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Weekend in Pictures
LCC receives K1.8 billion from govt.
Government has given the Lusaka City Council (LCC) K1.8billion for various works in the city.
In an interview with ZANIS yesterday, Council Assistant Public Relations Manager Mulunda Habeenzu disclosed that the money is meant for council to install culvert pipes to pump out storm water and unblocking of drainages in various parts of the city.
Mr. Habeenzu said the local authority intends to use the money to mitigate the effects of the floods in Kabwata, Kabwata Site and Service, Makeni and Emmasdale. He named the other areas as Kamwala South, Garden, Simon Mwansa and Mother Theresa, among others.
Mr. Habeenzu disclosed that the local authority has started installing culvert pipes to pump out storm water and is also unblocking drainages in Garden compound. He said the Council has communicated with the Ministry of Local Government and Housing on how the K1.8billion would be used.
Meanwhile, Mr. Habeenzu advised members of the public to refrain from constructing structures on top of drainage systems in the city. He said the undertaking was dangerous as it has the potential to cause problems not only for owners of such structures but the city as a whole. He advised members of the community to always consult the Council when they want to put up structures.
He added that the flood situation in some areas was because of the illegal structures that people were putting up as that blocks the water from flowing into the drainages.
Mr. Habeenzu said people who put up structures on top of the drainage systems should also blame themselves for contributing to the flood situation in their areas.
ZANIS
Ken Ngondo’s condition stable – Mbangweta
The condition of opposition All People’s Congress Party (APC) president Ken Ngondo, who was admitted to the
University Teaching Hospital (UTH) on Sunday, is stable.
UTH Public Relations Manager Pauline Mbangweta told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that Mr. Ngondo who is admitted to high cost ward H10 is responding well to treatment.
Meanwhile, Ms. Mbangweta has said Senior Chief Sailunga of Mwinilunga who has been admitted to UTH in the high cost ward since last year is stable and responding well to treatment.
The condition of Chief Chunda Pande from Mpika is said to be equally stable and that he is also responding well to treatment.
ZANIS
WFC welcomes honouring of Mama Betty Kaunda
The Women for Change (WFC) has welcomed the honouring of First Republican President Kenneth Kaunda’s wife Betty.
Mrs. Kaunda was on Saturday honoured with the 2010 “Virtuous Woman” award by the Generation Impact Foundation (GIF). The award was in appreciation of her contribution to the liberation of Zambia from colonial rule.
WFC Acting Executive Director Lumba Siyanga told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that Mama Betty deserves to be honoured because she played a pivotal role in the liberation of Zambia from colonial rule.
Ms. Siyanga said the gesture by GIF should be embraced by all adding that Mama Betty has also been a role model to many people. She said it was good that the former first Lady has been honoured while she is still alive.
Meanwhile, Ms. Siyanga said her organization will continue to encourage initiatives aimed at recognizing women who have contributed significantly to the welfare of the country.
ZANIS
Kitwe businessman burnt to death
A businessman of Lebanese origin in Kitwe has been burnt to death by unknown people.
Copperbelt police chief Antonneil Mutentwa confirmed the incident in Kitwe yesterday.
The Police chief said the body of the 28 year old man was found yesterday morning in his house in Parklands area.
Mr. Mutentwa said the incident occurred on Sunday night and police have since launched an investigation into the death.
ZANIS
Police round up 24 Fr Bwalya sympathizers
Police in Kitwe have arrested 24 sympathizers of Fr Bwalya including Copperbelt Patriotic Front (PF) Provincial chairperson Elias Kamanga for riotous behavior.
The 24 were rounded up this morning by police after the mob run amok shortly after the court session at the Kitwe Magistrate court of Fr Bwalya.
Copperbelt Police Chief Antonneil Mutentwa confirmed the arrest of the sympathizers who assembled at the magistrate court in solidarity for Fr Bwalya when he appeared for the charged of conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.
Heavy presence of police was deployed along President Avenue where the magistrate court is located while police in riot gear kept vigil along the main roads within town centre as early as 07:30 hours in anticipation of any disturbances.
Fr Bwalya who is also the executive director for Change life or die Zambia has since denied the charge.
The sympathizers started throwing stones and sticks after the police tried to refrain then from form advancing towards the magistrate court building.
