UPND Leader Hakainde Hichilema’s New Year message

Opposition UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has delivered a New Year message to the Zambian people describing the year 2013 as most challenging.

Below is the message:
The year 2013 has had its own challenges. As a political party and as a people, we showed a lot of resilience to fight some of the injustices in 2013 that were at the behest of people we entrusted to run the affairs of our nation, the Patriotic Front (PF).
The price of mealie meal went up to unaffordable levels, freedoms of movement were curtailed and political persecution was rife in some instances even resulted in deaths. The human rights records were appalling and efforts by many citizens to advise government fell on deaf ears In short 2013 was a nightmare in many scores.
As we go into 2014, I am urging the PF to put their act together and work for the betterment of the country. Zambia needs affordable Mealie Meal and not unnecessary by-elections. Zambians need jobs and not a bloated government. Zambians need more money in their pockets as per campaign promise and not new promises.
Zambian needs economic independence.
I am urging Zambians to be resolved and resilient as we face the challenges that 2014 will bring forth.
I take this opportunity to thank everyone for the moral, material and financial support that was rendered to the party. As we continue with the fight for a better Zambia, I am calling on all to embrace the spirit of volunteerism and sacrifice.
I am wishing everyone God’s Blessings in 2014.
Hakainde Hichilema
President – UPND

Rodgers: Liverpool still in title race

   Brendan Rodgers believes his Liverpool side are firmly in the Barclays Premier League title mix despite successive defeats knocking the Reds from top of the table.

Liverpool followed the 2-1 loss at Manchester City by falling to defeat by the same scoreline at Chelsea on Sunday, despite taking an early lead at Stamford Bridge. They are currently fifth.

Rodgers believes the accumulation of matches, with his thin squad depleted by injuries, contributed to the successive defeats which sees his side six points adrift of leaders Arsenal ahead of Wednesday's match with Hull.

"I think it's open," Rodgers said.

"Christmas Day eating our turkey we were top of the league. A few days and games later we're fifth. I think that's the way it will go between now and the end of the season.

"I think it's brilliant and it makes it really exciting."

Rodgers could be active when the transfer window opens this week.

He added: "We've shown in the first 19 games this season that if we get players back, get some help in January with a few more players, we can be in the shake up here.

"Liverpool was never in the conversation for the last few years. At least now we're being recognised in terms of what we're trying to do and our work.

"Hopefully we can add to it and get some depth to the group, because that is something that really helps you in the second part of the season."

Much of Liverpool's success this term has been down to Luis Suarez, who returned from a 10-match ban for biting Branislav Ivanovic in April to net 19 goals this season.

Suarez drew a blank for the second successive game at Chelsea, when Jose Mourinho accused him of diving when challenged by Samuel Eto'o.

Rodgers felt Eto'o was fortunate to still be on the pitch after catching Jordan Henderson with a poor challenge which led to Skrtel's early goal.

"He (Eto'o) should've been sent off," Rodgers said.

"I know we scored from it, but that was a wild challenge, where he's raked down his knee and down his shin and didn't even get a yellow card.

"Luis will always provoke a challenge from defenders, that's why he's world class.

"What he probably doesn't expect is to provoke a challenge from someone who's not involved in the contact.

"He's running to challenge (Cesar) Azpilicueta and Eto'o is street wise, he's cute, he blocks him. On another day you could give that as a penalty, because it's obstruction in the area.

"Of course, he (Mourinho) will defend his player and I will defend mine."

Liverpool are likely to be without defender Mamadou Sakho (hamstring) against Hull, while Joe Allen (groin) and Jordan Henderson carried injuries into the Chelsea contest.

Rodgers will speak to Sakho and Philippe Coutinho after the pair swapped shirts at half-time with Eto'o and Oscar, respectively.

Rodgers said: "I don't like that."

