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Former State House press Aid Richard Sakala is interviewed by reporters after he was acquitted by the Lusaka magistrate CourtThe Lusaka magistrate court has acquitted former State
House Press Aide, Richard Sakala, who was facing corruption charges.
Mr. Sakala was in court for abuse of authority of office and obtaining execution of a valuable security by false pretences.
His co-accused Nelly Mwila who was charged with one count of forgery of a document, namely a deed of transfer has also been acquitted.
Magistrate Sharon Newa ruled on Thursday that the prosecution team failed in all the three counts to prove their case beyond any reasonable doubt.
And Mr. Sakala told Journalists shortly after his acquittal that he is happy that the courts have vindicated him.
Mr. Sakala also disclosed that he has sought judicial review in the high court over his earlier jail term, which he served.
In the first count, it was alleged that Mr. Sakala, as Chairman of the Presidential Housing Initiative-PHI- offered Emmanuel Chibwe the house at stand number 4314, Kapumpe Road in Woodlands.
This was at a price of K24 Million instead of K40 Million.
The state had argued that the K16 Million discount was prejudicial to the rights or interests of the government.
In the second count, Mr. Sakala was accused of obtaining execution of a valuable security by false pretences.
Commerce Trade and industry Deputy Minster Richard Taima says Zambia still has a lot of investment opportunities that should be explored by investors.
Mr. Taima says government is hence committed to playing a leading role towards efforts aimed at attracting more investment in the country.
Speaking in Lusaka today when a 12 member Germany Business delegation called on him at his office, Mr. Taima said government considers foreign investment as one of the most important sector that is supplementing its efforts especially in job creation.
Mr. Taima noted that Zambia is a growing economy that requires a lot of investment in its different economic sectors.
He further added that owing to its political stability that encourages more investors, Zambia has remained one of the most stable investment destinations in Africa.
He pointed out that the country’s investment environment has also continued to improve hence attracting more foreign investment in the country.
Mr. Taima disclosed that this is why government has put in place intervention plans that are targeted at creating a favorable environment for doing business for investors in all sectors.
He added that specific areas such as the Tourism and the Mining sectors have also been identified to assist government in creating employment opportunities for local people.
The Minster further added that government has also reduced the number of business licenses for prospective investors from about 500 to 300 in a bid to create a more competitive investment industry in the country.
Meanwhile, Mr. Taima has expressed concern that despite all these interventions in place by government some sectors of the economy have still not attracted many investors.
He cited the Education and Energy sectors as some of the sectors that need to be marketed if they are attract more investment.
And Germany’s Ambassador to Zambia Irene Henrichsen , who led the delegation, said despite the current global economic crisis there is need for economic growing countries to continue attracting more investment.
Dr. Henrichsen explained that there is no need for countries in the world to change or transfer their investment potentials that can disturb their economic growth in the wake of the crisis.
She said this why new investment plans in all sectors should be embraced if diversification is to be enhanced.
Dr. Henrichsen explained there is also need for Zambia to ensure that all its economic key sectors are covered when encouraging investors in the country.
The 12 member delegation is in the country to hold a series of meeting with key economic players such as the Zambia Development Agency and the Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry among other organizations.
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda clad in shorts chats with Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Li Quiangmin in Mfuwe during his December retreat in 2008
President Rupiah Banda has undergone a successful minor orthopaedic procedure for a knee problem that had been troubling him in recent days.
Medical doctors in South Africa who conducted the operation on the President’s right knee say it was very successful.
State House Press Aide, Dickson Jere, said in a statement that the President is expected to make complete and full recovery within a short period of time.
He said Mr. Banda is expected to be discharged from hospital on Thursday after taking the recommended hours of rest after the operation.
President Banda is in South Africa to attend the World Economic Forum on Africa.
Government has challenged the University of Zambia (UNZA) School of Agriculture to adequately train agriculture personnel that will contribute effectively to the development of the country’s agriculture sector.
