President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe has taken-over the Chairmanship of the 15 member Southern African Development Community (SADC) regional grouping at the 34th Heads of State and Government Summit which opened here today.

And President Mugabe has condemned the western world for perpetrating what he described as the most brutal demonstration of man’s inhumanity to man by keeping silent on the Israeli attacks on the Palestinian people in the Gaza strip.

Meanwhile, President Mugabe has thanked SADC for standing by his country at a time when his government faced serious challenges due to economic sanctions imposed by the European Union (EU) and the West.

President Mugabe has also warned that the over-reliance on the generosity and goodwill of SADC cooperating partners compromises the ownership and sustainability of the regional bodies programmes.

He added that the member states cannot proudly claim to be owners of the organization when close to 60 percent of the programmes are externally funded.

In his acceptance speech as the new SADC chairman taking over from Malawi’s President Peter Mutharika, President Mugabe told the Summit that it would be remiss of him not to talk about the recent brutalities that have been meted out against the Palestinian people.

President Mugabe said the western world which claims high moral ground on issues of human rights and the sanctity of life have looked with moral and academic indifference at the attack on Gaza while the Israeli army continues to butcher innocent women and children all under the guise of fighting terrorists.

“ This is the most brutal demonstration of man’s inhumanity to man, and it is criminal for the world to keep silent in the wake of such crimes against humanity’, said Mr Mugabe.

President Mugabe wondered whether the silence on the Gaza attacks by the western world were on the assumption that the Palestinian children who have died in the bombings would be future terrorists or that the women casualties would give birth to future terrorists.

And President Mugabe, whose country last hosted a SADC Summit 25 years ago, says Zimbabwe continues to undergo hurting economic sanctions imposed by the European Union and the West describing the them as illegal while the effects are debilitating to the economy and the people of Zimbabwe.

He thanked SADC for consistently calling for the removal of the EU and Western illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe adding that without the support of the regional grouping Zimbabwe would not standing on its feet today.

“we will remain eternally grateful for that…I say, once again, thank you SADC”, said President Mugabe.

President Mugabe also congratulated South Africa and Malawi for holding peaceful democratic elections earlier this year and that the regional body was optimistic that its three other members, Botswana, Namibia and Mozambique slated to go for Presidential polls later in 2014 will also abide by the SADC Principles and Guidelines governing democratic elections.

He also commended Madagascar for holding peaceful elections held in 2013 following a long period of political turmoil that saw the usurping of power from a sitting government by insurgents.

This led to the Indian Ocean Island country to be suspended from SADC for five years but successfully swore-in Hery Rajaonarimampianina who gave his maiden speech as President of that country during the official opening of the Summit today.

The theme for the 34th SADC Heads of State is ‘’SADC Strategy for Economic Transformation: Leveraging the Region’s Diverse Resources for Sustainable Economic and Social Development through Beneficiation and Value Addition”.

MTN launches mobile money transfer services in Mkushi District MKUSHI, August 17th, 2014, ZANIS—Commercial farmers in Mkushi District have saluted MTN mobile communication Company for introducing mobile money transfer services in the area.

One of the farmers Gordon Chance says the mobile money transfer services by MTN would benefit commercial farmers to run their respective farms more effectively.

Mr Chance says the commercial farmers in the area was a major employer, adding that on an average each farmer has more than 50 employees.

ZANIS reports that the Commercial farmer said this during the launch of the MTN mobile money transfer held at Country club in Mkushi District today.

He said the MTN money transfers would ease the burden of carrying a lot of cash which would be transferred via phone directly to the workers.

Meanwhile MTN Zambia sales director, Amon Jere says his company was overwhelmed with the response from the commercial farmers.

Mr Jere noted that the new service was in tandem with the nation’s direction towards boosting the Agricultural sector.

He acknowledged that the commercial farmers contributed significantly towards creating many jobs.

The MTN Zambia sales director said that it was therefore imperative for this sector to be availed with such technology to enable easy payment of workers.

During the same launch at Mkushi’ Country club, Multi Choice Marketing manager, Mbelya Sichizya pleagded that his company would continue to partner with MTN in hosting annual Golf Tournaments at this venue.

Mr Sichizya said that the 2 companies were determined to make the Mkushi Country club Golf tournament a permanent sports fixture.

Archbishop Telesphor Mpundu of Lusaka has called on the church and the community to strongly condemn men in the habit of abusing women.

Archbishop Mpundu said it is a shame that churches and the community have not done much to condemn those who abuse women.

ZANIS reports that the clergyman was speaking during an annual pilgrimage of Catholics in Lusaka today.

Archbishop Mpundu said churches should come together as they are a channel of goodness to the world.

He said men who abuse women should not only be prayed for but punished as well prevent them from committing the act.

Archbishop Mpundu said such men must be removed from the community to undergo transformation.

“Look at how that pregnant woman was stabbed to death that husband killed two souls and we don’t need such men in the society ,” he said.

Archbishop Mpundu added that marriage councilors should change their ways of teaching young women who intend to go into marriage.

He said marriage councilors encourage young women to submit and to keep issues surrounding their homes in secrecy.

“That is wrong women need to share and report issues affecting them to the relevant authorities” Archbishop Mpundu said.

He says there is need to fight abuse and the world will be a better place to live.

He however urged the men folk to form groups aimed at protecting women against any act of violence.

“If men come together to match against women abuse I will be one of the matchers, ” he said.

Archbishop Mpundu revealed that Lusaka archdiocese is finalizing a child protection policy which will protect children as that grow to adulthood.

Lusaka Mayor Mulenga Sata has urged youths in Zambia to adopt a culture of hard work in order to secure a bright future.

Mr Sata who is also President Sata’s son said it is important that young people start working hard for themselves and their future families.

Mr Sata also observed that there is a growing spirit of entitlement among some youths in Zambia which should be curbed.

“Young people need to understand that they need to work. You will not get things for free and overnight, our parents worked hard. My grandfather was a houseboy, yes others say he was a Cook but in those days he was a houseboy and let us not beat around the bush here.”

He added, “Through his efforts and hard work, his father, my father managed to uplift himself, pull himself by the bulls traps, his life is well documented from his background, from a mere Constable to a train Conductor in the UK, he is what he is today and this goes to show, this is testament to the fact that through hard work you can achieve. If it is not for yourself at least uplift the lives of your children.”

“My advice to youths in this country is just get stuck in. Be patient and strong willed and have some stamina. Youths need to know that nobody is going to give you anything for free. Reach out and grab the opportunities but we need to work,” he said.

Opposition Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) President Edith Nawakwi has urged the PF Government to explain the delay in releasing the final draft constitution to Zambians.

Ms. Nawakwi has told QFM New in an interview that government on its own started the issue of the constitution and not Zambians hence the need for them to deliver the constitution.

Ms. Nawakwi has noted with concern the different statements that have so far been given by government regarding the release of the draft constitution.

She explains that she has closely been following the circus about the draft constitution and there is no need for the government to continue treating the citizens like a small child anymore.

Ms. Nawakwi stresses that President Michael Sata promised to give the draft constitution to the people immediately the technical committee did so but this has not been the case even after the technical committee stated that they have handed over the draft document.