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Govt buys over K10 billion worth of maize in Solwezi

Entertainment Editor
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Government through the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has bought about 156,789 by 50 kilogramme bags of white maize at a cost of over K10.1billion in Solwezi district of North Western Province.

Solwezi District Commissioner Frobisher Fulayi disclosed that K9, 840,480,000 has so far been paid to the farmers while K305,805,000 for 5 397 by 50 kg bags of white maize was yet to be paid.

Mr. Fulayi said over 95 percent of the purchased crop had been mopped up to the main storage depot.

He told ZANIS in an interview in Solwezi today that mitigation measures have been put in place to secure the crop from being soaked by rains.

Mr. Fulayi said the maize had been covered with tents where sheds are not available.

The District Commissioner expressed gratitude to Government for its commitment towards paying farmers for the maize purchased, adding that this would enable farmers plan for the 2010/2011 farming season.

Mr. Fulayi encouraged farmers to plan effectively and work even harder to have another bumper harvest to sustain food security at household level.

[ ZANIS ]

Mining firms to pay over K1 trillion in tax arrears

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Finance and National Planning Minster, Stumbeko Musokotwane
Mining companies in Zambia have agreed to pay K1.426 trillion in tax arrears arising from the 2008 mining tax regime.

Finance and national planning minister Situmbeko Musokotwane told parliament in a ministerial statement that this follows the finalization of the discussions between government and all the mining companies.

Dr Musokotwane says the discussion focused on the need for the mining companies to pay tax arrears arising from the changes that were introduced in 2008.

He says all the mining companies have agreed to pay the tax arrears.

He adds that it has also been agreed that the windfall tax arrears be reassessed at 25 percent to ensure that the assessed total liability does not exceed the 47 percent effective tax rate which was intended.

Dr Musokotwane says of the total tax arrears owed by the mining companies, government expects that K458.5 billion will be paid by the end of 2010, while the balance of K967.6 billion will be settled in 2011.

He says government will ensure that all arrears owed by the mining companies are paid by 30th June 2011.

Dr Musokotwane further disclosed that all the mining companies have agreed to start paying taxes based on the current tax regime.

And Dr Musokotwane says the design of the abolished windfall tax was defective and not consistent with international practice as it was based on taxing revenue.

He explains that the windfall tax did not take into account the cost of production.

QFM
He says the normal practice is to tax windfall profits as is the current practice for mining, banking and telecommunications.

Last Weekend in Pictures

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1.

Rice farmers harvesting their crop in Mongu

2.

Pupils from Lusaka schools follow proceedings during the junior achievers programme at Kabulonga Boys secondary school

3.

President of Women Parliament in Mozambique Nyeleti Brooke Mondlane (r) presents a communiqué while Angola Member of Parliament Cesaltina Dac Major listens at Parliament buildings in Lusaka

4.

MMD Copperbelt taskforce chairperson Joel Malanji dances with party cadres during a public meeting in Ndola

5.

Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry human resources director Lubasi Sakwiba presents a certificate to local musician Maiko Zulu during the closure of the 2010 Global Entrepreneurship Week in Lusaka.

6.

Maize from the bumper harvest in Kapiri Mposhi

7.

Former President Frederick Chiluba's spokesperson Emmanuel Mwamba arriving at the Police headquarters for questioning

8.

Former President Frederick Chiluba's spokesperson Emmanuel Mwamba and Lawyer John Sangwa before he was thrown in police custody at Woodlands police station

9.

Dr Chiluba's spokesperson Emmanuel Mwamba being escorted to police cells by plain clothed police officers

10.

First Lady Thandiwe Banda is hugged by the wife to Chinese Ambassador to Zambia

11.

First Lady Thandiwe Banda (r) listens to Finance deputy Minister David Phiri's wife Helen at Kabulonga Boys High School in Lusaka

12.

Energy Minister Kenneth Konga at the site where ZESCO is building a new power station called Kafue Gorge Lower

13.

