Education Minister Dora Siliya has challenged parents to take a keen interest in knowing the kinds of books their children are reading for the country to produce a cadre of educated citizens that appreciates and feels proud of their nation’s culture and heritage.

Ms. Siliya said it is imperative that parents play a role in the education of their children for the country to produce disciplined, responsible and hard working citizens that can contribute positively to national development.

The Education Minister said this in Lusaka last evening when she graced the launch of a book entitled Icisalwa Maasaka by Dr Pardon Mwansa that has been approved by the Ministry of Education for use as a literature book for secondary schools in the country.

Ms. Siliya said it is important that parent’s obligation to their children’s education does not just end at paying school fees but ensure that such education also imparts values that are acceptable to society.

She said government will in the next three years be able to produce education space for about 1.3 million children to afford every child an education.

Ms.Siliya also stated that government was concerned about the reading culture in the country and will continue to fight for an improvement in that area.

She said government has over the years continued to increase allocation of funds to the Ministry of Education towards the purchase of reading materials to fight illiteracy.

Ms. Siliya said government desires to produce competent graduates, adding that books are at the centre of the realization of that dream.

She stated that Zambians must write their own stories and commended Dr Mwansa for writing his book in local language.

She urged him to translate the book into other Zambian languages to afford an opportunity to other Zambians from other tribes to read and enjoy the book.

Ms. Siliya also commended the publisher of the book, Maiden Publishing House for going an extra mile in resuscitating the industry and affording Zambians are opportunity to write books.

Speaking earlier, Author of the book Dr Pardon Mwansa said he decided to write his book in a local language for Zambians to appreciate and be proud of their heritage and culture.

Dr. Mwansa said it was important that Africans and Zambians in particular write their stories in their mother tongue if there were to uphold the tradition and culture.

He described his book as an emotional, interesting and a must read saying it depicts social challenges that every individual goes through.

And Maiden Publishing House Managing Director Christine Kasonde disclosed that her publishing house will publish at least one book in a local language every year.

Ms. Kasonde said this is because her organization realizes that local languages play an important role in curbing illiteracy among citizens in the country.

[ ZANIS ]

MMD chairperson for elections Mike Mulongoti has warned party members seeking to contest various positions not to use tribes to advance their political ambitions.

Reacting to remarks attributed to MMD Western Province chairperson Simasiku Namakando that tribal politics in the ruling party would divide it, Mr Mulongoti said members should campaign across tribes.

“We are in a time where intra-party democracy must be seen to be working. The habit of running for positions on the basis of tribal groupings is unfair and unnecessary. People should campaign across tribes,” Mr Mulongoti who is Works and Supply Minister said.

He said it was wrong for any party member to use tribe to boost their campaigns for positions.
[pullquote]“We are in a time where intra-party democracy must be seen to be working. The habit of running for positions on the basis of tribal groupings is unfair and unnecessary. People should campaign across tribes,” Mr Mulongoti who is Works and Supply Minister said.[/pullquote]
“Those who are competing for elective office must never look for excuses for not focusing on their campaigns. I refuse to be used as such,” Mr Mulongoti said.

The minister noted that as chairperson for elections, it was his duty to give guidelines to allow for fair play, party constitution legality as well as equity.

Mr Mulongoti said he had to ensure that deadlines as far as time was concerned were observed and beyond that there was nothing else.

And Mr Mulongoti has said the party would go ahead with provincial conferences once it had harmonised its programmes with President Banda’s schedule.

Mr Mulongoti said the party was trying to work out a schedule that would enable President Banda as party president officially open all the nine provincial conferences.

Meanwhile, the MMD Lusaka District choir has expressed its sadness at some party members who are working against provincial chairperson William Banda.

Choir chairperson Nelia Sakala said in a statement that Mr Banda had managed to transform the ruling party in Lusaka.

“With the coming of Mr Banda, our party has been reconstructed and we have taken control of Lusaka District in all political terms as we continue to establish a firm ground,” Ms Sakala said.

