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First Lady Thandiwe Banda says economic challenges on the African continent that have been compounded by the global economic downturn have dimmed the prospects of developing countries achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) within the stipulated time-frame.
Mrs. Banda has observed that the high growth prospects that Africa and other developing countries previously enjoyed gave hope of making positive advances towards poverty eradication and the attainment of MDGs, but that this has been eroded by the global recession.
She was speaking in a speech read on her behalf by Wife of Vice President, Irene Kunda, during the 15th Non Aligned Movement (NAM) First Ladies meeting in Sharm El- Sheikh , Egypt.
Mrs. Banda said Zambia’s economy registered marked improvement, sustained for more than six years through to the first half of 2008, but however pointed out that the global economic crisis did not spare the country, with the mining sector experiencing massive job losses.
“The closure of the mines has led to massive job losses with the most affected being women and children because they assumed the role of looking after families because their spouses were out of employment,” she said.
Mrs. Banda said she was working with ministers’ spouses to empower women, with particular emphasis on rural women.
She added that government has established the Citizen Economic Empowerment Fund through which women are expected to benefit.
The Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) has expressed disappointment at reports that some ZESCO employees were charging consumers to install pre-paid meters at their residence.
ZESCO Public Relations Officer Lucy Zimba told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that it is unacceptable and criminal to charge residents for a service that does not attract a fee.
Mrs. Zimba explained that installation of pre-paid electricity meters was a free exercise hence employees asking to be paid for the service were liable to prosecution.
She said ZESCO management was saddened that some corrupt elements were bent on tarnishing the image of the firm through such criminal acts.
Mrs. Zimba appealed to members of the public to report any ZESCO employee demanding to be paid for installation of pre-paid meters.
She was commenting on complaints from some Lusaka residents that some unscrupulous ZESCO employees were demanding to be paid for installing pre-paid meters.
UNITED Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema yesterday failed to state the reasons for the impeachment of President Rupiah Banda.
Mr Hichilema, when asked about the statements by the UPND-Patriotic Front (PF) pact, failed to give the grounds for the impeachment of President Banda but instead said the Government should concentrate on addressing problems affecting the nation.
The UPND leader said in an interview that the Government should not breach the Constitution but govern in the interest of the people by attending to issues that citizens raised.
Pressed to state the reasons for the planned action announced recently by PF Nchanga MP, Wilbur Simusa and whether his party was part of the scheme, Mr Hichilema said he could not state.
“I cannot categorically state that but all I can say is that the Government should address the issues that people are raising,” he said.
Mr Hichilema condemned President Banda’s appointment of Lands Deputy Minister Michael Mabenga and Education Minister Dora Siliya despite them being cleared by the courts.
Mr Mabenga was acquitted by the magistrate’s court after the Parliamentary and Ministerial Code of Conduct Tribunal found him guilty and recommended that he should be prosecuted.
Ms Siliya was found to have breached the Constitution by the Parliamentary and Ministerial Code of Conduct tribunal but was found innocent on appeal in the High Court.
Mr Hichilema urged the Government to intervene in the go-slow at the University of Zambia (Unza) and resolve outstanding issues in the Health sector.
Meanwhile, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Authentic Advocates for Justice and Democracy (AAJD) has said the plan to impeach President Banda was ill conceived because he had not contravened any law.
AAJD president Emmanuel Sikanyika said in a statement in Lusaka yesterday that President Banda had not contravened any provision of the Republican Constitution to justify his impeachment.
Mr Sikanyika said the president did not contravene the provisions of the Constitution as he only reappointed Ms Siliya after she was cleared by the High Court.
He said it was wishful thinking for the PF-UPND pact to start instigating initiation of impeachment proceedings against President Banda.
He said it was common knowledge that the UPND and PF pact was mooted with the sole purpose of causing confusion in the nation and thereafter reap from the unrest that may follow.
Mr Sikanyika said the UPND and PF pact was flat out inciting people to rise against the Government without any justifiable cause.
THE Government has challenged lawyers, Simeza, Sangwa and Associates to raise any issues they may have against judges in court instead of undermining the judicial system by publicly attacking members of the bench.
