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Stanbic opens in Livingstone

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File:Southern Province Permanent Secretary Gladys Kristafor

Southern Province has recorded growth of investments in the Banking sector owing to a number of economic developments that Government has embarked on in the region,Southern Province Permanent Secretary Gladys Kristafor has said.

Mrs Kristafor said a number of major players in the banking fraternity have extended their services to the Southern Province community in the recent two years because of the growing business potential of the tourism and entrepreneurship sector.

She was speaking during the official opening of Stanbic Bank Branch Office in Livingstone at the Mosi-o-Tunya Shopping Square today.

Mrs Kristafor said the competition in the banking sector will bring about easy accessibility of loans and other services among members of the business community in the province.

The Permanent Secretary,who mentioned a number of developmental projects going on in the Province said Livingstone is a fast growing town with the socio-economic standards of people improving each day.

Mrs Kristafor said one of the aids to trade that has facilitated the growth of the banking sector in the province has been the Zimba-Livingstone road.

Stanbic Bank Livingstone branch is the 17th in Zambia.

Stanbic Bank Managing Director,Dennis Kennedy said the commercial bank decided to open a branch in Livingstone to supplement Government’s efforts in the improvement of the tourism and business sector in Southern Province.

Mr.Kennedy said Stanbic Bank has seen a growing potential of financial demand in the tourism sector because of the economic development in the province.

The MD identified some the developmental projects that has influenced Stanbic Bank to open a branch in Livingstone as the rehabilitaion of Livingstone -Zimba road,the maintenance works done on the Livingstone -Sesheke road,the consturction of Kazungula bridge and the recent launch of a One-Stop Border post between Zambia and Namibia.

Mr.Kennedy disclosed that Stanbic Bank is set to open another branch in Choma and Mazabuka by January next year.

Meanwhile Livingstone Tourism Association(LTA)Chairperson,Kinsley Lilamuno has said the opening of Stanbic Bank would help to boast tourism in the town.

Mr.Lilamuno who was speaking on behalf of tour operators said in the previous years people in Livingstone only managed to access financial services for consumptive reasons as opposed to developmental purposes.

He said many companies in the tourism industry still struggle to access loans for business purposes because most banks offer prohibitive interest rates.

Stanbic Bank which is a subsidiary of Standard Bank Group of South Africa was earlier this year named the best bank in Africa for 2010 by The Banker -a journal on banking and finance industry.

Court acquits Regina Chiluba

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The Lusaka high court has quashed the conviction of former president Dr Fredrick Chiluba’s wife Regina who was convicted by a lower court on five counts of receiving stolen property.

Among the stolen properties Mrs Chiluba was suspected to have received is a Toshiba television a property of State House.

A panel of three judges, Evans Hamaundu, Catherine Makungu and Eddie Sikazwe made the ruling this morning.

In overturning her three-and-a-half years prison sentence they said there was no proof that her goods and cash were stolen nor obtained illegally
The court also ordered the forfeiture of properties, mostly on the Copperbelt, and a Toshiba television set.

Regina was facing three counts of failing to account for properties involving US$188,000 suspected to have been stolen or unlawfully obtained, and one count of failing to account for a motor vehicle in her possession.

The other charges were receiving a Toshiba 61-inch colour television set suspected to have been feloniously stolen or obtained and failing to account for cash amounting to K474 million suspected to have been stolen.

On March 2, 2010, Chief resident magistrate, Charles Kafunda, jailed Regina after he found her guilty on five counts of failing to account for properties suspected to have been stolen.

QFM

KCC grave diggers battered

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Some unruly Mulenga Township residents in Kitwe at the weekend beat up Kitwe City Council grave diggers at Chamboli Cemetery and grabbed picks and shovels from them after they were allegedly stopped from burying their colleague in the high cost burial site.

Kitwe Town Clerk Ali Simwinga said the “thugs” from Mulenga Township who were among mourners who had gone to bury their relative beat up the grave diggers after they were denied access to high cost site because they had not paid for any space there.

