The British government has reaffirmed its commitment to assisting Zambia to hold free and fair elections.

The former colonial master has invested over 5 million British pounds pounds in funding the electoral registration process, training of Zambia police in electoral duties and enhanced local observation in this year’s tripartite election.

British High Commissioner to Zambia disclosed that none of the 5 million pounds that has been allocated has gone fund any political party to do its political activities.

High Commissioner Davidson said this in a media statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today in reaction to media reports alleging that DFID was funding Mr. Sata’s electoral campaigns ahead of this year’s elections.

She stated that her government is happy with President Rupiah Banda’s pledge and determination of Zambia in holding free and fair elections.

The British envoy hailed the Zambian government’s efforts in delivering an electoral process which inspires confidence locally and internationally.

High Commissioner Davidson further stated that the response from the Head of DFID Zambia is clear and disassociate the UK and other donors from the claims in the media reports.

She has since urged the media to double check their facts in order to avoid harming the excellent relationship between Britain and Zambia.

Early this week, Committee of Citizens Executive Director, Gregory Chifire was quoted as saying that the British government through DFID was allegedly funding the electoral campaigns of the Patriotic Front (PF).

Mr. Chifire was further quoted as having said that the British government and other donors fare engaged in activities to undermine the Zambian government.
ZANIS

Police in Chingola District on the Copperbelt have arrested three.

Chinese Nationals for being in possession of suspected Copper ore worth over 232 million kwacha.

And a 25 year old man of Livingstone’s Linda Compound died in police custody, in the area last Friday.

In the Chingola incidence, District Commissioner Tobias Maliti confirmed the arrest of the three foreign nationals to ZNBC News in a telephone interview.

Mr. Maliti says the three nationals who were arrested on Saturday by state police and Konkola Copper Mines KCM security personnel will appear in court on Tuesday.

Mr Maliti who has thanked state police for arresting the trio has expressed concern at the increase in the cases of copper theft in the District.

Death

And a 25 year old man of Livingstone’s Linda Compound died in police custody, in the area last Friday.

Police Service Spokesperson Ndandula Siamana has named the deceased as Thomas Mungaila.

Ms Siamana says the late Mungaila was charged with disorderly behaviour, following a drinking spree with his two colleagues.

She states that Mr Mungaila and his colleagues exhibited disorderly behaviour after he suspected them of having stolen his phone.

Ms Siamana says it is suspected that Mr Mungaila could have died as a consequence of having been beaten by his two colleagues.

She revealed that the deceased’s colleagues, Roy Sinkala and Jacob Chikote both of unknown age, have been picked as suspects.

Ms Siamana says the late Mr Mungaila was found with bruises on his head.

She says Mr Mungaila’s is at Batoka Hospital Mortuary awaiting postmortem.

Ms Siamana says the police service is saddened with the death of Mr Mungaila.

This is contained in a statement released to ZNBC News in Lusaka on Monday.
[ ZNBC ]

Over five hundred Patriotic Front Members-PF in Mwense District have defected from the party to join the ruling MMD.

Speaking on behalf of the defectors, former PF Twikatane Branch Chairman for Mweshi ward in Chipili constituency Lawrence Bwalya said people in the area have decided to join the MMD because their area member of parliament Davis Mwila has failed to develop the area.

He says the MP has no capacity to develop the constituency and reduce poverty as it is seen in other constituencies in the country.

Mr. Bwalya says people in Chipili constituency are encouraged by the performance of the Republican President Rupiah Banda on the economical and infrastructure development in the country.

He says people of Chipili constituency also do not support homo-sexuality, a stance the PF leader Michael Sata taken.

Others that defected to join the ruling MMD are Danstan Mwape former PF vice District Chairman for Mwense District in Luapula Province and his vice Dickson Chibwe.
[ ZNBC ]

Community development and social services Minister Michael Kaingu says about 3000 women clubs have benefited from the 15 billion kwacha empowerment funds that was allocated to the ministry.

Mr. Kaingu says his ministry is also waiting for the last allocation from the ministry of finance and national planning for the whole country to be covered in the distribution of the funds.

