Join our community of SUBSCRIBERS and be part of the conversation.
To subscribe, simply enter your email address on our website or click the subscribe button below. Don't worry, we respect your privacy and won't spam your inbox. Your information is safe with us.
Teachers in Northern Province have ended their two-week long strike action and have since resumed work.
Zambia National Union of Teachers (ZNUT) Provincial chairperson, Nondo Kasanda confirmed the development in an interview with the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in Nakonde yesterday.
Mr. Kasanda, who is also Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) Nakonde branch, said teachers in all the 12 districts in Northern Province have ended their strike action and gone back to work.
He said the union in the province was happy that the teachers have decided to resume work despite being unhappy with the 15 per cent salary increment which it signed with government recently.
He commended teachers for their resolve to resume work in the interest of the children and the nation at large.
Mr. Kasanda said the union was aware that its membership was disappointed and frustrated with the outcome of the protracted negotiations for increased salaries and improved conditions of service for the year 2009.
He has also supported calls for the formation of one teacher union so as to increase the bargaining power.
And Mr. Kasanda has said teachers in Northern Province have welcomed the appointment of Dora Siliya as Minister of Education, replacing Geoffrey Lungwangwa, who has gone to the ministry of Communications.
Mr. Kasanda appealed to Ms. Siliya to quickly settle down and ensure that a technical committee is appointed to look into the issues of housing allowances for the teachers and ensure that they are concluded soon.
The ZNUT provincial chairperson has also invited Ms. Siliya to visit Northern Province schools in Chiluba and Kaputa districts for her to appreciate the problems being faced by the teachers there.
He also appealed to the minister to ensure that teachers were paid their outstanding fixed housing allowances in good time.
The Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) church Dorcas mothers in Nakonde district in Northern Province yesterday cleaned up Nakonde police cells.
The Dorcas mothers also prepared food for the remandees and later donated food stuffs worth thousands of Kwacha.
Speaking to the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) at Nakonde police station shortly after the cleaning exercise, Nakonde Main Church Dorcas Leader, Catherine Sinyangwe said the church had a duty of looking after the needy people in society.
Ms. Sinyangwe said the church will not relent in carrying out community services in the quest to improve the living standards of the vulnerable people in society.
She also appealed to those in prison to always remember to pray to God to intervene in their situations.
Earlier, SDA pioneer Elias Chileshe, in his special sermon to the remandees said God does not forsake his children no matter what they do.
Reading from Luke 15:11, Chileshe said God was always willing to receive his children as long as they confessed their sins.
He also appealed to the members of the public to stay away from going against the law saying God is not pleased seeing his children in prison.
THE State has submitted that the court should convict former Second Republican president, Frederick Chiluba and his two co-accused persons, former directors of Access Financial Services (AFS), Faustin Kabwe and Aaron Chungu on all the 12 counts they are each charged with.
The State submitted that the evidence before the court proved beyond any reasonable doubt that the accused persons committed the offences under each count in respect of which they stand charged.
This is in the case in which Chiluba, Chungu and Kabwe are charged with theft of public funds amounting to over US$500, 000.
The State submitted that the monies were paid out in favour of beneficiaries other than the Government, or deposited in private accounts a conversion, which coincided with an intention to permanently deprive the Government from use or enjoyment of the funds.
The State also submitted that according to the meaning of section 21 of the Penal Code all parties to a common unlawful purpose are liable as principal offenders irrespective of the role played in the joint enterprise.
The State proposed to deal with these counts together as the court would note that the evidence relating to these counts was largely identical.
“ This honourable court, may thus if the evidence before it warrants, convict the three accused persons either in counts one to three or counts four to six as principal offenders, even though they were not all perpetrators of the crime,” read the submissions.
Task Force prosecutor Mutembo Nchito submitted that in the above counts, Kabwe and Chungu were the principal offenders while Chiluba was an accessory before the fact as he procured the commissioned offences charged in the said counts according to section 21 (2) of the Penal Code.
He submitted that in counts seven, eight and nine actus reas in these counts occurred through the fraudulent conversion of Government funds to the Zamtrop account for the use of Chiluba’s children. [quote]
Mr Nchito submitted that Chiluba was liable to be convicted as a principal offender either on the basis of the principal of joint unlawful purpose with person here not indicated or for procuring the offence in counts seven to nine.
“The evidence before this court is that, that was a Government account and that all the monies in it ought to be treated as such, we wish to stress that the payments to Chiluba’s children were made out of the Zamtrop account, the defence ought to show that monies paid to his children were private sources,” read the submissions.
