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Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) kembe Member of Parliament lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha has charged that if the entire ministerial positions can be occupied by Christians there will be a big change in Zambia in terms of development.
In an interview with pan African Radio journalist Hermit Hachilonde, Lieutenant General Shikapwasha advised church leaders especially pastors to join politics and serve Zambia.
General Shikapwasha says allowing none believers to run the affairs of the state will compromise the doctrines of the faithful Christians; hence it is imperative that the fervent prayers of the faithful take charge of the leadership of the country.
And Zambia’s Motivational speaker and organizations development facilitator Felix Banda has urged the youth in Zambia to be careful with politicians in Zambia.
Speaking in an interview with pan African Radio journalist Hermit Hachilonde, Mr. Banda who is popularly known as Galamukani said the youth in Zambia have made huge mistakes when choosing leaders only because some politicians bought them beer to hoodwink them.
He says the youth must now be vigilant and choose leaders wisely because the future of the young people in Zambia depends on their good choice of leaders they entrust to run the affairs of the state.
Health Deputy Minister Chitalu Chilufya (right) talks to University Teaching Hospital managing director Lakson Kasonka (in dark grey suit,right), as others look on after officiating at the handover of three buses and one utility vehicle worth K1.8 million in Lusaka
Government has directed government health institutions to stop conducting compulsory HIV testing for patients seeking medical care.
Commenting on concerns by the general public over government health institutions conducting compulsory HIV testing before administering medical attention, Health Deputy Minister Dr. Chitalu Chilufya says government policy on HIV testing remains the same.
Dr. Chilufya tells QFM News in an interview that HIV testing is optional and that no one should be forced to take an HIV test against their will.
He has however, encouraged Zambians to know their HIV status so that they know how to look after themselves which he says it is for their own benefit.
Dr. Chilufya states that for Zambia to attain the HIV free generation status, all pregnant women must know their HIV status so that they have HIV free children.
Yesterday, it had emerged that UTH and some public clinics were implementing a new testing protocol called Diagnostic Testing and Counselling (DTC) which entails that all admissions are subjected to HIV testing.
UTH Spokesman Mwenya Mulenga explained that DTC is aimed at helping the hospital diagnose patients faster and speed up the treatment process without wasting time on unnecessary tests.
But Treatment Advocacy Literacy Campaign said that no one should be forced to undergo an HIV test.
TALC Country Cordinator Felix Mwanza said the move by the University Teaching Hospital and other public health facilities to start diagnosing all admissions for HIV without the consent of the patients was an abuse of human rights.
Mr Mwanza said HIV diagnosis and any other clinical tests must be carried out if the full consent of the patient.
He said his organisation had always advocated for the full knowledge of testing and treatment regimes that patients living with HIV have to undergo.
“Our fear is that if not properly handled, this might lead to increased cases of stigma against people living with HIV. Our stance is that patients have to be taken on board,” Mr Mwanza said.
He said the national HIV response strategy also advocates for Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) which he said should be promoted.
Sylvia Masebo
Former Tourism Minister Sylvia Masebo has been re-arrested by police immediately after the court entered a nolle prosequi in a case where she was accused of escaping from lawful custody and conducting an unlawful procession..
Ms. Masebo together with four others, were immediately taken to Woodlands Police station, where they are currently being interrogated.
Earlier, Lusaka Magistrate Lameck Mwale dismissed Ms. Masebo’s application for the court NOT to entertain the nolle prosequi from the Director of Public Prosecution- DPP-
Magistrate Mwale said the court has NO power to ask for reasons why the DPP is entering a nolle.
He questioned why Ms. Masebo’s lawyers asked him to refer the matter to the High Court, if they knew that the charge she was facing does NOT exist.
Magistrate Mwale says he cannot allow the defence to ask for the matter to be taken to the HIGH court, when the charge does NOT exist.
The Magistrate later entered a nolle prosequi and asked the accused to leave the accused dock.