Agriculture Deputy Minister Albert Mulonga says there is need for the higher learning institution to rise to the challenge of boosting the country’s agriculture sector by training the much needed human resource that will contribute meaningfully to the growth of the sector.
Mr. Mulonga was speaking at the official hand-over ceremony of the Omnia Lecture Theatre to the UNZA School of Agriculture in Lusaka today.
He said as the country continues to suffer from the challenges of the global economic downturn, there was an urgent need to train more qualified agricultural personnel in the areas of crop, livestock production and agricultural economics in order to fully develop the country’s agriculture sector.
Mr. Mulonga has since challenged the University of Zambia to develop the adequate and appropriate human resource that will help the country to move forward through the high yield of agriculture products.
Meanwhile, University of Zambia Registrar Dr Albert Ng’andu has called for the continued working collaboration with Omnia Zambia Limited with a view to sustaining a conducive learning environment for students pursuing agricultural studies.
And Omnia Zambia Limited Managing Director Berti Serfontein pledged his company’s continued assistance to the development of the country’s agriculture sector by helping the country in the implementation of the various agricultural programmes.
Government has called on farmers not to abuse the Fertilizer Support Programme (FSP) and other food security programmes as they are meant for the farmers’ benefits.
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Sport, Youth and Child Development Minister, Kenneth Chipungu, says farmers should take advantage of such programmes to grow more crops for household and national food security.
Mr. Chipungu, who is also Rufunsa Member of Parliament, was speaking when he officiated at the Bunda-Bunda block agriculture and commercial show in Chinyunyu today.
He said government officials are saddened that a number of small-scale farmers, especially those in rural areas, where selling the agricultural inputs provided to them through programmes such as the FSP and other food security programmes.
Mr. Chipungu said it is also unfortunate that some farmers were selling agricultural inputs in exchange for beer.
He said it is regrettable that such farmers experience a food deficit and end up appealing for relief food from government.
Mr. Chipungu has also asked the farmers not to sell their entire farm produce as there is need to keep enough for domestic consumption.
He however said those wishing to sell their farm produce should sell to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) and avoid being swindled by unscrupulous businessmen.
And speaking earlier, Bunda- Bunda Show Society Vice Chairperson, Andrew Daka, lamented that farmers in the area were being exploited by commercial grain buyers.
Mr. Daka called on the FRA to introduce satellite depots in the area so that farmers can sell their crops at a reasonable.
Lubuto Library Project in KamwalaDow Jones & Company, a news corporation company and the
Lubuto Library Project has announced that it will hold this years Special Libraries Association (SLA) international reception at the Zambian Embassy in the United States of America on June 15.
This is according to a press statement by First Secretary for Press at the Zambian Embassy in United States of America, Ben Kangwa.
The reception sponsored by Dow Jones will take place during the SLA annual conference at the Walter E. Convention Centre in Washington DC from June 14-17 2009.
Dow Jones is a leading provider of global business news and Information services.Its Consumer Media Group publishes The Wall Street Journal,Barrons Marketwatch and the Far Eastern Economic Review.
In recognition of SLA’s global support in launching the Lubuto Library Project in Zambia,Zambian’s Ambassador to the USA Dr. Inonge Mbikusita-Lewanika has welcomed Dow Jones to host the SLA’s centennial International Reception at the Zambian embassy,to celebrate SLA member’s support for the Lubuto Libraries.
The Lubuto Library project is an initiative, in cooperation with local governments,which provides library services,literacy skills targeted programs and educational growth opportunities for vulnerable sub-Saharan African children.
“Dow Jones continues to support the Lubuto Library Projects mission to bring literacy and hope to Africa’s most vulnerable children,” Anne Caputo,Executive Director of Learning and Information Professional Programs for DowJones and SLA President elect has said.
Anna Caputo said the initiative not only supports children in developing their talents skills and self esteem but also connects North American and European volunteers and students with their African peers through community service.
Both Ambassador Mbikusita-Lewanika and Dow Jones Executive Vice President Clare Hart serve on the Lubuto Advisory Board.
