Mighty Mufulira Wanderers maintained second place on the Division 1 North table after drawing 2-2 at home with “Chingalika” Kitwe United in a Week 19 game on Sunday at Shinde Stadium in Mufulira.
Wanderers move to 32 points from 18 games with a match in hand and are one point ahead of third placed Prison Leopards and three behind leaders Indeni.
The home side were on target through goals by Humphrey Chandila and Harrison Kaonga.
Chingalika found the back of the net through their powerful attacker Fregon Kaunda and Clement Chileshe.
And in Mansa, Indeni bounced back from their scoreless draw at home against Wanderers a week ago to beat Zesco Luapula 1-0 in Mansa.
Indeni are on 35 points after the Farmers Day holiday Week 19 games.
Dear G.P
I am a 19year old girl in grade 11.I just found out I’m pregnant and I’m terrified of what my mother will do.When I told my boyfriend I was pregnant he said this baby will mess things up for us and my future education.My boyfriend hasn’t been returning my calls and I really feel alone.I don’t want to lose him.
My mother has raised me up herself since she and my dad split when I was a kid.She has sacrificed so much for me and I really don’t want to burden her further.I’m really scared of her finding out.Abortion seems the only way out for me.But will I be able to have children in future if I have an abortion now?
Please help.
yours
Desperate
Dear Desperate,
I am sorry to hear of your dilemma.I would encourage you to seek counselling from an older woman you can trust.However,the ultimate decision on whether you choose to have an abortion or not is yours and you will have to live with the consequences of whatever decision you make for the rest of your life.
I will outline the risks and complications involved in having an abortion so you can make an informed decision.
Most commonly, abortion involves elective surgery. As with all forms of surgery, there are risks associated with the procedure. For abortion, these risks increase dramatically the later in the pregnancy the procedure is performed. Possible physical risks of abortion are listed below.
Death –
Laceration of the cervix – About 1 out of 20 women suffer this during an abortion. This causes you to have nearly a 50/50 chance of miscarrying in your next pregnancy if it is not treated properly during that pregnancy. A high incidence of cervical damage from the abortion procedure has raised the incidence of miscarriage 30-40% in women who have had abortions.
Uterine perforation – About 2% of all abortion patients may suffer perforation of their uterus, yet most of these injuries will remain undiagnosed and untreated unless laparoscopic visualization is performed.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) – 23% of patients who have a chlamydia infection at the time of the abortion will develop PID within 4 weeks. About 20 to 27% of patients seeking abortion have a chlamydia infection. Approximately 5% of patients who are not infected by chlamydia develop PID within 4 weeks after a first trimester abortion.
Endometritis (Infection) – Occurrence of genital tract infection following elective abortion is up to 5% for first trimester abortions and up to 18% in midtrimester. Endometritis is a post-abortion risk for all women, but especially for teenagers, who are 2.5 times more likely than women 20-29 to acquire endometritis following abortion.
Pre-term delivery – Women who had one, two, or more previous induced abortions are, respectively, 1.89, 2.66, or 2.03 times more likely to have a subsequent pre-term delivery, compared to women who carry to term.
Placenta previa – Abortion increases the risk of placenta previa in later pregnancies (a life threatening condition for both the mother and her baby) by seven to fifteen fold. Abnormal development of the placenta due to uterine damage increases the risk of fetal malformation, perinatal death, and excessive bleeding during labor.
Ectopic pregnancy – Abortion is significantly related to an increased risk of subsequent ectopic pregnancies. Ectopic pregnancies, in turn, are life threatening and may result in reduced fertility.
Breast Cancer – The risk of breast cancer almost doubles after one abortion, and rises even further with two or more abortions.
Cervical, ovarian, and liver cancer – Women with one abortion face a 2.3 relative risk of cervical cancer, compared to non-aborted women, and women with two or more abortions face a 4.92 relative risk. Similar elevated risks of ovarian and liver cancer have also been linked to single and multiple abortions.
There is only one positive emotion reported: relief. This emotion is understandable, especially in light of the fact that the majority of aborting women report feeling under intense pressure to “get it over with.”
Temporary feelings of relief are frequently followed by a period psychiatrists identify as emotional “paralysis,” or post-abortion “numbness. Like shell-shocked soldiers, these aborted women are unable to express or even feel their own emotions. Their focus is primarily on having survived the ordeal, and they are at least temporarily out of touch with their feelings.
