PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda will today address the nation through a news briefing at State House at 10:00 hours.
This is according to a statement released yesterday by special assistant to the president for Press and public relations Dickson Jere.
Mr Jere said Cabinet ministers, members of the diplomatic corps and accredited journalists should be seated by 09:30 hours.
He said accreditation for journalists who would cover the briefing would be done by the Zambia News and Information Services.
THE Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has assured the electorate it will deliver credible elections in the coming Milanzi and Mufumbwe parliamentary by elections.
Speaking in Lusaka yesterday, ECZ public relations manager Cris Akufuna said the commission would conduct a briefing for candidates that had already filed in the names in readiness for the elections.
Mr Akufuna said a briefing for monitors would also be conducted to enlighten them on their role and that copies relating to codes of conduct would be distributed to remind and correct them about their duties.
“Cadres and police officers who go beyond their duties do not mean the commission has failed to perform, the codes of conduct will alert them on the do’s and don’ts so that we have peaceful by-elections,” Mr Akufuna said.
Mr Akufuna said the commission would also conduct a briefing for conflict management committee and that voter educators would be on the ground to sensitise voters on the dangers of conflicts during elections.
He said some observers during election come with hidden agenda to blemish the good image of the commission and that it was not easy to deal with them because they added credibility to their work.
“Observers are like our witnesses, we cannot do away with them.
Mr Akufuna said accusations of the commission being partisan were mere perceptions and that the commission had performed its duties effectively and independently despite criticism from stakeholders like some political parties.
“As a commission, we involve political parties during our discussions, they are aware of the mandate of the commission which was stated by the Zambian law to propose names of candidates, appointment of members of the commission by the president. I am very sure that criticism comes as a result of those laws,” he said.
And Mr Akufuna said the continuous voters registration (CVR) exercise would start in June this year, and that the commission had met with members of Parliament including other stakeholders like the media and civil society to brief them on the exercise.
The commission would sensitise voters on the CVR a month before and that the communication techniques would be through radio stations in all districts, music, drama, and that voters education facilitators would conduct door to door campaign.
[Times of Zambia]
CHINA Nonferrous Metal Mining Group Company (CNMC) president Luo Tao has said his company wants to work with the Zambian people to bring sustainable development to the country.
Mr Luo said when he paid a courtesy call on the Copperbelt Minister Mwansa Mbulakulima that his company wanted to work along side the Zambian people in contribute to the economic development of the country.
He said his management at the CNMC Luanshya Copper Mine(LCM), Chambishi mine, Chambishi smelter and Chambishi leaching plant adhered to the Zambian labour laws and the other laws that governed the country.
Mr Luo said his firm was committed to having a good relationship with the Zambian workers and that was why the top management at LCM consisted of two Zambians while 60 per cent of the departmental heads at the mine were Zambians.
“We have employed alot of Zambians at LCM and two managers are Zambians, while 60 per cent of those managing the different departments are also Zambians,” he said.
Mr Luo said his company had so far spent USD 42million on modernising the equipment at LCM and would continue doing so until the equipment is modernised.
He said the former owners of LCM did not invest a lot in modernising the equipment at the mine saying that CNMC was a good investor that ensured that its investments had modern equipment.
Mr Luo also said President Rupiah Banda’s visit to China on the invitation of the Chinese President Hu Jintao was successful.
He said President Banda signed some treaties, while he was there and that the President called for Chinese investors.
Mr Luo said President Hu then instructed those that had invested in Zambia to expand their investment and CNMC, therefore, approved a further USD 500 million in its subsidiaries in Zambia.
CNMC LCM would receive US$300 million, while Chambeshi mine, smelter and leaching plant would receive US$200 million this year.
Mr Luo said he was impressed with President Banda’s leadership and that of Mr Mbulakulima.
He said President Banda was committed to bringing investment to Zambia that would improve the economy.
Mr Luo said Mr Mbulakulima was also working hard to upgrade the Copperbelt which has resulted in the development that he had observed over his seven visitations.
It was because of this, he said, that CNMC felt supported by the Government and triggered the company to invest further in the Copperbelt.