Mr Simwinga, who rushed to the cemetery said in Kitwe yesterday that all well-meaning Zambians should condemn the lawlessness exhibited by the youth.

“We all know that there are high-cost and low-cost sites at the cemetery, and to resort to such behaviour was the worst form of lawlessness.

“It is sad that some people could just wake up and decide to go and beat up people who were doing their work,” he said.
Mr Simwinga said it was unacceptable that while some people were desecrating graves, others had now resorted to attacking innocent workers at cemeteries.
[ Times Zambia ]

Fresh team to probe Ndola Girls sexual abuse claims

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THE Ndola District administration has constituted a fresh team of experts from various Government departments and other stakeholders to come up with a detailed report on the alleged sexual abuse of pupils at Ndola Girls Technical High School.

This follows the misgivings of parents over the authenticity of a report that would be produced by investigators from the office of the District Education Board Secretary (DEBS).

Ndola District Commissioner, Joshua Mutisa said in an interview in yesterday the anxious parents had wondered how the DEBS office would probe alleged misdeeds of their colleagues without being biased.

Mr Mutisa, who refused to disclose what had been established so far, said the findings of the DEBS team would now be treated as a preliminary report.

He said district administration authorities working in close collaboration with the provincial administration had resolved to constitute a comprehensive team of experts that would include officers from the social welfare department, child and youth development department in the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development, and Victims Support Unit of the Zambia Police Service, among others.

“What we want is a report which is not only based on the questioning of the suspected culprits.

“My view is that the experts should talk to all members of staff starting with the office orderly to the senior most employees during the investigations,” he said.

He said investigations were expected to be concluded within a period of 10 days to establish all the factors leading to the alleged abuse of girls.
[pullquote]“What we want is a report which is not only based on the questioning of the suspected culprits.

“My view is that the experts should talk to all members of staff starting with the office orderly to the senior most employees during the investigations,” he said.[/pullquote]
Three teachers accused of sexually molesting 36 girls at the school situated on the Ndola-Kitwe, next to the Dag Hammarskjoeld Memorial Site, were recently banned after Education Minister Dora Siliya ordered thorough investigations into the allegations.
[ Times of Zambia ]

Zambia has made great strides in malaria fight – Veep Kunda

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Vice President George Kunda says Zambia has made major progress in scaling up high impact interventions for combating malaria since the Heads of State Summit on malaria in Abuja, Nigeria in 2000.

Mr Kunda said the country has scaled up key interventions among them the Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS), distribution and use of Insecticide Treated Mosquito nets, case management and the Malaria in Pregnancy Programme.

He said the IRS which initially had been implemented in five urban districts as a pilot programme in 2003 has now been implemented in 54 of the 73 districts in the country.

The Vice President said government has since 2003 distributed over seven million mosquito nets to its citizens across the country, saying this has increased ownership of mosquito nets among citizens from 38 percent in 2006 to 64 percent this year.

He added that Zambia has also scaled up access to diagnostics and treatment of malaria at community level by using community health workers through home management of malaria and has also recorded an improvement in the uptake of intermittent preventive treatment from 59 percent in 2006 to 70 percent in 2010.

He said these interventions have resulted in the country recording a decline in malaria cases by 66 percent as highlighted in an assessment that was done by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2008.

Mr Kunda said with this achievement, Zambia has surpassed the set targets by the Abuja Declarations by Heads of States in 2000 of reducing malaria illnesses and deaths by 50 percent and the RBM goal of reducing the global malaria burden by 50 percent by 2010.

The Vice President was speaking in Lusaka today when he opened the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) partnership board meeting at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka today.

Mr Kunda said that the country has recorded a reduction in severe anemia in children by 56 percent between 2006 and 2010 and malaria parasitaemia from 22 percent in 2006 to 16 percent in 2010.

He further stated that under-five mortality decreased from 168 deaths per 1000 live births in 2001 to 119 deaths per 1000 live births in 2007.