The sympathizers forced the police to fire blank shots in the air and tear gasses to disperse them.
And business temporarily came to a halt due to the fracas. Most shops and restaurants within town were found closed by 13:00 hours.
Meanwhile calm has returned to the city after Fr Bwalya was released on bail by a magistrate court.
Meanwhile, The Independent Churches Organizations in Zambia (ICOZ) has strongly condemned the agitation of riotous behaviour by some political cadres in Kitwe yesterday morning in sympathy of Change Life Zambia Executive Director Father Frank Bwalya who appeared in the Kitwe Magistrate court for plea.
ICOZ Board Chairperson David Masupa says Zambians must be mature enough by not engaging in unconstructive activities that rob them of their time to attend to meaningful ventures.
In a statement to ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday Rev. Masupa appealed to Zambians not to be used as tools of violence by some politicians without a vision of moving the country forward.
He said people inciting members of the public to rebel against the government are prophets of doom.
Reverend Masupa said with the country showing positive indicators of economic growth, there was need for massive participation and hard work from all.
“The environment of exploring new business avenue is so much enabling that the sky is the limit in Zambia, this is the reason why currently there is an influx of foreign investors rushing to convert our natural resources into meaningful wealth,” he said.
He said it was therefore wrong for some leaders in the Catholic Church to advocate civil strife and disobedience when the economy and social environment is calling for full participation of citizens in order for them to become equal partners in wealth creation and sharing.
ZANIS
Fr Bwalya pleads not guilty, Magistrate set March 31 as trial date
Executive Director for Change or Die Zambia, Father Frank Bwalya has pleaded not guilty to the charge of conduct likely to cause breach of peace and has since been granted bail.
Father Bwalya, 41, of 4843 Alma lick street, Riverside in Kitwe appeared today before Chief Principal Resident magistrate Mercy Makubelo.
The Priest who was clad in a red t-shirt and red bottom truck suite was represented by three defense councils, Richard Mandona, Leonard Kasuba and Terence Mwape Chabu while the state was represented by Martin Shula.
In granting bail Magistrate Mukubelo told the accused not to interfere with witnesses in the case and also told the defense to tell Fr Bwalya’s sympathisers to reduce noise during court proceedings.
She warned that the court may sign an order to re-arrest the accused if the supporters continued making noise at the court.
The court granted Fr Bwalya bail of K100, 000 on his own reconnaissance and with two working sureties.
The State earlier made no objection in Fr Bwalya being given bail but urged the court to caution him against interfering with witnesses and that he should not move out of Kitwe.
The State also feared that the accused may continue with his activities while on bail if the bail was granted without caution.
Facts of the offence are that Fr Bwalya on March 12, publicly conducted himself in a manner that was likely to cause breach of peace at city square in Kitwe contrary to section 1789 (f) of the penal code chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.
But defense lawyers asked the court to squash the charge against Fr Bwalya urging that it lacked sufficient particulars of where the offence took place and was not specific with what manner constituted the conduct of a person likely to cause breach of peace.
The State however said the particulars were adequate and there was no need to amend the charge before the court.
Magistrate Makubelo said she agreed with the defense to have the charge amended and include at ‘city square’ as the particular place where the offence occurred.
Earlier the charge read that Fr Bwalya was charged with conduct likely to cause breach of peace in Kitwe on March 12 contrary to section 178 of the penal code chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.
Magistrate Makubelo set March 31 as trial date.
Among the sympathizers’ who attended the court session were former Minister of defense George Mpombo, Roan Member of Parliament Chishimba Kambwili and his Nkana constituency counterparty Mwenya Musenge.
Fr Bwalya was arrested last Friday by police in Kitwe for allegedly distributing red cards during the youth day celebrations at city square in Kitwe.
ZANIS
President Banda arrives back from Malawi
President Rupiah Banda has arrived back from Malawi were he went this morning for urgent consultative talks with his Malawian counterpart Bingu Wa Mutharika.
The President arrived at the Lusaka International AirPort at about 17:23 hours and on hand to receive him was Home Affairs Minister, Lameck Mangani, Information and Broadcasting Minister Lt Gen Ronnie Shikapwasha and other government officials.
