Zesco United have been eliminated from the Caf Confederation Cup after losing 2-0 away to MAS of Morocco on Saturday night in Fez
A brace from MAS midfielder Hamza Abourazzouk in the 24th and 37th booked MAS passage to the Confederation Cup group stage that kicks-off on July 15.
MAS qualify 2-1 on aggregate to the group stage of the tournament.
Zesco’s defeat ends all interest in Caf club competition for Zambia in this year’s campaign.
By Chapandongo Lungu
Fish has for a long time been the lifeblood of Itezhi-Tezhi, an almost obscure district tucked away in the vast Kafue Plains hosting the Kafue River and ItezhiTezhi Dam. But beyond the bowels of the river and the dam is one economic activity which the locals are famed for – agriculture, especially pastoral farming, which has been practised from the beginning of times, the inhabitants believe. Itezhi-Tezhi has transitioned from the murky waters of a food deficit district only a few years to the lofty heights of food security.
FRANCIS Lubasi has in the past few years worked hard to turn around the agricultural fortunes of Itezhi-Tezhi, a district whose economy revolves around fishing.
While fishing remains central to the lives of most residents, the district is fast diversifying into other forms of agriculture, with crop cultivation being the most vibrant.
Mr Lubasi, the district agricultural co-ordinator, has not only seen the turnaround but has also been part of it. He believes Itezhi-Tezhi has potential to be the breadbasket for Zambia.
As Zambia celebrates unprecedented yields in the past two seasons, Mr Lubasi says Itezhi-Tezhi has credentials to gatecrash the party, and proudly so.
The district was predominantly food-insecure only five years ago. It was one of the districts prioritised for food relief. Agency Adventist Relief was contracted to facilitate relief supply, especially in the hinterland where need was pressing the most.
“But production has changed, now we’re a food surplus district. In the 2009/2010 season, we produced surplus of 500,000 by 50kgs of white maize and the Food Reserve Agency bought 324,605 by 50kgs,” Mr Lubasi said, wafting through his records in his modest office.
Another page on M rLubasi’s records book shows that farmers collected a whopping K21 billion. That is a huge figure that can turn the economy of the district around.
Private buyers such as ITT Milling bought 46,000 bags from small-scale farmers. These figures are in comparison to 60,915 bags bought by the FRA and 69,000 purchased by the private sector during the 2007/2008 season.
Mr Lubasi said the marked improvement in the 2009/2010 season is due to the fact that Government entered the market early and farmers’ confidence in FRA improved.
For the 2010/2011 season, there is a forecast of 459,520 bags, showing a slight drop from last season.
“The drop in crop production is due to adverse weather conditions – floods caused by excessive rains in the first quarter and drought in the second quarter,” Mr Lubasi said.
[pullquote]Another page on M rLubasi’s records book shows that farmers collected a whopping K21 billion. That is a huge figure that can turn the economy of the district around.[/pullquote]
To avoid such pitfalls in the future, farmers have been advised to diversify, mainly to tubers such as sweet and Irish potatoes as well as cash crops such as cotton and tobacco.
And because of that, the number of tobacco farmers has risen from 80 in the 2008/2009 season to 223 in the 2009/2010 season, with a production of about 129 tonnes.
“The increase is due to attractive prices offered to farmers by an outgrower – Leaf Zambia Company,” Mr Lubasi said.
Cotton is also one of the widely cultivated crops in the district, as there are 926 farmers now compared to 526, accounting for 1,061 tonnes. Like for tobacco, the increase is attributed to attractive prices.
The boom in agriculture is credited to Government’s good policies such as subsidised prices of inputs and organisation of farmers into co-operatives.
Under the farmer input support programme, the district last season received support of 144 packs for 7,450 small-scale farmers.
Mr Lubasi said his office has organised farmers into 205 co-operatives through increased extension services and rise in other service providers such as seed and chemical suppliers.
