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THE Chipata High Court has jailed a 44-year-old farmer in Chadiza for 20 years for defiling and impregnating his own daughter aged 15.
Macha Banda was charged with one count of defilement and the matter was referred to the Chipata High Court for sentencing from the magistrate’s court. Banda defiled his Grade Six daughter between October 1, 2014 and January 2, 2015.
During a sitting in Chipata, Lusaka-based High Court judge Anne Sitali sentenced Banda to 20 years imprisonment with hard labour for defiling his daughter.
The girl, who is Banda’s third born child, was defiled while she was sleeping with her younger siblings. Banda has 10 children.
The court heard that the girl has since had a miscarriage.
Meanwhile, Ms Justice Sitali sentenced Moses Ngwira of Chipata to 15 years imprisonment with hard labour for defiling a minor.
Others that were slapped with 15-year jail sentences for similar offences were Levison Banda of Katete and David Phiri of Chadiza, while Pathias Tembo was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment with hard labour.
And in another development, the Kabwe High Court has sentenced a 33-year-old farmer of Mkushi to 10 years imprisonment with hard labour for setting a family house on fire after differing with his wife, KALUNGA MUSONDA reports in Kabwe.
The family lost property worth K3,630 in the inferno.
In this case, Stanley Lukau set the house on fire on August 4, 2014 after his wife, Patience Chongo, left him and went to her parents after a domestic dispute. The court heard that on the material day, Lukau followed his wife to her parents’ house to tell off his in-laws, and after that, he returned home and set the house alight before fleeing.
Lukau, who pleaded guilty to the charge, appeared before Kabwe High Court judge Dominic Sichinga when the matter came up for sentencing.
“The offence you committed of setting fire on your own house, which also belongs to your wife, is a serious offence. The minimum sentence for arson is 10 years and maximum is life imprisonment,” Mr Justice Sichinga told the convict.
Mr Justice Sichinga then handed down a 10-year jail sentence on Lukau, effective from the date of arrest on August 7, 2014.
The 2016 season kicks off on Saturday with the curtain-raising Samuel ‘Zoom’ Ndhlovu Charity Shield semifinals.
Of the teams in this years semifinals namely Zanaco, Power Dynamos and Green Buffaloes, only Zesco United have played a competitive game heading to Nkoloma
Zanaco who finished second will face Buffaloes who finished 4th while 3rd place finishers Power will play defending champions Zesco.
Zesco’s match against Power is also a repeat of last years final that the former won 3-1.
That match set the tone for Zesco against Power in the 2015 FAZ Super Division season in which they went on to beat the latter 2-0 away in Kitwe and 3-0 at home in Ndola.
Power are hoping their new signing Conlyde Luchanga, who is one of four new faces making the trip to Lusaka, will help inspire them to victory.
France Kasonde, Victor Kashitu and Laurent Muma are also in the Power traveling party but Gozon Mutale has failed to make the cut to face Zesco.
Zesco on the other hand are banking on another good day from their DR Congo-born signing from Kabwe Warriors Idriss Mbombo.
Mbombo eclipsed fellow newcomer and Kenyan striker Jesse Were who flopped against Al Ghazala after sparking in the pre-season action.
Meanwhile, in the lunchtime kickoff Green Buffaloes will take on Zanaco.
Buffaloes will be chasing their second cup final qualification in four months after winning the 2015 Barclay Cup in November.
Interestingly, Zanaco should field Isaac Chansa while Buffaloes will have Christopher Katongo leading them in this Lusaka derby.
United Party for National Development (UPND) President Hakainde Hichilema has said that the rapid expansion in the size of Zambia’s workforce clearly shows that the demand for jobs cannot be met by the Government alone.
In a statement released to the media today, the UPND leader said that creating new districts will not absorb the great number of graduates as such an approach will only help in the short-term and risks indebting Zambia further
Below is the full statement
OFFICIAL STATEMENT
SERIOUS ABOUT JOB CREATION
A Government serious about job creation is a Government serious about supporting local business and investing in youths.
Job creation must be our number one priority. The working age population has increased from 6.1 million in 2005 to 8.1 million in 2014. Each year there are more than 130,000 new entrants to the labour market; 130,000 extra people chasing the few jobs on offer.