She appealed to President Banda to institute investigations about the parallel structures formed against Mr Banda.
[ Times of Zambia ]

President Rupiah Banda has expressed profound sorrow at the deaths of 17 passengers, including two babies in a road mishap along the Great North Road.

In his message of condolences to families of the accident victims, President Banda said government is deeply saddened by the tragedy which could have been avoided.

Mr. Banda urged motorists to drive with caution and consideration for other road users, to minimize deaths through road accidents.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Press and Public Relations Unit at State House.

The President has appealed to motorists to be patient on the roads during the rainy festive season, noting that traffic accidents tend to increase during this period of the year.

And the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) said human error was the cause of the accident which claimed 17 lives on the Kabwe-Kapiri road.

RTSA Deputy Director Martin Mbangu told ZNBC that there was human error on the part of the driver of the light truck which hit into the fuel tanker.

Mr. Mbangu said the agency records a higher number of accidents involving light trucks ferrying people and advised motorists to be cautious on the road.

He has also cautioned motorists not to be excited during the festive time, as a lot of accidents are recorded this period due to drunken driving.

On saturday 17 people died in a road accident involving a light truck and fuel tanker on the Kabwe Kapiri road.

[ ZNBC ]

Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) president Edith Nawakwi has charged that there is need for government to identify the root cause of corruption in the country.

Ms. Nawakwi who is also former Finance Minister in second Republican President Fredrick Chiluba’s Government told QFM in an interview that corruption is retrogressive to the fight against poverty.

She said the current system in government is so porous for corrupt activities and that the removal of the abuse of office clause from the revised Anti Corruption commission Act will worsen the vice.

The FDD president said the recent misappropriation of funds at the Ministry of Health is worrying and has made Zambia’s attainment of health related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in a difficult position.

She has advised government to decentralize the budgeting process to district level so that funds are sent directly to the recipients in districts.

Ms. Nawakwi said it is high time government takes responsibility of the corrupt activities in the health sector adding that it should ensure that the much talked about quality health care delivery to Zambians becomes a reality rather than just offering lip service.
[ QFM ]

The Private Sector Development Association (PSDA) has commended government for its decision to extend trading hours across the country.

PSDA Chairperson Yusuf Dodia said the extension of business hours was in line with what business firms have been yearning for, saying most business firms were already operating beyond the official closure of business hours.

Mr . Dodia said the enforcement of the new law was the formalization of what has already been happening in business firms across the country.

He told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that the move will undoubtedly stimulate economic development as there will be enhanced economic activities.

Mr. Dodia stated that productivity would double and more jobs will be created for the local people as businesses houses will have to employ more workers to cater for extended working hours.

He also said the move will stimulate other business houses like banks and the transport sector to also extend their business houses.

Local Government and Housing Minister Brian Chituwo recently announced the extension of trading hours by five hours across the country in order to afford workers in formal employment an opportunity to shop during the week.
[ ZANIS ]

Central Province Permanent Secretary Denny Lumbama has expressed sadness at the loss of lives on the Kabwe-Kapiri road in an accident that happened last night.

Mr Lumbama in an interview with ZANIS today said that the accident was a great tragedy which could have been avoided.

He cautioned people to avoid traveling at night especially with the onset of rains to avoid being caught up in accidents.

Mr. Lumbama said traveling at night in the rain season was dangerous as it was not easy for anyone to see clearly in the rains.

He also cautioned trackers to be cautious of road traffic rules by avoiding packing on dark spots and by ensuring clear signs on the road in case of packing for other road users to see clearly and avoid accidents of the nature.

Mr. Lumbama further said road safety should be everyone’s responsibility if accidents are to be reduced on roads.

23 people among them two babies perished in a road traffic accident on the Kapiri-Kabwe road that involved a canter truck and a Petrotech-fuel tanker.
And Passengers, Pedestrian and Cyclists Association of Zambia (PAPECA) have also expressed sadness over the death of the 23 passengers.
PAPECA president Lawrence Kaoma says it is regrettable that the nation had to lose so many people when the situation would have been avoided.
Mr. Kaoma said the use of open trucks as public transport was the cause of such accidents as they were mostly overcrowded and therefore urged the public to shun using open trucks for transport.