But there is a low level of private sector participation. There are very few agro-based firms in the district, mainly due to the location.
“As a ministry, we know that it’s because of the physical location. We’re in the Kafue Flats and some farm blocks get cut off from the town from November to May. This means production areas are cut off, limiting presence of the private sector,” Mr. Lubasi said.
And because the district is new, its road network is still in a poor state, which makes service delivery a challenge. Government has, however, provided field staff and most of the camps are now manned with transport available.
Where there are challenges, Government has allocated funds to procure motorbikes.
With the immigration of farmers from Kalomo, Mumbwa and Namwala, ITT, as the district is locally called, is destined for greater heights in crop production.
The challenge now is crop storage as there are only three storage structures although there are 17 satellite depots.
He said slabs have been constructed at some satellites through the FRA and communities. About 168,000 bags are still available in some satellites across the district. This grain, he said, would be moved to safer storage sites and made available to communities-relief and cash purchases at a reduced price of K50,000.
Livestock production has increased exponentially from 35,000 heads of cattle in 2005 to 68,000 in the last census, yet again cementing the fact that Ilas are the best herdsmen in the country.
MrLubasi said the growth in numbers is as a result of increased extension services to farmers by the department of veterinary and livestock production.
He says there is an integrated approach for enhancing veterinary service provision to traditional livestock farmers.
Under this project, which started in 2007, over K1 billion was released for implementation.
“Key under the project was implementation of early warning systems in which a radio system was established in all camps and field transport procured for both veterinary assistants and community livestock auxiliary workers,” he said.
The officers also introduced early diagnostic tests and treatment under which a mobile laboratory and a motor vehicle were procured to undertake the tests.
The last and major output was the establishment of a vector control and handling facilities under which six dip tanks were constructed – one in each chiefdom. Six crush pens and loading bays were constructed alongside the dip tanks.
These, he said, have helped reduce tick-borne diseases and enabled officers to undertake regular vaccinations.
But the availability of livestock services such as drugs have remained a challenge as there is only one service provider (Farmers Warehouse).
The other challenge is that of disease – trypanosomiasis. What compounds the situation is that ITT is in game management area of the Kafue National Park.
“There is a serious challenge of human-wildlife conflict. Communities in Shezongo and Musungwa chiefdoms have experienced serious crop losses due to elephants eating their produce. This is attributed to the large number of elephant population in the Nkala management area. This has been reported to higher authorities for intervention,” Mr Lubasi said.
ITT is endowed with abundant water resources through the Kafue River and Itezhi-Tezhi lake and dam, where various species of fish breed.
People’s livelihoods are, therefore, dependent on fishing and fish trading. The three water bodies stock fish to the brim, providing protein to both locals and surrounding districts.
In order to manage fish, extension services have been established through fisheries co-management structures to community.
Mr Lubasi said communities directly monitor fishing activities. He said the fish farming practised in the district is capture fishing (open water fishing) as there are few aqua activities.
He said the bream and kapenta planted in the river and dam have continued providing alternative protein far and wide, including in Copperbelt, Lusaka and North-Western provinces.
Mr Lubasi said, however, that monitoring of fishery activities has remained a challenge for the department.
Illegal fishing methods such as using small size nylon nets have been reported although extension services have put the illegal activity under check in this district brimming with agricultural potential.
Member of Parliament (MP) for Petauke Central Dora Siliya has expressed happiness with works that have so far been done on the Water Reticulation Project which will cater for 25 000 residents in the district at a cost of K14 billion.
Ms Siliya who is also Education Minister noted that with the new functional equipment in place for the water system, diarrhoeal
diseases will be a thing of the past.
ZANIS reports that Ms Siliya said when she conducted a tour of the newly built water pumping station and kiosks in Petauke yesterday that a lot of community publicity needs to be done to let people be aware of the project.
The MP noted that this will teach people to be responsible and take care of the kiosks and other equipment being put up.
