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Zambia won’t suffer power deficit

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ZAMBIA will not face power shortages this year because the measures the Government has taken to increase power generation capacity will be able to add 210 megawatts (MW) of electricity to the national grid, Energy and Water Development Permanent Secretary, Teddy Kasonso has said.

The country had battled with rising demand in 2008 as a result of increased investments in the mining sector, and it was feared that there would be serious power shortages this year if nothing was done to raise power production.

The power utility, Zesco has undertaken major upgrading and rehabilitation of generation infrastructure at Kafue Gorge and Kariba North Bank to increase capacity and meet the rising demand for electricity. It also carried out load shedding to ration the commodity.

Mr Kasonso said in a statement in Lusaka yesterday that studies had revealed that extra demand for electricity as a result of new development projects was unlikely to exceed the 210 MW that Zesco would add to the grid this year.

He said the rehabilitation of the Kafue Gorge power project had added 90 MW to the power generation capacity while the upgrading of Kariba North Bank power station would add another 90 MW. The remaining 30 MW would be added this year.

“It is unlikely that Zambia will experience a power deficit by the end of this year unless we have a drought,” he said.
Mr Kasonso said the investments in the generation capacity should be sustained, otherwise the country risked experiencing a deficit by the year 2013.

Zambia generates 1,400 MW of electricity, and consumes about 800 MW during the day, but demand rises to 1,500 MW at peak during the night, according to Zesco estimates.

Zesco has also undertaken to extend the Kariba North Bank power station to add 360 MW of power generation capacity, as well as to develop the 120 MW Itezhi-tezhi power plant under a joint venture investment with Tata Africa Holdings.

Mr Kasonso said apart from the projects being undertaken by Zesco, the Government was engaging the private sector to participate in the development of projects like the 218 MW Kalungwishi hydroelectric project, which would be constructed by Zambian company, Lunzua Power Authority.

“This is a $641 million project. Construction could start as early as next year with commissioning expected in 2014,” Mr Kasonso said.

The Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC), which supplies power to the country’s mines, is also working on the 33 MW Kabompo Gorge hydroelectric project for which studies are due to be completed in March, and it is earmarked for commissioning by 2015.

But the major project will be the earmarked development of the the 600MW Kafue Gorge Lower hydropower plant expected to cost $1.5 billion, whose commissioning is expected in 2017.

[Times of Zambia]

State cushioned fuel price hike — ERB

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Fuel Station

THE Energy Regulation Board (ERB) has said it was supposed to increase the petroleum products prices by 32 per cent but the Government put a 17 per cent subsidy to cushion the impact of the inevitable increase.

Defending the new fuel prices, ERB acting executive director Joshua Malupenga said in a statement in Lusaka yesterday that if the Government had not effected a 17 per cent subsidy, the increment could have been by 32 per cent and not 15 per cent announced on January 12, 2010.

“In view of the foregoing, it is evident that a one-off increase would have averaged about 32 per cent as apposed to the Government subsidised increase of 15 per cent as announced by the ERB on January 12 ,2010.

“Therefore, even with a 15 per cent increase, fuel prices continue to be heavily subsidised by the Government,” Mr Malupenga said.

He said in light of the global economy slowly moving out of the recession and the demand for petroleum products beginning to increase, the international prices of oil had begun to surge upwards.

Mr Malupenga said factors that led to the pump price increase were that before the January 12 price increase the last price review was on December 22, 2008 when pump prices were revised downwards by an average 24 per cent because of the decline in international oil prices.

The price of crude oil doubled from US$40 per barrel in 2009 to the current price of about US$82 per barrel.

Consequently, the cost of a 90,000-tonne cargo had increased from $40 million in February and March last year to $70 million in December.

The cargo cost had gone up by 72 per cent while the average international oil prices had gone up by an average of 110 per cent over the period between February 2009 and January 2010.

While the exchange rate appreciated by about 18 percent the adverse impact of the 110 per cent increase in the international oil prices and the 72 per cent increase in the cargo cost nullified the benefits of the exchange rate appreciation.