He told QFM that the ministry is working hard to ensure that most clubs and organizations access the funds that were released to the ministry.

Mr. Kaingu has since called on more women in the country to apply for the funds so as to be beneficiaries of the empowerment funds.
[ QFM ]

Tourism and Natural Resources minister Catherine Namugala has appealed to politicians in the country to preserve the country for future leaders.

Ms. Namugala says it will be unfair for leaders in the country to destabilize the peace the country has continued to enjoy for 47 years at the expense of young people in the country.

The tourism minister noted that political leaders need to ensure that their political careers add value to the country’s economical growth.

Ms. Namugala has since advised political leaders to resolve their differences through proper dialogue instead of politics of name calling.
[ QFM ]

The Bishops Council of Zambia has said Zambians should not tolerate international organisations that are working to destabilise the country’s peace by meddling in its political affairs.

Council director Isaac Chabwera said yesterday it was wrong for international fund agencies to back activities that aimed to influence the success of a particular political party.

Dr Chabwera was reacting to reports that the Department for International Development (DfID) was using a media organisation to fund the Patriotic Front (PF)’s campaign activities.

He said such underhand methods by the DfID and the PF should not be condoned and that Zambians would not be easily misled.

“Let organisations such as DfID use their money for progressive activities that will advance development in our country,” he said.

Committee of Citizens executive director Gregory Chifire revealed at the weekend that DfID was using the Press Freedom Committee of the Post newspaper to fund PF campaign activities.

However, Dr Chabwera said it was not possible that funding political party activities was part of the DfID mandate in Zambia.

He said it was not right that such an international organisation should be used to unlawfully un-sit a democratically elected Government through support of an opposition party.

And Public Concern Zambia urged the DfID to ensure it was not deemed irrelevant by its decision to fund political parties with intentions to remove the ruling party.

PCZ director Steve Banda said funding of a political party by an organisation such as the DfID amounted to interference in Zambia’s sovereignty.

Mr Banda said if the DfID was interested in facilitating for media freedom in Zambia, it should look at programmes that supported other media bodies as well.

He said supporting one media organisation to champion one political party’s cause, did not amount to fighting for media freedom.

“If the DfID is funding The Post, it should also know that the newspaper was in partnership with the PF, which has been condemning the work of donor countries and their organisations’ work in Zambia,” he said.

Mr Banda said international organisations should respect Zambia’s democracy and support the media to remain impartial and defend the country’s dignity.

“These organisations should be more transparent in the manner they conduct activities and they should not bring in confusion,” he said.
[ Times of Zambia ]

President Banda has said the Catholic Church in Zambia has played a monumental role in the development of the country.

The President noted this in his congratulatory letter to Monsignor Evans Chinyemba on his ordination as Bishop of the Diocese of Mongu.

This is contained in a statement issued by President Banda’s special assistant for press and public relations Dickson Jere.

“The Catholic Church in Zambia has played a monumental role in the development of this country, notably in social sectors such as health in which it runs 69 hospitals, rural health centres, hospices and orphanages; education in which the church operates 221 schools, and countless social and development centres which serve all Zambians regardless of their religious background,” the President said.

He said Bishop Chinyemba has ascended to the office at a time when the Catholic Church is undergoing important changes, given the consecration of Monsignor Benjamin Phiri as Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Chipata on Saturday April 9, 2011, and the ordination of Monsignor Charles Joseph Sampa Kasonde to the position of Bishop of Solwezi a year ago, on May 29, 2010.

The President said the cleric’s appointment by Pope Benedict XVI is a demonstration of the Catholic Church’s confidence in the bishop’s ability to shepherd God’s people in Mongu.

“I believe your ordination has occurred in God’s time, and in His grace and strength you will be able to excel in your mission and ministry,” Mr Banda said.

And Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) spokesperson Father Paul Samasumo thanked President Banda for recognising the role that the church plays in the development of the country.

And President Banda has reiterated his pledge to continue working with the Catholic church for the good of all Zambians, reports ZANIS.

In a speech read on his behalf by Minister of Defence Kalombo Mwansa, President Banda said the Catholic Church, just like any other church in the country, is a partner of Government as it has the similar aim of developing the country.

