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Its not true that inputs have not been distributed in Kawambwa – DACO

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Kawambwa District Agriculture Coordinator (DACO) Henry Mugomba has refuted reports that the distribution of farming inputs to farmers in the area has not started.

Mr. Mugomba said contrary to the reports, the distribution of fertilizer and seeds to farmers started last week on November 13, 2009.

The DACO also disclosed that about 11856 X50 kg bags of fertilizer and 5850x 10 Kg bags of maize seed have been distributed already.

Mr Mugomba said only 24864 x 50 Kg bags of fertilizer and 3330x 10 Kg bags of maize seeds are yet to be distributed.

He said many farmers have already accessed the seeds while waiting to be given the fertilizer.

The DACO added that the remaining inputs will be dispatched by the end of this week.

Mr Mugomba said it is sad to note that unidentified people could make a false report without verifying the facts on the ground.

He appealed to people to feel free to approach his office instead of reporting matters that are not correct.

The DACO further said the most difficult parts of the district have already been catered for.

Mr Mugomba cited Musungu, Chimpili, Mawaya, Kanengo, Chibote among others to have received the inputs already.

He, however, bemoaned the poor state of Chisembe-Mawaya and Chisembe-Musungu roads.

He said it was difficult to convince the transporters to take the inputs to the areas connected by the two roads because they are in deplorable states.

He commended the transporters for ferrying the inputs to these hard to reach areas despite roads being in bad states.

Meanwhile, some farmers talked to by ZANIS said they have received the seeds and many of them have already planted.

And a check by ZANIS in the area found a number of tracks belonging to local transporters loading the inputs for delivery to farmers.

The check also found some farmers planting maize seeds in their respective fields while waiting for fertilizer which has also been delivered.

ZANIS

Mungwi Vet warns against consuming pork

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The department of veterinary and livestock development in Mungwi district has cautioned the public against consuming pork sold by unscrupulous people to avoid poisoning.

District veterinary officer Stephen Tembo said this in the wake of a spate of thefts in the district involving pigs being administered with an unknown chemical during thefts.

The unknown chemical paralyzes and silences the animal making it easy for the robbers to slaughter it without alerting the owners.
Some unknown criminals yesterday raided a piggery at a farm in Mungwi and paralysed the pig with a suspected dangerous chemical before hauling the carcass after removing its intestines.

Dr Tembo warned the public against consuming the pork because it was not certain whether the chemicals used to make the pigs unconscious is poisonous or not.
He says the effects of consuming uninspected pork could be devastating in the long term because there is a risk of contracting diseases.

Dr Tembo said that even other consumers in districts such as Kasama and surrounding areas should be on high alert because stolen carcasses of pigs also end up there.

Dr Tembo added that he blamed livestock owners in Mungwi district for their failure to secure their animals and prevent them from being stolen.
He has urged farmers to build strong piggeries for their animals to be fully secured to avoid unnecessary thefts.

Dr Tembo also advised livestock owners to organize themselves and form crime committees as one way of curbing livestock thefts in their respective places.
NAIS

Wakumelo was an accomplished diplomat – Shikapwasha

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Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Ronnie Shikapwasha has described the late Counselor at the Embassy in Brazil Mr. Gerald Musilekwa Wakumelo as a selfless, dedicated, accomplished and hard working career diplomat.

Speaking during a church sermon held at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka today, Lieutenant General Shikapwasha said the state has lost a government official and that it is saddened by the demise of the late Mr. Wakumelo who was committed to his 31 years of duty.

Lt-Gen Shikapwasha said those who knew the late diplomat would attest that he was polite, humble and a very unassuming person.
He prayed to God to grant the widow, Lelah and the entire family guidance, strength, peace and solace in this difficult and trying time.

And Brazilian Ambassador to Zambia Josal Luiz Pellegrino said the late Mr. Wakumelo was disciplined and this is the reason why government, the diplomatic corps and close friends benefited a lot from his vast experience.

