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Political leaders advised to desist from attacking President Banda

Guest Editor
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An opposition official in Mazabuka District has called on politicians to desist from attacking President Rupiah Banda and instead offer constructive criticism that will improve the livelihood of the people.

UPND Magoye branch chairperson, Ackson Mainga told ZANIS in Mazabuka today, that the current attacks being targeted at President Banda are not healthy for the country’s development agenda.

Mr Mainga charged that opposition political leaders especially UPND president Hakainde Hichilema and PF leader Michael Sata should realize that politics of insults cannot take the country forward as people are not interested in the volume of attacks but development.

He advised politicians with the people’s interest at heart to engage the President in meaningful dialogue over the problems confronting the nation rather than engage in witch hunting.

Mr Mainga added that even the purchase of hearses and mobile hospital should not raise eye brows among opposition leaders because government is there to provide a service to the people of Zambia.

He said people in Magoye are not happy with the incessant attacks on the President whom they said has done well since being voted into office six months ago.
ZANIS/MKM/HC/ENDS

Mwata Kazembe asks for palm tree seedlings

Guest Editor
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Mwata Kazembe of the Lunda people in Luapula Province has appealed to Government to consider providing palm oil seedlings to his subjects.

The Mwata Kazembe said his area had favourable conditions for palm oil tree cultivation.
He made the appeal when Luapula Province Permanent Secretary Jazzman Chikwakwa and provincial Agriculture Coordinating Officer (PACO) Odineya Chisala paid a courtesy call on him at his palace during inspection of the palm oil plantation project in his area.

The Mwata commended government for the palm oil project but observed that it would be more helpful if households could also be supplied with the seedlings to plant.

He noted that once his subjects were empowered with the plants, government would cut off the trouble of sourcing for land where to plant the trees.

The Mwata Kazembe said cost of maintaining the palm trees would be reduced because individual households would be given manageable quantities of plants unlike when a single farmer is given a lot of plants to manage alone.

Last month, government imported an improved variety of 20,000 seedlings of palm trees from Costa Rica at a cost of $20,000 United States Dollars in an effort to economically empower the local people.

Luapula is the only Province where this project is being undertaken.

ZANIS/AM/CMM/MKM/ENDS.

Luvales still poor despite having mines

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Poverty levels among the Luvale people in Northwestern Province are still on the increase despite the opening of the Kasanshi and Lumwana mines in Solwezi.

Chairperson of the Society for Poverty Reduction, John Lijimu, said majority of those employed in the mines were people from other provinces and not the Luvales.

He complained that people were still wallowing in abject poverty despite opening of the mines.

Mr Lijimu said in an interview in Kitwe today that government should devise a deliberate policy that would compel people from the area given the first priority of being employed when vacancies were able.

And Mr Lijimu has called on the government through the Road Development Agency to begin levying heavy trucks transporting copper and other minerals from Northwestern province.[quote]

He said the money to be raised from these trucks could be channeled towards the repair of the road.

Mr Lijimu said currently the state of the chingola-Solwezi road has become an eyesore because it has been damaged by the heavy trucks.

The chairperson suggested that government should also allow investors to open up a railway line to Solwezi as this was the cheapest way of transporting goods other than by road.

ZANIS

Support a Zambian filmmaker

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Zambian filmmaker Chansa Tembo has been named a finalist in the U.S. Embassy’s inaugural Democracy Video Challenge online film contest. Mr. Tembo will compete with two other African filmmakers for the chance to win an all-expenses trip to Washington, DC, New York, and Hollywood to represent the continent of Africa in the worldwide contest.

The Democracy Video Challenge is a combined initiative between the U.S. State Department and the on-line video sharing site YouTube. Filmmakers from around the world were asked to submit films that answer the phrase “Democracy is…” Films could not exceed three minutes or use copyrighted material, but there were no other limits to filmmakers’ visions.

Mr. Tembo beat long odds to become a finalist. The contest received more than 900 submissions from 95 countries. Zambia led Africa with nine original entries.

Mr. Tembo’s film, entitled “Democracy is like a smoothie,” shows a variety of fresh fruits being blended together. The film asserts that “democracy is like a smoothie of blended philosophical ideas, ideologies, cultural norms and aesthetic values.”

Winners will be determined by a public vote which is underway now at http://www.youtube.com/democracychallenge. The public can vote for videos by giving them a thumb’s up.

