Ndola stadium to host Africa Cup qualifier

28th July 2011

The ultra-modern Ndola stadium scheduled for completion next month will host the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between Zambia and Libya.

Zambia will play the North Africans on October 8 in a Group C final qualifier.

Minister of Works and Supply Gabriel Namulambe said in an interview in Lusaka on Thursday that the stadium under construction in Ndola will be completed in time for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya.

Namulambe said Anhui Foreign Economic Construction (AFEC) has already completed major works and that only remedial works like access roads leading to the stadium are remaining.

“There is no doubt the final qualifier will be played at the new stadium in Ndola since works on the modern sporting infrastructure is scheduled for completion in the next 45 days.

“His Excellency President Rupiah Bwezani Banda will officially open the stadium which will also cater for other sporting disciplines like athletics.

The official opening date will only be announced once minor works are completed,” Namulambe said.

The Chipolopolo have over the years been forced to play their home games at Konkola Stadium in Chililabombwe following the closure of Lusaka’s Independence Stadium.

Nchanga Stadium in Chingola hosted last month’s qualifier against Mozambique, which Zambia won 3-0.

Namulambe said the stadium will have a natural football pitch and a synthetic running track.

He also said the stadium under construction in Lusaka will gobble US$94 million.

“The works at the new Lusaka stadium are expected to be completed in 30 months but we have been told the structure could be ready four months ahead of schedule,” he said.

Shanghai Construction Group of China are the contractors for the 50,000 seater stadium.

Namulambe said construction of the stadium was initially supposed to start in April but delayed due to heavy rains.

“We are happy works on the other new stadium to be constructed in Lusaka commenced on Wednesday.

The contractors have assured us that the stadium will be completed within the specified time,” he said.

RB GOD-SEND, SAY NDOLA RESIDENTS

By Hellen Ngosa

President Banda is a God-given gift to Zambia, former Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) Ndola District vice-chairperson Victor Chimuka has said.

And Mr. Chimuka says economic achievements that Zambia has experienced in the two and a half years of President Banda’s reign will go down in history as the most successful.

Speaking in an interview, Mr. Chimuka said it is God’s plan that President Banda continues to rule this country.

“President Banda never wanted to be Vice-President.  It was God’s plans that he heads this country.  Look at how many times people were sent to his farms in Chipata to plead with him to take up the position.  At last God intervened and he accepted,”

He said even after the death of President Mwanawasa, President Banda remained the choice of most Zambians as God had seen it fit.

Mr. Chimuka said even in this year’s election, President Banda will be victorious because it is the wish of most Zambians that he continues running the affairs of this country.

“It is the wish of every well-meaning Zambian that President Banda continues ruling this country and God will grant us our hearts’ desires just like he did in 2008,” he said.

Mr. Chimuka said the people calling for change of Government can best be described as agents of the devil who want to bring confusion in the country.

He said it is sad to note that the opposition are misleading Zambians by alleging that they will do miracles once elected into power with nothing to showcase.

He wondered why some Zambians have opted to listen to power hungry politicians who will not keep to their promises should they be elected into office.

“I would believe anyone who justifies why they should be voted into office if they show that they are capable of doing rather than them verbally stating their plans without showing their works.  I urge fellow Zambian to vote for President Banda because of what he has done and is capable of doing for Zambia,” Mr. Chimuka said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Chimuka says people of Ndola are happy with the development projects that Government has embarked on.

He said the revamping of the mines on the Copperbelt has added value and hope to people’s lives, making most of them opt for President Banda and the MMD in this year’s election.

He said among other projects that the people of Ndola are happy with the construction of the first ever ultramodern stadium, the new markets, security officers ‘houses and the township roads.

Commenting on allegations from the opposition that all the development projects that President Banda has been undertaking countrywide are an idea of late President Mwanawasa, Mr. Chimuka said such claims are baseless.

Mr. Chimuka said not all projects were initiated by president Mwanawasa, adding that President Banda had a choice whether to continue with the projects he found or not. Many of the projects were started three years ago just after President Banda was elected.

He said President Banda went ahead with some of the projects in the interest of all Zambians.

“President Banda is human and he had a choice whether to continue with some of the development projects that were started by President Mwanawasa or not.

But because he knew that those projects were to benefit Zambia, the country he loves so much, he decided to continue and I think it is recklessness for someone to suggest that all the development projects were started by the Late President Mwanawasa,” Mr. Chimuka said.

SENANGA-SESHEKE ROAD WORKS CHEER RESIDENTS

By SEFI JUMBE
President Banda and the MMD government have won praises for the construction of the Senanga –Sesheke road.

