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MMD cadres file picture
Twenty -Seven Copperbelt University students from the PF/UPND Pact have defected to the ruling party.
Copperbelt MMD Task Force Chairman Joe Malanji has since praised the students for exhibiting maturity by choosing to support the MMD.
Mr. Malanji said the defectors have made a wise decision to endorse the candidature of Mr Rupiah Banda for this year’s general elections.
He is further advising young people in colleges and universities to analyse all leaders before choosing the presidential candidate to support in the 2011 tripartite elections.
And Copperbelt Vice Provincial Chairman Frank Ng’ambi has challenged the defectors to be the genesis of real change on the Copperbelt.
Mr. Ng’ambi said the Copperbelt has lagged behind because of poor leadership exhibited by the opposition who are fond of opposing everything that government does.
Mr. Ng’ambi says the country has received massive development under the leadership of president Rupiah Banda and is heartened to learn that the students have decided to support the president and his government.
Lusaka Province Minister Charles Shawa has donated food stuffs and blankets to the People of Shiali in Kanakantapa area of Chongwe District whose homes were set ablaze by an angry mob from surrounding villages.
The compound was set ablaze following allegations that the locals who are members of a named religious group practice satanism and terrorise villagers.
Buildings such as a community school, a church and about 20 houses were destroyed in the inferno.
Speaking after the donation, Mr. Shawa condemned the action by the culprits and called on Police to arrest them for taking the law in their own hands adding that Government made the donation after all the members of the religious group had been left homeless.
He called for the need to counsel the leader of the religious cult failure to which police must move in.
The Minister said although allegations of Satanism have been leveled against members, they do not deserve the punishment they have been subjected to.
Mr. Shawa also called on the leader of the named religious group to be living in peace with neighbouring villages and cooperate with Government in various development programmes.
And Chongwe District Commissioner Japhen Mwakalombe said the problem started when religious group imposed rules on the people in surrounding areas among them not to plough without approval of the religious leader.
Mr. Mwakalombe who is also Chairperson for the District Disaster and Mitigation Committee (DDMC) said the religious group refused to be counted during the last national census and also refused to seek medical attention whenever they fall sick.
Vice president George Kunda (l) looks as Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane signs a bilateral agreement with the Chinese in Lusaka
Zambia and China have this afternoon signed two agreements on economic and technical co-operation. The agreements will see Zambia benefit from Chinese grants and interest free loans.
Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane signed on behalf of Zambia, while Chong Quan who is the Vice Commerce Minister of China signed on behalf of his country.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Vice President George Kunda and visiting Vice Prime Minister of China Hui Liang
The two countries also signed two Memorada of Understanding to strengthen their agriculture sectors.
Agriculture Minister Eustackio Kazonga signed for Zambia while China’s Vice Minister of Agriculture Niu Dun signed for his country.
The other MoU was signed by Zambia Development Agency Chief Executive Officer Andrew Chipwende and Chairman of the National group of China Liu Shenli.
And Vice President George Kunda has said that China provides opportunities to many areas which are critical to Zambia’s economic development.
Mr Kunda said Prime Minister Hui’s visit to Zambia will create further channels of co-operation and enhance bilateral relations.
And Mr Hui said Zambia and his country have continued to enjoy long standing mutual and cordial relations.
Meanwhile President Rupiah Banda and visiting Chinese vice Premier Hui Liangyu are this afternoon expected to officiate at the ground breaking ceremony for the construction of a multi-billion Kwacha Lusaka stadium.
The ultra modern sports facility, to be built next to the old stadium, will be the second the Chinese government will construct, after the Ndola Stadium which is expected to be completed later this year.
In the last five years, the Zambia national soccer team has been playing its home games at Konkola Stadium in Chililabombwe after the grand stand at Independence Stadium was demolished to pave way for a new structure.
The independence stadium has not been operational after it was declared unfit by the world football governing body FIFA.
Police in Chongwe District have arrested a physically challenged man of Miyoba Linshimbi Village for allegedly defiling a 6 year old girl of the same village over the weekend.
Miyoba Linshimbi Village Neighbourhood Watch Committee Chairperson, Elias Banda confirmed the arrest to ZANIS in Chongwe and named the man as Michael Banda aged 21.
Mr. Banda said the man was apprehended over the weekend by the Neighbourhood Watch Committee after receiving the report from the minor’s family.
And sources at Chongwe District Police Station have confirmed the arrest and referred all queries to police spokesperson in Lusaka.
The sources at Chongwe District Police Station have however said the man will appear in court soon.