Patriot Front agrees with Grand Coalition that Parliamentary Constitution amendment is fraud ,snubs submission to Parliamentary committee on legal affairs
The Grand Coalition on the Campaign for a People-Driven Constitution (GC) has noted with interest that the Patriotic Front has finally seen the light and taken a position against the
parliamentary route to constitution amendment by snubbing the appearance and submission to the committee on legal affairs.
Patriotic Front (PF) Secretary General Davies Chama told QFM news on Monday 16th November 2015 that the Patriotic Front Party had deliberately opted not to appear before the Parliamentary
Committee on Legal Affairs which is receiving submissions on the Constitution Bill which is before Parliament because they do not want to contradict the government position on the contents
of the final draft constitution.
The GC notes that the contents of the Constitution Amendment Bill (2015) reflect the voice and aspirations of the Zambian People, therefore should not be tampered with through debates. To this
effect, on 21st October 2015, the GC announced that it would decline a request from the National Assembly of Zambia through the Committee on Legal Affairs, Gender and Human Rights to make
submissions on the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2015 as this would be validating a process that was aimed at altering the contents of the draft through debates. The GC further appealed to all
stakeholders earmarked to be invited to this committee to decline appearance so as not to legitimize this process.
A number of organisations heeded the GC’s call and refused to appear before the Parliamentary Committee. It is gratifying to note that among those who have taken the GC’s position seriously
and heeded our appeal, is the Patriotic Front. The GC also notes that all the major political parties in Zambia have also stayed away from the parliamentary submission. It is encouraging to see that for once, the PF have chosen to see issues from the perspective of the Zambian People and stayed away from debating and altering the content of the final draft constitution which is the people’s voice.
It is our hope that the government will take note of the disapproval of all its stakeholders –including the ruling party — who have declined appearance before the committee to submit on the
Constitution amendment bill (2015), and that our MPs will also take this into consideration when the constitution bill is presented to them.
The Grand Coalition maintains that the tabling of the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2015 before the National Assembly of Zambia for debate and consequent amendments is a clear violation of the
Grand Coalition on the Campaign for a People Driven Constitution in Zambia New Constitution, Better Lives for All democratic practice in the constitution making process and also the PFs’ own manifesto.
It is the conviction of the Grand Coalition that Parliament has no power to give Zambians a new constitution which the PF government consistently promised them whilst in opposition and after
being ushered into office. While we commend the PF for listening to the people on the Parliamentary process, we now call on the PF leadership to engage the Minister of Justice on the constitution making process in order to revert to the promises they made to enact the constitution through a referendum.
The Grand Coalition stands by its position that the Parliamentary route is undemocratic and fraudulent and calls on all MPs who have the interests of the people at heart not to support such a
process.
Issued by:
Fr Leonard Chiti
Grand Coalition Chairperson
Body of Syrian child washed on the shore in Turkey.
(Part Two)
You (could this well mean also you, dear reader?) took it away from me!
The law demands that we atone
When we take things we do not own
But leaves the lords and ladies fine
Who take things that are yours and mine.
Firstly, why don’t you ask me why I am an emigrant? Very simple answer – YOU made me one!
I am rich, yet I am poor! Haven’t you been profiting from my poverty?
When the West tells us: “We don’t need you!”, who of you protested? Neither did we need you when you came to colonise our country and brought havoc to us….but still you came! Neither did we need you when you came to exploit our country for your interests….but still you came! When you came to ravish and destroy our country through your imperialist wars, we never wanted you….but still you came!
And now you see and treat us as a hostile invasion force and unashamedly and immorally, quoting Hungarian prime minister Orban telling us; “Do not come”!
Moreover, the shameful construction of the disgraceful Iron Curtain of walls and fences ironically by those who claim to have, earlier in their history, suffered such ethnic discrimination, exposes the hypocrisy of Europe’s professed morality. On the other hand, calling such migrant countries as Canada and Australia as hypocrites is more than fitting, considering their part in supporting Western imperialists to disrupt countries like Iraq and Syria. Their hand in the crisis is illustrated in their fortress-style border policies at home and their wars abroad which have never been a help, but a lethal contribution. They are equally responsible in this human tragedy. Also in line comes Israel; “Israel is not indifferent, but ‘too small’ to take in refugees” said Natanyahu, after refusing to take in Syrian refugees fleeing from the raging civil war in their home country. Allocations from much smaller countries, like Cyprus and Malta were much more significant. How could it possibly be that he forgot what it means to be Jewish? Again, brazen and arrogant hypocrisy!
