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FLASHBACK: A Mansa woman relaxing over a Mosi lager.
THE Catholic Church Mansa Diocese in Luapula Province is embroiled in disagreement with a business executive over shareholding in an alcohol business from which the Church has been planning to withdraw.
The Mansa Dioecese has been in the business of brewing opaque beer through a company called Top Star Breweries in which it has a strong ordinary shareholding that stands at two million, representing 20 per cent since 2004.
The Church bought shares from a Lusaka business executive, Alan Kandala and a South African Hendrick Westerman and attempted to transfer them back to Mr Kandala on May 1, 2010 after the firm faced financial hardships and was placed under receivership by Zanaco.
Mr Kandala has demanded capital injection to allow the firm to get back on track and meet its financial obligations such as paying workers and creditors before the Catholic Church could depart from the company.
The form of transfer of the shares to Mr Kandala was signed by Mansa Diocese administrator Michael Merrizy on May 1 last year.
The company faced financial problems after it invested in the construction of another plant in Lusaka and after that, the Church appointed Deloitte and Touche to assess the financial position and draw up a business plan for the firm.
The Church also demanded that the Patents and Companies Administration Agency (PACRA) should de-register it as shareholders in Top Star Breweries, a demand PACRA declined to effect and instead referred the bishops back to Mr Kandala.
According to a letter signed by Bishop Aaron Chisha dated November 19, 2007, the Church confirmed its investments in Top Star Breweries and blamed Mr Kandala for failing to honour the financial obligations on behalf of the company.
“We would like to state that we have never shown any interest in providing further funds for the recapitalisation of the plant line restoration and the packaging project which requires funds to the tune of K500 million.
“In fact, all we wanted was to get back the money invested in Top Star Breweries and that is why we approached Deloitte and Touche,” Bishop Chisha wrote in his letter addressed to the director for corporate banking at Zanaco.
However, Bishop Chisha further disowned shareholding in Top Star Breweries in his letter dated February 21, 2008 to the inspector of companies at PACRA, saying Mr Kandala and PACRA registered the Church as shareholders without their consent.
Bishop Chisha stated that Mansa Diocese had never been a shareholder in Top Star Breweries but invested in the opaque beer brewing firm which failed to honour its obligations.
“Upon being told by Deloitte and Touche that Mr Kandala had registered on the mentioned date with the registrar of companies, we then decided to write you enquiring why you decided to register us without our consent, consultation and in our absence.
“But instead of answering to our letter, you have responded in a way we suspect you to be siding with Mr Kandala,” Bishop Chisha wrote.
But in his letter to the Catholic Nuncio at the Vatican Embassy in Lusaka, Nicola Girasoli, Mr Kandala contested that the Church offered him the same shares it had earlier denied in the business for them to exit from past, future and present obligations.
“The correct position is that at the time the letters were authored, the Diocese of Mansa was a 20 per cent shareholder in Top Star Breweries Limited, an opaque beer manufacturer, with plants in Lusaka and Mansa.
“The Diocese of Mansa enjoyed such equity in the company pursuant to the MoU on Top Star Breweries Limited, dated March 9, 2004 and a subsequent MoU, between the parties dated April 9 2004,” Mr Kandala said.
He said the Church should not abandon the investment in the opaque brewing outfit as the business was still viable.
He said the company needed recapitalisation because there were workers and creditors who should be paid and that so far, he had been paying legal costs to stop the liquidation from his personal resources without counterpart funding from the Catholic Church.
ZAMBIA has recorded a decline in the incidence of malaria by 66 per cent due to increased resource allocation to malaria control programmes and Government’s commitment to fighting the disease.
Ministry of Health director of public health and research, Victor Mukonka said according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) assessment of 2008, Zambia had surpassed the set targets of both the Abuja Declaration of reducing malaria illness and deaths by 50 per cent by 2010 and the Roll Back Malaria goal of reducing the global malaria burden by 50 per cent by the same year.
