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Algeria stayed top of Group C after beating Rwanda 3-1 in Blida this evening.
Algeria shift from 10 to 13 points, three ahead of Egypt whom they face in the Group C climax in Cairo on November 14 to decide which side goes to the 2010 World Cup.
The result means Zambia need only a draw away in Kigali to book their place at next January’s Africa Cup finals to join Algeria and Egypt.
Zambia are on 4 points in 3rd place while Rwanda are 4th and bottom with 1 point.
As in last week’s article (Acts 9:1-5), when Paul asked the Lord Jesus, “Who are you, Lord?”, the Lord answered him, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,” and the next question was, “Lord, what do you want me to do?” In both instances he called Jesus Christ, Lord. He acknowledged His supreme authority and was ready to be subject to Him. In Luke 6:46, Jesus marveled and said, ”But why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?”
In this article we will dwell on Paul’s second question. We believe it could have two implications. The first is, what do you want me to do immediately and the second could mean, what do you want me to do in life. If you have chosen to be on pursuit to know Jesus and the power of His resurrection, then this is the next stage in your life, to know what He wants you to do. This does not mean that you will stop everything until you know the “will of God.” We believe that knowing the “will of God,” starts with simple obedience to what He has already reviewed in His word, such as “love your neighbour as yourself,” “Forgive one another…,” “Be holy…,” “Give and it shall be give…,” “No work, no eat,” and many other simple instructions. Why should God entrust us with ‘bigger’ plans that He has for us, if we cannot obey the day-to-day instructions that He has given us (Luke 16:10).
As Paul lived to hear the Lord answering this question, we must also endeavor to hear the answers to our personal question, “What do you want ME to do?” We have for a long time listened to what we and others want us to do but it’s time to hear from the Lord, of His plans (Jeremiah 11:29). Paul had made up his mind to live for Christ as long as he was on earth (Philippians 1:21) and was concerned about the needs of others (Philippians 1:23-24). This position can only be attained by the knowledge we have of the Lord and so the love of God will compel us to live for others.
We are living in a day and time where it’s all supposed to be about ‘me, myself and I.’ We must repent and come back to the place where we can live for others and in so doing, we do it to the Lord (Matthew 25:44-45).
VICE-PRESIDENT George Kunda has said that the Zambia Public Procurement
Authority (ZPPA) has granted authority to import fuel into the country to mitigate a shortage of petrol and diesel.
Mr Kunda said this in an interview in Ndola yesterday in light of the fuel shortage that has resulted in many filling stations running out of supplies and causing panic buying among motorists.
“The ZPPA has granted authority for supplies to be brought in, in case of any eventuality,” Mr Kunda said.
He said Government, through Minister of Energy and Water Development Kenneth Konga, is making efforts to normalise the supply of fuel.
“We will react to that and ensure that we are on top of things. Fuel is an essential commodity. There are a lot of things we are doing like agriculture and in agriculture we use diesel,” Mr Konga said.
He said Government is committed to ensuring that there is sufficient fuel in the country even when the Indeni Petroleum Refinery is shut down for routine maintenance.
And Ministry of Energy and Water Development permanent secretary, Peter Mumba, has said that the shortage of fuel is due to a technical constraint at Indeni.
Peter Mumba said at a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday that catalyst, a component in refining petrol, has weakened.
He said this is what has contributed to the reduction in petrol supply on the market.
Mr Mumba said that while the current production met a larger portion of the demand, the situation has been compounded by uncertainly of future supplies by not only the consumers but fuel suppliers as well.
Mr Mumba said that in order to have stocks during the shut-down, 15 million litres of petrol and 25 million litres of diesel will be imported.
“Loading of these products in Dar es Salaam will begin on Wednesday October 14, 2009 with the view to having the fuel start arriving in Ndola five days thereafter,” he said.
Mr Mumba explained that a 90,000 MT shipment of petroleum feedstock was received on September 23, 2009, and will last the country until around November 20, 2009.
He said another shipment has been ordered for consumption in late November and December this year.
Mr Mumba said it is for this reason that the refinery shut-down is now being aligned to the arrival of the imported fuel after next weekend.
