MINISTER of Communications and Transport Geoffrey Lungwangwa has announced that the Government has suspended the revoking of a Statutory Instrument that compels Public Service Vehicles (PSV) operators to maintain a stipulated colour code for their vehicles.

According to Zambia National Broadcasting Services (ZNBC) main news bulletin monitored last night, Professor Lungwangwa said in Lusaka that the suspension of the statutory instrument followed numerous concerns from members of the public and would hold consultations with various key stakeholders.

The minister had on Friday announced the abolition of regulation 14A of statutory instrument no 115 of 2000, which compelled public service vehicles operators to paint their vehicles in sky blue colour.

The statutory instrument no 31 of 2011, which was to come into effect 30 days after the date of publication in the gazette,was going to allow operators to paint their vehicles in any color of their choice.

Communication and Transport minister Professor Godfrey Lungwangwa said the removal of the colour code for Public Service Vehicles was going to directly reduce the compliance costs of entry into the business by all PSV operators.

Professor Lungwangwa also said that the move was in response to bus operators and advertising firms request to government to reconsider the colour code so as to exploit the business opportunity of utilizing PSVs as channels of effective information dissemination.

Government has expressed concern over the failure by young people to fully benefit from various programmes and facilities that government has made available for them to contribute meaningfully to national development.

Sport, Youth and Child Development Minister, Kenneth Chipungu says it is sadden to note that despite many opportunities government has created for young people in the country, the young people seem reluctant to fully utilize them.

Mr. Chipungu said this when he paid a courtesy call on Central Province Permanent Secretary, Denny Lumbama in Kabwe today.

He said that government has constructed several Youth Skills Training and Resource Centres across the country but the facilities were under utilized by the youths who are supposed to beneficiaries.

Mr. Chipungu said government hopes that through fora such as youth indabas, young people will see the value of fully utilizing the opportunity of acquiring life skills so that they can make a meaningful contribution to national development.

And Central Province Permanent Secretary, Denny Lumbama said government is fully aware of the many challenges that the young people are facing in the country.

Mr. Lumbama said the youth indaba provides a suitable platform where both government and young people can work together in finding possible solutions to their challenges.

The 3rd National Young Indaba officially closed today at Mulungushi University in Kabwe and attracted over 250 young people drawn from all the six districts of Central Province namely, Kabwe, Kapiri -Mposhi, Mkushi,Chibombo, Mumbwa and Serenje respectively.

ZANIS

Government has summoned Shoprite management following reports that the chain store has allegedly issued letters of suspension and gross misconduct to some union officials and workers who participated in the recent countrywide strike.

This is according to Labour Deputy Minister Simon Kachimba.

Mr Kachimba told ZNBC News in Lusaka on Sunday that the meeting is scheduled for nine hours tomorrow.

The meeting will aim to iron out the differences between Shoprite management and the Union.

And ZCTU President Leonard Hikaumba says the decision to summon Shoprite management and the union is welcome.

Mr Hikaumba says ZCTU wants to ensure the matter is resolved amicably.

Last week, ZCTU issued an ultimatum to Shoprite Management to immediately withdraw letters written to some union officials and workers or face countrywide strikes.

[ZNBC]

THE Lusaka City Council (LCC) says the suspension of the mayor and councillors has not negatively affected the performance of the local authority contrary to suggestions by some sections of society.

LCC public relations manager Chanda Makanta said the local authority is also effectively managing bus stations and markets in the city in the aftermath of wrangles at some of the sites recently.

Ms Makanta said in an interview that the LCC has not experienced any crippling challenges and has continued to function normally as before.

Government recently suspended Lusaka mayor Daniel Chisenga and councillors at the Patriotic Front-led council to pave way for investigations into alleged financial irregularities.

Copperbelt Province-based local government officer Solomon Sakala has been appointed to oversee the affairs of the council.

Ms Makanta said the LCC will endeavour and continue to operate effectively even without the councillors.

“The LCC has placed management to run the bus stations. We had read that cadres (from political parties) had taken over the stations but that is not the case. All bus stations are managed by the city council. Whatever happened and was talked about has been resolved amicably,” she said.

Meanwhile, Ms Makanta has advised liquor traders at Lusaka’s COMESA market to wind up their business operations by the end of this month.

She said the LCC public health department has since issued letters notifying the traders to stop liquor trading at the premises.

Ms Makanta said the LCC has exhausted ultimatums saying this is the final warning to the traders and that failure to comply with the order will attract punitive measures.

Meanwhile, LEON HAANGALA reports that the LCC says that its plans to extend the Lusaka city road network are still in the pipeline.

Ms Makanta said that plans to construct ring roads, in co-operation with the Japanese government, are still alive.

“We have planned to construct ring roads but some houses may have to be demolished in the process.

However, the owners of these structures will be compensated in form of either money or other accommodation,” she said.

She said, however, that Lusaka residents should not panic as these are still plans.

Ms Makanta has also apologised for the inconvenience being caused by the closure of a segment of Church Road to facilitate expansion of the road at Levy Junction Mall which is under construction.

“We are well aware that the closure of church road has caused congestion, however we need motorists to be patient as this expansion will serve to help ease traffic when the mall is opened,” she said.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

GOVERNMENT has described as ‘political blindness’ Patriotic Front president Michael Sata’s sentiments that he cannot see on-going developmental projects Government has undertaken throughout Zambia.

Chief Government spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha said yesterday that every Zambian can attest to the number of schools and hospitals that are being built and rehabilitated.

Speaking during a phone-in Radio Phoenix programme on Friday, MrSata accused Government of using cheap propaganda by stating that it has built schools and hospitals.

“The development projects that Government has undertaken are very visible and the people of Zambia are appreciating. It’s only MrSata who is not a good leader who is not appreciating what the government is doing,” Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha said.

He said a good opposition leader appreciates even what the people in Government are doing, especially projects benefiting citizens.

Lt-Gen Shikapwasha said most of the hospitals such as the Lusaka hospital and the Chongwehospital are very visible because they are built on the Great East Road.

He said many high schools, too, such as Kacholola in Nyimba and Mumbwa, are also clearly visible.

Lt-Gen Shikapwasha said the mobile hospitals the PF leader is criticising are in the country and citizens are already appreciating the services.

He said the hospitals are on 4X4 wheels and will be able to reach all rural areas in the country.

On homosexuality, Lt-Gen Shikapwasha said Mr Sata should not try to run away from what he told Danish journalists that he would legalise homosexuality if he became president of Zambia.

He said Mr Sata’s sentiments of legalising homosexuality are demonic and he owes Zambians an apology.

Lt-Gen Shikapwasha said MrSata is on tape and it is insincere of him to accuse Government of selling propaganda on him.

He said Government will not be distracted by opposition leaders like MrSata from its agenda of bringing meaningful development in the country.

“Let him continue criticising us. He will never bring us down. We are a government that is focused on developing Zambia,” Lt-Gen Shikapwasha said.

[Zambia Daily Mail]