This is the first defilement case the district has recorded this year.
Economic Association of Zambia (EAZ) president Noel Nkhoma has with immediate effect resigned his position.
Mr. Nkhoma who is former Finance Bank Zambia Executive director corporate banking and marketing says his decision to resign was personal.
He said with effect from today he has decided to resign as EAZ president on principle and lead a life out of the public eye.
Mr. Nkhoma confirmed that the decision to resign has been thought over and that he is sure he has made a best decision.
Mr. Nkhoma adds that he has been reflecting on the decision to resign for the past few weeks.
President Rupiah Banda has said that the government intends to put up an ethanol plant in eastern province to reduce the cost of imported oil in the country.
And President Banda says his government will next year extend the Chipata /Mchinji railway to Katete district.
Mr. Banda said his government will increase sugarcane production which will facilitate the production of ethanol oil in the country.
The President observed that Zambia is spending a lot of money on imported oil saying the construction of ethanol plants will enable the country to produce oil.
He stated that it is for this reason that he went to Brazil to learn how ethanol can be used for oil production, among other issues.
He stated that this will also lead to an increase in the levels of employment among people who will work on both sugar and ethanol plants.
And President Banda says his government will next year extend the Chipata /Mchinji railway to Katete district.
He said that government will allocate local resources to extend the railway line to the district before it seeks the international donor community for financial support to further extend the railway line to Lusaka via Petauke.
President Banda stated that government has made scores in the development of the country in various sectors of the economy.
He cited agriculture which has shown a significant output increase saying the country has produced a bumper harvest which has improved the livelihood of farmers.
He stated that Eastern Province produced maize worth K280 Billion which was sold to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).
“A total of K233 has already been paid to farmers in the province on maize alone,’ he said.
President Banda also noted that there has been an increase in tobacco, groundnuts and cotton production in the province.
He also disclosed that government will next year rehabilitate the Great East road from Luwangwa to Malawi to international standard.
He expressed his commitment to complete the reconstruction of the Chipata/Mfuwe, Chipata/Lundazi, Lundazi/Chama, Chama/Muyomba and Muyombe/Isoka roads to ease transportation of agriculture produce to markets.
The Head of State said government has attained macroeconomic stability saying inflation has been brought to single digit levels with an economic growth at 6 percent.
He observed that the exchange rate has stabilized adding that government has re-organized the budget cycle to allow for better economic management.
President Banda stated that the MMD government has built schools at both primary and Secondary levels.
“There are three new boarding high schools Nyimba, Chama and Chipata and seven Basic schools in Chipata, Petauke, Lundazi and Chama.
The opposition Patriotic Front ( PF ) says it is grateful to its pact partner United Party for National Development (UPND) for helping the party to become popular in Southern province.
And at the same launch, 30 MMD members defected to PF citing corruption and other irregularities in the MMD, as reason for their defection.
PF Provincial chairman Joseph Akafumba said today that the cordial relationship with the pact partner UPND has helped his party to grow in the province.
“ PF ‘s popularity in the province has grown massively, now. We ( PF ) have become a major talk of the day in the province, “ Mr. Akufuna said .
The provincial chairman said this at the launch of PF campaigns in the province yesterday in, Mbabala constituency in Choma .
He claimed the MMD has failed the people of Zambia lamentably especially in Southern province hence the need for them to join the PF.
He cited the recent burning down of people ‘s houses in Macha Chiefdom of Choma district and the shooting of miners at column coal mine in Sinazongwe District were the major indicators of government ‘s failure to protect its people.
He accused government of siding with foreigners.
He explained that the journey to change Zambia, which has began in Mbabala constituency, will spread to other districts in the province.
The PF provincial chairman further charged that there is need for the people to vote the MMD out, accusing government of being corrupt and visionless.
Mr. Akafumba also pointed out that the MMD is deceiving people by claiming things they did not initiate adding that it is high time people should say bye to it.
He advised people of Mbabala not to be deceived by the tarring of Choma Namwala road stating that is a duty of any government of the day to develop the country.
Mr. Akafumba said the PF has been always ready to address the challenges facing people hence the need to give it chance in this year s tripartite elections.
The PF provincial chairman said president Banda is spending much time commissioning small projects insteady of addressing serious challenges the country is facing.
He also refuted claims made by some people that PF is tribal and has challenged those claiming to came out in open .
And at the same launch, 30 MMD members defected to PF citing corruption and other irregularities in the MMD.
“We have been neglected by MMD hence the reason why we have decided to join PF because it seem to be focused,” they said.
