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RB launches Levy Patrick Mwanawasa centre

Guest Editor
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22

President Rupiah Banda yesterday launched the Levy Patrick Mwanawasa Centre of the Great Lakes Region for promotion of good governance, human rights and civic education.

President Banda, who has taken over the Chairmanship of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, launched the Centre in Lusaka during the third International Conference on the Great Lakes Region Summit, held at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre.

President Banda disclosed that a place has already been found where the Centre would be constructed.

He said at least 58 Chief Executives, who are civil servants, have been attached to the Centre’s Secretariat to implement and domesticate issues in the Great lakes Region pact on security, stability and development.

And speaking at the same function, United Nations Development Programme Country Representative McLeod Nyirongo welcomed the launch of the Centre and pledged to support it in enhancing good governance in Zambia and in the entire Great Lakes Region.

He expressed confidence that the Pact on security, stability and development will be implemented for the benefit of the people in the Great Lakes Region.
ZANIS

Kick out Magande – Ndola MMD

editor
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magande1THE MMD leadership in Ndola has petitioned the party’s national executive committee (NEC) to ensure that presidential hopeful and chairman for finance Ng’andu Magande is removed from his party position for allegedly destabilising the party.

The district leadership petition to NEC says that Mr Magande should be removed from the party for allegedly being the root cause of the destabilisation currently being experienced by the party.

But when contacted for a comment, Mr Magande said he was only aware that some people had been suspended from the party in Ndola for allegedly being linked to him but that he had not received any petition accusing him of destabilising the party.

According to the petition to the NEC signed by disciplinary committee chairman, Victor Chimuka and district secretary, Jeff Chishala, which was also copied to Mr Magande, the Ndola MMD leadership accused Mr Magande of causing instability in the party.

They asked Mr Magande to put himself in the shoes of the incumbent party president, Rupiah Banda and think of what he would do to people undermining his leadership as party president.

“Even if you were president, we are sure you would not condone such levels of indiscipline emanating from such activities and conduct.

“In view of the foregoing, we petition NEC to take strong action against you since we have no jurisdiction to discipline you which we would have done long time ago,” reads the petition.[quote]

“Your visits to the constituencies is no doubt aimed at dividing the party contrary to provisions of article 10 of our party constitution which cannot go without attracting serious disciplinary charges as provided under MMD Disciplinary Regulation of 1993 appendices “B” subsections a , b, f and j,” the petition states .

The petition says that due to Mr Magande’s series of clandestine meetings held on June 14, the party had been forced to get rid of four constituency officials.

The petition among other things alleges that Mr Magande recruited campaign agents in Ndola after hoodwinking that that he had been sent by the NEC to hold a series of meetings.

It says that during all the meetings, Mr Magande targeted possible delegates to the national convention.

According to the petition during meetings, Mr Magande claimed that he was the most preferred successor of the late President Levy Mwanawasa.
It says the decision to hide from the district and provincial was strange and undermining local leadership.

[Times of Zambia]

ZAIN was given 3G test authorisation-CA

editor
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THE Communication Authority (CA) of Zambia has said it legally issued the test authorisation to Zain Zambia to conduct trials for third generation (3G) services in the country two years ago.

And the CA has said Vodacom Zambia chairperson Enoch Kavindele’s interpretation of the injunction against the authority would entail plunging Zambia into confusion because most communication projects would grind to a halt.

Acting director – public relations and consumer affairs Ngabo Nankonde said in Lusaka yesterday the test authorisation was issued on August 13, 2007 before Mr Kavindele obtained any injunction.

Ms Nankonde said the authorisation was for establishing the usability of technology in Zambia among other things.
She said the authorisation of the trial, which would be conducted at no commercial value, was not in contravention of the injunction granted to Mr Kavindele.

Ms Nankonde was reacting to Mr Kavindele’s complaint on Sunday that the CA had issued Zain Zambia the 3G licences when the injunction restrained it from granting any licences relating to telecommunication until the matter was disposed of.

She said that the interpretation would have telling effects on the tele and mobile phone communication, banking, the national security and the aviation industry.

Ms Nankonde said Mr Kavindele seemed to suggest that the injunction granted to him restrained the authority from issuing or renewing licences until the discharge of the injunction.[quote]

“The above interpretation would also among other things, affect telephone communication, internet banking via the mobile phone, etc. leading to stagnation of national development,” she said.

