Protea Hotels Zambia is set to construct a hotel Chiawa, a move seen would help boost the tourism potential in the area.

Protea Hotel Group Consultant Shadrick Nsongela says the group of hotels, managed by Union Gold Zambia limited, the extension of its services to Chiawa is aimed at promoting the under tapped tourism potential of the lower Zambezi national park and Chiawa game management area.

Mr Nsongela says the development of an ultra modern lodge and conference centre in the heart of Chiawa east game management area will bring about massive opportunities for the local people.

He said this yesterday during a consultative meeting held in Chiawa on the proposed multi-million dollar hotel with a bed space of 144.

Mr Nsongela said Protea had a policy of ensuring that it consults widely before developing any project and will always observe laid laws. He said the development of the project will turn the lower Zambezi area into a tourist destination for every Zambian.

The Hotel Group Consultant further disclosed that the company has also taken into consideration the anticipated impact for the project once construction starts.

” Management has put in place mitigation measures to prevent, minimize and compensate identified negative impacts in the area,” he said.

Mr Nsongela stated that it was for this reason management is committed to continue engaging the community in dialogue and consensus building to ensure that the development meets both the aspirations of the people of Chiawa and other tourist operators.

However some headmen and villagers advised the group consider changing the location of the site as it was sanctuary of wildlife. They said the people of Chiawa are very happy at the development and appreciate the anticipated positive development the company will bring to the area.

But Headman Mushonganende differed with the others saying the proposed site was just okey as the area had no economic activities to empower the locals. He said wildlife will not be disturbed as the land to be utilized was small.

The headman accused other lodge owners of having developed cold feet because Protea will bring about competition and offer better conditions of service to the locals.

” Chiawa has remained poor for a long time because most lodges were selfish and are not supporting the area to come out its poverty,” the traditional ruler said.

And the Lower Zambezi Conservation Trust Tim Filber said it was important that the area’s wildlife is not disturbed but maintain Zambia’s tourism motto of “Zambia the true Africa”. He said it would be important the company reduces the bed capacity from 144 to 28.

Mr Filber said Protea was welcome in the area but should consider moving the site of the project to an area where there is less animal traffic.

But Kafue district commissioner Winford Ngoma cautioned tour operators in the area and some headmen not to politicize the project. He said it was important the community realized that the country and area will only develop when investors such as Protea come in.

He said some lodge owners have been in the area but have done little to change the lives of the people. He said government welcomes investors who bring development at large scale as the multiplier effect will be more felt in terms of benefits.

Mr Ngoma said government intends to remove the dependence syndrome of people on the state so that they can support themselves.

The meeting which was attended by Chieftainess Chiawa was also graced with the presence of government representatives from Environment Council of Zambia, ZAWA, Water Affairs, Council, Education and Forestry departments.

ZANIS

GOVERNMENT Printers has said it has no capacity to print ballot papers although it has acquired a colour printing press.

Government Printers director, Venansio Lungu said the department could not meet the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) standards for printing ballot papers.

He was speaking when a team of political parties and ECZ chairperson, Florence Mumba toured the plant in Lusaka yesterday.

Mr Lungu said the ECZ had raised security concerns relating to printing ballot papers at Government Printers.

“There have been security concerns which we are addressing so that we can print ballot papers for elections. We need more than K1 billion to address all security concerns,” he said.

At the national registration office, registrar general Mathews Nyirongo told political party leaders not to mobilise foreigners to obtain national registration cards because that was a danger to the country.

Mr Nyirongo said by September this year, the exercise of issuing national registration cards would be extended to all parts of the country.

And speaking after the tour, Justice Mumba said since ballots could not be printed locally, the ballots for the Chitambo by-election would still be printed in South Africa and would be in the country by next week.

Ms justice Mumba said plans were underway to link the national registration office data base with that of the ECZ so that it could be easier to register voters.

MMD national chairman Michael Mabenga, Tourism Deputy Minister Vera Tembo, New Generation Party president Humphrey Siulapwa, Zambia Democratic Congress secretary General Langtone Sichone and Party for Unity Democracy and Development president Isaac Musonda were in the delegation.

[Times of Zambia]

COMMUNICATIONS and Transport Minister, Geoffrey Lungwangwa has said that Government’s decision to sell Zambia Telecomunications Company (Zamtel) is final and cannot be rescinded.

Professor Lungwangwa said in Lusaka yesterday that the Government’s position on the matter as announced by President Rupiah Banda was final.

He was reacting to the calls by Patriotic Front (PF) – United Party for National Development (UPND) pact that President Banda should rescind Government decision to sell Zamtel shares.

