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File:Men from the Zambian Muslim community going to pay their last respect to the late president Michael Sata
The Islamic Supreme Council of Zambia says young Zambians should be cautious of attempts by some people who may try to persuade them to join Islamic state militants.
A 15 year old South African girl from Cape Town was arrested at the city’s airport after receiving information that she was leaving the country to join ISIS.The girl was taken off a flight at Cape Town International Airport after her relatives contacted authorities reporting her disappearance on Sunday.
Council President said in an interview that Muslims in Zambia are peace loving and should report any persons attempting to radicalize them into joining Islamic militants.He has since advised the Zambian government to screen people coming into the country as might be linked to Islamic militants.
‘Our word of caution as Muslims in Zambia is that we should be wary of these bad elements that use violence and hate in the name of Islam,’ Mr Zimba said.Mr Zimba said the influx of foreigners seeking asylum in Zambia should be a wake up for authorities to step up the screening processing.
‘I would like to advise the young people in Zambia to immediately report to the police anyone attempting to recruit them to join groups such as ISIS because it does not pay to join these groups terrorising innocent people,’ he said.
He added, ‘Young Muslims should follow true teachings of Islam which does not encourage violence. In Zambia, we have lived peacefully and we should safeguard this peace jealously.’
Mr Zimba said, ‘the fear is that these asylum seekers and many foreigners that are flocking here it means Zambia could be at risk and become a platform for them to start recruiting young Muslims.’
The Treatment Advocacy and Literacy Campaign has strongly condemned the malicious publication of confidential medical records of any person living with an infectious communicable disease.
TALC Country Director Felix Mwanza said whether the records published by some electronic media house on the health status of President Lungu are genuine or indeed false is immaterial.
Mr Mwanza said the paramount issue is that such publications violate the right to privacy and confidentiality which are protected by the Zambian Constitution.
‘These rights are also protected under medical ethical rule on confidentiality. Therefore any person’s HIV status may only be disclosed to a person or group if that patient consents to it being made known to that person,’ he said.
He said the published prescriptions make sad reading as testing and treatment of communicable diseases including HIV, STD’s and TB are necessary components of disease prevention and control which if coupled with stigma and discrimination of infected individuals easily become barriers to care and has been widely recognized to affect testing, access to care, and treatment.
The Zambianwatchdog recently published a copy of a prescription dated 2nd June 2014 for Edgar Lungu.The prescription contained the following drugs Zytiga, Abiraterone Acetate, Atripla 600mg, (Efravirenz 600) Calcitriol and Alpha D3 (0.5mg) for ESRD(End stage renal disease).Atripla is an antiviral medication that prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from reproducing in your body.
TALC Country Director Felix Mwanza said stigma and discrimination can be strong disincentives for people to learn their health status, access medical care, and disclose their status to sex partners, family, friends, and medical providers. Additionally, such discrimination can lead to loss of employment and housing, estrangement from family and society, and increased risk of violence.
He said TALC calls on all Zambians to condemn stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV in order to promote and increase screening, testing, treatment, and prevention efforts.
‘Ending the stigma and discrimination faced by people living with communicable diseases is an important step to improving individual health and protecting the public’s health and begins by taking positive action to condemn malicious publication of people’s medical records without consent,’ Mr Mwanza said.
Approximately 1.1 million people are living with HIV infection with a national prevalence rate of HIV at 13.3%.
UTH head clinical care Dr Lastone Chikoya shows Lusaka Province Permanent Secretary Stardy Mwale one of the accident victims Moffat Chipasha during the visit of the Mazabuka and kafue accident victims at the University Teaching Hospital
Opposition Forum For Democracy and Development FDD president Edith Nawakwi has paid tribute to the victims of the Mazabuka and Kafue road accidents and has since sent her condolences to the bereaved families.
The opposition leader said she learnt of the untimely death of so many people with a great sense of shock and anguish due to the circumstances in which she reckoned could have been avoided.
“It is with a deep sense of shock and anguish that we learnt of the untimely deaths of so many people in circumstances that could have been avoided. We pray that the bereaved families find strength and solace in Christ.
