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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.
The Government negotiating team and Public Service Workers’ union representatives on the ongoing salary/wage negotiations have agreed on a 15 percent salary/wage award to public service workers.
Government has also announced that the signing of all collective agreements is expected to be concluded by this Friday, 12 June, 2009 and has since urged all public service workers to continue working normally.
Chief Government Spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha disclosed last evening in a media statement made available to the media, that the Bargaining unit comprising the public service workers’ union representatives and the Government negotiating team briefed Secretary to the Cabinet Joshua Kanganja that an agreement had been reached on a 15 percent salary increment to public service workers.
Lieutenant General Shikapwasha who is also Information and Broadcasting Services Minister said this was revealed to Dr Kanganja at a meeting held at Cabinet Office yesterday.
Rev Shikapwasha said considerable progress has been made towards finalisation of an agreement on the ongoing salary and wage negotiations for Public Service Workers and that during the meeting, the Bargaining Unit agreed to constitute a Joint Technical Committee to deal with the outstanding issues on housing allowance.
”In view of this positive development, the government is urging all public service workers to continue working normally”, said Rev Shikapwasha.
Public Service workers have gone on strike across the country paralyzing operations at hospitals and schools.
After missing a penalty for Zambia on Saturday against Rwanda, this is one dramatic week Collins Mbesuma will want to forget very quickly.
Not even his public apology for the penalty miss and stuttering show could save the under-fire striker today after Herve Renard announced that he had dropped the fallen Zambia star ahead of the teams 2010 World/Africa Cup Group C qualifier against Algeria on June 20 in Chililabombwe.
Mbesuma had already missed the first day of training on Tuesday due to a reported illness fueling speculation as to which direction his international future under Renard would go.
Renard said at Sunset stadium in Lusaka on a grey, cold windswept Wednesday morning that Mbesuma was no longer part of his plans for the Group C home game against Algeria.
“He is not in my plans for the game against Algeria,” Renard said at the end of the team a final training session at Zanaco’s home ground before departing with his team for a one-week training camp in South Africa.
“Its better to be honest because he is not ready psychologically.”
For Mbesuma now, the next step is to search for a new club with the looming end to his one-season deal with South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns closing in on June 30.
This could also possibly mark the fiery Zambia striker’s last match under Renard’s reign who previously dropped him in March before the teams opening Group C game away against Egypt on march 29 that ended 1-1 in Cairo.
Renard has of late not been afraid to weld his stick and has yet to recall one Roger Kola.
Also ruled out of the Algeria clash is the Chinese-based attacking midfielder James Chamanga of Dalian Hai Chang.
Coincidentally, Chamanga replaced Mbesuma in the game against Rwanda in the 74th minute after the troubled striker did an in-out after coming on in the 35th minute.
Chamanga, who was also dropped for the Egypt game last March, returned to China on Sunday to attend to club commitments.
Renard has said no replacements will be called up for the duo.
The team returns home on Wednesday from Johannesburg and will take a direct flight from South Africa to Ndola ahead of the game to be played at Konkola Stadium.
A critical fuel shortage has hit Senanga district forcing motorists to drive long distances in search of the commodity.
A check by ZANIS at the only BP filling station in the district found
that both petrol and diesel were out of stock.
A highly placed source at the filling station told ZANIS that it is not known when the station will restock the fuel, but that efforts are being made in Lusaka to normalize the situation.
The shortage has lasted for more than a week,forcing many motorists to cover a distance of about 110 Kilometers to buy fuel in Mongu.
Operations of most government ministries that maintain fuel accounts
at the filling station, have been jeopardized.
A motorist Dr. Clive Simwanza said fuel was a strategic commodity, which should not be scarce in the district.
He said many economic activities depend on fuel and called for competition in the supply of the commodity to the district.
He said monopolistic tendencies have contributed to the laisser-faire
attitude being exhibited in attending to the fuel crisis in the
district.
