Opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) President Hakainde Hichilema has charged that Republican President Michael Sata has no message and agenda for the people of Zambia.

Mr. Hichilema says the move taken by President Sata today during Labour Day celebrations shows that he is not concerned about the welfare of the workers.

Speaking during the launch of UPND Youth Mobilization Programme which attracted hundreds of youths in Lusaka this afternoon, Mr. Hichilema says the youths at the moment are paused with a challenge due to the poor leadership of the PF.

Mr. Hichilema states that it is clear in the minds of the youths that they were deceived by the PF that they will be given jobs as seen with most of them remaining unemployed.

He says the agenda of his party is clear and that the first gift they will offer the youths of Zambia is free education for all.

The UPND leader furthermore adds that it is unfortunate that poverty is at the peak now since Zambia got independence.

He has maintained that the ruling PF has taken the rule of law and that the people should not give them more time and chance to destroy the peace of this country.

qfm Radio

Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) has proposed that government lifts the wage freeze and start the process of collective bargaining with all concerned stakeholders to resolve this issue.
FDD President Edith Nawakwi has also observed that there is need for government to devise a comprehensive Labour Policy that will ensure steady creation of quality jobs that will guarantee security of tenure, dignity and a decent retirement package.

Ms Nawakwi has told QFM News in a statement that the government must honor the people of Zambia by revising the labour laws in order to protect the workers and end exploitation.

Ms Nawakwi notes that the problems the workers are facing are as a result of the failure on the part of governments to formulate a clear Labour Policy that will not only guarantee dividends for employers but also guarantee prosperity for the ordinary employees.

Meanwhile Youth Vision Zambia (YVZ) has backed calls by President Michael Sata to allow employers to reflect on their employees’ conditions of service.

YVZ executive director Amos Mwale has told Qfm news that today is a day when trade unions and government have to reflect on the number of employment have created for young people.

Mr. Mwale says Zambia has a high percentage of young people and it is high time that all stakeholders found solutions to the increasing numbers of young people who are not in employment.

Audio recordings of the final conversations between pilots of missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 and teams of air traffic controllers were published for the first time Thursday by investigators.

The tapes were released as part of a preliminary report by Malaysian authorities that urged global aviation regulators to consider real-time tracking of commercial jets.

Not a single trace of debris from MH370 has been found in the search for the missing jet, which disappeared two months ago.

In its preliminary report (PDF), Malaysia’s Air Accident Investigation Bureau said that a lack of real-time tracking devices resulted resulted in “significant difficulty” in the hunt for the Boeing 777.

Dear country men and women, every year, the 1st of May is commemorated, as a day in our working lives, when we celebrate the benefits of our labour. It is an occasion when leaders take a deep reflection on the decisions they make in ensuring commensurate compensation for the efforts the general workforce makes in attaining output in various sectors of the economy.

For a long time now, we have heard successive Governments talk about quantity of jobs and NOT the quality of those jobs. We have heard from the Government, on numerous occasions, that so many new jobs have been created, yet most of these jobs do not offer decent work. Quality employment is about security of tenure and prospects for career development; it is about working conditions, hours of work, safety and health, fair wages and returns to labour, opportunities to develop skills, balancing work and life, gender equity and equality, job satisfaction and recognition, and social protection. It is also about freedom of association and having a voice in the workplace, as well as society. Finally, it is about securing human dignity and eliminating discrimination.

The ILO report on Global State of Employment asserts that more than 65% of Zambians, despite being in full time formal employment, are still considered employed poor. Ladies and gentlemen, an employed poor person is a person who earns less than USD1.25 or ZMW7.00 a day. With this kind of statistic, it is imperative for us to critically review the kind of employment our Government claims to be creating. You may ask, ‘Why is this important?’ The answer is quite simple; the working class makes up the middle class. The middle class are the majority consumers; consumers drive the production sector when they buy goods and services. For as long as we do not build the numbers of the middle class, by looking at quality of employment, we are fighting a losing battle. This, my fellow citizens, is amongst the major reasons the current Government has failed.

