PARAMOUNT Chief Chitimukulu of the Bemba people has described the Public Order Act (POA) as an archaic law pushed on Zambians by the colonial masters and is now looking forward to a Government that is going to be bold enough and abolish the law by expunging it from the statutes.
The Chitimukulu said the POA was a law that was used indiscriminately by the colonial masters to oppress citizens by demanding that political parties at the time needed the permission of local chiefs before holding their public meetings.
The Bashilubemba appealed to the present generation of leaders to consider abolishing the law because in more ways than one, the law was an infringement on the fundamental rights of citizens.
Paramount Chief Chitimukulu said this on Monday when United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema and his vice-president for administration Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba paid a courtesy call on him at his palace in Kasama.
“The Public Order Act is an archaic piece of law that is not supposed to be in our statutes. The law was crafted by the colonial masters to oppress citizens and I am looking forward to a Government that is going to abolish the law, I am wondering why the current generation of leaders cannot have it abolished because it is an affront to human rights,” he said.
Paramount Chief Chitimukulu said he was deeply concerned with the escalating levels of political violence particularly during electoral contests.
He said in a democracy, citizens were expected to be free to belong to any political party of their choice stating that it was not a crime for any citizen to associate himself or herself to any orgainisation they so desired.
Paramount Chief Chitimukulu said he did not want to see his subjects fighting because of differences in their political opinion and association and challenged the political parties canvassing for votes in his chiefdom to deal and end the violence associated with elections.
“I do not want people in my chiefdom to be fighting each other on the basis that they belong to different political parties. It is the responsibility of the leadership of the political parties to deal with the vice of political violence,” the Chitimukulu said.
And UPND president Hichilema said he was humbled by the reception he received from the Chitimukulu and told the traditional leader that his vision was to unite Zambia.
Mr Hichilema said he had been a victim of the Public Order Act countless times and that it was his hope that the law would one day be abolished because it was nothing but a tool to victimize those who were holding a different opinion from that of Government.
Mr Hichilema is in Lubansenshi constituency to drum up support for the UPND candidate Patrick Mucheleka in the September 24 parliamentary by-election.
Police in Solwezi have arrested 15 UPND cadres from Chawama area for riotous behaviour after they attacked the presidential motorcade on Saturday during President Edgar Lungu’s visit to North –Western Province.
But UPND in North-western Province has refuted claims that the 15 arrested by police are members of the opposition political party.
North-western Province Deputy Commissioner of Police Geoffrey Kunda confirmed the arrest to the Daily Nation. “It is criminal to attack the presidential motorcade because it is a threat to the president and other citizens,” he said.
He said the 15 were among other Chawama residents who threw stones, booed and flashed UPND symbol at the presidential motorcade. Mr. Kunda said the 15 are still in police custody and are expected to appear in court soon.
He warned that Police would take stern action against perpetrators of lawlessness.
“The Police will not allow citizens in Solwezi to break the law without consequences,” Mr Kunda said.
But UPND in North-western Province has distanced itself from members who have been arrested.
UPND North-western provincial vice chairperson Mark Kalemba denied responsibility for mobilizing the crowd that threw stones at President Edgar Lungu at Solwezi Chawama market.
“We did not plant any of our cadres to attack the president, the citizenry acted on their own accord without any influence from the party,” he said
Kalemba said it was disrespectful and unfortunate that the residents attacked the Presidential motorcade.
He said the UPND believed in abiding by the rule of law and could not perpetuate violence towards the head of State and his party members.
Mr Kalemba said the people in Chawama were acting based on mob reaction to express their displeasure.
“The people were trying to show their displeasure with the lack of development and poor governance,” he said.
Mr Kalemba accused the president’s security wings of failing in their duties and endangering the life of the head of state.
“The entire system including the advance party has of late been weak and negligent in carrying out their duties,” he said.
FILE: HH and Katele Kalumba on the shores of Lake Mweru
Former Chiengi MMD Member of Parliament Katele Kalumba has apologized to President EDGAR LUNGU and the PF for campaigning against the party in the January presidential election.