Fuel prices in Senanga are pegged around K6,600 and K6,800 per liter for diesel and petrol respectively.
Kitwe inmates at Kamfinsa Prison have protested against the unhygienic state of the police cells which they say are smeared with human excreta.
The inmates who were today expected to appear before the magistrate court told ZANIS that they refused to be kept in the police cells as they awaited the court sessions.
In their protest, the inmates said they would not appear before the court if the cells are not cleaned up. They said the cells are in such a bad state that they fear for their health.
The inmates complained that the cells are filthy with human excreta on the walls and floor, citing yesterday’s case in which a named man aged 32 smeared himself with excreta in an attempt to escape.
They further said that most of them had contracted a number of diseases due to poor living conditions in the police and prison cells.
But a police source said the inmates protested to either avoid or delay the court proceedings in fear of being convicted. The source added that it is the habit of inmates to disrupt court cases, in fear of being convicted when found guilty.
Meanwhile relatives of the inmates and onlookers expressed disappointment over the bad state of the police and prison cells in Kitwe.
They said they are worried about their relatives’ health as they await trial. They further said the remandees awaiting trial deserve better living conditions as they are suspects who could be acquitted if found innocent.
They called on the Resident Magistrate to ensure that there is cleanliness in the holding cells.
The inmates volunteered to help Kitwe Fire Brigade clean up the cells which lasted for over 30 minutes.
The court sessions were disrupted and the inmates taken back to Kamfinsa prison.
The World Soccer Governing body FIFA has given the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) a go ahead to host the joint World and Africa cup qualifying game between Zambia and Algeria at Konkola Stadium on June 20.
This comes amid fears that Zambia might play its remaining games in a foreign country following many lapses FIFA security officer observed during the Zambia -Rwanda game last week.
FAZ President Kalusha Bwalya said FIFA allowed FAZ to host the game following the meeting the two associations had under the condition that FAZ should urgently address matters relating to security at the stadium.
Bwalya announced at a press briefing in Lusaka today that FIFA has issued some strong warning to FAZ which must be followed within eight days before they can be allowed to stage the match there next week on 20th June.
He said failure to address these concerns might result in FIFA staging Zambia’s remaining matches in foreign countries.
Bwalya further said FIFA has appointed an additional staff to look see to it that Zambia meets these concerns before the match is allowed to kick off.
He said FAZ has since started addressing these problems in order to ensure that it comply with the FIFA’s requirement adding that it will also take drastic measures to improve crowd control.
He also said as one of the security measures FAZ will open the doors to the stadium as early as 08:00 hours and close them at 13: 30, 30 minutes before the match kicks off.
Meanwhile, Bwalya has also announced that the gate charges for the Zambia, Algeria game has been revised with open wing being K40, 000 while VIP and group stand are still same at K200, 000 and K150, 000 respectively.
Bwalya said the gate charges have not been revised for profit but as a measure aimed at ensuring security at the stadium.
Meanwhile, the Association of National Team Supporters (ANTS) has cried foul over the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) decision to increase the gates charges for the open wing by K10,000 for the Algeria-Zambia game.
ANTS interim Secretary General, Bob Kayukwa says his association had expected FAZ to reduce the gates charges for the match following complaints from many soccer fans over charges during the previous Rwanda-Zambia match.
Kayukwa said FAZ should have increased the VIP charges while reducing on the open wing.
He told ZANIS sports in an interview in Lusaka today that soccer fans expected the charges to be fair following FAZ announcement last week that they will revise the gates charges.
Kayukwa has further accused FAZ of not listening to calls from soccer fans to have the team be camped in the country.
He said camping the team in South Africa is a waste of public resources because they are good and convenient hotels in the country where the team can train and save money.
He said camping the team in Zambia can help save the money on air tickets, and other expenses which can then be used to invite other foreign teams top play friendly matches and prepare the team adequately.