Mr Luo said the company had recorded progress in the Baluba mine development and that he was happy with the work that was so far done in all its subsidiaries.
And Mr Mbulakulima said the Chinese group had expressed resilience and endurance and was, therefore, Zambia’s partner in development.
He said he was happy that CNMC was willing to invest USD 500 million this year in its Copperbelt subsidiaries.
Mr Mbulakulima said he was also happy that the company observed the Zambian laws as that was how it should be.
He said Zambia had world class economic policies that more Chinese investors should take advantage of and invest in Zambia.
[Times of Zambia]
The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) has seized property belonging to GBM Trucking Limited in Lusaka to recover more than K2 billion owed to the agency by the company.
The seizure of the building in the capital city comes in the wake of the company’s failure to settle about K522 million with interest, which the company had borrowed from the Government’s crop marketing agency in 1998.
GBM Trucking and GBM Milling had in 1998 deposited title deeds for the building as collateral for a K522 million loan from the FRA but failed to settle the debt when it was due.
A Times reporter who toured the premises, which are also used as Patriotic Front (PF) secretariat in Vila Elizabetha, found the gates locked with security officers manning the building.
FRA legal counsel, Chola Kafwabulula said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that the company had failed to settle the K522 million with interest, which made the agency seek legal redress.
Mr Kafwabulula said the agency then took the company to the High Court where GMB Milling lost before appealing to the Supreme Court where the lower court’s ruling was upheld.
“This is purely a commercial transaction without any political inclination to it. This is as a result of the failure by the company to settle the loan even after losing in the courts and we now want to recover our money,” he said.
Mr Kafwabulula said the money would be recovered with interest and now amounts to more than K2 billion.
He said the agency would start evaluating the property before advertising the sale of the building.
“If we find that there is any change after evaluation, then they will get it but soon you will see the adverts in the Press on the sale of the seized property,” he said.
Efforts to get GBM proprietor, Geoffrey Mwamba failed by Press time as his mobile was switched off.
And PF spokesperson, Given Lubinda said he could not comment on the matter as he had not been to the seized building.
[Times of Zambia]
The Zambia Under-17 team leaves for Uganda on April 7 to face their hosts in a Rwanda 2011 Orange CAF Under-17 Cup preliminary round, first leg qualifier.
Aggrey Chiyangi is expected to leave the country at midday on a Kenya Airways flight to Kampala via Nairobi.
The match will be played on Friday afternoon at Nakivubo stadium.
Winner of the two-legged match will face Ghana in the first round qualifying stage in September.
Goalkeepers: John Banda (Libala Basic), Davie Banda (Amakumbi).
Defenders: Musesha Phiri (Damiano Academy), Alex Sichone (K-Stars), Chishimba Changala (Livingstone Pirates), Kachola Banda(Lutanda Academy), Peter Mulenga, White Kaande (Both Lusaka Youth Academy).
Midfielders: Salulani Phiri (Winford Academy), Bruce Musakanya (Livingstone Pirates), Simon Nkoma (K-Stars), Patrick Sakala (Lutanda), Masauso Tembo (Nchanga Rangers), Kennedy Mwambazi (Telesport).
Strikers: Moses Phiri (Young Zanaco), Martin Chakulya (K-Stars), Constantinos Ioanndu (Tuks Academy, South Africa) and Emmanuel Phiri (Nchanga Rangers).
The BBC online reports that Frenchman Herve Renard has ended his stay as the coach of Zambia. The 41-year-old ended his contract with the Chipolopolo on Tuesday with two months remaining on the deal.
The Frenchman quit despite leading the team into their first Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final in 14 years.
“Renard handed in his letter of intent to be excused as he stated his desire to pursue other professional interests elsewhere,” Zambia FA (FAZ) spokesman Eric Mwanza said in a statement.
“FAZ and Renard therefore amicably agreed on the way forward.
“In view of this development, FAZ’s consultations and efforts to have him extend his contract have since been suspended.
“Physical trainer Patrice Beaumelle will also not be staying in the job.”
Herve had been linked with several national teams in Africa since leading the Chipolopolo to the last eight of the Cup of Nations in Angola in January.
