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A parliamentarian in Mazabuka district has observed that the poor maize marketing system has prompted many peasant farmers in Chivuna area of Magoye constituency to shift from growing maize to cannabis.
Magoye Member of Parliament, Bennie Mweemba, told ZANIS in Mazabuka today that most farmers in the constituency were involved in the cultivation and trafficking of cannabis because the market for the substance was readily available.
Mr. Mweemba, who expressed worry that farmers have resorted to growing an illegal substance, said the delay by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to pay farmers for their maize was frustrating.
He said farmers decided to start growing cannabis because, according to them, that was the surest way of raising quick money for their social and economic needs.
Mr. Mweemba however urged FRA to quickly pay the farmers for the maize they sold to the agency in order for them to stop cultivating cannabis.
” I condemn the cultivation of cannabis because it was illegal but farmers are forced to do so because they are receiving a raw deal from FRA,” he said.
Mazabuka District Commissioner, Tyson Hamaamba recently expressed worry at the increase in cannabis cultivation in Magoye and Chikankata constituencies of Mazabuka districts.
Mr. Hamaamba urged villagers to stop growing the crop because it has the potential of undermining the growth of the economy.
Celpay Zambia will host the first ever mobile banking conference in the country.
The two day conference will be held in Lusaka from the 16th to 17th September during the mobile technology and banking industry where leaders from across the SADC region will unite to pave way for future mobile payments.
This is contained in a statement by Celpay International BV Chief Executive Officer Lazarus Muchenje made available in Lusaka today.
Mr Muchenje said the conference will bring together leading industry stakeholders to share experiences and insights on mobile banking.
Mr Muchenje said the conference has also attracted the support of a world class panel speaker who will provide cutting edge information on the mobile payments platform.
He mentioned the participating countries as Tanzania, South Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo DRC, Zimbabwe, Namibia and host Zambia.
Mr Muchenje said the conference will provide a wonderful and new opportunity for industry players to learn and debt a wide spectrum of issues including regulatory, technological and supply issues.
He said the continued boom in the cell phone market, the SADC region needs to prepare for the next wave of opportunity.
Mr Muchenje said his company as an industry leader is committed to fostering an enabling environment that will promote the success of the mobile banking industry.
Celpay Zambia is a leading company that provides mobile payments solutions for a broad range of users from individuals to SMEs and large corporations.
Lusaka City Council (LCC) Public Relations Manager Chanda Makanta has appealed to residents of Lusaka to cooperate with garbage collectors and pay their monthly fees in order to keep the city clean.
Ms Makanta told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that the city can only be made clean with concerted efforts from the residents.
She said cleanliness starts from residences and the task of garbage collecting requires money adding that the council needs money for fuel and to service the garbage trucks.
Ms Makanta appealed to members of the public to understand that the local authority needs huge sums of money and requires full support of the public.
Ms Makanta said it is disheartening that members of the public have a tendency of not paying because they take it that the service is for free.
She said the LCC has engaged third party enterprises to help with collection of waste because the city is too big for the council to handle.
The Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) has called for a cohesive approach towards fulfilling the commitments in the Fifth National Development Plan (FNDP)
SACCORD Information Officer Michelo Mwango said government needs to closely monitor and guide the different sectors outlined in the Fifth National Development Plan (FNDP) and ensure that all obligations were met.
Ms Mwango was speaking during a launch and dissemination of the SACCORD governance sector of the Fifth National Development Plan (FNDP) report for 2008 in Solwezi last evening.
She said SACCORD, in partnership with German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), conducted an exercise to monitor the progress government was making in implementing obligations of the governance and human rights sectors of the FNDP in decentralization, public order Act, human rights and constitutionalism in Solwezi and Sesheke.
Ms Mwango said the exercise also aimed at highlighting successes and failures in order to help improve the performance of government in line with key performance indicators in the FNDP.
She said government needs to recognize the role of the civil society in the implementation of the FNDP by encouraging pro–FNDP programmes among by civil Society organizations
Ms Mwango noted that with the FNDP coming to a conclusion in 2010, there was need for more campaigns at grass root level for Zambians to understand strides that the government has made in implementing the plan.
The Magistrate court in Nakonde district of Northern Province has expressed great concern over the increased number of juveniles being used in peddling drugs in the border town.
Magistrate John Kajiko Njapau said this in Nakonde yesterday when he reserved sentencing for a 15-year-old Tanzanian male juvenile, who is jointly facing charges of drug trafficking with four other adults.
