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Eagles, Zambia draw, as NFF denies injury threat to team

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THE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has denied reports that some players in the national team were down with injuries, just as the Super Eagles were held to a goalless by their Zambian counterparts yesterday in an international friendly match at the ABSA Sharks Stadium in Durban, South Africa.

The match was Nigeria’s final friendly game before the beginning of the Angola 2010 African Nations Cup in which the Super Eagles will battle with Egypt, Mozambique and Benin Republic in the group stage of the competition.

The detail of the game was not made available yesterday.

Both teams have been camping in South Africa preparatory to the three-week, 16-nation championship, which begins across Angola on Sunday.

After the game, the NFF disclosed that it had concluded arrangements for a charter flight to take the contingent from Durban tomorrow to Luanda, the capital of Angola ahead the beginning of hostilities in the Southern African country.

According to a release by the NFF, the Federation’s President, Sani Lulu Abdullahi, arrived in the Super Eagles’ final training camp in Durban yesterday morning and immediately set about giving words of encouragement to the players.

The NFF boss had travelled overnight from Lagos to Johannesburg and connected the early morning flight from Johannesburg to Durban, arriving at the Riverside Hotel and Spa just after breakfast, the NFF said.

“I am happy to be here with you. I bring words of encouragement and motivation from the Federal Government. You know how passionate our people are about the game of football; they are all expectant as we prepare to storm Angola.

“The Cup of Nations is the first of two major championships that you will be taking part in this year and Nigerians are anxious that we perform very well in Angola so that we can have great confidence going to the World Cup finals in June”, Lulu told the players as he sat down with them at the Riverside Hotel and Spa.

Meanwhile, the Super Eagles Team Secretary, Enebi Achor, has refuted the alleged injury crisis in the team as reported by a section of the Nigerian press.

“There are no injuries in the camp. Please tell Nigerians not to listen to rumours and speculations of injuries and whatever is being blared by a section of the media. All the players are okay and looking forward to the Cup of Nations,” Achor said.

The match against the Chipolopolo of Zambia was Nigeria’s second game at the ABSA Sharks Stadium in Durban. The team had on Sunday defeated a South African league club, Thanda Zulu Royal, 1-0.

[ngrguardiannews]

Kaunda enunciates route of Indian investment

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At a time when India is trying to reclaim its sphere of influence in Africa, Zambia’s First President Kenneth Kaunda on Thursday said Indian investments in his country should be aimed at value addition.

Welcoming Indian investments in Zambia, the founding father of this southern African nation said Indian investors should work in partnership with Zambian entrepreneurs to engage in value addition by processing the raw materials locally.

Mr. Kaunda drew the broad parameters for the Indian engagement in Zambia when Vice-President Hamid Ansari called on him at his Kabulonga office here.

This assertion by KK, as Mr. Kaunda is popularly referred to countrywide, comes at a time when he is under attack for dabbling in the country’s politics and trying to influence policies.

Criticism

Meeting Mr. Ansari in the middle of a raging controversy over his criticism of a former Defence Minister, Mr. Kaunda side-stepped attempts by the local media to get him to speak on the issue after the Vice-President’s entourage left the premises. He has been accused of being a “tension-building catalyst” and a “divisive failure” instead of emulating the likes of late Julius Nyerere of Tanzania and Nelson Mandela of South Africa, who “remained stabilising factors in their countries post-retirement.”

Belying his 85 years but for the hint of a stoop and a shuffle in his gait, Mr. Kaunda remains a presence in Zambia 18 years after he signed out of active politics though people no longer chant ‘God in heaven; on earth, Kaunda.’ Still, he is referred to as the First President and his office has been institutionalised as the ‘Office of the First President.’

A familiar figure in India along with the African pantheon of Nyerere, Mr. Mandela and Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Mr. Kaunda is heralded not just for leading Zambia to independence but also uniting the country’s 73 tribes under the slogan on ‘One Zambia, One Nation.’

Hence, there is considerable disquiet among the commoners over the controversy with his critics also feeling that he should be left alone in his “sunset years; however wrong he may be.”

“Spare him and he is our most cherished asset left” is one of the oft-heard refrains whenever the issue is discussed while the more critical feel he should just confine himself to work on the HIV/AIDS front. This was another issue that came up during his meeting with Mr. Ansari.

Seeks India’s help

Stating that southern Africa was bearing the heaviest brunt of the AIDS pandemic, he appealed for Indian assistance in fighting the disease that claimed one of his sons.

But for this appeal and the contours for Indian investment, Mr. Kaunda chose to walk down nostalgia lane with Mr. Ansari as both recalled the common spiritual father the two nations had in Mahatma Gandhi.

