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Sinazongwe District Commissioner (DC) Oliver Pelete has disclosed that government will work on damaged bridges along the controversial bottom road from Sinazongwe to Siavonga.
Mr Pelete told ZANIS that all the damaged bridges from Sinazeze/Chiyabi bottom road have already been advertised for construction.
He said major bridges such as the Sikalamba, Nangombe, Nakula and Sialwele have been earmarked for construction to alleviate the suffering that people in the areas face during the rain season.
The DC urged Sinazongwe residents to be patient with government so that the right channel is followed in choosing the right contractor.
Most of the bridges along the Sinazeze/ Chiyabi bottom road were washed away during last rain season affecting the surrounding communities.
The late Gladys Mabenga Chitika daughter of Lands Deputy Minister Michael Mabenga has finally been buried at the Leopard Hill Memorial Park.
The burial which failed to take place on Tuesday was finally conducted after the family had a second and independent postmortem.
Family representative, Raphael Mabenga said the family is happy with the methodology that was used in the second postmortem that was conducted by a Russian Doctor at the University Teaching hospital (UTH) today.
He told a gathering at the burial site that the family is,however, waiting for the results of the postmortem which will be released by the Ministry of Health.
“We conducted a second postmortem today but the results are not yet released to us, we are told to wait for a go ahead on the results by the ministry of health. We are however happy that this has been conducted, we are happy with the methodology used and it was transparent” he said.
Mr Mabenga further disclosed that police have instituted fresh investigations into the matter adding that there was also a new set of police officers present to witness the postmortem.
Meanwhile, Information and Broadcasting Minister, Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha urged the family to look up to God saying the cause of death will be revealed.
He said although it was appointed for every person to die, it was saddened by the unexpected death of the late Mrs Mabenga Chitika.
Lt. Gen. Shikapwasha described Mrs. Mabenga Chitika who was an Executive Officer in his ministry as a dedicated worker and an asset to both the family and the government.
And President Rupiah Banda has sent a message of condolences to the Mabenga family.
The President said in a letter addressed to the family and read by Mabenga’s family spokesperson Colonel Patrick Lubinda that he was deeply saddened by the sadden death of their daughter.
And in a sermon at the church service at the Cathedral of the Child Jesus, Father Sylvester Ngandu called on people to have love for one another.
He said there are high cases of gender based violence, child abuse and the like because people have neglected the simple teaching of the Bible on love.
Fr Ngandu said the greatest tragedy that has befallen the human race is stopping caring and loving one another.
The late Gladys Mabenga Chitika is survived by a husband, and two children.
First lady Thandiwe Banda and wife to the Vice President Irene Kunda were among cabinet ministers, deputy ministers and other senior government officials who attended the funeral procession.
Zanaco’s Makundika Sakala (left) takes on Ali Maoloul (center) and Hachem Abbes of CS Sfaxien during the Orange CAF Confederation Cup game at Nkoloma stadium in Lusaka over the weekend.
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Hachem Abbes of CS Sfaxien beats Zanaco’s Makundika Sakala (right) to the ball during the Orange CAF Confederation Cup game at Nkoloma stadium in Lusaka
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Zanaco coach Wedson Nyirenda is sent off by a CAF official during the Orange CAF Confederation Cup game at Nkoloma stadium in Lusaka .
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Zanaco’s Charles Siyingwa (right) marks Hamza Younes of CS Sfaxien
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Zanaco’s George Chilufya (right) loses the ball to Uche Agba of CS Sfaxien
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The crowd roars with pleasure after Zanaco scored a goal during the Orange CAF Confederation Cup game against CS Sfaxien at Nkoloma stadium in Lusaka
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Zanaco goalkeeper Racha Kola celebrates his team’s goal against CS Sfaxien during the Orange CAF Confederation Cup game at Nkoloma stadium in Lusaka
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Zanaco’s Allan Mukuka (left) tries to beat Issifu Maman of CS Sfaxien
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A CS SFAXien supporter posing with part of the crowd at Nkoloma Stadium!
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Nkana supporters had a chance to sell their newly acquired team kit.by J.Mandela
President Banda has challenged the women’s movement in the country to strongly protest against the battering of women. The President said women in Zambia should reject men who beat up their wives. President Banda said no man should be allowed to beat up his wife in the name of love.
He said the practice should be rejected in the strongest possible terms. Mr Banda said love should not be about beating spouses. The President was speaking in Chawama after commissioning the first level Hospital in the area.
Kasama Central Patriotic Front Member of Parliament Goeffrey Mwamba was on Monday arrested and charged for assaulting his wife, Chama, following a domestic row. Mr Mwamba who is popularly known as GBM will tomorrow appear in the Lusaka Magistrate court for assault.
