President Banda has directed the Minister of Mines, Maxwell Mwale, to direct the board of Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Investment Holding ZCCM IH to immediately write off outstanding balances which sitting tenants of 3,386 houses in the Copperbelt province owe the company.

The president has also directed ZCCM-IH to immediately stop recoveries of all outstanding balances and harassment of sitting tenants.

President Banda said he has decided to issue directives because of complaints and petitions which sitting tenants presented to him.

He said the directive refers only to residential properties.

He said it was the hope of government that houses would be sold at reasonable prices but the majority of tenants have struggled to finish paying for the houses due to exorbitant prices.

ZANIS reports that the debt write off will apply to residents in Mufulira with 1,518 houses in Butondo, Kankoyo, Kantanshi and Mupambe townships.

In Luanshya the debt write off applies to 1,011 houses, in Kitwe 732 houses in Wusakile Mindolo Nkana east and west and Chamboli while in Chililambobwe there are 31 houses.

In Kalulushi and Chambishi, the debt writes off affects 92 houses.

President Banda told sitting tenants that the house as theirs and they now have full ownership from today onwards and no parastatal company should intimidate them.

He said the MMD government is a government for all Zambians and therefore, when people complain it must listen.

He said as President, he will not stand by and watch the poor quality of life which the people have allegedly been subjected to by the opposition Patriotic Front (PF) run councils on the Copperbelt.

The President said since last year when he raised concerns over how public money was being abused by PF run councils, nothing has changed in terms of service delivery and this was why he decided to return to Kitwe and issue directives.

He said government has been left with no option but engage directly in finding partners in order to fix some of the roads in the Copperbelt province.

And president Banda has announced that he will soon go back to Kitwe to outline the plan on the road rehabilitation in the Copperbelt province.

He charged that it was not because of elections that government has decided to take up the rehabilitation of roads in the province but because local councils have failed to do so.

ZANIS

Zambian High Commissioner to Canada, Nevers Mumba has predicted that Zambia will have a sustainable, vibrant and diversified economy during President Rupiah Banda’s reign.

Dr. Mumba said the country under President Banda’s leadership has seen robust economic growth coupled with an unprecedented infrastructure development programmes especially in the social sector.

He told ZANIS in an interview that it was therefore important for Zambians to build on the achievements that have been registered through various economic diversification programmes.

Dr. Mumba hoped that government will ensure that the fundamental socio-economic policies that have contributed to recent growth and macroeconomic stability are strengthened.

He said it was gratifying that government has huge amounts of money in its reserves and has continued to register single digit inflation.

Dr. Mumba said Zambians in the diaspora are happy with President Rupiah Banda’s
setting up of a desk for them at State House.

He said the Zambian diplomatic mission in Canada will continue marketing the
country as a preferred tourism and investment destination in Africa.

Dr. Mumba was among other Zambian heads of missions abroad that attended the 2011 Heads of Missions and Senior Management Conference in Chisamba which ended yesterday.

And the Unemployment Association of Zambia has unanimously resolved to support President Rupiah Banda and the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) during the forthcoming general elections.

Association president Mpundu Mwanamwelwa told journalists at a press briefing in Lusaka today that the organisation will rally behind President Banda because of his government’s good economic policies.

Mr. Mwanamwelwa said President Banda’s government has created jobs in the country thereby meeting the association’s aspirations.

He said his organisation, which was formed in 2008, has a sole responsibility of lobbing government to create more jobs for the benefit of all Zambians, which President Banda has started addressing.

He said the President deserves another term of office so that he continues with his development programmes which his administration initiated a few years ago.

Mr. Mwanamwelwa said the current government has built many schools, hospitals, clinics and revamped the agriculture sector to guarantee food security in Zambia.

He said the Unemployment Association of Zambia has so far mobilised over 1.5 million registered voters to vote for President Banda in this year’s elections.

[pullquote]He said the Unemployment Association of Zambia has so far mobilised over 1.5 million registered voters to vote for President Banda in this year’s elections.[/pullquote]

Mr. Mwanamwelwa said he was confident that President Rupiah Banda is going to win this year’s election without much difficulty because people will base their voting on what he has done for the country.

He said his organization will help the MMD to conduct a vigorous campaign for President Banda to get a resounding victory.

