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Kabwe Warriors hire Tennant Chilumba

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Tennant Chilumba has been appointed Kabwe Warriors coach.

Chilumba returns to the bench after leaving Napsa Stars who had sidelined him since September following a poor run of results.

“Chilumba who is an ex-Kabwe Warriors player and assistant coach, is expected to report within the next 48 hours,” club sponsors Zambia Railways spokesperson and newly appointed Warriors committee member Caristo Chitamfya said in a statement.

“Chilumba replaces Elijah Chikwanda, who has been Kabwe Warriors head coach since July, 2017.”

Chilumba returns to his former club where he also served as assistant coach from 2007 to 2008.

His previously coached Power Dynamos, Prison Leopards and Young Arrows.

Chilumba also coached Zimbabwe club Hwange.

Wedson laments draw with Namibia

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Wedson Nyirenda has admitted that Zambia were second best in their 2018 CHAN Group B top two decider against Namibia on Monday night in Casablanca.

Zambia laboured from one-down to collect a hard-earned 1-1 draw with Namibia to finish 1st and 2nd respectively on 7 points each with goal difference separating the two sides.

“My team did not come to the party today; we did not play our game. I think we were so complacent in this game,” Nyirenda said.

Absalom Iimbondi put Namibia ahead in the 12th minute from a free-kick that took a bounce before eluding Zambia goalkeeper Toaster Nsabata.

But Zambia equalized twelve minutes later through Lazarus Kambole who he tapped in a cheeky ball after some hard work by Ernest Mbewe.
From then on Namibia put Zambia under pressure that saw Nsabata working overtime to ensure the score line remained even.
“We were shocked in the first half, Namibia got the goal first but we reacted and came with an equalizer through our young boy Lazarus,” Nyirenda said.

“One thing I can say about the team is that they have shown a lot of character that they want to win despite all the difficulties that we are getting into at times.”

Zambia now has five days to reload before they host Sudan in Marrakech in the quarterfinals on January 27.

Sudan finished 2nd in Group A tied on 7 points with leaders and hosts Morocco against whom they drew 0-0 last Sunday.

Namibia will face Morocco also on Saturday in the other quarterfinal tie in Casablanca.

Hugh Masekela, South African jazz trumpeter, dies

Masekela was given his first trumpet at the age of 14

Legendary jazz trumpeter Hugh Masekela, a leading figure in the struggle to end apartheid and “the father of South African jazz”, has died aged 78.

In a statement, his family said he had “passed peacefully” in Johannesburg “after a protracted and courageous battle with prostate cancer”.

Masekela gained global recognition with his distinctive Afro-Jazz sound and hits such as Soweto Blues.

The 1977 song became synonymous with the anti-apartheid movement.

In a statement, South African President Jacob Zuma said Masekela’s death was “an immeasurable loss to the music industry and to the country at large”.

Zuma continued: “His contribution to the struggle for liberation will never be forgotten.”

He helped open the 2010 World Cup in South Africa with fellow musician Femi Kuti

Born in the South African town of Witbank in 1939, Masekela was inspired to learn the trumpet after seeing Kirk Douglas play Bix Beiderbecke in the 1950 film Young Man with a Horn.

He persuaded one of his teachers – the anti-apartheid crusader Father Trevor Huddleston – to buy him an instrument, promising to stay out of trouble in return.

In 1960, aged 21, he left South Africa to begin what would be 30 years in exile from the land of his birth.

Under the tutelage of Dizzy Gillespie and Louis Armstrong, he was encouraged to develop his own unique style.

In 1967, he performed at the Monterey Pop Festival alongside Janis Joplin, Otis Redding, Ravi Shankar, The Who and Jimi Hendrix.

The following year, his instrumental single Grazing in the Grass topped the charts in the US and became a worldwide hit.

Masekela returned to South Africa in 1990 following the release of Nelson Mandela, whose freedom he had called for in his 1986 anthem Bring Home Nelson Mandela.

In June 2010, he performed at both the opening concert of the Fifa World Cup and the tournament’s opening ceremony in Soweto’s Soccer City.

Masekela’s many friends included Paul Simon, seen here performing with him in 2014

In their statement, Masekela’s family described him as “a loving father, brother, grandfather and friend” who would be “forever in our hearts”.

“Hugh’s global and activist contribution to and participation in the areas of music, theatre and the arts in general is contained in the minds and memory of millions across six continents,” it continued.

