Join our community of SUBSCRIBERS and be part of the conversation.
To subscribe, simply enter your email address on our website or click the subscribe button below. Don't worry, we respect your privacy and won't spam your inbox. Your information is safe with us.
South African club Golden Arrows have confirmed that they have extended Collins Mbesuma’s contract.
Mbesuma has been on a half-a-season deal with Arrows since January.
According to Kickoff.com, Arrows have handed the Zambia striker a two-year deal.
The deal comes after a fruitful last five months at Arrows in which he scored 11 goals in over 20 games following a six-month period of limbo for the striker.
This after South African side Moroka Swallows had fired him for indiscipline in July last year.
Mbesuma is part of Dario Bonetti’s team that will face Mozambique in an Africa Cup Group C qualifier at Nchanga Stadium in Chingola on June 4.
Five-man Zambia finally got their training camp in Kitwe underway on Wednesday albeit late after 16:00 at Arthur Davies Stadium.
Zambia are in camp preparing for their 2012 Africa Cup Group C qualifier against Mozambique to be played at Nchanga Stadium in Chingola on June 4.
The team held its first workout at Arthur Davies after the full-days training session was earlier concealed after stadium owners Power Dynamos said Zambia were only booked to train there starting next Monday.
Zambia coach Dario Bonetti took the team for a workout that comprised of two foreign-based and three home-based players out of the 27 players called up for the Mozambique clash.
At training was Christopher Katongo of Xanthi in Greece, defenders Thomas Nyirenda and Dennis banda of Konkola Blades and Green Buffaloes respectively.
Others are defender Francis Kasonde of Al Hadez in Saudi Arabia and Buffaloes midfielder Allan Mukuka.
South African-based player’s goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene of Free State Stars and defender Kampamba Chintu of Bidvest Wits are expected tomorrow.
A freedom fighter Henry Nkonde Kalulu has bemoaned government’s lack of commitment to take care of those who labored for the country’s independence from the British colonials in 1964.
Mr. Kalulu who has traveled from Chinsali district in Northern Province to attend the African freedom Day in Lusaka today told QFM in an interview that government has not done enough to ensure the welfare of freedom fighters in the country.
He says a number of people who fought liberation struggles for Zambia have died without recognition from government adding that this trend should come to an end.
Mr. Kalulu who was blocked from meeting Republican President Rupiah Banda at the freedom statue by security personnel says he is seeking an audience with the President to explain the plight of freedom fighters in the country.
The 76 years old freedom fighter says leaders should recognize and respect all those who fought for the independence of Zambia.
[ QFM ]
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has reinforced his commitment to building a better future for all Zambians, particularly young people, by providing a stable economy and strengthening Zambia’s investment climate.
Mr Banda said in a statement released yesterday by Special Assistant to the president for Press and Public Relations Dickson Jere, to mark Africa Freedom Day that his Government had helped boost employment and training opportunities, especially for young people who were at the heart of Zambia’s future.
He said this year’s theme, “Accelerating youth empowerment for sustainable development”, was appropriate because youths, who formed 68 per cent of Zambia’s population, were important in national development and could not be ignored.
President Banda said young people were an important human resource which should be harnessed if the country was to develop.
He pledged continued youth empowerment, through initiatives such as the Youth Development Fund and Citizens Economic Empowerment Fund which he said eased access to finance for youth entrepreneurs.
“My great hope for Zambia is that we become a country where every single man, woman and child has the opportunity to enjoy a peaceful and happy life, where they can work, learn and, most importantly, for the youth of Zambia, help build on the foundations of tomorrow’s Zambia,” Mr Banda said.
The president, in saluting the ideals of the day, which commemorates the formation of the Organisation of African Unity 48 years ago, said he had worked to bring opportunity to all Zambians.
“Zambia is a role model for all of Africa, a country which, through hard work, commitment and partnership, has developed into a place in which we can all be proud,” he said.
President Banda said Zambia had made huge progress since independence, becoming a country that prized the values of freedom, security and stability for all people.
Zambia’s economy has boomed, supported by his Government’s prioritisation of health and education policies, which had helped cement the country’s position on the world stage.