The situation would also affect national security as the security agencies would not have frequency spectrum needed for their communication.

Ms Nankonde said other effects of the interpretation would be that the final migration of Frequent Modulation (FM) broadcasting band re-planning would not take place while aircraft registered in Zambia would not be able to renew their aeronautical licences.

She said the authority failed to understand Mr Kavindele’s motive saying interpretation would re-orient the social and security situations.

“We do not understand the intention of the former vice-president because the matter at hand is the fourth mobile licence and nothing to do with other licences and spectrum that are not fourth mobile related.

“In view of the above, Mr Kavindele’s interpretation would have adverse effect on not only the economy but also the social and security aspect of the nation,” Ms Nankonde said.

[Times of Zambia]

We are not using government vehicles in Chitambo-MMD

editor
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Movement for Multi Party Democracy (MMD) has refuted allegations by the Patriotic Front (PF) that the party is using government vehicles during the on-going campaigns in the Chitambo by-elections.

MMD Deputy National Secretary Jeff Kaande said in an interview in Serenje that the MMD party purchased nine vehicles from China for MMD provincial chair ladies.[quote]

Mr Kaande disclosed that the party had already paid about K430milion duty for the vehicles in question.

He has since advised Mr. Michael Sata, the opposition PF leader, to refrain from spreading inflammatory remarks but instead seek the truth.

Meanwhile, Vice-President George Kunda announced that government has set aside K80 million to construct a 1 by 3 classroom block at Yolamu Primary School in Chitambo constituency.

Mr Kunda said this at a rally held at Yolamu Primary School in Chitambo constituency yesterday.

Mr. Kunda said that plans to construct the classroom block were made before the Chitambo parliamentary seat fell vacant.

Mr. Kunda said that the programme was an going exercise aimed at improving infrastructure in schools.

The Vice President also disclosed that government had embarked on a programme of rehabilitating roads in rural areas and has since purchased equipment from the People’s Republic of China for that purpose.

Mr. Kunda has called upon the people of Serenje to vote wisely in the fourth coming by-elections.

ZANIS

Zambian coal buyers continue importing coal from Zimbabwe

editor
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13

Coal mining companies have bemoaned the lack of market for their produce as prospective buyers continue importing the commodity.

The two major coal producing companies, Chinese Collume Coal Mine (CCCM) and the Maamba Collieries Limited (MCL), both located in Southern Province, are facing serious challenges of finding market for their produce, a situation that puts the future of their employees at stake.

CCCM Shaft Two Director Xu Zian Rui told ZANIS that washed coal was being stored in its mining area with only a few customers from Lusaka going to buy a bit of it.

He said the state of affairs was affecting the workers who were being told to stop working once their storages were filled.

Mr. Rui said that currently the company has reduced the shifts from three to two to avoid over production since there was no enough space to store the coal.

He disclosed that Largarge PLC (formerly Chilanga Cement PLC) was still buying coal from Zimbabwe.

Mr Rui said that the company had enough coal for sale and urged the Zambian companies to be buying from them rather than going to Zimbabwe were they incurred more costs in transportation.

At Maamba Coal Mine thousands of coal had been heaped and there were no customers to buying it.

The situation has affected the workers as they have not been paid their salaries for two months.

ZANIS

Chief Moyo of the Tonga people lashes out at Chief Nalubamba

editor
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25

CHIEF Moyo of the Tonga people of Choma says
he is disturbed by what he had described as unwarranted attack and
lack of respect exhibited by chief Nalubamba towards President Rupiah
Banda.

Chief Moyo who has lashed out at chief Nalubamba for bringing the
names of the traditional leadership into ridicule has asked his fellow
chief to publicly apologize for misleading the nation.

He said in a statement in Choma yesterday that traditional
leaders must not only be above partisan politics but must respect
democratically elected leaders.

Chief Moyo said the remarks made by chief Nalubamba border on
political hatred and wondered how traditional leaders could involve
themselves in active politics when they were supposed to be
politically neutral.

“I am very disturbed by insinuations coming from Chief Nalubamba
against President Banda. I wish to categorically state that it is a
personal view not representative of all chiefs in southern province,”
he said.

He said the role of traditional leaders was to support the government
of the day and not show open support for political parties.

Chief Moyo said chief Nalubamba rose to senior positions of government
in the first republic and wondered why he could sink so low as to
issue embarrassing statements.