[The Hindu]

Zambia-South Korea venue Set

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The venue of Saturdays Zambia-South Korea friendly game in Johannesburg has been confirmed.

The match will be played at Rand Stadium and kickoff will be at 16:30.
South Korea arrived in South Africa on Tuesday for their Africa training camp.

This will be Zambia’s final friendly match before they leave for Luanda on Sunday morning ahead of next Wednesday opening Group D match against Tunisia in Lubango.

Zambia has already played two friendly matches in South Africa winning 1-0 against Mozambique on December 28 in Johannesburg and drawing 0-0 on January 6 against Nigeria in Durban.

Meanwhile, other Group D teams are also wrapping up their preparations for their Africa Cup outings this weekend.

Tunisia host Gambia on Saturday while Cameroon play their training camp hosts Kenya in Nairobi also on the same day.

Gabon meanwhile, beat Mozambique 2-0 in Bloemfontein this past Tuesday.

Zambia to build new hydro power plant

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Zambia plans to start building a major $1.5 billion power plant next year, which is expected to boost generation capacity by 600 megawatts (MW) when completed in 2017, a senior energy industry official said on Thursday.

Increased investment opportunities in mining, its economic lifeblood, have raised Zambia’s power demand, leading to an electricity deficit which authorities want to overcome by constructing new generation plants.

Israel Phiri, who heads a department charged with promoting private power investment in Zambia, said the government would engage the private sector to help build the Kafue Gorge Lower hydro power project in a two-stage tender process.

“This process is expected to last the whole of 2010 and if you want to talk about actual construction starting on site we are looking at 2011 and commissioning in 2017,” Phiri said.

The tender aimed to find a potential developer and allow time for selected equity partners to raise funds for the project, to be financed through debt and equity.

Phiri said the government would put up $250 million for the project, with the private sector injecting a similar amount.

“It will be a mix of capital, the government felt that if it is a 100 percent independent power producer, then the large equity investment would restrict the pool of suitable bidders,” Phiri said.

Phiri said the government participation would give confidence to the private sector and attract equity from a number of partners including Western donors, development banks and export and import banks.

“Once that equity is in place the project company itself will then borrow the rest of the money, which is about $1 billion from the open market,” Phiri said.

Phiri said the World Bank’s lending arm, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the project advisors, had recommended the construction of a 600 MW plant and a reserve bay.

“The IFC recommended that we have a 150 MW bay for future installation when the market has developed to levels where we require the extra 150 MW,” he said.

Zambia generates 1,400 MW of electricity and consumes about 800 MW but demand rises to 1,500 MW at peak times.
[Reuters]

Ansari calls on KK

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Indian VP Ansari calls on Zambian Prez Kenneth Kaunda
Indian VP Ansari calls on First Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda

Indian Vice President Hamid Ansari on Thursday met veteran Zambian leader Kenneth Kaunda, who sought India’s help in combating the HIV/AIDS menace in Africa.

Zambia’s first President Kaunda, who drew inspiration from Indian freedom struggle and particularly Mahatma Gandhi praised Indian democracy as a great success and recalled his association with India fondly. The 86-year-old Zambian leader said, Southern Africa is bearing the heaviest brunt as a result of the AIDS pandemic and India has made significant advances in drugs, which can fight the pandemic effectively and in a cost-effective manner.

Over 22 million people are inflicted with the killer virus in sub-Saharan Africa. Promising all help, Mr Ansari described Kaunda as a great friend of India and emphasised the commonality of approach of both the nations on a number of issues.

During the meeting with Mr Ansari, who is in Lusaka on a three-day official visit, Kaunda fondly remembered former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi as a great human being. Kaunda said he greatly valued her contribution and advice on many intricate issues that affected humanity, including the question of apartheid in South Africa.

Acknowledging that Zambia has several Indian investments, which are contributing to the country’s effort to attain sustainable economic and social development, the African veteran said, Indian investors should work with Zambian entrepreneurs to engage in value addition by processing the raw materials available in the continent. Kaunda also referred to the role played by the two countries in the NAM, Commonwealth, United Nations and Group of 77.

[All India Radio]

Sinazongwe man killed over girl friend

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A 28 year-old-man has been killed over a girl friend in Sinazongwe district in Southern Province.

Both Police sources and Sinazongwe Movement for Mult-party Democracy Chairperson Foster Syapwaya confirmed the development to ZANIS that Exile Ngilazi of no fixed residential area died on Monday after a fight with his foes in Sinazeze area on Sunday.

Sinazeze police have since apprehended one suspect who wanted to escape to Lusaka to assist with investigations.