Death is a mystery that is always difficult to understand but it is a reality that all humanity has to live with hence. This painful loss should remind all of us that we live with death therefore, we ought to put our hope and faith in Christ at all times.”
Ms. Nawakwi further requested that RATSA and other relevant authorities do an audit on what has gone wrong with the country’s road network and investigate the causes of the continued road carnage leading to the rise in the loss of lives in the country.
The FDD leader also appealed to well wishers including the church,neighbors and other stakeholders to come to the aid of the bereaved families.
THE Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee has heard that the Development Bank of Zambia (DBZ) failed to fully recover a loan of K17 million from KIFCO Packaging of Kabwe in order to save the workers’ jobs.
Ministry of Finance Permanent Secretary Ronald Simwinga said this yesterday when he appeared before the PAC chaired by Luena Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD) Member of Parliament (MP) Getrude Imenda.
Mr Simwinga said that DBZ could not apply punitive measures against KIFCO because the action could have resulted in loss of employment.
DBZ appeared before PAC to respond to audit queries raised in the 2013 Auditor General’s report that highlighted that KIFCO owed DBZ K17.4 million.
He said KIFCO was the single largest employer in Central Province and closing it down could have led to massive unemployment.
That, Mr Simwinga said, would have gone against the Bank’s and Government developmental objective of employment creation.
He said DBZ has since converted half of the loan into preferential equity share capital to ease the pressure on KIFCO and leaving the rest as an outstanding loan.
Mr Simwinga said since the loan became operational in the third quarter of last year, production at the company had improved and so had the company’s cash flow.
Other companies owing DBZ are Zambian Airways (18 million), a matter which was now in court and Mofu Industries owing US$ 110, 918.
Meanwhile, PAC took Mr Simwinga to task for maintaining George Chabwera on the DBZ board while he was serving as board director of a bureau de change contrary to the law.
Ms Imenda said serving as director on two boards in the financial sector was a crime and wondered why Mr Chabwera had not been removed when the Bank of Zambia observed the anomaly.
DBZ managing director Jacob Lushinga said the board had since completed its term while Mr Simwinga said it was unfortunate that the matter had taken long to be resolved but assured the committee that Mr Chabwera would not be allowed to continue in both positions.
United Party for National Development Mwembeshi MP Austin Milambo said DBZ should also recover the allowances Mr Chabwera got while serving on two boards.
FILE: Heads of States pose for a photograph shortly before the opening of the 5th Tokyo International Conference on African development at Pacifico Yokohama Conference Centre in Japan
Bloomberg news reports that Japan has invested more in project financing in Africa than China as Asian nations continue to strengthen their economic influence on the continent, according to Linklaters LLP.
Japanese investors accounted for $3.5 billion of the $4.2 billion of project funds that Asian nations poured into Africa last year to improve roads, water and sanitation and build oil and gas pipelines, according to the London-based law firm.
“Japan now ranks as the most active Asian project finance sponsor in Africa, investing almost three times as much as China, which is often regarded as the most active Asian investor on the continent,” according to the report published Monday.
[pullquote]Japan now ranks as the most active Asian project finance sponsor in Africa, investing almost three times as much as China[/pullquote]
Sub-Saharan African nations are seeking to reverse years of under-investment by moving forward with road and rail projects to help boost economic growth, which is forecast by the International Monetary Fund to expand 4.9 percent this year, more than double the rate of advanced economies. Asian investors are among those seeking deals to develop oil, gas and mineral deposits in African nations, which are exploiting their natural resources to boost revenue to fund development plans.
China ranked as the second-biggest Asian financier of projects in Africa, committing more than $11.9 billion over the past decade, with more than half spent in South Africa, while India placed third, Linklaters said.
“Japan has a much quieter and below-the-radar approach, less headline-grabbing than Chinese investment,” said Andrew Jones, head of Linklaters’ Africa unit, in an interview with Bloomberg TV Africa. “We had a phase 10 to 15 years ago where there were some big Japanese investments into Africa and now there’s a new wave of investment coming.”