Some of the psychological effects after an abortion in women in your age group are include
-self-reproach
-depression
-social regression
– withdrawal
– obsession with need to become pregnant again in order to “make up” for the lost pregnancy.(Unfortunately, many women who succeed at obtaining their “wanted” replacement pregnancies discover that the same problems which pressured them into having their first abortion still exist, and so they end up feeling “forced” into yet another abortion.)
-hasty marriages
A survey of post-abortive women found that:
28% attempted suicide
31% experienced suicidal feelings
60% commented that the decision to abort made their lives worse
94% regretted the decision to abort
(Survey of Reaction to Abortion,” The Post Abortion Review, Fall 1994, pp. 6-8)
Over 50% of women experienced one or more of the following feelings after they had abortions: depression, guilt, regret, nervousness, insomnia.
30%- 50% of aborted women report experiencing sexual dysfunctions, of both short and long duration, beginning immediately after their abortions. These problems may include one or more of the following: loss of pleasure from intercourse, increased pain, an aversion to sex and/or males in general, or the development of a promiscuous life-style.
Some data indicates that on average there is a 5-10 year period of denial during which a woman who was traumatized by her abortion will repress her feelings. During this time, the woman may go to great lengths to avoid people, situations, or events which she associates with her abortion and she may even become vocally defensive of abortion in order to convince others, and herself, that she made the right choice and is satisfied with the outcome. In reality, these women who are subsequently identified as having been severely traumatized, have failed to reach a true state of “closure” with regard to their experiences.
Repressed feelings of any sort can result in psychological and behavioral difficulties which exhibit themselves in other areas of one’s life.
Some women who would otherwise appear to have been satisfied with their abortion experience, are reported to enter into emotional crisis decades later with the onset of menopause or after their youngest child leaves home.
Germany flag carrier and Europe’s largest airliner, Lufthansa, is this August expected to start flying into Zambia through a code-sharing agreement with Ethopian Airlines.
The Deutsche carrier, which once serviced the southern African country before the liquidation of Zambia Airways in 1995, is expected to re-start flights into Zambia through a code–sharing partnership with other African carriers.
Christoph Meier, head of corporate communications Southeast Europe, Africa, Middle East & Pakistan, disclosed in an exclusive interview.
“We will in fact launch a code-share service from Frankfurt to Lusaka, via Addis Ababa as early as August. The Addis to Lusaka segment will be operated by our partner Ethiopian Airlines. Furthermore, Lusaka and Livingstone will be linked to Germany through code-share flights via Johannesburg in co-operation with South African Airlines,” he said.
Deputy permanent secretary at the Ministry of Communications and Transport Florence Chawelua confirmed that Government is reviewing an application from Ethopian Airlines to start operating the Lufthansa flights.
Zambia has not had a national airliner since the liquidation of loss-making Zambia Airways in 1995 and the subsequent failure by private-operated Zambian Airways to assume the role of a national flag carrier.
Zambian Airways had expressed intentions to operate as the nation’s flag carrier but the 2008 global economic crisis could not spare the airliner’s accounts and it too collapsed on January 10, 2009.
Mr Meier said Lufthansa was able to fly into a new market like Zambia based on the vast experience of its regional partners like Ethiopian Airlines or South African Airlines.
“These are examples illustrating the benefits of code-share co-operation. In turn, Zambia will be connected to Lufthansa’s 211 destinations worldwide, among them 127 in Europe. And last but not least, travel options and service quality for customers aiming at destinations Lusaka and Livingstone will be enhanced significantly. It’s a win-win-win solution,” he said.
The intention by Lufthansa to fly into Zambia has been granted a nod by line authorities in Lusaka with aggressive efforts from the Zambian High Commission in Berlin.
Mr Meier explained, “The Zambian Ministry of Communications and Transport has been very supportive of Lufthansa’s plans to serve Lusaka and Livingstone on a code-share basis. The competent authorities have a clear strategy for the further economic development of the country and they see international air services as a key driver of economic growth.”
He said Lufthansa will be able to start the sale of tickets from Zambia to any of its worldwide destinations in mid-August 2011 which will facilitate business travel to Lusaka, and provide an attractive travel option for European tourists.
