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.The Zambia Consumer Association (ZACA) has commended the Export-Import Bank of China on the move to stop giving concessional loans to Chinese companies that supply poor quality goods to Zambian consumers.
Association Executive Director Mwilola Ililonga told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that the move by the Chinese Bank is welcome.
Mr. Ililonga, however, said the association is looking forward to concrete action towards the implementation of the move.
He said the association is concerned with the continued complaints from consumers of Chinese products in the country saying the action by the Export-Import Bank of China is in the right direction.
Mr. Ililonga said it is not good that substandard goods should be off-loaded on the Zambian market adding that the Zambian consumers deserve better products.
He expressed confidence that the Chinese bank will take disciplinary action towards would be offenders.
Mr. Ililonga pointed out that in as much as Chinese products are cheap, there is need to improve on the quality.
Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) Northwestern Province Regional Manager Dickson Musosha says the agency is saddened by the increase in the number of road traffic accidents involving school going children.
Mr Musosha said with the economic boom the province is experiencing, road traffic accidents have become rampant and there is need to find a solution before the problem worsens.
He was speaking when he opened an orientation workshop for patrons and wardens drawn from 12 schools held at Manyama basic school in Solwezi yesterday.
Mr Musosha said teachers should play a critical role in saving many children from road traffic calamities and greatly help to change the minds of pupils through sensitization thereby reducing accidents.
He said government through the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) attaches great importance to ensuring safety of children on the road hence the introduction of RTSA clubs in schools.
Mr Musosha called on teachers to share and disseminate information in an effective manner if it is to impact positively on their pupils.
He added that patrons in the RTSA school clubs should come up with activities that would have a positive impact on their pupils and be able to penetrate to communities.
Genesis Group of Companies (GGC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Brett Brannigan says the low power electricity supply by ZESCO has hindered his company’s expansion and operations in Luapula province.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Mansa today, Mr Brannigan said his firm has not been able to open up a smelter to process manganese ore for export.
The CEO said that the company required about 18-megawatts to set up a smelter but pointed out that the power utility company in Luapula province (ZESCO )only six megawatts to the mining firm.
Mr. Brannigan said his company could not go ahead opening the smelter without guarantee from ZESCO to increase the electricity output in the area.
He said the manganese refining process requires adequate and specific power supply adding that if partially refined the manganese ore turns into a rock which takes months to be refined again.
However, Mr. Brannigan said that the mining firm has plans to set up a smelter by mid 2010 once the Copperbelt Energy Company (CEC) starts providing power to the mine in Luapula Province.
Mr. Brannigan revealed that CEC has been talking with GGC to have power supplied to the mining firm once the project is done.
He explained that even though Base metals prices have not yet recovered on the international market GCC exports between 4000 and 5000 metric tones of manganese per month.
He said there is market for manganese ore on the Copperbelt noting that it was sad the his company has not been able to sell to mining firms because its manganese is not refined.
Mr. Brannigan said that the aim of the company was to create job opportunities and increase revenue in Luapula province by partnering with small scale miners who have mining licenses.
He explained that when the company came to Luapula province it opted to partner with small scale miners in order for the people of Luapula province to be empowered.
He further explained that GGC would have bought mining rights when it came to Luapula province but did not buy mining rights because it wanted to assist small scale miners by partnering with them to enhance development.
He said government wanted GGC to set up a smelter in Mansa in order to create alternative opportunities for others to develop more businesses in Luapula province.
He said the company provides employment for the local people as evident by the 300 permanent Zambians workers against four foreign workers employed by GGC.
Mr. Brannigan said GGC was partnering with small scale miners which in turn assisted to uplift the living standards of people because it is the second largest employer in Luapula province from government which was giving a lot of contributions to NAPSA and the community.
President Rupiah Banda’s delegation scooped CNN’s first prize of How Not to Enter the United Nations Building. The video link was sent to us by a blogger with an ID “Political Analyst”. Many thanks for Sharing.
Everlyn Mwanawasa welcoming RB in Serenje during the recent Chitambo by-elections campaign
THE family of the late president Levy Mwanawasa has urged opposition Patriotic Front (PF) leader Michael Sata to desist from using the late president’s name to gain political mileage.
The late Mwanawasa’s sister Evelyn said in an interview yesterday that it was wrong for Mr Sata to turn Dr Mwanawasa’s name into championing his political cause.
Evelyn, who was commenting on Mr Sata’s claims that Dr Mwanawasa had given him information when the two met to reconcile at State House on May 14, 2008, said the family was upset with Mr Sata’s continued use of Dr Mwanawasa’s name each time he wanted to champion his political cause.
But Mr Sata said there was nothing wrong with mentioning Dr Mwanawasa and he would not stop referring to him because the reconciliation meeting between the two did not involve family members.
