The Passengers, Pedestrians and Cyclists Association of Zambia (PAPECA) has called on government to rescind its decision
to scrap off the code of conduct for Public Service vehicles (PSV) which compelled bus and taxi operators to paint their vehicles in sky-blue which has since been suspended.

PAPECA Lusaka Province Secretary Paul Phiri said the scrapping of the Statutory Instrument number 115 of 2000 will work against the will of many Zambians who will have difficulties identifying PSVs.

ZANIS reports that Mr. Phiri observed that now that the decision has been suspended, government should consider reverting to the old order of having all PSVs painted in sky blue for easy identification by the commuters.

He said the uniform colour of Public Service Vehicles brought sanity on the roads as contravenes of traffic rules could easily be seen and brought to book unlike where such vehicles are painted in different colours.

He added that the uniform colour has in some way reduced road traffic accidents as drivers of passage vehicles have been careful not to abrogate rules as they feared to be reported to the authority due to the distinguished colour of their vehicles.

Mr. Phiri notes that if the colour code is changed, people with bad intentions will take advantage of commuters who will not differentiate between public transport and private vehicles.

Mr. Phiri also claimed that his association was not been consulted on the matter and hoped that the views of the association will be taken into consideration.

Mr. Phiri’s comments follow government’s decision to suspend the scrapping of the colour code for public service vehicles (PSV) to allow more discussions on the subject.

Government through the Ministry of Communications and Transport announced on Friday that all PSV operators would be free to prefer colours of their choice following the abolishment of Statutory Instrument number 115 of 2000, which compelled bus and taxi operators to paint their vehicles in sky-blue.

But yesterday Communications and Transport Minister Geoffrey Lungwangwa announced the suspension of Statutory Instrument number 31 of 2011 on the colour code for public service vehicles pending more consultations.

ZANIS

The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has received funding for constructing of new structures at a rehabilitation centre for drug addicts.

Commission Public Relations Manager John Nyawali disclosed that government has allocated k1.8 billion in this year’s budget to facilitate the construction of new structures at the rehabilitation center for drug addicts.

Mr. Nyawali said about K500 million has already been released for the commencement of the project in Lusaka’s Makeni area

He explained that the center for will be a reformatory center for people addicted to drugs.

He told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that as soon as the rehabilitation center is completed, it will be opened to help reform people addicted to drugs and not people who need de-intoxication.

Mr. Nyawali further explained that the infrastructure is meant to facilitate the provision of outdoor activities to out-patients that need reformation in order to reduce drug abuse in the country.

He added that the center will offer counseling and training that will offer life skills to help people that are addicted to drugs fit in society and become productive members of the community.

Mr. Nyawali said the construction of the centre is expected to be completed this month and be opened in May this year.

He hoped that people will take advantage of the centre to get the help they desire in dealing with drug addicts.

Meanwhile, Mr. Nyawali has disclosed that the commission is currently renovating the existing structures in Lusaka to facilitate for the treatment of drug abusers.

ZANIS

The Zambia National Union of Teachers (ZNUT) and the Zambia National Education Coalition (ZANEC) have welcomed government’s plans to formulate a code of ethics for teachers.

Both ZNUT and ZANEC said the formulation of a code of ethics for teachers will bring about sanity in the teaching profession.

Recently, government announced that it will soon present the Professional Teachers Regulatory Body Bill to Parliament to pave way for the formulation of a code of ethics for the teaching fraternity.

Speaking in a separate interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today, ZNUT General Secretary Newman Bubala said a code of ethics for any profession plays an important in improving service delivery.

Mr. Bubala noted that without a code of ethics, workers fail to work according to the expectations of the public and consequently affect national development.

He explained that this was why a code of ethics is vital as it will also help in maintaining discipline among erring teachers.

And Mr. Bubala has noted that government should ensure that in the code of ethics, teachers that have been fired from government schools do not find employment in private schools.

He said this will ensure that teachers are regulated in their profession just the way it is with other professions.

He further urged government to ensure that teachers are also part of the formulation process if the code is to address key issues in the education sector.

“For us teachers, we want to ensure that we follow this bill closely and also urge the government to include us in the formulation process,” he aid.

And ZANEC Chairperson Barbara Chilangwa said government should be praised for coming with such an idea.

Ms. Chilangwa stated that the teachers are the only professionals that do not have a professional regulatory body despite them comprising a big number of employees in the country.

“The teaching service is one of the largest industries so it is surprising to see that they do not have a professional body,“ he said.

She said a code of ethics will assist people to hold teachers in high standards in society.

She noted that the code will also help rekindle the trust that people have had in the teaching service in the past.

Ms. Chilangwa added that by having professional guidelines, issues of abuse and examination leakages will also be effectively addressed.

ZANIS

Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande has praised Zambian Heads of Missions abroad for strictly adhering to financial regulations in ensuring zero audit queries from the office of the Auditor General.

Mr. Pande said government was happy with some heads of missions who have been providing required leadership to ensure meager financial resources are prudently utilized for the intended purpose.

He said Zambian diplomats should effectively contribute to the attainment of the Sixth National Development Plan and the National Vision 2030 that aim at making Zambia a middle income country by that year.

Mr. Pande was speaking today during the official opening of the 2011 Heads of Missions and Senior Management Conference in Chisamba which was held under the theme “Effective diplomacy for sustainable National Development”.

And speaking on behalf of other diplomats, Zambian High Commissioner to Kenya, Christina Lambart said the conference has come at the opportune time when the country is scheduled to hold its tripartite elections this year.

Ambassador Lambart pledged that diplomats will serve the country and its interests diligently for the benefit of their host countries and Zambians in the Diaspora.

She further pledged that diplomats are eager to implement the outcome of the conference which will culminate into an action plan for sustainable national development and international relations.

The week long conference will tackle various topics such as foreign policy, code of ethics, regional and international economic communities among many others issues.

ZANIS

President Rupiah Banda will not take Eastern Province for granted as his political stronghold when he embarks on the Presidential campaign trail.

Mr Banda says he will continue to solicit for votes in all parts of Eastern Province and the rest of the country.

The President was speaking to journalists today at Chipata Airport shortly before departure for Lusaka.

Mr Banda was in Chipangali constituency on Sunday to thank the electorate for the massive support they continue to give him.

President Banda who left aboard a Zambia Airforce plane about 12:15 hours, was seen off by Eastern Province Minister Isaac Banda, MMD provincial Chairman Kennedy Zulu, Provincial Permanent Secretary Euralia Mwale and several MMD and government officials.

And MMD Eastern Province Chairman, Kennedy Zulu said current development projects in the region will warrant President Banda a landslide victory.

President Banda was in Eastern Province to witness the consecration of Benjamin Phiri as Auxiliary Bishop for Chipata diocese.

Mr Banda also commissioned the ten billion Kwacha newly constructed Spar shopping Mall in Chipata on Sunday.

Mr Banda also addressed a mammoth rally at Kasenga Basic School ground in Chipangali Constituency.

ZNBC

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.