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Tourism, Environment and Nature Resources minister Catherine Namugala says government is worried of the high levels of deforestation in the country.
Ms. Namugala said it was for this reason that government has put in place legislative measures to incorporate communities in the fight against deforestation in the country.
She said that it was paramount for every Zambian to plant trees in the country as a measure of mitigating the challenges of deforestation the country has continued to face.
The minister said it was in this manner among others that government was keen to see to it that the issue of deforestation is given the urgency it deserves.
The Tourism Minister said this yesterday to mark the World Environment Day which falls tomorrow that the levels of deforestation was a matter of concern which needs urgent attention.
This years World Environment Day is being cerebrated under the theme” Trees for people.” Zambia and other countries world over depend largely on forest to support people’s livelihood.
Ms. Namugala said forests plays a very important role in peoples lives saying it is everyone responsibility to ensure that trees are preserved for the benefit of all mankind.
Police in Kalomo are investigating circumstances in which a 40 year old man was brutally murdered and dumped in shrubs nearby the district hospital mortuary early this week.
Police sources in Kalomo confirmed the development to ZANIS saying passersby found Nemiah Mudenda’s decomposed body on Thursday in the nearby Magrimond compound before the matter was reported to Police.
The deceased who was aged 40 years and has since been buried.
His relatives said he hailed from Siamatendu village in chief Siachitema area.
Police suspect foul play and investigations have been instituted over the matter.
“The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters…”
(Proverbs 18:4, NIV)
TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria
All over the world, there are people who are lonely, they’re hurting, they’ve been through disappointments; they’ve suffered heartache and pain. As believers, God has given us something to offer them. We have life-giving, refreshing water in us. With our words, we can bring healing. With our words, we can lift them out of depression. With our words, we can tell them, “You’re beautiful. You’re amazing. You’re talented. God has a bright future in front of you.” Those life-giving words will break the chains of depression. They will break the chains of low self-esteem. You can help set people free from the strongholds that are keeping them back. You may not know all that is happening, but God can take one compliment, one encouraging word, and use that to begin the healing process and set that person on a brand new course. And when you help break the chains off of others, any chains that you might have will be broken off, too!
Today, choose to speak encouragement. Choose to speak life. Tell others what they can become, give compliments, and live life as a healer. Pour out that life-giving water with your words and watch it come back to you in abundance!
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Heavenly Father, thank You for allowing Your healing waters to flow through me by your precious Son, Jesus. I choose to pour out life onto others and refresh them with life-giving words. Direct my words, order my steps, and let everything I do glorify You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Zambia went top of Group C after a convincing 3-0 home win over Mozambique at Nchanga Stadium in Chingola on Saturday in the two sides’ 2012 Africa Cup qualifier.
The Zambia players wore black arm bands in honor of former Zambia and Nchanga Rangers international Willie Phiri who died on Thursday in Chingola.
Zambia’s win ended a three match winless drought at Nchanga stretching back 10 years where Zambia recorded three successive draws against Namibia, Angola and Nigeria between 2001 and 2002 in World and Africa Cup qualifiers.
The first half finished scoreless on Saturday in which the star of the show was Zambia’s prodigal son Collins Mbesuma of Golden Arrows in South Africa who has found favor under Dario Bonetti.
Mbesuma blasted a thunderbolt free-kick in the 8th minute but it was parried on the right post by Mozambique goalkeeper Kapango.
Six minutes later, Mbesuma’s cross found Emanuel Mayuka but the striker from Young Boys in Switzerland failed to convert in front of an inviting goal.
On 20 minutes, Christopher Katongo threaded a pass through to Mbesuma but the Gold Arrows striker shot from outside the box.
Zambia survived a scare in the 27th minute from Mozambique striker Fransico Muchanga’s whose shot was kept out by Kennedy Mweene
Two minutes after the half-hour mark Christopher Katongo was denied the opening goal after referee Solomon Wokoma of Nigeria ruled it out for offside.
Seven minutes before the break, Mayuka exchanged a neat one-two with Mbesuma but the former shot flashed across the face of goal.
