Chongwe Member of Parliament, Sylvia Masebo has finally defected to the opposition patriotic Front-PF-ending speculations following her decision not to apply as a parliamentary candidate on the MMD ticket.
Speaking in Chongwe when she defected to the opposition Party Ms. Masebo however, admitted that the MMD under President Rupiah Banda has done some developmental works but not enough to warranty him another term of office.
Ms. Masebo claimed that all the projects credited to President, Banda were started during the late Levy Mwanawasa’s government.
She has blamed the late President Mwanawasa of having left problems for Zambians by leaving president Banda as leader.
She said the late President brought Mr. Banda from the farm, who is now allegedly giving Zambians problems.
She claimed she now feels like her real self for the first time in her life because she was treated like a leper in the ruling MMD.
She has also predicated that this year’s elections will be held in August.
Ms. Masebo said she did not defect from MMD before to avoid a bye-election which would have cost the nation.
She has further promised to help Patrick Mwanawasa to campaign in Kafulafuta, as a parliamentary candidate.
Among the people who attended the rally was former health minister Nkandu Luo and other ex-ministers from previous regimes.
And welcoming Ms. Masebo, Mr. Sata described the Chongwe iron lady, as an arrogant but sincere worker.
He told the gathering that Ms. Masebo had problems with Republican President, Rupiah Banda because he does not know her.
Mr. Sata, however, said the PF is capable of taming the mischievous Ms. Masebo.
He also said Chalimbana College should be upgraded to a university level a pledge he made in 2008 in the run-up to the presidential by-election.
Mr. Sata further dismissed allegations that he hails from Mbeya, in Tanzania.
He claimed that government has sent some journalists to go to Tanzania and create stories that he is Tanzanian.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Friday, July 1, 2011
My Reflection on big wig defections: Sylvia Masebo
MIKE Mulongoti, Derrick Chitala and Sylvia Masebo are some of the unprincipled and inconsistent names in Zambia’s political history, as a result of an adopted tag of democracy.
The trio has become synonymous with confusion because of their failure to circum to political changes in their lives, as the latter was deep rooted to tribal politics during the levy Mwanawasa regime.
The latter was well positioned under what was widely dubbed the family tree.
Digging in to my dust gathering library, my eyes falls on a 2003 edition of the post Newspaper with an interesting story headlined….. “SATA HAS OUTLIVED HIS USEFULNESS,” SAYS MASEBO.
The story states that, “SATA should retire from politics because he has outlived his usefulness,” local government minister Sylvia Masebo said, back then in 2003.
Reacting to Patriotic Front president Michael Sata's statement that she resigned from MMD as deputy national treasurer on grounds that there were a lot of Bembas in former president Frederick Chiluba's government, Masebo said Sata was a time waster who should be ignored.
Sata said Masebo was now happy two Bemba ministers have been fired by President Levy Mwanawasa to pave way for opposition members including herself.That is part of the story as carried by the post, a new found friend and image builder of the otherwise image dented politician.A number of points can be drawn from this story in relation to the current marriage of convenience that is to be consummated between Mr. Sata and the Chongwe parliamentarian.
First and foremost glaring lack of principles on the part of our politicians emerge. It is unthinkable that eight years down the line Ms. Masebo can stand with her head high and embrace Mr. Sata she was fully convinced had not place in the country’s modern political dispensation-who in short was fit for the political archives.
Going by her statement that Mr. Sata had outlived his usefulness, implies that Mr. Sata eight years down the line cannot in any way be regarded useful to the country one would think not only aged has caught up with him or simply put the man has deteriorated further and reports in the recent media regarding his health may just be a point to bank on.
For Masebo one would think she is taking the people of Chongwe for granted, using their support, energies and belief in her for personal aggrandizement. Her tendency to jump like a frog from one party to another is a manifestation of her inconsistence to uphold democratic values. How would Ms. Masebo today in broad day light embrace a Bemba who she failed to work with in the past and opted to resign as stated by Mr. Sata.