Article source

Press Releases

Lusaka Filmmaker Named Finalist In Worldwide Democracy Video Challenge – Zambians Encouraged To Vote Online To Determine Winner
Tuesday, May 2009. Lusaka.
http://zambia.usembassy.gov/pr05192009.html

Chibuluma rugby coach dies

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Chibuluma rugby club coach Patrick Phiri has passed away at Ndola Central Hospital  after two weeks in the intensive care unit.

Phiri, 43,  has been admitted to the hospitals ICU since may 9 on the day he and the 25-man chibuluma team were involved in a road accident when they team bus overturned following a tire bust on the Ndola-Kapiri road.

The team was on its way to Kabwe to play a ZRFU league game against Green Eagles on the same datye when the accident occurred.

Chibuluma chairman John Chibuye confirmed Phiri’s death in a statement and said the coach died at 11:20 this morning.

“I wish to announce the death of our Coach Patrick Phiri, who passed on today 20th May around 11:20hrs at Ndola Central Hospital,” Chibuye said.

Phiri is the only person to die in the accident that left 19 players injured.

His funeral is being held in his home town of Kalulushi and he is survived by a wife and four children.

SOUTHERN SUN ARE 2009 CASTL 7’S PARTNER SPONSORS

Southern Sun have renewed their partnership sponsorship deal for the 2009 Castle 7’s International that will take place at Lusaka rugby club from June 13-14.

Southern Sun Ridgeway general manager Adrian Penny said  at a media briefing today that the hospitality package for the castle 7’s is worth US$60,000.00.

Penny said his hotel will offer discounted accommodation for the teams and officials during the castle 7’s.

Southern Sun Ridgeway will also host the 2007 Castle 7’s official opening dinner on June 12.

The hotel will be partner sponsors for the Castle 7’s with the Zambian Breweries Group with whom they have enjoyed  a 10-year relationship with the tournament since it began in 1999.

Meanwhile, joining the two will be Finance Bank and Stanbic Bank who will be this years Castle 7’s associate sponsors. 

Zimbabwe are the defending champions and are eying a third successive Castle 7’s title when they take part in this years tournament.

Africa Freedom Day Weekend Football Fixtures

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Here are this weekends Africa Freedom Day Holiday football fixtures.

az Premier League

23/05/2009

Week 11

Zamtel-Lusaka Dynamos

Zanaco-Nakambala Leopards

Choma Eagles-Young Arrows

Red Arrows-Chambishi

Konkola Blades-Power Dynamos

Roan United-Zesco United

Green Buffaloes-Kabwe warriors

Forest Rangers- City of Lusaka

25/05/2009

Week 1

City of Lusaka- Chambishi

Week 2

Red Arrows-Lusaka Dynamos

Week 4

Zesco United- Power Dynamos

 

Division 1

Week 12

23/05/2009

North

Indeni- Chindwin

Mining Rangers- Nchanga Rangers

Mufulira Blackpool-Afrisports

Chingola Leopards-Mufulira Wanderers

Zesco Luapula-Muchindu

Lime Hotspurs- Kalulushi Modern Stars

Prison Leoaprds-Luanshya United

Ndola United- Kitwe United

Nkana- Kalewa
South

Luena- Paramilitary

Nampundwe-Riflemen

Livingstone Pirates- Petauke United

Green Eagles-Zamcoal Diggers

Mazabuka United-Lusaka City Council

Profund Warriors-Kascol

Police Bullets-Nkwazi

Lusaka Celtic- National Assembly

Young Green Eagles-Lusaka Tigers
Rescheduled Fixtures:

25/05/2009

North

Week 2

Luanshya United- Mufulira wanderers

Muchindu- Nchanga Rangers

South

Week 6

Luena- Kascol Rangers

Smoke Free Lusaka drive launched

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Dr. Fastone Goma of UNZA displays a placard on the effects of smoking during the launch of the smoke free Lusaka campaign while Dr. Lambert looks on.
Dr. Fastone Goma of UNZA displays a placard on the effects of smoking during the launch of the smoke free Lusaka campaign while Dr. Lambert looks on.
Vice President George Kunda has called for the effective

enforcement of the Law against smoking in public.

Mr. Kunda says the enforcement of the Law against smoking public will help to protect the public from the harm caused by exposure to tobacco smoking.