The floodgates for Zambia in the second half opened as early as the 48th minute with Katongo scoring his first of two goals.
Katongo rifled in the opener from the near right post from a flicked assist off the head of Mbesuma.
Four minutes later, Pelembe almost equalized but blasted his shot high and over from close-range.
However, Kapango was the busier of the two goalkeepers denying Rainford Kalaba from a 62nd minute’s free-kick before Katongo wrapped up his brace in the in the 68th.
Mbeusma was rewarded for his hard work good on the day with Zambia’s third after robbing a poorly cleared ball before saluting the crowed on his knees with arms stretched wide.
Zambia move to nine points from four games, two more than Libya who could return to the top of the table on Sunday away to bottom place Comoros.
Mozambique stay put in third place on four points from four matches played.
Zambia’s next game will be away to Comoros during the weekend of September 2-4 while Mozambique travel to Libya hoping to keep their now slim qualifying dreams alive.
Zambia Development Agency ( ZDA ) Director of Investment Promotions and Privatisations, Muhabi Lungu has resigned his position to join politics.
Mr. Lungu, once a staunch United National Independence Party (UNIP) stalwart today said he was quiting his position to join politics adding that he will campaign for President Rupiah Banda .
And Youths for Continuity with President Rupiah Banda have reaffirmed their support for President Rupiah Banda and the ruling MMD in this year’s elections.
Addressing Journalists in Lusaka today, Mr. Lungu said he will contest on the ruling party ticket the Lusaka Central Seat held by the opposition Patriotic Front Parliamentarian Guy Scot
dismissed calls by some politicians for change of government as are they based on vengeance and personal vendettas those in government.
He explained that causes that inspire revolutions are not driven by hatred but by higher ideals, principles and values.
Mr. Lungu who is also Home Affairs Minister, Mkhondo Lungu’s first born son reiterated that President Banda has performed exceedingly well warranting a new five year mandate.
In attendance were veteran politician and MMD chief wing, Vernon Mwaanga, former finance minister in the UNIP government, Rabson Choongo and Livestock and Fisheries Development Minister, Bradford Machila.
Others were MMD National Deputy National Secretary, Chembe Nyangu, Finance and National Planning Minister, Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, Attorney General, Abyud Shonga and immediate past LAZ president Stephen Lungu.
Students from tertiary institutions, Current and former senior government officials
And at the same function, Youths for Continuity with President Rupiah Banda Coordinator, Mwansa Kapumpwe said his group has turned the government’s current economic growth and national development into an election issue.
Mr. Kapumpwe said the group realized that most youths in the country lacked information on a number of national issues hence the need to embark on awareness programmes using various community radio stations.
He explained that the group has since partnered the MMD’s national youth led by Moses Muteteka to engage the young people in understanding some of their challenges such as unemployment and education.
Concerned residents of Nyawa area in Kazungula District have expressed their concern at the on going trend of political cadres who are allegedly going round in the area collecting details of voters’ cards.
This came to light yesterday when a ZANIS crew was in the area to publicize the on going inspection of voter registration exercise that commenced on Monday this week accross the country.
Concerned residents in the area expressed disappointments in the manner in which the suspected political party cadres are convincing the registered voters to surrender their voters’ cards to them.
They questioned the motive behind the exercise saying it may be one way of disenfranchising them ahead of this year’s tripartite elections.
And two teachers from Nyawa Basic School confirmed the development in separate interviews with ZANIS yesterday.
Mr. Owen Mooya suggested that the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) should have deployed Voter Education Facilitators prior to the voter register verification exercise so that the the electorate could be educated on various issues.
He said the people who are surrendering their voters’ cards are doing that out of ignorance saying the culprits behind that are using sweet talk in order to convince them to do so.
Meanwhile, one of the registered voters in the area has complained to the officers stationed at Nyawa central polling centre that some people’s voters’ cards have been ‘ confisticated ‘by the named culprits hence making it difficult to verify their details in the voter register.
When contacted for a comment, Chief Nyawa confirmed receiving the report and described the happenings as politically motivated.
The Chief told ZANIS that he would soon make a follow up on the matter.
