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UPND youths ‘headless pact’ statement irks Kambwili

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PF Roan Member of Parliament Chishimba Kambwili (L)

PATRIOTIC Front (PF) Roan Member of Parliament Chishimba Kambwili has demanded for the resignation of United Party for National Development (UPND) national youth chairperson Joe Kalusa for what he termed as issuing derogatory remarks against the pact leadership.

Mr Kambwili said he will not rest but would ensure Mr Kalusa was disciplined by his party, the UPND as his move to hold a Press briefing and attack the pact leadership was tantamount to indiscipline of the highest order.

PF leader Michael Sata said he would not waste time to react to Mr Kalusa whom he described as just a ‘national youth chairperson’.

But Mr Kalusa said the national youth leadership of the UPND was a well recognised and respected wing in his party’s constitution and that Mr Kambwili and Mr Sata’s reactions over his Press briefing where the UPND youths merely demanded an explanation of the national programme, guidelines and regulations of the pact, clearly showed that the PF lacked respect for its youth wing.

He said their reactions showed that they just wanted to reserve the youths and use them as tools for violence during next year’s tripartite elections.

UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma, however, said his party appreciated the concerns raised by the party’s youth wing.

Mr Kalusa held a Press briefing where he also challenged Mr Sata to explain to the pact partner, UPND and the Zambians in general on how the PF leader would be able to put more money in people’s pockets.

Mr Kambwili described the briefing as indiscipline and demanded that Mr Kalusa and his copperbelt Provincial youth chairperson Kelly Jibinga should resign and join the ruling MMD which he alleged was sponsoring the UPND youths to discredit the pact.

“It is indiscipline of the highest order for the UPND national youth chairman to issue derogatory remarks against another leader of the pact. UPND should discipline Mr Kalusa and Mr Jibinga. We will ensure the leadership of the UPND disciplines these two youth leaders.

“It is sad that Mr Kalusa always wants to be a populist even on issues he never understands and I am urging him to tone down because he will leave politics with nothing if he is not careful. We know Kalusa is being sponsored to destabilise the pact and we will not allow him to succeed,” Mr Kambwili said.

But Mr Kalusa said it was worrying to note that Mr Kambwili and Mr Sata never saw the importance of youth wings in the political parties. He said Mr Kambwili was not the right person to call for his resignation because he was not a member of the UPND.

He said he was willing to appear before any disciplinary committee, especially that of the pact provided that PF vice president Guy Scott, his secretary general Wynter Kabimba and Nkana MP Mwenya Musenge were also summoned to appear for having discredited the UPND.

When contacted, PF spokesperson Given Lubinda and Mr Kabimba both refused to comment on the matter.

But Mr Kakoma said his party appreciated the concerns raised by the UPND youths. He said the issues raised by Mr Kalusa were complex and needed to be handled carefully.

“We know the youths want things to be done fast and we appreciate their concerns but these are the issues we are trying to harmonise in the pact. These are not issues that can be done within a day,” he said.

Mr Kakoma said the working committees were given two weeks in which to complete the harmonisation of the guidelines and manifestoes for the two political parties which would soon be handed over to the leadership in the pact.

And former PF secretary General Edward Mumbi said Zambians were now able to see which politician was telling the truth when it came to issues of national importance.

Mr Mumbi said it was pleasing to note that the UPND had realised that Mr Sata just wanted to use them to popularise himself.

“At least I am on record stating that this pact is a non starter. It was just formed because Mr Sata just wanted to use the UPND to popularise himself and now that he has failed to use it in the way he wanted to, he is ashamed.

“I am also urging Mr Hakainde Hichilema to be careful with Mr Sata who has now started to disrespect the UPND youths failure to which he will suffer serious consequences in his political career,” Mr Mumbi said.

[Times of Zambia]

Zambia Enters Training Camp

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The Zambia national team gathered in Lusaka today to begin their week long training camp ahead of Saturdays 2012 Africa cup Group C qualifier against Comoros at Nkoloma stadium in Lusaka.

Seven foreign based call-ups who included the clubless duo of midfielder Rainford Kalaba and goalkeeper Kalililo Kakonje all turned up for the first full day of training.

The others are the Swiss based duo of striker’s Emmanule Mayuka and Fwayo Tembo including playmaker Isaac Chansa of Orlando Pirates in South Africa.

Fwayo is currently under watch after a reported injury on his knee but it is said to be minor.

Two other South African based players also reported for opening session of training and they were defender Kampamba Chintu from Amazulu and Noah Chivuta.

Club aims to earn money for Zambia

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Zambia’s Scholarship Fund at USU, a club only a month old and ten members strong, is hoping to raise money that helps students and teachers in Zambia.

“In Zambia, the government only pays for free education through seventh grade,” Jeff Merrell, the club’s president, said. Merrell is a sophomore in business administration and political science.

