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File:Zambia National team in Training at Nkoloma Stadium
16 players on Tuesday fly out from Lusaka for Johannesburg for final Zambia training camp ahead of the 2012 Africa Cup.
The team will departure for Johannesburg at 13:00 hour on South African Airways from KK international Airport in Lusaka.
Tuesday’s travelling party will include Jonas Sakuwaha who missed the first two weeks of training camp due to injury.
Sakuwaha confirmed that he was fit and would travel with the team to South Africa.
Swiss-based striker Emmanuel Mayuka of Young Boys also joins the team when it regroups today in Golf View Hotel in Lusaka today ahead of departure tomorrow.
Zambia will be based at the garden Court Milpark and will be training from the Wits University grounds.
Goalkeeper: Kalililo Kakonje (Unattached)
Defenders: Joseph Musonda (Golden Arrows, South Africa), Hichani Himonde, Francis Kasonde (Both TP Mazembe, DR Congo), Nyambe Mulenga (Zesco United),Thomas Nyirenda (Konkola Blades)
Midfielders: Rainford Kalaba (TP Mazembe, DR Congo), Isaac Chansa (Orlando Pirates, South Africa), Felix Katongo, Nathan Sinkala (Both Green Buffaloes), Jonas Sakuwaha (El Merreikh, Sudan), Kampamba Chintu (Bidwest Wits,South Africa)
Zesco’s Winston Kalengo (left) is involved in a tussle with Green Buffaloes defender Dennis Banda in the rescheduled Week 10 match which was played at Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka
Wedson Nyirenda has been confirmed as new Zesco United coach.
Nyirenda has signed a three year deal that starts on January 1, 2012 after beating two other candidates for the job as coach of the three-time Faz Super Division Champions.
“The decision came about after wide consultations and we agreed unanimously that Wedson be coach,” Zesco secrtary Justin Mumba said.
Mumba said Nyirenda will be free to choose his own assistants including which players he will keep for the 2012 season.
Nyirenda, who quit as Zanaco coach last month, returns to Zesco two seasons after resigning to join the former.
During his first stint with Zesco, Nyirenda who two league titles in 2007 and 2008 that included back-to-back Barclays Cup triumphs in both season.
He also won a treble in 2007 when Zesco lifted the Coca Cola Cup.
At Zanaco, he won the 2009 league title in his first season in charge and guided Sunset side to their first-ever group stage appearance in 2010 Caf Confederation Cup.
Whether you are working out at home or the gym , you have to make sure you are getting the best out of your work outs and reaching your particular goals .Here are of the best tips you should consider;
Optimise your reps
Do 2-4 sets per exercise, with 8-15 reps, to boost your testosterone and growth hormones for bigger muscles and more fat-burning.
Boost your grip strength
Your pinching power is equal to approximately 20% of your maximum strength, so practice pinch lifts. Hold two barbell plates( if you are at home you can use a container of water) together and lift them to knee height, pause for around 3 seconds, then return to the start position. Do 3 sets of 10-12 reps.
Combine exercises
Perform lunges and bicep curls simultaneously and combine shoulder presses with cardio exercises. You’ll work all of the major muscle groups in your body in one session and build more muscle in less time.
Lower your weights
Put your heavy load down and continue an exercise with a lower weight once muscle fatigue sets in. You’re aiming for muscle failure so that during rest, maximum repair will be required – which will give maximum results. It’s a great plateau-busting option.
Always test your strength
In order to grow and gain size, your body needs to become increasingly comfortable with heavier sets. Load a bar with about 40% more weight than you could normally lift (make sure you have a spotter) and bust out a few hard-core lifts at the end of each session to prepare your body for what’s coming.
Go back to basics
Training with free weights is better than using machines as they engage your core stability muscles while you train.
Embrace variety
Instead of always doing 3 sets of 8-10 reps, for example, occasionally reduce the weight and attempt 4 sets of 15 reps. People who vary their rep counts increase their bench strength by 28% and their leg-press strength by 43% in two months. The upshot of this is a greater month-on-month muscle gain.
Schedule your recovery
It takes up to 7 days for muscles to recover and add size. Training a muscle group prior to this is likely to do more harm than good. You have fully recovered 48 hours after any soreness has gone. You can train other muscle groups while one group recovers, but should always leave at least 5 days between training the same muscle or muscle group.
