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Government sets up Media Support fund

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Information and broadcasting Service Permanent Secretary Ngosa Chisupa
Information and broadcasting Service Permanent Secretary Ngosa Chisupa

Information and broadcasting Service Permanent Secretary Ngosa Chisupa says his ministry has set up a Media Institutions Support Fund (M.I.S.F) to help in addressing operational challenges that media institutions in the country were facing.

Speaking on his familiarisation tour of media houses in Ndola , today, Mr. Ngosa Chisupa said the Fund would only be given media houses with identified needs.

Mr. Chisupa added that facility was open to both private and public media institutions, countrywide.

The Permanent Secretary also called for enhanced developmental reporting for the citizenry to appreciate what government was doing.

He said it was important for media personnel to have capacity in various areas of specialized reporting like census which was underway this year, elections reporting,climate change, the environment, politics, tourism and human interests stories.

Mr. Chisupa urged the media fraternity in the country to be more innovative in attracting more resources.

Except for the three daily newspapers Post, Times of Zambia and the Zambia Daily newspapers Limited , respectively, the country has seen a number of weekly tabloids which have gone into oblivion due to the operational costs.

Howver, the country has also a notable increase in the number of community , television and web site news papers in this of Information Communications and Telecommunications (ICT) era.

Meanwhile, Mr. Ngosa says he is quite impressed and happy with Times Print-Pak’s gender balance.

Speaking on his familiarisation tour of media houses in Ndola , today, Mr. Ngosa Chisupa says he was quite impressed with the gender balance taking place at one of the country’s oldest newpaper printing company.

He said it was also gratifying to note that the Deputy Editor in Chief was a woman so that even at top management level the issues of gender were taken on board.

This is on of the first tours undertaken by Mr. Chisupa as new Information Permanent Secretary a position he took over from Mr Timothy Nyirenda who has since retired.

And Times of Zambia Managing Director John Phiri said the equipment that was currently printing the newspaper was old and could breakdown any time as it was acquired 27 years ago.

He said the age of the printing machine has led to poor quality of the print competing with other better printed materials on the market.

He said the Company was in the process of acquiring a new equipment from Taiwan and an initial deposit has already be made to start the process.

He said distribution was also another challenge that his Company was grappling with because even though the Company had a good product but it was not reaching the intended target on time.

ZANIS

China rescues bankrupt Zambian copper mines

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China’s intervention has rescued several Zambian copper mines out of bankruptcy and helped create some 2,000 jobs, most of which were lost when copper prices slid over the biting effects of the global financial crisis, visiting Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming said.

The Chinese Minister said most of the copper mines operated by private entities in Zambia collapsed in the face of the global financial crisis, which ignited an economic recession across the globe, leading most of the private copper mines in Zambia to shut down.

Several Zambia copper-producing firms were forced to retrench more than 5,000 workers after the price of the commodity fell to historically lower levels.

The price of copper dropped to a 22-year low at the London Metal Exchange in 2009, forcing most firms in Zambia to curb production levels.

‘Zambia’s privately-run copper mines have closed down due to the economic crisis, only the one operated by China is still operating,’ Minister Chen told a news conference in Addis Ababa, Monday.

Zambian Mines Minister Maxwell Mwale announced late in 2009, the country had embarked on the process of selling several copper mines to enable some of the ones which could resume production to do so.

Chinese officials said the Zambian President Rupiah Banda also formally asked China to facilitate its companies to take stakes in the bankrupt copper mines in the face of the global financial crisis.

The Chinese Minister, who addressed journalists on the positive role that China’s investment in Africa’s mineral-rich countries had achieved, also dismissed suggestions that China was a neo-colonialist.

The Minister is visiting Africa and Middle East.

In his five-nation tour, covering Ethiopia, Mozambique, Tanzania, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, the Chinese official is expected to explore more constructive ways in which China can engage with the developing countries in implementing China’s development agenda.

