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A team of engineers from Lusaka City Council dismantles a set of traffic lights on Lumumba road in Lusaka after a convoy of abnormal load low beds (trucks) laden with mining and brewery equipment meant for the Copperbelt failed to pass through, causing traffic to pile up.It took the LCC engineers and the transporter hours to unblock the road by uprooting the traffic lights.
The Ministry of Local Government and Housing has disbursed K9.5 billion for the installation of street lights in 17 selected districts in the country.
In a statement to ZANIS in Lusaka today, Local Government Permanent Secretary Bernard Namachila said the move was aimed at supporting local authorities to improve street lighting in districts so as to enhance the security and safety of citizens.
Mr. Namachila, who appealed for prudent utilisation of funds to the 17 councils across the country, said the street lights will add to the beauty and attraction of towns not only to tourists but also to local citizens.
He has since urged the public to guard against vandalising the street lights when they are installed but to take the role of policing in their respectful areas to ensure safety of the installations.
The selected councils that will benefit from the street lighting funding include among others Kasama, Chirundu, Mansa, Choma, Ndola, Mpika, Kabwe, Nakonde and Livingstone.
The Livingstone city council has received the highest funding of K2 billion.
Defending Barclays Cup champions Power Dynamos have been drawn against rivals Zanaco in the semifinals of this year’s competition.
The two sides will meet in a Barclays Cup semifinal doubleheader to be played at Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka on October 27.
And record three-time Barclays Cup winners Zesco United will square-off against promoted and tournament newcomers Napsa in the other last four showdown.
The doubleheader will see Zesco and Napsa kickoff proceedings in a lunchtime kickoff at 13:00.
Power and Zanaco will play at 15:00 to decide which team advances to the finals set for November 17 at a venue to be advised by FAZ.
Kitwe United continue chasing promotion when they face Zesco Luapula in Thursday’s delayed Faz Division One North match at Kaole Stadium in Mansa.
This match was one of the mid-week fixtures postponed by Faz due to Wednesday’s National Mourning government declared in honour of ex-Community Development Minister Stephen Manjata who was buried on the same day in Kaoma district.
Kitwe are reported to have left their base on Monday and only learnt about the cancelling of midweek games on Tuesday when they had arrived in Mansa.
Zesco Secretary Lewis Kapesa confirmed that the delayed match will take place on Thursday after the two teams agreed in collaboration with Faz.
“Yes, the match will take place on Thursday. You know Kitwe United are already here.”
Zesco host Kitwe three days after recording a rare 2-3 away win over Kansanshi Dyanamos.
Fifth placed Kitwe who are five points behind second placed Kalulushi Modern Stars have 48 points.
League leaders Lime Hotspurs have 68 points.
Kitwe Central Hospital (KCH) management has insisted that claims by a Kitwe couple that their newly-born baby boy was swapped for a female are baseless.
KCH senior medical superintendent John Mwewa said as far as the hospital was concerned, there was no baby swap that transpired as claimed by the mother whose child was born on August 24, 2012.
Dr Mwewa said this during a press briefing held at KCH yesterday which was convened to give the hospital position on the controversy over alleged baby swap at the hospital.
Sara Mwanza, 18, of Kamitondo Township house number 1333 together with her spouse has accused medical personnel at KCH of having swapped their baby.
According to Ms Mwanza, at the time of giving birth at Buchi clinic, there was no electricity at the institution causing her to deliver under candle light and that in the process of delivery, there was some complication leading to her being transferred to KCH.
She claimed that it was in the process of this complication that her child was swapped.
[pullquote]Dr Mwewa confirmed that tests were done on the baby and it was found that it had enlarged clitoris which he suspected could have been mistaken for a penis because the baby was born under candle light at Buchi clinic.[/pullquote]
But Dr Mwewa said the hospital planned to do a Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) test in South Africa to determine the exact parentage of the disputed baby.
He said that the hospital was doing everything in its power to facilitate DNA test for the baby.
Dr Mwewa explained that after delivery, Ms Mwanza was rushed to KCH around midnight after nurses at Buchi clinic failed to control her bleeding.
He said the baby was put in a resuscitator just to keep her warm as the nurses where attending to the mother who was bleeding profusely and was almost unconscious.
“As soon as the mother was stable the baby was given back to the mother and they were discharged,” he said.
Dr Mwewa confirmed that tests were done on the baby and it was found that it had enlarged clitoris which he suspected could have been mistaken for a penis because the baby was born under candle light at Buchi clinic.
Dr Mwewa said the hospital was surprised that on August 27, they received a complaint from the family that their baby had been swapped.