And in counts 10 through to 12, the State submitted that the transactions involved in these counts were similar to those involving counts one to six in that each transaction was a perfect replica of the others.
He submitted that at the time the conversion of the funds took place the accused persons intended indefinitely to exclude the Government from enjoying its rights to the monies alleged to have been stolen.
“The fact that Kabwe and Chungu did not want to keep a ledger at AFS to replicate the ledger at Meer Care and Desai, the State submit that the action of the two indicated that they did not want these transactions to ever come to light since stolen Government funds were laundered through this account,” he stated.
The State submitted that the circumstances in the case revealed a joint unlawful purpose between Chiluba and his co accused persons as there was clear intention to divert Government funds to procure properties for Vincent Malambo and Eric Silwamba by Chiluba as promises although he might not be directly involved in actus reas.
Earlier, Chiluba had submitted that the case be dismissed because it appeared to be novel and mere fiction.
Chiluba said this in his final defence submissions filed in court by his lawyers, Robert Simeza and John Sangwa. Judgment has been set for July 20.
A Mpulungu man in Northern Province has mysteriously died after he allegedly “crash landed” on one of the houses in Muzabwera compound.
Local Police sources confirmed the death and named the deceased as Milanzi Sipanje, who is believed to be in his 40s.
ZANIS reports that Police said Sipanje was brought to the police station around 02:00hrs this morning (Sunday) naked, after he “crash landed” at one of the houses.
He was later charged with criminal trespass.
Sources said as police officers on duty were trying to interrogate him, Simpanje suddenly grew weak adding that the last words he uttered were only his names.[quote]
He died around 10:30 hrs as police were trying to take him to the hospital after noticing his weakness.
Police said they suspect witchcraft related activities as being the cause of his death. The victim sustained no bruises or any injuries on his body.
And police have dismissed as false, assertions from some Mpulungu residents that Sipanje died in police cells after being clobbered for failing to pay the ‘cell fee’ by one of the ‘landlords’ in the cells who are famed and notorious for making their own rules.
They said their investigations revealed that Simpanje could have died of natural causes and not as a result of beatings sustained whilst in police cells.
Hospital officials at Mpulungu district hospital also confirmed receiving Sipanje’s remains saying the body was Brought In Dead (BID) around 10:38hrs this morning.
The deceased’s body is lying in Mpulungu district Hospital awaiting postmortem.
Authorities at Saint Mark’s boarding high school in Choma, Southern Province have been given a two-week ultimatum to resolve the problem of poor sanitation which is threatening the lives of pupils at the learning institution.
The ultimatum has been issued by the district Joint Monitoring Team on Sanitation chaired by chief Macha.[quote]
ZANIS reports that according to a report submitted in Choma to a United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)sponsored workshop on legal enforcement under the Community Led Total Sanitation programme, the action follows an inspection by a team of health experts conducted at the school Friday.
The report states that pupils at the institution answer the call of nature in the surrounding bush as the ablution block is in a pathetic state due to erratic supply of water.
The extent of open defaecation which is evident around the school premises has the potential to spread disease to both the institution and surrounding communities, the workshop heard.
The report has also revealed that raw effluent discharged from the school sewer system is flowing into the adjacent Munyeke stream thereby posing a serious danger to unsuspecting villagers consuming water from the stream.
The workshop heard that the school surroundings are in a pathetic state due to the accumulation of heaps of garbage and general neglect by the school administration.
“At the time of inspection, the school management was very uncooperative and could not take any advice to improve the school sanitation, “the report states. “The school has been given two weeks to resolve its sanitation challenges failure to which closure will be recommended in line with the provision of the law to protect human life.”
The report also raised concern at the poor state of the school dining hall which has no chairs but only old and dirty tables, forcing pupils to take their meals while standing.
And chief Macha who described the situation at Saint Marks boarding high school as unfortunate said he would next week personally visit the institution in his capacity as chairperson of the district Joint Monitoring Team on Sanitation to discuss the matter with the school administration.
He said the school may be recommended for closure if the administration fails to abide by recommendation of the health inspectors.
“I am extremely embarrassed by what is happening at the school which has a good record of academic excellence. Something has gone wrong at management level. I will go there next week to discuss with the headmaster so that we find a lasting solution,” he said.
The labour movement has appealed to President Rupiah Banda to intervene in the continued strike by health workers.
The call comes from the Zambia Congress of trade Unions (ZCTU).
Secretary General Roy Mwaba has also reiterated his call to the health workers to resume work.