Appearing before magistrate Njapau was Mnan Hilal Mnan, Farouk Ahmed, Izukanji Sichone, Lameck Gama and the juvenile offender, who are jointly charged with one count of trafficking in psychotropic substances contrary to section 6, Cap 96 of the laws of Zambia.
Facts before the court were that on 15th May this year, jointly and whilst acting together, the five did traffic in psychotropic substances namely mira and weighing 40.4 kilograms without lawful authority.
In passing judgment, magistrate Njapau acquitted Mnan Hilal Mnan, Farouk Ahmed, and Lameck Gama, popularly known as “Pego” because of insufficient evidence.
He said the court was not satisfied with the evidence adduced in court in respect of the three accused persons.
Magistrate Njapau however, said the court was satisfied with the evidence against Izukanji Sichone and it therefore found him guilty and convicted him accordingly.
The magistrate also found the juvenile offender guilty but reserved his sentencing.
Magistrate Njapau sentenced Sichone to three years imprisonment with hard labour, adding that he was reserving the sentence for the juvenile offender until he receives a report from the Probation officer Tabitha Chilongo Lengwe.
“The court is very concerned with the increased number of juvenile offenders being used in drug trafficking. The law enforcement officers should get on the ground and ensure that all the juvenile offenders are brought to book,” he said.
Magistrate Njapau has also reserved an order for the bus ABR 3521 belonging to Germins motorways which was used in ferrying the drugs.
The court has ordered the owner of the bus to give reasons why the bus should not be forfeited to the state.
Magistrate Njapau adjourned the matter to September 14 for sentencing in respect of the juvenile offender and for ruling with regards to the bus used to ferry drugs.
In another development,a Customs clearing agent has appeared in the magistrate court in Nakonde on charges of theft by agent contrary to the laws of Zambia.
Appearing before magistrate Njapau was Chrissy Sikaona aged 30 of Ntindi, who was charged with one count of theft by agent.
It is alleged that on 18th July this year, Sikaona did steal K80 million cash entrusted to him by one Jignesh Soni of Zam Import in Ndola to clear five trucks carrying an assortment of goods from Tanzania.
Sikaona has pleaded not guilty.The case has been adjourned to September 29 for commencement of trial and Sikaona’s police bond has been extended.
ZANIS
At least a dozen people have been admitted to Mumbwa district hospital after taking a suspected poisoned traditionally brewed drink known as Munkoyo.
Central Province police commanding officer Simon Mpande said the 12, all from Kapikaya village in chief Kaindu’s area in Mumbwa district, drank the locally brewed drink yesterday and started showing signs of unconsciousness and dizziness.
Mr. Mpande said the 12 were then rushed to the hospital.
He could however not disclose the current condition of the victims saying he had not received the latest report.
He has since advised brewers of munkoyo to be careful with the roots they use to avoid endangering people’s lives.
In another development, a former headman in chief Shaibila’s area in Mkushi district has died after a fight with a teacher over some alleged unsettled old scores.
Mr. Mpande said the 32 year old deceased, who is also an ex-prisoner, had allegedly accused the teacher, Albert Moonga, of having played a major role in his imprisonment.
Mr. Mpande explained that a fight then ensued but the deceased was overpowered and sustained injuries to the head. He was then taken to the police station where he later died.
Mr. Mpande said the police are holding Moonga, who is a teacher at Kafwa Basic School in Mkushi, to help with investigations.
President Banda viewing the body of late Benny Tetamashimba after a requiem mass in Lusaka
President Rupiah Banda today led hundreds of mourners in paying last respects to the late Local Government and Housing Minister Benny Tetamashimba during a church service at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.
Others who paid their last respects are Frst republican president Kenneth Kaunda, second republican president Dr. Frederick Chiluba, Vice President George Kunda, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Mutale Nalumango, cabinet ministers, defense chiefs, opposition leaders, members of Parliament, the church and civil society.
And President Banda is tomorrow expected to attend the burial of the late Mr. Tetamashimba who was Solwezi central Member of Parliament.
President Banda in an interview shortly after he viewed the body of Mr Tetamashimba, hailed the Zambian people in the manner they have mourned with government, the MMD party and the bereaved family.
President Banda observed that though Mr Tetamashimba was controversial, he greatly contributed to the nation.
He said Zambia being a democratic nation allows divergent views and he whole heatedly welcomes the description of people on the late Minister.[quote]
“Zambians are great people and I’m touched in the manner and degree of unity exhibited by the people who have come to pay their last respects to the late Mr Tetamashimba. Though he was controversial he stood for what he believed and people are free to describe him in whatever way they like because Zambia is a democratic country. I will miss him greatly because he was a hard working minister and party spokesperson. I will definitely travel to Solwezi tomorrow for the burial of Mr Tetamashimba,” President Banda said.
