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Zambia’s international reserves of $1.7bn highest in 38 years-Fundanga

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Bank of Zambia Governor Dr. Caleb Fundanga
Bank of Zambia Governor Dr. Caleb Fundanga

THE Central Bank says Zambia’s international reserves, now standing at US$ 1.7 billion, are the highest attained in the last 38 years.

Bank of Zambia Governor Caleb Fundanga said international reserves are expected to rise to about five months of import cover by the end of 2009.
Dr Fundanga said this in Lusaka yesterday during a third quarter briefing.

He said international reserves stood at US$1.4 billion before Zambia was hit by the global financial crisis.

“Having adequate reserves is important because if there is any external shock, the reserves can help to stabilise the Kwacha and cover up imports,” he said.
Dr Fundanga said Zambia’s overall balance of payments support position improved to a surplus of US$ 645.5 million in the third quarter.

He attributed Zambia’s balance of payment position to improvement in both the current (exports earnings that rose by 45.7 per cent) and the capital and financial accounts.

Dr Fundanga said capital and financial account surplus had a large increase to US$532 million from US$129.7 million recorded the previous quarter.

He attributed the increase in capital and financial accounts mainly to receipt of special drawing rights of US$627.3 million from the International Monetary Fund and an increase in capital transfers to US$65 million compared to US$41.4 million in the previous quarter.

Dr Fundanga said the gross domestic product (GDP) growth as projected by the Central Statistical Office at 6.3 per cent for this year was primarily driven by increased output in the mining, construction and agricultural sectors.

He said mining is projected to grow by 21 per cent, construction by 15.5 per cent and agriculture by 7.1 percent.

Dr Fundanga said growth in manufacturing was supported by increased output of cement, clear beer, soft drinks and milk by 30.4 per cent, 11 per cent, 15.4 per cent and 14.9 per cent respectively.

During the quarter under review, total output of soft drinks increased by 15.4 per cent to 91.968 hectolitres from 79,654 hectolitres produced the previous year.

BoZ also notes that production of milk increased by 14.9 per cent to 7,923,382 litres from 6,892,785 litres produced in the previous quarter.

He said tourism also registered an increased number of arrivals at the country’s four international airports to 102,918 passengers from 88,066 passengers in the second quarter of 2009.

He further said the number of tourists visiting national parks was 26,720 in the third quarter of 2009, up from 11,440 in the previous quarter.

Dr Fundanga said total investment pledges in the real estate sector stood at US$622.8million, compared to US$567.2 million in the second quarter.

He said when fully executed, the pledges were expected to generate 5,594 jobs.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

Church and State are partners – Shawa

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Lusaka Province Minister, Charles Shawa has asked the Church to assist government in addressing the emerging alcohol abuse among youths in the country.

Mr Shawa says the Church can play an important role in counseling the young people on alcohol abuse to address some of the social ills that afflict society and restoring morality among young people.

He said this during the dedication church service for the Chainda Seventh Day Adventist Church in Lusaka today.

Mr Shawa has since commended the Seventh Day Adventist Church for its robust social policy that has seen the opening of Universities, Hospitals and schools among many others that have benefited the less privileged in society.

He challenged the church to double its efforts in supplementing government’s poverty intervention programmes aimed at fighting disease, poverty, illiteracy and destitution in the country.

And speaking earlier, Seventh Day Adventist Church Central Zambia Conference President, Pastor Passmore Mulambo, said his church is non-partisan and will continue working with the Zambian government in the provision of social services.

Pastor Mulambo further said the church should be in the forefront of preaching and promoting peace and unity among all political players in the country.

ZANIS

RB arrives in Rome

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President Rupiah Banda has arrived in Rome, Italy to attend the World summit on Food Security which officially opens tomorrow.

The plane carrying President Banda touched down at Ciampino airport in Rome at 12:45 hours after a one and half hour flight from the Libyan capital Tripoli where he arrived yesterday.

Zambia’s ambassador to Italy Lucy Mungoma and other senior government officials were on hand to receive the President on arrival.

The head of state was later driven to Westin Excelstor hotel where he will stay while in Rome.

The world summit on food security, the third at head of state and government level, since 1996, has been convened by the Food and Agriculture Organisation, FAO, of the United Nations, to secure a broad consensus on the total eradication of hunger from the world by 2025.