Energy Minister Kenneth Konga and Sino Hydrom engineers at the site where ZESCO is building a new power station

14.

Community Development deputy Minister Friday Malwa interacts with children living with albinism during a seminar in Lusaka

15.

Community Development deputy Minister Friday Malwa interacts with children living with albinism during a seminar in Lusaka.

16.

A church in Lusaka's Chazanga township where it was suspected that witchcraft was being practiced

17.

President Rupiah Banda shakes hands with service Chiefs after he arrived at Luena Barracks in Kaoma during the Consecration of Colours parade for the fifth Battalion of the Zambia Regiment in Kaoma

18.

President Rupiah Banda and Zambia Army Commander Lieutenant General Wisdom Lopa wave at Kaoma residents during the Consecration of Colours parade for the fifth Battalion of the Zambia Regiment in Kaoma

19.

President Rupiah Banda waves at Kaoma residents during the Consecration of Colours parade for the fifth Battalion of the Zambia Regiment in Kaoma

20.

President Rupiah Banda shakes hands with Zambia army officers in Kaoma's Luena Barrack during the Consecration of Colours parade for the fifth Battalion of the Zambia Regiment in Kaoma

21.

President Rupiah Banda watches the Zambia army officers marching during the Consecration of Colours parade for the fifth Battalion of the Zambia Regiment in Kaoma

22.

President Rupiah Banda watching the Zambia army officers marching during the Consecration of Colours parade for the fifth Battalion of the Zambia Regiment in Kaoma

23.

President Rupiah Banda gives the flag of colours to Zambia army officers during the Consecration of Colours parade for the fifth Battalion of the Zambia Regiment in Kaoma

24.

President Rupiah Banda after giving the flag of colours to the Zambia army officer during the Consecration of Colours parade for the fifth Battalion of the Zambia Regiment in Kaoma

Inflation drops further

Entertainment Editor
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Zambia has recorded a further reduction in its annual inflation rate, from 7.3 percent in October, to 7.1 percent for the month of November.

Central Statistical Office -CSO- Acting Director John Kalumbi has attributed the drop to a reduction in the cost of some food items.

He disclosed this at a media briefing in Lusaka today.

Mr. Kalumbi said prices of food, beverages, tobacco, recreation, and education pushed this month’s inflation downwards.

He said the national average price of a 25 kilogram bag of Breakfast mealie meal reduced from K55661 to K54635 .
[ ZNBC ]

UPND MPs don’t regret taking part in NCC

Entertainment Editor
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UPND members of Parliament (MPs) have said they do not regret participating in the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) as the draft Constitution born out of the exercise is better than the current Constitution.

Responding to a question in Lusaka yesterday during a Press briefing on whether the UPND was not ashamed of having taken part in the NCC, the parliamentarians led by Monze MP Jack Mwiimbu said it was a worthwhile decision to take part in the exercise.

Mr Mwiimbu, who is UPND chairperson for legal affairs, said it was going to be shameful for the party if the Government failed to take the draft Constitution to Parliament, which was not the case.

“As UPND MPs, we are not ashamed of having participated in the NCC. We would be if the Government decided not to bring the draft Constitution to Parliament. The NCC was not formed to enact a Constitution but to make recommendations.

“The enactment of the Constitution is the domain and jurisdiction of Parliament, which is the body with powers to alter or repeal the Draft Constitution,” Mr Mwiimbu said.

Mr Mwiimbu said the draft Constitution Bill would be tabled in Parliament next year and the House shall decide on the matter.

“In fact, the draft Constitution is even better than the current Constitution. It has good clauses which are in the interest of the Zambian people although many other good ones were rejected,” Mr Mwiimbu said.

“There is no doubt that the UPND did its best in the NCC deliberations, that is why contentious issues like the 50 plus one as well as the bill of rights have been referred to the referendum.

