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Pepsi Vs Coke

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File: PJ Corporation Chairman Ravi Kant Jaipuria and President Rupiah Banda sipping canned Pepsi during the laying of the foundation stone for a Pespi bottling plant in Lusaka

By Wesley Ngwenya

Sitting at a table in a restaurant on Cairo Road, in downtown Lusaka, I eagerly wait for my drink. I haven’t had this drink for more than three years. I wonder if I still remember the taste of it. In fact, for the first time, I am quite excited ordering this drink. The drink comes in a 350mls bottle. I waste no time and take a long sip of the contents of the bottle. I put the bottle down simultaneously burping and feeling embarrassed. “This Pepsi is really going down”, I thought.
I have never really been a big fun of Pepsi. In the United States, where Pepsi competes neck-to-neck with Coca-cola, I would only order or drink Pepsi when Coca-cola was not available. I am not sure I will continue drinking Pepsi in place of Coke but, at the moment, you get more for your money than you get for Coke. The Pepsi 350mls bottles are going at K2,200 while the Coke 300mls are going at K2,500 retail price.
Pepsi came to Zambia about six months ago under the franchise of Varun Beverages a subsidiary of RJ Corporation of India. The company is expected to invest about $30 million in the next six years here in Zambia. The company has invested in a multi-million dollar massive plant on Mungwi Road in the same neighborhood of the rival distributors of Coca-cola Zambian Breweries.

Pepsi has also invested hugely in advertising its products. Huge outdoor billboards, although not quite innovative, have been placed all over Lusaka. The company has also done well with how they display their products in major supermarkets and restaurants.

It will be interesting to know, from Pepsi, if this investment is beginning to pay off or not. This may be too early to determine, though, considering that they have been in existence for only six months. However, from the look of things Zambians seem to be determined to taste the new drink in town. Whether this is out of curiosity, the price or the quantity it is not clear but it sure seems to be working for Pepsi.
Meanwhile, the rival Coca-cola seems not to be responding. Is it because Pepsi’s presence in town is not really affecting their sales? Are they locked up in the boardroom mapping up a strategy how they can respond to the new rival in town? Besides, Pepsi hired some of the middle managers at Coca-cola.

If Coca-cola does not respond soon, Pepsi is bound to take the market share from it. The Zambian consumers are price sensitive and Pepsi’s pricing strategy seems to be working really well. In addition to Pepsi Cola, the company has introduced on the market its Mirinda Orange drink as well as the 7 Up to compete with Fanta and Sprite respectively. Personally, it was my first time to taste the Mirinda Orange drink and I am not sure I will be buying Fanta anytime soon. It is indeed a good product which will give Fanta a good fight. Will Pepsi introduce more products, on the market, in the next few years? Are we going to see Mountain Dew or Sierra Mist?

The challenge that both companies will have to face, on the local market, is to sell themselves as local companies. Coca-cola has alienated itself from the Zambian market through its SABmiller franchise. It is viewed as South African and most of its top managers are South Africans. Already, there is talk about Pepsi’s hiring people from India to be managers at its plant here in Zambia.

Both companies have an obligation to invest in the communities that they are working in. Mungwi Road needs major repairs. Although both of these companies are the major users of this deplorable road, there has been no initiative to repair the road. What are the companies doing about protecting the environment? Are they using Zambian suppliers? Are they paying the Zambian workers a living wage? These are fundamental questions that need to be asked as time goes by.

Meanwhile, as consumers, we shall sit back and relax and watch how the fight plays out here in Zambia between Coca-cola and Pepsi. It is perhaps, noteworthy to say that in the United States Pepsi has never beat Coca-cola in its sales on the beverage. Will Pepsi break that record in Zambia?

First Quantum’s Kansanshi mine to pay $374m tax by June

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First Quantum Menerals
First Quantum Menerals

FIRST-QUANTUM Minerals (FQM) has said it has on average been paying US$1.5 million per day in taxes and justified Government’s removal of the windfall tax.

FQM says calls from some quarters for the re-introduction of windfall tax were not justifiable because the current tax arrangement was suitable and ensured growth in the mining sector.

FQM resident director Kwalela Lamaswala said in Lusaka that the mining company has since 2007 paid $1 billion (about K5 trillion) in taxes to Government from its production of copper at Kansanshi Mine in North-Western Province.

Mr Lamaswala said in addition, the company is expected to pay a further $374 million in tax before June 2011 this year.

“Before end of June Kansanshi will contribute $347 million in taxes to Government and that is about $1.5 million in taxes pay day and this is not like in the pre-privatisation-era where Government was subsidising ZCCM to a tune of $1 million per day,” he said.

He said that the windfall tax was a discriminating tax and not helpful to mining companies that were already contributing to Government coffers and reinvesting in operations and expansions.

Mining firms pay variable profit tax at 15 per cent, mineral royalties at three per cent in addition to the corporate tax of 30 per cent.