FAZ has today announced that it has increased the open wing charges from K30, 000 to K40, 000 but that the intention is to avoid over crowding at the stadium and not to make profits
Bereaved families stranded outside the Brought In Dead block at the University Teaching Hospital because the health workers are on strike
Lusaka Province Minister Lameck Mangani has described the situation at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) and some health centres in the country as worrisome. He said there is urgent need for health workers to return to work in order to save lives.
Mr Mangani said that remarkable progress has been made and consensus has been reached on a number of issues in the ongoing negotiations for improved conditions of service for public service workers.
Mr. Mangani has since pleaded with striking health workers and teachers to give dialogue a chance.
Mr. Mangani warned that the strike action by some health workers and teachers should not be politicized.
He urged politicians to desist from politicizing the strike action by public workers as their grievances are receiving adequate attention from government.
And in Solwezi, all striking civil servants this morning converged in the Boma Conference Hall to be addressed by their union leaders on the current salary negotiations with government.
The workers comprising of nurses, teahers and other public service workers, some carrying placards reading ”no salary increment no work” rejected the proposed 15 percent salary increment, saying it was a mockery.
Civil Servants and Allied Workers Union of Zambia Regional Secretary, Kennedy Musopelo told the irate civil servants that the union leaders in Lusaka are still negotiating with govrenment.
Mr. Musopelo said the civil servants in North-Western Province have vowed not to go for work until government listens to their plight and gives them a block figure increment.
The workers agreed that their unions should not sign 15 percent increment, adding that there is no house in Solwezi that is rented at K200,000.
The strike action by civil servants in the Province has spread to Mufumbwe Disrict where all operations at some government institutions have come to a halt.
Mufumbwe District Commissioner, Robert Muyutu confirmed to ZANIS in Solwezi that the strike action by the workers has caused hardships, especially at Mufumbwe Hospital where the admission of patients has been suspended.
Mr. Muyutu described the situation as serious.
In Chipata Unionized teachers have gone on strike to press for the conclusion of the negotiations between their Union representatives and government for better pay and conditions of service.
The call for the strike action was agreed upon during a meeting held at Chipata Day Secondary School today.
All the Unionized teachers from Zambia National Union of Teachers (ZANUT), Basic Teachers Union of Zambia ( BETUZ) and Secondary School Teacher Union of Zambia (SESTUZ) have vowed not to go back to work until their demands are met.
The teachers expressed disappointment over government’s failure to conclude the negotiations on time, adding that they would not succumb to any intimidation from their superiors as they have waited for too long for the salary negotiations and conditions of service.
Describing themselves as the engine that drives the country’s development, they expressed sadiness that they are not being motivated.
He said the prolonged delay by government in concluding the salary negotiations and improved conditions of service will only slow down the pace of development in the country.
The teachers said time for conflicting statements over collective bargains is over.
The teachers also called on their union leaders to coordinate if their lobbying is to yield good results.
Civil Servants Union of Zambia (CSUZ) Chairperson Siyabbwete Mudenda assured the three teachers Unions that his union was behind their call for a strike action.
He blamed the union leaders at national level who have failed to make follow-ups on housing allowance which courts of law ruled that civil servants be entitled to K450,000 housing allowance as per 2003 collective agreement.
In Serenje, Civil Servants in Serenje have rejected the 15 percent salary increment offered by government and gone on strike, demanding for a higher percentage.
A Check by ZANIS at Serenje district hospital this morning found only one nurse, a sister in charge, two senior clinical officers working.
One senior clinical officer who refused to be named said there is pressure of work, following the withdrawal of labour by nurses and other medical staff.
And the Civil Servants and Allied Workers Union (CSAWUZ) Serenje Branch, resolved to join the strike at a general meeting held yesterday.
Branch Chairperson, Charity Mumba said the members resolved to reject the 15 percent salary increment offered by government, saying it is too low.
Mrs. Mumba said the members also demanded a K500,000 housing allowance for a lowest paid worker and K100,000 missing lunch allowance.