“In any case, it is not too late. Zambians have to lobby MPs to ensure they debate the Draft Constitute in their interest for a good product. In fact, even the 50per cent plus-one clause can be reintroduced,” Mr Mwiimbu noted.

“We cannot have a pact without the backing of the Constitution but with this provision in the Draft Constitution, the pact will be consummated. It will, therefore, be wrong to say the Draft Constitution is not okay, it has good clauses that are progressive,” he said.

Mr Mwiimbu said the MMD did not even have the two-thirds majority to enable it pass the new Constitution but it would still need to lobby the opposition to do so and the UPND would render its support if the interest of the Zambian people came first.

Mapatizya MP Ackison Sejani said it was not shameful for his party to have taken part in the NCC because it contributed enormously to the deliberations of the body on contentious clauses which were now referred to the referendum.

His Mazabuka counterpart Garry Nkombo said it would have been folly for the UPND to go against its decision in Parliament by not participating in the NCC.

Mr Nkombo said when the law to enact the new document was passed in the House, all the UPND, PF and the MMD members supported it.

Kalomo MP Request Muntanga said the party participated in the NCC because it believed that it would help change things from within the body and not outside.
[ Times of Zambia ]

US to give Zambia K1.2 trillion for AIDS fight

Entertainment Editor
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ZAMBIA and the United States of America have signed a partnership framework for HIV/AIDS that will result in the US government giving out K1.2 trillion next year towards the AIDS fight.

And Health Minister Kapembwa Simbao has commended the US government for its continued support to the health sector even in the face of the global financial crisis in 2008 as well as Zambia’s financial mismanagement last year.

The partnership framework agreement would run from 2011 to 2015.
United States Ambassador to Zambia Mark Storella signed on behalf of his government while Mr Simbao and Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane signed on behalf of the Zambian Government.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, Mr Simbao said over the years, America had consistently increased its level of funding to the entire health sector even in difficult times.

“What is exciting is that funding from the United States government did not decrease during the global financial crisis while there was no withdrawal or suspension of funding by the United States government following the allegations of financial mismanagement in the health sector last year,” Mr Simbao said.

He said the Government would ensure that the agreed-upon measures to strengthen governance in the health sector were implemented to stop a repeat of the financial mismanagement of 2009.

Mr Simbao said the Government was committed to the fight against AIDS and commended America for its continued help.
[pullquote]“What is exciting is that funding from the United States government did not decrease during the global financial crisis while there was no withdrawal or suspension of funding by the United States government following the allegations of financial mismanagement in the health sector last year,” Mr Simbao said.[/pullquote]
The minister said the increasing number of patients due to HIV/AIDS was overwhelming the health sector as well as devastating on the country’s economy.

Speaking earlier, Dr Musokotwane said thousands of people were dying of AIDS on an annual basis.

Dr Musokotwane said Zambia was ranked seventh highest globally among the countries suffering from AIDS.

“HIV and AIDS pandemic is one of the main challenges affecting the effective delivery of health services in Zambia. The devastating effects of HIV/AIDS run across all economic and social sectors, implying that the disease is not only a health problem,” Dr Musokotwane said.

He said the partnership agreement was in line with the Sixth National Development Plan (SNDP).

And Mr Storella said the funds would be for strengthening, prevention, treatment, care and support activities in the fight against AIDS.

He said AIDS was one of the greatest threats to sustainable human development and regretted that there were more than one million Zambians living with HIV.

“Zambia’s achievement of national targets as of 2009 includes testing 1,550,000 people and placing nearly 285,000 men and women on anti-retroviral therapy.
[ Times of Zambia ]

‘Some opposition MPs want to work with MMD’

Entertainment Editor
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MMD spokesperson Dora Siliya has said there are some Patriotic Front (PF) and UPND members of Parliament who want to work with the ruling party but stressed that MMD can win elections without forming alliances.

But UPND Members of Parliament (MPs) yesterday denied reports that they were courting the ruling party with a view of forming an alliance ahead of the 2011 general elections.