He said TAZAMA yesterday issued 1.5 million litres of diesel and 700,000 litres of petrol to sustain the market.
Mr Mumba said the refinery will, however, continue to operate, but at reduced production.
He said the refinery will today transfer to Ndola Fuel Terminal two million litres of diesel and one million litres of petrol.
Mr Mumba said oil marketing companies will, therefore, buy fuel on Monday and another similar pump-over will be made on Tuesday this week.
“This will continue until sufficient quantities of imports are in the country to allow the refinery shut-down,” he said.
Mr Mumba said while the concern by both consumers and oil marketing companies regarding future supplies is understandable, the shortage is temporary.
He appealed to the general public to remain calm as the fuel supply will be normalised by the arrival of new fuel imports.
Meanwhile, ALEX NJOVU reports that while Kitwe is not adversely affected by the fuel shortage, other Copperbelt towns are facing a crisis.
Mufulira Town Clerk Charles Mwandila said some filling stations had completely run out of the commodity, but he appealed to members of the public to remain calm.
“If we don’t receive fuel stocks by today (yesterday), the town will not have the commodity at all.
“There are few filling stations that have fuel at the moment and motorists are queuing up for the commodity, but there is no need to worry,” Mr Mwandila said.
In Kitwe, most filling stations have enough fuel stocks and pump attendants assured the public that they had enough stocks to meet the demand.
They said it was shocking that Lusaka had been hit by a shortage of fuel.
PRESIDENT Banda has taken a swipe at Kasama Mayor Fidelis Chishoma for suggesting that he (the President) was not welcome in Kasama and Northern Province as a whole.
Mr Banda said Mr Chishoma must have been misquoted when he said President Banda would not be welcomed in Kasama, because as Head of State, he is free to visit any part of Zambia.
“I feel for the mayor because he is always here each time I come to Kasama. But today, he has opted to stay away following his statement that I will not be welcomed. But I wish he was here to see the magnitude of people that have come to welcome me,” Mr Banda said on arrival at Kasama Airport.
Mr Banda wondered why the civic leader had issued such a reckless statement when he knew that people would welcome the President.
Mr Banda jokingly said being Ngoni by tribe, he was free to visit Northern Province because Bembaland was his home.
“The mayor was dreaming because this is my home, and I cannot fear to come, even if he was misquoted in one of the tabloids saying I will not be welcomed,” Mr Banda said.[quote]
Mr Banda also said the tabloid newspaper lied last week when it published a picture showing a traditional leader smearing powder on PF president Michael Sata as a sign of support for the opposition party leader.
Mr Banda said he had contacted the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services to enquire about the traditional leader that was shown in the picture, and he was told that such a traditional leader does not exist.
“You can see how desperate Mr Sata has become,” Mr Banda said.
Earlier, Northern Province Minister John Chinyanta wondered why a civic leader could dare the Head of State in such a manner.
“This is what it means when you have civic leaders that have nothing to do but want to dare the Republican President. I wish he was here to see for himself the number of people that have come to welcome the President,” Mr Chinyanta said.
“The Lord had said to Abram, ‘… I will bless you … and you will be a blessing to others.'”
(Genesis 12:1-2, NLT)
TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria
Have you ever worked toward a dream, but felt worn out by the uphill climb? At times like this, you need encouragement–someone to remind you about what it will be like when you get to the finish line. God created us to need each other. You may be facing challenges that you can’t overcome on your own; having a friend to walk with you in love can get you through those times. In the same way, you have something to share with others to help them along their journey. God has blessed your life in times of need, and He loves it when you turn that around and start to bless others. You can encourage others in their dreams and cheer them on as they go. When you believe in people, it gives their faith a boost. Your love and acts of kindness may be just what they needed to push on to victory.
Encourage someone today. Share in the dreams God has given them. As you seek to love and bless others, you will start to notice others encouraging you. Be grateful for the people God has put in your life. Praise Him for the help He supplies when you need it most and for opportunities He gives you to share in the successes of people around you.