So the European Union is preparing to bomb targets in Libya to stop migrants from attempting to cross the Mediterranean.
EU foreign policy coordinator Federica Mogherini briefed the United Nations Security Council on plans for a “Chapter VII” resolution that would give a UN green light for the use of force.
The “bomb the boats” plan is driven, however, not by the number of deaths by drowning, but by the even larger number of refugees who have successfully reached the Italian coast, or have been picked up by merchant ships or the Italian coast guard and navy.
EU ships would enter Libyan territorial waters, along with aircraft and helicopter gunships, to identify ships and help “neutralize” them, i.e., blow them to bits. These reportedly include HMS Bulwark, a helicopter carrier that is the flagship of the British Royal Navy, now deployed at Malta.
So this is what we are harbouring! Along with all 28 EU members supporting the military intervention, the Maltese government, for the second time, is getting involved in military action against a neighbouring country on the excuse of humanitarian reasons. That what is being proposed is not humanitarian assistance, but a new war, is so obvious that the Süddeutsche Zeitung has felt obliged to admit, “This is not a humanitarian initiative.”
No less to be condemned are the elites of the Arab world who, willingly or not, are reluctant in creating conditions to keep people from fleeing elsewhere. It’s true that Turkey and Lebanon have taken in a large number of refugees from Syria and Iraq, and for this they deserve respect. But the big bankers of this world are sitting in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Dubai and the Emirates. Have they done at least as much for the refugees as other less prosperous countries or are they afraid of displeasing their imperialist comrades-in arms? But now all minions of the West are shedding crocodile tears!
Who remembers this? Don’t know, but I surely do, though it wasn’t as close to home!
Individual member states of the European Union have voiced opposition to the proposed EU quota system for refugees and called instead for refugees to be taken in on a “voluntary” basis. This may sound more practical and just. After all, why shouldn’t Europe’s ex-colonial powers be now called on to pay the price for their colonial past. And why should countries that never had any colonies unlike France, Germany, Belgium or Italy did, which ultimately contributed to their current wealth, be now asked to share responsibilities?. These countries must now shoulder the burden of their colonial past. They shouldn’t try to pass it on to others. Malta is one of the poorer and smaller states in the EU. Why should we have to pay for the problems of the old and rich EU states? Others may have forgotten their past tribulations and are now closing up.
Europe faces a moral problem. On the one hand, saving refugees serves as an incentive for further immigrants – and victims. On the other hand, you can’t let refugees drown just to prevent others from escaping hell in their country.
It is very unfortunate that it has now become a fashion and an excuse for refusing refugees on the pretext of them being ‘culturally alien’. Locked hearts will quickly forget that most civilizations were refugees once. “If we declare that we hold freedom and human rights dear, we should commit to providing assistance and support to those who cannot return to their home countries.”
Everybody is somebody’s child!
No human heart is denied empathy. No religion can demolish that by indoctrination. No culture, no nation and nationalism – nothing can touch it because it is empathy.
I think we all have empathy. We may not have enough courage to display it.”- Maya Angelou
WE SIMPLY JUST HAVE TO CHANGE and there are no ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ about it, as we are dealing with humanity’s very survival now in reality.
By Joseph M. Cachia
Freelance Journalist
Vittoriosa – MALTA (Europe)
Zambia’s 2017 Africa Cup Group E qualifiers opponents Congo-Brazzaville and Kenya had a busy Tuesday in their respective 2018 World Cup second round, final leg qualifying engagements.
Congo were away to Ethiopia while Kenya made a late trip to Cape Verde after logistical problems and a protracted player pay sit-in at the airport in Nairobi prior to departure.