He said while the price increase had an effect on the cost of most socio-economic activities, it should be observed that disregarding the economic trends would have threatened the sustainable supply of petroleum products in the country in the near future.

[Times of Zambia]

50 plus one Camp Fails to Secure the required Two-Thirds, Referendum is next

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National constitutional Conference delegates wait to vote in the 50+1 poll in the last evening
National constitutional Conference delegates wait to vote in the 50+1 poll in the last evening

Zambia will next year go to a constitutional making referendum following the failure by the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) delegates to attain two thirds of the vote required to meets make the 50 percent plus one vote threshold be enshrined in the new constitution.

The NCC delegates yesterday voted to determine a final position on the proposed 50 per cent plus one vote threshold clause in the next constitution for a presidential candidate to win an election.

A total of 260 NCC delegates voted in favour of the 50 per cent plus one vote threshold while 184 delegates voted against. This was out of the total 446 voted cast. Four votes were rejected.

For the 50 percent plus one vote threshold to go through and be adopted for enshrining in the constitution, the NCC should have attained at least 297 votes out of the 446, which would have translated into a two third majority.[quote]

Electoral Commission of Zambia Commissioner, Joceline Mubita, who was the Returning Officer in the voting process, announced the results this evening at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre (MICC).

And NCC Chairperson, Chifumu Banda, said the outcome of the vote means that Zambia would go for a referendum to determine what would put in the next constitution in relation to what type of presidential election system.

“The two thirds threshold has not been attained. Therefore Zambia goes to a referendum next year,” he said. Mr. Banda thanked the delegates for voting.

Meanwhile, Chief Government spokesperson, Ronnie Shikapwasha said in an interview that it would be ideal for Zambia to maintain the current voting pattern of the simple majority rule.

Lieutenant General Shikapwasha, who is also Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, said the 50 per cent plus one vote was not progressive for Zambia. He said this was instead a recipe for anarchy in Zambia, adding that this was the reason why Zimbabwe and Kenya rejected it.

He noted that the referendum was a costly process for Zambia and wondered where the government would source the funds from to conduct this exercise. However, the Patriotic Front (PF)-United Party for National Development (UPND) pact co-leader, Hakainde Hichilema said that the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) should not use lack of money as an excuse.

Mr. Hichilema said Zambians had been advocating for the 50 percent plus one vote threshold for the past 20 years. He has since accused the MMD of blocking the efforts to have the 50 percent plus one vote threshold in the constitution to their advantage.

After the vote, NCC delegates and none delegates mainly from the opposition political parties went into jubilation saying the way of the referendum would be the best for Zambian to have the 50 percent plus one vote threshold in the new constitution. They said the next constitution will stand the test of time if the 50 percent plus one vote threshold is enshrined in it.

An unidentified National Constitutional Conference delegate wait for her turn to cast a ballot during the 50+1 vote
An unidentified National Constitutional Conference delegate wait for her turn to cast a ballot during the 50+1 vote

Prior to voting, Sinazongwe UPND MP and NCC commissioner, Raphael Muyanda, raised a point of order on General Shikapwasha for allegedly influenced the direction of voting by distributing a document that contained messages concerning the 50 percent plus one vote threshold issue.

Mr. Muyanda laid the said document on the table in order for NCC Chairperson, Chifumu Banda to rule over and provide guidance to the august house. But dismissed Mr. Banda dismissed the point of order and ruled that all NCC delegate were accorded ample time to campaign.

He further advised that the document would not necessarily influence the vote because it was done under secret ballot. The MICC, where the NCC conducts its business from, was today heavily guarded by armed police.

Currently, Zambia is undergoing a fourth constitutional making process which is discussing for possible adoption the recommendations from the Willa Mung’omba Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) which was constituted about six year ago.