“What Mr Sata is doing is unfair. Does he want to imply that Dr Mwanawasa did not stick to his oath of secrecy as president? Does Mr Sata want to tell the nation that the late president could tell him all the things he has been talking about within that short time they met at State House? Let him leave Dr Mwanawasa to rest in peace,” she said.
Mr Sata however, said he was mentioning Dr Mwanawasa because they were only the two of them when they met to reconcile.
“We were only the two of us during the reconciliation. Neither my family nor Dr Mwanawasa’s family were there,” he said.
Meanwhile, Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has said Dr Chiluba was merely exercising his freedom of association by choosing to align with Mr Banda.
ZCTU president Leonard Hikaumba said politicians or any other organisations should not hate or harbour ill feelings against Dr Chiluba just because he had chosen to have a relationship with President Banda.
“I know that some people may be bitter with Dr Chiluba because he had chosen to have a good relationship with Mr Banda and this is why some of them are even insulting him, but there is no need for them to be bitter and insult the former president because he is merely exercising his freedom of association by choosing to have a good relationship with President Banda,” Mr Hikaumba said.
The MMD in Luanshya has urged the electorates in the Kasama by-elections to be wary of leaders who are bent on tribalism as they cast they vote on 15th October.
Luanshya MMD district secretary Kennedy Kaonga said he was disappointed by the remarks made by the PF/ UPND kasama candidate Goeffrrey Mwamba that the electorate should not vote for MMD’s Burton Mugala because he was not Bemba.
Kaonga said mr Mwamba should realize that Kasama town is a cosmopolitian constituency with some many tribes adding that it wiil not be only bembas will vote in the bye-elections.
He said being a cosmopolitan constituency anyone was eligible to contest the seat despite his tribe .
Kaonga said that when Mwamba stood in Lusaka a lot of Tumbukas from Muyombe voted for him and wondered why Kasama should be a special case.
He observed that such leaders of Mwamba ‘s caliber should not be entertained because of their divisive characteristics which was not good for nation.
He urged the electorate to vote for someone who reside with them as opposed to someone who is hailing from Lusaka with the view of hijacking the electoral process.
While Herve Renard has recalled Collins Mbesuma and Isaac Chansa, there is a surprise omission from the team ahead of the game against Egypt on October 10 in Chililabombwe.
Defender Kampamba Chintu of Amazulu of South Africa has been omitted from the provisional list of foreign based players to face the Egyptian champions.
Chintu has been a regular feature in the team for Zambia for the last three years when he returned to the fold under Patrick Phiri after an 7-year hiatus to the team.
Meanwhile, of the recent foreign-based call-ups yet to play under Renard and were named for the ill-fated friendly game against Ghana in London on August 12, only Andrew Sinkala has been retained.
Kennedy Mweene (Free State Stars, South Africa), Kalilo Kakonje (Amazulu, South Africa)
Defenders: Emmanuel Mbola (Pyunik Yerevan, Arminia), Joseph Musonda (Golden Arrows)
Midfielder: Rainford Kalaba (Sporting Braga, Portugal), William Njobvu (Hapoel Kiryat Shmone, Israel, Isaac Chansa (Helsingborg, Sweden), Jonah Sakuwaha (Lorient, France), Andrew Sinkala (Augsburg, Germany), Noah Chivuta (Maritzburg United South Africa)
Strikers: James Chamanga (Dalian Haichang, China), Jacob Mulenga FC Utrecht, Netherlands), Collins Mbesuma (Moroka Swallows, South Africa), Christopher Katongo (Armenia Bielefled, Germany), Given Singuluma (TP Mazembe, DR Congo), Emmanuel Mayuka (Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel)
The Lusaka City Council has says the local authority is in the process of reallocating shops and market stalls at the new Soweto market in Lusaka.
Council Public Relations Manager Chanda Makanta confirmed the development to ZANIS in interview in Lusaka today.
Ms. Makanta said this is because most of the rightful beneficiaries of the newly constructed market were left out during the recent allocation of the shops.
She said the council will start the reallocation exercise as soon as they have the correct information on people that were trading within the area where the new market was constructed.
Ms. Makanta said priority will be given to those marketeers who were displaced to pave way for the construction of the new market.
She the original records that had the final list of those that were displaced went missing making it difficult to know the bonafide owners of the shops and stalls.
Ms. Makanta said currently the exercise has been suspended due to the confusion that has arisen from the missing records that contain the names of marketeers.
Ms.Makanta has however appealed to marketeers to remain calm as the situation was being normalized.
Meanwhile, The Lusaka City Council (LCC) says there is need for stakeholders in the Keep Lusaka Clean campaign to continue rendering their support to the local authority.
Council Public Relations Manager Chanda Makanta says the Council would always appreciate various stakeholders that have continued to help LCC to keep the capital city health and clean.