The Frenchman joined the Chipopolo in 2008 after serving as an assistant to the then Ghana coach Claude Leroy.
He guided the Zambians to an third place finish in the maiden African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Ivory Coast last year.
Herve coached in France, Vietnam, China and England, before teaming up with Le Roy in Ghana.
BBC
Lusaka residents trying to acquire Green National Registration cards under the third phase of mobile registration exercise have expressed their frustrations over the slow pace at which the exercise is moving.
The mobile issuance of NRCs under the third phase started on the 1st April 2010 covering Lusaka, Luapula and Copperbelt provinces.
A check by QFM News both at Matero Hall and the Boma found long queues of people trying to acquire the NRC’s.
Some revealed that they have been forced to spending more than one night at the centers in order to obtain to obtain their NRCs.
Those spoken to, mostly secondary school going pupils, said that the exercise has forced them to abscond classes for more than a day.
Others wondered why the Government did not opt to open mobile registration centers at almost every school to deal the congestion and enable as many people as possible to acquire the NRCs.
Some parents who escorted their children also complained of having the details such as the age of their children rejected fearing that some of their children may end up without NRCs.
The Lusaka residents have since called on Government to assign more people to the mobile issuance exercise of NRCs and create more centers to decongest the existing centre.
QFM
By Patrick Hatontola
As 2011 dawns, the MMD government must realize that it marks the new era when people’s wish for a forward government will transcend over any manner of political manipulation, Lumpenism and hooliganism. These vices have characterized the political landscape for the past 20 years but 2011 will be the last nail on the coffin. It is a year when the weaker will speak louder to the powerful.
Below are 20 reasons why electorates will not give the MMD another mandate in preference to the UPND-PF PACT.
1. MMD’s failure to maintain infrastructure left by UNIP. This includes institutions of learning such as: UNZA; dilapidation of Health Care centers like UTH and turning tarred roads turned into gravel roads in across the country.
2. MMD’s failure to run Health care centers. These centers cannot dispense basic medication such as panado thereby causing avoidable deaths
3. MMD’s failure to maintain affordable transport by abandoning the railway transport left by UNIP hence increasing the cost of production.
4. MMD’s failure to plan for the city by building new infrastructure and system in major towns thereby causing unnecessary traffic jams. Rather, MMD has promoted mushrooming of shanty compounds like MISISI where no reticulated piped water and electricity are provided.
5. MMD’s failure to timely handle disaster management cases such as floods in Lusaka and collapsed bridges in Southern Province shows that it lacks priorities.
6. MMD’s failure to create employment. Rather, Job loss has been on a raise in MMD’s reign.
7. MMD’s paralyzing of citizens by closing local companies such as Mansa batteries on the copper belt, Eagle cycles in Eastern Province, Mwinilunga Pineaples in Northern Province
8. MMD’s grievous Taxing policy burdens majority Zambians in favor of few foreigners. MMD has failed to create other sources of revenue opposed to strangling citizens with exorbitant Taxes. Rather, they abolished the windfall TAX to the detriment of the country.
1. MMD under RB’s administration has reduced the Fertilizer support Program from 2 hectors to 1 Acre per farmer thereby disempowering farmers.
2. MMD’s late delivery of farm inputs across the country has further crippled the agriculture sector.
3. MMD has killed agriculture viability by abolishing NAMBOARDS through which farmers sold their produce easily.
4. MMD destroyed the agro system by abolishing the agriculture extension services. Consequently, livestock is diminishing in places like Southern and Western Provinces. The collapse of farming in central province was also a direct result of closing the Tobacco Board of Zambia
5. MMD’s failure to fulfill the ever promised rural electrification. ZESCO is now on auto pilot.
6. MMD’s failure to tar major feeder roads has eroded any possibilities of creating an enabling environment for rural development
1. MMD has disrespected citizens by rejecting their recommendations such as 50+1 through the biased NCC.
2. MMD’s failure to provide free education up to university level left by UNIP is retrogressive.
3. MMD’s sale of ZAMTEL against the wish of the people has compromised the country’s security
4. MMD’s failure to preserve women’s dignity. MMD shows no remorse on the tragedy of women giving birth on streets. Refer to Chance Kabwela’s case. The Health Minister must confirm if the incinerator is now operational at Chipata Clinic.Worst still MMD youth who want to gang rape Nawakwi have not been suspended from MMD.
