TheNewsGuru

Tag: Zambia

  • Flying Eagles, Young Chipolopolo now to play on Saturday

    Flying Eagles, Young Chipolopolo now to play on Saturday

    The international friendly match between Nigeria and Zambia at the U20 boys’ level will now hold at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Saturday, 4th February.

    Initially, both countries’ football-governing bodies had agreed on a two-match tour for 27th and 30th January respectively. However, issues of logistics and the compunction on the Young Chipolopolo to process their entry visas into Egypt for the forthcoming Africa U20 Cup of Nations before leaving Zambia forced a postponement.

    Zambia’s U20 delegation is still in Lusaka and will now only be able to play one match against the Flying Eagles, before proceeding to Dakar for a game against Senegal on Tuesday next week.

    Both Nigeria and Zambia will face a country from the other’s region in Egypt, with Nigeria drawn against Mozambique (alongside host nation Egypt and Senegal) in Group A, while Zambia will face Benin Republic (alongside Tunisia and The Gambia) in Group C. Uganda, Central African Republic, South Sudan and Congo make up Group B.

    Seven-time African champions Nigeria will fly to Morocco on Wednesday next week for their final round of preparations. Coach Isah Ladan Bosso’s wards have been in flaming form in recent weeks, lashing a slew of teams in friendly games.

    Bosso’s wards were worthy champions of the WAFU B U20 Championship in Niamey, Niger Republic in May 2022, winning all their five matches in the competition.

  • Flying Eagles to play Zambia’s U20 team in two friendly matches in Nigeria

    Flying Eagles to play Zambia’s U20 team in two friendly matches in Nigeria

    Seven-time African champions, Flying Eagles of Nigeria will take on their Zambian counterparts in two friendly games in the Nigerian capital city as part of preparations for this year’s Africa U20 Cup of Nations.

    The tour has been consummated following a request letter from the Nigeria Football Federation on 13th January, and which met with the ready acceptance of the Football Association of Zambia.

    Through a letter dated 14th January 2023, Adrian Kashala, FAZ’s General Secretary, said the Zambia football-ruling body was agreeable to the proposal. The proposal for the tour includes FAZ flying the Junior Chipolopolo to Nigeria while the NFF will bear the cost of accommodation, feeding and other logistics for the Zambia delegation.

    The two matches will take place on Friday, 27th January and Monday, 30th January 2023 respectively.

    Free-scoring Flying Eagles have scored a total of 10 goals in two friendly games since resuming camp after the yuletide period – the latest being a 5-1 mauling of Galadima FC in Abuja on Wednesday.

    Champions of the WAFU B U20 Championship held in Niger Republic in May 2022, the Flying Eagles have been drawn to play hosts Egypt, Senegal and Mozambique in Group A of the Africa U20 Cup of Nations taking place 19th February – 11th March this year.

    Zambia, champions of the 2017 Africa U20 Cup of Nations which they hosted, reached the quarter-finals of the FIFA U20 World Cup in Korea Republic the same year, before losing to Italy after extra time in Suwon.

    In Egypt, Zambia will be up against Tunisia, Benin Republic and The Gambia in Group C, while Uganda, Central African Republic, South Sudan and Congo battle things out in Group B.

    All four semi-finalists in Egypt will qualify to represent Africa at the 23rd FIFA U20 World Cup finals slated for Indonesia 20th May -11 June this year.

  • WAFCON: Zambia’s copper queens defeat Super Falcons to win bronze

    WAFCON: Zambia’s copper queens defeat Super Falcons to win bronze

    Nigeria’s Super Falcons finished fourth overall after being beaten 1-0 by Zambia’s copper queens in a thrilling third-place encounter.

    The result meant that the 9th-time champions recorded their worst performance in WAFCON history.

    Zambia has finished 3rd at the WAFCON first time in the nation’s women’s football history and has also qualified for the senior FIFA Women Worldcup to be hosted by Australia in 2023.

    However, the Super Falcons also qualified to represent Africa at the FIFA WorldCup after defeating Cameroon in the quarter-finals of the competition.

    The two finalists, Morocco and South Africa are the remaining representatives from Africa to the Mundial in Australia.

     

     

  • Ex-Zambia’s president, Banda dies at 85

    Ex-Zambia’s president, Banda dies at 85

    Zambia’s former president Rupiah Banda died on Friday at the age of 85 after a long battle with colon cancer, his son Andrew confirmed his passage.

