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Mental patients being bathed and clothed by Nurses and student nurses from Livingstone General Hospital at the Livingstone Civic Centre in Livingstone
A mental Health activist Chishipe Mwelwa has bemoaned the inadequate funding for mental health management and services in the country.
Ms.Mwelwa who is also Executive Director for National Organisation for Women Against mental Health Related Illnesses ( NOWAMHRI ) says government should consider increasing its budget allocation to mental health from the current one percent allocation of the Health bill.
ZANIS reports that Ms. Mwelwa said during an interview that mental health treatment should be prioritized on equal terms like other illnesses such as malaria and y especially in the work place.
Ms. Mwelwa said there should be a deliberate policy to ensure that the rights of people affected mentally are looked into as communities often times discriminate and harass the mentally ill and their families.
The NOWAMHRI Executive Director said in order to fight mental health related issues there is need to fight the root causes of the mental disability.
When the root causes are addressed it is easy to fight this vice and create a better future for every citizenry in the country, she said.
Ms. Mwelwa however said this can only be done with adequate finance and support from all well-meaning Zambians and the Civil Society.
She said stigma and discrimination for the mentally challenged persons has also been at the toll of the fight against this fight, adding that patients are shunning from going to health facilities.
Ms. Mwelwa attributed the major causes of mental health to divorce, bullying, drug and alcohol abuse, peer pressure and high poverty levels.
Vice President Inonge WinaRuling Patriotic Front (PF) Vice President Inonge Wina says the party has continued to promote intra-party democracy and urged opposition parties to emulate PF in deepen democracy in the country.
Mrs. Wina, who is also Republican Vice President, noted with sadness that some named opposition political party leaders have never sought mandate from their members through elective conventions hence lacks credentials of being democrats.
The PF Vice President was speaking when she officially opened the first ever One Day Lusaka Province Patriotic Front Committee Consultative Meeting in Chongwe District under the theme: “How best can we mobilise our party in the Province.”
She implored PF members to ensure that intra-party democracy continues to thrive in the party and praised them for growing the party to its current state.
The PF Vice President noted that the party has continued to demonstrate that intra-party democracy canbe achieved hence the need to be inclusive by welcoming more people in the “Boat”.
She further noted that politics is about numbers therefore, the party needs to recruit new members if it’s to continue winning future elections.
Mrs. Wina however, cautioned members to be mindful that the country is operating in a multiparty system where divergent views are respected in line with tenets of democracy.
“Let us all rise up to support our hardworking Party and Republican President (Edgar Lungu) who has demonstrated that with a vision and focus Zambia can once more become a prosperous and middle income country by 2030,”she said.
The Vice President noted that the 2020 PF General Conference is meant for organizational renewal to make it more transformational hence there’s no need for members to start sowing seeds of discord.
She called on the rank and file to remain steadfast, disciplined and united in diversity if the party is to avoid an unnecessary conflicts from within.
Mrs. Wina urged PF members to welcome and embrace new members if the party is to remain strong, competitive and attractive in readiness for future elections.
“As we meet to mobilise ourselves into an energetic force in the province, let us make that solemn pledge to commit ourselves to abide by the aims and objectives of the party of participating actively without motives of material or personal gain,” she advised.
“This is what our founding President Michael Chilufya Sata stood for. This is what President Edgar Lungu has continued to promote because it’s part of who we are as a party.
“We must also remember that we need to mobilise the party not just for the sake of it but as a vehicle of carrying out the aspirations of the Zambian people.”
The PF Vice President pointed out that PF is a vehicle that must continue to assure and re-assure Zambians of all ages and gender that it is unstoppable in its continued quest to develop the country.
Earlier, Chongwe Member of Parliament Japhen Mwakalombe praised government for rolling out massive infrastructure development in the Chongwe District, in particular and Lusaka Province as a whole.
Mr. Mwakalombe who is also Lusaka Province Minister, said the expansion of the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, the construction of the first ever Lusaka Specialised Hospital and the expansion of the Great East Road into a dual carriage way is testimony of government’s commitment of uplifghting the plight of Zambians.
The Chongwe Law Maker revealed that in 2018 government will tar 20 KM of township roads aimed at accelerating the new municipality status of Chongwe.