At a Press briefing at her office, Ms Siliya told journalists that there were some opposition MPs who had appreciated the good leadership of the MMD.

“I am aware that there are some PF and UPND MPs who are talking to us silently,” Ms Siliya, who is Education Minister said.

She said the MMD welcomed any MP or person who wanted to work with it in developing the country.

She said it was good to appreciate good leadership but the minister noted that the biggest pact the MMD had was with the people of Zambia.

The MMD had in the past managed to win elections alone because all it did was to sell its manifesto to the people.

The minister said as a ruling party, MMD had other parties supporting it during elections, as it was the case in the 2008 presidential elections.

And addressing journalists in Lusaka on behalf of others, Kalomo MP Request Muntanga dismissed the story carried by The Post of November 23, 2010 saying it was baseless.

Mr Muntanga alleged that the story was meant to divide the pact and that it was such writings that were even fueling the existing troubles in the PF-UPND alliance.

The statement was signed by 20 of the 24 UPND MPs.

Mazabuka MP Garry Nkombo also dismissed claims by Parliamentary Chief Whip Vernon Mwaanga over overtures by the UPND to form an alliance with the MMD.

He challenged Mr Mwaanga to name the MPs that were allegedly meeting the ruling party with the motive of forming an alliance instead of just speaking from nowhere.

Mapatizya MP Ackson Sejani said in every party there were disgruntled people and as such it would not make sense to talk to people on the street and allege the UPND was courting the MMD.

Sinazongwe MP Raphael Muyanda said the pact was there to stay and no amount of divide and rule tactics by the media would break it.

Others that dismissed the claims were MPs for Mbabala, Emmanuel Hachipuka, David Matongo for Pemba and Godfrey Beene for Itezhi-Tezhi.

[ Times Times ]

Gen Miyanda Speaks Out On Faz Wrangles

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An unlikely voice has added his voice to the current Faz wrangles as storm clouds gather over the next 72 hours when parallel emergency council meeting’s are held on November 26 and 27 in Lusaka and Kabwe respectively.

Brigadier General Godfrey Miyanda said in a press release today that it was unfair for FIFA to side with Faz over the current impasse over the executive committee’s constitutional validity after the resignation of four ex-committee members on October 1.

Gen Miyanda said that FIFA was applying double standards over its stance of non-interference by government in the running of football by its member associations.

“I urged the Minister of Youth and Sport to demand from FIFA to explain why they are happy for the Government of Zambia to fund FAZ from tax payers and yet complain when Government queries FAZ. FIFA regards this as interference!” the former Republican vice president said on Wednesday in his statement.

General Miyanda said FIFA has at any time never had any misgivings about Faz receiving any financial help from government and wondered why as a stakeholder they should not have a say in times of a crisis.

“If it is not interference then FIFA is displaying double standards and must eat their poorly baked cake in silence without crying foul,” Gen Miyanda said.

“In any case why does FAZ always run to Government for support whenever they run short of money for their activities and run to FIFA (ukuya mukobola) when they are quizzed issues by the Government?

“These wrangles could have been avoided had the FAZ leadership acted in a timely manner instead of burying their heads in the sand, wishing the problem to be blown away by the FIFA whirlwind.”

Dario Drops Four Pros For Cecafa Cup

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Zambia coach Dario Bonetti has dropped four foreign-based players for the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup that kicks off this weekend.

All four players joined the team on the eve of the team’s departure for Tanzania on Wednesday morning ahead of the opening ceremony in Dar-es-Salaam on Saturday.

The four include defender Davies Nkausu of SuperSport United in South Africa after joining the team on Monday.

Also dropped was the duo of Sebastian Mwansa and defender Hichani Himoonde from African champions TP Mazembe of DR Congo including Swedish-based player Donwell Yobe.

Russian-based midfielder Chisamba Lungu is the only foreign-based player in the team that left at 10:00 today for Tanzania.