She said the workers don’t want their representatives in the negotiations to sign for a 15 percent increment and also ensure they fight for better conditions of service.
Poaching in Kasanka Trust National Park in Serenje district is on the increase despite intervention programmes that the park management has devised to reduce the act.
Park Manager, Edmond Farmer, told ZANIS in an interview yesterday that communities within and outside the park have continued poaching despite the park management putting in place measures to discourage the vice.
Mr. Farmer said poachers were entering the park from all areas, a situation that has made conservation difficult.
He said although tourists visiting the park have increased, it has been difficult to prevent poaching.
He however said the park management would not relent in patrolling the park to protect the animals in the area from extinction.
Mr. Farmer explained that there were a lot of programmes being carried out in communities around the park, which included the construction of a clinic at Chalilo.
He said the park had also allowed pupils in the area to go and view animals.
Among the animals found in the park are elephants, pukus, hippos, crocodiles, buffaloes, baboons and sitatungas.
Mr. Farmer commended the judiciary in Serenje for having played a major role in punishing the people who were arrested for poaching offences.
He however called for a stiffer punishment to be given to poachers to deter others considering illegal hunting in the park.
Health workers at Siavonga district hospital have joined their colleagues in other parts of the country in the ongoing strike, a move that has paralyzed operations at the health institution.
And children that were admitted in the children’s ward at the institution have been removed and admitted together with elderly patients in the female ward due to the strike by nurses and other health personnel.
Civil Servants and Allied Workers Union of Zambia (CSAWUZ) District Chairperson Martin Mwenya confirmed the health workers’ strike action in an interview with ZANIS in Siavonga this morning.
Mr. Mwenya disclosed that the decision by Siavonga health workers was arrived at in a meeting that was held yesterday to discuss the way forward on the issue.
He said workers unanimously resolved to go on strike on premises that government was taking long to address their demands for improved conditions of service and increased salaries.
“The workers met yesterday (Tuesday) and voted that they were joining their fellow workers who have already gone on strike because government was not promising them anything with regards to the improvement of their conditions of service,” he stated.
He however said the meeting resolved to draw up a timetable at the hospital to allow few staff members to attend to serious cases in the maternity ward.
But a check by ZANIS this morning found only two nurses attending to all cases in the district hospital.
The check also revealed that all children that were admitted in their ward were yesterday taken to the female ward where they are admitted together with adults that have different ailments.
Judy Mumbwali, a mother who was found nursing her child, disclosed that children were ordered to move out of the children’s ward on Tuesday afternoon and told to go to the female ward because they would have no one to attend to them if they remained there.
Acting District Director of Health Thierry Beya vehemently refused to speak to the ZANIS reporter who approached him for a comment on the strike.
But Siavonga District Commissioner, Emily Striedl, condemned the strike action saying there was a better way of resolving the problem than resorting to a strike action.
Meanwhile, other civil servants in Solwezi district of Northwestern province have joined nurses and teachers in the strike, demanding improved conditions of service and increased salaries.
Civil Servants and Allied Workers Union of Zambia (CSAWUZ) regional Secretary, Kennedy Musopelo, told ZANIS in Solwezi that the decision by other civil servants to join the strike action was reached at a meeting held on Friday last week.
Mr. Musopelo said that the workers were demanding for K1, 000,000.00 housing allowance and salary increment of K800, 000 across the board.
He said workers complained that government has also received the concerns of improving their conditions of service, including the rural hardship and the fixed band allowances.
Mr. Musopelo further charged that civil servants in Northwestern Province were not happy with the way car loans were being disbursed at the provincial administration, alleging that only those who work there were considered.
He alleged that the provincial administration only gives priority to those who work there and not those from different government departments. This has displeased the workers in other government departments.
And a check by ZANIS at Solwezi general hospital found trainee nurses helping the doctors in wards while other departments were being manned by those in management.
In another development, the condition of three people who were shot at by a traditional healer in the early hours of Monday this week has improved although one of them is still in a serious condition.