Nansongwa and Chilli areas in the Nyawa Chiefdom are some of the places where such reports have been happening.
A University of Zambia (UNZA) thrid year student has died on the spot after being ran over by a speeding vehicle on Great East Road. Manda Hill Police Post Officer in Charge Mubita confirmed the accident to ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday saying the accident happened on Thursday night at the UNZA footbridge along Great East Road.
Mrs Mubita identified the deceased as Gwezani Thole, a third year student in the School of Education who was ran over by a mark II registration number AAX 63 and that the accident occured about 23 hours.
She said one passenger named Richard Witima who was on the vehicle that hit the student, sustained bruises on his hands and head, and was rushed to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH).
Mrs Mubital also disclosed that another passenger identified as Luyando Mulwanda has since been detained at Northmead Police Post to assist Police with investigations.
The driver of the vehicle has since bolted and police have launched a manhunt. Police said the deceased is believed to have been coming from a drinking spree in Kalundu residential area.
Tourists enjoying a safari in Luangwa national park.
Zambia Tourism Board (ZTB) has launched a holiday loan facility which it has said is aimed at boosting the domestic tourism.
The Tourism Board has said that the involvement of local people as tourists will enhance growth and sustainability of the tourism sector.
ZTB managing director Felix Chaila said in Kitwe during the launch of the holiday loan package that domestic tourism has the potential to contribute effectively to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) .
“Tourism is a sustainable resource which local people can explore to increase productivity as it would enable them to refresh after taking time off on holiday with their families,” Mr.Chaila said.
He noted that despite Zambia being endowed with diverse tourism attraction sites local people do not have an opportunity to go on holiday as compared to foreign tourists because of financial constraints.
Mr. Chaila stated that this situation prompted ZTB to partner with local and international financial institutions to introduce the holiday loan package to enable local people who are in employment and have an opportunity to go on holiday.
“This way the employers and their workers will be engaged to actively participate in the tourism sector and also promote domestic tourism through local work force, ” He said .
ZTB chairperson Timothy Mushibwe said the involvement of local people as tourists will enhance growth and sustainability of the tourism sector.
Mr. Mushibwe said the sector needs full participation of the Zambians as key players through service provision such as catering and travel agency institutions.
” The Tourism Board would like to provide an equal opportunity to the local tourists and partner with them so that an economic value can be realized, ” He said.
Mr. Mushibwe said the response from local and international banks on the loan package has been overwhelming and hoped other banks can come on board to promote local tourism.
The Ministry of Health has announced that the
first round of Child health week will be held from 20th to 25th June
2011.
Ministry of health Spkesperson Kamoto Mbewe said all logistics
including vaccines,drugs and other supplies are available and are
being distributed.
Dr. Mbewe explained that activities during the child health week will
include Provision of Vitamin A, deworming,immunisations for
measles,DPT,BCG,Polio and tetanus toxoid and family planning services,
ZANIS reports that he disclosed that other activities will include
paediatric HIV counselling and testing and screening for severe acute
malnutrition in selected districts as well as sensitisation on
utilisation of mosquito nets and malaria case management.
Dr Mbewe urged parents and guardians to ensure children under five
received the service as well as to continue taking their children
under the age of five to health facilities as these immunisations were
offered rountinely.
Speaking during a press breifing in Lusaka today, Dr. Mbewe further noted that
measles cases have continued to increase in Eastern Province but were
under control in Northern and Luapula Provinces.
He stated that 15 % of children immunised proved to be restant that was
why parents needed to keep taking their children for immunisation.
Meanwhile,the Ministry of Health has this April recruited 502 health workers.
Dr Mbewe said recruitment was based on the December 2010 graduates and
have since filled existing funded and vacant positions.
He said of the recruited were 73 junior doctors who have since been
posted to Livingstone,Ndola, Kitwe and UTH, 265 enrolled and
registered nurses, 20 clinical officers while 144 include
paramedics,pharmacists and biomedical scientists.
He added that those who had been left out would be recruited in June under the
K52 billion budgeted for 2011 meant to recruit 1,753 health workers.