It’s the biggest personal denial for Ms. Masebo to settle to work with somebody she considered not only useless, but a time waster as well and a bootlicker.
With some of the above one concludes that the decision to join PF for Ms. Masebo is certainly not based on principle and desire to the serve the people of Chongwe, but her stomach. It cannot be doubted that this mischievous lady is a political prostitute and opportunist who will not stop at anything to even trade her integrity and values for just wanting to cling to her parliamentary seat.
She is a danger to the country’s democracy and herself full of vengeance and no proper political agenda for the country, which might particularly prove costly for the people of Chongwe. If the MMD has failed to deliver for the people of Chongwe as was reported in recent media and Ms. Masebo’s attempt to disassociate herself from the alleged failure is in itself an admission of failure on her part having served in the government for close to a decade under the very part she is despising today.
For now its only time that will tell for Ms. Masebo survival in the PF where before she announces her defection to the party carrots are being dangled in her face, even the uninitiated can read between the lines and conclude that this is not genuine, unless the PF has no other capable women to provide leadership to be so desperate to settle for the Iron lady from Chongwe.
ZAMBIA VCT Day: Prevention the way out of the HIV Epidemic
Lusaka, 30th June 2011 marked the 5th Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) day in Zambia. In 2007, Zambia met its MDG targets for HIV prevalence, which was set at 15.6% or less. Despite this, new HIV infections remain un-acceptably high; with a prevalence rate of 14.3%, Zambia remains one of the countries most affected by HIV and AIDS.
Current prevalence rates mean that over 1.8 million Zambians are living with HIV. This leaves no room for complacency, with much work remaining particularly in addressing the root causes of HIV which sustain high levels of vulnerability in sectors of the population.
Prevalence is no longer the most significant or sensitive indicator to monitor the epidemic. The focus has shifted from prevalence (total number of infections) to incidence (number of new infections). The UNAIDS Global Report (2010) announced that Zambia is among 56 countries globally which have reduced the rate of new infections. HIV incidence in adults aged 15-49 was estimated to be 1.6% in 2009.
In order to bring the epidemic under control, this rate is still too high. With over 900,000 people living with HIV and AIDs, of which nearly 80,000 are newly infected (NAC), Zambians individually and as a country continue to shoulder the heavy weight of the HIV and AIDS burden.
In order to reduce the incidence rate, it is critical to focus on prevention – to that end, knowing ones HIV status and taking appropriate action is crucial. It is equally crucial that one also knows the HIV status of their sexual partner. Yet the overall number of Zambians taking advantage of VCT remains worryingly low.
With only 16% of Zambian adults aged 15-49 knowing their HIV status, up to 20% of Zambian couples are unknowingly living with an HIV positive partner. This represents a significant risk for further infection.
Youth are particularly at risk. According to the 2011 MDG Progress Report, only 48% of youth (aged 15-24) have comprehensive and accurate knowledge of HIV and AIDS. This is of concern since most gains in the battle against HIV and AIDS have been in older age groups; it remains critical that Zambia’s youth, who represent 68% of the population, be engaged, educated, and encouraged to regularly participate in VCT.
Addressing the HIV epidemic is absolutely necessary in order to realize Zambia’s Millennium Development Goals. Prevention is a cornerstone of the response, and this will only happen if people take it upon themselves to know their status.
It is especially critical to empower and engage women, who share a disproportionate amount of the disease burden. In 2009, the prevalence rate of women was 16.1%, compared to 12.3% in men; what’s more, women of reproductive age are most at risk.
Working with the Government of the Republic of Zambia, as well as other Cooperating Partners, the UN system in Zambia is committed to reducing the incidence of HIV in Zambia and to ensure that those people who require treatment access it in a timely manner. The UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), developed alongside Zambia’s Sixth National Development Plan, provides a holistic, coordinated strategy for all UN agencies in Zambia, closely aligned to the development priorities of Zambia.
