The New Generation Party, NGP, has called on striking University of Zambia, UNZA, lecturers to reconsider their position and resume work.

Party President, Humphrey Siulapwa, says there is need for lecturers to go back to work as their action is likely to impact negatively on the academic welfare of the of students at the highest learning institution.

Speaking in Lusaka today at a media briefing, Mr. Siulapwa said he expected lecturers to understand the effects of the current global economic crisis on Zambia’s economy.

He suggested that lecturers suspend their action until when the national economy stabilises in view f the global recession.

He said workers in the country should learn to sacrifice, adding that most governments and organizations in the world are reducing costs in order to cope with the global economic recession.

Mr. Siulapwa said his party will not sympathise with lecturers that will fail to report to work as directed by government, should disciplinary action be taken against them.

He added that the law stipulates that any public service worker is liable for dismiss is he stays away from work for 10 consecutive days.

He, further, warned that young people in the country will not sit back to watch unjustified work stoppages at the expense of their welfare.[quote]

UNZA lecturers have been on strike demanding improved conditions of service, and government has responded by offering them a 5 per cent pay rise.

And The New Generation Party has advised politicians to desist from politics of insults for the sake of national posterity.

NGP President, said that the heightened levels of politics of insults and disrespect among politicians is likely to affect the country’s good governance system.

He said there is need for persons aspiring for presidency to respect the incumbent office of the President for it to be dignified.

He explained that good governance can only be achieved through mutual understanding and tolerance which he said were lacking in the country despite it been the corner stone for development and prosperity.

Mr. Suilapwa has charged that the United Party for National Development, UPND, and the Patriotic Front, PF, pact has nothing to offer but create confusion on the political scene.

He said to this effect his party is not threatened saying the pact is bound to fail due to the difference in ideologies and manifestos between the two parties.

Mr. Suilapwa, further, stressed that it will be difficulty for the two parties to bring their ideas together as the UPND believes in a democratic system of governance and also has some of its members attending the National Constitution Conference, NCC, while the PF has a different approach on the matter.

He further noted that the majority of Zambians want change than just removing the MMD from power, which he said was the major objective of the pact.

ZANIS

SOUTHERN Province Minister Daniel Munkombwe has castigated school authorities of Chibwe Basic School in Mapanza, Choma for allowing the 450 pupils to share 15 desks.

Mr Munkombwe has also ordered the District Commissioner Liven Apuleni to probe the matter and provide a report in a week’s time.

A visibly upset Mr Munkombwe gave the directive on Friday when he officiated at the handover ceremony of two boreholes at Chibwe and Katowa basic schools.

The boreholes have been donated by the Anglican Church in Zambia and the Garber Leadership United Methodist Church in New Bern, North Carolina in the United States of America.

Mr Munkombwe wondered why the school authorities have been quiet about the plight of the children and only brought this matter up during the handover ceremony of the boreholes.

He was reacting to a plea by Chibwe Basic School deputy head teacher, Musa Simaimbula, to well wishers and Government for desks.

Mr Simaimbula said his school was in dire need of desks and houses for teachers.
The school, which has 13 teachers, has only five houses.

Chief Mapanza, too, wondered why the school authorities did not inform him about the matter for him to raise it with the relevant authorities.

Mr Munkombwe said that if the head teacher was unable to handle the matter, she should leave the running of the school to those capable of doing so.

“If the head teacher is not worth leading this school, why should such a person be here? There is serious weakness in leadership in this school and as minister in charge of the province, I do not want to be associated with failure because I have never been a failure in my life,” Mr Munkombwe said.[quote]

“There is something sinister here and I want to have a detailed report on the matter soon,” he said.

Mr Munkombwe commended Anglican Church in Zambia bishop, David Njovu, for attracting the attention of his American friends from Zoe Ministries who have responded favourably to help alleviate the suffering of the people.

Bishop Njovu said the two boreholes cost US$10,000. He commended Zoe Ministries for raising the money.

Zoe Ministries representative and delegation leader, Robert Littleton, said he hoped that through the fellowship, people would taste the living water that Jesus Christ talked about in the Bible.

{Zambia Daily Mail]

TODAY´S SCRIPTURE

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (Psalm 23:6, NKJ)

TODAY´S WORD from Joel and Victoria

As a believer in Jesus, did you know that goodness and mercy are following you? God´s grace and favor are chasing you down! But if you live with a cloud of condemnation over you, if you surround yourself with negativity, then you are putting a barrier between yourself and the blessings of God.

So many believers today miss out on what God has in store for them because they live like they´ve got a dark cloud over their heads. They´re always talking doom and gloom, living in condemnation. But when you open your heart to receive what God has for you, that cloud is lifted and all that´s left is His goodness and mercy!

