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Acting Senior Chief Mweemba, Ephraim Siatambika has thanked government for grading the bottom road and for finding an equity partner for Maamba Collieries.
The Traditional leader has also thanked government for building Schools in his chiefdom.
Mr. Siatambika told ZANIS that the grading of the bottom road from Siabaswi to Nyanga is a welcome development and urged government to continue grading it up to Siampondo and kafwambila.
He said the coming of the new invest Nava Bharat from Singapore would boost the living standards of the people in his chiefdom.
The Acting Senior Chief noted that the setting up a thermal plant would improve the economy of the district and many people will have access to electricity.
He said government has built many Schools in the district which in the long would improve the education standards among his people.
Mr. Siatambika said that an educated society contributes to prudent interpretation of government policies and development.
He noted that despite Sinazongwe district being a strong hold for United Party for National Development (UPND) and only a few people voted for the ruling MMD, government has continued to bring development to the area.
Mr. Siatambika pointed out that government has also funded the opening up of a border post at Namafulo which shares its boarder with Zimbabwe.
He said people in his area who have relatives in Zimbabwe have been finding it difficult to obtain travelling documents from the immigration department at the Sinazongwe Township because of the long distance.
The Acting Chief disclosed that the Border post would improve trade between Zambians and Zimbabweans, reduce smuggling, and cattle rustling.
He said currently government was building two health post using the constituency Development Fund (CDF) in Sinankumbi and in Muuka area.
ZANIS
DEFENCE Minister Kalombo Mwansa has advised defence and security officers to be cautious and guard against politicians who may drag them into the political arena through their unguided statements.
Dr Mwansa said defence officers should be wary of politicians whose statements were aimed at diverting attention from their duties.
He said this in Lusaka during the Zambia Army countdown to 2010 annual ball dubbed ‘Sound leadership, Esprit de corps professionalism’ on Thursday night.
Dr Mwansa said the standard practice for the defence forces was to remain non-partisan, and cases of indiscipline would not be entertained and decisive action would be taken against those found wanting.
“We are aware of the fact that certain political players have tried to drag you into the political arena through unguided statements aimed at diverting attention from your core functions. The bedrock of a defence is good discipline,” Dr Mwansa said.
He, however, said the Government was gratified to note that the defence and security personnel had ignored such pronouncements but, instead, had remained steadfast and unwavering in the defence of the country and its citizens.
He said although the defence personnel had remained resolute and focused in the face of many challenges the country faced in 2009, the Government was working hard to address them through several projects embarked on in most military cantonments.
“There are several projects that have been embarked upon in most military cantonments. Those that could not be initiated in the just-ended financial year have been budgeted for in the 2010 Budget. I, therefore, implore you to remain patient as we embark on these projects this year,” Dr Mwansa said.
Despite instability in some neighboring countries, he said the defence forces should ensure all borders were manned effectively because the country’s foreign policy emphasised good neighbourliness, among other pillars of foreign policy.
On the international scene, he said Zambia was committed to the maintenance of peace and security, adding that the country would continue sending troops to countries engulfed in conflicts, and hailed the performance of the Zambian troops in peace-keeping missions.
Dr Mwansa commended the defence forces for implementing an HIV/AIDS work policy which had assisted in mitigating the pandemic as it had no boundaries and spared no profession, and urged the officers to be proactive by behaving responsibly.
Earlier, Zambia Army commander, Isaac Chisuzi said the army would remain focused and ready to defend the country’s sovereignty from both internal and external aggression.
General Chisuzi said the army would continue to undertake operations in the quest to keep all borders safe and secure, adding that they would be loyal to the Government of the day and the citizens.
On training, he said 2009 was one of most successful as training were conducted in both local and SADC regional exercises to improve skills of officers and soldiers to enhance professionalism.
“Internally, we managed to conduct a battle group exercise from July 16 to 23, 2009. The exercise was successful and incident-free. It involved participation from our sister service, the Zambia Air Force,” Gen Chisuzi said.