Our promise to the Zambian Worker, on this day, is that under the UPND Government, our priority will be to create quality and equitable employment. Whoever signs up for a job must get satisfaction and a living wage. This is the reason why our first line of attack will be to address the cost of living through economic reforms, improved management, fiscal discipline and prudence. We shall adequately and effectively invest in Education to equip the workforce with the right skills for the job market. We shall further invest in our health care system to ensure that we have a healthy workforce. When we form Government, we shall immediately go for a decent living wage in place of a minimum wage. A minimum wage is not a living wage and this is the reason we still have workers who are very poor.

Without UPND, this economy will continue to slide into the doldrums, as the PF government has proved beyond reasonable doubt, over and over again, that they are clueless when it comes to economic management or anything to do with fiscal discipline. If we do not address the challenges that the workers are facing, these challenges will affect the worker’s productivity, and productivity is the single most important variable to being competitive.

Once in power, the UPND will also address the modern day slavery which has manifested itself in many ways, including low wages, under employment, servitude and a basic denial of human rights being abated by a corrupt and careless PF government. A PF Government that has failed to negotiate proper wages and decent employment with employers. This is compounded by the fact that employers cannot pay high wages when the fiscal and monetary policies are highly volatile and unpredictable. Today, an employer gets a credit line at 9% policy rate, the very next day, this policy rate is adjusted to 12%. How do employers plan like this? One day there is SI33 and 55, the very next day they are reversed or replaced by SI89 and reversed by the President.

It is impossible to have a sustainable wage and decent pay when the Government is the leader in illegally firing its own workers, like they did with the nurses and many other cases before the courts of law. We can all attest to this.

Countrymen and women, we, therefore, have an urgent need to take deliberate measures to restore the middle class, who form the majority of the working class. A UPND government’s major aim is to affirm that this happens by ensuring that our workers are rewarded with an honest salary for an honest day’s work. My responsibility will be to ensure that the worker gets what is due to him or her for the hard work, responsibility and sacrifice they make, regardless of sex, tribe, party affiliation or state of physical being. This means that we shall fight to eliminate social exclusion in all areas of our lives, like the work place, and guarantee that we shall establish a path of social cohesion where all the human resource that we have will be used as a an asset in nation building and having a strong economy, unlike now where even the peace and unity that we have all enjoyed since independence is under serious threat. This is to ensure that we all get the products and services that make our lives meaningful and comfortable, as well as build a strong nation and economy for ourselves and our children.

There is need to protect workers with a decent social security scheme, as well as investment instruments that will look after them when they are no longer in formal employment. Our desire is for people to be able to retire comfortably whereby they can own houses and, after so many years of labour, be able to enjoy such rewards with real benefits. Hence we shall advocate for favourable interest rates and affordable mortgages to make the workers feel compelled to build or buy houses. We are also alive to the fact that there are more people in the informal sector than the formal one hence we shall work hard to ensure that they are given their rightful place in the economy and that their contributions to GDP and the overall growth of our economy are acknowledged, formalised and captured. This will also help broaden the tax base and reduce the tax burden of those that are in formal employment.

Lastly, I wish to agree with UPND Chairman for Labour, Percy Chanda, on his call last Sunday to all workers to boycott this year’s Labour Day celebrations. There is nothing to celebrate on this Labour Day for workers in Zambia. I reiterate that, let the workers stay at home and spend time with their families instead of going to march in front of politicians that do not care about their plight, when the politicians are receiving free fuel and other allowances at our expense. And we all know that these politicians will not protect them from any violence that may erupt after being instigated by their militias or men in uniform.

A great day to you and continue to work hard for mother Zambia. I thank you all!!!

Hakainde Hichilema
UPND President

PRESIDENT Sata has directed employers to improve workers’ conditions of service and pay them better and befitting wages.