Addis Ababa – Pana 13/01/2010

[Afrique en ligne]

Provincial Education Officer bemoans limited school infrastructure

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Livingstone, Jan 12, Provincial Education Officer, Festus Mungo has said there is need to build more schools in Southern Province in order to cater for the growing enrollment numbers.

Mr. Mungo said Southern Province, Lusaka and Copperbelt Provinces have continued to capture a huge number of new school entrants as compared to other provinces in the country.
He said inadequate school infrastructure has resulted into limited places in Grades 8 and 10.

Mr. Mungo further said his office was keen on improving educational standards in the province but bemoaned limited school infrastructure in the province.

He however pointed out that programmes are underway to have more schools constructed in the province.
“My office will soon be going round to monitor school construction projects that are currently taking place all over the province,” he said.

And Mr. Mungo has observed that the introduction of High Schools has in some way contributed to limited Grade Eight places in schools.

He said the fact that High Schools only take up Grade Ten pupils has reduced chances for Grade Eight pupils to find school places in areas where basic and secondary schools are non existent.

Fuel prices go up

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THE Energy Regulation Board(ERB) has increased the pump price of fuel and other petroleum products by 15 per cent with immediate effect.Acting ERB executive Director Joshua Malupenga said the excise duty on diesel had also been revised upwardly.

Mr Malupenga said the move followed the board’s decision to increase the prices of diesel, petrol and kerosene by 15 per cent with effect from midnight last night. “The increase has mainly been necessitated by a rise in prices of crude oil from US$40 per barrel in early 2009 to the current price of about $82 per barrel.

“Consequently the cost of a 90,000-tonne cargo has increased from US$40 million in February/March 2009 to $70 million in December 2009,” said Mr Malupenga. He said, the excise duty on diesel had been adjusted from seven per cent to 10 percent with effect from January 1, 2010. The new Tazama pumping tariff of $53.52 per tonne approved by the board last month had been applied as opposed to the previous rate of $39 per tonne.

Mr Malupenga said the new prices were necessary to ensure that the product from the 90,000 tonne Iron Monger Cargo that docked at the port of Dar- es-Salaam in Tanzania in December, was sold at an appropriate rate for sustainable supply. In Lusaka, the new pump prices would be K6, 691 for petrol, K6,300 for diesel and K4,409 kerosene while, in Kasama the new prices are K7,508 petrol, K7,119 for diesel and K5,114 kerosene.

In Livingstone petrol will now cost K7, 148, diesel K6, 757 and kerosene K4, 804 while, in Chipata petrol will be K7, 347, diesel K6, 958 and kerosene K4,976 and in Solwezi petrol will be K6,943, diesel K6,552 and kerosene K4,314. The new price of petrol in Kabwe is K6, 661, diesel (K6, 270) and kerosene (K4, 384) while in Mansa petrol will cost K7, 370, diesel K6, 981 and kerosene K4, 996 and in Mongu petrol will cost K7,455, diesel K7,066 and kerosene K5,069. For Ndola petrol will cost K6,579, diesel K6,188 and kerosene K4,314.

Mr Malupenga said: “It should be noted that petroleum product prices were last adjusted in December 2008. The prices were largely kept stable from 2008 to date through government subsidies meant to cushion customers.”

He said that in view of the changes, retailers were expected to issue receipts for all sales made, while customers were advised to demand and keep receipts that clearly showed the name of the service stations and other purchasing details. Mr Malupenga said the record was important for future reference in case of any dispute or complaints of overpricing.

[Times of Zambia]

Mpombo is a non-issue, says Katele

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MMD national secretary Katele Kalumba has described former Defence minister George Mpombo as a non-issue whom the party should not waste time debating on and directed all party leaders to leave the matter to the secretariat.

“Let other leaders leave the issue of Mr Mpombo to me as national secretary, I will deal with him at an appropriate time,” Dr Kalumba said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday.

He said the Kafulafuta MMD Member of Parliament (MP) had issues, which he was supposed to explain to the country, and should not have been allowed to even start verbal attacks on leaders like President Rupiah Banda.