Ms. Makanta told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today, that the it was not possible for the local authority to solely keep Lusaka health and clean hence the need for various stakeholders to come on board and assist.
The Council Public Relations Manager named some of the stakeholders that have assisted the Council in keeping Lusaka clean and health as Bank on Zambia (BOZ) and Barclays Bank Zambia PLC among others.
Ms. Makanta said keeping Lusaka clean and health was not only the job of the Council alone but every resident of Lusaka.
She said if everyone participates in keeping Lusaka clean and health then Lusaka would have a clean environment and better surroundings.
The Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) has urged Members of Parliament (MPs) not to abandon their constituencies once voted into office.
SACCORD Information Officer Michelo Mwango says it was unfortunate that some MPs forget or rarely visit their constituencies.
Ms. Mwango told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today, that MPs need to visit their constituencies in order to know how the people in that constituency are living.
The SACCORD Information Officer said some MPs make fake promises that they would be visiting their constituencies but once elected they are rarely seen in their constituencies.
She said making fake promises was betraying the electorate adding that people should ensure that they vote wisely.
She has called upon MPs to always remember that they are there to save the people and not for their personal gain.
The Auditor General (AG) Anna Chifungula has disclosed that her office has been receiving various requests from a broad spectrum of its stakeholders for it to carryout specific audits.
Ms Chifungula says though the Zambian constitution provides that the AG’s office shall not be directed in doing its work owing to the increased relevance of its work in the governance of the nation as well as in financial management, there has been various request for the office to carryout specific audits.
She said some of its stakeholder’s requesting for AG’s office for specific audits includes the Executive arm of Government, Investigative wings of Government such as the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC), cooperating partners and some sectors of society.
“Therefore the challenge we face is to strike a balance in meeting these requests and maintain our relevance and to ensuring that we are not effectively being directed, contrary to the constitution”, she said.
The Auditor General said her office was mindful of the essence of its existence and the criticality of maintaining its relevance in the accountability process of public resource management.
Ms Chifungula said it was for this reason that her office has been able to adjust its work plans and carry out some more work as demanded by the many of its stakeholders including specific requests from cooperating partners.
Ms Chifungula said this in Lusaka today during the signing ceremony of a project document regarding the short term institutional support to the office of the Auditor General by the Royal Danish Embassy.
The support, which is for the recruitment of 15 officers at the AG’s office for a period of six (6) months is for an amount of DK3.5million (slightly over K3 billion).
The Auditor General thanked the Danish Embassy for the financial support to meet most of the challenges her office was facing.
She said her office will endeavor to utilize the funds for the intended purpose as stipulated in the signed agreement and ensure that the office delivers to the sponsor’s and other stakeholder’s expectation just as it has always done.
She further said the office of the Auditor General continues to face challenges of resource and time constraints.
Ms. Chifungula said it has not been easy for her office to rise to the challenge of meeting the increased demand of service especially in the midst of the financial crisis and other resource limitations.
“My office still has a total number of 169 staff vacancies even o be able to meet all the planned activities. These vacancies could have been filled in within this year as the last phase of the restructuring exercise but could not because of inadequate funds”, she said.
And speaking earlier, Danish Ambassador to Zambia Thomas Schjerbeck pledged his country’s continued support to the office of the Auditor General.
Mr Schjerbeck said despite the financial crisis which is not yet over, his country will not hesitate to provide financial assistance that helps promote good governance and proper financial management in its partner countries.
The Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) has expressed sadness at the rampant name calling by candidates in the Kasama Central parliamentary by elections.
FODEP President Stanley Mhango told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that it is very unfortunate that the candidates in the Kasama Central-by election were concentrating on calling each other names.
Mr. Mhango said what the candidates need to understand and know is that politics of name calling were long gone.
He has since urged the candidates to concentrate on telling the electorate what they would do once voted into office.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mhango says FODEP is considering sponsoring a programme on one of the radio stations in Kasama in order to allow the candidates to sell and explain their manifestos to the people of Kasama.
He said giving the candidates a platform to explain their manifestos would allow more people in Kasama to know what each candidate has to offer.
Mr. Mhango expressed confidence that the move to afford a platform to all candidates would be in the interest of the people of Kasama.
He also called on the candidates to utilize the opportunity to explain why the people of Kasama should vote for them.
The Kasama Central seat fell vacant after the resignation of Saviour Chishimba.
Government says there is no need for players in the construction industry to resort to the importation of cement from other countries.
Works and Supply Minister Mike Mulongoti says the Zambian cement manufacturing companies have the ability to produce and supply the local market and export the surplus.
Mulongoti was speaking in Lusaka last night when he officiated at the re-launch of new Mphamvu brand, a commodity manufactured by Lafarge Cement Zambia.
Mr. Mulongoti observed that the country has in the last two to three years experienced shortages of cement on the local market adding that any disruption in the supply of cement negatively impacts the construction industry and ultimately impacts the economy.