Dr. Mbewe said the amount would also cater for health workers who would be
promoted and non medical health workers.
He further stated that the June 2010 graduates would be recruiited once official
results were out and the register with relevant professional and
regulatory bodies around made available around September and October
this year.
Dr. Mbewe also announced that all essential drugs were adequately
stocked in the country up to September and the procurment process for
the period beyond September was on schedule.
He explained that the Board for Pharmaceutical Regulatory Authority (PRA )
had been put in place and would launch the quality assurance lab under
PRA which would be used in the detection of counterfeit drugs.
He said that procurement of third line ARV drugs was underway and
that contracts have been signed to cover treatment of patients
requiring the treatment and would be received soon.
VICE-PRESIDENT George Kunda yesterday told Parliament that the homosexual pictures distributed by the MMD delegation in Northern province recently was meant to sensitize people on the illegality of Homosexuality in Zambia.
Mr Kunda said during the ‘Vice-President’s question time’ that a leader of an opposition party has been promoting homosexuality and urged all Zambians to reject this because Zambia is a Christian nation.
Mr Kunda said this in response to a question from Lukashya MP Elfreda Mwamba (PF) who wanted to know why an MMD delegation which recently visited Northern Province was distributing pictures of an “obscene nature” as it showed two men in a compromising situation.
The Vice-President said the reason the pictures were being circulated was to sensitise the people. He said the laws of Zambia do not support homosexuality, which is illegal.
Kunda also told Parliament that the MMD government will take the Constitution Bill back to Parliament soon after winning the 2011 tripartite elections. Mr Kunda said that the Draft Constitution rejected by Parliament has many good clauses when responding to Chongwe MP Sylvia Masebo (MMD), who wanted to know what would happen to the Constitution-making process after the rejection of the Mung’omba Draft.
“We will bring back the Constitution when we win elections this year. There are a number of good clauses that were lost in that document and we will make sure that we bring it back,” Mr Kunda said.
Mr Kunda further said that the newly created districts of Ikelenge and Mafinga would not have their own constituencies. He said the Mung’omba Draft, had it been adopted by Parliament would have provided for more constituencies to accommodate new districts.
He was answering a question from Zambezi West MP Charles Kakoma (UPND), who wanted to know whether the new districts would have their own Constituencies like all other districts.
[pullquote]“We will bring back the Constitution when we win elections this year. There are a number of good clauses that were lost in that document and we will make sure that we bring it back,” Mr Kunda said.[/pullquote]
“Some members of this House sabotaged the Constitution-making process by voting against the Draft Constitution as recommended by the National Constitutional Conference (NCC). We shot ourselves in the foot by rejecting that draft, and we lost a lot of new clauses including some that would have promoted women’s rights,” he said.
And Mr Kunda has reiterated that the kind of parallel vote tabulation (PVT) that some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) want to conduct during the forthcoming elections is illegal.
He, however, said that this does not stop political parties from collecting results as they come in as long as they do not release them to the public because doing so may mislead some people and cause chaos.
Mr Kunda was answering a question from Mandevu MP Jean Kapata (PF) who wanted the Vice-President to state Government’s position on PVT.
On roads, the Vice-President told Parliament that the money government is using to improve the infrastructure throughout the country has been budgeted for.
This was in response to a question from Luena MP Charles Milupi (ADD) who asked where Government is getting funding for road works.
Mr Kunda said the funding is perfectly legal, adding that supplementary budgets are requested for when actual allocations are exhausted.
PRESIDENT Banda has invited the private sector to consider investing in maize storage infrastructure following increased production in the country’s agriculturalsector.
Mr Banda said it is important to address the challenge of grain storage Zambia is facing by constructing and rehabilitating more silos and storage sheds in strategic locations of the country.
“Given the major maize harvest the country has recorded, my government realises the need to increase national storage capacity of agricultural inputs and products,” Mr Banda said.
Speaking at the official opening of the 54th Copperbelt Mining, Agricultural and Commercial Show, President Banda said Government is already undertaking the rehabilitation of storage facilities in selected parts of the country.