He said upon receiving the complaint, management instituted a committee to give details of what had occurred.
He also confirmed that on 15th October the parents came to the hospital complaining that the baby had complications on the umbilical cord and they needed help to take care of the baby
Dr Mwewa said an operation will soon be done soon and the growth was caused because the wound was not properly.
We are highly experienced professionals working in these mines and we are not interested in cooking up figures, Konkola Copper Mines Chief Executive Officer Jeyakumar Janakaraj has stated.
Mr. Janakaraj said the strict corporate governance code regulating big mining companies such as KCM makes it practically difficult to under report or even over report copper production figures.
“For us as KCM, this is not an issue. I cannot start cooking up figures because am not an investor in KCM, am just an employee and I get a salary based on my professional work. I have strict ethical considerations to make,” Mr. Janakaraj.
“I can go to jail for under reporting. We don’t engage in any grain of under reporting at KCM. We are a world class mining operation, we are not school boys who need to report to the master everything we do. We are governed by global standards,’ he said.
Mr. Janakaraj said KCM is listed on the London Stock Exchange through its parent company Vendetta adding that the company’s production figures are available for scrutiny for all.
“We don’t hide anything, we are totally transparent,” he said.
He said the disparity in production figures are a result of a lack of close collaboration between the Central Statistical Office, Bank of Zambia, the Zambia Revenue Authority and Ministry of Finance.
“We are hoping through the Chamber of Mines, the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative would greatly help improve the quality of data capturing,” he said.
The KCM CEO was answering questions from Zambian Journalists this morning on the new reporting requirements instituted by the PF government during the official opening of a three day media workshop in Chingola.
On key mine projects, Mr. Janakaraj said KCM has so far invested USD 1 billion in the development of the Konkola Deep Mine Project whose works are expected to be completed this schedule.
“We are on schedule with the KDMP, this is a project that was on the cards for over 30 years and no one had the technology and the belief to develop this asset. We are happy that KDMP is coming on boards and this will extend KCMs mine life,” he said.
Mr. Janakaraj said mining companies are not interested in getting incentives from the government but are more interested in having a stable and predictable mining policy.
“We need predictability in mining policies and not really incentives, he said.
Inspector General of Police Stella Libongani and children drawn from various schools in Lusaka display copies of road safety books which were donated by the Zambia School of Driving in Lusaka
Inspector General of Police Stella Libongani has revealed that the police service will intensify laws regarding the road safety of children in the country.
Ms. Libongani said the decision to intensify laws is meant to reduce the escalating number of children dying as a result of road traffic accidents in the country.
She said there was also need to train children and parents on how to observe traffic rules and regulations in order to develop a generation of safety and security abiding citizens.
Ms. Libongani has since reaffirmed that the police service will carry out its duties within the mandate of the laid down traffic rules in order to protect many lives from being lost on the roads.
She was speaking in Lusaka today when she received a donation of 5,000 road user guide books for children valued at K17 million from the Driving Schools Associations of Zambia (DSAZ).
The 5,000 road user guided books for children were published with the financial assistance from five cooperating partners namely the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO), Multi Choice Zambia, Ocean Venture Limited and Horizon Primary and High Schools and DSAZ.
Ms. Libongani has thanked the DSAZ for the donation and reaffirmed that the books will be used for the intended purpose.
And DSAZ Director Hope Khumalo said her organization will remain committed to protecting children’s lives on the road.
Ms. Khumalo has called on the private sector to complement government efforts in reducing road traffic accident related deaths by raising awareness on road safety measures.
She said there was need for the Zambia police to increase awareness campaigns and the enforcement of good laws and regulations on accident prevention especially during this rain season.
Ms. Khumalo has also called for change of attitude of some police traffic officers towards the members of the public in order to create a good working relationship and improve the traffic service delivery system in the country.
Acting Chief Administrator for the Judiciary, Adejiso Mwansa, has disclosed that the sector has made steady progress on its programmes of decentralisation.
Mr. Mwansa told ZANIS in a telephone interview yesterday that in the past one year, the judiciary has constructed 110 local courts countrywide.
He said Zambia still has a challenge in terms of decentralising the judiciary because some places still do not have infrastructure for court operations.
He said these areas use trees for shelter to dispense law and justice.
Mr. Mwansa said the judiciary was however committed to ensuring that people in all parts of the country receive equal access to courts facilities in order for justice and order to prevail.
He said shelter in itself, plays an important role in motivating workers and the public who are the users of the facility.
He explained that this year, the judiciary had planned to build at least four local courts in each province to facilitate for its efficient delivery of its services to the local people.
