Join our community of SUBSCRIBERS and be part of the conversation.
To subscribe, simply enter your email address on our website or click the subscribe button below. Don't worry, we respect your privacy and won't spam your inbox. Your information is safe with us.
FILE: Former US president George Bush at Ngungu clinic in Kabwe where he visited patients
FORMER United States of America President George Bush and his wife Laura are expected in Livingstone today up to Monday next week.
Mr Bush and his wife are expected to land at Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport today in the morning.
On Saturday, Mr Bush’s wife Laura is expected to visit Nsongwe Women Association in Livingstone.
About 18 women farmers in Livingstone’s Nsongwe area, who have been funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), have come together to produce different vegetables.
Mr Bush would on Sunday visit Mosi-oa-tunya Clinic in Livingstone.
On Monday, Mr Bush and his delegation would visit Livingstone General Hospital and also tour of Pediatric Center for Excellence and Tour of Cervical Cancer Screening Clinic.
Unconfirmed reports indicate that First Lady Kaseba Sata is expected to join the delegation in Livingstone at the weekend.
FILE: George Chellah fidgiting with microphones before President Michael Sata made a very short speech during the funeral service of the accident victims in Ndola
PRESIDENT Michael Sata has distanced Government from any intentions of manipulating the draft Republican Constitution describing such a motive as retrogressive and selfish.
President Sata dismissed as groundless opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema’s assertions that the Patriotic Front (PF) administration plans to manipulate the draft Constitution and ‘sneak’ in a clause that would extend the presidential term to eight years.
President Sata advised Mr Hichilema to conduct a self-introspection and assess if his endless slander, pessimism and bitterness was adding value to the country’s political discourse.
“Nobody within or outside Government has ever contemplated or lobbied for such a retrogressive and selfish agenda,” Mr Sata said.
Mr Sata said it was clear that Mr Hichilema lacked political civility or basic decency and was resolved to harm mature, rational and constructive discourse on matters affecting the country.
“In fact we are eager to give the opposition a chance to test their popularity in 2016. We have no doubt that the Zambian people will judge us on the basis of the unprecedented massive infrastructural and other developmental projects, which are being done in the interest and for the benefit of the Zambians.
“These kinds of careless claims only proves that we are dealing with a desperate loose cannon who is constantly in denial and determined to display his fallacious notion, just to massage his ego,” he said.
The President said this in a statement in Lusaka yesterday issued by State House Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations, George Chellah.
Mr Hichilema recently accused the Government of planning to alter the Constitution and extend the presidential term to eight years.
On allegations that Government was inducing by-elections to have Parliament dominated by the ruling party, Mr Sata reiterated that, if the opposition parties whose Members of Parliament were currently serving in Government allowed their parliamentarians to contribute without intimidation there would be no need for the by-elections.
He said in the spirit of inclusivity and co-existence, the PF administration would collaborate with whoever was prepared to contribute to the development of the country to stimulate social and economic growth.
“Every responsible Government world over will make sure that it consolidates itself to be in a position to deliver on the promises that got it elected into office, especially if faced with injudicious and unpatriotic leaders of the opposition who are recklessly resolved to undermine Government’s ability to deliver services to the people,” he said.
He re-affirmed his personal commitment to deepening democracy, equality and respect for the will of the Zambian people.
Nkana coach Masautso Mwale will decide on Friday if striker Evans Kangwa can play in the big FAZ Super Division Copperbelt derby against Zesco United at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola on Saturday.
Kangwa resumed training with Nkana on Wednesday after returning from a five-month trial spell at Spanish Segunda Division club Recreativo da Huelva.
“He is training with us but I cannot give an answer just yet but maybe tomorrow I will be able to see,” Mwale said.
Mwale said if Kangwa does not make the trip to Zesco on Saturday, he will certainly play in the Kitwe derby against Power Dynamos on July 3.
