Marketeers at New Kasanda market have complained of the increased number of vendors operating outside the market.

One of the concerned marketeer, Jane Kunda said the traders who sell outside the market do not even pay levy.

Mrs Kunda said people who sell outside the market disturb the business for those who sell in the market.She said there was space in the market and that the traders who sell outside the market just want to do so.

And the market Chairperson Joe Mpundu said they consulted the Kabwe Council to help move the traders inside the market.

He said although some traders who sell outside the market complain that the levy in the market was too high it is not true and the market levy is only K500 per day.

Meanwhile the Acting Director of Public Health and Social Services Joseph Kayombo said the council was in the process of removing traders along the line of rail and outside the market.

Mr Kayombo said the council will use force if the vendors fail to comply.

He said the council would meet next week so that they decide on when to implement what they agreed concerning removing vendors from outside the market and along the line of rail.

ZANIS

The Lusaka Province Joint Operations Committee has recommended that the K70 million given to Siavonga district council for erecting a security wire fence around Siavonga airstrip be properly accounted for.

The Committee noted with serious concern,the manner in which the funds were used.
Government gave the money to Siavonga District Council to enable the local authority fence the airstrip to prevent livestock from crossing the runway.

The joint operations committee expressed disappointment over the work that has been done so far, saying the amount given does not tally with the work that has been carried out.

“We are disappointed with what we have seen at the airstrip, because the K70 million that was released by government was enough to completely erect a security wire fence, unlike what has been done,” Brigadier General Mwila said.

The committee that comprises senior officers from Zambia Army, Zambia Police Service, Zambia Air Force and Zambia National Service, raised the concern over the poor workmanship at the airstrip when they paid a courtesy call on Siavonga District Commissioner, Emily Striedl at her office yesterday.

Brigadier General Mwila further said the money was not put to good use and called for a follow-up on the matter to establish how the money was utilized.

He informed the District Commissioner that the team’s visit to the district was to check on the security measures of the area.

Brigadier General Mwila further said, his team visited Namoomba fishing camp on the lower Zambezi near Zimbabwe, where there were reports of Zimbabwean security personnel harassing Zambian fishermen recently.

He assured the District Commissioner that there is peace in Siavonga and that the concerns raised by villagers in the area had been taken care of by various security agencies.

And Mrs. Striedl said the issue surrounding the fencing of the airstrip is critical and needs to be given serious attention for it to be completed.

She said, at the moment no department has taken full responsibility of the airstrip, resulting in the infrastructure that was put-up getting vandalized by locals.

She said some materials that were meant for the fencing of the airstrip are still lying idle at the District Council offices.

The DC said her office would soon convene a meeting involving senior officials of the local authority, to get to the root of the problems surrounding the fencing of the airstrip.
ENDS

Chief Justice Ernest Sakala today swore in twelve Adjudicators as commissioners for the Small Claims Court, which is situated near the Supreme Court in Lusaka.

Among those sworn in are Vice President George Kunda’s wife, Ireen, and Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) president Steven Lungu.

Chief Justice Sakala implored the commissioners to read and acquaint themselves with the Judicial Code of Conduct Act.
He expressed confidence that the commissioners would do well, especially that they possess the required qualifications and expertise for an Adjudicator of the Small Claims Court.

He reminded the commissioners to abide by the etiquette of a judicial officer in terms of the Judicial Code of Conduct Act No. 13 of 1999 as required by section 31A of the Small Claims Court Act No. 14 of 2008.

Chief Justice Sakala said the Small Claims Courts were under a pilot project in Lusaka and Ndola but would be opened in other parts of the country later.

Others sworn-in are LAZ Secretary Margaret Chalwe, former LAZ president William Mweemba, Annie Mwanza, James Banda, Nicole Phiri, Newton Mubonda, James Shonga Junior, Emmanuel Mwansa and Sydney Wataye.

ZANIS

The Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) has commended the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) for removing seven of its members from the conference.

SACCORD Administration Manager, Theresa Chewe said the seven that were barred from the NCC deserved such treatment because they did not give an apology or reasonable explanation for their absenteeism.

Ms. Chewe urged the NCC to ensure that every members of the NCC who was absconding without any reasonable explanation was barred.

She said absconding from the NCC without any reasonable explanation meant breaching the NCC laws.

She said the barring of the seven people from the NCC would be a lesson from the would be offenders.

Ms. Chewe said delegates should understand that they were at NCC to debate national issues, which were important for the development of the country.

ZANIS

Public service workers in Choma have resolved to go on strike next Monday, June 1,2009, to press government to conclude long-awaited salary negotiations with their unions.

The government workers have also asked their national union leaders to resign from their positions if they have failed to represent them adequately in the on-going negotiations with their employer.

This is according to a joint statement released to ZANIS in Choma today by Civil Servants and Allied Workers’ Union of Zambia branch Secretary, Peter Phiri, and National Union of Public Service Workers branch chairperson Macford Chiboola.

The two union leaders said their members have noted with regret the way government has been using delaying tactics in the on-going negotiations for improved salaries and conditions of service.

They said this is a breach of the Industrial and Labour Relations Act CAP 269 which stipulates the time limit in which the negotiations are supposed to be concluded.

The unions have demanded that government should consider giving a block figure in awarding increments and not percentages.

The civil servants are demanding not less than K 450,000 across the board as salary increment with not less than K 400,000 as housing allowance, adding that all outstanding housing allowance arrears must be cleared not later than June 30, 2009.

Teachers in the district have been on go slow since May 18.

ZANIS

A 35 year old woman of new Mushili compound in Ndola, yesterday fainted in Serenje magistrate court when magistrate Philip Chisenga sentenced her to two years simple imprisonment for unlawful possession of psychotropic substance namely, dagga.

Before Mr. Chisenga were Loveness Nyama 44 of house number 1976 new Mushili compound who was charged with one count of unlawful possession of government trophy and Marjory Chibale also of Mushili compound who was charged with two counts.

Chibale was charged with unlawful possession of government trophy and in the second count was charged with unlawful possession of dagga.[quote]

The two were arrested on Monday this week by Zambia wildlife authority (ZAWA) officers at Kanona check point along great North Road in Serenje when they were traveling from Mpika to Ndola on Checha bus registration number ABC 7292.

According to the facts ready by ZAWA prosecutor Henry Munalula, Nyama and Chibale were found with seven pieces of buffalo meat each in their traveler’s bags.

Chibale, who tried holding back her tears throughout the session, had also 3.4kg of dagga wrapped in a transparent plastic bag in the second count which she told the court she was to use it to treat her hair.

In mitigation, Nyama pleaded for leniency because she had eight children including two orphans and that all of them were school going and if she was jailed nobody would take care of them.

He fined both K900,000 in default six months simple imprisonment in the first count of unlawful possession of government trophy.

Mr. Chisenga sentenced Chibale to two years imprisonment for being found in possession of psycho tropical substance.

Just upon pronouncement of the sentence, Chibale fell on to the chair that was behind and shouted “My Jesus” and openly wept before Mr. Chisenga.

Chibale, who later gained strength, was picked by Nyama and a DEC officer who helped her walk up to the police inquiries.

ZANIS