    “He is gone”, Andrew Banda told an AFP correspondent in Lusaka.

    The southern African country’s fourth leader since independence from Britain served for three years from 2008 — a term remembered for economic growth and corruption allegations.

    Banda was vice-president when his predecessor Levy Mwanawasa unexpectedly succumbed to a stroke, propelling him into the top job.

    But the veteran diplomat was defeated in 2011 elections, despite overseeing major economic growth during his tenure.

    Zambia’s economy expanded during Banda’s brief presidency, mainly on the back of rising copper prices and a surge in Chinese investment.

    He pursued a construction spree started under Mwanawasa, building much-needed roads, hospitals, and schools.

    Zambia recorded a 7.6 percent increase in growth for 2011, up from 6.4 percent the previous year, for which Banda took credit.

    He had hoped the economic uptick would convince voters to keep him in power.

    Most of Zambia’s 17.9 million inhabitants, however, did not reap the benefits of mining and constructions booms.

    Wealth accumulated in the hands of a few as corruption allegations surfaced, marring his reputation.

    In September 2011, he was heavily defeated by opposition leader Michael Sata.

  • Zambia arrests 14 government officials over corruption

    Zambia arrests 14 government officials over corruption

    Zambia’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has arrested 14 former and current government officials over graft offenses.

    ACC said in a statement on Thursday, that the 14 arrested include a former Southern province Permanent Secretary, Sibanze Simuchoba.

    It stated that the permanent secretary and two other officials were arrested for failure to follow applicable procedures in the manner they authorised transfer of funds without the approval of the secretary to the Treasury.

    The statement added that 11 other officials from Choma district were arrested for fraudulent false accounting.

    The 14 are expected to appear in court on Nov. 3.

    President Hakainde Hichilema’s government has placed the fight against corruption on top of its agenda.

    He vowed to expose and punish both past and current offenders.

  • Zambia poll: President Lungu concedes defeat, congratulates long term rival

    Zambia poll: President Lungu concedes defeat, congratulates long term rival

    Zambia’s outgoing leader Edgar Lungu on Monday conceded defeat and congratulated his successor and longtime rival Hakainde Hichilema, who scored a landslide victory in a bitterly contested presidential election.

    “I would therefore like to congratulate my brother… Hichilema for becoming the seventh republican president,” he said in a radio address.

    Lungu promised to comply with the “constitutional provision for a peaceful transition of power”.

    The 64-year-old, who came to power in 2015, said that when he had to serve out the term of his predecessor Michael Sata who died in office, that victory had been “unexpected” and he “accepted it with humility and gratitude”.

    “I want to thank you, Zambian people, for giving me a great opportunity to be your president. I will forever cherish and appreciate the authority you invested in me.”

    “All I wanted to do was to serve my country to the best of my abilities,” he said, admitting that there are “challenges on the way”.

  • Violence mars elections in Zambia, police appeal for calm

    The police in Zambia on Sunday appealed for calm following a spate of violence experienced in some parts of the country following elections held on Thursday.

    Police Spokesperson Esther Mwaata-Katongo said the police have observed an emerging tendency where violence has erupted as a result of others failing to contain emotions and ending up attacking those seen celebrating the victory of their candidates.

    “As members of the public continue receiving or waiting for results at different levels, we appeal to them to remain calm and celebrate their victory of their preferred candidates in a responsible and peaceful manner without breaching the peace,” she said in a statement.

    The police spokesperson said supporters of the ruling and governing party exchanged gunfire in the northern parts of the country on Saturday leaving one person with gunshot wounds, while a similar incident happened in Lusaka, the country’s capital.

    She added that supporters of the main opposition United Party for National Development, were attacked by supporters of the ruling party as they celebrated the victory of their parliamentary candidate.

    She said it was unfortunate that some people who had legally obtained firearms had started abusing such firearms whenever they have political altercations.

    She has since warned people perpetrating violence to desist, failure to which they will be arrested.

    “We further warn those with intentions of causing violence such as damaging government and private property during or after the electoral process that they risk being arrested and prosecuted,” she added.

    Zambia held general elections on Aug. 12 in which attracted huge turnouts. However, the announcement of presidential results has been delayed, causing anxiety in the country.

