President Banda has said that foreign investment alone will not move the economy forward. President Banda has encouraged Zambian investors to venture in business activities of their choice.

The President was speaking in Chipata this afternoon when he officially opened the eighth Spar outlet in the country.

The mall which has created over 100 jobs for locals has been constructed at a cost of 10 billion Kwacha. The President said that his goal is for Zambia to achieve a better economy in the world.

He says this will be achieved through establishing security, stability and prosperity for all Zambians.

President Banda says stability in the economy will entail more job creation, increased foreign investment, eradication of poverty and steady food production.

Hundred of Chipata residents braved the cold and rainy weather to witness the official opening of the first spar shopping mall in the town.

Mr Banda also said that government remains determined on its ambitions of job and wealth creation for all Zambians.

He said that he is pleased that many entities such as spar have taken advantage of favorable economic conditions that his government has put in place.

And Eastern Province chamber of commerce and Industry President Timothy Nyirenda observed that the opening of the shopping mall is clear testimony of good and enhanced economic policies that president Banda is implementing.

Mr. Nyirenda said that Eastern province has seen enhanced social and economic development which warrants the Chipata’s municipality to be honored with a city status

President Banda, Home Affairs Minister Mkhondo Lungu and other senior government officials later toured the spar to have a feel of what people in Chipata will experience during their shopping ventures.

On Saturday before departure to Chipata, President Banda said Zambia is at a point of economic breakthrough.

Mr Banda said this is due to increased economic activities across the country. Mr Banda also announced that Chipata District in Eastern Province would soon become city.

He said Chipata will attain the city status because of the current massive economic activities taking place in the district.

The President was happy that a number of infrastructure projects are on course to support the rising economic activities in Chipata.

[ZNBC]

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“After everyone was full, Jesus told His disciples, “Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted”
(John 6:12, NLT).

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria

The Bible tells of a time when Jesus fed a crowd of five thousand with only five loaves and two fish. That day, everyone had more than enough to eat, and there were still twelve baskets full of bread and fish leftover—more than what they started with! We serve a God of abundance! I love that Jesus told the disciples to collect all the leftovers “so that nothing is wasted.” With God, nothing is ever wasted. He’ll never waste an experience, He’ll never waste a hurt, He’ll never waste a dream, He’ll never waste even a single piece of bread.

If you’ve felt like you’ve wasted years of your life in the wrong job, hanging around the wrong people, doing the wrong things, God will gather those years and restore them back to you. He’ll take those experiences that the enemy meant for your harm and turn them around for your good. He’ll make you stronger, wiser and better off than you were before. He can launch you further into your destiny than before. Be encouraged today because with God all things are possible and nothing is ever wasted!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Heavenly Father, I give You every bit of my life, my past, my present and my future. Thank You for taking every experience in my life and turning it around for my good. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen

COPPERBELT MMD chairman Joseph Chilambwe has said former Minister of Works and Supply Mike Mulongoti is an ungrateful man and has warned that MMD youths will not allow him to continue issuing derogatory remarks against President Banda and the Government.

“What has changed now? In the last Presidential election Mr Mulongoti sang good songs about President Banda. He said all sorts of good things about Mr Banda. He said President Banda was the best man. Zambians must be wary of politicians like Mr Mulongoti who have no direction,” he said.

Mr Chilambwe was speaking during a press briefing on April 9 in Kitwe.

He said it is unfortunate that Mr Mulongoti is being confrontational but warned that if the MMD youths are provoked they are ready to react.

Mr Chilambwe said MrMulongoti does not have the capacity to discredit President Banda in this year’s elections because Zambians are happy with the way the Government is being managed under President Banda’s leadership.

He said no one was intimidated or harassed at the MMD convention and that every party member was allowed to contest positions that they wanted.

“In fact we are asking the security wings to investigate MrMulongoti to find out where he got the money he intends to use to de-campaign President Banda. We also challenge Mr Mulongoti to stand as a member of Parliament in Lufwanyama if he wants to contest this year’s elections at Parliament level because he will be defeated. The man is not popular.

