Former First Lady Maureen Mwanawasa says the prerogative to hire and fire senior government officials lies in the Republican President.

Commenting on the reappointment of Former Communications and Transport Minister Dora Siliya as Education Minister, Mrs Mwanawasa said it was not up to the Zambian People to decide who should be appointed as Minister but the President.

Mrs. Mwanawasa in an Interview with ZANIS in Kitwe today that the most important thing was for Ms Siliya to humble herself and seek the forgiveness of the Zambian people.

She said Ms Siliya must stand up after falling and continue delivering to the Zambian people with honour and dignity.

“For me what is important when you fall is to stand up and continue to contribute to economic development.” said the former First Lady.

Sections of society had received the reappointment of Ms siliya as education Minister with mixed feelings .

Ms. Siliya was cleared of any wrong doing by the High Court following her decision to seek judicial review against the Dennis Chirwa tribunal that found her guilty of having breached the republican constitution.[quote]

This was over the awarding of a Contract to RP Capitals valuate Zambia Telecommunications Company Assets.

Mrs. Mwanawasa has challenged Government to remunerate the striking Zambian workers for what they are worth.

Mrs. Mwanawasa said the cries of the Zambian public workers were genuine hence the need for Government to hear to their cries.

Mrs Mwanawasa said their was need for a broad based policy that would provide for economic sustainable salary packages for the public workers.

She said the Nurses were not refusing to go back to work but what they wanted was some one to give them hope and assurances that their problems would be resolved as their case was an emergency.

“The civil servant wants dialogue with government, they want government to listen and provide answers to their plight” said Maureen.

The former first lady added that Government must look outside box and the profits being made by semi parastatal Companies to help cushion the challenges being faced by the economy at the moment.

She also called for the reorganisation of the ministry of finance to make it more relevant to the current economic needs being faced by the Country.

She observed that time has come for Government to create more wealth for its citizens currently wallowing in high poverty through adding value to the abundant natural resources.

Mrs. Mwanawasa has advised Politicians to concentrate on addressing the high Poverty levels in the Country instead of politicking over 2011 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections.

She said the Zambian people at the moment want to hear about solutions to the high poverty levels instead of who should stand or not in the 2011 elections.

The former First Lady was in Kitwe to grace the graduation ceremony of 11 women at the Baptist Church in Kwacha Township.

ZANIS

says the strike by health workers at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) and other parts of the country is illegal.

Mr. Liato said no dispute has been declared between government and the labour movement for the health workers to continue with the strike.

The minister said he is making arrangements to meet the striking health workers at UTH, Saturday.

Mr. Liato said the workers should resume work and allow government to look into their demands.

He said government is faced with serious financial limitations arising from the Global Financial Crisis and could not have offered more.

He has however thanked other civil servants that have resumed work after the signing of the 15 percent salary and wage increment.

Nurses and health workers at UTH and some parts of the country have continued with their strike despite government awarding a 15 percent pay rise.

Meanwhile, Police today dispersed nurses who had gathered near their hostels at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka.

The officers who kept vigil at the health institution were stationed at the main entrance to the hospital, while others were inside manning entrances to closed wards.

UTH Public Relations Manager Pauline Mbangweta said the officers have been manning the hospital since the strike started to protect hospital property.

Ms. Mbangweta said management had received reports of thefts and had to ask for reinforcement from the police.

A ZNBC crew found nurses walking around UTH premises as the police officers kept a watchful eye.

Nurses at the hospital have continued with their strike despite repeated calls from Government and their union leaders for them to resume work.

Government and the public service unions signed a 15 percent salary and wage increment.

[ZNBC]

Zambia’s Ambassador to the United States of America Dr. Inonge Mbikusita Lewanika has been honoured with a Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws in recognition of her exemplary public service and extraordinary commitment to peace and women’s and children’s rights

Dr. Lewanika was honoured by the Board of Trustees of the California State University and California Polytechnic State University during her convocation address to the 2009 graduands at the University.

In her address, Dr. Lewanika said Africa which has for a long time been perceived as a dark continent has made significant contributions to the development and progress of many nations in the world for the good of human kind.

Dr. Mbikusita said contributions such as human capital, mineral wealth and cash crops were produced at the expense of many poor families.

Dr. Mbikusita said countries in the world now have become dependant on each other than ever before such that the economic crisis which affected some parts of the world has also hit other countries.

She has however expressed appreciation at the education that she had received from the same university 45 years ago, which has mounded her into the kind of person that she was today.

This is contained in a press release made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today by first secretary Ben Kangwa.

Dr. -Lewanika, graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Home Economics and Education in 1964, and earned a Master of Arts degree in Education and Psychology in 1965 from the same University.

The California State University at San Louis Obispo is the institution from which George Makweti Isiteketo Lewanika, the current Senior Chief Amukena of Kaoma Diustrict, and the late Litia Mbikusita Lewanika, his immediate predecessor as Kaoma Senior Chief graduated in the 1960’s.

Ambassador Lewanika has long been a champion of peace and women’s and children’s rights. Her illustrious career includes roles as a teacher, lecturer, women’s rights activist, politician and diplomat. She currently serves as ambassador of the Republic of Zambia to the United States, a position she has held since 2003.

Dr. Mbikusita-Lewanika earned a Bachelor of Science degree in home economics in 1964 and a Master’s degree in education in 1965 from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. She went on to earn a Ph.D. in elementary education from New York University in 1980.

Early in her career, Dr. Mbikusita-Lewanika was a Lecturer at the Evelyn Hone College of Further Education and Mongu Teacher Training College in Zambia. She later held the position of Professor of Education and Teacher Training at the University of Zambia.

From 1980 to 1991, she worked for UNICEF, first as Regional Advisor for East and Southern Africa, and then as UNICEF’s Regional Advisor for West and Central Africa.

Her political career in Zambia began as a Member of Parliament, where she served from 1991 to 2001. From 2001 to 2002 she served as ambassador and special envoy for the Zambian president during his term as chairman of the African Union. In this capacity, she became involved in the Organization of African Unity, established to promote the unity and solidarity of African states and help the people of Africa achieve a better life.

Dr Lewanika was a founding member and later served as President of the Federation of African Women Peace Networks (FERFAP). That group has worked to promote the protection and rights of refugees; to cultivate and promote principles of democracy; to promote a culture of peace in Africa; and to participate and advocate for equal participation of women at the local, regional and national level.

Dr. Lewanika has been deeply involved in peace making. She led a peace mission to Burundi and Rwanda in 1995, the FERFAP peace missions to the Horn of Africa, and The Hague Peace Appeal in 1999.

ZANIS