The summit has been called against a backdrop of increasing global food insecurity worsened by the global economic crisis with food prices remaining stubbornly high beyond the reach of most people.

The FAO says it is unacceptable that over one billion people worldwide, mostly in developing countries, do not have enough food to meet their daily nutritional needs.

Director General Jacques Diouf says the UN organisation further estimates that the number of hungry mouths worldwide could increase by 100 million as a result of the global economic and financial crisis.

He says significant additional investment in agriculture averaging 209 billion US dollars per year, is required in primary agriculture and downstream services such as storage and marketing in to eliminate poverty and achieve food security in developing countries.

For Zambia, President Banda and his delegation bring to the summit an encouraging overall national food security situation in which the 2009 maize yield stands at 1.89 million tonnes, 31 percent above the 2008 harvest.

Statistics also show that wheat production increased by 5 percent over the 2008 output.

The good harvest is attributed to the good agricultural policies government has put in place such as the farmer input support programme which has made inputs not only affordable, but also accessible and available to farmers throughout the country.

According to the provisional programme, the official opening of the summit is set for about 10:00 hours Zambian time.

This will be followed by the election of the Chairperson and vice chairperson respectively.

ZANIS

Govt is proud of judiciary-Vice President Kunda

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Vice-President George Kunda
Vice-President George Kunda

Vice President George Kunda says government is proud of the judiciary in the country.

Mr Kunda said the Judiciary has continued to maintain peace in the country.

He was responding to a question that Plunderers were being protected by the Judiciary when he featured on SKY FM, a local radio station in Monze.

The Vice-President noted that the Zambian judiciary was highly rated among the Commonwealth countries and that government had confidence in the bench.

”We are proud of our Judiciary. The Judiciary has done wonders in this country and it is highly rated in the Commonwealth and we have confidence in the bench,” he said.

”We have always relied on the Judiciary in this country and sometimes justice is done in favour of the government and sometimes in that of the opposition”, he said.

The Vice-President also reminded Patriotic Front (PF) leader Micheal Sata that he was one of those people that had benefited from the Judiciary when he was accused of motor vehicle theft and he was later acquitted by the Judiciary.[quote]

Meanwhile, Mr Kunda advised the United Party for National Development (UPND) President Hakainde Hichilema to be careful of the UPND-PF pact because Mr Sata was a trickster who would use him and later dump him.

Mr Kunda advised Mr Hichilema to align himself with a constituency if he wants to become Vice-President.

Mr Kunda further said it was not true that the MMD was sponsoring Namwala Member of Parliament Major Robby Chizyuka.

He said Major Chizyuka was a principled man who truly appreciated the development that MMD was taking to the area.

”Accommodating Major Chizyuka is not to say that we are part of his differences in the UPND. The UPND is dictatorial and that party is on the brink of collapse,” he said.

Mr Kunda is tomorrow expected to hold public rallies at Mudenda and Dobo grounds in Choma district.

ZANIS

Nakonde traditional leader condemns early marriages

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A traditional ruler in Northern Province has condemned some parents who are withdrawing their girl children from school in preference to early marriages.
Chieftainess Nawaitwika of the Namwanga people of Nakonde district has also expressed great concern over the increased number of elderly people murdered on suspicion of practicing witchcraft.
Speaking at Mutakwa basic school yesterday during her tour of her chiefdom, Chieftainess Nawaitwika said she was upset to learn that they were some parents still withdrawing their girl children from school in preference to early marriages.
She charged that withdrawing of the girl child from school at a tender age would greatly affect the literacy levels of the district.
The traditional ruler said education was the backbone of the nation’s economy and this was the reason why the government was committed to improving infrastructure and conditions of service for the teachers.
“Low education levels do not only affect the nation but also individual households as they fail to come up with even simple budgets for their families,” Chieftainess Nawaitwika noted.
Chieftainess Nawaitwika has since directed all the village chairpersons to ensure that names of parents and guardians withdrawing their girl children from school at a tender age to be noted and submitted to her for action.
She warned that whoever will be found to be frustrating the education of the girl child will face her wrath and that of the government.
She called on her subjects to participate fully in community programmes to improve their living standards.
And Chieftainess Nawaitwika says she is not happy with the continued killing of innocent elderly people on suspicion of practicing witchcraft.
She has since appealed to her subjects to surrender all illegal firearms usually used in the killing of the elderly people in the area before the law takes its course.
The traditional ruler was accompanied by the District Commissioner Edwin Sinyinza, deputy council secretary Felix Siame and council chairman Luka Simusamba on the tour.
[ZANIS]

DC calls for investment in Sesheke

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Sesheke District Commissioner Sachibuye Mwanangombe has called on investors to take advantage of the growing cattle population in the district to invest in abattoirs and other viable businesses.