And speaking at the same event, PF Lusaka Province chairperson Horrace Longwe said the party in the province is intact and ready to face the opposition in future elections.
Mr. Longwe reiterated his call for opposition political parties claiming popularity to be brave enough and call for elections in their parties prove to Zambians that they can win even in their own political parties.
He stated that it is strange that some political party leaders that have never gone through an election in their own parties want to claim to be more popular among Zambians.
Chongwe MP, Japhen Mwakalombe, Chawama MP, Lawrence Sichalwe, Luapula MP, Emerine Kabanshi and Munali MP, Professor Nkandu Luo attended the meeting.
The One Day Lusaka Province Committee Patriotic Front Party (PF) Consultative Meeting is expected to come up with resolutions which will be submitted to the Central Committee, for possible considering.
The meeting has also attracted all PF MPs, Mayors, Chairpersons, Councillors, Constituency, District and other party officials in the province.
Lusaka Province has 14 constituencies with Lusaka District leading with 7 while Kafue,Shibuyunji and Chirundu with one each.
The rest are Chongwe, Rufunsa, Luangwa and Chilanga respectively.
Anthony MukwitaThe number of Zambian exhibitors at the German international tourism showpiece, the International Tourism Bourse, ITB, the world’s largest, to take place in a few weeks’ time, has increased. Zambia’s ambassador to Germany His Excellency Anthony Mukwita says so far close to 30 Zambian exhibitors have signed up, a leap from just 9 that took part in the 2017 travel show.
“This means a lot for us as an embassy, as a government and as a country. The increase in numbers will showcase Zambia in a much bigger way than ever before”, ambassador Mukwita says with a sense of optimism.
The Zambian envoy says the exhibition space will now be bigger than before and opportunities for speaking about Zambia equally more thereby placing the country in a much more privileged and rare position to sell itself to the world.
“We are a preferred destination for tourism as borne out by many authorities around the world that include the CIA Fact Book, the International Monetary Fund and many more”, Mr. Mukwita says.
And First Secretary (Tourism) at the Zambian embassy in Berlin Susan Katema has called on more Zambian businesses to sign up for the travel show. “We want to see more sign up and turn this into a huge success for Zambia’s tourism and the economy as a whole”, Ms. Katema says.
More than 100,000 people are expected to attend ITB consisting of travel businesses, tourists, the international media and other interested parties. Taking place every year, ITB provides a global platform to showcase trends in the tourism business.
For the past 30 years, Zambia has been attending and exhibiting at the ITB but this is the first time that the country has won the position of Convention and Cultural Partner giving the country a special place at the event to share with the rest of the world what it has to offer in the tourism sector.
Due to continuing marketing and lobbying, Zambia has begun to see an increase in the number of tourists from Germany into the country. The Zambian embassy hopes the numbers increase even further after the exposure the country stands to gain at the tourism show.
The Zambian government has identified the tourism sector as a growth point in the economy. Consequently, it has continued to provide an enabling environment for the growth of the sector.
MINISTER of Health Hon Dr Chitalu Chilufya
Health Minister Dr Chitalu Chilufya has removed the entire senior management team at Solwezi General Hospital for negligence.
Dr Chitalu got incensed by the deplorable conditions he found at the hospital when he paid an impromptu visit around 22:00 hours yesterday.
After seeing dirty floors, walls and witnessing neglected patients, Dr Chilufya described the situation as negligence saying his decision to remove management would serve as a warning to others who were running health institutions.
“The whole management team will be removed so that we place a team that will care for patients properly, a team that will support the medical superintendant to run the facility and that must be done immediately. This must send a warning to everybody running a health facility that these are positions of trust and we expect you to provide health care in clean environments and competently so. We have to ensure that we don’t compromise on the quality of care,” said Dr Chilufya.
Former Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda has accused Constitutional Court Justices of “rewriting the law by making a presumption on the wishes of the Parliament or establishing some strange interchangeability with parliament,” which in his view “is impropriety and illegitimacy”.
In a statement published by the Lusaka Times this morning, and signed off as PF Chairman and former Finance Minister, honorable Chikwanda says there is need for deep thinking in the nation. He said that justices should have the highest levels of intellect shrouded in ingrained habits to search widely so that they do not interchange facts with vague judgments and opinions.