Dr Kalumba, who knelt down before Vice President Inonge Wina in Luwingu, asked for forgiveness saying he has regretted his action.
He told a gathering at Kaseya Primary School in Mushitu Wa Mboo in Luwingu that he was wrong to campaign for the UPND.
Mr. Kalumba, who was part of the UPND campaign strategy team, charged that he does not support regional politics and appealed to others to join the ruling PF.
Mr. Kalumba, who is MMD former Secretary General, observed that his party is no more and appealed to the member to join the ruling PF in order to foster development.
And Vice President Inonge Wina says the PF government has converted 1500 community schools into government schools since it assumed power.
Mrs Wina says the PF government is committed to improving the quality of education in the country.
The Vice President made the pledge when she called on Kaseya Primary School Head teacher Chistopher Chipepo in Luwingu District.
She said government has also embarked on a mammoth task to upgrade various rural Primary schools to secondary schools in a bid to make education accessible to everyone.
Ms. Wina however, bemoaned the poor sanitary conditions in most rural schools and pledged to change the scenario.
Earlier, Kaseya Primary School Head teacher Christopher Chipepo appealed for a 1 by 3 classroom block to help decongest the current classrooms.
File:NCHANGA Mine rescure Team B Captain Jonathan Kolala inspects air underground during the Zambia Mine Rescure Association competetion at Namundwe Mine
The mining industry is a sore topic for many Zambians; a source of pride and pain depending on where you seat on the fence. Copper is the nation’s main export and the mines are the largest formal employer after the civil service. Those employed in the mining sector are among the most well paid workers in the country. Mining activities have contributed to the growth of mining towns on the Copperbelt, Solwezi being the most recent development.
However, Zambia is still struggling to capture tangible benefits from this mineral wealth endowment for the wider population. Despite being the second largest copper producer in Africa, copper is still exported in its raw form, and the general feeling among the population is that most of the profits are expropriated. In september 2014, Zambia experienced a lot of turmoil in the mining sector, with both Glencore and Barrick Gold threatening to stop operations if differences between the companies and the government were not resolved by January 2015.The major cause of this standoff was a lack of transparency on revenues and profits from the mining companies and a lack of consistent and effective mining taxation policy from the government. This standoff is back, and taxation policy is still a key issue of contention.
Every change of government has seen an adjustment for better or worse, with the claim of serving the countries best interests.
To try and capture benefits for the local economy from copper, the Zambian government has had many changes the mining taxation policy. Every change of government has seen an adjustment for better or worse, with the claim of serving the countries best interests. Windfall Tax
One of the best changes enacted to the tax regime was during Levy Mwanawasa’s government, which saw mineral royalties increase from 0.6% to 3%, corporate tax from 25% to 30% and a 5 cent windfall tax per pound on any copper sold above a designated market price.
However, the windfall tax was over turned by Rupiah Banda’s government due to pressure from mining companies to scrape the new reforms. They claimed that the tax was creating an ‘unattractive’ business environment for the country, despite favourable copper prices on the international market at the time. The mining companies succeeded by using contractual obligations and the financial crisis. On the other hand, the government conceded to this pressure arguing that Zambia was the only country in the region that had a windfall tax at the time. The government did not see this as an opportunity to be a leader in effecting a positive trend for regional mining taxation.
Mineral Royalties
In 2012, Michael Sata’s government again made changes to the tax system with mineral royalties increased from 3% to 6%. However, the windfall tax was not reintroduced. While the Zambia Institute for Policy Analysis and Research (ZIPAR) admits that tax revenues in the country have increased considerably since Mwanawasa’s government, they have made it clear that it is hard to pin this growth on tax regime changes as copper prices and production have also increased consistently during the same period. Further, the Zambia Revenue Authorities (ZRA) has also improved its tax monitoring and administration capacity.
VAT
In September 2014, the impasse between mining companies and the government involved two main issues, both closely related to taxation. Firstly, the mining companies were claiming a $600m refund on VAT from the government, and secondly, the government had more than tripled the mineral royalty tax beginning January 2015 from 6% to 20%, a move that the companies found highly unacceptable.
