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Labour and Social Security Deputy Minister Simon Kachimba
Government has disclosed that it will soon enact a law that will give Zambian nationals a chance to hold high positions in companies owned by foreign investors.
Labour Deputy Minister Simon Kachimba says Zambia has highly qualified nationals who have the capability to effectively run most of the big companies in the country hence the need to for them to be given a chance to hold key positions in these companies.
Mr Kachimba said though investors can bring in a few expatiates in key positions like finance, the majority of top portfolios should be held by local people, adding that Government will ensure that this happens in its bid to empower local people.
The Deputy Minister was speaking in Lusaka today when he addressed the Zambianisation committee that has been tasked to implement measures aimed at curtailing the recruitment of cheap expatriate labour.
Mr Kachimba said Government is committed to providing decent employment for its people and will do everything possible to ensure that it safeguards employment for its nationals.
He stressed that Government is also committed to preparing Zambian nationals so that they take over jobs from expatriates as a way of empowering them.
Mr Kachimba however said for this to happen it is vital to come up with a succession plan aimed at identifying and developing internal personnel with the potential to fill key or critical organisational positions.
He urged the Zambianisation committee to follow up each company’s succession plan so that the country has fully backed nationals who will run companies effectively once they take over.
Press Association of Zambia vice president Amos Chanda (left).
The Media Liaison Committee has maintained that it will go ahead with self regulation for the media in the country despite government’s resistance.
MLC spokesperson Amos Chanda said despite government taking a different stance on the matter, the committee has resolved that it will push for self media regulation in the country.
Mr Chanda says the committee has received immense support from different stakeholders, adding that this is an indication that self regulation is the way to go.
Mr Chanda told a media briefing in Lusaka this morning that the document on self regulation, the Fringilla Consensus,is the most comprehensive self regulatory mechanism in the history of the country as it was agreed by representatives from all media houses in the country.
And Mr Chanda has announced that the launch of the Zambia Media Council has been set for Thursday, 26th August 2010 following the approval of the registration formalities and scrutiny of the names of founding members that have lodged the application on behalf of the council.
He says the process of nominating members of the National Governing Council (NGC) of ZAMEC is ongoing and that once the list is complete,a meeting will be convened to approve the nominees.
The Zambia National Education Coalition (ZANEC) has applauded Government for directing all teachers to stop conducting tuitions with pupils in their homes.
ZANEC Executive Director Miriam Chinyama said the directive was long overdue adding that there has been an increase in sexual abuse among girls.
Ms Chinyama explained to ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that Government should ensure that teachers were monitored so that the directive by Ms Siliya was adhered to countrywide.
She added that if not properly monitored, some teachers would ignore the directive and continue conducting tuitions with pupils in their homes.
Ms Chinyama said ZANEC did not want to see the situation continue even after the Government’s directive.
Education Minister Dora Siliya has since directed all teachers to stop conducting tuitions with pupils in their homes saying the practice had resulted in increased sexual abuse among girls.
The Ministry of Education has recorded 16 cases of sexual abuse perpetrated by some male teachers countrywide from January this year to date, resulting in unwanted pregnancies.
Farmers off-loading their maize at a Food Reserve Agency depot in Kabwe.
NORTHERN Province expects more than K128 billion in revenue from the sale of maize to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) and the millers this year.
In the previous season, the province was able to generate K72 billion from the sale of maize to the agency and this year’s would represent over 75 per cent increase.
Provincial agriculture officer Conrad Muzela said in an interview that the FRA would procure 32 per cent of the maize from the farmers thereby contributing to economic growth of the province.
Northern Province produced 309,078 tonnes of maize for the 2009/2010 farming season.
“In terms of maize, we are feeding the nation and food basket is slowly shifting from Southern Province to Northern Province,” Mr Muzela said.
[pullquote]“In terms of maize, we are feeding the nation and food basket is slowly shifting from Southern Province to Northern Province,” Mr Muzela said.[/pullquote]
He said the K128 billion would be generated from FRA alone and there were also private buyers who were likely to push up the figure to more K100 billion.
He said the province was becoming self- sustainable because of the diversified crops that the farmers were producing thereby stimulating growth in the various sectors.
“We are now cultivating crops like sorghum, millet, sweet potatoes and groundnuts among others,” Mr Muzela said.
He also said Zambia was slowly being consumed by hybrid seeds hence the need for farmers to preserve the local seed.