Mr. Pellegrino described the late Mr. Wakumelo as a dignified diplomat saying that the Brazilian government will greatly miss his distinguished services.

Zambia’s Ambassador to Brazil Joel Ngo paid tribute to the Brazilian government for the assistance rendered during the sickness and transportation of the body to Zambia.

Meanwhile family Spokesperson, Monde Nowanga commended both the Zambian and Brazilian governments for the assistance rendered to the Wakumelo family.

On June 17 this year the late Wakumelo was appointed as Counsellor at the Embassy in Brazil where he served until the time of his death on November 15, 2009.

The late Mr. Wakumelo was born on May 7, 1958. He was put to rest today at Leopards Hill Cemetery in Lusaka today. He is survived by a wife, Lelah, four children and one grand daughter.

ZANIS

Namakando was sick even before State House meeting – Mrs. Mupo

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Former MMD Western Province Women’s Secretary in the dissolved provincial executive committee, Namatama Mupo says former MMD provincial chairman Simasiku Namakando has been unwell even before his reconciliatory meeting with President Rupiah Banda at State House.

Mrs. Mupo told ZANIS in a telephone interview today, that it is not true that Mr. Namakando only got sick after a reconciliatory meeting with President Banda at State House last Sunday.

She was reacting to media reports and suggestions by some people that the former Western Province MMD Chairman Simasiku Namakando could have been poisoned at State House during a meeting with President Banda.

Mrs. Mupo, who was also part of the delegation from Western Province to State House, said assertions that Mr. Namakando only got sick after a meeting at State House were false and malicious.

She disclosed that two weeks ago, she had traveled with Mr. Namakando to Lukulu district for the funeral of his late aunt but could not get to the funeral house because he was unwell.

Mrs. Mupo said Mr. Namakando instead decided to get back to Mongu where he got some medical treatment.

“Two weeks ago I traveled with him to Lukulu for the funeral of his mother’s young sister but he didn’t reach the funeral house because he got sick. He complained of Malaria all the way.

“We decided to come back to Mongu where he got some treatment but I think this was not adequate,” said Mrs. Mupo.

She said even when a decision to travel to Lusaka was made, Mr. Namakando was still not well complaining of fatigue and fever.

Mrs. Mupo said even on the day of the meeting at State House, Mr. Namakando came late because he was still not feeling well.

“On Sunday, I went to State House earlier than him. When I saw that time was running out I called him and he asked me to meet him at the gate at State House. He actually came late and told us that he was not well,” she said.

“So I do not see any reason as to why someone should say he was poisoned or whatever. The fact is that he was sick prior to our meeting at State House. Let me also put it on record that we all ate the same food, from the same buffet including those from Lusaka,” she added.

Mrs. Mupo said if the food was poisoned as suggested by some people, everyone who ate it would have been sick but that this was not the case.

She said the distance between Lusaka and Mongu could have contributed to Mr. Namakando’s condition.

Mrs. Mupo, however, said she had been to see Mr. Namakando this morning and that he is now able to talk and walk without the help of anyone.

“As a matter of fact, I went to see him this morning and I can confirm that he is now able to talk and walk without the aid of anyone. I have briefed him about what has been said following his illness and he has actually assured that he would issue a comprehensive statement on the matter,” said Mrs. Mupo.

“All he needs now is just enough rest. He told me he has been put on quinine. I challenge those that are saying he is in a critical condition to get a camera and show the whole nation what the man’s real condition is,” she added.

On Mr. Kenneth Musangu, Mrs. Mupo said all she knew was that he was soaked when he went to visit his relations in Chilanga.

“On Mr. Musangu, who was also part of us at State House, what I know is that he was soaked by the rains when he went to Chilanga to visit some of his relatives. You know he has relatives there and that day was rainy,” she said.

On Sunday, former Western Province MMD chairman, Simasiku Namakando, in the company of other members of the dissolved provincial executive committee met President Rupiah Banda in a bid to reconcile and resolve some issues raised by the dissolved committee.