The police source named the alleged killer as Ernest Siankabe 18 of Sinankumbi Village in Senior Chief Mweemba area.

Mr Syapwaya explained that deceased is alleged to have fought with the alleged youths who sell Musanza Opaque beer from Choma.

He said the friends to Ngilizi were surprised to find out that he had a swollen face, looking dirty,and suspected that he could have taken excess of popular Zambian beer among youths called Tujilijili which is packed in small sachets.

The MMD Chairperson disclosed that Ngilizi who was muscular failed to explain to his friends that he had a fight and only request them to pour water on him.

He said before his friends could pour water on him he started purging and entered into the toiled where his friends found him unconscious.

Mr Syapwaya said he was rushed to Sinazeze clinic where he died upon his arrival.

He said Police picked up the girl friend who revealed that he had a fight with his rivals from Musanza beer which led to his untimely death.

Sinazongwe police have since launched a man hunt to arrest the other suspects who are on the run.

ZANIS

Jiangxi to construct MFEZ road network

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Chinese construction company China Jiangxi, which is in a joint venture with BICON Zambia Limited, has been awarded a contract to design and construct roads in the Lusaka south multi-facility economic zone (MFEZ) at a cost of K47 billion.

The contract involves construction of the 2.4km Chifwema Road, to connect the MFEZ to the town centre, and a 50km internal road network in the zone.

Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA), through a central tender committee meeting held on December 21 last year, gave China Jiangxi Corporation for International Economic and Technical Cooperation, in association with BICON Zambia Limited, to undertake the project.

Zambia Development Agency public relations and communications manager, Margaret Chimanse said China Jiangxi and BICON Zambia were preparing to start construction work by January 11.

Ms Chimanse, in response to a Press query, said the project was expected to be completed within a year.
Chifwema Road is one of the main access roads that will connect the Lusaka South MFEZ to the Leopards Hill Road.
Other access roads, according to the MFEZ master plan, would connect to Mosi-oa-Tunya and Kafue roads, and the Lusaka National Park.

The Lusaka South MFEZ, a 2,100-hectare area, will house high-tech industries, commercial, residential, research and development facilities, among other infrastructure.
On the Lumwana MFEZ, Ms Chimanse said a statutory instrument was expected to be signed any time soon for work to begin.
The master plan for the Lusaka East MFEZ is also being reviewed and work will start once all logistics are finalised, she said.
[Times of Zambia]

Television Content in Zambia

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Chalala at sunrise
Dirt Roads of Chalala , Lusaka at sunrise

By Wesley Ngwenya
Its 6am and you are up getting ready for a workday. You turn your television set on to ZNBC our national channel and you hear an annoying buzz. Oh forget it, its too early for them to open so you try our private television station MUVI TV. Here you find its some poor quality music videos. Because you cannot stand the presentation you resort to the old fashioned way of starting your mornings-radio.

I am actually shocked at how television is so slow and low in this country. The standards of the content on our television stations are way below average. Content is key to drawing advertisers. The programming on most of the stations is so poor and lacks planning. There is still too much foreign content. MUVI Television has done extremely well with their local dramas such as Banja and Brothers. ZNBC is struggling with its sole local drama Kabanana.

I find it interesting that ZNBC does not open its station until 10am. Why? Is it that there are no employees willing to wake up that early? Is it that there is not enough advertising revenue in the morning? Or is it that they simply have no ideas what to broadcast during those hours? MUVI TV has morning shows that are less structured and seem not to have a target audience in mind. They are branded Breakfast with the boys or breakfast with the girls but that does not mean much to the viewer who wants to watch good TV in the morning. They are less informative and more of the same things different days. They are not businesslike but more komboni-like.

Television stations in Zambia are missing out on morning revenue. I personally think that there are many business houses in this country who are willing to partner or advertise in the mornings provided there is a forum for it. Morning times should be busy times. We need a station that will come up with quality content on issues affecting the daily mornings of Zambians. Traffic, the weather, school openings, events, product launches, church meetings, exchange rates, stocks, the list is endless. Such content will attract big advertisers such as banks and small advertisers such as a local community school.

Evening television is also the same old fashioned soaps or talk shows. Now, I am not against these shows not because I naturally cannot stand them but we need something new. If television stations in Zambia can think a little deeper, there is no doubt that they can come up with great programming that will carter for various demographics. Little is taken into consideration about the viewer’s income, profession, social habits, etc when designing a program. Every viewer seems to be put in one big basket.