A significant amount of Japanese investors’ money for projects went into Morocco last year, according to the study. The North African country said in September that Japan will provide the majority of funds to build a coal-fired power plant in the western city of Safi, which will produce 1,386 megawatts, or 25 percent of the country’s needs.
[pullquote]Japan has a much quieter and below-the-radar approach, less headline-grabbing than Chinese investment[/pullquote]
“We’ve seen a mixture of securing fuel and natural resources, but also selling equipment like turbines for power stations,” Jones said of Japanese investment in Africa.
Nigeria, South Africa and Mozambique have attracted the most project financing from Asian investors in Africa over the past 10 years, according to Linklaters.
Project financing is a method of funding whereby debt repayments are sourced primarily from the forecast cash flows of a venture and security is limited to its assets.
Senior Chief Mukuni of Kazungula District in Southern Province (middle), his wife Victoria (left) and Livingstone Mayor Milford Maambo (right) during the official opening of the Hotel in Livingstone
THE relocation of the Ministry of Tourism and Arts as well as all tourism agencies to Livingstone will go a long way to revive tourism activities in the tourist capital, Senior Chief Munokalya Mukuni of Kazungula District in Southern Province has said.
Senior Chief Mukuni said he was one of the people who had been calling for the relocation of the Ministry of Tourism and Arts as well as tourism agencies to Livingstone and it was good news that the Government had finally responded in affirmative.
The traditional ruler expressed hope that the relocation would be done soon so that Livingstone start benefiting from various services.
“We have been calling Government to do the task. To us it is good news the Ministry of Tourism and Arts, Zambia Tourism Board (ZTB), Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) and National Heritage Conservation Commission (NHCC) are all coming here.
“I am very glad to hear of that news from Her Honor, the Republican Vice President Inonge Wina. I remember asking Tourism and Arts Minister Jean Kapata recently on the same and she confirmed that she will be relocating to Livingstone,” he said.
During a courtesy call to his palace on Monday, Ms Wina directed the
Ministry of Tourism and Arts to ensure that ZTB Head office was moved
from Lusaka to Livingstone to revamp tourism activities in the country’s Tourist Capital.
Ms Wina said the Government was instructing the Ministry of Tourism and Arts to ensure that ZTB was moved to Livingstone because it was in the tourist capital where action was taking place in the area of tourism.
She said NHCC and all other tourism related Government institutions should also relocate to Livingstone to revamp the tourist town and position it as a centre of tourism in the country.
“We are looking to you (Senior Chief Mukuni) to help us revamp Livingstone tourism because you are considered as a leader in the area of tourism in the country and in the region.
Your initiatives have proved that even individuals can promote tourism even in our villages. From our side as Government, we are instructing the Ministry of Tourism and Arts to ensure that ZTB is moved to Livingstone because this is where action is taking place in the area of tourism,” Ms Wina said.
She noted that Livingstone was at the receiving end of visitors who come through South Africa and Zimbabwe.
“The Victoria Falls is bigger on the Zambian side and but now it appears we are a younger sister to Zimbabwe when it comes to sharing Victoria Falls facility. In that sense, we need to promote Livingstone as a tourist centre,” she said.
Ms Wina said the Government was concerned regarding the current status of Livingstone as a tourist capital.
“We do realise that after moving the provincial capital from Livingstone to Choma, there are some elements of economic depression in Livingstone and this should be addressed as quickly as possible with the efforts of the people of Livingstone n with Government initiatives.
“Government policies will be required to bring development in this area,” Ms Wina said.
Ms Wina also directed the Ministers of Finance Alexander Chikwanda, Local Government and Housing John Phiri as well as Commerce, Trade and Industry Margaret Mwanakatwe to facilitate
She said the Government of President Edgar Lungu was very anxious to see that the facility was opened and used by the people of Livingstone and all those from surrounding areas who wanted to trade from it.
Ms Wina said President Lungu told her categorically that the Livingstone City Council had to find ways of completing the market.
She said she was disappointed that works were still going on at the market when the structure was supposed to be completed.