Mr.Mwaba sais in Lusaka, Sunday, that the lives of Zambians are at stake if the strike is allowed to continue.
He said it is important that the health workers resume work and allow the union and government to address their concerns.
Mr. Mwaba said despite their grievances, medical practitioners must not persist with their strike action.
Mr. Mwaba has disclosed that the ZCTU and government officials will today, Monday, address the striking health workers.
The health workers have not resumed work despite repeated calls by government and their labour leaders to do so.
And The Epilepsy Association of Zambia (EAZ) said Government should look into the plight of the health workers in order for them to reduce on the death rate in the country.[quote]
EAZ Programme Coordinator Mulenga Zimba said the organisation is going to face a lot of challenges with its patients following the continued strike by health workers adding that there will be a lot relapse in the condition of epilepsy patients.
Speaking in an interview in Lusaka yesterday, Mr. Zimba said there has been an improvement of patients having seizures since the Association was launched in the country in 2003 because of adhering to medication.
However, he said it will be difficult for epilepsy patients to be attended to and access the drugs as the health workers are not there to attend to them.
Mr. Zimba stressed that it is to this effect that patients will continue having seizures which will lead them to death as they do not have access to the drugs that they are supposed to take daily.
He added that the patients are supposed to take the medication continuously for two and half years for them to achieve the seizure freedom adding that any interruption with the drug intake can lead to continuous seizures resulting in possible death.
Mr. Zimba said this applies to other chronicle diseases like HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis (TB) which can cause patients to become resistant to drugs, if they are not taking their drugs daily.
The EAZ Programme Coordinator said the decision by the Inspector General of police to deploy police officers at the health institutions is uncalled for adding that doing so will worsen the situation.
He has since called on Government to immediately find other means of informing the health workers over their action by sending a circular instead of resorting to using the Police.
Turning to the health workers, Mr. Zimba appealed to them to be empathetic with the vulnerable people who do not have resources to go and seek medical assistance at private hospitals or fly out of the country.
Health workers have been on strike in the country demanding improved conditions of service. Last week, Government and Public Service Unions signed a 15 percent pay rise for all civil servants including health workers ending a protracted bargaining between the two parties.
Government has since appealed to the striking nurses and other health workers to resume work because their strike was illegal after the signing of the collective agreement.
The just ended workshop on legal enforcement sponsored by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)in Choma, Southern Province has recommended that councillors at the Choma Municipal council should pass a by-law on illegal street vending that will provide for the arrest and prosecution of both the seller and buyer.
The workshop participants who included all the chiefs, councillors and health inspectors noted that illegal vending was being perpetuated by people who are buying from the streets instead of established outlets.
ZANIS reports that they noted that passing a by-law that will provide for the arrest and prosecution of both the seller and buyer will deter people from buying on the street as they would be scared to face the consequences of their action.
The workshop that was also attended by chief Macha who is the chairperson for the district joint monitoring team on sanitation also resolved to step up legal enforcement on public health in order to achieve behavioral change towards areas of sanitation concern.[quote]
Another resolution was that council police should mount regular patrols and arrest all street vendors.
Chief Macha said the patrols must be well timed as street vendors have devised another way of eluding police by conducting their business in the evenings when council police have knocked off.
Meanwhile, the Zambia Consumer Association (ZACA) says practicing legal enforcement in the country is not easy because health inspectors face many challenges.
ZACA Director Michael Musenga told the UNICEF sponsored workshop in Choma on legal enforcement that environmental health technicians find difficulties to execute their duties and have to rely on personal initiatives.
Mr Musenga said lack of transport and support from the ministry of health is making it difficult for environment health technicians to carry out health inspections resulting in compromised public health.
He however called upon health inspectors to continue sacrificing in order to help strengthen public health.
Mr Musenga also noted that most food laws that health inspectors needed to enforce were not known to the people, making it necessary to carry out a sensitisation campaign.
“It is difficult to enforce law when the public are ignorant about it. We must educate the community first on the food laws and other public health laws,” he said.
Government says it will put in a specialised training programme for the national team to enable them go for extensive training in Europe.
And national team coach Herve Renard says Zambia still needs time to become a formidable team to qualify to the World Cup tournament.
Speaking to journalists at Konkola Staduim in Chililabombwe ,after Zambia lost 2-0 to Algeria in the 2010 Africa/ World Cup qualifier, Youth, Sports and Child Development Minister Kenneth Chipungu says Government has realised the need to facilitate a training programme for the national team in Europe.
