Information and Broadcasting Minister, Ronnie Shikapwasha, is hopeful that the media in the country will be ready to digitalize by 2015 to meet the global broadcasting technological transfer from analogue to digital.

Lieutenant General Shikapwasha has since urged the media industry to expeditiously put in place programmes that will avert possible collapse of the system in view of the switch from analogue to digital by 2015.

Lt Gen. Shikapwasha, who is also Chief Government spokesperson, said this in Lusaka today during his continued familiarisation tour of private radio stations.

He also called on media owners to improve the conditions of service and offer better remuneration for their workers in order for the industry to progress and retain skillful personnel.

Lt Gen. Shikapwasha bemoaned the current conditions of service being offered by both the public and private media saying there is need to change the obtaining scenario if media personnel are to be motivated.

And Radio Yatsani Director, Edwin Mumba, appealed to government to consider assisting community radio stations in acquiring modern equipment in line with the global trend of digitalizing the media.

Father Mumba said the media is crucial in entrenching the tenets of democracy and good governance in the nation.

Earlier, Radio Yatsani Senior Technician, John Mulenga , asked government to put in place stringent measures in a bid to protect community radio stations from being exploited by bogus businessmen dealing in technical equipment.

Mr. Mulenga said lack of government protection will leave the media houses at the mercy of businessmen who may supply them with counterfeit equipments.

Lt Gen. Shikapwasha toured Radio Yatsani, Hone radio and television station and Radio Phoenix.

ZANIS

Jubilee Zambia has bemoaned the rate at which indecent dressing is becoming common-place in society.

Jubilee Zambia member Ray Mwape told Zanis in Ndola today how demoralizing and pathetic today’s dressing is.
He said the younger generation need a dress code to promote decent dressing, especially among women.

He said churches should play a leading role in bringing about positive change in how human beings should dress in society, adding that provocative dressing has not spared some of the older people.

Mr. Mwape said the indecent exposure of certain body parts on women does not set a good example to youths, because women are generally regarded as mothers of the human race.

He called on the church to do more, through its various programmes, in promoting decent dressing among women and the younger generation.

He also advised the electronic and print media to avoid displaying indecent adverts which send wrong messages to the public in a bid to make huge profits.

He said Jubilee Zambia wanted to promote a society where there was fairness, justice and respect for human rights.
ZANIS

The Japanese government has approved a project to finance the drilling of 45 boreholes in Kawambwa district.

About 25 of the 45 boreholes have already been drilled under the National Rural Water and Supply program (NRWSP) with support from Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Kawambwa District Council Director of Works, Frank Mupesha, confirmed the development to ZANIS in Kawambwa yesterday saying the project, once completed would help address water shortages in the area.

Mr Mupesha says the local authority requested for 70 boreholes but JICA will only sink 45 that have been approved by the Japanese
government.

He says 22 boreholes will be drilled in Pambashe constituency, three in Mwansabombwe and 20 in Kawambwa constituencies.

Mr Mupesha added that the project which started in June is expected to be completed in August this year.
He further said about 11,000 people in the affected areas will benefit from the borehole projects.

Meanwhile, Mr Mupesha has explained that the District Water Sanitation Hygiene and Education (D-WASHE) will intensify training of sub-district staff on the WASHE concept.

He said the move will enable them raise some money for maintenance of the boreholes.

ZANIS

Phase One of the construction of low cost houses for law enforcement officers, at a total cost of K6.7 Billion, has been completed in Nakonde district.

Nakonde District Commissioner (DC) Edwin Sinyinza confirmed the development in an interview with ZANIS in Nakonde today.

Mr. Sinyinza said the 28 houses have been successfully completed and that the Chinese contractor JIZAN Company was currently making final touches on the surroundings of all the structures.

The DC said the 28 low cost houses will be allocated to junior officers under the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA), Immigration and the Drug Enforcement Commissioner (DEC).

Mr. Sinyinza said construction of high cost houses for the middle managers will commence soon.
He commended government for releasing funds for the construction of houses for the law enforcement officers operating at the border.

Mr. Sinyinza said the construction of houses will ease the problem of accommodation for the officers in Nakonde.

Meanwhile, construction of a one-stop-border at the cost of K31 Billion in Nakonde district is progressing well.

Mr. Sinyinza said the constructor engaged to do the works,China Jiangxi is progressing well with the construction works.
The one-stop-border at the Zambia-Tanzania border is expected to improve efficiency once completed.