The new club has ties to a charity founded in northern Utah, Zambia’s Scholarship Fund, which is a registered charity with the IRS, and has 501(c) status, he said.

Merrell and Carlee Berry, senior in speech language pathology, went to high school together, and were the presidents of the National Honor Society. As part of the organization in high school, Berry said the two of them were told about the charity and put on a benefit concert.

“When we were in high school not a lot of people knew about the event. We are from a small town,” Berry said. “We want to do more.”

The conditions in Zambia can’t be called good, as Amanda Brough, junior in social work, can attest.

Brough has been to Zambia to do humanitarian work, and said the country is poor, and doesn’t have the ability to export anything to other countries.

“Zambia is the world’s pauper,” she said.

When Merrell came back from serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he and Berry decided to begin a club

at USU together to help those in Zambia.

“The literacy rate is falling, and so is the life expectancy. What the fund does is make it so people can sponsor a student for a year in Zambia,” he said.

When these sponsored students graduate from high school, the fund hires them to be teachers in other villages, Merrell said.

“We’re not asking USU students to sponsor kids in Zambia, but we’d like to get the word out, maybe get some people from Cache Valley to sponsor them,” he said.

Not only does the fund sponsor students to go through high school, but it also has other projects to help teachers and students Zambia. Merrell said in Zambia, it can sometimes take a teacher days to walk to get their paycheck and days to walk back.

“We’d like to help by maybe paying for bicycles so teachers don’t have to cancel school for a week at a time,” Merrell said.

The fund at USU is planning two main events to raise funds, Berry said. A 5K race in September and a benefit concert in April.

Berry said the 5K will be held on Sept. 25. Registration will open at 7:30 a.m. and the race will begin at 8 a.m.

“It’s 5 dollars, and all the money we raise goes to the fund,” she said.

The benefit concert, called Zambia Fest, will be held April 30, called Zambia Fest, is shaping up to be a big event, according to both Berry and Merrell.

“We’re going to have Keith Stubbs, from (radio station) 101.5 The Eagle, be our MC, and he said he was excited to help,” Berry said.

Stubbs has won awards for being the best talk show host on the radio, and Berry said he owns Wiseguy Comedy Club in Ogden, UT.

Merrell said the club is growing, and he hopes it continues to do so.

“We’re looking for help, to give people opportunities,” he said.

To get more information on events and the scholarship fund, you can visit www.Zambiasscholarshipfund.org or email them at [email protected].

ñ[email protected]

[www.usustatesman.com]

Sata rebuked for his accusations on First Lady’s tours

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PF leader Michael Sata

Africa Institute for Democracy and Good Governance (AIDGG) spokesperson Thabo Kawana has urged Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata and sections of society to stop linking the first lady Thandiwe Banda’s charitable works to corruption and political campaigns.

Mr. Kawana has in an interview with ZANIS in Kapiri Mponshi today, observed that Mr. Sata’s and some politician’s comments in the media linking the first lady to politics and corruption are irresponsible and politically aimed at tarnishing her image.

The AIDGG spokesperson said Mrs. Banda’s activities across the country should be supported as they are aimed at strengthening women and improve their welfare.

He said the first lady is going across the country to support women clubs which consisted women from various political parties and hence accusing her of campaigning for the ruling MMD through this activity is baseless.

Mr. Kawana noted that the first lady had resolved not to form her own Non Governmental Organization (NGO) like her predecessors to help women but opted to work with existing ones a move which is commended.

He said the move was a clear indication that Mrs. Banda wanted to support and work with all individual women and women clubs in the country regardless of political affiliation.

He said the first lady needs to be supported and not disturbed for her activities therefore it is regrettable that some politicians and critics want to destroy her good name and works.

Mr. Kawana has since urged Mrs. Banda not to relent or be disturbed by these politicians and critics of her works but be focused to helping the needy in society.

Meaniwhile, First Lady Thandiwe Banda has commended the women of Chiengi District in Luapula Province for taking farming seriously in the Chiefdom.

The first Lady said this today in Chiengi when she donated 40 by 50 kg bags of fertiliser, 20 bags of maize and sunflower, sewing machines and a hummer Mill to Women Clubs in the area.

ZANIS reports that Mrs Banda also promised the Women that she would request the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to teach them how to apply the fertilisers using new farming methods.

She thanked the people in the area for voting for President Banda during the 2008 presidential by elections. And speaking during the same occassion, Chief District Association Chairperson Alice Mtine said Women were part and parcel of all Government programmes in the district adding that they played a significant role in national development.

Mrs. Mtine said some of the challenges women Clubs faced included lack of access to equipment such as hummer mills and sowing machines adding that the donation the first lady rendered to the organisation would go a long way in mitigating some of the problems they were facing.

Meanwhile, the First Lady paid a courtesy call on Senior Chief Puta’s wife Agnes in Chiengi district who thanked Mrs Banda for visiting the area for the first time.