    The electoral body has since attributed this to the huge turnout of voters, and the large number of presidential candidates.

    Sixteen presidential candidates participated in this year’s elections

  • Zambia elects new president amid COVID-19 concerns, economic crisis

    Voters in the southern African nation of Zambia were headed to the polls on Thursday to elect the president and members of the National Assembly.

    The vote comes at a challenging time for the copper-rich nation, which is currently struggling with a severe economic crisis on top of political tensions and tough coronavirus restrictions.

    There are 16 names on the ballot for president, but the race is expected to be a close head-to-head between incumbent Edgar Lungu of the Patriotic Front (PF) and main opposition candidate Hakainde Hichilema from the United Party of National Development (UPND).

    Seven million people are eligible to vote.

    Official results were not expected before Saturday.

    Zambia had been regarded as one of Africa’s most successful democracies, with several peaceful changes of power having taken place since multi-party democracy was introduced in 1990.

    But the last general elections in 2016 were preceded by a wave of violence, with clashes erupting between opposition and government supporters. After Lungu’s win, the opposition claimed the poll was rigged in his favour.

    Opposition politicians have repeatedly faced arrest and charges over the past few years, drawing accusations from human rights groups that the cases are politically motivated.

    Hichilema, a perennial presidential candidate, was charged in 2017 with high treason and held in detention, but the case was later dropped.

    Lungu, 64, became president after narrowly winning a January 2015 by-election caused by the death of his predecessor, Michael Sata.

  • World leaders arrive Zambia for Kaunda’s state funeral

    World leaders arrive Zambia for Kaunda’s state funeral

    Foreign dignitaries have started arriving in the Zambian capital, Lusaka, ahead of founding President Kenneth Kaunda’s state funeral on Friday.

    President Edgar Lungu will lead world leaders at the ceremony, set to be held at Lusaka’s show grounds.

    African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat, has arrived in Lusaka accompanied by AU Commissioner for Trade, Albert Muchanga.

    Angolan Vice President Bornito De Sousa, also arrived in the country while more leaders are due to land in Lusaka ahead of KK’s official funeral.

    UK’s Minister of State for Africa, James Duddridge, is expected in Lusaka on Thursday for the same purpose.

    The Minister will represent Queen Elizabeth II at the State Funeral on Friday. He is expected to visit the family of the late Kaunda on Thursday and sign the book of condolence there.

    In her message of condolence to Zambian President Edgar Lungu, Queen Elizabeth said she was greatly saddened by the death of Kaunda.

    “I was greatly saddened to receive news of the death of Kenneth Kaunda. During and after his presidency, he worked tirelessly for the good of the Zambian people. His regional leadership in maintaining Zambia as a bastion against Apartheid has earned him a place in history. I will always remember our meetings, and the warmth that Dr Kaunda felt for the Commonwealth. I send you and the Zambian people my condolences in this great loss,” wrote The Queen.

    The British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, and Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, have also expressed their condolences and sadness at the passing of Kaunda.

    Kaunda, 97, died on 17 June at the military Maina Soko Hospital in Lusaka. He will be buried on 7 July.

  • BREAKING: Zambia’s Chief Justice dies while on official duties in Egypt

    BREAKING: Zambia’s Chief Justice dies while on official duties in Egypt

    Chief Justice Irene Chirwa Mambilima of Zambia has died at the age of 69, while on official duties in Cairo, Egypt, according to a statement by Zambia’s President, Edgar Lungu.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports President Lungu made this known on Sunday in the statement that was released by the Secretary to the Cabinet and Principal Private Secretary to the President, Dr. Simon Miti.

    “It is with deep regret and sorrow that His Excellency Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, President of the Republic of Zambia announces to the nation the untimely passing of Hon. Mrs Justice Irene Chirwa Mambilima, Chief Justice of Zambia today 20th June, 2021, at approximately 17:00Hrs, in a private hospital in Cairo, Egypt.

    “The late Chief Justice had travelled to Cairo on 10th June, 2021, on official business and fell ill whilst on duty in that country.” Dr Miti said.

    Prior to her appointment as Chief Justice in 2015, Mambilima was the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Zambia.

    In this position, she presided over Zambia’s 2006, 2011 presidential and parliamentary elections, and the January 2015 presidential by-election.