Lack of a national airliner has adversely affected Zambia’s tourism inflows over the years. Despite boasting a number of natural tourists’ sites like the Victoria Falls in Livingstone, tourism growth in Zambia has been very slow and market analysts have attributed the erratic in-roads of visitors into Zambia to a poorly developed airline system.
The commencement of Lufthansa flights into Lusaka and Livingstone, the country’s tourist capital, is likely to enhance tourist visits into Zambia and also raise the country’s profile in Europe and elsewhere abroad.
Lufthansa’s flights into Zambia in mid-August will be closely followed by yet another airliner which intends to start operating into Zambia in September.
Fly Zambia Airline, which will be launched in September this year, is currently in consultation with Zambian authorities on the possibility of adopting the logo which was previously used by the defunct Zambia Airways.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
ZAMTEL limited has rolled out its third Generation (3G) technology with an investment of US$37 million.
3G technology is a wireless network technology that is commonly used in mobile telephone (smart phones), while its predecessor, second generation, was formulated around voice applicants (like talking, call waiting and voice mail).
Zamtel chief commercial officer Amon Jere, speaking at the Agricultural and Commercial show in Lusaka, said 3G technology puts a strong emphasis on internet and multimedia services such as web browsing, video conferencing and downloading music.
Mr Jere said the 3G technology will be first switched on along the line of rail and North-western province, Copperbelt province, Lusaka, Choma, Mazabuka and Livingstone.
“We expect to finish the first phase in October while the second phase will see us switch on all provincial capitals.
This means our customers will now be able to access mobile broadband on their phones or laptops,” he said.
He said customers will have access to higher data speed and enjoy multimedia services such as Skype calls and video chats using msn.
The technology will also support mobile television, video on demand, video conferencing, tele-medicine and location-based services.
Mr Jere assured customers of affordable 3G enabled terminals such as mobile phones and dongles in all centres with 3G base stations.
Mr Jere said Zamtel is working with its partners (Samsung, ZTE and Wawi) to bring affordable smart phones in the country.
“It’s all about affordability when it comes to Zamtel. there is no point investing US$37 million in the 3G network when there is a barrier to it, people cannot access smart phones,” he said.
He said early this year, Zamtel made investment commitments that are being met citing the new billing system that will enable the company develop creative products, investment in the subscriber management system and the new call centre.
Other innovations soon to be launched include the number management system that will enable customers create their own phone number and the ISP call network that will enable Zamtel create different internet packages for customers depending on their pockets.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
HEIFER International says it will spend US$2.4 million on empowering 8,677 families with livestock under the Copperbelt rural livelihoods enhancement and support project.
Heifer programmes officer Petronella Halwiindi said the project aimed at promoting self-reliance is funded by ELANCO, an international animal health corporation.
Ms Halwiindi said her organisation will remain committed to helping people to become self-reliant.
She was speaking in Mpongwe yesterday when her organisation handed over 140 goats to 20 families of Go-women-go goat meat project in Kanyenda area.
Ms Halwiindi said Heifer is proud to complement Government’s efforts in empowering rural women, especially the vulnerable.
She also said Heifer is working with village water, food and nutrition commission in order to promote hygiene among the rural community.
She said the families that have received the donated livestock have to pass on the livestock and training to other needy families, which is known as ‘passing on the gift’.
And ELANCO representative Dawie Pretorious said his organisation was motivated by the women of Kanyenda community and pledged to support more women’s clubs in the country.
Mr Pretorious said the enthusiasm the women exhibited showed that the donated goats would be looked after properly by the beneficiaries.
“Looking at the atmosphere here, we will not worry even as we leave this place because we know that the animals will be in safe hands with you the beneficiaries,” Mr Pretorious said.
And speaking on behalf of the farmers, Copperbelt permanent secretary Villie Lombanya commended Heifer International for complementing Government’s efforts in sustaining rural development.
Mr Lombanya said the event was an historical one because it marked the beginning of the handovers that the Copperbelt is yet to witness from Heifer.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
President Rupiah Banda has said that he will not use the title of Doctor, despite being conferred with an honorary doctorate degree in political science by Rusangu University, a Seventh Day Adventist (SDA)-owned university.
According to a statement issued yesterday by special assistant to the President for press and public relations Dickson Jere, the President said that he wanted to maintain the title of Mr although he appreciates the gesture by Rusangu University to confer a doctorate on him.
At the function the President Banda said he was deeply touched to be bestowed with an honorary doctorate degree in political science by a local university.
