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The Lusaka City Council (LCC) says it will continue demolishing illegal structures in the city.
Council Assistant Public Relations Manager Habeenzu Mulunda says this is because of the rampant proliferation of such structures in Lusaka.
Mr. Mulunda told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that it is unfortunate that some people have continued to perpetuate the act knowing fully well that it is against the law.
The Council Assistant Public Relations Manager said Lusaka City had continued looking untidy most because of some of the illegal structures.
Mr. Mulunda said the Council would ensure that only legal structures remain to avoid situations where people put up buildings on top of water service pipe lines and electricity cables.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mulunda has called on members of the general public to report any suspected illegal structures in the city.
He said once the Council receives reports of any illegal structure the local authority would not hesitate to swing into action to demolish.
He said members of the general public have not been helpful in reporting such matters and appealed to them to be proactive.
Mr. Mulunda said this is important because it is not possible for the council alone to monitor the activities of people around the city.
He appealed to all Lusaka residents to consult the council and follow the right channel of obtaining land to avoid inconveniences.
Mr. Mulunda warned that said the council would not compensate owners of illegal structure once they are demolished.
Oriental Quarries Boxing Promotions (OQBP) says it will continue securing credible opponents for local boxers to uplift boxing standards in the country.
OQBP Director of Operations Chris Malunga says the local boxing standards can improve if boxing promoters could lure internationally acclaimed boxers to fight the local boxers.
Malunga said doing so could also help in exposing local boxers to competitive international boxing standards as opposed to securing weaker opponents for the local boxers.
He revealed to ZANIS sports in an interview in Lusaka, today, that the Boxing Board of Control(BBC) voted his stables as the best boxing promoters in Africa. He said for this reason the OQB stables would continue staging quality bouts to give Zambian boxing fans value for their money.[quote]
The local stable at the weekend held a successful African Boxing Union (ABU) Cruiser weight title bout between Fraisal Arrami of Tunisia and Charles ‘Wasaja’ Chisanga. Arrami defeated Chisanga in a technical knockout in the tenth round to win the belt.
The Zambian fighter who quit the sport with the defeat also faced another tragedy after his wife Lillian collapsed watching her husband being pummeled by the Tunisian. She however recovered in a local hospital.
Meanwhile, Malunga has expressed no regret at Chisamba’s loss to the Tunisian saying the local boxer fought very well but only lost to a good boxer.
He however said Chisamba’s decision to retire soon after the fight was made out of frustration because of the loss.He said his stables will sit down with the boxer to over his fight with the Tunisian.
The Anti Voter Apathy Project has called upon political parties not to impose candidates on the people in the Solwezi Central Constituency parliamentary by-election.
AVAP Executive Director Bonnie Tembo says the last two by-elections held in Chitambo and Kasama serve as bitter lessons for political parties that ignore the will of the people.
Mr. Tembo says the adoption process for candidates should be in line with democratic principles that allow party members to have a say in selection process.
Mr. Tembo was speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today.
He said imposing candidates on the people would make it difficult for political parties to sell candidates hence denying themselves victory.
Mr. Tembo said his organisation will conduct voter education in all 5 wards covering 30 polling stations of Solwezi Central Constituency.
Meanwhile, AVAP has called upon the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to create voting streams in big polling stations to speed smooth voting.
Mr. Tembo regrets that the Solwezi Central voter’s register which has 34,633 registered voters of which factors such as death, transfers, relocation and loss of NRC and voters cards have distorted the total number of registered voters.
He has appealed to the Electoral Commission of Zambia to immediately undertake voter registration and put mechanisms to ensure continued updating.
“ECZ from the onset should make it clear whether lost replaced voters cards will be used in Solwezi Central which where a source of problems in Kasama,” he said.
AVAP has also called upon political parties to concentrate on issue based campaigns as opposed to personal attacks.
Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Li Qiangmin shows a plaque to President Banda after commissioning the CCS plant.
President Rupiah Banda says Government is appreciative of the unique economic support the nation continues to receive from China.
President Banda says during the global financial crunch, the Chinese Government did not down-size or close its companies in the country but instead increased its investment.
The President said the common history between Zambia and China has many remarkable landmarks in which Zambia has ended up with major infrastructure such as the Tanzania-Zambia Mafuta Oil Pipeline among others.
Mr. Banda said this in Chambishi today when he officially launched the Chambishi Copper Smelter on the Copperbelt Province.
