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President Michael Sata has taken a swipe against economists who are suggesting that if government reviews the minimum wage, it will fuel inflation.
President Sata says it is unfair to suggest that increasing wages for workers will fuel inflation when the same economists get millions of Kwacha.
President Sata also made reference to state media institutions saying reporters are poorly remunerated and lack transport.
Mr Sata says he has also received information that some people at ZNBC are not happy with the appointed of Mr Joe Chilaizya as Director General and Kenneth Maduma as Director of Programmes.
Mr Sata says he wants to improve the welfare of workers at ZNBC and create more jobs by establishing regional television stations.
The President Sata says this in response to a question from a journalist who sought a comment from the President over the proposed review of the retirement age.
Mr Sata says the proposed review of the retirement age is in order and will not impact negatively on young people in seeking jobs.
And President Michael Sata has called the executive arms of government to adhere to the three cabinet principles.
Mr. Sata says cabinet and deputy Ministers must adhere to collective responsibility, cabinet confidentiality and declaration of interest.
President Sata says the three principles should be adhered to individually and collectively day to day as they discharge their duties as Ministers.
The President reiterated that government will at all time adhere to the tenets of Good and transparent Governance.
He has urged ministers and their deputies to ensure that they keep the promise given to the people of Zambia during political campaign.
President Sata was speaking at a briefing session for Ministers and Deputy Ministers at State House in Lusaka on Thursday.
He says the PF Government is committed not only to the rule of law but also truly to a fresh start of transformation on a change program which focuses on developmental issues.
Mr. Sata says citizens of Zambia are entitled to better lives, a vision which can be achieved not by accident but through hard work.
He says time to celebrate victory of the just ended tripartite elections is now over and urged ministers to work hard in addressing economic and social challenges.
President Michael Sata has learnt with sorrow, the passing of Mr Winstone Zulu, a renowned anti-AIDS activist who pioneered the crusade against stigma when he distinguished himself as one of the first people in Southern Africa to take the bold step to go public about their HIV status.
This is according to a press statement released by George Chellah Special Assistant to the President on press and public relations.
President Sata recalls his personal encounters with Mr Zulu at the time he served as Minister of Health in the 1990s.
President Sata said: “I remember Winstone Zulu very well. When I was Minister of Health, we helped him with some of the personal problems he faced. He was a dedicated campaigner who did a lot to help fight stigma which makes HIV/AIDS a lot worse for many people.”
When he was diagnosed HIV-positive in 1990, Winstone took a rare and courageous act that did not only give a face to AIDS, but also contributed greatly to the reduction of stigma.
“He was a gallant fighter for the rights and dignity of People Living with AIDS (PLWAs) and was instrumental in the formation of the Network of Zambian People Living with AIDS (NZP+),” adds the President.
The Head of State says Winstone’s personal struggle with the disease until the advent of anti-retroviral drugs which he passionately advocated for, is a sign of leadership needed to fight the disease. It is such efforts which have today made it possible for government to put as many as 400,000 people on the life-serving drugs.
Winstone will also be remembered for his efforts to advance family and reproductive rights of PLWAs, leading to the introduction of routine HIV testing of pregnant mothers to prevent transmission of the virus from the mother to the baby.
“It is therefore sad for me to learn that Mr Zulu succumbed to the twin tragedy of AIDS and Tuberculosis (TB) at the University Teaching Hospital this week,” regrets the President.
He has been called “Man of Action” promising swiping changes “Within 90 days” just as John F Kennedy was called “Man of all seasons” with his “Hundred days of dynamic action”. The euphoria surrounding the election of Sata may be comparable to that of JFK in 1960 in the support he got from the youth and the hope that the “good guys” have at last come to power. Expectations are indeed high that the “Man of action” will deliver to the people’s desires.
Sata has already declared himself “allergic to corruption” which apparently started to sprout again following the demise of Levy Mwanawasa. To many people the decisions of the RB administration to scrap the Task Force on corruption, remove the abuse of office clause from the law, refusal to appeal the acquittal of FTJ by the High Court on corruption charges, failure to register the London Court ruling on FTJ and findings of the Denis Chirwa Tribunal were signs of a weakening stand on corruption.[pullquote]Those who ride the back of the tiger will truly find themselves inside in due course.[/pullquote]
The “Man of Action” has already set up commissions of inquiry to probe ZRA, ERB, ZESCO, NAPSA, RDA etc where corruption may have been going on. He has also called for reforms in the judiciary, army and air force.
