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File: Former Republican Vice President Mr George Kunda proposes a toast to vice president of India Hamid Ansari during a State banquet in Lusaka when MMD was in power
The move to search former Republican Vice President George Kunda’s parents in Serenje has been described as cheap and desperate acts by government. Red card for youth Job creation has described the move by Police as unprofessional.
Organization representative Sunday Chanda has also described the PF manner of governance as tantamount to dictatorial. He stated that the police will meet the soul force if they continue with the unprofessional tendencies.
Mr. Chanda maintained that the dictatorial type of governance the PF is allegedly exhibiting will bow down to the people’s will.
Yesterday Police are said to have raided Former Republican Vice president George Kunda’s parents farm as part of the on going investigation of plunder of national resources.
Police seized 46 bags of Mealie Meal, two sewing Machines, 10 cycle pumps.
Central Province Commissioner of Police Solomon Jere confirmed the operation.
Zambia’s R&B Prince ROBERTO is back, bigger than ever! With the
pending release of his latest single “Osanisiya So” just around the
corner. Zambia’s R&B prince will be doing something that no Zambian
artist has done to date, by jet setting on a worldwide promotion of
the single. Roberto will be making his first stop in South Africa
Johannesburg, then to London UK marking the official international
launch on the 13th of February. Later he will be off across the
continent to Australia and back again to Zambia. Upon his return to
Zambia Roberto will have a stint around the country in promotion of
the single, and is later expected to travel to Uganda and Namibia
respectively. Other countries he has set his eyes on are Nigeria,
Botswana and Tanzania. So if you are a Roberto fan, keep coming back
for more updates, because he could be in a town near you…..
“Osanisiya So” is officially out on the 13th February, with early
digital downloads from the 30th of January on major download sites
such as iTunes, Spotify, Rhapsody, and Nokia just to name a few.
Roberto is expected to hold special CD signings around Zambia within
the month of March; for all those that will be purchasing the physical
copies of the single. Those that purchase a physical copy of the
single stand a chance of winning a one of a kind Osanisiya So Roberto
T-shirt, a large calendar poster and the opportunity to co-host the
drive time show with the man himself on Q-FM Zambia. For those that
purchase the single online, we have not left you out as we are giving
away 5 Osanisiya T-Shirts, simply email a copy of the payment receipt
you have received after your order of the single has been processed to [email protected] and the lucky five drawn will be
announced during the drive time show on Friday the 30th of March. The
Online competition closes on Wednesday the 28th of March for more
information, news and updates on Roberto go to www.officialroberto.com
Zambia striker Emmanuel Mayuka has said it is an honor for him to have made the pilgrimage to Beach Sabliere in Libreville on Thursday.
The 22 year old striker said after visiting the shores of the beach, where the bodies of the 30 victims died in the 1993 air crash, that he was inspired to work even harder on Sunday to lift Zambia’s first Africa cup.
“For me it was an honor to be there even though I was very young when it happened,” Mayuka said.
“I hope to finish what they started but did not finish.”
And Mayuka said he hoped to keep his dreams to finish as top scorer this Sunday at Stade d’Angondje and help Zambia lift their first Africa Cup title.
“I believe it is every strikers dream to be top scorer but we will see how it goes,” the striker from Young Boys in Switzerland said.
Mayuka is currently one of three players vying for the 2012 golden boot together with Zambia captain Christopher Katongo and Cote d’Ivoire striker Didier Drogba on three goals each.
Meanwhile, Zambia visited Beach Sabliere just hours after landing at midday from Equatorial Guinea where they had just beaten Ghana 1-0 24 hours early in Bata.
The team went down to the Beach Sabliere located in an affluent suburb of Libreville at 17:00 hours Gabon team under heavy police escort led by Kalusha Bwalya who was accompanied by his wife, CAF and FAZ life member Tom Mtine and sports minister Chishimba Kambwili.
The entourage sung solemn hymns, laid wreaths before Captain Christopher Katongo closed the ceremony with a prayer in the backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean.