In Addis Ababa, Congo rallied to beat Ethiopia 2-1 away thanks to goals from Francis Nganga and Thierry Bifouma in the 48th and 58th minutes respectively cancelling out Getaneh Kebede’s 28th minute goal.
Congo advance to the group stage 6-4 on aggregate.
Congo will play Zambia in both sides next 2017 Africa Cup Group E qualifier on March 23 in Ndola before Chipolopolo travel to Brazzaville four days later.
In Praia, Kenya lost 2-0 to bow out of the race to Russia 2-1 on aggregate.
The results mean Zambia and Congo are the only teams from Group E to advance to the 2018 World Cup group stage qualifiers.
Guinea Bissau were eliminated 4-2 on aggregate in the preliminary first round by Liberia,.
Zambia cannot export beef to the rest of Africa and Europe because of the failure to meet the set international standards in these countries as well as the presence of diseases such as Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Contagious Bovine Pleura Pneumonia (CBPP), Fisheries and Livestock Minister Greyford Monde told Parliament yesterday.
Mr Monde said Zambia would only be able to export beef to other African countries and Europe after carrying out surveillance of trade sensitive trans-boundary animal diseases.
He said there was need to carry out vaccination of beef cattle and construction of check points and quarantine facilities.
Mr Monde was responding to Chadiza Member of Parliament Allan Mbewe who wanted to know which measures had been taken to facilitate the export of beef to Africa and Europe.
Mr Mbewe also wanted know whether there were any private companies that had expressed interest in exporting beef and what measures had been taken to ensure that Zambian beef met the exportation quality in view of Corridor and other diseases in some parts of the country.
[pullquote]And UPND Monze Central Member of Parliament Jack Mwiimbu asked Mr Monde to confirm that the nation was being feed on substandard beef. .[/pullquote]
In response Mr Monde said for markets in Europe, measures that were being undertaken included the creation of at least one Disease Free Zone in the country.
“The ministry is also undertaking measures aimed at increasing the beef cattle numbers that is required to sustain the export market through the creation of breeding centres, promotion of artificial insemination, importation of improved breeds, improving management and nutritional status of the animals,” Mr Monde said.
He also explained that two companies (Zambeef and Majoru) had expressed interest in exporting beef to South Africa and Nigeria.Mr Monde further said in order to ensure Zambian beef met the export quality in view of Corridor and other diseases in some parts of the country, animal disease surveillance including ante and post mortem inspections by veterinarians had been conducted.
He said some of the measures to meet the export quality included disease control through movement control and vaccinations and creation of disease free zone.
Mr Monde said government had invested in laboratory facilities at central veterinary research institute in Balmoral and regional laboratories in Choma, Chipata, Mongu, Kasama, Ndola and Solwezi.
He added that Government had introduced compliance initiatives to international standards through development of regulations, enforcement of compulsory farmer registration as provided for in the Animal Health Act No. 27 of 2010 and feasibility studies on the animal identification and traceability system were being undertaken.
And UPND Monze Central Member of Parliament Jack Mwiimbu asked Mr Monde to confirm that the nation was being feed on substandard beef.
“Mr Speaker, I want the honourable minister to confirm that we are eating substandard beef because Zambia has no capacity to export beef because it does not meet the set standards,” Mr Mwiimbu said.
But Mr Monde refuted Mr Mwiimbu’s claims saying the country was eating the right and quality beef. Mr Monde explained that the failure to export beef in Africa and Europe did not mean that Zambians were eating substandard beef.
“October 18th shall for ever, for ever a be a day of prayer and fasting in Zambia” declared President Lungu, and the innocent souls of the Republic said Amen.
Why is it however, difficulty to follow the tenets of the word of God which are enshrined in forgiveness by the same president?
In prayer we seek forgiveness, as a matter of fact we also ask God to give us grace to forgive others. The later is however very hard to do. Does God still forgive us when we refuse to show mercy to others?
“Mathew 6: 14- “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”. I guess the continued fall of the Kwacha is another way of God saying, I refuse to forgive you, because you refuse to forgive others.
