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UNIP-NRF to work with UPND-PF pact

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UPND_PF_PACT

The United National Independence Party National Revival Forum (UNIP-NRF) has pledged to work with the United Party National Development-Patriotic Front (UPND-PF) pact in a bid to strengthen the opposition alliance.

UNIP-NRF Chairperson Malimba Masheke said the revival forum consulted the UPND-PF pact on the matter before deciding to work with it.

General Masheke, who disclosed the development at a press bring in Lusaka today, however pointed out that the UNIP-NRF will remain independent even as it works with the UPND-PF Pact.

He said the decision to work with the UPND-PF pact was a way of exploring means through which the forum would contribute to efforts of providing a serious alternative to good governance.

General Masheke, who is also former Prime Minister, said the UNIP-NRF decided to work with the UPND-PF because of its (pact) vision for leadership.

He emphasized that the UPND-PF pact must be guarded jealously and urged the UNIP-NRF members to remain resolute, steadfast and united in working with the pact.

UNIP president Tilyenji Kaunda with his deputy Njekwa Anamela (r)

And speaking at the same press briefing, UPND president Hakainde Hichilema expressed happiness at the decision by the UNIP-NRF to support and work with the pact.

Mr. Hichilema said the UNIP-NRF’s decision to work with the UPND-PF pact was the right step in the right direction.

He said there was need to work together regardless of where one is from adding that this would strengthen the relationship between the UPND-PF pact and the UNIP-NRF.

And Zambia’s former Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo Adrian Bauleni and a Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) member David Kasanga have joined the UPND.

ZANIS

Kalulushi MP Atton Simama denies abuse of the Constituency Development Funds.

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Kalulushi Member of Parliament Atton Simama has denied allegations that he abused the Constituency Development Funds (CDF) allocated to his constituency last year.

Mr. Simama says Kalulushi constituency was allocated about K400 million, most of which was used to build community health centres and construct bridges in the area.

He told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that those accusing him of misusing the CDF were being malicious.
He explained that when the CDF for 2009 was released, a CDF Committee was constituted and approved a number of projects in the area and a budget was drawn.

Mr. Simama said after the meeting with the CDF Committee, the proposal was taken to the District Development Committee and a full council meeting was called to approve the budget.

“These councilors are malicious, I have information that some of these councilors want to stand as Members of Parliament for Kalulushi Constituency and they want to malign me in the eyes of members of the public that I have failed as area member of parliament,” revealed Mr. Simama.

He added that the allegation is a total fabrication, stating that all the people who attended the full Council meeting were happy about the resolutions which he said had blessings from the residents in the area.

However, a Kalulushi businessman, Mr. Kenny Siachisumo, who was franked by all councilors in Kalulushi constituency last week accused the area MP of not taking any development in the constituency and called for his resignation.

He said from the time Mr. Simama decided to attend the NCC in deviance of his party, he has never visited the constituency for fear of being beaten by the community who have since resolved to petition him to visit the area instead of staying in Lusaka.

Mr. Siachisumo stated that come 2011, people of Kalulushi are geared to vote out the alleged non-performing Member of Parliament so as to usher in one who will show seriousness in developing the constituency.

ZANIS/

Kunda directs Finance, Local Govt, Home Affairs and Community Development Ministers to go on aerial tour of Lusaka floods

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Part of the Flooded Great North Road in Lusaka
Vice President George Kunda has directed the Ministers of Finance, Local Government, Home Affairs and Community Development to conduct an aerial view of the floods in Lusaka district in order for them to appreciate the extent of problem in the province.

Mr. Kunda told ZANIS in an interview that doing so will make the ministers understand the complexity of the situation and move them to work out measures to promptly address the problem.

He said government was committed to address the floods head on hence it has developed new measures to counter the situation not only in Lusaka but countrywide.

He explained that when President Rupiah Banda was Vice President, he developed several structures in a bid to mitigate the flood situation in the country.