Dr Kalumba, who is MMD Chiengi Member of Parliament, said Mr Mpombo was an MMD national executive committee (NEC) member apart from being a cabinet minister but had not fully told the country why he resigned from both positions and yet had continued talking about party matters.[quote]

He said it was wrong for any MMD official to talk about what the party would do to people like Mr Mpombo at the national convention saying it was such talk which was building Mr Mpombo into a champion when he was not and directed all party functionaries to stop talking about the former minister.

On former Finance and National Planning minister, Ng’andu Magande Dr Kalumba said as national secretary, he had no problem with him.

“I have no problem with Mr Magande. He has not done anything wrong. We should not create a crisis out of nothing,” he said.

[Times of Zambia]

Abolish grade 7 cut off point system quickly

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THE Zambia National Education Coalition (ZANEC) has called for quick implementation of the abolition of the grade seven cut off point system because it is hindering the progression of more pupils to grade eight.ZANEC chairperson Barbara Chilangwa said the increase in the number of facilities in the education sector would help avert the high number of grade seven school drop outs in Zambia.

Mrs Chilangwa said at a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday that the cut off point system had continued to hinder pupils’ progression into grade eight despite Government’s promise to abolish the system. She said 29 per cent of pupils who had dropped out of school this year, was too significant and would negatively affect Zambia’s chances of attaining basic education for all by 2015, saying meeting the goal called for more commitment from the Government.

“I am concerned that in the year 2010 we can still have 87,610 pupils dropping out of the school system at grade seven because they were not selected to grade eight, we only have five years to go and still 29 per cent of our children can not progress to the next stage due to lack of classroom space,” she said.

She said the Ministry of Education had taken too long to complete the implementation of its 1996 policy document, which clearly stated that the ministry intended to upgrade primary schools to complete basic schools, which would offer basic education from grade one to nine.

She said infrastructure development programmes needed to be accelerated to meet the classroom requirements at upper basic level.
A detailed analysis of the grade eight-progression rates between 2004 and 2009 showed that the infrastructure development programme which the ministry had been implementing over the last two years, was just beginning to make an impact.

She commended Luapula and North-Western provinces for recording a 100 per cent progression to grade eight, but said the two provinces had recorded the poorest results at grade 12 over the years saying there was need to target them specifically so that the results could at least be balanced.

[Times of Zambia]

Zambia’s leather exports triple

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ZAMBIA’S leather exports have grown three-fold to US$10 million over the last few years, Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) director of export promotion and market development, Glyne Michelo has said. And Western Province Permanent Secretary Ikanuke Noyoo said the leather industry was faced with a number of challenges including inadequate expertise in leather processing and inferior technology.

Mr Michelo said in Lusaka yesterday the country’s leather exports had grown to $10 million in 2008 from a total of $3.5 million in 2003.
He said the major products exported from leather included crocodile skins, wet blue leather, crust and finished products such as footwear.

Key export markets for leather products included South Africa, Singapore, Democratic Republic of Congo, Japan, Hong Kong, Malawi and the United Kingdom. “You may also be aware that Zambia is currently producing soccer balls under the Alive and Kicking Project being undertaken in the country.

“I am reliably informed that the quality of the Zambian soccer balls is very competitive in this region, perhaps by the next World Cup, we can supply FIFA with balls made in Zambia,” Mr Michelo said at a leather sensitisation workshop hosted by ZDA.

On September 24, 2009, ZDA signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Ethiopia with the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute known as COMESA LLPI to facilitate cooperation between the two organisations in the development of the leather industry in Zambia and the region.

Mr Michelo said ZDA organised the workshop to ensure that players in the industry were aware of the implementation framework available through the COMESA LLPI. The meeting was organised to engage the sector players and other stakeholders in the formulation of an implementation plan to ensure that the MOU achieved the set objectives.

At the same workshop, Mr Noyoo said inadequate supply of affordable capital to venture into production of finished goods had remained a challenge in the industry. Mr Noyoo, who led the delegation which went to sign the MOU in Ethiopia, said there was need for Zambian leather producers to learn lessons from their counterparts in Ethiopia.