File: President Michael Sata talks to First Republican President Kenneth Kaunda at State House
President Michael Sata has expressed deep sorrow and profound grief on the loss of innocent lives arising from victory celebrations after the Chipolopolo boys qualified for the AfCON final last Wednesday.
And former president Dr Kenneth David Kaunda has joined the Zambian delegation that will travel to Gabon to attend the closing ceremony and final of the Africa Cup of Nations, which will take place in Libreville on February 12, 2012.
In his message of condolences, the President said it was truly regrettable that such distressing events occurred at a time when the entire country was engulfed into celebrations following the Zambia National Soccer Team’s victory over Ghana.
“I am devastated to learn that during this joyous period we recorded a total of 32 accidents and out of the 32, four (4) were grave in which seven (7) lives were lost. A number of families have lost their beloved ones and there are no words to capture the magnitude of the calamity that has befallen the surviving family members,” President Sata said.
“Let me encourage those affected that the people of Zambia join them in mourning their loved ones and our hearts go out to the bereaved families. We also remember the injured and all those traumatized by these terrible incidences. We pray that the Almighty God gives them comfort and fortitude.”
President Sata urged the people to celebrate responsibly and hoped that justice would be served in the trial of those arrested and charged for various offences after the accidents.
The Head of State has directed the police and other law enforcement agencies to be alert and ensure that law and order prevails during this period.
And Dr Kaunda has joined the Zambian delegation that will this weekend travel to Libreville, Gabon to attend the final match between Zambia and Ivory Coast.
“Our gallant boys need someone to motivate them and uplift their spirits even higher. Obviously, there can be no better person in Zambia today to perform this role other than our founding father, Dr Kenneth David Kaunda,” President Sata said.
“Its for this reason that as a Government we find it appropriate and befitting that our beloved icon accompanies the Republican Vice-President and several Zambians to this historic occasion.”
Meanwhile, the President has also conveyed his message of condolences to the families of Chipata magistrate Mirriam Nachalwe and Mpulungu Harbour port manager Bowlings Kasonde.
Ms Nachalwe died in Chipata General Hospital on Tuesday night and Mr Kasonde died in the UK whilst on national duty.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism Given Lubinda has disclosed that Government has stepped up measures aimed at attracting economically gigantic investors to conduct business in Zambia.
Mr. Lubinda said Government would work hard towards engaging economic giants to invest in Zambia so as to create more job opportunities for Zambians.
He said Zambians were expecting more jobs to be created now that the Patriotic Front (PF) is in power.
The Minister said government was therefore working on fulfilling the promises the PF made in the pre-election campaigns which earned the party support of many Zambians.
Mr. Lubinda said the creation of more job opportunities would be done side by side with the fight against corruption.
He said corruption erodes investor confidence hence it should be fought mercilessly.
Mr. Lubinda said genuine investors feared to conduct business in a corrupt infested society because they know their business cannot thrive.
He said this when he wound up his ten days working visit to the United States of America.
While in the US, Mr. Lubinda attended the 40th annual convention of the Safari Club International in Las Vegas where at least 20 Zambian safari operators were exhibiting and held various meetings with US government officials in Washington DC
Police in Serenje have recovered various assorted items from former Vice President George Kunda’s farm in Serenje.
The recovery is part of the on going investigation of plunder of national resources.
Among the items that have been recovered included 46 bags of Mealie Meal, two sewing Machines, 10 cycle pumps.
Central Province Commissioner of Police SOLOMON JERE said the items were recovered this morning after an operation.
Dr JERE said other items recovered include MMD campaign materials and three vehicles which he said were recovered from Kabwe.
He also said a light canter has also been recovered from MMD Chisamba MP MOSES MUTETEKA.
But when contacted for a comment Mr KUNDA said he deserves some respect from the Police because he served as a commander of the armed forces, including the police themselves.
Mr KUNDA also said he enjoyed some immunity as he at times acted as President of Zambia and described the recovery as mere persecution.
File: Former education Minister Clement Sinyinda is being dressed in traditional attire during his installation as the new Ngambela of Barosteland
President Michael Sata has accused the newly appointed Prime Minister of Barotseland Clement Sinyinda of peddling lies that government intends to remove Lukulu, Sesheke and Kaoma districts from western province.