With such a rapid expansion in the size of our workforce it is clear that the demand for jobs cannot be met by the Government alone. Creating new districts will not absorb this number of graduates. Such an approach will only help in the short-term and risks indebting us further. The only real solution is to drive economic growth through supporting the private sector, while at the same time channelling government revenues into education and training initiatives that empower young Zambians.
The PF seems content to pay lip service to job creation, promising new jobs when there is little evidence that they have delivered on their past promises of the same. Unfortunately, such political grandstanding is exactly the sort of thing that has destroyed the trust and confidence of our people in their elected representatives. They may find they regret not taking job creation seriously come 12 August 2016.
The simple fact is that over the past decade we have failed to keep the rate of job creation up with the number of new entrants to the labour market. The employment to population ratio was 77% in 2005 but stood at 72.8% in 2014. Is this progress?
In evaluating the PF approach to job creation over the past 5 years we have identified several major problems that explain why so little progress has been made:
Lack of transparency
Over-reliance on public sector
Failure to protect existing jobs in the private sector due to policy inconsistencies more.
Completely ignoring the Small- and Medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which are the major employers in most developed countries and in some cases contributors of over 60% in corporate tax.
Our proposal is different. We are not promising meaningless numbers. We are committing to an approach that targets the root drivers of job creation and tackles the obstacles facing those looking for work.
Firstly, we will stimulate job creation through driving economic growth. Prioritising areas such as value-addition will create jobs and bring down prices at the same time. What better solution to poverty than this? To have more people employed and working in industries that lower the cost of living for others.
The vast number of Zambians who are self-employed, 41.4% of the total employed population, is significant. It tells us that people are willing to start out in business, and ready to work hard to find a way to make their own living and provide for their families. We strongly feel they should be doing this with the support of government. The number of permits required to start a business, the burdensome and costly regulation involved, and the failure of government to maintain vital infrastructure, notably in the power sector, are just some of the factors constraining this 41.4%, when we should be helping them.
Secondly, we will invest in our youth so they have employable skills. Anyone who has looked at the limited employment statistics we have available to us will know that unemployment is highest among our youths. In fact in urban areas around half of males aged 20 to 24 are unemployed. What wasted potential! No wonder we see unrest in some of these areas. While such unrest is never justifiable when it manifests itself in violent forms, we have to be honest about the root causes of these problems if we are going to tackle them effectively. We need to do more than just condemn violence and ensure that we are supporting initiatives that give our young people a stake in society and an opportunity to succeed.
We will support mentorship schemes and industry-led youth outreach. Through consultation with industry experts and education professionals, we will develop an education system that inculcates a ‘can do’ attitude in our youth, and prepares them for employment, business and success during their school years. The UPND remains a strong supporter of access to education from primary to university for every young Zambian. This should be funded by cutting wasteful government expenditure. We should be investing in the future of our youths not the transport means of our vast cabinet, and their expensive trips abroad.
Of all the investments a government can make, we believe education to be the most important, because if properly managed the dividends will be significant and long lasting. There is no way you can have an effective, efficient and productive private sector if the labour is not skilled. As we have said before, if you think education is expensive you should try ignorance.
Taxi Operators parked their vehicles outside the District Commissioner’s Office waiting for a favourable outcome of the meeting called by the district commissioner involving Police Traffic Unit, RATSA, Senior Government Officials and the Taxi Drivers Representatives on their grievances against the Police Traffic Officers.
Taxi drivers in Mansa District stormed government offices to express their grievances on the corruption by the Police Traffic and Road Traffic and Safety Agency (RATSA) Officers.
Braving the morning rains, Taxi drivers in Mansa Town mobilized themselves and drove to Mansa District Commissioner’s office to express their grievances on the increased corruption by the Police Traffic and RATSA Officers on the road.
In a meeting with the District Commissioner, Police Traffic and Road Traffic and Safety Agency (RATSA) Officers, the Taxi Drivers’ youth chairperson Sebastian Silangwa appealed to the government to monitor how the Police Traffic and RATSA officers are operating on the Road.
He said the Law does not state that Taxi drivers are the only target on the road where Government can raise funds as revenue through road traffic offenses.
Silangwa said Taxi drivers are have become irritated by Police Officers who demand money every day on simple traffic offenses.
Meanwhile Mansa District Commissioner Mr. Royd Chakaba called on Taxi operators and drivers to abide by the law.