“On African Freedom Day, I urge all the people of Zambia to come together, regardless of political or social preferences and celebrate the huge achievements our country has made. Our future is in your hands – we will build it together,” he said.
Government has initiated efforts aimed at resolving a wrangle involving four chiefs in the new Ikelenge district of North-Western Province.
Each of the chiefs wants the administrative offices to be located in his chiefdom.
The district has four chiefs namely Nyakaseya, Ikelenge, Kanongesha and Mwinilamba.
Provincial permanent secretary Fabian Mumba said in an interview in Solwezi yesterday he has summoned the four chiefs for an urgent meeting in the neighbouring Mwinilunga district to try and resolve the matter.
“I have asked them to come for a meeting so that they can discuss and agree among themselves where the Boma will be situated,” Mr Mumba said.
He said he has also invited Senior Chief Mujimanjovu and Chief Mumena of the Kaonde people in Solwezi to the meeting.
Mr Mumba said he has asked the two chiefs to help provide leadership in trying to resolve the matter.
Technical officers from the provincial planning unit and Ministry of Lands are also expected to attend the meeting.
Mr Mumba said a number of issues will have to be considered when selecting the site for the district administrative offices, which will include townships and other infrastructure.
He said the district is a sensitive ecological area, and that the environment must be taken into consideration before any development takes place.
The source of the mighty Zambezi River is in Ikelenge district.
Mr Mumba regretted an incident last week in which villagers in Chieftnainess Ikelenge disrupted a meeting of technical officers from the provincial administration, and nearly rioted over their alleged failure to put the Boma in their chiefdom.
[ Zambia Daily mail ]
File:President Banda, flanked by First Lady Thandiwe reads his speech during the opening of Parliament
By Henry Kyambalesa
In a news article entitled “RB Should Be Left to Decide Election Date,” which appeared in the Lusaka Times of 12th May 2011, comrade Ronnie Shikapwasha was quoted as having said that there was nothing wrong with President Rupiah Banda’s delay in announcing the polling date, and that he should be left alone to decide as the President has every right to do so. He was further quoted as having said that those calling for early polls are doing it out of ignorance and are not following the constitution as it states that the country’s leader has the power to announce the election date at whatever time he feels the nation is ready.
Well, I have thus far combed through the 1996 Republican constitution for an Article or Clause which gives President Banda the “constitutional right” to decide on, and announce, the date for the general elections, but have not found any!
For the benefit of those who do not have time to skim through the 1996 Republican constitution, here is a summary of the functions of the Republican president which are stipulated in the constitution:
Article 29(1): The President may, in consultation with Cabinet, at any time, by Proclamation published in the Gazette, declare war.
Article 30(1): The President may, in consultation with Cabinet, at any time, by Proclamation published in the Gazette, declare a State of emergency.
Article 33(1): The President is the Head of State and of the Government, and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Force. (2) The executive power of the Republic of Zambia vests in the President and, subject to the other provisions of this Constitution, shall be exercised by him or her either directly or through officers subordinate to him or her.
Article 44(1): As the Head of the State, the President shall perform with dignity and leadership all acts necessary or expedient for, or reasonably incidental to, the discharge of the executive functions of government subject to the overriding terms of this Constitution and the Laws of Zambia which he or she is constitutionally obliged to protect, administer and execute.
Article 44(2): Without prejudice to the generality of clause (1), the President shall preside over meetings of the Cabinet and shall have the power, subject to this Constitution to —
(a) Dissolve the National Assembly as provided in Article 88; (b) Accredit, receive and recognize ambassadors, and to appoint ambassadors, plenipotentiaries, diplomatic representatives and consuls; (c) Pardon or reprieve offenders, either unconditionally or subject to such conditions as he may consider fit; (d) Negotiate and sign international agreements and to delegate the power to do so; (e) Establish and dissolve such Government Ministries and Departments subject to the approval of the National Assembly; (f) Confer such honors as he considers appropriate on citizens, residents and friends of Zambia in consultation with interested and relevant persons and institutions; and (g) Appoint such persons as are required by this Constitution or any other law to be appointed by him or her.
Article 44(3): Subject to the provisions of this Constitution dealing with assent to laws passed by Parliament and the promulgation and publication of such laws in the Gazette, the President shall have power to —
(a) Sign and promulgate any proclamation which by law he or she is entitled to proclaim as President; and (b) Initiate, in so far as he or she considers it necessary and expedient, laws for submission and consideration by the National Assembly.
