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Opposition Patriotic Front (PF) Mufulira Member of Parliament (MP) Marjory Mwape has expressed concern over the state of the Sabina-Mufulira road.
Ms. Mwape says it is disappointing that Sabina – Mufulira road which was constructed last year has completely been damaged making it difficult for motorist and traveling public to use it.
She told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that the road was washed away during the last rainy season but has not been rehabilitated.
Ms. Mwape said it was strange that instead of admitting that the road was poorly done, the contractor was attributing the damage to heavy rains last season.
She noted that government was spending a lot of taxpayer’s money to engage contractors who are in turn doing shoddy works.
The MP said government would continue losing colossal sums of money to contractors on the same roads if it does not take action against such contractors.
She has since urged the Road Development Agency (RDA) to contract construction companies that can do a good job.
Ms. Mwape has since threatened to take legal action against the contractor on behalf of the people of Mufulira, if government does not take any action.
THE Government has said service delivery in health institutions, including AIDS treatment has continued to worsen due to the withholding of funds by some donors and has asked them to resume funding.
In a related development, Netherlands ambassador to Zambia Harry Mollenar said his country was considering resuming funding to the ministry of Health, which it froze after it emerged that some officials had stolen money intended to improve service delivery.
Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Velepi Mtonga said provision of drugs, including anti-retrovirals to persons living with HIV/AIDS had been adversely affected by the action taken by the donors to freeze $33 million for her ministry.
Dr Mtonga said in an interview in Lusaka that partners were key to the delivery of treatment to people living with HIV/AIDS whose health was at risk of deteriorating if the donors continued holding on to the funds.
“Government fully acknowledges the impact of the withheld funds by partners and it is doing everything possible to get to the root cause of the problem and to correct it but as that is being done, we need the funds to offer services to the people,” she said.
She said the Ministry of Health was ready to work with cooperating partners to improve service delivery for the benefit of the people.
She said the Government alone could not provide what the people, including those seeking HIV treatment, needed because the resources were not sufficient.
Dr Mtonga said the country had learnt enough lessons by the action taken by the cooperating partners and would be on the look-out for any wrong-doing by the people working in the health sector in future.
She said there was, however, a lot of work that needed to be done to avoid any such situations in future and urged cooperating partners to find other ways of expressing their dissatisfaction to misappropriation of funds other than with-holding them.
[Times of Zambia]
Indeni Oil Refinery in NdolaChief Government Spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha has assured the nation that there is enough fuel in the country and that there should be no panicky purchases among motorists.
And Lieutenant General Shikapwasha has dispelled the insinuation from some quarters that government is shifting goal posts with regard to the supply of fuel situation, and maintained that the fuel supply situation in the country will be normalized over the weekend and onwards when Indeni resumes operations.
Lt-Gen Shikapwasha said in Lusaka today that 1.705 million litres of petrol and 1.5million litres of diesel will be distributed to eight provinces, with Lusaka receiving the bulky for each of the two commodities.
Lt-Gen Shikapwasha said this in Lusaka today at a press briefing.
Lt-Gen Shikapwasha, who is also Information and Broadcasting Services Minister said 19 tankers offloaded petrol at TAZAMA in Ndola making a total of 1,705,000 litres out of which a big portion will be given to Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to distribute while the rest 700,000 will be consumed in the country on a daily basis.
He said 40 tankers transport fuel on a daily basis that are entering Zambia and bemoaned that the Southern Africa hasn’t got enough tankers to transport the commodity.
He further said diesel consumption in the country is close to one million while 700,000 litres of petrol are consumed in Zambia on a daily basis.
He said Total, Engen, Kobil, Petropda, Oyrx, Sperctra and Pegasus that are receiving fuel imports and these imports that are now supplementing the government imports.
Meanwhile, answering questions from Journalists, Lt-Gen Shikapwasha says government is still negotiating with Indeni on the offer shares.
He explained that government was going ahead to buy the shares at Total but indicated that a large share will be floated to the government and the rest Total will decide what to do with the shares.
Lt-Gen Shikapwasha said government is prospecting to open oil stations in the Gwembe valley in the Southern and in the North-Western province where huge quantities of crude oil has been discovered.
He said Zambia cannot import crude oil from neighboring Angola because of the lack of communication infrastructure like railways line and pipe line to transport the crude oil unlike on the Copperbelt where all the facilities were readily available.