“You know he started training on Wednesday I am still accessing him I want to see if he can rise to the occasion or give him some few minutes or prepare him for the game against Power Dynamos,” Mwale said.
“I can only give a proper position tomorrow.”
Kangwa has missed leaders Nkana’s entire fine start to the 2013 season due to his trials in Spain.
The striker was top scorer in the 2011 season on 16 goals before injury curtailed his form in 2012 when he recorded just four goals.
Nkana and Zesco and first and second on 29 and 27 points respectively, after 12 games played this season.
File:National Restoration Party president Elias Chipimo junior and his vice Charles Maboshe
National Restoration Party (NAREP) party President Elias Chipimo has asked the Government to hand back former President Rupiah’s diplomatic passport without delay. In a statement released to the media today, Mr Chipimo said that it was illegal and improper, but also undermined the separation of powers set out in the constitution
Below is the full statement
HAND BACK RUPIAH BANDA’S PASSPORT WITHOUT DELAY
The decision by the PF administration to revoke the diplomatic passport of former president Rupiah Banda is not only illegal and improper but it undermines the separation of powers as set out in the republican constitution.
As a matter of law and procedure, therefore, the government should immediately hand back President Banda’s passport in order to uphold the law, preserve the integrity of parliament and maintain whatever goodwill Zambia is still able to muster amidst a long and ongoing series of social, political, economic and diplomatic blunders.
The Benefits of Former Presidents Act, passed by Parliament makes clear that every former president is entitled (among other benefits) to a diplomatic passport along with one return air ticket for such former president and their spouse.
The only instance in which any of the benefits of a former president can be revoked is if Parliament decides by two-thirds majority to do so. Parliament can only take such action if the former president has been convicted of an offence and sentenced to imprisonment for more than 6 months. This is clearly not the case.
The action by the PF administration amounts to a violation of the separation of powers as contemplated under our constitution. Should the government fail to hand back former president Banda’s passport, Parliament must immediately take this matter up as a breach of our constitution.
It is imperative that the Speaker of the National Assembly demand an explanation from the Minister of Home Affairs as to the legality of this action. Should Parliament fail to act, the courts will be able to intervene.
The office of the former president is a national institution that deserves dignity and respect. The current court cases against President Banda are not sufficient to grant power to remove the privileges accorded to his office as former president.
The more we undermine this office through these types of actions, the more we undermine our goodwill and standing as a nation. The more we undermine our standing as a nation, the less investment we will see, which will translate into less employment for our abandoned youth who have long given up on the promises that were made to them during the last election.
Elias C. Chipimo President National Restoration Party (NAREP) 27 June 2013
L to R: Zesco United coach Tenant Chembo, striker Winston Kalengo and midfielder Maybin Mwaba at the club’s weekly press briefing ahead of their game against Nkana this Saturday in Ndola.
Zesco United striker Winston Kalengo says there is nothing special about Super Division leaders Nkana ahead of the two team’s top of the table clash on Saturday in Ndola.
The two teams are separated by two points going into this week 13 match at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.
Kalengo said Zesco is treating the Nkana game like any other fixture.
He, however, predicated that Saturday’s match will be tough.
“I have to give credit where it is due, Nkana at the moment are playing good football. We very much respect Nkana but we don’t fear them,” Kalengo said.
“Nkana is just like any other team in the league just like Lime (Hotspurs). We will just take that game like we have been taking other games,” he said.
Kalengo added: “It won’t be an easy game playing Nkana.”
Nkana have never beaten Zesco United since the latter was promoted in 2004.
Coach Gordon Igesund on Thursday announced a 20-member Bafana Bafana squad for the COSAFA Cup Zambia 2013 to be held from 6 to 21 July.
Igesund has omitted players from Orlando Pirates as their team prepares for a CAF Champions League assignment on 21 July.