Work out in the evening
Training after 18hrs earns you bigger muscle gains than if you train before 10am.
Barotseland Freedom Movement National Secretary Mulasikwanda Chazele has refuted the announcement on Friday by President Michael Sata that there is a group of people trying to form a government in Western and that so far a Prime Minister has been appointed.
Speaking during a Press Statement in Mongu on Christmas eve, Mr. Chazele said he has learnt with deep concern the statement issued by Republican President Sata that there was such developments in the Province.
Mr. Chazele said as far as the people of Western Province know there is no prime minister in the land adding that currently the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) does not even have an acting Prime Minister (Ngambela) since the resignation of the late Maxwell Mututwa.
“ I would like to state very clearly that as far as we the people of Barotseland very well know is that there is no prime minister in Barotseland. Not even an acting prime minister (NGAMBELA) the last time we had a Ngambela is when late Mr. Maxwell Mututwa Mututwa held this high post in Barotseland.” He said since then, we had no confirmed Prime Minister (Ngambela) apart from one acting Ngambela Mr. Walubita who also passed on this year,” Chazele added.
He said people in the province are currently patiently waiting to hear the findings of the Commission of Inquiry into the Mongu fracas that characterized on January 14 this year.
Mr. Chazele further appealed to President Sata and the national at large to remain calm as people in Western Province are solidly behind the Patriotic Front government’s leadership.
AND Western Province Youth Dialogue Forum says the youths in the province have distanced themselves from people who are reportedly forming a state within the country.
Forum Vice Chairperson Enock Ntoka stated that young people in Barotseland are not part and parcel of efforts and claims made by selfish and hungry individuals to create anarchy in the province.
Mr. Ntoka told a media briefing in Mongu that those trying to create a state within Western Province are targeted on frustrating the PF government efforts is making to resolve the situation in the province.
“ We wish to appeal to our fellow youths in Western Province to remain united and engage in productive activities and reject selfish and scrupulous motives to divert the attention of government of building peace and development in Zambia, such errands are unfounded, unconstitutional, illegal, unconstructive, and against the laws of Zambia ” He stated
He said the young people in Western Province were not consulted hence they will not subscribe to such intentions or actions.
Earlier, Adolescents Reproductive Health Activists (ARHA) Director Brian Kayongo appealed to young people in the province not to entertain people who want to use them as tools of distraction.
Mr. Kayongo said the youths of Western Province have learnt better ways in which they can resolve their challenges hence they will not participate in any programmes that are not of help to their well being.
President Michael Sata announced that he was disappointed with Inspector General of Police Martin Malama for not taking action against people who are reported to have formed a state in Western Province.
The President also said that so far the purported state has already appointed its Prime Minister adding that there are currently looking for offices in which to operate from.
Former Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane
FORMER Minister of Finance Situmbeko Musokotwane’s company, ZamBuild Investments Limited, supplied blocks for the construction of the Pepsi plant in Lusaka, it has been learnt.
Dr Musokotwane, who is also embroiled in the authorisation of a K10 billion tax deferment to Varun Beverages Zambia Limited, the producers of Pepsi Cola, provided all the blocks for the construction of the Pepsi Cola plant on Mungwi Road in the industrial area.
Varun Beverages also got an exemption on paying tax for bringing equipment into the country.
Varun Beverages Zambia Limited holds the franchise for Pepsi Cola in Zambia.
But Dr Musokotwane yesterday said he is only a shareholder in ZamBuild, adding that the company could have supplied blocks to Varun Beverages for a small fraction of the construction of the plant.
He said his company gets a lot of business from different people and industries because it has one of the best technologies in block-making in the country.
“I never at any time went there to solicit for business. I am above board and cannot do such a thing,” said Dr Musokotwane, adding that he is not in the management team of ZamBuild.
“It’s like people who buy Mercedes Benz, they go for those cars because of the good quality and that is what the people who buy blocks from us are looking for,” he said.
Varun Beverages Limited chief executive officer Krishnan Shankar could not be reached for comment but the company financial accountant, a Mr Arun, said he is not aware of the companies that supplied construction materials during the construction of the plant. He said he was not with the company at the time.
THE shortage of staff at Zambia’s flagship healthcare institution, the University Teaching Hospital (UTH), has deteriorated to a level where three to four midwives are being forced to deliver 90 babies in a single day, the public relations wing has confirmed.
