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Chief Nalubamba has praised government for embarking on a countrywide Mobile National Registration Issuance saying the move would help people in rural areas get NRCs to enable them take part in elections.
And Chief Nalubamba said there was need for the current government to accept criticism for it[government] to respond positively to the needs of the people.
In an interview with ZANIS over the weekend, the traditional leader noted that the programme was commendable as a lot of people in rural areas have no NRC cards to enable them exercise their right to vote during elections.
He said the exercise in his chiefdom was going on smoothly and many of his subjects have since been issued with the green national registration cards.
He, however said the exercise should be a continuous one and not only done when elections are looming.
Meanwhile, Chief Nalubamba said there was need to expedite the National Constitution conference making process so that the 2011 tripartite elections are held a under a new constitution.
Zambia Postal Services Corporation (Zampost) is to reposes 100 dormant postal outlets that were closed years ago and leased out to agents.
Zampost Post Master General Paul Simfukwe said yesterday that the move to take over the post offices is aimed at turning them into postal shops that will provide e-communication facilities, money transfer and other banking related services.
He was speaking to ZANIS in an interview after he accompanied ministry of transport and communication permanent secretary Dominic Sichinga touring the Post office building in Chilubi district on Lake Bangweulu.
Mr Simfukwe said Zampost has 220 postal outlets in the country, but the postal corporation was running 120 while 100 were either under lease to agents or had been closed.
He said the postal outlets run by agents have abandoned provision of postal services and were being used for totally different purposes.
He cited one case of a postal outlet in Itimpi area in Ndola were the postal office has been turned into a secretarial service centre and does not provide any postal related services.
Mr Simfukwe said Zampost will now move to repossess the postal services from agents and introduce a line of products that will provide internet services, money transfer, bank related facilities alongside traditional postal services.
He explained that the intention of Zampost is to ensure that Zambia meets the world standards of having a postal office for every 10,000 people.
The Post Master General said currently the country has one post office to a population of 66,000 people, which is far below the world standard and that of Africa which demands that for there must be a post office for every 13,000 population.
He further said that the Post Office on Chilubi Island is a priority to be turned into a fully fledged postal shop that will also be used to handle salaries for civil servants who travel to either Samfya or Kasama for their salaries.
He noted that the plans to repossess the postal offices have been necessitated by new business opportunities that Zampost has identified on the market and can be integrated in post offices, adding that these opportunities are available in most rural areas including Chilubi district.
Mr Simfukwe is optimistic that by the end of next year, Zampost will repossess all post offices and move towards ensuring universal access to post services.
The Zambia Centre for Inter-Party Dialogue (ZCID) has advised politicians in the country to stop using unpalatable language against Republican President Rupiah Banda.
ZCID spokesperson Langtone Sichone says it is unfortunate that some politicians in the country were using bad language against the Head of State.
Mr. Sichone told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that this disrespectful and must be discouraged by all well meaning citizens.
He said there was need for politicians to understand that Mr. Banda is the Head of State who deserves to be spoken to in respectable manner.
The ZCID spokesperson wondered how politicians using unpalatable language against President Banda would feel if people used the same language against them when they were in President Banda’s position.
Mr. Sichone said the use of bad language to express displeasure is not the solution to the many challenges the country was facing.
He added that politicians should instead offer lasting solutions to some of the problems being experienced in the country.
He said ZCID has for long time now been advising politicians against the use of unpalatable language against the Head of State.
Mr. Sichone said it was unfortunate that despite ZCID’s advice to politicians against the use of bad language against the Head of State, some politicians have continued with the trend.
Meanwhile, Mr. Sichone has also expressed disappointment at tribal politics being practised by some politicians in the country.
Mr. Sichone expressed worry that if continued, tribal politics have the potential to divide the people and the nation.
The National AIDS Council (NAC) has bemoaned the low rate of male circumcision and condom use in the country.
NAC Spokesperson Justine Mwiinga says it is sad that despite the numerous campaigns on the importance of male circumcision and condom use, very few people are responding.
He said male circumcision offers about 60 percent of protection against HIV/AIDS hence the need for male Zambians to take up the challenge and undergo circumcision.
Mr. Mwiinga said this in Lusaka today during the Hearts and Minds media sensitization campaign on HIV/AIDS.