[pullquote]I expected the president to come out renewed spiritually with some heavenly bold and practical action items[/pullquote]
At the end of last prayer and fasting, 18th October, I expected the president to come out renewed spiritually with some heavenly bold and practical action items. The removal of the unfair law in Public Order Act, because we serve a fair God. Second, I expected him to speak to his cabinet to stop with immediate effect the mad slinging of political opponents. The country prayed for unity, the continued divisive tribal talk by PF bemba ministers does not come from above. If the next election will also be decided on tribal lines, you should know the end of our 51-year old republic is near.
The people of North Western ,Western , Copperbelt rural ,much of Central and greater Lusaka Provinces will very much like the tribal politics notched upwards, because a divided Zambia will leave their mineral rich areas to the control of Bantu Botatwe control. Mr President you are playing with fire.
Two days after prayer and fasting Chief Government Spokesman Ba Kambwili warned radio phoenix with revocation of radio license for opening its doors to the opposition parties, eish, what a harsh God we worship in Zambia.
Vice president Inonge Wina has just warned HH with arrest under the Public Order Act, if he continues behaving like a free citizen of Zambia in the Copperbelt. I could take this kind of behavior from Kambwili, not mama Wina. She is the pillar of decency in the nation, the mother for all of us.. Why has thou abandoned prayer for cheap politics mama Wina.
President Lungu , you are a good man and you hold a solemn duty to hold this country together. Show the nation “Prayer and fasting was not just a political ploy to take advantage of poor weak innocent naive Christian believing Zambians. Actions speaks louder than words Mr President.
Amarula hit maker , Roberto, will be performing at the African Music Concert(AMC)2015 on 21st November . This event takes place in Johannesburgat the Expo center. Roberto will be including the whole brathahood music label artists to perform with him during the show . Roberto arrives in Johannesburg on Friday in preparations for this event and there are some artists on the line-up that Roberto will be in studio with whilst he is in Johannesburg. Roberto will be performing songs from his latest album at the show so expect an electrifying set.
Other artists that will be performing are ; Bucie , AKA, Wizkid ,Davido ,Da LES , Cassper Nyovest, Flavour ,Burna Boy ,Uhuru , R2bees , Victoria Kimani and many other exciting acts .
Charlie Sheen appeared on the Today show Tuesday morning where he confirmed reports that he is HIV positive. “I am in fact HIV positive,” Sheen said, disclosing that he was diagnosed roughly four years ago. “I have to put a stop to this onslaught, this barrage of attacks of sub-truths and very, very harmful stories that are about threatening the health of so many others which couldn’t be farther from the truth.”
The former Two and a Half Men star sat down for a live interview with Today show anchor Matt Lauer, revealing that he’s paid people to keep his diagnosis quiet. “I think I released myself from this prison today,” he said.
Sheen said that he realized something was wrong when started getting “a series of cluster headaches,” and “sweating the bed.” He said he was hospitalized two to three nights in a row. “I thought I had a brain tumor. I thought it was over,” Sheen told Lauer. “After a battery of tests, they walked in the room and said, ‘Boom, here is what’s going on.’ It’s a hard three letters to absorb. You know? It’s a turning point in one’s life.”
The actor said he’s not entirely sure how he contracted the disease.
Lauer read aloud a letter Sheen gave him prior to their interview. “In and around this perplexity of difficult time, I dazedly chose or hired the companionship of unsavory types,” he read. “Regardless of their saltless reputations, I always led with condoms and honesty when it came to my condition, say my truth became their treason as a deluge of blackmail and circus of deceit.”
When asked if he ever “knowingly or even perhaps unknowingly transmitted the HIV virus to someone else while you’ve had this,” Sheen insisted that was “impossible.”
The TV star did admit that he’s had unprotected sex since news of his diagnosis. “The two people who I did that with were under the care of my doctor and they were completely warned ahead of time,” he disclosed.
