Pilato arrest rumours untrue

Award winning poet and artiste Chama Fimba known to most as Pilato has come out to rubbish rumours about his arrest for his latest hit "Bufi" which offers a incisive critism of the current PF administration. 

Social media has been ablaze all day with reports of the "Ichashishita" singer's detention by police.  Many close to the singer have categorically stated that he is safe and has not been arrested nor questioned today or in the recent past. 

UPND's new home

The United Party for National Development has moved its headquarters from Lagos Road in Rhodes Park to #83 A Provident Road off Great East Road in Fairview, Lusaka.

Courtesy of Royd Moonga

More Money in Our Pockets?

Randy Kapiri queer couple thrown back in jail!

Police in Kapiri Mposhi have revoked police bond for two men arrested over the weekend for engaging in homosexuality after they were found in the act again.
ZANIS reports that Central Province Commissioner of Police Standwell Lungu who confirmed the development in an interview in Kapiri Mposhi, today.
Mr. Lungu said the suspects will now be kept in police custody pending court appearance.
He said the couple was discovered in the act last night and was apprehended by their relatives in Ndeke Compound.
Police have since slapped additional counts on the duo.
The Police Commissioner said the Medical Tests carried out on the two at the Hospital today proved consistent to the report that they engaged in anal sex last night.
“ We have revoked police bond and re-arrested the two men for again engaging in the act which they were arrested on in the first place they will remain in custody until they appear in court.. we have given them more counts”, Mr. Lungu said.
Over the weekend police arrested James Mwape and Philp Mubiana both aged 21 and residents of Ndeke Compound in Kapiri Mposhi for engaging in Homosexuality.
They were arrested after a tip-off from the members of the public that the suspects were engaged in homosexuality.
The two have been living together as man and wife in Ndeke area.
Mr. Lungu said the medical tests conducted on the two proved that they had been having sex against the order of nature.
The Police Commissioner said Philp had been acting as wife while James as man in the relationship which has existed for some time now.
ZANIS

RTSA bares fangs at bus operators

The Road Traffic and Safety Agency (RTSA) has threatened to suspend road service licences for bus operators who have allegedly implemented hiked bus fares without following laid down procedure.
RTSA Executive Director Zindaba Soko said the agency will not hesitate to suspend road service licences for bus operators who have decided to disregard the law.
Mr. Soko told ZANIS in Lusaka today that bus operators were fully aware of the procedure that should be followed before implementing bus fare hikes since this was not the first time transport charges are being adjusted in the country.
He further explained that representatives of a group of luxury buses operators has written to the agency requesting for an adjustment of bus fares by today, 6th May 2013.
He said these were advised to wait for feedback from the agency.
Mr. Soko also said the agency has not refused to accord an upward adjustment in bus fares saying a concrete date for the desired increase can only be communicated after discussions have been concluded by all concerned stakeholders including the Ministry of Transport, Communications, Works and Supply.
He disclosed that the agency will today meet all bus operators and stakeholders to discuss the way forward regarding bus fare increment.
And Public and Private Drivers Association of Zambia president Josiah Majuru said local bus operators were still waiting for further instruction from government before they can implement the hiked fares.
Meanwhile, Lusaka Bus Operators Association chairperson Ismail Kankara said his members have abided to government’s directive and will wait for the outcome from a meeting that will be held today between government and transport stakeholders.
Yesterday, some long distance luxury bus operators allegedly hiked bus fares despite warnings from government that it will be illegal for anyone to effect the hiked fares.
The decision to adjust bus fares upwards was necessitated by the increase of about KR1.65 per litre of fuel last week.
ZANIS / http://lusakatimes.com

Mansa-Luwingu roadworks begin

Construction of the Mansa-Luwingu road at a cost of one point one billion kwacha rebased has commenced.

Chipili Member of Parliament Davies Mwila whose constituency the road passes through has told Qfm News in an interview that the road works commenced on Saturday last week with the contractor China-Henan having mobilized all the equipment on site.

Mr. Mwila who is also defence deputy Minister says the Patriotic Front government will work tirelessly to ensure that the road is worked on as it had been abandoned by the previous successive government.

He states that as a Member of Parliament whose constituency will benefit from road once completed, he will put in his best to see to it that the contactor completes the works on time.

Mr Mwila has since called on the road users of the Mansa Luwingu road to exercise patience as they drive on the road.

Q-Fm

Full Stop headed to Fulham?

Chipolopolo defender Stoppila Sunzu has been linked with a summer move to Fulham.
Daily Star Sunday reports that Fulham could sign Sunzu ahead of Sunderland, who tried the central defender earlier in January.
The arrival of manager Paolo Di Canio at Sunderland is said to have dashed the player’s hopes of joining the Black Cats.
TP Mazembe rates Sunzu around £4million.
The 2012 Africa Cup winning defender has previously been linked to Reading and Arsenal.

