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Press Association of Zambia vice president Amos Chanda (left).
The Press Association of Zambia (PAZA) has advised members of the public not to force President Rupiah Banda to announce the date of elections outside the provisions of the constitution.
PAZA vice president Amos Chanda said President Banda cannot be forced to announce the election date because he knows that he was working within the provisions of the constitution.
Speaking last night on a Muvi television programme dubbed “The Assignment” and monitored by ZANIS in Lusaka, Mr. Chanda stated categorically that President Banda is operating according to the provisions of the Zambian constitution.
He implored those calling on the Head of State to announce the date of elections to hold their fire as it was within his powers to do so.
He added that trying to force the Head of State to announce the date would not be backed by any legal framework.
There are growing calls by different stakeholders for president Rupiah Banda to announce the dissolution of parliament, and subsequently announce the date of elections.
Recently, UPND president Hakainde Hichilema called on president Banda to immediately dissolve parliament and announce the date for elections in order to create a level playing field for campaigns.
Mr Hichilema pointed to the fact some government ministers who are members of parliament are still using government resources to campaign because parliament has not yet been dissolved.
And Mr. Chanda called on both private and public media organisations to be impartial when reporting on issues concerning this year’s elections to avoid misleading the public.
Mr. Chanda also noted that the media in the country had a sole obligation of informing, educating and entertaining the public in a fair and truthful manner to enable them make informed decisions.
He further cautioned media houses taking sides with certain political parties to desist from doing so if democracy was to flourish in the country.
He said journalists across the country should strictly observe media ethics to benefit all the citizens in Zambia.
‘We know that some media bodies have a tendency of taking sides with some political parties during elections. This is unethical and all those media houses that are in this habit should stop with immediate
effect,” he warned.
He said Zambians have been living in peace for a long time now hence the media should not be seen to perpetuate violence in the country.
Mr. Chanda also appealed to all political parties participating in this year’s elections to have confidence in the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) as it was the only body mandated to conduct and monitor elections in the country.
He wondered why some political parties have a tendency of criticising the Commission whenever the country held elections.
He said the ECZ was working hard to administer elections in the country hence it needed the support of all stakeholders.
Vice President George Kunda has assured people of Lundazi district in Eastern Province that the Food Reserve Agency(FRA) will buy off all their maize in this year’s marketing season.
However, Mr. Kunda was quick to warn farmers against selling their
farm produce to unscrupulous buyers because they would lose out if
they did so.
ZANIS reports that he said Government was determined to purchase all
surplus maize from farmers at the recommended floor price of K65,000
per 50 kilogramme bag of maize in order to increase their economic
status.
Mr. Kunda was speaking yesterday when he addressed a public rally at
Kaunda Square in Lundazi district.
He said Government had always endeavoured to make the life of farmers
better by providing them with a readily available market.
He explained that the process of recovering money once farmers sold
their maize to briefcase buyers was long hence the need to avoid
them.
And the Vice President noted that the K3,700 per kilogramme of cotton
this year was a favourable price for cotton growers in the country.
Mr. Kunda said cotton was one of the major cash crops grown in Lundazi
district which could improve people’s lives.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kunda disclosed that fertiliser for this year’s farming
season had already arrived in Lundazi district.
He thanked the people of Eastern Province for contributing to bumper
harvest in the 2010/2011 farming season.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) says Zambia needs to work hard to ensure that the country’s population growth tallies with the growth of the economy.
UNFPA country representative Duah Owusu- Sarfo says the economy is expected to triple more than the growth of the population as this is key in fighting poverty but that this has not been the case for Zambia which has its annual economic growth standing at about 6 percent per year.
Mr. Owusu- Sarfo noted that the Zambia’s population growth stands at 2.8 percent per annum and that the economic growth should therefore be in the range of about 9 percent per annum.
He added that the country has continued to register a boom in population growth because of improved health care in the country.
Mr. owusu-sarfo was speaking during a press briefing to mark the world population day under the theme the world at seven billion: Zambia at 13 million.
At the same occasion chief planner in the Ministry of Finance and National Planning Mainga Luwabelwa said the government is aware of the fact that the population growth the country has continued to record requires commitment of more resources to sectors such as health and education.
