Ester Phiri and Gabriel Namulambe

Zambia's Ester Phiri pounded Germany's Elina Tissen to grab the World International Boxing Federation championship last weekend.
Here, Ester Phiri listens to Zambia's sports minister Gabriel Namulambe. Ester has done Zambia pride and we are happy for that. She has redeemed Zambia in many instances. If she follows and listen so much to politicians, she will never come far. Sports has managed to do a lot of things that our politicians have failed to do.
Mr Namulambe attacked the Zambian media last week saying the journalists should not write negative things about Ester. The minister said reporters have an obligation to write positively about development in Zambia.
However, some critics have said that the minister should not dictate what the media must write. He said the media has a critical role to play in development and they must highlight any gaps and deficiencies in any process.

MALARIA DAY IN ZAMBIA

WORLD MALARIA DAY IN ZAMBIA
More efforts needed to eradicate the the number one killer disease...

Mrs Mwanawasa (right) reads the writings on a billboard she unveiled ahead of the World Malaria Day which fall on April 25. The billboard is part of the sensitisation camapaign against malaria.
The billboard on one side shows the First Lady kicking malaria out of Zambia with writings on how to curb the pandemic.
In Zambia and Southern Africa, malaria is ranked as the number one killer disease in Zambia. It is rampant in children and pregnant women. There is a malaria control centre in Zambia under the ministry of health, which is scaling up and co-ordinating efforts against the disease.
A number of activities have been arranged to commemorate this day, with a major conference of SADc health ministers taking place in Lusaka. This would culminate into a commemoration on the actual day in Livingstone where official statements would be pronounced.

Malaria billboard

Mrs Mwanawasa (right) reads the writings on a billboard she unveiled ahead of the World Malaria Day which fall on April 25. The billboard is part of the sensitisation camapaign against malaria.

Flag off

First Lady Maureen Mwanawasa (in red) flags off the cycling journey from Lusaka to Livingstone. They cyclists are carrying out a sensitisation trip on malaria.

Woman cyclist

A woman joins other cyclists to cycle for the sensitisation on malaria in Lusaka. They group moved from Serenje to Livingstone through Lusaka.

Cyclists resting

A team of cyclists following proceedings during the World Malaria Day in Lusaka. This team cycled from Serenje district in the north, which about 300 kilo metres from Lusaka. They proceeded to Livingstone in the south, which is about 600 kilo metres. The team included women. They are cycling all that distance to raise awareness on malaria in Zambia and the world. Malaria in Zambia is said the among the maor killer diseases especially among children and preganant women.

Majorettes

Majorettes put up a performance.

Majorettes

Zambian majorettes dancing during the World malaria Day celebrations in Lusaka.

SUSPENDED FOR CALLING FOR MUGABE'S REMOVAL

Zambia's ruling party suspends junior official for saying Mugabe must removed by force...strong>

A JUNIOR official from Zambia’s ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) who has called for the forceful removal of beleaguered Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe now faces possible sacking from the ruling party.
MMD Lusaka province chairperson Geoffrey Chuumbwe told journalists last weekend that the Zimbabwean President must be removed by force.
But on Monday this week, Zambian President Mwanawasa said shortly after his arrival from Mauritius that the statement embarrassed him because Mr Chumbwe was too junior in the ruling party to issue such a statement.
However, Chuumbwe insisted that Mugabe must go even by force. Chuumbwe said his statement was prompted by Mugabe’s utterances the Zambia was being used a launch pad for western attacks on Zimbabwe.
But during the ruling party’s caucus at State House on Tuesday, Mr Chuumbwe was handed an indefinite suspension because his statement on Zimbabwe was hostile and it could sour relations between the two neighbouring countries.
The MMD’s acting national secretary Jeff Kaande said the party was a democratic body, which could not encourage any change of government or leadership in any country by force.
Mr Chuumbwe issued a statement on the elections situation in Zimbabwe and advocated the removal of that country’s President, Robert Mugabe by force.
“MMD is a democratic party that cannot encourage any change of government or leadership by force in any country.
“As a party we regret this irresponsible statement with the contempt it deserves. The statement was not sanctioned by the party; it was an act of the indisciplined individual and must not be attributed or viewed as the official position of the MMD,” Kaande said.

Mwanawasa talks to reporters

President Mwanawasa talks to journalists at Lusaka international airport about the party official's call for the forciful removal of Robert Mugabe from power. This was on Tuesday this week.

Mwanawasa

Dr Mwanawasa's face beams with annoyance.