“I would like to thank Rusangu University for honouring me with a title of a doctor for political science. I am deeply touched and humbled. What is more pleasing is that Rusangu University will be one of my own and I accept the challenge of building the institution,” he said.
Rusangu University chancellor Harrinton Akombwa said the university had decided to confer Mr Banda with the honorary doctorate degree because of his political and economic contribution to Zambia’s development.
Dr Akombwa said President Banda’s good leadership has led Zambia to being ranked a lower middle-income country.
He said the university has bestowed Mr Banda with the honorary doctorate degree because of his distinguished career in political and economic affairs, and liberation of Zambia.
At the same function, new Rusangu University vice-chancellor Mutuku Mutinga said the university is playing its role in contributing to the development of Zambia through the production of highly-qualified personnel.
Prof Mutinga also commended Government for grading the six-kilometre road which connects the institution to the Monze-Livingstone road.
And PRESIDENT Banda has urged Zambians to continue investing in upgrading their education because the country’s development is anchored on an educated society.
Mr Banda said at the 5th graduation ceremony for Rusangu University in Monze yesterday that Zambians should continue advancing their education through which they will contribute to the economic growth of the country.
“We are going to be judged as a truly developed country only when our people have attained education. No country will develop when its population is less educated.
“Education is not a waste of money; money spent on removing ignorance from children is worth investing because the key to success is education,” he said.
President Banda commended the SDA for the role it is playing in supplementing Government’s efforts of providing quality education to Zambians.
Mr Banda said the SDA has played an important role in the development of the country and yesterday’s academic work is evidence of its immense importance.
“Allow me to say that my Government appreciates what you are doing and fully supports your initiative of providing a holistic education that seeks to train the head, the hand and heart of the whole person,” he said.
President Banda said Government is strongly committed to supporting higher institutions of learning such as Rusangu University because it recognises that the task of educating citizens is expensive and should not be left to Government alone.
The head of State said by providing training facilities locally, the church is helping Government to conserve foreign exchange that would have been spent on training Zambians abroad.
Mr Banda said he is happy Rusangu University has pioneered the training of professionals in science, which most private institutions have avoided because of high costs involved.
He urged the graduands to use the education they have obtained from Rusangu University to serve Zambia and help the country to develop.
“In the recent past, we have witnessed a mass brain-drain in various disciplines in the region. Since your country has provided a platform for your training, it is only fair that you go back to serve the people,” Mr Banda said.
Meanwhile, professors from leading universities in Zambia have hailed President Banda for his outstanding dedication to education.
The professors present at the colourful ceremony were Zambia Open University vice-chancellor Dickson Mwansa and Mulungushi University vice-chancellor Vernon Chinene, and Lusaka University’s rector Pinalo Chifwanakeni.
Prof Mwansa said Mr Banda was present at the crowning of the first vice-chancellor of Mulungushi University and commended the President for committing himself to the improvement of the education sector.
Prof Mwansa said since Mr Banda ascended to the Presidency in 2008, the education sector has witnessed a massive growth of private universities that are offering quality education to Zambians.
And Prof Chinene said Mr Banda was supposed to have been on a campaign trail but chose to be at the graduation ceremony, which shows that he attaches great importance to education.
“You are supposed to have been campaigning Mr President but you have found time to be here with us and this is a sign of how you value national education,” he said.
Mr Chifwanakeni commended Government for liberalising the education sector.
And Copperbelt University vice-chancellor Mike Musonda also commended Mr Banda and congratulated Prof Mutinga on his appointment as vice-chancellor of Rusangu University.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
ZAMBIA’s international reserves at the Bank of Zambia (BoZ) have increased to US$2.5 billion as at end of June 2011 translating into four months prospective imports.
The major products that were exported during the period include mining, Non traditional exports accounting for US$1.2 billion and remittances in the excess of US$200 million.
BOZ economics director Emmanuel Pamu said with the US$2.5 billion international reserves recorded as at June 2011, the country has exceeded the target of US$2.3 billion set for the year.
Speaking at the BoZ briefing held at the Agricultural and Commercial show in Lusaka, Dr Pamu said projections are that the reserves will continue to grow adding that copper exports and other metals have also risen contributing to the economic growth.
He said the economy has managed to pick up tremendously despite the impact of the 2008 global financial crisis.