Other constitutional making processes were the Chona Commission in 1973, the Mwanakatwe Commission in 1991 and the Mvunga Commission of 1996. From independence in 1964 to 1991, Zambia had been using a First Past the Post system of electing a president. In 1991, the system was changed to 50 percent plus one vote threshold, which was however changed again in 1996 to revert to old system.

ZANIS

All Zambian media will cover RB abroad – Jere

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Special Assistance to the President for Press and Public Relations, Dickson Jere, said President Rupiah Banda will start including all media houses both public and private in his local and international trips.

Mr. Jere said this follows several requests from the media houses to be included in the Presidential delegations going for key international events.

He however said reporters from the private media will be included on a rotational basis due to financial constraints.

Mr. Jere said this in a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today in reaction to a story carried by the Post Newspapers that said State House was eyeing MUVI TV to cover President Banda at the Africa Union Summit.

The story also said that President Banda is only interested in MUVI TV to cover his trip leaving out the other private media outlets and the state broadcaster.

Mr. Jere said to the contrary, President Banda will include the private media in addition to the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) which syndicates stories to all media outlets in the country in his delegation to the AU Heads of State and government’s extraordinary summit in Addis Ababa Ethiopian this month.

He said the reporters from the state owned Times of Zambia, and Zambia Daily Mail newspapers, ZNBC and community radio stations in Zambia will be also be included on a rotational basis to cover key international events.

“I wish to reiterate that State House will continue including reporters from public, private and community media on the presidential delegation to key international events. Reporters working for the public and private media are all Zambians and should therefore be given the opportunity to cover their head of state on key international engagements such as the Africa Union Summit” he said.

Mr. Jere clarified that the President went with a crew from QFM to Mozambique during the SADC Troika meeting held on 15th January this year.

He said it was therefore erroneous and misleading for the Post to insinuate that President Banda is only interested in MUVI TV at the expense of other media outlets.

ZANIS

Post Newspaper editorial comment is a constitutional lie-Shikapwasha

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shikapwasha
Shikapwasha

Government has described today’s editorial comment in the Post Newspaper suggesting that Zambia had a 50 percent plus one vote clause in the constitution from independence to 1996 as a constitutional lie intended to mislead Zambians.

Chief Government spokesperson, Ronnie Shikapwasha said the comment was aimed at misleading the people of Zambia about the type of constitutional provisions that existed before the 1996 constitution relating to the election of the president.

Lieutenant General Shikapwasha told ZANIS in a statement this evening that the system of electing the president in the constitution from 1964 to 1991 was based on the First-Past the Post where a president could win an election by a simple majority.

He said in 1991, the government under the United National Independence Party (UNIP) introduced the 50 per cent plus one vote in an attempt to prevent the MMD from winning the presidential election.
“This lamentably failed as the MMD presidential candidate obtained just over 75 per cent of the votes cast in October 1991,” he said.

General Shikapwasha, who is also Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, explained that the constitution was again amended in 1996 to remove the clause and restored what existed from 1964 to 1991.
“It is a fallacy for the Post Newspaper to claim that the provision for 50 per cent plus one in the election of the president existed from 1964 to 1996,” he said.

He regretted that the newspaper could distort constitutional facts in a ‘shameless manner’ to mislead members of the public and the world at large.

“It is incumbent on The Post Newspaper to admit and correct this constitutional lie contained in their editorial comment today, in the interest of fair and objective journalism,” he said.

General Shikapwasha added, “Even when we disagree, it is extremely important for the Zambian people to be told the truth so that they can come to an informed judgment”.

ZANIS

Police will protect all citizens – Kapeso

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Zambia police commissioner Graphael Musamba and spokesperson Bonnie Kapeso addressing journalists

The Zambia Police Service says it has an obligation to protect all the citizen in the country.

Police spokesperson, Bony Kapeso said the police will not discriminate against political parties but provide security to all the citizens.

He said this in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today.

He said police officers provide security to all the citizens of the country regardless of their political affiliation.

This follows concerns from opposition Patriotic Front Munali and Kabwata Members of Parliament and Forum for Democracy and Development (FFD) President Edith Nawakwi who have allegedly been threatened to be attacked by suspected Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) cadres.

