Retired former Mongu Catholic Diocese Bishop Paul Duffy is dead.

Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) spokesperson Father Paul Samasumo has told QFM in a statement that Bishop Duffy died of Leukaemia yesterday at 18:30 hours, at the Oblate retirement home in San Antonio, Texas, USA.

And the new Bishop of Mongu Evans Chinyemba has urged Catholics and all those who loved Bishop Duffy to pray for the repose of his soul and called on everyone to mourn the late Bishop with dignity.

And the new President of the Zambia Episcopal Conference, Bishop Ignatius Chama of Mpika Diocese, has described the late Bishop Duffy, as an eloquent voice who spoke on behalf of the poor in the Western Province and the under- privileged in all of Zambian society.

Bishop Chama hopes that the nation will honour Bishop Paul Duffy by championing the causes that he stood for.

The late Bishop Paul Francis Duffy was born on 25 July, 1932 at Norwood, Massachusetts, USA. He entered the Catholic religious congregation of Oblate Priests and Brothers in the USA in 1952 and was ordained priest on 22 December, 1962.

He came to Zambia in 1984 and served as parish priest in the Catholic parishes of Lukulu and Kalabo, Western Province until 1997.

Bishop Duffy was ordained as the first Bishop of Mongu Diocese on 31August, 1997.

Bishop Duffy retired in February 2011 and formally handed over the Diocese of Mongu to his successor, Bishop Evans Chinyemba on 28 May 2011.
[QFM]

South Africa has taken an important step toward hosting the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). Its MeerKAT radio telescope being built by the South African team preparing the country’s bid for the SKA has passed its first test with flying colours.

Zambia is among the other partner countries in the region that would participate and host stations should the South African bid prove successful.

An international panel of experts has declared that the MeerKAT has passed its Preliminary Design Review with distinction. This is a major milestone in the construction of the 64 dish radio telescope in the Karoo Astronomy Reserve, in the Northern Cape, and follows the successful passing of the MeerKAT Concept Design Review, carried out by another top-level international panel in July 2010.

With 64 offset dishes, each 13.5m in diameter, the MeerKAT will be one of the largest, most sensitive and scientifically most exciting radio telescopes in the world. It has already grabbed the attention of the world and has attracted tremendous international interest from scientists, engineers and industry.

This is yet another indication that South Africa continues to live up to its reputation as a nation that can deliver – whether in hosting world-class events or engineering scientific feats, commented Miller Matola, CEO of the International Marketing Council, custodians of Brand South Africa.

Says Matola: “If South Africa does become the host for the SKA, it will be a tremendous boost for the nation’s brand as it will underline the exceptional abilities of our engineers and emphasise that we can handle the most involved scientific projects. This will position South Africa as a global leader in science and technology. ”

The Preliminary Design Review (PDR) was carried out in Cape Town by a panel consisting of some of the world’s leading radio astronomers from India, the USA, the UK, the Netherlands, Chile and Australia. The panel was convened to evaluate all aspects of the design of the MeerKAT, the system engineering development process, risk potential and satisfaction of user requirements.

The panel unanimously concluded that the PDR has been successfully passed and congratulated the project teams. “We note with great appreciation the exceptional openness and transparency of the project management and teams, which is of very great importance also for the SKA telescope. We are extremely impressed by the quality of the project team, and the continued tremendous progress in realising KAT-7 and bringing MeerKAT to its current stage,” they said.

The panel noted that the South African team working on the MeerKAT is exceptionally capable and skilled and extremely enthusiastic and committed. It commended the project team for the intelligent approach towards systems engineering, looking after the fundamental technology development while at the same time implementing formal procedures. It highlighted in particular the thorough approach towards the design of the infrastructure for the telescope.

The report suggested focused initiatives to minimize the risk before deployment of the full system, including the need to ensure mechanical and structural tolerances at a reasonable cost, and to avoid self generated radio frequency interference. The panel noted the critical role of KAT-7 as an engineering test-bed and science verification system in the risk mitigation for the MeerKAT. It concluded that there are no unacceptably high risks and that the project has a well-defined risk management structure which was adhered to throughout the project.

Now that the MeerKAT has passed this crucial milestone, tenders will be issued from October 2011 for the construction of the infrastructure for the telescope, including roads, power and optical fibre reticulation, buildings and foundations for the dishes. The telescope subsystems will now also proceed to develop detailed specifications to enable the development and procurement of these systems. Some major components with long lead items, such as the antenna structures, will go out soon as requests for information.