Dr Mukonka, who was speaking when he officiated at the launch of Vectron 20WP insecticide for vector control in Lusaka yesterday, said the achievement was due to strong political will and leadership and increased funding to malaria programmes.
“These achievements are due to Zambia’s commitment to the fight against malaria as evidenced by the strong political will and leadership and increased financial resources,” Dr Mukonka said.
He said Zambia had also recorded a 56 per cent decline in severe anaemia in children under the age of five years and that the malaria parasitaemia had also reduced from 2006 to 2010.
Dr Mukonka said the national malaria programme was involved in implementing an integrated approach to malaria control.
He said the major interventions were the distribution of Insecticide Treated Net (ITN) and the Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) and were supplemented by larval source management where feasible.
Dr Mukonka said it was important to be cognisant of the potential threat of resistance development because of the continued use of insecticides.
He said owing to this, research of alternative interventions was being encouraged through the integrated vector management strategy.
“In this vein research towards alternative intervention and an army of arsenals are being encouraged by the ministry and indeed the World Health Organization,” Dr Mukonka.
Dr. Mukonka said the launch of the insecticide was welcome because it was going to add to the existing chemicals being used by the ministry to control malaria.
“It is therefore gratifying to note that in an effort to intensify malaria control intervention, partners in private sector have continued to support the Ministry through the development ofalternative tools for use in malaria,” he said.
Munali Member of Parliament (MP) Mumbi Phiri has complained that her effort to work with government to deliver development in her constituency is being hampered by cadres who have allegedly restrained her from completing certain projects.
Speaking to ZANIS in an interview, Mrs. Phiri disclosed that her plans in construct ablution blocks at Kamanga Market, Chelstone Tank Bus stop and at Chelstone police have failed because cadres from a named political party have allegedly obtained an injunction to stop the construction.
She said the construction project and sinking of three boreholes which was to gobble about K650 million was stopped for reasons she declined to state because the case is in the court of law.
She said so far, about K150 million has been used on the incomplete structures and sinking of one borehole in Kamanga.
Mrs. Phiri said she has made an appointment with President Rupiah Banda and was waiting to be granted opportunity to see him so that she could explain certain pressing issues in the constituency.
She claimed that she and other opposition MPs were willing to work with government to deliver development to the people of Zambia but were not given an opportunity to do so.
And Ms. Phiri said she has embarked on constructing a wall fence at Kalingalinga basic school and Chamba Valley School in order to block people from vandalizing school
property.
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) president Michael Sata has imposed his son Mulenga to stand as Lusaka Central parliamentary candidate in the 2011 general elections, infuriating some hopefuls who believe they are better placed to contest the seat.
According to a PF member of the central committee (MCC), incumbent Lusaka Central member of Parliament (MP) Guy Scott has indicated that he would not re-contest the seat.
According to the MCC, this is in apparent admission of Dr Scott’s waning popularity after his party’s failure to live up to pre-election promises.
Following Dr Scott’s decision, interest is said to have been expressed by various PF members to contest the Lusaka Central seat, with Bauleni councillor Douglas Msiska being the front-runner.
“But in his usual dictatorial manner, our party president (Mr Sata) has disregarded Mr Msiska’s unquestionable calibre, claiming that he has no financial muscle to win Lusaka Central. So, he has imposed his son, Mulenga, who is busy campaigning even before the party chooses parliamentary candidates,” said the PF MCC.
Mr Msiska had earlier attempted to stand as Mayor of Lusaka after Robert Chikwelete completed his two terms but was blocked by MrSata because of his independent views on the running of PF.
The PF MCC wondered what was so special about Mulenga whose only tangible contribution to the PF was that he was MrSata’s son.
“We are not happy that president Sata is now extending his culture of appointments to parliamentary seats which are supposed to be decided by a majority vote of our central committee,” the MCC said.
He observed that the PF had given Mr Sata too much power which had made some members untouchable as they ignored the party constitution which was supposed to be the PF’s supreme document.