He said lending to the private sector and household personal loans have increased considerably.
Commenting on the exchange rate, Dr Pamu said the Kwacha has been stable which is important for a growing economy.
And BOZ deputy governor Austin Mwape has said that the central bank is on course to attain the seven percent target inflation set for this year.
Dr Mwape said Zambia has managed to maintain a single digit inflation rate at nine percent. This enhances the optimism that the targeted inflation rate will be reached.
“The good part of the year has been the stabilisation of the inflation and the exchange rate. We have managed to maintain quite a stable financial system,” Dr Mwape said.
Director of non-banking financial institutions Chisha Mwanakatwe said the central bank was impressed that personal loans have increased over the past four years because of the coming down of interest rates.
Mr Mwanakatwe said new banks in the market have extended a lot of personal loans which has created competition resulting in interest rates declining.
“The banking industry has been adequately capitalised; new entrants in the sector have played a vital role. The coming up of financial systems (commercial and non-banks) aggressively on the market has facilitated services to the people who never had access to borrowing and saving in the past,” he said.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
Bank of Zambia (BoZ) says that the announcement of the date for tripartite elections will not slow down economic activities or affect the performance of the Kwacha but will trigger more business activities.
BOZ said this in contrast to Standard Chartered Bank which predicted depreciation of the Kwacha against the US dollar following the announcement of the election date.
Bank of Zambia Governor Caleb Fundanga said in an interview that the economy and currency will remain stable during elections because a lot of economic activities are expected to take place.
Dr Fundanga said the supply of US dollars on the market is dependent on exports and not elections, saying trade will continue even during the election period.
“The supply of US dollars on the market is dependent on exports. The question one may ask is whether exports are affected by elections, the answer is no. We, however, expect the demand for election materials go up, but I don’t see a strong relation with the Kwacha,” he said.
Dr Fundanga said the slowdown in economic activity and subsequent depreciation of the Kwacha experienced in 2008 were due to the global credit crisis and the elections.
“The results of 2008 had nothing to do with the elections but the global financial crisis, portfolio investors withdraw from all emerging markets whether they had elections or not,” he said.
“International organisations are saying elections or no elections Zambia is on the path of positive growth,” he said.
But Standard Chartered Bank head of global markets Stanley Tamele said the Kwacha is likely to trade at around K4,900 and K4,950 during the election period because of the political risk aversion associated with the election period.
Mr Tamele said historically, when Zambia and other African countries go to the polls, there is a tendency of people and companies holding on to their transactions until after elections.
“Investors tend to withdraw money from the economy and people hold on to transactions and US dollars because of the risks associated with politics,” he said.
Mr Tamele, however, said the Kwacha would pick up at around K4,700 after the elections.
Zambia has been draw with Ghana in Group D of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers. The two teams will clash in the second round group stages when they enter the fray next year in a Group D that also includes of Sudan.
Group D will be complete with the winner from the preliminary round match between Burundi and Lesotho.
Winner from Group D will advance to the final third round stage where 10 teams will battle in a league format for the five Africa zone places available at the World Cup.
And Dick Ngwenya began his first day at the office at Kabwe Warriors on a good note with a 1-0 home win over Zesco United in a Faz Super Kabwe.
A text book tap-in from Mundia Makokwa in the 39th minute on the near left post from a Derrick Mulenga cross from the far right win handed Warriors the vital three points.
The goal was Makokwa’s first for Warriors since his K25 million move at the start of the season from National Assembly.
And the victory sees Warriors rise one spot from 14th to 13th on the table on 16 points from as many games played.
Warriors dominated a poor Zesco especially after the visitors’ caretaker coach Masautso Mwale made a tactical blunder.
Mwale took off influential playmaker Portipher Zulu in the 43rd minute for an ineffective John Chingandu who was lost in midfield the entire period he was on the pitch.
Zesco drop from 7th to 8th as Mwale feels the pressure in his first game in charge after Fighton Simukonda was fired on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Red Arrows maintained top spot on the table after a 2-0 away win over Nkana in Kitwe.
Defender White Simwanza scored a free kick in the 58th minute and a second from Dube Phiri in the 71st minute made sure Arrows stayed top of the table.
Arrows are on 33 points, two less than Power Dynamos who rallied to beat hosts Green Eagles 3-2 thanks to a Lottie Phiri brace that saw him increase his tally to 10 goals this season.