And the President has said that people should stop talking about the wage freeze because there is nothing to discuss on the matter.
Mr Sata said at Labour Day celebrations in Lusaka yesterday that employers should give workers good wages and conditions of service.
“Go back, go and reflect; improve on your workers’ conditions of service. Have you seen the workers? They have come to march – all of them – young ones and big ones. Go and improve their salaries,” he said.
The President said employers should emulate Government when it comes to taking care of employees.
He said the Zambia Police Service, the Zambia Army and the Zambia National Service are properly dressed because Government is taking good care of them.
President said employers should look after their employees to avoid strikes.
“People should not go on strike to get well paid. Just think if it was you who had no pay. So, please those are instructions Mr Fackson Shamenda [Minister of Labour and Social Security]. Just make sure that people get paid and they should not go on strike for pay,” Mr Sata said.
President Sata directed that no speech should be read during this year’s Labour Day, which is being celebrated under the theme ‘Zambia at 50: Creating decent work and promoting social economic justice for national development’.
“There will be no speeches today because we keep talking about the same message. Just go back and improve the workers’ pay,” he said.
On the wage increase freeze, President Sata said people should stop talking about it because the strategy is in place only for the civil service.
“And when I say wage freeze, it is wage freeze for Government and we should stop talking about it. We have not stopped any employer to say there is a wage freeze. So if you talk of wage freeze, we shall freeze you Mr Shamenda,” he said.
Former President Kenneth Kaunda thanked President Sata for the good guidance and leadership he has provided for the country.
“Mr President, thank you for the good guidance and leadership you have shown us. May God keep guiding you as you lead the nation,” Dr Kaunda said.
Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Leonard Hikaumba welcomed President Sata’s directive to pay workers decent salaries.
“Decent employment entails that workers are given decent salaries and that the President is directing employers to give decent wages and salaries to their workers is a welcome move,” Mr Hikaumba said.
He said to improve workers’ wages and conditions of service, employers should at all times consult with the labour movement.
Mr Hikaumba said ZCTU wants to promote productivity and that output at work places can only be achieved when there is harmony.
He said ZCTU does not encourage strikes as a means of demanding better salaries although it is the right of workers to do so.
“Strike action is a workers’ right but it is a right that must be used with care. We don’t encourage our members to strike anyhow. There must be a justifiable reason to strike,” he said.
Mr Hikaumba also said Zambians should be asking themselves why the country is poor after 50 years of independence despite being rich in resources.
And in Kabwe that President Sata is committed to job reaction.
Mr Sata said this in a speech read for him by Minister of Education, Science, Vocation Training and Early Education John Phiri during May Day celebrations at Godfrey Chitalu Stadium.
ZCTU secretary general Roy Mwaba has condemned some opposition political parties who shunned the celebrations, STEVEN MVULA reports from Kasama.
“We will not give these political parties our solidarity because they have shunned our event. We all need to support the government of the day,” Mr Mwaba said in Kasama yesterday at the Labour Day celebrations.
And in Chipata Government places job creation top of its developmental agenda to ensure that there is stability in the country.
Speaking at Labour Day celebrations, Eastern Province minister Malozo Sichone said Government attaches importance to the process of reforming labour laws to ensure workers’ aspirations and rights are protected. ZAMBIA DAILY MAIL

