Government has pledged to work extremely hard in order to provide social amenities such as schools, health institutions and water supply to people in every part of the country.

Deputy Minister in the Office of the Vice President, Harry Kalaba, said all the Zambians should enjoy access to basic needs such as water, education and health services.

Mr Kalaba said it was unacceptable that some Zambians were still lacking safe drinking water, schools and clinics as close to their communities as possible, 48 years after the country attained its independence from colonial masters.

He said this today when he toured Simonga area and Liyemo village in Livingstone rural and the Sikute Resettlement Scheme in Kazungula district in Southern Province.

In Simonga area, Mr Kalaba was saddened that a community of over 3,000 people can be depending on one borehole as a source of water.

The borehole at this area caters for a clinic, a school and a police post apart from the ordinary households.

Mr Kalaba was also disappointed that there was only one teacher at Namapande primary school which caters for the population of over 130 households scattered in the Sikute Resettlement Scheme covering about 10,000 hectares in Kazungula district.

He observed that the community did not have adequate social amenities because it was neglected by the previous government.

“The PF government wants to bring development to all the people regardless of where they live,” he said while attributing the sluggish development in the area to lack of commitment by the previous government.

Mr Kalaba, therefore, promised that government would move swiftly to attend the needs of people in the area.

“There is no place where people live where there is no school, road or clinic. We need to build a clinic here soon,” he said amid applauses from members of the communities who are in dire need of the amenities.

He said government will also attend to the food shortage in the area while the settlers’ other concerns will receive attention after relevant authorities are consulted.

And chairman of the Sikute Resettlement Scheme, which is also known as Namapande, Kalimukwa Likando, outline a number of challenges which included alleged harassment from one organization known as Sikute Trust and the Zambia wildlife Authority (ZAWA).

The challenges were echoed by members of the community.

Mr Kalaba is in Southern Province to get first hand information on the challenges in resettlement schemes and on projects supported by the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) which fall under the Office of the Vice President.

The settlers in Sikute Resettlement Scheme were evacuated from Kasaya which gets flooded every rainy season.

They were resettled in Sikute Resettlement Scheme in 2008 but they still do not have offer letters and title deeds to their 100 by 500 metres plots.

ZANIS

Journalists from four media institutions were yesterday barred from covering an adultery case involving a local court judge.

The case was scheduled to take off at Luanshya main court.

Wynter Machiya who presides at Masaiti local court has been dragged to court by Joseph Njelesani,a water distribution foreman at Kafubu water and sewerage company in Luanshya, who alleges that Machiya had been having an affair with his wife, Veronica Phiri,27.

The visibly annoyed William Nyoni asked the journalists if they had identity cards and letters of authorisation from the relevant authorities for them to attend the court session.

It appeared Mr Nyoni did not want the journalists to cover the court case because it involved a local court judge, who was his superior.

The journalists were forced to follow the court proceedings from the windows as they were denied entry in to the court room.

Mr Nyoni said he was doing so to protect his job as one of his colleagues was fired from his job for allowing journalists in to a court room to cover a similar case.

“Where are your IDs? I am only trying to protect my job. My friend landed into problems for allowing people like you in to a court session such as this one,” Mr Nyoni said.

The affected scribes are from the Times of Zambia, Zambia Daily mail, The Post and Muvi TV.

But acting Luanshya District Commissioner Michael Tandeo expressed disappointment at the action taken by Mr Nyoni adding that the Journalists had a duty to educate and inform the public on such matters.

Mr Tandeo wondered as to what was so special for Reporters not to be allowed to cover Machiya’s case as he had seen journalists cover such cases at the same courts before.

The two Patriotic Front (PF) Ministers, Justice Minister, Wynter Kabimba and his Defence Minster Geoffrey Mwamba have both welcomed the probe instituted by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

In separate interviews both Ministers said that they had nothing to fear or hide.

Mr Kabimba said he had confidence in the ACC and that it would get to the bottom of the matter and the truth would surface.

“I welcome the investigations. I have confidence in the ACC and I am sure the truth will come out,” Mr Kabimba said.

His counterpart, Mr Mwamba said the investigations would help to establish the truth and that he looked forward to the outcome of the probe.

“I have welcomed the investigations and I am looking forward to the probe and there is no problem, let them do the investigations.

ACC has launched preliminary inquiries into corruption allegations against Justice Minister, Wynter Kabimba and his Defence counterpart, Geoffrey Mwamba.

ACC spokesperson, Timothy Moono said at a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday that the launch of the inquiries followed complaints received on the alleged conduct of the two Cabinet Ministers.