He has given first time call-ups to Bloemfontein Celtic’s Ruzaigh Gameldien, Thabani Mthembu and Tshepo Gumede of Platinum Stars, Luyolo Nomandela of Free State Stars, Lebogang Manyama of Ajax Cape Town, Jabulani Shongwe of Mamelodi Sundowns and Ronwen Williams from Supersport United.
South Africa assembles on 10 July 2013, and flies directly to Zambia and will set up camp in Lusaka.
Bafana Bafana’s first match is on 13 July against Group A winners at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka.
BAFANA BAFANA TEAM LIST
GOALKEEPERS:
1. Wayne SANDILANDS Mamelodi Sundowns FC (SA)
2. Ronwen WILLIAMS Supersport United FC (SA) DEFENDERS: )
3. Bevan FRANSMAN Supersport United FC (SA) )
4. Thabo NTHETHE Bloemfontein Celtics (SA) 5. Tefo MASHAMAITE Kaizer Chiefs FC (SA) )
6. Eric MATHOHO Kaizer Chiefs FC (SA) )
7. Thulani HLATSHWAYO Ajax Cape Town FC (SA) )
8. Tebogo LANGERMAN Mamelodi Sundowns FC (SA) )
9. Tshepo GUMEDE Platinum Stars FC (SA)
MIDFIELDERS:
10. Reneilwe LETSHOLONYANE Kaizer Chiefs FC (SA) )
11. Siphiwe TSHABALALA Kaizer Chiefs FC (SA) )
12. Hlompho KEKANA Mamelodi Sundowns FC (SA) )
13. Lebogang MANYAMA Ajax Cape Town FC (SA) )
14. Luyolo NOMANDELA Free State Stars FC (SA) )
15. Jabulani SHONGWE Mamelodi Sundowns FC (SA) )
16. Ruzaigh GAMILDIEN Bloemfontein Celtics FC (SA)
STRIKERS:
17. Katlego MASHEGO Moroka Swallows FC (SA) )
18. Kermit ERASMUS Supersport United FC (SA) )
19. Bernard PARKER Kaizer Chiefs FC (SA) )
20. Thabani MTHEMBU Platinum Stars FC (SA) )
The annual rate of inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), has increased from 7.0 per cent recorded in May to 7.3 per cent recorded in June, 2013, representing a 0.3 percentage point increase.
Central Statistical Office (CSO) Acting Director of Census and Statistics, Peter Mukuka, attributed the rise in annual inflation to increases in prices of food and some non-food items.
Mr Mukuka told a media in Lusaka today that of the total 7.3 per cent annual inflation rate recorded in June 2013, food products accounted for 3.8 percentage points, while non-food products accounted for a total of 3.5 percentage points.
The CSO Acting Director said the annual food inflation rate was recorded at 7.1 per cent in June 2013 compared to 6.3 percent recorded in May, 2013, representing a 0.8 percentage points increase in annual food inflation.
Mr Mukuka said the annual rate of inflation increased for food and non-alcoholic beverages, alcoholic beverages and tobacco, health, transport and communication between June 2012 and June 2013.
He said the annual rate of inflation decreased for clothing and footwear, housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance, recreation and culture, education, restaurant and hotel and miscellaneous goods and services.
And a comparison of retail prices between May and June, 2013, showed that the national average price of a 25 kg bag of breakfast mealie meal increased by 2.1 per cent from KR 58.17 to KR 59.41 while the national average price of a 25 kg bag of roller meal increased by 0.2 per cent from KR 44.89 to KR 44.97.
The national average price of a 20 litre tin of maize grain decreased by 10.0 per cent from KR 25.15 to KR 22.64 between May and June, 2013, while the national average price of a 1 kg of fresh kapenta decreased by 1.7 per cent from KR 9.37 to KR 9.21.
The national average price of a 1kg bundle of rape decreased by 10.0 per cent from KR 3.71 to KR 3.34.
Meanwhile, Zambia recorded a trade surplus valued at KR 267.8 million in May 2013 from KR 329.5 million recorded in April, 2013.