Sheen claimed that he’s been shaken down for money in exchange for keeping his secret. Lauer inquired, “Is it true that on at least one occasion you had a prostitute come over to your house who, after a sexual encounter, with a cell phone, took an image of your anti-retro virus medication and then threatened to sell that image to the tabloids?” “Yes, that is after I told her thank you for your time and we are not gonna see each other anymore,” Sheen explained. “After she spent the day at the health food store buying me all the medications to help me.”
When Lauer asked why he allowed these people in his life, Sheen admitted that he was battling depression. “I was so depressed by the position I was in,” he said. “I was doing a lot of drugs and I was making really bad decisions. That part I know 100 percent.”
The actor hopes that by coming forward about his HIV status that he will help others do the same. “I have a responsibility now to better myself and to help a lot of other people,” he told Lauer. “And hopefully with what we’re doing today, others may come forward and say, ‘Thanks Charlie. Thanks for kicking the door open.'”
State telecoms firm ZAMTEL says it is in desperate need of fresh capital to improve its service delivery.
ZAMTEL Chief Marketing Officer Evans Muhanga said the company needs a fresh injection of capital if it is to become competitive.
Mr. Muhanga said the new ZAMTEL management is focused on improving customer service as a way of attracting new subscribers.
‘The quality of service is not as much as we would love it, this is why we are looking for money to invest in the network because the idea is to have a new call centre,’ Mr Muhanga said.
‘In terms of network evolution and to enable us to reach all the places and all you need if you are in a heightened environment, you have to invest all the times and bring new equipment, new machinery and that has been the plan for the management from the time we took over,’ he said.
Mr Muhanga added, ‘Once you go there to look for money and show that you have enough cash flow to generate and pay off all the debt you are going to acquire, that is all anybody who is trying to put in equity or trying to finance you through debt equity is looking for at the market.’
‘They look at the cash flow, they look at the balance sheet if you have a strong balance sheet, then you can borrow as much as you want. In terms of our vision to be number one, we will be number.’
Vice President Inonge Wina has said that it is regrettable the that United Party for National Development (UPND) leadership, particularly Monze Central Member of Parliament Jack Mwiimbu has a low opinion on marketers and poor people trading on the streets.
Ms Wina said that the marketers deserve respect as they are human and constitute a large part of the voting population.
She was responding to Mr Mwiimbu’s debate on the Budget for the Public Service Management Division who lamented that some former marketeers without qualifications are serving as District Commissioners and other key government positions.
Mr Mwimbu said some District Commissioners only had birth certificates as their qualification.
But in response, Mrs Wina said selling in markets should not be used to disparage the qualified poor who also posses wisdom.
Ms Wina said the efficient public service is key to economic prosperity of any nation.
She told parliament yesterday that the Public Service Management Division will in the 2016 National budget continue with its mandate of human resource development in the public service.
Contributing to the debate Ikelenge member of parliament Elijah Muchima the PSMD should be run by civil servants.
Mr Muchima said such civil servant should systematically rise through ranks.
Meanwhile Tourism Minister Jean Kapata was ruled out by Speaker of National Assembly Dr . Patrick Matibini as she rose on the point of order to find out whether it was a requirement that only a Tonga should lead the UPND.
Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba has called on citizens to allow President Edgar Lungu’s administration to settle and implement its development programs.
Mr Kalaba who is also PF Bahati Member of Parliament says experimenting on national leadership has a negative effect on the implementation of development programmes.
He says Zambia needs consistent leadership and cannot afford to be changing Heads of State.
Appearing on Mansa’s K-FM Radio, Mr. Kalaba said changing Heads of State has a negative bearing on a nation’s economic outlook and international perception.
Mr. Kalaba said it would be prudent to allow the PF government continue governing and complete projects currently under implementation despite some economic challenges such as the volatility of the Kwacha.
He said the current challenges Zambia is faced with such as the depreciation of the Kwacha and energy crisis need stakeholders to rise above partisan politics in forging solutions.
Mr Kalaba said government is currently promoting economic diversification by providing inputs for other crops apart from maize.
He said government is also rehabilitating and constructing new airports and setting up a national airline by June next year as part of promoting tourism.
Residents in Simango community area in Kazungula district have complained of lacking serious health workers to run the affairs of the Simango Rural Health Centre.