Mr Mulongoti has benefited a lot from the MMD, people know him today because of his association with the MMD. He must be grateful to the MMD in particular to President Banda,” he said.

He said MMD cadres on the Copperbelt will not allow the former minister to cause unnecessary confusion and that the party is gaining ground daily in the Province.

“Mr Mulongoti was just nominated as MP. His constituency was State House. Why is he insulting President Banda? Is it because he was dropped as minister and member of Parliament? President Banda is going to win this year’s elections because he is humble and mature. He has developed the country within a short period of time and the people of Zambia like him because of his style of leadership,” he said.

Mr Chilambwe urged MMD cadres to be wary of some former senior party members who have lost direction in life.

“We know that Mr Mulongoti is frustrated but he must not provoke us. We always condemn violence, and we want this year’s elections to be very peaceful,” he said.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

The Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) has observed that the clashes between rival political party cadres whenever they meet are expected as they are two warring sides.

EFZ executive director Reverend Pukuta Mwanza says the tension between political parties only needs a neutral voice to mediate and bring them together in unity.

He noted that the Church plays a pivotal role in ensuring that there is proper dialogue between political parties to help uphold political morals.

Reverend Mwanza says that EFZ will soon roll out a programme to address the inter-party dialogue meeting to ensure that there is harmony and unity amongst political parties.

He added that the programme will also help foster peace and stability in the country ahead of the general elections.
[ QFM ]

More than seven female teachers have run away from a named basic school in Shimabala area in Chilanga after two of the teachers at the school were shot at and raped this week.

The teachers’ departure has paralyzed operations at the school.

A 21 year old youth and his friend from the same area carried out the atrocities after stealing his grand father’s fire arm.

One of the two teachers is still admitted at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) while her colleague has been discharged after treatment.

Meanwhile, management at MCK lodge situated in Chilanga’s Shimabala area has refuted police reports that a guard who was shot at by the same youths who raped the two teachers is dead.

MCK lodge Manager, Lilly Malawo says the police gave the public wrong information as the named guard who was shot at by the youths when they stormed the lodge demanding alcohol is still alive but admitted in the UTH.

She says the incident took many people by surprise as the named youths reside in the same area and have no such criminal record.

Mrs. Malawo has assured the lodge clientele of safety noting that the shooting incident was the first of its kind.
[ MUVI ]

MINISTER of Finance and National Planning Situmbeko Musokotwane yesterday signed a statutory instrument (SI) which will ensure that public institutions give preference to Zambian citizens in the procurement of goods and services.

Dr Musokotwane said at a media briefing on April 8 that the SI will give preference to citizen-influenced, empowered and owned companies even if their pricing of goods or services is higher than that of foreign companies.

He said citizens’ companies must ensure that their goods and services are of acceptable quality and that Zambian citizens have significant shares and control in the firms.

Dr Musokotwane said another key element of the SI is a reservation scheme where public procurement of goods not exceeding K3 billion will be a preserve of companies owned, influenced or empowered by Zambian citizens.

“Building or construction works of up to K20 billion will be reserved for citizen-influenced, empowered and owned companies,” Dr Musokotwane said.

He said civil and road works contracts of up to K30 billion will also be reserved for companies belonging to citizens.

Dr Musokotwane said another aspect of the SI is that when a foreign company is awarded a contract that needs recruitment of workers, such companies will ensure that 40 percent of key personnel are Zambians.

“We will give exemptions where this is not practical,” he said.

The minister said regulations contained in the SI will come into force 30 days after the instrument is published in the Government gazette.

Dr Musokotwane advised Zambians to be cautious about the issue.

“We should be careful not to focus too much on believing that if we exclude foreigners, we will be better off. We have Zambians doing business in other countries and if we rush in an uncoordinated manner without focusing on the consequences, our fellow Zambians in other countries will suffer the same consequences,” he said.

He said foreigners in most cases create employment for Zambians and that some businesses like special restaurants are exclusively for foreigners.