Mr Lamaswala said that mining in Zambia had evolved to great profitability from the huge losses under the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM) and that the new mines should be supported and not strained.

He said when Kansanshi Mine was being established in 2005, Government gave it a six-year relief from taxes until it reached profitability levels within 18 months and started paying tax in 2007.

Mr Lamasala said Kansanshi, which is one of Africa’s biggest mines, endured the lowest ever copper prices during its start up and when the copper prices started rising, it was able to break even and started posting profits and begun to pay taxes.

He said from the profits, 40 per cent of the figures went into re-investment which includes upgrading and expansion, with one being the extra production of 220,000 tonnes of copper per year at the mine.

And FQM president Clive Newall said windfall tax did not only affect the large-scale mines but also smaller ones, as it brought limitation to expansions and reinvestment.

He said FQM had been in Zambia since 1996 and has been contributing to the growth of the Zambian economy.

[Times of Zambia]

Meeting with RB fruitful, Ivorian Premier

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Newly appointed Prime Minister of Ivory Coast, Guillaume Soro has described his consultative talks with President Rupiah Banda on Tuesday, as fruitful.

And Mr Soro has suggested a military operation as the only possible option to compel Mr Gbagbo to relinquish power following failed dialogue.

Mr. Soro said he was in the country to brief Mr. Banda on the situation in Ivory Coast.

He said his visit was important especially that the country had played a key role in the liberation of many countries on the continent and had also helped to enhance democracy in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region and Africa as a whole.

Mr. Soro was speaking at a Press Conference at Lusaka’s Pamodzi Hotel yesterday.

He commended President Banda for his wide understanding of African affairs including the situation in Ivory Coast.

Without giving details of his meeting with Mr. Banda, Mr. Soro, who was flanked by Ivorian Minister for Planning and Development Toikessue Mabri, said his government was happy with President Banda’s advice on the matter.

He said it was gratifying to note that the Zambian President considered the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as the best suited regional body to effectively deal with the crisis in Ivory Coast.

“We have been assured by the Zambian President that Zambia will closely follow the events in Cote D’Ivoire and that he will follow the decision of the African Union as one of the priorities,” said Mr. Soro.

President Banda is the current Chairperson of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region and the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security.

Meanwhile, Mr. Soro, who also served in the embattled Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo’s government, in the same capacity, has appealed to other African leaders to support the democratic process in that country.

He said like in many other countries, the people of Ivory Coast are thirsty for a democratically elected government and wanted to equally enjoy the peace and freedoms their brothers and sisters were enjoying in these countries.

Mr. Soro said it was regrettable that some African leaders in North Africa and the SADC region did not seem to support the idea of forcing Mr. Gbagbo to step down and give way power to Mr. Alassane Ouattara who the international community had recognised as the legitimately elected leader of Ivory Coast.

He said Ivorians would not allow Mr. Gbagbo to continue clinging onto power because since the confusion erupted about 300 civilians have died while 30,000 others have fled the country for safety.

Mr. Soro said President Ouattara’s government would not relent until Mr. Gbagbo accepts defeat and relinquish power to the democratically elected government.

“We are not prepared to see any more innocent civilians die and our people run to other countries because of one person. We will use all possible means including a targeted military operation to force this dictator to give up power,” he stressed.

He said as the situation stands in that country, a military operation targeted at Mr. Gbagbo and his soldiers was the only possible option considering that attempts to initiate dialogue between the two parties have failed.

And Mr. Soro has appealed to the African Union not to recognise Mr. Gbagbo’s delegation to the forthcoming summit in Ethiopia.

He said the delegation was illegal because it was not representing the legitimate government of Ivory Coast.

Mr. Soro said Mr. Ouattara’s government would assemble a delegation to represent the country.

“AU should chase the delegation for Mr. Gbagbo and should not entertain them. We have our own delegation that will be travelling to Addis Ababa,” appealed Mr. Soro.

Alassane Ouattara, the internationally recognised winner of last year’s Presidential elections is locked in a power struggle with Laurent Gbagbo, who has ruled the world top cocoa grower for 10 years.

[ZANIS]

Party elections Before General Elections

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File: Delegates to the MMD eastern province conference casting their votes for the new leadership.

By Daimone Siulapwa
We are only months away from the general elections, and obviously, all parties should be gearing up themselves in what looks to be closely contested elections.

It is interesting to note that many political parties and other stakeholders are talking of the need to have free and fair elections. This is important, for without a free and fair poll, we might as well adopt another system of governance rather than, democracy, which is about the will of the majority. Of course our democracy is still young, and it will take some time before it can be perfected. After all, even old democracies such that of the United States have their own flaws. Still, that should not stop us from working at perfecting our system.

And one way of doing that is to start by perfecting democracy within the political parties themselves. In other words, we are talking about internal democracy with our various political parties. We want those putting themselves up for national elections to first go through the mill of their respective political parties. We want to see the same level of competition within parties as would normally or is likely to happen in the 2011 general elections.