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
“Heavenly Father, thank You for the people who are there to love and support me. Make me aware of opportunities to bless and encourage others. Help me to reflect Your love in everything I say and do. In Jesus’ Name. Amen”
Government has set aside about K 20 billion in the 2010 national budget for the completion of infrastructure development at the Lusaka South Multi Facility Economic Zone ( MFEZ ).
Finance and National Planning Minister, Situmbeko Musokotwane, said the growth of the manufacturing sector is an essential part of the government’s agenda for national development.
Speaking when he presented the 2010 national budget in Lusaka yesterday, Dr.Musokotwane, noted that expanding the manufacturing activities will, over the medium term, improve the country’s growth prospects and competitiveness.[quote]
He explained this will also help in reducing the country’s dependency on imports through a wider base of locally produced goods and services.
Dr. Musokotwane however, disclosed that the performance of the manufacturing sector has been negatively affected by lower demand and rising cost of import inputs there by the growth of the sector is estimated to decline to 1.0 percent in 2009.
He said despite these set back, government will continue to place emphasis on the manufacturing sector through the construction of infrastructures and investment facilitation through the Zambia Development Agency.
He stated that there has been substantial progress in the development of the US$ 900 million Chambishi Multi-Facility Economic Zone adding that a master plan for the Lusaka East MFEZ will be completed by the end of 2009 and construction is expected to start in 2010.
The minister further disclosed that eleven manufactures have so far begun operations, and another five are expected to do so in 2010 saying this will also help in accelerating the pace of operations and therefore create job opportunities for the local people in the country.
Processed Fines of Coal that could be wasted at Chinese Collum Coal Mine (CCCM) if they are not sold before the onset of the rains
The Chinese Collume Coal Mine (CCCM) General Manager Cai Yue Zhong has bemoaned that lack of market for thousand tonnes of processed coal he says would be wasted if not purchased.
Mr Zhong told ZANIS in an interview that with the onset of the rains 20 thousands tones of Fines and five thousand tones of Peas and Nuts coal brands would be destroyed if not marketed.
He said in the past one week, customers have been failing to buy coal from the mine resulting in the reduction of coal production.[quote]
He said the mine has had difficulties in selling the Fines as most customers were only interested in buying the type of processed coal that has Peas and Nuts.
“We are worried that with onset of the rains our coal will be wasted after investing so much in its production,” Mr Zhong said.
He appealed to government to assist in convincing Zambian companies that were buying coal from Zimbabwe to start buying from them.
Mr. Zhong said the workers were the most affected with lack of market because their income per month was reduced.
The General Manager noted that at times workers were told to be on break when the market for coal was affected because they could not keep on producing when they can’t sell it.
Maamba Collieries (MCL) Plants Manager Famous Kabwe also confirmed that the problem of market for Fines was also affecting them.
He said most companies such as Larfurge were getting their Fines from Wankie Coal Mine in Zimbabwe.
Mr. Kabwe said few companies in Zambia that were using Fines in their furnaces such as Ndola Lime were also getting it from Zimbabwe.
Herve Renard has said Zambia must show more character and spirit in the midst of the teams scoring woes.
Renard said this during the post-match press briefing after Zambia lost 1-0 at home to Egypt in the two side’s penultimate 2010 Worlds/Africa Cup Group C qualifier.
Egypt scored their winner with their only tangible chance of the game through midfielder Hosni Abd Rabou of Al Ahli Dubai in the UAE.
“We have to be strong in our minds, I saw some players with shoulders low. A low spirit will make things difficult,” Renard said.
“We have a problem, statistic will show how many chances we had and Egypt just had one.”
Zambia dominated Egypt for most of the first half led by an inspired Rainford Kalaba but could not breakthrough the visitors’ talismanic goalkeeper Essam Al Hadari.
Meanwhile, Renard said he was still confident Zambia will qualify to the Africa Cup in Angola.
“I can tell you we will qualify to Angola,” the Frenchman said.
Zambia play Rwanda in their final game on November 14 in Kigali.
Rwanda are in Algeria whom they face on Sunday night in the other penultimate round Group C match in Blida.