United Nations Committee on Information (COI) chairperson Ambassador Lyutha Sultan Al-Mughairy has commended Zambia for its active participation in the Committee as a Bureau Member.
Speaking when Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Dr Joseph Katema paid a courtesy call on her at the Permanent Mission of the Sultanate of Oman to the United Nations in New York on Wednesday, Ambassador Al-Mughairy said Zambia’s active role in the Committee’s bureau was highly appreciable.
“You have given us one of your children to work with us and we are very happy with him,” Ambassador Al-Mughairy said. Zambia is the rapporteur of the Committee.
Mrs Al-Mughairy, who is also Permanent Representative of Oman to the UN, commended Dr Katema for his participation at the 36th Session of the Committee on Information, which started its two-week deliberations on Monday.
She urged the Zambian media to work closely with the UN Department of Public Information (DPI).
She observed that UN TV and UN radio produce many programmes that could be beneficial to the Zambians.
“You can also work with the Dag Hammarskjold Library,” Ambassador Al-Mughairy said. “The United Nations Information Centre in Zambia will be a very good link between you and DPI. Make use of the information centre.”
Ambassador Al-Mughairy expressed happiness at the growth of the media industry in Zambia, especially the increase in the number of radio stations.
Dr Katema, who is also Chief Government Spokesperson, thanked UN Member States for electing Zambia to the bureau of the Committee on Information.
He congratulated Ambassador Al-Mughairy on her election to the portfolio of chairperson of the global body, and assured her of Zambia’s support in her undertakings.
The Minister informed Ambassador Al-Mughairy about wide-ranging media reforms in Zambia, andgrowing number of media houses in the country.
He called for close working relationship between the Zambian media, the Government, the DPI and the Committee to foster development, and international peace and security.
Zambia chaired the Wednesday session of the Committee on Information on behalf of Ambassador Al-Mughairy.
The Minister is in New York attending this year’s session of the Committee on Information. On the sidelines of the Committee on Information meeting, Dr Katema has held several high-level meeting with senior UN officials.

Issued by:
CHIBAULA D. SILWAMBA (Mr.)
First Secretary for Press and Public Relations
Permanent Mission of the Republic of Zambia to the United Nations
www.zambiaun.com Mobile: +1(646)2405430, Email: chibaula@zambiaun.com

Chief Matebo of the Kaonde speaking people in North Western Province has commended the Patriotic Front government for the many policies it has come up with especially those concerning rural areas.
Chief Matebo’s spokesperson Andrew Lukamata has told Q fm in an interview that the Pf leadership has demonstrated to the Zambian people that they are a caring government and what doing everything to ensure that all the Zambians benefit.

He says the many developmental projects being implemented through out the country, the idea of introducing village industries are a clear evidence of the works of the Pf government citing that the many developmental projects taking place in his chiefdom has created job opportunities for his youths.

Mr. Lukamata says the people in his chief Matebo’s chiefdom are happy with what the PF government has done so far.

He has further encouraged the PF government to continue with the works and continue working hard to for the country to move forward.

The Bank of Zambia (BoZ) has maintained that the country’s economic prospects for 2014 still remain strong despite the Kwacha’s decline in strength in the last few weeks.

Zambia’s economic growth for the 2014 has been projected to go way over seven percent this year.

BoZ Governor Michael Gondwe says growth is expected to be mainly driven by agriculture, manufacturing, construction and mining.

Dr. Gondwe says manufacturing and mining are expected to benefit from increased capital imports which he says should increase capacity utilization particularly among most mines.

Dr. Gondwe says high construction activities are expected to be sustainable this year mainly in roads, commercial structures and housing estate.

The BoZ Chief also notes that with increased output in the growth sectors, Zambia’s external sector is projected to improve supported by continued non-traditional exports and that inflation is expected to be as low as 6.5 percent at the end of 2014.

He adds that the country is expected to continue attracting Foreign Direct Investment inflows as it grows.

Dr. Gondwe was speaking this morning when he opened a media seminar organized by the Central Bank in Siavonga.

The media seminar seeks to emphasize the role of monetary policy in the economy, financial sector reforms as well as key aspects of financial inclusiveness in Zambia.

Relatives of vanished Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 passengers wailed and yelled in a Beijing hotel Thursday as the airline announced it was closing the assistance centers where they’d been gathered for weeks — effectively telling the families to go home.

The closures also will mean no more mass daily briefings for the relatives — news that sparked a new wave of anguish and despair for the hundreds who heard it at Beijing’s Lido Hotel.

“What can we do?” a relative yelled, as others kneeled in front of police who had assembled in the hotel briefing room to keep order.

“Who will find our family members?” another shouted.

The airline said the center at the Lido Hotel, where the company has hosted families since March, would close Friday. Centers elsewhere will close by May 7, it said.