And Eastern Water and Sewerage Company (EWSC) Managing Director Wamuwi Changani disclosed that
11 water kiosks have been placed in Petauke district to help address water shortage there.
Mr Changani said the kiosks have been placed in different points to cater for 1,500 households.
He also disclosed that the ongoing Petauke water reticulation project will cater for all the 25 thousand residents in the district.
Mr. Changani explained that the quality of water has to meet the set standards by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
He noted that this will reduce water borne diseases that used due to lack of clean water.
ZANIS
Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) Spokesperson Dora Siliya has refuted a story published in one of the tabloid newspaper yesterday stating that the MMD has received no applications for the Chiengi Parliamentary seat in Luapula Province.
ZANIS reports that Ms Siliya who is also Education Minister told Journalists in Petauke in Eastern Province yesterday that a lot of people have shown interest in contesting on the MMD ticket in Luapula Province and that the party cannot fail to produce enough candidates to field in the coming elections.
Chief Puta of Chiengi district of the Bwile people is reported as saying the MMD has no candidates in the area as long as area MP Katele Kalumba is not freed from his corruption charges.
Meanwhile, the Movement for Multiparty Democracy Petauke Central Constituency Executive in Eastern Province has nominated its Member of Parliament (MP) Dora Siliya to recontest the Parliamentary seat in this year’s general elections.
The executive which comprises 21 members from different wards nominated Ms. Siliya via a voting system that was conducted and where she poured 18 votes with her nearest rival getting only two votes.
Ms. Siliya expressed happiness with the results saying she appreciates being first choice in the area and that it is now up to the National Executive Committee (NEC) to make the final list of who will stand in this year’s general elections.
ZANIS
THE UNITED Party for National Development (UPND) says the Patriotic Front (PF) has become irrelevant and is no longer a factor in Zambian politics.
UPND national youth co-ordinator Brian Hapunda said the PF has lost popularity hence resorting to blaming the UPND for its failures.
Mr Hapunda said Zambians have realised that the PF and its leadership are unreliable and have nothing to offer.
He said in an interview yesterday that the PF should consider not contesting in this year’s general elections as it is evident they are headed for defeat.
Mr Hapunda said it would be pointless for the PF to contest this year’s tripartite elections as it has already conceded defeat to the ruling party.
“We wish to commend PF secretary general Wynter Kabimba for his bold stance to confess to the nation that his party will not win this year’s general elections because of the UPND.
“We welcome Mr Kabimba’s confession and urge the PF to now start preparing for the 2016 general elections as it is clear that they are in this year’s elections just for formality,” Mr Hapunda said.
He said PF should concentrate on re-organising its party structures in preparation for the 2016 general elections.
Mr Hapunda said the battle for the presidency in this year’s general elections is between the MMD and UPND.
“It is very clear that PF will come out number three in this year’s presidential race. No amount of image-building of the PF will redeem them as the battle line has already been drawn between UPND and MMD,” Mr Hapunda said.
He said the UPND-PF pact was the only avenue which PF president Michael Sata would have utilised to get to State House.
“The PF only has itself to blame for destroying the pact as it was the only platform on which Mr Sata and the PF would have ever seen the doors of State House.
“We urge PF to stop crying loud over the demise of the pact as it has become a nuisance to the Zambian people who are not interested in its selfishness, inconsistence and greed as was evidenced in the pact that crumbled because of the aforementioned,” he said.
Mr Hapunda alleged that the PF has become irrelevant to Zambians because of selfishness and inconsistence.
“So we urge young people and senior citizens out there to rally behind the UPND and its leader HakaindeHichilema as it is the only opposition party that can offer alternative leadership,” Mr Hapunda said.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
PRESIDENT Banda says the people of Zambia have gone through enough social and economic difficulties and that time has come for them to start benefitting from the economic gains the country is registering.
And President Banda says he is expecting an economic boom in the country soon after the general elections this year.
President Banda said although he has been head of State for about three years only, there is evidence that his administration has delivered the promises made.