Meanwhile, President Rupiah Banda has commissioned the newly upgraded first level Chawama hospital in Lusaka. The occasion was witnessed by thousands of Chawama residents at Chawama football ground this morning.
[pullquote]President Banda said government is currently constructing 26 District Hospitals at 65 billion Kwacha across the country. He said eight of the hospitals which include the Lusaka general hospital will be completed this year.[/pullquote]
Speaking after commissioning the hospital, President Banda said government is committed to providing quality health care close to the families.
President Banda said government is currently constructing 26 District Hospitals at 65 billion Kwacha across the country. He said eight of the hospitals which include the Lusaka general hospital will be completed this year.
Mr Banda said this will improve access to quality health care for people in the country. President Banda said Chawama Hospital including four others in the capital will help decongest the University Teaching hospital-UTH.
The other four up graded clinics in Lusaka are in Kanyama, Chilenje, Matero and Chipata compounds. Mr Banda also said a power generator has been bought to help address a critical shortage of power at the new hospital.
The Lusaka High Court has found Inktech Managing Director, Mathew Mohan, and his two co-accused, Idris Patel and Shabia Patel, with a case to answer in a matter where the trio is charged with the murder of Cyclone Hardware Director, Sajid Mohammed Itowala.
Supreme Court Judge,Gregory Phiri, sitting as High Court Judge found the trio with a case to answer and has consequently put them on their defense.
In his ruling this morning, Judge Phiri said the prosecution produced a mixture of evidence which indicate that the trio had nothing to fear as they murdered Itowala during the day in his vehicle.
He said this took place after the deceased was captured and abducted in the early hours of July 21, 2009.
The matter has since been adjourned to October 18 and 19,as the dates for the commencement of defence while the trio remains in custody.
The trio is charged of murdering Cyclone Hardware Director, Sajid Itowala, on July 21, 2009 in Lusaka, contrary to section 200 of penal code.
Namwala Member of Parliament Major Robbie Chizyuka
The United Party for National Development (UPND) in Livingstone has called on Namwala UPND Member of Parliament Robbie Chizyuka to resign from the party as he had openly insulted party president Hakainde Hichilema and shifted his allegiance to the ruling MMD.
But major Chizyuka said that the current political scenario was not about the MMD, Patriotic Front (PF) or UPND.
“All I can say is that people need to understand that the current political scenario is about the best president for Zambia in 2011,” he said.
Major Chizyuka said the only person at the moment who had the capacity to unite Zambia was Republican President Rupiah Banda.
[pullquote]“The UPND in Livingstone wishes to remind Major Chizhyuka that Mr Hichilema is a political heavy weight with principles which could not be matched with Major Chizhyuka’s.
“Why is major Chizyuka clinging to the court when the UPND has demonstrated its readiness to challenge him in Namwala District as he stands on the MMD ticket,” the UPND said.[/pullquote]
However, in a statement released in Livingstone yesterday and signed by party district publicity secretary Neto Kalwabala, the party accused Maj Chizyuka of repeatedly belittling Mr Hichilema.
The party condemned Major Chizyuka for his alleged unwarranted and unpalatable insults against Mr Hichilema in some sections of the media.
“The UPND in Livingstone wishes to remind Major Chizhyuka that Mr Hichilema is a political heavy weight with principles which could not be matched with Major Chizhyuka’s.
“Why is major Chizyuka clinging to the court when the UPND has demonstrated its readiness to challenge him in Namwala District as he stands on the MMD ticket,” the UPND said.
The UPND in Livingstone also condemned the politics of name calling, violence and hatred that were currently going on in Zambia today.
“This is exhibited in the manner that Major Chizyuka openly referred to his own party president as an under-five and a political diaper,” part of the statements reads.
The party urged Maj Chizyuka to withdraw the court case and seek a fresh mandate from the people of Namwala under a different party.
The UPND in Livingstone further called on the people of Namwala to pass a vote of no confidence on maj Chizyuka as that was the only action that could not be challenged in a court of law.
Former Finance Minister Ngandu Mangande
The Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes SACCORD says the ruling MMD will be the most threatened party if expelled Chilanga Member of Parliament, Ng’andu Magande decides form a political party.
The former finance minister is reported to be planning to form a political party.
SACCORD information officer, Obby Chibuluma said the ruling party will be most threatened if Magande goes ahead to form a political movement as reported.
Mr Chibuluma said Mr Magande has been an all time MMD sympathizer and would find it easy to draw most of his party membership from the ruling party.