Times of Zambia
It has been over a year since the unfortunate passing of our third President, Mr. Levy Mwanawasa. Since then, we have seen an assiduous defense of his Presidency, most of which I daresay is misconceived. I will avoid playing judge of the late Levy Mwanawasa’s Presidency, as it is both dishonorable and contemptible to fustigate a person unable to defend him/herself. However, it is equally important that we lend ourselves some level of skepticism when discussing the legacy of President Mwanawasa. This allows for a provocative and necessary assessment of how this “Legacy” has been converted to mere political currency, by both an inadequate government, as well as an inadequate opposition. Indeed, thanks to the cheap and unproductive politics preferred by our main political players, the late President’s reign has turned from legacy to stuff of legend. Underline the word legend.[quote]
Allow me to first respectfully and briefly school ourselves on the science of politics. One of the paramount contributions to any failed political system is the very conscious resolve made by both the politicians and electorate to prefer wish-wash over fact. Politics are fundamentally classified in two ways; productive or non-productive. Let us choose to be bold and candid with ourselves to class ourselves in the “productive” bracket. Here we identify Zambia’s political Achilles heel, shrouded in the unyielding subject of the “Mwanawasa Legacy”-a term which apparently rolls off any Zambian politicians’ tongue with pleasant ease. There is a very comical, yet shameful and pointless wrestle of who exudes the legacy of the late President the most. Underline the word pointless.
On one hand, we have the current opposition claiming that their calling is to restore the lost vision of the late President. This is despite the unvarnished reality that there are notable shortcomings in this “legacy”. We should not mince words, therefore allow me to proclaim that it is a sham and pretentious that today the major opposition, so vehemently “once upon a time” opposed to the Late President’s policies, has today wholesomely endorsed his Administration with warlike vigor. Who can forget the unproductive and politically vicious attacks of the opposition leaders on President Mwanawasa? This shameless abuse of President Mwanawasa’s tenure serves as testimony to the deficient and desultory opposition with which we Zambians are burdened with. Underline the word “burdened”.
Then on the other hand, the ruling MMD is collapsing within itself, on the basis that the Mwanawasa Vision has been lost by President Banda. The notable MMD Member Mr.George Mpombo has coined quite a few remarkable political terms as reference to the “sinners” against the Legacy. Yet at the same time, we see the MMD clamoring to seem to be upholding the Mwanawasa Vision, according to the silly and illogical MMD dictum “continuity with change”. The President and his advisors are ever referring to how they are upholding the Mwanawasa Vision in the hope of converting Zambian sympathy for this tragedy, to sheer political capital. President Banda today largely find himself criticized as aloof and directionless due to the fact that instead of forging his own legacy, he is trying to duplicate a legacy which in hindsight, may not have been actual reality but due to surrounding circumstances, is mere affordable fantasy. In this case please underline “affordable fantasy”.
You see, the truth is President Mwanawasa’s Legacy, is now mere stuff of legend, due to the cheapness of Zambian politics. Legend, because it is wrongly deemed as the climax of Zambian progress. The majority of our politicians who worship this wish-wash will continue to be prime text-book examples of non-productive politicians. Bottom line is that the discussion of the Mwanawasa Legacy has become an enigma, which is not helping the nation to advance politically, socially or economically. The past belongs to the past.Zambians have more urgent needs our politicians need to attend to. Now for the underlined words; the Mwanawasa Legacy is now officially “Legend”, whose discussion is “Pointless”, thus Zambians can do without this “Burden”, and actually need real solutions to turn the “Affordable fantasy” into a reality of prosperity. LT Bloggers speak on it.
People waiting for Fuel when there was a fuel shortage in Lusaka
By Henry Kyambalesa
I wish to comment on plans by Energy and Water Development Minister Kenneth Konga to “introduce uniform prices for oil products throughout Zambia to ensure equity among consumers regardless of their geographical location,” as reported in a recent Times of Zambia article entitled “Government to Introduce Uniform Fuel Prices.”
If by “uniform prices” the Minister means “uniform retail prices,” then I am afraid this would not be a good idea as it would lead to price controls by the government.
One of the essential elements of the economic liberalization program that we embarked on upon the defeat of the UNIP administration and its regime of price controls and state monopoly in commerce and industry was the idea of competition, which, in Economics, actually refers to price competition in contrast to non-price competition involving advertising and other sales-getting tools.
Competition provides the incentive for business entities to operate more efficiently in order to reduce costs and prices, and benefits consumers in a variety of ways. Among other things, it leads to lower prices when businesses are discouraged by law from charging uniform prices for similar (or substitute) products. Moreover, it can reduce the smuggling of products whose government-controlled prices are below those obtaining in neighboring countries.