And central Statistical office census manager Richard Banda observed that the country population is most likely to grow from the current 13 million to 26 million in the next 25 years if it maintains the growth of about 2.8 percent per year.
[ QFM ]
MMD Chairman for Elections Gabriel Namulambe says President Rupiah Banda will not be pushed to announce the election date by some desperate members of the opposition.
Mr. Namulambe says the announcement of the election date is the President’s constitutional prerogative.
He was speaking in an interview with ZNBC News in Lusaka on Sunday.
And Mr. Namulambe says it is ill conceived for anyone to assume that cabinet is operating illegally because parliament only adjourned sine die and has not been dissolved.
He also says the process of short listing parliamentary candidates to stand in this year’s elections on the MMD ticket is on course.
In the summer of 1979, a group of teenagers were making a movie, when they witnessing a mysterious train crash. They begin noticing strange happenings going around in their small town, and begin to investigate the creepy phenomenon. It was directed by J.J Abrams and produced by Steven Spielberg.
PRO’S
Great acting, especially by the main character Joe lamb (Joel Courtney). Each character was unique and brought something to the movie.
The relationship between Joe and his father, Jackson Lamb (Kyle Chandler), was portrayed excellently, as well as the love story between Joe and Alice (Elle Fanning).
The scene with the train crash was amazing.
CON’S
The movie has a slow start and takes a while to know what the story is about.
The ending of the movie was too predictable.
You don’t really get a good look at the alien ,which is kind of a letdown.
CONCLUSION
Despite a slow start, as the movie gets going you will be gripped by the mysterious story of what is happening in the small town and why the air force is there.
After watching it ,i was left wondering why is was called Super 8. Apparently its the name of the film(super 8mm film) the teenagers were using to make their movie…….. They should have given this movie a more suitable name.
It is not as memorable as other Spielberg productions like E.T, but It was still an entertaining movie although the ending was quite anti-climactic.
FAVORITE QUOTES
Martin: Am I the only one here who doesn’t know what we’re talking about?
Cary: Probably, Smartin.
Martin: I don’t like it when you call me that!
Cary: I’m sorry, Smartin. Let’s go cry about it.
Dr. Woodward:Do not speak of this. You don’t know what is happening here. If they find you, you and your parents will be killed.
File:Youths queing for Police recruitment at Sikanze Camp
THE number of Zambians in formal employment has increased by 50 per cent from 500,000 to 750,000 this year following a steady rise in job opportunities being created in the mining, agriculture, construction and other sectors of the economy.
And Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane has said the style of politics being advanced by Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata was hurting the economy because investors were reacting cautiously to his scary political posture.
Dr Musokotwane said in an interview during the on-going tour of Luapula Province that the remaining 6 million people who are statistically eligible to formal jobs would be swallowed within the next five years following the speedy rise in the number of job opportunities.
The minister attributed the development to the good policies being promoted by President Rupiah Banda and his administration.
He said the number of jobs remained static at 500,000 from about 2000 but had only started picking in the last two years following an economic drive that boosted growth across all sectors.
Dr Musokotwane said the Government would continue recreating efforts aimed at boosting economic growth from the annual average of 7 per cent to double digits to fast track job creation.
This would be done with a parallel programme that would seek to encourage investors to spend on the social sector to benefit ordinary Zambians and address complaints that they were not benefiting from the growth and the mines.
Dr Musokotwane said investors had been monitoring statements from opposition leaders such as Mr Sata who had been fighting to garner power with high rates of inconsistencies.
He said Zambia was enjoying a good period in keeping growth with world renowned mining companies such as First Quantum Minerals (FQM) limited investing US$3 million while Lumwana had invested $1 million and more confidence was needed for government to meet its targets.
Dr Musokotwane said Mr Sata was on record as threatening to nationalise Zambian private companies, reintroducing the rare windfall taxes and condemning the fight against corruption but had been flip-flopping every other month.
“The Zambian people should not experiment with futility because this is not the first time that we have recorded growth but all that disappeared because we wasted opportunities and the gains were reversed,” Dr Musokotwane said.