“But there are other options to complete this market and one such option is to engage the private sector to ensure that this market is complete.
“I will instruct the Minister of Local Government and Housing, Minister of Finance, Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry to see how this market can be completed on time. The people of Livingstone are entitled to the best services and we need to complete this market,” Ms Wina said.
Chipata Diocese Catholic Bishop George Lungu blessing the casket of late Chief Jumbe IV,Robert Zulu in Mambwe District .The chief was buried at a royal graveyard.
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has said he respects the traditional leadership in the country.
President Lungu said in a message delivered by Agriculture and Livestock Minister Given Lubinda at the burial of late Chief Jumbe IV ,Robert Zulu in Mambwe yesterday that the Government would not intefere in the selection of the next heir to the throne because he upholds respect for the traditional leadership.
He said there was need for the family to choose a developmental oriented person who would foster developments in the family,chiefdom and the nation atlarge.
“My plea to you the family members to choose a person who can development in the family,chiefdom,Mambwe District and the country as a whole,”President Lungu said.
He asked the family members to care for the widow and the children of late chief.
President Lungu said the Government would continue working hand in hand with the traditional leadership in the country for meaningful developments.
He said Chief Jumbe was like a chief inspector of developmental projects in Mambwe District adding that he was please to whatever he had done during his tenure before his untimely passing on.
The President said the late chief brought unity as well as development in his chiefdom.
House of Chiefs Chairperson,Chieftainess Nkomenshya Mukamambo II who was represented by Clerk of House Chiefs Michael Pwete said late chief was constructive and intelligent.
Senior Chief Nsefu of the Kunda Speaking People said the late Chief Jumbe had died at a prime when he was needed most in the Kundaland.
He said some people attempted to kill the late chief adding that perpetrators were protected by the investigative wing.
He said it was sad that some people who attempted to kill the chief were let scot free in which two innocent people were imprisoned.
Chief Nsefu said the late Chief was drag to Kitwe High Court by the people who were challenging his chieftaincy.
He appealed to the Government to give protection to the gazzetted chiefs in the country.
And Chipata Catholic Diocese Bishop George Lungu said the late Chief was focus on development and christianity.
Bishop Lungu who presided at a requiem mass said it was sad that some chiefs were mistreating their subjects by giving them hash punishment.
He also reminded people that graveyard was a laybe in which believers should pass through.
The late chief who died last week has been on the throne since 1996.
He was born on 2nd November 1970 and left behind four children and a widow.
The burial ceremony was attended by UPND presidential senior advisors Douglas Syakalima,William Banda,former Chipata Central Member Lameck Mangani,PF Secretary General Davies Chama,Eastern Province Minister Malozo Sichone,State House Deputy Minister Mulenga Sata,traditional leadership and church leaders.
Chipata Diocese Catholic Bishop George Lungu blessing the casket of late Chief Jumbe IV,Robert Zulu in Mambwe District .The chief was buried at a royal graveyard.Chipata Diocese Catholic Bishop George Lungu blessing the casket of late Chief Jumbe IV,Robert Zulu in Mambwe District .The chief was buried at a royal graveyard.Chipata Diocese Catholic Bishop George Lungu blessing the casket of late Chief Jumbe IV,Robert Zulu in Mambwe District .The chief was buried at a royal graveyard.Chipata Diocese Catholic Bishop George Lungu blessing the casket of late Chief Jumbe IV,Robert Zulu in Mambwe District .The chief was buried at a royal graveyard.
The United States government yesterday donated three motor vehicles to Southern Province Medical Office in Choma.
The donation which was done by US Ambassador to Zambia, Eric Schultz was in line with the support from the US government’s President’s Emergency Plan for AID Relief (PEPFAR).
PEPFAR is supporting the Saving Mothers Giving Life initiative program in an effort to further reduce maternal mortality rates.
This is contained in a press release issued to ZANIS in Livingstone today by Public Affairs Specialist at the Embassy of the United States of America in Lusaka, Mathews Mumbi.