Some of the lessons the delegation learnt while in Ethiopia included effective training of young people, use of goat skins, work culture, effective effluent disposal and encouraging foreign investors to produce finished goods.

Mr Noyoo said the Zambian leather industry would benefit from the exchange of experts and technology as well as participation in each other’s exhibitions and shows to share information.

[Times of Zambia]

MISA condemns police for locking out journalists at the airport

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Journalists assigned to cover the departure of president Rupiah Banda to Angola at Lusaka International Airport were yesterday blocked by police officers who claimed that they were instructed to keep away the media because the departure was private. Above, police officers unlock a gate to let the journalists in after senior State House officials intervened
Journalists assigned to cover the departure of president Rupiah Banda to Angola at Lusaka International Airport were yesterday blocked by police officers who claimed that they were instructed to keep away the media because the departure was private. Above, police officers unlock a gate to let the journalists in after senior State House officials intervened

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) has condemned the move by police officers of barring journalists from covering President Rupiah Banda’s departure to Angola at Lusaka International Airport on Sunday.

MISA Chairperson Henry Kabwe said it is sad that the harassment of the media has continued.

Mr. Kabwe said it was important for the police to know that journalists are there only to inform the public on what is taking place in the country at any particular time.

He explained that the presence of the media at the International Airport was to let the public know what the President was thinking on matters affecting the country.

He said blocking journalists from covering the President at the airport or any other event results in blocking the public from knowing what is happening in the country.

Mr. Kabwe observed that there was need for the media to sensitize the police on the importance of the presence of journalists at any event.

He called on the police to explain why they locked out journalists from covering the departure of the President at the airport.

Journalists were on Sunday blocked by police from covering President Banda at Lusaka International Airport when he was leaving for Angola and were only allowed later.

ZANIS/

PACRO to streamline issuance of business licenses – Banda

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The Patents and Companies Registration Office (PACRO) has disclosed that government has embarked on a national wide programme to streamline business licenses to business organizations that do not comply with the outlined regulations.

PACRO Senior Inspector of Companies Wilson Banda said it is sad that most business houses in the country do not submit their annual returns including relevant statutory fees on time, a situation he said has made it difficult for the organization to ascertain their existence.

Mr. Banda said this in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday

He has meanwhile clarified that the basis behind annual returns is not the revenue collected, but rather the issue of compliance as provided for in section 184 of the Companies Act Cap 388 of the Laws of Zambia

He said it is for this reason that government has put in place measures for any business wishing to register with the Public Procurement Authority to submit their latest annual returns together with PPA forms to enhance cooperation and efficiency between the two parties.

Mr. Banda also disclosed that Section 361 of the Companies Act Cap 388 empowers the Registrar of Societies to strike off any company from the register of companies for non compliance.

Meanwhile Mr. Banda has noted that a number of business institutions, especially those operating in the informal sector, opt to directly go to local municipalities for their various trade licenses without being questioned over their business registration by PACRO.

Mr. Banda has since called on individuals in the country wishing to register companies to follow the right procedure to avoid being in conflict with the law.

Last year in December PACRO expressed displeasure at the escalating levels of briefcase businesses.

ZANIS

PF cadres support MP Lazarous Chota’s suspension from the party.

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Opposition Patriotic Front (P.F)cadres in Lubansenshi constituency in Luwingu district have supported the suspension of the area Member of Parliament Lazarous Chota from the party.

And PF cadres,who included ward councillors, have asked the PF provincial leadership to stop interfering in the affairs of the constituency officials as they were duly elected leaders.

Speaking on behalf of the cadres, Katopola ward councilor Frank Malama said Mr. Chota deserved to be suspended from the PF because he did not follow procedure in dissolving executive committees for Lubansenshi constituency.

Mr. Malama charged that it was wrong for the MP and some Provincial PF officials to gang up and hold illegal elections without the blessings of the PF national leadership.