The President wondered how the government can remove the three districts from western province when it is actually in the process of creating more districts to decentralize its operations.
He has further accused the UPND of misleading the people of Solwezi through traditional rulers that Solwezi will soon be aligned to the copperbelt province.
Mr Sata regretted that the UPND and Mr. Sinyinda have failed to understand the geography of the country.
President Sata has since urged all constitutional office bearers to defend the constitution of the republic of Zambia from the people with selfish political ambitions capable of dividing the nation.
The President Sata was speaking when he swore in the Gershom Siame as senior private secretary at State house, Rapson Soko and Anthony Kabaso as deputy private secretaries respectively.
The President also sworn in Teddy Mulonga as deputy secretary to the Cabinet and Dr. Kawaye Kamanga as chairperson for the public service commission. Agness Musunga is the new permanent secretary in the ministry of youth and sport.
And President Sata has warned State House officials against selling appointments to people wishing to see him.
President Sata said that he will not hesitate to dismiss anyone that found engaging in corrupt practices saying people wishing to see him should be accorded an opportunity if his schedule allows.
And Mr Sata has directed Cabinet office to find a replacement for Sydney Wataya who was appointed deputy director for the Anti- Corruption Commission (ACC) but has not taken up the appointment.
Mr.Wataya is currently working in the United States of America (USA) for that country’s government.
President Sata in giving the directive stated that the country cannot afford to wait for Mr Wataya to come and be sworn-in in September when there are many Zambians who are capable of doing the job.
Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) President Kalusha Bwalya
Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) President Kalusha Bwalya says he is surprised to see the Chipolopolo boys reach the finals of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.
Kalusha has told the BBC that it’s important that the Chipolopolo boys do well in the finals on Sunday both for themselves and also to mark the death of Twenty five Zambian players and officials who died in an air crash off the Gabonese coast in 1993.
And Kalusha Bwalya has saluted Zambia’s attacking trio of Christopher Katongo, Rainford Kalaba and Emmanuel Mayuka for inspiring the team to Sunday’s Africa Nations Cup final.
Bwalya told SuperSport.com in Libreville on Thursday that the trio had epitomised Zambia’s football adventure at this year’s Africa Cup tournament.
“Christopher Katongo is doing a fantastic job; Rainford is there too, Mayuka is getting the goals and we have two players on three goals each,”Kalusha said.
“And we also have (defender) Stopilla Sunzu coming from behind to score a header.”
Strikers Katongo and Mayuka are both in line for the Africa Cup golden boot award on three goals each heading into Sunday’s final against Ivory Coast in Libreville.
Midfielder Kalaba has been Zambia’s engine since the tournament began for them on January 21 in Bata despite scoring just one goal in five games heading into the final.
Bwalya said it was a great moment to see his successors take Zambia to the Africa Cup finals for the first time since 1994 when they finished second to Nigeria.
“I told the boys; you guys can score goals and enjoy the adventure and see what we can get. It is a proud moment for me,”Kalusha said.
United Party for National Development leader Hakainde Hichilema
Leader of the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) Hakainde Hichilema has dared Republican President Michael Sata to have him arrested for being against the re-alignment of districts in southern province.
Mr. Hichilema has advised President Sata and Home Affairs minister Kennedy Sakeni to stop searching for citizens to arrest but instead have him arrested.
He said that it is dictatorial for the PF government to issue warnings to citizens that have different views from that of government.
The opposition leader has demanded that sanity returns to the democratic governance of the country which he says has been turned into chaos by the PF government.
Mr. Hichilema said that Mr. Sata is now proving to citizens that he is a dictator in the manner he is deciding on national affairs without consultation from concerned stakeholders.
Speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka this morning, Mr. Hichilema has warned that the democracy of the country is under threat if President Sata does not change his perceived dictatorship type of governance.
And the UPND leader has advised president Sata not to abuse the Zambia National Soccer team by asking them to sing the Donchi Kubeba song.
Mr. Hakainde says the national soccer team is a team for all Zambians regardless of political affiliation.