“The justices have (sic) the highest levels of intellect shrouded in the ingrained habits to search widely so that they do not interchange facts with value (sic) judgments and opinions – this is why they are called learned. Respectability of the judiciary must be anchored on propriety and decisions which are totally above board and beyond reproach,” he said.
As a way forward, honorable Chikwanda has opposed proliferation of courts and instead, as a cost-saving measure proposed the scrapping of the Constitutional Court and holding of constitutional court sessions at the Supreme Court, where there is “experience, maturity and track records”.
“Going forward, we must pay urgent attention to remedying this situation. There will be a compelling need to avoid proliferation of courts. With hindsight, constitutional issues are a rarity; the best and most cost effective action would have been to constitute constitutional court sessions from the supreme court where you have experience, maturity and track records. We cannot ordain wisdom and requisite experience by bureaucratic fiats, no matter how elaborate myth-making may be.” he added.
As the Green Party, we respect the fact that a Zambian citizen, honorable Chikwanda has a constitutional right to criticize any Court judgment.
Whilst we agree with him on high intellectual tenets and capabilities of a judge, as well as the fact that respectability of the judiciary must be anchored on propriety and decisions which are totally above board and beyond reproach, however, we believe is economical with the truth.
Firstly, we believe that as Former Minister of Finance, he was the central person to moving the Constitution Amendment Bill which proposed the creation of the Concourt. No Bill which has a financial implication can be introduced in Parliament without express consent of the Minister of Finance.
Secondly, as a Cabinet Minister, and Member of Parliament, he personally played a pivotal role, not only in the establishment of the court itself, but also in the nomination, ratification and final appointment of the judges he is now criticizing for incompetence, impropriety and illegitimacy. He also played a key role to ensure the court he is now blaming for unnecessary costs, is fully financed.
So, without apologizing to the Nation for his various roles he played to establish and constitute the Court, what is he talking about? Is it sour grapes?
To whom is he shifting the blame for the quality of the judges serving on that bench? Is he shifting the blame to his former Cabinet boss, President Lungu, or what?
Thirdly, by signing-off as PF Chairman, is he detaching PF from establishment of the Court, let alone the quality of the judges serving on that bench? Is he shifting blame from PF to the Presidency? Is it a sign that PF is cracking or indeed PF detaching itself from President Lungu’s decisions?
We believe there is more to honorable Chikwanda’s statement than eyes can see. Perhaps, it is high time for President Lungu to think deeply and open his eyes.
The earlier he makes a decision on some of the proposals we presented to him concerning reconstituting the Concourt by recruiting from the Commonwealth competent and experienced judges to fill up the the 13-plus “vacancies” at the Concourt, the better for him and the Nation.
As an old adage goes: forewarned is forearmed.
The Author is the President of Green Party of Zambia
Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services and Chief Government Spokesperson kampamba Mulenga
Cabinet has approved for publication and introduction in Parliament the Industrial and Labour Relations (Amendment) Bill, of 2017 , during its current sitting,
Chief government Spokesperson, Kampamba Mulenga says the amendment to the Industrial and Labour Relations Act, Chapter 269 is to facilitate the payment of fees for various services.
Ms. Mulenga said this is in line with the 2018 National Budget in terms of Government revenue through the payment of fees for various services.
She said Cabinet approved the Joining the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Sharing.
Ms. Mulenga who is also Information and Broadcasting minister said the Framework under the OECD is essential in building Zambia’s capacity to keep up the standards in preventing the erosion of the country’s tax base through profit shifting and tax planning schemes.
She said globalization has opened opportunities for multinational enterprises to use tax planning strategies that exploit gaps and mismatches in national and international tax rules to artificially shift profits to low or no-tax locations where there is little or no economic activity.
“ Cabinet approved joining the Framework with the realization that despite Zambia having a lot of foreign investments in the form of multinational enterprises, especially in the mining, financial and retail sectors, and, therefore, it has not been spared from the effects of base erosion and profit shifting practices, “ she said in a statement to ZANIS today
And Cabinet has approved in principle, the introduction of a Bill in Parliament to criminalize acts of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; and domesticate the relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
“ The new legislation will lead to the prevention of acts of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, protection and provision of material support to victims of torture, “ she said.
