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Health Minister Joseph Kasonde has pledged that his ministry will put in place measures that will end unnecessary drug shortages within 90 days.
Dr Kasonde says his Ministry will also engage the private sector in the procurement of drugs so that there is smooth supply of drugs.
The minister was speaking when he featured on a live ZNBC television programme dubbed National Watch.
Dr. Kasonde has observed that public private partnership is key to ensure that there is no shortage of essential drugs in health institutions.
And Dr. Kasonde has said there is need to build capacity among local Doctors to reduce cases of sending people out of the country for specialised treatment.
[ZNBC]
Director of Public Prosecutions Chalwe Mchenga (l)
President Michael Sata is disappointed with media stories attacking the integrity and credibility of the Director of Public Prosecution DPP- Chalwe Mchenga.
The President says he will not allow a situation where people who can not defend themselves are judged in the media.
President Sata says he is not comfortable with stories appearing in the media attacking the integrity and credibility of someone who can not defend himself.
The President says he will not lead the nation on witch hunt and advised people with evidence on Mr. Mchenga to produce it to the Anti Corruption Commission or to him as President.
Speaking at State House Monday morning when he swore in Justice Permanent Secretary Mbolowa Muyaba, Mr Sata said he wants the Ministry of Justice to operate freely without interference from anyone.
The President Sata has also sworn in Deputy Army Commander Major General Topply Lubaya and Charity Mwansa as Permanent Secretary for Lusaka Province.
Labour Deputy Minister Rayford Mbulu has instructed all unionised workers who had downed tools at the Non-Ferrous Mining Company of Africa NFCA in Chambishi to resume normal duties immediately.
This is because the company and the government have resolved their critical concerns including the basic pay for the miners.
Mr. Mbulu says management at NFCA has agreed to pay K2million as basic salary for the lowest paid worker.
He says no worker will also be victimized for protesting to demand improved conditions of service.
He says the workers were not on strike but merely protesting against alleged prolonged oppression.
But the Deputy Minister has wondered why the company has suddenly agreed to increase salaries for its workers when all along NFCA indicated that it was not able.
But NFCA Corporate Affairs Manager Nelson Jilowa says management has no comment on the matter at the moment.
When asked when the management would respond, Mr. Jilowa who attended the Deputy Minister’s press briefing with other NFCA Senior officials told ZNBC News that comment has been reserved.
Meanwhile Mr. Mbulu has directed Scaw Limited in Kitwe to immediately stop casualisation of labour.
He has also instructed Murray and Roberts of Chingola to harmonise salaries for Zambians and expatriates.
He also warned Chambeshi Metals to normalise salaries which were reportedly reduced by forty per cent during the 2008 global recession.
Mr. Mbulu says the Patriotic Front PF government is eager to create an enabling environment for investment
[ZNBC]
File:Some peasant farmers sieving their maize harvest.
The world is heading towards a triple crisis of climate change, depleted natural resources and rocketing food prices. Zambia is amongst the most vulnerable countries, and yet Zambia is highly unprepared to handle the crisis, warns ActionAid.
ActionAid´s new report “On the Brink: Who is best prepared for a climate and hunger crisis?”, released today, warns that as the global population hits 7 billion this month a triple crisis could dwarf the world’s ability to feed them all. Based on new research in 28 poor countries, including Zambia, the report reveals which poor nations are most vulnerable, which nations are prepared for this triple crisis and which are perilously close to the brink. The report states that Zambia is close to the brink. Zambia is ranked number 6 amongst the 10 most vulnerable countries together with DRC, Burundi, South Africa, Haiti, Bangladesh, India, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia and Rwanda.
The ActionAid report shows that Zambia is s highly unprepared due to the country’s lack of effective policies to fight and reduce the high levels of hunger combined with the weak implementation of climate adaptation plans. Several decades of government neglect to agriculture have left small-scale farmers in Zambia struggling without effective extension services or access to fertilisers and seed stock. Lack of access to financial services, transport and markets has further stagnated the country’s agricultural productivity. Zambia faces chronic malnutrition; 43% of the country’s citizens are not getting enough to eat. And more than 45% of children under the age of 5 are stunted due to chronic malnutrition. With dire climate impacts predicted and land degradation and environmental concerns also worsening, things are likely to get worse.