5. MMD has refused to fight corruption. They seem to have embraced real suspects. Refer to the dillydallying of the registration of the London Judgment against Chiluba; The IG of police not suspended to pave way for investigations; the ruling party being headed by Katele –a man defending himself against serious corruption charges in court? The Auditor General’s revelations are not acted upon to mention a few.
6. MMD’s attempt to abolish freedom of the media through the failed media regulation attempts
In view of the above short comings one can easily establish a case of gross incompetence; gross inefficiency and gross negligence from MMD to warrant a vote of no confidence in next years polls. The UPND-PF PACT therefore stands a better alternative.
The United Party for National Development (UPND) has dared the Zambia Police to arrest the PF/UPND Pact leaders Michael Sate and Hakainde Hichilema.
Responding to MMD spokesperson Dora Siliya’s call on the police to visit the two pact leaders on allegations of accusing President Rupiah Banda of planning to eliminate them,UPND Secretary General Winstone Chibwe saidc that the police could go ahead and arrest the two leaders.
He said there was nothing wrong for what the two pact leaders said by stating that president Banda has intentions to eliminate them as his political opponents.
Mr Chibwe accused the MMD of desperate and capable of doing anything that would keep them in power.
He said the UPND/PF pact is not scared of the calls by Ms Siliya to arrest the two pact leaders because such threats are expected in the political arena.
Mr. Chibwe reiterated that UPND was ready to defend itself from any form of provocation in the forth coming Mufumbwe and Milanzi Parliamentary by elections.
QFM
MMD Kafulafuta Member of Parliament George Mpombo has reiterated his intentions to challenge President Rupiah Banda at the party convention.
Mr. Mpombo has said that his supporters are on the ground and indications are that he will put up a good fight at the convention. He said his suspension by the party will not intimidate him in his quest to challenge President Banda. He added that he will go ahead with his intentions despite the suspension announced recently.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mpombo has dismissed claims by National Revolution Party (NRP) president Cosmo Mumba that he has shown interest in standing in the 2011 polls on the NRP ticket. Recently, Dr Mumba hinted that Mr Mpombo had agreed to stand as NRP president in next year’s general elections.
But in an interview with Muvi TV news yesterday, Mr Mpombo described NRP as a briefcase party which he would not associate himself with. Mr Mpombo denied ever talking to Dr Mumba in the recent past.
[MUVI TV]
Homes Affairs Minister Lameck Mangani has charged that Wynter Kabimba is the most inept secretary-general the Patriotic Front (PF) has ever had.
Mr Mangani has also revealed that he has impeccable information that Mr Kabimba was only hanging on in the party because PF president Michael Sata was keeping a damning dossier on his dealings while he was Lusaka town clerk fearing that it may be exposed if he dared cut links with him.
In apparent reference to sentiments attributed to Mr Kabimba in the Press which described Mr Mangani as acting like a rottweiler which was on the loose, Mr Mangani said the PF secretary-general was himself behaving like a dog going by the petty comments he had been issuing in the Press of late.
The minister said Mr Kabimba should also tell Zambians the truth about a house he allegedly purchased at a scandalously reduced price when he was town clerk.
He added that Mr Kabimba instead of generating frivolous law suits on inconsequential matters which did not have a bearing on his party, should be organising the PF now that it was apparent Mr Sata and Dr Guy Scott were tired, going by the loss of steam in their programmes.
“His party is not thriving because he lacks stamina and on the issues of loyalty, he is behaving like a bigger dog because he knows that Mr Sata has a dossier on him and he knows he will be finished if this information is released in public domain. He is hanging on to the PF for personal reasons. Tell me, who is the dog in this regard,” he said.
Mr Mangani said the art of organising a party could not be likened to experience in superintending over garbage collection exercises, but required a lot of tact, wit and patience, vital ingredients that lacked in Mr Kabimba.