The alleged MMD cadres on Sunday threatened to beat up Mr. Lubinda and Ms. Nawakwi for their continued attacks on President Banda.

The MMD cadres are alleged to have threatened to gang rap Ms. Nawakwi and attack Mr. Lubinda if they continue their careless attacks on President Banda.

And Munali MP Mumbi Phiri has said she was attacked by unknown people yesterday whom she suspects were MMD cadres.

But Police spokesperson Bonny Kapeso could not confirm receipt of the trio’s formal complaints to the police.

“Go and ask them whether they have complaint or formally written to us on what happened before I can comment” he said.

ZANIS

Government explains presence of typhoid in the Copperbelt province

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typhoid

Government has dismissed media reports that a total of 25 people have since been diagnosed with typhoid in the Copperbelt province.

Health Deputy Minster, Solomon Musonda said although it was true that there is typhoid in the Copperbelt province, the media has blown the issue out of proportion.

He said there are only sporadic cases of typhoid which have been recorded in the province, adding that these cases were recorded as far back as July last year.

He said the 25 cases reported in the media are the cumulative total cases that have been reported since the disease broke out in July last year.

“The situation of typhoid is not as alarming as it has been reported in the media. I can confirm to you that there is typhoid on the Copperbelt but these are only periodic cases which are being reported,” he said.

Dr. Musonda told journalists at a press briefing in Lusaka today.

He said only one patient is currently admitted in Luanshya and was receiving treatment.
He said the Ministry of Health was however working hard to completely eradicate the diseases.

Dr. Musonda said his ministry held a meeting with water utility companies in the affected areas to address the situation by providing safe water.

ZANIS

Expand your facilities, Chituwo implores tertiary education institutions

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Government has implored tertiary education institutions to find land and expand their respective institutions so that they can absorb the large number of pupils from basic and secondary schools.

Science, Technology and Vocational Training Minister Brain Chituwo noted that it is important that the expansion of classroom space and both basic and secondary school is in tandem with that of tertiary institutions of learning.

Dr. Chituwo says it is imperative that colleges in the country strive to expand so that they absorb the large number of pupils into the mainstream tertiary education.

The Minister said this in Lusaka yesterday when he toured Lusaka Business and Technical College (LBTC).

Dr. Chituwo noted that there are so many basic and high schools under construction in the country but regretted that very little is happening at tertiary level.

Dr. Chituwo said his ministry will ensure that that money is made available for the expansion of such institutions.
He said government is pleased by the large number of graduates being offloaded into to the entrepreneurship sector to avert unemployment levels in the country.

Dr. Chituwo was accompanied to LBTC by his Deputy Chrispin Musosha and LBTC management Board Chairman George Silutongwe.

And Lusaka Business and Technical College Director Lawrence Zulu commended government for the support his institution is receiving.

Mr. Zulu disclosed then LBTC Management Board is pondering to transform the College into a Modern University College so that it can offer degree programmes to favorably compete in the Southern Region.

ZANIS

Don’t misinform the public, NCC urges media organisations

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Mrs Zaloumis

The National Constitution Conference (NCC), has urged media organization to desist from reporting on articles or clauses that have not yet been adopted or concluded by the NCC.

NCC Spokesperson Mwangala Zaloumis says reporting on such matters has a telling effect on the public as this compels them to start debating on issues that have not yet been adopted.

Ms. Zaloumis was reacting to an editorial report, carried by Yatsani Radio last week suggesting that the NCC secretariat had written to the station advising them to get clearance from NCC before broadcasting any stories from the Conference.

Ms Zaloumis said in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today that accurate and correct information when reporting about the proceedings of NCC is cardinal because it gives a fair and balanced discussion to the public.

She said reporters must develop a system of getting in touch with her office for correct information and any other clarification where they do not understand rather than write from their own imaginations to avoid misrepresentation of facts.