Officials have partly blamed expecting mothers who have been rushing to the referral hospital leaving clinics in their communities, which have operational maternity wings.
Speaking in an interview in Lusaka, UTH public relations manager Pauline Mbangweta said midwives at the maternity ward are overwhelmed with the patient burden resulting in compromised service delivery.
“This situation is compounded by self-referrals. Pregnant mothers come to deliver at the University Teaching Hospital instead of their local clinics because they say here, they are guaranteed of being attended to by a doctor,” she said.
She said the women, who prefer to deliver at the main hospital, compound work for the midwives who should only be attending to complicated cases.
Ms Mbangweta said the country’s largest hospital has suffered a brain drain since the ‘90s when nurses began seeking greener pastures abroad.
She said to manage the workload; the hospital has engaged the services of trained part-time retired nurses.
Ms Mbangweta said she is happy that from January next year, general nurses will also train in midwifery to help alleviate the crisis at the institution.
She was speaking in the wake of an uproar sparked by confusion surrounding a baby born to Priscilla Nyondo, and who later died but the body was found with two different name tags.
Ms Nyondo refused to bury the baby insisting on a DNA test to ascertain its true parentage.
Ms Mbangweta said one tag on the baby’s forehead bore its correct names while the wristband bore the surname of the doctor who attended to it.
She said the names were recorded by a nurse who she believes was fatigued as a result of being overworked.
Ms Mbangweta urged mothers to deliver at the nearest clinics to ease the burden on the few midwives at UTH.
Meanwhile UTH recorded has 15 christmas babies. Misozi Mwanza’s baby was the first Christmas baby delivered at 00:05 hours at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka. UTH public relation manager Pauline Mbangweta said the hospital had recorded 15 Christmas babies, nine of them males. Ms Mwanza’s baby is one of the six females.
And Livingstone has recorded three Christmas babies, two girls and a boy. Ms Precious Muayanda’s baby boy, weighing 4.2 kilogrammes, was born at 01:25 at Maramba Clinic, while Ms Lydia Mulilo’s baby girl was born at 06.25 hours.
Ms Louisa Malambo’s baby girl was born at 06:30 at Livingstone General Hospital. Hospital officials said both mothers and babies are in good condition and will be discharged soon.
The Livingstone City Council donated Christmas hampers to the babies.
Speaking shortly after the donation, Livingstone mayor Aggrey Njekwa said, “It is always wonderful to receive new borns on Christmas in the city.” He said the council appreciates the work the health workers are doing in the city.“We appreciate the services that are being rendered to the health sector in the city,” Mr Njekwa said.
And Livingstone district health principal nursing officer Mutinta Chika said the health sector appreciates its partnership with the council. “Among the gifts are baby hampers, baby bathing dishes, baby towels, nappies, just to mention a few,” Ms Chika said.
And Minister of Health Joseph Kasonde yesterday visited Christmas babies at the UTH and said safe motherhood is one of Government’s priorities. Dr Kasonde said anyone with ideas on how to enhance safe motherhood should forward them to the Ministry of Health.
Meanwhile, Ms Mbangweta has said UTH recorded a total of 57 casualties during Christmas, 17 road accidents, 26 assault cases and 14 other injuries.
And Zambia Army Commander Paul Mihova has urged army officers to be professional and remain steadfast in 2012 as they serve the country.
Lieutenant-General Mihova said when he presented Christmas gifts to seven patients at Arakan Barracks Camp Hospital in Lusaka yesterday that army officers should focus on serving the country.
“I want to wish officers, men and women in uniform and their families a happy Christmas and prosperous 2012 but I also want to urge the officers not to be partisan. We must be professional because we are a professional army,” Gen Mihova said.
He said officers should ensure that the country’s security is maintained.
Gen Mihova said Zambians count on the efforts of the army and other defence wings to maintain peace. He said peace is an important aspect of Zambia and the army should ensure that the country’s peace is safeguarded.
The army commander urged army officers to remain loyal to the government of the day. Gen Mihova also said the army has a planned programme for officers who passed out last week. They will be deployed to various stations where they will continue with their training and preparations for national duties.