The Vice President said this in a statement read on his behalf by Health Deputy Minister Mwendoi Akakandelwa during the official launch of the Smoke Free Lusaka Campaign programme.

Mr. Kunda said government is concerned with the devastating effects of tobacco smoking adding that the recent studies by the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed that more than six million people were dying annually from the tobacco related diseases.

He further said that government was losing a lot of revenue in addressing the various effects of tobacco related diseases.

He said government would always endeavor to ensure that the Zambian people were protected from the dangers of tobacco by putting in place remedial measures aimed at mitigating the effects of tobacco.

Mr. Kunda has since called for a sensitization programme of communities on the dangers of tobacco smoking with a view to addressing the various effects associated with tobacco use and smoking in the country.

Tobacco Control Group Chairperson Faston Goma urged government to double-up efforts aimed at enforcing the Law against smoking.

Dr Goma said there is an urgent need for government to devise an effective mechanism that will help protect the present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke.

He said this can only be attained by providing an effective framework for tobacco control measure to be implemented by the concerned parties with a view to reducing the continuous and substantial use of tobacco and smoke in the country.

RB lauded for ordering investigations into abuse of public resources

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Parliamentary Accounts Committee Chairperson Charles Milupi has commended President Rupiah Banda for directing Secretary to the Cabinet Joshua Kanganja and law enforcement agencies to work together and get to the root cause of alleged corrupt practices in government.

Mr. Milupi, who is also Luena area Member of Parliament, says the President’s move to call for forensic investigations into abuse of public funds is a positive indicator of government’s commitment to fight corruption.

He said in an interview that it is encouraging to note that the President has come out strongly to condemn the abuse of public resources.

Mr. Milupi said the call for forensic investigations into abuse of public funds illustrates the political will which citizens needed to see coming from the highest level of the political hierarchy in the country.

He pointed out that corrupt practices diverted national resources to selfish personnel gain at the expense of national development.

Mr. Milupi noted that when a person steals from government, they derail the social and economic development of the country.

The lawmaker has since called on the public to develop a culture of zero tolerance toward corruption.

And Youths Against Corruption (YAC) has expressed dismay at reports of misappropriation of public resources.[quote]

YAC Executive Director Rickson Kanema said youths in the country are appalled that public resources have been abused by some selfish individuals.

Mr. Kanema has since called for stringent measures to be put in place so that abusers of public resources are severely dealt to deter would-be offenders.

And in Mazabuka, two Chiefs in have come out in full support of President Rupiah Banda’s directive to the Anti Corruption Commission to investigate the government ministries involved in financial scandals especially the Ministry of health.

Chiefs Mwanachingwala and Mwenda said in Mazabuka, the timely directive is welcome and deserves support from all stakeholders.

The two traditional rulers said the directive by the President signifies his commitment in the fight against corruption.

The Chiefs complained that health service delivery in the district has deteriorated to a point where patients are given prescriptions to buy their own medicine because of theft of public funds by government workers.

They charged that the K 10 Billion scam unearthed by the ACC was just a tip in the ice berg adding more scandals are yet to be uncovered in the ministry of health which has been turned into a reservoir for embezzling public funds.

Chiefs Mwanachingwala and Mwenda observed that the K 10 Billion scam if it was channeled towards infrastructure development could have resulted in many district hospitals built.

The Chiefs have since called on the Opposition parties and other members of civil society to support President Banda’s quest to rid the country of corruption and theft of public funds.
ZANIS

Dora Siliya’s Judicial review set for May 26

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FORMER Communications and Transport minister Dora Siliya
FORMER Communications and Transport minister Dora Siliya
The Lusaka High Court has set May, 26 and 27 as dates for

hearing former Transport and Communications Minister Dora Siliya’s application for judicial review into the findings of the Judge Dennis Chirwa Tribunal.

The matter will be heard before High Court Judge Phillip Musonda.

Ms. Siliya applied for judicial review last week.

Her lawyer Eric Silwamba filed the application for judicial review in the Lusaka High Court.

Mr. Silwamba argued that the decision by the tribunal that his client breached the provisions of the constitution was in excess of its jurisdiction as stipulated by the provisions of the parliamentary and ministerial code of conduct.

He further contended that the tribunal erred in law when it purported to adjudicate constitutional matters and pronounce itself on the provisions of the constitution.

