said he wants to go to State House to enjoy himself. He said this in Kitwe when he launched his political party to be called the Forum for Democratic Alternatives (FDA).

Dr Sondashi said his children and wife, Virginia, have been suffering ever since he resigned as Cabinet minister from the previous governments.[quote]

“I want to go to State House to enjoy with my wife and my children because they have suffered following my resignations from previous governments.

I want my wife to be first lady also,” Dr Sondashi said

He said his wife rebuked him on several occasions when he resigned from his positions in government but that he assured her that one day he would make it to State House.

Dr Sondashi however clarified his statement after a Mr Nyereti wondered why the former minister had formed his party just to go and enjoy himself in State House.

“I am the only one who is ready to reduce my presidential powers when I am elected in 2011,” Dr Sondashi said.

He said the FDA would bring Zambians together and that the republican presidency would rotate from one province to another to discourage tribalism.

Dr Sondashi admitted that he was one of the leaders who created the problems that the country is currently going through and that he will not retire from active politics until he changes the situation obtaining in the country.

Dr Sondashi said he is confident that his party will remove the MMD from power in the 2011 elections.

He said it will be difficult to join the Patriotic Front (PF) and United Party for National Development (UPND) pact because of differences in ideologies with his political party.

Dr Sondashi, however, said he can only join the pact if he is allowed to become its president and lead it into the 2011 general elections.

And FDA Kafue organiser Trust Chitonge denounced PF president Michael Sata and UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema, saying they had no capacity to turn around the country’s economy.

Mr Chitonge accused Mr Hichilema of failing the country during the privatisation of some parastatals and that there was no way he can manage the affairs of the nation.

He also accused Mr Sata of failing to make any meaning contribution in the previous governments he served.

Mr Chitonge urged people to rally behind the FDA in 2011 if they wanted a better future for their children.
[Zambia Daily Mail]

Tanzanian President, Jakaya Kikwete, has pledged commitment to strengthening the good relationship between Zambia and Tanzania which was founded by the first Zambian President, Dr Kenneth Kaunda and the late President of Tanzania, Julius Nyerere.

Mr Kikwete said his country will remain committed to ensuring that the investments in Zambia’s Tazara railway line, Tazama Oil Pipe line and the Zambia Tanzania high way were enhanced.[quote]

He said this at the official opening of the Zambia International Trade Fair (ZITF) in Ndola yesterday.

Mr.Kikwete said infrastructure development was key to economic development in the two sister republics because it could reduce the high costs of production, transportation, transaction and value-addition to goods and services.

He acknowledged that a poor transport system was a barrier to efficient flow of business trade in goods and services between the two countries.

Mr Kikwete called for unwavering support for the North/South Corridor initiative because of the abundant benefits that would accrue to the participating countries.

He said once infrastructure was developed in the North/South corridor, it would add value to the volume of trade in goods and services being handled in the corridor trade area.

Mr Kikwete said there were issues needed to be resolved in the areas of Nakonde and Dar-es-Salaam port which should enhance the warm relations of the two sister countries.

The Tanzanian Head of State said there was also need to enhance trade between the two countries because currently trade was US $20 million which was too low going by official statistics although there was a lot of trade captured by official figures.

Mr Kikwete also called for enhanced visits and meetings between Zambia the chamber of commerce of his country with their Zambian counterparts in order to exchange ideas and innovations in doing business.

Mr Kikwete called on Zambians to take interest and participate in the trade fairs in Dar-es-salaam in his country.

And Zambia’s Commerce Minister, Felix Mutati, pledged commitment to ensure that innovation, creativity and enterprise were used as survival keys for business to overcome the negative effects of the global economic meltdown.

Mr Mutati said government would focus its infrastructure development priorities on Kasumbalesa border, the Kitwe/Chingola road and the Ndola International Stadium in the next twelve months.

And Zambia Trade Fair Board Chairman, Phesto Musonda, said trade fairs were an opportunity to showcase trade opportunities that existed in participating countries.

Mr Musonda said it was time to build business relationships and learn from what others were doing and share innovations.

He observed that transport and communications sectors were key to any sustainable development to any given economy.

Mr Musonda said Zambia could not be handling 21st Century challenges with infrastructure that was built to handle 20th century problems.

He added that investment in hydro-power stations for the country was also a challenge that needed serious consideration because of the volume of increased demand following economic development in the country in the recent years.

The ZITF chairman called for enhanced private public partnerships in handling such huge developmental projects which he said government cannot do alone.

Mr Musonda observed that rail transport was one huge potential which would bring good economic benefits to the countries involved because it was environmentally friendly while fuel consumption was economical

ZANIS

campaign to educate school going children on the dangers of early alcohol intake and other bad vices.

LCC Assistant Public Relations Manager, Habenzu Mulunda, said the council has started going to learning institutions to provide pupils with information on dangers of alcohol abuse with a view to helping stop the vice.

Mr Mulunda said in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today that the council is, among other things, giving motivational talks to pupils aimed at helping stop alcohol abuse and concentrate on school.

He said the move is in line with President Rupiah Banda’s directive for the councils to reinforce by-laws and stop under-age patronizing bars and taverns.

He also said that council police have continued monitoring bars and taverns that are abrogating the laws by allowing under-age patrons and opening before stipulated time of 10:00 hours.

Mr Mulunda said the LCC sends out patrols to ensure that bar and tarven owners abide by the laws and open from 10:00 hours and close at 22:00 hours and do not allow under age patrons.

Mr Mulunda said the council has received a number of complaints from the public concerning these issues since the directive was given last month by President Banda, and thanked the public for their positive responses.

He said the council has received particular massive response from residents in Kabwata and Luangwa Compound in Garden who have tipped the council on illegal sale of alcohol in the areas.

Mr Mulunda said under the Liquor Licensing Laws, it is illegal for individuals to sell beer without a liquor license, adding that it is also prohibited to sell beer to under-age children.

He said the council has reprimanded some and also moved in to close other bars and taverns for committing different offences.

Mr Mulunda has reiterated the council’s commitment to close down flouting liquor businesses, especially during the long weekend.

ZANIS