ZANIS

Fomer UNIP MPs migrate to PF

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Three former Members of Parliament (MPs) in Eastern province have officially resigned from the former ruling party UNIP to join the opposition Patriotic Front.

The three are former Chipangali MP, Lucas Phiri, former Chama North MP, John Chibanga and former Malambo MP Imange Muzidya Phiri, who defected alongside former Chipata Mayor, Patrick Chirwa.

In a revelation to ZANIS in Chipata, the three said they decided to join the opposition PF because their former party was dead as it allegedly had no leadership.

The former Chipangali MP, Mr Phiri, said he needed to belong to a party that was thinking of taking the country forward and it was the reason why he decided to join PF.

Mr Phiri observed that he would be doing a disservice to the people of Chipangali constituency, the province and the country if he stuck to UNIP because he needed to be in a party that would help people come out of poverty.

He said he would have loved to join the ruling MMD but alleged that the party lacked leaders who were hard working.

And Mr Chibanga accused the MMD of having failed the people of Chama, especially in the improvement of the road network.

He said people were still crossing crocodile infested streams because of lack of bridges which government has allegedly failed to build.

Mr Chibanga also said the ruling MMD had no policy on agriculture, adding that, the reduction of bags of fertilizer in a packs meant that farmers would fail to produce as expected.

He said Zambian peasant farmers were living as commercial families because they helped a lot of people from their produce at both family and national level.

Mr Chibanga said it was pointless for the ruling party which is in government to start reducing the number of bags in a pack of fertilizer instead of increasing it considering the economic hardships farmers were going through.

And welcoming the defectors, Eastern Province PF chairperson, Solomon Mbuzi, said the PF, together with its sister party, United Party for National Development (UPND), was happy to receive them.

Mr Mbuzi said the four had made right choices because politics should not be about amassing wealth for personal glory like what was allegedly being seen in the ruling party but a service to the people.

[ZANIS]

Chansa Kabwela trial: Lessons from the tragedy.

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Post newspaper editor Chansa Kabwela
Post newspaper editor Chansa Kabwela

The trial of The Post editor Chansa Kabwela is not a comedy but a tragedy. A comedy is meant to cause laughter, but from whatever angle I look at this story, I cannot find anything funny in it but only dismay and anxiety on one hand and pity and anger on another.

I am first of all dismayed and anxious when I consider that the constitutional office of the DPP can be so degraded due to personal preservation. I say this because that is the only way I can explain why a learned lawyer can pursue a malicious prosecution of a citizen purely on the personal opinion of a head of state.

The President is a layman at law. He has at least four people, the Vice President, also Justice Minister and SC, the Attorney General, the DPP and the Solicitor General, who can advise him on any point of law. More than that, the Constitution of Zambia, directs that no one should influence the DPP as to whether or not to prosecute. If this prosecution went ahead to please the President, it has.

Well, much has already been said about the demerits of the case. I turn now to pity and anger. I pity the man and wife in this story. ‘How sweet to hold a new born baby, and feel the pride and joy he gives’ (Bill Gaither), but this couple were denied this experience amidst the selfishness of some and savagery of others. I understand that the baby died.

What has the State done to prevent this from happening again? There is a case for negligence. The state owed a duty of care to this couple and the state failed to provide that care and injury resulted. I am angry that not a single lawyer has come to this family’s aid to seek compensation from the state. Res ipsa loquitur.

Scores of Zambians perish in hospitals, on roads and other places because of the negligence of the state directly or indirectly through its agents. There are no hazard warnings on roads that look like a moon face. There are no diagnostic facilities in state hospitals where patients are treated by trial and error! There is no Health and Safety legislation to write home about. Six people have drowned recently in public swimming baths and no one is held to account![quote]

Meanwhile, Mr Mangani is more concerned about ‘laws against pornography!’ Why should government legislate personal morality? The government should be more concerned about protecting the lives and livelihoods of the citizens. Urgent labour legislation is required to outlaw unfair remuneration. It is time there was ‘equal pay for equal work!’ That baby must be remembered as the child who put an end to mediocrity in Zambia. We owe it to him/her. It is time to hold someone accountable.