“We are now encouraging farmers to utilise local seeds and repackage them for the next farming season as this will help maintain the local breed,” Mr Muzela said
NATIONAL Constitutional Conference (NCC) chairperson Chifumu Banda says the conference is determined to make its contribution towards ensuring that Government delivers a new Constitution before the 2011 general elections.
And Mr Banda has told NCC members who no longer believe in the process to stay away from it.
Mr Banda was speaking in his opening remarks at the eighth session of the NCC plenary.
He said the NCC secretariat received and compiled memoranda from the public, which will facilitate debate and adoption of the final report and Constitution Bill in readiness for submission to the Minister of Justice.
Mr Banda said the final stages in the constitution-making process have had to be revised to exclude certain activities such as the collection of views from all the 72 districts because of inadequate funding.
He said because of lack of funds, the current session of the NCC will be held for only four days. “This time around, we do not have the luxury of time and financial resources in the face of the 31st August, 2010 deadline, when the National Constitutional Conference will stand dissolved,” Mr Banda said.
The remaining tasks of the NCC involves the incorporation of the views and comments of the public into the final report and draft Bill in readiness for handing them over to the Minister of Justice by the end of this month.
The NCC will be dissolved and the terms of offices of members will expire on August 31, 2010, in accordance with the NCC Amendment Act number 5 of 2010.
Another task which needs to be undertaken by the NCC in this session is to determine how the provisions of the draft Constitution will be enacted.
Mr Banda said it is important to note that the input of the public is crucial for the final conclusion of the constitution-making process, and the consequent realisation of a people’s Constitution.
“It is gratifying to note that an overwhelming number of members of the public, including those stakeholders who had boycotted the NCC, submitted their comments to the secretariat on the initial report and draft Constitution,” he said.
Mr Banda urged members to ensure that no submission is neglected even if one individual submits it on an isolated subject.
He said the NCC executive and secretariat have since engaged Dr Mutumba Bull and Dr Sichalwe Kasanda to edit the final report of the NCC, while Justice Matthews Ngulube and Dr Mpazi Sinjela, who have a legal background, have been engaged to identify inconsistencies in the draft Constitution.
“It must be noted that these experts have been instructed not to alter any decision of the Conference as they undertake their work,” Mr Banda said.
And Mr Banda advised members who no longer believe in the NCC process to stay away from the proceedings.
This was after commissioners Ngenda Sipalo and Dante Saunders openly alleged that the process was going nowhere.
Mr Sipalo alleged that the process was being driven by the MMD. He accused Vice-President George Kunda and Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Ronnie Shikapwasha of being spokespersons of the NCC.
But Mr Banda stated that although the NCC only had one spokesperson, Mrs Mwangala Zaloumis, every Zambian has the right to comment on the process.
“I will allow those who believe in this process to continue, but those of us who have stopped believing in it should stay away,” Mr Banda said.
And Mr Banda said no NCC member will be paid gratuity.
UPND president Hakainde Hichilema with his party's parliamentary candidate for Luena constituency Muyunda Ilionga during a campaign meeting in Mongu
Namwala Member of Parliament (MP) Robbie Chizyuka has advised United Party for National Development (UPND) president, Hakainde Hichilema, to accept that he will never rule Zambia.
Major Chizyuka said the recent by-election defeat in Luena to the Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD) is a clear indication that Mr. Hichilema has limited support in the country.
He said it is quite surprising that the UPND president has been boasting that he controls the western province when in fact not.
The Namwala MP said the only province that the UPND could boast of having support is southern province, and a bit of North western province.
Major Chizyuka said Mr Hichilema’s hopes for the presidency are a bridge too far, adding that the sooner he realizes it the better.
He added that in the history of Zambia, no candidate has won the presidency with support from one province.
Major Chizyuka noted that the only hope for the UPND president is to become vice president to Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata.
He, however, observed that the PF is making inroads in the UPND strongholds.
[ QFM ]
UPND Cadres
United Party for National Development (UPND) Secretary General Winston Chibwe has refuted media reports that confusion has erupted among party officials in Mwembeshi constituency in Mumbwa district over tribal remarks attributed to two constituency officials in the area.
Speaking to ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today Mr Chibwe denied media allegations that wrangles have issued between area Member of Parliament (MP) Edward Kasoko and some two senior party officials.