Simeza, Sangwa and Associates wrote to Attorney-General Mumba Malila stating that Chief Justice Ernest Sakala and Supreme Court Judge Peter Chitengi had passed their retirement age and should not sit on the bench.
The lawyers said that the chief justice is not supposed to have heard an appeal in which they represented former Access Financial Services (AFS) directors, Faustin Kabwe and Aaron Chungu.
Justice Deputy Minister Todd Chilembo said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that there were procedures to be used by those aggrieved and that the media would not be the solution to resolving any misunderstanding.
“If there are issues our colleagues would like to raise, definitely it is not through the media but to go to court because insisting on using the media will just undermine the judicial system,” he said.
He said Simeza, Sangwa and Associates were raising legal issues, which should have been raised when they were given chance to do so in court and wondered why the issues were being raised through the media.
He said it was unfair for the legal practitoners to be attacking judges in the Press because the members of the bench were not able to defend themselves through the media.
“I also want to question if Simeza, Sangwa and Associates would have raised such issues if the case was ruled in their favour,” he said.
Simeza, Sangwa and Associates want the Chief Justice, Ernest Sakala and Mr Justice Peter Chitengi to leave office on account of them having gone beyond their retirement age.
The law firm stated that the two judges were holding office illegally after passing the retirement age.
Mr Malila said in a separate interview in Lusaka yesterday that he had received the correspondence from Simeza, Sangwa and Associates and was studying the complaint before he could comment.
Medical Equipment worth millions of Kwacha installed at Chilombwe rural health centre in Luto area in Wusakili Constituency is gathering dust, as there are no experts to operate it.
The rural health centre which has been closed for a year now, has not been operational because the only nurse in charge retired from the public service a year ago and since then there has not been any replacement.
A concerned citizen from the area who sought anonymity complained to ZANIS in Kitwe yesterday that the expensive equipment has been lying idle for long time and that government should urgently send medical staff to run the instituion and expressed fears that the equipment would either be stole or vandalised.
He also said one of the two water tanks has already been stolen by unknown people and the matter had been reported to relevant authorities for action.
And Kitwe District Commissioner Mr. Macdonald Mtine when asked to comment on the closed rural health centre said his offices was aware of the problem and that a caretaker is already at the centre to look after it.
He added that everything was being done to ensure that members of staff were deployed to the area to man the centre.
Sinazongwe Health inspectors have seized unlabeled biscuits that have flooded most shops in the district.
Sinazongwe District Health inspector, Calvester Machila disclosed the information during the Malaria Task Force meeting, that the alleged supplier of the ‘biscuits’ was from Lusaka.
Mr. Machila explained that the label inside the packets of the seized biscuits indicated that they were manufactured in Tanzania while on the boxes outside the label says they were manufactured in Lusaka.
He said it was against the Zambian law for any person to sale food stuffs that are not labeled.
Mr. Machila said the supplier was deceiving consumers by selling unlabeled products.
He said the inspectors from Sinzongwe District Health Management Team and Sinazongwe District Council swung into action after a tip off from the members of the public that the supplier was selling the products in Sinazeze Township.
Mr. Machila warned the public to avoid buying products that were not labeled because they could not tell the chemicals that were used in manufacturing it which in the long could affect their health.
He said the samples would be taken to Lusaka for testing of the elements that were used in manufacturing the unlabeled biscuits.
According to the seizure letter, Kelly Kutemba of Abubarcarlee Trading was found in possession of the unlabeled biscuits which have been kept at Sinazongwe District Council.
Northern Province Minister Charles Shawa has called on the police to intensify their road traffic patrols and bring to book motorists violating road traffic regulations in the province.
Mr. Shawa said he was deeply concerned with the rise in roads accidents in the region.
He said, following the rehabilitation of roads in most parts of the province, motorists have resorted to over-speeding, thereby causing fatal accidents.
Mr. Shawa told ZANIS in Kasama that it was unacceptable for people’s lives to be lost as a result of total disregard of traffic rules by drivers and urged law enforcement agencies to immediately arrest the situation.
The Minister warned that the law would catch-up with all those who think they are ‘clever for nothing’, by deliberately contravening traffic regulations.