The question that comes to mind is why do governments that come to power on the platform of fighting corruption, transparency, integrity and democracy find themselves in the same very vices?[pullquote]What will stop these unhealthy appetites is the vigilance of the people[/pullquote]
Towards the end of his two terms in office FTJ tried to maneuver a third term but the people’s resolve stopped him. Other countries succeeded and some leaders stubbornly refuse to relinquish power after decades in office against the wishes of the people or the general good of their countries. It is as if they would prefer to die in office. This appetite for self preservation and aggrandizement of the ruling elite has tended to pervert the otherwise professional institutions and if left unchecked the country finds itself firmly in the grip of corruption. The number of professionals from various fields that were taken to court on corruption charges alongside FTJ testifies to this.
When corruption thrives, it can be expected that the judiciary can become compromised denying people justice, the police and security wings abet the wrong doings of the ruling elite, public institutions function for their own existence or that of the well connected rather than the good of the country or the ordinary citizenry. At this stage the country is truly on the sliding slope to a failed state status in which everybody becomes a loser.
What will stop these unhealthy appetites is the vigilance of the people. It is to the credit of the free press and communication technology that such vices cannot be hidden from the people for ever. The Freedom of Information Bill is therefore a welcome step in empowering the people fight corruption. Those who ride the back of the tiger will truly find themselves inside in due course.
GOVERNMENT has appointed an independent task force team to look into the issues affecting Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), primary labour and operational matters.
Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications permanent secretary Dominic Sichinga said the task force will assess the extent of the problem affecting TAZARA and report to the Zambian and Tanzanian governments.
“We are waiting for a report from the team that will be represented to the two governments…they will have to probe the headquarters, all operations of TAZARA and make recommendations,” he said.
The task force team comprises four individuals, two appointed by the Zambian government, a local citizen and a Malawian while the other two are appointed by the Tanzania government, a Tanzanian and Ugandan.
In an interview, Mr Sichinga said TAZARA is facing a lot of challenges adding that the railway firm is not operating at its optimal level.
He said Government wants to ensure that TAZARA operates at a viable and efficient level.
He said Government is aware of some problems the company is facing citing insufficient investment in the railway which needs to be addressed.
“As the Zambian government, we have in the past not put in adequate funds in the operations of TAZARA, whereas our friends from Tanzania have from time to time put in money towards operations of the company,” he said.
Mr Sichinga said inadequate funding presents challenges such as workers on the Zambian side being prone to victimisation if Government is not putting in its fair share.
He said the major problem facing TAZARA are historical liabilities such as statutory debts that have not been paid over the years.
Last week, TAZARA managing director Akashambatwa Mbikusita-Lewanika disclosed that the company requires US$ 770.1 million to improve on the company’s operations and infrastructure.
Dr Mbikusita-Lewanika said there was need to review the TAZARA Act of 1995 to improve the chances of engaging strategic partners or other options for Private Sector participation in investment, management and overall corporate governance.
He also called for an urgent council of ministers meeting to determine a cabinet memorandum for prompt and decisive attention of shareholding governments.
Lusaka residents jostle to touch the hand of President Sata
THE First Session of the Eleventh National Assembly on October 14 opens its doors to the newly-elected members of Parliament amidst high expectations from the people as the House promises to deliver an effective, people-centred law-making process.
It is a hung Parliament, with no political party having a clear majority. The ruling Patriotic Front has 68 members (when combined with eight nominated members), the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD), 54, and the United Party for National Development (UPND), 28.
There are three independent MPs while the Alliance for Development and Democracy (ADD) and the Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) have a member apiece.
President Sata will open the proceedings with a presidential speech that will set the tone for the main issues of focus for the House during this session, after which the MPs will be debating the policy statements contained in his speech.
Being a hung Parliament, with all members having a fresh mandate and a new Speaker in prominent lawyer and former High Court Judge Patrick Matibini, the hopes are high from members of the public.
Apart from electing the Speaker, the first meeting of this session also elected Mkhondo Lungu as Deputy Speaker and Chifumu Banda as Deputy Chairperson of Committees of the Whole House on October 6, 2011.
