The ministry of lands says it will start re-possessing land that has remained undeveloped for some time after the acquisition.

Lands Deputy Minister Davis Mwango says the ministry is aware that many Zambians have acquired land but have kept it idle for some time.

Mr. Mwango says it is important that land that is acquired is developed and used for its intended purpose.

He has told ZNBC news in an interview in Lusaka that his ministry will soon embark on the land audit to take into account how much land is still available.

Mr. Mwango says a lot of Zambians will benefit from the land audit because it will determine how much land is available in the country.

Zambia’s representatives are tomorrow expected in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for a conference aimed at addressing the challenge of financing.

Heads of States and governments and high level representatives from various countries will gather in Addis Ababa from 13th to 16 July 2015 to reaffirm their commitment to address the challenge of financing and creating an enabling environment for sustainable development in the spirit of global partnership and solidarity.

ZANIS reports that Lusaka District commissioner Davison Mulenga disclosed the development today .

This was during the global day of action on financing for development itinerary in Lusaka’s Chawama Township.

Mr. Mulenga affirmed government’s strong political commitment to addressing the challenge of financing in the country.

The DC stressed that the main goal of the Addis Ababa ‘ indaba’ would be to end poverty and hunger in the sub region in order to achieve sustainable development in its three dimensions through promoting social inclusion.

He said government will ensure human rights are respected including the right to development.

Meanwhile National coordinator for the Campaigning for sustainable development, Dennis Nyati has urged African leaders to invest in education rather than in weapons.

Mr. Nyati said this is because education will unlock potential of millions of people especially brilliant young minds if given a chance to education.

JCTR’s Basic Needs Basket (BNB) for an average family of five living in Livingstone is K2, 874 and it shows a decrease of K44.59 from the May BNB which stood at K2, 918.78.

The decrease in the cost of living can be attributed to the boost in availability of seasonal food items such as Vegetables, Onion and Beans.

“From the previous month of May, the average unit prices of commodities such as Kapenta per kg, Meat per kg and Vaseline (Jelly) 500 ml have reduced by K12.33, K3.43 and K4.21 respectively.

“This has contributed to the decrease in the cost of living. On the reverse side, the average unit price of commodities such as Mealie meal 25 kg bag (breakfast), 90 kg bag of Charcoal and a kg of Tea powder have increased by K1.29, K1.40 and K11.14 respectively,” JCTR Livingstone outreach regional officer George Makaha said.

Mr Makaha said in Livingstone yesterday that despite the recorded decrease in the cost of living, JCTR was concerned that load-shedding would affect the cost of production and negatively impact on Small to Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) and consumers.

“In light of this, JCTR on behalf of the poor majority would like to appeal to Government to plan ahead of such eventualities and also invest in diverse sources of energy such as molasses from sugar cane, wind, thermal and bio gas that are environmental friendly.

“This is very important because energy is the engine of every economy and without it, the entire nation but more especially the poor will suffer,” he said.

In the past few weeks, heavy load shedding has become the norm throughout the country.

ZESCO has attributed the heavy load shedding schedule to low water levels in Kariba dam which is a result of inadequate rains.

“JCTR is concerned by the heavy load shedding mainly because it will negatively affect people’s ability to live a dignified life.

“Considering the existing socio-economic conditions and levels of poverty prevailing in our country, the impacts of load shedding will be felt more by the poor majority,” Mr Makaha said.

FIRST lady Esther Lungu has praised Safeworld Trust School for the completion of the Multi Media Centre in a bid to enhance quality education.

Miss Lungu said reading has intangible benefits because young people absorb knowledge, values and perspectives with very little effort adding that when reading habits begin at a young age it could be a life long asset.

The first lady also said that the library that was commissioned yesterday would give children an opportunity to purse knowledge and provided historical, geographical and cultural awareness to readers through well chosen resources.

She was said this in a speech read on her behalf by Suzyo Kaira Simbyakula during the opening of a school librabry at Safeworld Trust School yesterday.

“School libraries are often over-looked, yet have a greater influence on the life of a pupil particularly young ones. We have a fantastic opportunity here to really change the lives of pupils at this school,” first lady said.

She further said that the library would not only enhance the pupil’s learning but would also provide teachers with access to relevant curriculum information and professional development materials within and outside the school as well as opportunities to plan, implement and evaluate learning programes.

She explained the library was an invaluable tool that would assist teachers to keep abreast with factual information and deeper knowledge as teachers would be better educators if and have confidence of knowing that they are well read up and and up to date.

She called on government to expedite the process of enacting library legislation in Zambia and inculcate a culture where all schools from primary to tertiary are mandated to make libraries as core infrastructure .

And speaking at the same event school manager Mr. Wiseman Banda said the facility was build a the right time when the curriculum has been revised to equip pupils with computers skills.

He said the library had three sections including the computer laboratory, science laboratory and a library and was built at the cost of K500.000.

He disclosed that in addition to the above facilities the school has also introduced the ZEDUPAD loaded with all the zambian syllabus in English and all Zambian language for easy learning of computer skills by pupils.

Mr.Banda has since called on the pupils and the teachers to guard the facilities jealously and use them for the intended purposes so as to help the present and the future generation to get acquainted with technology.

Transport, Works, Supply and Communications minister Yamfwa Mukanga says this is the only way the country can ensure meaningful participation of the local contractors in the ongoing robust infrastructure development around the country.

Mr. Mukanga said the development has potential to retain most profits within the country while at the same time significantly reducing the high levels of unemployment in the country.

The Minister said this when he officiated at the 6th combined graduation ceremony of the National Council for Construction in Lusaka yesterday.