PF president, Michael Sata said at a Press briefing in Lusaka yesterday that the decision to privatise 75 per cent shares of Zamtel shares should be reversed immediately as it was being done not in public interest.

Meanwile, Speaker of the National Assembly AMUSAA MWANAMWAMBWA has ordered Communication and Transport Minister Geoffrey Lungwangwa to update Parliament on the stage at which the privatisation of Zamtel has reached.[quote]

Mr Mwanamwambwa said that it was imperative that members of Parliament had first hand information on the stages at which the privatisation of Zamtel had reached as opposed to getting information from members of the public.

The speaker made the order after Chipili Member of Parliament Davies Mwila (PF) rose on a point of order as to whether it was appropriate for the minister to be quiet particularly when debates on Zamtel were at the peak among members of the public.

Mr Mwila said that as MPs, it was appropriate for them to have first hand information on the privatisation of Zamtel and not to rely on information from members of the public.

“What is important is for the minister to update or appraise the House on what is going on regarding the status and the future of Zamtel. This House needs to be updated and the minister does not require several days. As early as next week let this House have an update,” Mr Mwanamwambwa said.

He also advised members to desist from participating in debates by the public saying their best medium of debates for MPs was in the House.

“I encourage members not to participate in debates because this is the best forum,”Mr Mwanamwambwa said.

[Times of Zambia]

Kalulushi Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) District Vice Chairman Andrew Nawa has condemned Mike Mulongoti, Ben Teta Mashimba and George Mpombo for exchanging harsh words in public.

ZANIS Kalulushi reports that Mr. Nawa said it was unfortunate for the three, who had been in the same party, to be exchanging bad language in public.

“If I were to be asked who is wrong, I would definitely go for Mr. Mpombo, because when he had a big decision to take, he would have talked to his friends in privacy.” Said Mr. Nawa.

He told ZANIS in an interview in Kalulushi yesterday that what Mr Mpombo was experiencing right now, was the reaction from his colleagues for not having informed them of his important decision that he was going to take.

Mr. Nawa has however, said that he would like to see them come together and discuss whatever difference they had among themselves so that they make peace.

He explained that it was a pity, because what they were doing was likely to affect the party organization and equipping the opposition with political ammunition.

Meanwhile, Mr. Nawa has appealed to the MMD National Secretary to help the party be funded so that it would get on with the party programme.

Mr. Nawa said that the district had not been funded for quite some time now and that had affected the party organization since the luck transport.

ZANIS

The Anti Voter Apathy Project (AVAP) has advised President Rupiah Banda to directly intervene in the continued attacks on journalists by MMD cadres.

AVAP Executive Director Bonnie Tembo says the President’s intervention in the matter is critical saying he is the president of all Zambians and needs coverage from all Media organizations including those with divergent views.

Mr. Tembo said in Lusaka yesterday, that in a multi democracy such kind of cadre ship behaviour poses a threat to freedom of expression ands sharing of information.

He explained that this is why President Banda must take a lead in sensitizing party cadres when it comes to state functions.

He expressed disappointment that the Police failed to control the situation at the time the Post Newspaper Journalist was being beaten by MMD cadres yesterday.

Mr. Tembo pointed out that despite the republican constitution outlining the functions of the Police such as to protect life and property, preserve law and order among others they failed to protect the journalist.

He noted that AVAP wishes to remind the Police to promote and uphold their functions adding that even Lusaka division commanding officer Greenwell Nguni did not intervene when the journalist was being beaten.

The AVAP Director further demanded that Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde should order the arrest of MMD cadres that continue to attack journalists and also that Mr. Nguni to explain to the nation why he failed to uphold the core-function of the Zambia police.

Mr. Tembo has since urged Post Newspaper reporters and many others who are under threat from desperate politicians either ruling or position parties to stand firm and defend the noble cause for good governance.

Meanwhile, Mr. Tembo has appealed to government to exhibit political will on the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) if Zambia is to follow the footsteps of Ghana.

He added that the removal of Ms Tamara Kambikambi and Mr Amos Chanda from the National Governance Council (NGC) as Chairperson and Spokesperson respectively raises a lot of concerns.

He explained that abrupt removal of the duo from the NGC is an indication that the APRM process is undermined and not Civil Society driven like the way it is in Ghana.

Mr. Tembo stated that Zambia may not be ready to be peer reviewed in January next year as it is yet to clean a number of governance component.

He has however appealed to government not to interfere with the operations and administrations of the NGC if the APRM report is to reflect the reality on the ground.

ZANIS