The residents explained that the centre is not operating normally because it is opened at 12:00 hours and at times 14:00 hours instead of 08:00 hours during normal working hours.
This came to light at a community meeting which was addressed by Katombola Member of Parliament Derrick Livune over the weekend.
Residents in the area unanimously agreed and suggested to the area Member of Parliament that it was better the Rural Health Centre is closed until new officers are deployed in the area adding that the ones working there have failed to deliver because they are not dedicated to duty.
Headman Samuel Kopolo noted with sadness that the health workers are not doing the government work that they were employed and getting paid for but instead concentrate on doing farming.
Kopolo mentioned that he was disappointed that a named health worker at the clinic refused to attend to him when he got sick recently until after 11:00 hours.
And Simango Ward Councilor Fackson Inonge confirmed that what was happening at the clinic was a total disaster and needed serious attention from the District Medical Office.
Meanwhile, United Party for National Development (UPND) District Chairman-Political Elias Muluwa said the community members in the area are not happy with the state of affairs because they are denied health care services.
Muluwa said the situation at the clinic was worrisome because patients are not attended to in most of the times and wondered what the relevant authority was doing about it.
Katombola Member of Parliament assured the residents in the area that he would get down to root cause of the problem and find out exactly what was wrong with the health workers at the centre.
A check by ZANIS at the clinic between 16 and 17 hours discovered that windows were open but there were no health workers nor patients found at the scene.
PF MCC Samuel Mukupa addressing the rally in Solwezi
THE Road Development Agency (RDA) says it would ensure that the K147.5 Million rehabilitation of the Kafue hook Bridge pillars which have developed cracks are completed within the 24 months timeframe.
RDA Board Chairperson Samuel Mukupa confirmed the development when he led a team of RDA officials and Journalists during a tour of road projects in Western Province.
Mr Mukupa urged China-Heinan construction who is working on the Kafue hook bridge to expedite its works so that the bridge which was built some 40 years ago does not deteriorate further.
He called on the contractor to ensure that a belly bridge is constructed within 6 months so as to enabler a smooth flow of traffic during the time the pillars of the bridge were being worked.
‘’ You have to ensure that the belly bridge is urgently constructed so as to allow a smooth flow of vehicles as the Government is in a hurry want to link Western Province with neighbouring Angola , therefore there is need for you to expedite the works on the bridge’’, Mr Mukupa said.
He added that when the works on the Kafue hook bridge are completed on time, tourists would be motivated to visit the Kafue National Park for them to see animals as they navigate the river.
China Heinan Assistant Resident Engineer Sivananthan Kokulakanta said the works on the bridge which commenced in August 2015 had delayed to commence because the contractor was negotiating with the Zambia Wildlife Authority( ZAWA) in order to allow his firm to set up a camp within the national park.
Mr Kokulakanta assured the RDA officials that the works on the bridge would be completed with the 24 months contract.
Meanwhile , Mr Mukupa said RDA was going to fully rehabilitate about 80 kilometres stretch from Tetatyoye to Kaoma district which was in a bad state.
He said although construction of roads during the rainy season always had its own challenge , the Agency would ensure that works which have been earmarked for rehabilitation are completed so as to fulfil the Government’s agenda of linking up the country .
Mr Mukupa said RDA was not only working on uplifting roads in Western Province to bituminous standards but was also rehabilitating the 17.3 kilometres stretch from Kaoma town centre to Mwenemutondo area which caters for the rural people who are predominantly farmers.
Western Province RDA Regional Manager Gershom Mwagombe said the agency was also patching up potholes on the Kaoma –Mongu road in order to ease the transport constraints faced by motorists.
![caption: "Phase One" -- Charlie Sheen stars as Charlie Harper on TWO AND A HALF MEN, Mondays (9:30-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Justin Lubin/Warner Brothers 2003 WARNER BROTHERS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED copyright: [PNG Merlin Archive]](https://i0.wp.com/www.lusakatimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/charliesheen.jpg?ssl=1)