And the Chief Government Spokesperson has lashed out at Forum for Democracy and Development president Edith Nawakwi for undermining government operations.
Lt-Gen Shikapwasha said government is working at full capacity and doing everything possible to improve the economy steadily and the Rupiah Banda administration should be appreciated and on merit and not criticized unnecessarily even amid this fuel crisis.
He revealed that Zambia experienced a lot of challenges such as the Carlingtone maize deal when Ms. Nawakwi was minister in the second republic.
President Rupiah Banda`s son Henry with his wifePresident Rupiah Banda has appealed to politicians, especially former Vice President Enock Kavindele to leave his family out of politics of hatred and mudslinging.
President Banda says he is very saddened with the emerging culture of hatred and misinformation in the country where politicians make unsubstantiated statements on things they know to be totally false.
This is contained in a press release made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today by President Banda’s Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Dickson Jere.
The President appealed to politicians, especially his opponents, to refrain from dragging his children in mudslinging and smear campaigns which he said they had launched for some time now.
President Banda advised politicians to let his children to lead a quiet life, especially those involved in business, adding that they were running their companies successfully even before he was recalled from retirement to become Vice President in 2006.
He reminded Mr. Kavindele to be sincere with his attacks particularly that it was he when he served as Vice President, who pleaded with the nation not to judge him based on his son, Enock Kavindele Junior’s involvement in the TST oil procurement problems.
The President said Mr. Kavindele rightly argued that his son was old enough to carry out any business transaction without his father’s help and wondered what the difference was with his children.
President Banda disclosed that Mr. Kavindele had approached him over his business problems with the North-Western Railway Company but could not help him instantly without consulting widely.
Attorney-General Mumba Malila says the disbanding of the Task Force on corruption will not affect cases that are still before the courts of law.
Mr. Malila also says the move will not affect the on-going investigations which where initiated by the task force on corruption.
The Attorney-General says corruption cases that the Task Force was prosecuting and those under investigations before its disbandment will be ably dealt with by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
Mr. Malila told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that the transformation of the Task Force into a department in the ACC does not mean the corruption cases it was pursuing would be done away with.
He said the ACC will take up the cases and ensure that they are dealt with in the usual independent manner that it has always carried out its mandate.
The Attorney General said government will continue providing the necessary support to the commission to ensure the fight against corruption was effectively undertaken in the country.
There have been growing concerns from some quarters of society that the disbanding of the Task Force on corruption would have a negative effect on some cases which are still before the courts of law and those under investigations.
Chief Nkambo of the Lamba people in Masaiti district has called on government to enact a law that would criminalize the brewing, selling and consumption of Kachasu.
The chief said Kachasu, which is a colourless distilled alcoholic drink with high alcohol content, has a lot of devastating effects on consumers’ health and national development.
He said this over the weekend during the Chibalankata traditional ceremony in senior chief Mushili’s chiefdom on the Copperbelt province.
He said the brewing, selling, buying and consumption of Kachasu has been devastating for his subjects and subjects of the surrounding chiefdoms.
Chief Nkambo explained that many vibrant youths, who were supposed to be catalysts of national development at chiefdom level, were incapacitated because they were drinking the liquor every day.
He said many young people were addicted to Kachasu and have since turned into liabilities in the chiefdom.
He said young men and women were getting drunk early in the day and remained unproductive the rest of the day, which he said had an effect on the utilization of time, human resource and other requirements for development.
Chief Nkambo further observed that youths addicted to drinking Kachasu were also found in many other parts of the country apart from his chiefdom.
He has since called on Members of Parliament (MPs) to consider enacting a law that would make the production, trading and consumption of the liquor a punishable offence.He said this action would help youths to be responsible for their personal and community development.
The traditional ruler also called for the promotion of the education of the girl child saying education was the key to a better life.He said girl children should be empowered through education so that they could also increase their opportunities to a meaningful contribution towards national development.
Government has expressed deep concern and disappointment over many young people’s behaviour of engaging in drug and alcohol abuse and unprotected sex.
Central Province Minister Ackimson Banda said in Kabwe today that it was sad that while government was trying to provide a conducive environment to foster youth development, most of them were following a destructive path.
Mr. Banda was speaking during the commemoration of the Africa Youth day whose theme is ‘productive youth for stability and economic development.’