Ms Zaloumis advised journalists not to report about things they do not understand to avoid misinforming the public.

She said despite her office having briefings with the press every day only selected media organizations from both the print and electronic attend these meetings.

Meanwhile Ms Zaloumis says NCC has no specific preference of any media organization to cover the NCC deliberations but is just concerned with certain media institutions that are in a habit of publishing false information.

ZANIS

Headman, wife, daughter arrested for cannabis

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The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) in Mazabuka has arrested a village headman and his family in connection with the cultivation of 7 kilogrammes of cannabis.

The named villageman from Chief Hanjalika,his wife,and daughter are currently detained at Mazabuka Police station.

DEC Mazabuka Officer in charge, Patson Chiwala, could neither confirm nor deny the arrest of the traditional leader to ZANIS in Mazabuka.

But Magoye Member of Parliament, Ben Mweemba, who confirmed the arrest of the headman, told ZANIS in Mazabuka that people in his constituency are involved in the cultivation of cannabis because they want to raise funds to send their children to school.

He stated that high povery levels are forcing people, especially elderly men and women, to grow illicit drugs because they offer quick and good money.

Mr Mweemba has since urged government to devise a petition scheme for elderly people to deter them from engaging in the illegal cultivation of drugs.

He also suggested that government, through the Ministry of Community Development and Social Welfare, should provide monthly food rations to elderly people to save them from starving.

The MP also requested DEC to conduct sensitisation campaigns to educate people on the dangers of cultivating and trafficking in illict drugs.

People in Chief Hanjalika’s area in Mazabuka are notoriously known for cultivation of cannabis.

Last year in September, DEC officers in a morning seized 3,000 kilogrammes of cannabis and arrested ten farmers.

The seizure was the highest ever reported in the Southern Province.

ZANIS

Women advised on decent dressing

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A concerned citizen on the Copperbelt has called on the womenfolk to practice decent dressing as one of the measures to curb the escalating HIV and AIDS pandemic.

Isaac Chileshe observed that the moral dress code for the womenfolk should be enforced from their homes so that the indecency which was prevalent in dressing could be stopped.

Mr Chileshe told ZANIS in an interview that the men and women were made differently as their emotions were aroused differently and should appreciate their biological differences and live in harmony.

He stated that men were moved by what they see while women were moved by what they hear and the two play effectively on their emotions.

Mr Chileshe added that majority of women were marrying wrong men and even entered polygamous marriages because of men’s “sweet talk” and later discover that the talk and the practice were not in tandem.

He charged that women also knew the secret of wooing unsuspecting men into the unnecessary sexual traps through indecent exposure of some delicate parts of their bodies.

He said the decent dress code among the womenfolk would mitigate the escalating trend of the HIV and AIDS pandemic which was a menace to every sector of development.

Mr Chileshe added that parents had a pivotal role in changing the thinking of women in society because good values and morals started from home to influence society.

He challenged Church leaders as agents of change to help society because their voices were influential and authoritative.

Mr Chileshe also observed that culture has changed dramatically in the last 20 years, saying in the olden days, children were more receptive to the advice of elders even if they were not biological parents than now where modern communication systems, including television, were more parenting than the parents.

ZANIS

Livingstone business houses complain about ZAMNET services

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Some business houses in Livingstone have expressed dissatisfaction at ZAMNET Communication Systems’ inconsistency in providing internet services.

Hope Dot Com Internet Café Information Technology Officer, Obby Munyama, said internet service delivery by ZAMNET had been terrible in the past few months and had resulted in massive loss of customers to competitors.

Mr Munyama said business had gone down since internet services by ZAMNET became irregular for unknown reasons, and efforts to have the internet service provider provide a long term solution have proved futile.

A check by ZANIS this morning at the internet café found some customers being turned away as internet services were not available.

Mr Munyama said his employer was considering switching to another internet service provider as she suspected that ZAMNET had a serious problem which it had failed to disclose to its clients.

