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PF Leader Michael SataPresident Rupiah Banda and Micheal Sata have wished
each other the best in the next Solwezi Central by-elections.
The two leaders met near Solwezi radio station where President Banda was coming from having a live interview.
President Banda implored his counterpart Mr. Sata that as leaders they should teach the young generation not to practice politics of insults but work together.
The two leaders hugged and shared jokes as they chatted on some current affairs.
And PF leader said that they should continue with verbal fight and not fighting with guns and weapons.
The two leaders wished each other the best before parting company.
President Banda is in Solwezi to sum up support for MMD candidate Albert Chifita while Mr. Sata is in the district to sum up support for the PF-UPND Pact candidate Watson Lumba.
Women singing and dancing to traditional songs in Chama district
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A guitarist takes a nap after a public performance in Lundazi, Zamba
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A young Manchester United football team supporter in Lundazi district is not shy to expose her love for the team even after United's recent loss to Chelsea
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An unidentified man ponders his next move to repair his Datsun car in Chipata district, Zambia
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Back to Kaunda days... school children line up the street to wave at President Banda when he visited Kapata market in Chipata district on Wednesday
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An unidentified woman captured listening to proceedings at a public meeting in Lundazi, Zambia
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Oh my knees...President Banda holds his knees before greeting senior chief Kambombo in Chama district, Zambia
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School children display posters to welcome President Banda to Chama district, Zambia
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One of the accident victims at Kasama General Hospital. He was on the Germins Bus service where six people died at the spot near Nkolemfumu area in Kasama.
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GERMINS Bus registration number GML 30 which careered off the road and rammed in a tree killing six people at the spot near Nkolemfumu village some 15 kilometers from Kasama.
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Czech Republic Zambia-Zimbabwe Ambassador is handed the scissors to cut the ribbon from Inonge Mboo nursing officer during the official hand over of medical equipment at Lewanika General Hospital.
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Czech Republic Zambia-Zimbabwe Ambassador Dr. Ludek Zahradnicek signing the visitors book
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(Fuel Shortage) Motorist in Mongu queuing for petroleum at Kobil filling station.
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(Fuel Shortage) Motorist in Mongu queuing for petroleum at Kobil filling station.
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An unidentified woman and her daughter selling vegetables and other foodstuffs at Kapapa market in Chipata, Zambia
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(Mongu Fuel Shortage) Taxi drivers with container waiting for hour fuel at kobil filling station.
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 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 Nkandabbwe Collum Coal Mine’s (CCM) shaft two because of the poor environmental hygiene within their mining area.
He said in his letter to the CCM management for shaft two that they have failed to comply with the one week period given to the company to address the issues of environmental hygiene.
The District Public Health Officer noted that the scenario was disturbing as the company has contributed to the spread of Cholera cases resulting from the supply untreated water and their sanitary facilities were of poor design.
In January more than 139 people were affected by the cholera cases in Sinazongwe district resulting in the closure of several Schools as some were turned into Cholera centres.
They have been little sensitization among the people in the district concerning the spread of the cholera cases and from the inception of the first cases results from Maamba Hospital only showed that it was diarrhoea and it was only confirmed to be cholera after several people were admitted.
The Zambia Telecommunication’s (ZAMTEL) new owner could revitalise the company, gaining a 19 per cent share of the mobile market by 2015, up from its current four per cent share.
According to Onda Analytics, obtained by ZANIS today, the privatisation will lead to a major operator taking over Zamtel, providing a serious threat to existing Zambian mobile operators, Zain and MTN.
Interested parties, including MTNL, Telecel Globe (a subsidiary of Orascom), Telkom SA and Vimpelcom officially began due diligence this week.
According to report lead author, Daniel Jones (Partner), “The new investor will have to turn around an operator in crisis.
A strategy along the lines of a new entrant will be needed, as Zamtel has fallen further and further behind in the mobile market.
High mobile tariffs and low penetration in Zambia present an opportunity for the buyer. Aggressive price competition and going after subscribers new to the market will help Zamtel grow its market share and challenge its competitors.
Onda Analytics’ new report considers the strategies that a new owner would need to adopt to turn the operator into a significant mobile player in Zambia.
Under the right strategy, Onda Analytics forecasts Zamtel to grow its mobile market share from four per cent in 2009 to 19 per cent by 2015, increasing its subscriber base from 160 000 to 1.8 million.