Article 45(2): The Vice-President shall be appointed by the President from among the members of the National Assembly.
Article 46(1): There shall be such Ministers as may be appointed by the President.
Article 47(1): The President may appoint such Deputy Ministers as he or she may consider necessary to assist Ministers in the performance of their functions and to exercise or perform on behalf of Ministers such of the Ministers’ functions as the President may authorize in that behalf.
Article 53(1): There shall be a Secretary to the Cabinet whose office shall be a public office and who shall, subject to ratification by the National Assembly, be appointed by the President.
Article 54(1): There shall be an Attorney-General of the Republic who shall, subject to ratification by the National Assembly, be appointed by the President.
Article 55(1): There shall be a Solicitor-General of the Republic whose office shall be a public office and who shall, subject to ratification by the National Assembly, be appointed by the President.
Article 56(1): There shall be a Director of Public Prosecutions and who shall, subject to ratification by the National Assembly, be appointed by the President.
Article 68(1): The President may, at any time after a general election to the National Assembly and before the National Assembly is next dissolved, appoint such number of persons as he or she considers necessary to enhance the representation of the National Assembly as regards special interests or skills, to be nominated members of the National Assembly, so, however, that there are not more than eight such members at any one time.
Article 88(3): The President may at any time summon a meeting of the National Assembly.
Article 90(1): There shall be an Investigator-General of the Republic who shall be appointed by the President in consultation with the Judicial Service Commission and shall be the Chairman of the Commission for Investigations.
Article 95(1): The puisne judges shall, subject to ratification by the National Assembly, be appointed by the President on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission. (2) The Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Industrial Relations Court shall be appointed by the President on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission.
Article 121(1): There shall be an Auditor-General for the Republic whose office shall be a public office and who shall, subject to ratification by the National Assembly, be appointed by the President.
There are, of course, unwritten presidential functions, and functions prescribed in subsidiary pieces of legislation, which the Republican president is expected to perform. But with respect to the decision to set and announce the date for tripartite elections, there is a need for a constitutional proviso providing for a specific day or date for holding general elections, as recommended by the National Constitutional Conference (NCC).
In the absence of such a proviso, the setting and announcement of the date for holding general elections should have been the duty of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), in consultation with an ensemble of leaders of all duly registered political parties.
I do not understand the logic behind the setting and announcement of the date for holding general elections by the Republican president, particularly one whose political party is going to field candidates in the same elections, and one who is presumably going to be a presidential candidate!
The 2nd Republic (between 1972 and 1991) is long gone, when all elective political positions were contested on the UNIP ticket, and when it probably made sense for the Republican president to decide on, and announce, the date for holding general elections. It is high time we shook off some of these old tendencies!
There is also a need for the President to delegate more of his unwritten and legally established functions so that his Ministers can take some of his less-important trips and tasks. As Management gurus would profess, good leaders attain their stipulated goals through the efforts of their subordinates. As such, a leader who spends much of his or her time performing tasks which subordinates are capable of performing is likely to be less effective in discharging his or her duties.
I am often intrigued by what the Holy Bible teaches us on the issue of delegation in Exodus 18:14-22, in which Jethro advised his son-in-law, Moses, as follows:
“Why do you alone sit as judge and all the people stand about you from morning until evening? …. You will surely wear out … select out of all the able men … [and] place these over them, as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. And let them judge the people at all times; and let it be that every major dispute they will bring to you, but every minor dispute they themselves will judge. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you.”
I, of course, prepare this piece of advice knowing very well that “you can never teach an old dog new tricks,” so to speak.
But delegation of part of one’s work to subordinates can be an effective way of ensuring that work is not postponed until a future time. Also, it can enable a leader to identify effective and resourceful subordinates for promotion and/or retention.
The process of delegation involves four basic steps: (a) determining the tasks that can be delegated without giving up one’s responsibility, and which a given subordinate is capable of accomplishing; (b) assigning the tasks to the subordinate; (c) giving the subordinate the necessary authority and support for accomplishing the tasks; and (d) checking periodically on the progress being made by the subordinate.