The Chief Government spokesperson said under this item, Cabinet approved in principle, the introduction of a Bill in Parliament to amend the Judiciary Administration Act No. 23 of 2016 in order to replace provisions that exclude newly admitted advocates from qualifying to being appointed as Research Advocates in the Judiciary.
Ms. Mulenga explained that the current legislation states that a Research Advocate shall be a practitioner with at least two years post qualification experience.
She said the Judiciary has as a result of this provision faced challenges in the recruitment of Research Advocates who assist Judges in the performance of their judicial function.
Ms. Mulenga also said Cabinet has in addition approved in principle, the introduction of a Bill in Parliament to amend the Subordinate Court Act to increase the monetary jurisdiction of the Subordinate Court so that a substantial portion of cases being filed in the High Court can be filed in the Subordinate Court.
The monetary jurisdiction of Magistrates was last revised in 1998. Since then, the jurisdiction has been eroded by inflation resulting in small monetary claims being filed in the High Court.
The amended legislation will result in the expeditious disposal of cases as it is easier and cheaper to prosecute cases in the Subordinate Court.
Other decisions approved by cabinet are the establishment of the Zambia Academy of Sciences through an Act of Parliament, publication and introduction in Parliament, during the current sitting of Parliament.
It has also approved the Employment (Amendment) Bill, 2017, National Health Insurance Bill, 2017 for publication and introduction in Parliament during the current sitting.
Ms. Mulenga said Cabinet was also informed of the hosting of Zambia the 2017 COSAFA Under 20 Tournament on the Copperbelt Province.
The participating countries are Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, the host, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
She said the games kicked off on 6th December, 2017 and the final game will be played on 16th December, 2017 at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
These decisions were approved at the 21st Cabinet Meeting held on Monday, 4th December, 2017, at State House.
FILE: President Lungu talks Information minister Chishimba Kambwili shortly before departure at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport for Angola on February 13,2015 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has disclosed that former Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services was Chishimba Kambwili fired because he refused to be investigated when corruption allegations were leveled at him because he was a Minister.
The President revealed that he had to immediately let go off Mr Kambwili who when called for investigations by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) became a challenge and tried to flex his muscle that he was a minister.
President Lungu clarified that allegations of corruption against a minister or his aides will not entail that they are dropped but he charged that if called upon to be investigated no position would shield anyone from investigations.
“I want it to be known that an allegation of corruption against a minister will not entail that he has to be dropped, no, he has to be investigated, once he is investigated he should be brought to book, no one is above the law, but in this particular case I am talking about, this minister was questioned and he said ‘who are you? I am a minister’,” said the president and then added, ” And then ACC told me ‘look, your minister is not cooperating’, I said ‘I will drop him’.
“If you say ‘Given Lubinda is corrupt, I will not drop him, I will allow you to investigate him and if you find him wanting, you can prosecute him but if Given Lubinda becomes a challenge to your inquiries and investigations, I will drop him, that’s how I work. I want to make this very clear that if Given Lubinda says ‘no, you can’t talk to me because I am minister, then me and Given Lubinda will part company and that is how I part company with some ministers.”
President Lungu further called upon people to cooperate and support the ACC. “Let us cooperate with the ACC and support them by giving them space to work. I want to make it very clear because they think that I tolerate corruption, somebody said ‘I am corruption itself or I am the manifestation of corruption’, I am not because I believe that the wealth that we have belongs to the people and we should use it properly,” President Lungu said.
“I, personally and as PF president will not condone corruption in my government and I will not look kindly upon members of my government who take advantage of their positions to enrich themselves at the expense of the Zambian people,” President Lungu said before adding that he will not shield anyone from investigations from responsible agencies when called upon
At that point you can be dropped because Amos Chanda has been invited several times by ACC to answer queries and he has answered, he has cooperated with the ACC, which is as it should be. He has been found clean and he has come back to work,” President Lungu said.
“I, personally and as PF president will not condone corruption in my government and I will not look kindly upon members of my government who take advantage of their positions to enrich themselves at the expense of the Zambian people.”