The President said he will not listen to his political opponents who have been criticising him from the time he was elected head of State in 2008 but will continue to focus on working for the people.
Mr Banda, who yesterday toured some selected Lusaka roads currently under rehabilitation, said there is no time selected for implementing economic development programmes.
He said all the time, be it in an election year or not, Government is obliged to continue working for the benefit of the citizens.
He was speaking to journalists yesterday at State House after touring some selected roads in Libala, Kamwala, Matero and Kabanana townships.
[pullquote]“I foresee great things after elections this year. I foresee a big boom and this will allow us to look at improving the infrastructure in tertiary institutions. We are going to fix those that are in a bad state and we will build new ones,” President Banda said.[/pullquote]
“If we imagine that the opposition political parties will stop criticising and stand on top of the roof and proclaim that all is well, we would be unrealistic. They have to find something to criticise but I will not stop working for the people because they are disparaging me. Every time is good for development. The people of Zambia have gone through enough hell. What has kept me going despite the criticism is the belief that what I am doing is right and is benefitting the people,” Mr Banda said.
President Banda said Zambians should not forget that he has been head of State for about three years and that it would be unfair for Zambians to expect him to finish and meet all their aspirations.
The President said he has not been among the privileged leaders who have had their full five-year mandate but that the elections this year will give him the five-year term during which he hopes to perform better than he has.
He said had he failed to implement the development programmes currently in progress, the opposition would have gone into chorus condemning him.
“We have to clean up our country ourselves. The United States of America government has been here and is happy with the economic progression we are making. They have said all the good things about Zambia and when they said they wanted to meet the opposition political parties, I said that is good. They have to meet the opposition because they are Zambians,” Mr Banda said.
President Banda told the Road Development Agency (RDA) that he did not want to be told that the roads are being done but that he wanted to check on the work on the ground.
President Banda said he also took a drive in the communities to get reactions of the people on the rehabilitation of the roads.
“The people are grateful that the roads are now being worked on and the value of their properties will increase once the roads are completed. We the Zambian people can together develop this country,” President Banda said.
And President has said Zambia will be in an economic boom soon after the tripartite elections this year.
President Banda said his Government will concentrate on the development of tertiary education having invested so much in the construction of basic and high schools across the country.
Mr Banda said he will concentrate on transforming colleges and universities in his second term so as to improve the learning environment in higher institutions of learning.
“I foresee great things after elections this year. I foresee a big boom and this will allow us to look at improving the infrastructure in tertiary institutions. We are going to fix those that are in a bad state and we will build new ones,” President Banda said.
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“…Lift up now your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward”
(Genesis 13:14, AMP)
TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria
God has a place of victory in store for you today! You may be facing challenges. You may look around you and see impossible circumstances. In the natural, it may look like things won’t ever change. But God is saying today, “Quit looking at your circumstances and look up! Lift up your eyes of faith and look beyond where you are because there is victory as far as the eye can see!
Remember, those things you are facing today are only temporary, but God Almighty is eternal. He’s the God who spoke the world into existence, and He’s the God who set the stars in space. He is more powerful than every obstacle, bigger than any setback, and He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above and beyond what you could ever imagine. Today, look beyond your circumstances and set your focus in the right direction. Lift up your eyes and look unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your faith!
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Heavenly Father, today I choose to lift up my eyes of faith toward You. Thank You for surrounding me with Your goodness and mercy. Thank You for believing in me and for preparing a good future for me. Fill my heart with Your peace and confidence as I continue to trust You in every area of my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
— Joel & Victoria Osteen
Vice President George Kunda arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa, last evening to attend the second tripartite summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the East African Community (EAC).
Mr. Kunda, who arrived aboard a Zambia Air Force (ZAF) plane at 17:10 hours local time, is representing President Rupiah Banda at the three regional economic groupings’ summit which is being held at the Sandton Conventional Centre in Johannesburg.