“If Mr Sata wants to turn the PF into a property of his family, friends and close associates, we are not ready to support his latest moves. If he thinks we are going to be forced out, he had better think again. We shall fight to the bitter end,” he said.
The member of the PF governing council regretted that some committed PF members who had supported the party since inception in 2001 have left in frustration because of MrSata’s penchant for sycophants who pledge blind loyalty to him alone.
“As you might have noticed in the papers this week, some senior members of our party who have become unpopular are exhibiting repulsive impunity and claiming that they are not answerable to MrSata, which is quite unfortunate for a government in-waiting,” he complained.
Another senior PF member wondered why Mr Sata was so interested in involving his children in the PF when the general trend around the world was that of popular revolutions against family political empires.
“If we are going to convince Zambians that we will bring real change when voted into power, we should not be seen to be exhibiting the very things that our friends in the Arab countries are fighting against. We have to be seen to be a democratic party that espouses democratic values,” he said.
Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Felix Mutati has said African countries need to invest more in one another in order for the continent was to combat economic challenges it is currently facing.
Mr. Mutati said African countries need to focus more on investment than trade if the continent was to create wealth and combat poverty.
He noted with regret that African countries tend to look for solutions elsewhere when solutions lie in their own hands.
He said this during the Zambia-Egyptian Chemical Business Forum in Lusaka today.
The Minister expressed sadness that Africa’s trade within its boundaries amounts to less than five percent despite the continent being endowed with abundant natural resources.
He said there is need to break barriers on trade and investment among African countries and work together to foster economic growth.
Mr. Mutati further stated that there is need for a change of mindset among African people for them to take the lead in liberating themselves economically.
And speaking earlier, Egyptian Ambassador to Zambia Salah El-Sadek said the business delegation that is in the country to look for investment opportunities decided to visit Zambia because they it was the right place to do business.
Ambassador El-Sadek noted that Zambia’s visionary leadership, stable political atmosphere and peace make the country for investment.
He further stated that Egypt and Zambia will continue partnering in various spheres of development for the benefit of the people of the two countries.
And the Zambia Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ZACCI) President Geoffrey Sakulanda said Zambia is committed to forging partnerships that will enhance its capacity towards adding value to traditional and non traditional exports.
Mr. Sakulanda noted that Zambia is an attractive investment destination that offers lucrative investment opportunities in sectors such as tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, energy among others.
“Zambia’s investment climate is characterized by real GDP growth for the past 11 years averaging about 5.5 percent per annum since 2002, a stable macroeconomic environment, stable political system, investment guarantees and security, access and proximity to regional markets in SADC and COMESA, laws and policies from a government which has demonstrated political will and commitment to encourage both domestic and direct foreign investment”, he said.
He also expressed happiness that government was pursuing a zero-tolerance policy against corruption.
He was further happy that local and foreign investors were treated equally in Zambia.
Catherine Namugala is one of the Ministers attending the confetrence
The Zambian Embassy in Berlin, Germany has organized the first ever Zambia-Germany conference on trade and investment to be held in the cities of Berlin and Cologne between 13th and 14 April 2011.
Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources Public Relations Manager Isaac Kanguya says the conference has been organized to lure Germans to invest in Zambia in the tourism and agricultural sectors.
Mr. Kanguya explains that the conference which is in two parts will first be held in the city of Cologne with the second leg of the conference being held on the April 14, in Berlin.
He said in a statement to ZANIS in Lusaka today that the conference has drawn participation from various business sectors in Germany in the areas of travel and tourism, agriculture, commerce and finance.
He also said key Germany government officials are expected to be in attendance.
Mr. Kanguya disclosed that Minister of Tourism Catherine Namugala, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Eustackio Kazonga and Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Finance and National Planning Chileshe Kapwepwe are among the invited ministers and have since arrived in Berlin.
Also invited is Bank of Zambia Governor Caleb Fundanga.
He added that the Minister of Tourism who is also head of delegation is expected to have interviews with local media on tourism investment opportunities in Zambia as what the Germans expect to know about Zambia’s tourism potential.