He noted that the fact that he once served in government and most people within the MMD have openly supported him means that most of his party membership would be drawn from the ruling party.
He has since warned the MMD to brace itself for the worst because if Mr Magande forms a party as reported,the ruling party would suffer the most casualties.
[ QFM ]
Vice-President George Kunda has advised councillors not to interfere with the role of council officers because that is contrary to the principles of separation of powers at local government level.
Speaking yesterday at the installation of new Lusaka Mayor Daniel Chisenga and his deputy Harry Hapwende, Mr Kunda said councillors should effectively coordinate Government programmes and projects from the grassroots to council level.
“You have a civic responsibility to explain projects initiated by both the central Government, your local authority and cooperating partners which are aimed at alleviating poverty and benefit the people,” he said.
Mr Kunda also advised councillors and council officers to prudently manage public resources and avoid corrupt practices because they received huge amounts of public funds.
He said the role of councillors was to provide policy guidance and pass decisions as well as interfacing with citizens, potential investors and other stakeholders in matters of local economic development.
[pullquote]“You have a civic responsibility to explain projects initiated by both the central Government, your local authority and cooperating partners which are aimed at alleviating poverty and benefit the people,” he said.
[/pullquote]
He said council employees should implement policies aimed at fulfilling development aspirations to accelerate socio-economic development in all corners of the country.
The vice-president said the Government was committed to implementing a robust fiscal decentralisation framework and had increased allocation to local Government in order to enhance service delivery.
He said that the budgetary allocation to councils was K110 billion in 2009, K113 billion in 2010 and in 2009, K90 billion was allocated as Constituency Development Fund, translating into K600 million per constituency.
He urged councils to support the ‘Make Zambia Clean and Healthy’ campaign to improve community and personal hygiene.
He said the Government would soon announce the appointment of commissioners for the Local Government Service Commission that would have powers to employ, appoint, confirm, discipline and transfer councils officers.
Out-going Lusaka mayor Robert Chikwelete said there should be no politicking because people should not suffer because of differences in political opinion.
He said that government should also release funds for the clearing of drainage on time to avoid flooding in townships because the council had finances to do it alone.
New mayor, Mr Chisenga said challenges faced by the council could only be fought if all stakeholders partnered with the council.
Mr Chisenga said there was a huge task ahead and he would personally see to it that street lighting was done and drainage was improved in flood-prone areas.
And the Government has implored Solwezi Municipal Council to be transparent in the utilisation of money collected from rates, especially colossal amounts it receives from Kansanshi Mine, and warned that the State will not tolerate abuse.
North-Western Province Minister, Daniel Kalenga said during the installation of Sandang’ombe MMD councillor, Jameson Kapumba as mayor that accountability should be extended to other funds.
He warned that Government would not hesitate to take punitive action on any council, councillor or officer cited in audit reports for misapplication or misappropriation of public funds.
Mr Kalenga said the administration of President Banda would continue with its development programmes designed to lessen people’s suffering.
And the new Mayor, Mr Kapumba, who takes over from Peter Kikatula after serving his two mandatory terms, conceded that challenges awaited him in his new office, and called for support from the people to move forward the district.
Mr Kikatula said his tenure was not easy, but projects including construction of a new chamber, extension of council offices and street lights were undertaken through team work.
In Ndola, Local Government and Housing Minister, Eustarkio Kazonga has warned Ndola City Council to desist from politicising the office of mayor at the expense of service delivery.
He said if the councillors failed to heed the advice he would not hesitate to suspend the entire council.
Dr Kazonga said on Monday that it was important for the mayor and councillors to perform their duties diligently because residents were looking up to them for service delivery.
Officiating at the installation of the new mayor, Friday Sikazwe and his deputy Oscar Himanga at the civic centre grounds, Dr Kazonga said councillors had a responsibility to provide services for the benefit of the community.
The new mayor, Mr Sikazwe called on Government to construct more modern markets after the opening of Ndeke and Chisokone markets at a cost of K13 billion.
Former mayor, Charles Chiwala advised the new mayor and his deputy to ensure that there was a good work relationship between the councillors and the council management to ensure that there was effective delivery of service.
Copperbelt Minister Mwansa Mbulakulima advised councillors against pre-occupying themselves with private agendas at the expense of providing civic services to the people whom they are mandated to serve.
Mr Mbulakulima said being a councillor entailed being with the people within the wards and not just to be found at council offices all the time.
He was speaking when he officiated at the installation ceremony of new Mufulira Mayor, Andrew Msiska and his deputy, Catherine Mutale at the Mufulira Municipal Council on Monday.