And to maintain the independence of institutions like the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, appointments of directors or chairpersons to run such institutions should preferably be made by independent commissions without the involvement of the Executive branch of the government.
Also, the independence of Parliament could be partly ensured if the Republican president were to constitute his or her Cabinet from the general public rather than from elected or nominated Members of Parliament.
My fellow Zambians, the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) assumed the reins of power nearly 20 years ago, but the socio-economic conditions facing the majority of citizens have continued to worsen during the 3rd Republic the party has been in power. The healthcare system, for example, cannot meet the basic needs of the majority of citizens; tens of thousands of Grade 7 and Grade 9 students have continued to be spilled onto the streets every year; and so many Zambians have no access to clean water and electricity.
Moreover, a critical shortage of decent public housing has compelled so many of our fellow citizens to live in shanty townships nationwide, public infrastructure and services are still deficient, poverty has reached alarming levels, civil servants are still not adequately compensated for their services, and a lot of civil service retirees cannot get their hard-earned benefits.
Besides, taxes and interest rates are still very high, public news outlets have continued to glorify inept government leaders and to demonize and stigmatize opposition political parties and their leaders, and, among many other socio-economic ills, crime and unemployment are still widespread.
Voters who have the interest of our beloved country and its people at heart, therefore, will need to guard themselves against giving the MMD another term of office later this year. There is really nothing meaningful which the party can do over the next 5 years that will address the backlog of unfulfilled promises.
Young girls who dropping out of School to become mothers
A SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD grade eight school girl has threatened to commit suicide if her school head teacher continues preventing her from getting into an arranged early marriage.
The girl’s parents have also threatened to kill themselves should school authorities and Government officials stop their daughter’s marriage.
The girl, who has since stopped reporting for classes, says she has nothing to do with education, but only interested in getting married.
This was disclosed by North-Western Province child development co-ordinator Peter Kabaso in Solwezi yesterday.
Mr Kabaso said the pupil of Chovwe Basic School has defied the school authorities, insisting that she does not want to be educated but just to get married.
“The child has threatened that she will kill herself if anyone attempts to stop her from her pending marriage. The girl, who is said to be bright at school, is one of the many girls that have fallen out of school for early marriages,” he said.
He said according to investigations by the Child Development Department in Solwezi, the girl’s parents are in the forefront arranging and forcing the girl to get married.
Mr Kabaso said when the parents were summoned by the department and the school administration, they threatened to kill themselves in the head teacher’s office if he insisted that the girl should not get married.
Mr Kabaso said the head teacher is involved in preventing this marriage because the practice is now common at his school.
He said girls are being withdrawn from school and married off by their parents.
Mr Kabaso urged chiefs and other stakeholders to help fight early marriages.
He said Government has intensified the fight against early marriages, mostly in rural areas.
Mr Kabaso said his department is facing a number of challenges, including parents influencing girls to get married instead of going to school.
File:Mother's tender love...A mother kisses her baby in Sinda
Dear G.P
I have 2 girls who I love dearly but I would really like to have a baby boy.Is there anything I can do to increase my chances of having a baby boy.
Yours Mrs H
If you are trying to get pregnant with a boy there are some things you can do to improve your chances. You may have heard of the Shettles method for trying to conceive a specific gender.The Shettles method is said to be about 80-90% effective for conceiving a boy when followed correctly.
Basically, men produce two types of sperms, the X (female) and Y (male). According to Dr. Shettles’ studies the y-sperms are smaller, weaker, but faster than their siblings x-sperms, which are bigger, stronger, but slower.
Based on this fact, there are several things you can do to “favor” the conception of boys or girls:
Timing
The most important aspect of all is timing of intercourse during the monthly cycle. The closer to ovulation you have sex, the better the chances to have a boy, because the y-sperms are faster and tend to get to the egg first.Ideally, you will want to have intercourse on the day you ovulate.
Orgasms
When trying to conceive a boy, Shettles suggests that orgasms during sex are a good thing as the body produces substances after orgasm that makes the vaginal environment more alkaline, which favors the “boy” sperm.
The contractions which accompany an orgasm help move the sperm up and into the cervix, giving the “boy” sperm an extra chance at being available when your egg is available for fertilization.