He observed that HIV/AIDS cases have continued to rise in the country due to attitudes by some members of the public who do not want to adhere to the campaigns on the importance of male circumcision and condom use.
Meanwhile Mr. Mwinga has disclosed that about 258,000 people are on the Anti-Retrial Treatment (ART) program in the country while 3 million people are living positively, the world over.
And speaking at the same occasion ZAMCOM Director Daniel Nkalamo said there was need for concerted efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Mr. Nkalamo called on journalist in the country to exercise accuracy in HIV/AIDS reporting.
President Rupiah Banda has warned his ministers of severe consequences if they engage themselves in vices likely to cause anarchy in the country through tribalism.
President Banda said that tribal remarks are the worst thing ministers can engage themselves in. He urged ministers who are also politicians to exhibit good conduct when in public domain.
“Ministers who as also politicians should look after themselves and desist from engaging themselves in multi–racial, multi-lingo, multi-religious because these vices are the worst thing politicians can do or else they will face the consequences,” President Banda said.
The President Banda said this on his arrival at City Airport from Kalabo District in Western province where he had gone on a 3-day working visit.
The ZAF plane MA-60 carrying the President touched down at the Lusaka City Airport at 16-30 hours Zambian time.
But Science, Technology and Vocational Training Minister Gabriel Namulambe has warned that he will not be intimidated by anyone because he is neither a coward nor a lightweight in politics.
Mr. Namulambe, who is also Mpongwe Member of Parliament, is quoted in the media as having said the Lamba people in Lufwanyama district in Central province feel that the late president Levy Mwanawasa’s legacy was allegedly not keenly followed by government.
President Banda was accompanied to Kalabo by Finance and national Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane, Tourism, Environment and natural Resources Minister Catherine Namugala, Works and Supply Minister Mike Mulongoti, State House Chief of Protocol Bob Samakayi and other senior government officials.
Defense Minister and Acting Vice President Dr. Kalombo Mwansa, cabinet ministers and their deputies, former Zambian Ambassador to Mozambique George Chulumanda, former Home Affairs Deputy Minister Grace Njapawu, Secretary to the Cabinet Joshua Kanganja, Defense chiefs, senior government officials, newly appointed MMD Lusaka Province Chairman William Banda, senior MMD NEC party officials and patriotic Zambians were on hand to receive the Head of State.
Till we meet again...MMD members wave at President Band's plane on the run way before it took off for Kalabo at Lusaka city airport
2.
The Lusaka railway station, which is being operated by Railway Systems of South Africa
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Tanzania's Rhamadan kneels down after being beaten by Zambia's Kennedy Kanyanta in the bantam weight title fight
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Tanzania's Rhamadan punches Zambia Kennedy Kanyanta during the bantam weight fight in Lusaka
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Soccer fans watching the Barclays cup final match between Power Dynamos and Green Buffaloes at Nkoloma stadium
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Security personnel dragging a pitch evader out of Nkoloma stadium during the Barclays cup final match between Power dynamos and Green Buffaloes
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Resurfaced...former community development minister Steven Manjata (l) and State House Chief of Staff Sichinga in a queue after seeing off President Banda in Lusaka
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Power Dynamos players and Barclays bank Zambia managing director Masud Zafar hoist the Barclays cup trophy
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Politicising sports...PF and UPND fans show their party symbols at the boxing bonanza in Lusaka
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Police officer praying during the prayer day for defence forces personnel n Lusaka
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Police officers engage in prayer during the prayer session for defence forces personnel in Lusaka
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Michael Jackson...A Zambian Michael Jackson Look alike dancing at Mulungushi international conference centre entertains boxing enthusiasts
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Lets go Ester...A supporter of Ester Phiri cheering the Zambia boxer who drew in the WIBA fight at USA's Terri Blair in Lusaka
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Joseph Chingangu spotted at Ridge Sun hotel before his fight against Nigerian Adewale
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Joseph Chingangu and Adewale pose for a photograph before their fight in Lusaka
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Give us a bribe...Traffic police officers confront a public service bus driver at Longacres in Lusaka
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Former international athletic champion Carol Mokola makes a big smile for the camera during the boxing bonanza in Lusaka
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Ester Phiri takes to the weighing machine during the weigh in ceremony before fighting USA's Terri Blair in Lusaka
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Ester Phiri on the receiving end of hard punches from Terri Blair
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Construction works at Manda Hill shopping centre in Lusaka
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An unidentified man transports a bag of mealie meal on a bicycle in Lusaka
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An unidentified man drinks a ka jilijili.