Construction works commenced in April this year.
ZANIS

Senior Chief Mwamba of the Bemba speaking people in Kasama has praised Government for providing him with a vehicle.

Chief Mwamba expressed gratitude to the Government saying the vehicle will ease his mobility to monitor projects in his chiefdom.

The Senior Chief said his chiefdom is vast with over 350 villages which could not be easily covered on foot.

He said that it had been difficult in the past to visit his subjects to foster development programmes because he had no transport.

Senior Chief Mwamba added that he was happy that President Rupiah Banda’s Government has fulfilled the promise made by late President Levy Mwanawasa to provide Chiefs with vehicles and electrify to their palaces.

He further appealed to the Government to build palaces for chiefs and also provide vehicles to other chiefs to enable them monitor development project taking place in their areas.

He was speaking at the handing-over of the vehicle by Northern Province Minister Charles Shawa at the Provincial Administration in Kasama today,

And Mr Shawa said Government has bought vehicles for Chiefs to enable them reach their subjects easily.

Mr. Shawa also said that Chiefs play a vital role in national development and that they are key partners in other service delivery to the public.

The provincial Minister added that Government is working hard in partnership with traditional leaders to ensure that education, health and other services were provided to the people in remote areas.

Mr. Shawa pointed out that the Government desires to improve and build infrastructure, rehabilitate roads and bridges for the benefit of the people in the nation.

ZANIS

The Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) says the resignation of George Mpombo from his positions as Defence Minister and member of MMD National Executive Committee (NEC) should be treated with caution.

FODEP President Stanley Mhango said Mr. Mpombo’s resignation should not have come so suddenly especially that he is a senior MMD party member and cabinet minister in charge of a sensitive ministry.

Mr. Mhango has however said FODEP will await President Rupiah Banda’s reaction to this abrupt resignation.
This is contained in a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today.

Mr. Mpombo announced his move at the weekend citing personal reasons. He also announced that he would not re-contest the Kafulafuta Constituency in the 2011 tripartite elections.

FODEP has since welcomed Mr. Mpombo’s decision to dedicate his time to studies and issues of environment in his constituency saying such a move would help the area and help fight effects of climate change in the country.

Mr. Mhango expressed hope that Mr. Mpombo will not change his words and backpedal as many politicians have done in the past.
He commended Mr. Mpombo for his move saying it will encourage young people to engage in politics.

Mr. Mhango said old and recycled politicians should emulate Mr Mpombo’s resignation as doing so will pave way for young politicians to start taking leadership roles while the old politicians act as advisors.

He also urged Mr. Mpombo to spearhead the formation of a think tank of both retired and active senior political party leaders to help render valuable advice to the governing of the country as this will help resolve some of the political problems being faced.

ZANIS

The Agriculture Technical and Professional staff Union of Zambia (ATPUZ ) Mungwi branch members have demanded an unreserved apology from their Secretary General Joe Kamutumwa for issuing what they termed a divisive statement .

ATPUZ members said they felt betrayed by Mr. Kamutumwa for affirming that public service workers who went on strike should have their salaries forfeited.

They said it was unfortunate that the union leader, instead of protecting the interests of workers, went ahead to discredit the members by taking sides on the matter.

The members have threatened to withdraw membership from ATPUZ if the Union leader fails to apologise within twenty-four hours.

Mr. Kamutumwa has been quoted supporting government’s decision not to pay health workers who had gone on strike for over a month.

He said it would be unfair for government to pay workers who had downed tools as doing so would be encouraging workers to be going on strike when aggrieved.

He said there were other public workers who were equally unhappy with the 15 percent increment but did not down tools.

ZANIS

A 37 year old man has committed suicide after allegedly consuming beer that had poison.

The uncle to the deceased Bernard Muleya identified the man as Lawrence Siamwenya from Siabunyangu village in chief Sinazongwe area.

Mr. Muleya said the deceased collapsed a few minutes when he entered the Sinazongwe District Agriculture Commercial Show ground arena.

Siamwenya was rushed to Sinazeze clinic were he was pronounced dead.

A check at the clinic by Zambia News and Information Service (ZANIS) found relatives and friends shocked at his death.

Mr. Muleya said he was not aware of the reasons that had led to his nephew’s committing suicide.

He said his nephew did not have any problems at home and had no history of illness.

Police sources who also confirmed the incident said the man is suspected to have drunk poison.

ZANIS