State House COVID Hits Parliament As 3 Mps Test Positive
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No 731 K10 www.diggers.news Thursday July 16, 2020 Allegations against Lungu are very serious but... RWANDA CASE IS A COURT ISSUE We’re probing We can’t say more until judgement disbursement of COVID-19 Matibini is passed - State HouseStory page 2 donations, orders says ACC By Natasha Sakala Kampyongo THE Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) says to issue it is currently investigating the manner in which some of the COVID-19 ministerial donations were disbursed. Speaking when statement he featured on ZNBC TV2’s Morning Live programme, Wednesday, on unruly ACC public relations manager Timothy Moono revealed that the matter PF cadres was being investigated to By Natasha Sakala determine whether or not SPEAKER of the National the donations reached the Assembly Dr Patrick intended beneficiaries. Matibini has ordered Story page 5 Minister of Home Affairs Stephen Kampyongo to render a ministerial statement to Parliament on Mweetwa President Edgar Lungu swears in newly appointed Human Rights Commission (HRC) commissioner Reverend Agness PF cadres’ lawlessness. Chongo-Phiri at State House yesterday This was after Monze central UPND member of apologises parliament Jack Mwimbu rose on a point of order on for walking whether Kampyongo was in order to remain silent on COVID hits Parliament various attacks orchestrated out on by PF cadres, including the armed robbery which they staged at Lusaka Central Speaker police recently. Story page 7 Story page 4 as 3 MPs test positiveStory page 5 2. Local News www.diggers.news Thursday July 16, 2020 By Natasha Sakala measures to preserve cash- ow. THE Business Survey Report For enterprises su ering from on the impact of COVID-19 on heavy losses, measures such as Zambian enterprises has revealed 4% of Zambian enterprises shut telecommunication, employee that 38 per cent of businesses in time-sharing and stimulating the country had their revenues employees’ creativity for new reduce by 50 per cent due to the business models should be fully pandemic, with four per cent down due to COVID-19 – Report explored before considering having to completely shut down. layo s and salary cuts. (iii) e Survey, which was revenue per month followed number of employees during payment of statutory obligations that enterprises should actively Enhanced risk management. unveiled by the Ministry by the manufacturing sector the period, followed by mining (ZRA, NAPSA and Council Levy) study and capture changes in e pandemic has highlighted of Commerce, Trade and with 11 per cent of businesses and quarry, which recorded 3.1 during emergency times; this market demand and take actions the importance of risk Industry, with support from the anticipating a 10-50 per cent per cent of the business reported was mentioned by 35.7 per cent promptly to reduce negative management. erefore, there United Nations Development increase as well. However, 31 per having hired employees during of the respondents as an urgent impacts by rapidly adjusting is need for enterprises to have Programme (UNDP), revealed cent and 28 per cent of businesses the period. e business in the need; and (c) Ensure thorough their manufacturing plan and a sound risk management to detailed the e ect of COVID-19 in the education and tourism agriculture sector also hired consultations with all relevant sales strategy. prepare to cushion the adverse on Zambian businesses. sectors, respectively, closed their employees at 1.8 per cent. e institutions when developing “Enterprises should actively e ects of future emergencies. “Most businesses lost businesses completely during the rest of the businesses in other an emergency policy response, study and capture changes in Furthermore, there is the need to a signi cant percentage of pandemic. Meanwhile, 25 per sectors reported not to have such as the K10 billion stimulus market demand and take actions apply the Government’s Standard revenues; 38 per cent more than cent of businesses in the energy hired any employees,” it stated. package aimed at providing promptly to reduce negative Operating Procedures per Sector 50 per cent, while four per cent of sector estimated an increase in And among the medium-term liquidity facility impacts by rapidly adjusting that preserve health and safety the businesses stopped operating revenue of above 50 per cent.” recommendations, the Survey to help enterprises cope with the their manufacturing plan and of workers and customers in completely. Only one per cent e Report noted that participants recommended pandemic,” it read. sales strategy. For instance, some the context of COVID-19 as of businesses across the sectors Muchinga Province was the most that government should put up “ e Report notes the need companies have voluntarily restrictions are being li ed,” read estimated an increase in revenue a ected area with 45 per cent of deliberate policies that would to establish clear modalities on shi ed to manufacturing the Study. per month whereas ve per cent businesses completely shutting ensure continuity in the event how the policy measure will be Personal Protective Equipment e Report was published of businesses received similar down. of further disruption to the local implemented; (ii) ensure timely (PPEs) supplies, bene tting both with the aim of gathering data revenues as before. About 38 “Muchinga Province was economy. implementation of policies themselves and society. Others that will inform policy decisions per cent of the businesses had mostly a ected by the pandemic “…Set up a coordinated to achieve greater impact. have also been speeding-up to enable more businesses thrive revenue reduction of more than (COVID-19) with 45 per cent policy package to address the According to the ndings, many their business transformations during the pandemic period. 