Commenting on the plans to rehabilitate and refurnish the Lusaka Boma courts, Mr. Mwansa said the judiciary was for now committing itself to provide shelter in areas that have little or nothing to rely on in terms of infrastructure.
He said the Judiciary, like any other institution, has financial challenges hence it will not continue putting money into the same area but will move to places that are in urgent need.
Mr. Mwansa further said to improve on monitoring of workers, the Judiciary has placed six bio-metric system points which indicate the time a person reports for work and when they leave.
He said the bio-metric system has helped a lot because workers cannot knock off before the required time
The bio-metric system does not respond to commands before knocking off time thereby making everyone work within the required hours.
He said this system will soon be extended to other parts of the country in the Judiciary once funds were available.
Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) yesterday walked out of the House in protest that they have not been officially informed on who is acting Finance Minister since the holder ALEXANDER CHIKWANDA was acting President.
The MPs lead by MMD Nalikwanda MP GEOFREY LUNGWANGWA, walked out at 16:58 hours despite Speaker of the National Assembly PATRICK MATIBINI giving several rulings on the matter this week.
MMD Kabombo East DANNY CHINGIMBU remained in the House with UPND Nangoma MP BOYD HAMUSONDE who was out at the time his counterparts walked out, but remained in the House until adjournment at 17:489 hours.
However, all MMD appointed Deputy Ministers remained in the House with Patriotic Front (PF) members, Cabinet and Deputy Ministers with leader of Government business Vice President GUY SCOTT.
The walk-out followed Professor Lungwangwa who wondered whether it was in order for Government not to inform the House on who the acting Finance Minister in place of Mr Chikwanda was.
Professor Lungwangwa said Mr Chikwanda, as a mover of motion on 2013 national budget presented last week was supposed to be in the House to take down concerns raised by members during debates.
He wondered whether it was in order for the members to continue debating in the absence of Mr Chikwanda or any acting Finance Minister to take all pertinent issues on budget debates and respond.
But in his ruling, Speaker of the National Assembly PATRICK MATIBINI said the leader of Government bu8siness Dr Scott was in the House and that Cabinet Ministers and their Deputies were always present to hear what other members debated
“I still consider the order unsubstantial because the Honourbale Chikwanda is still Finance Minister and there is disfunctionality and I don’t see any constitutional crisis and the debates can be conducted,” he said
He said if members were not happy they could ignite the process because there was parliamentary democracy and members had right to do so.
Home Affairs Deputy Minister STEPHEN KAMPYONGO also raised on a point of order whether opposition where in order toa walk out at the expense of listening on behalf of their people, in respond, Dr Matibini said it was not in order and all members needed to be present in the House.
Several PF MPs said the budget would give a proper direction on where the ruling party was delivering development to uplift people’s welfare.
Vice President Guy Scott has reiterated his assurance to the nation that government will pay all the farmers that sold their maize to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) by the end of October 2012.
Dr. Scott said government was committed to buying one million metric tonnes of maize and paying all the farmers by the end of this month.
Presenting a ministerial statement in parliament on maize marketing season in the country, Dr. Scott said government has already released the K300 million that was allocated for the maize buying exercise.
He explained that however, government is expected to spend about K1.3 trillion for the 1.2 million metric tonnes of maize.
He disclosed that as at 12th October 2012, government was only remaining with a balance of K924 billion due to be paid to the farmers across the country.
The Vice President added that this was why government has given authority to FRA to borrow money from the private sector just to ensure that all the farmers receive their monies in good time.
Dr. Scott said the three commercial banks that were approached have indicated that they have sufficient money to give FRA for it to pay off farmers.
He explained that in some places the delays to pay are caused because of some paper works involved.
And on who will liquidate the credit, Dr. Scott said government will do that with the help of the money from Euro bond.
He added that government has also put in place measures to ensure that all the maize bought by FRA does not go to waste.
He said government will remove all the maize from satellite depots and transport it to holding depots.
Dr. Scott noted that government was also determined to ensure that strategic modalities are put in place in order to enhance food security in the country.
He further stated that this was why government will ensure that it keeps enough maize that can last for about six months as way of making the country food secure.
Last week, Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini directed Dr. Scott to issue a ministerial statement on the crop marketing season after a point of order which was raised by Monze Central Member of Parliament Jack Mwiimbu of UPND.
Former ministry of health human resources manager Henry Kapoko (c)
A Lusaka Magistrate has convicted and fined Henry Kapoko’s ally Terence Mparuri for being in possession of property suspected to have been stolen.
Maparuri 37, of plot numbers 422 Avondale, was convicted and fined K2 million for being in possession of an unregistered motor vehicle namely a Ford Ranger which he failed to account for.
