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: President Sata cuts a ribbon during the official opening of the newly constructed Livingstone ZAF Banquet Hall while ZAF Commander, Lieutenant General Eric Chimense and Defence minister Geoffrey Mwamba look on
Defence minister Geoffrey Mwamba has announced that the Government is in a process of establishing a Marine wing in the defence force.
Mr Mwamba said the establishment of the marine forces follows the directive from President Michael Sata on the need to have such a division especially that Zambia has a number of water bodies.
The other reason is to protect the Zambian people including fishermen who live along the water bodies sharing borders with other countries.
“Since Zambia has a lot of water bodies, the Commander of the Armed Forces, President Michael Sata directed that a marine defence force be established, as soon as possible. The plan is already on the drawing board and will come to fruition soon,” Mr Mwamba said.
Mr Mwamba said this yesterday when he visited the Angolan supreme School of War where some defence personnel from Angola and other countries in the region usually undertake their military refresher courses.
Mr Mwamba who was taken on a tour of the college said Zambia had a similar set up but is called Staff College and also offered similar courses; expect training in the navy as the country does not have such a set up.
He said as Zambia was in the process of establishing a marine defence force, it would not hesitate to consult Angola to assist set up the division.
Mr Mwamba also said Government would soon modernize all the three defence wings in line with the modern international standards.
He said Government had recognised the urgent need to modernise the three defence wings, which include the Zambia Army, Zambia Air Force and the Zambia National Service because of the obsolete equipment they have.
He said the modernization of the three departments also entails the building of adequate housing units for the defence personnel in the country as the way of boosting their morale.
And Angolan Minister of Defence General Candido Van-Dunem pledged his country’s continued support to Zambia’s development agenda especially in the areas of defence through the training of military personnel and exchange programmes.
Gen. Dunem said Zambia and Angola have continued to enjoy political and economic ties and should therefore continue working together to foster peace and security especially on the borders of the two countries.
Opposition Political parties and other stakeholders yesterday took to task Kapiri Mposhi District Electoral officer and demanded to know why the access room where the ballot papers for the next week’s elections was left open over night.
This was after it was discovered that the access room was not locked and no one was able to provide an explanation on who opened the room.
The United Party for National Development (UPND) and UNIP accused the council officials of planning to rig the election for the upcoming by elections prompting the electoral officers to order that a verification of the ballots be carried out.
But District Electoral officer who is also Kapiri Mposhi district Council Secretary Mpande Hamwende who was at pain to explain to the political parties said he does not know who opened the room but assured that all the papers were intact and ruled out accusation of rigging.
Mr Hamwende said he was confident that the papers were intact and that no box was tempered with according to the serial numbers issued by the printer in the United Kingdom and asked them not to panic.
He explained that the only papers which were opened were the ballot papers samples which showed all the candidate and insisted that known of the ballot boxes were opened.
But UNPD aspiring candidate Lawrence Zimba and his UNIP counterpart Francis Mwape insisted that it was clear that there wanted to rig the elections.
By press time verification of the ballots were been carried out in the presences of the three political parties the ruling Patriotic Front (PF), UNIP,UPND and other stakeholders while police was keeping vigil.
Central Commissioner of police Standwell Lungu said calm had returned but police was monitoring the situation.
Meanwhile UNIP Vice President, Njekwa Anamela says his party was the only political party that can boast of delivering meaningful development to the people of Zambia when it formed government from 1964 to 1991.
Mr Anamela who was speaking during a rally to dram up support for the UNIP candidate Mr Mwape urged electorates in Kapiri Mposhi to vote for an opposition Member of Parliament in the April 23 by-elections for purposes of providing checks and balances to government.
“We built roads and here in Kapiri Mposhi we left Kapiri Grass Products (KGP), TAZARA among other companies that gave employment to our people but our colleagues have categorically failed to add value to these companies that’s why we have come back to remind you that you deserve better leadership than what you have now, “he said.