According to VAT Rule 18, companies can claim VAT on inputs for exported goods produced in the country. However, companies find it very hard to claim these tax refunds due to the administrative requirements of the act. This led to the suspension of operations by Glencore at the beginning October 2014 based on unclaimed VAT refunds. Currently, Mopani is threatening to lay off 4 000 workers and is citing non VAT refunds as one of the key reasons for this.
ZRA requires that companies produce a number of documents in order to claim VAT refunds; a shipment certificate provided by the ZRA, a certificate provided by the customs authority in the importing country, invoices for the goods exported, proof of payment into the exporter’s bank account in Zambia and such other documentary evidence “as the authorized officer may reasonably require”.
While companies complain that the administrative requirements are too much, this is documentation that is readily available to them as they carry out their transactions. Therefore, the lack of transparency among mining companies has also contributed to delayed payments of VAT refunds from government.
[pullquote]Zambians are not very clear about how much revenues we should be earning from the mining sector[/pullquote]
Currently Zambians are not very clear about how much revenues we should be earning from the mining sector. These documents required when claiming VAT refunds can provide this information, and help combat the high suspicions of tax evasion in the mining sector.
Mining companies must not be allowed to dictate policy terms for the country. On the other hand, government needs to develop a consistent, effective and sustainable taxation policy. While government cannot solely be blamed for the electricity deficit, the depreciating kwacha and the fall in commodity prices, they take full blame when it comes to inconsistencies in taxation policy. The lack of a long-term outlook when setting mining taxation negatively impacts on investor confidence in the sector, and reduces the value of the countries copper.
With regards VAT refunds, government needs to keep strict documentation requirements and not give the mining companies tax breaks that are too generous. On mineral royalties, government needs to be realistic about how much distortion they impose on production incentives. The highest mineral royalty tax imposed globally on copper mining is 15%. Of course Zambia can set its own tax rate, but there is a need to assess the performance of mining companies in the country to develop a mining policy that actually works and will be sustainable over the long term.
File:President Edgar Lungu cuts the ribbon to officially open the Embassy Shopping Mail in Makeni
The Mwata Kazembe of the Lunda speaking people has said he is against the decision to convert the Mansa Batteries factory into a shopping mall.
To pave way for the conversion, the owners of the formerly State-owned company early this month advertised in the area surrounding the factory its intention to auction off movable assets.
Items disposed off during the auction included items such as steel beams and different types of equipment.
Speaking in an interview in Mansa, The Mwata said it was sad to learn of such plans as many people in the province had been keenly waiting for the time the factory would become operational.
The chief said it was unfortunate that a formerly vibrant state-owned enterprise had been stripped of assets and sold.
[pullquote]Can you imagine the audacity of some people[/pullquote]
“Can you imagine the audacity of some people? They have been mining manganese illegally without any contribution to the Government treasury.
“Why do they want to create a mall at an already existing piece of infrastructure that was built with public funds? Is land finished?
“There is plenty of empty land that can be developed and turned into a mall. Personally, I am not in support of the plans to turn the factory into a mall. If possible, we would be better off if the factory was revived, he said.
The Mwata said President Edgar Lungu during his recent visit to Luapula had made a bold decision to repossess land that constituted the Kawambwa Tea Estates farms and that was the type of leadership that was needed to sort out the problems that Luapula Province was facing.
Former Luapula Province permanent secretary Alfred Kalumba also said it was unfortunate that plans to turn the factory into mall were advanced.
“It is depressing especially for the people that saw the factory at its peak. It employed so many people here. How many people will be employed at the mall and of what local economic benefit would it create for the locals? he asked
The formerly state-owned factory was privatised and according to sources close to the matter has been sold to a South African company that intends to turn part of it into a named supermarket chain store.
Former Mansa Batteries general manger Charles Kabamba who is chairperson for the chamber of commerce said the association would comment on the matter in due course.
