A 31 year old entrepreneur Frank Masanta has successfully completed his 15-days of walking from Lusaka to Livingstone with a call for young people to embrace entrepreneurship skills instead of waiting for handouts from Government.

Mr Masanta, who works for Youth for Africa Renaissance and Faculty organisation and flagged-off his entrepreneurship walk from Lusaka two weeks ago, arrived in Livingstone on Tuesday around 14:00 hours.

Speaking at Livingstone district commissioner Paul Sensele’s office upon his arrival on Tuesday, Mr Masanta said the Government had already shown its commitment to promote entrepreneurship and hence it was important that young people embraced entrepreneurship to sustain their living.

Mr Masanta’s walk, which was sponsored by Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) SME Toolkit Zambia, was made possible by some district commissioners and well wishers along the way who gave him food and shelter.

“I have walked from Lusaka to Livingstone to try and demonstrate the importance of entrepreneurship.

I would like to inspire my fellow young people to engage in entrepreneurship instead of always asking for handouts from Government and other organisations,” he said.

Mr Masanta said the future the Zambian economy depended on entrepreneurship and it was important that every citizen played a part to supplement Government efforts of creating jobs to the citizens.

“Young people should not just wait for Government to empower every youth. Let them actively engage in creating jobs for themselves instead of always complaining that there are no jobs in the country,” he said.

Mr Masanta said the Government alone could not manage to provide jobs to each and every youth.

“For instance, I only had about K40, 000 when Sports permanent secretary Agness Musunga flagged off the watch in Lusaka recently but because of my entrepreneurship skills, I have managed to walk the whole way and reach Livingstone without difficulties.

I did not have enough money along the way but people embraced my idea because it is part of the solution to help the Government,” Mr Masanta said.

And speaking at the same function, Mr Sensele commended Mr Masanta for successfully completing the entrepreneurship walk.

Mr Sensele said the walk had taught young people that they could sustain themselves without always looking elsewhere for help.

“As Government, we are trying to promote entrepreneurship and so walk has supplemented our efforts by inspiring youths to engage in entrepreneurship.

Our youth like the syndrome of being helped by their parents. We need to encourage them on how to fish and not giving them fish,” Mr Sensele said.

Southern Province sports coordinator Vincent Sitali said he was grateful that Mr Masanta had successfully walked for Lusaka to Livingstone for 15-days.

“As Ministry of Sports, we are involved in promoting entrepreneurship and so you have inspired young people in Southern Province and the rest of Zambia.

You have shown that young people should be physically fit and instead of young people engaging in evil vices that can destroy their bodies,” Mr Sitali said.

COMESA cross border traders association Livingstone chairperson Simon Chande commended Mr Masanta for a successful entrepreneurship walk from Lusaka to Livingstone.

THE 2012 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) has revealed that Zambia is making significant progress in the fight against corruption.

Zambia, Malawi, Morocco and Swaziland stand at 37 points on the log which has Botswana with the highest score of 65 out of 100, reflecting lower levels of corruption in the public sector.

CPI ranks countries or territories based on how corrupt a country’s public sector is perceived. It is a composite index and combination of surveys of corruption collected by a variety of reputable institutions.

Speaking at the launch of the CPI in Lusaka yesterday, Transparency International Zambia outgoing president Reuben Lifuka said 11 African countries had performed better than Zambia which included Botswana 65 scores, Rwanda 53, and Seychelles 52.

Others were Namibia 48, Lesotho and Ghana with 45 each, South Africa 43, Liberia 41, Tunisia 41 and Burkina Faso 38.

In the 2011 CPI, 10 countries performed better than Zambia.

Zambia had in the 2011 CPI scored 3.2 per cent from a total score of 10 points, which had been adjusted upwards, from zero score to 100.

“While it is appreciated that we are making some progress on the CPI it is hardly gratifying to note that the country has a score of less than 50.The political leaders should demonstrate eagerness to rooting out public sector corruption,” he said

Mr Lifuka who is a member of the international board of directors of Transparency International said the 2012 CPI should be used as a reference point to assess what progress Zambia had made in the last two to three years.

Mr Lifuka said the released results would mark a reference point in the approach towards fight against corruption by all stakeholders especially President Michael Sata and the Patriotic Front administration.