MTN/FAZ Super Divsion
30/07/20111
Week 16
Roan United 3-Forest Rangers 2
Kabwe Warriors 1-Zesco United 0
Konkola Blades 0-Lime Hotspurs 2
Zanaco 0-Nchanga Rangers 0
Kalewa 1-Green Buffaloes 2
Nkwazi 2-Nakambala Leopards 2
Nkana 0-Red Arrows 2
Green Eagles 2- Power Dynamos 3
[standings league_id=18 template=extend logo=false]
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“And Jesus answered them, Truly I say to you, if you have faith (a firm relying trust) and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, Be taken up and cast into the sea, it will be done”
(Matthew 21:21, AMP)
TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria
We’ve all had seasons when the challenges of life feel overwhelming. During those times, it’s easy to be tempted to talk about how bad things are. Maybe you received a bad medical report, or maybe you’re facing a financial obstacle. But the more you talk about something, the bigger it becomes in your mind. Instead, you’ve got to dig your heels in and say, “No, I am not going to give life to that defeat. I am not going to speak sickness over myself. I’m not going to speak lack. I’m not going to speak fear. I’m choosing a different report. I believe the report of the Lord which says I am blessed. I am favored. I am prosperous. I am healthy. I am whole. I’m a victor, not a victim.”
Remember, even if you don’t see how things could ever work out, God does. You’ve got to speak to those mountains in your life and declare favor over those situations. Instead of talking to God about how big your problems are, talk to your problems about how big your God is! As you speak to your mountains, they will be moved, and you will move forward into the victory God has prepared for you!
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word which is life to my spirit. I receive Your strength today and choose to speak to the mountains so I can move forward in the victory You have in store for me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
— Joel & Victoria Osteen
PRESIDENT Banda has warned that his Government will not tolerate shoddy works from road contractors who desire to enrich themselves at the expense of Zambians.
Speaking when he officially opened the 85th Agricultural and Commercial Show in Lusaka yesterday, President Banda said Government will ensure contractors do not compromise on quality because Zambians demand value for their money.
“I am aware that the state of transport infrastructure and roads in particular is a major concern to farmers and the business community alike. I would like to assure you that we are working on the rehabilitation of our entire transport infrastructure,” President Banda said.
Mr Banda said he expects contractors and those charged with the responsibility of supervising the construction of roads to ensure that they are built to the highest standards.
“Zambians demand value for their taxes, and as Government, we will not tolerate those who compromise quality standards in order to benefit themselves,” the President said.
President Banda said it was pleasing that the agriculture sector had continued to perform well and congratulated farmers for successive bumper harvests.
He said successive bumper harvests and economic growth averaging 6.6 percent was evidence that the policies of the MMD Government were bearing fruit.
Mr Banda was also confident at the rate agricultural productivity was growing in Zambia; the country was poised for more surplus productivity.
“I wish to state that the full potential for agriculture is yet to be realised. I therefore urge our farmers to adopt appropriate technologies and improved farming practices in order to increase production and productivity of both food and crops,” he said.
President Banda assured that his Government will continue to provide the necessary support to further transform the agricultural sector into a rewarding commercial activity.
He said the measures will include improved marketing of agricultural produce and enhancement of research as well as extension services.
Government will also continue to encourage value addition and promote processing of farm produce into finished products.
“For that reason, it is important to understand that for us to build our economy and to sustain its growth, we need to lay a firm foundation. My Government is therefore implementing measures and programmes aimed at increasing access by all our citizens, both in rural and urban areas, to economic and productive resources,” President Banda said.
He also pointed out that Zambia was on the right path of becoming a wealth economy, given its positive economic growth, B+ sovereign credit, and its recent reclassification to lower middle-income economy by the World Bank.
“Government efforts and policies aimed at improving the economy have yielded positive results. Our economy has for the last three years been growing at an average 6.6 percent per year,” President Banda said.
The President said Zambia was also ranked among the top 10 reformers in the world by World Bank in 2010.
He assured Zambians that his Government will continue to diversify the economy from predominantly copper mining to bring on board agriculture, tourism and other activities such as nickel, gold and oil exploration.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
The Electoral Commission of Zambia has set August 7 to August 10 as dates for filling in Presidential Nominations.
ECZ has also set August 12 as dates for filling of nominations for the National Assembly and local government elections.