He told ZANIS in an interview that despite the booming cattle population in the district there is no abattoir in Sesheke hampering the development of the beef industry.

He appealed to both local and international investors to venture into the livestock sector by putting up facilities like abattoirs to encourage cattle farming.

ZANIS

Senior immigration officer arrested for aiding prohibited immigrants

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Security officials at Nakonde border post in Northern Province have arrested a senior immigration officer for allegedly aiding prohibited immigrants to enter the country.

Northern division police commanding officer Charles Lungu has confirmed the arrest of Geoffrey Sakala, an immigration officer-in-charge based at the Mbala office.

Mr. Lungu told ZANIS in Nakonde today that Sakala was arrested yesterday at Wulongo police check point in Nakonde with four Somali nationals in his Toyota Corona car registration number ABT 3015.

“Yes I can confirm to you that we are holding a senior immigration officer at our Nakonde police station cells. The officer identified as Geoffrey Sakala was arrested yesterday for aiding prohibited immigrants to enter the country,” Mr. Lungu said.

Sakala, who was transferred to Mbala office about seven months ago from Nakonde border control post, allegedly picked the prohibited immigrants from a Tanzanian border town of Tunduma into Zambia using illegal routes.The prohibited immigrants were on their way to Lusaka.
He said Sakala has since been charged with one count of aiding prohibited immigrants and would appear in court tomorrow November, 16, 2009, before magistrate John Kajiko Njapau.

Mr. Lungu added that the four prohibited immigrants are also detained at Nakonde police station and would be dealt with by the department of the immigration. A security official who declined to be named said Sakala’s vehicle was almost shot at by the police as he attempted to escape the drag net.

“We would have opened fire on the officer because he failed to stop at the police check point. We were suspicious of what he was carrying in his tinted personal car. He realised after driving for some distance that things were not okay. We were charging towards his car so he stopped,” the security officer said.

Over 100 Somali nationals have been arrested at Nakonde border this year alone as they attempt to enter the country illegally. Some have been prosecuted in the courts of law, fined and deported back to their country of origin while others are still appearing in court on the same charges.

Meanwhile, the Northern division police chief has disclosed that police have made progress in having the three suspects behind the ruthless killing of a Nakonde taxi driver extradited back to Zambia to stand trial.

Mr. Lungu said the three Tanzanian nationals who are still in custody will be extradited to Zambia through the International Police (INTERPOL).
Kelvin Wusiku, 26, of Nakonde’s Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) customs compound was brutally murdered in September this year and his car stolen. The suspects were later apprehended at Vwawa in Mbozi district of Tanzania, about 30 km from Nakonde border.
The car has also been recovered.
ZANIS

Kafue gets K35m police post

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Construction of a K35 million police post in Kafue’s Mungu area aimed at curbing crime is now complete.

Mungu Ward councilor Obvious Mwaliteta told ZANIS in an interview in Kafue yesterday that government through the Constituency Development Funds provided money to construct the police post. He said the post will go a long way in curbing crime in the area.

Mr. Mwaliteta said that Mungu area in Kafue has been a crime spot for a long time where hardcore criminals from as far as Lusaka hide themselves. He also said the area was notorious for cattle rustling and expressed hope that residents will now live in peace.

Mr. Mwaliteta said the only thing remaining was the hand over of the building to the Zambia Police Service so that they can provide manpower. He said accommodation for the officer was already in place and the community is ready to support the police in reducing crime in the area.

ZANIS

Man gets 5 years for illegal possession of ivory

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The Mongu Magistrate Court has sentenced a 31 year old man to five years imprisonment with hard labour for unlawful possession of ivory contrary to section 91 and 136 (2)(a) of the Wildlife Act numer 12 of 1998 of the laws of Zambia.