Mr Chipungu said after witnessing yesterday’s match with the Desert Foxes of Algeria, there was need for Government to draw up a programme for the national team in Europe to further improve their scoring capacity.
And coach Renard says Zambia still needs time to make it to the World Cup as the current team was made of young players.
Speaking to journalists after the match, Renard stated that although national expectations where too high on the national team to qualify, the young players in the national team needed more time to make a mark at international competitions such as [quote]the world cup.
While he congratulated the Algerians for yesterday’s victory, the French coach said anything happens in football saying the chipolopolo boys still have a lot of chance to qualify to the world and Africa cup.
He said in yesterday’s game, the Zambia National team was not forceful especially in the front line to score goals.
He said all that remains was for the team to move forward and leave yesterday’s loss behind.
He said the free kick by Algeria’s Majid Bouguerra in the 35 th minute really disturbed the local team.
However, his counterpart Rabah Saadane told journalists that Zambia was still a strong team to respect.
Saadane said Zambia had a better ball possesion during the match but was not able to fully utilise the scoring chances.
The Algerian coach, who sat side by side with Renard during the media conference, said Zambia still has chance to qualify to the 2010 Africa/ World Cup tournament.
Algeria’s win at Konkola makes the desert foxes to enjoy group C of the qualifying group with seven points followed by Zambia with four points.
Africa’s reigning football champion Egypt are third with a point together with Rwanda but with a better goal aggregate.
And during the match at Konkola, Zambia opened on a pulsating pace which saw defender Jacob Mulenga forcing a corner in the first two minutes of the match after the Algerian Keeper diverted Mulenga’s strike for a corner.
Marksman Rainford Kalaba together with Given Singuluma and Felix Katongo tormented the Algerians but with little efforts to score.
However, the north Africans found a breather in the 35 minute when Bouguerra scored a header to silence the Zambians.
The goal did the Algerians some magic to take over the match by bombarding the Zambian team using the long balls that caught the local players napping at times.
After resumption, the coming in of Fwayo Tembo and Emanuel Mwayukwa set pace the game but was equally met with an alert striking force of the visitors who made it 2-0 in the 68th minute.
About K153 billion would be spent on resurfacing of Tuta road from Serenje road junction in Central Province to Mansa in Luapula Province covering a total stretch of about 323 kilometers.
Luapula Province Minister Boniface Kawimbe disclosed this yesterday when he inspected road works being done by the Road Development Agency (RDA)and the Rural Roads Unit (RRU)in partnership with provincial administration.
Dr Kawimbe said that the Mansa – Kashikishi road would have its potholes filled and that it will be resurfaced next year.
The Minister expressed Government’S determination to rehabilitate all the bad roads in Luapula Province following the heavy equipment that it had acquired adding that this development did not require contractors to do tender procedures for roads to be worked on.
And Senior Chief Mwata Kazembe of the Lunda people in Mwasabombwe of Luapula province has lauded Government for the road maintenance works that have commenced in the province.
Senior Chief Mwata Kazembe said when Luapula province Minister Dr. Boniface Kawimbe paid a courtesy call on him at his palace in Mwasabombwe yesterday that he was grateful to Government for the work it was doing in the province.
The Mwata said that the road network which was the only asset that the province had was in a deplorable state and that it was good to note that Government had looked into the plight of the people of Luapula by rehabilitating the road.
The senior Chief said that many lives would have been lost on the Mansa – Kashikishi road due to its bad state but pointed out that accidents would be reduced because the road was being rehabilitated.
He noted that a good road network attracted investment adding that the number of tourists that would attend Umutomboko ceremony this year would increase because of the good road network.
He further commended the Chinese contractor China Henan, the company resurfacing Tuta road from Serenje road junction to Mansa for the good work it was doing.
The Mwata said that the people working on the Mansa – Kashikishi road would do a better job as those on the Tuta road.
THE Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has arrested a Police Public Complaints Authority commissioner for alleged money laundering involving K270 million.
DEC public relations officer, John Nyawali confirmed to the Sunday Mail yesterday that the commission’s Anti-Money Laundering Investigation Unit has arrested Pastor Richard Chela, 64, of Kabwe.
Mr Nyawali said that Pastor Chela was arrested together with Duncan Mwembe ,43, a banker of Lusaka’s Woodlands Extension and Ivy Chipasha, 39, an administrative officer for Child Care and Adoption Society of Zambia for allegedly stealing the association’s K270 million.
Mr Nyawali said the money went into the possession of the suspects by virtue of their positions as national members of the association.