The UNDAF identifies five targeted outcomes, including reducing new HIV infections by 50% by 2015. In line with the objectives set out in the UNDAF, over a period of five years the UN will mobilize over US $45 million to support Government and other partners to develop and implement policies, strategies and programmes to prevent sexual transmission of HIV.
Article by Sirak Gebrehiwot
Current prevalence rates mean that over 1.8 million Zambians are living with HIV. This leaves no room for complacency, with much work remaining particularly in addressing the root causes of HIV which sustain high levels of vulnerability in sectors of the population.
Prevalence is no longer the most significant or sensitive indicator to monitor the epidemic. The focus has shifted from prevalence (total number of infections) to incidence (number of new infections). The UNAIDS Global Report (2010) announced that Zambia is among 56 countries globally which have reduced the rate of new infections. HIV incidence in adults aged 15-49 was estimated to be 1.6% in 2009.
In order to bring the epidemic under control, this rate is still too high. With over 900,000 people living with HIV and AIDs, of which nearly 80,000 are newly infected (NAC), Zambians individually and as a country continue to shoulder the heavy weight of the HIV and AIDS burden.
In order to reduce the incidence rate, it is critical to focus on prevention – to that end, knowing ones HIV status and taking appropriate action is crucial. It is equally crucial that one also knows the HIV status of their sexual partner. Yet the overall number of Zambians taking advantage of VCT remains worryingly low.
With only 16% of Zambian adults aged 15-49 knowing their HIV status, up to 20% of Zambian couples are unknowingly living with an HIV positive partner. This represents a significant risk for further infection.
Youth are particularly at risk. According to the 2011 MDG Progress Report, only 48% of youth (aged 15-24) have comprehensive and accurate knowledge of HIV and AIDS. This is of concern since most gains in the battle against HIV and AIDS have been in older age groups; it remains critical that Zambia’s youth, who represent 68% of the population, be engaged, educated, and encouraged to regularly participate in VCT.
Addressing the HIV epidemic is absolutely necessary in order to realize Zambia’s Millennium Development Goals. Prevention is a cornerstone of the response, and this will only happen if people take it upon themselves to know their status.
It is especially critical to empower and engage women, who share a disproportionate amount of the disease burden. In 2009, the prevalence rate of women was 16.1%, compared to 12.3% in men; what’s more, women of reproductive age are most at risk.
Working with the Government of the Republic of Zambia, as well as other Cooperating Partners, the UN system in Zambia is committed to reducing the incidence of HIV in Zambia and to ensure that those people who require treatment access it in a timely manner. The UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), developed alongside Zambia’s Sixth National Development Plan, provides a holistic, coordinated strategy for all UN agencies in Zambia, closely aligned to the development priorities of Zambia.
The UNDAF identifies five targeted outcomes, including reducing new HIV infections by 50% by 2015. In line with the objectives set out in the UNDAF, over a period of five years the UN will mobilize over US $45 million to support Government and other partners to develop and implement policies, strategies and programmes to prevent sexual transmission of HIV.
Article by Sirak Gebrehiwot
British High Commission to support 2011 Olympic Day run on 2 July
The National Olympic Committee of Zambia (NOCZ), with the support of the British High Commission and British Council, is hosting an Olympic Day Run today, Saturday 2nd July to mark the annual Olympic Day celebrations.
More than 500 pupils from various schools and members of the public will take part in a wide range of activities at the Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC) in Lusaka to mark the celebration of the anniversary of the International Olympic Committee created on 23 June 1894, which is the Olympic Day.
Speaking in Lusaka today, British High Commissioner Carolyn Davidson said:
"Olympic Day is a unique, global event held every year. The purpose of the Olympic Day is to get as many people as possible across the globe moving and experiencing the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect. Taking part in this event can also be rewarding because it provides young people with an opportunity to experience new and exciting sports, to see the benefits of a more active lifestyle and to motivate and encourage each other in a positive way.”