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An unidentified man pushes a wheelbarrow to make a living in Lusaka
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Alive and Kicking Zambia managing director Chad Cotany receives an award from acting sports minister Peter Daka during the awards gala organised by Sports In Action
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A house on fire in Mongu
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Ester Phiri sustained a cut above the right eye after being hit by Terri Blair of the USA
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Mission Press director Father Miha Drevensek captures moments of the boxing bonanza in Lusaka
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Defence chiefs wait to salute for President Banda before he left for Kalabo
American boxer Terri Blair’s coach William Jarvis has saluted Esther Phiri’s courage in the ring but has some words of advice the for boxer.
Blair and Esther found-out to draw in a gruelling 10-round match-up for the vacant WIBA light welterweight title at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka on November 28.
“Esther, as far as skill goes, is not there,” Jarvis said. “But she does have a very big heart in the ring I can tell you that.”
Jarvis said he was satisfied with the draw adding that his fighter was a bit slow after the long-haul flight from the USA last Wednesday.
“I thought It was a great fight last night (On Saturday), both fighters fought valiantly and I would like a chance for a re-match.”
Sadly, Jarvis and Blair will not get a chance for a re-match in the coming six months.
Esther instead is now scheduled to fight Duda Yankovich (10-0-1) of Brazil who held the light welterweight title until injury forced her out of action last June.
The Esther-Yankovich showdown is set for May, 2010 at Mulungushi again which will stage all of the Zambian boxers home fights for the foreseeable future.
Villagers of Chipete in Mansa district have appealed to government to deploy more trained teachers to Chipete basic school to improve education standards for their children.
Chipete Basic School is the only school in the area and is over 120 Km from Mansa but has only two trained teachers.
In an interview with ZANIS, School Head Teacher Charles Chibuye said he and the other trained teacher were finding it hard to handle classes for over 430 pupils from grade one to grade nine.
Mr. Chibuye said the school has developed a combined class system to ensure that all pupils are taught.
“Because of the acute shortage of teachers we have drawn up a combined grades learning system so that we at least teach all the children who report for classes but this is not effective to offer quality education,” Mr. Chibuye said.
He said all the teachers deployed to the school last year had not reported and that there has been no replacement. He said the deployed teachers shunned to report because of the remoteness of the area and lack of staff accommodation.
Mr. Chibuye stated that because of the acute shortage of teachers at the school many children, especially girls, had resorted to getting married at a tender age.
The School Head said early marriages were predominant in the area because children were shunning classes due to lack of teachers at the school.
Meanwhile, Sub-chief Kapwepwe has appealed to government to work on Chipete road connecting his chiefdom to Mansa.
Sub Chief Kapwepwe said the bad road network and lack of phone network in his area were hindering development in his chiefdom.
In an interview with ZANIS, the traditional leader said many government workers in the Education, Agriculture and Health sectors were shunning working in the area because of the bad road network and lack of phone communication.
The Anti Voter Apathy Project (AVAP) has called on government to speed up the process of funding the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).
AVAP Executive Director Bonnie Tembo says timely funding to the ECZ will go a long way in enhancing comprehensive fresh voter registration in the country.
In a statement to ZANIS in Lusaka today, Mr. Tembo observed that the current voter register has outlived its usefulness because it has disenfranchised many eligible voters.
Mr. Tembo explained that the current voters’ register needs a complete overhaul to ensure that it is up to date because some people on the register have passed on, while others have relocated to other places.
He also noted that people who have lost either their voters cards or National Registration Cards will have an opportunity to have their documents replaced.
He said this would help curb low voter turn outs as evident in the past Chitambo, Kasama Central and Solwezi Central parliamentary by-elections. He further expressed concern that delayed funding to the ECZ will greatly disturb the institution’s constitutional and statutory functions.
Meanwhile, Mr. Tembo has also appealed to ECZ to begin the process of amending the electoral code of conduct ahead of the 2011 elections.
He noted that the electoral code of conduct in its current state can not provide the basis of promoting a level electoral playing field.