Mr Kunda said the Zambian government remains committed to fight malaria as evidenced by the strong political will and leadership, increased financial resources, strengthened and well coordinated partnership as well as enhanced community engagement.

And speaking earlier, RBM Partnership Executive Director Awa Marie Coll-seck praised Zambia for successfully implementing an effective malaria response.

Prof Coll-seck said Zambia now faces a promising future with regard to malaria control and the reduction of the number of malaria cases and deaths.

She said the country has achieved the 2010 RBM target of the Universal coverage as called for by the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon.

Prof Coll-seck said the case of Zambia serves as an example not only for other countries in the region by sharing its best practices, but is also an inspiration for the partnership to reach the 2015 Millennium Development Goal targets.

ZANIS

Govt calls on COMESA to harmonise seed trade

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Government has called on the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) region to harmonise seed trade across borders to remove obstacles to seed trade.

Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives Permanent Secretary Abednego Banda says the seed industry in Eastern and Southern Africa is not very strong and posed challenges to small scale farmers.

He said small scale farmers in the region, who make up about 75 percent of the farmers, are being hindered from having quality seed and engaging in good agricultural practices that would help them increase crop production.

Mr. Banda said it is therefore imperative to have harmonized processes that will make the regional markets in Eastern and Southern Africa more attractive and viable.

Mr. Banda said this in a speech read for him by Director of Policy and Planning in the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives Julius Shawa during the opening of the COMESA seed certification harmonization workshop in Lusaka yesterday.

He has also challenged the Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa (ACTESA) who are facilitating the workshop to work closely with relevant seed institutions in COMESA on the matter.

And ACTESA Acting Chief Executive Officer, Gizila Takavarasha said quality is the key to increased agricultural productivity.

Ms Takavarasha said lack of harmonized and rationalized seed trade in the region has also affected seed development in the COMESA region.

She has meanwhile commended Zambia for good policies which she says have helped enhance public and private seed initiatives to operate freely.

ZANIS

Zambezi River Basin Initiative Project Launch

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The Zambezi River Basin Initiative Project (ZRBIP) which seeks to reduce the impact of disasters and other challenges on communities living along the Zambezi River has been officially launched in Sesheke yesterday.

Officiating at the launch, Sesheke District Commissioner Mwiya Wanyambe expressed gratitude that the launch of the project comes barely seven months after the new Disaster Management Act was assented to by President Rupiah Banda.

Mr. Wanyambe explained that the new Disaster Management Act provides for the maintenance and operation of a system for the anticipation, preparedness, prevention, coordination, mitigation and management of disaster situations.

He said government is very excited at the initiatives being introduced by the Zambia Red Cross Society aimed at not only saving the lives of the most vulnerable communities but also promoting their dignity as well.

The District Commissioner stressed that the Zambia Red Cross Society has demonstrated to be a true partner to government in the humanitarian field adding that the Society has done a number of interventions in Sesheke where a number of communities have been assisted with farm inputs while orphans have been assisted with school requisites.

Mr. Wanyambe also mentioned that early this year, the Zambia Red Cross Society also played a pivotal role in the relocation of flood victims from flood areas of Lusaka to the temporal Independence camp site and managed the camp for five months in a very professional manner.

He said it is for this and many other reasons that for the first time in the history of the country, under the new Disaster Management Act that the Zambia Red Cross Society has been given a permanent seat on the newly created National Disaster Management Technical Committee largely because of the organization’s crucial role in disaster management programmes.

Mr. Wanyambe disclosed that other than Zambia, the Zambezi River Basin Initiative Project targets other countries like Angola, Mozambique, Malawi, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe adding that the project is targeting to reach more than 600, 000 acutely vulnerable people in the next three years.

He said the programme reflects a regional approach along the river basin recognizing that communities in the seven countries share many of the same challenges and resources and could therefore, benefit from similar solutions, including regional support systems for the provision of information, methods and tools and the sharing of the lessons learnt.