Mr Banda said the Church and Government are inseparable partners in the promotion of the social well-being of the Zambian people through education and healthcare provision, among others.

The President said this at the episcopal ordination of the newly-appointed Mongu Diocese Catholic Bishop Evans Chinyemba at Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral in Mongu on Saturday.

President Banda said that Government and the church leadership must advocate peace, especially as the country goes to the polls this year.
[ Zambia Daily Mail]

THE National Union of Communication Workers (NUCW) has advised Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata to consult Zamtel workers and their representatives before making retrogressive statements over the decision by Government to re-capitalise the company.

Speaking in an interview in Ndola yesterday, NUCW president Patrick Kaonga said it is unfortunate that someone aspiring to become the republican president could issue such baseless statements on Zamtel when there are people who could provide him with authentic information regarding the re-capitalisation of the company.

“There are structures where Mr Sata could find out the details about the genesis and actual re-capitalisation process of Zamtel. As you know, workers did not want Zamtel to collapse like Zambia Airways, and recommended that it be re-capitalised,’’ Mr Kaonga said.

But Mr Kaonga said the statement by Mr Sata that Zambians must boycott the services of Zamtel was irresponsible and clearly shows that he does not want to put the interests of Zamtel workers and Zambians first.

He said Zamtel has picked up financially following the decision by Government to re-capitalise the company.

“Probably, Mr Sata is not aware that Zamtel used to fail to remit pay as you earn (PAYE) to the Zambia Revenue Authority because its financial capacity was so bad the PAYE was just on paper,” Mr Kaonga said.

He said Mr Sata should be aware that workers of Zamtel have been engaged in the re-capitalisation process of the company from its inception.

“We feel Mr Sata would have been happy if Zamtel had collapsed. We are very happy as Zamtel workers because the company is doing well,” Mr Kaonga said.

He said Zambians should be happy that Zamtel is now able to make a meaningful contribution to national economic development.

Mr Kaonga said it was retrogressive for Mr Sata to castigate Government for the positive decision it made to revamp Zamtel’s operations.

Mr Kaonga said Zambians expect to hear development-related utterances from Mr Sata, and not words of destruction.

“We would like Mr Sata to come up with ideas of how he would improve Zamtel operations further, including other parastatal companies that are having financial constraints instead of calling on Zambians to boycott the services of the company when it is doing well,” Mr Kaonga said.

On Sunday, ZCTU secretary general Roy Mwaba described Mr Sata as an irresponsible leader who does not care about the welfare of Zamtel and its workers.

Mr Mwaba said Zamtel generates funds and pays billions of Kwacha to the Zambia Revenue Authority, contributing to the country’s economic development.

Mr Sata made the remarks while addressing a public rally in Kabwe.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

MINISTER of Science, Technology and Vocational Training Peter Daka says Government plans to build colleges in each district of the country under the supervision of his ministry to ensure all youths in the country have an opportunity to acquire life skills.

Mr Daka said in an interview yesterday the colleges will give a zero-entry point to enrol for studies so as to give school dropouts and those without full certificates an opportunity to acquire life skills.

Mr Daka said under the Sixth National Development Plan (SNDP), Government has a plan to set up institutions in each district so that individuals who will not qualify to enrol in conventional tertiary institutions can have an opportunity to acquire skills through the special colleges.

“Government wants a situation where no youth will lag behind in poverty due to lack of education. That is why we intend to ensure that all youths have a certain skill to enable them compete favourably, and at the same time contribute to national development,” he said.

Mr Daka said students who graduate from these colleges will contribute to national development through starting up their own business ventures in trades such as carpentry and tailoring.

“We realise that even those who drop out of schools should still be accorded an opportunity to have a skill that they can use to pursue their dreams, and in doing so be economically stable,” he said.

Mr Daka said this would in turn help scale down the level of poverty, and the tendency of school dropouts to engage in vices such as drug abuse.

“Acquiring a skill and education will equalise the playing grounds so that even the vulnerable can have competitive advantage in the search of employment,” he said.