ActionAid International Zambia Country Director Pamela Chisanga says:
“Climate change is one of the biggest challenges that Zambia and the world faces today, the huge negative impacts of climate change are affecting Zambian farmers already today, especially small scale women farmers. However climate changes and their impacts on our agriculture productivity and food production have been politically neglected in Zambia for too long. We urge President Michael Sata and his new government to prioritise climate change and the agriculture sector. Government has to commit itself to implementing climate change adaptations plans, as well as investing in sustainable agricultural projects, which will help the country prevent a hunger crisis.”
The Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) says that Southern Africa, including Zambia, is highly threatened by multiple climate change. Experts foresee that shorter growing periods due to climate changes will hit the southern Africa area and reliable crop growing days will drop to critical levels, which might make cropping too risky to pursue as a livelihood.
“Zambian natural resources have provided a great boost to our economy in previous years, however the extractive industries together with unsustainable agriculture, soil erosion and forest degradation are great negative contributors to how well we are prepared for a future of depleted natural resources and changing weather patterns, due to climate change. Combined, these negative contributors will be an even greater challenge to our agricultural production. Policies that ensure sustainable productivity and growth are needed today not tomorrow if Zambia wants to secure itself against a climate and hunger crisis. Later this week Zambia and the world celebrates World Food Day and Rural Farmers day, let’s celebrate our farmers by committing ourselves to deliver policies which will help rural communities cope with climate shocks and hunger crisis and not by making empty promises.” says Pamela Chisanga.
ActionAid’s key findings reveal that:
At least 10 countries, accounting for more than 1.5 billion of the world’s population, are highly vulnerable to a climate-related food crisis. Zambia is ranked number 6 out of the ten most vulnerable countries. Overall, climate change could add another half a billion people to those facing chronic hunger around the world by 2050. Every rural community surveyed across Africa, Asia and the Americas said that erratic and extreme weather was crippling their ability to feed themselves.
Unsustainable farming practices and an unprecedented rush from foreign investors to control resources such as minerals, oil, biofuel and water, could leave millions of the poorest people without enough arable land to produce food. In Africa alone, over 6 million hectares of degraded farmland must be regenerated to meet the demand for food from a population set to double by 2050.
A dangerous new era of high food prices is set to push 44 million more people into poverty. The demand for biofuel – produced from wheat, corn, soybean and sugarcane – means that food prices will keep rising unless rich countries find alternative sources of energy.
Brazil scored top of ActionAid’s preparedness survey by announcing US$10 billion to support small scale farms, enshrining the right to food in its constitution and making national plans to climate proof its agriculture. Rwanda has set an ambitious 25 year plan to reverse land and forest degradation. And Malawi is promoting organic fertilisers, building up a nation-wide system of food reserves and drafting a national adaptation plan to help rural communities cope with climate shocks.
ActionAid urges world leaders meeting at next month’s G20 to put the triple crisis at the top of the agenda. It is calling for: greater investment in small farms in poor countries where the majority of poor people’s food is grown; immediate delivery of the climate cash needed to help poor farmers climate-proof their agriculture; binding cuts in rich countries’ carbon emissions; the creation of a system of pan-regional food reserves and the immediate elimination of biofuel targets that are driving land grabs in Africa, Asia and the Americas.
NATIONAL team players have called for the dismissal of coach Dario Bonetti to save Zambia from embarrassment at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations finals slated for Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.
The players, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation, said in Chingola on October 8 that it will be a disaster for Zambia to go to the Africa Cup of Nations finals with Bonetti at the helm of the technical bench.
They said Bonetti has failed to inspire them with his coaching style, which left much to be desired.
They said Zambia’s qualification cannot be credited to Bonetti but players themselves who took it upon themselves to ensure the team booked a place at next year’s championship.
They said working under Bonetti has been the worst experience for them. “It will be a disaster to go with coach Bonetti to the Africa Cup. The truth must be told that Zambia’s qualification is not because of him but it is because of the collective efforts of us players.