And Zambezi FM Radio Programmes Manager, Richard Ambali, also bemoaned the inconsistent manner in which ZAMNET was providing its internet services.

Mr Ambali said media institutions, like Zambezi FM Radio, were heavily dependent on speedy access to the internet to enable them prepare and disseminate local and international news to the public in a timely manner.

He said it was costly for his institution to use other internet service providers for temporary services and still maintain their monthly ZAMNET bills.

Mr Ambali called on ZAMNET to be innovative and give preferential treatment to institutions that need its internet services constantly.

Meanwhile, the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in Livingstone has experienced similar problems which have resulted in failure to submit diaries and news items on time.

Internet access at ZANIS Livingstone offices has been erratic and disrupted normal operations since the last quarter of 2009.

Efforts to get a comment from ZAMNET Communications Systems Business Development Manager, Majory Nalubamba, failed by press time as she was reportedly off duty.

ZANIS

Zambia to help Rwanda in identifying possible genocide suspects who may be living in Zambia

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Zambia and Rwanda have agreed to work together in identifying possible genocide suspects who may be living in Zambia as refugees so that they can be repatriated to Rwanda to undergo the due process of the law for their part in genocide which left over one million people dead in 1994.

The two countries have also agreed to revive the Joint Permanent Commission, JPC, which was signed in 1982, to serve as a platform for regular consultations and cooperation in various sectors.

This is part of the outcome of President Rupiah Banda’s bilateral talks he held with his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame in Kigali, Rwanda today.

In a joint press briefing with his Rwandan counterpart Louise Mushikiwabo at the end of the two leaders’ meeting held at the presidential office in the capital Kigali today, Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande said as a strong advocate of human rights and the rule of law, Zambia cannot allow any genocide suspect to take refuge on its soil.

Mr. Pande said the process of identifying genocide suspects will be carried out in close collaboration between the Ministries of Justice of Zambia and Rwanda.

He said the genocide that took place in Rwanda in 1994 in which over one million people were killed, was a sad event which Africa and humanity as a whole should never allow to happen again.

“We should all learn a lesson from what happened here and ensure it never happens again. The genocide is also a reminder that ethnic and tribal sentiments can have grave consequences on society,” said Mr. Pande.

The minister said Presidents Banda and Kagame also discussed various bilateral and regional issues including peace and security in the region, ahead of the forthcoming African Union, AU, summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at the end of this month.

On the Joint Permanent Commission, JPC, Mr. Pande said the two governments are in a hurry to have it operational and agreed that the first meeting should be held not later than June this year.

This will mark the beginning of regular contacts between Rwanda and Zambia to exchange views on various issues of mutual interest.

And Rwanda has paid tribute to Zambia for her support at both bilateral and regional levels.

Foreign Affairs Minister Louise Mushikiwabo, during a joint press briefing with Mr. Pande, said among other attributes, Zambia played a key role in Rwanda’s admission to the membership of the Commonwealth.

“We thank Zambia for her support to Rwanda in many areas. Among them is the fact that Zambia was instrumental in lobbying the international community to have Rwanda admitted to the Commonwealth for which we are most grateful,” said Ms Mushikiwabo.

She said Rwanda is eager to have the JPC revived to serve as a vehicle for deepening and broadening cooperation between the two countries.

Earlier, president Banda visited the Kigali Memorial Centre where the remains of quarter a million victims of the 1994 genocide, are buried.

Accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande and several Rwandan Cabinet Ministers, President Banda laid a wreath on one of the mass graves at the memorial centre in honour of the genocide victims.

The president was later taken on a conducted tour of the centre during which he was briefed on the events and factors which led to the 1994 genocide.

President Banda who arrived in Kigali yesterday for a two-day working visit, has since flown back home.

He was seen off at Kigali international airport by Rwandan Prime Minister Bernard Makuza, Zamba’s Deputy High Commissioner to Tanzania Patrick Ngoma and other Zambian and Rwandan government officials.