He described the outcome of Lubansenshi constituency as not being credible because most of the wards in the area were not represented and a quorum required to hold constituency elections was not formed.

Mr. Malama has since appealed to PF secretary general Wynter Kabimba to urgently intervene in the matter before it gets out of hand.

He further warned that the opposition risk being embroiled in protracted wrangles if the current impasse regarding the illegal dissolution of the PF Lubansenshi constituency committee was not resolved quickly.

Meanwhile, Luwingu district PF chairman Kapambwe Nkole has confirmed receiving the letter of suspension of Lubansenshi MP Lazarous Chota from the party.

Mr. Nkole told ZANIS that his executive would soon meet to discuss matter.

He however refused to give further details on Mr. Chota’s suspension from the PF and referred all queries to the party secretariat in Lusaka.

Efforts to get a comment PF secretary general Wynter Kabimba proved futile.

Yesterday, PF Lubansenshi constituency secretary Ivor Shilamba announced the suspension of area MP Lazarous Chota from the opposition party for alleged gross misconduct.

ZANIS

Zambia out to ruin Tunisia’s dream

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Angola 2010 AFCON
Angola 2010 AFCON
By Bolade Oladoye

Zambia will today begin their Nations Cup campaign when they play against 2004 champions, Tunisia, in Lubamgo, in the second match of Group D.

Cameroun and Tunisia are favoured to move on from this group, while Zambia and Gabon are ranked outsiders, but Herve Renard, Zambia’s coach, will have none of this, saying Tunisia must fall today. Perhaps, what is giving Renard this confidence might be the shock results that have been reeled out by supposedly weak sides against much stronger opposition since the commencement of the tournament in Angola.

But if performances in the qualifying series for the Nations Cup are anything to go by, then Zambia have a Herculean task today, especially when their attack is taken into consideration because in 10 qualifying matches, they scored a paltry four goals.

“The game against Tunisia must be won and then the rest are a matter of philosophy. Maybe others have lost hope in the team but I have always believed in my squad for a long time and I have set targets for myself,” Renard said.

He also said advancing to the quarter finals is his target in Angola, and the match against Tunisia is important as it will give him the needed direction.

Zambia will also be relying on its fans to cross the border en masse and support the Chipolopolo in neighbouring Angola.

Quarter final target

Tunisia’s coach, Faouzi Benzarti, knows the danger of underrating his side’s opponents in today’s encounter and insists he will be giving the match the required attention.

He said: “We will have to be careful and concentrate on the game to get the first three points which will be good for our team.” The Carthage Eagles are still smarting from the loss of a World Cup ticket to Nigeria, but have failed to go beyond the quarter finals since their 2004 success achieved on home soil. The experienced Germany-based defender, Karim Hagui is the lone survivor from that title-winning squad and he will be hoping to lead the Eagles a step further this time around which will go a long way in wiping the tears of fans back home.

The Zambians too will be relying on captain Christopher Katongo of Germany’s Arminia Bielefeld to unleash the goals on the Tunisians if they are to meet Renard’s quarter-final target.

[Timbuktu media]

The Weekend in Pictures

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1.

Two Zimbabwean tankers loaded with petrol and diesel bound for the Copperbelt overturned 41 kilometers before Kabwe after they lost control, prompting villagers to took advantage and siphon the fuel that spilled from the vehicles before police officers from Kabwe arrived at the scene. Above, one of the vehicles lies on its side after the accident in which both tankers remained intact and the drivers escaped without injuries
Two Zimbabwean tankers loaded with petrol and diesel bound for the Copperbelt overturned 41 kilometers before Kabwe after they lost control. Villagers took advantage and siphon the fuel that spilled from the vehicles before police officers from Kabwe arrived at the scene. Above, one of the vehicles lies on its side after the accident in which both tankers remained intact and the drivers escaped without injuries

2.

