President Rupiah Banda has disclosed that Government is studying the Auditor General’s report on the reported gross misappropriation of public funds at the Road Development Agency (RDA).

President Banda also revealed that Government is discussing the report with cooperating partners and the Auditor General’s Office with the urgency it deserved so that it does not become prone to ridicule. Mr. Banda said the matter surrounding the RDA should not stop the country from developing its infrastructure.

President Banda was answering questions from Journalists shortly before he left for France where he is scheduled to attend the France- Africa summit. “Government is studying the AG RDA report and we are discussing the report before it becomes prone to ridicule,” the President said.

The Auditor General’s report has revealed huge misappropriation of public funds at the RDA. Meanwhile, President Banda has left for Nice , France where he is going to attend the 25th France -African two-day Summit . The presidential plane carrying Mr. Banda left at the Lusaka International Airport at exactly 07-25 hours local time.

Mr. Banda who will be among other African Heads of States disclosed that Zambia is likely to benefit from France by way of accessing credit for the construction of the country’s infrastructure. Mr. Banda observed that though Zambia was not colonised by the French government, he expressed happiness that there was room for Zambia to woo French investors to come and invest in the country.

He said Zambia and that country enjoys a warm and cordial relationship that has existed for many years ago. The Head of State paid gratitude to France for the services rendered during the hospitalization of the late president (Dr Mwanawasa) in that country and the transportation of his body to Zambia after his death.

“ As I go to France, I would like to thank the president of France for his efforts during the illness of our beloved president the late Dr. Mwanawasa and subsequent death and flowing Dr. Mwanawasa’s body home (to Zambia). Mr. Banda is accompanied toFrance by Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande, Energy Minister Kenneth Konga, Finance and National Planning Deputy Minister Chileshe Kapwepwe and Southern Province Minister Daniel Munkombwe and other senior government officials.

President Banda was seen off at the airport by Vice President George Kunda, Defence Minster Kalombo Mwansa, Home Affairs Minister Mkhondo Lungu, Secretary to the Cabinet Dr. Joshua Kanganja , Chief Government Spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha, Sports Minister Kenneth Chipungu, Lands Minister Gladys Lundwe, Works and Supply Minister Mike Mulongoti, Lusaka Mayor Robert Chikwelete and senior government officials.

The two-day summit which starts on Monday is a gathering aimed at strengthening ties between African countries and France .
The last summit was attended by Late republican President Dr Levy Mwanawasa in 2008. France which is expected to take over presidency of the G-12 is determined to understand the needs of African countries. France ’s policy is to open itself to all African countries whether or not they are its former colonies.

ZANIS

MMD Lusaka province chairman William Banda said that the failure by the Patriotic Front President Michael Sata to attend the Freedom Day Celebrations shows that he was a prisoner.

Mr.Banda said that Mr.Sata did not want to interact with the people of Zambia because of his alleged past.

He also stated that Mr. Sata had no idea about the commemoration of the African Freedom Day because during the African liberation time, Mr. Sata was doing things against Africans.

He added that he was not surprised that Mr. Sata failed to show up for a celebration that should not be marred by politics. On Mr UPND leader’s absence, Mr. Banda said Hakainde Hichilema does not understand the celebrations as he was too young. He said the only idea the UNPD leader can have about the celebrations is because he might have read it somewhere.

However, the Patriotic Front has pleaded with the Lusaka province MMD chairman to stop provoking its party leaders. Erick Chanda, a Lusaka province youth leader said Mr. William Banda should not take the respect granted to him by the PF for granted. Mr. Chanda said that Mr. William Banda cannot match with Mr. Sata describing him as too small for the arguments.

[pullquote] Mr Lubinda said by the time Mr Banda, who he said is a foreigner, wakes up from his slumber, he will at the boarders of the country facing deportation.[/pullquote]

And PF spokesperson Given Lubinda has charged that MMD Lusaka province chairman William Banda is boot licking President Rupiah Banda to buy his stay in Zambia. Mr Lubinda said the MMD Lusaka Province Chairman is working hard to impress Rupiah Banda lest he thinks of deporting him.

Mr Lubinda said by the time Mr Banda, who he said is a foreigner, wakes up from his slumber, he will at the boarders of the country facing deportation.

He has since advised the MMD provincial chief to calm down his ego and stop living in a fantasy island. Mr Lubinda told QFM in an interview that Zambians know that he is buying time to live in Zambia and that he should not think the people of Zambia are dull.

QFM

UNITED Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema yesterday said he will continue to offer himself as a presidential candidate to lead Zambia because the Pact has not chosen a candidate for the 2011 presidential polls.

And All People’s Congress (APC) leader, Ken Ngondo has said political parties in Zambia that have formed a pact were just wasting their time because people of Zambia do not want a pact but an alliance.

Mr Hichilema said yesterday he had ambitions to take over Government next year considering the immense qualities and capabilities he wields but Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata was also allowed to express his desire to lead.

The UPND leader said candidacy for the UPND and Patriotic Front (PF) Pact remained open to any of the two partners in the alliance formed in 2008 but only announced last year.

His declaration was based on the fact that a candidate to run the Pact into the 2011 presidential election had not been chosen by the technical group involving the two parties.

Asked when the two leaders would announce the candidate, Mr Hichilema said it would remain a secret until the right time came.

“The message is that we have not chosen a candidate for the Pact. When a candidate is chosen things will be clear,” Mr Hichilema said.