Besides, competition generally cures the problem of black markets since it entices suppliers to increase their outputs in order to benefit from economies of scale, thereby resolving the problem of commodity shortages which can bolster black marketeering in a country’s economy. In this regard, I am often reminded of the words of Murray Sanderson, which I wish to quote from a paper entitled “The Remedies for Black Marketeering and Smuggling” presented at a seminar held at Baluba River Motel between August 26 and 27, 1989:
“Price controls have the effect of discouraging supply while encouraging demand. The inevitable result is scarcity of commodities; and when there is scarcity, you always get people who buy up commodities wherever they can and resell them on the black market. In Zambia, we call them ‘black marketeers’. It is a useful term, for it puts the blame upon them rather than the authorities.”
Under a regime of price controls, there are certain arrangements which suppliers may resort to in an effort to maximize income (or minimize costs) which would tend to have adverse effects on the economic welfare of citizens.
Examples of such arrangements include the following:
(a) discontinuing the production or sale of affected commodities;
(b) restricting or reducing the quantity and quality of affected commodities;
(c) smuggling of affected commodities to countries where prices are higher than controlled prices obtaining in the domestic market;
(d) restricting or abandoning attendant marketing services, such as delivery service;
(e) imposing conditional sales on consumers, such as tying contracts;
(f) engaging in speculation in the controlled commodity.
There are several important elements which suppliers take into account when making pricing decisions other than transportation and storage costs; they include costs relating to labor, insurance, advertising, buildings, and contributions to host communities. These costs may not necessarily be the same among the retailers of oil products in Zambia. Also, the returns on investment expected by oil retailers are not likely to be the same. The idea of uniform retail prices for oil products is, therefore, uncalled-for.
Construction of a K 30 billion one-stop border at Nakonde in Northern Province is nearing completion.
Nakonde District Commissioner Edwin Sinyinza told Zambia News and Information Services [ZANIS] in an interview in Nakonde yesterday that construction works at Nakonde customs are progressing well.
Mr.Sinyinza who described the works being carried out by China Jiangxi as simply superb, said construction works are expected to be completed by March 2010.
He said that the contractor has so far done 50 percent of the total work.
The district commissioner said the one-stop border once completed would enhance revenue collection for the Zambia Revenue Authority [ZRA] and will also increase efficiency in the clearance of goods and traffic.
Mr. Sinyinza stated that staff levels that were currently very low would be improved once construction of a one-border stop has been completed.
Mr. Sinyinza said construction of one-stop border is a major project that Government under took in 2009 in the entire Northern Province.
And Mr. Sinyinza has appealed to the contractors in the border town to emulate China Jiangxi by doing good jobs once awarded a contract by the Government.
He said he was disappointed with the construction works of some local contractors who have been given jobs by the Government.
Mr. Sinyinza warned that the Government would deal firmly with local contractors who were doing shoddy works adding that works which are below standard cost the Government a lot of money and will therefore, not be tolerated.
Meanwhile, Mr. Sinyinza has disclosed that revenue collection has improved at Nakonde border following new measures introduced by ZRA.
Mr. Sinyinza said that though the border was still experiencing smuggling, the situation was not as bad as it was in the recent past.
“Though I can not give exact figures in terms of what is being collected by ZRA at Nakonde border, revenue collection has tremendously improved at this border and this is largely because of the new measures that he authority has put in place,” Said Mr. Sinyinza.
Government has dispatched a team of agriculture experts to Chikankata constituency to investigate the suspected grain borer that is reported to have wrecked havoc on maize crops.
Mazabuka District Commissioner, Tyson Hamaamba told ZANIS in Mazabuka today, the experts would concentrate their investigations in Chikankata, Upper Kaleya and Mabwetuba wards where massive devastation has been reported.
Mr Hamaamba said his office is worried and concerned with the presence of suspected grain borer because Chikankata constituency is the main food basket for the district and the province.
He said the district risked being plunged into a serious food crisis if no meaures are put in place by the Ministry of agriculture to come to the rescue of the affected farmers.