“We all know that the Zambezi River offers tremendous health, agricultural and economic benefits for the 32 million people living along its basin as a source of drinking water, fishing, irrigation, transport, hydro-electric power and tourism,” the District Commissioner explained.

Mr. Wanyambe however, said the Zambezi River is known for some of the most pronounced vulnerability in sub-Saharan Africa saying climate change coupled with environmental degradation has worsened the annual flooding seen along some stretches of the river displacing and affecting hundreds of thousands of people each year.

He said once the water recede, impoverished communities are then exposed to outbreaks of water borne diseases such as cholera and vector-borne diseases such as malaria adding that countries and communities along the Zambezi are also faced with exceedingly high rates of HIV infection and other communicable diseases.

Mr. Wanyambe said it is against this background that government fully welcomes and endorses this project by the Zambia Red Cross Society which will on the pilot basis be implemented in Sesheke and Kazungula Districts.

Earlier, Zambia Red Cross Society National President Kelvin Chiposwa said his organization will always work with government in handling cases of disasters in affected communities across the country.

At the same function, Zambia Red Cross Society Public Relation Manager James Zulu said in order to manage the project effectively, there is need to come up with a sustainable initiative to be driven by the people affected.

And in a vote of thanks, Sesheke Branch Red Cross President Masiliso Kufakwandi said there is need to work as a team in order to succeed in the implementation of activities under the Zambezi River Basin Initiative Project.

ZANIS

Zambia has scored enormous economic strides-Fee

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European Union (EU) head of delegation to Zambia, Derek Fee

Out-going Head of Delegation of the European Union (EU) in Zambia, Derek Fee has said Zambia has recorded enormous economic strides during his four- year stint as EU head of delegation in the country.

And Dr Fee has also said that Zambia under the leadership of President Rupiah Banda had attracted more foreign direct Investment (FDI) as a result of sound economic policies on investment.

Dr. Fee who has been in the country as EU head of delegation since 2006 said the country had recorded significant progress in sectors such as infrastructure, Trade and Industry, mining and tourism.

He said the growth of the infrastructure industry and other sectors had seen a number of jobs being created for Zambians hence reducing poverty among citizens.

Dr. Fee said in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday that Zambia had the potential to become a middle income country by 2015, if only good policies were put in place and implemented.

On the political scene in the country, the outgoing EU representative commended Zambia for maintaining political calmness despite internal political differences among politicians.

He said Zambia had demonstrated political maturity judging by the manner in which it had addressed its political differences.

Meanwhile, Dr Fee urged Zambia to prudently utilise the financial support being rendered to the country by donors.

He said proper utilisation of donor funds was key to building capacities in developing countries such as Zambia as well as building donor confidence.

Dr. Fee who has since retired is expected to leave the country on December 22nd and would be replaced by Gilles Hervio from France who is currently EU head of delegation in Senegal.

ZANIS

Cholera breaks out

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Cholera has broken out in Lusaka and Sinazongwe district in Southern Province with four cases confirmed so far.

Ministry of Health Spokesperson Kamoto Mbewe disclosed that three cases of cholera were reported in Chawama and Kanyama compounds while one was reported in Sinazongwe.

Dr. Mbewe said of the three cholera cases reported in Lusaka, two cases were confirmed at Chawama Hospital while one was confirmed at Kanyama clinic.
[pullquote]“While the ministry has put up measures to prevent further outbreak of the disease, it is urging people to observe high levels of hygiene by not forgetting to wash their hands always before eating and boiling drinking water among others”, he said.[/pullquote]
He told ZANIS in a statement in Lusaka today that Chawama compound has since reported 17 suspected cholera cases while Kanyama reported two.

Dr .Mbewe stressed that the situation is under control as all the patients have been treated and discharged and no deaths have been recorded.

The Ministry of Health Spokesperson disclosed that the first cholera case in Lusaka was reported on November 14, 2010.

He said the Ministry of Health has to this effect distributed chlorine and disinfected houses and toilets in the affected areas.