He said the Copper Smelter has been setup within the Chambishi Multi-Facility Zone, whose concept is to attract manufacturing companies, in both domestic and export based categories.
He said the smelter is a major step towards the sort of economic progress that Government anticipates within the zone.
“I am glad to note that the company has already made fruitful arrangements to process copper concentrates from the recently opened Lumwana Copper Mine in North-Western Province. The Smelter is also receiving concentrates from Chambishi NFCA, Chibuluma and Kansanshi Mines. This is healthy development in the nation”, he said.
The President cited another investment by Chambishi Copper Smelter as the construction of an Electricity Power Substation that was constructed to supply power to the company at a cost of approximately US $2.8 million in which China Non Ferrous Metal Mining Group Limited Holds 60 percent shares while ZESCO Limited has 40 percent shares.
Mr. Banda called on Mining Companies operating on the Copperbelt and North-Western Province to utilize the smelter whose construction has adhered to international standards.
President Banda commissioning the electricity substation in Chambishi constructed at a cost of $28 m to power the economic zone.
He said Chambishi Copper Smelter was strategically located in the heart of the Copperbelt and was in close proximity to major concentrators at the large scale mines in Zambia.
President Banda was pleased to note that more than 600 jobs have been created and that the local people in the area could now be able to access meaningful employment.
He said Government was evidently succeeding in attracting foreign direct investment resulting in the creation of jobs for the people in the country.
Mr. Banda further expressed delight that Zambians and Chinese workers had combined and integrated as one people.
He said that was proof of the friendliness and good understanding adding that that was the best way in which foreign direct investment should take root and bear fruit in the country.
The President noted that foreign investors are an important part of the struggle to improve the quality of life for the Zambian people.
He appealed to members of Civil Society Organizations to interpret Government actions positively as the country makes an effort to bring in foreign investment.
“ Where there are ideas on how to further improve or enhance Zambia’s relationship with Foreign investors and make them more profitable to the Zambian populace, those ideas are always welcome”, he said.
And Mr. Banda says Government pursues optimum benefits for workers injured, disabled or disposed at places of work, saying certain jobs were by nature hazardous and exposed workers to long-term health risks or sudden loss of limb or life through accidents.
He cautioned authorities at the Copper Smelter to ensure that the health and safety of the employees is central.
Mr. Banda said employees are the ones that generate revenues for the company and are also the ones on whom the progress and well-being of families depend.
The President further urged the mining sector to work within the confines of the Zambian law and cooperate with the regulatory bodies such as the Zambia Safety Department and the Environmental Council of Zambia to ensure compliance with various provisions of the law.
Lufwanyama District Commissioner, Evans Pwele, has warned teachers and pupils against engaging in examinations malpractices.
Mr Pwele has also urged management at the District Education Office to strictly safe-guard the storage rooms for examination materials to protect them from unscrupulous teachers and pupils who might want to tamper with the materials.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lufwanyama, Mr Pwele warned teachers to desist from any form of examination malpractices so that pupils obtain genuine school results that will reflect their academic capabilities and help them chose professions that they can successfully pursue in life.
“This will help improve the education standards in the country and subsequently the pupils’ contribution to national development when they leave school,’ he said.
Mr Pwele warned that teachers and pupils who would be engaged in examination malpractices would be punished severely.
He said he wanted his district to have clean examinations that would be free of leakages so that the pupils will have genuine results and be able excel at college and university levels.
He said Lufwanyama had in the past been facing problems of exam malpractices induced by unscrupulous teachers and pupils.
Mr Pwele, however, said the district examinations security committee had already put measures to prevent exam malpractices this year.
Foundation for Democratic Process FODEP says the just ended Kasama Central Parliamentary By-elections were characterized with violence, electoral malpractices and breaches of the Code of conduct by political players.
FODEP Information Officer McDonald Chipenzi says his organization observed that the elections were characterized by malpractices which included vote buying.
He said that the campaigns were also marred with tribalism, racism, and pulling down of the candidates’ portraits which is contrary to the provisions of code of conduct and the Constitution.
Mr. Chipenzi, however, said FODEP is happy that the poll day was peaceful and the casting of votes proceeded without any major disruptions.
He said the election results were accepted by all participating parties despite the numerous malpractices that characterized the pre-election period.
