President Levy Mwanawasa has called for the eradication of corruption on the African continent.
President Mwanawasa says corruption needs to be eradicated from the continent because it resulted in the misappropriation and misapplication of scarce resources.
Dr. Mwanawasa said this in a speech read on his behalf by Vice-President Rupiah Banda at the official opening of the 39th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Africa Region Conference in Livingstone today.
President Mwanawasa said in order to develop and attract the needed levels of investment, the countries needed to aggressively fight corruption in a concerted manner.
Dr. Mwanawasa said Zambia was determined to relentlessly fight and root out corruption in the country.
‘’We in Zambia are determined to relentlessly fight and root out this scourge. It is not easy, but it must and shall be done,’’ he said.
Dr Mwanawasa urged delegates to actively participate in the exchange of views on corruption so that a workable solution to weed out the vice on the continent can be found in a bid to make the CPA Africa region corrupt-free and a better place to live in.
Meanwhile, Dr. Mwanawasa has said the theme of the conference ‘Global Warming: Challenges for Parliamentarians and Parliaments’ was a very important theme because the issue of climate change was now considered to be one of the defining issues which pre-occupied the minds and activities of world leaders.
Dr Mwanawasa added that the issue of climate change required sustained, concerted and high level political attention and intervention.
He said dramatic changes of climate were already visible adding that the impacts were increasingly becoming severe.
‘’Notable among these and close to home are the devastating floods and droughts affecting most parts of our continent, especially the Southern African sub-region,’’ he said.
President Mwanawasa observed that the consequences of climate change caused largely by developed countries were more severe for the developing countries and the continent.
‘’This is because our means to adapt to, and mitigate the effects of climate change are limited, thus worsening the plight of poor on the continent,’’ he said.
Dr Mwanawasa also observed that climate change caused social, economic and security dislocations for humankind.
He said the Zambian government was doing all it could to mitigate the devastating effects of climate change in accordance with the provisions of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol which seeks to cut greenhouse emissions.
Dr Mwanawasa said government through the National Adaptation Programme of Action of 2007, has identified health, agriculture, forestry, wildlife, water and energy as sectors mostly susceptible to climate change.
He noted that recent research by the Centre for Environmental Economics and Policy in Africa in conjunction with the University of Zambia on the economic impacts of climate change on Zambian agriculture had revealed that the country has been experiencing an increase in drought frequency and intensity in the last 20 years.
He observed that this had led to detrimental consequences for the agricultural sector and had threatened food security for vulnerable groups.
Dr Mwanawasa observed that the study had revealed that temperatures had been increasing by 0.6 degrees Celsius per decade since 1970 adding that the increase in temperatures had slowed down the regeneration capacity of the local Miombo forest which was traditionally a resilient and balanced eco-system.
He said the objective of government was to strengthen national coordination of efforts intended to respond to the climate change and integrate climate change responses into the national development process.
He said government intends to put in place coordinated mechanisms to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change on the country’s national development.
And on conflicts on the continent, Dr Mwanawasa bemoaned the conflicts that have continued to rock the African continent in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the Darfur region of Sudan, Chad and Somalia.
He said the situation prevailing in those countries were unacceptable because Africa needed peace and harmony to develop.
He expressed happiness that Kenya had put up a practical resolution to the problems in their country to ensure that peace and development continues.
He urged the CPA Africa region to lend its voice of encouragement to all the people of Zimbabwe so that they could resolve their political challenges amicably.
Dr Mwanawasa said the region and the rest of the world were doing their best to assist Zimbabwe but noted that it is themselves who must initiate the reconciliation process.
The conference was attended by over 300 delegates. The countries represented included Botswana, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
ENDS/FM/AM/ZANIS
IWE KA BANDA stop being an impostor. Mwanawasa has been asleep for over two weeks now. Why cant you stop this foolishness of saying levy, levy, said this.U are making us more angry now with your foolish updates on our presido while you continue imposing your foolish papers purported to have been written by LPM.
First time kuvelako. A dead presido saying this?? ah? Why are these guys so silly?
Who do they take us for? A nation of toddlers?