In that regard, we do not expect some positions to go unchallenged. While there is nothing wrong with the various organs of the party endorsing the incumbent, those who are of a different stand should be given the freedom to clearly state so. The Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) is having its provincial conferences, which will eventually lead up to the national convention. Indications show that the incumbent, Rupiah Banda is unlikely to be challenged, not so much because he has been accepted by all and sundry within the party as the torch bearer, but because they have made it almost look like a major sin to stand against him. The same goes for the position of vice president of the MMD. There are some sections that think just because George Kunda S.C, is the republican vice president, then it is only natural that he gets the party’s number two post. Those who have expressed an interest in the position, such as former party and republican vice president Enock Kavindele, are now being indirectly victimized by the lower organs of the party, This is in itself an affront to democracy. We expect these party elections to be competitive and democratic, just like the big one – the general elections. The same standards that we expect at the general election should be the ones to reflect at party elections. That said, it is good that the MMD, which is the ruling party, has decided to hold its convention, even with all the negative traits so far seen.

But then, question is how about the other parties? Particularly the major ones such as the Patriotic Front (PF), the United Party for National Development (UPND) and to some extent the United Liberal Party (ULP), Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) and United National Independence Party (UNIP).

For a moment, lets us discuss these parties.

The PF, since its formation in 2001, has participated in three major elections. Or rather, its leader Michael Sata has contested the republican presidency three times. And through-out that time, his name has been on the ballot without the official endorsement of the file and rank of the party through a convention. In the meantime, the various positions in the party have been filled and re-filled as Mr Sata has so desired.

How about the UPND? Well, they have had two conventions since being formed. Their current president Hakainde Hichilema succeeded founding president Anderson Mazoka just before the 2006 elections. He has thus contested for the republican presidency twice as UPND leader. Having done that twice, and having failed to capture the big one for the party, is it not just natural that he goes to the rank and file of the party, and seek a new mandate for the 2011 general elections? For true democrats, there are no prizes for guessing.

As for ULP and FDD, we shall not waste much time here other than to ask Sakwiba Sikota and Edith Nawakwi in that order whether they are really happy with the state of their respective parties.

On the other hand, one can sympathise with genuine UNIP members who are concerned at the fast rate their party has been losing its clout. We all know that the boycott of the 1996 elections by UNIP, which made it lose all parliamentary representation, was the beginning of the party’s downfall, but we did not expect it to reach these alarming levels. With representation throughout the country starting at section to ward level, we expect UNIP to be far much better than these upstart political parties, but it is not.

UNIP is a party needing a lot of reforms, and with the resources that it has, thanks to its many properties, we expect it to have re-organised itself by now. But we have a president Tilyenji Kaunda who thinks the party belongs to his father. And yet we all know that no one person is bigger than the organization. Nelson Mandela demonstrated this with the African National Congress (ANC). UNIP needs to divorce itself from the Kaunda shadow by choosing a new crop of leaders with new ideas and far away from the Kaundas when it comes to relations. With a party whose roots are founded on socialist policies, this is a party that can make an appeal to the urban youth with a more vibrant and charismatic leadership. The biggest gift that Dr Kenneth Kaunda can right now give to UNIP is to convince his son to give-up the leadership of the party by organizing a convention where a new leadership can be ushered into office with the mandate of reforming it. It is not late.

That said, one can only hope that by the time of the general elections, all those aspiring for national office would have sought fresh mandates from their respective parties in a democratic, free and fair manner.

Aluta Continua. The struggle continues!

Musokotwane canes Magande

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Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane (l) with Nchelenge Member of Parliament Ben Mwila

FINANCE and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane has advised his predecessor Ng’andu Magande to appreciate the Government’s great efforts in building the country.

And Dr Musokotwane has explained that the Danish Government’s announced withdrawal of aid to Zambia would not be immediate but would be phased out over a period of three years.

Dr Musokotwane told journalists in Lusaka yesterday that President Rupiah Banda’s Government was managing the country through strategic planning which aimed at sustaining growth and development contrary to assertions by Mr Magande.

Mr Magande was in yesterday’s Post newspaper quoted as saying that Zambia was headed for a bad future because President Rupiah Banda’s Government allegedly lacked planning.

“It is not true that we have failed to plan, we are running the same Government under which Mr Magande served and he should know that the Fifth National Development Plan is a developmental plan which has been concluded.

He said the Government was on the verge of launching the Sixth National Development Plan which he said would be realized.

“Unless Mr Magande is telling us that after leaving office he has forgotten, there is planning,” Dr Musokotwane said.

On the Danish government’s withdrawal of bilateral aid, Dr Musokotwane said all the Danish projects would be completed and reasons given for the cut of aid were that the Danish Government was facing economic hardships because of the global economic crisis.