Note: Some women are naturally very acidic and have a hard time conceiving boys.
Position
Shettles suggests that if you are trying to conceive a boy, deep penetration from your partner, preferably with the “doggy style” position, will deposit the sperm closer to the cervix giving the more aggressive and quicker moving “boy” sperm a head start to fertilizating the egg first.
Considerations for the Men
Shettles recommends that for boys, the man wear loose underwear only — that is, men who usually wear briefs or other tight underwear should switch to boxers.
The idea is the same as wearing boxers to increase overall fertility — the testicles need cooler temperatures for sperms to survive, and the Y-sperms, since they are weaker, will be helped more than the X-sperms by this method.
However, Shettles does NOT recommend the opposite, that men wear briefs for a girl — this will just decrease overall fertility.
Also, for a girl, the man is supposed to take a hot bath immediately before intercourse. “Room temperature” is fine for a boy. The idea is the same as the briefs versus boxers — give the X- sperms an advantage.
Coffee
Finally, in trying for a boy, Shettles recommends a nice cup of caffeinated coffee for the man, right before sex — he isn’t clear on how or why this works, but apparently it gives the Y-sperms a jolt!
Good luck!
Disclaimer:The information in this article is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice of any kind.If you have any health concerns please see your health care provider
I’ve been looking forward to the 4th installment of the pirates of the Caribbean series, although I was a bit skeptical whether “at strange tides” will be as good as its predecessors without Orlando bloom and Keira Knightly.
I went to see it this past weekend, I was rather late and the movie was almost sold out so I had to get a seat in the front row. Here is my review
In this installment Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), excuse me, Captain Jack Sparrow “teams up” with dreaded Pirate Blackbeard (Ian Mcshane) and Angelina (Penelope Cruz) in search of the fountain of youth aboard the ship “Queen Ann’s revenge”. There is an interesting back-story about how Captain Sparrow and Angelina met, something to do with a convent being mistaken for a brothel. Anyway, they are not the only ones in search of the fountain, the Spaniards and the British are also after it. The British are led by a one legged Captain Barbossa.
It is a very entertaining movie with lots of swashbuckling sword fights and adventure on the high seas. And let’s not forget the mermaids.
PROS’
Pirate Blackbeard and Angelina were an excellent addition to the movie. Their relationship and exchanges between each other and with Jack Sparrow were brilliant.
The locations were visually breath taking; less time was spent at sea then in the previous installments.
The movie is more character driven and less dependent on special effects.
There was a twist to the story of the fountain of youth which was refreshing.
CONS’
Some of the actions sequences were a bit too long.
There wasn’t really a big “whoa” moment in the movie unlike the previous.
Where you have watched the previous installments or not, you will defiantly enjoy this movie. Captain Jack Sparrow takes centre stage and is as charming and captivating as he was in the first Pirates of the Caribbean.
President Rupiah Banda says that dialogue should be at the center of resolving any conflict that may occur in country.
President Banda says that the MMD government will continue to listen to divergent views from any sections of society so as to enhance participation in the governance of this country.
President Banda urged youths in the country to participate in the forth coming elections to turn up in large numbers to vote for their preferred candidate.
President Banda stated that the government will ensure that it respects the independence of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).
He says that this will ensure that elections are credible for those that will be participating in the electoral process.
Meanwhile, President Rupiah Banda has urged Zambians to come together, regardless of political or social preferences, and celebrate the huge achievements the country has made.
President addressed the nation on ZNBC , ahead of African Freedom Day which falls today on 25th May and pledged his commitment to building a better future for all Zambians.
[ QFM ]
NATIONAL team coach Dario Bonetti and under-23 trainer Lucky Msiska have reconciled after the two differed over the tactical approach to the games at the Confederation of East and Central African Football Associations (CECAFA) Senior Challenge held in Tanzania last year.
And Bonetti has agreed to release three foreign-based players that include Switzerland-based striker Fwayo Tembo to join the under-23 team preparing for next Friday’s London 2012 Olympic Games qualifier against Algeria.
The two coaches buried the hatchet during the technical meeting at Football House in Lusaka on Monday.
It was the first time the two were meeting since Msiska resigned as national team assistant coach after differing with Bonetti.