Mwanawasa disappointed

President Mwanawasa's faces grins with disappointment on the a call for the forciful removal of Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe by one of the ruling party's junior member. The president had just arrived from Mauritius for a SADC meeting.

Euphoria

A platoon of police officers create a cordon to pave way for the King to move from the harbour to the palace.There is so much confusion and euphoria because people want to catch a glimpse of the King, who rarely appears in public. This is a perfect opportunity for most people to see the King. The King arrived at dusk after a paddling on the waters of Mongu for almost 12 hours.

Looking so far away

A police man keeps a watchful eye on the crowd at Limulunga just before the King's boat docked.

HH

United Party for National Development leaders Hakainde Hichilema or simply HH clad in a pure Lozi attire.

Obstructed

A policeman obstructs my focus on the Nalikwanda when it was about to dock at Limulunga. This is the best moment and climax of the Kuomboka and these security men become so hard on photographers. There is so much jostling and running for shots while the police maintain vigil on picture mongers, who must be kept at a reasonable distance from the King as he disembarks from the Nalikwanda.

Abel Mambwe

Sharp shooter; photojournalist Abel Mambwe on a boat ride from Laelui back to Mongu.

Photographers

Photographers focusing their lenses as they aim to for the best shots of the departing Nalikwanda.

Royal peddlers

Royal peddlers flex their muscles as they push the Royal boat from Lealui to Mongu.

Royal Peddlers

One of the young lucky peddlers pondors his next move before the Royal boat took off during the Kuomboka ceremony.

The Nalikwanda

Royal peddlers preparing for the King to board the Nalikwanda (The Royal boat).

Royal pedllers

A royal peddler on the Nalikwanda prepares to showcase his talent. The peddlers are selected by a special committee and they have to apply to peddle on the Royal boat. The committee receives scores of applications and only a certain number is accepted and it is an honour to peddle the King.

Nalikwanda

The Litunga (King) boarding the Nalikwanda (boat)

Mpombo and King

Defence minister George Mpombo and the King of of the Lozi People emerge from the palace before boarding the Nalikwanda, the boat that transports the King from Lealui to Limulunga.

Last week, the Lozi people of western province in Zambia commemorated the annual Kuomboka traditional ceremony. This ceremony is all about migration from lower land to higher land.
The Litunga (King) moves on the Nalikwanda (big boat) with all his belongings from Lealui (low land) to Limulunga (upper land). He is escorted by a flury of smaller boats and the whole journey, which lastst almost the whole day is characterised by what some people may decide to call pomp and splendor.
When he reaches Limulunga, he is welcomed by a large multitude of his subjects and other visits from different parts of the world. Here, the Litunga performs a few traditional rituals before proceeding to the palace grounds where official speeches are made. The dancing and singing continues over night after the speeches. The Kuomboka ceremony has been commemorated for several years now. It is one of Zambia's major ceremonies and contributes greatly to Zambia's tourism development efforts.

Chiefs

Some of the chiefs that attended the Kuomboka traditional ceremony of the Lozi people.

Boat ride

Tourists on a boat ride on the plains in Mongu.

Boat ride

A boat ride from Mongu to Lealui plains where the King of the Lozi people boards the boat to Limulunga.

Reveller removed

Alert security personel drag a reveller from the stage during John Chiti's show in Mongu.

Reveller

A reveller hopes onto the stage during John Chiti's show in Mongu.

John Chit-2

John Chiti surveying his audience. As an albino, has revealed that his family rejected him saying he was a curse to the family. This included his own father. John come from the Copperbelt town of Ndola where he was raised but migrated to the capital, Lusaka to ply his musical talents. He is a good singer who has a good voice for the kind of Zambian music of thie generation and race has proved not to be a barrier in such endeavors.
This shifts my thoughts to Tanzania where albinos were being killed for ritual purposes. Here in Zambia, albino are being stigmatised but John Chiti had proved that they are people too.

John Chiti-1

Zambia's new music sensation John Chiti performing in Mongu. He has attracted a good crowds during his shows. He is a unique figureowing to his race. He has done a number of songs including the famous Valako chabe door (just close the door of my heart), Ifindingile (what suits me) etc. I have also observed that quite a number of albinos frequent his shows where ever he goes. I think they find a sense of belonging his music because he has done some work that speak out for the albinos.

Mampi

Zambian music diva, Mampi entertaining revellers during a show in Mongu last week. She had done a number of tracks such as the famous chimo ni chimo (a sin is a sin). Literally translated to mean a sin is a sin whether it is adultery, rape, burglary etc,).