And during the church session uncle to the late Tetamashimba, Nathan Mulonga said the family and the nation will greatly miss Mr Tetamashimba on the political scene.
Mr Mulonga described his nephew as one of the most active servants of the nation who held various public portfolios, aggressive, forth-right, honest and sincere in life.
Meanwhile, Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia Executive Director Paul Mususu, delivering an emotional sermon in church under-scored the unity exhibited by Zambians when befallen with tragedy.
Reverend Mususu appealed to Zambians to continue uniting, maintaining peace even beyond funerals when the nation is mourning.
Rev. Mususu pointed out that the spirit of oneness is in line with the declaration of Zambia a Christian nation and also the One Zambia-One Nation motto.
Meanwhile, Mr Tetamashimba’s body has been flown to Solwezi, in the North-western province where it will be buried.
The late Mr Tetamashimba was evacuated to south Africa on August 8, 2009 for specialist treatment before he returned on Tuesday 1st September 2009 and was immediately rushed to the University Teaching Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit were he was admitted until his death on Saturday.
He leaves behind a wife, Ezzie, six children and two grand children.
Police in Central province have rejected the application by the opposition Patriotic Front and the United Party for National Development (PF/UPND) pact to stage a peaceful demonstration against the acquittal of former President Frederick Chiluba.
Central Province police commanding officer Simon Mpande said the demonstration, which was scheduled for Friday this week by the two political parties, would not go ahead because the police did not have enough man power to secure the demonstrators.
According to a statement from the two opposition political parties signed by UPND provincial secretary Davy Siamuzulu and PF provincial secretary Mutale Walichupa, the demonstration should have started from Lukanga grounds and end up at the provincial minister’s office.
Mr. Siamuzulu and Mr. Walichupa further said after the demonstration, the pact was going to submit a petition against Dr. Chiluba’s acquittal to the Provincial Minister Ackimson Banda.
The pact is also demanding for the immediate resignation or removal from office of Vice President George Kunda, who is also Justice Minister and Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Chalwe Mchenga because of the alleged mishandling Dr. Chiluba’s acquittal.
SABMiller Africa has announced that its operating subsidiary in Zambia, Heinrich`s Syndicate Limited, has entered into an agreement with Trade Kings Limited to acquire its Maheu business for a total cash consideration of approximately US$19.25 million. The transaction includes the purchase of the Maheu brand`Super Maheu No.1` which is a non-alcoholic maize drink available in a variety of flavours.
Completion of the acquisition is subject to certain customary conditions precedent including approval from the Zambia Competition Commission which was received last month. It is anticipated that completion of the acquisition will
take place in the next two months. [quote]
Within Zambia, SABMiller Africa already owns Zambian Breweries Group, the largest clear beer and soft drinks business in the Zambia and 70% of National Breweries Plc which is listed on the Lusaka Stock Exchange (LuSE) and commands
a substantial amount of the opaque beer market.
SABMiller Africa intends to grow the Maheu business throughout Zambia and across a variety of African markets, resulting in both increased sales volumes and further employment opportunities.
Following the completion of the transaction, SABMiller Africa will continue to employ the existing Trade Kings staff engaged in the production of Maheu.
President Rupiah Banda says the National Constitution Conference NCC will be finalized within four month instead of the earlier announced 10 months extension.
President Banda said the four months extension is to enable the NCC to be done properly adding that a lot of money has been spent on the process.
The President said there is need for the country to have a good constitution that will stand the test of time.
Mr Banda was speaking on arrival at Lusaka International Airport last night from a SADC conference in Congo DR.
The President was received at the airport by Vice President George Kunda, Lusaka Province Minister Charles Shawa, Home Affairs Minister Lameck Mangani, service chiefs and other government and party officials.
President Banda who is the current chairperson for the great lakes region also gave a report on the general situation in Rwanda, Burundi and Congo respectively.
Mr Banda said the situation in the great lakes region has generally improved.
Meanwhile South African President Jacob Zuma handed over the SADC chairmanship yesterday at the two day SADC heads of states conference to his Democratic Republic of Congo DRC counterpart Joseph Kabila.
President Banda said Mr. Zuma presented a report on the situation in Madagascar and Zimbabwe.
Mr Zuma said the situation has improved in Madagascar and the two leaders have agreed to meet as they are now seating to discuss the problems in that country.
He said the two leaders are meeting under the leadership of Joachim Chisano.