One of the houses surrounded by water in Lusaka's Kanyama twonship. This was after heavy rains that besieged Lusaka recently
One of the houses surrounded by water in Lusaka's Kanyama twonship. This was after heavy rains that besieged Lusaka recently
Mr. Kunda, who had an aerial vie of floods in Lusaka yesterday, said the country has structures that would help government to effectively address the floods.

He said government will remain focused in addressing the floods so as to prevent loss of life and outbreaks of water borne diseases.

Since the onset of the current rain season, floods are said to have claimed six lives in Lusaka while some schools and houses have been submerged in water.

Three of the deaths were recorded in Ng’ombe compound while the other three occurred in Mandevu compound.

Government, through the Lusaka District Disaster Management Team has since mobilized equipment to pump out the water in affected areas.

ZANIS

Renard has not applied for a job in Tanzania – Mwanza

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National soccer team head coach Herve Renard arrives at Football House for a press briefing where he said he has not yet decided to renew his contract when it expires in May this year

Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) Communications Officer Erick Mwanza says it is wrong for people to assert that National Team Coach Herve Renard applied for a job in Tanzania.

Mwanza said it was unfortunate that despite the coach stating categorically that he has not held any kind of negotiations with any team, people are still speculating about his future.

He said it was important that people learn to tell the truth and not just make assumptions.

Mwanza said Renard was a forthright and honest man who he said had good communication with the country’s soccer governing body and could not do anything without consulting FAZ officials.

The FAZ Communications Officer told a press briefing in Lusaka today that there was nothing wrong with Renard been ambitious and wanting to scale up his coaching profile, saying it was within his rights to do.

He said it was normal that after putting up a splendid performance at the just ended 2010 Orange Africa cup of nations that many teams could be courting him for his services, adding that Renard had no control over that aspect.

Renard and his Assistant coach Patrice Baumelle are currently in France for a two weeks leave and are expected back into the country soon.

Mwanza disclosed that Chipolopolo assistant coach Patrice Baumelle who is also the teams physical trainer, left the country on Saturday while Head Coach Herve Renard left the country on Monday, this week.

And Mwanza has said FAZ would seek quality friendlies for the Chipolopolo boys during the international friendly games scheduled to commence on March 3.

He explained that good friendlies will help keep the team and players in good shape and give the technical bench an opportunity to access and try different players so that the team continues to improve its FIFA rankings.

Mwanza also said FAZ will do everything possible to assist Chipolopolo Midfielder Rainford Kalaba in whatever way it can for the player to join his new club, Zamalek.

He said it was important for the player’s future as well as the nation that the player is at his club and is playing.

Meanwhile, Mwanza has disclosed that the inspection of stadiums and other playing grounds on the Copperbelt have successfully been concluded and that the inspection team is now in Lusaka and would conduct the same exercise from today (Wednesday) up to Friday.

FAZ has also expressed optimism that Zambia’s envoys in this year’s Orange CAF Champions League Zanaco Football Club would put up a splendid performance against Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) of Uganda.

“As FAZ we are optimistic that Zanaco FC will do well. The team left the country in high spirit and we are sure they will post a good result against their rivals”, he said.

He called on soccer fans all over the country to rally behind the team so that the players can be motivated to focus and work hard on the pitch.

ZANIS

Faz Must Issue London Fiasco Apology in 14 Days, NSCZ

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The National Sports Council of Zambia (NSCZ) has given Faz 14 days to publish a public apology in the national press following last year’s London fiasco.

NCSZ spokesperson Smart Mwitwa said at a press briefing in Lusaka Wednesday afternoon that should Faz fail to comply, the sports watchdog will swiftly act on Football House.

“We wrote to Faz on 13 November, 2009 advising them that the case bed published in the print media with a suitable apology, Mwita said.

“That is to hold a press conference to apologize to the Zambian people over the friendly football match played between the Zambia and Ghanaian national team.