Mr. Silwamba stated that the Judge Dennis Chirwa Tribunal also erred in law when it misconstrued the interpretation of the provisions of article 54(3) of the constitution.

He argued that the purported breach of the provisions of the constitution was not one of the allegations levelled against his client.

Mr. Silwamba states that in doing so, the tribunal exceeded its limit and statutory jurisdiction.

The Judge Dennis Chirwa tribunal cleared Ms. Siliya on three allegations.

The tribunal found that Ms. Siliya did not breach part II of the Parliamentary and Ministerial code of conduct Act.

The tribunal however found that the former minister breached the provisions of the constitution and ignored the attorney general’s advice.

[ZNBC]

Teachers’ go-slow in Choma enters day three

Guest Editor
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6

The go-slow by unionized teachers in Choma,which has now entered day three, has spread to rural schools crippling learning activities.

A check by ZANIS at some rural schools revealed that unionized teachers have joined the go-slow, leaving classes unattended to.
All the 19 teachers at Siamambo basic school in chief Singani’s area were found not teaching with most of them sun basking.

Acting Head Teacher, Catherine Hamasowe told ZANIS, the unionized teachers downed chalk on Monday this week after attending a union meeting in Choma.

She said all efforts to persuade the teachers to return to work have proved fruitless as the staff have maintained that they will only do so after government meets their conditions.

A grade nine pupil at the school, Nchimunya Banda, expressed worry that pupils in examination classes may perform badly in this year’s final exams if the go-slow is prolonged.

A visit to Saint Marks high school in chief Mapanza area revealed a similar situation and pupils were just roaming the school premises due to the go-slow.

Last Friday, members of the Zambia National Union of Teachers (ZNUT), Secondary Schools Teachers Union of Zambia (SESTUZ) and the Basic Education Teachers Union of Zambia (BETUZ) held a meeting at Adastra basic school at which they unanimously resolved to be on a go-slow to pressure government to meet their demands.

In a three point resolution, the teachers are demanding that ongoing negotiations for improved salaries and conditions of service be over by May 31, 2009. They are demanding a salary increment of 25 percent and have totally rejected the 11 percent offered by government.

They are also demanding an increase in housing allowances and that the payment of rural/remote hardship allowance arrears be done in full.

The teachers also want government to pay them fixed band housing allowance arrears in full and not in phases.

ENDS/CM/PK/ZANIS

Nchelenge Mission Hospital Blood Bank goes without blood for one month

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The Blood Bank at St. Pauls Mission Hospital in Nchelenge has not been in operation for the past one month, thereby risking the lives of patients in need of blood transfusion.

Acting Nchelenge District Commissioner, Wilson Kasoloko confirmed the development to ZANIS in an interview today.

Mr. Kasoloko, who could not give reasons for the shortage of blood at the Hospital, appealed to health authorities in Luapula Province to urgently address the situation before lives are lost.

He said St. Pauls Mission Hospital caters for four districts namely, Nchelenge, Chienge, Kaputa and Mbereshi area in Kawambwa District and called upon the Ministry of Health to ensure that the Institution has adequate supply of blood at all times.

Mr. Kasoloko said blood, useful especially in saving the lives of accident victims during operations, mothers giving birth and anaemic children and adults should be in constant supply at the hospital.

A check at the District Health Office revealed that the hospital had not reported the shortage of blood.

ENDS/ESM/PK/ZANIS

MMD in L/Stone endorse RB as sole candidate for 2011 elections

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The MMD in Livingstone has decided to endorse President Rupiah Banda as the ideal candidate for the 2011 general elections. MMD Provincial Chairman, Sol Muzyamba said President Banda would be maintained as the sole candidate to represent the party in the 2011 general elections since the party wanted continuity.

Mr Muzyamba was speaking when he welcome President Banda in Livinstone this afternoon.

President Banda urged MMD officials in the Province to work hard in order to gain more support in Choma, Monze, Kazungula and other districts in the province that are still opposition strongholds.

He pledged to work extra hard to deliver on his promises to the nation so that he could merit being the sole MMD Presidential candidate following the resolution by the MMD in Livingstone to endorse him as the ideal candidate for the 2011 general elections.

The President said he would work extra hard so as not to embarrass and let down the rest of the country.