Mr Hichilema on Sunday declared he was the best candidate to lead Zambia next year because of the younger age and urged Zambians to take a leaf from countries like Tanzania, United Kingdom, United States of America and Germany that had elected leaders with modern leadership postures.

Mr Sata has also made similar declarations, raising questions about the extent of confusion and power struggle between the two leaders as the election fast nears.

Mr Hichilema said suggestions by 11 districts in Southern Province for his party to forge an alliance with the MMD lacked background and clarity considering that his party already has an alliance with PF.

He said the resolution to forge an alliance with PF was passed by the national management committee in consultation with the general membership and the new dimension by Vernon Mwaanga had never been on the party’s agenda.

Mr Ngondo during a Press briefing in Chipata on Thursday said he would not support any pact because the current pact could not form Government even in 2011 tripartite elections.

He said the current pact (UPND/PF) was not a factor in the Zambian politics because there were two leaders who had different divergent views with different manifestos.

[Times of Zambia]

THE Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) says the country recorded about US$1.3 billion in investment pledges for the first quarter of 2010.

ZDA communications and public relations manager Margaret Chimanse said in an interview in Kitwe yesterday that the investment pledges were mostly in the tourism sector.

The investment was mostly targeting the tourism sector and specifically infrastructure and services.

Ms Chimanse said the pledges were in view of the forthcoming FIFA World Cup in South Africa and the tourism opportunities that it promised the region.

She was speaking from the ZDA stand at the on-going Copperbelt Mining, Agricultural and Commercial Show (CMACS).

Ms Chimanse emphasised that the pledges did not mean the actual investment but simply plans for investment.

She noted that 50 per cent of last year’s investment pledges were not implemented in various sectors.

“Last year we undertook a check on the pledges and established that not all the pledges had been implemented,” she said.

And the agency said K24 billion had been reserved under the Business Development Services (BDS) programme to assist small-scale organisations develop their businesses.

She said the money was made available by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Finnish and Netherlands governments and Government contributed K3 billion.

Ms Chimanse said the funds were being used to train small-scale entrepreneurs in business and the beneficiaries received services and not the actual money.

She said the agency was also encouraging rural entrepreneurship because the businesses were not required to pay income tax for five years from establishment.

[Times of Zambia]

WORLD acclaimed gospel musician Michael W Smith, who has sold over 15 million CDs, arrives tomorrow evening around 17:00 hours from South Africa for Sunday’s concert at Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka.

The US Grammy-award winning artiste, best known for his highly awakening worship and praise songs like Above All, Healing Rain, Love Me Good, Draw Me Close, Let It Rain, will perform from 14:00 hours to 20:00 hours.

The high definition music equipment for the concert arrived yesterday by road in four heavy-duty trucks from Johannesburg, South Africa.

Andrew Chola, director at Christian Arts Promotions (Chapro), the organisers of the show, told Times Entertainment that Zambians should look out for what he called an “explosive Sunday.”

Smith, who is on a New Hallelujah world tour, remains one of the most popular artistes in contemporary Christian music with 21 albums to his credit, three Grammy Awards and 13 nominations, 36 Dove Awards and five Platinum and 15 albums.

“All is set, it’s a great achievement to have Michael come for a concert in Zambia. After listening and watching his music on CDs and videos, Zambians will have a chance to watch the man live,” Chola said.

“The guys from South Africa will set up the stage and put up all the lighting and other technical equipment needed to produce quality sound.”

The concert, which Chapro is organising in conjunction with Bizlink, a South African music promotion company and Sounds Investment, will also feature local gospel artistes like BM Sampa, Suwilanji, Zambian Voices, Potipher and Mweshi Mulusa among others. Charges for the concert are K50,000 for ordinary seats and K100,000 for VIP.

“Those in the VIP section will have a chance to shake Michael’s hand,” said Chola.
Besides, the one-day concert, Smith also holds a workshop with local artistes on Monday morning at Southern Sun Hotel in Lusaka.

In his two-decade career, Smith, born in 1957, has had the opportunity to sing for presidents, national leaders, community gatherings, memorials, the Billy Graham Crusades and on national and international television.

[Times of Zambia]

The Anti-Voter Apathy Project(AVAP)has urged youths in the country to avoid being used as mercenaries of political violence during the forthcoming 2011 elections.

AVAP Director General Bonnie Tembo told youths from various political parties in a training workshop at Fairmount hotel in Livingstone to desist from politics of insults and violence.

Citing the example of what transpired during the Mufumbwe by-elections in Solwezi recently,Mr Tembo advised youths to be messengers of democracy and not perpetrators of lawlessness.

“You see if you are sent to electorates in certain community you do not have to go there with pangas,machetes,stones and the likes because you are not going to the game park but you are going to a community where people live so avoid such kind of intolerance,” he said.

Mr. Tembo also challenged political parties in the country to place youth leadership skill at the centre of the 2011 elections.

He said AVAP wishes to see a country where political leaders are democratically mature unlike ones who breed politics of violence.

And government has pledged to support organizations that aim at promoting democracy and good government in the country.

Southern Province permanent Gladys Kristafor thanked AVAP for its consistence in supplementing government’s effort towards the realization of a liberalized Zambia.

“We must work together for us to make this country a better place so say no to violence we do not take pleasure to see what happened in Mufumbwe,”she said.

Ms Kristafor also urged the youths to take keen interest in understanding issues in politics such as the K5 bn that government allocated to the youth empowerment fund.

She said this when she officially opened the AVAP training workshop in Livingstone.

Recently President Rupiah Banda pledged to rebuild the churches and shops that where destroyed during the Mufumbwe by-elections.

ZANIS