The traditional Leader’s wife further appealed to Government through the First Lady to adequately empower women in the area to enable them look after the
vulnerable in society and fight against the HIV and Aids respectively. The First Lady is in Chiengi District for a one week tour of Luapula Province.

She is accompanied by Mrs. Edina Mukuma, Wife of Presidential Affairs Minister at State house Rolnald Mukuma, Mrs. Felisty Mushosha, Mrs. Agnes Chinyanta and Mrs. Gloria Sichilima.

ZANIS

Mpulungu granted immunization kit and minibus

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Fishing boats Mpulungu at Harbor

NORWEGIANS from Jolster Kommune council in Norway have handed over a mobile immunization van and a US$ 10 000 minibus to health and council officials in Mpulungu to assist in their operations.

Northern Province minister John Chinyanta, in a speech read for him by district administrative officer Leonard Chiti during the handover ceremony at Walamo Hall said the government was grateful for the donations.

He mentioned that bilateral relations between Zambia and Norway dated back to independence, saying that government had received massive support in education, health and agriculture sectors through NORAD.

Chinyanta said he was aware that relations between the Norwegian council and Mpulungu district council went back to 2007 and expressed happiness that the marriage was in line with the millennium development goal number eight (8) that highlighted the development of a global partnership for development both at national and international level.

He said these partnerships were envisaged to be a strategy for global poverty reduction whose objective was being implemented in the donation.

Your donation of the immunization van is a tool in the hands of the health sector because it will reinforce the reduction of infant mortality by prevention of diseases that cause death in children through effective immunization, Mr. Chinyanta said.

He advised the youths from the local youth council to put the donated minibus to proper use.

Mr. Chinyanta said youths in the country faced a lot of challenges of drug abuse, unemployment and disease, saying they must rise above those challenges and make good of their lives.

And Manager for Administration at Mpulungu district hospital Amon Phiri said his department was happy to receive the all weather immunization van, adding that the vehicle will go a long way in ensuring that the health institution provided quality services to the community.

Phiri admitted that there was a shortage of transport at the district hospital because the available vehicles were mostly being used for ambulance services.

Meanwhile, Mpulungu District has commenced a training programme of 30 spray operators in readiness for the spraying exercise against mosquitoes in over 10 000 households in the district.

The training is in line with the Indoor Residual Spray (IRS) programme and is being undertaken with support from the national malaria control centre in collaboration with the ministry of health (MOH).

The training will last for 18 days and once trained, the spray operators will be deployed to spray households in Mpulungu central and part of Isoko areas in October.

Health workers spoken to said the objective of the exercise was to reduce malaria cases in the district, adding that according to data from districts that had undertaken the exercise in the past, the IRS programme was capable of drastically reducing the cases of malaria.

And this is why we are targeting 8 000 to 10 000 peoples dwellings in Mpulungu. This number will be increased next year depending on the availability of funds, a health worker who did not want to be named said.

Mpulungu is among the 54 districts in the country where the IRS programme is being carried this year and health workers say the number will be increased to cater for all the 73 districts in the country in due course.

According to available data, malaria was the number one killer disease in Mpulungu and the disease accounted for over 50 percent of all hospitalized cases at Mpulungu district hospital and the surrounding rural health centers.

Malaria experts say the impact of the disease on the population was huge and it was great financial cost to both government and the affected individuals.

The 30 spray operators have been drafted from different areas in the district.

ZANIS

Land and mineral rights in conflict

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Mining prospectors in Luapula Province, northern Zambia, have forced small-scale farmers from their land at gun point, according to villagers in the region.

“We have a lot of battles going on over land; people’s right to land is being violated by manganese miners, time and again,” said Ignatius Musenge of the Zambia Land Alliance, a land rights NGO based in Mansa, the provincial capital.

Luapula Province borders the mineral-rich Katanga region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and has deposits of manganese, cobalt, citrine and copper; some reports claim there are also deposits of diamonds, uranium, gold and tin.

“We are handling about 20 complaints per week on average, and so far we have had more than 500 people evicted [since 2009] in various parts of Mansa as a result of manganese mining,” Musenge told IRIN. People forced from their land have been given no compensation or alternative land.

“They [prospectors] are chasing us from our own land,” Peter Mwila told IRIN. “Is this country just for the rich? The chief [traditional ruler] gave me a 10-hectare piece of land many years ago, where I have been farming. But early this year someone came and chased me with a gun, saying I was farming on his mining area, and I am now living with my uncle in the next village.”

President Rupiah Banda’s government has permitted exploration to gauge the extent of the province’s mineral deposits, and has allowed small-scale mining activities, but residents claim that once mineral deposits are discovered they are evicted from their land.

Lister Zimba, who was “chased from her land” in Mansa district in May 2010, told IRIN: “The only thing I have is this land, where I do my farming. So, what happens to me now? The chief gave us land; people with money got the land from us.”