Meanwhile, Chikankata area member of parliament, Munji Habeenzu has called on the office of the vice President to declare Chikankata area a disaster area because of the high level of devastation on crops by the suspected grain borer.
Mr Habeenzu said government should move in quickly and send officers from the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) to assess the extent of damage caused so far.
He said the long dry spell being experienced in most parts of the constituency is also threatening household food security in the area.
The University Teaching Hospital (UTH) has recorded 12 New Year babies.
Disclosing the development to ZANIS today, Customer Relations Officer Davies Chutu said the new year babies included seven girls and five boys who where born from midnight upto 08:30 hours this morning.
Meanwhile the Children in Need (CHIN) organisation has donated clothes and an assortment of toys worthy U$ 5,000 (K24 million) to the pediatric ward at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH)
Speaking when he presented the gifts to the children at UTH today, CHIN Chairperson, Kelvin Sampa called on stakeholders to help in alleviating the suffering of the less privileged children in hospitals.
He said less privileged children in hospitals need enough care and appreciation from people but that they have been neglected as people are focusing more on streets children.
Mr. Sampa said there is need to visit sick children in hospitals to uplift their spirit and morals adding that this is the responsibility of all citizens.
He said has appealed to government to prioritize children issues to allow them have access to better medical care, schools, for them to grow into responsible citizens.
He has also challenged Members of Parliament (MPs) to spend part of their gratuity on children admitted in hospitals.
And UTH Pediatric Department Coverage Nurse Hammond Kapapa has thanked CHIN for taking their time to visit and donating to the sick children at UTH.
Mr. Kapapa said government along can not manage to meet all the needs of the children at the hospital and appealed for more assistance from the cooperate world and individuals to assist the children in hospital.
Meanwhile, The University Teaching Hospital (UTH) has recorded 28 cases of assaults and injuries during the New Year eve celebrations.
UTH Customer Relations Officer, Davies Chutu, confirmed the development to ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka toady.
Mr. Chutu said 11 cases were from Roads Traffic Accidents, while 13 were assaults cases and 4 injuries.
He said most of the cases have been treated and discharged while only a few are still admitted at the hospital.
He said cases recorded on the New Year eve are much lower than those recorded during Christmas Eve which was about 38 cases.
.Mr. Chutu attributed the reduced number of incidents to people conscious on the celebration.
He said people were more conscious during their celebration and this helped the hospital and the people themselves.
The New Delhi court has acquitted three Zambian women, who were arrested in India seven years ago on charges of drug-trafficking.
Sepiso Lubinda 51, Stella Mwanza 47, and Maureen Banda 37, all of Lusaka, were arrested in June 2002 as they were about to board a flight to Lusaka from New Delhi.
The trio were acquitted after it was established that there was no evidence to convict them on drug-trafficking charges.
This is contained in a statement made available to ZANIS by First Secretary for press Zambian Commissioner to India Bwalya Nondo in Lusaka today.
Mr. Nondo explains in the statement that this was when Acting Zambian High Commissioner to India, Brig. Gen. Allan Kalebuka and other officials from the Zambian High commission in New Delhi visited the trio and donated some money for their up keep.
Brig Gen. Kalebuka confirmed that the incarcerated women were in good health and did not complain of any ill-treatment during their term.
He however reiterated his warning to Zambians especially women who travel to the Asian sub-continent for business, to guard against associating with people who may use them for ulterior motives.
The Acting Zambian High Commissioner to India said the trio are staying at a charitable home awaiting administrative clearance before flying back to Zambia.
Drug-trafficking in India carries a maximum of ten years imprisonment on conviction.
Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Allan Kalebuka has called on all Zambians coming to India to make their presence known to the Zambian embassy.
He noted that this will ensure that the mission extends necessary Consular services to Zambian citizens who come especially for specialized treatment in India.
Brig. Gen. Allan Kalebuka said, it should be noted that, the mission’s obligation to extend consular duties, is not only to VIP patients, but to ordinary Zambians as well.
He said Zambians should not only approach the Mission when they are in distress.
Indian is increasingly becoming the world’s preferred medical tourism destination because of its competitive treatment costs in highly specialized hospitals.
Reading this article?- thank God. You have lived to see the year 2010. Undoubtedly, Danny Siulapwa in his future pondering song ‘Kaya’ was a voice for many of us who thought we would perhaps never live to see this day. If we keep holding our breath for another six months we could even watch the spectacular 2010 world cup. However, there is more to life than surviving 10 years of the millennium and watching the world cup.