Residents have described the head of state as the first national leader who has thought of working on the road.

Akufuna Mubita said having a tarred road is a long awaited development which will make life easier for her; especially that she is a trader.

She said initially, travelling on that road was a nightmare but that with the works already in progress, she can see the dream of people of Western Province becoming a reality.

She said the road will open up the province to other parts within and outside the country.

Ms. Mubita said President Banda’s government should be given an opportunity to be able to finish the good projects that are in places as opposed to leaders who will only come and destroy the good works.

Another resident Sililo Mulafela said the works of the MMD government are there for all to see.

He said all projects are appreciated but the most appreciated is the Senanga-Sesheke road which has brought pride to the province.

He said as a transport officer, he will be able to drive on the road with pride and enjoy his work unlike before where he would dread any assignment that entailed travelling on the road.

Inonge Ngenda, a teacher, says though she may not frequent that road, it will be a joy to teach the children on the value of that road and what development has come with it.

She said the history of the road and how long it has been neglected until president took office will be good history to teach the children.

Likando Mukelabai said he has lived in Senanga since time immemorial and described the development as most welcome.

As a farmer, he said he will be able to transport his produce without dreading the period it will take to transport his goods.

MASEBO BRIBES CHONGWE VOTERS

BY MUTINTA CHIMUKA

Chongwe Member of Parliament Sylvia Masebo is allegedly involved in vote-buying in the area in an attempt to retain the seat on the Patriotic Front ticket.

Masebo is said to be worried with the growing popularity of MMD candidate Japhen Mwakalombe and believes the only way to retain the seat is through vote-buying.

Impeccable sources have told the Zambian that Masebo’s popularity has drastically plummeted in the last few years because she has failed to perform.

Ms Masebo has been going round schools in the constituency distributing K2 million to headmasters of named schools in an attempt to woo their support.

The source said she is also trying to bribe headmen and other traditional leaders to galvanise support for her.  People in the constituency are disenchanted with lack of development and have resolved to Vote for Mr. Mwakalombe and President Rupiah Banda.

They say Ms Masebo has done nothing in the 10 years she has been MP on different party tickets and they see no reason why they should continue voting for her.

Ms Masebo became Chongwe MP in 2001 under the Zambia Republican Party before jumping ship to MMD on which he retained the seat in 2006.

She has again defected, this time to the PF, hoping to gain from the perceived popularity of the party in Lusaka.  She has, however, not been accepted in Chongwe and is now considering moving to an urban constituency where her traits are less known.

In her desperate move which is largely miscalculated, Ms Masebo has even printed T-Shirts for Chongwe which she intends to distribute if her patriarchal boss, Michael Sata, picks her for the constituency.

The source has since asked the Anti-Corruption Commission to institute investigations and effect an arrest.  The source said Ms Masebo is deeply involved in bribery which is not only a criminal offence but an affront to multi-party democracy which Zambia fought hard in 1991.

“President Rupiah Banda has in the last two years built schools, hospitals and roads.  He has also invested heavily in agriculture while Ms Masebo is just seated in Lusaka.  We, therefore, see no reason why we should not vote for him (Mr. Banda) and his MP Mr Mwakalombe a spokesperson of the residents said during the week.

RB will win, insists Sakwiba

There is nothing that will stop President Rupiah Banda from winning the elections this year, United Liberal Party leader Sakwiba Sikota has declared.

In an interview, Sikota said out of the three contenders in this year’s election only President Banda has a clear vision on how to run the affairs of the nation.

He said it is sad that opposition political parties and their leaders have chosen to mislead the country about the economic growth the incumbent president has scored in the past three years he has been President.

“It is now clear that President Banda is retaining power, looking at the current contenders, no one can match President Banda and they will not stop him from coming out victorious in this year’s elections, people want to see a leader who has a heart for the people, a leader who can point a finger at something and President Banda has something to talk about,” said Sikota who a fortnight ago announced that his party will not contest this year’s election but will support the MMD and its candidates.

He said people seeking public office should first explain what they will do to reduce poverty and create jobs for young people. He said they should show how different their approach would be different from what president Banda is already doing.

“People must know that the ongoing debates ahead of the elections this year on the personality of President Banda are meant to sway the electorates. But I can assure you that Zambians are very intelligent people who will always look back where they have come from, President Banda has delivered,” he said.

He said President Banda has proved to the Zambian people that he is capable of guiding the country to economic prosperity.

“We must learn to appreciate the achievements of the MMD government in the last three years. Just look at the levels of infrastructure development, look at the successes his administration has recorded in the mining sector on the Copperbelt, look at the bumper harvest this country has been recording in the past three years under his leadership, so what more do you want from a government?” he asked.

