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Patriotic Front Bwana Mkubwa Constituency Member of Parliament Jonas Chanda   has revealed that k1.4 million Constituency Development Funds (CDF) has remained unutilized in by Ndola City Council a move he said denying the people of the much needed development. Dr. Chanda says despite the unutilized funds remaining dormant, the ministry of finance and ministry of local government released 2018 released another k1.6 million   for 2018 Constituency Development Funds.  Dr. Chanda explains that Bwana Mkubwa received the 2017 CDF full amount of k1.4 million in November 2017, not a single ngwee of the k1.4 million has been disbursed and not a single development project has taken off .  Below is the full statement PRESS STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE *NDOLA CITY COUNCIL BUREAUCRACY IN CDF DISBURSEMENT DELAYING DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN BWANA MKUBWA - DR CHANDA* _Lusaka, 12th January 2019_ –  The bureaucracy and red tape in the disburseme...

Tourism and Art Minister Charles Banda says the country’s hospitality sector is poised to register strong growth. Dr. Banda says this is due to the measures taken by government to diversify the economy such as promoting the hospitality and tourism sector. He says government is also making improvements in infrastructure development at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport including the construction of roads to tourist destinations. Dr. Banda believes that once completed the KKIA, the country is likely to record an increase in the number of airlines coming into the country directly. He has stressed that the Ministry expects an increase in the number of business travelers to the country as government embarks on a number of initiatives to stimulate economic growth. Dr. Banda has pointed out that government is committed to ensuring that all roads that leads to various tourism sites are improved for easy accessibility by tourists all year round.

The Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) has commended the government for ending 2018 on a single digit inflation rate. Recently Central Statistical Office (CSO) Acting Director Goodson Sinyenga disclosed that Zambia’s annual rate of inflation for the month of December 2018 increased to 7.9 percent. CSPR Executive Director, Patrick Nshindano says the single inflation rate digit is important for economic growth because it brings about predictability in planning as opposed to volatility in inflation rate. However Mr. Nshindano is worried that despite ending the previous year on a single digit inflation rate, Zambians are still faced with challenges of persistent increase in prices of goods on the market. He says there is urgent need to ponder how prices can be reduced for the benefits of ordinary Zambians. Further Mr. Nshindano notes with regrets that some people in the country especially those in rural parts are not managing to have decent meals.

The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) has welcomed government’s pronouncements that it plans to print ballot papers for the 2021 general elections locally. Recently Works and Supply Minister Mutotwe announced that the 2021 ballot papers will be printed locally as directed by President Lungu when he swore him as new minister. JCTR Faith and Justice Programme Officer Dominica Kabale says government’s resolve to print ballot papers locally is progressive and should be supported by all stakeholders in the electoral process. Ms. Kabale has reiterated that the printing of ballot papers locally will reduce speculations of rigging during elections. She has however urged government to start preparations now. Ms. Kabale also feels that the move will empower local companies thus it is important for them to up their game and meet the international standards that are required for them to print ballot papers. And Islamic Supreme Council of Zambia (ISCZ) Pr...

Agriculture Minister Michael Katambo has disclosed that the African Development Bank has given Zambia us$500, 000 to help fight army worms that have broken out in some parts of the districts in the country. Mr. Katambo has told journalists in Lusaka that the money will be used to procure chemicals for the spray of army worms in affected areas in order to eradicate fall of the worms. He has since assured farmers that his administration is ready to wipe out army worms which have invaded some maize fields on the Copperbelt and other parts of the country to avoid importation of maize. “We are just finalizing the procurement of chemicals and once the procurement is done, we will start distributing the chemicals in some parts of the country,” He said. Mr. Katambo says the ministry is doing everything possible with the support of cooperating partners to fight pests in areas of the outbreak.

Patriotic Front Member of Central Committee Party Mobilization Chairperson Charles Banda has appealed to stakeholders not to disrespect president Edgar Lungu during the National Dialogue Meeting. Dr. Banda is encouraging all stakeholders taking part in the Dialogue process not to embarrass President Lungu now that they will have an opportunity to meet him. He says his party will remove President Lungu from the meeting, if political parties and other stakeholders disrespect him. Dr. Banda who is also Patriotic Front Kapoche Member of Parliament says the indaba is key if well handled because it will help address the issues affecting the country thus the need for them to ensure that the process brings out what Zambians expect. He has warned that if it turns out to be a show down meeting, his party will not hesitate to remove President Lungu out of the meeting without fail. The warning comes against a background of what happened in 1996-97 when a meeting of all op...

All the 388,331 candidates who sat the grade seven composite examinations have been selected to grade 8, bringing the national progression rate to 100 percent from 99.14 recorded in 2017. Ministry of General Education David Mabumba says the improvement in the national progression rate is an indication that school places have been created at secondary school level. And Mr. Mabumba has however revealed that out of 388,442 candidates that sat for the 2018 grade seven examination, 239,024 candidates obtained divisions, 1, 2 and 3 representing 61.53 of the total candidates that sat the examination. below is the Ministers speech Republic of Zambia MINISTRY OF GENERAL EDUCATION STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER OF GENERAL EDUCATION, HON. DAVID MABUMBA, MP   ON THE RELEASE OF THE 2018 GRADE 7 EXAMINATION RESULTS Monday, 24 th December 2018 The Permanent Secretary - Administration; Directors in the Ministry of General Education an...