Chief Moyo now joins Chief Macha of the same district who over the
weekend disassociated himself from a statement made by Chief Nalubamba
of the Ila people of Namwala district on Saturday that President
Rupiah Banda had lost wholesome support of Southern Province Chiefs.

Chief Macha said when Southern Province Permanent Secretary Darius
Hakayobe paid a courtesy call at his palace that Chief
Nalubamba did not consult widely before issuing a sweeping statement
on Saturday.

The traditional leader said he was entitled to his own opinion and
wondered why Chief Nalubamba decided to include other Chiefs in his
own opinion.

ZANIS

Man commits suicide after a domestic quarrel with his wife.

editor
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17

A 45 year old man of Chalwe Kalima village in Mwense area of Chief Kasoma Bangueulu in Samfya district has committed suicide following a domestic quarrel with his wife.

Luapula Province Police Deputy Commanding Officer Muweswa Wakwinji confirmed the development to ZANIS saying the deceased Tela Mulenga took his life by consuming poison and is believed to have died between midnight and the early hours of yesterday (Sunday).

Mr. Wakwinji said that neighbors reported that Mulenga might have decided to kill himself after an argument around 18:00 hours with his wife on suspicion of her committing adultery.

His body was retrieved by police and was lying in the mortuary.

And Police are investigating suspected arson to the property of Dominic Mutale of Mwamfuli village, following fire that razed down the structure and left 18-year-old Frederick Mwila who was sleeping inside with burns on the ears and part of the head.

Mutale told ZANIS that fire, which started mysteriously, swept through his workshop around 21:00hours on Thursday night destroying ready made furniture and raw materials worth millions of Kwacha.

Mr. Mutale said it was fortunate that Mwila who was sleeping inside the store room managed to break out despite the exit route being fully engulfed in flames and fumes.

He said that Mwila was rushed to Samfya District Hospital where he was being treated and has since been described to be in a stable condition.

Mr. Mutale has appealed to well wishers to assist him with capital to resume his once thriving carpentry business.

An on the spot check by ZANIS found the structure had been reduced to ashes.

ZANIS

The Great Lakes Region Conference Communiqué

editor
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2

The International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) has resolved that the Summit will be held every two years on 15th December and that Uganda takes over the chairmanship of the ICGLR in 2011.

The Presidents attending the ICGLR have also affirmed that the Pact on security, stability and development are frameworks of ensuring sustainable peace, durable political stability, reconstruction and development in the region.

Zambian Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande, who read the Lusaka Communiqué on behalf of the ICGLR advised that a summit be convened by the Democratic Republic of Congo, as soon as possible.

He said that the agenda of the proposed summit would include discussion of a comprehensive report by DRC Facilitators, who are former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and his Tanzanian counterpart Benjamin Mkapa, on the joint military operations against the LRA by the Central African Republic, Sudan and Uganda.

Mr. Pande, who is also ICGLR Regional Inter-Ministerial Committee Chairperson, appreciated the positive role and continued efforts DRC Facilitators were implementing in the peace process in DRC

The Minister further welcomed with satisfaction the positive developments that have taken place to restore political stability in Burundi.
.
The Third ICGLR ended in Lusaka yesterday and Zambia has taken over the chairmanship of the GLR from Kenya.
Meanwhile, Republican President Rupiah Banda has assumed the chairmanship of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR).

President Banda has since paid tribute to his predecessor Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki for his good leadership during his tenure of office.

The President also paid tribute to the Regional Inter-Ministerial Committee and the National Coordinators, for ensuring that all Executive decisions were in line with the pact on security, stability and development.

Mr. Banda said he is confident that the two bodies will be able to continue to provide their services to the peace process during his tenure of office as chairman.

He further urged the Conference to recognize the assistance rendered by the African Union, United Nations and the Group of Friends for the Great Lakes Region, without whose involvement a number of achievements would not have been recorded.

President Banda also reaffirmed government’s continued support to the promotion of peace, security, democracy, good governance and human rights in the Great Lakes region.

The President emphasized the need to consolidate peace and security efforts through the principles laid down in the peace pact, signed on 16th December 2006 and ratified by all member states.

President Banda was speaking at the official opening of the 3rd ordinary summit of the International Conference on Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), held at Mulungushi International Conference Centre (MICC) in Lusaka yesterday.