“After realising that the coach was not taking us anywhere, we took it upon ourselves to ensure we qualify for the Africa Cup. It is also important to appreciate the input of assistant coach Honour Janza,” said one of the senior players shortly after Libya held Zambia to a barren draw at Nchanga Stadium in Chingola on October 8.
Some players also complained of what they termed as Bonetti’s poor team selection and habit of subjecting them to only one training session each time they are in camp.
“Look at the match we’ve just played against Libya. We were supposed to win that match but unfortunately it ended into a draw. We are sorry to the fans for the disappointment.
“We can do better with a good coach. What is happening is sad and we don’t think we’ll do anything at the Africa Cup if the situation remains the same,” said another player.
But Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) general secretary George Kasengele said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that it is too early for the national soccer governing body to decide the fate of Bonetti.
He said the executive committee will meet in the next few weeks to plan the way forward and strategise on the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations finals.
Meanwhile, Bonetti has dedicated the Chipolopolo’s qualification to the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations finals to the 13 million Zambians. Bonetti said Zambia will always have a special place in his heart.
He said his players absorbed the pressure to ensure that Zambia makes the 15th appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations finals. “It was a very difficult game and it was not important to win but to qualify for the Africa Cup. What is important is to play with the heart for Zambia. We all need to shake hands and the players have done well,” Bonetti said.
And national team defender Emmanuel Mbola has called for hard work among national team players if Zambia is to win the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations. Mbola, who plies his trade for Democratic Republic of Congo side TP Mazembe, said in an interview in Kitwe on Saturday night, that it is good that Zambia has qualified to the 28th edition of the Africa Cup of nations.
“We have to work extra hard for us to win the Africa Cup, especially today (October 8) we did not play well,” Mbola said.
He is, however, confident that Zambia will in future perform better with the support of the fans. He said although Zambia played relatively well against Libya, the team did not perform to the expectation of the fans.
He vowed to continue working hard for him to regain his place in the first 11. Chipolopolo Soccer Fans Association chairman Yotam Mwanza says there is need for the national team to change the game approach to avoid an early exit at the Africa Cup of Nations finals..
Mwanza said the team’s standard of play in October 8’s game against Libya was disappointing and gives the technical bench a lot of work. He said the there is need to start working hard to march the standards of Ivory Coast and Ghana.
Mwanza also called on FAZ to organise international friendly matches with quality opposition.
THE Chamber of Mines says calls to re-introduce windfall tax in the mining sector will not help Zambia’s economic growth but will instead strain operations of the mines.
Association chief executive officer Fred Bantubonse said the windfall tax is not in the best interest of either Government or mining companies as the re- introduction of the tax will shrink the mining industry.
Windfall tax is a higher tax rate on profits that ensue from a sudden windfall gain to a particular company or industry.
Mr Bantubonse said Zambia needs taxes that guarantee benefits for both Government and investors and not ones that choked the much-needed investment.
He said taxing mining firms based on the profits could scare away investors who have invested heavily, created direct and indirectly jobs for Zambians, and are already paying variable tax.
The variable income tax system ensure that income from all the profit above normal is collected but the system spares companies from being taxed on their normal revenue.
“There is a different windfall tax already in the country in the name of variable tax, introduction of windfall tax may not help the country…the problem is that a lot of people are under the impression that mines are not paying tax,” he said.
He said for any tax to be acceptable, it must allow investment to grow and business to be sustained.
Mr Bantubonse said what Zambia needs is a win-win situation and not a condition that would kill the industry.
The windfall tax was introduced by Government in 2008 and later revised to variable income tax.
The former Government constantly cautioned against attempts to recall the windfall tax for mining companies to avoid a leap towards economic destruction and that a lack of understanding between tax systems could also collapse the economy.
Recently, Mines minister Wilbur Simuusa said the PF government will revisit the issue of windfall tax with full consultation of stakeholders to have a win-win situation.
THE Millers Association of Zambia (MAZ) says the price of mealie-meal is expected to reduce by the end of this week as a way of passing on the benefits of the recent fuel price reduction to consumers.
MAZ president Andrew Sakala says some individual millers who are MAZ members have already started reducing the price of mealie-meal.