And President Lungu said that he cannot fire his Special Assistant Amos Chanda on unfounded corruption allegations which the relevant authorities have cleared him of, adding that the ACC found him as clean as a whistle.
The President said that when investigative wings opened query into his Press Aide, Mr Chanda, he did not shield him and that Mr. Chanda cooperated with ACC and answered their queries. President Lungu added that the ACC cleared Mr. Chanda of all corruption allegations and thus he saw no reasons as to why he should fire him.
President Lungu announced that no one was above the law; no presidential aide or minister can be shielded from investigations.
Zambia coach Wedson Nyirenda has unveiled his provisional 2018 CHAN team.
The 30 member team includes four debutants.
The new boys are Gamphani Lungu of promoted National Assembly, Nkana defender John Mwangeni and Zesco United striker Lazarus Kambole.
Nchanga Rangers’ utility hard man Jimmy Nakena completes the face of new call-ups.
And Nkana striker Ronald Kampamba returns to the fold for the first time since 2015.
Zambia enters camp in Lusaka for four days starting on December 11.
They will regroup next weekend before travelling to Zimbabwe to face their hosts in a friendly in Harare on December 23.
Zambia are in Group B at the 2018 CHAN Morocco is hosting from January 12 to February 4.
Cote d’Ivoire, Namibia and Uganda are Zambia’s opponents in Morocco.
This will be Zambia’s third CHAN outing after finishing third in 2009 and the exiting at quarterfinals in 2016.
GOALKEEPERS: Moses Mapulanga (Nkana FC), Toaster Nsabata (Zanaco FC), Allan Chibwe (Power Dynamos FC), Kenny Mumba (Red Arrows)
DEFENDERS: Solomon Sakala (Napsa Stars), Simon Silwimba, Fackson Kapumbu (both Zesco United), Lawrence Chungu, Isaac Shamujompa (both Power Dynamos), John Mwengani (Nkana), Ziyo Tembo (Zanaco), Adrian Chama (Green Buffaloes), Jimmy Nakena (Nchanga Rangers)
MIDFIELDERS: Donashano Malama (Nkana), Kondwani Mtonga, Misheck Chaila, John Chingandu (all Zesco United), Larry Bwalya, Godfrey Ngwenya (both Power Dynamos), Augustine Mulenga, Ernest Mbewe (both Zanaco), Mike Katiba (Green Buffaloes), Bwalya Kasonde (Nchanga Rangers)
UPND has nothing to do with the petrol bombing of Chief Mweemba’s palace because the party is eying the Presidency, not a mere chiefdom, says party spokesperson Charles Kakoma.
Chief Mweemba, whose palace was petrol bombed two weeks ago leading to the death of his 19-year-old nephew, Mundia Mubita while he was left with severe burns, told Southern Province Minister Edify Hamukale when he visited him in hospital that UPND members were plotting to kill him.
But Mr Kakoma said that UPND members had nothing to do with the attacks on the traditional leader as they were focused on the Presidency.
He challenged Chief Mweemba to report to the police if he knew that the people who petrol bombed his palace were UPND members.
He said that even the arrest of UPND Sinazongwe district chairperson, Alick Muleya …was illegal as the police had not charged him but were unlawfully keeping him in police custody.
Mr Kakoma told the Daily Nation that there was no way UPND could send its members to attack a traditional leader on the pretext that they were close to the ruling party.
He reiterated that UPND was eying the Republican Presidency not a mere chiefdom for them to attack a traditional leader.
Mr Kakoma said that traditional leaders were free to support whichever political party they felt like supporting without fear of being attacked.
“Why would we attack a traditional leader? We are eying the Presidency not a chiefdom. Chief Mweemba should report to the police if he knows the people who attacked him. Not what they are doing, holding an innocent man without even charging him. Five days in cells but not charging him,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Kakoma said that UPND had respect for all traditional leaders and that there was no way a member would attack a traditional leader.
Toyota Hilux Registration number GRZ 196 CAThe Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has confirmed that the Toyota Hilux Registration number GRZ 196 CA which was photographed laden with charcoal in Ndola along Nkana road just after the Golf Club is a government vehicle.
Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources Public Relations Officer Diniwe Zulu explained that the vehicle which was en-route to the District Forestry Office is a government utility vehicle assigned to the Forestry Department for forest operations.