ZANIS reports that he was met on arrival at the Waterkloof Air Force Base Airport in Pretoria by Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Lieutenant Colonel Bizwayo Nkunika and other Zambian Embassy officials.
The SADC, COMESA and EAC are meeting here to finalise discussions of establishing a trilateral Free Trade Agreement (T-FTA), which is expected to create conditions that would broaden trade opportunities and widen the internal market among the three regional economic bodies.
And Col. Nkunika has said Zambia stands to greatly benefit economically once the T-FTA is established because her regional market will be broadened.
He told ZANIS in an interview here that a broader market of one body of the SADC, COMESA and EAC regions will encourage member countries to produce more high quality goods because of the ready and bigger market.
Col. Nkunika explained that Zambia should now diversify her agricultural production to ensure that the yawning market in Angola, Mozambique and Democratic Republic of Congo can be supplied with agricultural produce.
“There is no point in restricting the market for your own produce. You know that we have a limitless market in the Congo (DRC), a limitless market in Angola, a limitless market in Mozambique just to mention a few,” he said.
The High Commissioner added that Zambia can easily export agricultural and other products to these markets thereby making her citizens and companies rich.
He said there are over 500 million in the SADC, COMESA and EAC region which Zambia must supply with goods.
He further said Zambia should now aim at intensifying production in various sectors and add value to these products in order to export finished goods that will fetch more money.
Mr. Kunda will this afternoon join over 20 Heads of State and Government that will attend the summit on the establishment of a Trilateral Free Trade Agreement (T-FTA) among the three regional economic groupings.
The first tripartite summit was held in Uganda in October of 2008 in pursuit of broader objectives of the African Union (AU) to accelerate economic integration of the continent.
At this first summit, it was agreed that a Free Trade Area (FTA) encompassing members states of the three regional economic communities be established with an ultimate goal of creating a single Customs Union.
The aim of this economic integration is to achieve economic growth, reduce poverty, and attain sustainable economic development.
A total of 26 countries make up the membership of the SADC, COMESA and EAC summit with a combined population of about 527 million people and a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of US$624 billion, translating into an average GDP per capita of US$1,184.
The second SADC, COMESA and EAC summit is expected to close tomorrow
ZANIS
Stakeholders to the 10th Africa Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum which officially closed in Zambia’s capital city, Lusaka have called on African countries to expedite regulatory and policy reforms that foster private sector development, encourage domestic and foreign direct investment.
The Stakeholders from the US and 37 eligible African member countries also urged the US private sector to invest in Sub Sahara African (SSA) countries, and to help create demand in the US- African products .
This is contained in a Communique issued by the Civil Society Forum to the 10th AGOA Ministerial Forum and delivered to Journalists by Commerce Permanent Secretary Buleti Nsemukila shortly after the official closing of the high level meeting at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka yesterday
ZANIS reports that the stakeholders called on SSA governments to reform their investment polices to encourage both domestic and foreign direct investment through public private partnerships and manufacturing plants in Africa.
The Communique further said AGOA Countries called for the diversification of Imports under the initiative from eligible
countries to include products by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from various sectors.
Meanwhile, The Civil Society Forum has further recommended to the United States to facilitate a frame work under AGOA for empowerment of young African business professionals and entrepreneurs through entrepreneurship, skills development, Knowledge exchange mentorship and internship progrmmes .
They called on SSA governments to undertake assessment regarding trade and gender , specifically women and gender to provide support to women through Skill enhancement and access to finance adding that this will ensure that opportunities for women in trade are maximised.
They further called upon United States government to consider extending the third Country Fabric provision from 2012 to 2015 and the AGOA provisions beyond the current dead line.
The forum also applauded the US administration ‘s recent commitment to working with the Us congress on extending the third fabric provision to 2015 and urged the Us to extend both AGOA dead line and the third fabric countries provision to 2025.