Mr Mbulakulima said in a speech read for him by Copperbelt Provincial Local Government Officer, Solomon Sakala that Government’s expectation of councils was for them to come up with programmes that related with the people.
Outgoing mayor, Thomson Ngulube called on the Government to address the problem of poor road infrastructure in the district.
And Works and Supply Minister Mike Mulongoti has implored the new mayor of Chingola McDonald Mulongoti to be accountable to the people and avoid being influenced by partisan politics.
He said relying on advice from outside Chingola council would mislead him and betray the people of Chingola that put him in office.
Officiating at the installation of the mayor in Chingola on Monday afternoon, Mr Mulongoti advised the new mayor to be proactive in order to deliver to the people who
entrusted him with responsibility.
The minister said the local government authorities were an agent of the central Government charged with the responsibility of implementing projects initiated by the the State.
The new mayor thanked Government for a grant of K2.4 billion to his council coming in form of K1.2 billion general grant and K1.2 billion as constituency development funds.
Mr Mulongoti called for team work and promised to do everything possible not to betray his fellow councillors and the people of Chingola.
UPND_PF_PACT
United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema has advised Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata to follow procedure in airing his grievances against UPND youth chairperson Joe Kalusa.
Mr Hichilema said his party would not take disciplinary action against Mr Kalusa because there had been no formal representation from Mr Sata spelling out that he had misconducted himself.
The UPND leader said the pact had a system of airing its grievances and said if Mr Sata had used the right channels UPND would have considered his complaint against Mr Kalusa.
Mr Hichilema was speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka yesterday.
Mr Sata told a QFM Radio programme that he had been hurt by Mr Kalusa’s conduct lately who had even gone to the extent of giving him ultimatums in the media apart from attacking him publicly but UPND had not taken disciplinary action against him.
Mr Hichilema said he did not sit on the disciplinary committee which he said was chaired by the national chairperson and that is why it was important that Mr Sata put his demand in writing.
He admitted that his party lacks the political support to lead it to victory in next year’s presidential election, which was the reason it was insisting on keeping the pact alive with the Patriotic Front (PF).
He said there existed statistics from the 2001, 2006, and 2008 presidential election results that showed that UPND could not go anywhere without a pact.
Mr Hichilema said he was disappointed by senior leaders of UPND and other individuals who had been attempting to convince him to contest the elections outside the pact and called them liars because he did not have the capacity to win the election.
“Please stop coming to cheat me that I can win an election alone because statistics are there for 2001 up to 2008 to show that I cannot win. I hope other politicians can see things that way. I cannot win mwilabepa ubufi (Bemba for don’t tell lies),” Mr Hichilema said.
He said it was clear that the combined votes by the opposition were always higher than the ruling party.
“So please don’t come to me again and say Hakainde you can win alone. You are lying to me and I know that I cannot win,” Mr Hichilema said.
[ Times of Zambia ]
THE Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) has said that prices of mealie meal reduced by an average of K5,200 in Lusaka last month.
The JCTR said in the Basic Needs Basket (BNB) for Lusaka in August, the cost of a 25kg bag of breakfast mealie meal reduced by K5,200 from an average price of K60,800 in July to K55,600.
“The sustained reduction in the cost of mealie meal is mainly attributed to the recorded bumper harvest,” the JCTR stated yesterday.
The BNB is a tool that measures the cost of basic food and essential non-food items for an average family of six in a specific town.
The JCTR also recorded a decrease in other food items such as beans, dry fish, dry kapenta, meat, eggs, vegetables, tomato, onion and bread.
The JCTR stated that overall, the Lusaka BNB recorded an unprecedented reduction in the average cost of basic food items of K96, 300 from K945, 650 in July to K849, 350 in August 2010.
“The reduction in the average cost of food has been completely eroded by significant increases in the cost of non-food items. The non-food items on the BNB is made up of a lean list of essential needs such as housing, energy, water and sanitation, soap,” the JCTR stated.
It said that the average cost of these non-food essentials in Lusaka increased by K115,600 from K1,863,830 in July 2010 to K1,979,430 in August 2010.
While other countries in the world were affected by a rise in wheat prices, the JCTR said that it was commendable that Zambia was not affected. In Mozambique for instance, the cost of bread increased by about 30 per cent contributing to the recent violent protests.
It was noted that the upward trend in the cost of essential non-food items was triggered by a significant increase in the cost of electricity.
President Rupiah Banda has launched the 10.5 billion Kwacha Magnetic Resonance Imaging -MRI- scanner and the Computerised Tomography at the Cancer diseases Hospital.
Speaking when he launched the state of the art equipment at the University teaching hospital –UTH- in Lusaka tuesday, Mr. Banda said the new machinery is a great achievement for the health sector and the people of Zambia.
President Banda said since the installation of the equipment in July this year, 157 patients have gone through the MRI scanner, while 596 patients have had CT scans done.
The President also said government has put in place procedures to ensure that those who can not pay for the MRI or CT scans are still given treatment.
And giving a vote of thanks, UTH Senior Mdical Superitendant Lackson kasonka said the MRI was a major missing link in the medical field.
Dr Kasonka said the country has skilled man power but needed tools like the MRI and CT scanners to complement the work of medical personnel.
MMD national chairperson Michael MabengaThe burial for the late Gladys Mabenga Chitika the daughter of MMD national chairman Michael Mabenga has been postponed to a later date to be announced following a dispute over the results of the postmortem.
Mr Mabenga confirmed the development to ZANIS in Lusaka today.
Mr. Mabenga who is also Lands Deputy Minister said the postponement is in a bid to appeal against the results of a postmortem which was carried out at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) this morning.
He noted that he was not satisfied with way the whole exercise was conducted.
Mr. Mabenga who suspected foul play in the death of his daughter noted that a lot of suspicious events surrounded the death of Gladys.
He disclosed that the family of the deceased was not allowed to witness the postmortem while the Husbands side had representatives.
He alleged that he was not comfortable with the presence of a student Doctor named Sampa Mutale who was allowed to be part of the postmortem team.
He said Sampa is suspected to be a relative to the late Gladys’ husband.
Mr. Mabenga also accused Chilenje police officers of not being professional in the way they have handled the matter from the day his daughter died.
He has explained that the body of his daughter was taken to the mortuary even before the family was informed about the death.
He further added that the cleaning of the blood stains and beddings from the House by Mr. Chitika’s family even before informing his family was enough evidence that there was foul play.
Mr. Mabenga has since apologized to the First Lady Thandiwe Banda, Traditional Leaders, Government officials and other mourners for the inconvenience caused by the postponement of the burial.
And a check at the Cathedral of the Child Jesus were the funeral procession was scheduled to take place found mourners gathered and waiting for the body.
Among the notable mourners included, Presidential Affairs Minster Ronald Mukuma, Chief Government Spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha, Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane, and Minister of Gender Sarah Sayifwanda.
Gladys was found dead in the early hours of Saturday in a suspected suicide case however, her family suspect’s foul play and the Husband has since been arrested to help police with investigations in the matter.
A dark cloud hangs over midfielder Rainford Kalaba’s late departure to join the Zambia national team in Yemen after police charge him with causing death by dangerous driving.
Kalaba is due to leave for Yemen to join the team on Wednesday ahead of this weekend’s friendly against that country but has been ordered first to report to police in Ndola.
This follows the death of a Wilfred Sakala of Ndola rural who died on Monday from injuries sustained after his car and Kalaba’s vehicle collided on August 22 near Masangano on the Ndola-Kapiri Mposhi road.
Kalaba returned back in Zambia on Monday after attending trials at TP Mazembe in DR Congo with second choice goalkeeper Kalililo Kakonje.
The midfielder together with Kakonje are two of three regular Zambia players in the 20-man team comprising mostly of 17-home based players called up for the game against Yemen.
The third player, Noah Chivuta has been ruled out after signing a contract on Monday with Free State Stars of South Africa where he will linkup with his compatriot and Zambia first choice goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene.
President Rupiah Banda is tomorrow expected to officially open the newly upgraded Chawama Hospital in Lusaka.
The President would commission the Chawama Hospital, which has been upgraded from a clinic to a level-one hospital with almost all operation theatres, including caesarian sections, which were usually done at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH).
Chawama Clinic is among the five clinics that have been upgraded to the hospital level in Lusaka in an effort to decongest the UTH.
President Banda said in a statement releasedtoday by his special assistant for press and public relations Dickson Jere,ahead of the official opening of Chawama hospital that apart from alleviating the work load at UTH, people would be able to care for their loved ones closer to their homes.
Others that have been ungraded from clinics to level one hospital include, Kanyama, Chilenje, Matero and Chipata Compound.
Government spent over K6 billion on these projects.
In addition, President Banda kick-started the construction of the Lusaka General Hospital, which is expected to be completed later this year as part of Government efforts to decongest the UTH as the population of Lusaka continue to grow.
President Banda this morning commissioned the first-ever Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scan (MRI Scan) at the Cancer Diseases Hospital in Lusaka, which will help Government save money from taking patients outside the country for diagnostic services.
[ QFM ]