“We are blessed and grateful to be part of a life and ever-expanding legacy of love, sharing and vanguard creativity that spans the time and space of six decades.”

Details of memorial and burial services, the family said, would be released “in due course”.

The passing of Hugh Masekela is the end of an era and has saddened many across the country. Described as a legend, he was celebrated for his contribution to music, theatre and social and political activism.

The jazz musician whose Soweto Blues served as one of the soundtracks to the anti-apartheid movement was never one to shy away from challenging the status quo.

In a career spanning six decades, he gained international recognition with his distinctive sound, a constant reminder of his love for South Africa – a country whose political turmoil once forced him into exile.

Diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2008, the world-acclaimed musician – affectionately known as Bra Hugh – spent the last months of his life encouraging men to go for regular cancer check-ups.

Source: BBC

Zambia drought could slash 2018 maize output by around 50 percent

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Part of the 6 acre maize field that has recovered after spraying
Part of the 6 acre maize field that has recovered after spraying

Zambia’s maize production may drop around 50 percent in the current 2017/2018 crop season if a dry spell which the nation is experiencing continues into next month, an industry body said on Monday.

Zambia National Farmers’ Union (ZNFU) spokesman Calvin Kaleyi said a lot of the maize crop in key production areas had wilted and this was likely to hit the harvest.

“If this trend continues into February, we are in trouble. We may be lucky to hit 1.8-2 million tonnes of maize,” Kaleyi said.

The maize production rose to 3.61 million tonnes in the 2016/2017 season from 2.87 million tonnes the previous season.

Zambia’s maize production season runs from October-November when the planting is done to March-April when the crop is ready for harvesting.

But this season a dry spell has hit small-scale farmers who rely on rain-fed irrigation and produce 82 percent of Zambia’s maize, Kaleyi said.

“The crop is wilting and this is very bad because it has hit the maize belt,” he said.

The situation will be made worse due to late access by small-scale farmers to fertiliser from the government, he said.

LAZ wins bid to host the Commonwealth Law Conference in 2019

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The Commonwealth Lawyers Association has announced that the Law Association of Zambia has won the bid to host the 21st Commonwealth Law Conference.

The Commonwealth Law Conference is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association and is held every two years, usually in a member state of the Commonwealth.

The conference brings together 1,000+ international lawyers and judiciary with specialisations ranging from Corporate to Human Rights in a programme running over four days.

The well-known international conference provides an opportunity for lawyers from around the globe to meet and discuss topics of mutual interest and hear from expert speakers on a variety of legal topics.

CLA President Mr R. Santhanakrishnan said “CLA are delighted to be bringing the conference to Zambia in conjunction with the Law Association of Zambia and I am confident this will be an extremely popular destination for our membership. I look forward to welcoming you all to the conference in April 2019.”

The Law Association of Zambia is one of the CLA’s oldest institutional members.

The Law Association of Zambia was involved in the transformation of the Commonwealth Legal Bureau to the Commonwealth Lawyers Association in 1986.

In 1990 Dr Rodger Chongwe SC became the first Zambian President of the CLA.

The LAZ President Linda Kasonde said “The Law Association of Zambia is delighted to have been selected for the opportunity to host this prestigious conference. Delegates to the conference can expect warm Zambian hospitality, a magnificent setting and a truly world class conference!”

The conference will be held in Livingstone, Zambia, on the doorstep of the magnificent Victoria Falls, from 14-18 April, 2019.

UN happy with Zambia’s Cholera response

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Kanyama Residents queue up for Cholera vaccine
Kanyama Residents queue up for Cholera vaccine

The United Nations in Zambia, the Centres for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) and the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) in Zambia have described the Cholera Treatment Hospital which was set up by government at the Heroes Stadium as a good initiative and a massive asset in the on-going cholera response and have also commended government for scaling-up preventive interventions in the community.

This follows a familiarization tour facilitated by the World Health Organization Country Office through the Ministry of Health to enable partners in health obtain an insight into the cholera outbreak response interventions.

The tour was also intended to understand the various needs and challenges in scaling up efforts to end the epidemic.

The District Director of Health for Lusaka, Dr. Namani Monze led the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Ms. Janet Rogan, the WHO Representative, Dr. Nathan Bakyaita, the deputy Head of Office of DFID in Zambia, Mr. Andrew Ockenden, Ms. Ruppa Narra from CDC and other officials from the WHO Country Office and UNICEF on a tour of the Cholera Treatment Hospital and a community in Kanyama sub-district which is one of the hardest hit areas.