Flood gates on the Kariba Dam wall between Zimbabwe and Zambia open ceremonially on February 20, 2015 after the two neighbors signed $294 million in deals with international investors – JEKESAI NJIKIZANA/AFP/Getty Images
The delayed construction of Batoka Gorge Power plant, a 2,400Mw hydroelectric scheme joint venture between Zambia and Zimbabwe, has cost the two countries more than $45 billion in missed economic opportunities, the World Bank has said.
Initially mooted in 1992, the project was stalled due to an impasse between the two countries over a $71 million debt accrued by Zimbabwe emanating from shared costs of the construction of Kariba Dam and associated infrastructure during the tenure of the colonial era Central African Power Corporation (CAPCO).
CAPCO was co-owned by Zimbabwe and Zambia during the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. It was disbanded in 1987 and later succeeded by the Zambezi River Authority.
The World Bank’s Cooperation in International Waters in Africa (CIWA) fund — which was central in facilitating resolution of the deadlock and analysing the foregone benefits associated with delayed implementation — said “the missed opportunity amounted to an estimated $7 billion in foregone electricity sales and an overall economic loss of over $45 billion”.
The project was resurrected after Zimbabwe cleared the debt in 2014 with construction work expected to commence in January next year once a financing structure has been established.
The Batoka plant is expected to take six years to complete with total costs estimated in the region of $3 billion.
OASIS FORUM STATEMENT ON THE POLITICAL ATTACKS AGAINST FR.LEONARD CHITI, SJ
The Oasis Forum is deeply concerned and saddened at the spate of political attacks against Fr. Leonard Chiti, SJ, in his capacity as Chairperson of the Grand Coalition. The said attacks imply that Fr. Chiti is speaking on his own account and does not have the support of those constituents that he leads.
We also find it to be in bad taste the attempts by some people to demonise and try to isolate the Grand Coalition, especially its Chairperson, Fr Chiti, who carries the full mandate
of speaking on behalf of the Grand Coalition and usually after wide consultation and deliberation by the various committees of the Coalition. To vilify him in his individual capacity is therefore grossly unfair and highly unchristian.
As members of the Grand Coalition, the Oasis Forum and its constituent members: the Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC), the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ), the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ), the Non-Governmental Organizations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) and the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) stand solidly with and wholeheartedly support Fr. Chiti. The Oasis
Forum further supports the positions taken by Fr. Chiti on behalf of the Grand Coalition as the positions that have been arrived at through dialogue and consensus within the Grand Coalition on behalf of all its constituent members but more importantly on behalf the voiceless citizens of Zambia calling for constitutional reform that meets their needs and aspirations.
The Oasis Forum therefore strongly condemns the continued personal attacks on Fr. Chiti and calls upon all well-meaning Zambians to continue to support him and the just cause for which he is fighting for the greater good of all Zambians.
President Edgar Chagwa Lungu
State House
Independence Avenue
Lusaka
16th September 2015
Dear Sir,
Re: Personal Attacks from PF leadership
I note with serious disquiet the manner in which you and your government officials are handling important national issues affecting the people. At a time like this when the country is going through serious challenges, the Zambian people are left wondering what your administration is doing in office.
As the Movement for Multiparty Democracy, we have in the last few weeks highlighted very important national issues that are affecting all of us the Zambian people. We have gone further and provided solutions to some of those difficult problems. We have been very friendly in advising your office based on the experience we gained while in government over 20 years.
We remind you that the misfortunes this country is currently going through are your responsibility as head of state and you have to deal with them without constantly blaming the lack of results on external “global” factors. Zambians elected you to produce results and not to pass the buck. You may wish to know that the Prime Minister of Australia has just been voted out for failure to deal with national challenges.
The arrogant reactions from your party Secretary General Mr. Davis Chama and your Media and Publicity Committee Vice Chairperson Mr. Sunday Chanda are not surprising to us but shows that your administration has no intentions of dealing with the problems facing our people. This is partly the reason why this country is where it is now. When people behave like this, it shows a serious lack of leadership on your part Mr. President. Your officials keep avoiding the main issues I have been raising and are instead attacking me personally in what appears to be a well calculated character-assassination scheme. Personal attacks on me will not solve the problems the Zambian people are languishing with.