Mr. Mwanamwelwa has also warned youth in the country not to vote for leaders promoting violence in this country because such leaders would plunge Zambia into chaos, a thing he said should not be entertained at all costs.

He also called on all youths in Zambia to support President Banda if they were to benefit from 50,000 jobs government is scheduled to create in the next few years.

And speaking at the same occasion, Labour Consultant and Human Rights Association of Zambia General Secretary Agrippa Tembo said government should continue empowering youth so that they may be able to stand on their own.

Mr. Tembo further called on all investors in Zambia to complement government efforts in the area of job creation.

He said investors should also stop the trend of recruiting staff from their countries of origin but to always adhere to the labour laws of Zambia.

He expressed sadness that some employers have continued to pay workers as low as K200, 000 despite government increasing the minimum wage of K419 000.

ZANIS

The Federation for Free Trade Unions in Zambia (FFTUZ) has called for issue based campaigns in the run up to this year’s general elections.

FFTUZ President Joyce Nonde Simukoko said all political parties should consider the need to conduct peaceful elections that will bring dignity to the country and avoid name calling.

Mrs. Simukoko told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that political parties should instead engage voters by meeting organized groups of people and explain their manifestoes.

She has also called on politicians to respect the office of president as the person elected is president for all Zambians and not just for his party.

“We want to see the normal way of doing things in this year’s elections. Political parties should try as much as possible to engage some organized groups and sell their manifestoes,” she said.

Mrs. Simukoko has, meanwhile, emphasized that trade unions and workers will support political parties which will look into their plight.

She said workers want parties to develop manifestoes that will protect existing jobs and see the creation of more quality jobs.

She explained that the creation of more jobs was cardinal and would ensure the formation of a vibrant labour movement.

Mrs. Simukoko added that the federation is currently studying political party manifestoes to see which party it will endorse in this year’s elections.

She reiterated that the federation will only support parties that will abide by the United Nations labor conventions and also guarantee a pension scheme for workers.

Mrs. Simukoko has meanwhile welcomed this year’s theme of Labour Day celebrations which is ‘creating secure employment with freedom, equity, and human dignity.’

She said the theme should, however, be translated into action by creating quality jobs.

President Rupiah Banda has said his government will at no time discriminate against any foreign or local investors wishing to invest in Zambia.

And President Banda has called on investors to invest in the country because of the enabling investment climate put in place by Government through the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry.

Mr. Banda says the principal law governing the development of multi-facility economic zones and industrial parks does not discriminate against any investors.

Mr. Banda was speaking in Lusaka yesterday when he officially launched the 104 hectare multi-dollar Roma Industrial and Commercial Park.

“The principal law governing development of multi-facility economic zones and industrial parks does not discriminate between foreign and local investors. It is my conviction that multi-facility economic zones and industrial parks should cater for both local and foreign investors.

“All investors both local and foreign will have equal opportunities to invest in any of the zones being developed in the country,” Mr. Banda said.

The Park originates from Russia and is aimed at diversifying investment and development opportunities in eight other African countries including Zambia.

[pullquote]“All investors both local and foreign will have equal opportunities to invest in any of the zones being developed in the country,” Mr. Banda said.[/pullquote]

The Roma Park which is a joint venture between foreign and local enterprises will have its own commercial and residential units, shopping mall, office complex, ware house and filling station.

Others are 400 houses, 20 office building, and 30 ware houses and will create over 4,000 jobs.

Mr. Banda said it is imperative that Zambia promotes activities that have a scope for private sector development to accelerate economic growth.

He disclosed that Zambia has greatly benefited from a number of new investment developments this year which demonstrates that the country has an international appeal as an investment destination.

The President thanked the shareholders of Roma Industrial and Commercial Park for taking a bold step of investing in Zambia.

“I take this opportunity to urge others who have not yet decided to quickly make up their minds as Zambia is now becoming a choice for investment,” President Banda said.

And speaking earlier, CPD Properties and Renaissance Development Manager for Africa Arnold Meyer commended President Banda’s administration for setting up a conducive environment for investors.

Mr. Meyer said Zambia is a haven for not only peace but good investment in the sub-region.

And Communications and Transport Minister Geoffrey Lungwangwa said Zambia has under the leadership of President Rupiah Banda recorded massive economic development.

Professor Lungwangwa said the launch of Roma Park is clear testimony of government’s commitment to the transformation of Zambia’s economy and wealth creation.

ZANIS