Vice President Dr. Guy Scott arrived in Mfuwe yesterday for a three day working visit.

The Vice President arrived in Mfuwe in the afternoon, aboard a Zambia Air force Plane.

Meanwhile Eastern Province Acting Permanent Secretary Zachariah Luhanga told ZANIS in an interview in Mfuwe that the province has a lot of tourism potential.

Mr. Luhanga said the province has benefitted greatly from the tourism industry as a result of the good roads that have been constructed in the province.

He said Eastern Province has benefitted from the Link Zambia 8000 and this has helped to open up many tourist attractions in the area.

Mr. Luhanga said the boost in tourism has also created employment and resulted in the improved living standards for the locals.

He has since appealed to the investors in the tourism industry to revisit the wages they give to their workers.

Mr. Luhanga said despite providing employment to the local people, most lodges don’t give wages that befit the amount of labour that the workers offer.

Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) President Edith Nawakwi has challenged Justice Aniel Silungwe to tell Zambians the truth about the whereabouts of the Draft Constitution.

Ms. Nawakwi says as the Technical Committee chairperson Justice Silungwe should tell the public what has happened to the draft constitution as Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba is only making noise over the issue.

She said Zambians should not expect anything from Mr Kabimba as the only people that can give them their constitution is republican President Michael Sata and Justice
Silungwe as Chairperson of the Technical Committee.

“As FDD we think that Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba talks no sense and only makes noise over the constitution”

Ms Nawakwi also condemned what she termed as PF sponsored violence that has characterized the country.

She has since urged President Sata to use his discretion to order PF
cadres to stop violence

High Court Judge Gertrude Chawatama has granted former Transport and Communication Minister William Harrington the application to commence judicial review proceedings against former Tourism and Arts Minister Sylvia Masebo.

This follows Mr Harrington’s dissatisfaction with the findings of the Judge Roydah Kaoma tribunal which established that Ms Masebo did not gain any pecuniary advantage when she dismissed senior Zambia Wild Life Authority officials over the tender for hunting concessions.

Meanwhile Judge Chawatama has recused herself from handling the matter in which Mr Harrington is seeking judicial review on the tribunal findings.

Judge Chawatama has since advised that the file will be reallocated to another Judge to avoid the perception of bias as she sat on the Wynter Kabimba tribunal.

She says dates for the hearing of the main matter will be communicated to both parties.

And Mr. Harrington has welcomed the decision by Judge Chawatama to grant his application for judicial review, describing it as professional.

VICE-President Guy Scott has said that Zambians have started seeing the fruits of voting the Patriotic Front (PF) into the Government as the party is determined to deliver according to its campaign promises.

Dr Scott said when the PF was going round the country campaigning, it promised to uplift people’s living standards once in power and now the fruits have started materialising.

Speaking at the launch of the first of the 169 communication towers for mobile phones in Chief Matanda’s area in Mansa yesterday, Dr Scott said the PF under President Sata is working hard to deliver services to the people.

The Government, through the Zambia Information and Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA), will build 169 communication towers across the country to enhance communication services.

“You are just beginning to see the fruits of electing PF and President Sata in power. We are just two and half years in the Government and we have delivered much on our campaign promises.

“Now can you imagine what will happen when we are there for more years,’’ he said.

Dr Scott said that having a communication facility in Matanda is important for the people of that area who have been yearning for it.

He said communication is an important aspect to human life.

At the same function, Dr Scott donated 300 handsets to women and youth clubs to enable them to communicate better in their activities.

“The Chinese Ambassador to Zambia has donated to you, I have also donated 300 phones and these will go to women and youth clubs and vulnerable people so that you can start hiring them and make some money out of them,’’ he said.

Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Zhao Yuxiao assured that the towers being erected will improve services as the company contracted, Huawei, is reputable.

The ambassador also donated 100 phones to the people of Matanda.

Chief Matanda thanked Government for building a tower in his chiefdom saying people in his area would be able to communicate with their relatives and friends in other parts of the country and beyond.

He said the PF government under President Sata has done what other past governments had failed to do for the people of Matanda.

Chief Matanda said this was proof Government cares for the poor.

“What we have seen today here is something that will go a long way in the memory of my subjects. My subjects are extremely happy. Just recently we received an ambulance.