Deputy Minister in the Vice President's office Gunston Sichilima checking on one of the classroom blocks at Muchindushi basic school in Lukanga North resettlement scheme during his tour of government developmental projects in Mpongwe
Deputy Minister in the Vice President's office Gunston Sichilima checking on one of the classroom blocks at Muchindushi basic school in Lukanga North resettlement scheme during his tour of government developmental projects in Mpongwe

3.

A flooded Muchindushi river bridge in Lukanga North resettlement scheme in Mpongwe district. Deputy Minister in the Vice President's office Gunston Sichilima was on the site to check on how the bridge can be reconstructed.
A flooded Muchindushi river bridge in Lukanga North resettlement scheme in Mpongwe district. Deputy Minister in the Vice President's office Gunston Sichilima was on the site to check on how the bridge can be reconstructed.

4.

Some of the affected Solwezi residents at Provincial Agriculture Veterinary Office in Solwezi logging complaints over the rampant increasing number of suspected rabies dogs in Solwezi. The mother with the child bitten by a suspected rabied dog at North Western Provincial Veterinary Office in Solwezi
Some of the affected Solwezi residents at Provincial Agriculture Veterinary Office in Solwezi logging complaints over the rampant increasing number of suspected rabies dogs in Solwezi. The mother with the child bitten by a suspected rabied dog at North Western Provincial Veterinary Office in Solwezi

5.

The child bitten by a suspeccted rabid dog in Solwezi

6.

PATRIOTIC Front Nkana MP Mwenya Musenge in a suit arriving at the Kitwe Magistrate Courts yesterday from Kamfinsa Remand prison were he had been detained in connection with the Chisokone riots last week
PATRIOTIC Front Nkana MP Mwenya Musenge in a suit arriving at the Kitwe Magistrate Courts yesterday from Kamfinsa Remand prison were he had been detained in connection with the Chisokone riots last week

7.

The Lusaka City Council (LCC) has enlisted the support of the private sector to put streetlights on the Great East Road near Manda Hill and Arcades shopping centers. Above, LCC engineers use hired Laser Digital equipment during the exercise.
The Lusaka City Council (LCC) has enlisted the support of the private sector to put streetlights on the Great East Road near Manda Hill and Arcades shopping centers. Above, LCC engineers use hired Laser Digital equipment during the exercise.

8.

Journalists assigned to cover the departure of president Rupiah Banda to Angola at Lusaka International Airport were yesterday blocked by police officers who claimed that they were instructed to keep away the media because the departure was private. Above, police officers unlock a gate to let the journalists in after senior State House officials intervened
Journalists assigned to cover the departure of president Rupiah Banda to Angola at Lusaka International Airport were yesterday blocked by police officers who claimed that they were instructed to keep away the media because the departure was private. Above, police officers unlock a gate to let the journalists in after senior State House officials intervened

9.

President Rupiah Banda bids farewell to presidential affairs Minister Ronald Mukuma before he left for Angola at Lusaka International Airport
President Rupiah Banda bids farewell to presidential affairs Minister Ronald Mukuma before he left for Angola at Lusaka International Airport

10.

POLICE in riot gear seal the courts entrance completely to block overzealous PF cadres (Not in picture) from going in to the court to cause confusion Jan 11th
POLICE in riot gear seal the courts entrance completely to block overzealous PF cadres (Not in picture) from going in to the court to cause confusion Jan 11th

11.

OPPOSITION Patriotic Front Nkana MP Mwenya Museng in a suit with some papers emerging from the courtroom at Kitwe Magistrate Courts after being granted bail.
OPPOSITION Patriotic Front Nkana MP Mwenya Museng in a suit with some papers emerging from the courtroom at Kitwe Magistrate Courts after being granted bail.

SIAVONGA FLOODS KILL FOUR YEAR OLD GIRL

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A four year old girl of Mangaba Village in Chief Sikoongo’s area of Siavonga district in Southern Province has died after she was swept away by floods in Lusitu River.

Sikoongo ward area councilor Derrick Velemu told disclosed in an interview in Siavonga today that the four year old girl met her fate in the early hours of Monday, Jan 11th.