The President who is the chairman of the International Conference on the Great Lakes region said on arrival at the airport that he had a very successful meeting with his Malawian counterpart, Dr Wa Mutharika who is chairperson for the African Union (AU).
Mr Banda said he had bilateral talks with Dr Wa Mutharika as regards projects in Malawi being undertaken by the Chinese adding that the projects would be of benefit to Zambia.
The President Left for Malawi this morning for the urgent consultative talks with that country’s president Dr Wa Mutharika accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kabinga Pande, and his Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations, Dickson Jere and other government officials.
ZANIS
Calls for Mwanachingwala to step down unfortunate – Senior Chief Nalubamba
Senior Chief Bright Nalubamba of the ILA people in Southern Province has described as unfortunate calls by the Mwanachingwala Royal Family Establishment for current chief Mwanachingwala to step down.
Speaking in an interview with the Zambia News and Information Services in Lusaka today, Chief Nalubamba said, although he has just learnt the development in the press, it was regrettable that Chief Mwanachingwala has been accused of dragging the name of the Chiefdom into disrepute and shame.
He said he will soon meet Chief Mwanachingwala to get first hand information on what really transpired for the Mwanachingwala Royal Family Establishment to ask him to immediate step-down from the throne.
Chief Mwanachingwala of the Tonga speaking people in Mazabuka District of Southern Province, is accused of crowning himself as chief Mwanachingwala, a thing which has annoyed some family members thereby calling for him to step down.
Efforts to get a comment from Chief Mwanachingwala failed by press time.
ZANIS
Work with Concillors in naming streets, roads, LCC advises Lusaka residents
The Lusaka City Council (LCC) has advised members of the community to work closely with their Ward Councilors by ensuring that roads and streets in their respective residential areas are named.
Council Assistant Public Relations Manager Mulunda Habeenzu says members of the community have not be been proactive in assisting their ward Councilors to propose names, identify, roads and streets which require to be named.
Mr. Habeenzu told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that Councilors alone cannot manage adding that the task requires the participation of members of the community.
Mr. Habbeenzu said this would also assist many people to easily locate places in various residential areas.
He said this was why the Council had decentralized the identification and naming of roads to Councilors so that the process could be spearheaded by Councilors who would be assisted by members of the community.
Mr. Habeenzu said the exercise would also instill a sense of ownership in the Community adding that the council does not want to impose any name on the community.
He said the local authority only comes in to approve the name of the road when Councilors make submissions on the name they have agreed to give a certain road in their areas.
ZANIS
MMD NW election organizing committees receive K22m
The Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) has given K22 million to organizing committees of three forthcoming local government and one parliamentary by elections in Northwestern Province.
Minister of Mines and Minerals Development Maxwell Mwale disclosed this during the launch of MMD provincial card renewal exercise in Solwezi over the weekend.
Mr. Mwale said three wards where there will be local government by-elections in Mufumbwe, Kasempa and Solwezi west will receive K3 million each.
He said out of the K3 million each ward will receive, K2 million is for organizing election activities while K1million for buying bicycles.
He said the party has provided K13 million towards the Mufumbwe parliamentary by-election of which, K10 million will go towards organizing activities while K3 million will be used to buy bicycles.
Mr. Mwale said there was need for all the party members in the province to uphold peace and unity in order to work towards achieving one purpose of strengthening the party and win the elections.
And speaking earlier, MMD acting Northwestern Province chairperson, Peter Patel said the party attaches great importance to the card renewal exercise as it determines its strength.
Mr. Patel said for the party to enhance its strength, there was need for the members to take the exercise seriously by renewing their membership.
“This exercise posses a huge challenge to you all because after renewing your membership, you should go flat out and recruit new members into the party,” he said.
Mr. Patel said the party in the province was intact, adding that it has already started reorganizing itself and strategizing on how to win back the Mufumbwe parliament seat.
The Mufumbwe parliamentary seat was left vacant after its Member of Parliament, Misheck Bonshe died last month.
ZANIS
2010 Youth Day in Pictures
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Weekend Scorecard
Former Zambia coach on Sunday guided Simba to a record equaling 17th Tanzanian league title.
This was Phiri’s second league title with Simba after winning the 2004 crown in his first and debut stint with the Tanzanian club before leaving at the end of the season to coach Nkana and later Zambia.