Robbers yesterday morning killed two security guards in Northrise residential area in Ndola in a failed attempt to steal from the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church.
One of the guards was hacked to death at the SDA Church between Nyimba and Lupili roads and the other one was beaten to death and dumped in a furrow on Lupili Road.
One of the residents, Vester Mangani, said at the scene that she and her family heard a person screaming for help around 01:00 hours and called the police.
“The police replied that they could not come because they had no fuel in their cars,” Ms Mangani said.
She said the family found the body of one guard in the furrow in the morning and alerted other neighbours.
The body of the other guard who was hacked to death was found in one of the shelters at the SDA Church where he worked.
SDA caretaker, James Mumba, said in an interview that he found the body at 07:15 hours when he reported for work.
Mr Mumba said the doors to the church were tampered with but that the thieves did not enter.
He said there was another attempt to steal from the church on June 1 this year and that bandits had been terrorising residents in the area.
A Times of Zambia reporter found the body of the guard with a deep cut on the head still lying in a pool of blood as a horde of residents jostled to have a glimpse.
The hacked guard identified as Wishcot Phiri was an employee of Blessings Security Company.
Blessings Security director, Lesley Munyama said Mr Phiri was assigned to guard at the SDA Church.
The other deceased guard whose body was found in the furrow wore the Boundary Security Company uniform and had deep cuts on the face.
Residents took advantage of the presence of the Ndola deputy police chief Anderson Chengo at the scene to complain about lack of security in the area.
The residents said they were not able to move freely after 19:00 hours because there was a group of bandits that was attacking and stealing from people.
Mr Chengo said a police post was being constructed in the area and it was near completion.
[Times of Zambia]
Patriotic Front (PF) members of parliament attending the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) have distanced themselves from the recent beating and abduction of two PF members.
PF Spokesperson for MPs attending the NCC Peter Machungwa said the group has decided to state its position because the party leadership has remained silent since the incident happened last week.
Speaking during a media briefing in Lusaka today Mr. Machungwa, who is also Luapula Member of Parliament, said the party is expected to condemn the culture of violence.
He said it is unacceptable to beat and harass people that hold different view points in a political system that is democratic.
Mr. Machungwa said it is unfortunate that violent acts and harassment of people with different views have continued to characterize the opposition political party.
He noted that intolerance to different opinions must not be condoned by Zambians irrespective of their political affiliation as it can breed anarchy in the country.
And the Spokesperson for PF MPs attending the NCC has expressed concern at the utterances by PF leader Michael Sata about their membership to the party.
Mr. Machungwa said the utterances are unacceptable and tantamount to contempt in view of the injunction order issued to the MPs by the Supreme Court.
He stated that all the PF MPs attending the NCC are still by law members of the opposition party following the court injunction granted to them after expulsion from the party.
Mr. Machungwa said it is unfortunate that the party leadership has continued to publicly shun and declare them as non PF members.
He also called for change of the draft PF party constitution alleging that the current party constitution is undemocratic and despotic.
Mr. Machungwa has further called on the party leadership to hold a national conference to enable the party change its leadership.
The opposition Patriotic Front last year expelled 26 of its Members of Parliament for defying the party leadership’s position to attend the NCC.
However the Supreme Court granted 26 Mps an injunction restraining the opposition party from expelling them.
United Nations (UN) Special Envoy for HIV and AIDS in Africa, Elizabeth Mataka, says tremendous progress has been made in the fight against HIV and AIDS on the African continent.
Mrs Mataka says a number of countries have scaled up their ARV programmes and other HIV preventive and life-prolonging interventions in the fight against the pandemic.
The UN Special Envoy said this during a media briefing on the sidelines of the on-going World Economic Forum on Africa in Cape Town, South Africa, today.
Mrs Mataka cited Zambia and Botswana as some of the countries in southern Africa that have posted significant gains in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
She said it was encouraging to note that the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in Zambia recently dropped from 16 per cent to 14 per cent, a result of a sustained and aggressive effort by the government, co-operating partners and other stakeholders.