THE Lusaka High Court has ordered Lusaka businessman Carl Frieslaar to pay over K16 million to his wife, Karen Van Boxtel, a British consular officer, for rentals and monthly up-keep for the children.
This is in a case in which Ms Van Boxtel had petitioned the High Court to ask her husband to provide maintenance for rentals and daily provisions for his children and the wife, pending the suit.
Ms Van Boxtel wanted the court to order her husband to pay monthly maintenance of K120 million, while the couple was on separation.
Deputy director of High Court operations Chilombo Phiri said Frieslaar will pay the money through the court every month as fees for maintenance for rentals and daily provisions for his children and wife, while waiting for the petition to be disposed of.
“The respondent (Mr Frieslaar) should pay the sum of K4, 341, 144.53 for the lease. This brings the total monthly payment for maintenance pending suit to K16,341,144.53.
“This amount should be paid in court at the end of each month until the petition is disposed of,” Mrs Phiri said in a ruling delivered recently.
She said considering that Mr Frieslaar would pay school fees, buy clothes, pay medicals for the three children, K120 million would be sufficient maintenance to provide for rentals and daily provisions for her and the children.
Ms Van Boxtel also wanted her husband to provide the family with other requirements such as medical fees, groceries, fuel and motor vehicle maintenance.
She stated that her husband used to provide for the family before and nothing should stop him from doing so now that the couple was on separation.
But Mr Frieslaar said it would not be practical to make the provisions from his current income.
He called upon the court to take into account the reasonableness of the amount claimed by Ms Van Boxtel and his ability to pay.
Mr Frieslaar asked the court to take into account the fact that he had earlier accused his wife of committing adultery.
LUSAKA Province Minister Gerry Chanda says Government acknowledges the problem of hawking as a national issue but getting rid of traders from the streets at the moment would do more harm than good.
He said although some citizens have complained about allowing street vendors to continue trading from the streets, they cannot be stopped because that is their only source of income.
He said at the moment, the Patriotic Front (PF) government is working at creating employment opportunities for all to alleviate poverty.
Colonel Chanda said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that President Sata and his cabinet are working to ensure that Zambians, especially youths are economically empowered to help them fend for themselves.
“It is because of Government’s commitment to job creation and poverty reduction that the President gave a directive to keep vendors on the streets so that they too could earn a living,” he said.
“Many people are benefiting from the presence of the vendors on the street and they will remain there until Government formulates a lasting solution,” he said.
Col Chanda said Government cannot force the traders off the streets as the action may result in them engaging in illicit behaviour such as crime and prostitution to make a living.
He said as soon as Government makes a decision on how to deal with vendors, the public will be informed.
Col Chanda said the new Government will soon address the matter to promote sanitation and avoid outbreaks of the disease.
Over 300 cases of diarrhoeal diseases have been reported in Mufulira’s Mupambe township following the contamination of water pipes last week.
Out of the 300 cases, 100 patients with severe diarrhoea have been admitted to Ronald Ross and Malcolm Watson hospitals where they are receiving treatment.
Copperbelt Province Minister Rodgers Mwewa has directed the Mufulira District Health Management Team (MDHMT) to mount a mobile hospital in the area to contain the outbreak of the diarrhoeal diseases.
The provincial minister also visited the township to check on the sanitation in the area.
Presenting a report to Mr Mwewa over the weekend on the pollution of the water pipes in Mupambe, Mufulira Town Clerk Charles Mwandila said cases of diarrhoeal diseases have increased.
Mr Mwandila said water pipes were contaminated when the sewer pipe carrying human waste burst, discharging effluent which seeped through the pipes supplying clean water to the area.
“The water pipe carrying clean water and the one which carries sewer matter run parallel to each other, this is the way they were designed in the 1950s.
“The human waste contaminated the clean water and unfortunately 300 cases of diarrhoea diseases have been reported since the contamination took place last week,” he said.
Mr Mwandila said the water pipes and the sewer lines that service Mupambe are worn out and they cannot be repaired because they are rusty.
He said K7.6 billion is needed to replace the water pipes and the sewer lines that service Mupambe, to improve sanitation.
He said Mulonga Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC) has started feasibility studies to work on the possibility of diverting the water pipe that supplies water to Mupambe from the sewer line to prevent the contamination of piped water.
Mr Mwandila said Mufulira has a serious sanitation problem in most townships, due to the dilapidated water infrastructure.