Dr. Mbewe further disclosed that his ministry has also set up treatment centres at Kanyama, Chawama, and Matero reference.

He said his ministry is prepared to confront any outbreak of cholera and has since intensified community sensitization in the affected two compounds in Lusaka, adding that the ministry of health has also procured enough drugs to manage cholera cases.

“While the ministry has put up measures to prevent further outbreak of the disease, it is urging people to observe high levels of hygiene by not forgetting to wash their hands always before eating and boiling drinking water among others”, he said.

[ ZANIS ]

Renard For Al Ahly?

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Ex-Zambia Herve Renard could be heading to Egypt before the start of 2011 according to news reports from North Africa.

Filgoal.com reports that Renard is on the shortlist of coaches the Cairo giants are eyeing after former trainer Hossam Al Badry recently resigned from the record six-time African club kings.

The site quoted Renard as saying he was in talks with Al-Ahly over the prospect of coaching the team.

“Talks are ongoing and we are currently in a decisive stage. Ahly have to decide who they want for the job,” Renard told Filgoal.com.

Renard recently quit a lucrative two year deal to coach Angola just six months into his contract after leaving the Zambia job in April.

Angola Set Zambia Target At Cosafa U20

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Angola Under-20 have left defending champions Zambia with all to play for in Group C at the on-going Cosafa Youth Championship in Botswana after beating Mauritius today.

Angola beat Mauritius 2-1 in their final Group C match in Molepolole to go top on four points.

Zambia, on one point, must now beat bottom placed Mauritius by at least 2-0 in both teams last Group C game on Wednesday to advance to the semifinals to be played on Friday.

Meanwhile, Angola secured their victory through goals from Xavier Vunge and an own-goal scored by Christopher L’enclume in the 4th and 18th minutes respectively.

Kelson Agathe got one back for in the 32nd minute and will feel a little hard done by after  their late equalizer was denied a goal that was adjudged to be offside by Zimbabwean referee Ruzvie Ruzvie.

Four die in Accident

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Four people last night died in a road traffic accident in Kabwe when a Zambia Prison Service vehicle hit into an oncoming minibus.

Eleven other people sustained serious injuries and have been admitted at Kabwe General Hospital.

The accident happened last night around 19hrs.

Central Province Permanent Secretary Denny Lumbama confirmed the accident to ZNBC News in Kabwe.

Mr. Lumbama said three people died on the spot while the fouth died on arrival at Kabwe General Hospital.

He has since cushioned motorists not to be excited this festive period.

Two weeks ago , 17 people died on the Kabwe-Kapiri road after a light truck hit into a fuel tunker.
[ ZNBC ]

There will be nothing wrong to cite Mpombo in K3.3 bn scam, Mulongoti

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Works and supply minister, Mike Mulongoti has said there is nothing wrong with the Drug Enforcement Commission DEC to implicate former defense minister, George mpombo in the just unearthed K3.3bn scam at the defense ministry.

The DEC yesterday announced the unearthing of a scam in which 98 companies made claims worth k3.3 billion for the supply of goods and services to the ministry of defense without supporting documents.

The disclosure is said to have been made as a result of the ongoing verification exercise of claims of supply of goods and services to government department.

Government Critics have taken this as a ploy to silence the former defense minister who is also kafulafuta member of parliament, George mpombo.

But Mr. Mulongoti said that there is nothing wrong if he is only being asked to account based on the fact that he was once a civil servant.

Mr. Mulongoti said that everyone must own up to the laws of this country and begin to respect regulations that are in place as laid down by the constitution of this land.

He has also urged Zambians against castigating law enforcement agencies in the country stating that they are put in place to ensure that the law is followed to the later and if they find faults, it is their duty to ensure that culprits are dealt with.

The WORKS and Supply Minister said that the general public demands are certain level of accountability from senior government officials and if there seems to be a problem with how funds are utilized; those responsible should be taken to task.
[ QFM ]

The Weekend in Pictures

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1.