Mrs Mataka also commended the Zambian government for widening access to ARVs from 2,000 beneficiaries about five years ago, to the current 200,000 people.
She, however, stressed that the HIV/AIDS scourge remains a mammoth challenge on the continent and called on leaders to honour the pledges they made at the Abuja Summit to commit more resources to the health sector, HIV/AIDS in particular.
Mrs Mataka, who is also Executive Director of the Zambia National AIDS Network (ZNAN), on the other hand, expressed happiness that none of the international co-operating partners have rescinded their financial commitments to the fight against HIV/AIDS despite the biting global economic crisis.
“The HIV/AIDS pandemic, especially in sub-Sahara Africa, is still a serious concern to the United Nations. But we are comforted by the fact that none of our co-operating partners have reneged on their financial commitments despite the prevailing global financial meltdown,” said Mrs Mataka.
She also called on African countries to embrace male circumcision as an integral part of strategies in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Mrs Mataka said there is compelling evidence that male circumcision is a significant deterrent in the spread of HIV/AIDS.
She noted with happiness that a number of countries on the continent, including Zambia, are coming up with policies on the implementation of male circumcision.
Mrs Mataka said she is aware that consultations are underway among various stakeholders in the country on the policy before it is finally rolled out.
Meanwhile, in a significant move from research on male circumcision to full scale implementation, the Male Circumcision Partnership is launching a massive scale-up of voluntary male circumcision services in Swaziland and Zambia.
The partnership is supported by a five-year US$ 50 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to Population Services International (PSI), a leading global health organisation.
In a statement released by PSI at the on-going World Economic Forum on Africa in Cape Town and obtained by ZANIS today, the male circumcision partnership programme in Zambia and Swaziland also builds upon the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.
Cited by both the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNAIDS as an important intervention, male circumcision reduces HIV/AIDS infections among men by 60 per cent, according to scientific research.
Eight suspected illegal miners have died after being trapped by rock falls in a tunnel at Nkana Central shaft slag dump belonging to Chambeshi metals.
The eight bodies were discovered after a survivor of the accident, who was seriously injured, informed a passerby, who then reported the incident to the mine police.
The deceased are suspected to have gone to mine cobalt and copper remains.
Chambeshi Metals Plc Manager for Safety Occupational, Health and Environment, Daniel Chihili who was at the scene supervised the digging out of the eight bodies.
Mr. Chihili cautioned the general public to refrain from illegal mining pointing out that it could lead to untimely deaths.
A Nokia Cell Phone was recovered on one of the dead bodies, which was badly disfigured.ZANIS
President Rupiah Banda has urged the global business community to come and invest in Zambia as the country has vast investment opportunities in virtually all sectors of the economy.
And the President says government has taken a wide range of measures in response to the harsh effects of the global economic crisis.
Mr. Banda said this in his presentation dubbed ‘Zambia – A Promising Investment Destination’ during an interactive dinner session on Zambia at Westin Hotel last night at the on-going World Economic Forum on Africa in Cape Town, South Africa.
President Banda said there are a lot of factors which make Zambia an attractive destination for investment, which include political stability, democratic governance and peace which the country has enjoyed since independence.
“You will agree with me, ladies and gentlemen, that Zambia is one of the few countries on the continent that have never experienced civil strife since independence in 1964, and we will maintain it this way so that those intending to invest in the country can reap their profits in peace,” said President Banda.
Mr. Banda said the country has abundant natural resources, such as land, water and good climatic conditions ideal for those wishing to invest in various sectors of the economy.
The government has also put in place liberal economic policies and a pro-private sector framework supportive of macro-economic stability.
Mr Banda added that Zambia’s membership of regional bodies such as COMESA and SADC and its central location in the region also make it a more conducive destination for investment.