Nowhere to go

“Where can we go? This is the only land we [I, my husband and three children] have lived on. We have no jobs, why should they take even the little that we have?” she said.

Mining – particularly in Copper Belt Province, northern Zambia – contributes 80 percent of the country’s foreign earnings, and since 2003 has been the main driver of its annual five percent growth rate. But the commodities boom, tempered by the 2008 global slowdown, has failed to improve the livelihoods of most of Zambia’s 12.4 million citizens.

About two-thirds of Zambians survive on less than US$1 per day, and only about 500,000 people have formal employment, but these statistics become more extreme in Luapula.

The province is one of poorest of Zambia’s nine provinces, poverty levels are an estimated 78 percent – compared to the national average of 64 percent – and only three percent of Luapula’s 775,353 people have access to formal jobs, according to the 2008 Labour Force Survey Report released in June 2010 by the Central Statistical Office.

One of the few large industries, a battery factory, closed in the 1990s and there is an expectation that large-scale mining operations could transform the province’s economic fortunes.

Chief Ndake, a member of the House of Chiefs, a body of traditional rulers, warned that pro-market policies could push poor people living on customary land into deeper poverty if they were evicted.

In Zambian law, land is held by customary tenure, and although the government has encouraged citizens to take title to their land, many are unaware of the need to do so, and the state has the authority to revoke any untitled land awarded by traditional rulers.

“The powers that we have [as traditional rulers] to give land to the people are not actually honoured; in fact, the villagers living in rural areas are termed as squatters. The millions and millions of Zambians who have lived on this land for more than two, three centuries up to now, they are squatting,” Chief Ndake told IRIN.

“It is only those who have settled on statutory land, where there are all those title deeds, that are settled permanently, and this law becomes very effective when there is an investor coming, when there is timber to be produced, when there are mineral deposits,” he said.

Kennedy Sakeni, a former parliamentarian living in Mansa, is one of the small-scale miners accused of evicting people from their customary land.

Wild allegations

“Those are just wild allegations – they want to create problems where there are no problems. Others want to eat with both hands; you compensate them today, tomorrow they come back and ask for more money,” he said.

“The truth is, I have seven mining licenses for [digging] pits in different places, and wherever there are fields of cassava [a staple food] in any of my mines, I have compensated them [local people]. In certain areas, where I am not mining just now, the people still have their cassava fields intact,” he said.

Boniface Nkata, Zambia’s deputy minister of mines, said government was concerned at the rising number of evictions. “There’s very serious tension in terms of mining activities in the district [Mansa],” he acknowledged.

“But … government cannot be blamed where someone is evicted from the land they have been occupying illegally, without valid documentation – they are squatters. Those who are driving them out are permitted to do so, because they should not come and find their minerals tampered with,” Nkata told IRIN.

“The law is very clear – even when your chief gives you land, you should obtain title deeds for it from the ministry of lands. Then, any investor will have to partner with you, or just mine outside your farm area,” he said.

“We can’t have a situation where anyone does what they think is right. As government, we can only call on all our investors to offer some form of compensation to the affected people, to ease their relocation or resettlement.”

The government intended to open the mineral wealth of the province to international investors after a two-year exploration period, “so that they can develop the province, invest in corporate social responsibility, pay tax,” Nkata said.

“These mining activities have the potential to improve the economy of Zambia significantly, and I think we should look at the bigger picture.”

[IRIN]

Higher ground areas to face low water supply-LWSC

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The Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company (LWSC) has disclosed that there would be low water supply in areas that are on higher ground than in areas that are on lower ground during the hot season.

Chief Engineer at the LWSC Wilson Shan said it was quite common to experience low water supply during the hot season in places that were on higher ground because the ground water table was at its lowest.

Mr. Shan also attributed the water shortage during the hot season to water wastage by people in lower areas.

He explained that various activities that people engaged in like taking longer showers, car wash using the hose pipe and brushing teeth on running water resulted in water shortage causing other people to experience a low water supply during the hot season.

He disclosed this during a live programme called Water Chat on MUVI Television and monitored by ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday.

Mr. Shan stated that Lusaka Water and Sewerage relied on ground water and during the hot season the water table receded reducing water supply and increasing the pumps working capacity. This he noted caused some areas on higher ground to experience low or no water supply during certain times.

He named areas mostly affected by low water supply during the hot season, as Chudley, Upper Ibex Hill, Chalala, and Garden township.

“Demand for water supply during the summer is at its highest but the supply is low because our water sources are equally low during this period in time” the Engineer said.

He noted that there was need to continue sensitising people on the importance of water conservation especially during the hot season in order for everyone to have access to the commodity.

ZANIS

Mpulungu seat wont be easy to win – PF

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PF Members

Several Patriotic Front (PF) members in Mpulungu have said that the public statements being issued by their leaders in the province were misleading the national leadership because they were not a true reflection of what was happening on the ground.