He also said Mr Sata’s continued remarks that the development projects being undertaken by President Banda were initiated by late President Levy Mwanawasa were baseless because the current Government had been generating revenue to run some projects which were at foundation level.
Dr Musokotwane said inheriting progressive projects that were started by Dr Mwanawasa was part of good governance because it was the same Government and that projects being started now by President Banda would still be continued another leader who would take over in 2016.
At a public rally in Chongwe last week, Chongwe MP Sylvia Masebo said the hospital was started by Dr Mwanawasa and not President Banda which Dr Musokotwane said was irregular because the project was at foundation stage and the money used to construct the hospital was raised from taxes paid in 2009 and 2010.
Dr Musokotwane said following the construction of a High School, a hospital, street lights and a water treatment plant, the Government had now decided to construct similar projects in districts that did not benefit and urged Zambians to ignore Mr Sata and Ms Masebo’s remarks
VICE-PRESIDENT George Kunda has castigated Chipata Central member of Parliament and former deputy minister of Works and Supply Lameck Mangani for stabbing the MMD in the back.
And the Forum for Leadership Search (FLS) says Mr Mangani’s departure from the MMD is part of the party’s self-cleansing process through which undesirable elements are leaving on their own.
Mr. Kunda said in Lundazi district yesterday President Banda had entrusted Mr. Mangani with various responsibilities, including ministerial portfolios, but the man was a disappointment.
He was speaking when he addressed a public rally at which over 500 members of different political parties defected to the MMD.
He warned the people against listening to Mr. Mangani, whom he said intends to visit the district to sell PF president Michael Sata as a presidential candidate.
Mr Kunda described Mr. Sata as a product which is not sellable because he has nothing to offer to the Zambian people.
He also wondered why Colonel Panji Kaunda has been going round campaigning against President Banda for no apparent reason.
And mr. Lifwekelo says the departure of mr. Mangani from the MMD is part of the party’s self-cleansing process through which undesirable elements are leaving on their own.
And Copperbelt task force co-ordinator Prince Robert Mushili has described Mr Mangani and other former ministers who have left the MMD such as George Mpombo, Mbita Chitala, Mike Mulongoti and Sylvia Masebo as traitors who cannot be trusted.
Mr Lifwekelo said in Lusaka at the weekend it is good that the undesirable elements are finding it difficult to remain in the MMD because it is a strong party with credible leaders.
He said Mr Mangani was excess baggage in the MMD, and just done the party “a big favour” by leaving on his own.
Mr Lifwekelo said Mr Mangani had never accepted his demotion from the position of minister of Home Affairs, and his departure was therefore expected.
“His departure is good riddance because the MMD is going through what can be termed as self-cleansing. It is good because it is helping to cleanse the party of selfish and incompetent individuals such as Mangani, Mpombo and (Chongwe member of Parliament ) Masebo,” he said.
Mr Lifwekelo said President Banda dropped Mr Mangani from his Cabinet portfolio because of his own incompetence, and advised the former minister not to hate the President for making the wise decision.
“Mr Mangani and other selfish leaders who have left the MMD have found solace in the Patriotic Front because it has become a dumping ground which accepts such frustrated and undisciplined characters,” he said.
And Prince robert said Mr Mangani belongs to a group of traitors who were working against the MMD while in the party.
“To (PF president Michael) Sata and PF sympathisers, my warning is that they should not be excited by the departure of Mangani, Mpombo, Mulongoti and Masebo because they are a bunch of traitors who are ungrateful to the MMD, which has made them what they are today,” he said.
Prince robert warned Zambian youths not to vote for such leaders because they are unreliable.
Mr Mangani announced his resignation from the MMD last week.
In January, he was captured in a photograph published by the Sunday Mail having a drink with former minister of Lands Judith Kapijimpanga a few days after her defection to the PF.
MMD spokesperson Dora Siliya has warned the youths in Kitwe’s Wusakile township not to treat as mere speculation allegations that the Patriotic Front (PF) plans to send youths to war-torn Afghanistan when it wins this year’s tripartite elections.
