Opposition Patriotic Front (PF) Luapula Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Machungwa has cautioned Zambians calling for change of Government to be careful because they may be calling for a change that will be retrogressive.

Dr Machungwa said the MMD Government had set the stage for progressive change in the lives of people through its policies in agriculture and other sectors of the economy.

Speaking in an interview in Lusaka yesterday, Dr Machungwa pointed out the increase in the number of farmers accessing the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) and the uniform fuel price as some of the progressive changes that the MMD Government had made towards achieving economic recovery.

He said, while the MMD Government had outlined its programmes and policies, which were now bearing desirable fruits, some opposition political parties were failing to articulate national issues effectively, but were thriving on petty politics of insults, tribalism and hatred.
[pullquote]“The country has a lot of challenges that needed to be addressed effectively and so it is imperative that we support Government policies that aim at achieving economic recovery, instead of wasting time on petty politics,” he said.[/pullquote]
Dr Machungwa said, despite some challenges facing the country, the MMD had policies and programmes that were set to achieve economic recovery, but some opposition members have nothing to offer apart from insults.

He said the Government was trying its best to improve people’s lives and should be supported to achieve economic recovery, instead of wasting time on petty politics of insults, name-calling and hatred.

“The country has a lot of challenges that needed to be addressed effectively and so it is imperative that we support Government policies that aim at achieving economic recovery, instead of wasting time on petty politics,” he said.

And Copperbelt MMD provincial youth chairperson Evans Chibanda has said there is no alternative to the ruling MMD because opposition political parties aspiring to take over Government had no programmes.

Mr Chibanda said while the MMD was outlining its successes and challenges, some opposition political parties were just convenient forums for idle people to make noise.
[ Times of Zambia ]

All major works on the Livingstone Zimba road have been completed.

The road has been re-opened following the completion of about 96 per cent of the work by contractor, China Geo.

Road Development Agency -RDA- Head of Public Relations Loice Saili confirmed this in an interview with ZNBC news in Lusaka Monday.

Ms Saili explained that only road markings, signs and other minor works are being finalised.

She said the only work remaining are near the weigh bridge where the contractor will double the thickness of the road to avert possible shrinking due to heavy loads.

[ ZNBC ]

A British High Commission consular officer, who was arrested for assaulting her husband, is reported to have fled the country for fear of appearing before court.

But Lusaka police division commanding officer Greenwell Ng’uni said the police were only waiting for instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and would summon her at an appropriate time.

Karen Michelle van Boxtel, a British national resident in Zambia, was arrested together with her alleged boyfriend and her brother Kevin van Boxtel for assaulting her husband, Carl Frieslaar a month ago.

Mr Frieslaar, who is the managing director of Asbestos Roofing, said yesterday that his wife, Karen had disappeared with their three children and that he had not seen or heard from her since September 10.

He said the surety and her accomplices had also disappeared in suspicious circumstances, despite a court order giving him custody of the children.

According to Mr Frieslaar, the Hummer that was being driven by his wife, had its registration number changed from BAD 455 to ABV 4088.

He was worried about his children especially that the High Court had ruled that he should maintain them.

According to an order by Judge Patrick Matibini, Mr Frieslaar should take custody of the children with monitoring from the social welfare department.

Judge Matibini said Ms van Boxtel should not harass, assault or threaten Mr Frieslaar and should not have contact with the children unless under supervision.

He also said the children should not leave Zambia without both parties signing a consent order that could be sanctioned by the court in the interest of the children.

And Vanguard Private Investigations managing director James Kasamanda, who was engaged to investigate the alleged affair between Ms van Boxtel and a Zimbabwean white farmer, said he had alerted the police on the planned disappearance of the suspects.

Captain Kasamanda said when he alerted the police that the suspects and sureties were planning to run away, nothing was done despite Ms Boxtel being under police guard.

He said even when the suspects were leaving the country for South Africa, he informed the police but they still did not do anything.

He said he trailed the suspects and the sureties and he saw them board a Zambezi Airlines plane.

Mr Ng’uni said both Mr Frieslaar and Ms van Boxtel had reported different assault cases and that the police had handed over the dockets to the DPP and were only waiting for further instructions.

He said the police were not aware that Ms van Boxtel had fled the country but she would be summoned when instructions had been passed on to his office.

“We will summon her at the police whether she has gone out of the country or not,” he said.
[ Times of Zambia ]

Copperbelt Police Chief Martin Malama says the baby is admitted at Ronald Ross Hospital in Mufulira for medical attention.

The mother of the child has also been taken to the same hospital for medical attention.

Dr Malama said despite being out of danger, mother of the child would be charged by police accordingly for dumping the baby.
Muvi TV reports from the Copperbelt that the incident occurred in Mupena area 7 miles from the main town.

Cases of suspected unsafe abortions and dumping of fetus continue to be almost a daily occurrence in some of Lusaka’s compounds.

These incidents are attributed to a number of reasons ranging from unprotected sex among young people to promiscuity and alcohol abuse.

On Sunday, 19th September, 2010 residents of Bauleni compound were treated to a bizarre site when they discovered a fetus wrapped in a plastic and dumped in a trench.

A resident, Joyce Phiri said there is need for people to be given information on contraceptive measures to prevent unwanted pregnancies.

Another resident, Naomi Chatwe called on the local authority to close down drinking places that do not operate within stipulated time charging that these places encourage promiscuity.
[ MUVI TV ]

Mr Mwaanga said positive attitudes would help stem pre- and post-election violence in countries and advised the civil society and opposition leaders to realise that they had a cardinal duty to protect the peace.

He said this when he addressed a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association conference in Nairobi, Kenya.
[pullquote]“We should also realise that a threat to peace in this global village is a threat to peace everywhere,” Mr Mwaanga,” said [/pullquote]
He said all the stakeholders had a crucial role to play in promoting positive language and taking actions that would not undermine peace.

Mr Mwaanga said violence always left indelible marks on both the political and social landscapes of any country apart from grossly undermining democracies.

The veteran Zambian politician said political parties were essential to peace-building in countries intending to hold elections.

“I am encouraged that political leaders in Kenya with the help of former United Nations Secretary General Koffi Annan saw the imperative need to end the violence which characterised Kenyan elections in 2007,” Mr Mwaanga said.

He was happy with the positive contribution played by Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga for “walking an extra mile” to restore peace in Kenya which led to the formation of an inclusive government.

Mr Mwaanga said there were challenges Kenya was still facing and there were also useful lessons which should be learnt by parliamentarians in the Commonwelath countries as well as the future generations.

He said there was need for politicians to be disciplined and desist from making inflammatory statements before, during and after elections so that peace was protected.

“We should also realise that a threat to peace in this global village is a threat to peace everywhere,” Mr Mwaanga,” said
[ Times of Zambia ]