He said Government should not merely make pronouncements on fighting corruption but should lead by example in the conduct of leaders.

“It is discouraging to hear allegations and counter allegations of corruption against political leaders, this simply demonstrates that we still have a long way and the fight against corruption needs further strengthening,” Mr Lifuka said

He said the fight against corruption should be fought vigorously by all stakeholders with support from the church, media and the international community.

Mr Lifuka said there should be no sacred cows or protection of anybody from prosecution if there was overwhelming evidence.

African Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption (APNAC) chairperson Cornelius Mweetwa called for concerted efforts in fighting corruption.

The data on Zambia was sourced from among other institutions the African Development Bank country performance ratings and World Bank-country performance and institutional assessment.

President Michael Sata today took to task senior officials from the Road Development Agency (RDA), Muchinga province administration and the Chinese road contractor, China Gun Xi on why works on the Matumbo road in Chinsali District have not yet been constructed.

President Sata also asked RDA chairperson Willie Nsanda, Acting RDA Chief Executive Officer Bernard Chiwala, Shiwang’andu Patriotic Front (PF) Member of Parliament Steven Kampyongo and incoming Muchinga Province Minister Charles Banda why he was invited to commission the road project which was not yet ready.

ZANIS reports that President Sata wondered why he was invited to commission the road works when nothing has been done on the road project.

This was during the President’s visit to Chinsali district to commission road works on the Matumbo-Chama road in Muchinga Province today.

Mr. Sata questioned the RDA officials how the tax payers’ money has been used to pay the Chinese contractor, when construction works have not even commenced.

He strongly instructed the contractor, China Gun Xi, to expedite road works or risk having the contract revoked and given to another contractor.

A visibly angry Head of State said he was not interested in seeing heavy road equipment lined up but that he wanted the actual works to be done.

“I haven’t seen anything. What have I come to see? Where is the road? I came to see the road and not vehicles…I came to see the road we have paid for.

“We have wasted tax-payers money coming here from Lusaka. When I went to Shiwang’andu, I found a hydro power station which I was called for, how about the road here?” he asked.

President Sata who was speaking to the crowd which had gone to witness the commissioning of the road works said Member of Parliament and government ministers should work hard because they were elected to do so.

He said, had it not been for the people, there were not going to hold the positions they were holding.

He said he would again visit the area to check on the road works but that next time he would not announce his trip.

“The next time, I will be here, I will not inform you that I am coming. I will just come straight here,” he said.

He also warned that the government would not hesitate to terminate contracts of contractors who were failing to perform.

“There are many people that can do this job and if you have failed, we can replace you because people are suffering and these are the people that have been voting for governments in order to bring about development,” he said.

President Sata was accompanied by former President Kenneth Kaunda who churned out his Tuyende Pamodzi song to the crowd before the President spoke.

Earleir, Chief Chewe told the President that people in Muchinga province were appreciative of the efforts by the Patriotic Front (PF) government to develop the area.

Chief Chewe said the people of Chinsali would rally behind President Sata and the Government to ensure that the developmental projects were accomplished.

ZANIS

An outspoken Catholic clergyman , Father Frank Bwalya, says the passion shown by most Zambians in the constitutional making process will in the end see a Republican constitution that truly reflect the citizens’ aspirations.

Father Bwalya, who has been elected as Copperbelt Provincial Constitution Conference chairman,says this time around Zambians are determined to have a constitution that reflects their aspirations.

ZANIS reports the clergyman saying in an interview in Ndola today that from the various debates on the constitution only goes to show that Zambians have now become experts in constitution making process which no one can take away from them.

Father Bwalya said the conference will not let down the people of the Copperbelt as all resolutions submitted from districts will be considered in the final draft document for the province.

And father Bwalya says it is too early for people to start questioning the government on what it will do once the national constitutional convention takes place next year. He said the ball was in the hands of Zambians and should ensure that they support the process.

He said it was important progressive clauses in the constitution are supported so that it stands the test of time.

A ZAMBIA Air Force crew and senior government officials that included President Michael Sata’s secretary for Press George Chellah escaped unhurt after the helicopter they were in,crash landed in Shiwangandu area of Muchinga Province.