The UNIP leader who was flanked by its party National Chairman for Elections, Chigaga Banda and other senior party officials pointed out that UNIP succeeded in putting-up infrastructure and industries in all corners of the country which provided employment for the local people.
He added that UNIP would bounce back to power in 2016 and promised that the oldest political party in the country would deliver development to the expectations of its people.
He charged that the MMD and PF governments have clearly failed to match the levels of development left by UNIP and that the two political parties were merely riding on the achievements of UNIP.
And Mr Mwape urged electorates in Kapiri Mposhi to vote for him because he is a local person who identifies with the challenges that the constituency was faced with.
President Sata during the official opening of Shangombo District Hospital on April 19,2013-Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
President Michael Sata has advised the people of Western province not to focus their attention on Barotseland Agreement (BA) of 1964 but that they should embrace various developmental projects Government is delivering to them.
Mr Sata said the people of Western province should not be cheated by some people over BA of 1964 because his Government was already delivering massive developmental projects aimed at improving their welfare.
He said the locals could not ‘eat’ the BA of 1964 and that there were many tribes which were a segment of the province hence their need to focus on Government’s empowerment projects being carried out.
President Sata was speaking yesterday in Shangombo district when officially opened the long waited Shangombo District Hospital which was constructed at a cost of KR 26 million with a bed capacity of over 130.
“Nobody is going to eat the BA of 1964, because all of you need development and in this province, there are many tribes such as the Nkoyas, Mbundas, Chokwes, Luvales and the Lozi people who are a segment of the province.
[pullquote]“Nobody is going to eat the BA of 1964, because all of you need development and in this province, there are many tribes such as the Nkoyas, Mbundas, Chokwes, Luvales and the Lozi people who are a segment of the province.[/pullquote]
“My Government is already delivering massive developmental projects and this is where you have to focus because we want to give you what you want,” he said
Shangombo District Hospital which was constructed by Tomorrow Investments Limited, a Zambian construction company, was equipped with maternity wards and other modern facilities.
Mr Sata was happy that the hospital would assists in alleviating the suffering of the locals in accessing quality health services and cutting the long distances they used to travel to get treatment.
He said he was proud to have been the one commissioning the hospital because it was among several developmental projects that Patriotic Front (PF) Government promised the locals through its manifesto.
President Sata said quality heal services were important to the livelihood of all Zambians and assured the locals that Government would ensure in each district in the province there was a modern hospital.
He urged Western Province Permanent Secretary Emmanuel Mwamba to ensure that more health facilities were constructed closer to the locals with quality health services.
The Head of State also directed the Minister of Energy to ensure that Shangombo district hospital was connected to the national electricity grid including other public institutions.
Nalolo’ s Wamunyima Mukubesa cuts a ribbon during the launch of the Muoyo Water Supply scheme project by President Michael Sata in Nalolo, Western Province on April 19,2013-Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
He asked the people of Western Province to give PF another Member Parliament during the Lukulu by-election saying it would not be good for them top continue wallowing in poverty at the expense of voting for the opposition parties.
And President Sata took a swipe at Cabinet ministers who had failed to
reach out to far flung areas such as Shangombo to learn about the
hardships the locals were encountering.
“Are you not ashamed that the people who voted for you are getting poorer while you are getting fatter? Some of you have never been here,” Mr Sata said amid jubilations from the crowds.
President Sata was saddened that several children and other people who welcomed him in Shangombo did not know where there next meal would come from.
He urged his ministers to be visiting rural areas such as Shangombo to understand the challenges people faced.
Later, Mr Sata commissioned the KR4.9 million Muoyo Water Supply Project in Nalolo in Western Province in which over 10, 000 residents would benefit from clean water supply.
[pullquote]“Are you not ashamed that the people who voted for you are getting poorer while you are getting fatter? Some of you have never been here,” Mr Sata said amid jubilations from the crowds.[/pullquote]
Earlier, Health Minister Joseph Kasonde assured the locals that his ministry was working diligently to construct more hospitals adding that of the 181 staff needed at the hospital, a total of 125 have already started working at the new medical facility.