And as the business finally starts in the House, Zambians will be keeping their ears glued to the proceedings from Manda Hill in anticipation of a balanced legislature that will pass all the laws in the interest of the general public and not based on ‘collective agreements’ of their respective political parties.
The Tenth National Assembly, dominated by the former ruling MMD, saw a number of controversial bills that Zambians roundly condemned, sneaking through.
During its Third Session, which adjourned sine die on June 24, 2011 before Parliament was dissolved to pave way for the general elections, the House considered a total of 217 questions for oral and written answers and 20 motions to adopt Sessional Committee Reports.
In addition, four Ministerial Statements were presented and seven Annual Reports from Government Ministries and quasi-Government institutions were received and laid on the Table.
Parliament further voted for the removal of the Abuse of Office Clause from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Act, but failed to garner the required two-thirds majority to amend the Zambia Constitutional Bill that could have seen the much-criticised National Constitutional Conference’s draft constitution coming into effect.
The House changed the law on Presidential Emoluments by removing the three-year stipulated period for gratuity in what commentators say was a bull-dozed process to ensure former president Rupiah Banda qualified for gratuity.
The Non-Governmental organisation (NGO) Bill, which restricts and regulates the operations of the civil society, also became law while the windfall tax on mines was voted out barely a year after Dr Mwanawasa’s administration had introduced it.
But with Government’s renewed anti-corruption drive under President Sata’s leadership, and the commitment to bettering the living standards of the people, some of the laws and decisions that were passed are likely to be revisited.
Other issues expected to dominate the session are the proposed adjustment to the retirement age from 55 to 65 years, the revision of the labour laws, and the ratification of the proposed new holders of constitutional offices, among them the Attorney General and the director of the Anti-Corruption Commission.
The most prominent business of the house will probably be the presentation of the 2012 National Budget by the Minister of Finance, after which members will have to extensively debate the budget and consequently pass the Appropriation Bill before the close of the session.
Parliament is also expected to appoint the leader of the opposition from the MMD, being the party that garnered slightly above a third of the membership of the House as required by the law for a political party to be recognised as the official opposition.
This session opens with 155 members, three short of the required 158, following the death of some parliamentary candidates in Nakonde and Magoye ahead of the recent tripartite elections, and the resignation of Chongwe MP Japhen Mwakalombe a few hours after he was announced winner.
VICE-PRESIDENT Guy Scott says the Malawian Government should not overlook the issue of giving a satisfactory apology to President Sata over the 2007 deportation despite him having sent a high level delegation to attend the 30th Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA) Heads of State and Government summit in Lilongwe.
The theme for the summit is Harnessing science and technology for development.
Addressing local and foreign media during a press briefing at Golden Peacock Hotel on October 13, Dr Scott said there is urgent need to address the matter as it is negatively affecting diplomatic relations between Zambia and Malawi.
“While Zambia is attending the COMESA conference in Lilongwe at high level, it should not be overlooked that there is one major issue negatively affecting the relationship between Zambia and Malawi.
“This is the issue of His Excellency President Michael Sata’s deportation from Malawi when he was in Zambia’s opposition,” he said.
Dr Scott said President Sata has made it very clear that he requires a satisfactory apology, explanation or whatever it may be before relations between the two countries can be normalised.
The vice-president, who arrived in Lilongwe on October 13 at 12:30 hours, said he is personally grateful for the rousing welcome he received at Kamuzu International Airport.
The vice-president said Zambia needs good relations with neighbouring countries but that even if President Sata was deported when he was an opposition political party leader, it is important that the Malawian Government apologises to Mr Sata.
Dr Scott said such an apology should not be given to the delegation he is leading in Lilongwe but go to State House in Lusaka.
He said the failure by the Malawian Government to apologise or give a satisfactory explanation to President Sata is souring diplomatic relations between Zambia and Malawi.
On March 15, 2007, President Sata was deported from Malawi upon his arrival at Chileka International Airport in Blantyre and was driven back to Zambia through Mwami Border in Chipata.
On Saturday, President Sata turned down an invitation by Malawian President Bingu Wa Mutharika to travel to that country to attend the COMESA Heads of State and Government Summit on grounds that the latter has neither apologised nor furnished him with reasons for having deported him in 2007.
But Malawian Government spokesperson, Patricia Kaliati was quoted by the Nation on Sunday of Malawi as having said “as Government, we have heard”.