The Movement for Multi party Democracy (MMD) would soon table provincial committees’ petitions to have the party’s national convention postponed until after 2011 elections before the National Executive Committee (NEC).
MMD National Chairman Michael Mabenga said the MMD constitution provides that after more than six provincial committees have petitioned for an issue, that petition becomes valid and NEC must table it for discussion and arrive at a decision.
“You are the seventh or eighth province that has petitioned for the need for MMD convention to be deferred to a later date after 2011 elections. The party constitution says when six provinces submit petitions, that petition stands ground and must be discussed by NEC and the conclusion made,” he explained.
Mr. Mabenga said he was going to waste no time and would soon issue instructions to the secretariat to call for a NEC meeting so that the party can make a decision over the matter.
He was speaking yesterday when he addressed MMD district officials from the seven districts in the province who converged and conducted a solidarity march over the acquittal of second republican president, Dr Frederick Chiluba.
Earlier, Luapula province acting chairperson Crispin Musosha presented the petition to Mr. Mabenga demanding for NEC to defer the national convention to a later date after 2011 presidential and parliamentary elections.
And 84 opposition Patriotic Front (PF) members from Mwense district have resigned from the party to join the ruling MMD.
The 84 include PF district youth chairman Samuel Chungu, who led the defectors to announce their resignation.
Mr. Chungu said he was resigning from PF to join MMD which is a party that is governing and bringing development to the country.
In welcoming the defectors, Mr. Mabenga immediately distributed the MMD cards to all the 84 former PF members.
He said the defectors were coming back home and appealed to MMD members to accommodate them as part of the family.
Mr. Mabenga paid tribute to provincial minister Boniface Kawimbe and other well wishers who are helping to organise MMD in the province.
He said he has always worried about Luapula province because people in the area had disowned the party that they had helped to form.
He however said what he saw at the meeting was a testimony of the good work that the provincial minister and well wishers were doing to unify MMD.
He appealed to the people of Luapula to continue supporting MMD because its policies were aimed at developing the country.
Mr. Mabenga further advised the MMD members to be wary of the PF and UPND pact which he said was patched and only bent at peddling untruth that will not help to develop the country but only bring confusion.
“Be wary with the pact that is patched and full of lies. These lies never build, the lies never bring development and lies do not bring peace,” he said.
Before addressing the meeting, Mr. Mabenga was joined by deputy minister of local government Crispin Musosha, Luapula province minister Boniface Kawimbe, MMD deputy national secretary and scores of MMD cadres to observe a moment of silence for the late Local Government and Housing minister Ben Tetamashimba.
Mr. Mabenga told the MMD members that it was particularly difficult for him to stand and address them at the time the party and government were mourning the late Mr. Tetamashimba.
He said he was only compelled to address the cadres because they had already made adequate arrangements for the meeting.
Speaking earlier, MMD deputy national secretary Jeff Kaande warned that Chilanga MP Ng’andu Magande and Kafulafuta MP George Mpombo risk being charged and expelled from the party if the duo continues insulting government leaders.
Mr. Kaande said he has been restrained from acting against Mr. Magande and Mr. Mpombo in order to avoid unnecessary by-elections which he said were costly.
However, he charged that should the two members of parliament continue with their utterances against the MMD leadership, they would be pushing NEC too far and risk being ejected from MMD.
“The two MPs, Magande and Mpombo have been insulting government, but I have resisted to charge them simply to avoid by-elections which are costly. Instead of spending resources on these elections government wants to take the money into developing the country,” Mr. Kaande said.
“But if they want to push me further, I will not tolerate them. They should take this as a timely warning,” he added.
The Bible Gospel Church in Africa (BIGOCA) has disassociated itself from publications being circulated in Lusaka stating that bishop Dr. Peter Ndhlovu was the patron of a named political party.
This is contained in a media statement released to ZANIS by Rev Moses Kanyenda in Lusaka yesterday.
Reverend Kanyenda said the publications which are suggesting that bishop Ndhlovu was UPP patron are false and malicious.
He said BIGOCA accommodates a membership from a cross-section of people from various political parties, NGOs and will not discriminate against anyone based on their political affiliation or gender.
Reverend Kanyenda said the church welcomes and embraces people from all walks of life, race and gender and will remain non-partisan.
He said those wishing to drag the church in the political arena should desist from such conduct and no amount of cheap propaganda will derail God’s work.
Meanwhile Rev. Kayenda has advised the public to ignore the malicious publications.
The late local government and housing Minister Benny Tetamashimba will be put to rest tomorrow September 9, 2009 in Solwezi.