The two senior party officials who have allegedly differed with Mr Kasoko are Mumbwa UPND District Chairman Ekrol Mungo and Mwembeshi constituency chairman Abel Makala,.
Mr Mungo and a Mr Makala have been accused of campaigning for Harrison Mukupa, a Lusaka businessman for the position of area MP in next year’s elections.
Mr Chibwe said though he has not officially received information over the matter, it was not true that there was a misunderstanding among the top three UPND officials in the constituency.
He also denied media reports that Mr Mungo and Mr Makala issued tribal remarks that Mwembeshi was not a go area for certain tribes.
And UPND cadres who declined to be named for fear of victimization have called on their leadership to immediately convene a meeting to resolve the wrangles that have erupted in Mwembeshi Coonstituency.
Zambia today starts preparations for the 2012 Equatorial Guinea/Gabon Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers with an international friendly against the ‘Cranes’ of Uganda at Nelson Mandela Stadium in Kampala.
The match will be Dario Bonetti’s debut after signing a two-year contract last month.
The absence of foreign-based players will give Bonetti an opportunity to assess local players.
Zambia will be without skipper Christopher Katongo, Jacob Mulenga, Felix Katongo, Joseph Musonda, Chintu Kampamba, Stopilla Sunzu and Emmanuel Mbola, all regulars at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola.
Others who have not travelled include Emmanuel Mayuka, Given Singuluma and Hichani Himoonde.
Goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene and midfielder Rainford Kalaba are the only regulars from the team that reached the quarter-finals in Angola.
Bonetti is likely to start with Mweene in goal although Kalililo Kakonje or Jacob Banda could be roped in as Bonetti wants to assess all the players.
Zambia’s backline will comprise Billy Mwanza, Nyambe Mulenga, Jimmy Chisenga and Brian Musonda.
Kalaba, William Njovu, Kennedy Chola and Arthur Kaseloki will do battle in midfield against Uganda’s Mike Sserumanga, Dan Waguluka and Vincent Kagizzi.
Rodger Kola and Enock Sakala will be tasked with the responsibility of getting goals.
In case the duo fail to impress, Bonetti is likely to bring in Luka Lungu and Kennedy Chola.
Uganda coach Bobby Williamson, tasked with qualifying the Cranes for the 2012 Africa Cup finals, has assembled a strong squad.
Williamson will however miss the services of injured midfielder David Obua of Scottish side Hearts.
Uganda will be seeking to preserve the Cranes’ five-year unbeaten run at the Nelson Mandela Stadium.
The Cranes’ defence will have skipper Ibrahim Sekagya (Red Bull Salzburg), Nestroy Kizito (Partizan Belgrade), Godfrey Walusimbi and Simeon Masaba.
Egypt-based Geoffrey Massa of Club Itesalat and Joseph Owino will lead the Cranes attack.
[ Zambia Daily Mail ]
Electrol Commission of Zambia (ECZ) director Dan Kalale yesterday told the Lusaka High Court that violence which characterised the Mufumbwe parliamentary by-election was the worst in Zambia.
Mr Kalale, 43, of Lusaka, said there was violence on a grand scale in Mufumbwe because of the atmosphere in which the election was held and in Zambia, that was the worst violence witnessed.
This is in a case in which MMD losing candidate Mulondwe Muzungu has petitioned the election of United Party for National Development (UPND)’s Elliot Kamondo as Mufumbwe Member of Parliament.
“We had violence in the parliamentary by-election of Mukaika Constituency in Eastern Province in 1990 leading to its nullification as well as Mapatizya in Southern Province in 2005 but that could not be compared to the one experienced in Mufumbwe, everyone saw it,” Mr Kalale said.
Testifying in cross-examination by the petitioner’s lawyer Eric Silwamba, Mr Kalale said ECZ lamented in a communiqué issued on May 10 this year that violence promoted apathy and low voter turnout.
The ECZ declared that it would take necessary steps to find solutions to violence and criminal activities perpetrated during the by-elections in Milanzi and Mufumbwe.
And in examination-in-chief by the respondent’s lawyer Bonaventure Mutale, Mr Kalale told the court that Judge Philip Musonda had subpoenaed him to submit data of parliamentary by-elections from 2000 to 2010 but he only managed to do so from 2002 to date, excluding Mufumbwe.
In the same court, a witness said Chief Chizela intimidated more than 20 headmen in his chiefdom and asked them to vote for the MMD candidate after he gave them new suits and shirts.