This is contained a press release issued to ZANIS in Lusaka today by Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) Public relations Officer Timothy Moono.
Mr. Moono explained that the vehicle was one of the motor vehicles seized from Kapoko in 2009 following investigations of corruption against him involving over K27 billion.
He disclosed that Mparuri was charged with by the joint investigation team on three counts which include giving false information to a public officer contrary to section 125 of the penal code chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.
Mr. Moono said the other charges are making false documents contrary to 342 and 347 penal code chapters 87 of the laws of Zambia, uttering of false documents contrary to the Laws of Zambia and being in possession of property suspected to have been stolen or unlawfully obtained.
He explained that Magistrate Walusiku found Mparuri guilty of being in possession of an unregistered Ford Ranger for which he failed to give proper account or explanation of how he came in to possession of the motor vehicle.
He noted that the investigations officers found the said motor vehicle in the custody of Henry Kapoko who told investigators that he had hired the said vehicle from Mparuri.
Mr. Moono said Mparuri however, stated that he had bought it from Sibusiso Dhlamini of Swaziland whom he failed to bring before court to confirm that he was the one that sold the vehicle to the accused person.
Magistrate Walusiku convicted and fined Mparuri K2 million in default nine months simple imprisonment and the vehicle has since been forfeited to the state.
In a related development, a Lusaka Magistrate court has convicted two people for bribing a public officer with K500,000 cash gratification and sentenced them to 18 months imprisonment with hard labour.
Magistrate Ruth Chilembo found Shepard Makwaza and John Sinfukwe both aged 32 and living at House Number 116/8 John Howard compound in Lusaka guilty of corruptly offering K600, 000 and giving K500, 000 cash gratification to a public officer contrary to section 29(2) and 41 of the Anti Corruption Act number 42 of 1996.
Mr. Moono said it was alleged that the duo on dates unknown but between 15th day of January, 2009 and 19th day of January 2009 at Lusaka in the Lusaka District of the Lusaka province of the Republic of Zambia, jointly and whilst acting together corruptly offered to give K600, 000 to a named officer of the Drug Enforcement Commission.
Mr. Moono said the offer was as an inducement or reward for the said officer to release suspects from custody, a matter that concerned the Drug Enforcement Commission as a public body.
He added that the convicts were arrested on 20th January 2009 and the sentence was handed down to run with effect from 15th October 2012.
Sex workers in Chipata are reported to be conniving with friends to test for HIV on their behalf.
This came to light during the District Epidemic Preparedness and Control meeting held at the Council Chamber yesterday.
According to a report presented to the meeting by Corridors of Hope, the sex workers were giving their names to colleagues who they knew about their status being negative, to test for HIV.
Corridors of Hope Site Manager, Martin Bwalya, said the sex workers later presented the results to unsuspecting boyfriends, saying they were HIV negative when in fact not.
‘’ The sex workers tell their colleagues that, ‘’ You use my name to register for Voluntary Counselling and Testing because your status is negative,’’ and when the results are out, they give to their boyfriends indicating that their status is okay when it is not,’’ he said.
And Mr Bwalya said in the second quarter of this year, most clients that his organisation received to test for HIV and Sexually Transmitted Illness (STIs) were youth aged between 16 and 24 years old and were either pupils or students.
Meanwhile, Chipata District Education Board Secretary (DEBS), Kezius Lungu, said there was need for government to re-introduce boys in girls’ schools.
Mr Lungu said lack of boys in some schools was contributing to immorality in some girls’ schools, adding that the boys could act as whistle blowers to protect girls when men went for them.
He said the Ministry of Education was trying to move away from weekly boarding in some schools by constructing more schools to reduce distances covered by pupils to go to school.
Hillside Girls’ Secondary School in Chipata has reported a high number of pregnancies in the last two years.
British High Commissioner to Zambia James Thornton is welcomed by Western Province Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary Pius Mishengo when he visited the provincial administration in Mongu
British High Commissioner to Zambia, James Thornton, says declining donor assistance towards Zambia’s national budget is a clear indication that the country’s economic is on a growth path.
Mr Thornton says there has been a considerable projected expenditure increase in the 2013 budget compared to 2012, which indicates that the projected income is equally good.
The High Commissioner said this in Senanga today when he met government Heads of Department in Senanga as part of his familiarization tour of Country.
This was in response to a question from the District Meteorological Officer, Thanda Ngwelela, who wanted to get the High Commissioner’s views on next year’s budget which was present by Finance Minister, Alexander Chikwanda, Last Friday.