Instead of living in guilt and shame, God desires that you walk in His love and forgiveness. Make the decision today to let go of condemnation, let go of the past through forgiveness, let go of self–defeating behaviors, and embrace His goodness and mercy! Let His favor surround you like a shield so you can live the life of victory He has in store for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Father in heaven, I humbly come to You today asking that You remove anything in my heart that would keep me from You. Give me a heart of forgiveness so that I can move forward into all You have for me. In Jesus´ Name. Amen.

Joel Osteen ministries

First Lady, Thandiwe Banda, says poor staffing levels in health institution has negatively impacted on the delivery of quality services.

Speaking when she made donations at Madzimwe rural health centre in Kasenengwa constituency in Chipata this morning, Mrs Banda said health centers especially in rural areas were faced with the challenge of poor staffing levels and poor infrastructure.

She also said shortage of drugs and other facilities required in the operations of the medical staff should be improved as a measure of enhancing quality service delivery in the sector.

Mrs Banda called on other stakeholders to partner with government to address challenges confronting the health sector.

She also donated an assortment of goods which included blankets, disinfectants and food supplements to Chizongwe clinic in Chipata central constituency, Mushawa rural health center in Chipangali constituency and Kanyanja rural health post in Luangeni constituency.

Meawhile, a representative of Chief Madzimwe, Ishmael Ngoma said the health center is faced with a shortage of drugs and lack of adequate manpower.

Mr Ngoma stated that there is only one nurse working at the health catering for a population of 11, 000 people in the area.

He has since called on government to employ people to assist the nurse to meet the health problems in the area.

ZANIS

Dear bloggers,

I have been married for 5 years but the past 2-3 years I feel I have fallen out of love with my husband. I think the biggest mistake I ever made was accepting to marry him in the first place.I was 24 years at the time recently graduated from UNZA and felt the pressure to marry.Pressure came from relatives who always passed comments at my always being on other peoples wedding line ups.Well, when my then boyfriend of one year felt we should marry I thought it was a good idea.

Over the years living with him has become a struggle.I find every excuse to be away from him.He is generally a good man but I feel sometimes we have nothing in common anymore.Ok I’ll say it, he bores me to tears.I would love to get out more,visit different countries,visit game parks etc.Even taking a trip to Livingstone to see the Victoria falls to him is an issue.I swear even RB has more spunk than my husband!

Recently my brother was going to Tanzania to pick up a Japanese car and I jumped at the idea to go with him.I planned to visit one of my friends living in Dar es Salaam.My friend promised to take me on a site seeing trip to Mount Kilimanjaro.This was a chance of a lifetime but my husband vehemently refused saying it would be a waste of money. I went to Tanzania anyway.Its not like I couldn’t buy my own air-ticket.I’m as financially sound as he is.I had so much fun especially seeing mount Kilimanjaro.I met some nice people in Tanzania who I felt I shared more interests with than my husband.I extended my trip because my friend wanted to show me around. I felt so alive and had so much fun.I dreaded coming back to my dreary house.

My husband was cross but I didn’t let him dampen my spirits.Luckily we do not have kids so I think that makes it easier to walk away from this marriage.

My aunties think I should stick it out and one day I’ll grow to love him but hey life is short and I’m not getting any younger! I want to go places, achieve my hopes and dreams, perhaps one day meet someone more intellectually stimulating than my husband.It aint cutting with this dude.My trip to Tanzania opened my eyes.There are people out there with similar goals and interests like me.Why should I playhouse with this man who bores me tears.

So what do you think should I divorce him and get it over with or stay with him,learn how to make chikanda for him as he wants me to and hope that someday by some miracle my love for him will be rekindled.I’ve never wanted to carry the label divorced woman but ya ya ya ya ya I don’t know what to do.

Yours,

Lady M

the number of delegates to the National Constitution Conference(NCC). Committee Executive Director Gregory Chifire pointed out that paying delegates who have since concluded their work is an unnecessary drain on national coffers.

Mr.Chifire has challenged Justice Minster George Kunda to act on the matter.

Mr.Chifire says the move is meant to be a costing saving measure in the face of the global economic downturn.

Mr. Chifire told ZANIS in interview in Lusaka that there is no need for government to continue spending colossal sums of money on a bloated number of NCC delegates at the expense of national development.

He suggested that only committees that are still seating should be allowed to continue while those that have concluded their set mandate should not continue to draw allowances.

He said financial difficulties facing many countries have not spared Zambia thereby affecting many developmental efforts.

He said this is why government should come up with a clear policy on the issue of paying NCC delegates as the policy will assist government scrutinize the payment of allowances to NCC delegates.

Mr. Chifire further added that as much as the constitutional making process is important to the national development other activities should also be given equal opportunities of funding.

The NCC has concluded debates for over 15 committees that were mandated to consider different clauses from the Mung’omba draft constitution.

ZANIS