President Sata’s helicopter which was already airborne flew back and landed so he could ascertain they were no casualties.

A bystander was however, hurt in the aftermath of the crash.

Others on board included Muchinga Province minister Charles Banda and his permanent Secretary Charles Sipanje.

The officials were in Shiwangandu to witness the commissioning of a mini hydro power station by the head of state.

It is not clear what caused the ZAF aircraft AF 746 to crash land as air force’s head public relations referred all querries to the Ministry of defence

Defence minister Geoffrey Mwamba when contacted said he would issue a statement later in the day after investigations are carried out.

Eye witnesses however, said the aircraft seemed to develop what could be described as power failure and failed to ascend before spiralling out of control towards a tree and then coming to rest near a tent erected to provide shelter.

People under the tent scampered for safety from the malfunctioning aircraft whose propellers tore off part of the marquee.

Another helicopter in the entourage was reported to have failed to take off.

President Michael Sata has observed that the country’s power deficit situation is at a critical stage.

President Sata has therefore directed ZESCO to carry out a feasibility study in the country and establish where more mini power hydro stations can be developed.

He noted that the increasing power demand and the absence of investments in new energy infrastructure over the past years has rendered the
available power supply increasingly limited and unavailable for expansion to areas where people have no access to electricity.

President Sata said this in Shiwangandu, Chinsali district this morning when he commissioned the $4.3 million one Mega watt Shiwangandu mini hydro power station.

He said that although Shiwangandu hydro power station is only 1 mega watt, it shows his government’s commitment to creating a better Zambia for all by bringing electricity closer to the people, especially in rural areas.

President Sata said government working through ZESCO will replicate the Shiwangandu power station by building other mini hydro power stations on various small rivers in the country.

The President was in the company of 1st republican president Kenneth Kaunda, mines, energy and water development minister Yamfwa Mukanga,transport, communication, works and supply minister Chris Yaluma,traditional affairs minister Nkandu Luo and Muchinga province minister Charles Banda.

Others are Shiwangandu MP, stephen Kampyongo, Chinsali MP Christopehr Mulenga, Chinese ambassador to Zambia, ZESCO Managing Director Cyprian Chitundu and traditional leaders among others.

And speaking at the same occasion, first republican president Kenneth Kaunda called on Zambians to fully support President Sata because he has proved to be a man of action.

Dr. Kaunda said the people of Zambia should be assured that they are under the leadership of a president who is hardworking.

And speaking earlier, United Nations Industrial Organisation (UNIDO)Chief for renewable and rural energy unit Diego Masera observed that increasing the share of energy from renewable sources can reduce local pollution, insulate countries from fuel price volatility and improve the balance of payment.

Dr. Masera said without access to modern energy, it is not possible to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

[QFM]

The Non Governmental Organising Coordinating Council (NGOCC) has called on Justice Minister, Wynter Kabimba, to apologize to the Anti- Corruption Commission (ACC) following what transpired yesterday when he refused to be interrogated in private.

NGOCC Chairperson, Beatrice Grillo, described as unfortunate for Mr Kabimba to have declined being probed over alleged corrupt acts levelled against him.

In an interview with ZANIS yesterday, Ms Grillo wondered why the Justice Minister behaved in the manner he did, adding that Mr Kabimba should understand that carrying out investigations on him does not tantamount to condemnation but is only a mere check on the deeds of an individual.

She stressed that if the Justice Minister is not linked to any unacceptable act, then he should not worry as the law enforcement agency will protect him.

Ms Grillo added that what Mr Kabimba displayed towards the ACC was not pleasing, saying leaders are supposed to lead by example.

Ms Grillo further implored politicians to give space to the law enforcement agencies to carry out their work in a professional and more effective manner if their work has to yield tangible results.

She said if leaders resort to acting as the case was for Mr Kabimba, it will only set a wrong precedent over leaders as the same thing may occur tomorrow even with other leaders.

The NGOCC chairperson has since advised Mr Kabimba to once more avail himself to the Anti- Corruption Commission for investigations to be launched.

Yesterday, the ACC failed to interrogate Justice Minister, Wynter Kabimba, as he insisted to be probed in the midst of his sympathisers.

ZANIS