Mr. Shawa reiterated government’s desire to change the scenario of road infrastructure in Northern Province for the better.
He said plans were already underway to install traffic lights on some selected roads in Kasama in bid to enhance the movement of vehicles in the provincial capital.
The Minister has appealed to the local people to refrain from acts of vandalism of public infrastructure.
Mr. Shawa warned that if people do not change their mindsets on matters of development, the province would continue to lag behind.
Meanwhile, Kasama residents have started putting up humps on most graveled roads in a bid to curb what the regard as careless driving by motorists in the District.
This came to light during spot-checks by ZANIS on recently rehabilitated township roads in the area.
Most of the residents talked to said they decided to put up humps on the roads because they feared for their lives as motorists had become reckless when driving resulting in accidents becoming the order of the day.
They said the problem was more pronounced in townships were children were being knocked down frequently by fast moving taxi’s.
The residents appealed to law enforcement agencies to crackdown on motorists violating road traffic regulations so that sanity could be maintained on public roads.
CHINA HENAN SITE Engineer Mr. Lou showing a map for the multi-million plan for the ongoing Government constructed Chienge District Hospital to PRESIDENTIAL Special Assistant for Projects implementation and monitoring Ben Kapita, Provincial Health Director Ericho Bwalya and Chienge District Commissioner Mwaba Lwaminda
Chief Mwata Kazembe of the Lunda people in Luapula Province has appealed to government to repossess both the Kawambwa Tea Company and Mununshi Banana Estate.
Chief Mwata Kazembe implored government to consider repossessing the companies or find new investors to manage and run the estates.
The Mwata made the appeal today in Kawambwa when Presidential Special Assistant for Government Policy Implementation and Monitoring (PIM), Ben Kapita paid a courtesy call on him at his palace.
He noted that Kawambwa Tea and Mununshi Banana Estates were still viable projects but had been mismanaged by private investors who were currently managing them.
The chief said the managements at the companies had not paid workers their salaries for over 12 months and that production at the firms had extremely reduced.
The Mwata said that the management at Kawambwa Tea had not also laboured to reinvest in the company and to expand the plantation as it was still picking tea from the 423 hectares initial plantation put up by government before privatization.
Kawambwa Tea Estate is on a 2000 hectare plot most of it which is not utilized.
The traditional leader said both Kawambwa Tea and Mununshi Banana Companies were productive when they were in government’s hands prior to privatization.
He suggested that the two companies be repossessed and run as a consortium by government in order to ensure that the welfare of workers was safeguarded.
He said it is government’s responsibility to ensure that lives of the people in the area are protected.
“I’m not happy about the state of affairs at both Kawambwa Tea and Mununshi Banana Estate, my appeal is government should repossess these companies because our people are not benefiting from the current investors there,” Chief Mwata Kazembe said.
Meanwhile, the Mwata has commended government for creating the position in the President’s Office aimed at monitoring and evaluating government projects and programs in the country.
The late President Mwanawasa created the position of Presidential Special Assistant for government Projects and Programs in charge of monitoring and evaluation of the projects.
Mwata Kazembe said the position would enable reliable and informed feedback to the President on projects and programs that government was implementing.
The traditional leader said this would ultimately ensure that resources allocated to project implementation are used as intended in order to benefit the people.[quote]
And Mr. Kapita has said that government would consider the best alternative to revitalize Kawambwa Tea and Mununshi Banana Schemes to make them profitable again.
Mr. Kapita said government would not sit idle and watch its people suffer despite putting in their best to improve their livelihoods.
“it is not right to have workers go for months without pay, these companies were created at public funds expense and the public should benefit, government will find an alternative to make these companies profitable and stable again,” Mr. Kapita said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kapita said that government would continue funding and implementing programs and projects aimed at improving livelihoods of the people adding that it would not segregate development on political party lines.
Mr. Kapita has since urged government workers who are implementers of these projects to be committed in order to guarantee that government programs and projects benefit the people as intended.
He said government would not condone wastage of its resources on projects that had no positive impact on the ground.
Mr. Kapita is in Luapula Province to inspect government funded projects and programs.