Unbeaten Simba secured league championship after defeating Azam 2-0 in Dar-es-Salaam.
Simba sealed their title victory with two matches to spare on an unassailable 56 points from 20 games played and are 12 points ahead of archrivals and outgoing champions Young Africans.
Phiri said he was delighted to have won the title in his second season after finishing runner-up last year.
“Each Game was tough. After finishing second last year, our target was to finish first,” Phiri said. “It is good to manage to fulfill the aspirations of Simba.
Phiri signed a 2-year deal with Simba that comes to an end this year.
2010 FAZ SUPER DIVISION
WEEK 1
13/03/2010
Konkola Blades 2 (Chipulu Chileya 14″ 35″)- Nchanga Rangers 2(Aubrey Funga 71″, Ignatius Mukota 85″)
Choma Eagles 1 (Dominic Ngwira 2″) – Power Dynamos 1(Emmanuel Chimpinde 55″)
Nkana 1(Douglas Chiwaya 65″)- Red Arrows 1(Dube Phiri 3″)
Forest Rangers 1 (Kameta Mutambo 31″)-Lusaka Dynamos 2 (Joseph Milanzi 20″ 84″)
Nkwazi 1(Edward Mwamba 63″)-Kabwe Warriors 1 (Bronson Chama 89″)
Roan United 0-Green Buffaloes 2(Morgan Hanjema 11″, Brian Chilando 40″)
City of Lusaka 0- National Assembly 2(Moses Phiri 26″, Mazuba Mkandawire 82”)
Postponed:
Zanaco- Zesco United
Division 1 Week 1
13-14/03/2010
North
Indeni 3 Lime Hotspur 0
Kalulushi Modern Stars 1 Kitwe United 1
Zamtel 0 Muchindu 0
Chindwin 0 Mufulira Wanderers 0
Konkola Mine Police 1 Chingola Leopards 0
Mufulira Blackpool 1 Prison Leopards
0
Mining Rangers 2 Medical Stars 1
Kalewa 0 Ndola United 1
Not Played:
Mansa Health Stars-Chambishi
South
Riflemen 0 Green Eagles 0
Zesco Shockers 0 Luena 1
Young Green Eagles 1 Kalomo Jetters 0
Livingstone Pirates 1 Lusaka Tigers 0
Mazabuka United 1 Lusaka City Council 3
Nakambala 1 Paramilitary 1
Kummawa 1 Profund 3
Nampundwe 1 Kafue Celtic 0
Not Played:
TP Rangers-Communite
Hikaumba calls for promotion and protection of interests of disabled employees
The Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has called on government to come up with mandatory laws that promote and protect persons living with disabilities at work places.
ZCTU president Leonard Hikaumba noted that most disabled people have over the years been subjected to segregation and unfair treatment by their employers. He said despite their physical challenges, disabled persons have the potential to positively contribute to the growth of the country through various skills.
Mr. Hikaumba said this in Lusaka today when he officially opened a one day workshop organized by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in conjunction with various worker representatives aimed at equipping worker representatives with knowledge and information needed to become committed advocates for disabled persons.
Meanwhile Mr. Hikaumba has called on organizations intending to construct buildings to have the disabled persons in mind. He said it is sad that most work places in the country are not user friendly to disabled persons.
Mr. Hikaumba said it is important for organizations to ensure that their buildings have staircase and access ramps for persons with disabilities to avail them easy access to their buildings.
Speaking earlier ILO Skills and Employability Senior Specialist, Barbara Murray, said there is need for employers to change their attitude towards disabled people.
Ms Murray observed that disabled people are equal partners in development hence the need for them to be given equal employment opportunities just like any other person. She has since appealed to employers to give fair working conditions to persons living with disabilities just like their able-bodied counterparts.
ZANIS
The Exodus of Health Personnel
By Henry Kyambalesa
I wish to comment on the statement made in Parliament recently by Health Minister Kapembwa Simbao about the extension of a Medical Retention Scheme to nurses and paramedics—a scheme which currently provides medical doctors with such incentives as further training outside the country, new vehicles and school fees for their children.
This is a progressive idea for a country that has been losing significant numbers of locally trained health personnel through the brain drain.
