Government has denied any abuse of human rights as alleged by a report compiled by the United States of America.

Minister of Justice Wynter Kabimba says the 2012 Zambia Report on Human Rights does not reflect the correct picture of the overall human rights and governance situation in the country.

Mr Kabimba says the Zambian government finds the report done by the US Department of State “fraught with factual errors and inaccuracies”.

“Some allegations in the report are either unsubstantiated or not supported by any empirical evidence at all. The sources are only known to the authors and their authenticity is unverifiable,” Mr Kabimba says.

This is contained in a response by the Zambian government to the US Department of State 2012 Human Rights Report signed by Mr Kabimba.

The response is addressed to the US ambassador to Zambia Mark Storella.

In the report, the US government raised concern about the Public Order Act and alleged beatings of Gary Nkombo, the United Party for National Development member of Parliament for Mazabuka.
The report also makes reference to the arrest of opposition leaders.

“Serious human rights abuses occurred during 2012. The most important were abuses by security forces, including unlawful killings, torture, beatings, life-threatening prison conditions, restrictions of freedom of speech, assembly and association,” the US report reads.

The report further accuses Government of generally not taking steps to prosecute officials who committed the abuses.

But Mr Kabimba cited examples where the law applied equally even to Patriotic Front (PF) cadres.
He said in April 2013, Police in Solwezi arrested 10 PF district officials and detained them overnight for unlawful assembly.

On the alleged beatings of Mr Nkombo, Mr Kabimba said prison records can prove that the MP fell while playing social football with prisoners.

“I have perused the 2012 Human Rights Report. In the interest of transparency and good governance, it is only fair that the report and our government’s response to the issues raised be made public through the media,” Mr Kabimba says in his letter to Mr Storella.

Government says it is concerned over the delayed works on the Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport terminus.

And Government has expressed concern at Inyatsi Construction Company’s failure to finish major Road works on the Main Mosi-o-Tunya road.

Works , Supply, Transport and Communication Minister Mr. Christopher Yaluma says the contractor constructing the new Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula terminals should double up his efforts to ensure that works are completed by the June 20th, 2013.

He said this would to leave the airport management to have enough time for testing the facility.

ZANIS reports that the minister said this in the Tourist Capital today after touring works on the Main Mosi-o-Tunya Road .

He expressed concern at the slow pace at which the works were done and implored the company to do double shifts if the project was to be completed before the United Nations World Tourism General Assembly (UNWTO) in August this year.

He said government was deeply worried if the plant continue to be out of operation, works on the roads in the tourist capital might grind to a halt through throwing preparation for the event into disarray.

The Minister said government expected Inyasti to have a positive attitude towards the project and should even consider working at night to speed up through works.

“I expected a lot of positive progress on the roads because last time I came here you did not talk about the asphalt making equipment being down and I want to tell you that as government we shall not tolerate any more such delays to suffocate our preparation for the event,” said Mr. Yaluma.

“As fro now, all I can tell you is to accelerate your works especially on Mosi-o-Tunya road because this road hinges on the reputation of co-host city as well as the country and if possible start working at night so that you meet the completion deadlines,” he said.

Mr. Yaluma also wondered why the company failed to mobilize all its equipment last year when it was awarded the contract.

But Asphalt Manager Mr. Johan Ratief explained that his company was putting full commitment to work 24 hours shift to ensure that road projects works are expedited.

Mr. Ratif explained that the asphalt making machine which makes about 900 tonnes of bitumen per day would be fully operational by next week that would see the road works stepped up.

He said the company was only given the contract to work on the Mosi-o-Tunya raid on April 20th adding that the company will put all its resources together to ensure that the road was ready done by July this year.

The Road construction company has so far done 40 per cent of the township roads in and has employed more than 600 local people.

And earlier during an inspection of the new terminal facility , Mr. Yaluma noted that time was running out for the any delays in completing the project and called for the contractor to star working double shifts.

“We do not have time on our hands and by now I expected you start working on a 24 hour basis and do everything you can to finish the project,” Mr. Yaluma said.

He also urged the company to do a follow up some of the materials imported form South Africa so that works can progress.

Government enraged Yangts Jiang to construct a new terminal building at Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport at the tune of K150 Billion(KR 150 Million) out of which K78 Billion(KR78 Million ) was meant for specialized equipment such as checking in systems, elevators among others items.