Works, Supply , Communications and Transport Minister Christopher Yaluma said and Road Development Agency board chairperson Willie Nsanda said the ministry and RDA respectively would upgraded the poor road infrastructure in the area.
And the Litunga of the Lozi speaking people in Western Province Lubosi Imwiko has praised President Michael Sata for his diligent and concerted effort to deliver unprecedented development in the province.
Speaking on behalf of the King in Shangombo yesterday when President Sata officially commissioned the Shangombo district hospital, Acting Ngambela, Induna Kalonga said the traditional leader was impressed with Mr Sata’s efforts to develop the province.
“I have accompanied His Excellency President Sata on behalf of King Litunga here because he is impressed with what our Head of State on doing.
“As people of this province, we are happy with massive developmental projects the Government is delivering and we shall also work with it,” he said
He said the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) was behind the developmental projects that the Patriotic Front (PF) Government was implementing in the province.
Induna Kalonga said the efforts by President Sata to change the face of the province by building Shangombo District hospital was a clear indication that the Government was caring for the locals.
Confusion reigned at Kasama General Hospital Mortuary in the early hours of today when St Paul’s United Church of Zambia (UCZ) officials in Kasama and Taxis drivers differed over burial programme of a deceased person in Kasama.
Taxi drivers blocked the main way to the hospital entrance using taxis for over 40 minutes causing panic to mourners and other people who went to access health services at the institution.
But quick action by Police prevented the situation from worsening.
Kasama Taxis Drivers Association Chairperson Macmillan Mwanya told a ZANIS crew that rushed to the scene that his members were upset after the church leadership failed to incorporate them on burial programme for one of their colleague.
Mr Mwenya pointed out that the association wanted to accord the deceased a special burial ceremony it gives to its members.
And St Paul’s UCZ Boys Brigade Officer Thomas Chitambi described the drivers’ behaviour as barbaric.
Mr Chitambi narrated that the problems rose after the two parties failed to agree on the set burial programme which was instituted by the church and family members at the mortuary.
Scores of on lookers watched in disbelief as the drivers chanted various slogans denouncing the church.
And people talked to expressed disappointment at the manner in which the drivers handled the matter.
Grace Nachula 34 of Chiba village said the drivers should have allowed the Church to execute its duties without interfering.
Mrs Nachula said it was embarrassing and un traditional for people to quarrel over a dead body.
Calm only retained after the church allowed the drivers to perform their usual ceremony under police traffic escort of driving the coffin through new town roads and the central business district of Kasama.
The UPND campaign team in Kapiri Mposhi’s Chang’ondo Ward has condemned the alleged strategy by the ruling PF party to exchange their Chitenge campaign materials with electorate’s National Registration Cards (NRCs) and voters cards in the area.
Provincial UPND Secretary, Davy Siamuzyulu who is campaigning for his party in the area today told ZANIS in a telephone interview that a PF campaigner who he declined to name was this afternoon found with over 50 NRCs and voters cards allegedly exchanged with PF chitenge materials.
Mr Siamuzyulu further said he reported the matter to police adding that his party was aware that there are other perpetrators from PF reported to be engaged in vote buying in other areas of the district.
He said it was unfortunate that the campaigns in Kapiri Mposhi which have been peaceful all along could now result to such malpractices yet it has been the desire by all participating parties to have a free and fair election.
Mr Siamuzyulu also said that the ruling party has allegedly resorted to the vice of vote buying because the party has no support from the electorates in the area.
He further said he was confident that the police will act professionally in handling the matter stating that if the culprit is brought to book, then others engaged in the illicit electoral malpractice will refrain from the habit.
He however, appealed to the ruling PF party to ensure that they adhere to the electoral code of conduct in order to have a peaceful campaign process.
