PRESIDENT Michael Sata has warned that he will not take kindly to maize being soaked due to inefficiency and has tasked the new Food Reserve Agency director to ensure maize is collected from farmers and paid for without delay.

And the President has appointed former Pemba UPND MP David Matongo as FRA director and promoted Zambia National Service (ZNS) deputy commandant Brigadier General Nathan Mulenga to commandant and elevated him to the rank of Major General.

Mr Sata said Mr Matongo, who is former Zambia State Insurance Corporation (ZISC) managing director, is fit for the job.

“We must collect all the maize and dump it on the doors of millers, who must ensure they pay for it,” the President said.

Mr Sata retired FRA director Professor Loveday Malambo and director of purchasing Lazarus Mawere in national interest.

Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Emmanuel Chenda says about 20 percent of the maize risks being soaked if it is not secured.

Mr Chenda said in an interview that government has put in place measures that will protect maize from the rains and also from thefts.

And the President has also appointed Brigadier General Alick Kamiji as deputy ZNS commandant. The President said, after swearing in the new ZNS chiefs, that the armed forces have abandoned their roles.

He said government does not have to spend money on feeder roads neither does it have to contract people to build bridges when this can be done by defence forces.

[pullquote]He said government does not have to spend money on feeder roads neither does it have to contract people to build bridges when this can be done by defence forces.[/pullquote]

“Why should maize continue getting soaked when these wings are there? When officers are retired, why are they not being paid because ZNS is supposed to be the richest wing among the defence forces?” he said.

The President also said it was illogical for the National Pensions Scheme Authority (NAPSA) to spend US$98 million to refurbish a building using a foreign contractor.

He said because of the bad roads, the previous government procured two 4×4 vehicles at K3.6 billion to be used on poor roads at the expense of Zambian people. He said the vehicles were flown into the country.

President Sata said ZNS should go back to what it was created for, saying this will bring a big change to Zambia.

Meanwhile, Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) is expected to complete the production of 30,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser next week.

The company, which was contracted to supply 30,000 tonnes of fertiliser under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP), has so far produced 24,000 metric tonnes and has a balance of 6,000 tonnes.

[pullquote]The President also said it was illogical for the National Pensions Scheme Authority (NAPSA) to spend US$98 million to refurbish a building using a foreign contractor.[/pullquote]

NCZ executive director Richard Soko said the company is expected to complete the production of the consignment next week.

Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock contracted NCZ to produce and supply 30,000 tonnes of fertiliser meant for the FISP for 2011/2012.

“We have produced 24,000 out of the 30,000 tonnes of fertiliser under the FISP, and we are targeting to produce the remaining balance by next week,” he said.

Mr Soko said this in an interview in Lusaka yesterday.

He said Government through Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock is expected to collect and distribute the fertiliser produced so far.

“Distribution of farming inputs has started in some parts of the country and we are expecting Government to collect soon and distribute what we have currently produced,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Soko said the company has so far produced 10,000 tonnes of fertiliser for Nyiombo Investment out of 20,000 tonnes consignment for this farming season.

He said the remaining 10,000 tonnes will be completed after the completion of the FISP.

On the current fuel reduction, Mr Soko said it will contribute to lower production costs although its business is mostly based on raw materials.

“Indeed the reduction of fuel will lower production costs but, it will not necessarily be measured as we have already bought all the raw materials needed for production,” he said.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

President Michael Sata says Zambia’s development has lagged behind because of its drifting relationship with the West.

President Sata says in the recent years Zambia has drifted away from the west to establish relations with other regions.

He was speaking when the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams called on him at State House in Lusaka.

President Sata says First Republican President Kenneth Kaunda achieved a lot during his reign because of the close relations he had with the West.

Mr Sata knelt and kissed the hand of the Archbishop of Canterbury and his delegation that accompanied him to State House.

The President told Dr Williams that the church in Zambia lacks human resource to spread the word of God and asked the Church in Canterbury to send some of its priests to serve in Zambia.

And Dr Williams congratulated President Michael Sata on his election as President of Zambia and wished him well in his quest to bring development to Zambia.

He also acknowledged President Sata’s commitment to develop a fair and just tax regime in the country.

The Archbishop of Canterbury is in the country for a two day visit and will leave the country on Thursday.

[ZNBC]

President Michael Sata says he is confident that the nine-member Commission of Inquiry he appointed to investigate the January 14 Mongu disturbances will pave the way for an amicable settlement of the problems in Western Province.

This was contained in a statement released by George Chellah Special assistant to the President on Press and Public Relations

“I have no doubt that the high professional and personal integrity of the commmission chairperson Dr Roger Chongwe, SC, and his team will help bring about an agreeable and peaceful settlement to this matter,’’ said the President.

The President said he remains committed to addressing the main causes of public discontent in Western Province thus the Barotse Agreement.

Meanwhile, Chief Justice Ernest Sakala will tomorrow, October 12, 2011, swear-in members of the Commission of Inquiry appointed to probe the extra-judicial killings of civilians during the Mongu demonstrations.

The swearing-in ceremony will take place at 15:00 hours at the Supreme Court and thereafter the commissioners will proceeed to State House to pay a courtesy call on the Head of State.

President Sata named the Commission of Inquiry last week to investigate the Mongu killings and pardoned all Barotse activists who had been jailed over the January 14 riots.

The Commission of Inquiry appointed by President Sata to probe corruption allegations into the procurement of oil and petroleum products started sitting in Lusaka yesterday.

Chairperson Wynter Kabimba said the commission was not set up for retribution and will not be prejudicial in executing its mandate.

President Sata recently dissolved the Energy Regulation Board and appointed the commission of inquiry.

President Sata appointed the commission to address what he called corruption in the energy regulation sector. President Sata said that there was too much corruption in the handling of energy in the country, and that the current fuel prices at the time were supposed to be cheaper by more than K500 per litre.

Other members of the commission sitting include Guy Phiri, Chipili Katunasa, Hang’umba Hang’umba, Charles Mushota, and Kelly Mwanamwale.

And Former Chairperson of the disbanded Board of Directors at ERB Sikota Wina said that his team would fully co-operate with the Wynter Kabimba Commission of Inquiry.

Mr. Wina said that the former board members had nothing to hide regarding the operations of the ERB, stating that it was understandable that the new government wanted to clear the air over the performance of the Energy sector.

ZNBC