ZANIS

Zambia concerned about disaster in Haiti – RB

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President Rupiah Banda

President Rupiah Banda says Zambia is concerned about the earthquake that swept through Haiti last week and killed hundreds of people.President Banda told journalists at the Lusaka International Airport yesterday that Zambia was very concerned about what happened in Haiti.[quote]

He however said there was little that Zambia could do about the disaster that occurred in that country. “We are very concerned about what happened in Haiti. It is really terrible,” he said.

He was speaking to journalist this afternoon when he arrived from Rwanda where he had gone to hold talks with that country’s President, Paul Kagame.

President Banda said he traveled to Rwanda to confer with Mr. Kagame on the situation in the Great Lakes Region (GLR).

He said this was important because as Chairperson of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, he has to present a report to the African Union (AU) summit slated for the end of this month.

President Banda was accompanied to Rwanda by Foreign Affair Minister, Kabinga Pande, Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations, Dickson Jere and other senior government officials.

Vice President George Kunda, Lusaka Province Minister Charles Shawa, Home Affairs Minister Lameck Mangani, Energy Minister Kenneth Konga and other senior government officials were at hand to receive the President at the airport.

Others that welcomed the President Banda back home are service and defence chiefs.

President Banda’s plane touched down at the Lusaka International airport at 17:15 hours.

ZANIS

Response to Haiti Earthquake(Holycaust) article

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CNN

Firstly the Bible in Psalm 24:1 and I Corinthians 10:26 says, “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.”

As far as the earth is concerned, it belongs to God and that’s because He created it.

Then Psalm 115:16 says, “The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s; but the earth He has given to the children of men.”

In the beginning in Genesis 1:26, God says, “Let Us make man in our image, according to Our likeness: Let them have dominion (rule) over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

From this verse we can tell that God decided to give the management of the earth to man. We are to manage it for God. The authority to manage the earth was complete such that if man mismanages the earth he could lose it just like a CEO of a company managing a business on behalf of shareholders could lose the company through mismanagement.

When man sinned against God, he lost the power to rule the earth and the devil took over the earth as shown in Luke 4:5-6. The devil showed the kingdoms of the world to Jesus and said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomsoever I wish.” Jesus did not object to what the devil said to Him because He knew that Adam had delivered the earth to the devil at the fall.

After Adam and Eve disobeyed God, God never cursed man but the earth – Genesis 3:17. From that time the earth became sick and waits for its redemption – Romans 8:19-21. Even though God is the creator of the earth He has given the authority to rule it over to man. Our mismanagement of the earth can not be blamed on God. Our lives are tied to the earth.

In 2 Chronicles 7:14 God says, “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

God works in the earth in response to our prayers. He has limited himself as far as the earth is concerned unless we invite Him through prayer. We pray not because God does not know our needs but because He respects our choices and will want to get involved when we ask Him. James 4:2 says,”…yet you do not have because you ask not.”

In view of all that has been said, suffering will always be with us in the world and most of it will be self inflicted because we are not managing the earth wisely and others just because of nature. There’s a reason why God gave the children of Israel laws governing the use of land (Leviticus 25:3-4).

In regard to the Haiti earthquake, scientists had warned the Haitian officials two years ago that their country was ripe for an earthquake (ABC News), but of course the time was too short to do much about it.

I say this to point out the fact that with technology we have the ability to detect some natural occurrences and can prepare for them. God says, “My people perish from a lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6)

Geologists and seismologists agree earthquakes can be induced in five major ways: fluid injection into the Earth, fluid extraction from the Earth, mining or quarrying, nuclear testing and through the construction of dams and reservoirs (New Dawn Magazine).

With some of these perceived natural occurrences, could it be that we as humans are not managing the earth properly and when they occur we put the blame on God? Have we forgotten about Cause and Effect?

The last thing is that there are so many things that we won’t find answers to. For instance we might not know why good people, even Christians suffer.

Bishop Jeston & Rev. Charity Katebe
Senior Pastors
www.royalglobalchurch.org

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