The opposition leader has however congratulated the team for reaching the finals of the ongoing African Cup of Nation’s tournament.
”]”During the late evening of Tuesday 27 April 1993 the Zambian Air Force Buffalo DHC-5D carrying most of the Zambian national football team to a FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Senegal in Dakar caught fire and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean about 500 metres offshore near Libreville, Gabon.
The plane had made a refuelling stop in Libreville en route to Dakar. All 30 passengers died, among them most of the finest generation of footballers Zambia had ever produced. Eventually 24 bodies were recovered, but only 13 could be identified.
A Gabonese official investigation into the accident concluded that the pilot had shut down the wrong engine after a fire. The investigation found that pilot fatigue and an instrument error had contributed to the accident.The Zambian government is yet to release a full report of the air crash to be unveiled to the public or family members.
Yesterday shortly after arriving in Libreville, where they take on Ivory Coast in Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations final, the Copper Bullets made their way to the spot where 500 metres offshore a Zambian Air Force flight ditched into the sea, wiping out the national squad.
Only former African Footballer of the Year Kalusha Bwalya avoided one of the great African football tragedies because he was based in the Netherlands with PSV Eindhoven and travelled directly to Dakar from Europe.
Now president of the Zambian Football Federation,Kalusha Bwalya was among the group paying an emotional homage to the dead on a cloudy late afternoon.
Against the gentle sound of the Atlantic waves lapping against the beach he said, with tears in his eyes: “It is no coincidence that we are here today, we have worked hard as a team.
“However I am convinced that our dearly departed brothers who lost their lives here 19 years ago have lent us a helping hand.
“In 1993 the Copper Bullets came here to fulfil a promise, they did not succeed, but instead gave up their lives for a gallant cause.
“Their dream to bring glory to our country, mother Zambia, is the same cause that brings us here today, the only difference is that we are alive and our former teammates are no longer here.
“It is for this reason that I say here today on behalf of all of us involved in Zambian football that their dreams are our dreams, they are smiling down on heaven as we take part in this tournament in Gabon.
“I pray that their souls may forever rest in peace and that God will give us the strength and the courage to fulfil our dreams…. and theirs.”
Bwalya, the players, and coach Herve Renard, had walked along the beach near the airport, singing a Zambian funeral hymn, before coming to a stop at the nearest point on land to the crash.
They then laid ‘flowers of the sea’, one for each person killed, at the water’s edge.
As the first flower was taken by a wave a thunder clap sounded overhead, and in the far horizon a ray of sunshine appeared in a break in the clouds.
Zambia captain Christopher Katongo then led the silent group of mourners in prayer.
A sign of how important this ceremony was to the 2012 squad was evidenced by the fact that not one player had the habitual set of headphones so beloved of football stars dangling around his ears, not one carried an ipod or iphone, each was simply intent on honouring the dead.
Also attending the ceremony was a local man who saw the plane crash, and helped recover parts of wreckage from the disaster.
Zambian Sports minister Chishimba Kambwili was also on hand to pay his respects.
He told the gathering: “Today brings memories, memories of 19 years ago when in the quest to bring glory to Zambia we lost gallant men and women, gallant men on that fateful day.
“Our coming to Gabon today I think by and large is by design. I think God made it this way so we can come and pay back by winning the Africa Cup to our fallen heroes.
“To you my fallen colleagues I want to say that you may be gone, but you will never be forgotten, you can see that you died here 19 years ago, but we’ve come here 19 years after to come and pay tribute and to say thank you for everthing that you did for mother Zambia.”
Before making their return to the team hotel to prepare for Sunday’s clash Bwalya, looking up to the stormy skies, said: “I’m sure the boys up there will be watching on Sunday.”
A GROUP of soccer enthusiasts has chartered a 160-seater Boeing 737 aircraft to ferry fans to Gabon to cheer the Zambia national soccer team as they take on Ivory Coast in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations final game in Libreville on Sunday.
This brings to three the number of aircrafts that have been chartered to fly fans to Gabon.
The plane, which is being branded Zambia Chipolopolo in South Africa, will leave Kenneth Kaunda International Airport at 08:00 hours on Sunday and arrive in Libreville four hours later. It will return in the evening the same day.
