The PF government says it will work on re-introducing a national airline.

Newly appointed Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications Yamfwa Mukanga says Zambia is a very rich country which is supposed to have its own national airline.

And government has promised to revamp the Railway sector in order to improve the country’s economic development.

Transport, Works, Supply and Communications Minister Yamfwa Mukanga says the PF government appreciates the role that the railway industry plays in contributing in improvement of the country’s economy.

Mr. Mukanga noted that this is why he will work hard and ensure that all the railway lines are revamped throughout the country.

ZANIS reports Mr. Mukanga disclosing this in an interview in Lusaka shortly after being sworn in as new Transport, Works, Supply and Communications Minister.

Mr. Mukanga explained that Zambia’s road network has continued to deteriorate because there is too much pressure been put on them.

He said that if only other heavy goods can be transported through the railway line, the country’s roads were going to be in good condition.

He added that but due to lack of a vibrant railway sector, everything is been transported by the road hence the roads cannot live up to their life spun.

Mr. Mukanga has also pledged to remove all the corruption that has rocked the transport sector.

He charged that the transport sector is one of the sectors that have continued to record high number of corruption hence the need to change the picture by putting in place effective measures of curbing the vice.

ZANIS

Zamtel says it will cooperate with the new government in its probe on the sale Zamtel by the MMD government.

Zamtel managing director Hans Paulsen says the company will continue operating normally and has pledged to work with the commission that has been constituted to investigate the sale of Zamtel which saw Libya’s Lap Green Network acquire a 75 percent stake while the Zambian government retained 25 percent shares.

Mr. Paulsen was speaking to journalists in Lusaka today.

The sale Zamtel was condemned by some stakeholders after the then minister of communications Dora Siliya single sourced RP capitals of Cayman Islands to evaluate Zamtel assets and find an equity partner for government.

Meanwhile, Zamtel has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with World Vision to deliver water anode sanitation programmes to rural and peri-urban communities at a cost of K1.5 billion.

Mr. Paulsen said the MoU is in line with Zamtel’s objective of rolling out its water for life project which will see the company sink and rehabilitate boreholes country wide.

And World Vision national director Michael Veitenhans said world vision will continue partnering with the other stakeholders in implementing developmental programmes for the benefit of Zambians.

QFM

MMD National Secretary Richard Kachingwe has described party members leaving the party following its recent election loss, as opportunists.

Major Kachingwe says the reported resignation of newly elected MMD Chongwe Member of Parliament Japhane Mwakalombe is disappointing.

He says although Mr Mwakalombe as a democratic right of association, it is morally wrong for him to put the electorate in Chongwe through a by-election so soon after the tripartite elections.

Major Kachingwe however says the MMD secretariat has not yet received the resignation letter from its Chongwe Parliamentarian.

He says MMD members must learn from the Patriotic Front, which remained focused even after being in the opposition for a long time.

[pullquote]He says although Mr Mwakalombe as a democratic right of association, it is morally wrong for him to put the electorate in Chongwe through a by-election so soon after the tripartite elections.[/pullquote]

Major Kachingwe says one can contribute to the governance of the country even from the opposition, by providing checks and balances on the ruling party.

He has urged MMD members to remain focused despite the setback.

He was speaking in an interview with ZNBC News in Lusaka on Friday.

Mr Mwakaolombe was Friday morning reported to have resigned as Member of Parliament for Chongwe.

And Major Kachingwe says the party is studying the fate of Members of Parliament appointed to serve in the PF government.

President Sata on Thursday appointed six MMD Members of Parliament as Deputy Ministers.

ZNBC

Republican President Michael Sata has with immediate effect dissolved the Energy Regulation Board (ERB)board.

President Sata has since appointed a commission to be headed by Patriotic Front General Secretary Wynter Kabimba to probe corruption allegations surrounding ERB.

He says there is need to ascertain why the prices of petroleum products in the country have continued to sky rocket.

The President has also demanded reports on the sale of Finance Bank Zambia Limited to First National Bank of South Africa and the National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) Zambia National Building Society (ZNBS) deal to be availed to his office within 30 thirty days.

The $98 million NAPSA deal recently raised questions from several members of the public over the manner the transaction was handled.

The President also ordered investigations into the sale of Zamtel. President Sata has directed Justice Minister Sebastian Zulu to determine how the sale of the two institutions was conducted. President Sata said that the Justice Minister should produce a report of the findings within 30 days.

Mr. Sata also said that a lot of Zambians have suffered as a result of the sale of the two institutions. He said that Zamtel and Finance Bank were very important institutions in Zambia to be sold within a very short period of time.

President Sata was speaking at State House this morning when he swore in all appointed cabinet and deputy ministers. The Swearing in ceremony was attended by First Republican President Kenneth Kaunda and the traditional leader of the Ila speaking people Bright Nalubamba.

And President Sata has urged all those appointed in various ministerial positions to work to the best of their ability in order for Zambians to benefit from their services.

[QFM]

MMD deputy national secretary Chembe Nyangu has said the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) will have the final say on the fate of its members that have been appointed in yesterday’s Patriotic Front (PF) Government cabinet.

Reacting to President Michael Sata’s appointment of some of the MMD members to his cabinet prominent among them the party’s newly-elected Chilanga Constituency Member of Parliament (MP) Keith Mukata as Commerce Trade and Industry Deputy Minister, Mr Nyangu said in an interview yesterday that the move was allegedly a ploy to weaken the opposition.

Mr Nyangu charged that although the country’s Constitution empowered the President to appoint anyone, it was morally wrong to get members from other parties.

Asked what course of action the former ruling party was going to mete out to its members appointed by President Sata, Mr Nyangu said the NEC would decide the fate of those that had been appointed to serve in the PF government.

He added that the party’s constitution was explicit on the fate of those that “cross floors” to join other parties as they would automatically be expelled.

Other appointed MMD members include newly-elected Katuba Constituency MP Patrick Chikusu as Health Deputy Minister, Nicholas Banda for Kapoche as Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Forrie Tembo for Nyimba as deputy information and Broadcasting Services minister.

Others are MMD Luampa MP Josephine Limata as North-Western Province Minister and MMD Livingstone MP Katombora Lukulo as Minister in Southern Province.

[Times of Zambia]