LT Blogger

Cattle rustling worries government

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Government says has expressed concern with the rampant cases of cattle thefts in Namwala district and has called for concerted efforts in curbing the vice.

District Commissioner, Wilson Siandunka, said the increase in cattle rustling in the district has deprived many cattle farmers in the area of their only source of livelihood, thus subjecting them to poverty.

His comments come in the wake of the arrest of three people by Namwala Police over the weekend who allegedly stole a herd of 27 cattle belonging to a named cattle farmer of Katengwa area.

The three suspects, identified as Shombe Nacholombwe, Phenias Mwelwa, and Godwin Nani, all of Katengwa in Chief Mungaila’s area, were cornered and arrested in Monze district where they attempted to sell the alleged stolen animals.

Mr Siandunka said there was need to strengthen neighborhood watch groups to help state police curb the vice.

He also advised farmers to herd their animals as opposed to letting them roam around freely to protect them from cattle rustlers.

Meanwhile, Mr Siandunka says the mobile national registration team in the district was facing transport problems as the officers had no reliable vehicle to reach far-flung areas which have since become impassable following the onset of the rainy season.

[ZANIS]

Copperbelt PS calls for departmental cooperation

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Copperbelt Permanet Secretary, Villie Lombanya, has called on the Ministry fo Mines to work in harmony with the Forestry Department and local authorities when issuing sand mining licenses to avoid creating conflicts of interest among stakeholders.

Mr Lombanya said it was important to work in harmony with other stakeholders in championing development because all government ministries and department had one objective of bringing development to the people in the province.

The Permanent secretary made the call during the Provincial Development Coordinating Committee meeting on Friday at Savoy Hotel.

Mr Lombanya said the Ministry of Mines should consider other stakeholders’ interests so that what one government organ was doing should not create a conflict with other interests of other government ministries.

He added that there was also need to promote dialogue among government departments and local authorities so that government remained focused and move in one direction in developing the province.

Mr Lombanya observed that the province was endowed with abundant natural resources and all the stakeholders should play their part in the effective planning and management of the resources for the good of all.

And the meeting heard that the Road Development Agency (RDA) has secured some funds to do all the Chingola Township roads.

RDA Chief Engineer, Thomas Zimba, told the meeting that the funds were secured in Lusaka and he was going to finalize the paper work with the Chingola District Commissioner, Tobias Maliti, at his office for the works to commence.

Mr Zimba said the RDA was committed to deliver on its mandate but was constrained by the erratic flow of funds.

The meeting expressed concern that the RDA was not doing enough in the province which has in some cases attracted criticism from the members of the public towards District Commissioners, Councils and the provincial administration.

[ZANIS]

Kunda arrives in Tobago and Trinidad to attend Commonwealth Summit

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Vice-President, George Kunda, has arrived in Port of Spain, the Capital City of Trinidad and Tobago in South America, to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which officially opens this Friday.

Mr Kunda and his entourage arrived at Piarco International Airport last evening at 22:40 hours local time aboard British Airways.
He was accompanied by his wife, Irene, Foreign Affairs Minister, Kabinga Pande, Central Province Minister, Ackimson Banda and Senior Private Secretary at the office of the Vice-President, Kenneth Ngosa.

On hand to receive the Vice-President at the airport were high ranking government officials from the host country, Zambian High Commissioner to Britain, Professor Royson Mukwena, Deputy High Commissioner to Canada, Nedson Nzowa and other senior government officials.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Patrick Manning, says he is optimistic that this week’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting could overcome the pessimism surrounding next month’s united Nations Climate Change talks in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The Prime Minister was giving the feature address at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth People’s Forum at Queen’s Hall yesterday.