The Zambian ministers are also expected to hold bilateral talks with their Germany counterparts and are expected back home on Saturday April 16, 2011.
FLASHBACK: First Lady Thandiwe Banda receives a donation of books from Ghanaian school teacher Samuel Peprah at S
First Lady Thandiwe Banda has urged Zambians to perceive education as a means of getting out of poverty and a starting point for prosperity.
Mrs. Banda noted government has already made a deliberate policy of supporting young Zambians to have access to education.
Mrs. Banda said there is now need for Zambian parents to take advantage of this police and send their children to school.
She added that there was need to provide equal access to both girls and boys especially in rural areas.
She was speaking at State House today during the third First Lady for a Day Mentorship programme.
She explained that it for this reason that the programme is structured to empowering rural girls and boys with life skills in order to build their self confidence and instill passion and provide career guidance.
Mrs. Banda stated that it is difficult to achieve the best in life without proper education, adding that this is why education should be made a priority and a passport to any country’s development.
She further encouraged the participants in the programme to work hard and contribute to national development by achieving their education goals.
The First Lady has also thanked Stanbic Bank for its continued commitment to empowering rural communities in which they operate through programmes such as the Junior Achievement Zambia (JA Z).
Earlier, JA-Zambia Board Chairperson David Chakonta expressed happiness with the First Lady’s commitment to supporting the education sector in Zambia.
Mr. Chakonta said through the First Lady’s support, JA-Zambia will continue to empower young people with entrepreneurial and financial literacy for them to realize their potential and noble purpose.
And Stanbic Bank Managing Director Dennis Kennedy disclosed that his bank has spent over K120 million in providing support to education programmes especially among the vulnerable groups in society.
Mr. Kennedy reiterated his bank’s support towards initiatives targeted at improving the education sector in the country.
The First Lady for a Day Mentorship programme aimed at identifying school going children between the age s of 14 and 18 and impart them with knowledge in various life skills.
The 18 participants drawn from all the nine provinces of the country were awarded with certificates for successfully completing the Mentorship programme.
First Republican President Kenneth Kaunda’s son Panji, has maintained that he is still a member of the UPND despite his ‘illegal’ expulsion from the party following his declaration to support PF leader Micheal Sata .
He said he had seen nothing wrong in himself for being honest to his party to openly declare the candidate of his choice because he has the right to do so.
He said party members are free to decide for themselves any candidate they wanted to support even if they belonged to different political parties.
He said this during the North western Peoples Pact Forum at Solwezi show grounds. Colonel Panji Kaunda also said that he does not regret the death of the PF-UPND pact despite spearheading its formation.
Col. Kaunda, who is People’s Pact founder member, said it was a well known fact from the beginning that Mr Sata and Mr Hichilema cannot work together.
He added that the duo personalised issues that surrounded the pact saying as a result the two leaders had no time to call on each other to find ways of resolving wrangles that rocked their pact.
Col. Kaunda has since urged Zambians to uphold the peace the country has enjoyed since independence even as the nation goes to the polls for the sake of the young generation.
“Zambians must remain united and maintain this peace we have enjoyed since independence because young ones too needed to enjoy” he said.
But some unidentified people from the small crowd that attended the rally at the show grounds accused Col Kaunda of playing double standards.
The people were heard wondering why Col. Kaunda has resolved to support Mr Sata leaving his party President Mr Hichilema and accused him of being sponsored by the Patriotic Front to campaign on its behalf.
This was after Col. Kaunda told the gathering that he is still a UPND member but will this year support Mr Sata in the forth coming tripartite election.
And All peoples Congress Party (APC) in the North western province says it will not support United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema in this years polls despite the two parties forming a pact.
APC chairman for Solwezi central Nicholas Chaulembe said that the party in the region has however endorsed Patriotic Front (PF) President Micheal Sata as its prefered Presidential candidate for the forth coming 2011 polls.
Mr Chaulembe added that the newly established UPND/APC pact is unrecognized in the province because the UPND decided to form the alliance with APC on unfounded grounds following the death of the UPND-PF Pact.