Ms Davidson said the British High Commission was pleased to be associated with the Olympic Day Run as part of the UK’s Government vision to see millions more young people participating in sport, and improving their lives as a result of that participation.
The High Commissioner went on to say that when London won the bid in Singapore on 6 July 2005 to stage the London 2012 Games, the UK pledged that children and young people around the world would be helped to participate and excel in sport.
She said that Zambia was chosen as the first country in Africa to implement the International Inspiration programme aimed at enriching the lives of young people in the long term. She said tomorrow’s event will provide an opportunity for children to showcase the power of sport.
Ms Davidson said the UK’s Government’s commitment to promote sport in Zambia was also demonstrated when the British High Commission and the British Council hosted a major sporting event for school children on 19 March this year to mark the 500 days countdown to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Since 1948, Olympic Day has served to celebrate the anniversary of the International Olympic Committee, created on 23 June 1894, and the revival of the Olympic Games.
In 1987, the Olympic Day Run was introduced to build a programme of sporting and educational actions around this anniversary, with the objective of getting as many people as possible across the globe moving and experiencing the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect. The number of participating countries has grown from only nine in 1948 to 205 member countries of the Olympic Movement.
15 March 2011 marked the 500 days to The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in London. The Games will take place from 27 July – 12 August 2012 in London. London was awarded the privilege of staging the 2012 Olympics and Paralympic Games in 2005 in Singapore.
The British High Commission and the British Council marked the 500 days to the London 2012 Games, at the Olympic Youth Development Centre, on Saturday 19 March 2011from 08:00 to 17:00 hours. About 500 pupils from various schools in Lusaka took part in the following sports: Football, Volleyball, Basketball, Athletics and Judo. Disciplines of Wheelchair Basketball and Paralympic Athletics were also included.
The International Inspiration programme was designed to give 12 million children in 20 countries access to high quality and inclusive physical education, sport and play. The programme has already reached more than 7 million children globally and over 300 schools in the UK have built partnerships with counterparts around the world.
UK Sport, the British Government’s lead body for international sport, alongside partners such as the British Council and British High Commission worked closely with the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child development, the National Sports Council of Zambia, the National Olympic Committee of Zambia and individual sports bodies throughout Zambia to implement the International Inspiration programme.
More than 500 pupils from various schools and members of the public will take part in a wide range of activities at the Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC) in Lusaka to mark the celebration of the anniversary of the International Olympic Committee created on 23 June 1894, which is the Olympic Day.
Speaking in Lusaka today, British High Commissioner Carolyn Davidson said:
"Olympic Day is a unique, global event held every year. The purpose of the Olympic Day is to get as many people as possible across the globe moving and experiencing the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect. Taking part in this event can also be rewarding because it provides young people with an opportunity to experience new and exciting sports, to see the benefits of a more active lifestyle and to motivate and encourage each other in a positive way.”
Ms Davidson said the British High Commission was pleased to be associated with the Olympic Day Run as part of the UK’s Government vision to see millions more young people participating in sport, and improving their lives as a result of that participation.
The High Commissioner went on to say that when London won the bid in Singapore on 6 July 2005 to stage the London 2012 Games, the UK pledged that children and young people around the world would be helped to participate and excel in sport.
She said that Zambia was chosen as the first country in Africa to implement the International Inspiration programme aimed at enriching the lives of young people in the long term. She said tomorrow’s event will provide an opportunity for children to showcase the power of sport.
Ms Davidson said the UK’s Government’s commitment to promote sport in Zambia was also demonstrated when the British High Commission and the British Council hosted a major sporting event for school children on 19 March this year to mark the 500 days countdown to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Since 1948, Olympic Day has served to celebrate the anniversary of the International Olympic Committee, created on 23 June 1894, and the revival of the Olympic Games.