At the same occasion, President Banda commended presidents Paul Kagami of Rwanda and his Democratic Republic of Congo counterpart Joseph Kabila for having resolved the differences between their two countries through dialogue.

The president said this was a positive move in the attainment of peace in the region which must continue to be pursued with determination by all countries in the region.

And speaking before handing over the chairmanship to President Banda, out-going ICGLR Chairperson, Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki, noted that there is need to address the real causes of conflicts in the Great Lakes Region in an objective and honesty manner.

Mr. Kibaki noted there is chance to transform the Great Lakes Region into a region of peace, growth, and prosperity for the benefit of the people.

Meanwhile former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has observed that the Great Lakes Region still faces profound security, humanitarian, developmental and environmental challenges.

Mr. Obasanjo urged the ICGLR member sates to quickly find solutions to consolidate peace, which is a key factor of sustainable development.

And Civil Societies Great Lakes Region Representative Mutuku Nguli said the Civil Society would continue to work closely with governments in the Great Lakes Region.

She said the Region Civil Society would strive to continue to keep the vision and objectives of peace, security, democracy and good governance. ZANIS.

We have failed to benefit from CEEC funds-Former freedom fighters

editor
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5

FORMER freedom fighters have said that they have failed to benefit from the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) funds due to the conditions attached to the funds.

Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Ndola, Isaac Chileshe, one of the former freedom fighters, said that the former freedom fighters cannot afford the sureties that are required for them to qualify for the funds.

He asked government to soften the conditions attached to the CEEC funds specifically for the senior citizens so that they can access these funds and improve their standard of living.

He observed that most of the former freedom fighters were living in abject poverty and were in dire need of financial assistance to improve their living standards and contribute to the economic development of the nation.

Mr. Chileshe added that former freedom fighters had the potential to contribute to the economic development of the country just as they did in liberating the country from the colonial masters.

He observed that the former freedom fighters were not given chance to participate in the running of national affairs.

He said that government should consider appointing them on boards of parastatal companies so that they participate in directing the national affairs of the country.

ZANIS

UNIP, PF and MMD in Nchelenge thank Government

editor
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4

The ruling Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD), Patriotic Front (PF) and the United Nations Independence Party (UNIP) told ZANIS in a joint statement in Nchelenge that the move by Government will greatly assist in the transportation of goods and the movement of members of the public.

MMD Constituency Youth Chairperson, Panji Siame said that the rehabilitation of the road will greatly contribute to the development of Nchelenge district, which he said depended on that road to transport consumer goods into the district and to transport fish out of the district to other parts of the country.

Mr. Siame urged passenger transporters, who had in the recent past withdrawn their new buses from the route for fear that they would get damaged due to the bad state of the road, to re-assign the new buses to the route.

Speaking earlier PF Nchelenge Ward Publicity and Information Secretary, Knife Mwewa commended President Rupiah Banda for appointing Dr. Borniface Kawimbe and Mr. Jazzman Chikwakwa as Luapula Province Minister and Permanent Secretary respectively.

Mr. Mwewa said since the appointment of the pair, whom he described as hardworking, Luapula Province has started to see tangible developmental programmes which were meant to alleviate the suffering of people in the area.

And UNIP District Chairperson Thadeos Kafula has thanked the Luapula Province Administration for appointing Mr. Orswell Musanda as the new District Commissioner for Nchelenge.

Mr. Kafula said Mr.Musanda is a local person who knows and understands the problems faced by the people of Nchelenge especially being a former Council Secretary at the Nchelenge District Council.

Meanwhile, newly appointed Nchelenge District Commissioner has thanked Government for his appointment and has pledged to serve the people in the District diligently.

Mr. Musanda said he feels humbled by the appointment and will use his position to help develop the district which he said is in dire need for socio-economic development.

ZANIS

Briefcase traders worry Govt – Veep

editor
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5

Deputy Minister in the Office of the Vice President Gastone Sichilima has said that government is concerned about poor farmers who are selling their produce at a very low cost.

Mr. Sichilima has urged farmers to be patient not to sell their maize cheaply as this would perpetuate their poverty.

Speaking to ZANIS in an interview in Serenje yesterday, Mr. Sichilima said that government was yet to release an additional 10 billion Kwacha for the purchase of maize from farmers around the country.

Mr. Sichilima assured farmers in the country that government would buy their maize.

Meanwhile, Mr. Sichilima has called upon prospective maize buyers to identify themselves with cooperative societies.