Mr. Mumbi said the USA government has collaborated with the government of the Republic of Zambia on the Saving Mothers, Giving Life program in Kalomo, Lundazi, Mansa and Nyimba districts since 2012.
He said in these districts, the program has already reduced facility-based maternal mortality by 35 percent adding that the United States has pledged support to extend the program to Choma, Pemba and Zimba districts.
In collaboration with Saving Mothers, Giving Life program, the Zambian government through the Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health and the Ministry of Health are taking leadership role in helping Zambia achieve its Roadmap to addressing maternal mortality.
Saving Mothers, Giving Life program is a public-private partnership between the Zambian government, the US government, the Norwegian government and the Swedish government.
Other partners include Merck for Mothers, Every Mother Counts, Project Cure and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Zambia will kick-off their 2017 Africa Cup Group E qualifiers with a home game on June 13.
The 2012 champions have been drawn in Group E alongside Guinea Bissau, Kenya and 2015 Africa Cup quarterfinalists Congo-Brazzaville.
Zambia will host Guinea Bissau in the two sides first-ever meeting on that date at a venue to be announced.
They will return to action for match-day-two on September 6 when they visit Kenya in Nairobi in their last Group E qualifying game of 2015.
Zambia will resume its qualifying race on March 24, 2016 when they host Congo-Brazzaville and four days later visit the latter in the final leg.
Chipolopolo will then make a historic first trip to Bissau on June 4 in their penultimate Group E match before hosting Kenya on September 3.
The group winner will qualify for the Gabon finals while the runner-up will battle for one of two second best places up for grabs in the group’s of four teams.
Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Margaret Mwanakatwe
Government has disclosed that Zambia attracted a total of US$2.4 billion in investment pledges from Chinese companies during President Edgar Lungu’s recent state visit to China.
Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Margaret Mwanakatwe further said an additional US$800 million investment pledges are expected to flow in the country.
Mrs. Mwanakatwe said the investment pledges were made during the business forum, bilateral meetings and other side events which her ministry organised in Beijing on March, 31, 2015 between Zambian companies and Chinese firms.
She said the Chinese firms expressed interest to invest in key economic areas such as mining, rail construction, cable manufacturing, milling, agriculture, timber production, pharmaceutical and motor assembly.
Mrs. Mwanakatwe said the industries will be set up at the Lusaka East, Lusaka South and Chambeshi Multi Facility Economic Zones and other places across the country.
She said this at a press briefing in Lusaka today.
Mrs. Mwanakatwe further said the setting up of these industries in the country will create massive employment opportunities for the Zambian people.
And Mrs. Mwanakatwe said the recent state visit of President Edgar Lungu to
China has enhanced and deepened cooperation between the two countries in the areas of trade and investment.
Mrs. Mwanakatwe said her ministry will facilitate the setting up of firms and identify local entrepreneurs to partner with the Chinese companies.
She said the move was aimed at ensuring that government’s commitment to job creation and industrialisation in the country becomes a reality.
Lusaka Province Permanent Secretary Stardy Mwale talks to a 12years mazabuka accident victim Moffat Chipasha after visiting the Mazabuka and kafue accident victims at the University Teaching Hospital
The Zambian Road Safety Trust says it is concerned with the high number of deaths and injuries resulting from traffic accidents.
Zambia Road Safety Trust Communications Manager Mailos Mwale said the high road accident rate is an indication that there has been little effort directed at improving road safety.
In a press release availed to ZANIS today, Mr Mwale said revelations by the police that there was an increase in the number of accidents during this Easter period which recorded 291 accidents and 49 deaths compared to last year when the same period recorded 107 road accidents and 35 deaths was a source of concern.
“The Easter holiday road traffic crash statistics revealed by the Zambia Police should be yet another wake-up call on how as the country we view road crashes and the worsening road traffic safety. We should all be concerned because this demonstrates that current efforts to address road safety are minimal in comparison to this growing pandemic,” read part of the press release.
Mr Mwale said fatal road accidents are counter-productive and are also a drain on the country’s finances.