[Times of Zambia]
MMD Copperbelt provincial chairperson Joseph Chilambwe has advised Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata not to mislead the youth with promises on employment which he may not fulfill.
He said the opposition leader was so desperate to become Republican president that he was making promises that he could not fulfill.
Mr Chilambwe was speaking yesterday in Kabala area in Chimwemwe Constituency during a meeting with residents who complained of being neglected by the opposition area member of Parliament.
The residents complained of the poor state of roads, the non-functional boat which was damaged by a hippo and the clinic which was only operating during day time because of security reasons.
Mr Chilambwe said he was hopeful that the people had learnt a lesson from voting for an opposition MP who had not fulfilled his campaign promises.
“I get surprised that the people, especially you the youth, get excited when the PF leader says he will create employment and put more money in your pockets.
“You the youth should support the MMD Government because it has a manifesto and policies to improve people’s lives. We have a lot of policies that aim at empowering the youth,” he said.
And MMD Copperbelt task force member Joe Malanji promised the people that a boat worth K72 million would be purchased to replace the damaged boat in the next two weeks.
Mr Malanji, who also donated 1,000 Chitenge materials and K1.5 million to the people in the area, advised them not to fall prey to the promises of opposition politicians.
He advised the youth to desist from involving themselves in violent activities and pursue dialogue with Government on various issues affecting them.
Mr Malanji said the Government was ready to dialogue with anybody and was disappointed that some clergymen were in the forefront of agitating for violence in the country.
[Times of Zambia]
NATIONAL Milling Corporation (NMC) has set up a rice processing plant in Mongu in an effort to increase its intake of local rice and save foreign exchange on the imported commodity which has become expensive, managing director Peter Cottan has said.
The plant would polish the rice to be supplied by local farmers in Mongu and other districts in Western Province.
Mr Cottan said in Lusaka that the company which had been importing rice in the past, would now concentrate on the local market as a way of empowering local farmers too, running away from the high costs of importing the commodity.
He said rice prices on the international market had tripled in the last three years, while production levels had reduced drastically due to climatic change.
“National Milling’s rice procurement three years ago was 10,000 tonnes per year but has now reduced to 4,000 tonnes per year because importation of rice has now become expensive,” he said.
Mr Cottan said, through the introduction of the local procurement initiative, the company had partnered with the Government to provide a ready market for the local farmers and also to create employment for Zambians.
“We hope that this will encourage the farmers to move from small-scale rice farming to specialised commercial farming,” he said.
For the firm to meet the demand on the local market, National Milling requires to be procuring a total of 10,000 tonnes every year.
“As National Milling, we decided to encourage our local rice farmers by coming up with this initiative of procuring rice locally, even though they are still far from meeting the demands of the market,” he said.
The company plans to extend the rice procurement facility to Chama district in Eastern Province, which also has viable farmers with potential to produce more rice but are limited by lack of market for their produce.
Mr Cottan said NMC was providing employment in many parts of Zambia, as many Zambians were being engaged through its 60 sales outlets.
The NMC chief said the company has plans to expand the network of sales outlets and would soon be opening two more in Mumbwa and Chirundu.
[Times of Zambia]
THE Ministry of Finance and National Planning disbursed K942.1 billion for development programmes and operations in all ministries, provinces and spending agencies in the month of March 2010.
The release of money brings the total budget released since January 2010 to K2.906 trillion.
Ministry of Finance spokesperson Chileshe Kandeta said in a statement yesterday that the ministry had made a deliberate strategy to inform the public frequently on all financial activities regarding the Budget as a way of enhancing accountability.
He said out of the K942.1 billion released in March, provincial administrative headquarters received funds as follows: Lusaka K2.3 billion, Copperbelt K3.3 billion, Central K2.3 billion, Northern K4.3 billion, Western K4.7 billion, Eastern K3.1 billion, Luapula K2.6 billion, North-Western K8.6 billion and Southern Province K2.9 billion.
Mr Kandeta said the Ministry of Education received K225.6 billion or 24 per cent of the total funds under the disbursement schedule.