Among those who claimed to have defected include Maxwell Muchimba who is former MMD Kabimba ward chairman,George Sikabanze former MMD Kabimba youth chairman and senior MMD member in Mbabala constituency Stanley Moyo .
Concerned Mtendere Township residents in Lusaka have expressed their gratitude with the Zambia Police Service for the increased patrols which has reduced crime activities in the area.
The residents told a ZANIS crew which toured the area, today, that it was quiet pleasing to note that crime levels in the area had drastically reduced due to increased police patrols.
Mtendere care in Charge of security at UNIP complex , Blackell Sakala, who spoke in the vernacular Njanja language said residents in the area were now happy with police officers for their of late intensified foot night patrols.
Mr. Sakala said people in Mtendere are now able to sleep soundly as thieves are no longer attacked them . He commended the Zambia Police Service for stepping up patrols in the township.
And another resident, Manfred Kabenja, who spoke in Bemba said Mtendere residents are grateful to the police and neighborhood officers in the area saying the security men are really geared to work for the people of Mtendere .
Mr. Kabenja said Mtendere used to be haven of peace for a long time until recently when the area has experienced a number of crimes activities ranging from housebreak ins to assaults.
He urged the officers in the area to continue working hard so that crime should be a thing of the past in Mtendere.
Another resident Lackson Chiluba, said police officers operating in the township should be hailed for their tireless efforts in reducing crime in the area.
He urged the residents of Mtendere to cooperate with the police in combating crime adding that the fight against the vice should not be left to the police alone.
About 78,000 people, are likely to be negatively affected by floods in Mongu District of Western Province.
Out of these, 60 percent to be affected are women and children.
This is according Mongu District Commissioner Jethrow Mumbuwa when he officiated the workshop at Mongu lodge over the weekend.
Mr. Mumbuwa said this in a speech read on his behalf by District Board Secretary Mulonda Sendoi during the launch of the Mongu District Disaster Management Contingency plan for 2011, in Mongu.
The District Commissioner said that the contingency plan outlines the measures Mongu District Disaster Management has put in place, in case of any eventuality of the disaster.
Mr. Mumbuwa has since challenged the implementing agencies in disaster management that they should amulet Oxfam, Concern Worldwide, World Vision, People’s Participation service for their effort in supporting Mongu Disaster Management Committee and the Satellite Management Committee through a number of interventions.
Two weeks ago, Government procured a dredger worth K 7 billion To open water channels in Mongu District and Western Province as general in order to mitigate the negative impacts of floods.
ZANIS
Lusaka Provincial Minister Charles Shawa (second l)
Lusaka Province Minister Charles Shawa says he happy that the long awaited construction of the Chongwe District Hospital has finally been completed.
Speaking when he toured the biggest health facility in the District today, Mr. Shawa said he was particularly pleased that the completed construction of the hospital was in line with government’s policy of providing health services as closer to the people as possible.
The Provincial Minister noted that the construction of the Health Centre in the district will ease the burden of people going to far flung areas to access health care.
The modern hospital has constructed at a total cost of about 7 billion kwacha by government.
He said the completion of the district hospital demonstrates government’s commitment in providing quality health care to its people in both urban and rural Zambia.
Mr. Shawa also stated that the construction of the District Hospital is in the right framework in the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s).
And District Medical Health Officer Dr. Lucky Msiska said the District hospital is a big achievement and pride for the Chongwe District.
Aspiring Mulobezi Constituency Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD) Member of Parliament (MP) Mangenda Mubukwanu has accused incumbent MP Michael Mabenga of having neglected the people of Sesheke district in Western Province.
Mr. Mubukwanu alleged that there are no drugs and inadequate personnel in schools and health Centers while the road and rail infrastructures have collapsed.
Mr. Mubukwanu says it is the duty of the parliamentarian to facilitate and bring development closer to the people.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today, Mr. Mubukwanu urged the Sesheke electorates to give him a chance if they are see development on their door steps.
The aspiring MP charged that the people of Sesheke district have rejected Mr. Mabenga whom he described as better placed both as MMD National Chairman and Lands Deputy Minister to answer to the challenges faced by the people of Mulobezi.
“Mr. Mabenga has neglected the people of Mulobezi area and they have no representative in the National Assembly to initiate developmental projects for them.
“ He ( Mr. Mabenga ) is well placed both at ruling party level in MMD as well as holding the portfolio of Deputy Minister in Government,” he said.
Efforts to get a comment from Mr. Mabenga over the matter failed as his mobile phone was not reachable.