“The successful PDR has again confirmed that South Africa has world-class scientists, engineers and industries, which is why global leaders like Intel, IBM and Nokia Siemens Networks want to work with the team,” said Dr Bernie Fanaroff, project director for the SKA South Africa project.

“The PDR has confirmed that the MeerKAT will be among the most competitive telescopes in the world. It will provide African and international scientists and engineers with a cutting edge instrument for revolutionary science and technology. It has already strengthened the African bid, led by South Africa, to host the Square Kilometre Array – the “SKA in Africa”, Dr Fanaroff concluded.

The news follows the earlier announcement that the KAT-7 telescope is reaching engineering completion, that commissioning and learning will be ongoing and that an operational baseline will be established by the end of the year. With the completion of KAT-7 the project team will focus on the construction of the bigger MeerKAT.

Close to 100 young scientists and engineers are working on the MeerKAT project. The MeerKAT is a world-class radio telescope designed to do groundbreaking science. It will be the largest and most sensitive radio telescope in the southern hemisphere until the completion of the SKA in 2024. The SA Government has already committed funds to build the telescope.

Most Doctors and students who passed through UNZA School of medicine will always remember Prof Karashani fondly.Prof Karashani died suddenly on Saturday August 13 at around 23hrs.It came as a great shock to the Zambian medical fraternity especially those who had been with him the previous day at the UNZA school of Medicine symposium.

Prof Karashani taught one of the most challenging courses in medical school- Anatomy.He taught it with dedication commitment and passion.

He was an an amazing gentleman,full of humour and related well to all people.

‘They don’t make them like that anymore,’ one doctor said ‘ We were privilaged to have been taught by him.’

One of Prof Karashani’s outstanding attributes was his ability to remember peoples names.He knew the names of ALL the students who passed through his class and he would still know them years later.

Amazingly even upon meeting his former students 20 years later he would greet each of them by name.

One doctor recounts… ‘I had not seen him for more than 10 years and when we met, he was able to call me by name. And everyone around me was also called by name. That was simply amazing..’

Another narrates’ Prof Karashani didn’t take my Anatomy class when I was in 3rd year so I did not expect him to know me.But I once bumped into him at wedding in Kitwe and went to greet him.He had an expression on his face of surprise.I guess he was trying to figure out if I was one of his students.Later he walked up to me with a look of of triumph and called me by my first name.I was totally blown away!To this day I do not know how he managed to know my name.’

At the time of his death he was the respected Patron of the University of Zambia Medical students Association(UNZAMEDA) and several former students had him as the guest of honor at their weddings.

Born on 20th September, 1940 at Karagwe Tanzania,Joseph Karashani did his primary education at Berega Rubungo and Mugeza Primary schools.He did his Secondary education at Nyakato secondary school and St Andrews College in Dar es Salaam where he obtaiined the Cambridge school certificate with several distinctions.He went to Makerere University Medical School Kampala between 1958 and 1965 where he obtained the MB ChB degree of the University of East Africa in March 1965.He entered the department of Anatomy at the Queens University of Belfast in 1969 and was allowed to enter a direct PHD program which he obtained in 1972.He attended several courses in Oxford,UK Fukuoka Japan and USA

He started his university career as a tutorial fellow in Anatomy at University college of Dar es Salaam in 1968 after doing his rural posting in Mpwapwa and Iringa.He was appointed lecturer in Anatomy in 1973 at University of Dar es Salaam.He was promoted to Assosiate Professor in 1976 and Professor in 1979.

Prof was a family man with 4 children.

Prof Karashani first came to UNZA School of Medicine in 1976 as external examiner.He came back repeatedly after that in 1981,1984,and 1985 before being persuaded to accept an appointment in 1986 by Prof Kopano Mukelabai the Dean of the school of medicine at the time.

He arrived in Zambia with his family on 5th March 1986.

He contributed immensely to the academic processes of the School heading the Department of Anantomy and facilitating the training of several Zambians to take over from him.

He was appointed assistant Dean (post graduate) in 1995.Notable virtues for this appointment were recorded as ‘academic stature,commitment and respect he commands in the School and abroad and also accessibility and approachability.

He was dearly loved by students in every generation.Of the 1514 medical  graduates from UNZA School of medicine since 1973,1211 directly passed through his instructional care(accounts for 80%) an immense contribution indeed.

He was very instrumental in the establishing of the UNZA Biomedical Research Ethics committee which he headed from 2001 to 2007.

He was an accomplished organist and once choirmaster at St Albans Anglican Church in Dar es Salaam and the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka.He played chess,badminton and loved swimming.

He will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege of meeting him.MHSRIP

The Electoral Commission of Zambia says the onus of having a credible and peaceful election lies on all political stakeholders.