“Instead of staying in hotels, the families of MH370 are advised to receive information updates on the progress of the search and investigation and other support by Malaysia Airlines within the comfort of their own homes, with the support and care of their families and friends,” the airline said in a news release.

The briefing at the Lido Hotel came on the day that the Malaysian government released its preliminary report on the plane’s March 8 disappearance.

The hotel has been an important hub of information for relatives in China. More than 100 passengers on the plane are Chinese.

The airline said it would open different “family support centers” in Beijing and Malaysia’s capital; it wasn’t immediately clear what those centers would do.

‘People started to break down’

Sarah Bajc, the American partner of Flight 370 passenger Philip Wood, said she was one of about 500 people at Thursday’s Lido Hotel meeting.

The briefing began with the airline’s CEO making a seven-minute statement in English by video, Bajc said. Most of the relatives didn’t understand the message until a Chinese translation was given afterward, she said.

“That’s when people started to break down,” she said.

Bajc said she left the room, saying the scene started to feel tense.

“I could hear a lot of yelling. Some of the police officers that were outside went in, and they started to file family members out through a separate exit,” she told CNN’s “New Day.”

Calm was restored when Chinese officials continued the briefing and ensured the families that the search would continue, and that the relatives wouldn’t be forgotten, a CNN crew outside the briefing room reported.

Bajc said Chinese relatives previously told her they dreaded the day that the hotel centers would close, fearing they wouldn’t get timely updates at their rural homes.

“They are very distraught, because the average Chinese family member will be sent home to mostly a very rural place with limited access to (the) Internet, and they just feel like all lines of communications will be cut,” she said.

Airline to begin compensation payments

The airline also said Thursday it would begin making advance compensation to the Flight 370 passengers’ next of kin, to help with their immediate economic needs.

19 out of the 500 nurses who were fired for going on an illegal strike last year have died as a result of depression.

Zambia Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) secretary general Roy Mwaba revealed the development during Labor Day commemorations held at Kasama’s president’s park yesterday.

Mr Mwaba has since issued a fresh plea to President Michael Sata to pardon the nurses and re-instate them in the shortest possible time.

And Mr Mwaba has implored on government to review its decision to have two-year wage freeze for civil servants.

He said the labor movement in the country is deeply disappointed by the development as it negatively affects people’s welfare.

In response, Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba who graced the Labor Day celebration in Kasama said government is committed to resolving the issue of dismissed nurses.

Mr Kabimba said the PF administration does not take pleasure in seeing people lose employment.

He was however quick to state that discipline and dialogue is key driving national development.

Commenting on the wage freeze, Mr Kabimba stated that it was not the intention of government to inflict pain on public service workers but take temporal measures to stabilize the economy.

Radio Mano

Government says Zambia is a strong proponent of freedom of expression, freedom of the media and public access to information, as fundamental pre-requisites for sustainable social and economic development and democracy.

Addressing the opening of the 36th Session of the United Nations Committee on Information in New York on Monday, Information and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr. Joseph Katema said his Government has embarked on a wide range of measures to reform and reposition the country’s media industry.

Dr. Katema added that principle among these measures was the ongoing process to enact the Freedom of Information Bill.

Meanwhile, Dr Katema, who is also Chief Government spokesperson, told the UN meeting that since the time Zambia liberalized the airwaves in 1991, it now has over 70 community and commercial radio stations and about 10 television stations.

While in New York, Dr. Katema will tour the UN news and media division, among other high-profile engagements.

The opposition All Peoples Congress (APC) has called on relevant authorities to constitute a team of medical doctors to determine the health condition of Republican President Michael Chilufya Sata.

APC President Nason Msoni has told QFM News in an interview that the call to constitute a team of medical doctors is based on the assessment done yesterday during Labour Day celebrations.

Mr. Msoni has emphasized that the call should not be perceived with ill intentions but that the people need an assurance that the Head of State is fine.