Mr Sakala said in an interview in Lusaka on October 9 that it has always been the trend to adjust the price of mealie-meal whenever there is a change in the fuel prices and in the harvest.
“Some millers have already implemented the reduction in the price of mealie-meal, as a result of a drop in fuel prices. We are hopeful to see a uniform adjustment by the end of this week,” he said.
And Commuters Rights Association of Zambia president Aaron Kamuti has called on the public transport operators to reduce bus fares as soon as possible.
Mr Kamuti said the reduction in the price of fuel should immediately be passed on to the commuters without negotiations and that it should be effective before the end of this week.
“Public transport operators are always quick to increase the fares whenever there is an increase in fuel prices, unlike when there is a reduction. It shouldn’t be like that,” he said.
Mr Kamuti said all local routes should be reduced by K200 and K500 on intercity routes.
On October 8, President Sata called on millers, the power utility company Zesco and other transporters to pass on the benefits of reduced fuel prices to consumers.
President Michael Sata greets children at St Ignatius Catholic Church
President Sata has said that Zambia will print its own ballot papers for future elections. The President said in Lusaka on yesterday that the November 24 Magoye and Nakonde parliamentary by-elections will be the last to be conducted on foreign-printed ballots.
He said Zambia cannot continue to print ballot papers in other countries after 47 years of independence.
“If it means spending all the coffers to bring in equipment, we will do it. We will print ballot papers here,” Mr Sata said. He said this when he attended the post-election thanksgiving prayer service organised by the Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC), Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) and Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.
And the President said parallel vote tabulation (PVT) made it difficult for the MMD to rig the September 20 tripartite elections. “I would like to thank educated people like my wife. I didn’t know that she can divert from medicine to run PVT because without PVT, our friends were already celebrating. They had even arranged for the inauguration (of former President Banda). But with PVT she arranged with her daughter and granddaughter, we have got what we want. This is the will of God and we will not let you down,” Mr Sata said.
He, however, said he agrees with some people saying the elections were not fully transparent because the Zambia Police Service in Solwezi is still keeping ballot boxes which some people wanted to use in rigging the polls.
Meanwhile, President Sata says had the MMD built on where former President Kenneth Kaunda left, the majority of Zambians would not have been wallowing in poverty. He said Zambia cannot be described as peaceful because many people are failing to afford meals while others cannot find employment.
Mr Sata said his Government is determined to create jobs for everyone. “Dr Kaunda once created that environment. We had to import people from Tanzania, Congo, and Lesotho to come and work in Zambia. He even imported people from Zimbabwe to come and sell beer and from Malawi to come and work as clerks in the mines. How can we fail to do that?” he said.
[pullquote] “I would like to thank educated people like my wife. I didn’t know that she can divert from medicine to run PVT because without PVT, our friends were already celebrating. They had even arranged for the inauguration (of former President Banda). But with PVT she arranged with her daughter and granddaughter, we have got what we want. This is the will of God and we will not let you down,” Mr Sata said.[/pullquote]
Mr Sata said he will be failing in his duties as republican President if expectant mothers continue dying due to lack of access to maternity treatment or if children continue dying of diseases like measles.
He said Zambians are not using their God-given talents adequately, resulting in many of them committing several criminal offences including corruption. He said some prisoners are just forced by circumstances to commit crime.
“If we as a people can sacrifice a little, we can establish prisons and reformatory centres where we can only have habitual criminals, not most of those people who are there. If we can keep young men and women occupied, we will help Mrs Sata who is fighting HIV and AIDS because I was told one day by Chief Justice (Ernest Sakala) that idle hands are always tempted.
“If young people have jobs, they will have very little time for vices. We will not sit idly by when we know we can do something to create jobs” he said.
And Mr Sata thanked the three church mother bodies for organising the prayer service at short notice.
[pullquote]. “Dr Kaunda once created that environment. We had to import people from Tanzania, Congo, and Lesotho to come and work in Zambia. He even imported people from Zimbabwe to come and sell beer and from Malawi to come and work as clerks in the mines. How can we fail to do that?” he said.[/pullquote]
He said he wants Zambia to have a strong religious background and asked the three church mother bodies to make written submissions on how this can be achieved or even legislated.