Luckson Ndonyo said the traditional leader was seen going round his chiefdom telling people to vote for Mr Muzungu and discouraging them from voting for Mr Kamondo, claiming he was not Zambian.
Another witness, Joseph Sembele said Chief Chizela chased him from the palace after being accused of voting for the UPND.
[ Times of Zambia ]
New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Agency, the Southern African Network for Biosciences (SANBIO) has submitted a study design and a report for a phase one clinical trial protocol aimed at establishing the safety of the Sondashi Formula (SF2000) formulation to Government.
Presenting the two reports to Science Permanent Secretary Sherry Thole at her office in Lusaka today, NEPAD Agency Director Luke Mumba said scientists have found the SF2000 to be useful in clinical trials for HIV/AIDS.
Prof Mumba said scientists have found the SF2000 to possess particles that can be used in clinical trials for HIV/AIDS.
He said the reports were a significant milestone in the country’s discovery of an HIV/AIDS drug.
Prof Mumba also said there was need for the world to deal with the global HIV/AIDS crisis, which was one of the greatest humanitarian challenges of this generation with the seriousness it deserved.
He said a combination of indigenous knowledge and the rich biodiversity with the application of scientific and traditional knowledge may just be the answer to the AIDS pandemic.
And speaking at the same occasion, Science PS Sherry Thole expressed hope that the SF2000 would play a critical role in the health delivery system in the near future.
Ms Thole however said that for the country to realise the goal, a lot more research work needed to be done.
She said the immediate task was for the nation to look for funds to support the clinical trials, adding that her ministry in liaison with other stakeholders like the Ministry of Health and the National AIDS Council (NAC) would work on finding ways to do this.
And inventor of the SF2000 Ludwig Sondashi said the report of the effectiveness of the SF2000 in fighting AIDS had proven his critics wrong.
Dr Sondashi urged Government and other stakeholders involved to ensure the formula was not taken away from the hands of Zambians because Zambia stood to benefit a lot from the discovery of an HIV cure.
File:Peasant farmers selling their part of their maize harvest
A group of 50 Small scale farmers in Solwezi District today stormed the District Commissioner’s (DCs) office to protest over the non payment of their money by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA).
The emotional and visibly annoyed small scale farmers from the outskirts of the district who have been camping at FRA depot for two weeks complained of delayment by FRA to pay them their money despite selling their maize early.
The farmers said it was not fair for FRA to tell them that it had no money after having travelled from far places and appealed to government to quickly address their plight because some of them were spending nights in the cold as they did not have relatives in town.
They accused FRA officials of not following the first come first serve rule when paying money to farmers.
Solwezi FRA Warehouse Supervisor Elvinard Mupela said the K 1.4 billion released two weeks ago to the district to pay farmers had been exhausted.
He said that so far 402 farmers had been paid their money while those who remained would be paid next week.
Mr Mupela said his office had requested for K1.3 billion from FRA to pay farmers that sold their maize to FRA before 31st July this year to avoid tension.
Solwezi DC Frobisher Fulayi appealed to FRA to release enough money to the district for purchasing of maize because more maize still needed to be bought due to a bumper harvest recorded this year.
Mr Fulayi said small scale farmers contribute greatly to the country’s grain basket hence the need to pay them their money on time, adding that delayment will only discourage them from producing maize next year.
Labour and Social Security Deputy Minister Simon Kachimba
Labour Deputy Minister, Simon Kachimba has challenged trade unions to expand their role and start negotiating for skills development at work places.
Mr. Kachimba said the unions should stop putting their focus only on bargaining for conditions of services for workers but help contribute to skills development for the future.
He said it is only through skills development that workers will enhance their productivity thereby being justified to demand for better conditions of services.
Mr. Kachimba said this in a speech read on his behalf by Assistant Labour Commissioner Simon Kapilima at the official launch of the first ever Zambia National Union of Teachers (ZNUT) branch at a private school at Licef School in Lusaka today.
He said trade unions should also not be seen as only bringing confusion at work places but should help in enhancing dignity.
Meanwhile, he has reiterated the need for school management to pay attention to the facilitation of dialogue between them and teachers to create a conducive environment.
The Deputy Minister also praised Licef school management for allowing its staffs to join the union adding that Government takes pride in the way they handle process of negotiations for salaries.
And ZNUT President Henry Kapenda has assured Licef management that his union is productivity orientated and will help its teachers in solving their challenges.