ECZ Director Priscilla Isaac says the success of any election depends on political players and not the commission alone.

Ms. Isaac was speaking during the official opening of the ‘Elections Indaba’ at Olympic Youth Development Center-OYDC in Lusaka on Tuesday.

The two day indaba under the theme ‘ Say NO to Electoral Violence’ has brought together provincial youth coordinators from different parts of the country.

And Youth, Sport and Child Development Permanent Secretary Teddy Mulonga has called on youths to uphold their resolve not to ‘be used as tools of violence.

Earlier, a youth representative Bertha Kalongelwa said youths want to make the campaign for a free and peaceful election, a reality.

And Infotainment Movement Executive Director Mutauka Yeta says the future of Zambia is in the hands of young people and therefore they must resist being manipulated by politicians.

Meanwhile, More civil society Organisations have condemned Patriotic Front -PF- Secretary General Wynter Kabimba for urging party members to fight back when they are attacked.

The Southern African Center for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes -SACCORD- has described Mr Kabimba’s directive as irresponsible.

SACCORD Information Officer Obby Chibuluma says politicians should ensure they follow the right channels provided for under the constitution when they feel provoked.

And Foundation for Democratic Process -FODEP- Executive Director McDonald Chipenzi says politicians should preach the message of peace even when they are under immense provocation.

And AVAP President Bonnie Tembo says people must report to the police if they feel aggrieved.

Meanwhile, Committee of Citizens Executive Director Gregory Chifire has lodged a formal complaint with the Zambia Police over Mr Kabimba’s statement.

Mr Chifire says Mr Kabimba made utterances and threats of Violence on Sunday 21st August 2011 at a public meeting in Lusaka.

He wants Police to institute investigations into the matter to avoid civil unrest in the country.

And the Zambia Episcopal Conference is disappointed that some political parties are glorifying violence and inciting people to hate each other.

ZEC Secretary General Father Cleophas Lungu says the church has observed with sadness messages of hate coming out of some political campaign rallies.

He told ZNBC News that the three church mother bodies have since called a meeting for all political parties before the end of this month to dialogue and iron out all electoral issues surrounding the September 20 elections.

Father Lungu says the church wants to meet with political parties to promote and uphold Zambia’s democracy.

He says the meeting with political parties will be held in the spirit of love.

Father Lungu was reacting to the directive by Patriotic Front Secretary General Wynter Kabimba to his party members to hit back hard when they are provoked by their opponents.

Mr Kabimba issued the directive at a rally in Lusaka on Sunday which was characterised by machete wielding cadres who patrolled Independence Avenue near the freedom statue, the venue of the rally.

Other cadres where armed with catapults

ZNBC

The Civil Society Organisation, NGOCC, has  criticised the decision by the PF to instruct its members to use violence against people that provoke them.  NGOCC Chairperson Beatrice Grillo says it is unfortunate and wrong for the PF to instruct its members to hit back when they are provoked.

Mrs Grillo told ZNBC News in an interview that it is important for political parties to exercise tolerance as the country goes to the polls.  She says the directive by the Patriotic Front to its members to fight back whenever they are provoked by political opponents will only create more problems.

On Sunday, the Patriotic Front-PF instructed its party members to fight back whenever they are provoked by their political opponents.   PF Secretary General Wynter Kabimba told a rally in Lusaka that he did not want to hear reports of PF members complaining that they had been harassed as if they had no hands.

The rally was aimed at introducing candidates for the local government elections in Lusaka District.  Mr. Kabimba further directed that the PF members should hit back hard because they were dealing with criminals.   He accused the Zambia Police Service of doing nothing to protect political party members who are harassed by cadres from the ruling party.

And PF Lusaka Provincial Secretary Grace Ngulube challenged the Zambia Police Service to take action against MMD cadres who allegedly removed PF Leader Michael Sata’s campaign posters in Lusaka’s Kanyama Township.    The PF rally was characterised by machete wielding cadres who kept vigil on Independence Avenue near the freedom stature the venue of the rally.   The youths were also armed with catapults.

And Forum for Leadership Search Executive Director Edwin Lifwekelo says it is important for politicians to understand that Zambia does not expire after the elections.   Mr. Lifwekelo says politicians should avail their party manifestos instead of inciting violence.    He has urged the Zambia Police Service to arrest anybody brandishing catapults and machetes at public rallies.

And Leadership in Development Executive Director Moses Kalonde says his organisation is disappointed that Mr. Kabimba who is a lawyer by profession can be inciting violence in the country.   Mr. Kalonde says political parties should preach love and peace as the country goes to the polls.

ZNBC