He said it does not make sense for people to just boast about Zambia’s declaration as a Christian nation when their behaviour is anti-Christ. The President pledged that his Government will rehabilitate Lubwa Mission in Chinsali, Dr Kaunda’s birth place.
He said the church contributed greatly to Zambia’s independence and civilisation, adding that without the clergy, Dr Kaunda would not have managed to fight for Zambia’s independence.
Earlier, ZEC representative Father Cletus Mwila urged political parties to exercise love because national unity of purpose is more important than human beings. Fr Mwila urged citizens to contribute to the development of Zambia so that change can start bearing fruit.
“Let’s put our resources together and insist on togetherness as God’s children. Let’s make serious contribution to hard work,” he said.
EFZ executive director Reverend PukutaMwanza commended the church for praying for peace before, during and after the elections.
He thanked former President Banda for fulfilling his pledge to accept election results, which he said reflected the people’s will.
Dignitaries who attended the service included Dr Kaunda, Chief Justice Ernest Sakala, Vice-President Guy Scott, former Lusaka Diocese Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo, service chiefs, members of the diplomatic corps, ministers and members of Parliament.
And the Zambia Episcopal Conference secretary general Cleophas Lungu has urged leaders to exercise justice, peace, reconciliation, love and sacrifice.
Father Lungu said this at the Feast of the Good Shepherd at Kabwata’s Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Lusaka yesterday.
“If you want to be leader, you should develop the spirit of love, reconciliation and sacrifice for your own people,” he said. Fr Lungu said leaders should exhibit passion and love for the country and care for the people.
He said church leaders will be happy to see all leaders, particularly politicians, practising love for their country.
Power Dynamos bounced back to the top of the table on Sunday while at the opposite end, Kabwe Warriors days in the Super Division are looking very numbered.
Nakambala Leopards 2-Forest Rangers 1
Nakambala recorded their second successive league win with this sweet home win over Forest Rangers.
Lubinda Mundia and Moses Siyanda scored the hosts goals while Zebron Njobvu scored Forest’s consolation and his 7th of the campaign.
Kalewa 1-Nkana 3
Nkana paid the price of victory with vengeance from the home fans who attacked the Kitwe side after they beat hosts Kalewa in Ndola.
An Evans Kangwa brace and one goal from Reynold Kampamba handed Nkana what was to eventually turn out to be a painful away win.
Power Dynamos 3-Nchanga Rangers 0
Power are back at the top of the table after crushing Nchanga Rangers at Arthur Davies to record their first win in over a month.
Mulenga Mukuka got the show on the road with the opener in the 10th minute.
Felix Nyaende added Power’s second from the spot in the 15th minute before Alex Ngonga got one of his own in the 26th minute after earlier winning the penalty.
Konkola Blades 0-Green Eagles 1
Aubrey Zulu scored the lone goal for Green eagles to help ease their demotion worries in this away win at Konkola Stadium in Chililabombwe.
Red Arrows 0-Zesco United 1
Zesco’s stealth rise up the Super Division table continued on Sunday when they beat contenders to their title Red Arrows at Nkoloma Stadium.
Winston Kalengo scored the only goal of the game in the 51st minute.
Roan United 2-Nkwazi 1
Roan followed up their midweek victory over Zanaco with another win over a Lusaka club this time in the form of struggling Nkwazi.
Passmore Kangwa and Arthur Kasoloki scored the winning goals for Roan while Nephias Banda got one for Nkwazi.
Green Buffaloes 2-Kabwe Warriors 1
Kabwe Warriors remained third from bottom after losing 2-1 away to Green Buffaloes at woodlands Stadium in Lusaka.
Dears Kakunta put Buffaloes ahead in the 39th minute and Allan Mukuka added the other on the nick of halftime.
Richard Kasonde scored Warriors consolation three minutes after the restart.
Lime Hotspurs 0-Zanaco 0
Zanaco stayed put in 5th place for another week after a scoreless away draw at troubled Lime Hotspurs.
The draw was relief for Zanaco Wedson Nyirenda after losing 1-0 away to Nkwazi on Wednesday.