They have waned that if the statements were not stopped, they might cost the party dearly in the Mpulungu by-election because party officials would relax and be made to believe that Mpulungu would be as easy seat to scoop.

Recently, PF provincial chairman Fred Chisanga and District Chairman Charles Mazimba were quoted as having said that Pf would win the Mpulungu seat by a landslide because people in the area were not happy with the way government allegedly treated the late MP Lameck Chibombamilimo and wanted change.

But sources in the party today revealed that the story on the ground was different from the way it was being portrayed in the media.

The party official revealed that as their leaders were busy issuing press statements their colleagues in the MMD were on the ground in the remotest parts of Mpulungu constituency and they were busy campaigning for their party.

The sources said there was also need to hold elections for new office bearers at constituency, district, ward and branch levels within the Pf ranks in the district.

“ It is common knowledge that our party in the district was currently divided into two camps. The last meeting we had, to which they are minutes, it was resolved to hold fresh elections to elect new people.

“ This has not been done and the delay has divided the party. To say that PF in Mpulungu was in a state of confusion because of the many wrangling is an understatement, “ the PF officials revealed.

The PF members have advised their leadership to stop releasing media statements and put in place strong party structures that can challenge the ruling MMD in Mpulungu if the opposition was to scoop the seat in the impending by-election.

The Mpulungu Parliamentary seat fell vacant following the unexpected death of the MMD parliamentarian who died in an Indian hospital after an illness.

ZANIS

Donors are attacking Pan-Africanists, says Chiluba

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Former Republican President Dr Fredrick Chiluba

Second Republican President, Frederick Chiluba, has accused donors of attacking genuine nationalists and Pan-Africanists.
And Dr. Chiluba said he remains part of State House in the wake of his acquittal and the refusal by government to appeal against the High Court ruling on the registration of the London judgment.

Speaking in an interview with journalists in Lusaka this morning, Dr. Chiluba who was flanked by his spokesperson, Emmanuel Mwamba, said donors are in a habit of looking for countries to identify as puppets and later use them to bring division among themselves.

Dr Chiluba explained that donor also look for genuine nationalists and Pan-Africanists whom to attack because they are against their agenda in Africa.

The former head of State noted that in Pan-Africanism, they espouse the ideas and principles of sovereignty, independence, and autonomy which he says puppets fails to address.

Dr Chiluba said those who espouse these virtuals in principle and rights of the African people become enemies of diplomats.

And when asked to comment on the High Court ruling on the London Judgment, Dr Chiluba said: “ I am is smiling and my smile is genuine. ”

Dr Chiluba added that he would now concentrate on doing the work of a former head of State like what former US President, Jimmy Carter and other world former heads of State are doing.

He said being part of State House, he would do everything he can to assist the government of president Rupiah Banda.
[QFM ]

Regina’s appeal case adjourned

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Mrs Regina Chiluba

The Supreme Court has adjourned judgement in an appeal case involving former President Frederick Chiluba’s wife Regina Mwanza to October 30, 2010.

Mrs Chiluba is appearing before Court judges Evans Hamaundu, Eddie Sikazwe and Catherine Makundu in her appeal case in which she is accused of having received property alleged to have been stolen.

ZANIS reports that last year, Magistrate Charles Musonda convicted Mrs Chiluba to three and half years simple imprisonment for allegedly receiving property believed to have been stolen contrary to section 319(a) cap 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

Mrs Chiluba appealed against her conviction to the Supreme Court.

The matter has been adjourned because Judges who are supposed to preside over the case were still handling other cases in the Supreme Court.

And the Lusaka High Court has set aside judgement in an appeal case involving former Lands Minister Gladys Nyirongo to September 30, this year.

Early last year, Magistrate Newa slapped Reverend Nyirongo with two and four years simple imprisonment after she was found guilty on two counts respectively for abuse of authority. However, the sentence was to run concurrently.

Reverend Nyorongo was going to serve four years simple imprisonment from the date of her arrest.

Facts before the court were that Ms Nyirongo being a person employed in the public service at that time was accused of having abused her office by directing Lands officer Daisy Mulenga to generate offer letters of land to 10 people in Fox dale Chamba Valley between January 1 and February 2006.

In the second count, Ms Nyirongo was accused of having abused her position by directing a Mr Chewe, a junior technician in the Ministry of Agriculture to subdivide a farm belonging to the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM) farm number f/309a in contravention of the land alienation procedures and created property number 1/19634/m for herself.

[ ZANIS ]

Graduate Unemployment in Zambia: Should Government introduce job seeker’s allowance?

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School leavers queuing up for police recruitment in Lusaka

By Kabela Sumba.BSc. Eng.

81 million youths around the world were jobless at the end of 2009 and this year the figure will continue to rise. This is contained in a recent United Nations International Labour Organisation (ILO) report published on 11th August, 2010. More youths have returned to their parents’ homes in the months following the global economic recession than ever before.