ZANIS efforts to get a comment from the PF officials failed by press time.
PRESIDENT Michael Sata opening a plaque during the ground breaking ceremony for the construction of the 20,000-seater Mongu Stadium
President Michael Sata has said Western province would develop faster and significantly if there were more Patriotic Front (PF) Members of Parliament (MPs) in the area.
Currently, there are only two PF Members of Parliament (MPs) out of 17 constituencies in the province and these are Nalolo MP, Inonge Wina and Mongu Central MP, Nathaniel Mubukwanu.
Mr Sata said the two PF Members of Parliament have worked hard towards fulfilling the ruling party’s campaign promises.
He said this in Nalolo district today when he launched the Muoyo Water Supply Project.
“If I had half of the MPs in Western province, the sky would be the limit,” President Sata said in apparent reference to development taking place in the region.
The President said he was sceptical about enhancing development in the province because if he did, the opposition political parties would be claiming to be responsible for that development.
Mr Sata said it was now up to the people of Western province to elect more PF Members to Parliament in future elections in the region in order to foster development.
And President Sata has bemoaned the fact that many people in Western province have remained poor despite the region being one of the first to produce intellectuals in the country.
He said his government would improve education systems in the country so that children do not end up at basic education level which he said would not help anyone do something tangible in life.
Earlier, Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing Forrie Tembo said the Muoyo Water Supply project would gobble KR4.9 million.
Mr Tembo said the 10,000 Muoyo residents would benefit from the new water project, which was fully funded by his ministry.
He said his ministry was currently undertaking water and sanitation projects in many other areas of Western province adding that this would help improve people’s access to clean water.
And Nalolo Member of Parliament, Inonge Wina told the people in the area to support the PF government in its endeavours of developing the region.
Mrs Wina said President Sata and his government were now fulfilling promises which were made when the PF was campaigning to be elected into government.
Meanwhile, Acting Ngambela Godfrey Siisi (Induna Kalonga), who spoke on behalf of the Litunga of Western province in Limulunga district and Litunga Lamboela in Nalolo district, said the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) was happy with the PF government’s style of leadership and desire to develop the area.
Several cabinet and deputy ministers, senior government officials and representatives of the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) attended the function.
President Sata earlier commissioned newly Shangombo district hospital in Shangombo but boycotted to launch the ground breaking ceremony of the construction of the Mongu ultra modern stadium after realising that authorities responsible were not ready.
President Michael Sata this morning refused to symbolically perform the ground breaking ceremony at the site where the ultra modern stadium in Mongu is to be constructed.
Mr Sata boycotted to ‘break the ground’ because there was no mattock which he should have used to perform the symbolic activity.
He left the site where the stadium would be constructed, saying there was no way he could commission the construction exercise when things were not ready.
“You, there is nothing here. Why call me here when things are not ready,” he asked before walking to his official vehicle and left for the airport to depart for Shangombo where he was to officially commission the newly built district hospital.
The President spent less than half an hour at the construction site but managed to plant a tree at the same place together with a few ministers and a Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) representative.
He did not even unveil the plaque with inscriptions about him launching the ground breaking ceremony for the construction of the stadium.
Zesco United coach Tenant Chembo says he is banking on his striking triumvirate of Patrick Kabamba, Lottie Phiri and Winston Kalengo to bring the results this season.
The trio looked on fire last Saturday in Zesco’s 2-0 home win over troubled Napsa Stars at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
Kalengo and Phiri were on target while Kabamba was instrumental in both goals on their way to collecting their second league win of the season.
“God willing if they are healthy and injury free they will do us a World of good because we played a three striker combination,” Chembo said.
“It looks good and we hope they carry forward for the rest of the season.”
His attacking trio will face its biggest test on Saturday when they host Power Dynamos at the Trade Fair Grounds in Ndola.
Chembo will be banking on the trio to help end Zesco’s five-match winless run against Power stretching back to 2010.