“Also to draw a list of lessons learnt in the London trip so that we could share this with other sports associations to avoid recurrence of such unfortunate saga.

“We regret to inform the nation and other stakeholders that our directive has not been compiled with.

“As you may be aware we wrote this letter of instruction to Faz to apologize at the height of preparation and eventually the participation of the national team in the Africa Cup in Angola.”

Mwita said NSCZ thought it only fair to wait until the team and officials returned from Angola to follow-up on the directive handed to Faz.

He said an official letter was sent by the NSCZ to Faz on February 5 to find out how far Football House had gone with the directive from last November.

“Now that the team and officials have come back and settled, we expected them to respond to the directive,” Mwitwa said.

“However, on 5 February 2010 we did send a letter reminding them (Faz) on their responsibility to act on the NSCZ letter and we have given them an ultimatum of 14 days effective the date of the letter in which to act.

“If they choose not to cooperate, the NSCZ will not hesitate to exercise the powers vested in it by the provisions of the NSCZ Act.

“This is a timely warning to FA and we only hope the Sports Council will not be stretched to that end.”

On August 12 last year, Zambia played Ghana in a friendly at Brisbane Road but struggled to raise a team after Faz failed to secure visa’s for 10 players.

This forced Faz to scale England at the last minute and drafted three UK-based part-timers to play in the match.

Zambia lost that match 4-1.

Give loans to Civil Servants-Dora Siliya

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Education minister Dora Siliya
Education Minister Dora Siliya

Government has challenged the Banking sector to take advantage of the large number of teachers by offering them long-term mortgages for house construction.

Education minister said banks and other financial institutions should expand their businesses by introducing mortgages targeting teachers.

During a consultation meeting with teachers drawn from all the schools in Mansa district yesterday, Ms. Siliya said Banks should initiate long term low interest loans for teachers and other government workers to help them construct accommodation and venture into economic activities.

“There is a wide clientele of teachers and other government workers out there for banks and other financial institution to exploit by initiating mortgages or low interest loans. This will help our teachers build houses and you will have your businesses grow,” the ministerr said.

She said many teachers in the country were lacking accommodation because of shortage of staff houses for them.

The Minister noted that initiating mortgages and low interest loans will help a large number of teachers without accommodation construct houses and in turn benefit the banks through the interests and proceeds on the loans.

She said she will soon engage with the banking sector in the country to look at possibilities for them to partners with the ministry of education to construct houses for teachers.

However, Ms Siliya said government will continue providing funding to the education sector for construction of teachers houses countrywide.

“This Ministry has 3.4 trillion in this year’s budget of which a chunk will go towards infrastructure construction among them staff houses and schools so government is committed to providing decent accommodation for teachers”, Ms. Siliya said.

She said last year the Ministry of Education (MoE) constructed over 280 housing units for teachers countrywide.

The minister disclosed that the country only has about 31,000 housing units for teachers which are not enough to accommodate the total establishment of 80,000 teachers in the country.

And Ms. Siliya has said there is need for continuous and sustainable investment in the education sector by training of more teachers and construction of infrastructure.

She said government will phase out the certificate teacher qualification as a minimum qualification and replace it with a diploma by 2013 to improve the teaching standards in the country.

Ms. Siliya called on all teachers currently holding certificates to upgrade their education to diploma level which will be the minimum qualification required for the teaching service.

In 2014 government will only engage teachers holding diploma or degree qualifications.

She also said starting this year government will upgrade 6000 diploma holders to degrees of which 3000 will be for Science and Mathematics.

The minister said government has realized that science and mathematics are crucial for development and economic growth. Noted we have built so many schools but not teacher’s houses.

ZANIS

Ndalamei urges youths to be innovative

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Government has urged the youth in the country to be innovative and establish their own businesses as a way of contributing to the development of the country.