“Road death and injury is massively wasteful, destroys lives beyond those of the actual victims, limit future productivity, wipes out years of future happiness and drains money from our country,” read the press release.
He called for a multi-sectoral approach in reducing road carnage in Zambia and that deliberate policies should be introduced for all sectors of society to get involved in road safety awareness programmes.
During the Easter period 22 people died in two road traffic accidents alone in Mazabuka and Kafue.
he widow,Esther Mulimba, the wife of the former Defence Minister in UNIP era, Lavu Mulimba laying the wreath during the official burial in Petauke.
Former Defence Minister in the UNIP government Lavu Mulimba has been buried at Sandwe village in Petauke district, 120 kilometres away from the Petauke Boma.
Health Minister Dr. Joseph Kasonde told mourners at the burial site that the late
Mr. Mulimba devoted his time to developing not only his home town but the country as a whole in different portfolios he served in government.
Dr. Kasonde said Government was proud in such people like the late Mr. Mulimba who were determined to develop their areas of origin.
“This great son of the soil were are burring today has come back to rest here in Sandwe village after developing the nation in different portifilios. Government takes pride in such people like the late Mr. Mulimba who devoted his time to developing his area and Zambia at large,” Dr. Kasonde said.
The minister said government takes pride to acknowledge and share the works of Zambian people whom he described as “son of the soil”.
He urged the family to remain strong and united during the period of mourning because government is with it/family in spirit and prayers.
And speaking during the same occasion, family spokesperson Ronald Mponda appealed to the government through the Ministry of Justice to consider expediting the ‘alleged’ wrangles that has engulfed the Sandwe thrown/chieftaincy.
Mr. Mponda bemoaned that the wrangles have taken 18 years without resolving the Sandwe chieftaincy in the Chiefdom.
Mr. Mponda, who is the nephew to the late Mr. Mulimba, however, thanked government for easing the burden of the funeral as the family alone could not have managed.
Those who attended the burial of the former cabinet minister included Eastern Province Permanent Secretary Chanda Kasolo, Agriculture minister Given Lubinda, Gender Deputy minister Col. Joseph Lungu, Defense chiefs, former MMD Musanzala Member of parliament Peter Daka and other senior government officials and several mourners.
The Zambia army accorded the deceased a 21-gun saluate in honour of his immense contribution to the nation.
A few days ago, Vice-President Inonge Wina gave the late Mr.Mulimba an official funeral.
Ms. Wina said the death of Mr. Mulimba was a great loss to the nation stating that he will be remembered for his great contribution to the nation.
First republican president Dr. Kenneth Kaunda during a requiem mass held at the Cathedral of the Holy cross in Lusaka described the late Mr. Mulimba as a strong man.
The deceased served as Member of Parliament in Petauke and was later appointed as Defence minister by Dr. Kenneth Kaunda.
The late Mr.Mulimba, 77 and survived by a widow, Esther, children and several grand-children.
Agricultural Minister,Given Lubinda and Health Minister,Joseph Kasonde laying the wreaths during the official burial of Late Lavu Mulimba in Petauke.
Philip Kosamu
Patriotic Front-PF (PF) Serenje Central Member of Parliament Philip Kosamu has denied allegations that he influenced some PF members in the district to join opposition Rainbow Party.
A fortnight ago, PF Serenje District Secretary Best Mambwe alleged that Mr Kosamu influenced former PF Constituency Secretary Robertson Chitimbwa, Monica Malama former District Publicity Secretary for women and Noble Katebe to join the Rainbow party.
Mr Kosamu who was flanked by PF Serenje District Chairperson Mwape Musonda, PF Serenje Central constituency Chairperson Eluid Kapembwa and PF Youth Information and Publicity Secretary Marcorin Mwila told ZANIS at Serenje Community Radio station over the weekend that he is a staunch PF member and has never met the three to discuss the Rainbow Party.
Mr Kosamu said his preoccupation is to ensure that government programmes are implemented in line with PF manifesto and will remain loyal to President Edger Lungu and the PF.
The Serenje Central Parliamentarian has since urged the people of Serenje and the PF members not to entertain people who are bent on denting the character of innocent people by maliciously accusing them of things they have not done.