Perhaps the other one concern on Zambian television is the quality of our presenters. Our presenters are often shallow, not articulate and poorly dressed. Not only do they lack the education, expertise and experience but don’t seem to have the capacity to be resourceful, adventurous and spontaneous. I don’t know how many times I have listened to too many lies and inaccurate information from our presenters. They never seem to put time and effort to check and recheck their facts. Even those doing interviews cannot seem to have the ability to ask reasonable questions and interact professionally with their guests.

Perhaps one way of having quality content on our stations is by encouraging local productions to come up with concepts and produce content so that TV stations can buy them. We need one good reality show, one good business show, one good talk show with an audience and one good sports show. This will get me to start watching Zambian TV again.

Respect my father’s contributions-Panji

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Dr Kenneth kaunda's son Panji .

PANJI Kaunda, the first born son of first Republican president Kenneth Kaunda, has urged politicians to respect the first president for the contribution he has made to the development of Zambia.

Colonel Kaunda told the Times in Chipata on Monday that the family of Dr Kaunda was not happy with the outbursts from some politicians who were allegedly talking ill of his father.

“As a family of Dr Kaunda, we are surprised by remarks from sections of politicians against my father. I have noticed with sadness that politicians have continued to issue careless and irresponsible statements to the media against my father,” Col Kaunda said.

He said the family of Dr Kaunda was disturbed at the moment in view of the outbursts being directed at his father.

He said some politicians should not forget that Dr Kaunda educated them when he was the president through free education, adding that Zambians should recognise his contribution to national development.
“The works and contributions that our old man made to the country should not be forgotten and should be recognised by Zambians.

‘‘We as children are not happy with politicians saying bad words against my father,” Col Kaunda said.[quote]
He said Dr Kaunda was a father to most of the current crop of politicians while others were his grandchildren who should be respecting him all the time.

“I am sure these people attacking my father have also their fathers who need respect from them. My father needs to be respected just as their fathers need to be respected,” Col Kaunda said.

He said Dr Kaunda had a right to comment on issues affecting the country because he was the father of the nation.

Col Kaunda asked veteran politician Malimba Masheke to respect Dr Kaunda and his family.
The former Republican president was recently a victim of a media bashing from former Defence minister George Mpombo, Patriotic Front president Michael Sata, secretary general Wynter Kabimba and former prime minister Malimba Masheke, who accused him of siding with President Banda.

Those attacking Dr Kaunda are reported to have warned him about further attacks if he continued with his perceived biased political stance.

MMD drops Namulambe from NEC

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MMD national secretary Katele Kalumba

THE MMD has suspended Mpongwe Member of Parliament (MP) Gabriel Namulambe from his position as national executive committee (NEC) trustee following the tribal remarks against party President Rupiah Banda.

And the MMD has with immediate effect re-instated the dissolved Western provincial executive committee (PEC) Simasiku Namakando-led leadership.MMD national secretary Katele Kalumba said at a Press briefing in Lusaka yesterday Mr Namulambe’s tribal utterances were injurious and in total contradiction to article 2 (e) of the party constitution.

“Following utterances that have caused deep injury to the standing of the party in significant segments of the Copperbelt society and bordering on appeals to divisive tribal sentiments in total contradiction to article 2 (e) of the MMD party constitution, the secretariat is suspending Honourable Gabriel Namulambe from his position as NEC trustee,” he said.

Dr Kalumba said Mr Namulambe’s suspension would await a determination by the NEC for a further course of action.
He said Mr Namulambe was co-opted in good faith by the NEC not too long ago to occupy the position which had been vacant for some time.

Mr Namulambe’s suspension from NEC comes four days after President Banda fired him from the position of Science, Technology and Vocational Training minister.

When contacted, Mr Namulambe said he had no comment on his suspension but it was all right.
The former minister recently said Lambas were hurt and frustrated by President Banda not following the legacy of late head of State Levy Mwanawasa.

On Mr Namakando and three others, Dr Kalumba said the re-instating of the Namakando executive was a result of President Banda’s responsible intervention and the successful legal defence by the party as well as the remorse shown by the four party leaders.Dr Kalumba called upon the Western Province party organs to recognise the old executive as legitimate authority.

He said the interim leadership who occupied the positions of the four PEC positions had been written to and the party was indebted to them for steering the party during the period of extreme test and turbulence in the MMD in Western Province. Dr Kalumba said Mr Namakando had been advised to be inclusive and allow the party to grow even after the political challenge that it had faced.

And Mr Namakando, who said he was not aware of his re-instatement, thanked President Banda and the entire MMD leadership for the decision they had taken of restoring his leadership.

Dr Kalumba said the MMD party leadership had chosen the path of discipline, accountable and responsible leadership to address the challenges it faced as the country moved towards the 2011 elections.Dr Kalumba said the MMD had endorsed the defection of former Gender minister Patricia Mulasikwanda and Bert Mushala of North-Western Province and urged MMD members to consider the two officials as being deleted from the party.