The three are currently admitted to Solwezi general hospital.
Hospital authorities said one patient, who was shot in the abdomen has since undergone an operation while the other man still has the bullet lodged in the left side of his chest.
The hospital sources said the third person, a woman, was only bruised by the bullet and would be discharged soon.
On Monday this week, a traditional healer Alex Mabomba, alias Dr. Mutipula, allegedly shot and wounded two men and one woman at Akisa night club.
Nurses who are on strike are captured sunbathing on the lawns at the University Teaching HospitalGovernment has expressed concern that some opposition
political party leaders in the country have politicized the current teachers and nurses’ industrial unrest.
He condemned political leaders that were accusing President Rupiah Banda of neglecting the demands of striking workers by going abroad to attend the economic forum and other meetings to which heads of state were invited.
“What should be made clear is that when the heads of government meet at various summits, they do so to discuss matters of common interest, to find solutions to various challenges, economic or social. What they resolve to do has a bearing in the management of economic and social problems at home,” he explained.
Lt. Gen. Shikapwasha, who is also Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, further explained that the summits which President Banda has been attending have had Zambia’s interests solved.
He said even when the President was abroad, he was still connected to what was happening at home and was able to direct what should be done to such challenges.
The minister added that the President has ministers who were directly dealing with the issues of industrial unrest in their various ministries.
“The President works through his ministers and he can therefore direct appropriate action through them from any part of the world,” he said, adding that “It is therefore irresponsible to suggest that industrial disputes can only be solved with the intervention and presence of a head of government”.
Lt. Gen. Shikapwasha said the President only participates in a declared dispute requiring his intervention if negotiations for conditions of service and salaries between government and unions have failed.
The Chief Government spokesperson said it was irresponsible and unacceptable for political party leaders, who aspire to lead the country in future, to fan industrial unrests instead of helping government solve them.
Lieutenant General Shikapwasha said in a statement to ZANIS, in Lusaka today that political leaders that were encouraging nurses and teachers to go on strike were in fact undermining government.
“While government appreciates that political parties may have their own ideas about how they would like to deal with the grievances and wish they were in office to attend to them, it is totally unacceptable for such leaders to undermine government by fanning these disputes in order to gain political mileage,” he said.
Lt. Gen. Shikapwasha said government was very concerned about the ongoing strike by teachers and nurses and was therefore working hard to solve the industrial unrest amicably.
A 32 year old man of Kitwe yesterday smeared himself with human excreta in an attempt to escape from police custody.
ZANIS Kitwe reports that Chibuye Mukosa, a businessman of house No. 1047 Mulenga Compound appeared before magistrate Dunstein Muchaba for plea and tried to escape shortly after the court session.
Mukosa was arrested on 26th December 2008 and charged with malicious damage, contrary to section 335 (1) of the penal code.
Copperbelt Police Commanding Officer, Antoniel Mutentwa said Mukosa smeared himself with human excreta and attempted to bolt after appearing in court.
Mr. Mutentwa said Mukosa was however apprehended by the police and later cleaned up by the fire brigade before he was remanded in custody.
Facts before the court were that on 14th December 2008, Mukosa allegedly damaged window panes valued at K299, 000 belonging to one Samson Kunda.
Mukosa pleaded not guilty to the charge and the matter was adjourned to 26th June 2009 for commencement of trial.
A Lusaka based body building expert Chris Ellis has urged the Zambia National team technical bench to put in place a body fitness programme for the national team.
However the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) says it has already put in place the programme which had improved the Chipolopolo boys performance.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS sports, yesterday, Ellis said the national team needs to work on body fitness he said should not be confused to body building.
Ellis explained that there was need to for the technical bench to transform national team players into formidable players by improving on their body mass and strength.
He said in this way, the players would be able to stand and play competitively with any team in the region and the world, at large.
He expressed concern that most players in the national team were small in size and that disadvantaged them thereby limiting the chance of victory, in general.