Mr. Tembo cited the media, the Police, electoral monitors and observers, the electorates, political parties and their candidates as some of the partners that should form part of the people in the amendment process of the electoral code.
ZANIS
Livingstone, November 30/09-ZANIS – Government has retaliated its commitment to the fight against Gender Based Violence.
Southern Province Minister Daniel Munkombwe said gender based violence is an act that should be eliminated whether in public and private life.
Mr. Munkombwe pointed out that the gender based violence act includes physical
and sexual assaults, neglect, verbal attacks, insults, threats, harassment and other psychological abuses.
He said this in a speech read for him by Livingstone Mayor Jorum Mwinda at the gender based violence show for Coordinated Response Centre (CRC) held at the civic centre in Livingstone on Saturday.
Mr. Munkombwe noted that violence against women was on the increase evident by several stories of violence in the media.
He stressed that gender based violence has far reaching consequences and can cause irreversible effects on the physical, psychological and social well being of an individual.
And Mr. Munkombwe charged that while gender based violence often takes place on the private sphere, it has an indirect but dramatic impact on a country’s health care system and places a severe burden on the national work force as cited by World Health Organization.
He disclosed that government remains committed in confronting gender based violence through its legal reforms which include the enactment of the proposed Anti Domestic Violence act which will among other things provide stiffer penalties for perpetrators of gender violence.
Mr. Munkombwe said this would ensure provision of quality services for survivors of violence and comprehensive protection of women’s rights.
He added that the formation of the child protection and women units is also another measure that would ensure that children are fully protected from gender violence and its effects.
At the same occasion, Bishop Raymond Mpezele of Livingstone Diocese said the church will always remain committed in the fight against gender based violence through the preaching of the word of God.
Bishop Mpezele thanked all the cooperating partners that were involved in making gender based violence road show a success in Livingstone.
The Bishop said this in a speech read for him by Fr. Clement Temba of Livingstone Catholic Diocese.
And in a vote of thanks, Livingstone Safer Zambia Project (ASAZA) Coordinated Response Centre (CRC) Advisory Council Chairperson Dorothy Velemu urged the survivors of gender based violence irrespective of gender, age and status, to report any case of violence to relevant authorities.
The Livingstone gender based violence road show was made possible with the support from Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and the diocese of Livingstone, a Safer Zambia Project (ASAZA), UNICEF and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The show was spiced up by the Sakala Brothers, the national dance troop and the Liwase drama group of Livingstone.
A civic leader in Mungwi District has appealed to government to sink boreholes in Sampa village to save people from drawing water from the crocodile infested Chambeshi River.
Iyaya ward councilor Francis Musonda made the appeal in an interview with the National Agricultural Information Services (NAIS) in Mungwi yesterday.
Mr. Musonda said many lives are threatened because people have to draw water from the river adding that recently, a girl in the area had her stomach ripped open by a crocodile as she attempted to draw water from the Chambeshi River.
The ward councilor further noted that Chambeshi River had burst its banks because of persistent rains making the situation even worse.
Mr Musonda also said that a woman escaped a crocodile attack last Thursday when she went to draw water at the same spot where the girl met her fate.
He has since appealed to the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) to hunt down the reptile so that people’s lives are safeguarded.
Councilor Musonda was in Iyaya ward to check on developments taking place in his ward.
Kabwe Mayor, Raphael Musonda has appealed to the church to help build the country on a strong spiritual foundation to promote respect for national leaders.
Mr. Musonda said that the growing trend of citizens insulting national leaders was disappointing and needed spiritual intervention hence the need for the church to take an active role to reverse the trend.
He said this in Kabwe yesterday during the ordination of three pastors, three deacons and one social worker at the Rock of Hope Assemblies Ngungu chapel.Mr Musonda noted that if insults are allowed, Zambia is likely to lose respect within Africa and the world over.He expressed worry over the attitude of politicians who fail to support each other and instead spend their time insulting at the expense of discussing developmental issues.
Meanwhile, Mr. Musonda has challenged church leaders to have passion to lead and guide the flock in a manner that would help transform Zambia into a real Christian nation. He said church leaders should always remember that they were called to
serve and provide sufficient information about Christian values.