He observed that if these vices were left unchecked, the youths, who are future leaders of the country, would be completely ruined.
Mr. Banda said to avert this situation, government would establish at least one youth resource centre in each district, which would contribute to the eradication of youth unemployment in the country through skills training. He explained that the targeted youths were those that dropped out of school and those that have never been to school.
Mr. Banda said the provision of life long skills to vulnerable young people would enhance their livelihood through better employment prospects in the formal sector and through self employment.
He said government would use such programmes in its effort to achieve the Millennium Development Goal number one, which aims at eradicating extreme poverty and hunger by the year 2015.
“I wish to direct local authorities in all the districts in my province to work tirelessly and swiftly act in collaboration with other stakeholders to ensure that perpetrators of these vices are brought to book,” he said.
And speaking earlier, Central Province acting Youth Development Coordinator Azele Mbewe congratulated all African youths aged between 15 and 35 years and encouraged them to be productive and positive agents of economic development of the African continent.
Mr. Mbewe said the African youth charter that was launched by Youth, Sport and Child Development Minister Kenneth Chipungu yesterday was aimed at empowering African youths and increase their participation in the process of consolidating peace, stability and establishing sustainable development in Africa.
Police in Mazabuka have arrested and detained a Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) employee who had run away after a docket was opened against him for alleged forgery and uttering false documents.
Both Police and Zesco staff confirmed the development to ZANIS in Mazabuka yesterday. According to ZESCO sources, the named senior mechanic surrendered himself after being in hiding for several days.
The sources further said two named ZESCO employees who had signed police bond for the fugitive had been released after paying K 10 Million slapped on them as a condition for their release from custody.
They added that investigations that led to the discovery of the suspect for uttering false documents was instituted by ZESCO head office in Lusaka.
The sources further disclosed that ZESCO prosecutors from Lusaka will prosecute the case in court.
Chief Government spokesperson Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha says government is doing every possible to ensure that the causation of the current fuel shortages until Indeni Oil Refinery Company becomes operational.
Lt Gen Shikapwasha said some fuel tankers have been cleared from the port of Beira in Mozambique and Chirundu is expected to resolve the shortage of diesel in Lusaka and the Copperbelt
He added that the fuel will be in the country during the course of the week and advised the motorist to be patient with the fuel issue as government is trying it bring the situation for fuel back to normal in the country.
Speaking to ZANIS in an interview Reverend Shikapwasha who is also Information and Broadcasting Minister said there is need to give Energy Minister Kenneth Konga chance as the minister is working hard to ensure speedy delivery of the commodity.
Rev Shikapwasha however advised Forum for Democratic Development (FDD) Edith Nawakwi for her to be patient than to criticize President Rupiah Banda.
The minister said it was not necessary for Mrs Nawakwi to utter such utterances over the head of state adding that there is need to respect president Banda.
He was reacting to FDD leader Edith Nawakwi concerns on the continued fuel crisis in the country.
Dreams of adding a cup title on his CV continues to elude Herve Renard after Zambia collapsed to lose 3-1 against Zimbabwe in this year’s Cosafa Senior Challenge Cup final on Sunday at Rufaro Stadium in Harare.
The win sees Zimbabwe seal a record 4th Cosafa Cup title win to leave, Zambia, South Africa and Angola on three each.
Though Zambia had gone one better to reach the final this year under Renard, they again failed to take full command of a game despite leading 1-0 in the 24th minute through Henry Banda.
Then Zambia collapsed defensively as they failed to deal with the power and composure of Zimbabwe’s Nysaha Mushekwi who breached a very faulty opposition defence twice in the 27 and 36th minutes.
Mushekwi’s attacking partner Cuthbert Malajila further exposed Zambia’s poor defending with a third on the stroke of halftime.
Zambia’s awful defending is something that even Herve Renard conceded in an interview with the BBC.
“Today we were not strong enough defensively and Zimbabwe deserved to win,” Renard told the BBC.
Zambia now head off to prepare for their crucial must-win clash against Rwanda away in Kigali on November 14 with Renard hoping luck will be on his side and see the team through to the Angola finals.
Stalemates Reign in Div 1 North
Nchanga Rangers and Mufulira Wanderers today played out to a stalemate at Shinde Stadium in their division 1 north week 30 game.