Deputy Minister for Youth and Child Development, Mundia Ndalamei reiterated that government would always supplement the efforts of young people who are industrious.

Mr. Ndalamei said government will continue to provide grants to youths, whom he said were the most productive personnel, in order to promote their programmes in the country.

He said this in Lusaka today after a familiarization tour of Kalingalinga Youth Resource Centre.

He was accompanied by Maynard Misapa, who is in charge of sports in the same ministry.

And Kalingalinga Youth Resource Centre Principal Ben Sambambi said the institution was determined to offer skills to youths in Lusaka.

Mr. Sambambi said the institution trains a total of 300 students every year in entrepreneurship courses such as food production, carpentry and joinery, tailoring, and computer courses.

ZANIS

Chief Mwanachingwala threatens to expose dubious businessmen

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Chief Mwanachingwala of Mazabuka has threatened to expose a cartel of senior managers at Zambia Sugar Company who have allegedly teamed up to interfere with the awarding of contracts to the Mazabuka Business Association.

Chief Mwanachingwala told ZANIS in Mazabuka that he will expose the names of the staff and business persons to President Banda when he visits him soon to teach them a bitter lesson not to engage in dubious activities.

The Chief added that he is fully aware of the tension rising concerning contracts and threats being targeted at Corporate Affairs Manager, Lovemore Sievu by selfish individuals who don’t want small scale contractors to benefit from contracts and supply of goods and services at Zambia Sugar Company.

The traditional leader stressed that he will not be used by business persons to lobby government to intervene in the new strict procurement procedure which has disadvantaged them.

Chief Mwanachingwala said there is need for big companies to conduct business with small and medium entrepreneurs because of the important role they play in improving the economy.

” I will not accept to be used and dumped after the business persons have achieved what they want. Previously I have been used to speak against Zambia Sugar Company but not any more,” Chief Mwanachingwala said.

Yesterday, the MMD in Mazabuka also voiced their concern and supported the move taken by Zambia Sugar Company to award contracts to the business association and not individual traders.

District Vice chairperson, Takawira Mahere said the move is welcome because it aims at empowering small scale business houses that have been struggling to survive owing to unfair business by Zambia Sugar Company.

Under the new system, all traders, contractors seeking to conduct business with Zambia Sugar Company should be registered members of the district business association.

The company will then award contracts to the association which will in turn allocate contracts to the members based on their capability to handle the projects.
ZANIS

Office Orderly handling labour disputes in Mazabuka

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An office orderly at the Mazabuka Labour Office is allegedly manning and handling labour disputes raising serious concerns in the district.

Mazabuka District Commissioner, Tyson Hamaamba disclosed this to Principle Labour Officer, Joseph Musonda from the Ministry of Labour in Lusaka noting that there is urgent need for the ministry to address the issue of manpower to mitigate the problem.

Mr Hamaamba noted that the office orderly is not competent enough to handle labour disputes hence the need for quick intervention.

He complained that his office has equally been turned into a labour office as most sensitive cases were being referred there.

Mr Hamaamba said there is need for a competent officer to be permanently stationed at the office to handle the many labour disputes in the district coming mainly from commercial farms.

He said cases of abuse of workers rights particularly those from farms need urgent solutions by the labour office. He added that his office cannot handle labour matters daily.

ZANIS

2010 Zoom Charity Shield Draws

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The draws for the 2010 Samuel “Zoom” Ndhlovu Charity Shield that kicks off on February 20 were announced today in Lusaka.

Defending champions Power Dynamos will face Green Buffaloes in the semifinals.

In the other semifinal, 2009 league champions Zanaco will come face-to-face against his former club Zesco United.

Interestingly, that match will pit Zanaco coach Wedson Nyirenda against his former charges Zesco.

Power will face Buffaloes on the Copperbelt while Zanaco and Zesco will clash in Lusaka.
Both semifinal venues will be announced later as will the final that will take place on March 6.