Mr Manning said as chair of CHOGM, Trinidad and Tobago is working assiduously with other nations, in and out of the Commonwealth, to attain a position that is strong enough to advance the process toward a global agreement on this critical matter affecting humanity.

He said the fact that the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon and other world leaders outside the Commonwealth, such as the French President, Nicolas Sarcozy and Danish Prime Minister, Lars Rasmussen are attending CHOGM is an indication of the intensity of the efforts on climate change.

Mr Manning underlined the need to tackle climate change, saying a recent UN Summit of world food security had found escalating mass starvation and malnutrition, with the world having one billion starving people.

“Six million children die of hunger every year, seventeen thousand every day. Much of this tragedy and trauma is taking place in the Commonwealth,” he observed.

He said the Commonwealth, with its diversity, is a microcosm of humanity and reflects diverse positions on climate change.

“We are, therefore, in a very good position to lead the way forward on this matter,” he said.

Mr Manning urged the People’s Forum to let their views be known on climate-change and on the global financial crisis. He blamed the latter crisis on a violation of trust between citizens and the bureaucracy which he said must be loudly condemned.

Inviting comments from the People’s Forum on small business and other issues, Mr Manning told the gathering that the voice of the people must be heard on every issue of concern.

He said democracy is more than a periodic visit to a voting booth but rather an unending process that must always deepen the involvement of the citizenry in national affairs. The voice of the people must continuously be heard, and its influence felt.

And Commonwealth Secretary-General, Kamalesh Sharma, hailed the role of civil society, saying it was one leg of a three-legged stool comprising society and also made up of the government and the business sector.

He said all three need each other, adding that there is supposed to be creative tension between the trio which each have their own constituencies.

Mr Sharma said the People’s Forum contains the voice of the people and it must be heard. He said the global economic downturn had hit civil society groups both by reducing donations and by increasing demands for their services.

He added that civil society acts both to protest, cajole, criticize and hold accountable, but can also advise, support and partner.

Commonwealth Foundation Chair, Simone de Comarmond, also gave an address in which she said people in the world who have been traditionally vulnerable have now been even worse hit by the global economic crisis. [ZANI]

No need to fear Cameroon Kalu

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FOOTBALL Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Kalusha Bwalya says there is no need to be intimidated by the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations draw because Zambia has faced Cameroon, Gabon and Tunisia before.

“I’m proud of the team to be at the Africa Cup because it is important. It is difficult to be at the last 16 because the road was rough. We have respect for our opponents but we will face them,” Kalusha said.

In an interview in Lusaka yesterday, Kalusha said Zambian football would only improve when the Chipolopolo lock horns with the cream of Africa.

Zambia in Group D will start the chase for the first Africa Cup of Nations title on January 13 against Tunisia and will face Cameroon on Januray 17 before wrapping up with a clash against Gabon on January 21.
Kalusha said the technical bench led by Herve Renard will look at the videos involving Cameroon and Tunisia.

Cameroon clobbered Zambia 5-1 at the 2008 Ghana Africa Cup of Nations while Tunisia trounced Zambia 4-1 at the 2006 edition in Egypt.

“The challenge is to go to the second round and pick it up from there. We want to compete with the best teams, best players,” Kalusha said.
On Gabon, Kalusha said the West Africans are a force to reckon with.

He said it has been long since Zambia was paired against Gabon on the continental stage.

Zambia beat Gabon 1-0 on April 9, 1995 in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at Lusaka’s Independence Stadium. Kalusha scored the only goal.

“It was an emotional match. It is good we are in the same group and we are looking forward to meeting them,” Kalusha said.

He also said Zambia earned respect from Algeria, Egypt and Rwanda who were opponents in the 2010 World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series.

“Everywhere we have gone they have told us that Zambia was the best team in the group. We were better than Egypt, Algeria and Rwanda in terms of standard of play,” Kalusha said.