Mr. Chakaba said government is not a business entity and Officers should not execute their duties with a commercial enterprise mind set.
He said government depends on revenue to develop the country and the funds raised must be in good faith.
Mr. Chakaba appealed to Police Traffic and RATSA senior officers to monitor the junior officers on how they handle the work with the public motorist.
The Mansa District Commissioner urged the Taxi drivers to report any Police Traffic and RATSA officer found wanting in the execution of their duties.
And RATSA senior officer Mr. Timothy Kachepa said his office is open to the public motorists for any complaint that they see as unfair to the public.
The other day I was on my way to Kabwe which is located in the central Province of Zambia. Whilst driving, along the roadside I noticed a lot of market stalls where women gathered to sell a variety of fruits and vegetables. I noticed a lot of watermelons and tropical fruits being sold, which looked absolutely beautiful, large and tasty; but something that particularly caught my eye was theButternut squash – there were rows and rows of butter nut squash perched along the road. Butternut squash is essentially a fruit, but it is used as a vegetable and can be roasted, toasted, puréed for soups, or mashed and used in casseroles, breads, and muffins. It is a delicious fruit (veg) and goes down a treat with nearly anything.
Preparation & Cooking time: 30 minutes
Serves: 4
Ingredients
2 tbsps vegetable oil
615g butternut squash, peeled and diced into cubes
1 red onion, halved, sliced
2 red bell peppers, seeded, sliced
2 handfuls of peas, defrosted if frozen
2 tbsp of garlic, finely chopped
2 tbsps of ginger , finely chopped
2 tbsps of soy sauce (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste
Method
Heat the oil in a wok over a medium-high heat. Add the butternut squash and stir-fry for 5 minutes.
Add the onion and peppers followed by the peas, and stir-fry for an extra 5 to 10 minutes or until squash is fork-tender. Then add garlic and ginger, fry for another 2 minutes, and season with salt, pepper and soy sauce.
Serving
This stir-fry is suitable for vegetarians, and goes very well with rice. Similarly it can be eaten with chicken, fish or meat. It is a great dish, with lots of flavour. Personally I find butternut squash to be even better than pumpkin. Enjoy!!
Kanta Temba is a cake maker and decorator. She is also the owner and founder of Kanta Kakes – cake shop.
You can find her work onwww.kantakakes.com. Follow her on twitter @KantaKakes and Instagram @KantaTemba.
DAVIES MWILA
Home Affairs Minister Davis Mwila says the Zambia Police service has deployed more officers to Southern Province to ensure people and property are protected from violence perpetrated by political cadres.
Mr Mwila says the police service is training all officers so that they are professional in policing public gatherings.
He was presenting a ministerial statement in Parliament.
Mr Mwila urged politicians to instruct their members to conduct their political activities peacefully.
Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police Kakoma Kanganja has assured the public that the Zambia Police Service will be firm in dealing with perpetrators of political violence.
Mr Kanganja says the Police will not condone acts of violence as the country heads for the general election.
He also announced that the police will hold a meeting with stakeholders to discuss issues of policing the elections.
Mr Kanganja was speaking at The Oasis of Love Ministries on the Copperbelt, at a fellowship that was organised to pray for peace in the country ahead of the general election.
Speaking at the same event Chairman of the Kitwe Pastor’s Fellowship, Raddy Lewila said the church is willing to work with the government of the day.
Pastor Lewila also advised church leaders to desist from engaging in politics.
File: Medical staff attending to patients at a Mobile Hospital : Picture Courtesy of ZANIS
MULTITUDES of people in Muzoka area in Choma have flocked to the access the on-going free medical services being offered at the mobile clinics that have been stationed in the area.
Some of the medical services being offered were cervical cancer screening and treatment, dental care, malaria tests and various other services offered at a general hospital.
Mobile and Emergency Health Services Team leader Muzaza Ntele said they had received an overwhelming response from members of the community.
Dr Ntele said more than 1,200 people had accessed the services after day three and sessions continued yesterday and would end today.
Dr Ntele said so far they had conducted 21 operations and people with serious complications were being treated because they had a full team of specialised medical staff.
“We are bringing these services closer to the people free and all the costs have been transferred to government because the people were not paying anything,” he said.
The medical team had been camped in the area since Monday and the sessions were expected to end today and next week proceed to Batoka area while those requiring reviews from Muzoka would also be attended because the area was nearer.