In 1987, the Olympic Day Run was introduced to build a programme of sporting and educational actions around this anniversary, with the objective of getting as many people as possible across the globe moving and experiencing the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect. The number of participating countries has grown from only nine in 1948 to 205 member countries of the Olympic Movement.
15 March 2011 marked the 500 days to The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in London. The Games will take place from 27 July – 12 August 2012 in London. London was awarded the privilege of staging the 2012 Olympics and Paralympic Games in 2005 in Singapore.
The British High Commission and the British Council marked the 500 days to the London 2012 Games, at the Olympic Youth Development Centre, on Saturday 19 March 2011from 08:00 to 17:00 hours. About 500 pupils from various schools in Lusaka took part in the following sports: Football, Volleyball, Basketball, Athletics and Judo. Disciplines of Wheelchair Basketball and Paralympic Athletics were also included.
The International Inspiration programme was designed to give 12 million children in 20 countries access to high quality and inclusive physical education, sport and play. The programme has already reached more than 7 million children globally and over 300 schools in the UK have built partnerships with counterparts around the world.
UK Sport, the British Government’s lead body for international sport, alongside partners such as the British Council and British High Commission worked closely with the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child development, the National Sports Council of Zambia, the National Olympic Committee of Zambia and individual sports bodies throughout Zambia to implement the International Inspiration programme.
Foreign Secretary Bribery Act Op-ed: Bribery: the scourge of modern business
Bribery is a modern day scourge on international trade. At a time when so many people are struggling through an economic downturn, bribery is a very real disease threatening our prosperity. It poses a serious challenge to the development of economies and contributes to market failure.
It distorts competition, damages free enterprise and blights business. It stifles talent and innovation and kills entrepreneurship. In many cases it is the poorest in society who are hit the hardest.
For business, bribery is a threat that needs to be actively managed, like fraud or embezzlement. Corruption adds up to 10% to the total cost of doing business globally, and up to 25% of the cost of procurement contracts in developing countries.
Doing business in corrupt markets has been found to add costs equivalent to a 20% tax on business. In 2010 and 2008, roughly a fifth of surveyed executives reported that they had been asked to pay a bribe, with a similar proportion reporting that they had lost business to a competitor who paid bribes.
Social costs invariably come hand in hand with costs to business – detrimental effects to employment, health, education and a wasteful depletion of natural resources.
The UK Bribery Act which came into force on 1 July is an important step in Britain’s efforts to combat bribery, The Act will equip the UK courts with some of the most robust anti-bribery legislation in the world.
The Act consolidates and brings up to date previous legislation and introduces two new general offences of giving bribes or receiving bribes: an offence of bribery of foreign public officials for business reasons, and an offence relating to commercial organisations which fail to prevent bribery committed on their behalf.
Taking a robust stance on bribery will not just tackle the scourge, but it will act as a spur to business. Robust action against bribery will strengthen free market forces. It will fuel competition and will ensure consumers and the public get a fairer, better deal. Prices come down, services improve and business grows.
But most of all a tough stance against bribery will attract business and investment rather than deter it.
Business agrees with us. They too would like to see the scourge of bribery removed from business transactions. They will also want to see fair play by everyone and a level playing field for all. All the leading businesses and business organisations in the UK have made clear they want to see an end to this problem.
This is not just a problem for the West or the leading economies in the world. Bribery does even more damage to developing countries that can least afford it.
Developing countries face enough of a struggle to build economies, create proper tax systems, provide public services like health and education, and stimulate growth. Bribery adds costs, cheats the system and steals money. It traps people and countries in poverty.
I call on other countries to look hard at their own laws and regulations on bribery and to take tough action against it. The more that join with us to fight this scourge the quicker we will beat it. Many countries already have tough laws on bribery but there is no doubt more can be done to make them stronger and also enforce them fully.