Stupid R. Banda. when was this speech written? This is now becoming toomuch to swallow. As #3 said, we are being taken for toddlers
even the unseen God had the bible written!! levy can as well do a speech in his comatose state!!! ahahahahahahahahahaah
What sort of image are these politicians portraying to the rest of the world?
mwebo ati levy said this and that.I guess people were just laughing at RB.
The speech was written b4 th stroke
What is really happening in our country? there is too much unseriousness. I have nothing to comment on other than saying ” Rupia and your people be serious, you are above 70 years very soon you will be an ancestor”
how can a person who is in coma say this and that liars.!!!!!!!
9# ha ha ha RP is too old and sluggish to make a proper decision.
aahh i thot dead men dont speak… kwena levy is a top imfwiti even from beyond the grave hahahahahahahahaha
LT, please give out proper reported news. A person who never uttered somthing with his/her own mouth must not be referred to as hasving said something. Please, let us present news in its proper shape.
nshamonapo ine, akalumbafye!
chola boy tell us.
I have no comments. But I think, even if the speech was written before the stroke, it would have been prudent to file it and relegate it to the archives. What an embarassment!
the biggest annoying basterd right now in GRZ is MULONGOTI this Nigga gat some’n to say about every thing..he thinks he might be Levys successor!!!!MULONGOTI SHUT YO TRAPPP!!!!!!!
Mulongoti is better off than George Mpombo? the man is a let down even to his own family?
People should stop using LPM’s name to do and say what they want. As Vice, RB should have written his own speech ! Even if ba Mwanawasa had written it before the coma (which is very doubtful!).
I note that Zimbabwe did not attend this “conference” in livingstone. This is a sign of disorganisation on the part of RB, why read a speech that was written before the event and referring to LPM who is in hospital, why didn’t RB write his own speech as VP? It seems RB can’t handle the job, it seems Zambian is on auto pilot at the moment.
We need to change administration as soon as possible, this is the best time for Zambia to develop and we must ensure that we have national leaders leading the nation.
But I though Levy mwaiche alifwa?
This just clearly shows how dull our politicians are.
stable miracle here,………..Mr Banda stop putting the whole country in your dream life that you have.Better start talking bout the person that will be contesting on MMD ticket and not this cheap talk.Who said what?……….
This is unconditionally blasphemy…. Lesa nimalyotola.
Not surprised one of those sermons that has been on file and repeated over and over again.Needed to be edited replacing Levys name until we are sure of his own capacity.This is definitely bringing Rupiah Bandas repute into redicule unless he is really sure of what he is doing.Are we really struggling to proove that the man is stable and making slow progress,for the unbalanced well thus as far as RB is concerned proof enough.
But pa Zambia…Bwafya!
I wonder how you can read a speech on someones behalf, when he’s unconscious? Why not just read the bloody speech in your capacity as VEEP or acting President. Roops & Mulongoti are the dullest clowns I’ve come across in a long time. U buggers can only hide Levy’s state of health for so long, I give u 2wks max, b4 all hell break loose! Zambians will demand answers.
Rupia my frlend be serious in your dealings.Mr LPM is currently bed riden and all his memories pertaining to Corruption are not as good as they were before.So Old man i therefore advice you not to fool around .This person Mr LPM is not feeling well so Leave him alone.
Sata, HH & Katele must have been caught by surprise huh, they were strategising for 2011 and perhaps Sata was even wondering whether he’d make it that far with his fragile heart, but alas, elections could be called anytime this yr! This is what poor succession planning leads to my friends, b4 u know it, u’ll end up with hyena’s & jackals @ plot 1…!
Rupia can you re-organise your boys in MMD Katele,Teta,Mulongotiand others,I dont expect any of those charps to think of being in Top Leadership.HH is warming to take the Lead not plunders Like Katele who is just waffling.
We can say this and that and start pointing fingers at each other but only GOD knows what is happening to our President. I wish him quick recovery. Lets not be divided, lets unite and pray for him. God bless Zambia, God bless Mwanawasa and the 1st family
BUT THIS ONE WACHITA OVER IWE KA BANDA MONEY. WHO ARE YOU DECEIVING. EVERYONE KNOWS THAT LPM HAS BEEN BED RIDEN FOR TWO WEEKS NOW. WE KNOW YOU ARE DOING EVERYTHING ON BEHALF OF LPM BUT SPARE US ON THIS ONE. YOU ARE MISLEADING THE NATION TO THINK THAT NOW LPM IS OK. AND THAT IS THE IMPRESSION I GOT AT FIRST INSTANCE I READ THIS MISLEADING SPEACH. IM SURE EVEN THE DELGATES WERE CONFUSED.