At the Cholera Treatment Hospital, the Medical Officer in Charge, Dr. Landry Lukisa said that the hospital started operations on 7 January and that it was set up to reduce the morbidity of patients and to improve the treatment operations.

He said the centre had dedicated paediatricians, psychiatrists, physicians, surgeons and obstetricians to manage the cholera patients and that a total of 55 doctors, 100 nurses, 97 in-service student doctors,180 volunteers, 15 environmental health officers, 22 laboratory staff and 14 pharmacists were operating at the hospital.
He said that since the opening of the hospital, there was a reduction in the number of fatalities and that the quality of service was high due to availability of sufficient human resources and good supply of medicines and other supplies.

He said there was a total of 6 ambulances transporting patients to the Cholera Treatment Hospital from the sub-districts including emergency ambulances which were available at the call centre.

The United Nations Resident Coordinator Janet Rogan said that the government’s response to the cholera outbreak was very impressive and that government had taken a good initiative to establish the cholera treatment hospital where people were treated well in a clean environment.

She said that the cholera outbreak was attributed to the circumstances in the compounds as some people had no alternative sources of water apart from shallow wells some of which were located near to the latrines.

Ms Rogan emphasised the importance of preventive measures and sensitization of communities beyond the cholera outbreak and called for strong partnerships with the communities, the government, the UN and other partners. “We have seen the community and the challenges of water and sanitation and where cholera comes from. We don’t want to be sending people to the cholera treatment centres. It is impressive to see people getting clean and safe water from water tanks which have been provided” she said.
The Deputy Head of the Office of DFID in Zambia, Mr. Andrew Ockenden gave credit to government and other partners who were involved in setting up the Cholera Treatment Hospital and said that it was a “massive asset” in the response.

He said that DFID was pleased with the leadership which government had exhibited in the response by bringing the outbreak under control.
He said DFID was working to repurpose its support to government in order to help it set up strong systems that could respond effectively to health emergencies.
The World Health Organization has continued providing the needed support and guidance to ensure that critical interventions are put in place in order to stop the cholera epidemic.

Speaking in Kanyama after the familiarisation tour, the WHO Representative, Dr. Nathan Bakyaita said that it was important for government to have sufficient supplies for cholera in order to sustain the efficiency in the operations at all the cholera treatment centres.

He said good record keeping was key to ensure stocks are always sufficient.

Dr. Bakyaita assured government of continued support from WHO working with other partners.

The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control commended the Ministry of Health for the ensuring that operations at the Cholera Treatment Hospital adhered to recommended guidelines and standards.

Dr. Rupa Narra, a medical epidemiologist from CDC said that the operations were in line with the CDC technical recommendations for case management, Infection Prevention and Control practices, water supply and sanitation and hygiene practices.

Since the cholera outbreak was declared on 6th October 2017, it has affected more than 3,534 people with more than 77 deaths.

In The Kitchen With Kanta: Tomato and Roasted Pepper soup

In-The-Kitchen-With-Kanta-Logo (1)

Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Soup V
(https://www.budgetbytes.com)

This hearty soup is delicious, and perfect for the family. Whether for lunch or dinner, you can’t go wrong with this tasty tomato and roasted pepper soup.

Prep: 15min | Cook: 1hr5min | Ready in: 1hr20min 

Serves 4

 Ingredients

  • 1/4 tsp basil, dried
  • 4 cloves Garlic, crushed
  • 1 tsp thyme, dried
  • 2 x 425g cans of Tomatoes
  • 1 yellow onion, chopped
  • 470 ml vegetable broth
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp black pepper, Freshly cracked
  • 340g of Red peppers, roasted
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 236ml whole milk
  • A pinch of sugar
  • 2 tsps olive oil

Method
Rub oil on the peppers and put them under a hot grill until blackened, making sure to turn them often. Allow them to rest for 15 minutes, and then rub off the skin; and remove the seeds and chop the peppers, make sure you reserve one pepper to add later.

Heat olive oil in a pot over a medium heat. Add the onions and garlic; cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in tomato, peppers (except the reserved pepper), thyme, basil, black pepper and sugar. Cook over a medium-low heat until all the tomato juices have evaporated, about 25 minutes.