Mr. Chipenzi disclosed that the losing candidates accepted defeat and congratulated UPND-PF pact for retaining the seat in Kasama adding that this is a good sign of maturity and can enhance Zambia’s democratic tenets.
He said FODEP is hopeful that the newly elected Member of Parliament will serve the people of Kasama Central and contribute effectively to the development of the constituency.
He noted that there was need for the new MP to promote unity and reconciliation among his electorates.
Meanwhile FODEP has advised all political parties taking part in the forthcoming Solwezi Central parliamentary by –elections to desist from politics of violence, insults,mudslinging and false promises.
Mr. Chipenzi said there is need for the participating political parties to base their campaigns on issues affecting the people in Solwezi central.
He noted that all parties should address the issues of unplanned settlement and increasing HIV/AIDS prevalence rates, road infrastructure and how to utilize agriculture potential in the area.
“FODEP feels that such issues should be discussed by all political parties taking part in the area in other fora as opposed to waiting for by-elections,” said Mr. Chipenzi.
He said FODEP expects all political players to co-exist regardless of their political, religious and tribal inclinations.
ZANIS
The Movement for Multi Party Democracy (MMD) has suspended embattled former defense Minister George Mpombo from the Party with immediate effect.
Copperbelt Provincial MMD Chairman Joseph Chilabwe confirmed the development in an Interview with ZANIS in Kitwe today.
Mr. Chilabwe said Mr. Mpombo who is also a former National Executive Committee member will receive his suspension letter soon.
He said the Party has decided to suspend Mr Mpombo because he had brought the name of the ruling party in disrepute and his actions and utterances on various national and party issues boarder on treason.
He said Mr. Mpombo has continued to defy his oath of allegiance to the President and nation at large and gone out of his way to destroy the Party.
He added that the MMD was aware that Mr Mpombo had joined the Patriotic Front and United Party for National Development Pact.
Mr. Chilabwe alleged that the MMD was aware that Mr. Mpombo was being used to destroy the Party and was only clinging to the ruling Party because of the gratuity.
He added that the former defense Minister was attacking President Banda viciously because he had failed to impress the President with his bootlicking character.
Mr. Chilabwe further said the Party will not allow him to insult the President and destroy the Party from inside.
He also said the Party will proceed to lay grounds for the expulsion and will not allow him to exculpate himself because his actions were clear.
President Rupiah Banda has arrived on the Copper belt to officially open the Chambishi Copper Smelter which is expected to employ over 600 Zambians.
The Zambia Air force Plane carrying the President touched down at Kalulushi South Down Airport at exactly 09:20 hours.
The President was accompanied by Acting Minister of Mines and Mineral Development Peter Daka, Energy Minister Kenneth Konga, his special assistant for Press and Public Relations Dickson Jere and other senior Government Officials.
On hand to receive the President was Copperbelt Minister Mwansa Mbulakulima his Permanent Secretary Villie Lombanya, Movement for Multi Party Democracy Copper belt (MMD) Provincial Chairman Joseph Chilabwe and all copper belt based District Commissioners.
The President immediately proceeded to Chambeshi to officially open the China Nonferrous Metal Mining Group Limited, Smelter which has the capacity to produce 150 000 copper blister per year
Mr. Banda will return to Lusaka immediately after the official opening of the Smelter.
Bank of Zambia (BOZ) Governor Caleb Fundanga says the global financial crisis is a clear demonstration that there are still critical deficiencies in risk management systems.
Dr. Fundanga cites the identification of key risks both within and across borders, the assessment of risks, including stress testing and macro-prudential analysis to determine the impact on the financial system as some of the areas requiring enhancements.
He said other areas in need of enhancements include monitoring, developing coordination protocols, reviewing the regulatory frameworks, adopting appropriate risk management frameworks and adopting international accounting standards.
Dr. Fundanga was speaking in Lusaka today when he officially opened a one-day regional seminar on Consolidated Supervision jointly organized by the Financial Sector Management Programme of the Macro-Economic and Financial Institute of Eastern and Southern Africa (MEFMI) and the Financial Stability Institute of the Bank for International Settlements.
The BOZ Governor said while the structural deficiencies were not new, the current crisis had brought them to the fore.
He said the speed at which the crisis has spread across the globe indicates that the development of coherent and rigorous frameworks for maintaining financial stability came too late for several countries, adding that this has lead to unplanned and inconsistent policy responses.