Power have won three and drawn two league meetings in a roll in three seasons over Zesco.
However, Power’s attack has been misfiring and has won just one league game way back on March 16 after a promising start that included a 2-1 win over Zanaco in the Charity Shield final on March 9.
Meanwhile, Zesco will be play their league game at the Trade Fair grounds due to an athletics event on the same date at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium which has been their home ground since 2012.
Republican Vice-President Dr Guy Scott has reported Zambia Sugar Plc to the Zambia Competition Commission for using their monopoly to overprice their product.
This is according to a press statement released by Patron Chilemba ,First Press secretary Zambian High Comission South Africa.
Dr Scott said government needs to enforce regulation on the mining operations in the country to curb vices such as tax evasion and ensure that people get a fair share from their natural resources.
A recent report by a non-governmental organization Action Aid entitled Sweet Nothings: claims that Zambia Sugar Plc, a company in the Illovo Sugar group, which was bought in 2007 by Associated British Foods, uses tax-haven sister companies in Ireland, Mauritius and the Netherlands to minimise tax and has in the process prevented Zambia from collecting $27-million in tax revenue.
However, in a recent interview Dr Scott said although he does not concur with the allegations of tax-evasion against Zambia Sugar, he believes the company is guilty of using their monopoly to overprice their sugar products, a matter he says he has since reported to the competition regulator, the Zambia Competition Commission.
“I think people should understand there is a problem with the public sector and a bigger problem with the private sector which needs to be addressed” Dr Scott said.
And reacting to recent protestations in South Africa’s Business Day Newspaper on the decision by government to ban foreign sales of local gemstones, with some analysts like David Gleason accusing government of returning to Dr Kenneth Kaunda’s era of nationalizing mines in the story headlined “Cut from the same Kaundan cloth”, Dr Scott said Gleason should acknowledge that there have been massive rip-offs by foreign mining companies of the profits they were making from Africa’s resources.
“What he should do as a very experienced mining manager, he was in Anglo-American years ago, that we should find a solution to the issue of taxation, externalization of accounts, or part of the accounts,” Dr Scott said. “It’s much more sensible than saying that Zambia is being paranoid again about these companies…some of them have cheated tax evasion not so long ago. If they will do that to the United States government, what will they do to the Zambian government? So it’s re-assurance that is needed, it’s regulation.”
Dr Scott said what was needed world over was not necessarily public ownership, but regulation in order to curb cheating and ensure that people got a fair share from their resources.
He said Kagem could not claim innocence because that was not obvious to everybody.
“What we are emphasizing is that we are not accusing investors of being thieves, but the need to enhance transparency that they should be above suspicion,” said Dr Scott.
On the issue of job creation in the country, Dr Scott said the government has embarked on ambitious programmes in infrastructural development in form of roads, housing, recruitment of people into jobs and resuscitation of neglected industries such as rail transportation.
He said he was confident that the over seven (7) percent growth target for 2013 would be attained mainly as a result of the capital-intensive projects in mining.
“A lot of countries including South Africa are making what looks like big economic strides because of what they are doing in Capital intensive areas like gold mining, copper mining in Zambia,” said Dr Scott. “(However), the actual people still remain poor and that’s what we have to focus on.”
Opposition UNIP supporters wave placards at the Supreme Court grounds when their party leader Tilyenji Kaunda filed in his nomination papers in Lusaka
The United National Independent Party says the MMD and PF aspirations have failed to sustain and add value to the degree of development that UNIP left when it was voted out of power in 1991.
UNIP Vice President, Njekwa Anamela has urged electorates in Kapiri Mposhi to vote for an opposition member of parliament in the April 23 by-elections for purposes of providing checks and balances to government.
UNIP Vice President, Njekwa Anamela said his party was the only political party that can boast of delivering meaningful development to the people of Zambia when it formed government from 1964 to 1991.
