The Lusaka City Council (LCC) has urged members of the general public to supplement the Council’s efforts to keep Lusaka city clean and healthy by not dumping garbage irresponsibly.

Speaking to ZANIS today, Council Public Relations Manager Chanda Makanta urged the community to subscribe to companies that the Council has subcontracted to collect garbage in the capital city.

Ms. Makanta said it was unfortunate that sections of society were still hostile to the garbage collecting companies.
She said subscribing to the garbage collecting companies would assist in people not dumping garbage anyhow.She said not subscribing and dumping garbage anyhow was not being of any help to the local authority and the community at large.

Ms. Makanta observed that some members of the public do not want to subscribe to the garbage collecting companies but only want to be dumping garbage anyhow especially at night.

She said what people need to know and understand was that dumping garbage anyhow was illegal.
She has since urged members of the general public to report people that dump garbage, to the local authority.

Late Republican President Levy Mwanawasa launched the keep Zambia Clean and healthy Campaign in 2007.

ZANIS

The Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) has welcomed the decision to increase the number of Parliamentary seats from 150 to about 240.

SACCORD Information Officer Michelo Mwango told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka that increasing the number of MPs would give more people the chance to get into leadership positions.

She said this would also help in developing the constituencies as they would be divided into two adding that some constituencies are too big to be managed by one MP.

Ms. Mwango said the move to increase the number of MPs should be embraced.

Recently, the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) delegates resolved that the number of MPs be increased from 150 to about 240.

ZANIS

Three Copperbelt University (CBU) fourth year students have been arrested by police in connection with the burning of a car during a student protest over two weeks ago.

Home Affairs Minister Lameck Mangani disclosed that two of the suspects were nabbed in Livingstone while the third one was arrested in Rufunsa area in Chongwe district. The fourth accomplice is said to be still on the run.

Mr Mangani said this at the Reformed Church in Zambia (RCZ) education day launch where he was guest of honour.

He said police have launched a man-hunt for the suspect adding that the apprehended trio was nabbed on Saturday in separate dragnets set by police.

Mr Mangani said the two student suspects who allegedly stole cell phones were traced in Livingstone by police in conjunction with a named mobile service provider while police recovered a bag in Chongwe from the third suspect.

He urged parents to educate their children on good morals as opposed to taking the law into their own hands when aggrieved.
He said it is the duty of parents and the church as stakeholders to guide their children and shape them into responsible citizens.

He said the trio has been charged with arson and they will appear in court soon.

Mr Mangani said police and other the law enforcement agencies will not relent on clumping down on criminals who are bent on frustrating government efforts.

Recently CBU students ran amok and destroyed property at the institution as well as that of private individuals forcing government to close the institution indefinitely.

ZANIS

President Rupiah Banda has urged students at learning institutions in the country to learn to dialogue and avoid engaging themselves in unnecessary disturbances when aggrieved.

President Banda said that he is saddened when students resort to violence when expressing their grievances.

President Banda said this in Lusaka yesterday when he officiated at the second graduation ceremony of the Australian Institute of Business and Technology (AIBT) Zambia Chapter.

Mr Banda said students won’t achieve anything if they resort to rioting every time they are aggrieved.

First Lady, Thandiwe Chilonga Banda and former First Lady Maureen Kakubo Mwanawasa were among the students who graduated in Information Technology Advanced Diploma and Master of Business Administration (MBA) respectively.

Others are Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) Board Chairman Augustine Seyuba (MBA), Late Local Government and Housing Minister Benny Tetamashimba’s daughter Rachael, three Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) Staffer Wamunyima Muwana (Bachelor of Communication, BC), Rosaria Lubumbashi (Advanced Diploma in Communication, ADC) and Cecilia Mulenga (ADC) and Zambia National Agriculture Services’ Susan Musukuma (BC).

President Banda said education is a pillar to eradicating poverty and therefore government attaches great importance to the education sector.

He said the challenges Zambia is facing can be solved through an educated human resource at appropriate universities and colleges in the country.

He said government through the Citizen Economic Empowerment Commission provides employment to the Zambian people but he challenged the graduates to think og self employment instead of looking for employment.

He congratulated the graduates for exhibiting an exemplary example in excelling in education adding that it is plus to national development.

Mr Banda further urged other spouses to always encourage one another to attain higher education as it is a milestone in their lifetime.

“I want to congratulate you my wife, Thandiwe for acquiring this Advanced Diploma. The presence of you and former First Lady, Maureen is a plus to this nation and a shining example to the rest of the spouses in the country. I am proud of you that you have attained higher education while carrying out other responsibilities placed on you by your status as First Lady,” President Banda said in his address to the Fist Lady.

President Banda said government through the Ministry of Education is in the process of revising the education Act of 1996 and the University Act of 1999 to improve gaps in the education system.

And speaking earlier, AIBT Principal Marian Mighell encouraged graduates that education should serve as a window to putting Zambia on the globe.

And passing a vote of thanks, Shiela De-Sousa Arcanjo, an international student said their graduation today has made her and her colleagues to grow rich and sharpen their skills in education.

Ms De-Sousa Arcanjo challenged government in the world to make education a first priority as it is a driving force to eradicating poverty and illiteracy in the country.

ZANIS