Msiska confirmed in Lusaka that all the perceived misunderstandings with the Italian were resolved in the meeting and they both agreed to work together once again for the good of the game.
He said Bonetti has agreed to work with him and that the former Zambia international forward is free to assist the senior national team any time.
In return, Bonetti will also assist in drilling the under-23 in the London 2012 Olympic Games qualifiers.
Early this year, both coaches had said that they did not want to work with each other after the differences.
Misunderstandings between the two started in Tanzania when they quarrelled in the presence of players after Zambia were ejected from the CECAFA Senior Challenge by Ethiopia via a 2-0 score line.
Bonetti preferred the defensive system of play which meant using Felix Sunzu Junior as a lone striker upfront but Msiska was against it and criticised the Italian in an interview he gave to a reporter after the tournament.
Msiska felt that Zambia needed to play an attacking game, especially that Ethiopia were considered a weaker team.The two tacticians almost exchanged blows during the CECAFA tournament performance review meeting in the board room at Football House and since then they have not been in talking terms until on Monday.
STANDARD Chartered Bank managing director Mizinga Melu
STANDARD Chartered Bank managing director Mizinga Melu has said the country is poised to exceed the projected seven percent gross domestic product (GDP) growth by the end of the year following the economic boom recorded in agriculture, mining and infrastructure.
Mrs Melu said the country’s economic growth in the three sectors is a positive indicator in the financial markets.
She said the recent bumper harvest recorded in the agricultural sector is another good sign that Government policies are working.
She said this during the opening of a one-day training for corporate clients and regulators at Taj Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka yesterday.
“Zambia’s economic performance is positive and as a bank, we are predicting that at the end of the year, the country will exceed seven percent GDP because the major sectors are doing fine,” she said.
She said the positive growth had seen a new class of middle income earners emerging and the bank was positioning itself to offer the best solutions to its clients.
Mrs Melu said the local currency is stable and the role of the bank is to protect the interests of its customers against any risks in the financial market.
“This positive outlook presents a significant opportunity for financial intermediaries like banks if they position themselves well in the market,” she said.
Mrs Melu warned that the global market is becoming unpredictable and sophisticated and the bank has to strive to lead the market in providing innovative solutions and services to its customers.
Tourism, Environment Deputy Minister Vera Tembo (r) with United Nations resident coordinator Kanni Wignaraja (c) and Food and Agriculture Organization representative Noureddine in Lusaka
THE pace at which Zambia emerges from being a least developed country (LDC) will have significant impact on the type of development finance Zambia can acces and where it can be used.
United Nations resident co-ordinator in Zambia Kannisaid the recently ended 4th Conference for Least Developed Countries in Turkey, Istanbul closed with a number of recommendations seeking to halve LDCs from 48 to 24 in the next ten years.
She said for Zambia this “points to a changing development finance landscape for the country, where the traditional sources and uses of Official Development Assistance (ODA) see a transition.”
She noted that ODA will flow more to areas in patterns that follow the middle-income countries – for more targeted interventions that look to address issues of inequity and exclusion, to better access global and regional public goods, and for niche areas of market development and job creation.
During the conference Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane revealed that Zambia is expected to graduate from being a LDC to a middle-income country and expects a gradual phase-out of certain types of aid following an increase in per capita income from US$330 in 2001 to about US$1,200 last year.
Ms Wignaraja also says newer forms of ODA, including that which flows through public-private partnerships and market-driven instruments such as climate financing will also become the norm for Zambia.
She said the second implication for Zambia’s progression can change the fundamentals of economic drivers of growth for the country and Zambia will have to become more competitive.
During the 4th LDC conference, LDCs’ delegates including Zambia, voiced the need to have greater access to international markets and appealed to the developed world for support in building the capacity of their public and private sectors’ economic and social institutions.
This demand was incorporated into key recommendations of the conference and developed countries have been advised to effect timely implementation of duty-free, quota-free market access on a lasting basis for all LDCs in line with Hong Kong declaration by the World Trade Organisation ministerial in 2005.
The West has also been urged to make more efforts for early conclusion of the Doha Trade talks.
