THE National Restoration Party (NAREP) has observed that the announced Constitution-making roadmap by the Minister of Justice Sebastian Zulu beyond the 90 days will ensure that Zambians come up with a Constitution that will stand the test of time.

NAREP president Elias Chipimo Jr, however, said in Lusaka yesterday that the Government must come up with a clear roadmap that would guarantee a people’s Constitution. He said it would not be realistic to state that a people’s Constitution would be written within 90 days.

“We have always indicated that it was not realistic for the Government to say they would come up with a people driven Constitution within 90 days because it was not just feasible. So we are glad with the realisation that Constitution-making is not feasible within 90 days. “I am, however, restricted to comment because I have not yet seen the roadmap,” he said.

Mr Chipimo Jr said there was need for the Government to outline a detailed roadmap on the writing of a new Constitution. He said his party had some steps that it would recommend in the constitution making process to ensure that Zambians have a constitution that would stand the test of time.

On Friday, Justice Minister Sebastian Zulu outlined a roadmap to guide the Constitution-making process that would entail constituting a team of experts to carry out a comprehensive review of the recommendations by the Mvunga, Mwanakatwe and Mung’omba Constitution review commissions. The minister said this would be followed by a national referendum.

And a political activist Dante Saunders has welcomed the announced roadmap on the Constitution-making process by the Government. Mr Saunders said in Lusaka yesterday that Zambians had already spoken through the previous commissions and that the Government should now just proceed to put together a new Constitution. Mr Saunders who had been opposed to Parliament adopting the new Constitution said the current Parliament would be entrusted because the people’s views would be safeguarded.

[Times of Zambia]

UNITED Kingdom (UK) minister in charge for Africa Henry Bellingham is in the country for a three day visit. Mr Bellingham whose visit is aimed at strengthening the broad bilateral relations between Zambia and the UK has since congratulated Zambia for the transparent and peaceful conduct of the September 20 elections and the subsequent smooth transfer of power which he described as a major success for the country’s democracy.

He said the country was a model in the region and the continent as a whole. According to a statement released by the British High Commission in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Belligham said Zambia had an important role to play in the SADC and COMESA regions. “I am very much looking forward to my first visit to Zambia.

This visit provides an opportunity to strengthen trade links between the UK and Zambia, regional and international security issues as well as identifying areas for further cooperation and highlight where we can work together in the future,” he said.

I congratulate Zambia on the peaceful transfer of power following recent elections. The transparent and peaceful manner in which they were conducted, and the exemplary way in which power was transferred is a major success for democracy in Zambia and a model to others in the region and across Africa.

He said Zambia had an important role to play in SADC, COMESA and the Southern African region and that he would be discussing a range of important regional and international security issues and trade opportunities with members of the Government. During his visit, Mr Bellingham is expected to meet President Michael Sata, Vice-President Guy Scott, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry.

He will also meet the British and Zambian business community. Mr Bellingham will also visit Zambia Sugar plc in Mazabuka, Southern Province, and the UK’s biggest investment in Zambia. President Sata will also host lunch for Mr Bellingham at State House, to which he has invited members of the British business and resident community in Zambia.

And British High Commissioner to Zambia, Tom Carter said Mr Bellingham’s visit was the first by a minister from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in several years. He said the visit offers the opportunity to bolster trade and investment links between the two countries. “This will be the first visit to Zambia by a minister from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) for several years.

It offers the opportunity to bolster trade and investments links between the two countries and highlight future investment opportunities for British businesses. It will also be the first British ministerial visit to Zambia since the change of Government in September and will enable us to forge a new and deeper relationship with the new Government.

”The UK enjoys strong trade, cultural and educational links with Zambia. Currently, the UK government, through DFID, is supporting the Government of Zambia to deliver better services and make better investment decisions, tackling malaria and maternal mortality and increasing opportunities for rural wealth creation. DFID will be spending an average of £59 million per year in Zambia until 2015.