He said this would enable government to know how much maize was being produced in the country.

ZANIS

A stray lioness and its cub threatening villagers in Choma – Mubita

editor
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4

A stray lioness and its cub are reportedly posing a threat to both livestock and people living at Batoka Livestock centre and surrounding villages in Choma.

Batoka Golden Valley Research Station Livestock Centre Manager David Mubita confirmed the development to the National Agricultural Information Services (NAIS).

Mr. Mubita told NAIS that his office is making frantic efforts to contact the Zambia Wild Life Authority (ZAWA) to ensure that the beast is hunted down, to protect people’s lives and livestock.

He disclosed that the lioness with its cub, believed to have strayed from Sinazeze area of the valley, was seen entering Batoka Livestock centre after killing a wild pig.

Mr. Mubita told NAIS that communities in Kaila area near Batoka livestock centre confirmed also seeing the stray lioness.

And Mr. Mubita expressed worry that the lioness may not be alone in the area and was suspicious that it might be moving with a male lion.

ZANIS

Visa Hitch Delays SA-based Players Departure For UK

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Five South African-based players called-up for Wednesday friendly international against Ghana in London are likely to only arrive in the British capital hours before the game.

This is after the five could not file their UK visa applications today Monday at the British High Commission in Pretoria because the mission was closed for a South African public holiday.

August 9 is National Womens Day in South Africa.

Faz communications officer Erick Mwanza said the players visa’s will be issued on Tuesday and the players expected to fly out to London later on the same day.

The five include the goalkeeping duo of Kennedy Mweene and Kalililo Kakonje of Free State Stars and Amazulu respectively.

The rest are defender Joseph Musonda of Lamontville Golden Arrows, midfielder Noah Chivuta from Maritzburg united and Felix Katongo who has just secured a deal with Mamelodi Sundowns.

Mwanza said the European based players were currently making their way to London while the home and Israel-based players will travel from Lusaka to London tonight.

Zambia face Ghana in the London East End at Brisbane Road with kickoff scheduled for 19:45 GMT.

It will be Zambia’s first match in London since 1993 when they played Queens Park Rangers in a warm-up match that they won 2-1.

Chief Singani demands apology from Chief Nalubamba

editor
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15

CHIEF Singani of Choma district has demanded that Chief Nalubamba must apologise to his fellow chiefs in Southern Province for issuing a misleading statement that President Banda has fallen out of their favour.

Chief Singani was reacting to a statement, attributed to Chief Nalubamba of
Namwala, in one of the local tabloids quoting him has having said that President Rupiah Banda had fallen out of favour of Southern Province chiefs.

Chief Singani said that his chiefdom had benefited tremendously from government support in infrastructural development and other social services.

Speaking in Choma today when he called on district administrative officer Vincent Sikanyela, Chief Singani said he will always remain grateful to the MMD government for the various developmental initiatives which have improved the socio-economic status of his subjects.

He said the MMD government will go down in history as having provided electricity, schools and other developmental projects to his chiefdom.

Chief Singani said for the first time, his chiefdom will have a modern high school, which is currently under construction.

He said it would therefore not be right for some traditional leaders to unfairly criticize the Rupiah Banda led government which is doing everything possible to meet the developmental challenges of the country especially the rural populace.

ZANIS.

48% of baby deliveries done by non-qualified personnel-First Lady

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Zambike_at_State_House1First Lady, Thandiwe Banda, has attributed the high number of women dying as a result of pregnancy and childbirth to lack of transport.

Mrs. Banda said only 48 percent of women deliver in health facilities while the majority in rural areas are attended by non-qualified personnel.

She said one woman die every four hours due to complications related to pregnancy and childbirth, a situation which she says needed to be resolved with urgency.

Mrs. Banda said that many of these cases of women dying in childbirth can be avoided if there is transport to ferry them to health centres.

The First Lady said this at State House today when ZamBike presented three Bicycle Ambulances worthy K8.4 Million, for community based Safe Motherhood Action Groups (SMAGS).

And speaking earlier, Zambike Marketing Manager, Chiteau Muyoya said that many women, who die from pregnancy and childbirth related complications, die as a result of walking long distances.

Ms. Muyoya said there is therefore need for transport facilities to be given to people in rural areas to help reduce the high number of women dying from pregnancy and childbirth related complications.

ZANIS.

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