ESPN STAR

MISA happy with media performance in 2013

  THE Media Institute for Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia Chapter says it is happy with the performance of the media in 2013.MISA Zambia vice-chairperson Hellen Mwale said in an interview yesterday that most media institutions ,either private or public, though operating under difficult conditions, covered all sectors of society.She advised news sources to develop a cordial relationship with media personnel who work under difficult conditions.“Let us all refrain from beating our reporters for they play an important role in enhancing development. Without them we will not know what is going around in our various communities. Let’s make their work easy by supporting them,” she said.She said she is delighted to see public media institutions under the PF government cover opposition political parties and civil societies.She said the media played an important role in highlighting both positive and negative developments in various communities throughout the year and this was a clear indication of the freedom of expression.Ms Mwale urged media institutions to have editorial independence in order to uphold professionalism.She also encouraged journalists to be more professional and not allow intimidation during the execution of their dutie

PF will fail to meet the 8 MDGs observes UPND

The opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) has observed that the Patriotic Front (PF) government will fail to meet many of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) because it has been preoccupied with the quest to consolidate its hold on power.

Only one year remains before the deadline of 2015 in which Zambia is to achieve 8 MDGs of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, achieving universal primary education, promoting gender equality and empowering women, reducing child mortality rates and improving maternal health among others.

But UPND vice president for administration Richard Kapita says instead of first impressing the voters that gave them the mandate to govern the country, the ruling party has been busy creating by-elections using tax payers' money.

Mr. Kapita says this is why it will be difficult for the PF government to meet the 2015 deadline of meeting the 8 MDGs.

Mr. Kapita has told Qfm News in an interview that had the UPND been in power, it would have prioritized the achievement of the MDGs because it believes that such important development goals will help the country in long run.

Zambia ended 2013 on a bad note - Magande

National Movement for Progress (NMP) President Ng'andu Magande says the country ended 2013 on a bad note.

Mr. Magande told Qfm in an interview that 2013 ended with the country experiencing high mealie meal prices and the Zambians being subjected to a high cost of living.

He says things that impacted negatively on the economy should be attended to so that the country does not experience similar problems in 2014.

Mr. Magande says the Patriotic Front government should learn from the mistakes they made in 2013 and avoid carrying them over into 2014.

He says the PF government should instead concentrate on improving the country%u2019s economy.

Mr. Magande adds that 2013 was the worst year for the opposition in the country owing to the frustration they were subjected to.

MACHA RADIO WISHES YOU A HAPPY AND PRODUCTIVE 2014

RADIO MACHA PROGRAMS GUIDE

                   THURSDAY GUIDE


06:00-Station opens
07:15-English News
08:05-Adverts
08:15-Tonga News
08:30-Take the microphone to the listeners
11:30-Adverts
12:15-English News
12:45-Tonga News
14:00-Announcer's choice
15:30-Bulimi Muluwo
16:10-Annoucements
17:45-Adverts
18:15-English News
18:45-Tonga News
19:30-kusalazyanya mu bbaibbele
21:00-Gender in villages
22:00-Announcer's choice
23:30-closedown


92.9 FM

Minister directs Authorities in Choma to quickly distribute fertilisers to the Farmers.

Some farmers in Choma district in Southern Province have complained of late distribution of basal dressing fertilizer.
The farmers said their maize crop might go to waste due to lack of adequate fertilizer to cater for all the farmers in the area.
Penson Siamuungwa, a farmer from Kasizi village, said the late distribution of the commodity might affect the 2013/14 farming season.
Mr. Siamuungwa told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka that most farmers have planted their maize but due to lack of basal dressing fertilizer, their maize crop may be not grow well thereby affecting their yields.
And Chilundu Ziba said if nothing is done quickly by government, the area might experience hunger this year.
Mr. Ziba stated that government should prepare well enough to avoid the late distribution of farming input in Zambia.
He noted that the agriculture sector is a pillar of any country’s economy hence the need for government to invest heavily in the industry
But Agriculture and Livestock Minister Robert Sichinga, has directed the Choma District Agriculture Coordinating Officer (DACO) to ensure that the distribution of farming inputs to farmers in the district is commenced before the end of this week.
Mr. Sichinga said the government was determined to advance the agricultural sector in order to enhance national food security through continued timely distribution of farming inputs.
He said Choma district had so far received 16,979 by 50 kilogramme bags of D-compound fertilizer from Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ).
He has therefore urged the district administrative office to commence the distribution of the commodity as soon as possible.

-ZANIS

Minister directs authorities in Choma to quickly distribute fertilizer to farmers.

UPND to hold public protest

 

Opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) has announced plans to hold a public protest to press government to address the economic challenges that the people of Zambia have been subjected to.

UPND Deputy Secretary General Kuchunga Simusamba has told Qfm that the Zambian people in 2013 have suffered and things should change in 2014.