The Minister expressed happiness that the shortages of cement have now ceased and the commodity is now procured easily.
Mr. Mulongoti reiterated government’s commitment to working hand in hand with Lafarge in the promotion of the construction industry.
He said government is happy that Lafarge had continued to re-invest in Zambia to enhance economic development and ensure that its products compete favourably on the international market.
President Rupiah Banda on November 14, 2008 commissioned the US$120 million new state of the art plant in Chilanga.
And speaking earlier, Lafarge Commercial Director Bwembya Chikwanda disclosed that the company has managed to double its production from 600,000 metric tonnes (MT) to 1, 200 million metric tonnes annually.
Mr. Chikwanda said the increase in production is meant to satisfy the construction sector.
He praised the Zambia Bureau of Standards for setting a common standard that compels cement manufacturing companies to comply and conform to international standards in terms of mixture, packaging and quality.
Police in Nchelenge District of Luapula Province are holding a 70 year old disabled man for allegedly defiling his 13 year old grand daughter.
Luapula Province Deputy Police Commanding Officer, Muwesa Wakwinji confirmed the development to ZANIS.
Mr. Wakwinji said the elderly man identified as Zachariah Mwape of Ndayi Village in Chief Mununga’s area of Chienge District is alleged to have defiled his named grand daughter of the same village around 10:00 hours yesterday.The accused has deformed legs and moves using his hands.
The Provincial Deputy Police Chief said the accused lured his grand daughter into his house after lying to her that he wanted to give her K 1,000 to buy a pencil.
He said Mwape was caught in the act by neighbors who became suspicious when the two locked themselves in the house.
Mr. Wakwinji warned elderly men against engaging themselves in criminal activities such as child defilement.
He said the law is not selective and that the Police will enforce it to the fullest regardless of the age of those committing defilement cases.
Mr. Wakwinji expressed disappointment that elderly people who are supposed to be the custodians of Zambia’s cultural norms and values are involving themselves in illicit activities.
Mwape has been remanded at Nchelenge Police Station and will appear in court soon.
President Rupiah Banda has urged the American business community to consider investing in Zambia because the country is endowed with abundant natural resources and is politically stable.
President Banda said foreign investors have often succeeded in Zambia especially that the country has no history of civil war or any skirmishes since independence.
He said the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has been growing at an average of 5.1 per cent annually since the early 2000.
Mr. Banda said this when he addressed several business executives at Loews Regency Hotel in New York today.
He said investment opportunities were abundant in Zambia especially in the agriculture, mining, tourism, manufacturing and energy sector.
The President told the business community in the United States that Zambia has tracts of arable land coupled with abundant water resources.
Zambia boasts of containing 40 per cent of fresh water in the Southern African region.
President Banda therefore urged the business executives to take advantage of this resource and invest in agriculture and hydropower production because water was available in abundance all year round.
“Quality land, minerals and water resources are abundant in Zambia,” he said.
Mr. Banda further said Zambia has attractive investment policies through the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) Act of 2006.
These incentives include tax exemption and concessions to companies which invest in the country’s priority areas, while government has reduced the cost of doing business significantly.
He added that investors had legal protection especially that Zambia has an independent judiciary.
On mining, Mr. Banda said Zambia was a second largest producer of copper in the world, adding that it still had huge copper deposits dotted around the country.
Other minerals in Zambia are precious stones such as emerald, silver and gold.
On tourism, the President said 33 per cent of land in Zambia was dedicated to game parks and other game management areas, noting that the hospitality industry also still has huge investment potential.
And Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Felix Mutati said at the same function that government was working towards regional and international investment in order to expand the market for various products.
He said Zambia had already started working on the North –to-South corridor that would promote regional integration in the Southern African region.
And African Rainbow Minerals Executive Chairman, Patrice Motsepe, who was among business executives in the audience testified that Zambia’s investment climate was very attractive.
Mr. Motsepe, who is a South African, said his company was finalizing plans to invest between US$300 million and US$500 million in the country.
And Mitsubishi International Corporation General Manager for Corporation Communications, Tracy Austin said her company had collaborated with Zambia in terms of doing business for many years.
President Banda is in New York attending the 64th General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) but has seized the opportunity to hold bilateral and business meetings.
Earlier in the day, President Banda held bilateral talks with Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Deputy Vice President for Policy and International Relations, Sherri Kraham at UN building.
Meanwhile, First Lady Thandiwe Banda today attended a Global Health Council meeting on Maternal Health and Malaria held at Millennium Plaza hotel in New York.
At this meeting, Nancy Brinker, who is the founding chair for the Susan G. Komen for Cure, urged Ministers of Health in the world to fearlessly address the growing crisis of cancer.
Ms. Brinker said Ministers of Health should integrate cancer screening and treatment under existing health programmes in developing countries.