Dr. Fundanga said over the years, there has been a process of change that has allowed many financial organizations worldwide to adopt more flexible structures where they have established a wide range of subsidiaries and affiliates that are engaged in business lines different from the core business of the parent financial institution.
The Lusaka City Council (LCC) says it will continue demolishing illegal structures in the city.
Council Assistant Public Relations Manager Habeenzu Mulunda says this is because of the rampant proliferation of such structures in Lusaka.
Mr. Mulunda told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that it is unfortunate that some people have continued to perpetuate the act knowing fully well that it is against the law.
The Council Assistant Public Relations Manager said Lusaka City had continued looking untidy most because of some of the illegal structures.
Mr. Mulunda said the Council would ensure that only legal structures remain to avoid situations where people put up buildings on top of water service pipe lines and electricity cables.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mulunda has called on members of the general public to report any suspected illegal structures in the city.
He said once the Council receives reports of any illegal structure the local authority would not hesitate to swing into action to demolish.
He said members of the general public have not been helpful in reporting such matters and appealed to them to be proactive.
Mr. Mulunda said this is important because it is not possible for the council alone to monitor the activities of people around the city.
He appealed to all Lusaka residents to consult the council and follow the right channel of obtaining land to avoid inconveniences.
Mr. Mulunda warned that said the council would not compensate owners of illegal structure once they are demolished.
President Rupiah Banda is today expected on the Copperbelt Province where he is scheduled to officially open the Copper Smelter at Chambishi Copper Refinery in Chambishi.
According to a programme released by the Provincial Administration in Ndola yesterday, the President was expected to touch down at South Downs Airport in Kalulushi at 08:00hours.
He will then proceed to the Chambishi Copper Smelter where he will be received by the Chinese Ambassador to Zambia and some senior government officials.
President Banda is among other things expected to unveil the footstone of the plant and tour the plant.
He will then have a private lunch at Itimpi in Kitwe after which he is expected to depart for Lusaka from South Downs Airport.
MORE than two million litres of petrol arrived in the country yesterday in Government’s effort to control the shortage of the commodity.
And Government has refuted reports that there is a shortage of all petroleum products across the country, saying there are adequate stocks of diesel.
Minister of Energy and Water Development, Kenneth Konga said in an interview yesterday that more than 28 trucks carrying 980,000 litres of petrol were cleared at Nakonde border post and offloaded the commodity in Ndola.
Mr Konga said another 28 trucks which came through Chirundu border offloaded more than 980,000 litres of petrol in Lusaka Province.
“So far, more than 56 trucks carrying petrol have been cleared at both borders and we are expecting more trucks to be cleared today to ease the petrol shortage,” Mr Konga said.
He said Indeni refinery yesterday offloaded 300,000 litres of petrol on the market.
Mr Konga urged members of the public not to panic and said the situation is expected to normalise by today.
“I can assure Zambians that things will normalise today because Government is doing everything possible to arrest the situation,” he said.
Mr Konga said Government is expected to import 30 million litres of petrol and that Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) are expected to import 11 million litres.
Government has since suspended the 25 per cent import duty imposed on OMCs to enable them speed up the supply of petrol.
And Mr Konga has refuted reports that there is a shortage of all petroleum products, saying the only commodity which is in short supply is petrol.
“All the petroleum products except petrol are in excess supply, including diesel,” Mr Konga said.
Meanwhile, a survey conducted yesterday at most filling stations in Lusaka revealed that petrol is still in short supply.
Some managers at some filling stations said they were expecting enough stocks to be offloaded by evening.
“We are expecting petrol tonight (last night) and we are hopeful that the situation will normalise,” one manager said.
And Energy Regulations Board (ERB) acting executive director, Lukonde Mfula says no filling station is hoarding petrol.
Mr Mfula said all the filling stations inspected are selling all the stocks of petrol in their possession.
“All the filling stations across the city are selling what they have…no filling station has been found hoarding petrol,” Mr Mfula said.
Last Saturday, Mr Konga directed the ERB to conduct a random dipping survey in filling stations to ascertain if they are hoarding petrol.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
Government has passionately appealed to Zambians to use the country’s 45th independence celebrations to promote unity in diversity.
Chief Government Spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha said unity in diversity was one sure way of honouring heroes that fought for the political independence of Zambia.
Lt.Gen Shikapwasha said this when he launched the 2009 independence week on the national broadcaster, the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) last evening.
