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Zambia renew recent Olympic rivalries with Algeria whom they face in a second round pre-group stage qualifier in June.
According to the pre-group stage draws made today in Cairo by Caf, Zambia will travel to Algeria in the first leg during the weekend of June 3-5.
Zambia will later host Algeria in the return leg a fortnight later to decide which team advances to the group stage qualifiers to be played at the end of 2011.
“They are a good team and we just have to fight and work very hard,” Msiska said.”Every game is tough away whether you play Botswana or whatever team.”
Zambia and Algeria’s last meeting in an Olympic qualifier was in 2003 in a 2004 Athens Group D qualifier.
Peter Kaumba’s side lost 1-0 away before defeating Algeria 4-2 at Arthur Davies stadium in Kitwe but Ghana went on to win in Group D to qualify to the Greece finals.
PF cadres THE Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) has said the Patriotic Front (PF) manifesto does not provide any new ideas to improve the mining sector.
MUZ acting president Charles Mukuka said in an interview that the manifesto’s segment on mining did not represent any ideas that were not tackled in the MMD’s 2007 manifesto.
Mr Mukuka said it was disappointing that the PF lifted similar plans from the ones that the MMD had in 2007 to implement in the mining industry instead of working on different ideas that would attract support from the public.
He said various policies and frameworks that the PF were referring to in their new manifesto had already been or were being successfully undertaken by the Government.
“It is surprising that the PF’s manifesto talks of uncertainty in the mining industry when in fact Government has managed to woo a lot of investors to the sector,” he said.
Mr Mukuka said the PF manifesto talked of failure by the MMD Government to diversify the mining sector but he said various new mine activities had been established including manganese and nickel mining in Luapula and Southern provinces respectively.
He said Government had undertaken various policy changes, which had galvanised and increased mining investment in Zambia and that it was unfortunate that the opposition did not provide convincing new policy plans for the sector.
“This is simply a replica of the MMD’s 2007 manifesto which also tabulated how the party would provide among other things revolving funds for small-scale miners,” he said.
Mr Mukuka said under the MMD manifesto also contained plans to diversify mining activities from the traditional copper mining and a review of the legislative frame work.
Meanwhile, the Sub-Saharan Gemstone Exchange (SGE) has said there has been unprecedented investment in the mining sector in the last five years.
SGE president Phesto Musonda said in an interview that the high levels of investment could only come about with the implantation of good economic policies and an attractive investment environment.
Mr Musonda said investment confidence was clear through the amount of pledged investment by mining companies, especially on the Copperbelt.
“Already we have Luanshya Mine committing US $300 million to its expansion, with Mopani and Trident announcing billions of dollars in investments,” he said.
Mr Musonda said the long-term tax regime in Zambia had played an important role in attracting more investment because it in turn allowed the investors to recoup the investment, make their profits and remit the required taxes.
He said policy on small-scale mines had also improved with a focus on empowering Zambian entrepreneurs, especially those in the gemstone industry.
“In the past there had been challenges in implementing diversification but it was realised that the small scale mining industry was a major contributor to the success of the process,” he said.
Mr Musonda said the Government had put up policy that ensured that all artisan licenses such as construction in the industry were given to Zambians.
And some civil society organisations have described the PF manifesto as inadequate and hollow because it was mostly a replica of the MMD and UPND manifestos, with most of the proposals already being implemented by the current Government.
Committee of Citizens executive director Gregory Chifire said in an interview yesterday that his organisation was disappointed that the PF manifesto wants to promote a secular State.
“The manifesto and the party constitution contradict themselves, in their constitution they are saying that State institutions would be run by party loyalists. Instead of giving a proper road map of their own of how they want to manage the affairs of the country, they keep referring to the MMD which means it is a copy cut,” he said.
The PF manifesto did address the real issues and does not inspire confidence that the opposition party would be the alternative Government.
Forum for Leadership Search executive director Edwin Lifwekelo said most of the proposals in the PF blueprint were already being implemented by the MMD Government.
“I have read through the manifesto which the PF is circulating and clearly it is a copy cat of the MMD manifesto which RB (President Rupiah Banda) and the MMD are already implementing even better,” he said.
