The Lusaka City Council (LCC) has disclosed that Government has this year (2010) given the local authority K873 million for the installation of street lights in the capital city.

Council Public Relations Officer Henry Kapata said the money was released to the local authority in three installments of K291 million from August this year.

Mr. Kapata told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that the money would go a long way in assisting LCC in installing street lights around Lusaka.

And Mr. Kapata cautioned motorists to be careful on the road to avoid hitting into street lights adding that a penalty fee of K12 million would be slapped on any motorist found wanting.

He noted this year alone, 22 street lights were hit and damaged by motorists causing the Council to spend about K15 million on each one of them.

He also urged members of the public to refrain from vandalising the street lights but instead safeguard them for their own good.

In another development, Mr. Kapata said the Keep Zambia Clean Campaign in Lusaka had not worked this year (2010) according to the local authority’s expectations.

He attributed this to members of the community who according to him have not been active in spearheading the campaign but have continued to dump garbage anyhow.

Mr. Kapata warned Community Based Enterprises, the Council had contracted to collect garbage in Lusaka to do their job or risk having their contracts terminated.

The ‘’Keep Zambia Clean and Healthy Campaign’’ was launched in 2007 by the late President Dr. Levy Mwanawasa.

ZANIS

The Lusaka High Court has slapped a death penalty on a Lusaka Man after he was found guilty of murdering a Chinese boss at Collum Coal Mine in Chongwe district.

Pythias Chinene, was charged with murdering Zong Tangku who was his supervisor at the Chinese owned mining farm February 2, 2010.

Delivering judgment, Supreme Court judge Munyinda Wanki, sitting as High Court judge said the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that Mr. Chinene murdered Mr. Zong.

And in a related development, the Lusaka High Court sentenced a Benny Kanyama of Chirundu for murdering his two-year-old daughter after administering her with sulphuric acid.

[ZNBC]

Government has described the move by teachers and the Parent Teachers Associations (PTAs) to demand payment from parents before obtaining grade seven results for their children, as illegal.

Education Permanent Secretary (PS) for Administration Andrew Phiri said it was not Government policy to charge for the collection of results but that the results should be given free without any charge.

He said charging for one to obtain results would undermine Government policy of free primary education which it was offering from grades one to seven.

Mr. Phiri said those who were charging a certain amount of money could be doing so as a result of some agreements with PTAs but that even this should be regulated by Government.
[pullquote]“I have directed the District Education Board Secretaries (DEBS) to send the Standards Officers to schools to verify any such reports, and I am expecting the reports by today afternoon. It is from these reports that we then decide what action we will take on those who will be found guilty,” he said.
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He warned of stern action against erring teachers of school boards that would be found charging any fees for children to get their examination results.

Mr. Phiri said this in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today.

He also stated that his ministry had directed the District Education Board Secretaries (DEBS) to verify any reports of this sort adding that his ministry would then take appropriate action against those found wanting.

“I have directed the District Education Board Secretaries (DEBS) to send the Standards Officers to schools to verify any such reports, and I am expecting the reports by today afternoon. It is from these reports that we then decide what action we will take on those who will be found guilty,” he said.

Mr. Phiri said pupils and parents should get the results without any payments

Some schools in Lusaka are reportedly charging parents between K5, 000 and K10, 000 to collect grade seven results.

[ ZANIS ]

Dr. Kanganja said Government or public service workers intending to hold such parties should use their own money and not Government resources.

ZANIS reports that Commenting on the end of year parties in Government institutions, Dr. Kanganja explained that Government resources could not be used towards the holding of Christmas and New Year parties because national coffers had inadequate funds.

“Government resources shall not be used for holding festival parties (Christmas and New Year. If Officers wish to have a celebration they ought to contribute some funds to enable them celebrate,” he said.

He said Government resources were only intended for serious national programmes like holding of important workshops, Government Summits, construction of road infrastructure, schools and health centres among other capital projects.

Meanwhile, Dr. Kanganja said expressed disappointment at the low reading culture among Civil Servants.

He observed that Civil Servants and other public officers did not read circulars brought to their attention by their superiors.

He said it was the duty of all Supervisors to address their juniors and inform them about what was happening in Government hence the issuance of the Circulars.

“If people are not reading circulars issued by my office, then we have a serious problem in this country. Supervisors should tell their staff what is happening at places of work,” he advised.

Dr. Kanganja’s sentiments come in the wake of some public workers who have opted to stay away from duty today thinking that since Christmas fell on Saturday, Monday December 27th should be a public holiday.

Dr. Kanganja stated that he will issue another circular before New Year, 2011 and warned that his Office would take stock of every officer who would be absent on Monday, January 3rd 2011.

ZANIS