Mr. Msoni adds that it is important that the board be constituted as soon as possible to give assurance to the nation that the President is well and clear the speculations that he is not feeling well.

He states that the occurrence during this year’s Labour Day leaves one to wonder whether the Head of State was well and calls for medical examination.

Government is implementing the industrialization and job creation strategy targeted at creating one million jobs by 2016 through foreign and local investment in four growth sectors of the economy.

And government has said it has finalized consultations on areas of the labour laws that require amendments.

Local Government Deputy Minister Forrie Tembo said government recognizes job creation as strategy in ensuring the stability of society and the overall growth of the economy.

Speaking in Luanshya yesterday during the labour day celebrations under the theme “Zambia at 50: Creating decent Work and Promoting Social Economic Justice For National Development”, Mr. Tembo said the theme was appropriate as it recognizes where we have come from as a country and also indicates the areas that need to be addressed in order to foster national development.

He noted that while Zambia had won political independence, the country still faces huge challenges in ensuring all citizens are economically free.

Mr. Tembo further stated that government has finalized consultations on the areas of the labour laws that needed amendments, saying government attaches great importance to the process of reforming the labour laws to protect and meet aspirations of all workers.

He said in the same vain, government in December launched the second Zambia decent work country programme to run up to 2016.

And Luanshya Mayor Gordon Siwale appealed to labour unions coming from sectors which have multiple representations to learn to speak with one voice when dealing with common causes such as salary increments.

Mr. Siwale said doing so would help members derive maximum benefit from what they bargain for with their employers.

And Federation Of free Trade Unions National Secretary Baison Mando commended government on the achievements scored in various sectors of the economy which include infrastructure development, job creation, and national stability.

Mr. Mando however said the country still has a lot of challenges owing to unemployment as young people were still not able to find quality jobs, thereby threatening national stability.

Copperbelt Minister, Mwenya Musenge, says government will continue building more schools on the Copperbelt and expand the existing infrastructure to increase the pupil enrolment levels.
Mr Musenge also says the expansion of infrastructure in the education sector will help decongest the classrooms which at times carter for more than 100 pupils making it difficult for teachers to deliver quality education.
Mr Musenge was speaking in Chimwemwe Township during an advocacy meeting dubbed “Championing the cause for better education for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) organised by the Copperbelt Health Education Project (CHEP).

He also said government is committed towards ensuring that more orphans and vulnerable children attend education to improve their lives.
Mr Musenge, who is also Chimwemwe Constituency Member of Parliament  (MP), urged organisations looking after vulnerable children to approach government whenever they need support.
He said as Member of Parliament for Chimwemwe Constituency, he was willing to use the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to educate orphans in the area.
Mr Musenge also bemoaned the increase in the number of unplanned settlements mushrooming in most towns on the Copperbelt.

The minister said it is wrong for people to allocate themselves pieces of land without following the laid down procedure.

He has since challenged councillors in various wards on the Copperbelt to come up with a system which will enable them fight illegal land allocation.

Mr Musenge also urged medical personnel working in various health institutions on the Copperbelt to improve the delivery of health services to the people.

He said people working in hospitals, especially nurses, are supposed to care for the patients in their custody unlike the current trend where people are discharged from health institutions when they are still unwell.
Mr Musenge observed that nurses in most health institutions usually send patients home even when they are not too well and that the trend has contributed to the high death rates in the country.
Earlier, residents of Chimwemwe appealed to Mr Musenge to deploy more nurses at Chimwemwe Clinic which is currently experiencing shortage of manpower.

The residents also want the minister to address the challenges that orphaned children are facing when accessing education.