Mr Thornton said the challenge now is for the Finance Ministry to raise income through revenue.
He said the success of the budget will largely depend on how well the Ministry of Finance maximizes government revenue through taxes and other means.
“Government is right to be aiming to increase income, thereby, having more money to spend. Obviously that creates a challenge because income has to be raised from taxation and elsewhere and that’s the biggest challenge for every Finance Minister,” he said.
The High Commissioner said his government is working with the Zambian government to ensure that money in next year’s budget is spent in the most effective way.
Mr Thornton said the country’s 7.7 per cent economic growth as projected by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is very impressive.
“The 7.7 per cent economic growth projected by the IMF for Zambia is a very high growth by any standards,” he said.
FILE: Zambia National Soccer team players in training at the Olympic Youth Development Centre in Lusaka
Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) Chief Executive Officer Jeyakumar Janakaraj has revealed that the mining firm will next month facilitate
Chipolopolo’s training camp to India ahead of the 2013 Africa Cup finals.
Janakaraj said KCM is partnering with FAZ in helping Zambia prapare to defend the AFCON title in South Africa.
He noted that the African Champions needs to up their game after struggling to qualify for the Africa Cup.
Janakaraj was speaking to journalists in Chingola on Wednesday.
“We (Zambia) sneaked (to the AFCON) with the grace of God, so we need to play better than that.Right now there is an engagement going on to take Zambia for a training program in India,” Janakaraj said.
Last November,KCM sponsored a similar training camp where coach Herve Renard indentified midfielder Nathan Sinkala prior to the 2012 Africa Cup finals.
According to KCM Communications Manager Shapi Shachinda, his company is currently engaging FAZ to draw up the plan and the dates for the India training camp.
I wish to express my displeasure at the way the Chilanga police station is being manned by the Officer in Charge. First of all he has no respect from his officers and staff. The wife is in charge of the station. Officers who have complained are channelled through the wife who has been running the station for sometime now. She is untouchable because she is related to higher people at Headquarters.
Some officers hardly report for work because they are paid full monthly salaries while skeleton staff are left to man the station. The officer in charge was transferred some time last month just to be told he spoke to higher authorities at Headquarters and he is not going anywhere.
Can the IG investigate this please as I am sick and tried of this type of behaviours in our police force. The President wants to see a working police office and then you see people like him hindering his progress. If he is tried please retire, there are a lot of junior who want to want in the police force.
I will not stop here until I see a change on that station and I am always mentoring the situation. If the IG needs more information I am happy to provide.
File picture: Old mates… Chiluba meets Steven Manjata at Lusaka international airport.
Former Community Development and Social Services Minister Stephen Manjata, who died on Sunday this week, has been buried at Old Mulamatila cemetery in Kaoma district in Western province.
The late Mr. Manjata died at Lusaka Trust Hospital after an illness.
Hundreds of Kaoma residents, who were led by Minister of Gender Inonge Wina and several other senior government officials, turned up in their large numbers to bid farewell to the former minister and former Luampa Member of Parliament at the church and burial services.
Speaking at the church service at Kaoma Evangelical Church of Zambia (ECZ), Mrs. Wina, who was representing government, said President Michael Sata learnt of the sudden death of Mr. Manjata with great sorrow and sadness.
She said immediately after hearing about the death of Mr. Manjata, President Sata instructed government to make necessary arrangements to ensure that the former minister was granted a state funeral in recognition of his great service to the country.
She said the late Mr. Manjata was a great grassroots man who was able to interact and mix with everyone from the lowest to the highest levels in society.
Mrs. Wina said the late Mr. Manjata also had a great understanding of politics and was able read the prevailing political climate in the country.
She said early in his political career, Mr Manjata played a great role as an activist in the UNIP youth wing adding that he was also very instrumental in bringing back multiparty democracy when he joined the MMD in 1991.
She said the late former minister will be greatly missed in the political circles as he was a unifying voice even amidst high political tension.
And Western Province Minister Obvious Mwaliteta said the untimely death of Mr. Manjata was a great loss not only to his family and the people of Western Province but the nation at large.
Mr Mwaliteta said as a local entrepreneur in Kaoma, Mr. Manjata played a role in creating employment for the people of Kaoma through his timber business.
He urged the family to look up to God as they mourned their beloved relative.
And giving an emotional tribute, his son, Musenge stated that his father was truly a man of the people as he embraced everyone in society regardless of their social standing in society.
Musenge said his late father’s home was always open to everyone and that he always instructed his children to allow anyone who came to his house to see him irrespective of what time they came.
He said his father also taught all his children to take each other as one although they came from different mothers.