File: St Ignatius Catholic Church Assistant Parish Priest Father Charles Chilinda leads the congregation in praying for President Michael Sata and First Lady Christine Kaseba during the cerebration of mass in Lusaka on his first Sunday as President of Zambia
By Gray Soko
President Sata declared on his first Sunday as president that Zambia will be guided by biblical principles and specifically by the Ten Commandments. This to my knowledge was the first affirmation since the declaration, of how the nation would be governed as a Christian nation. Apart from the preamble there is nothing in the constitution which helps one to understand the policy and practice of a Christian nation.[pullquote]To many people, nothing has so far changed between the Zambia before the declaration and the Zambia after the declaration. If anything, there appears to have been an increase in unchristian behaviours or vices such as corruption, drug trafficking and drug abuse, child trafficking, child abuse and neglect, pride and unforgiveness[/pullquote]
Policy
The PF government has to work out a clear policy of governance based on Christian principles. Whereas in the muslim world sharia law guides all aspects of life including the legal and political system, apart from the Vatican , perhaps, no “Christian” country to my knowledge has evolved an elaborate policy of governance based on Christian norms. There is even a debate in some countries over claims that they were founded on Christian principles and issues are being raised on whether or not Christian principles are compatible with secularism, democracy and freedom of worship or conscience.
Zambia has chosen for itself the path of a Christian nation as enshrined in the constitution and we do not have to rely on the affirmatiom, approval or acceptance of others over our covenant with God. The various Christian bodies should therefore work with the PF government to align or realign policies in the various “areas of human endeavour” to Christian principles. Recent events have unfortunately shown a lack of focus by some of these bodies who chose to be partisan for parochial reasons and failed to stand for God’s people.
Practice
To many people, nothing has so far changed between the Zambia before the declaration and the Zambia after the declaration. If anything, there appears to have been an increase in unchristian behaviours or vices such as corruption, drug trafficking and drug abuse, child trafficking, child abuse and neglect, pride and unforgiveness.
The Ten Commandments are indeed cardinal Christian principles but it is important that they are not just seen as laws to be obeyed, rather they should help model behavior and character. High moral standards must be demanded in all walks of life, at school, work and in the community. If laziness, corruption, lack of respect, lack of care for resources or commitment to work are condoned, there is simply no way the virtues of Christianity will be realized and decades after the declaration, Zambia will still be no better.
In a global village thirsting for unbridled individual freedom of expression or conscience, it is not an easy task to remodel behaviours to conform to biblical principles but we have entered into an unconditional covenant with God and we just have to do our part and God Himself will accomplish what we cannot humanly do.
Motorists in Lusaka have called on government to monitor the implementation of the new fuel pump prices as announced on Friday.
The Ministry of Energy announced an average 400 Kwacha reduction on prices of fuel effective Friday midnight.
However some oil marketing companies have not yet effected the new fuel prices.
Some concerned drivers have called for strict monitoring of the implementation of the reduced prices in order for consumers to benefit.
On Friday Government scrapped a levy used to fund strategic fuel reserves, which will now be the responsibility of the government in the latest of a sweep of changes.
“The onus of holding fuel will go into the hands of government. The government will take that risk and will ensure that we do not have shortages. Right now the government has ensured that storage facilities are built across the country,” he said.
Local Government Minister, Professor Nkandu Luo has with immediate effect banned the holding of workshops by local authorities in the country.
She has charged that the outcomes from these workshops are rarely implemented but only serve as a source of corruption.
Professor Luo has further warned Civic leaders to refrain from illegal land allocation regardless of the political party they belong to.
She was speaking when she installed PF Councilor, Davies Chiwala as new Mayor for the City of Ndola. Mayor Chiwala takes over from Friday Sikazwe.
Meanwhile, Mr. Chiwala has appealed to all civic leaders to seriously draw a line between politics and development. He says the people of Ndola are highly expectant of development from the new government. The new Mayor has appealed to Government to increase funding to local authorities for easy delivery of services.
Opposition UPND’s Lizuma ward councilor, Aggrey Nyekwa has been retained unopposed as Livingstone City Council mayor. While, his deputy is MMD’s Matthews Jere who also went through unopposed.