Am surprised, why are they still using levy said this and that in their speeches isn’t there anyone that can make decisions without the now Vegetable Presido? Be serious guys, this is becoming a BIG JOKE by the day!
People on the ground please update those of us who are in diaspora. What is the opposition saying about the situation in our country right now. I am more interested in HH’s sentiments because Sata is now compromised. It is in these times that these politicians must show their leadership qualities by the way they handle a crisis like this one. If they are quiet it means they are as confused as everybody and do not know which way to go. They are supposed to be advising the RBs by now and giving some form of direction.
It is so rare for a President to write his own speech so the speech read on his behalf is one of those written by his Private Secretaries & various Assistants in conjunction with Foreign Affairs officials,the President sometimes goes thru documents before reading them wherever they are intended to be read but sometimes Presidents don’t go thru them,can’t you see sometimes how Presidents struggle to read & understand what’s on their papers,Mugabe is the worst when he is reading a speech prepared for him infact all these speeches are made well in advance it’s not that is was prepared whilst the President was ill.
Imwe, mwe bantu, dont you understand that Levy rised secretly from coma, wrote the speech and went back in coma (since LPM’s illness is state secret).
last time he was jogging in London and now writing speeches whilst comatose!
shame on GRZ
diaspora guys who are in France, if u know anything about Levy condition, please tell us, we want to know.
Zambians gave him that job (those who voted for him), we pay him from the taxes we pay. If he is not capable, we need to replace him. Otherwise, he has to go on unpaid leave.
Why are we not straight on this matter?
What a shame?
#39 Correction: its sick unpaid leave!
Koma imwe suwa! Bathu mbakuzelezeka! A levi chigonele mbwenu ati bayamba kuyoboya lelo? Iyi niminthondwe! Ka bakuti ise tose ndise a kambwe bambula mitu?
Plz next time indicate that it was written before Mugabes witchcraft attacked Levi. And ask Bob to give us the antidote!
The statement is coming from THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDEAD
People I asked a question at 34, what is the opposition saying about this state of affairs. Are they just quiet and wallowing in this confusion with all of us??? Someone must show some leadership if they have aspirations of ruling Zambia. Silence is usually taken to mean consent.
Rupiah Banda appears dead to me as well…..
Take from an article on iol:
Lusaka – Zambia’s main opposition on Tuesday called for a medical investigation to determine whether President Levy Mwanawasa is capable of ruling the country after suffering a stroke.
Michael Sata, leader of the Patriotic Front, said there was an urgent need to establish the condition of Mwanawasa, who is in intensive care in France since suffering a stroke two weeks ago.
Zambia has had no president for over two weeks now. Even Mugabe – for all his stupidity – is somebody at the helm of a nation.
Rupiah, stop behaving like this is mu feduro!!
We have been taken for granted by this MMD govt. telling the worlf that LPM is concerned with corruption? What a shame on Rupiya Man from Chiparamba. LPM is sicko and could not have written that one sure even those who write speeches are now being xposed of myopicness. Abash MMD Abash presendential secretarries and VP!!!!!!!!!!!! Mwawa ba monko imwe twala chivuvula nomba ka. Mwisope!!!!
Are we to believe that these are levy’s words when we have not had a glimpse of him in the past few weeks!!!!
Rupiah Banda..I NEVER VOTED FOR YOU!!!!.