Stir in vegetable stock, salt and pepper. Bring to the boil then reduce the heat. Simmer, partially covered, for about 25 minutes.

Strain the soup, reserving the juices. Place strained vegetables in a food processor or blender and process until fairly smooth; add this back to the soup.

Melt butter and stir in flour; cook for 1 minute. Stirring slowly, add the pureed soup and the reserved chopped pepper and bring to the boil. Lower heat and simmer for a further 5 minutes.

Serving

Pour the soup into bowls, and serve hot with a tablespoon of sour cream over the top, or with a side of freshly baked bread.

Kanta Temba is a Cake maker and decorator|Lusaka Times Food columnist|TV show host

 

There will be no political interference in Zambia Airways-Mushimba

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Communication and Transport Minister Brian Mushimba announcing the cabinet approval of a new national airline during a "Team building" cocktail at Lusaka Intercontinental Hotel on Monday, 18 December 2017. Picture By Jean Mandela
Communication and Transport Minister Brian Mushimba announcing the cabinet approval of a new national airline during a “Team building” cocktail at Lusaka Intercontinental Hotel on Monday, 18 December 2017. Picture By Jean Mandela

Transport and Communications Minister Brian Mushimba has assured that the Zambiangovernment will not interfere in the running of the soon to be relaunched Zambia Airways.

In an interview in Lusaka, Mr Mushimba said government will stay off clear from the day to day running of the national career.

He has since disclosed that government will appoint a Board of Directors and Management team of credible, smart and intelligent people to manage the airline.

Mr Mushimba said the bringing of Ethiopian Airlines as an equity partner will further guarantee independence in the running of Zambia Airways.

He said lessons have been learnt in the past following the failure of Zambia Airways in 1994.

Mr Mushimba defended the decision by the government to reinvest US$30 million in restarting Zambia Airways saying the move will benefit the country in the long run.

“In the long term, this is what is good for the Zambian people. We have heard the valid concerns about political interference and those concerns have been acknowledged. We know Zambia Airways didn’t do well, yes there was a lot of abuse,” Mr Mushimba said.

He said, “the government has said, as we restart this airline, we won’t tolerate abuse. The independence of Zambia Airways will be established right from the start, right procedure and systems, right people will be put in place.”

Mr Mushimba added, “going in with a partner is further assurance that government means well. We see the larger picture, there is the domino effect of setting up the airline because it will grow certain industries like tourism, agriculture and horticulture. Remember, we used to have a flower industry here and it died with the death of Zambia Airways. You can’t export your flowers through Kenya Airways which stops three, four times before getting to Europe because your flower will die.”

The Transport Minister said government will not allow the airline to be abused by government and party officials.

“We are going to separate the airline from government. We have a strong partner. There will be no political interference. We will have a credible, capable, smart and intelligent Board members and the management team that will be equal to the task.”

Chinese firm wins contract to reopen Baluba Mine

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JCHX Mining Management Co. has announced that one of its subsidiaries won a construction contract for a major copper mine in Zambia.

Wholly owned unit JCHX Mining Construction Zambia won the contract, worth $55 million, for construction to resume production at the Baluba mine in Zambia in Luanshya.

JCHC Mining Management said this in a statement released on Friday night.

Details of the contract, including what the company would be responsible for building, was not immediately clear, and the company said further negotiations are in progress.

China Nonferrous Mining Corporation announced that it plans to reopen the copper mine, which has been under maintenance since 2015 due to falling prices.

They want to poison me, cries Kambwili as he faces arrest

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Chief Government Spokesman Chishimba Kambwili
Former Chief Government Spokesman Chishimba Kambwili

National Democratic Congress Political Consultant Dr. Chishimba Kambwili has claimed that state agents are after his life and they plan to poison him when the arrest him on Tuesday.

And Police Spokesperson Esther Katongo has confirmed that Mr Kambwili has been summoned to appear before police for questioning following a complaint by Chiliufya Tayali that Mr Kambwili used false names to register his company Mwamona Engineering Services.

But Ms. Katongo said allegations that Mr Kambwili is to be poisoned whilst in detention are his own imaginations.

Mr Kambwili told a news briefing that his residence that he has credible intelligence reports that President Edgar Lungu has sanctioned for his arrest, detention and subsequent poisoning.

“I have received information that during the process of investigations they want to poison me while in detention. But let me tell them that God is in control and I will not die of poisoning, God forbid,” said Mr. Kambwili.