Mampi reveller

A reveller saves an images after capturing Mapmi live on stage during the Kuomboka ceremony in Mongu.

APRIL 2008; A TRYING MOMENT FOR THE SDA IN ZAMBIA

The month of April this year has been a very trying moment for the Seventh Day Advestist church in Zambia.
This is the month when the church in Zambia and indeed the world over lost a man of God in the name of Dr Cornelius Matandiko. People from all walks of life across the world mourned this great orator who preached the word.
"The demise of Dr Matandiko is a great loss to the church in Zambia and the world at large, Said SDA southern Africa and Indian ocean region president Dr Paul Ratsara.
But just before tears could dry, the SAD church in Zambia suffered another major setback when a team of pathfinders was involved in a fatal road traffic accident. Five of the church members died on the spot and 10 others were rushed to hospital in a critical condition. Three days later half of those victims died.
The other survivord are still admitted to the University Teaching Hospital in Zambia, Zambia's largest hospital.
However, the mourning and loss of Dr Matandiko and those pathfinders did not stop the SDA community in Zambia from hosting the second women's ministries conference in Lusaka.
This event drew participants from Zambia, Malawi, Botswana, Madagascar, Mauritius, South Africa, Mozambique, Angola and Zimbabwe.
First Lady Maureen Mwanawasa was the guest of Honour.
This event provided an opportunity for the SDA church in Zambia to get over the losses suffered during the month of April.

Maureen arrival

First Lady Maureen Mwanawasa arrives for the Seventh Day Adventist Church second women's ministries conference which was held at the Mulungushi international conference centre in Lusaka on Tuesday, April 15, 2008. Mrs Mwanawasa arrived just before 11:00 hors and went for a briefing. She was dressed a a dress called Misisi, from one of the Zambian tribes called Lozi. During her address, the First Lady called for the casting away of gender inequalities even in the church. She said women were also able and capable people to perform the same tasks as their male counterparts.
THere was so much jubilation in the conference venue as the delegates expressed so much satisfaction with their contribution to the church.

Delegates entering the conference centre.

Women jubilating

Delegates from South Africa lead other particpants into the venue for the conference.

Women singing

Delegates from different countries participate in hymns before the start of the conference.

Zim women

Although their country is embroiled in a post-election crisis, these Zimbabwean delegates were bold enough to prepare and lift their national flag high.

First Lady and Dr Ratsara

First Lady maureen Mwanawasa with Seventh Day Adventist church president for southern Africa and Indian Ocean Islands Dr Paul Ratsara before officiating at the second women's ministries conference in Lusaka.

Zimbabwean Women

SDA delegates from Zimbabwean introduing themselves inside the Mulungushi international conference centre in Lusaka.

SDA women

The only two delegates from Mauritius and Madagascar, carrying their flag during the conference.

THE RAILWAYS SYSTEMS OF ZAMBIA PASSENGER TRAIN

A woman is helped to disembark from the Railway Systems of Zambia (RSZ) passenger train through a window at Kafue station.

Offloading cargo

A woman offloading her bags through a window of the RSZ train.

Snack on board

An unidentified girl has just bought a cob of maize and cakes to see he through the journey on the RSZ train. It is not possible to buy any snacks on that train because the service does not exist. Passengers have to jostle through congested windows and door ways to get food food when the train reaches a station.

Boarding RSZ train

Some passengers wait to board the RSz trains through the window because of congestion and overloading at the doors. One passenger having a gulp of Shake-Shake (a local alcoholic opaque brew) before jumping on the locomotive.

Dora Siliya on RSZ train ride

Transport and communications minister Dora Siliya having a feel on the RSZ train from Kafue to Shimabala. She was on a fact finding mission on allegations aginst the RSz that it had failed to run the railway system, which was concessioned from the government. A ministerial committee had submitted a report to her office and she was verifying those details. However, she discovered that some things were not in order and these included, the lack of a time schedule, poor water and sanitation, congestion and just general lack of standards on the coaches.

Over loadded train

PAssengers on an RSz train from Livingstone.

Train ride

Passengers from Southern province of Zambia crowded on the train. There was no space anywhere because all the places were occupied by human beings and cargo.

Stranded passengers at Kafue

A mother and her children are stranded at the RSZ Kafue station because the train was delayed. They had been waiting from 10:00 hours to 17:55 hours when the passenger train pitched up. The RSZ schedule for the locomotives is not reliable because the train never keep time.