Zambians across the country are going for more than half the day without electricity in their homes and they are failing to plan their lives properly. The dismal performance of the Kwacha against major international currencies has affected businesses in the country with most small scale business houses putting their operations on hold as the environment is not conducive for them. Thousands of miners have just lost their jobs within the last few days due to failure of leadership in your office Mr President. Many young people in Zambia are still on the streets even after graduating from higher learning institutions, despite your party winning elections on the platform of providing more jobs. I think the people who voted for you want to see more action from you than reacting to those advising you on how to deal with these issues.
In the face of all these challenges, your chief past-time is by-elections and traveling abroad. I wish to remind you that when we bring out these issues to you, it is because we are concerned about the lives of the fifteen million Zambians who put you in power. We are not merely politicking but dealing with important national issues. Just in case the people around you have not told you the truth, things are very bad and people are not happy with your administration.
Most Zambians are failing to put a decent meal on the table and this will haunt you if you decide to turn a blind eye to the cries of innocent people whose country is blessed with abundance of natural resources.
We see lack of seriousness on your part to deal with the issues that have put Zambians in abject poverty. You were voted in as president for the entire country and the least you could do is listen from the counsel of those that care about the people you are leading. Gather courage and hold a press conference and answer questions from the people. You need to stop pushing your officials to defend the indefensible and attack noble people with good intentions.
Zambia is bigger than the Patriotic Front. Ignoring our advice is digging your own grave. We speak from experience. Your stooges and henchmen will not be there when the time comes in 2016 for you to be held accountable for the suffering of Zambians who voted for you.
We will not stop talking and advising your administration. The economy of this country has collapsed from the time you took over office merely eight months ago and your combative leadership style is not helping the situation Mr. President. The people you are leading are not foolish and they will rise against you next year.
I advise you to take a deep introspection and listen to those not close to you. Listen to people telling you the truth and not your “muzungu anikonde” praise singers. Those same people will abandon you in 2016 and start attacking you, leaving you looking like a destitute.
Finally, I advise you to seek guidance from God and seek wise counsel before our people start dying from hunger.
The YBB: Young Boys Band, are a collective of children living in one of the compounds in Lusaka Zambia. Around a year ago they got together to create their own drumband. Not only did these kids teach themselves to play, but they also made their own instruments from disregarded items.
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) secretary-general Davies Chama says MMD president Nevers Mumba has resorted to attacking President Lungu because the opposition leader is allegedly bitter that he failed to compel the ruling party into a merger with his political party.
Mr Chama said Dr Mumba allegedly frequented State House in search for a job but that the PF turned him down after subjecting him to scrutiny.
“It is common knowledge that Dr Mumba frequented State House but we saw that his quest for a merger with the PF would not work well, so he was not successful,” he said.
Mr Chama said in an interview yesterday that PF recollected that Dr Mumba left his political party, the National Christian Coalition.
Mr Chama said the ruling party could not take the risk of getting into a merger with Dr Mumba.
He said the PF opted to deal with committed MMD members such as Senga Hill member of Parliament (MP) Kapembwa Simbao and his Petauke Central counterpart Dora Siliya, who genuinely want to work with the ruling party.
Mr Chama said Dr Mumba has allegedly contributed to the demise of the MMD.
“MMD is a finished party and Dr Mumba wanted to use it as a bargaining tool but fortunately he was not successful in his bid,” he said.
Mr Chama was reacting to a story in the Post newspaper in which Dr Mumba is quoted disparaging President Lungu.
He urged Dr Mumba, as a Christian, to desist from politics of insults.
Mr Chama said it is unfortunate that some politicians resort to insults whenever President Lungu refuses to offer them jobs.
Lungu with Sampa
DEPUTY Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Miles Sampa has called on young people to ensure that they get national registration cards (NRCs) and register as voters.