Southern Province Minister Miles Sampa, one of the organisers, said there is need to have a strong contingent of Zambians in the stands as the Chipolopolo boys take on Ivory Coast at the Stade de L’Amitie in Libreville.
He said an economy return air ticket is going at US$1,500 while a business class one is fetching US$3,100.
Mr Sampa said the air fares are inclusive of a shuttle to and from the stadium in Gabon and the ticket to watch the match.
“This is a memorable final and we urge Zambians to come in numbers so that we can cheer our brothers,” Mr Sampa said.
He said the contact person is Andrew Ndhlovu of Zambian Legends Travel Agency in Lusaka’s Rhodespark. Mr Ndhlovu can be reached on 0977- 696009 or 250937.
Mr Sampa appealed to the fans interested in travelling to Gabon to put on Zambian colours or replica jerseys for the national team which he said can be bought at Football House in Lusaka.
A Lusaka entrepreneur has also chartered two Boeing 737 aircrafts to ferry fans to Libreville.
“The Chipolopolo boys have done an amazing job so far – and they’re going to win the cup,” said Jo Pope, a member of the Zambia Tourism Board marketing committee, the woman behind Robin Pope Safaris and director of Proflight.
“We feel there must be a strong contingent of Zambian fans at the match to cheer them on. It’s a matter of national pride,” she said.
Pope has teamed up with Richard Sheppard of tour operators African Horizons to offer the special fans’ package to the game on Sunday.
Only 200 seats will be available. A special hotline has been set up for the tickets on 0976-324350. The return fare is US$2,050
And Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) have chartered a Boeing 737-200 to facilitate the return of the national soccer team from Gabon after it plays the final game against Ivory Coast on Sunday.
“The company is now facilitating the travel of senior Government officials and soccer fans, including KCM employees, to cheer and support our team to victory in the final on Sunday. The same aircraft will also carry the Chipolopolo back home,” KCM chief executive officer Jeyakumar Janakaraj said in a statement issued by public relations manager Joy Sata yesterday.
Janakaraj said KCM is thrilled with the impressive achievement of the Chipolopolo at the Africa Cup of Nations.
“I would like to congratulate the Zambia national team for qualifying to the final. They have done us proud, especially that they defeated the bookmakers’ favourites, Ghana. The solid performance of Zambia at the Africa Cup is testimony that the local game has taken a turn to greater heights,” Janakaraj said.
He said KCM will remain a seasoned and committed sponsor of football, the reason why it decided to facilitate the team’s warm-up matches in India in November last year.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
A dark thriller about a Journalist Mikael Blomkvist( Daniel Craig) who is aided in his search for a woman who has been missing for forty years by Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara) , a young computer hacker.
This is far more than another mystery. It’s a story of revenge, mental issues and ghastly secrets. Its “R” rating is justly deserved. Be forewarned that this material is not for the squeamish.
PROS
Rooney Mara played the role of the troubled Lisbeth Salander perfectly.
The movie has a very gripping story.
Excellent acting by the whole cast.
CONS
Some of the scenes were very explicit.
As you watch the movie you will figure out who the “super villain” is before he is reveled .
FAVORITE QUOTE
Martin Vanger: It’s funny how the fear of offending is greater than the fear of pain. You knew something was wrong. You knew you would end up strung up in the basement. Yet you came back. And all I had to do was…offer you a drink.
Henrik Vanger: You will be investigating thieves, misers, bullies. The most detestable collection of people that you will ever meet… MY FAMILY.
Lisbeth Salander: May I kill him?
CONCLUSION
‘The Girl with the dragon tattoo’ has been nominated for 5 Academy Awards . Those nominations are well deserved . This movie will undoubtedly leave its mark on you. It is dark , graphic , but every thing in this movie has a purpose and you will get attached to the characters.
Zambia national soccer team replica jerseys, memorabilia, paraphernalia and other objects on display for sale in Lusaka.
THE Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) is losing millions of Kwacha in revenue from counterfeit Zambia National soccer team replica jerseys flooding the market since the Africa Cup of Nations started on January 21.