Mr. Kambwili said he is aware that he would be arrested and detained without bond on what he called trumped up fraud charges.

“On Friday there was a meeting at State House where the people under fraud department in the police service investigating that case of Chilufya Tayali, you may wish to know that Chilufya Tayali reported me to the police that i had registered a company with a fake name. When police did the investigation, they proved that it was not true that I had registered the company with a fake name. They found out that the person they were saying was a fake name was actually my son Mwamba Chishimba Kambwili,” he said.

“When they hit a brick wall in their investigations they went and reported to the powers that be that the person they were talking about was still alive and was the one running the company Mwamoneni as a Director,” said Mr. Kambwili.

Dr. Kambwili revealed that police had been instructed to find anything incriminating in order to arrest and detain him.

“I am told they went to search at PACRA and according to them, I had signed annual returns on behalf of my son who is the Director at Mwamoneni Engineering. They have been instructed to arrest me and detain me and not even to grant me bond on Tuesday.”

He said when he received the intelligence report he informed his lawyers, who later received the police call-out on Monday that he should appear at 10:00 Hours at the police station.

Dr. Kambwili said police have been instructed to effect an arrest even where they do not have evidence incriminating him for purposes of punishing him for taking a strong stance against corruption by President Lungu’s government.

“The police indicated to them that it was a weak case and could not proceed to prosecute it. But President Lungu has instructed Kaizer Zulu to work with the police to make sure that tomorrow when I go to the police I am detained and refused police bond.”

Dr. Kambwili said he was ready for them and that he was equal to the task.

“I will be at the police station (Lusaka Central Police) at exactly 1030. Let them do what they want. I can rest assure them that we shall meet in court. This issue of politicians abusing the police and other state institutions must come to an end. ”

But in a separate interview, Mr Tayali told off Mr Kambwili and advised him to desist from politicising the matter.

Mr Tayali said, “this crime was committed way back before Edgar Lungu was politically conceived as a Presidential material. You were forging documents on your own. So stop lying, it is me, fighting you for the crimes you committed. You created a fictitious person called Mwamba Chishimba and gave this fake person an NRC of your sister called Sampa Kambwili, yet you still want to be arrogant and play politics.”

He continued, “You opened bank accounts, signed contracts as Mwamba Chishimba, collected money and never finished the projects, but no one touched you, because you were a bully of a minister. You knew you were not clean, but your arrogance and unbridled Presidential ambitions, you forgot that, it was President Lungu who was protecting you, while I was waiting for a day to pounce on you. Let the police arrest you and take you to court, I am ready to come and testify, my evidence is overwhelming even if you bring Keith Mweemba.”

Lusaka City Council warns graveyard vendors

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Hawkers selling foodstauffs at Chigwere cemetry
The Lusaka City Council (LCC) has warned traders who sell food at graveyards to stop conducting business in such areas.

LCC Public Relations Manager George Sichimba said traders should not sell food because it is illegal to trade from the graveyards.

Mr. Sichimba told ZANIS in an interview yesterday that the council was carrying out inspections and will continue to confiscate the merchandise from traders.

He warned that traders who sell liquor from the cemeteries will be prosecuted by the courts of law.

He pointed out that food is supposed to be sold from licensed and designated places.

He expressed disappointment that traders have lost the Zambian culture of respecting the dead by selling liquor which makes mourners conduct themselves in a bad way.

Mr. Sichimba has since urged members of the public to desist from buying food stuffs from graveyards and always conform to the laws by buying from designated markets.

Zambia to continue to strengthen ties with the USA

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Minister of Justice Given Lubinda
Minister of Justice Given Lubinda

Justice Minister Given Lucinda says Zambia will continue to dialogue with the American government in order to lift the country’s governance profile.

Speaking when US Ambassador to Zambia Daniel Foote paid a Courtney call on him, Mr. Lubinda said Zambia has a lot to learn from USA.

He said Ambassador Foote visited his Ministry on a familiarisation tour of government ministries.

And Ambassador Foote explained that his country will continue to strengthen historical bilateral ties with Zambia.

Mr. Foote expressed happiness with the warm welcome he has received in Zambia.

Daniel Foote is the new US Ambassador to Zambia replacing Ambassador Eric Shutz.

And the Ministry of Justice says the consideration on the submission to the Public Order Act has reached an advanced stage.