Meanwhile, Zesco United defender Billy Mwanza has said the teams’ first match against hosts Tanzania on Saturday will have a significant telling in which direction Zambia will go at the Cecafa Cup.

“I can’t predict right now but from the first game Against Tanzania, we will see from the the way forward for the team,” Mwanza said prior to departure at Lusaka International Airport.

Zambia are in Group A together with Burundi, Somalia and hosts Tanzania.

Goalkeepers: Jacob Banda (Zesco United), Raja Kola (Zanaco)

Defenders: Jimmy Chisenga (Red Arrows), Dennis Banda (Green Buffaloes), Stephen Kabamba (Kabwe Warriors), Brian Musonda (Nkwazi), Billy Mwanza, Nyambe Mulenga (Both Zesco United)

Midfielders: Thomas Nyirenda, Allen Mukuka (Both Zanaco),  Joseph Sitali,Kennedy Mudenda, Simon Bwalya (All Power Dynamos), Chisamba Lungu (FC Ural Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia)

Strikers: Dube Phiri (Red Arrows), Winston Kalengo, Vanecious Mapande (Both Zanaco)

Northwestern girl pregnancy rate worrying

Entertainment Editor
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Some girls coming from antenatal Clinic in Sinazeze

Northwestern Province Education Officer (PEO) Jennipher Malama has expressed worry at the increased number of early pregnancies in the province.

Mrs. Malama said most Schools in the province have continued to record a high number of girls dropping out of school as a result of pregnancy.

She said the province last year recorded about 1000 cases of early pregnancies, a rate she described as alarming.

Mrs Malama said this in Solwezi today during newly appointed Northwestern Province Permanent Secretary Daniel Bowasi’s familiarization tour of the Provincial Education Office.

She, however, pointed out that her office is engaging parents and communities on the matter to stop the situation from worsening.

Meanwhile, the PEO has expressed happiness with the number of boarding Schools being constructed across the province.

Mrs. Malama said this would help reduce the number of children especially girls dropping out of school as a result of long distances to school.

[ ZANIS ]

Last week in Pictures

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1.

A DAF truck ferrying 350 bags of maize overturned in Kabwe near Chibombo after the driver lost control.

2.

A Chibombo villager helping move the bags of maize

3.

Zain officials waiting for Central Province permanent secretary Mr Denny Lumbama to officially commission the new Zain site in Kapiri Mposhi

4.

Kapiri Mposhi DC cutting the ribbon on the gate to the new Zain site in Kapiri Mposhi during the commissioning of a transmitter in Central Province.

5.

A notice at the daily mail offices

6.

Zambian Boxer Hastings Bwalya with Fomer Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World Mike Tyson(courtesy of Ibn casson )

7.

Hasting Bwalya with former two-division world champion Zab Juda(courtesy of Ibn casson )

8.

St Magarets UCZ church in Kitwe

9.

A ZAIN mast at one of the houses in a compound in Lusaka.Word on the street has it that the owner is paid K1million monthly to have the mast on his property.

10.

A ZAIN mast at one of the houses in a compound in Lusaka.Word on the street has it that the owner is paid K1million monthly to have the mast on his property.

11.

President Banda inspects a guard of honor when he arrived in Brazil

12.

President Banda signs the visitors book when he arrived in Brazil

13.

President Rupiah Banda ando Brazilian Ambassador to Zambia Josal Pellegrino during the Zambia-Brazil Business Forum held at Federation of Industries of the State of Sao Paulo headquarters.

14.

President Rupiah Banda conferring with Joao Guilherme Sabino Ometto, vice president of Federation of Industries of the State of Sao Paulo after the Zambia-Brazil Business Forum.

15.

President Rupiah Banda conferring with Joao Guilherme Sabino Ometto (l), vice president of Federation of Industries of the State of Sao Paulo after the Zambia-Brazil Business Forum

16.

President Banda with his Brazilian counterpart Lula Inacio Da Silva pose for a photograph after official talks

17.