He charged that his political opponents have felt his weight as an MP and has advised them to wait for 2016 as he will stand on the PF ticket in Serenje Central Constituency and will have a landslide victory together with President Lungu.
Mr Kosamu also called on the famers in the District not to panic over the payments of maize that will be sold to FRA because government has put strong polices for paying famers in good time.
He added that President Lungu together with Agriculture Minister Given Lubinda are committed to ensure that famers receive their farming inputs by August so that they prepare adequately for the next farming season.
Transport and Communication Minister Yafya Mukanga receives scissors From African Direction Performer whilst RDA Senior Public Relation Manager loyce Saili looks on during the launch of Road Maintenance Strategy 2015-2024 book
Government has maintained road infrastructure development on top of its agenda because it was the best way to spread economic growth to the whole country.
Transport, Works, Supply and Communications Minister Yamfwa Mukanga said good national road networks will enable people to have access to various markets for their goods and services.
Mr. Mukanga was speaking during the good governance in roads project public event held in Lusaka today.
“There has been considerable allocation to the road sector in the 2015 budget of K 5.4 billion which accounted for 11 percent of the total national budget,” he said.
He said the Road Development Agency (RDA) got a huge share of about K4.9 billion adding that this indicated the importance which government attached to improving road infrastructure.
He has since warned perpetuators of unethical behaviour in the road sector that government will not hesitate to take serious measures against them.
Mr. Mukanga said the country has lost a lot of lives on the roads due to poor workmanship on some of the roads in the country.
He noted that the World Bank and RDA have called on people to be proactive in road matters in order to demand better service delivery through good governance in roads project.
“This is one of the best ways to promote accountability and transparency within the road sector” Mr. Mukanga said.
And Road Development Agency (RDA) Chief Executive Officer Kanyuka Mumba said his institution was ready to work closely with all well-meaning partners to enhance good governance in road projects.
Mr. Mumba has since called on community members to monitor road projects and report contractors who were not delivering quality road works.
He however noted that literacy levels of community members were very low thereby making it difficult for them to participate in monitoring of road projects.
He added that RDA will however continue sensitizing members of the community on new roads to ensure monitoring of projects by the public was strengthened.
Meanwhile, World Bank Country Director Kundhavi Kadiresan said the bank, in collaboration with the Road Development Agency, initiated good governance in roads project to influence improved accountability and service delivery in the road sector.
Ms. Kadiresan said the purpose of the project was to address the weaknesses in the road sector by bringing key actors together.
She said there was need for government and civil society to work together in order to achieve results that have real impact in the road sector.
HH on the Podium in London
With less than one week to go until the parliamentary by-elections in Chawama, Senga Hill and Masaiti constituencies the UPND is calling for a peaceful and responsible last week of campaigns that focuses on issues of importance to constituents and responds to the needs of the people.
As UPND we are confident following the January 2015 presidential by-election that showed a massive swing in support towards the UPND and an increase in our votes in every Province, despite the overall decline in turnout.
While we understand that voters maybe tired of voting so often and that they have been let down by politicians and representatives in the past we encourage them to turnout in large numbers on Tuesday 14 April to exercise their democratic right.
By voting for change they have the power to send a clear message to the PF Government that their current performance is not good enough. Zambia can and will do better.
As UPND we are fully committed to participating in these by-elections alongside our friends and colleagues. However our position is that there have been too many by-elections under the PF.
We have already had 26 parliamentary by-elections since the September 2011 elections and just last month Deputy Minister of the Vice President’s Office Stephen Kampyongo confessed that government spending on by-elections under the PF has totalled more than 200 million Kwacha.
This money represents much needed revenues that could be channeled into important projects to improve Zambia’s education and healthcare sectors. We have to ask ourselves if so many by-elections have been needed what can we do to increase the credibility of the electoral process so that these are reduced.
An important part of this will be appointing a credible new Chairperson of the ECZ who is well respected by a cross section of Zambians, as well as fast-tracking the process to put the new constitution in place.