And alert MMD security personnel yesterday foiled an attempt by some unruly PF cadres to disrupt a public rally Ms Siliya was addressing in Kitwe’s Wusakile township.
Ms Siliya said during a public rally at Wusakile grounds yesterday Zambians should ensure PF president Michael Sata does not ascend to power because he plans to ship the youths to Afghanistan if he wins this year’s elections.
“Mr Sata lies that he will create employment for the youths within 90 days if he wins this year’s elections. Don’t be cheated; Mr Sata will take the youths to war-torn countries such as Afghanistan. Those are the jobs he will create for you,” Ms Siliya said.
She said the PF leader plans to legalise homosexuality should he win this year’s elections.
Ms Siliya said the Copperbelt will continue to lag in development if the people vote for Mr Sata.
“North-Western , Southern and Eastern provinces will continue developing while the Copperbelt will lag because the people here do not appreciate the good things that Government is doing. You will continue sending your children to work in other places like the mines in Solwezi if you vote for PF,” Ms Siliya said.
She said she is confident the MMD will win this year’s elections because people in rural areas appreciate the free distribution of fertiliser under farmer input support programme (FISP), which has enabled them to grow food for their families.
Ms Siliya also said Mr Sata is allegedly depressed because it is now clear that he will lose this year’s elections.
Minister of Science, Technology and Vocational Training Peter Daka warned that the PF will grab the title deeds President Banda and late President Frederick Chiluba gave the sitting residents of Wusakile township under the MMD’s home empowerment policy if Mr Sata wins this year’s elections.
Mr Daka said the PF will reverse the economic gains the country has recorded.
MMD Copperbelt province chairman Joseph Chilambwe described Mr Sata as a violent man who should not be allowed to rule the country.
And alert MMD security personnel yesterday foiled an attempt by some unruly suspected PF cadres to disrupt a public rally Ms Siliya was addressing in Kitwe’s Wusakile township.
The MMD security personnel swung into action and subdued the suspected PF cadres who displayed the PF symbol while running around the arena where Ms Siliya was addressing the rally in an attempt to distract her from speaking.
92 year old Former Ngambela of the Barosteland, Maxwell Mututwa
FORMER prime minister of the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE) Maxwell Mututwa has died.
Both Western Province Minister Richard Mwapela and family spokesperson Charles Mututwa, who is Mr Mututwa’s nephew, confirmed the death of Mr Mututwa, 92, who died on Saturday night.
The funeral of Mr Mututwa is being held in Silele Village, Chief Kakene’s area in Senanga District where he was born and lived until the time of his death.
Mr Mututwa said his uncle had not complained of any illness and before he died, he was watching television with his grandchildren until around 21:00 hours when he suddenly fell ill and died 30 minutes later.
He is survived by his wife, Florence Namangolwa, three children, 39 grandchildren and 113 great grandchildren.
The minister said the death of Mr Mututwa, who had also served as member of Parliament for Sinjembela Constituency in the UNIP government, was a big loss to the nation as he had become a fountain of wisdom, especially to the young generation.
“My appeal to the Zambian people is to emulate Mr Mututwa who in the final days of his life preached peace in the country and urged the youth not to rise against the Government,” he said.
Mr Mututwa was at the time of his death a leader of the Barotse Church.
The National Restoration Party (NAREP) has called on the judiciary in the country to play an active role in ensuring free and fair elections later this year.
NAREP Secretary General John Phiri told Qfm that the fact the judiciary has been at the center of controversy in the elections aftermath calls for urgent improvement in the way they handle election related cases.
Mr. Phiri said as the final institution for conflict resolution, the judiciary should strive to ensure that any disputes that may arise after the forthcoming elections are dealt with in a manner that does not arouse discontent among political players.
And Mr. Phiri has called on the Electoral Commission of Zambia chairperson justice Irene Mambilima to put the ECZ’s house in order to avoid complaints of foul play after the polls.
The opposition party leader adds that Justice Mambilima has enough experience after being at the helm of the country’s electoral body in the 2006 general elections.
He says this time around Zambians expect an improved and more transparent electoral commission ahead of the polls.