Commission Director Priscilla Isaacs said that Presidential aspiring candidates should complete the attested statutory declaration of the oath, the affirmation of Zambian citizenship and the nomination papers before the chief Justice at the Supreme Court.
Ms Isaac said in a statement to ZNBC News that each aspiring Presidential candidate is required to pay a non refundable nomination fee of K10 million.
Each candidate shall also be expected to carry 200 supporters who are registered voters in any constituency.
She said that filing of Presidential nominations will be taking place from 09:00 hours to 16:00 hours.
Parliamentary nominations will be conducted at the respective constituency centers before a returning officer.
Ms Isaacs said that parliamentary candidates shall also be required to pay a non-refundable nomination fee of K500 000.
The aspiring candidates shall also be required to be accompanied by 9 supporters who are registered voters in the respective constituencies.
Local government aspiring candidates for city councils will pay a non-refundable nomination fee of K100 000
For Municipal Councils, candidates will pay K75 000 non-refundable.
District Council aspiring candidates will pay K50 000 nomination fee.
Nominations for both parliamentary and local government aspiring candidates will be conducted from 08:00 hours to 16:00 hours in all centers.
Ms Isaacs also said that accreditation for international election observers will start on August 2 to September 16.
Local Monitors and the Media will be accredited from August 8 to September 16, 2011.
And several Political Parties have welcomed the announcement of dates for filing nomination by the Electoral Commission of Zambia-ECZ.
National Movement for Progress Party (NMPP) President Ng’andu Magande has said that it is good that the ECZ has set the dates soon after the announcement of the election date.
Mr. Magande said that his party is ready for Parliamentary and Local Government nominations.
And UPND Spokesperson, Charles Kakoma said that his party is happy with the nomination dates.
Mr Kakoma however said that the programme set by the ECZ is too short for the commission to the reach the remote areas.
Alliance for Democracy and Development-ADD President Charles Milupi has also welcomed the announcement of nomination dates.
Mr Milupi said that his party will release the names of adopted candidates next week.
And MMD National Secretary Major Richard Kachingwe has expressed happiness that Electoral Commission of Zambia has finally announced the nomination dates.
Major Kachingwe said that with the announcement of the adopted candidates, the party is now ready to go ahead with nominations.
And Patriotic Front-PF Vice-President Guy Scott said that the announcement of the nomination dates is welcome.
Dr Scott said that the PF is ready for the nominations and elections in general.
ZNBC
The Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) has called for the spirit of tolerance in the country ahead of this year’s tripartite elections.
Speaking to Qfm in an exclusive interview, ZEC Secretary General Father Cleophas Lungu says Zambians have the freedom to express their views without intimidation.
And Father Lungu has declared the church mother body’s readiness in carrying out sensitization programmes of voters across the country.
He says sensitizing voters on the importance of participating in the electoral process is important and that no one should be questioned for carrying out this noble cause.
An Anglican priest in Ndola is reported to have been summoned by the police for questioning for allowing an Electoral Commission of Zambia voter education facilitators to educate congregants on the importance of voting.
[ QFM ]
Former Finance Minister, Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane has maintained that Government will not reverse its decision to privatize the mining sector.
Dr. Musokotwane who is also MMD chairman for Finance says the nationalisation of mining companies resulted in poor management of the mines thereby reducing the value of mines.
Dr. Musokotwane also says that pressure to force government to impose higher taxes on mining companies such as windfall taxes is unrealistic.
He says the law guiding the mining sector in Zambia is similar to the one obtaining in countries like Canada, Australia, and South Africa.
Dr Musokotwane says it is wrong to demand that Zambia should have a special tax which is not applicable to other mineral-producing countries.
He says the windfall tax being agitated for, will make Zambia less attractive to foreign investors and lead to massive job losses.
Dr. Musokotwane says mining companies have stabilized and are now able to pay more taxes that have helped Government raise more money for various development projects.
He was speaking on a BBC TV debate on whether mining benefits the African continent.
And Former British Secretary of State for International Development who is also Chairperson of the Extractive Industries Transparency, Claire Short says Africa’s Wealth has become a curse instead of being a tool for poverty reduction.
But Dr. Musokotwane has opposed the view saying minerals have done a lot for Zambia by creating jobs while money from taxes is being used for improving the lives of people through poverty reduction.
ZNBC
© Lusaka Times