Meanwhile, FIFA has sent Kalusha to be an observer at the Federation of Uganda Football Association annual general meeting set for this Saturday in Kampala.
[Zambia Daily mail]

Lending rates drop as economy stabilises

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STANDARD Chartered Bank has reduced its Kwacha base-lending rate from 24 per cent to 21 per cent with effect from next month because of stability in the economy.

Standard Chartered Bank managing director ,Mizinga Melu said the reduction in the base-lending rate by three per cent was a result of the drop in the level of inflation and other economic benchmarks.

Another bank, Invest Trust Bank, also reduced its rate by a similar margin recently.
Ms Melu, who is vice-chairperson for the Bankers’ Association of Zambia, called on other financial institutions to review their base-lending rates downwards to support economic growth.

Last month, President Rupiah Banda, at the official launch of the First National Bank (FNB) in Lusaka, asked commercial banks to bring down loan interest rates because the current harsh lending conditions were responsible for the poor loan recovery rates and were eroding confidence in the banking sector.

The president said there was equally a risk of discouraging both savings and investments due to ironically low rates on deposits.

Mr Banda added that there was need for financial houses to bring down the high loan interest rates and other bank charges, which had made loan repayments exorbitant.

The rates for other banks are Barclays Bank at 25 per cent, First Alliance (23 per cent), Investrust (22 per cent) and Eco-bank (19 per cent).

Ms Melu said from January this year, the Government had managed to reduce inflation rate from 16 per cent to the current level of 12.3 per cent.

“We recognise the efforts and progress from the Government, through the Bank of Zambia, in reducing the level of inflation in the country. Inflation has reduced from a high of 16 per cent in January 2009 to the current level of 12.3 per cent,” she said.

Ms Melu said there had been consistent reduction in the benchmark market rates such as the three months’ Treasury Bill rate which had dropped in the last two months.

She said Treasury Bills in the last two months had on average dropped between four per cent and six per cent.

Ms Melu said the bank was committed to assisting the customers in growing their businesses.

She said as a partner in national development, the bank realised that the benefits from reduced benchmark rates needed to be passed on to the productive sectors to increase economic activity and create more jobs.

“We, therefore, believe that with the reduction in the cost of finance, our customers will continue to grow their businesses and create more wealth for the nation,” she said.

While the severity of the global financial crisis had been unprecedented, the Bank of Zambia (BoZ), financial institutions and other stakeholders played an active role in facilitating the development of the financial markets in order to improve their efficiency and effectiveness.

She said the introduction of an overnight lending facility for commercial banks by BoZ with effect from next month would contribute to improved liquidity management for financial institutions.

Ms Melu said the introduction of a wholesale lending rate by BoZ next year would further contribute to the reduction of lending rates in the market and, consequently, the productive sectors of the economy could be able to borrow at lower rates.

Ms Melu said the bank was confident of the resilience of the Zambian economy and still recognised that right across the continent, the economic environment would continue to be challenging going into next year.

“We are seeing ‘green shoots’ in the Zambian economy led by increased productivity in the mining sector,” she said.

Meanwhile, head of asset and liabilities management for global market dealing, Kabwe Mwaba said the dollar base-lending rate had been fairly stable in the last six months.
[Times of Zambia]

RTSA procures 100 motorbikes

Guest Editor
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The Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) has procured 100 motorbikes to enable it enforce road traffic regulations effectively in the country.

RTSA deputy director for road transport Robert Mtonga disclosed this in an interview with ZANIS in Kasama recently. Mr. Mtonga said the motorbikes would soon be handed over to the Zambia Police Service under the Traffic Unit to enhance their mobility while ensuring that safety standards on public roads were observed.

He explained that RTSA was working closely with the police to curb reckless driving among motorists, which has resulted in fatal road accidents.Mr. Mtonga, who was in Kasama for the RTSA public sittings to review the 2010 public service licenses for transport operators, said his Agency was concerned with the increase in road traffic accidents in the country.

He stated that 90 per cent of road traffic accidents happening in the country were due to human causes, mostly bordering on failure to observe traffic regulations.
Mr. Mtonga cited over -speeding as a big problem among motorists which requires urgent attention to safeguard people’s lives.