He has also called on the police command to ban the use of open trucks as public transport if the nation was to preserve the lives of people.
The PAPECA president was speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today.
[ ZANIS ]

Chief government spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha has described Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata’s political tactics as old fashioned.

Lieutenant General Shikapwasha said Mr. Sata is only showing his incapability of becoming a leader as he is a violent man.

He said his conduct on Thursday at the Drug Enforcement Commission were PF cadres who had accompanied him turned violent after being tear-gassed is only exhibited by individuals who are no longer interested in the county’s security.

Lieutenant Shikapwasha, who is also information minister said in an interview that Zambians will not allow anyone to disturb the peace the country has continued to enjoy.

He added that it is unfortunate the PF Leader is the one in the fore-front of perpetuating violence in the country instead of him condemning it.

The chief government spokesperson has since advised Mr. Sata to put his house in order to avoid more violence during the 2011 general elections.
[ QFM ]

Thirteen people among them two babies have died on the Kapiri-Kabwe road in a road traffic accident involving a canter truck and a Petrotech- fuel tanker.

Meanwhile, eight people have survived the same accident which happened last night around 21:00 hours after a head-on collision of the canter truck and the fuel tanker.

Both drivers from the accident vehicles are among the dead.

The fuel tanker registration number ABT 3209 coming from Ndola enroute to Lusaka was carrying 21000 liters of petrol and 17000 litters of diesel when it collided with the canter truck which had at least 23 passengers on board.

A ZANIS crew which rushed to the scene of the accident at Vuba area on the Kapiri –Kabwe road found police led by Police Deputy Commissioner- Operations, Dr. Solomon Jere and fire brigade still pulling out bodies of the victims from the wreckage.

By press time the canter truck which was carrying bundles of fish was still trapped underneath the fuel tanker.

Smashed bodies of victims could be seen within the mangled canter truck which was trapped underneath the oil Tanker.

Police Deputy Commissioner, Solomon Jere told ZANIS that the accident happened when the driver of the canter which was coming from Kabwe veered off the rightful lane to avoid hitting into a stationary truck.

Dr. Jere said the driver of the canter truck tried to avoid the stationary truck on his lane resulting in him going into the other lane were he collided with an on coming Oil Tanker which was on its rightful lane.

He said police do not know the exact number of bodies trapped under the fuel tanker as they were still awaiting a crane from Lusaka to move the tanker.

Dr. Jere said the operation was also considering decanting the fuel from the tanker to make it lighter for it to be easily hoisted from over the canter.
[pullquote]“As you can see the tanker is still on top of the canter truck and the crane that we have is smaller so we have called for reinforcement for a bigger crane so that we remove the tanker. The other option is to decant the fuel from the tanker but this is also proving to be a delicate operation,” Dr. Jere said.[/pullquote]
He however said police and fire brigade have only managed to pull out 13 dead bodies among them two children who have since been taken to Kabwe General Hospital Mortuary.

The Deputy Commissioner said police are still working out ways of retrieving the bodies which were still believed to be trapped in the canter truck beneath the oil tanker.

Dr. Jere said the eight survivors have been rushed to Kabwe general Hospital for treatment describing their conditions as critical.

“As you can see the tanker is still on top of the canter truck and the crane that we have is smaller so we have called for reinforcement for a bigger crane so that we remove the tanker. The other option is to decant the fuel from the tanker but this is also proving to be a delicate operation,” Dr. Jere said.

Dr. Jere blamed the accident on careless driving and overloading on the part of the canter truck driver.

Dr. Jere advised motorists to observe traffic rules to avoid such tragic accidents which cost lives of people.

He described the accident as the worst that has happened in a long while in the country.

Two other vehicles were also extensively damaged from the accident after they avoided ramming into the fuel tanker.

The two vehicles were following the fuel tanker which collided with the canter.

All passengers from the other two vehicles survived with minor injuries.
[ ZANIS ]