He said the trio have been retained on police custody after failing to raise sureties for bail. They will appear in court soon.
Mr Nyawali also said that the DEC will continue to uphold its integrity in the discharge of its duties by refusing to succumb to bribes.
He appealed to the public to report any money laundering cases for the good of the country.
Meanwhile, the Zambia News and Information Services reports that the police in Mongu have arrested a 43-year-old man for allegedly being in possession of counterfeit notes of US$200.
Western Province police chief, Veal Muzwenga, said Musangu Musangu of Katengu village in Kaoma was arrested when he tried to change the dollars into Zambian Kwacha at Standard Chartered Bank, Mongu branch.
MINISTER of Health, Kapembwa Simbao, has appealed to nurses and other health workers to go back to work because their continued strike after the signing of a new collective agreement is illegal.
And Government spokesman, Ronnie Shikapwasha has said that striking nurses at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka should go back to work or resign if they do not want the 15 per cent salary increment offered.
In a statement issued on Friday night, Mr Simbao said it is not fair to continue the strike even after the conclusion of negotiations and the signing of a new collective agreement between Government and the workers’ unions.
“I decided to wait for the conclusion of the negotiations. And now the negotiations have been concluded, the unions have signed the labour agreements as best as they could, but still I see a continuation of strikes in some areas. We think this is not fair. It is not fair to the health fraternity, to the Government, to the union leaders and to the Zambian people,” the minister said.
Mr Simbao pointed out the workers took industrial action when negotiations were going on, without a dispute being declared between the negotiating parties.
He said workers should uphold the laws because everyone would suffer if lawlessness becomes the norm.
Mr Simbao said the norm of lawlessness could start with a small number of people defying Government, while many people sit by the sidelines cheering and encouraging them.
“Everything becomes impossible to manage, and some people think Government is to blame, but they forget how it all started, now that lawlessness becomes the law. I want to tell the nurses that staying away from work is not what we want to encourage,” Mr Simbao said.
He expressed surprise at the action by the nurses because, “on my own and on behalf of the Government, we are very nurse-friendly.”
Mr Simbao said that Government decided to address issues affecting nurses and other health workers such as accommodation, transport and uniforms for nurses even before they went on strike.
He said he has allocated K4.8billion for nurses’ uniforms and all health workers in the country and that these uniforms will be bought this year after the ministry is funded.[quote]
Mr Simbao said the ministry will this year construct houses for nurses in Lusaka, Ndola, Kitwe, Mansa, Chipata and Solwezi.
Thirty-two one-bedroom flats will be constructed at Highland House in Lusaka, 16 one-bedroom flats each at Ndola Central Hospital, Arthur Davison Hospital and Kitwe Central Hospital.
Mansa, Chipata and Solwezi general hospitals will have 16 one-bedroom flats each for nurses.
Mr Simbao said the Ministry of Health will also purchase 30-seater minibuses to augment the existing fleet for nurses.
He has forwarded this proposal to the Ministry of Finance and National Planning.
The minister said issues of leave pay and long service awards were also addressed during the negotiations.
Mr Simbao said he has also asked his permanent secretary to carry out a study of nurses’ remunerations and conditions of service in Lesotho, Swaziland, South Africa, Namibia and Botswana, so that Zambia could properly position itself in the region.
“I did all this even before the strike and I am fully committed to this effort. I am therefore appealing to nurses who still see it fit to continue with the strike that you are not doing it in good faith. You must return to work and serve the Zambian people,” Mr Simbao said.
And Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha said in an interview with the Sunday Mail that if nurses have the passion for patients, they should end the strike.
He accused some opposition leaders of encouraging nurses to continue with the strike.
“This is very bad, especially that nurses have failed to reason and stand on the word of the opposition. So if nurses feel they will not go back to work, they can resign now,” he said.
Gen. Shikapwasha said Government has spoken and it is up to the striking nurses to decide whether to go back to work or resign.
A check by the Sunday Mail at UTH yesterday revealed that the nurses have continued their strike and the wards are being manned by doctors and student nurses. Most of the wards were closed.
Meanwhile, police have continued their vigil at the hospital to curb theft of property and to prevent striking nurses from loitering within the premises.
In Ndola, NKWETO MFULA reports that nurses have continued their strike despite their union leaders telling them to return to work.
Student nurses were yesterday assisting senior members of staff and expatriate doctors at Ndola Central Hospital (NCH) and Arthur Davison Children’s Hospital (ADCH).
