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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
Over K150 million meant for the construction of a new high school at Henry Kapata Village in Kasama has allegedly been misappropriated by school authorities.
This is according to a petition signed by more than 150 parents seeking the intervention of Northern Province Permanent Secretary Mwalimu Simfukwe and availed to ZANIS this morning.
The parents are requesting Mr. Simfukwe together with provincial education officer Selisho Chanda to urgently intervene in the alleged financial scandal at Henry Kapata Basic School.
The parents ere complaining that the funds meant for the construction of the high school to be situated within the premises of Henry Kapata Basic School, have not been accounted for by the school administration.
They alleged that some people at the institution may have diverted the money for personal gain, as no proper record of how the money was used, has been availed to the parents.
The parents further said the school authorities have allegedly incurred a debt of over K20 million in unexplained circumstances.
They described the misuse of the money at the school as totally unacceptable, as the funds were meant to raise the literacy levels of the vulnerable people, especially those in the Henry Kapata community and the surrounding areas.
The parents said the foundation of the new high school is not strong and that it has already started cracking, before the completion of the construction work.
They demanded that the education authorities to immediately carry out an audit exercise, to find out how the money was used.
When reached for a comment, Kasama District Education Board Secretary Esnart Mukosa said she was not aware of the misappropriation of funds meant for the construction of a high school at Henry Kapata Village.
Mrs. Mukosa, however, said the new school was purely a community initiative and that the Ministry of Education had not released any funds towards the project.
She urged the local community to seek clarification from a named Catholic Priest over the handling of the funds for their school project.
The Ministry of Health, working with other stakeholders, has intensified sensitization efforts on condom use in rural areas.
Ministry of Health spokesperson Dr. Kamoto Mbewe told ZANIS in Lusaka today that government would work with the Society for Family Health (SFH) and Planned Parenthood Association of Zambia (PPAZ), among others, to promote condom use in rural areas.
He said the ministry of health is also working with neighborhood communities to sensitize people in rural areas on the need to use condoms as a contraceptive and for protection from sexually transmitted diseases.
Dr. Mbewe said community-based organization organizations would also be engaged to alert residents about the availability of condoms at health centers both in rural and urban areas.
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) country representative Duah Owusu-Sarfo on Monday said some people in rural areas have indicated that they have never seen a condom in their life.
Mr. Owusu- Sarfo, in a speech read on his behalf by the organization’s programme Officer Florence Mulenga during a public sector condom promotion workshop last week, said people in rural areas have inadequate knowledge about condoms.
He also observed that communities in such localities had a lot of myths and misconceptions about condoms.
GOVERNMENT says plans by the Patriotic Front (PF) and United Party for National Development (UPND) to move a motion to impeach President Banda will fail.
Chief Government Spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that Government will wait for the opposition to move the motion.
He was responding to Nchanga PF member of Parliament, Wilbur Simusa who said his party and the UPND will move an impeachment motion against President Banda when Parliament reopens today.
“We are ready for them, let them go ahead with their plans, we are waiting for them,” he said.
Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha, who is Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, said Kasama member of Parliament Saviour Chishimba gave good reasons of cheap politics when he resigned.
Mr Chishimba, who resigned from the PF on Sunday, said progressive change for Zambia will not come based on political partnership and that change that people need is not the removal of the MMD from power but progress in their living standards.
Gen Shikapwasha said the opposition is running an agenda of cheap politics, adding that such an agenda will not take the country anywhere.
“It is wasting people’s time even to think of impeaching the President. What reasons have they got?” he asked.
He said Government had invited the opposition to attend a national consultative forum so that they could put forward their ideas and agenda but that they declined to attend.
“We expected them to use this dialogue to lay their ideas before the Zambian people but they failed to do that because they have no agenda for the people of Zambia. The only agenda they have is greediness of getting into power. They should know that God does not allow greedy people to get into power.
“So, this impeachment move will come to nothing. We will deal with the impeachment motion when it comes,” he said.
Gen Shikapwasha challenged the opposition to tell the nation the plans they have to develop the country.
He said President Banda’s government is on course to develop the country.
“This government has held the country together and will continue to do so,” he said.
Gen Shikapwasha said the mining industry, whose resources were allegedly plundered by some of the people in the opposition, has now been resuscitated by the MMD government.
He said the economy has stabilised despite the recession.
Gen Shikapwasha admitted that there are challenges Government is facing, but that these will be dealt with.
President Rupiah Banda hugs his niece Mwakawaza Nyirenda after a church service of his late sister-in law Dorothy Nyirenda at the Reformed Church in Zambia in LusakaPresident Rupiah Banda was among several Cabinet
ministers and hundreds of mourners who paid their last respect to his late sister-in-law, Dorothy Nyirenda.
Mrs Nyirenda, who was born on February, 21, 1947 and died last week, was married to late Kabuka Nyirenda who was President Banda’s cousin.
Speaking during a church service held at Reformed Church in Zambia, Chelston congregation in Lusaka, President Banda described her as a kind woman.
President Banda said from the time he came to know Mrs Nyirenda, she had been a wonderful person who always stood ready to help needy people.
He said Mrs Nyirenda was a God fearing person who worked to see the development of the church to contribute to national development.
Mrs Nyirenda, who completed her secondary education in Eastern Province, pursued secretarial studies at Evelyn Hone College and worked in several institutions, including Nkana Copper Mines, the Government and the United Nations (UN) agencies.
Earlier, Reformed Church in Zambia resident minister, Reverend Madalitso Banda said losing a beloved person was such a painful thing, especially somebody who he said was a caring one.
Mrs Nyirenda died last week at Chilanga Hospice after complaining of spinal and general body pains and was put to rest at Mutumbi cemetery in Chamba valley.
In attendance were Chief Justice Ernest Sakala, Defence Minister, Kalombo Mwansa, Communications and Transport Minister, Geoffrey Lungwangwa.
Others were Home Affairs Minister, Lameck Mangani, Lusaka police chief, Greenwell Ng’uni, All People’s Congress Party (APC) leader, Ken Ngondo and several clergymen.