He urged Zambians in the political, social and religious realms to put aside their differences and celebrate independence with the oneness it deserves.
He called on political parties, civil society and religious groupings to mobilize their members and celebrate the independence anniversary in peace and unity.
Lt. Gen Shikapwasha, who is also Information and Broadcasting Services Minister, said unity in diversity was an effective recipe for achieving economic independence, which the country so much desires.
He appealed for the preservation of the unity and peace which Zambia has enjoyed in the last 45 years of political independence.
Zambia celebrates her 45th independence anniversary on October 24th.
THE UPND/PF pact says attempts by suspended UPND Namwala MP Robby Chizyuka to break the pact will not yield any positive result because he has no capacity to do so.
In an interview in Lusaka yesterday, co-spokesperson of the pact Charles Kakoma said Major Chizyuka has no capacity to break the pact.
Mr Kakoma said Maj. Chizyuka’s attempt is in vain and that ‘the revolutionary wing of the pact will sweep him away’.
He said if Mr Maj. Chizyuka wants to test the ability of the pact, he should resign, adding that he won’t be able to retain his parliamentary seat.
“If he wants to test his ability, let him resign from the party and go and test the people of Namwala because, I can assure him, he will lose should he attempt to re-contest the seat,” he said.[quote]
Mr Kakoma said the disciplinary committee will meet this Wednesday to determine Maj. Chizyuka’s fate.
“Major Chizyuka has not even responded to the charges levelled against him, so the disciplinary committee will be meeting to determine his case and, whatever his fate, he will be informed,” Mr Kakoma said.
Maj. Chizyuka on Saturday vowed to ensure that the pact between his party and the PF is broken because it does not represent the wishes of the majority in the party.
He was suspended from the party a week ago for allegedly inciting some party members to oppose the pact.
Maj. Chizyuka said he will not relent in speaking out against the pact until it is abandoned.
He said no threat of expulsion would force him to resign from the UPND because he loves the party and has spent a lot to ensure that it got to its current status.
PRESIDENT Banda’s lawyer Christopher Mundia says he will resume contempt of court proceedings against Post editor-in-chief Fred M’membe in the Lusaka High Court.
This follows the Supreme Court’s decision to dismiss the Post’s appeal in a case in which Mr Banda sued the company for defamation of character and contempt of court.
“We are going to apply to the court for new dates of hearing contempt proceedings. As soon as the court gives us fresh dates, the case will resume,” Mr Mundia said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday.
Last Friday, the Supreme Court dismissed the whole appeal with costs to Mr Banda on grounds that it has no merit.
The appeal was against Lusaka High Court Judge Charles Kajimanaga’s ruling which dismissed two preliminary issues raised by The Post in contempt proceedings against M’membe.
On September 26, 2008 Mr Banda, who was acting President then, filed a writ of summons and statement of claim in the High Court to seek damages for defamation by The Post.
Through Mr Mundia, Mr Banda simultaneously applied for an ex parte order of interlocutory injunction to restrain The Post from publishing libellous words against him.
The ex parte order was granted on September 27, 2009, but the next day the newspaper published allegedly defamatory articles, which were perceived to be a defiance and disregard of the injunction order the court granted earlier on.
Mr Mundia then filed summons for leave to commence contempt proceedings against M’membe.
But on October 2, 2008 The Post, through its lawyers George Chisanga and Remmy Mainza, raised two preliminary issues.
The first preliminary issue was whether it was proper for Mr Mundia to swear to the affidavit on behalf of Mr Banda in such a highly contentious matter.
The second was whether the ex parte order for leave to commence contempt proceedings, granted to Mr Banda, must be vacated on grounds that such an order is provisional and is liable to be vacated on sufficient grounds.
In his ruling, Mr Justice Kajimanga said he was satisfied that the affidavit in support of an ex parte application for leave to commence committal proceedings was properly deposed and he accordingly dismissed the preliminary issues.
This prompted Mr Mainza and Mr Chisanga to appeal to the Supreme Court where Mr Justice Silomba and Supreme Court Judge Peter Chitengi heard the appeal.
In his judgement, Mr Justice Silomba said the Supreme Court clearly understood that Mr Mundia’s application for leave to commence contempt proceedings against M’membe was in compliance with procedure under Rule 2(1), (2) and (3) of the Supreme Court Rules.