Nobody in Zambia currently is capable of taking over from our dead Presido. Right now a dead Presido is better than having HH in State…………Shame upon you Zambians!!
you *****s, like #35 said, presidents, later alone RB don’t write speeches. poor guy was set out to fall by his press secretary or whoever wrote the speech. maybe it was engineered by Katele
It is no use calling people *****s when we can all see that RB bluffed by reading that speech the way he did. Given the circumstances of LPM lying in that hospital RB would have asked the technocrats at MTENR to write another speech for him. We know that these people do not write speeches of that nature coz the area is too complex for them. It just makes him look stupid and a serious rubber stamp who is even scared to read his own speech. Scared of the unknown. Anyway it is normal in Zambia as we are known to respect even corpses. You can see it even in Kayombo who insults HH in such a manner. Kayombo I think you are from another planet to think that a corpse is better than HH,what an insult
As much as jokes about Levi writing a speech while comatose are entertaining, the reality is that most of these leaders (even in the developed countries)do not write their own speeches. It is beyond their capability. Just listen to an unscripted conversation or interview with George Bush, it is embarassing. In my opinion, non of the current presidential candidates have the credentials to be an effective and collective president. That includes the dreaded Sata, HH, Nawakwi, BY (if he is even a factor anymore), etc. We need better options dear Lord.
#49, please provide data on HH instead of issuing insults. YOu alleged being in Russia puts you above average of a Zambian Citizen at home, please.
We needs points to consider as opposed to emotional outbursts that border on hate and tribalism – which is an evil in itself.
HHehhehhehhe. Have a good day you all.
#52, could you kindly, please, back up your assertion about credentials by beefing up on your claims regarding Hon. Sata, HH, Hon. Nawakwi, Hon. BY.
Levy shouldn’t talk about corruption bcoz he is corrupt and his Govt is the most corrupt of the 3 we’ve had.
#54. Are you oblivious to the political activities of these individuals past and present? Hon Sata has a kaponya mentality, runs his party in an undemocratic manner, is tactless and requires supervision. Lets not forget that he was a willing participant in the corrupt Chiluba regime. Hon BY lacks vision, surrounds himself with “yes men” he percieves to be non threatening, lacks political judgement and was also part and parcel of the Chiluba government.Hon Nawakwi ,also a participant in the previous gvt, is unable to stand on her own. HH was elected thru a flawed system based on tribalism. We all remember the way in which the UPND convention played out.
Its quite sad to find the person entrusted to take the country forward at this trying time, reading something that he does not even himself understand.I expected him to have asked as to why that speech was written in that manner and even have it changed.This just potrays how dull some of these fellas can be.God bless Zambia.
I think the current Finance Minister stands a better chance to lead the nation because he has a lot of experience at home and abroad.
imwe banu lekani kutonzha citumbi!!!!!
It is so *****ic to hear RP say LPM envisages a corrrupt-free all-African continent. You can tell that the VP is just a stooge and stupid bootlicker who misses his own mind. i mean he can think for himself it’s not surprising that every politician in MMD is now singing their own song about the state of the nation. F**k that nonsense! I think we need a VP who is capable of handling the vacuum created so far on his own merit without using the name of a president who is in comatose condition for a while now. Come on RP, try to be yourself and be real. If you continue the path of worshipping a dying man then don’t expect to country to take you serious. Hidden forces may even throw you out.
#56, you put issues quite succinctly and plain as they stand. I gather you are trying to say there is no one at the present moment on the Zambian political arena that can be absolved of the blame as regards the current mess the country finds itself in. The ordinary Zambian too shoulders the blame for their naivety in allowing corrupt leadership to continue ruling them. While we appreciate our love for peace we should not elect thieves to power. Zambian electrorate need to start vetting these *****s and political charlatans before they come to power. The VP too is already in political comatose himself because he is not even aware that LPM is still in coma.
I found it extremely shocking to read a headline suggesting Levy was out of his coma and was making public appearences. Then when I read the story itself was taken aback to learn that it was actually the VP giving a speech on the behalf of Levy. What a mockery!!! What type of journalism is this?? As a journalist myself I’m ashamed to be associated to such gutter press. One minute the journalists are telling us that Levy is comatos and then in the next minute telling us he is well and going about his business. What journalism is this??? Gutter journalism is what it is pure and simple. Go home Zambian journalist who needs you??…..shameless pen pushers.
pleeeese pipo tell us,firstly how long are we gonna wait for the medical report to be released? Educated pipo what does the zambian constitution say about this? secondly, fighting corruption in an empoverished country like z is a non starter.pay pipo well and they will stop accepting bribes.