Mr Chaulembe further called on opposition political parties in the country to unite and endorse one presidential candidate during this years tripartite elections in order to avoid splitting votes amongst themselves in fear of giving the ruling MMD a landslide victory.
Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Mutale Nalumango has prodded women in Zambia to work together and avoid pulling each other down in order for them to achieve a common goal.
Mrs. Nalumango said women were very influential in society hence the need for them to work hard and be supportive to one another.
She was speaking in Lusaka today when she officially opened a six day Zambia Union Conference of the Seventh Day Adventist Church (SDA) Women Congress dubbed ‘revival and reformation’.
She explained that God was looking for women who are revived and transformed and are ready to uplift the lives of other women.
Mrs. Nalumango advised women not to celebrate their colleagues’ failures and misfortune but to help them come out of the hardships they are facing.
And speaking earlier, President of the SDA Church Harrington Akombwa said his church values the role women play in the church and society.
Pastor Akombwa said the women congress was a triennial conference held in order to bring women together and empower them with skills and knowledge for them to contribute positively to the development of the church and the society.
He noted that women’s influence in the church and society cannot be underestimated as they are the majority and can make good contributions if empowered.
And the organizing committee member, Charity Ngondo assured that women will utilize the lessons that will be learn in order for them to be transformed into revived people.
The congress, which is being hosted by the Central Zambia Conference, has been organized to impart wisdom and knowledge in women and has attracted participants from all the nine provinces of Zambia.
The United States government and 15 Global Development Alliance/Public Private Partners (PPP) will this month sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which aims at enhancing and expanding the successful outcome of the Zambia HIV/AIDS Global Development Alliance (GDA) activities.
According to a statement issued to ZANIS in Lusaka today by Community Empowerment Through Self Reliance (COMETS) Chief of Party Rosanna Price-Nyendwa, US Head of Mission in Zambia Melissa Williams will sign on behalf of the US government while the Chief Executives of each of the 15 companies will sign for their firms.
The programmes under the MOU are meant to enable companies develop and enhance their HIV policies and workplace programmes which include outreach activities that are focused on HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support and readiness for treatment.
These activities are being managed and supported by comprehensive HIV/AIDS management programme (CHAMP) subcontracted to provide technical support.
The partners that are expected to sign the MOU with the US government include Albidon Mining Limited, Konkola Copper Mines PLC, Copperbelt Energy Corporations PLC, Dunavant Zambia Limited, First Quantum Minerals Limited and Kafue Steel Limited.
Others are Kagem Mining Company Limited, Mkushi Farmers Association, Mopani Copper Mines PLC, Zambian Breweries PLC and Zambeef Products.
The rest are Zambia Revenue Authority, Zambia Sugar PLC, Lumwana Mining Company Limited and the Traditional Health Practitioners Association of Zambia (THPAZ).
The signing ceremony will be also be witnessed by various stakeholders and representatives from the relevant ministries.
United Party for National Development (UPND) Vice President for Political affairs Francis Zaza Simenda has appealed to Information and Broadcasting Minister Ronnie Shikapwasha to consider reopening Radio Lyambai in Mongu District of Western Province.
Mr. Simenda said the community radio station which had its broadcasting equipment confiscated on the 14th of January 2011 has left a vacuum in the area and beyond.
He told ZANIS in an interview in Mongu today that the situation in the district has now normalised for the community radion station to resume operations.
” There is now so much pressure from the community that the radio station gets back on air, ” he said.
Mr. Simenda said once reopened, the radio station will ensure that peace and harmony is promoted in the district and Province at large.
He further said that the closure of radio Lyambai has also affected the livelihood of it‘s workers as they rely on the station for their monthly income.
Mr. Simenda added that the local radio station was also being utilized by upcoming artists in promoting their music hence the need for the station to be opened.
Radio Lyambai has been off air from the 14th of February 2011 to date after a team of police officers broke into the station and confiscated its broadcasting equipment while on air.