He said several other countries such as Ireland, the United Kingdom, Portugal and Greece were facing financial challenges because of the economic recession.

[pullquote]“If Mr Magande’s vision was to continue with the dependency syndrome, the vision of the current Government is to graduate Zambia from such dependency. Let him keep his vision as ours is for national planning and sustaining it,” Dr Musokotwane said.[/pullquote]

He, however, said he was happy that Britain had not decided to cut its budgetary support to Zambia.

“Denmark was left in a tight financial corner by the global economic crunch. It is not like Britain which has chosen to maintain Budget assistance to Zambia. Denmark has noted that Zambia’s economy is growing steadily and that was why it had cut its aid,” he said.

He said the opening up of the new mining companies this year would increase Zambia’s copper production in two to five years, thereby significantly growing the national economy to self-sustaining levels.

“If Mr Magande’s vision was to continue with the dependency syndrome, the vision of the current Government is to graduate Zambia from such dependency. Let him keep his vision as ours is for national planning and sustaining it,” Dr Musokotwane said.

[Times of Zambia]

New Hospital in Chadiza should be named after Mwanawasa

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Late President Levy Mwanawasa

The Movement for Multi Party Democracy (MMD) in Chadiza in Eastern Province has suggested that the District Hospital which is nearing completion be named after the late President Levy Mwanawasa.

Chadiza District MMD chairman Harrison Banda said this during the Tree planting exercise held at the hospital premises yesterday.

He said the late President promised the people of Chadiza a hospital when he visited the District a few years before his death. Mr Banda said true to the late president’s promise, construction of the hospital started in 2006.

He said it made sense to name the hospital after the person who initiated the construction of the first ever district hospital in Chadiza since independence.

Meanwhile, the Forestry Department in Eastern Province has urged people in the province to develop a lifestyle of planting trees.

Speaking during the Tree Planting exercise at the District Hospital site in Chadiza yesterday, Provincial Forestry Officer Agness Chinyama said tree planting c greatly reduce climate change in the country.

ZANIS reports that Mrs Chinyama said Climate Change has had an adverse effect on the country’s resources adding that it was responsible for natural calamities such as floods.

She said Government could save a lot of resources if incidences caused by Climate change were reduced in the country.

[pullquote]He said the late President promised the people of Chadiza a hospital when he visited the District a few years before his death. Mr Banda said true to the late president’s promise, construction of the hospital started in 2006.[/pullquote]

Mrs Chinyama who was happy that parents had taken a leading role in planting trees in Chadiza District said the practice should be inculcated in children for the environment to be preserved for posterity.

She expressed gratitude that Government departmental Heads took time to participate in the exercise.

Speaking at the same occasion, Chadiza District Medical Officer Godfrey Lingenda thanked the Forestry Department for choosing the Hospital Site to plant trees.

Dr. Lingenda pledged to continue planting more trees around the hospital premises saying plants played a vital role in the well being of people.

He said apart from purifying the air and protecting buildings, trees were also an essential component in the rain cycle.

And Movement for Multi Party Democracy (MMD) District Chairman Harrison Banda who led a group of cadres in the exercise thanked everyone that played a part in planting trees.

A total of 300 trees were planted at the new District Hospital construction site.

ZANIS

How Do You Earn a Baboons Trust?

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Meet Our Kinda Baboon Group


Over the past five months together with my scouts Kingston Muma and George Nkhoma I have been following one group of baboons in Kasanka National Park. Our goal has been to habituate the baboons, or rather get them used to our presence so that we can follow them at close range. There are many techniques we use to habituate the group. Initially as they are wary of us we followed them as much as possible. The best way to keep track of the troop is to find where they are sleeping and go to them in the morning before they wake up. At the beginning the Fibwe Group allowed us to watch them in the morning while they sunned and groomed. Eventually, they allowed us to follow them as they moved away from their sleeping grove and began their day.
Baboons typically do one of four things: they rest, they travel, they eat, and they socialize. The amount of time they spend doing each activity varies. Factors that affect their activity patterns include time of day, weather, and season.   After five hard months of following the Fibwe Group we are now able stay with them throughout the day and observe their behavior at close range.

In order to identify individuals, which is pertinent to our data collection, we have given them names. At first the baboons were hard to tell apart but with time we have been able to recognize them individually. Scars, fur coloration, size, and facial differences are ways in which we can identify an individual. Of course each baboon has its own personality and as we get to know them their behavior also helps us to identify them.

The Fibwe Group has 53 individuals: 13 adult females, 9 adult males, 7 infants, 15 juveniles, and 9 subadults. Below are a number of individuals in the group.