He said in Chibolya, Kankoyo and Kansuswa, MWSC with support from stakeholders managed to replace some of the water pipes in the three townships.
Mr Mwandila also called on Government to help the municipal council to curb vandalism of water infrastructure in the district.
He said peasant farmers in most townships are perforating sewer pipes with a view to getting raw sewer, which they are using to water their gardens.
And Mufulira acting medical officer Charles Chipanda said more than 100 people from Mupambe have been admitted and treated for diarrhoeal cases since last week.
And Mr Mwewa urged MDHMT to mount a mobile clinic in Mupambe to treat the residents suffering from diarrhoea.
He said a base should be established in the township where people can receive treatment to contain the waterborne disease.
Mr Mwewa also said Government will work hard to ensure that residents on the Copperbelt have clean water.
“Right now, we should move on site and mount a clinic where those affected by the contaminated water can be treated,’’ he said.
LEADER of the opposition in Parliament Felix Mutati says he is impressed with the flow of people visiting health centres for healthcare services following the scrapping of user fees by Government.
Mr Mutati said Parliament last week approved the 2012 budget and it is now time for implementation, especially in the social sectors.
“The increase in the number of people visiting health centres is a testimony that the user fees were a big hindrance for people seeking medical attention. It also shows that the country is headed in the right direction in the health sector,” he said.
Mr Mutati, who is also Lunte member of Parliament, was speaking when he donated assorted Christmas gifts to patients at Kalingalinga Health Centre yesterday.
He urged Zambians to embrace each other as they enter 2012 regardless of political affiliation, businesses and religious beliefs.
Mr Mutati said a number of families are struggling to make ends meet and leaders have the huge task of reducing poverty.
“I call upon the nation to work together and focus on a common purpose of creating a better Zambia, founded on strong institutions and a Constitution that can stand the test of time,” he said.
He said Christmas will allow Zambians from all corners and tribes to search within souls and commit to living above tribe under the creed ‘One Zambia One nation’.
Mr Mutati said as the country enters the New Year, it is an opportunity, irrespective of political affiliation, to serve one another, to seek new ideas and new innovation and to start a new chapter for a great nation.
He said millions of people across the nation celebrate Christmas in the shadows of great need, in need of basic things and that should make this day special for them.
He said millions of people across the nation celebrate Christmas in the shadows of great need, in need of basic things and that should make this day special for them.
Mr Mutati said remembering the victims of floods in compounds who for Christmas means wading through water from their flooded homes begs leaders’ utmost dedication to rebuilding the nation with speed.
“Sometimes in our political discourse, we have vehemently debated while alienating the communities we were called to serve by building artificial walls of indifference and intolerance. Let Christmas be about reaching out to someone,” he said.
And Kalingalinga registered nurse Nandi Mbulwe said the health centre was facing a number of challenges such as shortage of staff and one of the fridges in the mortuary is not working.
She said with the scrapping of user fees, there is an increase of patients at the health centre.
Ms Mbulwe thanked Mr Mutati, the MMD presidential aspirant, for sharing his love with the patients at the health centre.
Inspector General of Police Martin Malama: To issue Statement on Tuesday
THE Barotse Freedom Movement, also known as the Linyungandambo, has pledged its loyalty to the Patriotic Front government in the wake of President Sata’s revelation that a group in Western Province is plotting to form its own state.
And a document in possession of the Mail has listed people alleged to be plotting to form government in Western Province. According to the list, the administrator general is A. Mombotwa, and the deputy administrator is N. Nyambe. Y. Mukelabai is earmarked for Speaker of the National Assembly, while the Chief Justice role is for L. Mundia.
The full list is: M. Lewanika (Minister of Finance), M. Ilukena (Minister of Justice /Public Order), C. Nalishuwa (Minister of Social Development), and M. Liuwa (Foreign Affairs) to be deputised by M. Mulope.
Others are C. Mulwasikwanda (Minister of Defence), Mr M. Sioma (Minister of Commerce), M. Mooto (Minister of Local Development) and P. Likando (Minister of Agriculture).
The rest are C. Suyumbwa (Minister of Education), to be deputised by I. Mutangelwa, M.Muyangana (Minister of Information), G. Mwala (Minister of Transport) and N. Wanga (Secretary to the Cabinet).