Artist impression of the New State House that was to be built
President Michael Sata has cancelled a contract to build a new State House and the construction of a new international airport which was supposed to be constructed by Chinese company, Shanghai Construction (Group) General Co and a Turkish company, respectively.
Mr Sata said the country’s current State House is more than adequate and wondered why the former government had decided to embark on an expensive venture of building another State House.
“Building a new airport is an important venture and needs cabinet approval and advertising. I am cancelling the building of the airport… and there was no tender. We are going to investigate,” Mr Sata said.
President Sata also revealed that the number of expensive Toyota Lexus vehicles bought by former President Banda was in fact not two but four and has demanded that investigations should be launched to find out where the other two cars are. He has directed Minister of Home Affairs Kennedy Sakeni to investigate the matter.
And the president Sata has said that he is disappointed that people who allegedly bought the gold that went missing from the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) sneaked into the country on October 12 and were allowed to return to Switzerland without police detection.
President Sata said he had lost confidence in Lusaka Divisional Commander Mhlakeni Zulu and has since retired him in national interest and replaced him with Ms Mary Tembo.
The President revealed that the multi-million dollar gold that mysteriously went missing was in fact bought by Swiss national, Nicola Bogdan Buzaianu, who is also Zambia’s permanent representative to United Nations Education and Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
Mr Buzaianu and two colleagues allegedly met former President Banda’s son James and former press aide Dickson Jere. Mr Sata said the three men also allegedly met the former President before travelling to Mfuwe where they had a meeting with an unnamed businessman.
[pullquote]“We were supposed to swear in a deputy Minister Sara Sayifwanda but my sister wanted to twist our arm and wanted to be cabinet minister. We promised a smaller cabinet and we are not going to increase ministries,” the President said.[/pullquote]
“It is very sad that the Drug Enforcement Commission seized gold and it went missing mysteriously. The people who bought were in Lusaka a few days ago. They came with a private jet and saw my predecessor. The name is Nicola Bogdan Buzaianu,” President Sata said. President Sata said Mr Buzaianu and two other men arrived in Zambia on October 12 aboard a private jet.
Meanwhile, the President has revoked the appointment of Zambezi West member of Parliament, Sarah Sayifwanda (MMD) as deputy Minister of Gender because the MP demanded a full Cabinet portfolio.
The President said the ministry, which has been renamed Gender and Child Development, will be run by a permanent secretary. “We were supposed to swear in a deputy Minister Sara Sayifwanda but my sister wanted to twist our arm and wanted to be cabinet minister. We promised a smaller cabinet and we are not going to increase ministries,” the President said.
The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection JCTR has called for the formulation of a policy direction when reviewing the minimum wage, to deal with the resulting high cost of production.
JCTR says the policy should take into account both employees welfare and the cost of production, to avoid plunging the economy into price wage spiral inflation.
JCTR believes this will enable the government to tackle challenges in the labour market such as low wages.
The Centre says wage increases if not accompanied by increase in production will only result in the increase in the price of commodities.
JCTR has also observed that many Zambians can not afford their basic needs because of low wages.
This is according to a statement released to ZNBC in Lusaka today.
Meanwhile, the cost of living for a family of six for the month of September increased to K 820,300 from Augusts K 813, 850.
JCTR has attributed the rise in the cost of living to the increase in the price of dry fish which is now costing K57 000.
Other minor increases were recorded in commodities such as eggs, beans, vegetables and tomatoes.
First Quantum Minerals Ltd. Chairman and CEO Philip Pascall
First Quantum Minerals Limited is happy with President Michael Sata’s drive to boost foreign investment in Zambia.
First Quantum Minerals Chief Executive Officer Philip Pascal says President Sata’s willingness to engage with foreign investors to strike a balance for benefits of both investors and Zambians is welcome.
Mr Pascal says the president’s stance is key in maintaining and enhancing investor confidence in the country.
Mr Pascal who met with President Sata at State House in Lusaka says the discussions with the fifth Republican President of Zambia, who marked his 20th day in office on Wednesday, were cordial and positive.
He says it is clear that President Sata wants to see increased investment that gives both investors and Zambians mutual benefits.
This is according to a statement released to ZNBC News by the mining firm.
First Quantum is Zambia’s largest copper producer, and is the single largest contributor to the national treasury.
In his inaugural speech, President Sata emphasised that foreign investment is important to Zambia as it does not only create jobs but equally contributes to the economic empowerment of Zambians.