Zesco United anxious await the return of their influential Zambia midfielder Jonas Sakuwaha ahead of Saturdays opening Caf African Champions League Group A home match against Kano Pillars of Nigeria.
Sakuwaha was by Wednesday evening winding up his week-long trial spell at French Ligue 1 side Lorient in a friendly match on Wednesday evening against Valenciennes that finished 3-3.
The technicial bench is hoping Sakuwaha will arrive in time for Saturdays game that will be played at Konkola Stadium in Chililabombwe.
Meanwhile, one player who is definitely rule out of the Group A fixture is international midfielder William Njobvu who is currently away on trials in Israel.
And Pillars on Thursday morning fly out from Lusaka to Ndola ahead of their away leg match this weekend.
Pillars will then proceed to Chingola where they will be officially be camped after a three-day private training camp in Lusaka since arriving in Zambia on Monday night.
The Citizens Forum in Mungwi District has demanded the immediate resignation of Malole Member of Parliament, Emmanuel Munaile, accusing him of failing to deliver on his election promises to the electorate.
Forum District Secretary Baitwell Mfula made the demand in a press statement availed to ZANIS in Kasama today.
Mr. Mfula claimed that there have been numerous complaints from Mungwi residents over the alleged non-performance of Mr. Munaile in his constituency.
He said Mr. Munaile would do better by emulating Kasama Central MP Saviour Chishimba, who resigned voluntarily from his position.
Mr. Mfula charged that Mr. Munaile, who is also Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) vice-president, had allegedly failed to spearhead development in his constituency, resulting in under development of the area.
Mr. Mfula said it is only in order for the MP to step down and allow focused individuals to contest the Malole seat, so that the electorate could see meaningful development in Malole Constituency.
He warned that if Mr. Munaile does not resign voluntarily, the people of Malole would have no choice but to use other means to have him forced out of office, adding that people were fed-up of empty promises from the area MP.
Mr. Mfula explained that Mungwi residents wanted to see infrastructure development take root as the District has lagged behind in terms of development despite attaining district status over 10 years ago.
He further advised Mr. Munaile to stop attacking innocent people who are critical of his poor performance as MP.
Mr. Mfula charged that there is nothing wrong in other people expressing interest in taking over from Mr. Munaile if they feel capable of delivering to the expectations of the local people.
By press time, efforts to get a comment from Mr. Munaile in Lusaka, failed.
Chief government spokesperson Rev Ronnie Skikapwasha has said it is irresponsible for Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes [SACCORD] to accuse government of using the existing laws and the proposed Non Governmental Organizations NGOs and the freedom of information bill scheduled to settle personal vendettas.
Rev. Ronnie Skikapwasha, who is also Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services queried whether SACCORD has been following the public debate on the two bills and the out cry against the publication and circulation of obscene pictures closely.
Rev. Shikapwasha said government was acting according to the wishes of the people and in accordance with the law.
This is according to a statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today.
Rev. Shikapwasha stated that it is unfortunate to suggest that when the police question or arrest suspects they do so in pursuance of personal vendettas.
He said SACCORD as an organization established to resolve disputes should be the last to provoke conflicts over the bill.
The Minister pointed that the organization should instead urge people to allow due process of parliamentary procedure to drive the debate through to the ultimate enactment of the alleged contentious bill.
Rev. Shikapwasha said the claim that government is writing laws and using government institutions to pursue vendettas is un acceptable.
He stressed that government has no interest in enacting laws intended to fix individuals or organizations, other than the enjoyment of more freedom and avoidance of anarchy in the conduct of NGOs.
The Minister further said what the forthcoming bill would try to do is to bring sanity in the acquisition and disbursement of resources in the NGOs and to also help NGOS defend themselves if they were wrongly accused.
Railway Systems of Zambia Chief Executive officer Benjamin Evan has dismissed assertions that it is responsible for the vandalised railway line between Ndola and Luanshya.
Mr Evan said that contrary to the public perception that RSZ is in charge of the line which used to connect Ndola and Luanshya, the railway firm has nothing to do with it.
He said the correct position is that the Luanshya branch line is not part of the RSZ-Zambia Railways Limited concession and therefore, legally belongs to the Government of the Republic of Zambia.