“Our prosperity must not be seen in terms of blocking non-Zambians,” he said.

And Dr Musokotwane has commended the World Bank for giving Zambia a US$115 million loan for irrigation development.

“We are very happy because we have been negotiating for this loan for a long time,” he said.

Dr Musokotwane said the loan will enable Government to construct a dam which will service both commercial and small-scale farmers in Central Province.

The World Bank approved the credit for the Irrigation Development and Support Project (IDSP) to help Zambia overhaul its irrigation subsector.

World Bank country manager Kapil Kapoor said the credit facility was approved by the bank’s board of directors on april 7 in Washington DC.

Mr Kapoor said the IDSP will help to reduce the poverty gap between the urban and the rural population.

Mr Kapoor said this in a statement released in Lusaka on April 8.

The irrigation project, which will be developed in proposed selected sites, is expected to be implemented over seven years. It is expected to be completed by June 2018.

Mr Kapoor said the project has four components, including irrigated agricultural support services.

And commenting on some components of the project, World Bank senior agriculturalist Indira Ekanayake said the interventions are expected to ensure that agricultural production and crop diversification happen throughout the year.

This will ensure that Zambia’s abundant water resource and arable land are used profitably to realise Zambia’s potential as a breadbasket.

The goal of Zambia’s Sixth National Development Plan for the agriculture sector is to “increase and diversify agriculture production and productivity so as to raise the share of its contribution to Gross Domestic Product by 2015.

Meanwhile, Dr Musokotwane said he will travel to Washington DC next week for the World Bank and International Monetary Fund spring meetings.

He said the meetings will provide an outlook of the world economy from experts who have gathered data on global economic projections.

Dr Musokotwane will also meet both the World Bank and IMF senior management teams.

He said the gathering will also give him an opportunity to have bilateral meetings with representatives of various countries.
[ Zambia Daily mail ]

Government has warned that it will revoke operating licences of all radio stations airing political campaign songs before the date for this year’s tripartite elections is announced.

Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Ronnie Shikapwasha said in Lusaka on April 8 that Government will not take kindly to some radio stations airing political campaign messages because it is against the Electoral Code of Conduct.

“Both public and private radio stations are bound by the provisions of the code not to air campaign materials before the President announces the election date,” Lieutenant General Shikapwasha, who is also chief Government spokesperson, said.

He was reacting to a Patriotic Front campaign song aired by Radio Phoenix yesterday at the end of a special programme featuring PF president Michael Sata.

Lt-Gen Shikapwasha said President Banda has not yet announced the date for the 2011 polls and Government will, therefore, revoke operating licences for radio stations currently airing political campaign messages for breaching the Electoral Code of Conduct.

“It is wrong for radio stations to air political campaign messages, including songs, when the date for elections is not yet known.

“I have also heard that there is a radio station in Northern Province which has started airing political campaign material. This is against the electoral code of conduct and Government will be left with no choice but to revoke operating licences,” he said.

Lt-Gen Shikapwasha said all radio stations should stop airing campaign materials and wait for the Republican President to announce the election date.

He said all media houses must adhere to the rules specified in their operating licences.

“I want to advise all media houses in the country to stick to the rules and regulations contained in their operating licences as well as the code of conduct to avoid conflicts with the licensing authority, which happens to be my ministry.

“Government has stated that it won’t interfere in the operations of media institutions, including radio stations, but let me make it clear that it is against the law for radio stations to air political campaign songs before the date of elections is announced by the President,” Lt-Gen Shikapwasha said.

He appealed to Zambians to remain calm and peaceful as the nation goes to the polls.

The PF campaign song alleges that Zambia has been destroyed by the MMD government and urges citizens to vote for the opposition party.

The song goes on to state that Government has sold Zamtel and alleges that the money has not been seen to benefit Zambians.

At the end of the programme, Mr Sata insisted that the campaign song be aired.

“Excuse me, can you put our advert. It is not over, put our advert,” Mr Sata prodded the host of the programme as he wound up the discussion.
[ Zambia Daily Mail ]