Some Lusaka-based businessmen both local and foreign, are making the counterfeit jerseys in sweatshops around the city.
A survey conducted by the Daily Mail around parts of Lusaka revealed that some street vendors sell the replica jerseys in the range of K65,000 and K85,000.
The official FAZ approved replica jersey costs K300, 000.
In the central business district, the replica jerseys sold by the vendors range from K85, 000 to K100,000.
FAZ vice-president Boniface Mwamelo said the association has reported the matter to the Zambia Police and are waiting for their response.
Mr Mwamelo said the association contracted Nike to print 10,000 replica jerseys which have been distributed to authorised dealers and are going for K300,000 each.
He said this in an interview in Lusaka recently; “FAZ is losing a lot of revenue from counterfeit Zambian national soccer team replica jerseys which are being sold at a cheap price.”
He said the association has already identified some people who are making these counterfeit jerseys and will soon move in.
Mr Mwamelo called on the public to get genuine replica jerseys from authorised dealers, which are of high quality.
The authorised dealers are selling the originals in the ranges of K250, 000 and K300, 000.
Zambia Consumers Association (ZACA) says counterfeit products, which have flooded the market, are a threat to the consumers and the economy at large.
ZACA executive director Muyunda Ililonga said the importing of counterfeit products imposes unfair advantage to the genuine product because counterfeit products are cheap.
“Counterfeit products are a threat to the consumers and the economy and most of these products are imported which are sold cheaply compared to the original products,” he said.
Mr Ililonga urged Government to give Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS) a go-ahead and implement the Pre-Verification of Conformity (PVoC) programme.
He said once PVoC is implemented it will help curb the importation of fake products which have recently flooded the local market.
ZABS public relations officer Dingase Makumba said the work of the organisation is to ensure that manufacturers and traders comply to the standards.
She said to curb illegal products ZABS needs commitment from both the traders and the manufacturers.
The ongoing Africa Cup of Nations finals has seen a boom in the demand for replica jerseys following the good performance by the Zambia national soccer team.
On Wednesday, Zambia beat Ghana 1-0 to storm the Africa Cup of Nations final and will face Ivory Coast on Sunday in Libreville, Gabon.
The sweatshop workers often work long hours for very low pay, regardless of laws mandating overtime pay or a minimum wage.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
Zambia National Soccer team Goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene
Chief Kanyensha of the Swaka people in Mkushi district of Central Province has pledged cattle and 250 hectares of land to Zambia National Soccer team Goal keeper Kennedy Mweene.
Chief Kanyensha disclosed this to ZANIS in Kabwe yesterday saying Kennedy Mweene should be commended for saving Zambia from being knocked out of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament when he denied the Ghana’s Black Stars, a goal through a penalty.
The Chief was however quick to shower praises on the entire team for the manner it played Wednesday night’s game adding that he was sure this time, the Africa Cup would be won by Zambia.
Chief Kanyensha said he was impressed by the national team’s Semi-final result in which Zambia beat Ghana 1-0 to qualify to the finals.
The Traditional ruler said though team work produced the result, Mweene’s performance was outstanding thereby leaving him (Chief Kanyensha) with no choice but to award him with a cow and a steer (female and male) and 250 hectares of land to appreciate his service to the nation.
He said Mweene should travel to chief Kanyensha’s palace upon arrival from the AFCON tournament to collect his animals and also to see his 250ha land.
Chief Kanyensha has appealed to the Provincial administration to help Mweene in processing title deeds for the land he has been awarded.
The Traditional ruler said according to his assessment, Wednesday’s game was tough and was not easy for Zambia to emerge winners but because of resilience, the team managed to qualify.
“ I counted ourselves out when I saw the referee pointing to the penalty box. But little did I know that Mweene was steady and that he was there for Zambia, the boy impressed me a lot,’ said chief Kanyensha.
Another soccer fan, Honest Kaliki said Chipolopolo players deserved praises for beating teams such as Ghana which were regarded experienced and better on the continent.
Kaliki said Mweene did a lot for Zambia by parrying away the penalty kick and deserved to be commended.