Mr Mukuka said this meant that the country exported more in May, 2013, than it imported in nominal terms.
The country has continued to record trade surpluses since January 2013 with the highest valued at KR 329.5 per cent recorded in April 2013 and the lowest trade surplus was recorded in February, 2013, valued at KR 133.2 million.
Labour and social security minister Fackson Shamenda has urged employees to change their negative attitudes towards work and put in their best for good of the nation.
During a tripartite consultative council meeting this morning, Mr.Shamenda says productivity is key to better results of any company and it should always be the first thing every worker needs to have in mind.
Mr. Shamenda says government does not want to see workers who fail to perform to the expectations of their employers but wants people to begin having good relations in places of work as government has done its best to protect the rights of all workers.
And Mr. Shamenda says employers should desist from condemning government’s policies but should participate in shaping up the country’s labour laws for the benefit all Zambians.
The labour and social security minister adds that there is need for all trade unions to stand firm to their principals and contribute positively where they feel things are not moving forward.
And speaking earlier, Federation of Free Trade Unions of Zambia president Joyce Nonde Simukoko appealed to government to speed up the process of coming up with the labour law reforms as the Patriotic Front government promised during the campaigns in the run up to 2011 general elections.
The Lusaka City Council has deferred the 100 years centenary official launch to a date to be advised.Lusaka was established as a settlement in 1913.
Lusaka was the site of a relatively sizeable village of the Soli people named after its headman Lusaaka, which, according to history, was located at Manda Hill, near where the Zambia’s National Assembly building now stands. This Soli village was discovered in the early 1960s during the construction of the National Assembly building and the residential houses in Olympia Park.What has remained of the old village settlement is Chakeluka Archaeological site, declared as a protected national monument under statutory instrument number 37 of 1972.
In Nyanja, Manda means graveyard. The area was expanded by European (mainly British) settlers in 1905 with the building of the railway.
In 1935, due to its fairly central location, its situation on the railway and at the crossroads of the Great North Road and Great East Road, it was chosen to replace Livingstone as the capital of the British colony of Northern Rhodesia.
As the city clocks 100 years this July, there is no better way to celebrate Lusaka’s centenary, than appreciating the city’s historic heritage.
Public Relations Manager, Chanda Makanta, told ZANIS in Lusaka that the 100 years Centenary, which is scheduled to come under a theme ‘100 Lusaka, let’s celebrate’, was to be launched on July 1 this year.
Ms Makanta explained that the deferring of the launch of the centenary has been triggered by the poor financial response that the event has received from the public.
She said the local authority has since written to stakeholders and business houses seeking financial support but that the response has been bad.
Ms Makanta has since called on Lusaka residents and business houses to join in the city’s 100 years centenary celebrations to be held this year.
She has reminded all residents of Lusaka that the celebration is important as it is not a political issue but an event to remind each other of where the city began from and celebrate the achievements and developments that have taken place.
She added that Lusaka is the indigenous land for the Soli and Lenje speaking people but that it has accommodated all tribes because of the developments that have taken place since its establishment.
Ms Makanta said despite being colonised by the British, residents of Lusaka today have something to smile about.
She noted that the event needed the support of everyone, adding that the local council alone cannot manage because of some financial constraints and a wide range of programs that also require financial attention.
an aerial view of Zambia’s capital in Welensky’s time. An aerial view of Lusaka during Welensky’s time.It was then a mere network of footpaths. The building seen is the State House (Plot One). This photo has been sent in by a very unlikely person, Anthony Dil. Dil grew up during much of Zambia’s colonial rule & his now resident in the United Kingdom.
Heritage sites in Lusaka
-The former Charter House, located at the junction of Independence Avenue and Haile Salaissie Road was constructed by the British South African Company (BSAC), a company responsible for the management and administration of Northern Rhodesia up to 1924 when the territory became a British Protectorate, and currently houses the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
-Old Freedom House, which was a launching place of the party activities during the struggle for independence, and it is from this same building that the United National Independence Party (UNIP) manifesto of 1962 was launched House located along Freedom Way.The building is not only an important national monument for the important activities that took place, but also as remembrance for that heroic period.