And in his sermon, Rock of hope Overseer, Bishop Boniface Shonga said that the Christian journey called for continuity despite the many challenges citizens might go through.
Among the church leaders who were ordained included three pastors, James Bowa who is also Kabwe mayor chaplain, Muzionele Manda and Fred Mukubesa while deacons included Richard Mwansa, Rita Mutale and Elizabeth Chunga and Mr. David Simwanza was ordained as a social worker.
ZANIS
A 12 year old girl has been killed by a crocodile on Lake Kariba in Sinazongwe district in Southern Province.
Nangombe ward councilor Robson Sialukowa confirmed in an interview with ZANIS that Anita Simalugwe of Kaduku Village in Chief Sinazongwe area was killed while she was swimming in Lake Kariba.
Mr. Sialukowa said the girl who was in grade one at Nangombe Middle Basic School was found dead when the parents ran to the Lake to rescue her. He said there were a lot of crocodiles in Lake Kariba and urged the Zambia Wild Life Authority to crop the reptiles that have continued killing people in Sinazongwe.
In September a 21 year old woman of Izenga Village near Chief Sinazongwe’s palace was also killed by a crocodile while she was washing vegetables at the shores of Lake Kariba.
The ward councillor has also warned parents to avoid letting their children swim in Lake Kariba.
ZANIS
President Banda talks to All People's Congress party president Kenneth Ngondo
By Henry Kyambalesa:
The recent massive reshuffles of Permanent Secretaries and government Ministers are a clear indication of President Rupiah Banda’s utmost insensitivity to the expectations of the Zambian people. Instead of trimming his government to make it smaller and more efficient, he seems to be more obsessed with lining up the pockets of his friends, political supporters and sympathizers.
It is both irresponsible and inexcusable for Banda to continue to maintain sinecures at public expense while the country drifts further into socio-economic decay and backwardness. In fact, his failure to abolish the positions of Deputy Minister and District Commissioner, and to reduce the size of his Cabinet, defies his own sentiments and the sentiments of the late President Levy Mwanawasa.
In his speech in June 2009, for example, he decried the fact 50% of government’s domestic revenues are spent on 1% of the population, including Ministers, and wondered how provision for roads, hospitals, schools, energy, and defence and security could be met. The late Mwanawasa, too, expressed his misgivings about the bloated government when he revealed that 65% of the national budget was devoted to the sustenance of a bloated state apparatus, and that only a paltry 35% was left for education, agriculture, healthcare, roads and bridges, and so forth.
There is a need to reduce the size of the government to a smaller number of Cabinet portfolios, such as the following: (a) Education, Training and Sport; (b) Public Health and Sanitation; (c) Agriculture and Food Security; (d) Finance and Revenue; (e) Commerce and Industry; (f) Defence and Security; (g) Works, Supply and Transport; (h) Culture and Community Services; (i) Justice, Prisons and Immigration; and (j) Foreign Affairs.
Government functions which cannot be accommodated by these ministries can be delegated to executive government agencies. The savings to be made per year in this regard are enormous, as calculated below using data mainly from the Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices (Emoluments) (Amendment) Act No. 18 of 2008.
1) Permanent Secretary: K102,866,638 Salary
2) Cabinet Minister:
K75,117,124 Salary
K26,382,673 Special allowance
K26,680,000 Utility allowance
——————-
K128,179,797
3) Deputy Minister:
K70,953,196 Salary
K24,107,904 Special allowance
K 26,680,000 Utility allowance
——————-
K121,741,090
By reducing the number of Cabinet Ministers, Deputy Ministers and Permanent Secretaries for the current 23 government Ministries to 10 Ministries, Zambia would make the following savings:
13 Ministers x K128,179,797 = K1,666,337,361
43 Deputy Ministers x K121,741,090 = K5,194,866,870
13 Permanent Secretaries x K102,866,638 = K1,337,266,294
Total Savings: K8,198,470,525
These savings plus savings from the abolition of the positions of 72 District Commissioners and savings from allocations of automobiles and other assets for affected government officials are enormous.
A radical and fundamental reduction in the size of the national government is the only viable means by which Zambia can ultimately pay off the national debt, reduce taxes and interest rates to stimulate the economy and job creation, and provide adequately for the needs of education, public health, agriculture, public infrastructure, civil servants, civil service retirees, and so forth.