“Come to Zambia, jobs are there, people are buying cars. Come and help build your country. You graduates are the future of our nation, come. There are jobs everywhere for university graduates.” These were the words of one Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Education, Honourable Clement Sinyinda, at a meeting with students of the Zambian Students’ Union in St. Petersburg on Sunday, 18th May 2008.

The situation on the ground paints a picture very different from these remarks. Zambia is on the verge of a social crisis fuelled by poverty, unrest, corruption, political violence, the HIV/AIDS scourge and unemployment.

There has been a great feeling of resentment among the Zambian youth of today and most of the jobless actually think that the problem is with the current government, which has failed to provide opportunities for young, optimistic and vibrant workers. They instead print cooked up figures about ‘single digit inflation at 9.9%’, the Kwacha ‘gaining slightly’ against the dollar and a whole lot more junk information which cannot put food on the table. Graduates have been forced to rely on the income of their parents, as if paying their school fees for more than 15 years was not enough.

Furthermore, in Zambia, unlike in European countries, there is no job-seeker’s allowance to cushion the costs of printing job applications, mailing and travelling to attend interviews.

Shouldn’t the youth be compensated? They most certainly should. Youths intend to unite across the country and press Cabinet Office and the government Ministry of Labour for these potential earnings.

For most jobs, adverts appear after a secret selection has been made internally, then, to make it look transparent, a mockery vacancy is advertised in the papers. Mockery interviews are set up and only ‘successful candidates are communicated to’. At every place of work, employers will ask you for ‘experience’. One now wonders whether this actually means “Who do you know in management?”

Not everyone is jobless though; there are many opportunities for students of accounting. Wouldn’t this imply that there’s money in the country if there are so many people counting it?

Youths are now very desperate; they will even resort to receiving money from ruling or opposition politicians in return for hurting the opponents of these politicians. Some may have already resorted to other vices such as prostitution and cocaine transportation in human body cavities. The levels of desperation among the youth are very dangerous for a young democracy.

However, with time on your side, one may engage in sporting activities. You can write articles and books; read books; attended all free conferences, register as voters and change your destiny; don’t only think outside the box, be outside of the box; rediscover the talents and skills you have always possessed but never bothered to develop.

Or, you could sleep all day and complain a lot, drink uncontrollably, or wait patiently for the end of the world, but keep in mind that for every action or inaction there is a consequence.

People in the Diaspora, if you can do so legally, stay there, don’t come back to be a burden on your poor parents. To everyone else, do not believe those fake politicians who promise you jobs or anything else, a politician will always be a politician and nothing more, they have fallen. He who is lying down cannot fall any further. They do not feel your sufferings while they receive allowances for sitting at fruitless workshops, they don’t feel weak from hunger when they stop for breakfast at Hotel Intercontinental. They don’t feel the heat of the African sun beating upon their foreheads for they are driven around in big air-conditioned GRZ Land Cruisers. Do not believe them, only believe in yourself.

The First lady arrives in Chiengi

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The First Lady on tour

The first lady Thandiwe Banda has arrived in Chienge district to start her three-day visit of Luapula province.The first lady who arrived by road in this northernmost district of the natural resource rich province at 11.10 hours was received by scores of women who lined up along the road from Puta high school to senior chief Puta’s palace.

Upon arrival the first lady went straight to pay a courtesy call on senior chief Puta.

According to the local programme the engagements of the first lady while in the district includes a conducted tour of the district rural health centre and addressing a meeting for women development groups at the Civic Centre.

She will later have private lunch at the beach lodge hosted for her by the local administration, before driving to Nchelenge on her way to Mansa.

Tomorrow, Ms Banda will drive to Mambilima area in Mwense district where she is expected to hold a number of meetings with women development groups in different places.

Meanwhile Chienge district commissioner Samuel Chewe has described the visit of the first lady Thandiwe Banda to the area as an inspiration to women development groups and women in general.Mr. Chewe said the first lady who has shown interest in poverty reduction projects will have an opportunity to learn from women the income generating activities that she can support as the mother of the nation.

And MMD provincial publicity secretary Deo Kapambwe said the first lady’s determination to travel by road for over 100 kilometers to Chienge shows the real concern she has for the welfare of the people in the area, especially women.Mr. Kapambwe said those criticising are ongoing tour of the provinces are still living in the past of thinking that the place of a first lady should only be at state house.He said a modern first lady should also in the forefront in inspiring development especially among fellow women.

He noted that the purpose of the first lady to visit women groups in Chienge and other parts of the country is testimony that she understands that efforts to reduce poverty can only be sustained with full involvement of women.

ZANIS

Back Door Doctors

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64

By Gerald Nkisu Katayi

Chris Ewokor once wrote, “To be addressed as a Mr., Mrs. or Ms in Nigerian social circles means you are a no body. To be a mover or shaker you need to be a chief; or to at least hold a doctorate. Many prominent Nigerians including serving and past political leaders hold one title or another – either traditional, educational, professional or religious. And the trend for acquiring titles is not limited to the political elite. Now you even have armed robbers, corrupt politicians and all sorts of people being chiefs.”