Mr. Velemu identified the toddler as Ireen Mutyolambili who went to the river with her mother to fetch water.
Velemu narrated that according to eye witnesses, the mother decided to put the girl down on the shores of the river as she started washing plates.

The councilor added that while the mother was still washing the plates, a huge storm surfaced sweeping away the girl into the river leaving the mother with no option but to watch her drown.

Velemu said the body of the four year old girl was however retrieved from the river some minutes later by some good Samaritans.

Meanwhile, a government house in Chirundu Township was on yesterday gutted by fire following an electrical fault on the house.

Chirundu area ward councilor Gift Chanda disclosed that a house in government complex belonging to a police officer was completely gutted to ashes following a fire that swept through it.
He said although no human was injured from the inferno, household goods worth millions of kwacha were however lost.

Chanda criticized delay that the fire tender took when it traveled from Siavonga to Chirundu in order to quench the fire that nearly spread to a neighboring house. He has since appealed to government through the ministry of Local government and housing to enable provide a tender to Chirundu township unlike the current situation were they are made to depend on a tender from Siavonga which is not efficient.

Bar could be operating as a brothel-Chiwama residents

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A named Bar in Lusaka’s Chawama compounded is allegedly operating as a brothel. This is according to some concerned residents who spoke on condition of anonymity. They told ZANIS in Lusaka today that Katete Bar situated near KUKU market, has been turned into a brothel by the owner who has allegedly engaged some foreign women as sex workers.

They alleged that the Bar owner has entered into an agreement with some Zimbabwean women working as sex workers at the bar.
They said the Zimbabwean women are charging between K10, 000 and K50, 000 for each sexual encounter and are mainly targeting those who patronize the bar and some residents in the area.

The residents have since called on the Lusaka City Council and the area councilor to quickly move in and stop the act before it gets out of hand. They said they are worried because the continued operation of the business poses a danger of high risk of disease transition in the area.

“The council and other relevant bodies should come in and close this business because we are at risk of contracting diseases, it is also inconveniencing because the women will even approach you when you go for drinking,” one of the residents said.

And when contacted, Lusaka City Council (LCC) Public Relation Manager, Chanda Makanta said the council is not aware of the situation but admitted that there have been complaints from residents around the city on the mushrooming of brothels.

Mrs. Makanta has meanwhile described the incident as most unfortunate especially that foreigners are involved.

She said the business is an act of public nuisance and a crime according to the Zambian law adding that the council will involve the police and others to investigate the matter thoroughly.

She said the council had previously done investigations after similar reports and some business premises had been closed and some have taken to court.

Mrs. Makanta has also called on the immigrations department to also investigate the matter especially that it borders on foreigners who could have been cleared by the department.

She has further called on the public to continue tipping the council with vital information in order for authority to effectively act.

ZANIS

LCC warns against trading at Cemeteries

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Hawkers selling foodstauffs at Chigwere cemetry

Lusaka City Council (LCC) has warned of stern action against people trading around cemeteries.

LCC Public relations Manager Chanda Makanta says doing business at the burial place is illegal and that perpetrators of the act will be prosecuted once apprehended.

Mrs. Makanta told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that the council will not treat lightly people who are deliberately violating council laws.

She said the council police are aware of the illegal traders and will soon pounce on them any time soon.

Mrs. Makanta disclosed that recently the council police confiscated merchandise from traders around the cemeteries in Lusaka warning that this time around, the council will ensure that perpetrators face the law.

She has since appealed to members of the public not to buy from such traders saying it is morally wrong to buy or sell food at the burial place because this is disrespectful to the dead.

Mrs. Makanta wondered how people eat and drink when others are mourning their beloved ones and advised that those who want to trade should acquire trading licenses and space in markets.

She noted that the trend of trading around the burial places is against the Zambian tradition and should be condemned by all well meaning Zambians.

She said that the council is committed to making the city clean but cannot manage to curb street vending and illegal trading alone but with the help of all Zambians.

ZANIS

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