Livingstone City Council Town Clerk, Vivien Chikoti as returning officer declared the two duly elected as Mayor and Deputy respectively. Meanwhile, the PF in Livingstone says it did not contest for any position in a bid to probe the land allocation irregularities in the city.
PF Akapelwa ward councilor, Paul Sensele has accused many councilors in Livingstone of allegedly having benefited from illegal plots allocations. He has charged that corruption has hampered development in Livingstone.
In Kabwe PF councilor for Justine Kabwe Ward, Moses Mwansa, has been elected new Mayor for Kabwe Municipal council, while Ms Rachael Mwelwa also of the ruling PF is the Deputy Mayor.
Mr. Mwansa a former army officer and Rachael Mwelwa who both went unopposed in the elections were declared winners by the Town Clerk Maria Dias Neves in the Council Chambers.
The newly elected Mayor has pledged to work with Kabwe council administration and in collaboration with other councilors whose support he said he values to transform the face of Kabwe town.
He adds that he will work to revive Zambia-China Mulungushi Textiles and other companies that have since closed to create more jobs for the people of Kabwe.
File: Maize that has been purchased from farmers waiting to be transported to sheds by the Food Reserve Agency
The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has ruled out the possibility of a lot of maize having gotten soaked and damaged in the recent rains reported in various parts of the country.
FRA Public Relations Officer, Mwamba Siame claims that reports of some maize going to waste is not reflective of the holistic picture across the country.
Meanwhile, the FRA has regretted the destruction of maize in a fire that gutted the FRA shed in Chadiza.
Ms. Siame clarifies that the fire was caused by a fumigation chemical when it came in to contact with rain water.
And Ms. Siame has disclosed that 41 contractors have been engaged by her organization to construct produce storage slabs.
The project once completed is expected to create 450,000 metric tons of storage space for the bumper maize crop.
She says the first phase of the project is expected to be completed by the end of this month.
Meanwhile, Food Reserve Agency (FRA) Public Relations Officer, Mwamba Siame has also disclosed that a task force has been constituted to ascertain the quality of maize available across the country for exports.
She says maize export is being considered in view of excess maize on the market arising from the carryover from previous season harvest.
President, Michael Sata has turned down an invitation from Malawian President, Bingu Wa Mutharika to attend the COMESA summit set to be held in that country.
He has explained that he is unable to attend next week’s summit in Malawi because of being declared a prohibited immigrant in Malawi following his deportation in 2007.
Speaking when he met President Bingu Wa Mutharika’s special envoy at State house David Bandawe, President Sata says until Malawi formally deals with the matter, he fears being embarrassed if he travelled as he is still regarded as a prohibited immigrant.
Mr. Sata told the envoy that he thought he was bringing the revocation of the prohibited immigrant declaration.
“You are fully aware of the dilemma I am in with your government,” Sata told Malawi’s high commissioner to Zambia David Bandawe after he delivered an letter inviting the Zambian leader to the summit.
[pullquote]“I went to Malawi to visit an opposition leader and your government bundled me into a (Toyota) Land Cruiser and said I am a prohibited immigrant. Your government has not been courageous enough to apologise and therefore I find it extremely difficult to go to Malawi.”[/pullquote]
“I went to Malawi to visit an opposition leader and your government bundled me into a (Toyota) Land Cruiser and said I am a prohibited immigrant. Your government has not been courageous enough to apologise and therefore I find it extremely difficult to go to Malawi.”
President Sata has instead assigned Vice President, Guy Scott to lead the Zambian delegation to the COMESA Summit.
Meanwhile, President Sata has ordered the reinstatement of all Copperbelt University students who were expelled for expressing displeasure at the re-appointment of Dora Siliya, as Minister of Education after a judical tribunal ruled that she breached the law over the award of a contract to RP Capital which was single-sourced to evaluate Zamtel.
And Mr. Sata has also directed the NAPSA management to reinstate the Director of Finance who was dismissed for challenging a questionable transition that would cost the authority billions of pensioners’ money.
This is contained in a statement made available to the media by Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations George Chellah.