“Yes we are on that case, our officers have received official complains of alleged corruption involving the two Ministers and the nation will be kept informed of the outcome of the investigations,” Mr Moono said.

Mr Kabimba, who is Patriotic Front (PF) Secretary-General, is alleged to have influenced the procurement tender process so that Trafigura would be awarded the tender to supply Zambia with petrol and diesel for one year.

Trafigura was awarded the supply deal at a cost of US$500 million for the one year period.

On the other hand, Mr Mwamba is accused of influencing ZESCO to award his company and others where he had interests, a one-year contact for the supply and delivery of wooden poles.

ZESCO intends to award a tender for the supply and delivery of nine, 10 and 12 metre-wooden poles on a year-running-contract basis to several bidders, among them Arizona Marketing and Distribution, which belongs to Mr Mwamba and two of his family members.

Arizona Marketing and Distribution’s bid price on the ZESCO poles contract was about K36.7 billion.

The company, according to the Patents and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA), was owned by Mr Mwamba, of Plot 10 Roan Road in Lusaka’s Kabulonga area.

Preliminary notification of the contract award for the tender, whose bids were closed and opened on June 8, 2012, indicated that the preliminary award had been issued pursuant to Part VI, Section 53 (1) and (2) of the Zambia Public Procurement Act No. 12 of 2008.

Ministry of Health spokesperson, Reuben Kamoto Mbewe, says most of the equipment that was stolen from Lusaka’s Cancer Diseases hospital in the early hours of the morning on October 4th has been recovered.

Speaking in an interview to ZANIS, Dr Mbewe disclosed that five monitors, three computer controlling towers and two keyboards that were used in the diagnosis of cancer ailments in patients have been retrieved.

And Dr Mbewe has asked cancer patients who are still undergoing treatment not to lose hope as everything will get back to normal because management at the health institution is doing all it can to ensure operations resume.

He, however, lamented that three computer keyboards and three computer mice are still missing.

The Ministry of Health spokesperson added that engineers and relevant experts have since been engaged and are already working to repair all the vandalized cables as well as replacing the stolen equipment.

Dr Mbewe said there is some form of relief at the Cancer Diseases hospital as indications are that the equipment will work and advised all cancer patients to report for their continued treatment on Monday, next week.

He has urged cancer patients not to fall prey to misleading information because there is a new twist of event showing that the equipment will effectively perform.

Dr Mbewe explained that the cables which connect to the CT scan were excessively damaged and in the process the dongle which has the licence for the software is still missing adding that it may take quite some time to restore the CT scan services.

He further said in the mean time the Cancer Diseases hospital will use the CT scan which is available at the Levy Mwanawasa General Hospital.

And Police have arrested one person in connection with the theft which happened at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) cancer disease hospital bringing the number of apprehended suspects to four.

Police Public Relations Officer Elizabeth Kanjela has disclosed that Police have also recovered some items among them three computer processing units, five monitors and two key boards labelled GRZ-CDH belonging to the cancer hospital.

Ms. Kanjele has told ZANIS in a statement in Lusaka today, that other items recovered are a safe belonging to Zambia Institute for Diplomacy Studies, 16 unused cheque books and various breaking tools.

She identified the suspect as Maxwell Mwale aged 25 of Lilanda compound who is currently detained in custody and investigations in the matter have continued.

ZANIS

So good entertainment artist F Jay released a video for his single called “Nga Nga Nga”

By Kapa187

Amaka Arts Festival in conjunction with BitterSweet Poetry brings you Slap Poetry night : The Power of the Arts- Spoken word!!

Place: Mulungushi Conference center

Time: 18:30

Cover : 50 000

Come and share mingle and interact with Art lovers on another level ,come and see the prestige of the Art of Poetry.

For reservations call : +260967766557

Afri-CAN By Alexander PinceCharmer Brown

There’s no right. There’s no wrong.

There’s no weak. There’s no strong.

There’s but one reality that we’re all yet to find.

That is the fact that the world is in your mind.

There’s no lie. There’s no truth.

There’s some doubt. And there’s faith.

There’s more life in front than there is behind.

That’s belief without sight. The world’s in your mind.

There’s no rich. There’s no poor.

There’s only getting tired of what we have and who we are.

But…wake up! Open your eyes! Don’t be blind!

You need to realize. The damned world’s in your mind.

There’s no black. There’s no white.

We’ve all got grey matter. Isn’t that right?

There’s no luck. Good or bad. It’s all psyche-bind

Yes. Color’s outside. But the world’s in your mind.