The 10th AGOA forum which closed today brought together civil society, private sector, young professionals and entrepreneurs who are important to the sustainability of Sub-Africa’s development process.
Zambia and the US governments were also commended for facilitating the process.
ZANIS
National Housing Authority (NHA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tagos Group of Companies, a US
based company for the construction of 1000 housing units.
The signed MoU will result in the construction of a thousand housing units in Copperbelt and Lusaka provinces at an undisclosed amount of money.
ZANIS reports that NHA Chief Executive Officer Elias Mpondela expressed happiness at the development and thanked the American based company for investing in Zambia.
Mr Mpondela said Zambia has a housing deficit of about two million houses and that the construction of a 1000 housing units will go a long way in cushioning that deficit.
He told journalists shortly after signing the MoU at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka today on the sidelines of AGOA that Government through NHA is committed to providing descent shelter for its citizenry.
Mr Mpondela said government will therefore engage all stakeholders both local and foreign for the provision of affordable and descent shelter for its people.
He stated that the construction of the housing units is expected to commence by August this year. And Tagos Group Chairman Milton Scot said funds are already available for the project that seeks to provide housing mostly for the marginallised in society.
Mr Scot said US companies will continue to invest in Zambia as long as there is transparency and good governance.
ZANIS
Visiting United States (US) Secretary of State Hilary Clinton has left Zambia after winding up her schedule in the country where she also addressed the 10th Africa Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum which officially closed yesterday.
The plane carrying Mrs. Clinton took off at the Lusaka International Airport at 14-30 hours local time. She has gone to Tanzania on other official duties.
ZANIS reports that the former first Lady was seen off at the airport by Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande, Tourism and Natural Resources Minister Catherine Namugala, US Ambassador to Zambia Mark Storella and senior government officials from the two governments.
Later in the evening, Mrs. Clinton who arrived yesterday (Friday), in the country private talks with President Rupiah Banda at State House where a dinner was also hosted in her honour.
Today, the US Secretary of State graced the official launch of the Zambia-American Chamber of Commerce at Intercontinental Hotel.
Mrs Clinton also handed over a state of art Pediatric Centre of Excellence at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) to President Banda who received the facility on behalf of the Zambian Government.
Shortly after the handover ceremony, she held private talks with two major opposition political party leaders; Michael Sata and Hakainde Hichilema of the Patriotic Front (PF) and United Party for National Development (UPND) respectively on this year’s elections.
While in Zambia, the United States (US) Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has bemoaned the low level of economic cooperation, integration and trade among African countries saying this was an obstacle to sustainable growth on the continent.
Mrs Clinton noted that the benefits of economic integration were well known which included reducing food insecurity by allowing agricultural goods to move efficiently to the places where they are needed and landlocked countries have access to ports and habours.
ZANIS reports that officially closing the 10th Africa Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka yesterday, She added that other benefits of economic integration was that African companies were allowed to tap into a very promising new market.
Addressing more than 3 000 delegates from US and 37 eligible African countries, the US Secretary of State said there was less trade within the Sub Saharan Africa than within any other region of the World and attributed this to partly improving Africa’s infrastructure stressing that the limiting factor was not roads but people.
‘’It is partly a matter of improving Africa’s infrastructure. But the most important limiting factor isn’t roads. It’s people.’’She said.
[pullquote]‘’It is partly a matter of improving Africa’s infrastructure. But the most important limiting factor isn’t roads. It’s people.’’She said.[/pullquote]
Mrs Clinton who is also former First Lady cited a number of problems to economic integration noting that trade officials wanted to protect their home-grown industries with Government leaders of smaller countries concerned about larger ones gaining too much influence among others.
She further stated that while these problems were not unique to Africa, they had a powerful and lasting impact and emphasised that it was up to leaders in the Sub Saharan region to decide whether they wanted economic integration.
‘’They will have to take on entrenched interests and respond to concerns about new competition, while making clear to their constituents how they will benefit from expanded regional trade,’’She said.