UNIP Revival Forum endorses PF/UPND Pact

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UNIP Revival Forum leader General Malimba Masheke has urged Zambians to guard the UPND/PF Pact with a sense of jealousy.
General Malimba Masheke said this in Lusaka when he announced his decision to work with the Pact during a press briefing at the UPND secretariat.

He said the pact is the only solution to the difficulties and challenges the county is facing.

Gen Masheke said the MMD has lost direction and that it is up to the Zambian people to make the right choice and decision by supporting the Pact.

He states that the UNIP revival forum has not been fused into the UPND but has only decided to work with the Pact through the UPND.

General Masheke adds there is need to rebuild the country’s economic sector which says has been destroyed during the MMD government’s stay in power.
And in welcoming the UNIP faction’s support for the Pact UPND president Hakainde Hichilema said his party will always welcome support from political parties with grassroots support.
QFM

Magande denies ever endorsing RB as MMD’s sole presidential candidate

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Former Minister of Finance Ng’andu Magande says he was not part of the MMD National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting that endorsed President Rupiah Banda as the sole candidate at the forthcoming National Convention.

Reacting to MMD National Chairman Michael Mabenga who said he was part of the MMD National Executive Committee that received and endorsed petitions from provincial committees that President Banda be the sole candidate at the National Convention, Mr Magande has blatantly refused being part of any such meeting.

Mr Magande who is also MMD Chilanga Member of Parliament has since challenged Mr Mabenga to produce the minutes of the meeting to show that he was part of the said meeting that endorsed Mr Banda as the sole candidate.

QFM

Respect my decision to support RB, Chief Mwanachingwala tells HH

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United Party for National Development president Hakainde Hichilema

Chief Mwanachingwala of the Tonga people in Mazabuka district has advised opposition UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema to respect his (Chief Mwanachingwala) decision to support President Rupiah Banda for the 2011 general elections.

The chief told ZANIS in Mazabuka today that it is sad and unfortunate that Mr. Hichilema has chosen to link his (Mwanachingwala) support for President Banda to monetary gains when it is on principle.

He said his support for President Banda has nothing to do with monetary gains but was based on the quality leadership that inspires a lot of his subjects.

He was reacting to accusations by Mr. Hichilema when he featured on a live phone in programme on QFM that Chief Mwanachingwala was not principled because he was supporting a politician that was allegedly ready to give him a K5 million.

Mr. Hichilema alleged that Chief Mwanachingwala does not have any influence on his subjects, saying this was evidenced when he allegedly failed to win the MMD ward bye-election in Itebe.

Chief Mwanachingwala accused Mr. Hichilema of being bitter with him for refusing to support his political ambitions since the death of the late UPND leader, Anderson Mazoka.

The traditional ruler charged that Mr. Hichilema has visited him on several occasions at the palace to plead for his support but he refused.

Chief Mwanachingwala said Mr. Hichilema knows the influence he exerts among the people of Southern Province politically hence his worry.

And chief Mwanachingwala has denied ever campaigning for the MMD in last year’s Itebe local government bye-election which was scooped by the opposition UPND.

The chief said the claims by Mr. Hichilema are false and should not be taken seriously.

Chief Mwanachingwala however, said he only advised his subjects not to be cheated by the opposition UPND.

ZANIS

Delayed Zanaco Arrive in Kampala

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Zanaco arrived in Kampala in the earlier hours of Wednesday morning after a flight delay in Nairobi.
The team arrived in Kampala at 01:20 Zambian time after a seven hour transit delay in Nairobi on Kenya airways.

Zanaco are in Uganda to face hosts Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) in a CAF Champions League preliminary stage first-leg match this Friday in Kampala.

Zanaco are lodged at Sojovaro Hotel in Rubaga and this morning trained from University or Makerere Business School grounds in Kampala.

The team will train there again this afternoon and will training at the match venue at Nelson Mandela Stadium in Namboole.

