky and fond of hanging up on subscribers who question their operations positively.
Airtel has on a number of occasion failed to apologize to it’s customers on alleged pathetic and poor services.
The Zambia Information and Communications Authority [ZICTA] have also been blamed for failure to harmonize poor operations at AIRTEL with its continued dissatisfied services
The company AIRTEL Zambia has seen its owners and names changed from CELTEL, ZAIN. The company was used by the former embattled ruling party MMD when in was in power to campaign for embattled Former President Rupiah Bwezani Banda through the sending of messages and making of ‘ROBO CALLS’ in which most of the Zambians expressed annoyance with lack of confidentiality in its operations.
The company is owned owned by Indian Investors called Bhati Airtel.
AIRTEL Zambia leaked the Zambian Mobile Phone Numbers database to the MMD against the wishes of the majority Zambian Airtel subscribers with view to be used for campaigning for RB.
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