He said the services being offered were those of a general hospital and no one was being referred to other hospitals.
He said this was a first time that they decided to have the medical camp in the area and described the sessions as a success.
MISA Zambia Chairperson Hellen Mwale
The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zambia has condemned the police command in Eastern Province for interfering with the operations of radio stations in the province by directing them to seek police clearance whenever they intend to host high profile guests on radio.
MISA has obtained a letter in which the order was made by Eastern Province Police Commissioner, Alex Chilufya, to various radio stations in Chipata.
We wish to inform the Police command that such a directive amounts to an unreasonable and unconstitutional limitation of freedom of expression and media freedom as guaranteed in article 20 of the constitution.
We would also like to take this opportunity to educate the Police command on the role of the Independent Broadcasting Authority, which is the bonafide regulator of broadcasting houses in Zambia and has authority to preside over the conduct of broadcasters, including radio stations in Chipata where the order was issued.
As the radio programmes are held in-doors and only broadcast to the masses, there is no need for police clearance as it is within the right of the radio stations to host any guest, provided they do not contravene the ethical standards as agreed with the IBA, which take into consideration even other provisions such as the electoral code of conduct.
We therefore call on the Police to immediately desist from interfering in the operations of media houses and instead be proactive enough to thwart the increasing attacks on media houses such as that on Radio Breeze FM during a live broadcast when they hosted Rainbow Party leader Wynter Kabimba. Another incident is where known PF cadres urinated in the mouth of a Post Newspaper journalist Peter Sukwa while his counterpart Kelvin Phiri of Feel Free Radio was badly assaulted.. Other attacks include those on Radio Icengelo in Kitwe, Sun FM in Ndola and Chikaya Lundazi.
We urge all media houses and journalists in Chipata that received the directive from Commissioner Chilufya not to be intimidated and to continue providing space for participatory democracy without any fear or favour.
As we get closer to the August 11 elections, it is important for all stakeholders adhere to democratic election principles and to desist from violence if the country is to hold free and fair elections.
Nkandu Luo
MINISTER of Gender Nkandu Luo has said Government will soon table the Marriage and Child Code bills before Parliament in a bid to, among other measures, effectively address early marriages in the country.
Professor Luo told Parliament on Tuesday that the bills will also help address the challenges arising from dual marriage laws, namely customary and statutory.
She said in a ministerial statement on the first-ever girl child summit held in Zambia recently that the Child Code Bill will particularly help address the definition of a child.
The summit, which was held in November 2015, and graced by President Lungu, attracted 1,100 delegates from across Africa.
Prof Luo said this is because a child is defined differently in different circles, including at the instances of obtaining national documents such as the green national registration cards, drivers’ licences and voters’ cards, among others.
“This bill will address the definition of who a child is and it has since been passed to the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Child Development,” Prof Luo said.
And Prof Luo said most African countries are learning from Zambia about best practices in fighting early marriages because the country has devised a multi-sectoral approach with various stakeholders involved in fighting the vice.
She said 11 ministries have come together and that traditional and church leaders have also been mobilised to help lead the fight against child marriages countrywide.
This was after a question by Chongwe Member of Parliament Sylvia Masebo (PF), who wanted to find out the best practices being used in Zambia to fight the vice.
“The main objective of the summit was to share experiences, good practices and challenges on ending child marriages at country, regional, continental and international levels particularly from countries that have already launched the African Union Campaign on Ending Child Marriage in Africa.
“The summit was also structured to secure and renew commitments from stakeholders notably governments, to invest more on ending child marriages in their respective countries,” said Prof Luo.
The Calender
United Party for National Development (UPND) has denied ever publishing a calendar bearing a Picture of Lunte Member of Parliament (MP) Felix Mutati and listing him as a UPND official.
Responding to reports that Mutati has instructed his lawyer to commence legal action against UPND, party spokesperson Charles Kakoma distanced UPND from the publication of the calendar and advised Mr Mutati to sue the publisher.
Mr Kakoma said the UPND has never produced such kind of a calendar.
“We have not produced any calendar of that type. Perhaps some enterprising people decided to do so to make money. Honourable Mutati can sue the publisher because the contacts and addresses are on the calendar,” he said.
Yesterday Mr Mutati instructed his lawyer to commence legal action against UPND for allegedly using his image on the party calendar without his consent.