This is contained in a statement received by ZANIS and signed by the company’s Deputy General Manager Charles Phiri.
Mr Even who was reacting to media reports that RSZ had neglected the line between Ndola and Luanshya, said it was unfortunate that journalists did not counter-check facts to back their reports as evidenced by various reports regarding the establishment in question.
He said he believed that the public perception about the ownership of the line between Ndola and Luanshya was being encouraged by misleading media reports and called on journalists to publish correct information.
He regretted the trend of linking anything to do with railways in Zambia to RSZ when in actual fact there are other railway companies line Zambia Railways, TAZARA and Mulobezi who have their share of the railways in respective areas.
“It appears anything about railways in Zambia is RSZ. We would like to appeal to journalists and other people who may need to know further anything to do with the RSZ to contact us and we shall be most willing to provide the information,” Mr Even said.
The new owners of Luanshya Copper Mines will only be able to engage workers on full time basis after six months.
Mines Minister, Maxwell Mwale, says this is because China Non-Ferous Metals which has taken over the mine currently has no revenue stream to employ workers permanently.
He told ZNBC news in Lusaka that the former owners of the mine, ENYA, did not leave any stockpiles of copper concentrates for continued production.
Mr. Mwale said the new owners have to start from the scratch.
He said China Non-Ferous Metals is pumping money into the mine, but will not make any profit until after six months.
Mr. Mwale was reacting to the Mine Workers Union of Zambia, which expressed concern over reports that the new investor at Luanshya Copper Mines was offering six months job contracts to employees.
Union general secretary, Oswell Munyenyembe, said the move taken by the new investor is contrary to earlier assurances that employees would be given pensionable jobs.
China non-Ferrous Metals has invested 400 Million US dollars in Luanshya Copper Mine which shut down early this year after ENYA pulled out, citing falling Copper prices on the World market.
Labour and Social Security Deputy Minister Simon Kachimba, says government is committed to creating an enabling environment for investors to operate in.
Mr. Kachimba said government will continue to maintain a good rapport with investors to ensure that productivity is enhanced.
He was speaking in Lusaka today when he toured King Quality Meat Products and Chisteel Limited after he received complaints from the two companies’ workers that they were subjected to poor working conditions.
Mr. Kachimba has since called for harmony between workers and their employers.
Speaking earlier, Chisteel Limited Manager Edward Sun said the company was working towards improving the working conditions of their employees.
Mr. Sun said the visit by the Deputy Minister will encourage the company to work even harder in improving the welfare of the workers.
And King Quality Meat Products Managing Director Demetre Vangelatos said the company has not been spared by the global economic crisis.
Mr. Vangelatos said his company would also endeavor to improve the working conditions of the employees.
ZANIS
The Federation of Free Trade Unions of Zambia (FFTUZ) has observed that the withdrawal of members from some trade unions in Zambia would have a negative impact on the bargaining power of unions.
FFTUZ President Joyce Nonde-Simukoko said trade unions play an important role in protecting the interests and improving conditions of service of workers in the country.
Mrs. Simukoko said there was therefore need for workers and unions to establish good working relations for the benefitof the two parties.
She has expressed profound concern at the withdrawal of more than 1,000 teachers from various unions on the Copperbelt province.
She told ZANIS in Lusaka today that there was need for union leaders to quickly meet with the aggrieved parties and address their differences.
Mrs. Simukoko explained that despite the fact that belonging to a union was voluntary, it was important for people to have a strong representation of their interests through unions.
She noted that the move taken by teachers on the Copperbelt province was likely to bring about instability in the manner the unions were handling the different affairs of their members.
Mrs. Simukoko also urged the unions to find a lasting solution to the matter, adding that if the current situation was not corrected, employers would find it difficult to respect the decisions made by unions to represent the interest of workers.
She further noted that this was why the union leadership should meet with teachers and ensure that the problem was resolved immediately and amicably.
Mrs. Simukoko was commenting on the decision by over 1,000 teachers to withdraw their membership from various trade unions citing incompetence on the part of the leadership and failure to represent their interests.
And 23 teachers have also been suspended from different trade unions for allegedly inciting their colleagues to turn against their leaders.
ZANIS