He said with the revision of the MMD manifesto at the party convention in Kabwe, the ruling party was well placed to move the country forward.
“The PF manifesto is a duplicate of the MMD manifesto, Mr Michael Sata has no capacity to write his own manifesto, he had copied the UNIP constitution as well, so it is a blank cheque,” he said.
Bishops Council of Zambia spokesperson Gibson Nyirenda said the PF manifesto was a confirmation that the ruling party was on the right track in developing the country.
“We have seen how the economy has been growing under the MMD Government and am sure that the PF manifesto is an acknowledgement of that the economy is growing,” he said.
The PF recently launched its manifesto which they have been circulating.
Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko MusokotwaneMinister of Finance and National Planning, Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane arrived in Washington DC on Tuesday morning to attend the proceedings of the joint IMF/World Bank Spring meetings to be held on April 16 and 17, 2011.
Dr. Musokotwane who represents Zambia as Governor within the World Bank Group is heading the Zambian delegation which includes Secretary to the Treasury who is also Alternate Governor of the World Bank Mr. Likolo Ndalamei, Special Advisor to the President for Economy and Development, Dr. Richard Chembe and the Permanent Secretary (Budget and Economic Affairs) Mr. Emmanuel Ngulube and other officials from the Ministry of Finance. This is according to a press statement made available to Lusakatimes by Ben Kangwa Press secretary to Zambian embassy in Washington DC
Also attending the Spring meetings is a team from the Bank of Zambia- Bank of Zambia Governor and Alternate Governor of the IMF, Dr. Caleb Fundanga, will join the Zambian delegation on Friday.
The Washington program for the Minister of Finance includes meetings with the management of the IMF and the World Bank to discuss recent economic developments in Zambia as well as areas where the two institutions can assist in the achievement of Zambia’s development agenda.
The Minister is scheduled to meet with World Bank Managing Director Ms. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to share views on Zambia’s Sixth National Development Plan, its macroeconomic reforms, infrastructure needs and other projects in the pipeline.
Other issues likely to be discussed include Irrigation projects and its impact on food security, employment creation and economic growth.
He will also meet with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Mr. Dominique Strauss- Khane, the Nowergian State Secretary Ms. Fiska Ingrid and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Vice President for Compact Implementation, Mr. Patrick Fine.
Dr. Musokotwane will also attend an IMF Panel discussion on the performance of the Brazil , Russia, India and China (BRICs) serving as a new growth model for Low Income Countries (LIC) such as Zambia as well as attend a meeting of the Africa Group1 Constituency.
Reports that will form part of the agenda for discussion at this year’s Spring meetings will include among others an update on the “World Bank Group Modernization “, the Global Monitoring Report for 2011, the 2011 World Development Report, the Global Food Prices and Governance and Accountability.
A 45 year-old watchman who was badly injured by armed bandits in an attack at the guest house in Nakonde on Wednesday last week has died.
Both Nakonde District Commissioner (DC) Billy Silwimba and the police have confirmed the development to the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS today.
Mr. Silwimba said Noel Sikaonga of Gabon area of Ntindi Village in chieftainess Nawaitwika’s chiefdom died in Kasama yesterday.
He said burial for the late Sikaonga, who worked as a security guard at Quiet land guest house will take place in Nakonde today.
And Mr. Silwimba says police have intensified their search and investigations for the suspected bandits who attacked Quiet land guest house last week.
Five others, all Businessmen from Chiengi in Luapula Province who were attacked by the same bandits on the same morning have since been discharged and are recovering from home.
He said police in Nakonde are working with their counterparts in Tanzania in hunting for the bandits believed to be hiding in that country.
The DC has appealed to the members of the public to help the police with information that would lead to the arrest of the wanted men.
FIVE businessmen and watchman of Quiet land guest house in Nakonde district were in the early hours of Wednesday last week attacked and injured in the head by bandits armed with a pistol and matchets.
The bandits forced open 12 rooms at the gust house, beating up occupants and stealing cash and other valuables before sneaking into the neighbouring country.