The report also analyses the strategic importance of Zamtel’s other assets, including its fixed line network and the WiMAX network currently in deployment.
On top of increasing revenues, Zamtel would need to keep a close check on costs. “Zamtel’s bloated cost base, as a result of its large headcount, has led it to insolvency and the current privatisation process” explains report co-author, Tom Harden, Partner at Onda Analytics.
Today, the entire operator’s unionised staff have agreed voluntary redundancy. A massive staff reduction programme would need to be carried out by whichever company takes over Zamtel.
Chief Macha of the Tonga speaking people in Southern Province has scooped an African Sanitation Leadership Award in South Africa.
The award follows the traditional leader’s outstanding commitment to promoting good sanitary standards in his chiefdom.
The event took place during the Second African Week Conference on Sanitation at Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa. Chief Macha attended the conference and received the award.
And Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa Leslie Mbula has commended the Chief for being the first recipient to be awarded an African Sanitation Leadership Award for his role in promoting good sanitation and hygiene practices among his subjects.
Mr. Mbula says Zambia is humbled by Chief Macha’s recognition beyond Zambia’s borders and that government feels extremely proud.
He thanked the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW) for nominating the traditional ruler to receive the top prize in the leadership category.
Mr. Mbula said this in a press statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today signed by his Second Secretary for Press Phillip Chirwa.
Mr. Mbula made the remarks at the occassion on Wednesday.He urged other royal establishments not only in Zambia but through out the African continent to emulate Chief Macha.
He stated that the recognition of Chief Macha was not about prestige but a call to duty and service for the betterment of the welfare of the people who had entrusted their leaders with the responsibility to preside over their affairs.
“Zambia remains committed to implementing the February 2008 Thekweini Durban Declaration that seeks to assist African countries to accelerate and achieve national and regional goals on water, sanitation and hygiene. These efforts deserve commendation because they are in the best interest of improving the living standards of our people,” Mr. Mbula said.
And the organizers of the award described Chief Macha as a major force and driver of change in the implementation of community-led Total Sanitation not only in his chiefdom but also attained Open Defecation Free status which authorities in Choma district and the province as a whole appreciated.
Chief Macha’s efforts on sanitation coverage doubled from 50 to 100 percent at household level in less than two years. He came up with a deliberate slogan, “One Family, One Toilet’ that saw government adopt the Make Zambia Clean and Healthy campaign that is designed to improve sanitation across the country.
In receiving the award, Chief Macha said he is humbled and privileged to see his efforts in championing good practices in his chiefdom being recognised beyond Zambia’s borders.
“This award does not belong to me alone as a traditional leader, I only played an influential role and I thank my people and all those who helped and supported me for without them I wouldn’t be getting this award today,” Chief Macha said in a statement.
President Rupiah Banda has urged the Solwezi electorate to vote for the ruling MMD candidate Albert Chifita, in the Solwezi Central constituency by-elections on November 18 , next week.
President Banda said in Solwezi at a public rally at Kimasala Basic School ground to drum up support for the MMD candidate Mr Chifita.
He appealed to the Solwezi residents who turned up in numbers for the rally to give Mr Chifita a chance to continue with the work left by the late member of parliament Ben Tetamashimba.
“I want Mr Chifita to join our MMD team, please give him to me so that we can continue with the work our late brother left.” He said.
The seat fell vacant owing to the death of the Member of Parliament Ben Tetamashimba, recently.
The PF/UPND pact is fielding Watson Lumba, Forum for Democratic Alternative (FDA) is fielding Muhammed Kalela while Thomas Kafula will stand as an independent candidate.
President Banda has further assured the people of Solwezi that the contentious road that goes to Chavuma would be completed.
He also charged that the opposition PF leader Michael Sata who has been criticizing his government that they are not working, was in government before and for a long time but did not do anything for the people.
And former PF Secretary General, Edward Mumbi charged that PF leader Sata was a pathological liar who should not be trusted.
Mr Mumbi said that those who know him like himself know that he could not be trusted because of his lies.
“Sata is a pathological liar, those who don’t know him, do not know this. The man cannot be trusted.”He said.
He said that he resigned from the PF because of Mr Sata’s undemocratic tendencies and the opposition leader’s lack of respect for others.
The United Nations General Assembly has declared that 18 July of each year is to be observed as Nelson Mandela International Day with effect from 2010.