Vice president George Kunda listens to former president Kenneth Kaunda at the funeral of the late All People's Congress Party leader Ken Ngondo

2.

First Lady Thandiwe Banda with South African First Lady Bongi Ngema-Zuma during the tour of the Freedom Park

3.

President Jacob Zuma welcomes Zambian President Rupiah Banda during his two day state visit to South Africa.

4.

South African President Jacob Zuma with President Rupiah Banda during Mr Banda's state visit to that country

5.

President Introduces His delegation and other embassy staff to President Jacob Zuma in South Africa

6.

Tourism Minister Catherine Namugala and South African Minister of Water and Environment Edina Mulewa exchange memorandums of understanding after a signing Ceremony

7.

Heritage Party leader Godfrey Miyanda and Forum for Democracy and Development leader Edith Nawakwi meet vice president George Kunda at the funeral of the late All people's Congrees Party leader Ken Ngondo.

8.

Mandevu Member of Parliamen Jean Kapata presents a donation of various groceries to Young Women's Christian Association representative Jucy Lungu in Lusaka

9.

Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Fashion Phiri shakes hands with Finnish Ambassador to Zambia Sinikka Antila at the commemoration of the Finland National Day in Lusaka

10.

Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Fashion Phiri toast with Finnish Ambassador to Zambia Sinikka Antila at the commemoration of the Finland National Day in Lusaka.

11.

Pupils from St Maurice Community School hold trees for planting during a tree plaNting event organized by the LIONS club of Mulungushi in Lusaka.

12.

Workers, management and board members at Bizonite firm in Ndola inspect works at the Wood processing plant

13.

Vice president George Kunda and UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema shake hands.

14.

Some female judges wait to be sworn-in by President Banda at State House

15.

Some female judges and other judiciary staff pose for a photograph after a workshop in Lusaka

16.

Cardinal Medardo Mazombwe celebrating his first mass as a Cardinal in Lusaka.

17.

Cardinal Medardo Mazombwe celebrating his first mass as a cardinal in Lusaka

18.

Chief Justice Ernest Sakala presents a gift to Cardinal Medardo Mazombwe during a celebration mass in Lusaka

19.

Vice president George Kunda greets Cardinal Medardo Mazombwe during the cardinal celebration mass in Lusaka

20.

Some catholic women pay traditional homage before cardinal Medardo Mazombwe during his first celebratory mass in Lusaka

21.

Vice president George Kunda during body viewing of the late All People's Congress Party leader Ken Ngondo in Lusaka

22.

Meanwood proprietor Mike Zulu (l) about to present a cheque to the Nc'wala traditional ceremony organising committee in Lusaka

23.

LIONS club of Mulungushi president Nebert Mbewe plants a tree with Maurice Community School Coordinator Sister Cecilia Makasa in Lusaka.

Mkushi farmers cry foul over delayed fertiliser delivery

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File:Some peasant farmers sieving their maize harvest.

Mkushi South Member of Parliament, Sydney Chisanga has expressed grave concern over the delay by Nyiombo Investments in releasing Urea fertiliser to the local farmers.

Speaking in an interview with ZANIS today, Mr. Chisanga said, Nyiombo’s delay in releasing fertiliser to farmers in Mkushi of Central Province was worrying, as the farmers would in turn be set back in planting.

He said the Government had played its part by paying the company for the commodity which was not being delivered to the farmers in good time, for unexplained reasons.

The Parliamentarian feared that the development may negatively affect the food security not only in Mkushi, but also the entire nation in addition to denying the farmers in the area, a steady income to sustain their families and sending their children to school.

He lamented that the delayed delivery of fertiliser to the farmers in Mkushi may result in poor maize harvest during the next harvesting season.

Mr. Chisanga,however, thanked Government for the timely delivery of seed as well as D Compound fertiliser, which he said was being procured from the revamped Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ).

24,000 small scale farmers were earmarked to benefit from the Farmer Input Support Programme in the 2010-2011 farming season in Mkushi District.

[ ZANIS ]

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