-1909 Njanji Commuter building located on Heroes Square opposite the Main Railway Station.
-Old National Assembly building,built in 1932 and designed by John Hoogterp currently houses the Ministry of Defence and the House of Chiefs.Its foundation stone was laid by His Royal Highness Prince George of the United Kingdom.Before independence, the Legislature popularly known as the Legico used to meet in this building to make laws for the protectorate.
-The Old Post Office Building, constructed in 1933, was the first Post office in Lusaka, and is located at the junction of Katondo and Freedom Way.
-Former Dutch Reformed Church, built in 1926, and it depicts Dutch architecture.This building is now under the ownership of the Salvation Army Church, and is located in Villa Elizabetha
-the building is that houses the Reformed Church of Zambia in Kamwala Township.
-The 1932 House Number 110D located along the Great North Road opposite Impala Service Station, and is currently being used as a private residence.
-Kabwata Roundavelles(named after Chief Lusaaka’s son), are grass thatched one-roomed Roundavelles, are remnants of a total of 500 houses built in the late 1930’s and early 1940’s.These represent the colonial concept of what African accommodation in town ought to have been.
-The Old Lusaka Boys School was the first government school for children of Europeans farmers in the surrounding areas established.This school, located on a site originally founded as a European school by the Dutch Reformed Church in 1908, began its operations as a school in 1916. Today, the structure is used as offices for the National Heritage Conservation Commission’s East Central Region.
-the Marapodi House,
-Lusaka Millers House (the current location of the National Milling Company premises)
-the Old Fisher’s House
-the E.W tarry’s buildings.
– the Alymer May Cemetery ,named in honour of a South African medical officer who came to Northern Rhodesia in 1908.It has graves dating as far back as 1922 and was a burial site for the English, Jews and members of the Dutch Reformed and Roman Catholic Churches.This is the country’s only known site where one of the former British governors Sir John Maybin’s, are remains are rested.Sir Maybin was also commander-in-chief of Northern Rhodesia from 1938 to 1939.
This site is also the only public cemetery in the country with a chapel of gothic architecture erected in 1928 on a grave of a loved one-Audrey Mary Elizabeth Murray.The construction of the buildings on the graves is similar to the African practice at chiefs’ or religious leaders’ graves.
-Another one of the country’s most significant heritage sites is the Chakeluka, the site of the earliest Bantu or first farmers to have settled in what is today called Lusaka.Archaeological investigations at Kapwirimbwe site in Chelstone area showed evidence of Early Iron Age farmers; the remains of hunted game, cultivated crops and iron objects being prominent.
This was replaced or subsumed by Later Iron Age group in the 11th century. Evidence of this transition comes from Twickenham (now called Chakeluka) site.
File picture:President Rupiah Banda bids farewell to presidential affairs Minister Ronald Mukuma before he left for Angola at Lusaka International Airport
The PF Government has cancelled former President Rupiah Banda’s diplomatic passport number D-001224.
Home Affairs permanent secretary Willie Manjimela has confirmed the development and instructions had been sent to all immigration officers at all borders not to endorse former President Rupiah Banda’s passport whenever it was presented.
Manjimela said the passport had been canceled and it has ceased to have effect at any border entry points.The decision has been attributed to criminal investigations and court cases that the former president is currently facing.
Commerce, Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Miles Sampa has announced that he will stop issuing public statements for a month following what he called too much deliberate misquotations.
The Matero MP who has been at the centre of a number of controversial policy statements said he will keep silent for at least a month.
Sampa posted on his Facebook page that he has been misquoted for too long and he will now keep quiet for a month.
“So much deliberate misquotes out there and wondering why. Some private individuals plan to open a bank for SMEs and invite me to their consultative launch.