George Kunda Is an Inept Vice President

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By Henry Kyambalesa

It has now become clear that Comrade George Kunda is not competent enough in discharging his duties as our beloved country’s Vice President and Minister of Justice. He is too petty to hold such key positions in our country’s national government.

A few examples of his pettiness are perhaps in order at this juncture: he has accused the PF of having an archaic constitution plagiarized from the UNIP government; he has accused Michael Sata of being a sadist and senseless person not having the intellect that could match the people that are members of the NCC; and he has accused Hakainde Hichilema of having deviated from UPND’s original philosophy of inclusiveness and non-tribal stance.

Besides, he has urged PF/UPND members who are allegedly not happy with the happenings in the pact to join the MMD; and, among many other partisan remarks, he has urged Hichilema to consider abandoning the PF/UPND pact because of PF leaders’ alleged incessant attacks on UPND Members of Parliament.

What more, he has alleged that tribalism is illegal in Zambia. Well, if it is actually illegal, why has he not directed the police to charge those he is accusing of the vice, such as Michael Sata?

And not too long ago, Kunda accused Fred M’membe of trying to take over state power by scheming to control the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and other constitutional offices for the purpose of making money.

As Vice President, Kunda is expected to preside over Cabinet and/or govern the nation if and when any of the following obtains with respect to the incumbent Republican President: absence from office, resignation, impeachment, death, or incapacitation (mental or physical). Unfortunately, his behavior of trying to weaken opposition political parties is inimical to the functioning of our nascent democracy.

Moreover, he is seemingly spending too much time engaging in a perpetual campaign designed to discredit opposition political parties. We need leaders who understand the need to make a quick transition from campaigning to governing upon being appointed or elected to positions of authority. We also need leaders who are at peace with having competitive political parties, a diversity of interest groups, a vibrant civil society, and a free press.

Besides, we need leaders who recognize the right of citizens to vote for candidates of their choice without being threatened that their communities will be excluded from the development process if they do not vote for candidates fielded by the ruling political party. After all, every person and every place in our beloved country deserves a fair share of the national cake!

Our beloved country is currently experiencing unprecedented socio-economic problems which Kunda and the entire Rupiah Banda administration should be addressing. For instance, tens of thousands of Grade 7 and Grade 9 students have continued to be spilled onto the streets every year, the healthcare system cannot meet the basic needs of the majority of citizens, the majority of Zambians have no access to clean water and electricity, there is a critical shortage of decent public housing nationwide, public infrastructure and services are still deficient, civil servants are still not adequately compensated for their services, a lot of civil service retirees cannot get their hard-earned benefits, and, among many other socio-economic ills, crime and unemployment are still widespread.

These problems affect us all in spite of the different political parties we belong to, the different languages we speak, or the 73 different tribes to which we belong. And we have the same dreams as members of the Zambian family; among other things, we all want a smaller and more efficient government, free formal education without Grades 7 and 9 elimination examinations, no examination fees, merit-based scholarships for vocational training and university education, low-interest educational loans, free life-saving healthcare for all Zambians, greater and sustained food security, and greater employment opportunities.

Moreover, we all want lower Pay-As-You-Earn and value-added taxes, lower interest rates, safer local communities, improved public infrastructure, improvements in garbage collection and disposal, improved socio-economic conditions in rural areas, speedy rural electrification, abolition of TV licensing and fees, lower water charges and electricity tariffs, a system of justice that is free and impartial in both word and deed, greater participation by women in national affairs, greater care for children and the handicapped, sustained protection of the fragile natural environment, preservation of our cultural values and traditions, a genuine effort to address the scourge of corruption, and consolidation of our oneness and common future as members of the Zambian family.

Zambia is clearly in dire need of a new cadre of leaders – leaders who have a genuine desire to pursue radical, comprehensive and well-conceived change that is designed to lift our beloved country from its current socio-economic decay and backwardness.

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