Zambia beat Ghana 1-0 in the 79th minute through Striker Emmanuel Mayuka sailing through to the AFCON tournament billed for Sunday in Libreville, Gabon.
The United State says it will contribute over US$12 million to Agriculture policy research in Zambia over the next five years.
United States Ambassador to Zambia Mark Storella disclosed the development at the launch of the Indaba Agriculture Policy Research Institute (IAPRI) in Lusaka yesterday.
The IAPRI is an independent, Zambia-led institute that will provide credible and impartial policy guidance on agricultural issues. To ensure the IAPRI’s impartiality, the institute will derive its research mandate from its own Zambian board of directors composed of Public and private sector officials.
Ambassador Storella stated that the United State has enthusiastically partnered with Zambia’s new Indaba Agriculture policy research Institute to support farmers in Zambia.
Mr.Storella noted that agricultural growth is determined by the strength of a country’s policies and investment decisions adding that informed policies will lead to reform in government programmes such as the Food Reserve Agency, increasing living standards and improving nutrition among the rural poor.
With funding from the US Agency for International Development (USAID), researchers and policy analysts from Michigan States University will mentor new IAPRI staff as they undertake research and outreach activities.
He said the USAID support will also help the institute to manage competitive grants program that will give opportunities for Zambian researchers, policy analysts and reform advocates.
He noted that the IAPRI will assist the Ministry of Agriculture in developing the country Investment plan under Zambia’s comprehensive African Agriculture in development Program and provide research evidence to the Zambian government in the review and restructuring of the Farmers Input Support program and Food Reserve Agency.
And Government says it realizes that the agricultural sector urgently requires capitalization in the fields of research and development, extension, and infrastructure development.
Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Emmanuel Chenda says governments the world over can only make prudent and sustainable policy decisions if the same are based on well researched and evidence based information.
Mr.Chenda was speaking in Lusaka yesterday when he launched the Indaba Agricultural Policy Research Institute (IAPRI, the successor to the Food Security Research Project.
He said the incorporation of the Indaba Agricultural Policy Research Institute therefore comes at an opportune time when the country needs to develop a cost effective, transparent, efficient and sustainable agriculture sector.
Mr.Chenda also stated that Government is committed to developing and implementing the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) investment plan in line with the Patriotic Front manifesto.
He said government realizes that issues related to crop diversification, livestock disease control, agricultural marketing and input supply among others, are a priority in the country’s quest to develop the agricultural sector.
The Minister expressed confidence that once the CAADP investment plan is developed, cooperating partners and other stakeholders will be able to assist Government source and fund the various components in the plan.
Speaking at the same function, US Ambassador to Zambia Mark Storella stated that his government will over the next five years contribute over US$12 million to agriculture policy research in Zambia.
Ambassador Storella stated that agricultural growth is determined by the strength of a country’s policies and investment decisions, adding that informed policies will lead to reform in government programmes such as the Food Reserve Agency (FRA), increasing living standards and improving nutrition among the rural poor.
He said the US enthusiastically partners with Zambia’s new Indaba Agricultural Policy Research Institute to support Zambian farmers.
And Indaba Agricultural Policy Research Institute Executive Director Chance Kabaghe stated that policy implementation was critical if the country was to fully exploit the potential the agriculture sector possessed in order to make it more efficient, transparent and sustainable than it has been in the past.
Mr.Kabaghe noted with sadness that despite government intervention in ensuring food security in the country by initiating programmes like the Farmer Support Input Programme (FISP) poverty levels remain high.
He said the launch of the IAPRI is therefore important in finding solutions to challenges been faced in the agriculture sector, particularly in rising productivity in a bid to fight poverty.
And Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) Executive Director NdamboNdambo said low productivity and lack of diversification are among the top challenges been faced by the majority of farmers in the country hence the need for researchers to re-focus on productivity enhancement technologies and alternatives for diversification.
Mr.Ndambo urged government to create markets, saying market availability is a sure catalyst to agriculture diversification.
He noted that the majority of farmers are greatly disadvantaged because of poor access to market information and trade opportunities.