MJ is Mowgly’s mother; they spend most of their time together. Clover is the proud mother of a bright white infant named Nona. Muma is our dominant male and was named by my ZAWA scout Kingston. Oliver is a young infant who loves to escape his mothers grasp to climb and play. Orion, Beth, and Jack are a “family” unit. Orion stays by Beth’s side and often grooms her. Z. and Willy are two male juveniles that are always found playing and grooming together.
Now that we have habituated the baboons and can identify individuals, the next step of our project, formal data collection, will begin.
Anna Weyher
US Fulbright Scholar Kasanka Baboon Project
HYPERLINK “www.kasankababoonproject.com

Anna Weyher
Doctoral Candidate Department of Anthropology
Washington University
www.kasankababoonproject.com

Last Week/Wkend in pictures

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1.

A child waves the MMD party symbol at President Banda (not in picture) in Monze.

2.

A child praying during a public meeting addressed by President Banda in Monze

3.

Sudan national team waiting for their transport at Lusaka International Airport .They are in the Country for one week training camp ahead of hosting 2011 CHAN finals next months

4.

Some Zambians going to Chipata captured at Mwami border

5.

Some residents of Monze captured during a public meeting addressed by President Banda

6.

Some of the estates constructed by National Housing Authority in Lusaka east

7.

Some Monze residents going about their business

8.

Some children try to get the attention of President Banda by raising the MMD party symbol in Monze

9.

Science and Technology deputy Minister Daniel Munkombwe dancing during the MMD southern province conference

10.

National housing Authority managing director Elias Mpondela and Labour Minister Austin Liato view the new houses erected by Mr Mpondela's company in Lusaka east

11.

PLAYING? No, these kids were dragging their friend to school in Kuku Compound.

12.

Kids watching movies as a way of entertainment in John Laing Compound

13.

A woman hanging her clothes in Kuku Compound were most houses have being flooded

14.

Defence force personnel pose for the photograph after a successful training course in Lusaka

15.

An office block under construction at the Addis Ababa round about in Lusaka

16.

An office block under construction at the Addis Ababa round about in Lusaka.

17.

Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) director general Andrew Chipwende speaking during a Media breakfast meeting at Pamodzi Hotel.He is flanked by ZDA Export promotions director Glyne Michelo(L) and Director Research Planning Florence Mumba

18.

President Banda 's motor cade arriving at Kasama Teachers Training College for the Provincial Conference.

19.

Presidential motor cade arriving at Lusaka's Garden House ,This were President Rupiah Banda opened the MMD Lusaka' conference.

20.

William Banda and his supporters after he went through unopposed for the position of Lusaka province MMD chairman.

21.

Some MMD die-hards with a placard

22.

President Rupiah Banda with Works and Supply minister Mike Mulongoti during the MMD provincial Conference in Kasama.

23.

President Banda on arrival for the Lusaka party' Conference at Garden House.

24.

President Rupiah Banda arriving for the MMD Provincial Conference in Kasama

25.

Tourism minister and Natural resorces minister Catherine Namugala with Commerce and trade Industry Felix Mutati during the Kasama MMD Provincial Conference

26.

Tourism minister Catherine Namugala at the Lusaka party confetrence .

27.

Lusaka province district commissioner Christa Kalulu was among the delegates

28.

Traitor?...Works and Supply deputy Minister Lameck mangani captured with Patriotic Front Member and former Lands Minister Judith Kapijimpanga during a 'secret' meeting at Mika Hotel in Lusaka

Varun Beverages to set up pineapple plant in Mwinilunga

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VARUN Beverages Limited intends to set up a pineapple canning plant in Mwinilunga District, Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Felix Mutati has said.

Mr. Mutati said in Lusaka yesterday that Zambia development Agency (ZDA) would next week hold discussions with Varun Beverages Limited, producer of Pepsi and Mirinda carbonated drinks, on investment plans to set up a canning plant in Mwinilunga.

The minister said the two parties were expected to discuss investment projections, incentive packages including concessions, among other issues.

The Government, he said, was working hard to attract investment in pineapple production and generate employment for the local people in Mwinilunga.

“Varun is interested in setting up a smaller concentrate plant (squeezing of the juice from fruits’ including the pineapple) and will be meeting with ZDA by the end of this week and discussion will begin early next week,” he said.

Varun Beverages Limited has invested US$40 million to establish a Pepsi bottling plant that would bring on line fruit juices from home-grown raw materials.

The modern plant which commenced production in September last year, has a production capacity of 500,000 cases of carbonated drinks per month and has employed more than 214 Zambians.

Mwinilunga has the highest potential for pineapple production in Zambia. A lot of pineapples produced in the region go to waste since the collapse of the pineapple processing plant in the 1990s.

In 1991/92 season, prior to the collapse of the pineapple factory, the total area cultivated was 1,421 hectares, with production of 11, 368 tonnes of pineapples.

Mr. Mutati said the Government has partnered with Lumwana Copper Mine under the Multi Facility Economic Zone (MFEZ) to attract investors set up a fruit canning factory in Solwezi District.

The Lumwana MFEZ under Lumwana Properties Development has an investment injection of $1.2 billion had its master plan completed.

The construction phase is expected to create about 13,000 jobs this year.