[Times of Zambia]

In the last article , football workout ,i discussed a general workout for all players , more of a warm up . Today football fans can learn how to workout like ,arguable ,the best player in the world today, Barcelona’s  Lionel Messi . Messi is known for his speed ,agility ,and balance . Those are the aspects we will be working on.

THE WORKOUT

FOR SPEED

“W” Run

how its done;

• Lay 5 cones in a W shape, 10 metres across the top, and 5 metres deep.
•  Start on the furthest left point, jog backwards to the second point, sprint to the third, jog backwards to fourth and sprint away to the right point.
•  Wait 20 secs, then reverse.

Dead leg run

how its done;

• Place 8 hurdles or cones in a straight line, with the final one 5m out from the end.
•  Run down the cones, lifting one leg high over each.
• Use a good 90-degree arm drive and push your knee high.
•  Sprint out to the last cone, repeat with opposite leg

FOR AGILITY

Horizontal hops

how its done;

• Set out 6 cones: 3 in a straight line, at a hopping distance; then from the end, one at 9 o’clock, one at 12, one at 3, all 5m away.
•  Hop to each cone, then sprint out to one of the final cones.
• Walk back and alternate the hopping leg.
•  Do 3 sets of 8 reps

Get ups

how its done;

• This is great for leg drive. Lie on the floor (always alternate position: back, side, front, etc) count to 5, then get up as quickly as possible, then sprint 5m.
• Perform 3 sets of 8.
•  This trains total-body coordination.

Two footed bounds

how its done;

• Lay out cones the same as the horizontal hops exercise, but instead of hopping, bound with two legs over the first 3, then sprint and swerve through the 9, 12 and 3 o’clock cones and back to the start.
•  Perform 3 sets of 4

FOR BALANCE

Backward lunge with side flexion

how its done;

• Start with feet shoulder-width apart, knees bent and core tensed.
• Step back into a deep lunge with right leg, extend your right arm overhead and side flex.
•  Push back to the start with left leg.
•  Do 8 reps of 6 each side

Shelf stacker

how its done;

•  Reach and lunge down with both hands to the outside of your right ankle
•  explode from there in a diagonal movement across the body, as if putting something from the floor onto a shelf.
•  Do 15 reps on each side.

Alphabet drill

how its done;

•  balance on your left leg.
• Extend your right leg in front and draw the alphabet, then repeat on the other side, maintaining posture and balance the whole time.
•  Repeat on other leg

BY KAPA187

President Michael Sata has disclosed that more than 60 per cent of the crop that has been purchased would have gone to waste if the Patriotic Front was not elected into power.

In a press statement made available to the media by Special Assistant to the President for Press and public relations, George chellah , Mr Sata said that he was happy with the progress government has made in the purchase of maize and other crops since taking over office.

The President disclosed that government has so far purchased over 1,660,899 Metric Tonnes (MT) of maize worth K2.1 trillion and over 993MT of rice worth K1.5 billion.
“Government has paid out over K1, 774,836,300,000 (approximately K1.8 trillion) and another K100 billion will be disbursed this week to speed up payments to our farmers and settle all arrears in order for them to proceed with the ongoing farming season with minimum difficulty,” President Sata said.

“More than 60 per cent of the crop that has been purchased would have gone to waste if this government was not elected to power.”

The President has re-affirmed that the new administration was determined to steer the agricultural sector as promised and in line with the PF manifesto.

“During the campaigns we made an undertaking that we shall ensure that maize and other crops were bought just in the early days of us taking office. This promise we have kept hence our decision to dedicate huge sums of money to the crop marketing season,” President Sata said.

[pullquote]“More than 60 per cent of the crop that has been purchased would have gone to waste if this government was not elected to power.” [/pullquote]

“We would like to express our gratitude to our millers who have reduced the price of mealie meal. And we hope that others who have not yet effected this price reduction will do so to help the majority of our people afford this essential commodity.

“We are happy that the Food Reserve Agency has taken keen interest in purchasing other crops such as rice and we anticipate that other high-value cash crops will be identified.”

The President also said government is working on comprehensive measures to combat animal diseases in the country especially in Southern Province.