He said the secretariat had lifted the suspension of MMD Chipata District information and publicity secretary Sinoya Mwale and advised him to respect party hierarchy in public utterances in future.Dr Kalumba said the secretariat had suspended acting North-Western Province chairperson James Katoka pending determination of action by the party leadership.

[Times of Zambia]

LT Update-Technical problems

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Our Site has been experiencing technical problems for the last two days and our technicians have identified the cause. They are currently fixing the problems and during this time you may experience high latency when loading the web site in some places.

We apologise for the inconvenience caused and we shall provide a further update.

LT Team

President Banda calls on Zambians to register as voters

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President Rupiah Banda has urged all eligible Zambians to register as voters ahead of the 2011 general elections.

The President has also asked opposition leaders to ensure that their supporters register as voters in the run-up to next year’s tripartite elections.

Mr. Banda was speaking at State House in Lusaka when he swore in former High Court Judge, Essau Chulu, as Commissioner of the Electoral Commission of Zambia.

The President said he is confident that Judge Chulu will add value to the electoral process.

And speaking when he swore in Zambia’s new Ambassador to Sweden, Anne Mutambo, President Banda urged the new envoy to strengthen co-operation between the two countries.

Mr. Banda said this is because Sweden is an important coorperating Partner, which continues to support Zambia’s development programmes.

Mrs. Mutambo was until her appointment Director of International Coorperation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

ZNBC

SESTUZ cry foul over delayed December 2009 salaries

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The Secondary School Teachers’ Union of Zambia (SESTUZ) has expressed concern and disappointment over the delay in the payment of December 2009 salaries and other related allowances to its members.

SESTUZ Deputy General Secretary Emmanuel Zulu says his members have gone through hard times during the festive period because they had no money.

Mr. Zulu said in a statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday that it was discouraging to wish teachers a happy festive season when they did not have money.[quote]

“Teachers have passed through the festive period of Christmas and New Year on very empty stomachs considering that their meager pay ran out many weeks ago and wishing them a merry a Christmas and a happy New Year has being a mockery”, he said.

He said teachers, who stay in rented houses, are already being harassed by their landlords because they have not yet paid their rentals.

Mr. Zulu said the absence of any timely explanation for the delay by government makes teachers feel extremely neglected.

He urged government to expedite the payment of salaries and related allowances to all teachers in order to avoid poor preparations for the first term of the 2010 school calendar.

ZANIS

Police in Mazabuka pick up 5 PF officials

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Police in Mazabuka have picked up five senior PF officials in connection with the harrasment of Journalist at Mazabuka community radio station last weekend.

The five include Provincial PF youth chairman, Brave Mweetwa, District chairperson, Nelson Simbule and losing Mazabuka Central Parliamentary candidate, Donald Zulu.

Lawyer representing the five, Joseph Akafumba confirmed the development to ZANIS in Mazabuka.

Meanwhile, the Media Liason committee has commended President Rupiah Banda for condenming violence against journalists.

Committee Chairman, Henry Kabwe, says the media bodies will not tolerate any violence against Journalists.

[ZNBC]

ECZ ready to conduct comprehensive voter registration

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Electoral Commission of Zambia chairperson Florence Mumba

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) says it has the capacity to conduct a comprehensive voter registration exercise in good time for the 2011 tripartite elections.

Chairperson, Florence Mumba, says the next voter registration will be announced as soon as logistics are put in place.

Justice Mumba says the commission is currently making final touches before announcing the programme for the voter registration exercise.

She told ZNBC in an interview that additional staff will be employed on temporary basis to beef up the country wide exercise.

Justice Mumba also said the ECZ has received overwhelming cooperation on the matter from political parties and the civil society.

And President Rupiah Banda has urged all eligible Zambians to register as voters ahead of the 2011 general elections.

The President has also asked opposition leaders to ensure that their supporters register as voters in the run-up to next year’s tripartite elections.

Mr. Banda was speaking at State House in Lusaka when he swore in former High Court Judge, Essau Chulu, as Commissioner of the Electoral Commission of Zambia.

The President said he is confident that Judge Chulu will add value to the electoral process.

And speaking when he swore in Zambia’s new Ambassador to Sweden, Anne Mutambo, President Banda urged the new envoy to strengthen co-operation between the two countries.

Mr. Banda said this is because Sweden is an important coorperating Partner, which continues to support Zambia’s development programmes.

Mrs. Mutambo was until her appointment Director of International Coorperation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

[ZNBC]

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