This misconception of titles is not limited to Nigerians only; Africans love titles. To an African title hold a sense of mystery and attract attention. Zambians are also joining the culture of titles. The first president (KK) and second president Fredrick Chiluba are addressed as doctors. But without academic backup. The third president also earned himself the same title. I assume before Mr. Banda leaves office, he will be addressed as doctor. A younger generation in the names of Nevers Mumba, Saviour Chishimba and others are also following this vanity.

People even add things like Mr. “Engineer” to their name; it’s a kind of pomposity. Nelson Mandela, the “Iron lady” Margret Thatcher and President Bush Senior and many others have honorary doctorates; but are never addressed as “Dr.” The reason is honorary degree can not be used as an academic paper which carries title and privileges.

These titles are so pronounced in Zambia because many media institutions are Government controlled, the journalists who work in these institutions serve the interest of the politicians and addressing such as Mr. will seem demeaning. Yet those in private media just play monkey see, monkey do.

This phenomenon of title obsession has not left out the church in Zambia. Few years ago, we had pastors. With time pockets of bishops were ordained. Eventually, apostle and prophets mushroomed everywhere. Biblical and theologically it is correct to go by these titles where necessary. (Ephesians 4: 11-12). Nowadays however pastors are no longer prophets, bishops or apostles. These have become lower titles; the clergy are now going for “Dr.” or “Rev, Doctor).

A named Bishop of Lusaka for two years struggled to raise $2,000 to buy his honorary doctorate but a few months ago he got his paper. But academically, the Bishop is working on his bachelors. His sister a pastor as well goes by “doctor ” without academic credentials.

What are these men and women of God up to? This is a deception at its best, who is fooling who? Why should a man called of God add a phony title to that which is sacred? If doctorate title is desired why not go to school? These preachers love praise from men (John 12:43). They love to be called by prestigious titles.

Jesus rebuked Pharisees and scribes for they loved titles and desired attention from people. He said, “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted”. His disciples were not to seek to be called rabbi and were forbidden to use the word father indiscriminately. The general teaching is clear. They were not to seek man-exalting titles such as (Dr), rabbi, father, or minister to gain the recognition of men. Disciples of Christ should not exalt themselves but should seek to serve others and leave the exalting to God Himself.

Harnessing Renewable Resources in Zambia: Potential for Higher Power Output

editor
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By Kennedy Simutowe( BSc Eng. EIZ) & Teza Simutowe( BSc Natural Resources)
As man’s demand for power increases, new sources of energy have to be sought to sustain his well being. This energy should be easy to access, affordable, easy to manage and most importantly, self-replenishing so as to preserve the environment.

One of the energies meeting these criteria is wind energy. Winds arise from the uneven heating of the atmosphere by the sun. They have energy within them which can move trees, sands, waters, cause tides and more. Winds at moderate to high speed can rotate turbines. Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy in the wind to mechanical power. This mechanical power can be used for specific tasks including grinding maize, pumping water or transmitting it to a generator to convert it from mechanical power to electrical.

Wind energy is a viable, widely distributed, renewable resource that can be tapped into as economies around the world seek to develop cleaner, more efficient and cheaper energy alternatives. With careful planning and adequate investment, wind farms could take shape in Zambia like they have in other parts of the world.

The harnessing of readily available wind energy could provide an alternative to the highly monopolized power sector. With wind turbine technology becoming cheaper and more efficient around the world, developing economies can take advantage of this resource to provide electricity to settlements that have been left out of the national grid.

Zambia has vast resources of water power which have been harnessed to cater for the nation’s energy needs. The main power utility company, Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) has however resorted to massive load-shedding strategies to balance the demand for power, despite the potential for a higher output. Furthermore, the power utility company has increased tariffs yet again this year in 2010, with domestic clients being the hardest hit after seeing a rise in the residential tariff of 41% from K265 to K373 per kilowatt hour. As this is regressive for a developing economy, an alternative has to be established.

With an average height above sea level of more than 1000 metres, Zambia’s geographical features and location put her in a position to harness the winds that blow across the country with good average speeds year out.

It is against this background that the development of wind farms spanning the country becomes feasible. A wind farm is a collection of wind generators within the same location, used for production of electric power. A wind generator is a machine that maybe looked at as having the reverse effect of a ventilator or fan; it uses air in motion to turn blades whose rotation is transmitted along a shaft connected to a generator, thereby producing electrical energy out of mechanical energy.

The terms wind energy or wind power describe the process by which wind is used to generate mechanical power or electricity.

Wind energy is fast becoming a reliable energy resource in Europe and other parts of the world including Denmark, the USA, Germany, Canada, and Japan.