Nchelenje District residents are living in fear of their lives after a three year old girl was found dead with some of her body parts servered in what is suspected to be aritual murder.
Confirming the incident to ZANIS in Nchelenge,today, Luapula Province Police commanding Officer, Godwin Phiri said the deceased body was found without her right leg and left hand, adding that there was also found deep hole in the left armpit.
Mr. Phiri, who identified the deceased girl as Dorcas Kapunga of Chipulwe Village in Chief Nshimba’s area on Lake Mweru’s Kilwa Island , said she was found about 25 Kilometres away from her home.
The body of the girl was discovered hidden among some overgrown reeds on the shores of Lake Mweru by Fishermen.
The Police commanding officer said the toddler had gone missing for close to three weeks before her body was discovered.
“She went missing on 21st March this year and the matter was reported to Police by the girl’s mother on 29th March this year, only to
discover her body on Saturday 8th of April 2011,” Said Mr. Phiri.
The Police Chief told ZANIS that remains of the girl has since been buried on a marked grave.
“The girl has been buried on a marked grave but we expect to have her body exhumed or forensic examination as investigation into the
matter progresses” said Mr. Phiri.
And Mr. Phiri revealed that the Step-father to the deceased girl identified as 32 years old Raymond Kanengwa also of Chipulwe Village
on Kilwa Island has been picked up by Police to help with nvestigations into the matter.
He said Mr. Kanengwa has been detained at Nchelenge Police Station.
Meanwhile, there was commotion at Kilwa Island when a mob of villagers descended on the step Father of the deceased girl in the hope of meting out instant justice after accusing him of killing the girl for some rituals.
One of the Villagers who sought to remain anonymous for fear of victimisation told ZANIS that mobs from several villages on Kilwa
island accused the step-father identified as Raymond Kanengwa of using the missing body parts to carry out some rituals to enable him to become Wealthy.
The witness said the angry mob attacked Mr. Kanengwa with stones and other missiles and was only saved through quick action by the neighbourhood Watch Committee which whisked him to safety and later handed him over to the Police.
The parliamentary committee on Local government and Housing yesterday took Mwense district council management to task over its ( the local authority) to utilise K 500 million to construct of new offices.
The committee was also not happy with the failure by the Mwense district Director of works Patrick Chishimba to prepare a bill of quantities for the renovation works on the council guest house.
The parliamentary committee,led by its chairperson Regina Musokotwane, heard during the meeting that K500 million is lying in the bank since last year and has been reducing due to interests charges.
Mwense district council secretary Bruce Mujajati informed the parliamentary committee that so far the K500 million has been reduced by K3.2 million in form of bank charges.
[pullquote]Mwense district council secretary Bruce Mujajati informed the parliamentary committee that so far the K500 million has been reduced by K3.2 million in form of bank charges.[/pullquote]
It was learnt that what was delaying the engaging of a contractor was a standoff between the council secretary and the district commissioner over who was supposed to chair the tender committee meetings in the district.
The District Commissioner Benjamin Chama is reported to be in possession of a letter from the permanent secretary’s office instructing him to chair the meeting, but the council secretary Mr Mujajati said the local government act allows him to chair the meeting.
The committee directed the council secretary to go ahead and chair the meeting, warning that should the misunderstanding between the DC and the council secretary continue the parliamentary committee will have no option but to take appropriate measures.
FLASHBACK: Shoprite Zambia employees perched on trolleys behind the Manda Hill staore
The tripartite meeting, which met to resolve recent happenings at Shoprite, has resolved to give amnesty to all Shoprite workers who went on a work stoppage recently.
The meeting included Shoprite management, leaders from the National Union of Commercial and Industrial Workers and officials from the Ministry of labour and social Security.
The meeting also resolved that Shoprite Management should immediately withdraw all disciplinary charges against 24 workers who were accused of having organized the protest.
Minister of Labour, Austin Liato disclosed the contents of the meeting saying the stakeholders had also resolved that the labour movement should also sensitise its members on the procedure of handling grievances.
On Monday, government summoned Shoprite management following reports that the chain store had allegedly issued letters of suspension and gross misconduct to some union officials and workers who participated in the recent countrywide strike.
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.