Mr. Mutati said Government had agreed to provide incentives while Lumwana would woo investors to the MFEZ.

The investors in MFEZs and industrial parks qualify for a number of concessions, among them zero per cent tax profits for a period of five years from the first year profits are made, for six to eight years only 50 per cent of the profit is taxed, for year nine and 10, 75 per cent of profit is taxed.

Others are zero per cent import duty rate on raw materials, capital goods, machinery including trucks and specialised vehicles for five years and deferment of Value added Tax (VAT) on machinery and equipment.

Mr. Mutati said the move would support economic development
in the manufacturing sector where value addition is being encouraged as opposed to exporting goods in raw form.
[ Times Zambia ]

Ndola suspends councillors in plots scam

Guest Editor
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THE Ndola City Council has suspended six councillors accused of spearheading illegal allocation of plots, Town Clerk Charity Mpande has said.

The Patriotic Front (PF)-dominated council has also sacked more than 10 employees believed to have been conniving with the councillors in the plot scandal.

Last week, Local Government and Housing Minister Brian Chituwo announced the suspension of Lusaka City Council, also dominated by the PF, for 90 days and appointed an administrator to manage the affairs of the council following allegations of impropriety in the allocation of 102 plots at the Lilayi Housing project.

Ms Mpande said in Ndola yesterday that five PF councillors and one from the MMD had in the last six months been banned for issuing plots illegally, while more than 10 senior and junior employees had been dismissed over the same matter.

“The plots issuance has been revoked by the council which has since repossessed all the illegally-issued plots which have been advertised so that some members of the public can access them,” she said.

Ms Mpande said the Ministry of Lands had launched investigations into the issuance of some commercial and industrial plots in various parts of Ndola which were alleged to have been obtained illegally.

She said the council management recently formed an integrity committee which, among other things, would study cases of illegal allocations of residential plots in Chifubu, Ndeke and Kabushi townships and other alleged bad practices among council employees.

Ms Mpande said the local authority was ready to be probed by any relevant security wings over the alleged illegal allocation of plots by councillors and employees in some PF-dominated councils.

“There is a problem of illegal allocation of commercial and industrial plots involving some officers within the council and some outsiders and as council management we are not sitting idle as agents of the Ministry of Lands.

“The Commissioner of Lands was here last week following up this particular issue and we are just waiting for him to issue a report over the matter,” Ms Mpande said

The Lusaka City Council is serving a 90-day suspension over alleged abuse in the allocation of plots in Lusaka.

The council is alleged to have allocated 10 plots to the office of the mayor Daniel Chisenga and five to his deputy, claiming they would be distributed to residents although the criteria to be used was not clear.
[ Times of Zambia ]

President Banda asked to intervene in Ndola MMD issues

Guest Editor
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Pesident Rupiah Banda

A group of Ndola based Movement for Multi Party Democracy (MMD) Cadres have called upon Republican President Rupiah Banda to intervene in the manner in which the party’s Ndola District officials are allegedly dividing the party in the district.

ZANIS Ndola reports that the cadres who sought anonymity said the newly elected Victor Koni Executive were championing personal agenda’s and not unifying the party.

The cadres, who are calling themselves as MMD Activists, said the Victor Koni led executive had embarked on a massive harassment campaign of party cadres and officials from the previous Cephas Katongo led executive.

“President Rupiah Banda should immediately come to Ndola and find out for himself how this newly elected Victor Koni Executive is dividing the party, Koni is busy chasing away people from the party that did not endorse his adoption as MMD Chifubu Parliamentary seat candidate,’ they alleged.

“They are harassing cadres and party officials that served in Mr Katongo’s executive, this is not good for the party they are just tearing us apart,” they charged.

The cadres alleged that Mr Koni was not happy that the party did not adopt him as a candidate for the Chifubu parliamentary seat but instead adopted Frank Ng’ambi who eventually lost the seat to PF’s Susan Kawandami.

The Cadres said Mr Koni’s executive was currently planning to suspend the entire Chifubu MMD Constituency Committee.

“Victor Koni is still upset that he was not chosen as the candidate for the Chifubu seat, that is why he is planning to suspend the entire committee,” they said.

They said Mr Koni has since approached the owner of Chachitika motel in Chifubu to take up the seat of Chifubu Constituency.
[pullquote]“Victor Koni is still upset that he was not chosen as the candidate for the Chifubu seat, that is why he is planning to suspend the entire committee,” they said.[/pullquote]
The cadres alleged that in previous Chifubu by-election, Mr Koni was accused of having been seen at Chachitika motel dishing out money to voters and advising them to vote for the PF candidate and not the MMD candidate.

‘He has already approached Mr Mwelwa to be the new constituency chairman, the same person he is accused of having worked with last year, in de-campaigning MMD candidate Frank Ngambi,” they said.