She said with 46 percent of Zambia’s population under 15, realising the Vision 2030 lies in investing in its people and institutions to raise its bar on human development coupled with improving the quality of education, sharpening entrepreneurship skills and opening up markets so competition can thrive with government oversight.
She also noted that in the last 10 years the country has experienced sustained and significant economic growth, averaging over 5 percent adding that while this has pushed progress on some fronts such as in infrastructure development and primary school enrolment, the benefits must now be focused on improving the lives of the rural and urban poor.
File:Delegates at the COMESA Council of Ministers conference in Lusaka
THE Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has launched the US$8.6million airspace integration project in an effort to deepen regional integration through creating a unified single air space control framework.
The project, which is being funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) was signed for in Lusaka on February 24, 2011.
COMESA acting secretary general Stephen Karangizi said the project will also create an enabling legal and regulatory framework for a unified upper airspace in the COMESA region, East Africa Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Mr Karangizi said this yesterday during the launch of the project and official opening of a two-day workshop in Lusaka.
“The main objective of the US$ 8.6 million Navigation and Surveillance Systems for Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) infrastructure project is to deepen regional integration through creating a unified single air space control framework,” he said.
He said Rwanda will host the project and the workshop was organised to build capacity of the technical unit which will help in implementing the project.
The project will be implemented through the public private partnership (PPP) arrangements that will finance, build and operate the regional CNS/ATM infrastructure.
Mr Karangizi commended the bank for investing over US$5 billion towards development of transport and energy infrastructure programmes within the region.
And Ministry of Communications and Transport permanent secretary Dominic Sichinga in a speech read for him by his deputy Chitalu Kabalika said the launch of the airspace project is timely.
“Air transport carries unique characteristics, for it being the quickest mode of integration, and arguably one of the cheapest to develop,” he said.
Mr Sichinga said for COMESA, the project is not only a link for tourism and investors but also a means of transport for agricultural produce which will be easily exported to Europe and other international markets.
He said regional integration is not only an instrument for the achievement of sustainable development but also a shield for the regional economies from excessive reliance on bilateral economic engagements which are vulnerable to international economic trends.
Earlier, AfDB country representative Freddie Kwesiga said the project will improve integration through easing the movement of goods and people within COMESA.
“I reiterate the bank’s commitment and support to the faster realisation of the project’s objective… I wish to thank members of the CNS/ATM working group for their participation in the two-day workshop,” he said.
THE Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) has welcomed MMD’s call for dialogue to resolve contentious issues which have brought unnecessary tension between the ruling party and the Church mother body.
ZEC spokesperson Paul Samasumo said in an interview yesterday that the organisation has always been open to dialogue and is ready to meet with the ruling party.
Father Samasumo’s statement follows MMD national secretary Richard Kachingwe’s call for the MMD and the Catholic church to dialogue and resolve the misunderstandings between them.
“ZEC always welcomes dialogue of this nature and I am sure that the conference will be happy to hear this,” he said.
Bishop Samasumo urged all Catholics in Zambia to welcome this call from MMD saying anything that promotes peace must be accepted.
Last week, Zambia Episcopal Conference president George Lungu released a pastoral letter addressed to all Catholic Parishes in Zambia, to be read out to parishioners on June 5.
In the letter, Reverend Lungu said among other issues that the Catholic Church will remain non-partisan on politics.
He also said the church does not promote gay rights because homosexuality and lesbianism are seriously wrong and sinful acts.
Rev Lungu also called for peace, forgiveness and reconciliation.
And Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) executive director Pukuta Mwanza says his organisation is pleased that the MMD is planning to meet with the ZEC.
Reverend Mwanza said he hopes the meeting will be constructive and that all outstanding issues will be resolved.
He said the meeting will foster unity between government and the church, who are partners in development.
Meanwhile, a senior Lusaka-based legal practitioner, Hobday Kabwe, says the equivocal explanation of the Catholic Church on homosexuality is raising questions among some members of the Catholic Church, including himself, because they are similar to Patriotic Front president Michael Sata’s position on the matter.
Mr Kabwe said the pastoral letter, which will be read in all Catholic Churches on Ascension Sunday, is expected to clearly state the position of the church on homosexuality and that ZEC president George Lungu is also expected to use his role as preacher of salvation, reconciliation and forgiveness.