Speaking during a press briefing, Mr Mutati said the publication of his picture on the UPND calendar has caused a lot of damage to him.
“I never consented that my image be used on a UPND calendar and as such, I have instructed my lawyer Sakwiba Sikota so that he deals with this issue with the publisher and the UPND,” he said.
Mr Mutati said his image, which is appearing on a UPND calendar, is one of the reasons why the MMD national executive committee (NEC) expelled him from the party.
UPND Mazabuka Member of Parliament Garry Nkombo gestures during the party’s rally in Mandevu
United Party for National Development (UPND) Mazabuka Member of Parliament Garry Nkombo has accused the Patriotic Front (PF) Government of using the Electricity tariffs to try and hoodwink people into voting for them.
In a statement released to the media in which he outlined what the UPND would do, Mr Nkombo said that the planed increment PF Government is planning after elections will not amount to reductions in power cuts anytime soon.
Mr Nkombo further said that any increase in tariffs must not be done so hastily as to cause pain to the public, especially the small businesses that are already struggling but are an important source of employment.
Below is the full statement
OFFICIAL STATEMENT
ANOTHER FLIP-FLOP ON ZESCO TARIFFS?
Energy Minister Dora Siliya has now revealed what we earlier argued, confirming that the flip-flopping, chipantepante PF Government is in the business of trying to hoodwink people into voting for them.
Siliya revealed in South Africa this Tuesday that her Government will effect increases in ZESCO electricity tariffs, soon after elections.
The reversal is just one of the many tricks by the PF Government to mislead the Zambian people.
But this increment they are planning after elections will not amount to reductions in powercuts anytime soon.
Any increase in tariffs must not be done so hastily as to cause pain to the public, especially the small businesses that are already struggling but are an important source of employment.
Under our management, we would prioritise increased economic activities, creating more job opportunities for our people, and reducing the cost of living through various productivity measures before hiking tariffs so that the change in price is expected and manageable.
Gradually increasing these tariffs over a period of say 5 years would be a better idea. Communicating such a plan well in advance would minimise the negative impact as businesses can adjust their budgets ahead of time and seek efficiencies elsewhere, while investors will be attracted by the clarity and transparent timeline set out.
Meanwhile, change would be instituted at ZESCO to ensure there is no political interference. ZESCO has competent engineers who are technically competent to run ZESCO profitably, what they need is the professional space to do what they do.
We call on all Zambians to open their eyes and reject such PF tricks and deception. Too many are now suffering because of their failure to set out a clear solution to fix the problems we face.
The Ministry of Works and Supply has halted the sale of 1, 405 motor vehicles to officials above the position of chief planner or their equivalent, approved by Cabinet.
Works and Supply Minister, Yamfwa Mukanga says the halted sale of the motor vehicles is in order to address all issues that have been raised by various stakeholders.
Mr. Mukanga says these include among others that government will remain without vehicles after the sale and that government would also lose money as a result.
He says besides addressing the raised concerns, his Ministry wants to verify the vehicles that have been offered for sale to ensure there is strict adherence to the directive by Cabinet.
Mr. Mukanga has however; assured the nation that the sale of the said government vehicles will lead to a significant reduction in the cost of running and maintaining the government fleet of vehicles.
He told Journalists in Lusaka that government will still remain with over two thousand Vehicles.
Government Nurses
Acting Ndola District Commissioner Taphen Mulongo has warned of stern action against any nurses employed by government working in private clinics.
Speaking when he met officials from Ndola District Medical office Mr Mulongo said his office has information that some nurses are employed by two institutions, the Ministry of Health and some private institutions.
He described the action as a criminal offence which should not be allowed especially that the public has been complaining about poor services delivery in government institutions.
” We have discovered a case where some medical personnel in Ndola under the ministry of health have been employed by two institutions. They are employed by government and Mary Begg Community clinic and they are drawing salaries from government and this clinic. This is criminal and should not be allowed.
” This is not the only institution that is involved. We wish to state that we will not allow this as government. We have take measure to deal with the situation. Let me even warn some personal that are drawing two salaries. According to Mary Begg, the nurses in question had applied stating that they had resigned from government,” he said
He added ” So serious punitive measures will be taken. We can’t allow this. It is very criminal and the law will visit them.”
But some nurses talked to said they have been forced to do what they are doing because of the biting economy.