Host, Commerce Trade and Industry Minister Felix Mutati was present.
In another development, the US Secretary of State hailed women for their significant contribution towards African economies and the rest of the world.
Mrs Clinton noted that evidence showed that small and medium-sized enterprises run by women were major drivers of economic growth adding that when a woman prospered she reinvested her earnings in her family and that the positive effects rippled throughout the entire community.
She further said there was need to help more women connect to the global economy adding that no country could survive when half of its people are left behind.
However, Mrs Clinton observed that cultural traditions continued to make it difficult for a woman to start a business as they discouraged her from handling money or managing employees.
The AGOA Forum was held under the theme: ‘’Enhanced Trade Through Increased Competitiveness, Value Addition and Deeper Regional Integration.’’
ZANIS
Zesco United this evening chase their Caf Confederation Cup dream when they face MAS of Morocco in the historic city of Fez this evening.
The game will kick off at 21:00 hours Zambian time with Zesco leading 1-0 from the first leg played on May 28 at the Trade Fair Grounds in Ndola.
Fighton Simukonda’s sides need only a draw to advance to the group stage of the competition that kicks off on July 15 and make some history to become the first Zambian club to eliminate an Arab team at the pre-group phase of African club competition.
Zesco will also be looking to keep Zambian clubs record in Caf club competition intact from the last two season by reaching the group phase for the third successive time after setting the tread in the Caf Champions League in 2009 and Zanaco followed that up last season in the Confederation Cup.
And striker Jackson Mwanza who was a big culprit in first leg that Zesco dominated missing three clear chances must show more commitment in Fez.
Midfielder Potipher Zulu whose profile is on the rise after years of being under the radar at National Assembly will be Zesco’s key player again today.
Meanwhile, defender Billy Mwanza returns to Morocco for the first time in Caf club competition since 2003 and will be hoping it won’t be a disappointing outing this time around.
Mwanza’s last trip to Morocco nine years ago with his former club Power Dynamos saw the latter bow out of the old Caf Cup Winners Cup when they lost on away goals rule to defending champions Wydad Casablanca after winning 2-1 in the first leg in Kitwe.
Meanwhile, MAS coach Rachid Taoussi welcomes back midfielder Mohamed Chihani including defenders Moustapha Lamrani and Mustapha Mrani.
The trio missed the first leg match due to 2012 Africa Cup qualifying duty with Morocco.
WORKERS at Mwamona Engineering Enterprises, a Kitwe-based company owned by Patriotic Front (PF) Roan member of Parliament Chishimba Kambwili, have accused their employer of victimisation and illegal dismissal.
The workers have complained that management has allegedly effected a 35 percent salary deduction while some of the workers have been dismissed without following procedure.
Mr Kambwili said he owns the company and confirmed that management has fired some workers for allegedly staging an illegal strike.
But some of the workers said in Kitwe yesterday that Mr Kambwili’s company is allegedly abusing their rights and called on Government to intervene.
Their spokesperson, Anthony Mwila, said some workers have been fired for allegedly opposing management decision to effect a 35 percent salary deduction.
“We reported the matter to the labour office in Kitwe and Mr Kambwili and his partners were summoned. It is unfair that the man who talks ill of Chinese investment in Zambia can today treat his fellow Zambians so badly.
“Our colleagues have been fired after they opposed the deductions from their salaries. We are appealing to Government to address this injustice,” Mr Mwila said.
He said the workers are demanding that management pays them the money it has been deducting from their salaries for three months.
“We cannot believe that a man who strongly condemns Chinese investment in Zambia can treat us like this.
These are the same politicians vying to take over government. We are disappointed with Mr Kambwili because he is supposed to protect workers,” he said.
Mr Mwila accused the management of Mwamona Engineering Enterprises of being insensitive to the plight of the workers.
But Mr Kambwili said some workers were fired after they went on an illegal strike.