Mr Sampa said it is important that young people register as voters in large numbers so that they could take part in next year’s tripartite elections.
Speaking after inspecting the NRC issuance exercise in Matero, Mr Sampa said the youth need NRCs and voters’ cards to vote President Lungu back into office next year.
“It is through you young people that we can vote back President Lungu as head of State; through you that Miles Sampa will be voted back together with all the serving councillors,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Sampa has warned business owners and traders to stop quoting goods and services in United States dollars.
He said Government does not need to re-introduce Statutory Instrument number 55 to compel businesses owners to quote in local currency.
“We don’t want to be forced to go that way. It is so simple when you go to South Africa or United States of America, you cannot be allowed to use Kwacha because it is not legal tender,” he said.
Mr Sampa said entrepreneurs should be patriotic and respect the laws of the country.
The deputy minister also said Government is firmly in the driving seat to steer the economy of the country to greater economic prosperity. He said this will be made possible if all Zambians become active agents of development.
And Mr Sampa, who is Matero member of Parliament, has launched a K215,000 worth ablution block at Chunga Market, which was constructed through Constituency Development Fund.
“Our late President Michael Sata used to tell us that we people in communities should always show people compassion and build toilets for markets,” he said.
Mr Sampa said the first thing people of Matero decided to do was to build toilets in all the markets so that they could trade in hygienic environments.
MINISTER of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education Michael Kaingu has assured teachers that Government is working on revising their salary structures.
Dr Kaingu said Government is aware that most salary scales do not correspond with the teachers’ actual qualifications.
“I am aware that some teachers have upgraded their qualifications, but their salaries have not been scaled up,” he said.
The minister said efforts are being made to ensure that the teachers’ salaries match their qualifications.
Dr Kaingu said this in Chadiza when he addressed teachers from different schools at Chadiza Boarding School.
“We want our teachers to be happy and motivated so that they can teach our children well,” he said.
One of the teachers, Moses Banda, complained to the minister that he had upgraded his qualifications from diploma to degree in 2010, but his salary scale has not changed.
Mr Banda said this was discouraging to him and others who would like to upgrade their qualifications.
The Hon. Minister of Tourism and Arts Jean Kapata MP and her delegation at UNWTO in Colombia where Zambia was elected into the UNWTO Executive Council.
MINISTER of Tourism and Arts Jean Kapata says Zambia’s hosting of the UNWTO general assembly in 2013 has raised the country’s tourism sector profile.
Addressing delegates at the official opening ceremony of the 21st Session of the UNWTO General Assembly in Medellin, Colombia last night, the minister said tourism is now a key lever of economic diversification and deeper regional integration.
She said that the UNIVISA pilot project, initiated by Zambia and Zimbabwe soon after the 2013 General Assembly, has generated increased tourist arrivals to the Victoria Falls and has enhanced bilateral cooperation between Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Ms Kapata , however, noted that many tourist destinations around the world continued to face numerous challenges related to visa facilitation, air connectivity, security threats caused by instability and terrorism, disease outbreaks such as Ebola while massive taxation of the tourism sector (in some countries) continue to affect destination competitiveness.
She called upon all member countries to create a conducive environment that will facilitate steady growth of the tourism sector.
The minister further called for effective participation by all member countries attending the Medellin General Assembly as their respective nations are expecting tangible results from the deliberations.
Ms Kapata said if well harnessed, tourism has the potential to contribute significantly to economic growth, community development and job creation in addition to consolidating partnerships among Governments, private sector and civil society.
She thanked Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and the people of that country for the warm welcome and the genuine hospitality of the Colombian people.
The minister said Zambia is particularly delighted because Colombia’s bid to host the 2015 General Assembly was won on Zambian soil.
This is the second time that Colombia is hosting the tourism indaba, having hosted it earlier in 2007 in the city of Cartagena.
Zambia was on Saturday elected to the Executive Council of the UNWTO amid waves of joy and jubilation as this paves the way for the country to have direct representation on the world body and add its voice to the policy direction of the tourism industry.