Minister of Justice Given Lubinda said the Ministry will soon call for a validation meeting for stakeholders to have a look at what the ministries of Justice and Home Affairs have come up with.

Mr. Lubinda told ZANIS that only the stakeholders that made submissions to the Ministry on the Public Order Act will be invited to the validation meeting.

“We shall just invited the stakeholders that made submissions to validate what the ministries of Justice and Home Affairs have come up with,” he emphasized.

Meanwhile, the Justice Minister explained that the team comprising members in the Ministry of Justice will soon have a retreat to look at the proposed changes in the amended constitution.

Mr. Lubinda stated that legal experts will later have a look at the proposed amendments before it is published in the government gazette and later taken to Parliament.

Zambia bans unregistered pre-schools

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The Ministry of General Education has banned the unregistered private pre-schools countrywide.

Ministry of General Education Director of Standard and Curriculum Sunday Mwape said learning the ministry will not allow private pre-schools to operate in residential houses as learning institutions.

Dr. Mwape observed that the mushrooming pre-schools which are operating in residential houses are not conducive for pupils.

He alleged that most of the pre-schools do not have qualified teachers and do not meet the standards of the ministry.

Dr. Mwape added that some of the pre- schools are not certified by councils and registered by the Patent and Company Registration Agency (PACRA).

He has since directed all unregistered pre-schools to stop operating if they do not want to meet the standards and guidelines of the ministry.

He further encouraged parents to stop sending their children to such schools.

Dr. Mwape further explained that the Ministry of General Education will continue to inspect and monitor the pre-schools so that they can help those who are willing to follow the standards of education in Zambia.

Zambia to signs $18 million loan agreement with India for rural health posts

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Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya briefs President Edgar Lungu after they toured Mafinga District Hospital which is under construction in Muchinga Province
Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya briefs President Edgar Lungu after they toured Mafinga District Hospital which is under construction in Muchinga Province

The Zambia government has clinched an US$18 million loan agreement with the Indian government towards the construction of rural health posts.

Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya disclosed that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) over the same loan will be signed on January 30, 2018.

Dr. Chilufya said the two governments has approved the signing of the agreement this month to complete part of the 650 rural health posts.

He said Chama district has been allocated 11 out of the 650 rural health centres.

The Minister was briefing President Edgar Lungu in Chama today when he gave an update on the progress of constructing the rural health centres.

He explained that the loan agreement was extended and the Ministry of Health would mobilise following the approval.

He said government had terminated the contract awarded to Angelic company to construct and complete the rural health centres had been terminated hence the construction stalled in Northern, Northwestern, Luapula and Muchinga provinces.

Dr. Chilufya, however expressed gratitude that some of the rural health centres across the country have since been completed and are operational.

Last year, government acquired the U$D100 million from the same government through Exim Bank of India for the construction of hundreds of rural health in the country.

Meanwhile, Ministry of Infrastructure Permanent Secretary Charles Mushota disclosed that government has released K14 million for the construction of the Chama-Matumbo road.

Mr. Mushota regretted that the road works had stalled because of financial constraints.

Parliament to resume sittings on February 20

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File: Traditional dance troupes and choirs perform within Parliament grounds
during the official opening of the National Assembly

The second session of the 12th National Assembly, which adjourned sine die on Wednesday 13th December 2017, will resume sitting on 20 February this year.

Roy Ngulube from the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly, announced the resumption of sittings of the legislature in a statement issued to ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday.

Before the last sitting of the National Assembly adjourned sine die, Members of Parliament (MP) unanimously approved the K72 billion 2018 national budget presented before it by Minister of Finance Felix Mutati.

The members also deliberated on a wide range of issues which included the passing of a number of bills.

During this sitting, the front bench will have two new Members of Parliament namely Patriotic Front (PF) Kwacha MP Joe Malanji and Nkana MP Alexander Chiteme following their appointments as Foreign Affairs Minister and Minister for National Development Planning respectively.

Former Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba, who resigned from his ministerial position early this year, will join the ruling PF backbench that has among others Roan Member of Parliament Chishimba Kambwili.

Also joining the back bench will be PF Deputy Secretary General Mumbi Phiri who was recently nominated to parliament by President Lungu in accordance with article 69 (1) of the constitution of the Republic of Zambia.

Conspicuously missing from the front bench and parliament will be former nominated MP and National Development Planning Minister Lucky Mulusa who was sacked last year when parliament went on recess.