To begin with, we should thank the almighty God for giving us this life. Think of how many people have not survived this day! This would help us appreciate our existence and fulfill our purpose in this millennium. The biggest resource that we have is our breath. Let us be more objective, focused and work on our weakness us we look back over the millennium. If we set our goals right and commit ourselves we will not only succeed as individuals but as a family, a community and as a nation.
Plans are already underway for updating the voter’s registration-which should not be mistaken as a mock exercise, following a mock plane crash reported in Lusaka over the weekend. Next year we will be going to the tripartite polls to elect a ‘new’ president who will be entrusted to run the affairs of our beloved country, until 2016- that is a long time to break or make. We need to participate in the governance of the country day in day out and ensure that our national resources are distributed equitably.
It seems Zambians are only allowed to exercise their right to vote and their right to remain silent; while other fundamental human rights such as their right to information, right to education, right to shelter and even right to good health are stumbled upon; like those 46 innocent Mazabuka women who have been infected with the deadly HIV virus in the name of medical research.
The infamous Microbicide Gel drug test is not just another medical scandal but a serious violation of human rights and a clear exhibition of mediocrity by leaders. Why is Zambia always a case in these HIV/AIDS, health circus- Kaya?
I am afraid 10 years into the millennium we will continue be greeted with more outrageous events as long as we continue with our Kaya mind-set. Do you even remember the last time you saw your area member of parliament? I can assure you, with a general election around the corner, sooner rather than later your honorable will start trotting to your neighborhood with drums of Chibuku while distributing sugar and Vintege imprinted with some of the ugly faces on the planet.
Spare yourself from nightmares, think of what you will do for mother Zambia this year.
These are the results of the survey conducted by Lusakatimes to give awards to respective categories decided by the people who frequent our website. The people who took part in this survey are spread across the globe except South American as shown by the picture below.
The list of categories was based on your nominations and suggestion
Congratulations to the winners, particular NINE CHALE who has won himself a $50 dollars talkime voucher. Please kindly get in touch with editor at Lusakatimes.com
Lastly great congratulations all people who visit our site for making the experiencing of serving you a pleasant one. Happy 2010 from the LT team
Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) Lusaka Province Chairman William Banda has accused opposition political parties of trying to undermine government’s efforts to bringing about development in the country.
Mr. Banda accused some opposition councilors of deliberately diverting funds meant for developmental projects in the province to paint a bad picture about government.
He said Lusaka province is currently facing many problems because the people that were voted into leadership cheated people into voting for them to only enrich themselves.
Mr. Banda said the Rupiah Banda government was a caring government and is determined to thwart the opposition’s plans to make people suffer by working hard to improve their living standards.
The MMD Lusaka Provincial Chairman said this in Lusaka‘s Matero Constituency today when he addressed MMD members.
Mr. Banda has since challenged opposition councilors in Lusaka province to explain to the people what they have done with the K 2.4 billion that government gave them last year.
He accused some councilors of giving themselves plots instead of concentrating on working to better the lives of the people that elected them.
Mr. Banda urged Zambians to wake up and realize the real character of the opposition leaders and refuse to be used as political tools.
He promised to fight hard to ensure that opposition councilors account for the money government released to them, saying people should not sit back and let certain greedy individuals exploit them.
Mr. Banda further said government would continue to care for people’s welfare and has mobilized K5.6 billion through the District Commissioner’s office for disaster reduction which he said could be used to avert cholera and to clear drainages in the province among other things.
And Mr. Banda has announced the appointment of Tolilo Chipango as the new MMD Matero Constituency Chairman.
Mr. Chipango takes over from Severino Mangimela who is unable to carry out his duties owing to ill health.
Meanwhile, Mr. Banda has called on MMD leaders to understand the party’s laws and regulations for them to abide by these laws and also understand how government operates.
He warned former MMD cabinet ministers and other members against speaking ill of President Banda, saying they risk facing the consequences of their actions.