Meanwhile, Mr. Mtonga described the RTSA public sitting in Kasama as successful considering the high number of transport operators who turned up to have their 2010 public service licences renewed.
He however urged transport operators to hire drivers with Public Service Vehicle (PSV) licences to avoid their vehicles being impounded for having unqualified drivers.

Mr. Mtonga further advised bus operators servicing distant routes to make sure their vehicles were fitted with speed-limiters to avoid being in conflict with the law.
ZANIS

Katele Kalumba stable in UTH

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THE condition of MMD National Secretary, Katele Kalumba who is admitted to the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) is stable, hospital public relations manager, Pauline Mbangweta has said.

Ms Mbangweta said in Lusaka yesterday that Dr Kalumba who was last week taken to the UTH after experiencing a heart problem, was currently admitted to the institution’s high cost admission ward.

She said in an interview in that Dr Kalumba’s condition had remained stable.
“Dr Kalumba is still with us at the high cost admission ward. His condition is stable,” Ms Mbangweta said.

[Times of Zambia]

Zambia Go Into Camp

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Zambia will feature two foreign-based players in the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup that kicks off this Saturday in Kenya where they are playing as guest team.

Defender Emmanuel Mbola from Pyunik Yerevan in Armenia and striker James Chamanga of Dalian Haichang in China have been drafted into the 22-member team that went into camp in Lusaka today ahead of departure for Kenya on Thursday.

Chamanga on Saturday scored a hat trick for Zambia in their 4-1 win over North Korea in an international friendly played at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka.

Meanwhile, Herve Renard has excused five Zanaco players from training to play in the sides rescheduled Week 29 game against City of Lusaka on Wednesday.

The five are goalkeeper Joshua Titma, defenders Charles Siyingwa and Thomas Nyirenda plus midfielders Allan Mukuka and Henry Banda.

Zambia are in Group A at the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup together with Djibouti, Ethiopia and hosts Kenya.

Renard’s side take on Kenya in their opening Group A game on November 28 in Nairobi.
Zambia will later play Ethiopia in their second match on December 2 before wrapping-up their Group A outing on December 4 against Djibouti.

Govt. to continue support for traditional ceremonies – RB

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President Rupiah Banda says government will continue supporting cultural events in the country because they are an important unifier.

Mr. Banda says traditional ceremonies play a cardinal role by breaking artificial tribal barriers.

And the President has said his government will continue involving chiefs in matters of national interest because of their critical role in the governance system of the country.

Mr. Banda said chiefs need to be involved in development issues because of their influence on their subjects.

He said traditional leaders do not only act as good mediators in matters of traditional boundary and succession dispute but also on matters of national development.

The President said this over the weekend in a speech read on his behalf by Community Development Deputy Minister Moses Muteteka.

This was during the Lwiindi Traditional ceremony of the Toka-Leya of chief Sekute in Kazungula District.

Meanwhile, the President disclosed during the ceremony that government through the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services under the department of culture affairs is currently undertaking a programme of constructing and rehabilitating cultural villages at provincial centers.

Mr. Banda said this is in order to provide venues where artists, artisans and cultural practitioners can train, produce and market their products.

He said the Provincial office in Livingstone will soon complete the construction of the Maramba Cultural Village where various cultural products and exhibits will be showcased for employment and wealth creation for the people.

The President encouraged artists and cultural practitioners to develop their skills and marketability if government’s programme of developing culture industry is to succeed.

And the President said the reduction of poverty among people lies on improved agriculture production.

He said government has put in place policies suitable to assist the vulnerable in society.

Mr. Banda said viable farmers such as those households headed by females, orphans, widows, the elderly and the disabled will have to acquire farming inputs.

He however, stressed that government gets very concerned when it hears stories of farmers selling the seeds and fertilisers because the trend poses a danger to food security at both household and national levels.

ZANIS

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