Mr. Kapenda said he will ensure that teachers put in their best so that this goes in line with the rewards.
He added that ZNUT will not compromise in ensuring that there is discipline among the teachers.
And speaking earlier, Licef Executive Committee Chairperson, Younus Essa said the joining of the union will ensure that employers and workers resolve grievances using established channels.
Mr. Essa said as a pioneer of private school education Licef has also made history by becoming the first private school to join a trade union in Zambia.
The University Teaching Hospital (UTH) has continued to record a reduction in measles cases.
Public Relations Manager Pauline Mbangweta said the UTH recorded only 23 measles cases this week as compared to 42 cases in the previous week.
She attributed the reduction of measles cases at the institution to the Child health week and measles campaign which was conducted by the Ministry of Health in public health centers and some selected schools.
She said this in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today.
And on other cases received at the institution, Ms. Mbangweta said UTH recorded 110 road traffick accidents.
She said 32 injuries resulting from burns were also recorded at the institution in the past one week.
She explained that an additional 167 cases from various forms of injuries and 36 from accidental falls were also recorded.
Ms. Mbangweta further stated that 16 defilement cases were also recorded during the course of week.
President Rupiah Banda has said he will ensure a transparent electoral system as the country goes to the polls next year.
The president said this when he addressed the Zambian community resident in Botswana during his 2 day state visit in Botswana.
Mr Banda assured the gathering that it was impossible to rig elections in Zambia under the current system.
He reiterated that his government had provided transparent ballot boxes and agreed to have results tallied at individual polling station.
Mr. Banda said these measures make it difficult for anyone to manipulate figures.
“I don’t even know how to rig because I have never rigged an election before. Maybe those who talk about it know how. In fact if there is anyone who knows how to make the system even more transparent, please come forward,” Mr Banda said.
The President also denounced the culture of violence that was emerging in Zambian politics saying that his counterparts in the opposition were not addressing the issue.
He reiterated that he would not tolerate anyone engaging in violent activities using his name because he had not authorized anyone to do so.
[pullquote]”I don’t even know how to rig because I have never rigged an election before. Maybe those who talk about it know how. In fact if there is anyone who knows how to make the system even more transparent, please come forward,” Mr Banda said.[/pullquote]
“Violence is concerning us as well, we would like to go to the polls in a free and fair manner so that the young people can vote.”
Mr Banda urged Zambian residents to take a keen interest in the affairs of the country.
He revealed that the National Constitution Conference had yielded positive results citing the inclusion of dual citizenship in the draft constitution a one of the results.
Mr Banda urged the Zambian residents to take advantage of the growing economy in Zambia.
“We have about 55 international banks, not government ones. These banks are all begging for people to lend money to. They are saying there is too much money in Zambia with no one to lend. So come and be part of the developments.” Mr. Banda said.
The President also reaffirmed his government’s commitment in the provision of better health facilities.
Mr. Banda said the government would by next year complete 33 projects of constructing first level hospital countrywide.
Mr. Banda asked Zambian health professional expatriates to come back home and take up positions in the health sector.
He said the programme of Mobile hospitals have reached an advanced stage saying the country could not wait to construct static hospitals everywhere before providing health for all.
Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) Chairperson, Michael Mabenga has advised politicians to stop politicizing the death of Mpulungu Member of parliament (MP) Lameck Chibombamilimo who died in India yesterday.
Mr Mabenga said it was wrong for politicians to politicise the death of a person in their quest to gain political mileage
He said this to ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today.
Mr Mabenga said the party is saddened that it lost one of its members but called on people to desist from making unnecessary comments.
“People should understand that the long hand of death has taken our member they should therefore not make unnecessary comments nor should they accuse anyone” he said.
He was reacting to comments from Patriotic Front President Michael Sata who has been quoted in a private newspaper accusing Government of neglecting Mr Chibombamilimo saying his death would have been avoided if he was sent in time for specialist treatment in India.
He said it was inhuman and unrealistic for Mr Sata to start accusing the MMD government of neglecting the late MP.
Mr Mabenga said people were only evacuated for specialist treatment at the request of family and after Doctors recommendations.
Mr Lameck who was Mpulungu MMD Member of Parliament died in India yesterday after suffering from kidney complications.
His body is expected to arrive in Zambia tomorrow aboard Ethiopian airways in readiness for burial.
Mr. Mabenga said this to ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka toady.