Mr. Anamela said this when he addressed a public meeting at Kapiri Mposhi Town Centre ground to drum up support for UNIP candidate, Francis Mwape in the fourth coming Kapiri Mposhi constituency by-election.
Mr. Anamela who was flanked by party National Chairman for Elections, Chigaga Banda and other senior party officials pointed out that UNIP succeeded in putting-up infrastructure and industries in all corners of the country which provided employment for the local people.
“ We built roads and here in Kapiri Mposhi we left the TAZARA, Kapiri Grass Products (KGP) companies that gave employment to our people but our colleagues have categorically failed to add value to these companies that’s why we have come back to remind you that you deserve better leadership than what you have now,” Mr Anamela said.
He claimed that the MMD and PF governments have clearly failed to match the levels of development left by UNIP and that the two political parties were merely riding on the achievements of UNIP.
“ We can clearly see the signs of failed governance since we left power… and both the MMD and PF governments are still riding on our achievements,” Mr Anamela said.
Mr Anamela stated that UNIP will bounce back to power in 2016 and promised that the oldest political party in the country will deliver development to the expectations of the people.
And Mr Mwape urged electorates in Kapiri Mposhi to vote for him because he is a local person who identifies with the challenges that the constituency was faced with.
Mr Mwape said once elected as an MP he will prioritise the road network and water reticulation systems which he described as pathetic in the district.
“I know this area because I have stayed here for a long time now… I know the problems being faced and I will work with you to address these problems us I have done before in my other capacities,” Mr Mwape said.
Mr Mwape is former Council Secretary for Kapiri Mposhi District Council.
Lusaka province Permanent Secretary, Brig. Gen. Emeldah Chola (RTD) with Liechtenstein foreign affairs minister, Aurelia Frick joining mphashya nursing school students in dancing during the official opening of st Luke’s School of nursing hostel at Chongwe district hospital.
Lusaka Province Permanent Secretary, Emeldah Chola, has thanked the government of Liechtenstein for complimenting government’s efforts in the health sector in the province.
Gen Chola sounded the applaud in Chongwe district yesterday when Liechtenstein’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Aurelia Frick, commissioned students hostels, tutors’ houses and a multi-purpose hall at chongwe district hospital.
The infrastructure, which was constructed by Solidar Med through the government of Liechtenstein, is meant to accommodate student nurses on attachment from St Luke’s Mission Hospital in Rufunsa district.
Gen Chola said the construction of the structures is in line with government policy of public, private partnership.
She said she is aware of the hardships that students including training institutions have gone through without these important facilities.
Gen Chola lamented that institutions are forced to rent out private residents in order to accommodate the students and some tutors are made to stay outside training facilities.
She said lack of accommodation and the long distance from the training institution contributed to late reporting, fatigue and poor concentration by the students during practical subjects.
Gen Chola urged the students and the tutors to look after all the structures so that many other students can use them in very good state.
And Liechtenstein’s Foreign affairs Minister, Aurelia Frick, said she is happy that the programme her government initiated is bearing fruit.
Mrs Frick said the main objective of their programme is to ensure the human resources for health in rural areas of Zambia are strengthened.
She said this is being done through supporting of national training programmes in providing a skilled professional health work force and delivering quality health care.
Minister of Finance and National Planning Alexander Chikwanda
The Minister of Finance, Alexander Chikwanda, has began a series of meetings at the on-going 2013 IMF/World Bank Spring meetings and chaired the first session of the Africa Group 1 Constituency DC representative meeting.
The Africa Group 1 constituency comprises AfricaN countries from sub-Sahara Africa whose objective is to map out the developmental agenda plan for member countries that is subsequently submitted to the World Bank for consideration for assistance.
Mr Chikwanda is leading the ZambiaN delegation to the 2013 IMF/World Bank Spring meetings.
During the meeting, the Finance Minister is expected to hold talks with the World Bank African Region Vice President, attend several ministerial roundtable discussions and meet with senior Executives of the Millennium Challenge Cooperation (MCC).