File:An elephant strolls through the reception area at a lodge
Chief Musungwa has appealed to the Ministry of Tourism and Natural resources to reconstruct the Kafue National park fence to prevent elephants from destroying crops in his Chiefdom.
The Chief said that elephants have destroyed maize crops in his area, an incident he said has forced farmers to sleep in their fields to scare aware the elephants.
Chief Musungwa observed that ever since the fence was removed, there has been an increase in the number of elephants invading villages in his Chiefdom.
The Chief said that recently some elephants invaded his village and destroyed a crush pen for cattle near his palace in Basanga.
The traditional leader further urged government to consider cropping the elephants population in order to reduce on crop damage in his Chiefdom.
Manchester City are said to be preparing an audacious Pounds 900,000 a-year deal for 14-year-old Charly Musonda Junior of Belgium side Anderlecht.
Chaly is the son of former Zambia international and Mighty Mufulira Wanderers midfielder Charles Musonda who played for Anderlecht from 1987 to 1997.
According to Mirriorfootball, City have joined the race for the teenager who has also attracted interest from Manchester united, Arsenal including Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid.
“Charly is the best of all young talents, a mix of Xavi and Iniesta,” said former Anderlecht coach Jan Boskamp . “There is not a kid at his age who is so brilliant.”
And Konkola Blades coach Keagan Mumba says he is excited about the Chililabombwe sides leading the Super Division table.
Blades beat Zesco 1-0 away at Kafubu Stadium in Luanshya thanks to a fourth minute goal scored by striker Robert Tembo.
The game was shifted from Ndola to Luanshya because Zesco’s home ground turf at the Trade Fair was unplayable following wear and tear from the recent Zambia International Trade Fair held there.
Blades leads the table but one point on 26 points, one more than former chart toppers Power Dynamos.
“We shall not relax to lose focus and become big headed but we shall double our efforts,” Mumba said in a post-match interview.
Zesco meanwhile remain sixth on the table on 20 points from 11 games with two matches in hand.
Michael Chilufya Sata has a lot going for him politically. In fact, his political skills are unparalleled in Zambia. I have in a number of articles pointed out the fact that Michael Sata is a down-to-earth individual who easily connects with the people. He is also an opportunist who does not shy from using any event to his political advantage. Any serious contender to the presidency this year will ignore Sata only to his or her disadvantage. Sata is an enormous political force and he has been so for several decades.
However, some tendencies within the Michael Sata phenomenon are genuinely worrisome. Perhaps the most ridiculous of the Sata phenomenon is the promise he keeps making to Zambians that he would restore Zambian dignity (whatever that term means) within ninety days of assuming office. Principally, he keeps promising that he would change and transform the country within that period. In 90-days, Sata has promised to bring changes in fields stemming from the price of Coca-Cola, to gay rights, to the Barotseland Agreement of 1964. By promising so much change in so little time, Sata is putting himself up for failure and setting us for serious disappointment.
The 90-day promise is a messianic deception. Sata feels that he is the saviour of Zambian problems. This messianic complex is the last thing Zambians need. In fact, no serious leader who wants to bring genuine change to a country as needy as Zambia can trivialize the kind of change that is needed for our decaying nation. And for Sata to say that he can bring change, all the changes in three months is despicable and smacks mockery of the highest kind.
Sata speaks to Zambians as one would speak to “under-fives”. When Kaunda was fighting for Independence in the 1950’s he knew very well the challenge that lay ahead of the new nation. He humbly took up the challenge to lead Zambia. He was humble before God and before Man to realise that the challenge to lead a country is no small feat. He asked the people of Zambia to persevere through the difficulties that lay ahead. He did not trivialize the challenge of leadership. When Frederick Chiluba, proclaimed with his MMD cohorts that the hour had come for democratic change, Chiluba kept asking people at mammoth rallies whether they would persevere with him to change Zambia for the better. Chiluba understood very well the challenges of leadership and he was humble enough not to take leadership lightly. It was at those rallies in 1991 that Zambians agreed in unison that they were willing to walk the tough path of national healing with Chiluba as Head of State. Zambians liked the idea that a leader had told them the kind of challenges that lay ahead.
