The University of Zambia (UNZA) in partnership with the African Virtual University (AVU) has launched the Open and Distance e-Learning (ODeL) project to train teachers in mathematics and sciences.

Speaking at the launch of the project in Lusaka today, UNZA Vice Chancellor, Professor Stephen Simukanga, said fast track programmes will see UNZA train and offer degrees to 6,000 teachers who are junior secondary teachers but are currently teaching at high schools due to poor staffing levels in schools.

Professor Simukanga said the University has been engaged by the Ministry of Education in Zambia to mount this project and has found it prudent to use distance learning to offer the degrees to the teachers.

He said UNZA has a big responsibly to provide higher education to every qualified person in the country but was however hindered by inadequate infrastructure at the school.

He however said the partnership with AVU to offer open and distance e-learning to students will provide an innovative and practical way of extending access to University education to people around the country.

And African Virtual University (AVU) Rector, Dr. Bakary Diallo, said open distance and e-learning has the potential to improve the quality of teaching in Africa.

Dr. Diallo called on African governments, cooperate partners and universities to mainstream the Information Communication Technology (ICT) in their educational policies and higher education to increase access to university educations.

Meanwhile the African Development Bank has provided UNZA with 30 computers, internet connectivity, power generator and other equipments that will be needed in carrying out the project.

ZANIS

President RUPIAH BANDA has directed Oil Marketing Companies to import more fuel because duty on all imported fuel has been waived.

The President has also directed Energy minister KENNETH KONGA to immediately improve supply logistics of imported petrol.

President BANDA has further instructed authorities at all border posts to expressly clear oil tankers.

He said police vehicles should escort fuel tankers until they reach their destinations.

The President was speaking to journalists at Lusaka International airport shortly before departure for UGANDA.

Mr BANDA is in UGANDA to attend a two day special African Union Summit on Refugees and Returnees in Africa.

And President BANDA has apologised to the nation for the shortage of petrol.

He said he is disappointed and upset that the shortage has inconvenienced motorists.

President BANDA however said that the nation has not been given a correct picture of what has caused the shortage of petrol.

He said government has imported enough fuel but that the problem has been on the supply side.

President BANDA said he held several meetings last week with fuel stakeholders at State house on how best to find a lasting solution to the problem.

The President said he will not take any punitive measures on anyone for the shortage of petrol.

Mr BANDA said he wants to give chance to people entrusted with responsibilities to play their role.

Some parts of the country have been experiencing a shortage of petrol for over a week now.

[ZNBC]

President RUPIAH BANDA has dissmissed reports that he intends to replace Vice President GEORGE KUNDA with Livingstone Member of Parliament SAKWIBA SIKOTA.

The President says he has no intentions of replacing Mr KUNDA with Mr SIKOTA.

President BANDA says he believes he made the right choice for the nation when he appointed Mr KUNDA as his vice.

He said Mr. KUNDA is a hard working person who has performed well since his appointment.

The President also said although Mr SIKOTA is a very good and patriotic person has not considered him for Vice Presidency.

Mr BANDA was responding to a question from journalists at Lusaka International airport shortly before departure for UGANDA.

The President is in UGANDA for a two day special African Union Summit on Refugees and Returnees in Africa.
[ZNBC]

FORMER Defence minister and Kafulafuta Member of Parliament (MP) George Mpombo yesterday dared the MMD to expel him, promising to give the ruling party a tough time in a by-election.
But MMD deputy national Secretary Jeff Kaande challenged Mr Mpombo to resign on his own if he was a courageous person.
“Let him resign, why should he wait until he is expelled? If he is courageous enough let him resign and we shall take him on in a by-election if that is what he wants,” Mr Kaande said.
Mr Mpombo, who was suspended by the Copperbelt party leadership on Monday, told a Press briefing in Ndola yesterday that the suspension had not bothered him.
“I still maintain my stand that leaders should not be put in office through acclamation and NEC has no mandate to forgo the constitution and since I respect the constitution, I remain unmoved. I am not bothered in the slightest. In any case, the whole thing has rejuvenated me,” he said.
Mr Mpombo said he would pursue the matter to its logical conclusion and that he still did not respect the suspension announced by Copperbelt MMD provincial chairperson Joseph Chilambwe, which he said was “pregnant with serious party repercussions on the MMD on the Copperbelt”.
He said his insistence not to recognise the suspension was not a sign of being stranded, neither did it mean he had been placed in an awkward position.
“And if they insist and force a by-election, then I will be forced to re-contest the Kafulafuta seat either as an independent or on the ticket of any friendly forces that will approach me, otherwise, I should clearly state here that I have no intentions of resigning from the MMD because this will be tantamount to chickening out. I want to continue fighting from within,” Mr Mpombo said.
He accused the national chairperson Michael Mabenga of destroying the party in Western Province and that the Mulobezi MP now wanted to get credibility by judging the situation on the Copperbelt.
He said Mr Chilambwe had no mandate to suspend him.
Mr Mpombo said he would remain firm because there should be no compromise over democracy and that the question of the convention was non-negotiable.
“I am not shaken and if Mabenga wants to go ahead and expel me, the party will meet political Armageddon,” he said.
Mr Mpombo said he received several phone calls from the MMD national executive committee (NEC) members stating that Mr Chilambwe had erred in suspending him and that the people in Kafulafuta were actually annoyed with what was going on.
He said “mishandling” Kafulafuta would be suicidal for the MMD because it would be used as a launch pad to the fall of the ruling party.
But Mr Chilambwe yesterday insisted that he had the mandate to suspend Mr Mpombo and urged him to read the MMD constitution thoroughly.
“Tell Mr Mpombo to read his MMD constitution, I have the mandate to suspend him,” he said.
Mr Chilambwe said the MMD constitution gave him the authority to ban Mr Mpombo in an event that his constituency did not initiate the suspension exercise.
He said the party would give Mr Mpombo a chance to exculpate himself because MMD was a party of rules which would not expel anybody without giving him chance.
He, however, said should Mr Mpombo fail to exculpate himself or follow party rules, the provincial executive would recommend his expulsion to the NEC.
“Those are last kicks of a dying horse, I was hoping he would leave the party honourably by resigning and stand for an election on another party but it seems he is not ready to do that,” Mr Chilambwe said.
[Times of Zambia]

National Revolution Party President, Cosmo Mumba has appealed to all opposition political party leaders not to shun this year’s independence celebrations.

Dr. Mumba said in an interview in Lusaka today that the Independence Day is an important national day which cuts across political affiliation.

He said there was need for all political leaders to put aside their political differences and participate in the celebrations.
Dr. Mumba said politicians should for once come together and celebrate this important day in the national calendar and reflect on the peace the country has continued to enjoy since its independence from Britain in 1964.

The opposition leader said this year’s Independence Day celebration should be used to reconcile politicians while reflecting on the many challenges the country has been facing.

He said Independence Day celebration should not be politicized as it is an important national event.

Dr. Mumba said his party has received an invitation from cabinet to attend the celebration and said he is ready to participate in the celebrations.

He also called on President Rupiah Banda to also take advantage of this year’s celebration to unite the country.

Zambia will celebrate its 45th Independence Day celebration on Saturday October 24, under the theme: Celebrating with the spirit of reconciliation and good neighborliness.

This will be the first Independence Day celebration to be graced by President Rupiah Banda since his election as Head of State.

[ZANIS]