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.

A Chinese mining firm has announced plans to build an ultra-modern multi-million Kwacha skills training school to carter for the underprivileged in society in honour of late Betty Kaunda, the wife of first Republican President Kenneth Kaunda.

Hwatai Mining Investments Corporation Chairman Ling Zao made this announcement when he signed documentation pertaining to the establishment of the school which would serve children from poor households as well as academically gifted pupils at the office of Dr Kaunda in Lusaka yesterday.

Mr Ling whose company has been operating in Zambia for the last three years also announced the establishment of a foundation that would sponsor the education of the under privileged and academically gifted pupils at the school.

Mr Ling who could not disclose the cost of the initiative said the role that Mama Betty and Dr Kaunda played in building a firm foundation for strong relations between Zambia and China motivated him to build the school as a way of honouring the fallen freedom fighter.

He further said although his decision was part of his company’s community social responsibility, he also wanted to send a message that Zambia and China enjoy good relations.

He said Dr Kaunda and Mama Betty were two of the most respected people in China and even though Mama Betty died, many Chinese knew that she had made a tremendous contribution in helping Dr Kaunda to take care of Zambia.

He said he was hopeful that the school would sustain Mama Betty’s love for Zambia.

He appealed to the people of Zambia to remember Mama Betty for the contribution she made to the country she loved and said he was grateful that even in his 80s, Dr Kaunda was still helping to take care of Zambia.

Hwatai Mining Investments Corporation General Manager Eric Shen said
his company would provide building materials for the construction of
the school from start to finish.

He said the company would also provide resources for establishing a foundation that would sponsor under privileged pupils and support the school’s daily operations as well as facilitate introduction of exchange programmes between the school and Chinese schools.

Mr Shen said Mr Ling had decided to build Mama Betty Skills Training School because each time he traveled to Zambia, he always asked his staff in Zambia about how he could find time to help the local community in particular and Zambia in general.

He said Mr Ling came up with the idea to build the Mama Betty Skills Training School that would provide education which is the biggest motivation for the national development that Dr Kaunda and Mama Betty had sacrificed and worked hard for.

Hwatai Mining Investments Corporation is working with other Chinese company’s one of which is Minmetals Real Estate Company which was represented at the function by Deputy General Manager Yang Datong.

Speaking of behalf of Dr Kaunda, his daughter Cheswa Silwizya said her father who had traveled outside the country had expressed happiness that Hwatai Mining Investments Corporation has decided to donate the gift of a skills training school in memory of Mama Betty.

She said Mama Betty was a teacher by profession who looked after her children and struggled to send them to school in the absence of Dr Kaunda at the height of the independence struggle.

She said building a school in memory of Mama Betty was a great way to remember her for the passion she had for children.

The anticipated voting over the Barotseland Agreement of 1964 at the national Constitution Convention in Lusaka yesterday failed to take place after architects of the motion decided to have the voting called off.

Former Speaker of the National Assembly Amusaa Mwanamwambwa, just before the voting started, sought permission from chairperson of the convention Muyunda Mwanalushi to say something over the voting on the Barotseland Agreement.

Mr Mwanamwambwa moved a motion that voting on the Barotseland Agreement should not take place and that the matter should instead be referred to the parties concerned, the government and the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE).

“The BRE and the government should dialogue over this matter and find a lasting solution. That is the reason I am asking that this gathering should not vote on it. This meeting can facilitate for a speedy resolution of this matter,” Mr Mwanambwambwa said at the Lusaka Mulungushi conference Centre where the convention has been held since April 10, 2013.

Mr Mwanamwamba’s motion was seconded prompting chairperson Professor Mwanalushi to put it to a vote.

Those against taking a vote overwhelmingly won against those for voting and Prof Mwanalushi called on the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) officials to instead conduct elections on three issues namely, the death penalty, the academic qualifications of the Speaker and deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and the age qualification of a presidential candidate.

The voting led by returning officer Lawrence Mulenga started just before 18.00 hours and by press time, the counting had not yet finished.

Earlier, the convention rejected a proposal that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) should seek permission of the courts before entering a nolle prosequi as prescribed under Article 244 (4) of the first draft Constitution.

This was after Solicitor General Musa Mwenya had argued that there were instances that members of the public in a criminal matter approached the DPP with a complaint that the court was colluding with suspects and wondered how in such instances, the DPP could seek the court’s clearance before entering a nolle prosequi.

Heritage Party leader Godfrey Miyanda said he was a victim of the nolle prosequi himself but supported the proposal from the thematic group that the DPP should be making independent decisions on the nolle prosequi without consulting any authority.

He said while in political matters the nolle prosequi could be abused, he still maintained that the DPP’s office should be left to operate independently.

The convention was expected to be officially closed soon after the results of the voting were announced.

More than 350 Police Officers have been mobilized for deployment to provide security during the 23rd April Kapiri Mposhi constituency by-election.

ZANIS reports from Kapiri Mponshi that Central Province Commissioner of Police Standwel Lungu who confirmed the development in an interview today.

Mr, Lungu said the police command has marshaled 300 police officers from other stations in the country to re-inforce the local force during the by-election.

He said police will stay alert and will crush anyone be it from the ruling party or the opposition political parties found perpetrating violence during the polls.

“The police is well prepared to handle the security demand for the by-elections in Kapiri Mposhi we will deployed adequate numbers of officers for this purpose,” Mr. Lungu.

The police commissioner warned participating political party members and their sympathizers to stay away from violence but conduct themselves peacefully and maturely.

“People should ensure that they do not operate outside the electoral code and the laws of Zambia during the elections otherwise they risk being professionally handled by police”, Mr. Lungu said.

The ruling PF and opposition UPND and UNIP are contesting the Kapiri Mposhi seat which fell vacant after the Supreme Court nullified the election of Lawrence Zimba as MP (MMD).

Mr. Zimba is re-contesting the seat on the UPND ticket.

The PF are fielding Eddie Musonda and UNIP are floating Francis Mwape.

Meanwhile, Mr. Lungu has commended political parties participating in the Kapiri Mposhi by-election for observing the electoral code and conducting their campaigns peacefully.

Mr. Lungu said the police have so-far not recorded any incident during the campaigns which have been going on for close to two weeks now.

“The political parties participating in the Kapiri Mposhi by-elections have behaved exemplary… they have continued to campaign peacefully this is encouraging and we hope they are going to ensure this continues even during and after the poll day,” Mr. Lungu said.

ZANIS