This declaration was arrived at after the Assembly came up with a draft resolution A/64/L.13 entitled “Nelson Mandela International Day” on November 10th, 2009.
This is according to a statement released to ZANIS,signed by First Secretary for Press at the Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, Moses Walubita
The resolution recognizes Mr Mandela’s leading role in the support for Africa’s struggle for liberation and contribution to the creation of a non-racial and democratic South Africa.
The resolution also recognizes South Africa’s first black President’s values and his dedication to the service of humanity.
Mr Mandela President served humanity in the fields of conflict resolution, promotion and protection of human rights as well as uplifting poor and underdeveloped communities.
Introducing the draft resolution , Permanent Representative of South Africa Baso Sangqu thanked in particular the Heads of State and government of the Non- Aligned Movement(NAM) member states for their support and endorsement of the initiative.
He also gave a brief account of Mr. Mandela’s struggle during the days of apartheid and his leadership through South Africa’s most terrible and triumphant times.
Meanwhile, Zambia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Lazarous Kapambwe also welcomed the declaration of Mandela day saying that Mr. Mandela has done a lot and therefore deserves what is due to him.
Mr. Kapambwe said that Mr Mandela is a world treasure and Zambia was proud to be one of the co-sponsors of the resolution declaring 18 July, his birthday as Nelson Mandela Day.
Here are the football fixtures for the weekending November 14-15.
FIFA 2010 World Cup Group C Qualifiers
14/11/2009
Kigali
Rwanda- Zambia (KO: 15:30)
Cairo
Egypt- Algeria (KO:19:30)
Faz Premier Division
Week 28
14/11/2009
Lusaka Dynamos – Konkola Blades
Chambishi – Nakambala Leopards
Zesco United – Zanaco
City of Lusaka – Red Arrows
Kabwe Warriors – Roan United
Young Arrows – Green Buffaloes
15/11/2009
Choma Eagles – Zamtel
Power Dynamos – Forest Rangers
President Rupiah Banda, Tanzanian Jakaya Kikwete and UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema at the Lwiindi Gonde traditional ceremony in Monze.THE Government has said President Rupiah Banda and
Vice-President, George Kunda cannot be subjected to a debate with United Party for National Development (UPND) president, Hakainde Hichilema because that would demean their status.
Chief Government spokesperson, Ronnie Shikapwasha said in a statement yesterday that it would be wrong for the president to reduce himself to the level of Mr Hichilema, a deputy leader of a political party grouping that had no developmental agenda except lies and insults.[quote]
He said it would be extremely demeaning for President Banda or Mr Kunda to accept the challenge by Mr Hichilema to a public debate organised by the Press Freedom Committee of The Post newspapers, which was openly biased.
He said Mr Hichilema was just a deputy leader of the PF/UPND Pact and was too low to spar with the head of State or his deputy.
Time for debates would come during 2011 elections and Mr Hichilema would be given an opportunity should he manage to unseat Patriotic Front leader, Michael Sata from the PF/UPND Pact.
“It will also be totally illogical for the ruling party that won presidential elections a year ago and has more than 50 per cent seats in the National Assembly to test its popularity by debating with Mr Hichilema,” he said.
What should concern Mr Hichilema was not who between him and the president was popular but how popular he was within his party and the PF/UPND Pact.
The opposition leader should be concerned about the many UPND supporters that were leaving his party because he had aligned it with the PF which people disrespected for its dictatorial style and violence.
[Times of Zambia]
(Fuel Shortage) Motorists in Mongu queuing for petroleum at Kobil filling station.
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has accused some people with vested interests in the fuel procurement process of blowing the current fuel shortage Zambia is experiencing out of proportion.
Mr Banda said in Chipata that Zambia had been experiencing some difficulty in the procurement of the fuel but that the Government was trying to improve the flow of fuel in the country.[quote]
“Some people who are making noise on the fuel crisis have vested interest in the procurement of fuel and they want to create a wrong impression of the matter,” the president said on a recorded programme aired on Radio Breeze in Chipata yesterday.
The president acknowledged that Government alone could not run Indeni Refinery following the pulling out of Total and called for a partnership.
Mr Banda said the disbanded Taskforce on Corruption spent US$30 million trying to recover about $500,000 alleged to have been stolen by former president,Frederick Chiluba.