There’s no heroes. There’s no bad guys.

There’s only us…and a type who compromise.

Once you fall into the trap, you can’t rewind.

You’re good. You’re bad. But…The world’s in your mind.

There’s no failures. There’s no greatest.

There’s no such idiocracy as an impossible test.

If someone did it, you too can. You’re just as good a kind.

Yes. You can…Say it…The world’s in your mind.

There’s no borrowers. There’s no owners.

There’s no need for losers and winners.

With the thoughts in your head, your world you’ve defined.

As strong or as weak as you think. So you shall be. The world’s in your mind.

There’s no me reciting this poem.

There’s no sound of my voice. There’s no poet by my name.

But listen…This day’s in your head…You can date success if you make up your mind.

Yes…You can…It starts with telling yourself that the world’s in your mind.

Can? Did I say you ‘can?’…No….You…

afri-CAN

Your skin’s dark. But not your mind

Here…Come see yourself through my eyes. You’re wonderfully designed.

Industrious men and beautiful women.

You’re not just black. You’re afri-CAN

You’re a product of natural beauty and pure richness.

Why then, should poverty your lips confess?

Don’t let them say you can’t when you can.

You can, and not just ‘can.’ You afri-CAN

Strong willed. Hard working. You’re a child of Africa.

Macho. Hour-glass shaped. You’re more than you think you are.

You’re meant for greatness if you can withstand that much pain.

You’re meant to do it. Your meant to succeed. You Afri-CAN.

Scratch those who say you can’t.

You’re afri-CAN. Not africant.

It’s from your mind that success or failure, you gain.

Say you can. Yes you. You afri-CAN

You afri-CAN make it!

You afri-CAN prove it!

You afri-CAN be whatever you want to.

Yes, you. You afri-CAN you.

You afri-CAN succeed

You afri-CAN get whatever you need

Look around. If he can-

Then we all can. We afri-CAN.

You afri-CAN get through school!

You afri-CAN be successful!

You afri-CAN get that job.

If you afri-CAN stop being a slob.

You afri-CAN get that chick.

You afri-CAN stop being socially pathetic.

You afri-CAN be the person you wish to see in the mirror.

Wipe out the can’t from your face, so you afri-CAN see clearer.

Wake up! Stand on your two feet!

Make a name. You afri-CAN do it.

Quit following! Some can’t tweet. Think original. Think you can.

Yes. Because you can. You freaking can. You afri-CAN.

Keep Smiling

LAU TAU by Isunge Mwangase

Remember how i’d call on you

During hours enveloped by night?

Remember how I was your beau,

How our love was true but not right?

I admit- we did not care,

Happiness is never wrong,

It mattered not who would stare

Because together we were strong,

You used to call me Lau Tau,

A pet name I cherish still,

Hidden in scripts of the tao-

A passion always at its fill.

Heaven n earth I think of no other,

My thoughts of you are endless,

Even though we are not together,

My love for you is timeless.

DESIRE (A LYRICAL SONNET) By Mufumbi John Mulenga III

In far-off time, when the days expire

I still will live on, still will inspire.

And I’ll know you then, my unforgotten Desire

When your love for me sets your eyes on fire.

And I’ll breathe you in, I will inspire

The grace in you to make me entire.

You’ll walk with me, neither halt nor tire,

I’ll soar with you, fly with you still higher.

You’re all my dreams, you’re all I aspire

And I’ll love you then, my unforgiven Desire

When you breathe into me a kiss like a fire.

You’re all of me, you’re all I require

We’ll fulfill eternity’s graceful desire

And live on for all the world to admire. 

President Michael Sata has appointed PF losing candidate in the Livingstone Central bye election Joseph Akafumba as Ministry of Justice Permanent Secretary.

At a swearing in ceremony at State House this morning, President Sata urged Mr. Akafumba to ensure that the Public Order Act is enforced and adhered to.

Mr. Sata said the PF whilst in opposition used to think that the Public Order Act was a mere piece of legislation until it got into government.

He also ordered the newly appointed PS to ensure that access to justice is enhanced even for the poor.

President Sata said it is saddening that the poor are denied access to justice especially for those in the rural areas.

And Mr. Akafumba said in an interview that he is grateful to President Sata for allowing him to serve the people of Zambia.

“This is a huge responsibility and I’m just grateful to the President for entrusting me with this responsibility,” Mr. Akafumba said.

Mr. Akafumba who has lost the Livingstone seat on two occasions is also PF Southern Province Chairman.