The Zambian delegation is headed by Ms Kapata and includes permanent secretary Stephen Mwansa, director of tourism Albert Mushanga, ZTB managing director Felix Chaila, Zambian ambassador to France Humphrey Chibanda and Zambia Wildlife Authority manager commercial services Austin Mwakifwamba.
The 21st edition of the UNWTO General Assembly runs from 12 to 17th September in the Colombian city of Medellin.
Zambia and Zimbabwe co-hosted the 20th edition of the tourism showpiece in 2013 at the Victoria Falls.
Lumwana Mine
LUMWANA Mining Company (LMC) has set aside US$400,000 in the 2015 budget for all its infrastructure community projects to be implemented in Senior Chief Mukumbi and chiefs Mumena and Matebo’s chiefdoms in the newly-created Kalumbila district.
LMC sustainability manager Brenda Tambatamba said the funds will be channelled through the newly-established Lumwana Community Trust (LCT) which will now be the flag bearer for all infrastructure community projects.
Ms Tambatamba said this yesterday at the handover ceremony of a three-room classroom block at Kipemba Community School constructed by Lumwana Mine through the Lumwana Development Trust Fund (LDTF) at a cost of K328,306.
“Today, the Lumwana Development Trust Fund has now transformed into an autonomous entity – the Lumwana Community Trust – which will now be the flag bearer for all infrastructure projects in the communities,” she said.
The LDTF was part of the obligations agreed in the memorandum of understanding signed in August 2005 between the three chiefs and Lumwana Mine. Its transformation will enhance the participation of locals in community projects.
She said LCT will be governed by a board spearheaded by Senior Chief Mukumbi and will have its own employees as well as Government representation to steer applications and all projects that will be implemented.
“We are now in the long-shot phase of the mission to make a difference among, and with you our community members. Your participation and contribution to the trust, everyone of you, is even more critical now than before,” Ms Tambatamba said.
She said the mining firm is proud to be associated with various stakeholders such as traditional leaders in the development of key infrastructure meant to benefit communities in its area of operation.
Ms Tambatamba said the construction of a classroom block at Kipemba is a visible milestone in the journey of providing quality education to the people.
And acting Solwezi district commissioner Muyobo Shimabale, who received the facility on behalf of Government, commended the mining firm for its contribution to the improvement of the education sector over the past eight years.
Mr Shimabale said over the past one-and-half years, LMC has been running 18 infrastructure projects valued at K680,049 and these include construction of science laboratories at Mutanda, Meheba and Mukinge secondary schools in the province.
Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Margaret Mwanakatwe with Permanent secretary Siazongo Sikalenge
THE Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) will construct a new secretariat at a cost of US$47 million on Great East Road in Lusaka.
The new state-of-the-art COMESA secretariat will be built on a four-hectare piece of land about two kilometres from the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport round-about and works are expected to start as soon as funds are available.
Speaking during the site visit yesterday, COMESA secretary- general Sindiso Ngwenya said surveyors have already started works on the land.
Mr Ngwenya said COMESA is growing and it is important for the regional body to move to a bigger location because the secretariat in the central business district is becoming small.
“We will have a state-of-art secretariat, which will be near the airport and will be a magnet for other investment,” he said.
And COMESA Council of Ministers chairperson Ahmed Shide thanked Government for allocating a huge piece of land to the secretariat.
Mr Shide also thanked Government for hosting the COMESA secretariat.
“This project will ignite more investment opportunities as it will be bigger and will house other structures which will create other benefits,” he said.
Mr Shide, who is Ethiopia’s Minister of Finance and Economic Development, said the new secretariat will also strengthen the operations of COMESA.
Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Margaret Mwanakatwe said Government is excited by the new site for COMESA.
Mrs Mwanakatwe said Government hopes to see more developmental activities at the site.
“We are grateful that our country has been given an opportunity to be the headquarters of COMESA,” she said.
Mrs Mwanakatwe said Zambia has accrued many benefits for hosting the COMESA secretariat and is hopeful that it will continue doing so in future.