However, the ADD aspiring candidate lamented that the Mulobezi community was in dire need of development to come closer at their door steps unlike the current case.
He disclosed that this time around, Mr. Mubukwanu would give Mr. Mabenga a good run ahead of the parliamentary elections should the opposition ADD adopt the aspiring MP.
Mr. Mubukwanu claimed that once adopted, he would sink more bole holes so that people could access clean drinking water, improve the agriculture sector by mechanising the crop and animal husbandry through the utilization of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) as opposed to misappropriating the Fund which the incumbent MP was a ‘charged for corruption involving K30 million CDF’.
Mr. Mubukwanu further claimed that he would revive the Kataba rail sleepers which was allegedly uprooted for unknown reasons by the MMD Government as well as recapitalise the Mulobezi saw mills industry to create more jobs to the local people.
“Mr. Mabenga in his capacity as MMD National Chairman and Lands Deputy Minister, Sesheke district in particular and Western province as a whole could have been developed by people like him but he is busy trotting cheating President Rupiah Banda that the people have salt when the people do not have it,” said angry looking Mubukwanu.
The ADD aspiring lawmaker appealed to republican President Mr. Banda to scrutinise the people around him and those eating with him than wait to be embarrassed by the 2011 polls results.
A Ndola based Herbalist, Howard Maila, has called on
government and other stakeholders in the country to authenticate his HIV/AIDS treatment formula before he can officially start administering his herb on people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHIV/AIDS).
Mr. Maila told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka, today, that his formula has potency to cure HIV/AIDS by boosting patient’s immune systems hence the need for it to be embraced by all stakeholders adding that the formula can cure more than other 200 diseases.
He explained that among other disease his formula can cure various diseases including cancer, diabetes, tuberculosis, kidney failure and other ailments.
Mr. Maila, who is also a Teacher by profession at Kabwata Basic school in Ndola
says preliminary clinical trials conducted by government in 2005 on the formula
proved curative but wondered why government was undecided to certify his formulae.
He said he is ready to subject his formula for other trails to prove that it has potency and thus an effective cure for the cross sections of diseases affecting most people in the country.
According to the herbalist, the Maila formula reduces the viral load to zero and increasing the CD4 count of the patient to its normal level.
“ I am just saddened that government is losing colossal sums of money purchasing
Antiretroviral Drugs abroad when the cure could be found in Zambia,” he said.
The country has had several claims from citizens claiming to have found herbs with potency to cure HIV/AIDS one of these being former Cabinet minister Dr Ludwig Sondashi who has similarly claimed that his Sondashi Formulae has potency to cure HIV/AIDS.
The other is the local Homeopathy practitioner Catherine Shilalukey who has also put a claim that her Shilalukey formulae has potency to cure HIV/AIDS and other related diseases.
After a long wait however, government through its health technocrats made a public decree that plans are underway to combine modern medicine with traditional medicines in the provision of better health services in the country.
Meanwhile one of the former patients who testified the potency of the herb has urged government to speed up the process of trials so that people infected with the disease can be treated as well.
The named former patient, a ministry of education employee in Choma who asked not to be named for fear of discrimination, told ZANIS in an interview that he tested positive after his girl friend was tested for HIV/AIDS during her pregnancy.
The former patient who seemed vibrant has advised to try the Mailacin herbal treatment which later cured him.
He narrated that after 5 months of treatment he was tested negative but continued with the treatment up to seven (7) months as prescribed by the herbalist.
The High Court in Mansa today fined a 33 year old man of Sumbu Village in Chief Kalasa Lukangaba’s area in Mansa District, an amount of K6 million for causing death by dangerous driving.
Before High Court Judge Justice Fulgence Chisanga was Margly Nkona, who pleaded guilty to four counts of causing death by dangerous driving contrary to section 161(1) Act number 11 of 2002 of the Laws of Zambia.
Facts before the court were that on April 8, 2010, around 17.35 hours, the accused was driving an ERF truck registration number ABH 6497, on Chembe Mansa Road.
The court heard that while NKona was trying to overtake a Fuso Truck ahead, he hit into another vehicle which had stopped to drop some passengers at Chamaboyi village.
Four people identified as Arnold Chalwe, Joyce Chama, Cephas Mumba, and Febby Chama were killed in the process while others were seriously injured.
In passing judgment, Justice Chisanga said the court found the accused guilty to four counts of causing death by dangerous driving and fined him K1.5 million on each count.
She said the K6 million fine will be paid in three (3) months.