Ms. Zulu stated that the Ministry sought to clarify the matter as it has been highly published on social media.
She explained in a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday, that the vehicle was being driven by a Forestry Officer based at Ndola office who has a government competence driving license and was on routine forest patrols in Ndola’s industrial area.
Ms. Zulu stated that during the patrol, the officers came across illegal charcoal producers who were moving illegally produced charcoal to Masala for sale and as empowered by the Forests Act No.4 of 2015, the officers apprehended the offenders, impounded the charcoal and loaded the produce in the vehicle to take to the forest station at Dola Hill.
She further observed that the officers were performing their duties and the vehicle was being used for the function it has been allocated.
Ms. Zulu indicated that it is important to note that sometimes officers are left with no option but to use the available vehicles during operations due to the high rates of illegal forest activities that are happening especially with regard to illegal charcoal and timber exploitation.
She however stated that the Ministry will endeavor to procure appropriate vehicles such as trucks for such operations.
The National Pension Scheme Authority ( NAPSA) Director General Yollard Nakachinda says the authority has increased its investment fund which now stands at over K18 Billion as at September 2017.
Mr. Nakachinda says the multi-million Levy Shopping Mall in the Lusaka’s Central Business district is one of the many real estate investment projects the Authority is proud of.
He said it is a state of the art mall is one all Zambians should not only be proud of as it gives a world class shopping experience but is one that also supplements government’s effort in job creation.
ZANIS reports that NAPSA Director General said this in Lusaka during the annual Christmas Lighting ceremony at Levy Mall to kick start the 2017 festive celebrations.
“ Investments in infrastructure like Levy is reflective of the desires and needs of the modern day Zambia consumer, “he said adding: “ NAPSA serves as a developmental vehicle for the country as a whole through its significant contribution in infrastructure development.”
He said its NAPSA’s objective to grow member contributions and ensure reasonable returns on investment made according to the prescribed investment guidelines.
Speaking earlier Cushman and Wakefield Excellerate Zambia Chief Executive Officer Leon De Jong said Levy mall offers a variety and is dependable and has a sense of history.
Mr. De Jong said NAPSA plays an important role in development and expansion by providing capital through the financial banking systems for onward lending to emerging and existing business.
He said their target is to ensure that by the end of 10 years, the complex will still be ahead of its competitors and delivers its brand promise of offering variety, and being dependable.
Minister of General Education Dennis Wanchinga
Minister of General Education Dennis Wanchinga has called on private sector participation in schools infrastructure developing in the country.
Dr Wanchinga says private sector participation in schools development programme is in line with the government policy on Public Private Partnership (PPP).
ZANIS in Kabwe reports that the minister said this in a speech read for him by Central Province Education Officer (PEO) Jennifer Banda during the fundraising venture for Jasmine Boys Secondary School of Kabwe.
Mr Wanchinga said there is need to complement government’s efforts in schools to create a conducive environment for both the learners and the mentors.
He said the money raised will be used to improve the quality of teaching and learning at the school.
The minister said government would want to see a transformed Jasmine Secondary School that gives hope to the boy child.
He added that while government is advocating for the girl child education, it would not want to leave the boy child behind.
The school that was opened in 1956 as a Primary School and upgraded into a Secondary School some ten years ago stands alien in Kabwe’s Luangwa Compound in a very deplorable state.
And Jasmine Secondary School Head Teacher, Emmanuel Bwalya, said the institution was seeking to raise K100, 000 for the construction of a science laboratory, One by Three classroom block, wall fence and general rehabilitation works.
Mr Bwalya complained that since the school was upgraded, no attention has been attached to infrastructure development leading to its current deplorable state.
Over K12, 000 and 83 pockets of cement were raised in pledges during the fundraising venture that was made possible with sponsorship from Lusemfwa Hydro, Lukanga Stores, Kabwe Municipal Council and Three Seasons.
Minister of Tourism and Arts Hon. Charles Banda Banda shares a light Moment with Mr. Akashambatwa- Mbikusita Lewanika at the event.
Minister of Tourism and Arts Charles Banda has encouraged Zambian authors to write books on the country’s cultural heritage as a true identity of who they are.