Sikota told the Watchdog that it will be pointless to oppose the leadership that has delivered economic developments, adding that the people of Zambia should not risk voting for any opposition political party in order for the country to continue recording economic gains.

Business Monitor International tips RB to win 2011 elections

July 28, 2011

THE Business Monitor International Limited (BMI) has predicted that President Banda will easily win this year’s elections as a reward for his government’s recent economic achievements and says grassroots support for the MMD remains strong.

And the organisation says the turbulent past of opposition Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata is likely to prove to be his liability in the polls, and that his national support has fallen since 2008.

The reputable global research organisation, involved in economic, political and social research across the world, has made the predictions in its review of southern Africa for August 2011.

“Programmes to facilitate the use of fertilisers and high-quality seeds have helped to generate two record maize harvests in the past two seasons – an achievement that cannot be overstated in the largely rural country,” the BMI says.

“The government’s efforts promise to increase formal employment, diversify the economy, broaden the tax base and lower poverty levels and we believe that the electorate will reward (President) Banda and his MMD party at the polls,” the organisation says.

It says clearly, grassroots support for the MMD has remained strong because of Government’s progressive programmes aimed at benefitting ordinary citizens and reducing poverty.

 

The BMI reports that because of the increase in the number of beneficiaries of subsidised farm inputs under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) from 500,000 to 890,000 small-scale farmers in the last farming season, the country has witnessed increased participation in food-based agriculture.

“The scheme (FISP) has seen agricultural production soar and this year’s maize harvest is expected to reach over three million tonnes, an improvement on the record 2.8 million tonnes last year.

“The improvements will help stave off food insecurity plaguing other parts of Africa,” the organisation says.

It also notes a huge increase in the number of registered voters from 3.9 million in 2006 to 5.2 million this year, which it attributes to a rising generation of constituents just reaching voting age and increased voter enthusiasm.

On Mr Sata, the BMI says although the PF leader has campaigned aggressively in Western Province lately, he remains a controversial figure who has often expressed admiration for an unpopular president of an African country.

The BMI also says Mr Sata’s anti-foreign sentiment in populist appeals threaten to undermine Zambia’s impressive growth story.

“While recent comments have sought to attract more moderate voters, Sata’s turbulent past will likely prove to be a liability, and his national support has likely fallen since 2008,” it says.

“The MMD has demonstrated that it is still a force to reckon with in local elections, where it has won 62 of 110 wards (compared with United Party for National Development’s 24 and the PF’s 22),” the BMI report says.

It adds that the bickering between the PF and the UPND following the demise of their electoral pact has damaged both opposition parties’ chances.

The BMI was founded in 1984 by Richard Londesborough and Jonathan Feroze, the company’s joint chief executive officers, and is based in Blackfriars, London, with foreign offices in New York and Singapore.

It has customers in more than 140 countries worldwide and has provided reliable analyses, data and forecasts to businesses, banks, financial services companies, governments, academia and research centres.

It was awarded the ‘Queen’s Award for Export Achievement’ in 1997.

The positive prediction comes hot on the heels of the assessment by the International Monetary Fund of the country’s economic programme as “robust and broad-based”, and its reclassification as a lower middle-income country by the World Bank, both in a space of one month.

Zambia’s Elections Date: It’s Tuesday 20th September 2011

Thursday, July 28, 2011, 10:23 am

 

President Rupiah Banda has dissolved parliament and cabinet, and has set 20th September as the date for this year’s tripartite elections.

President Banda says after consulting the Electoral Commission of Zambia on all logistics for holding elections, he is satisfied that the country can hold the polls and has signed statutory instrument number 76 0f 2011 for holding the presidential and general elections.

President Banda has also signed statutory instrument number 77 of 2011 for the Local Government elections.

This means that both the Presidential, Parliamentary and Local government elections will be held on the same date.

But president Banda says he and the vice president will continue running affairs of the nation and representing Zambia in international affairs until another government is ushered into office.

The president has says state functions will continue to operate normally.

Mr Banda says the decision made is in line with the Zambian constitution.

He says permanent secretaries will help him run government while the police and the army will continue to safeguard Zambia’s sovereignty.

President Banda says Zambia’s stability is underpinned by peace, unity and economic development and there is need to ensure that the elections are violence free.

Mr Banda has called on all candidates and players in the elections to ensure adherence to election guidelines.

President Banda has drawn the attention to the revised electoral code of conduct to ensure that there is harmony during and after the elections.