The United Party for National Development (UPND) general secretary, Winstone Chibwe has challenged republican President, Rupiah Banda to ensure that resources meant for the operations of the food reserves agency (FRA) serve the intended purpose and not his world tourism ventures.

And Mr. Chibwe has described president Banda as a transit president who never comes back home but just passes through and proceeds to the next point.

Mr. chibwe said that president Banda does not have time to stay in the country long enough to hear for himself what people are crying for because he wants to use the little time left to tour every corner of the world.

He also observed that there are too many costs to his delegation that he does not realize that if well spent, he would record more growth than what is currently happening to the nation’s economy and the well-being of the people.

Meanwhile, Mr. Chibwe said that it is critical that the new FRA board is fully supported by government because the task before them is huge.

Mr. Chibwe has also urged the new board member to double up their effort in addressing the various challenges facing the FRA in crop marketing and especially storage.

[ QFM ]

President RUPIAH BANDA has delegated Foreign Affairs Minister KABINGA PANDE to represent him at todays SADC Heads of States meeting in Botswana.

The President was due to Chair saturdays SADC Troika Heads of State Meeting of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation.

Mr BANDA has however, delegated Foreign Affairs Minister KABINGA PANDE to represent him at the SADC meeting due to pressing national commitments.

The SADC meeting, which will be marked by the official commissioning of the new SADC headquarters in Gaborone, is expected to discuss political issues in the region.

This is according to a statement released to ZNBC by the State House Press and Public Relations Unit in LUSAKA yesterday.

President BANDA arrived back home friday from Brazil, where he was on a three day State visit.

During the visit, Mr BANDA and his delegation met a number of Brazilian investors.

The President, who also met his Brazilian counterpart LUIZ INACIO LULA DA SILVA, explained that his government will soon come up with mechanisms to replicate some projects being undertaken in Brazil.

President BANDA said this shortly after his arrival from Brazil.

While in Brazil, President Banda also held talks with the in-coming President of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff and other senior officials.

During his visit, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva promised to enhance trade relations and hinted that companies such as Vale and Scania will soon invest in Zambia.

The University of Zambia (UNZA) main Campus in Lusaka requires over K300 billion to successfully complete infrastructure development.

And UNZA seeks to construct a language centre next year.

This came to light in Lusaka today when UNZA Deputy Vice Chancellor Wilson Mwenya led a group of Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) drawn from different companies and financial institutions on a conducted inspection of the infrastructure at the campus.

ZANIS reports that Dr. Mwenya named some of the dilapidated buildings at the institution as the library and students’ hostels which require a face lift while the ‘abandoned’ Coja project needs to be completed.

Structures at the Coja project have since been abandoned by five named contractors following Zambia’s loss to host the All Africa Games where UNZA was to provide accommodation to the visiting delegates had Zambia hosted the games.

Dr. Mwenya said infrastructure was a major challenge as there was little attention accorded in this area and called for investment at the country’s largest and highest learning institution from both Government and the private sector.

He appealed to both the Government and the private sector to consider partnering with the institution in order to make learning more enjoyable and conducive.

The Deputy Vice Chancellor however, commended Government for the funds it was receiving as well as other cooperating partners like the Japanese Government through Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Barclays Bank that have come on board.

On plans to construct a language centre, he said the facility would be financed by both the Zambian and Japanese governments though he did not disclose how much the project would cost.

In response, Education Permanent Secretary Andrew Phiri appealed to the private sector to consider partnering with Government in infrastructure development.

Mr. Phiri said Government placed infrastructure development as number one priority and noted that that the State alone could not manage because resources were inadequate.

The PS said Government was in a hurry to invest in the education sector hence its plans to upgrade the University and other tertiary institutions which were earmarked for a facelift.

He also disclosed that over 100 basic and 47 high schools were being constructed in an effort to attain the 2015 Millennium Development Goal number-two.

Earlier, Acting Education Minister Geoffrey Lungwangwa said Government through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) had invited the private sector to participate in enhancing national development.

Professor Lungwangwa said this could be achieved if the private sector as stakeholders became proactive by identifying projects to undertake like Barclays Bank had done by adopting one of the hostels at the University.

UNZA was opened in 1966 but its infrastructure is a source of concern to both various stakeholders.

Meanwhile, the K13 billion worth new students’ hostels at the campus were nearing completion.

UNZA Dean of Students Hector Chiboola disclosed that only K500 million was needed for putting final touches before the building could be commissioned before the end of this year.

The 60-space storey building being constructed by Hua Jiang, a Chinese firm would be handed over to the Government soon.

[ ZANIS ]

The MMD has castigated its Kafulafuta Member of Parliament George Mpombo for criticising President Rupiah Banda over his international trips.

MMD National Chairman Michael Mabenga says Mr. Mpompo as a former Defence Minister ought to understand and appreciate the functions and duties of the Head of State.

Mr. Mabenga who is also Lands Deputy Minister said President BANDA who assumed office in 2008 has a mammoth task to fulfill the promises Late President Mwanawasa made before next year’s tripartite elections.

Speaking to journalists in Lusaka Friday, Mr. Mabenga said President Banda’s international trips have yielded a lot of economic benefits for the country.

And Mr. Mabenga said it is disappointing to hear people saying that the MMD leadership is celebrating the gains which were started by late President Mwanawasa.

He explained that there should be no comparisons between President Banda and the late President because there are all indebted to the MMD manifesto.
[ ZNBC ]