A TWENTY-ONE-year-old woman of Kabushi Township has been fined K800 for alleging that an 84 -year-old man of the same area was a wizard.
Passing judgment, Kabushi Local Court presiding magistrate Oscar Kalaba said the  matter had been proved and Tabeya Mozimupiya was found guilty of accusing Mr James Lubi of practising witchcraft.
Mr Lubi told the court that on April 3, 2014 Ms Mozimupiya told him that she dreamt about him being involved in evil practices.
He said the allegations by the defendant shocked him because he had been looking at her as his own child.
“I have seen this girl grow, she’s as good as my child, I was so shocked that she could call me a wizard,” he said.
He said thereafter, he went home and shared the same information with his grandchildren who also went to approach her over the allegations. But  she insisted that the plaintiff was actually a wizard.
But in her defence, Ms Mozimupiya said Mr Lubi had brought money for some goods he bought from her stand.
She said after he made the payment, he asked why she kept on starring at him and what was it that she always thought about him.
She said her response was that there was nothing wrong and also denied ever calling Mr Lubi a wizard.
But Mr Kalaba in judgment said that there was nothing wrong in dreaming of someone and that should not warrant anyone to accuse another of practising witchcraft.
Mr Kalaba said the K800 fine should be paid in installment of K200 for four months from June 2, 2014.

A 56-YEAR-OLD woman of Lusaka’s Kabulonga Township shocked a fully packed Boma Local Court during the week as she wept uncontrollably pleading with the court not to divorce her from her husband.
Catherine Mpande told the court that at her age she could not bear the shame and stigma associated with divorce.
This was in a case where her husband James Mpande, 64 sued for divorce following persistent marital problems.
Catherine said problems in their marriage started when Mpande started an affair with their maid before seeing another woman of Kafue Township.
Although her husband who has since left the matrimonial home wanted divorce, Catherine said she was not ready to separate and begged the court to reconcile them.
“I am old, at my age and what will I tell the children if I divorce today. I will continue waiting for my husband, no matter how long it will take for him to come back home,” said Catherine who could not hold back her tears.
“I am very sure that the young woman my husband is going out is just after his money.”
She called on the young women fond of having love affairs with older men to stop because they were causing pain to their fellow women.
However, Mpande told the court that he no longer wanted to continue staying with his wife because she was a bad woman who had made him go through so much pain.
In apparent reference to Catherine’s cry, Mpande said his wife was a comedian who had managed to attract sympathy from all the people in court.
“So, you people pretending to be surprised are you telling me that you have never seen a man of my age marry a young woman?
“I don’t care how my wife cries, all I want is the court to grant us divorce so that I can marry the woman I want,” he said.
The case has since been adjourned to 12th of May.

SCHOOLS across the UK are being targeted by Islamists in a plot to ensure the adoption of strict Muslim principles, it has been reported today.

The alleged plot would see the infiltration of classrooms at secular schools in order to change teaching to reflect hardline Muslim beliefs.

It is claimed Operation Trojan Horse also involves removing head teachers and replacing them with radical Muslim staff and governors.

The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) said it was at first concerned about six schools in Birmingham being targeted.

But today it emerged the takeover plans are more widespread as the union said it has “connections” to other large cities, according to The Daily Telegraph.

There are concerns about the possible infiltration of schools in Bradford, Manchester and parts of London.

The NAHT’s general secretary Russell Hobby said the union’s members have expressed concerns about Operation Trojan Horse.

He said members were worried about pressure being put on school leaders to adopt certain philosophies.

Mr Hobby added teachers were concerned staff were being appointed on the basis of their religious beliefs and not on skill levels.

Mr Hobby is due to address the Trojan Horse allegations in his speech to the NAHT annual conference in Birmingham this weekend.

He is expected to tell delegates: “A tight network of religious leaders of the Islamic faith has made a concerted effort to get involved in the running of schools and to strengthen the powerof governing bodies to have a dominant influence in shaping the character of local schools.

“It is not clear that they have done anything wrong just by doing this. Indeed, such actions are officially encouraged.

“However, in some instances, this influence has gradually crossed the boundaries of good governance and deprived some students of their entitlements in terms of knowledge and education.

“It has also crossed the line in terms of employment law in order to exert this influence by getting people of the right religious views appointed.

“The trouble, we have not, as a system, set strong boundaries on the difference between local adaptation and basic entitlements. We should take this opportunity to do so.”

The Express