ZANIS

His Excellency Mr. Michael Chilufya Sata, President of the Republic of Zambia will tomorrow [Friday, May 17, 2013] lay a foundation stone for the construction of the Palabana University.

This is barely two weeks after the Head of State laid a foundation stone for the construction of Chalimbana University.

President Sata says the birth of Chalimbana and Palabana universities will shortly be followed by the upgrading of infrastructure in other universities that have been created so far.

“I am proud to announce that government has already completed the transformation of the Nkrumah College of education in Kabwe into a fully fledged university of Social Sciences. Government has further completed the transformation of the Copperbelt College of education in Kitwe into a fully fledged Mukuba University of Natural Sciences,” President Sata says.

“The establishment of these universities underscores the PF government’s determination to increase access to tertiary education especially for our young people who are currently competing to go to the only three public universities, being the University of Zambia, Copperbelt University and Mulungushi University.”

In addition, the President says government is completing construction works at the Robert Kapasa Makasa University of Science and Technology in Chinsali district in Muchinga province.

President Sata says government is determined to establish a university in each of the ten provinces.

“It is with dismay that regardless of the growing population, Zambia has for the past 49 years of independence, lagged behind in the expansion of tertiary education especially at university level, due to the limited number of universities in the country. It is for this reason that the Patriotic Front (PF) government is determined to change this scenario,” the Head of State says.

Issued by:

GEORGE CHELLAH
SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR PRESS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS

President Michael Sata has defended his governments move to remove the fuel subsidy.He explained thats its removal would avail funds to be used in the social sector and infrastructure development.He assured Zambians that the PF government remains committed to ensuring that there is a transparent and equitable distribution of resources to all sectors to facilitate greater economic growth.

Below is the Full statement

Media Statement

For Immediate Release

PRESIDENT SATA ON THE REMOVAL OF FUEL SUBSIDY

LUSAKA, Thursday, May 2, 2013 – His Excellency, Mr. Michael Chilufya Sata, President of the Republic of Zambia, has said the removal of the subsidy on petroleum products will enable the state to have more finances available for spending and guarantee proper implementation of all government programmes and projects.
President Sata said it is necessary that the subsidy on petroleum products, which has been a burden on state coffers for a longtime, is removed and consequently the price of fuel adjusted upwards in order to attract wider social benefits for the general populace.

“In 2012 alone, the Treasury redirected resources amounting to KR754 Million (K754 Billion) from implementation of other government programmes and activities in the Budget to finance the fuel subsidy,” the Head of State said.

“For the 2013 budget, the Government has already paid a sum of KR571.5 Million (K571.4 Billion) in fuel subsidies as at 18th January, 2013. It is estimated that more than K1.1 Trillion (KR1.1 Billion) will be paid in 2013 as subsidies if no adjustment is made to the price build up and/or the pump price.

“Our people may wish to know that the estimated K1.1 Trillion (KR1.1 Billion) subsidy can go a long way in financing the construction of more than 100 new rural primary schools or over 120 new rural health centres to help the majority marginalized Zambians.”

The President has further explained that these funds are diverted from expenditure on social sectors and infrastructure development that if spent would have accelerated poverty reduction and employment creation especially for the youths.

“The removal of the subsidy will make more finances available for spending and guarantee job creation and the development of infrastructure such as schools, universities, hospitals as well as the Link Zambia 8000 project, which will open up the rural areas for increased trade and investment,” President Sata said.

“The decision will also make funds available for the upgrading of the Indeni Oil Refinery to enable it process pure crude oil, which is cheaper to import and will result in cheaper imports by about US$10 Million while providing other by-products to be used in the plastic, road and fertilizer industries. I believe the overall short and long-term benefits to Zambians of this action, outweighs by far any perceived negative consequences.”

President Sata said in its pursuit to improve the livelihood of all Zambians, the PF government remains committed to ensuring that there is a transparent and equitable distribution of resources to all sectors to facilitate greater economic growth.

Meanwhile, President Sata is this Friday [tomorrow] expected to flag off the commencement of the construction of the 61Km Chalimbana Road project. This is another project under the Link Zambia 8000, which will provide a shorter route to the Leopards Hill Road passing through Chiawa to Chirundu.

The same day, the Head of State is also expected to lay a foundation stone for the construction of Chalimbana University. This is part of President Sata’s vision to overhaul and develop the education system by increasing the number of public universities as espoused in the PF manifesto.

Issued by:

GEORGE CHELLAH
SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT
PRESS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS