Government will spend a total of K226 billion to successfully conduct the 2010 National Population and Housing Census, which is scheduled to kick-off in October.

Secretary to the Treasury, Likolo Ndalamei said in an interview today that Government has already started releasing money for the census.

Mr. Ndalamei said these funds were being disbursed in stages according to the census activities that were undertaken at a particular time.

He said last week, Government released K62 billion to the Central Statistical Office (CSO) for conducting training workshops and purchasing materials.

He said in the next few weeks, Government will be releasing money to the CSO in quick intervals because of the increase in census preparation activities.

Mr Ndalamei said government was determined to conduct the census and has since appealed to Zambia to cooperate with enumerators when the exercise begins.

And Secretary to the Cabinet, Joshua Kanganja described the census as a cornerstone of all statistical processes in the country because it provided critical information on the size of the population, its distribution and composition.
Dr Kanganja said the census provided important information in the distribution of national resources and allocation of representation to Parliament and other levels of administration up to ward level.

He said this in a speech read for him by his deputy, Evans Chibiliti, at the official opening of the training of trainers’ workshop for the 2010 Population and Housing census in Lusaka.

He said the census data helped in establishing the number of eligible voters in the country.

“Therefore, the census contributes to good governance and enhances democratic values,” he said.

Dr. Kanganja said the population and housing data was critical for monitoring and evaluating the country’s development plans and agenda aimed at improving living standards of Zambians.

The Secretary to the Cabinet said this year’s census would include some information and questions that were not in the questionnaires for the previous censuses.

“Quality census data can only be achieved if sufficient attention, time and resources are devoted to the training of field staff. The quality of census data can be affected by poorly trained enumerators and supervisors,” he said.

He challenged trainers of trainers to ensure that only people of high calibre were trained sufficiently.
[pullquote]“Quality census data can only be achieved if sufficient attention, time and resources are devoted to the training of field staff. The quality of census data can be affected by poorly trained enumerators and supervisors,” he said.[/pullquote]
Dr. Kanganja further urged workshop participants and the would-be enumerators to pay particular attention and consult when need arises in order to capture correct data for the country.

He has meanwhile thanked cooperating partners for supporting Government materially and financially towards the conducting of the 2010 Population and Housing census.

“In particular, I would like to thank the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Kingdom Department of International Development (DFID), the African Development Bank (ADB) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for their support,” he said.

Dr. Kanganja has also urged other cooperating partners to join in assisting Government to hold the 2010 census.

And UNFPA Representative, Duah Owusu Sarfo, commended Government for its determination to conduct the census amid financial difficulties.

Meanwhile, CSO Acting Director, John Kalumbi, called for concerted efforts from all wings of Government and other stakeholders in order for the census to succeed.

Zambia has successfully conducted censuses in 1969, 1980, 1990 and 2000.

[ ZANIS ]

Three people have had their hands and legs amputated at Mamba Hospital after being attacked by crocodiles in separate incidents on Lake Kabriba.

A 11 year old girl, Astridah Siachuka’s leg was amputated after a crocodile attacked her while she was fishing with her mother Nancy Siachuka on Lake Kariba near Chief Sinazongwe’s area in Malozilozi.

The father to the girl Dickson Siachuka told ZANIS today that his wife Nancy’s hands were also severely injured in the process of trying to rescue her daughter from the crocodile.

Mr. Siachuka said the hospital managed to operate the two victims resulting into the amputation of the young girls leg.

A check by ZANIS at the hospital found another woman, Sofia Mbeba, whose leg was amputated after being caught by a crocodile while fishing on Lake Kariba within the same area in Malozilozi.

Last week, a 24 year old woman was also severely mauled by a crocodile on Lake Kariba resulting in the amputation of her both hands.

Juliet Siangombe of Ndolo Village in Senior Chief Mweemba area said from her hospital bed at Maamba Hospital that the incident occurred when she went to fetch water for household chores with her sister in law.

Mrs Siangombe said the crocodile caught her both hands while dipping a container to draw water from the lake.

The Victim said she started wrestling with the crocodile and after the reptile realized that she still had power, it dipped her into water but continued fighting it.

“While fighting with it I could feel it breaking my right hand and later it broke my left hand,” Mrs Siangombe said.

Hardly a month passes without a person being killed or injured by a crocodile on Lake Kariba in Sinazongwe district.

ZANIS

Robert “Bob” Finck, a 51-year-old missions volunteer from Fellowship Community Church in Salem, Va., was killed early Monday morning, Aug. 9, in an automobile accident in Zambia, west of the capital city of Lusaka.

International Mission Board missionary Melissa Frady of Tennessee, accompanied by church team leader Tim Rogers, was driving Finck to a hospital after he reported experiencing severe kidney stone pain. The truck went off the road in Kafue National Park. Finck was thrown from the vehicle and died at the scene. Frady and Rogers received bruises and scrapes.

The accident occurred about 2 a.m. Monday in a remote area of the park. Rogers stayed at the scene, while Frady walked along the road until she flagged down a driver to take her toward Lusaka, where she was able to pick up a cell phone signal and call for help.

Finck, Rogers and five other volunteers from Fellowship Community Church arrived in Zambia Aug. 6 and planned to stay until Aug. 14 to lead a Bible conference and minister to youth and children. They were about five hours from the capital when Finck asked to be taken to the hospital.

One of the team members reported over the weekend that three local people had made decisions to accept Christ as Savior. Fellowship Community Church, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary Aug. 11, was planning to have the Zambia team call in to report on their mission trip during the special service.

Stephanie Painter, the church’s director of missions, described Finck as passionate about missions and heavily involved in local and overseas ministry projects.

“He was very passionate about Zambia,” said Painter, noting that this was his third trip to the country. “He was very involved. Sometimes he’d come in the office and we’d share mission trip stories.

“He was always stepping up to the plate,” she added. “He was a special guy…. Everything about him was special.”

Finck is survived by his wife, Sandi, and three children — Amanda, 21; Brenna, 16; and Hunter, 10. Funeral arrangements are pending.
–30–
Reported by the communications staff of the International Mission Board.

[Baptist Press]

Property worth millions of kwacha was lost when an inferno left most occupants of Masase flats in Kalulushi in a perplexed state.

Most of the occupants who were found making frantic efforts to save their property and lives of their family members were infuriated by the late arrival of the fire brigade engine which only came after seven blocks had been gutted by the mysterious fire.

One of the victims , Mrs. Katie Lumbwe told ZANIS that had the fire engine arrived on time , most of the occupants’ property would have been saved.

No injuries or death were recorded from the inferno by press time.

Mrs Lumbwe said the mysterious fire started so fast saying like her fellow occupants, she too was choked by heavy fumes saying by the time she awoke her entire flat was polluted with smoke which was coming from the ceiling board.

The shocked tenant said that when her family was coming out of the house they found their living room curtains on fire.

Mrs Lumbwe said it was not easy for them to switch off the fire as they do not have water in the night.

She complained that the fire brigade came late despite being told hence no household or clothes were taken away from the flats.

Another tenant, Prudence Kapela said she did not know how the fire started but thought it could have been caused by the short circuit and that no one had been injured.

A check by ZANIS found all the seven blocks burnt and only one Mrs Ketty Mbwe managed to get her fridge out.

Efforts to get the fire personnel proved futile at press time.

[ ZANIS ]

Zambia Police Service has re-introduced the old police uniform in order to distinguish its officers from others from private security firms.

Inspector of Police (IG) Francis Kabonde disclosed this at a pass out parade at Kamfinsa in Kitwe today.

And Mr. Kabonde has since asked private security firms that are using similar uniform to the one the police was using to change their uniform to avoid being mistaken for police officers.

Mr. Kabonde warned security firms against using similar uniforms similar to those used by police officers to avoid being mistaken as police officers in confrontations situations with armed bandits or during maintenance of public disorder.

He said the new uniforms will distinguish police officers from other security officers from private firms.

ZANIS Reports that the pass out parade marked the return to the use of the navy blue combat and barat for mobile police unit.

Previously officers had a green combat commonly known as the paramilitary uniform.

ZANIS

Government has described the late former Deputy Minister of Energy, Lameck Chibombamilimo, as a great contributor to democracy.

Chief Government Spokesperson, Ronnie Shikapwasha, told journalists in Lusaka today that the Government was grieved about the death of Mr. Chibombamilimo, who was also Mpulungu MMD Member of Parliament.

Mr. Chibombamilimo 49, died in Apollo hospital in New Delhi, India this morning (around 02:00 hours) after suffering kidney complications.

He was evacuated to India last month where he was to undergo a kidney transplant.

“As government we are very grieved that one of our Members of Parliament has passed on. He was a great contributor to democracy,” he said.

Lieutenant General Shikapwasha said Government was making arrangements to have the late Mr. Chibombamilimo’s body, transported back to Zambia.

He said Government will work with Parliament for burial arrangements.

He has since conveyed condolences to the late Mr. Chibombamilimo’s family and the entire Mpulungu constituency.

And MMD Spokesperson, Dora Siliya also confirmed the death of Mr. Chibombamilimo and said the party will however give more details on the MPs death once more information was availed.

“Yes I can confirm to you that Mr. Chibombamilimo, who was our MP (MMD), has died this morning in India where he was admitted” she said.

She said the MMD as a party is saddened with the death of Mr. Chibombamilimo.

Ms. Siliya has since sent a message of condolences to the family of the late Mr. Chibombamilimo.

Mr. Chibombamilimo was elected to Parliament in 2006 under the MMD ticket and served as Provincial Minster for Northern Province and also as Energy Deputy Minister before he was fired.

ZANIS