All I did is encourage and commend them for being proactive. Headline- Government to open a Bank for SMEs,” he wrote.
He continued, “Just one of so many distortions lately that go viral and believed by some. Will try a month long ‘silence’ of no interviews, no statements, no public functions, no talking (though paid to talk) and no addictive FB posting either.”
Recently Mr.Sampa was quoted as saying government had so far spent K17 billion on by-elections,and the funding was coming from the contingency line in the 2013 national budget, after the budgeted K5 billion was exhausted.
‘We put K5 billion and we have a line in the budget called contingency where we had put K50 billion for any unforeseen circumstances,’ Mr Sampa said.
This statement raised alot of questions as the Electoral Commission of Zambia had earlier announced that they don’t spend less than K5billion per by election.K 11 billion was used for Lukulu and Kapiri bye elections, Feira gobbled K7.7 billion.Without adding the figures from the other by elections held previously this was way above the amount purported by the Deputy Minister.
There have been calls from the different sectors in the country for Government to be open about how much is really being spent on by elections and whether the government has overrun its national budget.
The Human rights Commission has justified the killing of the infamous Mailoni brothers saying certain circumstances necessitated the killing of individuals to protect innocent citizens.
Commenting on the killing of the Mailoni Brothers who had allegedly terrorised the people of Luano Valley, Human Rights Commission head of Information and Education Samuel Kasanka said the commissions’ first responsibility was to the law abiding citizens and the convicted persons second.
Commission Director Florence Kabwesha said although a prima facie had not been established against the slain brothers, law enforcement officers were mandated to use reasonable force to apprehend the suspects if they were fleeing.
“If a suspect is fleeing and they apply reasonable force, it could be that in the process the suspect dies so we need to establish what really happened by looking into the circumstances that led to the killing,” Ms Kabwesha said.
The duo was speaking when they answered questions from journalist during the commemoration of the United Nations Day in support of torture victims.
Inspector General of Police Stella Libongani said a balance between respect of human rights and protection of the citizenry should be struck.
Ms Libongani said in an interview that in as much as the police was obligated to ensure the preservation of life and protection of property, this must be done in a manner that did not infringe on the human rights of others.
Acting Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission Arnold Kapelembi
said the definition of torture must be expanded to capture all forms of torture, inhuman, cruel and degrading treatment or punishment.
Mr Kapelembi said torture had not been criminalised in Zambia and there was need for specific legislation relative to the gravity of torture.
Speaking at the same function United Nations Resident Coordinator Kanni Wignaraja said Zambia’s legal framework should be in conformity with the universal definition of torture to which Zambia was a signatory.
She said this would make State and non -State actors aware of what was not permissible and deemed as unlawful behaviour.
This year maiden celebrations of the international day in support of victims of torture were held under the theme; the right to rehabilitation.
THE mother to the notorious Mailoni brothers who were shot dead by security officers on Tuesday suspects that her sons were possessed with evil spirits after visiting a witchdoctor.
The brothers were shot dead after a five-year search by security wings following reports that the trio was terrorising and brutally murdering people.
In an interview at her home in Kawasaki village where she is in hiding in Kabwe rural yesterday, Janet Ngimu said her sons caused their deaths themselves for killing innocent people for no reasons.
Ms Ngimu a widow in her late 70’s, narrated that she was whisked away from her home in Luano valley by police after the residents set her house ablaze following her sons killings of people.
She said trouble started after one of the deceased who was not feeling well years back together with his brothers visited a witchdoctor and upon their return she noticed that their behaviour had changed.
She said the first person to be attacked was her only surviving son Nelson while she was at some point also beaten.
She said the first person who was brutally murdered using spears was a Mr Mwelwa who attempted to apprehend the three brothers after mobilising villagers and that was followed by continued killings by her three sons, Mika, Fabian and Stephano.
She said because of the killings she became a nomad as villagers threatened to kill her forcing her to seek refuge in the bush, sometimes in other peoples’ homes far from her village.
She said Chief Chembe picked her and later the police after noticing that the situation was worsening as it was becoming unsafe for her and those looking after her decided that she relocates in the year 2010 to Kabwe.
She said her sons had brought misery to her life as she was not able to move freely and that she could not go back to Luano where many families lost their loved ones lives at the hands of her sons.
She said following the killing of the three sons, Ms Ngimu and her family was living in fear as most villagers at her Kabwe home were threatening to deal with them for causing the deaths of many people.
“As you can see we cannot even mourn because we have been told that if we are going to go ahead and hold a funeral they will come and kill us stating that as family we just lost three people while the country has lost several people,”she said.
District Commissioner Patrick Chishala asked Zambians to accept the mother and family members because they could not be punished for crimes they did not commit considering those involved in the acts were no more.
Mr Chishala said a meeting would soon be held with the community to discuss the matter with a view of making them accept the family and live in peace.
Central police Commissioner of Police Standwell Lungu said the sensitisation programme had continued and was monitoring the situation closely.
Government will soon embark on the construction of a milling plants and warehouses in all districts countrywide for the production of mealie meal and storage of maize respectively.
Agriculture and Livestock Deputy Minister Rodgers Mwelwa told a stakeholders meeting in Chipata which was attended by businessmen, the clergy, Civil Society Organizations and Government Heads of Department that government will use the savings from the removal of subsidy on maize and fuel to do these projects.
Mr. Mwelwa said government has approached some Chinese contractors who are ready to start the programme as the contract is sealed.
The Deputy Minister said by constructing the milling plants in all the districts the price of staple food will stabilize and private millers will not exploit the citizens with exorbitant prices while warehouses will be used for safe storage of the crop.
He said the savings will also be used for research through sales to ascertain the amount of input such as fertilizer to be administered in different localities so as to enable farmers to grow more food.
“We want a framer to produce 40by 50Kilograms bags of maize from one Lima as opposed to 13 bags after the research,”Mr. Mwelwa said.
The Deputy Minister also said that the money will allow government to encourage farmers engage in out grower schemes through irrigation so that more than one crop is grown in a year.
Meanwhile government is expected to flag off the distribution of D compound fertilizer from Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia before the end of this week.
MMD Muchinga member of Parliament Howard Kunda says he can only defect to the Patriotic Front (PF) if the ruling party offered him the number two job in the country—the vice presidency currently held by Guy Scott.
Mr Kunda said anything short of that, especially a deputy ministerial position, would not compel him to ditch the party his late father George Kunda served until his death in April last year after an illness.
“If they really want me, they should give me the vice presidency,” Mr Kunda said.
“If it is vice presidency, yes, because I know that if anything happens, I will be President of this country.”
Mr Kunda’s “intentions” were aired on a clip recorded for the Hot FM breakfast show and it drew lots of mixed reactions from listners who called the radio station.
Mr Kunda said he could never serve as a deputy minister because his father had raised the bar above that level having served as a Vice President and that he (Howard) can only continue from where his late father ended.
“If they wanted me, that is what I have been telling them, they should give me the vice presidency, not deputy minister. It is something that I will not go for because I have passed that level of deputy minister,” he said.
Mr Kunda said as Vice President, he could also get an occasional opportunity to act as President whenever the President is out of the county on national duties.
“I was told that I was going to be a deputy minister in the Office of Vice-President. When you look at deputy minister of Office of the Vice-President, how can I carry on the legacy of my late father?” he wondered.
Mr Kunda went further to accuse some PF officials of inciting councillors to resign from the MMD and join the ruling party.
He also urged parliamentarians in opposition to continue providing checks and balances on Government to ensure good governance and development in the country.
PF secretary general Wynter Kabimba could not immediately be reached for a comment, neither could the Chief Government spokesperson Kennedy Sakeni, as they were in Parliament.