The Zambian delegation includes Secretary to the Treasury, Fredson Yamba, Permanent Secretary, Felix Nkulukusa, Bank of Zambia Governor, Michael Gondgwe and other Ministry of Finance and Bank of Zambia officials.
Earlier, Mr Chikwanda and the delegation paid a courtesy call on the Zambian Embassy in Washington DC where he was met by Zambia’s Ambassador to the United States Palan Mulonda.
The minister called for increased productivity amongst Zambians, adding that everyone had a task to contribute to the development of the country.
Mr Chikwanda also took time to explain the revision of the revised BOZ Act that will facilitate increased monitoring of the economy particularly with regards to the export earnings.
The minister said the new feature on the revised BOZ Act will provide export controls that will enable Zambia earn increased revenue.
The Finance Minister stressed the need to maximize the enabling business environment in Zambia, adding that it was one of the few countries in the region without export controls.
This is contained in a statement released to ZANIS by First Secretary for
Press at the Zambian Embassy in Washington DC, Patricia Littiya.
First Lady, Christine Kaseba-Sata, has called for the decentralisation of specialist health services countrywide.
Dr Kaseba says it is unfortunate that specialist health personnel are only concentrated in Lusaka and other urban areas, making it difficult for rural communities to access specialist health care.
She said this when she received a KR270 000 donation on behalf of Ubutala Ubwa Bumi (UUB) from China Non Ferrous Metal Mining (CNMC) at State House today.
The First Lady, who is the chairperson for UUB thanked, CNMC for the donation, saying it will go a long way in helping achieve UUB’s objective of improving the livelihood of women and children.
Dr Kaseba appealed to CNMC to consider extending its investment to rural areas and create job opportunities for the rural population.
And CNMC President, Luo Tao, said his firm has created a total of 12 000 jobs since its inception in Zambia 15 years ago.
Mr Luo said though Zambia and China are miles apart, the two countries still share a strong relationship based on improving the livelihoods of both countries.
He pledged his company’s continued support in accelerating development countrywide through increased investment.
Ubutala Ubwa Bumi (UUB) is a Non Governmental Organisation which aims at improving maternal and child health in Zambia being headed by First Lady Dr Kaseba.
Kalulushi Modern Stars coach Levy “Chabby” Chabala says his team was targeting a win in Saturday’s away FAZ Super Division match against fourth placed Nchanga Rangers in Chingola.
Chabala’s side kicked off their campaign with two straight wins before losing their last two fixtures to Nkana and Zanaco.
Chabala said Kalulushi are not moved by Rangers’ recent impressive form which has seen the Chingola side collect seven points in their last three matches.
“We are going there to win, They may have come from a victory but this is a different game, we are going for a victory,” he said.
Chabala added:” We just need to work on the boys’ spirit.”
Dr JOHN PHIRI
Government has advised management at higher learning institutions to be tolerant when dealing with accommodation challenges for students.
Education Minister John Phiri said it was regrettable that institutions of higher learning such as the Copperbelt University (CBU), University of Zambia (UNZA) and Mulungushi University were faced with accommodation problems.
Dr Phiri said in an interview that accommodation at higher learning institutions was not adequate and management at these institutions should find alternative accommodation before they could change the rules.
The minister said that the decision to ban squatting at CBU was made in the interest of students but that management should be tolerant in dealing with the issue.
“There is an accommodation crisis at institutions of higher learning and management of these institutions should exercise tolerance in addressing these concerns because the problems cannot be sorted out overnight,” he said.
Dr Phiri challenged University councils and management to work towards addressing the accommodation problems and indicated that Government was also trying to address the situation by seeing how best they can engage in Public Private Partnership programmes to construct hostels for students.
He further appealed to students to be patient and not to engage in riotous behavior.
CBU students’ union representatives on Wednesday stormed the Ministry of Education in Lusaka to register their displeasure over management decision to ban squatting.