However, the Medical Retention Scheme may not be adequate to curb the exodus of health personnel. The provision for new vehicles, for example, is really not an incentive to individuals who are keen on securing jobs in developed countries where their services would fetch adequate salaries and allowances which would make it possible for them to buy vehicles on their own. And formal education (from Grade 1 through Grade 12) in such countries is generally free!
The Scheme, however, is likely to give incentive to those who wish to emigrate to other developing countries in search of higher incomes, a better standard of living and/or a less-hostile environment, among a host of other reasons.
It is essential for the authorities to discern the causes of the brain drain in order to devise viable ways and means of curbing the phenomenon. There are currently many factors obtaining in Zambia which have contributed to the exodus of skilled talent. One of such factors relates to poor conditions of service, including inadequate wages, salaries and fringe benefits. The second factor pertains to human rights abuses and violations, including the violation of individuals’ freedom of speech, and the repudiation of freedom of the press.[quote]
Third, many technical and professional personnel have decided to “vote with their feet” upon finding that the rewards of their labor in Zambia are generally measured on the basis of political patronage rather than excellence, and that corruption, nepotism, tribalism, and other similar forms of behavior have permeated every level of work life, particularly in the civil service.
Fourthly, the common tendency among local and national leaders to scout for expatriate scientists, technologists and consultants from industrialized nations has made indigenous experts to feel disregarded, and has made many of them to migrate to countries where their qualifications are appreciated.
Fifth, the high interest rates, income taxes and value-added taxes in the country have, among other factors, adversely affected investment in new enterprises, and have consequently hampered the creation of jobs for streams of graduates from local schools, colleges and universities. And the government cannot absorb many locally trained citizens due to the lack of financial resources. In 2004, for example, about 9,000 trained teachers were roaming the streets as they anxiously awaited their postings to schools. In 2005, around 1,000 out of 7,000 needed teachers were employed through financial assistance rendered by the Netherlands.
Sixth, access to life-saving healthcare in Zambia today is seriously hampered by inadequate, dilapidated and antiquated healthcare facilities, among other things. In November 2005, for example, Ms. Inonge Wina secured “ox-cart ambulances” for the country’s Nalolo constituency during her tenure of office as MP for the constituency in order to curb maternity-related deaths occasioned by delays in the transportation of expecting mothers to healthcare centers. And, of course, we still remember First Lady Thandiwe Banda’s call in November 2009 for developing innovative transportation schemes like “bicycle ambulances” to help women reach health facilities from distant places!
And seventh, unprecedented and widespread poverty and unemployment in the country have made burglars, thieves and robbers more daring, thereby contributing to the emigration of skilled to safer countries. Besides, Zambian migrants who are resident in affluent countries, where there is generally greater safety and security, are fearful of becoming obvious targets of perpetrators of such crimes upon returning to their countries of origin.
Clearly, there is a need for policy initiatives designed to address the brain-drain problem because, without large pools of skilled professionals to facilitate and expedite the process of socio-economic development, Zambia will not likely attain meaningful levels of growth, development and competitiveness. Such initiatives could include the following:
(a) Tax proposals requiring native professionals trained through the public treasury to pay a certain percentage of their incomes earned abroad to the Zambian government;
(b) Generation of restrictive policies aimed at delaying emigration – such as by adding extra years to medical students’ training, requiring doctors and other professionals to stay on for a number of years to ‘pay back’ what they ‘owe’ to society, or to incorporate the delay within the training period, thus ensuring that certification follows rather than precedes a spell of public service;
(c) Taxation of the earnings of emigrants by the Zambian government, although this would depend largely on emigrants’ continued citizenship in their native country, Zambia;
(e) Initiation of international agreements requiring employers in foreign countries who may hire professionals trained through public resources to reimburse the Zambian government for financial and material resources committed to the training of the professionals; and
(f) Provision for attractive retention allowances, research grants for academic staff, car-ownership and home-ownership schemes, and adequate upward salary adjustments.
In this regard, Zambia will need new leaders with a desire to pursue radical, practical and comprehensive change designed to uplift our beloved country from the current socio-economic decay and backwardness. Superficial schemes like the Medical Retention Scheme are not likely to help the country in its quest to stem the exodus of technical and professional personnel. Only the creation of socio-economic conditions that will lead to a higher quality of life for all citizens will, by and large, mitigate the exodus of the country’s skilled personnel.