The cadres further accused Mr Koni of having introduced the PF’s latest slogan “Don’t kubeba”, after he started advising people to mingle and eat with the MMD but to make sure that they voted for the PF candidate.

“Koni is the same person who brought about the PF slogan Dontch Kubeba, he told people to eat and pretend to be MMD supporters but to make sure that they voted for the PF candidate, what type of a chairman can such a one be?” they asked.

The cadres went on to say that they are shocked that Mr Koni’s executive has asked them to surrender all campaign materials such as T/shirts, Chitenge materials that they received from the Kephas Katongo led executive for the Chifubu by-election campaign period.

“And now he has asked us to return all T/shirts and Chitenge material that we were using during the Chifubu campaign, how are we going to take back clothes that we have been wearing, the President should intervene otherwise the party will disintegrate,” they observed.

The cadres further said the open de-campaigning of Vice President George Kunda’s candidature at the on coming party’s national convention and the preference for Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande by Mr Koni and his executive was tribal and should not be encouraged in the MMD.

And when reached for a comment, Mr Koni denied all the allegations and said he was aware that there was a splitter group in the MMD which wanted to destabilise the party in the district.

Mr Koni said the group which was referring to itself as MMD Ndola District activists were PF bound cadres who wanted to bring confusion to the MMD before finally showing their true colours.

He called on the cadres in the district to be very careful with the Activists as he alleged they had the potential to break the party.

And MMD Chifubu constituency chairlady Mable Simbule confirmed that no official in her constituency had received any suspension letter neither were any plans of suspending their entire constituency.

She said the party was very strong and that no one had been asked to return any campaign materials such as Chitenge materials, T/shirts and bicycles in Chifubu.

The chairlady said the new executive was working tirelessly and that it was unfortunate that some people were attempting to distract its focus.

She said Mr Koni’s executive had only been in office for one month and had already started working wonders.

“As Chifubu constituency we are behind the Chairman, he has only been in office for one month and he has done wonders, just go and check the district for yourself, you will see, she said.

[ ZANIS ]

Grandstand: Backing Enala

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The Zambia women’s team heads to Durban on Thursday ahead of their grudge match against Banyana Banyana South Africa in a 2012 Olympic Games return leg qualifier.

For a Faz executive that swears by anything Fifa, I find it surprising that they have suddenly elected to abandon their faith women’s football future being in the custody of women coaches.

But the question is how much faith does Faz have in their straight-talking coach Enala Simbeya whom they have groomed for the last four years?

Faz have just roped in under-20 coach Oswald Mutapa to help Simbeya to try and turn around Banyana’s 2-1 advantage.

No insult to Mutapa but I think Simbeya is doing the best she can under challenging circumstances with her girls.

Faz forgets that Simbeya was not beaten by a man in Joseph Mkhonza standing in the opposite bench but by a better side with a rich background in women’s football despite a stuttering display from the visitors in the first leg at Nkoloma Stadium on January 15.

And Despite losing at home in the first leg a fortnight ago, Simbeya’s team has showing more discipline and direction than when she was understudy two male coaches Fredrick Kashimoto and George Chikokola.

The team also showed its level best trying to punch above their own weight against a starving but resilient Banyana whose hunger for goals cushioned their pre-match meal shenanigans that they endured at the team hotel.

Meanwhile, the prospect of psychological tension cannot be discounted going into a critical game away from home in a potential hostile environment and Simbeya should be given the wheel in the interest of team spirit in Durban.

Let us not forget that a player structure in the women’s game is on firm ground and it is time for Simbeya and her peers to chart the next phase with girl power on the bench.

Now Justice Florence Mumba invites ACC to investigate ECZ

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Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) Chairperson Justice Florence Mumba has invited the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) to investigate alleged reports of corruption at the commission.

Justice Mumba said this follows allegations that have been made against her by former Commission Director Dan Kalale.

Justice Mumba said the ACC should probe contracts relating to the supply of materials and services and the budgetary accountability for the tripartite and by elections.

In a statement issued on her behalf by Commission Secretary Eric Kamwi in Lusaka today, Justice Mumba said:

“Following aspersions made against the electoral commission of Zambia, the Chairperson has decided to invite the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to probe, among other things they may wish to investigate, the following:

    1. Dates and mode of appointment of all staff, academic and professional qualifications; when and where obtained;
    2. All moveable property, chattels, when and how procured.”
    3. All motor vehicles, when and how procured and to whom assigned and at what times; maintenance records, insurance policies, garages used for repairs, fuel, and relevant contracts, where applicable;
    4. Budgetary accountability for tripartite elections and by-elections, etc,
    5. Contracts relating to the supply of materials and services and actual materials and services,”

On Sunday Mr. Kalale accused Justice Mumba of engaging in corrupt practices. Mr.Kalale said Justice Mumba and other commissioners irregularly singled sourced KPMG to undertake consultancy services on the confidential audit system review for ECZ the year 2008 to 2009 at a cost of one Billion Kwacha.