“Given that this is an enormous financial undertaking which requires long term planning, I invite the private sector to consider investing in storage infrastructure,” Mr Banda said.
And the President also said Government has embarked on the development and commercialisation of farm blocks to make more land available for investment.
The move will promote public private partnership aimed at enhancing economic diversification and growth.
The President said he was particularly happy that work in Nansanga farm block in Serenje is progressing well with prospective developers being indentified for investment.
Mr Banda also said Government has allocated K1 billion in this year’s national budget for the development of Luswishi farm block on the Copperbelt Province. He said the money will go towards the construction of roads and bridges in the farm block.
“It is envisaged that once this farm block is fully developed and operational, agriculture production will flourish in the province,” Mr Banda said.
The President said because of the good policies in the agricultural sector, Zambia has yet again produced the highest quantity of maize ever recorded in the country.
Zambia has produced 3,020,380 metric tonnes of maize this year compared to 2,795,483 metric tonnes produced in 2010.
“This represents an increase of eight percent. You will agree with me that this achievement is a clear testimony that our agriculture policies and programmes are succeeding and it is not only with maize that we have recorded a surplus. We also have more wheat, soya beans and other crops which have also performed above expectation,” Mr Banda said.
Meanwhile, Mr Banda has called on Zambians to take note of the fact that the country is emerging from economic doldrums and needs peace and unity to develop, JERRY MUNTHALI reports.
Mr Banda said during a luncheon hosted for him by the Lumwana Mining Company in Kitwe yesterday that Zambians should maintain peace and respect for each other as the nation goes to the polls later this year.
“Zambians must take note of the fact that our country is emerging from the doldrums, from its economic problems. We need to do more to move forward, we need peace and unity.
“As we go to the poll, we need to maintain respect and peace and allow Zambians to elect leaders of their choice. Our country must move forward in unity,” Mr Banda said.
He thanked the mining companies for working hard to contribute to the country’s economic development.
Lumwana Mining Company Limited managing director Adam Wright said his company joined the Chamber of Mines of Zambia because it recognises the importance of having a united and robust mining industry.
Mr Wright said Lumwana Mining Company is poised to increase production following the acquisition of Equinox Minerals by Barrick Gold.
Parliament heard yesterday that government spent over K2 billion on the construction of late Republican president Levy Mwanawasa’s mausoleum and grave.
Works and Supply Minister Gabriel Namulambe told Parliament that a sum total of the project was K2,876,147,959.20.
Mr Namulambe explained that government had engaged a construction firm called Messrs Yangts Jiang Enterprise Limited of Lusaka to construct the grave of the mausoleum of late Dr.Mwananwasa.
He revealed that the project was initially set to be completed by 20 April, 2011 but that could not be attained due to erratic funding.
Mr. Namulambe said the mausoleum would be expected to be completed on 20th July, this year.
He was responding to a question by Kanchibiya Patriotic Front (PF) Member of Parliament (MP) Davies Mwango who wanted to know which company has been contracted to construct the mausoleum for the late third republican president.
The parliamentarian also wanted to know the exact cost of the project and when it was due to be completed.
And the Works and Supply minister has maintained that the rehabilitation of roads across the country is on-going and as such, government has put in place a master plan to improve the road infrastructure.
Mr. Namulambe was responding to a question by Kanyama PF MP Colonel Gerry Chanda who wanted to know when the
Government will come up with a master plan to rehabilitate all the damaged bituminous roads province by province.
Col. Chanda also wanted to know how much such an exercise would cost and what the time-frame for undertaking the
rehabilitation of the roads.
THE Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) says the Director of Public Prosecutions enjoys Constitutional discretion to decide on which cases to prosecute or discontinue.
LAZ president Musa Mwenye said yesterday that DPP Chalwe Mchenga exercised his constitutional discretion when he decided not to appeal against the acquittal of former President Chiluba.
“The DPP enjoys Constitutional protection and independence and the Constitution is very clear on that. He exercises discretion whether to appeal or not,” Mr Mwenye said when he featured on Radio Phoenix’s Let The People Talk programme.