World Bank Country Representative, Kapil Kapoor, says he is happy with the the 2010 national budget presented yesterday afternoon to Parliament by Finance Minister, Situmbeko Musokotwane.
Mr Kapoor told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka that the 2010 budget was impressive.
He added that the change in the financial cycle of the budget would reduce the pressure of putting the budget into effect.
Mr Kapoor, however, said he is worried with the decline in revenue as indicated in the 2010 national budget.
He urged government to increase the national budgetary allocation of different sectors, saying it is difficult to run a nation with such financial constraints.[quote]
Mr Kapoor said it is worrying to note that 50 per cent of the budgetary allocation goes to salaries and personal emoluments.
He explained that at the end of the day there is not so much left for developmental issues issues.
Mr Kapoor also observed that the increase in the cost of petroleum products will result in the increase of transportation of major agricultural products.
And Bank of Zambia (BoZ) governor, Caleb Fundanga, has welcomed the 2010 national budget, adding that Zambia performed well in 2009 despite the global economic crunch down.
Dr Fundanga says government’s efforts should be commended for projecting a 4.1 per cent economic growth for next year.
Dr Fundanga said in an interview with ZANIS shortly after the budget was presented that government needs to maintain the good policies despite passing through difficult economic conditions.
And former Finance and National Planning Minister, Ngandu Magande, said Zambia requires to sit down with its cooperating partners to mend the economic gaps arising from deficits mainly through exports.
Mr Magande explained that there is need to address the down-fall of revenue targets and diversify from copper, noting that the mining of copper is Zambia’s main export for its Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
He further welcomed the budget change cycle, saying he proposed it when he was a Cabinet Minister because Zambia needed to offset the huge debt Zambia had experienced.
Mr Magande, however, commended his predecessor for achieving $1.8 billion national reserves and quickly admitted that it was difficult to score it during his six-year tenure of office.
Finance and National Planning Minster, Stumbeko Musokotwane
The 2010 national budget unveiled in a speech delivered to the Zambian National Assembly on October 9, 2009 by the Honorable Minister of Finance and National Planning is not inspiring at all, given the depth of socio-economic woes the country has been facing since the 1970s. It is not possible for our beloved country to make any headway in socio-economic development with such a mild budget, not even by the year 2030 when the MMD government is dreaming of turning Zambia into a middle-income country.
For reasons of brevity, let me comment on a few highlights of the budget.
Inflation and Taxes:
The attainment of single-digit annual inflation (of 8%) is a target that would be appropriate for countries that have already achieved a high level of job creation and socio-economic development. Zambia is clearly not one of such countries.
There is a need to reduce PAYE, VAT and interest rates in order to stimulate both the supply of goods and services and the demand for goods and services and, in the process, bolster job creation and economic growth. We need to reverse the recurrent emphasis on stabilizing inflation at the expense of job creation and economic growth.
Value-added tax, for example, could have been reduced to 12.5% from 16%. The increase in the PAYE exempt threshold from K700,000 to K800,000 is not adequate; this should have been increased to at least K1,000,000. And the income bands should have been expanded to make them fairer to tax payers as follows:
2010 Income Bands and Tax Rates:
K0 – K800,000 per month 0%
K800,001 — K1,335,000 per month 25%
K1,335,001 — K4,100,000 per month 30%
K4,100,001 and above per month 35%
Proposed Income Bands and Tax Rates:
K0 – K1,000,000 per month 0%
K1,000,001 — K1,435,000 per month 10%
K1,435,001 — K1,970,000 per month 15%
K1,970,001 — K2,370,000 per month 20%
K2,770,001 — K3,170,000 per month 25%
K3,570,001 — K3,970,000 per month 30%
K3,970,001 and above per month 35%
Lower taxes and interest rates could have functioned as an effective economic stimulus that could have spurred economic activity and job creation, as well as create a new class of tax payers. There is really no other obvious way in which a country can jump-start an economically beleaguered economy like ours.