A well developed network of wind farms could significantly reduce the unit price of electricity due to increased competition and wider access to power. The new capacity would enable power utility companies to lessen their load and thus eliminate the need for load-shedding. Municipally administered wind farms could generate revenue for local authorities while providing cheaper, easily accessible power to the less privileged communities in Zambia. For the environment, wind energy is another clean, environmentally friendly resource. It compares in cleanliness to hydro power. A move in this direction would encourage utility companies to continue providing power to the nation while seeking even more green technologies.

Wind energy undoubtedly has a great potential to be developed in Zambia and across the Southern African region as a whole. The first commercial wind farm in South Africa was commissioned in May of 2008, near Darling in the Western Cape. Similarly, Zambia can embark on wind power development.

Harnessing this renewable resource is also in line with Millennium Development Goal No. 7 of ensuring environmental sustainability while providing cheaper, cleaner energy to areas currently without power or locations too remote to include on the national network. In order for Zambia to keep abreast with the energy demands of the 21st century, various stake holders, including government ultimately have to commit themselves to this goal among others.

‘Britain misleading Zambians on FJT’

Entertainment Editor
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20

THE Committee of Citizens (CC) yesterday said the British government is misleading Zambians by distancing itself from the prosecution of second Republican president Frederick Chiluba after using funds from the State institutions such as the Serious Frauds Office to finance the court process.

In a media release in Lusaka yesterday, CC executive director Gregory Chifire accused the British government of lying to the Zambian people because it was public knowledge that Britain provided funds through the Taskforce on Corruption to prosecute Dr Chiluba and his co-accused.

He said it was clear that the British government was deeply involved in this matter and their technical advisors persuaded the Taskforce on Corruption to commence this process in the London High Court.

Mr Chifire was commenting on a statement by the Public Affairs Office on Friday that the United Kingdom did not have any role to play in the prosecution of Dr Chiluba but that the Zambian Government was the one that was pursuing him.

“We are surprised by the Press statement from the British High Commission issued on Friday August 27, 2010.

“The attempt by the British government to disassociate itself now from the London judgment amounts to hypocrisy. In our view, the statement is crafted to merely play with words so that they can lie to the people of Zambia,” Mr Chifire said.

He said it was public knowledge that during the fight against corruption, the British government provided technical and financial assistance to the Taskforce on Corruption.

“Therefore, the decision to commence a civil case against former president and others in the London High Court began as a process to support the investigations Serious Frauds Office and other private investigators hired such as OVAG were doing in the United Kingdom,” Mr Cifire said.

He said as a result of the British government’s involvement, the Taskforce on Corruption through the Attorney General, obtained from the London High Court a world freezing order on November 17, 2004.

Mr Chifire said the order was obtained to recover the perceived plundered assets and that when no assets were recovered, the order was turned into full fledged legal suit to claim from the defendants the same money they couldn’t find.

He said the British High Commissioners in Lusaka, both the current and previous ones had made numerous public statements on the matter and the fight against corruption.

In most cases the public statements ignored the rule of law and prejudiced these court cases.
[pullquote]“Similarly, there is no reciprocal treaty between Zambia and the United Kingdom to recognise court judgments between the two countries,” Mr Chifire said.[/pullquote]
Zambians will remember that a member of the royal family, the Duke of Gloucester, Prince Richard, visited Zambia during which time London High Court judge Peter Smith was delivering his judgment on May 4, 2007 in London.

He said it was around the same time that Prince Richard issued a statement supporting the London Judgment and castigated Dr. Chiluba accusing him of corruption.

“It was uncharacteristic for any member of the royal family to issue such a disparaging statement,” Mr Chifire said.

Mr Chifire said he was also shocked that the British government was making wild claims regarding the London Judgment in relation to the asset recoveries when the truth was that the Belgium apartments were handed over to the Taskforce on Corruption and yet they belonged to the Zambian Government.

“The property was bought on mortgage by a company created by the Intelligence and was handed over to the Taskforce on Corruption in 2002. So how could these assets have been the subject of the London judgment whose process started in 2004-2005? How could Government recover its own assets?” Mr Chifire wondered.

He said the British Government claims that millions of British Pounds were recovered from Attan Shansonga when the truth was that a mutual agreement was made by the London Court and Mr Shansonga who sold his shareholding in Lunsemfwa Hydro Power Station worth K1.8 billion to pay for his legal fees and repatriate the difference to the State.

He said that it was difficult to bring Mr Shansonga, who is also a British citizen, to Zambia since no extradition treaty exists between Zambia and the United Kingdom.

“Similarly, there is no reciprocal treaty between Zambia and the United Kingdom to recognise court judgments between the two countries,” Mr Chifire said.

Mr Chifire said it was wrong for the British High Commission to demand that a London Judgment be recognised in Zambia when no legal instruments existed to permit such a matter.
[ Times of Zambia ]

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