Appearing before Resident Magistrate Benson Mwanandiwa was Mutumbu Chingumbe of Nangweshi area in Shangombo district.

Particulars of the offence were that Mutumbu, on November 4 this year at Nangweshi in Shangombo district, jointly and whilst acting together with other unknown people did have in his possession prescribed trophy without a certificate of ownership issued to his respect.The prescribed trophy namely one ivory, four cut pieces of Ivory, 51 Ivory bungles collectively weighing 36kg were found in his possession.

And in mitigation, Mutumbu who pleaded guilty to the offence, pleaded with the court to exercise lenience on him saying that he has four children aged less than five years old and that both he and his wife are unemployed.

The court sentenced him to five years imprisonment with hard labour and granted the prosecution to hand over the said trophies.

ZANIS

Gaddafi hosts dinner for RB

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President Rupiah Banda in Libya
President Rupiah Banda in Libya

President Muammar Gaddafi last night hosted an official dinner for President Rupiah Banda and his Chadian counterpart Idris Debie in the capital Tripoli.

Before the dinner was served in a tent in the outskirts of Tripoli, the two leaders met on a one-on-one basis.

Also in attendance at the dinner was agriculture minister Dr Brian Chituwo, Zambia’s ambassador to Libya Mulondwe Muzungu, President Banda’s special assistant for economy Dr Richard Chembe and his counterpart for press and public relations Dickson Jere.

President Banda who is also chairman of the Great Lakes Region Peace Initiative, arrived in Libya yesterday and held joint talks with current African Union chairman president Gaddafi and Idris Debie of Chad.

The Zambian head of state, whose delegation includes First Lady Thandiwe, leaves Tripoli for Rome, Italy, today, to attend the World summit on Food Security which opens tomorrow.

Mrs Banda is later today expected to be among other First Ladies scheduled to attend the Second Non Aligned Movement First Ladies Summit which will discuss Food Security and women’s Access to Resources.

ZANIS

Zambians abroad and Money

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By Bishop Jeston & Rev Charity Katebe
www.royalglobalchurch.org

If there’s a subject that the Lord Jesus taught a lot more than others during His physical presence on earth, it is money and property. The Apostle Paul also writes that, “For the LOVE of money is root to ALL evil…” (1 Timothy 6:10), which is often misquoted as ‘money is the root of all evil.’ Jesus spoke so much about money because He knew how important it is to humans and some effects it can have.[quote]

We have met and prayed with a number of Zambians and other Africans in the developed countries who have left their families in hope that when they find a better living (ways of earning money).Some say they will try and get their families over and others still, want to raise money and go back home then start some business. The need to have money causes us to sacrifice a lot of things.

Of course there should be a limit to the sacrifices that we make. What shall it profit us to earn a lot of money and lose other things that are valuable also? We have seen how immigrants work so many hours even at the expense of their health and relationships, to earn the ‘mighty’ dollar (Matthew 6:19?24). The problem is that in most cases we stretch ourselves with financial commitments such as credit card debt (we use money we don’t have), store debt (keeping up with the Jones-es) and support of relatives (whom sometimes we have given false impressions) back home and at the same time provide a living for ourselves.

Money or the desire to have it should not steal valuable things from us. We should set priorities such as the relationship with God (who gives us the strength to earn a living) must be our first (John 15:5), and then our spouses and children (If we have any). We need to realise that riches are temporary (1 Timothy 6:17), they fly away some times. Let money be a servant and not our master, to control us. Let’s purpose to live within our income as life does not consist in the abundance of things one has (Luke 12:15).

Walk by Faith

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TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“For we walk by faith, not by sight”
(II Corinthians 5:7, NKJV)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria

Are you walking by faith or sight today? In other words, are you choosing to believe God no matter what your circumstances look like, or are you making decisions and focusing your mind on what you can see.

As believers, we have to remember that we aren’t just subject to this natural realm–what we can see, hear, touch, and smell. No, we have access to the unseen, supernatural realm where all the promises and blessings of God are stored. When you choose to walk by faith, you are opening a door from the natural realm to the supernatural realm and drawing the blessings of God into your life.