Chinese traditional dancers wait for their turn to entertain guests at the Luanshya Copper Mines during the production resumption ceremony. Copperbelt, Zambia
By Henry Kyambalesa
Of late, investments by Chinese corporations in Zambia seem to have become a topical issue among politicians and the general public. I have, therefore, found it necessary to make a contribution to the debate by citing some of the advantages and disadvantages of such investments to Zambia.
Foreign investment is generally regarded as an essential element in any given country’s quest for accelerated and protracted socio-economic development. It can bolster a country’s efforts to uplift a good segment of its poor people from squalor. Such investment may consist of “portfolio investments” (composed of investments in financial assets like bonds and stocks) and/or “foreign direct investments” in production facilities, real estate, inventories, and/or other non-financial assets.
Ordinarily, investments by Chinese companies take the form of foreign direct investment (FDI). Proponents of this form of investment usually cite the potential benefits of the multinational enterprise (MNE) to a host nation in discerning the necessity of such investment, since the MNE is generally regarded as the vector of FDI.
They claim that MNEs can:
(a) make it possible for a country to gain access to investment capital and advanced technology;
(b) contribute to the creation of employment opportunities;
(c) introduce a diversity of new products in a host country, thereby affording local consumers a greater assortment of products to choose from;
(d) make a contribution to the tax revenues of a host government;
(e) promote exports and, thereby, contribute to the generation of foreign exchange;
(f) boost competition in the host economy and, thus, prompt local businesses to seek greater efficiency in their operations;
(g) promote local businesses which supply inputs and/or render services needed by MNEs to support their operations;
(h) contribute to the development of technical and managerial talent in a host country.
For these and a host of other important reasons, the promotion of FDI has become one of the major components of the economic policy regimes of apparently all countries of the world today. In fact, even countries which already have strong economies (such as Sweden, Australia, and G-7 nations) and have historically relied mainly on local investment have generated ambitious policies designed to attract FDI. It is, therefore, important for us to be aware that our country is competing for FDI not only with developing countries but also with the more developed and affluent countries in the world.
The operations of MNEs are, of course, not without costs or disadvantages to a host country like Zambia; critics of such enterprises often claim that they can:
(a) contribute to the self-perpetuating dependence of a host country on foreign technology;
(b) cause dislocations in a host country’s balance of payments when they import raw materials, repatriate profits, and/or engage in transfer pricing;
(c) subject local businesses which do not have the necessary material and financial resources to compete effectively with them to unfair competition in industrial, consumer and labor markets;
(d) contribute to the degradation of the physical environment through air, water and solid-waste pollution;
(e) introduce foreign social values and/or consumption patterns that are likely to disrupt locally cherished moral and cultural practices.
For a country like Zambia, which has failed to break the bondage of the majority of its people to destitution, the potential benefits of Chinese and other foreign investments certainly outweigh the potential costs of such investments. In fact, the costs often associated with FDI and the MNE are normal effects of a live economy which Zambia could reduce to acceptable levels through regulatory and administrative mechanisms.
But Zambia should not expect such investments to flow into its economy like manna from heaven, because a great deal of effort is needed to lure foreign investors. It is, therefore, essential to create an enabling investment environment that provides for attractive tax incentives, adequate skilled labor, a network of business support services and institutions, well-developed infrastructure (including energy, water, telecommunications, and transport facilities), and protracted industrial harmony.
Besides, both local and foreign investors expect the Zambian government to provide for the following:
(a) adequate public services, including police and fire protection;
(b) adequate public facilities, including educational, vocational, recreational, sewage, and healthcare facilities;
(c) political and civic leaders who are fair and honest in their dealings with private businesses;
(d) stable economic policies, including a formal assurance against nationalization or expropriation of privately owned businesses;
(e) a well-developed stock market;
(f) less bureaucratic licensing, import, export, and other procedures;
(g) adequate information about investment and marketing problems and opportunities, such as that which is currently being provided by the Zambia Development Agency.
If they are adequately catered for, these services and facilities can boost investments by both local and foreign investors, as well as enable businesses to operate more efficiently and eventually deliver economic and social outputs to society at reasonable costs and prices.
The Zambian government should expect foreign investors to:
(a) cooperate with local institutions in improving community life, and participate in programs designed to benefit less-advantaged citizens;
(b) comply with stipulated laws and regulations;
(c) respect local people’s traditional and ethical values;
(d) refrain from engaging in unscrupulous business practices.
The Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) has announced the inclusion of the bid submitted by Altimo for a majority equity stake in Zambia Telecommunications Limited (Zamtel).
ZDA Acting Director General Muhabi Lungu explained that the bid by Altimo of Russia was received five minutes after submission deadline of 15:00 hours Zambian which he said could not be opened because it came in late.
He further explained that ZDA decided to go for a board meeting to decide whether or not to accept the submission from Altimo.
He said the meeting considered the bid and accepted it.
Mr. Lungu told ZANIS in a press statement in Lusaka today that the decision was largely based on the fact that the Altimo bid was received before the other bids were opened by the ZDA and that no evaluation or adjudication of the other three bids has been undertaken yet.
Mr. Lungu noted that as a result of the board’s decision, the assessment of the bids will include UNITEL of Angola, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) of India, LAP Greencom LTD/LAP Green Networks of Libya and Altimo of Russia.
He pointed out that the ZDA will evaluate all the four bids and will announce a shortlist of companies or consortia that will be invited to the next stage of the privatization of Zamtel.
“Shortlisted companies and consortia will be invited to conduct further due diligence on Zamtel and will be asked to submit a binding bid for a majority equity stake in the company at the end of the next phase “he said.
The next phase of the Zamtel privatization and details on the indicative bids received will be announced on 11th January 2010.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has described the 2008/2009 farming season as a success.
Speaking in an interview in Lusaka today FAO Country Representative Noureddin Mona said the agriculture sector is expected to grow by 5.7 percent as compared to the previous farming season which was at 1.9 percent.
Mr. Mona said the good harvest contributed to the economic growth which helped the country pull through during the period of economic crunch.
He appealed to the private sector to play a pivotal role in the development of the industry in order to enhance sustainable development.
Mr. Mona noted that the production of maize this year which had 26 percent growth was impressive, adding that it is the country’s staple food.
He has however called for diversification in the agricultural sector by developing the livestock and fisheries industry.
Mr. Mona said the key to livestock and fishery farming is to create disease free zones in areas that are affected by the vice.
He said has further called for the need to change our mindsets and change our dependency on Maize as a staple food, saying crops like cassava can be put to good use as well.
Mr. Mona has commended the government for improving the agriculture sector in the country through the farmer input support program (FISP).
He said this was attributed to government’s good agriculture policy and the distribution of farming inputs on time.
Government has increased the allocation to agriculture and livestock sectors from K1, 096 trillion in 2009 to K1, 139 trillion in the 2010 national budget.
219,581 grade seven (7)pupils who sat for examinations in 2009 have been selected to grade eight (8).
Education Minister Dora Siliya announced that from the total number of 307,191 candidates that sat for examinations in 2009, 111,407 boys and 108,174 girls were selected to grade eight with a progression rate of 71.48% compared to 65.44% in 2008.
Ms. Siliya observed that out of 340, 509 who entered for the examinations, a total number of 33,188 candidates were absent from the examinations.
She attributed this absenteeism to distances to examination centers, economic reasons, early marriages and early pregnancies, cultivation and high levels of poverty at household level.
The Minister however noted that the ministry has put in place measures to address the problems of absenteeism.
She named some of the measures as construction of more classrooms to reduce on the distance to examination centers, replacement of temporary structures with permanent ones and allowing more schools to register as examination centers among others.
Meanwhile, Ms. Siliya noted that of all candidates who sat for grade seven examinations in North Western province, 9,078 were boys and 7, 235 were girls while in Luapula Province had 10,511 boys and 7,484 girls.
The Minister also announced that a total number of 7,359 girls in Western province have been selected to grade eight.
She said this is due to the two provinces having more space available than the number of candidates that entered and sat for the examinations.
Ms. Siliya attributed the increase in the number of candidates selected in all the provinces to the expansion of the school infrastructure that the ministry has embarked on in all the provinces.
The Minister also announced that a total number of 228 candidates, 128 boys and 99 girls with special education needs were selected into grade eight from a total number of 250 candidates who entered for the examinations.
Ms. Siliya noted that it was the desire of her ministry to create more spaces for children with special education needs adding that more attention in the 2010 infrastructure development will be paid to special education units and schools.
She further announced that grade eight classes will commence on January 11, 2010 and the grace period ends on 22nd January, 2010.