But in 2011, Sata is telling us that he has the magic wand to bring change to Zambia in 90 days. Sata is speaking as if he is speaking to kindergarteners. He is the one that has accused Hakainde Hichilema of being childish. But from what I have heard from Hichilema, he has taken the challenge of leadership more seriously. Hichilema is promising to work as hard as he can to bring change to Zambia. For Michael, Zambia does not need a long time to heal—in 90 days all the rot will be healed. It seems, Sata lives on Mars and not Earth.
Sata in promising change within 90 days does not take into account the dynamics of government. To his credit, Sata has had lots of experience in government. This is what really is shocking. You would expect that a person with so much experience in government would be wiser to know the complex apparatus that government is. In spite of Sata’s many years of service to our country, it seems there are many lessons he still needs to learn. Government is not like a private home along Omelo Mumba Road. As president, you cannot just command dignity into existence. It takes lots of courage, time and effort. Economic development change cannot be done in 90 days. Sata may be having a genuine vision to bring change. But this vision is very misplaced and is being inspired by his own pride and personal ego. He needs to shed off this messianic complex.
Old and experienced men like Michael Sata, are good for the country. But when these men do things or say things that do not make political or economic sense, it is even a greater disaster. I think Zambia should consider voting for a high school pupil to lead our country. It looks like 35-plus individuals have not done us any good. There is no need to have an experienced driver in State House, it these experienced individuals begin having 90-day hallucinations.
In 90-days, Sata has promised that he will stamp out corruption. He cannot certainly stamp out corruption in 90-days that took fifty-years to make. In fact, I seriously doubt Sata’s commitment to fighting corruption. He has a team of PF members who yesterday where running the very government that he is today accusing of corruption. PF’s Sata is today accusing the MMD of corruption when in fact; Sata was the kingpin of Chiluba’s leadership at a time that Chiluba was busy purchasing designers underwear. Sata did not leave Chiluba’s government due to corruption; he stayed on in government until it was becoming clear that Chiluba had dribbled him out of presidential succession. It is this political dribbling that we must credit Sata’s manic 90-day mantra.
Then of course, Sata is daily receiving new members into his party. These new members are a litany of the people that are corrupt. And in the next few weeks before the elections, Sata is likely to receive even more corrupt defectors from the MMD. These people are not genuinely looking for ways to serve the Zambian people; they are looking for genuine ways to serve their own stomachs. As such, Sata cannot fight corruption when corrupt people surround him! In 9 days and not 90-days, they will show him how to steal, and by the 90-day mark, Sata may start stealing with them.
What Sata should do, if he wants to be taken seriously, is to become a little bit more thoughtful with the challenges Zambia is facing. They are challenges of democracy, and economic development. They are challenges of corruption and education. They are challenges of media independence and national sovereignty. We like Sata because we know that when we attend his rallies we will be treated to free comedy. And comedy goes a long way in assuring votes. But beyond the oath of office, is the call to serve the nation and bring change in a difficult and sometimes painful manner.
The 90-day mantra is a lie which should be abandoned. Sata must use his popularity as the opportunity to speak to Zambians on ways he is going to fight corruption when his PF is full of corrupt MMD. He should be speaking to us about how he will respect press freedom when he banned government media from covering him at Mulungushi in Kabwe. He should be explaining to us how he would chase the Chinese only to receive the Taiwanese and recently the Afghans. He should explain to us, how he would promote democratic elections in Zambia when his party the PF conducted a national convention where no ballot was cast. He needs to explain to Zambians why he would not go to Chiluba’s funeral home to console the Chiluba family when he served Chiluba for so long. He needs to explain to us why we should not vote for an “under-five” Hichilema when his 90-day sweet change does seem childish. He needs to explain to us how he would implement the BA64 when he has on several times wanted to disband the Lozi monarch. He needs to explain to us why intellectuals within the PF cannot speak. He needs to explain to us how as a Catholic he would want to do away with the Declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation.
Finally, he should explain why Zambians should not go “Nafuti, Nafuti” for Rupiah Bwezani Banda. The 90-day nonsense is adequately insufficient.