He said even the courts were perfectly right when they ruled that the DPP cannot be compelled to appeal against Dr Chiluba’s case.
He said Mr Mchenga is perfectly within his right to refuse to step down in the wake of public pressure for him to do so and that people should respect that right.
Mr Mwenye said LAZ cannot sanction the DPP because of the Constitutional nature of his office.
“As far as LAZ is concerned, the DPP is untouchable by us because State lawyers don’t need to have practising certificates. We can’t punish the DPP because he is a Constitutional office holder and he enjoys Constitutional tenure to that extent,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chief Government Spokesperson Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha dismissed Mr Mwenye’s claims that Constitution making failed because government bulldozed the process.
In an interview yesterday, Gen Shikapwasha said the government never bulldozed the process but was merely taking leadership as expected of any government.
“In any manner of constitution making, the government takes leadership and we were mandated by the people to make a new constitution. So as government, we consulted various stakeholders and others who participated in the process. They were more than those who stayed away,” Gen Shikapwasha said.
On the same programme yesterday, Mr Mwenye blamed the failure of the Constitution-making process on Government.
He alleged that the government ignored advice from key stakeholders and that there was no consensus on the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) Act and the process.
But Gen Shikapwasha said in any Constitution making process, not everyone agrees on everything but the majority takes the day.
He said as a man leading a credible and statutory institution, Mr Mwenye should not blame government because it is clear that the opposition failed the Constitution-making process.
He said government did everything possible to ensure that the country has a new Constitution but the opposition sabotaged the process.
Vision 2011 and Beyond Coalition says it will soon start conducting nationwide opinion polls on Presidential, parliamentary and local government elections.
Vision 2011 and Beyond Coalition Executive Director Patrick Mukosha said the opinion poll will be conducted monthly until elections through mobile cellular phones.
Mr. Mukosha said the opinion polls will be conducted among the three major political parties United Party for National Development (UPND), Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) and Patriotic Front (PF).
He said the opinion polls are aimed at monitoring and ascertaining the popularity of political parties and their candidates in all the nine provinces.
“During our preliminary research, we discovered that only three political parties namely MMD,PF , and UPND has representation in all provinces and are the ones claiming to be popular than the other and each one is bubbling with confidence that they will form the next government. It is for this reason that our research was narrowed to these three political parties” he said.
He added that the opinion poll is also aimed at stimulating interest and boost morale among the electorate in the country.
Mr. Mukosha said in a statement to ZANIS in Lusaka today that this will be one way to encourage the spirit of togetherness, co-existence and reduce violence among the general populace.
“We will give the general public a true and fair view of the popularity of the political parties and each aspiring presidential candidate every month leading to the 2011 polls.” He said.
He explained that the research project will help the country in building confidence and credibility in the country’s electoral system.
Mr. Mukosha said the opinion poll exercise have been prepared in a manner that is easy for anyone to participate using the Short Message System (SMS)
Meanwhile, the Vision 2011 and Beyond Coalition Director observed that stakeholders and political players in the electoral process have been compromised.
He said the stakeholders have divided with others supporting the ruling party while some are supporting the opposition.
Mr. Mukosha added that this scenario has resulted in the country having uneven level political playing field.
Movement for Multi Party Democracy (MMD) Acting National Secretary, has refuted claims by some members within the party that President Rupiah Banda has preferred candidates to stand as Parliamentary candidates in the forthcoming elections.
In a press statement released to ZANIS today, Mr. Nyangu said the MMD Secretariat has received disturbing reports among senior party members
most of whom are parliamentarians, spreading rumours that the President has preferred candidates to stand as MPs.
Mr. Nyangu said the claims were baseless and unfounded and that the party had reaffirmed the President’s statements in the press briefing
that took place recently.
He said the party would stand by the President’s address to the media who said that the grassroots would decide who should be their parliamentary candidates.
The National Secretary explained that the MMD Secretariat was encouraging all those willing to apply to feel free and lodge in their applications to their respective constituencies without feeling intimidated.
Mr. Nyangu advised the general membership to cooperate with the party leadership and respect each other.