The President is in Livingstone to officiate at a two-day 6th Zambia International Business Advisory Council (ZIBAC) conference at Zambezi Sun hotel.

Mr. Banda said the ZIBAC conference would help him and his cabinet to get better ideas on how the country could survive the global economic crunch.

ZANIS

Farmers in Chipata might sell their Maize to Malawi – CDFA

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Chipata District Farmers Association (CDFA) has expressed fear that farmers in the district might start selling their maize to the neighboring Malawi following the announcement of the maize floor price which has been set at K65 000 per 50 kg bag.
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CDFA Coordinator Vigil Malambo said some millers from the neighboring country where offering to buy a 50 kilogram bag of maize at K75, 000.00.

He said in an interview that a lot of maize was expected to be exported to that country because of the high price that millers where offering to farmers.

He said that the K65, 000 marketing price recently announced by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) would only benefit farmers that benefited from the Fertilizer Support Program me (FSP) .

“Farmers who did not benefit from the FSP are the ones that are likely to export their produce if they are to make profits, he said.

Mr. Malambo said the cost of farming was too high for farmers who bought their agricultural input from commercial shops.

Mr. Malambo however called on government to always consider the cost of agricultural inputs when coming up with market prices to enable more farmers make profit out of their produce.

The FRA over the weekend announced this year’s maize floor price which has been received with mixed feeling from stakeholders in the agriculture sector.

ZANIS

Sata accused of making tribal remarks in Northern Province

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PF Leader Michael Sata
PF Leader Michael Sata
Northern Province Minister Charles Shawa has expressed disappointment at the alleged tribal remarks attributed to Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata when he addressed a public rally in Kasama recently.

Speaking when Kasama Mayor Fidelis Chishoma and newly elected Mungwi District Council chairperson Francis Musonda paid a courtesy on him, Mr. Shawa said he was saddened to hear that Mr. Sata’s opted to attack him and provincial permanent secretary Mwalimu Simfukwe during the recent public rally in Kasama.

The Minister said while he respects the PF leader, there was need for him to exhibit political maturity by discussing developmental issues instead of engaging in character assassination of innocent individuals.

Mr. Shawa said the fact that President Rupiah Banda appointed him as Northern Province Minister does not mean that the Head of State had marginalized the local people from the realm of power.

He vowed not be distracted from spearheading development in the region by selfish individuals who have nothing better to offer the people .

The Minister said he is in the province to serve everyone regardless of their tribal inclination.

Mr. Shawa stated that President Banda’s administration wants to work with the opposition and other interests groups in developing the country and urged well-meaning Zambians to fully support the move.

The Minister praised Mr. Chishoma and Mr. Musonda, who are both PF councillors, for showing interest to partner with the provincial administration in accelerating development in their respective Districts.

Mr. Chishoma has advised Zambians not to listen to Mr. Sata’s alleged divisive politics, as they do not add value to the development of the country.

Mr. Chishoma accused Mr. Sata of allegedly specializing in politics’ of division in order to win political mileage instead of fostering unity in the country.

The Mayor however assured the provincial minister that he and Mungwi District Council chairman were ready to work closely with the government in order to enhance development in their areas.

Mr. Chishoma further said as PF councillor, he would consult widely with everyone on matters of development in Kasama District unlike taking a partisan stance.

Recently, PF leader Michael Sata told a public rally in Kasama that the people of Northern Province have been marginalized because they were being governed by ‘imported’ people, citing Provincial Minister Charles Shawa and his permanent secretary Mwalimu Simfukwe respectively.

ZANIS

Kalomo health workers locked out for reporting late

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Health workers at the Kalomo district office were yesterday morning held outside their offices by district commissioner, Oliver Pelete for reporting late for work.

The District Commissioner who made a surprise check at the department to see for himself how public service workers observed punctuality literally found no officer at the office by 8 hours apart from the office orderlies who were cleaning the premises.

Officers only started reporting for work some minutes after 8 hours prompting the DC to bar them from entering the office demanding for an explanation from them.

Mr. Pelete lamented that most government workers in the district have the tendency of not observing the stipulated government working hours a trend , which was contrary to the public service Code of Ethics.

The workers were only allowed to get in their offices after he strongly warned them not to steal government time saying that was retrogressive to the development process in the district.

He further promised to continue with the surprise checks on wanting departments to eliminate the tendency among public service workers.

ZANIS

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