Rangers and Wanderers drew 0-0 to see the Chingola side rise just one notch from 56 to 57 points, four points more than second placed Nkana.
Nkana meanwhile, also drew 0-0 just 24 hours earlier when they also visited Mufulira to play Muchindu.
National Initiative citizens Awareness (NICA) president Kelvin Sampa says his organisation is not pleased with the blame game that has emanated over the fuel crisis in the country.
Mr. Sampa said it was unfortunate that Republican President Banda’s administration was being blamed by sections of society and individuals over the fuel crisis in the country.
He said it was a known fact that there are people trying to undermine Mr Banda’s leadership and his government by blaming him fr causing the fuel crisis.
He urged government to fully carryout an Audit of the Energy Regulations Board ( ERB ) saying its operations was worrying the Zambians.
He added that the ERB Board wrongly advised Energy and water development minister Kenneth Konga over the fuel crisis in the country which led to the President to be misinformed on the matter.
He said this at a press briefing in Lusaka today.
Mr Sampa noted that it was disappointing to note that ERB could not apologies to the Zambian people over the crisis saying it was unfortunate that it had to take President Rupiah Banda to apologies to the nation on the crisis.[quote]
He said his organization wondered why the ERB existed as its purpose has failed to work to regulate energy in the country.
Mr Samapa said the leasing out of the Zambezi Oil Transport (Z.O.T) to Samfuels, a company allegedly owned by a named business man, by the ERB is strange as the matter was in courts of law.
Sections of society are expressed concern n the continued fuel shortage that has gripped the nations. Some concerned Zambians are calling for the resignation of Energy and Water Development minister Kenneth Konga over the crisis.
On the other hand, Opposition Forum for Democracy and Development leader Edith Nawakwi , has pointed an accusing finger at Mr Banda who she says is an inept leader who has failed to manage the fuel crisis.
Mazabuka District in Southern Province has been hit by a critical shortage of diesel with all the five filling stations completely running out of the commodity.
The shortage of Petrol is equally looming as long queues have started forming up at VUMA filling station by mid day despite the service station not providing the commodity due to a ZESCO power blackout experienced from 08:00 hours to upto 14:05 hours.
VUMA filling station which had remained with 5,000 litres of diesel as at yesterday morning completely ran out of diesel by 14 hours yesterday although station manager, Litex Banda had assured motorists that the commodity would last upto tomorrow.
A survey conducted by ZANIS in Mazabuka this morning has revealed that all the Five filling stations have completely run of diesel and petrol except for VUMA which has limited stocks of the commodity.
Petrol attendants at TOTAL, SGC, KOBIL and CALTEX were found relaxing as they had nothing to sell.
Several light trucks plying rural routes have since parked due to the shortage of the diesel.
Meanwhile, transporters in the district have called on the government to seriously find a solution to the looming diesel shortage in the district before the commencement of the distribution of farming inputs under the Fertiliser and Input Support Programme.
Mr Joseph Manda warned that the shortage of diesel if not addressed now would affect the input distribution.
Dr Chiluba at Lusaka International Airport, smiling when he arrived from South Africa last week where he went for medical review
Transparency International Zambia TIZ has accused government for disbanding the Task force on corruption as a way of completely killing off the outstanding investigations against Dr Fredrick Chiluba and allegations which are still under investigations.
TIZ Zambia President Reuben Lifuka said the disbanding of the task force on corruption was done in an hastily manner which will have a negative consequence for some cases which are still before the courts of laws or under investigations.
Mr Lifuka however said this raises questions whether the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) will be given room to independently investigate.
He said this at a press briefing in Lusaka today.
Mr Lifuka pointed that the institution has been given additional responsibility while government has not indicated the support it will provide to improve its capacity .
He added that it could have been appropriate if government had strengthened the capacity of the ACC before making the transition.
Mr Lifuka noted the fact that the tenure of task force on corruption was limited and plans should have been put in place to ensure a smooth transition into the ACC.
He added that the Taskforce has scored a number of successes and recovered several asserts hence the need for government to have evaluated the work of the Taskforce before disbanding in that way.
Mr Lifuka attributed the disbanding of the task force on corruption by government as not being thoroughly thought through the decision adding that the move has taken undoubtedly added to their efforts of killing the fight against corruption and the late president Mwanawasa’s legacy of fighting corruption.