But the Linyungandambo yesterday said the people on the list may not even be aware that their names are being touted for the said cabinet positions in the planned State. In a press release to the Mail Barotse Freedom Movement national secretary Chazele Mulwasikwanda, incidentally mentioned for the Defence portfolio in the proposed cabinet, says he is concerned about developments in Western Province, especially that President Sata said a prime minister has already been appointed.
Mr Mulwasikwanda, in an interview with the Mail, said he was not even aware of his position. “These are just rumours being circulated on the internet. All of us who have been mentioned have never been approached,” he said.
Mr Mulwasikwanda said in Lozi parlance, ‘Prime Minister’ refers to the Ngambela and that he is appointed by the Litunga after a rigorous process of ratification by the royal council. “I am concerned because I don’t know anything about the group.
The Prime Minister refers to the Ngambela in Lozi, and since the death of Mr Maxwell Mututwa we haven’t had a Prime Minister, who is appointed by the Barotse Royal Establishment,” Mr Mulwasikwanda said.
And in a statement he writes: “I would like to assure the President that we the people of Barotseland are particularly waiting for the report of the Commission of Inquiry into what led to the Mongu and Limulunga fracas; and also from Barotse National Council.
“Just like we voted the Patriotic Front into government in September, we extend our gratitude to His Excellency for his fatherly love by constituting a Commission of Inquiry to probe what happened in Mongu and Limulunga.”
On January 14, police killed and maimed people accused of rioting and planning to secede from Zambia.
President Sata on Friday castigated Inspector General of Police Martin Malama saying, “You are fully aware that people within Western Province are calling for the creation of a State within a State, and the Inspector General of Police is smiling.”
Asked about the situation in Western Province, Dr Malama promised to issue a statement on Tuesday.
And Western Province commanding officer Fanwell Siyandenge yesterday said the situation is under control and that if there will be threats from the people mentioned, police will arrest them.
“I will be writing to the IG to advise him to send more investigators,” he said.
And when contacted for a comment, Barotse Royal Establishment spokesperson Oliver Saasa declined to comment.“I have no authority to comment on the matter, maybe the BRE might issue a statement later,” he said.
THE University Teaching Hospital (UTH) has accused the Lusaka City Council (LCC) of giving it the burden of disposing of unclaimed bodies because of local authority’s failure to carry out the task.
And LCC says it appreciates the hospital’s effort to help it dispose of the unclaimed bodies and blamed poor communication between the two public institutions for the problem.
UTH public relations manager Pauline Mbangweta said in an interview LCC has given it a lot of unnecessary work because it has failed to play its role of disposing of unclaimed bodies at the hospital.
Ms Mbangweta said the hospital spends huge sums of money amounting to K6 million every month to bury the bodies, a task that does not fall within its mandate.
“It is the local authority’s responsibility to dispose of these unclaimed bodies, but the reason is not clear why they have not been doing their work. It’s a big drain to us because we are not funded to bury them. We are only given money for clinical care,” she said.
Ms Mbangweta said the hospital is facing difficulties in acquiring more drugs because it spends unbudgeted for money to bury unclaimed bodies on behalf of the council.
Ms Mbangweta said the council has not been helpful because it only provides the hospital with a truck without fuel and a driver to help carry the bodies for disposal.
“We buy fuel and pay the driver we are given using our own resources. We bury 25 to 35 bodies every month. Last month we buried 35 and this month of December we have 24 bodies awaiting burial,” she said.
Ms Mbangweta said the hospital has been trying hard to clear the unclaimed bodies on behalf of the council for 20 years because they want to give them a decent burial instead of leaving them to rot in the mortuary.
“These people are not our patients because they are brought in dead (BIDs) by the police. Imagine how much money we could have saved if we were not spending such amounts to do the work which is supposed to be done by them (LCC),” she said.
Ms Mbangweta said UTH is the only hospital that is spending huge amounts of money to bury unclaimed bodies around the world when the police and the council are supposed to do the job.
And LCC public relations officer Henry Kapata said the council appreciates the work the hospital has been doing on its behalf, although it is its responsibility to do so.
“There has not been official communication from them. We did not know that there is such a crisis at the hospital. We will do everything possible to work on the matter,” he said.