FLASHBACK: Vice president George Kunda inspects drainage rehabilitation works in Lusaka
VICE-PRESIDENT George Kunda has announced that Government will this year rehabilitate more than 130 bridges under the countrywide fast-track emergency infrastructure rehabilitation programme to improve accessibility of goods and services to peole.
Mr Kunda said in Katete yesterday that this project will be undertaken by the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU), Zambia Army, Zambia National Service, Road Development Agency (RDA) and the Rural Roads Unit (RRU).
Of the 130 crossing points, 26 are in Eastern Province.
He said this when he commissioned Mayela Bridge, that has been reconstructed by RDA and RRU at a cost of K1 billion.
“This emergency rehabilitation of infrastructure is in line with my Government’s commitment to ensuring that all parts of our country are accessible for easy movement of people, goods and services,” he said.
On the Mayela Bridge, Mr Kunda said the infrastructure was washed away three times and that the community of Chief Kathumba was cut off with people having problems accessing Nyanje Hospital and the school located about 8kms from the crossing point.
He said RDA carried out technical assessment and cost estimates of reconstructing the bridge and submitted the bill of quantities to DMMU, which was then given K1 billion by the Ministry of Finance and National Planning.
Mr Kunda said he is happy that work on the bridge was successfully completed and commended DMMU, RDA and RRU for a job well done.
He said the bridge will also improve people’s access to Mozambique.
Mr Kunda also said DMMU has rehabilitated five culverts in Chipata district and one in Mambwe that were washed away last rainy season.
And the Vice-President has said the DMMU has pre-positioned 3,300 metric tonnes of maize for distribution to vulnerable people in Eastern Province.
“I am reliably informed that this exercise is going on well. In order to warn our people of impending disasters, my office has further been implementing the community-based hazard early warning projects,” he said.
Mr Kunda said Government has distributed 30 solar panels and three motor bikes to the Meteorological Department and Water Affairs to ensure that people are provided with information before disasters occur.
He said Government is also constructing district hospitals in Chadiza, Chama and Lundazi which are at different completion levels on which Government plans to spend about K42 billion.
Mr Kunda said Government is further constructing 21 health posts across Eastern Province at a cost of K1.5 billion.
In the education sector, Mr Kunda said Government is building three high schools which are Kacholola in Nyimba, Chama South in Chama and Kasenengwa in Chipata at a cost of K72 billion.
“These projects are all near completion and will be ready for use before the end of this year. Rehabilitation works were also carried out on Chama Boarding High School at a cost of K23 billion,” he said.
Mr Kunda urged the people of Eastern Province to vote for President Banda and the MMD in this year’s tripartite elections to ensure continuity of development.
North-Western Province Minister Daniel Kalenga has directed District Commissioners in the province to report any misuse of Insecticide Treated mosquito Nets (ITNs) to the police as it is an offence under the public health Act.
Mr Kalenga said his office has received reports that some ITNs are used for catching fish, making wedding dresses and food covers by street vendors and that this was hampering the fight against malaria.
He said such acts should not be allowed adding that there should not be hesitation to reprimand anyone found wanting.
Women posing with their newly donated Mosquito nets
Mr Kalenga issued the directive in Solwezi yesterday during the launch of the 454,815 Insecticide Treated mosquito Nets door to door distribution to be conducted in all the seven districts in the province.
He noted with sadness that according to the 2010 malaria indicator survey results revealed a reduction of 31 percent household ownership and use of ITNs in North-western and 33 percent reduction usage by children under the age of five.
Mr Kalenga urged community leaders such as Chiefs, Headmen and community volunteers to emphasise messages that promote and increase awareness on the correct usage of the nets at household level.
He added that there is need to encourage positive behaviour change on the use of ITNs correctly and consistently if the malaria related Millennium Development Goal is to be attained.
Speaking at the same function, Anglican Church Central Africa Archbishop Albert Chama said the church will continue partnering with government in ensuring that the country attains a malaria free status.
Zambia Anglican Council and Society for family Health has partnered with government to distribute the long lasting ITNs procured by the global funding to communities in the province as a malaria prevention intervention.