President Banda and his delegation during his State visit to Brazil

18.

President Banda and his Brazilian counterpart Lula Inacio Da Silva during official talks

19.

President Rupiah Banda when he arrived from Brazil

Re-think your political future, RB advised

Entertainment Editor
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President Rupiah Banda

Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) presidential aspirant Nason Msoni has advised Republican President Rupiah Banda to re-think his political future.

Mr. Msoni says president Banda should seriously revisit his decision to contest 2011 presidential elections.

He said president Banda should reflect whether his decision to contest the 2011 presidential elections is in the interest of the party, or the nation.

Mr. Msoni added that the president has a unique opportunity to be a statesman by declaring that he will not contest the presidency in 2011.

He explained that it is clear that Zambia now needs someone with fresh ideas to run the affairs of the nation.

The presidential aspirant said Zambia’s tendency of falling back on the same leaders is retarding development.

And Mr. Msoni has advised politicians from UNIP who have joined the MMD to desist from politics of violence.

He said such members should realize that the MMD is a democratic party, and no party member should be intimidated.
[ QFM ]

MMD will be booted out in 2011 – Nawakwi

Entertainment Editor
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Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) president Edith Nawakwi has charged that government’s decision not to hold a referendum on the contentious clauses in NCC draft constitution before the 2011 general elections will not prevent Zambians from voting out the MMD.

Ms Nawakwi told QFM in an interview in Lusaka that Zambians are eager for change of government adding that nothing will stop them.

She said even if the forthcoming 2011 tripartite elections are held under the current constitution, the government will not change people’s minds.

The FDD president says it is disappointing that the Rupiah Banda led administration has decided not to heed to people’s wishes for the enactment of the whole new constitution.

Last week Vice President George Kunda announced that government has started the process of enacting the new constitution starting with provisions that do require going to the referendum.

Mr. Kunda who is also Justice Minister however said government may not hold the referendum before the 2011 elections because of financial constraints.
[ QFM ]

Zambia Head To Tanzania

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The Zambia national team leaves for Tanzania on Wednesday to take part in this year’s Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup.

Dario Bonetti’s 20-man team will leave at 10:00 on Zambezi Airlines for Dar-es-Salaam from Lusaka International Airport.

Coach Dario Bonetti said that he was feeling upbeat about Zambia’s prospects at the Cecafa Cup.

“I have a good feeling about this tournament because we have a very good quality,” Bonetti said.

And Faz president Kalusha Bwalya said a lot was expected from the team and thanked Cecafa for inviting Zambia to take part in the tournament for a third successive time.

“The people appreciate and realize how our competitiveness in terms of how good we can be. They realize that our team has potential,” Kalusha said.

Meanwhile, defender Davies Nkausu from SuperSport United in South Africa joined the team on Monday and will travel with the team to Tanzania as the only foreign-based player in the team.

Zambia kickoff their Cecafa Cup outing against hosts Tanzania on Sunday in the two sides opening Group A match.

Other teams in Group A are Somalia and Burundi.

Fifa Officials For Nov 27 ECM-Kalusha

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Faz president Kalusha Bwalya has said two Fifa observers will grace Saturdays emergency council meeting in Kabwe.

Kalusha revealed today at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka where he had paid a courtesy call on the Zambia national team in training that Fifa regional development Officer Ashford Mamelodi from Botswana will be one of the official from the games mother body in attendance.

The 1988 Africa footballer of the year also repeated that there will be one ECM this weekend.

“There is only going to be one meeting, one official meeting on the 27th of November and we have FIFA representative coming,” Kalusha said.

“We have two people coming (Ashford) Mamelodi and another person coming from Zurich to this meeting on the 27th and there have given guidance.”

Kalusha also took a swipe at the media for allegedly championing the parallel ECM on November 26 that will be held in Lusaka.

“I think that we should also be correct when we report on these things because the procedure that has to be taken has to be correct that is the procedure that has been taken on the 27th meeting,” Kalusha said.

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