Mr. Simusamba says this is why his party has found it necessary to hold a protest and petition government over the economic mismanagement that has led to the high cost of living.

Mr. Simusamba says the high Mealie meal prices, high fuel and transport costs, high cement prices and unaffordable school fees are some of the things the UNPD intends to present to President Michael Sata.

He notes that said protest of his party which will be held under the theme "No more bufi" is scheduled to take place on Wednesday the 8th of January 2014 from 10 hours to 15 hours starting from the UPND secretariat to State house.

Mr. Simusamba has affirmed that the protest by his party is in the quest to make ensure that things get better for the people in the country. -Zanis

Choma DC warns ‘absentee’ HODs

Choma district commissioner Bernadette Hamweemba has warned of stiff action against Heads of Government Departments (HODs) in the district who have the tendency of absconding from meetings.
Ms Hamweemba said missing district meetings has become habitual by some HODs in the district thereby affecting effective coordination of developmental projects in the area.
Speaking when she addressed Heads of Government Departments during a one day training on financial management held in Choma today, Ms Hamweemba said it was important for all HODs to attend district meetings to share and learn what is happening in each department.
“Meetings organized by the district administration are important for each HOD to understand the activities other departments are implementing in the district, and facilitates easy coordination of developmental projects in the district”, she said
Ms Hamweemba described the tendency by some HODs of delegating other junior staff for meetings as unacceptable.
She warned that those HODs who do not attend district meetings risk losing their positions to their juniors whom they delegate to represent them for meetings.
“I will second for appointment the junior staff that is usually sent to represent HODs for these important district meetings that require the input of the HOD, because always delegating your junior staff signifies your incompetence to head the department but competence in the delegated junior staff “, she said
Ms Hamweemba said HODs should carry out the functions for which they were employed for and attending meetings organized by the office of the district commissioner is their mandate.
Ms Hamweemba urged HODs to ensure punctuality as observed by all public service workers under their jurisdiction if the district was to live up to its provincial status in effective and efficient operations.
And commenting on the nature of the training Ms Hamweemba said all district heads should have attended the meeting to obtain clear understanding on the financial regulations government was putting in place.
She said there could never be clear financial controls in a department where an HOD does not understand the correct financial regulations that exist.
“I do not see how an HOD who is absent from this meeting can spear head the management of adequate adherence of government financial regulations whose guidelines are being given in this meeting right now”, she said
The district Commissioner however urged the HODs present to take advantage of the training and obtain a clear understanding on the acquisition and management procedures of government funds which was the objective of the training.
And speaking at the same occasion Southern Province Senior accountant Muyano Mwanang’ombe who was among the facilitators of the training said government seeks to decentralize the management of funds to district level for enhanced service delivery.
“With effect from end of January next year district departments will obtain operational funds through the office of the district commissioner, the aim is to decentralize the payment system”, he said
Mr Mwanang’ombe said government had laid down financial procedures which needed to be followed if public resources are to be safeguarded and that it was important for all public service workers to adhere to them.
The financial management training which is aimed at providing adequate and clear understanding on the procurement procedures, stores department, internal financial controls and management of public funds was conducted in all the districts of southern province.

Hot Song! Choma music star Real Jay dedicates ‘Tucikuyeeya’ to Nelson Mandela

He is a music power house. A one man army who can produce, rap,dance and sing in more than 4 languages. His name is Real Jay and for the past two years, working from Radio Macha where he is also a dj, his Jay Life Entertainment studio has been producing hit singles that have gotten him shows all over Southern Province. Just recenly, The Road Traffic and Safety Agency contracted him for a number of road shows. 

He sings from the heart and makes music that will make you sit down and think about things and yet at the same time his music can make you dance and rejoice. Check out his brand new single ‘Mbelele Zyasweeka’ loosely translated ‘The Sheep Are Lost’. The song talks about Pastors who enjoy giving eloquent sermons instead of preaching the gospel for the way it is. to book him for shows please call +260 975763343. From the time he started singing, he has never released a flop. Bear witness to a genius below.

Tucikuyeeya (Nelson Mandela Tribute) Promo Download

Mbelele Zyasweeka Promo Download

Ndakuyeeya Promo Download

Ndimuna Musanza Promo Download

Mucenge Ngombe Promo Download