ZESCO LTD engineers inspecting power pylons at Kafue Gorge station'
ZESCO Limited says it will next year start putting ‘more money in the pockets’ of rural dwellers across the country by engaging them in clearing its power lines with the help of chiefs.
This has elated traditional leaders who see the gesture as a tool for reducing rural poverty.
Managing director Cyprian Chitundu said in Lusaka yesterday from next year the company will start awarding contracts to cut grass to villagers to put more money in their pockets.
Mr Chitundu said unlike in the past when contracts were awarded to companies from urban areas, Zesco will engage traditional leaders in mobilising communities to cut grass along the transmission lines to empower the local people.
“We want to help put more money in the pocket of every Zambian, instill ownership in local communities and make them feel part of the nation by awarding them contracts to cut grass along transmission lines. We will change the procurement system in the awarding of contracts for cutting grass along transmission lines to incorporate the local people,” Mr Chitundu said.
He was speaking when he officiated at the environmental and social affairs unit’s 15th anniversary held at Lusaka’s Southern Sun Hotel on Friday night.
Mr Chitundu said by engaging the villagers in cutting grass, they will also provide security and the ESU department will be tasked to convince traditional leaders and the local people to take up the contracts.
He said Zesco feels the move would also help sensitise the communities to look after transmission lines and not to burn the bush unnecessarily and take up ownership of the protection of the environment.
Mr Chitundu urged the ESU to rise to the challenge and convince the local people to accept the offer from Zesco, which will help enhance security of the transmission lines.
And House of Chiefs chairperson Chief Madzimawe has welcomed the move by Zesco Limited to empower the villagers.
“It is a positive move by Zesco, a number of people in villages have no jobs and awarding them contracts is a positive way of empowering the rural communities who are in dire need of employment,” he said.
The traditional leader urged other companies operating in rural areas to emulate Zesco in providing employment to the local people.
He said the ‘more money in the pocket’ slogan by the Patriotic Front is not meant for people in urban areas only but for all Zambians.
The chief said the move by Zesco will motivate villagers and ensure that Zesco properties are protected.
Chief Puta of the Bwile people also commended Zesco for the gesture, which he said will help stop exploitation by urban-based companies that were being awarded contracts to cut grass along transmission lines.
He said the companies would go and engage villagers and only pay them peanuts and take the rest of the money.
The chief said villagers used to accept the peanuts because that was the only opportunity they had to get a job because of lack of companies in rural areas.
He said the awarding of contracts to local people will also help stop vandalism because casual workers from urban areas who were enlightened were the ones who used to cut cables.
Minister of Information, Broadcasting and Tourism Given Lubinda
Chief government spokesperson Given Lubinda has said that that the government will ensure that it meets the promises it made to the Zambians.
Mr. Lubinda said that government was aware of the many challenges that citizens face such as poverty and unemployment levels.
Mr. Lubinda stated in the Patriotic Front will always be a people’s party stating that it is the reason why it is still in power.
The information, broadcasting and tourism minister adds that the party will ensure that it does not disappoint the majority that voted for it in power.
He has however noted that the country is facing a lot of challenges which needs ever stakeholder to participate in.
He says that in order for the country to ensure that most challenges are addressed; ever stakeholder needs to participate in the governance system of the country.
Budget execution and service delivery recorded a decline for the period of January to June 2011 and July to December 2011 by 4 percentage points from an average score of 44 to 40 percent respectively.
This is according to Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) national budget execution and service delivery barometer.
CSPR information officer Diana Ngula tells QFM that the decline implies that government minimally met a number of aspects of budget execution and service delivery and has since attributed the decline to lack of transparency and accountability as well as a decline in basic service delivery and management among others.
Ms. Ngula notes that the barometer has not shown significant change in the poor people’s livelihoods during the period under review despite the country having registered positive economic growth during the same period.
Ms. Ngula notes that while there were some significant political commitments to human development as demonstrated in the six national development plan (SNDP), this did not match with the requisite resource allocation, especially towards social protection.
She adds that under the same period, they were consistent patterns of uneven distribution of services across districts with basic service delivery being biased towards the urban areas but living out the marginalized and vulnerable.
Ms. Ngula further stresses that the continuing challenges in basic service delivery have impeded significant impacts on human developments.
Ms. Ngula has since urged government to begin to conceptualize human development as a series of investments to increase capacity and promote a more equitable and inclusive society.