Of this amount, Lusaka Province basic schools received K11.4 billion and high schools K3.7 billion, Copperbelt basic schools received K22.5 billion, high schools K4 billion and teacher education institutions K1.2 billion.
Central Province basic schools received K16.9 billion, high schools K2.7 billion and teacher education institutions K455 million. Northern Province basic schools received K20 billion, high schools K3.7 billion and teacher education institutions K389 million, Western Province basic schools received K9.8 billion, high schools K1.9 billion and teacher education institutions K219 million.
Mr Kandeta said the Government had continued in its commitment to timely dismantle debts to ensure debt sustainability over the long run.
In the same month, K103.6 Billion was released for constitutional and statutory expenditure of which K3 billion was allocated for servicing the multilateral external debt, K12 billion for non-Paris Club bilateral debt, K44.6 billion for interest payments on treasury bills and K44 billion for interest payments on Government bonds.
[Times of Zambia]
THE allegations by the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) and Patriotic Front (PF) that the MMD was training 200 cadres at Lilayi Police College and had mobilised 70 vehicles to use in the forthcoming Mufumbwe and Milanzi by election were a reflection of the desperation by the opposition.
MMD spokesperson Dora Siliya said both the PF leader Michael Sata and UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema were now making wild allegations against the ruling party.
Ms Siliya said the UPND and PF leaders had run out of ideas and the effect of losing elections several times was haunting them.
She said the opposition leaders and their members have now resorted to telling lies in a last ditch attempt to impress the people.
“This is a reflection of true desperation by the opposition. These are wild and unfounded allegations that they have resorted to,” she said.
Ms Siliya was reacting to a statement by the PF/UPND Pact yesterday that the MMD had mobilised 70 Government vehicles to use in the Mufumbwe and Milanzi by-elections and that it had connived with the police to train over 200 cadres at Lilayi Police College.
She said the MMD would use no trickery to win the elections but would put to use its proven track record that Zambians have all come to understand and appreciate.
Ms Siliya said it was unfortunate that the opposition political parties, especially the PF and the UPND had abandoned the responsibility of selling their manifestos to the people but were busy discussing the MMD all the time.
“They are not talking about the economy. Zambians are not interested in them and will not be swayed by such wild allegations,” she said.
Ms Siliya who is Petauke MP (MMD) said Zambia wanted to hear more talk about economic growth and not the lies and allegations that the opposition were making.
She challenged the PF and the UPND to travel to Milanzi and Mufumbwe and identify the alleged Government vehicles that the MMD was using.
“When leaders speak there should be sense in the things they say,” she said,
She said the fact that the PF and UPND were making such allegation ahead of the by-elections clearly showed how they were scared of losing the two seats.
The by-elections in both constituencies are set for April 29.
Meanwhile, ELECTION materials have arrived in Mufumbwe in North-Western Province ahead of Thursday’s nominations for the April 29 Mufumbwe Constituency parliamentary by-election.
District electoral officer, Aaron Kamalondo, who is council secretary, confirmed yesterday the arrival of ballot materials and said all was set for nominations.
“Materials came yesterday, only the ballot papers are remaining. You know those can only be brought days before the election, and they can only be printed after nominations,” Mr Kamalondo said.
He said campaigns for the seat left vacant following the death of MMD area member of Parliament Misheck Bonshe last month would officially kick off after nominations.
While UNIP had reportedly named its candidate, the ruling MMD and the UPND-PF Pact, who are keeping their cards close their chests, would name their candidates before Thursday.
UPND provincial chairman, Wishikti Katambi said in Solwezi that the party had done its assessment on the ground and would start the campaigns after the nominations.
“We are law-abiding, so we will start campaigns after nominations. Solwezi Central was tougher, this one is a walk-over.
‘‘With due respect, we shall meet on the battlefront,” Colonel (retired) Katambi said.
Party provincial secretary, Obet Mayambu said recently that the opposition should not expect an easy run after winning last November’s Solwezi Central parliamentary by-election.
Mr Mayambu said MMD would leave no stone unturned in retaining the Mufumbwe Constituency seat after learning a lot from the Solwezi by-election where the ruling party may have underestimated the opposition party.
[Times of Zambia]
© Lusaka Times