“No one can be happy to be working long hours. We are doing this because we want to make some extra money so that we can manage to send our children to decent schools. We all know how expensive life has become so instead of blaming us government should be thinking of how to improve our conditions of service so that we can also enjoy our time,” said one the nurses who did not want to named for fear of victimization.
MMD Acting spokesperson Reuben Sambo
Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) acting spokesperson Reuben Sambo says that the expulsion of Lunte Member of Parliament Felix Mutati from the party is final and nothing can save him. This is because the decision was made at a legally constituted extra-ordinary National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting and the NEC is the highest party organ between conventions.
Rev. Sambo said that the NEC has powers according to the MMD constitution to deal with any disciplinary case, including that of NEC members as per Articles 19(l), 19(n) and in the Disciplinary Regulations in the Appendix in sections 3, 4, 6 and 7. He said that Mr Mutati has no leg to stand on and press briefings, public demonstrations and any other such unbecoming conduct by Mr Mutati shall not make things any better for him.
Rev. Sambo asked why Mr Mutati has taken four weeks to respond to the issues of double-dealing that were earlier raised by National Treasurer Elizabeth Chitika when she revealed that Mr Mutati features on an official 2016 UPND calendar as a party official. Rev. Sambo wondered whether Mr Mutati is only responding now that he has been expelled.
He further noted that the only thing that he agrees with Mr Mutati is that MMD is not dead and it is no wonder there is such a vicious fight for the heart and soul of the party. Mr Mutati and other “ba muselela kwakaba” [chancers] are trying to take over the party after being in hibernation the last 4 years and contributing nothing to its advancement.
On the issue of the recent statement by suspended spokesperson Raphael Nakacinda that the action to suspend him by the NEC is a “sham”, Rev. Sambo said that Mr Nakacinda actually attended the NEC meeting and even spoke until he was suspended. He said that Mr Nakacinda is just complicating his case while investigations into allegations against him are ongoing.
Rev. Sambo said that Mr Nakacinda is jumping the gun by publicly talking about being given a chance to exculpate himself when he was only been suspended. A suspension does not require exculpation but only comes in when charges are laid against him in due course.
MMD CONSTITUTION: RELEVANT ARTICLES
ARTICLE 19
(l) to have the power to suspend any member of the Party for serious misconduct or violation of the Constitution;
(n) to deal with disciplinary matters of all members for serious misconduct or violation of the constitution and where necessary expel any member from the party;
DISCIPLINARY REGULATIONS
3. (a) Any member of the party who violates the provisions of the party Constitution, Regulations, Rules, Orders, Directives or Decisions or acts in a manner detrimental or prejudicial to the Party interest or objective shall be liable for disciplinary action.
4. (b) National Executive Committee members shall be disciplined by the National Executive Committee and their appeal shall lie an adhoc Disciplinary Committee specially elected for the purpose of hearing a particular appeal.
(c) The National Executive Committee shall have both original and appellate jurisdiction in all matters affecting the discipline of party members.
6. (b) National Executive Committee members shall be disciplined by the National Executive Committee and their appeal shall lie an adhoc Disciplinary Committee specially elected for the purpose of hearing a particular appeal.
(c) The National Executive Committee shall have both original and appellate jurisdiction in all matters affecting the discipline of party members.
6. Offences against the party shall include:-
(a) Contravention of provisions of the party Constitution, Regulations, Rules, orders or decisions.
(b) Conduct likely to bring the name of the Party into contempt, ridicule or disrepute.
7. Penalties against Members
(d) The National Executive Committee shall have power to expel a member from the Party for a serious or repeated misconduct.
The Zambian government has backed Christine Lagarde’s candidature for a second term as head of the International Monetary Fund -IMF.
Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda has announced that Zambia is in support of Ms Lagarde’s second term bid.
Mr. Chikwanda says Ms Lagarde has demonstrated professionalism, provided quality leadership and direction in tackling various policy issues in the IMF.
The Minister also says Ms Lagarde has restored the confidence in the leadership of the IMF.
He said her vision and the way she handled the current world economic crisis is exceptional.
Mr. Chikwanda says Zambia believes that Ms Lagarde’s exceptional talent coupled with wide experience will undeniably provide invaluable leadership to the IMF in handling pressing global economic issues.
This is contained in a statement released to media News by Mr Chikwanda.