We have seen a number of clinics and schools in my chiefdom are being built, so as their chief, I am saying we are very happy with this Government,’’ he said.

Speaking earlier, ZICTA board chairperson Emmanuel Musonda thanked the PF Government for ensuring that rural areas are connected to communication systems through building towers in all areas.

Mr Musonda said the rural communications project had been on the table for a long time but because of the PF government’s commitment, it has started moving.

MINISTER of Defence Edgar Lungu has directed law enforcement agencies to remove squatters who have encroached on Lukanga Battle Training Camp land in Kapiri Mposhi because civilians are exposed to danger whenever defence forces are training.

Mr Lungu said during a pass-out parade of Zambia Army officers in Kapiri Mposhi yesterday that encroachment on training camps by civilians exposes them to danger because they can pick up displaced explosives like grenades.

Mr Lungu said it is not the policy of the Patriotic Front (PF) government to do illegalities and to tolerate it regardless of who is involved.

“I have been petitioned as Minister of Defence to look at the abuses of military uniforms by people who are masquerading as party officials or cadres. Let me assure you that I have involved the Ministry of Home Affairs in this issue because currently there is a law that prohibits the use of defence uniforms except for the purpose of theatre as accepted by law,” Mr Lungu said.

He is concerned that many people are seen on the streets wearing Zambia Army, ZNS and police uniforms.

“We are assured by the Ministry of Home Affairs that this will soon be brought to an end. We want the integrity of our men and women in uniform to be protected. We shall not allow a situation where people wear defence uniforms as they like,” Mr Lungu said.

He warned that if the Ministry of Home Affairs and Zambia Police do not help, soldiers will confiscate the uniforms.

The minister commended the Zambia Army officers for completing the rigorous yet distinguished training.

“The nation is dependent upon your vital skills and knowledge in conducting operations of high tact and skill. I want to express my confidence that judging by the military drills you have displayed and training you undertook, you will effectively undertake many assignments given to you,” Mr Lungu said.

The minister urged the officers to practise what they learnt during the training.

Mr Lungu said Government is committed to ensuring that the army has necessary equipment to enable it to effectively carry out assignments.

“Today’s parade signifies that you have a new identity donned by the distinct colour of beret contrasting from other services and corps in the army. You are regarded special, not because of your inherent abilities but because of the skills and knowledge that have been imparted in you during the last ten months of your training,” Mr Lungu observed.

He urged the officers not to use the newly-acquired skills to harm innocent human beings but to protect and preserve lives.

And Zambia Army Commander Lieutenant General Paul Mihova said the training was conducted in three phases in Ndola, Luanshya and Kapiri Mposhi.

General Mihova said the course duration was 10 months from June 2013 and that the trainees consist of volunteers from 2012 graduates and the internal recruitment conducted within the army.

GOVERNMENT has sent a joint team of security officers to investigate and ascertain facts on the operations of Luangwa airstrip.

Minister of Home Affairs Ngosa Simbyakula says the ministry will send its team of officers to carry out inspections of all airstrips countrywide to intensify homeland security.

Dr Simbyakula said the Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications is also carrying out audits on all the airstrips.

“We want to get concrete information on operations at all our airstrips and the report might be handed over by the team this week,”he said.

Dr Simbyakula also warned political parties planning to promote violence or breach public peace that they will face stern action from law enforcers.

“Anyone who promotes violence will face the law. We are not going to promote lawlessness or allow people to take the law into their hands regardless of their political affiliations,” he said.

And Dr Simbyakula said his ministry has embarked on plans to build one-stop borders countrywide to ensure maximum security and curb illegal border crossings.

“Most of our borders are very porous and we are doing our best to build up one-stop borders like the one we are currently having at Chirundu. This will also promote security and ease movement of goods and services,” he said.

Earlier, Dr Simbyakula inspected Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration department buildings under construction.

The buildings are being constructed at a total of K85 million.

Dr Simbyakula commended the works which are being carried out by the contractors China Jiangsu and China Jiangxi.

He said the construction of the office buildings is aimed at decongesting the two government departments and ensure efficiency when carrying out their operations.

The new buildings are going to be mordenised with digital security monitors and equipment.