The President cited agriculture, mining and tourism as some of the key sectors with high investment potential.[quote]
Others cited were manufacturing, transport and energy, construction and real estates such as housing units and shopping malls.
“We have large tracts of land available for food and cash crops for both domestic and export markets, while in mining, the country is endowed with precious metals, uranium, iron, tin nickel manganese and agro minerals, among others which need exploitation,” he said.
President Banda also said government will float tenders before the end of the year for the exploration of oil and gas in some parts of the country.
On the global economic crisis, President Banda said government has responded by prioritizing infrastructure development and development sectors with global comparative advantage in the 2009 budget.
He said in this regard, government has increased financial allocation to the agriculture sector in this year’s budget and has further zero rated Value Added Tax (VAT) on selected agricultural equipment.
Mr. Banda said government has also increased financial allocation to the tourism sector in order to improve access to the northern tourism circuit and others.
He added that a number of measures have been taken in the mining sector, including the removal of windfall tax, increasing capital allowance to 100 per cent and reducing customs duty on heavy fuel oils.
“All these and other measures make Zambia a truly preferred investment destination,” he said.
President Banda said the Zambian economy has experienced strong growth at an average of 5.9 per cent over the last five years and 6.2 per cent over the last three years.
He however, observed that the current global economic crisis is impacting adversely on the economy, with GDP growth now projected to slow down to 4.0 per cent this year against the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) target of 7 per cent for 2009.
The government has responded by focusing fiscal and monetary policy measures on maintaining macroeconomic stability and undertaking critical long term investments aimed at diversifying the economy and increasing its productivity.
In attendance at the dinner, among others, were former First Lady, Maureen Mwanawasa, Finance Minister, Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, Commerce Minister, Felix Mutati, his mines counterpart, Maxwell Mwale, Agriculture Minister, Dr Brian Chituwo and Energy minister Kenneth Konga.
Earlier in the day, in his welcome remarks during the main plenary session of the forum, South African President, Jacob Zuma, said there is need for Africa to tackle the on-going conflicts in some parts of the continent decisively.
Mr. Zuma said the conflicts have the effect of making the global economic crisis worse on the continent.
Former UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, said part of the solution to the global economic crisis lies in reforming the global financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank and ultimately the United Nations
Government says Zambia has sufficient fuel stocks to last until next month contrary to media reports that a shortage is looming.
Energy Permanent Secretary, Peter Mumba, says the story in the Wednesday edition of the Post Newspaper, suggesting that Zambia will soon run out of fuel is false.
He says it is also not true that a tanker carrying crude oil for Zambia was recently diverted to India.
Mr. Mumba told Journalists at a press briefing in Lusaka that the ship which was scheduled to arrive in Dar es Salaam on June 15 will be delayed due to bad weather.
He said the ship will instead dock on June 18.
Mr. Mumba urged the public not to panic saying the country has sufficient fuel to last until next month.
He said serious efforts are being made to ensure that the country does not experience a shortage of fuel.
President Rupiah Banda says African countries need to work together in addressing the economic challenges brought about by the Global Economic recession.
In an interview yesterday, Mr. Banda said the World Economic Forum offers an important platform for African countries to find durable solutions to the economic crisis facing the continent and the world at large.
Mr. Banda, who is among Heads of State and Government attending the three-day meeting at Cape Town’s International Convention Centre, said that history has shown that no single country working alone can succeed in tackling challenges such as the global economic meltdown.
He said it is for this reason that Zambia attaches great importance to the meeting to hear how other countries in Africa and beyond are going about in addressing the effects of the global economic crisis.
Mr Banda said Zambia is also using the meeting to create contacts with potential investors to come and help in diversifying the country’s economy from its dependence on mining to agriculture, tourism, manufacturing and other sectors.
The President, who participated in an interactive session on Investing in Africa this morning, described the meetings as extremely useful to Zambia’s on-going efforts to achieve sustainable economic development.[quote]
Mr. Banda said he and his team of ministers and other experts had successful exchange of views with some of the key global economic players.