A total of 230 students graduated in Earth Moving Equipment Operations, Management of Civil Engineering Processes, Road Construction and Maintenance, among many other construction related courses.

And Mr. Mukanga called for the reward of big and lucrative projects to the Zambian constructing firms the situation he said is aimed at empowering more Zambian contractors.

Earlier, National Road Fund Agency (NRFA) Executive Director Anthony Mwanaumo said his organisation attaches great importance to all initiatives aimed at growing the local capacity of the construction industry.

In a speech read for him by Engineer Wallace Mumba, Dr. Mwanaumo said this is in line with the unprecedented growth of the construction industry hence the need to continue sustaining it.

And Secretary to the treasury Fredson Yamba says in order to increase this contribution, there is need for government to continue supporting progressive ideas that enhance efficiency and productivity in revenue collection.

Speaking at the permanent secretaries’ tax education workshop organized by the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) in Lusaka today, Mr. Yamba notes that the role of ZRA in optimizing tax revenue collection on behalf of the government cannot be over emphasized in as far as development is concerned.

He has urged permanent secretaries to familiarize themselves with the operations of ZRA so that they can act as change agents for the many reforms that ZRA is undertaking to enhance its operational efficiency.

Mr. Yamba explains that the two new ZRA ICT business systems called Taxoline and Asycuda world which provide for a self service platform for the tax payers if utilized fully will improve service delivery, reduce cost of compliance for the authority and provide access to a 24 hour self service e platform to tax payers.

He adds that it is his hope that the sensitization of the general public by the ZRA will achieve its objective of increasing the uptake of the new electronic systems.

Mr. Yamba has further urged the permanent secretaries to support the overall reform program of government which is aimed at achieving efficiency of the public service so as to promote sustainable growth of the economy.

Meanwhile, Government has congratulated the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) for successfully securing convictions of 16 retailers of Livingstone, Lusaka, Ndola & Kitwe who failed to use cash registers and issue tax invoices in the course of selling goods and services to the public.

Out of the 16, 4 were businesses from Livingstone who were also penalized a total of K16, 000, 3 were from LUSAKA AND were penalized a total of K7, 200 while in Ndola there were 2 and were penalized a total of K3, 800 with Kitwe having 7 businesses that were penalized a total of K10, 800.

Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba says the securing of the convictions that happened between 29th April and 25th June this year is a sign that the ZRA has strengthened the enforcement of the Cash Register & Invoice Enforcement (CRIPE) Program.

Mr. Yamba has since urged ZRA to enhance tax education in addition to sustaining surveillance and tax compliance programs while ensuring that all offenders are swept and taken to court for relevant remedial action.

He has also reminded people in the country that they have a duty to demand a receipt or tax invoice whenever they purchase a good or service from any eligible retailer, wholesaler, trader and business.

This is contained in a statement made available to Qfm News by Ministry of Finance Public Relations Officer Chileshe Kandeta.

Government has revealed its plans to procure over 100 motor vehicles for the Ministry of Education in the country.

Education Deputy Minister Sydney Mushanga made a revelation when he met with Northern Province Permanent Secretary Hlobotha Nkunika and Provincial Education Officer Jobbicks Kalumba before gracing this year’s graduation ceremony at Lukasha trades training institute in Kasama today.

Mr Mushanga said government is alive to the transport challenge the education sector was going through in the country.

He added that government is therefore committed to ensuring that it improves the working conditions by providing all the necessary needs in the sector.

The Education Deputy Minister said it is in this vein that government is planning to buy one hundred and fifteen (115) vehicles for the Ministry to be distributed across the country.

He said the vehicles will be purchased as soon as funds are released from the treasury.

Mr Mushanga further said government is also aware of other challenges faced by the education sector and that it is committed to addressing most of them.

He also assured the people of Northern Province that government is working on modalities to fulfil its promise of building a university in the province.

Meanwhile, Mr Nkunika thanked government for assuring people in the area with a university which has been waited for for a long time.

He said the move by government to build a university has come at a right time when people needed the facility most.

The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR), has appealed to government to invest in diverse sources of energy such as wind, thermal and biogas to reduce the impact of ZESCO’s load shedding on the country’s economy.

JCTR Outreach Regional Manager for Livingstone, George Makaha said investment in alternative sources of energy was vital since energy is a key driver of the country’s economy.

In a statement availed to ZANIS in Livingstone today, Mr. Makaha said the heavy load shedding schedule by ZESCO was negatively affecting people’s ability to live dignified lives.

“Considering the existing socio-economic conditions and levels of poverty prevailing in our country, the impact of load shedding will be felt more by the poor majority,” he said.

Mr. Makaha further said the effect of load shedding on the economy would account for the increase in the cost of production in business.

He noted that there was a potential risk of the cost being transferred to consumers through the increase in prices on both basic food items and essential non-food items.

“This may be detrimental to development as basic food items are fundamental to food security,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Makaha stated that there was a decrease of over K40 in the Basic Needs Basket (BNB) in the month of June for an average family of five in Livingstone.

He said the cost of living for May was K2, 918.78 for an average family of five but the amount reduced to K2, 874.19, resulting in a decrease of K44.59.

Mr. Makaha attributed this to an increase in availability of seasonal food items such as vegetables.

He however, said on the reverse side, commodities such as a 25 kilogram bag of mealie meal, 90 kilogram bag of charcoal and a kilogram of tea leaves increased by K1.29, K11.14 and K1.49 respectively.

“Despite the recorded decrease in the cost of living, JCTR is concerned that load shedding will affect the cost of production and consequently impact negatively on SMEs and consumers,” he said.