The President also highlighted that the Patriotic Front (PF)-led government will continue to work in fair partnerships with investors already in the country and welcome new ones.
Reuters reports that Zambia will negotiate larger shareholding in foreign mining companies and plans to revise the tax collection mechanism to improve transparency and maximize benefits for the country, the minister of mines said.
“We would like to increase our shareholding to at least 35 percent in all the projects but that will depend on how well we negotiate with the mining firms,” mines minister Wylbur Simuusa told Reuters in an interview late on Wednesday.
Simuusa said the decision to seek a higher stake in the mines did not amount to nationalization of the mining sector in Africa’s top copper producer.
Meanwhile, About 500 workers walked off the job on Thursday at Chambishi Metals cobalt plant, seeking higher wages from the Chinese-owned firm in Zambia, union officials said.
The strike is the latest labour action to hit the country since new President Michael Sata came to power a few weeks ago and emboldened workers by saying he will fight for better pay and working conditions.
The Chambishi cobalt plant is majority-owned by China Nonferrous Metals Mining Corporation.
More than 2,000 striking Zambians at other Chinese-owned mines went back to work this week after winning nearly 100 percent pay increases.
The University Teaching Hospital-UTH in Lusaka has continued to face a problem of congestion despite the city having first level hospitals and the Levy Mwanawasa General Hospital.
The Hospital management is now being forced to create floor beds to accommodate more patients at the biggest health institution in the country.
Some patients have complained of uncomfortable sleeping arrangements.
They say that sometimes seven patients have to share one mattress.
But UTH Managing Director Dr. Lackson Kasonka has appealed to members of the public with less complicated cases to seek medical attention from first level hospitals and the Levy Mwanawasa General Hospital.
He was speaking in an interview with ZNBC News in Lusaka yesterday.
And one of the midwives, Tumelo Kapatiso says health personnel are unable to give the best care to patients who need specialised treatment due to the overwhelming numbers.
Labour, Sports, Youth and Gender Minister Fackson Shamenda
Honorable Shamenda,
Kindly find time and visit Lafarge Cement Zambia Ndola factory. We are suffering.
1. lowest paid worker gets K1.8 million
2. Most employees are on contracts and some have worked more than 10 years on contracts
3. Ndola Cement factory alone sales about K900million in daily sales but pays workers poorly with yearly increaments between K90,000 and K120,000.
4. Our union is controlled and intimidated by management, they get what management gives them.
5. Gratuity for contract workers is calculated at 15% which is very low.
6. We have foreign managers who get as high as K150 million to K350million per month with K7million weekly allowances, besides the company paying for their accomodation, food dstv electricity etc.
7.Bonus is calculated at 10% meaning those with biger salaries gets more than workers who suffer for it. 10% of 1.8m is K180, 000 and 10% of K50million is K5million, see the gap.
8. Christmas bonus was scrapped off, we dont get it any more in Lafarge, but we make billions of kwachas for a French guy.
9. Mr Shamenda, President Sata, please help us, dont turn blind eye on us , we voted for you. Remember us, we cannot demonstrate or go on strike.Union workers are few and can be easily fired.
Daniel Nyambe AKA Dnel is a Holy hip hop artist . He is also a student at UNZA. He recently launched his VIVA campaign with the release of his 3 singles.
KAPA187: How did you come up with the name dnEL?
dnEL : Well it is pronounced DNL and its basically my name just cut short…I tried other names but didn’t work out. I must say that most or all Hebrew names like Samuel, Daniel, Eli, Elijah etc have a deity to them and the prefix is either EL or JAH thus the EL.
KAPA187: What made you get interested in “holy hip hop” and what made you peruse it seriously ?
dnEL :Well to be honest it was all I knew,I mean, I was introduced to gospel” hip hop” in the early 90s, groups like DCtalk, kept me busy…so I was hip hop orientated ,then school comes along and nobody knew the groups I talked about so I “exchanged notes” I gave them my music and they gave me there’s…well I guess it was because that’s the only music my folks would allow me to do lol, but as Christ became real to me I saw the influence that music had on me and I wanted God to speak through my music.