The radio station has 10 employees and about 7 people on part times basis.
ZESCO LTD engineers inspecting power pylons at Kafue Gorge station'
Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation ZESCO Public Relations Manager Andrea Makulu has hailed communities around the country and the law enforcement agencies for their continued support in curbing vandalism on the company’s equipment.
Mr. Makulu says that the electricity utility company has been working with the law enforcement agencies and the communities in protecting electricity equipment from being vandalized.
He told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that ZESCO has beefed up and intensified security patrols on various ZESCO power installations.
He explained that the company has employed officers who are carrying out patrols on all ZESCO lines and substations to ensure that vandalism cases are reduced.
He expressed happiness that communities have been vigilant in protecting the equipment which he said was encouraging on the part of the company.
Mr. Makulu noted that there has been a significant reduction in the number of vandalism cases country wide.
He has since appealed to the members of public to desist from vandalizing ZESCO equipment as this would negatively affect the development process of the country and their communities in particular.
And The Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) has threatened to disconnect power supply from the Namwala Boma if bills amounting to over K782.5 million were not settled in full immediately.
In a notice of disconnection dated 11th April, 2011 obtained by ZANIS yesterday, the power utility company warned of disconnection as per section 14(2) of Chapter 811 of the Laws of Zambia.
The notice signed by the area Manager Joseph Soko also warned of legal action against non-settlement of the bills.
“Please take note that should you fail to pay and remain disconnected for more than twenty-one days, legal action will be taken against you and your service line/transformers will be recovered,” stated the letter in part.
And Namwala District Commissioner, Wilson Siadunka has appealed to government departments at the Boma to contribute money in order to settle the bill and avoid power supply disconnections.
A 27 year old Kabompo District Hospital general worker has been suspended pending investigations for allegedly being found committing adultery in an office at the health institution outpatient department.
Kabompo District Medical Officer Dr. Stephen Shajanika confirmed the suspension to ZANIS in interview in Kabompo .
Dr. Shajanika said the incident attracted a huge crowd and police presence causing commotion at the health institution.
He said on the material day, the named general worker is believed to have collapsed and admitted to the hospital’s male ward after he was caught but was later discharged.
Dr. Shajanika disclosed that laboratory test results conducted on the 17 year old woman believed to be a married woman showed many moving spermatozoa in the specimen which was collected from the woman private parts.
Meanwhile, a closed police source in the area also confirmed the incident but said the police were still carrying out further investigations to establish the state of the named general worker.
File:Eastern province minister Isaac Banda talks to Chief Zumwanda of Lundazi at his palace
Eastern Province Minister Issac Banda has said it is the duty of every Zambian to be part of the country’s development agenda.
Mr Banda said every Zambian including those on the streets should feel part and parcel of the country’s development process.
ZANIS reports that he said it was for this reason that during planning stages of the development process that all stakeholders starting from grassroots to national level were involved.
Mr Banda was speaking when he officiated at a Dissemination exercise of the Vision 2030, the Sixth National Development Plan 2011-2015 and District Development Plans held at Luangwa House in Chipata yesterday.
Mr Banda said for the first time in the country’s history, the vision 2030 and executive summary of the Sixth national development plan 2006-2010 have been translated in seven local languages that were spoken on the national broadcaster.
He said previously all documents were written in English which tended to marginalise those who could not read and write in English.
He said in addition, the transcription in Braille to enable the vision impaired to participate in the country’s development process was also done.
“The translation and the transcription of the plans will enable all stakeholders to understand and take part in the implementation process for the development of our country”, Mr Banda said.
Mr Banda further said this would also make it possible for everybody to participate in monitoring and evaluation of the plans.
And Mr Banda said Government’s goal was to continue with viable economic policies that would promote broad-based growth and consolidate nation unity, political and socio-economic stability.
He said monitoring and evaluation would further help stakeholders translate objectives into results and check the implementation process.
Mr Banda said after the training it was expected that all stakeholders would have a role to play in monitoring and evaluation of development programmes
