Gershom Ndhlovu

Latest posts by Gershom Ndhlovu

Zambian Phone Apps Gather Country's News in One Place

  23 November 2012

After an Android phone app that allows Zambians to participate in the on-going constitution making process was developed, a couple of new apps, Zambia News Daily and The Zambian, which collate news about the country from a number of online sources, have appeared on the market.

Zambia's Currency to Get a Makeover

  17 November 2012

Zambia is set to rebase her currency by removing three zeroes from the Kwacha at the beginning of next year. Netizens have weighed in on the massive project for which the Bank of Zambia has even proposed 31 December, 2012 to be a holiday to allow for the smooth transition to use the new currency. While some netizens support the exercise some argue that it is simply cosmetic.

Zambia: YouTube Documentary on Negative Impact of Copper Mining

  14 October 2012

A documentary titled “Zambia: Good Copper, Bad Copper” about Zambian copper mining and its negative impact on society has emerged on YouTube and has so far attracted over 6,000 hits. After watching the documentary, one YouTube user wrote, "Cry our beloved country. Why should we remain poor when a coveted product is plenty and mined at the expense of the locals' health."

Zambia: MP Suspended for Criticising President's ‘Jokey’ Speech

  10 October 2012

An opposition MP in Zambia was recently suspended from the House for overly criticising one of President Michael Sata’s official speeches. While addressing parliament, a presidential annual tradition which is supposed to be a solemn occasion, President Sata kept on cracking jokes which made him divert significantly from the prepared speech.

Zambia's “Imaginary” Terror Plot

  28 September 2012

Zambia appears to be on the brink of ethnic conflict after a separatist group from Southern Province claimed to have killed members of the President’s tribe. However, many Zambians regard the threat posed by the Tongas Under Oath as the latest attempt by the government to discredit opposition parties.

Zambian National Football Team Coach Granted Permanent Residence

  30 August 2012

Zambia has had many expatriate national football team coaches, but Frenchman Herve Renard, who led the team in scooping the Africa Cup of Nations in 2012, enjoys special affection. In recognition of his success, the government has accorded him permanent residence but the decision has assumed political overtones.

Zambia: New Minimum Wage Pits Employers Against Government

  21 July 2012

The Statutory Instrument stipulating the minimum wage payable to domestic servants, shop workers and other general workers is arguably one of the most controversial policies of the 10 months old Patriotic Front (PF) government. This issue has divided Zambian netizens on citizen media and social network sites, those for and those against it, in equal measure.

Zambia: African Union Leaves Liberation Hero Out of Honors’ List

  16 July 2012

When Zambia’s foreign minister Given Lubinda went to Ethiopia to attend the African Union summit , he was shocked to discover that the country’s first president, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, was not among the continent’s prominent personalities who have been honoured at the new AU headquarters in Addis Ababa. Zambian netizens have reacted to the omission with mixed feelings.

Zambia: A President's Joke Gone Too Far?

  8 July 2012

Zambian netizens have condemned President Michael Sata's apparent lack of diplomatic etiquette after he told former American President George W. Bush that Zambians are grateful when a former colonialist like him come back to pay back what was stolen during his country’s colonial and slavery past. George W. Bush was in Zambia to promote cervical cancer detection and treatment programs for women.