Some retirees have been called to beef up staff at the two institutions.
Most of patients at NCH who were not in a critical condition have been discharged from the hospital.
“Sing praises to the Lord, Who dwells in Zion! Declare among the peoples His doings!”
(Psalm 9:11, AMP)
TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria
God wants to give you something to talk about! He wants to overwhelm you in such a way that everywhere you go, you talk about what God is doing in your life. You tell your friends, your neighbors, your children, your grandchildren about the great things God has done for you!
Are you looking for His goodness? Are you talking about what He’s already done in your life? God never intended for us to just drag through life defeated and discouraged. We aren’t supposed to go around with a negative attitude saying, “I never get any good breaks. I never get promoted. My back has been hurting for three years.” No, we are supposed to declare His Word and watch it come to pass!
I encourage you to choose an attitude of faith today. Start talking about His goodness and be a living testimony of all God has done. If you’ll start living breakthrough–minded, God will show up and give you something to talk about!
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father God, thank You for Your goodness and grace. Thank You for blessing me with life today. I choose to have a thankful attitude and to declare Your goodness everywhere I go. Amen.
Herve Renard has said Satuday’s home defeat at the hands of Algeria has ended Zambia’s chances of realistically qualifying for the 2010 World Cup finals.
An efficient Algeria beat Renards side 2-0 at Konkola Stadium in Chililabombwe to top the table on 7 points from three matches while Zambia remain second on 4 points also from three games.
Egypt and Rwanda are bottom and third respectively on a 1 points each after two games and only meet on July 5 in their delayed third game in Cairo that was postponed due to the Pharaohs Fifa Confederations Cup commitments.
Renard said in a post-match interview at Konkola on Saturday that it was now clear what hit the African champions in their away match a fortnight ago when Algeria beat them 3-1 on June 7 in Blida.
“Now we have to declare that Algeria are favorites,” Renard said.
However, the Frenchman put on a brave face to declare that Zambia has three matches to redeem their pride on the road to the Africa Cup in Angola and ultimately World Cup finals.
“But anything can happen in football, we have three games remaining,” he said. “We are a young team and are learning.”
Renard has two and a half months to plan for the return leg to be played on September 5 in Algiers.
Moreover, Renard has been handed the unenviable task to try and avert de-ja-vu of 1985 when Algeria dished out back-to-back defeats in Zambia’s 1986 World Cup qualifying campaign.
This time the scenario has been exacerbated by prospect of avoiding another home defeat against Egypt on October 10 at Konkola when Zambia return from Algiers before facing Rwanda away in their final game on November 14.
Renard has always been very philosophical about the virtues of footballs school of humility and the difficult challenge to make a dramatic recovery has been handed to the Frenchman.
Vice President George Kunda is representing Zambia at the one day Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) extraordinary summit to discuss the Madagascar political crisis among other matters.
The decision to hold the meeting follows the stance taken by mediators from the international community and the African Union (AU), to suspend discussions with rival parties in Madagascar.
South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma called for an inclusive political dialogue where all rival parties in the Madagascar impasse would be party to finding a solution to end the crisis.
Mr Zuma who is also SADC chairman told the summit that peace in the vast Indian ocean island can only be realised if all parties to the conflict are committed to the process.
He said SADC regrets the current political and security situation situation in Madagascar adding that the foundation to an equitable solution to the crisis should be drawn from the constitutional and democratic principles that are enshrined in SADC treaty and the African union (AU) constitutive act.
The leaders are also expected to decide on the venue for the next SADC summit for the heads of state and government.
The crisis on the vast Indian Ocean island erupted three months ago when President Marc Ravalomanana was ousted by opposition leader Andry Rajoelina in an army-backed takeover that followed weeks of street protests.
President Rupiah BandaPresident Rupiah Banda says government will soon start implementing the Triangle of Hope Development Model.
The Triangle of Hope is based on the Malaysian economic development model.
Mr. Banda said the implementation will be done in the next few months because all the necessary regulations have already been put in place for the exercise.
He was speaking at State House, when he met students and pupils who had attended the Commonwealth Conference in Malaysia recently.
Mr. Banda said government has already set aside 2000 hectares of land in Lusaka South for the programme.
He also said Zambia has a lot to learn from Malaysia’s development successes.
Mr. Banda said Malaysia is one of the case studies of a once poor nation that has now become one of the fastest developing countries in the world.
He explained that Malaysia has developed because of the hard work and commitment of its citizens.
President Banda is optimistic that Zambia can also develop if it’s citizens work hard.