Mr. Banda says if the country continues being weak in writing about its own heritage, present and future generations will not fully understand the country’s cultural heritage.
ZANIS reports that the minister said this last night in Lusaka when he officiated at the launch of three books ‘The Prehistory of the 73 plus Bantu Language Groups of Zambia’, ‘300 BC-AD1600, Zambia’s Outstanding Natural Cultural Historical Sites’ and ‘The Barotse in Maps by Nicholas Katenekwa.
The Tourism Minister explained that the books will bring out a number of positive lessons and attributes about the country and its citizens.
“ The Prehistory Of The 73 Plus Bantu Language Groups of Zambia, 300 BC-AD1600 has put the nation in the limelight to the entire world as the book touches the subject of the Bantu people of the entire Sub-Saharan Africa,” said Mr. Banda.
The Minister said the book has also provided a new interpretation of the classification, origins and migration of the 600 plus Bantu languages and language groups of Africa.
He further hoped that this realization would minimize the xenophobic tendencies of many people in most countries that has taken roots recently.
And the author, Nicholas Katenekwa , said he wrote about Zambia’s Outstanding Sites primarily to make Zambians aware of the rich heritage legacy they live with and their obligation to hand it to the next generation in the original condition.
Mr. Katenekwa who is also an archeologist said Zambia’s tourism has remained based on two single products of world firm-the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site and its rich wildlife estate, saying that Zambia is so blessed with so many types of outstanding heritage sites.
He noted that Zambia’s tourism has been entirely based on foreign tourists yet Zambians can be a much more sustainable tourism base, if only they knew and appreciated their rich heritage legacy.
This is contained in a statement made available to ZANIS yesterday by Ministry of Tourism and Arts Public Relations Officer Sakabilo Kalembwe.
Minister of Tourism and Arts Hon. Charles Banda Banda receiving Barotse Maps from renowned archeologist and author Nicholas Katanekwa.Minister of Tourism and Arts Hon. Charles Banda Banda receiving Barotse Maps from renowned archeologist and author Nicholas Katanekwa.
The newly commissioned multi-million fertilizer plant in the picture above which is built in Kabwe will help to enhance agricultural activities in Kabwe and the entire country. Picture by SUNDAY BWALYA/ZANIS
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has officially opened the first ever privately owned fertilizer producing company called Foresticol Fertilisers Zambia Limited in Kabwe District in Central province.
Speaking at the official opening of the company, President Lungu said the establishment of Foresticol Fertilisers Zambia Limited was in line with government’ five year development plan.
Mr Lungu said in a speech read for him by Vice President Inonge Wina that due to the prevailing conducive business environment in the country, SAHNE group of companies formed a fertiliser company known as Foresticol which has been centrally located in Kabwe taking advantage of the town’s centrality to satisfy farmers demand for fertilizers in all the ten provinces.
He said Central province has always been one of the high producers of agricultural products such as maize adding that with fertilizers readily available, farmers were expected to increase production of maize and other food crops.
President Lungu observed that Foresticol Fertilisers Zambia Limited had spent over K200 million in infrastructure development, acquisition of the state of the art machinery and procurement of the raw materials.
The President said the company would in the next stage build warehouses in all the provincial centers across the country in order to enhance the availability of the fertilizers to all farmers.
He said Foresticol Fertilisers Zambia Limited at full operational capacity would be able to produce 150 metric tonnes of fertilsers that was equivalent to 3,000 bags of fertilsers per day thereby creating about 400 employment opportunities.
President Luungu said so far, over 200 people had been employed by the company, most of them from Kabwe adding that only five Chinese nationals were working at the company with a view of transferring knowledge and skills.
”I want to mention here that it is in our interest as government to attract as many investors as possible so that we give a re-birth to Kabwe, a town which some years was very vibrant with regards to economic activity with many men and women employed in the companies that existed at the time,” he said.
President Lungu also noted that Foresticol Fertilsers Zambia Limited through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) would build a primary school for the surrounding communities and rehabilitate a few existing health facilities in Kabwe.
”The company will also partner with government to promote provision of quality health care through the construction of health facilities and rehabilitation of a few existing ones. This is the kind of investment we wish to encourage, investment which also looks at the plight of the community within the vicinity of its location,” he said.