He said Justice Mumba and the commissioners did not refer the matter of engaging KPMG to the Zambia Public Procurement authority for authorisation.

Electoral Commission of Zambia chairperson Florence Mumba during a media briefing

Meanwhile the Leadership In Development has called on Justice Mumba to step aside, to pave way for investigations into the alleged corrupt activities at the commission.

Executive Director, Moses Kalonde says revelations of alleged corrupt activities at the commission are worrying; especially that it is an election year.

Mr Kalonde has also appealed to the investigation wings to quickly move in so that sanity is brought back to ECZ. He was speaking with ZNBC News in Lusaka today.

And the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions- ZCTU is concerned with events unfolding at the Electoral Commission of Zambia ECZ.

The ZCTU has since called on Government to quickly and thoroughly investigate recent developments at ECZ in order to restore confidence in the electoral process.

ZCTU Director of Public Relations Martin Chembe says developments at ECZ are impacting negatively on the institution.

Mr. Chembe says it is sad that such issues are occurring at a time when the country is preparing for elections.

He has advised Government to intervene before the situation gets out of hand.

Mr. Chembe also says the embarrassing situation at ECZ could have been avoided if the Commission had allowed workers to be represented by a trade union.

This is contained in a statement he has issued to ZNBC News in Lusaka today-Tuesday.

Earlier in the morning Evangelical Youth Alliance expressed saddened at the stand off between workers and commissioners at the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).

Alliance Chairperson Moses Lungu said it was unfortunate that the impasse had emerged in an election year.

Reverend Lungu told ZNBC news in Lusaka that there is urgent need to resolve the problems at the commission, before full fledged election campaigns kick off.

He advised ECZ Chairperson Florence Mumba to step down to pave way for investigations into her alleged corrupt activities.

ZNBC

Cholera kills 3 in Sinazongwe

Guest Editor
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Over 40 people have been admitted to Sinamalima clinic in Sinazongwe district in Southern Province after suffering from cholera in the past one week.

Sinazongwe District Health Medical Officer Elias Chipandwe said three people out of the 44 that have suffered from cholera in the past eight days have since died.

Dr. Chipandwe told the District Epidemic Preparedness Committee yesterday that currently 20 people were still admitted to Sinamalima clinic, which has been turned into a cholera centre.

Dr. Chipandwe described the situation as serious noting that the centre admits between seven and 10 people daily.

He attributed the disease outbreak in the area to lack of toilets and poor hygiene.

He disclosed that 10 villages were affected in Malima.

Dr. Chipandwe said a team of Environmental Health Officers and Nurses have since been deployed to the area to address the situation.

He explained that the Environmental Health Officers were conducting community mobilisation to carry out hygiene promotion, chlorine distribution, and health education.

However, he said this team was facing a challenge of transport, food supply, disinfection materials and physical barriers since bridges on the Sikalamba and Nangombe streams have been damaged.

Meanwhile, Sinazongwe District Epidemic Preparedness Committee has formed a taskforce working towards containing the cholera outbreak.

And Sinazongwe Acting District Commissioner Sokoloku Daka told the committee to work hard and mobilise resources to help Ministry of Health officials meet shortfalls.

Mr. Daka said the taskforce would ensure that the communities were encouraged to have pit latrines to curb the spread of cholera epidemic in the district.

[ ZANIS ]

Miner electrocuted

Guest Editor
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7

A miner at Mopani Copper Mine in Kitwe has died after being electrocuted.

National Union of Miners and Allied Workers -NUMAW Secretary General Goodwell Kaluba has confirmed the development to ZNBC News in Kitwe today-Tuesday.

Mr Kaluba says Morgan Ngosa a thirty – three year old miner who was working as a whistle man died in the early hours of Tuesday.

He said the late Ngosa was operating at 3360 level at Central Shaft when he met his death at about 02 30 hours.

Mr. Kaluba said Ngosa was riding on a electric trolley when the lining of the machine got burnt thereby electrocuting him.

He said the body of the late miner has since been retrieved from the underground.

Meanwhile Operations at the Non Ferrous China Africa- NFCA mining where miners were protesting against the formation of a new company have normalized.

All the workers have returned to work.

National Union of Miners and Allied Workers- NUMAW Secretary General Goodwell Kaluba has confirmed the development to ZNBC news in Kitwe today.

Mr. Kaluba said the miners have returned to work and mining activities are running normally after management gave the workers two options.

He said management asked workers willing to return to work to do so while those who were not interested were asked to sign forms to be laid off.

Mr. Kaluba disclosed that the workers chose to keep their jobs and have since started working.

He also revealed that management has agreed to revisit its decision to operationalise the new company which triggered the protest.

Mr. Kaluba said management has promised to involve the union so that the best way forward is found before the new company can start operations.

He said employees are still working under the old conditions of service as stipulated in the collective agreement signed by NFCA mining
[ ZNBC ]

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