The UK is committed to assisting the Zambian government and people tackle the challenge of bribery and corruption. The UK has pledged over £5m to support the Zambian government through the Anti Corruption Commission to implement its National Anti Corruption Policy. This includes support to the most vulnerable government institutions to increase transparency in the process for attaining services (e.g. licensing). This will help to reduce the number of people and businesses being asked to pay bribes.
The OECD has led international efforts to tackle bribery across the world and should be commended for their efforts thus far. The UN Convention Against Corruption is another important international agreement in the fight to build stronger economies and societies.
There are many other organisations such as the G20 joining in the effort to tackle this problem and the UK is keen to work with them all. I firmly believe that the UK Bribery Act will do more to support business and our trade with the world. But the UK cannot succeed alone. Only by global action, only through determined leadership, and only through government action in Zambia and elsewhere and through the support of business will we make possible the prosperous future we all want to see.
Written by UK Foreign Secretary, William Hague
It distorts competition, damages free enterprise and blights business. It stifles talent and innovation and kills entrepreneurship. In many cases it is the poorest in society who are hit the hardest.
For business, bribery is a threat that needs to be actively managed, like fraud or embezzlement. Corruption adds up to 10% to the total cost of doing business globally, and up to 25% of the cost of procurement contracts in developing countries.
Doing business in corrupt markets has been found to add costs equivalent to a 20% tax on business. In 2010 and 2008, roughly a fifth of surveyed executives reported that they had been asked to pay a bribe, with a similar proportion reporting that they had lost business to a competitor who paid bribes.
Social costs invariably come hand in hand with costs to business – detrimental effects to employment, health, education and a wasteful depletion of natural resources.
The UK Bribery Act which came into force on 1 July is an important step in Britain’s efforts to combat bribery, The Act will equip the UK courts with some of the most robust anti-bribery legislation in the world.
The Act consolidates and brings up to date previous legislation and introduces two new general offences of giving bribes or receiving bribes: an offence of bribery of foreign public officials for business reasons, and an offence relating to commercial organisations which fail to prevent bribery committed on their behalf.
Taking a robust stance on bribery will not just tackle the scourge, but it will act as a spur to business. Robust action against bribery will strengthen free market forces. It will fuel competition and will ensure consumers and the public get a fairer, better deal. Prices come down, services improve and business grows.
But most of all a tough stance against bribery will attract business and investment rather than deter it.
Business agrees with us. They too would like to see the scourge of bribery removed from business transactions. They will also want to see fair play by everyone and a level playing field for all. All the leading businesses and business organisations in the UK have made clear they want to see an end to this problem.
This is not just a problem for the West or the leading economies in the world. Bribery does even more damage to developing countries that can least afford it.
Developing countries face enough of a struggle to build economies, create proper tax systems, provide public services like health and education, and stimulate growth. Bribery adds costs, cheats the system and steals money. It traps people and countries in poverty.
I call on other countries to look hard at their own laws and regulations on bribery and to take tough action against it. The more that join with us to fight this scourge the quicker we will beat it. Many countries already have tough laws on bribery but there is no doubt more can be done to make them stronger and also enforce them fully.
The UK is committed to assisting the Zambian government and people tackle the challenge of bribery and corruption. The UK has pledged over £5m to support the Zambian government through the Anti Corruption Commission to implement its National Anti Corruption Policy. This includes support to the most vulnerable government institutions to increase transparency in the process for attaining services (e.g. licensing). This will help to reduce the number of people and businesses being asked to pay bribes.
The OECD has led international efforts to tackle bribery across the world and should be commended for their efforts thus far. The UN Convention Against Corruption is another important international agreement in the fight to build stronger economies and societies.
There are many other organisations such as the G20 joining in the effort to tackle this problem and the UK is keen to work with them all. I firmly believe that the UK Bribery Act will do more to support business and our trade with the world. But the UK cannot succeed alone. Only by global action, only through determined leadership, and only through government action in Zambia and elsewhere and through the support of business will we make possible the prosperous future we all want to see.
Written by UK Foreign Secretary, William Hague
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