President Lungu however urged the company to continue operating within the confines of the country’s labour laws.
”The Patriotic Front government remains committed to ensuring that we change the general living standards of our people and we believe that creation of employment is one the ways this can be realised,” he said.
Speaking earlier, Central Province Minister Sydney Mushanga commended government for prioritising infrastructure development in the country.
Mr Mushanga said the province had received a fair share of infrastructure development in the agricultural sector.
”As Central Province, we are privileged to have this structure being commissioned yesterday. Foresticol Fertilisers is one of the many players in the agricultural sector supporting farmers to achieve their goals,” he said.
Foresticol Fertilizers Zambia Limited Director Kevin Young said the company was positioning itself to ensure that no farmer was left out in the acquisition of agricultural inputs.
Vice president Inonge Wina unveils a plaque to officially open fertiliser plant in KabweFrom right , Vice President Inonge Wina, Central province Minister Sydney Mushanga and Minister in the vice President’s office Sylvia Chalikosa touring the multi-million fertiliser plant in Kabwe during the official opening of the facility. Picture by SUNDAY BWALYA/ ZANISVice President Inonge Wina receives a bouquet of flowers from six years old Vanessa Kumwenda upon arrival in Kabwe for the official opening of a fertiliser plant Kabwe. Picture by SUNDAY BWALYA/ ZANISVice President Inonge Wina receives a bouquet of flowers from six years old Vanessa Kumwenda upon arrival in Kabwe for the official opening of a fertiliser plant Kabwe. Picture by SUNDAY BWALYA/ ZANISVice President Inonge Wina receives bags of fertilizer from Nicolas Daka, forestcol Fertizer commercial Manager after opening the multi-million plant in Kabwe.Picture by SUNDAY BWALYA/ ZANISVice President Inonge Wina waves at the people upon arrival in Kabwe for the official opening of the fertilizer plant in Kabwe. Picture by SUNDAY BWALYA/ ZANISVice President Inonge Wina (centre) with Central Province Minister Sydney Mushanga inspecting the fertiliser plant shortly after the official opening in Kabwe. Picture by SUNDAY BWALYA / ZANISFrom right , Vice President Inonge Wina, Central province Minister Sydney Mushanga and Minister in the vice President’s office Sylvia Chalikosa touring the multi-million fertiliser plant in Kabwe during the official opening of the facility. Picture by SUNDAY BWALYA/ ZANISThe newly commissioned multi-million fertilizer plant in the picture above which is built in Kabwe will help to enhance agricultural activities in Kabwe and the entire country. Picture by SUNDAY BWALYA/ZANISThe newly commissioned multi-million fertilizer plant in the picture above which is built in Kabwe will help to enhance agricultural activities in Kabwe and the entire country. Picture by SUNDAY BWALYA/ZANIS
World War II veteran Frank FergusonGovernment has described late freedom fighter and World War II veteran Frank Ferguson as a generous man who contributed to the development of the country.
Secretary to Cabinet Roland Msiska says government entrenched some of the Late Mr’ Fergurson’s powerful ideas in the country’s 7th National Development Plan ( SNDP) .
Speaking during the Church Service for late Mr Ferguson at The Cathedral of Holy Cross this afternoon, Dr Msiska said that the War Veteran was open to provide well thought ideas whenever approached.
Dr.Msiska explained that government has engaged the Engineering Institute of Zambia to introduce Engineer Frank Ferguson scholarships for the young people who wish to pursue engineering courses.
He pointed out that late World War II Veteran contributed greatly to the development of the country, adding that he was the man behind the hard work that saw Chingola town being pronounced the cleanest area in the country years back.
The Secretary to Cabinet further challenged the engineering practitioners throughout the country to emulate ENG. Ferguson by creating own ideas to contribute to the country’s industrialization Programme.
Meanwhile, Mike Pearson a longtime friend of late ENG. Ferguson noted that his departed friend was pushing progressive ideas to make sure that Zambia develops for the benefit of its citizenry.
World War II veteran Engineer Frank Ferguson who was born on June 23rd 1923 in Ireland passed away on 2nd December at the age of 94.