Ellis, who operates a private gym at the Lusaka Show grounds, further explained that the programme should not be mistaken with weight lifting he said only builds muscles and not body agility and strength.
He added that the Renard coaching bench should also work on nutrition programme he said was key to building up body fitness and strength.
The body building expert said national team players need to be oput on a sports nutrition programme by giving them food supplements for body recovery after a match.
He said premier league teams Reda Arrows and the National Assembly football club had utilised the programme in the past season and had thereby played competitively.
However, FAZ Communications Officer Erick Mwanza told ZANIS sports that the local football governing body had identified the need for for the fitness programme for the team and that is why it had engaged the expertise of a physical trainer in Patrice Buoumoulle.
Mwanza said Boumoulle was one of the best physical trainer on the African continent saying he was steadily ensuring on the fitness of the team.
The Communications officer added that Zambia no longer has fitness problems regarding its players who he said where able to face any team.
ZANIS
Works and Supply Permanent Secretary Bizwayo Nkunika has assured that Government will ensure that contractors engaged to work on roads in the country do a better job in a bid to ensure that provinces countrywide are linked to each other.
Lt Colonel Nkunika pledged Government’s commitment to the construction of a better road infrastructure in the country as it was an engine for economic development.
Colonel Nkunika said this during a courtesy call on Namwala District Commissioner Eunice Nawa today.
The Permanent Secretary who was in the District to tour infrastructure developmental projects said it was sad that the Choma- Namwala Road in Southern Procvince has taken years to be rehabilitated but was quick to add that works were now progressing well on the stretch.
He said the Monze-Neiko road would also be on constant rehabilitation.
Lt Col Nkunika also said feasibility studies have been undertaken on the Namwala- Itezhi Tezhi road that passes through the Kafue Flood plains and works would begin soon.
Meanwhile, Commissioner Nawa thanked Government for working on major roads leading to the District saying this would significantly assist farmers to transport their produce to better markets in towns along the line of rail.
On the stalled Kabanga clinic in Namwala, Lt Col Nkunika said the stalled Kabanga clinic was been worked on by the same company that abandoned the project in 2006. He said this followed Government’s intervention.
He said it was sad that a named contractor abandoned the project in the area before completion and warned that Government would not tolerate contractors who had a tendency of abandoning projects before completing the job.
But Ms Nawa suggested to Government to consider introducing potential contractors on any government project to the District administration so that any shoddy works by contractors could be quickly identified.
The Kabanga clinic project worth about K500 Million was abandoned by Builders Developers Limited [BDL]on 2nd May 2006 in unexplained circumstances.
The company resumed work on the project on 1st May this year following Government intervention.
The project also includes the construction of one staff house expected to be completed this month (June).
President Rupiah Banda arrived in Cape Town, South Africa, ahead of the 19th World Economic Forum on Africa which starts today .
The plane carrying the President touched down at Cape Town International Airport at 15:15 hours.
President Banda was received by Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Leslie Mbula and other senior government officials.
The President was later driven to the Table Bay Hotel on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean where he will be lodged up to Friday.
Mr Banda is today expected to be among five Heads of State who will take part in the 19th World Economic Forum on Africa under the theme ‘Implications of the Global Economic Crisis for Africa’.
The leaders include South Africa’s new President, Jacob Zuma, who will host the three-day meeting at Cape Town International Conference Centre, Rwandan President, Paul Kagame, Lesotho Prime Minister, Pakalitha Mosisili and his Kenyan counterpart, Raila Odinga.
According to the programme , President Banda will today participate in a private session of the World Economic Forum, entitled ‘Investing in Africa.’
Later on in the evening, President Banda is expected to attend an interactive session over dinner at which Zambia will showcase its investment and economic potential.
On Thursday, the President will attend a plenary session on ‘Africa: the world’s potential bread basket.’
President Banda winds up his programme on Friday with a Cable Network News (CNN) debate on Political leaders in Changing Times.
