President Rupiah Banda has predicted that Zambia would one day grab the African Cup title. Addressing soccer fans who turned up to have a glimpse of the President and the visiting Chinese Premier, President Banda predicted that the Africa Cup was coming to Zambia in-light of the earmarked construction of the modern stadia in the country.

Mr Banda observed that Zambia merely participated in the continental tournaments but failed to deliver and grab the Cup because both the people and the Chipolopolo Boys including many other players were not motivated owing to poor infrastructures in the country.

“Africa Cup title will be crowned to our country, be rest assured, he said. The happy-looking Banda told the fans to support Government in its programs of developing football including other sports disciplines in the country.

The president was speaking today when he laid a foundation stone at the location where the state of art Lusaka Independence Stadium is to be constructed with the help of the Chinese government at a cost of US$94 million with a capacity to hold 50 000 people.

Officiating at the ground-breaking ceremony in Lusaka today which was also witnessed by visiting Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu President Banda said Government had initially desired to start constructing the Lusaka modern stadium using local resources but that it was unable due to inadequate funds.

ZANIS reports that the President noted that in the past, Zambia had difficulties to host international sporting tournaments because of poor infrastructure existing in the country but that once the project was completed, the country would equally be able to host international events like South Africa which hosted the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

He commended the Chinese Government for helping Zambia build three modern stadia in the country; in Ndola on the Copperbelt which is expected to be completed by June this year, the planned Lusaka stadium and the third in the tourist capital, Livingstone.

The President urged the Zambian people against vandalism of the infrastructure saying it was detrimental to national development and appealed for support to the Shanghai Construction Group, the contractor that had been assigned to build the Lusaka modern stadium. The construction works for the Lusaka stadium is expected to last 30 months.

Speaking earlier, visiting Chinese Premier Hui Liangyu disclosed that the construction of stadia in the country would make Zambia a shining example in Africa in terms of ‘modern and quality’ infrastructure works.

Mr. Banda reiterated that the assistance China had rendered to the Zambian Government had helped deepen bilateral co-operation as a symbol of friendship between the two countries.

He said China was proud to take part in Zambia’s socio-economic development which had continued to exist for the past 47 years of diplomatic ties.

At the same occasion, Zambia’s Sport, Youth and Child Development Minister Kenneth Chipungu said the construction of the stadia in Zambia once completed would mark a mile-stone in improving the sport especially football in the country.

Mr Chipungu said that the assistance Zambia was receiving from China had enabled Government to be committed in the area of sport and he echoed President Banda’s remarks that once the stadia was completed this would allow Zambia host continental games.

Vice President George Kunda, Zambia’s Ambassador to China Joyce Musenge, Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Li Qiangmin, some diplomats accredited to Zambia, Cabinet Ministers, their Deputies as well as Permanent Secretaries from various Government line Ministries including senior Government officials from China witnessed the ground breaking ceremony.

The Chinese Premier later proceeded to visit Johnken Estate Limited, a Chinese-owned farm in Chisamba, Central Province.

The visiting Premier is expected to depart Zambia tomorrow after completing his scheduled business.

ZANIS

Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata has been exposed as being part of a committee of cabinet ministers that recommended that the demand for the Barotseland Agreement of 1964 was stale and no longer legal.

According to PF former Secretary General Edward Mumbi, the expose’ indicates that Mr. Sata is one of the eight cabinet ministers that were not agreeable to the restoration of the Barotseland Agreement.

Mr. Mumbi said in 1992, former President Dr Frederick Chiluba appointed a committee of eight cabinet Ministers including Mr Sata to discuss the Barotseland Agreement in 1992 who brought a report disfavouring the Barotse Agreement.

Mr. Mumbi, however, said the committee to which Mr. Sata was a part of misdirected Dr. Chiluba by recommending that the Agreement has been overtaken by events and needed no attention.

The former PF Secretary General produced two letters to Journalists in Lusaka yesterday as proof that contain the committee’s position, stating grounds why government could not negotiate the Agreement.

Mr. Mumbi noted that Mr. Sata is therefore not the right person to talk about the Agreement because the PF leader was part and parcel of the committee that killed the Agreement.

He said the PF leader should instead apologize to the Litunga and the people of Western Province in general for misleading Dr. Chiluba over the document.

And Mr. Mumbi has challenged Mr. Sata not to hoodwink the people of Western Province because he threatened to de-recognize the Litunga when he was Health Minister in 1996.

Mr. Mumbi told Journalists at a media briefing in Lusaka yesterday that Mr. Sata wrote a letter to then President Frederick Chiluba to have the Litunga’s Chieftainship recognition dropped.

Mr. Sata could not immediately be reached for comment as his mobile phone was off by press time.

But PF Spokesperson Given Lubinda told ZNBC that he could only comment on matters that have occurred after the birth of the party and not before.

[ ZNBC ]

Editors note: This article was wrongly published twice.We  apologize for any inconvenience caused.

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.

[ ZNBC ]

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.

ZNBC

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 .

ZANIS