Dependency on Foreign Investors:
There is too much emphasis in the budget on creating opportunities for foreign investment with little or no emphasis on promoting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by Zambians. As the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe has maintained, a growing body of empirical evidence supports the widely held view that SMEs are instrumental to socio-economic development. They can, as such, play an important role in improving the socio-economic welfare of a lot of people in a country.
There are many ways in which SMEs can positively contribute to the improvement of the socio-economic well-being of a country’s people, such as the following:
(a) They can create employment opportunities for talented citizens and family members who cannot find jobs in large business establishments;
(b) They can function as a vehicle through which a country’s government can economically empower its people by enabling them to participate actively and directly in their country’s commercial and industrial activities;
(c) They can facilitate the generation of wealth for all sectors of the national economy and thereby reduce existing income disparities;
(d) They can contribute to the improvement of the social and economic welfare of people in their host communities through the provision of various kinds of needed goods and services; and
(e) They can function as the backbone of a country’s economy if they are mainly operated by citizens, as they would be both indigenous and permanent, as Andrew Sardanis has maintained.
Negative Thoughts:
If Zambians “spend lots of their time on negative thoughts,” as the Minister has claimed in his budget speech, it is because over 65% of them cannot find jobs and are eking out a mere living. I cannot imagine people who are wallowing in abject poverty singing empty praises glorifying a government that is incapable of addressing their basic needs.
Government says it expects the agriculture sector to grow by 5.2 percent in 2010 compared to the 1.9 percent in 2009 following the bumper harvest in maize this year.
Finance and National Planning Minster, Stumbeko Musokotwane, said the maize production rose from 1.5 million metric tones to 1.9 million metric tonnes the country the biggest the country has recorded in the last ten years.
Dr. Musokotwane said this in Parliament today during the presentation of the 2010 national budget adding that government views the improved performance of the agriculture and the livestock as the most powerful tool to reduce poverty and stem the rural-urban divide.
Government has increased the allocation to agriculture and livestock sector from K1, 096 trillion in 2009 to K1, 139 trillion in the 2010 national budget.
The minister told parliament that the creation of the newly created Livestock and Fisheries ministry will ensure that the sector receives focused attention.
He added that its potential will be supported by targeted intervention aimed at controlling animal disease and improve veterinary services.
Dr. Musokotwane said through this intervention the sector will become the next priority sector to contribute to the national GDP after cooper.
He said government will continue with the create of disease free zones (D.F.Z)throughout the country to facilitate livestock exports.
He has announced that government has allocated K430 billion to the revised Farmers Input Support Programme (FISP), K100 billion to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) and another K10 billion towards Food Security Packs.
He added that government will complete the remaining works on the Nansanga farming block in Serenje and has since allocated about K 40 billion to step up development of the block.
Dr. Musokotwane has also disclosed that government wills also commence similar infrastructure development in Luena Farms block in Kawambwa district where they will be growing sugar.
He further said that government will this year continue rehabilitating grain silos across the country to improve grain storage and protection.
Government says increased the allocation to the education sector to K3.320.9 billion representing a 26.4 percent increase.
Announcing the increase in Parliament today, Finance and National Planning minister Situmbeko Musokotwane said this is because government places much importance on education to make it the second largest sector of priority in the 2010 national budget.
He said, during the presentation of the 2010 national budget in parliament today, that government has since devoted substantial resources to the sector in order to raise the standards of education and provides better opportunities to the children.
He revealed to parliament that the country is on course of achieving the Millennium development Goals (MDG) on achieving universal access to primary education by 2015.
He has attributed this to the critical role communities’ schools and the private sector has played in increasing access to education for all.
Dr. Musokotwane has further disclosed that K 215.2 billion from 2009 budget has been used to complete 12 basic schools across the country while 2,500 classrooms for basic schools which were planned last year will be completed early next year.
He said an addition of 20 high schools are in their advance stages around the country and will be completed soon.
He added that government has allocated K553.5 billion for the construction of an additional 2,900 classrooms to provide school places for over 250,000 students across the country.
The Minister said K 21.4 billion has been allocated towards the procurement of books, desks, and other educational materials.
He further said government has allocated the three public universities with 317.9 billion for operations, infrastructure development and bursaries for students.