“Already we have spent more than we are trying to recover and I cannot allow my Government to spend another $15 million on the matter just to satisfy a quarter of the people who were calling Mr Chiluba a thief before he was proven guilty,” Mr Banda said
The president denied playing any role in the acquittal of Dr Chiluba.
Mr Banda said the Taskforce was disbanded because it was spending more money than it wanted to recover.
He said he had allowed the three arms of Government to work independently and at no time would his Government interfere in the operations of the three institutions.
The president said his Government had allocated more money than before in this year’s national Budget to the office of the Auditor-General and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to strengthen the two institutions.
He said corruption had become so sophisticated that there was need to train more officers in this area to curb the vice.
The president said there was need to regulate the operations of the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and defended the passing of the NGO Act.
On the regulation of the media, the president said he would like to see the media regulating themselves and the Government would only come in to regulate if the media failed to do so.
[Times of Zambia]
The United Nations International Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) has observed that the increasing of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV access to anti-retroviral drugs and effective behaviour change have effectively helped Zambia in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
UNICEF Deputy Representative Elspeth Erickson said this could be evidenced by the reduction in new HIV infections among Zambian adults.
Ms. Erickson said this in Lusaka at the launch of MTV’s “SHUGA” and its Ignite campaign aimed at educating Zambian audiences on the prevention of HIV/AIDS.
Ms. Erickson said MTV has a huge social marketing expertise in targeting HIV/AIDS prevention and information for people to change their behavior and make right choices.
She cited multiple concurrent partnerships as one of the issues which should be fought because it was negatively affecting the fight against the pandemic.
Ms. Erickson noted that a new government report has revealed that for every 100 new HIV infections, 71 are estimated to arise from sex with a non- regular partner and 21 per cent of new infections are estimated to occur in people with only one partner.
She said this calls increased advocacy efforts to consistence condom use and encouraging faithfulness to only one partner.
First Lady Thandiwe Banda has urged fellow First Ladies in the Sub Sahara region to double their efforts in working towards bettering the lives of women and girls in the region.
Mrs. Banda noted that if First Ladies could harness the support of governments, individuals and many other stakeholders, the campaign for the improvement of women’s welfare would be unstoppable.[quote]
She was speaking during the 10th anniversary of the White Ribbon Alliance Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania, today.
Mrs. Banda said there was need for the institutionalisaton of training of midwives in order for them to provide the necessary services for women.
She said First Ladies need to advocate for the development of low cost community interventions such as the development of Mama-Kits for mothers to use in home deliveries and infection prevention.
She said there was also need for developing innovative transportation schemes such as bicycle ambulances to help women reach health facilities from distant places.
Mrs. Banda said if First Ladies succeed in combining efforts, the results are potentially phenomenal, adding that building for women will mean building a lasting future for the world.
She further said there was need to ensure that safe motherhood was a right for women in the region and appealed for unity in the quest to save the lives of mothers and their children.
The First Lady said supervised deliveries is one of the interventions Zambia and other developing countries in the Sub Sahara region have instituted to stem the maternal mortality rate.
Mrs. Banda said the maternal mortality ratio in Zambia and in other sub Sahara Africa stands at 591 per 100, 000 live births.
She however observed that the distance to health facilities, the human resources crisis that the region faces and the limited number of midwives negate the gains that may have been achieved in the recent past.
“I’m speaking on behalf of the half a million mothers who die every year from just about the most avoidable and most preventable deaths of all. And for every death, 30 more suffer debilitating and painful injury from pregnancy and childbirth. This is unacceptable”, she said.
The First Lady said it was the duty of every government in the region to move the world to action against such avoidable tragedies.
Mrs. Banda said a mother’s survival is vital in ensuring the wellbeing of families and the community at large.
“So saving the life of the mothers and reducing maternal mortality is the most central of our gathering today. It is not peripheral, not an afterthought, and not the margins”, she said.
Police in Livingstone yesterday arrested and charged four Grade Twelve Hillcrest Technical Secondary School pupils for conduct likely to cause breach of peace.
Southern Province Commanding Officer, Lemmy Kajoba confirmed the arrest of the students to ZANIS in Livingstone today.
Mr. Kajoba said, after writing an examination yesterday, the pupils assembled and blocked Mushili Road using stones and logs, forcing motorists to turn back.
He said police were anticipating this behaviour and were on hand to monitor the situation at the school.