“I have eight companies, but I don’t run them on a daily basis. They are independent. They have their own managers. Ask those workers if they have seen me in Mwamona Engineering Enterprises premises. I don’t go there because there are people who run the compnaies on a daily basis. My main interest is dividends at the end of the year,” he said.
Mr Kambwili urged the workers to follow procedure when airing their grievances and referred queries to the Mwamona Engineering Enterprises management.
GOVERNMENT has announced that the country has a surplus of 1.6 million metric tonnes of maize recorded from the past two bumper harvests.
Minister of Agriculture and Co-operatives Eustarckio Kazonga says the surplus has been recorded from both the 2.7 million metric tonnes harvest of the 2009/2010 season and the three million metric tonnes recorded this year.
And Dr Kazonga told Parliament yesterday that over K1.2 trillion was given to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) in the 2010 harvest season to buy maize.
The minister added that FRA also borrowed K246 billion from financial lending institutions in the same year.
Dr Kazonga was responding to a question from Gwembe member of Parliament Brian Ntundu, who wanted to know how much money Government released to FRA to buy maize from the 2010 harvest
ZNBC
THE Ministry of Health has launched new fixed drug combinations (FDCs) for the treatment of HIV and AIDS.
Minister of Health Kapembwa Simbao said at the launch of the medicines at Southern Sun Ridgeway Hotel on Thursday that the new combinations will reduce the drug burden of people on antiretroviral treatment.
Mr Simbao said in a speech read for him by his Deputy Minister, Christopher Kalila, the ministry has launched the combinations to make them accessible to the general public because only few individuals have been accessing them in private health institutions.
“I am here to launch the new fixed drug combinations to improve the equity of access to antiretroviral drugs in the public sector. I am aware that some of these fixed drugs are available in the private sector, but only for the minority of Zambians who seek healthcare services in these facilities,” Mr Simbao said.
He said the distribution of the drugs, which are stocked at Medical Stores, has started and is being conducted through the ministry’s normal distribution channels.
Mr Simbao said the new drug combinations for children are: Zidovudine + Lamivudine + Niverapine; Zidovudine + Lamivudine, and Abacavir + Lamivudine.
He said adults will now have to take only one pill once a day and that the combination of the pill is Efaverenz + Truvada or Atripla.
Mr Simbao said his ministry is currently treating 344,000 people, who are receiving antiretroviral therapy for HIV, of which 26,000 are children representing eight percent of the people on treatment.
He said there is an imbalance in healthcare services between those being given to adults and those to children, and that Government is working hard to address the situation.
Mr Simbao said the national target is that 10 percent of the people receiving antiretroviral treatment should be children.
He said the new fixed drug combinations will be beneficial to both adult and child patients because it will simplify regimens.
Mr Simbao said simplified regimens will encourage adherence to treatment, which is vital in delaying AIDS.
He said the new combinations are easier to break apart for correct dosage for younger children, and can be dissolved in milk or clean water for easier administration to infants.
Mr Simbao said the drugs are also easier to store as they do not need stringent storage conditions like syrups, which have shorter shelf life resulting in a lot of wastage through expiry.
He said the launch of the drugs will help Government save resources in terms of shipping, transportation and storage as they are less bulky and heavy, compared to single drug formulations and syrups.
Mr Simbao said the ministry’s old antiretroviral formulary will still continue to stock some single drug formulations and syrups for patients who may require them in their regimen.
World Health Organisation country director OlusegunBabaniyi said it is important that the public is sensitised on the need to adhere to taking the drugs.
Ministry of Health director for clinical care and diagnostic services Gardner Siakantu said the launch of the drug combinations is a milestone in the delivery of antiretroviral services to both children and adults in the country.
Zambia Paediatric Association (ZPA) president Nanthalile Mugala said her association is happy that prescription of antiretroviral drugs has been made easier for paediatric doctors.
Dr Mugala said the association is especially happy with the attention children are getting in antiretroviral treatment matters.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
© Lusaka Times