KAPA187: You have a video for you song “Kwenda na yesu” , it is a very powerful song , explain it to us.
dnEL :The song was written when I was having a crazy day at the studio, so I’m there writing about how bad things were then Genesis 1 hits me! God saw how the earth was empty, formless, etc but watch it, He doesn’t say anything about how bad things where but what he wants things to be… so that’s basically de kwenda na Yesu song…walkin with God not behind ,in front or besides no no no “in Him, we live, move and have our being..” Acts17:28…yep, the video we had a father and son thing going on…
KAPA187: What challenges have you faced in the music industry ?
dnEL :Well to be honest when we started support was quiet tricky but by the grace of God doors are opening in places that we would have never thought…(when I say we I mean the holy hip hop clique).
KAPA187: “Holy hiphop” or any form of gospel music is not played much on radio unless on Sundays ,why do you think this is so?
dnEL :hmmmm I dunno, yeah I don’t really, but what I will say is that call it corny if you like, but Christian hip hop artists (through the creation of good and relevant music) have been and are still having an effect on the lives of listeners in the name of Jesus Christ. I know several people who came to know Christ partly through good Christian hip hop music and with the rise of the internet i.e. technology, though radio play may be reduced to Sunday’s this use of technology can be used effectively EVERYDAY to spread the Good news of Jesus Christ.
KAPA187: What is the main message in your music?
dnEL :Jesus, Jesus and more Jesus well He is the way ,so with him you can’t get lost, He is the truth so you can’t be deceived and He is the life so why die.
KAPA187:What is your “Viva campaign” about ?
dnEL :Firstly viva means long live… but mostly used in expressing support of…in revolutions. Viva is a stand for what we believe… not as a group but on a personal level…eg Martin lurther king jr loved His family so much that he did whatever it took to make a better world for his children…Viva is to awaken the world to God yes the true God. We want Colossians 2:6-10… which is that we may be filled ,through all our being, unto all the fullness of God, may have the richest measure of the divine presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself… smh (shaking my head) wow that’s who the Christian is…a person filled with God!
KAPA187: When did you give you life to jesus ?
dnEL :wow know it a sadly I don’t remember the exact day but It was in march in 1995, but I SERIOUSLY became on fire for God in 2007…
KAPA187: Besides music what other interests do you have?
dnEL :Hmmm I read a lot…on past revivals… Men and women that God used mightily, way, way back in the day…
KAPA187: What is your definition of heaven ? and what do you think it is like?
dnEL :Perfectly beautiful…hmmmm wooooow what I think it is like smh now that’s a hard question.
KAPA187: I personally enjoy your music ,especially your song “I be” , where can you fans get your music and when is your album coming out?
dnEL :well thanks ,man, well you can gt my tracks from. www.realmentertainment-the.com/retunes or my reverbnations page dnEL…yeah. And the album should God willingly be out early 2012.
THE MUSIC
Kwenda Na Yesu
A feel-good song with a powerful message.
I BE ft Rizen Rizon and Natasha
Dnel and Rizen Rizon team up for this great song ,with an infectious chorus , this is definitively a hit single .
File : Passengers on their way to board the Kenya Airways plane at Lusaka international airport.
GOVERNMENT is in talks with Fly Zambia investors who want to set up a national airline under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiative. The airline will be managed by a group of investors from South Africa and Zambia in a partnership arrangement.
The airline will use the Fokker 100 and Fokker 50 aircrafts which have low operational costs. The regional routes will include Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Transport, Works, Supply and Communications permanent secretary Dominic Sichanga said the proposed airline will be driven by the private sector. Mr Sichinga said in an interview in Lusaka that the airline, once set up, will have a positive social and economic impact on the nation.
“We had a discussion with Fly Zambia on the need to set up a national carrier. We are still studying their proposal and our technical team is looking at how this airline will be set up under PPP arrangements,” he said.
He said transport is important to national development and the government is also looking at improving transport infrastructure such as airports and harbours.
Mr Sichinga said Mpulungu Harbour is one port that Government is considering to revive by making it a gateway to the great lakes region. “Since we took over Mpulungu recently, we want to make the port economically viable since the port is nearest to the markets in the great Lakes region,” he said.
He said the country has been using Mpulungu to export it sugar and cement steel will now be exported using the same port.
Meanwhile, a technical team engaged in talks with a Turkish firm, Guris Holding on the development of a new international terminal in Lusaka is expected to conclude discussions soon.
The team will then submit a report to Government to indicate whether the bidder is responsive to the demands of infrastructure development at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka.
Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication permanent secretary Dominic Sichinga who confirmed this in an interview said negotiations are progressing well.
Recently, Guris Holdings won the tender after Government advertised for a concessionaire for the development of a new international terminal which attracted Chinese companies, South African firm and a consortium of Zambians with an international company.
Mr Sichinga said at the end of negotiations, the technical team will report to the Public Private Partnership (PPP) council of ministers which will scrutinise the recommendations.
“Government will need to study the report. It will either accept the recommendations of the technical team or proceed to negotiate with the next bidder,” he said.
Mr Sichinga said Government has made 21 proposals to be considered that include a new terminal building with a capacity to handle 5,000,000 passengers annually, a runway, five star hotel and an expanded dual carriage way leading to the airport, among other things.
“We want a bigger terminal of modern architecture. Because of security issues, most airports are now made of glass (material) and we want such kind of a structure,” he said.
He said there is need to upgrade on security measures to international standards otherwise Zambia would be vulnerable to safety threats. The proposed new airport will also have a VIP terminal for presidents and other international dignitaries and existing terminal at the KK International Airport will serve as a domestic terminal.
Mr Sichinga said the concessional period has not been agreed upon but would depend on the investment in the project, marketing strategy of the client and revenue projections.
He said the marketing structure will look at whether Guris Holdings will introduce more new airline routes into the country such as Turkish Airline and boost local tourism.
NEWLY elected Mangango Constituency member of Parliament, Robert Chiseki (MMD) has been arrested and charged with fraudulently obtaining a Zambian national registration card (NRC) and giving false information to the public.
Minister of Home Affairs Kennedy Sakeni said in a statement on October 12 that investigations into this matter started before the September 20 tripartite elections.
He explained that inspite of the available information at the time, the former ruling party went on to adopt him as its candidate.
“I therefore wish to confirm that this arrest is not politically motivated. I would also like to warn members of the public to desist from obtaining NRCs by giving false information to officers as this is a crime.
Mr Chiseki appeared in the Kaoma Magistrates Court yesterday and has been granted K1 million bail.
On Tuesday President Sata said a refugee had won parliamentary elections after obtaining an NRC. President Sata commended Minister of Home Affirms Kennedy Sakeni for his tremendous efforts to have the Mangango member of Parliament Robert Chiseki arrested.
Meanwhile, Patriotic Front (PF) has petitioned the Lusaka High Court to nullify the election of Felix Mutati and Misheck Mutelo as MMD members of Parliament for Lunte and Lukulu West Constituencies.
PF Lunte Constituency losing candidate Emmanuel Chilubanama and Lukulu West losing candidate Eileen Imbwae have asked the High Court to nullify the two seats stating that the polls were marred by violence and vote buying.
Mr Mutati and Mr Mutelo were declared winners of Lunte and Lukulu West Constituencies, respectively in the September 20 tripartite elections. This is contained in separate election petitions filed in the Lusaka High Court on October 11.
Mr Chilubanama, of farm number 50a Makeni in Lusaka said the campaigns in the elections were characterised by bribery and corruption of voters. He said the bribery and corrupting of would-be voters is contrary to section 79 of the Electoral Act number 12 of 2006, particularly subsections (c) (d) and (f).
“Your petitioner therefore prays for a declaration that the election was null and void and a declaration that Mr Mutati was duly elected as a scrutiny, verification or recount of the votes casts,” Mr Chilubanama said.
He is also praying for costs and incidentals to the petition and any other declaration or order the court will deem fit. Mr Chilubanama said Mr Mutati allegedly distributed iron sheets and donated desks to a community school and urged people to vote for him.
And Ms Imbwae of F197a/y/2 Bob Strasser road, Lusaka West has sued Mr Mutelo (first defendant), Electoral Commission of Zambia (second defendant) and Attorney General (third defendant).
She said the election of Mr Mutelo was void by reason of corrupt and illegal practices and voters in the area were prevented from electing their preferred candidate due to electoral offences, intimidation and threats.
Ms Imbwae said during the campaign period Mr Mutelo allegedly told the electorate she had pulled out of the race and had travelled to China.
She said prior to the election day Mr Mutelo and his agents went door to door campaigning and distributing money ranging from K5, 000 to K100, 000 an act which was illegal and corrupt and amounted to bribery contrary to the Act.