Gay couple arrested, subjected to demeaning medical examination

Alert police in Kapiri Mposhi have today arrested two men for allegedly practicing homosexuality.
ZANIS reports that Central Province Commissioner of Police Standwell Lungu has confirmed the development in an interview in Kapiri Mposhi today.
Mr. Lungu named the suspects as James Mwape and Philp Mubiana both aged 21 years and residents of Ndeke Compound.
He said the duo have since been charged for having sex against the order of nature contrary to the laws of Zambia.
The two were arrested over the weekend after a tip-off from concerned members of the public who alleged that the suspects were married.
The two have been living together as man and wife in Ndeke area.
From the medical tests conducted on the suspects at Kapiri Mposhi District Hospital proved that they had been practicing sodomy, Mr. Lungu said.
The Police Commissioner said Philip had been acting as wife while James as man in the relationship which has existed for some time now.
“We have arrested two 21-year-olds and charged them for sodomy for having sex against the order of nature … they have been living together and having sex against the order of nature”, Mr. Lungu said.
He said the two who have since been granted police bond will appear in court on Wednesday this week.
Recently, government decreed that it will stiffen laws against homosexuality.
Minister of Youth and Sport Chishimba Kambwili said Government will help the people of Zambia to fight the vice with vigour.
He said on a commercial radio chat show, Let the people talk, that government will “not tolerate nonsense” and that homosexuality will not prevail in this country.
“We don’t want Zambia’s children to be taught any vice. We will not tolerate homosexuality. Those who want to promote homosexuality in Zambia are wasting their time. If anything, we are planning to stiffen laws against homosexuality,” he said.
And US-based Zambian Evangelist Edward Chomba said homosexuality should not be given a chance in the country.
Speaking during the same programme, Bishop Chomba said if homosexuality is given a platform for debate, “it will grow deep and derail our customs”.
ZANIS

Financial Indicators 06/05/2013

Copper : US$7121.00 per tonne
Nickel: US$14905.00 per tonne

USD
Buying 5.2983
Selling 5.3183

PF denies weakening democracy

The ruling Patriotic Front has denied assertions suggesting that defections of Members of Parliament from the opposition political parties who are joining the ruling party are meant to kill democracy in the country.

This follows calls by some opposition political parties and civil society groups in the country urging President Michael Sata and his administration to stop the defections of MPs from the opposition political parties who are joining the PF in order to safeguard the strength of Zambia's Democracy.

PF Secretary General Wynter kabimba who is also Justice Minister has maintained that defections of MPs from the opposition to join the ruling party are only a demonstration of the PF's popularity in the country.

Mr. Kabimba has however challenged the opposition political parties and the civil society groups in the country to explain why other defections such as that of Dr. Cannicius Banda who left the MMD to join the UPND should not be referred to as bad for democracy.

Courtesy of Radio Q-FM

South African private sector reacts to Scotty's potty mouth

A South African organisation that was supposed to help with infrastructure development in Zambia has withdrawn from coming into the country following remarks by Vice-President Guy Scott that the country is backward.
Paragon Architects director Henning Rasmuss, who was invited to Zambia to meet Vice-President Scott and other government officials, was expected in the country this month to discuss infrastructure development and financing of modern markets considered to assist vendors.
Rasmuss was also organising workshops for district commissioners for infrastructure development.
He said in a message to the Refugee Help Desk, a Zambian organisation based in South Africa that was facilitating his visit, that his company would not carry out its infrastructure development plans in Zambia after the remarks by Vice-President Scott.
"We have been going ahead with the planning of the workshop in Zambia. However given the ill-timed comments of the Vice-President of Zambia Dr Guy Scott, it would be a complete waste of time to come to Zambia under these conditions and until the political storm has died down," Rasmuss said.
"We can certainly not promote South African development solutions. Politicians always play their own games but this storm will pass."
And Rhoda Nsama, who is the ambassador for the Refugee Help Desk and an associate member of Amnesty International which is helping 20, 000 Zambians living in that country as asylum seekers said Vice-President Scott's remarks had derailed the good relationship between Zambia and South Africa.
"The remarks by the Vice-President have really derailed the good relations that the two countries have enjoyed for a long time. Economically we know that the powerhouse of the Southern African economy right now is South Africa. So if he had a problem with the country, he should have dealt with it at a diplomatic level," said Nsama who received the message from Rasmuss.
"If you look at the message that Mr Rasmuss sent, it's almost like they are questioning the position of the Vice-President. It does not augur well. He has raised a lot of doubts on the relationship between Zambia and South Africa."
The UK Guardian reported that Vice-President Scott said South Africans were backward and that the country was the cause of the much trouble on the African continent.

Courtesy  The Post

Bucs proceed despite loss

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Two penalties and a red card – all allegedly dubious and with that, Orlando Pirates have defied the odds to reach the group stages of the CAF Champions League despite losing 1-0 to TP Mazembe on Sunday in Lubumbashi.

Bucs progress after winning 3-2 on aggregate.

 Pirates captain Lucky Lekgwathi was sent off in the first-half with Pirates officials describing the referee’s decision as a “joke” and as if that was not enough, two penalties were awarded to Mazembe but Senzo Meyiwa was equal to the task on both occasions.
Nathan Sinkala completed the match while Given Singuluma was substituted in the 68th minute and Collins Mbesuma was withdrawn late in the game.

Pirates XI v Mazembe: Meyiwa, Jele, Phungwayo, Lek
gwathi, Gcaba, Okonkwo, Masalesa, Bester, Myeni, Segolela, Mbesuma.
Mazembe XI v Pirates: Kidiaba, Kasusula, Kabiona, Kimwaki, Frimpong, Singuluma, Sinkala, Mputu, Kabangu, Samatta, Asante.

Courtesy of ZamFoot