Remember: with God seeing isn’t believing; believing is seeing! Throughout the day, begin to declare, “Father, I want to thank You that my payday is coming. You said no good thing will You withhold because I walk uprightly. I believe even right now You’re arranging things in my favor.” As you walk and live by faith, you will live a life pleasing to God. You’ll see His blessing and favor in abundance, and you’ll fulfill the destiny He has in store for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

“Heavenly Father, today I choose to walk by faith. I choose to believe Your Word no matter what things look like in the natural. I know You are working behind the scenes, and You will open up doors of blessing and favor in every area of my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”

Sinazongwe Cholera cases persist

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Cholera cases have persisted in Sinazongwe district in Southern province since the disease break out last month.

Sinazongwe District Public Health officer Elias Chilwana disclosed in an interview that the number of cumulative cases has reached 30 and one person has since died.

Mr. Chilwana said the cases were being treated at Sinazeze clinic as most people that were being affected were coming within the same area.

However, Mr Chilwana stated that most cholera cases were from Nkandabwe Collum Coal Mine’s (CCM) shaft two because of the poor environmental hygiene within the mining area.

He said he had since written to the CCM management to improve hygiene conditions at the mine but that the company had failed to comply with the one week period given to them to address the issues.

The District Public Health Officer noted that the scenario at the mine was disturbing because the company has contributed to the spread of Cholera cases as result of supplying untreated water and their sanitary facilities were of poorly designed.

In January more than 139 people were affected by cholera in Sinazongwe district resulting in the closure of several Schools as some were turned into Cholera centers.

ZANIS

President Rupiah Banda holds talks with Gaddafi and Debie

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President Rupiah Banda this afternoon held joint talks with his Libyan counterpart Muammar Gaddafi and Chadian president Idris Debie in the Libyan capital Tripoli.

The talks which lasted about one hour were held in a tent in the heart of Tripoli where host president Gaddafi received President Banda and president Debie.

Zambia’s ambassador to Libya Mulondwe Muzungu later told ZANIS in an interview that the three presidents had warm exchanges on a variety of issues.

He said president Banda and President Gaddafi were due to hold bilateral talks later this evening.

Earlier on arrival at Tripoli international airport at 14:50 hours, President Banda, was received by Libyan foreign affairs minister Mousa Kousa, Zambia’s ambassador to Libya Mulondwe Muzungu and other Zambian and Libyan government officials.

The president is accompanied by First Lady Thandiwe, agriculture minister Brian Chituwo and the president’s special assistant for economy and press and public relations Dr Richard Chembe and Dickson Jere respectively.

President Banda leaves Libya for Rome, Italy, tomorrow to attend the United Nations World Summit on Food Security which opens on Monday, November 16th and closes on Wednesday, November 18th.

ZANIS

Mbula appeals for land reserves for diplomats in Foreign Service

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Zambia's High Commission to South Africa, Leslie Mbula
Zambia's High Commission to South Africa, Leslie Mbula

Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa Leslie Mbula has appealed to local authorities in the country to reserve pieces of land for officers serving in foreign missions to build houses once recalled back home.

Mr. Mbula said it had become a trend for councils to forget about diplomats, a situation which had led to many recalled officers becoming destitute once they were recalled from Foreign Service.

Mr. Mbula said this in statement signed by Second Secretary for press at the Zambian High Commission in South Africa Philip Chirwa and made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today.

“I appeal to our councils in Zambia to reserve some pieces of land for which our men and women serving in Foreign Service can apply so that when they return home, they will have a roof over their heads,” he said.

Mr. Mbula made the appeal when Ndola mayor Charles Chiwalu paid a courtesy call on him at the Pretoria Chancery on Friday.

The Ndola Mayor together with his Town Clerk, Charity Mpande-Nanda, Director of Finance Victor Mazimba and three Councilors are attending a workshop on local government in Johannesburg.

Mr. Mbula however noted that there is no point in someone having money in their pockets when they have no shelter over their head.

“I appeal to my officers to prepare for their recall by ensuring that they take advantage of their presence here to build a house or two back home. The problem some of them have been facing is acquiring land. If the land was available, they would build these houses.” Mr. Mbula added.

And in reply the Ndola Mayor Charles Chiwalu said his council was reserving land for Foreign Service men and women.

“Before the late President Levy Mwanawasa, died, he directed the Council to set aside some land for diplomats. We did that and I am happy today that a number of diplomats have benefited from this arrangement,” Mr. Chiwalu added.

ZANIS

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