And President has spoken highly of the warm relations existing between Zambia and Kenya, saying the two countries have continued to work together in many areas of social and economic development.
Mr Banda said this after holding one-on-one closed door talks with Kenyan Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, on the sidelines of the on-going World Economic Forum on Africa in Cape Town, South Africa today.
The President said Kenya is important to Zambia for many reasons, chief among them, the fact that its manufacturing base is much wider than Zambia’s.
By working closely together, the two countries, therefore, can achieve a lot in developing their economies.
Meanwhile, Commerce Minister, Felix Mutati, says Zambia’s efforts to attract foreign investment are bearing fruit..
Mr. Mutati says this can be seen in investments in various sectors worth about US$400 million which have come into the country in the recent past.
Mr. Mutati, who is among the minister accompanying the President at the World Economic Forum on Africa in Cape Town, said the said investment has gone into the palm oil project in Luapula Province, the Mpongwe bio-diesel project on the Copperbelt among others.
He said government’s priority in attracting more investors is to develop infrastructure, such as roads, hotels, communication facilities and other services in order to reduce the cost of doing business in the country.
The Zambia government has also put together an attractive package of incentives across all sectors of the economy in order to attract more investment to the country.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) says Zambia has continued to be used as a transit point for child trafficking in the region.
ILO National Programme Coordinator, Mukatimui Chabala, says young girls are at a greater risk of being trafficked.
Ms Chabala said the young girls are made to believe that they are going out of the country for education and employment opportunities but end up being used for prostitution and other vices.
She was speaking at the Media Network for Orphans and Vulnerable Children discussion forum in Lusaka yesterday.
Ms Chabala said there is therefore urgent need for government and stakeholders to scale up public sensitization on human trafficking.
She has since urged the media to partner with government and other stakeholders in highlighting issues of human trafficking, child labour and other bad vices.
And Judith Mwale, a marriage counselor from ‘Families Are Nations’ organization said there is need to ensure that families give equal opportunities for children grow into responsible adults.
Mrs. Mwale said it is regrettable that many young girls are denied access to education as some are removed from school and married off.
Kitwe City Council has requested the Road Development Agency(RDA) to give due attention to the condition of roads in Kitwe, Copperbelt Province.
Speaking at a full council meeting on Tuesday, Kitwe City Council Town Clerk Ali Simwinga said the local authority was no longer responsible for the repair of roads in the city.
Mr. Simwinga said it was the responsibility of RDA to construct, maintain and manage all road networks in Zambia.
He noted that RDA had signed an agreement with Kitwe City Council hence the local authority was under obligation to submit its road programmes to the Agency for implementation.
He added that the council had submitted all its road programmes and was waiting the implementation that was to be done by RDA.
Mr. Simwinga regretted that up-to-date, RDA had not responded.
He said lack of operation funding to Road authorities from RDA and NFRA had resulted in a negative attitude by the local residents.
He added that previously when roads were advertised in August 2008, its bidders did not manage to work on them or could not just qualify.
Mr. Simwinga hoped that bidders for this year’s advertisement could succeed to help deliver better services to the local residents.
He has since appealed to the residents and all road users to participate in the road maintenance by guarding roads jealously.
Meanwhile, the Road Development Agency (RDA) says it is doing everything possible to ensure that township roads in most parts of the Copperbelt are worked on.
RDA Head of Public Relations Loyce Saili told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that RDA is aware of the poor state of most roads in the country and is working around the clock to ensure that most roads are repaired.
Ms Saili disclosed that RDA did advertise for bidders in the print media and are now at the stage where they are receiving and evaluating the tenders from the bidders.
She explained that tenders are being received from bidders for the construction and repair of some roads in Kitwe, Chililabobwe, Ndola and Luanshya.
Ms Saili further explained that the roads were supposed to have been worked on earlier except that the RDA failed to do so because the bids were too high.
She said as much as RDA would like to work on most township roads around the country, it would be very difficult if bidders were not been reasonable.