The burial will be preceded by a church service in Lusaka, at the cathedral of the holy cross this morning and mourners are expected to be seated by 09hours. This is according to a statement made available to ZANIS by Chief Government spokesperson, Lt Gen Ronnie Shikapwasha.
After the church service, the body of the late Mr Tetamashimba will be flown to Solwezi where it will lay in state in readiness for burial on Wednesday.
Lt. Gen. Shikapwasha said the burial programme will be drawn and announced by the provincial administration.
Meanwhile the United Party for National Development UPND has sent a message of condolences to the family and the MMD party on the death of the local government minister.
UPND President, Hakainde Hichilema said in a statement made available to ZANIS yesterday that his party has learnt the death of Mr Tetamashimba with a sense of deep sorrow and grief.
He noted that the late Mr Tetamashimba worked with UPND as its first Secretary General at its formation adding that his passing had saddened the party.
CHIEF Government spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha has said it is puzzling that former Finance minister, Ng’andu Magande’s can call on Government to state its position on whether it will appeal against former president Frederick Chiluba when he knows the law.
Lieutenant General Shikapwasha said in Lusaka yesterday that as a former Cabinet minister, Mr Magande was aware that the Government was committed to upholding the independence of the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and would not interfere with its decisions.
He said in an interview that the Government did not want to comment on former President Frederick Chiluba’s acquittal because it did not want to influence the DPP’s decision.
Gen Shikapwasha was reacting to Mr Magande who asked the Government to tell the nation whether it would appeal against Dr Chiluba’s acquittal or not.
He said the DPP was constitutionally mandated to decide on behalf of the Government on matters of appeal in cases such as that of Dr Chiluba.
“The Government does not come up with positions on matters which have something to do with the DPP. It has nothing to do with the decision on whether to appeal or not. We did not give our position on Dr Chiluba’s acquittal because we did not want to sway the DPP’s mind because we wanted to uphold the independence of the office,” he said.
He said the Government had nothing to do with the decision on whether to appeal against any court verdict or not and urged the public, especially political leaders like Mr Magande to appreciate that fact.
Gen Shikapwasha, who is Information and Broadcasting Services minister, said according to the Republican Constitution, the office of the DPP was an independent entity, whose operation should not be influenced by any other office or individual.
He said it was equally puzzling that Mr Magande, who is a member of Parliament (MP) for the ruling party, could choose to rush to the media to discuss the issue when he had access to all the relevant offices including that of the DPP with whom he could have discussed the matter.
Gen Shikapwasha called on the people to take time and study what the law stipulates on various constitutional offices for them to fully understand their operations.
He said people should not politicise the office of the DPP because it was non-partisan which operated autonomously.
THE Times of Zambia has maintained its stand on a story published over former first lady Maureen Mwanawasa’s presidential ambitions.
Features editor Janet Ilunga said in Lusaka yesterday that the news story dated Friday September 4, 2009 and headlined “Maureen eyes presidency” was a result of an interview the newspaper had with her in relation to her life, one year after the passing of her husband, the late President Levy Mwanawasa.
Mrs Ilunga explained that the first interview was conducted on Monday August 31, 2009 in which Mrs Mwanawasa said she had a passion to lead the country but she did not have a platform to stand in 2011 because the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) had made a decision on a candidate.
Mrs Mwanawasa also said that she subscribed to the rules and regulations of the MMD, of which she was a member, and the electoral requirement that a presidential aspirant must be sponsored by a political party.[quote]
“At no time did Mrs Mwanawasa complain about any specific portion of the story except that she had been receiving phone calls from people who were threatening her and that she has created enemies that she had no capacity to handle,” Mrs Ilunga said.
She said the newspaper decided to conduct a second interview that was recorded on tape so that she could be given an opportunity to explain herself better and even there she repeated her passion for leading the country.
She said Mrs Mwanawasa reiterated that her political ambition was not new, as people even in the MMD had called on her to stand in 2011 to take over when Dr Mwanawasa was to retire.
“For us as a newspaper, we are surprised that Mrs Mwanawasa is saying we have refused to make a clarification when she did not state what she wanted corrected. She in fact said she had no problem with the feature which was based on the second interview so then where is the misrepresentation?” Mrs Ilunga said.
Mrs Mwanawasa was quoted in The Post newspaper in a story headlined, “Maureen refutes Times story on 2011 presidential ambition” as saying she was misquoted by the Times of Zambia.
Mrs Mwanawasa said she wanted to live a quiet and private life and politics was not part of her daily life.
She said she told the Times of Zambia reporter that she wanted to lead the country but did not know when the opportunity would arise.