Mr. Kajoba narrated that police moved in to disperse the unruly students and unblocked the road. The students who scampered in all directions, later regrouped and blocked the road again, forcing police to arrest the four.
Three girls and a boy were arrested and charged for conduct likely to cause the breach of peace.
Mr. Kajoba said the three grade twelve pupils were later released yesterday after their parents paid an admission of guilt and today the three girls were expected to sit for their last examination paper.
The boy, who is not a grade twelve pupil, is said to have been in the fore-front inciting others to brew trouble. He is still in police custody.
Mr. Kajoba said the three girls’ parents were prominent people in Livingstone and that they expressed disappointment at their children’s behaviour.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kajoba has said the police service is devising measures to ensure that grade twelve school leavers conduct themselves in a responsible manner.
He said the police were monitoring activities not only at all schools but also in drinking places, to ensure that children under the age of 18 years do not indulge in beer drinking.
Mr. Kajoba said the police were alive to the fact that youths have a tendency of indulging in beer drinking during the festive season.
He said the police would work closely with the city council, to ensure that bars open and close at the stipulated times, with the exception of licensed night clubs in the city.
Mr. Kajoba said the police would be very strict during the festive season, which he described as the peak beer drinking time, leading to increased road traffic accidents and deaths.
He appealed to school leavers to conduct themselves in a responsible manner, for them not to risk possible arrests.
President Banda talks to defence chiefs when he arrived from Kasama where he conducted by-election campaigns for the MMD.
President Rupiah Banda says the ruling MMD will hold a party convention contrary to allegations that they do not want to do so.
President Banda said this today, when he addressed several Solwezi residents at Solwezi airport on arrival from Chipata in the Eastern Province.
He said his party has not refused to hold a convention as being expressed in sections of society but that it was only concentrating on development.
Mr. Banda, noted that people should not be distracted by issues of the convention but instead focus on strengthening the party.
Calls for the ruling party to hold the convention have in recent months received a mix of opinions throughout the country with a number of provincial MMD committees suggesting that the convention should not be held as Mr Banda would be the sole candidate at the convention.
Northern Province MMD Provincial chairperson Grievas Sikasote said during Mr Banda’s tour to the Province that the convention will only drain the party coffers which can be used in other developmental areas.
Meanwhile, Mr Banda has thanked the MMD party membership in Northwestern Province for their loyalty to the party and the Presidency.
The President has further urged people of Solwezi not to worry about the PF/UPND pact which he said has no basis.
Mr. Banda urged Solwezi residents to vote for MMD candidate Albert Chifita during the November 19, Solwezi Central By- elections.
The seat fell vacant following the death of area MP Ben Tetamashimba.
The PF/UPND pact is fielding Watson Lumba, Forum for Democratic Alternative (FDA) is fielding Muhammed Kalela while Thomas Kafula will stand as an independent candidate.
And North western MMD chairperson Peter Patel has said that MMD will not lose the seat at any cost.
Mr. Patel said the party is strong in the province and would beat the pact come November 19th.
President Banda is in Solwezi to drum up support for the MMD candidate.
ZANIS
Zambia headed out to Rwanda this morning with Herve Renard declaring the onus was on the team in the battle to win the hearts and minds of a disenchanted nation.
Renard said he understood the fans feelings about the state of the national team especially after Egypt dispatched Zambia to a third successive 2010 Group C qualifying defeat in October.
And fans have further made their displeasure publicly known after a recent run of poor results culminating in the omission of Isaac Chansa including that of the Bundesliga wanderer Andrew Sinkala who both have made public statements about their relationships with the Frenchman.
“They (The fans) are very passionate especially after Egypt. They want results,” Renard said prior to leaving for Kigali with a 20-man squad on Thursday morning.
“Now we have to change their minds.”
And on his fallout with Sinkala, Renard said in his own understanding the midfielder has had issues even before he took charge of Zambia.
“The problem of Sinkala is not a problem with me. It should have been for him even before I came and after I leave,” Renard said.
However, Renard repeated his rallying call for unity ahead of the crucial game against Rwanda.
“I repeat, to go to battle with division, it is impossible to win even if you are good,” the Frenchman said.
Zambia, in 3rd place on 4 points from 5 games need a draw against bottom placed Rwanda on 1 point to safely qualify to the 2010 Africa Cup.