50 per cent and around four per of businesses in the province current challenges. In view Zambian businesses have reduced to adapt to consumer preferences It equally highlighted some cent of the businesses stopped having had totally shut down of the challenges experienced their operations a ecting their and competition patterns that of the challenges that businesses operating completely. Around 51 as a result of the COVID-19 the operations. Lusaka Province cash- ow, which calls for urgent may change a er the pandemic. faced and the impact on their per cent of the business surveyed was second as about 22 per cent pandemic, it was noted that there and timely government support (ii) Streamline businesses and viability as some completely had their revenue reduced by not of the businesses in the province is need for government to put to prevent these companies from reduce costs rapidly. When closed due to the impact that more than 50 per cent. Some have having had to shut down their up deliberate policies that will collapsing.” confronted with sudden crises, COVID-19 had on their cash- no change in revenue earning (at operations. Southern Province ensure continuity in the event It further recommended enterprises should take timely ows. 4.96 per cent). While 1.13 per had the least e ect in terms of of disruptions in the economy. cent of the respondents actually the businesses as it had less than Speci cally, government should: had an increase in revenue; 36 two per cent of the businesses (a) Analyze relevant policies on per cent of businesses in the shut down. Most businesses public emergencies, selecting Speaker orders Chilufya to issue statement catering and accommodation across the provinces partially and classifying them according sector estimated a 90 per cent shut down their operations,” the to time horizons (short-term, reduction in revenue per month report narrated. medium and long-term) and on fl outing of COVID-19 regulations by PF whereas 33 per cent of businesses It further stated that the type ( scal, nancial, service in the tourism sector also transport and energy sectors improvement, etc.); (b) Develop By Sipilisiwe Ncube Regulations 2020 by continuously holding estimated a 90 per cent reduction hired the highest number of and implement policies that SPEAKER of the National Assembly Dr Patrick public meetings. In his point of order, Mr in revenue,” the Report disclosed. employees with the agriculture support access to a ordable Matibini has ordered corruption-accused JJ Mwiimbu made reference to three large “Further, 20 per cent of sector also following suit. nancing and exible payment Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya to render a gatherings which had allegedly taken place at businesses in the human health “8.1 per cent of the periods, timely payment to ministerial statement to Parliament this Friday the behest of the ruling Patriotic Front party, and social work sector anticipated businesses in the transport and suppliers of goods and services by on the continued outing of the COVID-19 rst the alleged receipt of over 1, 000 defectors a 10 – 50 per cent increase in storage sector hired the highest government, and o er relief from regulations by the Executive and PF members. by the PF in North Western Province from On July 10, Monze Central UPND member the United Party for National Development of parliament Jack Mwiimbu rose on a Point of (UPND), and second, a meeting of PF cadres Order seeking the Speaker’s ruling on whether in Lusaka, and third, the alleged congregation or not the Executive was in order to out of hundreds of supporters of the Honorable ECZ commercialising Coronavirus Health Regulations. Minister of Health, senior PF supporters and Mwiimbu also cited the commotion which cabinet ministers at the magistrates’ courts was caused by Patriotic Front (PF) cadres at the despite instructions to the court to restrict Lusaka Magistrates’ court on ursday, July numbers,” Dr Matibini said. electoral process – UPND 9 when Dr Chilufya appeared to answer for “I have since studied the matter. I now corruption charges. direct that the Honorable Minister of Health By Ulande Nkomesha conducting nominations and which cost K610,000.00 per “ e gist of the point of order was whether should render a ministerial statement on this UPND spokesperson Charles polls, including the issuance candidate,” stated Chimanse.