The High Court also fined Michael Mulonga, aged 28, a driver at Milenge District Council, K1.2 million, after he was found guilty to one count of the offence of causing death by dangerous driving contrary to section 161 sub section 1 of Act number 11 of 2002 of the Laws of Zambia.
In the same court, justice Chisanga fined a 31-year-old man K2 million after he was found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving contrary to section 161subsection 1 Act number 11 of 2002 of the Laws of Zambia.
Before High Court Judge Justice Fulgence Chisanga was Kabaso Mwenya, who stood charged and pleaded guilty to the offence of causing death by dangerous driving.
And in passing the judgment, Justice Chisanga said despite the accused being the first offender and did not waste time for the court, it was still regrettable that a life was lost.
Justice Chisanga therefore fined Kabaso Mwenya K2 million payable in instalments of K500, 000 in four months.
She said Mwenya must finish paying the fine at the end of April this year, or faces a 9 month simple imprisonment.
Three government documents have surfaced linking Patriotic Front Leaders Michael Sata to the abrogation of the Barotse Agreement of 1964 and de-recognizing of the Litunga as paramount chief of the Lozi people.
The documents are alleged to have been written by eight full cabinet ministers in the former second Republican President Dr. Chiluba’s administration on behalf of the government.
A committee is said to have been constituted to negotiate with the Barotse Royal Establishment (BRE ) representatives on the agreement.
Mr. Sata, who was then Minister of Local government and housing, was among the eight Ministers who recommended to government that based on the enquiry the Barotse land agreement was stale and no longer legal as it was overtaken by event.
Former Patriotic Front ( PF ) Secretary General Edward Mumbi revealed the development to journalists during a briefing in Lusaka today.
Mr. Mumbi availed to the official documents, one of which was written in 1992 when the eight ministers met a delegation led by the Ngambela and members the BRE.
The second document revealed that it was written in 1993 and bared recommendations of the findings to Government and a letter which was written in 1996 requesting then President Chiluba to derecognize the Litunga as paramount chief.
Mr. Mumbi explained that Mr. Sata’s committee of eight full cabinet Ministers slowed government’s attention to the Barotse Land Agreement and was further killed by a letter dated 18th August 1993 which said that the inquiry showed that no judicial process was commenced by the BRE or any other party aggrieved by the proposed amendments in reasonable time.
Mr. Mumbi wondered how Mr. Sata can now claim to support the agreement when he was among the eight Ministers who recommended that the agreement be disbanded as it was stale.
The former PF secretary general challenged Mr. Sata to explain to the Lozi people and all Zambian how the agreement he considered illegal has turned to be legal now that he is not in government.
He urged the people of Western province to seek an explanation from Mr. Sata to task for skimming to dethrone the Litunga in January 1996 by writing a letter to President Chiluba so that the Litunga’s Chieftainship recognition be dropped which Chiluba refused.
Mr. Mumbi has since warned Zambians to be cautious of the PF leader who he described as a popularist politician and danger to the country as he is not decent and honest.
He said will do anything including risking his life to enter state house and asked Mr. Sata to leave issues such as the Barotse agreement to intellectuals and decent people to debate.
He noted that President Banda and his vice President was not in government at the time of the agreement but are trying hard to dialogue over the issue which he said should be commended and supported.
File: Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande leads the Zambian delegation at the ongoing SADC summit in Namibia.
Zambia has called upon President Laurent Gbagbo to respect the people’s wish and accept defeat as true statesman and step down to allow the President-elect Mr Alassane Dramane Ouattara to assume his duties as head of state of the Ivory Coast.
The government is also closely following the preparations for the referendum for self-determination of Southern Sudan which will take place from January 9 to January 15 as provided for in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) of 2005.
In statement realeased yesterday, Minister of Foreign Affairs Kabinga Pande said President Gbago and the Ivorians should give chance and support the efforts of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) of bringing peace to West African state.
Mr Pande urged the Ivorian stakeholders to exercise restraint, resist the use of violence and preserve and consolidate the country’s fragile unity at all costs.
Mr Pande said Zambia supports the initiatives of the heads of state and government of ECOWAS, in tandem with the African Union and United Nations aimed at finding a lasting solution to the crisis in the Ivory Coast in order to avoid further displacement of people and loss of life.
“Zambia wishes to express its deep concern at the political impasse which has been created by the inauguration of two presidents and the establishment of two separate governments at the expense of the Ivorian people’s will,” Mr Panda said.
He said Zambia closely monitored the electoral process in general and in particular the presidential elections that took place on November 28, 2010.
